Histochemical study of skin and gills of Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis larvae and adults

A battery of horseradish peroxidase-conjugated lectins (Con A, WGA and DBA), as well as conventional histochemical techniques (PAS, saponification, Alcian Blue pH 0.1, 1, 2.5, chlorhydric hydrolisis, neuraminidase, Bromophenol blue, Tioglycollate reduction and Ferric-ferricyanide-FeIII) were used to study the content and distribution of carbohydrates, proteins and glycoconjugate sugar residues on the skin and gills of Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis larvae and adults: During larval development of Solea senegalensis (from hatching until day 45 posthatching), epidermal sacciform, as well as branchial and epidermal chloride cells were unreactive with all cytochemical tests performed in this paper. Mucous or goblet cells of the corporal skin and gills containing strongly sulphated acid glycoproteins were evident on days 15-20 of larval development, as well as in epidermal and branchial mucous cells of adult specimens, which also contained GlcNAc and/or sialic acid. In adult specimen, the proteic content was higher in branchial mucous cells than in epidermal cells. In larvae, variable amounts of glycoproteins containing sialic acid, GlcNAc, GalNAc, Man and/or Glc residues were observed in epithelial cells and/or cuticle. GlcNAc and/or sialic acid sugar residues were only weakly detected in glycoproteins of some epidermal and branchial mucous cells of larvae by day 45, because from hatching until metamorphosis, lectin reactions (WGA, Con A and DBA) were negative in mucous cells.

Histochemistry of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids during swimbladder development in seabream, Sparus aurata and seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax

Some histochemical aspects of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids were studied in the swimbladder of seabream, Sparus aurata and seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax. In both species, swimbladder development occurs in two stages: (1) inflation and (2) expansion, respectively. No important differences in histochemical distribution of glucidic, proteic and lipidic macromolecules were observed during the swimbladder development. Glycoproteins containing mannose and/or glucose sugar are present in the swimbladder (gas gland, wall and rete mirabile) of both species, but glycogen was observed only in the gas gland of Sparus aurata swimbladder. Proteins rich in different aminoacids, except those rich in tryptophan, as well as carboxyl but not sulphated glycoconjugates were observed in both species. Neutral lipids and phospholipids are also important compounds of the swimbladder. Abnormalities such as hyperinflation and non inflation are common for both species, but no important histochemical differences were detected in normal and abnormal seabream and seabass swimbladder.

Tuberous breast: a new approach

The authors make a historical summary of the pathologic condition of tuberous breast and describe a new procedure for its correction. The method involves a periareolar approach, dividing the breast in two portions to disrupt the constricting ring, and making an inferiorly based flap or pedicle, as described and used by the senior author since 1969, with publication in 1973. The main goal is to correct the deformity at a one-stage operation, resulting in a periareolar scar only, without the use of alloplastic elements such as prostheses, mesh, or tissue expanders. The authors emphasize that Brazilian patients prefer having small breasts rather than large ones, even though the procedure allows the implantation of pre- or retromuscular implants through the periareolar incision.

Histochemical aspects of the yolk-sac and digestive tract of larvae of the Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis (Kaup, 1858)

Histochemical distribution of glycoproteins, carbohydrates and proteins rich in different amino acids were studied using histological and histochemical procedures, in Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis (Kaup, 1858) larvae from hatching until day 15. Glycogen, proteins and glycoproteins were detected in the yolk-sac of the larvae at hatching and during the yolk-resorption. The epithelial digestive system (brush border, enterocytes and goblet cells) contained neutral and acid mucins (carboxylated and/or sulphated). Glycogen was observed in the cytoplasm of the digestive absortive cells (enterocytes) and in the liver (hepatocytes) on day 3-4 posthatching. Protein reactions, and specially those that showed proteins rich in arginine, tyrosine and tryptophan, were very intense in the zymogen granules of the pancreatic cells. Oesophageal and intestinal goblet cells contained glucose N-acetyl and sialic acid residues, but the mucin content of these mucous cells did not show affinity towards Con-A, suggesting the absence of glycoproteins with Mannose and/or glucose residues. WGA showed a very intense positivity in the microvilli of the digestive epithelium of the larvae and positive granules for both lectins, specially for Con-A, were detected in the cytoplasm of the anterior intestinal enterocytes.

