Interessante comportamento dos cromossômios na espermatogênese dp escorpião Isometrus maculatus De Geer

Having had the opportunity of studying a male of the species Isometrus maculatus De Qeer (Scorplones, Buthidae) the author was able to observe one of the most interesting anomalies hitherto met with in his investigations on Scorpions. This anomaly consisted in the formation by the primary spermatocyte metaphase chromosomes of a complex group of eight elements, and two independent pairs. As it is clear, the octovalent group resulted from tranlocations involving the members of four chromosome pairs. Since aside the compound group two independent bivalents were always present, 12 was estabilished as representing the diploid chromosome number of the individual, what was soon confirmed by the counts in the spermatogonia. This peculiar behavior of the chromosomes of the primary spermatocytes represents the habitual condition in the studied individual, since it was found everywhere in the whole testis. Better than any description, the figures in this, paper show what was observed. Notwithstanding the complications which may occur at anaphase, separation of the chromosomes goes normally, each pole receiving four chromosomes from the group and two from the free bivalents. Secondary spermatocytes are thus provided with six monovalents. Though not found, we may believe in the existence of secondary spermatocytes with more or lesse than six chromosomes, because it seems highly probable that lhe chromosomes of the complex may now and then passe to the wrong pole 'n consequence of an incorrect orientation. Bridge vestiges suggest that chromosomes may sometimes break. The spermatogonia have 12 short chromosomes, which bend to the poles at anaphase. The chromosomes of the present species approach, in shape and behavior, those of Tityus mattogrossensis.

Ocorrência do órgão cupuliforme com bordos pelífenos, no colo dos "seedlings" de algumas Myrtaceae

After verifing the presence of the cupuliform organ on the seedlings from 105 species of Eucalyptus (ACCORSI, 1955-56), the author concluded that it is a morphological characteristic of the genus, which is peculiar to the plants only in first stages of their life. In this paper, the author resumes his study carried out on 20 species of Myrtaceae, distributed among 13 genus and he could certify, until now, that, in relation to the cupuliform organ, they may divided in three groups: 1.° Group - Without cupuliform organ 1. Campomanesia aurea Berg 2. Eugenia campestris DC. 3. Eugenia tomentosa Camb. 4. Eugenia uniflora L. 5. Myrciaria edulis Berg 6. Myrciaria trunciflora Berg 7. Pitangueira-gigante - As it was difficulty to identify this species, I use its common name. 2.° Group - With rudiment of cupuli orm organ 1. Eugenia uvalha Camb. 2. Jambosa vulgaris DC. 3. Myrciaria cauliflora Berg 3.° Group - With full cupuliform organ 1. Amomyrtus luma (Mol) Legr. et Kaus. 2. Blepharocalyx angustifolius Berg 3. Britoa acida Berg 4. Callistemon speciosus DC. o. Callistemon viminalis Cheel. 6. Feijoa sellowiana Berg 7. Myrceugenia glaucescens (Camb.) Legrand 8. Myrrhinium rubriflorum Berg 9. Psidium guayava Raddi 10. Psidium littorale Raddi During his observations, he could identify also in many, seeds an "operculum", further observations about it will be published opportunely.

Litosol: suas características e provável gênese

Some of the characteristics peculiar to Litosois are discussed based on data published on Litosois occurring in the States of São Paulo and Paraná. Litosois are the first stages of development of a soil. Litosois probably originate through the exposure of the rockbed caused by an excessive relief. Rock weathering processes are intensive, prevailing those of chemical nature rather than those processes in which physical phenomena dominate. The A horizon has a high organic matter content (2% to 10%). Silt and clay amount to approximately 50% of the fine earth in the A horizon, with the exception of Litosois originated from sandstone and granite. The SiO2/Al2O3 relationship of the soil's colloidal complex and the clay's cation exchange capacity indicate that it is quite probable the presence of 2:1 type clay in Litosois derived from basic rocks.

Microhabitats de mosquitos (Diptera, Culicidae) em internódios de taquara na Mata Atlântica, Paraná, Brasil

