Biomedical subjects

M C Ferreira

Publications and source records attributed to M C Ferreira.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Electrophoretic characterization of exposed outer membrane proteins in environmental and human Bacteroides fragilis strains.

Bacteriodes fragilis isolated from aquatic environment, from infectious process and from human feces were compared as to their outer membrane protein electrophoretic profiles after staining with Coomassie blue and reacting with antibodies prepared against whole-cell antigens of a reference strain from a clinical source. A marked homogeneity was found among the strains with these methodologies. The profiles of all strains obtained after radio-iodination of the intact cell showed qualitative similarity when compared with the profiles obtained by the other methods. Thus, these data allow us to suggest the designation of the peptides observed in the autoradiograms as surface-exposed proteins. Differences observed in the autoradiograms in the expression of bands mainly detected at a molecular weight of 28 in the commensal strain 118,310 defined previously as avirulent, in addition to a distinction in the titres of agglutination with the sera tested and lower reactivity in the immunoblotting assays, suggest a relationship of the B. fragilis surface architecture with the virulence potential as well as with the origin of the strain.

Agglutination Tests↗

PubMed1998

Contraction and myofibroblasts in restored skin.

Myofibroblasts and the contraction of split skin-graft donor sites were studied in 18 patients. For each patient five samples were studied, taken on days 0, 14, 21, 28, and 35. On each occasion the extensions and densities of myofibroblasts were calculated. After the initial measurement, the subsequent extensions were expressed in percentages of the first, resulting in mean measurements of 100, 95, 97, 99, and 99%, respectively. The myofibroblasts in 10 dermic fields were counted under light microscopy at a magnification of 1000 marked with anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin antibodies using immunoperoxidase, resulting in the means of 0.2, 3.8, 1.3, 1.3, and 0.4, respectively. The contraction and the increase in density of myofibroblasts were transitory and significant in the samples measured on day 14, but in sample 35 neither of the variables was significantly different from the initial sample. These variables evolved concurrently, corroborating the hypothesis that myofibroblasts are responsible for the contraction.

Cell Count↗

PubMed1998

Abdominal wall closure after selective aponeurotic incision and undermining.

The tension required to pull the anterior and the posterior rectus sheaths toward the midline was studied in 20 fresh cadavers at two levels: 3 cm above and 2 cm below the umbilicus. The quotient of the force used to mobilize the aponeurotic site to the midline and its resulting displacement was called the traction index. These indices were compared in three situations: (1) prior to any aponeurotic undermining, (2) after the incision of the anterior rectus sheath and the undermining of the rectus muscle from its posterior sheath, and (3) after additionally releasing and undermining the external oblique muscle. A significant decrease in aponeurotic resistance was observed after each dissection. The anterior sheath showed higher resistance to traction compared with the posterior sheath on both levels. No statistical difference was noted in the comparison of the values of the aponeurosis above and below the umbilicus. These results suggest that these procedures are effective in assisting in the closure of abdominal wall defects because these maneuvers decrease substantially the tension required for advancement of the aponeurotic edges.

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMed1998

Midfacial advancement by bone distraction for treatment of craniofacial deformities.

Craniofaciostenosis is often associated with midfacial hypoplasia and has been treated traditionally using Le Fort advancement osteotomies and bone grafts. The surgical procedure requires a prolonged operating time, several osteotomies with a significant blood loss, and wide surgical exposure. According to the principles of bone lengthening, we performed midfacial advancement by bone distraction in 4 patients with midfacial hypoplasia to reduce the operative time and complication rate. In 2 patients with Crouzon's syndrome we performed a Le Fort III osteotomy and placed the distraction device behind the malar eminence and screwed it on the temporal bone bilaterally. In the other 2 children, with Apert's syndrome, we performed frontal advancement and remodeling before placing the device during the same surgery behind the malar bone without any midfacial osteotomy. It appears to us that patients with more severe deformities will need surgical procedures to offer more satisfactory results. In these patients, distraction is an initial therapy to reduce the severity of the deformity, making it possible to effect a better treatment afterward.

Acrocephalosyndactylia↗

PubMed1998

Influence of stress conditions on Bacteroides fragilis survival and protein profiles.

Bacteroides fragilis strains isolated from different sources, i.e. 1 strain (AA1) from an aquatic environment, 1 strain from normal flora (118310) and the type strain (ATCC 25285) originally isolated from clinical material, were analysed for both cell envelope proteins composition and surviving under oxidative stress starvation. All strains examined showed a similar survival response when cultured in drinking water with a ten-fold decrease in viable counts per day during the 7 days of analysis. The outer membrane protein (OMP) profiles of all strains were quite similar during the stress period as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). However, the periplasmic proteins of the strain 118310 showed two protein bands at 48 and 58 kDa, respectively, that were absent in the strains AA1 and ATCC 25285 during the incubation period in potable water. Whole cells and periplasmic 35S-labelled proteins from bacteria cultured in drinking water showed a significant increase in proteins at 16, 18, 24, 26, 35, 48, and 58 kDa and 18, 22, 24, 48, 58, and 70 kDa, respectively, in all strains when compared to cells grown in BHI-PRAS media as detected by autoradiography following SDS-PAGE. These data suggest that B. fragilis may have a synthesis mechanism that allows them to adapt to adverse environments.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

PubMed1997

Comparison of extraction methods and detection systems in the gas chromatographic analysis of volatile carbonyl compounds.

