Extracavitary Primary Effusion Lymphoma Affecting the Oral Cavity: A Rare Case Report.

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is an aggressive neoplasm often diagnosed in immunosuppressed patients demonstrating peritoneal, pleural, or pericardial effusions. This high-grade lymphoma is strongly associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) infection and most of the lesions also show the presence of Epstein-Barr virus in tumor cells, which lacks CD20 expression and reveals a plasmablastic morphology and phenotype. The extracavitary or solid variant of PEL is even rarer and usually affects the lymph nodes and is currently considered a clinical manifestation of the classic PEL. In the oral cavity, extracavitary PEL is extremely rare and only a few patients have been previously reported, with no detailed clinicopathological description. The recognition of oral extracavitary PEL is even more important given the occurrence of plasmablastic lymphoma in the oral mucosa, which shares many clinical, microscopic, and phenotypic features with PEL, therefore, demanding from pathologists the search for HHV8, especially in immunosuppressed patients, and an appropriate clinical evaluation. In this report, we aim to describe a very rare extracavitary PEL affecting the palate of a 36-year-old patient and to review the literature regarding the extracavitary presentation of this aggressive lymphoma. This report demonstrates the importance of searching for HHV8 infection in oral lymphomas with plasmablastic features.

DIMINUIÇÃO DO ÍNDICE DE NECROSE EM ENXERTOS CUTÂNEOS EM COELHOS MEDIANTE A APLICAÇÃO DE CÉLULAS TRONCO MESENQUIMAIS XENÓGENAS

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a inflamação em auto-enxertos cutâneos obtidos no terceiro, sétimo e décimo quarto dia de pós-operatório, além disso, buscou-se determinar diferenças no processo de cicatrização no grupo tratado com células tronco mesenquimais xenógenas em relação ao grupo controle utilizando a avaliação microscópica e imuno-histoquímico. A avaliação microscópica foi realizada utilizando cortes histológicos corados pela técnica de histoquímica com hematoxilina-eosina (HE), e a imuno-histoquímica, com cortes submetidos a anticorpos específicos. As variáveis analisadas foram quantidade de vasos, células inflamatórias, COX-2, Macrófagos e presença de necrose. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo software R. A quantidade de vasos foi maior (p<0,0001) no grupo tratamento (GT) durante o dia 3, enquanto no grupo controle (GC) foi maior no dia 7. No dia 3 houve menor porcentagem de necrose no grupo tratamento (GT) (p = 0,038). Nos demais dias avaliados não houve diferença entre a porcentagem de necrose observada nos dois tratamentos (p = 0,98), sendo de 53% para o grupo controle (GC) e 47% para o grupo tratamento (GT). Em relação ao número de macrófagos não houve diferença entre os grupos (p = 0,5637). Entretanto, entre os dias houve diferença significativa (p = 0,0223), sendo menor número de macrófagos no terceiro dia. A imunomarcação de C

Diminuição do índice de necrose em enxertos cutâneos em coelhos mediante a aplicação de células tronco mesenquimais xenógenas / Reducing of the necrosis index in skin grafts in rabbits through application of xenogenous mesenchymal stem cells

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a inflamação em auto-enxertos cutâneos obtidos no terceiro, sétimo e décimo quarto dia de pós-operatório, além disso, buscou-se determinar diferenças no processo de cicatrização no grupo tratado com células tronco mesenquimais xenógenas em relação ao grupo controle utilizando a avaliação microscópica e imuno-histoquímico. A avaliação microscópica foi realizada utilizando cortes histológicos corados pela técnica de histoquímica com hematoxilina-eosina (HE), e a imuno-histoquímica, com cortes submetidos a anticorpos específicos. As variáveis analisadas foram quantidade de vasos, células inflamatórias, COX-2, Macrófagos e presença de necrose. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo software R. A quantidade de vasos foi maior (p<0,0001) no grupo tratamento (GT) durante o dia 3, enquanto no grupo controle (GC) foi maior no dia 7. No dia 3 houve menor porcentagem de necrose no grupo tratamento (GT) (p = 0,038). Nos demais dias avaliados não houve diferença entre a porcentagem de necrose observada nos dois tratamentos (p = 0,98), sendo de 53% para o grupo controle (GC) e 47% para o grupo tratamento (GT). Em relação ao número de macrófagos não houve diferença entre os grupos (p = 0,5637). Entretanto, entre os dias houve diferença significativa (p = 0,0223), sendo menor número de macrófagos no terceiro dia. A imunomarcação de COX-2 foi similar entre os grupos (p = 0,5637) e entre os dias (p = 0,9843). Portanto, o emprego das células tronco mesenquimais xenógenas em enxertos cutâneos promoveu menor ocorrência de necrose, favorecendo sua cicatrização, e não induziu o processo inflamatório, sendo assim factível seu uso em cirurgias reconstrutivas.(AU)

