Intestinal cell migration damage induced by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains

Epithelial cell migration is an essential response to enteric pathogens such as enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). This study aimed to investigate the effects of EPEC infection on intestinal epithelial cell migration in vitro, as well as the involvement of type III secretion system (T3SS) and Rho GTPases. Crypt intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) were infected with EPEC strains (E2348/69, ΔescF, and the LDI001 strain isolated from a malnourished Brazilian child) and commensal E. coli HS. Wound migration and cell death assays were performed at different time-points. Transcription and expression of Rho GTPases were evaluated using real-time PCR and western blotting. Overall, EPEC E2348/69 reduced migration and increased apoptosis and necrosis levels compared to EPEC LDI001 and E. coli HS strains. Moreover, EPEC LDI001 impaired cell migration at a higher level than E. coli HS and increased necrosis after 24 hours compared to the control group. The different profiles of virulence genes between the two wild-type EPEC strains, characterized by the absence of espL and nleE genes in the LDI001, might explain the phenotypic results, playing significant roles on cell migration impairment and cell death-related events. Moreover, the type III secretion system is determinant for the inhibition of intestinal epithelial cell migration by EPEC 2348/69, as its deletion prevented the effect. Active Rac1 concentrations were increased in E2348/69 and LDI001-infected cells, while the T3SS-deficient strain did not demonstrate this activation. This study contributes with valuable insight to characterize the mechanisms involved in the impairment of intestinal cell migration induced by EPEC.

Sífilis secundaria en cavidad oral: Reporte de dos casos / Oral secondary syphilis: Two cases report

La sífilis es una enfermedad infecciosa humana causada por una bacteria: el Treponema pallidum. La enfermedad es transmitida por contacto directo a través de lesiones durante el estadio primario y secundario, por vía transplacentaria intrauterina o a través del canal uterino; puede afectar cualquier órgano de la economía causando un número infinito de presentaciones clínicas. La sífilis secundaria cursa con manifestaciones mucocutáneas características y eventual sintomatología general. La presentación clínica de nuestros dos pacientes es singular ya que solo poseían lesiones en la cavidad oral. La respuesta al tratamiento instaurado fue buena.

Syphilis is a human infectious disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. The disease is transmitted by direct contact with a lesion during the primary or secondary stages, in utero by the transplacental route, or during delivery as the baby passes through an infected canal. The bacterium may infect any organ, causing an infinite number of clinical presentations. Secondary syphilis is characterized by mucocutaneous lesions, a flulike syndrome, and generalized adenopathy. Hepatosplenomegaly may be present. The oral mucosa is the second most frequent site of luetic lesions; the genital areas are the most frequent. In the oral cavity, the most characteristic lesion is a whitish mucosal patch, normally located on the lips, tongue, or palate, which is extremely contagious. The differential diagnosis of this lesion may include oral squamous carcinoma, leukoplakia, candidosis, lichen planus, and hairy oral leukoplakia. Definitive diagnosis is based on clinical information and completed by laboratory examinations even the biopsy can help us. With the diagnosis of secondary syphilis treatment with penicillin G benzathine must be started. We present two cases of secondary syphilis with oral lesions only; the first one, a man with macule covered with a whitish membrane on palate mucosa and a lateral neck adenopathy. The lesion had been present for three months. The second one, a woman with painful whitish mucosal patch since two weeks ago. No fever or flulike syndrome. Luetic serologic tests were positive in both cases and in the first one the biopsy showed a chronic inflammatory infiltrate. The drug of choice in the treatment of our patients was benzathine penicillin G.

Xantomas eruptivos: A propósito de dos casos familiares / Eruptive xanthomas: Two familial clinical cases

Se presentan dos pacientes de sexo masculino, familiares de primer grado, tabaquistas y etilistas severos, sin antecedentes patológicos conocidos. Ambos presentan en forma eruptiva la aparición de xantomas y uno de ellos una pancreatitis necrohemorrágica atribuida a su hipertrigliceridemia, complicación muy grave de este trastorno. Si bien los xantomas eruptivos no son muy frecuentes de observar, deben hacernos sospechar en una dislipidemia severa, confirmándola con una examen de laboratorio que pondrá de manifiesto una elevación significativa de los triglicéridos y frecuentemente alteración de los niveles de glucosa en sangre. Además, el estudio histopatológico de las lesiones mostrará macrófagos cargados de lípidos, de aspecto espumoso e infiltrado polimorfonuclear y mononuclear en dermis.

