Study of tissue inflammatory response in different mice strains infected by dematiaceous fungi Fonsecaea pedrosoi

Abstract: Background: Diseases caused by melanized fungi include mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis. This broad clinical spectrum depends on the dynamic interactions between etiologic agent and host. The immune status of the host influences on the development of the disease, as, an exemple. phaeohyphomicosis is more frequently observed in immunocompromised patients. Objectives: Examine the histological inflammatory response induced by Fonsecaea pedrosoi in several different strains of mice (BALB/c, C57BL/6, Nude and SCID, and reconstituted Nude). Methods: Fonsecaea pedrosoi was cultivated on agar gel and a fragment of this gel was implanted subcutaneously in the abdominal region of female adult mice. After infection has been obtained, tissue fragment was studied histopathologically. Results: There were significant changes across the strains, with the nodular lesion more persistent in Nude and SCID mice, whereas in immunocompetent mice the lesion progressed to ulceration and healing. The histopathological analysis showed a significant acute inflammatory reaction which consisted mainly of neutrophils in the initial phase that was subsequently followed by a tuberculoid type granuloma in immunocompetent mice. Study limitations: There is no a suitable animal model for chromoblastomycosis. Conclusions: The neutrophilic infiltration had an important role in the containment of infection to prevent fungal spreading, including in immunodeficient mice. The fungal elimination was dependent on T lymphocytes. The re-exposure of C57BL/6 mice to Fonsecaea pedrosoi caused a delay in resolving the infection, and appearance of muriform cells, which may indicate that re-exposure to fungi, might lead to chronicity of infection.

Prevalence and heritability of psoriasis and benign migratory glossitis in one Brazilian population

Abstract: Background: An oral condition associated to psoriasis is benign migratory glossitis. The review of the literature does not show any publication about heritability in both soriasis and benign migratory glossitis and prevalence of psoriasis in the Brazilian population. Objective: This research was carried out in order to determine the prevalence of psoriasis and benign migratory glossitis in the Brazilian population from a Brazilian sample, as well as the heritability in these conditions. Methods: Six thousand patients were studied from the records of the outpatient dermatology department. The sample had 129 patients with cutaneous psoriasis, 399 with benign migratory glossitis without psoriasis and a control group with 5,472 patients. After data collection, the statistical analysis was made using Woolf, Chi-square and Falconer tests. Results: The prevalence of psoriasis was 2.15% and the benign migratory glossitis was 7.0%. The prevalence of benign migratory glossitis in the psoriasis group was high (16.3%), and that was statistically significant. Family history in the psoriasis group was 38% for the condition itself and 2,75% for benign migratory glossitis and in the benign migratory glossitis group was 17.54% for the condition itself and 1.5% for psoriasis. The study of heritability was 38.8% for psoriasis and 36.6% for benign migratory glossitis, both with medium heritability. Study limitations: This study was only in the state of São Paulo. Conclusion: This is the first publication that quantifies how much of these conditions have a genetic background and how important the environmental factors are in triggering them.

Epidemiological profile of nonmelanoma skin cancer in renal transplant recipients: experience of a referral center

BACKGROUND: Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in humans and also the malignant disease that is increasingly common among kidney transplant recipients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the epidemiological characteristics of renal transplant recipients with nonmelanoma skin cancer seen at a referral transplantation center. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study with renal transplant recipients presenting nonmelanoma skin cancer, treated at a transplantation referral center between 08/01/2004 and 08/31/2009. Analyzed variables were: gender, age, skin phototype, occupational and recreational sun exposure, use of photoprotection, personal and family history of non-melanoma skin cancer, clinical type and location, time between transplantation and the appearance of the first nonmelanoma skin cancer, occurrence of viral warts, timing of transplantation, type of donor, cause of kidney failure, previous transplants, comorbidities, pre-transplant dialysis, type and duration of dialysis. RESULTS: 64 subjects were included. Males - 71.9%; low skin phototypes (up to Fitzpatrick III) - 89%; mean age - 57.0 years - and mean age at transplant - 47.3 years; sun exposure - 67.2% occupational - and 64.1% recreational; photoprotection - 78.2% (although only 34.4% in a regular manner); squamous cell carcinoma - 67.2%; squamous cell carcinoma/basal cell carcinoma ratio - 2:1; personal history of nonmelanoma skin cancer - 25% - and family history - 10.9%; location at photoexposed area - 98.4%; average latency time between transplantation and first nonmelanoma skin cancer appearance - 78.3 months; viral warts (HPV) after transplant - 53.1%; average timing of transplantation - 115.5 months; living donor - 64.1%; triple regimen (antirejection) - 73.2%; comorbidities - 92.2%; pre-transplant dialysis - 98.4%; hemodialysis - 71.7%; average duration of dialysis - 39.1 months; previous transplants - 3.1%; hypertension as cause of renal failure ...

