A Rare Complication of Actinomyces Abdominal Infection: A Case Report.

Intraabdominal infection by Actinomyces species, although a rare condition, usually occurs after a disruption of the mucosal barrier in a peritoneal organ. This infection is characterized by the development of an extended and persistent inflammatory and fibrotic reaction that can be mistaken for other pathogens or different etiologies, like tumors or inflammatory diseases. It can present as an abscess, a stricturing tissue with multiple adhesions, and/or a fistulization. Early diagnosis, targeted and prolonged antimicrobial therapy, and optimal drainage when indicated, are the key to success. The authors present a case where laparotomic hysterectomy was complicated by a superficial and an organ/space surgical site infection due to Actinomyces with a posterior developing of a colo-vaginal fistula that was treated surgically.

Exploring Coumarin-Based Boron Emissive Complexes as Temperature Thermometers in Polymer-Supported Materials.

Three coumarin-based boron complexes (L1, L2 and L3) were designed and successfully incorporated into polymeric matrixes for evaluation as temperature probes. The photophysical properties of the complexes were carried out in different solvents and in the solid state. In solution, compound L1 exhibited the highest fluorescence quantum yield, 33%, with a positive solvatochromism also being observed on the absorption and emission when the polarity of the solvent increased. Additionally in the presence of anions, L1 showed a colour change from yellow to pink, followed by a quenching in the emission intensity, which is due to deprotonation with the formation of a quinone base. Absorption and fluorescence spectra of L1 were calculated at different temperatures by the DFT/B3LYP method. The decrease in fluorescence of compound L1 with an increase in temperature seems to be due to the presence of pronounced torsional vibrations of the donor and acceptor fragments relative to the single bond with C(carbonyl)-C (styrene fragment). L1, L2 and L3, through their incorporation into the polymeric matrixes, became highly emissive by aggregation. These dye@doped polymers were evaluated as temperature sensors, showing an excellent fluorescent response and reversibility after 15 cycles of heating and cooling.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis following an acute HIV infection, in a known immunosuppressed patient: A case report.

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare hyperinflammatory condition with a wide range of causes, being frequently associated with infections in adults. The association between HLH and acute HIV infection has been rarely described. Case presentation: A 62-year-old male, with a past medical history of Henoch-Schönlein purpura under immunosuppressive treatment, presented with a two-week history of fever, asthenia, anorexia, cough and purpuric rash. Initial blood tests showed pancytopenia, elevated C-reactive protein and renal failure. Microbiological investigations were negative, but persistent fever and pancytopenia led to HLH suspicion. This diagnosis was supported by hyperferritinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, high soluble-interleukin-2 receptor levels and hepatosplenomegaly, fulfilling 5/8 diagnostic criteria of the Histiocyte Society-2004. Further investigation revealed a positive HIV-1 antibody and the patient reported recent sexual risks, with TCD4 + lymphocytes below 100/mL and HIV-1 viremia above 10 million copies/mL, confirming an acute HIV infection. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) and glucocorticoids were started with full clinical recovery. Conclusion: HLH occurrence can be obscured by the features of a primary disease and can mimic other clinic conditions. In this patient, the prompt identification of an acute HIV infection as the cause of HLH allowed the early initiation of antiretroviral treatment and corticosteroids, with an efficient control of the viral replication and inflammatory response, preventing a potentially fatal evolution.

Polymer Micro and Nanoparticles Containing B(III) Compounds as Emissive Soft Materials for Cargo Encapsulation and Temperature-Dependent Applications.

Polymer nanoparticles doped with fluorescent molecules are widely applied for biological assays, local temperature measurements, and other bioimaging applications, overcoming several critical drawbacks, such as dye toxicity, increased water solubility, and allowing imaging of dyes/drug delivery in water. In this work, some polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS) based micro and nanoparticles with an average size of about 200 nm and encapsulating B(III) compounds have been prepared via the reprecipitation method by using tetrahydrofuran as the oil phase and water. The compounds are highly hydrophobic, but their encapsulation into a polymer matrix allows obtaining stable colloidal dispersions in water (3.39 µM) that maintain the photophysical behavior of these dyes. Although thermally activated non-radiative processes occur by increasing temperature from 25 to 80 °C, the colloidal suspension of the B(III) particles continues to emit greenish light (λ = 509 nm) at high temperatures. When samples are cooling back to room temperature, the emission is restored, being reversible. A probe of concept drug delivery study was conducted using coumarin 6 as a prototype of a hydrophobic drug.

