Biomedical subjects

I Gomes

Publications and source records attributed to I Gomes.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Cysticercosis in epileptic patients of Mulungu do Morro Northeastern Brazil.

With the aim to study the magnitude of infection by the metacestode of Taenia solium in a population of epileptic patients in the arid region of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, we examined 200 consecutive cases who attended an ambulatory clinic in the disctrict of Mulungu do Morro. Sixty-six of the patients had a diagnosis of epilepsy. From them 10 (15.2%) presented antibodies against a specific fraction of antigens in Western blot, and 4 (6.0%) had circulating parasite products, as tested by capture ELISA. Only 1 case was positive for antibodies and antigens. We found that the frequency of seropositivity was related to the time without epileptic seizure. We conclude that cysticercosis is endemic in the region of Mulungu do Morro and that it is related to a benign form of epilepsy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Monoclonal antibody to the delta opioid receptor acts as an agonist in dual regulation of adenylate cyclase in NG108-15 cells.

Monoclonal antibodies generated against multiple antigenic peptides of the N-terminal sequence (3LVPSARAELQSSPLV17) of the cloned delta opioid receptor immunoprecipitated a 58 kDa protein from CHAPS-solubilized NG108-15 membranes. The immunoprecipitates bound [3H]DPDPE--but not [3H]DAMGO--with a Kd of 6.4 nM and a Bmax of 75 pM. Western blot analysis revealed a distinct band of 58 kDa. The antibodies inhibited basal and PGE1-stimulated cAMP levels, and mimicked the effect of agonists manifest in a compensatory increase in cAMP formation. The antibody will be potentially useful in the analysis of functional epitopes on the delta opioid receptor.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed1999

Human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection in neurological patients in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

HTLV-I infection represents a major health concern in endemic areas throughout the world, such as Salvador, the main city of Bahia State, with socio-demographic characteristics similar to sub-Saharan African cities, located in the Northeast of Brazil. In order to provide an estimate of the frequency distribution, and range of neurological manifestations potentially related to HTLV-I infection in this city, we conducted a cross-sectional clinical-epidemiological study to determine the prevalence of this infection in patients with neurological diseases. Patients exhibiting vascular diseases, tumoral diseases or trauma were excluded. Over a period of 16 months, we studied 322 consecutive patients with chronic neurological diseases, who attended the neurological clinics of two major hospitals in Salvador. Overall, the prevalence of HTLV-I infection among the patients was 20.9% (67/320). However, the prevalence among the 104 patients with chronic myelopathy was 50.0% (52/104). It was observed that the major prevalence of HTLV-I was between the ages of 40 and 60 years with a female predominance. Our data indicate that, in Salvador city, HTLV-I is associated with chronic myelopathies or myeloneuropathies, which seem to be the only neurological diseases associated with HTLV-I.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Hardy-Weinberg quality control.

An efficient test of deviation from Hardy-Weinberg frequencies with one degree of freedom was applied to 44 marker loci in a genome scan, and 7 loci had a significant excess of apparent homozygotes (chi2 (1) > 6) suggestive of typing error. In this example evidence for linkage did not increase when outliers were censored. Statistical quality control is an essential part of genotyping, and the effect of mistyping and map error should be considered in evaluating any genome scan.

Asthma↗

PubMed1999

A proline- and glutamine-rich protein promotes apoptosis in neuronal cells.

During development, excess neurons are eliminated by programmed cell death. Similarly, conditionally immortalized (SV40-Tts) rat hippocampal and septal cells undergo cell death following differentiation with several factors such as fibroblast growth factor, constitutively activated Raf-1, or phorbol esters. The mechanism by which cell death occurs has not been identified. Using RNA differential display, we have identified and characterized a novel immediate early gene (denoted PQR for proline- and glutamine-rich) induced during differentiation of both rat hippocampal and septal cell lines. The 44-kDa PQR protein, rich in PQ, PH, and QQ repeats, is homologous to a murine protein (TDAG51) required for Fas-mediated apoptosis in T cells. To determine whether PQR acts as a mediator of apoptosis in neuronal cells, the hippocampal H19-7 cells were microinjected with either a plasmid expressing PQR cDNA or an antibody against PQR. Microinjection of differentiating H19-7 cells with a neutralizing antibody against PQR increased the number of surviving cells by 50%. Transient expression of PQR in both differentiating and nondifferentiating H19-7 cells decreased the number of surviving cells by 35-50%; this reduction was reversed by microinjection of PQR antibody. Finally, levels of Fas transcripts are not increased in the neuronal cells, indicating that the mechanism of action differs from that in T cells. These results demonstrate that PQR can be induced by growth factors and differentiating agents and can itself induce apoptosis in hippocampal H19-7 cells. Furthermore, these data suggest that PQR can function more generally as a mediator of apoptosis and provide a possible mechanism for induction of programmed cell death during neuronal development.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

[Prognosis factors in cryptococcal meningoencephalitis].

