Expresión y rol del slpi en la inmunidad innata del ojo asociado a procesos inflamatorios e infecciosos oculares.

La investigación oftalmológica actual se focaliza en el estudio de los procesos cicatrizales normales y patológicos del globo ocular. Nuestro proyecto se focaliza en el estudio de los mecanismos fisiopatológicos oftalmológicos relacionados a la inmunidad innata y procesos inflamatorios e infecciosos oculares. Actualmente la terapia antimicrobiana y de cicatrización tisular pretende comprender y desarrollar sinergia entre los mecanismos involucrados en la inmunidad innata y cicatrizacion del huésped. En el área oftalmológica, son de crítica importancia el conocimiento y modulación de mencionados procesos oculares. Modulando y estimulando la presencia de los péptidos antimicrobianos y anti inflamatorios, se obtendría una prevención, modulación de los principales procesos fisiopatologicos oculares, permitiendo estudiar y aplicar una nueva área de tratamiento en las enfermedades oculares.De esta forma se podrá evitar secuelas devastadoras de dichas complicaciones que en un gran porcentaje llevan a la ceguera del paciente, asociado a la destrucción de tejidos específicos como la transparencia corneal o la perdida de neuronas retinales. Los péptidos antimicrobianos y anti-inflamatorios prometen ser un método terapéutico eficaz, natural, libre de efectos secundarios y adversos. Basados en estudios publicados (propios y de otros autores) realizados en animales, demuestran péptidos con capacidad antibacteriana e inmuno moduladora que se expresarían en tejidos oculares normales, actuando como agentes antimicrobianos de la inmunidad innata del ojo y así también como regulador de la actividad inflamatoria. Estos péptidos antimicrobianos – anti inflamatorios podrían utilizarse a futuro para el desarrollo en la prevención y tratamiento de procesos infecciosos oculares, en formulaciones simples o combinadas a otras sustancias antibióticas antimicrobianas en forma sinérgica. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), proteína de 12 kDa de peso molecular cuya función es inhibir proteasas de la matriz extracelular y modular la inmunidad del tejido involucrado. El objetivo es estudiar la presencia del péptido antimicrobiano SLPI en relación con el remodelado cicatrizal de la matriz extracelular de la cornea y otras estructuras intra oculares, como así también su expresión en relación a procesos Inflamatorios e infecciosos del ojo como agente antimicrobiano de la inmunidad innata del huésped.

Toxocariosis: niveles de citoquinas y óxido nítrico en suero de niños provenientes de poblaciones con diferentes características socioambientales.

Toxocara canis es un nematode ascárido con importante potencial zoonótico. El hombre puede infectarse accidentalmente al ingerir huevos que contaminan el ambiente y al actuar como hospedador paraténico, el parásito permanece en él durante largos períodos en estado larval provocando daños y síntomas de acuerdo al tejido donde se encuentre. Respecto a las manifestaciones clínicas se reconocen formas viscerales: síndrome de Larva Migrans Visceral, Toxocariosis encubierta y Toxocariosis asintomática. El síndrome de Larva Migrans Ocular y Neurotoxocariosis son formas compartimentadas. La respuesta inmune en el hombre es compleja, en pacientes susceptibles se ha observado asociación de la infección por T. canis con la ocurrencia de asma bronquial, atopía y urticaria crónica. La evolución de la respuesta inmune a la resolución o a la etapa crónica de la infección depende en gran parte del balance de citoquinas y mediadores inflamatorios como el ON producidos durante la estimulación antigénica. El incremento de Inmunoglobulina E específica anti T. canis y la eosinofilia en la Toxocariosis podrían contribuir a la exacerbación del asma y posiblemente al eczema atópico. El objetivo general del presente proyecto es determinar el perfil de citoquinas y óxido nítrico en suero de niños y adolescentes con anticuerpos específicos anti T. canis provenientes de poblaciones con diferentes características socioambientales. Con los resultados obtenidos se pretende aportar información sobre el patrón de respuesta inmune característico en esta infección y transmitir al equipo de salud la importancia de esta zoonosis como probable agente asociado a enfermedades atópicas.

