HGPRT and PNP: Recombinant Enzymes from and Their Role in Immunotherapy during Experimental Murine Schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by trematode worms (also called blood flukes) of the genus sp., which affects over 230 million people worldwide, causing 200,000 deaths annually. There is no vaccine or new drugs available, which represents a worrying aspect, since there is loss of sensitivity of the parasite to the medication recommended by the World Health Organization, Praziquantel.

Schiff bases complexed with iron and their relation with the life cycle and infection by .

Introduction: The trematode causes schistosomiasis, and this parasite's life cycle depends on the mollusk The most effective treatment for infected people is administering a single dose of Praziquantel. However, there are naturally resistant to treatment. This work has developed, considering this parasite's complex life cycle.

HLA-G, cytokines, and cytokine receptors in the non-aggressive basal cell carcinoma microenvironment.

Non-aggressive basal cell carcinoma (BCC) growth is slow and might be mediated by the immune system. This study analysed the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G expression and cytokine profile in non-aggressive BCC subtypes from distinct locations. HLA-G was evaluated via immunohistochemistry and cytokine expression was analysed by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in 26 primary BCC samples, including nodular BCC (nBCC, n = 16) and superficial BCC (n = 10) from cephalic (ceBCC, n = 12) and non-cephalic (n = 14) locations, and by bioinformatics analysis of public GEO databases.

Investigating Immunization With Nucleotide Enzymes of : Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase and Adenylosuccinate Lyase as New Antigenic Targets Against Schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis, caused by trematode worm, affects more than 1.5 million people in Brazil. The current treatment consists in the administration of Praziquantel, the only medicine used for treatment for more than 40 years.

High IL-17 expression is associated with an unfavorable prognosis in thyroid cancer.

Previous studies have indicated that cancer may be promoted and/or exacerbated by inflammation and infection. The cytokines produced by activated innate immune cells that stimulate tumor growth and progression are considered as important components in this process. The interleukin (IL)-23/T helper (Th)17 axis, which exerts marked pro-inflammatory effects, has emerged as an important mediator in inflammation-associated cancer.

Toxocara canis and the allergic process.

The protective effect of infectious agents against allergic reactions has been thoroughly investigated. Current studies have demonstrated the ability of some helminths to modulate the immune response of infected hosts. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between Toxocara canis infection and the development of an allergic response in mice immunised with ovalbumin (OVA).

Perioperative conjunctival inflammation and trabeculectomy outcome.

Purpose: To correlate subclinical conjunctival inflammation and trabeculectomy results.

Methods: Prospective case series of 28 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (28 eyes) under topical anti-glaucoma medication who underwent trabeculectomy. During surgery, a sample from the inferior bulbar conjunctiva was collected and the expression of HLA-DR together with the presence of inflammatory cells was correlated with trabeculectomy outcomes after 24 months.

Expression of the Classical and Nonclassical HLA Molecules in Breast Cancer.

Considering that downregulation of HLA expression could represent a potential mechanism for breast carcinogenesis and metastasis, the aim of the present study was to use immunohistochemical methods to analyze the expression of HLA-Ia, HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, HLA-E, and HLA-G in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast and to relate this HLA profile to anatomopathological parameters. Fifty-two IDC from breast biopsies were stratified according to histological differentiation (well, moderately, and poorly differentiated) and to the presence of metastases in axillary lymph nodes. The expression of HLA molecules was assessed by immunohistochemistry, using a computer-assisted system.

HLA-G is differentially expressed in thyroid tissues.

Background: HLA-G is a nonclassical major histocompatibility complex molecule that has well-recognized immunomodulatory properties. The expression of HLA-G in tumor cells has been considered to be detrimental, permitting tumor spreading and decreased survival. We evaluated the expression of HLA-G in histologically normal thyroid tissue, goiter, and benign and malignant thyroid tumors, and studied the relationship between HLA-G expression and patient clinical variables.

Conjunctival inflammation in patients under topical glaucoma treatment with indication to surgery.

Purpose: To compare the frequency of conjunctival HLA-DR expression (a surrogate marker for inflammation) in eyes treated with topical prostaglandin analogues versus eyes treated with other topical antiglaucomatous drugs.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma presenting indication for trabeculectomy were divided in groups according to the use or not of prostaglandin analogues. All subjects were treated with the maximum tolerated dose of antiglaucomatous drugs until the date of the surgery.

Expression of BAG-1 and PARP-1 in precursor lesions and invasive cervical cancer associated with human papillomavirus (HPV).

Cervical cancer remains persistently the second most common malignancies among women worldwide, responsible for 500,000 new cases annually. Only in Brazil, the estimate is for 18,430 new cases in 2011. Several types of molecular markers have been studied in carcinogenesis including proteins associated with apoptosis such as BAG-1 and PARP-1.

A subunit vaccine based on biodegradable microspheres carrying rHsp65 protein and KLK protects BALB/c mice against tuberculosis infection.

Of the hundreds of new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidates, some have therapeutic value in addition to their prophylactic properties. This is the case for the DNA vaccine encoding heat-shock protein 65 (DNAhsp65) from Mycobacterium leprae. However, there are concerns about the use of DNA vaccines in certain populations such as newborns and pregnant women.

