Repeated co-option of HMG-box genes for sex determination in brown algae and animals.

In many eukaryotes, genetic sex determination is not governed by XX/XY or ZW/ZZ systems but by a specialized region on the poorly studied U (female) or V (male) sex chromosomes. Previous studies have hinted at the existence of a dominant male-sex factor on the V chromosome in brown algae, a group of multicellular eukaryotes distantly related to animals and plants. The nature of this factor has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that an HMG-box gene acts as the male-determining factor in brown algae, mirroring the role HMG-box genes play in sex determination in animals. Over a billion-year evolutionary timeline, these lineages have independently co-opted the HMG box for male determination, representing a paradigm for evolution's ability to recurrently use the same genetic "toolkit" to accomplish similar tasks.

Distance learning in antimicrobial stewardship: innovation in medical education.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyse the impact that web-based distance learning has on knowledge gain in medical students, as well as student perceptions of the methodology. METHODS: This was an educational intervention study conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. From 2008 to 2014, we offered a free web-based distance learning course, covering antimicrobial use and microbial resistance, to fifth-year medical students. The course encompassed 100 h of activities, with five theoretical modules, exercises and simulations, within a virtual learning environment. The students were tutored in their online activities, and some classes were conducted in real time for live discussions. In addition, students underwent face-to-face assessments of their knowledge of the topic before and after the course. Statistical analysis was performed and the means of the overall scores were obtained, as were the respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The means were compared by two-tailed paired t-tests and by the paired Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Of 814 eligible medical students, 606 (74.45%) completed the entire course during the study period. The mean score for knowledge of the topic was significantly higher on the final assessment than on the initial assessment (p <  0.001). We found that dedication (in hours) was directly proportional to the level of participation, as reflected in the mean final score (p = 0.009) and in the proportion of students who passed (p = 0.028). All of the participants considered their knowledge adequate or insufficient before the course, stating that it is quite important or important to address the topic during medical education. Although dedication levels were low, 70.5% stated that they had learned "quite a lot" or "more than expected" about the topic and would dedicate more time to it if they could. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a virtual learning environment can promote teaching and learning in the infectious diseases field, specifically for antimicrobial stewardship, increasing knowledge significantly, and should be considered for inclusion in the final stages of medical education.

Manifestaciones orales de la hemofilia adquirida tipo A. Reporte de un caso clínico / Oral manifestations of acquired hemophilia A. A clinical case report

Resumen Introducción La hemofilia tipo A adquirida es un trastorno hemorrágico poco frecuente producido por la presencia de autoanticuerpos dirigidos contra el factor VIII (FVIII) circulante. El sangrado suele aparecer en la piel, músculo, área retroperitoneal y tracto gastrointestinal; sin embargo, no es común en la cavidad oral. Caso clínico Presentamos el caso de una paciente de la octava década de la vida con este padecimiento, caracterizado por la presencia de ampollas sangrantes y dolorosas en la cavidad oral. El diagnóstico se estableció con un tiempo elevado de tromboplastina parcial activada (TTPa), tiempo normal de protrombina y niveles elevados de inhibidores del FVIII. La paciente fue tratada con el factor VII recombinante activado y prednisona asociada con ciclofosfamida durante seis semanas. La medicación fue suspendida cuando se normalizó el TTPa. Discusión El diagnóstico de hemofilia adquirida tipo A es complicado debido a que no hay antecedentes familiares de sangrado y a su etiopatogenia de origen autoinmune. La forma de presentación es un sangrado espontáneo y severo asociado con un tiempo prolongado de tromboplastina. Conclusión Su identificación inicial expedita y la aplicación del tratamiento son fundamentales para disminuir la tasa de mortalidad de los pacientes afectados.

Abstract Introduction Acquired hemophilia A is a hemorrhagic disorder produced by autoantibodies directed against circulating factor VIII. Bleeding often appears in the skin, muscles, the retroperitoneal area, and the gastrointestinal tract; however, it is not frequent regarding occurrence in the oral cavity. Case report We report an unusual case of an elderly woman in the eighth decade of life with AHA characterized by painful blood blisters in the oral cavity. The diagnosis was established with a high activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), normal prothrombin time and elevated levels of factor VIII inhibitor (FVIII: C). The patient was treated with the activated recombinant factor VII and prednisone associated with cyclophosphamide during six weeks. Drugs were stopped when normalization of aPTT was identified. Discussion The diagnosis of HAA is complicated because there is no family history of bleeding and its autoimmune etiopathogenesis. Furthermore, the clinical presentation is due to spontaneous and severe bleeding associated with a prolonged time of thromboplastin. Conclusion The initial identification and the application of the treatment are essential to reduce the mortality rate of those patients affected.

