RCAAP Repository

As doenças trombóticas constituem um sério problema na saúde mundial. Diversas desordens hereditárias, que afetam o sistema fisiológico anticoagulante, estão atualmente estabelecidas como fatores de risco para a ocorrência do evento trombótico. Dentre estes o fator V Leiden é o mais freqüente. A associação entre alterações no gene do fator V e a ocorrência de eventos trombóticos desencadeou o desenvolvimento de diversas pesquisas. Neste estudo, 100 pacientes portadores de eventos trombóticos, atendidos no ambulatório de Hematologia do Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Ceará - HEMOCE/SESA/UFC, foram analisados para a detecção da presença do fator V Leiden. O grupo controle consistiu de 110 voluntários sadios. A freqüência encontrada na população controle foi de 2,7% (03/110), enquanto que nos pacientes trombofílicos foi de 9% (09/100). Destes, 77,8% (07/09) eram do sexo feminino e 22,2% (02/09) do sexo masculino e a cor predominante foi a parda [66,7% (06/09)]. A faixa etária mais freqüente foi entre 26 e 33 anos [33,4% (03/09)]. Do total dos pacientes portadores do fator V Leiden, 88,9% (08/09) apresentaram trombose venosa profunda e 11,1% (01/09) trombose arterial com recorrência do evento trombótico de 22,2% (02/09). A correlação entre a presença do evento trombótico/presença do fator V Leiden e o uso de contraceptivo oral foi de 71,4% (05/07). Das pacientes portadoras e que usaram contraceptivo oral não ocorreu o aborto. A localização do primeiro evento trombótico, nos portadores, foi predominantemente nos membros inferiores [88,9% (08/09)] e 11,1% (01/09), nas artérias coronárias. Em 44,4% (04/09) havia um ou mais fatores de risco/morbidade associado. A freqüência da mutação encontrada no estado do Ceará mostrou-se inferior aos dados obtidos na região de Botucatu (SP) - 12% e ao estudo de Benson, em Atlanta (EUA)- 12,4 e ainda menor que os encontrados na região de Campinas (SP)- 20% e à população com ancestral europeu-18%. A diferença entre pacientes trombofílicos e população controle não foi estatisticamente significante (p=0,19), mas o risco estimado para o evento trombótico foi de 2,46.

The present study had the objective of investigating whether patients with Temporo-Mandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) reveal, at the time of clinical diagnosis, the presence of certain serological markers, such as rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrulinated cyclic peptide antibody (Anti-CCP) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA), which are commonly considered to be the markers for incidence and evolution of the rheumatic autoimmune diseases, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). The sample size for the study consisted of 98 individuals, with 69 patients - clinically diagnosed with Disk displacement, or other Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) conditions such as arthralgia, osteoarthrosis and osteoarthritis - constituting the experimental group, and a control group of 29 apparently healthy subjects. The experimental group patients were diagnosed by applying Questionnaire RDC/TMD (Research Diagnostic Criteria), and evaluation for involvement of other systems and body organs, in addition to head and neck. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all the individuals, and the serum samples evaluated for the presence of RF, Anti-CCP and ANA. Of the 98 individuals under study, 18 revealed presence of one or more of the serological markers investigated - 16 (26.08%) of them being TMD patients, and the other two (6.8%) from the control group. The TMJ patients positive for serum markers were predominantly women in the 4th and 5th decades of age. Comparative evaluations for possible associations between a variety of clinical symptoms of TMD and positive serological markers revealed that there was a significantly elevated morning stiffness, as also inflammation in other body articulations, in the seropositive group. These results enable us to suggest, if only provisionally, the following hypotheses to explain the incidence of serological markers for systemic rheumatic diseases in TMD patients: I. The clinical incidence of TMD may coincide, or coexist, with the possible evolution of other systemic rheumatic diseases; and II. The clinical evolution of TMD possibly predisposes the individual to the incidence of non-odontological systemic rheumatic pathologies. The eventual confirmation of both, or either, of these hypotheses could contribute to the early diagnosis and institution of more efficient therapeutic strategies for a better control of systemic rheumatic diseases.

