Morphofunctional description of mucous cells in the gills of the Arapaimidae Arapaima gigas (Cuvier) during its development.

The gill structure of the Amazonian fish Arapaima gigas (Cuvier 1829) shows ontogenetic changes during development, particularly due the transition from the aquatic to the obligatory air breathing mode of respiration. However, three main cell types can be found in the gills: mitochondrial rich cells, pavement cells and mucous cells (MCs). The MCs are involved in the secretory pathway. The functions of the secreted molecules include mechanical protection of epithelia, protection against parasites and bacterial infection, and role on ion regulation. In this study, we analysed mucous cell location and mucous cell type, based on pH, during the development of A. gigas. Using samples obtained from the environment, gills were collected and fixed in buffered solution. Histological techniques for the identification of MCs were performed Alcian Blue (AB) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). The results showed the presence of PAS+ and AB+ cells in the whole filament in all examined fish. In animals less than 50 g, few MCs were present, and no differences were observed in AB+ and PAS+ cells. In animals weighing close to 500 g, more PAS+ cells than AB+ cells were observed, and in animals that weighed more than 1,000 g, more AB+ cells than PAS+ cells were observed. These observations may be a result of the ontogenetic changes in the gill epithelia, which can change the osmorespiratory compromise in ion regulation functions as well the glycosaminoglycans secreted by PAS cells, which in large animals can play a role in the protection against parasites and bacterial infection.

Ionic regulation and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in gills and kidney of the freshwater stingray Paratrygon aiereba living in white and blackwaters in the Amazon Basin.

During low-water period, freshwater stingray Paratrygon aiereba collected in the whitewater (WW) of the River Amazon showed higher urea content, osmolality, Na(+) and Cl(-) concentrations in plasma and perivisceral fluid than those caught in blackwater (BW) of the River Negro. Gills and kidney Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activities were significantly lower in WW than in BW fish. The high level of kidney Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in P. aiereba may minimize ion loss and generate diluted solute-free urine in ion-poor BW environment.

Piroxicam no tratamento de pacientes com dismenorreia primaria. / Piroxican in the treatment of patients with primary dysmenorrhea

40 pacientes com dismenorreia primaria foram tratadas com piroxicam durante tres periodos menstruais seguidos, na posologia de 40 mg (dois primeiros dias) seguida de 20 mg (dois dias seguintes) sempre em dose unica diaria. No primeiro periodo de tratamento, 30 pacientes (75%) ou nao sentiram mais dor ou ela foi de leve intensidade. No segundo periodo, este numero elevou-se para 36 pacientes (90%) e no terceiro periodo, para 37 (92,5%) do total de 40 pacientes tratadas. Somente uma paciente (2,5%) apresentou dor de intensidade leve antes do tratamento. Houve diminuicao da severidade com os periodos de tratamento e regressao precoce da dor (a partir da 4a. hora do primeiro dia de tratamento).Os sintomas associados e o indice de absenteismo tambem diminuiram significativamente. Reacoes adversas leves (epigastralgia, pirose etc) em 6 (15%) pacientes. Conclui-se que o piroxicam e medicamento de escolha para o tratamento da dismenorreia primaria

Endometriose vesical. / Vesical endometriosis

Os A.A. apresentam um caso de endometriose vesical com sintomatologia sugestiva mas cujo diagnostico so foi firmado durante o ato cirurgico. Havia comprometimento da parede vesical posterior possivelmente consequente a manobra abortiva com perfuracao de parede uterina anterior e parede vesical posterior.Tecem tambem breves consideracoes sobre a endometriose, estudando sucintamente a sintomatologia, o quadro clinico, metodos diagnosticos e terapeuticos. Realcam a importancia da associacao endometriose esterilidade

Hirsutismo. / Hirsutism

Os autores fazem consideracoes gerais iniciais sobre o hirsutismo. Estudam a producao e o metabolismo dos androgenios circulantes na mulher. Propoem classificacao e abordam as entidades clinicas mais relacionadas ao hirsutismo, assim como o esboco diagnostico e terapeutico dessas condicoes patologicas