Interspecific differences in the bioaccumulation of arsenic of three Patagonian top predator fish: Organ distribution and arsenic speciation.

Interspecific differences in arsenic bioaccumulation and organ distribution (muscle, liver, kidney and gills) in three predator fish (creole perch, rainbow trout and brown trout) from a Patagonian lake impacted by volcanic eruptions were studied. Arsenic in fish organs were compared analyzing: 1) temporal (before and after volcanic eruption) and spatial (near and far from the volcano) influence of Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic complex activity on arsenic concentrations; 2) the influence of growth (as total length), organ type and their interactions over arsenic accumulation; and 3) arsenic speciation and total arsenic relationship with carbon to nitrogen ratios (C:N), as a proxy of lipid presence, in fish muscle. In general, total arsenic concentrations in creole perch organs were 2-7 times higher than those recorded in the corresponding organs of salmonids. Arsenic was preferentially accumulated in liver and kidney in the three fish species. The influence of the volcanic activity over arsenic concentrations was more evident in creole perch: organs from creole perch captured closest to the volcano exhibited higher arsenic concentrations. Temporal variations were not so consistent. No clear relationship between arsenic and fish length was observed. Positive and linear relationship between arsenic in all pair of organs was found in creole perch, while rainbow trout showed a quadratic relationship between muscle and the remaining organs, indicating different arsenic assimilation-elimination relationships between organs and fish. The arsenic liver:muscle ratio in the three fish species was greater than 1, suggesting some level of arsenic stress. Arsenobetaine (AB) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) were the dominant arsenic species in muscle of these fish, having creole perch 3-4 times higher AB than rainbow trout. A positive relationship between C:N ratio and total arsenic concentrations was found, with higher C:N in creole perchs near the volcano. In terms of food safety, no inorganic arsenic compound were detected, therefore arsenic levels in fish from Lake Nahuel Huapi does not represent any health risk to consumers.

The impact of excess body fat on bone remodeling in adolescents.

The impact of excess body fat on bone remodeling was evaluated in overweight, obese, and extremely obese adolescents. In adolescents with excess weight, it was observed that the higher the bone mineral content and bone mineral density values, the lower the levels of the biomarkers. Nutritional imbalances by excess had a negative effect on bone formation in this stage of life. INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of excess body fat on bone remodeling in adolescents. METHODS: Body weight, height, and body mass index were determined in 391 adolescents classified as normal weight, overweight, obese, and extremely obese. Bone age was obtained and bone mineral content and bone mineral density were evaluated in the lumbar spine, proximal femur, and total and subtotal body. Blood samples were collected for evaluation of the following bone biomarkers: osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and serum carboxy-terminal telopeptide (S-CTx). The data were analyzed according to nutritional status and age. RESULTS: In girls with excess weight, the biomarkers were higher in the 10 to 13-year age group and no significant differences were observed between groups according to nutritional status. In boys, the levels were higher in those aged 13 to 15 years. According to nutritional status, significant differences were only observed in mean S-CTx for the age groups of 10-15 years, with higher levels between overweight and obese adolescents aged 10-12 years and between obese and extremely obese adolescents aged 13-15 years. In girls, significant negative correlations were observed between lean mass, fat mass, and fat percentage and each of the three bone markers studied. There was no correlation between lean mass or fat mass and the three biomarkers in boys. The biomarker trends demonstrated across the age groups follow the age trends for growth velocity. CONCLUSIONS: The higher the fat percentage and fat mass in girls, the lower the levels of the biomarkers, indicating that excess body fat has a negative effect on the evolution of these markers during adolescence.

Mercury in the biotic compartments of Northwest Patagonia lakes, Argentina.

