Obesity and Malnutrition in a Shantytown Population in the City of São Paulo,Brazil

To investigate the prevalence of obesity and malnutrition in the poor Brazilian population we conducted a survey on the socioeconomic and nutritional status of 535 families (comprising 2 411 individuals) living in shanty towns in the city of São Paulo. There was a 30% prevalence of malnutrition in the children, with chronic malnutrition as the most predominant problem. The prevalence of obesity was 6.4% in boys and 8.7% in girls. Overweight and obesity associated with stunting was found in 5.8% of boys and 6.8% girls. Adolescents showed a higher prevalence of malnutrition when weight-for-age distribution was used (boys 46.4%, girls 40.2%), but a right deviation in the distribution was observed with an increase in obesity and a decrease of malnutrition was observed (obesity was 21% in girls and 8.8% in boys; malnutrition was 15.5% in boys and 12.6% in girls) when the weight-for-height adjustment was made. Stunting was the most predominant type of malnutrition in both sexes. Obesity associated with stunting was more common than obesity without stunting, both in younger children and adolescents. Adults had a higher prevalence of obesity than malnutrition according to both the Metropolitan Life Insurance tables (1.7% of undernutrition, 16.7% of overweight, and 14.1% of obesity) and Body Mass Index (8.5% of undernutrition, 21.9% of overweight, and 14.6% of obesity). There was an increase in the percentage of obese children when at least one adult in the family was obese and an increased percentage of malnourished children when undernourished adults were present in the family. Obesity among the adults of the family decreased the occurrence of malnutrition among the children. In 9% of families there was a coexistence of obesity in the adults and malnutrition in the children. These results demonstrate a coexistence of malnutrition and obesity in poor urban Brazilian communities.     

Glycerol stress and platelet integrity

Platelet response to glycerol gradient was studied using a few in vitro parameters. These were platelet count, mean platelet size, platelet response to hypotonic stress (PHRS), and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. An equal volume of 1-10% (w/v) glycerol in plasma was added at once to the platelet concentrate resulting in 0.5-5% (w/v) final glycerol concentration. The concentrate was kept at 22 degrees C for 60 min. Platelets were then separated by one centrifugation and resuspended in glycerol-free plasma. A loss in platelet count was observed when the gradient of glycerol was more than 3%. This was associated with an increase in mean cell size and a reduction in aggregability. With 5% glycerol stress, a loss of 30% in cell count, an increase in 18% in cell size, and a 78% loss in aggregability was observed. Declining of PRHS was shown already with a 1% glycerol gradient and 69% of this function was suppressed by 5% glycerol stress. In other experiments, 5% glycerol was first added, them removed in 5 steps with a gradient of 1% each. When time interval between each step was less than 0.5 min, platelet loss and PRHS reduction were 17 and 47% respectively. These values were gradually improved to 4% and 11-20%, respectively, as increasing time interval up to 15 min. It was concluded that a gradient of 1% glycerol and a 15-min interval for each step minimizes the detrimental osmotic stress on platelets while glycerol is added or removed. Our findings may lead up to devising an improved protocol for platelet cryopreservation with glycerol.     

Updates on cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Italy

An update on Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) diffusion in Italy during 2003-2005 is reported. CE seems to have a sporadic diffusion in the northern part of the country where this disease plays a minor role (prevalence < 1%). Recent investigations have shown the occurrence of CE cases in humans from the mountains between Reggio Emilia and Modena, with an average year incidence between 9.4 and 5.6/100,000. In Abruzzo prevalences in sheep and cattle are 20.2% and 15.3%, with a fertility of 4.6% and 1.3%, respectively. In the same region, G1 and G3 strains were identified and a prevalence of 31% in dogs was found with CaELISA. In Campania, CE prevalence was 14.8% in cattle, with no viable cysts recovered, and 10.5% in water buffaloes, with a fertility of 1.4%. Biotechnologies allowed to find G1 and G3 strains in water buffaloes. In Sicily, CE was found in 67.1% of cattle, with a fertility of 4%, and in 57.6% of sheep, with 9.2% of viable cysts. Biomolecular investigations have found G1 strain in sheep and cattle. In dogs, a prevalence of 5.6% for Echinococcus granulosus was reported. In Sardinia CE prevalence was 75.3% in sheep and 41.5% in cattle, with a fertility of 10.3% and 2.6%, respectively. CE was found also in 9.4% of pigs, with fertility of 6.5%. The G1 strain was recovered in sheep and cattle while the G7 in pigs.     

