Early diagnosis of relapse in borderline leprosy: two case reports

Two cases of relapse in borderline leprosy were reported. Despite the late-reversal, reaction-like feature, the suspicion of relapse in both was based on persistent and slow-developing skin lesions and an absence of acute neuritis or reaction during one year of follow-up. The authors have considered this possible occurrence in lepromatous borderline-treated patients after their immune cellular restoration and defend that not all Type 1 reactions would be an inflammatory answer to persistent Mycobacterium leprae, but that they could be. Therefore, a relapse diagnosis could be applied and it is more advisable, as one year of Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) is less dangerous and more efficient for these cases than one year of corticosteroids

Eliminação transepidérmica de parasitas na doença de Jorge Lobo Transepidermal elimination of parasites in Jorge Lobo's disease

FUNDAMENTOS: A eliminação transepidérmica de parasitas (ETEP) tem sido pouco estudada na doença de Jorge Lobo. OBJETIVOS: Identificar aspectos morfológicos da ETEP na doença de Jorge Lobo. MÉTODOS: Recortes de biópsias de doença de Jorge Lobo emblocados em parafina foram corados pela hematoxilina-eosina e examinados. Considerou-se como ETEP, exclusivamente, a presença de parasitas em estruturas epidérmicas. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídas no estudo 40 biópsias de 37 pacientes (31 homens e seis mulheres, média de idade 51,03 anos, variação 29-80 anos) realizadas em um período de 37 anos (1967-2003), das quais foram obtidos 511 cortes (média de 12,77 cortes por caso, variação 2-39 cortes por caso). Observou-se ETEP em 110/511 (21,52%) e não se observou em 401/511 cortes (78,48%) (p < 0,0001). Em relação aos pacientes (37), em 15 se verificaram aspectos consistentes com ETEP (40,5%), ao passo que, em 22 deles (59,5%), isso não foi observado (p > 0,05). Os parasitas dispunham-se em infundíbulos hiperplásicos, formando catênulas, ou como unidades isoladas, associados ou não a células inflamatórias. CONCLUSÕES: Aspectos consistentes com ETEP, embora observados em número estatisticamente não significante de pacientes da amostra (p > 0,05), sugerem que, na doença de Jorge Lobo, o fenômeno, invariavelmente, ocorra através do epitélio infundibular. Estudos futuros serão necessários para avaliar sua eventual importância na epidemiologia da micose.<br>BACKGROUND: Few studies have focussed on the transepidermal elimination of parasites in Jorge Lobo's disease (lobomycosis). OBJECTIVE: To identify the morphological features of the transepidermal elimination of parasites in lobomycosis. METHODS: Sections were obtained from paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens of patients with lobomycosis and stained with hematoxylin-eosin for microscopic examination. Only the presence of parasites in epidermal structures was considered to constitute transepidermal elimination. RESULTS: Forty biopsies from 37 patients were included in the study (31 males and 6 females). The mean age of patients was 51.03 years (range 29-80 years). Biopsies performed over a period of 37 years (1967-2003) were used, from which 511 sections were obtained (a mean of 12.77 sections per case; range 2-39 sections per case). Transepidermal elimination of parasites was found in 110/511 (21.52%) and was absent in 401/511 sections (78.48%) (p<0.0001). Features consistent with the phenomenon were found in 15/37 patients (40.5%) and were absent in 22/37 (59.5%) (p>0.05). Parasites in the epidermis were detected within hyperplastic infundibula, either connected in chains or as isolated units, associated or not with inflammatory cells. CONCLUSION: Features consistent with transepidermal elimination of parasites were found in a statistically nonsignificant number of patients in the sample (p>0.05), suggesting that in Jorge Lobo's disease, this phenomenon invariably occurs through the infundibular epithelium. Future studies are required to evaluate the significance of this finding in the epidemiology of mycosis

Influence of drying temperature on dietary fibre, rehydration properties, texture and microstructure of Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.)

[EN] The effects of air drying temperature on dietary fibre, texture and microstructure of the Cape gooseberry fruits during convective dehydration in the range of 50 90 ºC were investigated. The ratio of insoluble dietary fibre to soluble dietary fibre was higher than 7:1 for all dehydrated samples. At 50 ºC tissue structure damage was evidenced leading to the maximum water holding capacity (47.4±2.8 g retained water/100 g water) and the lowest rehydration ratio (1.15±0.06 g absorbed water/g d.m.). Texture analysis showed effects of drying temperatures on TPA parameters. Changes in microstructure tissue were also observed at the studied drying temperatures. Hot air drying technology leads not only to fruit preservation but also increases and adds value to Cape gooseberry, an asset to develop new functional productsThe authors gratefully acknowledge financial support for this investigation from the Research Department of Universidad de La Serena, Chile.Vega Gálvez, AA.; Zura Bravo, L.; Lemus-Mondaca, R.; Martínez Monzó, J.; Quispe Fuentes, I.; Puente Díaz, LA.; Di Scala, KC. (2015). Influence of drying temperature on dietary fibre, rehydration properties, texture and microstructure of Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.). Journal of Food Science and Technology. 52(4):2304-2311. doi:10.1007/s13197-013-1235-0S23042311524Aguilera JM (2005) Why food microstructure? J Food Eng 67:3–1AOAC (1990) Official method of analysis, 15th edn. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, DC, USABetoret E, Betoret N, Vidal D, Fito P (2011) Functional foods development: Trends and technologies. 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