Cryptococcosis in HIV-AIDS patients from Southern Brazil: Still a major problem.

INTRODUCTION: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic pathogen that causes ∼15% mortality in AIDS patients. Rio Grande City, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, has the highest national rate of HIV/AIDS, considering cities with population more than 100,000 habitants. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological profile of cryptococcosis in a reference service for HIV-AIDS patients in the South region of Brazil, over seven years. Material and methods A retrospective study was performed including all cryptococcosis cases diagnosed at the University Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande (UH-FURG) between January 2010 and December 2016. RESULTS: Seventy cases of cryptococcosis were diagnosis from 2010 to 2016 in the UH-FURG in the seven years of the study. These numbers were responsible for 2.1% to 8.1% of the hospitalizations/year for HIV patients. All were caused by C. neoformans infection (95% C. neoformans var. grubii VNI and 5% C. neoformans var. grubii VNII). Neurocryptococcosis was the major clinical manifestation and cryptococcosis was the HIV- defining condition in 40% of patients. The period of hospitalization was an average of 39.3 days (SD=31.3), and more than half of patients (53%; 37/70) died after a mean of 82 days. DISCUSSION: The present study showed the importance of cryptococcosis as an AIDS-defining disease in HIV-AIDS patients in a tertiary hospital from Southern Brazil. More investment is necessary to reduce the impact of this opportunistic mycosis in HIV-AIDS patients from southern Brazil.

Genetic divergence in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in the Cerrado-Pantanal ecotone.

Evaluating genetic diversity among genotypes is important for providing parameters for the identification of superior genotypes, because the choice of parents that form segregating populations is crucial. Our objectives were to i) evaluate agronomic performance; ii) compare clustering methods; iii) ascertain the relative contributions of the variables evaluated; and iv) identify the most promising hybrids to produce superior segregating populations. The trial was conducted in 2015 at the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. We used a randomized block design with three replications, and recorded the days to emergence, days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of branches, number of pods, number of seeds per pod, weight of 100 grains, and productivity. The genetic diversity of the genotypes was determined by cluster analysis using two dissimilarity measures: the Euclidean distance and the standardized mean Mahalanobis distance using the Ward hierarchical method. The genotypes 'CNFC 10762', 'IAC Dawn', and 'BRS Style' had the highest grain yields, and clusters that were based on the Euclidean distance differed from those based on the Mahalanobis distance, the second being more precise. The yield grain character has greater relevance to the dispute. Hybrids with a high heterotic effect can be obtained by crossing 'IAC Alvorada' with 'CNFC 10762', 'IAC Alvorada' with 'CNFC 10764', and 'BRS Style' with 'IAC Alvorada'.

Genistein induces apoptosis and autophagy in human breast MCF-7 cells by modulating the expression of proapoptotic factors and oxidative stress enzymes.

Breast cancer is one of the common tumors occurring in woman and despite treatment, the prognostic is poor. Genistein, a soy isoflavone, has been reported to have chemopreventive\chemotherapeutic potential in multiple tumor types. Here, we investigated the genistein antiproliferative effect in MCF-7 breast cancer, underlying the molecular mechanisms involved in this effect. MCF-7 cancer and CCD1059sK fibroblast cells were treated with estradiol (10 nM) or genistein (0.01-100 µM) for 24, 48, and 72 h and the cell proliferation was investigated by MTT; membrane cell permeability was evaluated by LDH and PI incorporation; apoptosis was investigated by externalization of phosphatidylserine by FACS; and presence of autophagy was detected by LC3A/B immunostaining. The expression of apoptotic proteins and antioxidant enzymes was evaluated by qPCR. The results demonstrate that genistein (100 µM) for 72 h of treatment selectively reduced MCF-7 cell proliferation independent of estrogen receptor activation, while no cytotoxicity was observed in fibroblast cells. Further experiments showed that genistein induced phosphatidylserine externalization and LC3A/B immunopositivity in MCF-7 cells, indicating apoptosis and autophagy cell death. Genistein increased in three times proapoptotic BAX/Bcl-2 ratio and promoted a parallel downregulation of 20 times of antiapoptotic survivin. In addition, genistein promoted a decrease of 5.5, 9.3, and 3.6 times of MnSOD, CuZnSOD, and TrxR mRNA expression, respectively, while the GPx expression was increased by 6.5 times. These results suggest that the antitumor effect of genistein involved the modulation of antioxidant enzyme and apoptotic signaling expression, which resulted in apoptosis and progression of autophagy.

Expanded description of Dolops bidentata (Bouvier, 1899) (Branchiura: Argulidae) based on specimens collected on Pygocentrus nattereri Kner, 1858 (Characiformes) from Poconé Wetland, MT, Brazil.

The current information on the branchiuran Dolops bidentata, a species described more one hundred years ago, is valid but incomplete; hence, an expanded description is given herein. Additional morphological information was obtained by light and scanning electron microscopy from specimens collected on Pygocentrus nattereri from the Poconé Wetland, MT, Brazil. Description of the appendages and other structures such as respiratory area, mouth, details and ornamentation of antennules and maxillae are provided for the first time.

Time-dependent photodynamic damage to blood vessels: correlation with serum photosensitizer levels.

