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Sixteen patients with endemic pemphigus foliaceus were submitted to nutritional evaluation. Ten had the localized form of the disease (Group G1) and six the disseminated form (Group G2). The patients were submitted to anthropometric measurements (weight, height, Quetelét index, tricipital skin fold, subscapular skin fold, arm circumference, arm muscle circumference, arm area, arm muscle area, and arm adipose area) and to laboratory evaluation by protein electrophoresis. Arm circumference, arm area and arm muscle area showed lower values in G2 than in G1. Weight and arm muscle circumference tended to the lower in G2 than in G1. Protein electrophoresis showed decreased albumin levels in both groups, with lower values in G2. Overall analysis of the results permits us to conclude that patients with endemic pemphigus foliaceus present signs and symptoms of protein, but not calorie, malnutrition and that this malnutrition is more marked in patients with disseminated pemphigus foliaceus.

The anthropometric (body weight, height, upper arm circumference, triceps and subescapular skinfolds; Quetelet index and arm muscle circumference) and blood biochemistry (proteins and lipids) parameters were evaluated in 93 males and 27 females, 17-72 years old voluntaries living in the malarial endemic area of Humaita city (southwest Amazon). According to their malarial history they were assembled in four different groups: G1--controls without malarial history (n:30); G2--controls with malarial history but without actual manifestation of the disease (n:40); G3--patients with Plasmodium vivax (n:19) and G4--patients with Plasmodium falciparum (n:31). The malarial status was stablished by clinical and laboratory findings. The overall data of anthropometry and blood biochemistry discriminated the groups differently. The anthropometric data were low sensitive and contrasted only the two extremes (G1 > G4) whereas the biochemistry differentiated two big groups, the healthy (G1 + G2) and the patients (G3 + G4). The nutritional status of the P. falciparum patients was highly depressed for most of the studied indices but none was sensitive enough to differentiate this group from the P. vivax group (G3). On the other hand the two healthy groups could be differentiated through the levels of ceruloplasmin (G1 < G2) and alpha nitrogen (G1 > G2). Thus it seems that the malaria-malnourishment state exists and the results could be framed either as a consequence of nutrient sink and/or the infection stress both motivated by the parasite.

A study was conducted on 16 patients with pemphigus foliaceus, ten of them with the localized form (group G1) and six with the disseminated form (group G2). These patients were submitted to full blood counts, quantitation of mononuclear cell subpopulations by monoclonal antibodies, study of blastic lymphocyte transformation, and quantitation of circulating antibodies by the indirect immunofluorescence test, in order to correlate their clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory data with their immunological profile, and to determine the relationship between circulating autoantibody titers and lesion intensity and course of lesions under treatment. Leucocytosis was observed especially in group G2. All patients showed decreased relative CD3+ and CD4+ values and a tendency to decreased relative values of the CD8+ subpopulation. Blastic lymphocyte transformation indices in the presence of phytohemagglutinin were higher in patients (group G1 + G2) than in controls. The indirect immunofluorescence test was positive in 100% of G2 patients and in 80% of G1 patients. The median value for the titers was higher in group G2 than in group G1. Analysis of the results as a whole permits us to conclude that cell immunity was preserved and that there was a relationship between antibody titers detected by the direct immunofluorescence test and extent of skin lesions.

Thirty-two patients bitten by venomous snakes sixteen by Bothrops spp. and sixteen by Crotalus durissus terrificus were studied. The group comprised thirty males and two females, aged eight to sixty-three years (mean 33 +/- 15). Bromsulphalein tests were increased in the majority of patients bitten by Crotalus durissus terrificus. The correlation coefficient of Spearman was positive between bromsulphalein tests and alanine aminotransferase levels, and between alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels only in the Crotalus group. The only patient who died was bitten by Crotalus durissus terrificus and showed hydropic degeneration and mitochondrial injury in the liver. It was concluded that the hepatic damage might have been caused by at least two possible mechanisms: venom effect on liver mitochondria and cytokine effects on hepatocyte, specially interleukin-6.

