Federal University of São Paulo

About: Federal University of São Paulo is a education organization based out in São Paulo, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 27971 authors who have published 49365 publications receiving 935536 citations. The organization is also known as: Universidade Federal de São Paulo & Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo.

Brachial endothelial function is impaired in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To verify if endothelial function is impaired in pre-menopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and whether endothelial dysfunction is related to disease duration, cumulative prednisone dose, antimalarial use, anticardiolipin antibody (aCL), hypertension, Raynaud9s phenomenon, disease activity score, and vasculitis. METHODS: Using high-resolution ultrasound, we measured the diameter of brachial artery at rest, during reactive hyperemia, and after glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). We compared 69 pre-menopausal female patients with SLE (mean age 29 +/- 8 years) with 35 age and sex-matched controls (mean age 29 +/- 6 years), The mean disease duration was 72 months. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in baseline brachial artery diameter. The flow-mediated dilation (endothelial dependent dilation) was significantly impaired in SLE patients when compared to controls (5.0 +/- 5.0% vs 12.0 +/- 6.0%, p

Antimicrobial activity of biogenic silver nanoparticles, and silver chloride nanoparticles: an overview and comments

Abstract: The antimicrobial impact of biogenic-synthesized silver-based nanoparticles has been the focus of increasing interest. As the antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles is highly dependent on their size and surface, the complete and adequate characterization of the nanoparticle is important. This review discusses the characterization and antimicrobial activity of biogenic synthesized silver nanoparticles and silver chloride nanoparticles. By revising the literature, there is confusion in the characterization of these two silver-based nanoparticles, which consequently affects the conclusion regarding to their antimicrobial activities. This review critically analyzes recent publications on the synthesis of biogenic silver nanoparticles and silver chloride nanoparticles by attempting to correlate the characterization of the nanoparticles with their antimicrobial activity. It was difficult to correlate the size of biogenic nanoparticles with their antimicrobial activity, since different techniques are employed for the characterization. Biogenic synthesized silver-based nanoparticles are not completely characterized, particularly the nature of capped proteins covering the nanomaterials. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of theses nanoparticles is assayed by using different protocols and strains, which difficult the comparison among the published papers. It is important to select some bacteria as standards, by following international foundations (Pharmaceutical Microbiology Manual) and use the minimal inhibitory concentration by broth microdilution assays from Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, which is the most common assay used in antibiotic ones. Therefore, we conclude that to have relevant results on antimicrobial effects of biogenic silver-based nanoparticles, it is necessary to have a complete and adequate characterization of these nanostructures, followed by standard methodology in microbiology protocols.

Two prevalent CYP17 mutations and genotype-phenotype correlations in 24 Brazilian patients with 17-hydroxylase deficiency.

Abstract: We performed molecular genetic analysis of 24 subjects from 19 families with 17-hydroxylase deficiency in Brazil. Of 7 novel CYP17 mutations, 2 (W406R and R362C) account for 50% and 32% of the mutant alleles, respectively. Both mutations were completely inactive when studied in COS-7 cells and yeast microsomes; however, phenotypic features varied among subjects. Some 46,XY individuals with these genotypes had ambiguous genitalia, and other subjects had normal blood pressure and/or serum potassium. We found mutations W406R and R362C principally in families with Spanish and Portuguese ancestry, respectively, suggesting that two independent founder effects contribute to the increased prevalence of 17-hydroxylase deficiency in Brazil. Mutations Y329D and P428L retained a trace of activity, yet the two individuals with these mutations had severe hypertension and hypokalemia. The 46,XX female with mutation Y329D reached Tanner stage 5, whereas the 46,XY subject with mutation P428L remained sexually infantile. The severity of hypertension, hypokalemia, 17-deoxysteroid excess, and sex steroid deficiency varied, even among patients with completely inactive CYP17 protein(s). Spontaneous sexual development occurred only in 46,XX females with partial deficiencies. We conclude that other factors, in addition to CYP17 genotype, contribute to the phenotype of individual patients with 17-hydroxylase deficiency.

BCG vaccination in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency: Complications, risks, and vaccination policies

Abstract: Background Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a syndrome characterized by profound T-cell deficiency. BCG vaccine is contraindicated in patients with SCID. Because most countries encourage BCG vaccination at birth, a high percentage of patients with SCID are vaccinated before their immune defect is detected. Objectives We sought to describe the complications and risks associated with BCG vaccination in patients with SCID. Methods An extensive standardized questionnaire evaluating complications, therapeutics, and outcomes regarding BCG vaccination in patients given a diagnosis of SCID was widely distributed. Summary statistics and association analysis was performed. Results Data on 349 BCG-vaccinated patients with SCID from 28 centers in 17 countries were analyzed. Fifty-one percent of the patients had BCG-associated complications, 34% disseminated and 17% localized (a 33,000- and 400-fold increase, respectively, over the general population). Patients receiving early vaccination (≤1 month) showed an increased prevalence of complications ( P = .006) and death caused by BCG-associated complications ( P P = .001) than among those with T-cell numbers of greater than 250/μL. BCG-associated complications were reported in 2 of 78 patients who received antimycobacterial therapy while asymptomatic, and no deaths caused by BCG-associated complications occurred in this group. In contrast, 46 BCG-associated deaths were reported among 160 patients treated with antimycobacterial therapy for a symptomatic BCG infection ( P Conclusions BCG vaccine has a very high rate of complications in patients with SCID, which increase morbidity and mortality rates. Until safer and more efficient antituberculosis vaccines become available, delay in BCG vaccination should be considered to protect highly vulnerable populations from preventable complications.