Abstract Background The neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the most abundant neurotransmitters in the nervous system. NPY acts as a potent stimulator of angiogenesis, inflammation, and adipogenesis, through the NPY 2 receptor (NPY2R). Changes in the NPY signaling pathway have been linked to Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Objectives The purpose of this study is to determine the association between variants in the NPY and NPY2R genes, as well as the severity of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods Approximately 221 ACS patients and 278 healthy controls were selected for this study. Four variants in NPY and two variants in NPY2R genes were genotyped using Taqman allelic discrimination and sequencing. The Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to verify the genotype frequencies. The logistic regression analyses were used for the evaluation of the studied variables. Haplotype analysis was used to evaluate the linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the variants (p<0.05). Results An association of NPY c.20T>C variant was found with the ACS group when compared to the healthy group. In the analysis between variants and risk factors in the ACS group, NPY c.84G>A was associated with hypertension. The analysis between TIMI risk showed a significance for NPY c.20T>C between the low and intermediate/high TIMI risk groups. In the haplotype analysis, strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) was found between the variants NPY c.150G>A and NPY c.-485T>C. Conclusion The NPY c.20T>C variant appears to contribute to the development of ACS. The NPY2R c.-1116A>G variant may contribute to the early development of ACS and the NPY c.84G>A variant appears to contribute to the development of hypertension. In addition, the NPY c.20T>C is associated with a protective effect in ACS severity.

Resumo O Mycoplasma genitalium tem sido considerado um agente de infecções sexualmente transmissível emergente nos últimos 5 a 10 anos. Seu papel na gravidez tem sido pouco estudado. Na Argentina, a prevalência é desconhecida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a prevalência de M. genitalium em amostras endocervicais de gestantes que realizaram controle ginecológico. Uma PCR de ponto final foi utilizada como metodologia para a detecção, que amplifica uma sequência específica do gene mgpB. Um grupo de 270 gestantes entre 15 e 42 anos foi estudado. A prevalência geral de M. genitalium foi de 5,2% (14/270). Entre as pacientes sintomáticas, 10% foram positivas (9/90), ao passo que entre as assintomáticas, 2,8% foram positivas (5/180). Apenas 1,5% (4/270) apresentou coinfecção por Chlamydia trachomatis. Todas as mulheres estudadas estavam grávidas fazia mais de 12 semanas. Este é o primeiro estudo de prevalência sobre M. genitalium realizado em mulheres grávidas na Argentina. Mais estudos de associação entre esse microorganismo e as complicações na gravidez são necessários, a fim de avançar na prevenção e no controle desta infecção.

Abstract Mycoplasma genitalium has been considered an emerging agent of sexually transmitted infections for the past 5-10 years. Its association with agent of non-gonococcal urethritis in men is well recognized. In women it has been linked to cervicitis, endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease. Its role in pregnancy has been poorly studied. In Argentina, the prevalence is unknown. The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of M. genitalium in endocervical samples of pregnant women who attended a gynecological control. An end-point PCR was used to amplify a specific sequence of the mgpB gene. A group of 270 pregnant women between 15 and 42 years were studied. The overall prevalence of M. genitalium was 5.2% (14/270). Among the symptomatic patients, 10% were positive (9/90), whereas among the asymptomatic patients, 2.8% were positive (5/180). Only 1.5% (4/270) presented co-infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. This is the first prevalence study on M. genitalium performed on pregnant women in Argentina. More studies are needed to understand the relationship between this microorganism and complications during pregnancy, in order to prevent and control this infection in women.

