The finding of eggs of Diphyllobothrium in human coprolites (4.100-1.950 BC) from Northern Chile

Twenty six coprolites from an archaeological site in the province of Iquique, northern Chile, were examined for parasites. Coprolites were found in two excavation units, I and II (Tiliviche site), dated respectively at 5,900 B.C. to 4,110 B.C. and 4,110 B.C. to 1,950 B.C., and identified as of human origin. Only at the unit II coprolites containing helminth eggs identified as Diphyllobothrium pacificum were found. The presence of this tapeworm, a parasite of the American Sea Lion, in human coprolites, points to a diet which included marine fishes and provides information on the antiquity of infection by Diphyllobothrium pacificum. It is interesting to note that Baer (1969) suggests the presence of this tapeworm in pre-Columbian populations when diagnosing the first human cases in today's population in Peru.

Basic biochemical investigations as rationale for the design of original antimalarial drugs. An example of phospholipid metabolism

The future of antimalarial chemotherapy is particulary alarming in view of the spread of parasite cross-resistances to drugs that are not even structurally related. Only the availability of new pharmacological models will make it possible to select molecules with novel mechanisms of action, thus delaving resistance and allowing the development of new chemotherapeutic strategies. We reached this objective in mice. Our approach is hunged on fundamental and applied research begun in 1980 to investigate to phospholipid (PL) metabolism of intraerythrocytic Plasmodium. This metabolism is abundant, specific and indispensable for the production of Plasmodium membranes. Any drug to interfere with this metabolism blocks parasitic development. The most effective interference yet found involves blockage of the choline transporter, which supplies Plasmodium with choline for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, its major PL, this is a limiting step in the pathway. The drug sensitivity thereshold is much lower for the parasite, which is more dependent on this metabolism than host cells. The compounds show in vitro activity against P. falciparum at 1 to 10 nM. They show a very low toxicity against a lymphblastoid cell line, demonstrating a total abscence of correlation between growth inhibition of parasites and lymphoblastoid cells. They show antimalarial activity in vivo, in the P. berghei or P. chabaudi/mouse system, at doses 20-to 100-fold lower than their in acute toxicity limit. The bioavailability of a radiolabeled form of the product seemed to be advantageous (slow blood clearance and no significant concentration in tissues). Lastly, the compounds are inexpensive to produce. They are stable and water-soluble.

The Bernhard Nocht Institute: 100 years of tropical medicine in Hamburg

The Bernhard Nocht Institute (BNI) is a four months younger and much smaller sibling of the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. It was founded on 1 October 1900 as an Institut für Schiffs- und Tropenkrankheiten (Institute for Maritime and Tropical Diseases) and was later named after its founder and first director Bernhard Nocht. Today it is the Germany's largest institution for research in tropical medicine. It is a government institution affiliated to the Federal Ministry of Health of Germany and the Department of Health of the State of Hamburg. As the center for research in tropical medicine in Germany the BNI is dedicated to research, training and patient care in the area of human infectious diseases, which are of particular relevance in the tropics. It is the primary mission of the BNI to develop means to the control of these diseases. Secondary missions are to provide expertise for regional and national authorities and to directly and indirectly improve the health care for national and regional citizens in regard to diseases of the tropics.

Epidemiology, control and surveillance of Chagas disease: 100 years after its discovery

Chagas disease originated millions of years ago as an enzootic infection of wild animals and began to be transmitted to humans as an anthropozoonosis when man invaded wild ecotopes. While evidence of human infection has been found in mummies up to 9,000 years old, endemic Chagas disease became established as a zoonosis only in the last 200-300 years, as triatomines adapted to domestic environments. It is estimated that 15-16 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi in Latin America, and 75-90 million are exposed to infection. Control of Chagas disease must be undertaken by interrupting its transmission by vectors and blood transfusions, improving housing and areas surrounding dwellings, providing sanitation education for exposed populations and treating acute and recently infected chronic cases. These measures should be complemented by surveillance and primary, secondary and tertiary care.

Using a single tablet daily to treat latent tuberculosis infection in Brazil: bioequivalence of two different isoniazid formulations (300 mg and 100 mg) demonstrated by a sensitive and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method in a randomised, crossover study

The recommended treatment for latent tuberculosis (TB) infection in adults is a daily dose of isoniazid (INH) 300 mg for six months. In Brazil, INH was formulated as 100 mg tablets. The treatment duration and the high pill burden compromised patient adherence to the treatment. The Brazilian National Programme for Tuberculosis requested a new 300 mg INH formulation. The aim of our study was to compare the bioavailability of the new INH 300 mg formulation and three 100 mg tablets of the reference formulation. We conducted a randomised, single dose, open label, two-phase crossover bioequivalence study in 28 healthy human volunteers. The 90% confidence interval for the INH maximum concentration of drug observed in plasma and area under the plasma concentration vs. time curve from time zero to the last measurable concentration “time t” was 89.61-115.92 and 94.82-119.44, respectively. The main limitation of our study was that neither adherence nor the safety profile of multiple doses was evaluated. To determine the level of INH in human plasma, we developed and validated a sensitive, simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Our results showed that the new formulation was bioequivalent to the 100 mg reference product. This finding supports the use of a single 300 mg tablet daily strategy to treat latent TB. This new formulation may increase patients’ adherence to the treatment and quality of life.

