Ritmo sinoventricular secundário a hipercalemia em gatos com obstrução uretral: breve descrição de três casos

Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte imbalance in cats with obstructive feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). The effects of serum potassium elevation in heart rhythm are serious and potentially lethal. The clinical manifestations reflect changes in the excitability of the cell membrane. Increased potassium levels lead to a reduction of the resting membrane potential of heart muscle cells, making them less excitable and resulting in cardiac arrhythmias. The sinoventricular rhythm with atrial arrest is among the types of arrhythmias caused by hyperkalemia. The purpose of this report was to highlight the importance of electrocardiographic monitoring for the early detection of potentially lethal arrhythmias in cats with obstructive FLUTD. We hereby describe the occurrence of three cases treated at the Small Animal Clinic of FMVZ/Unesp, Botucatu Campus.

Efeitos da luz visível associada à ftalocianina de cloro-alumínio na inativação da Borrelia anserina

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

Efeitos da luz visível associada à ftalocianina de cloro-alumínio na inativação da Borrelia anserina

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

Diversity and Adaptation of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Genotypes Circulating in Two Distinct Communities: Public Hospital and Day Care Center

HRSV is one of the most important pathogens causing acute respiratory tract diseases as bronchiolitis and pneumonia among infants. HRSV was isolated from two distinct communities, a public day care center and a public hospital in Sao Jose do Rio Preto - SP, Brazil. We obtained partial sequences from G gene that were used on phylogenetic and selection pressure analysis. HRSV accounted for 29% of respiratory infections in hospitalized children and 7.7% in day care center children. On phylogenetic analysis of 60 HRSV strains, 48 (80%) clustered within or adjacent to the GA1 genotype; GA5, NA1, NA2, BA-IV and SAB1 were also observed. SJRP GA1 strains presented variations among deduced amino acids composition and lost the potential O-glycosilation site at amino acid position 295, nevertheless this resulted in an insertion of two potential O-glycosilation sites at positions 296 and 297. Furthermore, a potential O-glycosilation site insertion, at position 293, was only observed for hospital strains. Using SLAC and MEME methods, only amino acid 274 was identified to be under positive selection. This is the first report on HRSV circulation and genotypes classification derived from a day care center community in Brazil.

The Differential Clinical Impact of Human Coronavirus Species in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

We investigated the clinical impact of human coronaviruses (HCoV) OC43, 229E, HKU1 and NL63 in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) during routine and exacerbation visits. A total of 408 nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were obtained from 103 patients over a 1-year period. Samples positive for HCoV were submitted for nucleotide sequencing to determine the species. Nineteen samples (4.65%) were positive for HCoV, of which 8 were positive for NL63, 6 for OC43, 4 for HKU1, and 1 for 229E. Identification of HCoV was not associated with an increased rate of respiratory exacerbations, but NL63-positive patients had higher exacerbation rates than patients who were positive for other HCoV species.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of nosocomial candidiasis in university hospitals in Cuiaba - Mato Grosso, Brazil

Background: Fungal infections are emerging as an important cause of human disease, especially among hospitalized patients with serious underlying disease and several risk factors. Aims: To evaluate epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with nosocomial candidiasis in university hospitals in Cuiaba - MT, Brazil. Methods: A descriptive study of 91 patients admitted to university hospitals in Cuiaba - MT, with clinical and laboratory diagnosis of nosocomial candidiasis, over a 20-month period. Results: A rate for nosocomial infections by Candida spp. of 5 per 1000 admissions, proportional mortality of 14.4% and lethality of 53.8% were determined. The patient age ranged from 29 days to 82 years-old, among which, 74.7% were adults and 25.3% children. The intensive care units contributed with the highest number of cases of infection by Candida spp. (69.2%). The most important underlying disease was gastrointestinal tract disease (11%). Prematurity and low birth weight were the most important risk factors among newborns. The use of antibiotics, invasive procedures, H-2 blockers, multiple blood transfusions and stay length of >= 21 days were the most frequent risk factors among adults. Candida albicans was the most common species in all cases. Conclusions: In this study, C. albicans was the most frequently detected species in candidiasis and risk factors increased the susceptibility of hospitalized patients to acquiring a nosocomial infection by Candida spp. (C) 2011 Revista Iberoamericana de Micologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.

