NMT - Núcleo de Medicina Tropical

URI Permanente desta comunidadehttps://repositorio.ufpa.br/handle/2011/2211

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Analysis of polymorphisms in the interleukin 18 gene promotor (-137 g/c and -607 c/a) in patients infected with hepatitis c virus from the brazilian amazon
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2015-09) SANTOS, Kemper Nunes dos; ALMEIDA, Marcella Kelly Costa de; FECURY, Amanda Alves; COSTA, Carlos Araújo da; MARTINS, Luisa Caricio
Background - The hepatitis C virus has been recognized as the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the world. Host genetic factors have been implicated in the persistence of hepatitis C virus infection. Single nucleotide polymorphisms at positions -607 C/A (rs1946518) and -137 G/C (rs187238) in the IL-18 gene promoter have been suggested to be associated with delayed hepatitis C virus clearance and persistence of the disease. Objective - Identify these polymorphisms in a population infected with hepatitis C virus from the Brazilian Amazon region. Methods - In a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in Belém, Pará, Brazil, 304 patients infected with hepatitis C virus were divided into two groups: group A, patients with persistent infection; group B, patients with spontaneous clearance. The control group consisted of 376 volunteers not infected with hepatitis C virus. Samples were analyzed by RT-PCR for the detection of viral RNA and by RFLP-PCR to evaluate the presence of the -137 G/C and -607 C/A IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms. Results - Comparison of polymorphism allele frequencies between the patient and control groups showed a higher frequency of allele C at position -607 among patients (P=0.02). When the association between the polymorphisms and viral infection was analyzed, patients carrying genotype C/A at position -607 were found to be at higher risk of persistent hepatitis C virus infection (P=0.03). Conclusion - the present results suggest a possible role of the -607 IL-18 gene promoter polymorphism in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus infection.
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Avaliação da contaminação mercurial mediante análise do teor de Hg total em amostras de cabelo em comunidades ribeirinhas do Tapajós, Pará, Brasil
(2000-04) PINHEIRO, Maria da Conceição Nascimento; GUIMARÃES, Geraldo de Assis; NAKANISHI, Junko; OIKAWA, Teiichi; VIEIRA, José Luiz Fernandes; QUARESMA, Manoel; CARDOSO, Bernardo da Silva; AMORAS, Walter Wanderley
This study evaluates human exposure to methylmercury in fishermen and their families in four villages on the Tapajós river: Rainha, Barreiras, São Luís do Tapajós and Paraná-Mirim. Hair analyses were performed with atomic absorption spectophotometry. Total hair mercury levels varied between 2.9mg/g and 71.5mg/g. Paraná-Mirim showed the lowest level. The highest level was found in São Luís do Tapajós and Barreiras. The hair mercury was six to seven times higher than the established safe limit of 10mg/g. No statistically significant difference was found between the mean level of total mercury taken from the inhabitants living downstream and upstream in Itaituba village (p > 0.05). These results confirm that human exposure to methylmercury is occurring on the Tapajós river and suggest that continued fish ingestion in that region is a potential risk factor for the appearance of symptoms and signs of Minamata disease. An immediate epidemiological survey program is recommended.
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Avaliação da resposta aos esquemas de tratamento reduzidos para malária vivax
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2001-08) ABDON, Nagib Ponteira; PINTO, Ana Yecê das Neves; SILVA, Rita do Socorro Uchôa da; SOUZA, José Maria de
Relapses may occur with long standard treatment of vivax malaria, and these are caused by incomplete patient’s compliance. The use of reduced schedules may further better patient compliance, while maintaining the same efficacy, tolerance and minimal adverse reactions. The objective of this study was to test two schedules with reduced doses of chloroquine for vivax malaria and comparing these with the classical schedule. The authors studied 120 outpatients, with vivax malaria, aged over 12 years, submitted to three therapeutic schemes: scheme I: chloroquine phosphate (150mg) in a dose of 25mg/kg/day for three days (10mg/kg/ day in the first day, 7.5mg/kg/day in the second and third day), plus primaquine (15mg) in a dose of 0.25mg/kg/day for fourteen days; scheme II: chloroquine, in a single dose of 10mg/kg, plus primaquine in a dose of 0.5mg/kg/day for seven days; scheme III: chloroquine, 10mg/kg in a single dose plus primaquine in a dose 0.5mg/kg/ day for five days. The clinical response to all three therapeutic schemes was satisfactory. The disappearance of malarial symptoms occurred after a maximum 96 hours of treatment, while the assexual parasitaemia clearance occurred within 72 hours, in all therapeutic schemes.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Avaliação visual de sujeitos expostos de forma ocupacional a solventes orgânicos através de métodos psicofísicos
