RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: Verbal fluency (VF) tasks are widely used to investigate children's lexical knowledge and executive functions skills. Consistency of measurement of the strategic retrieval components is still an issue and performance of Brazilian-Portuguese speaking children are currently not available. A cross-sectional study investigated the effects of age, school type (public × private) and the influence of language, memory and inhibitory control on VF. METHOD: We assessed 414 Brazilian children, aged 6-12, in the number of words produced and both clustering and switching components, with two measures of VF: letter (LVF) and semantic (SVF). RESULTS: Analysis of the number of words produced showed a significant increase between 6-8-year-olds, 9-10-year-olds and 11-12-year-olds in SVF, while in LVF, the differences were significant only in the later age group. In SVF, the numbers of clusters and switches increased with age, whereas in LVF, the number of switches increased in all age groups, but clusters increased only in the older group. Structural equation model analyses showed that oral and written language, verbal memory and inhibitory control are associated with VF performance and IQ, while age mediated VF performance. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a different development pattern between LVF and SVF in the number of words produced and in clustering and switching, with the latter predicting VF performance in words produced. VF development is shown to depend on language, memory and inhibitory control. Our results have important implications to clinical neuropsychology.

Assuntos

Desenvolvimento Infantil , Inibição Psicológica , Idioma , Memória , Comportamento Verbal , Fatores Etários , Brasil , Criança , Cognição , Estudos Transversais , Escolaridade , Função Executiva , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Portugal , Semântica

RESUMO

Infective endocarditis (IE) is the cardiac disease with the highest rates of mortality. New biomarkers that are able to identify patients at risk for death are required to improve patient management and outcome. This study aims to investigate if cytokines, chemokines and growth factors measured at IE diagnosis can predict mortality. Patients with definite IE, according to the Duke's modified criteria, were included. Using high-performance Luminex assay, 27 different cytokines, chemokines and growth factors were analyzed. Machine learning techniques were used for the prediction of death and subsequently creating a decision tree, in which the cytokines, chemokines and growth factors were analyzed together with C-reactive protein (CRP). Sixty-nine patients were included, 41 (59%) male, median age 54 [interquartile range (IQR) = 41-65 years] and median time between onset of the symptoms and diagnosis was 12 days (IQR = 5-30 days). The in-hospital mortality was 26% (n = 18). Proinflammatory cytokines interkeukin (IL)-15 and C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL4) were found to predict death, adding value to CRP levels. The decision tree predicted correctly the outcome of 91% of the patients at hospital admission. The high-risk group, defined as CRP ≥ 72 mg/dL, IL-15 ≥ 5·6 fg/ml and CCL4 ≥ 6·35 fg/ml had an 88% in-hospital mortality rate, whereas the patients classified as low-risk had a mortality rate of 8% (P = < 0·001). Cytokines IL-15 and CCL4 were predictors of mortality in IE, adding prognostic value beyond that provided by CRP levels. Assessment of cytokines has potential value for clinical risk stratification and monitoring in IE patients.

Assuntos

Quimiocina CCL4/metabolismo , Endocardite/diagnóstico , Interleucina-15/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Proteína C-Reativa/metabolismo , Tomada de Decisões Assistida por Computador , Endocardite/imunologia , Endocardite/mortalidade , Feminino , Mortalidade Hospitalar , Humanos , Aprendizado de Máquina , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prognóstico , Fatores de Risco

RESUMO

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are associated with comorbidity. Shoulder pain is among the symptoms associated with TMD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between TMD and rotator cuff disease (RCD) and related genetic aspects. All subjects underwent orofacial and shoulder examinations. The control group comprised 30 subjects with no pain. Affected subjects were divided into three groups: RCD (TMD-free, n=16), TMD (RCD-free, n=13), and TMD/RCD (patients with both RCD and TMD, n=49). A total of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ESRRB gene were investigated. A chemiluminescent immunoassay was used to measure estradiol levels. Surface electromyography recorded head and cervical muscle activity. The χ(2) test and Student t-test/Mann-Whitney test were used to assess the significance of nominal and continuous variables. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. TMD subjects were seven times more susceptible to RCD than controls. The rs1676303 TT (P=0.02) and rs6574293 GG (P=0.04) genotypes were associated with RCD and TMD, respectively. TMD/RCD subjects showed associations with rs4903399 (P=0.02), rs10132091 (P=0.02), and CTTCTTAG/CCTCTCAG (P=0.01) haplotypes and lower muscle activity. Estradiol levels were similar among groups. This study supports TMD as a risk factor for RCD. ESRRB haplotypes and low muscle activity are common biomechanical characteristics in subjects with both diseases.

