Mercury contamination in farmed fish setup on former garimpo mining areas in the Northern Mato Grosso State, Amazonian region, Brazil.

The garimpo gold mining activity has released about 2.500 tons of mercury in the Brazilian Amazonian environment in the 1980-1995 period. The northern region of Mato Grosso State, an important gold mining and trading area during the Amazonian gold rush is now at a turning point regarding its economic future. Nowadays, the activities related to gold mining have only a low relevance on its economy. Thus, the local communities are looking for economic alternatives for the development of the region. Cooperative fish farming is one of such alternatives. However, some projects are directly implemented on areas degraded by the former garimpo activity and the mercury left behind still poses risks, especially by its potential accumulation in fish. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the levels of mercury contamination in two fish farming areas, Paranaíta and Alta Floresta, with and without records of past gold-washing activity, respectively. Data such as mercury concentration in fish of different trophic level, size, and weight as well as the water physical and chemical parameters were measured and considered. These preliminary data have shown no significant difference between these two fish farming areas, relatively to mercury levels in fish.

Functional analysis of R75Q mutation in the gene coding for Connexin 26 identified in a family with nonsyndromic hearing loss.

Mutations in the gene (GJB2) coding for Connexin 26 (Cx26) are responsible for genetic forms of sensorineural hearing loss. This article describes a family characterized by congenital profound hearing loss, inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion and associated to a R75Q substitution in Cx26. Cell transfection and fluorescence imaging, dye transfer experiments and dual patch clamp recording showed that the mutant completely prevents the formation of functional channels despite assembling into junctional plaques, in communication incompetent HeLa cells. The disease is not associated with palmar and plantar keratosis in any of the family members, suggesting that R75Q substitution is not sufficient for the development of the complete syndromic phenotype. The association of palmar and plantar keratosis with profound hearing loss may be dependent on genetic background, requiring a functional interaction between the mutated Cx26 and other epidermally expressed connexins.

Cyclospora cayatanensis en pacientes con SIDA y diarrea crónica / Cyclospora cayetanensis in patients with AIDS and chronic diarrhea

Cyclospora spp. is a protozoan parasite responsible for significant gastrointestinal disease in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. We report the clinical features of two patients with chronic diarrhea and intestinal cyclosporosis caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis. The average value for CD4 count in these patients was lower than or equal to 100 cells/mm3. The oocysts were detected in smears from stool samples stained with modified acid-fast or safranin technique. Light microscopy revealed parasites in the enterocytes and these parasites were associated with villous atrophy. Cyclospora cayetanensis infection might be an important cause of diarrhea in patients with AIDS in Argentina.

Cyclospora cayatanensis en pacientes con SIDA y diarrea crónica / Cyclospora cayetanensis in patients with AIDS and chronic diarrhea

Cyclospora spp. is a protozoan parasite responsible for significant gastrointestinal disease in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. We report the clinical features of two patients with chronic diarrhea and intestinal cyclosporosis caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis. The average value for CD4 count in these patients was lower than or equal to 100 cells/mm3. The oocysts were detected in smears from stool samples stained with modified acid-fast or safranin technique. Light microscopy revealed parasites in the enterocytes and these parasites were associated with villous atrophy. Cyclospora cayetanensis infection might be an important cause of diarrhea in patients with AIDS in Argentina. (AU)

[Central venous access systems in the oncologic patient]. / Gli accessi venosi centrali nel paziente oncologico.

BACKGROUND: A safe and dependable venous access is mandatory in order to perform cancer chemotherapy and monitor blood values in the neoplastic patient. Prolonged infusions of medications with sclerosing action may damage the vessel wall, inducing chemical thrombophlebitis. Furthermore, extravasation of necrotizing compounds may be a danger to the patient. The application of totally implantable venous access systems (VAS) started in 1982, in the United States of America, where at present 500,000 devices are implanted annually. In Italy such method has been introduced in a later period, with a constantly growing trend. VAS devices have evolved since their first presentation, and so have application techniques: the original surgical route has been supported by the percutaneous one, considered most appropriate by several Centers. In this study, personal experience concerning application of VAS in cancer patients is presented. METHODS: From July 1994 to February 1998, at the General Thoracic Surgery Dept. of the University of Perugia, 198 VAS have been implanted in 195 patients. During the first period all the systems have been applied by surgical cutdown of the cephalic vein (150 cases). In the last 12 month the percutaneous technique for vein puncture has been adopted in 48 patients. RESULTS: Immediate and late complications have occurred: among the former, pneumothorax, hematoma, malposition; among the latter, infection, subclavian vein thrombosis, catheter rupture. The results are analysed after an extensive review of the international literature; pros and cons of the different implantation techniques and the technical aspects useful for preventing complications are underlined.

[Erosive gastritis associated with cryptosporidium in 2 patients with AIDS]. / Gastritis erosiva asociada a criptosporidium en dos pacientes con SIDA.

Occurrence of vomiting and diarrhea in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was most frequently attributed to enteropathogens organism that invade the gastrointestinal tract because of the immunologic unbalance of the host... Among several causes the cryptosporidium has been detected quite often and its predominant localization was the gastrointestinal tract, although other extraintestinal sites has also been reported. In both cases, erosive congestive gastritis was found, while histological examination showed cryptosporidium in gastric biopsy specimens.

