Extraction and characterization of collagen from the skin of Amazonian freshwater fish pirarucu

The need to fully exploit fishing resources due to increasing production and consequent waste generation requires research to promote the sustainability of the fishing industry. Fish waste from the industry is responsible for relevant environmental contamination. However, these raw materials contain high amounts of collagen and other biomolecules, being attractive due to their industrial and biotechnological applicability. Thus, to reduce the waste from pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) processing, this study aimed to obtain collagen from pirarucu skin tissue. The extraction process used 0.05 M sodium hydroxide, 10% butyl alcohol, and 0.5 M acetic acid, with extraction temperature of 20°C. The obtained yield was 27.8%, and through sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), it was determined that the collagen obtained was type I. This study showed that collagen solubility was highest at pH 3 and the lowest solubility was at concentrations of 3% sodium chloride. The denaturation temperature of collagen was 38.1°C, and its intact molecular structure was observed using the Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry technique with an absorption radius of 1. The results showed that it was possible to obtain collagen from pirarucu skin at 20°C, which has the typical characteristics of commercial type I collagen. In conclusion, the procedures used may be considered to be an interesting alternative for collagen extraction, a new product obtained from the processing of fish waste.

Avaliação de potenciais interações medicamentosas em prescrições de pacientes internadas, em hospital público universitário especializado em saúde da mulher, em Campinas-SP / Potential drug interaction evaluation in medical prescriptions in a public hospital specialized in women care, in Campinas, SP

Interação medicamentosa (IM) é um evento clínico em que os efeitos de um fármaco são alterados pelo uso concomitante ou anterior à ingestão de outro fármaco, alimento ou bebida. O estudo teve como objetivo identificar IM em prescrições da Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) e do Alojamento Conjunto (AC). Foram avaliadas 36 prescrições da UTI e 274 do AC e as IM foram listadas como "maiores", "moderadas" e "menores", tendo por base o site Drugs.com. Na UTI, foram identificadas 105 interações maiores, 171 moderadas e 18 menores. Na AC, foram identificadas 64 interações maiores, 64 interações moderadas e 4 interações menores. Para as IM classificadas como "maiores", realizou-se estudo comparativo com a base DrugDex/Micromedex® e com o software OPharmacêutico®, constatando-se que a IM de metoclopramida com tramadol, que representava 63,16% das IM da UTI e 100% das IM do AC, não são classificadas como "maiores". A identificação de IM, de relevância clínica, e o seu monitoramento permitem tratamentos mais efetivos com o menor número possível de complicações causadas por IM, diminuindo o tempo de internação e, consequentemente, os custos do hospital.

Drug interaction (DI) is a common clinical occurrence, in which the effects of one drug are altered by the simultaneous or previous use of another drug, food or drink. The aim of this study was to identify DI in medical prescriptions issued in the intensive care unit (ICU) and common shelter (CS) at a public women?s hospital in Brazil. Thirty-six prescriptions from the ICU and 271 prescriptions from the CS were analyzed and the DIs classified as "major", "moderate" and "minor", based on the database at the website Drugs.com. At the ICU, 105 "major", 171 "moderate" and 18 "minor" DIs were identified, while at the CS, the numbers found were 64, 64 and 4, respectively. For major DIs, a comparative analysis was carried out with another database, DrugDex/MicromedexTM, and the program OPharmaceuticoTM, revealing a lack of standardization and conflicting information in the different databases. Pharmacosurveillance in the wards, carried out by a pharmacist to identify the clinically relevant DIs and monitor their clinical manifestations, would enable more effective treatments to be given, with the smallest possible number of complications due to DIs, thus reducing lengths of stay and hospital costs.

