Papers by Ana Clara Ventura
Estudio comparativo sobre los estilos de aprendizaje de estudiantes universitarios argentinos de ... more Estudio comparativo sobre los estilos de aprendizaje de estudiantes universitarios argentinos de diferentes disciplinas
Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica, 2010
Environmental Research, 2010
Mercury is an immunotoxic substance that has been shown to induce autoimmune disease in rodent mo... more Mercury is an immunotoxic substance that has been shown to induce autoimmune disease in rodent models, characterized by lymphoproliferation, overproduction of immunoglobulin (IgG and IgE), and high circulating levels of autoantibodies directed at antigens located in the nucleus (anti-nuclear autoantibodies, or ANA) or the nucleolus (anti-nucleolar autoantibodies, or ANoA). We have reported elevated levels of ANA and ANoA in human populations exposed to mercury in artisanal gold mining, though other confounding variables that may also modulate ANA/ANoA levels were not well-controlled. The goal of this study is to specifically test whether occupational and environmental conditions (other than mercury exposure) that are associated with artisanal gold mining affect the prevalence of markers of autoimmune dysfunction. We measured ANA, ANoA, and cytokine concentrations in serum and compared results from mercury-exposed artisanal gold miners to those from diamond and emerald miners working under similar conditions and with similar socioeconomic status and risks of infectious disease. Mercury-exposed gold miners had higher prevalence of detectable ANA and ANoA and higher titers of ANA and ANoA as compared to diamond and emerald miners with no occupational mercury exposure. Also, mercury-exposed goldminers with detectable ANA or ANoA in serum had significantly higher concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in serum as compared to the diamond and emerald miners. This study provides further evidence that mercury exposure may lead to autoimmune dysfunction and systemic inflammation in affected populations.
200 copies for at least 6 consecutive months, with no active illicit drug use, active infections ... more 200 copies for at least 6 consecutive months, with no active illicit drug use, active infections or weight loss of any cause during the previous 6 months. Serum Zn concentration was measured using a colorimetric assay (Sentinel Diagnostics®) adapted to the Cobas 8000 analyzer (Roche Diagnostics). The Zn values showed a normal distribution with a mean concentration of 88.7 µg/dl (SD 23.3) and were found to be decreased in 13 patients and in 6 subjects were below 61 µg/dl. Both the simple statistical analysis and the multivariate regression model only identified a significant effect for age and alcohol consumption. In sum an important number of HIV-infected with effective and prolonged HAART and no evidence of active infections or other associated factor show diminished serum Zn concentrations. The inclusion of at least occasional Zn determinations should be considered in the regular follow-up evaluations of HIV-infected patients.
Open Journal of Gastroenterology, 2015
Environmental Research, 2002
Small-scale gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon occurs in areas with high rates of malaria transm... more Small-scale gold mining in the Brazilian Amazon occurs in areas with high rates of malaria transmission. Amazonian populations can be exposed to mercury through direct contact with the mining process and/or through Ash consumption. Because of data from experimental studies, we examined the potential for mercury to affect host response to malaria. A cross-sectional survey was done in Jacareacanga, a riverine community in Para state, in a region of intense alluvial gold mining. A sample of 205 persons was selected by cluster sampling from the total population of approximately 2000. A brief medical history and exam were conducted, malaria slides were obtained, and hair samples were taken to measure mercury levels. The average hair mercury level was 8.6 g/g, ranging from 0.3 to 83.2 g/g. The most important predictors of elevated mercury levels were high Ash consumption and low income. Although there was no prevalent malaria, the odds of reporting a past malaria infection was four times higher for those also reporting a history of working with mercury.
JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2010
Accident Analysis & Prevention, 2012
Medical residents in training have long work shifts that lead increases the risk of traffic accid... more Medical residents in training have long work shifts that lead increases the risk of traffic accidents. The Asde Driver Test is a test battery with equipment homologated by the Spanish traffic authorities designed to assess psychological and physical aptitude for obtaining the driving license in Spain. We study whether driving ability is objectively affected in this test. The Asde Driver Test was applied before and in the morning after duty The data were evaluated using the SPSS statistical package, analyzing the variations in score with the Student t-test for paired samples. The results were also compared with the validated assessment criteria of the class B driving license test, based on passing of the cutoff points for each analyzed variable. Subjects with physical limitations precluding test conduction were excluded, as were those with a resting period during the duty shift of over 4h. Of the 25 residents, 22 cases were therefore included in the data analysis. There were no significant differences in the paired global pre- and post-duty comparison of results, though there were cases in which the results obtained after duty fell short of the recommended criteria for passing the aptitude test. The Asde Driver Test includes tests relating to anticipation speed, bimanual visual-motor coordination, multiple reaction times, concentrated attention, and resistance to monotony. The results obtained show that fatigue in some cases, though not on a generalized basis, adversely affects skills needed for driving, such as reaction time, resistance to monotony, anticipation speed, or visual-motor coordination. In conclusion, following the resident duty shift, impaired driving ability is observed in some cases that could increase the risk of traffic accidents.
AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 2011
Biological Chemistry, 2015
Abstract From the most simple sphingoid bases to their complex glycosylated derivatives, several ... more Abstract From the most simple sphingoid bases to their complex glycosylated derivatives, several of sphingolipid species were shown to have a role in fundamental cellular events and/or disease. Increasing evidence places lipid-lipid interactions and membrane structural alterations as central mechanisms underlying the action of these lipids. Understanding how these molecules exert their biological roles by studying their impact in the physical properties and organization of membranes is currently one of the main challenges in sphingolipid research. Herein, we review the progress in the state-of-the-art on the biophysical properties of sphingolipidcontaining membranes, focusing on sphingosine, ceramides and glycosphingolipids.
Environmental health : a global access science source, 2004
Mercury is an immunotoxic metal that induces autoimmune disease in rodents. Highly susceptible mo... more Mercury is an immunotoxic metal that induces autoimmune disease in rodents. Highly susceptible mouse strains such as SJL/N, A.SW, B10.S (H-2s) develop multiple autoimmune manifestations after exposure to inorganic mercury, including lymphoproliferation, elevated levels of autoantibodies, overproduction of IgG and IgE, and circulating immune complexes in kidney and vasculature. A few studies have examined relationships between mercury exposures and adverse immunological reactions in humans, but there is little evidence of mercury-associated autoimmunity in humans. To test the immunotoxic effects of mercury in humans, we studied communities in Amazonian Brazil with well-characterized exposures to mercury. Information was collected on diet, mercury exposures, demographic data, and medical history. Antinuclear and antinucleolar autoantibodies (ANA and ANoA) were measured by indirect immunofluorescence. Anti-fibrillarin autoantibodies (AFA) were measured by immunoblotting. In a gold mini...
Background: Evaluating the potential impacts of prenatal exposures on the maternal and fetal immu... more Background: Evaluating the potential impacts of prenatal exposures on the maternal and fetal immune systems (both as a unit and separately) has been hampered by lack of information on the relative contribution of each component to serum biomarkers such as IgG and IgM antibodies. We have examined the effects of prenatal mercury exposures on immune biomarkers in serum prepared from cord blood and maternal blood samples in a population exposed to methylmercury. Mercury is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant with known neurodevelopmental effects at high exposures and its role in the development of autism/autism spectrum disorders remains controversial. Recent studies on the toxic properties of mercury have highlighted the implications at lower exposures particularly on the immune system. Low level prenatal exposure through maternal contaminated fish consumption has the potential to impact the immune system of the fetus, potentially increasing susceptibility to disease. Many studies h...
RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre o FNT-á, a gravidade da apresentação clínica e a tromboc... more RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre o FNT-á, a gravidade da apresentação clínica e a trombocitopenia, além da freqüência do FNT2 e sua influência sobre os níveis da citocina. Material e Métodos: Foram avaliados pacientes primoinfectados pelo P. vivax, ³ 15 anos, provenientes de Belém, Pará, com sintomas há £ 21 dias, atendidos e acompanhados clinicamente no Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC) ou hospitalizados. A parasitemia foi quantificada todos os dias até a negativação. Adotou-se a cloroquina e a primaquina por via oral, durante sete dias, como tratamento. Amostras sanguíneas foram coletadas em D0 e D7 para análises hematológicas e bioquímicas, títulos do FNT-á e a freqüência do FNT2. Os programas Biostat 2.0 e Excel-Windows foram utilizados para as análises estatísticas das diferenças e das correlações entre os parâmetros obtidos. Resultados: Oitenta e três pacientes foram atendidos e acompanhados clinicamente no D0, D1, D2, D3 e D7, de fevereiro/2002 a março/2003. O FNT-á se c...
PSIENCIA. Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencia Psicológica, 2015
Clinical kidney journal, 2013
NDT Plus, 2008
Small-vessel vasculitides associated with the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies i... more Small-vessel vasculitides associated with the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in the serum are characterized by inflammation and necrosis of small vessels. A pauci-immune necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis typically occurs when there is renal damage. Pathogenesis of these diseases remains unclear although infectious, genetic and environmental factors have been involved. Few familial clusters of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies' small-vessel vasculitis are described in the literature. We report two families with first-degree relatives affected with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies' small-vessel vasculitis.
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Papers by Ana Clara Ventura