RCAAP Repository

The aim of the present study was to find a relation between salivary peptides, caries experience and mutans streptococci (MS) levels in saliva of caries free (CF) and caries susceptible (CS) children in early childhood. One hundred and six 10 – 71 month-old children participated in the study. Fifty-eight children were CF and 48 who had experienced dental caries formed the CS group. Two samples of whole saliva were collected from all participants. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected, subsequently centrifuged. Supernatants were lyophilized, divided into two pools (CF and CS) and individual samples, and stored at -20oC for posterior analysis using LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) to study the peptide profile. Identification of salivary peptides was based on theoretical molecular masses available from online databases. Stimulated whole saliva was collected and used for MS detection in MSB agar medium. MS concentration in saliva was reported in cfu/mL. Dental examination was performed and dmfs/dmft scores were calculated. Data was analysed by using logistic regression. The chromatograms from CF and CS pools of saliva had different peak patterns. The identification of molecular masses suggested the presence of 9 peptides. Three of them were significantly related with caries experience. The presence of HNP-3 (α-defensin 3) (p = 0.019) and HBD-3 (β-defensin 3) (p = 0.034) reduced the chances of experiencing early childhood caries (ECC). The presence of PRP IB-4 significantly increased caries experience (p = 0.035). In addition, age (p = 0.020) and MS counts (p = 0.036) increased caries experience, however gender was not associated with dental caries (p = 0.877). Our results suggest that presence of specific peptides in saliva of CF or CS children in early childhood predisposes to a higher or lower risk of caries experience.

Two decades following the first cases of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (Aids) registered in Brazil, health care for individuals living with HIV/Aids is still a significant challenge. Within this context, the need to implement an integrated health policy for this group has been frequently discussed. This is particularly relevant for oral health services, where the Family Health Program (PSF-Programa Saúde da Família) offers a potential tool to address this issue. This study has the objective of examining the political and organizational oral health strategies for people with HIV/Aids in the municipality of Fortaleza, Ceará state, and verifying the extent of oral care services in the municipal basic health structure. The methodology consisted of a qualitative and documentary study based on a systematic review of the literature and technical guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and the secretariats of the State of Ceará and Municipality of Fortaleza. Additionally, the researchers used a quantitative approach using secondary data from the National Notifiable Diseases Health Information System (SINAN - Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação). Finally, a snapshot of current conditions was taken by means of a questionnaire applied to 186 dental surgeons (DS) working in the PSF in Fortaleza. Analysis was undertaken using descriptive statistics, in particular tables and thematic maps to display the spatial distribution of the disease in Fortaleza, in addition to the literature review. Relatively little official documentation was found (policies and technical guidelines) relative to the oral health services for people living with HIV/Aids, especially at the federal level which only has articles and manuals available, mostly dealing with biosecurity and opportunistic oral lesions. The majority of official documentation was found at the municipal level. The study showed that until 2007, there were 3,311 people living with HIV/Aids in Fortaleza and that these individuals reside throughout the municipality. It was also determined that over half (58.06%) of the DS working in the PSF are aware of the presence of people with HIV/Aids in their working area, yet only 29.57% affirmed that they had treated members of this group in their health unit. The oral health care offered to this group was not equally distributed in the municipality; rather it was concentrated in a few locations, particularly the Executive Secretariat of Region II. It has been concluded that, despite international recognition given to the Brazilian National STD/Aids Program, it is necessary to move forward the debate on oral health services offered to this population group and that the treatment given to people with HIV/Aids has not been consolidated as a key component of oral health services offered by the PSF. This goes against a municipal policy already in existence directed towards this goal, thereby indicating the need for the reorganization and reorientation of the oral health care available to people with HIV/Aids.

