Malaria and Vascular Endothelium

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

Speech-language therapy for treatment of dysphagia and dysphonia in systemic granulomatous diseases: granulomatous diseases: dysphagia and dysphonia treatments

The granulomatous lesions are frequently founded in infectious diseases and can involve the larynx and pharynx and can cause varying degrees of dysphonia and dysphagia. There is still no systematic review that analyzes effectiveness of speech therapy in systemic granulomatous diseases. Research strategy: A systematic review was performed according to Cochrane guideline considering the inclusion of RCTs and quasi-RCTs about the effectiveness of speech-language therapy to treat dysphagia and dysphonia symptoms in systemic granulomatous diseases of the larynx and pharynx. Selection criteria: The outcome planned to be measured in this review were: swallowing impairment, frequency of chest infections and voice and swallowing symptoms. Data analysis: We identified 1,140 citations from all electronic databases. After an initial shift we only selected 9 titles to be retrieved in full-text. After full reading, there was no RCT found in this review and therefore, we only described the existing 2 case series studies. Results: There were no randomized controlled trials found in the literature. Therefore, two studies were selected to be included only for narratively analysis as they were case series. Conclusion: There is no evidence from high quality studies about the effectiveness of speech-language therapy in patients with granulomatous diseases of the larynx and pharynx. The investigators could rely in the outcomes suggested in this review to design their own clinical trials.

Microbiota fúngica de passeriformes de cativeiros da Região Noroeste do Estado de São Paulo

Birds are hosts for a rich fungal microbiota which can act as potent pathogens for humans and other species of animals, causing thereby serious public health problems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the participation of birds kept in containers in the epidemiology of infectious diseases such as cryptococcosis and aspergillosis, thus verifying the maintenance and spread of pathogens in the environment. 36 samples of excretas of passeriformes were collected and were cultivated in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar 4% at room temperature and 37°C. The isolated fungal colonies were classified according to their morphological and staining characteristics. Subsequently, those in yeast form were peaked in Niger Agar, incubated at 30°C. In one sample showed growth of more than one type of colony and there was verified the presence of 25.0% of Penicillium spp., 19.4% of Trichosporon spp., 13.9% of C. gattii, 11.1% of C. neoformans, 11.1% of Candida spp., 8.3% of Rhizomucor spp., 8.3% of Aspergillus spp., 2.8% of Nigrospora spp. and 2,8% of Geotrichum spp. It can be conluded by the expost that birds shed continuously pathogenic microorganisms in their feces acting in definitive form in the infectious diseases ecoepidemiology.

Detecção de microrganismos de infecções bucais: perspectivas e cuidados a serem seguidos

The diagnosis of head and neck infections constitutes relevant step in their treatment. However, in spite of the fact that most of diseases in head and neck region are infectious in nature, several reasons collaborated for dentists do not ask laboratory tests in order to help clinical diagnosis. By mean of this review literature, based on research articles about the newest and most reliable methods of diagnosis for clinical laboratories, the authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each selected method and the relevant aspects in transportation of the specimens to the laboratory. Saliva, biofilm, pus, and blood are the most frequent specimens for microbial diagnosis, being that the most used methods are culture and those based on detection of deoxyribonucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction method. Whereas, the culture depends on cellular viability, and has reduced sensitivity, as well as needs favorable conditions in the sample collection and transportation, PCR shows high sensitivity and specificity, but it does not allow the determination of antibiogram, what reduces its usefulness. In addition, few laboratories possess conditions to perform cultivation of obligate anaerobes or have experience in the molecular detection of these microorganisms.

Arcabouço tridimensional para células tronco, processo de obtenção do mesmo e seu uso

A presente invenção descreve um arcabouço (scaffold) tridimensional biodegradável de fibrina, formado por uma serinoprotease extraída a partir de veneno de serpente, um crioprecipitado rico em fibrinogênio extraído de bubalinos, o diluente cloreto de cálcio e uma solução de uma população de células tronco. O arcabouço é apropriado para suportar uma população de 106 células por mL de fibrina por um período prolongado de tempo, em que as células tronco são mesenquimais, de tecido umbilical e células tronco mononucleares. A invenção descreve, ainda, o processo de obtenção do arcabouço, cujos componentes são providos separadamente e polimerizam-se in situ após mistura. O arcabouço descrito apresenta inúmeras aplicações médicas, podendo aumentar a vascularização, a quimiotaxia celular, a regeneração nervosa e/ou a cicatrização de feridas no local da administração. Devido à sua origem animal, não há o risco de transmitir doenças infecciosas.

Selante de fibrina para uso tópico, método de formação do mesmo e seu uso

A presente invenção descreve um selante de fibrina, o qual compreende uma serinoprotease extraída a partir de veneno de serpente, um crioprecipitado rico em fibrinogênio extraído de bubalinos e o diluente cloreto de cálcio. A invenção ainda ensina o método de formação do selante, cujos componentes são providos separadamente e polimerizam-se in situ após mistura, bem como seu uso. O selante de fibrina descrito apresenta inúmeras aplicações médicas tópicas e não há o risco de transmitir doenças infecciosas.

