The prevalence of human papillomavirus in the oropharynx in healthy individuals in a Brazilian population

Oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV), a causative agent of uterine cervical cancer, has also been detected in head and neck squamous cell cancers, especially in squamous cell carcinomas of the tonsils. However, the true HPV prevalence in normal and neoplasic oropharyngeal mucosa remains uncertain. To determine the prevalence of HPV DNA in normal oropharyngeal mucosa of cancer-free individuals, a study was carried out on 50 Brazilian subjects. PCR was performed to identify HPV DNA in samples from four sites in the oropharynx (tonsils, soft palate, base of the tongue, and back wall of the pharynx). For amplification of the HPV DNA, MY09/11 consensus primerswere used, and specific genotypes were identified by dot-blot hybridization or cloning and sequencing. HPV DNA was present in 14.0% of the individuals, and the identified genotypes were 16, 18, 52, and 61. All these types are considered high-risk (HR) HPV. The tonsils and the soft palate were the sites with the highest HPV prevalence. This study shows the prevalence of HR HPV in the oropharynx of normal individuals. However, the prevalence of HPV is still unclear, and if HPV infection in a healthy it is not known individual predisposes to HPV-associated disease such as oropharyngeal cancer. Thus, it is important to assess the prevalence of HPV in cancer-free individuals, in order to compare it with the HPV prevalence in oropharyngeal carcinomas and to attempt to determine the true role of HPV in the development of head and neck squamous cell cancers. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

An epidemiologic study of headaches in brazilian schoolchildren with a focus on pain frequency

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalência e frequência de cefaléia em escolares brasileiros. Um estudo transversal foi conduzido entre Março e Novembro de 2004 em São José do Rio Preto, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Uma amostra de 5.232 crianças das escolas foi selecionada utilizando método de amostragem estratificada proporcional. Para a coleta dos dados, um questionário foi entregue nas escolas aos estudantes para ser respondida pelos pais e/ou responsáveis. do total de respostas recebidas, 84,2% relataram cefaléia durante o último ano. Houve diferenças significativas na frequência da queixa de cefaléia entre meninos e meninas. As meninas relataram cefaléias mais frequentes do que os meninos, com prevalência de cefaléias diárias duas vezes maior em meninas. Uma maior frequência de cefaléia foi também relatada com o aumento da idade. O estudo demonstrou que a prevalência de cefaléia foi alta, com uma maior frequência (mensais, semanais e diárias) em meninas e no grupo etário mais velho.

VERIFICATION of THE PRESENCE of CAPSULE GENE SEQUENCES IN NASOPHARYNGEAL ISOLATES of NONTYPEABLE HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE FROM HEALTHY CHILDREN AT A BRAZILIAN DAY CARE CENTER

Cinqüenta e oito cepas de Haemophilus influenzae foram isoladas da nasofaringe de crianças saudáveis que freqüentam uma creche, e através da técnica de Southern blot foi pesquisada nas cepas acapsuladas a presença de seqüências do gene capsular. Sete cepas (12%) caracterizadas sorologicamente como acapsuladas mostraram homologia com seqüências específicas da cápsula. Uma cepa foi caracterizada com uma linhagem H. influenzae tipo b cápsula deficiente.

Prevalence of virulence factors in Escherichia coli strains isolated from the genital tract of healthy cows

Determinou-se a prevalência dos genes de virulência expressando fimbrias, produção de hemolisina, colicina e aerobactina em cepas de Escherichia coli obtidas do trato genital de vacas saudáveis que não apresentam sinais clínicos indicativos de infecção. A presença dos genes responsáveis pela expressão de fimbrias (pap, sfa, afa) foi avaliada através de reação em cadeia da polimerase utilizando primers especificos para cada um dos genes, nenhum deles foi detectado em qualquer uma das cepas isoladas. A prevalência dos fatores de virulência foi de 90,4%, 69,8%, 28,5% para colicina, hemolisina e aerobactina, respectivamente. A análise da patogenicidade das cepas do trato genital pode contribuir para o entendimento do comportamento das cepas de E. coli.

Effects of topical levobunolol or fixed combination of dorzolamide-timolol or association of dorzolamide-levobunolol on intraocular pressure, pupil size, and heart rate in healthy cats

Estudaram-se e compararam-se os efeitos do levobunolol, da combinação fixa de dorzolamida 2%-timolol 0,5% e da associação de dorzolamida 2% com levobunolol 0,5% sobre a pressão intra-ocular (PIO), o diâmetro pupilar (DP), a freqüência cardíaca (FC) e a hiperemia conjuntival em 18 gatos saudáveis. PIO, DP, FC e hiperemia conjuntival foram aferidos diariamente, em três horários distintos (9h, 14h e 18h). Três grupos foram formados (n=6) e um olho de cada animal recebeu, aleatoriamente, uma gota de levobunolol (L), ou a combinação comercial à base de dorzolamida-timolol (DT), ou a associação de dorzolamida com levobunolol (DL). Parâmetros basais foram aferidos no primeiro dia (dia 0). Nos quatro dias consecutivos, os fármacos foram instilados às 8h e 20h e os parâmetros aferidos nos mesmos horários. Todos os parâmetros decresceram significativamente em relação aos valores basais (P<0,001) e não se observou hiperemia conjuntival. O levobunolol reduziu significativamente a PIO, o DP e a FC e o foi o fármaco que mais reduziu a FC. Não se observou efeito sinérgico na redução da PIO quando a dorzolamida foi adicionada ao levobulol.