The importance of the action of fluoride in the control of dental caries has been proved internationally over the period of many years, such that the fluoridation of public water supply has been accepted as a key control method. It is not enough, however, to simply apply fluoride to water; it is also necessary to assure that the population receives the appropriate quantity of the element. For this to happen, a surveillance system must be in place with the objective of monitoring the fluoridation of public water sources (heterocontrol). Within this context, the objective of this study is to evaluate the heterocontrol of fluoride levels in the water supply of Fortaleza, Ceará, through a descriptive, observational, longitudinal study. Towards this end, qualitative and quantitative analyses were employed. In the qualitative approach, we sought to understand the ways in which Fortaleza controls its water quality with respect to fluoride levels, describing the methodology used by the Environmental Health Surveillance System of Fortaleza for heterocontrol. For data collection, a semi-structured interview with a script was used and applied to the technicians responsible for heterocontrol. The interviews were conducted by the researcher, using a recorder to tape the answers given by the interviewees. In relation to the quantitative approach, the study sought to determine the fluoride levels in the Fortaleza public water supply according to the Municipal Environmental Surveillance Sector, and subsequently to compare these results to those of the Ceará Water Works (CAGECE), verifying the existence of under or over dosage. The period of January to November 2006 was defined to evaluate the data of the two institutions, using Student’s t-test to compare the averages of fluoride levels taken by Fortaleza Environmental Surveillance and CAGECE and to compare the averages with the standard values of 0.6 ppm of fluoride (minimum value) and 0.8 ppm (maximum value). Following the qualitative analysis, it was verified that there exists a structured system in the municipality of Fortaleza to collect, impound, store and analyze water samples in order to determine fluoride levels as well as the geographic distribution of the water collection sites and the training of those responsible for sample impounding. However, it was observed that fewer samples are analyzed per month than is ideal. As for the quantitative analysis, Fortaleza Environmental Surveillance found elevated fluoride levels over the period under study with an average of 0.8532 ppm and 53.6% of analyses above the accepted limits, thereby increasing the risk of dental fluorosis. Differences in the analyses of Fortaleza Environmental Surveillance and CAGECE were also encountered over this period, suggesting the need for more analysis to determine the true fluoride concentration in the city’s water supply. We conclude that the capital city of Ceará does have a methodology for heterocontrol, based on its scientific and technical documents. However, there are inherent flaws in the recent implementation of fluoride surveillance in the public water supply. We also conclude that there is no consensus between the data of the two institutions researched, thus making it necessary to undertake new analyses to identify the correct fluoride levels in the Fortaleza water supply and definitively establish the levels to be supplied to the general public.

Dental wear is the non-carious loss of dental hard tissue, characterized by a multifactorial etiology with the main factor the interaction between erosion caused by acids from diet or endogenous and abrasives forces intra-oral. This dissertation consisting of two articles, which aim, respectively: (1) to critically review the available literature about the techniques of analysis of micromorphological changes in structure dental subject to erosion and/or abrasion, (2) to evaluate the effect of NaF and MFP in dentifrices available in market in the prevention of demineralization of tooth structure by erosive or erosive and abrasive process. In study 1, the scientific literature to the issue was searched using base of data nationals and internationals and manual tracing of references cited in scientific papers. In study 2, a in situ study, randomized, double-blind, crossover, slipt-mouth was conducted in three phases of 5 days each, with the participation of 15 volunteers who used palatal devices, containing 4 blocks of human tooth enamel treated with different dentifrices: control (11,2 ppm F, silica), MFP (1450 ppm F, silica) and NaF (1450 ppm F, silica). The slabs were subjected to erosion by immersion in a cola drink (Coca-Cola®) for 60 s, 4 times a day, at predetermined times. Then, the volunteers brushed their teeth, for 25 seconds and, with the device in the mouth, swished the dentifrice/saliva slurry for 60 seconds, after on side of appliance (2 blocks) was brushed with a small portion of the dentifrice by 40 brushing strokes. The enamel changes were evaluated for microhardness test and scanning electron microscopy. Data scores were submitted to ANOVA (p < 0,05). The critical review presented in study 1 showed which the literature presents different methods for analysis of dental wear, ranging from techniques well-established to techniques of recent use, therefore their expertise is needed for the development of future studies. The results of study 2 demonstrated that there was no differences in remineralization effect of fluoride dentifrices in the condition of erosion and erosion plus abrasion in relation of control group (p > 0,05). However, the harness data concerning to condition (erosion or erosion + abrasion) showed different statistically (p < 0.0001). The results of these studies indicate the knowledge about techniques of analysis of dental wear is essential for its determination. Moreover, it is imperative the realization of more studies to evaluate the fluoride effect in form of NaF or MFP, present in dentifrices available in the market using complementary techniques that allow the measurement of wear.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a pathogen strongly associated with the etiology of aggressive periodontitis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) the presence of highly and minimally leukotoxic clones of A. actinomycetemcomitans in patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and their family members (FM). Thirty five patients with AgP (33,9 ± 7,1 years), 33 FM (22,8 ± 11,4 years) and 41 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) (44,1 ± 9,4 years) were clinical analyzed through plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Subgingival biofilm samples were collected from the interproximal periodontal sites (> PD and > CAL) of each patient and their microbiological analysis were taken by PCR, concerning A. actinomycetemcomitans was observed and its leukotoxic clones. The PD and CAL average of this sites were: AgP – 9,8 mm e 10,7 mm, FM – 5,3 mm e 4,6 mm e CP – 8,2 mm e 9,4 mm. Statistically significant difference was observed among the groups. The presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans was observed in 23 (51,1%) patients with aggressive periodontitis and in others ones, 16 (30,1%) with chronic periodontitis. Among them 37 (94,8%) showed minimally leukotoxic clones and 2 (5,1%) highly leukotoxic clone, one was AgP group, the other was FM group, also with aggressive disease. Concerning to periodontal status of the FM group, 30,3% had aggressive periodontitis, 36,3% chronic periodontitis and 33,3% were periodontally normal or had gingivitis. Among them 12,2% were A. actinomycetemcomitans positive. The higher values of PD and CAL were observed in aggressive periodontitis patients that were A. actinomycetemcomitans positive when compared with A. actinomycetemcomitans negative patients (p<0.05). The presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans was correlated with aggressive periodontitis clinical status (Odds ratio=3,1; CI: 1,4-7,0; p=0,009). The majority of the patients with aggressive periodontitis exhibited a generalized form of disease and were positives to minimally leukotoxic A. actinomycetemcomitans clones. The family members had any type of chronic or aggressive periodontal disease.

