Immunological and parasitological parameters after treatment with dexamethasone in murine Schistosoma mansoni.

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of diphenyl dimethyl bicarboxylate (DDB) and dexamethasone alone and in combination with praziquantel on various parasitological, immunological and pathological parameters reflecting disease severity and morbidity in murine schistosomiasis. DDB and dexamethasone had no effect on worm burden but altered tissue egg distribution. This indicates that, under the schedule used, neither drug interfered with the development of adult worms or oviposition, but both can modulate liver pathology. Dexamethasone resulted in a greater reduction in granuloma size than did DDB. Dexamethasone-treated mice also showed lower levels of serum gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-4, together with higher IL-10 levels, than infected untreated control animals. These data suggest that dexamethasone is a convenient and promising coadjuvant agent that results in decreased morbidity in murine schistosomiasis.

Análise eletromiografica do exercício agachamento com utilização do cinto pélvico / Electromyographic analysis of the bending down exercise using the pelvic belt

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar eletromigraficamente os músculos: reto femoral (RF), bíceps femoral (cabeça longa) (BFCL), eretor da espinha (ES) e glúteo máximo (GM), de ambos os lados nas fases excêntrica e concêntrica durante a execução do exercício agachamento, que podem ser realizadas com ou sem a utilização de um cinto pélvico. Participaram deste estudo dez (10) voluntárias praticantes do agachamento, com idade de 20 a 22 anos, e de antropometria semelhante e sem antecedentes de lesões músculo esqueléticas. Com os resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que: o uso do cinto não apresenta um efeito significativo sobre as ações dos músculos RF, BFCL, ES e GM músculos, este fato ocorrendo apenas para o músculo glúteo máximo direito, que apresentou um maior nível de atividade, sem o uso do cinto. Todos os músculos apresentam maior atividade na fase concêntrica do movimento.

This study examined the electromyographic muscles: rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (long head)(BFCL), erectors spinae (ES) and gluteus maximus (GM), on both sides during eccentric and concentric during execution the squat exercise, which can be taken with or without the use of a belt pelvic. Participial this study (10) voluntary practitioner’s squat, aged 20 to 22 years, and similar anthropometry and without a history of skeletal muscle injury. With the results obtained, it was concluded that: the use of the belt does not present a signifi cant effect on the actions of the RF, BFCL, ES and GM muscles, this fact occurring only for the right gluteus maximus muscle which presented a greater level of activity without the use of the belt. Regarding the movement phases, all of the muscles presented greater levels of activity while raising the load.

Prognostic significance of intraperitoneal free cancer cells obtained by laparoscopic peritoneal lavage in patients with gastric cancer.

Laparoscopy is a safe and useful method for examining the local extent and regional spread of disease in patients with gastric cancer. Peritoneal dissemination remains a frequent type of recurrence after surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of intraperitoneal free cancer cells (IFCCs) detected by laparoscopic peritoneal lavage. Forty-nine patients with advanced gastric cancer underwent laparoscopy with cytologic examination for staging. Peritoneal lavage was performed when ascites was not present. Aspirated fluid from the peritoneal cavity was centrifuged and subjected to cytologic examination using Giemsa and Papanicolaou staining methods. Patients were surgically treated and followed for a minimum of 5 years. IFCCs were detected in 41% of the patients. In eight cases (16.3%) laparoscopy revealed carcinomatosis and/or multiple liver metastases, so laparotomy was not performed. Patterns of recurrence after curative resection included the following: peritoneal (n = 3), local (n = 4), liver (n = 1), and other (n = 1). All patients who tested positive for IFCCs had peritoneal recurrence. The absence of IFCCs was associated with improved overall survival (21 months for a 95% confidence interval of 7.4 to 34.6 vs. 4 months for a 95% confidence interval of 2.4 to 5.6). Overall survival adjusted for type of resection also demonstrated a favorable outcome for patients who were negative for IFCCs. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) laparoscopic peritoneal lavage cytology may be useful in identifying patients at high risk for peritoneal relapses and may alter treatment, and (2) lFCCs provide additional prognostic information in patients with gastric cancer.