The contraceptive method of vasectomy can be reversed, in certain circumstances, through surgical procedures; but the incidence of autoimmune antisperm humoral responses in some vasectomized individuals may impede attempts to restore fertility. In this context, investigations on the incidence and evolution of autoimmune responses in vasectomized individuals may contribute for the understanding of autoimmune infertility associated with vasectomy, as also for the assessment of viability of restorative surgeries for fertility. Twenty individuals who have requested voluntary vasectomy for contraception, most referred by the Assis Chateaubriand School of Maternity of the Federal University of Ceará, were selected for the study. Surgical vasectomy was performed by the author, in the Ambulatory ward of the Faculty of Medicine. Blood and semen samples were collected from the individuals prior to, and 30, 90 and 180 days after vasectomy. Antisperm IgG and IgA were evaluated in the Center for Assisted Reproduction of Ceará (CONCEPTUS), by “Immunobead” technique (IBT), using the direct method for the detection of antibodies in pre-vasectomy seminal samples, and the indirect IBT for evaluation of antibodies in semen samples after vasectomy, and for sera. Antibody presence was measured as >0% (all positive results) and ≥ 20% of spermatozoa bound to antibodies. The parameters studied were: i) comparative evaluations of the incidences of IgG and/or IgA in serum and/or semen; ii) evolution of the titers of these antibodies with time; and iii) the sites of binding of the antibodies in the spermatozoa of volunteers. All the pre-vasectomy serum and semen samples were devoid of antisperm antibodies; however, IgG and/or IgA were present in post-vasectomy serum and semen samples in a majority of individuals, in increasing numbers from 30 to 180 days. The simultaneous presence of IgG and IgA was always predominant. At >0% positivity, 25% of the individuals were positive in 30 days, with IgG or IgA individually present in very few. In 90 days, 60% of the vasectomized were positive, rising to 85% in 180 days. No positive reactivity was detected for ≥ 20%. Evaluation of antibodies in serum individually showed that positive results at ≥ 20% increased from one (30 days) to three in 90days, and to four in 180 days. In semen, this positivity was not detected. The evaluation of antibody titers (% of spermatozoa bound to antibodies) revealed increase of IgG and IgA with time both in serum and semen, with the former always ahead of IgA, and reaching mean values at 180 days of 7,9% (median – 5%) and 6,35% (4,5%); respectively for IgG and IgA. The midpiece and the tail of spermatozoa were the principal binding sites, in that order, for both IgG and IgA. These results show that up to 85% of individuals develop antisperm antibodies in 180 days after vasectomy, with a steadily increasing level of positivity reaching ≥ 20% in some; which may potentially compromise efforts to restore fertility in them.

This is an observational, descriptive and retrospective study of 154 patients who have been diagnosed clinically and serologically for dengue fever, interned in a tertiary public hospital in the city of Fortaleza of Ceará State, during the period of January – May, 2008, for the purpose of correlating the laboratory examinations, symptoms and alarming signs with the chronological evolution of the disease and to observe the frequencies of the more severe clinical forms of disease, so as to help adopt therapeutic conducts that are more effective. The patients’ ages varied from two to 85 years. The study sample was divided in to two groups: patients < 15 years (n=66) and those ≥15 years (n=88). As the patients were all from a tertiary public hospital, the clinical classification of cases showed that hemorrhagic dengue fever (HDF) was predominant (58.4%), followed by severe dengue (SD – 28.6%) and classic dengue (CD - 13%). The CD patients showed alterations in the laboratory findings such as thrombocitopenia and rise of transaminases, which motivated their hospitalization. The principal laboratory alterations found in HDF patients were: thrombocytopenia, hemoconcentration and rise of transaminases. Similar alternations were found in SD patients, but hemoconcentration was not detected in them. The alarming signs were observed more frequently in the two severe forms of dengue. In the <15-years and ≥15-year groups, the respective clinical pictures were: hemorrhagic manifestations – 55, 55% and 69,23%; acute and continuous abdominal pain – 72,22% and 65,38%; and postural dizziness – 11,11% and 23,08%; vomiting – 61,10% and 38,40%. In the HDF patients, in the <15-years and ≥15-year subgroups, the respective hemorrhagic manifestations were: 52,27% and 65,22%; acute and continuous abdominal pain – 97,73% and 71,74%; and postural dizziness – 9,09% and 43,48%; vomiting –81,80% and 58,70%. Within the chronologic evolution of the disease, these results were important and were independent of the clinical form of the disease and the age group of the patients. In the majority of cases, the laboratory alterations were observed from the 3rd day onwards, being more evident on the 5th day and stabilizing to normal values by the 11th day. Within this chronology, the detection of alarming signs was important for the clinical characterization of HDF and SD cases in patients. These results appear to be relevant for the evaluation of the clinical disease, as the detection of the alarming signs within the chronologic evolution may be utilized as warning signals for the more severe forms of the disease, and hence could help in the early adoption of more efficient therapeutic strategies for the patients.

