Biomedical subjects

Marcelo Simão Ferreira

Publications and source records attributed to Marcelo Simão Ferreira.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Use of the paired samples (cerebrospinal fluid and serum) in immunodiagnostic of active and inactive human neurocysticercosis.

Paired samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 30 patients--10 with active, 10 with inactive neurocysticercosis (NCC), and 10 control subjects--were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using two Taenia crassiceps metacestode extracts as antigen in order to detect IgG antibodies. In active NCC, high levels of IgG were detected (p < 0.05). The CSF samples showed 80% (CI 72-88) of reactivity in the saline extract (S) and 90% (CI 84-95) in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and the serum samples were reactive in 90% (CI 84-95) and 100% (CI 98-100) in the S and SDS antigenic extracts, respectively. The use of the paired samples of CSF and serum in active NCC showed equivalent results suggesting that the serum samples could be used as a screening in those patients whose CSF puncture is counter-indicated.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

[Immunoglobulin isotype and IgG subclass profiles in American tegumentary leishmaniasis].

The present work investigated the serum antibody profiles in 37 patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis, who were attended at Hospital de Clinicas - Universidade Federal de Uberlandia, MG, Brazil. The immunoglobulin class and IgG subclass profiles were analyzed by indirect ELISA using Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis soluble antigen. The antibody avidity was determined by 6 M urea treatment after incubation with immunoenzymatic conjugate. It was observed that 97% of the serum samples presented anti-Leishmania antibodies for IgE class, 94.6% IgG, 57.5% IgA and 21.5% IgM class. For IgG subclasses the profiles were in the following order of frequency: IgG1>IgG3>IgG2>IgG4. High avidity of anti-Leishmania IgE antibodies was found in 44.4% of the samples. On the other hand, moderate avidity of specific IgG and IgA was observed in 62.8% and 47.8% of samples, respectively. These results indicate a very complex antibody response profile against American tegumentary leishmaniasis.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

A comparative study of congenital toxoplasmosis between public and private hospitals from Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.

The main purpose of the present study was to examine if there is difference in terms of incidence rates of congenital toxoplasmosis among populations assisted in public and private hospitals from Uberlândia, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 805 serum samples from cord blood were collected, being 500 from public hospital and 305 from private hospital, and all patients answered a questionnaire about pregnancy and newborns. An indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and the positive samples were retested to verify the presence of specific IgM and IgA antibodies in a capture ELISA. We found significant differences among data from both hospitals with respect to maternal age, origin city, gestational age, number of visits to physicians during pregnancy, type of delivery, and birth weight. Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against T. gondii for patients from public and private hospitals was 57.6% and 41.9% respectively, and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). In addition, the frequency of congenital toxoplasmosis measured by the presence of IgM and/or IgA antibodies toward T. gondii was exclusively located in samples from public hospital (0.8%), and no positive sample was seen in private hospital (0%). Considering that almost all babies suffering from congenital toxoplasmosis, if undiagnosed and untreated, will develop visual or neurological impairments by adulthood, the results presented herein emphasized the importance to accomplish screening programs for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, particularly in the public hospitals, due to the expressive rate of congenital disease showed in the patients attended at these centers.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Congenital toxoplasmosis in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.

Almost all babies suffering from congenital toxoplasmosis, if undiagnosed and untreated, will develop visual or neurological impairments by adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis in two hospitals from Uberlândia, Brazil. A total of 805 serum samples of cord blood were collected, 500 from public hospital and 305 from private hospital, and all patients answered a questionnaire about pregnancy and newborns. ELISA was accomplished to detect IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and positive sera were re-tested to verify specific IgM and IgA antibodies in a capture ELISA. Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against T. gondii was 51.6 per cent in the hospitals, while the frequency of congenital toxoplasmosis was 0.5 per cent, with specific IgM and/or IgA antibodies. The main clinical alteration was chorioretinitis (an inflammatory process of the retina and uveal tract). The high seroprevalence in this population and expressive rate of congenital disease show the requirement of screening programmes for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.

Antibodies, Protozoan↗

PubMed2003

[Hantaviruses].

Hantaviruses are zoonotic diseases that affect humans and have a worldwide distribution. The hemorrhagic fever associated with renal syndrome occurs endemically in the Asian and European continents affecting housauds of people every year. Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, recognized as a clinical entity since 1993, represents the prototype of emerging diseases and is distributed in countries of the American continent, including Brazil. Both diseases are transmitted to man through the inhalation of viral particles, which are shed in feces and urine of wild and domestic rodents. They comprise a group of febrile diseases that can affect many organs, particularly the kidneys in the hemorrhagic fever associated with renal syndrome and the lungs and heart in the hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. The lethality of American hantaviroses reaches 50%. The diagnosis of these diseases is performed using serological tests such as immunoenzymatic assays which detect specific antibodies of the IgG and IgM classes. There is no specific treatment. Therefore, special attention should be directed to restore and maintain fluid balance, timely indication of dialysis for renal failure and administration of vasoactive drugs during periods of hypotension and shock. The administration of corticosteroids and/or ribavirin are under evaluation. The number of cases of hantavirus infection has been increasing in Brazil year after year, and it is important to alert health personnel to the occurrence of these entities throughout the country. Awareness of their presence should improve the quality of medical care.

Endemic Diseases↗

PubMed2003

Detection of Cryptosporidium--specific coproantigen in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients by using a commercially available immunoenzymatic assay.

