Parasitism in Rattus rattus and sympatric Achatina fulica by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in an urban park in southeast Brazil.

In this study, rodents (Rattus rattus) and mollusks (Achatina fulica) were captured in a small forest located in a large metropolitan city in Brazil, and they were examined to investigate possible parasitism by Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The parasites were recovered as helminths from the pulmonary arteries of the synanthropic rodents and as third-stage larvae (with Metastrongylidae family characteristics) from the mollusks. To confirm the species, these larvae were used to experimentally infect Rattus norvegicus for the posterior recovery of adult helminths. To identify the adult helminths, morphological, morphometric, molecular, and phylogenetic techniques were employed. Furthermore, we also characterized the histological lesions associated with parasitism in naturally infected definitive hosts. Our results demonstrated the occurrence of a natural life cycle of A. cantonensis (with the presence of adult helminths) in definitive hosts, Rattus rattus, and third-stage larvae in an intermediate host, A. fulica. In free-living rodents, lesions of granulomatous pneumonia in the lungs and meningitis in the brain were also found. These results warn of the risk of accidental transmission of A. cantonensis to human residents around the park because of the extensive interaction among the fauna of the park, domestic animals, and the surrounding human population.

Tratamento endovascular de sangramento tardio pós tonsilectomia / Endovascular treatment of delayed bleeding after tonsillectomy

A tonsilectomia é um dos procedimentos mais realizados por otorrinolaringologistas e possui como principal complicação a hemorragia. Alguns casos podem se manifestar tardiamente e se relacionam com a formação de pseudoaneurismas. Apesar de rara, essa é uma complicação grave e pode levar ao óbito se não tratada devidamente. Em casos de sangramento significativo, as reintervenções cirúrgicas são necessárias, sendo as 3 formas mais comuns: sutura, cauterização ou por tratamento endovascular. O nosso estudo tem por objetivo apresentar o histórico de uma paciente de 28 anos, sexo feminino, com sangramento maciço pós tonsilectomia no 31º dia de pós-operatório. Foi realizada abordagem endovascular e diagnosticada lesão em artéria facial esquerda. O tratamento definitivo foi por embolização seletiva de artéria facial com micromola e partículas de polivinil álcool (P.V.A.) 500 μm, nessa ordem de utilização, a fim de evitar-se embolização distal. O método endovascular mostrou-se seguro, definitivo e seletivo.

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common procedures that otorhinolaryngologists perform. Hemorrhages are the principal complication. Some cases of hemorrhage can have delayed onset and these are related to formation of pseudoaneurysms. While this complication is rare, it is serious and can be fatal if it is not treated correctly. In cases with significant bleeding, surgical reintervention is needed and the 3 most common methods are suture, cauterization and endovascular treatment. The objective of this article is to report on the case of a 28-year-old female patient with massive post-tonsillectomy bleeding 31 days after the operation. An endovascular approach was taken and an injury to a left facial artery was diagnosed. Definitive treatment was achieved by selective embolization of the facial artery with microcoils and 500 μm particles of polyvinyl alcohol (P.V.A.), in that sequence, in order to avoid distal embolization. The endovascular method proved to be safe, selective and definitive.

Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus prevents amoebal encystment-mediating serine proteinase expression and circumvents cell encystment.

Acanthamoeba is a genus of free-living amoebas distributed worldwide. Few studies have explored the interactions between these protozoa and their infecting giant virus, Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (APMV). Here we show that, once the amoebal encystment is triggered, trophozoites become significantly resistant to APMV. Otherwise, upon infection, APMV is able to interfere with the expression of a serine proteinase related to amoebal encystment and the encystment can no longer be triggered.

Differential upregulation of human 2'5'OAS genes on systemic sclerosis: Detection of increased basal levels of OASL and OAS2 genes through a qPCR based assay.

2'5'OAS are template-independent RNA polymerases with antiviral activity and important to homeostasis maintenance. Here we have developed quantitative PCR (qPCR) reactions for the detection of each individual 2'5'OAS human gene and used them to evaluate these gene levels in systemic sclerosis patients cells. The method was efficient for quantification of 2'5'OAS genes on human cells after interferon (IFN) treatment, and revealed that primary cells from patients with systemic sclerosis have increased basal levels of OASL and OAS2 genes. When treated, patients cells are able to induce all four 2'5'OAS genes. Our hypothesis is that abnormally circulating type I IFNs on the disease could be establishing a desensitized state on patients cells, making them refractory to subsequent IFN doses, and that OASL and OAS2 genes upregulation may be due to an IFN-independent stimulus. Further characterizing the biological activities of these genes, their induction pathways and their regulatory functions can lead to better understanding of systemic sclerosis molecular mechanisms and of their biological activities.