In vitro study of the aortic interleaflet triangle reshaping.

Aortic interleaflet triangle reshaping (AITR) is a surgical approach to aortic valve incontinence that involves placing three stitches at half of the interleaflet triangles height. In this work, the relationship between the actual stitch height and valve functioning, and the safety margin that the surgeon can rely on in applying the stitches were systematically investigated in vitro. AITR surgery was applied to six swine aortic roots placing the stitches empirically at 50%, 60% and 75% of the triangle heights. Then the actual stitch heights were measured and the hydrodynamic performances were evaluated with a pulsatile hydrodynamic mock loop. Actual stitch heights were 45±2%, 61±4% and 79±6%. As compared to untreated conditions, the 50% configuration induced a significant variation in the effective orifice area. With stitches placed at 60%, the mean systolic pressure drop increased significantly with respect to the untreated case, but no significant changes were recorded with respect to the 50% configuration. At 75%, all the hydrodynamic parameters of systolic valve functioning worsened significantly. Summarizing, the AITR technique, when performed in a conservative manner did not induce significant alterations in the hydrodynamics of the aortic root in vitro, while more aggressive configurations did. The absence of a statistically significant difference between the 50% and 60% configurations suggests that there is a reasonably limited risk of inducing valve stenosis in the post-op scenario due to stitch misplacement.

In vitro hemodynamics and valve imaging in passive beating hearts.

Due to their high complexity, surgical approaches to valve repair may benefit from the use of in vitro simulators both for training and for the investigation of those measures which can lead to better clinical results. In vitro tests are intrinsically more effective when all the anatomical substructures of the valvular complexes are preserved. In this work, a mock apparatus able to house an entire explanted porcine heart and subject it to pulsatile fluid-dynamic conditions was developed, in order to enable the hemodynamic analysis of simulated surgical procedures and the imaging of the valvular structures. The mock loop's hydrodynamic design was based on an ad-hoc defined lumped-parameter model. The left ventricle of an entire swine heart was dynamically pressurized by an external computer-controlled pulse duplicator. The ascending aorta was connected to a hydraulic circuit which simulated the input impedance of the systemic circulation; a reservoir passively filled the left atrium. Accesses for endoscopic imaging were located in the apex of the left ventricle and in the aortic root. The experimental pressure and flow tracings were comparable with the typical in vivo curves; a mean flow of 3.5±0.1l pm and a mean arterial pressure of 101±2 mmHg was obtained. High-quality echographic and endoscopic video recordings demonstrated the system's excellent potential in the observation of the cardiac structures dynamics. The proposed mock loop represents a suitable in vitro system for the testing of minimally-invasive cardiovascular devices and surgical procedures for heart valve repair.

In vitro study of aortic valves treated with neo-chordae grafts: hydrodynamics and tensile force measurements.

Reparative surgery of the aortic root functional unit (ARFU) allows for a better preservation of the functionality of the native structure compared to prosthesis implantation. Post-operative results are satisfactory, whereas mid- and long-term results are challenging, for example in terms of cusps prolapse recurrence. At the Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit of the Sacco Hospital, a new surgical technique aimed at the stabilization in time of the results of standard ARFU repair operations has been applied. This technique, inspired by the mitral neo-chordae (NC) implantation, consists of implanting an e-PTFE suture thread between the prolapsed cusp and the sinotubular junction. Aim of this study was to assess the influence of NC implantation on the ARFU functioning by evaluating with an owned pulsatile in vitro apparatus the force magnitude acting on the NC and the dynamic behavior of porcine ARFUs treated according to the operating-room procedures. The maximum recorded values of the mean and peak diastolic forces were 0.064 and 0.186 N, respectively, and were linearly dependent upon the mean diastolic pressure across the valve. In addition, the measurements of the opening-closing times and valve leakage volumes, performed at pre- and post-surgeries, yielded that the valve functionality was not significantly influenced by NC implantation.

Hybrid aortic arch repair procedure: reinforcement of the aorta for a safe and durable landing zone.

