A model for ammonia poisoning in cattle

The intravenous infusion of ammonium chloride was used to induce ammonia (NH3) poisoning in cattle. A 1.5 M ammonium chloride solution, buffered to pH 7.0, was infused at 400 mL/h until a convulsive episode occurred and therapy was initiated. Convulsions occurred with 200 to 1200 mL of ammonium solution. The clinical picture and metabolic effects were similar to the natural poisoning; no side effected occurred. The hypermmoniemia caused hyperglycemia, hyperlactemia, hyperkalemia and Intense metabolic acidosis. After treatment there was a sharp decrease in plasma NH3. Within 110 min all steers stood and recovered appetites. The induction of NH3 poisoning in cattle with ammonium chloride offers many advantages over the administration of high po doses of urea.     

Microbiological quality of drinking water of urban and rural communities,Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the microbiological quality of treated and untreated water samples came from urban and rural communities and to examine the relationship between coliforms occurrence and average water temperature, and a comparison of the rainfall levels. METHODS: A sample of 3,073 untreated and treated (chlorinated) water from taps (1,594), reservoir used to store treated water (1,033), spring water (96) and private well (350) collected for routine testing between 1996 and 1999 was analyzed by the multiple dilution tube methods used to detect the most probable number of total and fecal coliforms. These samples were obtained in the region of Maring , state of Paran , Brazil. RESULTS: The highest numbers water samples contaminated by TC (83%) and FC (48%) were found in the untreated water. TC and FC in samples taken from reservoirs used to store treated water was higher than that from taps midway along distribution lines. Among the treated water samples examined, coliform bacteria were found in 171 of the 1,033 sampling reservoirs. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient treatment or regrowth is suggested by the observation that more than 17% of these treated potable water contained coliform. TC and FC positive samples appear to be similar and seasonally influenced in treated water. Two different periods must be considered for the occurrence of both TC and FC positive samples: (i) a warm-weather period (September-March) with high percentage of contaminated samples; and (ii) cold-weather period (April-August) were they are lower. Both TC and TF positive samples declined with the decreased of water temperature.     

Endoscopic management of chronic pancreatitis

Endoscopic management of CP is generally safe, minimally invasive, and often effective for years, does not hinder further surgery, and can be repeated. It should be applied as a first-line approach to improving the clinical condition of patients with this chronic disease. The best results are obtained when endoscopic treatment is performed early in the course of CP. Proper patient selection, adequate expertise, and a supporting multidisciplinary infrastructure are essential. New technologies will continue to be developed and to extend the scope of therapeutic pancreatic endoscopy.     

Presumed prevalence analysis on suspected and highly suspected breast cancer lesions in S?o Paulo using BIRADS criteria.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer screening programs are critical for early detection of breast cancer. Early detection is essential for diagnosing, treating and possibly curing breast cancer. Since there are no data on the incidence of breast cancer, nationally or regionally in Brazil, our aim was to assess women by means of mammography, to determine the prevalence of this disease. DESIGN AND SETTING: The study protocol was designed in collaboration between the Department of Diagnostic Imaging (DDI), Institute of Diagnostic Imaging (IDI) and S?o Paulo Municipal Health Program. METHODS: A total of 139,945 Brazilian women were assessed by means of mammography between April 2002 and September 2004. Using the American College of Radiology (ACR) criteria (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, BIRADS), the prevalence of suspected and highly suspected breast lesions were determined. RESULTS: The prevalence of suspected (BIRADS 4) and highly suspected (BIRADS 5) lesions increased with age, especially after the fourth decade. Accordingly, BIRADS 4 and BIRADS 5 lesions were more prevalent in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh decades. CONCLUSION: The presumed prevalence of suspected and highly suspected breast cancer lesions in the population of S?o Paulo was 0.6% and it is similar to the prevalence of breast cancer observed in other populations.     

The relationship of clozapine and haloperidol treatment response to prefrontal,hippocampal, and caudate brain volumes

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to assess the predictive relationship between brain structure volume and positive and negative symptom response to clozapine and haloperidol. METHOD: Partially responsive outpatients with schizophrenia who participated in a 10-week, parallel-group, double-blind comparison of clozapine and haloperidol and who had an available magnetic resonance imaging scan were included in the current study. Prefrontal gray and white matter, hippocampal, and caudate volumes were manually measured. The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) were used to assess symptom changes. The Simpson-Angus Rating Scale was used to assess extrapyramidal symptoms. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients randomly assigned to clozapine and 23 patients assigned to haloperidol met study entry criteria. There were significant interactions between treatment and right prefrontal gray matter volume for BPRS total score and SANS total score. There were no significant treatment-by-brain structure interactions for BPRS positive symptom items. Right prefrontal gray matter volume was also related to differential treatment effects for the BPRS subscales of anxiety/depression and hostility and the Simpson-Angus Rating Scale akathisia item. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that there is a differential interaction among clozapine and haloperidol, brain structure, and treatment response. Partially responsive patients with larger brain volumes may be more likely to experience the benefits of clozapine treatment, but they may be more vulnerable to side effects and experience a subsequent worsening of their symptoms when treated with haloperidol.     

Interleukin-1 gene complex in schizophrenia: an association study.

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between three polymorphisms of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene complex and schizophrenia. We genotyped 228 outpatients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV criteria) and 419 unrelated healthy controls. The following polymorphisms were analyzed: IL-1alpha -889 C/T, IL-1beta +3953 C/T, and IL-1RA (86 bp)n. No significant differences in genotype or in allelic distribution of the Il-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-1RA polymorphisms were found. Estimated haplotype frequencies were similar in both groups. Our data do not suggest that genetically determined changes in the IL-1 gene complex confer increased susceptibility for schizophrenia.     

Biochemical and immunohistochemical analysis of glycosaminoglycans in inflamed and non-inflamed intestinal mucosa of patients with Crohn’s disease

OBJECTIVES: Changes in extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of the intestinal mucosa have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of the present study was to follow the changes in GAGs metabolism during the progression from non-inflamed to inflamed intestinal colon of patients with Crohn's disease (CD), using direct biochemical analysis and specific immunohistochemistry against chondroitin/dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate. DESIGN AND METHODS: The content of GAGs from inflamed and non-inflamed colon of eight patients with active CD was estimated by uronic acid per dry weight of tissue and analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and ion-exchange chromatography. Intestinal sections were stained using antibodies against dermatan sulfate/chondroitin 4-sulfate (DS/CS), heparan sulfate (HS), and ICAM-1 (CD54), and analyzed by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: There was a reduction in the amount of GAGs in the non-inflamed colon of patients with CD. In the inflamed colon, HS, CS and DS showed increased concentrations compared with the non-inflamed colon. GAGs showed a diffuse distribution in the lamina propria and in the basement membrane of both inflamed and non-inflamed mucosa of patients with CD. CONCLUSION: We observed a marked reduction in GAGs with altered patterns of distribution in the non-inflamed colon of patients with CD. The increase in the synthesis of GAGs observed in the inflamed colon may be a compensatory mechanism for the restoration of the integrity of the intestinal mucosa.