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Showing papers by "Federal University of Rio de Janeiro published in 1981"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The differences in distribution of PN in the newborn infant and that in theAdult that have been previously published suggest that most of the PN found in the adult are not congenital.
Abstract: SUMMARY Pigmented naevi (PN) were clinically diagnosed in 1083 newborn infants from a series of 531,831 consecutive livebirths examined in fifty-nine hospitals in South America. Isolated PN (IPN) were seen in 989 (0.2%) non-malformed infants, while PN associated with other congenital anomalies (APN) were observed in ninety-four (1.0%) malformed babies. Incidence rates calculated from the fifty-nine hospitals were very variable due to under-reporting, which might have been as high as 80%. The PN were classified by their location, number, size, texture, and colour. Observed locations were compared with random expected distributions based on the surface proportions of the newborn. IPN were preferentially found on the chest and abdomen, with a low concentration on the head and upper limbs. No examples were observed on soles or palms. IPN were single in 90% of cases. Size was small (1–9 mm) in 29%, medium (10–;40 mm) in 63%, and large (over 40 mm) in 8% of cases. Abnormal texture, (rugose, raised, and/or hairy) was found in 7–11% of IPN. Colour was brown in 68%, black in 21%, and of other colours in 11%. The large IPN tended to be multiple in number and abnormal in texture. Small IPN tended to be black. IPN on the chest and abdomen were more frequently small, non-black, and of normal texture; those found on the back tended to be black and abnormal in texture; black IPN were also frequent on the upper limbs; large IPN frequently affected the lower limbs. The APN did not differ from the IPN in their number, size, texture, or colour. APN were less common than expected on the back and upper limbs. An association was observed between the PN and the following four congenital anomalies: ear deformities, preauricular appendages, angiomas, and other skin anomalies. The differences in distribution of PN in the newborn infant and that in the adult that have been previously published suggest that most of the PN found in the adult are not congenital.

311 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Total yeast counts had a positive response to increased pollution levels, and Candida krusei and phenotypically similar yeasts as a group were prevalent in polluted estuarine water but rare in unpolluted seawater.
Abstract: Yeast counts were made at 24 marine and estuarine sites in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Mean salinities of estuarine sites ranged from 142 to 274‰, and mean temperatures ranged from 25 to 28°C Total coliform counts varied from 80% above 100,000 colony-forming units (CFU)/100 ml at heavily polluted sites to 100% below 100 CFU/100 ml at unpolluted sites Total yeast counts above 100 CFU/100 ml were typical of heavily and moderately polluted water but atypical of lightly polluted and unpolluted water Mean total yeast counts were 2,880 CFU/100 ml for heavily polluted sites, 202 CFU/100 ml for moderately polluted sites, and 3 CFU/100 ml for lightly polluted and unpolluted sites Total yeast counts had a positive response to increased pollution levels, and Candida krusei and phenotypically similar yeasts as a group were prevalent in polluted estuarine water but rare in unpolluted seawater The 549 strains of yeasts and yeast-like organisms isolated were grouped into 67 species, of which the 21 most prevalent made up 86% of the total yeast population The prevalent genera in the polluted estuary were Candida, Rhodotorula, Torulopsis, Hanseniaspora, Debaryomyces, and Trichosporon

151 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The nitroaromatic anion radical, which is assumed to be the first product of nitroreductase activity, reacted with oxygen under aerobic conditions, as shown by the increased rate of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production after addition of nifurtimox to homogenates of T. cruzi in the presence of NAD(P)H.

81 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Epidemiological variables in relation to hypospadias were analyzed in a case-control study of a liveborn population from six Latin American countries and low mean birth weight, twinning, vaginal bleeding, and drug exposure during the 1st trimester (particularly sex hormones) were found to be risk factors.
Abstract: Epidemiological variables in relation to hypospadias were analyzed in a case-control study of a liveborn population from six Latin American countries. The frequency of hypospadias was 7.6 per 10,000 livebirths (324/423,839). The cases were divided into three types: distal (72%), proximal (18.5%) and non-specified cases (9.5%). The control group consisted of the first nonmalformed child born after each of the patients and was matched by sex, place, and time of birth. Other coexisting malformations were found in 13.6% of cases. The Brazilian sample showed the highest incidence rate (17.7/10,000) and also the highest incidence of severe forms (5.0/10,000) as compared with the other countries. A circannual rhythm was detected using several different statistical procedures. Low mean birth weight, twinning, vaginal bleeding, and drug exposure during the 1st trimester (particularly sex hormones) were found to be risk factors. The more severe forms had a higher neonatal mortality rate and higher inbreeding when compared with the controls or milder forms. The heritability coefficient was 0.6772 ± 0.0675. The possible role of maternal sex hormone intake and disturbances of human chorionic gonadotropin during the first trimester are discussed.

