Tratamento alternativo em gatos acometidos por DITUIF / Alternative treatment in cats affected by FLUTD

This report describes two cases of male cats affected by FLUTD (Feline lower urinary tract disease). The first patient had been affected by numerous relapses after passing through various therapeutic treatments and surgical interventions, and was subjected to the alternative protocol after being recommended for euthanasia, the second patient had no history of urinary tract disorders in the past, and was not subjected to any kind of previous treatment. The two patients had a significant improvement in their clinical condition, were not affected by relapses after participation in the alternative design, and were accompanied for about a year after their treatment.(AU)

Efeito in vitro do extrato etanólico das folhas do melão-de-São-Caetano (Momordica charantia L. ) sobre ovos e larvas de nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos / In vitro effect of the ethanolic extract of "melão de São Caetano" (Momordica charantia L. ) leaves on the eggs and larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes from goats

O experimento in vitro foi realizado para avaliar a ação do extrato etanólico das folhas do melão-de-São-Caetano (Momordica charantia L.) sobre o desenvolvimento de ovos e motilidade de larvas de nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos. As larvas foram obtidas de coproculturas e a recuperação de ovos foi feita pela técnica dos quatro tamises, a partir de fezes de caprinos naturalmente infectados da mesorregião do Sertão Paraibano. O extrato foi utilizado nas diluições de 50; 25; 12,5; 6,25 e 3,12 por cento para ambos os testes e como controle positivo e para controle negativo, utilizou-se água destilada estéril. As placas foram examinadas ao microscópio óptico para contagem dos ovos em desenvolvimento e larvas móveis e imóveis, após 24, 48 e 72 horas de incubação. As concentrações do extrato etanólico de M. charantia e os tratamentos controle negativo e positivo diferiram quanto ao número de ovos inviáveis. No teste de motilidade larval as concentrações acima de 12 por cento apresentaram médias significativas quanto ao número de larvas inviáveis. Nas condições ensaiadas a M. charantia apresentou atividade ovicida e larvicida.

The experiment in vitro was performed to evaluate the action of the ethanolic extract of "melão de São Caetano" (Momordica charantia L.) leaves on the development of eggs and motility of larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes from goats. The nematode larvae were obtained from coproculture and the recovery of eggs was done in sieves, from feces of naturally infected goats from the Mesoregion of Paraíba State. The extract was used at the dilutions of 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 3.12 percent for both tests and as positive control; for negative control, sterile distilled water was used. The plates were examined under optical microscope to count the eggs in development and mobile larvae after 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. The concentrations of M. charantia ethanolic extract and the negative and positive controls differed as to the number of eggs that were not viable. In the larval motility test, concentrations higher than 12 percent had significant means as to the number of larvae that were not viable. Under the tested conditions, M. charantia showed larvicidal and ovicidal activity.

Avaliação da eficácia de taboa (Typha domingensis Pers.) e batata-de-purga [Operculina hamiltonii (G. Don) D.F. Austin & Staples] in natura sobre nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos, naturalmente infectados, em clima semi-árido / Evaluation of the effectiveness of "taboa" (Typha domingensis Pers.) and "batata-de-purga" [Operculina hamiltonii (G. Don) D.F. Austin & Staples] in natura on gastrointestinal nematodes of goats, naturally infected, in the semi-arid region

Avaliou-se a eficácia da Typha domingensis (taboa) e da Operculina hamiltonii (batata-de-purga) in natura sobre nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos, naturalmente infectados, em clima semi-árido. Foram utilizados 30 caprinos da raça Moxotó, e o rizoma da taboa e a raiz da batata-de-purga, avaliados através da fitoquímica. As fezes foram coletadas nos dias zero, sete e 25, após, o tratamento da contagem de OPG. Os animais foram distribuídos inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições. Grupo I tratado com Moxidectina 0,2 por cento em dose única de 0,5 mg Kg-1; o Grupo II tratado com Taboa na dose (10 g 20 Kg-1 peso vivo); Grupo III com batata-de-purga na dose de 9 g 20 Kg-1 p.v.; Grupo IV tratado com taboa 10 g 20 Kg-1 p.v. associada a batata 9 g 20 Kg-1 p.v. durante três dias consecutivos, todos administrados oralmente e o Grupo V como grupo controle. Os grupos tratados apresentaram redução no número médio de OPG aos 7 e 25 dias pós-tratamento, quando comparado com o grupo controle no respectivo período, sendo a batata-de-purga com maior redução aos 7 e a taboa aos 25 dias. A maior eficácia foi da batata-de-purga de 84 por cento e 70 por cento, nos dias 7 e 25 pós-tratamento. Verificou-se que a batata-de-purga foi eficaz no controle de nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos no clima semi-árido e que a taboa associada com a batata tem potencial para serem utilizadas em programas alternativos de controle parasitário.

