Lack of circulating toxoplasma gondii DNA in seropositive patients with bipolar or schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Toxoplasmosis has been previously associated with an increased risk of having Schizophrenia or Bipolar disorder in several epidemiological studies. The aim of this observational, cross-sectional study was to examine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in a cohort of Italian psychiatric inpatients and to verify the presence of circulating Toxoplasma gondii DNA in the seropositive subjects. Sixty-three patients affected by bipolar or schizoaffective disorders according to DSM-5 criteria were enrolled. The presence of Toxoplasma infection was firstly examined using an indirect serological method (ELFA), and three different direct PCR-based methods were performed to detect circulating DNA in the seropositive patients. The seroprevalence of infection was 28.6%, with a significant association between higher age and the infection status. PCR, nested-PCR and Real-Time PCR revealed no positive samples for Toxoplasma gondii. This result is in contrast with recent data from case-control studies that detected parasite genome in patients with different neuropsychiatric diagnosis without clinical evidence of acute toxoplasmosis. Our findings are to be interpreted with caution, because of the small sample size, the heterogeneity of enrolled patients and the observational nature of the study. Further studies are needed to better define the clinical features correlated to the seropositive status in neuropsychiatric patients.

Outdoor spatial distribution and indoor levels of NO2 and SO2 in a high environmental risk site of the South Italy.

In the frame of the project EDOC@WORK3.0, Education and Work on Cloud, a monitoring plan has been carried out in the highly industrialized town of Taranto (one of the most polluted sites of Italy) in order to investigate contemporary indoor and outdoor concentrations of NO2 and SO2 by passive sampling devises (Radiello). Simultaneously indoor and outdoor samplings of NO2 and SO2 were performed from 2nd November 2015 to 2nd December 2015 in nine sites scattered in the investigated area at different quotes and distances from the industrial complex. Our findings show substantial differences between the spatial distributions of the two pollutants and support the hypothesis of two different prevalent sources for NO2 and SO2. In particular, we find diffusive sources of NO2 linked mainly to the vehicular traffic and secondarily to industrial sources. In contrast, SO2 was mainly associated to industrial sources present in the area, representing also a proxy of the mixture of air contaminants associated to industrial processes. Our hypothesis is also confirmed by analysis of data measured by ARPA air quality monitoring stations. Comparison between indoor and outdoor concentrations confirms that outdoor pollutants infiltrate to indoor environments, moreover it highlights potential NO2 indoor sources basically linked to cooking activities, representing adverse health effects for population risk categories such as children or cooks. Considering that urban people spend a lot of their time in indoors, attention should be paid both to outdoor pollutant sources and to indoor sources.

Wolbachia, doxycycline and macrocyclic lactones: New prospects in the treatment of canine heartworm disease.

Melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide®, Merial) is the only approved adulticidal drug for the treatment of canine heartworm disease (HWD). However, in cases where arsenical therapy is not possible or is contraindicated, a monthly heartworm preventive along with doxycycline for a 4-week period, which targets the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia, might be considered. There are published reports on the efficacy of ivermectin and doxycycline in both experimentally and naturally infected dogs, but no data on the use of other macrocyclic lactones (MLs) with a similar treatment regime. Preliminary results of studies in dogs show that a topical formulation of moxidectin, the only ML currently registered as a microfilaricide, is also adulticidal when combined with doxycycline. It is not yet known if the efficacy of these combination therapies is due to pharmacokinetic synergism. A recent study showed that serum levels of doxycycline in dogs treated with the combination protocol were not statistically different compared to dogs treated with doxycycline alone. However, lungs from dogs treated with the combination therapy showed a marked reduction in T regulatory cells, indicating that treatment efficacy may be due to a heightened immune response against the parasite. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome of combination protocols and to establish the most efficient treatment for HWD in dogs.

Toxoplasma gondii in the Cornigliese sheep breed in Italy: Meat juice serology, in vitro isolation and genotyping.

