Halicephalobus gingivalis (H.deletrix) in the brain of a horse

Um eqüino macho, com 10 anos, Mangalarga, apresentou uma infecção por um nematódeo rabditiforme no cérebro. Os sinais clínicos limitaram-se ao fato de o animal andar em círculos e apresentar paralisia do lado direito. O exame histológico do cérebro revelou acentuada gliose e discreto edema intersticial. O infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear perivascular era composto por poucas camadas de linfócitos, plasmócitos, macrófagos e raros eosinófilos, associados aos nematódeos rabditiformes. Áreas de malácia e trajetos com esferóides axonais são vistos ao redor de vasos e do agente etiológico, sendo mais evidentes na substância branca. Nas meninges, o infiltrado inflamatório foi moderado e associado a parasitas perivasculares. A identificação do nematódeo foi baseada no exame histológico do cérebro do cavalo.

Venomous mollusks: the risks of human accidents by conus snails (gastropoda: conidae) in Brazil

Os moluscos do gênero Conus apresentam um aparato venenoso composto de uma rádula quitinosa ligada a glândulas de peçonha, causando envenenamentos humanos graves e mesmo óbitos pela ação neurotóxica indutora do bloqueio de vários receptores e paralisia muscular. Não há casos descritos de envenenamento no país, mas determinadas populações correm risco de acidentes.

A natural combinatorial chemistry strategy in acylpolyamine toxins from Nephilinae orb-web spiders

The present study shows how nature combined a small number of chemical building blocks to synthesize the acylpolyamine toxins in the venoms of Nephilinae orb-web spiders. Considering these structures in four parts, it was possible to rationalize a way to represent the natural combinatorial chemistry involved in the synthesis of these toxins: an aromatic moiety is connected through a linker amino acid to a polyamine chain, which in turn may be connected to an optional tail. The polyamine chains were classified into seven subtypes (from A to G) depending on the way the small chemical blocks are combined. These polyamine chains may be connected to one of the three possible chromophore moieties: 2,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid, or 4-hydroxyindole acetic acid, or even with the indole acetic group. The connectivity between the aryl moiety and the polyamine chain is usually made through an asparagine residue; optionally a tail may be attached to the polyamine chain; nine different types of tails were identified among the 72 known acylpolyamine toxin structures. The combinations of three chromophores, two types of amino acid linkers, seven sub-types of polyamine backbone, and nine options of tails results in 378 different structural possibilities. However, we detected only 91 different toxin structures, which may represent the most successful structural trials in terms of efficiency of prey paralysis/death.

ALTERED FOCI OF HEPATOCYTES IN RATS INITIATED WITH DIETHYLNITROSAMINE AFTER PROLONGED FASTING

The influence of fasting on the potential of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) to initiate liver cucinogenesis was tested in a medium-term assay using the development of putative preneoplastic altered foci of hepatocytes (AFH) as the endpoint. Male Wistar rats fasted for 48 hr were given a single ip injection of DEN (200 mg/kg body weight). Partial hepatectomies were carried out at wk 3 and the rats were killed at wk 8. Fasted rats exhibited a small increase in the numbers of AFH with glutathione S-transferase in the placental form and eosinophilic AFH when compared with non-fasted animals. However, after a 6-wk exposure to 0.05% sodium phenobarbital in the diet, there were no differences in the numbers of AFH between fasted and non-fasted animals. Fasting also increased DEN-dependent centrilobular cell necrosis and specifically drug metabolism as indicated in vivo by a decreased time of paralysis of the lower limbs induced by zoxazolamine (40 mg/kg body weight, ip) and by an unaltered sleeping time induced by sodium pentobarbital (40 mg/kg body weight, ip). The results indicate that although fasting during the initiation stage of carcinogenesis increases DEN hepatotoxicity, it does not interfere quantitatively with the development of liver preneoplastic lesions.

Influence of temperature upon paralyzing and myotoxic effects of bothropstoxin-I on mouse neuromuscular preparations

Bothropstoxin-I (BthTX-I), from B. jararacussu venom, is a phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) homologue devoid of enzymatic activity. Besides inducing severe myonecrosis, BthTX-I promotes paralysis of both directly and indirectly evoked contractions in isolated neuromuscular preparations. We applied an experimental paradigm in order to characterize the steps involved in the toxic effects of BthTX-I on mouse neuromuscular junction. Myotoxicity was assessed by microscopic analysis of extensor digitorum longus muscles; paralyzing activity was evaluated through the recording of isolated contractions indirectly evoked in phrenic-diaphragm preparations. After 90 min at 35 degreesC, BthTX-I induced complete and irreversible paralysis, and damaged 30.3 +/- 2.7% of muscle fibers. In contrast, no effect was observed when tissues were incubated with BthTX-I at 10degreesC for 60 min and subsequently washed with toxin-free solution and maintained at 35 degreesC. These results indicate that the binding of BthTX-I to the cellular tissue surface is very weak at low temperature and that an additional factor is necessary. However, when tissues were submitted to BthTX-I (10degreesC for 60 min), and the temperature was elevated to 35 degreesC, omitting the washing step, it was observed muscle paralysis and damage in 39.04 +/- 4.2% of muscle fibers. These results indicate that a temperature-dependent step is necessary for BthTX-I to promote both its myotoxic and paralyzing activities. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Distribution of I-125-labeled crotamine in mice tissues

