Effect of polidocanol foam administration into rat peripheral veins on pulmonary parenchyma.

Background Sclerotherapy has been gaining increased acceptance and popularity as an effective therapy for the treatment of varicose veins. This attention has fed growing interest into the safety and potential complications of this procedure. There is no evidence of pulmonary complications from foam sclerotherapy in humans; however, animal studies have shown possible damage. The aim of this study is to show the changes in rat pulmonary parenchyma after the injection of 1% polidocanol Tessari foam into the peripheral vein using histological analysis of the inflammatory and fibrosis processes. Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into the following four groups: 24 h polidocanol, seven-day polidocanol, 28-day polidocanol, and control group. After the foam was injected into the lateral saphenous vein, the lungs of the rats were removed for histological analysis. Results Alveolar edema was observed in only the 24 h group (P < 0.005). Vessel thickening was observed in the seven-and 28-day groups (P < 0.001). Interstitial fibrosis was found in only the 28-day group (P = 0.006). There was no evidence of venous or arterial thrombosis in either group. Conclusion Polidocanol Tessari foam injection into rat peripheral veins causes alveolar edema, vessel thickening, and interstitial fibrosis.

Erysipelas as an aggravating factor for impaired lymphatics in saphenectomy patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate lymphoscintigraphic changes in patients who developed erysipelas after saphenous vein stripping. METHODS: Lymphoscintigraphic changes related to erysipelas were evaluated in a retrospective, cross-sectional and quantitative study of 21 saphenectomy patients. Patients with infections, those weighing over 120 kg, with chronic arterial disease or heart failure were excluded from the study. A control group was formed of 21 patients submitted to saphenectomies matched by age and gender but with no history of erysipelas. All patients underwent lymphoscintigraphy of both legs. The Fisher's Exact and χ2 tests were used for statistical analysis with an alpha error of 5% being considered acceptable. RESULTS: Associations of dermal reflux and popliteal lymph nodes with erysipelas were observed in operated patients compared to non-operated patients (P value= 0.002 and 0.03, respectively). Semiquantitative analysis showed a variation in the Kleinhans transport indexes of 0.15 to 20.5 for the entire sample. Group I showed a mean semiquantitative index of 2.42 (0.3 to 14.5), group II of 3.15 (0.225 to 15.125) and group III of 10.2 (0.15 to 38.25). The comparison of semiquantitative indexes of the groups by χ2 analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the first two groups (I and II) and group III (P value <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Erysipelas is a synergistic mechanism of injury of the lymphatic system in patients submitted to saphenectomies.

[Childbirth and live newborns of adolescent and young adult mothers in the municipality of Feira de Santana, Bahia State, Brazil, 1998]. / Estudo dos partos e nascidos vivos de mães adolescentes e adultas jovens no Município de Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, 1998.

Data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the literature indicate that adolescents may be overrepresented in the prevalence of maternal morbidity and mortality and neonatal complications. This study focused on childbirth and live newborns among adolescent and young adult mothers in the municipality of Feira de Santana, Bahia, identifying risk factors for morbidity and mortality. A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted based on data from the Information System on Live Births (SINASC) in the municipality in 1998, totaling 5,279 live births among adolescent (10 to 19 years) and young adult mothers (20 to 24 years). Variables were age, schooling, prenatal care, gestational care, form of delivery, and birthweight. The authors measured the association between maternal age and the child's birthweight, while controlling potential confounders. Some 21.6% of live births were to adolescent mothers, 51.2% of whom had not finished primary school; there was an association between the 10 to 16-year age bracket and incomplete primary schooling, lack of prenatal care, and low and insufficient birthweight as compared to the other age brackets; there was also a high rate of underrecording in the SINASC. The results suggest the need for specific measures focusing on the reproductive health of adolescents in the municipality.

Integrated proteomic analysis of human cancer cells and plasma from tumor bearing mice for ovarian cancer biomarker discovery.