Resumen Durante los últimos 5-10 años se ha considerado a Mycoplasma genitalium como un agente emergente de infecciones de transmisión sexual. Su papel en el embarazo ha sido poco estudiado. La prevalencia en la Argentina es desconocida. El objetivo del trabajo fue determinar la prevalencia de M. genitalium en muestras endocervicales de mujeres embarazadas que concurrieron a un control ginecológico. La metodología utilizada para la detección fue una PCR de punto final que amplifica una secuencia específica del gen mgpB. Se estudiaron 270 mujeres embarazadas entre 15 y 42 años. La prevalencia global de M. genitalium fue de 5,2% (14/270). De las sintomáticas el 10% eran positivas (9/90) y de las pacientes asintomáticas 2,8% eran positivas (5/180). El 1,5% (4/270) presentó coinfección con Chlamydia trachomatis. Todas cursaban un embarazo de más de 12 semanas. Este es el primer trabajo de prevalencia de M. genitalium realizado en mujeres embarazadas en la Argentina. Se necesitan más estudios de asociación entre este microorganismo y las complicaciones en el embarazo para avanzar hacia la prevención y el control de esta infección.

Objective Characterize the foci of visceral leishmaniasis infection in Neiva with a clinical and epidemiological approach. Materials and Methods Six children consulted medical services with hepatosplenomegaly. They were found to have anemia and leukopenia. The diagnosis was performed by bone marrow (five patients) and spleen (1 patient) aspiration. An active search for cases was carried out in the community. Anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies were also sought out using indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) in symptomatic patients and in dogs (IFI, rK39). House calls were made in order to carry out educational activities and to collect disease vectors. Patients received miltefosine, amphotericin B or Glucantime®. Results LV was confirmed in seven children. In six of them, the bone marrow or spleen aspirate contained amastigotes. The IIF was positive in 4 patients and negative in 3. One child was detected throught the active community search, confirmed by the clinic with IIF (1:32). Six patients were cured with liposomal amphotericin B (o deoxycholate) and one patient was cured with Glucantime®. The canine seroprevalence in 1182 dogs was 6.1% (IFI and rK39); the positive animals were destroyed. L. longipalpis was found in the houses. This is the principal vector of LV in Colombia. Conclusions The study showed that two zones of Neiva have children infected with LV. Diagnostic confirmation must include aspiration of bone marrow and IIFs. Treatment with miltefosine was not helpful, but liposomal amphotericin B is an ideal therapy. To control LV, active case searching, community education and vector and reservoir control is necessary.

Objetivo Estudiar clínica y epidemiológicamente focos de leishmaniasis visceral (LV) urbana en Neiva (Colombia). Materiales y Métodos Seis niños consultaron por hepato-esplenomegalia. Presentaban anemia y leucopenia. Se realizó biopsia por aspiración de medula ósea (5 pacientes) y de bazo (1 paciente). Se hizo búsqueda activa de casos en la comunidad y de anticuerpos anti-Leishmania infantum por inmunofluorescencia indirecta (IFI) en los sintomáticos y en reservorios caninos (IFI, rK39). Se hicieron visitas domiciliarias para educación comunitaria y búsqueda de vectores. Los pacientes recibieron Miltefosina, Anfotericina B o Glucantime®. Resultados Se confirmó LV en siete niños. En seis, el aspirado de medula ósea o bazo demostró amastigotes. La IFI fue positiva en 4 pacientes y negativa en 3. Un niño se detectó por búsqueda activa comunitaria, con clínica de LV, confirmada por IFI (1:32). La miltefosina no fue útil en 6 de los 7 casos. La Anfotericina B liposomal o deoxicolato, curó 6 pacientes y el Glucantime® uno. La seroprevalencia en 1182 caninos (IFI y rK39) fue de 6.1 %; los animales positivos fueron sacrificados. Se demostró Lu. longipalpis, vector de LV, en el peridomicilio. Conclusiones Demostramos LV urbana en dos comunas de Neiva. La confirmación diagnóstica incluyó aspiración de medula ósea e IFI. La Miltefosina no fue útil. La Anfotericina B liposomal fue la terapia ideal. Para controlar la LV es necesario hacer BAC, educación comunitaria, control de vectores y reservorios.

