The use of Chironomus riparius larvae to assess effects of pesticides from rice fields in adjacent freshwater ecosystems.

A bioassay with Chironomus riparius larvae, using larval development and growth as endpoints, was carried out inside a rice field and in the adjacent wetland channel in Portugal, during pesticide treatments (molinate, endosulfan and propanil) to determine impact caused by pesticide contamination in freshwater ecosystems. The bioassay was also performed under laboratory conditions, to assess whether in situ and laboratory bioassays demonstrated comparable results. Growth was inhibited by concentrations of endosulfan (2.

Expression of Ki-67, topoisomerase IIalpha and c-MYC in astrocytic tumors: correlation with the histopathological grade and proliferative status.

Astrocytomas represent the most frequent primary tumors of the central nervous system. Recently, the determination of the proliferative index of astrocytic tumors by different methods has been proposed as a valuable tool for tumor grading and also as a prognostic marker. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of cell proliferation-related proteins in human astrocytic tumors of different histopathological grades (WHO).

[Use of the lateral approach for laryngeal mask insertion during awake craniotomy: case report.].

Background And Objectives: During an awake craniotomy in which the Aachen Aphasia test is performed, it is necessary to use the 'asleep-awake-asleep' anesthetic technique. The objective of this case report was to describe the anesthetic technique used in a patient with signs of difficult airway.

Case Report: The case of a patient who underwent resection of a tumor in the left temporal lobe, in the Wernicke gyrus, with clinical signs of difficult airway is reported.

[Pesticide pollution in water systems in a small rural community in Southeast Brazil].

Recent advances in analytical techniques allow identifying pesticide pollution in water systems. In small rural communities, the negative effects of pesticide pollution can be aggravated by the lack of infrastructure and adverse socioeconomic conditions. This study investigated pesticide pollution in potential water supply sources in a tomato growing area in Paty do Alferes, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.

Interrelationship between chromosome 8 aneuploidy, C-MYC amplification and increased expression in individuals from northern Brazil with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Aim: To investigate chromosome 8 numerical aberrations, C-MYC oncogene alterations and its expression in gastric cancer and to correlate these findings with histopathological characteristics of gastric tumors.

Methods: Specimens were collected surgically from seven patients with gastric adenocarcinomas. Immunostaining for C-MYC and dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for C-MYC gene and chromosome 8 centromere were performed.

Biological and functional responses of in situ bioassays with Chironomus riparius larvae to assess river water quality and contamination.

Single species responses have the potential to measure impacts at earlier stages than more traditional methods based in community structure. This study evaluates a bioassay with biological (survival, development, growth) and functional (post-exposure feeding rate) responses of Chironomus riparius larvae to assess water quality and contamination in rivers. The bioassay with C.

Reversal of diet-induced insulin resistance with a single bout of exercise in the rat: the role of PTP1B and IRS-1 serine phosphorylation.

Lifestyle interventions including exercise programmes are cornerstones in the prevention of obesity-related diabetes. In this study, we demonstrate that a single bout of exercise inhibits high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. Diet-induced obesity (DIO) increased the expression and activity of the protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and attenuated insulin signalling in gastrocnemius muscle of rats, a phenomenon which was reversed by a single session of exercise.

Exercise improves insulin and leptin sensitivity in hypothalamus of Wistar rats.

Prolonged exercise of medium to high intensity is known to promote a substantial effect on the energy balance of rats. In male rats, moderately to severely intense programs lead to a reduction in food intake. However, the exact causes for the appetite-suppressive effects of exercise are not known.

Ingestive effects of NMDA and AMPA-kainate receptor antagonists microinjections into the lateral hypothalamus of the pigeon (Columba livia).

This study examined the ingestive and behavioral effects of NMDA- and AMPA/kainate glutamatergic receptor blockade in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHy) of free-feeding pigeons (Columba livia). Injections of MK-801 (NMDA receptor antagonist; 6 nmol) or CNQX (AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist; 25.8 nmol) into the LHy of free-feeding pigeons induced significant increases in food intake and in feeding duration, as well as reductions in the latency to start feeding.

Primary meningeal Burkitt-type lymphoma presenting as the first clinical manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The purpose of this study is to report a rare case of primary meningeal high grade Burkitt-type lymphoma presenting as the first clinical manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A 38-year-old Caucasian man, with a negative past medical history, sought treatment after experiencing global headache for five days. CT-Scan revealed a right front-temporo-parietal hyperdense subdural expansive mass.

Corpus cavernosum from men with vasculogenic impotence is partially resistant to adenosine relaxation due to endothelial A(2B) receptor dysfunction.

Although adenosine has been implicated in penile erection in human males, the receptor subtype responsible for adenosine regulation of human corpus cavernosum (HCC) smooth muscle tone is still a matter of debate. Using selective adenosine agonists and antagonists, we aimed at characterizing the adenosine receptors mediating relaxation of precontracted (with 1 microM phenylephrine) HCC strips. HCC specimens were collected from control subjects (organ donors) and from patients with severe vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED).