The present study aimed to assess inflammation in skin autografts obtained on the third, seventh and fourteenth postoperative day, in addition, it sought to determine differences in the healing process in the group treated with xenogenous mesenchymal stem cells in relation to to the control group using microscopic and immunohistochemical evaluation. Microscopic evaluation was performed using histological sections, stained by the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) histochemistry technique, and immunohistochemistry with sections were subjected to specific antibodies. The variables analyzed were the number of vessels, inflammatory cells (COX-2 and Macrophages) and the presence of necrosis. The data were analyzed statistically by software R. The number of vessels was higher (p< 0.0001) ) in the treatment group (GT) during day 3, while in the control group (CG) it was higher on day 7. On day 3 there was a lower percentage of necrosis in the treatment group (GT) (p = 0.038). On the other evaluated days, there was no difference between the percentage of necrosis observed in the two treatments (p = 0.98), being 53% for the control group (CG) and 47% for the treatment group (GT). Regarding the number of macrophages, there was no difference between groups (p = 0.5637). However, between days there was a significant difference (p = 0.0223), with a lower number of macrophages on the third day. The immunostaining of COX-2 was similar between groups (p = 0.5637) and between days (p = 0.9843). Therefore, the use of xenogenous mesenchymal stem cells in skin grafts promoted a lower occurrence of necrosis, favoring its healing, and did not induce the inflammatory process, thus making its use in reconstructive surgery feasible.(AU)

Diminuição do índice de necrose em enxertos cutâneos em coelhos mediante a aplicação de células tronco mesenquimais xenógenas / Reducing of the necrosis index in skin grafts in rabbits through application of xenogenous mesenchymal stem cells

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a inflamação em auto-enxertos cutâneos obtidos no terceiro, sétimo e décimo quarto dia de pós-operatório, além disso, buscou-se determinar diferenças no processo de cicatrização no grupo tratado com células tronco mesenquimais xenógenas em relação ao grupo controle utilizando a avaliação microscópica e imuno-histoquímico. A avaliação microscópica foi realizada utilizando cortes histológicos corados pela técnica de histoquímica com hematoxilina-eosina (HE), e a imuno-histoquímica, com cortes submetidos a anticorpos específicos. As variáveis analisadas foram quantidade de vasos, células inflamatórias, COX-2, Macrófagos e presença de necrose. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo software R. A quantidade de vasos foi maior (p<0,0001) no grupo tratamento (GT) durante o dia 3, enquanto no grupo controle (GC) foi maior no dia 7. No dia 3 houve menor porcentagem de necrose no grupo tratamento (GT) (p = 0,038). Nos demais dias avaliados não houve diferença entre a porcentagem de necrose observada nos dois tratamentos (p = 0,98), sendo de 53% para o grupo controle (GC) e 47% para o grupo tratamento (GT). Em relação ao número de macrófagos não houve diferença entre os grupos (p = 0,5637). Entretanto, entre os dias houve diferença significativa (p = 0,0223), sendo menor número de macrófagos no terceiro dia. A imunomarcação de COX-2 foi similar entre os grupos (p = 0,5637) e entre os dias (p = 0,9843). Portanto, o emprego das células tronco mesenquimais xenógenas em enxertos cutâneos promoveu menor ocorrência de necrose, favorecendo sua cicatrização, e não induziu o processo inflamatório, sendo assim factível seu uso em cirurgias reconstrutivas.