The electronic foramen locators (EFLs) currently available are based on different methods for determination of the distance between the apical foramen and a coronal reference, consequently presenting the real root canal length. Each of these methods aim to offer greater precision while presenting lower sensitivity to potential interferences found in the root canal system. With this in mind, the goal of this work was to evaluate the precision of some of these EFLs ex vivo and in vivo for electronic measurement of the root canal length at two different positions (0.0 mm and -1.0 mm) and under clinical conditions, respectively. In the ex vivo study, 42 mandibular bicuspids had their actual lengths compared to electronic measurements performed by the following EFLs: Root ZX, Mini Apex Locator, Propex II, iPex, and RomiApex A-15. Initial measurements were performed to positions identified by the devices as 1.0 mm short of the apical foramen (AF), and subsequent measurements were at the AF (0.0 mm). For the in vivo study, ten patients with bicuspids referred for extraction as part of their orthodontic clinical planning had electronic root length measurements using two EFLs, Propex II and Root ZX, prior to extraction. The last files used were fixated to the teeth, which were then extracted. Then, the apical 4 mm of the canals were exposed to allow assessment of the distance between the tip of the file and the AF. The percentages of precision from the ex vivo electronic measurements at 0.0 mm and -1.0 mm considering each device were: 70.6% and 47.1% (Root ZX); 61.8% and 52.9% (Mini Apex Locator); 67.6% and 38.2% (Propex II); 61.8% and 38.2% (iPex); and 73.5% and 38.2% (RomiApex A-15), respectively (±0.5 mm). Statistical differences were observed for Propex II, iPex, and RomiApex A-15 when measurements at both positions were compared (0.0 mm X -1.0 mm). No significant differences between the EFLs were observed at 0. 0 mm. However, at -1.0 mm, the precision of iPex was statistically lower compared with the other devices. Regarding the in vivo study, the AF was located in 75% (Root ZX) and 66.7% of the teeth (Propex II), under a tolerance margin of ±0.5 mm. Statistically significant differences were observed between the two EFLs. Based on the results obtained and considering the conditions of this work, it was concluded that EFLs are reliable tools for determining the real length of the canal, but are not infallible. It was also observed in the ex vivo experiments that all EFLs had decreased precision in measurements with the instruments short of the AF, with significant differences observed between Propex II, iPex, and RomiApex A-15. Moreover, it was concluded that under clinical conditions, Root ZX was more reliable than Propex II.

The Construction industry consumes about half of natural resources extracted from the planet, but a large number of companies are investing to build a culture of loss reduction, recycling, reuse of waste, besides the use of new materials and alternative techniques, said sustainable. The federal government, because it is the largest contractor in Brazil, has encouraged its use by businesses, with the publication of the Normative Instruction number 01/2010 of the Ministry, Budget, Planning and Management, however, by virtue of the Public Procurement Law No. 8666/93, is not entirely possible the purchase and use of such materials. Within this context, this paper aims to establish guidelines for the use of sustainable materials and techniques to be incorporated into the designs and bidding documents governed by the law number 8666/93. We chose a project that will be built in the Campus do Pici, Universidade Federal do Ceará, which served as a case study. We studied the available technologies and sustainable materials, made visits to private sector companies, already use them, picked them both economically and technically viable, to be used in the specifications of the work studied. We conclude that the use of simple techniques and materials within easy reach below 10% increase in value of the work and that even having an initial cost a bit higher investment is paid in a few years, generating over the years, a great savings for the government, it is necessary to instigate actions that involve the use of natural resources.

The visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious problem of public health in the Latin America and has shown an increase mortality in the Brazil. This is a systemic infectious disease involving the bone marrow, causing many hematologic manifestations. Objetives: to describe LV bone marrow features and correlate cytomorphological findings with peripheral blood parameters and the disease severity: Methodology: It is a retrospective study with gathering clinical and laboratory data of patients attended at three references hospital of Ceará State between june 2001 and August 2010. Were included 126 patients with a LV diagnosis confirmed by detection of the parasite in bone marrow and/or by positive sorology, by rK39. The slides of bone marrow aspiration of all patients were evaluated and the parasite load and the hematologic parameters were determined.The gravity was determined by the risk of death using the scoring system. Results: The age ranged from 5 months to 79 years and 74% were male. The patients from urban area accounted 68,2%. Comorbidities were associated in 31,7% patients. The more frequently finding of bone marrow were moderate/high parasite load (57,2%), dysplasia with predominance of dyserythropoiesis (80,9%), hemophagocytosis (30,1%) and granuloma (22,2%).There was one positive association between parasite load and serious neutropenia, neutrophil <500/mm3 (p=0,04), and hemophagocytosis (p=0,05). In this present study, using the model predictions based on scores was observed that 23,8% were classified as high risk of death. Most patients with a score considered with high risk of death had normocelular bone marrow, parasite load moderate/high, dyserythropoiese and dysgranulopoiese. In relation to the presence of granuloma there was a negative association statistically significant in the patients with high risk of death (p=0,02). The study points to possible diagnostic and prognostic indicators identified in the bone marrow of patients with VL.

In order to focus on the importance of laboratorial diagnosis of extrapulmonary mycobacteria, except renal, we employed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Clinical samples (body fluids) were tested by PCR for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (MNTB). We compared the results obtained through the PCR with the ones obtained through conventional microbiological methods. The 114 clinical samples were obtained from internal patients or from or in ambulatorial attendance with clinical suspicion of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, except renal. The samples were collected from 2001 to 2003, and ceded to this research by the Laboratório de Microbiologia do Laboratório Central do Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio (HUWC-UFC), and by the Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública da Secretaria de Saúde do Estado do Ceará (LACEN-CE). The direct microscopy and culture were negative in all the samples. The molecular research, for the Mycobacterium genus was positive in 10 samples, and for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was negative in all the samples.

Leprosy is a world problem of health and Brazil has the second higher rates of new cases in the world. It is considered an endemic disease at Ceará and a total of 1,952 new cases were detected, reaching a detection rate of 22.8/100,000 inhabitants. The interaction between the M. leprae and different T cells stimulates the production of a Th1 or a Th2 pattern of cytokines, which are responsible for the different clinical forms of leprosy. Th1 cytokines (IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α) were found in tuberculoid skin lesions while Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10) were found in lepromatoid lesions. Leprosy is influenced by many distinct factors, among them, genetic factors are the most studied at this moment. Cytokine genes seem to influence the interaction between the pathogen and the host and contribute to the development or not of the disease. The IL-10 is an antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory cytokine which has too much polymorphic promoter regions with microsatellites and SNPs. Different haplotypes are associated to distinct levels of cytokine production in vitro. Many studies reported associations between IL-10 polymorphisms and the risk or the protection against many diseases. However, the data reported have been contradictory and most of the associations between these polymorphisms and the production of IL-10 are showed in in vitro studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the promoter region polymorphisms of IL-10 influence the cytokine levels production in vivo, during the M. leprae infection. Serum levels of IL-10 were analyzed by ELISA in 181 individuals, 77 of them were leprosy cases, 74 household contacts and 30 healthy controls. Among them, 31 had IL-10 polymorphism typed in the case group, 33 in household contact group and 29 in healthy controls. Cases with polymorphism typed were stratified in low, medium and high levels of cytokine production. Differences in the IL-10 production were compared among leprosy cases (pauci and multibacillary), household contacts, healthy controls, genotypes and alleles distribution found in the groups. Kruskall-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to analyze mean values of IL-10 levels. No differences were observed between cases, contacts and controls (p=0.7450), pauci and multibacillary (p=0.7898), phenotypes of IL-10 production (low, medium or high) (p=0.4355). A significant difference in the IL-10 levels between cases and controls was found associated to the alleles -1082A,-819C and -592C (p<0.05) and between cases and contacts associated to the alleles -819C and -592C (p<0.05). No differences were found between contacts and controls (p>0.05). In conclusion, the -1082G>A, -819C>T and -592G>C IL-10 genotypes did not influence the IL-10 production or the M. leprae infection outcome. On the other hand, -1082A,-819C e -592C alleles determined a lower production of IL-10 in cases of leprosy. Keywords: Leprosy; Polymorphisms; IL-10; Serum levels; Contacts.