Estudos citológicos em Hemíoteros da família Coreidae

A more or less detailed study of the spermatogenesis in six species of Hemiptera belonging to the Coreid Family is made in the present paper. The species studied and their respective chromosome numbers were: 1) Diactor bilineatus (Fabr.) : spermatogonia with 20 + X, primary spermatocytes with 10 + X, X dividing equationaliv in the first division and passing undivided to one pole in the second. 2) Lcptoglossus gonagra (Fabr.) : spermatogonia with 20 + X, primary spermatocytes with 10 + X, X dividing equationally in the first division and passing undivided to one pole in the second. 3) Phthia picta (Drury) : spermatogonia with 20 + X, primary spermatocytes with 10 + X, X dividing equationally in the first division and passing undivided to one pole in the second. 4) Anisocelis foliacea Fabr. : spermatogonia with 26 + X fthe highest mumber hitherto known in the Family), primary .spermatocytes with 13 + X, X dividing equationally in the first division an passing undivided to one pole in the second. 5) Pachylis pharaonis (Herbtst) : spermatogonia with 16 + X, primary spermatocytes with 8 + X. Behaviour of the heteroehromosome not referred. 6) Pachylis laticornis (Fabr.) : spermatogonia with 14 + X, primary spermatocytes with 7 + X, X passing undivided to one pole in the first division and therefore secondary spermatocytes with 7 + X and 7 chromosomes. General results and conclusions a) Pairing modus of the chromosomes (Telosynapsis or Farasynapsis ?) - In several species of the Coreld bugs the history of the chromosomes from the diffuse stage till diakinesis cannot be follewed in detail due specially to the fact that lhe bivalents, as soon as they begin to be individually distinct they appear as irregular and extremely lax chromatic areas, which through an obscure process give rise to the diakinesis and then to the metaphase chomosomes. Fortunately I was able to analyse the genesis of the cross-shaped chromosomes, becoming thus convinced that even in the less favorable cases like that of Phthia, in which the crosses develop from four small condensation areas of the diffuse chromosomes, nothing in the process permit to interpret the final results as being due to a previous telosynaptic pairing. In the case of long bivalents formed by two parallel strands intimately united at both endsegments and more or less widely open in the middle (Leptoglossus, Pachylis), I could see that the lateral arms of the crosses originate from condensation centers created by a torsion or bending in the unpaired parts of the chromosomes In the relatively short bivalents the lateral branches of the cross are formed in the middle but in the long ones, whose median opening is sometimes considerable, two asymetrical branches or even two independent crosses may develop in the same pair. These observations put away the idea of an end-to-end pairing of the chromosomes, since if it had occured the lateral arms of the crosses would always be symetrical and median and never more than two. The direct observation of a side- toside pairing of the chromosomal threads at synizesis, is in foil agreement with the complete lack of evidence in favour of telosynapsis. b) Anaphasic bridges and interzonal connections - The chromosomes as they separate from each other in anaphase they remain connected by means of two lateral strands corresponding to the unpaired segmenas observed in the bivalents at the stages preceding metaphase. In the early anaphase the chromosomes again reproduce the form they had in late diafcinesis. The connecting threads which may be thick and intensely coloured are generally curved and sometimes unequal in lenght, one being much longer than the other and forming a loop outwardly. This fact points to a continuous flow of chromosomal substance independently from both chromosomes of the pair rather than to a mechanical stretching of a sticky substance. At the end of anaphase almost all the material which formed the bridges is reduced to two small cones from whose vertices a very fine and pale fibril takes its origin. The interzonal fibres, therefore, may be considered as the remnant of the anaphasic bridges. Abnormal behaviour of the anaphase chromosomes showed to be useful in aiding the interpretation of normal aspects. It has been suggested by Schrader (1944) "that the interzonal is nothing more than a sticky coating of the chromosome which is stretched like mucilage between the daughter chromosomes as they move further and further apart". The paired chromosomes being enclosed in a commom sheath, as they separate they give origin to a tube which becomes more and more stretched. Later the walls of the tube collapse forming in this manner an interzonal element. My observations, however, do not confirm Schrader's tubular theory of interzonal connections. In the aspects seen at anaphase of the primary spermatocytes and described in this paper as chromosomal bridges nothing suggests a tubular structure. There is no doubt that the chromosomes are here connected by two independent strands in the first division of the spermatocytes and by a single one in the second. The manner in which the chromosomes separate supports the idea of transverse divion, leaving little place for another interpretation. c) Ptafanoeomc and chromatoid bodies - The colourabtlity of the plasmosome in Diactor and Anisocelis showed to be highly variable. In the latter