Cryptosporidiosis in children from 1 to 2 years of age, with acute diarrhea in Belém, Pará, Brazil

Two hundred and one samples obtained from 61 children were examined for Cryptosporidium infection during a period of 12 months. One hundred fifteen specimens were collected during diarrhoea episodes and the remaining 86 obtained out of diarrhoea period, as controls. All samples were examined by a modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method. Cryptosporidium was detected in 6 (5.2%) of 115 samples from diarrhoeic children. All non-diarrhoeic control patients were negative for Cryptosporidium. The present study suggests that Cryptosporidium is an agent of self-limited diarrhoea among immunocompetent children from Belém, Pará.     

The Génolevures database

The Génolevures online database (URL: http://www.genolevures.org) stores and provides the data and results obtained by the Génolevures Consortium through several campaigns of genome annotation of the yeasts in the Saccharomycotina subphylum (hemiascomycetes). This database is dedicated to large-scale comparison of these genomes, storing not only the different chromosomal elements detected in the sequences, but also the logical relations between them. The database is divided into a public part, accessible to anyone through Internet, and a private part where the Consortium members make genome annotations with our Magus annotation system; this system is used to annotate several related genomes in parallel. The public database is widely consulted and offers structured data, organized using a REST web site architecture that allows for automated requests. The implementation of the database, as well as its associated tools and methods, is evolving to cope with the influx of genome sequences produced by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).     

The Goldwyn diary of November and December 1960, at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon

Through unexpected circumstances, I went to Lambaréné, in Gabon, to be Dr. Albert Schweitzer's surgeon for 2 months, November and December of 1960.This diary I can honestly say I never thought would become public. The years have passed; I am now 77. I realize that not many of those who served in a medical capacity at his hospital are still alive and not everyone will share his or her experiences.I want to make clear that I was with Dr. Schweitzer only 2 months. I would not want anyone to think that I played a strategic role at the hospital. I did not, but I helped as best I could.Although I have traveled throughout the world and have been a surgeon in many out-of-the-way places, I have not returned to Lambaréné. The reason, I confess, is that I wanted it to remain in my mind as it was. For Dr. Schweitzer and those who served there, his hospital was a way of life. It was a world of its own and, though small, it came into being because of the arching ideals and unflagging dedication of a remarkable man. His example should inspire us to enlarge our personal horizons, not just to recognize the less fortunate but to act without delay on their behalf. For each of us, there is an Ogowe waiting to be crossed.     

Prédisposition À L'Infection Par Trichophyton Rubrum. Investigations Biochimiques Et Fonctionelles

Sans résuméLu dans la séance du ler Congrès International de Dermatologie Tropicale, Napoli, 8–13 juin, 1964.     

The productivity and composition of mangrove forests,Laguna de Términos,Mexico

The composition and productivity of two mangrove sites surrounding the Laguna de Términos, Mexico, were studied from March 1979 to January 1984. Measurements were made of the tree composition, above-ground woody biomass changes, and litterfall production at a high-salinity fringing site and a low-salinity riverine site. Rhizophora mangle L. was the dominant tree at the fringing site, but occurred only at the water's edge at the riverine site. Avicennia germinans L. dominated the inland area of the riverine site. Laguncularia racemosa Gaertn. f. had a more even distribution from shore to inland and from site to site. Average diameter at breast height (DBH) was greater at the riverine site for each of the three species; however, tree density (trees > 2.5 cm DBH) was more than twice as high at the fringing site (7510 ha⁻¹) than at the riverine site (3360 ha⁻¹). Wood production (1206 g m⁻² year⁻¹ vs. 772 g m⁻² year⁻¹) and litterfall (1252 g m⁻² year⁻¹ vs. 835 g m⁻²) were higher at the riverine site than at the fringing site. Total estimated above-ground net production was 2458 g m⁻² year⁻¹ at the riverine site and 1607 g m⁻² year⁻¹ at the fringing site.     

Étude Clinique Et Mycologique Concernant Le Premier Cas Européen De Mycétome Déterminé Par Cephalosporium Sp.

Résumé On entreprend une étude détaillée, clinique et mycologique, concernant le premier cas européen de mycétome, déterminé par leCephalosporium faciforme. Il s'agit d'un cas de mycétome du pied sec, nodulaire, avec des grains non-pigmentés, blancs, sans aucune tendance â la fistulisation cutanée et suppuration, avec affectation du tissu osseux sous-jacent et résistant à diverses tentatives thérapeutiques médicamenteux.L'auteur expose en détail les caractères morphologiques et physiologiques de la souche isolée. La souche roumaine a été confrontée avec 3 souches originales américaine et africaines, et on en tire une série de conclusions, concernant les critères majeurs qui permettent l'identification de l'espèce.

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Summary Clinical and mycological data concerning the first Europeen case of mycetoma caused byCephalosporium falciforme are here reported.The disease affected the foot, showing the type of dry, nodular, deep seated lesions (bone tissue also involved), with white granules but with no fistula, or draining abcess formation.All the medications the patient received failed to cure him.On describing the physiological and morphological features of Romanian isolate, which has been compared with 3 original American and African strains, the author pointed out the criteria peculiar to this species for easier identification.

