General metabolism of the dimorphic and pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Annotation of the transcriptome of the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has set the grounds for a global understanding of its metabolism in both mycelium and yeast forms. This fungus is able to use the main carbohydrate sources, including starch, and it can store reduced carbons in the form of glycogen and trehalose; these provide energy reserves that are relevant for metabolic adaptation, protection against stress and infectivity mechanisms. The glyoxylate cycle, which is also involved in pathogenicity, is present in this fungus. Classical pathways of lipid biosynthesis and degradation, including those of ketone body and sterol production, are well represented in the database of P. brasiliensis. It is able to synthesize de novo all nucleotides and amino acids, with the sole exception of asparagine, which was confirmed by the fungus growth in minimal medium. Sulfur metabolism, as well as the accessory synthetic pathways of vitamins and co-factors, are likely to exist in this fungus.

The renal and hepatic distribution of Bence Jones proteins depends on glycosylation: a scintigraphic study in rats

The aim of the present study was to evaluate renal and liver distribution of two monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains. The chains were purified individually from the urine of patients with multiple myeloma and characterized as lambda light chains with a molecular mass of 28 kDa. They were named BJg (high amount of galactose residues exposed) and BJs (sialic acid residues exposed) on the basis of carbohydrate content. A scintigraphic study was performed on male Wistar rats weighing 250 g for 60 min after iv administration of 1 mg of each protein (7.4 MBq), as the intact proteins and also after carbohydrate oxidation. Images were obtained with a Siemens gamma camera with a high-resolution collimator and processed with a MicroDelta system. Hepatic and renal distribution were established and are reported as percent of injected dose. Liver uptake of BJg was significantly higher than liver uptake of BJs (94.3 vs 81.4 per cent) P<0.05). This contributed to its greater removal from the intravascular compartment, and consequently lower kidney accumulation of BJg in comparison to BJs (5.7 vs 18.6 per cent) (P<0.05). After carbohydrate oxidation, there was a decrease in hepatic accumulation of both proteins and consequently a higher renal overload. The tissue distribution of periodate-treated BJg was similar to that of native BJs: 82.7 vs 81.4 per cent in the liver and 17.3 vs 18.6 per cent in the kidneys. These observations indicate the important role of sugar residues of Bence Jones proteins for their recognition by specific membrane receptors, which leads to diffedential tissue accumulation and possible toxicity.

Mononuclear phagocytic system in acute pancreatitis

1. Functional alterations of the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS) may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of infection in acute pancreatitis (AP). In the present study, MPS activity was investigated in rats and hepatic blood flow (HBF) was also determined. 2. A total of 122 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: 1, AP group (N = 51); 2, sham-operated (SO) (N = 49); 3, intact group (IG) (N = 22). AP was induced by retrograde injection of 0.5 ml of 2.5 per cent sodium taurocholate saline into the main biliopancreatic duct under ketamine chloride anesthesia. SO animals were submitted to the same surgical steps as AP animals except for AP induction. 3. Each experimental group was subdivided into two subgroups. The first subgroup was submitted to the study of MPS activity as follows: each group was injected with colloidal 198Au and liver clearance parameters were determined 2 h (N = 11), 12 h (N = 10) and 24 h (N = 10) later in the AP group, and 2 h (N = 9), 12 h (N = 10) and 24 h (N = 11) later in the SO group. In the second subgroup, HBF was assessed using 131I-bromosulphalein at 2 h (N = 10) and 24 h (N = 10) in the AP group and at 2 h (N = 10) and 24 h (N = 10) in the SO group. The IG was submitted to both radioactive tracer studies. Each animal was used for only one experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Modifications of tissue blood flow in acute pancreatitis