species, one may find in the same cyst nuclei provided with two intensely coloured bodies, the larger of which being the plasmosome, sided by those in which only the heterochromosome took the colour. In the former one the plasmosome strongly coloured seen in the primary metaphase may easily be taken for a supernumerary chromosome. At anaphase this body stays motionless in the equator of the cell while the chromosomes are moving toward the poles. There, when intensely coloured ,it may be confused with the heterochromosome of the secondary spermatocytes, which frequently occupies identical position in the corresponding phase, thus causing missinterpretation. In its place the plasmosome may divide into two equal parts or pass undivided to one cell in whose cytoplasm it breaks down giving rise to a few corpuscles of unequal sizes. In Pachylis pharaonis, as soon as the nuclear membrane breate down, the plasmosome migrates to a place in the periphery of the cell (primary spermatocyte), forming there a large chromatoid body. This body is never found in the cytoplasm prior to the dissolution of the nuclear membrane. It is certain that chromatoid bodies of different origin do exist. Here, however, we are dealing, undoubtedly, with true plasmosomes. d) Movement of the heterochromosome - The heterochromosome in the metaphase of the secondary spermatocytes may occupy the most different places. At the time the autosomes prient themselves in the equatorial plane it may be found some distance apart in this plane or in any other plane and even in the subpolar and polar regions. It remains in its place during anaphase. Therefore, it may appear at the same level with the components of one of the anaphase plates (synchronism), between both plates (succession) or between one plate and tbe pole (precession), what depends upon the moment the cell was fixed. This does not mean that the heterochromosome sometimes moves as quickly as the autosomes, sometimes more rapidly and sometimes less. It implies, on the contrary, that, being anywhere in the cell, the heterochromosome m he attained and passed by the autosomes. In spite of being almost motionless the heterochromosome finishes by being enclosed in one of the resulting nuclei. Consequently, it does move rapidly toward the group formed by the autosomes a little before anaphase is ended. This may be understood assuming that the heterochromosome, which do not divide, having almost inactive kinetochore cannot orient itself, giving from wherever it stays, only a weak response to the polar influences. When in the equator it probably do not perform any movement in virtue of receiving equal solicitation from both poles. When in any other plane, despite the greater influence of the nearer pole, the influence of the opposite pole would permit only so a slow movement that the autosomes would soon reach it and then leave it behind. It is only when the cell begins to divide that the heterochromosome, passing to one of the daughter cells scapes the influence of the other and thence goes quickly to join the autosomes, being enclosed with them in the nucleus formed there. The exceptions observed by BORING (1907) together with ; the facts described here must represent the normal behavior of the heterocromosome of the Hemiptera, the greater frequency of succession being the consequence of the more frequent localization of the heterochromosome in the equatorial plane or in its near and of the anaphase rapidity. Due to its position in metaphase the heterochromosome in early anaphase may be found in precession. In late anaphase, oh the contrary ,it appears almost always in succession. This is attributed to the fact of the heterochromosome being ordinairily localized outside the spindle area it leaves the way free to the anaphasic plate moving toward the pole. Moreover, the heterochromosome being a round element approximately of the size of the autosomes, which are equally round or a little longer in the direction of the movement, it can be passed by the autosomes even when it stands in the area of the spindle, specially if it is not too far from the equatorial plane. e) The kinetochore - This question has been fully discussed in another paper (PIZA 1943a). The facts treated here point to the conclusion that the chromosomes of the Coreidae, like those of Tityus bahiensis, are provided with a kinetochore at each end, as was already admitted by the present writer with regard to the heterochromosome of Protenor. Indeed, taking ipr granted the facts presented in this paper, other cannot be the interpretation. However, the reasons by which the chromosomes of the species studied here do not orient themselves at metaphase of the first division in the same way as the heterochromosome of Protenor, that is, with the major axis parallelly to the equatorial plane, are claiming for explanation. But, admiting that the proximity of the kinetochores at the ends of chromosomes which do not separate until the second division making them respond to the poles as if they were a single kinetochore ,the explanation follows. (See PIZA 1943a). The median opening of the diplonemas when they are going to the diffuse stage as well as the reappearance of the bivalents always united at the end-segments and open in the middle is in full agreement with the existence of two terminal kinetochores. The same can be said with regard to the bivalents which join their extremities to form a ring.

