ABORDAGEM TERAPEUTICA DE ABSCESSOS CEREBRAIS MÚLTIPLOS DE CAUSA IDIOPÁTICA EM PACIENTE IMUNOCOMPETENTE: RELATO DE CASO.

Introduction: Multiple brain abscesses are centers of pyogenic cerebral parenchymal infections that require immediate and effective attention to reduce morbidity and mortality. The identification of the etiologic agent and the infectious focus are usually of great value in terms of therapeutic planning. This paper seeks to report a rare case of multiple brain abscesses in an immunocompetent patient with no evident risk factors and the fundamental role that empirical antibiotic therapy plays in the resolution of the case. Case report: A 75-year-old patient with no evidence of immunosuppression and previous illnesses began to experience changes in her basic daily live activities, confusion in time and space, hypersomnia, gait slowing, dysarthria and stabbing pain in the right temporal region of the brain that would not cease even with use of analgesics. Magnetic Resonance revealed multiple abscesses in the temporal region generating mass effect and intracranial hypertension. It was performed craniotomies with drainage of purulent secretions and it was prepared cultures out of the material which resulted in no identification of the etiological agent. Discussion: The therapeutic approach of brain abscesses has not yet been defined. As a result, each case has been conducted in an individualized manner according to the location of the lesions, their evolutionary stage and the patient's clinical conditions. In the case of this report, the abscess’ origin was not identified and the resolution of the condition was obtained through surgical drainage in association with empirical antibiotic therapy. With advances in neuroimaging and pharmacology, reduction in mortality from brain abscesses reduced to less than 10%. However, failure to identify an etiologic agent and several neurosurgical approaches may lead to more comorbidities for the patient. We present a rare case of cerebral abscesses in an immunocompetent patient without identification of an aggressor organism and the importance of empirical antibiotic therapy in the resolution of the case. Key words: brain abscess; immunocompetence; diagnosis; therapeutics; anti-infective agentsIntrodução: Abscessos cerebrais múltiplos são focos de infecções piogênicas do parênquima cerebral que requerem uma atenção imediata e eficaz para reducão de morbimortalidade. A identificação do agente etiológico e do foco infeccioso normalmente é de grande valia na programação terapêutica. Esse trabalho busca relatar um raro caso de abscessos cerebrais múltiplos em paciente imunocompetente e sem fatores de risco evidentes, e o papel fundamental da antibioticoterapia empírica na resolução do caso. Relato do caso: Paciente, 75 anos, sem evidência de imunossupressão e doenças prévias iniciou quadro de alterações das atividades básicas da vida diária, confusão de tempo e espaço, hipersonia, lentificação da marcha, disartria e dor em pontada na região temporal direita que não cessava ao uso de analgésicos. Em Ressôncia magnética evidenciou-se múltiplos abscessos em região temporal gerando efeito de massa e hipertensão intracraniana. Realizado craniotomias com drenagens de secreções purulentas e culturas do material que não identificaram o agente etiológico. Discussão: A abordagem terapêutica dos abscessos cerebrais ainda não se encontra definida. Em virtude disso, cada caso tem sido conduzido de forma individualizada de acordo com a localização das lesões, seu estágio evolutivo e as condições clínicas do paciente. No caso em questão não indentificou-se a origem dos abscessos e a resolução do quadro foi obtida através das drenagens cirúrgicas em associação a antibioticoterapia empírica. Com os avanços da neuroimagem e da farmacologia, a redução da mortalidade por abscessos cerebrais reduziu para menos de 10%. Porém, a não identificação de um agente etiológico e diversas abordagens neurocirúrgicas podem acarretar em mais comorbidades para o paciente. Apresentamos um raro caso de abcessos cerebrais em paciente imunocompetente sem identificação de organismo agressor e o papel da antibioticoterapia empírica na resolução do caso.   Palavras-chave: abscesso encefálico; imunocompetência; diagnóstico;  terapêutica; antimicrobianos. ABSTRACT Introduction: Multiple brain abscesses are centers of pyogenic cerebral parenchymal infections that require immediate and effective attention to reduce morbidity and mortality. The identification of the etiologic agent and the infectious focus are usually of great value in terms of therapeutic planning. This paper seeks to report a rare case of multiple brain abscesses in an immunocompetent patient with no evident risk factors and the fundamental role that empirical antibiotic therapy plays in the resolution of the case. Case report: A 75-year-old patient with no evidence of immunosuppression and previous illnesses began to experience changes in her basic daily live activities, confusion in time and space, hypersomnia, gait slowing, dysarthria and stabbing pain in the right temporal region of the brain that would not cease even with use of analgesics. Magnetic Resonance revealed multiple abscesses in the temporal region generating mass effect and intracranial hypertension. It was performed craniotomies with drainage of purulent secretions and it was prepared cultures out of the material which resulted in no identification of the etiological agent. Discussion: The therapeutic approach of brain abscesses has not yet been defined. As a result, each case has been conducted in an individualized manner according to the location of the lesions, their evolutionary stage and the patient's clinical conditions. In the case of this report, the abscess’ origin was not identified and the resolution of the condition was obtained through surgical drainage in association with empirical antibiotic therapy. With advances in neuroimaging and pharmacology, reduction in mortality from brain abscesses reduced to less than 10%. However, failure to identify an etiologic agent and several neurosurgical approaches may lead to more comorbidities for the patient. We present a rare case of cerebral abscesses in an immunocompetent patient without identification of an aggressor organism and the importance of empirical antibiotic therapy in the resolution of the case. Keywords: brain abscess; immunocompetence; diagnosis; therapeutics; anti-infective agents