The present study aimed to assess inflammation in skin autografts obtained on the third, seventh and fourteenth postoperative day, in addition, it sought to determine differences in the healing process in the group treated with xenogenous mesenchymal stem cells in relation to to the control group using microscopic and immunohistochemical evaluation. Microscopic evaluation was performed using histological sections, stained by the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) histochemistry technique, and immunohistochemistry with sections were subjected to specific antibodies. The variables analyzed were the number of vessels, inflammatory cells (COX-2 and Macrophages) and the presence of necrosis. The data were analyzed statistically by software R. The number of vessels was higher (p< 0.0001) ) in the treatment group (GT) during day 3, while in the control group (CG) it was higher on day 7. On day 3 there was a lower percentage of necrosis in the treatment group (GT) (p = 0.038). On the other evaluated days, there was no difference between the percentage of necrosis observed in the two treatments (p = 0.98), being 53% for the control group (CG) and 47% for the treatment group (GT). Regarding the number of macrophages, there was no difference between groups (p = 0.5637). However, between days there was a significant difference (p = 0.0223), with a lower number of macrophages on the third day. The immunostaining of COX-2 was similar between groups (p = 0.5637) and between days (p = 0.9843). Therefore, the use of xenogenous mesenchymal stem cells in skin grafts promoted a lower occurrence of necrosis, favoring its healing, and did not induce the inflammatory process, thus making its use in reconstructive surgery feasible.

Meta-Analysis of the Association Between the rs228570 Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism and Arterial Hypertension Risk.

The association between FokI polymorphism in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and susceptibility to arterial hypertension (HT) is controversial. Thus, we evaluated the relation between FokI and HT according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using MEDLINE® (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online)/PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library CENTRAL databases. Data from case-control studies, including the number of participants, age, 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations, systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, FokI allele, and genotype frequency were extracted by 2 independent authors and OR was calculated with the 95% CI to assess the strength of the association between the FokI variant and odds of HT. In general and subgroup analyses, we used allelic (f compared with F), common (ff compared with FF + Ff), risk (ff + Ff compared with FF), and additive (ff compared with FF) models. Six case-control studies including 3140 cases and 3882 controls were reviewed in the meta-analysis. Global assessment revealed a correlation between FokI and reduced odds of HT in the additive/homozygote model (ff compared with FF; OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.45-0.94) and common/recessive model (ff compared with FF + Ff; OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.57-0.99). In Asian subjects, there was a significant reduction in the odds of HT in additive (ff compared with FF; OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.73-0.98) and risk models (ff + Ff compared with FF; OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78-0.97), in particular, for Indians (South). In Africans, the statistically significant association occurred in the additive and common models. Allele f in the FokI polymorphism of the VDR gene was associated with reduced odds of HT in the general population based on the risk model. Thus, nutritional genomics can help understand the influence of nutrition on metabolic homeostasis pathways and the clinical consequences of hypertension. This study shows the need for healthy, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant compounds to prevent or treat chronic complications.

Allopurinol therapy provides long term clinical improvement, but additional immunotherapy is required for sustained parasite clearance, in L. infantum-infected dogs.

There is little evidence that current control strategies for canine leishmaniosis (CanL), the veterinary disease caused by L. infantum infection, are having a positive impact. This is of critical importance because dogs are a primary reservoir for L. infantum and a significant source of parasite transmission to humans. Drugs intended primarily for human use are prohibited for the treatment of CanL because of concerns over the propagation of resistant parasites. Although allopurinol effectively decreases parasite burden in CanL the treatment needs to be maintained for life. We hypothesized that during the allopurinol-induced parasite reduction dogs may become capable of developing a more robust immune response that may permit more effective control of parasites. To test this, we investigated the clinical and parasitological impact of short-term treatment with allopurinol, either alone or in combination with a defined subunit vaccine, on dogs naturally infected with L. infantum. A total of 28 dogs were distributed as follows: untreated; oral allopurinol alone (20 mg/kg, once each day for 90 days); or allopurinol with immunization with the Leish-F2 antigen formulated with the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 agonist Second generation Lipid Adjuvant (SLA) in stable emulsion (SE; SLA-SE). Dogs that did not receive treatment had a progressive decline in their clinical condition and an increase in their infection levels, while treatment with allopurinol alone alleviated the clinical symptoms of CanL but did not generate sustained reduction in parasites. Concomitant immunization with Leish-F2 + SLA-SE, however, improved clinical condition while also providing long-term clearance of L. infantum from lymphoid tissues and systemic organs. These results have important implications for both the management of CanL and for limiting L. infantum transmission to humans.

