Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of methyl ether dillapiole on the development of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Dillapiole, extracted from Piper aduncum essential oil and its derivatives, has been shown to be a potential alternative to the control of Aedes aegypti, which has become resistant to synthetic insecticides. Methyl ether dillapiole (MED) and temephos (TM) were compared to complement the data on the genotoxicity and developmental changes of Ae. aegypti. Over four generations (G1 -G4 ), third stage larvae were treated with MED at 60, 80 and 100 µg/mL and TM at 0.002, 0.005 and 0.007 µg/mL for 4 h. Adult females were separated to estimate oviposition and hatching rates, and total egg length. Over the four generations, a significant reduction was recorded in oviposition and hatching rates, and in mean egg length (Tukey, P < 0.05), compared with the negative control (NC). Cytological slide preparations were done from adult oocytes and larval neuroblasts. The cumulative effects of genotoxic (bridges, budding and nuclear fragmentation) and mutagenic (micronucleus and chromosomal breakage) damage was observed in the neuroblasts and oocytes of exposed mosquitoes. Developmental changes and damage to the genome of MED-treated Ae. aegypti were greater than those caused by TM. Further studies should focus on understanding the effects of the MED molecule on Ae. aegypti.

Physical properties of films based on pectin and babassu coconut mesocarp.

The objective of this research was to study the physical properties, water sorption, thermal and structure of films made from citrus pectin (CP), babassu coconut mesocarp (BCM) and glycerol (G). Seventeen formulations were prepared according to a central compound rotational design combining different proportions of the materials and evaluating the films produced according to their moisture contents, solubility, thicknesses and water vapor permeability. The results showed a direct relationship between the composition of the film and each physical property, providing films with unique mechanical characteristics and barrier properties. In the second phase, the films were reformulated, maintaining the proportions of CP and BCM constant and altering the G content. The results showed films with permeable structures, thus favoring the use of high drying temperatures (up to 70 °C) for the confection of films, without altering their physical and structural properties.

Intradermal hepatitis B vaccination in patients with advanced chronic renal failure: immunogenicity and follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing dialysis usually have a poor response to conventional hepatitis B vaccination. AIM: To observe the effects of intradermal hepatitis B (HB) vaccination in a 13-month prospective study of adult patients with end-stage renal failure. The patients were with or without previous hepatitis B vaccination, but all had antibody titres <10 mUI/mL. METHODS: Patients were allotted to two groups: previous hepatitis B virus vaccination and no previous hepatitis B virus vaccination or anti-HBs titres <10 mUI/mL. Patients in both groups received 16 i.d. injections of 0.1 mL of hepatitis B virus vaccine over an eight-week period. Patients had antibody titres assessed before vaccination, 1 month after and every 3 months for a year. Antibody titres >/=10 mUI/mL were considered protective. RESULTS: Seventy patients completed the protocol. Protective titres were elicited in 82% of each group. Age, time under dialysis, diabetes, smoking and body-mass index were not associated with seroconversion. Persistent protective titres >12 months occurred in 27 (58.7%). Adverse events were trivial. CONCLUSION: Intradermal hepatitis B virus vaccination is an alternative in end-stage renal failure.

Vianna and the discovery of Leishmania braziliensis: the role of Brazilian parasitologists in the identification of Bauru's ulcer as American leishmaniasis.

The description of a new species of Leishmania spp. and the comprehensive study of a yet incompletely understood disease, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, was a significant accomplishment of the then emerging Brazilian medical and public health science in the early decades of the 20th century. Gaspar Vianna and a group of academic-minded physicians in São Paulo brought forth a task still largely ignored, the complete description of a new nosological entity, in the process forming the core of a parasitological school that would bridge the 20th century with important contributions to medical science and public health. This article analyses the conditions surrounding this group in São Paulo and the major landmarks of their contributions.

Public health challenges and emerging diseases: the case of São Paulo.

The author discusses the challenges posed by emerging infectious diseases in 100 years of public health in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. With an advanced and organized public health system, São Paulo responded to the emergence of infectious diseases by creating research institutions and control programs. The late 19th century witnessed the first modern research institution in microbiology, in response to the bubonic plague. A changing economy led to constant changes in ecosystems. The late 20th century presents a wide array of both emerging and rapidly changing infectious diseases. The present situation calls for creative solutions. Ecosystem analysis and more agile epidemiological surveillance are seen as the best alternatives.

[Biological warfare, bioterrorism and public health]. / Guerra biológica, bioterrorismo e saúde pública.

