Heterotopia pancreática em vesícula biliar: um relato de caso / Heterotopic pancreas in the gallbladder: a case report

A heterotopia pancreática é definida como a presença de tecido pancreático em localização topográfica anômala. Essa patologia pode acometer variadas estruturas da cavidade abdominal, mas raramente manifesta-se na vesícula biliar. Até o momento, menos de 40 casos de heterotopia pancreática em vesícula biliar foram relatados na literatura médica. Apresentamos um caso de uma mulher de 25 anos, que realizou uma colecistectomia videolaparoscópica por colelitíase, com exame anatomopatológico que identificou uma heterotopia pancreática. Apesar de rara, a doença deve ser considerada em pacientes com sintomatologia de doenças da via biliar e de doenças pancreáticas e sem diagnóstico após uma investigação de rotina, tendo em vista que o tecido pancreático ectópico está sujeito às mesmas alterações patológicas, manifestações clínicas e complicações encontradas no próprio pâncreas. (AU)

Heterotopic pancreas is defined as the presence of pancreatic tissue at an anomalous location. This condition may affect multiple structures in the abdominal cavity but rarely appears in the gallbladder. To date, fewer than 40 cases of heterotopic pancreas in the gallbladder have been reported in the medical literature. We present a case of a 25 year-old woman who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis, with a pathology test that detected heterotopic pancreas. Despite its rarity, this disease must be considered in cases of corresponding symptoms without a diagnosis after a routine evaluation, considering that ectopic pancreatic tissue is exposed to the same pathological alterations, clinical manifestations, and complications found in the pancreas. (AU)

Infection by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in both humans and the snail Achatina (Lissachatina) fulica in the city of Macapá, in the Amazon Region of Brazil

In January and February 2019, a malacological survey was conducted in the area surrounding the residence of a 12-year-old child that had contracted cerebral angiostrongyliasis in the municipality of Macapá, capital of the Amapá State, northern Brazil. The serological examination was positive for Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection, the principal etiological agent of this parasitosis. A sample of 54 molluscs was artificially and individually digested for parasitological analysis, containing 38 specimens of Achatina fulica, nine specimens of Bulimulus tenuissimus and seven specimens of Sarasinula linguaeformis. A. fulica was the most abundant mollusc, and the only species infected with A. cantonensis, as well as presenting co-infections with other nematodes. This is the first report of cerebral angiostrongyliasis in the Amazon Region, and the first record of A. fulica infected with A. cantonensis in Amapá. These findings highlight the potential risks of human angiostrongyliasis, and the need to implement public health measures to control the spread of the disease.

Abdominal angiostrongyliasis can be diagnosed with a immunochromatographic rapid test with recombinant galactin from Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Angiostrongylus costaricensis is the causative agent of abdominal angiostrongyliasis, a zoonotic infection that may produce severe eosinophilic enterocolitis or hepatitis in humans. Parasites are usually not released in stools and serology has an important role in diagnosis. Since cross-reactivity is demonstrated between A. costaricensis and another metastrongylid worm, A. cantonensis, we tested heterologous recombinant galectin as a probe in an immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic test (ICT-RDT) for detection of anti-A. costaricensis antibodies. Almost all (11/12) positive control sera from A. costaricensis infected patients were positive at ICT RDT. These are preliminary indications that r-galectin ICT-RDT is useful for diagnosing A. costaricensis infection.

Schistosomiasis: an epidemiological update on Brazils southernmost low endemic area in Esteio

