Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Campos.
Five cases of patients with the Rett syndrome are reported. The criteria for this diagnosis in these cases are discussed. These are the first cases of the Rett syndrome reported in Brazil and the authors call attention to the fact that this syndrome seems to be in our country as frequent as in USA, Europe and Japan where it has been more studied.
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We have redetermined the primary sequence for bull protamine using HPLC peptide mapping and automated amino-acid sequencing techniques and report, on the basis of these findings, that the previously published amino-acid sequence for this protein is incorrect. The correct protamine sequence is 50 amino acids in length and differs from the original published sequence by the tripeptide -Cys-39-Arg-40-Arg-41-. Analyses of protamine tryptic peptides derived from nine diverse breeds of Bos tarus and Bos indicus indicate that this sequence is present in the protamine of each breed and that it does not represent a variant or mutation.
A Brazilian girl with the Rett syndrome is reported. The criteria for this diagnosis in this case are discussed. This is the first reported case of the Rett syndrome in the Southern Hemisphere.
Three cases of infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy diagnosed by conjunctival biopsy are reported. Some axons of the conjunctival nerves showed aggregates of tubular and membranous structures identical to the spheroids of the CNS. The visualization of these structures is the only diagnostic tool in this disease of unknown metabolic basis. Conjunctival biopsy which is ease to perform is the preferential technique for the diagnosis of this disease. Clinically, the intense hypotonia with pyramidal tract signs, the absence of seizures, the cerebellar atrophy observed at the computerized tomography suggest strongly the diagnosis of infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy.
A case of hypomelanosis of Ito in a ten-year-old black boy with mental retardation, epilepsy and abnormalities of the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres revealed by a computerized tomography is presented. This is the 41st reported case on this disease, a number of which have shown neurological signs. A review of the literature with emphasis on the neurological manifestations is performed.
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Six out of 30 patients with chronic renal failure showed osteosclerosis in the lateral radiograph of the lumbar spine. When two groups with a similar degree of renal impairment were compared, the patients with osteosclerosis were younger and had a significantly higher level of circulating PTH (p less than 0.05) and total hydroxyproline excretion (p less than 0.02), than patients without overt osteosclerosis. The metacarpal cortical thickness was significantly reduced in patients with vertebral osteosclerosis. The results suggest that in patients with chronic uremia endogenous hypersecretion of PTH is one of the most significant factors responsible for the development of osteosclerosis. The mineral released from other skeletal sites could be utilized in the mineralization of the newly formed trabecular bone without any external calcium gain.
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PURPOSE: Based on our preclinic studies with autologous unfractionated bone marrow (AUBM) via coronary sinus with transitory occlusion, a clinic study in patients with chronic stable angina was designed. The objectives were to evaluate safety, tolerance and feasibility. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A multicenter prospective study with inclusion and exclusion criteria defined by an Independent Clinical Committee was carried out. Fourteen patients underwent transcoronary sinus administration of freshly aspirated and filtered AUBM (60-120 ml). Safety and tolerance were evaluated. Feasibility was evaluated with Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina classification (baseline-Day 180), myocardial perfusion (baseline-Day 90) with independent core laboratory and coronary angiography (baseline and Day 30). RESULTS: There were no changes in the safety and tolerance parameters. Preliminary clinical efficacy at Day 180 disclosed a significant improvement of 38%, evaluated by the SAQ. The CCS angina classification shows that the mean angina class was 3.0+/-0.55 at baseline and improved to 2.0+/-0.00 at Day 180 (P <.001). Semiquantitative radionuclide perfusion imaging (core lab) showed a significant improvement at Day 90 in 13/14 patients, with a mean improvement of 24% at rest (P <.01) and 33% at stress (P <.05). Coronary angiography showed more collateral vessels in 9/14 patients. CONCLUSIONS: We can conclude that AUBM via coronary sinus with transitory occlusion is tolerable and safe. Significant improvement in the myocardial perfusion at Day 90 and in the quality of life at Day 180 was observed.
