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Metabonomics based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) can reveal the profile of endogenous metabolites of low molecular weight in biofluids related to disease. The profile is identified a 'metabolic fingerprint' like from the pathological process, why this metabonomics has been used as a diagnostic method. The aim of the present study was to apply metabonomics to identify patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) through an analysis of ¹H NMR spectra of urine samples associated with multivariate statistical methods. A pilot study was carried out for the diagnostic test evaluation, involving two groups: (i) 34 patients positive for anti-HCV and HCV-RNA and negative for anti-HBc (disease group); and (ii) 32 individuals positive for anti-HBc and negative for HBsAg and anti-HCV. The urine samples were analyzed through ¹H NMR, applying principal component analysis and discriminant analysis for classification. The metabonomics model was capable of identifying 32 of the 34 patients in the disease group as positive and 31 of the 32 individuals in the control group as negative, demonstrating 94% sensitivity and specificity of 97% as well as positive and negative predictive values of 97% and 94%, respectively, and 95% accuracy (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the metabonomics model based on ¹H NMR spectra of urine samples in this preliminary study discriminated patients with HCV infection with high sensitivity and specificity, thereby demonstrating this model to be a potential tool for use in medical practice in the near future.

We examined the periodicity and intravascular distribution of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae (rnf) and determined the effect of these parasite properties on the accuracy of blood filming and filtration methods for diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis in the endemic area of Recife, Brazil. Microfilariae in both venous and capillary blood exhibited a nocturnal periodicity pattern with a relatively high amplitude. Overall, capillary blood contained -1.25 times the number of rnf present at the same time in the same volume of venous blood. However, the ratio of rnf present in capillary and venous blood varied over a z4-hour period, so that the fewest mf were present in the capillary bed of the skin at the time when biting activity of the local Culex vector is the lowest. Twenty or 6 0 p1 blood films did not reliably detect carriers with fewer than IOO or 60 rnf/ml venous blood, respectively, and were thus inadequate for the identification of low density rnf carriers. In contrast, all carriers with > I mW2o or 60 pl blood smear at night could be identified during daytime hours by filtration of I ml venous blood keywords Wuchereria bancrofti, periodicity, distribution, capillary blood, venous blood, thick smear. filtration

No abstract

The seroprevalence rate of Hp antibodies amongst medical students and residents increases from the basic up to residence level, suggesting that contact with patients during clinical practice may constitute a risk factor for acquiring Hp infection.