Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV with moderate or severe mental disorder.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a serious public health concern, with an estimated 38 million people living with HIV (PLHIV). PLHIV are often affected by mental disorders at higher rate than the general population. One challenge in the control and prevention of new HIV infections is adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), with PLHIV with mental disorders having seemingly lower adherence than PLHIV without mental disorders.

Epigenetic regulation of transcription factor binding motifs promotes Th1 response in Chagas disease cardiomyopathy.

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan , is an endemic parasitic disease of Latin America, affecting 7 million people. Although most patients are asymptomatic, 30% develop complications, including the often-fatal Chronic Chagasic Cardiomyopathy (CCC). Although previous studies have demonstrated some genetic deregulations associated with CCCs, the causes of their deregulations remain poorly described.

Causes and Pathology of Equine Pneumonia and Pleuritis in Southern Brazil.

We document the causes and pathological findings in 50 cases of equine pneumonia and pleuritis in Southern Brazil. Suppurative (17/50), pyogranulomatous (14/50), aspiration (5/50), mycotic (4/50), bronchointerstitial (3/50), embolic (3/50) and eosinophilic granulomatous pneumonia (1/50) and pleuritis (3/50) were the main conditions identified. Streptococcus spp.

Association of CHRNA5 Gene Variants with Crack Cocaine Addiction.

Genome-wide studies provide increasing evidence of association of genetic variants with different behaviors. However, there is a growing need for replication and subsequent characterization of specific findings. In this sense, the CHRNA5 gene has been associated with nicotine (with genome-wide significance), alcohol and cocaine addictions.

Effects of DRD2 splicing-regulatory polymorphism and DRD4 48 bp VNTR on crack cocaine addiction.

There is evidence that dopamine receptors D2 (DRD2) and D4 (DRD4) polymorphisms may influence substance use disorders (SUD) susceptibility both individually and through their influence in the formation of DRD2-DRD4 heteromers. The dopaminergic role on the vulnerability to addiction appears to be influenced by sex. A cross-sectional study with 307 crack cocaine addicts and 770 controls was conducted.

Effects of silymarin on angiogenesis and oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice.

The present study evaluated the effects of acute treatment with silymarin, an extract that is obtained from Silybum marianum, on angiogenesis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in normoglycemic and diabetic mice. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (80 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) in male Swiss mice, 6 weeks of age. A polyether-polyurethane sponge was surgically implanted in the back of the mice as a model of healing in both diabetic and normoglycemic animals that were treated with oral silymarin or water for 10 days.

Vimentin and Anti Vimentin Antibodies in Chagas' Disease.

Background: Vimentin is a main structural protein of the cell, a component of intermediate cell filaments and immersed in cytoplasm. Vimentin is mimicked by some bacterial proteins and anti-vimentin antibodies occur in autoimmune cardiac disease, as rheumatic fever. In this work we studied vimentin distribution on LLC-MK2 cells infected with T.

Association between the Intron 8 VNTR Polymorphism of the DAT1 Gene and Crack Cocaine Addiction.

Background: This study aims to compare allele and genotype frequencies of a 30-bp variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism of the DAT1 gene, located at intron 8, between adult crack cocaine users and nonaddicted individuals. Due to its involvement in drug addiction, this gene is a good candidate for molecular studies.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 239 current adult crack abusers or dependents from in- and outpatient clinics and 211 control individuals was collected in Brazil.

Effects of crack cocaine addiction and stress-related genes on peripheral BDNF levels.

This study examined the effects of glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1), corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genes on susceptibility to crack cocaine addiction and BDNF levels. Crack addicted patients who sought treatment (n = 280) and non-addicted individuals (n = 241) were assessed. Three SNPs in NR3C1 (rs6198, rs41423247, and rs10052957), three in CRHR1 (rs12944712, rs110402, and rs878886), and one in BDNF (rs6265) were genotyped.

Effects of Silymarin on Diabetes Mellitus Complications: A Review.

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder that is caused by a deficit in the production of (type 1) or response to (type 2) insulin. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by a state of chronic hyperglycemia and such symptoms as weight loss, thirst, polyuria, and blurred vision. These disturbances represent one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality nowadays, despite available treatments, such as insulin, insulin secretagogues, insulin sensitizers, and oral hypoglycemic agents.

Sesquiterpene lactones of Moquiniastrum polymorphum subsp. floccosum have antineoplastic effects in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats.

Background And Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo antitumor actions and toxicity of the dichloromethane fraction (F1B) of Moquiniastrum polymorphum subsp. floccosum (formerly Gochnatia polymorpha ssp. floccosa), composed of sesquiterpene lactones, against Walker-256 carcinosarcoma in rats.

Who seeks public treatment for substance abuse in Brazil? Results of a multicenter study involving four Brazilian state capitals.

Objective: To assess the characteristics of alcohol and drug users who seek treatment at the Brazilian Unified Health System in Brazil.

Method: A multicenter cross-sectional study involving five clinical and research centers located in four Brazilian state capitals was conducted with 740 in- and outpatients. The only exclusion criterion was the presence of neurological or severe psychiatric symptoms at the moment of the interview.

Crack cocaine users show differences in genotype frequencies of the 3' UTR variable number of tandem repeats of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1/SLC6A3).

