Immunohistochemistry of small blue round cell tumors

Small blue round cell tumors (SBRCTs) are a set of malignancies that have a particular proclivity for the pediatric age group. These tumors are notoriously difficult to distinguish by histologic evaluation alone, and in recent years a number of new immunohistochemical markers have emerged that can aid in the correct categorization of these lesions. Myogenin, a muscle-restricted nuclear transcription factor, has been demonstrated to be a highly sensitive and specific marker of rhabdomyosarcoma, and is superior to previous markers such as myoglobin, muscle actins, and desmin. The FlI-1 gene product is expressed as part of the EWS/FLI-1 novel chimeric protein that results from the t(11;22)(q24;q12) translocation that occurs in approximately two-thirds of cases of PNET/Ewings sarcoma. Immunohistochemical detection of the FLI-1 gene product can thus complement detection of CD99/MIC2 for the positive identification of PNET/Ewings sarcoma. Markers of neuroblastoma include neural markers, such as chromogranin A, neurofilaments, and synaptophysin. Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a tumor with an unusual immunophenotype, including co-expression of cytokeratin, vimentin, and desmin; recent studies have also documented the use of antibodies to the WT-1 gene product as a marker of the chimeric EWS/WT-1 protein formed as a result of the t(11;22)(p13;q12) translocation that characterizes this unique tumor. In summary, there now exists a panel of antibodies defining immunohistochemical markers of individual SBRCTs that can identify rhabdomyosarcoma, PNET/Ewings sarcoma, neuroblastoma, and DSRCT with high sensitivity and specificity.

Incidence of high blood pressure in a group of tannery workers in Brazil

O objetivo deste estudo foi medir a incidência de hipertensão arterial sistêmica em um curtume de médio porte em Botucatu, São Paulo, Sudeste do Brasil, onde havia sido observada, em estudo prévio, uma correlação positiva entre tempo de trabalho e níveis pressóricos, bem como uma alta prevalência de hipertensão. Para tanto, uma coorte de trabalhadores desse curtume foi acompanhada durante sete anos. Ao final do seguimento, estimou-se a taxa de incidência de hipertensão arterial como 0,0964.ano-1, valor considerado elevado se comparado com o encontrado em outros grupos profissionais.

Isolation of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis in Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrot (Amazona aestiva)

Avian salmonellosis is a disease caused by bacteria of the genus Salmonella that can cause three distinct diseases in birds: pullorum diseases, fowl typhoid, and paratyphoid infection. Various wildlife species are susceptible to infections by Salmonella, regardless of whether they live in captivity or freely in the wild. The present study verified the presence of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis in three captive specimens of Amazona aestiva. The study involved a total of 103 birds undergoing rehabilitation to prepare for living in the wild, after having been captured from animal traffickers and delivered to the Centrofauna Project of the Floravida Institute in São Paulo, Brazil. This is the first report of Salmonella Enteritidis isolation in A. aestiva that originated from capture associated with animal trafficking; Salmonella was detected during the study by the serologic method of rapid serum agglutination on a plate with bacterial isolate. The antimicrobial profile exam of the isolated samples demonstrated sensitivity to ampicillin, cefaclor, ciprofloxacin, and cloranfenicol. The three samples also presented resistance to more than four antibiotics. The presence of the genes invA and spvC was verified by PCR technique and was associated with virulence and absence of class 1 integron, a gene related to antimicrobial resistance. The commercial antigen for pullorum disease was shown to be a useful tool for rapid detection in the screening of Salmonella of serogroup D(1) in Psittaciformes. New studies on Salmonella carriage in birds involved in trafficking must be performed to better understand their participation in the epidemiologic cycle of salmonellosis in humans and other animals.

Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) and megaesophagus in a blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) - case report.

The present article relates the occurrence of Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD) in a 20 years old blue-fronted amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva). The bird was raised in captivity and was examined at the Ornitopathology Laboratory of São Paulo State University's Veterinarian Hospital, São Paulo State, Brazil. The parrot clinically presented regurgitation, tremors and dyspnea. This is the first case of PDD followed by megaesophagus in a blue-fronted amazon parrot (A. aestiva). This pathological case was not described in birds at all.

