A non-hepatotropic parasite infection increases mortality in the acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure murine model: possible roles for IL-5 and IL-6

We evaluated the effects of a non-hepatotropic parasite infection (Taenia crassiceps) on the outcome of acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure in mice. Uninfected and T. crassiceps infected mice orally received either 300 mg/kg acetaminophen or water as vehicle (n = 5 per group). Survival analysis, hepatocyte necrosis, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, CYP2E1 protein, interleukin (IL-) 5, and IL-6 were assessed for all groups. All infected mice died within 16 h after exposure to acetaminophen (Tc+APAP group), whereas only one-third of uninfected animals exposed to acetaminophen (APAP group) died. Uninfected (Control group) and infected (Tc group) mice that received the vehicle showed no liver damage. Tc+APAP mice exhibited massive liver necrosis characterised by marked balloning degeneration of hepatocytes and higher serum ALT compared to Control, Tc, and APAP animals. Liver tissue from Tc+APAP mice also displayed increased expression of CYP2E1 protein and higher mRNA and protein levels of IL-5 and IL-6 compared to the other groups. These findings suggest that non-hepatotropic parasite infections may increase mortality following acute liver failure by promoting hepatocyte necrosis via IL-5 and IL-6-dependent CYP2E1 overproduction. This study identifies new potential risk factors associated with severe acute liver failure in patients.

Infecções parasitárias do apêndice cecal e suas relações com apendicite aguda / Parasitic infection of the appendix and its possible relationship to acute appendicitis

Investigou-se a prevalência de infecções parasitárias do apêndice cecal e suas relações com a apendicite. Dos 1.600 apêndices estudados 24 (1,5 por cento) apresentaram infecção parasitária. Enterobius vermicularis foi encontrado em 23 casos (95,8 por cento) e Taenia sp em apenas um (4,2 por cento). Dezesseis pacientes (66,7 por cento) eram menores de 10 anos; 15 eram masculinos e 9 femininos. A análise histopatológica demonstrou inflamação aguda supurativa em 12 casos (50 por cento), eosinofilia em 13 (54,2 por cento) e hiperplasia linfóide em 10 (41,7 por cento). Complicações como peritonite ocorreram em 11 e gangrena em 3 casos. As infecções parasitárias do apêndice são causa pouco freqüente de apendicite aguda em crianças e adolescentes.

From 1,600 surgically removed appendices, 24 (1.5 percent) were found to have helminths. Enterobius vermicularis was observed in 23 of the 24 specimens (95.8 percent) and Taenia sp was detected in only 1 (4.2 percent) case. Sixteen patients (66.7 percent) were less than 10 year-old; 15 patients were male and 9 female. Pathologic analysis disclosed acute neutrophilic inflammation in 12 cases and lymphoid hyperplasia in 10 of the 24 appendices. Gangrenous appendicitis was diagnosed in 3 cases and peritonitis was found in 11 of the 24 infested appendices. Parasitic infection of the appendix is an uncommon cause of acute appendicitis in children and adolescents.

Prevalencia de la teniasis y la cisticercosis en Bolivia: datos y consideraciones preliminares / Prevalence of teniasis and cysticiscosis in Bolivia: Data and preliminary consideratins

Se pasa revista a trabajos y publicaicones efectuadas en Bolivia acerca de la teniasis y cisticercosis producida por Taenia solium enel país. Se encuentran cifras que varían entre el 0 porciento de teniasis (como Taenia sp) para algunas zonas rurales de Santa Cruz, el 6.20 porciento en la ciudad de La Paz y el 8,70 porciento en la localidad minera de Chorolque. En la ciudad de La Paz se encuentra un prevalencia de cisticercosis porcina que fluctúa entre el 3.71 porciento y el 9,20 porciento en los diferentes mataderon que surten a la ciudad. La cisticercosis humana fue detectada en la mayor parte de las zonas geográficas del país y en todas sus capas sociales. En el Hospital Universitario de La Paz se encontró una fecuencia del 1.33 porciento de cisticercosis cerebral en 1202 autopsias practicadas entre los años de 1954 a 1972. el 25 porciento de los casos de epilepsia encontrados en un estudio neuroepidemiológico realizado en Viacha siguiendo el protocolo de la OMS en 1985, mostro calcificaciones intracraneales sospechosas de constituir cisticercosis lo cual indicaría que por lo menos el 6.5 por mil de la pobalción sifriría de cisticercosis de acuerdo ala cifra global de epilepsias encontradas en ese estudio (26 por mil).