77 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The fine structures of the d -galacto-d -mannans varied as a function of the cell type as mentioned in this paper, and the proportion of glycogen was not glycogen.

74 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The analysis of the intrauterine growth curves showed that PN infants have a low prematurity rate, and a high mean birth weight within the postmature group, lacking the normal post‐term weight loss pattern shown by the control newborn group, suggesting that congenital PN appear in the latest stages of intrauterines development.
Abstract: Genetic and environmental risks factors were investigated in a sample of 989 non-malformed newborn infants with skin pigmented naevi (PN), and in 989 non-malformed non-PN, control babies. The samples were obtained from a population of 531,831 livebirths, from fifty-nine South-American maternity hospitals. No significant differences were observed between the PN and control groups for the following risk factors: sex, twinning, parental consanguinity, socioeconomic level, parental ages, birth order, fetal presentation, type of delivery, postnatal mortality, and first trimester of pregnancy histories for maternal chronic illnesses or immunizations, radiation exposure, drug intake, and vaginal bleeding. PN infants were associated with high frequencies of Black racial ancestry, positive prenatal history for maternal acute illnesses, and high mean values for length of gestation and birth weight. The observed association of PN with maternal acute illnesses could be a spurious one, due to partial dependence upon Black racial ancestry, and to maternal memory bias. The analysis of the intrauterine growth curves showed that PN infants have a low prematurity rate, and a high mean by the control newborn group. This observation suggest that congenital PN appear in the latest stages of intrauterine development. No evidence was obtained to allow us to consider congenital PN as true developmental anomalies.

67 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The flushing-out method using a systematic search of the house was found to be the most suitable sampling technique, but it is recognized that this method still has limitations.
Abstract: The detection of infestations of Triatominae in houses in regions endemic for Chagas's disease is a criterion frequently used in the selection of areas, or of individual houses, for treatment in insecticide campaigns as well as in the evaluation of insecticide performance. Several different methods for detecting domestic infestations with Triatominae were compared: night capture, capture of five bugs with the aid of a flushing-out agent and use of card boxes of the Gomez-Nunez type. The flushing-out and Gomez-Nunez box methods were found to be equally sensitive, although each failed to detect some infestations which the other detected. The night capture method was slightly more sensitive but was found to be impractical for insecticide trials. Improvement to the flushing-out method, notably the introduction of a systematic search technique, made it much more sensitive than the Gomez-Nunez box method for heavily infested houses and for houses three months after insecticide treatment. Although the sensitivity of the Gomez-Nunez box method increases when the boxes are left in place for a long time, this also limits the value of the information obtained regarding the evaluation of insecticides. On the basis of the results presented, the flushing-out method using a systematic search of the house was found to be the most suitable sampling technique, but it is recognized that this method still has limitations.

44 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a hypothesis for the biogenesis of the uncommon Δ 1-isopentenyl side chain is presented for Vismia reichardtiana and its structure is established through chemical and spectral means.

31 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence of the calcium dependence of K+ permeability during SH both in macrophages and macrophage polykaryons both in rats and mice is constituted.
Abstract: Some electrophysiological characteristics of macrophages and macrophage polykaryons of foreign body granuloma have been investigated. Cells were obtained from implants of small coverslips in the subcutaneous tissue or in the peritoneal cavity of rats and mice. Transmembrane potentials ranged from −5 to −40 mV. Input resistances ranged from 5 to 120 MΩ, being significantly higher in mice polykaryons. Approximately 10% of the cells exhibited spontaneous slow membrane hyperpolarizations (SH) indistinguishable from those observed in macrophages. SH responses were invariably evoked by iontophoretic injection of calcium ions into the cytoplasm of mice macrophages or macrophage polykaryons. The amplitude of these responses increased with the amount of current carried by calcium ions into the cells. The maximum amplitude of the calcium-induced SH responses is a linear function of the logarithm of [K+] 0 (from 3 to 40mm). The slope of the regression line is 43 mV for a 10-fold increase in [K+] 0 . Substituting sodium chloride by sodium isethionate or by choline chloride does not interfere with the occurrence of SH. The assumption that the SH is solely a consequence of an increase in the membrane conductance to K+ was used to calculate the potassium equilibrium potential (E K). TheE K value is also a linear function of the logarithm of [K+] 0 (from 3 to 40mm). The slope of the regression line is 46 mV for a 10-fold increase in [K+] 0 . These results constitute evidence of the calcium dependence of K+ permeability during SH both in macrophages and macrophage polykaryons. Macrophage polykaryons are a more convenient model than macrophages for the study of the mechanisms underlying the SH responses and their possible physiological implications.