Description of Clinical and Surgical Aspects of Four Cases of Lip Commissure to Eyelid Transposition for Repair of Eyelid Coloboma in Cats

Background: Eyelid coloboma or eyelid agenesis is the most common congenital disease in cats. It can affect both the upper and the lower lids and is commonly bilateral. This congenital defect has been reported in several breeds, such as Persian and Domestic Short-Haired Cat. Generally, this defect results in inversion of the colobomatous eyelid, which can cause trichiasis and inflammatory keratitis and corneal ulceration. The only effective treatment is blepharoplasty. This paper describes the clinical and surgical aspects of four patients treated by lip commissure to eyelid transposition for the repair of eyelid coloboma using the technique described in 2010. Results of this procedure have never been reported in Brazil. Cases: Seven eyes of four cats presenting eyelid coloboma affecting up to two thirds of the eyelid were evaluated in this study. Two of the four cats were males and two were females; their average age was 3 years. All patients were admitted at the same institution, and the main issues were purulent discharge and impaired vision. Diagnosis was based on physical and ophthalmic examination. Non-ulcerative keratitis was present in all cases. Corneal ulcer was diagnosed in three patients by the fluorescein dye test. In two cats, a corneo-conjunctival dermoid was found at the temporal-dorsal region of one eye, and measured approximately 0.3 mm; and the other two exhibited microphthalmia in one eye. No abnormalities were seen in the anterior chamber, lens, and vitreous. One of the cats exhibited retinal detachment, and one exhibited testicular agenesis, both of the abnormalities diagnosed by ultrasound. Complete blood count and biochemical tests were performed in all patients before general anesthesia for the corrective procedure. Before surgery, eyes with ulcerative and non-ulcerative keratitis were treated with topical antibiotics and lacrimommimetics. In the 7 eyes, lip commissure to eyelid transposition technique was used for correction of the colobomatous defect. The procedure consisted of a mucocutaneous flap that simulates a natural eyelid. Corneo-conjunctival dermoids were also removed at the same time by superfcial keratectomy. In the postoperative period, all patients received oral non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug and an antibiotic, as well as cleansing of the surgical wound. All patients exhibited improvement of corneal abnormalities following one week of the procedure. However, three cats had suture dehiscence on the lip commissure, which healed by secondary intention after a week. Two weeks after surgery, superfcial necrosis was observed at the tip of the edge of the transplanted flap, in all cats. In order to promote healing, the necrotic edges were debrided at the time of sutures removal, 10 to 15 days after surgeries; at this time, both lip commissure and eyelid wound had already healed. Facial distortion was presente owing to skin overlapping on the site of the flap. All patients had their ability to blink restored, and there was absence of trichiasis on the flap. However, three cats had thichiasis caused by retraction of the pre-existing eyelid at the medial canthus. Discussion: Good functional and esthetic results were achieved, similarly to those previously described, which allows us to consider that this technique is appropriate for eyelid reconstruction in eyelid coloboma or agenesis cases. Nevertheless, this procedure can have some complications, such as suture dehiscence, facial deformity, superfcial necrosis of the edges of the flap, and trichiasis of the pre-existing eyelid of the medial canthus. To overcome these issues, authors suggest removal of the skin under the flap to decrease facial distortion, and removal of the whole pre-existing eyelid, in order to avoid trichiasis caused by retraction of this tissue. Keywords: blepharoplasty, congenital defect, eyelid, feline

