Sequential sampling plan for Tenuipalpus heveae Baker (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) on rubber tree.

The objective of the present study was to develop a sequential sampling plan for the decision-making process to control Tenuipalpus heveae Baker (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), an important pest of the rubber tree crop. The experimental area was represented by 1,000 plants of the RRIM 600 clone divided in 100 plots with 10 plants each. Leaves were collected and the number of mites determined under laboratory conditions. The sequential sampling plan was developed in accordance with the Sequential Test Likelihood Ratio. The value 0.10 was pre-established for α and ß representing type I and type II errors, respectively. The level of control adopted was six mites per 12 cm(2). The operating characteristic curve and the curve of maximum expected sample were determined. Two lines were generated: the upper one, when the condition for chemical control is recommended (S1 = 23.3080 + 2.1972); and the lower, when chemical control is not recommended (S0 = -23.3080 + 2.1972). Sample size for the decision-making process to control T. heveae requires 6 to 18 plants.

Atividade predatória de Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae) sobre Tenuipalpus heveae Baker (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) / Predatory activity of Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on Tenuipalpus heveae Baker (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

O ácaro-plano-vermelho-da-seringueira, Tenuipalpus heveae Baker é uma importante praga de Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex. Adr. de Juss.) Müell. Arg. Entre os ácaros predadores, Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma tem sido frequentemente registrado nessa cultura. Este trabalho teve por objetivo determinar a atividade predatória de E. citrifolius sobre as fases de ovo, larva, ninfa e adulto de T. heveae. Os experimentos foram realizados em placas de Petri de 9 cm de diâmetro, contendo uma camada de algodão umedecido e sobre ela um disco de folha de seringueira de 2,5 cm de diâmetro, obtido de folhas naturalmente infestadas no campo. Em cada disco foram deixados vinte espécimes da fase biológica de T. heveae a ser testada, eliminando-se o restante com um estilete. Cada placa recebeu um exemplar do predador (larva, ninfa ou fêmea), proveniente de uma criação de laboratório. Para cada fase de E. citrifolius testada, foram considerados quatro tratamentos (fases de T. heveae) e vinte repetições em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. As avaliações foram realizadas após 24 horas para larvas e ninfas do predador e após 24, 48 e 72 horas para as fêmeas. Larvas e ninfas de E. citrifolius tiveram preferência por larvas de T. heveae, seguida por ninfas, ovos e adultos. Em 72 horas, cada fêmea do predador consumiu 15,0 larvas, 14,5 ninfas, 7,4 adultos ou 2,2 ovos de T. heveae. Assim, pode-se concluir que o ácaro-plano-vermelho é uma presa aceita por E. citrifolius, que apresenta preferência pelas fases de larva e ninfa.

The rubber tree red false spider mite, Tenuipalpus heveae Baker, is an important pest of Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex. Adr. de Juss.) Müell. Arg. The phytoseiid mite Euseius citrifolius Dennmark & Muma has frequently been recorded on rubber tree crops. The objective of this work was to determine the predatory activity of E. citrifolius on the different life stages (egg, larva, nymph and adult) of T. heveae. The experiments were carried out in Petri dishes (9-cm diameter) containing a layer of wet cotton inside, onto which a disk of rubber tree leaf (2.5-cm diameter) was laid. The disks were taken from naturally infested leaves. Twenty specimens in the life stage that was to be tested were left on the disk and the others were eliminated; a predator life stage (larva, nymph or female) was obtained from a laboratory stock colony and put into each dish. For each tested life stage of E. citrifolius, 4 treatments (T. heveae life stages) and 20 replications were considered in a randomized block design. The observations were made after 24 hours for larvae and nymphs of the predator, and after 24, 48 and 72 hours for the females. E. citrifolius larvae and nymphs had a higher preference for T. heveae larvae followed by nymphs, eggs and adults. Within 72 hours, each predator female consumed 15.0 larvae, 14.5 nymphs, 7.4 adults or 2.2 eggs of T. heveae. It is concluded that E. citrifolius can feed on red false spider mites, the larva and nymph being the preferred stages.

Hansen's disease in Portugal: multibacillary patients treated between 1988 and 2003.

