DTI parameters in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy after total body hypothermia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

MR imaging provides means for discriminating different patterns of Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and may distinguish most severe cases from less severe but is unable to predict long-term outcome. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) offers information for a more complete characterization of HIE. The purpose of this study is to compare the modifications of DTI parameters in newborns one week and six months following total-body cooling to healthy controls.

METHODS

Forty-seven cooled newborns were studied with MRI, 20 underwent follow-up at 6 months. 12 healthy newborns and nine children at 6 months were enrolled as control groups (HC). Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus (ILF), Corpus Callosum Fasciculus (CCF), Corticospinal Tract (CST), Optical Tract (OT), Optic Radiation (OR) were generated in all subjects. DTI parameters were evaluated in basal ganglia (BG), thalamus (TH) and tracks. Statistical analysis was performed with MANOVA.

RESULTS

In newborns HIE versus HC, there were significantly lower fractional anisotropy (FA) on OR and CST and higher axial diffusivity (AD), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and radial diffusivity (RD) values on CST, BG and TH in HIE-N. At 6 months there were no significant grouping effects. The analysis showed a significant increase of FA, decrease of ADC, AD, RD after 6 months for HIE and HC.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed modifications of parameter values in HIE newborns vs HC; however normalization of values at 6 months suggests that changes of parameters cannot be considered early biomarkers for evaluation of therapeutic hypothermia in newborns with moderate HIE and normal conventional MRI.

Influence of the residue from an iron mining dam in the growth of two macrophyte species

On November 5th, 2015 the worst environmental disaster in Brazil spilled 60 million m³ of iron mining residue into Gualaxo do Norte River (Minas Gerais State), an affluent of the highest River Basin of the Brazilian Southeast (Doce River Basin), reaching the Atlantic Ocean. To assess the impact of the iron residue on the aquatic plant metabolism, we performed macrophyte growth experiments under controlled light and temperature conditions using two species (Egeria densa and Chara sp.). The plants' growth data were fitted in a kinetic model to obtain the biomass yields (K) and growth rates (μ). Turbidity and electrical conductivity of the water were measured over time. Both plants showed the highest growth rates in the contaminated condition (0.056 d^-1 for E. densa and 0.45 d^-1 for Chara sp.) and the biomass increased in the short-term (≈20 days). The control condition (i.e. no impacted water) supported the biomass increasing over time and the development of vegetative buddings with high daily rates (1.75 cm d^-1 for E. densa and 0.13 cm d^-1 for Chara sp). Turbidity showed a sharp decrease in 48 h and had no effects in the plants growth in the contaminated condition. The contamination affected the plants' yields in the long-term affecting the biomass development. This study provides preliminary information about the ecological consequences of a mining dam rupture aiming to collaborate with monitoring and risk assessments.

Dimorfismo sexual da traquéia e siringe de periquito (Touist sp.)

Investigaram-se as diferenças morfológicas da siringe do periquito Touist sp, cinco machos e cinco fêmeas. A traquéia e a siringe foram dissecadas com o auxílio de uma lupa estereoscópia e avaliaram-se o número de anéis, o comprimento da traquéia e da siringe e o comprimento e espessura do músculo traqueolateral. A traquéia do macho apresentou maior número de anéis e maior comprimento que a das fêmeas. O músculo traqueolateral dos machos é mais vigoroso e origina-se no 43º anel traqueal enquanto o das fêmeas origina-se no 30º anel traqueal e se insere no primeiro anel bronquial. A siringe do piriquito é constituída por anéis craniais, cinco nos machos e três nas fêmeas, anéis intermediários, com formato semelhante a uma bolha sulcada ventralmente, anéis caudais, quatro em ambos os sexos, e pessulo. O dimorfismo sexual está presente na morfometria da musculatura e das cartilagens, o que reflete no canto mais vigoroso dos machos.

