Parasitos em trutas-arco-íris (Oncorhynchus mykiss) criadas em sistema intensivo na região serrana de Santa Catarina, Brasil / [Parasites in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) raised in an intensive system in the mountain region of Santa Catarina, Brazil]

With the aim to determine the prevalence and mean parasite intensity in Oncorhynchus mykiss, 120 specimens were analyzed between April and September 2018. The cavity analysis was done by visual inspection, scraping of mucus, and extraction of the branchial arches. In the evisceration process, the intestine, the liver, and the kidney were separated, while the musculature was analyzed using the "candling table" method. All the collected material was preserved in 10% buffered formaldehyde and sent to the Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, of the Center for Agroveterinary Sciences (CAV) of the University of the State of Santa Catarina (UDESC) for making the slides and identifying the parasites. Parasites were detected only in the analysis of the scraping of body mucus. Only specimens of the genus Trichodina were identified, in 34 of the 120 fish analyzed, in two collections, resulting in a prevalence of 28.33%. In total, 144 specimens of Trichodina were observed. The overall mean intensity was of 4.24 parasites in each fish analyzed. Characteristic lesions of infection by protozoa were not identified. This is the first report of the occurrence of Trichodina spp. in O. mykiss bred in an intensive system in Brazil, with low rates of parasitic infection in the mountain region of Santa Catarina.(AU)

Abdominal lymphadenopathy detected by ultrasonography in HIV-1 infection: prevalence and significance.

By using abdominal ultrasonography (UlS), deep nodes were detected in 41 of 85 (48%) HIV-1 positive subjects, most of them heroin addicts, but in none of 85 healthy HIV-negative controls. Computerized tomography, performed in 10 cases of lymphadenopathy, invariably confirmed the UlS findings. Prevalence [asymptomatic carriers: 8/15 (53%); PGL patients: 8/18 (44%); ARC: 13/27 (48%); AIDS: 12/25 (48%)], number, size, and site of deep nodes were comparable among the different CDC groups. No correlation was found between abdominal and superficial lymphadenopathy. Median serum concentrations of gammaglobulins (g/dl) and IgG (mg/dl) were higher in patients with than without deep nodes (2.25 vs 1.87 and 2540 vs 1900, respectively) (p < 0.01) as well as in cases with than without superficial nodes (2.15 vs 1.80 and 2340 vs 1941, respectively) (p < 0.05). Abdominal lymphadenopathy occurred during all stages of HIV infection even in asymptomatic carriers: this should be considered in the differential diagnosis of UlS-detected deep nodes. Enlargement of either deep or superficial nodes seems to reflect a state of polyclonal B cell activation.

Serum pancreatic enzymes in HIV-seropositive patients.

Serum concentrations of trypsin and elastase I were determined in 109 HIV Ab-positive patients (52 asymptomatic HIV-infected patients, 25 with lymphadenopathy syndrome, and 32 with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) to assess the prevalence of possible pancreatic damage in these patients. Serum trypsin was abnormally elevated in 46 of the 109 patients (42.2%): 19 of the 52 asymptomatic HIV-infected patients (36.6%), 9 of the 25 with lymphadenopathy syndrome (36%), and 18 of the 32 with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (56.3%). Serum elastase 1 was elevated in 14 of the 109 HIV Ab-positive patients (12.8%): 3 of the 52 asymptomatic HIV-infected patients (5.8%), 3 of the 25 with lymphadenopathy syndrome (12%), and 8 of the 32 with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (25%). None of the patients with abnormally high serum pancreatic enzyme concentrations had clinically evident pancreatic disease. There was no statistically significant difference in serum levels of trypsin and elastase I between drug addicts and nonaddicts, between alcoholics and nonalcoholics, or between those with cytomegalovirus infection and those without. A significant inverse relationship was found between serum enzyme concentrations and the number of CD4+ lymphocytes. The results of this study show that high levels of serum trypsin and elastase are present in an elevated percentage of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, suggesting that the pancreas is frequently damaged in this disease. The finding of abnormally high serum enzyme concentrations not only in patients with AIDS, but also in asymptomatic carriers and in patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome suggests an association between HIV infection and the development of pancreatic lesions.