We report on total mercury (THg) concentrations in the principal components of food webs of selected Northern Patagonia Andean Range ultraoligotrophic lakes, Argentina. The THg contents were determined using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis in muscle and liver of four fish species occupying the higher trophic positions (the introduced Salmo trutta, Oncorhynchus mykiss and Salvelinus fontinalis, and the native Percichthys trucha) accounted for eight lakes belonging to Nahuel Huapi and Los Alerces National Parks. We studied the food web components of both the West and East branches of Lake Moreno, including benthic primary producers such as biofilm, mosses, and macrophytes, three plankton fractions, fish, riparian tree leaves, and benthic invertebrates, namely decapods, molluscs, insect larvae, leeches, oligochaetes, and amphipods. Mercury concentrations in fish muscle varied in a wide range, from less than 0.05 to 4 µg g(-1) dry weight (DW), without a distribution pattern among species but showing higher values for P. trucha and S. fontinalis, particularly in Lake Moreno. The THg contents of the food web components of Lake Moreno varied within 4 orders of magnitude, with the lower values ranging from 0.01 to 0.5 µg g(-1) DW in tree leaves, some macrophytes, juvenile salmonids or benthic macroinvertebrates, and reaching concentrations over 200 µg g(-1) DW in the plankton. Juvenile Galaxias maculatus caught in the pelagic area presented the highest THg contents of all fish sampled, reaching 10 µg g(-1) DW, contents that could be associated with the high THg concentrations in plankton since it is their main food source. Although Lake Moreno is a system without local point sources of contamination, situated in a protected area, some benthic organisms presented high THg contents when compared with those from polluted ecosystems.

[Comparison of neuropsychological performance according to the age of onset in subjects with Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism]. / Comparación del desempeño neuropsicológico según la edad de inicio en sujetos con enfermedad de Parkinson y parkinsonismo.

INTRODUCTION: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, and it is characterised by tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability. The most frequent cognitive disorder is executive dysfunction, although global deficits associated to late onset of the disease have also been reported. AIMS: To describe and to compare cognitive performance in three groups with PD and one with Parkinsonism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A neurological and neuropsychological evaluation was carried out on 175 patients with idiopathic PD and Parkinsonism. The data analysis was performed by comparing the results of the tests carried out on the four groups: three with PD (age of onset: juvenile, adult and late) and one with Parkinsonism, while controlling for age, schooling and time of progression. RESULTS: In the juvenile PD group, alterations were observed in the number of intrusions in verbal memory; in the adult PD and late PD groups, there were alterations in time in continuous visual execution. These differences disappeared when the groups were compared to each other while also controlling for age. The Parkinsonism group obtained results that were lower than those of all the groups with PD for most of the cognitive and functional variables. CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic PD would not be the cause of multiple cognitive impairment, but of a specific alteration, mainly involving the speed of processing and information recall. Age of onset would not be a decisive factor in the degree of impairment of cognitive functioning; important cognitive impairment was only present in the group with Parkinsonism.

Bioremediation of a weathered and a recently oil-contaminated soils from Brazil: a comparison study.

The facility with which hydrocarbons can be removed from soils varies inversely with aging of soil samples as a result of weathering. Weathering refers to the result of biological, chemical and physical processes that can affect the type of hydrocarbons that remain in a soil. These processes enhance the sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) to the soil matrix, decreasing the rate and extent of biodegradation. Additionally, pollutant compounds in high concentrations can more easily affect the microbial population of a recently contaminated soil than in a weathered one, leading to inhibition of the biodegradation process. The present work aimed at comparing the biodegradation efficiencies obtained in a recently oil-contaminated soil (spiked one) from Brazil and an weathered one, contaminated for four years, after the application of bioaugmentation and biostimulation techniques. Both soils were contaminated with 5.4% of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and the highest biodegradation efficiency (7.4%) was reached for the weathered contaminated soil. It could be concluded that the low biodegradation efficiencies reached for all conditions tested reflect the treatment difficulty of a weathered soil contaminated with a high crude oil concentration. Moreover, both soils (weathered and recently contaminated) submitted to bioaugmentation and biostimulation techniques presented biodegradation efficiencies approximately twice as higher as the ones without the aforementioned treatment (natural attenuation).

Comparison of two nimodipine formulations in healthy volunteers.