Toxoplasma gondii is considered one of the most important food-borne parasitic zoonoses globally and sheep are important intermediate hosts of the parasite. Meat and milk from infected sheep are considered an important source of infection for humans. Here, the authors evaluated T. gondii infection in the Italian Cornigliese sheep breed using meat juice ELISA, and in vitro assay for followed by Real Time-PCR and PCR-RFLP. Twenty-one hearts were collected at slaughter. Meat juice serology was carried out on all samples, while eleven hearts with the highest antibody titres were subjected to acid-peptic digestion and seeding onto Vero cells. DNA was extracted at three different time points following seeding. PCR-positive samples were then genotyped by PCR-RFLP. All the meat juice samples were positive for IgG antibodies against p30 protein of T. gondii. Five of the 11 samples, seeded onto Vero cells, were positive in PCR made on DNA extracted after 21days of culture and the PCR-RFLP revealed a Type-II or Type II variant profile at 9/10 loci. Two out of five samples showed an increase in terms of parasite growth by comparing the Cq values at three different time points. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of in vitro cultivation of T. gondii from muscle tissue of naturally-infected sheep. In vitro assays may be a promising alternative to bioassays and further studies are necessary in order to improve assay performance and to identify possible early markers of parasite proliferation.

Heat treatment of serum samples from stray dogs naturally exposed to Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in Romania.

Pre-heating of serum samples has been shown to reverse false negative antigen tests for Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs. Here the authors report the results of serum sampling in a population of dogs naturally exposed to D. immitis and Dirofilaria repens infection by testing in ELISA before and after heat treatment. Of 194 dogs sampled from four cities in Romania, D. immitis circulating antigens were found in 16 (8.2%) non heated samples and in 52 (26.8%) heated samples. Of the 108 dogs examined by Knott test, 24 dogs (22.2%) were positive for circulating mf. Subsequent PCR identification showed six dogs had D. immitis mf only, 12 dogs, had only D. repens mf, and 5 were positive for both. Fifty% of dogs with circulating D. immitis mf had positive antigen tests before and after heating, while the other 50% reverted to positive only after heat treatment. Sixty% of dogs with mixed D. immitis/D. repens infection were antigen positive before and after heating, while the other 40% converted to positive after heating. Antigen testing for D. immitis in the 12 dogs with only D. repens mf gave conflicting results. Only two dogs (16%) were antigen negative both before and after heat treatment. Six dogs (50%) became antigen positive after heating and four dogs (30%) were antigen positive both before and after heat treatment. Results would suggest that: false negative result for antigen testing can be reverted by heating of the serum sample; dogs infected with D. repens may have also an occult infection with D. immitis; heat treatment of serum from D. repens-infected dogs can reveal an occult infection with D. immitis.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in free-range, organic pigs in Italy using serological and molecular methods.

Twenty-one free ranging pigs from three organically managed farms in northern Italy were examined for Toxoplasma gondii infection status by meat juice serology. DNA was extracted from all 21 animals and analysed for T. gondii by multilocus nested PCR-RFLP. Results showed a 95.2% prevalence in serology, while PCR was positive in 57.1% of infected pigs. Genotyping of amplified loci for Type I, Type II and Type I/II patterns, suggests the presence of more than one clonal genotype in circulation in these animals. Results of the present study highlight the high exposure to T. gondii in organic pig farms in Italy, indicating a potential risk for meat consumption.

Immuno-histochemical study of ovine cystic echinococcosis (Echinococcus granulosus) shows predominant T cell infiltration in established cysts.

Ovine hydatidosis (OH; Echinococcus granulosus) is endemic in several European countries surrounding the Mediterranean basin. There have been a limited number of studies aimed at evaluating the local immune response to established tissue cysts in the ovine host. In the present study, immunohistochemical analysis of lymphocyte populations surrounding established cysts showed a predominance of CD3+ T cells compared to CD79+ B cells. A percentage of infiltrating lymphocytes were also FoxP3+, suggesting that established ovine cysts may be protected from immune aggression through the suppressive action of T regulatory cells. The present study contributes to the understanding of local immune responses to ovine echinococcosis.

Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.

Purpose. To analyze the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) in Uberlandia, MG, Brazil. Methods. A historical cohort study was performed encompassing a ten-year period from January 1994 to January 2004 in the Department of Pediatric Nephrology at a full-service hospital; demographic factors, triggering factors, time of hospitalization, supportive therapy, and disease progression were analyzed. Results. Twenty-seven children aged 5 to 99 months (median age of 14 months) were studied; 70.4% were male. Of the 27 patients, 77.8% were from urban areas and 18.5% were from rural areas. Eight of the patients (29.6%) were reported to drink raw milk, and clinical diarrhea was reported in 81.5% of cases. The most common signs and symptoms were fever and vomiting (85.1%), anuria (63.0%), seizure (33.0%), cardiac involvement (11.0%), and acute pulmonary edema (7.4%). Dialysis was performed on 20 patients (74%). The mean hospital stay was 24 days (range: 13 to 36 days). While monitoring the patients, 2 died (7.4%), 3 developed chronic kidney disease (11.0%), and 21 (77.8%) developed hypertension. Conclusion. Our results emphasize the possibility of diagnosing HUS as a cause of renal failure in childhood in both typical (postdiarrheal) and atypical forms and suggest that an investigation of the etiological agent should be made whenever possible.

Anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery: autogenous arterial tube for aortic implantation.

Many surgical procedures for the implantation of anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery have been described. A dual coronary system offers most benefit and is most advantageous for the patient. Two autogenous flaps of the pulmonary trunk and ascending aorta, without mobilizing the coronary artery, were created for use in this procedure. This technique was successfully used in an 8 month-old patient with severe myocardial dysfunction and moderate mitral regurgitation. This procedure allows 2 coronary systems to be repaired for any anatomic change of the left coronary artery without the use of prosthetic material. There were no technical complications. During the postoperative course minimal inotropic support was used. The magnetic resonance study, 11 months postoperative, showed wood flow of the left coronary artery and mild mitral regurgitation. The operative technique was simple and its execution easy. The follow-up in the intermediate and late period showed the growth of this endothelized tube.

Conventional and conventional plus modified ultrafiltration during cardiac surgery in high-risk congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: This prospective nonrandomized study is the critical assessment of conventional ultrafiltration (CUF) and modified ultrafiltration (MUF) techniques and their efficiency in congenital heart disease surgeries. Use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in children is associated with body water retention as a consequence of prime volume and systemic inflammatory reaction. The CUF during CPB has reduced body water excess and the MUF after CPB, removes inflammatory mediators, improves hemodynamic performance, and decreases transfusion requirements. METHODS: Forty-one patients, aged 9 to 36 months, submitted to surgical correction for cardiac defects, using CPB, were divided into 2 similar groups: CUF (21 patients) operated between 1996-1997 were ultrafiltered during CPB, and CUF+MUF, (20 patients) operated between 1997-1998 and ultrafiltered during and after CPB. Postoperative duration of ventilator support, pediatric intensive care unit stay (PICU), hospital stay of the groups with and without preoperative pulmonary hypertension (PH), as well as transfusion requirement, hematocrit and platelet counts were compared. RESULTS: There were no technical complications and a significant ultrafiltrate in the CUF+MUF group was observed as compared to the CUF group. No significant differences were observed between the CUF and CUF+MUF groups regarding ventilatory support, PICU stay and hospital stay. Requirements for red cell transfusion, Ht and platelet counts were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: CUF and CUF+MUF were safe and efficient methods for patient stabilization independent of diagnosis and complexity of surgery. Future clinical evaluation should address a larger population of patients to research the different variables.

