Menores de dos años y la disfunción nutricional: la visión del enfermero de la atención básica / Under two years old children and nutritional dysfunction: the vision of the primary care nurse

Resumen Objetivo: describir los elementos de vulnerabilidad del niño menor de dos años relacionados con disfunciones nutricionales, identificados por los enfermeros de atención primaria. Materiales y métodos: estudio cualitativo-descriptivo realizado en una ciudad al sur de Brasil, con seis enfermeras de servicio de unidad de salud básica y también del modelo Estrategia Salud de la Familia. La recolección de datos fue por grupos focales, de enero a febrero del 2015. Se adoptó el análisis de contenido de categorías temáticas de Bardin y para la organización y procesamiento de datos se utilizó el programa informático Iramuteq®. Resultados: el análisis de datos textuales empleados fue la clasificación jerárquica descendente, este software procesó y organizó los datos en seis textos, distribuidos en 106 segmentos, de los cuales 81 (76,4 %) fueron aprovechados. El análisis de los datos expresó las siguientes categorías: Ambiente desfavorable para la alimentación infantil sana y Prácticas y responsabilidades compartidas en el manejo de la lactancia. Mostraron que el ambiente abarca déficits socioeconómicos familiares, cognitivos y de la salud materna, mala red social y familiar como también fuerte impacto del marketing y débil supervisión de las políticas públicas. Conclusión: la comprensión de los elementos de vulnerabilidad puede permitir un diálogo estrecho entre los distintos segmentos intersectoriales y profesionales, cuyo objetivo común es el entendimiento de que la enfermedad y la discapacidad están influenciadas por aspectos políticos, sociales y económicos.

Resumo Objetivo: descrever os elementos de vulnerabilidade da criança menor de dois anos relacionados com disfunções nutricionais, identificados pelos enfermeiros de atenção primária. Materiais e métodos: estudo qualitativo-descritivo realizado em uma cidade ao sul do Brasil, com seis enfermeiros do serviço da unidade de saúde básica e também do modelo estratégia saúde da família. A coleta de dados foi por grupos focais, de janeiro a fevereiro de 2015. Adotou-se a análise de conteúdo de categorias temáticas de Bardin e para a organização e processamento de dados utilizou-se o programa informático Iramuteq®. Resultados: a análise de dados textuais empregada foi a classificação hierárquica descendente, este software processou e organizou os dados em seis textos, distribuídos em 106 segmentos, dos quais 81 (76,4 %) foram aproveitados. A análise dos dados expressou as categorias que seguem: Ambiente desfavorável para a alimentação infantil saudável e práticas e responsabilidades compartilhadas no manejo da lactação. Mostraram que o ambiente engloba déficits socioeconômicos familiares, cognitivos e da saúde materna, má rede social e familiar como também forte impacto do marketing e débil supervisão das políticas públicas. Conclusão: a compreensão dos elementos de vulnerabilidade pode permitir um diálogo estreito entre os distintos segmentos intersetoriais e profissionais, cujo objetivo comum é o entendimento de que a enfermidade e a deficiência estão influenciadas por aspectos políticos, sociais e econômicos.

Abstract Objective: to describe the elements of vulnerability of under-two-year-old child related to nutritional dysfunctions, identified by primary care nurses. Materials and Methods: a qualitative-descriptive study conducted in a city in southern Brazil, with six nurses serving the basic health unit and also the family health strategy model. The data collection was by focus group, from january to february 2015. The content analysis of Bardin thematic categories was adopted and for the organization and data processing, it was used the Iramuteq® computer program. Results: the text data analysis used was the hierarchical descending classification, this software processed and organized the data in six texts, distributed in 106 segments, of which 81 (76,4 %) were used. The analysis of the data expressed the following categories: Unfavorable environment for healthy infant feeding and Shared practices and responsibilities in the management of breastfeeding. They demonstrated that the environment encompasses family, cognitive and maternal health socioeconomic deficits, bad social and family network as well as strong impact of marketing and weak supervision of public policies. Conclusion: understanding the elements of vulnerability can allow a close dialogue between the different intersectoral and professional segments, whose common objective is the understanding that diseases and disabilities are influenced by political, social and economic aspects.

In vitro and in vivo studies of the antineoplastic activity of copper (II) compounds against human leukemia THP-1 and murine melanoma B16-F10 cell lines.

