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Biomedical subjects

M C Rodrigues

Publications and source records attributed to M C Rodrigues.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

A comparative neuroethological study of limbic seizures induced by Parawixia bistriata venom and kainic acid injections in rats.

A number of neurotoxins derived from arthropod venoms are known to show highly selective effects on nervous tissue. These neurotoxins have been proved to be extremely useful tools to investigate either convulsive or anticonvulsive mechanisms in the nervous system. In the present work, intracerebroventricular injection of the crude venom from the spider Parawixia bistriata (Araneae, Araneidae) in rats induced convulsive limbic seizures (head and forelimb myoclonus, as well as rearing and falling). Neuroethological analysis showed that the limbic seizures induced by the venom were different from those induced by kainic acid. Intravenous injection of the same venom did not induce seizures, but the neuroethological analysis showed an intensification of grooming behavior similar to a displaced activity. In conclusion, our experiments point that crude venom of P. bistriata may contain convulsant neurotoxins probably acting in limbic system structures. The mechanism of action of these neurotoxins may be different from simple activation of glutamatergic kainate receptors, as evidenced by a comparative neuroethological analysis of seizures induced by either venom or kainic acid.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effect of deboning time, muscle tensioning, and calcium chloride marination on texture characteristics of chicken breast meat.

Tenderness is the most important organoleptic characteristic of meat, and various methods have been developed to improve it. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different conditioning treatments of broiler carcasses on pH, cooking losses, shear values, R-values, and sensory tenderness of breast meat. All measurements were collected for breast muscle as follows: after 24 h of carcass aging (T1); after 24 h of carcass aging with muscle tensioning (T2); after 24 h of carcass aging with muscle tensioning, followed by muscle collection and marination in CaCl2 (T3); after hot-boning 15 min following slaughter (T4); after hot-boning 15 min following slaughter and marination in CaCl2 (T5). pH values in meat treated with CaCl2 were significantly lower than those in untreated meat from the aged carcass group (T3) or the hot-boning group (T5). Breasts from carcasses aged for 24 h (T1, T2, and T3) showed lower cooking loss than breasts harvested immediately after slaughter (T4 and T5). CaCl2 marination produced meats with cooking losses significantly higher than those observed for untreated meats. Regardless of muscle tensioning or marination treatments, aging of the carcass for 24 h (T1, T2, and T3) produced meats with lower shear values than those from hot-boned carcasses (T4 and T5). Hot-boned breasts treated with CaCl2 (T5) were judged less tender by panelists than breasts aged under muscle tensioning (T2 and T3).

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Rheumatic diseases in adolescence]

OBJECTIVE: To present an updated review concerning the most prevalent diseases with musculoskeletal signs and symptoms that make adolescents seek medical care, giving special emphasis to rheumatic diseases. Our aim is to offer physicians and health care providers the possibility of distinct differential diagnoses, thus allowing them to establish a therapeutic approach and, if necessary, refer the patient to a specialist METHODS: Review of literature using Medline database, data obtained at our department, and the authorś personal experience. RESULTS: Musculoskeletal pain is characteristic of several diseases and usually urges adolescents to seek medical care. Rheumatic diseases, especially rheumatic fever, account for nearly fifty percent of the cases. In adolescents, it is also important that the aspects regarding the diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic juvenile arthritis, arthritis associated with enthesitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and vasculitis be considered. Fibromyalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, growing pains, hypermobility syndrome, and psychogenic rheumatism are noninflammatory conditions that frequently mimic rheumatic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory and noninflammatory conditions, and diseases of different etiology (infectious, neoplastic, and orthopedic) are frequently associated with musculoskeletal pain. It is important that health professionals diagnose these diseases as early as possible so that prompt action can be taken and prognosis can be improved.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Long-term effect of lovastatin on lipoprotein profile in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome.

Eight patients with biopsy-proven primary nephrotic syndrome were included in an open, prospective, two-year study of lovastatin. One patients was withdrawn after 6 months due to an asymptomatic rise in creatinine phosphokinase, which was rapidly reversed after interruption of lovastatin. In the remaining patients, treatment was well-tolerated and produced no side effects. After 2 years of treatment, these 7 patients had decreases in total cholesterol from 446 +/- 165 to 250 +/- 57 mg/dl (p < 0.001), LDL cholesterol from 343 +/- 121 to 174 +/- 49 mg/dl (p < 0.001), Apo B lipoprotein from 162 +/- 60 to 108 +/- 42 mg/dl (p < 0.05), triglycerides from 336 +/- 273 to 182 +/- 71 mg/dl (p < 0.04). There was no change in HDL cholesterol. The LDL/HDL cholesterol and the total/HDL cholesterol ratios fell from 15.0 +/- 12.1 and 19.1 +/- 17.2 mg/dl before the study to 4.4 +/- 1.2 and 6.3 +/- 1.6 mg/dl, respectively, at 2 years. A decrease in proteinuria from 8.6 +/- 4.6 to 5.0 +/- 3.7 g/24 h (p < 0.02) was noted in 4 patients on concomitant ACE inhibitor therapy. Renal function remained stable in all patients throughout the study, except for one whose moderate impairment progressed to end-stage renal failure requiring dialysis 3 months poststudy. We conclude that long-term lovastatin in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome is an effective and generally safe treatment for accompanying dyslipidemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effect of bradykinin on isolated mesenteric arteries of the rat.

