SUMMARY A previously healthy, 52-year-old woman presented with a nine months history of low fever and weight loss (> 30 kg). Physical examination disclosed generalized lymphadenopathy, skin lesions, abdominal distension, mild tachypnea and a left breast mass. Laboratory tests showed anemia; (prerenal) kidney injury, low serum albumin level; and negative serology for HIV and viral hepatitis. Computed tomography (neck/chest/abdomen) showed generalized lymph node enlargement, splenomegaly, pleural effusion and ascites. We performed thoracocentesis and paracentesis, and the findings were consistent with chylothorax and chylous ascites (with no neoplastic cells). Biopsies of the breast mass, skin and lymph nodes were performed and all of them showed large round yeast cells with multiple narrow-based budding daughter cells, characteristic of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Consequently, paracoccidioidomycosis was diagnosed, and liposomal amphotericin B was prescribed, as well as a high protein and low fat diet (supplemented with medium chain triglycerides). Even so, her clinical status worsened, requiring renal replacement therapy. She evolved with pneumonia, septic shock and respiratory failure and subsequently died. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a case with chylothorax and breast mass due to paracoccidioidomycosis. Additionally, we discuss: 1- the importance of the inclusion of this mycosis in the differential diagnosis of chylothorax and breast mass (breast cancer), especially in endemic areas; and 2- the possible mechanism involved in the development of chylous effusions.

Atualmente, compósitos à base de polímero/carga mineral têm sido alvo de grande interesse, tanto em indústrias quanto em pesquisas acadêmicas, devido à melhora significativa nas propriedades dos materiais quando comparadas ao polímero virgem. O carbonato de cálcio (CaCO3) é um dos materiais mais abundantes do planeta e tem sido geralmente usado na obtenção de compósitos poliméricos. As propriedades de suas partículas (tamanho, forma e módulo) podem provocar um efeito significativo, especialmente no comportamento mecânico. As misturas PEAD/CaCO3 são amplamente usadas na indústria automotiva. No presente estudo, o efeito da incorporação de CaCO3 nas propriedades mecânicas e de escoamento destas misturas foi avaliado através de um planejamento fatorial simples de dois níveis, do tipo 2n, com n = 3 fatores: teor de carga; tamanho de partícula e velocidade de rotação da rosca. As variáveis de resposta analisadas foram: módulo de Young e resistência ao impacto e índice de fluidez (MFI). Os resultados mostraram que, dentro dos níveis estabelecidos, o fator que apresentou mais impacto nas variáveis de resposta foi o teor de carga mineral.

In recent years, polymer/mineral filler composites have attracted great interest, both in industries and academic researches, because they often show a remarkable improvement of materials properties when compared to virgin polymers. Calcium carbonate, CaCO3, is one of the most abundant materials on the planet and it has been often used to obtain polymer composites. The properties of its particles (size, shape and modulus) can provoke a significant effect, especially on mechanical behavior. HDPE/CaCO3 compounds are widely used in the automotive industry. In the present study, the effect of CaCO3 addition to the mechanical and flow properties of these compounds was evaluated using a simple 2n factorial design, with n = 3 factors: filler content; particle size and screw speed. The dependent variables analyzed were: Young modulus; impact strength and melt flow index (MFI). The results showed that the greatest impacts on the dependent variables were related to changes on mineral filler content.