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We compared the antigenicity of p126 Plasmodium falciparum peptides with predicted antigenic regions identified using the methods described by Garnier et al. (1978) and Chou & Fasman (1974). For this purpose nine different P. falciparum peptides were synthesized in accordance with the deduced amino acid sequence of the p126 gene, and their reactivity was tested using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay against sera from individuals with a natural malaria infection. Both predictive methods gave similar antigenic-index scores, however, a comparison of these predictive results with data obtained by ELISA showed that the probability of a correct prediction was only around 45% for both cases. Thus, in our view computer software could not be used in isolation for screening purposes, and other parameters must also be taken into account when using such software to assess antigenicity.

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Misoprostol is used by women in Brazil in case of unwanted pregnancy to attempt abortion. This paper reports the characteristics, pattern of misoprostol use and opinions of a group of 102 women (median age 25 years, range 16-49 years), from Fortaleza, capital of Ceará state, who had used misoprostol to attempt abortion. Seventy-five percent were women of lower social class, 58% had less than 8 years of education and 46% were never married. Misoprostol was used for the first induced abortion by 65 women. Modal dose was 4 tablets--200 micrograms of misoprostol each--most frequently 2 tablets by oral route and 2 tablets by intravaginal route. This pattern of use was associated with the highest rate of abortion, mainly at 9-12 weeks of amenorrhea. Fifty-five percent of women had no pregnancy test; 41% had 8 weeks or less of amenorrhea. Curettage was performed in 49 of 84 women who reported abortion and in 41 of 43 women who entered the hospital. Infection and uterine perforation were the complications described. Seventy-two percent of women were in favor of legalization of abortion, but 52% were also in favor of the prohibition of misoprostol sales; 66% would not repeat misoprostol use and 53% would not suggest it to a friend. The poorest women were less favorable to misoprostol ban. Despite the current lack of safer alternatives, misoprostol does not seem a satisfactory solution to illegal abortion in Brazil.

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In this paper we relate that sera from paracoccidioidomycosis patients inhibited the mitogen-induced proliferative responses of normal mononuclear cells. Treatment of these sera with 2.5% polyethyleneglycol (PEG), a method classically used to precipitate immune complexes, significantly reduced their inhibitory activity. Immunoblot analysis of the PEG precipitates identified a 34-kDa polypeptide, recognized by rabbit anti-P. brasiliensis IgG. Patient mononuclear cells showed partial restoration of their proliferative capacity after 24 h culture in medium alone, which suggests release of membrane-bound molecules in the culture medium. These findings indicate that circulating P. brasiliensis antigens, complexed or not with antibodies, may play a negative immunoregulatory effect in the mitogen-induced proliferative responses of paracoccidioidomycosis patients.

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The WHO criterion of defering any donation of blood by a confirmed case of malaria for three years after cessation of therapy can not be applied in areas where malaria is endemic. For this reason we developed an immunoenzymatic assay for the detection of plasmodial antigens for blood screening in malarial endemic areas. So, we tested sera from 191 individuals. Among patients with active disease 100% of the cases of Plasmodium falciparum or mixed infections and 91.7% of those with P. vivax were positive for the presence of plasmodial antigens. The lower parasitaemia detected was 0.0003% for P. falciparum and 0.001% for P. vivax malária. When the frequency of positive circulating malarial antigens was evaluated among asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals with negative TBS, positive results were found in respectively 38.7% and 17.7% of the individuals studied in the 30 days after confirmed malaria attack. Data provide by these assays have shown that ELISA seemed to be more sensitive than parasitological examination for malaria diagnosis. This test by virtue of its high sensitivity and the facilities in processing a large number of specimens, can prove to be useful in endemic areas for the recognition of asymptomatic malaria and screening of blood donors.

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In this paper we seek evidence for the participation of the idiotype-anti-idiotype network in the polyclonal B-cell activation (PBA) associated to malaria. For this purpose we tested by an immunoradiometric assay a panel of nine monoclonal antibodies (including seven anti-idiotype antibodies) against three different (plasmodial or non plasmodial) heteroantigens: the 307 synthetic peptide (an epitope of a P. falciparum hepatic stage specific antigen) the (NANP)4 synthetic peptide (a repetitive epitope of the circumsporozoite protein of the P. falciparum sporozoite surface), and dinitrophenyl (DNP) molecule coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA). Besides the anti-TNP-DNP antibody, the ABPC48 idiotype (directed against beta polyfructosan a fragment of levan molecule) and one anti-idiotype antibody reacted with DNP-BSA. Two other anti-idiotype antibodies (directed against idiotypes of antibodies specific of beta poly-fructosan and phosphorylcholine) were positive against the (NANP)4 antigen. Three antibodies reacted with the 307 antigen which was also recognized by the ABPC48. One of these antibodies was positive to both P. falciparum peptides tested. These preliminary results suggest the existence of crossreactions between plasmodial antigens and idiotypes of antibodies directed against other heterologous antigens. Thus, malaria induced cross-reactive antibodies could act as hetero and/or auto-antibodies explaining, at least partially, the malaria associated PBA phenomenon and modulating the specific immune response during the course of the infection.

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O papiloma invertido é um tumor epitelial incomum que compromete a regiäo nasal e os seios paranasais. Este tumnor, embora originariamente benigno, tem alto grau de recorrência, podendo sofrer transformaçäo maligna. Ele pode destruir estruturas ósseas e se estender para as fossas cranianas anteriores e média, e tornar-se, desse modo, indistinguível radiologicamente de lesäo malígna. 8 pacientes com papiloma invertido histologicamente confirmados säo descritos e os seus achados radiológicos apresentados e comparados com os da literatura

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