Cervical cancer is associated with a very high incidence (16.3/100.000) and mortality (1,627/100.000) in northeastern Brazil; strongly correlated with HPV (98% by PCR). However, the relation between the stages of cervical cancer and the hormonal receptors ER and PR remains unclear. This study presents an immunohistochemical analysis of the morphological expression of the hormonal receptors ER and PR in different stages of cervical cancer. One hundred forty-four samples were obtained for analysis from the cervices of patients at a cancer screening service in northeastern Brazil in the years 2001 and 2002. Following gynecological examination colposcopically guided biopsies revealed apparently abnormal epithelia. Subsequently the specimens were classified in scores (1 to 9) according to hormonal receptor expression: intensity reaction (1 to 3) versus cell-marked dispersion (1 to 3).Sixty-two cases of LSIL, 41 cases of HSIL and 41 cases of ISCC were compared with regard to menstrual cycle and age. In SIL nuclear reactivity to ER decreased gradually from the lower to the higher stages, including that of ISCC. Stromal marked nuclei were seen in SIL and tended to increase in ISCC in spite of displaying lower scores. There were no significant differences for ER and PR expression related to menstrual cycle phases or menopausal status. Pre- and post-menopausal analyses showed no significant variation in the expression of either ER or PR.

This study was aimed at analyzing the educational potential of alternative practical activities in the development of student ethical and environmental awareness and student learning in biology, focusing in the process of environmental awareness. Research was divided into three stages: preparation of a book of alternative practical activities, an environmental awareness workshop and completion of five experimental activities. The object of this research was the E.E.F.M. Antonio Bezerra, located on the Antonio Bezerra neighborhood, in the city of Fortaleza (Ce), Brazil, with a sampling of two classes of high school (first year) students. The data were subjected to quantitative analysis, which assessed the biological learning and qualitative analysis, which evaluated the environmental awareness acquired by the student. Regarding the first aspect, it was observed a knowledge increase (among the students) on the subject of vitamins. As for awareness, we used the criterion of categorization of content, where the categories listed were: definition of critical Environmental Ethics (EE), social inequality and environmental responsibility. In these three aspects, it was found that students had, originally, fragmented views of EE, with an uncompromising approach to the social,economic and political reality inhabited by human society. After raising the awareness of the students (environmental workshop and alternative practical activities) some relevant changes developed, showing a more socially and environmentally aware point of view, emphasizing the coexistence with nature and beings (including humans) living in contact with it. The solidarity and respect for the feelings of the others became evident in the speech of the students, which reflected increased care and responsibility towards the environment.

The identification of the proliferative activity in cysts and tumors has been pointed as an important aspect in the avaliation of the biologica behavior among different lesions. The proliferating cells nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the Ki-67 are the most used molecular markers in detection of proliferating cells. Mutations in p53 tumor suppressor gene can produce more stable protein, however with loss of function. The greater stability mutation p53 allows its immunohistochemical detection and this technique has been used in avaliation of biological behavior of neoplasic and cystic lesions. The dentigerous cysts (CD), odontogenic keratocyst (QO) and the unicystic ameloblastoma (AU) are benign lesions that have its origin in disturbs in the tooth formation. Despite the clinical and radiografic similarity, these lesions have a distinct biological behavior. Betwen then, QO and AU are the most aggressive lesions and can recur when submitted to conservative treatment. The present work has the objective of studing, through immunohistochemical, the expression of PCNA, Ki-67 and p53 in 15 QOs, 10 CDs and 5 AUs. The average of the percentage of PCNA+ and Ki 67+ cells countained in QOs (46,4 and 13, 7%) was significanting higher than the CD (26,2 and 7,9%). The AUs presented the labeling index for the PCNA (35,9%) statistically similar to that observed in QOs (P=0136), however, compared to Ki-67 (24,4%), the AUs had a bigger labeling index. Although both markers have been used in detection of cell proliferation, a larger average of marked cells for the PCNA it was observed in all the samples. Thirty three percent of the keratocyst cases presented a positivety for the p53. Only one case of dentigerous cysts was positive. It wasn’t any case of unicystic ameloblastoma. Although the detection of the protein p53 for immunohistochemical be considered a mutated variation, the benign clinical behavior of these lesions suggest a larger stability of this protein in it’s repair function.

