Abstract Background The neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the most abundant neurotransmitters in the nervous system. NPY acts as a potent stimulator of angiogenesis, inflammation, and adipogenesis, through the NPY 2 receptor (NPY2R). Changes in the NPY signaling pathway have been linked to Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Objectives The purpose of this study is to determine the association between variants in the NPY and NPY2R genes, as well as the severity of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods Approximately 221 ACS patients and 278 healthy controls were selected for this study. Four variants in NPY and two variants in NPY2R genes were genotyped using Taqman allelic discrimination and sequencing. The Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to verify the genotype frequencies. The logistic regression analyses were used for the evaluation of the studied variables. Haplotype analysis was used to evaluate the linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the variants (p<0.05). Results An association of NPY c.20T>C variant was found with the ACS group when compared to the healthy group. In the analysis between variants and risk factors in the ACS group, NPY c.84G>A was associated with hypertension. The analysis between TIMI risk showed a significance for NPY c.20T>C between the low and intermediate/high TIMI risk groups. In the haplotype analysis, strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) was found between the variants NPY c.150G>A and NPY c.-485T>C. Conclusion The NPY c.20T>C variant appears to contribute to the development of ACS. The NPY2R c.-1116A>G variant may contribute to the early development of ACS and the NPY c.84G>A variant appears to contribute to the development of hypertension. In addition, the NPY c.20T>C is associated with a protective effect in ACS severity.

O artigo analisa a relação entre mídia e Islã no Brasil, considerando especialmente a produção jornalística de estereótipos que consagram uma política específica de interpretação dos muçulmanos e sua fé. Partindo de dados coletados durante pesquisa junto à comunidade sunita do Rio de Janeiro, tem por objetivo apresentar o discurso da mídia sobre o Islã enquanto um processo reversível, com consequências e efeitos na construção identitária dos muçulmanos. Analisando tanto a representação destes produzida pela mídia quanto sua resposta a ela, é possível revelar o diálogo entre a produção de estigmas e a construção de adscrições positivas de identidade.

This article provides an analysis of the relationship between the media and Islam in Brazil, focusing especially on the journalistic production of stereotypes that instil a specific politics of interpretation of Muslims and their faith. Drawing on data collected during more wide-ranging research on the Muslim Sunni community in Rio de Janeiro, the article aims to present media discourse on Islam as a two-way process, with effects and consequences for the construction of identity in the Muslim community. Analyzing both the representation of Muslims produced by the media and the community's response makes it possible to reveal the dialogue between the creation of stigmas and the construction of positive ascriptions of identity.

A dot enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) was previously developed to detect specific antibodies in rabbits sera immunized against FIA protein obtained from Yersina pestis. This antigen was covalently linked onto the surface of dacron (polyethyleneterephthalate). Here, standard conditions are described for the optimization of this procedure: an amount of 20 ng of FIA protein was fixed onto dacron; anti-rabbit IgG peroxidase conjugate diluted 1:8,000 and 30% non-fat instant milk as blocking substance were used throughout the method. This procedure was compared with that employing nitrocellulose as solid-phase which showed to be more sensitive. However, the method based on dacron did not show false positive reactions against non-immunized rabbits sera at low antigen amount and diluted anti-IgG peroxidase conjugate.

Dacron (polyethylenetherephthalate) is proposed as a matrix for dot-ELISA procedures, as an alternative to nitrocellulose. Plates of dacron were partially hydrazinolyzed and hydrazide groups introduced were converted to azide groups. The derivative dacron-antigen was covalently linked on to the plates through these azide groups. The derivative dacron-antigen was exaustively washed according to CROOK and antigen was still fixed onto the plates. Protein F1A purified from Yersinia pestis was used as a model. Triration of sera from immunized and non immunized rabbits against this protein was carried out by employing the dot-ELISA method. No significant difference was observed using dacron-antigen and nitrocellulose-antigen preparations. However, both procedures showed to have a significant better performance in comparasion with the passive hemagglutination method. The specificity and reproductibility of the dot-ELISA assay using both preparations showed a similar behaviour. Nitrocellulose preparation was stable at 4ºC, 28ºC and -20ºC for 90 days, whereas the dacron-antigen derivative was stable only when stored at 4ºC. Dacron-antigen derivative could be re-used when the spot developing was proceeded using 4-chloro-1-naphtol as substrate.

Os efeitos do levamisole nas alterações histopatológicas, resistência do hospedeiro e quimiotaxia "in vivo" foram estudados na infecção experimental pelo Schistosoma mansoni em camundongos da linhagem C57B1/10. O tratamento profilático resultou em um aumento no número de vermes adultos obtidos pela perfusão e também em uma taxa de mortalidade maior (p < 0,05). As alterações histopatológicas (fígado e intestino) foram similares em todos os grupos. Uma redução significante da quimiotaxia "in vivo" ocorreu em camundongos controles infectados, assim como naqueles submetidos a tratamento profilático com levamisole. A atividade quimiotática atingiu os mesmos níveis dos camundongos controles normais (não-infectados e não-tratados com levamisole), quando o esquema curativo foi usado. O levamisole parece aumentar a susceptibilidade de camundongos da linhagem C57B1/10 à infecção pelo S. mansoni quando administrado antes da infecção e normaliza a atividade quimiotática, quando dado após a infecção.

The effects of levamisole on the histopathological changes, host's resistance and "in vivo" chemotaxis in Schistosoma mansoni experimental infection of C57B1/10 inbred mice were studied. Prophylatic treatment resulted in an increase in the number of adult worms obtained by perfusion and also increased the mortality rate (p < 0.05). The histopathological changes (liver and intestines) were similar in all the groups. A significant reduction of "in vivo" chemotaxis occurred in infected control mice as well as in those submitted to prophylatic treatment with levamisole. Chemotatic activity reached the same levels of normal control mice (non-infected and non-treated with levamisole), when the curative scheme was used. Levamisole seems to increase the susceptibility of inbred C57B1/10 mice to the infection with S. mansoni when administered prior to the infection and increase the chemotatic activity to normal levels when given after infection.