Mortality and Embolic Potential of Cardiac Tumors

Background: Cardiac tumors are rare, mostly benign with high embolic potential. Objectives: To correlate the histological type of cardiac masses with their embolic potential, implantation site and long term follow up in patients undergoing surgery. Methods: Between January 1986 and December 2011, we retrospectively analyzed 185 consecutive patients who underwent excision of intracardiac mass (119 females, mean age 48±20 years). In 145 patients, the left atrium was the origin site. 72% were asymptomatic and prior embolization was often observed (19.8%). The diagnosis was established by echocardiography, magnetic resonance and histological examination. Results: Most tumors were located in the left side of the heart. Myxoma was the most common (72.6%), followed by fibromas (6.9%), thrombi (6.4%) and sarcomas (6.4%). Ranging from 0.6cm to 15cm (mean 4.6 ± 2.5cm) 37 (19.8%) patients had prior embolization, stroke 10.2%, coronary 4.8%, peripheral 4.3% 5.4% of hospital death, with a predominance of malignant tumors (40% p < 0.0001). The histological type was a predictor of mortality (rhabdomyomas and sarcomas p = 0.002) and embolic event (sarcoma, lipoma and fibroelastoma p = 0.006), but not recurrence. Tumor size, atrial fibrillation, cavity and valve impairment were not associated with the embolic event. During follow-up (mean 80±63 months), there were 2 deaths (1.1%) and two recurrences 1 and 11 years after the operation, to the same cavity. Conclusion: Most tumors were located in the left side of the heart. The histological type was predictor of death and preoperative embolic event, while the implantation site carries no relation with mortality or to embolic event.

Association between Functional Variables and Heart Failure after Myocardial Infarction in Rats

Background: Heart failure prediction after acute myocardial infarction may have important clinical implications. Objective: To analyze the functional echocardiographic variables associated with heart failure in an infarction model in rats. Methods: The animals were divided into two groups: control and infarction. Subsequently, the infarcted animals were divided into groups: with and without heart failure. The predictive values were assessed by logistic regression. The cutoff values predictive of heart failure were determined using ROC curves. Results: Six months after surgery, 88 infarcted animals and 43 control animals were included in the study. Myocardial infarction increased left cavity diameters and the mass and wall thickness of the left ventricle. Additionally, myocardial infarction resulted in systolic and diastolic dysfunction, characterized by lower area variation fraction values, posterior wall shortening velocity, E-wave deceleration time, associated with higher values of E / A ratio and isovolumic relaxation time adjusted by heart rate. Among the infarcted animals, 54 (61%) developed heart failure. Rats with heart failure have higher left cavity mass index and diameter, associated with worsening of functional variables. The area variation fraction, the E/A ratio, E-wave deceleration time and isovolumic relaxation time adjusted by heart rate were functional variables predictors of heart failure. The cutoff values of functional variables associated with heart failure were: area variation fraction < 31.18%; E / A > 3.077; E-wave deceleration time < 42.11 and isovolumic relaxation time adjusted by heart rate < 69.08. Conclusion: In rats followed for 6 months after myocardial infarction, the area variation fraction, E/A ratio, E-wave deceleration time and isovolumic relaxation time adjusted by heart rate are predictors of heart failure onset.

Nota sobre ácaros (Acari) atacando fruteira-do-conde (Rollinia sp.)

The flowers of this orchard tree presents six fleshy petals, fused two by two, and disposed propeller like. In the center is a cavity which harbors the cone shaped reproductive organs. An eriophyid mite, described by H. H. Keifer as Aculops flechtmann Keifer, 1972, causes considerable bronzing to the petals (Fig. 1-A). Large numbers of this mite attacking the basis of the reproductive organs causes them to dry and drop. On the young fruits, which are squamous, this mite causes some rusting and small necrotic areas (Fig. 1-B). As the fruit grows these small areas remain dark and barky. Very often the necrotic areas are invaded by the false spider mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes, 1939), which enlarges the damage. The false spider mite also attacks leaves and green stems; the epidermis of the latter then assumes a barky appearance.