Trobofilias hereditárias têm sido implicadas na patogênese da doenca de Legg-Calvé-Perthes. Uma investigação do fator de risco hereditário mais comum para hipercoagulabilidade - a mutação no gene do fator V (fator V de Leiden) - foi conduzida em 20 pacientes com Legg-Calvé-Perthes e 214 controles sadios. A prevalência do fator V de Leiden foi maior nos pacientes com Legg-Calvé-Perthes que no grupo controle (30 vs. 1,87%). A razão de chances (odds ratio) para o desenvolvimento de Legg-Calvé-Perthes foi de 22,5 (p<0,05; intervalo de confiança: 5,68- 89.07). Estes dados sugerem, o fator V de Leiden como fator de risco hereditário para hipercoagulabilidade associada ao desenvolvimento da doença de Legg-Calvé-Perthes.

Inherited tendency to hypercoagulability has been suggested as a cause of vascular thrombosis resulting in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. An investigation of the most common inherited risk factor for hypercoagulability - the mutation in the V-factor gene (Leiden's V-factor) - was carried out among 20 Patients diagnosed with Legg- Calvé-Perthes disease. Patients were compared with 214 healthy controls. The prevalence of the Leiden's V-factor was higher in patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease than in controls (30% vs. 1,87%). The odds ratio for the development of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in the presence of the Leiden's V-factor mutation was 22,5 (p<0,05; confidence interval: 5,68-89.07). These data suggest the Leiden's V-factor as an inherited risk factor for hypercoagulability associated with the development of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

O artigo analisa a relação entre mídia e Islã no Brasil, considerando especialmente a produção jornalística de estereótipos que consagram uma política específica de interpretação dos muçulmanos e sua fé. Partindo de dados coletados durante pesquisa junto à comunidade sunita do Rio de Janeiro, tem por objetivo apresentar o discurso da mídia sobre o Islã enquanto um processo reversível, com consequências e efeitos na construção identitária dos muçulmanos. Analisando tanto a representação destes produzida pela mídia quanto sua resposta a ela, é possível revelar o diálogo entre a produção de estigmas e a construção de adscrições positivas de identidade.

This article provides an analysis of the relationship between the media and Islam in Brazil, focusing especially on the journalistic production of stereotypes that instil a specific politics of interpretation of Muslims and their faith. Drawing on data collected during more wide-ranging research on the Muslim Sunni community in Rio de Janeiro, the article aims to present media discourse on Islam as a two-way process, with effects and consequences for the construction of identity in the Muslim community. Analyzing both the representation of Muslims produced by the media and the community's response makes it possible to reveal the dialogue between the creation of stigmas and the construction of positive ascriptions of identity.

A dot enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) was previously developed to detect specific antibodies in rabbits sera immunized against FIA protein obtained from Yersina pestis. This antigen was covalently linked onto the surface of dacron (polyethyleneterephthalate). Here, standard conditions are described for the optimization of this procedure: an amount of 20 ng of FIA protein was fixed onto dacron; anti-rabbit IgG peroxidase conjugate diluted 1:8,000 and 30% non-fat instant milk as blocking substance were used throughout the method. This procedure was compared with that employing nitrocellulose as solid-phase which showed to be more sensitive. However, the method based on dacron did not show false positive reactions against non-immunized rabbits sera at low antigen amount and diluted anti-IgG peroxidase conjugate.

Dacron (polyethylenetherephthalate) is proposed as a matrix for dot-ELISA procedures, as an alternative to nitrocellulose. Plates of dacron were partially hydrazinolyzed and hydrazide groups introduced were converted to azide groups. The derivative dacron-antigen was covalently linked on to the plates through these azide groups. The derivative dacron-antigen was exaustively washed according to CROOK and antigen was still fixed onto the plates. Protein F1A purified from Yersinia pestis was used as a model. Triration of sera from immunized and non immunized rabbits against this protein was carried out by employing the dot-ELISA method. No significant difference was observed using dacron-antigen and nitrocellulose-antigen preparations. However, both procedures showed to have a significant better performance in comparasion with the passive hemagglutination method. The specificity and reproductibility of the dot-ELISA assay using both preparations showed a similar behaviour. Nitrocellulose preparation was stable at 4ºC, 28ºC and -20ºC for 90 days, whereas the dacron-antigen derivative was stable only when stored at 4ºC. Dacron-antigen derivative could be re-used when the spot developing was proceeded using 4-chloro-1-naphtol as substrate.

