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There is a consensus that arterial hypertension (AH) is associated with stroke. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the histology of the microvasculature associated with the mucosa of the posterior nasal cavity to identify possible factors related to vascular weakening and rupture. Histological sections were obtained from hypertensive and normotensive individuals, regardless of epistaxis. Our results showed that the group with AH had: (a) smaller median diameter of the lumen of arteries and arterioles; (b) increased thickness of the intimal arteries and arterioles, slight inflammatory infiltrate, and rupture of internal elastic lamina; (c) greater thickness of the middle tunica in arterioles; (d) lower percentage of histological sections with non-injured intimal layers in capillaries, arterioles, and small arteries; (e) lower percentage of histological sections with intact media tunic and/or myocytes juxtaposed in arteries and arterioles; (f) no difference between the diameters of small arteries or arterioles. The intima was thicker in individuals with severe epistaxis than in the normotensive group, but it did not differ from the AH group. Thus, hypertension may cause structural lesions in the vascular layers, and in the absence of tissue repair and the persistence of AH, these lesions may favour vascular rupture, especially during hypertensive peaks.

PurposeTo describe and compare the morphology of the corneal layers from adults and aging individuals.MethodsThe study was conducted with normal corneas (n = 15) of predominantly male individuals grouped into two classes (group I: < 40 years; group II: ≥ 40 years). To describe and to compare the corneas, the thickness of the layers, the integrity of the stromal lamellae and the endothelial lesions, SEM images of the central and peripheral regions of each cornea were quantified.ResultsThe total thickness of the cornea was largest in the periphery only for group I. The Bowman, Descemet and endothelium layers of group I were thicker at the periphery of the corneas than their respective central regions, while for group II, this difference was observed only in the Bowman layer. Comparison between groups showed that the Bowman layer was thicker (central region), while the Descemet membrane and endothelium were thinner in group II; A greater number of endothelial lesions in both regions of the corneas was observed in group II, but no difference in the total number of interlamellar slits.ConclusionsThe morphological changes observed in group II could be related to the reduction in the pool of stem cell of limbus and, despite the corneas being from healthy individuals, these changes could compromise the success of transplantation. Our results point to an update of corneal uptake protocols and they may aid in the refractive surgeries interventions in individuals from different age groups.

Rapid identification of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) can assist in choosing the appropriate treatment and preventing VRE spread. The performance of chromIDTM VRE agar was evaluated using 184 clinical isolates of Enterococcus spp. and reference strains. The test had a sensitivity of 95.52% but a low specificity of 30%.

Blood Concentrates (BCs) are autologous non-transfusional therapeutical preparations with biological properties applied in tissue regeneration. These BCs differ in the preparation method, in fibrin network architecture, growth factors release as well as in platelet/cell content. Methodological changes result in distinct matrices that can compromise their clinical effectiveness. The present study evaluated the influence of different g-forces and types of tubes in the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) as a function of time. The PRF-like samples were obtained with three g-forces (200, 400, and 800 x g) for 10 minutes in pure glass tubes or in polystyrene-clot activator tubes. Scanning and Transmission electron microscopy was used to morphometric analyzes of PRF’s specimens and flow cytometry was used to quantify VEGF slow release until 7 days. Our results showed that platelets were intact and adhered to the fibrin network, emitting pseudopods and in degranulation. The fibrin network was rough and twisted with exosomic granulations impregnated on its surface. An increase in the concentration of VEGF in the PRF supernatant was observed until 7 days for all g forces (200, 400 or 800 xg), with the highest concentrations observed with 200 x g, in both tubes, glass or plastic. Morphological analyzes showed a reduction in the diameter of the PRF fibers after 7 days. Our results showed that g-force interferes with the shape of the fibrin network in the PRF, as well as affect the release of VEGF stored into platelets. This finding may be useful in applying PRF to skin lesions, in which the rapid release of growth factors can favor the tissue repair process. Our observations point to a greater clarification on the methodological variations related to obtaining PRF matrices, as they can generate products with different characteristics and degrees of effectiveness in specific applications.