Biological agents as weapons are not new to mankind. For centuries and into the present, biological warfare has been the subject of much research and speculation, but little action. Their limited use has probably been due to fear of unexpected counter-effects and doubts about their efficiency as weapons. Recently a new form of terrorism employing infectious agents has emerged slowly and without much fanfare, until the recent events with Bacillus anthracis in the United States. Smallpox is potentially the most devastating of these agents. Less than 25 years after the eradication of smallpox, the public health field is now forced to deal with the possibility of its re-introduction. The author discusses the scenario of smallpox re-introduction into Brazil.

[Accidental tetanus: clinical and epidemiological profile of inpatients at a university hospital]. / Tétano acidential: análise do perfil clínico e epidemiológico de casos internados em hospital universitário.

INTRODUCTION: Notwithstanding its substantial decline over the last two decades, acquired tetanus is still a serious health problem in most developing countries. Epidemiological transition is often cited as an explanation for this decline, the increase in vaccination coverage of children being the most obvious cause. Few studies have looked carefully at the current epidemiological patterns of acquired tetanus in developing countries. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive, retrospective (series of cases). An acute care 400 - bed university referral hospital situated in a densely populated and highly urbanized area in Southeastern Brazil (Campinas, SP). Patient records the data-base analysed were from the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit of the hospital. RESULTS: In the 57 month period from January 1989 to March 1996 fifty-three patients were admitted with a diagnosis of acquired tetanus. Fifty patients had clinical confirmation, 3 were otherwise diagnosed. Thirty-two (64%) were male and 18 (36%) female. Fourteen (28%) were from rural areas and 36 (72%) from urban. Mean age was 47.6 years, with a median of 49.5. Of the rural patients, 42.85% were under 30 years and 21.42% were over 50, mean age was 36.21 with a median of 34.5. Fewer urban patients were under 30 (13.88%) than over 50 (58.33%), mean age was 52.19 with a median of 54.5. Trismus was the most frequent (92.0%) clinical sign on admittance, followed by abdominal muscular rigidity (84.0%). Treatment measures were uniform and included tetanus immune globulin, antibiotics, surgical debridement of the wound when feasible, diazepan or curare depending on the intensity of spasms. In the second half of the study period, penicillin was replaced by metronidazol. Overall case fatality rate was 20%, in patients that had to receive curare, it was 60%. Hospitalization exceeded 21 days in 56% (28) of the cases, only 10% (5) had a hospital stay of less than 7 days. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of patients were from rural areas, despite an urbanization rate of more than 90%. In the Campinas region there are two different epidemiological patterns of acquired tetanus: a rural pattern, with a higher proportion of younger patients, determined by an inadequate immunization rate and an urban pattern, similar to that found in industrialized countries, with a higher proportion of older patients. RECOMMENDATIONS: There is an obvious need to immunize older individuals in urban areas and young adults in rural areas. The elimination of acquired tetanus will only be achieved with a wider and more intensive adult vaccination program.

[Revista de Saúde Pública: 30 years of evolution]. / Revista de Saúde Pública: 30 anos de evolução.

Analysis of the main characteristics of the "Revista de Saúde Pública" during the 30 years of its existence. A parallel is traced with the evolution of brazilian public health. The dynamic aspect of the "Revista" is remembered as one of its main virtues. Its future in the constitution of the Mercosul regional block is discussed.

Total serum IgE and parasite-specific IgG and IgA antibodies in human strongyloidiasis.

Total serum IgE, and Strongyloides-specific IgG and IgA antibodies were studied in 27 patients with parasitologically proven strongyloidiasis. Clinical manifestations in this case series were investigated by a retrospective study of the patient's records. Total serum IgE levels were elevated (greater than 250 IU/ml) in 59% of the patients (mean concentration = 1364 IU/ml). Parasite-specific IgG and IgA antibodies were detected by ELISA in the serum of 23 (85.2%) and 21 (77.8%) patients, respectively. Elevated serum IgE and clinical manifestations were not useful indexes of the presence of strongyloidiasis. On the other hand, our results support the view that serologic tests, particularly ELISA for detecting Strongyloides-specific IgG antibodies, can be usefully exploited for diagnostic purposes in strongyloidiasis.

Strongyloidiasis in Campinas city region (Brazil). Parasitological and serological data.

A retrospective study of laboratory records in a 400-bed university hospital in Campinas city, SP (Southeastern Brazil) suggests that infection by Strongyloides stercoralis is widespread in the region. A prevalence of 10.81% was found in 37,621 stool specimens examined in a two-year period. Parasite-specific IgG antibodies were measured by ELISA in sera from 90 patients with strongyloidiasis. The ELISA detected antibody in 76 (84.44%) patients, indicating that serodiagnostic tests may be helpful in screening patients for strongyloidiasis.