Variability of branching of the a. coeliaca (truncus coeliacomesentericus) in the guinea pig (Cavia aperea f. porcellus)

The authors studied branching of the a. coeliaca (the truncus coeliacomesentericus) in a group of Peruvian short-haired guinea pigs, with special reference to its variability. After the animals had been anaesthetized, their arterial bed was injected with red-dyed latex, fixed and dissected. In all 30 guinea pigs (100%), blood was supplied to the unpaired organs of the abdominal cavity by a truncus coeliacomesentericus arising from the aorta abdominalis at fundus ventriculi level. In 53.3% of the cases, the truncus coeliacomesentericus divided into a truncus gastrolienalis sending out an a. gastrica sinistra and an a. lienalis, and to a truncus hepatomesentericus which split up into an a. hepatica communis and a. mesenterica cranialis. An a. coeliaca (tripus Halleri) was found in only one guinea pig (3.3%), as a branch of the truncus coeliacomesentericus. In the remaining cases, the truncus branched in the most varied ways. The a. gastrica sinistra was most frequently (60%) a branch of the truncus gastrolienalis. In 21 cases (70%) there was a single a. gastrica sinistra and in nine cases (30%) it was doubled. In 29 cases (96.7%) the a. hepatica communis arose from the truncus hepatomesentericus. The classic type of division of the a. hepatica communis to an a. hepatica propria and an a. gastroduodenalis was observed in every case (100%). In 100% of the cases, the a. hepatica propria terminated in a r. dexter and a r. sinister to the liver. An a. cystica, as a direct branch of the a. hepatica propria, was formed in 28 cases (93.3%). In every case (100%) the a. pancreaticoduodenalis cranialis was a branch of the a. gastroduodenalis. An a. gastrica dextra was recorded in only eight cases in the series (26.7%)--in 23.3% as a branch of the a. hepatica propria and in 3.3% as a branch of the a. cystica. Duplication of this artery was found in one case (3.3%). An a. lienalis was found in 28 cases (93.3%), as a direct branch of the truncus gastrolienalis; in two cases (6.7%) it was doubled. An a. gastroepiploica sinistra and a. gastroepiploica dextra were present in 100% of the cases. Inter-organ arterial anastomoses were found in 22 guinea pigs (73.3%)--between the spleen and the stomach (36.7%), between the pancreas and the stomach (10%), between the stomach, spleen and pancreas (10%) and, in the remaining cases, as various combinations of these connections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Correlation of endoscopic cytology and histology in oesophageal cancer: results in Porto Alegre,RS—Brazil