[Withdrawal syndrome associated with cessation of fentanyl and midazolam in pediatrics]. / Síndrome de abstinência associada à interrupção da infusão de fentanil e midazolam em pediatria.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of abstinence syndrome in children interned in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in fentanyl use and midazolam. METHODS: Evaluation of 36 children interned in PICU of the Hospital São Paulo--Federal University of São Paulo, in the period from March to September 1997, with age varying from 5 days to 22 months (22 masc: 14 fem) who used fentanyl use and midazolam for more than 24 hours. Used the Escore Neonatal of Abstinence adapted by Finnegan determines the occurrence of abstinence syndrome in was used to children 2 years old or less. Sustain larger or equal for 8 is considered as abstinence syndrome. Correlated the abstinence syndrome with the accumulated total dose, infusion velocity, daily dose and time of use of the fentanyl and midazolam. RESULTS: Certain abstinence syndrome in 18 (50%) of the 36 children. Applied Mann Whitney's statistical test to compare the groups with and without abstinence syndrome. Dose accumulated of fentanyl total (5732.7 +/- 5114.91 vs 624.2 +/- 591.2 mcg, p < 0.005), dose daily of fentanyl (98.54 +/- 6.12 vs 36.23 +/- 23.42 mcg/Kg/dia, p < 0.005), velocity of infusion of the fentayl (4.09 +/- 2.75 vs 1.5 +/- 0.95 mcg/Kg/hora, p < 0.005), time of use of the fentanyl (10.2 +/- 5.1 vs 3.16 +/- 1.09 days, p < 0.005), dose accumulated of midazolam total (118.8 +/- 86.97 vs 20.03 +/- 14.79 mg, p < 0.005), dose daily of midazolam (2.32 +/- 0.86 vs 1.21 +/- 0.68 mg/Kg/dia, p < 0.005), velocity of midazolam infusion (0.13 +/- 0.16 vs 0.05 +/- 0.02 mg/Kg/hora, p < 0.005) and time of use of the midazolam (9.20 +/- 4.67 vs 2.55 +/- 1.54 days, p < 0.005) they were considered significant. CONCLUSION: The abstinence syndrome presents an elevated incidence in children interned in PICU owing to the interruption of the fentanyl infusion and midazolam and in these patients it was related with the dose and the time of use.

Síndrome de abstinência associada à interrupçäo da infusäo de fentamil e midazolam em pediatria / Withdrawal syndrome associated with cessation of fentanyl and mydazolan in pediatrics

Objetivo. Determinar a ocorrência de síndrome de abstinência em crianças internadas em UCI Pediátrica em uso de fentanil e midazolam. Métodos. Avaliadas 36 crianças internadas na UCI Pediátrica do Hospital Sao Paulo - Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, no período de março a setembro de 1997, com idade variando de 5 dias a 22 meses (22 masc: 14 fem) que fizeram uso de fentanil e midazolam por mais de 24 horas. Utilizado o Escore Neonatal de Abstinência adaptado por Finnegan que determina a ocorrência de síndrome de abstinência em crianças menores de 2 anos. Escore maior ou igual a 8 é considerado como síndrome de abstinência. Correlacionados a síndrome de abstinência com a dose total acumulada, velocidade de infusao, dose diária e tempo de utilizaçao do fentanil e do midazolam. Resultados. Determinada síndrome de abstinência em 18 (50 por cento) das 36 crianças. Aplicado o teste estatístico de Mann Whitney para comparar os grupos com e sem síndrome de abstinência. Dose total acumulada de fentanil (5732.7 + 5114.91 vs. 624.2 + 591.2mcg, p<0.005), dose diária de fentanil (98.54 + 6.12 vs. 36.23 + 23.42mcg/kg/dia, p<0.005), velocidade de infusao do fentanil (4.09 + 2.75 vs. 1.5 + 0.95mcg/kg/hora, p<0.005), tempo de utilizaçao do fentanil (10.2 + 5.1 vs. 3.16 + 1.09 dias, p<0.005), dose total acumulada de midazolam (118.8 + 86.97 vs. 20.03 + 14.79mg, p<0.005), dose diária de midazolam (2.32 + 0.86 vs. 1.21 + 0.68mg/kg/dia, p<0.005), velocidade de infusao de midazolam (0.13 + 0.16 vs. 0.05 + 0.02mg/kg/hora, p<0.005) e tempo de utilizaçao do midazolam (9.20 + 4.67 vs. 2.55 + 1.54 dias, p<0.005) foram considerados significantes. Conclusoes. A síndrome de abstinência apresenta uma incidência elevada em crianças internadas em UCI Pediátrica devido a interrupçao da infusao de fentanil e midazolam e nestes pacientes estava relacionada com a dose e com o tempo de utilizaçao.