Crotamine is a strong basic polypeptide from Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt) venom composed of 42 amino acid residues tightly bound by three disulfide bonds. It causes skeletal muscle spasms leading to spastic paralysis of hind limbs in mice. The objective of this paper was to study the distribution of crotamine injected intraperitoneally (ip) in mice. Crotamine was purified from Cdt venom by gel filtration, followed by ion exchange chromatography, using a fast-performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) system. Purified crotamine was irradiated at 2 kGy in order to detoxify. Both native and irradiated proteins were labeled with 125, using chloramine T method, and separated by get filtration. Male Swiss mice were injected ip with 0.1 mL (2 x 10(6) cpm/mouse) of I-125 native or irradiated crotamine. At various time intervals, the animals were killed by ether inhalation and blood, spleen, liver, kidneys, brain, lungs, heart, and skeletal muscle were collected in order to determine the radioactivity content. The highest levels of radioactivity were found in the kidneys and the liver, and the lowest in the brain. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Botulism by Clostridium botulinum type C in goats associated with osteophagia

An outbreak of botulism was detected in goats in the semiarid region of Brazil. In a flock of 460 goats, 38 does were affected and 37 died. Kids and younger goats were not affected. The main clinical signs were flaccid tetraparesis leading to tetraplegia that was often accompanied by twisted neck, tongue paralysis, and muscle tremors. At the time of the visit, 4 out of 11 affected goats were recumbent. Ambulatory goats had uncoordinated and swaying gaits with hypometria and weakness, mainly of the hind limbs. Two recumbent and four ambulatory goats showed twisted neck. Two recumbent goats were euthanized and necropsied. Non-significant gross and histologic lesions were observed. Samples of the liver, gut and rumen content were collected from the two goats and examined for botulinum toxins using the mouse serum neutralization test. The three samples from one goat were positive for type C toxin. Marked osteophagia was observed when the goats had access to bones in the pasture, and the farmer mentioned that osteophagia was common among goats of the flock. A sample of the plant Hybantus ipecaconha, the most abundant forage available for the goats, contained 2800 mg/kg of Ca and 450 mg/kg of P. One soil sample contained 58.12 mg/kg of Ca and 2.02 mg/kg of P. It was concluded that in this outbreak, botulism was associated with osteophagia probably due to phosphorus deficiency. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Liver response to low-hexachlorobenzene exposure in protein- or energy-restricted rats

The individual effects of protein deficiency and energy restriction on liver response to low-hexachlorobenzene (HCB) exposure were investigated in adult male Wistar rats. In rats fed either the low-protein or control diet, the only effect caused by HCB was a decrease in paralysis time following an ip injection of zoxazolamine. This decrease was similar for both groups. In the animals subjected to energy restriction, HCB induced a greater decrease in paralysis time, an increase in the size of centrilobular hepatocytes, a lower liver DNA content and an increased concentration of HCB in the adipose tissue, compared with the control and protein-deficient groups. Our data suggest that energy restriction increases liver response to HCB, while protein deficiency does not impair the hepatic reaction to small doses of HCB exposure.

AFASIA MOTORA, PARALISIA FACIAL E HEMIPLEGIA DIREITA APOS ABSCESSO DENTARIO A ESQUERDA

The authors report a case of a 6 year old child who presented with dental abscess associated with a parietal and frontal cerebrite, right facial paralysis and motor aphasia. The clinical findings, radiological examination including computerized tomography and type of treatment are presented. At beginning, the patient did not respond to antimicrobial therapy and only after drainage of her dental abscess revealed good clinical evolution.

ASPECTOS ETIOLOGICOS DA HIPERNASALIDADE CONSEQUENTE A PARALISIA DE PALATO MOLE - RELATO DE 6 CASOS

The authors studied the main aspects of etiology of the palate paralysis in six children suffering from soft palate paralysis. They emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary approach in the management of patients with this disease. In the author's cases the most likely etiologies were: neuropathy post-viral epidemic parotitis, tumors localized in the posterior cerebral fossa and idiopathic. They concluded that it is extremely important in these patients a detailed otorhinolaryngologic, neurologic and fonoaudiologic examinations.

