Therapeutic option for children with esophageal caustic stenosis

Caustic ingestion is a leading cause of esophageal stenosis in children. Herein we report four cases using mitomycin C (MMC), a drug that inhibits cell division, protein synthesis and fibroblast proliferation and has been used as an adjuvant therapy for caustic esophageal stenosis that is recalcitrant to conventional dilation techniques. A retrospective chart review was performed on four pediatric patients with severe, recurrent esophageal stricture after caustic ingestion. The patients had required six to 20 esophageal dilations over a 4-16-month period before MMC application. MMC was applied after an endoscopic dilation on saturated pledgets at a dose of 0.1 mg/mL for 2 min in the area where the strictures had been lyzed. From the four children treated with MMC, two have been asymptomatic for 16 and 20 months and two still require esophageal dilation, however, at longer intervals. All patients have shown satisfactory weight gain with food intake exclusively per oral. Although further studies are required, there is strong evidence that MMC is a safe and effective adjuvant therapy in the treatment of esophageal caustic stenosis. © 2008 The Authors.

Candida species: Current epidemiology, pathogenicity, biofilm formation, natural antifungal products and new therapeutic options

The incidence of fungal infections has increased significantly, so contributing to morbidity and mortality. This is caused by an increase in antimicrobial resistance and the restricted number of antifungal drugs, which retain many side effects. Candida species are major human fungal pathogens that cause both mucosal and deep tissue infections. Recent evidence suggests that the majority of infections produced by this pathogen are associated with biofilm growth. Biofilms are biological communities with a high degree of organization, in which micro-organisms form structured, coordinated and functional communities. These biological communities are embedded in a self-created extracellular matrix. Biofilm production is also associated with a high level of antimicrobial resistance of the associated organisms. The ability of Candida species to form drugresistant biofilms is an important factor in their contribution to human disease. The study of plants as an alternative to other forms of drug discovery has attracted great attention because, according to the World Health Organization, these would be the best sources for obtaining a wide variety of drugs and could benefit a large population. Furthermore, silver nanoparticles, antibodies and photodynamic inactivation have also been used with good results. This article presents a brief review of the literature regarding the epidemiology of Candida species, as well as their pathogenicity and ability to form biofilms, the antifungal activity of natural products and other therapeutic options. © 2013 SGM.

Bone marrow aspirate combined with low-level laser therapy: A new therapeutic approach to enhance bone healing

This study evaluated the influence of bone marrow aspirate (BMA), low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and their combination on bone healing in surgically created critical-size defects (CSDs) in rat calvaria. 40 rats were divided into four groups: C (control), BMA, LLLT and BMA/LLLT. A 5 mm diameter CSD was created in the calvarium of each animal. In Group C, the defect was filled by blood clot only. In Group BMA, the defect was filled with BMA. In groups LLLT and BMA/LLLT, the defect received laser irradiation (InGaAlP laser), was filled with blood clot or BMA respectively, and irradiated again. Animals were euthanized 30 days postoperatively. Histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Newly formed bone area (NFBA) was calculated as percentage of the total area of the original defect. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and osteocalcin (OCN) immunohistochemical staining were performed. PCNA-positive, Runx2-positive and OCN-positive cells were quantified. Data were statistically analyzed. Group BMA/LLLT had significantly greater NFBA than groups C, BMA or LLLT. Group BMA presented significantly greater NFBA than control, while group LLLT did not. Group BMA/LLLT presented a significantly higher number of PCNA-positive and OCN-positive cells than any of the other groups. Groups BMA/LLLT and BMA showed a significantly lower number of Runx2-positive cells than groups C or LLLT. The combination of BMA/LLLT yielded significantly greater bone formation in surgically created CSD in rat calvaria when compared to control, or either treatment alone. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Orbifloxacin: A Review of Properties, Its Antibacterial Activities, Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Characteristics, Therapeutic Use, and Analytical Methods

Orbifloxacin is a third generation of fluoroquinolone that exhibits increased antibacterial activity against the Enterobacteriaceae, gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, anaerobes, and mycobacteria. This drug was synthesized in 1987 and developed as a veterinary chemotherapeutic to use for livestock and domestic pets. Orbifloxacin is labeled for the treatment of skin, soft tissue, and urinary tract infections in dogs, and skin and soft tissue infections in cats, but in some countries, orbifloxacin has been given for the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections in cattle and swine and other animals. The in vitro activity and clinical efficacy of orbifloxacin against naturally occurring bacterial infections of the skin, ear, soft tissue, udder, and gastrointestinal and respiratory systems in different animals have been evaluated and good responses have been found. The minimum inhibitory concentration of orbifloxacin has been determined in various different pathogens and the results found in the literature are shown in this work. The pharmacokinetics of orbifloxacin has been evaluated by different routes of administration in goats, horses, pigs, rabbits, dogs, cats, camels, cattle, sheep, and fish. Orbifloxacin exhibits excellent pharmacokinetic parameters that suggest that this drug may have good clinical effects on various bacterial infections in these species. All methods described in the scientific literature for determination of orbifloxacin in different matrices were collected and discussed. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Arthrocentesis procedure: Using this therapeutic maneuver for TMJ closed lock management

