Phlebotomine sandflies of Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To identify the sandfly fauna and some aspects of their behavior in forest and anthropic environments. METHODS: Sandfly captures were undertaken in farm (23 degrees 6' S; 50 degrees 22' W), in Southern Brazil. Falc?o light traps were set in forest, domicile and domestic animal shelters and mosquitoes were collected monthly, between 17h and 7h, from March 1997 to February 1998. RESULTS: A total of 3,655 specimens representing 13 species were captured. Nyssomyia whitmani and Nyssomyia neivai were the predominant species, with a total of 2,977 specimens (81.0%). Of these two species, a total of 2,552 (85.7%) specimens were captured in intradomiciliary and peridomiciliary environments, 2,332 (91.3%) of them in a pigsty. These two species predominated between 20h-21h when 90.4% of the specimens were captured. CONCLUSIONS: Five sandfly species, N. whitmani, N. neivai, Migonemyia migonei, Pintomyia pessoai and Pintomyia fischeri, potential vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis, were captured. The importance of the two former species is emphasized, since both presented similar behavior in regard to seasonal period, hourly frequency and predominance in the anthropic environment. Besides, N. whitmani was the most predominant species.     

Subthalamic stimulation activates internal pallidus: evidence from cGMP microdialysis in PD patients

Parkinson's disease patients benefit from deep brain stimulation (DBS) in subthalamic nucleus (STN), but the basis for this effect is still disputed. In this intraoperative microdialysis study, we found elevated cGMP extracellular concentrations in the internal segment of the globus pallidus, despite negligible changes in glutamate levels, during a clinically effective STN-DBS. This supports the view that a clinically beneficial effect of STN-DBS is paralleled by an augmentation (and not an inactivation) of the STN output onto the GPi.     

Assessment of risk factors and human papillomavirus (HPV) related pathogenetic mechanisms of CIN in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women. Study design and baseline data of the HPV-PathogenISS study

OBJECTIVES: In women with HIV-associated immunosuppression, HPV infections have an increased risk of progression to high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). With the HAART-induced prolonged survival and more protracted clinical course of AIDS, progression of CIN to cervical cancer (CC) has become a clinically relevant issue, and the mechanisms responsible for HIV-HPV interactions need further elucidation. The study design and analysis of the baseline data of our new project are presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This project is a combination of a prospective cohort study of HIV- and HIV+ women, and a retrospective analysis of CIN lesions and cervical cancer. Up to the present, 244 women have been enrolled (17 HIV+) and subjected to epidemiological interview, colposcopic examination, sampling for HPV testing and typing (PCR, InnoLiPA), and HPV serology. The retrospective series of biopsies were analysed for 13 biomarkers (monitoring key molecular events) using immunohistochemistry and tested for HPV by PCR and TaqMan. RESULTS: HIV- and HIV+ women differ in their exposure status to many of the key epidemiological risk factors of cervical cancer, the most significant ones being number of sexual partners (p = 0.0001), age at onset of sexual activity (p = 0.002), and contraception (yes-no) (p = 0.009). The differences in the baseline clinical observations are less dramatic; HIV-positive women had more frequent HSIL PAP tests (p = 0.040), CIN2 or higher in cervical biopsy (p = 0.049), and external genital warts (p = 0.019). The factors predicting intermediate endpoint markers of cervical cancer, i.e., HSIL PAP smear, ATZ2 in colposcopy, and high-grade CIN in biopsy were analysed in univariate and multivariate regression models. All factors significant in univariate analysis were entered in the multivariate model; HIV-status and Pap smear history maintained their independent predictive power of the HSIL Pap test. The most powerful predictor of ATZ2 colposcopy was HSIL in Pap test. Only the HSIL Pap test and ATZ2 colposcopy remained significant independent predictors of high-grade CIN (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.008, respectively) in the multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: The three intermediate endpoint markers are closely interrelated, but predicted in part by different covariantes in the causal pathway to cervical cancer. To elucidate whether the increased risk of HIV-positive women to high-grade CIN is due a) to their different exposure status to the risk factors, b) to the direct effects of HIV, or c) to molecular interactions between HIV and HPV, we need to complete these analyses separately in HIV+ and HIV- women.     

Cutaneous metastatic lung cancer: literature review and report of a tumor on the nose from a large cell undifferentiated carcinoma

Cutaneous metastatic disease is a prognostically important diagnosis. We report the case of a 64-year-old man who had an uncommon histologic type of lung cancer--a large cell undifferentiated carcinoma, which was metastatic to the skin of the nose. The relative frequency of cutaneous metastasis is similar to that of primary cancers. Cutaneous disease as the first sign of metastasis is most often seen in cancer of the lung. However, its appearance as a large tumor on the nose, which was observed in this case, is unusual.     

Immunotoxicity of the anticancer drug CI-994 in rats: effects on lymphoid tissue

CI-994 (acetyldinaline) is an investigative oral anticancer drug currently in clinical trials. To characterize the effects of CI-994 on lymphoid tissue, male rats were administered single oral doses at 0 (vehicle control), 10, 23, and 45 mg/kg and killed up to 7 days after dosing for evaluation of white blood cell differentials, bone marrow differentials, lymphoid tissue weights, and selected histopathology of lymphoid tissue. Statistically significant dose-related reductions in blood lymphocytes (CD-3⁺, CD-4⁺, CD-8⁺, CD-20⁺), monocytes, neutrophils, and bone marrow lymphoid cells were observed in all drug-treated groups on days 1 and/or 3. Statistically significant reductions in bone marrow myeloid cells were also observed on days 1 and 3 at 23 and 45 mg/kg. Complete or partial reversal of most parameters was evident on day 7. Spleen and/or thymus weights were significantly decreased in the groups administered 23 and 45 mg/kg on days 1, 3, and/or 7. Minor reductions in lymphoid organ weights were noted at 10 mg/kg. Minimal to moderate lymphoid depletion of the spleen and thymus was noted on day 3 in animals dosed at 23 mg/kg. In vitro, CI-994 inhibited mitogen-stimulated blood lymphocyte proliferation with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 3 μM. The results demonstrate that CI-994 can effect lymphoid tissue in rats within 1 day of a single oral dose, that effects are generally reversible within 7 days, and that inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation is a sensitive indicator of CI-994 immunotoxicity in vitro. Received: 23 September 1998 / Accepted: 12 January 1999     

Menkes's syndrome. Report of a patient treated from 21 days of age with parenteral copper

In an infant with Menkes's steely-hair syndrome, early treatment (from 21 days of age) with parenteral copper failed to halt the disease. In addition to urinary tract abnormalities, panlobular emphysema was present a finding not previously noted in the syndrome.     

Pet sensitivities in asthmatic children

A history of pet contact and/or apparent clinical sensitivity was obtained in 65 (55%) of 118 unselected asthmatic children. These 65 children were skin tested and their sera examined for specific IgE using the radioallergosorbent test. Those children who had apparent clinical sensitivities had larger skin test reactions and were more likely to have positive specific IgE results than those without apparent sensitivities. Positive skin tests were very common (80%), but the larger the skin test reaction (weal diameter greater than 4 mm diameter) the more likely was there to be a positive history or a positive specific IgE result. Hence a large skin test reaction can provide a helpful pointer to animal allergy of clinical importance. Commercially available animal extracts have limitations for diagnostic tests. A questionnaire survey of 150 day schools emphasized the potential opportunities for contact with animal allergens at school.