We report a case of two male patients, first-grade relatives, who are heavy drinkers and smokers but apparently have no pathological records. Both show eruptive xanthomas and one of them presents acute necrotic and hemorrhagic pancreatitis due to hypertriglyceridemia, a serious complication of this disorder. Despite the fact that eruptive xanthomas are not frequently observed, they should make us suspect an instance of severe dyslipidemia. In order to verify it, a laboratory test will show a dramatic raise of serum triglyceride levels and usual changes in the blood glucose levels. Moreover, a histopathologic study of the lesion will reveal macrophages full of lipids (foam cells) with polymorphonuclear and mononuclear infiltrate.

Nevo epidérmico inflamatorio lineal (NEVIL): Presentación en la edad adulta / Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus (ILVEN): Late onset disease

El NEVIL es la variedad inflamatoria del nevo epidérmico; es un tumor benigno hamartomatoso, que se distribuye siguiendo las líneas de Blaschko. Estas líneas representarían mosaicismos cutáneos del desarrollo embriológico. El NEVIL suele aparecer en la infancia. Son generalmente unilaterales y en ocasiones muy pruriginosos. El diagnóstico diferencial es frecuentemente dificultoso. Presentamos una paciente en la cual la manifestación de esta patología se produce en forma tardía, siendo esto poco frecuente. El tratamiento es un desafío, se han probado múltiples modalidades terapéuticas, con resultados en ocasiones desalentadores. La cirugía, puede utilizarse en lesiones de pequeño tamaño. Los tratamientos con luz láser podrían ser de utilidad.

The ILVEN is the inflammatory variety of epidermal nevi, benign hamartomatous tumor that distributed following Blaschko lines. These lines represent cutaneous mosaicism in embryologic development. The ILVEN usually appear in the infancy. Generally unilateral and occasionally is very pruriginous. The differential diagnosis is often difficult. We present a patient in which the manifestation of her disease is produced in late onset, being this infrequent. Management is a challenge, multiple therapeutic modalities have been tested, with discouraging results. Surgery can be utilized in small size lesions. Laser therapy could be of utility.

Paracoccidioidomicosis perianal asociada a lepra lepromatosa: Presentación de un caso clínico / Perianal paracoccidioidomycosis associated with lepromatous leprosy: A clinical case report

Se presenta el caso de un paciente alcoholista con una ulceración perianal y manifestaciones cutáneas de enfermedad de Hansen. La biopsia de la lesión perianal y otros estudios arribaron al diagnóstico de una forma diseminada de paracoccidioidomicosis, así como también las biopsias cutáneas y los estudios baciloscópicos fueron diagnósticos de lepra lepromatosa. La respuesta a la terapéutica fue satisfactoria con desaparición de las lesiones cutáneas. La disminución de la respuesta inmunológica celular genera un terreno propicio para la infección de estos gérmenes y al compartir área endémica la asociación entre ambas patologías puede ocurrir.

Lepra and Paracoccidioidomycosis are endemic diseases in Argentina. We report a case of a patient with an unusual perianal ulceration and cutaneous manifestations of Hansen's disease. The biopsy of perianal lesion and subsequent studies revealed a disseminated form of paracoccidioidomycosis, as well as skin biopsy and baciloscopic finding diagnostic of Lepromatous Leprosy. The main portal of entry of paracoccidioides is the lung. Hematogenous dissemination of the fungus may occur at this time, with the establishment of metastatic foci in any organ. Anal and perianal lesions are present only in 1.3 to 2.4% of the patients. The pathogenesis of anal lesions remains unclear, it may be secondary from a systemic or a local disease. The patient response to the therapeutic was notable, with disappearance of lesions up to the third month of started itraconazole orally 400 mg/day leading just atrophy scars in perianal areas. The treatment of Hansen's disease was made according to OMS guidelines for multibacillary disease.

