Search

Background: The literature on the relationship between lifestyle behaviors and inflammatory markers is scarce. Methods: A birth cohort was followed since birth up to 22 years in Southern Brazil. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and adiponectin were measured in nonfasting blood samples drawn at 18 and 22 years of age. Exposures including smoking, alcohol intake, physical inactivity and obesity, were collected at 15, 18 and 22 years. Cross sectional analyses were based on the number of follow-up visits with these exposures and the association with IL-6, CRP and adiponectin at 22 years old. We also carried out a longitudinal Generalized Least Squares (GLS) random-effects analysis with outcomes at 18 and at 22 years old. All analyses were adjusted for several covariates. Results: The sample comprised 3,479 cohort members at 22 years. The presence of obesity at ≥ 2 follow-ups showed the highest mean values (SE) for IL-6 [2.45 (1.05)] and CRP [3.74 (1.11)] and the lowest mean value for adiponectin [8.60 (0.37)] (adjusted analyses, females) compared with other exposures; the highest mean of IL-6 [1.65 (1.05)] and CRP [1.78 (1.11)] and the lowest mean of adiponectin [9.98 (0.38)] were for the number of follow-ups with ≥2 exposures compared to those with no exposures at any follow-up (adjusted analyses, females). The longitudinal analysis showed an increase in obesity associated with IL-6 and CRP in both sexes and an inverse association with adiponectin in females; smoking (in males) was associated with IL-6 and CRP, harmful alcohol intake was associated with CRP in males, and increased in physical activity was inversely associated with CRP in men. Conclusion: We concluded that obesity is the main exposure positively associated with IL-6 and CRP and inversely associated with adiponectin (mainly in females). Smoking is also associated with these markers in the longitudinal analysis (in males). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HTLV-1 infection is endemic in Brazil. About 1 to 2% of the Brazilian population is estimated to be infected, but most infected HTLV-1 individuals do not know about their own infection, which favors the continuity of sexual and vertical virus transmission. In addition, HTLV-1 associated central nervous system diseases and their pathophysiologic mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of spinal cord metabolism, viral and inflammatory profiles with features of neurological presentation in HTLV-1 infected individuals. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study of a cohort including 48 HTLV-1 infected individuals clinically classified as asymptomatic-AG (N = 21), symptomatic-SG (N = 11) and HAM/TSP-HG (N = 16) and a nested case-control study with HTLV-1 infected individuals-HIG (N = 48) and HTLV-1 non infected controls-CG (N = 30) that had their spinal cord analysed by Positron Emission Tomography with 18F-Fluordeoxyglucose (18F-FDG PET/CT). HTLV-1 infected individuals had 18F-FDG PET/CT results analyzed with clinical and demographic data, proviral load, cytokines and chemokines in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Principal Findings: 18F-FDG PET/CT showed hypometabolism in the thoracic spinal cord in HTLV-1 infected individuals. The method had an accuracy of 94.4% to identify HAM/TSP. A greater involvement of the thoracic spinal cord was observed, although hypometabolism was also observed in the cervical spinal cord segment in HTLV-1 infected individuals. Individuals with HAM/TSP showed a pro-inflammatory profile in comparison to asymptomatic and symptomatic groups, with a higher level of Interferon-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (ITAC/CXCL11), IL-6, IL-12p70 in the plasma; and ITAC, IL-4, IL-5, IL-8 (CXCL8) and TNF-alpha in the CSF. Using regression, thoracic spinal cord SUV (standardized uptake value) and CSF ITAC level were identified as the HAM/TSP predictors in the multivariate model. Conclusions: 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging showed spinal cord hypometabolism in most HTLV-1 infected individuals, even in the asymptomatic HTLV-1 group. Thoracic spinal cord hypometabolism and CSF-ITAC levels were identified predictors of HAM/TSP. Significance: Our findings suggested that in most HTLV-1 infected individuals there was compromise of central nervous system (CNS) structures despite of the lack of clinical symptoms. To explain the found hypometabolism, the role of microcirculatory and metabolic factors in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases associated with HTLV-1 infection must be further investigated. It is paramount to evaluate the central nervous function and to compare the performance among HTLV-1 infected individuals considered asymptomatic to the uninfected controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leishmaniasis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases spread in Latin America. Since many species are involved in dog infection with different clinical manifestations, the development of specific diagnostic tests is mandatory for more accurate disease control and vaccine strategies. Methodology/Principal findings: Seventy-five 15-mer peptides covering the sequence of recombinant Leishmania donovani virulence factor A2 (recLdVFA2) protein were prepared by Spot synthesis. Membrane-bound peptides immunoreactivity with sera from dogs immunized with recLdVFA2 and with a specific anti-recLdVFA2 monoclonal antibody allowed mapping of continuous B-cell epitopes. Five epitopes corresponding to the N-terminal region of recLdVFA2 (MKIRSVRPLVVLLVC, RSVRPLVVLLVCVAA, RPLVVLLVCVAAVLA, VVLLVCVAAVLALSA and LVCVAAVLALSASAE, region 1–28) and one located within the repetitive units (PLSVGPQAVGLSVG, regions 67–81 and 122–135) were identified. A 34-mer recLdVFA2-derived bi-epitope containing the sequence MKIRSVRPLVVLLVC linked to PLSVGPQAVGLSVG by a Gly-Gly spacer was chemically synthesized in its soluble form. The synthetic bi-epitope was used as antigen to coat ELISA plates and assayed with dog sera for in vitro diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). The assay proved to be highly sensitive (100%) and specific (100%). Conclusions/Significance: Our work suggests that synthetic peptide-based ELISA strategy may be useful for the development of a sensitive and highly specific serodiagnosis for CVL or other parasitic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]