Introduction: Neoplasic transformation is associated with alterations in the composition of cellular carbohydrates, which determine special cellular characteristics, such as behavior, growth, differentiation and adhesivity. Lectins are proteins which have affinity with specific carbohydrates, so they serve as tools in several fields of diagnostic and prognostic investigations on cancer and on metastases. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) is an heterogenous neoplasia in clinical, biological, and responsive aspects concerning treatment. There is currently an intense search for new markers which can have practical value in predicting HL behavior and prognosis. This study investigates, in cases of HL classical form (CHL) the expression of specific glyconjugates for Artocarpus incisa L (frutalin), a vegetable aD-galactose-binding lectin, in Reed-Sternberg cells (RS) and their variations. Materials and Methods: The study assessed 54 paraffin blocks containing lymphonodes with morphological and immunohistochemical diagnosis for CHL; 31 of the Nodular Esclerosis type (HLNE); 18 of the Mixed Cellularity type (HLMC); 3 of the Inter-folicular type (HLIN); and 2 of the Lymphocyte-rich type (HLLR). Then 3-mm histological cuts were made and fixed to sylated slides and processed through the strep-avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique (strep ABC), using the biotilinated frutalin (Fb) as probe. Cases of thyroid’s papillary carcinoma were considered positive controls; study’s cutoffs excluding Bf were considered negative ones. Clinical data were obtained through records review. Results: Three positivity patterns have been detected: cytoplasmic (Fbc), membranous (Fbm) and golgian (Fbg) (paranuclear punctiform coloration), which were also classified according to intensity: weak (+) and strong (++/+++). Global positivity for Fb in RS cells was 85.2% (46/54), same frequency as global positivity of CD15 sample. The Fbg marking pattern was the most frequent one, present in 91.3% (42/46) of positive cases (p=0.008). No statistically significant association was observed between frutalin markers, and clinical and stadiament data; initial response to treatment; CHL histological and phenotype subtype. Conclusion: Fb can be used as marker for RS cells and their variations. This use, associated with the morphological study, can be an useful tool for CHL diagnosis. With this number of cases, no correlation between marking pattern and clinical presentation or oncobiological factors that could be considered a prognosis indicator for CHL has been observed so far.

Thrombotic diseases are a serious problem for public health. Several hereditary and environmental factors, that affect physiological anticoagulant system, have been nowadays well established as risk factors for thrombosis. Among hereditary factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutation are the most frequents. The association between several modifications on factor V gene and prothrombin gene in the development of thrombotic events has brought about future searches. In this study, 189 patients with thrombosis attended at the Hematology and Hemoterapy Center of Ceará state –HEMOCE/ Brazil, were analyzed to find out the presence of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutation The control group was made up 349 healthy volunteers. In this study, the frequency found of factor V Leiden the control population was of 2% (7/349) and in the patients was 9% (17/189) while the frequency found of prothrombin G20210A mutation the control population was of 1,7% (6/349) and in the patients was 2,1% (4/189). Among hereditary factors only factor V Leiden was significant statistic (p<0,001). Among environmental factors studied, tabagism, age > 40 anos and femele were significant statistic (p<0,001). The ODDS RATIO of the risk factors with significant statistic were factor V de Leiden (4,8; 5,3; 9,8), tabaco (17,6; 14,9; 33,3), age > 40 years old (2) and female (3,7 e 4,1). Our results demonstrate that factor V Leiden, tabagism, age > 40 years old and female were associated with development trombosis in Ceará.

Gastric carcinoma is the second cause of death by cancer in the world. On State of Ceara-Brazil is the second most frequent type of cancer in men and third in women. Adenocarcinomas account for approximately 95% of all malignant gastric neoplasms. It has been associated to genetic and environmental factors and a intimate relationship between the infection by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori and the gastric carcinoma have been related. The presence of the cagA gene and specific genotypes (s1m1) of the gene vacA have been detected in more pathogenic strains. Although the precise molecular mechanisms by which H. pylori could promote the process of gastric carcinogenesis are under investigation, one hypothesized mechanism involves the tumor supressor genes inactivation. The aim of the present study was to verify if the presence of Helicobacter pylori, cagA and vacA genes is related to mutations in the tumor supressor gene p53 and altered expression of p53 and p27 proteins in gastric adenocarcinomas. Seventy-four (74) samples were analyzed to detect the presence of H. pylori, cagA and genotypes of vacA by Polymerization Chain Reaction (PCR). The mutational analysis of p53 gene was performed by PCR-SSCP (Polymerization Chain Reaction for analysis of the Single-strand Conformation Polymorphism). Analysis of mutation or overexpression of p53 protein and p27 expression was detected by the immunohistochemical method. The bacteria was detected in 95% of the samples, 63% was cagA(+). Among the vacA allele it was observed prevalence of s1 (74%) and m1 (82%), associated in 69% of the cases. Mutation analysis of p53 demonstrated 72% of the cases with altered electrophoretic mobility; The alterations were significatively more frequent in the presence of the cagA gene. Immunohistochemical analysis detected only 29% of cases with the expression of p53 protein. The protein p27 showed accentuated reduction in its expression (detected in only 19% of the cases), it has not demonstrated compensatory activity in relation to the p53 altered protein, neither association to H. pylori presence. Finally, these data suggest that simultaneous inactivation of these tumor suppressors genes may be the key point of deregulation of the cellular cycle that, associated to the other factors, favor the development and progression of the gastric cancer. There is some evidence that the bacterial presence, cagA and vacA/s1m1 genes, may influence, in a not understood way, the alterations observed in the tumor suppressors p53 and p27.