The objective of this work was to study the preparation of biocatalysts using lipase of Candida antarctica type B (CALB) covalently immobilized in agarose, chitosan, an abundant and low cost raw material, to be used in the synthesis of ester of Vitamin A. Several strategies of immobilization were studied in order to obtain a biocatalyst with good enzymatic activity and high thermal and operational stabilities. Three types of supports (agarose, chitosan and chitosanalginate) were activated by different strategies, but most of attention was given to the supports chitosan and chitosan-alginate. Only one derivative was prepared by immobilizing CALB in agarose and results of synthesis were compared to commercial derivatives (immobilized lipase of Thermomyces lanuginosus - Lipozyme TL IM - and immobilized lipase of Mucor miehei - Lipozyme RM IM), for the definition of some operational conditions. The operational condition that presented good results in the synthesis was used in further studies, such as removal of water from the reacional media by molecular sieves. After immobilization and thermal stabilities at 60 ºC tests, two derivatives (J8: chitosan actived with glicidol follow by EDA and glutaraldehyde; G10: chitosan-alginate actived with glutaraldehyde) were selected: the ones that presented higher specific activities (422.44 ± 50.4 U/g and 378.30 ± 34.7 U/g, respectively) and best thermal stabilities (factors of stabilization of 10.25 and 29.0, respectively). Operational hydrolytic stabilities and the performance of these biocatalysts on the synthesis of retinyl palmitate were evaluated. One factorial design 22 was carried out to evaluate the synthesis of retinyl palmitate. The influence of the temperature (37 ºC and 45 ºC) and ratio between substrates concentration, retinol: palmitic acid (1:3 and 1:5), in the yield of synthesis, catalyzed for the J8 derivative, were evaluated. A statistical analysis of the results showed that the the most significant effect was the rate of substrates concentration. Higher yields of synthesis were obtained when the ratio of substrates concentration was equal to 1:5. Results of reaction yields at 37ºC and 45 ºC were very similar. Therefore, 37 ºC was selected for further studies. Best results for thermal stability at 60ºC were obtained for G10, CALB immobilized in chitosan-alginate, being approximately 29-fold more stable than soluble enzyme, and 2-fold more stable than the commercial enzyme (Novozyme 435). On the other hand, J8, CALB immobilized in chitosan, presented higher operational hydrolysis stability, with a similar deactivation profile to Novozyme 435.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) and steatosis are important causes of chronic hepatic disease in the world. Although common, the pathofisiology of steatosis and its role in the progression of fibrosis in patients with HCV is uncertain. Our objective was to quantify the macrovacuolar and microvesicular steatosis and to correlate them with clinical and histophatologic data. The study included needle biopsy of the liver of patients with HCV without previous treatment. The fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity of hepatic damage by HCV were evaluated by METAVIR and Ishak’s scores; Kleiner’s and Brunt’s classification were used as a support for diagnosis of the steatohepatitis by the pathologist. Furthermore, the number of hepatocytes with the macrovacuolar and microvesicular steatosis was quantified in a total number of hepatocytes. Fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity were categorized and semi quantified. A significant association of the fibrosis was found and it was evaluated by the Ishak system between the macrogoticular and the microgoticular steatosis (p=0,017 e p= 0,0113, respectively). The global inflammatory activity (Metavir classification) has presented a linear correlation with the worsening of the fibrosis (< 0,001). The fibrosis which was evaluated by the Metavir system has been correlated with the BMI. The presence of HCV associated with the steatohepatitis has presented a significant correlation with the average of AST/ALT and with the Ishak and Metavir fibrosis, when compared to the data of the patients with HCV, without steatohepatitis (p= 0,006; p= 0,012; p= 0,0098 and p= 0,014, respectively) In our research we conclude that the Ishak fibrosis has been associated with the macrogoticular and microgoticular steatosis. Equally, it was demonstrated that the presence of the steatohepatitis was strongly associated to the fibrosis.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) data there are some 12 million people worldwide with leishmaniasis. In Brazil the etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is Leishmania chagasi, and is the main means of transmission from the parasite to human beings and other hosts mammals is through the biting of the female mosquito of the order diptera insects belonging to the Psychodidae family, whose main vector is the Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva). The visceral leishmaniasis or kala azar is a tropical disease that is characterized by the presence of fever, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, hemorrhagic manifestations, and linfoadenomegaly, weight loss, tachycardia, dry cough, diarrhea, fever, pancytopenia and hypergammaglobulinemia. The hematological involvement is common in patients with VL, with anemia the most frequent abnormality due to its multifactor nature and prevalence varies depending on the population being studied. It is meant to evaluate the pattern of peripheral alterations of patients with hematological Visceral Leishmaniasis. Blood samples were collected after the diagnosis of researches seeking ways of amastigotes Leishmania sp in bone marrow aspirate in patients (n = 30), Hospital of Infectious Diseases São José, in Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará, in the period from January 2007 to July 2008 and a control group (n = 30) consists of blood donors from HEMOCE. Laboratory tests were performed at the Clinical Analysis Laboratory of the General Hospital of Fortaleza and the Louis Pasteur Medical Diagnosis Laboratory. The counting of blood elements were measured with an ABX blood Pentre 60 gauge, followed by cytomorphology assessment. The biochemical measurements were made in a HITACHI biochemical analyzer Module P800 and Roche ® Modular I. The comparison between the groups, for the average of quantitative variables was performed by Student t-test, for the normal distribution and Mann – Whitney hypothesis data, in case of non-normality of the data. We have statistically considered meaningful values of 0.05. The analysis (n = 30) patients, the study showed that 63% (19) of the patients are from within the State of Ceará and 37% (11)of the patients are from the capital of the state of Ceará, Fortaleza. That 80% (24) of patients are male and 20 (8%) were females. Most of the patients, 57% were aged between 31 to 45 years old. In what concerns the period of time of the disease until the date of laboratory diagnosis, 47% (14) of the patients already had signs of clinical disease with 30 to 90 days. We have to count the male of red blood cells, an average of 3.69 ± 0.6644 (x106/mm3), hemoglobin of 9383 ± 1.3002 (g/dL), Hematocrit of 28.6708 ± 4.0687 (%) for the female count of red blood cells, an average of 3525 ± 0.6233 (x106/mm3), hemoglobin from 8.5666 ± 1.6561 (g/dL), Hematocrit of 26.9666 ± 3.9026 (%) . With regard to RBC indices observed for both sex, cell volume Medium (MCV) of 78.1 ± 7.0 (fL), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) of 25.42 ± 2.51 (pg), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of 32 ± 2.15 (%), distribution of amplitude of red blood cells (RDW) of 15,337 ± 2435 (%), reticulocyte count of 20.636.63 ± 20.300.39 (/ mm3). Of the morphological analysis showed up a laboratory profile characteristic of the type of anemia and microcytic normocytic and hypochromic followed by normochromic and 65% of the samples found the presence of "rouleax". For the determinations of serum iron had a average of 32.53 ± 17.31 (µg/dL), Transferrin of 146.83 ± 42.19 (mg/dL), Ferritin of 1.339.47 ± 599.05 (ng /ml), Vitamin B12 from 573.5 ± 253.94 (pg/mL), Folic Acid, 10 ± 3.47 (ng/mL). For the average counts of leukocytes observed was 2802.33 ± 2322.16 (n°/mm3), of neutrophils 1426.33 ± 1348.88 (n°/mm3), lymphocytes from 982.60 ± 576.47 (n°/ mm3); monocytes of 350.13 ± 283.47 (n°/mm3), platelet count 120.233.33 ± 90640.89 (n °/mm3). For the determinations of the VHS diagnosis, the patients had an average of 81.77 mm in the first hours of observation. The determination of TAP showed us that the diagnosis of the patients showed an average of 67.87% of activity prothrombin. The analysis it was observed that there is an impairment in VL hematopoese in translating in peripheral blood by a pancytopenia mainly in favor of the erythroid lineage, and the anemia in patients with chronic nature probably