BACKGROUND: There is an estimate low incidence of patients with Hansen's disease in Portugal. Following the 1982 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, extended multidrug therapy (MDT) was started for multibacillary (MB) patients. Patients were then treated with rifampicine (RFP), clofazimine (CLF) and dapsone (DDS) for a minimum of 2 years or until smear negativity. The aim of this study was to evaluate MDT efficacy in our patient population. METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive study of 102 MB patients who underwent MDT from 1988 to 2003. RESULTS: The number of new MB patients has gradually increased since 1960, the first year of our consultation, due mostly to a rise in imported cases. Overall, 34% of the subjects were immigrants, mainly from former Portuguese Colonies. Forty-six patients had previously received monotherapy with DDS (mean duration of this treatment, 22 years). Relapse after MDT occurred in 9 cases (8.8%), but importantly, all relapsed cases were smear negative at least on one occasion after the end of treatment, suggesting these were true relapses rather than treatment failures. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the 2-year WHO-MDT regimen, patients with MB disease clearly face the possibility of relapse. We propose that any reduction in the duration of therapy such as the recently proposed 6-month standard MDT is likely to increase the relapse rate even further. Important issues for future consideration are the needs to identify those at risk of relapse and in need of alternative antimicrobial treatment with a prolonged clinical follow-up.

Effects of oligomycins on adenosine triphosphatase activity of mitochondria isolated from the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schwanniomyces castellii.

Functional mitochondria with respiratory control were isolated from the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schwanniomyces castellii. The presence of site I in Schw. castellii was indicated by higher ADP/O ratio than in S. cerevisiae where this site is absent. The ATPase Vmax was higher in S. cerevisiae than in Schw. castellii mitochondria. The latter was increased by the DR12 nuclear mutation. Nevertheless, the stimulation by heat and the inhibition profile of oligomycins on mitochondrial F1-F0 ATPase activities were similar in all three tested strains. In S. cerevisiae and Schw. castelli wild type or mutant mitochondria, the well-known inhibition of F1-F0 ATPase activity by low concentrations of oligomycins is abolished at high inhibitor concentrations near 60microg/ml suggesting uncoupling of F1 activity. At still higher oligomycin concentration the ATPase activity of both species and mutant is again strongly inhibited, suggesting an inhibitory effect on yeast F1 activity not detected so far.

Phaeohyphomycosis due to Cladosporium cladosporioides.

Phaeohyphomycosis is a clinical entity caused by dematiaceous fungi. We describe a clinical case of phaeohyphomycosis due to Cladosporium cladosporioides in a 45-year-old white male, apparently healthy, human immunodeficiency virus-negative. The patient was treated with terbinafine for 9 months, with regression of a skin lesion. Three months after discontinuation of the therapy, there was a clinical and mycological relapse. After progression of the disease with inadequate treatment, there was no response to amphotericin B and flucytosine. Finally, we obtained a clinical response with itraconazole oral solution at 600 mg day(-1) for a 6-month period.

Relation of the disaccharidases in the small intestine of the rat to the degree of experimentally induced iron-deficiency anemia

Hypolactasia associated with severe iron-deficiency anemia has been reported in several studies. The objective of the present study was to determine whether hypolactasia is associated with the degree and duration of iron-deficiency anemia. Newly weaned male Wistar rats were divided into a control group receiving a diet supplemented with iron (C) and an experimental group (E) receiving a diet not supplemented with iron (iron-deficiency diet). The animals were studied on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 35th days of the experiment, when overall and iron nutritional status and disaccharidase activity in the small intestine were determined by the Dahlqvist method. A reduction in weight occurred in the anemic animals starting on the 5th day of the study. Anemia was present in the experimental animals, with a progressive worsening up to the 14th day (hemoglobin: C = 13.27 and E = 5.37) and stabilizing thereafter. Saccharase and maltase activities did not differ significantly between groups, whereas lactase showed a significant reduction in total (TA) and specific activity (SA) in the anemic animals starting on the 21st day of the study. Median lactase TA for the C and E groups was 2.27 and 1.25 U on the 21st day, 2.87 and 1.88 U on the 28th day, and 4.20 and 1.59 U on the 35th day, respectively. Median lactase SA was 0.31 and 0.20 U/g wet weight on the 21st day, 0.39 and 0.24 U/g wet weight on the 28th day, and 0.42 and 0.23 U/g wet weight on the 35th day, respectively. These findings suggest a relationship between the enzymatic alterations observed and both the degree and duration of the anemic process. Analysis of other studies on intestinal disaccharidases in anemia suggests that the mechanism of these changes may be functional, i.e., that the enterocytes may suffer a reduction in their ability to synthesize these enzymes.