OBJECTIVES: Hybrid aortic arch repair procedure was introduced to reduce invasiveness in high-risk patients with aortic arch pathology. The good results are expanding its application, but endoleak, particularly type I, remains its Achilles' heel. DESIGN: We describe our experience with hybrid treatment of aortic arch diseases focussing on techniques and results to avoid type I endoleak. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 high-risk patients with zone 0-2 aortic arch pathology underwent supra-aortic debranching on ascending aorta and proximal aortic arch reinforcement with a Dacron prosthesis. Metachronously, the procedure was completed with endovascular stent grafting (ESG). RESULTS: Median age was 70 years with a mean European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) of 12.7±6.8. One patient died between aortic debranching and ESG. Mean time between surgical debranching and ESG was 32±27.7 days. No major neurological events occurred. Mean length of the landing zone for ESG was 3.8±0.8 cm. Computed tomography (CT) angiography scan performed soon after operation, and at 3, 6, and 12 months did not show any type I endoleak. CONCLUSIONS: Supra-aortic debranching on ascending aorta with proximal aortic arch reinforcement is a useful step to ensure a safe landing zone for ESG, reducing risk early to midterm of endoleak. Longer term follow-up is required to confirm the viability of this technique.

Diplodia pinea, the Cause of Diplodia Blight of Pines, Confirmed in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is the major commercial pine species cultivated in the Gulf Coast Region of the southern United States. Symptoms of Diplodia shoot blight (including yellow and brown needles and resin-soaked, dead, small twigs), pycnidia with conidia typical of Diplodia pinea on blighted shoots, and damaged, immature seed cones were observed during the summer of 2007 in loblolly pine seed orchards near Ward, AL, Winn Parish, LA, and Moselle, MS. Similar conidia also were obtained from pycnidia on opened seed cones of longleaf pine (P. palustris) collected on the campus of Mississipi State University, Starkville. Pure cultures obtained from specimens collected at each location were confirmed as D. pinea using species-specific PCR primers (3) that allow differentiation of D. pinea from the similar pine shoot blight pathogen D. scrobiculata. Isolates from loblolly pines in Alabama (07-58), Louisiana (07-38), and Mississippi (06-45) were used individually to inoculate potted 6- to 7-month-old loblolly pine seedlings grown from seed in a greenhouse in each of two independent trials. Elongating terminal shoots of seedlings to be inoculated were wounded by removing a needle fascicle ∼2 cm below the shoot apex. A 4-mm-diameter plug cut from an actively growing colony on water agar (WA) was placed on the wound, mycelium side toward the stem. Noncolonized WA plugs were placed in the same manner on similarly wounded control seedlings and nonwounded control seedlings also were used. Parafilm was wrapped around the shoots to hold the agar plugs in place and was removed after 1 week. Each of the five isolate-treatment combinations was applied to seven (trial 1) or eight (trial 2) seedlings (35 and 40 seedlings per trial, respectively). One week after inoculation, small, brown lesions were visible at the point of inoculation on stems of most of the inoculated seedlings. At 25 days after inoculation, all inoculated seedlings exhibited needle browning and stem cankers ranging from 0.6 cm to 9.0 cm long (mean 2.5 cm) that girdled and killed distal portions of the shoots of ∼25% of the inoculated seedlings in each trial. Wounded control and nonwounded control seedlings did not develop symptoms. Stem segments including the point of inoculation (or comparable segments of wounded and nonwounded control seedlings) were excised, surface disinfested, and incubated on tannic acid agar with sterile red pine needles. D. pinea was cultured from all inoculated seedlings and also from one wounded control seedling. Although occurrence of D. pinea on Cedrus spp. is included in an index (1), to our knowledge this is the first confirmed report of D. pinea on pines in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The degree of risk presented by D. pinea to loblolly pine, longleaf pine, and other pine species native to the southern United States when grown in their native ranges is unknown. Reports of Diplodia shoot blight of southern U.S. pines when grown as exotics in the southern hemisphere (4) and the potential for epidemics to develop suddenly under severe weather conditions (2,4) justify additional studies to evaluate the potential for damage to these hosts in their native ranges. References: (1) Anonymous. Page 333 in: Index of Plant Diseases in the United States. Agric. Handb. 165, U.S. Dep. Agric. Washington, DC, 1960. (2) T. H. Nicholls and M. E. Ostry. Plant Dis. 74:54, 1990. (3) D. R. Smith and G. R. Stanosz. Plant Dis. 90:307, 2006. (4) W. J. Swart and M. J. Wingfield. Plant Dis. 75:761, 1991.

Should pregnancy be considered a risk factor for aortic dissection? Two cases of acute aortic dissection following cesarean section in non-Marfan nor bicuspid aortic valve patients.

