[Incidence and risk factors for diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections in urban communities of Pernambuco, Brazil]. / Incidência e fatores de risco de diarréia e infecções respiratórias agudas em comunidades urbanas de Pernambuco, Brasil.

Magnitude and distribution of Diarrhoea and Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in children were studied within a larger broader research that focused on health education. Two household surveys were conducted in a sample of families with at least one child under five years of Recife and Olinda in April-May 1992 and 1994. The total number of children studied was 5,436. The estimated adjusted annual incidence rate (AAIR) of diarrhoea was 2.7 episodes per child. The two-week incidence rate of diarrhoea was 10.2% for both years. Risk factors associated with higher incidence of diarrhoea were age (under two years), lack of sanitation facilities, and absence of electrical appliances in the household. Estimated AAIR of ARI was 9. 5 episodes per child. The two-week incidence rate of ARI was 41.0% in 1992 and 32.6% in 1994. Majority of ARIs affected the upper respiratory tract (75.9%). The only factor consistently associated with a higher risk of ARI was age (under three years). Study results indicate that both pathologies are still an important health problem for children under five in Pernambuco. In particular, in the case of diarrhoea the need for improving the access to basic services, such as water supply and sewage system is urgently needed.

Dermatitis licvedoide de Nicolau / Livedoid dermatitis of Nicolau

Se presenta un caso de dermatitis livedoide de Nicalau, necrosis cutanea secundaria a inyeccion intraarterial accidental de un farmaco, en paciente de sexo femenino de 74 anos, con evolucion satisfactoria.Se realiza descripcion de aspectos clinicos, mencion de probables mecanismos etiopatogenicos y revision bibliografica del tema

Dermatitis licvedoide de Nicolau / Livedoid dermatitis of Nicolau

Se presenta un caso de dermatitis livedoide de Nicalau, necrosis cutanea secundaria a inyeccion intraarterial accidental de un farmaco, en paciente de sexo femenino de 74 anos, con evolucion satisfactoria.Se realiza descripcion de aspectos clinicos, mencion de probables mecanismos etiopatogenicos y revision bibliografica del tema(AU)

Hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic sauvagine-like immunoreactivity in the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) central nervous system.

In the present study, immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay were used to investigate the presence of sauvagine in both hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic areas of the central nervous system (CNS) of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) using a specific antiserum raised against synthetic non-conjugated sauvagine (SVG), a frog (Phyllomedusa sauvagei) skin peptide of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family. Sauvagine-immunoreactive (SVG-ir) bipolar neurons were found in the nucleus of the fasciculus longitudinalis medialis located in the rostral mesencephalic tegmentum. In the tectal mesencephalon, beaded SVG-ir fibres were present in the optic tectum, and in the torus semicircularis. Abundant SVG-ir varicose fibres were seen in the granulosa layer of the cerebellum, the nucleus isthmi, and the obex of the spinal cord. SVG-ir fibres were also seen by the alar plate of the rombencephalon. In the diencephalon, the antiserum stained parvocellular neurons of the preoptic nucleus (PON) which extended their dendrites into the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) of the third ventricle and projected their ependymofugal fibres to the zona externa (ZE) of the median eminence. Immunopositive fibres were also present in the medial forebrain bundle at the chiasmatic field, the posterior thalamus, the pretectal gray, and the ventrocaudal hypothalamus. In the telencephalon (forebrain), SVG-ir fibres were seen in the medial septum, the lateral septum, and the amygdala. The SVG immunoreactivity could not be detected after using the SVG antiserum previously immunoabsorbed with synthetic SVG (0.1 microM), but immunoblock of the antiserum with sucker (Catostomus commersoni) urotensin I (sUI), sole (Hippoglossoides elassodon) urotensin I, sucker CRF, rat/human CRF, or ovine CRF (0.1-10 microM) did not eliminate visualization of the immunoreactivity. In radioimmunoassay, the SVG antiserum did not crossreact with sUI, or the SVG fragments SVG1-16, SVG16-27, and SVG26-34, but it recognized the C-terminal fragment SVG35-40. Crossreaction with mammalian ovine CRF and rat/human CRF was negligible. Both hypothalamic and mesencephalic extracts gave parallel displacement curves to SVG. The results suggest the presence in the bullfrog brain of a SVG-like neuropeptide, i.e., a peptide of the CRF family, that either is SVG or shares high homology with the C-terminus of that peptide. The function of this neuropeptide in amphibians is not known at this time, but based on its anatomical distribution to the ZE it could affect the release of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) or other substances from the amphibian pars distalis. Involvement of the SVG-like peptide in behavioural (forebrain), visual (thalamus-tegmentum mesencephali-pretectal gray-optic tectum), motor coordination (cerebellum), and autonomic (spinal) functions, as well as an undefined interaction with the CSF in the bullfrog, seems likely.

Kallikrein-like activity in nonpregnant and pregnant rat uterus, fetal membranes, placenta and amniotic fluid.

SBTI-resistant kininogenase activity was found in nonpregnant and pregnant rat uterus, placenta, amniotic fluid and fetal membranes. After trypsin treatment the kininogenase activity increased 2-3 fold. Total kininogenase (active plus inactive) was completely blocked by kallikrein antibodies. The physiological role of these kallikrein-like enzymes is unknown. It is speculated that these enzymes play a local role, perhaps in the processing of polypeptide hormones of through the release of kinins in the regulation of uterine blood flow.

[Single dose mebendazole for the treatment of Trichuris trichiura and Necator americanus in chemotherapeutic control campaigns in the communities]. / Estudio de dosis única de mebendazol para el tratamiento de Trichuris trichiura y Necator americanus en campañas de control quimioterapéutico en las comunidades.

A study of intestinal parasitism is made in "Argelia Libre" community, Isle of Youth, by means of four coproparasitologic techniques: Kato Kratz, Ritchie, Direct, and Willis. Patients with geohelminths are divided into two groups of treatment: Group A, treated with 500 mg mebendazole in single doses and group B, treated with the classical scheme of 100 mg every 12 hours for three days. Results of treatment are expressed in terms of cure rates and percentage of egg-count reduction. When comparing schemes A and B, no significant differences are found (p less than 0.05). Due to its lower cost and easier administration, the single dosage scheme is recommended for massive chemotherapy of geohelminthiasis in the community.