Virulence and molecular aspects of Bordetella avium isolated from cockatiel chicks (Nymphicus hollandicus) in Brazil

Bordetella avium is an opportunistic pathogen that presents tropism for ciliated epithelia, leading to upper respiratory tract disease in turkeys. This agent has also been associated with Lockjaw Syndrome in psittacine birds, but literatures describing the importance of this agent in such species are rare. The purpose of the present study was to report the first outbreak of B. avium infection in juvenile cockatiels demonstrating the Lockjaw Syndrome in Brazil and to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profile and phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of these strains. Surprising, the strains obtained from five infected cockatiel chicks from three different breeders from different Brazilian states showed a clonal relationship using the Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis and Single Enzyme Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism techniques. The virulence potentials of the B. avium strains were assessed using tracheal adherence and cytotoxic effects on a VERO cell monolayer. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthese, biochemische und physikochemische Charakterisierung von Liganden der Glycin-Bindungsstelle des NMDA-Rezeptors

Die exzitatorische Neurotransmission erfolgt über ionotrope Glutamat-Rezeptoren von denen dem NMDA-(N-Methyl-D-aspartat)-Rezeptor durch seine hohe Leitfähigkeit für Ca2+-Ionen eine besondere Rolle zugesprochen wird. Bei seiner Überaktivierung kommt es zu exzitotoxischen Prozessen, die direkt mit neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen einhergehen und nach einem Schlaganfall, bei akuten Epilepsien, Morbus Parkinson, Alzheimer Demenz aber auch im Bereich der neuropathischen Schmerzentstehung eine wichtige Rolle spielen.rnDurch das Eingreifen in die glutamatvermittelten pathologischen Prozesse verspricht man sich daher die Möglichkeit einer Neuroprotektion bei der Therapie verschiedener neurodegenerativer Erkrankungen, die primär auf völlig unterschiedliche Ursachen zurückzuführen sind.rnAusgehend von in früheren Arbeiten synthetisierten Hydantoin-substituierten Dichlor-indol-2-carbonsäure-Derivaten, die hochaffine Eigenschaften zur Glycin-Bindungsstelle des NMDA-Rezeptors aufweisen, sollten neue Derivate entwickelt und untersucht werden, die hinsichtlich ihrer Affinität zur Glycin-Bindungsstelle des NMDA-Rezeptors, ihrer Pharmakokinetik sowie physikochemischen Parameter in präparativ-organischen, radiopharmazeutischen und zell- bzw. tierexperimentellen Studien in vitro sowie in vivo charakterisiert werden sollten. Von besonderem Interesse war dabei die Evaluierung der synthetisierten Verbindungen in einem Verdrängungsassay mit dem Radioliganden [3H]MDL105,519 mit dem der Einfluss der strukturellen Modifikationen auf die Affinität zur Glycin-Bindungsstelle des Rezeptors untersucht wurde, sowie die Selektivität und die Potenz der Liganden abgeschätzt wurde.rnIm Rahmen der Struktur-Wirkungs-Untersuchungen mit Hilfe der Bindungsexperimente konnten bestimmte Strukturmerkmale als essentiell herausgestellt bzw. bekräftigt werden. Die Testverbindungen zeigten dabei IC50-Werte im Bereich von 0,0028 bis 51,8 μM. Die entsprechenden Ester dagegen IC50-Werte von 23,04 bis >3000 μM. Als vielversprechende Strukturen mit Affinitäten im niedrigen nanomolaren Bereich stellten sich Derivate mit einer 4,6-Dichlor-oder Difluor-Substitution am Indolgrundgerüst (2,8 bis 4,6 nM) heraus. Auch die Substitution des Phenylhydantoin-Teils durch das bioisostere Thienylhydantoin führte zu einer gleichbleibenden ausgeprägten Affinität (3,1 nM). rnZur Abschätzung der Bioverfügbarkeit, insbesondere der Fähigkeit zur Überwindung der Blut-Hirn-Schranke, wurden die Lipophilien bei einer Auswahl der Testverbindungen durch Bestimmung ihrer log P-Werte ermittelt. Neben dem Verfahren der potentiometrischen Titration wurde eine HPLC-Methode an einer RP-Phase verwendet.rnUm das Zytotoxizitätsprofil der synthetisierten Strukturen frühzeitig abschätzen zu können, wurde ein schnell durchführbares, zellbasiertes in vitro-Testsystem, der kommerziell erhältliche „Cell Proliferation Kit II (XTT-Test)“, eingesetzt. rnIm Rahmen von Positronen-Emissions-Tomographie-Experimenten an Ratten wurde eine Aussage bezüglich der Aufnahme und Verteilung eines radioaktiv markierten, hochaffinen Liganden an der Glycinbindungsstelle des NMDA-Rezeptors im Gehirn getroffen. Dabei wurden sowohl ein Carbonsäure-Derivat sowie der korrespondierende Ethylester dieser Testung unterworfen.rn

