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Fungal melanin contributes to the survival and virulence of pathogenic fungi, such as Fonsecaea pedrosoi, which is responsible for causing chromoblastomycosis. The objective of this study was to employ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to predict the melanin content of F. pedrosoi. The melanin content, in percentage, was previously determined using gravimetry for twenty-six clinical isolates. Quintuplicate spectra of each isolate were obtained using attenuated total reflection (ATR) within the range of 4000 to 650 cm -1 . To predict the melanin content, modeling was performed using partial least squares regression (PLS) in the region 1800 - 750 cm -1 . Two models were tested: PLS and successive projections algorithms for interval selection in partial least squares (iSPA-PLS). The best modeling results were achieved using iSPA-PLS with one factor. The calibration set exhibited a determination coefficient (R 2 ) of 0.9745 and a root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) of 0.0977. In the prediction set, the R 2 value was 0.9711, and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) was 0.0999. Modeling with FTIR and multivariate calibration provides a valuable means of predicting fungal melanin content, which is simpler and more robust, thereby contributing to the advancement of this field of study., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Surgical environment can play as a source of multidrug-resistance organism, what can pose as a big threat to the patients and health care professionals. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of Gram-positive cocci (GPC) and Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) isolated from the surgical environment. All samples were collected during the intraoperative period of clean/clean-contaminated (G1) and contaminated (G2) surgery. A total of 150 samples were collected from the superficial surgical site in the beginning (n = 30) and the end (n = 30) of the procedure, surgeon's hands before (n = 30) and after (n = 30) antisepsis, and the surgical environment (n = 30). MALDI-TOF MS and antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disk diffusion method were performed for species identification, and determination of the resistance profile. Sixty-eight isolates of GPC and 15 of GNB were obtained. Staphylococcus spp. were the most frequent species isolated from surgical site (55.26% [21/38]), surgeon's hands (46.15% [6/13]), and environment (56.67% [17/30]). GPC were mostly resistance to penicillin (85.71% [54/63]), and erythromycin (77.78% [49/63]), and GNB were mostly resistance to cefazolin (58.33% [7/12]), and azithromycin (58.33% [7/12]). High incidence of multidrug resistance was observed in coagulase-negative staphylococci (86.21% [25/29]), coagulase-positive staphylococci (86.67% [13/15]), Enterococcus spp. (68.42% [13/19]) and Gram-negative bacilli (60% [9/15]). The high rate of resistance of commensal bacteria found in our study is worrying. Coagulase-negative staphylococci are community pathogens related to nosocomial infections in human and veterinary hospitals, their presence in healthy patients and in veterinary professionals represent an important source of infection in the One Health context. Continuous surveillance and application of antimicrobial stewardship programs are essential in the fight against this threat., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: Therapeutic targets in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies (IIM) are based on the opinions of physicians/specialists, which may not reflect the main concerns of patients. The authors, therefore, assessed the outcome concerns of patients with IIM and compared them with the concerns of rheumatologists in order to develop an IIM outcome standard set., Methods: Ninety-three IIM patients, 51 rheumatologists, and one physiotherapist were invited to participate. An open questionnaire was initially applied. The top 10 answers were selected and applied in a multiple-choice questionnaire, inquiring about the top 3 major concerns. Answers were compared, and the agreement rate was calculated. Concerns were gathered in an IIM outcome standard set with validated measures., Results: The top three outcome concerns raised by patients were medication side effects/muscle weakness/prevention functionality loss. The top three concerns among rheumatologists were to prevent loss of functionality/to ensure the quality of life/to achieve disease remission. Other's outcomes concerns only pointed out by patients were muscle pain/diffuse pain/skin lesions/fatigue. The agreement rate between both groups was 41%. Assessment of these parameters guided the development of an IIM standard set which included Myositis Disease Activity Assessment Visual Analogue Scale/Manual Muscle Testing/fatigue and pain Global Visual Analogue Scale/Health Assessment Questionnaire/level of physical activity., Conclusion: The authors propose a novel standard set to be pursued in IIM routine follow-up, which includes not only the main patients/rheumatologist outcome concerns but also additional important outcomes only indicated by patients. Future studies are necessary to confirm if this comprehensive approach will result in improved adherence and ultimately in better assistance., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 HCFMUSP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The