Osteitis and mucosal inflammation in a rabbit model of sinusitis / Osteíte e inflamação mucosa em um modelo experimental de rinossinusite

INTRODUCTION: Several experimental studies have shown osteitis after the onset of sinusitis, supporting the idea that bone involvement could participate in the dissemination and perpetuation of this inflammatory disease. However, procedures commonly performed for the induction of sinusitis, such as antrostomies, can trigger sinusitis by themselves. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate osteitis in an animal model of sinusitis that does not violate the sinus directly and verify whether this is limited to the induction side, or if it affects the contralateral side. METHODS: Experimental study in which sinusitis was produced by inserting an obstructing sponge into the nasal cavity of 20 rabbits. After defined intervals, the animals were euthanized and maxillary sinus samples were removed for semi-quantitative histological analysis of mucosa and bone. RESULTS: Signs of bone and mucosal inflammation were observed, affecting both the induction and contralateral sides. Statistical analysis showed correlation between the intensity of osteitis on both sides, but not between mucosal and bone inflammation on the same side, supporting the theory that inflammation can spread through bone structures, regardless of mucosal inflammation. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that in an animal model of sinusitis that does not disturb the sinus directly osteitis occurs in the affected sinus and that it also affects the contralateral side. .

INTRODUÇÃO: Diversos estudos experimentais evidenciam osteíte após estabelecimento de sinusite, corroborando para a ideia de que o envolvimento ósseo poderia participar na disseminação e perpetuação do processo inflamatório. Porém procedimentos realizados para indução da doença nestes modelos, como antrostomias, podem, por si só, desencadear osteíte. OBJETIVO: Avaliar osteíte em um modelo de rinossinusite em que não ocorre manipulação sinusal e verificar se esta é limitada ao lado de indução, ou se acomete o lado contralateral. MÉTODO: Estudo experimental em que induziu-se rinossinusite em 20 coelhos, por meio de obliteração temporária com esponja de uma das cavidades nasais. Amostras de tecido sinusal foram submetidas à análise histológica semiquantitativa, após sacrifício dos animais em intervalos regulares. RESULTADOS: Foram observados sinais de inflamação óssea e mucosa mais intensa no lado de indução, mas também contralateral. Testes estatísticos evidenciaram correlação entre a osteíte de ambos os lados, porém não entre inflamação óssea e mucosa de um mesmo lado, apoiando a teoria de que a inflamação poderia se disseminar através do tecido ósseo, independente da inflamação mucosa. CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo evidenciou a existência de osteíte, tanto no lado de indução quanto no contralateral, em modelo experimental em que não ocorre manipulação sinusal. .

Candida species isolated from the vaginal mucosa of HIV-infected women in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

BACKGROUND: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common vaginal infection. HIV-infection is a risk factor for this infection. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of VVC and to describe the main Candida species isolated and their susceptibility to antifungal drugs in HIV-infected patients, compared to HIV-uninfected women in Salvador, Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including a group of 64 HIV-infected women and 76 uninfected women, followed up at the AIDS reference center and at the Gynecological Clinic of Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil). RESULTS: Frequency of Candida spp. was higher in HIV-infected women (29.7 percent) than in HIV-uninfected controls (14.5 percent) (p = 0.02). The odds ratio value for vulvovaginal candidiasis in HIV-infected patients was 2.6 (95 percent CI: 1.07 - 6.32 p = 0.03). Candida albicans was the most commonly isolated species in both HIV-infected (52.3 percent) and uninfected women (85.7 percent), followed by C. parapsolis in 17.6 percent and 14.3 percent, respectively. In HIV-infected women, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and a coinfection of C. albicans and C. glabrata were also identified. There was no significant difference between Candida species isolated from the vaginal mucosa of women with VVC and colonization of the vaginal mucosa of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women. One C. glabrata isolate from an HIV-infected patient was resistant to fluconazole and other two isolates exhibited a dose-dependent susceptibility. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm a higher frequency of Candida spp. isolated from the vaginal mucosa of HIV-infected women and a broader spectrum of species involved. Only Candida glabrata isolates showed decreased susceptibility to fluconazole.