During two consecutive years, from January 1985 to December 1986, a comparative study of mosquitoes preferences for breeding habitat was carried out in the Atlantic Forest of the Serra do Mar, Paraná State, Brazil. To achieve it, 1875 bamboo internodes aligned vertically in live green, bamboo plants Merostachys speciosa Munro and Merostachys sp. were used, in which metabolic water was exuded from the plant itself, and presenting different size/pattern holes at their lateral walls, bored by the local sylvan fauna. Another group of 1200 individual internode traps was used as comparative element, carved out with a transversal cut by a saw, filled with local stream water and held in branches at different heights in the vegetal strata nearby. At both microhabitat types, a total of 17 culicid species was registered. Culex (Microculex) neglectus Lutz, 1904, Cx. (Carrollia) soperi Antunes & Lane, 1937, Sabethes (Sabethes) batesi Lane & Cerqueira, 1942 and Sa. (Sabethinus) melanonymphe (Dyar, 1924)colonized exclusively live plant internodes, while Culex (Microculex) elongatus Rozeboom & Lane, 1950, Cx. (Carrollia) iridescens (Lutz, 1905), Cx. (Carrollia) kompi Valencia,1973and Trichoprosopon (Trichoprosopon) soaresi Dyar & Knab, 1907 bred only in internode traps. The remaining nine species colonized both habitats indistinctly. Quantitatively, was detected the abundance of 60.1% at live green internodes, against 39.9% for internode traps. Concerning the different patterns of bored live internode holes, 40.3% of the total computed specimens were collected in square or rectangular holes, 31.9% in two hole internodes, one minute circular, the other wider, and the remaining 28.8% of specimens distributed in other pattern type internodes. The mosquitoes breeding at these microhabitats fall in the culicid entomofauna specialized at locating and detecting peculiar and propitious mesogen conditions for breeding purposes.

Dos especies nuevas de Rhabdepyris (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) de Colombia

Rhabdepyris (Chlorepyris) humboldti sp. nov. and R. (C.) tarapachensis sp. nov. from Colombia are described and illustrated. These species are specially peculiar by having pectinate antennae, which is the first report of this character for the genus.

Estudos sobre thrombose cardiaca e endocardite parietal de origem não valvular

1.-Since the parietal endocarditis represents a chapter generally neglected, owing to the relative lack of cases, and somewhat confused because there various terms have been applied to a very same morbid condition, it justifies the work which previously we tried to accomplish, of nosographic classification. Taking into account the functional disturbances and the anatomical changes, all cases of parietal endocarditis referred to in the litterature were distributed by the following groups: A-Group-Valvulo-parietal endocarditis. 1st . type-Valvulo-parietal endocarditis per continuum. 2nd. type-Metastatic valvulo-parietal endocarditis. 3rd. type-Valvulo-parietal endocarditis of the mitral stenosis. B-Group-Genuine parietal endocarditis. a) with primary lesions in the myocardium. b) with primary lesions in the endocardium. 4th type-Fibrous chronic parietal endocarditis (B A Ü M L E R), « endocarditis parietalis simplex». 5th type-Septic acute parietal endocarditis (LESCHKE), «endocarditis parietalis septica». 6th type-Subacute parietal endocarditis (MAGARINOS TORRES), «endocarditis muralis lenta». 2.-Studying a group of 14 cases of fibrous endomyocarditis with formation of thrombi, and carrying together pathological and bacteriological examinations it has been found that some of such cases represent an infectious parietal endocarditis, sometimes post-puerperal, of subacute or slow course, the endocardic vegetations being contamined by pathogenic microörganisms of which the most frequent is the Diplococcus pneumoniae, in most cases of attenuated virulence. Along with the infectious parietal endocarditis, there occur arterial and venous thromboses (abdominal aorta, common illiac and femural arteries and external jugular veins). The case 5,120 is a typical one of this condition which we name subacute parietal endocarditis (endocarditis parietalis s. muralis lenta). 3.-The endocarditis muralis lenta encloses an affection reputed to be of rare occurrence, the «myocardite subaigüe primitive», of which JOSSERAND and GALLAVARDIN published in 1901 the first cases, and ROQUE and LEVY, another, in 1914. The «myocardite subaigüe primitive» was, wrongly, in our opinion, included by WALZER in the syndrome of myocardia of LAUBRY and WALZER, considering that, in the refered cases of JOSSERAND and GALLAVARDIN and in that of ROQUE and LEVY, there are described rather considerable inflammatory changes in the myocardium and endocardium. The designation «myocardia» was however especially created by LAUBRY and WALZER for the cases of heart failure in which the most careful aetiologic inquiries and the most minucious clinical examination were unable to explain, and in which, yet, the post-mortem examination did not reveal any anatomical change at all, it being forcible to admit, then, a primary functional change of the cardiac muscle fibre. This special cardiac condition is thoroughly exemplified in the observation that WALZER reproduces on pages 1 to 7 of his book. 4.-The clinical picture of the subacute parietal endocarditis is that of heart failure with oedemas, effusion in the serous cavities and passive chronic congestion of the lungs, liver, kideys and spleen associated, to that of an infectious disease of subacute course. The fever is rather transient oscillating around 99.5 F., being intersected with apyretic periods of irregular duration; it is not dependent on any evident extracardiac septic infection. In other cases the fever is slight, particularly in the final stage of the disease, when the heart failure is well established. The rule is to observe then, hypothermy. The cardiac-vascular signs consist of enlargement of the cardiac dullness, smoothing of the cardiac sounds, absence of organic murmurs and accentuated and persistent tachycardia up to a certain point independent of fever. The galloprhythm is present, in most cases. The signs of the pulmonary infarct are rather expressed by the aspect of the sputum, which is foamy and blood-streaked than by the classic signs. Cerebral embolism was a terminal accident on various cases. Yet, in some of them, along with the signs of septicemia and of cardiac insufficiency, occurred vascular, arterial (abdominal aorta, common illiac and femurals arteries) and venous (extern jugular veins) thromboses. 5. The autopsy revealed an inflammatory process located on the parietal endocardium, accompanied by abundant formation of ancient and recent thrombi, being the apex of the left ventricle, the junction of the anterior wall of the same ventricle, with the interventricular septum, and the right auricular appendage, the usual seats of the inflammatory changes. The region of the left branch of HIS’ bundle is spared. The other changes found consist of fibrosis of the myocardium (healed infarcts and circumscribed interstitial myocarditis), of recent visceral infarcts chiefly in lungs, spleen and brain, of recent or old infarcts in the kidneys (embolic nephrocirrhosis) and in the spleen, and of vascular thromboses (abdominal aorta, common illiacs and femurals arteries and external jugular veins), aside from hydrothorax, hydroperitoneum, cutaneous oedema, chronic passive congestion of the liver, lungs, spleen and kidneys and slight ictericia. 6. In the subacute parietal endocarditis the primary lesions sometimes locate themselves at the myocardium, depending on the ischemic necrosis associated to the arteriosclerosis of the coronariae arteries, or on an specific myocarditis. Other times, the absence of these conditions is suggestive of a primary attack to the parietal endocardium which is then the primary seat of the lesions. It matters little whatever may be the initial pathogenic mechanism; once injured the parietal endocardium and there being settled the infectious injury, the endocarditis develops with peculiar clinical and anatomical characters of remarkable uniformity, constituting an anatomo-clinical syndrome. 7.-The histologic sections show that recent lesions…

