To study the role of autoreactive T cells in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy in Chagas' disease, we generated a cell line by repeated in vitro antigenic stimulation of purified splenic CD4+ T lymphocytes from a chronically Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mouse. Cells from this line were confirmed to be CD4+ CD8- and proliferated upon stimulation with soluble heart antigens from different animal species, as well as with T. cruzi antigen, in the presence of syngeneic feeder cells. In vitro antigen stimulation of the cell line produced a Th1 cytokine profile, with high levels of IFNgamma and IL-2 and absence of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10. The cell line also terminated the beating of fetal heart clusters in vitro when cocultured with irradiated syngeneic normal spleen cells. In situ injection of the cell line into well established heart transplants also induced the cessation of heart beating. Finally, adoptive transfer of the cell line to heart-immunized or T. cruzi-infected BALB/c nude mice caused intense heart inflammation.

Aims: We aimed to assess the extent of variability in urinary iodine (UI) within a day, to determine the period of the day when UI was better associated with the UI in 24 h, and to study the relationship between UI and urinary sodium. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 60 volunteers. Four urine samples were collected from each participant (A: from breakfast to lunch; B: from lunch to dinner; C: from dinner to bedtime, and D: from bedtime to breakfast) and were compared with the 24-hour sample (calculated from samples A–D ). UI, creatinine and Na⁺ levels were measured in the partial samples and in the 24-hour sample. Results: The content of iodine and sodium in urine varied during the day (p < 0.001). The UI concentration from lunch to dinner was closest to the 24-hour UI concentration using the method of Bland and Altman. There were correlations between the UI content in the different periods of the day and in 24 h: A (r = 0.54; p < 0.000), B (r = 0.78; p < 0.000), C (r = 0.37; p = 0.004) and D (r = 0.77; p < 0.000). UI and urinary sodium content were strongly correlated in all periods of the day (samples A and B: r = 0.69, p < 0.000; sample C: r = 0.85, p < 0.000, and sample D: r = 0.78, p < 0.000). Conclusions: There was a within-day variation in UI content, which was strongly associated with urinary sodium content. Iodine concentration in the afternoon urine sample better reflected the 24-hour UI concentration. Therefore, urine collected in the afternoon is probably the best to evaluate iodine sufficiency in subjects with similar dietary habits.

The healthy pregnant women studied had adequate iodine intake. In this situation, the main thyroid size determinants are probably genetic factors.

Objective: This study translated the Portuguese version of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQoL-54) questionnaire. Methods:The original version of 18 items from the MSQoL-54 was translated into Brazilian Portuguese using international guidelines. Two independent translations were completed by Brazilians fluent in English and the results were evaluated and harmonized, concluding version:1. This version was back-translated by an American living in Brazil and then another analysis was conducted, resulting in version 2. Concluding the translation and harmonization phase, the final version was pre-tested with ten participants from the Reference Centre for Multiple Sclerosis at the Porto Alegre Clinical Hospital in Rio Grande do Sul (RS)-Brazil. Results:The questionnaire was well accepted by the patient's sample that tested the 18 specific items. They presented no conceptual problems. Conclusion:Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) felt the questionnaire was easy to understand. We thus attained terms of conceptual equivalence between the original questionnaire and the translation.

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