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Biomedical subjects

M A de Carvalho

Publications and source records attributed to M A de Carvalho.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Bone mineral density in familial amyloid polyneuropathy and in other neuromuscular disorders.

Neuromuscular diseases are a known risk factor for immobilization-induced osteoporosis. The aim of the study was to analyse bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) type I (Val30 Met) and to compare them with a population of patients with other neuromuscular disorders. We studied 24, ambulatory, neuromuscular patients, all men and premenopausal women. We included 12 FAP patients (GI) and 12 patients with other disorders (GII). Clinical data included age, sex, height, weight, alcohol intake, smoking, calcium intake, physical activity and history of fractures. Serum and urinary calcium, osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone and urinary N-telopeptide cross-linked type 1 collagen were determined in all patients. Bone mineral density of lumbar spine, hip and wrist were determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. No statistical differences were found in clinical or analytic data between the two groups, except for body mass index and calciuria, which were lower in GI. In GI, 54.5% were osteoporotic, against 23.1% in GII (P = 0.04). Bone mineral density was lower in GI when compared with GII, and tended to decrease with disease duration. Decreased BMI and the early autonomic involvement in GI probably explain the results. The prevention and early treatment of osteoporosis, in FAP patients should be considered a priority.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2004

[An alternative model for schistosomiasis control: the present status of the project in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil].

An intervention study for schistosomiasis control is being carried out in the county of Afonso Cláudio, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, having begun in February 1992. This study is an alternative response to classical control methods. The project is being developed using an interdisciplinary approach and involves both research and service institutions. The organization of health services at the primary care level is part of the project. Participant observation is seen as the methodological point of departure for guiding data collection and analysis and the intervention process in local reality. Control methods are restricted to the medical treatment given to all infected individuals and to improvements in the sanitation facilities available in the area. These methods are obviously integrated with the above-mentioned social actions. Consisting of three phases - pre-control, control (intervention), and final evaluation - the project is now in its intervention phase, lasting approximately three years.

English Abstract↗
PubMed1999

Staphylococci from dental personnel.

Thirty dental students and five professors were cultured in nares, throat, and hands for the presence of staphylococci. Twenty-four students and two professors were colonized with staphylococci that were classified as S. aureus. Twelve students and one professor were colonized with staphylococci that produced enterotoxin. Care needs to be taken to avoid contaminating patients during dental examination, particularly during any type of surgery.

Dental Staff↗
PubMed1982

[Progressive extrinsic ophthalmoplegia. Report of 3 cases].

Three women with extrinsic oculo-muscular distrophy were studied. In two patients the symptoms were began at 25 and another one at 56 year-old. Non myogenic features were observed: in case one there was familial otosclerosis. This patient had impossibility to beget children. Her first menstruation was observed at 19 and the last at 40 year-old, like to case 2, which was the only to have electrocardiographic alterations. Romberg's signal and profound hyporeflexia was obtained in case 3, whose family had a lot of member with cataract. Biopsy of the non ocular muscles was made too, in spite of patient's symptoms had been concerning to ocular muscles only. All of non ocular muscles had myogenic features. In electromyogram examination of non ocular muscles the myogenic features were observed too. Therefore, we believe in diffuse myogenic process in spite of ocular manifestation had been the only patient's complaints.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Rearing of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata under axenic conditions in isolators.

Germfree Biomphalaria glabrata were successfully reared through their life cycle in isolators. The snails were fed a diet sterilized either by heat or by irradiation. Snails fed an irradiated diet had a better growth and higher reproduction rate than the ones fed an autoclaved diet. There was no difference in survival between the two groups.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antimicrobial resistance and plasmid detection in strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group.

Resistant populations of the Bacteroides fragilis group bacteria (two reference ones and two isolated from human and Callithrix penicillata marmoset) were obtained by the gradient plate technique, to clindamycin, penicillin G, metronidazole and mercuric chloride. All the four tested strains were originally susceptible to the four antimicrobial drugs at the breakpoint used in this study. MICs determination for the four cultures gave constant values for each antimicrobial, on the several steps by the gradient plate technique. The intestinal human B. fragilis strains showed three DNA bands, that could be representative of only two plasmids in the closed covalently circular (CCC) form with molecular weights of approximately 25 and 2.5 Md. The results do not permit an association between the presence of plasmid in the human strain with the susceptibility to the studied drugs. The four strains were beta-lactamase negative in the two methods used, and no particular chromosomal genetic resistance marker was demonstrated. The resistance (MIC) observed, after contact with penicillin G and mercuric chloride, were two-fold in the four tested strains.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bacteriological evaluation of wounds in seriously burned hospitalized patients.

During the period between May and December 1988, 21 patients were studied bacteriologically at Hospital João XXIII's burn's unit which belongs to "Fundação Hospitalar do Estado de Minas Gerais" in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. A qualitative and quantitative evaluation of aerobic and facultative bacteria from burn wounds was carried out by the standard filter paper disc technique, including antibiotic susceptibility. At the same time an evaluation of those bacteria isolated from the environmental unit was performed. The most common organisms recovered from wounds of patients were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. P. pseudomallei was the most frequent strain recovered from environmental specimens. In nearly all patients specimens (16 in total) from whom P. aeruginosa was isolated, the rate of CFU/cm2 of skin was above 10(2). In nine of these, it reached 10(5), which is equivalent to 10(7) CFU/g of burned tissue.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Snakes from the urban area of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso: ecological aspects and associated snakebites].

This study presents data on snakes recorded in the urban area of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Sources of information included specimens captured by local residents (1986-1993) and turned over to the Mato Grosso Regional Ophiological Center (Normat), and data from the Anti-Venom Information Center (Ciave), regarding urban snake bites (1988-1993). Thirty-seven species of snakes from 25 genera and three families were recorded. Diurnal and terrestrial habits predominated, as well as a diet based on amphibians and/or lizards. From a total of 307 snake bites recorded, some 56% were of no clinical importance, caused by non-venomous snakes, whereas 44% were clinically relevant. Approximately 99% of the latter were attributed to vipers of the genus Bothrops, and especially the Bothrops moojeni and Bothrops neuwiedi species The colubrids Philodryas olfersii and Waglerophis merremii were probably responsible for most of the non-venomous snake bites.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Infection control procedures used in dental offices in Belo Horizonte].

Survey data from 300 randomly selected private dental practitioners working in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, were used to evaluate the infection control procedures routinely practiced here. The function of this report might be to alert the teaching team from Dental Schools and the dentists to the problems that potentially contribute to the transmission of infectious disease as a first step for additional specific recommendations to an effective and safe infection controL program that we intend to discuss later.

Brazil↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro activity of two beta-lactam antibiotics against strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group isolated from humans and from Callithrix penicillata marmosets.

The purpose of this study was to determine the in vitro activity of cefoxitin and imipenem against strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group isolated from the intestinal tract of humans and Callithrix penicillata marmosets. The majority of the human and marmosets B. fragilis strains was resistant to cefoxitin. The percentages of resistance to cefoxitin among B. fragilis marmoset strains were higher than those of human origin. On the other hand, the majority of the other Bacteroides of the B. fragilis group isolated from human and marmosets were susceptible to this drug. Imipenem was the most effective beta-lactam drug in this study, and we detected no resistance.

Animals↗