RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The polymorphic clinical presentations of schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis allow their inclusion in the differential diagnoses of several conditions. Although an overlap in distribution of these diseases has been reported in endemic areas, coinfection with cutaneous schistosomiasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the same patient is rare. OBJECTIVES: We report an unusual case of concomitant cutaneous schistosomiasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Actions for the management and diagnosis were proposed. METHODS: A patient presented with cutaneous lesions on the abdomen and left elbow. The presence of degenerated ova of Schistosoma mansoni in the skin biopsy led to perform a complementary investigation with immunohistochemical techniques, rectal biopsy and abdominal ultrasonography. After the left elbow lesions had failed to improve after several weeks of standard treatment, a new biopsy was performed and led to diagnosis of another infection. RESULTS: The patient lived in an endemic area for two infectious diseases (schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis). Biopsies revealed chronic granulomatous dermatitis. Degenerated S. mansoni eggs were found in the abdominal lesion and in a rectal biopsy specimen. Ultrasonography revealed hepatic involvement. Despite combination treatment with oxamniquine and praziquantel, a cutaneous lesion persisted on the left elbow; a new biopsy revealed amastigote forms of Leishmania. The patient was successfully treated with intramuscular and intralesional meglumine antimoniate. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a similar granulomatous infiltrate in lesions caused by the two different infectious agents led to a delay in the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. This report serves as a warning of the unusual possibility of cutaneous schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis coinfection in an endemic area.
Assuntos
Coinfecção/diagnóstico , Leishmaniose Cutânea/diagnóstico , Esquistossomose/diagnóstico , Dermatopatias Parasitárias/diagnóstico , Adulto , Antiprotozoários/uso terapêutico , Biópsia , Coinfecção/tratamento farmacológico , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Humanos , Leishmaniose Cutânea/tratamento farmacológico , Antimoniato de Meglumina/uso terapêutico , Esquistossomose/tratamento farmacológico , Dermatopatias Parasitárias/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
Background The polymorphic clinical presentations of schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis allow their inclusion in the differential diagnoses of several conditions. Although an overlap in distribution of these diseases has been reported in endemic areas, coinfection with cutaneous schistosomiasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the same patient is rare.
Assuntos
Esquistossomose , Leishmaniose Cutânea , Diagnóstico DiferencialRESUMO
Current treatments for different clinical forms of leishmaniasis are unsatisfactory, highly toxic and associated with increasing failure rates resulting from the emergence of resistant parasites. Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is the main aetiological agent of different clinical forms of American tegumentary leishmaniasis, including the mucosal form for which treatment has high failure rates. The aim of this work was to investigate the activity of the Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct, methyl 2-{2-[hydroxy(2-nitrophenyl)methyl])acryloyloxy} benzoate in vitro against isolates of L. (V.) braziliensis obtained from patients with different clinical manifestations of tegumentary leishmaniasis: localized cutaneous leishmaniasis, mucosal leishmaniasis and disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis. The adduct effectively inhibited the growth of promastigotes of the different isolates of L. (V.) braziliensis (IC(50) ≤ 7·77 µg/ml), as well as reduced the infection rate of macrophages infected with these parasites (EC(50) ≤ 1·37 µg/ml). It is remarkable to state that the adduct was more effective against intracellular amastigotes (P ≤ 0·0045). The anti-amastigote activity correlated with an immunomodulatory effect, since the adduct was able to decrease the production of IL-6 and IL-10 by the infected macrophages. However, its effect was independent of nitric oxide production. This work demonstrates the anti-leishmanial activity of methyl 2-{2-[hydroxy(2-nitrophenyl)methyl])acryloyloxy} benzoate and suggests its potential in the treatment of human infections caused by L. (V.) braziliensis.
Assuntos
Antiprotozoários/farmacologia , Benzoatos/farmacologia , Interleucina-10/metabolismo , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Leishmania braziliensis/efeitos dos fármacos , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Animais , Benzoatos/toxicidade , Células Cultivadas , Feminino , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Fatores Imunológicos/farmacologia , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos/parasitologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/metabolismoRESUMO
In this study, the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and early ROS generation of 2,2-dimethyl-(3H)-3-(N-3'-nitrophenylamino)naphtho[1,2-b]furan-4,5-dione (QPhNO(2)) were investigated and compared with those of its precursor, nor-beta-lapachone (nor-beta), with the main goal of proposing a mechanism of antitumor action. The results were correlated with those obtained from electrochemical experiments held in protic (acetate buffer pH 4.5) and aprotic (DMF/TBABF(4)) media in the presence and absence of oxygen and with those from dsDNA biosensors and ssDNA in solution, which provided evidence of a positive interaction with DNA in the case of QPhNO(2). QPhNO(2) caused DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial depolarization and induced apoptosis/necrosis in HL-60 cells. Pre-treatment with N-acetyl-l-cysteine partially abolished the observed effects related to the QPhNO(2) treatment, including those involving apoptosis induction, indicating a partially redox-dependent mechanism. These findings point to the potential use of the combination of pharmacology and electrochemistry in medicinal chemistry.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Benzofuranos/farmacologia , Naftoquinonas/farmacologia , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Ensaio Cometa , Dano ao DNA , Células HL-60 , Humanos , Oxirredução , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismoRESUMO
This study aimed to provide the first biomonitoring integrating biomarkers and bioaccumulation data in São Paulo coast, Brazil and, for this purpose, a battery of biomarkers of defense mechanisms was analyzed and linked to contaminants' body burden in a weigh-of-evidence approach. The brown mussel Perna perna was selected to be transplanted from a farming area (Caraguatatuba) to four possibly polluted sites: Engenho D'Água, DTCS (Dutos e Terminais do Centro-Oeste de São Paulo) oil terminal (Sao Sebastiao zone), Palmas Island, and Itaipu (It; Santos Bay zone). After 3 months of exposure in each season, mussels were recollected and the cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A)- and CYP3A-like activities, glutathione-S-transferase and antioxidants enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) were analyzed in gills. The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, linear alkylbenzenes, and nonessential metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, and Hg) in whole tissue were also analyzed and data were linked to biomarkers' responses by multivariate analysis (principal component analysis-factor analysis). A representation of estimated factor scores was performed to confirm the factor descriptions and to characterize the studied stations. Biomarkers exhibited most significant alterations all year long in mussels transplanted to It, located at Santos Bay zone, where bioaccumulation of organic and inorganic compounds was detected. This integrated approach using transplanted mussels showed satisfactory results, pointing out differences between sites, seasons, and critical areas, which could be related to land-based contaminants' sources. The influence of natural factors and other contaminants (e.g., pharmaceuticals) on biomarkers' responses are also discussed.
