Postharvest changes in water status and chlorophyll content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and their relationship with overall visual quality.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate water status, chlorophyll content (C), and overall visual quality (OVQ) of fresh butter lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. Lores) as well as these indexes' evolution during storage and their relationships, if any. Whole lettuce plants were stored at optimal postharvest conditions (0 to 2 degrees C and 97% to 99% relative humidity). Measured parameters during each sampling day were relative water content (RWC), water content (WC), free water (FW), bound water (BW), free water to total water ratio (FW/TW), C, and OVQ. All parameters were evaluated in the external, middle, and internal zones of lettuce heads. The external zone had higher initial values of RWC, WC, and FW than the internal zone. The external zone yielded the highest FW/TW ratio (85%), indicating that external leaves had more water available to be used in degradation reactions and were more perishable, with the lowest shelf life if compared with the other lettuce zones. During storage, water status index evolution differed from zone to zone. An increase in BW and a decrease in FW were detected in all lettuce zones. RWC turned out to be a more sensitive measurement than WC. Yet RWC showed no significant correlation with any index. The OVQ parameter correlates with FW directly, or indirectly through FW/TW in all lettuce zones; therefore, FW is an objective and quantitative measurement, which impacts on the visual quality of butter lettuce. The decrease in chlorophyll content observed in the external leaves strongly correlated with the decrease in OVQ.

A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of lidamidine HCL in irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown electro-mechanical recto-anal alterations in irritable bowel syndrome patients (Awad R. Neurogastroenterol Motil 1993; 5; 265-271). To assess whether the alpha 2-agonist lidamidine HCL is able to modify these physiological alterations and alleviate clinical symptoms, 50 patients with irritable bowel syndrome were studied in a random, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: Lidamidine HCL (4 mg) or placebo was taken orally t.i.d. with food. Fasting and post-prandial electrical and mechanical activities of rectum and internal anal sphincter were recorded before and at the end of treatment. Recto-anal sensitivity was also tested. RESULTS: After treatment, post-prandial duration of spontaneous recto-anal inhibitory reflex diminished in the lidamidine group (18.9 +/- 1 vs. 15.1 +/- 1.3 sec; p < 0.05). Amplitude of induced rectoanal inhibitory reflex decreased after lidamidine (24.6 +/- 2.9 vs 17.3 +/- 3 mmHg; p = 0.02). Rectal electrical activity showed no changes during basal and post-prandial periods in any group. Rectal painful sensation decreased after treatment with lidamidine (54.8 +/- 5.4 vs 43.6 +/- 3.5 ml; p < 0.05) as well as with placebo (p < 0.05). Abdominal distension and frequency, severity and duration of pain diminished in both groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lidamidine decreased the augmented mechanical response to food, reduced rectal sensitivity, and relieved symptoms. These facts suggest that in spite of the strong placebo response obtained, lidamidine HCL can become a useful alternative for treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of lidamidine HCL in irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown electro-mechanical recto-anal alterations in irritable bowel syndrome patients (Awad R. Neurogastroenterol Motil 1993; 5; 265-271). To assess whether the alpha 2-agonist lidamidine HCL is able to modify these physiological alterations and alleviate clinical symptoms, 50 patients with irritable bowel syndrome were studied in a random, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: Lidamidine HCL (4 mg) or placebo was taken orally t.i.d. with food. Fasting and post-prandial electrical and mechanical activities of rectum and internal anal sphincter were recorded before and at the end of treatment. Recto-anal sensitivity was also tested. RESULTS: After treatment, post-prandial duration of spontaneous recto-anal inhibitory reflex diminished in the lidamidine group (18.9 +/- 1 vs. 15.1 +/- 1.3 sec; p < 0.05). Amplitude of induced rectoanal inhibitory reflex decreased after lidamidine (24.6 +/- 2.9 vs 17.3 +/- 3 mmHg; p = 0.02). Rectal electrical activity showed no changes during basal and post-prandial periods in any group. Rectal painful sensation decreased after treatment with lidamidine (54.8 +/- 5.4 vs 43.6 +/- 3.5 ml; p < 0.05) as well as with placebo (p < 0.05). Abdominal distension and frequency, severity and duration of pain diminished in both groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lidamidine decreased the augmented mechanical response to food, reduced rectal sensitivity, and relieved symptoms. These facts suggest that in spite of the strong placebo response obtained, lidamidine HCL can become a useful alternative for treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Esophageal motility disorders in Mexican patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy.

