Publications by authors named "Hellen T Fuzii"

Background: Considering the significant participation of the microenvironment in the local aggressiveness of odontogenic keratocysts, this study aims to evaluate the expression of ADAMTS-1 and its substrates, versican, aggrecan and brevican in this locally invasive odontogenic cyst.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were conducted on 30 cases of odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) and 20 dental follicles (DFs).

Results: The immunohistochemical expression of these proteins was predominantly cytoplasmic and granular across all samples.

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  • These new genomes show a high level of similarity (81.5% nucleotide and 92.6% amino acid identity) to the reference LORV genome.
  • The findings contribute to the understanding of Negevirus evolution and could help develop biological control strategies for mosquitoes that transmit other viruses.
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is the etiological agent of leprosy. Macrophages (Mφs) are key players involved in the pathogenesis of leprosy. In this study, immunohistochemical analysis was performed to examine the phenotype of Mφ subpopulations, namely M1, M2, and M4, in the skin lesions of patients diagnosed with leprosy.

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Arboviruses, such as yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue virus (DENV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV), present wide global dissemination and a pathogenic profile developed in infected individuals, from non-specific clinical conditions to severe forms, characterised by the promotion of significant lesions in different organs of the harbourer, culminating in multiple organ dysfunction. An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out via the histopathological analysis of 70 samples of liver patients, collected between 2000 and 2017, with confirmed laboratory diagnoses, who died due to infection and complications due to yellow fever (YF), dengue fever (DF), and chikungunya fever (CF), to characterise, quantify, and compare the patterns of histopathological alterations in the liver between the samples. Of the histopathological findings in the human liver samples, there was a significant difference between the control and infection groups, with a predominance of alterations in the midzonal area of the three cases analysed.

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  • Leprosy is a chronic disease affecting public health in developing countries and is classified into four clinical forms: indeterminate, borderline, tuberculoid, and lepromatous.
  • The study analyzed autophagy and various cell death mechanisms (apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis) in skin lesions of 30 leprosy patients across different forms.
  • Findings revealed that lepromatous leprosy exhibited significantly higher expressions of specific markers associated with cell death compared to other forms, indicating their potential role in disease progression and informing future treatment strategies.
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Previous observational studies have demonstrated the development of pulmonary impairments in human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infected individuals. The main observed lesions due to chronic inflammation of viral infection in situ are bronchiectasis and lung-scarring injuries. This lung inflammation may be the causal agent of restrictive and obstructive lung diseases, primarily in tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (TSP-HAM) patients.

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Human T-lymphocytic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is mainly associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Patients with HAM/TSP exhibit significant changes in their immune response, and HTLV-1 infection can interfere in cytokine production and perhaps in T cell production. The aims of this study were to evaluate thymic function in HAM/TSP patients and HTLV-1 healthy carriers (HCs) and correlate it to age and interleukin 7 (IL-7) gene expression.

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  • Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial STI globally, with around 80% of infected women showing no symptoms, yet it can cause severe reproductive issues, particularly in rural Amazon regions where data is limited.
  • This study assessed C. trachomatis prevalence among women in the Marajó Archipelago, finding a 4% infection rate, especially in those under 25 and with low income.
  • Key genotypes identified were similar to those seen in urban Brazil, highlighting the need for increased screening and prevention measures in both rural and urban areas to address this overlooked health issue.
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This was a cross-sectional prospective study. We performed a multivariate statistical analysis of the neurological signs and symptoms of patients infected with human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) in an attempt to separate them into distinct groups and identify clinical-neurological manifestations that could differentiate the various profiles. The study was performed in the city of Belém (state of Pará), located in the Amazon region of Brazil, from 2014 to 2016.

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  • The study examined the relationship between oxidative stress markers, HPV infection, and cervical cancer precursor lesions in women aged 14 to 60 living in Amazon communities in Pará, Brazil.* -
  • Results showed that malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in HPV-positive women in Itaituba, while differences in total glutathione levels were noted only in Bragança.* -
  • Overall, while some oxidative stress markers were linked to HPV infection, the lack of correlation with squamous lesions suggests that other factors might contribute to cervical cancer development.*
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Parvovirus B19 (PVB19) is a virus found in the skin that causes asymptomatic infections and can exist in the host for long periods to time. The virus induces a local inflammatory response and is associated with the development of arthritis and other autoimmunes diseases. Parvovirus B19 DNA was investigated by PCR in the skin of 20 patients with psoriasis and 20 patients with eczema.

