Cockayne Syndrome: The many challenges and approaches to understand a multifaceted disease.

The striking and complex phenotype of Cockayne syndrome (CS) patients combines progeria-like features with developmental deficits. Since the establishment of the in vitro culture of skin fibroblasts derived from patients with CS in the 1970s, significant progress has been made in the understanding of the genetic alterations associated with the disease and their impact on molecular, cellular, and organismal functions. In this review, we provide a historic perspective on the research into CS by revisiting seminal papers in this field.

Peripheral blood fibrocytes: new information to explain the dynamics of Leishmania infection.

Fibrocytes are important for understanding the progression of many diseases because they are present in areas where pathogenic lesions are generated. However, the morphology of fibrocytes and their interactions with parasites are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the morphology of peripheral blood fibrocytes and their interactions with Leishmania (L.

Premature infants with birth weights of 1500-1999 g exhibit considerable delays in several developmental areas.

Aim: To establish the prevalence and factors associated with developmental scores and delays in premature infants.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 premature infants with corrected ages of 18-24 months (actual ages 19.9 ± 2.

Neurodevelopmental assessment of very low birth weight preterm infants at corrected age of 18-24 months by Bayley III scales.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of delay and factors associated with neurodevelopmental scores in premature infants.

Methods: Cross-sectional study to assess the development by Bayley Scales III, including very low birth weight preterm infants aged 18 to 24 months who were under follow-up at the outpatient clinic for preterm infants. Congenital malformation, genetic syndrome, symptomatic congenital infection at birth, deafness, and blindness were excluded.

Lulo cell line derived from Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae): a novel model to assay Leishmania spp. and vector interaction.

Background: Leishmania (Vianna) braziliensis, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi are important parasites in the scenario of leishmaniasis in Brazil. During the life cycle of these parasites, the promastigote forms adhere to the midgut epithelial microvillii of phlebotomine insects to avoid being secreted along with digestive products. Lulo cells are a potential model that will help to understand the features of this adhesion phenomenon.

Efficacy and toxicity of mitoxantrone and oral etoposide in the treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer: pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the association of mitoxantrone and oral etoposide.

Methods: Twelve consecutive patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer were treated with mitoxantrone and oral etoposide. Toxicity, response rate and response duration were assessed.

Histopathological analysis of initial cellular response in TLR-2 deficient mice experimentally infected by Leishmania (L.) amazonensis.

Tegumentary leishmaniasis is an important public health problem in several countries. The capacity of the Leishmania species, at the initial moments of the infection, to invade and survive inside the host cells involves the interaction of surface molecules that are crucial in determining the evolution of the disease. Using C57BL/6 wild-type and TLR-2(-/-) mice infected with L.