Paralisia de corda vocal e cisto de tiroide

The authors present a rare case of vocal cord paralysis following thyroid cyst. The clinical diagnostic and evolution aspects are presented. The importance of precise evaluation of the thyroid gland in all cases of vocal cord paralysis is emphasized.

Síndrome de Garcin relacionada a linfoma não-Hodgkin

The complete unilateral cranial nerve paralysis syndrome, or Garcin 's Syndrome, is a rare clinical condition. The purpose of this paper is to describe a case associated with non-Hodgkin s lymphoma. A 41-year-old male patient developed a progressive cranial nerve disorder. On the right hand side, there was impairment of all cranial nerves. We report the clinical and laboratorial findings. Lymph node exeresis revealed a Diffuse Non-Hodgkin s Lymphoma, with diffuse hone marrow infiltration. Cerebrospinal fluid showed pleocytosis, with 100% of immunoblasts. The CT scan showed no tumoral masses on the brain stem. This is the first clinical description of a complete Garcin 's Syndrome caused by diffuse lymphomatous infiltration of the cranial nerves.

Avaliacao do efeito do diclofenaco de sodio topico sobre a midriase e sintomas oculares apos dilatacao pupilar

The aim of this study was evaluate the effectiveness of the sodium diclophenac on the mydriasis induced by drugs and on the tearing, blepharospasm and photophobia in normal individuals that received mydriatic or cycloplegic eyedrops. We observed that there was not increase of the pupil diameter with the use of the diclophenac (f = 0,52). The photophobia symptom was mainly present in the patients with dark iris and that received the cycloplegic drops (p < 0,01). The authors concluded that there is not benefit in the use of the sodium dyclophenac eyedrops for the mydriasis increase or the decrease of the ocular symptoms in routine ophthalmologic examination.

Seqüência de moebius: Manifestações clínicas e avaliação auditiva

Introduction: Children with Moebius syndrome may present paralysis of cranial nerves III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X and XII, compromising motor and sensorial functions. Hands and feet defects (syndactyly, equinovarus and arthrogryposis) are frequently associated. These manifestations can be attributed to the use of misoprostol during pregnancy to induce abortion. Study design: Clinical prospective. Aim: To evaluate the main clinical manifestations, hearing acuity and possible etiologic factors in children with Moebius syndrome. Material and method: The children were submitted to clinical, otolaryngological and hearing acuity assessment. Hearing acuity was evaluated through behavioral tests, pure tone audiometry, tympanometry and auditory brainstem response (ABR). We investigated possible etiologic factors. Results: Three boys and two girls were evaluated. The main manifestations were: facial paralysis, paralysis of masseter muscle, defects in dental occlusion, retraction of tympanic membrane, equinovarus, oblique palpebral fissure and tongue atrophy. Conductive hearing loss was detected in three children and sensorineural hearing loss in one child. The use of misoprostol during pregnancy was reported by four mothers. Conclusions: The children with Moebius syndrome evaluated in the present study manifested palsies of various cranial nerves, especially V, VII and XII nerves, responsible for motor and sensorial alterations. Inadequate eustachian tube function associated to conductive hearing loss was frequent. The use of misoprostol during pregnancy was reported by the mothers and it was considered a possible etiologic factor.

Organophosphate induced delayed neuropathy in genetically dissimilar chickens: Studies with tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) and trichlorfon

Measurements of plasma cholinesterase (pl.ChE), brain cholinesterase (Br.ChE) and brain Neuropathy Target Esterase (Br.NTE) were made in three different lineages of chickens. All birds received toxicants through gavage in a single oral dose between 08:00 and 09:00 h, after overnight fast. Babcock chickens were treated with 800 mg/kg tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) or 80 mg/kg trichlorfon. The TOCP group had 82% Br.NTE inhibition, when compared to the control group, and no birds displayed symptoms of clinical organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN). Hy-line w36 lineage chickens were given 1600 mg/kg TOCP and despite this higher dose, Br.NTE inhibition was similar that presented by Babcock chickens. Isabrown chickens were given 1600 mg/kg TOCP or 80 mg/kg trichlorfon. At 36 h all trichlorfon treated birds had from 80 to 90% inhibition of Pl.ChE and Br.ChE, when compared to controls. However, Br.NTE was inhibited less than 20%, and there were no clinical signs of OPIDN. All TOCP treated isabrown chickens had more than 80% Br.NTE inhibition while one of them exhibited just light signs of OPIDN, two chickens became totally paralyzed. This finding suggested that chicken strain was important in the appearance of OPIDN. In addition, 70-80% of NTE inhibition was necessary but was not sufficient to produce OPIDN in chickens, since babcock and hy-line w36 chickens exhibited NTE inhibition in the range of 70-80% without clinical signs of OPIDN. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.