Identification and Expression Profile of Two Putative Odorant-Binding Proteins from the Neotropical Brown Stink Bug, Euschistus heros (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

This work presents the first identification of putative odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) from a member of the Pentatomidae, i.e. the brown stink bug Euschistus heros (Fabricius), an important pest of soybean in Brazil. Antennae from both sexes of E. heros adults (12 days old and unmated) were used to construct a cDNA library, from which two transcripts encoding putative E. heros OBPs (EherOBPs) were identified. The expression levels of EherOBP1 and EherOBP2 were found to be higher in male antennae than in female and there was difference in expression in legs, wings, and abdomens of the two sexes. The histolocalization of EherOBP1 and EherOBP2 transcripts in antennae also showed a sexual dimorphism in the chemoreception system, with different expression sites in the antennal segments between males and females, occurring predominantly at the base of the sensillum. The implications of these findings for stink bug chemoreception are discussed.

A simple technique for experimental hepatic vein catheterization in swine.

Hepatic vein catheterization is a valuable technique in studies of hepatic physiology and metabolism. A new technique for hepatic vein catheterization in swine is described which avoids fluoroscopy, incision, or puncture of the hepatic parenchyma. Experience with this new technique in over 40 studies of young pigs has confirmed the reliability of the technique. Management of hepatic vein catheters after insertion and potential sources of error in hepatic venous sampling are discussed.

The role of ductal obstruction on the course of hemorrhagic pancreatitis in the pig.

The effect of relieving pancreatic duct obstruction after the onset of hemorrhagic pancreatitis was investigated. Hemorrhagic pancreatitis was produced in 20 pigs by a bile salt-trypsin retrograde injection technique. In half the pigs the pancreatic duct was permanently ligated, and in the other half the ductal obstruction was relieved 2 h after the onset of hemorrhagic pancreatitis. The overall mortality rate was the same in both groups by 24 h. No difference was found between the groups in the gross and microscopic appearance of histological samples taken from the pancreas immediately after death. The biochemical parameters measured to assess the severity of pancreatitis such as calcium, BUN, creatinine, glucose, proteins, and hematocrit did not show any difference between the two groups. The serum amylase level, a measure of ductal obstruction, was less at 24 h and even lower at 48 h in the release group as compared to the non-release group. This difference suggests that the ductal obstruction was relieved, as the amylase levels declined at 24 and 48 h. Hemodynamic variables, including cardiac output, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary wedge pressure, central venous pressure, and aortic pressure were followed. No significant difference was found in any of these parameters between the two groups. The absence of any significant differences in hemodynamic status, histopathological findings, and biochemical analysis in our pigs, if translatable to man, does not lend support to early operative intervention in gallstone pancreatitis in the hope that those patients who already have hemorrhagic pancreatitis will benefit from early pancreatic ductal decompression.

Effect of prostaglandin blockers on ascites fluid in pancreatitis.

UNLABELLED: Prostacyclin (PGI2), a potent vasodilator with complex effects on the mesenteric circulation, has been found to be elevated in the hemorrhagic ascitic fluid of pigs with hemorrhagic pancreatitis. This investigation was designed to determine if blockage of PGI2 significantly reduces the volume and/or toxicity of hemorrhagic ascitic fluid associated with hemorrhagic pancreatitis in pigs. Fifteen pigs were studied: five received corticosteroids, five received ibuprofen, and five were untreated. The relative toxicity of the hemorrhagic ascitic fluid was assessed by intraperitoneal injections of the fluid from pigs into mice. RESULTS: (1) hemorrhagic pancreatitis was associated with high levels of PGI2 in blood 15 times and in hemorrhagic ascitic fluid 25 times that of baseline; (2) steroids and ibuprofen blocked PGI2 production (p less than 0.05); (3) neither steroids nor ibuprofen, even when administered as pretreatment, decreased ascites formation; and (4) the mortality rate in mice was significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) in the ibuprofen-treated group as compared with the untreated and steroid-treated groups. CONCLUSION: PGI2 does not play a significant role in the volume of ascites formation. There was an absence of toxicity in the hemorrhagic ascitic fluid of the ibuprofen-treated group.