A retrospective study of oesophageal cytopathology at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), RS, Brazil, from 1989 to 1992 was made to assess the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy of endoscopic cytology and biopsy; and study the correlation between cytopathological and histopathological diagnosis. Specimens from 94 patients were available for review. The final diagnosis was based on surgical pathology and follow up. The 81 patients with cancer of the oesophagus had the following sex distribution: 64 males and 17 females (a 3.7–1 ratio). No tumour was found in 13 patients. The following conclusions were made: (i) there is excellent correlation between cytology and histology in oesophageal lesions sampled by endoscopy; (ii) a correct positive cytologic report was obtained in 77 (95%) of the 81 proven oesophageal cancers; a false-negative or unsatisfactory result was given in four patients. A false-positive diagnosis of cancer was not made. There were 13 true-negative reports. These findings result in a sensitivity of 95% with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 90.26–99.74%; a specificity of 100% (CI of 98.5–100%); a positive predictive value of 100% (CI of 99.3–100%); a negative predictive value of 76% (CI of 55.7–96.3%); (iii) a correct positive histological report was obtained in 67 (83%) of the 81 proven oesophageal cancers; a false-negative or unsatisfactory result was given in 14 patients. A false-positive diagnosis of cancer was not made. There were 13 true-negative reports. These findings result in a sensitivity of 83% with 95% CI of 74.82–91.18%; a specificity of 100% (CI of 98.5–100%); a positive predictive value of 100% (CI of 99.25–100%); a negative predictive value of 48% (CI of 29.16–64.84%); (iv) of 81 patients with proven cancer, in 79 (98%) at least one of the methods was positive. In only two patients with cancer were both methods negative. These findings result in a combined sensitivity of 98% (CI of 94.92–100%); a specificity of 100% (CI of 98.5–100%); a positive predictive value of 100% (CI of 99.31–100%); and a negative predictive value of 87% (CI of 70–100%). Our series confirms the value of the combined use of cytology and biopsy for the investigation of oesophageal lesions. However, it should be remembered that even with the combined use of cytology and biopsy there are some tumours that will be negative by both procedures: we had only two such cases, confirming the rarity of such an event.     

科尔沁固定沙地植被特征对降雨变化的响应

选择科尔沁固定沙地利用一种野外增减雨试验装置研究了沙地植被生长特征对降雨增减变化的响应。结果表明:(1)在6月,降雨增减变化对植物群落高度有显著影响(P0.05)。减雨60%和30%时,植物群落平均高度比对照分别降低8.8%和2.3%,增雨60%和30%时,则分别增加6.8%和1.4%;相比增雨60%,增雨30%更能促进群落盖度的增大;降雨量变化影响群落植株密度。(2)1a的降雨增减变化对沙地植被的多样性和均匀度均没有显著影响,但减雨可显著增加7月物种的丰富度(P0.05)。(3)随着降雨量的增加,地上生物量逐渐增大,在增雨30%时达到最大值;而地下生物量会随着降雨量增加而显著增大,同时,减雨60%也使地下生物量增加。此外,降雨量的增加和减少都会使地下与地上生物量的比值增加。(4)固定沙地地下生物量主要分布在0—20 cm之间,占总地下生物量的52.7%;降雨量的增加显著增加20—40 cm土壤中根系的分布,当降雨量减少60%时,20—40 cm土壤中根系的分布也略有增加,增雨60%和减雨60%对地下生物量在40—60 cm土层的分布具有明显的促进作用。     

Production of mannitol usingLeuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1149

A process for the production of mannitol from fructose (5% to 25%) usingLeuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1149 was investigated. Fermentations were carried out in batch or fed-batch fermentations without aeration at 28°C, pH 5.0. When 5% fructose was used in batch culture fermentation, the yield of mannitol was 78% of that expected theoretically. When the fructose concentration was increased to 10%, the yield dropped to 59.6% of the theoretical value. However, in the fed-batch culture, using 10% fructose, the yield was 81.9% of the theoretical value. In a 15% fructose fed-batch culture, with 5% fructose being added initially and the other 10% fructose being added as a continuous supply, the final yield was 83.7% of the theoretical yield. When 20% fructose was used in the same manner, the yield was 89.5% of theoretical yield.     

Steroid metabolism in the gonads of a patient with testicular feminization. I. Metabolism of cholesterol, pregnenolone, progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone in vitro.

