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Autophagy plays an essential role in body homeostasis achievement. One of the main proteins involved in this process is the LC3I, which, after lipidation, leads to the formation of LC3II that participates in the formation and maturation of autophagosome. This descriptive study verified the responses of LC3II to LC3I proteins, as well as the time-course of this ratio in mice livers after different types of acute physical exercise protocols. Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were maintained three per cage with controlled temperature (22±2 °C) on a 12:12-h light-dark normal cycle with food (Purina chow) and water ad libitum. Mice were randomly divided into four groups: control (CT, sedentary mice), resistance (RE, submitted to a single bout of resistance exercise), endurance (EE, submitted to a single bout of endurance exercise), and concurrent (CE, submitted to a single bout of endurance combined with resistance exercise). The mice livers were extracted and used for the immunoblotting technique. The hepatic LC3B II/I ratio for the RE and EE groups were not altered during the different time-points. For the CE group, there was a decrease in this ratio 12h after exercise compared to time 0 and 18h. Also, the hepatic LC3B II/I ratios were not different among the acute physical exercise protocols along the time-course. The hepatic LC3B II/I ratio was not influenced by the endurance and resistance protocols but decreased in response to the concurrent protocol at 12h after the stimulus.

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The "first hit" to atherogenesis is driven by toll-like receptor 4, endoplasmic reticulum stress and ultimately metabolic dysfunction. In this study, we hypothesized that a flaxseed oil-enriched diet (FS) abolishes these inflammatory signaling pathway and restore metabolic homeostasis by activating the fatty acid receptor GPR120 in aorta of obese mice. Glucose homeostasis was assessed by GTT and ITT; lipidomics was performed using a Hybrid Ion Trap-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer; serum lipids were measured using colorimetric assays; GPR120 and infiltrating macrophages were analyzed by immunofluorescence; protein immunoprecipitation and gene expression were evaluated by Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. There were no differences in body weight and food intake between the groups from both strains (Swiss and LDLr-KO mice). GTT and cholesterol levels were improved by FS in both mice models. Lipidomics showed an increase in ω3 (C18:3) content, meanwhile stearic acid (C18:0) was not detected in endothelial tissue in response to FS. Moreover, FS markedly decreased pro-inflammatory (IL-1ß, TNF-α, pIκBα, pIKKß) and unfolded protein response markers (ATF6 and GRP78) in aorta. In Swiss mice, GPR120 was partially involved in the ω3-mediated anti-inflammatory actions, disrupting TLR4 pathway, but not in LDLr-KO mice. Partial replacement of dietary saturated by unsaturated ω3 fatty acids contributes to inhibition of cardiovascular risk markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines and ER stress sensors and effectors in the aorta. However, downregulation of inflammation is not mediated by arterial GPR120 activation.

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We compared saline (S) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) extracts from Taenia solium (homologous species - HO) and Taenia crassiceps (heterologous species - HE) metacestodes in order to detect IgG by ELISA and immunoblot assay (IBA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the diagnosis of human neurocysticercosis (NC). CSF samples were obtained from 93 patients. Of these, 40 had NC, five had a diagnosis of probable NC, nine had central nervous system schistosomiasis or strongyloidiasis and 39 had other neurological alterations. Samples were analysed by ELISA and the results were compared with IBA in all samples with confirmed and probable NC diagnosis, in all samples with other central nervous system parasitic infection, and in 10 of those with another neurological alterations. ELISA sensitivity was 100%, 85%, 95% and 87.5% for the S-HO, S-HE, SDS-HO and SDS-HE extracts, respectively, and ELISA specificity was 100% for S-HO, S-HE, SDS-HO extracts and 97.9% for SDS-HE antigen. Immunodominant peptides detected by IBA were, by decreasing percentage of recognition: 64-68 and 45 kDa for S-HO; 108-114, 92-95, 64-68, 83 and 88 kDa for S-HE; 64-68, 108-114, 77 and 86 kDa for SDS-HO; and 108-114, 88 and 92-95 kDa for SDS-HE. Overall the homologous antigenic extracts showed higher sensitivity than the heterologous extracts in the diagnosis of NC in CSF samples. The heterologous extracts contained most of the immunodominant peptides presented in the homologous extracts, which are recognized by IgG antibodies in CSF samples.

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The present study is the result of an experience in the hospital Correia Picanço in Recife, Pernambuco Federal State, a reference hospital for HIV patients. The objective of this investigation is to supply the discrepancy of information on elderly carriers of HIV. This is a quantitative, transversal and retrospective research. A diagram form was used to organize the data collected from 46 medical records. Results showed that there was an increase on the number of women, especially married women, heterosexuals, and elderly infected by HIV. The study also showed an increase on the number of infections through sexual contact and the predominance of carriers who were undereducated. It was also observed that the medical records were incomplete. The conclusion was that preventive education programs have to be elaborated in order to reach the population in general, including the elderly.

