Comparative Study of Colorimetric In Situ Hybridization and Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for Diagnosis of Infection by Leishmania infantum in Dogs in Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded Skin.

The zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis is caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum and dogs are reservoirs for this parasite. For the diagnosis of Leishmania at the species level in dogs in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin (FFPES) samples, colorimetric in situ hybridization (CISH) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) are options, but their sensitivities are not well established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity of these two techniques in FFPES for the diagnosis of the L. infantum infection in dogs using culture as the reference standard. The FFPES of 48 dogs with cutaneous infection by L. infantum confirmed by culture and by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis were examined by CISH and qPCR using specific probes for L. infantum. The sensitivities of qPCR, CISH and their combination were, respectively, 77.0%, 58.0% and 83.3%. The sensitivities of qPCR in dogs with and without clinical signs were, respectively, 74.2% and 82.4%. The sensitivities of CISH in dogs with and without clinical signs were, respectively, 61.3% and 52.9%. The CISH and qPCR showed satisfactory sensitivities for the diagnosis of L. infantum in the FFPES of dogs, even in dogs without clinical signs, and their combination increases the sensitivity for this diagnosis.

Prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy by use of bicarbonate solution: preliminary results and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy has increased simultaneously with the increase in contrast medium use in diagnostic and interventional procedures. The incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in the general population is low, but increases exponentially in patients with risk factors, such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Several strategies have been used in order to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy. The most efficient strategies are saline hydration (0.9% or 0.45%), use of low-or iso-osmolality contrast medium, and sodium bicarbonate infusion. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the pertinent literature and to assess the efficacy of hydration with 1.3% sodium bicarbonate compared with hydration with 0.9% saline solution in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy in high-risk patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was conducted in PubMed by using the following keywords: bicarbonate, nephropathy, contrast medium, and acute kidney failure. In addition, 27 patients with diabetes and/or chronic kidney disease, diagnosed with some kind of cancer were randomized for study. RESULTS: None of the patients developed contrast-induced nephropathy characterized as a 0.5 mg/ dL-increase and/or a relative 25%-increase in baseline creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: The literature review strongly suggested that sodium bicarbonate is effective in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy. Regarding the randomized study, saline solution and bicarbonate solution had similar efficacy in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy. However, the small number of patients does not allow definite conclusions.

Prevenção de nefrotoxicidade por contraste com solução de bicarbonato: resultados preliminares e revisão da literatura / Prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy by use of bicarbonate solution: preliminary results and literature review

INTRODUÇÃO: A incidência da nefropatia por contraste tem aumentado simultaneamente ao aumento da sua utilização com fins diagnósticos e de intervenção terapêutica. A sua incidência na população geral é baixa, porém aumenta exponencialmente em pacientes com fatores de risco como diabetes e doença renal prévia. Várias estratégias têm sido utilizadas na tentativa de prevenir a nefropatia por contraste. Hidratação com solução fisiológica, contraste de baixa osmolalidade ou iso-osmolar e infusão de bicarbonato de sódio são consideradas como as mais eficazes. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste trabalho é revisar a literatura pertinente sobre prevenção de nefropatia do contraste e estudar, de forma inicial, a eficácia da hidratação a base de bicarbonato de sódio a 1,3 por cento comparada à hidratação a base de cloreto de sódio a 0,9 por cento na prevenção da nefrotoxicidade do contraste em pacientes de alto risco para o seu desenvolvimento. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foi analisada a literatura por meio de busca sistemática no banco de dados PubMed usando as palavras-chave bicarbonato, nefrotoxicidade, contraste e insuficiência renal aguda e, adicionalmente, foram estudados 27 pacientes, portadores de diabetes mellitus e/ou doença renal crônica prévia e diagnosticados com algum tipo de câncer. RESULTADOS: Nenhum dos pacientes desenvolveu nefropatia do contraste, caracterizada como aumento de 0,5 mg/ dL e/ou de 25 por cento na creatinina basal. CONCLUSÃO: A revisão de literatura sugere fortemente que o uso de bicarbonato de sódio é eficaz na prevenção de nefropatia por contraste. Em relação ao estudo randomizado e controlado o soro fisiológico e o bicarbonato de sódio apresentaram eficácia similar quanto à prevenção de nefrotoxicidade do contraste. No entanto, o pequeno número de pacientes não permite conclusões definitivas.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy has increased simultaneously with the increase in contrast medium use in diagnostic and interventional procedures. The incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in the general population is low, but increases exponentially in patients with risk factors, such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Several strategies have been used in order to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy. The most efficient strategies are saline hydration (0.9 percent or 0.45 percent), use of low-or iso-osmolality contrast medium, and sodium bicarbonate infusion. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the pertinent literature and to assess the efficacy of hydration with 1.3 percent sodium bicarbonate compared with hydration with 0.9 percent saline solution in preventing contrastinduced nephropathy in high-risk patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was conducted in PubMed by using the following keywords: bicarbonate, nephropathy, contrast medium, and acute kidney failure. In addition, 27 patients with diabetes and/or chronic kidney disease, diagnosed with some kind of cancer were randomized for study. RESULTS: None of the patients developed contrast-induced nephropathy characterized as a 0.5 mg/ dL-increase and/or a relative 25 percent-increase in baseline creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: The literature review strongly suggested that sodium bicarbonate is effective in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy. Regarding the randomized study, saline solution and bicarbonate solution had similar efficacy in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy. However, the small number of patients does not allow definite conclusions.

