Spontaneous Bacterial Pericarditis and Coronary Sinus Endocarditis Caused by Oxacillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus

This paper describes a case of a 44-year-old male patient previously healthy admitted with an unusual spontaneous acute bacterial pericarditis associated with coronary sinus mass. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed large loculated pericardial effusion with signs of diastolic restriction and an image suggesting vegetation in topography of the right atrium coronary sinus. Pericardial drainage, coronary sinus vegetation resection, and antibiotic therapy with Oxacillin were performed due to Oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus identified on the pericardial effusion and blood culture. This is a rare condition and a unique combination of a spontaneous acute bacterial pericarditis with coronary sinus endocarditis without cardiac valve compromise

Sapropterin dihydrochloride therapy in dihydropteridine reductase deficiency: Insight from the first case with molecular diagnosis in Brazil

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH$_{4}$) is a cofactor that participates in the biogenesis reactions of a variety of biomolecules, including l-tyrosine, l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, 5-hydroxytryptophan, nitric oxide, and glycerol. Dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR, EC 1.5.1.34) is an enzyme involved in the BH$_{4}$ regeneration. DHPR deficiency (DHPRD) is an autosomal recessive disorder, leading to severe and progressive neurological manifestations, which cannot be exclusively controlled by l-phenylalanine (l-Phe) restricted diet. In fact, the supplementation of neurotransmitter precursors is more decisive in the disease management, and the administration of sapropterin dihydrochloride may also provide positive effects. From the best of our knowledge, there is limited information regarding DHPRD in the past 5 years in the literature. Here, we describe the medical journey of the first patient to have DHPRD confirmed by molecular diagnostic methods in Brazil. The patient presented with two pathogenic variants of the quinoid dihydropteridine reductase (QDPR) gene-which codes for the DHPR protein, one containing the in trans missense mutation c.515C>T (pPro172Leu) in exon 5 and the other containing the same type of mutation in the exon 7 (c.635T>C [p.Phe212Ser]). The authors discuss their experience with sapropterin dihydrochloride for the treatment of DHPRD in this case report

Morpho/Proteomic Comparative between High Grade Pleomorphic Sarcoma and Metastasis Diagnosed in an Old Captive Common Hippo

Old age is a risk factor for cancer development in humans and animals, and studies have shown that tumors in animals are acceptable models for studying human cancers, considering the similarities between their factors. This work was conducted in a 53-year-old captive female common hippo (Hippopotamus amphibious) with a left leg tumor and metastatic mass. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were carried out with a final diagnosis of a high grade pleomorphic sarcoma. A proteomic study using mass spectrometry was added in order to identify further aspects of the primary tumor and metastasis which could improve our understanding, and each tissue showed a proteomic profile indicative of its pathologic state with significant differences between healthy tissue, primary and metastatic tumors. Low levels of beta-actin in primary tumors were identified, and this may be associated with a possible consequence of cytoskeleton dynamic modification. In metastatic tissue, these dynamics may be affected by the presence of HSP chaperone 60.FAPESP: 2012/02514-9Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, BR-04039032 Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023062 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilAC Camargo Canc Ctr, Dept Patol, BR-01509010 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, BR-04039032 Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023062 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Characterization of volcanic reservoirs; insights from the Badejo and Linguado oil field, Campos Basin, Brazil

Funding Information: This work was financially supported by Petrobras (CENPES – Research Center and Exploration) projects. Especially the authors of Petrobras appreciate the fruitful discussions with the VMAPP Consortium (Volcanic Margin Petroleum Prospectivity) team and workshops. The authors would like to thank also all those who contributed in some way to make this work possible. Dougal A. Jerram and Sverre Plank acknowledge the support from the Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence funding scheme, project 22372 (CEED).Peer reviewedPostprin

The association of diabetes, subclinical hypothyroidism and carotid intima-media thickness: results from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brazil)