The metabolism of cholesterol-4-14C, pregnenolone-4-14C, progesterone-4-14C and dehydroepiandrosterone-4-14C in a right abdominal and a left inguinal testis of a patient with testicular feminization was studied by a double isotope method in vitro. One of the main metabolites found in all incubations was testosterone. In incubations with cholesterol the delta4-pathway seems to be preferred. The rate of conversion of cholesterol to testosterone in the right testis was 1,27% and in the left testis 4,90%. Pregnenolone was converted to testosterone in the right testis at a rate of 6,61% and in the left testis at a rate of 3,23%. The conversion for testosterone using progesterone as precursor was 13,19% and 3,88% respectively and 11,97% of dehydroepiandrosterone was converted to testosterone in the right testis and 12,32% in the left testis. These findings are compared with data from the literature and conclusions are drawn.     

Changes in plasma volume during hypohydration and rehydration in subjects from the tropics

Plasma volume (PV) at different levels of hypohydration was determined using radio-iodinated serum albumin-125 in 28 heat acclimated male volunteers in hot dry condition in a climatic chamber. The heat acclimated subjects were hypohydrated to varying degrees i.e. 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% body mass deficit by moderate work in hot conditions in a climatic chamber maintained at 45 degrees C dry bulb temperature and 30% relative humidity. A rehydration study was carried out in only those subjects who were hypohydrated to 3% and 4% body mass and they were brought back to a 2% level of hypohydration by giving a calculated amount of water. A significant decrease in PV was observed at 3% and 4% hypohydration only. The magnitude of the decrease was the same in both the groups and not related to the level of hypohydration. With partial rehydration in the 3% hypohydrated group PV was restored fully, while in the 4% hypohydrated group restoration was incomplete, indicating that at this hypohydration level some of the replenished water that entered in plasma may have moved to the intracellular compartment which may have contributed more at 4% hypohydration. It is suggested that with higher levels of thermal hypohydration significant reduction in the intracellular compartment may result in accentuated physiological strain during work in the heat.     

Clinical, genetic and cytogenetic studies in couples attending an infertility clinic

The present study was carried out in order to assess the genetic component in a group of sterile or infertile couples from a latin american population. During a six-year-period, 258 patients were investigated. Sixty two per cent of the cases were studied for sterility and 38% for infertility. It was found that 34% had genetic pathology. In infertile couples the frequency of chromosome abnormalities was 2.8%; when sterility was also considered this frequency was 11.6%. Chromosome variants were found in 11.4% of the sterile patients and in 8.8% of the infertile cases.     

On the clinical significance of acquired antithrombin deficiency

The concentration of antithrombin III (AT) was determined with a chromogenic method in plasma samples from 1,302 patients referred for evaluation of the haemostatic system. A clearly subnormal AT level (below 60%) was found in 129 patients. In ten cases, this was explained by known (8 cases) or suspected (2 newborns) hereditary deficiency. Only in 5% of the 600 cases referred with definite or suspected thrombosis, AT was below 60%. These cases had a lethality of about 20%. In about 30% of the cases with liver disease, AT was below 60%. In a group of 72 patients with either severe infection, cardiac insufficiency, malignancy or suspected DIC for other reasons, AT was below 60%. Also in this group lethality was about 50% despite lack of a clear DIC blood profile in 67 of the 72 patients. The results indicate that an AT value below 60% of normal, unexplained by hereditary deficiency, carries a grave prognosis.     

Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies of Taiwanese patients with gastroduodenal diseases

This study was designed to study the in vivo prevalence and the heterogeneity of H. pylori in patients with gastroduodenal diseases in central Taiwan. H. pylori infection was detected in 74.1% (575/776) of the symptomatic population studied. The prevalence of H. pylori infection increased from 11.1% in those between the ages of one to 20, to 82.9% in those between the ages of 41 and 50, and to 84% in those between the ages of 51 and 60. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of H. pylori infection between men and women. Among different blood types, the prevalence and relative risk of H. pylori infection was significantly higher in blood group O patients (90.3%) than in blood group A (41%), blood group B (27.4%), or blood group AB (62%) patients. Metronidazole resistance was found in 6.7% of the primary isolates. The prevalence of metronidazole-resistant H. pylori strains was higher in women (7.69%) than in men (6.25%), but this difference was not significant. A total of 88% of H. pylori strains were cagA-positive. CagA gene-positive strains were present in 90.1% of duodenal ulcers, 90% of duodenal ulcers combined with gastric ulcer, 85.8% of gastric ulcers, and 69.2% of gastritis patients, and was significantly higher in peptic ulcer disease groups than in the gastritis group. In conclusion, there was a low incidence (6.7%) of metronidazole-resistant H. pylori strains and a high prevalence (88%) of H. pylori cagA-positive strains in central Taiwan. This study also demonstrated a significant in vivo correlation between active H. pylori infection and blood group O-positive patients, and showed a significant association between cagA gene-positive H. pylori strains and the development of peptic ulcers.     

