Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni

We report the findings of abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging observed in a patient with advanced schistosomiasis mansoni. A 25-year-old man with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and variceal bleeding confirmed by upper endoscopy was submitted to abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. During surgery for portal hypertension, a liver biopsy was taken and the diagnosis of Symmers' fibrosis was confirmed. magnetic resonance imaging scans gave more precise information about the gallbladder, periportal thickening and abdominal venous system than did the ultrasound.

Sorovares de Listeria monocytogenes e espécies relacionadas, isoladas de material clínico humano

A análise fenotípica de 255 amostras do gênero Listeria isoladas de material clínico humano, tanto de indivíduos doentes (220-86,3%), como de aparentemente normais (35-13,7%) de várias regiões do país e colecionadas no período de 1969 a 2000, permitiu caracterizar a distribuição de sorovares de Listeria monocytogenes. Nas faixas etárias de 0 a 10 e de 41 a 60 anos, predominaram os isolamentos de líquido cefalorraquidiano sobre os de sangue, incluindo dos transplantados renais. Somente dos hemocultivos foi possível detectar os sete sorovares de Listeria monocytogenes. No cômputo geral, o sorovar 4b foi o mais incidente (154-60,3%) secundado por ¹/2 a (74-29%) nos três decênios considerados, além de ocorrerem em quase todas as regiões do país. Os dados deste estudo evidenciaram a circulação de L. monocytogenes na espécie humana, provocando quadros graves de meningite e septicemia, bem como, revelando a figura do portador assintomático, razão pela qual são recomendadas novas investigações bacteriológicas, subsidiadas por análises clínico-patológicas e epidemiológicas.

Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging findings in Schistosomiasis mansoni: expanded gallbladder fossa and fatty hilum signs

INTRODUCTION: There is no study relating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to ultrasound (US) findings in patients with Schistosomiasis mansoni. Our aim was to describe MRI findings inpatients with schistosomal liver disease identified by US. METHODS: Fifty-four patients (mean age 41.6±13.5years) from an area endemic for Schistosomiasis mansoni were selected for this study.All had US indicating liver schistosomal fibrosis and were evaluated with MRI performed witha 1.5-T superconducting magnet unit (Sigma). RESULTS: Forty-seven (87%) of the 54 patientsshowing signs of periportal fibrosis identified through US investigation had confirmed diagnosesby MRI. In the seven discordant cases (13%), MRI revealed fat tissue filling in the hilar periportalspace where US indicated isolated thickening around the main portal vein at its point of entryto the liver. We named this the fatty hilum sign. One of the 47 patients with MRI evidence ofperiportal fibrosis had had his gallbladder removed previously. Thirty-five (76.1%) of the other46 patients had an expanded gallbladder fossa filled with fat tissue, whereas MRI of the remainingeleven showed pericholecystic signs of fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Echogenic thickening of thegallbladder wall and of the main portal vein wall heretofore attributed to fibrosis were frequentlyidentified as fat tissue in MRI. However, the gallbladder wall thickening shown in US (expandedgallbladder fossa in MRI) is probably secondary to combined hepatic morphologic changes inschistosomiasis, representing severe liver involvement.

Vascular lesions of the lumbar epidural space: magnetic resonance imaging features of epidural cavernous hemangioma and epidural hematoma

The authors report the magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic features in two cases with respectively lumbar epidural hematoma and cavernous hemangioma of the lumbar epidural space. Enhanced MRI T1-weighted scans show a hyperintense signal rim surrounding the vascular lesion. Non-enhanced T2-weighted scans showed hyperintense signal.

Correlation between osteochondral changes depicted by magnetic resonance imaging and disease progression

PURPOSE: To determine the consequences of the chronic use of systemic corticosteroids in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis by means of evaluating osteochondral effects depicted by magnetic resonance imaging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in 69 children (72 knees) with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Two groups were studied. Group I: 34 (49.3%) children had previous or current use of systemic corticotherapy (22 girls; 12 boys; mean age: 11.3 years; mean disease duration: 5.9 years; mean corticotherapy duration: 2.9 years; mean cumulative dose of previous corticosteroids: 5000 mg); Group II: 35 (50.7%) children had no previous use of corticosteroids (27 girls; 8 boys; mean age: 11.7 years; mean disease duration: 5.3 years). The groups were compared statistically. RESULTS: In the group that had received corticotherapy (Group I), osteochondral abnormalities were significantly correlated to long-standing disease (>3.5 years; p<0.001). This correlation was not found in the group that had no previous history of corticotherapy (Group II). No correlations were established between median dose of corticosteroids and magnetic resonance imaging findings. CONCLUSION: It is important to further investigate the long-term intra-articular effects of systemic corticotherapy to ensure that the side effects of the aggressive therapy will not be more harmful for the joints than the symptoms suffered over the natural course of the disease.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the frontal lobe in schizophrenics: a critical review of the methodology