Morfometria comparada de Triatoma infestans, T. rubrovaria e T. platensis (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) do Uruguai

No Uruguai, são conhecidas 10 espécies de triatomíneos com importância epidemiológica variável, dentre as quais destacamse Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834) e T. rubrovaria (Blanchard, 1843), consideradas as principais espécies vetoras. Triatoma platensis Neiva, 1913, apesar de ser uma espécie silvestre, pode conviver com T. infestans em galinheiros, chegando a gerar híbridos férteis. Estas três espécies fazem parte do "complexo T. infestans", formado por cinco espécies. Devido à importância epidemiológica dessas espécies no Uruguai e com a finalidade de ampliar o conjunto dos parâmetros morfológicos diferenciais destas espécies apresentamos uma abordagem morfométrica comparativa da cabeça e do pronoto. Foram medidas quatro variáveis da cabeça e quatro do pronoto a partir de 50 machos e 50 fêmeas, de cada espécie, provenientes de criação de laboratório. O programa JMP foi utilizado para as análises de Componentes Principais (ACP) e Discriminante (AD). Os resultados demonstraram que os dois primeiros componentes principais (CP1 e CP2) exibem aproximadamente 77% da variação total. Os caracteres mais importantes para a distinção das espécies foram a região anteocular (RAO) e a região pós-ocular (RPO), indicando que a morfometria da cabeça se mostrou mais eficiente que o pronoto para diferenciar estas espécies. A análise discriminante possibilitou separar T. platensis e T. rubrovaria mas não foi capaz de separá-las de T. infestans.

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.

Variação morfométrica em Bothropoides jararaca (Serpentes, Viperidae) no Rio Grande do Sul

Apesar de machos e fêmeas de serpentes nascerem com o mesmo tamanho, as taxas de crescimento e a idade da maturação sexual podem ser diferentes, determinando dimorfismo sexual em estágios posteriores da vida. Avaliamos a ocorrência de variação morfométrica sexual e ontogenética em Bothropoides jararaca (Wied, 1824), explorando as relações entre tamanho corporal e amadurecimento sexual através de 14 variáveis morfométricas. Foram analisados 142 espécimes provenientes do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, sul do Brasil. Os dados morfométricos - comprimento da cabeça, rostro-cloacal, da cauda, comprimento total; largura da cabeça, ocular, nasal, loreal, da cauda; distância ocular-nasal, ocular-loreal, loreal-nasal, ventral-sinfisal e rostral-labial - e comprimento/diâmetro dos folículos ovarianos, foram tomados em milímetros, através de régua simples e paquímetro analógico de precisão 0,05 mm. A determinação sexual foi realizada por inspeção das gônadas. A classificação etária foi associada à maturidade sexual. Para as análises estatísticas foram utilizadas análises de variância (ANOVA) com teste de Tukey post hoc, regressão linear e análise discriminante canônica (ADC). A maioria das medidas indicou dimorfismo sexual (ANOVA, P<0,05) apenas em adultos (Tukey, P<0,05). As análises de regressão mostram que o comprimento rostro-cloacal explica o comportamento das demais variáveis (P<0,001) e que em todas as medidas as fêmeas crescem mais que os machos. A ADC foi exitosa em separar as classes sexuais e etárias, apresentando significado biológico, considerando 79,2% dos casos como corretamente classificados.

