Jejunal perforation caused by abdominal angiostrongyliasis Perfuração jejunal causada por angiostrongilíase abdominal

The authors describe a case of abdominal angiostrongyliasis in an adult patient presenting acute abdominal pain caused by jejunal perforation. The case was unusual, as this affliction habitually involves the terminal ileum, appendix, cecum or ascending colon. The disease is caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus costaricensis, whose definitive hosts are forest rodents while snails and slugs are its intermediate hosts. Infection in humans is accidental and occurs via the ingestion of snail or slug mucoid secretions found on vegetables, or by direct contact with the mucus. Abdominal angiostrongyliasis is clinically characterized by prolonged fever, anorexia, abdominal pain in the right-lower quadrant, and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Although usually of a benign nature, its course may evolve to more complicated forms such as intestinal obstruction or perforation likely to require a surgical approach. Currently, no efficient medication for the treatment of abdominal angiostrongyliasis is known to be available. In this study, the authors provide a review on the subject, considering its etiopathogeny, clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment.<br>Os autores descrevem caso de angiostrongilíase abdominal em doente adulto que se manifestou como abdômen agudo devido à perfuração de alça jejunal, evento raro, uma vez que esta afecção geralmente envolve o íleo terminal, apêndice, ceco ou cólon ascendente. A doença é causada pelo nematódeo Angiostrongylus costaricensis cujos hospedeiros definitivos são roedores silvestres e os hospedeiros intermediários são caracóis e caramujos. A infecção em humanos é acidental e ocorre pela ingestão de secreção mucóide destes invertebrados presentes em vegetais ou por contato direto com o muco. A angiostrongilíase abdominal é clinicamente caracterizada pela presença de febre prolongada, anorexia, dor no quadrante inferior direito do abdômen e eosinofilia periférica. Embora a doença seja de natureza benigna, seu curso pode evoluir para formas complicadas como a obstrução ou perfuração intestinais que necessitam de tratamento cirúrgico. Atualmente, não há tratamento medicamentoso eficaz para a angiostrongilíase abdominal. Neste estudo, os autores realizam uma revisão desta afecção em relação à sua etiopatogenia, quadro clínico diagnóstico e tratamento

Post-translational mechanisms of zinc signalling in cancer

Three groups of proteins are actively involved in the control of intracellular zinc, consisting of ZIP channels (SLC39A), ZnT transporters (SLC30A), and metallothioneins. Malfunctions of many zinc transport proteins, especially those belonging to the ZIP family which increase cytosolic zinc availability, have been associated with cancer. Importantly, post-translational modifications have been reported to play an increasing role in the functional control of ZIP channels. In this chapter, we therefore detail the established role of zinc signalling in cancer, with an emphasis on breast cancer, as well as demonstrate effects of post-translational modifications by phosphorylation and proteolytic cleavage

Zinc

International audienceBook coverTrace Elements and Minerals in Health and Longevity pp 99–131Cite asZincJohn H. Beattie, Marco Malavolta & Irina Korichneva ChapterFirst Online: 14 November 2018584 Accesses2 CitationsPart of the Healthy Ageing and Longevity book series (HAL,volume 8)AbstractZinc has a critical role in biology due principally to its chemical affinity for cellular thiol, imidazole and carboxyl ligands. The regulation of zinc homeostasis is critically dependent on zinc transporters and channels since free zinc or zinc associated with biomolecules is not membrane permeable. While zinc homeostasis may be maintained at different levels of dietary zinc intake, zinc status may vary with zinc intake. This chapter gives a detailed description of the current knowledge concerning the relationship between zinc homeostasis, aging and health. How age-related changes affect zinc intake, metabolism, excretion and homeostasis is described with a particular focus on the alterations of mechanisms controlling the function of zinc transporters and other proteins involved in zinc homeostasis. Evidence for the involvement of zinc dyshomeostasis in immunosenescence, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and frailty is also extensively reviewed. The impact of zinc supplementation in health and diseases is approached considering data from model organisms to humans as well as the tight relationship of zinc with the insulin and insulin growth factor (IIS) pathway, which has a well-defined antagonistic pleiotropic function in aging. This chapter aims to help promote future research into the efficacy of zinc for prevention of age-related diseases and for therapeutic supplementation