The genus of yeast Rhodotorula are known to accumulate considerable amounts of carotenoids, which are important natural pigments found in foods and widely distributed in plants and microorganisms. In addition to human consumption, R. glutinis is used to feed chickens to increase body fat and to improve appearance and nutritional sensory properties of meat. Studies report that β-carotene is widely used to prevent various types of cancer due of its antioxidant properties. The objectives of this study are to scale up the fermentation to a bench-scale bioreactor to obtain carotenoids and study the spray-drying process of cells of Rhodotorula sp. CNPAT02. The yeast was grown in a 14 litter stirred tank fermentor, and the biomass obtained was concentrated by centrifugation and then spray dried. 50 mL of culture medium were prepared containing the following concentrations: (g.L-1): glucose, 25; yeast extract, 3.57; K2HPO4, 2.0; KH2PO4, 2.0; MgSO4.7H2O, 0.1 and pH 6.0. The medium was distributed in 500mL Erlenmeyer flasks and inoculated from a culture with a volume necessary to obtain an inoculum of about 0.1g dry mass/L. The medium was then incubated at 30°C for 36 hours in orbital shaker at 150 rpm. The culture was then transferred to a 2L flask containing 450mL of sterile medium incubated for 24 hours. The culture medium containing 500 mL was used to inoculate the fermentor where cell growth continued for 120 hours under an aeration of 1.0vvm-1. Samples were taken from the fermentor at regular intervals of 12h for determination of biomass, sugars, carotenoids and color. At the end of the 120h, the fermentation medium was centrifuged for 10 min at 11800g (8000 rpm). Aliquots of concentrated cells were suspended in distilled water before drying. From the dry sample, cell viability, the water activity, moisture, color and instrumental color were assessed. Carotenoids were extracted and quantified by using organic solvents. After 120 hours of fermentation the concentration obtained was 11.85 ± 1.10 g.L-1 of biomass and roductivity 2.45 g.L-1h-1 of carotenoids.