OBJECTIVE: To identify demographic, clinical and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) variables associated to intrahospitalar lethality of patients with cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort to study prognosis. SETTING: Hospital Couto Maia (HCMaia) reference for patients with infectious diseases in the State of Bahia Northeastern Brazil. POPULATION: Patients admitted at HCMaia, from 1972 to 1996, with the diagnosis of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. RESULTS: Lethality rate was 42.7%. The most important neurological abnormalities were neck stiffness, decreased consciousness level, behavior changes, cranial nerve palsy and visual alteration. Disease time over 30 days, involvement of consciousness level and cerebrospinal fluid cells under 40/mm3 were associated to a higher lethality rate. CONCLUSION: Disease time over 30 days, involvement of consciousness level, and CSF decreased cellularity were the only predictors of lethality in the studied population.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Raf and fibroblast growth factor phosphorylate Elk1 and activate the serum response element of the immediate early gene pip92 by mitogen-activated protein kinase-independent as well as -dependent signaling pathways.

Previous studies have shown that a mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase (MEK)-independent signaling pathway is required by activated Raf or fibroblast-derived growth factor (FGF) for the differentiation of rat hippocampal neuronal H19-7 cells. We now demonstrate that both Raf and FGF similarly induce prolonged transcription and translation of the immediate early gene pip92 in the absence of activation of the MAP kinases (MAPKs) ERK1 and ERK2. To determine the mechanism by which this occurs and to identify novel Raf-activated signaling pathways, we investigated the induction of the pip92 promoter by both FGF and an estradiol-activated Raf-1-estrogen receptor fusion protein (deltaRaf-1:ER) in H19-7 cells. Deletion analysis of the pip92 promoter indicated that activation by the MAPK-independent pathway occurs primarily within the region containing a serum response element (SRE). Further analysis of the SRE by using a heterologous thymidine kinase promoter showed that both an Ets and CArG-like site are required. Elk1, which binds to the Ets site, was phosphorylated both in vitro and in vivo by the MAPK-independent pathway, and phosphorylation of an Elk1-GAL4 fusion protein by this pathway was sufficient for transactivation. Finally, at least two Elk1 kinases were fractionated by gel filtration, and analysis by an in-gel kinase assay revealed at least three novel Raf-activated Elk1 kinases. These results indicate that both FGF and Raf activate MAPK-independent kinases that can stimulate Elk1 phosphorylation and immediate early gene transcription.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[Survival analysis of acute pyogenic meningitis in children].

In order to determine the survival curves of lethality in acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in children, we reviewed the charts of all patients admitted to the Hospital Couto Maia from January 1990 to December 1992. The Kaplan-Meir analysis was used to compare the survival rate and hospitalar permanence of patients with identified pathogens with those whose bacteria were not determined. The same analysis was used to compare the curves of the three most frequent agents. Statistical difference between the identified and nonidentified groups was not observed. The analysis of the three curves shows that the first 24 hours were responsible for the most elevated lethality rate. When the curves are compared, it is clear that S. pneumoniae has the most important intrahospitalar lethality and N. meningitidis the most benign evolution. We conclude that efforts have to be made to determine which variables are related to prognosis of ABM at the first day of hospital admission.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

[Prognostic factors of tuberculous meningoencephalitis lethality].

In order to describe the lethality predictors of patients with tuberculous meningoencephalitis, records of 231 patients were analysed. Ages ranged from less than 1 year to 68 years. Ninety-seven patients (42%) were four years old or less. Apart from 73.2% of patients whose diagnosis was performed by clinical and epidemiologic criteria associated with response to specific therapy, 26.8% had diagnostic confirmation through cerebrospinal fluid (culture, bacilloscopy, PCR) or necropsy. The lethality predictors were: less than 4 years of age, seizures, and severe alterations of consciousness.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

RNA splicing ligase activity in the archaeon Haloferax volcanii.

