Elliptocytosis in patients with C-terminal domain mutations of protein 4.1 correlates with encoded messenger RNA levels rather than with alterations in primary protein structure.

Early biochemical studies defined 4 functional domains of the erythroid protein 4.1 (4.1R).

Parental attachment and identity in Portuguese late adolescents.

Based on a life-span attachment perspective and on identity status paradigm, this study investigated the relationship between attachment and identity in a sample of 361 Portuguese late adolescents as a function of parental and adolescent gender. The results indicated gender differences in the association between attachment variables and identity foreclosure. Although adolescents tended to report close emotional bonds with both parents, relationships with mothers seemed to play an important role in the tendency for foreclosure identity in boys.

PK-LR gene mutations in pyruvate kinase deficient Portuguese patients.

In nine unrelated Portuguese patients with pyruvate kinase (PK) deficient anaemia, whose symptoms ranged from a mild chronic haemolytic anaemia to a severe anaemia presenting at birth and requiring multiple transfusions, the PK-LR gene mutations were identified and correlated with their phenotypes. Five different mutations were identified, three of them for the first time: a missense mutation 1670G --> C on exon 12 and two 5' splice donor site (GT) mutations on intron 8 [IVS8(+2)T --> G] and intron 10 [IVS10(+1)G --> C]. Two previously described missense mutations, 1456C --> T and 993C --> A, were also found.

Age-related changes in the inner zone of the adrenal cortex of the rat--a morphologic and biochemical study.

In this work, a correlative morphologic and biochemical study on the effects of ageing on the rat adrenal Inner Zone (IZ) was made. Male Wistar rats were studied at 2, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Structural data of Zona Fasciculata (ZF) showed age-related increase in cell volume (P < 0.

[Latent AIDS in young children of mothers who were HIV-negative in the first trimester of pregnancy].

The authors describe two cases of infants admitted to our Unit with respiratory failure caused by a Pneumocystis Carinii pneumonia (PCP). Because their mothers were HIV negative in the first three months of pregnancy. HIV infection was not suspected and the diagnosis was only made after the PCP.

Survival of Vibrio cholerae 01 strains in shrimp subjected to freezing and boiling.

This research was undertaken to assess the resistance of Vibrio cholerae 01 strains inoculated into white shrimp, Penaeus schimitti, to heating and freezing treatments. Shrimp samples with and without carapace were obtained from Sao Luis, Brazil. Microbial analysis revealed the presence of marine vibrios including Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and other vibrios and aerobic gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria that grew on selective medium, thiosulfate-citrate-bile salt-sucrose agar.

Histopathological diagnosis of intra- and extrahepatic neonatal cholestasis.

The histopathology of the liver is fundamental for the differential diagnosis between intra- and extrahepatic causes of neonatal cholestasis. However, histopathological findings may overlap and there is disagreement among authors concerning those which could discriminate between intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis. Forty-six liver biopsies (35 wedge biopsies and 11 percutaneous biopsies) and one specimen from a postmortem examination, all from patients hospitalized for neonatal cholestasis in the Pediatrics Service of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, were prospectively studied using a specially designed histopathological protocol.

Age-related changes in lipid peroxidation products in rat adrenal gland.

Chloroform-methanol extracts from rat adrenals at five different ages (2, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months), were studied by fluorescence. After obtaining excitation and emission spectra, fluorescence intensity was measured at 365 nm excitation and 455 emission for all time points of aging. An additional study of lipid peroxidation employing a thiobarbituric acid reaction was made.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma during pregnancy.

The authors report a case of a pregnancy with a Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A histological association of high-grade B-cell and a MALT type lymphoma was found which, to their best knowledge, is described for the first time in pregnancy.

Neurobehavioral outcomes among farm and nonfarm rural Ecuadorians.

International researchers have urged greater use of simple neurobehavioral batteries in developing country settings where higher levels of exposure and a variety of cultural and demographic factors may both occur. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 144 farm members and 72 age and education frequency-matched controls from rural Ecuador, using an amplified Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery. Farm members ranged from those with only indirect pesticide contact to applicators regularly applying organophosphate and carbamate insecticides by backpack sprayer.

[Nosocomial infection in a pediatric intensive care unit].

Unlabelled: Patients in intensive care units (ICU) are 3 to 4 times more prone to nosocomial infection (NI) than patients in general wards owing to the severity of their pathology and the frequent use of invasive procedures. The aim of this study was to establish the incidence of NI in an ICU and the associated risk factors.

Patients And Methods: During 18 months, all patients with severity scores III and IV (Clinical Classification System) were studied, (n = 575).

Self-reported oral hygiene habits, health knowledge, and sources of oral health information in a group of Japanese junior high school students.