30 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The binding of colloidal iron particles, as well as the agglutination induced by the lectin from Limulus polyphemus, indicated the presence of sialic acid on the cell surface of T. foetus.
Abstract: The cell surface of Tritrichomonas foetus was characterized by using 18 highly purified lectins with specificities for N-acetyl glucosamine, N-acetyl galactosamine, galactose, mannose, and sialic acid. The specificity of the lectin-induced cell agglutination was verified by inhibition of the agglutination with the specific sugars. By using cytochemical techniques associated with electron microscopy, carbohydrates were detected on the cell surface of T. foetus. The following techniques were used: periodic acid--thiosemicarbazide--silver proteinate, concanavalin A--horseradish peroxidase, and ruthenium red. Anionic sites were detected on the cell surface of the protozoan at pH's 1.8 and 7.2 with the use of colloidal iron hydroxide and cationized ferritin particles, respectively. The binding of colloidal iron particles, as well as the agglutination induced by the lectin from Limulus polyphemus, indicated the presence of sialic acid on the cell surface of T. foetus.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data support the assumption that spontaneous and artificially elicited slow hyperpolarization responses share a common calcium-dependent mechanism.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the Auger decay model for electron stimulated desorption (ESD) of metal oxides and oxygen adsorption layers on Ni and Fe has been investigated.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a dihydrochalcone, a flavone, four 3-methylflavonols, one flavanone, and a 3 methylflavanonol were isolated from the roots of Derris araripensis.