Polymorphisms of Lewis and Secretor genes are related to breast cancer and metastasis in axillary lymph nodes.

ABH and Lewis antigen expression has been associated with cancer development and prognosis, tumor differentiation, and metastasis. Considering that invasive ductal breast carcinoma (IDC) presents multiple molecular alterations, the aim of the present study was to determine whether the polymorphism of ABO, Lewis, and Secretor genes, as well as ABO phenotyping, could be associated with tumor differentiation and lymph nodes metastasis. Seventy-six women with IDC and 78 healthy female blood donors were submitted to ABO phenotyping/genotyping and Lewis and Secretor genotyping.

Experimental tuberculosis: designing a better model to test vaccines against tuberculosis.

Experimental models of infection are good tools for establishing immunological parameters that have an effect on the host-pathogen relationship and also for designing new vaccines and immune therapies. In this work, we evaluated the evolution of experimental tuberculosis in mice infected with increasing bacterial doses or via distinct routes. We showed that mice infected with low bacterial doses by the intratracheal route were able to develop a progressive infection that was proportional to the inoculum size.

Abnormal cell-cycle expression of the proteins p27, mdm2 and cathepsin B in oral squamous-cell carcinoma infected with human papillomavirus.

Since the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in oral carcinogenesis is still unclear, the purpose of this study was to verify the association between the expression of p27, mdm2 and cathepsin B and by HPV-related oral lesions. Fifty-five oral biopsies were studied and HPV detection and typing (6/11, 16, 18, 31 and 33) were performed using polymerase chain reaction techniques. The distribution p27, mdm2 and cathepsin B was determined by immunohistochemistry.

Immunohistochemical expression of HLA-DR in the conjunctiva of patients under topical prostaglandin analogs treatment.

Purpose: Subclinical inflammation may be observed in patients using topical antiglaucomatous drugs. The objective of this study was to investigate inflammation in conjunctiva of glaucoma patients using prostaglandin analogs, by the detection of an immunogenetic marker (HLA-DR) and compare the effect of 3 different drugs: latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost in the induction of this inflammation.

Subjects And Methods: Thirty-three patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were evaluated without and with prostaglandin analogs topical therapy.

Effects of laser on the synovial fluid in the inflammatory process of the knee joint of the rabbit.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-level laser (LLL) energy on the clinical signs of inflammation and the cellular composition of synovial fluid (SF) in the inflamed knee of the rabbit.

Background Data: There are few findings related to the effects of LLL on SF in inflammatory processes and there is little knowledge about the optimal parameters for reducing joint inflammation.

Materials And Methods: Inflammation in the right knee of 36 rabbits was induced by intracapsular injection (0.

Increased levels of interferon-gamma primed by culture filtrate proteins antigen and CpG-ODN immunization do not confer significant protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

The results of various animal model studies of tuberculosis (TB) suggest that culture filtrate proteins (CFPs), which are antigens secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are largely responsible for improvements in TB vaccines. The great obstacle to developing protein subunit vaccines is that adjuvants are required in order to stimulate relevant protective immune responses. Acting as immune adjuvants, CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) promote the activation of Th1 cells and of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

A new experimental model to study preneoplastic lesions in achalasia of the esophagus.

Purpose: Develop an experimental model to study esophageal preneoplastic lesions induced by diethylnitrosamine in rats with achalasia.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control--C (n=8); rats with megaesophagus--B (n=8); rats treated with DEN--D (n=15) and rats with megaesophagus plus DEN--BD (n=15). Megaesophagus can be experimentally obtained in rats by topical application of benzalkonium chloride.

Prime-boost vaccination based on DNA and protein-loaded microspheres for tuberculosis prevention.

We evaluated the use of a vaccine formulation based on a mixture of two different PLGA microspheres, composed by faster and slower release profiles, containing DNA encoding hsp65 and the recombinant hsp65 protein, respectively, aiming to DNA priming and protein boost after a single dose vaccination. The combination of PLGA50:50 microspheres containing DNA-hsp65 and trehalose dimycolate (TDM) with PLGA75:25 microspheres containing recombinant hsp65 (prime-boost Me) was able to induce high levels of anti-hsp65 specific antibodies. The serum levels of these specific antibodies remained high during 90 days after vaccination, whereas the DNA Me formulation based only in DNA-hsp65 plus TDM-loaded microspheres was not able to sustain the high antibody levels during the same period.

PCR diagnosis of HPV in cervical biopsies of CIN and invasive neoplasia formerly diagnosed as HPV negative.

Objective: To evaluate whether the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enhances the diagnosis of human papillomavirus (HPV) in biopsies of the uterine cervix with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or invasive neoplasia.

Study Design: Samples of 71 paraffin-embedded cervical tissue blocks from patients seen in the period 1997-1998 were analyzed. Samples were selected according to age (18-60 years old) and an active sexual life and divided in to 3 groups: test (samples with CIN or invasive neoplasia and a negative HPV diagnosis), positive controls (samples with CIN or invasive neoplasia and a positive HPV diagnosis) and negative controls (samples without CIN or invasive neoplasia and a negative HPV diagnosis).