OBJECTIVE: Myopathies are entities that mainly involve striated muscle. In Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (DMD) there have been reported smooth muscle alterations in the pre-oral phase of swallowing, in gastric emptying, and pseudoobstruction. Nevertheless, esophageal motility alterations are not concluding. The objective of this work was to determine if there are motor esophageal alterations in this patients, and if this alterations are related to the clinical manifestations of disease. STUDY DESIGN: Nine consecutive patients with DMD (mean age 8, range 6-11 years; males) were evaluated, comparing clinical and manometric findings. RESULTS: Esophageal manometry alterations were found in all patients, mainly simultaneous non-peristaltic waves (60.86%) of diminished amplitude, in both striated and smooth muscle. Seventy seven percent presented with upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms (dysphagia, regurgitation, epigastric pain, constipation, and distention). No correlation was found between esophageal motility alterations and gastrointestinal symptoms, nor with the clinical stage of disease in accordance to Brook (r = 0.27). CONCLUSION: These results show that patients with DMD present esophageal motor disorders in both striated and smooth muscle, as well as upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms. Specialized motility studies could yield a better understanding of disease, and, possibly with adequate treatment, provide for a better quality of life in children with DMD.

[Sternotomy for the treatment of cervical stenosis after esophagocoloplasty: 3 case reports]. / Esternotomia para o tratamento da estenose cervical após esofagocoloplastia: relato de três casos.

Colon interposition for benign esophageal disease has so many complications among them stricture and anastomotic leak are the most common. Three patients with esphagocolonic stricture due to colon interposition have been successfully treated by sternotomy after being submitted to endoscopic balloon dilatation. Sternotomy would seen a safe and reliable method for treating anastomotic stricture in patients with recurrent stenosis after esophagocolonic anastomosis due to extrinsic compression.

[Biofeedback and surgery in the treatment of fecal incontinence and lesion of the external anal sphincter: long-term follow-up]. / Retroalimentación biológica y cirugía en el tratamiento de la incontinencia fecal con lesión del esfínter anal externo. Seguimiento a largo plazo.

INTRODUCTION: In children, damage in the anal area which affects both the external anal sphincter and the internal anal sphincter is serious problem. Biofeedback is not effective if the external anal sphincter is severely damaged, and surgery by itself cannot effect a cure for incontinence in these cases. CLINICAL CASE: a girl aged 6 yrs 8 months who from the age of two suffered from massive recurrent tricolephalosis, causing rectal prolapse, anal abscesses and fistulas, fistulectomy, and finally severe damage in the anal area with total incontinence. The treatment began with recto-anal manometry, and rectal sensitivity studies. Biofeedback was used before and after gracilis muscle transfer and colostomy. After 12 months, total continence was achieved, and has continued through 7 years of follow-up examinations. CONCLUSIONS: To treat fecal incontinence combined with severe damage in the external anal sphincter, the following procedure should be followed: manometry and sensitivity studies, reconstruction of the external anal sphincter with gracilis muscle transfer, and biofeedback.

Retroalimentación biológica y cirugía en el tratamiento de la incontinencia fecal con lesión del esfínter anal externo. Seguimiento a largo plazo. / [Biofeedback and surgery in the treatment of fecal incontinence and lesion of the external anal sphincter: long-term follow-up]

INTRODUCTION: In children, damage in the anal area which affects both the external anal sphincter and the internal anal sphincter is serious problem. Biofeedback is not effective if the external anal sphincter is severely damaged, and surgery by itself cannot effect a cure for incontinence in these cases. CLINICAL CASE: a girl aged 6 yrs 8 months who from the age of two suffered from massive recurrent tricolephalosis, causing rectal prolapse, anal abscesses and fistulas, fistulectomy, and finally severe damage in the anal area with total incontinence. The treatment began with recto-anal manometry, and rectal sensitivity studies. Biofeedback was used before and after gracilis muscle transfer and colostomy. After 12 months, total continence was achieved, and has continued through 7 years of follow-up examinations. CONCLUSIONS: To treat fecal incontinence combined with severe damage in the external anal sphincter, the following procedure should be followed: manometry and sensitivity studies, reconstruction of the external anal sphincter with gracilis muscle transfer, and biofeedback.

Carriage of Streptococcus agalactiae in women and neonates and distribution of serological types: a study in Brazil.

The prevalence of group B streptococcal carriage was evaluated in nonpregnant women and in mothers and their offsprings. The overall carriage rate of group B streptococci at one site was 18.2%. Streptococci were recovered from one or more of the sites sampled in 25.6% of mothers and 15.4% of newborn infants. The maternal genital carriage rate was 18.6%, and acquisition of the organism from the mother was assessed by serological typing of group B streptococcal isolates in the mother-infant pairs. A cervical carriage rate of 16.3% was seen in nonpregnant women.

