Thèse d'exercice : Médecine. Médecine générale : Université de Nantes : 2005. / Bibliogr. f. 75-81 [60 réf.].

IBIAPINA, Flávio Lúcio Pontes. Infecção genital por Clhamydia trachomatis em gestantes : prevalência e fatores associados. 2008. 73 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Tocoginecologia) - Universidade Federal Ceará. Faculdade de Medicina, 2008. / Submitted by denise santos (denise.santos@ufc.br) on 2012-10-22T13:18:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_dis_flpibiapina.pdf: 217559 bytes, checksum: c74eced6e1e5dd1db0e1078e37ef23d1 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Erika Fernandes(erikaleitefernandes@gmail.com) on 2012-10-26T15:11:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_dis_flpibiapina.pdf: 217559 bytes, checksum: c74eced6e1e5dd1db0e1078e37ef23d1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-10-26T15:11:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_dis_flpibiapina.pdf: 217559 bytes, checksum: c74eced6e1e5dd1db0e1078e37ef23d1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / To estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnant women, comparing the positive group to the negative one in respect to socio-demographic factors, gynecologic history and exam, evaluating the risk factors associated to Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection. Subjects and methods: Hybrid capture test for Chlamydia trachomatis was performed in 446 pregnant women at Hospital Geral Dr César Cals, from the Health Secretary of the State of Ceará, from August, 2003 to May, 2004. Medium age in the group was 25.98 years and 19 weeks was the medium age of pregnancy. A structured questionnaire was applied, no matter the age of pregnancy, whether they were or not symptomatic, excluding those who had used antibiotics or any other substance into the vagina, during the previous fifteen days or who had kept sexual relationship until two days before the consultation, with a endocervical swab being performed, in order to have a hybrid capture test for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, as indicated by the manufacturer. Data were analysed by STATA 13.0, performed by means of the qui-square and logistic regression tests with descriptive and analytic presentation. Results: The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis among the pregnant women was 2.91%. Risk factors independently associated to Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection were history of pelvic pain or pelvic inflammatory disease, vulvar discharge and not using condom with an eventual sex partner. Respective odds ratio and confidence intervals were calculated to these variable. Conclusions: The positive group was younger, had smaller salaries and presented a greater frequency of divorced women, with less preservative use and more positive history of genital discharge and pelvic pain in the past. The OR to the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection was 1, 7 for those women not using condom and 0, 10 and 0, 17, respectively for a negative history of pelvic pain / PID, and the absence of vulvar discharge. / determinar a prevalência de infecção genital por Chlamydia trachomatis em gestantes, comparando o subgrupo com diagnóstico positivo com o de diagnóstico negativo quanto aos fatores bio-sócio-demográficos, história ginecológica e exame físico ginecológico, avaliando-se os fatores associados à presença de infecção genital por Chlamydia trachomatis. Sujeitos e métodos: submeteram-se ao teste de captura híbrida para Chlamydia trachomatis 446 gestantes do ambulatório de pré-natal do Hospital Geral Dr César Cals, da Secretaria Estadual de Saúde-Ceará, no período de Agosto de 2003 a Maio de 2004. A idade média do grupo foi de 25,98 anos, idade gestacional média de 19 semanas. Aplicou-se questionário diretamente às gestantes, independente da idade gestacional e de estarem sintomáticas ou não, excluindo-se aquelas que tivessem feito uso de antibióticos ou de qualquer substância química intravaginal nos quinze dias anteriores à coleta, ou que tivessem mantido relações sexuais nos dois dias anteriores à consulta de pré-natal, com coleta de swab endocervical para realização de teste de captura híbrida II, com material colhido em tubo com solução conservadora utilizando o sistema de micro placa, conforme procedimento descrito pelo fabricante. Os dados foram analisados utilizando o software STATA 13.0, procedendo-se análise descritiva e analítica através do teste de qui-quadrado e regressão logística, subtraindo-se variáveis. Resultados: A prevalência de Chlamydia trachomatis entre as gestantes foi de 2.91%. Identificou-se como fatores de risco independentemente associados à infecção genital por Chlamydia trachomatis a história de dor pélvica ou doença inflamatória pélvica, presença de corrimento vulvar ao exame físico e não uso de preservativo com parceiro eventual. Calculou-se o Odds-ratio (OR), para cada um destes fatores, com respectivos intervalos de confiança. Conclusões: O subgrupo com rastreamento positivo para Chlamydia trachomatis caracterizou-se por apresentar uma faixa etária e renda familiar menor que o subgrupo com sorologia negativa, além de apresentar maior frequencia de pacientes separadas, que usam menos preservativos com parceiros eventuais e com mais antecedentes de corrimento genital e dor pélvica. A OR para presença de infecção genital por Chlamydia trachomatis foi de 1,7 para aquelas que não usam preservativos e foi de 0,10 e 0,17, respectivamente, para ausência de dor pélvica/DIP e corrimento vulvar.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2009.

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1996.

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1996.

No description available.

No description available.

