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Biomedical subjects

L M Ribeiro

Publications and source records attributed to L M Ribeiro.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Use of complementary and alternative medicine by Brazilian oncologists.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently employed by patients with cancer. An extensive survey was conducted among Brazilian cancer physicians to understand their attitude towards CAM. A questionnaire was sent to all 655 members of the Brazilian Cancer Society asking what is their opinion regarding CAM and if they would prescribe any CAM modality for their patients. They were also questioned regarding their degree of awareness of CAM self-administration by their patients. Overall, 119 questionnaires were returned to us (18%). Most oncologists knew at least one type of CAM (96.6%) and 76.7% had previously made use of at least one type of CAM for themselves. We observed that 76 (63.8%) of the oncologists used to ask their patients about CAM utilization and 37.8% described at least one reason to stimulate its use (68.8% as complementary treatment). Only 10% of the oncologists would prescribe at least one type of CAM and this attitude correlated significantly with previous physicians' use of CAM and with being a clinical oncologist as well as with having questioned patients about CAM use. Most oncologists (80.7%) would not indicate the use of CAM, mainly for lack of scientific proof of its efficacy (56.2%). Physicians knew many kinds of CAM and had frequently used some of them themselves, but only a minority of Brazilian oncologists would indicate them. As CAM use is very prevalent in our population, we believe that most of its utilization depends, probably, on patient's own and independent initiatives. However, these results should be viewed with caution because of the low response rate we observed in this study.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1991

Dominant beta-thalassaemia trait in a Portuguese family is caused by a deletion of (G)TGGCTGGTGT(G) and an insertion of (G)GCAG(G) in codons 134, 135, 136 and 137 of the beta-globin gene.

We have studied a Portuguese family with a dominant beta-thalassaemia trait that was present in one member of each of three generations. It was characterized by a moderate anaemia, microcytosis and hypochromia, anisopoikilocytosis, Heinz body formation in peripheral red cells, splenomegaly, and a blood transfusion requirement during pregnancy. Sequence analyses of amplified DNA detected a deletion of (G) TG.GCT.GGT.GT(G) at codons 134-137 (Val.Ala.Gly.Val) and the insertion of (G)GC.AG(G) (Gly.Arg) at the same location. Thus, the resulting beta chain has an abnormal structure only at codons 134-137 and is two residues shorter than the normal 146 residues. This chain could not be detected in circulating red cells and must be degraded rapidly by proteolysis because the Heinz bodies consisted mainly of alpha chains.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A serological comparison of complement fixation reactions using Brucella abortus and B. melitensis antigens in B. abortus infected cattle.

Brucella abortus and B. melitensis antigens were used in parallel on the National Standard Brucella abortus antiserum and on field sera coming from cattle where practically exclusively B. abortus biotypes 1 and 2 have been isolated over the last 11 years. With the National Standard serum the titres to B. melitensis were consistently lower than those to B. abortus antigen. Most were 1 dilution (twofold) lower. Although a similar trend was seen with the field sera, there were 7/346 sera which had twofold or higher titres to B. melitensis antigen. Although this may be due to the vagaries of the test it also warrants closer investigation of the animals concerned to see whether M-antigen predominant Brucella biotypes are possibly present. The use of the dual antigens could identify herds which are infected only with A-antigen predominant brucellae but would not be reliable for classifying individual animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A reduction in the duration of infection with Tritrichomonas foetus following vaccination in heifers and the failure to demonstrate a curative effect in infected bulls.

Seven batches of 25% water-phase, oil-in-water vaccine were prepared from whole cultures of Tritrichomonas foetus. Two inoculations were given, spaced 6 weeks apart, to virgin heifers and infected bulls. A significant reduction (P less than 0.01) in the duration of infection in vaccinated heifers was seen when they were challenged by being bred to a bull infected with the same isolate as that contained in the vaccine. Only 1/12 vaccinated heifers were pregnant 4.5 months after the end of the breeding season compared to 2/12 in the control group. The vaccine, therefore, has no practical advantage. Vaccine was supplied to 2,724 bulls on properties where the infection was present. From these bulls, 110 reliable results were obtained, where bulls had been infected, been inoculated and tested 1 month later. No curative effect was demonstrable with 69/110 (62.7%) bulls, remaining infected after the course of inoculations. There was also no difference between vaccine batches or between bulls of different ages. Further work on improving the vaccine is indicated. Three media suitable for the culture of T. foetus are described in detail.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The persistence of serological reactions following heifer vaccination with Brucella abortus strain 19 on brucellosis-free farms.

