Características ecocardiográficas da cardiomiopatia não-compactada: diagnóstico perdido ou errôneo

A cardiomiopatia não-compactada é uma doença rara, anatomicamente caracterizada por um padrão trabecular proeminente e recessos intra-trabeculares profundos. Suas manifestações clínicas incluem disfunção ventricular grave arritmias, embolismo sistêmico e morte súbita. Nesse estudo, dois casos de pacientes de idades diferentes com cardiomiopatia não-compactada são descritos: uma criança do sexo masculino em idade escolar, cuja patologia estava associada com estenose mitral e regurgitação e um paciente adulto do sexo feminino, com 50 anos de idade e histórico de hipertensão arterial e insuficiência cardíaca.

Variação do número e da distribuição dos espinhos nos frutos da Mamoneira (Ricinus communis, L)

1) O caráter presença de espinhos nos frutos da mamoneira é determinado por um par de fatores dominantes SS, sendo a forma recessiva ss, inerme. A interação alélica nao é bem intermediária, havendo uma predominância do fator S. Êste resultado foi anteriormente constatado por HARLAND (7), PEAT (8), DOMINGO (2), GURGEL (4) e FERNANDES (3). 2) A constatação da segregação 1 SS : 2 Ss : 1 ss foi feita após extensivas contagens de espinhos, tanto na forma paternal, como também no Fl, F2 e "back-cross". Por essas contagens foi verificado que existem variedades com números diferentes de espinhos, podendo-se distinguir dois tipos: variedades que têm muitos espinhos, com uma média aproximada de 170 espinhos por fruto e variedades que têm um número médio de espinhos, com uma média aproximada de 113 espinhos por fruto. 3) Embora a segregação dos fatores S e s seja monofatorial, todavia foi constadada por uma análise estatística detalhada, a presença de gens modificadores agindo na geração F2, introduzidos pelos tipos paternais. Assim, o segregante SS no F2, tem mais espinhos do que o pai homozigoto da mesma constituição. 4) Foram encontrados dois novos gens cal e ca2, com interação não alélica do tipo de polimeria complementar duplo-recessiva, dando no F2 uma segregação de 15 com espinhos uniformes : 1 com espinho careca, no "back-cross" uma segregação de 3 com espinhos uniformes : 1 com espinho careca. Estes gens determinaram, nos frutos com espinhos, a formação de zonas sem espinhos, ou como denominamos, "carecas". Estes novos fatores foram encontrados numa única variedade, de n.° 51, conhecida por laciniada, em virtude da for- ma especial de suas fôlhas. Esta variedade é de côr verde, apresenta cera na haste e possui numerosos cachos, porém pequenos. Ê tida como planta ornamental e foi originalmente importada de Erfurt, Alemanha. 5) Mesmo nas variedades inermes foi constatada a presença dos gens Cal e Ca2, para distribuição uniforme de espinhos, embora nas ditas variedades não se possa identificar a sua presença, em virtude do gen s ser epistático recessivo sobre Cal e Ca2. 6) Uma vez que os fatores S e CalCa2 sao independentes, isto é, possivelmente situados em cromosômios diferentes, fazendo-se o cruzamento de variedades com espinho careca x variedades sem espinho, obtem-se o PI com número de espinhos intermediário e distribuição uniforme. No F2 obtém-se a segregação de 45 com espinho uniforme : 3 com espinho careca : 16 sem espinho e no "back-cross" a segregação de 3 com espinho uniforme : 1 com espinho careca : 4 sem espinho.

Sinopse dos gêneros Scopadus e Omosarotes (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae)

Descriptions, synonym, new combinations and key to the species of Omosarotes Pascoe, 1860 are given. The male of Scopadus ciliatus Pascoe, 1857 is described. New species described: Omosarotes ater (type locality: Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ecuador). New synonym proposed: Acanthomerosternoplon Tippmann, 1955 with Omosarotes Pascoe, 1860. New combinations: Omosarotes nigripennis (Zajciw, 1970) (from Scopadus Pascoe, 1857), O. paradoxum (Tippmann, 1955) and O. foxi (Lane, 1973), both from Acanthomerosternoplon Tippmann, 1955.

The associated microflora to the larvae of human bot fly Dermatobia hominis L. Jr. (Diptera: Cuterebridae) and its furuncular lesions in cattle

The microflora associated to furuncular lesions, larvae and pupae of Dermatobia hominis, as well as the relationships between parasite, host and microflora associated, as a comprehensive microsystem, has been studied. One hundred and two furuncular myiasis due to D. hominis larvae in several breeds of cattle were studied and the following bacterial species were significant: Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, S. warneri, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Closely related, the microflora associated to 141 samples from first, second, third instar larva and both external surface and larval cavities has been studied. The representative associated microflora to the larvae were: S. aureus, B. subtilis, S. hycus and Moraxella phenylpiruvica, Moerella wisconsiensis, Proteus mirabilis and P. vulgaris, M. phenylpiruvica, M. wisconsiensis, P. mirabilis and P. rettgeri were the representative microflora associated to 64 pupae of D. hominis.

