Low frequency of human papillomavirus detection in prostate tissue from individuals from Northern Brazil

The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) was evaluated in 65 samples of prostate tumours and six samples of prostates with benign prostatic hyperplasia from individuals from Northern Brazil. We used a highly sensitive test, the Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test, to detect 37 high and low-risk HPV types. In this study, only 3% of tumour samples showed HPV infection. Our findings support the conclusion that, despite the high incidence of HPV infection in the geographic regions studied, HPV was not associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the frequency of HPV detection in prostatic tissue of individuals from Brazil.

Environmental influences on antibody-enhanced dengue disease outcomes

Because an enriched environment (EE) enhances T-cell activity and T-lymphocytes contribute to immunopathogenesis during heterologous dengue virus (DENV) infections, we hypothesised that an EE increases dengue severity. To compare single serotype (SS) and antibody-enhanced disease (AED) infections regimens, serial intraperitoneal were performed with DENV3 (genotype III) infected brain homogenate or anti-DENV2 hyperimmune serum followed 24 h later by DENV3 (genotype III) infected brain homogenate. Compared AED for which significant differences were detected between the EE and impoverished environmental (IE) groups (Kaplan-Meyer log-rank test, p = 0.0025), no significant differences were detected between the SS experimental groups (Kaplan-Meyer log-rank test, p = 0.089). Survival curves from EE and IE animals infected with the AED regimen were extended after corticoid injection and this effect was greater in the EE than in the IE group (Kaplan-Meyer log-rank test, p = 0.0162). Under the AED regimen the EE group showed more intense clinical signs than the IE group. Dyspnoea, tremor, hunched posture, ruffled fur, immobility, pre-terminal paralysis, shock and death were associated with dominant T-lymphocytic hyperplasia and presence of viral antigens in the liver and lungs. We propose that the increased expansion of these memory T-cells and serotype cross-reactive antibodies facilitates the infection of these cells by DENV and that these events correlate with disease severity in an EE.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: comparison of two recent international guidelines

A Vertigem Posicional Paroxística Benigna (VPPB) é caracterizada por tontura rotatória com duração de segundos e tratada com manobras cefálicas. Para sistematizar a conduta e conduzir os clínicos no atual conhecimento no seu controle, sociedades internacionais desenvolveram diretrizes. OBJETIVO: Discutir de forma prática e didática o estado da arte da abordagem atualmente disponível para VPPB. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Revisão assistemática com análise crítica comparando os resultados de duas recentes diretrizes internacionais a respeito da avaliação e controle da VPPB. Uma pesquisa foi elaborada pela American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO-HNS) e a outra preparada pela American Academy of Neurology (AAN). Os tópicos em comum foram separados em tabelas comparativas. RESULTADOS: As diretrizes apresentaram diferenças quanto à metodologia. Apenas o artigo da AAO-HNS abordou sobre diagnóstico, recomendando o teste de Dix-Hallpike. Quanto aos tratamentos abordados, apenas a Reposição Canalítica, Manobra de Semont e a Reabilitação Vestibular tiveram estudos suficientes para receber recomendações. CONCLUSÃO: As duas diretrizes apresentaram os respaldos científicos necessários para os profissionais que atuam no diagnóstico e controle da VPPB, porém o resultado do grupo multidisciplinar da AAO-HNS foi mais abrangente e com qualidade superior.

Application of carbon composite adsorbents prepared from coffee waste and clay for the removal of reactive dyes from aqueous solutions

A novel carbon composite was prepared from a mixture of coffee waste and clay with inorganic:organic ratio of 1.3 (CC-1.3). The mixture was pyrolysed at 700 °C. Considering the application of this adsorbent for removal of anionic dyes, the CC-1.3 was treated with a 6 mol L^-1 HCl for 24 h to obtain ACC-1.3. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), N₂ adsorption/desorption curves, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD) were used for characterisation of CC-1.3 and ACC-1.3 carbon adsorbents. The adsorbents were effectively utilised for removal of reactive blue 19 (RB-19) and reactive violet 5 (RV-5) textile dyes from aqueous solutions. The maximum amounts of RB-19 dye adsorbed at 25 °C are 63.59 (CC-1.3) and 110.6 mg g^-1 (ACC-1.3), and 54.34 (CC-1.3) and 94.32 mg g^-1 (ACC-1.3) for RV-5 dye. Four simulated dye-house effluents were used to test the application of the adsorbents for treatment of effluents.