Erythema nodosum: prospective study of 32 cases

The results of 32 cases studied lead us to the conclusion that erythema nodosum's investigation routine is very important, once in our retrospective study, the percentage of cases of unknown etiology was 69.4%, and in this prospective study it is 21.8%. In 10 cases (31.2%), more than one causing agent was suspected. Infections (bacterial, helminthic, fungal, by protozoa) were diagnosed in 26 cases, streptococcal infection having predominated (12 cases). Drugs-dipirone, aspirin, anovulatory - were suspected as causing agents in 13 cases. The association of erythema nodosum and histoplasmosis capsulata is described for the first time in Brazil. We consider erythema nodosum to be a complex syndrome which should be regarded as a manifestation of underlying diseases. The fact that all 32 subjects were women, 26 of them during menacme, suggests that particular hormonal media may favor the action of various processes (infections and drugs), precipitating erythema nodosum's clinical picture.

PREVALENCE OF ANTI- Toxocara ANTIBODIES IN A RANDOM SAMPLE OF INPATIENTS AT A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN VITÓRIA, ESPÍRITO SANTO, BRAZIL

In the streets of Vitória, in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, are large number of stray dogs, many of which are infected with Toxocara canis, suggesting a high risk for human infection. In order to investigate the prevalence of Toxocara infection in children in Espírito Santo we studied the prevalence of anti-Toxocara antibodies in 100 random inpatients over one year of age, at the Children's Hospital N.S. da Glória, the reference children's hospital for the State.All the sera were collected during the period between October 1996 and January 1997. The mean age was 6.6±4.1 yrs. (1 to 14 yrs., median 6yrs.) and there were patients from all of the different wards of the hospital. Sixty-eigth patients came from the metropolitan area of Vitória and the other 32 from 17 other municipalities. The anti-Toxocara antibodies were investigated by ELISA-IgG using a secretory-excretory antigen obtained from second stage larvae. All sera were adsorbed with Ascaris suum antigen before the test. Thirty-nine sera (39%) were positive, predominantly from boys, but the gender difference was not statistically significant (boys:25/56 or 44.6%; girls:14/44 or 31.8%; p=0.311). The prevalence of positive sera was higher, but not statistically significant, in children from the urban periphery of metropolitan Vitória (formed by the cities of Vitória, Cariacica, Vila Velha, Serra and Viana) than in children from 17 other municipalities (44.1% and 28.1% respectively, p=0.190). Although the samples studied do not represent all children living in the State of Espírito Santo, since the Children's Hospital N.S. da Glória admits only patients from the state health system, it is probable that these results indicate a high frequency of Toxocara infection in children living in Espírito Santo. Further studies of population samples are necessary to ascertain the prevalence of Toxocara infection in our country.

Estudo da coagulação do sangue com o medicamento 1(5-Nitro-2-Tiazolil-2-Imidazolidinona) - Ciba 32.644-Ba: niridazol no tratamento da esquistossomose mansoni

Os autores estudaram a coagulação do sangue em 30 pacientes tratados com 25mg/kg/dia/7 dias, com o composto 1 (5-Nitro-2-Tiazolil-2-Imidazolidinona) - Ciba 32.644 - Ba. Além do exame clínico e várias provas laboratoriais, efetuaram pesquisa do tempo de protrombina, retração do coágulo, dosagem de fibrinogênio, contagem de plaquetas, tempo de sangria e coagulação. As alterações observadas não nos parecem ter influência nas hemorragias que possam ocorrer durante o tratamento com o medicamento estudado, em pacientes com a forma hepato-intestinal da esquistossomose. Mesmo a queda discreta do tempo de protrombina, verificada nos 6 meses seguintes ao tratamento, em seis dos pacientes, não favoreceria a hemorragia, porque os valores encontrados não alcançaram o limiar da mesma. Quanto à retração do coágulo, como alteração isolada, parece-nos impossível a interpretação de que possa ser justificada por alguma alteração na fisiologia das plaquetas.

Frequency of CCR5 Delta-32 Mutation in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-seropositive and HIV-exposed Seronegative Individuals and in General Population of Medellin, Colombia

Repeated exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) does not always result in seroconversion. Modifications in coreceptors for HIV entrance to target cells are one of the factors that block the infection. We studied the frequency of Delta-32 mutation in ccr5 gene in Medellin, Colombia. Two hundred and eighteen individuals distributed in three different groups were analyzed for Delta-32 mutation in ccr5 gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR): 29 HIV seropositive (SP), 39 exposed seronegative (ESN) and 150 individuals as a general population sample (GPS). The frequency of the Delta-32 mutant allele was 3.8% for ESN, 2.7% for GPS and 1.7% for SP. Only one homozygous mutant genotype (Delta-32/Delta-32) was found among the ESN (2.6%). The heterozygous genotype (ccr5/Delta-32) was found in eight GPS (5.3%), in one SP (3.4%) and in one ESN (2.6%). The differences in the allelic and genotypic frequencies among the three groups were not statistically significant. A comparison between the expected and the observed genotypic frequencies showed that these frequencies were significantly different for the ESN group, which indirectly suggests a protective effect of the mutant genotype (Delta-32/Delta-32). Since this mutant genotype explained the resistance of infection in only one of our ESN persons, different mechanisms of protection must be playing a more important role in this population.