Assuntos

Doenças Musculares/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Receptores de Estrogênio/genética , Manguito Rotador , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular/genética , Brasil , Comorbidade , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade

RESUMO

AIM: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of clinical variables on survival rates in patients with squamous cell carcinomas in the lower oral cavity. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who exhibited a histological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the lower oral cavity, who underwent surgery. Data on clinical, histological, and treatment variables were collected to assess the effect of these variables on global survival and disease-free curves. RESULTS: We studied 117 patients, 86 (73.5%) males and 31 (26.5%) females, who underwent surgery between January 2005 and June 2009. The overall survival rate was 74.4% after two years, and the disease-free rate was 67.5%. Midline invasion by the primary tumor negatively impacted overall survival (P=0.02) and disease-free survival (P=0.01). The disease-free survival rate of patients with histologically confirmed neck metastases was 76.8% versus 59% for patients without metastases (P=0.01). Disease-free survival of patients with one affected lymph node was 89.5%, and 45.2% for more than one affected lymph node (P<0.01). Patients who ended radiotherapy in less than 60 days exhibited a disease-free rate of 59.0%, and patients whose treatment lasted more than 60 days exhibited a rate of 77.1% (P=0.06). CONCLUSION: In our study, primary tumor invasion of the midline, the presence of more than one affected lymph node as confirmed by histology, the delaying radiotherapy for more than 56 days and radiotherapy that lasted longer than 60 days worsen patient prognosis.

Assuntos

Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/mortalidade , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/cirurgia , Neoplasias Bucais/mortalidade , Neoplasias Bucais/cirurgia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prognóstico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Taxa de Sobrevida

RESUMO

Objective: This study compared the incidence of salivary fistula between groups with an early or late reintroduction of oral feeding, and identified the predictive factors for salivary fistula. Methods: A randomised trial was performed using 89 patients with larynx or hypopharynx cancer, assigned to 2 groups (early or late). In the early group, oral feeding was started 24 hours after total laryngectomy or total pharyngolaryngectomy, and in the late group, it was started from post-operative day 7 onwards. The occurrence of salivary fistula was evaluated in relation to the following variables: early or late oral feeding, nutritional status, cancer stage, surgery performed, and type of neck dissection. Results: The incidence of salivary fistula was 27.3 per cent (n = 12) in the early group and 13.3 per cent (n = 6) in the late group (p = 0.10). The following variables were not statistically significant: nutritional status (p = 0.45); tumour location (p = 0.37); type of surgery (p = 0.91) and type of neck dissection (p = 0.62). A significant difference (p = 0.02) between the free margins and invasive carcinoma was observed. Conclusion: The early reintroduction of oral feeding in total laryngectomised patients did not increase the incidence of salivary fistula.

RESUMO

AIMS: To report Type 2 diabetes-related outcomes after the implantation of a duodenal-jejunal bypass liner device and to investigate the role of proximal gut exclusion from food in glucose homeostasis using the model of this device. METHODS: Sixteen patients with Type 2 diabetes and BMI <36 kg/m(2) were evaluated before and 1, 12 and 52 weeks after duodenal-jejunal bypass liner implantation and 26 weeks after explantation. Mixed-meal tolerance tests were conducted over a period of 120 min and glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels were measured. The Matsuda index and the homeostatic model of assessment of insulin resistance were used for the estimation of insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance. The insulin secretion rate was calculated using deconvolution of C-peptide levels. RESULTS: Body weight decreased by 1.3 kg after 1 week and by 2.4 kg after 52 weeks (P < 0.001). One year after duodenal-jejunal bypass liner implantation, the mean (sem) HbA(1c) level decreased from 71.3 (2.4) mmol/mol (8.6[0.2]%) to 58.1 (4.4) mmol/mol (7.5 [0.4]%) and mean (sem) fasting glucose levels decreased from 203.3 (13.5) mg/dl to 155.1 (13.1) mg/dl (both P < 0.001). Insulin sensitivity improved by >50% as early as 1 week after implantation as measured by the Matsuda index and the homeostatic model of assessment of insulin resistance (P < 0.001), but there was a trend towards deterioration in all the above-mentioned variables 26 weeks after explantation. Fasting insulin levels, insulin area under the curve, fasting C-peptide, C-peptide area under the curve, fasting insulin and total insulin secretion rates did not change during the duodenal-jejunal bypass liner implantation period or after explantation. CONCLUSIONS: The duodenal-jejunal bypass liner improves glycaemia in overweight and obese patients with Type 2 diabetes by rapidly improving insulin sensitivity. A reduction in hepatic glucose output is the most likely explanation for this improvement.