Year-round poultry litter decomposition and N, P, K and Ca release

Poultry litter is an important nutrient source in agriculture, although little information is available regarding its decomposition rate and nutrient release. To evaluate these processes, poultry litter (PL) was applied to the soil to supply 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1 N contained in 4,953, 9,907 and 14,860 kg ha-1 PL, respectively. The litter bag technique was used to monitor the process of decomposition and nutrient release from the litter. These bags were left on the soil surface and collected periodically (after 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330, and 365 days). The dry matter (DM) loss was highest (35 %) after the first 30 days of field incubation. The highest nutrient release occurred in the first 60 days on the field, when 40, 34, 91, and 39 %, respectively, of N, P, K, and Ca of the initial PL dry matter (4,860 kg ha-1) was already released to the soil. In absolute terms, these percentages represent 40, 23, 134, and 69 kg ha-1 of N, P, K, and Ca and these values doubled and tripled as the PL fertilization rates increased to 9,907 and 14,860 kg ha-1, respectively. After one year of field incubation, the residual contents in the litter were 27, 15, 18 and 30 % of the initial DM , and N, P and Ca, respectively. The release rate of K was the fastest and 91 % of the K had been released from the PL after 30 days of field incubation.

Efeito da aplicação de enzimas pectinolíticas no rendimento da extração de polpa de cupuaçu

O Brasil apresenta uma diversidade de frutas regionais, principalmente nas regiões Norte e Nordeste. Dentre estas, destaca-se o cupuaçu, que é uma fruta considerada exótica e de grande potencial comercial nos mercados dos estados do Sudeste do Brasil e dos países europeus. A polpa e a semente são importantes para o desenvolvimento de produtos industriais. A polpa tem sido estudada como matéria-prima para néctar; entretanto, é usada em sorvetes, geléias, purês e polpa enlatada. Atualmente, o processo de extração da polpa ainda é feito de maneira empírica, utilizando-se de acessórios como facas, colheres ou tesouras de uso doméstico, devido à forte aderência da mesma ao caroço, causando baixo rendimento no produto final. Com o objetivo de aumentar o rendimento durante o processo de extração da polpa de cupuaçu, adicionaram-se à polpa bruta dois tipos de preparações enzimáticas de ação pectolítica (Citrozym-L e Rohament PL). As concentrações estabelecidas foram de 100; 300; 500 e 750 ppm. Após todo o processo, obteve-se a polpa, e o rendimento foi comparado com a polpa-controle. O experimento foi realizado nos laboratórios de Tecnologia de Alimentos da Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical. Pelos resultados obtidos, observou-se que o rendimento da polpa com adição de Citrozym-L foi superior a 60% nas concentrações de 300; 500 e 750 ppm, enquanto, com a utilização de Rohament-PL, o rendimento variou de 43 a 57% nas mesmas concentrações. O rendimento da polpa-controle foi de 44 e 41 %, para os experimentos realizados com a primeira e segunda preparação enzimática, respectivamente. Conclui-se que a utilização de enzimas é uma alternativa para melhorar o processo de extração da polpa; adicionando-se acima de 300ppm, obtém-se um rendimento próximo a 60%.

Estudo prospectivo de 100 casos de "core" biópsia dirigida por ultra-som e revisão da literatura

OBJETIVO: Mostrar a eficácia do método para evitar biópsias excisionais, verificar suas dificuldades técnicas, definir entre seguimento e biópsia excisional nos nódulos categoria IV do BI-RADS™ e agilizar o procedimento cirúrgico nos casos de nódulos altamente suspeitos de malignidade (categoria V). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: As pacientes foram submetidas a exame clínico de rotina, mamografia e ultra-som. A "core" foi feita com pistola automática e agulha número 14, e foram colhidas de quatro a oito amostras. RESULTADOS: Das 100 lesões estudadas, 47 foram submetidas à cirurgia, além da "core", e diagnosticaram-se 34 carcinomas (34,0%). Das 23 lesões classificadas como categoria III, identificou-se apenas um carcinoma (4,34%); das 43 classificadas como categoria IV, sete (16,28%); e das 34 classificadas como categoria V, 26 (76,47%). Evitou-se a biópsia excisional em 53 casos (53,0%). Identificou-se dificuldade no método da "core" em sete casos (7,0%), devido a material insuficiente, risco para malignidade envolvendo lesões esclerosantes complexas e discordância entre imagem e histologia. As 33 lesões com resultados de malignidade à punção biópsia por agulha grossa foram confirmadas após a biópsia cirúrgica. Em um caso o diagnóstico pela "core" foi de hiperplasia ductal atípica e após a biópsia cirúrgica da peça diagnosticou-se carcinoma, correspondendo a um resultado falso-negativo. Não houve nenhum resultado falso-positivo.