Background: Due to the mechanism of action of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in drug addiction, the DAT1 gene is a potential candidate for molecular studies. This paper aims to compare the prevalence of allele and genotype frequencies created by the 3' UTR variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) of this gene between crack cocaine users and controls.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 237 current adult crack cocaine abusers or dependents (DSM-IV TR criteria) from in- and outpatient clinics in southern Brazil and 205 community controls were compared.

The FXR agonist 6ECDCA reduces hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress induced by ethanol and low-protein diet in mice.

Background And Aim: Excessive ethanol consumption can lead to development of hepatic steatosis. Since the FXR receptor regulates adipose cell function and liver lipid metabolism, the aim of this work was to examine the effects of the FXR agonist 6ECDCA on alcoholic liver steatosis development and on oxidative stress induced by ethanol consumption.

Methods: Swiss mice (n=24) received a low-protein diet (6%) and a liquid diet containing 10% ethanol or water for 6weeks.

Polymorphism in the alpha cardiac muscle actin 1 gene is associated to susceptibility to chronic inflammatory cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is endemic in Latin America, and may lead to a life-threatening inflammatory dilated, chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC). One third of T. cruzi-infected individuals progress to CCC while the others remain asymptomatic (ASY).

The effects of ADHD in adult substance abusers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychiatric comorbidities and different areas of life functioning in substance abusers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms. A cross-sectional, multi-center study involving 285 adult substance abusers from outpatient and inpatient clinics was performed. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, the sixth version of the Addiction Severity Index, and the Mini International Neuropsychiatry Interview were used for data collection.

Uncaria tomentosa exerts extensive anti-neoplastic effects against the Walker-256 tumour by modulating oxidative stress and not by alkaloid activity.

This study aimed to compare the anti-neoplastic effects of an Uncaria tomentosa (UT) brute hydroethanolic (BHE) extract with those of two fractions derived from it. These fractions are choroformic (CHCl3) and n-butanolic (BuOH), rich in pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids (POA) and antioxidant substances, respectively. The cancer model was the subcutaneous inoculation of Walker-256 tumour cells in the pelvic limb of male Wistar rat.

Effects of statins on liver cell function and inflammation in septic rats.

Background: Several studies suggest that the presence of statins may be beneficial during sepsis, but this idea is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term statin treatment in the livers of septic animals, focusing on its antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and metabolic properties.

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar rats were treated orally with simvastatin, atorvastatin, or vehicle once a d.

TESA-blot for the diagnosis of Chagas disease in dogs from co-endemic regions for Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma evansi and Leishmania chagasi.

We standardized serodiagnosis of dogs infected with Trypanosoma cruzi using TESA (trypomastigote excreted-secreted antigen)-blot developed for human Chagas disease. TESA-blot showed 100% sensitivity and specificity. In contrast, ELISA using TESA (TESA-ELISA) or epimastigotes (epi-ELISA) as antigen yielded 100% sensitivity but specificity of 94.

Short communication: Trypanosoma cruzi lineage I in endomyocardial biopsy from a north-eastern Brazilian patient at end-stage chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, is genetically classified into two major evolutionary lineages, T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II.

Predominance of lineage I among Trypanosoma cruzi isolates from Venezuelan patients with different clinical profiles of acute Chagas' disease.

Trypanosoma cruzi isolates from 23 acute chagasic patients from localities of Western Venezuela (state of Barinas) where Chagas' disease is endemic were typed using ribosomal and mini-exon gene markers. Results showed that isolates of the two major phylogenetic lineages, T. cruzi I and T.

[Treatment of autonomous and cystic thyroid nodules with intranodular ethanol injection].

Unlabelled: Intranodular ethanol injection has been used for the past 10 years as an efficient modality for treating patients with thyroid nodules. Several studies have reported the success of this therapy in autonomous and cystic nodules and, more recently, in cold benign nodules.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of this therapeutic modality on the treatment of autonomous and cystic thyroid nodules.

Sonographically guided percutaneous ethanol treatment of a symptomatic complex nodule with a large cystic component in a patient with thyroid hemiagenesis.

Thyroid hemiagenesis is a rare anomaly that is usually discovered incidentally during the evaluation of unrelated thyroid disorders. We present the case of a patient with hemiagenesis of the left thyroid lobe and a large, recurrent, symptomatic complex nodule with a large cystic component that occupied most of the right lobe. She had previously undergone multiple unsuccessful aspirations of the cyst.

[Dexmedetomidine and sufentanil as intraoperative analgesics: comparative study.].

Background And Objectives: The use of alpha2-agonists to control heart rate and blood pressure, to attenuate hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation and extubation and to reduce anesthetics requirement are already well established in the literature since clonidine introduction for therapeutic use. Dexmedetomidine, recently approved for clinical use, presents more alpha2-adrenergic receptors selectively, and therefore less adverse effects combined with marked analgesic and sedative properties. This has raised the interest in using it to replace opioids, known for their potent analgesic and sedative properties.

Trypanosoma cruzi: isolation of an immunodominant peptide of TESA (Trypomastigote Excreted-Secreted Antigens) by gene cloning.

Trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi excrete-secrete several molecules, which are immunodominant during the human infection. This complex antigenic mixture termed TESA (Trypomastigote Excreted-Secreted Antigens) presents a 150-160 kDa band that shows excellent specificity and sensitivity in Chagas' disease diagnosis by immunoblotting. Here we describe the isolation and the antigenic characterization of a recombinant peptide (TESA-1) containing a 10 kDa T.