Plasma anticoagulant system in patients with pulmonary hypertension

Adults with pulmonary hypertension and polycythemia (N=22) have low levels of plasma antithrombin III (84 ñ 18 vs 98 ñ 13½ for controls, N=35, P<0.005) and protein C (66ñ21 vs 125 ñ 30%, N 8, P<0.0002 but normal levels of total protein S. Data are reported as means ñ SD and percent normal values obtained for pooled plasma from normal healthy adults. Children with the same disorder (N = 6) also had low protein C levels (66 ñ 16 vs 85 ñ 5½, P < 0.025). Total protein S was normal for children, but free protein S was decreased (66 ñ 13 vs 91 ñ 23,, P < 0.02). Since the levels observed in these patients are above those reported for congenital deficiencies, the reduction in plasma levels of anticoagulant proteins may be the result of cronic intravascular coagulation. Furthermore, normal levels of plasminogen and fibrin degradation products suggested a localized disorder or an acquired decrease in fibronolytic activity

PAF-acether, superoxide anion and beta-glucurinidase as parameters of polymorphonuclear cell activation associated with cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass

Seven patients submitted to myocardial revascularization surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were studied. Blood samples were obtained immediately before and 24 h after surgery. The parameters studied were the production of platelet activating factor (PAF-acether) and superoxide anion, cellular beta-glucuronidase activity as well as polymorphonuclear cell(PMN) and platelet count. Twenty-four h after surgery, there was a 54% decrease in platelet number (P<0.005), a 121% increase in PMN number (P<0.005), a 353% increase in PAF-acether (P<0.01), a 211% increase in superoxide anion (O2-) and a 104% increase in beta-glucuronidase (P<0.05) levels when compared with the pre-surgery levels. The present results indicate that PMN are more reactive after surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

Sindrome da imunodeficiencia adquirida (AIDS): descricao do primeiro caso autoctone do Brasil e estudo imunologico. / Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): report of the 1st autochthnous case in Brazil and immunological study

O primeiro caso autoctone de sindrome de deficiencia imunologica adquirida (AIDS) com comprovacao imunologica, no Brasil foi estudado clinica e laboratorialmente.O paciente apresenta infeccao disseminada pela Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare que foi cultivada a partir de linfonodo. A avaliacao imunologica revelou intensa depressao da resposta imune celular in vivo e in vitro, encontrando-se inversao de relacao linfocitos supressores/auxiliadores

Influencia da tiamina, biotina, pantotenato de calcio, riboflavina e acido folico sobre o crescimento do Cryptococcus neoformans. / Influence of thiamine, biotin, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin and folic acid on the growth of Cryptococcus neoformans

Foi estudada a influencia da tiamina, biotina, pantotenato de calcio, riboflavina e acido folico sobre o crescimento de uma amostra de Cryptococcus neoformans, usando-se a tecnica do meio liquido e com determinacao espectrofotometrica da turvacao. As vitaminas foram estudadas individualmente em diferentes concentracoes e tambem associadas a uma mistura de varias vitaminas. Para se verificar a influencia, foram determinadas as curvas de crescimento do C. neoformans em presenca das vitaminas. Verificou-se que o C. neoformans sofreu nitida influencia favoravel ao crescimento por parte da tiamina. Este fato foi observado nos meios somente com tiamina em diferentes concentracoes. No meio com o "pool" isento de tiamina foi minimo o crescimento. Foi pequena a influencia do acido folico e biotina. O pantotenato de calcio associado a outras vitaminas exerceu pequena acao, enquanto que a riboflavina nao exerceu nenhuma influencia