Low-level red laser therapy alters effects of ultraviolet C radiation on Escherichia coli cells

Low-level lasers are used at low power densities and doses according to clinical protocols supplied with laser devices or based on professional practice. Although use of these lasers is increasing in many countries, the molecular mechanisms involved in effects of low-level lasers, mainly on DNA, are controversial. In this study, we evaluated the effects of low-level red lasers on survival, filamentation, and morphology of Escherichia colicells that were exposed to ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation. Exponential and stationary wild-type and uvrA-deficientE. coli cells were exposed to a low-level red laser and in sequence to UVC radiation. Bacterial survival was evaluated to determine the laser protection factor (ratio between the number of viable cells after exposure to the red laser and UVC and the number of viable cells after exposure to UVC). Bacterial filaments were counted to obtain the percentage of filamentation. Area-perimeter ratios were calculated for evaluation of cellular morphology. Experiments were carried out in duplicate and the results are reported as the means of three independent assays. Pre-exposure to a red laser protected wild-type and uvrA-deficient E. coli cells against the lethal effect of UVC radiation, and increased the percentage of filamentation and the area-perimeter ratio, depending on UVC fluence and physiological conditions in the cells. Therapeutic, low-level red laser radiation can induce DNA lesions at a sub-lethal level. Consequences to cells and tissues should be considered when clinical protocols based on this laser are carried out.

Cilindromatose: apresentação de um caso / cylindromatosis

Os aoutores descrevem um caso de cilindromatose em um paciente de 45 anos. O paciente natural e residente em Teresópolis- RJ, possui uma história familiar composta de cinco gerações, das quais três apresentam comprometimento dermatológico em graus variados. Os exames laboratórias não apresentam alterações patológics, os raios X e a tomografia computadorizada mostram sinais caracteristicos de cilindromatose. Discute-se o diagnóstico diferencial desta rara enfermidade, da qual em nosso levantamento bibliográfico, não há refereência na literatura

Documentaçäo brasileira sobre a ausência de elevaçäo da IgE sérica total em infecçöes por protozoários / Brazilian report about the absence of total serum IgE elevation in protozoan infections

Documentamos na literatura, pela primeira vez de maneira controlada, a ausência de elevação da IgE sérica total nas infecções por protozoários. Nas helmintíases a hiperimunoglobulinemia E ocorre pela maior produção de IL-4 e IL-5. Estudamos sete doenças causadas por protozoários: giardíase, doença de Chagas, amebíase, toxoplasmose, malária, tricomoníase e leishmaniose tegumentar. O grupo-controle foi pareado para sexo, idade, raça; não possuía história pessoal e(ou) familiar de atopia (asma, rinite e dermatite atópica), não havia desnutrição pertencendo ao mesmo grupo socioeconômico local brasileiro deo grupo-teste e apresentava três exames de fezes parasitológicos negativos. Nos países tropicais as populações normais apresentam níveis de IgE sérica total mais elevados do que os encontrados no hemisfério norte

Respiratory atopy and domestic mite sensitization in Rio de Janeiro

Domestic mites occur in a significant percentage of homens in Rio de Janeiro, a tropical geographic region of Brazil. Local weather conditions (hot and humid) promote the significant mite proliferation. Objective. We are registering the allergic mite sensitization of a population with asthma and/or rhinitis living in this coastal area. Methods. A total of 600 patients with asthma and/or rhinitis aged>=2 years underwent 3,810 allergy skin tests (Multi-Test). Eight different extracts were applied: American house dust (Ahd), Brazilian house dust (Bhd), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), Blomia tropicalis (Bt), Chortoglyhphus arcuatus (Ca), Aleuroglyphus ovatus (Ao) and Lepidoglyphus destructor (Ld). RAST to Dp, Bt, Ca, Ao and Ld were performed with sera of randomized 14 atopic subjects. Results A positive immediate skin test to at least one allergen was detected in 387 patients (64,5 percent). Domestic mite sensitization was documented in about 90 percent of the atopic individuals. Bt has unique antigens since 4.15 percent of the subjects had positive exclusive reactions. RAST analyses showed that both Dp and Bt are the most important local mite sensitizers with cross-reactivity to the other mites. Conclusion. This study confirms that domestic mites are the most prevalent local allergens associated with asthma and/or rhinitis. Sensitization to Bt was very common and it should be checked routinely for the diagnosis of respiratory atopy in Rio de Janeiro

Estudo duplo-cego sobre a eficacia e a seguranca do creme de alcometasoma no tratamento de dermatite atopica. / Double-blind study on the efficacy and safety of alclomethasone cream in the treatment of atopic dermatitis

Trinta pacientes portadores de dermatite atopica foram submetidos ao tratamento com alclometasona (15 pacientes) e butirato de hidrocortisona (15 pacientes) durante tres semenas com aplicacao topica diaria dos produtos. A evolucao dos sinais e sintomas bem como os resultados finais foram analisados. Verificou-se que a eficacia de ambos os medicamentos foi identica em ambos os grupos