Bradykinin is a potent vasodilator peptide; however, its half-life in vivo is very short because of various plasma and tissue peptidases that hydrolyze bradykinin to inactive fragments. We studied the role of kininase II (angiotensin converting enzyme) and neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (enkephalinase) in the catabolism of bradykinin in vascular tissue by determining the effect of inhibitors of kininase II (captopril) and of endopeptidase 24.11 (phosphoramidon) on the action of bradykinin on rat isolated mesenteric arteries. Because bradykinin may induce prostaglandin formation and release, we also studied the effect of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, on the action of bradykinin. The mesenteric bed was isolated from rats (250-300 g) with rats under either anesthesia and was perfused with Krebs' solution (4 ml/min) containing phenylephrine (0.5-1.0 microgram/ml) to produce a mean perfusion pressure of 120-130 mm Hg. Bradykinin (2.5-40.0 ng), injected as a bolus, produced a dose-dependent decrease in perfusion pressure. In the presence of indomethacin (1.0 microgram/ml), the amplitude of the vasodilator responses to bradykinin was not significantly affected, although the duration of the responses was increased approximately two to four times. In the presence of captopril (1.0 microgram/ml), bradykinin elicited either a vasodilator or a biphasic effect. The vasodilator effect was greatly potentiated by captopril, whereas the duration of the response was unchanged when compared with control experiments. When present, the pressor responses were also dose related. In the presence of indomethacin plus captopril, bradykinin produced only a fall in perfusion pressure that lasted five to six times longer than without any treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Rhinofacial zygomycosis caused by Conidiobolus coronatus. A case report.

A case of rhinofacial zygomycosis with of years duration, caused by Conidiobolus coronatus is described. The patient, a 72-years-old woman, presented with a bilateral distortion of the subcutaneous tissue and disfigurement of the face. Treatment with ketoconazole and potassium iodide did not prevent several relapses. At present she is still under treatment with fluconazole with clinical healing. Histopathological and mycological examination confirmed the dermatological diagnosis. An increasing number of cases of zygomycosis caused by fungi of the order Entomophthorales have also been reported in the Northern and Northeastern States of Brazil.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Subcutaneous mucormycosis caused by Mucor hiemalis Wehmer f. luteus (Linnemann) Schipper 1973.

The authors report a case of subcutaneous mucormycosis in a diabetic patient with verrucous lesions in the fourth finger of the right hand. Initially diagnosed as a fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis case, success was obtained with the use of potassium iodide with healing of the lesion in a period of nearly 5 months. At present the patient remains under clinical observation with no treatment or relapse.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Comparative study of analytical methods for determination of dietary fiber insoluble fraction, in starch rich foods].

The objective of this work was to compare two enzymatic methods for determination of the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in starch-rich foods. The samples analyzed were foods from the legume group, cereals and derivatives, roots, tubers and similars. The results obtained by the Robertson and Van Soest method showed markedly higher values of the NDF fraction when compared with those found following the procedure of Mendez et al. The percentage differences in NDF values found between the two methods were not constant in the food samples analyzed. These differences were not related with the starch content present in the samples nor with the type of processing to which the foods were subjected. The Mendez et al. method is recommended for the samples tested.

Dietary Fiber↗
PubMed1983

Iridoschisis associated with glaucoma and bullous keratopathy.

Two of six patients (four women and two men ranging in age from 51 to 90 years) with bilateral senile iridoschisis also had secondary unilateral narrow angle or angle-closure glaucoma. All six patients had splitting of the iris stroma inferiorly. Histopathologic studies disclosed marked iris stromal atrophy without evidence of vascular or neural alterations. Vessels were present in the separated anterior stroma. Electron microscopy of iridectomy specimens from three patients and a corneal button from one disclosed scant or absent collagen fibrils in the area of separation. The cornea showed focal loss of endothelial cells, patchy posterior banding (110 nm) of Descemet's membrane, and stromal and epithelial edema. The posterior corneal surface showed degenerated endothelial cells and irregular connective tissue most marked inferiorly; the endothelial cells appeared to be normal.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Analysis of the level of knowledge in the population of the teratogenic effect of alcohol and the activities of nurses].

Alcohol which, at first, is part of great ceremonies, parties, get-togethers, is now becoming an important issue, for the number of women who consume alcoholic beverages has increased, and consequently the number of pregnant women, considering that not only the mother's body but also the one of the child that is being formed, are under metabolic changes, and inevitably will be a target for acquired alcohol alterations (intake). During the human development, it is important to take into consideration the pregnancy stage and depending on it, the individual becomes susceptible to teratogenic agents. This paper aims at providing some contribution related to this social issue bringing knowledge on the action of alcohol on the fetus alterations, from the slightest (irritability, lack of attention, mobility deficiency) until Fetal Alcoholic Syndrome (F.A.S.) and also tries to analyse the extent of people knowledge on the consequences of alcohol effects over pregnant women bodies and the possible changes that may occur with the fetus. In order to make this study possible, interviews have been made by the use of forms with a population sample of about 100 people living in the northern, western, southern and interior low land regions. We have also visited some public and private institutions (23) on those regions, interviewing nurses in paediatric wards, aiming at identifying the difficulties found related to the diagnosis and management towards F.A.S.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Bipolaris hawaiiensis. A case report.

A case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by Bipolaris hawaiiensis is reported. The patient, an immunocompetent host, presented a verrucous lesion on the first finger of the left foot. Dematiaceous septate hyphae and yeast-like elements were seen in direct and histological examination. The isolated strain was identified on the basis of micro and macromorphological aspects. Treated with electrocoagulation, the lesions healed and presented no relapse after two years follow-up.

Dermatomycoses↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Renal insufficiency with primary hyperaldosteronism].

We describe a case of advanced chronic renal failure with persisting hypokalemia. The clinical study revealed the simultaneous presence of a salt and potassium loosing nephropathy associated with aldosterone-producing adenoma. This late pathology was revealed as electrolytic changes characteristic of primary hyperaldosteronism became evident as the renal function progressively deteriorated.

Adenoma↗