We investigated the antineoplastic activities of a previously reported copper (II) coordination compound, [Cu(BMPA)Cl2]CH3OH (1), and a new compound, [Cu(HBPA)Cl2]H2O (2), where BMPA is bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amine and HBPA is (2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, using various cellular models of human leukemia (THP-1, U937, HL60, Molt-4, JURKAT) and human colon cancer (COLO 205), as well as a murine highly metastatic melanoma (B16-F10) cell line. Compound (2) was characterized using several physical and chemical techniques, including X-ray diffraction studies. The IC50 values of the copper coordination complexes in the human leukemia cell lines ranged from 87.63 ± 1.02 to ≥400 µM at high cell concentrations and from 19.17 ± 1.06 to 97.67 ± 1.23 µM at low cell concentrations. Both compounds induced cell death, which was determined by cell cycle analyses and phosphatidylserine exposure studies. THP-1 cells released cytochrome c to the cytoplasm 12 h after treatment with 400 µM of compound (2). To evaluate the apoptosis pathway induced by compound (2), we measured the activities of initiator caspases 8 and 9 and executioner caspases 3 and 6. The results were suggestive of the activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways. To investigate the activities of the compounds in vivo, we selected two sensitive cell lines from leukemia (THP-1) and solid tumor (B16-F10) lineages. BALB/c nude bearing THP-1 tumors treated with 12 mg·kg(-1) of compound (2) showed a 92.4% inhibition of tumor growth compared with the control group.

O enfermeiro frente à vulnerabilidade da criança relacionada a agravos nutricionais / The nurse facing the child's vulnerability related to nutritional problems

Estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, cujo objetivo foi apresentar os elementos de vulnerabilidade relacionados a agravos nutricionais, identificados pelo enfermeiro, que afetam crianças de zero a 24 meses. O estudo foi desenvolvido em unidades de saúde (básicas e vinculadas à Estratégia Saúde da Família - ESF) localizadas no Distrito Sanitário Santa Felicidade (Curitiba - PR), no qual foi identificado o maior índice de agravos nutricionais, segundo o perfil epidemiológico nutricional de crianças de zero a 24 meses - SISVAN 2013. Compuseram a amostra seis enfermeiros que atenderam ao critério de inclusão (ser enfermeiro lotado em unidade de saúde do distrito selecionado e aceitar participar da pesquisa). A coleta de dados ocorreu entre o período de janeiro a fevereiro de 2015 e utilizou-se a técnica de Grupo Focal. As falas dos participantes foram organizadas pelo software Iramuteq® desenvolvido para análise multidimensional de textos e analisadas de acordo com a análise categorial temática de Bardin. Os resultados foram agrupados em cinco categorias: 1) ambiente desfavorável para a alimentação infantil saudável; 2) influência da família e do profissional de saúde na alimentação infantil; 3) introdução do leite artificial como elemento de vulnerabilidade ou potencialidade; 4) responsabilidades familiares e dos enfermeiros no cuidado à criança e 5) papel do enfermeiro no monitoramento da saúde da criança, da gestante e da família. Essa pesquisa evidenciou que a utilização do conceito de vulnerabilidade da criança relacionada a agravos nutricionais, pode permitir aos profissionais enfermeiros a reorientação do modelo biologista e fragmentado da atenção à saúde infantil, bem como ampliar o olhar do profissional para o cuidado, à medida que aprendem e compreendem aspectos sociais programáticos que vão além do individual. Para tanto, elaborou-se, como produto desse estudo, uma proposta de guia para identificação e monitoramento dos elementos de vulnerabilidade da criança relacionados a agravos nutricionais, a qual pode auxiliar no levantamento de dados com enfoque na dimensão das vulnerabilidades.

This work is a descriptive study with qualitative approach and aims to present, through research, vulnerability elements related to nutritional issues, identified by nurses, that affect children from zero to 24 months. The study was developed in public health units (basic ones and those linked to the Family Health Strategy - ESF) located in the Santa Felicidade Sanitary District (Curitiba - PR), which has the highest rate of nutritional problems, according to the nutritional epidemiological profile of children from birth to 24 months - SISVAN 2013. The sample was composed by reports from six nurses who met the inclusion criteria (be a nurse that works in the selected district health unit and accept to take part in the survey). Data collection took place between January and March 2015 and was conducted under the technique of Focus Group. The speeches of the participants were organized by Iramuteq® software and analyzed according to Bardin's thematic category analysis. The results were grouped into five categories: 1) unfavorable environment for children's healthy eating, 2) influence of family and health professional in infant feeding; 3) introduction of artificial milk as element of vulnerability or potentiality; 4) family and nurse's responsibilities in child care; and 5) the nurse's role in monitoring the health of children, pregnant women, and families. This research showed that the use of the child vulnerability concept related to nutritional problems may allow to the professional nurse the rethinking of the biologicist, fragmented model of health care for child, as well as enlarge the look of professionals towards care, once they can learn and understand the programmatic social aspects that go beyond the individual. Therefore, it was elaborated, as a result of this study, a checklist for identification and monitoring of children's vulnerability elements related to nutritional deficiencies.

