Occurrence of multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolated from environmental samples.

Enterococcus species are present in the microbiota of humans and animals and have also been described in the environment. Among the species, Enterococcus faecium is one of the main pathogens associated with nosocomial infections worldwide. Enterococcus faecium isolates resistant to different classes of antimicrobials have been increasingly reported, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates in environmental sources, which is worrying. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize E. faecium isolates obtained from soil and water samples regarding antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants. A total 40 E. faecium isolates were recovered from 171 environmental samples. All isolates were classified as MDR, highlighting the resistance to the fluoroquinolones class, linezolid and vancomycin. Furthermore, high-level aminoglycoside resistance and high-level ciprofloxacin resistance were detected in some isolates. Several clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance genes were found, including vanC1, ermB, ermC, mefAE, tetM, tetL, ant(6')-Ia, ant(4')-Ia, aph(3')-IIIa and aac(6')-Ie-aph(2″)-Ia. Three virulence genes were detected among the MDR E. faecium isolates, such as esp, gelE and ace. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of MDR E. faecium isolates carrying antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in environmental sources and report for the first time in the world the presence of vanC1-producing E. faecium isolated from soil.

Detecting animal by-product intake using stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS).

Sheep are used in many countries as food and for manufacturing bioproducts. However, when these animals consume animal by-products (ABP), which is widely prohibited, there is a risk of transmitting scrapie - a fatal prion disease in human beings. Therefore, it is essential to develop sensitive methods to detect previous ABP intake to select safe animals for producing biopharmaceuticals. We used stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) for 13C and 15N to trace animal proteins in the serum of three groups of sheep: 1 - received only vegetable protein (VP) for 89 days; 2 - received animal and vegetable protein (AVP); and 3 - received animal and vegetable protein with animal protein subsequently removed (AVPR). Groups 2 and 3 received diets with 30% bovine meat and bone meal (MBM) added to a vegetable diet (from days 16-89 in the AVP group and until day 49 in the AVPR group, when MBM was removed). The AVPR group showed 15N equilibrium 5 days after MBM removal (54th day). Conversely, 15N equilibrium in the AVP group occurred 22 days later (76th day). The half-life differed between these groups by 3.55 days. In the AVPR group, 15N elimination required 53 days, which was similar to this isotope's incorporation time. Turnover was determined based on natural 15N signatures. IRMS followed by turnover calculations was used to evaluate the time period for the incorporation and elimination of animal protein in sheep serum. The δ13C and δ15N values were used to track animal protein in the diet. This method is biologically and economically relevant for the veterinary field because it can track protein over time or make a point assessment of animal feed with high sensitivity and resolution, providing a low-cost analysis coupled with fast detection. Isotopic profiles could be measured throughout the experimental period, demonstrating the potential to use the method for traceability and certification assessments.

Modification of the brain proteome of Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera) exposed to a sub-lethal doses of the insecticide fipronil.

Fipronil is a phenylpyrazole insecticide that is widely used in Brazilian agriculture for pest control. Although honeybees are not targets of fipronil, studies indicate that this pesticide can be harmful to honeybees. To assess the effects of fipronil in the brain of Africanized Apis mellifera workers, this study focused on the toxico-proteome profiling of the brain of newly emerged and aged honeybee workers that were exposed to a sub-lethal dose (10 pg fipronil per day. i.e. (1)/100 of LD50/bee/day during 5 days) of the insecticide. Proteomic analysis identified 25 proteins that were differentially up-regulated or down-regulated when the fipronil-exposed and non-exposed groups were compared. These proteins are potentially related to pathogen susceptibility, neuronal chemical stress, neuronal protein misfolding, and occurrence of apoptosis, ischemia, visual impairment, damaged synapse formation, brain degeneration, memory and learning impairment. The exposure of honeybees to a very low dose of fipronil, even for a short period of time (5 days), was sufficient to cause a series of important neuroproteomic changes in the brains of honeybees.

A new scenario of bioprospecting of Hymenoptera venoms through proteomic approach

Venoms represent a huge and essentially unexplored reservoir of bioactive components that may cure diseases that do not respond to currently available therapies. This review select advances reported in the literature from 2000 to the present about the new scenario of Hymenoptera venom composition. On account of new technologies in the proteomic approach, which presents high resolution and sensitivity, the combination of developments in new instruments, fragmentation methods, strategic analysis, and mass spectrometry have become indispensable tools for interrogation of protein expression, molecule interaction, and post- translational modifications. Thus, the biochemical characterization of Hymenoptera venom has become a major subject of research in the area of allergy and immunology, in which proteomics has been an excellent alternative to assist the development of more specific extracts for diagnosis and treatment of hypersensitive patients to Hymenoptera venoms.

Leaf anatomy and morphometry in three eucalypt clones treated with glyphosate.

