Oral Kaposi sarcoma development is associated with HIV viral load, CD4+ count and CD4+/CD8+ ratio.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an uncommon, multifocal and angioproliferative lesion, which demonstrates a poor prognosis. The aim of the present research was to explore the association of HIV viral load, CD4+ and CD8+ counts and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio on the risk of oral Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) development. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 62 patients were retrieved from March 2008 to October 2020 from the files of two oral pathology centres. Clinical, laboratory and follow-up data were retrieved from their medical files. Poisson regression was used to explore the role of history of immunosuppression and its association with oral KS development. A P-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were included in the present study (32 with oral KS and 30 with no presentation of lesions anywhere on the body). Patients with oral KS presented a mean age of 32.6 years, and male patients were more affected. The hard palate (15 cases; 46.8%) was the main anatomical site affected. The lesions were mostly presented as swellings (13 cases; 40.6%) and nodules (12 cases; 37.5%). Systemic manifestations were also observed, including candidiasis (4 cases; 12.5%), bacterial infection (3 cases; 9.3%), tuberculosis (3 cases; 9.3%), herpes simplex (3 cases; 9.3%) and pneumonia (3 cases; 9.3%). A significant correlation was observed between HIV viral load, CD4+ count and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio with oral KS development. CONCLUSIONS: HIV viral load, CD4+ count and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio are associated with oral KS development.

Does heteropterys aphrodisiaca administration andendurance training alter bones of mature rats?

Heteropterys aphrodisiaca infusion, alone or associated with endurance training, was investigated in rat bonesin relation to their mechanical properties, collagen content and morphology. Male rats were divided into fourgroups (n = 8): CS- control sedentary, HS- H. aphrodisiaca sedentary, CT–control trained, HT‑H. aphrodisiacatrained. The training protocol consisted in running on a motorized treadmill, 5 times a week, for 8 weeks,with weekly increase in treadmill velocity and duration. Control groups received water while HS and HTgroups received H. aphrodisiaca infusion (104 mg/animal) by gavage during the 8 weeks. Tibiae werefrozen for collagen dosage and biomechanical analysis or preserved in Karnovsky’s fixative, then processedfor histomorphological analysis by conventional light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. TheHT group showed significantly higher yield load and yield stress in the tibiae three-point bending test. Themaximum load, stiffness, maximum stress and elastic modulus were statistically similar for the experimentalgroups. The hydroxyproline content, morphometrical and stereological data were not significantly differentfor the four groups. Scanning electron microscopy showed more lacunae and Havers canals in the bone oftrained animals, moreover the osteons were more disorganized, when compared with sedentary groups. Thesealterations may indicate that the bone of trained animals was being remodeled. However, after 8 weeks oftraining, it was not possible verify alterations in morphometrical measurements, collagen content, stiffness andmodulus of elasticity of the trained and treated animals.