BackgroundAlopecia areata is the hair loss usually reversible, in sharply defined areas. The treatment of alopecia using growth factors shows interesting activity in promoting hair growth. In this concept, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) is a marker of angiogenesis, stimulating hair growth by facilitating the supply of nutrients to the hair follicle, increasing follicular diameter. The aim of this study was the evaluation of a topical gel enriched with VEGF liposomes on the hair growth stimulation and its toxicological aspects.MethodsMesocricetus auratus were randomly divided into three groups. Control group was treated with Aristoflex® gel, 1% group with the same gel but added 1% VEGF and 3% group with 3% VEGF. Biochemical, hematological and histological analyses were done.ResultsAt the end of the experiment (15th day of VEGF treatment) efficacy was determined macroscopically by hair density dermatoscopy analysis, and microscopically by hair diameter analysis. They both demonstrated that hair of the VEGF group increased faster and thicker than control. On the other hand, biochemical and hematological results had shown that VEGF was not 100% inert.ConclusionsVEGF increased hair follicle area, but more studies are necessary to confirm its toxicity.

The drugs used in chemotherapy treatments have little specificity, attack tumor cells, and also injure proliferative tissues. Knowledge of the functions of micronutrients has greatly increased, especially of Selenium (Se) that presents immunomodulatory and antitumor functions. The present study evaluated the health-related quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of leukemias and lymphomas (LL) and solid tumors (ST) while receiving Selenium (Se) supplementation. This is a randomized, double-blind, crossover study that evaluated the quality of life (EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire), renal and liver functions of patients supplemented with Se. There was no statistically significant alteration in LL patients. However, the fatigue and nausea scores after 30 days did decrease in this group as well as in the ST group. After 1 year supplementation with Selenium, a more noticeable decrease in the scores concerning fatigue and nausea could be observed in the ST group, when compared with the beginning of the study. The LL patients also presented a decrease in the fatigue scores and physical functions. The kidney function as well as liver function has improved after Selenium supplementation when compared with the placebo intake in LL and ST patients, more remarkably in the LL group. Supplementation with Selenium promotes the reduction of chemotherapy side effects in cancer patients, especially by improving the conditions of patients with fatigue, nausea, and impaired physical function. Renal and liver functions have also improved.

Essential to human health, selenium (Se) has enzymatic functions of fundamental importance to human biology due to its effects on DNA damage repair, its antioxidant properties, and cancer prevention. The best studied relationships between Se and the immune system is its role in the functions of neutrophils and of lymphocytes. Despite these observations, it is not yet clear by which mechanism Se is able to modify the immune status. This was a double-blind, crossover study: Group 1 received Se and Group 2 received placebo (30 days). After this, Group 1 received placebo and Group 2 received Se (30 days). Every 30 days, blood samples were collected for white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and Ig level measurement (IgA, IgG, IgE, IgM). Of the 36 patients, 17 were suffering from leukemia/lymphomas (LL) and 19 from solid tumors (ST). In the ST group's leukogram, a significant increase in neutrophils was observed after Se usage (P = .0192). During the analyzed period, Se minimized the triggering of neutropenia cases in both groups. IgA and IgG levels in ST patients were significantly higher than those identified in LL patients after Se usage (P = .0051 and P = .0055). For IgA, a significant increase in its production, after Se usage, was observed in the ST group when compared to the LL (P = .0011). The same did not occur to the IgM and IgE immunoglobulins. In our study, the supplementation with Se reduced the neutropenic cases (LL and ST patients) and reduced IgG and IgA levels in LL and increased in ST group.

The complement system is an important humoral defense mechanism that plays a relevant role against microbial agents, inflammatory response control, and immunocomplex clearance. Classical complement pathway activation is antibody-dependent. The C4 component participates in the initial step of activation, and C4 expression is determined by 2 pairs of allotypes: C4A and C4B. Deficiencies in C4 allotypes have been associated with several diseases. The aim of the present review is evaluate the reported data in the literature regarding specific C4A and C4B deficiencies and characterize their clinical relevance. We searched the MEDLINE and LILACS databases. Papers referring to total C4 deficiency without allotype evaluation and case reports of primary C4 deficiency were not included. Deficiencies in C4 allotypes have been associated with Mycobacterium leprae infection, erythema nodosum, systemic sclerosis with anti-topoisomerase I antibodies, intermediate congenital adrenal hyperplasia with DR5 genotype, diabetes mellitus type 1 with DR3,4 genotype, and diabetes mellitus with antibodies against islet cells. C4 allotype deficiency is also related to C4B deficiency and autoimmune-associated diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, or diseases with an autoimmune component, such as autism. Some reports associate C4A with thyroiditis after delivery as well as limited and systemic sclerosis without anti-topoisomerase I antibodies. However, the studies with C4A and C4B have been concentrated in isolated populations, and some of the studies could not be reproduced by other authors.

