Severity of chronic experimental Chagas' heart disease parallels tumour necrosis factor and nitric oxide levels in the serum: models of mild and severe disease

Heart tissue inflammation, progressive fibrosis and electrocardiographic alterations occur in approximately 30% of patients infected by Trypanosoma cruzi, 10-30 years after infection. Further, plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and nitric oxide (NO) are associated with the degree of heart dysfunction in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC). Thus, our aim was to establish experimental models that mimic a range of parasitological, pathological and cardiac alterations described in patients with chronic Chagas’ heart disease and evaluate whether heart disease severity was associated with increased TNF and NO levels in the serum. Our results show that C3H/He mice chronically infected with the Colombian T. cruzi strain have more severe cardiac parasitism and inflammation than C57BL/6 mice. In addition, connexin 43 disorganisation and fibronectin deposition in the heart tissue, increased levels of creatine kinase cardiac MB isoenzyme activity in the serum and more severe electrical abnormalities were observed in T. cruzi-infected C3H/He mice compared to C57BL/6 mice. Therefore, T. cruzi-infected C3H/He and C57BL/6 mice represent severe and mild models of CCC, respectively. Moreover, the CCC severity paralleled the TNF and NO levels in the serum. Therefore, these models are appropriate for studying the pathophysiology and biomarkers of CCC progression, as well as for testing therapeutic agents for patients with Chagas’ heart disease.

Molecular characterisation and disease severity of leptospirosis in Sri Lanka

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease all over the world, important in tropical and subtropical areas. A majority of leptospirosis infected patients present as subclinical or mild disease while 5-10% may develop severe infection requiring hospitalisation and critical care. It is possible that several factors, such as the infecting serovar, level of leptospiraemia, host genetic factors and host immune response, may be important in predisposition towards severe disease. Different Leptospirastrains circulate in different geographical regions contributing to variable disease severity. Therefore, it is important to investigate the circulating strains at geographical locations during each outbreak for epidemiological studies and to support the clinical management of the patients. In this study immunochromatography, microscopic agglutination test and polymerase chain reaction were used to diagnose leptospirosis. Further restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing methods were used to identify the circulating strains in two selected geographical regions of Sri Lanka.Leptospira interrogans, Leptospira borgpeterseniiandLeptospira kirschneristrains were identified to be circulating in western and southern provinces. L. interroganswas the predominant species circulating in western and southern provinces in 2013 and its presence was mainly associated with renal failure.

The role of the New Trauma and Injury Severity Score (NTRISS) for survival prediction

The objective of this study was to verify if replacing the Injury Severity Score (ISS) by the New Injury Severity Score (NISS) in the original Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) form would improve the survival rate estimation. This retrospective study was performed in a level I trauma center during one year. ROC curve was used to identify the best indicator (TRISS or NTRISS) for survival probability prediction. Participants were 533 victims, with a mean age of 38±16 years. There was predominance of motor vehicle accidents (61.9%). External injuries were more frequent (63.0%), followed by head/neck injuries (55.5%). Survival rate was 76.9%. There is predominance of ISS scores ranging from 9-15 (40.0%), and NISS scores ranging from 16-24 (25.5%). Survival probability equal to or greater than 75.0% was obtained for 83.4% of the victims according to TRISS, and for 78.4% according to NTRISS. The new version (NTRISS) is better than TRISS for survival prediction in trauma patients.

Measuring trauma severity using the 1998 and 2005 revisions of the Abbreviated Injury Scale

Objetivo: Comparar a gravidade das lesões e do trauma mensurada pelas versões da Abbreviated Injury Scale 1998 e 2005 e verificar a mortalidade nos escores Injury Severity Score e New Injury Severity Score nas duas versões.Método: Estudo transversal e retrospectivo analisou lesões de pacientes de trauma, de três hospitais universitários do município de São Paulo, Brasil. Cada lesão foi codificada com Abbreviated Injury Scale 1998 e 2005. Os testes estatísticos aplicados foram Wilcoxon, McNemar-Bowker, Kappa e teste Z.Resultados: A comparação das duas versões resultou em discordância significante de escores em algumas regiões corpóreas. Com a versão 2005 os níveis de gravidade da lesão e do trauma foram significantemente reduzidos e a mortalidade foi mais elevada em escores mais baixos. Conclusão: Houve redução da gravidade da lesão e do trauma e alteração no percentual de mortalidade com o uso da Abbreviated Injury Scale 2005.





