Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma: A Series of 96 Surgical Cases.

Introduction Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a benign vascularized tumor that affects almost exclusively male adolescents. Surgery is the treatment of choice for JNA. Objectives The present study is a 42-year retrospective review of a series of JNA cases treated surgically without previous embolization. Methods The present is a retrospective, descriptive study based on medical records of 96 patients with JNA who underwent microscopic or endoscopic excision without previous embolization from 1978 to 2020 in a single institution. The patients were categorized according to the Andrews et al. stage, and data were collected on age, gender, tumor staging, surgical approach, affected side, and outcome. Results All patients were male, with an average age of 17 years. The predominant tumor stage consisted of type II, with 52.1%. A total of 33.3% of the patients were submitted to the microscopic technique and 66.7%, to the endonasal technique. The rate of intraoperative blood transfusion was of 17.7%. Conclusion The present study reinforces that resection of JNA in various stages is viable without previous artery embolization.

Phase 1 trial of malaria transmission blocking vaccine candidates Pfs25 and Pvs25 formulated with montanide ISA 51.

BACKGROUND: Pfs25 and Pvs25, surface proteins of mosquito stage of the malaria parasites P. falciparum and P. vivax, respectively, are leading candidates for vaccines preventing malaria transmission by mosquitoes. This single blinded, dose escalating, controlled Phase 1 study assessed the safety and immunogenicity of recombinant Pfs25 and Pvs25 formulated with Montanide ISA 51, a water-in-oil emulsion. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The trial was conducted at The Johns Hopkins Center for Immunization Research, Washington DC, USA, between May 16, 2005-April 30, 2007. The trial was designed to enroll 72 healthy male and non-pregnant female volunteers into 1 group to receive adjuvant control and 6 groups to receive escalating doses of the vaccines. Due to unexpected reactogenicity, the vaccination was halted and only 36 volunteers were enrolled into 4 groups: 3 groups of 10 volunteers each were immunized with 5 microg of Pfs25/ISA 51, 5 microg of Pvs25/ISA 51, or 20 microg of Pvs25/ISA 51, respectively. A fourth group of 6 volunteers received adjuvant control (PBS/ISA 51). Frequent local reactogenicity was observed. Systemic adverse events included two cases of erythema nodosum considered to be probably related to the combination of the antigen and the adjuvant. Significant antibody responses were detected in volunteers who completed the lowest scheduled doses of Pfs25/ISA 51. Serum anti-Pfs25 levels correlated with transmission blocking activity. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: It is feasible to induce transmission blocking immunity in humans using the Pfs25/ISA 51 vaccine, but these vaccines are unexpectedly reactogenic for further development. This is the first report that the formulation is associated with systemic adverse events including erythema nodosum. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00295581.

Overlapping of mononuclear cells derived from bone marrow in rats' intervertebral discs: an in vitro study / Sobreposição de células mononucleares provenientes da medula óssea em disco intervertebral de ratos: estudo in vitro

In this study, bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) derived from rats were used in order to promote intervertebral disc regeneration. These cells were isolated after centrifugation in a Ficoll-Paque™ PLUS density gradient and then placed in plastic dishes to proliferate during a period of 14 days. The BM-MNCs were previously labeled with the fluorescent membrane marker Chloromethyl-benzamidodialkylcarbocyanine (CM-DIL), and thereafter were implanted in rats' intervertebral discs explants as an in vitro experimental model. Daily analyses of the cells under a fluorescence microscope revealed morphological changes, which assumed a thin and elongated shape similar to cells that originally form the annulus fibroses. Histopathological analysis demonstrated the presence of mononuclear cells interspersed within collagen fibers. The presence of viable cells, in which were found morphological changes and their disposal in the same pattern of the layers that originate the annulus fibrosus, is an indicator that they engrafted and proliferated on the intervertebral disc. Therefore, morphological changes presented by these cells indicate that they presented mesenchymal stem-like cell characteristics.

Neste trabalho, foram utilizadas células mononucleares provenientes da medula óssea (MO) de ratos para implantação em discos intervertebrais, a fim de estudar a sua participação em possível regeneração tecidual. Essas células foram obtidas por centrifugação, em gradiente de Ficoll-Paque™ PLUS, e cultivadas em frascos apropriados, por um período de 14 dias. Em etapa posterior, foram submetidas à marcação celular, em que foi utilizado o marcador citoplasmático CM-Dil, seguida de implantação em discos intervertebrais de ratos, em um sistema de cultivo in vitro. Foram feitas avaliações diárias dos discos com utilização de um microscópio de fluorescência, sendo constatadas alterações morfológicas com um formato alongado semelhante a células que originalmente compõem o anel fibroso. O exame histopatológico revelou a presença de células mononucleares entremeadas em fibras de colágeno. As alterações morfológicas das células e a presença de células viáveis são indícios de que essas células se integraram e proliferaram no disco intervertebral, interagindo com o microambiente deste, assumindo inclusive características semelhantes às apresentadas por células-tronco mesenquimais.

Do amor e da dor: representações sociais sobre o amor e o sofrimento psíquico / From love to pain: social representations about psychological love and suffering

Com o objetivo de analisar as experiências afetivas relativas ao amor e ao sofrimento psíquico entre jovens de 18 a 30 anos e adultos entre 31 e 70 anos, com e sem experiência de vida conjugal compartilhada, realizamos a presente pesquisa com uma população de cem sujeitos residentes na cidade do Recife, PE. Utilizamos o multimétodo (qualitativo e quantitativo) e através da Análise Fatorial de Correspondência interpretamos os dados; com relação aos dados qualitativos, foram realizadas análises de acordo com as categorias constituídas. Os resultados, confirmando as hipóteses, revelaram uma diferenciação quanto ao conteúdo representacional conforme as variáveis: grupo etário, inserção social e compartilhamento ou não de vida em comum. A estrutura da representação é similar em todos os grupos. Concluímos que existe uma representação conservadora e metafísica do amor para todos os grupos, destituída de significações ou conotações associadas ao romantismo, sendo que o sofrimento, embora representado por todos os sujeitos como uma experiência de dor e de perda, revela-se diferenciado e determinado pelas variáveis (idade, vida conjugal etc.) dos sujeitos