DECREASING PREVALENCE OF THE ACUTE/SUBACUTE CLINICAL FORM OF PARACOCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS IN MATO GROSSO DO SUL STATE,BRAZIL

With the objective to evaluate the behavior of paracoccidioidomycosis in the last three decades, clinical and epidemiological data of 595 patients admitted to clinical services of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul from 1980 to 2009 were investigated. Gender, age distribution, clinical form, comorbidity with tuberculosis or AIDS, and mortality were compared by decades of clinical admission. It was shown that during the three decades there was a decrease in women percentage, and the same manner occurred a reduction in participants in the age group of 20 to 39 years. Moreover, the acute/subacute forms have been diminished in the period. These fluctuations are closely related and can be simultaneously analyzed. Increased AIDS co-infection prevalence from the first to the second decade was also revealed, coinciding with the appearance of the retroviral epidemic and stabilizing during the third decade. No change in the tuberculosis co-infection rate was observed (overall = 6.9%). It reinforces the importance of this co-morbidity. The overall mortality rate remained steady at 6.7%, not varying significantly from one decade to another. The persistent mortality rate calls attention to the importance of this neglected disease.     

Impact of macrolide therapy on mortality of HIV-infected patients with community-acquired pneumonia in a tertiary teaching hospital

BackgroundBacterial pneumonia is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of macrolide therapy in combination with a beta-lactam based empiric regimen for inpatients with community-acquired pneumonia and HIV.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients. Adult patients who had received treatment with ceftriaxone or ceftriaxone plus clarithromycin were included.Results76 patients met the inclusion criteria. Among baseline characteristics analyzed, only respiratory rate showed significant difference: patients who had received clarithromycin were more likely to have a respiratory rate > 30/min than patients who received only ceftriaxone (64% versus 36%, p = 0.03). ICU admission was the only outcome that showed a significant difference, more frequent in the ceftriaxone plus clarithromycin group (45% versus 20%, p = 0.03).ConclusionsThis study does not support the addition of a macrolide to a beta-lactam based regimen in HIV-infected patients. This is probably related to the patients’ immunodeficiency status, which impairs the immunomodulatory properties of the macrolides.     

Mechanical stretch reduces the effect of angiotensin II on potassium current in cardiac ventricular cells of adult Sprague Dawley rats. On the role of AT1 receptors as mechanosensors

The influence of mechanical stretch on the effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) on potassium current was investigated on cardiomyocytes isolated from the left ventricle of adult Sprague Dawley rats. Measurements of total potassium current were performed using the voltage clamp whole cell configuration. The results indicated: that mechanical stretch increased the potassium current appreciably, an effect inhibited by valsartan (10^?8 M), which is a strong inverse agonist of AT1 receptors; Ang II (10^?8 M) administered to the bath increased the potassium current by 60 ± 5.2% (n = 22) in cardiomyocytes isolated from Sprague Dawley rats; mechanical stretch (3 μm) applied in the longitudinal direction for a duration of 10 minutes, reduced the effect of Ang II (10^?8 M) on potassium current to 25 ± 4.3% (n = 24); 4) Bis-1 (300 nM), which is a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C, inhibited the effect of mechanical stretch on the increment of potassium current elicited by Ang II. In conclusion, the mechanical stretch of cardiomyocytes increases the potassium currents, an effect greatly dependent on the mechanical activation of AT1 receptors independently of Ang II. In addition, the increment of potassium currents caused by Ang II was greatly reduced by mechanical stretch, an effect abolished by protein kinase C inhibition.     

Physiological responses during linear periodized training in rats

This study was undertaken to characterize the effects of the linear periodized training in rats on aerobic and anaerobic performance, glycogen concentration in soleus, gastrocnemius and liver, hormones concentrations (testosterone and corticosterone), enzymes and metabolites (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, uric acid and urea) as well as antioxidant system (catalase, superoxide dismutase and sulfhydryl groups) after basic, specific and taper periods. Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly separated in two groups: control/sedentary (CT, n = 40) and linear periodized training (LPT, n = 30). The LPT was carried out during a period of 12 weeks (w) with frequency of 6 days/week. The training period was subdivided in three mesocycles: basic (6 weeks), specific (4.5 weeks) and taper (1.5 weeks). The real volume of the training obtained in LPT reduced 7% in relation to the estimated volume. The anaerobic index in LPT after basic and taper was higher than CT in respective period but unchanged intra-group during mesocycles. The aerobic performance in LPT was higher than CT after basic, specific and taper. The creatine kinase and catalase reduced after the taper period in relation to CT and baseline. The glycogen stores in soleus increased after basic in relation to CT. The liver glycogen concentration increased after taper in relation to basic and specific period as well in comparison to CT. In conclusion, the stress biomarkers reduced in taper period in order to increase the aerobic and anaerobic performance in relation to CT.     