Estudo comparativo das inclusões do alastrim e da variola vera

Resulta das descripções e documentos examinados que as inclusões cytoplasmaticas da variola vera, no material humano examinado, apresentam caracteres geraes que poderão ser assim resumidos: 1. intensa coloração pela safranina nos preparados pelo methodo de Unna modificado (Fig. 42), mostrando a inclusão matiz semelhante ao dos nucleolos da mesma cellula. 2. reacção predominantemente acidophila nos preparados pela hematoxylina-eosina, traduzida pela tonalidade rosea ou vermelha de coloração (Figs. 27, 29, 30, 31 e 31). 3. frequente multiplicidade de inclusões de fórma e dimensões variadas na mesma cellula (Figs. 29 e 30), as maiores inclusões (Figs. 29 e 32), sendo menores que as grandes inclusões cytoplasmaticas solitarias do alastrim (Figs. 15, 16 e 18). É a regra, ainda, observar-se desapparecimento de qualquer estructura no cytoplasma das cellulas com inclusões em zona muito extensa, tornando-se difficil explicar tal aspecto unicamente pela retracção das inclusões no acto da fixação (Figs. 31 e 32). Quanto ás inclusões intranucleares, ellas se apresentam sob tres aspectos, dois dos quaes bem reconhecidos por Luger e Lauda (1926). Em um primeiro aspecto, o nucleo conserva, em parte, o reticulo de linina e encerra uma massa irregular (Fig. 35) ou, então, pequenas massas e granulos de dimensões variaveis (Figs. 33 e 34) constituidos por material acidophilo que ali não existe em condições normaes. A membrana nuclear tem espessura visinha do normal. Em um segundo aspecto, a inclusão occupa a totalidade do nucleoplasma (Fig. 3), apenas separado da membrana nuclear, em alguns casos (Fig. 38), por um estreito espaço claro (zona de retracção). Por vezes apresenta um aspecto homogeneo (Fig. 37); outras vezes a inclusão mostra pequenas areas chromophobas ( Fig. 38). A hyperchromatose da membrana nuclear é accentuada, tanto neste como no aspecto seguinte. No terceiro aspecto (aspecto corpuscular) (Figs. 39, 40, 48 e 50), a inclusão intranuiclear é formada por um ou mais corpusculos acidophilos, de contornos muito nitidos e fórma regular, ora ovoide, ora espherica. No interior de cada corpusculo, apparecem zonas chromophobas multiplas, sendo ordinariamente uma maior que as outras (Figs. 39, 40, 48 e 50). Fóra desses corpusculos, o nucleoplasma contem, por vezes material menos intensamente corado pelo eosina ou pela safranina (Figs. 40). O reticulo de linina, porém, acha-se completamente desapparecido, e não raro se observa, em torno dos corpusculos acidophilos, uma zona algum tanto extensa de nucleoplasma sem nenhuma estructura apparente (Fig. 48, á direita). Frisamos o modo peculiar de se comportar o nucleolo nas cellulas epidermicas com inclusões intranucleares da variola. Recalcado, a principio, de encontro á membrana nuclear (Fig. 36), elle em seguida é englobado pela propria membrana nuclear, parecendo incluso nessa estructura (Figs. 37, 35, 38 e 48, á direita). A « marginação » do nucleolo, e o seu englobamento ou inclusão na membrana nuclear, bem como o terceiro aspecto que descrevemos, de corpusculos intranucleares esphericos ou ovoides com zonas chromophobas, são caracteres que differenciam, de modo nitido, as inclusões intranucleares da variola vera da das demais inclusões das doenças de virus. Nem sempre, porém, os aspectos encontrados podem ser incluidos, com facilidade, em um dos tres grupos atraz mencionados, o que indica a existencia de phases de transição entre elles. Tal como assignalou Ewing, as cellulas epidermicas com inclusões intranucleares são geralmente as attingidas pela « ballonierende Degeneration ». Em geral taes elementos revestem o fundo da vesicula, ás vezes formando uma unica camada, e representando tudo o que resta da epiderme. Comtudo, em nosso material, conseguimos encontrar inclusões intranucleares em cellulas espinhosas do corpo mucoso de Malpighi que ainda conservaram relações normaes com os elementos contiguos e não eram attingidas pela « ballonierende Degeneration ». Em taes inclusões é que, de preferencia, observamos o aspecto de granulos mencionado no grupo I (Fig. 34). A hyperchromatose da membrana nuclear é, então, pouco notavel, constratando como o grau pronunciado que apresenta nos dois outros aspectos. Existiam, ellas em «lambeaux » epitheliaes, presos em certos pontos, por extreito pediculo, á camada basal, no fundo da vesicula.