Gamasoidose ou dermatite por ácaros aviários: relato de caso

Contexto: É descrita uma infestação por ácaros hematófagos aviários, que se manifesta em ambientes humanos através da colonização por pombos e seus ninhos. Descrição de caso: A paciente pernoitou em ambiente rural com ninhos de pombos e, no retorno, queixou-se de dermatite e prurido intenso, inicialmente nos antebraços, região anteromedial das coxas e região poplítea. O exame dermatológico mostrou múltiplas pápulas eritematosas, pruriginosas e escoriadas, com cerca de 2 mm de diâmetro. Medicada para escabiose, trouxe os ácaros em uma segunda consulta (identificados como sendo da espécie Dermanyssus gallinae) e obteve resolução do quadro após terapêutica para prurigo agudo. Discussão: A gamasoidose é uma doença disseminada por todo o mundo. Atualmente, com a proliferação de pombos nas cidades, ocorre na zona urbana, a partir de ninhos construídos em telhados ou em nichos para ar-condicionado. Os principais agentes são os ácaros Dermanyssus gallinae, D. avium, Ornithonyssus sylviarum e Ornithonyssus bursa. Estes são ectoparasitas hematófagos temporá- rios de aves domésticas e selvagens, mas também podem se alimentar da espécie humana. Em humanos, os sintomas são cutâneos, não havendo relato de transmissão de doenças infecciosas ou quadros graves. As lesões são maculopapulares e eritematosas, podendo ser confundidas com a pediculose e a escabiose. Conclusões: A infestação por ácaros aviários não está restrita apenas à área rural ou silvestre, sendo cada vez mais comum nas regiões urbanas. Assim, é de grande importância que não só os dermatologistas como os médicos de formação geral conheçam e saibam como suspeitar e tratar adequadamente esta entidade

Hanseníase virchowiana: comprometimento medular

Paciente feminino 36 anos, com queixa de febre noturna, astenia, parestesia de membros inferiores, artralgia, hepatoesplenomegalia, lesões cutâneas, anemia hipocrômica, microcítica e linfopenia. Sorologia negativa para Hepatite B,C e HIV; FAN e anti-DNA também negativos. Histopatologia da medula óssea mostrou-se discretamente hipercelular, com presença de focos de histiócitos com citoplasma vacuolado (células pseudo-gaucher-like),aspecto megaloblástico, linfoplasmocitico e lipogranulomatoso. A coloração Ziehl- -Nielsen positivo; diagnóstico morfológico: micobacteriose de medula óssea. A cultura do sangue e do aspirado de medula óssea foi negativo para M.tuberculosis. Biópsia das lesões cutâneas máculas e pápulas hipercrômicas dos membros inferiores e superiores revelou hanseníase de padrão Vichowiana. A pesquisa BAAR pela Faraco demonstrou numerosos bacilos, sendo a maioria de padrão granuloso. Pacientes com hanseníase virchowiana tem acometimento cutâneo em 100% dos casos, o baço é o órgão mais frequentemente acometido com disseminação através do sangue periférico. O quadro anêmico e a linfopenia provavelmente se deve à cronicidade da infecção, levando a infiltração medular. A ocorrência do comprometimento medular em paciente com hanseníase Virchowiana é excepcional, mesmo em países endêmicos, e pode indicar necessidade de tratamento mais prolongado.

Ocorrência de eritema nodoso hansênico

Introdução: A Hanseníase, em pacientes de formas multibacilares, pode apresentar episódios reacionais de Eritema Nodoso Hansênico, que podem ocorrer antes, durante e após o tratamento, causando neurites, iridociclites e orquiepidimites, levando a sequelas importantes, como cegueira e incapacidade motora. Objetivo: observar a freqüência de surtos de ENH de acordo com o tratamento com PQT e o número de vezes em que se repetiu. Métodos: ocorrência de ENH em pacientes com hanseníase multibacilar. Resultados: Foram avaliados 344 pacientes, 59,88% da forma MB; destes, 59,2% apresentaram ENH. A faixa etária variou de 12 a 86 anos, a maioria, 51,63%, entre 40-59 anos; dois (1,63%) eram menores de 15 anos; 52 eram da forma D e 70 da V; 66,39% do sexo masculino e 33,60% do feminino. Os episódios reacionais variaram de 1 a 17 por paciente; 16,39% o apresentaram uma vez e 17,21% acima de 7; 40,77% não o apresentaram. No geral, 68,02% apresentaram mais de três episódios. Quanto ao tratamento, em 8,19% o episódio manifestou-se antes do início, em 64,75% durante e em 30,32%, após. 51,63% apresentaram durante e após. Observou-se que em 63,11% o IB foi considerado alto, maior ou igual a 3 +++. Conclusão: considerou-se elevados o número de pacientes que o apresentaram e o número de repetições acima de 3 vezes, o que aumenta os riscos dos danos e seqüelas. Todas as medidas para evitá-lo devem consideradas.

