BackgroundCharacterization of the Mycobacterium leprae genome has made possible the development of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) systems that can amplify different genomic regions. Increased reliability and technical efficiency of quantitative PCR (qPCR) makes it a promising tool for early diagnosis of leprosy. Index cases that are multibacillary spread the bacillus silently, even before they are clinically diagnosed. Early detection and treatment could prevent transmission in endemic areas.MethodsIn this study, the qPCR technique is used to detect DNA of M. leprae in samples of slit skin smears (SSS) of the ear lobe and blood of leprosy patients and their asymptomatic household contacts residing in Governador Valadares, MG, Brazil, a hyperendemic area for leprosy. A total of 164 subjects participated in the study: 43 index cases, 113 household contacts, and, as negative controls, 8 individuals who reported no contact with patients nor history of leprosy in the family. The qPCR was performed to amplify 16S rRNA fragments and was specifically designed for M. leprae.ResultsOf asymptomatic household contacts, 23.89% showed bacillary DNA by qPCR in samples of SSS and blood. Also, 48.84% of patients diagnosed with leprosy were positive for qPCR while the bacillary load was positive in only 30.23% of patients. It is important to note that most patients were already receiving treatment when the collection of biological material for qPCR was performed. The level of bacillary DNA from household contacts was similar to the DNA levels detected in the group of paucibacillary patients.ConclusionConsidering that household contacts comprise a recognizable group of individuals with a high risk of disease, as they live in close proximity to a source of infection, qPCR can be used to estimate the risk of progress towards leprosy among household contacts and as a routine screening method for a chemoprophylactic protocol.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12879-018-3056-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Composto por três volumes, este e-book "Ciências da Saúde: Avanços Recentes e Necessidades Sociais" traz em seu arcabouço um compilado de 68 estudos científicos que refletem sobre as ciências da saúde, seus avanços recentes e as necessidades sociais da população, dos profissionais de saúde e do relacionamento entre ambos. No intuito de promover e estimular o conhecimento dos leitores sobre esta temática, os estudos selecionados fornecem concepções fundamentadas em diferentes métodos de pesquisa: revisões da literatura (sistemáticas e integrativas), relatos de caso e/ou experiência, estudos comparativos e investigações clínicas.O primeiro volume aborda ações voltadas ao ensino e aprendizagem, atuação profissional e diálogo interdisciplinar, bem como práticas integrativas para fomento da formação profissional continuada, com vistas ao atendimento comunitário e/ ou individualizado. São explorados temas como ações em projetos de extensão universitária; análise de atendimento e estrutura de unidades básicas de saúde; conceitos de atuação profissional; métodos didáticos de ensino e aprendizagem, dentre outros.O segundo volume tem enfoque nos seguimentos de diagnósticos, prevenção e profilaxia de diversas patologias. Debruçando-se nesta seção, o leitor encontrará informações clínicas e epidemiológicas de diversas patologias e fatores depletivos do estado de saúde, tais como: câncer; cardiopatias; obesidade; lesões; afecções do sistema nervoso central; dentre outras síndromes e distúrbios.Por fim, o terceiro volume engloba um compilado textual que tange à promoção da qualidade de vida da população geral e de grupos especiais. São artigos que exploram, cientificamente, a diversidade de gênero, a vulnerabilidade psicossocial e a conexão destes tópicos com a saúde pública no Brasil e a inclusão social.São apresentadas ações voltadas à população idosa; adolescentes; diabéticos; transexuais; encarcerados; mulheres; negros; pessoas com deficiência; entre outros.Enquanto organizadores, acreditamos que o desenvolvimento de estratégias de atuação coletiva, educacional e de inclusão social devem, sempre que possível, guiar a produção científica brasileira de modo a incentivar estágios de melhoramento contínuo; e, neste sentido, obras como este e-book publicado pela Atena Editora se mostram como uma boa oportunidade de diversificar o debate científico nacional. Boa leitura!

