Production of haemolytic factor by clinical isolates of Candida tropicalis.

Although haemolytic factor is known to be a putative virulence factor contributing to pathogenicity in Candida species, its production by Candida tropicalis is poorly understood. In this study, we analysed the culture conditions under which C. tropicalis can display haemolytic factor on plate assay and the secretion of haemolytic factor in liquid medium by clinical isolates obtained from different specimens. All the tested isolates exhibited an internal translucent ring, resembling beta-haemolysis, surrounding by a peripheral greenish-grey halo on sheep blood agar medium. Similar haemolytic pattern was observed on human blood enriched medium. Furthermore, incubation either under normal atmosphere or under increased CO(2) had no effect on haemolysis. Overall, no differences were observed on beta-haemolytic activities (P > 0.05) among tested isolates of C. tropicalis. In glucose-limited medium (RPMI 1640 with 0.2% glucose), none of the isolates induced haemolysis on red blood cells. Similarly to found on plate assays, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the activity of secreted haemolytic factor in liquid medium among C. tropicalis isolates. However, after growth, the number of yeast cells varied among isolates revealing different efficiencies of haemolytic factor production. Haemolytic activity was neither inhibited by heat treatment (100 °C) nor by the addition of pepstatin A. The obtained results extend our knowledge about haemolytic factor production by Candida species.

Haemolytic and proteinase activities in clinical isolates of Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis with reference to the isolation anatomic site.

The aim of this study was to determine in vitro haemolytic and protease activities of Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis isolates, obtained from anatomically distinct sites. Analysis of haemolytic activity of C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis isolates obtained from the same anatomic site revealed that C. tropicalis isolates from blood had statistically higher activity (P < 0.05) than C. parapsilosis. On comparison of haemolytic activities of Candida isolates obtained from different anatomic sites, C. parapsilosis isolates from tracheal secretion were found to have higher activity than blood isolates. Protease activity was detected in the majority of the isolates analysed. Analysis of proteinase activity of C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis isolates obtained from the same anatomic site revealed that C. parapsilosis isolates from tracheal secretion had statistically higher activity than C. tropicalis isolates. On comparison of proteinase activities of Candida isolates obtained from different anatomic sites, C. parapsilosis isolates from tracheal secretion were found to have higher activity than blood and superficial lesions isolates. Furthermore, C. tropicalis isolates from superficial lesions had higher activity than tracheal secretion isolates. Our results show the potential of C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis isolates, obtained from distinct anatomic sites, to produce haemolytic factor and proteinases. Anatomic sites of isolation seem to be correlated with these activities, particularly for C. parapsilosis isolates.

Aspectos evolutivos de la hipertensión portal en pacientes cirróticos / Evolutive aspects of portal hypertension in cirrhotic

El diagnóstico de hipertensión portal en pacientes cirróticos conlleva importantes consecuencias pronósticas y terapéuticas. La complicación más importante es el sangrado por rotura de várices esófagogástricas. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar aspectos clínicos y endoscópicos de la historia natural de la hipertensión portal en pacientes cirróticos. La prevalencia de várices esfágicas en el grupo de pacientes estudiados fue de 60 por ciento. Una vez que las várices se han desarrollado éstas aumentaron de tamaño en el 38 por ciento durante los siguientes dos años de seguimiento. La hemorragia variceal fue el motivo de ingreso en un 20 por ciento. Esta complicación se relacionó con una pobre función hepática (score Child-Pugh > 10) y un recuento plaquetario < de 140.000. El riesgo de sangrado por varices no se relacionó con el tamaño variceal en nuestro grupo. La mortalidad precoz fue de un 6 por ciento y se presentó en los primeros 3 días de hospitalización. Los pacientes que sobrevivieron a un episodio de hemorragia variceal aguda, tuvieron un alto riesgo de resangrar. A pesar del tratamiento farmacológico con beta-bloqueadores, frecuencia de resangrado fue de 57 por ciento, similar a la frecuencia observada en estudios previos para los grupos placebo o sin terapia activa. Ya que el riesgo de resangrar puede disminuir significativamente con caídas marcadas de la presión portal, es que podría considerarse la medición de ésta, cada vez que el tratamiento farmacológico sea considerado como opción terapéutica

[Nursing research on the use of venous catheters for hospitalized patients]. / Investigação de enfermagem sobre o uso de cateteres venosos em clientes hospitalizados.

