Maternal obesity programs mitochondrial and lipid metabolism gene expression in infant umbilical vein endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Maternal obesity increases risk for childhood obesity, but molecular mechanisms are not well understood. We hypothesized that primary umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) from infants of overweight and obese mothers would harbor transcriptional patterns reflecting offspring obesity risk. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In this observational cohort study, we recruited 13 lean (pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) <25.0 kg m-2) and 24 overweight-obese ('ov-ob', BMI⩾25.0 kg m-2) women. We isolated primary HUVEC, and analyzed both gene expression (Primeview, Affymetrix) and cord blood levels of hormones and adipokines. RESULTS: A total of 142 transcripts were differentially expressed in HUVEC from infants of overweight-obese mothers (false discovery rate, FDR<0.05). Pathway analysis revealed that genes involved in mitochondrial and lipid metabolism were negatively correlated with maternal BMI (FDR<0.05). To test whether these transcriptomic patterns were associated with distinct nutrient exposures in the setting of maternal obesity, we analyzed the cord blood lipidome and noted significant increases in the levels of total free fatty acids (lean: 95.5±37.1 µg ml-1, ov-ob: 124.1±46.0 µg ml-1, P=0.049), palmitate (lean: 34.5±12.7 µg ml-1, ov-ob: 46.3±18.4 µg ml-1, P=0.03) and stearate (lean: 20.8±8.2 µg ml-1, ov-ob: 29.7±17.2 µg ml-1, P=0.04), in infants of overweight-obese mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal exposure to maternal obesity alters HUVEC expression of genes involved in mitochondrial and lipid metabolism, potentially reflecting developmentally programmed differences in oxidative and lipid metabolism.

Malignant syphilis in an AIDS patient.

Malignant syphilis is an uncommon, but not unknown, ulcerative variation of secondary syphilis. The lesions typically begin as papules, which quickly evolve to pustules and then to ulcers with elevated edges and central necrosis. It is usually, but not mandatory, found in patients with some level of immunosuppression, such as HIV patients, when the TCD4(+) cell count is >200 cells/mm(3). Despite the anxiety the lesions cause, this form of the disease has a good prognosis. The general symptoms disappear right after the beginning of treatment, and lesions disappear over a variable period. This study reports the case of a 27-year-old man who has been HIV positive for 6 years, uses antiretroviral therapy incorrectly, has a TCD4(+) cell count of 340 cells/mm(3), a VDRL of 1:128 and itchy disseminated hyperchromic maculopapular lesions with rupioid crusts compatible with malignant syphilis.

Qualitative analysis of preputial and vaginal bacterial microbiota in owl monkeys (Aotus azarai infulatus) raised in captivity.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the aerobic bacteria of the preputial and vaginal microbiota in owl monkeys that have been raised in captivity and to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of these bacteria by gender and social organization. METHODS: Thirty clinically healthy Aotus azarai infulatus were used. A total of 134 samples were collected, 60 from the preputial mucosa and 74 from the vaginal mucosa. An automated system of bacterial identification was used. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Staphylococcus intermedius and Proteus mirabilis were the microorganisms that were most frequently identified according to gender and social organization. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated gram-positive bacteria was similar in both sexes. However, the gram-negative strains had some differences. The aerobic bacterial population of the vaginal and preputial microbiota is similar in owl monkeys, and there are no differences in the number and bacterial species according to sex and social organization.

Hematological, hepatic, and renal evaluation in Aotus azarai infulatus.

BACKGROUND: Knowing the physiological ranges of certain hematological and biochemical parameters is necessary for understanding the alterations caused by pathogenic agents and establishing differences between states of health and disease. Hematological evaluations and clinical chemistry were performed on livers and kidneys from owl monkeys with different sexes and age ranges. METHODS: Forty-one healthy owl monkeys were evaluated (26 males and 15 females) in three different age groups (AG1=3months to 1 year old; AG2=2-6years old; AG3=over 7years old). The animals received physical exams, abdominal ultrasounds, and clinical laboratory tests. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were observed in hematocrit and hemoglobin values between males and females. The levels of alkaline phosphatase in the tissues were significantly influenced by age. There was also a sex influence on blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. The results show that some hematological and clinical chemistry parameters in owl monkeys may be influenced by sex and age.

Effect of age and number of parturitions on uterine and ovarian variables in owl monkeys.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the uterine and ovarian volumes of owl monkeys in different age groups with different numbers of live births and to analyze the interaction between both. METHODS: We performed pelvic ultrasound exams to compare the uterine measurements with weight, age (infant, juvenile, subadult, young adults, and adults) and the number of live births (nulliparous, primiparous, and multiparous) and to compare the ovarian measurements with weight and age. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The uterine volume (UV) was directly proportional to the number of parturitions, which was the most important factor in the uterine growth of adult females (P < 0.05). The body weight and age of the animals showed a high positive correlation with UV (r = 0.5354, r = 0.6489, P < 0.01), respectively. The volume of the ovaries grew in proportion to the age of the females (P < 0.05). Puberty was the period of greatest uterine and ovarian growth.