Nueva especie de Cephalobium (Rhabditida, Diplogasteridae) parasito de ninfas de Gryllodes Laplatae (Orthoptera, Gryllidae) en la Argentina

Cephalobium bidentatum sp. nov., parasitizing nymphs of Gryllodes laplatae Sauss (Orthoptera, Gryllidae) from Argentina, is described and illustrated. It is distinguished from other members of the genus Cephalobium COBB, 1920, by having the buccal cavity very sclerotized with two hook-shaped teeth, vagina short and muscular, male has two spicules with hook-shaped tips, and by the distribution pattern of the postanal papillae: one pair under the anus, three pairs between the anus and the tail, and two pairs at the base of the tail appendage.

Ciclo biológico de Simpulopsis ovata (Gastropoda, Bulimulidae) em São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

The population growth of Simpulopsis ovata (Sowerby, 1822) from the Centro de Pesquisas e Conservação da Natureza - Pró-Mata, São Francisco de Paula, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was studied along eleven months of 1996. Two discontinuous age classes were identified. The first one, with a monthly growth rate of 1.55 mm, was reproductively mature during April and May. The second one appeared after the previous group and had a monthly growth rate of 0.44 mm. The fact that no adults from the two age classes were found together is a characteristic of a semelparous species. New insights about its shell, pallial cavity and reproductive system are given. This is the first record of S. ovata for the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

Macrocyclis peruvianus (Gastropoda, Acavidae), an endemic land snail from Chile

Macrocyclis peruvianus (Lamarck, 1822) is a large terrestrial snail which is endemic in Chile. A detailed description of its shell structure, jaw, radula, palial cavity and reproductive system is presented here for the first time.

First nesting record of the Bay-Capped Wren-Spinetail Spartonoica maluroides (Aves, Furnariidae) in Brazil, with nest and nestling descriptions and notes on breeding behavior

The only breeding record of Spartonoica maluroides (d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837) for Brazil is based on the observation of a fledgling in southern Rio Grande do Sul in January 1976. On 7 December 2005 we discovered a nest containing three nestlings at the southeastern end of Lagoa Pequena, municipality of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. The nest was concealed at the base of a cavity in a Spartina densiflora (Poaceae) tussock located at the edge of a saltmarsh. The nest was built of fine pieces of dead Scirpus olneyi (Cyperaceae) and S. densiflora leaves firmly interlaced to the internal leaves of the tussock. Live leaves of S. densiflora lining the cavity comprised a substantial part of the nest's architecture, forming most of its upper lateral walls and roof. The lower section was more elaborate, resembling a deep cup and forming a distinct incubation chamber. Adults reached the nest's interior through an irregular apical opening amidst the leaves. The nest was 244 mm high and 140 mm wide. The incubation chamber had an external diameter of 138.5 mm, an internal diameter of 79.4 mm and was 86 mm deep. It was lined with fine leaves and white plant fibers. Nestlings were five to six days old. A total of 107 neossoptiles restricted to the capital, spinal and alar tracts were recorded in one nestling. The distribution of neossoptiles in the ocular region of S. maluroides forms a distinct pattern which can be typical of Furnariidae and related families. Two adults attended the nest, bringing small insects to the nestlings and removing fecal sacs. We recorded at least 74 visits to the nest during a ca. 6 h period during an afternoon. The average number of visits per hour was 12.8 ± 1.3. An adult bird spent on average 0.7 ± 0.56 minutes inside the nest attending nestlings. The nest remained unattended on average for 3.61 ± 3.13 minutes. The hour of the day had no influence on the amount of time spent by an adult in the nest or away from it. We returned to the area on 15 December 2005 and found the nest abandoned. Observations confirm that S. maluroides is a resident breeder in southern Brazil and that the saltmarshes of the Lagoa do Patos estuary are an important year-round habitat for the species. A nestling and the nest were collected to document the record.