Relation of the disaccharidases in the small intestine of the rat to the degree of experimentally induced iron-deficiency anemia.

Hypolactasia associated with severe iron-deficiency anemia has been reported in several studies. The objective of the present study was to determine whether hypolactasia is associated with the degree and duration of iron-deficiency anemia. Newly weaned male Wistar rats were divided into a control group receiving a diet supplemented with iron (C) and an experimental group (E) receiving a diet not supplemented with iron (iron-deficiency diet). The animals were studied on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 35th days of the experiment, when overall and iron nutritional status and disaccharidase activity in the small intestine were determined by the Dahlqvist method. A reduction in weight occurred in the anemic animals starting on the 5th day of the study. Anemia was present in the experimental animals, with a progressive worsening up to the 14th day (hemoglobin: C = 13.27 and E = 5.37) and stabilizing thereafter. Saccharase and maltase activities did not differ significantly between groups, whereas lactase showed a significant reduction in total (TA) and specific activity (SA) in the anemic animals starting on the 21st day of the study. Median lactase TA for the C and E groups was 2.27 and 1.25 U on the 21st day, 2.87 and 1. 88 U on the 28th day, and 4.20 and 1.59 U on the 35th day, respectively. Median lactase SA was 0.31 and 0.20 U/g wet weight on the 21st day, 0.39 and 0.24 U/g wet weight on the 28th day, and 0.42 and 0.23 U/g wet weight on the 35th day, respectively. These findings suggest a relationship between the enzymatic alterations observed and both the degree and duration of the anemic process. Analysis of other studies on intestinal disaccharidases in anemia suggests that the mechanism of these changes may be functional, i.e., that the enterocytes may suffer a reduction in their ability to synthesize these enzymes.

Radioimmunotherapy in medullary thyroid cancer using bispecific antibody and iodine 131-labeled bivalent hapten: preliminary results of a phase I/II clinical trial.

The toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of escalating doses of anti-carcinoembryonic antigen x anti-N alpha-(diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N''-tetraacetic acid)-In bispecific monoclonal antibody (F6-734) and iodine 131-labeled bivalent hapten were determined in a Phase I/II trial. A total of 26 patients with recurrences of medullary thyroid cancer documented by imaging and a rise in serum thyrocalcitonin were enrolled. Twenty to 50 mg of F6-734 and 40-100 mCi of 131I-hapten were injected 4 days apart. Quantitative scintigraphy was performed after the second injection for dosimetry estimations in eight cases. Clinical, biological, and morphological follow-up was carried out for 1 year after treatment. The mean percentage of injected activity per gram of tumor at the time of maximum uptake was 0.08% (range, 0.003-0.26%). The tumor biological half-life ranged from 3 to 95 days, and tumor doses ranged from 2.91 to 184 cGy/mCi. The estimated tumor-to-nontumor dose ratios were 43.8 x 53.4, 29.6 x 35.3, 10.9 x 13.6, and 8.4 x 10.0 for total body, red marrow, liver, and kidney, respectively. Grade III/IV hematological toxicity was observed in seven patients, most of them with bone metastases. Among the 17 evaluable patients, 4 pain reliefs, 5 minor tumor responses, and 4 biological responses with decrease of thyrocalcitonin were observed. Nine patients developed human anti-mouse antibody. Dose-limiting toxicity was hematological, and maximum tolerated activity was 48 mCi/m2 in this group of patients, most of whom had suspected bone marrow involvement. The therapeutic responses observed in patients mainly with a small tumor burden are encouraging for the performance of a Phase II trial with minimal residual disease.

Cutaneous alternariosis.

Alternariosis is a fungal infection usually described in immunodeficient patients. We report a case of cutaneous alternariosis in a renal transplant recipient caused by Alternaria alternata. The patient was treated with intralesional amphothericin B and surgical excision of one non-responding lesion was performed.

Technetium-99m tetrofosmin scintigraphy in the diagnosis of breast cancer.