Assuntos

Glicemia/metabolismo , Peptídeo C/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangue , Derivação Gástrica , Hemoglobinas Glicadas/metabolismo , Obesidade/cirurgia , Área Sob a Curva , Remoção de Dispositivo , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/cirurgia , Duodeno/cirurgia , Jejum , Feminino , Homeostase , Humanos , Insulina/metabolismo , Resistência à Insulina , Secreção de Insulina , Jejuno/cirurgia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Obesidade/sangue , Estudos Prospectivos , Resultado do Tratamento , Redução de Peso

RESUMO

Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887, Characiformes) dwells in waters of Pantanal, in which it has adapted for alternate concentrations of dissolved oxygen. Intracellular antioxidant protection should be vital for such an adaptation. Accordingly, we found that cytosol from liver of pacu has the highest antioxidant glutathione peroxidase activity so far reported for fish and murine species. To clarify whether this activity was due to a selenium independent glutathione S-transferase or to a glutathione peroxidase, we purified it and studied its kinetics. The substrates cumene hydroperoxide and hydrogen peroxide were promptly reduced by the enzyme, but peroxidized phosphatidylcholine had to undergo previous fatty acid removal with phospholipase A(2). Augmenting concentrations (from 2 to 6 mM) of reduced glutathione activated the pure enzyme. Curves of velocity versus different micromolar concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of 2, 4 or 8 mM reduced glutathione indicated that at least 2.5 mM reduced glutathione should be available in vivo for an efficient continuous destruction of micromolar concentrations of hydrogen peroxide by this peroxidase. Molecular exclusion HPLC and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the purified peroxidase is a homotetramer. Data from internal sequences showed selenocysteine in its primary structure and that the enzyme was a homologue of the type-1 glutathione peroxidase found in rat, bull, trout, flounder and zebra fish. Altogether, our data establish that in liver cells of pacu, a hypoxia-tolerant fish from South America, there are high levels of a cytosolic GPX-1 capable of quenching hydrogen peroxide and fatty acid peroxides, providing an effective antioxidant action.

Assuntos

Citosol/enzimologia , Peixes/metabolismo , Glutationa Peroxidase/isolamento & purificação , Glutationa Peroxidase/metabolismo , Hipóxia/metabolismo , Fígado/citologia , Fígado/enzimologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Sulfato de Amônio , Animais , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Derivados de Benzeno/metabolismo , Fracionamento Químico , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão , Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida , Glutationa/metabolismo , Glutationa Peroxidase/química , Peróxido de Hidrogênio/metabolismo , Focalização Isoelétrica , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Oxirredução , Fosfatidilcolinas/metabolismo , América do Sul , Áreas Alagadas , Glutationa Peroxidase GPX1

RESUMO

We show here that serum of piaussu, a Neotropical characin fish, has the highest butyrylcholinesterase activity so far described for humans and fish. To clarify whether this cholinesterase could protect piaussu against anticholinesterase pesticides by scavenging organophosphates, we purified it 1700-fold, with a yield of 80%. Augmenting concentrations (from 0.01 to 20 mM) of butyrylthiocholine activated it. The pure enzyme was highly inhibited by chlorpyriphos-oxon (ki=10,434x10(6) M-1 min-1) and by the specific butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor, isoOMPA (ki=45.7x10(6) M-1 min-1). Electrophoresis of total serum and 2-D electrophoresis of the purified cholinesterase showed that some enzyme molecules could circulate in piaussu serum as heterogeneously glycosylated dimers. The enzyme's N-terminal sequence was similar to sequences found for butyrylcholinesterase from sera of other vertebrates. Altogether, our data present a novel butyrylcholinesterase with the potential of protecting a fish from poisoning by organophosphates.

