Donor Choriocarcinoma Transmission From Solid Organ Transplantation: A Case Report

Transplantation of any organ has some inherent risk of disease transmission, such as infection and malignancy. The present study aims to describe 2 cases of choriocarcinoma transmission after kidney and liver transplantation originating from the same patient. The donor was a 17-year-old woman who died of cerebral hemorrhage. Both organ recipients died of metastatic choriocarcinoma few months after the transplantation, within days after starting chemotherapy. Retrospective hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin hormone) analysis in donor's blood stored at the time of donation had a result of 9324 mIU/mL. Despite its rarity, clinicians should be aware of the risk of transplant-related choriocarcinoma from female donors in childbearing age. In some cases, hCG dosage should be performed before donation.     

Subacute and acute fasciolosis in sheep in southern Brazil

Eight outbreaks of acute and subacute fasciolosis are reported in sheep in the municipality of Santa Vitória do Palmar, southern Brazil, in areas used for irrigated rice cultivation, which are subject to frequent flooding. Two outbreaks occurred mid-winter during July and August, and six occurred during spring and early summer. Morbidity ranged from 3 to 66.7 %, and mortality ranged from 3 to 50 %. Clinical signs included weight loss, mucosal pallor, apathy, depression, muscle tremors, and drooling; these were followed by death within approximately 24 h. Some sheep were found dead. Gross lesions were characterized by an irregular liver capsule with fibrin deposition and hemorrhages. The liver parenchyma contained hemorrhagic tracts or irregular clear areas alternated with dark hemorrhagic areas. Histologically, hemorrhagic dark red tracts of necrotic liver parenchyma and an inflammatory infiltrate were noted; these lesions coincided with the presence of immature flukes. Langhans-type giant cells, fibrous tissue, and bile duct cell proliferation were observed in subacute cases. Chronic fasciolosis is a well-known disease to farmers in southern Brazil; nevertheless, acute and subacute fasciolosis, which are more difficult to diagnose and treat, may cause important economic losses. Efficient control of fasciolosis requires integration of measures to treat infections in the definitive host, to reduce the population of snails of the genus Lymnaea, and to avoid contact between the parasite and host by appropriate pasture management.     

Natural infection in Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) by Lagochilascaris major Leiper, 1910 (Nematoda: Ascarididae) in Buenos Aires,Argentina

Parasitology Research - Lagochilascariosis is an emerging parasitic disease limited to the American continent, caused by nematodes of the genus Lagochilascaris. Its life cycle is heteroxenous,...     

Time to diagnosis of retinoblastoma in Latin America: A systematic review

Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common intraocular tumor of childhood. In low income countries, Time to diagnosis (TTD: interval between first symptom and diagnosis) has been associated with extraocular disease, metastasis and mortality. However, the relationship between TTD and prognosis is complex and not simply a linear correlation, particularly if TTD is <6?months. This systematic review aims to identify studies reporting TTD of retinoblastoma in Latin America, highlighting factors affecting TTD, alongside proposals and initiatives to obtain shorter intervals. The review also aims to discuss the methodology linked to cancer pathways studies. The study respected PRISMA recommendations, was registered on Prospero, an international database for systematic review registries under number CRD42017076777. MEDLINE/PUBMED, LILACS and SCIELO databases were searched. Studies from Latin America and the Caribbean, published between 1997 and 2017, reporting TTD and age at diagnosis of patients with retinoblastoma were selected. Nine studies were selected, concerning 1560 patients from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Honduras, Mexico and Peru. The median TTD ranged from 3 to 5?months and the median age at diagnosis ranged from 16.5 to 22.2?months. A prolonged TTD was observed and was associated to damaging results on retinoblastoma outcomes, particularly increasing extraocular disease, and mortality rates. Methodological heterogeneity was observed and reiterates the importance of standardization of TTD studies, allowing more reliable comparisons and greater knowledge about retinoblastoma pathways before diagnosis. Reports on successful initiatives against delayed diagnosis were scarce, emphasizing a need for further studies.     