The role of microglia in neurodegeneration and endogenous repair during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration occurs in the acute and the chronic/progressive phases of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Classically-activated microglia (M1) are key players mediating this process through secretion of soluble factors including nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Here, galectin-1, an endogenous glycan-binding protein, was identified as a pivotal regulatory mechanism that limits M1 microglia activation and neurodegeneration, by targeting the activation of p38MAPK- and CREB-dependent pathways and hierarchically controlling downstream pro-inflammatory mediators such as iNOS, TNF and CCL2. Galectin-1 is highly expressed in the acute phase of EAE and its targeted deletion results in pronounced inflammation-induced neurodegeneration. These findings identify an essential role of galectin-1-glycan lattices in tempering microglia activation, brain inflammation and neurodegeneration with critical therapeutic implications in relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive MS.rnMicroglia with distinct phenotypes are implicated in neurotoxicity, neuroprotection, and in modulation of endogenous repair by NSCs. However the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this diversity in fuction are still unknown. rnUsing a model of EAE, transcriptional profiling of isolated SVZ microglia from the acute and chronic disease phases of EAE was performed. The results from this study suggest that microglia exhibit disease phase specific gene expression signatures, that correspond to unique GO functions and genomic networks. These data demonstrate for the first time, distinct transcriptional networks of microglia activation in vivo, that support their role as mediators of injury or repair.

Isolation of Besnoitia besnoiti from infected cattle in Portugal

Besnoitia besnoiti, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite belonging to the phylum apicomplexa, is the causative agent of bovine besnoitiosis. Besnoitiosis is responsible for significant losses in the cattle industry of Africa and Mediterranean countries due to the high morbidity rate, abortion and infertility in males. The acute stage of disease is associated with the proliferative forms (tachyzoites) and is characterized by fever, whimpery, general weakness and swelling of the superficial lymph nodes. During the following chronic stage, a huge number of cysts are formed mainly in the subcutaneous tissues. This process is non-reversible, and chronic besnoitiosis is characterized by hyper-sclerodermia, hyperkeratosis, alopecia and, in bulls, atrophy, sclerosis and focal necrosis that cause irreversible lesions in the testis. In this paper we report on the identification of large cysts in the skin of a cow and a bull in Portugal, which presented loss of hair and enlargement and pachydermis all over the body. The observation of a two-layered cyst wall within the host cell, the encapsulation of the host cell by a large outer cyst wall, and the subcutaneous localization of the cysts within the host, were characteristic for B. besnoiti. The parasites were isolated from the infected animals and successfully propagated in Vero cells without prior passages in laboratory animals. Morphological characterization of B. besnoiti tachyzoites and the amplification of the 149 bp segment from the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), aided with specific primers, confirmed the identification of B. besnoiti.

The prevalence of penicillin-non-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae among children aged < 5 years correlates with the biannual epidemic activity of respiratory syncytial virus

This study investigated whether the epidemiology of penicillin-non-susceptible pneumococci (PNSP) colonising small children correlated with the biannual epidemic activity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Colonisation rates and the prevalence of PNSP among paediatric outpatients aged < 5 years was analysed between January 1998 and September 2003 using an established national surveillance network. Resistance trends were investigated using time-series analysis to assess the correlation with the biannual pattern of RSV infections and national sales of oral paediatric formulations of antibiotics and antibiotic prescriptions to children aged < 5 years for acute respiratory tract infections. PNSP rates exhibited a biannual cycle in phase with the biannual seasonal RSV epidemics (p < 0.05). Resistance rates were higher during the winter seasons of 1998-1999 (20.1%), 2000-2001 (16.0%) and 2002-2003 (19.1%), compared with the winter seasons of 1997-1998 (8.2%), 1999-2000 (11.6%) and 2001-2002 (9.5%). Antibiotic sales and prescriptions showed regular peaks during each winter, with no significant correlation with the biannual pattern of RSV activity and seasonal trends of PNSP. RSV is an important determinant of the spread of PNSP and must be considered in strategies aimed at antimicrobial resistance control.

