CD69 is an early marker of lymphoid cell activation. The authors report on an up-regulation of CD69 in splenic B and T cells of C57Bl/6 mice after administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or microbial immunosuppressive/mitogenic (ISM) proteins produced by C. albicans (p43) and African Swine Fever Virus (p36). This up-regulation of CD69 was observed 6 and 24 h after mitogenic treatments. The same pattern of increased CD69 expression was observed in the lymph nodes of mice treated with p43 or LPS, whereas p36 treatment failed to induce increased CD69 expression in this organ. Intracellular calcium mobilization was induced in splenic B and T lymphocytes after incubation of total spleen cells with LPS, p43 or p36. This increase was higher in B than in T cells. Increased calcium mobilization was also seen in lymph node B cells after incubation with p43 or p36 and in lymph node T cells after p43 stimulation. Up-regulation of CD69 expression on B and T cells was also observed after in vitro stimulation of spleen cells with the three mitogens used. Similar results were obtained with culture supernatants of macrophage/monocyte (M phi) cells activated with LPS (LPS/M phi CS). Stimulation of M phi cells with LPS or with the ISM proteins is demonstrated by the increased production of nitrites by these cells. The increased in vitro expression of CD69 was, however, not abolished by monoclonal antibodies to M phi cytokines such as IL-6, IL-10 or TNF alpha. No increased expression of CD69 was found in vitro on purified B or T cells, even when mixed upon stimulation with p43, p36, LPS or with LPS/M phi CS. However, an increase in the expression of CD69 was observed on B cells co-cultured with M phi cells after treatment with LPS or p36. All three mitogens failed to induce increased CD69 expression on cultured T cells mixed with M phi cells.

Isolated growth hormone (GH) deficiency (IGHD) affects approximately 1 in 4,000 to 1 in 10,000 individuals worldwide. We have previously described a large cohort of subjects with IGHD due to a homozygous mutation in the GH releasing hormone (GHRH) receptor gene. These subjects exhibit throughout the life very low levels of GH and its principal mediator, the Insulin Growth Factor-I (IGF-I). The facilitating role of IGF-I in the infection of mouse macrophages by different Leishmania strains is well-known. Nevertheless, the role of IGF-I in Leishmania infection of human macrophages has not been studied. This study aimed to evaluate the behavior of Leishmania infection in vitro in macrophages from untreated IGHD subjects. To this end, blood samples were collected from 14 IGHD individuals and 14 age and sex-matched healthy controls. Monocytes were isolated and derived into macrophages and infected with a strain of Leishmania amazonensis . In addition, IGF-I was added to culture medium to evaluate its effect on the infection. Cytokines were measured in the culture supernatants. We found that macrophages from IGHD subjects were less prone to Leishmania infection compared to GH sufficient controls. Both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines increase only in the supernatants of the control macrophages. Addition of IGF-I to the culture medium increased infection rates. In conclusion, we demonstrated that IGF-I is crucial for Leishmania infection of human macrophages.

Macrophages and monocytes are important for clearance of Leishmania infections. However, immune evasion tactics employed by the parasite results in suppressed inflammatory responses, marked by deficient macrophage functions and increased accumulation of monocytes. This results in an ineffective ability to clear parasite loads. Allograft Inflammatory Factor-1 (AIF1) is expressed in myeloid cells and serves to promote immune responses. However, AIF1 involvement in monocyte and macrophage functions during parasitic infections has not been explored. This study now shows that Leishmania donovani inhibits AIF1 expression in macrophages to block pro-inflammatory responses. Mice challenged with the parasite had markedly reduced AIF1 expression in splenic macrophages. Follow-up studies using in vitro approaches confirmed that L. donovani infection in macrophages suppresses AIF1 expression, which correlated with reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine production and increased parasite load. Ectopic overexpression of AIF1 in macrophages provided protection from infection, marked by robust pro-inflammatory cytokine production and efficient pathogen clearance. Further investigations found that inhibiting AIF1 expression in bone marrow cells or monocytes impaired differentiation into functional macrophages. Collectively, results show that AIF1 is a critical regulatory component governing monocyte and macrophage immune functions and that L. donovani infection can suppress the gene as an immune evasion tactic.

