3 research outputs found

    Effects of methotrexate on the tubal morphology of rabbits: Evaluation by electron microscopy

    No full text
    PubMedID: 18196902Background/Aims: To evaluate by electron microscopy the effects of methotrexate on the tubal morphology of rabbits. Methods: Biopsies were taken from the isthmic portion of both tubes of 4 rabbits in the control group. 1 mg/kg methotrexate was injected in the left tubes and as a control, a 14-gauge fine needle was used to puncture the right tubes of 10 rabbits in the study group. One month later, tubal biopsies were taken from both tubes of every rabbit in the study group. To mimic pregnancy, 100 IU hCG was injected intramuscularly to every rabbit 24 h before every surgery. On examination by electron microscopy, the effects of methotrexate and of the damage with the fine needle on the tubes were compared to the control group. Results: Young epithelial cells of the methotrexate-injected fallopian tubes kept their normal structure, but others contained important ultrastructural changes. These were: nuclear pyknosis, cytoplasmic vacuolization, dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum cisternae, increased cytoplasmic density and compound cilia. Conclusion: Degenerative changes on epithelial cells caused by the temporary blockage of mitotic activity associated with local methotrexate injection are reversible through the formation of new epithelial cells. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG

    Genotypic characterization of virulence factors in Escherichia coli strains from patients with cystitis Caracterização genotípica dos fatores de virulência em amostras de Escherichia coli isoladas de pacientes com cistite

    Get PDF
    Adhesins (P-fimbriae, S-fimbriae, type 1 fimbriae and afimbrial adhesin), toxins (&#945;-hemolysin and cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1), iron acquisition systems (aerobactin) and host defense avoidance mechanisms (capsule or lipopolysaccharide) have been shown to be prevalent in Escherichia coli strains associated with urinary tract infections. In this work, 162 Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains from patients with cystitis were genotypically characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. We developed three multiplex PCR assays for virulence-related genes papC, papE/F, papG alleles, fimH, sfa/foc, afaE, hly, cnf-1, usp, cdtB, iucD, and kpsMTII, all of them previously identified in UPEC strains. The PCR assay results identified 158 fimH (97.5%), 86 kpsMTII (53.1%), 53 papC/papEF/papG (32.7%), 45 sfa (27.8%), 42 iucD (25.9%), 41 hly (25.3%), 36 usp (22.2%), 30 cnf-1(18.5%) and 10 afa (6.2%) strains. No strain was positive for cdtB. In this work, we also demonstrated that adhesins may be multiple within a single strain and that several virulence genes can occur combined in association.<br>Adesinas (Fímbria P, fímbria S, fímbria do tipo 1 e a adesina afimbrial), toxinas (&#945;-hemolisina e o fator necrosante citotóxico do tipo 1), sistemas de captação de ferro (aerobactina), e mecanismos de defesa do hospedeiro (cápsula ou lipopolissacarídeo) são prevalentes em amostras de Escherichia coli associadas a infecções do trato urinário. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar genotipicamente 162 amostras de Escherichia coli uropatogênica (UPEC) de pacientes com cistite através do ensaio da reação em cadeia da polimerase. Foram realizados três ensaios de PCR multiplex para os seguintes fatores de virulência: papC, papE/F, alelos de papG, fimH, sfa/foc, afaE, hly, cnf-1, usp, cdtB, iucD, e kpsMTII. Os resultados da PCR identificaram, 158 amostras fimH (97,5%), 86 amostras kpsMTII (53,1%), 53 amostras papC/papEF/papG (32,7%), 45 amostras sfa (27,8%), 42 amostras iucD (25,9%), 41 amostras hly (25,3%), 36 amostras usp (22,2%), 30 amostras cnf-1 (18,5%) e 10 amostras afa (6,2%). Nenhuma amostra foi positiva para o gene cdtB. Neste trabalho, demonstramos que podemos encontrar múltiplas adesinas em uma única amostra e que diferentes genes de fatores de virulência podem ser encontrados em associação
    corecore