Hepatic Involvement In Paediatric Patients With Paracoccidioidomycosis: A Histological Study.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis that is endemic to certain countries in Latin America. This study aimed to describe the histological features of liver involvement in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis aged <16 years of age who were treated between 1980 and 2010, with a diagnosis that was confirmed by detection of the fungus by pathological examination. Liver tissue was obtained from one necropsy and 12 biopsies. Throughout 2007, biopsies were taken from patients with persistent jaundice or portal hypertension, after which biopsies became indicated due to elevated aminotransferase and low albumin levels. Using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson's trichrome and immunohistochemical (CK7 and CK19) staining, we noted degenerative alterations in bile duct cells and inflammatory injury to the bile ducts in 10 biopsies. Using immunohistochemistry for CK7 and CK19, we observed ductal proliferation in all 12 samples. Bile duct injuries by inflammatory cells might explain the predominant increase in canalicular enzymes; immunohistochemistry is more sensitive in demonstrating ductular reactions and might show changes that are not apparent on H&E staining.

Bile And Liver Metallothionein Behavior In Copper-exposed Fish.

The present study analyzed metallothionein (MT) excretion from liver to bile in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to sub-lethal copper concentrations (2mgL(-1)) in a laboratory setting. MTs in liver and bile were quantified by spectrophotometry after thermal incubation and MT metal-binding profiles were characterized by size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography coupled to ICP-MS (SEC-HPLC-ICP-MS). Results show that liver MT is present in approximately 250-fold higher concentrations than bile MT in non-exposed fish. Differences between the MT profiles from the control and exposed group were observed for both matrices, indicating differential metal-binding behavior when comparing liver and bile MT. This is novel data regarding intra-organ MT comparisons, since differences between organs are usually present only with regard to quantification, not metal-binding behavior. Bile MT showed statistically significant differences between the control and exposed group, while the same did not occur with liver MT. This indicates that MTs synthesized in the liver accumulate more slowly than MTs excreted from liver to bile, since the same fish presented significantly higher MT levels in liver when compared to bile. We postulate that bile, although excreted in the intestine and partially reabsorbed by the same returning to the liver, may also release MT-bound metals more rapidly and efficiently, which may indicate an efficient detoxification route. Thus, we propose that the analysis of bile MTs to observe recent metal exposure may be more adequate than the analysis of liver MTs, since organism responses to metals are more quickly observed in bile, although further studies are necessary.

Occurrence Of Isoflavonoids In Brazilian Common Bean Germplasm (phaseolus Vulgaris L.).

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is present in the daily diet of various countries and, as for other legumes, has been investigated for its nutraceutical potential. Thus, 16 genotypes from different gene pools, representing seven types of seed coats and different responses to pathogens and pests, were selected to verify their isoflavone contents. The isoflavonoids daidzein and genistein and the flavonols kaempferol, myricetin, and quercetin were found. Grains of the black type showed the highest concentrations of isoflavonoids and were the only ones to exhibit daidzein. IAC Formoso, with high protein content and source of resistance to anthracnose, showed the greatest concentration of genistein, representing around 11% of the content present in soybean, as well as high levels of kaempferol. Arc 1, Raz 55, and IAC Una genotypes showed high content of coumestrol. The results suggest the use of IAC Formoso to increase the nutraceutical characteristics in common bean.

Tubular Variant Of Basal Cell Adenoma Shares Immunophenotypical Features With Normal Intercalated Ducts And Is Closely Related To Intercalated Duct Lesions Of Salivary Gland.

The morphological criteria for identification of intercalated duct lesions (IDLs) of salivary glands have been defined recently. It has been hypothesised that IDL could be a precursor of basal cell adenoma (BCA). BCAs show a variety of histological patterns, and the tubular variant is the one that presents the strongest resemblance with IDLs. The aim of this study was to analyse the morphological and immunohistochemical profiles of IDLs and BCAs classified into tubular and non-tubular subtypes, to determine whether or not IDL and tubular BCA represent distinct entities. Eight IDLs, nine tubular BCAs and 19 non-tubular BCAs were studied. All tubular BCAs contained IDL-like areas, which represented 20-70% of the tumour. In non-tubular BCA, IDL-like areas were occasional and small (<5%). One patient presented IDLs, tubular BCAs and IDL/tubular BCA combined lesions. Luminal ductal cells of IDLs and tubular BCAs exhibited positivity for CK7, lysozyme, S100 and DOG1. In the non-tubular BCA group, few luminal cells exhibited such an immunoprofile; they were mainly CK14-positive. Basal/myoepithelial cells of IDLs, tubular BCAs and non-tubular BCAs were positive for CK14, calponin, α-SMA and p63; they were more numerous in BCA lesions. IDL, tubular BCA and non-tubular BCA form a continuum of lesions in which IDLs are related closely to tubular BCA. In both, the immunoprofile of luminal and myoepithelial cells recapitulates the normal intercalated duct. The difference between the adenoma-like subset of IDLs and tubular BCA rests mainly on the larger numbers of myoepithelial cells in the latter. Our findings indicate that at least some BCAs can arise via IDLs.

Brazilian multicentre study of common mental disorders in primary care: rates and related social and demographic factors

Mental health problems are common in primary health care, particularly anxiety and depression. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders and their associations with socio-demographic characteristics in primary care in Brazil (Family Health Strategy). It involved a multicenter cross-sectional study with patients from Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Fortaleza (Ceará State) and Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul State), assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). The rate of mental disorders in patients from Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Fortaleza and Porto Alegre were found to be, respectively, 51.9%, 53.3%, 64.3% and 57.7% with significant differences between Porto Alegre and Fortaleza compared to Rio de Janeiro after adjusting for confounders. Prevalence proportions of mental problems were especially common for females, the unemployed, those with less education and those with lower incomes. In the context of the Brazilian government's moves towards developing primary health care and reorganizing mental health policies it is relevant to consider common mental disorders as a priority alongside other chronic health conditions.

Analysis of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and its receptor (AMHR2) genes in patients with persistent Müllerian duct syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To screen for mutations in AMH and AMHR2 genes in patients with persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Genomic DNA of eight patients with PMDS was obtained from peripheral blood leukocytes. Directed sequencing of the coding regions and the exon-intron boundaries of AMH and AMHR2 were performed. RESULTS: The AMH mutations p.Arg95*, p.Arg123Trp, c.556-2A>G, and p.Arg502Leu were identified in five patients; and p.Gly323Ser and p.Arg407* in AMHR2 of two individuals. In silico analyses of the novel c.556-2A>G, p.Arg502Leu and p.Arg407* mutations predicted that they were harmful and were possible causes of the disease. CONCLUSION: A likely molecular etiology was found in the eight evaluated patients with PMDS. Four mutations in AMH and two in AMHR2 were identified. Three of them are novel mutations, c.556-2A>G, and p.Arg502Leu in AMH; and p.Gly323Ser in AMHR2. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2012;56(8):473-8