Introduction: The association of diabetes with subclinical thyroid diseases may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. We analyzed the association of subclinical hypothyroidism, diabetes, and both diseases with carotid Intima-Media Thickness (cIMT) as a surrogate maker for early cardiovascular disease in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Methods: Cross-sectional analysis with data from the 3rd visit (2017‒2019). Linear regression models were used to evaluate the association of subclinical hypothyroidism, diabetes and of both diseases with a cIMT presented as Beta (95% Confidence Interval ‒ 95% CI) without adjustment, with adjustment for sociodemographic variables (Model 1) and multivariable adjustment (Model 1 more cardiovascular risk factors). We also used logistic regression models to analyze the Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% CI for the association of both diseases using cIMT > P75%. Results: After the exclusion of patients with previous cardiovascular disease, 5,077 participants with no diseases, 1578 with diabetes, 662 with subclinical hypothyroidism, and 234 with both diseases were included in the analysis. Linear regression models showed an association of cIMT with only diabetes (β = 0.019; 95% CI 0.012 to 0.027; p < 0.0001) and subclinical hypothyroidism more diabetes (β = 0.03; 95% CI 0.010‒0.047, p < 0.0001). The logistic regression model reported an association between diabetes and CIMT higher than P75% (OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.30‒1.71). No interaction between diabetes and subclinical hypothyroidism was detected using cIMT respectively as a continuous (p = 0.29) or as a categorical variable (p = 0.92). Discussion: Diabetes was associated with higher cIMT values. However, no additive effect of subclinical hypothyroidism associated with diabetes over cIMT was detected

Alveolar socket healing in 5-lipoxygenase knockout aged female mice treated or not with high dose of zoledronic acid

This study investigated the role 5-lypoxigenase (5-LO) on alveolar socket healing in aged female mice treated with zoledronic acid (ZL). Forty 129/Sv female mice (64-68 weeks old), 20 wild type (WT) and 20 5-LO knockout (5LOKO) were equally distributed according to ZL treatment: WT Control, WT ZL, 5LOKO Control, and 5LOKO ZL. ZL groups were treated with an intraperitoneal injection of 250 µg/Kg of ZL, while controls were treated with saline. Treatments were administered once a week, starting four weeks before surgery for tooth extraction and until 7 and 21 days post-surgery. Mice were euthanized for a comprehensive microscopic analysis (microCT, histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry). WT ZL mice presented intense inflammatory infiltrate (7 days), delayed bone formation (21 days), reduced collagenous matrix quality, and a deficiency in Runx-2 + , TRAP + , and macrophages as compared to controls. 5LOKO ZL animals presented decreased number of Runx-2 + cells in comparison to 5LOKO Control at 7 days, but no major changes in bone healing as compared to WT or 5LOKO mice at 21 days. The knockout of 5LO favored intramembranous bone healing in aged female mice, with a direct impact on inflammatory response and bone metabolism on the development of ONJ-like lesions

Triagem primária de doadores de sangue por teste de ácidos nucléicos: desenvolvimento de um método não-comercial e resultados

An "in-house" RT-PCR method was developed that allows the simultaneous detection of the RNA of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and an artificial RNA employed as an external control. Samples were analyzed in pools of 6-12 donations, each donation included in two pools, one horizontal and one vertical, permitting the immediate identification of a reactive donation, obviating the need for pool dismembering. The whole process took 6-8 hours per day and results were issued in parallel to serology. The method was shown to detect all six HCV genotypes and a sensitivity of 500 IU/mL was achieved (95% hit rate). Until July 2005, 139,678 donations were tested and 315 (0.23%) were found reactive for HCV-RNA. Except for five false-positives, all 310 presented the corresponding antibody as well, so the yield of NAT-only donations was zero, presenting a specificity of 99.83%. Detection of a window period donation, in the population studied, will probably demand testing of a larger number of donations. International experience is showing a rate of 1:200,000 - 1:500,000 of isolated HCV-RNA reactive donations.Desenvolveu-se uma metodologia própria ("in-house") baseada em RT-PCR, que permite detectar simultaneamente o RNA do vírus HCV e de um RNA artificial empregado como controle externo. As amostras são analisadas em pools de 6-12 doações, cada doação sendo incluída em dois pools diferentes, um horizontal e um vertical, permitindo a identificação imediata de uma doação reativa, sem a necessidade de desmembrar-se um pool reativo. O processo todo consumiu de 6-8 horas diárias e os resultados foram emitidos em paralelo à sorologia. O método detectou os seis genótipos de HCV, com um limite de sensibilidade de 500 UI/mL (95% hit rate). Até julho de 2005 haviam sido testadas 139.678 doações com a detecção de 315 (0,23%) doações reativas para HCV-RNA. Exceto cinco falso-positivas, todas estas doações também apresentavam o respectivo anticorpo, portanto não se detectou nenhuma doação em janela imunológica. A especificidade foi de 99,83%. A detecção de amostra em janela imunológica, nesta população de doadores, provavelmente demandará a análise de um número maior de doações, espelhando-se na experiência internacional que tem mostrado a detecção de amostras HCV-RNA isoladas em 1:200.000 - 1:500.000 doações

