Associations of plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and cardiovascular outcomes with climatic variations in a large Brazilian population of Campinas, São Paulo state: an eight-year study.

In this eight-year retrospective study, we evaluated the associations between climatic variations and the biological rhythms in plasma lipids and lipoproteins in a large population of Campinas, São Paulo state, Brazil, as well as temporal changes of outcomes of cardiovascular hospitalizations. Climatic variables were obtained at the Center for Meteorological and Climatic Research Applied to Agriculture (University of Campinas - Unicamp, Brazil). The plasma lipid databases surveyed were from 27,543 individuals who had their lipid profiles assessed at the state university referral hospital in Campinas (Unicamp). The frequency of hospitalizations was obtained from the Brazilian Public Health database (DATASUS). Temporal statistical analyses were performed using the methods Cosinor or Friedman (ARIMA) and the temporal series were compared by cross-correlation functions. In normolipidemic cases (n=11,892), significantly different rhythmicity was observed in low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (C) both higher in winter and lower in summer. Dyslipidemia (n=15,651) increased the number and amplitude of lipid rhythms: LDL-C and HDL-C were higher in winter and lower in summer, and the opposite occurred with triglycerides. The number of hospitalizations showed maximum and minimum frequencies in winter and in summer, respectively. A coincident rhythmicity was observed of lower temperature and humidity rates with higher plasma LDL-C, and their temporal series were inversely cross-correlated. This study shows for the first time that variations of temperature, humidity, and daylight length were strongly associated with LDL-C and HDL-C seasonality, but moderately to lowly associated with rhythmicity of atherosclerotic outcomes. It also indicates unfavorable cardiovascular-related changes during wintertime.

Associations of plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and cardiovascular outcomes with climatic variations in a large Brazilian population of Campinas, São Paulo state: an eight-year study

In this eight-year retrospective study, we evaluated the associations between climatic variations and the biological rhythms in plasma lipids and lipoproteins in a large population of Campinas, São Paulo state, Brazil, as well as temporal changes of outcomes of cardiovascular hospitalizations. Climatic variables were obtained at the Center for Meteorological and Climatic Research Applied to Agriculture (University of Campinas - Unicamp, Brazil). The plasma lipid databases surveyed were from 27,543 individuals who had their lipid profiles assessed at the state university referral hospital in Campinas (Unicamp). The frequency of hospitalizations was obtained from the Brazilian Public Health database (DATASUS). Temporal statistical analyses were performed using the methods Cosinor or Friedman (ARIMA) and the temporal series were compared by cross-correlation functions. In normolipidemic cases (n=11,892), significantly different rhythmicity was observed in low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (C) both higher in winter and lower in summer. Dyslipidemia (n=15,651) increased the number and amplitude of lipid rhythms: LDL-C and HDL-C were higher in winter and lower in summer, and the opposite occurred with triglycerides. The number of hospitalizations showed maximum and minimum frequencies in winter and in summer, respectively. A coincident rhythmicity was observed of lower temperature and humidity rates with higher plasma LDL-C, and their temporal series were inversely cross-correlated. This study shows for the first time that variations of temperature, humidity, and daylight length were strongly associated with LDL-C and HDL-C seasonality, but moderately to lowly associated with rhythmicity of atherosclerotic outcomes. It also indicates unfavorable cardiovascular-related changes during wintertime.

Effects of Bothrops pirajai venom on the mouse extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle preparation.

The effects of Bothrops pirajai snake venom on the mouse extensor digitorum longus (EDL) preparation were examined using myographic, histopathological and biochemical approaches. B. pirajai venom (10, 25 or 50 microg/ml) dose dependently and irreversibly blocked the contractile response of indirectly stimulated EDL muscle. Histopathological analysis of EDL muscle incubated with venom showed dose-dependent damage with a loss of the normal tissue structure and the appearance of highly dark, edematous fibers together with myofibrils in various stages of condensation. At high doses of venom (50 microg/ml), loss of muscle cells was observed. In non-stimulated EDL, B. pirajai venom (10 and 50 microg/ml) caused a time-dependent release of CK which was maximal after 120 min. These results suggest that a component(s) present in the B. pirajai venom has a direct myolytic action on the skeletal muscle.

Purification and amino acid sequence of MP-III 4R D49 phospholipase A2 from Bothrops pirajai snake venom, a toxin with moderate PLA2 and anticoagulant activities and high myotoxic activity.

MP-III 4R PLA2 was purified from the venom of Bothrops pirajai venom (Bahia's jararacussu) after three chromatographic steps which started with RP-HPLC. The complete amino acid sequence of MP-III 4R PLA2 from Bothrops pirajai was determined by amino acid sequencing of reduced and carboxymethylated MP-III 4R and the isolated peptides from clostripain and protease V8 digestion. MP-III 4R is a D49 PLA2 with 121 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight estimated at 13,800 Da, with 14 half-cysteines. This protein showed moderate PLA2 and anticoagulant activity. This PLA2 does not have a high degree of homology with other bothropic PLA2-like myotoxins (approximately 75%) and nonbothropic myotoxins (approximately 60%). MP-III 4R is a new PLA2, which was isolated using exclusively analytical and preparative HPLC methods. Based on the N-terminal sequence and biological activities, MP-III 4R was identified as similar to piratoxin-III (PrTX-III), which was isolated by conventional chromatography based on molecular exclusion ion exchange chromatography. Clinical manifestations indicate that at the site of toxin injection, there may be pain of variable intensity, because animals continue to lick the limb. No clinical sign indicating general toxicity was noticed. Myotoxicity was observed in gastrocnemius muscle cells after exposure to MP-III 4R, with a high frequency (70%) of affected muscle fibers.

Hiperplasia supra-renal congenita. Efeito do tratamento sobre o crescimento estatural e a secrecao de somatotropina. / Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The effect of the treatment of stature growth and somatotropina secretion

Os autores apresentam oito casos de pacientes com sindrome adrenogenital por hiperplasia suprarenal congenita devida a deficiencia de 21-hidroxilase tratados com corticosteroides. Analisam o efeito do tratamento sobre o desenvolvimento estatural e sobre os niveis serivos de hormonio do crescimento, discutindo os resultados em face dos possiveis mecanismos fisiopatologicos em causa

Purpura trombocitopenica com diminuicao de megacarioticos na medula ossea relato de um caso. / Trombocytopenic purpura with decreased megakariocytes in the bone marrow: report of a case

A ocorrencia de purpura trombocitopenica com diminuicao de megacariocitos e incomum na literatura medica. Os autores relatam o caso de um homem de 26 anos com um quadro hemorragico. Exames complementares comprovaram trombocitopenia que persistiu durante toda a evolucao clinica.Na medula ossea havia diminuicao do numero de megacariocitos sem anormalidades nas outras linhagens hematopoeticas.Foram feitas transfusoes de sangue fresco, corticoides e imunossupressores, sem sucesso. O paciente faleceu. As hipoteses levantadas para explicar as alteracoes hematologicas, a luz dos conhecimentos atuais, nao sao satisfatorias.Estudos posteriores de maior numero de pacientes, utilizando tecnicas mais complexas, sao necessarios para melhor compreensao da patogenese do quadro