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A Araújo

Publications and source records attributed to A Araújo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Crab louse infestation in pre-Columbian America.

Until now, Pthirus pubis infestation in ancient human populations had only been recorded in the Old World. We found crab lice on South American mummified bodies from the Atacama Desert region. Crab louse eggs were found attached to the pubic hairs of a 2,000-yr-old Chilean mummy. Well-preserved adults were found in sediment and clothing from a Peruvian mummy dated 1,000 yr ago. Paleoparasitological evidence expands the knowledge of the distribution of this ectoparasite in ancient populations. As with many other parasites, pubic lice recorded in Andean populations show the antiquity of this parasite in the New World. It is likely that P. pubis entered the continent with early human migration to the New World.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Paleoparasitology of Chagas disease revaled by infected tissues from Chilean mummies.

Mummified tissues were sampled from bodies stored at the Museo Arqueologico de San Pedro de Atacama, northern Chile, dated from 2000 years BP-1400 AD, and Trypanosoma cruzi DNA was recovered using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology. Amplification of the conserved region of the minicircle molecule of T. cruzi was achieved in four of the six samples tested. Amplified products corresponding to genetic fragments of the parasite were tested by hybridization experiments with positive results for T. cruzi specific molecular probe. The origin and dispersion of T. cruzi human infection is discussed as well as the molecular paleoparasitological approach, and what it may represent in an evolutionary perspective.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Paleo-parasitology and the antiquity of human host-parasite relationships.

Paleo-parasitology may be developed as a new tool to parasite evolution studies. DNA sequences dated thousand years ago, recovered from archaeological material, means the possibility to study parasite-host relationship coevolution through time. Together with tracing parasite-host dispersion throughout the continents, paleo-parasitology points to the interesting field of evolution at the molecular level. In this paper a brief history of paleo-parasitology is traced, pointing to the new perspectives opened by the recent techniques introduced.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Experimental paleoparasitology: identification of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in desiccated mouse tissue.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used for clinical diagnosis of infectious disease and to research ancient animal and microbiological DNA from a wide range of tissues. PCR was used to study the possibility of Trypanosoma cruzi kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) extraction from experimentally desiccated mouse tissue (heart, skeletal muscle, liver, spleen, and pancreas). The results obtained suggest the application of this technique to T. cruzi detection in archaeological material.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Oxyuriasis and prehistoric migrations].

Parasite findings in archeological material have made it possible to trace the dispersion of infectious agents and their human hosts in ancient times. These findings allow us to re-examine theories proposed at the beginning of the century concerning transpacific contacts that Asian populations may have had with South America. This has been the case, for example, with hookworm eggs found in archeological material dating up to 7,000 years before present. Because of the increase in scientific production in this area, it has now become necessary to undertake syntheses that assess the state of the art and propose workable paleoepidemological models of the prehistoric dispersion of human parasitoses. Based on findings of Enterobius vermicularis eggs in archeological material in the Americas, the present study is an effort in this direction. Unlike the hookworm, the pinworm does not require a soil cycle in order to be transmitted from one host to another, thereby meaning that its persistence in a given human population does not depend on climatic conditions. Thus, it could have been brought from the old to the new continent, possibly by human migrations across the Bering Strait. This may explain the greater geographical dispersion and dissemination of these findings in North America from 10,000 yrs B.P. till today. In South America, on the other hand, archeological findings have only confirmed existence of Enterobius vermicularis eggs within the Andean region, with findings located specifically in Chile and northern Argentina. Although a large number of samples have been examined, no such eggs have been found in coprolites in Brazil. The paper discusses models that account for the known distribution of this parasitosis in prehistoric populations.

Americas↗
PubMed1993

Nematode larvae in fossilized animal coprolites from lower and middle Pleistocene sites, central Italy.

