Mycobacterium leprae is identified in the oral mucosa from paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy patients.

In leprosy, the nasal mucosa is considered as the principal route of transmission for the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. The objective of this study was to identify M. leprae in the oral mucosa of 50 untreated leprosy patients, including 21 paucibacillary (PB) and 29 multibacillary (MB) patients, using immunohistochemistry (IHC), with antibodies against bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and phenolic glycolipid antigen-1 (PGL-1), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with MntH-specific primers for M. leprae, and to compare the results. The material was represented by 163 paraffin blocks containing biopsy samples obtained from clinically normal sites (including the tongue, buccal mucosa and soft palate) and visible lesions anywhere in the oral mucosa. All patients and 158 available samples were included for IHC study. Among the 161 available samples for PCR, 110 had viable DNA. There was viable DNA in at least one area of the oral mucosa for 47 patients. M. leprae was detected in 70% and 78% of patients using IHC and PCR, respectively, and in 94% of the patients by at least one of the two diagnostic methods. There were no differences in detection of M. leprae between MB and PB patients. Similar results were obtained using anti-BCG and anti-PGL-1 antibodies, and immunoreactivity occurred predominantly on free-living bacteria on the epithelial surface, with a predilection for the tongue. Conversely, there was no area of predilection according to the PCR results. M. leprae is present in the oral mucosa at a high frequency, implicating this site as a potential means of leprosy transmission.

Influence of concurrent heroin and cocaine abuse on the adrenergic and serotonergic systems in man.

Drugs of abuse interfere with the adrenergic activity at the periphery and the study of their effects in vivo at this level may contribute to understand the central mechanisms of action. Free and sulfoconjugated catecholamines and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD); plasma dopamine (DA)-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was determined by a HPLC technique. When compared with healthy subjects (n = 49), the results in drug addicts (n = 48) revealed: a) Significant increases in plasma DA (free and sulfoconjugated), epinephrine (Epi)- and norepinephrine (NE)-sulfate levels; b) no significant differences in the levels of plasma free NE or Epi, serum and platelet 5-HT. Concerning DBH activity, there was a tendency for an increase. In conclusion, since catecholamines are rapidly inactivated during blood circulation, the measurement of their sulfates may better reflect catecholamine turnover. The differences found may be interpreted as a reflection of the activation of adrenergic neurotransmission, principally as a consequence of catecholamine uptake blockade by cocaine. Finally, in our conditions the abuse of cocaine plus heroin does not significantly interfere with 5-HT uptake by platelets.

Influence of Concurrent Heroin and Cocaine Abuse on the Adrenergic and Serotonergic Systems in Mana.

Drugs of abuse interfere with the adrenergic activity at the periphery and the study of their effects In Vivo at this level may contribute to understand the central mechanisms of action. Free and sulfoconjugated catecholamines and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD); plasma dopamine (DA)-b-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was determined by a HPLC technique. When compared with healthy subjects (n = 49), the results in drug addicts (n = 48) revealed: a) Significant increases in plasma DA (free and sulfoconjugated), epinephrine (Epi)- and norepinephrine (NE)-sulfate levels; b) no significant differences in the levels of plasma free NE or Epi, serum and platelet 5-HT. Concerning DBH activity, there was a tendency for an increase. In conclusion, since catecholamines are rapidly inactivated during blood circulation, the measurement of their sulfates may better reflect catecholamine turnover. The differences found may be interpreted as a reflection of the activation of adrenergic neurotransmission, principally as a consequence of catecholamine uptake blockade by cocaine. Finally, in our conditions the abuse of cocaine plus heroin does not significantly interfere with 5-HT uptake by platelets.

A comparative study: classical, Akinosi, and Gow-Gates techniques of mandibular nerve block.

This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness and the degree of patient acceptability of the three techniques of mandibular nerve block, namely the classical, the Akinosi and the Gow-Gates. Forty five patients with mandibular posterior tooth/teeth indicated for extraction were chosen and divided equally into three groups to represent the three techniques of mandibular nerve block. Following the administration of the local anesthetic, the patients were evaluated using the evaluation sheet prepared for the study. Tabulation and analysis of the collected data followed. Results show that the Gow-Gates technique was the most effective in inducing anesthesia while the Akinosi technique appeared to be the most acceptable among the patients.

Sobre as artérias tiroideas craniais na cobaia (Cavia Porcellus L. 1758) / The cranial thyroid arteries in guinea (Cavia Porcellus, L. 1758)

In this paper we studied the pattern of the cranial thyroid arteries in guinea-pig. We sacrificed 100 young animals (females) that were anesthetized by ethylic eter, injected with Neoprene latex in the thoracic aorta and dissected through stereoscopic microscope. The observations have demonstrated these arteries emerge from the left common carotid artery (87 sides); from the right common carotid artery (38 sides), from the left external carotid artery (03 sides) and from the right occipital artery (01 side). We found one artery by the left side in 44 guineas-pig; by the right side in 04 animals; in both sides in 46 animals and we noted the absence of this artery in 06 animals

[Contribution to the study of biliary ducts of the guinea-pig (Cavia porcellus)--the ramus principalis sinister (author's transl)]. / Contribution à l'étude des voies biliaires chez le cobaye (Cavia porcellus)--systématisation du ramus principalis sinister.

The ramus principalis sinister of the biliary duct was studied in 44 adult animals. The ramus principalis sinister, when individualized, appeared free of affluents in 4 preparation (9%). In 91% of the preparations there were always affluents coming from lobi sinistri lateralis and medialis. Together with these branches, other preparations were seen: only from lobi quadrati (59%); ramus processi quadrati and ramus processi papillaris (16%); ramus lobi quadrati draining into ramus lobi sinistri medialis and this into ramus principalis sinistri (9%); ramus principalis dexter (2.3%); ramus sinistri medialis draining into ramus processi papillaris (2.3%) ramus lobi quadrati and ramus lobi sinistri ventralis draining into ramus lobi sinistri and this into ramus principalis sinister (2.3%). The ramus dorsalis lobi sinistri lateralis, papillaris ramus dorsomedialis, ramus ventromedialis lobi sinistri lateralis, ramus lobi sinistri medialis, ramus lobi quadrati, ramus processi papillaris drain, as main collectors, the dorsal, dorsomedial, ventromedial and ventral areas of the lobi sinistri lateralis, lobi sinistri medialis, lobi quadrati and processi papillaris regions respectively.

[Pelvic visceral arteries of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)]. / Artères viscérales pelviennes chez le lapin (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

40 pelvic preparations of rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) were bilaterally studied by dissection under the stereomicroscope and angiography. The arterial pattern of the pelvis, i.e. origin and branching of the umbilical, urogenital and internal pudendal arteries (visceral branches), is described. The main characteristics observed are as follows: (1) The umbilical artery is permeable in adults and gives origin to the cranial vesical artery and a caudal branch that irrigates the pelvic urogenital organs and, eventually, the rectum, with six patterns of branching in both sexes. (2) Usually, the urogenital artery is the continuation of the visceral branch of the internal iliac artery. In 1 animal, unilaterally, it arises from the median sacral artery. In 12 animals (6 bilaterally and 6 unilaterally) the urogenital artery is absent. When present, it forms two branches, a cranial and a caudal one, that irrigate of the urogenital organs in both sexes. (3) The internal pudendal artery is the direct continuation of the internal iliac artery and gives to rise to some visceral branches that irrigate the penis, bulbourethral gland and rectum (with six patterns of branching) in males, and the vagina, clitoris and rectum (with three patterns of branching) in females.