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul (RGS), was considered schistosomiasis-free until 1998 when a low endemic focus was identified in Esteio, a city located next to the capital of RGS. In the last two decades, the control interventions applied in the region have been apparently successful, and the absence of new cases indicated the possibility of interrupted schistosomiasis transmission. The objective of this study was to update the clinical and epidemiological data of schistosomiasis in Esteio. METHODS: We reviewed all 28 individuals diagnosed with the infection since 1997 and a survey was applied to a group of 29 school-aged children residing in Vila Pedreira, one of the most affected neighborhoods. RESULTS No eggs were detected in fecal samples using the Helmintex method, and all samples were negative for serum antibodies on examination by the western blot technique using the Schistosoma mansoni microsomal antigen (MAMA- WB). In contrast, 23 individuals (79%) tested positive for the cathodic circulating antigen with the point-of-care immunochromatographic test (POC-CCA) on urine samples. Of the 28 formerly infected individuals, only eight were located, of which four tested positive, and four tested negative for serum antibodies using the MAMA-WB technique. CONCLUSIONS: Current adverse conditions for S. mansoni transmission in Esteio and the absence of a confirmed diagnosis suggests that there is (i) a lack of specificity of the POC-CCA test in low endemic settings, and (ii) a high probability that interruption of schistosomiasis has been achieved in Esteio.

Eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis: an emergent disease in Brazil

Eosinophilic meningitis (EoM) is an acute disease that affects the central nervous system. It is primarily caused by infection with the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis. This infection was previously restricted to certain Asian countries and the Pacific Islands, but it was first reported in Brazil in 2007. Since then, intermediate and definitive hosts infected with A. cantonensis have been identified within the urban areas of many states in Brazil, including those in the northern, northeastern, southeastern and southern regions. The goals of this review are to draw the attention of the medical community and health centres to the emergence of EoM in Brazil, to compile information about several aspects of the human infection and mode of transmission and to provide a short protocol of procedures for the diagnosis of this disease.

Transição epidemiológica, estresse oxidativo e doenças crônicas não transmissíveis sob uma perspectiva evolutiva: [revisão] / Epidemiological transition, oxidative stress and chronic non-communicable diseasesfrom an evolutionary perspective: [review]

Objetivo: realizar uma revisão narrativa sobre o papel das transições epidemiológicas no desequilíbrio do metabolismo oxidativo envolvido na etiologia das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, sob uma perspectiva evolutiva, ambiental e sociocultural da espécie Homo sapiens.Fonte de dados: as fontes consultadas foram as bases de dados Medline, LILACS e do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística.Síntese dos dados: diversos estudos têm investigado o papel do metabolismo oxidativo na gênese das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, sugerindo uma associação entre a quebra da homeostasia celular e o aumento do risco para estas doenças. Evidências sugerem que essa quebra na homeostasia e o surgimento das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis tenham sido causados pelas transições epidemiológicas que iniciaram no Período Neolítico, com alterações entre as relações ecológicas entre humanos, plantas, animais e patógenos. Essas alterações levaram à perda de diversidade de alimentos, sedentarismo e poluição, criando distúrbios no equilíbrio redox celular e aumento da incidência das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis.Conclusões: mudanças ao longo da história evolutiva humana afetaram o metabolismo celular promovendo o desencadeamento de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. Portanto, é fundamental compreendermos como essas mudanças ocorreram e qual o seu impacto fisiopatológico no organismo, para identificarmos indivíduos que são mais suscetíveis a desenvolverem doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, bem como para a construção de planos de ação para a sua prevenção.

Aims: To perform a narrative review on the role of epidemiological transition in the imbalance of oxidative metabolism involved in the etiology of chronic noncommunicable diseases from an evolutionary, environmental and socio-cultural perspective of the Homo sapiens species.Source of data: The sources consulted were Medline, LILACS, and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics databases.Summary of findings: Several studies have investigated the role of oxidative metabolism in the genesis of chronic non-communicable diseases, suggesting an association between the breakdown of cellular homeostasis and the increased risk for these diseases. Evidence suggests that this breakdown in homeostasis and the emergence of chronic non-communicable diseases has been caused by epidemiological transitions that began in the Neolithic Period, with changes in the ecological relationships between humans, plants, animals and pathogens. These changes led to loss of diversity of food, sedentary lifestyle and pollution, by creating disturbances in cellular redox balance, and increased incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases.Conclusions: Changes along the human evolutionary history affected the cellular metabolism by promoting the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases. Therefore it is essential to understand how these changes occurred and their pathophysiological impact in the body, for identifying individuals who are more susceptible to develop chronic non-communicable diseases, and to build action plans for prevention.