Ocorrência das domácias na família Rubiaceae

The author has studied the domatia appearing in the Rubiaceae family by examining 622 species distributed among 113 genera; and has verified that 88 species belonging to 35 genera have domatia fitting in the "touffe de poils", "en pertuis" and "em pochette" types according to the Chevalier's Classification. 39 species present domatia that display chamber, duct and outlet orifice. The other 46 species present domatia either as hair-agglomerates, hair-clusters or scattered hairs. The domatia in Paveta indica L. and Vangueria edulis Vahl. are in the shape of a little holow in the blade tissue and have no hairs. In Borreria verbenoides Cham & Schl. the domatia are formed by an elevation in the limb and presents abundant and short hairs. In Bqthryopora corymbosa Hook f. and Gardenia Thumbergii L. the domatia appear also in the nervure axils of several orders and also in Rudgea lanceolata Benth., Rudgea subsessilis Benth. and Rudgea gardenoides Muell. Arg. are they located7 in the axilla of the angle directed toward the leaf base.

Miocardite na forma aguda da doença de Chagas

The autopsy of a case of CHAGAS'S disease or American tryponosomiasis (a girl, 5 years old), dead in the 22nd day of illness is reported. The anatomic diagnosis was a follows: Acute diffuse chagasic nyocarditis. Chagasic encephalitis. Chagasic lymphadenitis of the right posterior auricular node. Tuberculosis of the bronchial and pulmonary nodes. Chronic passive hyperemia and atelectasia of the lungs. Chronic passive congestion and hemorrhages of the spleen. Serous hepatitis. Parotiditis. Edema of the right eyelids. Bilateral hydrothorax. Hydropericardium. Hydroperitoneum. The morphology of Schizotrypanum cruzi in the myocardium is considered. Besides agglomerates with typical small oval or round intracellular bodies, pre-flagellate and flagellate organisms, others are found in which the great amount of parasites and marked pressure exerted by them against each other render very difficult their identification; sometimes the similitude of such agglamerates to Toxoplasma is striking (Fig. 1 and 1 A). In such a case, the structure of the blepharoplast (Fig. 1 and IA), usually preserved, is profitable and allows the identification of the pre-flagellate and flagellate forms of Schizotrypanum cruzi. Most of the small sensitive nerves in the epicardium shows mononuclear infiltration of the perineurium (perineuritis, Figs. 12-14). Microscopically there is extensive Zenker's degeneration (Figs. 6-8) and parasitism of the heart muscle fibers, marked cellular infiltration of the interstitial connective tissue, which are found in the ordinary musculature of every chamber of the heart (Figs. 10-11) as well as in Tawara's node (Fig. 9), main bundle (Fig. 2) and right (Fig. 4) and left (Fig. 5) septal divisions of the bundle of His, and perineuritis. Those anatomic changes are associated to an abnormal electrocardiogram presenting some similitude to that of an anemic infarct of the anterior wall of the heart and which will be discussed elsewhere (unpublished paper by Dias, Nobrega & Laranja).

Antimicrobial activity of Brazilian copaiba oils obtained from different species of the Copaifera genus

The antimicrobial activity of copaiba oils was tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and dermatophytes. Oils obtained from Copaifera martii, Copaifera officinalis, and Copaifera reticulata (collected in the state of Acre) were active against Gram-positive species (Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, and Enterococcus faecalis) with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 31.3-62.5 µg/ml. The oils showed bactericidal activity, decreasing the viability of these Gram-positive bacteria within 3 h. Moderate activity was observed against dermatophyte fungi (Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis). The oils showed no activity against Gram-negative bacteria and yeast. Scannning electron microscopy of S. aureus treated with resin oil from C. martii revealed lysis of the bacteria, causing cellular agglomerates. Transmission electron microscopy revealed disruption and damage to the cell wall, resulting in the release of cytoplasmic compounds, alterations in morphology, and a decrease in cell volume, indicating that copaiba oil may affect the cell wall.