DNA barcode reveals the illegal trade of rays commercialized in fishmongers in Brazil.

Sequences of the mitochondrial gene COI (DNA Barcode) were used to identify species of rays and skates commercialized in fishmongers in Brazil. The comparisons of the obtained sequences with previously published data available in NCBI and BOLD showed that the fish products corresponded to four species, Hypanus dipterurus, Potamotrygon motoro, Paratrygon ajereba and Gymnura altavela, the last of which is classified as vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List and therefore should not be marketed in accordance with the MMA ordinance 445/2015.

DNA Barcode reveals mislabelling in the identification of marine fish swimming bladders for commercialization.

Sequences of the mitochondrial gene COI (DNA Barcode) wereused to identify marine fish swimming bladders commercialized in Brazil. The comparisons of the obtained sequences of the samples registered as catfish for the commerce with previously published data available in NCBI and BOLD showed that the fish products commercialized corresponded to two Perciform species, Pogonias cromis and Micropogonias furnieri. These results besides contradicting the formal identification of the species included in the fisheries control revealed an illegal trade of one of these species, M. furnieri that is threatened and consequently have its capture prohibited.

Performance of 3­[4­(bromomethyl)phenyl]­7­(diethylamino) coumarin as a derivatization reagent for the analysis of medium and long chain fatty acids using HPLC with LIF detection.

Knowledge of the profile of fatty acids, including the profile of long chain fatty acids, is an important parameter for many areas like human health, food sciences, and the study of gene expression in plant tissues, among others. Moreover, very long chain fatty acids occur at low concentrations in many biological samples. The 3­[4­(bromomethyl)phenyl]­7­(diethylamino)coumarin (MPAC­Br) reagent is an improved version of the coumarin bromomethyl-type reagents, used for the fluorescent labeling of carboxylic acids in a variety of sample types. Derivatization reactions are always a matter of concern in routine analyses, as they are seen as a time demanding step and a source of errors in analytical chemistry. MPAC­Br is studied in the present work, including the robustness of its derivatization reaction, the stability of its derivatives, the limits of its detection and the repeatability of its results. An optimized version of its protocol was applied to determine the content and profiles of both medium and long chain fatty acids in eight samples of oils and fats. It was shown that the proposed derivatization reaction is a reliable, robust, fast and convenient method for the analysis of these compounds.

Clinical, arteriographic and histopathologic analysis of 13 patients with thromboangiitis obliterans and coronary involvement.

Smoking is a risk factor for thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO, Buerger's disease) and arteriosclerosis, but there are few cases of coronary heart disease (CAD)-associated Buerger's disease. A literature search for articles in English, Spanish and French published between 1966 and 2012 on patients with coronary involvement and TAO revealed 12 patients. We describe an additional case with involvement of the central nervous system, myocardium and large-diameter proximal arteries. The main clinical manifestations in these 13 cases were lower limb claudication and acute thoracic pain. The histologic findings showed thrombosis with unbroken internal elastic lamina and intimal clusters of granulocytes; coronary angiography revealed predominant involvement of the left anterior descending and right coronary artery. Treatment included coronary bypass procedures, coronary angiopiasty, smoking cessation, and anticoagulant therapy. A complete therapeutic response was observed in half the patients. This review of all published cases of TAO patients with coronary symptoms, together with our patient, demonstrates the rarity of this clinical association. Patients under age 40 with CAD but no prominent cardiovascular risk factors besides smoking should be evaluated for the presence of Buerger's disease.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS): a complex interaction of drugs, viruses and the immune system.

The DRESS syndrome (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms), also known as DIHS (drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome), presents clinically as an extensive mucocutaneous rash, accompanied by fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatitis, hematologic abnormalities with eosinophilia and atypical lymphocytes, and may involve other organs with eosinophilic infiltration, producing damage in several systems, especially kidney, heart, lungs, and pancreas. The pathogenesis is related to specific drugs (especially the aromatic anticonvulsants), altered immune response, sequential reactivation of herpes virus, and association with some HLA alleles. Glucocorticoids are the basis for the treatment of the syndrome, which may be given with intravenous immunoglobulin and, in selected cases, ganciclovir. This article reviews current concepts regarding the interaction of drugs, viruses and immune responses during this complex adverse-drug reaction.

Adipocytokines in primary antiphospholipid syndrome: potential markers of low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate a possible association of adipocytokines with metabolic syndrome (MetS), inflammation and other cardiovascular risk factors in primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS). METHODS: Fifty-six PAPS patients and 72 controls were included. Adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, resistin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), lipoprotein (a), glucose, ESR, CRP, uric acid and lipid profiles were measured. The presence of MetS was determined as defined by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and insulin resistance was rated using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index. RESULTS: Concentrations of leptin were higher [21.5 (12.9-45.7) ng/mL] in PAPS patients than in the controls [12.1 (6.9-26.8) ng/mL), p=0.001]. In PAPS patients, leptin and PAI-1 levels were positively correlated with BMI (r=0.61 and 0.29), HOMA-IR (r=0.71 and 0.28) and CRP (r=0.32 and 0.36). Adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with BMI (r=-0.28), triglycerides (r=-0.43) and HOMA-IR (r=-0.36) and positively correlated with HDL-c (r=0.37) and anti-ß2GPI IgG (r=0.31). The presence of MetS in PAPS patients was associated with higher levels of leptin (p=0.002) and PAI-1 (p=0.03) levels and lower levels of adiponectin (p=0.042). Variables that independently influenced the adiponectin concentration were the triglyceride levels (p<0.001), VLDL-c (P=0.002) and anti-ß2GPI IgG (p=0.042); the leptin levels were BMI (p<0.001), glucose (p=0.046), HOMA-IR (p<0.001) and ESR (p=0.006); and the PAI-1 levels were CRP (p=0.013) and MetS (p=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that adipocytokines may be involved in low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance and MetS in PAPS patients.

Neurological manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Neurologic disorders are among the most common and important clinical manifestations associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). It is characterized by diverse neurological manifestations. These include stroke, transient ischaemic attack, Sneddon's syndrome, convulsions/epilepsy, dementia, cognitive deficits, headaches/migraine, chorea, multiple sclerosis-like, transverse myelitis, ocular symptoms and Guillain-Barré syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We review the latest data about neurologic disorders and APS. RESULTS: In patients under 45 years of age, 20% of strokes are potentially associated with APS. Our study group recently reported a correlation between primary APS and peripheral neuropathy. Only one study investigated the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy in patients diagnosed with PAPS through electrophysiological study and showed alterations in 35% of patients. The mechanism of nervous system involvement in APS is considered to be primarily thrombotic. However, other mechanisms have been described, such as antiphospholipid antibodies that bind to the neural tissue, deregulating their functions and having an immediate pathogenic effect. CONCLUSIONS: This review summarizes the latest data regarding the clinical aspects, radiological and therapeutic of major neurologic manifestations associated with antiphospholipid antibodies.