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of simulated drift of glyphosate on the morphoanatomy of three eucalypt clones and to correlate the intoxication symptoms on a microscopic scale with those observed in this visual analysis. The effects of glyphosate drift were proportional to the five doses tested, with Eucalyptus urophylla being more tolerant to the herbicide than E. grandis and urograndis hybrid. The symptoms of intoxication which were similar for the different clones at 7 and 15 days after application were characterized by leaf wilting, chlorosis and curling and, at the highest rates, by necrosis, leaf senescence and death. Anatomically glyphosate doses higher than 86.4 g.ha-1 caused cellular plasmolysis, hypertrophy and hyperplasia, formation of the cicatrization tissue and dead cells on the adaxial epidermis. The spongy parenchyma had a decrease, and the palisade parenchyma and leaf blade thickness had an increase. The increased thickness in leaf blade and palisade parenchyma may be related to the plant response to glyphosate action, as a form of recovering the photosynthetically active area reduced by necroses and leaf senescence caused by the herbicide.

Leaf anatomy and morphometry in three eucalypt clones treated with glyphosate / Anatomia e morfometria foliar em clones de eucalipto tratados com glyphosate

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of simulated drift of glyphosate on the morphoanatomy of three eucalypt clones and to correlate the intoxication symptoms on a microscopic scale with those observed in this visual analysis. The effects of glyphosate drift were proportional to the five doses tested, with Eucalyptus urophylla being more tolerant to the herbicide than E. grandis and urograndis hybrid. The symptoms of intoxication which were similar for the different clones at 7 and 15 days after application were characterized by leaf wilting, chlorosis and curling and, at the highest rates, by necrosis, leaf senescence and death. Anatomically glyphosate doses higher than 86.4 g.ha-1 caused cellular plasmolysis, hypertrophy and hyperplasia, formation of the cicatrization tissue and dead cells on the adaxial epidermis. The spongy parenchyma had a decrease, and the palisade parenchyma and leaf blade thickness had an increase. The increased thickness in leaf blade and palisade parenchyma may be related to the plant response to glyphosate action, as a form of recovering the photosynthetically active area reduced by necroses and leaf senescence caused by the herbicide.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da deriva simulada de glyphosate na morfoanatomia de três clones de eucalipto e correlacionar os sintomas de intoxicação em escala microscópica com aqueles observados à vista desarmada. Os efeitos da deriva do glyphosate foram proporcionais às doses testadas, sendo Eucalyptus urophylla mais tolerante ao herbicida que E. grandis e o híbrido urograndis. Os sintomas de intoxicação foram semelhantes para os diferentes clones testados, tanto aos 7 quanto aos 15 dias após a aplicação, sendo caracterizados, morfologicamente, por murcha, clorose e enrolamento foliar e, no caso das maiores doses, por necrose, senescência foliar e morte das plantas de eucalipto. Anatomicamente, doses de glyphosate superiores a 86,4 g.ha-1 provocaram plasmólise, hipertrofia e hiperplasia celular, formação de tecido de cicatrização e morte das células da face adaxial da epiderme. Observou-se diminuição na espessura do parênquima lacunoso e aumento na espessura do parênquima paliçádico e da lâmina foliar. O aumento na espessura da folha e do parênquima paliçádico podem estar relacionados à resposta das plantas ao glyphosate, como forma de compensar a área fotossinteticamente reduzida pelas necroses e senescência causadas pelo herbicida.

Changes in amounts of total salivary gland proteins of Lutzomyia longipallpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) according to age and diet.

Saliva plays important roles in facilitation of a bloodmeal, lubrication of mouthparts, and parasite transmission for some vector insects. Salivary composition changes during the lifetime of an insect, and differences in the salivary profile may influence its functions. In this report, the amount and profile of salivary gland protein of the American visceral leishmaniasis vector Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) were analyzed at different times of insect development and diet. Protein content from unfed female sand flies increased significantly with age, and a significant difference was observed in sugar-fed females during the first 10 d of adult life. Salivary protein content sharply decreased 1 d after blood feeding, with gradual increase in concentration the following days. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that most polypeptides present in the saliva of sugar-fed also were present in the saliva of blood-fed females. Understanding changes in sand fly's saliva contents at distinct days after emergence and the influence of a bloodmeal in this aspect may reveal the role played by saliva during leishmaniasis transmission.

Atividades analgésica e/ou antiinflamatória da fração aquosa do extrato etanólico das folhas da Spiranthera odoratissima A. St. Hillaire (manacá)

Os testes de contorção abdominal induzida por acido acético, de edema de orelha induzido por óleo de Croton e de peritonite induzida por carragenina foram usados para o estudo de atividades analgésicas e/ou antiinflamatórias da fração aquosa do extrato etanólico das folhas de Spiranthera odoratissima. A fração aquosa inibe o número de contorções abdominais, reduz o edema de orelha e a migração de leucócitos. Os resultados sugerem que as folhas de Spiranthera odoratissima contêm compostos com atividade antiinflamatória.

Acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, croton oilinduced mice ear oedema test and carrageenan-induced peritonitis were used to study the analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of the aqueous fraction of the ethanolic extract from Spiranthera odoratissima leaves. It caused a dose dependent inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, reduction in ear oedema formation and leukocyte migration. The results suggest that Spiranthera odoratissima leaves contain compounds with antiinflammatory activity.

