Histoplasmosis as cause of penile ulcer in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS): three case reports

Background Histoplasma capsulatum is the causative agent of American histoplasmosis. The relationship between disseminated histoplasmosis and AIDS has been well established. Widespread hematogenous dissemination of Histoplasma capsulatum in HIV positive patients can cause a plethora of clinical manifestations; virtually any organic system can be affected. However, genital ulceration by H. capsulatum in patients with AIDS is a real challenge during investigation of the infection due to the great variety of differential diagnoses that are involved. Method The diagnosis was performed by histopathologic study; H. capsulatum was detected by silver staining (Grocott staining) and confirmed by immunocytochemistry. Results We report three cases of histoplasmosis in patients with AIDS, in which we observed genital ulcers, an unusual form of presentation of this disease. In one of these cases, the treatment resulted in total cure. Conclusion The cases reported herein are to illustrate the plurality of pathologies and clinical manifestations, which may affect immunocompromised patients. The correct diagnosis of fungal diseases in these patients following well established treatment will improve the prognosis.     

生殖道念珠菌病病原真菌的调查及药敏试验

目的了解本地区生殖道念珠菌病病原真菌构成及其体外药敏试验情况。方法采用科玛嘉念珠菌显色培养基和YBC鉴定卡对患者1164份生殖道标本的致病真菌进行分离和鉴定,并用ROSCO纸片扩散法检测分离菌株对制霉菌素、酮康唑、氟康唑、伊曲康唑、咪康唑和特比萘芬的药敏情况。结果共分离9种295株念珠菌,其中自念珠菌为85．76％,近平滑念珠菌为7．46％,光滑念珠菌为3．39％,其他念珠菌为3．39％。295株念珠菌对制霉菌素、酮康唑、氟康唑、伊曲康唑、咪康唑和特比萘芬的敏感性分别为99．66％、97．29％、89．83％、72．22％、46．44％和36．61％。结论本地区生殖道念珠菌病患者致病菌分布以白念珠菌为主,体外药敏显示制霉菌素、酮康唑和氟康唑有较好的敏感性。     

Comparative gene expression analysis of genital tubercle development reveals a putative appendicular Wnt7 network for the epidermal differentiation

Here we describe the first detailed catalog of gene expression in the developing lower urinary tract (LUT), including epithelial and mesenchymal portions of the developing bladder, urogenital sinus, urethra, and genital tubercle (GT) at E13 and E14. Top compartment-specific genes implicated by the microarray data were validated using whole-mount in situ hybridization (ISH) over the entire LUT. To demonstrate the potential of this resource to implicate developmentally critical features, we focused on gene expression patterns and pathways in the sexually indeterminate, androgen-independent GT. GT expression patterns reinforced the proposed similarities between development of GT, limb, and craniofacial prominences. Comparison of spatial expression patterns predicted a network of Wnt7a-associated GT-enriched epithelial genes, including Gjb2, Dsc3, Krt5, and Sostdc1. Known from other contexts, these genes are associated with normal epidermal differentiation, with disruptions in Dsc3 and Gjb2 showing palmo-plantar keratoderma in the limb. We propose that this gene network contributes to normal foreskin, scrotum, and labial development. As several of these genes are known to be regulated by, or contain cis elements responsive to retinoic acid, estrogen, or androgen, this implicates this pathway in the later androgen-dependent development of the GT.     

Live for the moment—Adaptations in the male genital system of a sexually cannibalistic spider (Theridiidae, Araneae)

Monogyny in spiders culminates in extreme traits, like dramatic male self-sacrifice and emasculation of the male by the female during copulation. Here we show that monogynous males can be highly adapted for this fatal sexual behaviour. Dwarf males of the one-palped theridiid spider Tidarren argo, which are cannibalised immediately after the insertion of their single copulatory organ, stop spermiogenesis when reaching adulthood. Their testes atrophy, which might economise the energy expenditures of these males. We also found that the amount of seminal fluid produced is stored in an enlarged seminal vesicle until the single sperm induction takes place. The volume of the seminal vesicle is similar to the sperm droplet taken up into the copulatory organ (palpal organ). Sperm uptake takes much longer than in related species most likely due to the large amount of seminal fluid. As shown by histological observations males are able to fill one of the paired female sperm storage organs during copulation thereby presumably impeding subsequent charging by rival males.     

Modification of d-amphetamine- or chlorpromazine-induced hypothermia by β-endorphin,MIF-I,and α-MSH: Mediation by the dopaminergic system

The effects of β-endorphin, MIF-I, and α-MSH on d-amphetamine- and CPZ-induced hypothermias in rats kept at 4°C were tested in three experimental groups: (a) intact; (b) rats with lesions of the olfactory tubercle; and (c) rats in which the link between the DA mesolimbic pathway and the striatum was disconnected. All drugs tested alone (except MIF-I) caused significant hypothermia. Pretreatment with CPZ, MIF-I, and α-MSH potentiated d-amphetamine-induced hypothermia in intact rats. Pretreatment with α-MSH potentiated CPZ-induced hypothermia. β-Endorphin partially blocked d-amphetamine-induced hypothermia, but did not interact with CPZ, MIF-I, or α-MSH. All potentiations were either reduced or disappeared in the incisioned rats. CPZ and α-MSH caused hypothermia in olfactory tubercle-lesioned rats. The results indicate that: (a) the DA mesolimbic pathway is involved in the hypothermic response of all drugs tested; (b) an intact feedback loop is required for the potentiation of the hypothermic response of CPZ on d-amphetamine, MIF-I on d-amphetamine, and α-MSH on d-amphetamine and CPZ; (c) β-endorphin acts as a partial blocker of d-amphetamine; MIF-I is a weak potentiator of d-amphetamine. α-MSH acts as a negative modulator of the DA system, most probably in the striatum.     