[Adult esotropia during pregnancy: case report]. / Esotropia do adulto durante o período gestacional: relato de caso.

The authors report a case of a female patient who presented, for the second time, diplopia and acute esotropia during pregnancy. There was no trauma involved neither was systemic disease. The patient was treated with conventional occlusion, and, soon after delivery, the squint was resolved.

Esotropia do adulto durante o período gestacional: relato de caso / Adult esotropia during pregnancy: case report

Os autores relatam o caso de uma paciente que apresentou quadro reincidente de esotropia aguda e diplopia durante o período gestacional. Não havia história de trauma ou qualquer alteração sistêmica, excetuando-se a gravidez. Tratamento oclusivo alternado foi instituído, e após o parto houve remissão espontânea dos sinais e sintomas.

The authors report a case of a female patient who presented, for the second time, diplopia and acute esotropia during pregnancy. There was no trauma involved neither was systemic disease. The patient was treated with conventional occlusion, and, soon after delivery, the squint was resolved.

Pseudoglaucoma em mucopolissacaridose tipo VI: relato de caso / Pseudo-glaucoma in type VI mucopolysaccharidosis: case report

Os autores relatam um caso de mucopolissacaridose tipo VI em paciente de 19 anos, diagnosticada por meio de exame genético-clínico, demonstrando várias manifestações sistêmicas, incluindo alterações oftalmológicas como: opacidade corneal, aumento da pressão intra-ocular e aumento importante da espessura corneal. Discutem-se os achados característicos sindrômicos e a influência da espessura corneal na alteração da pressão intra-ocular podendo levar a tratamentos antiglaucomatosos desnecessários.

The authors report a case of a 19-year-old patient presenting with type VI mucopolysaccharidosis, diagnosed by genetic-clinical examination, demonstrating several systemic manifestations, including ocular disorders such as: corneal opacity, elevated intra-ocular pressure and increase of corneal thickness. The authors discuss the characteristic syndromic findings and the influence of corneal thickness associated with an increase in intraocular pressure leading to unnecessary antiglaucomatous treatment.

[Pseudo-glaucoma in type VI mucopolysaccharidosis: case report]. / Pseudoglaucoma em mucopolissacaridose tipo VI: relato de caso.

The authors report a case of a 19-year-old patient presenting with type VI mucopolysaccharidosis, diagnosed by genetic-clinical examination, demonstrating several systemic manifestations, including ocular disorders such as: corneal opacity, elevated intra-ocular pressure and increase of corneal thickness. The authors discuss the characteristic syndromic findings and the influence of corneal thickness associated with an increase in intraocular pressure leading to unnecessary antiglaucomatous treatment.