Heparin is the most frequently used drug for the prevention and treatment of thrombosis. Its use, however, is restricted by its side-effects. To study the efficacy of other glycosaminoglycans that could substitute heparin in the management of arterial thrombosis, 60 guinea-pigs were randomly allocated into 6 groups: G1 = control, G2 = heparin (150 IU/kg), G3 = heparan sulfate from beef pancreas (2.5 mg/kg), G4 = heparan sulfate from beef lung (2.5 mg/kg), G5 = N-acetylated heparan from beef pancreas, G6 = dermatan sulfate from beef intestine (2.5 mg/kg). Ten minutes after intravenous injection of the drugs, thrombosis was induced by the injection of a 50% glucose solution into a segment of the right carotid artery isolated between 2 thread loops during 10 minutes. Three hours later the artery was re-exposed and if a thrombus was present it was measured, withdrawn and weighed. Thrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were measured in all animals. Thrombus developed in 90% of the animals in the control group, 0% in G2 and G3, 62.5% in G4, 87.5% in G5 and G6. Only in the animals treated with heparin the coagulation tests were prolonged. In conclusion, in the used dose only the heparan sulfate from beef pancreas presented an antithrombotic effect similar to heparin in this experimental model.

The authors present data obtained from the analysis of a questionnaire regarding sexuality among 1,437 adolescent students in the Botucatu municipal district. The student's age varied from 15 to 19 years. The results demonstrate the evolving characteristics of the student's sexuality and suggest that sexual orientation and guidance should be part of the child and adolescent educational process. The authors pointed out that the members of Health care team should stimulate the discussion of sexuality while providing medical advice.

This paper aims to study the best way to express the parasitemia of Trypanosoma cruzi's experimentally infected animals. Individual scores may have a great variability, not emphasized by the majority of the authors. A group of 50 rats infected with 1 x 10(6) trypomastigotes of T. cruzi Y strain was used and the parasitemia was estimated by BRENER's method. The results showed that the median can avoid false results due to very high or low parasitemias but it does not have the mathematic properties necessary for analysis of variance. The comparison of the means of the original and transformed data, with their respective coefficients of variability (CV), showed that the logarithmic mean (Mlog) have the minor value of CV. Therefore, the Mlog is the best way to express the parasitemia when the data show great variability. The number of the animal for group did not affect the variability of data when the Mlog and CV were used.

The position of 125 countries is studied on the basis of a collection of 26 basic, health, economic and educational indicators. Multivariate statistical methods were used, including Cluster Analysis, Principal Component Analysis and Multivariate Analysis of Variance. The most discriminating variables were life expectancy the child mortality rate, the mortality rate of children of less than five years of age, the birth and fertility rates and the high-school female matriculation rate. The first principal component was interpreted as a measure of the living standard which made it possible to place the countries in order. Five clusters of countries are suggested.

The renal involvement in patients with multiple myeloma has been described as a sign of poor prognosis. The influence of renal insufficiency in the clinical patterns and in the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma was studied retrospectively in 45 patients. Patients with renal insufficiency, at first visit, more often presented weight loss, proteinuria, hypercalcemia. The means of uricemia, ESR, were higher and the hematocritic mean was lower in patients with renal insufficiency. There was no difference in edema, arterial hypertension, fractures and bone pain. The reversibility of renal insufficiency occurred in 47% of the cases, which happened more often in the first months of the follow up. The creatinine mean was lower in patients with reversible renal insufficiency. The median survival was: patients with renal insufficiency: 11 months; patients with normal renal function: 50 months. Among patients with renal insufficiency those with recuperation of renal function showed a higher median survival (24 months) than those with irreversible renal insufficiency (1 month). The renal involvement then is frequent and often reversible. Patients with impaired renal function showed a worse prognosis; normalization of the renal function was associated with a better outcome.

