HLA-G expression in Merkel cell carcinoma and the correlation with Merkel cell polyomavirus infection.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare aggressive neuroendocrine cutaneous carcinoma with a high mortality rate. The MCC etiology is not fully understood. Merkel cell-associated polyomavirus (MCPyV) was found in MCC patients, indicating a risk factor for the tumor. Caucasian, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are more likely to develop this tumor. HLA-G consists of a non-classical class I (Ib) HLA molecule with an immunoregulatory function and was associated with tumor escape in different types of tumors, nonetheless, never been studied in MCC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the HLA-G expression and also to detect the MCPyV in MCC patients and correlate it with the clinical course of the disease. Forty-five MCC patients were included in a retrospective study. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded cutaneous skin biopsies were used by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR to verify the HLA-G expression and MCPyV infection. HLA-G expression was found in 7 (15.6%), while the presence of MCPyV was detected in 28 (62.2%) of the studied patients. No significant association was found between HLA-G expression and MCPyV infection (p = 0.250). The presence of MCPyV was associated with areas of low sunlight exposure (p = 0.042) and the HLA-G expression with progression to death (p = 0.038). HLA-G expression was detected in MCC patients, as well as the MCPyV presence was confirmed. These markers could represent factors with a possible impact on patient survival; however, further studies with a greater number of patients are needed, to better elucidate the possible role in disease progression.

HLA-G expression in Merkel cell carcinoma and the correlation with Merkel cell polyomavirus infection

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare aggressive neuroendocrine cutaneous carcinoma with a high mortality rate. The MCC etiology is not fully understood. Merkel cell-associated polyomavirus (MCPyV) was found in MCC patients, indicating a risk factor for the tumor. Caucasian, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are more likely to develop this tumor. HLA-G consists of a non-classical class I (Ib) HLA molecule with an immunoregulatory function and was associated with tumor escape in different types of tumors, nonetheless, never been studied in MCC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the HLA-G expression and also to detect the MCPyV in MCC patients and correlate it with the clinical course of the disease. Forty-five MCC patients were included in a retrospective study. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded cutaneous skin biopsies were used by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR to verify the HLA-G expression and MCPyV infection. HLA-G expression was found in 7 (15.6%), while the presence of MCPyV was detected in 28 (62.2%) of the studied patients. No significant association was found between HLA-G expression and MCPyV infection (p = 0.250). The presence of MCPyV was associated with areas of low sunlight exposure (p = 0.042) and the HLA-G expression with progression to death (p = 0.038). HLA-G expression was detected in MCC patients, as well as the MCPyV presence was confirmed. These markers could represent factors with a possible impact on patient survival; however, further studies with a greater number of patients are needed, to better elucidate the possible role in disease progression.

Avaliação das fibras colágenas de feridas dérmicas de coelhos tratadas com diferentes fontes de plasma rico em plaquetas / Evaluation of collagen in dermal wounds of rabbits treated with different sources of platelet-rich plasma

Para comparar a regeneração tecidual de feridas dérmicas em coelhos tratados e não tratados, de forma seriada, com diferentes fontes de plasma rico em plaquetas (PRP) gel, biópsias dérmicas foram feitas na região dorsal, com auxílio de um punch de 8mm, em que o lado direito foi tratado com NaCl 0,9%® e o lado esquerdo recebeu aplicação de diferentes fontes de PRPs (autóloga, heteróloga e homóloga), nos dias zero, três, sete, 10, 14, tendo sido acompanhadas durante 17 dias. Ao final do 17º dia, foi realizada avaliação histopatológica das feridas. Do total de 24 animais, seis coelhos (três machos e três fêmeas) foram utilizados somente como doadores para obtenção do PRP homólogo gel. Um cão adulto, saudável, foi utilizado como doador durante o experimento para o preparo do PRP gel do grupo heterólogo. As médias das fibras dos grupos autólogo e homólogo foram muito semelhantes (75,0±13,7 e 73,1±10,2, respectivamente), quando comparadas às médias obtidas no grupo controle (71,5±10,8). Já as fibras colágenas do grupo heterólogo foram inferiores (P<0,05) às dos demais grupos (59,4±11,3). Conclui-se que a fonte heteróloga produz fibras colágenas menos organizadas e menos homogêneas, sendo o último recurso a ser utilizado para promover uma cicatrização de boa qualidade.(AU)