A randomized 'blinded' comparison of two doses of antivenom in the treatment of Bothrops envenoming in São Paulo, Brazil

An earlier study in São Paulo state suggested that the dose for patients with mild or moderate envenoming by Bothrops snakes (mainly Bothrops jararaca) could be effectively decreased to 4 ampoules (40 mL) of Brazilian Brothrops polyspecific antivenom. The present 'blinded' study examined the lowest dose studied in the first trial (equivalent to 4 x 10 mL ampoules) and half that dose of antivenom (equivalent to 2 x 10 mL ampoules) in 2 similar groups of 170 patients who were comparable in all respects before treatment. The majority of patients showed rapid clinical improvement after treatment with either dose regimen and rapid restoration of blood coagulability and cessation of bleeding. There was no apparent difference between the 2 groups of patients in any respect. The study confirmed that, in such patients, the dose of antivenom can be decreased from 4 ampoules to 2 ampoules without reduction of therapeutic efficacy, and it is highly likely that this reduction will result in a decrease of early anaphylactic reactions caused by the antivenom.

A variant of spectrin low-expression allele alpha LELY carrying a hereditary elliptocytosis mutation in codon 28

Allele alpha LELY is a low-expression allele of the erythroid spectrin alpha-gene. It carries mutations in exon 40 (alpha V/41 polymorphism) and intron 45, respectively, and is associated with partial skipping of exon 46. The latter phenomenon is thought to impair the recruitment of alpha-chains by beta-chains, and would eventually account for the low-expression character. When it occurs in trans to an alpha-allele responsible for hereditary elliptocytosis (alpha HE allele; alpha HE/alpha LELY diplotype), allele alpha LELY enhances the severity of elliptocytosis. Because allele alpha LELY is widespread, we anticipated that it would occasionally carry HE determinants. These variants of allele alpha LELY will be designated alpha HE-LELY allele. The HE component was the known alpha 28 Arg-->His mutation. This alpha HE-LELY allele was investigated within the alpha HE-LELY/alpha LELY diplotype, a diplotype not described before. Except for the neonatal period, the presentation was mild. In a consistent manner, the alpha LELY component in cis of the alpha HE mutation counteracted the like component in trans.

[Rupture of the interventricular septum and the left ventricular wall caused by non-penetrating thoracic trauma. Report of a case]

Heart contusion is one of the many lesions that can result from closed chest trauma. The fatal case of a seven years old boy is presented. A ventricular septum and left ventricle free wall rupture resulted from a backward kick of a cow. Diagnosis, although too late, was made by echo-Doppler cardiography. This examination should be made whenever there is a closed chest trauma.

Omphaloplasty

Two different omphaloplasty procedures are presented. The first procedure, resulting in a four-point, star-shaped navel and indicated for patients with classic abdominoplasties, aims at preventing widening of the navel, as well as stenosis, later on, postoperatively. The second procedure, based on the rotation of the remaining navel and indicated for both patients with midi or mini abdominoplasties and patients with secondary omphaloplasty, also aims at preventing stenosis and widening of the umbilical scar; however, no external scars remain after this procedure.

[Cor triatriatum. Echo/Doppler diagnosis followed by immediate surgical correction. Report of a clinical case]

As Cor Triatriatum is a rare congenital cardiopathy and benign after corrective surgery, decisive means of diagnosis are essential. The AA review some descriptive theoretical concepts and make reference to the difficulties, present at times, in diagnosis by cardiac catheterization. They consider Eco-Doppler to be the means of excellence for its recognition describing all aspects that point to the diagnosis of this pathology. Described is the case of a 12 month old baby, in whom some semiological findings had lead to a wrong diagnosis. In the discussion, additional diagnosis is eliminated due to some anatomic characteristics defined by echocardiography.

Degradation of crystallins from a psoriatic patient undergoing PUVA therapy

Comparative physico-chemical and spectroscopic analyses were carried out in human lens proteins obtained from extracts of normal, senile and PUVA cataracts. Mass recovery analysis reveals a large protein concentration loss in the PUVA cataract relative to the normal lens and senile cataract. This protein loss parallels an increase in the degraded polypeptide chains. However, the tryptophan content (2.1 mol/mol of 20 kDa protein subunit) and the apparent fluorescence quantum yield (phi f = 0.056) of the tryptophan residues which are believed to be involved in the development of UV-induced cataracts are unchanged after age-related alterations and/or in vivo photochemistry associated with psoralen (8MOP) photosensitized reactions.

