Genetic analysis of the complement factor H related 5 gene in haemolytic uraemic syndrome.

Several mutations in the CFH gene have been described in non-Shiga-toxin-associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome (non-Stx-HUS), a rare syndrome characterized by haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure. Mutations in genes encoding other complement regulatory proteins, membrane cofactor protein (CD46) and complement factor I (CFI), were also involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Anyway, mutations in the three genes account for no more than 50% of cases of non-Stx-HUS. Human complement factor H related 5 (CFHR5) is a recently characterised member of the human complement factor H (CFH) family that has been found as a component of immune deposits in human kidney with sclerotic lesions from different causes. CFHR5 possesses cofactor activity and has been proposed to play a role in complement regulation in the glomerulus. We screened CFHR5 gene for variations potentially involved in the aetiology of HUS. Forty-five patients with HUS and 80 controls were analysed. Altogether, 5 genetic variants in CFHR5 were found in overall 9/45 HUS patients and in 4/80 controls. Statistical analysis showed that allelic variants in CFHR5 were prefentially associated with HUS. Based on these data, we conclude that, though not causative, CFHR5 genetic alterations may play a secondary role in the pathogenesis of HUS.

Iophendylate cisternography in diagnosis of cerebellopontine angle tumors. Report of 60 cases.

60 cases of bilateral cerebellopontine angle pantopaque cisternography done between May, 1972, and April, 1974, are reported. Of these, 9 showed a unilateral acoustic neurinoma of different sizes, 1 showed a bilateral acoustic neurinoma all confirmed by operation. Technical details and advantages of the procedure are discussed. There were no complications related to the procedure.

Optimization and statistical evaluation of dissolution tests for indinavir sulfate capsules.

An optimization, statistically based on t-student test, to set up dissolution test conditions for indinavir sulfate capsules is presented. Three dissolution media, including that reported in United States Pharmacopeial Forum, and two apparatus, paddle and basket, were applied. Two different indinavir sulfate capsules, products A and B, were evaluated. For a reliable statistical analysis eighteen capsules were assayed in each condition based on the combination of dissolution medium and apparatus. All tested media were statistically equivalent (P > 0.05) for both drug products when paddle apparatus was employed at the stirring speed of 50 rpm. The use of basket apparatus at the stirring speed of 50 rpm caused significant decrease in the drug release percent for the product B (P < 0.05). The best dissolution conditions tested, for products A and B, were applied to evaluate capsules dissolution profiles. Twelve dosage units were assayed and dissolution efficiency concept was used, for each condition, to obtain results with statistical significance (P > 0.05). Optimal conditions to carry out the dissolution test were 900 ml of 0.1 M hydrochloric acid as dissolution medium, basket at 100 rpm stirring speed and 260 nm ultraviolet detection.

Surgical treatment of premature sagittal synostosis.

A series of 50 consecutive children with premature sagittal synostosis is reported. All were treated surgically; 43 were male, 47 were leukodermic and two are siblings. In the pre-operative examination, the head shape, skull measurements and radiologic findings were evaluated; 38 children were operated on before six months of age and 12 of them, between six and 12 months of age. The surgical technique used was a wide biparietal craniectomy. Blood transfusions were occasional, being necessary for only six (12%) children. The children were admitted at the day of surgery and discharged between the second and third post-operative day. No local or general complications were observed and no one died. The aesthetic result was considered good. The altered skull measurements before surgery reached normalization as far as the end of the first year after the treatment. It may be concluded that wide biparietal craniectomy is a procedure of great effectiveness in the treatment of the premature fusions of the sagittal suture.

[Choroid plexus tumors]. / Tumores do plexo coróideo.

This analysis comprises 15 children under 16 years of age, with choroid plexus tumors, seen in the Service of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Hospital das Clínicas and Hospital São Francisco de Assis in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, between 1981 and 1996. The patients were aged between 4 months and 16 years (average of 3 years and a half); 10 were less than 2 years, 9 were female; 14 children had clinical evidence of intracranial hypertension. All the children underwent CT scan and the choroid plexus tumors were clearly demonstrated in 14 of then. In 8 children the tumors were located in one lateral ventricle, 5 in the fourth ventricle and 2 had the tumors in more than one ventricle, 11 children required ventriculo-peritoneal shunt; 14 cases were operated on, 13 with total excision; 2 children died, respectively 7 days and one year after the surgery. Pathological examination revealed papillomas in 12 cases and carcinoma in two cases.

[Microsurgical anatomy of sellar region in cadavers using a photographic technique with fluorescein]. / Anatomia microcirúrgica da região selar em cadáveres a fresco utilizando técnica fotográfica com fluoresceína.

The microsurgical anatomy of sellar regions in 20 cadavers with a 12 hours maximum post mortem was studied. Fluorescein was used as contrast for vascular anatomy examination. The use of fresh specimen and fluorescein had the objective of avoiding any distortion of normal anatomy. The drug was diluted with water or, in order to have more consistency, in gel for ultrasonography. Contrast injection was made into the internal carotid artery and photographs were taken with three different kinds of lighting: 1) only with Wood's lamp; 2) Wood's lamp and normal white light; 3) only with white light. Lighting only with Wood's lamp showed more contrast. After measurement, data often showed discrepancies with other authors' data. The photographic technique with fluorescein is simple and accessible; the drug showed high quality as a vascular contrast for neuroanatomic research.