Ixodidas brasileiros e de alguns paizes limitrophes

The knowledge of the Ixodidae becomes every day, more and more important owing to the fact of the increasing number of diseases of man and animals they can transmit. In Brasil besides transmitting treponemosis, piroplasmosis and anaplasmosis to several domestic animals, the ticks are also responsible fo the transmission of the brazilian rocky mountain spotted fever (A. cajennense and Amblyomma striatum) and they can also harbour the virus of the yellow fever and even to transmit it in laboratory experiments (A. cajennense, O. rostratus). The Brazilian fauna of ticks is a small one and has no more than 45 well-established species belonging to the genus Argas, Ornithodoros, Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Rhipicephalus, Boophilus, Amblyomma and Spaelaeorhynchus. The genus Amblyomma is the best represented one, with 67% of all species of ticks known in Brazil. One of the most important species in the Amblyomma cajennense owing to its abundance and its wide parasitism in many vertebrates: reptiles, birds and mammals, incluing man, who is much attacked by the larva, the nymph and the adult of this species. The other ticks who attack the man are the Amblyomma brasiliense (the pecari tick), in the forests, and the Ornithodoros, especially the species. O. rostratus and brasiliensis. Other species can bite the man, but only occasionally, like Amblyomma fossum, striatum, oblongogutatum etc. Argas persicus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Boophilus are very important species not only as parasites but specially because they transmit several diseases to animals. Some of the ticks of the brazilian wild animals are now also parasites of the domestic ones and vice-versa. Arga persicus var. dissimilis is very common among the poultry and transmits the Treponema anserinum (gallinarum). Boophilus microplus is very abundant on our domestic and wild ruminants (Bos, Cervus, Mazama etc.) and can also ben found on horse, dogs, Felis onca, Felis concolor etc., and it transmits to cattle piroplasmosis and anaplasmosis. Rhipicephalus sanguineus (an introduced species) is now very common on the dog, over all the country. The author recommend to give popular names to some brazilian ticks in order to make them more acquainted with the non scientific people. The author gives a classification of the superfamilia Ixoidoidea and keys to the determination of the different species of brazilian ticks. He creates a new family of Nuttallielidae to the so interesting tick, described by Bedford with the name of Nuttaliella namaqua in South Africa, a new variety of Argas persicus, the Argas persicus var. dissimilis nov. var. owing to the differences on the segment and on the size and morphology of the peritrema. He describes also the female of Amblyomma fuscum Nn. A great part of the author's work deals with the biology, life conditions and parasitism of many of the brazilian ticks in accordance with his personal and from other author's researches, especially in reference to Argas persicus, Ornithodoros rostratus, O. brasiliensis, Boophilus microplus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma cajennense, A. pseudoconcolor, A. auriculare, A. rotundatum (= A. agamum) etc. The author gives a detailed report upon the parthenogenesis of A. rotundatum (A. agamum) that he first described in 1912 and gives also many references to other species of brazilian ticks, to teratological forms etc. He also gives a detailed report of the geographical distribution of brazilian ticks and of the peculiar conditions of its parasitism. The last part of this article deals with references to the species of ticks of some of the South American Republics namely Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay and Venezuela. Amblyomma testudinis Conil, A. neumanni Ribaga 1902 (= A. furcula Dõnitz 1909) and A. parvitarsum Nn. 1899 (= A. altiplanum Dios 1917), are found only in Argentina. It is given a special bibliography dealing with the brazilian ticks and four text figures and one plate.