Schizophrenic patients undergoing proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy show alterations in N-acetyl aspartate levels in several brain regions, indicating neuronal dysfunction. The present review focuses on the main proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies in the frontal lobe of schizophrenics. A MEDLINE search, from 1991 to March 2004, was carried out using the key-words spectroscopy and schizophrenia and proton and frontal. In addition, articles cited in the reference list of the studies obtained through MEDLINE were included. As a result, 27 articles were selected. The results were inconsistent, 19 papers reporting changes in the N-acetyl aspartate levels, while 8 reported no change. Methodological analysis led to the conclusion that the discrepancy may be due the following factors: (i) number of participants; (ii) variation in the clinical and demographic characteristics of the groups; (iii) little standardization of the acquisition parameters of spectroscopy. Overall, studies that fulfill strict methodological criteria show N-acetyl aspartate decrease in the frontal lobe of male schizophrenics.

Material Zoológico depositado nas coleções sistemáticas de entomologia do INPA, resultante do "Projeto INPA/MAX-PLANK" (Convênio CNPq/MGP)

As coleções de Entomolologia Sistemática do Instituto nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA) em Manaus, Brasil, no momento, contém aproximadamente 16.350 exemplares de invertebrados e vertebrados identificados, representando 330a espécies e incluindo 692 tipos que foram depositados entre 1940 e 1982 por pesquisadores e associados do Instituto Max-Planck de Limnologia em Plön, Alemanha Ocidental.

Enraizamento de estacas de material juvenil de Pau-rosa (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke - Lauraceae)

RESUMOO presente, trabalho teve como objetivo o enraizamento de estacas de material juvenil ramos laterais e terminais) de pau-rosa, através do uso das concentrações de 2000 ppm, 4000 ppm e 6000 ppm de ácido indol-3-butírico (AIB) na forma líquida. Αs condições do enraizamento αs estacas foram oferecidas mediante o uso de ncbulização intermitente, regulada em 20 segundos para espécies com intervalos de 20 minutos. O substrato utilizado foi terriço + areia, na proporção de 4:1. Semanalmente foram feitas aplicações de fertilizante foliar. Aos 210 dias do plantio, as estacas foram retiradas, do substrato e avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: porcentagem de enraizamento, porcentagem de sobrevivência, tamanho das raízes e Peso da matéria fresca das raízes. Os resultados obtidos mostram que a emissão de raízes das estacas de material juvenil, possivelmente independe do uso do ácido indol-3-butírico (AIB).

Avaliação da concentração de mercúrio em sedimentos e material particulado no rio Acre, estado do Acre, Brasil

A avaliação dos teores de mercúrio em sistemas aquáticos sem influência direta de fontes antropogênicas conhecidas não tem sido conduzida com freqüência na região Amazônica. Visando contribuir para esclarecer a ocorrência de valores elevados de Hg em peixes consumidos pela população de Rio Branco - AC, o Instituto Evandro Chagas - IEC, realizou um estudo para quantificar os teores de Hg em sedimentos de fundo e material particulado no rio Acre e alguns afluentes, além da caracterização físico-química das águas entre as cidades de Brasiléia e Assis Brasil. As amostras de sedimentos foram peneiradas na fração < 250 mesh e o material particulado obtido por floculação com Al2SO4 . Uma massa de 250 mg dos materiais foram submetidos a digestão ácida e as determinações de Hg realizadas por Espectrofotometria de Absorção Atômica, com geração de vapor frio. Os parâmetros físico-químicos pH, condutividade elétrica, temperatura e sólidos totais dissolvidos, foram feitos no campo, por métodos potenciométricos. Os teores de Hg nos sedimentos de fundo variaram entre 0,018 e 0,184 mig g-1, com média de 0,054 ± 0,034 mig g-1, enquanto que no material particulado a variação foi de 0,067 a 0,220 mig g-1e média de 0,098 ± 0,037 mig g-1. As águas possuem características levemente ácidas indicadas pelos valores de pH que variaram entre 5,80 - 6,95. A condutividade elétrica variou de 151,60 - 1.151,00 miS cm-1. Os teores de Hg nos materiais analisados encontram-se dentro da faixa dos valores observados para os rios amazônicos "não poluídos". Entretanto, estudos complementares deverão ser implementados para elucidar a origem e os processos de biodisponibilidade do mercúrio.