Bovine uterine torsion: 164 hospital referral cases

Uterine torsion is more common in the cow than any other domestic species. The etiopathogenesis of the condition remains open to speculation. Available hospital referral records of bovine uterine torsions (n = 164) were collated, and additional comparisons for season, age and breed were made using the VDMP data base of 24 North American veterinary schools. There was no effect of season. Brown Swiss cows were at a significantly higher risk (P = 0.0001), while Hereford, Angus, and Jersey cows were at a lower risk for uterine torsion when compared with Holstein-Friesian cows, the largest breed population (P = 0.01). Most cows (81%) were at term. Clinical signs of torsion included fever (23%), tachycardia (93%), tachypnea (94%), straining (23%), anorexia (18%) and vaginal discharge (13%). In 34% of the cases the torsion was precervical, with no vaginal involvement being noted. The severity of the torsion was predominately 180 to 270 degrees (57%) and 271 to 360 degrees (22%). Counter-clockwise torsion was present in 63% of the cases. Vaginal delivery was possible after manual correction (20%) or rolling of the cow (18%). Cesarean section was performed immediately in 35% of the cases, after failed detorsion attempts in 7%, and due to failure of the cervix to dilate following successful correction of the torsion in 20%. Calf birth weights exceeded breed means in 89% of the cases, and a significantly greater proportion (63%) of the fetuses were male. Fetal survival rate was 24% (14% of dead fetuses were emphysematous), and the cow survival rate was 78% (10% were euthanized). The fetal membrane retention rate was 57%. It was found that large term fetuses appear to predispose a cow to uterine torsion.     

Characterization of Two Extracellular Polysaccharides from Marine Bacteria

Two bacterial isolates from the intertidal zone produced significant quantities of extracellular polysaccharide with interesting properties. One polysaccharide was named PS 3a24; the other was named PS 3a35. The relative proportion of sugars in PS 3a35 was 51.6% glucose, 39.0% galactose, 3.1% mannose, and 6.3% rhamnose, with a trace of an unidentified sugar. PS 3a24 was composed of 40.2% glucose, 57.2% galactose, and 2.6% mannose. PS 3a35 contained 6% pyruvate, whereas PS 3a24 contained no pyruvate. Both exhibited high specific viscosity, pseudoplasticity, and stability over a wide range of pH in the presence of a variety of salts. The viscosity of PS 3a35 was relatively insensitive to increasing temperature, whereas that of PS 3a24 showed an irreversible drop on heating.     

Bicarbonaturic effect of acetazolamide in the dog: the influence of graded volume expansion

Studies were performed in anesthetized dogs to characterize the effect of a progressive volume expansion on the acetazolamide-induced bicarbonaturia. A closed system with urine reinfusion was used in all these experiments. In normovolemic dogs, 24% of the filtered bicarbonate was excreted into the urine while this value reached 62% when a 10% expansion was superimposed on a continuous infusion of acetazolamide. When a single dose of acetazolamide was given, fractional bicarbonate excretion increased from 21% in normovolemic dogs to 46% during 10% expansion. Without acetazolamide administration, 13% of the filtered bicarbonate was excreted during a 10% expansion. The continuous infusion of acetazolamide in normovolemic dogs increased fractional bicarbonate excretion in a progressive fashion, from 25 to 40%. This study shows that an acute volume expansion potentiates markedly the bicarbonaturic effect of acetazolamide, fractional bicarbonate excretion exceeding by far the simple additive effect of acetazolamide and expansion. We speculate that volume expansion might prevent a compensatory rise in acetazolamide-insensitive bicarbonate reabsorption in sites other than the superficial proximal convoluted tubules.     