We have used the technique of dynamic capillaroscopy to study the time-course of photodynamic vascular occlusion in mice injected intraperitoneally with either of two photosensitizers; hematoporphyrin esters (HPE) or meso-tetrahydroxyphenyl chlorin (mTHPC). The peak of vascular occlusion induced by HPE coincided in time with peak serum levels of this photosensitizer (about 3 h after injection). However, there was also a second peak of occlusive activity at about 12 h after injection, at which time serum HPE was falling monotonically. In the case of mTHPC, no peak of occlusive activity was seen at 3 h after injection, even though the serum levels of this photosensitizer, like those of HPE, were highest around this time. Instead, a steady rise in photosensitizing activity was observed, peaking at 11 h. This decoupling between serum drug levels and vascular photosensitization--partial for HPE and complete for mTHPC-suggests that direct photosensitization of endothelial cells is unlikely wholly to explain the vascular collapse. Instead, there must be either another compartment that accumulates photosensitizer more slowly and in which photodynamic activity has an indirect effect on the blood capillaries or a slow metabolic transformation of mTHPC into a more active sensitizer.

Dynamic capillaroscopy: a minimally invasive technique for assessing photodynamic effects in vivo.

A noninvasive method for visualizing the microvasculature in the mouse tail is described, consisting of a custom-built microscope with through-lens illumination. The microscope is fitted with a television camera and images can be recorded on videotape and displayed on a television monitor. Blood vessels are imaged as columns of red blood cells, in which flow is clearly observed. Administration of photosensitizers and illumination with the standard light source produces no observable photodynamic effect on blood flow. The combination of photosensitizer and a more intense light source (either broadband light from a filtered mercury arc or red light from a laser) causes photodynamic cessation of flow within a few minutes. The magnitude of the effect is dependent on the dose and nature of the photosensitizer, the delay after photosensitization and the match between the laser light and the absorption spectra of the photosensitizers in the red region. We conclude that the technique yields results consistent with the known photodynamic effects of the photosensitizers in tumors and propose its use as an initial screening method in vivo, as a means of conducting pharmacokinetic experiments and as an assay of prolonged cutaneous photosensitivity.

Eosinophilic granuloma of the temporal bone.

Otological involvement in Histiocytosis X, although infrequent, may be present in any of the forms of this entity. The otologist must keep Histiocytosis X in mind in the differential diagnosis of cases presenting with post-aural swelling, non purulent otorrhea and absence of fever and pain in children under three-years old. Some aspects of clinical presentation and treatment are discussed.

[Measurement of ophthalmic blood pressure with the Mikuni dynamometer (author's transl)]. / Die Messung des Ophthalmikablutdruckes mit dem Dynamometer nach Mikuni.

Comparative measurements of the ophthalmic arterial blood pressure (Mikuni ophthalmodynamometer) and the systemic blood pressure (Riva-Rocci sphygmomanometer) were carried out in 141 eyes of healthy subjects. There was a linear correlation between the two parameters (p < 0.001). The mean diastolic ophthalmic blood pressure was 58.6 mmHg, the mean systolic blood pressure of 93.4 mmHg. The mean diastolic brachial arterial pressure was 86.7 mmHg, the mean systolic pressure 136 mmHg. In all eyes studied the ophthalmic blood pressure was lower than the ipsilateral brachial blood pressure, in respect of the diastolic as well as of the systolic pressure. On the average the ophthalmic blood pressure was 70% of the systemic blood pressure (mean difference 33.6 mmHg). There was no statistically different regression line between the two parameters in subjects with normal and subjects with elevated systemic blood pressure. In 86% of the paired measurements with the Mikuni ophthalmodynamometer there were differences of less than 5 mmHg in systolic pressure (mean 2.64 mmHg). Correspondingly all differences in diastolic pressure in paired measurements were within 5 mmHg (mean 1.46 mmHg). A difference of 7 mmHg in ophthalmic arterial pressures in an individual appears to be probably pathologic; a difference of more than 9 mmHg seems to be definitely pathologic. In ophthalmodynamometry using the Mikuni instrument a "tonographic effect" occurs, and the intraocular pressure takes 10-15 minutes to return to a physiologically stable state. The extent of this tonographic effect depends on the IOP prior to dynamometry. (p < 0,05).

[Comparative measurements of the ophthalmic arterial pressure using the Mikuni dynamometer and the Stepanik-arteriotonograph (author's transl)]. / Vergleichende Messungen des Blutdruckes am Auge mit dem Ophthalmodynamometer nach Mikuni und dem Stepanik-Arteriotonographen.

Comparative measurements of the ophthalmic arterial pressure have been performed in 102 eyes using the Mikuni dynamometer and the Stepanik-Arteriotonograph. There was a linear correlation between the results obtained with both methods (P less than 0.001). Ophthalmic arterial blood pressures taken with the Stepanik-Arteriotonograph (SAT) were on the average 23 mmHg higher than with the Mikuni suction cup dynamometer. The mean ophthalmic blood pressure using the SAT was 88% of the mean brachial arterial pressure, whereas it was 70% with the Mikuni instrument. Differences between duplicate readings in the same eye were higher with the SAT than with the Mikuni dynamometer (P less than 0.001). Differences between both eyes in one individual were on the average greater using the SAT than the Mikuni instrument (P less than 0.001) and suction cup dynamometry was tolerated better subjectively than ophthalmic arteriotonography. A different reference point for taking arterial blood pressure with both methods is discussed. In arteriotonography the point of pressure measurement is more central than in suction cup dynamometry, because of the different method of increasing intraocular pressure in each procedure. The pros and cons of both methods are critically discussed.