[How the nursing staff perceives work in a burn unit]. / Percepções da equipe de enfermagem sobre seu trabalho em uma unidade de queimados.

The aim of this study is to analyze nurses'perception regarding their work in a burn unit of a public hospital in the state of Rio Grande do Sul Brazil. This is a study with a qualitative approach, developed from semi-structured interviews with 20 professionals of the hospital's nursing staff. From the data analysis three categories emerged. The meaning of work in a burn unit, Difficulties encountered in daily work; Strategies used by nurses in their work performance. We conclude that it is the duty of the institutions where Burn Units are located to provide spaces for psychological support in attending the demands of professionals who assist victims of thermal trauma. We emphasize the need for educational institutions to place a greater emphasis in this area during the training of future professionals.

Percepções da equipe de enfermagem sobre seu trabalho em uma unidade de queimados / La percepción del personal de enfermería de su trabajo en una unidad de quemados / How the nursing staff perceives work in a burn unit

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a percepção dos profissionais de enfermagem sobre o seu trabalho em uma Unidade de Tratamento ao Queimado de um hospital público no Rio Grande do Sul. Trata-se de um estudo com abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvido a partir de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com 20 profissionais da equipe de enfermagem. A análise dos dados possibilitou a emergência de três categorias: O significado de trabalhar em uma Unidade de Tratamento ao Queimado; Dificuldades enfrentadas no cotidiano do trabalho; Estratégias utilizadas pela enfermagem no exercício do trabalho. Conclui-se que é dever das instituições, onde as Unidades de Tratamento ao Queimado estão locadas, proporcionar espaços de apoio psicológico no atendimento às demandas dos profissionais que prestam assistência às vítimas de trauma térmico. Às instituições de ensino, enfatiza-se a necessidade de dar maior ênfase a essa área durante a formação dos futuros profissionais.

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la percepción de las enfermeras acerca de su trabajo en una planta de aguas residuales de un hospital de quemados público de Rio Grande do Sul. Estudio con enfoque cualitativo, desarrollado a partir de entrevistas semi-estructuradas con 20 profesionales del personal de enfermería. El análisis de los datos permitió la aparición de tres categorías: El sentido del trabajo en una Unidad de Tratamiento de Quemados; Dificultades en el trabajo diario, Las estrategias utilizadas por las enfermeras en el desempeño laboral. Llegamos a la conclusión de que es deber de las instituciones, en las Unidades de Tratamiento de Quemados que se alquilan, ofrecer espacios de apoyo psicológico para atender las demandas de los profesionales que asisten a las víctimas de trauma térmico. Instituciones educativas, haciendo hincapié en la necesidad de un mayor énfasis a esta área durante la formación de futuros profesionales.

The aim of this study is to analyze nurses' perception regarding their work in a Burn Unit of a public hospital in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This is a study with a qualitative approach, developed from semi-structured interviews with 20 professionals of the hospital's nursing staff. From the data analysis three categories emerged: The meaning of work in a Burn Unit; Difficulties encountered in daily work; Strategies used by nurses in their work performance. We conclude that it is the duty of the institutions where Burn Units are located to provide spaces for psychological support in attending the demands of professionals who assist victims of thermal trauma. We emphasize the need for educational institutions to place a greater emphasis in this area during the training of future professionals.

