Insulinoma with peripheral neuropathy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Insulinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that typically present with hypoglycemic crises. Peripheral neuropathy is an uncommon complication of insulinoma. Most clinicians expect peripheral neuropathy symptoms to reverse completely after the insulin-secreting tumor is resected, but this may be a misassumption. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 16-year-old Brazilian boy with clonic muscle spasms of the lower limbs for almost one year. Disabling paraparesis and confusional episodes had progressively set in as well. There were no sensorial abnormalities in the lower limbs, upper limbs or cranial nerves. An electromyography revealed a motor neuropathy of the lower limbs. The diagnosis of insulinoma was established as serum insulin and C-peptide concentrations were inappropriately normal during spontaneous episodes of hypoglycemia. Following a normal abdominal magnetic resonance scan, the imaging work-up continued with an endoscopic ultrasound, which localized the tumor at the pancreatic body-tail transition. Once localized, a prompt surgical removal (enucleation) of the tumor was undertaken, leading to an immediate and complete resolution of hypoglycemia. The time length between the onset of symptoms and tumor resection was 15 months. After surgery, the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy of the lower limbs showed a slow and only partial improvement. At a two-year follow-up after surgery, although being able to lead a normal and productive life, the patient still reported symptoms of reduced muscular strength in the lower limbs and a new electroneuromyography analysis showed chronic denervation and reinnervation in the legs' muscles-indicating chronic neuropathic injury. CONCLUSION: The events of this case reinforce the importance of an agile diagnostic work-up and spry definitive treatment for patients with this uncommon disease, enabling the cure of neuroglycopenia before permanent bothersome complications ensue.

Development and initial experience with a colored perfluorocarbon liquid for intraocular tamponade in vitreoretinal surgery.

PURPOSE: To present the development and initial experience of a novel colored perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) in vitreoretinal surgery. METHODS: This was an experimental laboratory study and prospective human interventional study. F6H8 (Fluoron GmbH) was colored by adding 0.3 g/L blue anthraquinone dye. Subsequently, 20% colored F6H8 was prepared by mixing with perfluorooctane or perfluorodecalin (Fluoron GmbH). The novel product is not yet FDA approved for human application. In the laboratory, the colored PFCL was covered with 1) uncolored PFCL, 2) BSS, and 3) silicone oil. Cell toxicity was evaluated in L929 mouse fibroblasts using a growth inhibition assay. Porcine ex vivo eyes were evaluated after vitrectomy followed by intravitreal and subretinal colored PFCL infusion. A pilot, prospective, noncomparative interventional study was conducted in patients with retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). RESULTS: The density of the colored PFLC mixture was 1.664 g/cm for perfluorooctane and 1.802 g/cm for perfluorodecalin. There was no relevant cell growth inhibition with any concentration of colored PFCL tested. Experiments in pigs revealed that infusion of the colored PFCL caused neither staining of the internal limiting membrane nor intravitreal residual droplets. In the prospective study, 9 eyes (75%) underwent surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with at least grade C PVR. The colored PFCL enabled retinal break examination and detection of residual intravitreal droplets in all surgeries. There was no case of separation or leakage of the dye from the PFCL solution that could have caused unwanted staining of the vitreous or epiretinal surface. CONCLUSION: The colored PFCL enabled intraoperative maneuvers such as endolaser use. In addition, removal of the colored PFCL was easily achieved at the end of surgery.

Effect of treatment with cyclophosphamide in low doses upon the onset of delayed type hypersensitivity in mice chronically infected with Trypanosoma cruzi: involvement of heart interstitial dendritic cells

Acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi results in intense myocarditis, which progresses to a chronic, asymptomatic indeterminate form. The evolution toward this chronic cardiac form occurs in approximately 30% of all cases of T. cruzi infection. Suppression of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) has been proposed as a potential explanation of the indeterminate form. We investigated the effect of cyclophosphamide (CYCL) treatment on the regulatory mechanism of DTH and the participation of heart interstitial dendritic cells (IDCs) in this process using BALB/c mice chronically infected with T. cruzi. One group was treated with CYCL (20 mg/kg body weight) for one month. A DTH skin test was performed by intradermal injection of T. cruzi antigen (3 mg/mL) in the hind-footpad and measured the skin thickness after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. The skin test revealed increased thickness in antigen-injected footpads, which was more evident in the mice treated with CYCL than in those mice that did not receive treatment. The thickened regions were characterised by perivascular infiltrates and areas of necrosis. Intense lesions of the myocardium were present in three/16 cases and included large areas of necrosis. Morphometric evaluation of lymphocytes showed a predominance of TCD8 cells. Heart IDCs were immunolabelled with specific antibodies (CD11b and CD11c) and T. cruzi antigens were detected using a specific anti-T. cruzi antibody. Identification of T. cruzi antigens, sequestered in these cells using specific anti-T. cruzi antibodies was done, showing a significant increase in the number of these cells in treated mice. These results indicate that IDCs participate in the regulatory mechanisms of DTH response to T. cruzi infection.

