[Isolation of the bacteria Ureaplasma sp. in the reproductive tract of milking cows in Costa Rica].

This is the first report of Ureaplasma sp. from the reproductive tract of Costa Rican cows. Among 204 animals sampled from 11 dairy farms in the country's Central Plateau, the infection rate was 0-71%.

Blood markers in Alzheimer disease: subnormal acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in lymphocytes and erythrocytes.

In patients with the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD), we searched for systemic changes in components of the blood as a diagnostic tool. The acetylcholine-related enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were measured in plasma, erythrocytes, platelets and lymphocytes. Results did not show a general effect; notwithstanding, specific cell types presented alterations either in AChE or BuChE but not in both enzymatic activities.

Metastatic carcinoma of uncertain primary site: a retrospective review of 57 patients treated with vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (VAC) or VAC alternating with cisplatin and etoposide (VAC/PE).

Background: Metastatic carcinoma of uncertain primary site (CUPS) is a common problem and has a poor prognosis. The intention of this study was to determine whether the addition of cisplatin and etoposide (PE) to vincristine, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (VAC) chemotherapy improves outcome.

Methods: Fifty-seven consecutive patients with an initial diagnosis of CUPS were studied.

Cholesterol in remnant-like lipoproteins in human serum using monoclonal anti apo B-100 and anti apo A-I immunoaffinity mixed gels.

We have developed a simple, rapid assay method for apo E-rich lipoproteins (d < 1.006 g/ml), using an immunoaffinity gel mixture of anti apo B-100 and apo A-I antibodies coupled to Sepharose 4B. The immunoaffinity mixed gels adsorb normal lipoproteins containing apo A-I quantitatively as well as most lipoproteins containing apo B-100.

Schistosoma mansoni: determination of the sex of cercariae using a nonradioactively labelled DNA probe.

Cercarial sex determination protocol which utilizes nonradioactive nucleic acid labelling with digoxigenin (DIG)-11-dUTR, offers a rapid "clean" identification of the sex of Schistosoma mansoni cercaria. DIG labelled pW1-DNA (plasmid female-specific genomic DNA clone--W1) hybridized with the native cercarial DNA, and hybridization signals are visualized with Lumigen PPD. Results obtained are comparable with those obtained with the 32P labelled pW1.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in schoolchildren of a tropical community.

Information about Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in tropical countries is scarce. This study reports the prevalence of anti-M. pneumoniae antibodies among schoolchildren from the tropical community of Palmares, Costa Rica.

Eye alignment and cortical binocularity in strabismic kittens: a comparison between tenotomy and recession.

Interocular alignment was assessed by corneal light reflex photography in 15 normal and 26 strabismic kittens. Strabismus was induced at 3-4 weeks of age by severing one extraocular muscle (tenotomy), by cutting and reinserting the muscle at another position on the ocular globe (recession), or by combining recession of the medial rectus muscle with resection of the lateral rectus muscle of the same eye. Nineteen strabismic and five normal kittens were followed longitudinally from 12 days to about 6 months of age.

Long-term angiographic follow-up of normal and minimally diseased saphenous vein grafts.

Objectives: We sought to ascertain the long-term fate of saphenous vein grafts known to be angiographically normal or minimally diseased 5 years after operation. This information may prove helpful in the management of such grafts at reoperation.

Background: Patients undergoing a second coronary bypass operation frequently have one or more saphenous vein grafts that remain widely patent.

Acetylcholinesterase changes in hearts with sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation.

1. Clinical and experimental evidence suggest that changes in the autonomic tone play a role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation. 2.

[A retrospective therapeutic study of neurocryptococcosis in 112 AIDS and non-AIDS patients].

Unlabelled: A total of 112 AIDS and no AIDS cryptococcosis patients admitted at Emílio Ribas Hospital--São Paulo, Brazil, were treated with amphotericin B (AMB) or amphotericin B and 5 fluorocytosine (5FC). Age, race, predisposing and epidemiological factors, respiratory symptoms were evaluated. Goodman tests applied in three patients groups (I, II and III) with associate or unique therapy revealed: 1.

[Pulmonary lymph node in acute juvenile paracoccidioidomycosis (a case report)].

The primary complex like Ghon was observed in a child's clinical roentgenographic study. C.S.

[Candidiasis in AIDS patients].

Unlabelled: A total of 35 in patients admitted at Emilio Ribas Hospital--São Paulo, Brazil, with digestive candidiasis and AIDS clinical diagnostic were evaluated 10 month later, being 29 male and 6 female; white outnumbering black with age ranged from 30 to 50 years old. Agar Sabouraud culture and tube germinative tests identified 28 (80%) Candida albicans out 35 strains. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 50% was against azoles (ketoconazole = 2.

Binocularity and photophobia in intermittent exotropia.

The relationship between photophobia and binocular function in intermittent exotropia was examined in 42 subjects (21 patients and 21 controls). In all subjects fusional amplitude and strength of binocular sensory status were tested before and during exposure to bright light. An explanation of photophobia in intermittent exotropia was suggested as impairment in binocular cooperation, since the indicators of binocular function were significantly altered in the patients, particularly during light exposure.

