The unequal influences of the left and right vagi on the control of the heart and pulmonary artery in the rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparative analysis of cell proliferation ratio in oral lichen planus, epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Although oral lichen planus has been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a potentially malignant disorder, such classification is still the target of much controversy. Aim: To evaluate the cell proliferation rate in oral lichen planus, comparing it to the rate observed in epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma, aiming at indications which might indicate the potential for malignant transformation. Material and Methods: Twenty-four cases of each lesion were submitted to the streptoavidin-biotin and AgNOR technique to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of PCNA and the mean NORs/ nucleus, respectively. Results: Positivity for PCNA was observed in 58.33% of oral lichen planus cases, 83.33% of epithelial dysplasia cases and 91.67% of oral squamous cell carcinoma cases. Chi-squared test showed that the number of positive cases for PCNA was significantly lower in oral lichen planus than in oral squamous cell carcinoma (p<0.05). No significant statistical difference between oral lichen planus and epithelial dysplasia (p>0.05) and between the epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (p>0.05) was observed. The mean NORs/ nucleus in oral lichen planus, epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma were 1.74 +/- 0.32, 2.42 +/- 0.62 e 2.41 +/- 0.61, respectively. Variance analysis (ANOVA) revealed significant statistical difference between oral lichen planus and the other studied lesions (p<0.05). Conclusion: Oral lichen planus cell proliferation rate was less than in oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma which might explain the lower malignant transformation rate.

Opportunistic microorganisms in patients undergoing antibiotic therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis

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

Pulmonary, microbiological and hematological changes in Crotalus durissus terrificus (Serpentes, Viperidae) parasitized by nematodes of the genus Rhabdias (Nematoda, Rhabdiasidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Response activity of alveolar macrophages in pulmonary dysfunction caused by Leptospira infection

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

Surgical treatment of pulmonary aspergilloma

The objective of this study was to analyze the outcome of surgical treatment of pulmonary aspergilloma. To that end, we evaluated 14 adult patients so treated between 1981 and 2009 at the Botucatu School of Medicine University Hospital, in the city of Botucatu, Brazil. Data were collected from the medical records of the patients. Ten patients (71%) presented with simple pulmonary aspergilloma, and 4 (29%) presented with complex pulmonary aspergilloma. Hemoptysis was the most common symptom, and tuberculosis was the most prevalent preexisting lung disease. Two patients (14%) underwent surgery on more than one occasion. There were no intraoperative deaths. Half of the patients developed postoperative complications, prolonged air leak and empyema being the most common.

Association between left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVES: ,,,,,The prevalence of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease according to disease severity has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients according to disease severity. ,,,, ,,,, ,,,,,METHODS: ,,,,,The study included 25 mild/moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and 25 severe/very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. All participants underwent clinical evaluation, spirometry and electrocardiography/echocardiography. ,,,, ,,,, ,,,,,RESULTS: ,,,,,Electrocardiography and echocardiography showed Q-wave alterations and segmental contractility in five (10%) patients. The most frequent echocardiographic finding was mild left diastolic dysfunction (88%), independent of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage. The proportion of right ventricular overload (p<0.05) and blockage of the anterosuperior division of the left bundle branch were higher in patients with greater obstruction. In an echocardiographic analysis, mild/moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients showed more abnormalities in segmental contractility (p<0.05), whereas severe/very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients showed a higher prevalence of right ventricular overload (p<0.05), increased right cardiac chamber (p<0.05) and higher values of E-wave deceleration time (p<0.05). Age, sex, systemic arterial hypertension, C-reactive protein and disease were included as independent variables in a multiple linear regression; only disease severity was predictive of the E-wave deceleration time [r2 = 0.26, p = 0.01]. ,,,, ,,,, ,,,,,CONCLUSION: ,,,,,Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients have a high prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, which is associated with disease severity. Because of this association, it is important to exclude decompensated heart failure during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.

