Effect of physiological overload on pregnancy in women with mitral regurgitation

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the structural and functional heart abnormalities in women with mitral regurgitation during pregnancy.INTRODUCTION: Women with mitral regurgitation progress well during pregnancy. However, the effects on the heart of the association between pregnancy and mitral regurgitation are not well established.METHODS: This is a case-control, longitudinal prospective study. Echocardiograms were performed in 18 women with mitral regurgitation at the 12th and 36th week of pregnancy and on the 45th day of the puerperium. Twelve age-matched healthy and pregnant women were included as controls and underwent the same evaluation as the study group.RESULTS: Compared with controls, women with mitral regurgitation presented increased left cardiac chambers in all evaluations. Increasing left atrium during pregnancy occurred only in the mitral regurgitation group. At the end of the puerperium, women with mitral regurgitation showed persistent enlargement of the left atrium compared with the beginning of pregnancy (5.0 +/- 1.1 cm vs 4.6 +/- 0.9 cm; p < 0.05). Reduced left ventricular relative wall thickness (0.13 +/- 0.02 vs 0.16 +/- 0.02; p < 0.05) and an increased peak of afterload (278 +/- 55 g/cm(2) vs 207 +/- 28 g/cm(2); p < 0.05) was still observed on the 45th day after delivery in the mitral regurgitation group compared with controls.CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy causes unfavorable structural alterations in women with mitral regurgitation that are associated with an aggravation of the hemodynamic overload

Update and review of Urrets-Zavalia syndrome

ABSTRACT For more than half a century, Urrets-Zavalia syndrome (fixed dilated pupil) has been described as a postoperative complication of ophthalmic surgery. Since first reported as a complication of penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus in patients receiving atropine, the characteristic features of Urrets-Zavalia syndrome have been expanded. In previous literature, a total of 110 cases resulted in a fixed and dilated pupil. Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) in the immediate postoperative period, phakia, and air or gas in the anterior chamber appear to be the most important risk factors for Urrets-Zavalia syndrome following ophthalmic procedures. Mannitol, IOP control, the removal of air or gas in the anterior chamber, and iridectomy have all demonstrated utility in managing Urrets-Zavalia syndrome

Preliminary identification of the bioremediation limiting factors of a clay bearing soil contaminated with crude oil

Bioremediation is an attractive alternative to treat soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. However, the effectiveness of biodegradation process can be limited by both contaminant characteristics and its bioavailability in soil. This work aims at establishing a preliminary procedure to identify the main factor (hydrocarbon recalcitrance or its bioavailability) that impairs the biodegradation, possibly resulting in low remediation efficiencies. Tests in soil microcosms were carried out applying biostimulation and bioaugmentation techniques. Similar experiments were conducted using liquid medium containing crude oil and microorganisms, both of them extracted from a weathered contaminated soil sample, nutrients and microbial inoculum constituted of Rhodoturula glutinis and Nocardia nova. After 30 days, highest microcosms biodegradation levels (98.8%) were obtained with bioaugmentation in liquid medium, pointing out that the main problem of petroleum hydrocarbon utilization by microorganisms was associated to its availability and not only to the intrinsic recalcitrancy of remaining pollutants

Revisão do Conhecimento sobre os Mamíferos Aquáticos da Costa Norte do Brasil

The Brazilian north coast represents a new frontier in several fields of knowledge. The aquatic mammals of the Brazilian northern coast were poorly studied until recently. Recent efforts promoted by Projeto Piatam Oceano are changing the scenario. New research groups on aquatic mammals were formed and are conducting a large survey of this unique group of mammals. A total of 22 species of aquatic mammals were recorded along the Brazilian northern region. It should be emphasized the rediscovery of the Antillean manatee in several localities along the coasts of Amapá, Pará and Maranhão states. On the other hand, the estuarine dolphin is widely distributed along the Amazonian coast but is frequently by-caught in gill nets fisheries throughout the northern coast. The intense use of love charms has also a negative effect on these populations and should be better evaluated. An awareness program will be implemented as a first step for changing attitude towards the aquatic mammals of the northern coast.A costa norte do Brasil representa uma nova fronteira para o avanço do conhecimento sobre a fauna de mamíferos aquáticos. A ausência de dados pretéritos sobre os mamíferos aquáticos nessa região e a própria dificuldade logística de monitoramento resultou, até muito recentemente, numa lacuna de conhecimento. A fim de reverter este quadro, o Projeto Piatam Oceano vem incentivando a formação de grupos de pesquisa sobre mamíferos aquáticos da costa amazônica. Como resultado dos esforços recentes, foi reunido um conjunto relevante de informações inéditas ou complementares sobre as 22 espécies de mamíferos aquáticos registradas até o momento na região. Destacam-se as áreas de ocorrência do peixe-boi-marinho no litoral dos Estados do Maranhão, Pará e Amapá, as quais poderiam garantir a manutenção destas populações criticamente ameaçadas. Merece destaque ainda a ocorrência do boto-cinza em toda costa amazônica e sua problemática de interação com a pesca artesanal e o comércio de peças anatômicas. Sugere-se uma ampla campanha de conscientização e a promoção de campanhas educativas visando uma nova tomada de atitude em relação aos mamíferos aquáticos e seus hábitats, respeitando os valores tradicionais e o conhecimento etnoecológico das comunidades costeiras