A combined enrichment/polymerase chain reaction based method for the routine screening of Streptococcus agalactiae in pregnant women

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in neonates. Guidelines from CDC recommend universal screening of pregnant women for rectovaginal GBS colonization. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of a combined enrichment/PCR based method targeting the atr gene in relation to culture using enrichment with selective broth medium (standard method) to identify the presence of GBS in pregnant women. Rectovaginal GBS samples from women at ¡Ý36 weeks of pregnancy were obtained with a swab and analyzed by the two methods. A total of 89 samples were evaluated. The prevalence of positive results for GBS detection was considerable higher when assessed by the combined enrichment/PCR method than with the standard method (35.9% versus 22.5%, respectively). The results demonstrated that the use of selective enrichment broth followed by PCR targeting the atr gene is a highly sensitive, specific and accurate test for GBS screening in pregnant women, allowing the detection of the bacteria even in lightly colonized patients. This PCR methodology may provide a useful diagnostic tool for GBS detection and contributes for a more accurate and effective intrapartum antibiotic and lower newborn mortality and morbidity.

Sera from chronic chagasic patients depress cardiac electrogenesis and conduction

We report results obtained with sera from 58 chronic chagasic patients that were evaluated for effects on heart rate and atrioventricular (AV) conduction in isolated rabbit hearts and screened for the presence of muscarinic and beta-adrenergic activity. We show that sera from 26 patients decreased heart rate, while 10 increased it and 22 had no effect. Additionally, sera from 20 of the 58 patients blocked AV conduction. Muscarinic activation seems to be involved in both effects, but is not the only mechanism, since atropine did not antagonize the decrease in heart rate in 23 percent of sera or AV block in 40 percent. Sera from patients with complex arrhythmias were significantly more effective in depressing both heart rate and AV conduction. Sera that induce increases in heart rate seem to operate exclusively through beta-adrenergic activation. Two of these sera, evaluated with respect to intercellular communication in primary cultures of embryonic cardiomyocytes were able to block gap junction conductance evaluated by a dye injection technique after 24-h exposure. The mechanisms underlying this uncoupling effect are currently being investigated

The pineal recess of the opossum: a scanning and transmission electron microcospe study

Scanning and transmission electron microscope studies were performed in the pineal recess region of eighteen adult Didelphis albiventris opossums. With the scanning electron microscope, three concentric regions could be observed in the pineal recess: a central zone lined by cells free of cilia or microvilli, or by a meshwork of interdigitating cell processes; an intermediate zone lined by microvillous cells; and a peripheral zone, lined by ciliated cells. The transmission electron microscope revealed that the central zone is lined mainly by pinealocytes. The lining cells are frequently overlaid by a meshwork of pinealocytic and gliak oricesses. A <> (a meshwork of cellular processes underneath the lining cells) is contantly seen in the central zone. The intermediate zone is lined by elongated microvillous ependymal cells, and the peripheral zone by typical ependyma. The large liquor-contacting area in the pineal recess region, as well as the peculiar organization of its surface, suggest a complex interrelationship between the liquor and the pineal gland of the opossum

Changes in choline acetyltransferase activity of rat tissues during Chagas' disease

1. The activity of choline acetyltransferase (CAT) measured by a radilabeling method was significantly reduced in the heart, submandibular gland and esophagus of rats 20 days after inoculation with Trypanosoma cruzi (Y strain). 2. Normal enzyme activity was recovered in all these organs 100 days after inoculation. 3. In the transcerse colon, no change, 30% reduction and normal activity were found at days 20, 100 and 430 of infection, respectively. 4. The data indicate recovery of parasympathetic function in experimental Chagas' disease. Axonal regrowth and sprouting are discussed as possible candidates for the recovery mechanisms

Ultra-estrutura do orgao pineal do Crypturellus parvirostris Wagler 1897 (Aves. Tinamiformes). / Ultrastructure of the pineal organ of Crypturellus parvirostris Wagler, 1897 (Aves. Tinamiformes)

Estudou-se a ultra-estrutura do orgao pineal da ave Tinamiforme Crypturellus parvirostris. Ele apresenta uma organizacao folicular com celulas do tipo fotoreceptor rudimentar (celula A) e celulas de sustentacao (celulas B). As primeiras possuem morfologia de celulas fotoreceptoras, com excecao do pediculo basal, que e assinaptico, e do segmento externo, que e atipico e esta representado por um cilio dilatado do tipo 9 + 0 (bulbo-cilio). Assim, apesar do Crypturelus parvirostris pertencer a um grupo de aves considerado muito primitivo, sua pineal nao apresenta caracteristicas morfologicas que indiquem uma atividade fotossensorial pelo menos do tipo convencional. Entretanto, a presenca de um complexo de Golgi bem desenvolvido de cisternas do reticulo endoplasmatico granular muito dilatadas e de abundantes vesiculas indicam a existencia de uma atividade secretora intensa. A presenca de vesiculas revestidas em relacao com a membrana dos processos apicais sugere uma interacao entre estes processos e a substancia na luz dos foliculos

Noradrenaline content of the hypothalamus and brain-stem of rats inoculated with Trypanosoma cruzi.

O conteudo de noradrenalina do hipotalamo e do tronco encefalico de ratos controle e inoculados con a cepa Y (300.000 tripomastigotas, i.p.) de Trypanosoma cruzi foi medido pela tecnica fluorimetrica de Anton e Sayre. Os animais foram sacrificados 20 e 32 dias depois da inoculacao. Para avaliacao do grau de desnervacao simpatica do coracao dos animais infectados, a auricula direita foi observada com microscopio de fluorescencia apos tratamento histoquimico pela tecnica do acido glioxilico.O conteudo de noradrenalina do hipolatamo e do tronco encefalico dos animais infectados nao diferiu do medido nos animais controle Contudo, um quase completo desaparecimento das fibras adrenergicas foi observado no coracao dos animais chagasicos, sugerindo que o mecanismo envolvido na lesao discrimina neuronios adrenergicos centrais e perifericos

Determinacao da lisozima no liquido cefalorraqueano normal e patologico. / Determination of lisozymes in the normal and pathological cerebrospinal fluid

As concentracoes da LZM foram determinadas nas amostras de LCR normal e patologico; o metodo utilizado foi o turbidimetrico melhorado. A LZM foi mensuravel em todas as amostras normais; apresentou-se aumentada em 60% e 83% dos casos de meningites virais e bacterianas, respectivamente. Foram, tambem observadas elevacoes em neurocisticercose, leucemia linfoblastica aguda, mieloma multiplo e neurocriptococose, nos dois casos de neurolues, a LZM do LCR foi normal