Evaluation of cases of pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus from a reference service in Pará state, Brazil

BACKGROUND: Pemphigusis a bullous, rare and chronic autoimmune disease. There are two major forms of pemphigus: vulgaris and foliaceus. Epidemiological data and clinical outcome in patients diagnosed in the Brazilian Amazon states are still rare. OBJECTIVES: To study the occurrence of the disease during the study period and analyze the epidemiological profile of patients, the most common subtype of pemphigus, and the clinical evolution of patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical records of hospitalized patients with pemphigus foliaceus and pemphigus vulgaris in the period from 2003 to 2010 in Dermatology Service of Hospital Fundação Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará, Belém, Northern Brazil. RESULTS: We found a total of 20 cases of pemphigus during the study period, 8 of which were of foliaceus pemphigus and 12 of vulgaris pemphigus. Pemphigus foliaceus had the predominance of male patients (75%), showed satisfactory clinical evolution, and was characterized by absence of pediatric cases. Pemphigus vulgaris affected more women (66.7%), showed mean hospital stay of 1 to 3 months (50%), and there were three cases of death (25%). The prescribed immunosuppressive drugs included prednisone with or without combination of azathioprine and/or dapsone. Sepsis was associated with 100% of the deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of the disease is rare, there are no familiar/endemic outbreaks in the sample. Evolution is usually favorable, but secondary infection is associated with worse prognosis. The choice of best drugs to treat pemphigus remains controversial.

Controle de pragas na cultura do feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) e avaliação econômica

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Proteção de Plantas) - FCA

Efeito de Níveis de Cobertura do Solo Sobre O Manejo da Irrigação do Feijoeiro (phaseolus Vulgaris L.)

Este trabalho teve por objetivo estudar os efeitos da cobertura do solo sobre o manejo da irrigação do feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Os tratamentos constaram de diferentes níveis de cobertura morta com palhada de capim braquiária (Brachiaria decumbens), obedecendo delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições para os seguintes tratamentos: 0% (0 t/ha), 25% (2,25 t/ha), 50% (4,50 t/ha), 75% (6,75 t/ha) e 100% (9,0 t/ha). O experimento foi conduzido na Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, no município de Santo Antonio de Goiás, GO, a 16° 28’ 00” de latitude sul, 49° 17’00” de longitude oeste e 823 m de altitude, num Latossolo Vermelho escuro argiloso, durante o período de junho a setembro de 1997. O manejo da irrigação por microaspersão foi realizado utilizando tensiômetro e a curva característica de água no solo, irrigando toda vez que tensão matricial da água do solo atingia 30 kPa. A análise dos resultados mostrou diminuição do número de irrigações e aumento do turno de rega nos tratamentos onde a cobertura atingiu mais de 50% da superfície do solo. Os valores médios da tensão da água do solo nos tratamentos com 0,25 e 50% apresentaram maior variação (turno de rega menor). A cobertura do solo propiciou maior eficiência do uso da água. A produção de grãos foi avaliada não havendo diferença de produtividade entre os tratamentos de cobertura morta.

Efeitos da suplementação com Faseolamina (Phaseolus vulgaris) e do treinamento concorrente na composição corporal de mulheres pós menopausa

Pós-graduação em Fisioterapia - FCT

Prevalence of Oral Lesions in Hospitalized Patients with Infectious Diseases in Northern Brazil

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of oral lesions in infectious-contagious diseases patients being treated in the University Hospital of the Federal University of Para, northern Brazil. One hundred seven patients with infectious diseases were clinically investigated for oral lesions at the University Hospital of Para, northern Brazil. From total sample, most patients were men (65.7%) with a mean age of 45.4 years. About prevalence of systemic diseases, tuberculosis was the most frequent illness, followed by AIDS, hepatitis types B and C, leishmaniasis, and meningitis. Analyzing oral manifestations, periodontal diseases and candidiasis were the most prevalent diseases in both genders, followed by recurrent aphthous ulcers, saburral tongue, simplex herpes, and squamous cell carcinoma. Of all 107 patients, only 10 males and 6 females did not present any oral manifestation. There was no statistical difference between genders with any systemic condition (P > 0.05). The great prevalence of oral manifestations in hospitalized patients with systemic disorder emphasizes the need of integral dental care in this context, aiming at a multidisciplinary approach of patients. Therefore, presence of some oral conditions, such as candidiasis, should be an alert to different systemic conditions, once in assistance with physicians; dentists can influence the early diagnosis and treatment.

Relations between the yield of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and chemical attributes of an Acrustox under no-tillage

In crop year 2006/07, in Selviria, MS, Brazil, were analyzed the productivity of beans because of the chemical attributes of an Acrustox cultivated under conditions of high technological level of management by no-tillage irrigated with pivot central. The objective was to select, among the attributes studied soil, the one with the best representation to explain the variability of agricultural productivity. Geostatistical grid was installed to collect data from soil and plant, with 117 sampling points in an area of 2,025 m(2) and homogeneous slope of 0.055 m m(-1). From the standpoint of linear and spatial bean yield was respectively explained in terms of P and soil pH. So much for the values of phosphorus (P) in the intermediate layer and subsurface between 24-26 mg dm(-3), as well as for Hydrogen (pH) in the surface layer between 5.0 to 5.4, resulted in sites with the most high yield (2,160-2,665 kg ha(-1)).

