Charcoal-Induced Granuloma That Mimicked a Nodal Metastasis on Ultrasonography and FDG-PET/CT after Neck Dissection

Charcoal can be used for preoperative localization of metastatic lymph nodes in the neck. Charcoal remains stable without causing foreign body reactions during as hort period. However, foreign body reactions may develop if charcoal is left in situ for more than 6 months. We reported a case of charcoal granuloma mimicking local recurrence on fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography and ultrasonography in a 47-year-old woman who had cervical lymph node dissection due to metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Efecto del carbón activado, ácido indolacético (AIA) y bencil amino purina (BAP) en el desarrollo de protocormos de epidendrum elongatum jacq bajo condiciones in vitro / The effect of activated charcoal, indol acetic acid (IAA) and benzylaminopurine (BAP) on epidendrum elongatum jacq protocorm-like body (PLB) development in vitro conditions

El desarrollo vegetativo de los protocormos de Epidendrum elongatum Jacq., una orquídea endémica y en vías de extinción, se logró eficazmente mediante el cultivo in vitro en el medio Murashige y Skoog (1962), donde se evaluó el efecto de la interacción entre los siguientes tres factores: carbón activado (0,0; 0,5; 1,0% (w/v)); ácido indol acético (0,0; 0,5; 1,0 mg.L-1); bencil amino purina (0,0; 0,5; 1,0 mg.L-1). El medio de cultivo empleado fue enriquecido con sacarosa al 3%, y el Myo inositol al 0,1 g.L-1. En este estudio se evaluó que el efecto sobre la tasa de crecimiento de la interacción del carbón activado en concentraciones de 0,5 y 1,0% con 0,5 mg.L-1 de AIA es positivo para el desarrollo de los protocormos de E. elongatum bajo condiciones in vitro, mientras que la interacción del BAP, tanto en concentraciones de 0,5 mg.L-1 y 1,0 mg.L-1, muestra resultados no tan favorables en cuanto al grado de desarrollo de los protocormos estudiados. Este estudio describe un protocolo que permite alcanzar más de 270.000 plántulas en excelente desarrollo vegetativo dentro de 30 semanas, a partir de una cápsula de esta importante orquídea. Este protocolo es un modelo de conservación para especies que se encuentran en vías de extinción, y además permite la propagación a gran escala de Epidendrum elongatum.

The vegetative development of protocorm-like bodies (PLB) from Epidendrum elongatum Jacq. (an endemic and endangered orchid) was effectively achieved through in vitro culture in Murashige and Skoog medium (1962); the effect of the interaction between the following three factors was studied: activated charcoal (0.0, 0.5, 1.0% (w/v)), indol acetic acid (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 mg.L-1), benzylaminopurine (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 mg.L-1). The culture medium being gerused was enriched with 3% sucrose and 0.1 g.L-1 myo-inositol. This study revealed that the effect of 0.5% and 1.0% activated charcoal concentrations interacting with 0.5 mg.L-1 AIA on PBL growth rate was positive for E. elongatum PBL development in vitro conditions, whereas the interaction of BAP (at both 0.5 mg.L-1 and 1.0 mg.L-1 concentration) did not produce such favourable results regarding the degree of development of the PLB being studied. This study describes a protocol leading to more than 270,000 seedlings enjoying excellent vegetative growth being obtained within 30 weeks from a single capsule from this important orchid. This protocol represents a model for conserving endangered species and promotes large-scale Epidendrum elongatum propagation.

Histoplasmose pulmonar aguda: relato de uma microepidemia / Acute pulmonary histoplasmosis: report of an outbreak

Os autores relatam uma microepidemia de histoplasmose pulmonar, com cinco crianças que desenvolveram a doença em um período de 7 a 14 dias após a limpeza de um forno desativado para produção de carvão vegetal. Todas apresentaram quadro de febre alta persistente, tosse seca, astenia e anorexia, com 28 dias de evolução. Quando buscaram atendimento médico, uma delas encontrava-se taquipnéica, febril, com hepatomegalia e palidez cutânea, estando as restantes em regular estado geral e já sem febre. As radiografias de tórax demonstravam, em todos os casos, infiltrados reticulonodulares grosseiros, difusos e bilaterais, além de linfonodomegalias hilares. As tomografias computadorizadas evidenciaram pequenos nódulos difusos, com distribuição aleatória, além das linfonodomegalias. Os diagnósticos foram confirmados por meio da imunodifusão em gel para Histoplasma capsulatum, que foi positiva em todas as amostras pareadas coletadas com 15 dias de intervalo. Apenas uma criança necessitou de internação, por causa de importante queda no estado geral, sendo realizado tratamento de suporte e observação. Todas as crianças evoluíram com melhora clínica, sem o uso de antifúngicos, e foram submetidas a tomografias de controle após cerca de 50 dias, que demonstraram importante regressão das lesões.

The authors report a pulmonary histoplasmosis outbreak occurring in five children after the cleaning of a deactivated coal furnace. The symptoms were high fever, dry cough, asthenia and anorexia. By the time parents seeked for medical care, only one child remained symptomatic with fever, tachypnea and hepatomegaly. All the patients had similar radiological findings. Chest films showed diffuse, bilateral, reticulonodular infiltrates and lymph node enlargement. Computed tomography showed small nodules with a random distribution and hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes. Diagnosis was confirmed by positive gel immunodiffusion for Histoplasma capsulatum. Only one patient needed to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment. The use of antifungal agents was not necessary in any of the patients. After 50 days all patients were submitted to computed tomography studies that revealed significant remission of the lesions.