Treliça de palitos de picolé: projeto, fabricação e ensaio / Popsicle stick lattice: design, fabrication and testing

Este trabalho trata da confecção de uma trelic?a feita de palitos de picole? da madeira Pinus, que foi apresentado na Primeira Competic?a?o de Trelic?as de Palito de Picole?, da Universidade Estadual de Goia?s. A competição se baseou na construção de uma estrutura que apresentasse a maior raza?o possi?vel entre a carga ma?xima suportada e o peso pro?prio da estrutura. O projeto foi desenvolvido atrave?s do software FTOOL, no qual foi possi?vel analisar os esforc?os de trac?a?o e compressa?o, que auxiliaram no dimensionamento da estrutura. Dessa maneira, foi necessário seguir algumas restric?o?es impostas pela competição, no que se referia ao tamanho ma?ximo, a magnitude, ao posicionamento dos carregamentos e ao tipo de apoio. A partir das propriedades fi?sicas e meca?nicas do palito de picole?, das propriedades qui?micas e meca?nicas da cola utilizada para fazer as ligac?o?es entre as barras, das propriedades meca?nicas dos parafusos utilizados nos no?s da estrutura, e das propriedades fi?sicas e meca?nicas do alumi?nio, utilizado na confecc?a?o dos apoios e aparatos de carga, dimensionou-se a estrutura, de modo a determinar a espessura mi?nima das barras para suportar a carga de projeto

Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing mice treated with aqueous ethanol plant extract from Euphorbia tirucalli showed signs of systemic toxicity

Purpose: To evaluate the antitumor effect of a latex extract from Euphorbia tirucalli Linn. (Euphorbiaceae) and its toxicity.Methods: Aqueous ethanol and petroleum ether extracts were obtained through maceration. .Maximum tolerated dose was determined in healthy mice. Antitumor activity was measured in Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing mice treated with the extract through intraperitoneal injection (62.5, 125 or 250 mg/kg) every 48 h (four doses). Efficacy was assessed by weight gain, abdominal circumference, volume of ascitic fluid and packed tumor cells, tumor cell viability and survival. Toxicity indicators were serum glucose, triglycerides, total proteins, activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and mass of heart, spleen, kidney and liver. A hemolysis assay was also performed.Results: Doses of 62.5 and 125 mg/kg caused no antitumor activity, while 250 mg/kg dose reduced weight gain (3-fold), abdominal circumference and volume of ascitic fluid (> 50 %) and packed cells (50 %), but lowered tumor cell viability (40 %). However, mice treated with the extract survived for a shorter time than control mice. Furthermore, the 250 mg/kg dose caused cardiac atrophy, splenomegaly and fasting hyperglycemia. The extract caused hemolysis, and the half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) was 1.6 (0.9 – 2.7) mg/mL.Conclusion: Euphorbia tirucalli extract inhibits Ehrlich ascites tumor in mice, but the therapeutic dose is also harmful to non-tumor tissues.Keywords: Euphorbia tirucalli, Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing mice, Antitumor, Toxicity, Cardiac atrophy, Splenomegal