Leishmaniasis of the lip in a patient with Down''s syndrome

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic protozoan infection in Sardinia, one of the major islands of the Mediterranean Basin. The main causative strain in this country is Leishmania infantum, which rarely involves mucocutaneous areas, but has the potential to cause visceral leishmaniasis. An atypical leishmaniasis involving the inferior lip of a 57-year-old female with Down's syndrome was observed at the Dermatology Department of Cagliari (italy). The diagnosis was mainly based upon histopathological examination, revealing intra- and extra-cellular leishmania amastigotes. The leishmania infantum zymodeme MON-111 was identified by isoenzymatic characterization. Laboratory investigations revealed a normal complete blood count and biochemistry profile, except for an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio. Treatment with meglumine antimoniate 60 mg/kg/day (Glucantime) intramuscularly for 15 days, followed by intralesional administration 1 ml weekly for 4 weeks led to complete recovery. No relapses were observed at 6-month follow-up. The unusual localization is likely to be a reflection of the uncommon site of inoculation of the protozoa, transmitted by bites from flying vectors. Nevertheless, the presence of Down's syndrome in our patient may have contributed to the atypical presentation by traumatic exacerbation of the lesion, due to repeated auto-induced microtraumas of the inferior lip accompanied by subclinical immunodeficiency. In fact, the specific immune response to Leishmania infection depends on a host-cell-mediated immune response, reported as defective in Down's syndrome patients. Differential diagnosis and early detection of the infection are necessary in order to start effective treatment and prevent more serious complications.     

Clinical status and parasitic infection in a Wichi Aboriginal community in Salta,Argentina

In a study, carried out in 2000, of the clinical and parasitological status of a Wichi Aboriginal community living in the suburbs of Tartagal, northern Salta, Argentina, 154 individuals were screened for parasitic infections. Ninety-five faecal samples were also obtained from the same population. Ninety-three percent of the subjects were positive for 1 or more of the parasites investigated by direct test and 70.5% of them had parasitic superinfection. The most frequent helminths were Strongyloides stercoralis (50.5%) and hookworm (47.4%). We found low reinfection rates and a long reinfection period after treatment and provision of safe water and sanitation. Serum reactivity of these patients was analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect immunofluorescent assay and 22.1% of them had anti-Toxocara antibodies, 16.2% were positive for a complex antigen of Leishmania braziliensis, 29.9% were positive for a complex Trypanosoma cruzi antigen, and 17.5% were positive for a specific Trypanosoma cruzi antigen, Ag1 63136/cruzipain.     

Periocular involvement in cutaneous leishmaniasis

OBJECTIVE: Although cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) occurs mostly in the facial area, periocular involvement accounts for 2-5% of the facial lesions. CL lesions localized in the periocular region can easily be confused with various other diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of periocular involvement in CL in the Cukurova region of Turkey, as well as the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and methods of treatment of this disease. METHODS: Between December 1998 and December 2004, patients who were diagnosed with CL were evaluated prospectively with respect to periocular involvement. RESULTS: From the 2066 patients evaluated with CL, 2622 lesions were identified. In 59 (2.9%) of these patients, a total of 66 (2.5%) lesions were located in the periocular area. Thirty-two (48.5%) of these lesions were of the papular type, 15 (22.7%) the nodulo-ulcerative type, 10 (15.2%) the plaque type, and nine (13.6%) the nodular type. Dacryocystitis was identified in four patients with periocular involvement. Over the follow-up period, no ocular or periocular deformities or complications developed in these patients. CONCLUSION: Patients suspected of CL should be evaluated and treated early in the course of their disease to prevent any permanent ocular or periocular deformities.     

高脂饮食诱导的内脏肥胖小鼠模型存在性别差异

目的:比较不同性别BALB/c小鼠采用高脂饮食建立肥胖模型的差异。方法:32只4周龄无特定病原体级BALB/c小鼠（雌雄各半）随机分为雌性对照组、雌性高脂组、雄性对照组和雄性高脂组,每组8只。雌性对照组和雄性对照组采用普通饮食,雌性高脂组和雄性高脂组采用高脂饲料喂养,喂养12周后测量小鼠体重、内脏脂肪比、空腹血糖、葡萄糖耐量、血脂、代谢相关激素水平,并采用16S rRNA测序检测小鼠粪便菌群构成。结果:高脂饮食干预导致雄性小鼠体重和内脏脂肪比明显增加,病理表现为单个脂肪面积明显增大,肝脏脂肪滴堆积,总胆固醇、空腹血糖、口服糖耐量试验时间-血糖曲线下面积以及血清胰岛素水平明显上升（均P<0.05）,并出现明显胰岛素抵抗（P<0.01）。而雌性高脂组体重、内脏脂肪比、血清胰岛素和瘦素水平与雌性对照组差异均无统计学意义（均P>0.05）。高脂干预后小鼠肥胖相关肠道菌群相对丰度显著变化并存在性别差异,其中雄性高脂组肥胖相关菌属（如布劳特菌）相对丰度明显增加,菌群结构变化更明显。结论:高脂饮食喂养12周4周龄BALB/c雄性小鼠可稳定建立以内脏脂肪堆积、代谢功能紊乱和肠道菌群变...     

