Dengue fever as a potential cause of sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis: A report of two cases

Abstract Sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis is a potentially fatal syndrome characterized by jaundice, painful hepatomegaly, and organ dysfunction. Two cases of sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis associated with dengue fever were described. Endothelial damage/dysfunction is a mechanism involved in severe hepatobiliary complications related to sickle cell diseases. However, the reasons for the lack of increase in the admission of patients with sickle cell disease having severe acute hepatobiliary complications triggered by endothelial damage/dysfunction due to dengue fever remain unknown. This study describes the first association between sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis and dengue fever.

Quimioterapia intratecal: percepções e significados atribuídos por pacientes com câncer hematológico / Intrathecal chemotherapy: perceptions and meanings attributed by patients with hematological cancer / Quimioterapia intratecal: percepciones y signficados atribuidos por pacientes com cáncer hematológico

Objetivo: analisar os significados e as percepções dos pacientes submetidos à quimioterapia intratecal sobre esse tratamento. Método: estudo descritivo de abordagem quantiqualitativa, desenvolvida com 13 participantes atendidos em uma central de quimioterapia de um hospital universitário do interior de Minas Gerais, entre os anos de 2015 a 2016, cujos dados, obtidos por meio de entrevistas, foram submetidos à análise do discurso do sujeito coletivo. Aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da instituição campo do estudo. Resultados: dos dados codificados emergiram cinco discursos: desconhecimento do tratamento, dor, ansiedade, fé e esperança. Conclusão: a quimioterapia intratecal é desconhecida pelos pacientes em tratamento, causando ansiedade, dor e reações adversas as quais trazem prejuízo para a qualidade de vida desses indivíduos. Com isso criam-se mecanismos de enfrentamento da doença por meio da fé e da esperança.

Objective: analyze the meanings and perceptions of patients undergoing intrathecal chemotherapy about this treatment Method: qualitative and descriptive study carried out with 13 participants attended at a Chemotherapy Center of a University Hospital in the interior of Minas Gerais, from 2015 to 2016, whose data were submitted to the analysis of the collective subject discourse. Approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the study development institution. Results: the information obtained through the interviews was coded and five discourses emerged: lack of treatment, pain, anxiety, faith and hope. Conclusion: intrathecal chemotherapy is unknown to patients undergoing treatment, causing anxiety, pain and adverse reactions that impair their quality of life. This creates mechanisms for coping with the disease through faith and hope.

Objetivo: analizar los significados y las percepciones de los pacientes sometidos a quimioterapia intratecal sobre este tratamiento. Método: estudio de enfoque cuantitativo y descriptivo desarrollado con 13 participantes atendidos en un Centro de Quimioterapia de un Hospital Universitario en el interior de Minas Gerais, entre 2015 y 2016, cuyos datos fueron sometidos al análisis del discurso del sujeto colectivo. Aprobado por el Comité de Ética en Investigación de la institución de desarrollo del estudio. Resultados: la información obtenida a través de las entrevistas fue codificada y surgieron cinco discursos: falta de tratamiento, dolor, ansiedad, fe y Esperanza. Conclusión: la quimioterapia intratecal es desconocida para los pacientes sometidos a tratamiento, lo que causa ansiedad, dolor y reacciones adversas que deterioran su calidad de vida. Esto crea mecanismos para hacer frente a la enfermedad a través de la fe y la esperanza.

Aureobasidium pullulans infection in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Saprophytic fungi are being increasingly recognized as etiologic agents of mycoses in immunosuppressed patients. We report a case of subcutaneous infiltration by Aureobasidium pullulans, likely due to traumatic inoculation, in a neutropenic patient during chemotherapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The patient was treated with amphotericin B deoxycholate but was subsequently switched to itraconazole, which improved the lesion. This case highlights the importance of considering unusual fungal infections in critically ill patients such as those who are immunosuppressed due to chemotherapy. Diagnostic techniques and effective antifungal therapy have improved the prognosis of these cases.

Aplastic anemia associated to systemic lupus erythematosus in an AIDS patient: a case report

Aplastic anemia is a bone marrow failure syndrome characterized by peripheral cytopenias and hypocellular bone marrow. Although aplastic anemia is idiopathic in most cases, rheumatic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus are recognized as causes of aplastic anemia, with their possible etiological mechanisms being T and B lymphocyte dysfunction and pro-inflammatory cytokines and autoantibody production directed against bone marrow components. In the course of the human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the identification of autoantibodies and the occurrence of rheumatic events, in addition to the natural course of systemic lupus erythematosus which is modified by immune changes that are characteristic of human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, make the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus challenging. This study reports the case of a woman with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome treated with a highly active antiretroviral therapy, who had prolonged cytopenias and hypocellular bone marrow consistent with aplastic anemia. The clinical picture, high autoantibodies titers, and sustained remission of the patient's hematological status through immunosuppression supported the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus-associated aplastic anemia. This is the first report of aplastic anemia concurrent with systemic lupus erythematosus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, providing additional evidence that immune dysfunction is a key part of the pathophysiological mechanism of aplastic anemia.

