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Biomedical subjects

A Ramalho

Publications and source records attributed to A Ramalho.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

A randomised controlled trial with a diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (dTpa) vaccine in adults.

The aim of this assessor-blinded trial was to compare the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a candidate diphtheria, tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine with reduced antigen content for diphtheria and pertussis (dTpa) with a licensed reduced adult-type diphtheria-tetanus vaccine Td (reduced diphtheria content) and with an experimental candidate monovalent acellular pertussis vaccine with reduced antigen content (pa). The dTpa and pa vaccines had identical pertussis antigen content. A total of 299 healthy adults (> or =18 years, mean age: 30.1 years+/-10.7) were randomised into 3 groups to receive a single dose of one of the study vaccines. In all groups, clinically significant reactions (severe) were infrequent (0-6%) and no serious adverse events were reported during the study. The incidence of local and systemic reactions following the administration of dTpa was comparable to the Td vaccine group. Of the total study group, prior to vaccination 52. 3 and 93.2% of the subjects had anti-diphtheria and anti-tetanus antibody levels > or = 0.1 IU/ml, respectively; and 73.1, 98.2 and 74.5% of the subjects were seropositive for pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and pertactin (PRN) antibodies, respectively. One month after vaccination, a similar percentage of subjects in the dTpa and Td groups had anti-diphtheria (88.4% vs 90. 1%) and anti-tetanus (100% vs 98.9%) antibody levels > or =0.1 IU/ml. Similar anti-FHA (100%) and anti-PRN (98.9%) vaccine response rates were seen in the dTpa and pa groups, while the anti-PT vaccine response rates were 96.8 and 100.0%, respectively. The dTpa vaccine is as well tolerated and immunogenic as the licensed Td vaccine, and additionally, can also boost antibodies against pertussis.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed2000

[Use of food composition tables in evaluation of risk of vitamin A deficiency].

One hundred and ninety-eight 24 h-recall questionnaires from pregnant attendees of the public health services in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analyzed, using 5 different Food Composition Tables. The differences in calculated intakes were as high as 88% (793 to 1494 micrograms RE). The differences were significant at the 5% level using Fishers test. The INCAP table was considered more adequate because it gives more attention to the different conversion factors for carotenoids. However, the INCAP Table does not include several foods frequently consumed in Brazil, neither does it show values for culinary preparations and industrialized foods. This study shows that there is a need to improve the tools to evaluate vitamin A intake if we wish to assess nutritional risk in populations.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1999

Acellular vaccines containing reduced quantities of pertussis antigens as a booster in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of an acellular pertussis vaccine (pa) either formulated with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (dTpa) or administered consecutively with a licensed tetanus and diphtheria vaccine (Td) as a 5th dose in adolescents. METHODS: A total of 510 healthy children 10 to 13 years of age were assigned randomly, using a single-blind design, to receive either the dTpa vaccine or the Td vaccine with the pa vaccine 1 month later. The quantities of 3 pertussis antigens (pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, and pertactin) in the dTpa and the pa vaccines were one third of those of the Infanrix vaccine (SmithKline Beecham Biologicals, Rixensart, Beligium) licensed for use in infants. For enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measurement of serum immunoglobulin G antibodies and proliferation assay of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, blood samples were obtained before and 1 month after immunization. Local and systemic reactions were recorded on diary cards for 15 days after immunization. RESULTS: After immunization with dTpa or pa, significant and comparable rises in geometric mean values of antibodies (12- to 46-fold) and proliferations (8- to 18-fold) to each of the pertussis antigens were noted. After immunization with dTpa or Td, significant rises in geometric mean values of antidiphtheria and antitetanus antibodies (35- to 76-fold) were noted, and all subjects had values of these antibodies >/=.1 international units/mL. The dTpa and pa vaccines were at least as well tolerated as the licensed Td vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Booster immunization of adolescents with an acellular vaccine containing reduced quantities of pertussis antigens in addition to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids induces good responses in both arms of the immune system without an increase in adverse reactions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Macromolecular substructure in nuclear pore complexes by in-lens field-emission scanning electron microscopy.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has produced a wealth of novel images that have significantly complemented our perception of biological structure and function, derived initially from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) information. SEM is a surface imaging technology, and its impact at the subcellular level has been restricted by reduced resolution in comparison with TEM. Recently, SEM resolution has been considerably improved by the advent of high-brightness sources used in field-emission instruments (FEISEM) which have produced resolution of around 1 nm, virtually equivalent to TEM "working resolution." Here we review our findings in the use of FEISEM in the imaging of nuclear envelopes and their associated structures, such as nuclear pore complexes, and the relationships of structure and function. FEISEM allows the structurally orientated cell biologist to visualise, directly and in three dimensions, subcellular structure and its modulation with a view to understanding its functional significance.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Accessing nuclear structure for field emission, in lens, scanning electron microscopy (FEISEM).

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has had a shorter time course in biology than conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) but has nevertheless produced a wealth of images that have significantly complemented our perception of biological structure and function from TEM information. By its nature, SEM is a surface imaging technology, and its impact at the subcellular level has been restricted by the considerably reduced resolution in conventional SEM in comparison to TEM. This restriction has been removed by the recent advent of high-brightness sources used in lensfield emission instruments (FEISEM) which have produced resolution of around 1 nanometre, which is not usually a limiting figure for biological material. This communication reviews our findings in the use of FEISEM in the imaging of nuclear surfaces, then associated structures, such as nuclear pore complexes, and the relationships of these structures with cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic elements. High resolution SEM allows the structurally orientated cell biologist to visualise, directly and in three dimensions, subcellular structure and its modulation with a view to understanding, its functional significance. Clearly, intracellular surfaces require separation from surrounding structural elements in vivo to allow surface imaging, and we review a combination of biochemical and mechanical isolation methods for nuclear surfaces.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Incidence of and mortality from malignant tumors inthe municipality of++Vila Nova de Gaia: 1981-1987].

Data from the population based Cancer Registry of Vila Nova de Gaia for the 1981-1987 period are presented. Cancer is becoming a disease increasingly frequent in Portugal, causing progressively higher mortality rates. Population and geographic characteristics of Vila Nova de Gaia country is presented. Information sources of this Registry are hospitals, pathology labs, Health Authority files and death certificates. Net (229.2, 216.6) and standardized for european population (369.9, 245.9) incidence rates are presented for respectively men and women. Comparisons with registries from other countries (e.s.) are made.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of the frequencies of micronuclei as quantitative indicators of X-ray-induced chromosomal aberrations in human peripheral blood lymphocytes: comparison of two methods.

The yield of radiation-induced micronuclei in human lymphocytes was assessed by two methods, i.e., by incorporating bromodeoxyuridine or by inhibiting cytokinesis by cytochalasin for identification of cells which have undergone one cell division. The cytochalasin block method was found to be more efficient with a capacity to detect between 60 and 90% of the induced fragments. Dose-response characteristics and the results of fractionation experiments indicate that the yield of micronuclei reflects both classes of acentric fragments, i.e., those associated and independent of exchange type of aberrations.

Bromodeoxyuridine↗