Dois métodos diferentes para análise cinemática dos movimentos de cabeça durante a coordenação viso-cefálica de lactentes / Two different methods for kinematic analysis of head movements relating to eye-head coordination in infants

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A análise cinemática é um método de avaliação quantitativa empregada em diferentes áreas de estudo. Na área do desenvolvimento motor, essa análise pode proporcionar uma melhor compreensão da aquisição e do desenvolvimento das habilidades motoras. OBJETIVOS: Desenvolver e comparar dois arranjos experimentais para análise cinemática dos movimentos de cabeça durante a coordenação viso-cefálica (CVC) em lactentes. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram testados dois arranjos experimentais (A e B) que diferiam quanto ao número e posicionamento das câmeras, bem como quanto ao volume do sistema de calibração. RESULTADOS: A acurácia dos dois arranjos experimentais foi de 2,47mm, indicando que ambos podem fornecer uma reconstrução verossímil do movimento. As três câmeras usadas no arranjo B favoreceram a visualização de toda a amplitude do movimento por pelo menos uma das câmeras. Isso levou à melhora da análise qualitativa e à redução do tempo de processamento dos dados quantitativos, reduzindo-o em 33 por cento quando comparado ao arranjo A. Além disso, o arranjo B apresentou melhor relação custo-benefício. CONCLUSÕES: Ambos os arranjos são adequados para a análise cinemática dos movimentos de cabeça durante a CVC de lactentes, entretanto, o arranjo B é mais vantajoso. A metodologia do arranjo B pode ser empregada em estudos que investigam o movimento de cabeça de lactentes, sejam eles típicos ou atípicos. Os resultados de tais estudos poderão ser empregados para complementar a avaliação de lactentes de risco e, conseqüentemente, auxiliar na intervenção precoce destes.

BACKGROUND: Kinematic analysis is a method for quantitative assessment applied in different fields of study. In the field of motor development, this analysis may promote better understanding of the acquisition and development of motor skills. OBJECTIVE: To develop and compare two experimental set-ups for kinematic analysis of head movements relating to eye-head coordination (EHC) in infants. METHODS: Two experimental set-ups (A and B) were tested. They differed from each other regarding the numbers and locations of the cameras, and regarding the volume of the calibration system. RESULTS: The accuracy of the two experimental set-ups was 2.47mm, thus indicating that both can provide realistic reconstructions of the movement. The three cameras used in set-up B made it possible to view the full range of motion with at least one of the cameras. This led to improvement of the qualitative analysis and reduction of the time taken to process quantitative data, which was 33 percent shorter than seen with set-up A. In addition, set-up B presented a better cost-benefit relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Although both set-ups were adequate for kinematic analysis of head movements relating to EHC in infants, set-up B is more advantageous. The methodology for set-up B can be used in studies investigating head movements in either typical or atypical infants. The results from such studies could be used to complement assessments on at-risk infants and consequently could assist in implementing early interventions.

Influência do nível de habilidade e posição corporal no alcance de lactentes / Influence of skill level and body position on infants reaching

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: Embora o desenvolvimento do alcance em diferentes posições corporais tem sido amplamente estudado, há poucas pesquisas sobre este assunto, considerando o nível de habilidade do lactente. Objetivo: Verificar como as posições corporais afetam os ajustes proximais e distais do alcance manual de lactentes de quatro a seis meses. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Dez lactentes classificados como menos (n=6) e mais habilidosos (n=4) foram avaliados no mês de aquisição do alcance (M1) e após um mês de prática espontânea (M2), nas posições supina (0º), reclinada (45º) e sentada (70º). Foram analisados os ajustes proximais (alcances uni ou bimanuais) e distais (mão aberta, semi-aberta ou fechada), posição das mãos no início do movimento (perto ou longe do corpo) e movimentos de preensão. RESULTADOS: Houve predomínio de alcances unimanuais para os lactentes mais habilidosos. Os lactentes menos habilidosos apresentaram maior freqüência de alcances unimanuais em M1 (sentado) e M2 (supino e sentado). Houve predomínio de alcances com as mãos semi-abertas, exceto para lactentes mais habilidosos em M2 na posição reclinada. Lactentes menos habilidosos apresentaram mãos próximas ao corpo em M1 (reclinado e sentado) e M2 (reclinado), enquanto os mais habilidosos iniciaram seus alcances com as mãos longe do corpo em M2 (supino). Lactentes mais habilidosos fizeram mais alcances seguidos de preensão em M2 nas posições supina e sentada. CONCLUSÕES: A posição corporal afeta os ajustes proximais e distais do alcance, de acordo com o nível de habilidade do lactente.

