Celiac disease (CD) is a systemic autoimmune disease, which is triggered by gluten intake in genetically susceptible individuals. The most important serological markers used for CD diagnosis are test based on immunoglobulin (Ig) A isotype, being the determination of tissue anti-transglutaminase IgA (tTG) 2 the marker of choice for diagnosis. Selective IgA deficiency (SIgAD) is more prevalent in CD patients than in the general population, making the serologically diagnosis of the diseasedifficult. In the present descriptive observational study, 74 adult patients with a confirmed CD diagnosis were included and anti-tTG2 IgA was determined by using ELISA assay in order to detect those patients with undetermined or negative levels, which could present SIgAD. The total IgA level was determined in these patients and the mean concentration was 237.8 ± 100.6 mg/dL. In a female patient, total IgA was less than 7 mg/dL, with normal IgG and IgM levels, characteristic of SIgAD. Thus, the calculated frequency of SIgAD was 1.35% of the CD study population. In conclusion, this work is a first approach to describe the frequency of SIgAD in CD patients of the country and reaffirms the importance of including total IgA determination in the case of conducting IgA-based serological tests specific for CD.

Introduction: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically susceptible individuals. In CD, activation of the immune response causes damage of the intestinal mucosa, and a gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only available therapy. Intestinal damage can lead to an increase in the circulation of components of bacteria from the intestinal lumen, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Soluble CD14 (sCD14) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) participate in the recognition of LPS, and their levels are altered in different pathologies. In the present study, the circulating levels of sCD14 and LBP from untreated CD patients were evaluated and compared to CD patients on a GFD and controls.Material and methods: In total seventy-two adult patients with CD, twenty-three untreated CD patients and forty-nine on a GFD were included. In addition, fifty-five healthy individuals were included as controls. Additionally, the effect of LPS on sCD14 production by both normal and inflamed intestinal tissue culture was explored.Results: Serum levels of sCD14 were found to be significantly increased in untreated CD patients compared to patients on a GFD and controls. In addition, we found that LPS induced the production of sCD14 by biopsies of intestinal tissue from untreated CD patients. Conclusions:The data from this study show that circulating levels of sCD14 are increased in the untreated CD patients compared to patients on a GFD. Our data show that LPS induces the production of sCD14 by the intestinal tissue from untreated CD patients.

Soybeans are a grain-producing species of high international demand and occupy a prominent position in the Brazilian economy. The success of this crop in Brazil is due to public and private investments in production technologies and to breeding programs. It is through the seed that the genetic advances reach the producer. In this context, the success of a cultivar and high productivity depend on the quality of the seed. In view of the above, the objectives of the study were to evaluate the physiological quality of soybean cultivar seeds at different harvesting times. The experiment was conducted in an experimental area located at Fazenda Capim Branco, belonging to the Federal University of Uberlândia, in the 2016/2017 harvest. Ten soybean cultivars were evaluated (CD 2737 RR, UFUS 7415, UFUS 7910, UFUS Milionária, UFUS 7801, NA 5909 RG, UFUS 8301, TMG 7062 IPRO, UFUS Xavante and UFUS 6901) at four harvest times (R7, R8, R8+15, R8+30), constituting a 10 x 4 factorial. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. For the evaluation of the physiological quality, germination, electrical conductivity and fresh matter and dry matter of seedlings tests were performed. In all tests the physiological quality of the seeds decreased with the harvest delay. Emphasis was placed on the cultivar NA 5909 RG, which showed the best means to delay the harvest in 15 and 30 days.

Conclusion:Periodic review and formulation of antiobiotic policy are needed for control of acquisition of drug resistance. Further studies on better understanding of interaction of different virulence factors at molecular level are necessary as most urovirulent strain express multiple virulence factors simultaneously.