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Biomedical subjects

M C Costa

Publications and source records attributed to M C Costa.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Transmission of cervical human papillomavirus infection by sexual activity: differences between low and high oncogenic risk types.

Not all studies have proven that cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a sexually acquired condition. Determinants of HPV infection were analyzed in a survey of 718 asymptomatic women in northeastern Brazil. HPV DNA was detected and typed by polymerase chain reaction. HPV types were classified into low- and high-risk groups on the basis of their association with cervical carcinomas. Overall HPV prevalence (18.3%) was moderately associated with age at first intercourse (P = .111, trend) and number of lifetime sex partners (P = .005, trend). However, separate analyses by risk revealed different degrees of association with sexual activity. Except for a positive association with multiple partners among women < 40 years old (P = .034, trend), infection with low-risk types (9.7%) was not correlated with sexual behavior. On the other hand, infection with high-risk HPV types (11.6%) was strongly and independently associated with both multiple partners (P = .009, trend) and age at first intercourse (P = .007, trend) in all age groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Decrease and inequalities of infant mortality in Salvador, 1980-1988].

This study sought to describe the changes in mortality among infants under one year of age in different areas of the city of Salvador, Bahia, during the period 1980-1988. This was done using estimates of variation in two indicators: proportional infant mortality and the coefficient of infant mortality. Values for the first indicator were separated into low, intermediate, high, and very high quartiles for 1980 and then calculated again using 1988 data. The second indicator was derived from the estimated number of live births using the rate of 33.4/1,000 inhabitants for 1980 and 31.4/1,000 for the years thereafter. The results showed that infant mortality in that age group had declined over the period, but that at the end of the period inequalities persisted in the distribution of infant deaths, which confirmed that conditions remained adverse for certain segments of the population.

Brazil↗
PubMed1988

Nonpenetrating subclavian artery trauma.

Nonpenetrating injury to the subclavian vessels is uncommon. During a 6-year period we have treated 167 patients with injuries to the subclavian and superior mediastinal arteries. Fifteen of these injuries (9%) occurred after blunt trauma. In 10 patients the proximal segment (first and second parts) of the artery was involved. No patient had an isolated injury; the most frequent associated injuries were rib fractures (n = 11), with the first rib being involved in four of these. Total brachial plexus disruption was found in nine patients. All patients with distal artery involvement had a clavicular fracture. All had an absent radial pulse and eight had critical ischemia of the hand. Four patients were treated nonoperatively and the remainder were treated along standard lines. Brachial plexus reconstruction was not feasible in any patient. Within 2 weeks of operation, one patient died as a result of head injuries and one required amputation because of sepsis. During a 12-month period, five regained full function, one additional patient requested above-elbow amputation after 6 months, and seven had a flail anesthetic limb. Twelve of these patients were involved in automobile accidents, eight of whom were wearing lap-shoulder harness seat belts with a loose-fitting shoulder strap component that created a characteristic abrasion pattern on the torso and chest. We conclude that the torsionshearing motion allowed by this situation contributed significantly to the pattern of injury and a plea is made for correctly fitted restraining devices.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Sedimentation coefficient and minimum molecular weight of extracellular hemoglobin of Glossoscolex paulistus (Oligochaeta).

A new procedure for the determination of the sedimentation coefficient in the 50-1000 S range was designed and tested. The characteristics of this protocol are: the use of density gradients self-generated by osmosedimentation and the use of a low-speed centrifuge and of visual monitoring of the sedimenting zone. This procedure was used to determine the sedimentation coefficient of erythrocruorin from Glossoscolex paulistus. The value obtained, S20, omega = 58 S, corresponds to a MW of 3.1 x 10(6) Daltons. The minimum MW (heme), determined by the pyridine-hemochromogen method, was 25,250 Da.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The osmosedimentation effect: its application to chemical and biochemical separation.

1. The fundamentals of the osmosedimentation effect are reviewed and its applications to chemical and biochemical separation problems are presented. 2. The osmosedimentation effect (solute sedimentation enhanced by osmotic and reverse-osmotic solvent mass currents spontaneously generated within a vertical dialysis cell) may be described by using standard treatments of non-equilibrium thermodynamics. 3. This effect allows many hitherto unfeasible or very difficult experiments to be performed: polymer and particle MW determination, under gravity or low-speed (1000-5000 rpm) centrifugation; dissolved protein concentration, by low-speed centrifugation; density gradient generation, at low centrifugation speeds; fast separation of fine particles; particle concentration and fractionation, under gravity and low speed centrifugation. 4. Osmocentrifugation methods may be easily implemented in any laboratory, as their requirements are: the availability of standard centrifuges and rotors, inexpensive dialysis cells and cellulose acetate membranes, which can be prepared in the laboratory.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗
PubMed1986

Confronting cisternae in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Authors report the presence of confronting cisternae (CC) in two cases of poorly differentiated human hepatocellular carcinoma. They are interpreted as a peculiar phenotypical alteration of the tumor cells, probably related to a disturbance of the morphogenesis of nuclear and endoplasmic membranes.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An exanthematic disease epidemic associated with coxsackievirus B3 infection in a day care center.

An epidemic of exanthematic illness in a day care center is described. Ten children aged 7 to 13 months were affected by the illness. The exanthem was characterized by nonconfluent macular or maculopapular lesions that appeared on the face, body and limbs. Fifty percent of the infected children had fever of up to 39 degrees C at the beginning of the disease. Coxsackievirus B3 (CB3) was isolated from the stool of one ill child. Paired serum samples were obtained from eight ill children and six of them presented seroconversion to CB3. Antibodies to CB3 were detected at titers higher than 16 in a single serum sample collected from the other two patients. Neutralizing antibodies to CB3 were detected in 71.0% of the contact children.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intratypic differentiation of polioviruses isolated from suspected cases of poliomyelitis in Brazil during the period of 1990 to 1993.

This study analyzed 3129 fecal samples derived from 1626 patients with sudden onset acute flaccid paralysis clinically compatible with poliomyelitis. The samples were collected in the period ranging from January 1990 to September 1993 in all regions of Brazil. Among the 1626 cases studied, 196 had isolation of poliovirus. Nevertheless, it was observed that some factors influenced the isolation rate and the intratypic characterization of these polioviruses. No cases of acute flaccid paralysis has been found to be etiologically related with wild polioviruses.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Differences in blood pressure measurement in the first consultations before and after implementation of the National Program of Hypertension Control].

This study was carried out in order to compare differences in blood pressure measurements (BPM) before and after the implementation of the program of hypertension control in Salvador, Brazil. Data concerning BPM following the program were obtained from medical records of all 846 adult patients who were seen in a first consultation basis in 5/16/91 in 23 health services. Data for the 1982 year-before the program--were published in 1984. Both studies had the same methodology. In 1991 the BP was measured in 29.1% of the 846 patients. Taking into account the same services included in both studies, the frequency of BPM in 1991 reached 35.9%, 92.0% more than the 18.7% observed in 1982. Lower frequencies of BPM were seen in the State health services all showing reduction in the BPM frequencies as compared to 1982 data. The two hospitals associated to the "Sistema Unico de Saúde" had a bad performance. Patients with ill defined diseases and those surveyed about previous history of hypertension reached the highest frequencies of BPM (85.4 and 83.3% respectively). Strategies in order to improve the BPM in the routine medical work as contributor to the reduction of morbidity and mortality by the complications of hypertension are suggested.

Adult↗