Extraction and partial characterization of non-histone nuclear proteins of Schistosoma mansoni.

A pool of nuclear proteins from adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni was analyzed for amino acid composition and found to be compatible with high mobility group (HMG) proteins. One of the schistosome HMG proteins was identified as HMG 2 by one-dimensional and two-dimensional PAGE. Stage-specific differences in the HMG-like protein composition were encountered when adult worms were compared to schistosomula, the larval form.

[Automated method for yeast identification: ATB 32 C].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ATB 32 C (API system) automatic medium for identifying yeasts in clinical samples. A total of 101 yeasts strains were studied, representing 8 genera and 18 different species, identified by conventional means. All 32 microdomes of the track, including dehydrated substrates, were inoculated in a semi-solid media (C medium).

Epikeratophakia: histopathological and cultural study.

Three epikeratoplasty buttons (one aphakic and two myopic) prepared by the freeze technique were removed two to nineteen months after surgery. A complete morphological and immunohistochemical study was performed on these buttons in order to gain insight into the reasons for epikeratophakia failure. Histopathological studies with light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy were performed.

Properties of an apolipoprotein E-enriched fraction of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins isolated from human blood plasma with a monoclonal antibody to apolipoprotein B-100.

A monoclonal antibody to apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 (JI-H) with unique binding properties has been used to separate a population of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins from blood plasma of normotriglyceridemic individuals and patients with various forms of hypertriglyceridemia. This antibody fails to recognize an apoE-rich population of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) containing apoB-100 as well as all triglyceride-rich lipoproteins containing apoB-48, but it binds other VLDL that contain apoE and almost all lipoproteins that contain apoB-100, but no apoE. The unbound triglyceride-rich lipoproteins separated by ultracentrifugation after separation from plasma by immunoaffinity chromatography contained 10-13% of the apoB of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins from three normotriglyceridemic individuals, 10-29% of that from five patients with endogenous hypertriglyceridemia, 40-48% of that from three patients with familial dysbetablipoproteinemia, and 65% of that from a patient with lipoprotein lipase deficiency.

Novel approaches with ifosfamide in small cell lung cancer.

During the past 5 years, ifosfamide has been used increasingly in combination chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The high activity and favorable toxicity spectrum (with the uroprotector mesna) will encourage further use. A policy of no dosage reduction is feasible in patients receiving combination chemotherapy with ifosfamide given as a 24-hour intravenous (IV) infusion, which is much more convenient than the more commonly used 4- to 5-day fractionated regimen.

The capacity of peripheral blood stem cells mobilised with chemotherapy plus G-CSF to repopulate irradiated marrow stroma in vitro is similar to that of bone marrow.

After treatment of patients with intermediate or high grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma with chemotherapy plus G-CSF the numbers of haemopoietic progenitor cells in the circulation increased to a mean of 226-fold for mixed CFC (Mix-CFC), 278-fold for GM-CFC and 29-fold for erythroid burst forming unit (BFU-E). The mean increase was modest (7-12-fold) for patients treated with chemotherapy alone. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells harvested at the time of the peak in the numbers of progenitors, or 2-4 days before the peak, seeded onto irradiated marrow stroma in vitro, repopulated the stroma and generated active haemopoiesis at least as effectively as bone marrow cells on a cell per cell basis.

[Paracoccidioidomycosis: radiologic and pulmonary study in 58 cases].

Spirometric and haemogasimetric tests were performed in 52 patients with unifocal and multifocal progressive Paracoccidioidomycosis pulmonary diseases, in 5 patients with juvenile and 1 female internal genital forms. The age ranged from 20 to 74 years old and the duration of disease from 3 to 25 years. Dyspnea, cough, tegumentary and lymphatic manifestations were the most predominant signs observed.

Landscape ecology of Lyme disease in a residential area of Westchester County, New York.

The landscape ecology of Lyme disease was studied in 1989 on 67 residences in an endemic area of Armonk, Westchester County, a northern suburb of New York City. Four main habitat types were defined, and each property was surveyed for immature and adult lxodes dammini ticks; 98.6% of 1,790 ticks collected were I.

[Gallium-67 in rheumatic fever: preliminary report].

Purpose: To validate the importance of 67Ga imaging to diagnose activity in rheumatic fever carditis and in the follow-up of treated patients with the disease.

Patients And Methods: Thirty patients with rheumatic fever were studied. Fifteen males and 15 females aged 7 to 39 years old (median 16 years), were submitted to 67Ga imaging.

Duration of adult female Ixodes dammini attachment and transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, with description of a needle aspiration isolation method.

The relationship between the attachment duration of adult female Ixodes dammini and the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi was studied. Sixteen rabbits were exposed to spirochete-infected female ticks for specified intervals. All five rabbits exposed to ticks that fed to repletion (greater than 120 h) became infected, as did two of three exposed for 48 h.