Erythropoietin non-viral gene therapy does not affect motility, viability, morphology or concentration of rabbit sperm.

Erythropoietin (EPO) gene therapy can be used for several purposes; however, its effects on reproductive performance are unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicological effects of non-viral (EPO) gene transfer on sperm motility, viability, morphology and concentration. Rabbit EPO cDNA was cloned into a pTarget mammalian expression vector. Rabbits were administered with: (1) pTarget/EPO vector, (2) recombinant human EPO (rHuEpo) and (3) saline (control). Both pTarget/EPO and rHuEpo significantly increased (P < 0.05) hematocrit levels 1 week after injection and they remained significantly higher than the control for up to 5 weeks (P < 0.05), showing that both EPO treatments were effective in stimulating the production of red blood cells in rabbits. The EPO gene transfer or rHuEPO administration had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on sperm motility, vigor, viability, concentration or morphology in the testis.

Infecçäo por Chlamydia trachomatis e fatores de risco em gestantes / Chlamydia trachomatis infection and risk factors in pregnant women

Introduçäo. Realizado estudo com a finalidade de avaliar a freqüência da infecçäo por C. trachomatis em gestantes de Säo Paulo. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS. Um grupo de 122 gestantes (80 adultas e 42 adolescentes) foram submetidas a exame obstétrico completo e pesquisa de C. trachomatis na cérvice, pela técnica de ELISA (Chlamydiazyme). RESULTADOS. Foram positivos 11 mulheres (9 por cento), sendo oito (10 por cento) adultas e três (7 por cento) adolescentes. CONCLUSÄO. Nesta populaçäo estudade em Säo Paulo a idade das pacientes, bem como eatado civil, número de parceiros sexuais, existência de outra doença sexualmente transmissível, presença de cervicite ou a ocorrência de abortos näo foram fatores de risco para a presença de C. trachomatis

[Chlamydia trachomatis infection and risk factors in pregnant women]. / Infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis e fatores de risco em gestantes.

INTRODUCTION: In order to assess the frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnancy in São Paulo (Brazil), a group of 122 successive pregnant women (80 adults and 42 adolescents) attending the pre-natal care clinic of the Department of Obstetrics were studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The exam consisted of an epidemiological survey, a complete obstetrical clinical examination and the assessment of the presence of C. trachomatis in the vagina by ELISA (Chlamydiazyme). RESULTS: A total of 11 women (9%) were positive, being 8 (10%) of them adults and 3 (7%) adolescents. CONCLUSION: In São Paulo the age of the patient as well as the marital status, the number of sexual partners, the existence of other sexually transmitted diseases, the presence of cervicitis or the occurrence of abortions could not be considered as risk factors for the presence of the Chlamydia trachomatis.

Ultrasonic fragmentation of cataract in uveitis.

Thirty-nine eyes with uveitis from various causes, and complicated by cataract and vitreous opacification, underwent pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy by ultrasonic fragmentation. Anatomical results were excellent, with clearing of all lens and vitreous opacities in all eyes. Visual results showed that there was no exacerbation and no recurrence of uveitis. Visual results depended mainly on the presence of previous damage of the uveitis to the retina and optic nerve. Visual results did not depend on the presence of uveitis activity at the time of the surgery. Complications that occurred were cystoid macular edema, which was present in 17.94% of the eyes and diagnosed in some eyes at the surgery, retinal detachment in one eye (2.56%), sterile hypopyon in one eye (2.56%), and ultrasonic lesion of the retina in one eye (2.56%). Visions of 20/20 to 20/40 were obtained in 23% of the eyes, 20.5% had vision between 20/50 and 20/80, and 56.4% had vision of 20/100 or less. The good results justify the surgical intervention in cases of cataracts associated with uveitis. Pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy appears to be the procedure of choice in removal of cataracts secondary to uveitis.

Efeito de prazosin sistemico sobre a pressao intra-ocular de pacientes com hipertensao arterial. / Effect of systemic prazosin on the intraocular pression in patients with arterial hypertension

Este trabalho constitui um estudo clinico aberto para investigar as variacoes da pressao arterial moderna, apos 3 a 6 mg/ dia de prazosin sistemico.Comparando-se as medidas basais as outras que se seguem, houve uma reducao significante, que variou de 1,56 mmHg a 3,72 mmHg (p < 0,001). A dose da droga foi aumentada, de 3 para 6 mg/dia, em 25% dos pacientes, ate o dia 14 Entretanto, a reducao de pressao intra-ocular foi menor no ultimo dia. Isto indica que ocorreu certa tolerancia, por parte deste grupo de pacientes, ao prazosin. Durante a administracao sistemica do prazosin ocorreu tambem reducao significante na pressao arterial sistolica e diastolica (p < 0,001). Apos 14 dias de tratamento nao foi observada nenhuma alteracao ao exame ocular