Toxic concentrations of metronidazole to Microcystis protocystis.

Antimicrobials are among the most commonly used drugs and have become a class of contaminants with great environmental importance. Metronidazole is an antimicrobial used for the therapeutic management of several human diseases. The toxicity of antimicrobials on aquatic species may affect sensitive microorganisms and reduce metabolic processes. Cyanobacteria is a group of organisms that are of great ecological importance in aquatic environments. Studies indicate that cyanobacteria are very sensitive to some antimicrobials. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the effects of metronidazole contamination on phytoplankton. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of metronidazole on the growth of the cyanobacterium Microcystis protocystis and to evaluate the stability of this antimicrobial agent in the culture medium over a period of 96 hours. M. protocystis was resistant to growth inhibition by metronidazole. The EC50 of this antimicrobial for M. protocystis was 117.3 mg L(-1). Under the growth inhibition test conditions, neither a significant change in the MNZ concentration nor the presence of drug metabolites or degradation products was observed. These results indicate low cellular uptake of the antimicrobial agent and its persistence in the culture medium.

The influence of formulation on the dissolution profile of diclofenac sodium tablets.

In attempts to design delayed-release tablets of diclofenac sodium, seven experimental batches were produced. The influence of super-disintegrant croscarmellose sodium (CCS), the granulation process, and the thickness of Eudragit L 100 coating film were evaluated. The values of dissolution efficiency and the similarity factor were used to compare the dissolution profiles of each experimental batch and the reference Voltaren. Both methods appear to be applicable and useful in comparing dissolution profiles. Based on such values four batches were considered similar when contrasted with the reference. The results suggest an optimal relationship between the amount of CCS and the thickness of the coating film, which provides appropriate dissolution rate of diclofenac sodium from the dosage forms.

Immunological evaluation of a 26-kDa antigen from Taenia solium larvae for specific immunodiagnosis of human neurocysticercosis.

Human neurocysticercosis, due to infection of the central nervous system by cysticerci of Taenia solium, is a severe form of neurologic disease occurring in Central and South America. Specific proteins from scolex antigen from cysticerci were purified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electroelution and recognized in Western blots by antibodies present in sera from patients with neurocysticercosis. The proteins appeared as 13-, 17-, and 26-kDa bands on Coomassie blue-stained gels and proved to be specific to cysticerci of T. solium. No cross-reactivity with sera from patients with taeniasis or hydatidosis was observed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the purified proteins of 13, 17, and 26 kDa demonstrated rates of 53%, 88%, and 100% specificity, respectively, at the cutoff serum dilution of 1:32 for the specific immunodiagnosis of human neurocysticercosis.

Fosfomycin determination in serum by capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect ultraviolet detection.

Capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect ultraviolet detection was used for the determination of fosfomycin in serum. Running buffer consisted of a mixture of 200 mM sodium borate with 10 mM phenylphosphonic acid used as ultraviolet absorbing background electrolyte. Relationships between the pH of the buffer and the efficiency of the separation (migration times and selectivities) or the sensitivity of detection were investigated. The method was then validated over a 10-100 micrograms ml-1 concentration range to be applied to further therapeutic drug monitoring. The choice of ethylphosphonic acid as internal standard is discussed. The specificity and the linearity of the technique are demonstrated. The inter-day precision was satisfactory with a relative standard deviation of less than 2%. Accuracy was calculated with a standard error near 0.5 and 18% for 100 and 10 micrograms ml-1, respectively.

Prevention of transfusion-associated Chagas' disease by sterilization of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected blood with gentian violet, ascorbic acid, and light.

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic blood transfusions are the second most frequent route of Chagas' disease transmission in countries where the disease is endemic. The prevention of transfusion-associated Chagas' disease has been attempted through clinical and serologic screening of blood donors and/or by the addition of trypanomicidal substances such as gentian violet (GV) to stored blood for 24 hours. The present study describes an alternative method of chemoprophylaxis of transfusion-associated Chagas' disease that reduces the sterilization time by using a combination of low-concentration GV, ascorbic acid (AA), and photoradiation with visible light. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To better reproduce the conditions of blood transfusion in developing areas, normal human blood was collected in blood collection bags, infected with different concentrations of Trypanosoma cruzi, and treated with GV, AA, and photoradiation. Mice were then inoculated with the T. cruzi-infected human blood that had been stored at different incubation intervals. Active parasites were sought in mouse blood for parasitologic diagnosis and serologic evaluation (mice inoculation, blood culture, and indirect immunofluorescence). RESULTS: The association of GV (250 micrograms/mL), and photoradiation with visible light (75W) sterilized T. cruzi-infected blood even after treatment for less than 30 minutes and even when chagasic blood was treated with low-concentration GV (62.5 micrograms/mL for 30 min). Moreover, the trypanomicidal activity of GV associated with AA and photoradiation with visible light was found even when blood was infected with a 10-fold parasite concentration. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed alternative prophylactic method is reproducible, easy to perform, and inexpensive, and it may have practical importance in endemic areas where serologic screening of donor blood is not always available. In addition, the reduction of the GV trypanomicidal concentration might further minimize the potential for GV-related side effects.