Frugivory and seed dispersal of Miconia theaezans (Bonpl.) Cogniaux (Melastomataceae) by birds in a transition palm swamp: gallery forest in Central Brazil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate potential avian dispersers of Miconia theaezans by dietary habits in the Cerrado of Central Brazil. Forty-two hours and 40 minutes of focal tree observation were conducted between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. For each bird species that consumed the fruit, we registered: the time they remained on the plant, the total amount of fruit they consumed, foraging tactics and strategies to consume the fruit. Five-hundred and fifty-nine units of fruit were consumed in 47 visits by seven bird species. Thraupidae was the most frequent and representative family and Tangara cayana was the main consumer. The Tachyphonus rufus had the highest rate of intake of the entire fruit, however the rates were not significantly different among the visitors. The most-used foraging tactic by all species was to consume the fruit while "perched" (95.74% of the visits). The most commonly-used consumption strategy was to mandibulate the fruit and swallow all the contents (65.12%). Omnivores were the predominant visitors (71.43%) and made most of the visits (89.36%). All visiting species could act as potential dispersers of M. theaezans, which demonstrates the low selectiveness of this pioneer plant towards its frugivorous.

Bacterial septicemia in water snakes (Helicops modestus) in Brazil

Relata-se infecção septicêmica em cobras d’água (Helicops modestus) causada por Proteus vulgaris. Os animais iniciavam o processo apresentando abscessos puntiformes de coloração esbranquiçada na pele e após rápida evolução, morriam (100% de mortalidade). Descreve-se, ainda, a sensibilidade do P. vulgaris isolado dos animais a drogas antibacterianas.

[Preparation and use of fish fillet infusion as a basic medium for culturing bacteria]. / Preparo e utilização do infuso de filé de pescado como meio básico para o cultivo de bactérias.

The authors present the first results on the utilization of fish infusion (IFP) as a basic medium for the cultivation of bacteria. The infusion was obtained from a common marine fish, corvina (Micropogonias furnieri) according to the technique used in the preparation of beef infusion broth. Streptococcus pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis were cultured in liquid and solid media prepared with IFP as well as in recommended standard media. Solid media used for cultivation of S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis and C. jejuni were supplemented with 5% of defibrinated sheep blood and for the latter, substances recommended to increase aerotolerance were included in solid and liquid media. All of these strains grew on the media prepared with IFP except S. pneumoniae when cultured in IFP diluted 1:2 with a sodium chloride solution. Only S. pyogenes produced colonies smaller than those of the standard medium. No more differences were detect in the observation of colony morphology. The growth of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, S. marcescens, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and B. subtilis was measured in liquid media after 8 hours. In solid media, the growth index was expressed by dividing the number of colonies produced in IFP-agar and Nutriente Agar by the number of colonies on Trypticase soy agar plates. Some differences were observed in colonial size and morphology when compared with those generated in standard media. The average value obtained from the analyses of total proteins by biuret reaction in twelve batches of IFP was 5.03 mg/ml. The experiments showed that culture media prepared with IFP supported the growth of bacterial strains used in this work. It suggests that fish infusion has promising conditions of being an alternative substrate for cultural purposes.

Skeletal muscle extraaortic counterpulsation. A true arterial counterpulsation.

Reduction of left ventricular work load during systole, a critical component of arterial counterpulsation, has not previously been documented for skeletal muscle-powered extraaortic counterpulsation. To assess its capacity for afterload reduction, a skeletal muscle extraaortic counterpulsator was connected to the thoracic aorta and counterpulsated. Canine hearts (n = 7) were instrumented with left ventricular Millar catheters (Millar Instruments, Inc., Houston, Tex.) for pressure measurements and with piezoelectric ultrasonic crystals for measurement of the left ventricular minor axis dimension and wall thickness. During systole, skeletal muscle extraaortic counterpulsation resulted in a significant change in all three determinants of left ventricular circumferential wall stress compared with control conditions (no counterpulsation). Pressure decreased (peak systole, 100 +/- 5 versus 75 +/- 6 mm Hg; p less than 0.05 by paired t test), minor axis dimension decreased (end systole, 46.4 +/- 1.1 versus 45.8 +/- 1.1 mm; p less than 0.05 by paired t test), and wall thickness increased (end systole, 10.4 +/- 0.7 versus 10.6 +/- 0.7 mm; p less than 0.05 by paired t test). Left ventricular wall stress/dimension work loops showed a shift downward and to the left, a shift consistent with afterload reduction. The mean systolic left ventricular wall stress was significantly reduced, from 67.3 +/- 10.6 to 47.7 +/- 8.1 10(3) dyne/cm2 (p less than 0.05 by paired t test). Skeletal muscle extraaortic counterpulsation increased the diastolic aortic pressure from 72 +/- 6 to 105 +/- 8 mm Hg (p less than 0.05 by paired t test). Our data, which documented the counterpulsator's direct effects on left ventricular functional mechanics, showed that skeletal muscle extraaortic counterpulsation is capable of both diastolic augmentation of arterial pressure and systolic unloading of the left ventricle. Skeletal muscle extraaortic counterpulsation has potential application for ventricular unloading in the treatment of chronic end-stage heart failure.

