Geographic distribution and epidemiological features of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in old rural settlements in Paraná State, Southern Brazil

This study analyzes the epidemiology of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in the municipalities of the Central North, Central West, and Northwest mesoregions of Paraná State, Brazil. Diagnosis of American tegumentary leishmaniasis cases was performed at the State University in Maringá from 1987 to 2004. According to the probable site of infection, cases were classified as autochthonous (infection inside the household domain) or allochthonous (outside the household domain). Municipalities with the most cases were Maringá (458), Doutor Camargo (126), S?o Jorge do Ivaí (121), Terra Boa (114), Cianorte (98), and Colorado (95). Of the total of 1,938 cases, 66.9% were male. Among the 667 autochthonous cases, similar numbers of men and women were infected, with cases in minors as young as five years of age, with the latter not occurring in the 794 allochthonous cases. Conditions favoring American tegumentary leishmaniasis were created in the processes involved in occupying the rural areas of these mesoregions, particularly in the agricultural settlement model and the crisis in coffee monoculture.     

Vaginoplasty with oxidized cellulose: anatomical, functional and histological evaluation

Objective

To present and evaluate the histological, anatomical and functional results of the McIndoe procedure, as modified by the application of oxidized cellulose (Surgicel™) in women with vaginal agenesis.

Study design

Eleven patients with vaginal agenesis underwent vaginoplasty using a mould that had been wrapped with oxidized cellulose. The surgeries were performed between January 2009 and January 2010. Eight of the patients had been diagnosed with Mayer–Rokitansky–Kuster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, and the remaining three had been diagnosed with cervicovaginal agenesis (CVA). The mean follow-up time was 14 months (range, 6–24 months), and it included clinical examinations and evaluation of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Neovaginal biopsies were taken at the time of surgery and 1–12 months after surgery. The histology of the samples was evaluated to determine squamous epithelialization of the neovaginal tissue over time, and the total collagen content of the neovaginas were compared with normal control subjects. For statistical analysis we employed the ANOVA test and the t-test.

Results

At 6 months, anatomical success was achieved in 100% of the MRKH syndrome patients (neovaginal length ≥ 6 cm), and functional success was achieved in 100% of the patients who started their sexual life (FSFI score ≥ 30). Biopsy results showed complete epithelialization of the neovagina after 5 months in all samples, and the collagen content was comparable to that of a normal vagina. One major postoperative complication occurred in a patient with CVA, which culminated in death. The uterovaginal canalization procedure was unsuccessful at creating an outflow tract for regular menses in all cases.

Conclusions

The procedure described here offers patients a functional vagina by means of a simple and low-cost procedure that elicits squamous epithelialization of the neovaginal vault, with total collagen content similar to that of normal vaginal tissue. It is a potential alternative therapeutic approach for MRKH syndrome but not applicable to cases of CVA.     

Hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1/kidney injury molecule-1 is a susceptibility gene for clear cell renal cell carcinoma and hepatitis A virus cellular receptor/kidney injury molecule-1 ectodomain shedding a predictive biomarker of tumour progression

Aim of the studyTo correlate hepatitis A virus cellular receptor (HAVCR)/kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tumours with patient outcome and study the consequences of HAVCR/KIM-1 ectodomain shedding.MethodsHAVCR/KIM-1 expression in ccRCC, oncocytomes, papillary carcinomas and unaffected tissue counterparts was evaluated. Minimal change disease and pre-clamping normal and ccRCC tissue biopsies were included. Tissue microarrays from 98 ccRCC tumours were analysed. Tumour registry data and patient outcome were retrospectivelly collected. Deletions in HAVCR/KIM-1 ectodomain and lentiviral infection of 786-O cells with HAVCR/KIM-1 mutated constructs to determine their subcellular distribution and invasive capacity were performed.ResultsHAVCR/KIM-1 was expressed in ccRCC, papillary tumours and in tubule cells of adjacent and distal unaffected counterparts of ccRCC tumours. The latest was not related to ischemic or tumour-related paracrine effects since pre-clamping normal biopsies were positive for HAVCR/KIM-1 and unaffected counterparts of papillary tumours were negative. HAVCR/KIM-1 analyses in patients and the invasive capacity of HAVCR/KIM-1 shedding mutants in cell lines demonstrated that: (i) relative low HAVCR/KIM-1 membrane levels correlate with activated shedding in ccRCC patients and mutant cell lines; (ii) augmented shedding directly correlates with higher invasiveness and tumour malignancy.Concluding statementsConstitutive expression of HAVCR/KIM-1 in kidney might constitute a susceptibility trait for ccRCC tumour development. Enhanced HAVCR/KIM-1 ectodomain shedding promotes invasive phenotype in vitro and more aggressive tumours in vivo.     

Bonding properties of universal adhesives to root canals prepared with different rotary instruments

Statement of problem

Preparation of coronal dentin by using a diamond rotary instrument usually results in higher bond strength values than preparation with tungsten carbide burs, but information is lacking about the influence of rotary instruments on root canals before the bonding of fiber posts.