(2011) LACERDA, Eliza Maria da Costa Brito; VENTURA, Dora Selma Fix; SILVEIRA, Luiz Carlos de Lima
Organic solvents are neurotoxic substances that can cause damaging effects in the visual system. Occupational exposure to these substances is common because they are used in a wide variety of activities. These effects can be quantified by specific psychophysical tests. The most commonly used tests for color vision assessment are arrangement tests, such as the Lanthony Panel D-15 desaturated test and the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test, and for contrast sensitivity assessment, printed panel tests such as the MCT 8000 VISTECH, VCTS 6500VISTECH, and FACT 101 tests. Generally, these tests show color discrimination losses in the blue-yellow and red-green axis, and a decrease in contrast sensitivity, mainly at low spatial frequencies. There is a positive correlation between psychophysical results and biological environmental markers, but this correlation depends on the marker and on the kind of solvent to which the individuals are exposed. Factors such as alcohol and tobacco can interfere with the correlation of the results.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Canine antibody response to Lutzomyia longipalpis saliva in endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2016-06) BATISTA, Luís Fábio da Silva; MATTA, Vânia Lúcia Ribeiro da; TOMOKANE, Thaise Yumie; PACHECO, Acácio Duarte; SILVEIRA, Fernando Tobias; ROSSI, Claudio Nazaretian; MARCONDES, Mary; LAURENTI, Márcia Dalastra
Introduction: Canine exposure to Lutzomyia longipalpis bites and the potential of Leishmania infantum transmissibility for the vector were evaluated. Methods: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-Lu longipalpis saliva and -L. infantum, and blood parasite load were determined in dogs from endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis. Results: Blood parasitism was similar between symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs. IgG anti-L. infantum was higher in symptomatic dogs, but IgG anti-Lu. longipalpis saliva was mostly observed in higher titers in asymptomatic dogs, indicating vector preference for feeding on asymptomatic dogs. Conclusions: Our data suggest a pivotal role of asymptomatic dogs in L. infantum transmission in endemic areas.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Canine visceral leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi in Amazonian Brazil: comparison of the parasite density from the skin, lymph node and visceral tissues between symptomatic and asymptomatic, seropositive dogs
(2010-10) LIMA, Luciana Vieira Rego; CARNEIRO, Liliane Almeida; CAMPOS, Marliane Batista; CHAGAS, Eujênia Janis; LAURENTI, Márcia Dalastra; CORBETT, Carlos Eduardo Pereira; LAINSON, Ralph; SILVEIRA, Fernando Tobias
Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is recognizable by characteristic signs of disease and is highly lethal. The infection, however, may be quite inapparent in some seropositive dogs, and this has raised the polemic question as to whether or not such animals can be a source of infection for Lutzomyia longipalpis, the vector of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL). In this study we have examined 51 dogs with acute CVL from an AVL area in Pará State, northern Brazil, and compared the parasite density, amastigotes of Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi, in the skin, lymph node and viscera of symptomatic with that of nine asymptomatic but seropositive dogs (IFAT-IgG). Post-mortem biopsy fragments of these tissues were processed by immunohistochemistry, using a polyclonal antibody against Leishmania sp. The X2 and Mann Whitney tests were used to evaluate the means of infected macrophage density (p < 0.05). There was no difference (p > 0.05) in the skin (10.7/mm2 x 15.5/mm2) and lymph node (6.3/mm2 x 8.3/mm2), between asymptomatic and symptomatic dogs, respectively. It was higher (p < 0.05), however, in the viscera of symptomatic (5.3/mm2) than it was in asymptomatic (1.4/mm2) dogs. These results strongly suggest that asymptomatic or symptomatic L. (L.) i. chagasi-infected dogs can serve as a source of infection, principally considering the highest (p < 0.05) parasite density from skin (10.7/mm2 x 15.5/mm2), the place where the vetor L. longipalpis takes its blood meal, compared with those from lymph node (6.3/mm2 x 8.3/mm2) and viscera (1.4/mm2x 5.3/mm2).