Neurinoma retropharyngeo contendo cystos em communicação com a circulaççao arterial

Apresentamos um caso de neurinoma retropharyngeo que offereceu consideravel difficuldade no diagnostico em vida do paciente. A existencia, em sua espessura, de cavidades que, punccionadas, davam sahida a sangue rutilante, constituio feição clinica peculiar. O diganostico só foi possivel post-mortem, o estudo histologico revelando um neurinoma com extensas áreas de necrose, inflammação purulenta e hemorrhagica. As cavidades encontradas são a consequencia desses processos. No momento da autopsia ellas apresentavam conteúdo francamente purulento, sendo a quantidade de coagulos sanguineos relativamente pequena, destacando-se os coagulos facilmente das paredes internas das cavidades. O diagnostico de aneurysma foi excluido pelo exame microscopico, o qual, tambem, não revelou, no tumor, a estructura de angioma ou de angiosarcoma. As hemorrhagias processadas nas áreas necrosadas reconhecem, provavelmente, como ponto de partida arterias ou arteriolas englobadas na massa tumoral. Estas se conservariam em communicação permanente com algumas cavidades originadas por necrose e desintegração dos tecidos do tumor. Assim seria explicada a sahida de sangue rutilante pela puncção das cavidades em vida do doente, a pressão do sangue em seu interior, e a rapida desapparição do meio de contraste na arteriographia. A origem do tumor não poude ser precisada. Não é fóra de proposito recordar o que dizem Wahl (1914) e Dawydow (1932). Segundo Wahl, embora os tumores compostos de elementos especificos do tecido nervoso possam derivar de qualquer ponto do systema nervoso, o maior numero delles tem sua origem, contudo, no systema sympathico. Estructuras cysticas são referidas em dois dentre quarenta e cinco casos de ganglioneuremas por elle colligidos na litteratura até aquella epocha. Em um delles, são: « cystic structures that are probably softened fibroma ». Dawydow (1932) refere um neurinoma retropharyngeo tendo origem no ganglío sympathico cervícal superior.

Contribuição ao conhecimento das larvas dos Sarcophagidae com especial referência ao esqueleto cefálico (Diptera)

The author publishes a comparative study of eleven species of Sarcophagid flies and gives a redescription of the larval stages of Musca domestica L. as a model. The work was made upon material obtained from Sarcophagidae reared in the Laboratory. Some of them were parasitic flies from Insects and other invertebrates. Protodexia was reared using the domestic cockroach (Periplaneta americana) instead of the Orthroptera or Mantodea its true hosts. The larvae obtained by dissection of female abdomen was reared in flesh or agarhorse serum. The last proceeding is very good since the skins of all larval stages can be conserved for study and it is possible to observe the ecdyses. Some of the larvae prefer dead snails (Bulimulus and Fruticicola) and is able to destroy larvae of other species found in the same molluscs. The first stage maggot can be obtained by dissections of dried female specimens and furnishes very good characters to determine the species and establish the philogenetical relationship of the genera in the family. Th pseudocephalon presents very curious ornaments or grooves in some species (Oxysarcodexia). Sometimes there is a pigmented capsule covering a great part of the pseudocephalon (Titanogrypa). The cephaloskeletal sclerietes have a peculiar shape and constitution for every species, mainly in the first stage maggot.

Alterações patológicas do apêndice vermiforme contendo Proglottis de Taenia sp

Pathological changes in the vermiform appendix harbouring tapeworm's proglottides are reported. Marked local (tissue) eosinophilia in the stroma of the mucous coat and to a less degree in the sub-mucosa and around the vessels in the inner circular layer of the muscular coat is the essential change observed. Peculiar changes such as an striking increase in the volume of the mucus-producing goblet-cells either in the epithelium covering the free surface or in the glands of Lieberkühn, as well as new epithelium atypical in form and arrangement were noticed in direct connection and likely induced by the tapeworn as a foreign body (mechanical injury). The local (tissue) eosinophilia probably represents an anaphylactoid response to foreign proteins originating in the tapeworm. Acute appendicitis in its recognized varieties such as appendicitis superficalis catarrhalis, a. s. exulcerans, a. s. haemorrhagica, a. phlegmonosa, and a. phlegmonosa-ulcerosa could be microscopically excluded. It seems, however, that local (tissue) eosinophilia when particularly widespread is able to give clinical symtoms suggestive of acute appendicitis.