The environment, human, and animals play an important role in the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Enterococci are members of the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals and represent important reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes. Until today, few studies have examined antibiotic susceptibility in enterococci isolated from primates. Therefore, the present study investigated species distribution, antibiotic susceptibility, and resistance genes in enterococci isolated from wild and captive black capuchins monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) in Rio Grande do Sul, South Brazil. A total of 24 swabs/fecal samples were collected, including 19 from wild monkeys living in two forest fragments [Sao Sebastiao do Cai (SSC) and Santa Cruz do Sul (SCS)], and five in captive [Parque Zoologico da Fundacao Zoobotânica (ZOO)], between August 2016 and November 2017. Fifteen colonies were randomly selected from each sample. Enterococci were identified by MALDI-TOF, tested for susceptibility to 12 antibiotics; and screened for tet(S), tet(M), tet(L), msrC, and erm(B) genes by PCR. Two-hundred ninety-six enterococci were isolated (SSC n = 137; SCS n = 86; ZOO n = 73) and differences in Enterococcus species distribution were detected on three monkey groups, with low abundance in SCS (1 - D = 0.2), followed by ZOO (1 - D = 0.68), and SSC (1 - D = 0.73). The enterococci frequently recovered include the following: Enterococcus faecalis (42.6%), E. hirae (29.1%), and E. faecium (15.9%). Antibiotic-nonsusceptible was observed in 202 (67.9%) strains. The rate of non-susceptibility to rifampicin, tetracycline, erythromycin, nitrofurantoin, chloramphenicol, and ampicillin was 46%, 26%, 22% and 19%, 13%, 0.3%, and 0.3%, respectively. All strains were susceptible to vancomycin, streptomycin, gentamycin, and linezolid. Forty-three (14.52%) isolates were identified as multidrug resistant (MDR), and the highest number of MDR enterococci were E. faecium recovered from wild monkeys living close to a hospital and water treatment plant. Elevated rates of antibiotic resistance genes msrC and tet(L) were isolates from ZOO. In conclusion, differences in the frequency of enterococci species, antibiotic-nonsusceptible and antibiotic resistance genes in all groups of monkeys were identified. These data suggest that anthropogenic activities could have an impact in the resistome of primate gut enterococci communities.

A sublineage of Mycobacterium tuberculosis called RD(Rio) was described in 2007. Although only recently described, this strain may have been present previously in the population, and its identification in clinical isolates will elucidate bacterial transmission dynamics and host-pathogen interactions. This study evaluated the clonal diversity of the RD(Rio) sublineage in clinical isolates from Rio Grande-RS obtained between 1998 and 2001. Among the 45 samples analyzed by the MIRU-VNTR method, there were six clusters with two samples each and 33 orphan strains with unique pattern. The strains were distributed across several different lineages including LAM (34.04%), × (14.89%), Haarlem (12.77%), UgandaI (10.64%), S (4.26%), NEW-1 (2.13%) and Cameroon (2.13%); 14.89% of the strains matched to multiple lineages. RD(Rio) strains were present in 28.9% of the samples and 81.25% of the identified strains belonged to the LAM family. The high clonal diversity observed in this study is a constant feature in this region. The RD(Rio) sublineage has been in Rio Grande-RS since 1998. The continued monitoring of RD(Rio) in clinical isolates will enhance the understanding of its epidemiological significance.

We report here a draft genome sequence of Enterococcus faecalis strain F165 isolated from a urine specimen in South Brazil. The genome size was 3,049,734 bp, with a G+C content of 37.38%, and genes related to antimicrobial resistance and adherence were found in the strain. These findings are consistent with pathogenesis of E. faecalis species.

Escherichia coli is a common pathogen recovered from cystitis infections. In this report, we announce the draft genome sequence of strain E2 isolated from the urine specimen from a female patient in South Brazil. The genome assembly has 5,081,209 bp, a G+C content of 50.57%, and virulence factors associated with both enteroaggregative and uropathogenic E. coli strains.