In order to compare the tissue regeneration of dermal wounds in treated and untreated rabbits serially with different sources of platelet rich plasma (PRP) gel, dermal biopsies were made in the dorsal region with the aid of an 8mm punch. The right side was treated with 0.9% NaCl and, on the left side, the different sources of PRPs (autologous, heterologous and homologous) on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14 were applied and monitored for 17 days. At the end of the 17th day, histopathological evaluation of the wounds was performed. From the total of 24 animals, six rabbits (3 males and 3 females) were used only as donors to obtain the homologous PRP gel. A healthy, adult dog was used as a donor during the experiment to prepare the PRP gel from the heterologous group. The mean values of the fibers of the autologous and homologous groups were very similar (75.0±13.7 and 73.1±10.2, respectively), when compared to the means obtained in the control group (71.5±10.8). The collagen fibers of the heterologous group were inferior (P<0.05) to the other groups (59.4±11.3). It is concluded that the heterologous source produces less organized and homogeneous collagen fibers and should be the last resource to be used in order to promote good quality healing.(AU)

Dicephalic Parapagus Conjoined Twins in a Large Fruit-eating Bat, Genus Artibeus (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae).

Conjoined twinning is an embryological anomaly rarely reported in wild mammals and with only two previous records in Chiroptera. Here, we report a case of dicephalic parapagus conjoined twins in the Neotropical phyllostomid genus Artibeus. These twins are males and present separated heads and necks, but a conjoined trunk with an expanded upper thoracic region. They developed two complete forelimbs and two complete hindlimbs, all laterally to the trunk. There is a volume in the upper midback and between the heads that resembles a third rudimentary medial forelimb, but X-ray images only suggest the presence of medial skeletal elements of the pectoral girdle (clavicle and scapulae) in this region. The X-ray images also show that vertebral columns run separated from head until the base of lumbar region, where they form a single structure. Using ultrasound images, we detected the presence of two similarly sized and apparently separated hearts. The accumulation of study cases like this will help in the understanding of patterns and process behind this phenomena, and collection material plays a key role in this context.

The prevalence of infection by intestinal parasites in an urban slum in São Paulo, Brazil.

Sedimentation parasitological examinations were performed in stool specimens from a random household-based sample of 407 dwellers, all age groups being represented, in a slum of São Paulo, south-eastern Brazil. Intestinal parasites were detected in 45.7% of the specimens. The most prevalent parasites in this population were Ascaris lumbricoides (23.8%) and Trichuris trichiura (17.2%); only 17 individuals (4.2%) harboured Giardia duodenalis and 6 (1.5%) harboured Entamoeba histolytica. Taenia and hookworm eggs were not found. Simultaneous infection by A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura was diagnosed in 34 subjects (8.4%). The prevalence rates of infection by A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura (including those of mixed infections by both species) were highest among children aged 2-12 years. In samples positive for A. lumbricoides and/or T. trichiura, egg counts were done on Kato's thick smears and the results expressed as eggs per gram faeces (e.p.g.). The mean intensity of infection (measured as e.p.g.) in A. lumbricoides-infected subjects was highest among children aged 6-12 years and young adults under 25 years, while in T. trichiura-infected subjects the highest egg counts were observed in children aged 2-12 years. The frequency distributions of eggs of both nematodes passed by the host population were overdispersed. Moreover, a strong positive correlation (P < 0.0001) was observed between counts of eggs of both species passed by the same hosts.

Use of the Silvermann-Franklin biopsy needle for the diagnosis of intra-sinusal lesions, especially of the maxillary sinus.

This report proposes the use of a new technique in the diagnosis of pathology of the maxillary sinus, including neoplasm, using the Silvermann-Franklin" needle. The procedure consists of approaching the diseased sinus through the canine, as in conventional biopsies, with the removal of fragments using forceps. Ten patients with an X-ray suggesting a mass in the maxillary sinus were studied. An 80% correlation was found between the anatomical and pathological findings of the biopsy and the subsequent surgical findings. The advantages of this method include the low risk, performance under local anaesthetic in an out-patient mode, the possibility of obtaining the diagnosis prior to surgery, and the possibility of obtaining deep-seated tissue fragments.