Histopathologic alterations of gill tissue in Siluriformes and Characiformes from the Middle Tocantins River in the Brazilian Amazon / Alterações histopatológicas do tecido branquial em Siluriformes e Characiformes do médio rio Tocantins, na Amazônia brasileira

As águas do rio Tocantins têm sofrido descargas de dejetos tóxicos que ameaçam a biota aquática. Para tanto, a investigação das brânquias de peixes atua como biomonitoramento, visto que esses órgãos respondem por meio de adaptações a xenobióticos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a ocorrência de alterações morfológicas das espécies de Psectrogaster amazonica, Pimelodina flavipinnis e Pimelodus blochii. As coletas ocorreram nas estações chuvosa e seca. As brânquias de todos os espécimes coletados foram processadas de acordo com metodologia específica para protocolo de hematoxilina e eosina. As principais alterações histológicas observadas no período chuvoso foram: hiperplasia, destacamento do epitélio filamentar, fusão parcial e total das lamelas secundárias, congestão, aneurisma e encurtamento das lamelas respiratórias. Em relação ao período seco, as principais lesões observadas foram: ruptura do epitélio, aneurisma, hiperplasia e necrose. Considerando a diversidade ictiológica do rio Tocantins, o presente estudo propiciará o conhecimento da condição das brânquias, órgão imprescindível para a saúde do peixe, e consequentemente a compreensão das implicações sobre a qualidade das águas do rio Tocantins.(AU)

Molecular cloning and characterization of an α-amylase cDNA highly expressed in major feeding stages of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei.

α-Amylases are common enzymes responsible for hydrolyzing starch. Insect-pests, whose larvae develop in seeds, rely obligatorily on α-amylase activity to digest starch, as their major food source. Considering the relevance of insect α-amylases and the natural α-amylase inhibitors present in seeds to protect from insect damage, we report here the molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the full-length AmyHha cDNA of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, a major insect-pest of coffee crops. The AmyHha sequence has 1879 bp, containing a 1458 bp open reading frame, which encodes a predicted protein with 485 amino acid residues, with a predicted molecular mass of 51.2 kDa. The deduced protein showed 55-79% identity to other insect α-amylases, including Anthonomus grandis, Ips typographus and Sitophilus oryzae α-amylases. In depth analysis revealed that the highly conserved three amino acid residues (Asp184, Glu220, and Asp285), which compose the catalytic site are also presented in AmyHha amylase. The AmyHha gene seems to be a single copy in the haploid genome and AmyHha transcription levels were found higher in L2 larvae and adult insects, both corresponding to major feeding phases. Modeling of the AmyHha predicted protein uncovered striking structural similarities to the Tenebrio molitor α-amylase also displaying the same amino acid residues involved in enzyme catalysis (Asp184, Glu220 and Asp285). Since AmyHha gene was mostly transcribed in the intestinal tract of H. hampei larvae, the cognate α-amylase could be considered a high valuable target to coffee bean insect control by biotechnological strategies.

Traditional suburethral sling operations for urinary incontinence in women.

BACKGROUND: Traditional suburethral slings are surgical operations used to treat women with symptoms of stress urinary incontinence. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of traditional suburethral slings on stress incontinence alone or stress with other types of urinary (mixed) incontinence in comparison with other management options. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Trials Register (searched 22 December 2004), The UK National Research Register (Issue 1, 2001) and the reference lists of relevant articles. We hand searched the proceedings of the Brazilian Congress of Urology from 1991 to 2003, inclusive. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised or quasi-randomised trials that included traditional suburethral slings for the treatment of stress or mixed urinary incontinence. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: All three reviewers independently extracted data from included trials onto a standard form and assessed trial methodological quality. The data abstracted were relevant to predetermined outcome measures. Where appropriate, a summary statistic was calculated: a relative risk for dichotomous data and a weighted mean difference for continuous data. MAIN RESULTS: Thirteen trials were identified including 760 women of whom 627 were treated with suburethral slings. Five compared suburethral slings with open abdominal retropubic colposuspension (Burch/Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz) and one compared suburethral slings with needle suspension (Stamey). In six trials, different types of suburethral sling were compared with each other. Nine types of slings were included (Teflon, polytetrafluoroethylene, prolene used for transvaginal tape (TVT), porcine dermis, lyophilised dura mater, fascia lata, vaginal wall, autologous dermis and rectus fascia). There were no comparisons of suburethral sling with anterior repair, laparoscopic retropubic suspension, peri-urethral injections or artificial sphincters. One trial compared surgery (including slings) with anticholinergic medication.There were no statistically significant differences between traditional slings and other types of continence surgery, or between one type of traditional sling and another sling. Confidence intervals around the estimates were wide, reflecting the few data available, and so clinically important differences could not be ruled out. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The data on sub urethral sling operations remain too few to address the effects of this type of surgical treatment. Few trials are reported by authors in a complete fashion and most information came from abstracts presented in annual meetings. The broader effects of suburethral slings could not be established since trials did not include appropriate outcome measures such as general health status, health economics, pad testing, third party analysis and time to return to normal activity level. Data obtained from thirteen trials did not provide reliable estimates because of their sizes, and heterogeneity of designs, populations studied, and types of comparisons made. Reliable evidence on which to judge whether or not suburethral slings are better or worse than other surgical or conservative management is currently not available.