Acidentes de trabalho em indústria gráfica

Os autores analisam, dentro do campo da higiene industrial, as condições sanitárias de um grande estabelecimento de artes gráficas no Rio de Janeiro — a Imprensa Nacional, o regime de trabalho aí instituído; e revistam, um a um, os processos industriais executados, especialmente atenção às causas potenciais de acidentes, que aí existem, e também àquelas cuja responsabilidade já se positivou. Ressaltam, no ponto de vista doutrinário, os diversos fatores que podem interferir na ocorrência dêsses infortúnios de trabalho; e, mostrando como tem sido superestimada a culpabilidade das máquinas, realçam a importância dos fatores individuais — idade e experiência do operário, doenças e defeitos físicos, atitude mental, constituição fisio-psicologica. Salientam como a evidência da predisposição a acidentes, que se reconheça existir, possibilita manter os operários, já em função ou pretendentes a emprego, debaixo de supervisão rigorosa; e oportuniza mesmo colocá-los melhormente, em tarefas que, no máximo, só lhes possam acarretar aciden¬tes de natureza leve. Mostram que, no período em estudo — 1942 a 1945, houve ao todo 1.123 acidentes na I.N., com o coeficiente geral de incidência de 220.3 por 1.000 operários expostos. O coeficiente de acidentes médios ou graves foi de 32 por mil, no mesmo período. Apontando ainda a descenção, no quatriênio, das curvas relativas tanto aos acidentes totais, como aos médios ou graves e aos produzidos por máquinas, dão a ver que a taxa, que retrata essa descida, é, para os primeiros, 3.5 e cêrca de 10 vêzes maior, respectivamente, que a dos acidentes por máquinas e dos médios ou graves. Mostra-se significativa a diferença, entre a tendência observada nas curvas dos acidentes em geral e dos médios ou graves; já isso, porém, não acontece, quanto à diferença entre a primeira e a dos acidentes produzidos por máquinas. De fato, sendo os valores de t respec¬tivamente, dc 2.987 e 2.333, só o primeiro fica, na tabela de Fisher, acima do nível de significância P = 5%, para v = 4 graus de liberdade (2.776). Na base dos coeficientes de incidência por 1.000 operários, em cada uma das seções da Imprensa Nacional, verifica-se terem sido eles mais elevados nas oficinas de mecânica e carpintaria e na turma de eletricidade; já quanto a oficinas pròpriamente gráficas, mostram-se mais altos os coeficientes nas de rotogravura, estereotipia e impressão. Em 8 das 14 seções, depois de baixa pronunciada do primeiro para o segundo ano e deste para o terceiro, alteou-se, no fim do período (1945), a curva de acidentes. Só na oficina mecânica, veio ela sempre em declínio. Levando em conta a severidade dos acidentes, verifica-se que, no período em estudo, os coeficientes relativos aos acidentes médios ou graves, calculados sobre 1.000 operários expostos, foram mais altos nas oficinas auxiliares de mecânica e carpintaria, seguidos, também aqui, dos ocorridos na rotogravura e estereotipia. Analisando os acidentes pelas suas causas imediatas, apontam os auto¬res ter tocado, no período e em qualquer dos quatro anos, às máquinas, a maior responsabilidade; seguiram-se-lhes os instrumentos e objetos traumatizantes, as quédas e choques. Todavia. na base do percentual dos acidentes médios ou graves sobre o total respectivo. regista-se haver contraste nítido, respeito à severidade, entre um primeiro grupo de causas de acidentes, compreendendo o esforço, os corpos estranhos (dada