High-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) with electron-capture detection (ECD), nitrogen-phosphorus detection (NPD), flame ionization detection (FID) or with mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring (MS-SIM) was used in the analysis of volatile carbonyl compounds. Eighteen carbonyl compounds that are typically produced during lipid peroxidation were derivatized quantitatively with pentafluorophenylhydrazine (PFPH) at room temperature, to afford their corresponding water-insoluble hydrazones. These derivatives were extracted into non-polar phases by means of either liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) (hexane) or solid-phase extraction (SPE) on 3 ml C18 octadecyl-bonded phase cartridges. Detection limits of 10(-14) and 10(-12) mol/ml per aldehyde were achieved with the ECD and MS-SIM systems, respectively. The effects of extraction conditions on sensitivity and recovery were determined by performing parallel HRGC-ECD and HRGC-MS-SIM analyses of pentafluorophenylhydrazones of the eighteen compounds under study. Recoveries of 51.4-78.9 +/- 1.2-4.5 and 80.9-98.3 +/- 1.0-3.5% were obtained with LLE and SPE, respectively. The method was applied to the analysis of the volatile carbonyl compounds in various heated vegetable oils (corn, palm or sunflower) and to the analysis of volatile aldehydes in human urine.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Whole-cell and periplasmic protein banding patterns of environmental and human Bacteroides fragilis strains.

In order to investigate the relationship among virulent and avirulent Bacteroides fragilis strains, SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins (WP) and periplasmic proteins (PP) were used to establish a protein profile of strains isolated from human infections, fecal flora and environmental water. Despite different sources of the strains, no significant differences were observed as determined by the WP SDS-PAGE analysis. In contrast, the proteins obtained from the bacterial periplasm showed differences in the electrophoretic protein profile. Two distinct PP profile patterns were obtained. Pattern A included 6 out of the 8 virulent strains and pattern B, 6 out of 8 avirulent strains. Interestingly, an environmental strain that was capable of inducing abscesses in mice, had a PP profile highly similar to that of the virulent strains from human infections. These data indicate that PP from B. fragilis may be useful to characterize differences among virulent and avirulent strains. Moreover, strains isolated from environmental water may also be a source of exogenous infections by B. fragilis.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Surface vesicles: a possible function in commensal relations of Bacteroides fragilis.

Surface vesicles (SV) defined by electron microscopy as outer membrane (OM) extrusions were detected in Bacteroides fragilis strains from distinct sources. A partial identity between SV and OM electrophoretic protein profiles, in addition to the microscopic analysis, may suggest the designation of OMSV. Sialidase activity, a virulence determinant, was associated with these sub-cellular structures in all the strains, but in an inverse relation to the vesicle quantity per cell. A commensal strain, previously defined as avirulent in an animal model, presented the lowest vesicle-associated sialidase activity and the greatest SV expression as opposed to what happened with clinical and environmental strains. These results seem to suggest that these surface components have a function in commensal stages of B. fragilis.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

PubMed1997

Guillain-Barré syndrome and head trauma. Case report.

The authors report the case of a 29 years old male patient presenting classical Guillain-Barré syndrome following head trauma. Only one other similar case is described in the literature. Head trauma as a precipitating event of the disease is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Isolation of Porphyromonas gingivalis strain from tubal-ovarian abscess.

An unusual case of involvement of Porphyromonas gingivalis is described. Two anaerobic isolates, identified as Fusobacterium nucleatum and P. gingivalis, were recovered from the pus of a tubal-ovarian abscess in a 35-year-old woman. Identification of the P. gingivalis isolate was confirmed by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprinting.

Abscess↗

PubMed1995

[Facial fractures. Analysis of 130 cases].

The importance of facial trauma comes from the possibility of leaving serious functional and aesthetic consequences. Since 1990 patients with facial fractures were treated at the Emergency Ward of the Hospital das Clinicas of the Medical Faculty of São Paulo by plastic surgeons. In 24 months, 130 patients with facial fractures were treated there. The main causative factors were motor vehicle accidents (51%) and the main bone fracture was that of mandible (46%). A correlation between the kind of trauma and the kind of fracture is made.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1995

[Electrical burns of the upper limbs].

During a period of 27 months, between 1991 and 1993, 15 patients with upper limb lesions caused by electrical hazards were admitted in the Burn Emergency Service of the Hospital das Clinicas-FMUSP. This lesion is usually a dramatic condition and requires a sound physiopathologic knowledge by the surgeon. These accidents may have permanent incapacitating sequelae, and due to long periods of treatment (2 months), social-economic costs are very high. Based on our experience, we suggest a less aggressive approach (no amputation at emergency), and a close continuous surveillance.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

[Preoperative psychological evaluation of patients undergoing rhytidoplasty].