The effectiveness of Typha domingensis ("taboa") and Operculina hamiltonii ("batata-de-purga") in natura was evaluated on gastrointestinal nematodes of goats, naturally infected, in the semi-arid region. Thirty Moxotó goats were used, and the rhizome of "taboa" and the root of "batata-de-purga" were analyzed through phytochemistry. Feces were collected on days zero, seven and 25 after the treatment for FECs. The distribution of animals was completely at random, with five treatments and six replicates. Group I was treated with Moxidectin 0.2 percent in a single dose of 0.5 mg kg-1; Group II was treated with "taboa" at the dose of 10 g 20 Kg-1 body weight; Group III was treated with "batata-de-purga" at the dose of 9 g 20 Kg-1 b.w.; Group IV was treated with "taboa" at 10 g 20 Kg-1 b.w. associated with "batata-de-purga" at 9 g 20 Kg-1 b.w. during three consecutive days. All treatments were orally administered and Group V was used as control. Treated groups showed a reduction in the average number of FECs at seven and 25 days post-treatment when compared to the control group in the respective period; "batata de purga" had a greater reduction at seven days, while "taboa" showed a more pronounced reduction at 25 days. The highest effectiveness was observed for "batata de purga": 84 percent and 70 percent at seven and 25 days post treatment. "Batata-de-purga" was effective in controlling gastrointestinal nematodes of goats in the semi-arid climate and "taboa" associated with "batata de purga" have the potential to be used in alternative programs for parasite control.

A case of Werdnig-Hoffman disease

This report describes a 6-month old female infant who presented with her second episode of pneumonia. Further assessment showed that she was markedly hypotonic. Her creatine kinase was normal. A muscle biopsy showed a neurogenic muscular atrophy. Werdnig-Hoffman disease was diagnosed. She recovered slowly over a 5 week period but died at home 2 days after discharge. Physicians looking after children must consider the possibility of an underlying neuromuscular condition when faced with a slowly resolving or recurrent pneumonia

Will genetic counselling be effective in controlling sickle cell disease in Ghana?

The knowledge; attitude and practices regarding birth control were studied in 183 adults with sickle cell disease and 61 parents of affected children in Accra. Knowledge of the aetiology of sickle cell disease was poor. Only 30 per cent of respondents volunteered that it is hereditary while 74 per cent attributed it to environmental causes or disease. When prompted; 75 per cent agreed it was hereditary but 20 per cent thought it came from relatives other than parents. Thirty-three per cent (33 per cent) of parents did not know their genotype; while 36 per cent of married patients and 51 per cent of parents did not know the genotype of their spouses. Only 10 per cent of patients knew their spouses' genotype before marriage. The possibility of transmitting the disease had limited the desired family size in half of married patients; and in 18 per cent of parents. However; 37 and 46 per cent respectively already had 4 or more children. A third of married respondents were using birth control methods. Fifty-eight per cent of unmarried patients were worried about transmitting the disease; and 48 per cent would test a prospective spouse and not marry a carrier. However; 22 per cent stated that the partner's genotype would not alter the decision to marry. While 38 per cent of married patients and 27.8 per cent of parents would consider changing their spouses because of the disease; 3.8 per cent of the married patients and none of the parents had actually done so. It is suggested that better education of the general public and patients about sickle cell disease is necessary for genetic counselling to have an impact on the control of the disease

The A3 phenotype: serologic and anthropologic aspects

Descrevem-se as características das hemácias A3 com métodos convencionais e ulteriores testes com lectinas vegetais e de caramujos. Dos três indivíduos estudados, Mulato Claro, dois nasceram em Pernambuco e um no Rio de Janeiro. A separaçäo das hemácias A3 sugere uma mistura de, pelo menos, duas populaçöes de células com aglutinabilidade variável do antígeno A. Uma análise da literatura permitiu estimar que a maior freqüência de A3 encontrou-se em Negroides, um valor intermedio em Caucasoides e a menor prevalência em pessoas do Estado de Maharashtra na India

Timectomia. / Thymectomy

Os autores apresentam sete pacientes com miastenia gravis submetidos a tratamento cirurgico da Faculdade de Medicina de Mogi das Cruzes no periodo 1981-1983. A idade dos pacientes variou de 26 a 62 anos; o sexo feminino, em quatro, e a cor branca, em cinco, amarela, em um, e preta, em um.Cinco dos pacientes apresentavam forma generalizada moderada da doenca; um, generalizada intensa fulminante, e um, forma ocular pura, de acordo com a classificacao proposta por Osserman. O tempo de inicio dos sintomas e a cirurgia variou de quatro meses a seis anos. Cinco pacientes tinham grande limitacao funcional decorrente de fraqueza e insuficiencia respiratoria, enquanto que dois exibiam incapacidades relativas para os afazeres domesticos ou profissionais devido a ptose palpebral bilateral permanente. Todos tomaram anticolinesterasicos no periodo pre-operatorio, sendo que, em tres, foi realizada imunossupressao com 80 a 100mg diarios de predmisona durante 15 a 20 dias.Sao apresentados os dados clinicos, cirurgicos e a evolucao pos-operatoria dos pacientes