Publications by authors named "Neusa P Silva"

Introduction: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are described in individuals with leprosy without the clinical features of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), a condition involving thromboembolic phenomena. We have described the persistence of these antibodies for over 5 years in patients with leprosy after specific treatment.

Objectives: To determine whether epidemiological, clinical and immunological factors played a role in the long-term persistence of aPL antibodies in leprosy patients after multidrug therapy (MDT) had finished.

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Background: Complement component 4 (C4) gene copy number (GCN) affects the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in different populations, however the possible phenotype significance remains to be determined. This study aimed to associate C4A, C4B and total C4 GCN and SLE, focusing on the clinical phenotype and disease progression.

Methods: C4, C4A and C4B GCN were determined by real-time PCR in 427 SLE patients and 301 healthy controls, which underwent a detailed clinical evaluation according to a pre-established protocol.

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We evaluated the possible association between FCGR3A V/F (158) polymorphism and SLE susceptibility and clinical phenotype in 305 sequentially retrieved SLE patients and 300 healthy controls from the southeastern part of Brazil by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Our results showed no association between FCGR3A 158V/F alleles and susceptibility to SLE in this series of patients albeit the heterozygous genotype was strongly associated with the disease.

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Objective: To evaluate (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and serum levels of different cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) and associations with disease activity.

Methods: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, MMP-3 and MMP-9 were measured in 36 TA patients and 36 controls. Maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of (18)F-FDG in arterial walls was determined by PET-CT scans.

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Objective: To determine the frequency of immunodeficiency-like states in SLE and related clinical features.

Methods: Three hundred and fifteen SLE patients and 301 controls were evaluated for C4A and C4B gene copy number, immunoglobulin isotypes, IgG subclasses, total haemolytic complement (CH50), C2, C3 and neutrophil oxidative burst. C2 and C3 genes were sequenced in cases of low C2 or C3 levels.

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Objective: The potential association of mannose binding lectin (MBL) deficiency and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been investigated in several studies, but results have been mixed. One explanation for the conflicting results could be differences in ethnic background of study subjects. In this study we investigated the association of MBL deficiency and SLE in a large cohort of Brazilian SLE patients and controls.

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Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) represent a heterogeneous group of diseases resulting from inherited defects in the development, maturation and normal function of immune cells; thus, turning individuals susceptible to recurrent infections, allergy, autoimmunity, and malignancies. In this retrospective study, autoimmune diseases (AIDs), in special systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which arose associated to the course of PID, are described. Classically, the literature describes three groups of PID associated with SLE: (1) deficiency of Complement pathway components, (2) defects in immunoglobulin synthesis, and (3) chronic granulomatous disease (CGD).

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Background: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) are classified into typical and atypical strains based on the presence of the E. coli adherence factor (EAF) plasmid. The EAF plasmid contains the bfp (bundle-forming pilus) operon and the perABC (plasmid encoded regulator) gene cluster.

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Objective: To evaluate F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT)-and serum levels of different cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA) and associations with disease activity.

Methods: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18, MMP-3 and MMP-9 were measured in 36 TA patients and 36 controls. Maximum standard uptake value (SUV) of 18F-FDG in arterial walls was determined by PET-CT scans.

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Background: Biofilm formation by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) have been recently described in the prototype typical EPEC E2348/69 strain and in an atypical EPEC O55:H7 strain. In this study, we sought to evaluate biofilm formation in a collection of 126 atypical EPEC strains isolated from 92 diarrheic and 34 nondiarrheic children, belonging to different serotypes. The association of biofilm formation and adhesin-related genes were also investigated.

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A real-time multiplex PCR assay was designed to amplify the virulence genes eae, pEAF, aatA, daaC, elt, est, ipaH, stx(1), and stx(2) for the detection of all diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes. This assay proved to be more sensitive and rapid than a conventional multiplex PCR for diarrheagenic E. coli isolates from children with diarrhea.

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Objectives: To determine the frequency of antibodies to chromatin components in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE), and to correlate the presence of these autoantibodies with clinical manifestations and disease activity.

Methods: Anti-chromatin (anti-CHR), anti-nucleosome core particle (anti-NCS) and anti-dsDNA antibodies were measured in 175 individuals, including 37 patients with active JSLE and 41 with inactive disease, 47 non-lupus autoimmune disease patients (non-lupus AD), and 50 healthy children. An in-house ELISA was developed with purified nucleosome core particles from calf thymus to determine IgG and IgG3 anti-NCS antibodies.