The routine mammogram remains the procedure of choice for screening asymptomatic women for breast cancer. However, it accounts for an elevated percentage of misdiagnosed breast nodules particularly in younger women with dense breast tissue or fibrocystic disease. New radiopharmaceuticals including labelled monoclonal antibodies, thalium-201 and technetium-99m sestamibi are under investigation as possible solutions to this issue. 99mTc-tetrofosmin (Myoview), like 99mTc-sestamibi, is a lipophilic, cationic myocardial imaging agent. Mitochondrial membrane potential appears to play a significant role in the uptake and/or retention of 99mTc-tetrofosmin. Twenty-seven female patients with suspected breast cancer were included in the study. Twenty mCi of 99mTc-tetrofosmin were administered intravenously. Imaging was begun 10 min post-injection. In twenty-three patients, breast cancer was detected using 99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy. Two carcinomas were missed. In two patients, both breast scintigraphy and intraoperative biopsies were negative. Our preliminary results suggest that this product may have a role in the differentiation of benign from malignant lesions, and were encouraging in terms of its potential usefulness as a marker of malignancy.

Technetium-99m tetrofosmin rest/stress myocardial SPET with a same-day 2-hour protocol: comparison with coronary angiography. A Spanish-Portuguese multicentre clinical trial.

Technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Myoview) has unique properties for myocardial perfusion imaging very early after injection of the tracer. We used a very short same-day rest/stress protocol, to be performed within 2 h and evaluated its diagnostic accuracy. The study included 144 patients from seven Spanish and four Portuguese centres with a diagnosis of uncomplicated coronary artery disease (CAD); 78 patients (54%) had no history of prior myocardial infarction. Patients were injected with /=50%) was achieved with a sensitivity of 64% for the left anterior descending artery, 49% for the left circumflex artery and 86% for the right coronary artery, and an accuracy of 71%, 72% and 73% respectively. Concordance of SPET and CA was 62% for single-vessel disease and 68% for multivessel disease. In conclusion, this Spanish-Portuguese multicentre clinical trial confirmed, in a considerable number of patients who underwent coronary angiography, the feasibility of 99mTc tetrofosmin (Myoview) rest/stress myocardial SPET using a very short protocol (2 h).

Diagnosis of malignant change in Paget's disease by Tl-201.

Scintigraphy using Tc-99m MDP and Tl-201 was performed in a patient with polyostotic Paget's disease and sarcomatous degeneration in the right iliac bone. Tc-99m MDP imaging showed abnormal uptake in both types of lesions. Tl-201 imaging showed increased uptake in the sarcomatous lesion and absent uptake in pagetic lesions. This result supports the idea that Tl-201 scintigraphy may have a potential role to play in the differentiation of Paget's disease from malignancy. To the authors' knowledge, Tl-201 has never been reported for the detection of sarcomatous change of pagetic bone.

Combined study of 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT and computerized electroencephalographic topography (CET) in patients with medically refractory complex partial epilepsy.

For successful surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy the site of the seizure focus needs to be known exactly. The purpose of this study was to compare the evaluation of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) (localization and degree of disturbances) by 99mTc-hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime (HMPAO) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with computerized electroencephalographic topography (CET) and transmission computed X-ray tomography (CT) in partial epilepsy. The study included 20 patients with medically refractory complex partial seizures. Of the 20 patients included, 15 were studied interictally, four ictally and one in both states, interictally and ictally. 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT detected rCBF changes in 95% of the patients. Interictal studies demonstrated focal areas of hypoperfusion in 93% of the patients. Ictal studies demonstrated an area of hyperperfusion in all patients. Blood flow disturbances in deeper structures of the brain, such as basal ganglia, could be detected. The areas of abnormal 99mTc-HMPAO uptake were concordant, in localization, with CET in 85% of the patients. Abnormal data with CT scans were found in only 45% of the patients. Focal lesions were found in 20% of the patients by CT scans. 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT combined with CET may be a useful screening procedure prior to referral for invasive diagnostic procedures in future management with medically refractory complex partial seizures.

[Pharmacological stimulation with dipyridamole in thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy: a study of the secondary effects]. / Estimulação farmacológica com dipiridamol na cintigrafia miocárdica de perfusão com tálio-201: estudo dos efeitos secundários.

