Performance evaluation of anti-fixed Leishmania infantum promastigotes immunoglobulin G (IgG) detected by flow cytometry as a diagnostic tool for visceral Leishmaniasis.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe disease, caused by the protozoans Leishmania infantum and L. donovani that is widely diagnosed using serological tools. These, however, have limitations in performance that limit their use for the correct identification of the cases.

New index for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in Schistosomiasis mansoni.

Background: - Periportal fibrosis is the major pathological consequence of the Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Objective: - To evaluate the accuracy of serum markers and to construct an index to assess fibrosis.

Methods: - Patients (n=116) with schistosomiasis were evaluated by ultrasound scan and measurements of serum levels of aminotransferases, γ-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, hyaluronic acid, cytokines and platelets.

Evaluation of serum levels of IL-9 and IL-17 in human Schistosoma mansoni infection and their relationship with periportal fibrosis.

Serum levels of IL-9 and IL-17 cytokines were evaluated in patients in the acute, chronic phases and clinical forms of human schistosomiasis and in different classifications of periportal fibrosis. No significant differences between the groups of the disease with serum levels of cytokine were found. However, this study discusses the results of some cytokines that have not fully defined roles in the pathology of human schistosomiasis.

Mercury contamination in alligators (Melanosuchus niger) from Mamirauá Reservoir (Brazilian Amazon) and human health risk assessment.

Mercury (Hg) concentrations in muscles of wild alligators (Melanosuchus niger) from the Mamirauá Reservoir (a reference area in the Brazilian Amazon) and the human health risks associated with its consumption were assessed. The mean Hg concentration in alligator muscles was 0.407 ± 0.

HLA-G 3' untranslated region polymorphisms are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in 2 Brazilian populations.

Objective: HLA-G has well recognized tolerogenic properties in physiological and nonphysiological conditions. The 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the HLA-G gene has at least 3 polymorphic sites (14-bpINS/DEL, +3142C/G, and +3196C/G) described as associated with posttranscriptional influence on messenger RNA production; however, only the 14-bpINS/DEL and +3142C/G sites have been studied in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We investigated the HLA-G 3'UTR polymorphic sites (14-bpINS/DEL, +3003C/T, +3010C/G, +3027A/C, +3035C/T, +3142C/G, +3187A/G, and +3196C/G) in 190 Brazilian patients with SLE and 282 healthy individuals in allele, genotype, and haplotype analyses.

Associated factors for treatment delay in pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals: a nested case-control study.

Background: The delay in initiating treatment for tuberculosis (TB) in HIV-infected individuals may lead to the development of a more severe form of the disease, with higher rates of morbidity, mortality and transmissibility. The aim of the present study was to estimate the time interval between the onset of symptoms and initiating treatment for TB in HIV-infected individuals, and to identify the factors associated to this delay.

Methods: A nested case-control study was undertaken within a cohort of HIV-infected individuals, attended at two HIV referral centers, in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.

Profile of patients with hypertension included in a cohort with HIV/AIDS in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.

Background: Hypertension (HBP) is modifiable risk factor, whose control may reduce cardiovascular disease in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hypertension and describe the characteristics of patients with hypertension infected by HIV/AIDS.

Methods: A cross-sectional study aligned to a cohort of patients with HIV/AIDS.

Risk factors related to hypertension among patients in a cohort living with HIV/AIDS.

Introduction: Studies disagree as to whether there is a greater prevalence of hypertension among HIV/AIDS patients and the role of antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: Evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and risk factors in a cohort of HIV-infected patients, with emphasis on antiretroviral therapy.

Method: Case-control study conducted at baseline of a cohort, between June/2007 and December/2008 in Pernambuco/Brazil.

Correlation of biological serum markers with the degree of hepatic fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in hepatitis C and schistosomiasis patients.

Liver biopsy is the gold-standard method to stage fibrosis; however, it is an invasive procedure and is potentially dangerous. The main objective of this study was to evaluate biological markers, such as cytokines IL-13, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta, platelets, bilirubins (Bil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total proteins, gamma-glutamil transferase (gamma-GT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP), that could be used to predict the severity of hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis and hepatitis C (HC) as isolated diseases or co-infections. The following patient groups were selected: HC (n = 39), HC/hepatosplenic schistosomiasis (HSS) (n = 19), HSS (n = 22) and a control group (n = 13).

Risk factors in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil: a case-control study.

Background: Although human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated lipodystrophy has been reported for more than a decade, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding the mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis.

Methods: A case-control study was performed that aimed to identify the risk factors for lipodystrophy in HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy in Pernambuco, Brazil.

Results: Between July and November, 2007, a total of 332 patients were enrolled in the study: 182 cases and 150 controls.

Is it better to be rich in a poor area or poor in a rich area? A multilevel analysis of a case-control study of social determinants of tuberculosis.

Background: Tuberculosis is known to have socio-economic determinants at individual and at area levels, but it is not known whether they are independent, whether they interact and their relative contributions to the burden of tuberculosis.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Recife, Brazil, to investigate individual and area social determinants of tuberculosis, to explore the relationship between determinants at the two levels and to calculate their relative contribution to the burden of tuberculosis. It included 1452 cases of tuberculosis diagnosed by the tuberculosis services and 5808 controls selected at random from questionnaires completed for the demographic census.