Purpose: To evaluate if acute blood pressure response with captopril can be applied as a predictive test of treatment efficacy in hypertensive patients uncontrolled with large dose of diuretics., Methods: Mild and moderate 120 uncontrolled hypertensive patients treated with hydrochlorothiazide 100 mg, were submitted to captopril (25 mg) test. The systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure acute and chronic responses were correlated and the linear discriminate function (LDF) and qui-square were applied to test the treatment efficacy. Previously two groups (G) patients were obtained as bad responders (G1) and good responders (G2) respectively, if the mean arterial pressure fall less or equal/more than 15% at the end of the associated treatment with diuretic and captopril., Results: Mean arterial pressure values during placebo were 168 +/- 2/109 +/- 1 mmHg. This values after diuretic and associated captopril treatment were, respectively, 151 +/- 1/101 +/- 1 and 137 +/- 1/90 +/- 1 mmHg, all significant different (p < 0.05). Blood pressure normalization was obtained in 58% of patients. The calculated LDF formula were: LDF = 7.92 - % SBP +/- 1.21 delta % DBP. The G1 LDF mean value was 192 and 361 to G2. The value 276 represents the separation medium point between both groups. As far the distance from the separation medium point for a calculated LDF for a calculated LDF for a problematic patient, as more will be the probability for this patient to belong to this group. LDF and qui-square classified correctly, respectively, 80% and 47% of patients in G1. To G2 good responders patients, LDF and qui-square agreed, respectively, in 72 and 77%., Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that captopril test, could be useful as an auxiliary methodology to select hypertensive patients, uncontrolled with diuretic treatment, which might benefit with the association of converting enzyme inhibitors drugs.

Superoxide radical (O2-) is a free radical that may be involved in various toxic processes. Cu--Zn superoxide dismutase catalyses the dismutation of the superoxide free radical and protects cells from oxidative damage, and it has been used clinically. The concentration of Ni2+ and Cu--Zn superoxide dismutase activity were measured in lungs of rats at time intervals of 5, 12, 19, 26, 33, and 40 days following an intratracheal injection of 127 nmol of NiCl2. Nickel chloride increased nickel content and resulted in a significant increase of Cu--Zn superoxide dismutase activity in lungs. This elevation of Cu--Zn superoxide dismutase activity was highest on the 12th day (approximately threefold) and is at levels comparable to controls rats on day 40 onwards. Since Cu--Zn superoxide dismutase activity was increased in lung throughout our experimental period without corresponding increases of Cu2+ and Zn2+, we speculate that the elevation of Cu--Zn superoxide dismutase activity might be due to an increased half-life of the enzyme, induced by nickel.

Alcohol levels were measured in 15 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and 14 blood samples from grade III and IV male alcoholic patients with signs of nervous system involvement, and compared with levels detected in 11 CSF samples and 11 blood samples from abstemious patients or patients with grade I or II alcoholism whose CSF had been found to be normal by routine analysis (controls). Among the alcoholic patients, alcohol levels were lower in the CSF than in blood, whereas the opposite was true for the controls. The possible mechanisms underlying this difference are discussed and the need for further study of this topic is emphasized.

Purpose: To evaluate the antihypertensive effect of captopril in mild and moderate hypertensive patients uncontrolled with diuretics., Methods: Low dose of captopril (25 to 50 mg) bid were associated during 9 weeks in 120 patients previously treated with 100 mg of hydrochlorothiazide. A subgroup of patients (74) were followed additionally for 3 weeks with the same dose of the drugs administered as a single dose. The patients were clinically evaluated after two weeks placebo, and each three weeks of active drugs. Blood pressure normalization were considered when diastolic arterial pressure was < or = 90 mmHg. Laboratory tests were measured before diuretic, before captopril and at the end of combined twelve weeks treatment., Results: After 15 days washout, the baseline supine arterial pressure, 168 +/- 2/ 109 +/- 1 mmHg decrease significantly with diuretic to 151 +/- 1/ 101 +/- 1 mmHg and the drop was further increased with captopril b.i.d., with a mean dose of 44 +/- 1 mg, to 137 +/- 1/ 90 +/- 1 mmHg. Blood pressure normalization was obtained in 58% patients with captopril b.i.d. and in 63% as single dose. Blood pressure normalization was achieved in 63% of non-white patients and in 56% patients over 45 years old. Plasmatic potassium decreased significantly with diuretic and did not recovered when captopril was associated., Conclusion: Our results indicate that the addition of low dose of captopril twice or once a day may result in a marked additional blood pressure reduction in cases of insufficient control by the diuretic alone.

