Anti-parietal cell antibodies in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) patients may have a higher prevalence of anti-parietal cell antibodies (APCA) than normal population. OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of APCA in a cohort of ATD patients to know its association with patient's clinical profile and gastrointestinal complaints. METHODS: APCA was sought for by indirect immunofluorescence test in 243 ATD patients: 136 (55.9%) with Graves' disease and 107 (44.0%) with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. A structured questionnaire for gastrointestinal symptoms, previous history of thrombosis, arthralgia and other autoimmune diseases in the patients and their families was applied. Positive and negative APCA individuals were compared. Positive patients were invited to perform upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy of duodenum segments. Sera from 100 healthy individuals from the same geographic area were used as controls. RESULTS: APCA was present in 20.1% (49/243) of ATD patients: 21.3% (29/136) in the Graves' sample and 18.6% (20/107) in the Hashimoto's sample (p = 0.61). Patients with positive APCA had more anemia (p = 0.03; OR = 2.89; 95% CI = 1.03-8.07) and less heartburn (p = 0.01; OR = 0.4; 95% CI = 0.20-0.83). Among the group of 49 APCA-positive patients, 24 agreed with upper endoscopy and it was found that 54.1% had atrophic gastritis. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of positive APCA in ATD patients. APCA are more common in those with anemia and less common in those with complaints of heartburn. Almost half of positive APCA patients had atrophic gastritis.

[Search of natural occurrence of xiphidiocercariae (trematoda) in fresh water snails of nine countries from São Paulo State, Brazil]. / Búsqueda de xifidiocercarias (Trematoda) en moluscos de agua dulce recolectados en nueve municipios del Estado de São Paulo, Brasil.

Xiphidiocercariae, aquatic larval stages of some trematodes are considered a potential instrument for biological control of mosquitoes. In this study we evaluated its natural occurrence in Campinas region and two places in Vale do Ribeira (Registro and Miracatu), São Paulo State. Snails were obtained from fresh water collections from September 1996 to February 1999. The species collected were Lymnaea columella, Physa marmorata, Biomphalaria tenagophila, Biomphalaria sp., Drepanotrema cimex, D. lucidum and Drepanotrema sp. Fasciola hepatica, xiphidiocercariae (Haematoloechidae) and echinostomatid cercariae were detected in the lymnaeids snails from Miracatu, SP. In the same locality were found planorbids snails parasitized by furcocercariae, echinostomatid cercariae and xiphidiocercariae. The xiphidiocercariae found in the planorbids were different from those obtained from lymnaeids. One Biomphalaria sp. infected with furcocercariae was found in Louveira, SP. In the ROSA place (Campinas, SP) an individual of Biomphalaria sp. and one of L. columella were found infected by the furcocercariae and echinostomatid cercariae, respectively. In the place UNI-I, in Campinas, one L. columella was infected by furcocercariae. Double infection in snails from Miracatu was also observed.

Improved Selection with Newly Identified RAPD Markers Linked to Resistance Gene to Four Pathotypes of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum in Common Bean.

ABSTRACT Three F(2) populations derived from crosses between the resistant cultivar AB 136 and the susceptible cultivar Michelite (MiA), and one F(2) population derived from a cross between AB 136 and Mexico 222 (MeA), were used to identify markers linked to anthracnose resistance genes present in cultivar AB 136. Primer OPZ04 produced a DNA band (OPZ04(560)) linked in coupling phase to the resistance gene for pathotype 89 (8.5 +/- 0.025 cM) in one population derived from the cross MiA. In the same population, primer OPZ09 produced one band (OPZ09(950)) linked in repulsion phase (20.4 +/- 0.014 cM) to the same resistance gene. The simultaneous use of markers in coupling and in repulsion phases allowed the identification of the three genotypic classes. In the other two populations from cross MiA, OPZ04(560) was linked in coupling phase to resistance genes for pathotypes 73 (2.9 +/- 0.012 cM) and 81 (2.8 +/- 0.017 cM). In population MeA, OPZ04(560) was linked in coupling phase (7.5 +/- 0.033 cM) to resistance to pathotype 64. These data suggest that a single gene or complex locus of linked resistance genes present in cultivar AB 136 confers resistance to all four pathotypes of C. lindemuthianum.

[Microanatomy of the cerebellopontine angle with morphometric analysis of the internal acoustic meatus]. / Microanatomia do ângulo ponto-cerebelar com análise morfométrica do meato acústico interno.

Twelve cerebello-pontine angles of the corpses of six adults were dissected with the aid of a surgical microscope. The following parameters were analyzed: the superior-inferior (vertical) and the anterior-posterior (horizontal) dimensions of the internal acoustic meatus (IAM); and the distances from the IAM to the Meckel's cave, the superior jugular foramen (SJF) and the inferior jugular foramen (IJF). We used a mathematical formula to calculate the area of the IAM. Important variations in the IAM's measurements were found, mainly concerning its area. This study contributes to a better understanding of cerebello-pontine angle (CPA) structures and their relationships with osseous parameters in Brazilian individuals.

[Perinatal mortality at Maternidade da Encruzilhada]. / Mortalidade perinatal na Maternidade da Encruzilhada.

PIP: According to the WHO, perinatal mortality consists of both fetal and neonatal mortality. Included are only fetuses weighing more than 1000 g, or in case this data is unavailable, only fetuses having a gestational age of more than 28 weeks or a length equal to 35 cm. However, for regional studies fetal weights between 500-1000 g are sometimes also considered. Neonatal mortality accounts for deaths occurring until the 7th day after birth. The same measurement criteria apply. Better pre and postnatal care is responsible for a lower perinatal mortality coefficient. Also, in regions with an even distribution of wealth, the perinatal mortality coefficient is low. The present study appraises perinatal mortality occurring at the maternity hospital in Encruzilhada, during the year 1985. The perinatal mortality coefficient was approximately 40/1000 and represents the sum of the fetal mortality coefficient (21.56/1000) and the neonatal mortality coefficient (18.79/1000). This figure is considered high and reflects the state of poverty of the population visiting the hospital. The maternal condition most frequently connected with fetal death is arterial hypertension, in isolation or combined with toxemic pregnancy. Respiratory problems are the most frequent cause of early death for babies, a condition that typically afflicts prematurely born babies. A comparison is made with a study of 12,600 high-risk pregnancies during the same year in Canada. Perinatal mortality for babies of that group was only 1.9/1000. From this discrepancy it is obvious that urgent measures must be directed toward improving this neglected area of maternal/infant health.^ieng