<p>During infection of epithelial cells, the obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis secretes the serine protease chlamydial protease-like activity factor (CPAF) into the host cytosol to regulate a range of host cellular processes through targeted proteolysis. Understanding the role of CPAF in pathogenesis is hampered because Chlamydia are not genetically tractable organisms. As such, chemical biology approaches were used to confirm CPAF function in vitro and in vivo, and to validate it as a virulence target. Here we report the development of assays, investigation of substrate specificity, and establishment of CPAF as a central virulence factor in chlamydial pathogenesis. A system for the expression and purification of CPAF was developed. An in vitro assay would allow for determination of kinetic parameters and aid in understanding the function of this protease. Two in vitro proteolysis assays, a discontinuous HPLC-based assay and a continuous fluorescence quenching assay, were developed for use in kinetic parameter determination and inhibitor discovery. </p><p>CPAF substrate specificity studies were conducted through the use of alanine scanning, proteomic identification of protease cleavage sites (PICS), and quantitative proteomics. Results from these studies showed that CPAF exhibited a preference for glycine, alanine, and serine in position P1, and valine in position P2' of peptide substrates.</p><p>Additionally, we designed and synthesized a zymogen-derived inhibitor peptide with nanomolar affinity that inhibited CPAF activity in vitro and in vivo. Using this, anti-CPAF peptide, we established CPAF as a virulence factor for chlamydial pathogenesis. Furthermore, CPAF inhibition resulted in degradation of the inclusion vacuole, exposing the bacteria and stimulating bacterial killing, thus CPAF inhibition created an antibacterial effect. CPAF inhibition also leads to the stimulation of innate immune defense activation, namely activation of caspase 1. In addition, CPAF was determined to be inhibited by the natural product salinosporamide A, a variant of omuralide, and the active form of the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin. Salinosporamide A and omuralide offer advantages over peptide therapeutics because of their intrinsic resistance to proteolytic degradation and improved oral bioavailability. Toward that end, progress toward CPAF inhibitor derivates from this natural product scaffold is also presented. Collectively this thesis lends support for CPAF as an antivirulence target for Chlamydia.</p> / Dissertation

The work described in this thesis was conducted In rural Gambia and builds a body of evidence Incriminating the fly Musca sorbens as a vector of the blinding disease, trachoma, which is caused by ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. Literature on hygiene promotion, environmental change and flies and trachoma is reviewed in the context of the SAFE strategy for trachoma control advocated by the World Health Organization M. sorbens was present throughout the year in trachoma endemic communities; was responsible for the majority of fly-eye contacts; C. trachomatis DNA was found on it; and trachoma transmission dropped when they were removed from the environment. In a large cluster-randomised trial communities receiving fly control with insecticide for six months had a mean reduction in trachoma prevalence of 56% (95% Cl 19-93%; P=0.01) compared to controls and 37% (4-70%; P=0.068) fewer new prevalent cases of trachoma. Breeding media choice experiments showed that isolated human faeces were the preferred larval medium for M. sorbens and were capable of supporting the production of large numbers of adults. However, other animal faeces were also able to support M. sorbens development. This suggested that a community-based strategy to reduce the quantity of human faeces on the soil surface by providing latrines would have the effect of reducing the population of M. sorbens, and hence reduce fly-eye contact and trachoma transmission. The provision of latrines gave encouraging results, which were not statistically significant; 30% less active trachoma than controls after six months (-22-81%; P=0.210) and 28% (-5-60%; P=0.146) fewer new prevalent cases. Provision of latrines warrants further investigation as a method to control trachoma, particularly when used in conjunction with other control methods. The potential role of fly control in the SAFE strategy for trachoma control is discussed.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of the Witwatersrand. Johannesburg. for the Degree of Master of Science in Medicine Johannesburg 1994 / South African gold-miners work under stressful conditions and live in communal hostels. Respiratory infections are common in these workers and several cases of Legionnaires' Disease have previously been diagnosed in workers at a gold mine on the East Rand. The prevalence of antibodies and the rate of seroconversion within a period of six months, to C. pneumoniae and L. paeumopbils, both common causes of atypical pneumonia, was studied in relation to several risk factors including age, smoking habits, previous underground experience and past exposure to dust and humidity in the environment. Factory workers from a rural area in Natal and hospitalised patients with community acquired pneumonia were tested for comparison. Water samples were collected from several areas at the mine, including both surface and underground samples" Antibodies to C. pneumoniae were present in 66% of the mine workers, compared to 50% of pneumonia patients and 22% of factory workers, a statistically significant difference (P<O.OOl), Seroconversion was demonstrated ill 17% of the mine workers within a period of six months working underground, and in 22% of pneumonia patients, with convalescent stage sera taken 1-6 weeks after onset of symptoms. None of the risk factors studied influenced the prevalence of C. pneumoniae antibodies in the mine workers, but a significant association between the presence of respiratory symptoms in the six month period and seroconversicn was demonstrated (P<O.025). Using heat- killed antigens, antibodies to L. paeumopbile serogroups 1-4 were demonstrated in 36% of the mine workers, in 16% of the pneumonia patients and in 10% of factory workers (P<O.OOl). Seroconversion occurred in 18% of mine workers and in 14% of pneumonia patients. An association could not be demonstrated between any (if the risk factors studied and the prevalence of antibodies or the rate of seroconversion to L. pneumophila in the mine workers. No legionellae were cultured from the water samples, and the presence of these organsims in chlorinated water from both surface and underground samples could not be confirmed.