The aim of this study was to verify the occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection in 52 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients (group 1) and 38 clinically healthy individuals (group 2) by using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). All fecal samples collected were submitted to the Baermann, Lutz and Ritchie methods, the Safranin/Methylene Blue, and Weber's chromotrope modified Trichrome staining techniques, and EIA. In group 1, parasitological staining techniques and EIA were both positive for Cryptosporidium sp. infection in 3/52 (5.8%) samples and both negative in 45/52 (86.5%) samples, while 4/52 (7.7%) samples were positive in EIA and negative in parasitological staining techniques. Concerning group 2, all samples were negative by EIA and microscopy for Cryptosporidium infection. In conclusion, EIA may be an alternative method for detecting Cryptosporidium-specific coproantigen in HIV/AIDS patients.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed2002

Oral histoplasmosis in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: We report 10 cases of histoplasmosis with oral manifestations seen in a teaching hospital in Brazil. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study of the sociodemographic, clinicopathologic, and treatment data of these cases. RESULTS: Overall, 8 of 10 cases were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), whereas 2 were negative. The predominant oral manifestations found in HIV-seropositive patients were ulcers, oral pain, and odynophagia; both of the HIV-seronegative patients were symptom-free. HIV infection was suspected in 7 cases because of the presence of oral lesions of histoplasmosis. Asthenia, fever, weight loss, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly were found only in HIV-seropositive patients. Radiographs in 3 out of 10 patients suggested pulmonary involvement. Amphotericin B was the antifungal therapy chosen, and clinical remission of oral lesions occurred in an average of 30 days (accumulated doses: 500-1500 mg). Itraconazole was very effective as a follow-up treatment in terms of prevention of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Histoplasmosis only rarely affects HIV-seronegative patients; however, the possibility of hidden immunodepression should be considered when oral manifestations of histoplasmosis are present.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed2002

Multicenter Brazilian study of oral Candida species isolated from AIDS patients.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis continues to be considered the most common opportunistic disease in Aids patients. This study was designed to investigate species distribution, serotype and antifungal susceptibility profile among Candida spp. isolated from the oral cavity of Aids patients recruited from six Brazilian university centers. Oral swabs from 130 Aids patients were plated onto CHROMagar Candida medium and 142 isolates were recovered. Yeast isolates were identified by classical methods and serotyped using the Candida Check or target system-Iatron. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to the NCCLS microbroth assay. C. albicans was the most frequently isolated species (91%), and 70% of the isolates belonged to serotype A. We detected 12 episodes of co-infection (9%), including co-infection with both serotypes of C. albicans. Non-albicans species were isolated from 12 episodes, 50% of them exhibited DDS or resistance to azoles. Otherwise, only 8 out 130 isolates of C. albicans exhibited DDS or resistance to azoles. Brazilian Aids patients are infected mainly by C. albicans serotype A, most of them susceptible to all antifungal drugs.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed2002

Some aspects of protozoan infections in immunocompromised patients- a review.

Protozoa are among the most important pathogens that can cause infections in immunocompromised hosts. These microorganisms particularly infect individuals with impaired cellular immunity, such as those with hematological neoplasias, renal or heart transplant patients, patients using high doses of corticosteroids, and patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The protozoa that most frequently cause disease in immunocompromised patients are Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi, different Leishmania species, and Cryptosporidium parvum; the first two species cause severe acute meningoencephalitis and acute myocarditis, Leishmania sp. causes mucocutaneous or visceral disease, and Cryptosporidium can lead to chronic diarrhea with hepatobiliary involvement. Various serological, parasitological, histological and molecular methods for the diagnosis of these infections are currently available and early institution of specific therapy for each of these organisms is a basic measure to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these infections.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Cryptococosis: clinical epidemiological laboratorial study and fungi varieties in 96 patients].

Ninety-six patients with cryptococcosis confirmed by clinical and laboratorial diagnosis were assessed in a prospective study in a University Hospital from March 1998 to November 2003; of these, 81.3% were HIV seropositive patients. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from different samples, of which the cerebrospinal fluid 74 (77%) was the most frequent. C. neoformans var neoformans was isolated in 89 cases, where as C. neoformans var gattii was isolated in 7. Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis was detected in 56.3% cases. It was the most frequent unique clinical manifestation and the fungus was detected in the bloodstream in 13.5% of the patients. Among the risk factors, AIDS (81.3%) was the most frequently associated with mycosis. Direct examination carried out on 121 samples revealed the microorganism in 98.3% of them, while the culture was positive for all samples. Most of the patients (59.4%) were treated with amphotericin B or with triazoles, however 72.9% of them ended in death, in particular those patients with positive tests for the HIV (62.5%). Nowadays, cryptococcosis has been frequently diagnosed in our region and represents one of the opportunistic diseases with the highest morbidity and mortality rates in patients with AIDS.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Skin diseases in patients with AIDS: study in 55 cases in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil].

UNLABELLED: Fifty-five patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) seen at the Dermatology outpatient clinic and who had mucocutaneous diseases were studied. These diseases, some of them opportunistic, are common but difficult to diagnose given the atypical features of the lesions. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyse the frequency and clinical presentation of dermatoses related to Aids seen at the Dermatology outpatient clinic. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with Aids and mucocutaneous lesions were examined from 1995 to 1997 in a cross-sectional study carried out at the Dermatology outpatient clinic of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Biopsies and cultures were undertaken for laboratory diagnosis. RESULTS: One hundred sixteen dermatoses were diagnosed. Fungal infections (78%) were the commonest among them, followed by viral infections (40%), papulosquamous disorders (27%), papular eruptions (18%), adverse drug reactions (10%), tumors (9%) and a variety of others (7%). The majority of the patients (67%) had more than one type of skin disorder. CONCLUSIONS: In agreement with previous literature data fungal and viral infections were confirmed as the most frequent skin disorders in HIV-positive patients. Dermatological examination, laboratory tests and skin biopsy for histopathological study are necessary for appropriate diagnostic investigation of HIV-related mucocutaneous diseases considering that atypical presentation occurs in a large proportion of the patients.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