Calomys callosus a wild rodent, previously described as harboring Trypanosoma cruzi, has a low susceptibility to infection by this protozoan. Experiments were designed to evaluate the contribution of the immune response to the resistance to T. cruzi infection exhibited by C. calossus. Animals were submitted to injections of high (200 mg/kg body weight) and low (20 mg/kg body weight) doses of cyclophosphamide on days -1 or -1 and +5, and inoculated with 4 x 10(3) T. cruzi on day O. Parasitemia, mortality and antibody response as measured by direct agglutination of trypomastigotes were observed. Two hundred mg doses of cyclophosphamide resulted in higher parasitemia and mortality as well as in suppression of the antibody response. A single dose of 20 mg enhanced antibody levels on the 20th day after infection, while an additional dose did not further increase antibody production. Parasitemia levels were not depressed, but rather increased in both these groups as compared to untreated controls. Passive transfer of hyperimmune C. callosus anti-T. cruzi serum to cyclophosphamide immunosuppressed animals resulted in lower parasitemia and mortality rates. These results indicate that the immune response plays an important role in the resistance of C. callossus to T. cruzi.

Mortality caused by neoplasms in Brazil was examined by means of official Ministry of Health data covering 26 of the Federal Units and 13 different tumoral sites and referring to the years 1980, 1983 and 1985. Both cluster analyses and those of principal components have shown heterogeneous behaviour as between the different regions of the country in relation to the 13 variants studied. The main discriminatory elements are the trachea/bronchus/lung malign neoplasms followed by those of stomach, pancreas, colon and larynx. Complementary analyses have demonstrated a tendency to an increase in the mortality rate due to prostate malign neoplasms (17.74%), followed by those of trachea/bronchus/lung (15.22%), breast (11.32%), pancreas (10.23%), colon (8.08%), uterine colon (6.45%) and larynx (6.36). There has been a decrease of the mortality due to benign neoplasms/carcinoma "in situ"/others (27.37%), malign rectus neoplasms of the sigmoid/anus (7.67%), stomach (5.31%), of other non-specific locations in the uterus (2.56%), of leukaemia (0.70%) and malign neoplasms of the oesophagus (0.44%). Maling neoplasms of the stomach have been the main cause of cancer mortality in Brazil accounting for 21.27% of the mean total, followed by of the malign neoplasms trachea/bronchus/lung (17.52% of the general average). The mortality rates by esophageal malign neoplasms in Rio Grande do Sul is stressed.

Venous rethrombosis following thrombectomy is a common event. The aim of the present study was to verify the action of heparin, heparin plus acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) and dipyridamole, and of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in the prevention of this complication. Thrombosis was induced in 48 male rabbits by the injection of thrombin in a segment of the left jugular vein, in which the blood flow was arrested for 10 minutes. After 48 hours, the animals were randomly allocated into one of 4 groups of treatment: (1) control, (2) subcutaneous heparin (600 S.I. Units/kg--8/8 hours), (3) heparin, in the same dose, plus ASA (10 mg/kg/once a day), and dipyridamole (0.5 mg/kg thrice a day), (4) an AVF was surgically constructed between the left carotid artery and the left maxillar vein. After 30 minutes, thrombectomy was performed. The venous blood flow, the hematocrit, activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time tests were performed before, right after the thrombectomy and 48 hours after thrombectomy. Venography was performed after thrombectomy and at the end of the experiment. The animals were killed 48 hours after thrombectomy and the veins were examined macroscopically. Venous rethrombosis was significantly prevented only in the AVF group (9/12), when compared to control group (0/12), heparin group (1/12) and heparin plus antiaggregating agents group (2/12). These results validate further clinical and experimental investigations with the use of AVF to prevent rethrombosis after venous thrombectomy, when a reduction of venous flow is present.