Os efeitos do levamisole nas alterações histopatológicas, resistência do hospedeiro e quimiotaxia "in vivo" foram estudados na infecção experimental pelo Schistosoma mansoni em camundongos da linhagem C57B1/10. O tratamento profilático resultou em um aumento no número de vermes adultos obtidos pela perfusão e também em uma taxa de mortalidade maior (p < 0,05). As alterações histopatológicas (fígado e intestino) foram similares em todos os grupos. Uma redução significante da quimiotaxia "in vivo" ocorreu em camundongos controles infectados, assim como naqueles submetidos a tratamento profilático com levamisole. A atividade quimiotática atingiu os mesmos níveis dos camundongos controles normais (não-infectados e não-tratados com levamisole), quando o esquema curativo foi usado. O levamisole parece aumentar a susceptibilidade de camundongos da linhagem C57B1/10 à infecção pelo S. mansoni quando administrado antes da infecção e normaliza a atividade quimiotática, quando dado após a infecção.

The effects of levamisole on the histopathological changes, host's resistance and "in vivo" chemotaxis in Schistosoma mansoni experimental infection of C57B1/10 inbred mice were studied. Prophylatic treatment resulted in an increase in the number of adult worms obtained by perfusion and also increased the mortality rate (p < 0.05). The histopathological changes (liver and intestines) were similar in all the groups. A significant reduction of "in vivo" chemotaxis occurred in infected control mice as well as in those submitted to prophylatic treatment with levamisole. Chemotatic activity reached the same levels of normal control mice (non-infected and non-treated with levamisole), when the curative scheme was used. Levamisole seems to increase the susceptibility of inbred C57B1/10 mice to the infection with S. mansoni when administered prior to the infection and increase the chemotatic activity to normal levels when given after infection.

Foram estudados os efeitos da betametasona administrada na fase pós-aguda imediata de uma infecção pelo T. cruzi em camundongos. O tratamento consistiu de 30 doses diárias de 0,15 mg de betametasona, a partir de 42° dia de infecção, não havendo aparecimento de novos surtos de parasitemia. No tempo de duração do experimento (7 meses) não houve diferença entre as lesões histopatológicas dos animais tratados e dos não tratados. O grupo experimental apresentou uma maior mortalidade acumulada no 75º dia de infecção, o que pode ser atribuído a infecções bacterianas associadas. Por outro lado, camundongos albinos "outbred", infectados com baixo inóculo, não se apresentaram como bom modelo de doença de Chagas, já que não desenvolveram lesões importantes nem na fase aguda nem após 7 meses de infecção. Em conclusão, o tratamento imunosupressivo prolongado, após a fase aguda de uma infecção mínima com a cepa Ydo T. cruzi não tem influência sobre o curso da infecção, pelo menos no que tange ao agravamento da mesma.

In this experiment, the effect of betamethasone administered in the early post- acute infection of mice by Trypanosoma cruzi was studied. This drug was administered during 30 days after the 42nd day of infection in a dose of 0.15 mg/day. The betamethasone treatment did not cause fresh outbreaks of parasitemia and the histopathological findings in the chronic phase were not different from those in the control group. The higher cumulative mortality after treatment in the experimental group was due to superimposed bacterial infections. Outbred albino mice infected with low numbers ofY strain Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes were not suitable models for Chagas' disease, since after 7 months of observation only mild histological lesions developed in all the animais. Prolonged betamethasone treatment of mice infected with low numbers o/Trypanosoma cruzi of the Y strain, during the post-acute phase did not aggravate the course of infection.