A febre amarela (FA) é um dos maiores desafios para as autoridades de saúde pública por se tratar de uma zoonose e, portanto, de difícil erradicação. Trata-se de uma doença infecciosa não contagiosa de curta duração causada por um vírus. Existem duas formas da doença: a febre amarela urbana (FAU) e a febre amarela silvestre (FAS), tendo como vetores os gêneros Aedes e Haemagogus, respectivamente. Tanto a FAU como a FAS podem variar de assintomática a grave. A principal medida de controle da infecção, após o controle dos vetores, foi realizada através da vacinação com a cepa 17D. A vacina é constituída por vírus atenuado e é efetiva contra a reinfecção pelos vírus selvagens, confere imunidade por, pelo menos, dez anos, e não é recomendada a imunossuprimidos. O mecanismo protetor desencadeado pela vacina está associado à produção de anticorpos neutralizantes, ativação de TCD4+ e adequada integração entre as imunidades inata e adaptativa. A vacinação tem importância na prevenção e controle da doença, já que interrompe o ciclo de transmissão da forma silvestre para a forma urbana através da geração de uma barreira de imunidade coletiva. Tendo em vista que a vacina da FA, apesar de ser altamente segura, vem apresentando um crescente número de relatos de reações adversas graves pós-vacinais, faz-se necessário o aumento das investigações acerca da segurança do vírus vacinal 17D, particularmente quando se identifica que diferentes mecanismos podem influenciar o potencial protetor da vacina em hospedeiros considerados imunocompetentes e determinar maior ou menor potencial reatogênico.

BackgroundLeptospirosis is a zoonosis which is spread through contamined running water. This contaminations is seriously affected by the flooding which occurs in the area surrounding the Aricanduva river. The transmission of the disease results mainly from the contact of water with soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals. We aimed to conduct an epidemiological survey on Leptospirosis cases in Sao Paulo East Zone area.MethodThe analysis conducted in this study was based on data collected from the health authorities of that region close the Aricanduva river between 2007 and 2008 years, which give the rates of confirmed cases, mortality and death from human Leptospirosis. Other information concerned with the relationships among rainfall index, points of flooding and incidence of Leptospirosis.ResultsWe observed a direct and important water contamination. Records of flooding points and dates of the reported cases in the region showed a direct relationship from which the period of higher rainfall also recorded an increase in cases. The annual record of the city and the region and rainfall regions also presented correlation.ConclusionThe association between the indices of flooding and Leptospirosis cases indicates that preventive measures are necessary to avoid exposing the community.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 has shown some interesting results in studies examining its use as a hair-loss treatment. IGF-1 works by regulating cellular proliferation and migration during the development of hair follicles. Hepatotoxicity and myelotoxicity were evaluated in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) after topical application of the liquid gel vehicle (placebo), 1% IGF-1 or 3% IGF-1. No significant difference in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase was found between the control and treated groups. ELISA did not shown any increase in the plasma level of IGF-1. A haematopoietic niche was found, but it was not associated with myelotoxicity. Efficacy was determined by dermatoscopy analysis of hair density and microscopy analysis of hair diameter, with hair found to be thicker and with more rapid growth in the 3% group than in either the 1% group or the control group. These results strongly suggest that liposomal IGF-1 in a liquid gel formulation is a safe and efficient treatment for hair loss.

BackgroundSeveral studies seek biological markers that give diagnostic and degree of tumor development. The aim of this study was to validate the determination of plasma DNA using nanotechnology (Nanovue™-NV) in samples of 80 patients with prostate cancer.MethodsBlood samples of 80 patients of the Urology Ambulatory of Faculdade de Medicina do ABC with prostate cancer confirmed by anatomical-pathology criteria were analyzed. DNA extraction was performed using a GFX TM kit (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Inc, USA) following the adapted protocol. Plasma was subjected to centrifugation.ResultsThere was a big difference between the first and the second value obtained by NanoVue Only two samples had no differences between duplicates. Maximum difference between duplicates was 38 μg/mL. Average variation between 51 samples was 10.29 μg/mL, although 21 samples had differences above this average. No correlation was observed between pDNA obtained by traditional spectrophotometry and by nanotechnology.ConclusionDetermination of plasma DNA by nanotechnology was not reproducible.