Lupane triterpenoids, antioxidant potential and antimicrobial activity of Myrciaria floribunda (H. West ex Willd.) O. Berg.

Chemical composition of the methanol extract of Myrciaria floribunda leaves was investigated. The nor-lupane triterpenoids platanic acid and messagenic I acid were identified, along with other known triterpenoids (betulinic aldehyde, ursolic acid acetate and betulinic acid), a new lupane triterpenoid (2α,6α,30-trihydroxybetulinic acid) and the flavonoids catechin, quercetrin and mirycitrin. The structures were determined by spectroscopic methods (NMR, LC-MS, GC-MS). The major isolated compound was betulinic acid. The methanol extract and 2α,6α,30-trihydroxybetulinic acid were evaluated for their DPPH scavenging potential. The tested triterpenoid was one hundred times more active than betulinic acid, but less active than the extract. Screening for antimicrobial activity showed that the methanol extract was active against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, but inactive against Candida albicans and Candida krusei, while 2α,6α,30-trihydroxybetulinic acid was inactive to all tested microorganisms.

TLR2-/- Mice Display Increased Clearance of Dermatophyte Trichophyton mentagrophytes in the Setting of Hyperglycemia.

Dermatophytosis is one of the most common human infections affecting both immunocompetent individuals and immunocompromised patients, in whom the disease is more aggressive and can reach deep tissues. Over the last decades, cases of deep dermatophytosis have increased and the dermatophyte-host interplay remains poorly investigated. Pattern recognition molecules, such as Toll-like receptors (TLR), play a crucial role against infectious diseases. However, there has been very little research reported on dermatophytosis. In the present study, we investigated the role of TLR2 during the development of experimental deep dermatophytosis in normal mice and mice with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus, an experimental model of diabetes that exhibits a delay in the clearance of the dermatophyte, Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Tm). Our results demonstrated that inoculation of Tm into the footpads of normal mice increases the expression of TLR2 in CD115+Ly6Chigh blood monocytes and, in hypoinsulinemic-hyperglycemic (HH) mice infected with Tm, the increased expression of TLR2 was exacerbated. To understand the role of TLR2 during the development of murine experimental deep dermatophytosis, we employed TLR2 knockout mice. Tm-infected TLR2-/- and TLR2+/+ wild-type mice exhibited similar control of deep dermatophytic infection and macrophage activity; however, TLR2-/- mice showed a noteworthy increase in production of IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-17, and an increased percentage of splenic CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells. Interestingly, TLR2-/- HH-Tm mice exhibited a lower fungal load and superior organization of tissue inflammatory responses, with high levels of production of hydrogen peroxide by macrophages, alongside low TNF-α and IL-10; high production of IL-10 by spleen cells; and increased expansion of Tregs. In conclusion, we demonstrate that TLR2 diminishes the development of adaptive immune responses during experimental deep dermatophytosis and, in a diabetic scenario, acts to intensify a non-protective inflammatory response.

Tolerogenic Vaccination with MOG/VitD Overcomes Aggravating Effect of C. albicans in Experimental Encephalomyelitis.

AIMS: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). We described that Candida albicans (Ca) aggravates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) that is a model to study MS. We also observed that vaccination with a myelin peptide (MOG) in the presence of vitamin D (VitD) protected mice against EAE. In this work, we investigated whether Ca infection interferes with the efficacy of this vaccine. METHODS: EAE was induced in C57BL/6 female mice previously vaccinated with MOG+VitD and then infected 3 days before encephalomyelitis induction. RESULTS: Vaccination was able to control EAE development in infected mice. These animals gained weight, and only a few progressed to very low clinical scores. Protection was confirmed by a lower inflammatory infiltration in the CNS and was also associated with a reduced production of encephalitogenic cytokines by spleen and CNS cell cultures. The elevated percentage of CD25(+) FoxP3(+) cells suggests that regulatory T cells are involved in the protection. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from mice vaccinated with MOG+VitD supports the view that protection is mediated by immunoregulatory cells. CONCLUSION: Together, these experiments provide evidence demonstrating that EAE can be prevented by the inverse vaccination with MOG+VitD even in the presence of a disease-aggravating infectious agent.