Reliability and sensitivity of frozen-section pancreatic biopsy.

A collaborative Veterans Administration and University of California, Davis Medical Center group of 586 patients with histologically proved pancreatic carcinoma was reviewed. During laparotomy, 159 patients underwent 251 frozen-section pancreatic biopsies with subsequent permanent section examination of the same tissue block. All 112 positive frozen-section diagnoses were corroborated on permanent sectioning. The 47 patients with false-negative biopsy specimens were equally divided between sampling and interpretation error. We conclude that in this group of 159 pancreatic cancer patients, 30% failed to be correctly diagnosed by intraoperative frozen-section biopsy. This failure was due to patient sampling and interpretation error in equal proportion. Interpretation error rates were not influenced by the type or number of biopsies. Patient sampling error is apparently reduced by repeated biopsy, and specimen sampling error occurred less frequently with wedge biopsy.

Gastrointestinal bleeding after operation for pancreatic cancer.

Gastrointestinal bleeding after surgery for cancer of the pancreas contributes significantly to patient morbidity and to patient mortality, if the bypass was performed for palliation. Bleeding after resection of the pancreatic tumor appears to be amenable to therapy, and unaltered by the addition of vagotomy at the time of surgery. Patients undergoing palliative surgery who are expected to live beyond the postoperative period may well benefit from measures to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Hemorragia digestiva macica por doenca de inclusao citomegalica. Apresentacao de um caso e revisao da literatura. / Massive digestive hemorrage due to cytomegalic inclusion disease. A case report and review of the literature

Os autores apresentam um caso de hemorragia digestiva macica com multiplas ulceracoes de esofago por virus de inclusao citomegalico. O diagnostico foi feito por exame endoscopico, que mostrou esofagite grave. A biopsia endoscopica revelou celulas tipicas do virus de inclusao citomegalico

[Comparative study of the lepromin reaction performed on medical students and on a control group]. / Estudo comparativo da lepromino-reação praticada em estudantes de medicina e em grupo controle.

The lepromin test was studied in 64 medical students and in a control group consisted of 40 patients from the orthopedic clinic. Both groups matched with respect to age and sex, but differed with regard to socio-economical conditions. The Fernandez reaction showed low frequency of positive results in both groups: 10% in the first group and 5,6% in the second one. This difference was not significant. The Mitsuda reaction showed high frequency of positive results: 98,4% in the medical students and 85,0% in the control group. This difference was significant. The authors discuss the factors that might have caused the high positivity of the lepromin test among the medical students.

Estudo comparativo da lepromino-reacao praticada em estudantes de medicina e em grupo controle. / Comparative study of lepromin reaction performed in medical students and in a control group

Foi praticada a intradermo-reacao com lepromina em um grupo de 64 estudantes de medicina e em um grupo controle de 40 pacientes internados em Clinica Ortopedica.Os dois grupos eram comparaveis quanto a idade e sexo, diferindo fundamentalmente quanto as condicoes economico-sociais. A reacao de Fernandez mostrou resultados positivos muito baixo da expectativa, em ambos os grupos estudados: l0% no primeiro e 5,6% no segundo grupo (diferenca nao significativa entre ambos os grupos). A reacao de Mitsuda mostrou resultados positivos acima da expectativa, no grupo formado por estudantes de medicina (98,4%). Ja no grupo controle esteve dentro do esperado (85,0%). A diferenca entre ambos os grupos foi significativa (X 2/3 = 9,66 significante ao nivel de 5%). Os autores discutem quais os fatores que poderiam ter influido nessa elevada positividade de leprominoreacao em estudantes de medicina

[Comparative study of the intradermal reaction performed with whole lepromin and ultrasonic-treated lepromin in normal subjects]. / Estudo comparativo da intradermo-reaçao praticada com lepromina integral e com lepromina tratada porultrasom em individuos normais.

A comparative study on the Fernandez and on the Mitsuda reaction was made in 104 normal people employing whole and sonicated lepromin. Both types of lepromin can induce a good early reaction, and there was no significant difference in the results of the Fernandez reaction. The sonicated lepromin, though it contains all of the components of the original preparation, gives weaker late skin reactions. The results of the Mitsuda reaction were statistically significant.