Value of peritoneal lavage cytology during laparoscopic staging of patients with gastric carcinoma.

Forty-nine consecutive patients with advanced gastric carcinoma underwent preoperative staging by laparoscopy between June 1991 and June 1992. Peritoneal lavage with cytologic examination was performed when ascites was not present. In eight cases (16.3%), laparoscopy revealed carcinomatosis and/or multiple hepatic metastases, so laparotomy was not performed. Intraperitoneal free cancer cells (IFCCs) were detected in 41% of patients (65% in patients with ascites and 28% by peritoneal lavage). In the absence of macroscopic peritoneal dissemination, IFCCs were encountered in 29% of patients. IFCCs were present only when invasion of the gastric serosa was >3 cm2 or when adjacent organs and structures were already invaded. Mucinous adenocarcinoma, Borrmann class IV tumors, and Stage IV patients had higher incidence of IFCCs. Cytologic results were similar at laparoscopy and laparotomy (p > 0.05). Therefore, cytologic evaluation of peritoneal lavage added sensitivity to laparoscopy in assessing patients with advanced gastric carcinoma and may alter their therapeutic approach.

Efeitos protetores da glutamina e dieta elementar na enterocolite actínica aguda: avaliaçäo histológica / Protective effects of glutamine and elemental diet in acute actinic enterocolitis: histological evaluation

O emprego da radioterapia abdominal pode ocasionar a enterite actínica aguda. A utilizaçäo de formulaçöes nutricionais especiais tem sido proposta a fim de proteger o intestino durante e após a irradiaçäo. OBJETIVO. Avaliar histologicamente o efeito protetor de dietas polimétricas e elementares enriquecidas com glutamina na prevençäo da enterite actínica aguda. MÉTODOS. Foram estudados 65 ratos machos, adultos, da raça Wistar, monitorizados diariamente quanto à ingestäo e às variaçöes de peso corpóreo. Os animais foram randomizados em três grupos e alimentados com dietas isocalóricas e isonitrogenadas: 1) CRt - dieta polimérica com caseína enriquecida com glutamina a 2 por cento; e 3) ERt - dieta elementar enriquecida com glutamina a 2 por cento. O experimento constou de períodos de adaptaçäo (7 dias), de irradiaçäo (5 dias) e de recuperaçäo (3 dias). Após a adapataçäo alimentar, todos os ratos receberam irradiaçäo abdominal fracionada em 5 doses diárias de 300cGy.quatro dias após o término da irradiaçäo, os ratos foram operados para ressecar o intestino delgado e o cólon para estudo histopatológico. RESULTADOS. Os grupos ERt e GRt apresentaram número significativamente maior de ratos com aumento da celularidade, do número de mitoses e médias superiores de altura das vilosidades em comparaçäo à CRt no intestino delgado. O grupo ERt apresentou, ainda maior número de ratos com relaçäo das alturas vilosidade-cripta normal do que os grupos CRt ou GRt, que näo apresentaram diferença estatística entre si. No intestino grosso, as médias de altura das criptas dos grupos ERt e GRt foram iguais e superiores às de CRt; os três grupos näo apresentaram, porém, diferença significante em relaçäo à celularidade epitelial e ao número de mitoses nas criptas do cólon. CONCLUSAO. Nas condiçöes do presente trabalho, a suplementaçäo alimentar com glutamina antes, durante e após a irradiaçäo abdominal em ratos, em dieta polimérica ou elementar, determinou efeitos protetores sobre o intestino irradiado, preservando sua arquitetura morfológica e a capacidade de recuperaçäo, sobretudo no intestino delgado

[Protective effects of glutamine and elemental diet in acute actinic enterocolitis: histological evaluation]. / Efeitos protetores da glutamina e dieta elementar na enterocolite actínica aguda: avaliação histológica.