BACKGROUND: Although the development of reaching under different body position conditions has been widely studied, little research has addressed this issue considering the infant's skill level. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how different body positions affect proximal and distal reaching adjustments among four to six-month-old infants. Methods: Ten infants classified as less (n=6) and more skilled (n=4) were evaluated both in the month when they acquired reaching abilities (M1) and after one month of spontaneous practice (M2), in the supine (0º), reclined (45º) and seated (70º) positions. Proximal (one or two-hand reaching) and distal (open, half-open or closed hand) adjustments, arm starting position (next to or away from the body) and grasping movements were analyzed. RESULTS: One-hand reaching predominated among the more skilled infants. Less skilled infants showed higher frequency of one-hand reaching in M1 (seated) and M2 (supine and seated). Reaching with the hands half-open predominated, except among the more skilled infants in M2 in the reclined position. The less skilled infants presented hands next to the body in M1 (reclined and seated) and in M2 (reclined), while the more skilled ones started their reaching with hands away from the body in M2 (supine). The more skilled infants performed more reaching followed by grasping in M2, in the supine and seated positions. CONCLUSIONS: Body position affects proximal and distal adjustments to reaching maneuvers, according to the infant's skill level.

Topical anesthesia versus sub-Tenon block for cataract surgery: surgical conditions and patient satisfaction.

PURPOSE: To compare the surgical conditions and complications and patient and surgeon satisfaction in cataract surgery by phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia (TA) versus sub-Tenon block (STB). METHODS: Prospective randomized comparative blind study, without placebo control. Patient satisfaction evaluated by the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale (ISAS). RESULTS: The authors prospectively enrolled 59 patients (61% female) in the study, who were randomized into groups: 26 in the TA group and 33 in the STB. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age, sex, waiting time for surgery, ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) state, eye laterality, cataract density, pupillary dilation, or surgery duration, but patient collaboration was better in the STB group. We found a mean 2.2 mmHg post-anesthetic rise in intraocular pressure in the STB group, with normalization at 24 hours, and no rise in the TA group. Subconjunctival hemorrhage and chemosis were more prevalent in the STB group, and the improvement of visual acuity was similar in both groups. Subjective satisfaction with the anesthetic technique, both for the surgeon and for the patient, was more elevated in the STB group. The final ISAS scores were 1.87 in the TA group and 2.71 in the STB (p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that more significant anesthesia and analgesia was achieved with the STB, leading to more favorable surgical conditions and enhanced patient and surgeon satisfaction.

Utilização do sistema Dvideow na analise cinematica do alcance manual de lactentes / Utilization of the Dvideow system in kinematic analysis of infants reaching movements

A analise cinematica tem sido utilizada como metodo de avaliacao para aumentar os conhecimentos sobre aquisicao e o desenvolvimento do alcance manual em lactentes. Metodos: quatro lactentes com idade de 4 a 6 meses (5+- 0,816) serviram como modelos para a adaptacao dessa metodologia. A condicao experimental consistiuna apresentacao de um brinquedo, na altura dos ombros dos lactentes. As avaliacoes foram filmadas e analisadas pelo sistema Dvideow. Foram testados o numero e a localizacao das cameras e dos iluminadores, alem do posicionamento e tamanho dos marcadores. Resultados: foi necessario utilizar, no minimo, 3 cameras digitais. A fim de possibilitar uma analise simultanea de ambos os membros superiores, uma das cameras foi posicionada atras e acima dos lactentes, enquanto duas outras foram colocadas nas laterais direita e esquerda. Para garantir a reflexao dos marcadores, foi necessario iluminar o lactente indiretamente, pois a luz direta interferia em seu comportamento. Marcadores esfericos de 0,5 cm proporcionaram maior precisao durante a analise. Os resultados obtidos foram apresentados de acordo com a trajetoria linear e angular de 10 alcances avaliados. Conclusao: Essa metodologia permite a analise cinematica do movimento de lactentes, a qual pode ser extremamente util para a compreensao do alcance de lactentes saudaveis

Developmental regulation of adenosine A1 receptors, uptake sites and endogenous adenosine in the chick retina.