The objective of this study was to assess the pharmacokientic parameters of regular nimodipine (Bayer), 30 mg, given every 6 h and nimodipine AP (nimodipine in micro particles with programmed action contained in tablets, developed by Biocontrolled-Leti Group Laboratories), 120 mg, given every 24 h. Subjects (19 healthy volunteers, five female; 14 male: age: 21 +/- 0.7 years) received one formulation over 5 days. Then, after a washout period of 7 days, the other formulation was given. The analyst was blinded to the relationship in formulation received. Antecubital blood samples were taken before the first tablet was taken and after 15, 45, 60 min and 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 13, 18 and 24 h on day 1 and five of each formulation. Nimodipine blood levels were analysed by HPLC. At steady-state regular nimodipine reached a C-max of 10.208 +/- 0.317 ng/ml, at a t-max of 1 h; minimum concentration 6 h after dosage was 1.2929 +/- 0.411 ng/ml, half-life was estimated in 2.9 h. Meanwhile nimodipine AP 120 mg reach a C-max of 11.885 +/- 0.403 ng/ml; a t-max of 1 h with a minimum concentration 24 h after the last dose of 4.2387 +/- 0.353 ng/ml (P < 0.001). Apparent half-life was calculated in 17.8 h (P < 0.001). Area under the curve for the 24 h period was 143.76 ng/ml/min for regular nimodipine and 183.7 ng/ml/min for nimodipine AP 120 mg (P < 0.001), indicating better bioavailability. In conclusion nimodipine in AP formulation 120 mg produced similar peak plasma levels (C-max) than regular nimodipine, but with higher trough (C-min) values and stable plasma levels with one administration every 24 h. This formulation would be more suitable when nimodipine chronic therapy is indicated.

Ocular and clinical manifestations of Möbius' syndrome.

PURPOSE: To assess ocular and otorhinolaryngologic manifestations and intellectual ability in patients with Möbius' syndrome. METHODS: Patients with Möbius' syndrome underwent prospective ophthalmic, genetic-clinical, and otorhinolaryngologic examinations as well as psychological evaluation. RESULTS: Sixteen patients with Möbius' syndrome between the ages of 8 months and 10.6 years underwent ocular examination. Esotropia was present in 12 (75%) patients and V-pattern in 8 (50%). Limited abduction was present in 30 (93.8%) eyes, and limited adduction was present in 21 (65.6%) eyes. The most frequent refractive error was compound hyperopic astigmatism (13 [40.6%] eyes). Eleven (68.8%) patients had lagophthalmos and 12 (75%) patients had bilateral epicanthus. Unilateral amblyopia was present in 2 (12.5%) patients. Clubfoot was the most common lower limb defect (7 [43.8%] patients). Cranial nerve impairments included paralysis of 7th nerve in all patients, paralysis of the 12th nerve in 13 patients, and paralysis of the 9th and 10th nerves in 3 patients. Evaluation of intellectual ability showed that 4 (25%) patients had normal intelligence. The mothers of 3 (18.8%) patients used misoprostol during the first trimester of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Prominent ophthalmic features of Möbius' syndrome in this series were esotropia, V-pattern, abduction limitation, and compound hyperopic astigmatism. Intellectual assessment showed some degree of mental retardation in 75% of patients. Möbius' syndrome is associated with prenatal exposure to misoprostol.

Environmental variables and intertidal beach annelids of São Sebastião Channel (State of São Paulo, Brazil).

Benthic annelid communities were studied during a one-year period (August/95 to July/96) in two sectors of the beaches Engenho d'Agua and São Francisco, São Sebastião Channel (São Paulo, Brazil), where the substrate is composed by a mixture of sand and rock fragments. Abiotic parameters such as salinity of interstitial water and sediment properties were used to characterize the environment. The polychaetes were well represented in the two sectors and their distribution was related with sediment type. The density of individuals and the number of taxa was higher at São Francisco, while the diversity and the evenness were higher at Engenho d'Agua. This difference can be a consequence of organic enrichment caused by domestic input, and of the lower and more variable salinity at São Francisco. Due to these factors, the high density of opportunistic species, like Capitella capitata ssp., Scolelepis squamata, Laeonereis acuta and several oligochaetes, represented 75.5% of total abundance at this sector.

[IQ in hydrocephalus and myelomeningocele. Implications of surgical treatment]. / QI em pacientes com hidrocefalia e mielomeningocele. Implicações do tratamento cirúrgico.