Pathogenic characteristics of yeasts isolated from vaginal secretion preserved under mineral oil

In order to evaluate the pathogenicity of yeasts isolated from vaginal secretion of pregnant and non-pregnant women - stored in mineral oil at the URM Mycology Collection, Department of Mycology, Federal University of Pernambuco - 30 samples belonging to the genera Candida, Rhodotorula, Trichosporon, and Kloeckera, were studied regarding their pathogenic characteristics, ability to grow at room temperature (28°C ± 1°C), 37°C, and 42°C for 72 hours, and production of both phospholipase and proteinase. Results showed that all 30 isolates (100%) were able to grow at room temperature and 37°C, and that 17 samples (57%) were able to grow at 42°C. Evaluation of enzymatic activity showed protease activity in only two isolates (7%), namely C. maritima and C. obtusa. Phospholipase activity was detected in 20 isolates (67%) using soy lecithin as substrate at different temperatures. The characterization of yeasts isolated from vaginal secretion and determination of their enzymatic activity may contribute to understanding the epidemiology of vulvovaginitis and assist in the treatment of patients.

Manifestações cutâneo-mucosas da coccidioidomicose: estudo de trinta casos procedentes dos estados do Piauí e Maranhão / Skin and mucous membrane manifestations of coccidioidomycosis: a study of thirty cases in the Brazilian states of Piauí and Maranhão

FUNDAMENTOS: A coccidioidomicose é micose sistêmica usualmente manifesta como infecção benigna de resolução espontânea; porém, uma pequena proporção dos infectados desenvolve quadros progressivos potencialmente fatais, podendo atingir a pele com lesões pleomórficas disseminadas. OBJETIVOS: Identificar e descrever as manifestações cutâneo-mucosas da coccidioidomicose, as ocupações de risco relacionadas à doença e o quadro clínico associado. MÉTODOS: Estudo realizado entre os anos 2003 e 2006 em 30 pacientes portadores de coccidioidomicose provenientes dos estados do Piauí e Maranhão e diagnosticados por exame microscópico direto, cultivo do escarro ou sorologia de triagem de imunodifusão dupla em gel de ágar, aliados à anamnese e exame físico. RESULTADOS: Identificaram-se lesões extrapulmonares em 13 casos (43,3 por cento), com predomínio de manifestações dermatológicas de hipersensibilidade: eritema nodoso (26,6 por cento), exantema com lesões eritemato-escamosas (26,6 por cento) e eritema multiforme (23,3 por cento), além de úlceras de língua (13,3 por cento) e lábio (6,6 por cento) e abscesso subcutâneo (3,3 por cento). Tais manifestações foram observadas na fase aguda da doença. CONCLUSÕES: As manifestações cutâneas associadas à infecção respiratória aguda fortalecem a hipótese diagnóstica desta doença, especialmente, em caçadores de tatus ou pessoas expostas à escavação do solo.

BACKGROUND: Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis that usually presents as a benign infection. Patients generally recover spontaneously; however, a small proportion of infected individuals develop progressive complications that may affect the skin in the form of disseminated pleomorphic lesions and may become fatal. OBJECTIVES: To identify and describe skin and mucous membrane manifestations of coccidioidomycosis, to identify occupational hazards associated with the disease and to determine its associated clinical presentation. METHODS: A study conducted between 2003 and 2006 involving 30 patients from the Brazilian states of Piauí and Maranhão with coccidioidomycosis diagnosed by direct microscopy, sputum culture or screening serology using agar gel double immunodiffusion, in association with anamnesis and physical examination. RESULTS: Extrapulmonary lesions were found in 13 cases (43.3 percent), consisting predominantly of dermatological manifestations of hypersensitivity: erythema nodosum (26.6 percent), exanthema with erythematosquamous lesions (26.6 percent) and erythema multiforme (23.3 percent), as well as ulcerations of the tongue (13.3 percent), lip ulcers (6.6 percent) and subcutaneous abscess (3.3 percent). These manifestations were seen during the acute phase of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Skin manifestations associated with an acute respiratory infection reinforce the hypothesis of a diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis, particularly in individuals who hunt armadillos or in those exposed to soil excavation.