I.Acute pancreatitis (AP) was induced by ductal injection of 2.5% sodium taurocholate saline solution. Plasma and red blood cell (RBC) volume and visceral organ blood flow were evaluated by a radioisotopic method (51Cr tracers) in 45 adult male Wistar rats (22 submitted to AP and 23 controls) 4 h after AP induction. 51Cr-albumin was used to measure plasma volume and 51Cr-RBC was used to measure RBC volume. II.Changes in tissue hematocrit reflect alterations in tissue blood flow, since reduction in blood flow increases microvascular erythrocyte sequestration. To evaluate the tissue blood flow, we introduce a "tissuehematocrit index" calculated relating 51Cr-RBC and 51Cr-albumin specific activities measured in visceral organ biopsies. Application of this index to the control and AP groups showed a decrease in blood flow in all visceral organs of the AP group which was reflected by an increase in tissue hematocrit index (2.5-fold for kidneys, 2-fold for pancreas and lungs, 1.6-fold for liver, and 1.2-fold for spleen). III.As expected there was an increase in blood hematocrit and a decrease in plasma volume in the AP group, but there were no significant alterations in RBC volume. However, an unequal decrease in blood flow in various tissues such as kidneys, lungs, pancreas and liver was detected in the AP group. IV.This approach provides an easy and simple way to evaluate possible therapeutic protocols for the treatment of acute panreatitis by measuring effects on visceral blood flow and plasma and blood volumes

Feocromocitoma maligno: importância do acompanhamento cintilográfico com I131-meta iodo benzilguanidina (I131-MIBG) / Malignant pheochromocytoma: the importance of a scintigraphic investigation with I131 meta iodo benzylguanidine (MIBG I131)

Os autores apresentam um caso de feocromocitoma rastreado com metaiodobenzilguanidina marcada com 131I (MIBG-131I). Esta metodologia identifica a lesäo primitiva, sua recorrência e sua metastatizaçäo. Säo apontadas as vantagens do ensaio pela sua especificidade, sensibilidade e inoqüidade, oferecendo informaçöes ímpares de natureza morfofuncional no diagnóstico e acompanhamento evolutivo dessa doença

Analise perinatal de 1017 recem-nascidos com peso superior a 1000g na Maternidade Mario Totta, no ano de 1982. / Perinatal analysis of 1017 newborn infants weighting more than 1000g at the Maternidade Mario Totta, in 1982

Na Maternidade Mario Totta, durante o ano de 1982, ocorreram 5077 partos. Desses, mediante amostra aleatoria sistematica, foram analisadas 1000 gestantes e seus 1017 recem-nascidos cujo peso excedeu a 1000g. Os resultados mostraram uma frequencia de gestacao de alto risco de 33,1% uma incidencia de cesariana de 13%, uma taxa de mortalidade materna de 1% e mortalidade neonatal precoce de 10,82%. As patologias principais envolvidas na morbidade e mortalidade neonatal foram respectivamente as infeccoes e a membrana hialina.Os fatores de risco mais significativos na mortalidade neonatal precoce foram a gestacao de alto risco, a prematuridade, o baixo peso e a depressao ao nascer. Ha necessidade, ainda, de uma assistencia perinatal mais adequada visando ao diagnostico precoce, prevencao e tratamento desses fatores de risco para reducao da mortalidade neonatal

Monitorizacao anteparto sem stress: um estudo comparativo entre escores de interpretacao. / Non-stressed antepartum monitoring: a comparative study between scores of interpretation

Com o objetivo de testar a validade dos escores de monitorizacao, foram analisados os ultimos 203 tracados de monitorizacao anteparto obtidos em pacientes com gravidez de alto risco. Os tracados foram interpretados de acordo com quatro classificacoes utilizadas en nosso meio (tres escores de monitorizacao e a classificacao "reativo" e "nao-reativo").Em cada classificacao, os resultados foram comparados com o desempenho dos recem-nascidos, no que se refere a presenca de mortalidade ou morbidade perinatal. Analisaram-se tambem a sensibilidade, a especificidade, os resultados falso-positivos e os falso-negativos de cada metodo. Os resultados evidenciaram que houve significancia estatistica somente quando os tracados foram interpretados pela classificacao proposta por Rochard (reativo e nao-reativo) e adaptacao no Brasil por Montenegro e cols.Mostraram tambem que alta incidencia de resultados falso-positivos foi encontrada em qualquer um dos metodos empregados

