Hepatic fibrosis may be the result of repetitive injury to hepatocytes caused by HCV infection and the immune response to it. Cytokines regulate the inflammatory response to injury and modulate hepatic fibrogenesis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in cytokine genes may influence the cytokine expression and secretion that may contribute to hepatic fibrogenesis in HCV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the genotype of 22 SNPs found in the genes of 13 cytokines/cytokine receptors to assess the influence of polymorphic variants on the stage of liver damage in Brazilian patients chronically infected with HCV genotype 1 only. 141 unrelated patients were grouped according to their stage of fibrosis: absence of fibrosis or patients in the initial stages of fibrosis (F0-F2, n = 84), patients with advanced stages of fibrosis or cirrhosis (F3-F4, n = 57), without cirrhosis (F0-F3, n = 103), and with cirrhosis (F4, n = 38). The comparison of frequencies in each sub-sample was performed by 2 × 2 contingency tables using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Stepwise logistic regression was also used to assess independent associations between cirrhosis or fibrosis with polymorphic variants. The TNFA-308G:A genotype conferred increased risk of fibrosis and cirrhosis. The TNFA-238G:G genotype was associated with protection from cirrhosis. The IL10-819C:T genotype conferred protection from fibrosis and the IL1B-511C:T genotype conferred increased risk of cirrhosis. Some of these genotypes showed results on the borderline of statistical significance in the bivariate analysis. We conclude that gene variants of cytokines/receptors may influence liver damage in patients chronically infected by HCV genotype 1.
ABSTRACT. Sixty-two specimens of Iheringichthys labrosus, captured in Rosana, Taquaruçú, Salto Grande and Canoas I reservoirs, located in the Paraná River basin, were necropsied. Fifty specimens were parasited by at least one species (80.65%). Six parasite species were recorded: one species of Dactylogyridae; one species of Apocreadiidae; one species of Proteocephalidea; Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pimelodus Pinto, Fábio, Noronha e Rolas, 1974; Quadrigyrus sp.; and Ergasilus sp. Thirty-five specimens of Iheringichthys labrosus were captured in Upper Paraná River floodplain. Thirteen specimens were parasited by at least one species (37.14%). Five parasites species were found: Herpetodiplostomum gymnoti larvae; one species of Proteocephalidea; Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pimelodus; Contracaecum sp. Type 1 larvae of Moravec, Kohn and Fernandes, 1993; and Quadrigyrus sp. In both study sites, the prevalence and parasitism abundance were not correlated with hosts standard length. There were significant differences between prevalence and parasites species abundance according to fishes' sex only in upper Paraná floodplain. Moreover, the parasitism abundance did not influence the host condition factor in both sites. Parasites infra communities from the fishes of both sites comparison presented a similarity of 54.54%.
Dengue is the most important viral disease transmitted by arthropod vectors. At present, it is known four types of virus serotypes, DEN 1, 2, 3 and 4. Differences in the host susceptibility to infection as well as the severity of disease can not be due only to viral virulence. Variations in immune response as a consequence of polymorphisms in regulatory regions of cytokine genes may have influence on the disease outcome. The aim of this study was to verify the occurrence of associations between cytokine gene polymorphisms and Dengue Fever.
ABSTRACT. One hundred and twenty-four specimens of Corydoras paleatus (Jenyns, 1842) collected from July 2001 to December 2002 in five reservoirs in Paraná state were analyzed. One hundred and ninety-eight Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pintoi (Kohn; Fernandes, 1988) were collected, representing a prevalence of 78.23% and a mean intensity of infection of 2.04 parasites by fish. The values of prevalence and mean intensity of infection for P. (S.) pintoi were submitted to statistical tests for the analysis of the host's relation. Data showed that the standard length and host's sex do not influence the parasitism level. Moreover, no significant difference of parasitism among the five analyzed reservoirs was found and the parasitism does not have seasonality. Kohn; Fernandes, 1988), representando uma prevalência de 78,23% e uma intensidade média de 2,04 parasitos por peixe. Os valores de prevalência e intensidade média de infecção para P. (S.) pintoi foram submetidos a testes estatísticos para a análise de sua relação com o hospedeiro, os quais demonstraram que o comprimento padrão e sexo do hospedeiro não interferem no nível de parasitismo. Também foi verificado que não há diferença significativa de parasitismo entre os cinco reservatórios analisados e que não possuem uma sazonalidade.Palavras-chave: Corydoras paleatus, endoparasitos, reservatórios, Paraná.
Neste artigo, descrevemos uma sequência de atividades em que seriados de TV que abordam temas da Medicina ou de técnicas forenses foram utilizados como disparadores de discussões sobre tópicos de Genética. Articulados a simulações de laboratório que ajudaram a esclarecer os conceitos envolvidos, os estudantes foram estimulados a estudar, a discutir e a produzir o próprio episódio de TV, relativo aos conteúdos específicos da área.
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