Morphometric study of Rynchotus rufescens testis throughout the year

The research aimed to study the morphologic variation of the testis, seeking to promote the selection and genetic control of those that present appreciable spermatic production throughout the year. Testis morphology of the Rynchotus rufescens partridge was investigated, analyzing the testis weight, the seminiferous tubules diameter, the thickness of the seminiferous epithelium, the amount of meiotic figures and the thickness of the tunica albuginea. Sixty male partridges were used, divided in 12 groups, and one group per month had the testis collected for the histological routine and the sections were stained using the Hematoxilin-Eosin technique. For the histological sections analysis, morphometric measures were taken, with the aid of an Image Analyzer and the resulting data were submitted to analysis of variance and to Tukey's test. Based on the histological modifications of the seminiferous epithelium and the morphometric analysis, the partridge testis morphology could be divided in four successive phases throughout the year. The reproductive phase occurred in the spring, characterized by the complete spermatogenesis process. The regression phase occurred in the summer, with the involution of the seminiferous epithelium. The rest phase took place in the fall, with spermatogonias presence and some spermatocytes beginning the meiosis. The phase of recrudescence occurred in the winter, with the recovery of the seminiferous epithelium and absence of spermatozoa. In conclusion, the characteristics analyzed revealed a variation over the year, with greater production of spermatozoa in the spring and less in the winter.

Evidence for a positive correlation between serum cortisol levels and IL-1beta production by peripheral mononuclear cells in anorexia nervosa

A hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been reported in anorexia nervosa (AN), together with some immunological abnormalities, involving citokine - and particularly Tumor Necrosis-Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) - production by polymorphonuclear cells. The ability of pro-inflammatory cytokines to activate the HPA axis is well known; however, there are no data demonstrating an interdependence between immunological and endocrine response in AN. To investigate the presence of a correlation between immune response and pituitary-adrenal function, plasma ACTH and serum cortisol concentrations were measured in 13 AN patients and in the same number of controls. TNF-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta production by ex-vivo unstimulated and LPS-stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells was also assessed. Circulating cortisol concentrations were higher (p<0.01) in AN (156.7 +/- 45.1 microg/l, mean +/- SD) than in controls (105.9 +/- 25.7 microg/l). Unstimulated IL-1beta release in supernatants of mononuclear cell cultures was slightly but not significantly higher in AN than in controls, while TNF-alpha release was similar in the two groups. A positive correlation was found between IL-1beta concentrations in unstimulated culture supranatants and serum cortisol levels in AN (r=0.782, p=0.002), while in normal subjects there was a trend toward a negative correlation; a slight positive correlation, while not significant, between IL-1beta and plasma ACTH, as well as between TNF-alpha and serum cortisol was also found in AN. These data suggest that the normal relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines release, particularly IL-1beta, and cortisol secretion is deranged in AN.

[Primary hyperaldosteronism. Update on a topic of physiopathology and clinical features]

The authors examine the various forms of primary hyperaldosteronism, outlining the most recent acquisitions in terms of etiopathogenesis and physiopathology. While Conn's original description of primary hyperaldosteronism is a syndrome based on corticoadrenal aldosteronesecreting adenoma, it was later seen that this condition could recognise other anatomic substrates, such as carcinoma and in particular bilateral corticoadrenal hyperplasia. A peculiar form of the latter can be suppressed with glucocorticoids sustained by an anomalous recombination of aldosterone-synthase and 11-beta-hydroxylase. The main focus in this paper is on clinical management, in particular the current diagnostic criteria which show that primary hyperaldosteronism affects a higher percentage of the hypertense population that was estimated in the past. Above all, the significance of the aldosterone/PRA (ARR) ratio in screening for this condition is discussed, above all in normokalemic forms, together with the role of molecular biology in identifying glucocorticoid-suppressible forms. Lastly, the principles of medical and surgical management are outlined, emphasising the role of laparoscopic surgery.

[Antimycotic effect of diaryl sulfides with open chains and ring systems containing pyridine and thiadiazole units]

A series of diaryl sulfides containing pyridine or 1,3,4-thiadiazole units was prepared. All the products were tested in vitro against the following strains: Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformas and Trichophyton rubrum. Some of the compounds synthesized showed marked antifungal activity.