The authors evaluated the isoniazid acetylating phenotype and measured hematocrit, hemoglobin, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase activities plus serum sulfadoxin levels in 39 patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (33 males and 6 females) aged 17 to 58 years. Twenty one (53.84%) of the patients presented a slow acetylating phenotype and 18(46.16%) a fast acetylating phenotype. Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity was decreased in 5(23.80%) slow acetylators and in 4(22.22%) fast acetylators. Glutathione reductase activity was decreased in 14(66.66%) slow acetylators and in 12(66.66%) fast acetylators. Serum levels of free and total sulfadoxin were higher in slow acetylator (p less than 0.02). Analysis of the results permitted us to conclude that serum sulfadoxin levels are related to the acetylator phenotype. Furthermore, sulfadoxin levels were always above 50 micrograms/ml, a value considered therapeutic. Glutathione reductase deficiency observed in 66% of patients may be related to the intestinal malabsorption of nutrients, among them riboflavin, a FAD precursor vitamin, in patients with paracoceidioidomycosis.

Reports in the literature have shown that acute or chronic zinc administration may cause hyperglycemia, with a fall in serum or insular insulin occurring in experimental animals. On the other hand, under conditions of both acute and chronic hyperglycemia, an increase, a decrease, or a normal level of blood zinc has been observed in studies conducted on humans. Thus, the objective of the investigation described here was to determine the relationship existing among zinc, glucose, and insulin under acute conditions. Thirty-six subjects of both sexes (mean age, 23 yr) were tested at 7:00 A.M. after a 12-h fast. Two antecubital veins of both forearms were punctured and maintained with physiological saline. Three experiments were performed in which zinc was administered orally, and hypertonic glucose and tolbutamid were administered intravenously. Blood samples were then collected over a period ranging from 93 to 240 min after the basal times of -30 and 0 min. Hyperzincemia did not cause changes in plasma glucose or insulin either in the absence of or during perfusion of glucose. Hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia did not modify serum zinc levels. These results demonstrate that acute zinc administration did not change carbohydrate metabolism and that sudden variations in glucose and insulin levels did not modify the serum profile of zinc.

1. The protection offered by intermittent perfusion of cardioplegic solution through the coronary sinus was investigated in isovolumic blood-perfused dog heart preparations submitted to 60 min of ischemia and 45 min of reperfusion. 2. The preparations were divided into three treatment groups: a) coronary sinus, consisting of preparations (N = 10) perfused through the coronary sinus under 40 cm water pressure; b) aortic, consisting of preparations (N = 10) perfused through the aortic stump under 100 mmHg pressure; c) control, consisting of hearts (N = 9) that were not perfused with cardioplegic solution. 3. Properties of contractile capacity and relaxation were markedly impaired in the control group but were preserved to a comparable extent in the groups perfused with cardioplegic solution through the aorta and coronary sinus. Developed pressure decreased in the control group (before ischemia: 70 +/- 5.5 mmHg; after reperfusion: 35 +/- 12 mmHg; P less than 0.05) and didn't vary in the aortic group (from 69 +/- 4 mmHg to 65 +/- 13 mmHg; P greater than 0.05) and coronary sinus group (from 69 +/- 4.6 mmHg to 60 +/- 10 mmHg; P greater than 0.05). Myocardial relaxation was evaluated by the +/- dp/dt ratio. In the control group there was impairment of myocardial relaxation as indicated by an increase of this index after reperfusion (from 1.05 +/- 0.05 to 1.46 +/- 0.23; P less than 0.05), whereas in the aortic (from 1.10 +/- 0.13 to 1.15 +/- 0.20; P greater than 0.05) and the coronary sinus (from 1.03 +/- 0.14 to 1.08 +/- 0.16; P greater than 0.05) groups there was no variation. Ultrastructural changes in the myocardium were negligible in all three groups at the end of reperfusion. 4. We conclude that intermittent perfusion of a hypothermic cardioplegic solution through the coronary sinus is effective for the protection of the myocardium during total ischemia.