Estudos sobre nematodeos filarideos: Dipetalonema caudispina (Molin 1858)

The A. studies critically the literature on D. caudispina (Molin, 1858) and concludes that it is a good species, differing from D. gracilis (Rudolphi, 1809), principally, by the longer spicule. This conclusion is confirmed by the study of material collected by d'Almeida in the abdominal cavity of one specimen of Ateles paniscus (L.), of the State of Pará, Brazil. In contradiction to Stiles & Hassall's opinion the A. indicates this monkey for host-type of the Molin's species. A synonymic list and a redescription of D. caudispina are given.

Tifo exantemático neotrópico no Brasil: ensaios terapêuticos com a penicilina

The authors described the experiments with Penicillin Merck-Sodium Salt n. 135 in order to verify the curative action on the experimental disesase of the guineapig. I - They found that small doses, of 1,600 units, Oxford, when inoculated during the first 24 or 48 hours of the appearance of the feverish reaction are impotent to modify the course of the disease, whether in the thermic curve, or the testicular or esplenomegalic manifestations. II - Penicillin, when used in larger doses, from 25,000 to 30,000 units, Oxford, in 24 hours through peritonial cavity is capable of normalising the temperature, modifying to a certain degree the virulence of the virus in guinea-pigs. III - In large doses, even when injected later, it causes the temperature to fall, in all animals, attenuating the viceral manifestations. IV - Direct contact of Penicillin with the virus, during many hours, cause it to loose its virulence.

Sensibility of the hamster (Cricetus auratus) to the Treponema pertenue

In two experiments, 8 Hamsters inoculated with material from yaws lesions (Treponema pertenue), developed skin lesions considered specific by their clinical and histopathological aspects and by the presence of treponemae. These lesions appeared on the scrotumm, testicle, prepuce, anus, tail, muzzle, back and hinders paws (palm surface). In the internal organs no treponemae were found in direct examinations and inoculation of brain, spleen and lymph node. The incubation period was of 35 days for the testicle, 55 days for the scrotum and 107 days for peritoneal cavity inoculation. Positive sub-inoculations were obtained. The serum reactions (Qasserman's and Kahn's) were negative in all 5 tested Hamsters. Out of 4 normal females matched to infected males two developed nasal lesions resulting from direct contact. Apparently the genital lesions hindered copulation. Hamsters are very well suited for an experimental study of yaws.