Ciência da Informação: 32 anos (1972-2004) no caminho da história e horizontes de um periódico científico brasileiro

Análise da revista Ciência da Informação, do IBICT, nas suas qualidades extrínsecas e intrínsecas. As primeiras, relativas à forma, incluem as seções, padrões bibliográficos e sistema de avaliação. As características intrínsecas abrangem a análise de conteúdo dos artigos, a produtividade de autores e padrões de autoria, tendo sido constatada tanto a sua repercussão nacional quanto internacional. O processo evolutivo da Ciência da Informação, na sua transformação para formato eletrônico , potencializou a disseminação e acesso universal à informação. Os resultados demonstram que o periódico Ciência da Informação é um espaço de discussão de temas relevantes e atuais da área, nos seus avanços, contribuindo para a consolidação e expansão da Ciência da Informação no Brasil.

Repercussões da cicatriz uterina resultante de cesariana prévia na dopplervelocimetria das artérias uterinas entre 26 e 32 semanas

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as repercussões da cicatriz uterina na dopplervelocimetria das artérias uterinas, entre 26 e 32 semanas, em gestantes primíparas com uma cesariana prévia, considerando quando esta foi realizada fora (cesárea eletiva) ou durante o trabalho de parto. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo transversal em 45 gestantes, divididas em três grupos: 17 gestantes com cicatriz prévia resultante de cesariana eletiva (grupo A); 14 gestantes com uma cicatriz prévia oriunda de cesariana executada em trabalho de parto (grupo B); 14 gestantes cujo único parto anterior foi realizado por via vaginal (grupo C). A dopplervelocimetria das artérias uterinas foi realizada pela via abdominal. Foram calculados as médias, medianas e desvios-padrão (DP) para cada grupo em estudo. Em relação ao índice de pulsatilidade, a comparação dos grupos foi conduzida pelo teste não paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis. RESULTADOS: Os valores médios do índice de pulsatilidade no grupo A variaram de 0,60 a 1,60 (média: 0,90; DP: 0,29), no grupo B, de 0,53 a 1,43 (média: 0,87; DP: 0,24), e no grupo C, de 0,65 a 1,65 (média: 1,01; DP: 0,37); p = 0,6329. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve repercussões da cicatriz de cesariana prévia na dopplervelocimetria das artérias uterinas avaliadas de 26 a 32 semanas de gestação.

Cloração do anisol, tolueno e nitrobenzeno com ácido tricloroisocianúrico (ATCI): aspectos computacionais sobre a reatividade e regiosseletividade

We present in this educational article a theoretical analysis based on DFT/B3LYP 6-311++G (d,p) and ab initio MP2/6-311++G(d,p) computational calculation about the reactivity and the regioselectivity on the chlorination reaction of anisole, toluene and nitrobenzene, using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TICA) as donor of Cl+. The H.O.M.O. / L.U.M.O. energy and N.B.O. atomic charges of various aromatic systems were calculated in ab initio level. The energies of the reagents and intermediaries were calculated using D.F.T.. These results have been presented as a quantitative example for the S E A mechanism, in the undergraduate organic chemistry disciplines.

Effect of the application of different water depths and nitrogen and potassium doses on quality of Tanzania grass

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the application of different water depths and nitrogen and potassium doses in the quality of Tanzania grass, in the southern of the state of Tocantins. The experiment was conducted on strips of traditional sprinklers, and used, as treatments, a mixture of fertilizer combinations of N and K2O always in the ratio of 1 N:0.8 K2O. This study determined throughout the experiment: plant height (PH), the crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). The highest plant height obtained was 132.4 cm, with a fertilizer dose of 691.71 kg ha-1 in the proportion of N:0.8 K2O, in other words, 384.28 kg ha-1 of N and 307.43 kg ha-1 of K2O, and water depth of 80% of the ETc. The highest crude protein content was 12.2%, with the fertilizer dose application of 700 kg ha-1 yr-1 in the proportion of 1 N to 0.8 of K2O, in other words, 388.89 kg ha-1 of N and 311.11 kg ha-1 of K2O and absence of irrigation. The lowest level of neutral detergent fiber was 60.7% with the application of the smallest dose of fertilizer and highest water depth. It was concluded in this study that there was an increase in plant height by increasing the fertilizer dose and water depth. The crude protein content increased 5.4% in the dry season, by increasing the fertilizer dose and water depth. In the dry season, there was an increase of NDF content by 4.5% by increasing the application of fertilizer and water depth.