Yo jyo hen shi ko, a novel Chinese herbal, prevents nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in ob/ob mice fed a high fat or methionine-choline-deficient diet.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Yo jyo hen shi ko (YHK) is a complex compound purported to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by blocking the propagation of radical-induced reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the effect of YHK in experimental NASH. METHODS: NASH was induced in male ob/ob mice by a high-fat (HF) diet or methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 4 weeks. YHK-treated animals received YHK solution orally (20 mg/kg/day) in both experimental diets (n=6; each group) while control animals received only vehicle. RESULTS: The MCD and HF groups developed moderate diffuse macrosteatosis, hepatocellular ballooning, and a diffuse inflammatory infiltrate. With the addition of YHK, there was a marked reduction in macrosteatosis in both groups. This was associated with decreased lipoperoxide and reduced glutathione-GSH concentrations as well as reduced serum aminotransferases and improved histological markers of inflammation. These changes were also associated with weight loss in the MCD+YHK group and diminished weight gain in the HF+YHK group. CONCLUSION: YHK therapy blunts the development of macrosteatosis in these models of NASH and significantly reduces markers of oxidative stress. YHK also diminishes weight gain in this obesity prone model. Our findings warrant further study on the mechanisms involved with these effects.     

Brief Report: Divergent low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) linked to low VSV G-dependent viral infectivity and unique serum lipid profile in zebra finches

The low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) is key to cellular cholesterol uptake and is also the main receptor for the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV G). Here we show that in songbirds LDLR is highly divergent and lacks domains critical for ligand binding and cellular trafficking, inconsistent with universal structure conservation and function across vertebrates. Linked to the LDLR functional domain loss, zebra finches show inefficient infectivity by lentiviruses (LVs) pseudotyped with VSV G, which can be rescued by the expression of human LDLR. Finches also show an atypical plasma lipid distribution that relies largely on high-density lipoprotein (HDL). These findings provide insights into the genetics and evolution of viral infectivity and cholesterol transport mechanisms in vertebrates.     

Participant report of therapist-delivered active ingredients in a telephone-delivered brief motivational intervention predicts taking steps towards change

Objective: Given the widespread potential for disseminating Motivational Interviewing (MI) through technology, the question of whether MI active ingredients are present when not delivered in person is critical to assure high treatment quality. The Participant Rating Form (PRF) was developed and used to evaluate therapist-delivered active ingredients in phone-delivered MI with hazardous drinking Emergency Department patients. Method: A factor analysis of all PRFs completed after receiving one call (n?=?256) was conducted. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine whether PRF factors predicted a measure of motivation to change – taking steps – at the second call (n?=?214). Results: The majority of participants were male (65%), with a mean age of 32 years and with an average alcohol ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test) score of 20.5 (SD?=?7.1). Results of the factor analysis for the PRF revealed Relational (working collaboration) and Technical (MI behaviours) factors. After controlling for demographics, alcohol severity and baseline readiness, the technical factor predicted self-report of increased taking steps towards change while the relational factor did not explain any additional variance. Conclusions: Our study adds to the growing literature investigating patient perspectives of therapist skill as a source of information to better understand MI active ingredients. The PRF is a feasible instrument for measuring the patient’s experience of phone-based MI. Results indicate that MI active ingredients of change (relational and technical components) were present in the telephone intervention as hypothesized. Clinical Trial Registration # 01326169.     

LPS-induced impairment of Na+/K+-ATPase activity: ameliorative effect of tannic acid in mice

Metabolic Brain Disease - Acetylcholine is an excitatory neurotransmitter that modulates synaptic plasticity and communication, and it is essential for learning and memory processes. This...