BACKGROUND: The complexity of the human plasma proteome represents a substantial challenge for biomarker discovery. Proteomic analysis of genetically engineered mouse models of cancer and isolated cancer cells and cell lines provide alternative methods for identification of potential cancer markers that would be detectable in human blood using sensitive assays. The goal of this work is to evaluate the utility of an integrative strategy using these two approaches for biomarker discovery. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We investigated a strategy that combined quantitative plasma proteomics of an ovarian cancer mouse model with analysis of proteins secreted or shed by human ovarian cancer cells. Of 106 plasma proteins identified with increased levels in tumor bearing mice, 58 were also secreted or shed from ovarian cancer cells. The remainder consisted primarily of host-response proteins. Of 25 proteins identified in the study that were assayed, 8 mostly secreted proteins common to mouse plasma and human cancer cells were significantly upregulated in a set of plasmas from ovarian cancer patients. Five of the eight proteins were confirmed to be upregulated in a second independent set of ovarian cancer plasmas, including in early stage disease. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Integrated proteomic analysis of cancer mouse models and human cancer cell populations provides an effective approach to identify potential circulating protein biomarkers.

Preservation of intrahepatic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD4+ T cell responses despite global loss of CD4+ T cells in HCV/HIV coinfection.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection and low peripheral blood CD4(+) T cell counts are associated with increased hepatitis C liver disease. METHODS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD4(+) T cell responses were assessed using interferon (IFN)- gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assays on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and expanded liver lymphocytes from HCV-monoinfected and HCV/HIV-coinfected subjects. Cell frequencies were determined using flow cytometry. RESULTS: HIV coinfection was associated with decreased CD4(+) T cell percentages in both peripheral blood (21% vs. 48%; P<.0001) and liver (15% vs. 36%; P<.0001) and with reduced responsiveness of peripheral CD4(+) T cells to HCV antigens compared with HCV monoinfection (22% vs. 45%; P=.021). However, intrahepatic HCV-specific responses were maintained in HCV/HIV coinfection, compared with HCV monoinfection (38% vs. 32%; P=.7). Notably, the presence of HCV-specific responses was not related to the frequency of liver CD4(+) T cells (P=.4). Circulating and liver CD4(+) T cell percentages were correlated (r=0.58; P<.0001). Circulating percentages were also inversely associated with liver fibrosis stage among HCV/HIV-coinfected subjects (P=.029). Neither hepatic CD4(+) T cell percentages nor HCV-specific IFN- gamma responses in the liver or periphery predicted stage. CONCLUSIONS: Despite decreases in peripheral blood HCV-specific CD4(+) T cell responses and intrahepatic CD4(+) T cell percentages, intrahepatic HCV-specific CD4(+) IFN- gamma responses were preserved in HCV/HIV coinfection.

Estudo dos partos e nascidos vivos de mães adolescentes e adultas jovens no Município de Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, 1998 / Childbirth and live newborns of adolescent and young adult mothers in the municipality of Feira de Santana, Bahia State, Brazil, 1998

Data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the literature indicate that adolescents may be overrepresented in the prevalence of maternal morbidity and mortality and neonatal complications. This study focused on childbirth and live newborns among adolescent and young adult mothers in the municipality of Feira de Santana, Bahia, identifying risk factors for morbidity and mortality. A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted based on data from the Information System on Live Births (SINASC) in the municipality in 1998, totaling 5,279 live births among adolescent (10 to 19 years) and young adult mothers (20 to 24 years). Variables were age, schooling, prenatal care, gestational care, form of delivery, and birthweight. The authors measured the association between maternal age and the child's birthweight, while controlling potential confounders. Some 21.6 of live births were to adolescent mothers, 51.2 of whom had not finished primary school; there was an association between the 10 to 16-year age bracket and incomplete primary schooling, lack of prenatal care, and low and insufficient birthweight as compared to the other age brackets; there was also a high rate of underrecording in the SINASC. The results suggest the need for specific measures focusing on the reproductive health of adolescents in the municipality.