Background: Characterization of the Mycobacterium leprae genome has made possible the development of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) systems that can amplify different genomic regions. Increased reliability and technical efficiency of quantitative PCR (qPCR) makes it a promising tool for early diagnosis of leprosy. Index cases that are multibacillary spread the bacillus silently, even before they are clinically diagnosed. Early detection and treatment could prevent transmission in endemic areas. Methods: In this study, the qPCR technique is used to detect DNA of M. leprae in samples of slit skin smears (SSS) of the ear lobe and blood of leprosy patients and their asymptomatic household contacts residing in Governador Valadares, MG, Brazil, a hyperendemic area for leprosy. A total of 164 subjects participated in the study: 43 index cases, 113 household contacts, and, as negative controls, 8 individuals who reported no contact with patients nor history of leprosy in the family. The qPCR was performed to amplify 16S rRNA fragments and was specifically designed for M. leprae. Results: Of asymptomatic household contacts, 23.89% showed bacillary DNA by qPCR in samples of SSS and blood. Also, 48.84% of patients diagnosed with leprosy were positive for qPCR while the bacillary load was positive in only 30.23% of patients. It is important to note that most patients were already receiving treatment when the collection of biological material for qPCR was performed. The level of bacillary DNA from household contacts was similar to the DNA levels detected in the group of paucibacillary patients. Conclusion: Considering that household contacts comprise a recognizable group of individuals with a high risk of disease, as they live in close proximity to a source of infection, qPCR can be used to estimate the risk of progress towards leprosy among household contacts and as a routine screening method for a chemoprophylactic protocol.

Background Schistosomiasis is a chronic disease that affects over 200 million people worldwide. A pivotal role of IL-10 is down-regulating Th1 and Th2 responses to schistosome antigens, which can favor the parasite establishment. The SmATPDases degrade ATP and ADP in AMP and adenosine, a molecule with anti-inflammatory properties. We evaluated the expression of SmATPDases 1 and 2 enzymes in S. mansoni eggs obtained from infected individuals as a possible parasite-related factor that could influence the host immune response and the clinical outcome of the disease. Methods Fecal samples were collected from 40 infected individuals to detect coding regions of the enzymes by the qPCR. The production of cytokines was measured in supernatants of PBMC cultures. The analysis was performed by the global median determination for each cytokine and set up high producers (HP) of cytokines. Results Six individuals expressed SmATPDase 1 in their fecal samples, 6 expressed SmATPDase 2, and 6 expressed both enzymes. The group who expressed only SmATPDase 1 showed a high frequency of IFN-γ, TNF, IL-4 HP, and a low frequency of IL-6 HP. The group who expressed only SmATPDase 2 showed a high frequency of IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-4 HP and a low frequency of IL-10 HP. The group who expressed both enzymes showed a high frequency of IL-10 HP and low frequencies of IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-13 HP. In the group that had SmATPDase 2 expression was observed higher indices the ratio between IFN-γ/IL-10 than individuals that showed expression both enzymes. The positive correlation between infection intensity and IL-10 levels remained only in the positive SmATPDase group. Overall, the analysis revealed that 62.5% of the cytokines presented reduced frequency in the group of individuals expressing both enzymes, the IL-10 is the only cytokine induced by the expression of both enzymes and the expression profile of SmATPDases is relevant data for grouping individuals. Conclusions The expression of both enzymes in the parasite's eggs seems to be a new undescribed factor that negatively modulates the host immune response by inducing high IL-10 production, which, in turn, can contribute to the survival of the parasite.

Parasitic infections in children (PIC) represent an important public health issue regarding that children are more vulnerable to these infections and its consequences. Many countries have neglected PIC in their health agendas and budgets, which has hindered scientific production about it. In this sense, bibliometric analyzes have been useful to identify the panorama of scientific production for many diseases and thus assist in decision-making. Thus, this review aims to analyze the brazilian and worldwide scientific production of PIC between 2006 and 2020. The terms “Parasitic diseases” and “Children” were used for search in Scopus database. The variables were organized and simple linear regression was applied using Graphpad Prism 7. Values of p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. was USA (18.5%), UK (8.9%) and Brazil (7.8%) were the countries that performed more scientific research on IPC. Among Brazil´s federal unities, São Paulo (34.3%), Rio de Janeiro (32%) and Minas Gerais (17.3%) published more scientific papers on PIC. The Brazilian research were mostly performed by public institutions, especially FIOCRUZ, USP and UFMG which published 19%, 16% and 10.6% of total Brazilian scientific production about PIC, respectively. There was a significant increase in scientific production about PIC over the 15 years analyzed, especially about schistosomiasis, giardiasis and trichuriasis. In addition, scientific journals from developed countries such as London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases were the main publishers of papers about PIC. Scientific production on PIC increased between 2006 and 2020 with participation of developed countries (USA and UK) and developing countries (Brazil). This increase in scientific production seems to be driven by the increase in studies on giardiasis, trichuriasis and especially schistosomiasis.