Nosocomial bloodstream infections in Brazilian pediatric patients: microbiology, epidemiology, and clinical features.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial bloodstream infections (nBSIs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality and are the most frequent type of nosocomial infection in pediatric patients. METHODS: We identified the predominant pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibilities of nosocomial bloodstream isolates in pediatric patients (≤16 years of age) in the Brazilian Prospective Surveillance for nBSIs at 16 hospitals from 12 June 2007 to 31 March 2010 (Br SCOPE project). RESULTS: In our study a total of 2,563 cases of nBSI were reported by hospitals participating in the Br SCOPE project. Among these, 342 clinically significant episodes of BSI were identified in pediatric patients (≤16 years of age). Ninety-six percent of BSIs were monomicrobial. Gram-negative organisms caused 49.0% of these BSIs, Gram-positive organisms caused 42.6%, and fungi caused 8.4%. The most common pathogens were Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (21.3%), Klebsiella spp. (15.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (10.6%), and Acinetobacter spp. (9.2%). The crude mortality was 21.6% (74 of 342). Forty-five percent of nBSIs occurred in a pediatric or neonatal intensive-care unit (ICU). The most frequent underlying conditions were malignancy, in 95 patients (27.8%). Among the potential factors predisposing patients to BSI, central venous catheters were the most frequent (66.4%). Methicillin resistance was detected in 37 S. aureus isolates (27.1%). Of the Klebsiella spp. isolates, 43.2% were resistant to ceftriaxone. Of the Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, 42.9% and 21.4%, respectively, were resistant to imipenem. CONCLUSIONS: In our multicenter study, we found a high mortality and a large proportion of gram-negative bacilli with elevated levels of resistance in pediatric patients.

Nosocomial bloodstream infections in Brazilian hospitals: analysis of 2,563 cases from a prospective nationwide surveillance study.

Nosocomial bloodstream infections (nBSIs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Data from a nationwide, concurrent surveillance study, Brazilian SCOPE (Surveillance and Control of Pathogens of Epidemiological Importance), were used to examine the epidemiology and microbiology of nBSIs at 16 Brazilian hospitals. In our study 2,563 patients with nBSIs were included from 12 June 2007 to 31 March 2010. Ninety-five percent of BSIs were monomicrobial. Gram-negative organisms caused 58.5% of these BSIs, Gram-positive organisms caused 35.4%, and fungi caused 6.1%. The most common pathogens (monomicrobial) were Staphylococcus aureus (14.0%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (12.6%), Klebsiella spp. (12.0%), and Acinetobacter spp. (11.4%). The crude mortality was 40.0%. Forty-nine percent of nBSIs occurred in the intensive-care unit (ICU). The most frequent underlying conditions were malignancy, in 622 patients (24.3%). Among the potential factors predisposing patients to BSI, central venous catheters were the most frequent (70.3%). Methicillin resistance was detected in 157 S. aureus isolates (43.7%). Of the Klebsiella sp. isolates, 54.9% were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. Of the Acinetobacter spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, 55.9% and 36.8%, respectively, were resistant to imipenem. In our multicenter study, we found high crude mortality and a high proportion of nBSIs due to antibiotic-resistant organisms.

How to educate health care professionals in developing countries? A Brazilian experience.

E-learning is an important tool to bring health care professionals updated information, especially in a large, developing country like Brazil, where teaching resources are limited. It allows the exchange of experiences between professionals, promotes simultaneous knowledge acquisition by a large number of participants, and reaches some remote areas.

Perceptions and attitudes of the professional staff concerning infection surveillance and control programs in Brazilian hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Several countries have conducted studies to assess the status of their infection control programs (ICP) with the objective of improving quality of infection control practices. METHODS: To assess the perceptions and attitudes of the health care workers (HCW) concerning ICP in Brazilian hospitals, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered online questionnaire during a Web-based course (WBC) on infection control (IC) and antimicrobial resistance (AR). RESULTS: Of 6256 Brazilian HCW registered for the WBC, 1998 were members of infection control committees (ICC) and answered the survey. Eight hundred six (40.4%) respondents said that an ICP was established for more than 10 years in their institutions. Most professionals reported that their hospitals perform microbiologic surveillance targeted at epidemiologically important multidrug-resistant organisms, but the majority underestimated the prevalence of AR. CONCLUSION: Our survey highlights important information about the perceptions and attitudes of ICC members that may be used to tailor key interventions for implementing effective ICP. It suggests, additionally, that, to achieve countrywide standardized IC mechanisms in a developing country, authorities should consider the social, cultural, and economical disparities between regions and identify specific regional needs to make available the resources required to minimize such disparities.

Infections in heart transplant recipients in Brazil: the challenge of Chagas' disease.

BACKGROUND: Despite the high incidence of infections after heart transplantation, there is limited information about its epidemiology in patients from countries where Chagas' disease is endemic. METHODS: We analyzed the occurrence of infections in 126 patients aged older than 18 years who underwent transplantation from 1986 through 2007 at a Brazilian University Hospital and who survived at least 48 hours. RESULTS: Heart failure diagnoses before transplantation were idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (38.6%), Chagas' disease (34.9%), coronary artery disease (19.8%), and others (6.3%). The respiratory tract was the most common site of infections (40.9%), followed by surgical wound site (18.1%). Trypanosoma cruzi reactivations occurred in 38.8% of Chagas' disease patients: 47.0% had myocarditis, 23.5% had skin lesions, and 29.4% had both. New-onset ventricular dysfunction was observed in 47.0%, with complete response after specific treatment, and 41.0% were asymptomatic cases, diagnosed by routine endomyocardial biopsies. No patient died from such events. No differences in survival were found after 5 years of follow-up between recipients with and without Chagas' disease (p = 0.231). CONCLUSIONS: In a heart transplant population from a developing country, infectious complications occurred at a high rate. Tropical illnesses were uncommon, except for the high rate of Chagas' disease reactivations. Despite that, the overall outcome of these patients was similar to that of recipients with other cardiomyopathies.