Increased airway smooth muscle mass in children with asthma, cystic fibrosis, and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

RATIONALE: Structural alterations to airway smooth muscle (ASM) are a feature of asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF) in adults. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether increase in ASM mass is already present in children with chronic inflammatory lung disease. METHODS: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed in 78 children (median age [IQR], 11.3 [8.5-13.8] yr): 24 with asthma, 27 with CF, 16 with non-CF bronchiectasis (BX), and 11 control children without lower respiratory tract disease. Endobronchial biopsy ASM content and myocyte number and size were quantified using stereology. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median (IQR) volume fraction of subepithelial tissue occupied by ASM was increased in the children with asthma (0.27 [0.12-0.49]; P < 0.0001), CF (0.12 [0.06-0.21]; P < 0.01), and BX (0.16 [0.04-0.21]; P < 0.01) compared with control subjects (0.04 [0.02-0.05]). ASM content was related to bronchodilator responsiveness in the asthmatic group (r = 0.66, P < 0.01). Median (IQR) myocyte number (cells per mm(2) of reticular basement membrane) was 8,204 (5,270-11,749; P < 0.05) in children with asthma, 4,504 (2,838-8,962; not significant) in children with CF, 4,971 (3,476-10,057; not significant) in children with BX, and 1,944 (1,596-6,318) in control subjects. Mean (SD) myocyte size (mum(3)) was 3,344 (801; P < 0.01) in children with asthma, 3,264 (809; P < 0.01) in children with CF, 3,177 (873; P < 0.05) in children with BX, and 1,927 (386) in control subjects. In all disease groups, the volume fraction of ASM in subepithelial tissue was related to myocyte number (asthma: r = 0.84, P < 0.001; CF: r = 0.81, P < 0.01; BX: r = 0.95, P < 0.001), but not to myocyte size. CONCLUSIONS: Increases in ASM (both number and size) occur in children with chronic inflammatory lung diseases that include CF, asthma, and BX.

[Meningitis (I)--differential diagnosis; aseptic and chronic meningitis].

Meningitis is the most common serious manifestation of infection of the central nervous system. Inflammatory involvement of the subarachnoid space with meningeal irritation leads to the classical triad of headache, fever, and meningism, and to a pleocytosis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Meningitis is clinically categorized into an acute and chronic disease based on the acuity of symptoms. Acute meningitis develops over hours to days, while in chronic meningitis symptoms evolve over days or even weeks. Aseptic meningitis, in which no bacterial pathogen can be isolated by routine cultures, can mimic bacterial meningitis, but the disease has a much more favorable prognosis. Many cases of aseptic meningitis are caused by viruses, primarily enteroviruses, but bacteria and noninfectious etiologies also cause meningitis with negative cultures. Symptoms of meningeal inflammation with CSF pleocytosis that persist for more than 4 weeks define the chronic meningitis syndrome. The diagnosis is based on the patient history, clinical evidence of meningitis, CSF examination, and often imaging studies. The differential diagnosis is broad, and the predominant CSF cell type can provide clues as to the underlying disease. Empiric therapy is primarily based on the age of the patient, with modifications if there are positive findings on CSF gram stain or if the patient presents with special risk factors. In patients with chronic meningitis, a definite diagnosis is often not available or delayed for days, in which case empiric therapy may have to be initiated. It is important to cover the treatable causes of meningitis, for which the outcome is poor if treatment is delayed.

Retrospective study of indications for and outcome of perineal urethrostomy in cats

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate indications for and outcome of perineal urethrostomy in cats. METHODS: The medical records of 59 cats that had undergone perineal urethrostomy were evaluated. Short-term follow up information (for a period of four weeks following surgery) was available for all of the cats. Long-term follow up information (for a period of at least four months) was available for 39 cats. RESULTS: Early complications occurred in 25.4 per cent of cats and late complications were observed in 28.2 per cent of cats. The most frequent late complication was recurring bacterial urinary tract Infection. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Despite frequent complications and recurring signs of lower urinary tract disease, 32.2 per cent of the cats had a disease-free long-term outcome (mean four years, median 3.9 years), and 88.6 per cent of clients interviewed thought that their cats had a good quality of life after surgery.