Assuntos

Butirilcolinesterase/sangue , Peixes/sangue , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Butirilcolinesterase/isolamento & purificação , Butirilcolinesterase/metabolismo , Butiriltiocolina/metabolismo , Clorpirifos/análogos & derivados , Clorpirifos/farmacologia , Inibidores da Colinesterase/farmacologia , Eletroforese em Gel Bidimensional , Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida , Humanos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Intoxicação por Organofosfatos , Paraoxon/análogos & derivados , Paraoxon/farmacologia , Intoxicação/prevenção & controle , Alinhamento de Sequência , Tetraisopropilpirofosfamida/farmacologia

RESUMO

AIM: Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 (PPAR-gamma2) is a nuclear receptor that plays an important role in lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of Pro12Ala polymorphism at the PPAR-gamma2 gene in Brazilian patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2Dm) and controls (CG). METHODS: Genomic DNA was obtained from 207 unrelated white people presenting with T2Dm and from 170 controls. Anthropometric data included body mass index and waist to hip ratio. Biochemical parameters included fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glycated haemoglobin and insulin. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also measured. Screening for mutations in the entire coding region of the PPAR-gamma gene was performed by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single-strand conformational polymorphism and sequencing. Pro12Ala polymorphism was analysed by using PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment-length polymorphism). RESULTS: One base substitution was identified - a C to G substitution in exon B of the PPAR-gamma2 gene. The frequency of the Ala12 allele in T2Dm (0.09) was similar to that found in CG (0.06, p = 0.185). In the T2Dm group, Ala12 allele was associated with lower fasting plasma insulin levels (p = 0.036) and higher insulin sensitivity (p = 0.049) by means of homeostasis model assessment. Among obese people, there was no association between any of the T2Dm or obesity-related traits and the Pro12Ala polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that people with the Ala12 allele of the PPAR-gamma2 gene could be more sensitive to insulin than those carriers of the Pro12 allele among Brazilian Caucasians.

Assuntos

Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/genética , Resistência à Insulina/genética , PPAR gama/genética , Polimorfismo Genético , Adulto , Idoso , Antropometria , Glicemia/metabolismo , Análise Mutacional de DNA/métodos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangue , Feminino , Humanos , Insulina/sangue , Lipídeos/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodos , Polimorfismo Conformacional de Fita Simples

RESUMO

AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of the C161T polymorphism of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) gene in Brazilian subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and controls residing in Sao Paulo City, Brazil. METHODS: Genomic DNA was obtained from 207 patients with T2DM and 170 unrelated normoglycemic individuals (CG). Anthropometric data included: body mass index, waist, hip, waist-to-hip ratio; biochemical parameters: fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, glycated hemoglobin and insulin. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was also measured. Screening for mutations in the entire coding region of the PPARgamma gene was carried out by PCR, single strand conformational polymorphism analysis (SSCP) and sequencing. C161T polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: The C161T polymorphism was the only variant found in exon 6 of the PPARgamma gene. The frequency of the 161T allele in T2DM (0.10) was similar to that found in CG (0.07, p=0.210). Serum triglycerides (p=0.040), VLDL-cholesterol (p=0.040) and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP; p=0.003) were significantly lower in 161T allele carriers than non-carriers in women of the T2DM group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the C161T polymorphism in the PPARgamma gene is not associated with variables related to T2DM or insulin resistance in the Brazilian population. However, a reduction of serum triglycerides and AIP was observed in women with 161T allele of the C161T polymorphism of the PPARgamma gene.

Assuntos

Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/genética , Lipídeos/sangue , PPAR gama/genética , Polimorfismo Genético , Adulto , Idoso , Sequência de Bases , Brasil , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Citosina , Feminino , Frequência do Gene , Heterozigoto , Humanos , Resistência à Insulina/genética , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , Polimorfismo Conformacional de Fita Simples , Timina