[Post-transfusional hepatitis in the city of Campinas, SP, Brazil. I. Incidence, etiological agents and clinico-epidemiological aspects of hepatitis C]. / Hepatites pós-transfusionais na cidade de Campinas, SP, Brasil. I. Incidência, agentes etiológicos e aspectos clinico-epidemiológicos da hepatite por vírus C.

We have followed up 111 transfusion receptors in the ambulatory, for at least 180 days, in order to evaluate the occurrence of post-transfusional hepatitis and the etiological agents involved in the disease in the city of Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil. At the end of the study we have diagnosed this hepatitis in 18 (16.2%) subjects. Out of these 18 subjects, 16 (89%) were caused by hepatitis C virus, 1 (5.5%) caused by hepatitis B virus and 1 (5.5%) with undetermined etiology, 15 months after transfusion. The average incubation period of HCV was 71 days and 23% of the HCV positive receptors remained with increased AST/ALT for more than 6 months. Late serum conversion was observed for anti-HCV in 71.4% of the subjects, averaging 135 days after the transfusion. An ALT dosage and anti-HCV determination, 3 and 6 months after transfusion would diagnose, respectively, 71 and 93% of the cases which developed post-transfusional HCV.

[Post-transfusional hepatitis in the city of Campinas, SP, Brazil. II. Presence of anti-HBc and anti-HCV antibodies in blood donor candidates and occurrence of post-transfusional hepatitis C in recipients of blood or derivates]. / Hepatites pós-transfusionais na cidade de Campinas, SP, Brasil. II. Presença dos anticorpos anti-HBc e anti-HCV em candidatos a doadores de sangue e ocorrência de hepatites pós-transfusionais pelo vírus C nos receptores de sangue ou derivados.

We have analysed anti-HBc and anti-HCV antibodies in serum samples from 799 donors which had their blood or derivates transfused to 111 recipients. Anti-HBc and anti-HCV were reactive in respectively 9 and 2.1% of the donors tested. We have observed that among the 111 recipients, 44 had received at least one positive anti-HBc unit and 67 had been transfused only with negative anti-HBc, units. The risk of developing hepatitis C virus was 4.5 times higher for the recipients who received at least one positive anti-HBc unit. If the test for anti-HBc had been made for the blood donors in the serological screening, about 56% of the HCV cases in the recipients could have been avoided. The population of recipients who received at least one reacting unit of anti-HCV, presented a risk 29 times higher of developing this hepatitis, as compared to the transfused recipients with all anti-HCV negative units. Testing blood from donors for anti-HCV would avoid 79% of the post-transfusional HCV cases. Brazilian candidates to blood donors seem to be carriers either simultaneously or sequentially to hepatitis virus B and C, since 44.4% of the positive anti-HCV were also positive for anti-HBc. Testing for anti-HBc and anti-HCV in blood screening must be indicated in order to prevent post-transfusional hepatitis transmission in our community.

Listeriosis and AIDS: case report and literature review.

Listeriosis is a not uncommon infection in humans, usually associated with immunodeficient states and with newborns. However, relatively few cases have been reported in HIV-infected patients. This scarcity of reported cases has aroused interest in the association of listeriosis and AIDS. In this paper we present a case of meningitis and septicemia caused by Listeria monocytogenes in a female patient with AIDS. A review of recent medical literature indicates that association of listeriosis and AIDS may be more common than it seems. Recent research in host-parasite interaction in listerial infection suggests an important role for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and for integralin, a bacterial protein, in modulating listerial disease in AIDS patients. Inadequate diagnosis may be in part responsible for the scarcity of reports.

[Aicardi's syndrome. Report of 2 cases]. / Síndrome de Aicardi. Relato de dois casos.

Aicardi's syndrome is a clinical entity characterized by agenesis of the corpus callosum, severe mental subnormality, seizures (most frequently spasms in flexion), characteristic electroencephalographic changes (burst-suppression pattern), typical chorioretinal lacunae, present only in females. Other associated findings are rib and vertebral dysplasias; frequently found are cortical heterotopias. This syndrome is of hereditary origin, now considered a probable X-linked dominant trait with male lethality. The authors describe two cases of this syndrome with the full clinical picture.

[Polyradiculoneuritis and malaria: report of a case]. / Polirradiculoneurite e malária: relato de um caso.

Case report of a patient who three weeks after a Plasmodium falciparum malaria presented the Guillain-Barré syndrome. There was a severe type of polyradiculoneuritis with tetraplegia and involvement of several cranial nerves (VI, VII, IX, X) evolving to death. The Guillain-Barré syndrome has been considered a immune disorder with several eliciting antigenic stimuli. The case suggests that protozoan may be one these antigenic factors.