Acute aortic dissection in pregnancy is a rare event and rarer still in healthy young women; however, women with a bicuspid aortic valve or the Marfan syndrome are at a higher risk of dissection. The relationship between pregnancy and aortic dissection is still unclear. We describe the cases of two women with no history of cardiovascular disease who developed an acute aortic type A dissection within a few days after term delivery. Surgical repair was performed with ascending aorta replacement and aortic valve sparing. In both cases, the dissection was diagnosed within a few days following cesarean section done neither because of fetal or maternal distress. To date, only one case of type A and two cases of type B aortic dissection following cesarean section have been reported. Compared with spontaneous delivery, scheduled cesarean section, as in our cases, allows for better control of hemodynamic parameters and should protect against aortic dissection. Postoperative screening for inherent connective tissue disorders detected no mutations within the fibrillin and collagen gene chromosome in either patient. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patients were discharged on postoperative days 7 and 8, respectively.

Comparative studies on the CO2- signal in tooth enamel and carbonates.

Systematic studies are made on the CO2- signal in tooth enamel to improve the calculation of the absorbed dose D(E). They consist of experiments on the effect of heating on the CO2- signal and the examination of the long-term development of the signals after irradiation and after heating experiments. On suitable teeth both single- and multiple-aliquot methods were used to calculate an absorbed dose D(E). The peak to peak intensity of the CO2- signal shows an enhancement within 3 days of irradiation. Furthermore a transient increase in the signal intensity after heating tooth enamel at 120 degrees C is observed, which mostly fades within 10-20 days. After artificial irradiation it is necessary to wait at least 3 days before electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements can be done. Differences in signal growth curves obtained using various protocols, for example single- or multiple-aliquot methods with and without heating after irradiation, are presented. Results for tooth enamel are compared with analogous experiments on the CO2- signal in carbonates.

Point defects and the blue emission in fired quartz at high doses: a comparative luminescence and EPR study.

The dose response of the 375 degrees C. 470 nm TL peak in fired quartz is studied by using thermoluminescence emission spectra and monochromatic glow curves. The blue emission displays a significant sensitivity increase for doses in excess of 1000 Gy, subsequent saturation at 16 kGy and a pre-dose effect over the entire dose range. Comparison with the growth of the known electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) centres and radioluminescence emission spectra indicates that the [AlO4] centre is the recombination site for the blue emission, whereas the electron trap remains unknown. The sensitivity change seems to be linked to the dose-induced reduction of the [GeO4/Li] centre. Possible mechanisms for the observed dose response are discussed.

Myocardial revascularization with multiple arterial grafts: comparison between the radial artery and the right internal thoracic artery.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) harvesting is significantly underused, whereas the radial artery is being used with increasing frequency. We have retrospectively analyzed perioperative and short-term outcomes of patients receiving a radial artery versus those receiving a right ITA as a second arterial graft. METHODS: Between February 1999 and May 2000, 250 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting using the radial artery (156 patients) or the right ITA (94 patients) in combination with the left ITA and, when required, the saphenous vein. RESULTS: There was a higher prevalence of risk factors in the radial artery group. More coronary artery bypass graftings (p < 0.001) were performed with the radial artery. Operative mortality was not different (p = not significant). In the right ITA group there was more bleeding (p < 0.001) and a longer hospital stay (p < 0.001). Mean follow-up was 8.1 +/- 3.9 months. The probability of survival was similar (p = not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The radial artery can extend the benefits of multiple arterial grafting to those patients who are usually excluded from bilateral ITA harvesting because of multiple risk factors. Perioperative and short-term results are good.

Strong coherence between solar variability and the monsoon in Oman between 9 and 6 kyr ago.

Variations in the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth are thought to influence climate, but the extent of this influence on timescales of millennia to decades is unclear. A number of climate records show correlations between solar cycles and climate, but the absolute changes in solar intensity over the range of decades to millennia are small and the influence of solar flux on climate is not well established. The formation of stalagmites in northern Oman has recorded past northward shifts of the intertropical convergence zone, whose northward migration stops near the southern shoreline of Arabia in the present climate. Here we present a high-resolution record of oxygen isotope variations, for the period from 9.6 to 6.1 kyr before present, in a Th-U-dated stalagmite from Oman. The delta18O record from the stalagmite, which serves as a proxy for variations in the tropical circulation and monsoon rainfall, allows us to make a direct comparison of the delta18O record with the Delta14C record from tree rings, which largely reflects changes in solar activity. The excellent correlation between the two records suggests that one of the primary controls on centennial- to decadal-scale changes in tropical rainfall and monsoon intensity during this time are variations in solar radiation.