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Chromatic spatial contrast sensitivity estimated by visual evoked cortical potential and psychophysics
(2013-02) BARBONI, Mirella Telles Salgueiro; GOMES, Bruno Duarte; SOUZA, Givago da Silva; RODRIGUES, Anderson Raiol; VENTURA, Dora Selma Fix; SILVEIRA, Luiz Carlos de Lima
The purpose of the present study was to measure contrast sensitivity to equiluminant gratings using steady-state visual evoked cortical potential (ssVECP) and psychophysics. Six healthy volunteers were evaluated with ssVECPs and psychophysics. The visual stimuli were red-green or blue-yellow horizontal sinusoidal gratings, 5° × 5°, 34.3 cd/m2 mean luminance, presented at 6 Hz. Eight spatial frequencies from 0.2 to 8 cpd were used, each presented at 8 contrast levels. Contrast threshold was obtained by extrapolating second harmonic amplitude values to zero. Psychophysical contrast thresholds were measured using stimuli at 6 Hz and static presentation. Contrast sensitivity was calculated as the inverse function of the pooled cone contrast threshold. ssVECP and both psychophysical contrast sensitivity functions (CSFs) were low-pass functions for red-green gratings. For electrophysiology, the highest contrast sensitivity values were found at 0.4 cpd (1.95 ± 0.15). ssVECP CSF was similar to dynamic psychophysical CSF, while static CSF had higher values ranging from 0.4 to 6 cpd (P < 0.05, ANOVA). Blue-yellow chromatic functions showed no specific tuning shape; however, at high spatial frequencies the evoked potentials showed higher contrast sensitivity than the psychophysical methods (P < 0.05, ANOVA). Evoked potentials can be used reliably to evaluate chromatic red-green CSFs in agreement with psychophysical thresholds, mainly if the same temporal properties are applied to the stimulus. For blue-yellow CSF, correlation between electrophysiology and psychophysics was poor at high spatial frequency, possibly due to a greater effect of chromatic aberration on this kind of stimulus.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Clinical, epidemiological and mycological report on 65 patients from the Eastern Amazon region with chromoblastomycosis
(2012-08) PIRES, Carla Andréa Avelar; XAVIER, Marília Brasil; QUARESMA, Juarez Antônio Simões; MACEDO, Geraldo Mariano Moraes de; SOUSA, Bruna Ranyelle de Marinho; BRITO, Arival Cardoso de
BACKGROUND: Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic fungal infection caused by fungi from the Dematiaceae family. According to several studies, Fonsecaea pedrosoi is the most common of these fungi. The infection is more common in tropical countries, with the Brazilian state of Pará having one of the largest infected populations worldwide. The disease is difficult to treat and recurrences are common. OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiological and mycological aspects of cases of chromoblastomycosis and its clinical forms in the state of Pará, Brazil. METHODS: Mycological exams (direct mycological examinations, culture and microculture) were performed and a clinical/epidemiological evaluation was made of 65 patients receiving care at the Dermatology Department of the Federal University of Pará between 2000 and 2007. The clinical classification proposed by Carrión in 1950 was used in this study. RESULTS: The majority of the patients were male (93.8%), agricultural workers (89.2%) of 45 to 55 years of age, and the majority of lesions (55.4%) were of the verrucous type, located principally on the lower limbs (81.5%). In the majority of the cases investigated (61.5%), the infection had been present for a long time, with a mean duration of 11 years. Direct mycological examination was performed in 86.2% of the patients (n=56). Of these, 96.4% (n=54) tested positive. Culture and microculture were performed in vitro in 47 cases of those that tested positive at direct microscopy, results showing Fonsecaea pedrosoi to be the only agent present in this sample. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted the extent to which chromoblastomycosis still affects the quality of life of the local population, principally individuals working in agriculture. This is a chronic disease for which there is no effective treatment. The importance of continuing to investigate this disease should be emphasized, as further studies may lead to new clinical or epidemiological findings.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Comparative neurophysiology of spatial luminance contrast sensitivity
(2011-06) SOUZA, Givago da Silva; GOMES, Bruno Duarte; SILVEIRA, Luiz Carlos de Lima
The luminance contrast sensitivity function has been investigated using behavioral and electrophysiological methods in many vertebrate species. Some features are conserved across species as a shape of the function, but other features, such as the contrast sensitivity peak value, spatial frequency contrast sensitivity peak, and visual acuity have changed. Here, we review contrast sensitivity across different classes of vertebrates, with an emphasis on the frequency contrast sensitivity peak and visual acuity. We also correlate the data obtained from the literature to test the power of the association between visual acuity and the spatial frequency of the contrast sensitivity function peak.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Comparative study of human exposure to mercury in riverside communities in the Amazon region
