Detection of micronuclei in peripheral erythrocytes of Cyprinus carpio exposed to metallic mercury.

Cyprinus carpio fish (carp), exposed to elemental or metallic mercury (Hg0) at concentrations of 2.0, 20.0, and 200.0 mg per liter of water, were kept in concrete tanks for 159 days. Ten fish were used for each concentration level. Thirteen samples of peripheral blood were collected from each animal through gill puncture, 12 during the first 90 days of the experiment, and the last one at the end of the experiment. The micronucleus test (MNT) was designed to study dose and time yield effects of mercury after indirect exposure in vivo. The results indicated that for a concentration of 2.0 mg Hg0/l, there was no significant increase in frequency of micronuclei (MN), but at higher concentrations (20.0 and 200.0 mg Hg0/l) there was a significant increase in MN frequencies. This effect was higher after 31 days of exposure, followed by slight stabilization and gradual decrease.

Susceptibilidade aos antimicrobianos de Listeria spp isoladas de pacientes com aborto repetitivo / Antibiotic susceptibility testing of Listeria spp from endocervix of women with repeated abortion

Neste estudo foi verificada a susceptibilidade "in vitro" aos antimicrobianos de Listeria spp isoladas de endocévix de mulheres com clínica de aborto repetitivo. O tratamento de listeriose com antibióticos mais frequentemente recomendados (penicilina e ampicilina) é geralmente bem sucedido, porém há vários casos notificados de falhas terapêuticas. Foi utilizado o método de macrodiluiçäo em tubo para determinar as concentraçöes mínimas inibitórias (CMIs). A ampicilina e a penicilina foram bacteriostáticas para as Listeria spp. A gentamicina e a ciprofloxacina foram bactericidas, e CMBs foram até 3 vezes maiores que as respectivas CMIs. Por outro lado, as CMBs de penicilina e ampicilina foram pelo menos 6 vezes maiores que CMIs. Três amostras de Listeria monocytogenes mostraram tolerância para com penicilina e ampicilina

[Effects of food temperature on the esophageal motility in Chagas' megaesophagus. Manometric study]. / Efeito da temperatura dos ingesta sobre a motilidade esofagiana no megaesôfago chagásico. Estudo manométrico.

The authors studied the effects of food temperature in esophageal motility by the use of manometry in 26 cases of chagasic megaesophagus of hyperkinetic type. An assembly of three water filled polyvinyl catheters was used. Each catheter had a distal side hole and was connected proximally with a transducer. One catheter was localized at the lower esophageal sphincter and the other two respectively 5 cm and 10 cm above the sphincter. Pressure changes were recorded graphically on a direct writing multichannel recorder. 50 ml of water was introduced into the esophagus at 5 degrees C, 20 degrees C, 35 degrees C, and 50 degrees C. This produced incoordinated contractions at the three levels considered. The motility pressures were quantified by planimetry and transformed in areas of mm2. A statistic analysis showed that more activity accured with extreme temperature, specially with the water at 5 degrees C. This fact permits one to understand the reason of increasing dysphagia in patients with chagasic megaesophagus when very hot food is eaten.

Efeito da temperatura dos ingesta sobre a motilidade esofagiana no megaesofago chagasico. Estudo manometrico. / Effects of food temperature on the esophageal motility in Chagas megaesophagus. Manometric study

Os autores estudaram, pelo metodo manometrico os efeitos da temperatura dos ingesta na motilidade esofagiana em 27 casos de megaesofago chagasico do tipo hipercinetico. Utilizaram um sistema de registro de inscricao direta e um triplice cateter com orificios distais localizados, respectivamente no esfincter interior do esofago, a 5 cm e a 10 cm acima do esfincter. A introducao de 50 ml de agua no esofago a quatro diferentes temperaturas - 5 grados centigrados, 20 grados centigrados, 35 grados centigrados e 50 grados centigrados - produziu resposta motora incoordenada nos tres niveis considerados, que foi quantificada por planimetria e transformada em area, expressa em mm2. A analise estatistica demonstrou ocorrer maior atividade com as temperaturas extremas, especialmente com a agua a 5 grados centigrados. Este fato permite compreender a acentuacao da disfagia referida pelos portadores de megaesofago quando ingerem alimentos muito frios ou muito quentes