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Biomedical subjects

D E Santos

Publications and source records attributed to D E Santos.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Blockers for excitatory effects of achatin-I, a tetrapeptide having a D-phenylalanine residue, on a snail neurone.

Some histamine H1 receptor antagonists suppressed the inward current (Iin) of an Achatina identifiable neurone type, PON (periodically oscillating neurone), caused by an Achatina endogenous tetrapeptide having a D-phenylalanine residue, achatin-I (Gly-D-Phe-Ala-Asp), under voltage clamp. Achatin-I was applied locally to the neurone by brief pneumatic pressure ejection and antagonists were administered by perfusion. The dose-response curves of the effective histamine H1 antagonists indicated their potency order to suppress the Iin as follows: chlorcyclizine, promethazine, triprolidine and homochlorcyclizine > trimeprazine and clemastine > diphenylpyraline. The potent drugs were mostly piperazine and phenothiazine types. The effects of chlorcyclizine, promethazine and triprolidine on the dose (the duration of the pressure ejection)-response curve of achatin-I indicated that these drugs affected the Iin caused by achatin-I in a non-competitive manner. The antagonists for the receptors of the small-molecule neurotransmitters other than histamine H1, such as histamine H2, acetylcholine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), L-glutamic acid, dopamine, alpha- and beta-adrenalin and 5-hydroxytryptamine, had no effect on the Iin caused by achatin-I.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Influence of the drugs for membrane excitability modification on the excitation caused by achatin-I.

1. The pneumatic pressure ejection of achatin-I (Gly-D-Phe-L-Ala-L-Asp), an endogenous tetrapeptide having a D-phenylalanine residue, produced an inward current (Iin) in an identifiable giant neuron, PON (periodically oscillating neuron), of an African giant snail, Achatina fulica Férussac. The influence of the drugs for membrane excitability modification, applied by perfusion, on the PON excitation caused by achatin-I was examined under voltage clamp. 2. The four channel blocking drugs, tetrodotoxin (TTX), tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA), verapamil and picrotoxin, at 10(-4) M did not affect significantly the PON excitation caused by the peptide. 3. N-beta-phenylpropionyl-L-tyrosine (BPLT), a membrane hyperpolarizant, at 10(-6) M and concanavalin A (Con A), which altered the response to L-glutamate, at 100 micrograms/ml-1 were considered to hardly influence the PON excitation caused by achatin-I.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Sensitivities of Achatina giant neurones to peptides isolated from mollusca.

Sensitivities of the Achatina giant neurones to the peptides isolated from Mollusca were examined by their local application of the pneumatic pressure ejection under current clamp. The peptides tested and their effects were as follows: Ser2-MIP (inhibitory). CARP (inhibitory), oxytocin (excitatory), SPCB (excitatory), alpha-BCP (no effect). ELH (no effect). APGW-amide (inhibitory) and FMRFamide (inhibitory). Membrane conductance (g) of a neurone, d-RPeAN, measured under voltage clamp, was unexpectedly decreased by SCPB during inward current (Iin) caused by the peptide.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

APGW-amide as an inhibitory neurotransmitter of Achatina fulica Ferussac.

APGWamide (L-Ala-L-Pro-Gly-L-Trp-NH2) was purified from the ganglia of an African giant snail (Achatina fulica Ferussac). This peptide inhibited (hyperpolarized) more than half of the Achatina neurone types tested. This produced an outward current with the membrane conductance increase of RAPN (right anterior pallial neurone) under voltage clamp. The ED50 of the peptide was 6.2 x 10(-6) M (95% confidence limit: 5.0-7.8 x 10(-6) M) and the Emax was 3.9 +/- 0.2 nA. The effects were due to a membrane permeability increase to K+. The peptide is proposed as an inhibitory neurotransmitter of the Achatina neurones.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chlamydial infection in the Amazon region of Brazil.

The prevalence of antibodies to Chlamydia was determined in 9 population groups with different risk levels for sexually transmitted diseases in Belém, Pará state, Brazil. 583 serum samples were examined by the indirect immunofluorescence test. The prevalence rates varied from 33.3% in patients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic to 97.1% in Parakana Indians. One or more pathogens were found in 55 of 86 patients presenting a clinical picture of urethritis; C. trachomatis was isolated from 11% (6/55) of these cases by inoculation to McCoy cell cultures, accounting for 30% (6/20) of the cases of non-gonococcal urethritis. C. trachomatis was isolated from one of 28 female patients (3.6%) attending gynaecology and obstetrics outpatient clinics. The positive patients had no symptom or complaint that would have suggested the diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of HTLV-IIa blood donors in an urban area of the Amazon Region of Brazil (Belém, PA).

The human lymphotropic viruses type I (HTLV-I) and type II (HTLV-II) are members of a group of mammalian retroviruses with similar biological properties, and blood transfusion is an important route of transmission. HTLV-I is endemic in a number of different geographical areas and is associated with several clinical disorders. HTLV-II is endemic in several Indian groups of the Americas and intravenous drug abusers in North and South America, Europe and Southeast Asia. During the year of 1995, all blood donors tested positive to HTLV-I/II in the State Blood Bank (HEMOPA), were directed to a physician and to the Virus Laboratory at the Universidade Federal do Pará for counselling and laboratory diagnosis confirmation. Thirty-five sera were tested by an enzyme immune assay, and a Western blot that discriminates HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection. Two HTLV-II positive samples were submitted to PCR analysis of pX and env genomic region, and confirmed to be of subtype IIa. This is the first detection in Belém of the presence of HTLV-IIa infection among blood donors. This result emphasizes that HTLV-II is also present in urban areas of the Amazon region of Brazil and highlights the need to include screening tests that are capable to detect antibodies for both types of HTLV.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serological evidence of HTLV-I and HTLV-II coinfections in HIV-1 positive patients in Belém, state of Pará, Brazil.

The occurrence of HTLV-I/II and HIV-1 coinfections have been shown to be frequent, probably in consequence of their similar modes of transmission. This paper presents the prevalence of coinfection of HTLV among HIV-1 infected and AIDS patients in Belém, State of Pará, Brazil. A group of 149 patients attending the AIDS Reference Unit of the State Department of Health was tested for the presence of antibodies to HTLV-I/II using an enzyme immunoassay and the positive reactions were confirmed with a Western blot that discriminates between HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections. Four patients (2.7%) were positive to HTLV-I, seven (4.7%) to HTLV-II and one (0.7%) showed an indeterminate pattern of reaction. The present results show for the first time in Belém not only the occurrence of HTLV-II/HIV-1 coinfections but also a higher prevalence of HTLV-II in relation to HTLV-I. Furthermore, it also enlarges the geographical limits of the endemic area for HTLV-II in the Amazon region of Brazil.

Adolescent↗