It is recommended that more attention should be given to the interpretation and identification of species of the Fusarium genus in superficial clinical samples. This fungus may be considered as an agent of onychomycosis, even in immunocompetent individuals, by identifying criteria that separate situations of clinical significance from those of simple contamination.

We studied host factors that could predispose women to develop recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), including glycemia, insulin resistance, chronic stress, antioxidant capacity, overall immune status, local inflammation and vaginal microbiota. The presence of yeasts in vaginal culture was screened in 277 women, with or without signs and symptoms of VVC and RVVC. The presence of an inflammatory process and microbiota were analyzed through vaginal bacterioscopy and cervical-vaginal cytology, respectively. Fasting-blood samples were collected by standard venipuncture for biochemical analyses. Flow cytometry was employed to obtain the T helper/T cytotoxic lymphocyte ratio, and insulin resistance was assessed by the HOMA index (HI). Yeasts were isolated from 71 (26%) women: 23 (32.4%) with a positive culture but without symptoms (COL), 22 (31%) in an acute episode (VVC), and 26 (36.6%) with RVVC. C. albicans was the main yeast isolated in all clinical profiles. The control group (negative culture) comprised 206 women. Diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance were more associated with the positive-culture groups (COL, VVC and RVVC) than with negative ones. The RVVC group showed lower mean levels of cortisol than the control group and lower antioxidant capacity than all other groups. The T Helper/T cytotoxic lymphocyte ratio was similar in all groups. The RVVC group showed a similar level of vaginal inflammation to the control group, and lower than in the COL and VVC groups. Only the CVV group showed a reduction in vaginal lactobacillus microbiota. Our data suggest that both chronic stress (decreased early-morning cortisol levels) and reduced antioxidant capacity can be host predisposing factors to RVVC.

In this paper the classical ELISA test was used, which is a highly sensitive method, with the objective of estimating the anti-Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antibodies level in healthy people, residing in supposedly endemic regions for PCM, Northwest Paran State, Brazil. The sera was analyzed from 680 blood donors' who were approved by the classical serologic screening by blood banks. Four cities were studied (Campo Mour o, Maring , Cianorte and Umuarama) with a sample of 170 donors each. The antigen used was Ag7days, diluted serum 1/400, anti human IgG-conjugate marked with peroxidase and revealed with O-Phenylenediamine. It was possible to detect 181 (27%) sera with antibody level above the cut off threshold. The percentage varied between the cities. These results allied with the favorable climatic and geographical conditions and also previous reports of PCM indigenous to the region, indicate that the Northwest of Paran is an endemic region for PCM.

Foi realizado um inquérito epidemiológico sobre paracoccidioidomicose com gp43, em 118 operários no Noroeste do Paraná. A positividade foi de 43%, o que aliado às condições ambientais favoráveis ao desenvolvimento do fungo reforçam que essa região seja endêmica para paracoccidioidomicose e também reservárea de Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

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ABSTRACT

Twenty-five teenagers, 13 males and 12 females, some obese and others overweight, aged between 12 and 18 years, were studied over 8 months, under the supervision of a multidisciplinary team. Effects of re-education in eating habits and physical activity on the lipid profile were evaluated. Dyslipidaemia characterised by increased levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides was obeserved in 64%, 12% and 44% of the teenagers, respectively. Whereas decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed in 28%, tendency to hypertension has been observed in 36% of the teenagers. After 8 months, the number of teenagers with total hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia decreased to 32% and 24%, respectively. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels did not vary significantly. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels increased in 17% of participants. Reduction of blood pressure occurred in most teenagers. These data suggest that re-education programmes in eating habits associated with changes in behaviour and physical activity can benefit obese teenagers and prevent various diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the in vivo and in vitro activity of Canova in experimental infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Materials and Methods: Mice infected with P. brasiliensis were treated with Canova for 17 weeks. Follow-up measures included the determination of total antibodies, global and differential leukocyte counts. Further, nitric oxide production was determined by adding macrophage cultures to different concentrations of Canova in the presence or absence of P. brasiliensis. Results: The data revealed the protective effect of Canova in P. brasiliensis-infected animals. A higher nitric oxide production was found in the Canova-treated cultures. Conclusion: These data suggest that Canova activates the macrophages by a way that depends, at least in part, on nitric oxide.