Clinical evaluation of the EA-rosette test in the early detection of cervical cancer

It was previously found that a negative EA-rosette test, showing EA-rosette-forming cells in a cervical cell suspension, excluded the presence of cells of invasive carcinoma (predictive value of 99.9%). This study on 2,462 patients confirmed the applicability of the EA-rosette test in screening for precancerous as well as cancerous lesions. In 98.6% of the cases of dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma, the cervical cell suspensions contained EA-rosette forming cells (the rosette test was positive). With a negative EA-rosette test, the probability of missing a specimen with class III cytology (mild/moderate dysplasia) was 1.4%, of missing one with class IV cytology (severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ) was 0.8% and of missing one with class V cytology (invasive carcinoma) was 0.25%. The predictive value of a negative EA-rosette test was 98.6%. The false-negative rate for negative EA-rosette tests was 3.7% for invasive carcinoma, 17.5% for carcinoma in situ and severe dysplasia and 41.4% for mild to moderate dysplasia.     

Additive action of honey and starch against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger

A comparative method of adding honey to culture media with and without starch was used to evaluate the action of starch on the antifungal activity of honey. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) expressed in % (v/v) for two varieties of honey without starch against Candida albicans was 42% and 46%, respectively. For Aspergillus niger the MIC without starch was 51% and 59%, respectively. When starch was incubated with honey and then added to media the MIC for C. albicans was 28% and 38%, respectively, with a starch concentration of 3.6% whereas the MIC for A. niger was 40% and 45%, with a starch concentration of 5.6% and 5.1% respectively. This study suggests that the amylase present in honey increases the osmotic effect in the media by increasing the amount of sugars and consequently increasing the antifungal activity.     

Development and survival of immature Culex annulirostris mosquitoes in southeast Queensland

Abstract. The rates of development and survival of the immature stages of Culex annulirostris were studied in three different breeding sites in the Brisbane area of southeast Queensland: a temporary rain-filled pool (TP), a semi-permanent pool (SPP), and an area of flooded grassland (FG) arising from the overflow of a permanent pond. Parallel observations were made on larvae and pupae either exposed to predation or in predator-free cages for 12 and 15 consecutive days respectively. Development was fastest and survival highest in the warmer TP. Average daily mortality of larvae (L) and pupae (P) was TP: L 8.3%, P 9.5%; SPP: L 25.2%, P 34.6%; FG: L 18.8%, P 35.4%. From life-tables and survivorship curves, survival from first instar to adult was TP 34.8%, SPP 2.0% and FG 4.2%. Mortality from predation was TP 43.2%, SPP 68.7% and FG 69.1 %. Predator density was TP 0.32, SPP 1.48 and FG 1.76 per 300ml sample.     

Percutaneous fine needle aspiration biopsy of the lung. A study of 1,015 patients

From the time of its introduction, in 1973, through November 1983, fine needle aspiration biopsy ( FNAB ) of the lung was used in the diagnostic evaluation of 1,015 patients at the Duke University Medical Center and Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center. A diagnosis of a primary lung cancer was established in 49.4% of the cases and malignant neoplasm metastatic to the lung in 14.1%; a benign diagnosis was made in 31.1% and an inconclusive one in 5.4%. In 123 patients in whom lung tissue was also available, cancer was correctly diagnosed by FNAB in 83.8%, not diagnosed by FNAB in 14.6% and incorrectly diagnosed in 1.6%. In 37 patients without cancer, FNAB detected an infectious organism or a specific morphologic type of inflammation (abscess and granuloma).