Estudo do naftidrofuril como relaxante uterino na ameaca de parto prematuro. / Study of naftidrofuril as uterine relaxant in premature labor

Os autores estudaram o efeito do naftidrofuril - vasodilatador papaverinico - na reducao da contratilidade uterina em gestantes com ameaca de parto prematuro. Os resultados foram excelentes - 75% das pacientes apresentaram diminuicao acentuada da frequencia de contracoes uterinas cerca de tres horas a partir da infusao venosa de naftidrofuril. Os autores observaram que, nas demais pacientes (25%), que nao responderam ao tratamento e entraram em trabalho de parto, a media de idade gestacional era mais elevada do que no 1o grupo. Os autores demonstraram que o naftidrofuril e eficaz na paralisacao da ameaca de parto prematuro, sem causar efeitos colaterais circulatorios na mae ou no feto

Mensuracao do refluxo duodenogastrico: padronizacao de nova tecnica com bromossulfaleina com 131 I. / Measurement of duodenogastric reflux: standardization of a new technic with I-131 labeled sulfobromophthalein

Foram estudados 18 individuos normais divididos em dois grupos: A) 8 pacientes nos quais passou-se sonda de duplo lume ate o duodeno, sob controle radioscopico. Fixada a sonda,injetou-se bromossulfaleina marcada com 131I por via intravenosa, colhendo-se amostras de suco duodenal e gastrico pelas diferentes vias da sonda. As primeiras amostras com l5 minutos mostraram concentracoes de BSP tanto no duodeno como no estomago. Medindo-se a concentracao no suco gastrico em sucessivas amostras por 2 horas verificou-se presenca de refluxo franco no estomago. B) Dez pacientes com a mesma sonda localizada no estomago utilizando-se a mesma tecnica. Concluimos que a utilizacao da BSP 131I permite medir o refluxo duodenogastrico. A presenca de sonda permeando o piloro no grupo A provocou refluxo maior em relacao ao grupo B, estatisticamente significante (P< 0,02). Os dados obtidos no grupo B (normais) sao parametros para outras pesquisas em doentes com afeccoes gastricas

Mensuracao do refluxo duodenogastrico pela bromossulfaleina marcada com 131I: aspectos tecnicos e resultados em doentes com ulcera gastrica. / Measurement of duodenogastric reflux by bromsulphalein marked with I131: technical aspects and results in patients with gastric ulcer

Foram estudados 10 individuos normais e 18 doentes portadores de ulcera gastrica seguindo-se tecnica padronizada por Pires e col.(1978). Os doentes foram divididos em dois grupos: A) Dez doentes com ulcera peptica da incisura angularis - apos infusao intravenosa de BSP 131I colheram-se amostras sucessivas de suco gastrico em um periodo de duas horas.Medindo-se a concentracao de bromossulfaleina verificou-se refluxo duodenogastrico em 60% dos doentes. A analise estatistica mostrou nao haver diferenca significante com os normais (P> 0,05). B) Oito dos doentes com ulcera gastrica em outras localizacoes, estudados segundo a mesma tecnica. A medida da concentracao do bromossulfaleina no suco gastrico revelou refluxo em 12,5% dos doentes. Analise estatistica demonstrou nao haver diferenca significativa em relacao aos normais (P>0,05

Aleitamento e nutricao materna. / Breast feeding and maternal nutrition

Os autores avaliaram um total de 210 pacientes que tiveram parto na Maternidade Mario Totta no tocante a varios parametros, visando correlaciona-los aos aspectos de aleitamento e nutricao materna. Assinalam entao, como fatores de destaque, o alto nivel de ma-nutricao materna, de desnutricao, bem como a incidencia elevada de desmame precoce. Questionam quanto a qualidade do aleitamento, tendo em vista as condicoes nutricionais das maes e assinalam que sempre houve predominio positivo com relacao a este aspecto nos grupos analisados. Por fim enfatizam a motivacao continuada que ja vem sendo concretizada pela equipe de saude