Another case of preventable death from asthma.

Introduction: Asthma prevalence is 262 million globally, with more than 1,000 deaths each day, most of them preventable. We were performing a longitudinal study, in Brazil, with the objective to following up patients who had a severe asthma attack and attended an emergency room (ATTACK Study). Here we present a case of a 28-year-old woman presenting what was considered moderate asthma, enrolled in ATTACK, who subsequently died of asthma.

Variants in interferon gamma inducible protein 16 (IFI16) and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) genes that modulate inflammatory response are associated with periodontitis.

Objective: Evaluate the association of genetic variants of the interferon gamma inducible protein 16 (IFI16) and absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) genes with periodontitis.

Methods: The study involved 117 individuals with periodontitis and 389 without periodontitis, all Brazilians, miscegenated. Individuals with periodontitis presented at least 4 teeth with ≥ 1 site with probing depth ≥ 4 mm; clinical attachment level ≥ 3 mm on the same site and bleeding upon stimulus.

Profile of T and B lymphocytes in individuals resistant to Schistosoma mansoni infection.

The mechanisms involved in the development of resistance to infection/reinfection by Schistosoma mansoni still arouse great interest and controversy. Some authors demonstrate that resistance to infection is attributed to a mixed Th1 and Th2 response and resistance to reinfection after repeated treatments through mechanisms associated with the Th2 response. Through flow cytometry, the phenotypic characterization of B and T lymphocytes in individuals residing in endemic areas with low parasite loads over 10 years was evaluated for the first time in humans.

Helminths and Asthma: Risk and Protection.

Helminth infections may inhibit the development of allergic diseases, including asthma. On the other hand, some helminth species may induce or worsen symptoms of asthma. This article discusses the impact of helminth infections on asthma as well as the potencial of helminth-derived molecules with regulatory characteristics in the prevention or treatment of this disease.

Schistosoma mansoni antigens alter activation markers and cytokine profile in lymphocytes of patients with asthma.

Unlabelled: Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by airway inflammation, obstruction and hyperresponsiveness. Severe asthma affects a small proportion of subjects but results in most of the morbidity, costs and mortality associated with the disease. Studies have suggested that Schistosoma mansoni infection reduces the severity of asthma and prevent atopy.

Immunological Profile in Individuals with Schistosomal Myeloradiculopathy.

Background: Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy (SMR) is the most serious ectopic presentation of Schistosoma mansoni infection. The pathogenesis occurs mainly via the host inflammatory response to the eggs of the parasite that are stuck in the central nervous system, and the diagnosis is generally made by the exclusion of other neurological diseases.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the immune status of SMR patients and to identify a marker for SMR diagnosis.

Dendritic cell profile induced by Schistosoma mansoni antigen in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients.

The inflammatory response in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), although responsible for controlling the infection, is associated with the pathogenesis of disease. Conversely, the immune response induced by S. mansoni antigens is able to prevent immune-mediated diseases.

Monocyte subsets in schistosomiasis patients with periportal fibrosis.

A major issue with Schistosoma mansoni infection is the development of periportal fibrosis, which is predominantly caused by the host immune response to egg antigens. Experimental studies have pointed to the participation of monocytes in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to characterize the subsets of monocytes in individuals with different degrees of periportal fibrosis secondary to schistosomiasis.

Impaired lymphocyte profile in schistosomiasis patients with periportal fibrosis.

The Th2 immune response in chronic schistosomiasis is associated with the development of periportal fibrosis. However, little is known about the phenotype and activation status of T cells in the process. Objective.