"Countries are grouped according to a collection of basic and economic indicators published by UNICEF, in 1990. Two multivariate statistical methods were used: Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis. The study [covers] 36 countries of the Americas, Europe (including the USSR), the Middle East, Asia and the other continents; they were chosen to include countries having complete information (for the 16 variables used) and in the most varied stages of development. The first principal component was interpreted as a measure of the degree of development...with emphasis on the position occupied by Brazil (13th place among the 25 American countries). In general, the most discriminative variables were the mortality rates of infants and children under five, and life expectancy...." (SUMMARY IN ENG), (excerpt)

A total of 127 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from milk samples of cows with subclinical bovine mastitis was examined for biotype, phage pattern, in-vitro antibiotic susceptibilities and ability to produce enterotoxins. The majority of the strains showed features consistent with bovine rather than human origin. All strains were sensitive to the antibiotics tested, except penicillin and streptomycin. Enterotoxigenicity was observed in 6 (4.7%) strains and only enterotoxins A and C were produced.

The susceptibilities of 760 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from animal infections (400), human infections (300) and healthy human carriers (60) to seven antibiotics were determined by an agar dilution technique. The isolates from human infections were more resistant to a wider spectrum of antibiotics than were the strains from animal infections and healthy human carriers. Amikacin and gentamicin were the most active drugs against all groups of strains.

The relationship between coronary sinus blood oxygen tension (CSPO2) and myocardial oxygen tension (MPO2) variations during cardiac ischemia and reperfusion was studied in anesthetized open-chest dogs. Oxygen tension was measured by a polarographic method. Ischemia resulted in a slightly decreased CSPO2 and a more pronounced reduction of MPO2. After reperfusion the CSPO2 rose rapidly and transiently before it returned gradually to the control level. By contrast, during the recovery period, the MPO2 increased slowly, with recovery occurring long after the peak of CSPO2. These data suggest that during the reperfusion phase, the CSPO2 variation is probably due to opening of the myocardial arteriovenous shunts instead of an increase of flow through the myocardial capillary bed.

Hemoglobin rates, hematocrit and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and glutathione reductase activities were measured in 38 patients with paracoccidioidomycosis treated with ketoconazole or sulfadoxin, and in 13 normal individuals. Ketoconazole-treated patients showed reduced G6PD and glutathione reductase activities. One of these patients was found to be G6PD-deficient and suffered a hemolytic episode during treatment, which, however, did not require interruption of therapy. The authors suggest that patients showing an erythrocyte enzyme defect should be monitored hematologically during treatment with ketoconazole. They also suggest that ketoconazole is an oxidant drug in addition to being a possible inhibitor of antioxidant erythrocyte enzymes.

The effects of dopamine infusion (10 and 20 micrograms kg-1 min-1) on pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and pulmonary arterial resistance (PAR) were studied. Experiments were carried out on 60 anesthetized dogs using two different models: model A, with mechanical perfusion of pulmonary circulation and constant left ventricular output, and model B, with physiologic pulmonary perfusion and non-fixed ventricular output. When pulmonary blood flow was constant, dopamine did not change PAP or PAR at either dose. When cardiac output (CO) was allowed to increase, PAP increased with dopamine at both doses, whereas PAR did not change with 20 micrograms kg-1 min-1 dopamine and was reduced by the 10 micrograms kg-1 min-1 dose. We conclude that the increase in PAP could not be explained solely by the rise in CO, but was probably related to an inhibitory effect of dopamine on pulmonary vascular accommodation and to increases in CO, especially when the drug was utilized at higher doses.