Oral lichen planus versus epithelial dysplasia: difficulties in diagnosis

O diagnóstico histopatológico do líquen plano bucal não é fácil, pois alguns casos de displasia epitelial podem apresentar características bastante semelhantes às do líquen plano. OBJETIVO: Comparar as alterações celulares sugestivas de malignidade presentes no líquen plano bucal com as da displasia epitelial. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Cortes histológicos de líquen plano bucal e displasia, corados com hematoxilina-eosina, foram analisados por meio da microscopia de luz. RESULTADOS: A análise de variância (alfa=5%) revelou haver diferença estatisticamente significante entre o número médio de alterações celulares no líquen plano bucal (5,83±1,61) e na displasia epitelial (4,46±1,26). O teste de qui-quadrado não mostrou diferença estatisticamente significante entre o líquen plano bucal e a displasia epitelial em relação às seguintes alterações celulares: aumento da relação núcleo/citoplasma, hipercromatismo nuclear, distribuição irregular da cromatina e núcleos aumentados (p>0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Algumas alterações celulares sugestivas de malignidade presentes no líquen plano bucal também podem ser encontradas na displasia epitelial, dificultando o seu diagnóstico e, consequentemente enfatizando a importância do acompanhamento a longo prazo dos pacientes com a doença.

L-carnitine as an ergogenic aid for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease submitted to whole-body and respiratory muscle training programs

The effects of adding L-carnitine to a whole-body and respiratory training program were determined in moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Sixteen COPD patients (66 ± 7 years) were randomly assigned to L-carnitine (CG) or placebo group (PG) that received either L-carnitine or saline solution (2 g/day, orally) for 6 weeks (forced expiratory volume on first second was 38 ± 16 and 36 ± 12%, respectively). Both groups participated in three weekly 30-min treadmill and threshold inspiratory muscle training sessions, with 3 sets of 10 loaded inspirations (40%) at maximal inspiratory pressure. Nutritional status, exercise tolerance on a treadmill and six-minute walking test, blood lactate, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory muscle strength were determined as baseline and on day 42. Maximal capacity in the incremental exercise test was significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.05). Blood lactate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate at identical exercise levels were lower in CG after training (P < 0.05). Inspiratory muscle strength and walking test tolerance were significantly improved in both groups, but the gains of CG were significantly higher than those of PG (40 ± 14 vs 14 ± 5 cmH2O, and 87 ± 30 vs 34 ± 29 m, respectively; P < 0.05). Blood lactate concentration was significantly lower in CG than in PG (1.6 ± 0.7 vs 2.3 ± 0.7 mM, P < 0.05). The present data suggest that carnitine can improve exercise tolerance and inspiratory muscle strength in COPD patients, as well as reduce lactate production.

Effects of desflurane, sevoflurane and isoflurane on pulmonary shunt in dogs during spontaneous ventilation

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

Study of pulmonary experimental paracoccidioidomycosis by analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage cells: Resistant vs. susceptible mice

Adult Swiss (susceptible) and BALB/c (non-susceptible) mice were inoculated by the intravenous route with 1 x 10(6) yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, strain 18. Immunologic parameters, histopathology and features of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were evaluated at week 2, 4, 8 and 16 post-infection. The pulmonary infection was progressive in Swiss mice and regressive in BALB/c mice. The numbers of total cells, lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils increased in BAL, as well as the percentages of giant cells, and CD4 and CD8 positive cells. The ultrastructural study of BAL cells revealed a predominance of macrophages and a frequency of 13.2% of type II pneumocytes. As the infection progressed, the number of fungal cells and spreading macrophages, as well as the stimulated release of H2O2 by macrophages, increased. The animals exhibited an exacerbation of the humoral immune response and a depression of cellular immunity during the infection. There was a good correlation between the intensity and the pattern of the pulmonary histopathology and the cellular findings in the BAL. The present model reproduces some anatomoclinical patterns of the human disease and shows that BAL may be a useful tool in monitoring the pulmonary infection caused by P. brasiliensis.

Ectodermal dysplasia, ectrodactyly, clefting, anophthalmia microphthalmia, and genitourinary anomalies: nosology of goltz-gorlin syndrome versus eec syndrome

We report on two unrelated Brazilian girls born to normal and nonconsanguineous parents and presenting ectodermal dysplasia, ectrodactyly, clefting, tear duct anomalies, and micro/anophthalmia. The clinical picture presented by these patients suggests the diagnosis of Goltz-Gorlin (Focal dermal hypoplasia) syndrome and EEC syndrome.