Estudos sôbre o pneumococo: 4a. nota - Influência do pH do meio sôbre a formação da cápsula pelo pneumococo

One of the features of pneumococcus which has deserved the attention of investigators is the capsule. Since Pasteur, Chamberland and Roux (1881) several functions have been ascribed to it as well as peculiar properties. In the present paper, we take into consideration one only aspect of this problem; it is the relationship which there possibly may be between acidity of the culture medium and the power of capsule formation by pneumococcus. As it is known, this germ requires for its development 7.8 as an optimum pH, but maintains its biological activities down to 5.6. These variations do not take place without large alterations, particularly of the capsule, not only from the morphological but also from the chemical viewpoint. The diameter of the mucous envelopment of the pneumococcus decreases in proportion to the increase of acidity down to its complete extinction. This fact has been regarded by investigators as a biological feature inhe¬ring to the germ itself and as proceeding of self-defense. In an acid medium the existing capsule is destroyed and the germ does not produce it again; consequently, acidity inhibits the formation of the capsule. We tried to check how this phenomenon comes to pass and to elucidated it. As we know, the fundamental compound of the pneumococcus capsule is mucin. In the first place, we experimented the action of acidity on same in the following manner: Mucin extracted from bovine submaxillary gland is precipitated by HC1 at a determined concentration degree; the mucin dissolves again and precipi¬tates in function of this concentration. This property of mucin (solubility in acid medium) modifies a little the interpretation of the mechanism of disappearance of the capsule from the said germ in the culture medium. Indeed: The acidification of the medium consecutive to the growth of pneumococcus reduces the dimensions of the capsule until causing its com¬plete disappearance; but on transferring this strain to new optimum cultiva¬ting conditions the capsule appears again exhuberantly, at times as anteriorly, although with biased virulence. Linking these two facts we draw the following conclusions: Pneumo¬coccus does not lose its capacity of capsule formation in an acid medium; but mucin, whilst being produced, is entirely dissolved in this medium by the aid of acidity; we venture to state that, in spite of medium acidity, the capacity of capsule production is a constant feature of pneumococcus and that the disappearance of the capsule does not depend on the pneumococcus in itself when it produces smooth colonies, but on the chemical properties of mucin, mainly on its solubility in acid medium.

O aparelho muscular dos Proglotes de Taenia Saginata

The writers describe the muscular texture of the proglottides of Taenia saginata, Goeze, 1782, based upon microscopical preparations of mature and gravid proglottides stained by several methods. The muscular system of the proglottides of Taenia saginata is disposed mainly in two layers, a longitudinal and external one, and a deeper transverse layer, lining the body parenchym and internal organs. A circular or annular layer ranging under the cuticle is also referred. The writers emphasize the peculiar texture of the smooth muscle fibres, which only excepcionally do exist as isolated fibres, anastomosis between the fibres being the common histological appearence. Special features of the body parenchym such as calcareous bodies and globous nuclea scattered in the parenchym are also described.