Caracterização fenotípica de leveduras isoladas da mucosa vaginal em mulheres adultas / Phenotypic characterization of yeasts isolated from the vaginal mucosa of adult women

OBJETIVO: caracterizar fenotipicamente leveduras isoladas do conteúdo vaginal de 223 mulheres adultas, sintomáticas (S) e assintomáticas (A) para vulvovaginite, e determinar os indicadores clínicos que possivelmente levam ao surgimento de sinais e sintomas relacionados ao acometimento da mucosa por essa patologia. MÉTODOS: inicialmente foi aplicado um questionário, com questões abertas e fechadas, sobre dados clínicos epidemiológicos. Logo, ocorreu o diagnóstico micológico com semeadura em meio Chrom Agar Candida, identificação micromorfológica e bioquímica. Métodos específicos para detecção de fatores de virulência, proteinase e fosfolipase foram empregados. A análise estatística das variáveis foi estabelecida utilizando os testes χ2 e χ2 de Pearson. RESULTADOS: Candida albicans foi a espécie mais prevalente (87%, S e 67%, A), seguida de Candida glabrata (4%, S e 17%, A). O número de mulheres que referiram adoção de anticoncepcionais foi mais alto entre as sintomáticas, 77%. Nos dois grupos estudados, em torno de 87% apresentaram ciclos menstruais regulares, 57% das mulheres eram casadas com idade entre 30 a 40 anos. Em relação a práticas sexuais, houve para parte das pacientes, concomitância entre os hábitos, anal, oral e vaginal. Em relação à fosfolipase, apenas Candida albicans produziu este fator de virulência em 37,5%. A proteinase foi detectada em Candida albicans, Candida glabrata e Candida parapsilosis. Esse último fator de virulência esteve associado, principalmente, a isolados de pacientes sintomáticas. CONCLUSÕES: a colonização e infecção da mucosa vaginal por levedura é real com diversas espécies de Candida presentes. No entanto, Candida albicans se destaca como espécie prevalente em mucosa vaginal de mulheres adultas. Fica evidente a emergência de espécies de Candida não albicans, algumas com resistência intrínseca aos azólicos, tais como Candida glabrata, Candida...

PURPOSE: to characterize, phenotypically, yeasts isolated from the vaginal content of 223 symptomatic (S) and asymptomatic (A) adult women with vulvovaginitis, and to determine the clinical indicators which may lead to the appearance of signs and symptoms related to the mucosa involvement by this pathology. METHODS: a questionnaire with open and closed questions on epidemiological clinical data was applied initially. Then, mycological diagnosis with sowing in Chrom Agar Candida was done, followed by micro-morphological and biochemical identification. Specific methods for the detection of the virulence factors, proteinase and phospholipase were employed. Statistical analysis was performed through χ2 and Pearson’s χ2 tests. RESULTS: the most prevalent species found was Candida albicans (87%, S and 67%, A) followed by Candida glabrata (4%, S e 17% A). The number of women reporting the use of contraceptives was higher among the symptomatic, 77%. In the two groups studied, about 87% of the women presented regular menstrual cycles and 57% were married with ages between 30 to 40 years old. Concerning the sexual practices, there has been concomitance among anal, oral and vaginal habits from the patients. Only Candida albicans produced the virulence factor phospholipase in 37.5% of them. Proteinase has been detected in Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis. This latter virulence factor was mainly associated to isolates from symptomatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: it is a fact that the vaginal mucosa can be colonized and infected by yeasts, with several Candida species present. Nevertheless, Candida albicans is the most prevalent in the vaginal mucosa of adult women. It is evident the emergence of non-albicans Candida species, some of them with intrinsic resistance to azolics, such as Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, and Candida guillermondii, which can be explained by the inadequate use of medicines and empirical treatment.

[Identification of helicobater pylori in sinonasal mucosa of patients with chronic sinusitis]

