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Strongyloidosis is a neglected disease that affects millions of people around the world. The cases that particularly deserve attention are those related to hyperinfection, mainly in immunocompromised patients. In this sense, there is a need to improve the serological diagnosis of this helminth. The objective of this study was therefore to produce and characterize excretory/secretory (E/S) antigens of Strongyloides venezuelensis infective larvae (L3) for use as a heterologous antigen in the diagnosis of human strongyloidosis and other parasitic infection groups. Soluble antigenic preparations were produced as total saline extract (SE), E/S in Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640 (RPMI) and E/S in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The three antigenic preparations showed similar protein bands. An ELISA showed that the E/S antigens were profitable, easy to use, and more sensitive and specific than SE, eliminating cross-reactivity with other parasites in serum samples. The detection of anti-Strongyloides stercoralis in the sera of patients with strongyloidosis and those with immunosuppressive conditions using S. venezuelensis L3 larvae E/S antigens was satisfactory. RPMI and PBS E/S antigens were also superior in terms of specificity than SE.

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A comprehensive investigation of anhydrous form of 3,4,5-Triacetoxybenzoic acid (TABA) is reported. Single crystal X-ray diffraction, Thermal analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and DFT calculations were applied for TABA characterization. This anhydrous phase crystallizes in the triclinic [Formula: see text] space group (Z' = 1) and its packing shows a supramolecular motif in a classical [Formula: see text] ring formed by acid-acid groups association. The phase stability is accounted in terms of supramolecular architecture and its thermal behaviour. Conformation search at B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p) level of theory shows the existence of three stable conformers and the most stable conformation was found experimentally. The reactivity of TABA was investigated using the molecular orbital theory and molecular electrostatic potential. The calculation results were used to simulate the infrared spectrum. There is a good agreement between calculated and experimental IR spectrum, which allowed the assignment of the normal vibrational modes.

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Congenital or developmental deformities of the chest rarely cause severe functional problems in the manner of larger anomalies of the limbs. Poland syndrome is known as a variety of associated anomalies centered on the trunk and upper limbs. The authors report the case of a 28-year-old female with absence of the pectoralis major muscle and depression of the left anterior thoracic wall (sunken chest). She presented with hypoplasia of the papillary-areolar complex; her upper left limb was normal. Seven years after undergoing placement of a left-side breast prosthesis, she requested replacement of the implant because she was dissatisfied with its shape. Chest radiographs showed a chest deformity and deviation of the mediastinum to the right. After surgically removing the prosthesis, an area of costal reabsorption on the left side was seen at its site, with exposure of the parietal pericardium. The prosthesis was replaced with another of greater volume and the patient was referred to the thoracic surgery service. No cases of regional bone resorption secondary to the presence of a breast prosthesis are reported in the literature. However, it is known that compression results in bone absorption and subsequent bone remodeling. The authors therefore believe that greater attention to this possibility is needed in cases of breast prosthesis replacement among patients with Poland syndrome, by means of specific imaging studies such as computed tomography.

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A "Spiral Pump" (SP) é uma bomba de sangue que utiliza, simultaneamente, os princípios de bombeamento axial e centrífugo, através da rotação de um fuso cônico. As características hidrodinâmicas da SP foram estudadas em diversas condições de bombeamento, utilizando um circuito composto de tubos e reservatório plásticos, com 500 ml de solução água-glicerina (37 por cento). O comportamento do fluxo foi estudado nas áreas mais importantes da bomba utilizando um plano de luz laser estroboscópica. Partículas plásticas, suspensas na solução, foram iluminadas pela luz laser durante o funcionamento da bomba. Vários testes de hemólise foram realizados "In Vitro" utilizando sangue bovino, simulando duas condições de bombeamento: bomba de assistência ventricular esquerda e bomba de circulação e oxigenação extracorpórea

Abstract: The Spiral Pump (SP) is a blood pump that utilizes the two well known centrifugai and axial pumping principies, simultaneously. The hydrodynamic performance of the pump was studied at severa! test conditions, using a closed circuit loop with plastic tubes and reservoir, filled with 500 mi of 37% glycerin-water solution. The results show that the SP has good pumping performance. The flow behavior was studied in the most important areas of the pump using a stroboscopic planar helium-neon laser light. Amberlite plastic particles (80 mesh) were used in suspension in the solution and were illuminated by the laser light during the pumping process. Severa! in vitro hemolysis tests were performed using bovine blood, simulating two pump conditions: as left ventricular assist device and as cardiopulmonary bypass

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PURPOSE--To report the intra-hospitalar and late follow-up of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) acquired in the pregnancy or puerperium. METHODS--Eleven patients, between 1984-1992 according to the beginning of the IE episode (fever and other signals) were studied. Patients were divided in two groups: IE of pregnancy (7 cases), and puerperal IE (4 cases). RESULTS--In the pregnancy IE group, mitral valve was affected in 6 (85), and aortic valve in 1 (15). During the course of the treatment, two patients had to be operated on, respectively, in the 24th and 28th week of the pregnancy. The 1st one had a successfully mitral valve replacement by a biological prosthesis but 48 h later she aborted, and the 2nd presented neurological complication (intracerebral hemorrhage) in the immediate post-operative period of a successfully mitral valve replacement by biological prosthesis. She was undergone to a cesarean but the fetus remained alive for 24 h only. If we look at the newborns (fetus), only 4 of them survived. Out of 3 fetal deaths, 2 had close association with mother cardiac surgeries. In the pregnant period acquired IE, 3 (47) mothers died. In the puerperium group, 2 mitral valves and 2 aortic valves had IE. Two of them had to be operated on due to an important aortic regurgitation and cardiac failure. There were no deaths in this group. CONCLUSION--During pregnancy, IE showed a high morbi-mortality for mother and concept. The mother's neurological complications played a major role in the poor outcome during the pregnancy period.

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