Revising the nasal tip: a new approach

After a very cautious dissection, the crossing of cartilages is going to produce a "spring effect" which, in pushing them to the right position, will consequently correct the pinch. This is a simple procedure, indicated only for nose tips or, if associated with other techniques, to correct secondary rhinoplasty patients.

[Immunologic and enzymatic markers of acute infantile lymphoblastic leukemias]

Twenty-one childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemias were characterized immunologically by a series of classic markers--EAET rosette and surface and cytoplasm immunoglobulins--, a panel of 14 monoclonal antibodies --OKla 1, OKT3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, cALLA, Leu-1, FMC-7, FMC-8 and 3A-1--and by assessment of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase enzyme. Patients were distributed in five immunological subgroups: 1) Unclassifiable/null ALL (la +, TdT+, cALLA-), one patient, 2) common ALL (la+, TdT+, cALLA+) 15 patients, 3) pre-B ALL (la+, TdT+, cALLA+, clg+) one patient, 4) B-LL (la+, TdT-, cALLA-, slg+) 3 patients, 5) T-ALL (TdT+, EAET+, la-, cALLA-), one patient, and the clinical, biological, morphological and cytochemical peculiarities characterizing each immunological variant are discussed.

Etablierung eines fischvirus empfänglichen zellstammes aus Hypophysen des Karpfens (Cyprinus carpio L.)

A new continous cell strain (CaPi) was established from normal pituitary tissue of carp, Cyprinus carpio L.

Cells of a fractionated dispersion (0.25% trypsin-PBS, 10°C) of pituitaries formed monolayer (fibroblast- and epithelial-like-cells) at 25°C using Eagle's minimal essential medium (MEM) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and non essential amino acids. The continous cell strain, designated CaPi, was obtained by an enzymatical selection of epitheloid cells from the monolayer of the primary pituitary cell culture. This culture has been subcultered 70 times over a period of 24 months. CaPi-cells multiply over a temperature range of 15–35°C with an optimum growth temperature of 30°C at a seeding density of 1.7 × 10⁶ cells/ml. Chromosome analysis indicates the cells are heteroploid and show modal numbers of 47 chromosomes. The CaPi cell line is susceptible to fishviruses (VHSV, PFR, SVCV) producing cytopathic effects (CPE). However, IPNV replicates without visible cell alterations.

Serial study of the complement fractions C3, C4 and C3PA in allergic children

The C3, C4 and C3PA complement fractions were dosed by radial immunodiffusion in the serum of 25 children with ages from 4 to 9 years in a non symptomatic period comprehending 10 atopic asthmas (40,0% of the cases) 8 non atopic asthmas (32.0%) and 7 urticarias (28,0%). The quantitative dosage of the studied fractions was carried out in a serial form 7, 14, 30 and 45 days after the first determination, what made a total of 116 dosages of C3, 112 of C4 and 114 of C3PA. Globally, no differences were verified in the averages and standard deviations of the complement fractions studied in the various pathological situations considered. The complement anomaly more frequently observed was the C4 increase in 37,8% of the assays in patients with atopic asthma, 16,2% of the assays in patients with non-atopic asthma and in 33,3% of the assays in urticaria cases. The other complement fractions studied showed inconstant variations in some cases. The serial study demonstrated in the same patient, variations larger than 2 standard deviations in 25,8% of the assays for C3, 25,0% for C4 and 27,2% for C3PA, what may possibly indicate the great instability of the complement system which depends on a function, consumption or activation and synthesis relation, having to be taken into consideration in those assays comprehending the quantitative study of the seric complement fractions.

IgE and complement in allergic children

The following measurements were made using radial immunodiffusion with commercial M-Partigen plaques (Behringwerke, Marburg): Global-IgE in the serum of 29 children (17 atopic asthmas, 3 non atopic asthmas and 9 acute urticarias); C3 and C4 complement fractions in 56 patients (27 atopic asthmas, 11 non atopic asthmas and 18 acute urticarias); C3PA complement fraction in 41 patients (18 atopic asthmas, 9 non atopic asthmas and 14 acute urticarias). High IgE serum levels were observed chiefly in the cases of atopic asthma with polysensitization and in urticarias. The anomaly of the complement system most often found in children was an increase of C4 (23,2% of the cases), not related to the clinical form or duration of the disease. An increase of the C3 fraction (14,6% of the cases) was also observed together with an increase of these two fractions in all the cases where an increase of C3PA was observed. Only in 11,1% of atopic asthmas was a decrease of the serum concentration values of C3 observed.