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is a term that encompasses a number of overlapping conditions, such as closed lock. Closed lock of the TMJ is considered a consequence of a nonreducing deformed disc acting as an obstacle to the sliding condylar head that usually causes a decrease in the maximum mouth opening and acute pain. The management of the TMJ is still controversial. Thus, arthrocentesis of the TMJ is a valuable modification of the traditional method of arthroscopic lavage, which consists of washing the joint in order to remove chemical inflammatory mediators and intra-articular adhesions, changing intra-articular pressure. TMJ disorder has always presented as a therapeutic challenge to maxillofacial surgeons. Therefore, this paper aimed to describe a clinical report of a closed lock of the left TMJ in a 19-year-old female subject who was successfully treated by arthrocentesis procedure. © 2013 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

Recent mouse and rat methods for the study of experimental oral candidiasis

The Candida genus expresses virulence factors that, when combined with immunosuppression and other risk factors, can cause different manifestations of oral candidiasis. The treatment of mucosal infections caused by Candida and the elucidation of the disease process have proven challenging. Therefore, the study of experimentally induced oral candidiasis in rats and mice is useful to clarify the etiopathology of this condition, improve diagnosis, and search for new therapeutic options because the disease process in these animals is similar to that of human candidiasis lesions. Here, we describe and discuss new studies involving rat and mouse models of oral candidiasis with respect to methods for inducing experimental infection, methods for evaluating the development of experimental candidiasis, and new treatment strategies for oral candidiasis. © 2013 Landes Bioscience.

Oxidative stress in sickle cell disease: An overview of erythrocyte redox metabolism and current antioxidant therapeutic strategies

Erythrocytes have an environment of continuous pro-oxidant generation due to the presence of hemoglobin (Hb), which represents an additional and quantitatively significant source of superoxide (O2 •-) generation in biological systems. To counteract oxidative stress, erythrocytes have a self-sustaining antioxidant defense system. Thus, red blood cells uniquely function to protect Hb via a selective barrier allowing gaseous and other ligand transport as well as providing antioxidant protection not only to themselves but also to other tissues and organs in the body. Sickle hemoglobin molecules suffer repeated polymerization/depolymerization generating greater amounts of reactive oxygen species, which can lead to a cyclic cascade characterized by blood cell adhesion, hemolysis, vaso-occlusion, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. In other words, sickle cell disease is intimately linked to a pathophysiologic condition of multiple sources of pro-oxidant processes with consequent chronic and systemic oxidative stress. For this reason, newer therapeutic agents that can target oxidative stress may constitute a valuable means for preventing or delaying the development of organ complications. © © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Kinetics of epsilon antitoxin antibodies in different strategies for active immunization of lambs against enterotoxaemia

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeito da vacina gênica para tuberculose(pVAXhsp65) na encefalite autoimune experiemtal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Achados audiológicos pós-doenças infecciosas em crianças matriculadas em um centro especializado nos distúrbios da audição

Pós-graduação em Pediatria - FMB

Leprosy: a review of laboratory and therapeutic aspects - Part 2

Leprosy is a chronic infectious condition caused by Mycobacterium leprae(M. leprae). It is endemic in many regions of the world and a public health problem in Brazil. Additionally, it presents a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, which are dependent on the interaction between M. leprae and host, and are related to the degree of immunity to the bacillus. The diagnosis of this disease is a clinical one. However, in some situations laboratory exams are necessary to confirm the diagnosis of leprosy or classify its clinical form. This article aims to update dermatologists on leprosy, through a review of complementary laboratory techniques that can be employed for the diagnosis of leprosy, including Mitsuda intradermal reaction, skin smear microscopy, histopathology, serology, immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction, imaging tests, electromyography, and blood tests. It also aims to explain standard multidrug therapy regimens, the treatment of reactions and resistant cases, immunotherapy with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and chemoprophylaxis.

Supplementation and therapeutic use of vitamin D in patients with multiple sclerosis: Consensus of the Scientific Department of Neuroimmunology of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology

A esclerose múltipla (EM) é uma doença inflamatória, autoimune, desmielinizante e degenerativa do sistema nervoso central. Estudos epidemiológicos têm identificado associações de hipovitaminose D com doenças autoimunes. O principal objetivo desta revisão é responder se há evidências que indiquem o uso terapêutico de vitamina D em monoterapia para pacientes com EM. Por meio dos sites PUBMED, EMBASE, LILACS e Scielo foram realizadas buscas usando os descritores “vitamin D”, e “multiple sclerosis” até 12/09/2013. Estudos clínicos randomizados, controlados e duplo-cegos foram selecionados para avaliar a resposta terapêutica da vitamina D na EM. Não foram encontradas evidências científicas que justifiquem o uso da vitamina D em monoterapia no tratamento da EM, na prática clínica.

TWIST1 Is a Molecular Marker for a Poor Prognosis in Oral Cancer and Represents a Potential Therapeutic Target

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic and biochemical markers of hydroxyurea therapeutic response in sickle cell anemia

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Citral: A monoterpene with prophylactic and therapeutic anti-nociceptive effects in experimental models of acute and chronic pain

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)