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Hommage à l'occasion du 90-ème anniversaire du prof.S.G. Nicolau     

The market medicinal plants of Monterrey,Nuevo León,México

The purpose of this study is to record the popular uses of various medicinal plants collected in the market medicinal stalls of Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. One hundred and thirty-five medicinal plants were collected from 11 hierberias (stalls) of two mercados (markets) and two additional medicinal plant sources. Included is a total of 70 species in 65 genera of 38 plant families. The plant vendors of the hierberias were interviewed to determine the folk uses of these plants. Eighty-five folk uses, of both general and specific nature, are reported for the specimens collected.     

Temporal distribution of electrophoretic profiles of nucleic acid from rotavirus in the feces of children in Belém, Pará, Brazil

Electrophoresis of rotavirus RNA in polyacrylamide gel was carried out by using faecal samples collected from children living in the peripheral area of Belém, Brazil. Typical rotavirus profiles (eleven bands) were noted in 46(76.7%) out of 60 ELISA rotavirus positive specimens. According to the electrophoretic patterns, 5(10.9%) were classified as subgroup I, while 41(89.1%) of them as subgroup II. Lacking of bands 10 and 11 in 14(23.3%) samples did not allow us to classify their electropherotypes. The profile coded as "1N2L" was the predominant one, accounting for 65.2% of the classified strains.     

The Scribble and Par complexes in polarity and migration: friends or foes?

The Par complex [consisting of Bazooka (also called Par3), Par6 and aPKC] is a well-described regulator of cell polarity whose role in many aspects of cell morphogenesis is under intense investigation. Recently, another set of proteins known as the Scribble complex (consisting of Scribble, Discs large and Lethal giant larvae) has also been shown to be important in polarity regulation in several settings. Here, we describe the current status of Scribble in polarity and review evidence from various model systems that indicates an essential but context-dependent role for the Scribble and Par complexes in directed cell migration. Based on the known interactions of Scribble and Par complexes with each other and with other signalling pathways, we propose models by which Par and Scribble might interact to regulate cell migration.     

The opossum Didelphis virginiana as a synanthropic reservoir of Trypanosoma cruzi in Dzidzilché, Yucatán,México

In México, the role of mammals in the transmission cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi is poorly known. In the State of Yucatán, an endemic area of Chagas disease, both Didelphis virginiana and D. marsupialis occur sympatrically. However, until now, only the former species had been found infected with T. cruzi. To evaluate the role of D. virginiana in a peridomestic transmission, nine periods of capture-recapture were performed around the village of Dzidzilché, Yucatán. The sex, age, reproductive status, location, and presence of infection with T. cruzi were recorded for each opossum. The chromosome morphology was used to identify the opossum species. T. cruzi was identified by the presence of pseudocysts of amastigotes in cardiac muscle fibers of Balb/c mice inoculated with strains isolated from opossums. However, xenodiagnosis was the best diagnostic method. Triatoma dimidiata, the vector, were collected in and around the opossums' nests, and human dwellings; and were checked for T. cruzi. From 102 blood samples of D. virginiana examined 55 (53.9%) were positive to T. cruzi, the only two D. marsupialis captured were negative. Significant differences were found between infection, and both sex and reproductive condition. Eight out of 14 triatomines collected in peridomestic nests (57.1%), and 32 of 197 captured inside houses (16.3%) were found infected, suggesting a peridomestic transmission. The statistically high abundance of infected opossums and triatomines during the dry season (March to May) suggested the existence of a seasonality in the peridomestic transmission of T. cruzi in Dzidzilché.     

Hyperinsulinemia Associated With Acanthosis Nigricans,Finger Pebbles,Acrochordons, And The Sign Of Leser-Trélat

ObjectiveTo review common skin manifestations associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and to discuss a potential underlying mechanism for these manifestations.MethodsA PubMed literature search was conducted for articles describing the skin manifestations associated with hyperinsulinemia and type 2 DM. A case presentation describes a morbidly obese patient with type 2 DM treated with metformin who developed acanthosis nigricans, finger pebbles, scores of skin tags (acrochordons), and the sign of LeserTrelat (sudden onset shower of seborrheic keratoses) in the absence of internal malignancy.ResultsAcanthosis nigricans, acrochordons, and finger pebbles have been associated with type 2 DM and obesity. While the LeserTrelat sign is classically associated with internal malignancy, it can also be idiopathic. To our knowledge, this the first report of the occurrence of the LeserTrelat sign in a patient with DM absent internal malignancy.ConclusionSeveral skin manifestations can be seen in this patient with DM because of underlying insulin resistance and subsequent stimulation of insulinlike growth factor receptors. Management strategies could include weight loss, diet, and insulinsensitizing pharmacologic therapy. (Endocr Pract. 2013;19:522525)