Oral lymphangioma: case report

Introduction: Lymphangioma is a change of lymphatic vessels that frequently affects the head and neck region. Its occurrence at oral cavity is rare and it is most commonly identified at the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. At this location, it is clinically characterized as transparent and generally grouped vesicles, which can be red or purple. The deep lesions appear as nodular masses of variable color and superficial texture. It can be classified according to the size of vessels into three types: capillary, cavernous, and cystic lymphangioma. Several types of treatment have been suggested; and the most commonly used treatments are: surgical excision, application of carbon dioxide laser, cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen, and sclerosing agents. Objective and case report: To describe a case of oral lymphangioma diagnosed in a 17-year-old female patient. The lesion was presented as multiple vesicles of soft consistency with thin epithelial lining and color ranging from translucent to yellow-reddish, involving the soft palate and the left retromolar region. Incisional biopsy confirmed the hypothesis of cavernous lymphangioma. Patient was followed-up for one year without signs of lesion relapse. Conclusion: Through this clinical case report and literature review, this study emphasizes the relevance of the clinical and histopathological features that should be considered to confirm the clinical hypothesis and indicate the proper therapeutic for oral lymphangiomas.

Extra-renal lesion caused by dioctophyma renale eggs in an erratic cycle in a dog / Lesión extra renal causada por los huevos de dioctophyma renale en un ciclo errático en un perro

A dog with multiple infection by D. renale in the abdominal cavity presented granular peritonitis with giant cells phagocytizing D. renale eggs. Hepatic and phrenic serositis associated to numerous eggs of the parasite immersed in fibrinous process were observed. Lungs presented D. renale eggs in the parenchyma, mononucleated cell infiltrates, edema, hemorrhage, congestion, atelectasia, emphysema, and thromboembolism. D. renale eggs were detected inside the center-lobular veins, auricular cavities, and superficial venous bed of the heart. These findings characterized an atypical dissemination pathway of eggs in erratic cycle.

Un perro con infección múltiple por D. renale en la cavidad abdominal presentó peritonitis granulomatosa con células gigantes fagocitando huevos de D. renale. Se pudo observar serositis hepática y frénica asociada a numerosos huevos del parásito inmersos en un proceso fibrinoso. Los pulmones presentaron huevos de D. renale en el parénquima, infiltrados de células mononucleares, edema, hemorragia, congestión, atelectasia, enfisema y tromboembolismo. Huevos de D. renale fueron detectados en el interior de la vena centro lobular, cavidades auriculares y lechos venosos superficiales del corazón. Estos hallazgos caracterizan una vía de diseminación atípica de los huevos en ciclo errático.

Development of IgY antibodies in chickens and IgG in rabbits immunized against proteins of Pythium insidiosum isolated from horses in the state of Rio de Janeiro / Desenvolvimento de Anticorpos IgY em galinhas e IgG em coelhos imunizados contra proteínas de Pythium insidiosum isolado de equinos no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Pythiosis is caused by Pythium insidiosum and the occurrence of disease in horses was described in the North and Northwest State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The disease was described in cattle, sheep, humans, and horses in different states and regions across the country. This paper describes the development of IgY and IgG polyclonal antibodies, in chicken and rabbits, respectively against proteins extracted from kunkers and hyphae of P. insidiosum from affected horses. The proteins were recognized by chicken, rabbit and horse antibodies by immunodiffusion and Western blot against majority bands of 27 and 43 KDa, and titrated by ELISA. The antibodies IgY developed by the first time against Brazilian strains of P. insidiosum may represent a valuable tool in the detection of antigens of the pathogen and contribute to further studies aimed at immunotherapy and knowledge about this disease in endemic areas in Rio de Janeiro and in Brazil.

Pitiose é causada por Pythium insidiosum e a doença foi descrita em equinos no Norte e Noroeste do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A doença foi descrita em bovinos, ovelhas, humanos e cavalos em diferentes estados e regiões do país. Este trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento de anticorpos policlonais, IgY e IgG, em galinha e coelho, respectivamente, contra proteínas extraídas de kunkers e hifas de P. insidiosum de cavalos doentes. As proteínas foram reconhecidas por anticorpos de galinha, coelho e cavalos contra as bandas majoritárias de 27 e 34 KDa em imunodifusão e Western blot tituladas por ELISA. Os anticorpos IgY desenvolvidos pela primeira vez contra cepas brasileiras de P. insidiosum podem representar um valioso instrumento na detecção de antígenos de patógenos e contribuem para novos estudos baseados na imunoterapia e no entendimento sobre esta doença em áreas endêmicas no Rio de Janeiro e em todo o país.

