High visceral leishmaniasis mortality rate in Barra Mansa, a new area of visceral leishmaniasis transmission in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Introduction Nine cases of visceral leishmaniasis occurred recently in Barra Mansa, State of Rio de Janeiro, with a high mortality rate. Methods We reviewed the medical records of the patients. Results Eight were male; 7 were adults. Patients who died progressed to death quickly and presented with aggravating factors: systemic steroid therapy before diagnosis, bleeding, severe liver involvement, infection, and/or refusal to receive transfusion. Conclusions We warn clinicians to be aware of the emergence of visceral leishmaniasis in new areas and to keep in mind the possibility of atypical clinical pictures and aggravating factors, so timely diagnosis can be made and prompt and adequate treatment can be initiated.

Cuidadores de indivíduos com lesão medular: sobrecarga do cuidado

Estudo seccional que teve como objetivos avaliar a sobrecarga do cuidado para cuidadores de indivíduos com Lesão Traumática da Medula Espinhal (LTME) e a sua associação com as variáveis sociodemográficas (sexo e idade), estado de saúde (enfermidades autorrelatadas) e características do cuidado (tempo de cuidado em anos e horas diárias de cuidado). Os dados foram coletados por consulta aos prontuários e entrevistas individuais no domicílio utilizando o instrumento Caregiver Burden Scale (CBScale). Os resultados apontaram que a maior sobrecarga ocorreu nos domínios: ambiente, decepção e tensão geral. Apresentar problema de saúde (para todos os domínios do CBScale) e despender mais horas por dia nos cuidados (no domínio decepção) representaram as variáveis associadas à sobrecarga. Estudos de natureza mais confirmatória do que exploratória entre as variáveis estudadas poderão utilizar a medida de sobrecarga obtida nesta população de cuidadores de indivíduos com LTME.

Proteomic analysis of cytosolic proteins associated with petite mutations in Candida glabrata

The incidence of superficial or deep-seated infections due to Candida glabrata has increased markedly, probably because of the low intrinsic susceptibility of this microorganism to azole antifungals and its relatively high propensity to acquire azole resistance. To determine changes in the C. glabrata proteome associated with petite mutations, cytosolic extracts from an azole-resistant petite mutant of C. glabrata induced by exposure to ethidium bromide, and from its azole-susceptible parent isolate were compared by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Proteins of interest were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting or sequence tagging using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Tryptic peptides from a total of 160 Coomassie-positive spots were analyzed for each strain. Sixty-five different proteins were identified in the cytosolic extracts of the parent strain and 58 in the petite mutant. Among the proteins identified, 10 were higher in the mutant strain, whereas 23 were lower compared to the parent strain. The results revealed a significant decrease in the enzymes associated with the metabolic rate of mutant cells such as aconitase, transaldolase, and pyruvate kinase, and changes in the levels of specific heat shock proteins. Moreover, transketolase, aconitase and catalase activity measurements decreased significantly in the ethidium bromide-induced petite mutant. These data may be useful for designing experiments to obtain a better understanding of the nuclear response to impairment of mitochondrial function associated with this mutation in C. glabrata.