Multirresistência antimicrobiana em cepas de Escherichia coli isoladas de cadelas com piometra / Antimicrobial multi-resistance of Escherichia coli strains isolated from bitches with pyometra

The antimicrobial sensibility of Escherichia coli strains isolated from the uterine content of bitches was evaluated. Fifteen E. coli strains were tested in relation to their susceptibility to different antimicrobials. The results demonstrated 100 percent of resistance to all tested drugs, being a quite conflicting finding compared to other works, which observed variable resistance of those bacteria to different antimicrobials but not the same multi-resistance pattern. The detection of those multi-resistance strains configures a problem, with important implications on the antimicrobial therapy. Therefore, additional investigations for a best characterization and extension of this problem are needed.

Genetic composition and complexity of virus populations at tungro-endemic and outbreak rice sites.

We have recently demonstrated the geographic isolation of rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) populations in the tungro-endemic provinces of Isabela and North Cotabato, Philippines. In this study, we examined the genetic structure of the virus populations at the tungro-outbreak sites of Lanao del Norte, a province adjacent to North Cotabato. We also analyzed the virus populations at the tungro-endemic sites of Subang, Indonesia, and Dien Khanh, Vietnam. Total DNA extracts from 274 isolates were digested with EcoRV restriction enzyme and hybridized with a full-length probe of RTBV. In the total population, 22 EcoRV-restricted genome profiles (genotypes) were identified. Although overlapping genotypes could be observed, the outbreak sites of Lanao del Norte had a genotype combination distinct from that of Subang or Dien Khanh but a genotype combination similar to that identified earlier from North Cotabato, the adjacent endemic province. Sequence analysis of the intergenic region and part of the ORF1 RTBV genome from randomly selected genotypes confirms the geographic clustering of RTBV genotypes and, combined with restriction analysis, the results suggest a fragmented spatial distribution of RTBV local populations in the three countries. Because RTBV depends on rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) for transmission, the population dynamics of both tungro viruses were then examined at the endemic and outbreak sites within the Philippines. The RTBV genotypes and the coat protein RTSV genotypes were used as indicators for virus diversity. A shift in population structure of both viruses was observed at the outbreak sites with a reduced RTBV but increased RTSV gene diversity.

Cryosurgery as a treatment for advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma: results, complications, and alcohol ablation.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the use of cryosurgery and to determine whether there is a role for combined therapy with alcohol ablation in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Twelve patients with biopsy proven hepatocellular carcinoma underwent ultrasound-guided cryosurgical ablation of their liver tumor. Postoperative alcohol ablation was performed on those patients who were found to have residual tumor or recurrence after the cryosurgical procedure. RESULTS: Of the 12 patients (9 males, 3 females) the size of the primary tumor ranged from 3-13 cm with average size of 7 cm in greatest dimension. Most patients had advanced disease according to the TNM staging system: 9 patients had Stage IVA disease, 2 Stage III, and 1 Stage II. Three patients had residual tumors after the cryosurgical procedure. The residual tumor was treated with alcohol ablation. The 1-year survival rate for the entire group was 50% (5 of 10) and the 2-year survival rate was 30% (3 of 10). At last follow-up, 1 patient with an 8-cm tumor was disease free for 3 years and another patient with a 13-cm tumor was disease free for 2.5 years. Both of these patients had Stage IVA disease. CONCLUSIONS: The authors found cryosurgery to be promising in the treatment of this extremely aggressive form of cancer, with the ability to prolong patient survival. Follow-up treatment with alcohol ablation is an important adjunct in treating residual tumor and controlling recurrences.

Antibacterial activity of a substance produced by the fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus (Fr.) Murr.

A fraction obtained from the culture fluids of Pycnoporus sanguineus fungus was shown to contain a compound with biological activity against strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and members of the genus Streptococcus. The fraction was clearly more active on Gram-positive cocci than on Gram-negative bacilli.

Clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of patients with antidromic circus movement tachycardia in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Antidromic circus movement tachycardia was documented in 36 of 345 consecutive patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome undergoing detailed electrophysiologic evaluation. Twenty-six patients were men and 10 were women (mean age +/- standard deviation 26 +/- 12 years [range 12 to 45]). Multiple accessory pathways were identified in 12 of these 36 patients (33%). Ten of the patients (67%) with clinically documented antidromic tachycardia had multiple accessory pathways. Dizziness and syncope occurred in 61 and 50% of patients with antidromic circus movement tachycardia. Six patients had clinical documentation of atrial fibrillation, and 4 patients (11%) were resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation. In the 36 patients, 56 distinct antidromic tachycardias were recorded and several different pathways were observed. Orthodromic tachycardia was the most frequently associated arrhythmia (72%). Dual atrioventricular nodal pathways were present in 12 patients (33%); however, atrioventricular nodal tachycardia could be initiated in only 2 of them. Interruption of the accessory pathway was successfully performed in all 20 patients undergoing surgery.