Cystadenoma of the seminal vesicle: report of a case with ultrastructural findings.

Cystadenomas of the seminal vesicles are extremely rare benign tumours. We have not been able to find more than 10 cases in the literature. A benign cystadenoma of the seminal vesicle is described in a 49-year-old man. The clinical presentation, gross appearance, microscopic characteristics, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings of this uncommon tumour are discussed. The purpose of this paper is to report an unusual case of cystadenoma of the seminal vesicle and review the 10 previously reported cases in the English literature.

Case report: plexiform schwannoma of the vulva.

We describe a case of plexiform schwannoma, a benign tumour of the peripheral nerve sheath, arising in the labia of a 5-year-old girl who presented with a mass in the vulva. Light and electron microscopy, special stains and immunohistochemistry studies were done on the excised specimen. A Medline search revealed a single case of vulvar plexiform schwannoma which was reported in 1983.

[Carotid body tumors: review of 8 cases and surgical approach]. / Tumores do corpo carotídeo: revisão de oito casos e abordagem cirúrgica.

Carotid body tumors are rather uncommon. Even though there is a great amount of literature on the subject, the controversy regarding its biological behavior and therapeutics and mainly, the surgical management still remains. We present eight patients with carotid body tumors (total of 9 tumors, one bilateral) surgically treated at the Neurosurgery Department of Santa Casa in Belo Horizonte, from 1989 to 1999. The age ranged from 11 to 66-years-old (35,6+/-17.7). Four patients were women and four were men. We had satisfactory postoperative results with low morbidity and no deaths. Based on our experience and on the review of the literature, some aspects of this disease are discussed. We conclude that carotid body tumors are uncommon and should be treat with carefully surgery techniques to obtain low morbi-mortality rates.

Placental site nodules and plaques: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 25 cases with ultrastructural findings.

Placental site nodules or plaques (PSN-Ps) are nodular benign lesions of the intermediate trophoblast (IT) cells in the endometrium, endocervix, superficial myometrium or fallopian tube, occurring after a remote intrauterine pregnancy. We present a study of 25 cases of PSN-Ps These lesions occurred in patients aged 18 to 44 years. Most were discovered incidentally in endometrial curettage specimens. The specimens were received as part of clinical investigations for menorrhagia, per vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain. None of the PSN-Ps was visible grossly. Microscopically, they were mostly multiple, well-circumscribed, oval or plaque-like cellular nodules. The IT cells typically had abundant vacuolated or eosinophilic cytoplasm. The nuclei were irregular, large, hyperchromatic, often degenerate-looking and either mononucleated, multinucleated or multiclefted. Hyalinization surrounding individual or groups of IT cells, or located in the centre of the nodules, was a constant feature in all cases. The lesional cells were strongly immunoreactive to CAM 5.2, 34 beta E12, AE1/AE3, EMA and vimentin. Some cases showed focal positivity to HCG and HPL. PLAP staining was consistently negative. Ultrastructurally, the IT cells showed prominent nuclear variation in size and shape. The abundant, vacuolated cytoplasm contained some rough endoplasmic reticulum and loosely arranged filaments. This study describes the clinicopathological and immunophenotypic features of 25 cases of PSN-Ps including the ultrastructural findings of one case.

Chromoblastomycosis: a retrospective study of six cases at the Royal Darwin Hospital from 1989 to 1994.

Chromoblastomycosis, a localized chronic cutaneous and subcutaneous infection of the skin caused by pigmented fungi, is most common in the world's tropical and subtropical zones. The condition rarely occurs in Australia. We present 6 cases of chromoblastomycosis seen at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, from 1989 to 1994 and affecting predominantly male Caucasians ranging from 38 to 71 yrs of age. Clinically the lesions were verrucous or nodular. They mimicked basal or squamous cell carcinoma, nevi or solar keratoses. Histopathologic findings were nonspecific. The only pathognomonic finding was the presence of brown spores or sclerotic bodies within granulomata or within microabscesses in the skin.

Coronary artery thromboembolism and unexpected death in childhood and adolescence.

Two cases of unexpected death in childhood and adolescence associated with coronary artery thromboembolism are reported involving a 6-year-old girl with acute rheumatic fever and left ventricular vegetations, and an 18-year-old adolescent with Down syndrome and congenital heart disease. Although coronary artery thromboembolism is rarely reported in childhood or adolescence, these cases demonstrate that careful examination of the coronary arteries during pediatric autopsy may be helpful in determining factors contributing to death, even at quite young ages. This is particularly so in the presence of predisposing cardiac pathology.

Cementifying fibroma of the maxillary antrum.

A 26 yr old Caucasian, previously healthy, noticed a painless swelling of the left palate of 2 mths duration. On examination, a left maxillary swelling was noted with extension into the cheek. The mass was compressible. The CT scan revealed a large expansive tumor. Histological diagnosis of the enucleated lesion was cementifying fibroma. We describe a case of cementifying fibroma of the maxilla, an unusual location for this tumor.