present study aimed to investigate placental hemodynamics to determine quantitative and qualitative parameters for pregnant brachycephalic bitches as well as describe placental vascularization and perfusion in females with fetal abnormalities close to delivery. Forty-four healthy fetuses from 22 brachycephalic bitches and 9 fetuses with gestational abnormalities (anasarca and hydrocephalus) from 8 brachycephalic bitches were evaluated. All female dogs were artificially inseminated intravaginally and underwent cesarean section at the end of gestation. Pregnancy diagnosis was made on the 25th day and experimental evaluations were performed on Days 25 (M1), 45 (M2), and 58 (M3) of gestation in normal pregnancies. Fetuses with gestational abnormalities were evaluated at the last time point. Biometric values of the fetuses were determined by B-mode and vascular indices by Doppler fluxometry of the umbilical artery, whereas qualitative assessment of contrast filling and quantitative parameters of placental perfusion were performed using CEUS. Parameter comparisons among the examined fetuses (normal and abnormal) and between the moments (M1, M2, and M3) were performed by Student's t-test and ANOVA tests, and then correlated using the Spearman test. In healthy fetuses, systolic and diastolic velocities as well as the time averages of minimum and maximum velocities increased significantly from M2 to M3 (P < 0.05), whereas the pulsatility index (P < 0.043) and vascular resistance (P < 0.001) decreased. Contrast distribution was always homogeneous in placental tissues and CEUS filling parameters remained constant during the evaluated periods (P < 0.05). In fetuses with hydrops, Doppler values were similar to those obtained in healthy subjects (P > 0.05), but CEUS evaluation demonstrated a heterogeneous distribution with lower intensity of placental tissue filling and a delay in perfusion time (P < 0.05) with a diagnostic accuracy of 75%. The association of dopplerfluxometry and CEUS allowed evaluation of qualitative and quantitative parameters of physiological pregnancy hemodynamics in all gestational thirds without evidence of significant changes in the physiology of the maternal-fetal binomial, and CEUS was shown to be applicable in the detection of failures in placental vascular filling (tissue dysfunction) in fetuses with anasarca and hydrocephaly., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors inform that there are no conflicts of interest. The authors are solely responsible for the content and writing of the article., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of bacterial species isolated from infected sites of canines. All samples were collected from canine patients who received clinical or surgical care at the veterinary teaching hospital between March 2016 and November 2017. The samples were analyzed in a private pathology laboratory. A descriptive analysis of 295 antimicrobial susceptibility test reports was performed. Staphylococcus spp. (104/295 [35.25%]), Escherichia coli (100/295 [33.90%]), Proteus spp. (44/295 [14.92%]), Pseudomonas spp. (25/295 [8.47%]), and Klebsiella spp. (20/295 [6.78%]) were more frequently isolated, and a high incidence of multidrug resistance was observed (69,83% [206/295]). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. accounted for 33% (33/100) of the Staphylococcus strains. Enterobacteriaceae cefotaxime resistance constituted 22.82 ± 4.49% and Enterobacteriaceae imipenem resistance constituted 5% (1/20) for Klebsiella spp., 5% (5/100) for E coli, and 6.82% (3/44) for Proteus spp. Pseudomonas spp. strains accounted for 8% (2/25) of imipenem resistance and 45.45% (10/22) of polymyxin B resistance. Our findings revealed a high rate of multidrug-resistant bacteria involvement in the infectious process of dogs. From the perspective of the One Health scenario, our results showed alarming data, given the high risk of resistant-strain dissemination between animals, owners, and healthcare professionals. There is an urgent need for strategies to control and prevent the evolution of new multidrug-resistant bacteria in veterinary hospitals. It is also crucial to understand and emphasize the role of veterinary professionals in this public health battle., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Tongue hyperpigmentation is a rare side effect in patients with hepatitis C virus infection who are receiving peginterferon alfa and ribavirin combination therapy. Tongue hyperpigmentation usually occurs after the patient has undergone several months of treatment, and it resolves after the patient discontinues therapy., Case Description: A 66-year-old dark-skinned woman with hepatitis C virus infection was referred to the Oral Diseases Treatment Center of São Leopoldo Mandic Dental School, Campinas, Brazil, for evaluation of tongue pigmentation after receiving peginterferon alfa and ribavirin combination therapy for 32 weeks. A physical examination showed dark brown, asymptomatic pigmentation in the dorsum of the tongue. Six months after the patient discontinued therapy, the authors observed a marked reduction in the pigmentation's intensity., Case Implications: Dentists should be aware that hyperpigmentation of the tongue can result from peginterferon alfa and ribavirin combination therapy. A biopsy should be performed if no firm diagnosis can be obtained from clinical findings and the patient's medical history.