The mitochondrion of Trypanosoma cruzi is a target of crystal violet toxicity.

The first morphological alteration observed in Trypanosoma cruzi different stages upon incubation with crystal violet was mitochondrial swelling. The use of digitonin to solubilize T. cruzi plasma membrane allowed the demonstration of an uncoupling action of crystal violet on epimastigote mitochondria in situ. Low concentrations of crystal violet (20-50 microM) or carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP; 0.5 microM) uncoupled the respiratory control mechanism. The inhibition of State 3 respiration by oligomycin was released by crystal violet or FFCCP. Crystal violet released respiratory control, and enhanced ATPase activity of digitonin-permeabilized epimastigotes. Higher concentrations of crystal violet inhibited mitochondrial respiration. The uncoupled effect of crystal violet was stimulated by inorganic phosphate. In addition, crystal violet inhibited endongenous and glucose-stimulated respiration of the intact epimastigotes, and inhibited the Mg2+-ATPase in the epimastigote mitochondrial fractions. The inhibition of this Mg2+-ATPase increased up to pH 9.0 and decreased with increasing protein concentration. These data indicate that the T. cruzi mitochondrion is apparently the main target of crystal violet toxicity.

Prevention of Chagas' disease resulting from blood transfusion by treatment of blood: toxicity and mode of action of gentian violet.

Blood transfusion is the second most important mechanism of transmission of Chagas' disease. Gentian violet, a cationic dye, is currently used in blood banks in endemic areas in attempts to eliminate such transmission. A photodynamic action of gentian violet has been demonstrated in Trypanosoma cruzi. Visible light causes photoreduction of gentian violet to a carbon-centered radical. Under aerobic conditions this free radical autooxidizes generating superoxide anion whose dismutation yields hydrogen peroxide. This photodynamic action of gentian violet is thus probably mediated by the oxygen reduction products. Since irradiation with visible light in the presence of sodium ascorbate reduces the effective dose and time of contact of the dye with T. cruzi-infected blood, a possible application of these findings can be envisaged. In addition to this photodynamic action, an uncoupling effect of gentian violet on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation has been described in rat liver and T. cruzi mitochondria. Gentian violet released respiratory control, hindered ATP synthesis, enhanced ATPase activity, released the inhibition of State 3 respiration by oligomycin, and produced swelling of isolated rat liver mitochondria or T. cruzi mitochondria in situ. Taken together, these results indicate that the T. cruzi mitochondrion is the main target of gentian violet toxicity in the dark.

Enhancement of the cytotoxicity of crystal violet against Trypanosoma cruzi in the blood by ascorbate.

Blood transfusion is the second most important mechanism of transmission of Chagas' disease, and crystal violet is currently used in blood banks in endemic areas in attempts to eliminate such transmission. A photodynamic action of crystal violet against Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes in blood has been detected. This action was enhanced by addition of sodium ascorbate. Photoirradiation of whole blood containing crystal violet increased the concentration of ascorbyl radical and the generation of superoxide anion. Similar results were observed in incubations containing ascorbate and crystal violet in the absence of blood. Hydrogen peroxide generation was also detected in these incubations, thus confirming redox cycling of crystal violet under aerobic conditions. Since photoirradiation and addition of sodium ascorbate reduces significantly the effective dose and time of contact of crystal violet with T. cruzi-infected blood, a possible practical application of these findings is envisaged.

Ureteral involvement secondary to diverticulitis of the colon.

Ureteral involvement in instances of diverticulitis of the colon is quite unusual. The left ureter is more commonly involved but right sided and bilateral instances have been reported. There are three types of involvement: fistula, stricture and compression, the latter being the most frequent. Roentgenographic characteristics and the effects of various treatment modalities on the affected ureter are presented herein.

Photosensitization by the trypanocidal agent crystal violet. Type I versus type II reactions.

The photoreduction of crystal violet to a carbon-centered radical was detected directly by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy under anaerobic conditions. The linewidth (0.9 G) of this radical was less broad than the linewidth (11.0 G) of the free radical obtained in Trypanosoma cruzi incubations. No crystal violet radical could be detected under aerobic conditions. However, crystal violet was found to convert oxygen to superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of light. This superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide formation was greatly enhanced by reducing agents such as NAD(P)H. In addition, irradiation of crystal violet did not generate detectable amounts of singlet oxygen.

