Feline Lymphoma and a High Correlation with Feline Leukaemia Virus Infection in Brazil.

Lymphoma is the most important haemopoietic tumour in cats and has been associated with feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) infection. In Brazil, no studies have established a correlation between FeLV infection and lymphoma. The aim of this study was to characterize lymphomas arising in cats in Brazil anatomically and microscopically, and to correlate these data with FeLV infection as determined by immunohistochemistry for the FeLV gp70 antigen. Fifty-three cats with lymphoma were evaluated. The mean age of junior, prime, mature, senior and geriatric cats was 1.65 years, 4.34 years, 8 years, 12.14 years and 15.5 years, respectively. The anatomical types of lymphoma were multicentric (43.4%, 23/53), mediastinal (33.96%, 18/53), renal (11.32%, 6/53), hepatic (5.66%, 3/53), nodal (3.77%, 2/53) and alimentary (1.89 %, 1/53). The histological types were small noncleaved-cell (33.96%, 18/53), mixed diffuse (22.64%, 12/53), immunoblastic (15.11%, 8/53), lymphoblastic (11, 32%, 6/53), small lymphocytic (9.43%, 5/53), small cleaved-cell (3.77%, 2/53) and large cell lymphomas (3.77%, 2/3). Immunopositivity for FeLV was observed in 56.6% (30/53) of the samples. FeLV positivity was equally distributed between the genders, but predominated in junior and prime cats. The degree of association between lymphoma and FeLV infection in Brazil was higher than that found in other countries, demonstrating the need to prevent and control the factors associated with infection.

Larval and juvenile development of Tatia intermedia (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae).

This study describes the morphology, morphometry and meristic characters of larval and juvenile Tatia intermedia collected in the middle Tocantins River and some of its tributaries. Six larvae of T. intermedia were examined and they have a moderately elongate body, head slightly dorso-ventrally depressed with a convex snout, small and round eyes and a subterminal mouth. In five juvenile stages observed, the head and eye are relatively smaller than in the larval stage and the snout remains convex and mouth becomes terminal.

Identification and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the blue shark Prionace glauca, and cross-amplification in other shark species.

Two to 14 alleles were found to be segregating per locus (mean 5·2), with observed and expected heterozygosities ranging from 0·08 to 0·78 and 0·08 to 0·94, respectively. Cross-amplification of six of these microsatellite loci indicated that they are also polymorphic in three species of Carcharhiniformes and two species of Lamniformes. The newly developed primers reported here constitute a useful tool for genetic population analyses on Prionace glauca and, potentially, other related species.

Thirtyfour years of liposuction: past, present and future.

Initial, variably successful attempts of fat sculpting date back to the beginning of the 20th Century, but Gerard Illouz was the first to introduce the modern, safe, widespread method of liposuction. Preoperative injection of local anaesthesia, saline, distilled water, adrenaline and hyaluronidase, defined wet technique, established as a safe and effective adjunct to lipoaspiration. This procedure was initially based on an automatic pump system, but then the accuracy of syringe aspiration was popularized by Toledo in the eighties. Liposuction in the subcutaneous tissue, just 3-4 mm deep to dermis, also called superficial liposuction, is a modern effective evolution of the technique, but requires a good mastery in order to avoid disfiguring outcomes. Ultrasound and laser lipoplasty methods have provided further advancement in the range of technical choices offered to the plastic surgeon. Liposuction is a purely surgical procedure, and as such, carries risks of minor and major complications. In the nineties, an interplay between abdominoplasty and abdominal liposuction as simultaneous procedures, also called lipoabdominoplasty, has become more and more popular. Reinjection of the harvested fat with the purpose of liposculpture for both reconstructive and cosmetic indications is a relatively recent development which has established as a successful, world-wide accepted procedure. Adipose stem cells, extracted from the unlimited source represented by human adipose tissue, are a great promise for future tissue-engineering. Liposuction has nowadays become a safe, effective, popular procedure for contouring adipose tissue and human body in general, in many reconstructive and cosmetic indications.

Effect of treadmill exercise on lumbar vertebrae in ovariectomized rats: anthropometrical and mechanical analyses.

