Chagoma as brain mass lesion

La enfermedad de Chagas es una zoonosis parasitaria, endémica en América Latina, causada por el protozoo Trypanosoma cruzi. En el sistema nervioso central de humanos existen dos presentaciones de la enfermedad: meningoencefalitis difusa que suele coincidir con la observación de tripomastigotes en líquido cefalorraquídeo o chagoma que consiste en nidos de amastigotes asociados a encefalitis necrotizante multifocal con abscesos. Se presenta el caso de un paciente fumador y drogadicto que ingresa al hospital por cuadro convulsivo, hemianopsia homónima, paresia facial y anestesia en hemicuerpo izquierdo. Se realiza una resonancia magnética nuclear, donde se observa masa ocupante de espacio en la zona parietal derecha subcortical. En el examen directo de la biopsia, se detecta la presencia de tripomastigotes móviles y en la coloración de Giemsa, amastigotes intracelulares de T. cruzi. Luego de la anamnesis del paciente se solicitan estudios serológicos y detección de anticuepos para el virus de la inmunodeficiencia adquirida (VIH) por Elisa, resultando positiva. La enfermedad de Chagas es una de las patologías oportunistas que debe considerarse en los diagnósticos diferenciales de lesiones ocupantes de espacio en el sistema nervioso central dado que su rápido diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno conllevan a una mejor sobrevida del paciente.Chagas disease is a parasitic zoonosis, endemic to Latin America, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. In the human central nervous system, there are two presentations of the disease: meningoencephalitis with trypomastigotes in cephalo raquidean fluid or chagoma, that consists of a nest of amastigotes associated with multifocal necrotizing encephalitis with abscesses. We present the case of a smoker patient and, a user of illicit drugs, who was admitted to the hospital due to convulsive condition, left homonymous hemianopsia, left facial paresis and, left lower body anesthesia. A nuclear magnetic resonance was performed, where space occupant mass was observed in the subcortical right parietal area. Mobile trypomastigots were detected by direct examination of the biopsy and intracellular amastigotes of T. cruzi by Giemsa staining. After the patient’s anamnesis, serological studies and detection of anti-HIV antibodies by Elisa were requested, being positive. Chagas disease is one of the opportunistic pathologies to be considered in the differential diagnoses of occupant lesions of central nervous system space since its rapid diagnosis and timely treatment lead to better patient survival.Asociación Parasitológica Argentin

Syphilis, HIV and other Infections: A Continuing Challenge

Abstract: Syphilis, HIV and other infections should be considered in patients with dermatology clinic lesions. We report the case of a young female who showed multiple lesions arond genital and perigenital areas. The dark field microscopy and serological study for syphilis and HIV were positive. Four months later she showed ulcerations which evidenced a partial response to penicillin treatment. The histopathology of skin biopsy reported “compatible with donovanosis ” so she was treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Several months later, biopsy and scrapings of new lesions were performed and Histoplasma capsulatum was detected. Itraconazole therapy was initiated and after three years she returned with almost complete remission of the lesions

Syphilis, HIV and other Infections: A Continuing Challenge

 Syphilis, HIV and other infections should be considered in patients with dermatology clinic lesions. We report the case of a young female who showed multiple lesions arond genital and perigenital areas. The dark field microscopy and serological study for syphilis and HIV were positive. Four months later she showed ulcerations which evidenced a partial response to penicillin treatment. The histopathology of skin biopsy reported “compatible with donovanosis†so she was treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Several months later, biopsy and scrapings of new lesions were performed and Histoplasma capsulatum was detected. Itraconazole therapy was initiated and after three years she returned with almost complete remission of the lesions

MtTdp2α-overexpression boosts the growth phase of Medicago truncatula cell suspension and increases the expression of key genes involved in the antioxidant response and genome stability