Suburethral sling operations for urinary incontinence in women.

BACKGROUND: Suburethral slings are surgical operations used to treat women with urinary incontinence. They were originally designed for recurrent stress incontinence, but have also been used recently for primary cases. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of suburethral slings on stress or mixed urinary incontinence in comparison with other management options. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group's trials register, The UK National Research Register (Issue 1, 2001) and the reference lists of relevant articles. We hand searched the proceedings of the Brazilian Congress of Urology from 1991 to 1999, inclusive. Date of most recent search: March 2001. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised or quasi-randomised trials that included suburethral slings for the treatment of urinary incontinence. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Both reviewers independently extracted data from included trials onto a standard form and assessed trial methodological quality. The data abstracted were relevant to predetermined outcome measures. Where appropriate, a summary statistic was calculated: a relative risk for dichotomous data and a weighted mean difference for continuous data. MAIN RESULTS: Seven trials were identified including 682 women - 457 treated with suburethral slings and 225 with other procedures. Four compared suburethral slings with open abdominal retropubic suspensions (Burch/Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz) and one compared suburethral slings with needle suspension (Stamey). In the two last trials, different types of suburethral sling were compared with each other. Six types of slings were included (Teflon, polytetrafluoroethylene, prolene used for tension free vaginal tape (TVT), porcine dermis, lyophilized dura mater and rectus fascia). There were no comparisons of suburethral sling with anterior repair, laparoscopic retropubic suspension, peri-urethral injections, artificial sphincters or conservative management. In respect of short-term cure, overall rates are similar (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.68 to 1.27) in comparison to open abdominal retropubic suspension. This mainly reflects the results of one larger trial on TVT. However, for long term results, data are too few to give a reliable estimate. Data were too few to address whether other types of suburethral slings were as effective as open abdominal retropubic suspension or needle suspension. There were no detectable differences in terms of voiding dysfunction, urge incontinence or detrusor instability between suburethral slings and abdominal or needle suspensions, but the data were few and the confidence intervals wide. About one in 11 had a complication during TVT, most commonly bladder perforation, but none had serious consequences. In the small trial which compared autologous (rectus fascia) with synthetic (Goretex) slings, 11/32 vs 2/16 women were not cured after a year (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.09 to 1.45) which is not statistically significant but fewer women with autologous slings had complications (0/32 vs 5/16; RR 21.35, 95% CI 1.25 to 363.78). Two women in the Goretex group had late sling erosion of the urethra requiring removal of the Goretex, although their incontinence remained cured. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results from a larger trial provide reassuring evidence about the performance of the less invasive TVT sling procedure. Cure rates after TVT were similar to those following open abdominal retropubic suspension, but with confidence intervals of around 10% absolute difference. About one in 11 women had a complication during TVT, most commonly bladder perforation, but none had serious consequences. Long term results are awaited. The data were too few to address whether other types of suburethral slings were as effective as open abdominal retropubic suspension or needle suspension. There was limited evidence from one small trial that slings made of Goretex had more complications than slings made of rectus fascia. The broader effects of suburethral slings could not be established since trials did not include appropriate outcome measures such as general health status, health economics, pad testing, third party analysis and time to return to normal activity level. Evidence that suburethral slings may be better or worse than other surgical or conservative management is lacking because no trials addressed these comparisons.

