We describe a short time model for inducing experimental emphysema in rats by chronic tobacco smoke inhalation. Three groups of male Wistar rats (6 months old) were studied: controls (N = 8), rats intoxicated for 45 days (s-45, N = 7) or for 90 days (s-90, N = 8). The exposed animals were intoxicated 3 times a day (10 cigarettes per exposure period), 5 days a week. Pulmonary damage was assessed by means of functional tests and quantitative pathological examination of the airways and lung parenchyma. The s-45 and s-90 animals were similar in terms of functional residual capacity (FRC) corrected for body weight (FRC/kg) but both groups of smoking rats exhibited significantly higher FRC/kg values than the controls (s-45 = 6.33; s-90 = 6.46; controls = 3.78; P<0.05). When the two groups of smoking rats were pooled together and compared to controls, they showed decreased lung elastance (1.6 vs 2.19; P = 0.046) and increased mean linear intercept (Lm) (85.14 vs 66.44; P = 0.025). The s-90 animals presented higher inflammation and muscular hypertrophy at the level of the axial bronchus than the controls (P<0.05). When smoking groups were pooled and compared to controls, they presented significantly higher inflammation at the lateral level (P = 0.028), as well as airway secretory hyperplasia (P = 0.024) and smooth muscle hypertrophy (P = 0.005) at the axial level. Due to its simplicity, low cost and short duration, this technique may be a useful model to obtain new information about airspace remodeling due to chronic tobacco consumption.

In this severe pancreatitis-associated lung injury model, the mechanical and morphologic alterations were similar to those alterations observed in the adult respiratory distress syndrome. This model may prove to be a useful tool to investigate mechanisms and mediators of the respiratory failure induced by acute pancreatitis and other forms of adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Síndrome de Laugier-Hunziker é caracterizada por hiperpigmentação macular adquirida, idiopática das mucosas oral e genital, que pode estar associada à melanoníquia longitudinal. Relata-se caso de melanoníquia longitudinal das mãos e pés, sinal de Hutchinson e pigmentação lenticular dos lábios e mucosa oral. A histologia é típica, com amplo diagnóstico diferencial. Trata-se de entidade rara e benigna, que deve ser incluída na diagnose diferencial das hiperpigmentações mucocutâneas.

No Brasil, a paracoccidioidomicose é uma micose sistêmica endêmica frequente na zona rural e em homens adultos. É relatado caso em agricultor, usuário de drogas ilícitas, com manifestações insidiosas, atingindo rins, pulmões, gânglios, ossos e tardiamente pele, com atraso no diagnóstico e na terapêutica eficaz em mais de um ano. É importante incluir a paracoccidioidomicose como diagnóstico diferencial frente a um quadro sugestivo, mesmo na ausência de lesões cutâneas, para reconhecimento e tratamento precoce, em vista da elevada morbimortalidade desta entidade.

Exogenous ochronosis consists of chronic hyperpigmentation of areas previously treated with topical agents such as hydroquinone, resorcinol, antimalarials and phenol. Early diagnosis allows to promptly suspend the causative agent and it is imperative since the available therapeutic options are scarce and have presented so far unsatisfactory results. Three cases of exogenous ochronosis on the face which were diagnosed with the use of dermoscopy are presented. Dermatoscopy showed blackish-gray amorphous structures, some obliterating the follicular openings. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. Keywords: Dermoscopy; Ochronosis; Pigmentation disorders Resumo: A ocronose exógena consiste em hiperpigmentação crônica de áreas previamente tratadas com agentes tópicos como: a hidroquinona, a resorcina, os antimaláricos e o fenol. O diagnóstico precoce permite suspender prontamente o agente causador, uma vez que as opções terapêuticas disponíveis são escassas e com resultados insatisfatórios. Reportam-se três casos de ocronose exógena na face, diagnosticados pela dermatoscopia. O estudo dermatoscópico evidenciou estruturas amorfas de coloração cinza-enegrecido, algumas obliterando as aberturas foliculares. O exame histopatológico corroborou o diagnóstico.

Pulmonary dysfunction represents the most important cause of death in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PBM). In order to investigate the functional changes of the lungs in the early stages of PBM, a model of benign disease was developed by intratracheal challenge of 12-week old isogenic Wistar rats with 1 x 10 6 yeast forms of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Animals were studied 30 and 60 days after infection, when fully developed granulomas were demonstrable in the lungs. Measurements of airway resistance, lung elastance and tissue hysteresis were made during sinusoidal deformations (100 breaths/ min, tidal volume = 2 ml) with direct measurement of alveolar pressure using the alveolar capsule technique. Infection caused a significant increase in hysteresis (infected: 1.69, N = 13; control: 1.13, N = 12, P = 0.024, ANOVA), with no alterations in airway resistance or lung elastance. Histopathological analysis revealed the presence of fully developed granulomas located in the axial compartment of the lung interstitial space. These results suggest that alterations of tissue mechanics represent an early event in experimental PBM.

No abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue tumor in childhood; however, it rarely affects only the skin. This case report describes a child with a painful nodule on her face. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma, and a multidisciplinary team then followed up the patient. Soft tissue tumors are responsible for 6% of all childhood tumors, and 53% of these are rhabdomyosarcomas, which may affect any part of the body. Presentation in the form of skin nodules is rare and represents a diagnostic challenge, since there are no clinical characteristics that differentiate this condition from other pathologies. Keywords: Head and neck neoplasms; Pediatrics; Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar; Skin neoplasms Resumo: O rabdomiossarcoma é o tumor de partes moles mais comum na infância, sendo raro o acometimento exclusivamente cutâneo. Apresenta-se caso de criança com nódulo doloroso na face, cuja análise histopatológica e imunoistoquímica confirmou tratar-se de rabdomiossarcoma, o qual foi conduzido por equipe multidisciplinar. Os tumores de partes moles são responsáveis por 6% de todos os tumores infantis; destes, 53% são rabdomiossarcomas, que podem acometer qualquer sítio. A manifestação como nódulo dérmico é incomum, representando um desafio diagnóstico, já que não possui características clínicas que o diferenciem de outras patologias. INTRODUCTIONRhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant tumor that originates in the primitive mesenchymal cells, precursors of the striated skeletal muscle. The sites most affected by this tumor are the head and neck (35%), the genitourinary system and the extremities (40%) and, less commonly, the trunk, orbital cavity, intrathoracic and retroperitoneal regions. Only sixteen cases of the exclusively cutaneous form have been described in the literature.