Desempenho dos ajustes do Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS): revisão integrativa

RESUMO Objetivo identificar estudos que realizaram ajustes na equação do Trauma and InjurySeverity Score (TRISS) e compararam a capacidade discriminatória da equação modificada com a original. Método Revisão integrativa de pesquisas publicadas entre 1990 e 2014 nas bases de dados LILACS, MEDLINE, PubMed e SciELO utilizando-se a palavra TRISS. Resultados foram incluídos 32 estudos na revisão. Dos 67 ajustes de equações do TRISS identificados, 35 (52,2%) resultaram em melhora na acurácia do índice para predizer a probabilidade de sobrevida de vítimas de trauma. Ajustes dos coeficientes do TRISS à população de estudo foram frequentes, mas nem sempre melhoraram a capacidade preditiva dos modelos analisados. A substituição de variáveis fisiológicas do Revised Trauma Score (RTS) e modificações do Injury Severity Score (ISS) na equação original tiveram desempenho variado. A mudança na forma de inclusão da idade na equação, assim como a inserção do gênero, comorbidades e mecanismo do trauma apresentaram tendência de melhora do desempenho do TRISS. Conclusão Diferentes propostas de ajustes no TRISS foram identificadas nesta revisão e indicaram, principalmente, fragilidades do RTS no modelo original e necessidade de alteração da forma de inclusão da idade na equação para melhora da capacidade preditiva do índice.

Soil-applied silicon decreases severity of wheat spot blotch on silicon-deficient soils

Spot bloth caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana is an important wheat desease mainly in hot and humid regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of wheat to different sources and modes of Si application, as related to the severity of wheat spot blotch and plant growth, in two Si-deficient Latosols (Oxisols). An greenhouse experiment was arranged in a 2 x 5 factorial completely randomized design, with eight replications. The treatments consisted of two soils (Yellow Latosol and Red Latosol) and five Si supply modes (no Si application; Si applied as calcium silicate and monosilicic acid to the soil; and Si applied as potassium silicate or monosilicic acid to wheat leaves). No significant differences were observed between the two soils. When Si was applied to the soil, regardless the Si source, the disease incubation period, the shoot dry matter yield and the Si content in leaves were greater. Additionally, the final spot blotch severity was lower and the area under the spot blotch disease progress curve and the leaf insertion angle in the plant were smaller. Results of Si foliar application were similar to those observed in the control plants.

Relationship between potassium fertilization and panicle blast severity in upland rice

The influence of K2O (0, 40, 80, 120 kg ha-1) at varying rates of N application (0, 30, 60 kg ha-1) at planting, on panicle blast (Pyricularia grisea (Cooke) Sacc.) was studied in a field experiment conducted during three consecutive years with the upland rice cultivar Douradão. Panicle blast severity decreased with increasing rates of potassium in the absence of nitrogen (N0). The relationship between panicle blast and K rates was quadratic at 30 kg ha-1 of nitrogen. Significant response to K fertilization was not obtained at 60 kg ha-1 of nitrogen in relation to panicle blast severity.

Plant growth and leaf-spot severity on eucalypt at different CO2concentrations in the air

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of increased air-CO2 concentration on plant growth and on leaf-spot caused by Cylindrocladium candelabrumin Eucalyptus urophylla. Seedlings were cultivated for 30 days at 451, 645, 904, and 1,147 µmol mol-1 CO2 ; then, they were inoculated with the pathogen and kept under the same conditions for seven days. Increased CO2concentration increased plant height and shoot dry matter mass, and decreased disease incidence and severity. Stem diameter was not affected by the treatments. Increased concentrations of atmospheric CO2 favorably affect eucalypt growth and reduce leaf-spot severity.