Myelomeningocele occurs in 0.4 for 1000 neonates and is associated with hydrocephalus in 85-90%, and reports on cognition are sparsely found in literature. Forty five children with treated hydrocephalus and myelomeningocele were studied in regard of IQ, and statistically correlated to functional motor level, age of the first shunt, number of revisions of shunt, infection of the shunt and circumference of the head. The medium age was of 7.5 years (3-15 years), 16 males and 29 females. Three (6.6%) had a IQ score > 110, 11 (24.4%) had a score between 100-110, 8 between 85-100 (17.7%), 16 (35.5%) between 85-100 (17.7%) and 7 (15.5%) between 50-70. IQ directly correlated with motor level, having better cognitive results the children with minor functional motor disabilities. Cognition was best in children operated until the seven day of life (t 0.0099), with progressive worse results in children operated after the first month of life, no significance was observed in children operated in the period 7 to 31 days (t 0.1013). Worse results were observed in the group of patients with infection of shunts (t 0.0146). Results were progressively worse with reoperations. The best results in relation of the circumference of the head were seen with children in the medium range (t 0.0115); intermediate results were seen in patients between the medium range and-1SD (t 0.00130) and medium range and +1SD. The worse results were seen in patients at the extremes of > 1SD (t 0.0269) and < ISD (t 0.0042). According to cognitive results the surgical treatment of hydrocephalus have to be done until the first month of life, avoiding reoperations and infections that have unfavorable impact in IQ.

[Atopic diseases in Brazilian children--etiologic multicentric study]. / Etiologia da doença atópica em crianças brasileiras--Estudo multicêntrico.

In order to determine the etiologic agents involved in atopic diseases in Brazilian children, we have performed this multicentric study in 8 areas in Brazil. We have done prick tests with inhalants and food antigens and analyzed skin tests results, considering positive the wheal mean diameter 3 mm. 22,2% of skin tests were negative and the majority were positive to inhalants: D.pteronyssinus(Dpt) (66.6%) and D. farinae(Df) (66.0%), house dust extract (29.0%), dogs epithelium (19.2%), cat's epithelium (8.8%), feather (5.5%), molds (4.2%), Penicillium sp (2.2%) and Lollium perene (0.6%). We have had 9,1% of food positive tests: cow milk (5.2%), peanut (3.5%), corn (3.2%), cocoa and soya (2.2%), eggs and wheat (1.9%). We have concluded that the domestic mites are the most important agents involved in the etiology of atopic diseases in Brazilian children, and the extracts involved, in line with the sensitization of each geographical area.

[Beclomethasone dipropionate, in high dose, in the treatment of patients with chronic persistent asthma]. / Dipropionato de beclometasona, em doses elevadas, no tratamento de pacientes com asma crônica persistente*.

The efficacy of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) was examined in 8 patients with chronic persistent asthma, uncontrolled by inhaled bronchodilators and oral theophylline. Beclomethasone was administered at a dose of 1500 mcg a day, using a metered dose inhaler containing 250 mcg of BDP per dose. The medication was administered twice daily, three 250 mcg puffs at 8 A.M. and three at 8 P.M. The patients were assessed by means of clinical examination, diary records and daily Peak Flow Rate (PFR) measurement made at home. The therapeutic responses were measured over an 8-wk period. The clinical score (0-4) improved significantly (3.25 +/- 0.71 before and 0.75 +/- 0.89 after [p < 0.001]), and the peak flow rate rose from baseline mean value of 48.0% +/- 11.9 (predicted value) to 78.8% +/- 16.7% with significant improvement (p < 0.01). Of the total of 8 patients, 5 achieved complete control of symptoms and normal values of PFR, 1 remained with sporadic wheezing but with significant improvement of PFR and 2, despite the clinical efficacy in symptom relief, persisted without significant improvement on PFR values. Transitory hoarseness occurred in 1 patient. No other side-effects were observed.

Correction of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect in the absence of the pulmonary trunk and the central pulmonary arteries (so-called truncus type IV).

A child with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect and no extraparenchymal pulmonary arteries had all the bronchopulmonary arterial segments connected to naturally occurring systemic-pulmonary collaterals. A three-staged surgical correction was performed. At the first and second stages, the arteries of each hilus were interconnected with synthetic arteries. At the third stage, the ventricular septal defect was closed, and continuity between the right ventricle and the bilateral pulmonary circulation was established with a valved conduit giving rise to a side arm. Postoperative evolution was good, with acceptable postrepair per right ventricular--left ventricular pressure ratio.

[Solitary intramedullary tuberculoma: report of a case]. / Tuberculoma intramedular solitário: relato de um caso.

A case of an isolated tuberculoma of the spinal cord is reported. The 22 years old male patient came to the hospital with paraplegia and had a laminetomy performed for a compression of the spinal cord by a tumor mass. The histopathological study showed the presence of the acid-fast bacili in the tissue. After specific treatment the patient recovered partially.