Relationship among Short and Long Term of Hypoinsulinemia-Hyperglycemia, Dermatophytosis, and Immunobiology of Mononuclear Phagocytes.

Dermatophytes are fungi responsible for causing superficial infections. In patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), dermatophytosis is usually more severe and recurrent. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the influence of short and long term hypoinsulinemia-hyperglycemia (HH) during experimental infection by Trichophyton mentagrophytes as well as alterations in the mononuclear phagocytes. Our results showed two distinct profiles of fungal outcome and immune response. Short term HH induced a discrete impaired proinflammatory response by peritoneal adherent cells (PAC) and a delayed fungal clearance. Moreover, long term HH mice showed low and persistent fungal load and a marked reduction in the production of TNF-α by PAC. Furthermore, while the inoculation of TM in non-HH mice triggered high influx of Gr1(+) monocytes into the peripheral blood, long term HH mice showed low percentage of these cells. Thus, our results demonstrate that the time of exposure of HH interferes with the TM infection outcome as well as the immunobiology of mononuclear phagocytes, including fresh monocyte recruitment from bone marrow and PAC activity.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development is aggravated by Candida albicans infection.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory/autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) mainly mediated by myelin specific T cells. It is widely believed that environmental factors, including fungal infections, contribute to disease induction or evolution. Even though Candida infection among MS patients has been described, the participation of this fungus in this pathology is not clear. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of a Candida albicans infection on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) that is a widely accepted model to study MS. Female C57BL/6 mice were infected with C. albicans and 3 days later, animals were submitted to EAE induction by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. Previous infection increased the clinical score and also the body weight loss. EAE aggravation was associated with expansion of peripheral CD4(+) T cells and production of high levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ IL-6, and IL-17 by spleen and CNS cells. In addition to yeast and hyphae, fungus specific T cells were found in the CNS. These findings suggest that C. albicans infection before EAE induction aggravates EAE, and possibly MS, mainly by CNS dissemination and local induction of encephalitogenic cytokines. Peripheral production of encephalitogenic cytokines could also contribute to disease aggravation.

Xanthones from the roots of Moutabea guianensis Aubl.

The phytochemical investigation of Moutabea guianensis roots led to the isolation of five polyoxygenated xanthones, including two new ones named moutabeone B (1,8-dihydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetramethoxyxanthone) and moutabeone C (1-hydroxy-4,5,6,7,8-pentamethoxyxanthone), along with the three known xanthones, 1,8-dihydroxy-4,6-dimethoxyxanthone, 1,8-dihydroxy-4,5,6-trimethoxyxanthone and augustin A (1,8-dihydroxy-4,6,7-trimethoxyxanthone). Structural characterization of all compounds was established on the basis of spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and comparison with literature data. The antioxidant activity of compounds was tested through a thin layer chromatography (TLC) bioautography assay using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH·) as detection reagent. All tested compounds were more active (DL < 0.13-0.03 µg) than Trolox (DL < 0.15 µg), used as reference standard.

A new xanthone from Moutabea guianensis Aubl.

The ethyl acetate extract of the roots of Moutabea guianensis gave 1,6-dihydroxy-4,7,8-trimethoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one (1), a new xanthone. The isolation was accomplished by column chromatography on silica gel and the structural elucidation of this compound was established by spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS.

Chemical constituents of Aspergillus sp EJC08 isolated as endophyte from Bauhinia guianensis and their antimicrobial activity.

The present work reports the isolation of five compounds from Aspergillus sp EJC08 isolated as endophytic from Bauhinia guianensis, a tipical plant of the Amazon. The compounds ergosterol (1), ergosterol peroxide (2), mevalolactone (3), monomethylsulochrin (4) and trypacidin A (5) were isolated by chromatographic procedures and identified by spectral methods of 1D and 2D NMR and MS. Compounds 3, 4 and 5 were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus and showed good activity.