Pneumonia intersticial linfocítica: correlação da tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução com a anatomopatologia

A proposta do trabalho é apresentar os achados radiológicos observados na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução do tórax de dois pacientes com pneumonia intersticial linfocítica e correlacioná-los com os aspectos anatomopatológicos, obtidos a partir de biópsias a céu aberto. Um dos pacientes mostrou, na tomografia, basicamente opacidades em vidro fosco difusas, e o outro tinha infiltração ao longo das bainhas conjuntivas peribroncovasculares. Na anatomopatologia o padrão predominante foi o de infiltração intersticial, especialmente ao longo dos septos alveolares, por linfócitos policlonais. O estudo mostrou estreita correlação entre os achados anatomopatológicos e aqueles observados na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução do tórax.

Pneumonia lipídica - aspectos na tomografia computadorizada: relato de caso

Os autores relatam um caso de pneumonia lipídica em um paciente de 80 anos de idade, que iniciou o quadro com dispnéia em repouso. Havia história de constipação crônica, com uso freqüente de laxativos oleosos. O paciente apresentava diminuição do nível de consciência e os familiares relatavam tosse e engasgos freqüentes, durante o uso do medicamento. As radiografias de tórax demonstravam consolidação localizada no segmento posterior do lobo superior do pulmão direito, além de opacidades mal definidas nos lobos inferiores e que não se modificavam em exames sucessivos. A tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução mostrou consolidações com medidas de densidade negativas em seu interior, variando de -29 a -83 UH, e opacidades em vidro fosco localizadas no lobo superior do pulmão direito e nos lobos inferiores, com predomínio nos segmentos posteriores. O diagnóstico foi feito através do lavado bronco-alveolar, que evidenciou a presença do material oleoso. O paciente foi orientado a interromper o uso de laxativos oleosos e não retornou para o controle ambulatorial.

Pneumonia lipoídica em adultos: aspectos na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução

OBJETIVO: Apresentar os aspectos na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução do tórax da pneumonia lipoídica exógena por aspiração de óleo mineral, em pacientes adultos MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram estudados oito pacientes adultos - quatro mulheres e quatro homens - com média de idade de 69,4 anos, todos usuários de óleo mineral para tratamento de constipação intestinal. Os exames foram avaliados por dois radiologistas, de forma independente RESULTADOS: Os achados tomográficos mais comuns foram as consolidações com áreas de densidade de gordura de permeio, e o padrão de pavimentação em mosaico. As lesões foram bilaterais em seis pacientes, e unilaterais em dois CONCLUSÃO: O encontro de consolidações pulmonares com áreas de densidade de gordura de permeio, associado à história clínica do uso de óleo mineral, é diagnóstico de pneumonia lipoídica exógena.

Aspiration pneumonia in children: an iconographic essay

Abstract In most cases of aspiration pneumonia in children, the disease is specific to this age group. Clinical and radiological correlation is essential for the diagnosis. The present pictorial essay is aimed at showing typical images of the most common etiologies.

Gray mold severity and vase life of rose buds after pulsing with citric acid, salicylic acid, calcium sulfate, sucrose and silver thiosulfate

Gray mold of roses (Rosa hibrida) caused by Botrytis cinerea requires many management strategies for its control. The effect of pulsing rose cv. Kiss with solutions of citric acid, salicylic acid, sucrose, calcium sulfate, and silver thiosulfate (STS) on disease severity and vase life of the flowers was evaluated. The solutions were applied to cut stems at different stages of harvest, the variation in the opening stage of harvest did not affect the results. Pulsing with STS reduced the values of area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) and of severity of disease by 15% and 55%, respectively, and increased the vase life of the flowers by 20%. Calcium sulfate consistently reduced AUDPC by 66% and maximum severity by 88%, and increased vase life of the flowers by 37%. Therefore, pulsing rose buds with solutions of STS and calcium sulfate is potentially useful in reducing losses due to gray mold after harvest and in extending the vase life.