First description of corpus luteum with central cavity during pregnancy in Sotaia guianensis (Van Bénéden, 1864) - Case report / Primeira descrição de corpo lúteo cavitário gestacional em Sotalia guianensis (Van Bénéden, 1864) - Relato de Caso

O objetivo foi descrever pela primeira vez o corpo lúteo cavitário gestacional em Sotalia guianensis, espécie de golfinhocosteiro que se distribui ao longo da costa Atlântica Ocidental. Os ovários de um espécime com 196cm de comprimentocorporal, com 9,2 meses de gestação, capturado acidentalmente durante atividade pesqueira na costa norte do estado doRio de Janeiro. O material foi avaliado morfologicamente e processado para cortes em parafina, corado pela hematoxilina eeosina para microscopia. O ovário direito apresentava forma amendoada, com sulcos em uma lateral, três folículos e umcorpo lúteo polar em involução. O ovário esquerdo pesava sete vezes mais que o direito. A superfície era enrugada, com umfolículo, seis corpos lúteos e quatro albicans. O maior corpo lúteo era protruso, com diâmetro médio de 3cm e uma cavidadecentral de 1cm de diâmetro, revestida por paredes regulares e espessas, sugerindo ser um corpo lúteo em desenvolvimento.Os outros corpos lúteos eram maciços e estavam em regressão. A microscopia do corpo lúteo não demonstrou envolvimentopatológico. Esta descrição, ímpar na espécie, representa uma contribuição ao conhecimento da biologia (reprodutiva) da S.guianensis, que consta como "Dados Deficientes" na lista vermelha da União Internacional para Conservação da Natureza.

This is the first study to describe the corpus luteum with central cavity during pregnancy in Sotalia guianensis, a coastal dolphin species distributed along the Atlantic Ocean coast. The material analyzed was a pair of ovaries of a 196-cm-long female was 9.2 months pregnant, accidentally captured on the north coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Both ovaries were measured and inspected for anatomic structures. After, ovaries were process in paraffin-embedded and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for microscopy. The left ovary had a wrinkled outside, one follicle, six corpora lutea and four corpora albicans. The largest corpus luteum was protruded, 3 cm long in mean diameter with one central cavity. It was lined by uniform thick walls and peripheral vascularization, which suggests that the corpus luteum is under development. The left ovary was deformed due to the presence of corpus luteum, which accounted for the seven-fold higher weight as compared to the right ovary. The histology of the corpus luteum did not evince any pathologic status of the material. This description, the first ever made for the species, offers a contribution to the existing knowledge about the reproduction biology of S. guianensis, which is a member of the "Insufficient Data" Red List prepared by the World Conservation Union.

Feeding induced by cannabinoids is mediated independently of the melanocortin system.

BACKGROUND: Cannabinoids, the active components of marijuana, stimulate appetite, and cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1-R) antagonists suppress appetite and promote weight loss. Little is known about how CB1-R antagonists affect the central neurocircuitry, specifically the melanocortin system that regulates energy balance. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, we show that peripherally administered CB1-R antagonist (AM251) or agonist equally suppressed or stimulated feeding respectively in A(y) , which lack a functional melanocortin system, and wildtype mice, demonstrating that cannabinoid effects on feeding do not require melanocortin circuitry. CB1-R antagonist or agonist administered into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) equally suppressed or stimulated feeding respectively, in both genotypes. In addition, peripheral and central cannabinoid administration similarly induced c-Fos activation in brain sites suggesting mediation via motivational dopaminergic circuitry. Amperometry-detected increases in evoked dopamine (DA) release by the CB1-R antagonist in nucleus accumbens slices indicates that AM251 modulates DA release from VTA terminals. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results demonstrate that the effects of cannabinoids on energy balance are independent of hypothalamic melanocortin circuitry and is primarily driven by the reward system.

Diet-induced obesity causes severe but reversible leptin resistance in arcuate melanocortin neurons.

Despite high leptin levels, most obese humans and rodents lack responsiveness to its appetite-suppressing effects. We demonstrate that leptin modulates NPY/AgRP and alpha-MSH secretion from the ARH of lean mice. High-fat diet-induced obese (DIO) mice have normal ObRb levels and increased SOCS-3 levels, but leptin fails to modulate peptide secretion and any element of the leptin signaling cascade. Despite this leptin resistance, the melanocortin system downstream of the ARH in DIO mice is over-responsive to melanocortin agonists, probably due to upregulation of MC4R. Lastly, we show that by decreasing the fat content of the mouse's diet, leptin responsiveness of NPY/AgRP and POMC neurons recovered simultaneously, with mice regaining normal leptin sensitivity and glycemic control. These results highlight the physiological importance of leptin sensing in the melanocortin circuits and show that their loss of leptin sensing likely contributes to the pathology of leptin resistance.