Radiotherapy plays nowadays an important role in malignancies treatment. However, collateral effects and severe complications owing to cellular damage of peritumoral tissues may occur. Different nutritional resources have been recently indicated to achieve intestinal protection during cancer irradiation. PURPOSE--The aim of this study was to set the role of glutamine and elemental diets in acute actinic enteritis prevention. METHOD--Sixty-five adult male Wistar rats with average weight of 200g were maintained in individual metabolic cages; daily body weight and food ingestion were carefully monitored. The animals were randomized into three groups and fed isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets: 1) CRt-polymeric-casein diet; 2) GRt-polymeric-casein diet supplemented with 2% glutamine and 3) ERt-elemental diet supplemented with 2% glutamine. After an adaptation period (seven days), all rats received abdominal radiation in five daily doses of 300cGy. Four days after the rats were operated on to resect the small intestine and colon for histological evaluation. RESULTS--Small intestine histological data in ERt and GRt rats were better than CRt rats, by preserving mucosal cellularity and increasing mitosis number and villi length. Simultaneously, ERt group had greater number of rats with normal villus-crypt relation than CRt or GRt groups. Large intestine histological data showed that the average crypts length in ERt and GRt rats were greater than in CRt ones. CONCLUSION--Glutamine-supplemented polymeric or elemental diets given to rats before, during and after abdominal radiotherapy showed protective effects against radiation injury, by supporting mucosal structure and recovery.

[Acute abdomen in childhood caused by intestinal angiostrongylus infection: a case report]. / Abdome agudo na infância por angiostrongilíase intestinal: relato de um caso.

A case of acute abdomen in a one-year-old infant with abdominal angiostrongyliasis is reported. The main clinical and pathologic features of this disease are discussed. The diagnosis is made only through a biopsy that shows maturing stages of the worm within the intestinal wall and/or mesentery. Neither eggs nor larvae have been found in human feces. Treatment has been by surgical resection of the inflammatory mass. The prevalence of this illness is underestimated because of the difficult diagnosis. The main purpose of the present article is to attract attention to this diagnostic possibility as a cause of abdominal pain and acute abdomen in childhood.

Histoplasmose disseminada em transplantado renal. / Disseminated histoplasmosis in renal transplant patients

Os Autores registram caso de histoplasmose generalizada em paciente transplantado com rim de doador nao aparentado. Alem da infeccao fungica diagnosticada sorologicamente e pela histopatologia, a autopsia revelou cirrose hepatica macro e micronodular, de provavel etiologia viral (virus B), hepatocarcinoma, deplecao linfoide do baco e glomerulopatia de transplante. Revendo a literatura sobre o assunto, chegam a conclusao de que, provavelmente, com a imunodepressao medicamentosa, as lesoes pulmonares por reinfeccao endogena foram as primeiras a aparecer sob a forma de uma histoplasmose pulmonar cronica

Carcinoma do saco lacrimal: apresentacao de 2 casos e revisao da literatura. / Carcinoma of the lacrimal sac: report of 2 cases and review of the literature

Os autores apresentam 2 casos de carcinoma do saco lacrimal, com evolucao respectivamente de 5 anos e 8 anos, este considerado atipico. Uma revisao da literatura internacional demonstrou a existencia de 81 casos publicados de carcinoma do saco lacrimal, inexistindo trabalhos nacionais sobre o assunto. Os carcinomas do saco lacrimal podem simular dacriocistites. Tal ocorreu com o caso numero 1 apresentado no presente trabalho.O exame histopatologico de toda dacriocistectomia devera ser obrigatorio em decorrencia do exposto acima. Os carcinomas do saco lacrimal podem originar-se de papilomas da mucosa daquela estrutura. Tem carater polifocal podendo manifestar-se clinicamente como tumores isolados das palpebras, como ocorreu no caso numero 2 do presente trabalho, com recidivas frequentes apesar dos tratamentos cirurgicos e radioterapicos efetuados. Os carcinomas palpebrais recidivantes exigem uma pesquisa das vias excretoras lacrimais que poderao ser a sede primaria oculta do tumor, causador das recidivas