Invasive aspergillosis producing painful ophthalmoplegia.

Painful ophthalmoplegia is caused by the lesions of orbital apex and anterior cavernous sinus. Cavernous sinus syndrome can be produced by intracranial invasive aspergillosis. A case of painful ophthalmoplegia due to invasive aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus niger in a diabetic patient is presented.

Superoxide anions mediate proliferative response in cardiac fibroblasts.

The study was undertaken to examine whether superoxide anions mediate a proliferative response in cardiac fibroblasts. Cardiac fibroblasts isolated from newborn Wistar rats were exposed to superoxide anion generating system (hypoxanthine + xanthine oxidase) and its effect on cell growth was assessed. A stimulatory response on fibroblast proliferation was observed. The proportion of proliferating cells increased within 3 h of treatment compared to the control and the cell density after 96 h of exposure remained significantly high (P < 0.0005). Inclusion of antioxidants neutralised the stimulatory response, fortifying the role of superoxide anions in cell proliferation. This observation indicates that superoxide anions can mediate a fibrotic reaction in the cardiac tissue.

Selective use of calcium chelators enhances the yield of calcium-tolerant myocytes from adult heart.

Isolation of viable and functional cells from adult heart remains an intriguing problem for investigators who choose to use the cardiomyocyte model for experimental studies. With a few modifications of the existing procedures we have been able to improve the yield of ventricular myocardial cells from the adult rat heart. Sarcolemmal damage leading to hypercontracture due to Ca2+ loading appears to be the major hindrance to the successful isolation of sufficient number of viable cells. The two crucial steps are found to be the pre-enzymatic perfusion for Ca(2+)-depletion and the final step of Ca(2+)-repletion in extracellular medium for the isolation of Ca(2+)-tolerant myocytes. Inclusion of EGTA and taurine during the initial perfusion of Ca(2+)-free medium and of trypsin during reintroduction of Ca2+ led to a considerable increase in the yield of Ca(2+)-tolerant myocytes. The contraction amplitude and speed of shortening and relaxation of isolated cells were measured using an edge detection device. Selective use of calcium ion chelators appears to have a beneficial effect on the isolation of Ca(2+)-tolerant myocytes.

Conhecendo o conhecimento das dissertaçöes de mestrado em enfermagem da UFSC / Knowing the knowledge produced in nursing master thesis

Trata-se da identificaçäo de quais e como säo produzidos os padröes de conhecimento de Enfermagem no Curso de Mestrado em Enfermagem da UFSC, na tentativa de visualizar o avanço do conhecimento, a partir de um roteiro para a coleta de dados. Analisa as noventa e duas dissertaçöes produzidas, neste curso, de 1978 a 1994, apoiando-se nos padröes de conhecimento propostos por Carper (1978)...

Magnesium levels in serum and erythrocytes of children from Kerala.

BACKGROUND. Magnesium is required in higher quantities, during the phase of rapid growth, in children. Its level in the ground water in Kerala is low. This can cause magnesium deficiency especially in children from the lower socio-economic groups who also suffer from nutritional insufficiency. METHODS. We compared the serum and erythrocyte magnesium levels of school children from high and low (agricultural labourers and fisherfolk) socio-economic groups. These levels were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Body mass indices and haemoglobin levels were used as indirect measures of nutritional status. RESULTS. Serum and erythrocyte magnesium levels were significantly lower in both boys and girls from low socio-economic groups who also had lower body mass indices. CONCLUSION. Nutritional insufficiency is prevalent in children from the low socio-economic groups and is associated with low serum and erythrocyte magnesium levels.

A simplified method for culture of human fetal heart tissue.

Human fetal heart tissue obtained consequent to suction termination of pregnancy between 6 and 12 weeks of gestation were cultured as explants and maintained in a viable state, with spontaneous contractions up to 75 days. Ultrastructural morphology of the explant revealed that the cells remained healthy up to 21 days in culture. The model can therefore be used for experimental studies during the first 3 weeks in culture.