An analytical model for the SO2- centre, ESR signal at g = 2.0057 in carbonates.

Detailed experiments were conducted to test the behaviour of the ESR signal at the g-value of 2.0057 in corals after irradiation and heating. On the basis of the results an analytical model for this signal was developed. We assume the existence of a precursor to the SO2- radical. On irradiation traps are produced, some in the precursor state and some in the radical state. Heating then causes transfer of electrons into the precursor state, from the precursor state into the radical state and out of the radical state into a base state. On the base of this model, we suggest that the signal at g = 2.0057 can be applied for dating. Our first dating attempts on corals delivered promising results for the suggested procedure.

Surgical treatment of left ventricular post-infarction aneurysm with endoventriculoplasty: late clinical and functional results.

OBJECTIVE: The temporal response to endoventriculoplasty (EVP) has not been well defined. We have evaluated the long-term clinical and functional results of this technique. METHODS: From 1988 to 1997, 121 patients underwent aneurysmectomy by EVP associated with myocardial revascularization for anteroapical left ventricular postinfarction aneurysm. Among these, 39 patients (43%) underwent early post-operative cardiac catheterization (within 3 months maximum), and were available to be revaluated after a mean follow-up time of 56+/-28 months, by means of a new hemodynamic study. Left ventricular silhouettes were analyzed by means of a special software. RESULTS: The mean New York Heart Association functional class decreased from 2.5+/-0.9 to 1.6+/-0.8 (P<0.001) late postoperatively. The global ejection fraction improved early postoperatively from 43+/-13 to 61+/-13% (P<0.001), and late postoperatively slightly decreased to 42+/-13% (ns) versus preoperative values. Left ventricular end diastolic pressure early postoperatively fell from 16.8+/-7 to 15.7+/-6.7 (ns), and late postoperatively increased to 21.6+/-8.8 (ns) versus preoperative values. Pulmonary artery pressure rose early postoperatively from 31.5+/-6.4 to 32.1+/-6.7 (ns), and late postoperatively to 34.9+/-8.9 (ns). The global contractility score decreased early postoperatively from 42.3+/-9.6 to 28.4+/-13.6 (P<0.001); the global late postoperative contractily was 35+/-14 (ns) versus preoperative values. Patients who benefit most from the operation were those with a normal postoperative contraction pattern, where ejection fraction improved respectively early postoperatively from 43+/-13 to 63+/-11% (P<0.001), and late postoperatively to 49+/-10% (P<0.001) versus preoperative values. Occlusion or critical stenosis of bypass grafts occurred in 10 patients (25.6%). There were no significant differences in hemodynamic data and hypokinesis score changes between patients with patent or occluded bypass graft, and between patients with mono or multivessel disease. The operative mortality was 6.3%, and 8.8% needed intraaortic balloon counterpulsation. The actuarial survival rates at 5 and 7 years were 73+/-6 and 61+/-6%. The mean follow-up period was 68 months (with 112 months maximum). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, in our patients group, EVP of left ventricular aneurysm associated with coronary grafting improves clinical status after operation. We registered a trend for a mild hemodynamic worsening, irrespective of coronary artery disease except in those patients who had shown a normal postoperative contraction pattern.

Mitral valve repair for anterior leaflet papillary fibroelastoma: two case descriptions and a literature review.

Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas are rare cardiac tumors and have been considered a 'benign' incidental finding that may have significant clinical manifestations. In this paper we report two cases of mitral valve fibroelastoma: one was discovered by chance with transthoracic echocardiography in a young healthy man, the other was an intraoperative incidental finding in a middle aged man with a recent history of acute myocardial infarction. The mitral valve was repaired in both cases after excising the tumor. The patients did well and remain asymptomatic. A literature review was compiled which comprises previous case reports of 34 patients with mitral valve papillary fibroelastomas. Most were asymptomatic, but when symptoms occurred, they could be disabling, such as stroke, cardiac heart failure, myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Papillary fibroelastoma is amenable to simple surgical excision or in addition to mitral valve repair or replacement. Recurrence has not been reported.

Ascaris-Trichuris association and malnutrition in Brazilian children.