Epidemiological aspects in leptospirosis. Research of anti-Leptospira spp antibodies, isolation and biomolecular research in bovines, rodents and workers in rural properties from Botucatu, SP, Brazil.

Leptospirosis is a worldwide infection, transmitted between man and animals that causes a decrease in the production of bovine flocks, and offer risks for public health, as an important zoonosis. The rodents are the main reservoirs of leptospires. It was studied 27 dairy farm properties located in or near from Botucatu-SP, Brazil. In these farms were collected blood and kidney samples from rodents, blood and urine samples from bovines and blood samples from the workers. The serology was performed with microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Samples of bovine urine and rodent kidneys were cultivated searching for leptospires isolation. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the kidneys of the rodents was performed. In MAT, 46/ 140 (32.85%) bovine and 8/34 (23.53%) human sera samples were positive, respectively. In human samples, the serovar Brastilava (37.51%) presented the highest occurrence, while in bovines, the serovars Hardjo and Castellonis were most frequent, with 26.08% each one. All of the rodents were negatives in serology. No leptospire was isolated, and kidney samples were negative in PCR. In bovines, the dam water and the bad hygiene quality of milking process were considered important risks of infection in the affected properties (p<0.05), where other reproductive problems, except abortion, can be related. In other side, to human beings the drainage system was the most important risk factor in the studied properties. Thus, it was verified the necessity of an improvement in zoosanitary handling of the properties, mainly of water supply.

Visual detection of turkey coronavirus RNA in tissues and feces by reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) with hydroxynaphthol blue dye

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

Origin of sensory and autonomic innervation of the rat temporomandibular joint: A retrograde axonal tracing study with the fluorescent dye fast blue

Previous studies that have used retrograde axonal tracers (horseradish peroxidase alone or conjugated with wheat germ agglutinin) have shown that the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is supplied with nerve fibers originating mainly from the trigeminal ganglion, in addition to other sensory and sympathetic ganglia. The existence of nerve fibers in the TMJ originating from the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus is unclear, and the possible innervation by parasympathetic nerve fibers has not been determined. In the present work, the retrograde axonal tracer, fast blue, was used to elucidate these questions and re-evaluated the literature data. The tracer was deposited in the supradiscal articular space of the rat TMJ, and an extensive morphometric analysis was performed of the labeled perikaryal profiles located in sensory and autonomic ganglia. This methodology permitted us to observe labeled small perikaryal profiles in the trigeminal ganglion, clustered mainly in the posterior-lateral region of the dorsal, medial and ventral thirds of horizontal sections, with some located in the anterior-lateral region of the ventral third. Sensory perikarya were also labeled in the dorsal root ganglia from C2 to C5. No labeled perikaryal profiles were found in the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus. on the other hand, autonomic labeled perikaryal profiles were distributed in the sympathetic superior cervical and stellate ganglia, and parasympathetic otic ganglion. Our results confirmed those of previous studies and also demonstrated that: (i) there is a distribution pattern of labeled perikaryal profiles in the trigeminal ganglion; (ii) some perikaryal profiles located in the otic ganglion were labeled; and (iii) the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus did not show any retrogradely labeled perikaryal profiles.

Histometric Analysis of Bone Repair in Bone-Implant Interface Using a Polylactic/Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer Associated With Implants in Rabbit Tibia

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

Alteration of blue pigment in artificial iris in ocular prosthesis: Effect of paint, drying method and artificial aging

The artificial iris is the structure responsible for the dissimulation and aesthetics of ocular prosthesis. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the color stability of artificial iris of microwaveable polymerized ocular prosthesis, as a function of paint type, drying method and accelerated aging. A total of 40 discs of microwaveable polymerized acrylic resin were fabricated, and divided according to the blue paint type ( n = 5): hydrosoluble acrylic, nitrocellulose automotive, hydrosoluble gouache and oil paints. Paints where dried either at natural or at infrared light bulb method. Each specimen was constituted of one disc in colorless acrylic resin and another colored with a basic sclera pigment. Painting was performed in one surface of one of the discs. The specimens were submitted to an artificial aging chamber under ultraviolet light, during 1008 h. A reflective spectrophotometer was used to evaluate color changes. Data were evaluated by 3-way repeated-measures ANOVA and the Tukey HSD test (alpha = 0.05). All paints suffered color alteration. The oil paint presented the highest color resistance to artificial aging regardless of drying method. (C) 2010 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reliability of toluidine blue application in the detection of oral epithelial dysplasia and in situ and invasive squamous cell carcinomas

