Blood coagulation and fibrinolytic factors in 105 patients with hemorrhagic syndrome caused by accidental contact with Lonomia obliqua caterpillar in Santa Catarina,southern Brazil

Haemostatic disorders caused by Lonomia obliqua caterpillars has reached epidemic proportions in southern Brazil. Here we evaluated coagulation and fibrinolysis in 105 patients after accidental contact with Lonomia obliqua caterpillars. Global coagulation tests were prolonged in most cases and patients were divided into 3 groups according to fibrinogen (Fg) level: 1.5 g/l (group C). There was a significant reduction of factors V, XIII, VIII and prekallikrein in group A, with no change in factors X, II and von Willebrand factor. Thrombin-antithrombin and prothrombin F1+2 were elevated in most patients. Antithrombin and protein S were not changed whereas protein C levels were reduced in group A. Plasminogen and alfa2-antiplasmin levels were significantly reduced in group A and D-Dimer levels were extremely high in all groups, showing that fibrinolysis had been activated, possibly secondary to fibrin production. Levels of t-PA were normal and PAI-1 was mildly elevated in group A. The platelet count remained above 150 x 109 platelets/ml in 97% of cases. In summary, our results suggest that Lonomia obliqua envenoming is characterized by a consumption coagulopathy and secondary fibrinolysis.     

Circadian organization of serum electrolytes in physiological aging

Age-related structural and neurochemical changes occurring in the central nervous system have been related to changes in some rhythmometric parameters. In spite of their clinical importance, only a few studies have investigated the modifications over time of serum electrolytes in senescence. The aim of our study was to evaluate the circadian pattern of serum potassium, chloride, sodium, calcium and phosphorus in 30 clinically healthy elderly subjects, with no cognitive impairment, and to compare the findings with those given by 24 healthy young controls. The subjects were synchronized as regards their daily activities, sleeping/waking habits, time/quality of meals and dietary electrolyte intake. After an overnight fast, samples were taken beginning at 08.00 and every 4 h thereafter until 20.00, and every 2 h from 20.00 to 04.00. Both the young and the elderly subjects exhibited statistically significant circadian rhythms for all serum electrolytes considered. Our findings suggest that circadian organization of serum electrolytes is maintained in physiological aging, even though it should be noted that sodium and phosphorus acrophases differed significantly in the two experimental groups.     

Malaria clusters among illegal Chinese immigrants to Europe through Africa

Between November 2002 and March 2003, 17 cases of malaria (1 fatal) were observed in illegal Chinese immigrants who traveled to Italy through Africa. A further cluster of 12 was reported in August, 2002. Several immigrants traveled by air, making the risk of introducing sudden acute respiratory syndrome a possibility should such illegal immigrations continue.     

Metoclopramide-induced hyperprolactinemia affects mouse endometrial morphology

Information about the effects of pituitary hyperprolactinemia on endometrium, especially in levels coexisting with absence of amenorrhea in women, is scarce. The interference of high prolactin levels on endometrial morphology was thus investigated in young post-pubertal and adult mice rendered hyperprolactinemic by long-term treatment with metoclopramide (MC). No remarkable differences have been noticed upon light microscopy examination of the endometria comparing young to adult cycling MC-treated mice, except on the max/min diameter ratio, which in young animals was lower than in adults (ANOVA, p < 0.01). Both young and adult MC-treated mice presented an increased number of endometrial glands than their respective controls (ANOVA, p < 0.01). However, young MC-treated animals showed the highest values of endometrial thickness index compared to other groups (ANOVA, p < 0.01). Our results indicate that MC-induced hyperprolactinemia causes mouse endometrium proliferation, mainly in young animals.     

Acrofacial dysostosis syndromes: a relevant prenatal dilemma. A case report and brief literature review.

The acrofacial dysostosis (AFD) syndromes are an heterogeneous group of disorders with undefined classification and inheritance. We report the sonographic and clinical features of an AFD fetus with predominantly pre-axial forms. We made a prenatal diagnosis of Nager syndrome but postnatal examination showed post-axial defects previously undetectable by ultrasound.     

An ecologic study of geographical variation in multiple sclerosis risk in central Sardinia,Italy

We carried out an ecological study in the most archaic area of Sardinia to obtain a reliable estimate of the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and to investigate the geographical variation in the prevalence across the 100 administrative communes. To estimate the area-specific prevalence rate, we adopted a Bayesian approach that makes it possible to filter out the random variation from the estimates and to obtain a map that reflects the true geographical variation in MS prevalence. 428 resident cases were identified by the case register, including 69 multiplex families. The overall prevalence was 157 per 100,000 inhabitants. The Bayesian area-specific prevalence ranged from 143 to 262/100,000. The high prevalence and its moderate geographical variation in a genetically homogeneous population, as well as the high number of multiplex families observed in the communes with the highest prevalence, could be interpreted as representing a high susceptibility of the population to MS.