The purpose of this study was to examine the preventive effect of exercise on lumbar vertebrae in ovariectomized rats. Three-month-old female Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: control group (A, n = 10); non-exercised ovariectomized group (B, n = 7) and exercised ovariectomized group (C, n = 7). The rats from group C were subjected to treadmill exercise (15 m/minute in the initial six weeks and 19 m/minute in the next six weeks, 1 hour/day, 4 days/week) for 12 weeks. At death, the fourth lumbar vertebrae were removed and an anthropometrical analysis by a paquimeter and a mechanical compression test by a universal test machine were performed. After 12 weeks, the ovariectomy decreased the superior-inferior vertebral height and the maximal braking load in group B compared to group A, while the exercise increased the vertebral mass in group C compared to both groups A and B (rho< 0.01) and the stiffness compared to group B. We concluded the physical activity has an important role to prevent the osteopenia in lumbar vertebrae.

Free fat transplantation for the aesthetic correction of mild pectus excavatum.

Pectus excavatum is a common type of congenital chest wall abnormality. The defect ranges in severity from mild to severe, and can lead to cardiopulmonary impairment caused by the caved-in chest. The case of a 27-year-old woman with mild pectus excavatum and a diagnosis of scleroderma is reported. Cosmetic correction of pectus excavatum malformation with the use of autologous fat transplantation has never been reported. The individual achievement of relief from the psychological consequences of such disfigurement and the improvement in quality of life are high. Autologous fat transfer could be a new option in the armamentarium of techniques for correction of mild pectus deformities.

Phylogenetic information in polymorphic L1 and Alu insertions from East Asians and Native American populations.

This study attempts to ascertain genetic affinities between Native American and East Asian populations by analyzing four polymorphic Alu insertions (PAIs) and three L1 polymorphic loci. These two genetic systems demonstrated strong congruence when levels of diversity and genetic distances were considered. Overall, genetic relatedness within Native American groups does not correlate with geographical and linguistic structure, although strong grouping for Native Americans with East Asians was demonstrated, with clear discrimination from African and European groups. Most of the variation was assigned to differences occurring within groups, but the interpopulation variation found for South Amerindians was recognizably higher in comparison to the other sampled groups of populations. Our data suggest that bottleneck events followed by strong influence of genetic drift in the process of the peopling of the Americas may have been determinant factors in delineating the genetic background of present-day South Amerindians. Since no clear subgroups were detected within Native Americans and East Asians, there is no indication of multiple waves in the early colonization of the New World.

Colour vision and contrast sensitivity losses of mercury intoxicated industry workers in Brazil.

We evaluated vision loss in workers from fluorescent lamp industries (n=39) who had retired due to intoxication with mercury vapour and had been away from the work situation for several years (mean=6.32 years). An age-matched control group was submitted to the same tests for comparison. The luminance contrast sensitivity (CSF) was measured psychophysically and with the sweep visual evoked potential (sVEP) method. Chromatic red-green and blue-yellow CSFs were measured psychophysically. Colour discrimination was assessed with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test, Lanthony D-15d test and Cambridge Colour Vision Test. Patient data showed significantly lower scores in all colour tests compared to controls (p<.001). The behavioural luminance CSF of the patients was lower than that of controls (p<.001 at all frequencies tested). This result was confirmed by the electrophysiologically measured sweep VEP luminance CSF except at the highest frequencies-a difference that might be related to stimulus differences in the two situations. Chromatic CSFs were also statistically significantly lower for the patients than for the controls, for both chromatic equiluminant stimuli: red-green (p<.005) and blue-yellow (p<.04 for all frequencies, except 2 cycles per degree (cpd), the highest spatial frequency tested) spatial gratings. We conclude that exposure to elemental mercury vapour is associated with profound and lasting losses in achromatic and chromatic visual functions, affecting the magno-, parvo- and koniocellular visual pathways.

[Choledochal cyst: a 10-year experience] / Cisto de colédoco: experiência de 10 anos.