(2006-03) PINHEIRO, Maria da Conceição Nascimento; OIKAWA, Teiichi; VIEIRA, José Luiz Fernandes; GOMES, M S V; GUIMARÃES, Geraldo de Assis; CRESPO LÓPEZ, Maria Elena; MÜLLER, Regina Celi Sarkis; AMORAS, Walter Wanderley; RIBEIRO, Danielle Regina Gomes; RODRIGUES, Anderson Raiol; CÔRTES, Maria Izabel Tentes; SILVEIRA, Luiz Carlos de Lima
Four populations in the Amazon area were selected for a comparative study of mercury-exposed and non-exposed populations: São Luiz do Tapajós, Barreiras, Panacauera, and Pindobal Grande. The highest mercury levels in human hair samples were found in São Luiz do Tapajós and Barreiras, greatly exceeding the limits established by the World Health Organization. Panacauera showed an intermediate level below 9 µg/g. This was the first comparative and simultaneous evaluation of mercury exposure in the Amazon area. Also, thanks to this type of monitoring, we were able to eliminate the uncertainties about the reference dose. On the basis of these data, we can conclude that the mercury levels detected in exposed populations of the Tapajós River basin may be dangerous not only because they are above the World Health Organization limits, but also because the simultaneous mercury detection in non-exposed populations with similar characteristics provided a valid control and revealed lower mercury levels. Our results support the importance of continuous monitoring in both exposed and non-exposed populations.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
A comparison of molecular markers to detect Lutzomyia longipalpis naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum
(2014-07) LIDANI, Kárita Cláudia Freitas; REASON, Iara José de Messias; ISHIKAWA, Edna Aoba Yassui
The aim of the present study was to detect natural infection by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in Lutzomyia longipalpis captured in Barcarena, state of Pará, Brazil, through the use of three primer sets. With this approach, it is unnecessary to previously dissect the sandfly specimens. DNA of 280 Lu. longipalpis female specimens were extracted from the whole insects. PCR primers for kinetoplast minicircle DNA (kDNA), the mini-exon gene and the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) gene of Leishmania were used, generating fragments of 400 bp, 780 bp and 603 bp, respectively. Infection by the parasite was found with the kDNA primer in 8.6% of the cases, with the mini-exon gene primer in 7.1% of the cases and with the SSU-rRNA gene primer in 5.3% of the cases. These data show the importance of polymerase chain reaction as a tool for investigating the molecular epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis by estimating the risk of disease transmission in endemic areas, with the kDNA primer representing the most reliable marker for the parasite.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Comparison of the reliability of multifocal visual evoked cortical potentials generated by pattern reversal and pattern pulse stimulation
(2012-10) SOUZA, Givago da Silva; SCHAKELFORD, H.B.; MOURA, Ana Laura de Araújo; GOMES, Bruno Duarte; VENTURA, Dora Selma Fix; FITZGERALD, M.E.C.; SILVEIRA, Luiz Carlos de Lima
This study compared the effectiveness of the multifocal visual evoked cortical potentials (mfVEP) elicited by pattern pulse stimulation with that of pattern reversal in producing reliable responses (signal-to-noise ratio >1.359). Participants were 14 healthy subjects. Visual stimulation was obtained using a 60-sector dartboard display consisting of 6 concentric rings presented in either pulse or reversal mode. Each sector, consisting of 16 checks at 99% Michelson contrast and 80 cd/m2 mean luminance, was controlled by a binary m-sequence in the time domain. The signal-to-noise ratio was generally larger in the pattern reversal than in the pattern pulse mode. The number of reliable responses was similar in the central sectors for the two stimulation modes. At the periphery, pattern reversal showed a larger number of reliable responses. Pattern pulse stimuli performed similarly to pattern reversal stimuli to generate reliable waveforms in R1 and R2. The advantage of using both protocols to study mfVEP responses is their complementarity: in some patients, reliable waveforms in specific sectors may be obtained with only one of the two methods. The joint analysis of pattern reversal and pattern pulse stimuli increased the rate of reliability for central sectors by 7.14% in R1, 5.35% in R2, 4.76% in R3, 3.57% in R4, 2.97% in R5, and 1.78% in R6. From R1 to R4 the reliability to generate mfVEPs was above 70% when using both protocols. Thus, for a very high reliability and thorough examination of visual performance, it is recommended to use both stimulation protocols.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Dermatitis after contact with Pheropsophus sp (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Brachininae) in the Pará State, Brazilian Amazon