DOSES OF INDOLBUTYRIC ACID IN THE ROOTING AND GROWTH OF EUCALYPT CUTTINGS (Eucalyptus urophylla)

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of IBA (indolbutyric acid) in the rooting and growth of Eucalyptus urophylla cuttings. The experimental design used was the randomized blocks, in factorial with an arrangement of split plots, with three concentrations of IBA (2.000; 5.000 and 8.000 mg L(-1)), two ways of the application of plant gowth regulators (paste and powder), and three period of evaluations (30, 45 and 60 days). The experiment was carried out in the Farm Buriti de Prata, an entreprise property of Souza Cruz, in the city of Prata - MG in 2003. After the preparation of the cuttings, patterned in 10 cm of length and 0.8 cm of diameter, those were immersed in mixtures of IBA for 10 seconds, in the forms of dry powder and paste and than planted in plastic tubes contening Plantmax substrate with vermiculite. The cuttings were transported to greenhouse with controled humidity, where they remained for 60 days. The variables studied were: height of plant in the 30(th), 45(th) and 60(th) days after seeding; fresh mass of the aerial part and roots. The IBA applied in powder form as well as in paste form, resulted in an greater seedling growth. To the 60 days, the seedlings presented greater growth, being significantly superior to the heights measured in other times of evaluation. The application of 2.000 mg L(-1) and 5,000 mg L(-1) resulted in significant increases on weight of fresh mass of the aerial part and root system

The Mating Type (MAT) and Virulence of <i>Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto</i> Isolates Maintained in Culture Collection

In an attempt to determine the mating type of different Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto isolates that remained viable after a long period of preservation in a culture collection and to correlate them with the degree of virulence/pathogenicity, a PCR technique using primers designed for the sequences of MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 genes and a murine experimental model were used. The results showed that there was no correlation between the mating type and virulence among the isolates. Furthermore, different degrees of virulence/pathogenicity, ranging from high to low, were found among them based on different virulence parameters. It was assumed that the long period of preservation favored the changes, yielding the isolation of variants. Thus, we believe that new technologies for studies on factors can improve our knowledge of the pathogenesis of sporotrichosis

Description of Clinical and Surgical Aspects of Four Cases of Lip Commissure to Eyelid Transposition for Repair of Eyelid Coloboma in Cats

Background: Eyelid coloboma or eyelid agenesis is the most common congenital disease in cats. It can affect both the upper and the lower lids and is commonly bilateral. This congenital defect has been reported in several breeds, such as Persian and Domestic Short-Haired Cat. Generally, this defect results in inversion of the colobomatous eyelid, which can cause trichiasis and inflammatory keratitis and corneal ulceration. The only effective treatment is blepharoplasty. This paper describes the clinical and surgical aspects of four patients treated by lip commissure to eyelid transposition for the repair of eyelid coloboma using the technique described in 2010. Results of this procedure have never been reported in Brazil. Cases: Seven eyes of four cats presenting eyelid coloboma affecting up to two thirds of the eyelid were evaluated in this study. Two of the four cats were males and two were females; their average age was 3 years. All patients were admitted at the same institution, and the main issues were purulent discharge and impaired vision. Diagnosis was based on physical and ophthalmic examination. Non-ulcerative keratitis was present in all cases. Corneal ulcer was diagnosed in three patients by the fluorescein dye test. In two cats, a corneo-conjunctival dermoid was found at the temporal-dorsal region of one eye, and measured approximately 0.3 mm; and the other two exhibited microphthalmia in one eye. No abnormalities were seen in the anterior chamber, lens, and vitreous. One of the cats exhibited retinal detachment, and one exhibited testicular agenesis, both of the abnormalities diagnosed by ultrasound. Complete blood count and biochemical tests were performed in all patients before general anesthesia for the corrective procedure. Before surgery, eyes with ulcerative and non-ulcerative keratitis were treated with topical antibiotics and lacrimommimetics. In the 7 eyes, lip commissure to eyelid transposition technique was used for correction of the colobomatous defect. The procedure consisted of a mucocutaneous flap that simulates a natural eyelid. Corneo-conjunctival dermoids were also removed at the same time by superfcial keratectomy. In the postoperative period, all patients received oral non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug and an antibiotic, as well as cleansing of the surgical wound. All patients exhibited improvement of corneal abnormalities following one week of the procedure. However, three cats had suture dehiscence on the lip commissure, which healed by secondary intention after a week. Two weeks after surgery, superfcial necrosis was observed at the tip of the edge of the transplanted flap, in all cats. In order to promote healing, the necrotic edges were debrided at the time of sutures removal, 10 to 15 days after surgeries; at this time, both lip commissure and eyelid wound had already healed. Facial distortion was presente owing to skin overlapping on the site of the flap. All patients had their ability to blink restored, and there was absence of trichiasis on the flap. However, three cats had thichiasis caused by retraction of the pre-existing eyelid at the medial canthus. Discussion: Good functional and esthetic results were achieved, similarly to those previously described, which allows us to consider that this technique is appropriate for eyelid reconstruction in eyelid coloboma or agenesis cases. Nevertheless, this procedure can have some complications, such as suture dehiscence, facial deformity, superfcial necrosis of the edges of the flap, and trichiasis of the pre-existing eyelid of the medial canthus. To overcome these issues, authors suggest removal of the skin under the flap to decrease facial distortion, and removal of the whole pre-existing eyelid, in order to avoid trichiasis caused by retraction of this tissue. Keywords: blepharoplasty, congenital defect, eyelid, feline