O paradigma dualista da hanseníase controle ou eliminação: o período crítico de 2000 a 2005

One of the main tendencies of leprosy worldwide is the simultaneous action of non governmental organizations and official agencies operating eventual different strategies. This paper aims to contribute to such question focusing on some outstanding aspects of respective contemporary evolution. METHODS Application of bibliographic review and contents analysis techniques to primary data from a circumstancial set of open circulation specific publications. RESULTS Successive disagreements registered between both parts refer to the objective to be attained by the fight against the disease, if control or elimination. CONCLUSIONS New perspectives of jointed actions are being searched for now when priority on endemics control is more realistically assumed and social determination is been really considered.

Avaliação dos fatores de virulência, atividade antimicrobiana e viabilidade celular de bactéria cariogênica na presença do Terpinen-4-ol: estudo in vitro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação dos fatores de virulência, atividade antimicrobiana e viabilidade celular de bactéria cariogênica na presença do Terpinen-4-ol: estudo in vitro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Skeletal abnormalities in humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae stranded in the Brazilian breeding ground

Skeletal tissues of 49 humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae that stranded between 2002 and 2011 along the Abrolhos Bank seashore and its adjacent waters in Brazil were studied. Twelve (24.5%) animals presented pathological changes in one or more bones. Degenerative changes and developmental malformations were most frequent (10.2% each), followed by inflammatory/infectious and traumatic lesions (8.2% each). Infectious diseases led to severe lesions of the caudal vertebrae of 2 whales. In one of these individuals, the lesions involved 6 caudal vertebrae, leading to ankylosis of 3 vertebrae. Degenerative changes were observed in the vertebral columns of 3 animals, involving the joints of 13 ribs of 1 individual, and in the humerus of 1 whale. Traumatic lesions, such as osseous callus in the ribs, were observed in 4 animals. In 1 whale, the rib showed severe osteomyelitis, possibly resulting from the infection of multiple fractures. Developmental abnormalities such as spina bifida on 3 cervical vertebrae of 1 whale, fusion of spinal processes on thoracic vertebrae of 1 individual and fusion of the first 2 ribs unilaterally or bilaterally in 4 animals were found. Chronic infectious conditions found in the axial skeleton may have restrained spinal mobility and had detrimental effects on the general health of the animals, contributing to stranding and death. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic study on skeletal lesions in stranded humpback whales.

Proline dehydrogenase regulates redox state and respiratory metabolism in Trypanosoma Cruzi

Over the past three decades, L-proline has become recognized as an important metabolite for trypanosomatids. It is involved in a number of key processes, including energy metabolism, resistance to oxidative and nutritional stress and osmoregulation. In addition, this amino acid supports critical parasite life cycle processes by acting as an energy source, thus enabling host-cell invasion by the parasite and subsequent parasite differentiation. In this paper, we demonstrate that L-proline is oxidized to Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) by the enzyme proline dehydrogenase (TcPRODH, E.C. 1.5.99.8) localized in Trypanosoma cruzi mitochondria. When expressed in its active form in Escherichia coli, TcPRODH exhibits a Km of 16.58±1.69 µM and a Vmax of 66±2 nmol/min mg. Furthermore, we demonstrate that TcPRODH is a FAD-dependent dimeric state protein. TcPRODH mRNA and protein expression are strongly upregulated in the intracellular epimastigote, a stage which requires an external supply of proline. In addition, when Saccharomyces cerevisiae null mutants for this gene (PUT1) were complemented with the TcPRODH gene, diminished free intracellular proline levels and an enhanced sensitivity to oxidative stress in comparison to the null mutant were observed, supporting the hypothesis that free proline accumulation constitutes a defense against oxidative imbalance. Finally, we show that proline oxidation increases cytochrome c oxidase activity in mitochondrial vesicles. Overall, these results demonstrate that TcPRODH is involved in proline-dependant cytoprotection during periods of oxidative imbalance and also shed light on the participation of proline in energy metabolism, which drives critical processes of the T. cruzi life cycle.

Emergence of enteric viruses in production chickens is a concern for avian health

Several viruses have been identified in recent years in the intestinal contents of chickens and turkeys with enteric problems, which have been observed in commercial farms worldwide, including Brazil. Molecular detection of these viruses in Brazil can transform to a big threat for poultry production due to risk for intestinal integrity. This disease is characterized by severely delayed growth, low uniformity, lethargy, watery diarrhea, delayed feed consumption, and a decreased conversion rate. Chicken astrovirus (CAstV), rotavirus, reovirus, chicken parvovirus (ChPV), fowl adenovirus of subgroup I (FAdV-1), and avian nephritis virus (ANV) were investigated using the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), which may play a role in enteric disease, was included. The viruses most frequently detected, either alone or in concomitance with other viruses, were IBV, ANV, rotavirus, and CAstV followed by parvovirus, reovirus, and adenovirus. This study demonstrates the diversity of viruses in Brazilian chicken flocks presenting enteric problems characterized by diarrhea, growth retard, loss weight, and mortality, which reflects the multicausal etiology of this disease