Left atrial size in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: echocardiographic evaluation and follow-up.

Echocardiographic measurement of left atrial size was performed in 24 patients (13 males, 11 females, median age 56 years) with idiopathic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (IPAF). A second measurement was done, after a mean period of 20 months. Our study showed that: (1) the patients with IPAF had normal-sized atria, the dimensions of which remained unmodified over a 20-month period; and (2) no correlation was found between the frequency of recurrent arrhythmic episodes and left atrial size. Since atrial enlargement, which is the known risk factor for embolic stroke, was not observed in our patients, we conclude that patients with IPAF do not need anticoagulant therapy.

Non-invasive 24-hr monitoring of high blood pressure in climacteric outpatients.

Blood pressure (BP) monitoring was carried out over a period of 24 hr in 28 hypertensive women selected among the outpatients attending the Menopause Clinic at Bologna University. Seven (7) of the women (mean age 50 +/- 1 yr) were in the pre-menopause, 7 had undergone a natural menopause at 6 to 36 mth previously (mean age 52 +/- 4 yr) and a further 7 had had a natural menopause 37-120 months previously (mean age 56 +/- 5 yr). The control group was made up of 7 women in late fertile age (mean age 47 +/- 1 yr). It was found that: high blood pressure was not confirmed in all patients; there was a significant increase in systolic and diastolic BP values in natural post-menopause subjects (P less than 0.01) temporarily related to ovarian failure, but BP reached a steady state in elderly women when a new hormonal balance is established; 24-hr monitoring made it possible to identify a group of climacteric outpatients at higher cardiovascular risk whose suitability for antihypertensive treatment could thus be assessed.

[Eosinophilic gastroenteritis simulating ascites (eosinophilic ascites). Presentation of a case and review of the literature]. / La gastroenterite eosinofila ad espressione esclusiva di ascite (ascite eosinofila). Presentazione di un caso e revisione della letteratura.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is an uncommon disorder of unknown etiology characterized by recurrent episodes of infiltration of the gastrointestinal wall with eosinophils and peripheral eosinophilia. The Authors report a patient in which ascites with eosinophilia in the ascitic fluid was the cardinal feature of the disease. A low E.S.R. in the acute phase of illness was found. Steroids are indicated in patients presenting obstructive symptoms or malabsorption. In our case the treatment was not necessary because of the spontaneous remission of the symptoms.

[Transitory ECG changes of an ischemic type during hyperosmolar non-ketoacidotic coma]. / Transitorie alterazioni elettrocardiografiche di tipo ischemico in corso di coma iperosmolare non chetoacidotico.

Hyperosmolar coma was the presenting feature of type I diabetes in a 20 year old man. Ischemic ECG abnormalities (downsloping ST depression of 5 mm in the anterior leads) were present during the comatose state but not in the following days, when a satisfactory metabolic control was achieved. Coronary heart disease was excluded on the basis of the normal response to a treadmill test carried out 6 months later. Hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, shock, hyperventilation and perhaps hyperosmolarity are responsible for these ECG changes. Caution must be used before considering such ECG patterns as ischemic in patients with this type of coma.

Abnormal cardiovascular reflexes in juvenile diabetics as preclinical signs of autonomic neuropathy.

The prevalence of abnormalities of cardiovascular reflexes as a marker of autonomic neuropathy was studied in a group of juvenile diabetics with long-standing disease, aged 20-58 years (mean 36). No patient had clinical evidence of autonomic failure. The study was carried out employing the most simple techniques and routine equipment. Resting heart rate, beta-to-beat variation, Valsalva ratio, systolic blood pressure in supine position and immediately after standing were measured. The results were compared with those determined in an age and sex-matched population. Beat-to-beat variation test appeared to be the most sensitive technique in detecting an impaired autonomic function (12/54 = 22.2%). Resting tachycardia was found in 10 patients and postural hypotension in 6. Only 1 patient had an abnormal Valsalva ratio associated with postural hypotension and reduced beta-to-beat variation. In agreement with previous studies our data confirm that autonomic dysfunction is frequent in asymptomatic diabetics. The methods to detect these abnormalities are easy to perform. Therefore they may be routinely used as screening tests in the diabetic population.