Detection of Entamoeba histolytica by Recombinase Polymerase Amplification.

Amebiasis is an important cause of diarrheal disease worldwide and has been associated with childhood malnutrition. Traditional microscopy approaches are neither sensitive nor specific for Entamoeba histolytica. Antigen assays are more specific, but many cases are missed unless tested by molecular methods. Although polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is effective, the need for sophisticated, expensive equipment, infrastructure, and trained personnel limits its usefulness, especially in the resource-limited, endemic areas. Here, we report development of a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) method to detect E. histolytica specifically. Using visual detection by lateral flow (LF), the test was highly sensitive and specific and could be performed without additional equipment. The availability of this inexpensive, sensitive, and field-applicable diagnostic test could facilitate rapid diagnosis and treatment of amebiasis in endemic regions.

Fundamentos organicistas e práticas laboratoriais na patologização das drogas no Brasil e no Chile (meados do século XIX ao início do século XX) / Organicists fundamentals and laboratory practices in pathologizing of drugs in Brazil and Chile (mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century)

Este trabalho tem por objetivo acompanhar a emergência da categoria diagnóstica da toxicomania no Chile e no Brasil no campo psiquiátrico, durante o século XIX e nas três primeiras décadas do século XX, delimitando os fundamentos organicistas e as práticas laboratoriais inseridas no processo. Descreve-se a articulação no século XIX da farmacologia, da fisiologia e da anatomia patológica na configuração da ideia da degeneração nos discursos psiquiátricos. Acompanha-se a institucionalização da psiquiatria e das práticas laboratoriais que em ambos os países delimitam a configuração da toxicomania como doença mental. Do mesmo modo, evidencia-se a emergência da figura do alcoólatra e da noção de psicose tóxica nos discursos médicos em ambos os países e, finalmente, apresenta-se os fundamentos orgânicos e as práticas laboratoriais com fármacos que modulam a senso percepção, inseridas na criação da categoria diagnóstica da toxicomania no Brasil e no Chile. (AU)

Intra-abdominal fungal infections.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The clinical spectrum of intra-abdominal fungal infections has not been systematically analyzed in the literature. RECENT FINDINGS: Even though intra-abdominal fungal infections have been recognized with increasing frequency in the recent years, most clinical experience is limited to case reports or uncontrolled case series. These infections are more common than clinically recognized disease. The clinical presentation varies broadly depending on the organism and host's immune status, but it is frequently severe, difficult to treat, and associated with significant morbimortality. Predisposing factors, clinical characteristics, and advances in the management are discussed. SUMMARY: Intra-abdominal fungal infections are increasingly important in clinical practice. Early recognition and a combined treatment approach, usually consisting of surgical intervention and systemic antifungal therapy, are required for improved outcomes.

Molecular phylogenetics of the hummingbird genus Coeligena.

Advances in the understanding of biological radiations along tropical mountains depend on the knowledge of phylogenetic relationships among species. Here we present a species-level molecular phylogeny based on a multilocus dataset for the Andean hummingbird genus Coeligena. We compare this phylogeny to previous hypotheses of evolutionary relationships and use it as a framework to understand patterns in the evolution of sexual dichromatism and in the biogeography of speciation within the Andes. Previous phylogenetic hypotheses based mostly on similarities in coloration conflicted with our molecular phylogeny, emphasizing the unreliability of color characters for phylogenetic inference. Two major clades, one monochromatic and the other dichromatic, were found in Coeligena. Closely related species were either allopatric or parapatric on opposite mountain slopes. No sister lineages replaced each other along an elevational gradient. Our results indicate the importance of geographic isolation for speciation in this group and the potential interaction between isolation and sexual selection to promote diversification.