Assuntos
Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Perna (Organismo)/metabolismo , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Animais , Baías/química , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Brasil , Catalase/metabolismo , Brânquias/efeitos dos fármacos , Brânquias/enzimologia , Glutationa Peroxidase/metabolismo , Glutationa Redutase/metabolismo , Glutationa Transferase/metabolismo , Substâncias Perigosas/análise , Substâncias Perigosas/metabolismo , Substâncias Perigosas/toxicidade , Metais/análise , Metais/metabolismo , Metais/toxicidade , Perna (Organismo)/efeitos dos fármacos , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análise , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/metabolismo , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/toxicidade , Estações do Ano , Poluentes Químicos da Água/metabolismo , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidade , Poluição Química da Água/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
There is considerable evidence indicating an increase in neurodegenerative disorders in industrialized countries. The clinical symptoms and the possible mutagenic effects produced by acute poisoning and by chronic exposure to metals are of major interest. This study is a review of the data found concerning the genotoxic potential of three metals: aluminum (Al), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), with emphasis on their action on human cells.
Assuntos
Alumínio/toxicidade , Ferro/toxicidade , Manganês/toxicidade , Mutagênicos/toxicidade , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Aberrações Cromossômicas/induzido quimicamente , Humanos , MutaçãoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess cyclic fatigue resistance in rotary nickel-titanium instruments submitted to nitrogen ion implantation by using a custom-made cyclic fatigue testing apparatus. METHODS: Thirty K3 files, size #25, taper 0.04, were divided into 3 experimental groups as follows: group A, 12 files exposed to nitrogen ion implantation at a dose of 2.5 x 10(17) ions/cm(2), accelerating voltage of 200 kV, currents of 1 microA/cm(2), 130 degrees C temperature, and vacuum conditions of 10 x 10(-6) torr for 6 hours; group B, 12 nonimplanted files; and group C, 6 files submitted to thermal annealing for 6 hours at 130 degrees C. One extra file was used for process control. All files were submitted to a cyclic fatigue test that was performed with an apparatus that allowed the instruments to rotate freely, simulating rotary instrumentation of a curved canal (40-degree, 5-mm radius curve). An electric motor handpiece was used with a contra-angle of 16:1 at an operating speed of 300 rpm and a torque of 2 N-cm. Time to failure was recorded with a stopwatch in seconds and subsequently converted to number of cycles to fracture. Data were analyzed with the Student t test (P < .05). RESULTS: Ion-implanted instruments reached significantly higher cycle numbers before fracture (mean, 510 cycles) when compared with annealed (mean, 428 cycles) and nonimplanted files (mean, 381 cycles). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that nitrogen ion implantation improves cyclic fatigue resistance in rotary nickel-titanium instruments. Industrial implementation of this surface modification technique would produce rotary nickel-titanium instruments with a longer working life.
Assuntos
Ligas Dentárias/química , Níquel/química , Nitrogênio/química , Preparo de Canal Radicular/instrumentação , Titânio/química , Técnicas Eletroquímicas , Falha de Equipamento , Humanos , Teste de Materiais , Metalurgia , Pressão , Rotação , Estresse Mecânico , Propriedades de Superfície , Temperatura , Fatores de Tempo , Torque , VácuoRESUMO
The influence of population density on some aspects of the reproductive biology of the snail Bradybaena similaris was studied. Molluscs were maintained under 0.2 (isolated), 0.3, 0.6, 1.0, 1.3 and 1.7 snail/m(2) densities. The animals maintained under 0.3 and 0.6 snail/m(2) showed the lowest numbers of eggs laid/snail, being the highest value observed to the 1.7 snail/m(2). The hatching of the snails maintained under 0.3 snail/m(2) density, begun at the 21st day after laying, and the maximum time required to the hatching was 36 days was observed to the eggs came from snails maintained under the densities 0.6, 1.0, 1.3 snail/m(2), respectively. The highest percentage hatchability (55.56%) was observed to isolated snails. The galactogen content in the albumen gland did not seem to accompany the alterations occurred in the reproduction of B. similaris in response to the different population densities.
Assuntos
Galactanos/análise , Oviposição/fisiologia , Caramujos/fisiologia , Animais , Feminino , Densidade Demográfica , Reprodução/fisiologia , Caramujos/anatomia & histologiaRESUMO
The objective of the Environmental Radiological Monitoring Control programme carried out by the Institute of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry (IRD) in Brazil is to verify the licensee's compliance with the requirements for environmental monitoring of Brazilian facilities. The Joint Sampling Programme (JSP) is just one part of the control programme. In order to verify that the data reported by the licensees is representative and legitimate, this programme verifies sampling procedures, accuracy and precision of the data and the changes in the environmental conditions. This paper discusses the main findings of this programme that allowed IRD to optimize its available resources to control the monitoring of the eight facilities in Brazil.