Onychophora in humid forests of northeastern Brazil.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
L A Souza
Publications and source records attributed to L A Souza.
Intracellular signals triggered during association of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium bovis BCG with human monocytes.
To gain a better understanding of mycobacteria-host cell interaction, the present study compared the signal transduction events triggered during the interaction of Mycobacterium leprae (the causative agent of leprosy) and of Mycobacterium bovis BCG (an attenuated strain used as a vaccine against leprosy and tuberculosis) with human monocytes. The assays consisted of pre-treating or not THP-1 cells (a human monocytic cell line) with different kinase inhibitors, followed by incubation with fluorescein-labelled bacteria and analysis of bacterial association via fluorescence microscopy. The specific tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitor tyrphostin AG126 provided the highest rates of association inhibition (>90% for BCG and >65% for M. leprae). The early activation of TKs during mycobacteria-host cell interaction was confirmed by immunoblot analysis, demonstrating that in several host cell proteins mycobacteria stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation. The use of the drugs wortmannin and bisindolylmaleimide I which, respectively, inhibit phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and protein kinase C (PKC), produced lower but consistent results within a 35--60% association inhibition range for both bacteria. Dose response curves with these inhibitors were obtained. Similar results were obtained when primary human monocytes were used as host cells, strongly suggesting that TK, PKC and PI 3-kinase signals are activated during the interaction of human monocytes with both pathogenic and attenuated species of mycobacteria.
Humans↗
[Segmental dystonia as manifestation of cavernous angioma: case report].
Dystonia is a neurologic syndrome whose etiology is not well recognized. We report a sixteen year old patient with difficulty in playing piano, with disability of the left hand, forearm and arm. Short after, she underwent "absence" crises and headache. Neuroradiological exams showed a deep temporal lobe cavernous angioma. It is a rare association between both diseases and there are no reports about segmental dystonia associated to pseudoabsence epilepsy and sporadic migraine secondary to cavernous angioma. Twenty five per cent of dystonias have a secondary cause and we suggest a neuroradiologic investigation.
Adolescent↗
Purification, chemical, and immunochemical properties of a new lectin from Mimosoideae (Parkia discolor).
A glucose/mannose-binding lectin was isolated from seeds of Parkia discolor (Mimosoideae) using affinity chromatography on Sephadex G-100 gel. The protein presented a unique component in SDS-PAGE corresponding to a molecular mass of 58,000 Da, which is very similar to that of a closely related lectin from Parkia platycephala. Among the simple sugars tested, mannose was the best inhibitor, but biantennary glycans, containing the trimannoside core, present in N-glycoproteins, also seem to be powerful inhibitors of the haemagglutinating activity induced by the purified lectin. The protein was characterised by high content of glycine and proline and absence of cysteine. Rabbit antibodies, anti-P. platycephala seed lectin, recognised the P. discolor lectin. However, no cross-reaction was observed when a set of other legume lectins from sub-family Papilionoideae and others from families Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae were assayed with the Parkia lectins. This suggests that Parkia lectins comprise a new group of legume lectins exhibiting distinct characteristics.
Amino Acids↗
[Spinal subdural empyema. A case report].
Spinal subdural empyema is a very unusual condition. About 40 cases have been previously reported. The authors describe another case, mentioning the difficulties in diagnosis particularly when no primary infection is known. In these circumstances, the neurological signs and MRI are important; MRI demonstrates the level of the lesion and its subdural localization. Surgical treatment and antibiotics are clearly indicated and the earliest it is done, the better the results.
Aged↗