RESUMO

Triclabendazole (TCBZ) is an halogenated trematodicidal benzimidazole compound extensively used in veterinary medicine. It is active against immature and adult stages of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica. Free and conjugated TCBZ metabolites have been identified in the bile of treated sheep. The experimental aims were to characterize the in vitro patterns of TCBZ biotransformation both in the animal host (sheep liver microsomes) and target parasite (F. hepatica microsomal preparation); and to compare the ex vivo diffusion of TCBZ parent drug and its oxidized metabolites (TCBZ sulphoxide [TCBZSO], TCBZ sulphone [TCBZSO2], and TCBZ-hydroxy derivatives) into F. hepatica. Additionally, the octanol-water partition coefficients for TCBZ and all its metabolites were estimated as an indicator of the relationship between drug lipophilicity and diffusion into the target parasite. Drug/metabolites concentrations were quantified by HPLC after sample clean up and a solvent-mediated chemical extraction. Sheep liver microsomes metabolized TCBZ into its sulphoxide and sulphone metabolites after 30 min of incubation. The rate of TCBZ sulphoxidation in the liver was significantly greater (p < 0.01) than that observed for the sulphonation of TCBZSO. The trematode parasite oxidized TCBZ into its sulphoxide metabolite after 60 min of incubation at a metabolic rate of 0.09 nmol min(-1) mg protein(-1). TCBZ and all its oxidized metabolic products were recovered from F. hepatica as early as 15 min after their ex vivo incubation in a Kreb's Ringer Tris buffer. However, the diffusion of the hydroxy-derivatives into the fluke was lower than that observed for TCBZ, TCBZSO and TCBZSO2. There was a high correlation (r=0.82) between drug lipophilicity (expressed as octanol-water partition coefficients) and drug availability measured within the parasite. Unlike the uptake pattern previously observed for albendazole, the parent TCBZ and its sulphoxide and sulphone metabolites showed a similar ability to penetrate into the trematode parasite. Understanding the relationship between TCBZ metabolism, the relative pharmacological potency of its metabolic products and their ability to reach the target parasite may be critical to optimize its flukicidal activity, particularly when TCBZ resistant flukes have been already isolated in the field.

Assuntos

Benzimidazóis/química , Benzimidazóis/farmacocinética , Fasciola hepatica/química , Fasciola hepatica/metabolismo , Microssomos Hepáticos/química , Microssomos Hepáticos/metabolismo , Animais , Biotransformação , Células Cultivadas , Difusão , Taxa de Depuração Metabólica , Oxirredução , Ovinos , Triclabendazol

RESUMO

Analysis of zymograms with SDS-polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis containing gelatin as substrate, and performed on samples of haemolymph or fat body taken from Rhodnius prolixus inoculated or not with Enterobacter cloacae, demonstrated distinct patterns of protease activities: (i) in the haemolymph two proteases were induced in insects inoculated with bacteria; (ii) two proteases were detected in the fat bodies derived from non-inoculated controls or insect inoculated with sterile culture medium; (iii) haemolymph and fat body had both the same apparent molecular weights proteases (46 and 56 kDa); and (iv) these enzymes were characterized as metallo-proteases. The association of these enzymes in Rhodnius infected with bacteria was discussed.

Assuntos

Animais , Enterobacter cloacae/enzimologia , Corpo Adiposo/parasitologia , Hemolinfa/parasitologia , Metaloproteases , Rhodnius/enzimologia

RESUMO

Analysis of zymograms with SDS-polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis containing gelatin as substrate, and performed on samples of haemolymph or fat body taken from Rhodnius prolixus inoculated or not with Enterobacter cloacae, demonstrated distinct patterns of protease activities: (i) in the haemolymph two proteases were induced in insects inoculated with bacteria; (ii) two proteases were detected in the fat bodies derived from non-inoculated controls or insect inoculated with sterile culture medium; (iii) haemolymph and fat body had both the same apparent molecular weights proteases (46 and 56 kDa); and (iv) these enzymes were characterized as metallo-proteases. The association of these enzymes in Rhodnius infected with bacteria was discussed.