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Objective: To study the association of anti-nucleosome (anti-NCS) antibodies in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during follow-up.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six women with primary APS were evaluated prospectively for clinical features of systemic autoimmune diseases and for the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, antinuclear antibodies and anti-NCS/chromatin antibodies.

Results: After a mean follow-up period of 45.

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Background: The FCGR3B gene encoding the FcyRIIIb receptor for immunoglobulin G has three polymorphic forms known as HNA-1a, HNA-1b, and HNA-1c, encoded by the alleles FCGR3B*01, FCGR3B*02, and FCGR3B*03, respectively. It is not clear whether the inheritance of the FCGR3B*03 allele, which encodes the HNA-1c, is linked or not to the other two alleles. The objective of this study was to identify the inheritance pattern of the FCGR3B*03 allele in Brazilians.

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Background: Helicobacter pylori ClariRes assay is a novel commercially available real-time PCR assay allowing H. pylori detection and clarithromycin susceptibility testing in either gastric biopsy or stool specimens.

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate the novel biprobe real-time assay in stool specimens from 217 dyspeptic children.

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High myeloperoxidase (MPO) serum levels have been shown in several inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the correlation between MPO levels and disease activity in RA patients is still controversial. The aim of the study was to determine MPO plasma levels in RA patients and to investigate potential correlations between MPO levels and disease activity and treatment.

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RNA interference (RNAi) is a post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanism preserved during evolution. This mechanism, recently described, is mediated by small double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) that can specifically recognize a target mRNA sequence and mediate its cleavage or translational repression. The use of RNAi as a tool for gene therapy has been extensively studied, especially in viral infections, cancer, inherited genetic disorders, cardiovascular and rheumatic diseases.

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The immune system consists of an intricate network of organs, cells, and molecules responsible for maintaining the body's homeostasis and responding to aggression in general. Innate immunity operates in conjunction with adaptive immunity and is characterized by rapid response to aggression, regardless of previous stimulus, being the organism first line of defense. Its mechanisms include physical, chemical and biological barriers, cellular components, as well as soluble molecules.

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Background: The detection of molecular and cytogenetic alterations is important for the diagnosis, prognosis and classification of myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Objectives: THE AIM OF THIS STUDY WAS TO DETECT THE FOLLOWING MUTATIONS: JAK2 V617F, JAK2 exon 12 and MPL W515K/L, besides chromosomal abnormalities. Furthermore, molecular and cytogenetic alterations were correlated with the leukocyte and platelet counts, hemoglobin levels and age in all patients and with the degree of fibrosis in primary myelofibrosis cases.

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The immune system consists of an intricate network of organs, cells, and molecules responsible for maintaining the body's homeostasis and responding to aggression in general. Innate immunity operates in conjunction with adaptive immunity and is characterized by rapid response to aggression, regardless of previous stimulus, being the organism first line of defense. Its mechanisms include physical, chemical and biological barriers, cellular components, as well as soluble molecules.

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The immune system consists of an intricate network of organs, cells, and molecules responsible for maintaining the body's homeostasis and responding to aggression in general. Innate immunity operates in conjunction with adaptive immunity and is characterized by rapid response to aggression, regardless of previous stimulus, being the organism first line of defense. Its mechanisms include physical, chemical and biological barriers, cellular components, as well as soluble molecules.

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We isolated 45 Helicobacter pylori strains from 217 child patients. Resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, and tetracycline was detected in 27%, 13%, 4%, and 0% of strains, respectively. The A2143G mutation was the most prevalent (67%) among clarithromycin-resistant strains.

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Although atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) strains are frequently implicated in childhood diarrhea in developing countries, not much is known about their adherence properties. The phenotypic and genotypic characterization of 29 aEPEC strains expressing the localized adherence-like pattern points toward the involvement of E. coli common pilus (ECP), intimins, and other known E.

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We describe the characterization of 126 atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) isolates from 1,749 Brazilian children. Classic aEPEC strains were more frequently found in children with diarrhea than in controls (P < 0.001), showing their importance as acute diarrhea agents in our country.

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