One characteristic of autoimmune diseases (ADs) is the production of autoantibodies for extractable nuclear autoantigens, which may aid in the discrimination of the different types of autoimmune diseases and is related to different antinuclear antibody (ANA) patterns. The present study verified the profile of patient samples tested for extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) antibodies in a public hospital and correlated the ENA results with ANA patterns and patient diagnoses. The study reviewed data in the medical records of patients who underwent anti-ENA tests at a public hospital in the West of the State of Paraná from February 2011 to January 2017. Patients were classified according to age, ethnicity, gender, anti-ENA test results, ANA results, and the presence or absence of AD. Thirty-six (20.9%) samples of the 172 anti-ENA tests were positive, seven (4.1%) samples were undetermined, and 129 (75%) exhibited negative results. The ANA reagent was found in 84.3% of the anti-ENA-positive samples. The anti-SSA/Ro autoantibody exhibited the highest frequency in the group, 41.7% (15/36). The most common pattern was nuclear fine speckled, which was found in 24.3% of the samples. The association results indicated a significant relationship between ANA titer and diagnosis in the anti-ENA- and ANA-positive patients. The anti-ENA-negative patients were diagnosed with an AD in 35% (45/129) of the cases, and 75% (27/36) of the anti-ENA-positive patients were diagnosed with an AD. Systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma were the most common pathologies in the antigen-positive patients. The anti-ENA test is a good marker to aid in the complex clinical diagnosis of patients with autoimmune diseases.

The results showed a significant improvement in clinical periodontal parameters (p<0.05) in both groups. In the analyzed blood parameters there was a greater evidence, with a significant improvement (p<0.05), in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), fibrinogen (FGN), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) CONCLUSIONS: Thus, we suggest that both periodontal treatments were effective in children without any systemic diseases.

Justificativa e Objetivos: A epidemia da infecção pelo HIV constitui um verdadeiro mosaico de sub-epidemias regionais. O estudo possuiu como objetivo descrever o perfil 2 dos pacientes recém-infectados com HIV em um centro de referência no Sul do Brasil. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, a partir de informações de prontuários e da Rede Nacional de Sistema de Controle de Testes de Laboratório. Foi realizada uma análise descritiva, agrupadas pelo sexo, das características ociodemográficas, comportamentais e sorológica dos pacientes infectados pelo HIV, entre janeiro de 2005 a dezembro 2014. A associação entre as variáveis qualitativas foi realizada utilizando-se os testes Qui-quadrado ou Teste Exato de Fisher, e as quantitativas foram analisadas pelo Teste de Wilcoxon. O nível de significância foi fixado em 5%. Resultados: A epidemia apresentou taxas crescentes, principalmente no sexo masculino e no município de Cascavel. A mediana da idade da população foi de 33 anos, sendo que 680 (57,43 %) eram homens. Em relação ao estado civil, o sexo masculino era predominantemente solteiro (51,99% versus (vs.) 34,10%). O tempo de diagnóstico menor/igual a dois anos foi maior entre os homens (29,26% vs. 20,83%). A mediana da ontagem de células T CD4+ no sexo feminino foi superior ao masculino (416 células/mm3 vs. 334,5 células/mm3 ; p < 0,0001). Conclusão: Os características sociodemográficas, comportamentais e as disparidades regionais devem ser levadas em conta na formulação de programas de prevenção. DESCRITORES: HIV. Epidemiologia. Síndrome de Imunodeficiência Adquirida.

The effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the presence of an infectious process has not been well elucidated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of LLLT in an experimental model of septic arthritis. Methods. Twenty-one Wistar rats were divided as follows: control group, no bacteria; placebo group, bacteria were inoculated; Treated group, bacteria were injected and treatment with LLLTwas performed. To assess nociception, a von Frey digital analgesimeter was applied. Synovial fluid was streaked to analyze bacterial growth. The standard strain of S. aureus was inoculated in the right knee. LLLT was performed with 660 nm, 2 J/cm2, over 10 days. After treatment, the knees were fixed and processed for morphological analysis by light microscopy. Results. It was found that nociception increases in the right knee. There was a lack of results for the seeding of the synovial fluid. The morphological analysis showed slight recovery areas in the articular cartilage and synovia; however, there was the maintenance of the inflammatory infiltrate. Conclusion. The parameters used were not effective in the nociception reduction, even with the slight tissue recovery due to the maintenance of inflammatory infiltrate, but produced no change in the natural history of resolution of the infectious process.