Pneumonia por toxoplasmose em paciente imunocompetente / Toxoplasma pneumonia in an immunocompetent patient: case repor

Com grande distribuição mundial e incidência significativa, a toxoplamose é uma doença comum em mamíferos e pássaros, causada pelo protozoário Toxoplasma gondii. No homem, o parasitismo na fase proliferativa intracelular pode se apresentar sem sintomas, ou causar clínica transitória caracterizada por febre, fadiga e linfadenopatia. Por se tratar de patologia com sintomas inespecíficos e comuns a muitas outras, é fundamental a correta pesquisa de diagnósticos diferenciais, como citomegalovírus e Epstein-Barr. Relatamos o caso de um jovem e hígido, que desenvolveu pneumonia e, após confirmação sorológica para toxoplasmose e o tratamento adequado, apresentou melhora clínica.

With great worldwide distribution and significant incidence, toxoplamosis is a common disease in mammals and birds, caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. In humans, the parasitism in its intracellular proliferative phase may present no symptoms, or cause a transient condition characterized by fever, fatigue, and lymphadenopathy. Because it is a pathology with nonspecific symptoms that are common to many other conditions, it is fundamental to find the correct research of differential diagnoses, such as for Cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr. We report a case of a young and healthy man who developed pneumonia and, after serological confirmation for toxoplasmosis and the appropriate treatment, presented clinical improvement

Inhibitory effect of Quassia amara Linn. crude bark extract on Entamoeba histolytica in vitro

BACKGROUND: Entamoeba histolytica is an important etiologic agent of diarrhea. Globally, it is estimated to infect 40 to 50 million people and cause 40,000 to 100,000 deaths per year. Metronidazole is effective but can cause adverse reactions in certain individuals. In search of alternatives, traditional medicinal plants are being studied. Several plants in Family Simaroubaceae have shown anti-amoebic activity. Quassia amara, a member of this family has not been tested.OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of Q. amara crude extract on Entamoeba histolytica in vitro.METHODS: Initial testing of 104 µg/ml ethanolic bark extract was performed. Counts were made after 72 hours. Three trials in triplicates were performed.Nine (9) dilutions of extract were then tested (18.8 to 5,00 µg/ml). Test tubes were checked for viable amoeba after 24-hour and 72-hour incubation. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined for the two incubation periods. At least two trials in triplicates for each dilution were performed. metronidazole served as positive control.RESULTS: At 104 µg/ml incubated for 72 hours, no viable amoeba was obtained and counted. The MIC after 24 hours was 5,000 µg/ml, while the MIC at 72 hours was 37.5 µg/ml.CONCLUSION: Q. amara crude extract has inhibitory effects on E. histolycain vitro.

Parasitoses intestinais: uma revisão sobre seus aspectos sociais, epidemiológicos, clínicos e terapêuticos / Intestinal parasitic diseases: a review of social, epidemiologic, clinical and therapeutic aspects

No presente estudo, as enteroparasitoses mais prevalentes no Brasil foram avaliadas segundo determinantes sociais,aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e terapêuticos. Através de breve revisão de literatura e com base nos resultadosde estudos de prevalência, são sintetizados achados que corroboram a associação de sua alta prevalência à pobrezae ao subdesenvolvimento. Foi dedicada especial atenção adoenças tais como a esquistossomose, a giardíase, a ancilostomíase,a amebíase, a estrongiloidíase, a ascaridíase e ateníase. Também estão sumarizadas referências às principaisdrogas antiparasitárias, modo de ação, efeitos adversose avaliação da eficácia de cada tratamento. Destaca-se aimportante atualização dos profissionais da atenção primária nesse assunto e o reconhecimento de que esforços são necessários para maximizar os benefícios adquiridos com o tratamento medicamentoso e manter a qualidadeda saúde da população através da melhoria das condiçõesde saneamento e educação em saúde.

In the present study, the most prevalent enteroparasitosisin Brazil were assessed according to social, epidemiologic,clinical and therapeutic aspects. Through a brief review of the literature, and based on the results of several prevalence studies, high prevalence rates associated with povertyin under developed nations were found and stressed inthe article. Diseases such as schistosomiasis, giardiasis,ancylostomiasis, strongyloidiasis, ascaridiasis and taeniasiswere given more emphasis. There are also references to themain antiparasitc drugs and to their mechanism of action,adverse effects, and efficacy. Primary health care professional smust keep abreast of this subject, and be able toacknowledge that efforts are necessary in order to maximize the benefits of drug treatment and maintain the quality of health of the population, through the improvement of sanitary conditions and health education.

Búsqueda de nuevos agentes antiprotozoarios selectivos / In search of new selective antiprotozoal agents

Se da la información general sobre los fármacos antiprotozoarios que están usándose en clínica, se discuten nuevas dianas de los parásitos protozoarios útiles en la búsqueda de nuevos agentes antiprotozoarios, enfocando la atención al rol biológico de las proteasas de los parásitos protozoarios. Esta información importante será útil para los estudiantes e investigadores que se interesen a los problemas de química medicinal (un área naciente en Colombia) cuál aporta mucho al desarrollo de ciencias médicas. [Kouznetsov V, Meléndez C. Búsqueda de nueveos agentes antiprotozoarios selectivos. MedUNAB 2009; 12:33-45].

The information is given on the antiprotozoal drugs used in clinic, new useful targets of the parasites protozoa in the search of new antiprotozoal agents are discussed, focusing the attention to the biological role of proteasas of the parasites protozoa. This important information will be useful for students and researchers, which are interested in the problems of medicinal chemistry (an appearing area in Colombia) that gives much to the development of medicine sciences. [Kouznetsov V, Meléndez C. In search of new selective antiprotozoal agents. MedUNAB 2009; 12:33-45].