To evaluate the safety of intravenous dipyridamole thallium-201 imaging as an alternative to exercise thallium imaging in the evaluation of coronary artery disease, clinical data from 140 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Adverse effects were experienced by 39 patients (27.9%) with a total number of 52 effects: chest pain (23), dizziness (13), headache (7), nausea (7), dyspnea (2). All patients presented complete relief of symptoms. In 15 patients administration of aminophylline was necessary. Major effects (fatal and non fatal myocardial infarction and acute bronchospasm) were not registered. Vital sign data change observed after infusion of dipyridamole was: decreased blood pressure and increased pulse rate. Patient's age and incidence of coronary artery disease did not differ significantly in the subgroup of patients with adverse effects versus the group of patients without it.

Clear-cell sarcoma of tendons and aponeuroses studied by immunoscintigraphy.

Clear-cell sarcoma is a rare tumor that arises in association with tendons and aponeuroses. Although it shares with malignant melanoma several histologic and ultrastructural features, it has a clinical course different from that of conventional melanomas. A case of clear-cell sarcoma studied by immunoscintigraphy with 99mTc-labeled F(ab')2 fragments of the monoclonal antibody 225.28 S is reported.

99Tcm-HMPAO brain SPECT in the evaluation of prognosis after surgical resection of astrocytoma. Comparison with other noninvasive imaging techniques (CT, MRI and 201Tl SPECT).

High-grade astrocytoma represents the most common primary malignant brain tumour in the adult, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of 99Tcm-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in predicting neurological function and tumour therapy response after surgical resection of astrocytoma. The correlation between 99Tcm-HMPAO studies and other noninvasive methods [computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 201Tl (SPECT)] was evaluated. The clinical population included 21 patients with previous surgical debulking of astrocytoma. All patients were evaluated with 99Tcm-HMPAO brain SPECT. Seven patients, who suffered progressive clinical deterioration after radiotherapy, underwent dual-isotope SPECT imaging with 201Tl and 99Tcm-HMPAO. Neurological examinations and CT were performed in all patients. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in seven patients. Prior to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, the patients with neurological improvement during the follow-up evaluation commonly showed less intense abnormal 99Tcm-HMPAO uptake than the patients without neurological improvement. In addition, after therapy none of the former patients had increased 99Tcm-HMPAO uptake. Most patients without neurological improvement had evidence of high focal uptake. Computed tomography and MRI usually demonstrated pathological contrast enhancement regardless of the presence or absence of improvement of neurological function. Foci of high 201Tl accumulation were observed on SPECT images in five patients. In four of these patients, the 99Tcm-HMPAO was greater than in normal brain, and in two patients the 99Tcm-HMPAO uptake was lower than in normal brain. One patient with decreased 99Tcm-HMPAO uptake in a medium-sized lesion had a normal 201Tl study. Our hypothesis that 99Tcm-HMPAO SPECT may be useful for providing prognostic information after surgical debulking of astrocytoma seems to be promising. Further studies are needed to document this new important role of 99Tcm-HMPAO SPECT.

Immunoscintigraphy with 99mTc-labelled anti-CEA monoclonal antibody in colorectal carcinoma.

With the introduction of immunoscintigraphy (IS) with 99mTc-labelled anti-CEA monoclonal antibodies (MoAb), a clinical relevant method in nuclear medicine can be expected in the diagnosis and follow up of colorectal cancers. We performed IS (whole body, planar and SPECT) with a 99mTc-labelled intact anti-CEA MoAb (BW 431/26) in 18 patients with primary colorectal carcinoma, metastases or suspicious recurrences from colorectal carcinoma. The results of anti-CEA IS, serum CEA and Ca 19-9 levels were evaluated. Immunoscintigraphy yielded an overall sensitivity of 70.0%, 37.5% for primary tumors, 75.0% for recurrences and 100% for distant metastases. Serum CEA levels were elevated in 10 out of 18 patients (sensitivity 55.5%) and Ca 19-9 were elevated in eight out of 18 patients (sensitivity 44.4%). In the group of patients with metastases, CEA had a sensitivity of 100% and Ca 19-9, of 83.3%. From this prospective study, we can conclude that IS with 99mTC-BW 431/26 is a reliable tool in the post-operative follow-up study of patients with colorectal carcinoma, namely in the detection of distant metastases.