Objective, the objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of in vivo staining with toluidine blue in the detection of oral epithelial dysplasia, in situ carcinoma, and invasive squamous cell carcinomas in potentially malignant epithelial lesions (PMELs) and superficial oral ulcerations suggesting malignancy.Study design. Fifty patients with PMELs and superficial oral ulcerations suggestive of malignancy were selected from those treated at the Oral Medicine Service, Faculty of Dentistry, Araraquara, Brazil. All lesions were submitted to staining with an aqueous solution of 1% toluidine blue, followed by biopsy and histologic analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated.Results. Histologic diagnosis revealed that 14% of the lesions analyzed were in situ carcinoma and invasive squamous cell carcinomas, 12% were epithelial dysplasias, 13% were keratosis, 40% were lichen planus, and 8% were other benign lesions. The sensitivity uf the staining was 77%, the specificity 67%, and the positive and negative predictive values 43.5% and 88.9%, respectivelyConclusions, Staining with toluidine blue was demonstrated to be highly reliable in the detection of in situ carcinoma acid invasive squamous cell carcinoma, because false-negative results for the lesions did not occur. Toluidine blue staining is an adjunct to clinical judgment and not a substitute for either judgment or biopsy.

Photodynamic therapy associating Photogem (R) and blue LED on L929 and MDPC-23 cell culture

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

Reliability of assessing dye penetration along root canal fillings using methylene blue

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Environmental blue light prevents stress in the fish Nile tilapia

The present study aimed to test the effects of blue, green or white light on the stress response of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Each color was tested on two groups of isolated adult Nile tilapia (8 replicates each): one being subjected to confinement stress, and the other not (control). A different environmental color was imposed on each compartment by covering the light source with cellophane of the respective color (green or blue; no cellophane was used for white light). The intensity of green, white and blue lights was 250, 590 and 250 lux, respectively. Basal plasma cortisol levels were determined for each fish prior to the experimental procedures. The fish were confined by being displaced toward one side of the aquarium using an opaque partition for 1 h both in the morning and the afternoon of the two consecutive days of the test. At the end of this 48-h period, plasma cortisol levels were measured again. Basal cortisol levels (ng/ml) were similar for each group (ANOVA, F(2;42) = 0.77, P = 0.47). Thus, plasma cortisol levels were analyzed in terms of variation from their respective basal level. After confinement, plasma cortisol levels were not increased in fish submitted to a blue light environment. Thus, blue light prevents the confinement-induced cortisol response, an effect not necessarily related to light intensity.

Clinical, cytogenetic and toxicological studies in rural workers exposed to pesticides in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

Pesticidas podem causar mutações gênicas e aberrações cromossômicas em indivíduos expostos. Investigamos 24 trabalhadores expostos a pesticidas, nos quais foram executados exames clínicos e testes citogenéticos e toxicológicos. Dez indivíduos não expostos foram usados como controles. Dosagem toxicológica de cobre, zinco e manganês (metais encontrados em alguns pesticidas), dosagem de enzimas hepáticas (GOT, GPT, AP) e atividade de acetilcolinesterase foram executadas em 16 trabalhadores e oito controles. Nos trabalhadores expostos, os sintomas clínicos mais pertinentes foram digestão pobre, com sensação de plenitude após alimentação, olhos irritados, enxaqueca e fasciculações. O grupo exposto mostrou dosagem de manganês e atividade de acetilcolinesterase significativamente mais baixas, e nível significativamente mais alto de fosfatase alcalina. Estudos citogenéticos mostraram freqüências de aberrações cromossômicas significativamente mais altas no grupo exposto quando comparado ao grupo de controle. Embora usassem vestuário protetor contra névoa de pesticidas, o qual incluía calças de borracha, botas, luvas, máscara e chapéu, os resultados clínicos revelaram que os trabalhadores foram contaminados. Concluímos que estudos citogenéticos, toxicológicos, juntamente com exames clínicos, são importantes no controle da saúde do trabalhador, mesmo em condições de proteção.

Identification and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the blue shark Prionace glauca, and cross-amplification in other shark species

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