In vivo anti-herpes simplex virus activity of a sulfated derivative of Agaricus brasiliensis mycelial polysaccharide.

Agaricus brasiliensis (syn. A. subrufescens), a basidiomycete fungus native to the Atlantic forest in Brazil, contains cell walls rich in glucomannan polysaccharides. The ß-(1 → 2)-gluco-ß-(1 → 3)-mannan was isolated from A. brasiliensis mycelium, chemically modified by sulfation, and named MI-S. MI-S has multiple mechanisms of action, including inhibition of herpes simplex virus (HSV) attachment, entry, and cell-to-cell spread (F. T. G. S. Cardozo, C. M. Camelini, A. Mascarello, M. J. Rossi, R. J. Nunes, C. R. Barardi, M. M. de Mendonça, and C. M. O. Simões, Antiviral Res. 92:108-114, 2011). The antiherpetic efficacy of MI-S was assessed in murine ocular, cutaneous, and genital infection models of HSV. Groups of 10 mice were infected with HSV-1 (strain KOS) or HSV-2 (strain 333). MI-S was given either topically or by oral gavage under various pre- and posttreatment regimens, and the severity of disease and viral titers in ocular and vaginal samples were determined. No toxicity was observed in the uninfected groups treated with MI-S. The topical and oral treatments with MI-S were not effective in reducing ocular disease. Topical application of MI-S on skin lesions was also not effective, but cutaneously infected mice treated orally with MI-S had significantly reduced disease scores (P < 0.05) after day 9, suggesting that healing was accelerated. Vaginal administration of MI-S 20 min before viral challenge reduced the mean disease scores on days 5 to 9 (P < 0.05), viral titers on day 1 (P < 0.05), and mortality (P < 0.0001) in comparison to the control groups (untreated and vehicle treated). These results show that MI-S may be useful as an oral agent to reduce the severity of HSV cutaneous and mucosal lesions and, more importantly, as a microbicide to block sexual transmission of HSV-2 genital infections.

[A prospective randomized trial of the impact of misoprostol (PgE1) on pregnancy rate after intrauterine insemination (IUI) therapy: a preliminary report]. / Estudio prospectivo y aleatorio del impacto de misoprostol (PgE1) en las tasas de embarazo con inseminación intrauterina (IIU): informe preliminar.

Although the use of prostaglandin plays an important role in the reproductive human physiology, it is still controversial in the reproductive field. Ovarian stimulation as well as intrauterine insemination increased the reproductive goals in certain group of patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prostaglandin effect (misoprostol) in patients under ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination and their final outcome in the clinical pregnancy rate. There were a total of 59 ovarian stimulated cycles, the study group (n = 29) received 200 micrograms of prostaglandin E1 (misoprostol) intravaginal after IUI, compared with the control group (n = 30). Demographic characteristics were similar in both groups. There were no differences in age, FSH. LH and E2, hCG day and number of ampoules between groups. However, a significant pregnancy rate was observed between groups (31% study group vs. 20% control group). We concluded that prostaglandin application in stimulated cycles under intrauterine insemination remain a beneficial effect showing in the pregnancy outcome.

Ancon Hospital: an American Hospital during the construction of the Panama Canal, 1904-1914.

The control of yellow fever, malaria, and other tropical diseases was essential for the successful completion of the Panama Canal. COL William C. Gorgas, Chief Sanitary Officer, found Ancon Hospital quite satisfactory as a site from which to direct his sanitation efforts. Ancon Hospital played an important role during the period of the excavation of the canal (1904-1914). In 1928, Ancon Hospital was renamed Gorgas Hospital to commemorate this achievement. After more than a century of clinical and research activities in Panama, Ancon Hospital closed its doors in 1997.

Sjögren-Larsson syndrome: inherited defect in the fatty alcohol cycle.

We investigated fatty alcohol metabolism in eight patients with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome, and in nine obligate heterozygotes. Fatty alcohol: nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide oxidoreductase (FAO) activity was deficient in cultured skin fibroblasts (mean 18% of normal, n = 8) and peripheral blood leukocytes (mean 22% of normal, n = 3) from patients with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome. The palmitoyl coenzyme A-inhibitable component of FAO activity was decreased to 10% and 15% of normal in fibroblasts and leukocytes, respectively, of patients with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome. Most affected patients accumulated long-chain fatty alcohol in plasma, with a greater relative accumulation of octadecanol (mean threefold greater than normal) than hexadecanol (mean twofold greater than normal). Erythrocyte lipid alkyl ether linkages derived from hexadecanol were slightly increased in three of four patients. Fibroblasts and leukocytes from heterozygotes with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome showed mean FAO activities that were intermediate between those seen in homozygotes and in normal control subjects. The heterozygotes had normal fatty alcohol concentrations in plasma. These studies demonstrate FAO deficiency in patients with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome, and suggest that accumulation of fatty alcohol or its metabolic products may be important in the pathogenesis of this disorder.