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2016-12) PARDAL, Pedro Pereira de Oliveira; SILVA, Cristiane Tárcis Cunha da; MONTEIRO, Wuelton Marcelo; GADELHA, Maria Apolonia da Costa
Dermatitis caused by bombardier beetles is rarely reported. Here, we report a case of beetle-caused dermatitis that occurred in Pará State, the Brazilian Amazon. A female patient while putting on her shoes, felt a burning pain in the right hallux and noticed a beetle inside the shoe. During medical consultation, the physician observed that the injury site was brown and discolored. The patient complained of localized burning pain and blurred vision. The beetle responsible for the injury was identifi ed as Pheropsophus sp. Administered treatment included cleaning with saline, analgesics, and topical hydrocortisone acetate and the patient was discharged without complaints.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Detecção do DNA de Mycobacterium leprae em secreção nasal
(2008-11) PONTES, Ana Rosa Botelho; ALMEIDA, Maria das Graças Carvalho; XAVIER, Marília Brasil; QUARESMA, Juarez Antônio Simões; ISHIKAWA, Edna Aoba Yassui
Studies have demonstrated high sensibility of the polimerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in the identification of the Mycobacterium leprae DNA . This study aimed to evalue the PCR sensibility at the detection of the M. leprae DNA in nasal swab of leprosy patients and to compare the results with the bacilloscopy and multibacillary (MBs) and paucibacilares (PBs) forms. Nasal secretion samples of 24 leprosy patients were collected, and were preserved in one and two lise's solution. The PCR results were highly significant (p <0.0000) and they revealed grater sensibility than bacilloscopy, in several clinical forms. Nevertheless, still different studies are necessary, testing new markers and preservatives, with the purpose of lifting up the sensibility of this technique, in nasal secretion samples.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Distribution of phlebotomine fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) across an urban-rural gradient in an area of endemic visceral leishmaniasis in northern Brazil
(2011-12) OLIVEIRA, Davi Marcos Souza de; HABIB, Elvira Maria Saraiva Chequer Bou; ISHIKAWA, Edna Aoba Yassui; SOUSA, Adelson Alcimar Almeida de; SILVA, Edilene Oliveira da; SILVA, Ivoneide Maria da
The number of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases has increased over the past 10 years in Brazil, especially in the North and Northeast regions of the country. The aim of this study was to evaluate the urbanisation of VL vectors in Barcarena, Pará, an area in northern Brazil where VL is endemic. Sandflies were captured using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps along an urban-rural gradient. The CDC traps were installed inside hen houses at a height of 150 cm. A total of 5,089 sandflies were collected and 11 species were identified. The predominant species was Lutzomyia longipalpis (rate of 95.15%), which suggests its participation in the transmission of VL. A total of 1,451 Lu. longipalpis females were dissected and no Leishmania infections were detected. Most of the sandflies were captured at the border of a forest (88.25%) and no flies were captured in the urban area, which suggests that transmission is still restricted to rural sites. However, the fact that a specimen was collected in an intermediate area indicates that urbanisation is a real possibility and that vector monitoring is important.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Donovanose no Pará
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 1991-12) SALGADO, Ubirajara Imbiriba; NEVES, Cláudio Domingues das; SILVA, Domingos; MACÊDO, Célia
From 1954 to 1990 granuloma inguinale was diagnosed in 259 patients al the dermatology service of the Universidade Federal do Pará in Belém, Brazil. Among them, 56 cases had ocurred in the twenty-year period 1954-1974 and as many as 133 cases were seen during the last five years only. Greater sexual liberty, poor social and economic conditions, and especially increasing homosexual behavior were implicated by the authors as chief determinants for this augmented incidence of the disease.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary aspects of tuberculosis among elderly patients of a university hospital in Belém, Pará
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2017-02) CHAVES, Emanuele Cordeiro; CARNEIRO, Irna Carla do Rosário Souza; SANTOS, Maria Izabel Penha de Oliveira; SARGES, Nathália de Araújo; NEVES, Eula Oliveira Santos das
Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary aspects of tuberculosis in elderly patients of a university hospital in Belém, Pará. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital, where 82 records of cases of tuberculosis in elderly patients were analyzed. The data was analyzed by applying the G-test, assuming a level of α=0.05 (5%) and a value of p=0.05. Results: Most of the elderly patients were male (64.6%), aged 60-69 years, especially among men (64.2%). Most were new cases of tuberculosis (95.1%), with a pulmonary clinical form (75.6%), associated diseases (69.5%) and a length of stay exceeding 21 days. Fever (67.1%), dyspnea (64.6%), weight loss (61.0%), productive cough (59.8%), chest pain (51.2%) were the main signs and symptoms. Regarding treatment, there was a high percentage of adverse reactions (50%), predominantly gastrointestinal events (70.7%). Most patients were cured (59.8%), but mortality from tuberculosis was considered high (15.9%). In terms of the exposure variables and outcome, there was a statistically significant difference for the age group (p=0.017), length of stay (p=0.000) and adverse reactions (p=0.018) only. Conclusion: The clinical presentation and therapeutic management of tuberculosis among the elderly has characteristics peculiar to this group, making it important to strengthen strategies that facilitate early identification of suspected cases of TB among elderly persons in the community, which should take place mainly through the primary care system.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Espaço de cores
(2006) SANTANA, Claudia Feitosa; OIWA, Nestor Norio; COSTA, Marcelo Fernandes da; TIEDEMANN, Klaus Bruno; SILVEIRA, Luiz Carlos de Lima; VENTURA, Dora Selma Fix
The article presents definitions for the terms color space and color system. In agreement with David Brainard (2003), it classifies the color systems in two groups: color appearance and color difference. Amongst the existing color systems, the article also presents the description of the Munsell Color System, one of the most used among the color appearance systems, and of the CIE 1931, one of the most used color difference systems. In addition, an historical retrospect of the search for color spaces that represent the human color perception as well as the reconstruction of color spaces with electrophysiological and psychophysical methods, are described. Many of these reconstructions use the multidimensional scaling methods (mds). Finally, the article presents the possibility for reconstruction of color spaces of patients with acquired dyschromatopsia as a distortion of the color space of normal trichromats.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Estudo da eficácia e tolerância do artesunato oral isolado e em associação com mefloquina, no tratamento da malária falciparum não complicada em área endêmica do Pará, Brasil
(1996-06) CARDOSO, Bernardo da Silva; DOURADO, Heitor Vieira; PINHEIRO, Maria da Conceição Nascimento; CRESCENTE, Jose Angelo Barletta; AMORAS, Walter Wanderley; BAENA, Jorge; SARATY, Sandra
With the objective to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of artesunate in the treatment of non-complicatedfalciparum malaria in endemic area of the State of Pará, 153 patients were randomized and studied in three groups, distributed by therapeutical scheme (I received mefloquine lOOOmg, II used artesunate 600mg followed by mefloquine 500mg). Evaluation was made by daily clinical and parasithological examination, in the first 7 days, and weekly until the 35th day of the follow up. Biochemical and hematological analysis previously done and on the 7th day, targetting cure control and identification of possible effects related to drugs administration. As to sex, parasitemy and fever, studied groups were homogeneous. Time for parasitemy disappearence was shorter in the groups II and III respectively, whose therapeutical schemes had artesunate. Fever disappereance was quicker in the group treated with the combination of drugs. Clinical and biochemical alterations associated with drugs administration did not show significant differences among the studied groups. Early disappearence of fever and parasitemy, and absence of important side effects suggest that artesunate, isolated or administrated in combination with mefloquine, constitutes an able therapeutical procedure to contribute for disease control in that region.
Acesso aberto (Open Access)
Evaluation of the effects of passion fruit peel flour (Passiflora edulis fo. flavicarpa) on metabolic canges in HIV patients with lipodystrophy syndrome secondary to antiretroviral therapy
(Universidade Federal do Pará, 2016-08) MARQUES, Simone do Socorro Fernandes; LIBONATI, Rosana Maria Feio; SABAA-SRUR, Armando Ubirajara Oliveira; LUO, Rensheng; SHEJWALKAR, Pushkar; HARA, Kenji; DOBBS, Thomas; SMITH, Robert E.
This study evaluated the effects of using passion fruit peel flour together with diet therapy and counseling in 36 patients with HIV lipodystrophy who were in an ambulatory clinic in a university hospital. The patients were divided into two groups. One received 30 g of passion fruit peel flour daily for 90 days and diet therapy counseling. The other group received only diet therapy counseling. The metabolic changes were analyzed before and after the intervention, with a significance level predetermined at p ≤ 0.05. The use of passion fruit peel flour was effective in reducing total cholesterol and triacylglycerides after 30 days. The concentrations of LDL-C decreased, while HDL-C increased in the blood of lipodystrophy patients after 90 days passion fruit peel flour treatment. No significant differences in food consumption were seen between groups. The use of 30 g of passion fruit peel flour for 90 days together with diet therapy counseling was effective in improving plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and triacylglycerides.