Bronchopneumonia in wild boar (Sus scrofa) caused by Rhodococcus equi carrying the VapB type 8 plasmid

Background: Rhodococcus equi is associated with pyogranulomatous infections, especially in foals, and this bacterium has also emerged as a pathogen for humans, particularly immunocompromised patients. R. equi infections in pigs, wild boar (Sus scrofa) and humans are mainly due to strains carrying the intermediate virulence (VapB) plasmid. In Brazil, R. equi carrying the VapB type 8 plasmid is the most common type recovered from humans co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). R. equi infection in pigs and wild boar is restricted predominantly to the lymphatic system, without any reports of pulmonary manifestations. Findings. This report describes the microbiological and histopathological findings, and molecular characterization of R. equi in two bronchopneumonia cases in wild boar using PCR and plasmid profile analysis by digestion with restriction endonucleases. The histological findings were suggestive of pyogranulomatous infection, and the plasmid profile of both R. equi isolates enabled the characterization of the strains as VapB type 8. Conclusions: This is the first report of bronchopneumonia in wild boar due to R. equi. The detection of the VapB type 8 plasmid in R. equi isolates emphasize that wild boar may be a potential source of pathogenic R. equi strains for humans. © 2013 de Vargas et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Low RKIP expression associates with poor prognosis in bladder cancer patients

Urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) is a heterogeneous type of disease. It is urgent to screen biomarkers of tumour aggressiveness in order to clarify the clinical behaviour and to personalize therapy in UBC patients. Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) is a metastasis suppressor, and its downregulation is associated with metastatic events in an increasing number of solid tumours. We evaluated the clinical and prognostic significance of RKIP expression in patients with high risk of progression UBC. Using immunohistochemistry, we determined RKIP expression levels in a series of 81 patients with high-grade pT1/pTis or muscle-invasive UBC. Staining of CD31 and D2-40 was used to assess blood and lymphatic vessels, in order to distinguish between blood and lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI). We found that 90 % of pT1/pTis tumours, 94 % of non-muscle invasive papillary tumours and 76 % of the cases without LVI occurrence expressed RKIP in >10 % of cells. In this group, we observed a subgroup of tumours (42 %) in which the tumour centre was significantly more intensely stained than the invasion front. This heterogeneous pattern was observed in 63 % of the cases with LVI. Low RKIP expression was associated with poorer 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates, and remained as an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival. Loss of RKIP expression may be an important prognostic factor for patients with high risk of progression bladder cancer. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

The Predominance of Alternatively Activated Macrophages Following Challenge with Cell Wall Peptide-Polysaccharide After Prior Infection with Sporothrix schenckii

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis that is caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. This disease generally occurs within the skin and subcutaneous tissues, causing lesions that can spread through adjacent lymphatic vessels and sometimes leading to systemic diseases in immunocompromised patients. Macrophages are crucial for proper immune responses against a variety of pathogens. Furthermore, macrophages can play different roles in response to different microorganisms and forms of activation, and they can be divided into classic or alternatively activated populations, as also known as M1 and M2 macrophages. M1 cells can lead to tissue injury and contribute to pathogenesis, whereas M2 cells promote angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, and repair. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of M1 and M2 macrophages in a sporotrichosis model. Toward this end, we performed phenotyping of peritoneal exudate cells and evaluated the concomitant production of several immunomediators, including IL-12, IL-10, TGF-β, nitric oxide, and arginase-I activity, which were stimulated ex vivo with cell wall peptide-polysaccharide. Our results showed the predominance of the M2 macrophage population, indicated by peaks of arginase-I activity as well as IL-10 and TGF-β production during the 6th and 8th weeks after infection. These results were consistent with cellular phenotyping that revealed increases in CD206-positive cells over this period. This is the first report of the participation of M2 macrophages in sporotrichosis infections. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Clinical, cytologic, and histologic features of a mammary micropapillary carcinoma in a dog

Mammary invasive micropapillary carcinoma is a rare variant of mammary carcinoma that was recently recognized in dogs. The cytologic features and biologic behavior of such neoplasms in dogs have not yet been widely discussed in the veterinary literature. We report the clinical, cytologic, and histologic features of a canine micropapillary carcinoma in a 13-year-old female mongrel dog. The mammary region presented with extreme local pain, severe edema and erythema, and multifocal epidermal ulceration, which is typical for an inflammatory mammary carcinoma. Fine-needle aspirates were highly cellular and consisted of individual cells and papillary cell clusters with characteristics of malignant epithelial cells. Histologic examination revealed neoplastic cells arranged in small papillae without fibrovascular cores, sometimes inside clear lymphatic spaces, indicating lymphovascular invasion. Regional lymph node evaluation revealed metastatic cells. Due to deteriorating clinical condition the dog was euthanatized 5 months after mastectomy. At necropsy, metastatic neoplastic mammary cells were found in popliteal and mediastinal lymph nodes, the right femoral biceps muscle, liver, heart, lungs, and urinary bladder. © 2013 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

An approach to local immunotoxicity induced by adjuvanted vaccines

The occurrence of injection site reactions following immunization is the most frequently reported toxicity manifestation of vaccines; however, the different types of local reactions and the different mechanisms involved are still unclear. Here, the current advances in adjuvants and the role that adjuvants play in local reactions are reviewed. The role of adjuvants in the formation of the loco-regional complex (LRC), which consists of the injection site, draining lymphatic vessels and regional lymph nodes, is also discussed. Finally, strategies and recommendations for the rational design of adjuvanted vaccines are discussed, with a particular interest in the reduction of local inflammation. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Drenagem linfática manual no tratamento de pacientes portadores de feridas venosas crônicas em membros inferiores em uso de curativos bioativos

Pós-graduação em Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (Biotecnologia Médica) - FMB

Detecção do lindonodo sentinela com 99m Tc-Fitato em pacientes com carcinoma invasor do colo uterino

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Modulação da resposta imune por antígenos da parede celular de Sporothrix schenckii em modelo murino de esporotricose

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Terapia dietética com triglicerídeos de cadeia média(TCM) como coadjuvante do tratamento fisioterapêutico em mulheres portadoras de linfedema de membro superior

Pós-graduação em Alimentos e Nutrição - FCFAR

Densidade microvascular linfática e proliferação celular em neoplasias de glândulas salivares

Pós-graduação em Biopatologia Bucal - ICT

Otimização da circulação linfática em pacientes pós-linfadenectomia radical axilar recente por meio da estimulação linfonodal avaliada pela linfocintilografia

Pós-graduação em Ginecologia, Obstetrícia e Mastologia - FMB

Correlação entre a densidade microvascular sanguínea e linfática e a proliferação celular no carcinoma epidermóide de assoalho bucal e língua

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Expressão das proteínas p53, Ki-67 e CD31 no tumor e nas margens vaginais após histerectomia radical em pacientes com carcinoma invasor do colo uterino

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise dos macrófagos M1 e M2 durante a infecção por Sporothrix schenckii em modelo murino

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

Dicotomia Th1/Th2: papel do óxido nítrico e citocinas na esporotricose

Pós-graduação em Biociências e Biotecnologia Aplicadas à Farmácia - FCFAR