Nematode larvae were found in mineralized animal coprolites collected in lower and middle Pleistocene sites, central Italy. Coprolites collected in 4 paleontological sites dated from 1.5 million years to 30,000 years ago were identified as of Hyaenidae (Mammalia, Carnivora). Checklists available for present-day Hyaenidae did not permit identification of the larvae found. This is one of the most ancient parasite findings in coprolites.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[The clinical significance of mitral insufficiency detected by Doppler echocardiography in acute myocardial infarct].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical significance of mitral regurgitation (MR) diagnosed by pulsed Echo-Doppler in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). SETTING: Admission in a coronary care unit and a mean follow-up of 12 months. PATIENTS: Seventy nine patients admitted in a coronary care unit, and 66 patients were followed-up for 12 months (mean). METHODS: Pulsed Echo-Doppler were performed within three days after admission and the presence of MR was analyzed by apical four and two chamber views. RESULTS: There were 62 males and 17 females (mean age: 61.4 +/- 10.8 (31-84) years). The location of AMI was: anterior--40, inferior--30, non-Q wave--6, indeterminate--2 and combined--1. Killip classes were: class I--50, class II--20, class III--7 and class IV--2. 17 patients had a previous AMI. The in-hospital mortality was 9 patients (12%) and the post-hospital mortality was 3 patients (4.5%). MR was detected in 24 patients (30%) in whom 14 (58%) had no murmur of MR previously auscultated. MR was considered moderate in 10 patients and mild in the others 14 patients. There were no significant statistical differences in the frequency of MR in relation to AMI location: anterior 57%, inferior 40% (chi 2 = 0.71, NS); to the presence of a previous AMI: 47% vs 26% (chi 2 = 1.93, NS); to age (61 vs 62 years). The patients with MR suffered a more serious degree of heart failure (class III + class IV): 29% vs 4% (chi 2 = 8.41, p < 0.005); higher hospital mortality: 29% vs 4% (chi 2 = 8.41, p < 0.005); and higher one year mortality: 37.5% vs 5.5% (chi 2 = 10.9, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The presence of MR had no relationship with AMI location, the presence of a previous AMI or patients age. The patients with MR had a more serious degree of heart failure, higher hospital and one year mortality. The presence of MR detected by pulsed Echo-Doppler is a sign of bad prognosis although being auscultatory silent in a half of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Formation of left ventricular thrombus in acute myocardial infarction: significance of the determination of fibrinogen, of products of fibrinogen degradation, and of plasminogen].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the significance of the fibrinogen, the plasminogen and the fibrinogen degradation products levels as marks of left intraventricular thrombosis (LIVT) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: 219 consecutive patients of AMI admitted in a Coronary Care Unit of an University Hospital, were prospectively studied. All protocols included a clinical evaluation, an M-mode and 2D echocardiographic study and blood samples, at day 1, 3, 7 and at hospital discharge. In the intraventricular thrombus evaluation just the 4 Asinger grade was considered. In the laboratory evaluation we used: the Clauss chronometric method for the fibrinogen, the colorimetric method for the plasminogen and the agglutination in plaque for the FDP. The patients with ECO in the 2 or 3 Asinger grades and those in which ECO and laboratory study were not performed in the same day, were excluded. 101 patients remained on the study, and they were divided in two groups: 53 patients with LIVT and 48 patients without it. RESULTS: In both groups the fibrinogen raised along the first six days of the AMI, however in the group with LIVT this level didn't raise as high as in the group without LIVT (p < 0.001). In the FDP evaluation two peaks were found, one at 48 hours and another on the 6 th day, but there were no differences between the two groups. The plasminogen values raised along the first week of AMI, in a similar way in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: a) Fibrinogen levels raises in AMI, but this elevation is significantly smaller in the group with LIVT, which suggests fibrinogen consume in fibrin formation of the thrombus. b) FDP and plasminogen levels raise along the first week of AMI, but in a similar way in the two groups. c) None of these parameters permitted to individualize patients with thrombus formation.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Incidence of and mortality from malignant tumors inthe municipality of++Vila Nova de Gaia: 1981-1987].

Data from the population based Cancer Registry of Vila Nova de Gaia for the 1981-1987 period are presented. Cancer is becoming a disease increasingly frequent in Portugal, causing progressively higher mortality rates. Population and geographic characteristics of Vila Nova de Gaia country is presented. Information sources of this Registry are hospitals, pathology labs, Health Authority files and death certificates. Net (229.2, 216.6) and standardized for european population (369.9, 245.9) incidence rates are presented for respectively men and women. Comparisons with registries from other countries (e.s.) are made.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Influence of the use of Swan-Ganz catheter on the mortality from acute myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the statistical significance of the haemodynamic examination making use of the Swan-Ganz catheter (S-G) on the hospitalary mortality of patients (pts) with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). CONCEPTION: Not randomized, not controlled and retrospective study. SETTING: Intensive coronary care unit (CCU). PATIENTS: 2562 pts with AMI sequentially admitted to a CCU were studied. METHODS: The 2562 pts were divided in two groups: Group A--involving 2117 pts not submitted to haemodynamic examination; Group B-constituted by 445 pts (17% of all pts) submitted to haemodynamic examination. All pts admitted to the study were distributed according to the four classes of Killip. The pts included in each Killip class were distributed by the groups A (not catheterized) and B (catheterized). Hospitalary mortalities of the pts included in the global A and B groups, and the mortalities of the patients included in the particular A and B groups in each Killip class were determined. To evaluate the statistical significance of the differences in distributions of the number of pts who survived and who died in each set of A and B groups square chi test was used. Values of p less than 0.05 were considered as statistical significant. RESULTS: The distributions of the pts who died and who survived during the stay in the hospital by the A and B groups, be it in the total group of patients be it in each Killip class, were not significant different (p greater than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The mortalities of pts with AMI submitted or not to haemodynamic examination with S-G catheter did not significantly differ even in each Killip class, which means that it was not demonstrated a benefit with the S-G catheter use in the pts with AMI. In the presence of this conclusion and considering that retrospective studies must be interpreted with circumspection, it seems necessary to accomplish a prospective randomized and controlled study for evaluation the risk/benefit relation of the haemodynamic examination with the S-G catheter in pts with AMI.