Hematogones are normal immature cells from bone marrow that are responsible for the production of the immune system’s B cell lineage. The acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) of precursors B cells represents one type of neoplastic transformation of hematogones. Due to their high similarity there are risks of erroneous interpretation consequently making it necessary use to complementary diagnostic techniques. The CD10 and CD19 antigens are expressed on both types of cells so, it is necessary use other monoclonal antibodies to identify malign or benign nature. In attempt to avoid the use of different antibodies we investigate possible differences in the expression of CD10 and CD19 in both cell types. We collected 36 samples of bone marrow from non-neoplastic patients as a control group. The age raged from 0 to 15 years with an average of 5 years. It was also collected 39 samples from patients with ALL of B cells. The age ranged from 0 to 14 years with an average of 6.6 years. We analyzed the differences between the fluorescence intensity concerning average, standard deviation, variation, inclination and kurtosis coefficients for the two markers. The individual values of each sample were compared with the intervals generated by the values of the control group: ME±2SD; ME±2.5SD and ME±3SD. It was possible to distinguish the groups with 89.7% and 75%; 79.5% and 100% and 71.8% e 100% of sensibility and specificity, respectively for the intervals. In conclusion, the expression of CD10 and CD19 antigens on blasts and hematogones is significantly different and may be useful in the differentiation of both cell types

Schistosomiasis is one illnesses that in Brazil still is a serious problem of public health. Ambient, mannering and immunological alterations occured in its intermediate hosts can predict the success or not of one infection. The alterations that occured during the development of an infection involve internal and external factors on the molusc. Among the interns the cellular alterations (hemocytes) and humoral (serum) have been sufficiently studied. In relation to external the temperature was one of the factors chosen for us to evaluate its importance in the relation snail-parasite, mainly because almost the totality of the works approaching this subject dates of the fifty decade. This work had as objective study the resistance and susceptibility of snails of the genus Biomphalaria ahead of the S. Mansoni infection in front of endogenous and exogens factors. Hemocytes of B. glabrata had been gotten according to praised technique and evaluated about its fagocitary capacity, using the technique of reduction of the MTT, being its values quantified for absorbancy 570mm. B. glabrata snailswere also infected in the temperatures of 15oC, 20oC and 30oC and analyzed about the elimination of cercaries to the 30 and 60 days after-infection (DPI). In another experiment, a group of B. tenagophila (CF) - susceptible, received serum from B. tenagophila (Taim) - resistant, being later infected by the S. mansoni and observed about the alteration of the resistance level. Our results show that the behavior of the hemocytes about its fagocitary activity presented significant values between B. glabrata groups not infected in its compared basal state with the not infected and cooled group, as also the same groups when activated by zimozan. Another gotten data shows that the reduction of the temperature influences in the infection development with significant differences (p<0,05) between 15oC and 30oC. We also observe that the serum transference conferred an increase in the number of resistant snails originally susceptible around 50% in comparison to the group not immunized (p<0.05). The extrapolation of these data can take to one better understanding of schistosomiasis on the epidemiologist point of view. The results gotten allow us to conclude that the fagocitary activity of the hemocytes of B. glabrata is influenced by the temperature, as also that the transference of serum of B. tenagophila resistant for B. tenagophila susceptible, increased the resistance of this last one. Finally, we can also affirm that the temperature influences directly in the capacity of infection of B. glabrata by the S. mansoni.

ABSTRACT The visceral leishmaniasis diagnostic confirmation or Kala-azar is performed by detection of the parasite through direct methods of amastigotes within macrophages or monocytes, spleen aspirated, hepatic, bone marrow, lymph node histopathological and peripheral blood smear, with wide variation in sensitivity in accordance with the site searched, being the gold standard of Leishmaniasis sp . The specific antibodies for diagnostic of visceral leishmaniasis by ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence reaction and direct agglutination tests have high sensitivity and specificity cross reactions with limited by trypanosomatids and mycobacterium, including tuberculosis, leprosy, Chagas disease , leishmaniasis cutaneous and histoplasmosis. The Montenegro intradermal test is always negative during the active phase of the disease, and is based on immune memory bound on lymphocyte Th1. The purpose of this work was to highlight the importance of quick test for the detection of antibody anti-leishmania chagasi using recombinant rK39 antigen that presented sensitivity of 99.2%. There were serological by ELISA tests that presented sensitivity of 80%, and the indirect immunofluorescence reaction to Kala-azar with sensitivity of 82%. The gold-standard diagnosis made for all examinations was the direct microscopic search on parasite bone marrow aspirated and positivity was 71%, in a survey in tertiary hospitals in Fortaleza-CE. The immunoenzymatic reaction to quick test in tape containing rK39 Antigen has high sensitivity and specificity allowing immediate diagnosis and in the early beginning of treatment, in addition to confirm high-density epitopes exclusively for the Leishmaniasis genus, because there was no cross reactions among several diseases tested. We found evidence of IgG anti-leishmaniasis chagasi antibodies persistently -positive in patients treated appropriately for kala-azar, supporting with evidence that rK39 does not define disease activity and establishes criteria for cure, strengthening that other homogenizing are investigated by a positive result in individual from endemic area of Kala-azar, in disease carrier of febrile hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia . The quick test Rk39 must be read and interpreted immediately up to a maximum of 10 minutes driving clinical decision-making, and that its deployment as diagnostic helper method should be part of the laboratorial routine services, particularly in secondary and tertiary health endemic regions of visceral leshmaniasis . Keywords: American visceral leishmaniasis. Kala-azar. Recombinant K39 Antigen. Kala-azar through rK39 antigen diagnostic.

