Serum proteomics signature of cystic fibrosis patients: a complementary 2-DE and LC-MS/MS approach.

Complementary 2D-PAGE and 'shotgun' LC-MS/MS approaches were combined to identify medium and low-abundant proteins in sera of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients (mild or severe pulmonary disease) in comparison with healthy CF-carrier and non-CF carrier individuals aiming to gain deeper insights into the pathogenesis of this multifactorial genetic disease. 78 differentially expressed spots were identified from 2D-PAGE proteome profiling yielding 28 identifications and postulating the existence of post-translation modifications (PTM). The 'shotgun' approach highlighted altered levels of proteins actively involved in CF: abnormal tissue/airway remodeling, protease/antiprotease imbalance, innate immune dysfunction, chronic inflammation, nutritional imbalance and Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization.

Liver autoantibodies in patients with scleroderma.

Association between autoimmune liver diseases and scleroderma has been described. The purpose of this study was to study the prevalence of antimithocondrial antibody (AMA), antismooth muscle antibodies (SMA), and liver-kidney-microsomal (LKM-1) autoantibody in a cohort of 63 scleroderma patients and 100 healthy controls. The autoantibodies AMA, SMA, and LKM were determined by indirect immunofluorescence.

Relevance of the ventricular remodeling pattern in the model of myocardial infarction in rats.

Background: The relevance of the remodeling pattern in the model of infarcted rats is not known.

Objective: To analyze the presence of different patterns of remodeling in this model and its functional implications.

Methods: Infarcted rats (n=47) have been divided according to the geometry pattern, analyzed by echocardiogram: normal (normal mass index and normal relative thickness), concentric remodeling (normal mass index and increased relative thickness), concentric hypertrophy (increased mass index and increased relative thickness) and eccentric hypertrophy (increased mass index and normal relative thickness).

Antimicrobial resistance and investigation of the molecular epidemiology of Listeria monocytogenes in dairy products.

Introduction: Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous microorganism in nature and is responsible for listeriosis, an infectious disease caused by consumption of contaminated food.

Methods: Molecular characterization was performed on 19 strains of Listeria monocytogenes (serovars 1/2a, 1/2b, 4b and 4c), isolated from dairy products in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The molecular techniques applied were random amplification of polymorphic DNA and restriction enzyme analysis.

Ventricular remodeling induced by tissue vitamin A deficiency in rats.

Background/aims: Experimental studies suggest that vitamin A plays a role in regulating cardiac structure and function. We tested the hypothesis that cardiac vitamin A deficiency is associated with adverse myocardial remodeling in young adult rats.

Methods: Two groups of young female rats, control (C - n = 29) and tissue vitamin A deficient (RVA - n = 31), were subjected to transthoracic echocardiography exam, isolated rat heart study and biochemical study.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in indigenous children from the Brazilian Amazon.

Unlabelled: The clinical constructs of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been described in several cultures worldwide. Yet this symptomatic presentation still remains to be assessed in remote population groups.

Objective: To explore the possibility of the existence of ADHD symptoms among settlement-dwelling indigenous children of the Karajá ethnic group in the Brazilian Amazon and to estimate the rate of ADHD symptoms among 7-16-year-olds.

A novel preclinical rodent model of collagenase-induced germinal matrix/intraventricular hemorrhage.

Germinal matrix/intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH/IVH) is a complication that arises in premature infants associated with neurological sequelae. Greater understanding of GMH/IVH is needed to develop therapies, a goal that depends on the existence of appropriate animal models. Towards this goal, we aimed to develop a rodent model of GMH/IVH based on collagenase-induced hemorrhage that exhibits histological and neurological consequences similar to that seen in patients.

Influence of lisinopril on cardiac remodeling induced by tobacco smoke exposure.

Background: To investigate the effect of lisinopril on cardiac remodeling induced by smoking.

Material/methods: Rats were allocated into 3 groups: group CON (n=8): control; group CSE (n=8): cigarette smoke exposure; group CSE-LIS (n=8): exposed to tobacco smoke and treated with lisinopril.

Results: After 2 months, the tail systolic pressure was lower in CSE-LIS (CON=116 +/-27 mm Hg, CSE=126+/-16, CSE-LIS=89+/-12; P<.

Characterization of a new coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (Staphylococcus pettenkoferi) isolated from blood cultures from a hospitalized patient in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Introduction: Staphylococcus pettenkoferi was originally isolated and described by Trülzsch et al (2002). In this study, we characterized two isolates of this newly described species.

Methods: Blood cultures were initially processed using the BacT/ALERT(R) device, and the isolates were initially characterized using the Vitek2 identification system.

Fishing for gaps in science: a bibliographic analysis of Brazilian freshwater ichthyology from 1986 to 2005.

To investigate Brazilian freshwater ichthyology, from 1986 to 2005, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using abstracts downloaded from The Web of Science database searching for the keywords 'fish', 'pisces', 'teleostei' and the address field having the word 'Brazil'. The results of this study showed that Brazilian freshwater ichthyology publications have been increasing during the study period. This process is a consequence of a series of investments that the Brazilian Government has made.