A automedicação pode trazer sérios danos ao bem estar do indivíduo, uma vez que esta prática pode mascarar a apresentação clínica da doença de base e retardar o seu diagnóstico, já que o tratamento visa somente o alívio dos sintomas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a prevalência da automedicação, seus fatores condicionantes, identificar os principais fármacos não prescritos utilizados e os sintomas que motivaram sua utilização pela população urbana da cidade de Frei Paulo-SE. Neste estudo observacional, descritivo e transversal foram entrevistadas 186 pessoas com idade entre 18-80 anos. Na população entrevistada foi observado que 97,30% dos indivíduos praticam a automedicação, e aproximadamente 71% afirmaram não possuir obstáculos para a compra de medicamentos. Os grupos de fármacos mais utilizados foram os analgésicos e antitérmicos (86,74%), seguidos por xaropes antitussígenos (71,27%). Cerca de 10% dos entrevistados relataram uso de antibióticos sem prescrição. Os principais sintomas que levaram ao consumo de tais medicamentos foram cefaleia (83,43%), seguida por sintomas de gripe ou resfriado (76,24%). Por fim, foi observado que 49% das pessoas não possuíam justificativa para esta prática. Desta forma, constatou-se que a prática da automedicação é comum na população deste município, e que muitos dos praticantes não encontraram obstáculos para a compra de fármacos. Assim sendo, é necessário o desenvolvimento de atividades educativas que busquem a conscientização da população envolvida, pois esta é uma prática potencialmente danosa à saúde. Palavras-chaves: Automedicação, Medicamentos Sem Prescrição, Saúde PúblicaSelf-medication is a common behavior that may has serious effects on health. This practice may obscure the clinical presentation of the underlying disease and delay the diagnosis, since treatment is directed only to relieving symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of self-medication, the conditioning factors, the most commonly used drugs and the symptoms that led to self-medication of Frei Paulo city inhabitants. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted and a total of 186 individuals aged 18-80 years answered the questionnaire. Self-medication was reported among 97.30% of participants and approximately 71% related that no obstacle was faced when purchasing drugs. Analgesics/antipyretics (86.74%) and antitussive (71.27%) were the most frequent categories of drugs. Around 10% of the population reported the use of antibiotics without prescription. Headache (83.43%) and symptoms of cold or flu (76.24%) were the most common symptoms that prompted self-medication of such drugs. Finally, 49% reported that had no justification for this practice. These findings demonstrated that self-medication practices were common in the population of Frei Paulo-SE (Brazil). Therefore, the implementations of educational activities are mandatory.

Abstract:Introduction: Brazil is going through a nutritional transition, which is observed decrease in malnutrition and increased excess weight. Objetive: To evaluate the nutritional status and lifestyle of school children and adolescents from 4 to 17 years old resident in the interior of the Brazilian Northeast. Methods: This is a longitudinal study performed in two stages. The first stage took place during the School Health Program and anthropometric data were collected from 975 schoolchildren. In the second stage, it was used a questionnaire to assess lifestyle and diet. Participants were classified into "not overweight" and "overweight". The significant level for the statistical tests was set at 5%.Results: In the first stage, less than 2% of students had low height for age. The prevalence of overweight and malnutrition was 22.15% and 5.23%, respectively. Of the 134 participants of the second stage, 47.76% were not overweight and 52.24% overweight. Regarding the lifestyle, the not overweight group had a higher percentage of insufficiently active members (p = 0.017) and a lower intake of vegetables and salads (p=0.015). Conclusion:The results revealed low short stature in the population studied and overweight was more prevalent than malnutrition. Children and adolescents had sedentary habits that associated with inappropriate dietary practices favor the occurrence of overweight.