Úlcera de lengua como presentación del Histoplasma capsulatum / Tongue ulceration as a presentation of Histoplasma capsulatum infection

La histoplasmosis diseminada progresiva es una enfermedad que se manifiesta como reactivación de una infección latente en pacientes inmunodeprimidos, especialmente en personas con déficit en la inmunidad celular. Existen formas agudas, subagudas y crónicas. Las lesiones focales, en especial úlceras mucocutáneas, predominan en la forma diseminada crónica. Reportamos el caso de una paciente con artritis reumatoidea, que controlaba su patología con fármacos antirreumáticos modificadores de la enfermedad (DMARD), la que consultó por úlcera de lengua como única manifestación de una histoplasmosis diseminada crónica. La histopatología fue compatible y el cultivo positivo para Histoplasma capsulatum. La serología para el HIV fue negativa. Existen pocos casos publicados de pacientes con esta localización atípica en forma aislada, en particular aquellos HIV negativos. El itraconazol y la anfotericina B son las dos drogas más utilizadas para tratar esta enfermedad. Los datos clínicos sobre los nuevos azoles, voriconazol y posaconazol son limitados.

The progressive disseminated histoplasmosis is a disease produced by reactivation of latent infection in immunocompromised host, specially in persons with defective cell-mediated immunity. There are acute, subacute and chronic forms in the progressive illness. Focal lesions, specially mucocutaneous ulcers, are most frequent in the chronic disseminated forms. We reported a patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated with disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), with an ulcer of the tongue as only clinical manifestation of a chronic disseminated histoplasmosis. The histopathology was compatible, and the culture was positive for Histoplasma capsulatum. The serology for the HIV was negative. There are few published cases of this isolated form, particularly in patients with HIV negative serological test. Itraconazole and amphotericin B are the most frequently drugs used for the treatment in this disease. Clinical data on the new azoles, voriconazole and posaconazole, are limited.

Porfiria cutánea tardía: Reporte de 5 casos / Porphyria cutanea tarda: Five cases report

La PCT es la más común de las porfirias. Es una fotodermatosis que resulta de la deficiencia de la UPD, enzima perteneciente a la vía de síntesis del hemo. Presentamos la evolución de cinco casos de PCT; cuatro de PCT familiar y uno de PCT esporádica. En dos de los pacientes pertenecientes al grupo de PCT tipo II, encontramos como factor de riesgo, el consumo de alcohol, y en la paciente con PCT tipo I se detectó serología positiva para VHC. Todos los pacientes fueron tratados con cloroquina y flebotomías repetidas. Rápidamente se detectó mejoría clínica y bioquímica. Se observó que la porfirinuria continuó en descenso aún luego de suspendida la terapéutica. Tres de los pacientes con PCT familiar persisten en remisión clínica y con ausenciade recaídas tras más de 10 años de seguimiento. Aconsejamos en pacientes que padecen PCT la búsqueda de factores asociados (VHC, HIV, genes de HH) y desencadenantes exógenos (consumo excesivo de alcohol, hierro en la dieta e ingesta de estrógenos) que de ser controlados o evitados, junto con el tratamiento oportuno, contribuyen a un satisfactorio control de la enfermedad.

The porphyria cutanea tarda is the most frequent porphyria, it is a photodermatosis secondary to uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase deficiency; this enzyme belongs to the haem synthesis pathway. We present on this paper the evolution of five cases of PCT, four of them with familiar type and one of them sporadic type. In two patients belonging to PCT type II, we found alcohol addiction as a serious risk, while on the other patients PCT type I we found HCV positive serology. All patients were treated with chloroquine and phlebotomies. We could observe a good response not only clinical but biochemical. We could also see that the porphyrins urinary level continued descending once the drug was withdrew. Three of the patients with familiar PCT remains in clinical remission without any relapses in ten years of control. We advice all the patients that suffer PCT the detection of associated factors such as HCV, HIV, HH genes and the avoidance of the exogenous triggering factors such as excessive intake of alcohol, dietary iron and estrogen intake. Taking these advices into account, together with the correct treatment every patient can control this disease positively or satisfactorily.

Asma e hiperreactividad bronquial en ninos. Fisiopatologia. / Asthma and bronchial hyperreactivity in childen.Physiophatology

En el nino generalmente se encuentran asociadas el asma y la hiperreactividad de la via aerea con varios mecanismos, como las infecciones virales, la exposicion a ciertos alergenos y algunos factores no inmunologicos. En los ninos con tendencia genetica atopica conducen a sensibilizarlos.Se discuten estos hechos y el papel que pueden tener las celulas efectoras mastocito-basofilos y las que modulan esta respuesta del eosinofilo. Se analizan las causas del bronco-espasmo y de la hiperreactividad bronquial como parte importante de la fisiopatologia del asma