Toxoplasmose congênita

We had the opportunity to study 6 cases of the congenital form of toxoplasmosis, found in a series of 1200 necropsies of fetuses and newborn babies, realized at 3 different hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Among the 6 cases, 4 were premature babies liveborn at the 6th-8th gestational month and 2 were stillborn (1 premature and 1 at term). In all those cases, the diagnosis was based in the detection of the parasite in tissues and in one case it was even isolated the Toxoplasma from the necrotic material found in the cranial cavity. This strain of Toxoplasma, pathogenic to pigeons, to guinea pigs and to mice, is preserved by successive transfers in mice. Some facts observed in those cases present an interest not only strictly anatomic but also have certain value for the better acknowlegment of the disease. First, we want to call the attention to the presence of a sudden high fever, during or just before pregnancy in the 4 cases in which the maternal anamnesis was perfectly studied; this fever that was preceded by a normal beginning of pregnancy, had relatively rapid remission, but in 2 cases was immediately followed by uterine bleeding and premature delivery, although the puerperium had been apparently normal. It is known that are normal the subsequent children of the mothers that delivered a baby with toxoplasmosis and that several women have normal babies before the toxoplasmotic one. We believe that the fever observed in our cases could be indicative of the beginning of maternal infection and those are the reasons why we emphasize the need of careful anamnesis, specially in the cases actually diagnosed as inapparent infection. Another fact to notice is that in 5 of our cases the event premature delivery happened always between the 6th and the 8th months of pregnancy, and the only term fetus was delivered in advanced stage of maceration. The above mentioned facts could agree with the opinion of FRENKEL (1949), when he declared that "primary infection of the pregnant mother appears more likely to be the commoner mode of fetal toxoplasmic infection", but they would disagree with WEINMAN (1952) who believes that the transmission of Toxoplasma to the fetus is more frequent through a pregnant woman with chronic disease and who says "that infection contracted during pregnancy may and probably does happen from time to time"...Still in connection with the transmission of toxoplasmosis, we want to note the verification of inflammatory lesions in the placental villi and in the umbilical cord in 3 of the 4 cases in which such organs were examined at the microscope. In the case n. 1, we found several pseudocysts of Toxoplasma in the placenta, and the fibroblasts of Wharton's jelly were particularly rich in isolated forms and in colonies of Toxoplasma; the easy multiplication of the parasite in that tissue calls the attention and even suggests its utilisation for Toxoplasma's cultivation. The confirmation of Toxoplasma in human placenta was made only recently by CRISTEN et al. (1951) and by NEGHME et al. (1952), in Chile; it is not frequent in the literature, what gives some value to our present verification. Another observation was that provided by the case n. 6. This baby, a premature one of the 6th month, was 14 days old and-died with signs of respiratory disease, the causa mortis have been pneumonia. At the necropsy, we found no gross change that suggested toxoplasmosis, except the presence of some small necrotic focuses in the cerebral nervous substance around the ventricles. As a matter of fact, there was no enlargement of spleen or liver and neither leptomeningitis nor hydrocephalus. Such focuses were attributed to possible anoxia and in fact they are extremely similar to anoxial softenings, even when they are examined at the microscope; its structure composed of a central necrotic zone, surrounded by proliferated neuroglia and by a variable deposit of calcium salts, closely simulated the anoxial softenings, when the microscopical examination is based in the common histological preparations (hematoxilin-eosin, etc.). But when we examine preparations by the Giemsa or by the periodic acid-Schiff methods, we will note the presence of Toxoplasma, with its typical aspect or a little changed by degeneration. When we describe this observation, we wish to evidence the need of the search of Toxoplasma and closed parasites, in the cases of supposed pure anoxial softenings of nervous substance, in children. The frequency with which the congenital toxoplasmosis was anatomically verified should be emphasized, although the disease had not been clinically suspected, and it should be borne in mind that the second case of toxoplasmosis reported in the world was observed in Brazil by MAGARINOS TORRES; this case was the first to be described of the generalized congenital form of the infection, i. e. with myocardial lesions and parasites in skeletal muscles and skin.

Sôbre o Phlebotomus Brasiliensis Costa Lima, 1932 (Diptera, Psychodidae)

In 1939, Mangabeira obtained, under laboratory conditions, the development of eggs of Phlebotomus brasiliensis Costa Lima, 1932, collected at Lassance (typical locality), Minas Gerais, Brasil. He then studied the female and immature stages of this Phlebotomus. The results of these observations plus some more recent data on the male, geographical distribution and bionomics are presented. Morphologically it is closest to Phlebotomus runoides. However, the male Phlebotomus brasiliensis differs from all other Phlebotomus because of its very long spicules, similar to those of Brumptomyia. The female differs by its longer ducts, and by possessing only four horizontal teeth in the buccal cavity, whereas P. runoides has approximately 12 teeth. The pupae of P. brasiliensis is characterized by its two pre-alar setae, which are very simple and small and by the abdominal setae, which are not planted on a protruding tubercle. The fourth stage larvae main characteristics are very thin antennae, inserted on a protruding tuberculum, and slightly brush-like hind frontal setae. P. brasiliensis is here reported, for the first time, for the State of Bahia (Cachoeira, Pojuca and Salvador). The species has almost always been found in armadillo burrows. In the State of Bahia it is more frequent during the dry season. Under laboratory conditions, the female lays about 53 eggs.

