Modulation in the expression of type 1 (CR1/CD35) and type 3 (CR3/CD11b) complement receptors on leukocytes from patients with Visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an anthropozoonosis endemic in Brazil. We included 20 patients with confirmed diagnosis of VL and 20 healthy individuals to evaluate the expression levels of complement receptor 1 (CR1)/CD35 and CR3/CD11b on leukocytes in the peripheral blood and determine their correlation with the clinical state of patients. CR1/CD35 expression increased on CD11b+CD35+granulocytes of patients, while CR1/CD35 and CR3/CD11b expression levels increased on CD14+CD11b+CD35+ monocytes. Among patients, those with severe clinical state had higher expression of CR3/CD11b on CD14+monocytes. The count of CD19+CD35+B lymphocytes reduced in the blood samples from patients. These observed changes may indicate the modulation in CR1/CD35 and CR3/CD11b complement receptor expressionlevels on granulocyte and monocyte populations in response to Leishmania sp.

ß-lactam antibiotics & vancomycin increase the growth & virulence of Candida spp.

AIM: To investigate the direct effect of antibiotics on growth and virulence of the major Candida species associated with invasive infections. MATERIALS & METHODS: Cefepime, imipenem, meropenem, amoxicillin and vancomycin were tested at twofold the peak plasma concentration (2× PP) and the peak plasma concentration (PP). The effects of antibiotics on Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis were investigated by colony counting, flow cytometry, proteolytic activity and virulence in Caenorhabditis elegans. RESULTS: Antibiotics increase growth and proteolytic activity of Candida spp; In addition, amoxicillin potentiates virulence of C. krusei and C. tropicalis against Caenorhabditis elegans. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that antimicrobial therapy may have a direct effect on the pathophysiology of invasive fungal infections in patients at risk.

Aplicación del examen objetivo clínico estructurado en la evaluación de la Semiología cardiopulmonar / Use of the objective structured clinical examination in the evaluation of cardiopulmonary semiology

El objetivo de este estudio es presentar una estrategia para la práctica de la enseñanza y la evaluación de la semiología cardiopulmonar a través de un examen objetivo clínico estructurado. Las clases prácticas se llevaron a cabo con estudiantes de Medicina. Los estudiantes realizaron anamnesis y examen físico de los pacientes, y posteriormente fue discutido el significado de cada signo y síntoma encontrado. Al final de las clases prácticas se realizó una evaluación práctica basada en el examen objetivo clínico estructurado. Se estableció una situación clínica en la que el estudiante tuvo que realizar la anamnesis, examen físico cardiopulmonar y describir los resultados. Se mostró, por medio de programas de ordenador, sonidos cardiopulmonares de ciertas enfermedades para que el estudiante las identificara. Fue realizada una evaluación de la actividad, a través de un cuestionario aplicado a cada estudiante. La puntuación media de la evaluación práctica fue 8,93. La evaluación de la actividad por los alumnos fue muy positiva, con puntuaciones que van de 3 a 5 en una escala de 0 a 5. La calidad de las clases y las historias clínicas también han sido bien evaluadas, con un promedio de 4. La aplicación de un examen objetivo clínico estructurado en la semiología ha demostrado ser una herramienta útil y eficaz en la evaluación del estudiante de Medicina, junto con las clases prácticas, que hicieron a los estudiantes aptos para reconocer los signos y síntomas principales de enfermedades cardiopulmonares(AU)

The aim of this study is to present a strategy for the teaching practice and evaluation of cardiopulmonary semiology through an objective structured clinical examination. Practical lessons were developed with medical students. The students did anamnesis and physical exams to patients and later, each sign and symptom that was found was analyzed. At the end of practical lessons, a practical evaluation based on the objective structured clinical examination was applied. We have established a clinical situation in which the student had to do anamnesis, physical and cardiopulmonary exam and describe the results. Using computing software, cardiopulmonary sounds present in some diseases were shown to ask the students to identify them. An evaluation of the activity was done by means of a questionnaire applied to each student. Average mark in practical evaluation was 8, 93. The students' evaluation of the activity was very positive, with marks ranging from 3 to 5 in a scale from 0 to 5. Qualities of lessons and clinical histories have also been evaluated with an average mark of 4. The implementation of an objective structured clinical examination in Semiology has proved to be an efficient and useful tool in the evaluation of the medical student together with the practical lessons that made the students apt to recognize main signs and symptoms in cardiopulmonary diseases(AU)