Cholestatic pruritus: a knowledge update

This review is focused on updating knowledge about cholestatic pruritus. It summarizes clinical-epidemiological characteristics, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, and evidence-based therapeutic recommendations regarding this form of pruritus. Pruritus is a frequent symptom that accompanies several liver diseases, particularly cholestatic ones. The symptom may be mild and tolerable, but it can also dramatically reduce the quality of life. Although the exact pathophysiology of this form of pruritus remains unclear, current evidence supports a mixed origin. It is extremely important for dermatologists to have knowledge about cholestatic pruritus since they are usually the first physicians to be sought by the patient when they experience the symptom. In the absence of specific dermatological alterations, cholestasis must always be considered as a possible cause of pruritus. In addition to allowing an adequate diagnosis, a better pathophysiological understanding of hepatic pruritus provides the identification of new therapeutic targets and, consequently, optimization of the approach in patients with this condition.     

Effect of erosive challenge with HCl on restorative materials

Objective

Investigate the effect of erosive challenge with hydrochloric acid (HCl) on the surface of five different restorative materials.

Material and methods

Ten plates of five restorative materials (Admira Fusion, Activa BioActive-Restorative, Charisma, Equia Forte HT Fil/EF, Filtek Universal Restorative/FU) were obtained. Half of the plate surfaces was covered with an adhesive tape, creating a control area, and the other side was submitted to the HCl (0.06 M HCl; pH 1.2; at 37 °C; for 30 h). Plates with control and HCl-treated areas were analyzed regarding the surface roughness (Sa), roughness profile (Rv), surface loss (SL), microhardness (MI), and gloss (GL) (n?=?10). Surface morphology was analyzed by SEM and chemical elements were identified by EDX (n?=?5). Data were evaluated by ANOVA and Tukey’s test (α?=?0.05).

Results

Most materials were not affected by HCl. FU showed the lowest Sa and Rv, and the highest GL after HCl. On the other hand, EF presented the highest Sa, Rv, and SL, and the lowest GL. The MI of materials was not changed after HCl. Topographical and chemical alterations were observed after HCl only for EF.

Conclusions

The composites showed minor surface changes after HCl, which was not observed for the glass ionomer cement (EF). FU presented the best performance regarding the parameters evaluated.

Clinical relevance

The effects of erosive challenge with HCl on composites were minimal, while the glass ionomer cements might not be indicated as restorative material for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

     

The value of 4-month neurocognitive function as an endpoint in brain metastases trials

To investigate whether the neurocognitive function at 4 months could be a relevant primary endpoint in clinical trials dealing with brain metastases, we created a Japanese neurocognitive battery and examined the changes in patients’ neurocognitive function for 1 year after their brain radiotherapy. In this prospective pilot study, we enrolled 27 patients (20 patients who received whole-brain radiation therapy [WBRT] and seven who received stereotactic irradiation [STI] alone) between March 2009 and December 2010. The follow-up neurocognitive data at 4, 8 and 12 months were available in 22 (17 WBRT, 5 STI), 19 patients (14 WBRT, 5 STI) and 13 patients (9 WBRT, 4 STI), respectively. Among the patients who received WBRT, significant deterioration in delayed memory compared to the baseline (p = 0.04) was observed at 4 months, and at 8 months, significant improvements were observed in immediate memory compared to the baseline (p = 0.008) and 4-months scores (p = 0.005). At 12 months, however, the immediate memory scores had returned to the baseline. Similar trends were observed in other functions (delayed memory, attention and executive functions). In these patients, the correlations between 4-months scores of neurocognitive functions and 12-months scores were significant in immediate memory (γ = 0.68, p = 0.004), delayed memory (γ = 0.738, p = 0.023) and attention (γ = 0.817, p = 0.007). Among the patients who received STI, no significant changes were observed in any functions. These results suggest that 4-months changes in neurocognitive functions were transient but could also be a premonitory index for predicting the neurocognitive function 1 year or later after brain radiation therapy.     

Dissemination of bla(IMP-1)-carrying integron In86 among Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates harboring a new trimethoprim resistance gene dfr23

The genetic context of the bla_IMP-1 gene was evaluated in 9 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates recovered from 2 hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. All isolates harbored a copy of In86 carrying bla_IMP-1, aac(6′)-31, and aadA1. Eight strains from the same hospital also carried another class 1 integron harboring a new trimethoprim resistance gene (dfr23) that was chromosomally embedded. In86 was likely to be in a 30-kb nontransferable plasmid and was flanked upstream by a sequence identical to one identified in an IMP-1–producing Pseudomonas putida isolate. The bla_IMP-1-carrying integron In86 was recently reported from nonfermentative bacilli isolated in São Paulo. These isolates appear to be the source of this integron now acquired by K. pneumoniae strains from different hospitals in the same city. Metallo-β-lactamase production is still rare among Enterobacteriaceae isolates in Brazil, but the acquisition of genetic structures carrying these mobile resistance determinants is worrisome and could lead to an increase in the prevalence of these phenotypes of resistance.