a sua frequente localização ocular) e os agentes causadores de queimaduras e um segundo grupo, englobando as de¬mais causas, salvo as máquinas, que ficam de permeio. A responsabilidade dos corpos estranhos e das queimaduras, como causas de acidentes de severidade, mostra o cuidado que devem merecer os recursos de proteção individual para os operários. Tabulando por meses, e na base de horas de trabalho, os acidentes ocorridos, verifica-se que a maior taxa corresponde ao verão (146.2 por 1.000 horas de trabalho), seguindo-se-lhe o outono (122.0), vindo depois o inverno e a primavera, nesta ordem. Não sendo, no Rio de Janeiro, cidade situada na zona tropical, tão nítida. como em outras de clima temperado, a diferenciação estacional, tomaram os autores para comparação os quadrimestres mais quente (dezembro a marco) e mais frio (junho a setembro), e verificaram que a taxa de acidentes no primeiro, de 136.8 por 1.000 horas de trabalho, contrasta com a relativa ao segundo período — 125.4. Levando apenas em conta os acidentes médios ou graves, não mais se aponta a diferença verificada: tocam, realmente, aos dois quadrimestres, as taxas de 17.2 e 19.7. É muito nítida, porém, a variação no pertinente aos acidentes leves - 119.6 e 105.8, sôbre os quais, segundo Osborne e Vernon, parece clara a influência da temperatura ambiente: de fato, nas verificações desses investigadores, a frequência relativa de acidentes subiu de 102 para 122, quando a temperatura ascendeu de 20°4 C a 25°2 C. No Rio de Janeiro, a temperatura media, no quadrimestre mais quente, foi dc 25°. 2 C e, no mais frio, de 20°.4 C, idênticos os valores aos dos dados de Osborne e Vernon, como pràticamente também o são as taxas de acidentes leves, aqui e ali observadas em função de tais variações. Não se mostrando de todo satisfatórios os dados de 123 das 209 fotometrias realizadas na Imprensa Nacional (59%), apontam os autores tornar-se difícil aquilatar a responsabilidade exata da deficiência de iluminamento, nos acidentes ocorridos. Salientam, todavia, que, mau grado a construção do edifício e as instalações de iluminação artificial terem sido projetadas por técnicos nesses assuntos, a verdade é que os esperados benefícios se viram prejudicados: em parte, pela colocação, nem sempre a mais satisfatória, de máquinas e operários: também, porque muitos dos pontos de luz artificial estão inaproveitados e, ainda, por não ter sido feita de maneira adequada a substituição de unidades defeituosas. Há a consignar, ademais, o descuido, por vezes grande, na limpeza dessas unidades e das superfícies transmissoras de luz natural e a ocorrência de ofuscamento para os operários em diversas situações...

Combinatorial and metric properties of Thompson's group T

We discuss metric and combinatorial properties of Thompson's group T, such as the normal forms for elements and uniqueness of tree pair diagrams. We relate these properties to those of Thompson's group F when possible, and highlight combinatorial differences between the two groups. We define a set of unique normal forms for elements of T arising from minimal factorizations of elements into convenient pieces. We show that the number of carets in a reduced representative of T estimates the word length, that F is undistorted in T, and that cyclic subgroups of T are undistorted. We show that every element of T has a power which is conjugate to an element of F and describe how to recognize torsion elements in T.