Catheterization, Swan-Ganz↗
PubMed1991

Intestinal helminths in lowland South American Indians: some evolutionary interpretations.

Data on intestinal parasite infections for South American Indians in prehistoric times as revealed by coprolite analysis are being used to support transoceanic migration routes from the Old World to the New World. These same findings on modern semi-isolated aborigines, considered persisting prehistoric patterns, are also of great importance as indicators of pre-Columbian peopling of South America. This is the case for the Lengua Indians from Paraguay, studied in the 1920s, and the Yanomami and the Salumã from Brazil, studied in the 1980s. The intestinal parasitic profile of these groups can be empirically associated with culture change, but no clear correlations with the population biology of their hosts can be made at present because of scarcity of data.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed1991

Trichuris eggs in animal coprolites dated from 30,000 years ago.

Trichuris eggs were found in Kerodon rupestris (Rodentia, Caviidae) coprolites collected in archaeological layers dated from 30,000 yr BP (before present) to 8,450 yr BP. Adult worms and eggs of this genus were not found in a search of living mammals of the region. Results indicate that K. rupestris was a host for an unknown Trichuris species not found in this rodent presently. Climate changes that occurred by 10,000 yr ago in the region could be the cause of its disappearance. The finding of parasites in archaeological material can show the antiquity of host-parasite relationships and parasite losses through time.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Early left ventricular dysfunction in acute myocardial infarct. Evaluation using imaging methods].

A patient admitted in a Coronary Care Unit with an acute anterior myocardial infarction, is presented. He had initially normal left ventricular function and, on the 11th day he had, suddenly, an acute pulmonary edema. The reason for this episode was detected through imaging techniques--echocardiography and isotopic studies, and consisted on infarct expansion with early evolution for apical aneurysm. Contrast angiography confirmed the presence of a huge aneurysm and two vessels disease. Tallium Scintigraphy showed reversible ischemia beyond necrotic areas. The patient was submitted to aneurysmectomy and received three aorto-coronary bypass. He is now doing well, in class I, NYHA. The discussion emphasizes the actual role of imaging techniques in the diagnosis of infarct expansion and early functional aneurysm. We discuss the prognostic of infarct expansion and the importance of perfusion studies on defining areas of myocardium in jeopardy, enabling a better surgical approach.

Echocardiography↗
PubMed1989

[Thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarct. Experience at Santa Maria's Hospital].

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the experience with i.v. streptokinase (SK) in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in two cardiac care units. Conception: Retrospective analysis of patients (pts) admitted either to UCIM or UTIC-AC with the diagnosis of AMI receiving SK. PATIENTS: 77 pts were treated, although one of them was later proved to be a false positive diagnosis of AMI. Of the other 76, there were 63 men and 13 women with age 55 +/- 12 (mean age +/- SD) years (limits of 20 and 82 years). AMIs were anterior in 42% of the pts, inferior in 51%, anterior and inferior in 4% and non Q wave in 1%; Killip classes (cl) were: cl I in 64%, cl II in 26%, cl III in 5% an cl IV in 5%. The time interval from the beginning of acute symptoms to the arrival at the hospital was 2.8 +/- 1.2 hours (1 to 15) and from that moment to administration of SK was 1.6 +/- 1.4 h. The whole interval to the administration of SK was 4.4 +/- 2.5 h. RESULTS: The 3 criteria of reperfusion (pain relief, ST changes resolution and less than 18 h maximum CK rise) were present in 36% of the pts, 2 of the criteria in 21%, and 41% of the pts had only one or no criteria. The time interval to the administration of SK in these 3 groups was 3.3 +/- 1.3 h, 4.8 +/- 3.1 h and 5.0 +/- 2.5 h respectively. Non fatal complications occurred in 16% of the pts (major bleeding in 2.6%, minor bleeding in 99% and minor anafilaxy in 4%. Mortality was 11.8% (9 pts). Two thirds of the deaths were due to cardiac rupture. In hospital residual ischemia was present in 9% (7 pts). CONCLUSION: Treatment of AMI with i.v. SK proved to be a safe and easy to apply therapeutic option, carrying a low morbidity and mortality, lower than that normally observed in our hospital with the conventional approach of AMI before the era of thrombolysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Current status of the pharmacologic treatment of heart insufficiency. Role of diuretics].

The pharmacologic properties of diuretics were reviewed with a special emphasis on their action at the renal tubule level. Afterwards their role in the treatment of cardiac failure was evaluated and it was concluded that they have an indisputable place in the management of that syndrome at any stage of its evolution. Their side effects were analysed and it was stressed that on the long term the risk benefit ratio was very favorable in terms of therapy of cardiac failure. Finally the so called diuretic resistance appearing with chronic therapy is discussed.

Diuretics↗