Journal Article
TL;DR: The radiometric survey in Guarapari and Meaípe confirmed the results obtained by Roser and Cullen in 1958 and 1962, except on sites where considerable changes took place since then.
Abstract: Two types of portable instruments were developed by the former Health and Safety Laboratory of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission to characterize external gamma radiation fields and to estimate individual exposure dose rates from major natural or fission radionuclides distributed in the soil: a pressurized ionization chamber and a NaI(T1) gamma-ray spectrometer. The two instruments were used to measure environmental radiation exposure rates at three distinct geological areas of Brazil: - in the towns of Guarapari and Meaipe located on the monazite sand belt, ES. - on the vicinities of the uranium mine of Pocos de Caldas, MG. - around the site of the Brazilian first nuclear power plant, in Angra dos Reis, RJ. The radiometric survey demonstrated once more the usefulness and versatility of the two instruments used. The measurements around the nuclear installations of Pocos de Caldas and Angra dos Reis, allowed a rapid assessment of the local radiation background and its variability, as well as the selection of stations for the routine monitoring program. Radioactive anomalies were detected and characterized previously to the start of plant operations. The survey in Guarapari and Meaipe confirmed the results obtained by Roser and Cullen in 1958 and 1962, except on sites where considerable changes took place since then. The spectrometric measurements gave estimations of the relative proportion of 40K, 238U and 232Th series in the ground and also indications on the homogeneity of their distribution in the soil.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, five amides were isolated from the roots of Ottonia corcovadensis and two are known piperlonguminine and piperovatine.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Based on neural pathway evidence, it is concluded that the nucleus of the optic tract in the opossum can be subdivided in an intrabrachial nucleus receiving a direct projection from the contralateral retina and a sub-brachia nucleus receiving projections from both retinae and from the striate cortex.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A quantitative in situ assay of yeast α-glucosidase involving permeabilization of the cells by freezing and thawing was shown to give results comparable to those obtained with total cell homogenates.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the fluorescence and excitation spectra of Fe3+-doped LiGa5O8 in the ordered phase were measured with powder samples containing 0.01 to 1% atomic weight.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A mechanism is proposed in which the gene-product of a MAL gene serves as a common positive regulator for expression of four genes coding respectively for maltose permease, maltase, α-methylglucosidase and a component of the trehalose accumulation system.
Abstract: A pattern of active accumulation of trehalose during growth on glucose medium, TAC(+) phenotype, is controlled by a polymeric series of maltose fermentation (MAL) genes. An essential requirement for expression of the TAC(+) phenotype is that the MAL gene be in the constitutive state, MAL (c). Mutation of a constitutive MAL allele to a maltose- inducible or nonfermenting (mal) state, alters the pattern of trehalose metabolism so that little or no trehalose accumulation occurs during growth on glucose medium. The TAC(+) phenotype is obtained in MAL (c) strains whether or not α-glucosidase formation is sensitive or resistant to carbon catabolite repression. However, trehalose accumulation is sensitive to glucose levels even in MAL (c) strains in which α-glucosidase formation is insensitive to catabolite repression. The effects of constitutive MAL genes on trehalose accumulation cannot be accounted for by an increase in trehalose-6 phosphate synthase or a decrease in trehalase as determined in vitro. A mechanism is proposed in which the gene-product of a MAL gene serves as a common positive regulator for expression of four genes coding respectively for maltose permease, maltase, α-methylglucosidase and a component of the trehalose accumulation system.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The conformally flat solution of the Einstein equations for a viscous fluid with radial heat flow was presented in this paper, where the authors considered the case of a single-dimensional model.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Analysis indicates that repair proficient strains are inactivated by sunlight more rapidly than expected from the levels of DNA damage induced and that 302 nm is a more appropriate wavelength than 254 nm to represent the DNA‐damaging action of sunlight.
Abstract: — The inactivation of repair proficient (Escherichia coli K12 AB 1157, E. coli B/r) and repair deficient (E. coli K12 AB 1886 uvrA, AB 2463 recA and AB 2480 uvrA recA) strains of bacteria by noon sunlight has been measured. The use of biological dosimetry based on an ultraviolet (UV) sensitive strain of Bacillus subtilis spores has allowed a quantitative comparison of bacterial inactivation by solar, 254 and 302 nm radiations. Our analysis indicates that: (1) uvrA and recA gene products are involved in repair of a substantial portion of the solar DNA damage, (2) 302 nm is a more appropriate wavelength than 254 nm to represent the DNA-damaging action of sunlight and that (3) repair proficient strains are inactivated by sunlight more rapidly than expected from the levels of DNA damage induced. When populations of repair proficient bacteria are exposed to noon sunlight for 20 min, they become sensitive to the lethal action of far-UV (254 nm), MMS (0.1 M) and to a lesser extent, mild heat (52°C).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors observed a very weak flourescence in LiGa5O8 due to Fe3+ in octahedral sites and attributed this effect to inhomogeneous site broadening.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The 13C NMR spectra of 18 guaianolides have been measured and the chemical shifts assigned as mentioned in this paper, including the naturally occurring eremanthin (1), dehydrocostus lactone, eregoyazin and other semisynthetic lactones derived from 1.
Abstract: The 13C NMR spectra of 18 guaianolides have been measured and the chemical shifts assigned. The compounds investigated include the naturally occurring eremanthin (1), dehydrocostus lactone, eregoyazin, eregoyazidin and other semisynthetic lactones derived from 1. Qualitative analysis of the data suggests that the predominant conformation in almost all compounds so far studied is a distorted chair-like form.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors measured the excitation functions and isomer ratios for 93 Tc and 94 Tc from the reaction 93 Nb( 3 He, xn) and found that the isomer ratio increases with decreasing energy for the 3n process.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that lidocaine may be used as an inductor of differentiation in H. samuelpessoai opening the possibility of obtaining the three developmental stages of this trypanosomatid.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The activity of the first generation of Brazilian geologists began in the early sixties. Systematic exploration work since then has evidenced some important new mineral reserves in Brazil as discussed by the authors, including 18 × 10 9 tons of high-grade iron ore (Carajas District), formed by supergene enrichment on iron formations older than 1800 m.y.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The quantum yield for the cis-trans photoisomerization of chalcone (1,3-diphenylpropen-3-one) is wavelength dependent.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results obtained indicate that signal variability is minimum during respiratory apnea (p<0.05), and during normal respiration the cardiac component of the thoracic impedance signal can be extracted from the respiratory noise by coherent average yielding a signal with the same pattern obtained during apnea.
Abstract: The variability of thoracic impedance cardiogram signals was studied in a normal population with the objective of determining the effect of different respiratory manoeuvres and the optimal criteria for acquisition of this type of physiological signal. The variability of the first derivative of the thoracic impedance signal (dZ/dt) was determined at each 5ms intervals along the signal as the ensemble confidence limits of 3% and 97% around the coherent average. The results obtained indicate that: (a) signal variability is minimum during respiratory apnea (p<0.05) as compared with apneusis or normal respiration, (b) signal patterns are different during apnea and apneusis, and (c) during normal respiration the cardiac component of the thoracic impedance signal can be extracted from the respiratory noise by coherent average yielding a signal with the same pattern obtained during apnea.