Cross sectional area [micron] of Red, Intermediate, and White fibres of M. extensor carpi radialis longus of Wistar rats at frequent age intervals were measured and then calculated the growth equations, the growth rate equations, the growth rates, and the asymptotes of each kind of fibre. Muscled fibres of 12 d old rats were round in shape, presenting a somewhat uniform SDH activity. By 23 d and thereafter, muscle fibres were polygonal in shape, with different degree of enzyme activity and cross sectional areas. There was a close relationship between cross sectional area and in age. Individual fibres revealed distinct growth curves. The higher growth rates were observed at 23 and 45 d. After this ages, a markedly fall in growth rates for the 3 kind of fibres were observed. Growth rates of White fibres were higher than that of Red and Intermediate fibres.

Serial cryostat sections of M. gracilis (pars caudalis) were stained to demonstrate succinic dehydrogenase activity and then used to study the cross sectional area along the length of each category of muscle fibre. The results indicated that the mean area showed no appreciable variation. This finding support the evidence that the cross sectional area is the same along the course of a muscle fibre. Some sources of variation were also discussed.

We have studied the alkaline ribonuclease (RNase) activity in maternal serum and serum of full-term small- (T-SGA), full-term appropriate- (T-AGA) and preterm appropriate-for-gestational age (PT-AGA) newborns. A significantly lower level of RNase was observed in T-AGA and T-SGA newborns on the 30th day of age and in PT-AGA newborns on the 15th and 30th days of age, as compared to other T-AGA, T-SGA and PT-AGA groups of infants at birth. RNase activity was significantly higher in cord blood than in the maternal blood in all categories studied. Moreover, in preterm newborns, RNase activity in cord blood was significantly higher in those presenting a lower gestational age. We did not observe any significant difference in RNase levels in the cord blood of newborns from the 3 categories studied. The same results were observed concerning maternal blood. We, therefore, conclude that RNase activity in cord blood or in maternal blood is not a very satisfactory indicator of fetal malnutrition.

In the present paper some statistical aspects referred to the distribution of the ABO and Rh blood groups were studied. The sample included 4,037 data, about white and no white persons, of both sexes, living in Botucatu. The results are presented with a calculation of the frequencies of the alleles responsible for the polymorphisms studied, the sample frequencies of the blood groups and their populations confidence-intervals estimates. The possibles interdependences for sex and color with the blood groups were verified by the chi2 test. The principal aim of the present study was to determine the ideal sample size. It was elaborated a table where are given populations sizes, samples sizes and the percentual relations between these values.

Rats were submitted to protein-calorie deprivation during different periods of gestation and the body weight and mortality of offspring were evaluated at 0, 28 and 90 days of age. The body weight was considered adequate (n) when the values were up to 2 SD below the mean values of control animals, or inadequate (d) when the values were below 2 SD. Rats of the control group (C) were fed ad libitum (protein 21%), and the rats of the experimental groups were fed during all gestational period (D), during the first half (D1) or second half of pregnancy (D2), with a diet containing 1% of protein, and the intake reduced to 50%. Significant differences were observed in the ponderal evolution for all experimental groups. Group D was the most damaged, with the greatest ponderal deficiency and the greatest mortality rates. Similar behavior was observed for D2. Group D1 was similar to C with the best results and the lowest mortality rate.

The role of lumbar sympathectomy and distal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in preventing rethrombosis of femoral arteries with intimal injury and poor run-off was studied in 21 dogs. Femoral artery thrombosis was induced by endothelial lesion in all animals (phase 1) and 24 hours later the arterial flow was restored by thrombectomy. The dogs were then randomly allocated into 3 experimental groups: control, sympathectomy, and AVF (phase 2). Critical stenosis of the popliteal artery was then created by a partially occluding ligature in all animals in order to simulate poor run-off. After 24 hours the femoral arteries were studied for the presence of rethrombosis (phase 3). At the end of phase 2 and during phase 3, femoral pressure and flow, fluorescein circulation time and paw temperature were measured, and arteriography was done. Arterial rethrombosis was significantly prevented in the AVF group (6/7) when compared to the control group (2/7) or the sympathectomy group (1/7). These data suggest an effective action of an adjuvant AVF, but not of sympathectomy in preventing rethrombosis after thrombectomy in arteries with poor run-off.