BACKGROUND: Choledochal cyst is a rare abnormality usually found in infancy and childhood and mainly in females. Outcome depends on early diagnosis, complete resection of the cyst and proper hepaticoenterostomy.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the outcome of 18 patients operated in ten years. METHODS: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Age ranged between 20 days and 13 years (mean 3 years). Fifteen (83%) were female and 03 (17%) male. Signs presented included 15 (83%) with jaundice, 11 (61%) with dark urine, 10(55%) with pale colored stools, 09 (50%) with abdominal pain and palpable mass in only 02(11%). Ultrasonography identified the cyst in 14 (77%) patients. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography demonstrated a long common duct in three of four cases. Anatomical types were: 09 type I, 01 type II, 07 type IV and 01 type V. Except for one patient who had a type V cyst, all patients underwent cyst resection plus Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. There were two (11%) early postoperative deaths related to deterioration of liver function. Thirteen (86%) of the 15 patients available to follow-up were symptom-free without late complications at a mean period of three years, and two (14%) patients developed chronic pancreatitis.

Fat grafting of the buttocks and lower limbs.

This article presents the senior author's experience in fat grafting for the treatment of contour deformities of the buttocks and lower limbs. This method has been termed liposculpture and consists in removal of adipose tissue by cannula and syringe and cleaning of the aspirated material with saline. All external contact is thus carefully avoided, preventing contamination. Fat grafting is done in multiple tunnels in a deep plane. Total of 140 patients were treated over the last 5 years and results were considered uniformly satisfactory. Fat absorption was estimated by clinical evaluation to be less than 20% volume. A low rate of complications (less than 3%) supports the authors' opinion that this is an efficient and safe procedure to correct or enhance contour deformities of the lower limbs.

Antischistosomal activity of acridanone-hydrazones in Cebus monkeys experimentally infected with the SJ strain of Schistosoma mansoni.

In this study, four compounds were utilized at the dose of 12.5 mg/kg body weight, p.o., to treat Cebus monkeys experimentally infected with about 200 cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni (SJ strain), via transcutaneous route. The oograms performed with rectal snips, as well as stool examinations carried out periodically, showed no viable eggs of the parasite, from day 29 to 226 post-treatment. The perfusion undertaken after killing the animals showed absence of worms in the treated monkeys, whereas 83 worms were recovered from the control, thus corroborating the results obtained by means of oograms and coproscopy. These results confirm the efficacy of 9-acridanone-hydrazones previously tested against the LE strain of S. mansoni. The low curative dose and apparent absence of toxicity render these drugs an important therapeutic reserve, taking into consideration the reports on the resistance of S. mansoni to the modern drugs oxamniquine and praziquantel.

Activity of 9-acridanone-hydrazone drugs detected at the pre-postural phase, in the experimental schistosomiasis mansoni.

The compound Ro-15.5458/000, derivative in the class of 9-acridanone-hydrazones, was found to be effective against Schistosoma mansoni in mice, killing almost all the skin schistosomules (24 hr after infection), when administered at the dose of 100 mg/kg. In experiments carried out with Cebus monkeys, the drug was shown to be fully effective at 25 mg/kg, 7 days after infection. These data, associated with the good results obtained earlier at the post-postural phase of schistosomiasis, allow the inference that this promising compound may be important in the set of antischistosomal drugs, depending on further toxicological and clinical tests.

[Susceptibility of Biomphalaria tenagophila and Biomphalaria glabrata from a same region to 2 Schistosoma mansoni strains]. / Suscetibilidade de Biomphalaria tenagophila e Biomphalaria glabrata de uma mesma região a duas cepas de Schistosoma mansoni.

B. tenagophila snails from Ouro Branco, MG, showed positivity for S. mansoni, with infection rates of 5%, 10%, (SJ strain), and 1% (LE strain) using a pool of miracidia. The mollusks were found to be susceptive from the 3rd generation reared in laboratory onwards. The B. tenagophila (OB, MG) when individually exposed to 10 miracidia, showed infection rate of 2% for LE strain. B. glabrata snails from Gagé, MG, showed a positivity rate of 58% for S. mansoni (LE strain), under experimental conditions. The B. tenagophila from Cabo Frio, RJ and B. glabrata from Belo Horizonte, MG used as a control for SJ strain showed infection rates of 47%-85% and 36% respectivily. For the LE strain, B. glabrata (BH, MG) used as control showed infection rate of 40%-75%.