Accumulation and transfer of Hg, As, Se, and other metals in the sediment-vegetation-crab-human food chain in the coastal zone of the northern Brazilian state of Pará (Amazonia).

The high consumption of crabs (Ucides cordatus) stimulated interest in the present study on the northern coast of Brazil, which encompasses a preserved area of mangrove forest. The objective was to describe and quantify the transfer of metals from the muddy sediments to the leaves of the Rhizophora mangle, and thence the crabs and humans. The samples were collected along two transects, while samples of hair were obtained from local habitants. The pH, interstitial salinity, Eh (mV) were measured, the granulometry and mineralogical and multi-element chemical analyses were run, and the organic material determined. The sediments are silty-clayey, composed of quartz, kaolinite, iron oxides, and illite, as well as smaller portions of smectite, pyrite, halite, and high levels of SiO2 (56.5 %), Al2O3 (18.5 %), and Fe2O3 (7 %). The elements Zn, Sr, As, and Zr are concentrated in the leaves, while the bioaccumulation of Zn, Se, Sr, and As was recorded in the crabs, of which, Se is the most concentrated in the tissue of the muscles and the hepatopancreas. The concentrations of nutrient and toxic elements were similar in all age groups (hair samples), with only Hg presenting an increasing concentration between infants and adults. The highest rates of transfer were recorded for the elements Zn and Se in the crabs and Hg in leaves and hair. The accumulation of metals in the leaves and crabs reflects the chemical composition of the sediments and low rates of sediment-vegetation-crab transfer, with the exception of Hg, which accumulated in the hair.

Factors associated with early weaning at a Child-Friendly Healthcare Initiative Hospitall / Fatores associados ao desmame precoce em Hospital Amigo da Criança

PURPOSE: Considering the benefits of breastfeeding on children's health, the aim of the present study was to determine factors associated with early weaning among children at a Child-Friendly Healthcare Initiative (CFHI) children's hospital in the city of Campina Grande, state of Paraíba, Brazil. METHODS: An analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out involving 800 mothers of children between 0 and 24 months of age at the Elpídio de Almeida Health Institute. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered and contained questions on socio-demographic characteristics, eating habits and nonnutritive sucking habits. The chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were employed for statistical analysis. A multivariate analysis was performed with variables that achieved a P-value < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of early weaning was 13.5%. In the bivariate analysis, the factors associated with early weaning were income (P=0.001), child's birth weight (P=0.016), bottle feeding (P=0.003) and pacifier use (P<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, pacifier use remained significantly associated with early weaning (OR: 3.23; 95% CI: 1.871 to 5.591; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Pacifier use was associated with early weaning, even when mothers were advised to avoid this habit.

OBJETIVO: Considerando os benefícios da amamentação para a saúde da criança, o objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar os fatores associados com o desmame precoce entre as crianças em um Hospital Amigo da Criança na cidade de Campina Grande, estado da Paraíba, Brasil. METODOLOGIA: Um estudo analítico e transversal foi realizado com 800 mães de crianças entre 0 e 24 meses de idade, no Elpídio de Almeida Instituto de Saúde. Um questionário semi-estruturado foi aplicado, contendo perguntas sobre características sócio-demográficas, hábitos alimentares e hábitos de sucção não nutritiva. O teste do qui-quadrado e teste exato de Fisher foram empregados na análise estatística. A análise multivariada foi realizada com as variáveis tendo atingido um valor de P<0,25 na análise bivariada. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de desmame precoce foi de 13,5%. Na análise bivariada, os fatores associados com o desmame precoce foram: renda (P=0,001), peso de nascimento da criança (P=0,016), uso de mamadeira (P=0,003) e uso de chupeta (P<0,001). Na análise multivariada, o uso de chupeta permaneceu significativamente associada com o desmame precoce (OR: 3,23 IC 95%: 1,871-5,591, P<0,001). CONCLUSÃO: O uso de chupeta foi associado com o desmame precoce, mesmo quando as mães foram aconselhadas a evitar esse hábito.