Testicular myeloid sarcoma: case report

Myeloid sarcomas are extramedullary solid tumors composed of immature granulocytic precursor cells. In association with acute myeloid leukemia and other myeloproliferative disorders, they may arise concurrently with compromised bone marrow related to acute myeloid leukemia, as a relapsed presentation, or occur as the first manifestation. The testicles are considered to be an uncommon site for myeloid sarcomas. No therapeutic strategy has been defined as best but may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This study reports the evolution of a patient with testicular myeloid sarcoma as the first manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia. The patient initially refused medical treatment and died five months after the clinical condition started.

Seasonal profile and level of CD4+ lymphocytes in the occurrence of cryptosporidiosis and cystoisosporidiosis in HIV/AIDS patients in the Triângulo Mineiro region, Brazil

Patients with AIDS are particularly susceptible to infection with intestinal coccidia. In this study the prevalence of infections with Cryptosporidium sp and Cystoisospora belli were evaluated among HIV/AIDS patients in the Triângulo Mineiro region, Brazil. Between July 1993 and June 2003 faecal samples from 359 patients were collected and stained by a modified Ziehl-Neelsen method, resulting in 19.7 percent of positivity for coccidian (8.6 percent with Cryptosporidium sp, 10.3 percent with Cystoisospora belli and 0.8 percent with both coccidian). Patients with diarrhoea and T CD4+ lymphocyte levels < 200 cells/mm3 presented higher frequency of these protozoans, demonstrating the opportunistic profile of these infections and its relationship with the immunological status of the individual. It was not possible to determine the influence of HAART, since only 8.5 percent of the patients positive for coccidian received this therapy regularly. Parasitism by Cryptosporidium sp was more frequent between December and February and thus was characterised by a seasonal pattern of infection, which was not observed with Cystoisospora belli.

Pacientes com AIDS são particularmente susceptíveis a infecção por coccídios intestinais e nesse estudo foi avaliada a freqüência de Cryptosporidium sp. e Cystoisospora belli entre pacientes HIV/AIDS na região do Triângulo Mineiro, Brasil. No período de julho de 1993 a junho de 2003, amostras de fezes de 359 pacientes foram submetidas à coloração pelo método de Ziehl-Neelsen modificado, sendo detectada a presença de coccídios em 19,7 por cento destas (8,6 por cento de Cryptosporidium sp, 10,3 por cento de Cystoisospora belli e 0,8 por cento de ambos coccídios). Pacientes com diarréia e níveis de linfócitos T CD4+ < 200 células/mm3 apresentaram maior frequência destes protozoários, demonstrando o perfil oportunista destas infecções e a relação com o status imunológico do indivíduo. Não foi possível determinar a influência da HARRT, pois apenas 8,5 por cento dos pacientes positivos para coccídios fazriam uso regular desta terapia. Parasitismo por Cryptosporidium sp foi mais freqüente no período compreendido de dezembro a fevereiro caracterizando padrão sazonal desta infecção, fato não observado com Cystoisospora belli.

Pelagra endógena e ataxia cerebelar sem aminoacidúria: doença de Hartnup? / Endogenous pellagra and cerebellar ataxia without aminoaciduria: Hartnup disease?

Menino, 7 anos, com história de convulsão, hiperpigmentação cutânea em áreas de exposição solar e episódios recorrentes de ataxia cerebelar. Estabelecido diagnóstico clínico de doença de Hartnup, foi tratado com nicotinamida, com melhora. Análises não confirmaram aminoacidúria ou outras alterações metabólicas. Na doença de Hartnup ocorre defeito no transporte renal e intestinal de aminoácidos neutros, reduzindo triptofano disponível para produção de niacina. Cursa com ataxia cerebelar intermitente, erupções cutâneas pelagróides e distúrbios mentais. Aminoacidúria em cromatografia urinária confirma diagnóstico, porém são descritos casos compatíveis com doença de Hartnup sem aminoacidúria.

A seven-year-old boy with history of convulsion, cutaneous hyperpigmentation in sun-exposed areas and recurrent episodes of cerebellar ataxia is presented. Once established the clinical diagnosis of Hartnup disease, treatment with nicotinamide was started, with improvement. Laboratorial results did not confirm aminoaciduria nor other identified metabolic changes. In Hartnup disease, defective renal and intestinal transport of neutral amino acids occurrs, resulting in reduction of tryptophan to produce to nicotinamide. Symptomatic cases present with intermittent episodes of cerebellar ataxia, pellagra-like skin rash and mental disturbances. Urinary chromatographic amino acid pattern confirms diagnosis; however, cases compatible with Hartnup disease, but without aminoaciduria, have been reported.

Angina de Ludwig: tratamento cirúrgico minimamente invasivo e guiado por ultra-sonografia cervical / Ludwig´s angina: minimally invasive surgical treatment guided by cervical ultrasonography

A angina de Ludwig é um processo infecto-inflamatório que acomete o assoalho da boca e o pescoço, com marcado edema tecidual, ocasionando dificuldades respiratórias e de deglutição, trismo e toxemia, podendo ter evolução fatal. A etiologia é predominantemente associada a infecções dentárias, exodontias ou traumas orais, sendo de bacteriorlogia polimicrobiana. O diagnóstico é clínico e a avaliação por imagem geralmente feita por radiografias simples e pela tomografia computadorizada, sendo a ultra-sonografia pouco utilizada. O tratamento constitui-se na manutenção de via áerea patente, antibioticoterapia precoce, hidratação e eventualmente procedimentos cirúrgicos agressivos, em casos de evolução desfavorável.