The purpose of the present study was to analyze self-reported oral hygiene habits, sources of oral health information, and oral health knowledge in a group of Japanese junior high school students and to determine whether there is a need for improvement in the school's present oral health instruction. A sample of 110 students aged 12-14 in Chiba City were surveyed by means of a questionnaire composed of 24 multiple choice questions. The questions focused on: (1) experience of school-based oral health education, (2) sources of oral health information, (3) knowledge about dental caries, periodontal disease, and the preventive action of fluoride, (4) oral hygiene habits, and (5) dietary behavior.

[Follow-up of pediatric patients evaluated for liver transplantation].

Objective: To analyze the evolution of pediatric patients chosen for hepatic transplantation.

Methods: A review was made of the clinical charts of the first 65 children and adolescents with chronic liver disease, aged 5 months to 19 years (X = 6.8%), chosen for liver transplantation during the period of August 1994 to March 1996.

[Neonatal cholestasis: the delay in referring patients for differential diagnosis].

Objective: An efficient treatment of extrahepatic biliary atresia demands that the diagnostic differentiation between intra- and extrahepatic neonatal cholestasis be performed by the eighth week of life. This study aimed at evaluate the age of the patients admitted to a general hospital for differential diagnosis of cholestatic jaundice.

Methods: Forty nine children from the Pediatric Service at Hospital de Clínicas, in Porto Alegre, have been studied between 1984 and 1991, according to the protocol for diagnostic elucidation followed by this hospital, which includes biliary tract scintigraphy with Tc-99m DISIDA and, depending on its results, an wedge or percutaneous liver biopsy.

[Diabetes mellitus: training of health teams at the university].

The authors describe their experience as a multiprofessional team working at two Basic Health Units (BHU) in Londrina city in 1995. The work involved medical, nursing students and residents. The goals were: a) to train BHU teams in the assistance of diabetic patients; b) expose students to teaching experiences at the BHUs, emphasizing multiprofessionality; c) to establish an hierarchy and provide suitable treatment for the BHUs diabetic clientele.

[Inter-hospital transfer in pediatrics].

We present the results of a prospective study of the technical and human characteristics of the transport of children transferred from other Hospitals to our PICU. During eight months of 1994, 153 children were transferred and 138 included in our study. Their ages varied between one month and fourteen years and the majority (60%) were males.

[Adult type respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by hydrocarbons].

The authors present a case of a child aged 32 months, victim of accidental ingestion of an unidentified hydrocarbon product. Sixteen hours following hospitalization, the patient began polypnea with progressive hypoxemia, with the radiograph showing ARDS pattern. Mechanical ventilation was initiated on the 2nd day of admission.

[Heterogeneity in bibliographic references].

Bibliography plays an important role in the writing of books and papers, as it permits us an exchange of experience, the reading of case reports, the revision of articles and new investigative aspects. Bibliographic references in the same chapter of six books from different countries, published in the same period, were analyzed, and a strong heterogeneity was found among them. The "language pattern" varied depending on the author's native language.

[Evaluation of theoretical knowledge of diabetics in an interdisciplinary program].

Using an instrument of evaluation of theoretical knowledge, the authors have assessed the capacity of understanding and memorizing often groups of diabetes' carriers, that were being followed by a multiprofessional team from the ambulatory of the HURNP. The evaluation included the discussion of a variety of subjects which were part of the activities of an Educational Program. Only one group of patients showed a satisfactory performance.

[A case of Legionella pneumophila pneumonia].

Legionella pneumophila is an uncommon cause of pneumonia, mainly in children. We present a case with aggressive disease and unfavourable outcome. The diagnosis was established by serum antibody detection and immunofluorescence and culture of a fragment of lung tissue obtained at necropsy.

The development of the adrenal cortex in the rat. An immunohistochemical study.

The Inner Zone Antibody (IZAb) is a monoclonal antibody which interacts with an antigen found predominantly in rat adrenal inner cortical zones. Since its expression increases after ACTH treatment the antigen may have a role in steroidogenesis although, so far, this has not yet been fully characterised. Due to its molecular weight, it cannot be any of the known cytochrome P450 proteins.

Imaging methods in the study of urinary tract infections in children.

Unlabelled: When studying a child with urinary tract infection it is important to detect and localize any renal (scar) or urologic anomaly. Here we study the information obtained using: renal and vesical ultrasound (US), DMSA scan and radiologic or isotopic cystogram.

Methods: We studied 148 children with more than one urinary infection and/or pyelonephritis; their mean age was 35.

Vincristine in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

The therapeutic response to vincristine was examined in seven children (aged 2-15 years) with corticosteroid-resistant (CR) nephrotic syndrome (NS) with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FGS). Five were also resistant to cyclophosphamide. Vincristine was given weekly (1.