Physical exercise and microRNAs: new frontiers in heart failure

Although the impact of exercise on survival of patients with heart failure has been recently questioned, exercise training improves quality of life, functional capacity, inflammation, endothelial and autonomic function. In recent years, interest has increased regarding a group of small non-protein coding RNAs called microRNAs. Studies have shown that the expression of these molecules changes in several pathological conditions, such as myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia and heart failure, and when clinical improvement occurs, they seem to normalize. With the potential for practical applicability, markers that may be useful in diagnostic and prognostic assessment of heart failure have been identified, such as miR-423-5p. In addition, results of experimental studies have indicated that there are potential therapeutic effects of microRNAs. MicroRNAs are involved in the regulation of gene expression during fetal development and in adult individuals, increasing or decreasing in the heart in response to physiological stress, injury or hemodynamic overload. Thus, the study of the behavior of these molecules in physical exercise has brought important information about the effects of this therapeutic modality and represents a new era in the understanding of heart failure. This review aims to integrate the evidence on microRNAs in heart failure with greater relevance in the study of physical exercise.

The new mutation L321F in Candida albicans ERG11 gene may be associated with fluconazole resistance

BACKGROUND

For many years fluconazole has been commonly used to treat Candida infections. However, the indiscriminate use of this antimycotic therapy has favored the emergence of resistant isolates. Mutations in the ERG11 gene have been described as one of the primary mechanisms of resistance in Candida species.

AIMS

In this study we investigated missense mutations in ERG11 genes of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis isolates previously evaluated by susceptibility testing to fluconazole.

METHODS

Screening for these mutations was performed on 19 Candida clinical isolates (eight C. albicans, five C. glabrata and six C. tropicalis) resistant and susceptible to fluconazole. The ERG11 gene was amplified by PCR with specific primers for each Candida species and analyzed by automated sequencing.

RESULTS

We identified 14 different missense mutations, five of which had not been described previously. Among them, a new mutation L321F was identified in a fluconazole resistant C. albicans isolate and it was analyzed by a theoretical three-dimensional structure of the ERG11p.

CONCLUSION

The L321F mutation in C. albicans ERG11 gene may be associated with fluconazole resistance.

Cladophialophora saturnica sp. nov., a new opportunistic species of Chaetothyriales revealed using molecular data

While many members of the black yeasts genus Cladophialophora have been reported to cause diseases in humans, understanding of their natural niche is frequently lacking. Some species can be recovered from the natural environment by means of selective isolation techniques. The present study focuses on a Cladophialophora strain that caused an interdigital tinea nigra-like lesion in a HIV-positive Brazilian child. The fungal infection was successfully treated with oxiconazole. Similar strains had been recovered from the environment in Brazil, Uruguay and the Netherlands. The strains were characterized by sequencing the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) regions and the small subunit (SSU) of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene, as well as the elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1alpha) gene. Since no match with any known species was found, it is described as the new species, Cladophialophora saturnica.

Correlation between CD34+ and exercise capacity, functional class, quality of life and norepinephrine in heart failure patients

BACKGROUND

A previous study associated CD34(+) levels with NYHA functional class in heart failure patients. The aim of this study was to correlate CD34(+) levels to exercise capacity, functional class, quality of life and norepinephrine in heart failure patients.

METHODS

Twenty three sedentary patients (52 +/- 7 years, 78% male) answered the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire and rested for 20 minutes before an investigator collect a blood sample. After this, patients performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test to determine the heart rate at anaerobic and ventilatory threshold and oxygen consumption at peak effort, at anaerobic and ventilatory threshold. One other blood sample was collected during the peak effort to investigate the norepinephrine and CD34(+) levels.

RESULTS

Rest percentage of CD34(+) did not show correlation with: left ventricle ejection fraction (r = 0.03, p = 0.888), peak VO(2) (r = 0.32, p = 0.13), VO(2) at anaerobic threshold (VO(2)AT) (r = 0.03, p = 0.86), VO(2) at ventilatory threshold (VO(2)VT) (r = 0.36, p = 0.08), NYHA functional class (r = -0.2, p = 0.35), quality of life (Minnesota) (r = -0.17, p = 0.42). CD34(+) did not show correlation, either, with: peak VO(2) (r = 0.38, p = 0.06), VO(2)AT (r = 0.09, p = 0.65), VO(2)VT (r = 0.43, p = 0.4), NYHA functional class (r = -0.13, p=0.54), quality of life (r = 0.00, p = 0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

CD34(+) levels did not correlate with exercise capacity, functional class, quality of life and norepinephrine. Percentage of CD34(+) levels did not increase during the cardiopulmonary exercise test in heart failure patients.

Congenital plaquelike glomus tumor in a child

An 8-year-old girl was seen in our outpatient clinic with a history of an angiomatous plaque on the chest since birth. She had complained of pain at the site of the lesion for 1 month. Histopathologic examination and immunohistochemical analysis led to the diagnosis of glomangioma, a rare congenital plaquelike glomus tumor. We review the literature and discuss the clinical presentation and evolution of this rare entity.

[Epidermal nevus syndrome - a case report]

OBJECTIVES: To present the case of a patient with an epidermal nevus since birth and its relationship to neurologic signs and symptoms, emphasizing the importance of cutaneous manifestations as early markers of syndromes involving the Central Nervous System. METHODS: Clinical, radiological and histopathological data were analyzed. RESULTS: We report the case of a boy with an erythematous lesion on the neck and cheek since birth. At 9 months the lesion was velvety and slightly brown in color, with associated hemihypertrophy of the face. After 3 months he was hospitalized for having seizures. Computerized tomography of the brain disclosed hemimegalencephaly ipsilateral to the cutaneous lesions. DISCUSSION: The cutaneous findings can be an indicator of neurologic disease since both tissues have the same embryological origin: the neural crest. Thus, the Pediatrician must recognize these cutaneous signs which appear early in life and characterize some of the Neurocutaneous Syndromes so that a proper diagnosis and follow-up can be made.

[A retrospective therapeutic study of neurocryptococcosis in 112 AIDS and non-AIDS patients]

A total of 112 AIDS and no AIDS cryptococcosis patients admitted at Emílio Ribas Hospital--São Paulo, Brazil, were treated with amphotericin B (AMB) or amphotericin B and 5 fluorocytosine (5FC). Age, race, predisposing and epidemiological factors, respiratory symptoms were evaluated. Goodman tests applied in three patients groups (I, II and III) with associate or unique therapy revealed: 1. prognostic factors: leukocytes ang glucose showed similar response in groups I, II and III and protein spinal fluid after 1.5g/AMB; 2. India ink tests and Cryptococcus culture were often positive until 1.0g/AMB; 3. significant hypokalemia during monotherapy. Hypo and hyperkalemia had similar data in associate therapy; 4. significant difference in adverse reactions often appeared above 0.7g AMB/250g 5FC; 5. early and late death were common in group III (unique) and group I (no AIDS) and III (2.5 to 4.0g) respectively; 6. similar remission and deaths were verified in AIDS/cryptococcosis.

CONCLUSIONS

adverse reactions were observed above 0.75g/AMB plus 250g 5FC. Association was important in initial therapy and AMB maintenance permitted late relapses.