Aumento de Óbitos Domiciliares devido a Parada Cardiorrespiratória em Tempos de Pandemia de COVID-19

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases constitute an important group of causes of death in the country. Ischemic heart diseases that are the main causes of cardiopulmonary arrest, leading to an impact on the mortality of the cardiovascular diseases in the health system.ObjectiveAssess the number of home deaths by cardiopulmonary arrest notified by the Mobile Emergency Medical Service (SAMU) in March 2018, 2019 and 2020.MethodsObservational study carried out from the analysis of cardiopulmonary arrest mortality data of citizens assisted by SAMU in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Social and clinical characteristics and occurrence information of the patients were analyzed. The mortality rate due to cardiopulmonary arrest in relation to the total number of attendances was assessed. A significance level of 95% was considered.ResultsThere was increase of home deaths due to cardiopulmonary arrest in March 2020 compared to March 2018 (p<0.001) and March 2019 (p=0.050). Of the deaths reported in 2020, 63.8% of the patients were aged 60 years or older, 63.7% of the occurrences were performed in the afternoon and approximately 87% of the cardiopulmonary arrest notified had associated clinical comorbidities, with systemic arterial hypertension and heart failure represented by 22.87% and 13.03% of the reported cases, respectively. The majority of the evaluated sample of this study did not have any medical care follow-up (88.7%).ConclusionConsidering the increase in the number of the deaths, we suggest reflections and readjustments regarding the monitoring of chronic non-transmissible diseases during a pandemic, as well as improvements in death surveillance. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021; 116(2):266-271)     

Epidemiological studies on Echinococcus in Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) and European hare (Lepus europaeus) in Buenos Aires province, Argentina

In Argentina, hydatid disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus is widespread. The south of Buenos Aires province, Argentina, is one of the three regions where hydatidosis is endemic. Although domestic dogs and sheep are considered to be the main hosts for E. granulosus, the potential role of wildlife in the local transmission of E. granulosus has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to estimate the hydatidosis/echinococcosis prevalence in European hare (Lepus europaeus) and Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus), two abundant species with a strong predator–prey relationship in rural areas of Buenos Aires province using different diagnostic tests. A total of 61 fox intestines were examined, finding that 52 (85.2 %) harbored at least one helminth species. However, no adult or immature form of Echinococcus sp. was found in the intestinal contents. Coproparasitological analysis and Copro–ELISA followed by Copro–PCR were used as supplementary diagnostic tests. Only one (1.7 %) of 59 fecal samples was positive to Taeniidae eggs by coproparasitological analysis, but this same sample was negative by the Copro–ELISA test. The analysis by Copro–ELISA showed 6 of 57 (10.6 %) positive samples, but the Copro–PCR tests carried out on these samples were negative to E. granulosus. A total of 6,808 lungs, 3,576 livers, and 3,542 hearts of hunted hares were examined and palpated, but no structure resembling hydatid cysts were detected. Our results suggest that hares and Pampas foxes are not currently important wild reservoirs of E. granulosus in the studied area.     

A Preseason Training Program With the Nordic Hamstring Exercise Increases Eccentric Knee Flexor Strength and Fascicle Length in Professional Female Soccer Players

BackgroundTraining programs that include the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) have been shown to increase eccentric knee flexor strength and biceps femoris fascicle length in male athletes. However, the effect of NHE on female athletes remains unknown.PurposeTo investigate the collective and individual responses of professional female soccer players engaged in a preseason training program with the NHE regarding eccentric knee flexor strength and biceps femoris long head fascicle length.Study DesignQuasi-experimental study.MethodsSixteen amateur female soccer players (without a NHE training routine) were evaluated 8-weeks apart to: (1) assess reliability of eccentric knee flexor strength and biceps femoris fascicle length measures; and (2) determine the typical error of measures that would be used to discriminate training responders and non-responders. The NHE training group had 17 professional female soccer players who performed an 8-week training program with the NHE during preseason. Within-group analysis was performed with paired sample t-tests (pre- vs. post-training), and individual responses were determined using the typical error criteria.ResultsThe non-trained group’s data demonstrated that measures of strength (ICC=0.82-0.87, typical error = 12-13 N) and fascicle length (ICC=0.92-0.97; typical error = 0.19-0.38 cm) were reliable. In the NHE training group, both limbs increased the eccentric knee flexor strength (~13%; ES=0.74-0.82) and the biceps femoris fascicle length (~6%; ES=0.44-0.65). Twelve players (~71%) were considered responders to the NHE training program for the eccentric knee flexor strength, while eight athletes (~47%) were responders for the biceps femoris fascicle length.ConclusionThe 8-week preseason training program with the NHE increased both eccentric knee flexor strength and biceps femoris fascicle length in professional female soccer players. More than two-thirds of players demonstrated a meaningful increase in eccentric strength, while nearly half achieved consistent fascicle length increases with the NHE training.