Resumo As infecções agudas por Giardia geralmente causam diarreia e dores de estômago. As infecções crônicas podem levar à desnutrição, deficiências de micronutrientes, má absorção e perda de peso. Este estudo avaliou a prevalência da infecção por G. lambia e os fatores de risco associados em pacientes imunocomprometidos em tratamento quimioterápico no sul do Brasil. Um total de 110 pacientes imunocomprometidos de Pelotas, RS, Brasil, consentiram em participar deste estudo e foram recrutados. O perfil socioeconômico e epidemiológico dos pacientes foi coletado por meio de questionário. A prevalência de Giardia foi determinada através de microscopia pela técnica de centrifugação-flutuação utilizando amostras de fezes de cada paciente. Além disso, a caracterização genética do parasita foi realizada pela amplificação e sequenciamento do gene da glutamato desidrogenase (gdh). À microscopia, a prevalência de giardíase foi de 17,3% (19/110). Além disso, as sequências de DNA revelaram que 7 (36,8%) dos 19 isolados pertenciam ao agrupamento B, enquanto 6 deles (31,6%) pertenciam ao agrupamento C, 5 (26,3%) ao agrupamento A e 1 (5,3%) ao agrupamento D. Os fatores de risco (p ≤ 0,05) para giardíase foram, escolaridade (OR=8,0 (1,02 – 62,91), dividir casa com mais de três pessoas (OR=14,1 (3,77 – 52,51), fontes de água (OR=38,9 (10,4 – 145,7), tratamento de esgoto (OR=14,2 (3,1 – 65,5), destinação do lixo (OR=7,44 (2,0 – 27,3), possuir animais de estimação (OR=4,6 (1,0 – 21,2) e cultivar horta (OR=4,2 (1,3 – 13.6). A prevalência de G. lamblia em pacientes imunocomprometidos foi considerada elevada com a identificação de quatro conjuntos do parasito (A, B, C e D).

Abstract Acute Giardia infections often cause diarrhea and stomach upset. Chronic infections can lead to malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, malabsorption and weight loss. This study assessed the prevalence of G. lambia infection and assessed associated risk factors among immunocompomised patients undergoing chemotherapeutic treatment in southern Brazil. A total of 110 immunocompromised patients in Pelotas, RS, Brazil, consented to participate in this study and were recruited. Socioeconomic and epidemiological profile of patients was collected by questionnaire. The prevalence for Giardia were determined through microscopy by the centrifugation-flotation technique using stool samples of every patient. In addition, the genetic characterization of the parasite was carried out by amplifying and sequencing the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) gene. By microscopy, the prevalence of giardiasis was 17.3% (19/110). Furthermore, the DNA sequences revealed that 7 (36.8%) out of 19 isolates belonged to assemblage B, while 6 of them (31.6%) belonged to assemblage C, 5 (26.3%) to assemblage A and 1 (5.3%) to assemblage D. Risk factors (p ≤ 0.05) for giardiasis were schooling level (OR=8.0 (1.02 – 62.91) sharing a house with more than three people (OR=14.1 (3.77 – 52.51), water sources (OR=38.9 (10.4 – 145.7), sewage treatment (OR=14.2 (3.1 – 65.5), waste destination (OR=7.44 (2.0 – 27.3), owning pets (OR=4.6 (1.0 – 21.2) and cultivating a vegetable garden (OR=4.2 (1.3 – 13.6). The prevalence of G. lamblia in immunocompromised patients was considered elevate with the identification of four assemblage of the parasite (A, B, C and D).

Resumo A toxocaríase é uma zoonose de distribuição mundial. A conexão entre doenças parasitárias e condições que deprimem o sistema imunológico, como o uso de drogas imunossupressoras, tem sido estudada. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da Ciclosporina A (CsA) na intensidade da infecção, resposta humoral e transcrição gênica das interleucinas IL-4, IL-10 e IL-12 em camundongos experimentalmente infectados com Toxocara canis. Para tanto, os camundongos foram divididos em dois grupos tratados com CsA (G1: 10 mg/Kg e G2: 50 mg/kg), os grupos G3 e G4 receberam PBS. Após a última administração da droga ou PBS (via oral a cada 48 horas por 15 dias), os grupos G1, G2 e G3 foram inoculados com 1200 ovos de T. canis. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue nos dias zero, 15 e 30 dias pós-inoculação (PI), para teste de ELISA e os camundongos foram eutanasiados 30 dias PI. Os órgãos e tecido muscular estriado foram coletados para a recuperação das larvas. Os esplenócitos foram analisados por RT-PCR. A intensidade da infecção nos camundongos tratados com 50 mg/kg de CsA foi 65,5% maior do que no grupo controle (p=0,001). Uma análise da cinética do anticorpo anti-Toxocara revelou que os grupos tratados com CsA apresentaram níveis médios de anticorpos significativamente maiores no dia 15 PI. A transcrição das três interleucinas testadas não apresentou diferença estatística entre G2 e G3 (controle). Concluiu-se que a imunossupressão desencadeada pela CsA (50 mg/Kg) favoreceu o estabelecimento de um maior número de larvas de T. canis sem, no entanto, alterar a produção de imunoglobulinas e a transcrição de IL-4, IL-10 e IL-12 no dia 30 PI.

