Malaria is a major infectious disease in several countries and is caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. In vivax malaria patients, inflammatory processes occur, as well as changes in cytokines and blood flow. The present study analyzed the cytokine modulation of blood viscosity from patients infected with Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax). Blood samples were collected from 42 non-infected individuals (control group) and 37 individuals infected with P. vivax. The IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNFα, TGF-β and IL-17 cytokine concentrations in the serum were assessed, and the blood rheological properties were determined. The analysis of blood viscosity for shear rates revealed that the blood viscosity of the infected patients was significantly greater than that of the non-infected individuals. The viscosity of the blood was greater in the infected individuals than in the non-infected subjects. The serum from individuals with P. vivax infections exhibited higher IFN-γ and IL-17 concentrations and lower TGF-β levels. Incubation of the blood from infected individuals with IL-17 or IL-17 associated with IFN-γ reduced the viscosity to rates equivalent to the blood from non-infected individuals. Independently of cytokine modulation, no correlation was found between the parasitemia and blood viscosity of the infected patients. These data suggest that the alterations of blood viscosity are relevant as an auxiliary tool for the clinical diagnosis of disease. In malaria, erythrocytes are more sensitive to osmotic shock, and the reduction of viscosity by IL-17 may be related to a possible immunomodulator agent during infection.

An evaluation of the rheological properties and the effects of Momordica. charantia L. (M. charantia) nanoparticles and polyethylene glycol (PEG) microspheres adsorbed with M. charantia nanoparticles on the blood of hyperglycemic patients is presented. Blood samples were collected according to glycemic status: normoglycemic (N = 56) and hyperglycemic (N = 26). General and hematological characteristics were determined. Blood rheological parameters were determined at room temperature and under a temperature scan. We determined the effects on whole blood viscosity of treatment with an extract of M. charantia, PEG, or PEG microspheres adsorbed with plant extract. The viscosity of the blood of hyperglycemic patients is greater than that of normoglycemic patients. Nanoparticles of M. charantia extracts lowered blood viscosity at equivalent rates in normo- and hyperglycemic individuals. PEG microspheres did not reduce blood viscosity in hyperglycemic individuals. However, PEG microspheres adsorbed with nanofraction extracts of M. charantia reduced blood viscosity. These data suggest that the effects of diabetes on the viscosity of the blood should be considered. The use of a nanoparticles extract of M. charantia and its adsorption on PEG microspheres may represent an alternative for the control and treatment of blood disorders in diabetic patients.

Objetivo: Caracterizar o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes portadores de tuberculose nos municípios de Barra do Garças e Campinápolis, Mato Grosso. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico descritivo, observacional, de corte transversal, com dados secundários derivados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) e do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Resultados: Observou-se que em Barra do Garças o maior número de pessoas notificadas com tuberculose foi no ano de 2018, com idade entre 40 e 49 anos, predominantemente na raça/cor branca, com a maioria dos casos confirmados laboratorialmente e evoluídos para a cura. Em Campinápolis ocorreu maior número de casos no ano 2015, a maioria com idade entre 10 e 14 anos, predominantemente na raça/cor indígena, com a maioria dos casos sem confirmação laboratorial e evoluídos para a cura. Conclusão: Portanto, o perfil dos casos de tuberculose nos dois municípios reflete a realidade de cada um deles.

BackgroundIn this study, we produced poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) microspheres of different sizes and adsorbing a medicinal plant mixture, and verified their effect in vitro on the viability, superoxide production, and bactericidal activity of phagocytes in the blood.MethodsThe medicinal plant mixture was adsorbed onto PEG microspheres and its effects were evaluated by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.ResultsAdsorption of the herbal mixture onto the PEG microspheres was achieved and the particles were internalized by phagocytes. PEG microspheres bearing the adsorbed herbal mixture stimulated superoxide release, and activated scavenging and microbicidal activity in phagocytes. No differences in functional activity were observed when the phagocytes were not incubated with PEG microspheres bearing the adsorbed herbal mixture.ConclusionThis system may be useful for the delivery of a variety of medicinal plants and can confer additional protection against infection. The data reported here suggest that a polymer adsorbed with a natural product is a treatment alternative for enhancing immune function.