Visceral leishmaniasis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: Report of two cases

Core biopsies of the bone marrow are indispensable in the evaluation of fever of unknown etiology in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients. We report two patients in whom visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed based on the typical morphology, staining characteristics, and ultrastructure of the organisms.     

During active viscerocutaneous leishmaniasis the anti-P2 humoral response is specifically triggered by the parasite P proteins.

In this work we show that in the sera from dogs naturally infected with the protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum there are antibodies that react specifically against the parasite acidic ribosomal proteins LiP2a and LiP2b, and that each one of the Leishmania P proteins elicits a specific humoral immune response. Using synthetic peptides, the antigenic epitope of these proteins has been mapped in a single region located adjacent to the C-terminal domain highly conserved among the eukaryotic P proteins. The anti-P antibodies elicited during the Leishmania infection do not recognize the conserved C-terminal domain of the parasite P proteins, in contrast with the findings reported in Chagas' disease or systemic lupus erythematosus. The antigenic epitopes of the LiP2a and LiP2b are almost identical in amino acid sequence. No reactivity against Trypanosoma cruzi and human P proteins was found in sera from L. infantum-infected dogs.     

大鼠三叉神经脊束间质核内内脏神经初级传入终末与NOS阳性投射神经元的联系

目的　探查间质核 (INV)内内脏传入终末与向臂旁核 (PBN)投射的NOS阳性神经元之间的联系。　方法　逆行、跨神经节追踪以及免疫荧光组织化学方法 ,结合激光共聚焦扫描显微镜观察。　结果　PBN内注射四甲基罗丹明 (TMR)后 ,逆行标记细胞主要位于注射侧的INV ,大多属 2 0 μm以下的中、小型细胞。NOS阳性细胞与TMR逆行标记细胞分布区域重叠。NOS TMR双标记细胞分别占NOS阳性细胞总数的 5 4 8% (17 31)和TMR逆行标记细胞总数的 34% (17 4 9)。舌咽和迷走神经内注射生物素化葡聚糖胺 (BDA)跨神经节标记的内脏神经初级传入终末点状膨体贴近双标记细胞胞体 ,呈紧密接触状。　结论　可能存在经INV向PBN投射的内脏伤害性信息传导通路 ,作为神经递质和神经信息分子的NO可能参与其内脏伤害性信息的传递和调控     

The significance of blood levels of IgM,IgA, IgG and IgG subclasses in Sudanese visceral leishmaniasis patients

We developed an ELISA test using leishmania antigenic extracts to detect antigen-specific antibody responses, including subclass and isotype analysis, in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients from the Sudan. A total of 92 parasitologically proven patients were compared with cutaneous leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, malaria, onchocerciasis and tuberculosis patients, as well as with healthy endemic and non-endemic controls. Some VL patients were examined before and after chemotherapy. VL patients showed significantly higher IgG responses compared with all other groups (93·4% sensitivity, 93·7% specificity), and higher (but not significantly) IgM responses. All groups showed low IgA levels. All groups showed low IgA levels. All IgG subclasses, IgG1, 2, 3, and 4, showed higher levels in patients than all other groups, with IgG1 and IgG3 levels being significantly reduced following treatment. The rank order for specificity and sensitivity for IgG subclasses was IgG3 > IgG I> IgG2> IgG4.     

Miltefosine (Impavido): the first oral treatment against leishmaniasis

Miltefosine is a novel antileishmanial drug that has significant selectivity in both in vitro and in vivo models. Clinical efficacy was demonstrated for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis with the advantage of oral administration over the currently recommended antileishmanial drugs that require parenteral administration. Miltefosine produces high cure rates also in patients resistant to the standard antimonial therapy.     

Modulation of acute visceral nociception and bladder inflammation by plant triterpene, α, β-amyrin in a mouse model of cystitis: role of tachykinin NK<Subscript>1</Subscript>-receptors,and K<Superscript>+</Superscript><Subscript>ATP</Subscript> channels

Objective and design: We previously described the visceral antinociceptive property of α, β-amyrin in a mouse model of cystitis induced by cyclophosphamide (CPM). This study examined the contribution of vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), peripheral NK1 receptors to CPM-evoked nociceptive behaviors and bladder edema, and its possible modulation by α, β-amyrin. Methods: The effect of α, β-amyrin (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg, p. o.) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on CPM (400 mg/kg, i. p.)-induced cystitis was studied in mice. Sensory deafferentation was done by a high dose capsaicin. The parameters analysed were: CPM-evoked noxious behaviors, bladder edema, vascular permeability, and NK₁ immunoreactivity. To assess the role of K⁺ _ATP channels in α, β-amyrin effect, animals were pretreated with glibenclamide. Results: α, β-amyrin (30 and 100 mg/kg) and NAC significantly (p < 0.01) suppressed the visceral pain-related behaviors and NK₁ immunoreactivity, but bladder edema was reduced weakly. Glibenclamide reversed the effects of α, β-amyrin. Sensory deafferentation by capsaicin significantly reduced the nociceptive responses and the NK₁ immunoreactivity to noxious stimulation by CPM. Conclusions: α, β-amyrin attenuates CPM-induced visceral pain and bladder edema by mechanisms that involve, at least in part, a block either of Substance P release or its receptor function, and partly by opening K⁺ _ATP channels. Received 13 February 2007; returned for revision 13 April 2007; accepted by G. Geisslinger 14 May 2007