Novel DNA extraction assay for molecular identification of Aedes spp eggs.

Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus represent the two most important species of mosquitoes in relation to dengue virus transmission both in the Americas and Asia. However, the study of theses species generally requires the establishment of a colony for the larvae to hatch, or waiting for the adult development to perform its taxonomic classification, which is time consuming. Thus, the establishment of new methods aimed at obtaining DNA directly from the mosquito eggs is relevant. Accordingly, we compared a new approach based on Chelex(®) 100 resin with the standard STE method to extract DNA from the eggs of Aedes spp to molecularly identify these vectors. The Chelex(®) 100 resin approach was very efficient, as satisfactory amounts of DNA were obtained, making it possible to amplify and sequence a mitochondrial DNA barcode region widely used to identify species. The STE protocol yielded substantial amounts of DNA, but the 260/280 optical density ratio indicated a low quality, precluding amplification. This new method proved quite effective in obtaining DNA from even a single mosquito egg, and it can thus be applied in population genetic studies of various vector insects to enhance monitoring programs.

Juvenile angiofibroma: major and minor complications of preoperative embolization.

INTRODUCTION: Juvenile angiofibromas (JA) are highly vascular, benign tumours for which surgery is the treatment of choice. In most services, embolisation is performed prior to resection. Nevertheless, there are few data on the complications of preoperative embolisation for JA. AIM: To describe major and minor complications of preoperative embolisation in a 32-year experience of patients undergoing surgical resection of JA at a tertiary hospital. METHODS: Retrospective chart review study of 170 patients who underwent surgical resection of JA at a tertiary hospital between September 1976 and July 2008. RESULTS: All patients were male. Age ranged from 9 to 26 years. Ninety-one patients had no complications after embolisation. Overall, 105 complication events occurred of which four major and 101 minor. CONCLUSION: In our series, preoperative embolisation for JA produced no irreversible complications and no aesthetic or functional sequelae. The vast majority of complications were transient and amenable to clinical management.

Cardiac effects of oxytocin: is there a role for this peptide in cardiovascular homeostasis?

Oxytocin is well known for its role in reproduction. However, evidence has emerged suggesting a role in cardiovascular and hydroelectrolytic homeostasis. Although its renal effects have been characterized, the cardiac ones have not been much studied. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the cardiac effects of oxytocin both in vivo and in vitro. In unanesthetized rats (n=6) intravenous oxytocin (1 mug) decreased dP/dt(max) by 15% (P<0.05) and heart rate by 20% (P<0.001), at the first minute after injection. dP/dt(max) was still lower in OT-treated rats than in controls (n=8) after 15 min (P<0.05), while heart rate returned to control values after 5 min. In isolated hearts, oxytocin was able to promote negative inotropic and chronotropic effects. Perfusion with 10(-5), 10(-6) and 10(-7)M oxytocin resulted in approximately 60% (P<0.01), 25% (P<0.01) and 10% (P<0.05) reduction of left ventricle developed pressure, without effect in lower concentrations (10(-10) to 10(-8) M). Also, dP/dt(max) was reduced by 45 and 20% (10(-5) e 10(-6) M; P<0.01), while diastolic pressure raised and heart rate fell only with 10(-5)M oxytocin (P<0.05). Intravenous oxytocin (1 mug; n=6) increased arterial pressure by 22% at the first minute (+23+/-3 mm Hg; P<0.001), returning to control value thereafter. Thus, oxytocin is able to promote directly negative inotropic and chronotropic effects, but its in vivo effect also involves a reflex mechanism, originated from its pressor effect.

[Use of tissue plasminogen activator factor for acute ischemic stroke]. / Uso do fator ativador do plasminogênio tecidual no acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico agudo.