Sobrevida e morbidade em prematuros com menos de 32 semanas de gestação na região central do Brasil

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a sobrevida e complicações associadas à prematuridade em recém-nascidos com menos de 32 semanas. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo do tipo coorte. Foram incluídos os nascidos vivos, com idade gestacional entre 25 semanas e 31 semanas e 6 dias, sem anomalias congênitas admitidos em UTI Neonatal, entre 1º de agosto de 2009 e 31 de outubro de 2010. Os recém-nascidos foram estratificados em três grupos: G25, 25 a 27 semanas e 6 dias; G28, 28 a 29 semanas e 6 dias; G30, 30 a 31 semanas e 6 dias, e acompanhados até 28 dias. Foram avaliadas a sobrevida aos 28 dias e a morbidade associadas à prematuridade. Para análise dos resultados, utilizou-se o teste do c², análise de variância, teste de Kruskal-Wallis, razão de risco com intervalo de confiança (IC) e regressão logística múltipla, com significância em 5%. RESULTADOS: A coorte compreendeu 198 prematuros, sendo G25=59, G28=43 e G30=96. O risco de óbito foi significativamente maior em G25 e G28, em relação ao G30 (RR=4,1; IC95% 2,2-7,6 e RR=2,8; IC95% 1,4-5,7). A sobrevida encontrada foi, respectivamente, 52,5, 67,4 e 88,5%. A partir da 26ª semana e peso >700 g, a sobrevida foi superior a 50%. A morbidade foi inversamente proporcional à idade gestacional, exceto para enterocolite necrosante e leucomalácia, que não diferiram entre os grupos. A análise de regressão logística mostrou que a hemorragia pulmonar (OR=3,3; IC95% 1,4-7,9) e a síndrome do desconforto respiratório (OR=2,5; IC95% 1,1-6,1) foram fatores independentes de risco para óbito. Houve predomínio das lesões cerebrais hemorrágicas graves em G25. CONCLUSÕES: Sobrevivência superior a 50% ocorreu a partir da 26ª semana de gravidez e peso >700 g. A hemorragia pulmonar e a síndrome do desconforto respiratório foram preditores independentes de óbito. Há necessidade de identificar e instituir práticas para melhorar a sobrevida de prematuros extremos.

Do induced twin pregnancies influence the obstetric and neonatal results of multiple births born before 32 weeks? Comparison to spontaneous gestation

PURPOSE: To compare obstetric outcomes of induced preterm twin births (under 32 weeks gestation) with those spontaneously conceived. METHODS: Prospective study of twin pregnancies (25 induced and 157 spontaneously conceived) developed over a period of 16 years in a tertiary obstetric center. Demographic factors, obstetric complications, gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery, birth weight and immediate newborn outcome were compared. RESULTS: The analysis of obstetrical complications concerning urinary or other infections, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, fetal malformations, intrauterine fetal death, intrauterine growth restriction and intrauterine discordant growth reveal no significant statistical differences between the two groups. First trimester bleeding was higher in the induced group (24 versus 8.3%, p=0.029). The cesarean delivery rate was 52.2% in spontaneous gestations and 64% in induced gestations. Gestational age at delivery, birth weight, Apgar scores at first and fifth minutes, admissions to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and puerperal complications show no statistically significant differences between the two groups. These results were independent of chorionicity and induction method. CONCLUSION: The mode of conception did not influence obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Although induced pregnancies have higher risk of first trimester bleeding, significant differences were not observed regarding other obstetric and puerperal complications and neonatal results.

Expression and distribution of connexin 32 in rat liver with experimentally induced fibrosis

The connexin 32 (Cx32) is a protein that forms the channels that promote the gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in the liver, allowing the diffusion of small molecules through cytosol from cell-to-cell. Hepatic fibrosis is characterized by a disruption of normal tissue architeture by cellular lesions, and may alter the GJIC. This work aimed to study the expression and distribution of Cx32 in liver fibrosis induced by the oral administration of dimethylnitrosamine in female Wistar rats. The necropsy of the rats was carried out after five weeks of drug administration. They presented a hepatic fibrosis state. Sections from livers with fibrosis and from control livers were submitted to immunohistochemical, Real Time-PCR and Western-Blot analysis to Cx32. In fibrotic livers the Cxs were diffusely scattered in the cytoplasm, contrasting with the control livers, where the Cx32 formed junction plaques at the cell membrane. Also it was found a decrease in the gene expression of Cx32 without reduction in the protein quantity when compared with controls. These results suggest that there the mechanism of intercellular communication between hepatocytes was reduced by the fibrotic process, which may predispose to the occurrence of a neoplastic process, taken in account that connexins are considered tumor suppressing genes.