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Leprosy caused by Mycobacterium leprae is characterized by a spectrum of clinical manifestations that are determined by the predominant immunological profile of the host. The recruitment of leukocytes to the sites of injury can influence the development of these profiles. Cell adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and CD62E participate in this process and their expression is regulated by transcriptions factors such as NFκB.

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The aim of this study was to compare computed tomography (CT) scans of chest and lung function among patients with Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV) with and without HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). In this cross-sectional study performed between January 2013 and June 2016, we included 48 patients with HAM/TSP (19 women and 11 men) and without HAM/TSP (12 women and 6 men). We compared CT findings and lung functions of these groups.

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Here, we present a complete genome sequence and annotation of sp. strain CACIAM 03H1, which was obtained from a nonaxenic culture of , a cyanobacterium isolated from an Amazonian freshwater environment.

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  • The study aimed to assess the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections among women in low-income riverside communities in Pará, Brazil, focusing on HPV-16 and HPV-18 along with cervical cytology and risk factors.
  • The research involved collecting cervical samples from 353 women, revealing an overall HPV prevalence of 16.4%, but notably low cases of the high-risk types HPV-16 (2.3%) and HPV-18 (1.4%).
  • The findings highlighted a concerning lack of access to regular Pap tests, with nearly 70% of participants having never undergone one, raising the risk for cervical lesions and cancer among these underserved populations.
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Hypomyopathic dermatomyositis (HDM) is a rare form of dermatomyositis (DM). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with clinically amyopathic DM (CADM-ILD) or hypomyopathic DM (HDM-ILD) is a rare condition with a more unfavorable prognosis than ILD associated with classic DM (CDM-ILD). There is no effective treatment for HDM-ILD.

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Background: Chronic coronary artery disease has been associated, as a consequence of the local inflammatory reaction with previous or persistent infection with , which led to the investigation of the association of cardiovascular disease and previous infection with and the role of cytokine profile (in situ) markers in the vascular system tissues.

Methods: Sixty-nine biopsies were collected for immunohistochemical analysis for the presence of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-β, and IL-10, in 16 fragments from atheromatous plaques, 32 aorta fragments, and 21 valve fragments, using a tissue microarray technique for paraffin embedded tissues.

Results: Most patients undergoing revascularization surgery were men >50 years, while those undergoing valve replacement were mostly women <50 years.

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Zika virus (ZIKV) has been associated with microcephaly and other brain abnormalities; however, the molecular consequences of ZIKV to human brain development are still not fully understood. Here we describe alterations in human neurospheres derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells infected with the strain of Zika virus that is circulating in Brazil. Combining proteomics and mRNA transcriptional profiling, over 500 proteins and genes associated with the Brazilian ZIKV infection were found to be differentially expressed.

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Leprosy triggers a complex relationship between the pathogen and host immune response. Endothelium plays an important role in this immune response by directly influencing cell migration to infected tissues. The objective of this work is to investigate the possible role of endothelium in M.

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Given its toxigenic potential, Microcystis aeruginosa is an important bloom-forming cyanobacterium. Here, we present a draft genome and annotation of the strain CACIAM 03, which was isolated from an Amazonian freshwater environment.

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Cervical cancer, the second most common cancer affecting women in Northern Brazil, is strongly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Diseases affecting the immune state of a patient, including autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), can lead to persistent HPV infection and cancer. We evaluated cervical HPV prevalence and the associated risk factors in 70 women with SLE in the city of Belém, located in Brazilian Amazon.

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Here, we present a draft genome and annotation of Flavihumibacter sp. CACIAM 22H1, isolated from Bolonha Lake, Brazil, which will provide further insight into the production of substances of biotechnological interest.

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The clinical manifestations of the leprosy depend on host immune response and the macrophages are the primary cells involved in this process. M1 and M2 cells exhibited distinct morphology, distinct surface marker profiles, as well as different cytokine and chemokine secretion. Macrophages express receptors such as CD163, CD68, CD206, and costimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86, and cytokines that trigger a suppressive or inflammatory response.

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Human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection is associated with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). Tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (PET/HAM) is involved in the development of autoimmune diseases including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and Sjögren's Syndrome (SS). The development of HTLV-1-driven autoimmunity is hypothesized to rely on molecular mimicry, because virus-like particles can trigger an inflammatory response.

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