Presença de células dendríticas ativadas e das células T CD4+CD25hi na miocardite aguda e crônica da doença de chagas, em camundongos de linhagens resistente e susceptível / Presence of activated dendritic cells and CD4 + CD25hi T cells in acute and chronic myocarditis of Chagas disease in mice resistant and susceptible strains

A doença de Chagas é caracterizada por apresentar duas fases com curso clínico bastante variável. Na fase aguda ocorre uma intensa miocardite, sendo o parasita facilmente detectado no sangue periférico e nos tecidos. A fase crônica cardíaca é caracterizada por uma cardiopatia, com intensa destruição das fibras cardíacas, presença de áreas de fibrose e escassos parasitas. Os mecanismos envolvidos na patogenia dessa miocardite ainda não são muito claros. Acredita-se que as células reguladoras e as células dendríticas estejam envolvidas nesse processo. Para compreender os mecanismos envolvidos, na resposta inflamatória à infecção pelo T. cruzi, resolvemos investigar a participação das células dendríticas, das células reguladoras e o perfil dos linfócitos T CD4+ e CD8+, utilizando duas linhagens de camundongos isogênicos, que apresentam diferentes graus de susceptibilidade a infecção. Em nossos resultados constatamos que os camundongos DBA/1 apresentaram maior sobrevida à fase aguda (90%), mesmo tratando os camundongos A (70%) com benzonidazol por três dias consecutivos, com o intuito de diminuir a carga parasitária prevenindo a alta mortalidade. A resistência dos DBA/1 e a susceptibilidade dos A, a infecção pelo T. cruzi, estaria relacionada ao perfil da resposta inflamatória e regulatória desenvolvida no decorrer da doença. Observamos que os camundongos DBA/1 possuem mais células dendríticas ativadas no baço e coração e mais células T CD4+CD25hi do que os camundongos da linhagem A. Essa diferença do perfil de resposta pode estar provocando uma maior expansão e diferenciação dos linfócitos T CD4+ pelas células dendríticas, levando ao controle da carga parasitaria

Chagas’diseasse, due to Trypanosoma cruzi infection is characterized by the development of two phases with a variable clinical course. During the acute phase there occurs a severe myocarditis with the parasite being easily detected in peripheral blood and tissues. The chronic cardiac phase is characterized as a chronic cardiopathy, when severe destruction of cardiac myocells and fibrosis are present and parasites are rare. The mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of this myocarditis are somewhat obscure. It is believed that regulatory and dendritic cells play a role in this process. In an attempt to clarify the mechanisms involved in the inflammatory response to infection with T. cruzi we decided to investigate the participation of dendritic and regulatory cells and of TCD4 and TCD8 lymphocytes, using two strains of isogenic mice , which exhibit different degrees of susceptibility to infection. Our results have shown that the DBA/1 mice presented a higher survival (90%) in the acute phase than the A mice (70%), even when these were treated with Benznidazole for three consecutive days, with the objective of to reduce the parasitemia and the high mortality. Resistance of DBA/1 mice and susceptibility of A mice could be related to the evolution of the inflammatory and regulatory responses, during the infection. It was seen that DBA/1 mice disclosed a higher number of activated dendritic cells in the spleen and heart and a higher number of T CD4+CD25hi than the mice of A strain. This differences of the response could be influencing in the TCD4 differentiation and on the control of parasitic load.