Acne-specific quality of life questionnaire (Acne-QoL): translation, cultural adaptation and validation into Brazilian-Portuguese language

BACKGROUND: many studies about the psychosocial impact of acne have been reported in international medical literature describing quality of life as a relevant clinical outcome. It is well known that the patient's perception about the disease may be different from the physician's evaluation. Therefore, it is important to use validated instruments that turn the patient's subjective opinion into objective information. OBJECTIVES: to translate into Brazilian-Portuguese language and to culturally adapt a quality of life questionnaire, the Acne-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (Acne-QoL), as well as to evaluate its reliability and validity. METHODS: measurement properties were assessed: 1) validity: comparison between severity and Acne-QoL domain scores, correlations between acne duration and Acne-QoL domain scores, and correlation between Acne-QoL domain scores and SF-36 components; 2) internal consistency: Cronbach's α coefficient; 3) test-retest reproducibility: intraclass correlation coefficient and Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Eighty subjects with a mean age of 20.5 ± 4.8 years presenting mild (33.8%), moderate (36.2%) and severe (30%) facial acne were enrolled. Acne-QoL domain scores were similar among the different acne severity groups except for role-social domain. Subjects with shorter acne duration presented significant higher scores. Acne-QoL domains showed significant correlations, both between themselves and with SF-36 role-social and mental health components. Internal consistency (0.925-0.952) and test-retest reproducibility were considered acceptable (0.768-0.836). CONCLUSIONS: the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Acne-QoL is a reliable and valid satisfactory outcome measure to be used in facial acne studies. .

Aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos e sociais da hanseníase em indígenas na região do Alto Rio Juruá/Acre, Brasil / Clinical, epidemiological and social aspects of leprosy among the Indians from the Alto Juruá River/ State of Acre, Brazil

Este estudo investigou os casos de hanseníase na população indígena da microrregião do Alto Rio Juruá/Acre notificados pelo Sistema de Informação e Notificação de Agravos (SINAN), bem como avaliou seus respectivos contatos no período de 2009 a 2012. Foram identificados três casos em indígenas, sendo dois do sexo masculino com 69 e 27 anos, do povo Puyanawa,classificados como multibacilares com forma clínica dimorfa e virchowiana e grau de incapacidade I e II, respectivamente. O caso do povo Nawa foi do sexo feminino com 15 anos de idade, classificado como paucibacilar. Doze contactantes foram avaliados para investigação da doença, que foi afastada em todos. Os indígenas estudados estão inseridos em condições ambientais, esgotamento sanitário e condições sociais favoráveis ao desenvolvimento da hanseníase. Há possível persistência de foco na aldeia Ipiranga,além do indicativo de alta endemicidade pela detecção da doença em indivíduo menor de 15 anos,apontando necessidade de avaliação epidemiológica e busca ativa de casos para o diagnóstico da doença nestes povos.

This study investigated cases of leprosy among indigenous population of the micro-region of AltoJurua River/State of Acre. We evaluated leprosy cases reported by the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN) as well as their contacts among indigenous population from 2009 to 2012. Three leprosy cases were identified. Two Puyanawa men, 69 and 27 years old, classified as borderline and lepromatous forms, with disability grade I and II, respectively. The third case was detected in Nawaethnicity and was a female, under 15 years. Thediagnosis was not confirmed in twelve contacts that were evaluated for suspicion of the disease. The studied Indians are embedded in environmental and social conditions favorable to development of leprosy. Probably, there is a focus in Ipiranga village and an indication of high endemicity area, once leprosy was detected in an under 15 year-old girl. The epidemiological assessment and diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of disease in this population are priorities.