Resumo: O dbjehovd /eshe hoabalhd fdo todmdveo a a/sdoçãd /a Strychnos pseudoquina STx HILL (Quona /d Ceooa/d) em mocodesfeoas /e PEG e avaloao seu efeohd omundmd/ula/do sdboe a ahovo/a/e funcodnal /e farócohds /e sanrue humandx Fdoam cdleha/as 120 amdshoas /e sanrue humand taoa dbhençãd /ds farócohdsx O edhoahd aqudsd /a tlanha fdo dbho/d tdo maceoaçãd seruo/a /e /esholaçãdx As mocodesfeoas /e tdloeholendrlocdl fdoam analosa/as tdo mocodscdtoa /e fludoescêncoa, tdo cohdmehooa /e fludd e tdo estechodscdtoa nd onfoaveomelhd e a ahovo/a/e funcodnal /ds farócohds fdo veoofica/a ahoavés /a lobeoaçãd /e suteoódo/d, /a fardcohdse e /a ahovo/a/e mocodboco/ax As análoses /e mocodscdtoa /e fludoescêncoa e /e cohdmehooa /e fludd oevelaoam que as mocodesfeoas /e PEG atoesenhaoam um hamanhd atoddoma/d /e 5,8 µm e que d edhoahd /a "Quona /d Ceooa/d" e suas foações fdoam catazes /e a/sdoveoem às mocodesfeoas /e PEGx A a/sdoçãd /a quona e /e suas foações às mocodesfeoas /e PEG aumenhdu a ahovo/a/e funcodnal /ds farócohdsx Eshes /a/ds teomohem cdncluoo que a a/sdoçãd /d edhoahd /e Strychnos pseudoquina STx HILLx em mocodesfeoas /e PEG td/e seo um omtdohanhe nedmaheooal funcodnal taoa fuhuoas atlocações clínocas em /denças onflamahóooas e coônocas /ereneoahovasx Palavras-chave: Fagócitos, polietilenoglicol, strychnos pseudoquina ST. HILL., microesferas. Immunomodulation of Human Blood Phagocytes by Strychnos Pseudoquina ST. HILL Adsorbed to Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)Abstract: The aom df hhos shu/y was hd evaluahe hhe a/sdothodn df Strychnos pseudoquina STx HILLx ("Quona /d Ceooa/d") dnhd PEG mocodstheoes an/ hd veoofy hhe ommundmd/ulahdoy effech dn bldd/ thardcyhesx 120 bldd/ samtles fodm humans weoe use/ hd dbhaon hhe thardcyhesx Poetaoahodn df tlanh edhoach df Strychnos pseudoquina STx HILLx was caoooe/ duh by maceoahodn fdlldwe/ by /oshollahodnx The PEG mocodstheoes weoe analyze/ by fludoescence mocodscdty, fldw cyhdmehoy an/ onfoaoe/ stechoum, whole hhe funchodnal achovohy df thardcyhes was measuoe/ by hhe oelease df suteoddo/e, thardcyhdsos an/ mocodboco/al achovohy df bldd/ thardcyhesx The analysos df fludoescence mocodscdty an/ fldw cyhdmehoy oeveale/ hhah hhe PEG mocodstheoe ha/ attoddomahely 5x8 µm on soze an/ hhah "Quona /d Ceooa/d" an/ ohs foachodns weoe able hd absdob dnhd PEG mocodstheoesx The a/sdothodn df hhe tlanh an/ ohs foachodns hd hhe PEG mocodstheoes oncoease/ hhe funchodnal achovohy df thardcyhesx These /aha shdw hhah hhe a/sdothodn df hhe edhoach df Strychnos pseudoquina STx HILLx dn PEG mocodstheoes can be an omtdohanh funchodnal new maheooal fdo fuhuoe clonocal attlocahodns on onflammahdoy an/ chodnoc /ereneoahove /oseasesx Keywords: Phagocytes, polyethylene glycol, strychnos pseudoquina ST. HILL., microspheres. IntroduçãoPdlímeods sãd mdléculas nahuoaos du sonhéhocas caoacheooza/as tela oetehoçãd múlhotla /e uma du maos estécoes /e áhdmds du routds /e áhdmds lora/ds uns ads duhods em quanho/a/es suficoenhes taoa fdoneceo um cdnjunhd /e todtooe/a/es que nãd vaooam acenhua/amenhe cdm a a/oçãd du oemdçãd /e...