Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A C Rodrigues.
A case of right ventricular pseudoaneurysm occurring 8 days after orthotopic heart transplantation as a result of routine right ventricular biopsy is reported herein. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a complication.
Nineteen rats were sedated, anesthetized, paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated. The respiratory, lung, and chest wall elastances (Est-rs, Est-L, Est-w); respiratory system, pulmonary, and chest wall total resistances (Rtot-rs, Rtot-L, Rtot-w); respiratory system, pulmonary, and chest wall initial resistances (Rinit-rs, Rinit-L, Rinit-w); and respiratory system, pulmonary, and chest wall difference resistances (Rdiff-rs, Rdiff-L, Rdiff-w) were determined before and after thoracotomy using the end-inflation occlusion method. Rinit reflects the Newtonian resistances and Rdiff represents the viscoelastic/inhomogeneous pressure dissipations in the system. Rtot = Rinit+Rdiff, ie, total resistance. The animals were submitted to either anterolateral thoracotomy (group A, n = 7), median sternotomy (group B, n = 6), or median sternotomy under PEEP while the lungs were exposed (group C, n = 6). In groups A and B, statistically significant increases in Rdiff-rs significantly augmented Rtot-rs. The former results were entirely secondary to significant increases in Rdiff-L, which naturally raised Rtot, L. Resistance was not altered in group C rats. Thus, anterolateral thoracotomy and median sternotomy increases Rtot-rs as a consequence of augmented Rdiff-L, but this finding could be prevented by the use of PEEP. Est-rs and Est-L increased in the three groups after surgery. Groups D and E were comprised of four animals each. Both underwent median sternotomy and in group E, PEEP was applied. Histopathologic examination of the lungs demonstrated a higher degree of lung collapse in group D.
Experiments with the infant mouse test demonstrated that there is no need of shaking for heat-stable Escherichia coli enterotoxin production when low volume of medium per volume of flask ratios are used in stationary cultures. Centrifugation and filtration of the cultures to be tested are not necessary either, and Merthiolate (1:10,000) used as preservative has no deleterious effect on heat-stable enterotoxin activity. Based upon these findings, some modifications of the procedures for production and storage of heat-stable enterotoxin preparations are suggested. Standardized pieces of filter papers are wetted with Merthiolated stationary cultures which are to be assayed for heat-stable enterotoxin activity by the infant mouse test. From dried filter papers, heat-stable enterotoxin can be eulted unaltered up to 2 months after specimen preparation. With the proposed modifications, even modestly equipped laboratories will be able to carry out the infant mouse test or at least to prepare specimens to be assayed by more specialized laboratories.
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This study concerns the application of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for the posttreatment of an effluent rejected by an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor operating in a brewery. The goal was to achieve the required wastewater quality for discharge to surface water. The primary target was the removal of nitrogen compounds, but chemical oxygen demand and suspended solids were also concerns. Phosphorus concentration and protozoan population were also monitored during SBR operation. Two different strategies were tested: an operation based on an aerobic-anoxic sequence and another based on applying a predenitrification step, that is, an anoxic-aerobic-anoxic sequence. Ammonium (NH4-N) removal was achieved in all assays. Nitrification efficiency reached 97%, and the maximum observed rate was 0.175 kg NH4-N/kg volatile suspended solids.d. A denitrification process was detected during the aerated periods, despite a dissolved oxygen concentration in the bulk liquid of 2.8 to 3.7 mg O2/L. However, denitrification was suppressed when the bulk liquid oxygen concentration was increased to 7 mg O2/L. The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of the UASB effluent was too low and hindered the postdenitrification phase. This fact was confirmed by complete nitrate removal when an acetate supplement was added. On the other hand, the insertion of a primary anoxic phase in the reaction cycle was the best treatment strategy, leading to nitrogen values within the legal framework. The protozoan population showed significant changes in response to the aerobic-anoxic conditions. However, periodic nonaerated conditions were not detrimental to aerobic protozoa, which recovered as soon as oxygen was again available.
Thirty-one type A strains of Pasteurella multocida isolated from rabbits and poultry were able to agglutinate red blood cells (RBC) from human group O donors. Except for human RBC from group B which were also agglutinated by 3 strains, neither group A nor RBC from sheep and rabbits were agglutinated. Haemagglutination was mannose-resistant, and the two techniques used detected unrelated activities. One as tested by a slide haemagglutination (MRSH) test was common to most (31 out of 34 strains) capsulated strains, though non-mucoid ones obtained by growth on hyaluronidase-containing medium showed also this property. This haemagglutination activity was destroyed at 100 degrees C for 15 min but not at 56 degrees C for 30 min, was dependent upon an optimal pH range (7.4-7.5) and did not seem to be influenced by different enriched media. The other activity was assayed by the microhaemagglutination (MRMH) test. Only part (19 out of 34 strains) of the strains presented this activity, which was also destroyed by boiling for 15 min and was dependent on the addition of 0.5 of polyvinilpirrolidone to phosphate buffered saline, used to suspend RBC. A correlation between haemagglutination activities of P. multocida type A and the possibility of this microorganism harbouring fimbriate organelles is discussed.