Quando fazem o repasto sanguíneo, fêmeas do flebotomíneo inoculam promastigotas de Leishmania junto com a saliva no lago sanguíneo formado pelo traumatismo da probóscida do inseto, na derme do hospedeiro mamífero. O sistema imunológico do hospedeiro, na tentativa de controlar a infecção, recruta leucócitos para o sítio inflamatório da inoculação. Neste trabalho foi avaliada a cinética e o recrutamento celular induzidos por Leishmania chagasi, principal agente etiológico da leishmaniose visceral nas Américas, e sua associação com a saliva do vetor específico, Lutzomyia longipalpis, além do sangue do próprio hospedeiro, com o objetivo de entender melhor os eventos iniciais da infecção por Leishmania. Foi utilizado o modelo da bolsa de ar subcutânea em hamsters para analisar o recrutamento e o fenótipo das células que migraram para o sítio da inflamação induzida por L. chagasi, associada ou não a sangue do hospedeiro e a saliva do vetor. Foram estudados também os tipos celulares e as alterações histopatológicas observados no tecido da bolsa de ar. Os dados mostraram que L. chagasi, quando inoculada sozinha, foi capaz de recrutar uma população mista de células, entretanto, grande parte destas células não migrou para o exsudato inflamatório, permanecendo no tecido da bolsa de ar. Por outro lado, a associação de L. chagasi com o sangue do hospedeiro e a saliva do vetor resultou na exacerbação da resposta inflamatória, influenciando também o perfil celular recrutado para o sítio de inoculação, indicando que o sangue e a saliva apresentam um efeito sinérgico com a Leishmania na modulação da resposta inflamatória inicial. Os dados sugerem ainda que Leishmania e os componentes sanguíneos do hospedeiro por si só têm potencial para induzir um processo inflamatório que pode favorecer ou não o estabelecimento do parasito, e que a saliva é um fator a mais que, quando acrescentado ao microambiente, pode exacerbar esta resposta inflamatória. Em suma, a associação de L. chagasi com o sangue do hospedeiro e a saliva do vetor induz uma importante resposta inflamatória, caracterizada pela presença de neutrófilos, eosinófilos, macrófagos e linfócitos, sendo os neutrófilos e macrófagos os tipos celulares predominantes. O efeito sinérgico do sangue e da saliva provavelmente facilita a entrada dos parasitos nas células recrutadas e a consequente progressão da doença.

The present works aimed to identify the causes that make students to have difficulties in the study of integer numbers, verifying accurately the up to what level they manage property that number system, as well to seize the most popular mistakes made by students. In the first part, we offer theoretical bases supported by opinions of authors about the subject. Included in the first part is also a brief history about the evolution of the integer number system, in particular who it appeared, when it started being used, who mathematicians organized the integer numbers system, the origin of the symbols (+) plus and (-) minus. Also in this first part there are comments by authors regarding mathematics education, where they try to justify the low rate of learning in such a discipline. We comment on possible causes of the low performance of students in class and to whom one should blame: Teacher? Student? Educational system? School? For some authors, the success of learning depends a bit on all of these factors, thus teachers, students, educational system and school ought to do their part. Through the didactical strategies suggested, we can understand how the learning process happens and in which situation a student seize the knowledge. In the second part of this work, we perform a research with 100 students from four schools in Fortaleza, making use of two different evaluations. Students are required to ordinate, classify and operate integer numbers. We show the teacher’s methodology, the obstacle faced by students when operating with integer numbers, an analysis of the difficulties in the study of integer numbers, keeping track of the mistakes in order to identify the most often ones in each school and afterwards combat them. Some conclusions, based on the sample data, are delivered at the end of this work, offering also some methodological tools.