A infeção vih/sida em moçambique - estudo de caso / HIV/AIDS infection in Mozambique - case study

A análise da literatura médica internacional faz notar a ausência de documentos contendo uma abordagem transversal, relativa à infeção pelo Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (VIH) no quadro nacional Moçambicano, facto que motivou a elaboração deste documento. No ano 2010 a prevalência da infeção pelo VIH em Moçambique, na população adulta era, aproximadamente, 14%, mantendo-se estável desde 2008. No entanto existe uma clara heterogeneidade na prevalência da infeção entre diferentes regiões do país, verificando-se uma estabilização nas regiões norte e centro, e um aumento da prevalência a sul sendo a deslocação da população rural para áreas urbanas um dos fatores de dispersão que mais dificulta o controlo da infeção VIH/SIDA. No final de 2010 existiam 465 mil pessoas, neste país, infetadas por VIH com necessidade de terapêutica anti retrovírica. Todavia, apenas 180 mil estavam integrados em planos de distribuição de anti retrovíricos, empurrando Moçambique para a lista de países onde a percentagem de indivíduos infetados por VIH sob terapêutica anti retrovírica é inferior a 40%. A dimensão global da infeção VIH/SIDA em Moçambique aliada a medidas de prevenção da doença ineficazes é devastante a nível individual, familiar, comunitário e nacional, mas os efeitos indiretos desta epidemia são igualmente assustadores pois comprometem a médio e longo prazo, o desenvolvimento económico de um país.

A review of international medical literature notes the absence of documents making an approach on HIV infection in Mozambican national framework, a fact that prompted the writing of this document. In 2010 HIV prevalence in Mozambique in adult population was approximately 14%, remaining stable since 2008. However, there is a clear heterogeneity in the prevalence of this infection between different regions of the country. While in the north and central regions the number of infected is stabilizing, in the south, this number continues to increase. The displacement of rural population to urban areas is definitely one of the factors that most difficult the control of this infection. At the end of 2010 there were 465 thousand people in this country infected with HIV in need of anti-retroviral therapy. However, only 180 thousand were integrated in distribution plans of anti-retroviral drugs, pushing Mozambique to the list of countries where the proportion of individuals infected with HIV on anti-retroviral therapy is less than 40%. The global dimension of HIV infection in Mozambique coupled with measures to prevent the disease is devastating ineffective at individual, familiarly and national levels, but the indirect effects of this epidemic are equally daunting in medium-long term for the economic development of the country

A rare presentation of Listeria monocytogenes infection: Perianal abscess associated with lumbar spine osteitis.

Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous, rapidly growing, gram-positive bacterium causing infections in humans and animals. It is responsible for a variety of symptoms depending on the infection site and the integrity of the host's immune system. Case reports of skin and soft tissues infections by Listeria are rare. The authors present a case of a 65-year-old diabetic male with recurrent skin abscess diagnosed with a perianal abscess due to Listeria monocytogenes associated with lumbar spine osteitis. At the time of this publication and to our knowledge, this case represents the first Listeria monocytogenes infection involving skin and bone in a diabetic man with recurrent skin abscess.

Analysis of tissue neogenesis in extraction sockets treated with guided bone regeneration: clinical, histologic, and micro-CT results.

The aims of this article were to perform a detailed evaluation of the healing of extraction sockets covered with a resorbable collagen membrane 12 weeks following exodontia and to determine if this device had ossifying properties. Ten consecutive subjects in need of extraction of maxillary premolars were recruited. Each subject had a hopeless maxillary premolar extracted with minimal trauma. Sockets were then covered with a collagen barrier membrane alone. At 12 weeks, reentry surgery was performed, clinical measurements were repeated, and bone core biopsies were obtained prior to dental implant placement for histologic and microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analysis. Study sites showed mean bone regeneration horizontally of 7.7 mm (buccopalatally) and 4.6 mm (mesiodistally). Vertical bone repair showed a mean gain of 10.9 mm. Subtraction radiography showed a mean apical shift of the crestal bone at the center of the socket of 2.1 mm (range, 0.7 to 4.3 mm). Micro-CT and histology revealed formation of well-mineralized tissue at 12 weeks, with a mean percentage of vital bone of 45.87% ± 12.35%. No signs of membrane ossification were observed. A detailed analysis of tissue neogenesis in extraction sites protected by this barrier membrane has demonstrated that adequate bone formation for implant placement occurs as early as 12 weeks following exodontia, with minimal changes in alveolar ridge dimensions. No evidence of membrane ossification was observed.

Relationship between prolactin secretion, and plasma risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone concentrations in adolescents with schizophreniform disorder.

BACKGROUND: Treatment with the atypical antipsychotic risperidone can result in elevated prolactin levels. To date, the relationships between plasma concentrations of prolactin, risperidone and its active 9-hydroxy-metabolite have been little investigated in adolescents with psychosis. METHODS: Prolactin levels were determined at baseline in 16 hospitalized drug-naïve adolescents meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophreniform disorder. Prolactin, risperidone, 9-hydroxyrisperidone levels were subsequently determined after 3 weeks of oral risperidone treatment. RESULTS: Compared with pretreatment values, prolactin levels at endpoint were significantly increased (p<0.00001) and correlated with risperidone doses (r=0.58, N=16, p<0.02), and plasma levels of risperidone (r=0.60, N=16, p<0.02) and 9-hydroxyrisperidone (r=0.54, N=16, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that risperidone's effect on prolactin release is dose-dependent in adolescents and is linked to both plasma risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone concentrations.