Anatomy and histology of Embolyntha batesi MacLahlan, 1877 (Embiidina)

The Embioptera are rather generalized insects whose internal anatomy is simple and not subject to great modifications. For this reason these insects form an ideal group for elementary anatomical and histological studies (fig. 2). The digestive tract is a long, simple tube without convolutions or diverticulae from the buccal cavity to the rectum. The buccal structures are of the chewing type. The oesophagus and ingluvia are differentiated only by slight dilation of their walls. In nymphs and females the proventriculus is very distinct due to folds which flatten as the structure becomes packed with food. The enteron is the largest in such forms and in both sexes limited caudally by the Malpighian tubules. The proctodeus has six large rectal papillae. The nervous system is complete with only the fifth abdominal segment lacking a ganglion in the metathorax includes the ganglion of the first abdominal segment. The brain exhibits very clear structure in histological sections. The tracheal system includes two pairs of thoracic spiracles and eight abdominal pairs. Only th metathoracic spiracle has an air expiration function; all others serve for inspiration. Various structures in the spiracles protect the atrium. The circulatory system includes a long, simple dorsal vessel which extends forward from the ninth abdominal segment into the cranium. It opens anteriorly near the circumoesophageal connectives. The dorsal vessel has a pair of ostia and valves corresponding to each abdominal and thoracic segment. It lacks the diverticulae or folds commonly found in more highly evolved insects. The excretory system is represented by Malphighian tubules, pericardial cells, and fat-body. The number and disposition of Malpighian tubules is variable within the order. The pericardial cells are localized around the entire dorsal vessel up to the opening of the aorta in the head. The fat-bodies form compact layers in the dorsal and ventral regions of the body. In males they are more developed in the abdominal region. The mandibles, maxillae, and salivary glands are of a simple type with very few cytological modifications. Only the salivary glands which extend into the mesothoracic region show appreciable specialization. The reproductive system is bi-sixual and shows considerable sexual dimorphism. Males have five pair of testes with a metameric disposition, two distinct ducts, two epidymis, and the ejaculatory organs. The accessory glands vary in number and size and open in the anterior portion of the ejaculatory duct. The female reproductive organs are of the panoistic type. The system includes five pairs of ovarioles, two long paired oviducts a small, unpaired oviduct and the spermatheca which opens in the vagina. Reproduction usually involves a union of male and female gametes, and eggs are usually laid in clusters attached to a substrate.

Evolution of sarcoma 180 in mice treated with hyperchlorinated water

Mice treated with hyperchlorinated water (50 ppm of chlorine) and control mice, drinking tap water (1-3 ppm of chlorine) were inoculated with 2.5 x 10 [raised to the power of 6] sarcoma 180 cells, by intraperitoneal route. Tumor evolution was measured by enumeration of tumor cells in peritoneal cavity and by evaluation of weight gain at different time intervals after tumor implantation. In mice treated with excessive amounts of chlorine there was enhancement of tumor growth demonstrated by: (a) shorter incubation period and increased weight gain (ascites formation) after tumor implantation; (b) increased number of tumor cells in the peritoneal cavity 2, 3 and 4 days after tumor challenge. The number of peritoneal cells exsudated after tumor implantation was lower in mice treated with hyperchlorinated water than in controls. The tumor enhancement observed after excessive chlorine ingestion would be due to: (a) reduction of the number of peritoneal macrophages that migrate to the peritoneal cavity and (b) reduction of the tumoricidal capacity of peritonela macrophages induced by the direct effect of chlorine or by the reduction of the amount of endogenous endotoxins due to the bactericidal effect of chlorine.

Studies on Trypanosoma rangeli Tejera 1920: VI. Developmental pattern in the haemolymph of Rhodnius prolixus

The morphological sequence of Trypanosoma rangeli development in the body cavity of Rhodnius prolixus is described. The metacyclic trypanosome is the product of successive division and transformation during the intra and extracellular development in the haemocoele. The significance of the early invasion of T. rangeli into the haemolymph is discussed. The epidemiological importance of the developmental pattern of T. rangeli in the vectors haemolymph and the host-response to the parasite are considered.