Aside from the great importance of Leguminosae in food and agriculture industry, legume model systems like Medicago truncatula are also essential tools to dissect complex cellular pathways and retrieve valuable information to other crops. Here, we investigated the roles played by the tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 2α (MtTdp2α) gene in cell viability and proliferation using M. truncatula suspension cultures. Our research hypothesis is that the overexpression of MtTdp2α, implicated in the removal of transient topoisomerase/DNA covalent complexes, can impact on cell suspension viability. M. truncatula suspension cultures derived from leaf explants of MtTdp2α- overexpressing lines and a control line carrying the empty vector were used. Our results showed that the control line reached the stationary growth phase by the fourth day of culture while the transgenic lines presented an extended exponential growth, reaching the stationary phase at day six following culture. The MtTdp2α-overexpressing lines also showed increased viability as compared to the control line. The transcript levels of MtSOD, MtAPX, MtMT2, MtMRE11, MtNBS1, MtRad50, MtOGG1 and MtFPG were significantly enhanced in the transgenic lines as compared to control. Overall, our results show that the MtTdp2α overexpression impacts in a positive manner on cell viabilityand proliferation in suspension cultures. Additionally, our study provides an insight on the suitability of M. truncatula cell suspension cultures as a promising alternative to evaluate potential protective mechanisms, with results comparable to those obtained when using whole plants

Epidemiology and Antifungal Susceptibilities of Yeasts Causing Vulvovaginitis in a Teaching Hospital

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is one of the most common mycosis. However, the information about antifungal susceptibilities of the yeasts causing this infection is scant. We studied 121 yeasts isolated from 118 patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis. The isolates were identified by phenotypic and molecular methods, including four phenotypic methods described to differentiate Candida albicans from C. dubliniensis. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed according to CLSI documents M27A3 and M27S4 using the drugs available as treatment option in the hospital. Diabetes, any antibacterial and amoxicillin treatment were statistically linked with vulvovaginal candidiasis, while oral contraceptives were not considered a risk factor. Previous azole-based over-the-counter antifungal treatment was statistically associated with non-C.albicans yeasts infections. The most common isolated yeast species was C. albicans (85.2 %) followed by C. glabrata (5 %), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (3.3 %), and C. dubliniensis (2.5 %). Fluconazole- and itraconazole-reduced susceptibility was observed in ten and in only one C. albicans strains, respectively. All the C. glabrata isolates showed low fluconazole MICs. Clotrimazole showed excellent potency against all but seven isolates (three C. glabrata, two S. cerevisiae, one C. albicans and one Picchia anomala). Any of the strains showed nystatin reduced susceptibility. On the other hand, terbinafine was the less potent drug. Antifungal resistance is still a rare phenomenon supporting the use of azole antifungals as empirical treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.Fil: Gamarra, Soledad. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Morano, Susana. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital "Dr. José María Cullen"; ArgentinaFil: Dudiuk, Catiana Beatriz. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Mancilla, Estefanía. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital San Carlos; ArgentinaFil: Nardin, María Elena. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital "Dr. José María Cullen"; ArgentinaFil: Méndez, Emilce de los Ángeles. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital "Dr. José María Cullen"; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Guillermo Manuel. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital "Dr. José María Cullen"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentin

Ántrax fatal: primer caso humano documentado en Argentina de meningitis y bacteriemia

El ántrax es una zoonosis causada por Bacillus anthracis. En humanos produce infecciones cutáneas, respiratorias, gastrointestinales y con menor frecuencia meningitis. Se reporta el primer caso en Argentina de meningitis y bacteriemia por B. anthracis. Se trata de un paciente adulto que comenzó con síntomas gripales e inflamación de ganglios axilares. A las 48 h ingresó al hospital con depresión del sistema nervioso central y traumatismo toracoabdominal derecho. La TAC reveló en el hemisferio cerebral izquierdo una masa bien definida. El paciente fue tratado empíricamente con meropenem y vancomicina. Falleció a las 48 h por shock refractario y paro cardiorrespiratorio. En los cultivos de las muestras de sangre y de líquido cefalorraquídeo se obtuvo desarrollo bacteriano el cual no fue posible identificar mediante pruebas bioquímicas. El aislamiento se derivó a centros de referencia donde se confirmó a nivel molecular el agente etiológico: B. anthracis. Este caso destaca la importancia de evaluar, en áreas endémicas, los factores epidemiológicos, ya que la presencia de síntomas gripales y ganglios inflamados en un paciente, puede enmascarar cuadros graves de meningitis y bacteriemia con desenlace fatal