Comparative efficacy of oral rifampin and topical chloramphenicol in eradicating conjunctival carriage of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius. Brazilian Purpuric Fever Study Group.

Persistent conjunctival carriage of the Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius (Hae) strain (BPF clone) responsible for Brazilian purpuric fever (BPF) has been documented. Topical chloramphenicol is routinely used to treat conjunctivitis in areas affected by BPF in Brazil. Although the BPF clone is susceptible to chloramphenicol, we observed a number of children treated with topical chloramphenicol for conjunctivitis who still developed BPF. During an investigation of an outbreak of BPF in Mato Grosso State, Brazil, we compared oral rifampin (20 mg/kg/day for 4 days) with topical chloramphenicol for eradication of conjunctival carriage of H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius among children with presumed BPF clone conjunctivitis. Conjunctival samples were taken for culture on the day treatment was initiated and a mean of 8 and 21 days later. At 8 days the eradication rates for oral rifampin and topical chloramphenicol were 100 and 44%, respectively (P = 0.003); at 21 days they were 100 and 50% (P = 0.01). Oral rifampin was more effective than topical chloramphenicol for eradication of the BPF clone and may be useful in prevention of BPF.

[Acute infant diarrhea associated to Cryptosporidium sp., in the city of Recife]. / Diarréia aguda do lactente associada ao Cryptosporidium sp., na cidade de Recife.

From February through June 1990 the frequency of Cryptosporidium sp. among 156 infants with acute diarrhea and 80 controls were analyzed. The study was carried out in the Hospital Geral de Pediatria do Instituto Materno-Infantil de Pernambuco. Cryptosporidium sp. was detected in 6.4% of infants with diarrhea; it was not found in the controls. The clinical patterns and the disease evolution were the same in the infants Cryptosporidium-positive and Cryptosporidium-negative.

The occurrence of killer, sensitive, and neutral yeasts in Brazilian Riesling Italico grape must and the effect of neutral strains on killing behaviour.

The occurrence of killer toxins amongst yeast in Brazilian Riesling Italico grape must was investigated by using the sensitive strain EMBRAPA-26B as a reference strain at 18 degrees C and 28 degrees C. From a total of 85 previously isolated yeasts, 21 strains showed ability to kill the sensitive strain on unbuffered grape must/agar (MA-MB) and 0.1 M citrate/phosphate-buffered yeast extract/peptone/dextrose/agar (YEPD-MB) media both supplemented with 30 mg/l methylene blue. The killer activity of only four yeasts depended on the incubation temperature rather than the medium used. At 28 degrees C, the strains 11B and 53B were not able to show killer action. On the other hand, strains 49B and 84B did not kill the sensitive yeast at 18 degrees C. The killer strain EMBRAPA-91B and a commercial wine killer yeast K-1 were employed to examine the sensitivity of the isolated yeasts on YEPD-MB and MA-MB at 18 degrees C. The sensitivity and neutral characteristics of yeasts were shown to be dependent on the medium and the killer strain. Interactions, including K-R-, K-R+ and K+R+ strains, simultaneously, have revealed that some K-R+ strains appear to protect the K-R- strain against the killer toxin. Sensitive dead cells, although to a less extent, also exhibited similar protection. Kinetic studies have shown that the maximum specific growth rates were higher for the 20B YEPD-MB-sensitive strains (mu(max) = 0.517 h-1) than for both the 91B (mu(max) = 0.428 h-1) and K-1 (mu(max) = 0.466 h-1) killer strains. The protective capacity of neutral or sensitive cells that contaminate a fermentation, as well as the higher maximum specific growth rate of sensitive yeasts, besides other factors, may preclude the dominance of a killer strain. This protective capacity may also reduce the risk of a sensitive inoculum being killed by wild-type killer yeasts in open non-sterile fermentation.

A study of the importance of the enterotoxigenic E. coli in children with acute diarrhoea in Recife, Brazil.

Even today acute diarrhoea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in young children. It is a serious public health problem in less-developed countries, primarily in households whose income is low. As such, it is one of the main causes of death, affecting the undernourished in particular. The potential enteropathogenic agents are distributed universally. However, there is a major difference in the prevalence, according to the areas and the characteristics of the population groups which were studied. In Brazil, since the 1970s, our attention has been drawn to the importance of the classic enteropathogenic strains of E. coli (EPEC) in the aetiology of diarrhoeal diseases, primarily those present in weaned infants in inner city neighbourhoods. On the other hand, Guerrant and co-workers, and Queiroz and co-workers found significant percentages of isolated colonies of enterotoxigenic coli (ETEC) in the stool material of children with symptoms of acute diarrhoea. In rural areas of less-developed countries the incidence of episodes of ETEC provoking diarrhoea is estimated to be between five and ten per person/year. Due to the social and medical gravity of acute diarrhoea, and to the lack of studies dealing with the aetiopathogenic role of the strains of ETEC in our area, we decided to analyse the frequency of isolation of ETEC in children with and without diarrhoea who were attending the out-patient department of the Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco/IMIP.