Oswaldo Cruz Foundation

About: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation is a facility organization based out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Trypanosoma cruzi. The organization has 18673 authors who have published 36752 publications receiving 802378 citations. The organization is also known as: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz & FIOCRUZ.

Intervenções obstétricas durante o trabalho de parto e parto em mulheres brasileiras de risco habitual

Abstract: Este artigo avaliou o uso das boas praticas (alimentacao, deambulacao, uso de metodos nao farmacologicos para alivio da dor e de partograma) e de intervencoes obstetricas na assistencia ao trabalho de parto e parto de mulheres de risco obstetrico habitual. Foram utilizados dados da pesquisa Nascer no Brasil, estudo de base hospitalar realizada em 2011/2012, com entrevistas de 23.894 mulheres. As boas praticas durante o trabalho de parto ocorreram em menos de 50% das mulheres, sendo menos frequentes nas regioes Norte, Nordeste e Centro-oeste. O uso de ocitocina e amniotomia foi de 40%, sendo maior no setor publico e nas mulheres com menor escolaridade. A manobra de Kristeller, episiotomia e litotomia foram utilizada, em 37%, 56% e 92% das mulheres, respectivamente. A cesariana foi menos frequente nas usuarias do setor publico, nao brancas, com menor escolaridade e multiparas. Para melhorar a saude de maes e criancas e promover a qualidade de vida, o Sistema Unico de Saude (SUS) e, sobretudo o setor privado, necessitam mudar o modelo de atencao obstetrica promovendo um cuidado baseado em evidencias cientificas.

Clinics of ocular tuberculosis.

Abstract: Purpose: Ocular tuberculosis is an extrapulmonary tuberculous condition and has variable manifestations. The purpose of this review is to describe the clinical manifestations of ocular tuberculosis affecting the anterior and posterior segments of the eye in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.Methods: Review of literature using Pubmed database.Results: Mycobacterium tuberculosis may lead to formation of conjunctival granuloma, nodular scleritis, and interstitial keratitis. Lacrimal gland and orbital caseating granulomas are rare but may occur. The intraocular structures are also a target of insult by M. tuberculosis and may cause anterior granulomatous uveitis, anterior and posterior synechiae, secondary glaucoma, and cataract. The bacillus may involve the ciliary body, resulting in the formation of a localized caseating granuloma. Posterior segment manifestations include vitritis, retinal vasculitis, optic neuritis, serpiginous-like choroiditis, choroidal tubercules, subretinal ne...

Chemotherapy with benznidazole and itraconazole for mice infected with different Trypanosoma cruzi clonal genotypes.

Abstract: The benznidazole (BZ) and itraconazole (ITC) susceptibilities of a standard set of Trypanosoma cruzi natural stocks were evaluated during the acute phase and the chronic phase of experimental chagasic infection in BALB/c mice. Twenty laboratory-cloned stocks representative of the total phylogenetic diversity of T. cruzi, including genotypes 20 and 19 (T. cruzi I) and genotypes 39 and 32 (T. cruzi II), were analyzed. Our results demonstrate important differences among stocks that could be pointed out as markers of biological behavior. Members of the T. cruzi I group were highly resistant to both BZ and ITC, whereas members of the T. cruzi II group were partially resistant to both drugs, despite their susceptibilities to ITC during the chronic phase of infection. The resistance to BZ observed for T. cruzi I was mainly triggered by genotype 20 isolates, whereas resistance to ITC was due to both genotype 20 and 19 isolates. Two polar patterns of response to BZ observed for genotype 39 isolates had a major impact on the partial resistance pattern observed for members of the T. cruzi II group. Genotype 32 isolates showed a typical profile of susceptibility. The correlation between the response to treatment and phylogenetic classification of T. cruzi stocks was clearer for ITC than for BZ. In conclusion, the data presented show a correlation between phylogenetic divergence among T. cruzi stocks and their susceptibilities to chemotherapeutic agents in vivo. Our results warn of the necessity to take into account the lesser genetic subdivisions of T. cruzi stocks since the upper subdivisions (T. cruzi I and II) show a great deal of heterogeneity for in vivo drug susceptibility.

Fungal diseases as neglected pathogens: A wake-up call to public health officials

Abstract: Human fungal diseases differ fundamentally from other infections in diverse ways. As eukaryotic pathogens, fungi share many similarities with their host cells, which impairs the development of antifungal compounds. Fungal tropism is highly variable, as pathogens infect a wide range of cell types. A single fungal pathogen can infect multiple tissues in the same patient (depending on the host’s immunological status) and can undergo morphogenic shifts during infection. Fungi are still underappreciated as major pathogens by both the public and public health officials.

Modulation of lipid droplets by Mycobacterium leprae in Schwann cells: a putative mechanism for host lipid acquisition and bacterial survival in phagosomes

Abstract: The predilection of Mycobacterium leprae (ML) for Schwann cells (SCs) leads to peripheral neuropathy, a major concern in leprosy. Highly infected SCs in lepromatous leprosy nerves show a foamy, lipid-laden appearance; but the origin and nature of these lipids, as well as their role in leprosy, have remained unclear. The data presented show that ML has a pronounced effect on host-cell lipid homeostasis through regulation of lipid droplet (lipid bodies, LD) biogenesis and intracellular distribution. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemical analysis of lepromatous leprosy nerves for adipose differentiation-related protein expression, a classical LD marker, revealed accumulating LDs in close association to ML in infected SCs. The capacity of ML to induce LD formation was confirmed in in vitro studies with human SCs. Moreover, via confocal and live-cell analysis, it was found that LDs are promptly recruited to bacterial phagosomes and that this process depends on cytoskeletal reorganization and PI3K signalling. ML-induced LD biogenesis and recruitment were found to be independent of TLR2 bacterial sensing. Notably, LD recruitment impairment by cytoskeleton drugs decreased intracellular bacterial survival. Altogether, our data revealed SC lipid accumulation in ML-containing phagosomes, which may represent a fundamental aspect of bacterial pathogenesis in the nerve.