The goals of this study were to evaluate the effect of the Canova medication, a homeopathic immune-system modulator, on the evolution of infection induced by the Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain in mice. The animals were divided into five groups: (i) untreated infected controls (I), (ii) infected animals treated with benznidazole (Bz), (iii) infected animals treated with the Canova medication (CM), (iv) infected animals treated with benznidazole and the Canova medication (Bz+CM), and (v) uninfected controls that received only the vehicle (grain alcohol) (C). The parameters evaluated were: parasitemia, mortality, control of cure, and tissue parasitism analysis. Our results showed that the evolution of the experimental infection was modified by treatment with CM, and that daily and consecutive doses were harmful to the animals, causing death in 100% of the infected animals in a brief period. The analysis of parasitism performed on the organs on the 12th day postinfection showed that in infected animals treated with CM, the number of amastigote/nests in the spleen was significantly reduced, while in cardiac tissue, intestine, and liver the number was significantly increased compared with infected control animals. These results indicate that CM has a negative influence on the host-parasite relationship, modifying the tropism of the parasite for tissues, and increasing the parasitemia peak in this experimental model.

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Desde os primeiros casos descritos e compatíveis com a síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS), alterações clínicas relacionadas ao trato gastrintestinal tem sido de alta prevalência, destacando-se principalmente quadros diarréicos 4 .O vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) foi inicialmente considerado causa dos sintomas intestinais em pacientes HIV com ausência de patógenos causadores de diarréia. É comum em pacientes HIV/AIDS o encontro de apoptose, abcessos, atrofia das vilosidades, má absorção e digestão. A presença da diarréia patógeno-negativa depende de extensa investigação diagnóstica e Enteropatógenos relacionados à diarréia em pacientes HIV que fazem uso de terapia anti-retroviral ABSTRACTThe etiology of the diarrheic process in AIDS may be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa or helminths, as well as HIV itself. This study evaluated enteropathogens relating to diarrhea in HIV patients who were on antiretroviral therapy. The parasitological methods used were Faust, Hoffmann and Kinyoun. Isolation and culturing of fungi were carried out in accordance with the methodology recommended by the NCCLS M27-A standard. The yeast species were identified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Bacteria were isolated on MacConkey and SS agar and the species were identified using Enterokit B (Probac do Brasil) and biochemical methods. Forty-nine patients were evaluated: 44.89% presented enteroparasites and 48.1% presented Candida sp, of which 61.5% were Candida albicans, 7.6% were Candida sp and 30.7% were Candida non-albicans. Bacteria were isolated from 72% of the patients, of which 49% were Escherichia coli, 13% Salmonella parathyphi, Klebsiella sp or Proteus and 6% Citrobacter freundii or Yersinia sp. There was high prevalence of Candida sp in HIV patients with diarrhea and non-albicans species were isolated. Their presence could be taken to mean that they were accomplices in or causes of the infection.Key-words: Diarrhea. Candidiasis. HIV. Parasitosis.da definição de diarréia. Muitos pacientes têm diarréia de pouco volume que é controlada espontaneamente ou com um agente antimotilidade, resposta esta que concorda com a síndrome do colon irritável 4 17 . A etiologia do processo diarréico na AIDS é variável, podendo ser causada por vírus, bactérias, fungos, protozoários e helmintos 4 , assim como pelo próprio HIV que determina efeitos diretos sobre a mucosa intestinal, produzindo a enteropatia da AIDS 4 .Muitas espécies de enteroparasitas passaram a ter importância como agentes potencialmente patogênicos para os pacientes infectados com o HIV, principalmente nos doentes com número de linfócitos T CD4 menor que 200 células/mm 3 .Parasitas intestinais como o Cryptosporidium parvum, assumem lugar de destaque causando doenças graves nestes pacientes, destacando-se ainda microsporídiose e isosporíase 17 . Bactérias e fungos leveduriformes principalmente espécies

The introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has deeply changed the course of HIV infection with increase in survival and improvement in quality of life as well as partial restoration of the immune system. After about ten years from the HAART use, the effects of combination treatment / virus started to come out. Among these, we can mention changes in lipid metabolism with hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and redistribution of body fat as risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Observational studies with people living with HIV / AIDS evidence that when an individual finds out that he/she is an HIV/AIDS patient, he/she end ups feeling fear or shame, reducing hence social circle, work and leisure activities, and becomes isolated at home or in small groups which have common identity of HIV / AIDS patients. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the relationship between the level of habitual physical activity and recreation of people living with HIV / AIDS and its relation with metabolic changes. The patients were classified into active and sedentary, using the Habitual Physical Activity questionnaire proposed by Baecke and validated for HIV / AIDS patients. Classification was conducted according to the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine. Metabolism was assessed through plasma levels of glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, using commercial kits. The sample consisted of 65 HIV patients who used HAART for at least five years. 64.6% were classified as sedentary and 35.4% as active. The study shows a direct relationship between physical activity level and higher levels of HDL -cholesterol in HIV / AIDS. HDL -Cholesterol is a lipoprotein of cardiovascular protection and, although other assessed parameters have not shown difference, these results highlight the need for additional studies on risk factors and physical activity for HIV / AIDS enabling proposals for specific interventions for these patients.