Assuntos

Enterobacter cloacae/metabolismo , Infecções por Enterobacteriaceae/enzimologia , Corpo Adiposo/enzimologia , Hemolinfa/enzimologia , Proteínas de Insetos/metabolismo , Metaloendopeptidases/metabolismo , Rhodnius/metabolismo , Animais , Infecções por Enterobacteriaceae/microbiologia , Serina Endopeptidases/metabolismo

RESUMO

No experimento foram utilizadas vacas da raça Simental procedentes de fazendas das Regiöes Noroeste do Estado do Paraná e Sul do Mato Grosso do Sul, administrando-se o homônio folículo estimulante (FSH) para a superovulaçäo e utilizando-se o método cirúrgico para a inovulaçäo dos embriöes nas receptoras. No total foram efetuadas 103 colheitas e utilizadas 749 vacas receptoras. Foram colhidos 1.014 embriöes sendo 81,8 por cento destes transplantados e os restantes congelados ou rejeitados. Colheram-se em média 9,8 embriöes por doadora sendo 8,0 transplantados, proporcionando 3,8 animais prenhes por colheita. Ocorreram 4,8 por cento de colheitas sem embriäo e 1,9 por cento de óvulos näo-fertilizados. Relativamente ao tamanho do corpo lúteo (CL) palpado nas vacas receptoras, os dados demonstraram que os Corpora lutea de médio e maior tamanho tiveram significativa influência sobre a taxa de prenhez em relaçäo aos de menor tamanho (p<0,05) e 64,0 por cento das receptoras ovularam no ovário do lado direito. A taxa de prenhez em relaçäo à sincronia de estro entre doadoras e receptoras foi mais elevada entre os dias mais 2 e menos 2 (p>0,05) (o mais significa que o estro nas receptoras ocorreu após o da doadora e vice-versa), sendo muito baixa além destes limites. Os embriöes classificados como ótimos e bons e inovulados influíram significativamente sobre o percentual de prenhez, e o total geral da taxa de gestaçäo foi de 47,0 por cento

Assuntos

Animais , Feminino , Bovinos , Transferência Embrionária , Hormônio Foliculoestimulante , Superovulação

RESUMO

This survey was conducted on 252 farms randomly distributed over all the sheep raising areas in Uruguay. The study involved farms with more than 600 sheep, which represented 80% of the total sheep population of the country. Three anthelmintic groups were assessed, namely, benzimidazoles, levamisole and avermectins. Overall, the results showed 80% of sheep flocks had benzimidazole resistance, 71% had resistance to levamisole, and 1.2% of flocks showed resistance to avermectins. Approximately 28% of farms had resistance to one anthelmintic group, 64% to two anthelmintic groups, and 1% resistance to all three groups. Only 7.5% of farms had no detectable levels of anthelmintic resistance. More than 80% of farms had Trichostrongylus populations resistant to both benzimidazoles and levamisole. Resistance was recorded in all three anthelmintic groups for Haemonchus and resistance also occurred to benzimidazoles and levamisole in Ostertagia.

Assuntos

Resistência a Múltiplos Medicamentos , Nematoides/efeitos dos fármacos , Infecções por Nematoides/veterinária , Doenças dos Ovinos , Ovinos/parasitologia , Agricultura , Animais , Benzimidazóis/uso terapêutico , Demografia , Haemonchus/efeitos dos fármacos , Ivermectina/análogos & derivados , Ivermectina/uso terapêutico , Levamisol/uso terapêutico , Infecções por Nematoides/tratamento farmacológico , Ostertagia/efeitos dos fármacos , Temperatura , Trichostrongylus/efeitos dos fármacos , Uruguai

RESUMO

Dez pacientes portadores de diverticulo de Zenker foram submetidos a diverticulopexia associada a miotomia do musculo cricofaringeo para tratamento dessa afeccao, entre o periodo de 1983 a 1992. A tecnica consiste na disseccao do diverticulo e ancoramento do mesmo a fascia pre-vertebral de modo a ficar invertido, o que impede o seu enchimento com a degluticao. A media de idade dos pacientes era de 78,8 anos e todos tinham o diagnostico de diverticulo confirmado pela historia clinica e pela radiografia contrastada do esofago. Os sintomas mais comuns eram disfagia e regurgitacao, que foram avaliados no pos-operatorio em todos os pacientes...