Although adenosine A1 receptors mediate the inhibition of dopamine-dependent stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity in the developing chick retina, their localization and function are unknown. We have examined the localization of these receptors, and of endogenous adenosine and adenosine uptake sites at several stages of chick retinal development. A1 receptors were already localized predominantly to plexiform regions by embryonic day 12 (E12) with no gross changes at subsequent stages. Adenosine immunoreactivity was absent from retina at E8 but was detected at E12 in the ganglion cell layer, as well as cells in the inner nuclear cell layer and photoreceptors. At more advanced developmental stages the immunoreactivity was greater, but displayed similar localizations. Uptake sites labeled with [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBI) were detected even earlier using binding and autoradiographic methods. [3H]NBI binding was saturable, and Scatchard analysis demonstrated a single class of sites with a Kd of 0.91 nM and Bmax of 298 fmol/mg protein in E15 retinal membranes. The binding was displaced by unlabeled NBI and dipyridamole. NBI binding sites differentiated earlier than adenosine A1 receptors or endogenous adenosine immunoreactivity, showing a diffuse distribution at E8, but predominating in the plexiform layers of more developed retinas. The results indicate that elements of a putative purinergic system differentiate at specific localizations early in retinal development.

Purinergic modulation of T-lymphocyte activation: differential susceptibility of distinct activation steps and correlation with intracellular 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate accumulation.

The mechanism by which purinergic agonists modulate murine T-lymphocyte activation and proliferation was investigated. Adenosine and other compounds such as ATP and 2-chloroadenosine (ClAdo) were found to block T-cell mitogenesis induced by concanavalin A (Con A) in a dose-dependent fashion. The nonmetabolizable adenosine analog ClAdo was the most potent agent capable of inhibiting T-cell mitogenesis. Extracellular addition of the permeable cAMP analog dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) also led to a dose-dependent blockade of T-cell mitogenesis, although with less efficiency when compared to ClAdo. Addition of IL-2-enriched fluids failed to reverse blockade of T-cell mitogenesis by ClAdo or dbcAMP. ClAdo blocked T-cell enlargement induced after 20 hr of culture with Con A. We analyzed the effect of micromolar concentrations of ClAdo on interleukin-2 (IL-2) production, expression of IL-2 receptors (7D4 and 3C7 surface antigens), and induction of IL-2 responsiveness after in vitro cultivation with Con A. ClAdo inhibited both IL-2 secretion and induction of IL-2 responsiveness up to control levels in the same dose range it inhibited T-cell mitogenesis. However, cell surface expression of IL-2 receptors was not affected. Short incubations of resting splenic T cells with ClAdo led to a dose-dependent accumulation of cyclic AMP in responding cells. This effect was markedly reduced by the purinergic antagonist 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) but was not prevented by the adenosine uptake blocker dipyridamole. ClAdo elicited cAMP accumulation in the same dose range it inhibited T-cell activation events. Extracellular administration of dbcAMP to splenic T cells stimulated by Con A mimicked the effects of ClAdo on T-cell activation parameters, as revealed by a dose-dependent blockade of both IL-2 secretion and IL-2 responsiveness induction, without affecting IL-2 receptor expression. Short incubations of Con A-activated T-cell blasts with ClAdo also led to a dose-dependent accumulation of cAMP. We then analyzed the effect of purines and dbcAMP on IL-2-mediated activated T-cell growth. Purines caused a dose-dependent inhibition of IL-2-mediated T-cell proliferation and ClAdo was the most potent purinergic agonist tested. The effect of ClAdo on Con A-induced T blasts was shifted to the right, if compared to earlier T-cell activation steps.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo Brasil. Diagnostico e diagnose diferencial do cancer da nasofaringe.Parte III. / Epidemiological and therapeutic study and relation to Epstein Barr virus of nasopharyngeal cancer in Sao Paulo - Brazil. Diagnostic and differential diagnosis in nasopharyngeal cancer. Part III

No estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo - Brasil, sao analisados: 1) anatomia da rinofaringe b) incidencia, frequencia, distribuicao etaria e racial, c) Etiologia, d) Estudo clinico e patologico, e) Terapeutica, f) Prognostico e resultados, g) Instrumental para exame e biopsia e, h) Relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr

Estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo Brasil. Terapeutica, prognostico e resultados no cancer da nasofaringe.Parte IV. / Epidemiological, therapeutic study and relation with Epstein Barr virus of nasopharyngeal cancer in Sao Paulo - Brazil. Prognosis,therapeutic and results of nasopharyngeal cancer. Part IV

No estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo - Brasil, sao analisados: a ) Anatomia da rinofaringe, b) Incidencia, frequencia, distribuicao etaria e racial, c) Etiologia, d) Estudo clinico e patologico, e) Terapeutica, f) Prognostico e resultados, g) Instrumental para exame e biopsia e, h) Relacao com o virus Esptein e Barr

Estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo Brasil. Relacao do virus Epstein-Barr com o cancer da nasofaringe - parte V / Epidemiological, therapeutic and relation study with the Epstein-Barr virus, and nasopharyngeal cancer in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Relation of the Epstein-Barr virus with nasopharyngeal cancer. part V

No estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do Cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo - Brasil, sao analisados: a) Anatomia da rinofaringe b) Incidencia, frequencia, distribuicao etaria e racial, c) Etiologia, d) Estudo clinico e biopsia e, h) Relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr

Sindrome "mononucleose simile" na infancia. Incidencia da infeccao por citomegalovirus diagnosticada atraves de deteccao imunoenzimatica de anticorpos IgM. / Mononucleosis-like syndrome in childhood. Incidence of cytomegalovirus infection diagnosed by immunoenzymatic detection o IgM antibodies

Testando anticorpos IgM anti-citomegalovirus, pela tecnica imunoenzimatica ELISA, em 82 criancas com doenca "mononucleose simile" (reacao de Paul-Bunnell-Davidsohn negativa), os Autores diagnosticaram 5 casos (6%) de infeccao aguda por este agente. A presenca de linfonodomegalia cervical e exsudato de amigdalas em alguns destes pacientes sugere que a apresentacao clinica da citomegalomononucleose na infancia poderia, por vezes, ser distinta da forma classica do adulto

Estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo Brasil. Historico e anatomia da nasofaringe - parte I. / Epidemiological, therapeutic and relation with Epstein Barr virus, study of nasopharyngeal cancer in Sao Paulo - Brazil. History and anatomy of the nasopharynx part I

No estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo-Brasil,sao analisados: a) anatomia do rinofaringe, b) incidencia, frequencia, distribuicao etaria e racial, c) etiologia, d) estudo clinico e patologico, e) terapeutica,f) prognostico e resultados, g) instrumental para exame e biopsia e h) relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr

EBV infections in Brazil III-Infectious mononucleosis.

Adotando criterios hematologicos e sorologicos bem definidos para o diagnostico de mononucleose infecciosa com anticorpos heterofilos presentes, foram estudados retrospectivamente, em relacao a distribuicao etaria, sazonal e de sexo, todos os pacientes (87 no total) que se apresentaram com este diagnostico em tres instituicoes medicas da cidade de Sao Paulo, durante o periodo de estudo.Analisando os resultados obtidos, concluem os Autores que em Sao Paulo, onde a infeccao pelo virus de Epstein-Barr (VEB) se da principalmente nos primeiros anos de vida, a distribuicao etaria desta doenca seria diferente da encontrada em populacoes de paises desenvolvidos, pois a porcentagem de casos observados no grupo etario de 6-10 anos (28,7%) aproximou-se bastante da porcentagem de casos observados no grupo etario de 16 a 20 anos (34,5%) e alem disso 55,l% do total de casos tinha menos de 16 anos de idade. A analise de pacientes por mes de diagnostico nao mostrou nenhuma distribuicao sazonal caracteristica, nao tendo tambem sido notada nenhuma diferenca quanto ao sexo. Alem disso, ficou mais uma vez comprovada a limitacao da dosagem de anticorpos IgG anti-capside do VEB para o diagnostico de infeccoes agudas por este virus

A case-control study of Hodgkin's disease in Brazil II. Seroepidemiologic studies in cases and family members.