Apnea/hypopnea index and benzodiazepine use in patients with arterial hypertension and excessive weight.

Sleep apnea may be associated to psychological symptoms and to increase use of antidepressant drugs. It is unknown if the use of benzodiazepines, psychoactive drugs with a depressant effect on the brain, is similar, in this regard, to antidepressant drugs use. Thirty patients with treated arterial hypertension and excessive weight (body mass index >25), either regularly using (13 patients) or not using (17 patients) benzodiazepines, were studied, by comparing the apnea/hypopnea index measured in a sleep study in both groups.

[Nationwide multicenter study on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Brazilian population].

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in type 2 diabetic (DM2) outpatients from different regions of Brazil.

Patients And Methods: We studied 2,519 randomly selected patients, from 11 hospitals, 2 endocrine and one general public care clinics from 10 cities. Overweight was defined as body-mass index (BMI) > 25 and obesity as BMI > 30 kg/m2.

Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia as a cause of trigeminal neuralgia: the role of microvascular decompression. Case report.

Our purpose is to report a case of trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia treated with microvascular decompression. A 63-year-old man sought treatment for a recurrent lancinating left facial pain in V2 and V3 trigeminal territories. The computed tomography angiography revealed a mechanical compression of the left trigeminal nerve due to vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia.

The effects of metabolic stress and vagotomy on emotional learning in an animal model of anxiety.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of the blood glucose (BG) level in emotional learning in the elevated plus maze (EPM), an animal model of anxiety. In Experiment 1, male Wistar rats were submitted to different EPM trial lengths (1- or 5-min). Blood samples were withdrawn before and after the maze exploration, through a polyethylene cannula chronically implanted into the jugular vein.

CYP2A6 and CYP2E1 polymorphisms in a Brazilian population living in Rio de Janeiro.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) is a superfamily of enzymes involved in the metabolism of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. CYP2A6 catalyzes the oxidation of nicotine and the activation of carcinogens such as aflatoxin B1 and nitrosamines. CYP2E1 metabolizes ethanol and other low-molecular weight compounds and can also activate nitrosamines.

[Thromboelastograph in cardiac surgery: state of the art.].

Background And Objectives: Management of hemostasis of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) patients is still a major challenge. New monitoring methods, new hemostatic drugs and new platelet function inhibitors are being added to the pre, intra and postoperative periods. The multifactorial nature of CBP-induced hemostasis disorders requires the understanding of their pathophysiology and the accurate hemostasis evaluation for effective coagulation during CPB, in addition to the maintenance of adequate postoperative hemostasis.

Interaction of stannous chloride leads to alteration in DNA, triphosphate nucleotides and isolated bases.

Stannous chloride (SnCl2) is a reducing chemical agent used in several man-made products. SnCl2 can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS); therefore, studies have been carried out in order to better understand its damaging action in biological systems. In this work, calf thymus DNA, triphosphate nucleotides and isolated bases were incubated with SnCl2 and the results were analyzed through UV spectrophotometry.

Scanning electron microscopy of the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle of the horse.

The present study examined the ultrastructure of the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle of the horse. The material was fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.

Cardiac lymphoma and pericardial effusion in dogs: 12 cases (1994-2004).

Objective: To determine clinical characteristics and clinicopathologic findings, including results of pericardial fluid analysis, and determine the outcome associated with pericardial effusion caused by cardiac lymphoma in dogs.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 12 dogs.

Alterations in glutathione levels of brain structures caused by acute restraint stress and by nitric oxide synthase inhibition but not by intraspecific agonistic interaction.

Glutathione is the major non-protein thiol to which many different roles in the central nervous system (CNS) are attributed. To further investigate the glutathione response in the CNS, we tested the effect of three stress models on glutathione levels in the brain. We tested the effect of two models of repeated intraspecific agonistic interaction in mice.

Behavioral neurotoxicity in adolescent and adult mice exposed to fenproporex during pregnancy.

We investigated the effects of gestational exposure to fenproporex, one of the most used anorectic drugs in Brazil, on the behavior of adolescent and adult pups (30 and 60 days of age, respectively). Pregnant Swiss mice were treated daily, by gavage, with 15 mg/kg of fenproporex chloride or water during the whole gestational period. Male pups were submitted to open-field, forced swimming test, tail suspension test and fenproporex-induced stereotyped behavior.

Developmental exposure to fenproporex: reproductive and morphological evaluation.

This study was designed to evaluate the maternal toxicity and teratogenicity of fenproporex, one of the most widely-used anorectic drugs in many countries, including Brazil. Three periods of exposure were evaluated: (a) 30 days before mating; (b) from gestational day (GD) 0 to 14; and (c) 30 days before mating and during pregnancy, until GD 14. Female mice from experimental groups received, by gavage, 15 mg/kg of fenproporex.