Distribuição geográfica da fauna e flora da Baía de Guanabara

The author studied, the horizontal and vertical distribution of most common part of the flora and fauna of the bay of Guanabara at Rio de Janeiro. In this paper the eulittoral, poly, meso and oligohaline regions were localised and studied; and the first chart of its distribution was presented (fig. 2). The salinity of superficial waters was established through determinations based on 30 trips inside the buy for collecting biological materials. Some often 409 determinations which were previous reported together with the present ones served for the eleboration of a salinity map of the bay of Guanabara (fig. 1). This map of fig. 2 shows the geographic locations of the water regions. EULITTORAL WATER REGIME — Fig. 3 shows the diagram scheme of fauna and flora of this regime. Sea water salinity 34/1.000, density mean 1.027, transparent greenish waters, sea coast with moderate bursting waves. Limpid sea shore with white sand, gneiss with the big barnacle Tetraclita squamosa var. stalactifera (Lam. Pilsbry. Vertical distributions: barna¬cles layers with a green region in which are present the oyster Ostrea pa-rasitica L., the barnacles Tetraclita, Chthamalus, Balanus tintinnabulum var. tintinnabulum (L.) e var. antillensis Pilsbry in connection with several mollusca and the sea beatle Isopoda Lygia sp. Covered by water and exposed to air by the tidal ritms, there is a stratum of brown animals that is the layer of mussels Mytilus perna L., with others brown and chestnut animals : the Crustacea Pachygrapsus, the little crab Porcellana sp., the stone crab Me-nippe nodifrons Stimpson, the sea stars Echinaster brasiliensis (Mull. & Tr.), Astropecten sp. and the sea anemones Actinia sp. Underneath and never visible there is a subtidal region with green tubular algae of genus Codium and amidst its bunches the sea urchin Lycthchinus variegatus (Agass.) walks and more deeply there are numerous sand-dollars Encope emarginata (Leske). The microplancton of this regime is Ceratiumplancton. POLYHALINE WATER REGIMB — Water almost sea water, but directly influenced by continental lands, with rock salts dissolved and in suspension. Salinity: 33 to 32/1.000. This waters endure the actions of the popular nicknamed «water of the hill» (as the waters of mesohaline and oligohaline regimes), becoming suddenly reddish during several hours. That pheno¬menon returns several times in the year and come with great mortality of fishes. In these waters, according to Dr. J. G. FARIA there are species of Protozoa : Peridinea, the Glenoidinium trochoideum St., followed by its satellites which he thinks that they are able to secret toxical substances which can slaughter some species of fishes. In these «waters of the hill» was found a species of Copepoda the Charlesia darwini. In August 1946 the west shore of the Guanabara was plenty of killed fishes occupying a area of 8 feet large by 3 nautical miles of lenght. The enclosure for catching fishes in the rivers mouthes presents in these periods mass dead fishes. The phenomenon of «waters of the hill» appears with the first rains after a period of long dryness. MESOHALINE WATER REGIME — Fig. 4 shows the the diagramm scheme. Salt or brackish water from 30 to 17/1.000 salinity, sometimes until 10/1.000. Turbid waters with mud in suspension, chestnut, claveyous waters; shore dirty black mud without waving bursting; the waters are warmer and shorner than those of the polihaline regime. Mangrove shore with the mangrove trees : Rhizophora mangle L., Avicennia sp., Laguncularia sp., and the »cotton tree of sea» Hibiscus sp. Fauna: the great land crab «guaimú» Cardisoma guanhumi Latr., ashore in dry firm land. There is the real land crab Ucides cordatus (L.) in wetting mud and in neigh¬ bourhood of the burrows of the fiddler-crabs of genus Uca. On stones and in the roots of the Rhizophora inhabits the brightly colored mangrove-tree-crab («aratu» Portuguese nickname) Goniopsis cruentata (Latreille) and the sparingly the big oyster Ostrea rhizophorae Guild. Lower is the region of barnacles Balanus amphitrite var. communis Darwin and var. niveus Darwin; Balanus tintinnabulum var. tintinnabulum (L.) doesn't grow in this brackish water; lower is the region of Pelecipoda with prepollency of Venus and Cytherea shell-fishes and the Panopeus mud crab; there are the sea lettuce Ulva and the Gastreropod Cerithium. The Paguridae Clibanarius which lives in the empty shells of Gasteropod molluscs, and the sessile ascidians Tethium plicatum (Lesuer) appears in some seasons. In the bottom there is a black argillous mud where the «one landed shrimps» Alpheus sp. is hidden. OLIGOHALINE WATER REGIME — The salinity is lower than 10/1.000. average 8/1.000. There are no barnacles and no sea-beetles Isopods of genus Lygia; on the hay of the shore there are several graminea. This brackish water pervades by mouthes of rivers and penetrates until about 3 kilometers river above. While there is some salt dissolved in water, there are some mud crabs of the genus Uca, Sesarma, Metasesarma and Chasmagnatus. The presence of floating green plants coming from the rivers in the waters of a region indicated the oligohaline waters, with low salt content because when the average of NaCl increases above 8/1.000 these plants die and become rusty colored.

O puru-puru da Amazônia (Pinta, Carate, Mal del Pinto etc)