Remodeling pattern and ventricular function in rats exposed to cigarette smoke.

Background: The relevance of the remodeling pattern in the model of rats exposed to cigarette smoke is not known.

Objective: Analyzing the presence of different remodeling patterns in this model and its relation with the ventricular function.

Methods: Smoking rats (n=47) have been divided according to the geometry pattern, analyzed by echocardiogram: normal (normal mass index and normal relative wall thickness), concentric remodeling (normal mass index and increased relative wall thickness), concentric hypertrophy (increased mass index and increased relative wall thickness) and eccentric hypertrophy (increased mass index and normal relative wall thickness).

Changes in individual glucose threshold during military training.

The objective of the present study was to assess any improvement in the IGT (Individual Glucose Threshold) of soldiers during military physical training (MPT). Nine healthy non-athlete recruits (mean weight: 66.3+/-7.

[Association between sphericity, ventricular function and size of the infarction in rats].

Background: The left ventricular (LV) sphericity is a factor associated with ventricular dysfunction, but it is not well-characterized in the experimental infarction model in rats.

Objective: To analyze the association between the sphericity index (SI), the ventricular function and the infarcted area in an experimental rat model.

Methods: Six months after the infarction (AMI, n=33) or simulated surgery (SHAM, n=18), the animals were submitted to an echocardiogram.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in archival samples obtained from patients with cervical pre-malignant and malignant lesions from Northeast Brazil.

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is considered as a necessary, but not sufficient, cause of cervical cancer. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of HPV in a series of pre-malignant and malignant cervical lesion cases, to identify the virus genotypes, and to assess their distribution pattern according to lesion type, age range, and other considered variables. The samples were submitted to histopathological revision examination and analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of HPV DNA, followed by HPV typing by dot blot hybridisation.

PCR-RFLP of 16S ribosomal DNA to confirm the identification of Enterococcus gallinarum and Enterococcus casseliflavus isolated from clinical and food samples.

Introduction: This study aimed to confirm the identification of Enterococcus gallinarum and Enterococcus casseliflavus isolated from clinical and food samples by PCR-RFLP.

Methods: Fifty-two strains identified by conventional biochemical exams were submitted to PCR amplification and digested with HinfI. Only 20 (38.

Red blood cell antigen alloimmunization in liver transplant recipients.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a life-saving procedure for patients with end-stage liver disease. Transfusion support is an important part of OLT. Intraoperative transfusion of large volumes of blood products is recognized to be a poor prognostic factor, probably due to the negative effects of blood transfusions, such as transfusion reactions, infectious contamination of blood products, or immune modulation of the transfused patient.

Portuguese Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes: seven years of activity.

Background: The Portuguese Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes was established in 2002, with the goal of gathering data on the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of Portuguese patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Objective: To report the information collected during the seven years of activity of the Portuguese Registry of ACS (from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2008).

Methods: The Portuguese Registry of ACS is an observational, prospective and continuous registry, which started on January 1, 2002 and involved 45 Portuguese hospitals.

Rapid detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in rectal samples from patients admitted to intensive care units.

The reduction in time required to identify vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) has gained increased importance during hospital outbreaks. In the present study, we implemented a laboratory protocol to speed up the VRE screening from rectal samples. The protocol combines a medium for selective VRE isolation (VREBAC(R), Probac, São Paulo) and a multiplex PCR for detection and identification of vanA and vanB resistance genes.

[Blood feeding preference of Lutzomyia whitmani (Diptera, Psychodidae) in a transmission area for American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the State of Maranhão, Brazil].

The aim of this study was to determine the sources of blood meals for females of Lutzomyia whitmani, a phlebotomine species incriminated as the main vector for American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Maranhão. For this, 70 Lutzomyia whitmani females were collected in the municipality of Axixá, an area with one of the greatest numbers of cases of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans in Maranhão. They were analyzed using the precipitin technique.

In vitro fosfomycin activity in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis.

Enterococci are part of the endogenous flora of human beings, are naturally resistant to several classes of antimicrobials, and are able to acquire resistance with relative ease. Currently the vancomycin-resistant enterococci are spread all over the world and treatment options for infections caused by it are often extremely limited. We assessed 193 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis isolates collected from four different hospitals in Porto Alegre for their susceptibility to fosfomycin using the E-test and agar diffusion.

Evaluation of the automated system Vitek2 for identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Brazilian Gram-positive cocci strains.

Automated instruments offer many advantages for clinical laboratories. Nevertheless, they can have problems identifying and determining susceptibilities of some pathogens. Vitek2 (bioMérieux) is an automated system that was recently introduced to Brazil.

Isolated ventricular noncompaction: a case report.

Isolated ventricular noncompaction is an extremely rare cardiomyopathy, not fully clarified.It is characterized by persistent embryonic myocardium morphology without associated cardiac abnormalities.Since first description in 1984, few clinical studies were done.

Cardiovascular remodeling induced by passive smoking.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death in many developed countries. The major risk factors for CHD are smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and lack of physical activity. Importantly, passive smoke also increases the risk for CHD.