[Malacological survey of the Soledade lake hydrographic basin, in Ouro Branco (Minas Gerais, Brazil)]. / Levantamento malacológico da bacia hidrográfica do Lago Soledade, Ouro Branco (Minas Gerais, Brasil).

A malacological survey was carried out at the Soledade Lake, in Ouro Branco, State of Minas Gerais, for the period 1986-1991. A total amount of 46,579 mollusks was collected, and among them seven species corresponding to five families could be found, as follows: 39,176 specimens of Biomphalaria tenagophila; 1,296 B. glabrata; 7 Drepanotrema cimex; 2,527 Physa sp; 417 Lymnaea sp; 92 Pomacea hastrum, and 3,064 specimens of Melanoides tuberculata (Melanniidae = Thiaridae) were collected from March/1990 onwards. Four specimens of B. tenagophila were found to be positive for Schistosoma mansoni.

Oogram studies in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni and treated with dexamethasone.

Mice infected with about 90 cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni (LE strain) were treated during five consecutive days with dexamethasone (50 mg/Kg, subcutaneously), starting on the 42nd day of infection. Groups of five mice were then daily sacrificed from the first day after onset of treatment until the first day after. The perfusion of the portal system was performed and a piece of the intestine was processed for qualitative and quantitative oograms. This treatment carries to larger numbers of eggs in the tissues of treated mice, when compared with untreated groups. No changes were observed in the kinetics of oviposition, as all stages of viable eggs were observed in the tissues of treated and control mice. These data reinforce the hypothesis of a partial blockade of the egg excretion in immunosuppressed mice.

Schistosoma mansoni: the effect of dexamethasone on the cercaria-schistosomulum transformation, in vivo.

Treatment with dexamethasone (DMS) in the early phases of the experimental Schistosoma mansoni infection causes an indirect effect on the cercaria-schistosomulum transformation process. This is observed when naive albino mice are treated with that drug (50 mg/Kg, subcutaneously) and infected intraperitoneally 01 hour later with about 500 S. mansoni cercariae (LE strain). An inhibition in the host cell adhesion to the larvae, with a simultaneous delay in the cercaria-schistosomulum transformation, is observed. This effect is probably due to a blockade of the neutrophil migration to the peritoneal cavity of mice, by an impairment of the release of chemotactic substances. Such delay probably favors the killing of S. mansoni larvae, still in the transformation process, by the vertebrate host defenses, as the complement system.

Predation of Biomphalaria glabrata during the development of Belostoma anurum (Hemiptera, Belostomatidae)

Belostoma anurum was reared under laboratory conditions. Specimens were exposed to semi-natural conditions of photo period. The mortality rate was 26.3 during the post embryonic period (38.6 +/- 0.7 days). During this time the average predation of Biomphalaria glabrata was of 99.0 +/- 9.4 snails. The mean increment ratio of length and dry weight per instar was of 1.4 +/- 0.1 and 2.8 +/- 0.5, respectively. The predation by B. anurum adults can be divided into two different periods: phase I (4.8 +/- 1.4 snails/day) and phase II (1.8 +/- 0.5 snails/day). The higher predation in phase I suggested the sexual maturation of the belostomatid.

Predation of Biomphalaria glabrata during the development of Belostoma anurum (Hemiptera, Belostomatidae).

Belostoma anurum was reared under laboratory conditions. Specimens were exposed to semi-natural conditions of photo period. The mortality rate was 26.3% during the post embryonic period (38.6 +/- 0.7 days). During this time the average predation of Biomphalaria glabrata was of 99.0 +/- 9.4 snails. The mean increment ratio of length and dry weight per instar was of 1.4 +/- 0.1 and 2.8 +/- 0.5, respectively. The predation by B. anurum adults can be divided into two different periods: phase I (4.8 +/- 1.4 snails/day) and phase II (1.8 +/- 0.5 snails/day). The higher predation in phase I suggested the sexual maturation of the belostomatid.