PURPOSE: To evaluate thrombolytic therapy with rt-PA for acute stroke within 6h of symptom onset, and assessment of neurologic outcome. METHODS: We studied 6 patients, four women, mean age 63 +/- 18 years, with severe neurologic deficit within 6h of stroke onset, and with no spontaneous improvement. The stroke was embolic in 3, and thrombotic in the others. All patients were submitted to a head CT scan followed by either a cerebral angiography in 3 patients, or a transcranial Doppler, in the other 3 for assessment of arterial obstruction, and patency after thrombolytic therapy. We used 0.9 mg/kg of rt-PA, IV, over 60 min in 5 patients, and 0.5 mg/kg by intra-arterial infusion, over 60 min, in one. At the beginning a bolus of 10% of the total dose was delivered during 1 to 2 min. Head scan was repeated 24h and 7 days after treatment to detect ischemic areas and hemorrhagic complications. RESULTS: Middle cerebral artery occlusion was observed in 5 patients and posterior cerebral artery occlusion in one. The obstruction was cleared in 4 patients with persistence of the patency after 24h. A complete neurologic recovery was found in one patient, and a partial recovery in three. In two patients there was failure of arterial recanalization with no neurologic recovery. Only one patient had hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic tissue, without neurologic worsening. Death occurred in one patient due to pulmonary infection. CONCLUSION: Arterial patency with thrombolytic therapy was effective in 4 of our 6 patients. All 4 patients also disclosed a certain degree of neurologic improvement, rt-PA can be successfully used in selected patients up to 3h of the event onset, as shown in randomized studies.

Cardiovascular regulation during long-duration spaceflights to the International Space Station.

Early evidence from long-duration flights indicates general cardiovascular deconditioning, including reduced arterial baroreflex gain. The current study investigated the spontaneous baroreflex and markers of cardiovascular control in six male astronauts living for 2-6 mo on the International Space Station. Measurements were made from the finger arterial pressure waves during spontaneous breathing (SB) in the supine posture pre- and postflight and during SB and paced breathing (PB, 0.1 Hz) in a seated posture pre- and postflight, as well as early and late in the missions. There were no changes in preflight measurements of heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), or spontaneous baroreflex compared with in-flight measurements. There were, however, increases in the estimate of left ventricular ejection time index and a late in-flight increase in cardiac output (CO). The high-frequency component of RR interval spectral power, arterial pulse pressure, and stroke volume were reduced in-flight. Postflight there was a small increase compared with preflight in HR (60.0 ± 9.4 vs. 54.9 ± 9.6 beats/min in the seated posture, P < 0.05) and CO (5.6 ± 0.8 vs. 5.0 ± 1.0 l/min, P < 0.01). Arterial baroreflex response slope was not changed during spaceflight, while a 34% reduction from preflight in baroreflex slope during postflight PB was significant (7.1 ± 2.4 vs. 13.4 ± 6.8 ms/mmHg), but a smaller average reduction (25%) during SB (8.0 ± 2.1 vs. 13.6 ± 7.4 ms/mmHg) was not significant. Overall, these data show no change in markers of cardiovascular stability during long-duration spaceflight and only relatively small changes postflight at rest in the seated position. The current program routine of countermeasures on the International Space Station provided sufficient stimulus to maintain cardiovascular stability under resting conditions during long-duration spaceflight.

Contaminacao de eletrons na regiao de "build-up" para diferentes unidades de telecobaltoterapia. / Electrons contamination in the build-up region for several telecobalt therapy units

A qualidade e intensidade da radiacao secundaria produzida em uma unidade de telecobaltoterapia e proveniente da fonte, material que a envolve e sistema de colimacao, o que enfatiza a importancia de se medir tal influencia para cada tipo de unidade. Foi feito um estudo da distribuicao de dose na regiao de "build-up" em funcao do tamanho de campo e distancia fonte superficie (DFS) em sete unidades de telecobaltoterapia que apresentam caracteristicas distintas de construcao. Para campos pequenos, onde a contaminacao e pouco significativa, ha uma concordancia entre os resultados obtidos para as diferentes unidades. Com o aumento do tamanho de campo, o ponto de dose maxima deslocase na direcao da superficie criando "picos de contaminacao" cuja intensidade e funcao do sistema de colimacao e da distancia entre a extremidade do colimador e a superficie. O aumento da DFS acarreta uma diminuicao da dose na regiao de "build-up" justificando-se medir a distribuicao de dose para diversas distancias, uma vez que e comum utilizar-se distancias maiores a fim de se obter campos maiores. A utilizacao de mesas de tampo solido tambem altera as caracteristicas de "build-up" do feixe