The Potential for Dispersal of Onchocerciasis in Ecuador in Relation to the Distribution of the Vector Simulium exiguum (Diptera:Simuliidae)

The future dispersal of onchocerciasis in Ecuador is dependent on the distribution of cytotypes of the vector species complex Simulium exiguum. Over the last 14 years, collections of larvae have been made from over 25 rivers, between 80-1600 m altitude, from various sites on both sides of the Andes. Analysis of larval polytene chromosomes was used to determine the distributions of each cytotype. On the western side of the Andes, the Cayapa cytotype (the only cytotype directly incriminated as a vector) has a distribution from Santo Domingo de los Colorados northwards. The Quevedo and Bucay cytotypes occur from Santo Domingo de los Colorados southwards. On the eastern side of the Andes, the Aguarico cytotype occurs in the Rio Aguarico and a new cytotype is present in the tributaries of the Rio Napo. Whether the disease will spread south of Santo Domingo and on the eastern side of the Andes depends on vector capacity of the cytotypes and the dispersal patterns of individuals infected with onchocerciasis. At present the Aguarico, Bucay and Quevedo cytotypes are known to be efficient hosts, but their biting preferences and biting densities have not yet been evaluated

Presence of American cutaneous leishmaniasis vectors surrounding the city of Medellín, Colombia

The presence of Lutzomyia (Helcocyrtomyia) hartmanni, as a vector of Leishmania colombiensis and L. columbiana (Verrucarum group), recently incriminated in the transmission of leishmaniasis, and L. pia (Verrucarum group) are reported for the first time in a periurban area of Medellín city. There is thus a risk of leishmaniasis transmission in this town.

Trypanosoma cruzi isolates from Mexican and Guatemalan acute and chronic chagasic cardiopathy patients belong to Trypanosoma cruzi I

Trypanosoma cruzi is classified into two major groups named T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II. In the present work we analyzed 16 stocks isolated from human cases and four isolated from triatomines from diverse geographical origins (Mexico and Guatemala). From human cases four were acute cases, six indeterminates, and six from chronic chagasic cardiophatic patients with diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy established based on the left-ventricular end systolic dimension and cardiothoracic ratio on chest X-radiography and impaired contracting ventricle and different degree conduction/rhythm aberrations. DNA samples were analyzed based on mini-exon (ME) polymorphism, using a pool of three oligonucleotide for the amplification of specific intergenic region of T. cruzi ME gene. All the Mexican and Guatemalan isolates regardless their host or vector origin generated a 350 bp amplification product. In conclusion T. cruzi I is dominant in Mexico and Guatemala even in acute and chronic chagasic cardiopathy patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study describing predominance of T. cruzi I in human infection for North and Central America.

Levels of complement C3 and C4 components in Amerindians living in an area with high prevalence of tuberculosis

The levels of complement C3 and C4 components were determined in non-indigenous (creoles) and indigenous (Warao) populations, the latter with an extremely high tuberculosis (TB) rate. Serum samples from 209 adults were studied and classified in 4 groups taking into account tuberculin skin tests (TST): (1) the group of Warao patients (58 positive for the TST, WP TST+ and 9 negative for the TST, WP TST-), (2) the group of creole patients (34 positive for the TST, CP TST+ and 9 negative for the TST, CP TST-), (3) the group of healthy Warao controls (38 positive and 14 negative for TST, WC TST+ and WC TST-, respectively), (4) the creole controls (26 positive and 21 negative for the TST, CC TST+ and CC TST-, respectively). With respect to the results concerning the measurement of both complement C3 and C4 components with the exception of the WC TST and the CC groups, the WP TST+ and WP TST- as well as WC TST+ groups showed a significant frequency of individuals with decreased levels of complement C3 component (20.6, 33.3, and 26.3%, respectively) and also C4 component (12.0, 11.1, and 13.3%, respectively) in comparison to both creole patients (CP TST+, 8.82% and CP TST-, 0% and CP TST+, 5.88% and CP TST-, 0%) for C3 and C4, respectively. The study of these parameters carried out in 15 Warao subjects with active infection, before and after anti-TB chemotherapy,statisticallyconfirmedthat the effective chemotherapy did not restore normal levels of the complement C3 and C4 components among Warao patients. Aditional tests for hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection, and the profile of the hepatic proteins were not associated to the deficiency in production of the complement components.In conclusion, the results show that within the Warao population, a high percentage of subjects exhibit decreased levels of both complement C3 and C4 components independent of latent or active infection and the status of TST.

Prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance among treatment-naive and treated HIV-infected patients in Venezuela

An in-house, low-cost method was developed to determine the genotypic resistance of immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates. All 179 Venezuelan isolates analysed belonged to subtype B. Primary drug resistance mutations were found in 11% of 63 treatment-naïve patients. The prevalence of resistance in isolates from 116 HIV-positive patients under antiretroviral treatment was 47% to protease inhibitors, 65% to nucleoside inhibitors and 38% to non-nucleoside inhibitors, respectively. Around 50% of patients in the study harboured viruses with highly reduced susceptibility to the three classical types of drugs after only five years from their initial diagnoses.