High aluminum content in bone of marine mammals and its relation with source levels and origin.

Although aluminum is widely distributed in the earth's crust, its environmental availability and wildlife assimilation rates are only partially known. Here we analyze aluminum concentrations in bone from 10 species of marine mammals inhabiting 3 geographic areas subject to different aluminum inputs: the Río de la Plata estuary (Uruguay), the coastal waters of Mauritania and the Galapagos archipelago (Ecuador). Overall, concentrations were unusually high as compared to those of terrestrial animals, with lowest concentrations in the Galapagos archipelago, then the Río de la Plata estuary and finally Mauritania. The aluminum source varied between regions, prevailing anthropogenic sources in the Río de la Plata Estuary and natural sources (wind-blown dust) in Mauritanian waters. The type of source determined contamination levels: anthropogenic sources were most significant for coastal species and showed a decline with distance of habitat from shoreline, while natural sources had a higher influence on open waters because of the dearth of biogenic silica that eliminates aluminum from the water column. Since aluminum remains in bone for several decades, marine mammal bone reflects historical levels of aluminum and therefore is a good bioindicator of the aluminum concentration of the marine environment.

[Ulnar nerve palsy in leprosy without skin changes: biopsy of the superficial branch of the ulnar nerve in the hand]. / Paralisia do nervo ulnar na lepra sem alterações cutâneas. Biópsia do ramo superficial do nervo ulnar na mão.

Leprosy is one of the most common diseases of peripheral nerves in the world. In Brazil it is particularly frequent, being a major health problem. In tuberculoid leprosy the ulnar nerve is the most common affected nerve. Sometimes there are no skin changes. In these cases in spite of nerve thickening only the nerve biopsy is capable to make a specific diagnosis. We performed a biopsy in the dorsal sensory branch of the ulnar nerve in the hand in 17 patients with ulnar palsy with thickening of the nerve in the elbow, without skin changes. The pathological findings consisted mainly of: loss of fibers (14 cases), inflammatory infiltration (13), fibrosis (12), demyelination and remyelination (9), presence of granuloma (6) and presence of bacilli (5 cases). We conclude that in case of ulnar nerve palsy in leprosy without skin changes, the biopsy of the dorsal sensory branch of this nerve in the hand is a good procedure for the diagnosis of leprosy.

Compromiso cardíaco en polimiositis-dermatomiositis asociado a síndrome de Sjogren / Cardiac involvement in polymyositis-dermatomyositis associated with Sjogren`s sndrome

A 41 yers old woman with polymyositis-dermatomyositis with cardiac involvement is presented. The patient evolved with congestive heart failure, the electrocardiogram showed a left anterior hemiblock, lack of progression of R waves from V1 to V4 and unespecific ST and T alterations. Echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization showed global ventricular disfunction and pulmonary hypertension. An endomyocardial biopsy performed at the apex of the right ventricle showed mononuclear inflammatory infiltration myocardial fiber degeneration and fibrosis. Initially the patient responded well to diuretic vasodilator and steroid therapy. Posteriorly she developed an atrial flutter that reqquired electrical cardioversion and later died suddenly during the course of an acute pneumonia

[Early introduction of dairy formulas in infant feeding]. / Introducción precoz de fórmulas lácteas en la alimentación del niño.

Frequency, main features and factors associated to introduction of supplemental artificial milk formula at the first month of life were studied in 365 infants born from June 1st, through October 31, 1980, who were under control at a well baby clinic of Santiago, Chile, along years 1986 throughout 1987. By means of life-table analysis, time length of breast feeding was measured and compared in children with and without early formula introduction. In 22.5% of infants an artificial milk formula was given (82/365). In 80% of the cases (66/82) this was done upon instructions of health personnel on grounds of poor weight increase. Early introduction of formula negatively influenced duration of breast feeding which attained a median length of three months in artificially fed infant against ten months in those exclusively breast fed. Main features of infants and mothers prone to early formula introduction were maternal age 35 years or over, previous breast feeding shorter than six months, illegitimacy or first child, fourth or over in birth order, low birth weight and, or, hospital admission in the first four weeks of life. No influence was identified from educational level, of maternal work, desired or unwanted pregnancy, maternal nutritional status in the last three months of pregnancy, child spacing, type of delivery, sex and gestational age of the infants.