Diagnóstico de raiva no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, de 1985 a 2007 / Rabies diagnosis in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from 1985 to 2007

São apresentados os resultados de 23 anos de diagnósticos de raiva realizados no Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Entre os anos de 1985 e 2007, um total de 23.460 amostras foram diagnosticadas no laboratório, compreendendo cerca de 95 por cento do número total de amostras submetidas ao diagnóstico laboratorial de raiva no Estado. A metodologia utilizada seguiu técnicas padrões como a imunofluorescência direta (IFD) e inoculação em camundongos (IC). Não ocorreram casos de raiva humana no período. O vírus rábico (VR) foi detectado em 739 (3,1 por cento) amostras, sendo 656 (88,7 por cento) de origem bovina. O vírus foi também identificado em 23 caninos (3,1 por cento), 21 eqüinos (2,9 por cento), 29 quirópteros (4,0 por cento), 4 felinos (0,5 por cento), 3 ovinos (0,4 por cento), 2 suínos (0,27 por cento) e em um animal selvagem de espécie indeterminada (0,13 por cento). O último caso de raiva em cães associado com variantes do vírus endêmicas nessa espécie foi diagnosticado em 1988. Dois episódios de contaminação incidental registrados em um felino em 2001 e em um canino em 2007, associados com variantes do vírus prevalentes em morcegos. Em relação à raiva bovina, os dados aqui apresentados revelam uma marcante diminuição no número de casos de raiva nessa espécie, em comparação com registros prévios. Por outro lado, um aumento no número de casos de raiva em morcegos hematófagos e não hematófagos vem sendo observado; no entanto, não é possível associar este aumento com modificações nas relações vírus/hospedeiro, pois o número de morcegos submetidos para diagnóstico tem igualmente aumentado. Isto provavelmente reflete o aumento do conhecimento sobre o papel de morcegos no ciclo de transmissão, e não necessariamente alterações no vírus e/ou nos hospedeiros.(AU)

The results of 23 years of rabies diagnosis carried out at the Veterinary Research Institute Desidério Finamor, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil, are reported. From 1985 to 2007, a total of 23.460 specimens were examined, corresponding to 95 percent of the total number of samples submitted to rabies laboratory diagnosis notified within the state. Diagnostic methods included standard techniques such as the fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and mouse inoculation test (MIT). No cases of human rabies occurred in the period. Rabies virus (RV) was detected in 739 specimens (3.1 percent), from which 656 (88.7 percent) were from cattle. The virus was also identified in specimens from 23 dogs (3.1 percent), 21 horses (2.9 percent), 29 bats (4.0 percent), 4 cats (0.5 percent), 3 sheep (0.4 percent), 2 pigs (0.27 percent) and a wild animal of undetermined species (0.13 percent). The last case of rabies associated with a canine variant was diagnosed in 1988. Two cases of rabies associated with bat variant viruses were reported, in a domestic cat (2001) and in a dog (2007). In cattle, a marked tendency to a decrease in the number of cases was detected in the examined period. In contrast, an increase in the number of cases in haematophagous as well as in non haematophagous bats is noticed. However, as the number of bat specimens submitted for diagnosis has increased, this finding most likely reflects a higher degree of awareness on the possible role for bats in the rabies transmission cycle, rather than any particular changes on the virus or its hosts.(AU)

Intravenous azithromycin plus ceftriaxone followed by oral azithromycin for the treatment of inpatients with community-acquired pneumonia: an open-label, non-comparative multicenter trial

Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is a major public health problem. In Brazil it has been estimated that 2,000,000 people are affected by CAP every year. Of those, 780,000 are admitted to hospital, and 30,000 have death as the outcome. This is an open-label, non-comparative study with the purpose of evaluating efficacy, safety, and tolerability levels of IV azithromycin (IVA) and IV ceftriaxone (IVC), followed by oral azithromycin (OA) for the treatment of inpatients with mild to severe CAP. Eighty-six patients (mean age 56.6 ± 19.8) were administered IVA (500mg/day) and IVC (1g/day) for 2 to 5 days, followed by AO (500mg/day) to complete a total of 10 days. At the end of treatment (EOT) and after 30 days (End of Study - EOS) the medication was evaluated clinically, microbiologically and for tolerability levels. Out of the total 86-patient population, 62 (72.1 percent) completed the study. At the end of treatment, 95.2 percent (CI95: 88.9 percent - 100 percent) reported cure or clinical improvement; at the end of the study, that figure was 88.9 percent (CI95: 74.1 percent - 91.7 percent). Out of the 86 patients enrolled in the study, 15 were microbiologically evaluable for bacteriological response. Of those, 6 reported pathogen eradication at the end of therapy (40 percent), and 8 reported presumed eradication (53.3 percent). At end of study evaluation, 9 patients showed pathogen eradication (50 percent), and 7 showed presumed eradication (38.89 percent). Therefore, negative cultures were obtained from 93.3 percent of the patients at EOT, and from 88.9 percent at the end of the study. One patient (6.67 percent of patient population) reported presumed microbiological resistance. At study end, 2 patients (11.11 percent) still reported undetermined culture. Uncontrollable vomiting and worsening pneumonia condition were reported by 2.3 percent of patients. Discussion and Conclusion Treatment based on the administration of IV azithromycin...

Blood compatibility of tubular polymeric materials studied by biological surface interactions

Tubular polymeric materials modified by radiation techniques can be used as vascular prosthesis and components of prosthetic devices. The biological interction between these materials and blood was studied by in vitro and ex vivo methods. Silicone rubber tubes were copolymerized with acrylamide and N-vinylpyrrolidone by radiation-grafting techniques. The irradiation was performed with y-rays from a 60Co source at a constant dose rate (0.2 kGy/h) for various time intervals (4-15 h). To evaluate the antithrombogenicity of the grafted tubes, the surface adsorption of 125I-albumin and 125I-fibrinogen was studied. All graft copolymers show a preference for albumin, and the degree of preference appears to correlate with antithrombogenic tendency. In the ex vivo experiment with animals, tubes were implanted in the carotid artery of dogs and the blood flow in the graft copolymers was detected with an ultrasonic flow meter. The blood flow rate in the ungrafted implants decreased more rapidly (stopped completely after 15 to 210 min) compared to the flow rate in the grafted ones (decreased slowly from 38 to 35 ml/min and 70 to 60 ml/min). There was a direct relationship between both methods in the study of blood compatibility of the materials. The results suggest that the graft copolymers can be used as biomaterials for long-term use in cardiovascular systems

Resseccöes intestinais extensas, um procedimento näo täo raro / Extended intestinal resections, a not so rare procedure

Considerando o progressivo surgimento de doentes portadores da síndrome do intestino curto, os autores apresentam as características da doença, suas causas, repercussoes e evoluçoes clínicas.

Rotavírus em suínos na regiäo sul do Brasil / Rotavirus in swine in the southern region of Brazil

A ocorrência de infecçäo por rotavírus foi estudada em granjas de suínos acometidos de diarréia em 32 propriedades de 22 municípios do Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina. De um total de 231 amostras fecais coletadas de leitöes na faixa etária de 1 a 60 dias, 43 (18,6%) foram positivas pela técnica de eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (PAGE) e 42 (17,7%) pelo ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA). Com a exceçäo de um caso, os eletroforotipos observados foram consistentes com a descriçäo dos rotavírus "clássicos" do grupo A. Em 5 amostras o rotavírus foi detectado por ELISA e näo por PAGE, enquanto que a situaçäo inversa ocorreu em 7 casos. Estudos com diluiçöes de fezes positivas demonstraram que as discrepâncias observadas provavelmente näo foram devidas a diferenças nas concentraçöes de vírus. A presença de IgG foi verificada em uma amostra PAGE positiva ELISA negativa, sugerindo a presença de complexos imunes que poderiam ser a causa de discrepâncias entre os métodos de diagnóstico. Exames bacteriológicos e parasitológicos em 75 amostras revelaram a presença de Escherichia coli enteropatogênica em 8 (8%). Em nenhum caso foram detectados parasitos. Em somente um caso E. coli foi encontrada em associaçäo com rotavírus, que clinicamente mostrou maior gravidade do que nos demais. A distribuiçäo da infecçäo por faixas etárias revelou que 79% dos casos foram verificados em animais de 15 a 30 dias