The technology of asphalt materials and mixtures evolves very in these last three decades in the Europe and the North America. To the rolling layer, it comes growing the use in developed countries of more resistant and more durable asphalt mixtures, being that some of these solutions involve the job of discontinous graduation, as the SMA (Stone Matrix Asphalt). The main objective of this research presents the evaluation of the potential use of coconut fibers in the mixture SMA with different aggregate gradations using both the Marshall and Superpave (level 1) desing method. The differences between these two design methods are: (i) theoretical maximum specific gravity (Gmm) determination; (ii) compaction method and (iii) short-term aging of the mixtures. It was selected to this research dense mixtures with 4% air voids. The Gmm was determined indirectly from the mixture composition and the relative densities of the constituents of the mixes, and through the uses of a vacuum pump (Rice method). Short-term aging was considered just in the Superpave design, with 2 hours in the oven at the compaction temperature. The design results showed the same optimum asphalt content for Marshall and Superpave mixtures. The mechanical behavior of the mixtures was evaluated by: the indirect tensile strenght, resilient modulus, fatigue life (stress controlled) and resistance to moisture damage. The results show that the coconut fibers meet current requirements. This analysis of the viability of the use of the local fiber is important for the Northeast region, due to valuation of regional material e, also, for economically viable when being compared with the fiber of cellulose due its abundance in the region.

Leishmaniasis is a protozoal disease caused by different species of Leishmania ROSS 1903. In Brazil, American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) is no longer predominantly a rural phenomenon, due to the proximity of man to nature, where the disease occurs naturally as a zoonosis, but is now spreading to periurban areas. ATl occurs frequently in the cutaneous form with mostly painless soresor may be asymptomatic or subclinical. The objective of the present study was to describe the main clinical and epidemiological aspects of ATL, in three municipalities in Northeastern Brazil on records of the SINAN disease reporting system covering the period 2003 – 2005. The records of 300 patients were included in the study ( Crato n=136; Juazeiro do Norte n=66; Barbalha n=98). On the average, 53,7% ( 137/300) of the cases Were from the rural zone, with only 12,2% (8/66) registered for Juazeiro do Norte. Autochthonous cases accounted for 99% (295/300). Fifty-one percent (153/300) of the patients were male. Overall, 23% (69/300) were students, 16% (48/300) were formers and 16% (48/300) were retirees. The most common clinical presentations was cutaneous (97%; 291/300), sixty-nine records registered the vector, 51 of wich collected in patients home. In conclusion, ATL is a important endemie pathology in the region.

Immunoglobulins, soluble parasite circulating antigens, immune cells, citokines and other cell-related products can be transferred from infected mothers to their young, leading to suppression or stimulation of the immune response to a homologous antigen. Several studies demonstrated an increased susceptibility to leishmania infection in males, however, a relation between gender and susceptibility on the subgenus Viannia is rarely described. The influence of gender and maternal infection to the Leishmania braziliensis response in hamster offspring were evaluated. Thirty-nine hamster offspring of infected mothers and non-infected mothers from both genders, with 04 weeks-old, similar weights and infected with the Leishmania braziliensis strain MHOM/BR/94/H-3227 were analyzed. Studies on footpad lesion size, parasite load on footpad and draining lymph nodes, ELISA and histopathology were conducted. After analyzing the data, we concluded that the male offspring had higher susceptibility to infection by L. braziliensis, regardless if they were born from an infected mother or a non-infected mother, and had presented a more indolent pattern of response than the females. The maternal infection by L. braziliensis in hamsters did not influence the course of the disease in the infection rate of the offspring. The more intense inflammatory response in the offspring born from an infected mother can possibly be correlated to a greater induction of inflammatory molecules, cytokines and chemokines, although this has not been evaluated in this study.