A case-control study of antibody titers to the viral capsid antigen of Epstein-Barr virus was carried out in 70 patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) and in 92 siblings, 50 parents and 19 children of the HD patients, each paired with a control matched for age and sex. The geometric mean titer (GMT) of the HD patients was significantly greater than that of the controls (t69 = 6.30, p < 0.0005), and the proportion of HD cases with titers greater than or equal to 1:320 was significantly elevated (35.5% vs. 2.9%). No significant differences in GMTs were found when the HD patients were grouped by sex or by histologic subtype. An inverse correlation between age and titer was noted among HD patients but not among controls. The GMT of the 161 relatives of the HD cases was similar to that of their respective controls. Likewise, there was no significant elevation of the GMT of the subset consisting of family members of HD patients with high titers when compared to controls. However, when the GMT of the family members of HD patients with high titers was compared to that of the relatives of the HD patients with low titers, a significant difference was found (t159 = 2.54, p < 0.01).

A case-control study of Hodgkin's disease in Brazil. I. Epidemiogic aspects.

A number of epidemiologic variables were investigated in a case-control interview study, conducted in São Paulo, Brazil, of 70 Hodgkin's disease (HD) patients, 70 tumor control subjects matched for age and sex, and 128 siblings of the patients. The major epidemiologic findings were a high percentage of total cases among children, with a high sex ratio, a relative predominance of the mixed cellularity histologic subtype, and a bimodal age-specific incidence curve with the highest rates among young adults and the elderly. When the matched controls were used as the comparison group, high socioeconomic status (SES) was found to be associated with an increased risk for HD (p = 0.001). On the basis of the case-sibling comparison, an association between prior tonsillectomy and risk for HD was found (p = 0.04), and the relative risk for HD among tonsillectomized persons as compared to individuals who had not had the operation was 2.5. Other variables, including sibship size, birth order, marital status, occupational exposure, prior use of amphetamines or diphenylhydantoin, intensity of exposure to children and history of viral illnesses were not found to be determinants of risk for HD in this study.

Epstein-Barr virus infections in Brazil. II. Hodgkin's disease.

Sixty-seven cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD) occurring in São Paulo, Brazil, were studied. Males with HD predominated over females 2.3 to 1. Sixty-six percent of the cases occurred in patients under 30 years of age, 31.7% under 20 years of age, and only 7.5% after 50 years of age. Lymphocyte predominance and mixed cellularity histologic types were most common in patients less than 15 years old, and nodular sclerosis was most common in the 15- to 19-year-old group. Sera from all patients had antibody to the viral capsid antigen (VCA) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The geometric mean titer (GMT) of VCA antibody with the use of Jijoye cells as antigen was 1:162, and 31.3% of patients had titers of 1:320 or more; in controls, the GMT was 1:67 and 3.8% had titers of 1:320 or more. Similar results were obtained when EB-3 cells were used as antigen. The highest titers occurred in males, in mixed cellularity and lymphocyte depletion forms, and in stage 2 of illness. EBV-specific IgM antibody and heterophile antibody levels were not elevated, but 20.5% of the HD patients had antibody to the early antigen of EBV present in their sera. Antibody levels for herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, rubella, measles, parainfluenza viruses, and papovavirus were not significantly elevated over those in matched controls.

Canine hepatitis virus infections in dogs of São Paulo city, Brazil.

Infectious Canine Hepatitis virus was isolated from 10 of 51 tested dogs caught in São Paulo and neighbouring Districts. The viruses were isolated in dog kidney cell cultures from fecal specimens and, in two instances, from the non-inoculated cell cultures themselves. All the isolated virus strains presented biological and physicochemical characteristics proper to the adenovirus and were immunologically identified as ICH virus. Specific neutralizing antibodies to the ICH virus were found in 50% of the dogs with negative virus isolations in titers from 1/500 to 1/25,000. These results point to a very high frequency of infection by the ICH virus in the sample studied.