Excess of children's outpatient consultations due to asthma and bronchitis and the association between meteorological variables in Canoas City, Southern Brazil.

The southern Brazilian city of Canoas, situated in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, is subject to several annual meteorological phenomena, such as cold fronts and squall lines. Here, we assess the relationship between meteorological conditions and outpatient consultations for asthma or bronchitis in children from Canoas City. Data from outpatient consultations of children (below 9 years), between January/2005 and September/2008, were combined with daily meteorological data from 12UTC (morning) and 18UTC (afternoon).

Billings reservoir water used for human consumption presents microbiological contaminants and induces both behavior impairments and astrogliosis in zebrafish.

The Billings reservoir is the largest water-storage facility in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region, with only a small part of the reservoir used for water supply. Recently, the São Paulo Metropolitan Region has experienced the greatest water collapse ever recorded. Thus, the intensification of use of the Billings reservoir should be considered.

Bothrops fonsecai snake venom activities and cross-reactivity with commercial bothropic venom.

In this work, we examined some biochemical and biological activities of Bothrops fonsecai venom, a pitviper endemic to southeastern Brazil, and assessed their neutralization by commercial bothropic antivenom (CAv). Cross-reactivity of venom with CAv was also assessed by immunoblotting and size-exclusion high performance chromatography (SE-HPLC). Bothrops fonsecai venom had PLA, proteolytic and esterase activities that were neutralized to varying extents by venom:antivenom ratios of 5:1 and 5:2 (PLA and esterase activities) or not significantly by either venom:antivenom ratio (proteolytic activity).

Neuromuscular activity of Bothrops fonsecai snake venom in vertebrate preparations.

The neuromuscular activity of venom from Bothrops fonsecai, a lancehead endemic to southeastern Brazil, was investigated. Chick biventer cervicis (CBC) and mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm (PND) preparations were used for myographic recordings and mouse diaphragm muscle was used for membrane resting potential (RP) and miniature end-plate potential (MEPP) recordings. Creatine kinase release and muscle damage were also assessed.

BJ-PI2, a non-hemorrhagic metalloproteinase from Bothrops jararaca snake venom.

Background: Envenoming by Bothrops jararaca can result in local pain, edema, hemorrhage and necrosis, partially mediated by snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs). Here, we describe the characterization of BJ-PI2, a P-I class SVMP from B. jararaca venom, and its local tissue actions.