This work was designed to evaluate the role of intestinal parasites on nutritional status in three rural areas of Brazil. A total of 520 children aged 1-12 years were studied through a questionnaire concerning housing, socio-economic conditions and a 24-h food intake recall. Measurements of weight and height were also performed, and three stool samples were collected on consecutive days for parasitological analysis. Scores of the standard deviation (z-scores) for the weight-for-height and height-for-age were used to characterise the growth profile. A high prevalence of intestinal parasites was detected, with Giardia lamblia (44%), Endolimax nana (43%), Ascaris lumbricoides (41%) and Trichuris trichiura (40%) being the most prevalent. Eleven per cent of the children were classified as showing stunting. Inadequate daily caloric intake was observed in 78% of the population and the proportion of those with inadequate protein intake was 34%. Logistic regression analysis was employed for the multivariate study. Stunting was significantly associated with estimators of low economic income, inadequate protein intake and polyparasitism, especially the association between Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura.

PIP: This study was designed to assess the association between stunting and helminthic infections by studying children aged 1-12 years living in a rural area near Sao Paolo, Brazil. A total of 520 children were studied through a questionnaire concerning housing, socioeconomic conditions and a 24-hour food intake recall. Measurement of weight and height were also performed, and three stool samples were collected on consecutive days for parasitological analysis. The study has demonstrated a positive association between intestinal parasites and stunting in children. Intestinal parasites were present in 79% and stunting in 11.5% of children from the sample. 56.7% of the children with stunting were between 5 and 12 years of age, which justified the unusual inclusion of children above 5 years of age. The most prevalent intestinal parasites detected were Giardia lamblia (44%), Endolimax nana (43%), Ascaris lumbricoides (41%), and Trichuris trichiura (40%). In the study, no children reported diarrhea and/or fever. Nevertheless, the mechanism of parasitic infections includes anorexia, type of food intake, intestinal villus damage, competition for nutrients, facilitation of bacterial colonization, increase in energy requirements, decrease in hepatic protein synthesis, protein-losing enteropathy, and blood loss. Inadequate daily caloric intake was observed in 78% of the population, and the proportion of those with inadequate protein intake was 34%. Stunting was significantly associated with estimators of low economic income, inadequate protein intake and polyparasitism.

Left ventricular volume reduction for end-stage heart disease.

Partial left ventriculectomy (PLV) was recently introduced for end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy to improve ventricular function. Since November 1996 we have performed PLV in 14 patients; preoperatively 4 patients had idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and 10 had ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. 57.1% of patients were in New York Heart Association functional Class IV. The mitral valve was replaced in 11 patients. Postoperative echocardiography showed a reduction of left end-diastolic diameter (55.4 +/- 5.4 mm) and an increase in forward ejection (cardiac index from 2.19 +/- 0.571 min/m2 to 2.67 +/- 0.931/min/m2). The 30-day mortality was 28.6% and 20-month survival was 57.2%. Only one patient was not in NYHA functional class due to postoperative progressive mitral incompetence. Prognostic factors should be identified to avoid early failure. However, even if the mortality rate for PLV high, this operation is a valid choice for the treatment of end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy.

Treatment of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse: chordal suture plication and free-edge remodeling in 34 patients.

In this study are considered the short-middle term results of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse repair obtained by means of a personal operative technique: chordal shortening and free edge remodeling. In our institution since 1993 34 consecutive patients with degenerative myxomatous mitral regurgitation, (mean age 63.3 years, range 25 to 83 years), underwent surgery. Before the operation 22 patients (64.7%) were in NYHA functional class III or IV. Mitral insufficiency, evaluated by echocardiogram, was severe in all patients; a prolapse of only anterior leaflet was present in 10 patients, both leaflets prolapsed in the others. Patients with chordal rupture of anterior mitral leaflet were excluded. Anterior mitral leaflet prolapse repair was performed with two continuous sutures including the free edge as well as the chordae for a variable length (2 mm up to 5 mm) depending on the degree of the elongation. A concomitant posterior leaflet quadrangular resection was performed in 24 patients (70.5%), and the procedure was almost always completed by a posterior suture annuloplasty reinforced by a glutaraldehyde-tanned strip of autologous pericardium. There were no perioperative deaths. The postoperative course was uneventful in all cases, and there were no hospital deaths. Postoperative echocardiographic evaluation showed satisfactory valve function. The mean valvular regurgitation before surgical procedure was 3.67 +/- 0.4, after repair 0.30 +/- 0.5 (p < 0.01). Follow-up was completed in all patients (mean 16.5 months) with no late deaths. One patient required early reoperation for recurrent mitral regurgitation resulting for a recurring anterior leaflet prolapse. We conclude that this technique is a safe, effective and easy procedure for the repair of anterior mitral leaflet prolapse without rupture. Nevertheless, a larger number of patients and a longer follow-up are required to confirm our results.