1) "Purú-purú" é uma palavra indígena que quer dizer "pintado" ou "manchado", peculiar à Amazonia Brasileira. Com êsse nome é designada uma dermatose referida entre os selvicolas desde 1774, por Ribeiro Sampaio. Certas tribus, com alta incidência da moléstia passaram a ser cahamadas também "Purú-purús", o mesmo acontecendo com o rio onde habitavam - Rio Purús. 2) A doença existe na bacia do Rio Solimões e seus principais afluentes: Javari, Juruá, Purús, Içá, Japurá, e Negro. Por esses rios, o fóco da dermatose se continua nos países limitrofes com o Brasil: Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Perú (Equador) e Bolivia. 3) Desde 1890 essa dermatose foi relacionada à pinta (carate ou mal del pinto) por P. S. de Magalhães, idéa essa depois defendida por Juliano Moreira, Carlos Chagas, Roquete Pinto, Wappeus, O. da Fonseca Filho, Da Matta, Brumpt e outros, baseados na semelhança clínica e na terapêutica. Recentemente (1945), essa provavel identidade das duas dermatoses, recebeu fundamento sorológico de Biocca (que verificou a positividade das reações de Kline e Kahn em doentes de purú-purú), e, pelo presente trabalho, recebe base clínico-epidemio-anatomo-patológica. 4) Sob o ponto de vista clínico, as lesões cutaneas discromicas da moléstia, são de 3 órdens: a) lesões papulo-eritemato-escamosas, isoladas ou não, arredondadas, pruriginosas e de bordos nitidos; b) lesões maculo-escamosas, maiores mais pálidas, ás vezes já mostrando alterações pigmentares na parte central; c) máculas discromod´rmicas, lisas ou ligeiramente escamosas, com maior ou menor alteração pigmentar, as quais assumem diferentes aspéctos, consequentes à hipo - ou hiperpigmentação, variaveis também com a côr do paciente. As colorações predominantes nas manchas, são o branco, o preto e o vermelho, com tonalidades eminentemente variaveis. Embora raramente, nessas extensas dermodiscromias, observa-se superposição de lesões papulo-eritemato-escamosas. O aparecimento dos 3 tipos de leões acima citados, obedece seguramente a um processo evolutivo da dermatose, dando-se na órdem exposta e de acordo com o tempo de doença. Além das lesões discromicas, características da enfermidade, foi observado purido, e infartamento ganglionar. O estado geral dos doentes era bom. A avaliação de anemia e eosinofilia, foi prejudicada pela ocurrência de outros processos mórbidos (malaria e helmintiases). Em 2 pacientes pretos e adultos, havia avançada hiperqueratose palmo-plantar. 5) Sob o ponto de vista epidemiológico, foram feitas as seguintes observações: a) Idade. A dermtose ocorre em tôdas as idades, mais incide principalmente dos 15 aos 29 anos. Tomando um grupo relativamente homogêneo de doéntes de um mesmo local, 53% têm 15 e mais anos de idade. De 36 doentes que deram informações seguras ou aproximadas quanto à idade em que lhes apareceu a doença, verifica-se que 77% já estavam infectados antes dos 15 anos. Em 5 casos, a infecção se deu antes dos 2 anos de idade. b) Sexo. Nos doentes em conjunto, existiam 34 homens e 35 mulheres. Mas, no grupo homogeneo acima citado, havia ligeira predominância do sexo feminino (60.7%). c) Côr ou raça. Foram encontradas as seguintes percentagens: Pretos - 34.8%, brancos - 27.5% índios - 23.2% e mulatos - 14.5%. Essas diferenças não indicam predileção racial. d) Família. A A dermatose é eminentemente familial. Em grupo de 41 doentes, 34 pertenciam a 8 familias. e) Lesão inicial. Contágio. Em 6 casos ainda existia a lesão inicial, chamada "empigem", isolada ou acompanhada de outras lesões semelhantes. De 33 doentes, 26 (78.8%) referiam a lesão inicial nas partes descobertas do corpo (rosto, braços e mãos, pernas e pés), isto é regiões mais sujeitas a pequenos traumas, que servem como "porta de entrada" do treponema. Os AA não acreditam na existência de um vetor. Pensam que o contágio é direto, as condições eficientes e predisponentes do mesmo, coexistindo no domícilio, onde vivem em promiscuidade e falta de higiene, doentes e sadios. Os autores não encontraram treponemas em córtes impregnados de “purú-purú”, tanto de “lesão recente” como de “lesão tardia”. Atribuem o fracasso ao provável uso de antitreponemicos pelos doentes, uma vez que a terapeutica empírica pelo arsênico e mercúrio é muito espalhada na Amazônia. Histopatológicamente, encontraram na “lesão recente”: hiperqueratose, hiperacantose, exocitose, exoserose e espongiose na epiderme; e infiltração de células redondas, edema e diltação dos capilares no derma papilar e subpapilar; pela impregnação, acharam irregularidade na distribuição do pigmento melanico, assim como melanóforos entre as células inflamatórias do derma. Na “lesão tardia” observaram: notável atrofia do epiderme, reduzida às vezes , a 3 a 5 camadas celulares, havendo desaparecimento das papilas dérmicas; no derma, havia discreta infiltração de células redondas, relacionadas aos vasos sanguineos, ao lado de macrófagos melaniferos mais ou menos abundantes; pela impregnação, quanto às alterações pigmentares, foram observadas todas as graduações, desde a completa ausência de pigmento na basal, até um acúmulo notável de melanina, atingindo as próprias células de Malpighi. 7) Com o tratamento pelo “neo-salvarsan” os AA observaram grandes melhoras e mesmo cura aparente, com 6 a 8 injeções. Certas manifestações acromicas vitiligoides, antigas, não mostraram modificações apreciáveis com a terapêutica. 8) No Brasil, fora da Amazônia, tem sido descrito casos isolados de purú-purú, porém, na opinião dos autores, todos ou quase todos, são provavelmente, manifestações discromicas tardias de sífilis ou bouba, semelhantes aos publicados por um deles (F. N. G). Pensam do mesmo modo, quanto aos casos de pinta descritos fora da América: África, Egito, Argeria, Sahara, Trípoli, Turquestão, Filipinas, Iraque, Índia, Ceilão, etc. Ainda nesta mesma ordem de idéas, os autores negam validade ao conceito epidemiológico da existência de “casos isolados”, a não ser procedentes das “zonas pintogenas”. 9) Um dos autores (F. N. G.) emite a seguinte hipótese, que considera sugestiva, embora dificilmente demonstrável: Os treis treponemas (T. pallidum, T. pertenue e T. carateum), oriundos de um ancestral comum. tornaram-se peculiares respectivamente ao branco, ao preto e ao índio, mantendo-se assim isolados. Secundariamente, com as correntes migratórias, misturaram-se as doenças...