Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C da Silva

Publications and source records attributed to C da Silva.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

[Monitoring and assessment indicators in 2001 of "Roll Back Malaria" initiative in Benin].

Within the context of WHO/CDS/RBM/2000, a survey was conducted in 2001 by the National Malaria Control Program of Benin. Following a well-thought-out choice, the survey took place simultaneously in health areas corresponding to epidemiological regions. Morbidity due to malaria is very high among children under five years admitted in external clinic (44.3% of cases) and (46.5%) for hospitalization. The crude rate of mortality is 129%. The use of non-impregnated bednet is usually met in three health areas, where 47.4% of the household have at least one non-impregnated bednet versus 5.4% of household with impregnated bednets. Percentage of pregnant women sleeping under an impregnated bednet and following chemoprophylaxis is respectively 43.3% and 3.8%. Results obtained at the end of this database survey in 2001 have facilitated the definition of indicators of the process, results and impact which remain very useful for the implementation of the monitoring and assessment system of "Roll Back Malaria" in Benin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Interaction of hemocytes and prophenoloxidase system of fifth instar nymphs of Acheta domesticus with bacteria.

The hemocytes to which bacteria adhere were defined and the contribution of the prophenoloxidase system of fifth instar nymphs of Acheta domesticus to adhesion were examined. The physicochemical parameters affecting hemocyte and phenoloxidase activity were determined. Both plasmatocytes and granular cells responded to bacteria, the latter cells entrapping the microorganisms on filopodial extensions. The optimum pH for hemocyte adhesion to glass slides was 6.5, the granular cells being the most sensitive hemocyte type. Although hydrophobic resin beads and positively-charged beads favoured hemocyte attachment, these parameters did not contribute to differential bacterial adhesion to hemocytes. Activation of phenoloxidase was neither enhanced nor inhibited by 0.1 and 1 mg/ml of laminarin or zymosan nor by dead Bacillus subtilis. However, live B. subtilis activated the enzyme and dead Xenorhabdus nematophilus inhibited enzyme activation. Serine protease components of the prophenoloxidase system had opsonic properties for B. subtilis but not for X. nematophilus. Phenoloxidase activity was enhanced by Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) and inhibited by SO(2-)(4).

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Non-founder mutations in the MEFV gene establish this gene as the cause of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by recurring attacks of fever and serositis. It affects primarily North African Jews, Armenians, Turks and Arabs, in which a founder effect has been demonstrated. The marenostrin-pyrin-encoding gene has been proposed as a candidate gene for the disease ( MEFV ), on the basis of the identification of putative mutations clustered in exon 10 (M680V, M694I, M694V and V726A), each segregating with one ancestral haplotype. In a search for additional MEFV mutations in 120 apparently non-founder FMF chromosomes, we observed eight novel mutations in exon 2 (E148Q, E167D and T267I), exon 5 (F479L) and exon 10 (I692del K695R, A744S and R761H). Except for E148Q and K695R, all mutations were found in a single chromosome. Mutation E148Q was found in all ethnic groups studied and in association with a novel ancestral haplotype in non-Ashkenazi Jews (S2). Altogether, these new findings definitively establish the marenostrin/pyrin-encoding gene as the MEFV locus.

Africa, Northern↗
PubMed1997

Expression and comparative analysis of recombinant rat and mouse RT6 T cell mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferases in E. coli.

Recombinant RT6 proteins of rat and mouse were analyzed for NAD-metabolizing, i.e. mono(ADP-ribosyl)transferase, NAD-glycohydrolase (NADase) and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities. The results reveal surprising intra- as well as inter-species differences in enzyme activities. While mouse Rt6 proteins were found to be strong arginine-specific transferases, but comparatively weak NADases, the opposite held true for rat RT6, for which transferase activity could only be detected in the form of arginine-specific auto-ADP-ribosylation, displayed by RT6.2 but not by RT6.1. NADase activity of rat RT6 was not accompanied by production of cyclic ADPR (cADPR). Rat RT6 gained potent arginine-specific transferase activity by exchange of a single amino acid for the corresponding residue of the mouse proteins.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗
PubMed1997

Thapsigargin does not affect phenylephrine-induced contractions in the anococcygeus muscle of rats.

