Sarcina ventriculi a rare pathogen

Sarcina ventriculi is a gram-positive bacterium, able to survive in extreme low pH environment. It's first description dates from 1842, by John Goodsir. Since then, just a few cases have been reported. In veterinary medicine, especially in ruminants, it causes bloating, vomiting, gastric perforation and death of the animal. It is commonly associated with delayed gastric emptying or obstruction to gastric outlet, although it's pathogenicity in humans is not fully understood. We report two cases with identification of the bacteria in gastric specimens stained with hematoxylin-eosin staining, in different clinical settings. The first patient is a young female patient, presenting cardiac arrest and death after gastric perforation and the second patient an adult male presenting with gastric adenocarcinoma, treated with partial gastrectomy followed by adjuvant chemoradiation. In our literature review, we identified forty-five cases reporting Sarcina ventriculi appearance, with a sudden increase since 2010.

Effects of remote ischemic preconditioning and topical hypothermia in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate whether combining hypothermia and remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) results in protection from ischemia-reperfusion (IR). Methods: Thirty-two Wistar rats underwent right nephrectomy and were randomly assigned to four experimental protocols on the left kidney: warm ischemia (group 1), cold ischemia (group 2), RIPC followed by warm ischemia (group 3), and RIPC followed by cold ischemia (group 4). After 240 minutes of reperfusion, histological changes in the left kidney, as well as lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activity, were analyzed. The right kidney was used as the control. Serum creatinine was collected before and after the procedures. Results: RIPC combined with hypothermia during IR experiments revealed no differences on interventional groups regarding histological changes (p=0.722). Oxidative stress showed no significant variations among the groups. Lower serum creatinine at the end of the procedure was seen in animals exposed to hypothermia (p<0.001). Conclusions: Combination of RIPC and local hypothermia provides no renal protection in IR injury. Hypothermia preserves renal function during ischemic events. Furthermore, RIPC followed by warm IR did not show benefits compared to warm IR alone or controls in our experimental protocol.

Combined effects of melatonin and topical hypothermia on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate whether their combination was more effective than either alone in decreasing renal damage due to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Methods: Thirty-two Wistar rats were assigned to four groups. Following right nephrectomy, their left kidneys were subjected to warm ischemia (IR), cold ischemia (TH+IR), intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg melatonin (MEL+IR), or injection of 10 mg/kg melatonin followed by cold ischemia (MEL+TH+IR). Eight randomly assigned right kidneys constituted the control group. After 240 min of reperfusion, left nephrectomy was performed for histopathological evaluation, lipid peroxidation, and measurement of antioxidant enzyme activity. Serum was collected to measure urea and creatinine concentrations. Results: Histopathological damage induced by ischemia and reperfusion was more attenuated in the MEL+TH+IR group than in the MEL+IR and TH+IR groups (p<0.037). Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly higher (p<0.029) and creatinine (p<0.001) and urea (p<0.001) concentrations were significantly lower in the MEL+TH+IR group than in the MEL+IR and TH+IR groups. Conclusion: The combination of melatonin (MEL) and topical hypothermia (TH) better protects against renal I/R injury than does MEL or TH alone.

The effects of local ischemic preconditioning and topical hypothermia in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

Abstract Purpose: Topical hypothermia and local ischemic preconditioning have been shown to reduce renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury individually. We examined whether combination of both strategies lessens renal I/R injury. Methods: Post right nephrectomy, 40 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five experimental protocols performed in the left kidney: topical hypothermia without ischemia (TH), warm ischemia (IR), ischemic preconditioning followed by warm ischemia (IPC+IR), cold ischemia (TH+IR), and ischemic preconditioning followed by cold ischemia (IPC+TH+IR). Eight randomly assigned right kidneys constituted the control group. After 240 min of reperfusion, the left kidney was retrieved to evaluate histological changes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes activity. Serum was collected to evaluate urea and creatinine. Results: IPC+TH+IR group revealed no difference to any other group subjected to ischemia in relation to histological changes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes activity. Creatinine was lower in IPC+TH+IR group compared with IPC+IR, but showed no difference compared to TH+IR group. Conclusions: Combination of local ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and topical hypothermia conferred no protection in renal I/R injury. Moreover, local IPC solely followed by warm ischemia impaired renal function more than warm ischemia alone.

Aneurysm and dissection in a patient with syphilitic aortitis

ABSTRACT In the antibiotic era, aortic aneurysm is a rare complication of syphilis, what makes the diagnostic assumption even more difficult. Nonetheless, this condition should be suspected in patients with aortic aneurysm. Reports of aortic dissection complicating syphilitic aortitis have been distinctly rare in the literature, and their cause-effect relationship has not been definitely established. In this case report, we present a 62-year-old woman with aortic aneurysm and dissection associated with an unexpected diagnosis of syphilitic aortitis.

Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis with severe renal impairment associated with multisystem IgG4-related disease / Nefrite túbulo-intersticial aguda com insuficiência renal grave associada à doença multissistêmica por IgG4

Abstract The IgG4-related disease has a wide clinical spectrum where multiple organs can be affected, and the diagnosis depends on typical histopathological findings and an elevated IgG4 expression in plasma cells in the affected tissue. We describe the clinical presentation and evolution of a patient with acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, severe kidney failure and systemic manifestations such as lymphadenomegaly and chronic pancreatitis. The diagnosis was confirmed by the clinical picture and kidney and lymph node histopathology, in which immunohistochemistry of the lymphoid tissue showed policlonality and increased expression of IgG4, with a IgG4/total IgG ratio > 80%. The patient was treated with prednisone at a dose of 60 mg/day, followed by mycophenolate mofetil, and showed clinical and renal function improvement at 6 months of follow-up. The high index of suspicion of IgG4-related disease with multisystem involvement and the early treatment of this condition are essential to improve the prognosis of affected patients.

Resumo A doença relacionada à IgG4 tem um espectro clínico amplo em que múltiplos órgãos podem ser afetados, e o diagnóstico depende de achados histopatológicos típicos e elevada expressão de IgG4 em plasmócitos no tecido afetado. Descrevemos o quadro clínico e a evolução de um paciente com nefrite túbulo-intersticial aguda, insuficiência renal grave e manifestações sistêmicas como linfoadenomegalias e pancreatite crônica. O diagnóstico foi confirmado pelas características clínicas e pela histopatologia renal e de linfonodo, na qual a imunohistoquímica mostrou tecido linfoide com policlonalidade e expressão aumentada de IgG4, com uma relação IgG4/IgG total > 80%. O paciente foi tratado com prednisona na dose de 60 mg/dia, seguido de micofenolato mofetil, e apresentou melhora clínica e da função renal depois de 6 meses de tratamento. O alto índice de suspeição da doença relacionada ao IgG4 com comprometimento multissistêmico e o tratamento precoce desta condição são primordiais para a melhora do prognóstico destes pacientes.

Epithelial trophoblastic tumor associated with in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix / Tumor trofoblástico epitelioide associado a carcinoma epidermoide in situ cervical

Epithelioid trophoblastic tumors are rare neoplasias that develop from the neoplastic transformation of chorionic-type intermediate trophoblasts. They show a wide spectrum of differential diagnoses. The authors describe a case of epithelioid trophoblastic tumor with atypical presentation in a 26-year-old patient that had recently undergone conization for in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The histopathology, immunohistochemistry and differential diagnoses of the lesion are also discussed. No similar case had been reported in the medical literature and it is an example of the hindrances to the diagnosis of epithelioid trophoblastic tumors.

Os tumores trofoblásticos epitelioides são neoplasias raras que se desenvolvem a partir da transformação neoplásica de trofoblastos intermediários coriônicos, apresentando grande espectro de diagnósticos diferenciais. Os autores descrevem um caso de tumor trofoblástico epitelioide com apresentação atípica em paciente de 26 anos de idade, que apresentava história recente de conização por carcinoma epidermoide in situ do colo uterino. Histopatologia, imuno-histoquímica e diagnósticos diferenciais da lesão também são discutidos. Nenhum caso similar foi descrito na literatura, sendo um exemplo das dificuldades encontradas para diagnosticar os tumores trofoblásticos epitelioides.

Implementação de um novo modelo de experimentação animal: Zebrafish / Implementation of a new experimental animal model: Zebrafish

O Danio rerio (zebrafish, paulistinha) é um pequeno peixe de água-doce, que vem sendo utilizado como modelo de animal para o estudo de numerosas doenças humanas. A sua facilidade de manutenção e reprodução e os métodos laboratoriais para sua criação já estão bem estabelecidos. Sua manutenção requer alguns cuidados básicos e a compra de equipamentos específicos, porém estes são de baixo custo. Este peixe é considerado um bom modelo para o estudo de doenças humanas, pode servir como uma relevante plataforma para estudo de eventos moleculares, estratégias terapêuticas e avaliação dos mecanismos fisiológicos de algumas patologias. O Laboratório Experimental de Hepatologia e Gastroenterologia (LEHG), do Centro de Pesquisas do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, iniciou em 2008 estudos na área da Hepatologia com o Zebrafish, aqui apresentados.

Danio rerio (zebrafish, paulistinha) is a freshwater small fish that has been used as an animal model for studies of several human diseases. Its characteristics of being easily bred and reproduced and its laboratory housing methods are well established. It requires some basic care and the acquisition of specific low-cost equipment. Since this fish has already been considered a good human disease model, it may serve as a powerful preclinical platform for the study of molecular events, therapeutic strategies, and for evaluating the physiological mechanisms of some pathologies. The Laboratory of Experimental Hepatology and Gastroenterology (LEHG) of the Research Center of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre initiated studies with the zebrafish in 2008, presented here.