Suburethral sling operations for urinary incontinence in women.

BACKGROUND: Suburethral slings are surgical operations used to treat women with urinary incontinence. They were originally designed for recurrent stress incontinence, but have also been used recently for primary cases. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of suburethral slings on stress or mixed urinary incontinence in comparison with other management options. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group's trials register, The National Research Register and the reference lists of relevant articles. We hand searched the proceedings of the Brazilian Congress of Urology from 1991 to 1999, inclusive. Date of most recent search: January 2000. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised or quasi-randomised trials that included suburethral slings for the treatment of urinary incontinence. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Both reviewers independently extracted data from included trials onto a standard form and assessed trial methodological quality. The data abstracted were relevant to predetermined outcome measures. Where appropriate, a summary statistic was calculated: a relative risk for dichotomous data and a weighted mean difference for continuous data. MAIN RESULTS: Five trials were identified including 206 women - 126 treated with suburethral slings and 80 with other procedures. Three compared suburethral slings with open abdominal retropubic suspensions (Burch/Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz) and one compared suburethral slings with needle suspension (Stamey). In the fifth trial, different types of suburethral sling were compared with each other. Six types of slings were included (Teflon, polytetrafluoroethylene, Goretex, porcine dermis, lyophilized dura mater and rectus fascia). There were no comparisons of suburethral sling with anterior repair, laparoscopic retropubic suspension, peri-urethral injections, artificial sphincters or conservative management. There is one ongoing trial with Tension-free Vaginal Tape (TVT) versus Burch colposuspension, results expected in August 2000. For each outcome data were available only from individual trials. There were no detectable differences in terms of voiding dysfunction, urge incontinence or detrusor instability between suburethral slings and abdominal or needle suspensions, but the data were few and the confidence intervals wide. More peri-operative complications were reported after suburethral slings than after needle suspension (9/10 vs 2/10; RR 4.5, 95% CI 1.3 to 15.8), and length of stay was longer after sling operations than after abdominal or needle suspension. In the trial which compared autologous (rectus fascia) with synthetic (Goretex) slings, 11/32 vs 2/16 women had not improved after a year (RR 2.75, 95% CI 0.69 to 10.95), but fewer had complications (0/32 vs 5/16; RR 0.05, 95% CI 0 to 0.8). Two women in the second group had late sling erosion of the urethra requiring removal of the Goretex, although their incontinence remained cured. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: There were few data available to compare suburethral sling operations with other surgical management (abdominal and needle suspension, or different types of slings). In general, the quality of trials was poor with no clear method of randomisation, small numbers of women studied, short follow-up and scanty information on outcome measures. There is not enough evidence on which to judge whether suburethral slings are better or worse than other surgical or non surgical managements.

Comparison of vaginal wall sling and modified vaginal wall sling for stress urinary incontinence.

CONTEXT: There are several controversies about which is the best form of surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence in women. The vaginal wall sling in its original and modified form were presented by Raz as new options for treatment of these conditions, but there is a lack of comparative clinical trials using both techniques. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of the original and the modified vaginal wall sling. DESIGN: A comparative, prospective, non-randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Public and private health care units (Urology Division, Faculty of Medicine of the ABC Foundation, and Universidade Federal de São Paulo / Escola Paulista de Medicina). PARTICIPANTS: Twenty patients with anatomical and intrinsic sphincter deficiency stress urinary incontinence were surgically treated for evaluating the initial results of the vaginal wall sling, from February 5, 1994, to June 27, 1996. INTERVENTIONS: The patients were divided into two groups. Group A (n = 10) were treated with the original vaginal wall sling. Group B (n = 10) were treated with the modified vaginal wall sling. Both groups were statistically similar according to clinical and urodynamic parameters. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Cure and complication rates. RESULTS: Follow-up ranged from 19 to 43 months (median = 28) for group A. The overall cure rate was 70%. Fifty per cent of the patients had urinary retention of 7 to 35 days. There were no major complications. Follow-up ranged from 14 to 26 months (median = 18) for Group B. The cure rate was 80%. Two patients had urinary retention of 7 and 55 days. There were no major complications. CONCLUSIONS: The vaginal wall sling is as effective as the modified vaginal wall sling but has a higher rate of urinary retention.