At least two separate enzymes, an endonuclease and a ligase, appear to be involved in tRNA splicing in halophilic archaea. We have identified and partially characterized a splicing ligase activity in cell extracts of Haloferax volcanii that can ligate deproteinized exon products generated in a separate endonuclease reaction. As in vitro transcribed partial intron-deleted derivative of H. volcanii elongator tRNA(Met) is used as substrate for the endonuclease. The ligase can also join the two exons that are independently eluted from the gels. This ligase activity is observed at a range (50 mM to 2.8 M) of monovalent cations in the assays, but is abolished when the enzyme preparations are depleted of the monovalent cations. In contrast, H. volcanii splicing endonuclease has been reported to require divalent cations and is inhibited by monovalent cations. Our endonuclease assays confirm these reports, and also show that the endonuclease is not permanently inactivated even in high monovalent cation containing extracts. The ligase activity in the extracts does not appear to require any divalent cation or exogenously added source of energy or phosphate.

Archaea↗

PubMed1997

Src tyrosine kinase mediates stimulation of Raf-1 and mitogen-activated protein kinase by the tumor promoter thapsigargin.

Thapsigargin is a non-phorbol ester-type tumor promoter that elevates the intracellular Ca2+ (Ca(i)2+) levels by blocking the microsomal Ca2+ ATPase. At present, the consequence of this Ca(i)2+ increase and the nature of the tumorigenicity of thapsigargin still remain to be elucidated. Previously, we demonstrated that thapsigargin activates the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase via Ca(i)2+ but independently of protein kinase C or Ca2+ influx. Here, we show that thapsigargin also rapidly stimulates the Src tyrosine kinase. Transfection of a v-Src gene into a hippocampal cell line (H19-7) renders a constitutive activation of MAP kinase, whereas transfection of a kinase-deficient Src mutant blocks the activation by thapsigargin, suggesting that Src is required for the thapsigargin-induced MAP kinase activation. Cotransfection of a dominant-inhibitory Raf-1 and the v-Src genes into H19-7 cells results in an inhibition of the otherwise constitutively elevated MAP kinase activity, suggesting that Raf-1 is required for the Src-dependent activation of MAP kinase. Similarly, in the LA-90 cells, expression of a temperature-sensitive allele of v-Src constitutively activates Raf-1 and MAP kinase, whereas expression of a dominant-inhibitory Raf-1 mutant abolishes the MAP kinase activation induced by either v-Src or thapsigargin treatment. Together, these results suggest that thapsigargin stimulates MAP kinase signaling via Src and Raf-1. The activation of this Src-MAP kinase pathway suggests a biochemical mechanism for the tumorigenic nature of thapsigargin.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Infectivity assays of foot-and-mouth disease virus: contact transmission between cattle and buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the early stages of infection.

No differences were observed between cattle and Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in terms of temperature, viraemia or virus replication in the pharyngeal area, during the acute phase of foot-and-mouth disease. Like cattle, the Indian buffalo became infected and excreted virus before any clinical signs of foot-and-mouth disease developed. The disease was transmitted from cattle to buffalo and vice versa, during the acute stage of infection, as if the animals had been of the same species, presumably because of their close phylogenetic relationship. There were more tongue lesions in the cattle than in the buffalo. Foot lesions in the buffalo at first had a scaley appearance, but later became vesicular. Anti-virus infection associated antigen and neutralising antibodies were synthesised at the same time in both species and reached similar titres in the same period. Persistent infection in the buffalo during the first 35 days after infection was similar to that in the cattle.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma in a patient with HTLV-I/II associated myelopathy.

Chronic myelopathy associated with T-lymphotropic virus type I (HAM) has been described as an endemic disease in several areas of the world, meanwhile there are few papers describing the association between HAM and adult T cell leukemia-lymphoma. We report the case of a man that, after four years of progressive spastic paraparesis and neurogenic bladder, developed a clinical picture of a lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by dermal and systemic involvement, mimicking mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

[Clinical and laboratory characteristics of pyogenic meningitis in adults].

We reviewed the charts of 176 adult patients, admitted with a diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis, in the Hospital Couto Maia, from January 1990 to December 1992. All the patients had community-acquired meningitis. In 120 patients we could identify the causative agent on Gram's staining and culture. The most common pathogens were N. meningitidis (56.7%) S. pneumoniae (37.5%) and E. coli (3.3%). The overall lethality rate was 19.8% and the lethality was greater in the group with streptococcus meningitis (31.8%). The mean age and the leukocyte in the peripheral blood were greater in the group with S. pneumoniae meningitis than in the meningococal group. Cutaneous hemorrhagic lesions was and excellent predictor meningococcal meningitis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

[Laboratory and clinical variables in the differential diagnosis of aseptic and pyogenic meningitis in children].