Comparison of HPV genotypes and viral load between different sites of genital tract: The significance for cervical cancer screening

ObjectivesTo compare the consistency of HPV genotype and viral loads among different sites within the female genital tract, and to correlate these with clinical outcomes.Methods2646 previously unscreened rural women were enrolled in this population-based, cross-sectional study between May 2006 and April 2007. Physician-collected samples from lower vagina, upper vagina, cervix, and one self-collected sample were taken from each woman. Viral load was assessed by HC2 using the relative light unit/cutoff ratio (RLU/CO), and HPV genotyping was tested by Linear Array.ResultsThe low risk HPV positive rate was highest in lower vagina samples and lowest in cervix samples. Overall kappa values of high risk HPV types between various anatomic sampling sites showed substantial or almost perfect agreement among women with normal pathology, CIN1, and CIN2+. In the CIN2+ population, high risk HPV viral load for cervix samples (557.25 RLU/CO) were much higher than upper vagina samples (96.43 RLU/CO, P < 0.001), lower vagina samples (36.51 RLU/CO, P < 0.001), and self-collected (206.83 RLU/CO, P = 0.003) samples.ConclusionsAlthough the distribution of high risk HPV genotypes was fairly equivalent across different genital sites, particularly for CIN2+ lesions, viral loads were largely variable. The findings may affect the cervical cancer screening methods using self-collected samples, particularly in resource-challenged areas.     

Age and social experience induced plasticity across brain regions of the paper wasp Polistes fuscatus

Developmental studies of brain volumes can reveal which portions of neural circuits are sensitive to environmental inputs. In social insects, differences in relative investment across brain regions emerge as behavioural repertoires change during ontogeny or as a result of experience. Here, we test the effects of maturation and social experience on morphological brain development in Polistes fuscatus paper wasps, focusing on brain regions involved in visual and olfactory processing. We find that mature wasps regardless of social experience have relatively larger brains than newly emerged wasps and this difference is driven by changes to mushroom body calyx and visual regions but not olfactory processing neuropils. Notably, social wasps invest more in the anterior optic tubercle (AOT), a visual glomerulus involved in colour and object processing in other taxa, relative to other visual integration centres the mushroom body calyces compared with aged socially naive wasps. Differences in developmental plasticity between visual and olfactory neuropil volumes are discussed in light of behavioural maturation in paper wasps, especially as it relates to social recognition. Previous research has shown that P. fuscatus need social experience to develop specialized visual processing of faces, which is used to individually recognize conspecifics. The present study suggests that the AOT is a candidate brain region that could mediate facial processing in this species.     

Uptake of Dopamine Released by Impulse Flow in the Rat Mesolimbic and Striatal Systems In Vivo

Abstract: The release of dopamine in the striatum, nucleus accumbens, and olfactory tubercle of anesthetized rats was evoked by electrical stimulation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway (four pulses at 15 Hz or four pulses at 200 Hz). Carbon fiber electrodes were implanted in these regions to monitor evoked dopamine overflow by continuous amperometry. The kinetics of dopamine elimination were estimated by measuring the time to 50% decay of the dopamine oxidation current after stimulation ceased. This time ranged from 64 ms in the striatum to 113 ms in the nucleus accumbens. Inhibition of dopamine uptake by nomifensine (2–20 mg/kg), GBR 12909 (20 mg/kg), cocaine (20 mg/kg), mazindol (10 mg/kg), or bupropion (25 mg/kg) enhanced this decay time by up to +602%. Uptake inhibition also produced an increase in the maximal amplitude of dopamine overflow evoked by four pulses at 15 Hz. This latter effect was larger in the striatum (+420%) than in mesolimbic areas (+140%). These results show in vivo that these uptake inhibitors actually slow the clearance of dopamine released by action potentials and suggest that dopaminergic transmission is both prolonged and potentiated strongly by these drugs, in particular in the striatum.     

Brief communication: coracoclavicular joint in Northwest Indians

The incidence of an articular facet on the conoid tubercle of the clavicle indicating the presence of a coracoclavicular joint was studied in paired clavicles obtained from 1,000 adult subjects aged 18 to 95 years (748 males, 252 females), and 75 children (45 males, 30 females) of known age on whom a medicolegal postmortem had been performed by the second author during 1972-90. The subjects were inhabitants of northwest India. In addition, paired clavicles from 50 neonates and 35 fetuses were also examined. The facet was absent in the fetuses, neonates, and young children. The youngest clavicle showing the facet was from a girl of 13 years, in which it was present bilaterally. In adults the incidence of the facet was 10.1% (bilateral 5.7%, unilateral 4.4%) in males and 8.3% (bilateral 3.6%, unilateral 4.8%) in females. Absence of the facet in the fetuses, neonates, and young children shows that it is not a congenital anomaly.