Fatal antrax: first human case with meningitis and bacteremia documented in Argentina

El ántrax es una zoonosis causada por Bacillus anthracis. En humanos produce infecciones cutáneas, respiratorias, gastrointestinales y con menor frecuencia meningitis. Se reporta el primer caso en Argentina de meningitis y bacteriemia por B. anthracis. Se trata de un paciente adulto que comenzó con síntomas gripales e inflamación de ganglios axilares. A las 48 h ingresó al hospital con depresión del sistema nervioso central y traumatismo toracoabdominal derecho. La TAC reveló en el hemisferio cerebral izquierdo una masa bien definida. El paciente fue tratado empíricamente con meropenem y vancomicina. Falleció a las 48 h por shock refractario y paro cardiorrespiratorio. En los cultivos de las muestras de sangre y de líquido cefalorraquídeo se obtuvo desarrollo bacteriano el cual no fue posible identificar mediante pruebas bioquímicas. El aislamiento se derivó a centros de referencia donde se confirmó a nivel molecular el agente etiológico: B. anthracis. Este caso destaca la importancia de evaluar, en áreas endémicas, los factores epidemiológicos, ya que la presencia de síntomas gripales y ganglios inflamados en un paciente, puede enmascarar cuadros graves de meningitis y bacteriemia con desenlace fatal.Anthrax is a zoonosis caused by Bacillus anthracis. In humans produces skin, respiratory, gastrointestinal infections and, less frequently, meningitis. The first case in Argentina of meningitis and bacteremia due to B. anthracis is reported. He was an adult patient who started with flu-like symptons and axillary lymph node inflammation which was treated as outpatient. Forty-eight hours later he was admitted to the hospital with depression of the central nervous system and thoracoabdominal trauma. The CT scan revealed a well defined mass in the left cerebral hemisphere. The patient was treated empirically with meropenem and vancomycin. He died at 48 hours due to refractory shock and cardiorespiratory arrest. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were positive for bacterial growth, but could not be identified by biochemical tests. Isolates were derived to laboratory reference centers where the etiological agent B. anthracis was confirmed by molecular means. This case highlights the importance of considering epidemiological factors in endemic areas, since the presence of flulike symptoms and swollen lymph nodes in a patient can be announcing a meningitis and a bacteremia with fatal outcome.Fil: Manias, Valeria. Provincia de Santa Fe. Hospital Dr. José María Cullen; ArgentinaFil: Nagel, Alicia. Provincia de Santa Fe. Hospital Dr. José María Cullen; ArgentinaFil: Mollerach, Analia. Provincia de Santa Fe. Hospital Dr. José María Cullen; ArgentinaFil: Mendosa, María Alejandra. Provincia de Santa Fe. Hospital Dr. José María Cullen; ArgentinaFil: Ramos, Claudia. Provincia de Santa Fe. Hospital Dr. José María Cullen; ArgentinaFil: Morano, Susana. Provincia de Santa Fe. Hospital Dr. José María Cullen; ArgentinaFil: Nardin, Maria Elena. Provincia de Santa Fe. Hospital Dr. José María Cullen; ArgentinaFil: Nepote, Andrea. Laboratorio Central de la Provincia de Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Sauka, Diego Herman. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Benintende, Graciela Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Noseda, Ramon Pedro. Laboratorio Azul Diagnóstico; ArgentinaFil: Méndez, Emilce de los Ángeles. Provincia de Santa Fe. Hospital Dr. José María Cullen; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin