Neorickettsia helminthoeca associated lymphoid,enteric, and pulmonary lesions in dogs from Southern Brazil: An immunohistochemical study

Neorickettsia helminthoeca (NH), the agent of salmon poisoning disease or canine neorickettiosis (CN), is a bacterial endosymbiont of the nematode Nanophyetus salmincola, and infections are spreading among specific fish‐eating mammalians. This article describes the pathologic and immunohistochemical findings associated with spontaneous NH‐induced infections in dogs from Southern Brazil. The principal pathologic findings were hypertrophy of Peyer patches and lymphadenopathy with lymphocytic proliferation, chronic interstitial pneumonia, and chronic enteritis associated with positive intralesional immunoreactivity to antigens of NH within macrophages and histiocytes. Positive immunoreactivity against canine parvovirus‐2 (CPV‐2) or/and canine distemper virus was not detected in the evaluated intestinal segments or in the samples from the cerebellum and lungs, respectively, from the dogs evaluated. These findings demonstrated that NH was involved in the enteric, pulmonary, and lymphoid lesions herein described, and provide additional information to confirm the occurrence of this bacterial endosymbiont within this geographical location. It is proposed that chronic pneumonia should be considered as a pathologic manifestation of NH‐induced infections. Additionally, our results show that the occurrences of CN seem to be underdiagnosed in Southern Brazil due to the confusion with the incidence of CPV‐2.     

Bariatric surgery and the gut-brain communication—The state of the art three years later

ObjectiveThis review analyzes the literature concerning gut peptides and bariatric surgery, from 2005 to July 2009. In particular, we are interested in whether, and how, gastrointestinal peptide alterations following surgery interfere with appetite/satiety, and what role they might play in the resolution of comorbidities.Research methods and procedurePubMed/MEDLINE and ISI Web of Knowledge were used to search for human studies concerning gut peptides profiles after any bariatric operation technique.ResultsMost of the studies reviewed had longitudinal design, short follow-up, and low statistical power. The diversity of study results may be partially explained by methodological aspects. Glucagon-like peptide-1, gastric inhibitory peptide, and peptide YY alterations may contribute to the excellent results in glycemic control of diabetics. Results do vary depending on bariatric operation technique; this is particularly evident in the case of ghrelin, which has been much studied in recent years. Ghrelin suppression has been linked to increased satiety, alterations in energy homeostasis, and better glucose metabolism.ConclusionsThere is a lack of long-term data on gastrointestinal hormone profiles after bariatric surgery and the studies have many methodological pitfalls. We still need prospective, long-term, good methodological studies in this area.     

FRACTURE OF ABUTMENT SCREW SUPPORTING A CEMENTED IMPLANT-RETAINED PROSTHESIS WITH EXTERNAL HEXAGON CONNECTION: A CASE REPORT WITH SEM EVALUATION

One of the causes of implant failures in cemented implant-retained prostheses is the fracture of abutment screw or UCLA abutment. This article reports a case of simultaneous fracture of two UCLA abutments screws occurring in an implant-supported prosthesis placed in the mandibular molar region. The fractured structures were examined under scanning electron microscopy to investigate the probable causes of the failure, which were not related to failures on materials or fabrication of the screws, but rather were due to shear forces. The misfit in cemented prostheses may be the most likely cause of shear force generation.     

Immunological and echocardiographic evaluation of decellularized versus cryopreserved allografts during the Ross operation.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the immunological and echocardiographic data of decellularized versus cryopreserved allografts used for RVOT reconstruction during Ross operation. METHODS: From 16/01/03 thru 07/10/03, 20 Ross operations were performed using decellularized (n=11) or cryopreserved (n=9) allografts. Echocardiography was done at discharge, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and annually thereafter. Samples for determination of antibodies against HLA class I and II were obtained preoperatively and at days 5, 10, 30, 90 and 180 postoperatively. These samples were tested by the ELISA method in LAT-M dishes (unspecific) for identification of circulating antibodies and the results expressed as mean sample values (Is=DO/cutoff). If positive, LAT-E (specific) was performed and PRA levels determined. RESULTS: There was no mortality. Cryopreserved allografts showed marked Is values elevations for class I and II antibodies which started at the first month and remained elevated up to 6 months. In contrast, of the patients receiving decellularized allografts, seven remained negative, two patients had only marginal elevation of class I antibodies and two patients showed abnormal elevations of PRA levels. This response happened earlier than in the cryopreserved group, starting on the 5th postoperative day and has returned to baseline levels in one case. Echocardiography showed mild, but significant, elevation of gradients in cryopreserved valves but none in the decellularized. CONCLUSIONS: Decellularized allografts had normal function up to 18 months and showed important reduction of the immunogenic response when compared to cryopreserved valves.     

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: Medical or surgical treatment? Report of an interactive workshop

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract. With the introduction of proton pump inhibitors medical treatment of GERD has been significantly improved. However, the development of laparoscopic antireflux surgery resulted in an increasing interest of surgeons in this disease. An interactive meeting was organized in order to develop an agreement between gastoenterologists and surgeons regarding therapeutic decisions and this is the main topic of this paper.     

Beta-defensin genomic copy number is not a modifier locus for cystic fibrosis

Human beta-defensin 2 (DEFB4, also known as DEFB2 or hBD-2) is a salt-sensitive antimicrobial protein that is expressed in lung epithelia. Previous work has shown that it is encoded in a cluster of beta-defensin genes at 8p23.1, which varies in copy number between 2 and 12 in different individuals. We determined the copy number of this locus in 355 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and tested for correlation between beta-defensin cluster genomic copy number and lung disease associated with CF. No significant association was found.     

Missense FGFR3 mutations create cysteine residues in thanatophoric dwarfism type I (TD1)

Thanatophoric dwarfism (TD) is a sporadic lethal skeletal dysplasia with micromelic shortening of the limbs, macrocephaly, platyspondyly and reduced thoracic cavity. In the most common subtype (TD1), femurs are curved, while in TD2, straight femurs are associated with cloverleaf skull. Mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene were identified in both subtypes. While TD2 was accounted for by a single recurrent mutation in the tyrosine kinase 2 domain, TD1 resulted from either stop codon mutations or missense mutations in the extracellular domain of the gene. Here, we report the identification of FGFR3 mutations in 25/26 TD cases. Two novel missense mutations (Y373C and G370C) were detected in 8/26 and 1/26 TD1 cases respectively. Both mutations created cysteine residues in the juxta extramembrane domain of the receptor. Sixteen cases carried the previously reported R248C (9/26 cases), S249C (2/26 cases) or stop codon FGFR3 mutations (5/26 cases). Our results suggest that TD1 is a genetically homogeneous condition and give additional support to the view that newly created cysteine residues in the extracellular domain of the protein play a key role in the severity of the disease.