This report shows that intravenous catheterisation has been required for 59.4% of the patients in this sample. The main reason identified for catheterisation was the difficulty in accessing peripheral veins. The wound dressing was applied for 100% of the patients and the procedure itself was carried out each 48 hours in 89.8% of them. The intravenous catheter stood for 10 days in 52% of the cases and it was removed in 34.8% for intravenous drugs interruption and the other reasons were related as to technical problems. The most present microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus in 20.3% of the catheter cultures.

Cryptococcus neoformans como agente de meningites em pacientes do HURNP-Londrina / Cryptococcus neoformans acting as an agent in meningitis in patients of HURNP-Londrina

A meningite por Cryptococcus neoformans e uma das patologias mais graves que acometem pacientes imunodeprimidos, em especial, os portadores da Sindrome da Imunodeficiencia Adquirida (SIDA). Com o objetivo de verificar a incidencia de Cryptococcus neoformans em nosso meio, os autores investigaram 209 Liquidos Cefalorraquidianos (LCR), provenientes de pacientes do Hospital Universitario Regional do Norte do Parana (HURNP), durante o periodo de 01/01/90 a 15/08/91. Para a investigaçao do C.Neoformans no LCR, foram realizadas a pesquisa direta a fresco com tinta da china e cultura em meio Sabouraud Agar. Dos 209 LCR investigados, 8 (3,82%) apresentaram-se positivos para C. neoformans, sendo que destes 6 (75%) eram portadores de SIDA e 1 (l2,5%) era paciente pediatrico. Os resultados mostraram que ameningite por Cryptococcus neoformas pode, esporadicamente, acometer crianças, embora a literatura cite que esta patologia incida, primordialmente, em adultos e pacientes imunodeprimidos.

[Activity of Opuntia streptacantha in healthy individuals with induced hyperglycemia]. / Acción de Opuntia streptacantha en individuos sanos con hiperglucemia inducida.

Hypoglycemia effect Opuntia streptacantha which occur in diabetic has not been found in healthy subjects. To find out if this effect appears also in healthy individuals if they are hyperglycemic, two tests were performed to 7 healthy volunteers. In both tests 500 ml of 20% dextrose were infused in two hours, 500 g of O. streptacantha were given orally before one test, and 400 ml of water as control were given before the other one. Serum glucose was measured every 30 minutes during three hours. Glucose rising was significantly (P less than 0.025) lower with Opuntia than in control test at 90 and 120 minutes (143 +/- 58 vs 193 +/- 9 and 135 +/- 25 vs 163 +/- 13 mg/dl respectively). Area under curve of glucose was also smaller in Opuntia than in control test (P less than 0.05). Hypoglycemic effect of O. streptacantha also occur in healthy subjects in hyperglycemia is present.

[Spermatogonia types in tepezcuintle (Cuniculus paca). Ultrastructural study]. / Tipos de espermatogonios en "tepezcuintle" (Cuniculus paca). Estudio ultraestructural.

Ultrastructural studies of different types of spermatogonia by thin section techniques and transmission electron microscopy showed that Cuniculus paca has two types of Type A spermatogonia (A-O and A-1). Samples were taken at different stages of the cycle in the seminiferous tubule epithelium presented a similar pattern as those of other rodents. Type B spermatogonia are similar to those of the rat, the difference being that the heterochromatic zones are larger and more numerous. Both characteristics differentiate them from preleptotenic spermatocytes.

[Coronary vascularization of the marine turtle Chelonia mydas]. / Vascularización coronaria de la tortuga marina Chelonia mvdas.

The irrigation of the heart of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) was studied through the clearing and disection techniques. Five coronary new irrigation patterns were found. The presence of anastomoses is discussed along with the number and position of the colateral vessels.

[Collateral vessels of the aortic arch of the guinea pig Cavia porcellus (Rodentia)]. / Colaterales del arco aórtico del cuilo Cavia porcellus (Rodentia).

The distribution of the principle arteries of the aortic arch in male and female guinea pigs is highly variable.