Altered contractile response in neonatal myocardium to citrate-phosphate-dextrose infusion.

The clinical use of citrate-phosphate-dextrose during blood-product transfusion is known to affect ionized calcium levels and can result in depression of myocardial contractility. The immature heart appears to have an intrinsic reduction in contractile state compared with the adult heart and may be more dependent on transsarcolemmal calcium flux for regulation of contraction. The myocardial contractile response to citrate infusion was compared in neonatal and adult rabbit hearts using clinically comparable citrate-phosphate-dextrose concentrations. Isovolumic left ventricular pressures were monitored in an isolated, crystalloid-perfused heart model before, during, and after 15 minutes of citrate-phosphate-dextrose infusion. Developed pressure decreased 42.1 +/- 4.9% from control within 1 minute in the neonatal group versus 24.3 +/- 4.3% in the adult group (p less than 0.02). The effect on diastolic function was paradoxical in the neonate with a 43.1 +/- 11.9% increase in end-diastolic pressure compared with a 9.7 +/- 7.8% decrease in the adult (p less than 0.01). These results indicate that the neonatal heart appears more sensitive to the myocardial effects of citrate infusion with impairment of both systolic and diastolic function. The decreased ventricular compliance in the neonate with citrate-phosphate-dextrose suggests that the myocardial effects may not be simply due to changes in ionized calcium concentration.

Rapid cooling contracture of the myocardium. The adverse effect of prearrest cardiac hypothermia.

Hypothermic total circulatory arrest for repair of congenital heart lesions in neonates requires a period of rapid core cooling on cardiopulmonary bypass during which the myocardium is also exposed to hypothermic perfusion. Myocardial hypothermia in the nonarrested state results in an increase in contractility due to elevation of intracellular calcium levels. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that rapid myocardial cooling before cardioplegic ischemic arrest results in damage, with impaired recovery during reperfusion. Two groups of 10 rabbit hearts were perfused on an isolated Langendorff apparatus. Group N (normothermia) was perfused at 37 degrees C before 2 hours of cardioplegic ischemic arrest at 10 degrees C. Group C (cooling) was perfused at 15 degrees C in the unarrested state for 20 minutes before the same cardioplegic arrest conditions as group N. Left ventricular isovolumic pressure measurements, biochemical measurements from right ventricular biopsy specimens, and ventricular necrosis as defined by tetrazolium staining were used to compare the groups at 30 and 60 minutes of normothermic reperfusion. Developed pressure at a constant volume was preserved in group N at 90.7 +/- 4.5 mm Hg versus 76.9 +/- 6.3 in group C after reperfusion (p less than 0.05). Diastolic compliance showed significant deterioration in group C, with marked elevation of diastolic pressure during reperfusion (group N = 6.8 +/- 2.5 mm Hg versus group C = 38.9 +/- 6.1 after reperfusion; p less than 0.001). Adenosine triphosphate levels were significantly higher in group N both at end-ischemia and after reperfusion versus group C (group N = 17.0 +/- 1.1 nmol/mg protein versus group C = 7.7 +/- 1.0 after reperfusion; p less than 0.001). Group N had 0.4% +/- 0.4% necrosis of ventricular mass versus 19.3% +/- 2.2% with prearrest cooling in group C (p less than 0.0001). These results indicate that, when combined with cardioplegic ischemic arrest, rapid myocardial cooling in the unarrested state results in significant damage. The mechanism may be related to the cytosolic calcium loading effect of hypothermia that is not relieved during the subsequent period of cardioplegic arrest. Although hypothermia is an essential component to ischemic preservation, rapid cooling contracture can adversely influence cardioplegic myocardial protection.

Reoclusäo de coronária no infarto agudo após trombólise pela estreptoquinase: relato de caso / Coronary artery reoclusion in acute myocardial infarct after thrombolysis with streptokinase: report of a case

Os autores relatam um caso de reoclusäo de artéria coronária logo após trombólise por infusäo seletiva de estreptoquinase, em paciente com infarto agudo do miocárdio. Discutem os benefícios possíveis com o procedimento e assinalam que a causa da retrombose seja, possivelmente, a quantidade da enzima. (2000 U.I/min) utilizada e a distância do cateter ao trombo. O aumento da dose de estreptoquinase (4000 U.I./min) e um cateter especial atualmente em uso podem evitar esta ocorrência