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Biomedical subjects

E Ferraz

Publications and source records attributed to E Ferraz.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Pathology of Piscinoodinium sp. (Protozoa: Dinoflagellida), parasites of the ornamental freshwater catfishes Corydoras spp. and Brochis splendens (Pisces: Callichthyidae).

Piscinoodinium sp. (Protozoa, Dinoflagellida) was commonly found on routine smears of samples of Brochis splendens and Corydoras spp. imported into Britain from South America, and on samples of the same group of fish examined at the exporters' holding facilities in Brazil. Infected fish had trophonts of different sizes on the gills and skin. In histological sections of the skin, the trophonts were found to be attached within depressions of different depths or enclosed by hyperplastic epithelial cells. Such enclosed trophonts have not previously been reported. Since some of the enclosed trophonts were dead, it was thought that enclosure was a result of the deep penetration of the trophont and the host defence mechanism. On the gills the Piscinoodinium infection was commonly associated with epithelial hypertrophy, focal and diffuse hyperplasia, oedema of the respiratory epithelium and lamellar fusion. The presence of this protozoan on different species of fish from the same shipment suggests that the infection was acquired before export. The source of infection and the stages of the export process which expose the fish to the highest risk of infection are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Parasitic infections in villagers from three districts of the Brazilian Amazon.

A survey of intestinal parasites among 827 rural villagers in the Brazilian Amazon revealed that the prevalences of infection with Necator americanus, Trichuris trichiura and/or Ascaris lumbricoides were high. However, the intensities of infection with the two parasites for which there were enough data on intensity for further analysis, N. americanus and T. trichiura, were only low or moderate in each of the three districts studied. Possible reasons for the unusual (but not unique) absence of high intensities include moderately good sanitation, low population densities, the way in which work activities are located geographically, the use of indigenous anthelmintics and the geographical isolation of the communities which provided the subjects. Whether the light to moderate levels of infection observed require intervention is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Acromesomelic dwarfism: a new variation.

The rate skeletal disorder, acromesomelic dwarfism, is characterized by short stature and short limbs. Bone dysplasia is evident. We report two cases of a variation of this disorder in a Portuguese woman and her son. The clinical features of these two cases differ from those of cases previously reported in the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Intra-abdominal sepsis: an immunocytochemical study of the small intestine mucosa.

AIM: To investigate immunocytochemical changes in intestinal tissues from patients with intra-abdominal sepsis, and to relate the changes to the possibility of enhanced bacterial adhesion and translocation. METHODS: Tissues from 17 patients suffering from intra-abdominal sepsis and from controls were sectioned and stained immunocytochemically for IgA, IgM, secretory component, J chain, and HLA-DR. Differences in the distribution and characteristics of positively staining cells between the patient groups were assessed. RESULTS: Patients with intra-abdominal sepsis had noticeable reductions in numbers of IgA and IgM plasma cells, reduced J chain staining, and had little immunoglobulin on the surfaces of enterocytes. In contrast, HLA-DR positive cells were increased in the sepsis compared with the control group. The plasma cells present showed cytological changes suggestive of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Stress associated with sepsis and its immediate causes might result in increased plasma glucocorticoid levels that bring about apoptosis of mucosal plasma cells (or their precursors). The consequent reduction in expression of IgA and IgM may favour bacterial adhesion to the enterocytes and facilitate bacterial translocation into the tissues.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Effects of anovulatory steroids on serum levels of zinc and copper].

Mean serum zinc (1.14 micrograms/ml) and copper (2.35 micrograms/ml) in 24 women taking oral contraceptive agents were compared against mean serum zinc (1.25 micrograms/ml) and copper (1.98 micrograms/ml) of 20 women of the same age range who served as controls. Serum zinc was significantly lower while serum copper was significantly higher for women taking the oral contraceptive agents. There was no significant correlation between the serum zinc and copper levels either in the control group (r = 0.04) or in the group taking the contraceptives (r = 0.36).

Adult↗