Of 392 heifers vaccinated between 4 and 9.5 months of age and tested at 22 months or older, 3 (0.77%) had titres in the complement fixation test of between 30 and 98 international units per millilitre. The results confirm that persistent serological reactions can be a problem even in brucellosis-free herds. To reduce the incidence of these problem reactors, it is suggested that: in clean herds the age of inoculation be reduced to 3 months of age; the age at first testing be delayed as long as possible, but be done before the heifers are 4 months pregnant, c) consideration be given to reducing the vaccine dose for all heifers from the present 4 to 12 x 10(10) to between 3 x 10(8) and 3 x 10(9) and syringes used for strain 19 vaccination be exclusively reserved for this purpose to prevent the possibility of antigenic residues acting as a booster when used for other vaccinations.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

The use of sensitivity discs in the identification of Campylobacter species.

Filter paper discs were impregnated with a solution containing 20 mg of triphenyltetrazolium chloride per millilitre, and used in the typing of catalase-positive Campylobacter species. Also used were filter paper discs impregnated with cephalothin at 30 micrograms/ml, 60 micrograms/ml and 3 mg/ml and nalidixic acid at the same concentrations, as well as commercially available discs containing 30 micrograms of, respectively, cephalothin and nalidixic acid. Results obtained proved the technique to be reliable and easier to interpret than previously used methods, and laboratory prepared filter paper discs compared favourably with commercial discs.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The isolation and serology of Brucella melitensis in a flock of goats in central RSA.

Brucella melitensis biotype 1 was isolated in pure culture from the lungs, liver, spleen, kidney, stomach contents, abomasum and brain of an aborted caprine (Boer goat) foetus in the district of Cullinan near Pretoria. The 18 does and 1 ram in the flock of Boer goates were examined serologically by means of the complement fixation (CF) test, using Brucella abortus antigen. Six weeks later they were examined again, using B. abortus as well as B. melitensis biotype 1 antigens. No significant differences were found between the 2 CF tests using B. abortus antigen, or between the results obtained by using the B. abortus and B. melitensis antigens. Twelve goats, showing CF antibody titres, were slaughtered and examined bacteriologically. No relationship was found between the serological and bacteriological results.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The use of filter paper discs impregnated with thionin acetate, basic fuchsin and thionin blue in the identification of Brucella species.

Filter paper discs impregnated with solutions containing 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/milliliter of thionin acetate, 0.75 and 1.5 mg/milliliter of basic fuchsin and 0.5 mg/milliliter of thionin blue were used in the typing of Brucella species. All the strains used reacted as expected, proving this new technique to be reliable in the identification of Brucella species. The method is less expensive and the results easier to interpret than those obtained with methods previously used.

Acetates↗
PubMed1990

An efficient medium for the isolation of Trichomonas foetus.

Trials were conducted to compare a modification of a commercial medium with the 2 media currently used at the Veterinary Research Institute, Onderstepoort, for the isolation of Trichomonas foetus. An antifungal agent was also added to the medium. Results obtained proved the modified medium to be more reliable for the isolation of T. foetus than the other 2, and the addition of antifungal more efficient in the control of contaminants.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Oxygen free radicals in medicine (I)].

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules, and therefore transient, which have an odd number of electrons and are generated in vivo as byproducts of normal metabolism. In this review we survey basic concepts on the chemistry of oxygen free radicals, their cellular sources and the reactions they can undergo. We also discuss the cellular defenses against free radicals induced damage. The disfunction induced by free radicals may thus be a major component of several pathological conditions. The critical role played by free radicals in ageing, carcinogenesis, reperfusion injury and and respiratory distress is reviewed.

Free Radicals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Oxygen free-radicals in medicine (2)].

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules, and therefore transient, which have an odd number of electrons and are generated in vivo as byproducts of normal metabolism. In this review we survey basic concepts on the chemistry of oxygen free radicals, their cellular sources and the reactions they can undergo. We also discuss the cellular defenses against free radicals induced damage. The disfunction induced by free radicals may thus be a major component of several pathological conditions. The critical role played by free radicals in ageing, carcinogenesis, reperfusion injury and respiratory distress is reviewed.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Drug hypersensitivity in AIDS patients: report of a case].

Drug allergy is a common symptom in HIV infected patients, with higher prevalence that in general population. We describe a child with AIDS and adverse reactions to several drugs indicated for Pneumocystis carinii prophylaxis and antibiotics. Reaction to intravenous pentamidine was present in this case and it is not an usual findings in HIV infected children. Alternative therapy and desensitization to TMP-SMX are also discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