[An attempt to detect Trypanosoma cruzi in the peripheral blood of patients with Chagas' disease, in chronic phase, using quantitative buffy coat (QBC)]. / Tentativa de evidenciar o Trypanosoma cruzi no sangue periférico de pacientes com doença de Chagas, em fase crônica, por meio do Quantitative Buffy coat (QBC).

Taking for granted the sensitivity of the Quantitative Buffy Coat (QBC) system, as documented in a murine experimental model, we assayed to detect Trypanosoma cruzi in the peripheral blood of 100 patients with Chagas disease in its chronic phase. By means of the method, no positivity occurred, evently as a consequence of small parasitemias, undetectable by this technique as assessed by the cases in consideration.

[Utility of gamma rays in prophylaxis of transmissible malaria by blood transfusion]. / Estudo sobre a eventual utilidade de raios gama na profilaxia da malária transmissível por transfusão de sangue.

This study was carried out to evaluate the fortuitons advantage of using gamma irradiation in the prophylaxis of transmissible malaria by blood transfusion, with mice as the experimental model. In the first step, when the infected blood with Plasmodium berghei was submitted to 2,500 rad and 5,000 rad, with or without metronidazol, there was no success, because the animals presented parasitaemia and died after inoculation of irradiated blood. However, there was partial success in the second step, when the infected blood received 10,000 and 15,000 rad, and was inoculated in mice, which showed infection, and presented a survival rate of 20% and 40%, respectively, with later negativation of blood infected by P. berghei.

[Determination of HIV protein 24 in feces of Triatoma infestans fed with blood from AIDS patients]. / Pesquisa da proteína 24 do vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) nas fezes de triatomíneos alimentados em pacientes com AIDS.

OBJECTIVE: To verify any possibility of the elimination of p24 in feces of Triatoma infestans, p24 being an antigen and one of the markers of HIV infection. The purpose of the study was the evaluation of any risk of contamination by laboratory staff who work with activities related to this particular insect, and also investigate any mechanism that might thus lead to the dissemination of HIV. METHOD: Triatoma infestans were fed with p24-marked blood from 23 AIDS patients. Twenty-four and 48 hours later, their feces were examined in order to verify the presence of the antigen. The search for p24 was performed by means of the immunoenzymatic technique. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: No protein 24 was detected in any of the samples. In accordance with the applied methodology, the purpose of showing that the elimination of p24 does not occur, was obtained. Were this question approached in other ways different results might reveal new information in terms of risks of HIV dissemination.

[Effect of quinolones on mice experimental infection by Plasmodium berghei and their possible therapeutic usefulness]. / Observações sobre o efeito de quinolonas na infecção experimental de camundongos pelo Plasmodium berghei e sobre sua eventual utilidade terapêutica.

The search for new antimalarial drugs is important for many reasons, specially because of the resistance of plasmodia. Some clinical and laboratory studies have recently indicated that quinolones, currently in use for treatment of bacterial infections, have antimalarial activity. So, we evaluated the possible action of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin in mice experimentally infected by Plasmodium berghei, by the oral route. Taking into account parasitemia and mortality, we came to conclusion that these drugs are not effective, as judged by the methods used.

Tentativa de evidenciar o Trypanosoma cruzi no sangue periférico de pacientes com doença de Chagas, em fase crônica, por meio do Quantitative Buffy coat (QBC) / An attempt to detect Trypanosoma cruzi in the peripheral blood of patients with Chagas' disease, in chronic phase, using quantitative buffy coat (QBC)

Taking for granted the sensitivity of the Quantitative Buffy Coat (QBC) system, as documented in a murine experimental model, we assayed to detect Trypanosoma cruzi in the peripheral blood of 100 patients with Chagas disease in its chronic phase. By means of the method, no positivity occurred, evently as a consequence of small parasitemias, undetectable by this technique as assessed by the cases in consideration.

Valorizando a sensibilidade do sistema Quantitative Buffy Coat (QBC), documentada em modelo experimental murino, estando os animais com infecção aguda pelo Trypanosoma cruzi houve tentativa de evidenciar esse parasita no sangue periférico de 100 pacientes com doença de Chagas, em fase crônica. Com o emprego desse método, nenhuma positividade ocorreu, evidentemente em virtude das pequenas parasitemias, não reveláveis pela técnica, pelo menos conforme o verificado através da casuística considerada.

Estudo sobre a eventual utilidade de raios gama na profilaxia da malária transmissível por transfusão de sangue / Utility of gamma rays in prophylaxis of transmissible malaria by blood transfusion

This study was carried out to evaluate the fortuitons advantage of using gamma irradiation in the prophylaxis of transmissible malaria by blood transfusion, with mice as the experimental model. In the first step, when the infected blood with Plasmodium berghei was submitted to 2,500 rad and 5,000 rad, with or without metronidazol, there was no success, because the animals presented parasitaemia and died after inoculation of irradiated blood. However, there was partial success in the second step, when the infected blood received 10,000 and 15,000 rad, and was inoculated in mice, which showed infection, and presented a survival rate of 20% and 40%, respectively, with later negativation of blood infected by P. berghei.

O estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a eventual utilidade de raios gama na profilaxia da malária transmissível por transfusão de sangue, tendo sido, para isso, usados camundongos infectados pelo Plasmodium berghei. Na primeira fase, quando submetemos sangue deles retirado a 2.500 e 5.000rad, com associação ou não de metronidazol, não obtivemos sucesso, já que todos os animais antes sem a parasitose apresentaram parasitemia e morreram após inoculação do sangue irradiado. Porém, ocorreu êxito parcial na segunda fase, ao serem empregados 10.000 e 15.000rad, porquanto 20% e 40% dos roedores, respectivamente, embora tenham ficado infectados, sobreviveram, com posterior negativação quanto à presença do P. berghei.