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A comparative study of total saline extract (SE) and cyst vesicular fluid (VF) of Taenia solium metacestodes by ELISA and Western blotting assay (WB) tests was conducted to detect IgG in sera for diagnosis of human cysticercosis. Sera were obtained and analysed by ELISA in 1 : 20 and 1 : 100 dilutions from 208 individuals: 22 confirmed neurocysticercosis (NC) (group 1), 101 suspected NC (group 2), 55 with various intestinal parasitosis (group 3) and 30 healthy individuals (group 4). The WB test was carried out on SE and VF extracts with and without reducing agent, 2-beta-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) in 20 sera of each group. WB using extracts without 2-ME and ELISA at 1 : 100 dilution were compared in 20 sera from each group; sensitivity and specificity were calculated using samples from groups 1, 3 and 4. By ELISA, in the 1 : 100 sera dilution reactivity was reduced for both antigens without changes in the sensitivity of the test. By WB, antigens treated with 2-ME demonstrated low specificity. For SE and VF antigens, the proteins of 24, 39-42, 47-52, 56, 64-68, 126-155 kDa and 18, 24, 26-28, 32-36, 47-52, 75 kDa, respectively, were considered immunodominant markers, with high indices of specificity, suggesting a profile for NC patients. However, as the sensitivity was found to be low, it might still not be a definitive test for NC when used alone. These data suggest WB as an indicative test to determine exposure to T. solium. ELISA and WB together may supply reliable results for the diagnosis of human cysticercosis, since appropriate purified antigens are not available yet.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of kidney aspiration cytology in the sequential monitorization of acute rejection in renal transplant patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients were submitted to 376 aspirations. The clinical diagnoses were independently established. RESULTS: The representativity of the samples reached 82.7%. The total corrected increment index and the number of immunoactivated cells were higher during acute rejection as compared to normal allograft function, acute tubular necrosis, and cyclosporine nephrotoxicity. The parameters to the diagnosis of acute rejection were sensitivity: 71.8%, specificity: 87.3%, positive predictive value: 50.9%, negative predictive value: 94.9% and accuracy 84.9%. The false positive results were mainly related to cytomegalovirus infection or to the administration of OKT3. In 10 out of 11 false negative results incipient immunoactivation was present alerting to the possibility of acute rejection. CONCLUSIONS: Kidney aspiration cytology is a useful tool for the sequential monitorization of acute rejection in renal transplant patients. The best results are reached when the results of aspiration cytology are analyzed with the clinical data.

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This paper is an historical review of the health policy in Brazil. Ranged since the arrival of the real portuguese family to Brazil until nowadays. The review intent to contextualize present facts based on historical, social and political facts for the needed foundation to give best comprehension of the ways in which is organizing the health policy in Brazil.

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Whole-kidney function and glomerular hemodynamics were evaluated after acute (50 mg/kg, iv, in bolus) and short-term chronic (50 mg mg/kg, ip, 5 days) acyclovir (ACV) and short-term chronic ganciclovir (Gan; 30 mg/kg, ip, 5 days) treatment in envolemic Munich-Wistar rats. The evaluation of whole-kidney function of the ACV groups showed a significant reduction in total GFR (0.96 +/- 0.10 to 0.28 +/- 0.02 mL/min in the acute group, P < 0.05, and 1.04 +/- 0.09 to 0.33 +/- 0.04 mL/min in the chronic group, P < 0.05) with a marked increase in total renal vascular resistance (TRVR) (33 +/- 5 to 122 +/- 26 mm Hg.min/mL in the acute group and 28 +/- 3 to 74 +/- 18 mm Hg.min/mL in the chronic group, P < 0.05) and a reduction in RPF (2.29 +/- 0.25 to 0.81 +/- 0.15 mL/min in the acute group and 2.57 +/- 0.36 to 1.30 +/- 0.40 mL/min in the chronic group, P < 0.05). Conversely, urinary flow (V') was unchanged (3.6 +/- 0.4 to 3.6 +/- 0.2 microL/min in the acute group) or elevated (3.7 +/- 0.6 to 6.6 +/- 1.4 microL/min in the chronic group, P < 0.05). The evaluation of glomerular hemodynamics after ACV treatment showed a reduction in single-nephron GFR (SNGFR) (46.4 +/- 5.3 to 26.2 +/- 3.4 nL/min in the acute group and 38.7 +/- 5.7 to 21.1 +/- 5.7 nL/min in the chronic group, P < 0.05), a significant elevation in total arteriolar resistance (RT) (2.90 +/- 0.44 to 4.94 +/- 0.77 x 10(10) dyn.s.cm-5 in the acute group and 3.72 +/- 0.45 to 9.00 +/- 2.40 x 10(10) dyn.s.cm-5 in the chronic group, P < 0.05) and a severe reduction in glomerular plasma flow rate (QA) (152.6 +/- 29.5 to 103.8 +/- 27.8 nL/min in the acute group and 149.1 +/- 29.8 to 68.5 +/- 10.0 nL/min in the chronic group, P < 0.05). However, the glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient, Kf, was changed only in the chronic group (0.1002 +/- 0.0165 to 0.0499 +/- 0.0090 nL/(s.mm Hg), P < 0.05). After Gan treatment, no changes were observed in GFR (1.04 +/- 0.09 to 0.96 +/- 0.08 mL/min, with the maintenance of RPF (2.57 +/- 0.36 to 2.66 +/- 0.34 mL/min) and a nonsignificant reduction in TRVR (28 +/- 3 to 20 +/- 3 mm Hg.min/mL. The short-term Gan treatment also showed a different pattern in glomerular hemodynamics by inducing an elevation in SNGFR (38.7 +/- 5.7 to 50.3 +/- 2.8 nL/min, P < 0.05) with no changes in QA (150 +/- 30 to 135 +/- 22 nL/min) and a mild vasodilation, RT (3.7 +/- 0.5 to 2.7 +/- 0.3 x 10(10) dyn.s.cm-5, P < 0.05) associated with an increment in Kf (0.1002 +/- 0.0165 to 0.2400 +/- 0.0700 nL/(s.mm Hg), P < 0.05). Thus, ACV induced acute renal failure by reducing GFR and SNGFR by an increase in TRVR and RT with a reduction in RPF and QA. Also, after short-term treatment with ACV, a reduction in Kf led to a reduction of SNGFR. On the other hand, Gan treatment did not induce acute renal failure by the adopted techniques.