Physicians' perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge concerning antimicrobial resistance in a Brazilian teaching hospital.

This cross-sectional survey assessed physicians' perceptions, knowledge and practices concerning antimicrobial resistance. Ninety-nine percent of participants reported that they perceived antimicrobial resistance as an important problem, and 86.7% agreed that antimicrobials are overprescribed, but only 2.9% rated "practicing antimicrobial control" as the most important strategy for preventing resistance. The results of this study warrant educational programs on antimicrobial resistance and the distribution of information regarding local antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Viver saudável e a preservação dos recursos hídricos: a percepção de uma comunidade da cidade de Florianópolis / Living Healthily and Preserving Water Resources - the Perception of a Community in the City of Florianopolis

A percepção de que a água é a matéria prima essencial à vida humana é o princípio da construção de um saber saudável no cuidado de si e do outro. Este estudo trata-se de uma pesquisa vinculada ao GEPADES - Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Administração de Enfermagem e Saúde, cujo objetivo foi reconhecer as percepções que determinada população tem sobre as questões do que seja um viver saudável. O destaque foi concedido para ambiente sadio em interface com a problemática da utilização correta dos recursos hídricos e enfoque para a escassez da água e ao risco de infecções comunitárias. A pesquisa foi realizada na comunidade residente no bairro Santa Mônica, em Florianópolis, por meio de entrevista com questões relacionadas à origem e destino da água consumida, perfil de consumo da água, estratégias para preservação da água no cotidiano, e água como meio de transmissão de doenças. A idéia da influência de um ambiente sadio, que considere o manejo adequado dos recursos hídricos, relacionada a um viver mais saudável ainda não está suficientemente sedimentada na percepção dos entrevistados, não conferindo às suas práticas cotidianas importância e significado no que diz respeito a sua possibilidade de participação no processo de cuidado à natureza e ao meio ambiente. Assegurar a dinâmica ecológica sustentável só será possível a partir da participação de todos os setores da sociedade, inclusive nas comunidades, onde se cuida e se vive.

Intercorrências clínicas na síndrome de Turner / Clinical intercurrence in Turner's syndrome

Neste trabalho descrevemos as malformaçöes e co-morbidades observadas em pacientes com síndrome de Turner (ST). Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo, avaliando os prontuários de 60 pacientes cujo diagnóstico de ST foi confirmado através do cariótipo, desde a fase pré-natal até a idade de 49 anos. As pacientes encontram-se com idades entre 1 e 50 anos e foram evoluídas num período de 4 meses a 29 anos. Trinta e uma apresentavam o cariótipo 45X0, 24 eram mosaico e 5 apresentavam o padräo 46Xi, (i,Xq). Todas tinham baixa estatura e algum tipo de estigma. Cinco (8,3 por cento) näo apresentavam outras malformaçöes congênitas e eram saudàveis; 55 (91,6 por cento) apresentavam doenças associadas, sendo que em 23 (38,3 por cento) foram detectadas doenças endócrinas, em 16 (26,6 por cento) otorrinolaringológicas, 15 (25 por cento) cardiológicas, 14 (23,3 por cento) nefrológicas e 6 (10 por cento) gastrointestinais. Entre as doenças endócrinas mais comuns, observamos hipotireoidismo (36,6 por cento), seguido de osteo-porose (18,3 por cento) e hiperlipemia (11,6 por cento). As doenças otorrinolaringológicas mais comuns foram as infecçöes (otite média e amigdalite); das doenças cardiológicas, as valvulopatias (principalmente aorta bicúspide), das nefrológicas as duplicaçöes do sistema coletor e rotaçöes renais e das gastrointestinais foram observados dois casos de divertículo de Meckel. Encontramos maior prevalência de malformaçöes cardíacas nas pacientes com cariótipo 45X0, embora sem significância estatística quando considerados os demais cariótipos. Concluímos que, devido à alta ocorrência de doenças nesta síndrome, estas devem ser acompanhadas periodicamente em diferentes especialidades.

Miastenia grave e doença de Graves: relato de caso / Myasthenia gravis and Grave's disease: case report

Os autores relatam o caso de uma paciente de 26 anos com miastenia grave, associada à doença de Graves. Neste relato, revisam a literatura e discutem a etiopatogenia, a apresentaçäo clínica, o diagnóstico, e o tratamento clínico e cirúrgico; ressaltando a importância do diagnóstico precoce da doença tireoideana nos pacientes com miastenia grave.