In order to evaluate the dynamics of personality in a group of women submitted to surgical treatment of the aging face. The purpose of the study was to find out the motivation and expectations regarding the surgery. Twenty-eight women, with the overage age of 49 years, were studied. The method used included questionnaire, the tests Drawings of Figure Human and Crown-Crisp Experiential Index. Twenty-two of the patients answered that the personal satisfaction the mais purpose the operation. They also believed that the plastic surgery would lead to a better professional and social activity. The patients wanted to have a good feminime and youthful appearance. The results of the Crown-Crisp were significant for obsessionality, somatic anxiety and hysteria and non significant for free-floting anxiety, phobic anxiety and depression.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

[Microsurgical reimplantation of scalp: case report].

With the introduction of modern techniques in plastic surgery, severe injuries concerning the extremities and scalp are now amenable to surgical treatment. Successful reimplantation of the scalp either total or partial have been rarely reported in the literature. We treated a patient with avulsion affecting 2/3 of the scalp, the right ear and a cutaneous flap on right side of the face. We report here the initial care and operative procedure. The avulsed scalp was revascularized through microanastomoses of the temporal artery and vein. The reimplantation was well succeed and cosmetic results were satisfactory.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed1995

[Reduction mammoplasty with shortened scars: surgical technique].

Reduction mammaplasty is nowadays one of the most frequently performed plastic surgeries. The main purpose is the reduction of the volume of breasts, but the resulting scars can jeopardize the result of the operation. The Division of Plastic Surgery follows the modern tendency of reducing the length of the incisions and thus the resulting scars. A technique that incorporates this principle was developed with good results. The technique is simple enough to be used in a training program.

Cicatrix↗

PubMed1995

[Surgical anatomy of the sural nerve].

The sural nerve is generally used as a graft in nervous reconstructions due to its easy access and minimal sequelae after its withdrawal. Although this nerve presents a constancy in its topographical localization, anatomical variations are frequent. Thus, trying to determine the formation pattern of the sural nerve complex, 38 legs from 19 cadaveres were dissected. The data obtained differ from those of the literature as to the frequency of the occurrence of the two classically known patter (pattern I and II). Besides, it was possible to identify two other paterns (pattern III and IV) of the sural nerve formation not yet described The cutaneous nerve and the comunicating peroneal nerve were found in 21% of the cases. In the literature, the frequency is of 65.8% to 80%. Pattern II, where the sural nerve is originated from the medial sural cutaneous nerve, was identified in 52.6% of cases, while in the literature its frequency is of 20 to 34.2%. Pattern III, not yet described in the literature, had the sural nerve coming from the junction between the medial sural cutaneous nerve and the lateral sural cutaneous one, with a frequency of 21% of the cases. Pattern IV, also not yet described in the literature, had the sural nerve originated from the common fibular nerve in 5.2% of patients. It was also possible to identify in the sample the presence of the lateral sural cutaneous nerve (branch of the common fibular nerve) and of the peroneal communicating nerve (branch of the lateral sural cutaneous nerve) with anatomical characteristics indicating them as an alternative source of nerve grafts.

Cadaver↗

PubMed1995

[Kinetic distribution of cyclosporine after single dose subcutaneous administration; experimental study in rats].

Adequate dose of cyclosporin A shows immunosuppressor effect, and low toxicity. The doses reported previously ranged from 2.5 to 25 mg/kg every 24, 48 hours and even 7 days. Routes for cyclosporin A administration are subcutaneous or intramuscular preferentially. In the present study, cyclosporin A (CSA) single dose subcultaneous was administered to 21 Wistar-Furth rats, adult, males, weighing 350-450g. The animals were divided in 3 groups receiving 2.5 mg/kg (group 1), 5.0 mg/kg (group 2) and 10.0 mg/kg (group 3). Blood samples were collected at 1, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after drug collection into plastic tubes containing sodium EDTA. Blood cyclosporin A levels were determined by a commercially available radioimmunoassay kit (Sandoz RIE Kit Basel) after whole hemolysis using liquid nitrogen. Cyclosporin A blood concentrations vs time curve were plotted (log C vs t). Two compartment open model was applied to estimate the kinetic parameters as t(1/2) beta e beta. A model independent calculation was applied to estimate the kinetic parameters as AUCT, CIT and Vd. Initially, parametric and nonparametric tests were applied. Due to the high dispositional variability, nonparametric statistics (Wilcoxon's test) was applied for analysis of results obtained. Based on data obtained in the present study the authors suggest linear pharmacokinetics where Cmax AUCT showed proportional increases with the dose administered, remaining unchanged the Kinetic parameters as t(1/2) B,B, CIT and Vd.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1995

[Study of oxytalanic fibers of striae: variations with relation to the skin].

Strie distansae have been studies since the last century. However, many aspects like oxitalanic fiber variations in the striae, were still to be studied. This was the purpose of our work. Our results showed that in the striae, there is a decrease in the number of oxitalanic fibers when compared to normal skin. We also found a reduction in the arborecent aspect of these fibers as well as tissular fragility. The pathogenesis of striae distansae is still obscure, but the study of oxitalanic fibers can contribute to the understanding of its treatment as well as the compression of cutaneous aging.

Adult↗