Sobre a historia natural do cancer do corpo uterino. Um estudo retro e prospectivo. / On natural history of uterus body cancer. A retro and prospective study

Os autores analisaram 195 pacientes com diagnostico de carcinoma do corpo uterino tratadas no Instituto de Ginecologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro num periodo de 44 anos. Eles verificaram a correlacao entre algumas condicoes patologicas como antecessores da doenca. Sao feitas consideracoes sobre o futuro dos diagnosticos do potencial biologico dos chamados precursores

Tratamento cirurgico do cancer do ovario Analise de 95 casos. / Surgical treatment of cancer of the ovary. Analysis of 95 cases

Os autores analisaram 95 casos de tumores malignos do ovario. Verificaram maior incidencia entre os de linhagem epitelial (75,785%), e que o diagnostico clinico foi sempre tardio Comentam a orientacao terapeutica sistematizada no IG. UFRJ e os resultados obtidos entre os tipos de cirurgia realizada de acordo com o estadiamento cirurgico do tumor.Ressaltam a importancia do inventario permenorizado da cavidade abdominal para precisar o estadiamento e sequencia da orientacao terapeutica

Terapeutica do cancer da vulva. Analise de 85 casos. / Therapeutics of cancer of the vulva. Analysis of 85 cases

Os autores comentam sobre incidencia, problemas que dificultam o diagnostico precoce, peculiaridades da propagacao linfatica e terapeutica do cancer da vulva. Em seguida apresentam a conduta em 85 casos registrados no Instituto de Ginecologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, em 44 anos (1936 a 1980). A analise do material demonstrou que o cancer da vulva foi mais frequente na setima decada, teve como sintoma principal o prurido vulvar,acometeu mais a regiao labio-clitoridiana e o carcinoma escamoso foi o tipo histopatologico mais comum. O tratamento de eleicao foi o cirurgico, sendo a vulvectomia radical com linfadenectomia inguino-femoral a tecnica mais empregada, entretanto a sobrevida foi tanto maior quanto mais alargada a cirurgia

Terapeutica no adenocarcinoma do endometrio. Analise de 195 casos. / Therapeutics of adenocarcinoma of the endometrium.Analysis of 195 cases

Os autores estudaram 195 casos de adenocarcinoma do endometrio tratados no Instituto de Ginecologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Analisaram os principais metodos terapeuticos, e baseados nesta experiencia opinam sobre a melhor conduta em cada caso. Acham a radiumterapia previa ao tratamento cirurgico desnecessaria. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos com tratamento cirurgico exclusivo, quando comparados a terapeutica combinada pela radiumterapia pre-operatoria nos estadios IA e IB. A operacao mais usada foi a histerectomia abdominal total com anexectomia bilateral e exerese de 1/3 cranial de vagina (80%). A operacao ideal para os estadios I e II e a histerocolpectomia alargada com linfadenectomia pelvica.Foi realizada em apenas 6% dos casos em virtude do alto risco cirurgico apresentado pelas portadoras dessa neoplasia, tornando proibitiva tal conduta sistematica.Utilizamos a hormonioterapia adjuvante com a medroxiprogesterona em todos os casos

Teratoma retroperitoneal. / Retroperitoneal teratoma

Apresentacao de caso de teratoma retroperitoneal em mulher de 20 anos. Tumor gigante que produzia escolise toraco-lombar acentuada.Foi levada a cirurgia, tendo tido alta hospitalar no setimo dia de pos-operatorio que transcorreu sem anormalidades

Tratamento da incontinencia urinaria de esforco na mulher. Analise de 621 casos. / Treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women. Analysis of 621 cases

Os autores analisam 621 pacientes com diagnostico de incontinencia urinaria de esforco operadas no Instituto de Ginecologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, em um periodo de 13 anos. Observaram que a patologia e mais frequente entre a quarta e a quinta decadas da vida da mulher, e que a operacao de Kelly-Kennedy forneceu os melhores resultados. Os acidentes e as complicacoes pos-operatorias foram mais frequentes na operacao de Burch

Carcinoma do colo uterino em adolescente gravida associado a schwannoma retroperitoneal bilateral. Apresentacao de caso. / Carcinoma of the cervix in a pregnant teen-ager associated with bilateral retroperitoneal schwannoma. A case report

Os autores apresentam caso de schwannoma retroperitoneal bilateral concomitante a carcinoma do colo do utero em adolcescente gravida destacando a ausencia dos fatores de risco para o cancer cervical uterino e a raridade desta associacao. Comentam a teoria carcinogenetica do fator coito, admitindo sua importancia na genese das neoplasias malignas do colo do utero. Fazem ainda breves consideracoes sobre a incidencia do schwannoma