Gastritis erosiva asociada a criptosporidium en dos pacientes con SIDA / Erosive gastritis associated to the cryptosporidium in 2 patients with AIDS

La aparición de vómitos y diarrea en pacientes con síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida ha sido atribuido frecuentemente a organismos enteropatógenos que invaden el tracto gastrointestinal como consecuencia del trastorno inmunológico del huésped. El cryptosporidium ha sido detectado con alguna prevalencia y su localización predominante es el tracto gastrointestinal, a pesar que otros sitios han sido notificados. Se presentan dos casos con diagnóstico endoscópico de gastritis congestiva-erosiva con presencia de criptosporidium en las biopsias gástricas. Ambos pacientes cursaban un estadío terminal de su enfermedad

Gastritis erosiva asociada a criptosporidium en dos pacientes con SIDA / Erosive gastritis associated to the cryptosporidium in 2 patients with AIDS

La aparición de vómitos y diarrea en pacientes con síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida ha sido atribuido frecuentemente a organismos enteropatógenos que invaden el tracto gastrointestinal como consecuencia del trastorno inmunológico del huésped. El cryptosporidium ha sido detectado con alguna prevalencia y su localización predominante es el tracto gastrointestinal, a pesar que otros sitios han sido notificados. Se presentan dos casos con diagnóstico endoscópico de gastritis congestiva-erosiva con presencia de criptosporidium en las biopsias gástricas. Ambos pacientes cursaban un estadío terminal de su enfermedad (AU)

Gastritis erosiva asociada a criptosporidium en dos pacientes con SIDA. / [Erosive gastritis associated with cryptosporidium in 2 patients with AIDS]

Occurrence of vomiting and diarrhea in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was most frequently attributed to enteropathogens organism that invade the gastrointestinal tract because of the immunologic unbalance of the host... Among several causes the cryptosporidium has been detected quite often and its predominant localization was the gastrointestinal tract, although other extraintestinal sites has also been reported. In both cases, erosive congestive gastritis was found, while histological examination showed cryptosporidium in gastric biopsy specimens.

[Transluminal percutaneous angioplasty in renovascular hypertension caused by monolateral fibromuscular dysplasia]. / Angioplastica percutanea transluminale nell'ipertensione renovascolare da displasia fibromuscolare monolaterale.

The authors, following recent observation of two cases of renovascular hypertension, one related to single right renal artery stenosis and the other to fibromuscular dysplasia of the left renal artery, examine the value of the Captopril-Test and treatment with Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA), in the diagnosis and therapy of this form of hypertension. According to the latest experience, reported in the literature, the Captopril-Test yields valid information as regards the dependence of hypertension on the renin-angiotensin system, while PTA represents the primary procedure in the treatment of renovascular hypertension when some conditions are satisfied as in our cases.

Haemorheologic and fibrinolytic evaluation in obese children and adolescents.

The haemorheologic condition was evaluated in 43 obese children and 35 controls. In 18 of the obese children and in 21 controls the euglobulin lysis time (ELT) was also studied. Blood viscosity at 94.5 and at 0.204 s-1 shear rates, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen and erythrocyte filtration time were significantly higher in obese than in control children. No significant differences were observed in haematocrit levels. Triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), pre-beta-lipoprotein and insulin rates were all significantly higher in obese than in control children. There were no significant differences in glycaemia and in haemoglobin A1 values. ELT, both basal and after stimulation with 1-deamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin (DDAVP), was significantly higher in the obese than in control children. The haemorheologic disturbances together with alterations of the haemostatic balance and fibrinolysis may be an important risk factor for the development of vascular changes at paediatric age.

Método modificado para la marcación de glóbulos rojos con 99mTc / Modified method for labelling red blood cells with 99mTc

Se presenta un método simple de marcación in vivo/in vitro de glóbulos rojos con 99mTc. La sangre preestañada del paciente se incuba con el radiotrazador previo agregado de soluciones de hipoclorito de sodio y EDTA sal de sodio, según la técnica descripta por Srivastava y col. El método in vivo/in vitro fue ensayado en 18 pacientes que concurrieron para una evaluación de la fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo. Se hizo un estudio comparativo con otro grupo de 11 pacientes a los cuales se aplicó el método convencional de marcación in vivo. Las imágenes obtenidas con el método in vivo/in vitro, de acuerdo con la evaluación subjetiva de 3 observadores independientes, fueron de mejor calidad y los índices de contraste presentaron menor dispersión de acuerdo al análisis estadístico (p < 0,025)

Método modificado para la marcación de glóbulos rojos con 99mTc / Modified method for labelling red blood cells with 99mTc

Se presenta un método simple de marcación in vivo/in vitro de glóbulos rojos con 99mTc. La sangre preestañada del paciente se incuba con el radiotrazador previo agregado de soluciones de hipoclorito de sodio y EDTA sal de sodio, según la técnica descripta por Srivastava y col. El método in vivo/in vitro fue ensayado en 18 pacientes que concurrieron para una evaluación de la fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo. Se hizo un estudio comparativo con otro grupo de 11 pacientes a los cuales se aplicó el método convencional de marcación in vivo. Las imágenes obtenidas con el método in vivo/in vitro, de acuerdo con la evaluación subjetiva de 3 observadores independientes, fueron de mejor calidad y los índices de contraste presentaron menor dispersión de acuerdo al análisis estadístico (p < 0,025) (AU)