The photodynamic action of rose bengal on Trypanosoma cruzi.

In the presence of light and oxygen, rose bengal causes oxidative damage to Trypanosoma cruzi. The production of lipid hydroperoxides was demonstrated by thin-layer chromatography, and severe ultrastructural alterations compatible with an increased permeability of the cells, which led to gradual osmotic swelling and ultimately to lysis, were observed by electron microscopy. As a result of this treatment, the infectivity of T. cruzi trypomastigotes in mice was abolished. In addition, under anaerobic conditions, rose bengal was found to undergo a one-electron reduction in intact T. cruzi epimastigotes to produce a carbon-centered free radical as demonstrated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The formation of this radical was also enhanced by light.

Light-enhanced free radical formation and trypanocidal action of gentian violet (crystal violet).

Transmission of Chagas' disease by transfusion of blood containing Trypanosoma cruzi has often been reported, and gentian violet, a triarylmethane dye, is widely used by blood banks in attempts to eliminate such transmission. In a study of intact trypanosomes, gentian violet was found to undergo a one-electron reduction to produce a carbon-centered free radical as demonstrated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Either reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or the reduced dinucleotide phosphate could serve as a source of reducing equivalents for the production of this free radical by homogenates of Trypanosoma cruzi. The formation of this free radical, and the trypanocidal action of gentian violet, were enhanced by light. The enhanced free radical formation may be the basic cause of the selective toxicity of gentian violet to Trypanosoma cruzi.

Generation of free radicals from metronidazole and other nitroimidazoles by Tritrichomonas foetus.

Metronidazole, ronidazole, secnidazole, benznidazole, and misonidazole are reduced by intact Tritrichomonas foetus cells to nitro anion radicals that can be detected by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. This activity appears to be related to the cellular content of reducing substrates, since nitro anion radical formation is stimulated in the presence of glucose and pyruvate. The nitro anion radicals could not be detected under aerobic conditions. Anaerobic homogenates of T. foetus also reduce metronidazole to the nitro anion radical when pyruvate, NADH, or NADPH is added as the ultimate source of reducing equivalents. Free radical formation may be the basic cause of nitroimidazole toxicity in trichomonads.

Effect of allopurinol on Trypanosoma cruzi: metabolism and biological activity in intracellular and bloodstream forms.

Allopurinol (4-hydroxypyrazolo [3,4-d]pyrimidine) is an effective agent in vitro against Trypanosoma cruzi. The important forms of this parasite, with respect to the pathogenesis of Chagas' disease in man, are the bloodstream (trypomastigote) and the intracellular forms. Experiments with radiolabeled allopurinol and analysis of the metabolic products of this compound by high-performance liquid chromatography showed that both the bloodstream and the intracellular forms of T. cruzi metabolize allopurinol in the same manner as has been shown for the epimastigotes in vitro. The metabolic pathways for pyrazolopyrimidines in the pathogenic forms were demonstrated with organisms isolated from infected animals and a tissue culture system infected with T. cruzi. Treatment of infected tissue culture with allopurinol eradicated the infection. This investigation implies that allopurinol may be useful in chemotherapy of T. cruzi infections, a supposition which has been borne out in one animal study.

Fistula utero-cutanea apos operacao cesariana. / Cutaneous uterine fistula after cesarean section

Os autores apresentam um caso de fistula utero-cutanea observado apos operacao cesariana, e tratada na Clinica Ginecologica do Hospital Barao de Lucena _ Recife. Justificam a apresentacao pela raridade deste tipo de fistula e fazem comentarios a respeito da etiologia, do diagnostico e do tratamento, enfatizando que o tratamento clinico conservador levou a cura completa e ao retorno de ciclos menstruais normais da paciente

Prevention of transfusion-induced Chagas' disease by amphotericin B.

Amphotericin B, a polyene antibiotic effective against eukaryotic cells, can eliminate the trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi from blood stored at 4 degrees C. This antitrypanosomal effect can be achieved with a concentration of 3 micrograms/ml within 48 hours. This concentration of amphotericin B does not produce hemolysis over a period of 3 weeks. Amphotericin B methyl ester and nystatin are not effective. Amphotericin B may be considered as a replacement for crystal violet in blood bank blood to prevent transfusion-induced Chagas' disease.