Spatial distribution of intestinal parasitic infections in a Kaingáng indigenous village from Southern Brazil

The spatial distribution of enteroparasitosis in an indigenous village from Paraná was evaluated to identify areas of risk for these infections. A cross-sectional study (from November 2010 to June 2011) was performed using Three Faecal Test^® and Kato &; Katz method and a questionnaire on housing and hygiene conditions was administered. Local geostatistical analyses were performed to determine the spatial distribution of intestinal parasitic infections. The overall prevalence of enteroparasites was 67.2?% (457/680), and the most prevalent taxa were Ascaris lumbricoides (48.8?%) and Trichuris trichiura (44.7?%). The prevalence of heavy infection by soil-transmitted helminths was 3.6?% and the families lived in houses with an average of 5.1 residents and < 2 bedrooms per household. The average number of species per individual present spatial heterogeneity with the highest values (≥0.8) in areas with high clustering of residences. The visualization of the spatial distribution of intestinal parasites in this indigenous village is an important contribution to determining health risk areas and planning decisions and services.     

Ultrasound Examination and Localization of the Sciatic Nerve: A Volunteer Study

Background: Few studies have examined the use of ultrasound for sciatic nerve localization. The authors evaluated the usefulness of low-frequency ultrasound in identifying the sciatic nerve at three locations in the lower extremity and in guiding needle advancement to target before nerve stimulation.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, 15 volunteers underwent sciatic nerve examination using a curved ultrasound probe in the range of 2-5 MHz and a Philips-ATL 5000 unit (ATL Ultrasound, Bothell, WA) in the gluteal, infragluteal, and proximal thigh regions. Thereafter, an insulated block needle was advanced inline with the ultrasound beam to reach the nerve target, which was further confirmed by electrical stimulation. The quality of sciatic nerve images, ease of needle to nerve contact, threshold stimulating current, and resultant motor response were recorded.

Results: The sciatic nerve was successfully identified in the transverse view as a solitary predominantly hyperechoic structure on ultrasound in all of the three regions examined. The target nerve was visualized easily in 87% and localized within two needle attempts in all patients. Nerve stimulation was successful in 100% after two attempts with a threshold current of 0.42 +/- 0.12 (mean +/- SD) eliciting foot plantarflexion or dorsiflexion.     

nm23-H1基因转染对人胆管癌细胞系QBC939体外浸润能力的影响

目的：探讨nm23-H1基因转染对人胆管癌细胞系QBC939体外浸润能力的影响。方法：将含有全长nm23-H1 cDNA的真核表达载体通过脂腩体法转染人胆管癌细胞系。结果：转染成功的QBC939细胞，其nm23-Hl基因的mRNA、蛋白表达明显增加，转染nm23-H1基因的胆管癌细胞体外浸润能力下降，穿越matrigel的细胞数明显低于亲本QBC939细胞，代表浸润能力的IV型胶原酶（MMP-9）分泌量下降。结论：nm23-Hl基因可以抑制胆管癌细胞的体外浸润能力。     

抑制脑血栓形成的硫代磷酸酯脱氧寡核苷酸的亲和性研究

目的为抑制脑血栓形成,合成与TF基因启动子区切应力反应元件(SSRE)形成三链DNA的硫代磷酸酯寡核苷酸(TFO)。方法设计TFO序列14条,采用固相亚磷酰胺三酯固相法合成TFO。硫代磷酸酯修饰在TFO的3'末端进行。应用电泳迁移分析(EMSA)观察寡核苷酸和硫代脱氧寡核苷酸的亲和性。结果在设计合成的14条寡核苷酸中,与靶序列能形成三链DNA的TFO只有T21GTa、T14GTa和T15GTa,其Kd值分别为3.6×10-10、1.0×10-9和1.0×10-8(M),经硫代磷酸酯修饰后分别为:2.3×10-9、3.8×10-9和1.5×10-8。结论硫代磷酸酯修饰的T21GTa-ps、T14GTa-ps和T15GTa-ps能够与TF基因启动子SSRE的3个位点形成三链DNA。     

3H]Ro 19-6327: a reversible ligand and affinity labelling probe for monoamine oxidase-B

This study demonstrated the existence of specific binding sites for [3H]Ro 19-6327 in human platelet membranes. This compound is a novel, time-dependent inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) and is structurally closely related to [3H]Ro 16-6491. The density of the sites labelled with high affinity by [3H]Ro 19-6327 was similar to that observed in previous studies with [3H]Ro 16-6491 as ligand. Binding was reversible at 20 degrees C and showed a relatively slow dissociation (t1/2 = 220 min). The dissociation rate was markedly decreased (t1/2 = greater than 24h) at 0 degrees C. MAO-B, but not MAO-A inhibitors, effectively prevented the binding of [3H]Ro 19-6327. Like [3H]Ro 16-6491, [3H]Ro 19-6327 is recognized as a substrate by MAO-B, being eventually deaminated by the enzyme. Since the deaminated aldehyde derivative of Ro 19-6327 did not inhibit MAO-B, a still unidentified reversible adduct, formed at the MAO-B active site, might explain the high potency and selectivity of [3H]Ro 19-6327. Incubation of the radioligand-enzyme complex from platelet and brain membranes with NaBH3CN and acetic acid (to pH 4.5) caused the irreversible incorporation of the radioactivity into a single polypeptide as shown by SDS-PAGE analysis. This polypeptide had a molecular weight identical to that of the MAO-B subunit, i.e. 58,000. The presence of unlabelled MAO-B inhibitors in the incubation mixture prevented the covalent incorporation of [3H]Ro 19-6327. The irreversible MAO-B inhibitor, [3H] pargyline, labelled a protein with a molecular weight identical to the protein labelled by [3H]Ro 19-6327.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A model-based detector of vertex waves and K complexes in sleep electroencephalogram.

A model of sleep phasic events such as vertex waves, K complexes, delta waves and sleep spindles is proposed. It consists of feedback loops that are driven by white noise (simulating tonic delta and sigma activity) and by isolated random impulses, simulating vertex waves or K complexes, depending on the background tonic activity. A model-based method for the detection of sleep phasic events was implemented in a personal computer. Its performance was investigated using simulated and real whole-night EEG signals. The method was able to detect K complexes and vertex waves in a reliable way in spite of their variable shapes and in the presence of a variety of background activities. The detector appears to have superior performance to those so far reported in the literature. The performance of the detector was also compared to that of an electroencephalographer using normal sleep EEG records of 8 h duration from 6 subjects. The performance was satisfactory both in terms of accuracy and reliability. The problem of detecting K complexes in stages 3 and 4 of sleep is discussed.     

Laparoscopic Medial-to-lateral Colon Dissection: How and Why

Laparoscopic colectomy is a difficult procedure with a long learning curve. We describe in this study our technique for right- and left-sided laparoscopic medial-to-lateral colectomy. The medial approach involves division of the vascular pedicle first, followed by mobilization of the mesentery toward the abdominal wall, and finally freeing of the colon along the white line of Toldt. This approach allows immediate identification of the plane between the mesocolon and the retroperitoneum and renders the dissection fast and safe. Our series of 50 consecutive laparoscopic colectomies supports this concept. We believe that surgeons familiar with this technique will have an important tool in their armamentarium to circumvent some of the challenges of laparoscopic colectomy.