Coinfection with Different Trypanosoma cruzi Strains Interferes with the Host Immune Response to Infection

A century after the discovery of Trypanosoma cruzi in a child living in Lassance, Minas Gerais, Brazil in 1909, many uncertainties remain with respect to factors determining the pathogenesis of Chagas disease (CD). Herein, we simultaneously investigate the contribution of both host and parasite factors during acute phase of infection in BALB/c mice infected with the JG and/or CL Brener T. cruzi strains. JG single infected mice presented reduced parasitemia and heart parasitism, no mortality, levels of pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, CCL2, IL-6 and IFN-γ) similar to those found among naïve animals and no clinical manifestations of disease. On the other hand, CL Brener single infected mice presented higher parasitemia and heart parasitism, as well as an increased systemic release of pro-inflammatory mediators and higher mortality probably due to a toxic shock-like systemic inflammatory response. Interestingly, coinfection with JG and CL Brener strains resulted in intermediate parasitemia, heart parasitism and mortality. This was accompanied by an increase in the systemic release of IL-10 with a parallel increase in the number of MAC-3+ and CD4+ T spleen cells expressing IL-10. Therefore, the endogenous production of IL-10 elicited by coinfection seems to be crucial to counterregulate the potentially lethal effects triggered by systemic release of pro-inflammatory mediators induced by CL Brener single infection. In conclusion, our results suggest that the composition of the infecting parasite population plays a role in the host response to T. cruzi in determining the severity of the disease in experimentally infected BALB/c mice. The combination of JG and CL Brener was able to trigger both protective inflammatory immunity and regulatory immune mechanisms that attenuate damage caused by inflammation and disease severity in BALB/c mice

Experience of nurses in the process of donation of organs and tissues for transplant

OBJETIVO: conhecer o significado da ação de enfermeiros no processo de doação para viabilizar órgãos e tecidos para transplante. MÉTODO: pesquisa qualitativa, com abordagem da Fenomenologia Social, foi realizada por meio de entrevistas individuais com dez enfermeiros de três Serviços de Procura de Órgãos e Tecidos da cidade de São Paulo. RESULTADOS: a vivência dos enfermeiros no processo de doação foi representada pelas categorias: obstáculos vivenciados no processo de doação e intervenções realizadas. O significado da ação para viabilizar órgãos e tecidos para transplante foi descrito pelas categorias: mudar paradigmas, humanizar o processo de doação, aumentar a doação e salvar vidas. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS: o conhecimento da vivência dos enfermeiros nesse processo oferece subsídios aos profissionais de saúde, que atuam em diferentes realidades, sinalizando estratégias para otimizar a obtenção de órgãos e tecidos para transplante.OBJECTIVE: to investigate the meaning of the action of nurses in the donation process to maintain the viability of organs and tissues for transplantation. METHOD: this qualitative study with a social phenomenological approach was conducted through individual interviews with ten nurses of three Organ and Tissue Procurement Services of the city of São Paulo. RESULTS: the experience of the nurses in the donation process was represented by the categories: obstacles experienced in the donation process, and interventions performed. The meaning of the action to maintain the viability of organs and tissues for transplantation was described by the categories: to change paradigms, to humanize the donation process, to expand the donation, and to save lives. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: knowledge of the experience of the nurses in this process is important for healthcare professionals who work in different realities, indicating strategies to optimize the procurement of organs and tissues for transplantation.OBJETIVO: conocer el significado de la acción de enfermeros en el proceso de donación órganos y tejidos para dar viabilidad al trasplante. MÉTODO: investigación cualitativa, con abordaje de la Fenomenología Social, fue realizada por medio de entrevistas individuales con diez enfermeros de tres Servicios de Búsqueda de Órganos y Tejidos de la ciudad de Sao Paulo. RESULTADOS: la vivencia de los enfermeros en el proceso de donación fue representada por las categorías: obstáculos experimentados en el proceso de donación e intervenciones realizadas. El significado de la acción para dar viabilidad al proceso trasplante de órganos y tejidos fue descrito por las categorías: cambiar paradigmas, humanizar el proceso de donación, aumentar la donación y salvar vidas. CONSIDERACIONES FINALES: el conocimiento de la vivencia de los enfermeros en ese proceso ofrece informaciones importantes a los profesionales de salud que actúan en diferentes realidades, señalando estrategias para optimizar la obtención de órganos y tejidos para trasplante

The immune system and the impact of zinc during aging

The trace element zinc is essential for the immune system, and zinc deficiency affects multiple aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. There are remarkable parallels in the immunological changes during aging and zinc deficiency, including a reduction in the activity of the thymus and thymic hormones, a shift of the T helper cell balance toward T helper type 2 cells, decreased response to vaccination, and impaired functions of innate immune cells. Many studies confirm a decline of zinc levels with age. Most of these studies do not classify the majority of elderly as zinc deficient, but even marginal zinc deprivation can affect immune function. Consequently, oral zinc supplementation demonstrates the potential to improve immunity and efficiently downregulates chronic inflammatory responses in the elderly. These data indicate that a wide prevalence of marginal zinc deficiency in elderly people may contribute to immunosenescence

Cuidando do ser humano hipertenso e protegendo sua função renal Cuidando del ser humano hipertenso y protegiendo su función renal Caring for hipertensive patient and protection his renal function

Trata-se de um estudo exploratório-descritivo sobre a compreensão dos efeitos da função renal e sua relação com a hipertensão realizada com doze integrantes de 18 a 60 anos de um grupo de hipertensos vinculados a uma Unidade Básica de Saúde de um município do norte do Rio Grande do Sul. A coleta de dados realizou-se de março a maio de 2004, através de entrevistas grupais, abordando a técnica focal. A análise foi realizada conforme o método de análise temática e posterior categorização. Os resultados demonstraram que os integrantes, apesar de conhecerem, em parte, a fisiopatologia renal, não a vêem como conseqüência da hipertensão arterial.<br>Tratase de una investigación exploratorio-descriptiva sobre la comprención de los efectos de la función renal y su relación con la hipertensión realizada con doce integrantes de 18 a 60 años de un grupo de hipertensos vinculados a una unidad básica de salud de un município del norte del Rio Grande del Sul. La coleta de datos se realizó entre marzo y mayo del 2004, a través de entrevistas de grupos, abordando la técnica focal. El análisis fue realizado de acuerdo al método de análisis temática y posterior categorización. Los resultados demonstraron que los integrantes, apesar de conoceren, en parte, la fisiopatología renal, no la ven como consecuente de la hipertensión arterial.<br>This is an exploratory-descriptive study about the comprehension of the effects of renal function and its relation to hipertension. The study was carried out with 12 members of a hipertension group (range from 18-60 years-old) entailed to a Basic Health Unit from a municipality of Rio Grande do Sul State. Data collection was carried out from March to May, 2004, by means of groupal interviews, approaching the focal technique. Analysis was proceeded according to thematic analysis and later categorization. Results demonstrated that the members, despite partially know renal physiopathology, they don't mean it as a consequence of high blood pressure