Morphofunctional evaluation of thymus in hyperglycemic-hypoinsulinemic mice during dermatophytic infection.

Many works have shown that the enhanced susceptibility to infection seen in diabetic patients can be related to the hyperglycemia-hypoinsulinemia (HH) observed in this condition. Herein, we evaluated the HH effects on the morphofunctional features of the thymus as well as on dermatophytic infection. We demonstrated that, not only the HH condition but also the dermatophytic infection induced transitory alterations in the thymus; it was characterized by loss of cortical-medullar definition and disorganization of the extracellular matrix. These mice also showed a decrease of CD4(+) CD8(+) thymocytes and a higher percentage of CD4(+) CD8(+) lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. After 7 days, the thymus and peripheral lymphocytes subsets returned to normal values. Interestingly, when the two conditions, HH condition and the infection, were associated, the mice showed a decrease in the percentage of CD4(+) CD8(-) blood lymphocytes that are involved in the modulation of immune response and have direct cytotoxic effects on the fungus. Taken together, our results showed that both conditions transitorily changed the thymus, but only when both these conditions are present do they trigger persistent changes that might be responsible for the higher susceptibility to dermatophytosis seen in HH patients.

Antibodies against Lutzomyia longipalpis saliva in the fox Cerdocyon thous and the sylvatic cycle of Leishmania chagasi.

Sera of 11 wild Cerdocyon thous foxes from an endemic area for American visceral leishmaniasis were tested for the presence of antibodies against salivary gland homogenates (SGH) of Lutzomyia longipalpis. All foxes had higher levels of anti-Lu. longipalpis SGH antibodies than foxes from non-endemic areas, suggesting contact between foxes and the vector of visceral leishmaniasis. Sera of humans and dogs living in the same area were also tested for reactivity against Lu. longipalpis SGHs and had a lower proportion of reactivity than foxes. Antibodies against Leishmania chagasi were not detected in any of the foxes, but three foxes showed the presence of parasites in the bone marrow by direct examination, PCR or by infecting the vector. Both humans and dogs had higher levels of anti-Le. chagasi IgG antibodies than C. thous. The finding of an antibody response against saliva of Lu. longipalpis among C. thous together with the broad distribution of the vector in resting areas of infected foxes suggests that the natural foci of transmission of Le. chagasi exists independently of the transmission among dogs and humans.

Multiresidue analysis of pesticides in soil by supercritical fluid extraction/gas chromatography with electron-capture detection and confirmation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The applicability of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) in pesticide multiresidue analysis (organohalogen, organonitrogen, organophosphorus, and pyrethroid) in soil samples was investigated. Fortification experiments were conducted to test the conventional extraction (solid-liquid) and to optimize the extraction procedure in SFE by varying the CO2 modifier, temperature, extraction time, and pressure. The best efficiency was achieved at 400 bar using methanol as modifier at 60 degrees C. For the SFE method, C-18 cartridges were used for the cleanup. The analytical screening was performed by gas chromatography equipped with electron-capture detection (ECD). Recoveries for the majority of pesticides from spiked samples of soil at different residence times were 1, 20, and 40 days at the fortification level of 0.04-0.10 mg/kg ranging from 70 to 97% for both methods. The detection limits found were <0.01 mg/kg for ECD, and the confirmation of pesticide identity was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in a selected-ion monitoring mode. Multiresidue methods were applied in real soil samples, and the results of the methods developed were compared.

Epidemiologia da leucemia/linfoma de células T do adulto / Epidemiology of leukemia/lymphoma of T cells in adults

No relato, são apresentados dados relativos ao papel do HTLV-I na leucemia/linfoma de células T do adulto e os estudos epidemiológicos que reforçam esta hipótese. Descrevem-se as formas de contaminação pelo vírus e as etapas do mecanismo pelo qual o HTLV-1 causaria a leucemia/linfoma de células T do adulto.

Data related to the role of HTLV-I in leukemia/lymphoma of T cells in adults are presented in this paper, as well as epidemiological studies which support this hypothesis. The forms ofcontamination by the virus and the mechanism by which HTLV-1 causes leukemia/lymphoma of T cells in adults are also described.