Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and its signs and symptoms are nonspecific, which makes the diagnosis difficult. The routinely used laboratory tests are not effective methods of analysis, as they are extremely nonspecific and often cause inappropriate use of antibiotics. Sepsis is the result of an infection associated with a systemic inflammatory response with production and release of a wide range of inflammatory mediators. Cytokines are potent inflammatory mediators and their serum levels are increased during infections, so changes from other inflammatory effector molecules may occur. Although proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines have been identified as probable markers of neonatal infection, in order to characterize the inflammatory response during sepsis, it is necessary to analyze a panel of cytokines and not only the measurement of individual cytokines. Measurements of inflammatory mediators bring new options for diagnosing and following up neonatal sepsis, thus enabling early treatment and, as a result, increased neonatal survival. By taking into account the magnitude of neonatal sepsis, the aim of this review is to address the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of neonatal sepsis and its value as a diagnostic criterion.

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The correction of wall abdominal defects often requires the use of implants such as polypropylene meshes. In spite of presenting good tissue acceptance, these biomaterials can migrate to adjacent viscera, promote enterocutaneos fistulas, tissue adherence and visceral erosions. In this work, the barrier effect of chitosan films associated with polypropylene meshes on adhesion formation experimentally induced in Wistar rats was evaluated. The animals were divided into two groups with 10 animals each. Animals in the CPP group were implanted with chitosan films associated with polypropylene meshes, whereas the ones in the PP group received only polypropylene meshes. After 8 days, the animals were submitted to euthanasia using CO(2) and a descriptive study focusing adhesion formation, visceral involvement with sutures and mesh peritonization was performed. Also, subimplanted material was collected for histopathology analysis. The results showed that the CPP group presented weak adhesions to the omentum over the stitch knots in eight animals. In all animals, the meshes were peritonized, not allowing their visualization after removing the chitosan films. In the PP group, six animals presented intestinal adhesions to the meshes and, in one of them, hepatic adhesion to the mesh was observed, besides omentum adhesion on more than 50% of the mesh area. The protective effect of chitosan films when sutured over polypropylene meshes, as well as no exacerbation of inflammation associated to the peritoneal lesions was statistically demonstrated. Therefore, chitosan films can indeed minimize the formation of peritoneal adhesions induced by polypropylene meshes in rats.

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Since 2000, written with elegance and accuracy, Hanahan and Weinberg have proposed six major hallmarks of cancer and, together, they provide great advances to the understanding of tumoral biology. Our knowledge about tumor behavior has improved and the investigators have now recognized that inflammatory microenvironment may be a new feature for the tumor entities. Macrophages are considered as an important component of tumoral microenvironment. Biologically, two forms of activated macrophages can be observed: classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternative activated macrophages (M2). Despite the canonical pathways that control this puzzle of macrophages polarization, recently, mTOR signaling pathway has been implicated as an important piece in determining the metabolic and functional differentiation of M1 and M2 profiles. Currently, it is believed that macrophages related to tumoral microenvironment present an “M2-like” feature promoting an immunosuppressive microenvironment enhancing tumoral angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis. In the present review we discuss the role of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment and the role of mTOR pathway in M1 and M2 differentiation. We also discuss the recent findings in M1 and M2 polarization as a possible target in the cancer therapy.

The seasonal dynamics of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks was developed in dogs from a Police Unit in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, from July 2001 to July 2002. The study was carried out on seven naturally infested dogs (two English Cocker Spaniels and five mongrel dogs), with ages between six months and 10 years. Every two weeks, the numbers of feeding larvae, nymphs, and adults were determined. Dogs showing infestation levels above 500 adult ticks received three acaricide treatments. Considering that the treatments had affected the development of some peaking populations of ticks, it was inferred the occurrence of the following peaks: - larvae (four peaks): from August to November, from November to February, from March to May, and from May to July; - nymphs (five peaks): from July to September, from October to December, from December to February, from March to May, and from June to July; - adults (four peaks): from July to October, from October to January, from January to March, and from April to July. The occurrence of these consecutive peaks of activity of each stage of R. sanguineus may indicate that this tick can develop up to four generations per year in Goiânia. On the other hand, if the acaricide treatment did not interfere with the development of R. sanguineus peaks, more than four peaks of each stage have occurred on the dogs. In this case, it is acceptable to infer that more than one population of R. sanguineus was developing within the kennel concomitantly. The mean numbers of each tick stage was similar in the different seasons. The main attachment sites were located on the neck, chest, forelegs, armpits, ears, between toes and on the head. The number of adult ticks feeding on English Cocker Spaniel dogs was 1.4 to 11.5 times higher than that feeding on mongrel dogs.

RESUMOO melanoma oral um dos tipos de câncer de pior prognóstico, com alta incidência de metástases. Raças como Cocker Spaniel, Boxer, Golden Retriever, Setter Irlandês são bastante acometidas. O tratamento preconizado é a maxilectomia parcial mas nem todos os proprietários concordam com tal procedimento. Assim, o tratamento alternativo com a criocirurgia tem sido usado, com resultados encorajadores. O presente trabalho relata o caso de um animal portador de melanoma oral tratado com criocirurgia com resultado satisfatório no que diz respeito à melhoria da sua qualidade de vida. ABSTRACTOral melanoma is one of the types of cancer with the worst prognosis and with a high incidence of metastasis. The Cocker Spaniel, Boxer, Golden Retriever and Irish Setter breeds are the first victims of this disease. The recommended treatment is partial maxilectomia but not all woners agree to this procedure. Hence, an alternative treatment with criosurgery has been used, with encouraging results. This study describes the case of an animal with oral melanoma that was treated with cryosurgery, which resulted in an improved quality of life.