Assuntos

Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Cartilagem Cricoide/cirurgia , Divertículo Esofágico/cirurgia , Divertículo Gástrico/cirurgia , Faringe/cirurgia , Faringe/patologia , Doenças do Esôfago/cirurgia , Músculos Faríngeos/cirurgia , Músculos Faríngeos/patologia

RESUMO

Investigation of protease activities during the transformation of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes into metacyclic trypomastigoes (metacyclo-genesis) revealed three major components with apparent molecular weights of 65, 52, and 40 kDa. The 65-kDa protease is a metacyclic trypomastigote stage-specific protease with an isoelectric point of 5.2 whose activity is inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline, suggesting that it might be a metalloprotease. The 52-kDa component is also a metalloprotease which is constitutively expressed in epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomastigoes. On the other hand, the 40-kDa component is apparently made up of several isoforms of a cysteine protease which is expressed in much higher levels in epimastigotes than in metacyclic trypomastigote forms. The fact that the 65- and 40-kDa proteases are developmentally regulated suggests that proteases might be important for T. cruzi differentiation. Accordingly, T. cruzi metacyclogenesis is blocked by metallo- and cysteine-protease inhibitors.

Assuntos

Cisteína Endopeptidases/metabolismo , Metaloendopeptidases/metabolismo , Trypanosoma cruzi/enzimologia , Animais , Cisteína Endopeptidases/química , Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Ponto Isoelétrico , Metaloendopeptidases/química , Peso Molecular , Inibidores de Proteases/farmacologia , Trypanosoma cruzi/efeitos dos fármacos , Trypanosoma cruzi/crescimento & desenvolvimento

RESUMO

The study of the expression of a Trypanosoma cruzi gene encoding a cytoplasmic repetitive antigen (CRA) during the metacyclogenesis process shows that this gene is not expressed in metacyclic trypomastigote forms of the parasite. However, a slight increase in CRA expression was observed following the nutritional stress of epimastigotes which precedes T. cruzi metacyclogenesis in vitro. The comparison of the expression of CRA in different T. cruzi strains shows that this gene is highly polymorphic: some strains display one and others display two polypeptides reacting with a CRA antiserum. The comparison of T. cruzi G-49 strain and Dm 28c clone shows that they display rather different Northern and Southern blot profiles when probed with a clone corresponding to the repetitive region of the CRA gene. A similar polymorphism was also observed for the gene encoding a flagellar repetitive antigen, suggesting that gene polymorphism might be a common feature of many T. cruzi genes.

Assuntos

Antígenos de Protozoários/genética , Expressão Gênica , Polimorfismo Genético , Trypanosoma cruzi/genética , Animais , Northern Blotting , Southern Blotting , Citoplasma/imunologia , Flagelos/imunologia , Genes , Peso Molecular , RNA/genética , Trypanosoma cruzi/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Trypanosoma cruzi/imunologia

RESUMO

We report 3 patients with congenital A-V block whose mothers had anti-Ro or anti-La antibodies. One of them had systemic lupus with serum anti-Ro antibodies; the other had anti-Ro antibodies and no clinical manifestations; the third had an undifferentiated connective tissue disorder with anti-La antibodies in the serum. The epidemiology of this association is discussed as well as some therapeutic options.

Assuntos

Doenças do Tecido Conjuntivo/imunologia , Bloqueio Cardíaco/congênito , Adulto , Doenças Autoimunes/imunologia , Feminino , Bloqueio Cardíaco/imunologia , Humanos , Imunidade Materno-Adquirida , Recém-Nascido

RESUMO

Este artigo descreve uma tecnica rapida, pratica e segura para a preparacao de cariotipos somaticos de triatomineos usando neuroblastos ganglionares de embriao sem colchinizacao do material. Baseia-se na identificacao previa dos ovos (embrioes) mais ricos em matafases atraves de uma relacao encontrada entre a frequencia relativa de metafases e a posicao dos olhos do embriao no ovo.Esta relacao e significativa e torna muito mais facil a selecao dos ovos.Condicoes ambientais de temperatura e boa alimentacao dos barbeiros sao necessarias a obtencao de ovos viaveis e de bom rendimento quando da aplicacao da tecnica.Ovos nos quais os olhos estao em posicao basal (I),pre-medial (II), medial (III), pos-medial (IV) e apical (V) foram dissecados.As cadeias ganglionares isoladas foram submetidas sucessivamente a tratamento hipotonico, fixacao e esmagamento. As preparacoes foram secas ao ar, observadas em contraste de fase e fotografadas. Foi feita a contagem das metafases e determinada a sua frequencia relativa. Conclui-se que os ganglios retirados dos ovos dos tipos I e II sao os mais ricos em metafases. Sao discutidos e enfatizados os aspectos praticos e economicos da tecnica

Assuntos

Animais , Técnicas In Vitro , Cariotipagem , Triatominae