ABSTRACT
Disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) is an uncommon form of Leishmania braziliensis infection. It remains unknown why some people develop this clinical condition. We describe 14 DCL patients in Northeast Brazil during 2015-2018. These patients regularly drank large amounts of alcohol, possibly increasing their risk for DCL.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism , Leishmania braziliensis , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous , Brazil/epidemiology , Ethanol , Humans , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/diagnosis , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Postmortem examination of 7 neonates with congenital Zika virus infection in Brazil revealed microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, dystrophic calcifications, and severe cortical neuronal depletion in all and arthrogryposis in 6. Other findings were leptomeningeal and brain parenchymal inflammation and pulmonary hypoplasia and lymphocytic infiltration in liver and lungs. Findings confirmed virus neurotropism and multiple organ infection.
Subject(s)
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious , Zika Virus Infection/congenital , Zika Virus Infection/diagnosis , Zika Virus , Autopsy , Brain/pathology , Brain/virology , Brazil , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Microcephaly , Phenotype , Pregnancy , Zika Virus/classification , Zika Virus/genetics , Zika Virus Infection/virologyABSTRACT
Protein-free guar gum (DGG) was oxidized (DGGOX) or sulfated (DGGSU) by insertion of new groups in C-6 (manose) and C-6 (galactose), for DGGOX and DGGSU, respectively. Rats were subjected to anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) of the knee, joint pain recorded using the articular incapacitation test, and the analgesic effect of intraarticular 100µg DGG, DGGOX or DGGSU solutions at days 4-7 was evaluated. Other groups received DGG or saline weekly, from days 7 to 70 and joint damage assessed using histology and biochemistry as the chondroitin sulfate (CS) content of cartilage. The molar mass of CS samples was obtained by comparing their relative electrophoretic mobility to standard CS. DGG but not DGGOX or DGGSU significantly inhibited joint pain. DGG significantly reversed the increase in CS, its reduced electrophoretic mobility, and histological changes following ACLT, as compared to vehicle. Structural integrity accounts for DGG benefits in experimental osteoarthritis.
Subject(s)
Galactans/chemistry , Galactans/pharmacology , Mannans/chemistry , Mannans/pharmacology , Osteoarthritis/drug therapy , Plant Gums/chemistry , Plant Gums/pharmacology , Animals , Arthralgia/complications , Arthralgia/drug therapy , Cartilage, Articular/drug effects , Cartilage, Articular/pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Galactans/therapeutic use , Male , Mannans/therapeutic use , Osteoarthritis/complications , Osteoarthritis/pathology , Oxidation-Reduction , Plant Gums/therapeutic use , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Structure-Activity Relationship , Sulfates/chemistry , ViscositySubject(s)
Antigens, Protozoan/blood , Blood Donors , DNA, Protozoan/blood , Leishmania infantum/genetics , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/epidemiology , Animals , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Asymptomatic Diseases , Brazil/epidemiology , DNA, Protozoan/genetics , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Humans , Insect Vectors/parasitology , Leishmania infantum/isolation & purification , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/blood , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/diagnosis , Leishmaniasis, Visceral/transmission , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Prevalence , Psychodidae/parasitologyABSTRACT
A modified imprint method, Press-Imprint-Smear, was compared with histopathology for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Amastigotes were seen in 69 (92%) of 75 individuals in one or both assays. The Press-Imprint-Smear was positive in 85.3%, and histopathology was positive in 44%. Press-Imprint-Smear is a rapid and relatively sensitive method for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Subject(s)
Biopsy/methods , Leishmania braziliensis/isolation & purification , Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/diagnosis , Brazil , Humans , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The repair of the immature squamous epithelium following HPV infection may mimic HSIL in adolescent women. AIM: to study the utility of p16 INK4a and Ki-67 in diagnosis of cervical squamous lesions in adolescents and young adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, the evaluation of p16 INK4a and Ki-67 immunohistochemistry was performed on 72 cervical biopsies of adolescents and young adults women diagnosed as negative for malignancy and intraepithelial lesion (NML) (n = 18) or positive for low grade (LSIL) (n = 31) and high grade (HSIL) (n = 23) squamous intraepithelial lesions in two references services in Fortaleza-Brazil. Data was evaluated using Fisher's test and Kappa index. RESULTS: p16 INK4a was positive in 81% of HSIL, 19% of LSIL and in no NML (P < 0.0001). Ki-67 was positive in 74%, 32% and 5.5% of HSIL, LSIL and NML, respectively. p16 INK4a and Ki-67 in the diagnosis of HSIL showed high sensitivity and negative predictive value. Kappa index was very good for p16 INK4a (k = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: In adolescents and young adults p16 INK4a alone or with Ki-67 represents important tool to reduce mistaken diagnosis of HSIL and to avoid overtreatment.
Subject(s)
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16/analysis , Ki-67 Antigen/analysis , Neoplasms, Squamous Cell/diagnosis , Neoplasms, Squamous Cell/pathology , Uterine Cervical Dysplasia/diagnosis , Uterine Cervical Dysplasia/pathology , Adolescent , Biopsy , Brazil , Cervix Uteri/pathology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Young AdultABSTRACT
We report for the first time the successful use of fluconazole to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania braziliensis. We used escalating doses from 5 to 8 mg/kg per day. At a dose of 5 mg/kg per day, 75% patients were cured, and at 8 mg/kg per day, the cure rate was 100%. Fluconazole was well tolerated.