In vitro susceptibility testing of Microsporum gypseum isolated from healthy cattle and soil samples against itraconazole, terbinafine, fluconazole and topical veterinarian drugs

The present study evaluated in vitro susceptibility testing of dermatophytes isolates from healthy cattle and soil samples against three antifungal agents and three topical veterinarian drugs. Itraconazole and terbinafine showed a higher in vitro fungicidal activity than fluconazole. The veterinarian drugs LEPECID (R) and iodine 5% were more active in vitro than the UNGUENTO (R) spray. All drugs showed fungicidal activity against Microsporum gypseum, and they may be considered as efficient agents for the topical treatment of dermatophytoses in cattle.

Effect of zinc administration on thyrotropin releasing hormone-stimulated prolactinemia in healthy men

Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated zinc (Zn++) inhibition of basal and of potassium (K+) or thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-stimulated prolactin (PRL) secretion, in a selective, reversible, and dose-dependent manner. Thus, Zn++ may regulate physiologically pituitary PRL secretion. Furthermore, studies with patients with uremia, cirrhosis or prolactinoma, have shown the coexistence of hypozincemia and hyperprolactinemia and zinc supplementation did not correct hyperprolactinemia in these patients. In normal individuals Zn++ administration produced controversial results on PRL secretion. Here, we investigated whether zinc administration affects TRH-stimulated PRL in healthy men. We found that Zn++ administration does not change the TRH-stimulated PRL. Therefore, in normal conditions, Zn++ does not inhibit TRH-stimulated prolactinemia. In addition, we found that acute increases of blood PRL and TRH do not alter blood Zn++ levels.

First report of vancomycin-resistant staphylococci isolated from healthy carriers in Brazil

Reduced susceptibility or resistance to vancomycin has been reported among clinical isolates of staphylococci in previous studies. In the present study we report on the isolation of four vancomycin-resistant staphylococcal strains from healthy carriers inside and outside the hospital environment. These carriers did not receive treatment with any antibiotic. All coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains showed variable levels of resistance to several antimicrobial agents, including oxacillin, and unstable resistance to vancomycin, with decreased vancomycin MICs (<4 mg/liter) after 10 days of passage in a nonselective medium. However, exposure of these revertants to vancomycin selected staphylococcal strains resistant to vancomycin at very high frequencies (10(-2) and 10(-3)). The vancomycin resistance in these staphylococcal strains was not mediated by the van gene. The cell wall of the staphylococcal strains studied became thickest after culture in medium containing vancomycin, and the differences in cell wall thickness were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Thus, the thickening of the cell wall in these staphylococcal strains may be an important contributor to vancomycin resistance.

Effects of isoflurane on Tei-index of myocardial performance in healthy dogs

Recently, the Tei-index, a noninvasive index that combines systolic and diastolic time intervals, has been proposed to assess global cardiac performance. However, the effects of isoflurane on the Tei-index have not been characterized. This study aimed at studying the effects of 1.0 minimal alveolar concentration isoflurane anesthesia on the pre-ejection period (PEP), left ventricular ejection time (LVET), PEP/LVET ratio, isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), stroke index (SI), cardiac index (CI), heart rate (HR), and the Tei-index in healthy unpremedicated dogs. We observed significant increases in PEP, PEP/LVET ratio, IVRT, and TEI, whose maximal increases obtained throughout the study were 47%, 48%, 78%, and 56%, respectively. The LVET and HR did not change significantly, whereas the SI and CI decreased during anesthesia (29% and 26%, respectively). In conclusion, isoflurane produced direct effects on the Tei-index. The changes in systolic and diastolic parameters were supportive of this finding and were consistent with an overall impairment of left ventricular function during anesthesia.

Staphylococcus aureus: Resistance patterns to antimicrobials and Penicillinase among strains isolated from apparently healthy lactating cows

Ninety-two strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the nasal fossa and udder skin of apparently healthy lactating cows were analyzed for resistance to antibiotics and production of penicillinase.The results showed a greater frequency of resistance patterns to penicillin and ampicillin.All strains were sensitive to oxacyllin and gentamicin.The most frequent Barber and Burston model was SSSS (60.90%), followed by RSSS (18.50%).With respect to the production of penicillinase although the Lucas method indicated a larger number of positive samples, we suggest the use of the Haight and Finland method due to a greater consistency of data obtained with it.