Notas de Ixodologia: II - uma nova espécie do gênero Amblyomma e uma nova espécie do gênero Ixodes (Acari Ixodidae)

A new tick, Amblyomma parkeri, n. sp., is described as a parasite of Coendu sp. from S. Paulo, Brazil. Female holotype, nymph and larva are described (Figs. 2 e 3). The n. sp. differs completly from Koch's species Amblyomma longirostre, the common parasite of the Erethizotidae. Standard data for measures of the female dorsal scutum ixodidae are proposed as follows (fig. 1): PA = Antero-posterior; PB = Postero-basal; PM = Postero-median; TT = Transversal; OO = Inter-ocular; OT= Occulo-transversal; SS = Inter-scapular; CC = Cervical; PT = Postero-transversal; ST = Scapulo-transversal; NPT = Normal to the postero-transversal; NST = Normal to the scapulo-transversal. In the female holotype the standard data are as follows: PA = 2.00 mm; PB = 2.26 mm; PM = 1.10 mm; TT = 2.20 mm; OO = 2.26 mm; SS = 0,84 mm; CC = 0.63 mm; SC = 0.12 mm; NPT = 0.20mm; STN = 0.1 mm. Peritrema 0.80 x 0.42 mm with a narrow postero-internal angle and a large, elongated macula. Coxa I with two short spines and all other coxae with only one shorter spine, shortest in coxa IV. Hypostoma spatulated with formula 3/3. Gnathosoma 1.42 mm long and basis 0.63 mm long by 0.84 greatest wide. Palpi with smoth external surface, 1.00 mm long. Type lot No. 4458 from Cotia, S. Paulo, Brazil; in the acarological collection of the Escola Paulista de Medicina, S. Paulo. Ixodes didelphidis, n. sp., differing from Ixodes loricatus Neumann by the shape of the peritremata (figs. 4 a 5) of the male and female and by the number of the punctations in this organ is described form Didelphidae, Muridae and Cavidae. Twenty eight lots were obtained from Anápolis, Goiás, Brasil, where I. loricatus is subtituded by the n. sp. under description. Comparison with NEUMANN'S types of I. loricatus was possible through the courtesy of Prof. A. BRIZARD from Toulouse, who kindly loaned NEUMANN'S material. Female cotypes N° 40 and male allotype N° 531 in the Collection of Ixodidae of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute.