We reviewed the charts of 573 children with a final diagnosis of pyogenic or aseptic meningitis, who were hospitalized in a large reference hospital for the treatment of infectious disease, from January 1990 to December 1992. Seizures, decreased consciousness, nuchal rigidity were more frequent in bacterial than in aseptic meningitis. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glucose level lower than 45 mg/dL, a protein level equal or greater than 140 mg/dL and cell count greater than 600/mm3 were predictors of pyogenic meningitis. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess the best point in CSF measures of leukocytes, glucose and protein that could predict bacterial meningitis. These results suggest that clinicians should differentiate bacterial from aseptic meningitis in children with greater accuracy utilizing only clinical and simple CSF data.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1997

[Autonomic neuropathy in patients with impaired glucose tolerance].

UNLABELLED: Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is a clinical situation characterized by mild hyperglycemia, which is estimated to afflict 7.8% of the Brazilian population. Diabetic neuropathy is the most common complication in diabetes mellitus and it is related to morbidity and lethality in this disease. The association between IGT and peripheral neuropathy is still a matter of great concern. PURPOSE AND METHOD: In order to determine if IGT is associated with autonomic neuropathy a cross-sectional study in 44 patients with impaired glucose tolerance test (Group 1) was performed. The patients were compared to 43 control individuals (Group 2). Every patient in each group underwent anamnesis and standardized autonomic tests which consisted of heart frequency test, Valsalva maneuver, postural test and sinus arrhythmia. Routine hematologic exams as well as GTT were also made. RESULTS: Patients in group 1 had more systemic arterial hypertension, centripetal obesity, fasting and post-feeding hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia when compared with group 2. When we analysed the autonomic tests, the sinus arrhythmia test was abnormal in 54.5% of the patients in group 1 and in 32.5% in group 2 (p = 0.0039) and the Valsalva maneuver was abnormal in 34.1% of group 1 and in 7% of group 2 (p = 0.004). The postural test was not different in both groups (p = 0.334). CONCLUSION: Our results show that the involvement of the autonomic nervous system was more frequent in patients with IGT when compared to controls. These findings can explain the increased lethality due to vasculopathies observed in this group of patients and also alert physicians to care for patients with impaired glucose tolerance test.

Autonomic Nervous System Diseases↗

PubMed1996

[Clinical and laboratory characteristics of 62 tuberculous meningoencephalitis cases].

The authors present clinical, demographic and laboratory characteristics of 62 patients with proven tuberculous meningoencephalitis admitted at Couto Maia Hospital, reference for patients with infectious diseases in the State of Bahia. The patients' age varied from 2 months to 50 years, 59.7% of the cases with ages ranging from 0 to 4 years, no sex predominance. The time length for the disease varied from 0 to 90 days, average around 13 days. The most common signs and symptoms were fever and neck stiffness in 86.7 and 81.8% of the cases respectively. The cerebrospinal fluid showed cells varying from 4 to 1549/mm3, average of 406; glucose from 20 to 70 mg/dL, average of 37.3, protein from 30 to 500 mg/dL, average of 203; lymphocyte predominance occurred in most cases, however in 21.3% there was predominance of neutrophils.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Prognosis of bacterial meningitis in children.

We studied the incidence and prognosis of acute neurologic complications in 281 children under 13 years of age with a diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis. All the patients were examined daily by the same group of neurologists, using a standardized neurological examination. Patients with signs of encephalic lesions, unsatisfactory response to antibiotics or decreased level of consciousness were submitted to brain computer tomography. The overall lethality rate was 20.3% and cases whose causative agent was identified presented a higher lethality rate (23.7%) than those in which the agent was not found. The most important neurological abnormalities were meningeal signs (88.3%) followed by decreased consciousness (47.7%), irritability (35.2%), seizures (22.4%), fontanel bulging (20.6%) and cranial nerve palsy (14.2%). Seizures, cranial nerve palsy and the absence of meningeal signs were related to higher rates of lethality. Diminished consciousness, seizures, subdural effusion, abscess and hydrocephalus were the most important complications, respectively. We can conclude that acute bacterial meningitis continues to be an important health problem in developing countries and that public health measures will be necessary to minimize the impact of sequelae and reduce the mortality rate in children with that pathology.

Child↗