Measurements of cross sectional area on individual fibres of M. gracilis (pars caudalis) of Wistar rats of both sexes in different ages were done. Growth equations pattern and growth rates equations pattern of each muscle fibre type were also determined. In rats 12 d old, muscle fibres present a somewhat uniform SDH activity. By 23 d and thereafter, SDH technique revealed a mixed population of red, intermediate and white fibres. There was a close relationship between cross sectional area and age, where each fibre type presents a distinct exponential growth curve pattern. The highest growth rates were observed at 23 and 45 d. After this age, a markedly fall in growth rates occurs, except for white fibres, where this decrease was less intense. Red and intermediate muscle fibres tend to estabilize their growth earlier than white fibres.

The present study evaluates platelet activation following application of an Esmarch bandage and a tourniquet, procedures commonly employed to provide a bloodless operative field during limb surgery. Platelet aggregation was increased in blood samples taken from rabbits 60 min after an Esmarch bandage was applied to one thigh and immediately released. When this treatment was combined with the application of a tourniquet for 60 min, a procedure which alone did not affect platelet aggregation, results were similar to those obtained following the Esmarch bandage alone. These data suggest that tissue compression produced by application of an Esmarch bandage, but not the ischemia derived from the tourniquet, produced platelet aggregation.

An attempt was made to point out the alterations in serum calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, during gestation in female rats fed ad libitum normal diets (protein content, 21%), a protein-calorie deficient diet (protein content, 1%) in a quantity equal to half of that given to normal rats. As the data revealed, in the control group of pregnant rats a significant increase in calcium on the 17th and 19th days was observed, as well as a decrease at the end of gestation. The values remained at higher levels in this group than those detected in the control non-pregnant rats. The above-mentioned increase was not observed in the undernourished pregnant rats, which showed an evident decrease. The behavior of phosphorus in the control pregnant rats was similar to calcium behavior, but this "ion" had not suffered the influence of malnutrition when isolatedly imposed. With regard to magnesium, we noticed that throughout the experiment serum concentration was not influenced either by malnutrition or by gestation. Malnutrition itself was the greatest responsible factor as judged by the differences observed among the groups.

Coronary sinus blood oxygen tension (CSpO2) and myocardial oxygen tension (MpO2) were measured simultaneously during cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. Oxygen tension was measured using a polarographic method. Myocardial ischemia caused a reduction (5 +/- 1.5%; P less than 0.05) in CSpO2 and a decrease (56.5 +/- 10.1%; P less than 0.001) in MpO2. Reperfusion induced a rapid but transient increase (35.9 +/- 4.3%; P less than 0.001) in CSpO2 above the basal state while MpO2 returned gradually to the basal state. These results indicate that CSpO2 is of little value for the detection of changes in myocardial oxygen metabolism during the initial phase (seconds) of cardiac reperfusion.

Rats were submitted to protein-caloric deprivation during different periods of gestation. Maternal body weight gain, duration of pregnancy and number of offspring were evaluated. Rats of the control group (C) were fed ad libitum (protein 21%), and rats of the experimental groups were fed during all gestational period (D), during the first half (D1) or second half of pregnancy (D2) with a diet containing 1% of protein, and the intake was reduced to 50%. We concluded that malnutrition during pregnancy induced lower maternal weight (C greater than D1 greater than D2 greater than D) and lower number of offspring ( [C = D1] greater than D2 greater than D). No differences were observed in the duration of pregnancy in all groups studied.

The action of three different topical heparinoids on the evolution of experimental thrombophlebitis was studied. Thrombophlebitis was induced in the marginal vein of the ear of rabbits by stasis and injection of hypertonic glucose solution. Forty-eight hours later the animals were allocated to three treatment groups and a control group. The substances were applied over the affected vein three times a day for 6 days and the ears inspected daily by transilumination. After 7 days, the animals were killed and anatomopathological studies performed. No difference in thrombus frequency or inflammatory reaction was observed between the animals treated with heparinoids and the control groups, or among the treated groups.