Avaliação de risco ambiental por contaminação metálica e material orgânico em sedimentos da bacia do Rio Aurá, Região Metropolitana de Belém - PA

A bacia do Rio Aurá está situada na região metropolitana de Belém, entre os municípios de Belém e Ananindeua, onde a taxa populacional tem aumentado sem qualquer medida de controle social ou ambiental. A região é intensamente explorada, sendo que os principais problemas ambientais são o desmatamento, erosão, inundação, poluição e contaminação das águas, especialmente por metais pesados e compostos orgânicos. O comportamento geoquímico dos elementos Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni e Cu e os teores de compostos orgânicos foram avaliados em 30 pontos de amostragem no período entre 2008 e 2010 nos sedimentos fluviais. O aterro sanitário não controlado localizado nas proximidades da bacia do Rio Aurá é responsável, em parte, pela contaminação dos sedimentos. O estresse ambiental é resultado das atividades antrópicas locais, que contribuem no transporte de material clástico contendo metais para o rio. As variáveis estudadas foram classificadas segundo mecanismos de transporte e fonte (autóctone ou alóctone). Os resultados demonstraram que a principal contribuição de íons Al e Fe foi o aterro sanitário; Mn e Ni vieram principalmente dos solos adjacentes; Cr foi modificado (III/VI) por processo alobioquímico e Cu por processo bioinduzido.

Spatial-temporal variation of dissolved inorganic material in the Amazon basin

The Amazon River basin is important in the contribution of dissolved material to oceans (4% worldwide). The aim of this work was to study the spatial and the temporal variability of dissolved inorganic materials in the main rivers of the Amazon basin. Data from 2003 to 2011 from six gauging stations of the ORE-HYBAM localized in Solimões, Purus, Madeira and Amazon rivers were used for this study. The concentrations of Ca2+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Cl-, SO4 -2, HCO3 - and SiO2 were analyzed. At the stations of Solimões and Amazon rivers, the concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3 - and SO4 -2 had heterogeneous distribution over the years and did not show seasonality. At the stations of Madeira river, the concentration of these ions had seasonality inversely proportional to water discharge (dilution-concentration effect). Similar behavior was observed for the concentrations of Cl- and Na+ at the stations of the Solimões, Amazon and Madeira rivers, indicating almost constant release of Cl- and Na+ fluxes during the hydrological cycle. K+ and SiO2 showed almost constant concentrations throughout the years and all the stations, indicating that their flows depend on the river discharge variation. Therefore, the temporal variability of the dissolved inorganic material fluxes in the Solimões and Amazon rivers depends on the hydro-climatic factor and on the heterogeneity of the sources. In the Madeira and Purus rivers there is less influence of these factors, indicating that dissolved load fluxes are mainly associated to silicates weathering. As the Solimões basin contributes approximately 84% of the total flux of dissolved materials in the basin and is mainly under the influence of a hydro-climatic factor, we conclude that the temporal variability of this factor controls the temporal variability of the dissolved material fluxes of the Amazon basin.

Cardiovascular assessment of patients with Ullrich-Turner's Syndrome on Doppler echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE: To assess the cardiovascular features of Ullrich-Turner's syndrome using echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging, and to correlate them with the phenotype and karyotype of the patients. The diagnostic concordance between the 2 methods was also assessed. METHODS: Fifteen patients with the syndrome were assessed by echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (cardiac chambers, valves, and aorta). Their ages ranged from 10 to 28 (mean of 16.7) years. The karyotype was analyzed in 11 or 25 metaphases of peripheral blood lymphocytes, or both. RESULTS: The most common phenotypic changes were short stature and spontaneous absence of puberal development (100%); 1 patient had a cardiac murmur. The karyotypes detected were as follows: 45,X (n=7), mosaics (n=5), and deletions (n=3). No echocardiographic changes were observed. In regard to magnetic resonance imaging, coarctation and dilation of the aorta were found in 1 patient, and isolated dilation of the aorta was found in 4 patients. CONCLUSION: The frequencies of coarctation and dilation of the aorta detected on magnetic resonance imaging were similar to those reported in the literature (5.5% to 20%, and 6.3% to 29%, respectively). This confirmed the adjuvant role of magnetic resonance imaging to Doppler echocardiography for diagnosing cardiovascular alterations in patients with Ullrich-Turner's syndrome.