Introduction: The sickle cell anemia is the result of a point mutation in the β-globin gene, leading to a substitution of glutamic acid by valine at the sixth position of the polypeptide chain. The sickle cell anemia presents heterogeneous clinical manifestations, which may be related to the type of haplotype associated with the gene for HbS and HbF levels. Objective: Clinical characterization, molecular and haematological patients with sickle cell anemia in Fortaleza, Ceará. Methods: We analyzed 47 patients with sickle cell anemia, adults of both sexes. The determination of hematological values was performed on blood cells automated meter; the determination of the presence of HbSS was performed by alkaline hemoglobin electrophoresis on cellulose acetate tapes and by differentiation electrophoresis on agar-phosphate pH 6.2; the levels of HbF were determined by alkali denaturation technique; and the analysis of the haplotypes of the ßS mutation was done by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Statistical analysis was developed in the program GraphPad Prism (version 5.0) and the level of significance was set p <0.05. Results: The distribution of the haplotypes of βS-globin gene - 63% of the Bantu type, 25% of the Benin type and 12% atypical – was in conformity with that observed for the entire Brazilian population, in which the Bantu haplotype is most prevalent, followed by the Benin and Senegal. There was no significant difference between the results found in this study and those found for the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Campinas and Ribeirão Preto; but there was a significant difference with the results obtained for the cities of Salvador and Belém and the state of Amazonas, and by other researchers in Ceará. The distribution of haplotype frequencies of the βS-globin gene in the different studies is in line with the history of the formation of the Brazilian population, except for the results of a previous study carried out in Ceará, in which the Benin haplotype was found to be most prevalent. According to the historical information on the origins of the slave population brought to Ceará, the Bantu haplotype should be the most prevalent. In the comparison between the haplotypes and the haematological characteristics studied, only the values of HbF and Ht showed statistically significant difference. The levels of HbF were higher in the Benin haplotype, followed by the Bantu haplotype, which is in accordance with the literature. Was demonstrated greater presence of painful episodes and episodes of pneumonia in Benin haplotype/Atypical haplotype than in Bantu/Atypical and increased presence of urinary infection crises in Benin haplotype/Atypical haplotype than in Benin/Benin. There was no statistically significant difference between the haplotypes Bantu/Bantu and Benin/Benin for clinical complications, however it was observed that the haplotype Bantu/Bantu has a higher frequency in all studied clinical events when compared to Benin/Benin. Among the results was shown a trend of fewer patients with painful episodes and of leg ulcers with increased levels of HbF. There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison between the levels of HbF and the values of red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocytes and platelets. Conclusions: The determination of haplotypes of sickle cell anemia is of great importance not only for monitoring and prognosis of patients, but also as a tool for anthropological studies which help in clarifying the origin of Africans who have contributed so much in training ethnological, economic, cultural and social Brazil.

Bituminous prime coat can be defined as the application of an asphalt film layer on a granular base, for the improvement of its technological qualities. In pavements subjected to the role of the prime coats is even more important due to the reduced thickness of the surface and its low or inexistent structural function. The purpose os this work is to investigate the main factors that affect the penetration of the bituminous prime coat in bases layers with traffic low volume in the state of Ceará. Soil samples were collected in the agrozone of Baixo Jaguaribe. This region was selected because of importance in the economic and social scene of the state. The collected samples were submitted to characterization tests, gradation, Proctor, CBR and expansion considering the intermediate energy. An adaptation of the compacting process was done for preparing the samples submitted to the prime coat tests. The change in the procedure consisted in compacting through the Marshall cylinder, instead of the Proctor cylinder. The procedures of the Villibor’s methodology were adapted, as well. The bituminous materials used in the prime coat tests were the emulsion RM-1C and cutback CM-30. It was also used a binder produced with the addition of the liquid of the cashew nut (LCC) to the asphalt cement. Results observed of the experiments had disclosed that the prime coat is a complex material, it’s affect by many factors, such as: the type and the rate the applied binder, the preparing conditions of the base surface, moisture content in compaction, etc. It was also verified that the LCC can satisfactorily be used as cutback, observing the parameter of penetration.

ALVES, Maria Ivone Mota.; SAWAYA, Paulo. Sobre a reprodução da sardinha-bandeira, Opisthonema oglinum (Lê Sueur), na costa do Estado do Ceará (Brasil). Arquivos de Ciências do Mar. Fortaleza, v.15, n.1, p.19-28, jun.1975.