Miocardite no macaco Cebus após inoculações repetidas com Schizotrypanum cruzi

Transmission of Chagas disease is realized through contamination of ocular conjunctiva, mucosa or skin with infected dejections eliminated by the insect vectors of Schizotrypanum cruzi (Triatoma infestans, Panstrongylus megistus and Rhodnius prolixus). The triatomid bugs live in holes and craks in the walls, in beds, behind trunks, etc. Found in primitive mud huts covered with thatched roofs, and so the human dwellers have many chances to contract the disease, reinfections being reasonably more to expect than a single inoculation. Experimental work reproducing those natural conditions is welcomed as some important features in the pathologic picture of the disease such as the extensive myocardial fibrosis seen in chronic cases are still incompletely known. Microscopic changes were studied in the heart muscle of seven Cebus monkeys infected by S. cruzi. This animal survives the acute stage of the disease and so is particularly suited to experiments of long duration in which several inoculations of S. cruzi are performed. Three different strains of S. cruzi isolated from acute cases of Chagas' disease were employed. One monkey was injected in the skin with infected blood and necropsied after 252 days. Two monkeys were three times, and one, eight times infected in skin, one of them with contaminated blood, and two with contaminated blood and dejections from infected bugs. The necropsies were performed after 35, 95 and 149 days. One monkey was three times inoculated through the intact ocular conjunctiva (one time with infected blood, two times with dejections from infected bugs), and one time through the wounded buccal mucosa, and necropsied after 134 days. Another monkey was six times inoculated, four times through the intact ocular conjunctiva (one time with contaminated blood, three times with dejections from infected bugs) and two times injected in the skin with infected blood, and necropsied after 157 days. Finally, another monkey was nine times inoculated, four times through the intact ocular conjunctiva (one time with infected blood, and three times with dejections from infected bugs), and five times injected in the skin (four times with contaminated blood, and one time with dejections from infected bugs), and necropsied after 233 days. The microscopic picture was uniform presenting, however, considerable individual variations, and was represented by diffuse interstitial myocarditis, frequently more (marked in the right ventricle base of the heart), accompanied by lymphatic stasis. The infiltration consists of macrophages, plasma cells and lymphocytes, the cellular reaction having sometimes a perivascular distribution, involving the auriculo-ventricular system of conduction, endocardium, epicardium and cardiac sympathetic gangliae. The loss of cardiac muscle fibers was always minimal. Leishmanial forms of S. cruzi in myocardial fibers are scanty and, in two cases, absent. Fatty necrosis in the epicardium was noted in two cases. Obliterative changes of medium-sized branches of coronary arteries (hypersensitivity reaction?) and multiple infarcts of the myocardium was found in one instance. The diffuse myocarditis induced by S. cruzi in several species of monkeys of the genus Cebus observed after 233 days (several inoculations) and 252 days (single inoculation) is not associated with disseminated fibrosis such as is reported in chronic cases of Chagas' disease. Definite capacity of reversion is another characteristic of the interstitial myocarditis observed in the series of Cebus monkeys here studied. The impression was gained that repeated inoculation with S. cruzi may influence the myocardial changes differently according to the period between the reinoculations. A short period after the first inoculation is followed by more marked changes, while long periods are accompanied by slight changes, which suggests an active immunisation produced by the first inoculation. More data are required, however before a definite statement is made on this subject considering that individual variations, the natural capacity of reversion of the interstitial myocarditis and the employement of more than a species of Cebus monkeys probably exerts influence also in the results here reported.

Galois extension of CP-Graded ring extensions

In this paper, we investigate galois theory of CP-graded ring extensions. In particular, we generalize some galois results given in [1, 2] and, without restriction to nor graded fields nor torsion free of the grade groups, we show that some results of graded field extensions given in [3] hold.

Petits points et conjecture de Bogomolov

This paper is devoted to the statement known as the Bogomolov conjecture on small points. We present the outline of Zhang’s proof of the generalized version of the conjecture. An explicit bound for the height of a non-torsion variety of an abelian variety is obtained in the frame of Arakelov theory. Some further developments are mentioned.

On the asymptotic expansion of the colored Jones polynomial for torus knots

In the asymptotic expansion of the hyperbolic specification of the colored Jones polynomial of torus knots, we identify different geometric contributions, in particular Chern-Simons invariant and Reidemeister torsion.

Strongly non-degenerate Lie algebras

Let A be a semiprime 2 and 3-torsion free non-commutative associative algebra. We show that the Lie algebra Der(A) of(associative) derivations of A is strongly non-degenerate, which is a strong form of semiprimeness for Lie algebras, under some additional restrictions on the center of A. This result follows from a description of the quadratic annihilator of a general Lie algebra inside appropriate Lie overalgebras. Similar results are obtained for an associative algebra A with involution and the Lie algebra SDer(A) of involution preserving derivations of A

Conjunctival MALT lymphoma: utility of FDG PET/CT for diagnosis, staging, and evaluation of treatment response.

A 67-year-old woman was referred for staging of a mucosa-associated lymphoid tumor lymphoma involving the left conjunctiva. CT scan had shown paravertebral and pelvic masses, and a breast nodule. FDG PET/CT demonstrated moderately increased uptake in the left ocular conjunctiva and confirmed the paravertebral and pelvic masses and the breast nodule. Moreover, abnormal FDG uptake was shown in 2 breast nodules, the flank, the gluteus maximus, and the gastric cardia. The patient received 6 cycles of rituximab-bendamustine chemotherapy with a complete clinical and metabolic response at the 6-month follow-up PET/CT and remained relapse-free without visual acuity problem after a 36-month follow-up.