Adenoma hepatóide supracaudal em felino (Felis catus): relato de caso / Supracaudal hepatoide adenoma in feline (Felis catus): case report

Um gato macho, com 13 anos de idade, apresentou tumoração arrendondada sob o tegumento íntegro, com 1 cm de diâmetro da face dorsal da cauda, a 3 cm de sua base. A histopatologia em amostras da peça, evidenciou, ao micro/HE, inúmeros adenômeros de células grandes, poliédricas, com citoplasmas eosinofílicos núcleos redondos centralizados, lembrando um hepatócito. Os adenômeros, algumas vezes, estavam centralizados por material eosinofílio e ligeiramente laminar, lembrando queratina. Não havendo registros de patologias nestas glândulas, se não sua hipratividade em gatos com o comprometimento dos pêlos regionais, e consequente estética apenas, esta é a primeira ocorrência registrada deste tipo de noplasia m glândula supracaudal de gato)

Adenoma hepatóide supracaudal em felino (Felis catus): relato de caso

Um gato macho, com 13 anos de idade, apresentou tumoração arredondada sob o tegumento íntegro, com 1cm de diâmentroda face dorsal da cauda, a 3cm de sua base. A histopatologia em amostras da peça, evidenciou, ao micro/HE, inúmerosadenômeros de células grandes, poliédricas, com citoplasmas eosinofílicos e núcleos redondos e centralizados, lembrandoum hepatócito. Os adenômeros, algumas vezes, estavam centralizados por material eosinofílio e ligeiramente laminar, lembrandoqueratina. Não havendo registros de patologias nestas glândulas, se não sua hiperatividade em gatos com o comprometimentodos pêlos regionais, e conseqüente estética apenas, esta é a primeira ocorrência registrada deste tipo de neoplasiaem glândula supracaudal de gato.

The complement system is involved in acute inflammation but not in the hemorrhage produced by a Bothrops atrox snake venom low molecular mass proteinase.

Low molecular weight hemorrhagins were purified from crude Bothrops atrox snake venom by gel filtration followed by ionic strength chromatography. The protein fractions obtained, designated HI-1 to HI-8, contained proteins with molecular masses lower than 30 kDa. HI-5, the most representative among of these fractions, exhibited, in vitro, proteolytic and C inactivating properties, as analyzed by proteolysis of a protein substrate, and C system consumptive activities as assayed by reduction of the hemolytic C activity in normal human serum and by cleavage of partially purified component C3. HI-5 hemorrhagin injected i.m. into C-sufficient BALB/c mice induced a local inflammation characterized by edema, accumulation of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) and hemorrhage. In contrast, when injected into BALB/c mice previously C-depleted, the number of PMN per tissue section, but not hemorrhage, was significantly reduced (129.668 +/- 31.341 cells per microscopic field) as compared with the control C-sufficient mice (812.168 +/- 111.194 cells per microscopic field). The observations were confirmed by using C5-deficient mice instead of C-depleted mice. The average number of PMN per tissue section in C5-defficient A/J mice was 72.666 +/- 19.416 cells per microscopic field. These data indicate that the C system is involved in PMN accumulation, but not in the hemorrhage, at the local induced lesions by low molecular mass B. atrox hemorrhagins. HI-5 apparently is not contaminated with other direct or indirect inflammation mediators, PMN accumulation and hemorrhage, however, an independent phenomenon, could be mediated by the same hemorrhagin proteinase domain.

Disseminated pythiosis in three horses.

Three cases of equine subcutaneous pythiosis with dissemination to the internal organs were investigated. The subcutaneous lesions were observed on the mammary gland, nostrils and limbs of the infected horses. Histopathological analysis of the infected tissues revealed a strong eosinophilic reaction, with macrophages, mast cells and giant cells. Sparsely septated hyphal filaments of 4-6 microm diameter were identified in the center of the eosinophilic areas. Specific fluorescent antibody against Pythium insidiosum confirmed the hyphae in the infected tissues in three examined horses. In one of the three cases, the DNA sequences amplified from the infected subcutaneous tissues and internal organs, revealed that P. insidiosum's 18S SSU rDNA amplicons shared 100% identity with those sequences deposit in GenBank. This is the first report confirming by immunochemical and genetic techniques that P. insidiosum can disseminated from superficial to deep structures.