Trypanosoma cruzi: parasite antigens sequestered in heart interstitial dendritic cells are related to persisting myocarditis in benznidazole-treated mice

We investigated whether sequestered Trypanosoma cruzi antigens found in heart interstitial dendritic cells (IDCs) contribute to the residual myocarditis found in mice following treatment with benznidazole, a specific chemotherapeutic drug. IDCs are antigen-presenting cells that are MHC-II-receptor dependent. Swiss mice were divided into two experimental groups: the 1st group was infected with the Colombian strain of T. cruzi, which is resistant to treatment with benznidazole, and the 2nd group was infected with clone 21SF-C 3, which has a medium susceptibility to the drug. Treatment of the Colombian strain group started on the 120th day post-infection and for the 21SF-C3 strain group treatment was started on the 90th day. In both groups, treatment lasted for 90 days. The animals were sacrificed either 150 or 200 days post-treatment. The myocardium was analysed by immunohistochemistry using anti-MAC3, 33D1, CD11b and CD11c monoclonal antibodies for IDCs or anti-T. cruzi purified antibodies. Parasite antigens were expressed on the IDC membranes in both treated and untreated mice. Myocarditis subsided following treatment, evidenced by both histological and morphometrical evaluation. A reduction in the number of IDCs carrying T. cruzi antigens in the treated group indicates that the elimination of parasites influences antigen presentation with concomitant decreases in inflammation. There is a correlation between the presence of T. cruzi antigens in these cells and the chronic focal, residual myocarditis seen in treated mice.

Investigação sobre o papel dos antígenos parasitários na patogenia da miocardite crônica, em camundongos infectados pelo Trypanosoma cruzi: a importância das células dendríticas intersticiais do miocárdio / Research on the role of parasitic antigens in pathogenesis of chronic myocarditis in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi: the importance of dendritic cells myocardial interstitial

A doença de Chagas, evolui em diferentes fases: aguda, com sintomas gerais e comprometimento cardíaco devido ao parasitismo pelo T. cruzi, das miocélulas cardíacas e sua rotura o que determina intensa miocardite, pela presença dos parasitos e por mecanismos imunes. Após a fase aguda, os pacientes passam a uma forma indeterminada com escassos parasitos e lesões miocárdicas focais e discretas. Os pacientes na forma indeterminada, em 40% dos casos, evoluem para uma forma crônica cardíaca. Nesta forma, os parasitos são raros nas miocélulas cardíacas, porém uma miocardite crônica difusa e fibrosante se instala, evoluindo para a insuficiência cardíaca e o óbito. A patogenia das lesões cardíacas é controvertida, sendo atribuída ao parasito o papel de estimular a resposta imune ou a um mecanismo de autoimunidade. No presente trabalho, utilizando-se o modelo do camundongo, procura-se investigar o papel dos antígenos parasitários na manutenção das lesões da fase crônica da infecção pelo T. cruzi, pela pesquisa de parasitos e de antígenos parasitários em focos inflamatórios ou pela demonstração de antígenos seqüestrados e expressos na membrana de células dendríticas intersticiais do miocárdio (CDls), pela marcação in situ, por métodos imunohistoquimicos, utilizando anticorpo anti-T.cruzi. Em camundongos cronicamente infectados, tratados com quimioterápico específico, as lesões histopatológicas regridem, permanecendo, entretanto um processo inflamatório residual. Foi desenvolvida uma investigação, com o objetivo de esclarecer, em camundongos cronicamente infectados, tratados e não tratados com o Benzonidazol, a presença de parasitos ou de seus antígenos, em focos de destruição de miocélulas parasitadas ou capturadas por CDls, e a sua relação com a persistência de infiltrados inflamatórios residuais no coração. Foram utilizados camundongos Suíços infectados com a cepa Colombiana (resistentes ao Benzonidazol) ou com um clone da 21SF (susceptível) tratados na fase crônica a partir de 90 e 120 dias de infecção durante 90 dias. O inóculo para ambos os Grupos experimentais foi de 104 formas saguícolas do T. cruzi por via intraperitoneal. Os camundongos tratados foram sacrificados 150 ou 200 dias após o tratamento, juntamente com os controles não tratados. Foram realizados os testes de cura parasitemia, subinoculação em camundongos recém-nascidos, (hemocultura, sorologia). Secções de coração e de músculo esquelético foram fixadas e processadas para estudo histopatológico em secções coradas pela Hematoxilina e Eosina ou pelo método do Picro-Sirius para colágeno e para imunohistoquímica com anticorpos anti-T. cruzi e anti-MAC. Os resultados mostraram na infecção crônica pela cepa Colombiana lesões inflamatórias, moderadas a intensas, com necrose de miocélulas cardíacas e infiltrados mononucleares e fibrose intersticial difusa e focal. Nos tratados, houve regressão parcial das lesões permanecendo infiltrados inflamatórios residuais que variaram de discretos a moderadas e sinais de regressão da fibrose. Na infecção crônica pelo clone 21SF C3 havia miocardite crônica difusa discreta ou moderada na maioria dos casos. Nos tratados, houve decréscimo das lesões inflamatórias, com sinais de regressão da fibrose. Testes imunohistoquimicos com anticorpos anti- T.cruzi revelaram detritos parasitários positivos em focos inflamatórios. As CDls do miocárdio apresentaram em todos os casos, marcação positiva para antígeno do T. cruzi, comprovando o papel das células apresentadoras de antígenos na manutenção das lesões na fase crônica da infecção.

Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em pacientes com diabetes tipo 1 / Prevalence of overweight and obesity in type 1 diabetic patients

Para avaliar a prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em diabéticos tipo 1 (DM1), estudamos 170 pacientes (89F/81M; 14 crianças, 51 adolescentes e 105 adultos, com 24,4±11,9 anos) e correlacionamos seus dados antropométricos com fatores demográficos e clínicos. A prevalência de obesidade, sobrepeso e/ou risco de sobrepeso foi de 21,2 por cento (n= 36). Houve uma correlaçäo de 0,97 entre o score z do IMC e o percentil do IMC (p= 0,00) no grupo de crianças e adolescentes. Houve diferença na PAS (p= 0,004) e na PAD (p= 0,0007) entre pacientes com IMC normal e alterado. Ocorreu uma tendência a um aumento progressivo da medida da cintura com os níveis de PA (p= 0,0000). O IMC foi dependente da idade (OR: 1,04, 95 por cento IC = 1,01-1,07; p= 0,008) na análise multivariada. Na análise stepwise, a PAS foi dependente da cintura (r= 0,57; p= 0,00) e da idade (r= 0,63; p= 0,00) e a PAD, da cintura (r= 0,53; p= 0,00). A prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade nos DM1 parece refletir a tendência mundial de aumento de peso e suas conseqüências clínicas, reforçando a necessidade do controle de peso nestes pacientes.

Treatment with benznidazole in association with immunosuppressive drugs in mice chronically infected with Trypanosoma cruzi: investigation into the possible development of neoplasias.

Benznidazole is recommended in Brazil for the treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in acute and early chronic phases of Chagas' disease. Observations by others have indicated a higher incidence of neoplasias in immunosuppressed patients, presenting Chagas' disease reactivation, submitted to treatment with benznidazole. In the present study, we investigated whether there is a potentiation in the generation of lymphomas in chronically infected mice, treated with immunosuppressive drugs and benznidazole. For this, 142 Swiss mice chronically infected with the 21 SF strain of T. cruzi and 72 normal Swiss mice were used. Both infected and normal mice were divided into experimental groups and submitted to one of the following treatment regimens: benznidazole alone; immunosuppressive drugs (azathioprine, betamethasone and cyclosporin); a combination of immunosuppressive drugs and benznidazole; and untreated controls. In the infected group treated with benznidazole, one mouse developed a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This finding has been interpreted as a spontaneous tumor of mice. The study of the chronically infected mice treated with the combination of immunosuppressive drugs and benznidazole demonstrated an absence of lymphomas or other neoplasias. These findings support the indication of benznidazole, as the drug of choice, for immunosuppressed patients that develop a reactivation of Chagas' disease.

Treatment with benznidazole in association with immunosuppressive drugs in mice chronically infected with Trypanosoma cruzi: investigation into the possible development of neoplasias

Benznidazole is recommended in Brazil for the treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in acute and early chronic phases of Chagas' disease. Observations by others have indicated a higher incidence of neoplasias in immunosuppressed patients, presenting Chagas' disease reactivation, submitted to treatment with benznidazole. In the present study, we investigated whether there is a potentiation in the generation of lymphomas in chronically infected mice, treated with immunosuppressive drugs and benznidazole. For this, 142 Swiss mice chronically infected with the 21 SF strain of T. cruzi and 72 normal Swiss mice were used. Both infected and normal mice were divided into experimental groups and submitted to one of the following treatment regimens: benznidazole alone; immunosuppressive drugs (azathioprine, betamethasone and cyclosporin); a combination of immunosuppressive drugs and benznidazole; and untreated controls. In the infected group treated with benznidazole, one mouse developed a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This finding has been interpreted as a spontaneous tumor of mice. The study of the chronically infected mice treated with the combination of immunosuppressive drugs and benznidazole demonstrated an absence of lymphomas or other neoplasias. These findings support the indication of benznidazole, as the drug of choice, for immunosuppressed patients that develop a reactivation of Chagas' disease