1. The aims of the present study were to investigate the contribution of intracellular calcium and to evaluate the effect of the antagonists of the intracellular calcium stores, thapsigargin and [8-(Diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate, HC1] TMB-8, on phenylephrine-stimulated contractions of rat anococcygeus smooth muscle, using functional studies. 2. Phenylephrine induced concentration-related contractions in both 2.5 mM Ca2(+)-free EGTA media. 3. In Ca2(+)-free media phenylephrine stimulated successive contractions, and the contractile response was abolished only after approximately 26 stimulations. 4. In Ca2(+)-free media, after incubation with 10 microM TMB-8 for 30 min, phenylephrine induced concentration-response curves that shifted to the right. The EC50 values were not changed, and the maximum contractile response was reduced by 39.2 +/- 7.6% in relation to phenylephrine-stimulated responses in absence of TMB-8. 5. Thapsigargin (1 microM) did not alter phenylephrine-stimulated contractions in Ca2(+)-free media. 6. These results indicate that intracellular Ca2+ plays an important role on phenylephrine-stimulated contractions on rat anococcygeus muscle and that the phenylephrine-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ store is not sensitive to thapsigargin.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Synthetic oligonucleotide cocktails as probes for detection of human parvovirus B19.

A cocktail of 10 oligonucleotides selected at intervals along the length of the genome of human parvovirus B19 was labelled enzymically with digoxigenin and chemically with either digoxigenin (DIG) or dinitrophenyl (DNP). Chemical labelling was easier and more practical for the production of large quantities of probe. Pools labelled with either digoxigenin or DNP could detect 10 fg of B19 DNA in a dot blot reaction using an alkaline phosphatase antibody conjugate and colorimetric detection. Formalin fixed tissue from 11 consecutive cases of fetal hydrops were examined by in situ hybridisation (ISH). Both probe cocktails detected human parvovirus B19 DNA in 3 cases, with positive cells in all tissues examined and with equal sensitivity. The DNP pool is significantly cheaper and simpler to produce and could provide an inexpensive reagent suitable for diagnostic detection of viral nucleic acid in histopathological material.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Peripheral nerve regeneration with entubulation repair: comparison of biodegradeable nerve guides versus polyethylene tubes and the effects of a laminin-containing gel.

These experiments present quantitative data concerning peripheral nerve regeneration in vivo. We used entubulation repair as a model to compare two different types of tubular prostheses, one nonbiodegradable and the other biodegradable. We modified the microenvironment of the regenerating axons within the tubular prostheses by adding a laminin-containing gel to the interior of the tube at the time of initial implantation. The data demonstrate that specific manipulations to the microenvironment of regenerating peripheral axons have quantitative effects on the rate and extent of nerve regeneration. Such effects were dependent on the composition of the tubular prosthesis and varied according to the survival time of the animals. For instance, the laminin gel within the biodegradable tubes enhanced nerve regeneration at 2 weeks but was inhibitory at 6 weeks. Furthermore, such manipulations may have different effects on the number of myelinated axons found within the regenerating nerve cable versus the number of primary motor and sensory neurons giving rise to such axons. We concluded that: the presence of a laminin-containing gel significantly increased the initial rate at which axons from primary sensory and motor neurons cross a transection site; an initial delay in axonal outgrowth at early time points did not necessarily predict diminished outgrowth at later times; and because of the potential for axonal branching the number of myelinated axons found in the midportion of a tubular prosthesis did not always correlate with the number of primary motor and sensory neurons which gave rise to those axons.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The diagnosis of bladder cancer].

Mandatory examination: physical exam including, digital rectal examination; renal and bladder ultrasound and/or IVP, cystoscopy with full description of the lesion and with a diagram, urinalysis, urinary cytology; TUR with biopsy of the tumor base, biopsy of all suspicious areas; randomised biopsies in presence of positive cytology, tumor > 3 cm or non papillary tumour; biopsy of the prostatic urethra in cis or when there is suspicion of cis. When the tumor is invasive, it is mandatory to perform chest X-ray, IVP, and or abdominal and pelvic CT scan, liver ultrasound and bone scan, if there are symptoms or a high alkaline phosphatase.

Biopsy↗