[Management of acute seizure episodes and status epilepticus in children] / Abordagem da crise convulsiva aguda e estado de mal epiléptico em crianças.

OBJECTIVE: The authors make an up-to-date review about diagnosis and treatment of the acute seizures and status epilepticus.METHODS: Bibliographic review of Medline database including articles published in the last ten years.RESULTS: Acute seizures and status epilepticus affect children of all the age groups. Acute seizures can either represent the first manifestation of an epileptic condition or be an acute symptomatic event. Status epilepticus represents a serious cerebral insult determined by various causes. The emergency, neurology and pediatric intensive care units should elaborate clinical policy for the establishment of precise diagnostic criteria and therapeutic approach. A good clinical approach should include immediate life support, monitoring and rational drug administration to end up the seizure and reduce morbidity and mortality risks.CONCLUSION: The better understanding of the pathophysiology as well as the elaboration of a rational clinical policy improved the outcome in these medical emergencies.

Efeitos na funçäo pulmonar após utilizaçäo de surfactante pulmonar exógeno na síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo na criança / Effects in the pilmonary function before single dose of exogenous pulmonary surfactant in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome

A s­ndrome do desconforto respiratorio agudo (SDRA) , uma lesao pulmonar de causa multifatorial em que o sistema surfactante se apresenta alterado por causa da sua inativacao e comprometimento da composicao e metabolismo. A utilizacao do surfactante pulmonar exogeno , uma opcao terapeutica que visa manter a estabilidade alveolar, propiciando, dessa forma, a melhora da complacencia pulmonar (aumentando a capacidade residual funcional), da oxigenacao e da mecŸnica respiratøria. Os autores relatam o estudo realizado com a utilizacao de uma dose de surfactante pulmonar exogeno em dois pacientes pedi tricos com SDRA submetidos a ventilacao pulmonar mecanica. Avaliam os pacientes com gasometria arterial e venosa pre e pos-utilizacao de surfactante, sendo observada melhora na oxigenacao, reducao do shunt intrapulmonar, melhora da ventilacao imediatamente apos a instilacao da preparacao na canula orotraqueal e retorno a situacao pre-administracao apos 240 minutos, no caso 1, e apos 120 minutos, no caso 2. Concluem que ainda sao necessarios varios estudos cl­nicos prospectivos e randomizados para avaliar, de forma eficaz, essa modalidade terapeutica na SDRA.

[Effects on the pulmonary function after single dose of exogenous pulmonary surfactant in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome]. / Efeitos na função pulmonar após utilização de surfactante pulmonar exógeno na síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo na criança.

The Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a pulmonary lesion of multifactorial cause in which the surfactant system is altered owing to inactivation and impairment of composition and metabolism. The use of exogenous pulmonary surfactant is a therapeutic option with the objective to maintain alveolar stability thus improving the pulmonary compliance (increasing the residual functional capacity), oxygenation and ventilatory mechanics. A study carried out on two pediatric patients with ARDS submitted to mechanic pulmonary ventilation, applying a single dose of exogenous pulmonary surfactant is described. The patients were evaluated using arterial and venous gasometry before and after the use of surfactant, observing increment in oxygenation, reduction of shunt fraction, improvement in ventilation immediately after exogenous pulmonary surfactant instillation and return to the previous situation after 240 minutes in case 1 and 120 minutes in case 2. More prospective clinical and randomized studies are needed to effectively evaluate this therapeutic modality.