Helicobacter pylori is a microaerophilic, gram negative, spiral organism. Which plays arole in the development of gastritis, duodenal gastric ulcer, and gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori normally inhabits the human gastric mucus layer. Previous studies have shown by colonization Helicobacter in dental plaque, saliva, tonsils, adenoids and oral cavity lesions. Sinusitis is the most common hygienic problem in the world and a yearly large part of the budget is spent in the diagnosis and treatment of this problem. There are various theories for possible modes of Helicobacter pylori transmission. Although, there is a relation between colonization of Helicobacter pylori in upper gastrointestinal tract and gastro esophageal reflux. So an investigation to identify the presence of helicobacter pylori in the mucosa of the sinonasal of patients with chronic sinusitis will be needed. In the present study we used the polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and urease test [CLO] to investigate the Helicobacter pylori status of paranasal sinus mucosa specimens, obtained from patients with chronic sinusitis. The present study is designed as case-control. The study was performed on 44 patients who were admitted in the ENT clinic between April 2004 and July 2005.22 patients suffered from chronic sinusitis. All medication in this group had failed. So, these patients were selected for endoscopic surgery of sinus. This group was named the case group [22 patients]. Those who had septal deviation without sinusitis, was named the control group. We obtained two endoscopic biopsy specimens from each side of nasal mucosa of patients. These specimens were studied by the CLO test and PCR for helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter pylori was not detected in the mucosa of sinonasal of patients. According to the present ideas, the presence of helicobacter pylori in the mucosa of sinonasal of patients with chronic sinusitis is of low probability

Prevalencia de Candida albicans y Candida no albicans en diferentes muestras clínicas: Período 1999-2001 / Prevalence of Candida albicansand Candida no albicans inclinical samples during 1999-2001

Las levaduras implicadas en procesos patológicos son de indiscutible importancia debido al incremento experimentado por estas infecciones en las últimas décadas, a los cambios observados en las especies causales y al uso empírico de antifúngicos. En el Centro de Micología se estudiaron 1006 aislamientos provenientes de una amplia gama de muestras clínicas durante el periodo 1999-2001. Candida albicans con 40,3% resultó la especie de mayor frecuencia de aislamiento, pero las especies de Candida no albicans con 54,9% resultaron de mayor prevalencia y el 4,8% fueron otras levaduras. En los hemocultivos Candida parapsilosis con 34,9%, C. albicans con 30,2% y C. tropicalis con 25,6% resultaron las más recuperadas, mientras que C. glabrata se presentó con un 2,3%. En las secreciones mucosas C.albicans con 60%-80% fue la especie preponderante. Hemos detectado especies de Candida causantes de mediastinitis, lo que nos alerta sobre su importancia en estos procesos. Las infecciones del tracto urinario por levaduras se detectaron en mayor frecuencia en individuos hospitalizados, resultando C. albicans con 47,7% la especie más aislada, y dentro de Candida no albicans, C. glabrata con 24,8% y C. tropicalis con 20,0%. En las onixis candidiásicas C. parapsilosis con 37,7% desplazó a C.albicans con 22,0% de este lugar anatómico. Los estudios de sensiblidad al fluconazol de las especies de Candida nos permiten concluir que C.albicans es una especie sensible y que los mayores porcentajes de resistencia se observaron en C. glabrata (21,41%) y and C. krusei (69,23%).

The importance of epidemiological monitoring of yeasts involved in pathologic processes is unquestionable due to the increase of these infections over the last decade, the changes observed in species causing candidiasis, and empirical antifungal treatment. At the Mycology Center, 1006 isolates from a wide range of clinical samples were studied during 1999-2001. Candida albicans (40.3%) was the most isolated species, although, the Candida no albicans species with 54.9% showed the major prevalence. In blood cultures Candida parapsilosis (34.9%), C. albicans (30.2%) and C. tropicalis (25.6%) were recovered most frequently while C. glabrata represented only 2.3%. C. albicans with 60%-80% was the predominant specie in mucosal surface. We also detected Candida mediastinistis, which alert us over the importance at this location. Urinary tract infections caused by yeasts were more frequent in hospitalized patients, being C. albicans (47.7%), the most commonly isolated, followed by C. glabrata (24.8%) and C. tropicalis (20.0%). In the candidal onychomycoses, C. parapsilosis (37.7%) outplaced C. albicans (22.0%). Fluconazole susceptibility studies of Candida species allowed us to conclude that the majority of C. albicans islolates are susceptible, and that the highest resistance averages were observed in C. glabrata (21.41%) and C. krusei (69.23%).

Myospherulosis of maxillary sinus--a case report with review of literature.

Myospherulosis is a rare condition. The authors report a unique case of this entity arising in paranasal sinus. The review of literature with emphasis on pathogenesis is also discussed.