As mudanças nas regras da aposentadoria: os postos de trabalho estão adaptados à população que envelhece?

As mudanças nas regras de aposentadoria apontam para uma maior permanência dos idosos no mercado de trabalho. Esta permanência só se tornará viável caso haja mudanças nos postos de trabalho, tornando-os mais flexíveis e compatíveis com as características de uma população que envelhece. A partir de análises ergonômicas são apontadas algumas direções de pesquisas para a melhoria das condições de trabalho: concepção de dispositivos técnicos e organizacionais baseada na análise do trabalho real e uma política de formação contínua que permita aos trabalhadores permanecerem em atividade dentro do contexto atual de inovações tecnológicas.<br>The changes observed on the rules of retirement point out the increasing of the elderly's stay on the market. This stay will only be viable if there are also changes at the work stations, making them more flexible and compatible with the characteristics of a population that ages. Ergonomic analysis point out some directions of researches that can contribute to the improvement of work conditions: confections of technical and organizational provisions based on the analysis of the work how it's truly done and a politics of continuous formation that allows workers to stay actives on the actual context of technological innovations

A non-functional galanin receptor-2 in a multiple sclerosis patient

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory neurodegenerative disease that affects approximately 2.5 million people globally. Even though the etiology of MS remains unknown, it is accepted that it involves a combination of genetic alterations and environmental factors. Here, after performing whole exome sequencing, we found a MS patient harboring a rare and homozygous single nucleotide variant (SNV; rs61745847) of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) galanin-receptor 2 (GALR2) that alters an important amino acid in the TM6 molecular toggle switch region (W249L). Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging showed that the hypothalamus (an area rich in GALR2) of this patient exhibited an important volumetric reduction leading to an enlarged third ventricle. Ex vivo experiments with patient-derived blood cells (AKT phosphorylation), as well as studies in recombinant cell lines expressing the human GALR2 (calcium mobilization and NFAT mediated gene transcription), showed that galanin (GAL) was unable to stimulate cell signaling in cells expressing the variant GALR2 allele. Live cell confocal microscopy showed that the GALR2 mutant receptor was primarily localized to intracellular endosomes. We conclude that the W249L SNV is likely to abrogate GAL-mediated signaling through GALR2 due to the spontaneous internalization of this receptor in this patient. Although this homozygous SNV was rare in our MS cohort (1:262 cases), our findings raise the potential importance of impaired neuroregenerative pathways in the pathogenesis of MS, warrant future studies into the relevance of the GAL/GALR2 axis in MS and further suggest the activation of GALR2 as a potential therapeutic route for this disease1917282CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP480138/2013-323038.007775/2014-98; 7350-15-5; 1197-79-42013/24293-7, 2015/07925-5, 2016/06488-3Associacao Beneficente Alzira Denise Hertzog Silva (ABADHS); Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES, Brazil)CAPES [23038.007775/2014-98, 7350-15-5, 1197-79-4]; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq, Brazil)National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) [480138/2013-3]; Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao PauloFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [2013/24293-7, 2015/07925-5, 2016/06488-3