Cardiac Lesions in 30 Dogs Naturally Infected With Leishmania infantum chagasi

The hearts of 30 dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum chagasi were evaluated histologically and immunohistochemically. Myocardial lesions were detected in all dogs, including lymphoplasmacytic myocarditis (27/30), myonecrosis (24/30), increased interstitial collagen (22/30), lepromatous-type granulomatous myocarditis (7/30), fibrinoid vascular change (3/30), and vasculitis (1/30). The parasite was detected in the hearts of 20 of 30 dogs. The number of parasitized cells correlated with the intensity of the inflammation and with the number of granulomas. The results indicate that cardiac lesions are prevalent in dogs with naturally occurring leishmaniasis even in the absence of clinical signs of cardiac disease.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease: clinical presentation of multiple lesions of lichenoid and atrophic pattern

Graft-versus-host disease is observed mainly in recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation and is expressed by cutaneous or systemic signals and symptoms. Graft-versus-host disease is clinically classified as acute or chronic. Chronic Graft-versus-host disease occurs in up to 70% of hematopoietic cell transplanted patients and its clinical manifestations have important impact on morbidity and quality of life. The authors report an expressive cutaneous, oral and adnexal involvement in a patient with chronic Graft-versus-host disease with multiple lesions of lichenoid and atrophic pattern.

High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in pregnant and non-pregnant women

Objectives: To evaluate if the prevalence of cervical smear results varies between pregnant and nonpregnant women stratified by age group.Study design: Observational analytical study with a total sample of 1,336,180 pregnant and nonpregnant women, aged between 20 and 34 years, who underwent cervical cancer screening in the Primary Health Care of the national health system in the area of Campinas in Brazil during the period of 2005-2009. The source is the information system for cervical cancer screening. Data collected on abnormal cervical smears were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test and the magnitude of the association between pregnancy and high-grade squamous epithelial lesions was analyzed by odds ratio (OR) and estimated values with confidence intervals (CI) of 95%.Results: 15,190 pregnant women and 395,961 non-pregnant women were analyzed and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Regardless of age, no statistical differences were observed for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion prevalence (OR 0.90; CI 0.66-1.23). Taking into account the five-year age groups, however, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was less prevalent in pregnant women aged 20-24 (OR 0.71; 0.54-0.95) and 25-29 years (OR 0.56; 0.35-0.89); also, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance was more prevalent in non-pregnant women aged 25-29 years (OR 0.72; 0.54-0.97).Conclusion: The study showed that the cytological prevalence of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion was similar in pregnant and non-pregnant women, regardless of age. The results indicate that there are no reasons for specific approaches to cervical cancer screening for pregnant women. The examination should be carried out only on pregnant women who have not been tested according to current recommendations. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Plaque control improves the painful symptoms of oral lichen planus gingival lesions. A short-term study

BackgroundLichen planus is a mucocutaneous disease with manifestation in the oral mucosa, the gingiva being one of the most affected regions. In some cases, the lesion may be painful and lead to fragility of the tissues, so that precise diagnosis and adequate treatment are indispensible factors for improving the clinical condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of plaque control in the improvement of clinical features and painful symptoms of oral lichen planus with gingival involvement.MethodsTwenty patients diagnosed with gingival lichen planus confirmed by histopathological examination were selected. The patients were evaluated by a trained examiner, with regard to the clinical features of the lesions [Index of Escudier etal. (Br J Dermatol, 157, 2007, 765)]; painful symptoms (Visual Analog Scale); and periodontally, as regards the visible plaque and gingival bleeding indices. Periodontal treatment consisted of supragingival scaling and oral hygiene instruction, with professional plaque removal afterward for a period of 4weeks. The entire sample was evaluated at the baseline and at the conclusion of treatment, and the results were analyzed by the Wilcoxon nonparametric test.ResultsThe data demonstrated that the majority of patients were women (90%), with a mean age of 55.9years. Periodontal treatment resulted in statistically significant reduction (P<0.05) in the periodontal indices, with consequent improvement in the clinical features and painful symptoms of the lesions.ConclusionsIt was demonstrated that plaque control was effective in improving the clinical features and painful symptoms of oral lichen planus with gingival involvement.

Cardiovascular responses to injections of angiotensin II or carbachol into the rostral ventrolateral medulla in rats with AV3V lesions

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

Deregulation of Annexin-A1 and Galectin-1 Expression in Precancerous Gastric Lesions: Intestinal Metaplasia and Gastric Ulcer

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

Five-year clinical performance of the dentine Deproteinization Technique in non-carious cervical lesions

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the 5-year clinical performance of composite restorations of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL) using a total-etch adhesive system with or without collagen removal with 10% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl).Methods: In this study randomized controlled split-mouth clinical trial, one-hundred and thirty-eight NCCL were restored into 30 patients. Each patient received at least one pair of composite restorations (Filtek A110/3M ESPE), bonded either with 2 techniques: Conventional Technique - acid etching with 37% phosphoric acid + Prime & Bond NT (Denstply DeTrey); Deproteinization Technique - acid etching with 37% phosphoric acid + 10% NaOCl for 1 min + Prime & Bond NT. The two techniques were evaluated using the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria at baseline, 18 months, 3 and 5 years. After five years, one-hundred and six restorations were evaluated in 24 patients. Data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test (p < 0.05).Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the two techniques regarding the evaluated parameters (p > 0.05).Conclusion: After 5 years, the application of 10% NaOCl deproteinization on etched dentine did not affect the clinical performance of composite restorations placed in NCCL when compared to the conventional total-etch technique.Clinical significance: Clinical studies evaluating the performance of the Deproteinization Technique are scarce. In this study, this technique showed similar clinical performance at the end of 5 years when compared to a conventional total-etch technique. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Produtividade e qualidade de sementes de feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) sob influência de parcelamentos e fontes de nitrogênio

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

Low-level laser therapy for osteonecrotic lesions: effects on osteoblasts treated with zoledronic acid

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