The teaching of Science, particularly of Biological science, must be able of changing the student into a critical being, who pounders his reality and participates of it. An individual capable of questioning, understanding and solving problems in a global dimension, seeing beyond the old conception of a discipline that exists by its own, ignoring the other fields of knowledge. That being said, the act of teaching must be understood within the context of the school, in a appropriate manner, not only with the mere transmission of subjects, but also with an inquisitive direction, showing to the student how to comprehend and explain his own reality. However, it is no more time for the school to stand as the only source of knowledge, for today, also television, radio, internet, videos and other data work as agents in the act of spreading the knowledge in science as much for children as for adults. In this direction, the science taught in the school plays an essential role in the education of the students, through activities that make a high level of scientific education possible. It is necessary that the students may develop a contextualized and richer scientific vocabulary, in order to better understand the presented scientific concepts. This work aims to analyze the implications of making videos as a pedagogical resource in the act of teaching biological concepts. The applied methodology was a field research, made with 36 students from the last step of high school of a school located in Fortaleza/CE, from may to September of 2009. The students produced 2 videos: a documentary and a parody. Quizzes, interviews and the observation of the environment were used as source of data. The results show that the videos made inside the school and also, specially, outside of it have an expressive potential to influence the interest of the students in learning; the videos posted in the internet are often revisited by the students; making videos outside the school was even more productive; watching videos in the internet made easier the act of learning. The final comments show that digital technologies must definitely participate of the institution. This insertion must not forget about reflection or even result in a mere technological pile up of multimedia rooms. More important than the resources is to know how to properly use these technological media, making the act of learning actually less complicated.

American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) is an endemic disease in the Brazil. In spite of the measures employed to the control the disease continues in expansion and with tendency to urbanization. The northeast of Brazil excels with foci of this zoonosis, especially in the mountains and foothills around Ceará state. Cariri in the south of Ceará close to plateau of Araripe that reaches 900m, bordering the states of the Pernambuco, Piauí and Paraíba is kind of this place with scarce studies. The present work evaluated the clinical and epidemiological aspects of the ACL in the Cariri, especially emphasizing study histopathologic material originating from borders of the ulcers of 64 patients with ACL. The material studied came from APACIC histopatology laboratory (1990-2003), and Pathology laboratory of the Juazeiro do Norte Medicine School (Tropical Medicine Nucleus, 2000-2003). The archived material was constituted of the patient’s records, slides and paraffin blocks. The clinical and epidemiological informations were collected in the specific protocol. The histological material was examine by microscopic routine of the HE and Giemsa, sometimes others histotecnologies techniques were performed. The results revealed Barbalha with highest number of the ACL (n=30); ACL was predominantly rural (n= 38); urbanization of the ACL in the Juazeiro do Norte; male sex (n=39), brown skin (n= 43) and farmer’s (n= 13) prevailed; the ulcerated simple form (n= 63) was most common involving mainly the legs; the nonspecific chronic inflammatory reaction with repair response prevailed in the cases of the ACL; Montenegro skin test, serology and histopathology without identification of the parasites in the absence of the clinical and epidemiological setting should not be used separately to diagnosis ACL.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and aplastic anemia (AA) are two of the hematological disorders which present peripheral cytopenias, with extensive clinical manifestations that vary from slight anemia to severe pancytopenia; the latter requiring continuous transfusional reposition of red cell (RC) and platelet concentrates (PC), which can induce aloimunization in patients. Such patients can develop a post-transfusional refractory state, rendering further transfusions unviable. The objective of the present study was to investigate the incidence of anti-HLA antibodies in politransfused patients, and correlate the aloimmunity levels to the clinical profiles of MDS and AA patients. A total of 110 politransfused patients (70 with MDS, and 40 with AA) have been included in the study, with the MDS patients being subclassified into four clinical diagnostic categories: refractory anemia (RA), ringed-sideroblastic refractory anemia (RSRA), refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB) and refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-t). Blood serum samples from these patients were treated with dithiothreitol for the detection of anti-HLA class I antibodies, using the complement-dependent cytotoxicity test (CDC), in a panel of lymphocytes constituted on the basis of the frequency of HLA antigens in our population (PRA). The results showed that a larger number of AA patients were aloimmunized than MDS patients (45% v 28.6%), with the aloreactivity being higher in AA patients who received higher mean transfusions of PC, than in MDS patients who received higher average number of EC transfusions. The degree of aloimmunization was different in the two disorders, and was generally related to: the number of transfusions received, the application of un-deleukocytised PC and EC, and the type of immunosuppressant drugs used in treatment [Cyclosporin (CsA) and/or antiglobulin (ALG) therapy significantly reduced aloimmunization, but corticoids alone were not sufficient]. The highest degree of aloimmunity (Grade 4) was observed only in MDS females, particularly in those who had multiple births. Persistent IgG was also associated with Grade 4 aloimmunity. These results reveal that significant numbers of MDS and AA patients, if politransfused with un-deleukocytised PC and EC and un-treated with immunosuppressants CsA and/or ALG, can develop anti-HLA antibodies and become refractory to further transfusions. Such aloimmunized patients can also become potentially unsuited to receive bone marrow transplants from HLA-matched donors.

As metaloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) e -14 (MMP-14) e o inibidor tecidual de metaloproteinases tipo 2 (TIMP-2) participam de modo fundamental na transição epitelial-mesenquimal e progressão tumoral-linfonodal de muitos tipos de câncer, inclusive o gástrico. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a expressão das três enzimas no carcinoma gástrico e metástases linfonodais e suas possíveis participações na progressão tumoral. Foram utilizados 83 casos de gastrectomias por câncer gástrico (histotipo intestinal = 53 casos; difuso = 30 casos), e seus respectivos linfonodos, dos arquivos do Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal/UFC. Foi realizado tissue microarray e imunohistoquímica com anticorpo monoclonal anti-MMP-2, anti-MMP-14 e anti-TIMP-2, avaliada através dos seguintes escores: 0 = ausência de imunomarcação ou raras células marcadas (< 5%); 1 = marcação discreta na maioria (> 50%) das células tumorais ou inflamatórias mononucleadas (muitos dos quais identificados como macrófagos pelo CD68) ou marcação moderada em minoria de células (< 50%); 2 = marcação moderada na maioria (> 50%) das células tumorais ou inflamatórias mononucleadas ou marcação intensa em minoria de células (< 50%); 3 = marcação intensa na maioria (> 50%) das células tumorais ou inflamatórias mononucleadas. A expressão de MMP-2, MMP-14 e TIMP-2 nos mononucleares associados a tumores ocorreu com maior frequência comparada à imunomarcação em mononucleares da mucosa normal, com diferença significativa em relação a TIMP-2 (40/53 vs 12/26; *p = 0,0128, teste exato de Fisher). MMP-2 foi muito mais presente nas mulheres (p = 0,0248) enquanto TIMP-2 ocorreu predominantemente após os 50 anos (p = 0,0034). A expressão dos três biomarcadores nos carcinomas gástricos primários foi muito superior nos mononucleares, em relação às células neoplásicas, sobretudo para a MMP-2 (16/46 vs 5/46; *p = 0,0118), que também prevaleceu em mononucleares das metástases linfonodais em tumores dos histotipos intestinal e difuso (13/16 vs 4/19; ***p = 0,0006). Neste estudo, a expressão preponderante dos três imunomarcadores pelos mononucleares do conjuntivo reforça o papel central destas células e do microambiente tumoral na progressão do câncer gástrico. A maior expressão de TIMP-2 no sítio primário é sugestiva do efeito inibitório desta enzima sobre MMP-2 e MMP-14, que parecem participar principalmente em fases mais avançadas da progressão tumoral-linfonodal. A MMP-14, através dos mononucleares, parece estar mais envolvida na progressão do câncer gástrico difuso do que a MMP-2 e seu inibidor tissular.

Hodgkin lymphoma is a hematololgic B neoplasm occurring at patients within any age, however more likely to affect those from 15 to 40 years-old. The TP53 gene is 20kb length gene with 11 exons that encodes the p53 protein, which main function is related to the conservation and integrity of the genetic code. Most cancers show point mutations in the TP53 sequence. The analysis of these mutations allows a better understanding of the function of the diverse domains of the protein and its relationship to tumor suppression. There is only a few data about TP53 polymorphisms and Hodgkin lymphoma. In this manner, in our study we try to detect polymorphisms within the codons 272, 273, 278, 282, 306 of the exon 8 of the TP53 gene in Hodgkin lymphoma. In our survey we analyzed 42 paraffin-embedded tissues from 2000 to 2006. These samples were prepared for DNA extraction and PCR isolation and amplification of the 137bp fragment of the exon 8 of the TP53 gene, using exclusive primers specially designed to our experiment: PFw8 e PRv8. After PCR amplification, the products of the reaction were purified to the Sequencing reaction. The last part of the experiment encoded the bioinformatics analysis of sequences. DNA extraction and PCR amplification were successfully obtained in our study in all the samples. However, the DNA sequencing was only obtained in 32 samples, but there was no characteristic electropherogram of the analyzed region of the gene. Therefore, it was not possible to determine the presence or absence of SNPs in the TP53 exon 8.