Angiorressonância magnética do crânio: revisão de 100 casos

Neste trabalho foram analisados, retrospectivamente, os exames de 100 pacientes que se submeteram a angiografia por ressonância magnética (angio-RM) do crânio com diferentes indicações clínicas. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram discutir as vantagens e desvantagens da técnica 3D TOF em exames de angio-RM cerebral e verificar as principais indicações de angio-RM na avaliação das lesões vasculares intracranianas e a freqüência dos principais achados nestes exames. As principais indicações para a realização de angio-RM neste trabalho foram cefaléia (n = 29), acidente vascular encefálico (n = 14) e ataque isquêmico transitório (n = 11). Em 11 casos não havia indicação clínica e os demais tiveram indicações diversas. Cinqüenta e dois por cento dos exames apresentaram alguma alteração. Os principais achados foram estenose vascular (n = 30), aneurisma (n = 10), variações anatômicas (n = 6), malformações vasculares (n = 4) e trombose dos seios durais (n = 2). A técnica 3D TOF, única utilizada neste trabalho, mostrou-se eficiente na maioria dos casos, com um tempo relativamente curto para sua aquisição. Como desvantagem, não se mostra eficaz para cobrir grandes volumes.

Aplicação de um protocolo de espectroscopia por ressonância magnética das adrenais: experiência com mais de 100 casos

Objetivo: Avaliar um protocolo de espectroscopia por ressonância magnética (ERM) do próton de hidrogênio (1H) bidimensional (2D) disponível comercialmente (Siemens Medical Systems; Erlangen, Alemanha), aplicado para nódulos adrenais e diferenciação das massas (adenomas, feocromocitomas, carcinomas e metástases). Materiais e Métodos: Um total de 118 pacientes (36 homens e 82 mulheres), apresentando-se com 138 nódulos/massas adrenais, foi avaliado prospectivamente (média de idade: 57,3 ± 13,3 anos). Uma sequência de ERM-1H-PRESS-CSI (espectroscopia por resolução de ponto-imagem por desvio químico) multivoxel foi utilizada. Análise espectroscópica foi realizada da esquerda-direita, sentido crânio-caudal, usando três sequências sagitais, além de sequências axiais e coronais T2-HASTE. Os seguintes índices foram calculados: colina (Cho)/creatina (Cr), 4,0–4,3 ppm/Cr, lipídio (Lip)/Cr, Cho/Lip e lactato (Lac)/Cr. Resultados: ERM-1H-2D foi bem sucedida em 123 (89,13%) lesões. Os valores de sensibilidade e especificidade encontrados para as proporções e pontos de corte avaliados foram: Cho/Cr ≥ 1,2, sensibilidade de 100% e especificidade de 98,2% (diferenciação de adenomas e carcinomas de feocromocitomas e metástases); 4,0–4,3 ppm/Cr ≥ 1,5, 92,3% de sensibilidade, especificidade de 96,9% (diferenciação de carcinomas e feocromocitomas de adenomas e metástases); Lac/Cr ≤ –7,449, sensibilidade de 90,9% e especificidade de 77,8% (diferenciação de feocromocitomas contra carcinomas e adenomas). Conclusão: Os dados da ERM-1H-2D foram eficazes e permitiram a diferenciação entre massas adrenais e nódulos na maioria das lesões com diâmetro > 1,0 cm.

Correlação entre a estrutura atômica superficial e o processo de adsorção-dessorção reversível de hidrogênio em eletrodos monocristalinos Pt(111), Pt(100) e Pt(110)

Platinum is widely used as electrode in electrocatalytic processes, however the use of polycrystalline electrodes introduces a series of variables in the electrochemical system due to the aleatory contribution of all the crystallographic orientations with different surface packing of atoms. Single crystal platinum electrodes of low Miller index present surface structure of high regularity and serve as model to establish a correlation among the macroscopic and microscopic properties of the electrochemical interface. Therefore, the main aim of this work is the study of the voltammetric profiles of the reversible adsorption-desorption of hydrogen on Pt(100), Pt(110) and Pt(111), in order to correlate the electrochemical properties of each different orientation with the surface atomic structure.

Própolis: 100 anos de pesquisa e suas perspectivas futuras

Propolis is a multifunctional material used by bees in the construction and maintenance of their hives. The chemical composition and pharmacological properties have been studied for centuries. Today they represent an important raw material for many health products and constitute a new interdisciplinary area for research. Among others they show important antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities and various pharmacological properties. This paper presents an overview of the scientific literature and patents concerning propolis.