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BACKGROUND: Although it has been used as a diagnostic tool in many renal transplant centres the reproducibility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has not been critically evaluated. METHODS: In the present study material sequentially obtained from 15 patients (177 aspirations) over a 3-month period following renal transplantation was evaluated by two independent observers. Intraobserver reproducibility was studied through the analysis of two evaluations by observer 1 performed 8 months apart. Interobserver reproducibility was calculated comparing the second evaluation of observer 1 with the evaluation of observer 2. All evaluations were performed blindly. Slides and protocols of individual patients were chronologically arranged and thus interpreted. Representation, total corrected increment (TCI), accuracy, and the percent agreement for the diagnosis of acute rejection were evaluated. RESULTS: No intraobserver statistically significant differences were observed. Differences observed in interobserver evaluation of TCI either during, or out of acute rejection episodes, well as the representative quality of the sample and accuracy, were not statistically significant. The percent of agreement for the presence or absence of acute rejection was 77.5% for the intraobserver comparison and 76.7% for the interobserver evaluation. Both values showing either a non-significant value for the difference or a statistical significance for the concordance. CONCLUSION: We concluded that FNAB is an accurate method with fairly good intra- and interobserver reproducibility for the diagnosis of acute rejection of renal allografts.

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The involvement of central nervous system in paracoccidiodomycosis has rarely been described, with an incidence rate varying from 9.99% to 27.27%. There are two basic forms of clinical presentation: meningeal and tumor-like (abscesses, granulomas, nodules, and cysts). The Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is preferentially described in cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, medulla oblonga and meninges, and exceptionally in the spinal cord. The authors present a case of paracoccidioidomycosis which diagnosis was achieved by microscopic examination of material from oral lesions and specific serology. The patient presented clinical signs of spinal cord involvement confirmed by lesions found in magnetic resonance imaging. They emphasize the inedit therapeutic response to a new antifungal agent (fluconazole) used for the first time in this kind of clinical manifestation, and the excellent prognosis when diagnosis is promptly made.

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Psychosocial aspects which arise with regard to people directly or indirectly involved with AIDS: patients, relatives and professional staff, are studied. The results show that the population assisted in the Ribeirão Preto region is predominantly young, male and drug-addicted. The patients with "positive" results show reactions similar to those described by Kluber-Ross (1977) for terminal patients. The behavior observed in relatives forms a continuum which varies from the negation of the illness to the overprotection of the patient. For the professionals, perplexity is the most common reaction when they face a population which is different from that with which they are used to dealing. Finally, the data acquired indicate that the psychologist can help the professionals to deal with the reactions of the patients by integrating them into their organic and emotional aspects.

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In order to analyse the etiology of recurrent hematuria in childhood, we studied 250 children, referred to our Service (age: 6 mo-17 ys; 102 female and 148 male). They were submitted to the following protocol: urine analyses, uroculture, serum total and fraction complement, electrophoresis of hemoglobin, serum creatinine, BUN, 24h urinary calcium, uric acid and protein, oral calcium load test in children with hypercalciuria (UCa greater than 4mg/kg/day). Radiological evaluation and renal percutaneous biopsy was performed when necessary. The following diagnostic distribution was obtained: Alport syndrome, 19; Berger disease, 15; other glomerulopathies, 45; hypercalciuria, 67; uric acid hyperexcretion, 10; nephrolithiasis, 27; urinary tract infection, 14; renal malformation, 8; no diagnosis, 43. Based in these results, we conclude that appropriate investigation on recurrent hematuria, leads to determination of etiology in over 80% of cases.

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