Improvement of left ventricular function and cardiovascular neural control after endoventriculoplasty and myocardial revascularization.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of endoventriculoplasty (EVP) and myocardial revascularization on left ventricular function and on sympathovagal balance modulating sinus node and vasomotor activity, we studied patients with left anterior, septal or anteroseptal ventricular aneurysm, before and after surgery. It has been demonstrated that, compared to the standard aneurismectomy, EVP associated with coronary grafting has a lower operative mortality and improves ventricular function, clinical status and prognosis. METHODS: We collected pre- and post-operative echocardiographic and angiographic data to determine morphological and hemodynamic changes. The pre- and post-operative neural cardiovascular control was assessed by power spectrum analysis of heart rate and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variabilities during rest and tilt. RESULTS: As expected, post-operative ventricular function improved significantly: ejection fraction increased from 33 +/- 2 to 46 +/- 3% (p < 0.01) when assessed by echocardiography and from 40 +/- 4 to 55 +/- 5% (p < 0.01) when assessed by angiography; left ventricular end-diastolic pressure fell from 22 +/- 3 to 13 +/- 2 mmHg (p < 0.05). Pre-operatively sympathovagal balance responsiveness was blunted: tilt test did not induce, in respect to resting values, any significant change in low frequency (LFRR) and high frequency (HFRR) components of RR variability (in normalized units, n.u.) and in LFSAP. Post-operatively, tilt induced significant changes in LFRR and HFRR (in n.u.), in LF/HF ratio and LFSAP in respect to resting values. The pre- and post-operative percent differences--delta%--, from rest to tilt, of LFRR, HFRR, LF/HF and LFSAP were also significantly different (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). In addition, we compared data obtained from survivors and non-survivors (6 out of 19 patients died within 4 months because of heart failure). Non-survivors were characterized by significantly lower RR variance (184 +/- 80 vs. 1193 +/- 309 ms2 at rest, 196 +/- 87 vs. 546 +/- 104 ms2 during tilt, p < 0.05) and lower LFRR (15 +/- 7 vs. 61 +/- 6 at rest, 23 +/- 10 vs. 58 +/- 6 during tilt, in n.u., p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: (1) The improvement of ventricular function induced by EVP and myocardial revascularization is accompanied by a restored capability to oscillate of cardiovascular neural regulatory mechanisms; (2) the drastic reduction of variance and LF component from RR variability seems to be associated with an ominous outcome.

Caso de Moniliformis Moniliformis (Acanthocephala) em criança na Cidade de Säo Paulo / Moniliformis moniliformis (Acanthocephala) from a child in Säo Paulo, Brazil

Em abril de 1994 foi encaminhado ao Laboratório de Enteroparasitoses do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, para identificaçäo, um verme eliminado por criança do sexo feminino, de 12 meses de idade, que vinha apresentando quadro de diarréia, vômito e perda de peso. O exemplar foi examinado em miscroscópio estereoscópio e após estudos biométricos morfológicos, foi classificado como fêmea do gênero Moniliformis moniliformis, Acanthocephala, parasita comum do rato e que pode, acidentalmente, parasitar o homem. O objetivo do presente trabalho é relatar o segundo caso de parasitismo humano no Brasil e chamar a atençäo para a ocorrência eventual do parasita em nosso meio.

Esparganose humana. Relato de um novo caso no Estado de Säo Paulo / Abdominal spargnosis in Brazil. A case report

O encontro de um novo caso de esparganose humana no Brasil é relatado em paciente do sexo feminino, 17 anos, natural de Ribeiräo Grande, Estado de Säo Paulo, que apresentava processo inflamátório na regiäo umbilical, dores abdominais, mal estar, máuseas, vômitos, e febre. Foi retirado da cicatriz umbilical da paciente um parasita com cerca de 40cm de comprimento, que mostrou tratar-se de larva em fase plerocercóide conhecida como "Sparganum" de cestódio do gênero Spirometra (Luheella).