Evaluation of cytotoxicity, acute toxicity, genotoxicity and antioxidant and antigenotoxicity activities of the sarcotesta fraction of L. rich in lectin (PgTel).

, popularly known as pomegranate, is a fruit tree with wide worldwide distribution, containing numerous phytochemicals of great medicinal value. The aim of the present study was to determine the phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential of a protein fraction (PF) derived from sarcotesta which is rich in lectin. In addition, the acute oral toxicity, genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of this protein fraction (PF) from sarcotesta was measured.

A short-term high-sugar diet is an aggravating factor in experimental allergic contact dermatitis.

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an inflammatory skin reaction whose incidence has increased and has been associated with a dietary pattern rich in saturated fats and refined sugars. Considering the increased incidence of ACD and the lack of research about the influence of a short-term high-sugar diet on dermatitis, our aim is to improve understanding of the influence of a high-sugar diet on ACD. We introduced a diet rich in sugar fifteen days before inducing contact dermatitis with oxazolone, in mice, and maintained it until the end of the experiment, which lasted three weeks in total.

Cross-Sectional Serological Survey of Human Fascioliasis in Canutama Municipality in Western Amazon, Brazil.

Background: Fascioliasis is an important parasitic disease. In the northern region of Brazil, a human parasite infection has been reported through a coprological survey. Eggs of were found in fecal samples of 11 individuals.

Tegumentary leishmaniasis in the State of Amazonas: what have we learned and what do we need?

This study evaluated the occurrence of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in the State of Amazonas, Brazil, in the last 30 years with emphasis on the last 10 years (2001 to 2010). The disease was predominantly observed in males (76.2%), in the 21- to 30-year-old age group (26.

Serological survey for Chagas disease in the rural areas of Manaus, Coari, and Tefé in the Western Brazilian Amazon.

Introduction: Deforestation, uncontrolled forest, human population migration from endemic areas, and the large number of reservoirs and wild vectors naturally infected by Trypanosoma cruzi promote the endemicity of Chagas disease in the Amazon region.

Methods: We conducted an initial serological survey (ELISA) in a sample of 1,263 persons; 1,095 (86.7%) were natives of the State of Amazonas, 666 (52.

American tegumentary leishmaniasis and HIV-AIDS association in a tertiary care center in the Brazilian Amazon.

American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are both common infectious diseases in the Brazilian Amazon with overlapping expansion areas, which leads to the occurrence of Leishmania/HIV coinfection. Most ATL/HIV-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) association cases have been reported from areas where Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is the main pathogen; this finding is in contrast with the Amazon region, where L. (V.

Mucosal Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis in the Brazilian Amazon.

Background: Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is a parasite recognized as the most important etiologic agent of mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) in the New World. In Amazonia, seven different species of Leishmania, etiologic agents of human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, have been described. Isolated cases of ML have been described for several different species of Leishmania: L.

Cardiac involvement in Acute Chagas' Disease cases in the Amazon region.

The cardiac involvement of five patients from the Amazon region with Acute Chagas' Disease (ACD) is described. Four of these patients presented probable oral transmission. All of them presented some degree of cardiac involvement, but there were no deaths.

Comparison between quantitative nucleic acid sequence-based amplification, real-time reverse transcriptase PCR, and real-time PCR for quantification of Leishmania parasites.

DNA or RNA amplification methods for detection of Leishmania parasites have advantages regarding sensitivity and potential quantitative characteristics in comparison with conventional diagnostic methods but are often still not routinely applied. However, the use and application of molecular assays are increasing, but comparative studies on the performance of these different assays are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare three molecular assays for detection and quantification of Leishmania parasites in serial dilutions of parasites and in skin biopsies collected from cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients in Manaus, Brazil.

[American tegumentary leishmaniasis in children: epidemiological aspects of cases treated in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil].

Children from birth to 14 years of age with American tegumentary leishmaniasis were monitored at the Foundation for Tropical Medicine in the State of Amazonas, Brazil, from January to December 2005; 147 cases were recorded, 55.78% of which were male and 48.3% from the Rio Preto da Eva district.

[Epidemiology of tegumentary leishmaniasis in São João, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil].

In Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil, the degree of individual exposure to leishmaniasis is related to disorganized land occupation. In order to evaluate predisposing factors for an outbreak, confirm the parasitological diagnosis, treat patients, and assess etiological agents, reservoirs, and vectors, a 12-month study was conducted in Manaus in a community located along the BR-174 federal highway. Some 451 individuals were studied, among whom 17 cases of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) were diagnosed (six women and 11 men).

Quantitative nucleic acid sequence-based assay as a new molecular tool for detection and quantification of Leishmania parasites in skin biopsy samples.

Currently available methods for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) have low sensitivities or are unable to quantify the number of viable parasites. This constitutes a major obstacle for the diagnosis of the disease and for the study of the effectiveness of treatment schedules and urges the development of improved detection methods. In this study, quantitative nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (QT-NASBA) technology was used to detect and quantify Leishmania parasites in skin biopsy samples from CL patients.