PURPOSE: The aim of the investigation is to study myocardial injury on pig model with two objectives: (1) feasibility of stimulating angiogenesis with fresh autologous bone marrow; (2) administration of the same fresh autologous bone marrow via coronary sinus with transitory occlusion. METHODS: A controlled study was done in animal model with three phases, in a study group of 12 pigs (bone marrow administration) as well as in control group of 4 pigs (saline administration). Phase 1-production of coronary stenosis and myocardial injury; Phase 2-two weeks later, administration of bone marrow through coronary sinus with 10 min occlusion in the study group and saline solution in the control group. Phase 3-two weeks later, histological staining with hematoxylin-eosin and inmunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody for smooth muscle alpha-actin were conducted on both study and control groups. RESULTS: The percentage of angionenesis observed in the study group was 91% and 0% in control group. Counting of positive actin in affected and control areas showed statistically significant differences in relation to both groups: study group (1.37 vs. 0.79) and control group (0.47 vs. 0.51). The percentage of mononuclear immature cells observed in the myocardium in the study group was 25% and in the control group was 0%. There was no increment in the coronary collateral circulation when comparing coronary angiography. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous bone marrow in animal model with experimental myocardial injury enhances angiogenesis, as well as vessels with smooth muscles. The transitory occlusion of the coronary sinus might be an effective way to administer cells as those from the bone marrow.
The use of monodose (800 mg) per os of Norfloxacin was evaluated in 32 patients with cholera at Salvador Mazza's Hospital, Salta, Argentina. It was considered the celerity in negativization of stool culture (100% of cases: 12 hours post administration), it efficiency along time (24/24 controlled patients were negative at 10th day) and MIC of isolated strains (100% of strains were sensitive: range 0.008 to 0.016 micrograms/ml). It was included oral administration of sorbitol 70% in peanut oil in order to study patients at 10th day's control. This method could be an alternative one in the study of asymptomatic carrier. Norfloxacin monodose shows good performance in early negativization of stool culture and it was also effective along the whole observation period, suggesting it could prevent carriage.
Since little information is available on the epizootiological status of Trypanosoma evansi in South America and particularly Brazil, we evaluated equine serum samples collected in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997 for the presence of antibodies against this trypanosome species. Our study shows corroborative evidence about the correlation among high T. evansi seroprevalence and the rainy season in the Pantanal, Brazil. The higher seroprevalence was 79.2% in horses from a ranch located in the Nhecolândia sub-region in 1994 and the lower 5.8% in animals from the same ranch in 1997. No seroprevalence was found in 1993. The possible re-introduction of T. evansi in the region as well as the relationship among our results with the outbreaks reported in 1994, are briefly discussed.
AIMS: Antiepileptic drugs, which often have to be used in patients with cancer, can have important effects on the results offered by antineoplastic agents. Here, we review the influence of antiepileptic drugs on antineoplastic agents and the influence of antineoplastic agents on antiepileptic drugs; measures to prevent such interactions are also suggested. DEVELOPMENT: Antiepileptic drugs that induce cytochrome P450, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital, can reduce the levels and effects of antineoplastics that metabolise by means of this enzyme, for example, taxanes, Vinca alkaloids, methotrexate, teniposide and camptothecin. Furthermore, enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs diminish the levels and effects of many other drugs that can be administered to oncology patients, such as other antiepileptic drugs used in polytherapy, narcotic analgesics, antidepressants, antipsychotics or antibiotics. In contrast, valproate can increase the toxicity of etoposide or nitrosoureas. Moreover, antineoplastic agents like cisplatin or corticoids can lower the effectiveness of phenytoin and methotrexate has a similar effect on valproate. In contrast, 5-fluorouracil can increase the toxicity of phenytoin. Pharmacodynamic interactions are also possible. CONCLUSIONS: Information about the clinical consequences of the interactions between antiepileptics and antineoplastic agents is often based on cases or series of cases, but a growing body of evidence from pharmacokinetic studies shows that enzyme-inducing antiepileptics exert an important influence on the effectiveness of the antineoplastic agents. It is therefore recommendable to avoid them and replace them with non-enzyme-inducing antiepileptics, such as gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, pregabalin, topiramate or zonisamide. When enzyme-inducing antiepileptics have to be used, it is likely that higher doses of antineoplastic agents or other inducible drugs will have to be utilised.