ABSTRACT. Neuropsychiatric complications are present in almost one third of patients diagnosed with AIDS who show wide variations in their clinical symptoms, featuring a spectrum of disorders ranging from minor cognitive-motor impairments to profound dementia. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) is one of the most used and studied cognitive tests around the world and evaluates cognitive function and screening of dementia. Current experiment applies the MMSE to HIV/AIDS patients to screen possible dementia factors in the sample and to evaluate the association of scores that are positively associated with the emergence of cognitive impairment and possible dementia. The study population consisted of 100 HIV/AIDS patients attended at the 15 th and 17 th Regional Health Centers covering 50 municipalities in the northwestern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. Whereas patients were classified with cognitive impairment and patients without cognitive impairment, the factors assessed included depression, body mass index, haematocrit, hemoglobin levels, rate of lymphocytes T CD4+, viral load and gender. Twenty-seven (27%) patients had scores lower than expected and were considered cognitively impaired. There was a significant positive association between cognitive impairment and changes in blood hemoglobin and haematocrit, age and depression. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, MMSE, cognition, neuropsychological tests.Miniexame do estado mental e avaliação de fatores que se associam à presença de declínio cognitivo em pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS RESUMO. Complicações neuropsiquiátricas estão presentes em quase um terço dos pacientes com diagnóstico de AIDS e apresentam grande variação na sua evolução clínica, exibindo um espectro de sintomas que vai de disfunções cognitivo-motoras leves a demência profunda. O Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM) é um dos testes mais empregados e mais estudados em todo o mundo, e permite a avaliação da função cognitiva e o rastreamento de quadros demenciais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi aplicar o MEEM em pacientes portadores de HIV/AIDS de modo a rastrear possíveis quadros demenciais na amostra, bem como avaliar a associação desses escores com os fatores carga viral plasmática maior que 50000 cópias mL -1

RESUMOO propósito deste estudo foi analisar a prevalência de barreiras pessoais para a prática de atividade física percebidas em portadores de AIDS. Trinta e cinco sujeitos de ambos os gêneros participaram voluntariamente deste estudo. Três questionários foram aplicados na seguinte sequência: a) barreiras pessoais percebidas para prática de atividade física; b) nível de atividade física habitual e c) socioeconômico. A prevalência de prática de atividade física adequada nas horas de lazer (≥ 150 min/sem) foi de 23,5%. As principais barreiras pessoais percebidas para prática de atividade física identificadas foram: (1) preguiça ou cansaço (48,6%); (2) falta de companhia (45,7%); (3) possuir lesão ou doença (37,2%) e (4) falta de dinheiro e medo de se machucar (34,3%, para ambas). Os resultados sugerem que a principal barreira pessoal percebida para prática de atividade física relatada pelos participantes guarda relação com os efeitos colaterais da medicação antirretroviral utilizada para o controle da AIDS.Palavras-chave: Estilo de vida sedentário. AIDS. Questionários.

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Background: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has changed the clinical picture of HIV infection by reducing morbidity and mortality rates in the population. However, alterations in lipid metabolism leading to hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and redistribution of body fat, which are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, have emerged. Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a complex disorder represented by a set of cardiovascular risk factors commonly associated with central adiposity and insulin resistance. Aim: Current paper evaluates the prevalence of MS in patients with HIV/AIDS using HAART from a reference Center in southern Brazil. Methods: Samples comprised patients who had the infection for at least five years and were undergoing antiretroviral therapy. Metabolic syndrome was identified according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (NCEP-ATPIII). A physical examination was performed by evaluating percentage of body fat by bio-impedance and measuring blood pressure, determination of Body Mass Index and Waist-Hip Ratio, glycaemia, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Results: 184 patients were evaluated. MS prevalence was 30% (55 patients), with 30 (16.3%) males and 25 (13.7%) females. Conclusions: Brazil was among the first country profoundly impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic but today, Brazil has less than 1% adult HIV prevalence, implemented treatment and prevention programs early in the epidemic. Whereas there is currently a significant increase in the survival of HIV patients by HAART, the patients reveal a higher prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in this specific population requiring political strategy of care to this population.