Abstract Toxocariasis is a zoonotic disease of worldwide distribution. The connection between parasitic diseases and conditions that depress the immune system, such as the use of immunosuppressive drugs, has been studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cyclosporine A (CsA) on the intensity of infection, humoral response and gene transcription of interleukins IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12 in mice experimentally infected with Toxocara canis. To this end, mice were divided into two groups treated with CsA (G1: 10 mg/Kg and G2: 50 mg/kg), the G3 and G4 group received PBS. After the last administration of the drug or PBS (orally every 48 hours for 15 days), groups G1, G2 and G3 were inoculated with 1200 eggs of T. canis. Was collected blood samples on days zero, 15 and 30 days post-inoculation (PI), for ELISA test and the mice were euthanized 30 days PI. The organs and striated muscle tissue were collected for the recovery of larvae. The splenocytes were analyzed by RT-PCR. The intensity of infection in the mice treated with 50 mg/kg of CsA was 65.5% higher than in the control group (p=0.001). An analysis of the kinetics of anti-Toxocara antibody revealed that the groups treated with CsA showed significantly higher mean levels of antibodies on day 15 PI. The transcription of the three tested interleukins showed no statistical difference between G2 and G3 (control). It was concluded that the immunosuppression triggered by CsA (50 mg/Kg) favored the establishment of a larger number of T. canis larvae without, however, altering immunoglobulin production and IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12 transcription on day 30 PI.

Background: gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare (10 to 20/million). They exist in the whole digestive system and its surroundings, and are most common in the stomach (70%), followed by the small intestine (20-25%), colon and rectum (5%), and esophagus (< 5%). Their clinical presentation varies from small, incidentally found nodules to large and aggressive tumors. Nowadays GISTs are classified according to Fletcher's classification. Objective: to review the features of our GIST population. Methods: a retrospective study of GIST patients identified by immunohistochemical criteria, from 1997 to December 2007, and classified according to Fletcher's criteria. Results: 43 patients were included (24 men, 19 women) with a mean age of 62.7 years. Gastric GISTs (20 cases, 46.5%), small intestine GISTs (18 cases, 41.9%); in 5 cases metastases of occult tumors were found. Eighteen cases had no symptoms. Tumors were classified according to Fletcher's criteria as high-risk (n = 19), intermediate-risk (n = 7), low-risk (n = 12), and indeterminate-risk (n = 5). Death occurred in 10 patients, and 13 patients had metastatic disease. Conclusions: our results are in accordance with the world literature, in which a majority of cases are men with gastric tumors. The 5-year survival rate was 42%. Fletcher's criteria were easily applicable criteria and could predict tumor behavior.

Introducción: los tumores del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) son poco frecuentes, con una incidencia de 10 a 20 casos por millón de habitantes y año. Aparecen en todo el tubo digestivo, mesenterio o epiplón adyacente; siendo más frecuentes en el estómago (60-70%); también pueden aparecer en el intestino delgado (20-25%), colon y recto (5%) y esófago (< 5%). Su presentación varía desde pequeños nódulos asintomáticos hasta formas más agresivas. Su clasificación se realiza actualmente con base a los criterios de Fletcher. Objetivo: revisión y caracterización de los casos de GIST observados en nuestro centro durante un periodo de 10 años. Métodos: estudio retrospectivo de pacientes diagnosticados con GIST (identificados por criterios inmunohistoquímicos) desde enero de 1997 hasta diciembre de 2007 y clasificados por los criterios de Fletcher. Resultados: se estudiaron 43 pacientes (24 hombres y 19 mujeres), con una edad media de 62,7 años. La mayoría de los GIST encontrados se localizaban en el estómago (n = 20, 46,5%), intestino delgado (n = 18, 41,9%) y en 5 casos se detectaron como metástasis de un tumor oculto. Dieciocho casos fueron asintomáticos. Por los criterios de Fletcher 19 eran casos de alto riesgo, 7 de riesgo intermedio, 12 de bajo riesgo y 5 de riesgo in-determinado. Diez pacientes fallecieron por progresión de la enfermedad y 13 pacientes presentaron metástasis a distancia. Conclusiones: en nuestra serie, tal como en la literatura, se observa un predominio del sexo masculino y mayor frecuencia de localización gástrica. La supervivencia fue del 42% a los 5 años. La aplicación de los criterios de Fletcher fue consistente con la evolución.

The process of dyeing poly(ethylene terephthalate) - PET films at 50, 60 and 65ºC and poly(hydroxybutyrate) - PHB granules at 60, 70 and 80ºC using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as solvent and ethanol as cosolvent was studied by DSC, TGA analysis and measurements of shrinkage to determine the morphological modifications caused by the scCO2 treatment of these materials. A comparison of the effects of annealing both polymers in scCO2 provided evidence that PHB had plasticization activity due to its crystallinity and that PET favored the dyeing process at high pressure when its temperature was raised to close to the Tg value. DSC and TGA measurements were obtained for all the samples. The DSC results showed that there was no significant structural change and the TGA data showed that thermal stability was not affected in the samples analyzed.