Sobre caso de doença de Chagas aguda em região de vetores controlados no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

No vector transmitted cases of Chagas disease had been notified in the state of São Paulo since the 1970s. However, in March, 2006, the death of a six-year-old boy from the municipality of Itaporanga was notified to the Center for Epidemiological Survey of the São Paulo State Health Secretariat: an autochthonous case of acute Chagas disease. The postmortem histopathological examination performed in the Hospital das Clínicas of the Botucatu School of Medicine confirmed the diagnosis. Reference to hospital records, consultation with the health professionals involved in the case and interviews with members of the patient's family supplied the basis for this study. We investigated parasite route of transmission, probable local reservoirs and vectors. No further human cases of acute Chagas disease were diagnosed. No locally captured vectors or reservoirs were found infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Alternative transmission hypotheses - such as the possible ingestion of foods contaminated with vector excreta - are discussed, as well as the need to keep previously endemic regions and infested houses under close surveillance. Clinicians should give due attention to such signs as uni- or bilateral palpebral edema, cardiac failure, myocarditis, pericarditis, anasarca and atypical signs of nephrotic syndrome or nephritis and consider the diagnostic hypothesis of Chagas disease.Desde a década de 1970 não se notificavam casos autóctones de doença de Chagas aguda em São Paulo. Em março de 2006 a Vigilância Epidemiológica registrou óbito por doença de Chagas aguda, em Itaporanga, de paciente de seis anos de idade. Exame histopatológico post mortem realizado no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu confirmou o diagnóstico. Consultamos prontuários de hospitais e entrevistamos profissionais de saúde envolvidos além de familiares do paciente. Descrevemos medidas adotadas in loco para identificar a via de transmissão, reservatórios e vetores. Discutimos as possíveis fontes de infecção. Na região não foram identificados outros casos humanos, vetores ou reservatórios vertebrados infectados por Trypanosoma cruzi. Salientamos a importância de manter a vigilância, mesmo em áreas onde a transmissão de doença de Chagas está interrompida e naquelas ainda infestadas por triatomíneos. Deve-se admitir a hipótese diagnóstica de doença de Chagas quando observados: edema palpebral (uni ou bilateral), insuficiência cardíaca, miocardite, pericardite, anasarca, quadros similares aos de síndrome nefrótica ou glomerulonefrite sem causas outras aparentes, em pacientes com dados epidemiológicos positivos. Encontro, mesmo em raras ocasiões, de triatomíneos na região ou ainda contato com alimento contaminável com formas infectantes de T. cruzi

Un estudio sobre jardines históricos: manifestaciones del paisaje cultural en la ciudad de Natal/rn, Brasil

This article deals with the Historical Gardens in the city of Natal and ponders: Why do attempts to revitalize our historicalcenter not reach their goals? Why are public open areas abandoned by the population, so that they start deterioratingagain? The study tries to identify, to recognize and to alert for the necessity to preserve the Historical Gardens, tryingto be effective guaranteeing that the historical and cultural landscape remains and will be available for future generations.In order to give an account of history through its urban prints, our research stands between history of everydaylife and cultural geography, choosing culture – ways of life, habits, sense of identity and everyday life– as a componentof the relations between man and the space that surrounds him. Therefore, a historiographic reconstruction was carriedout, using photographic records and literary descriptions, to turn previous morphologic compositions into virtualreality. The procedure shall be adopted in eight parks, previously identified as Natal’s Historical Gardens. The caseof Augusto Severo Square, covered here, deals with a previous restoration during which a large esplanade was built,lacking vegetation and inappropriate given local climate and habits. Since the opportunity of cultural rescue has beenlost, at this moment, we expect that the area will recover its place in people’s memory and daily life.Este trabajo trata de los Jardines Históricos de Natal y cuestiona: ¿Por qué los intentos de revitalización de nuestroCentro Histórico no alcanzan sus objetivos y los espacios libres públicos son abandonados por la población, tornándosenuevamente decadentes? El estudio pretende identificar, reconocer y alertar sobre la necesidad de preservarlos Jardines Históricos, evitando desperdicios y garantizando la permanencia histórica del paisaje cultural para lasgeneraciones futuras. Buscando relatar la historia a partir de sus marcas urbanas, la investigación se coloca entre laHistoria cotidiana y la Geografía Cultural, eligiendo la cultura –modos de vida, costumbres, sentimientos de identidady usos cotidianos – como componente de las relaciones entre hombre y espacio. Para alcanzar tales objetivos, seaplicó una reconstitución historiográfica, partiendo de registros fotográficos y descripciones literarias, con objeto detransformar composiciones morfológicas anteriores en realidad virtual. El procedimiento será adoptado en ocho plazas,identificadas preliminarmente como Jardines Históricos de Natal. El caso de la Plaza Augusto Severo, aquí presentado,alude a una pretendida restauración que resultó en una gran explanada sin cobertura vegetal, inadecuada para elclima y los hábitos locales. Ya perdida, en este momento, la oportunidad de rescate cultural, se espera que el espacioreconquiste su lugar en la memoria y vida cotidiana de la población

Un estudio sobre jardines históricos: manifestaciones del paisaje cultural en la ciudad de Natal/rn, Brasil

This article deals with the Historical Gardens in the city of Natal and ponders: Why do attempts to revitalize our historicalcenter not reach their goals? Why are public open areas abandoned by the population, so that they start deterioratingagain? The study tries to identify, to recognize and to alert for the necessity to preserve the Historical Gardens, tryingto be effective guaranteeing that the historical and cultural landscape remains and will be available for future generations.In order to give an account of history through its urban prints, our research stands between history of everydaylife and cultural geography, choosing culture – ways of life, habits, sense of identity and everyday life– as a componentof the relations between man and the space that surrounds him. Therefore, a historiographic reconstruction was carriedout, using photographic records and literary descriptions, to turn previous morphologic compositions into virtualreality. The procedure shall be adopted in eight parks, previously identified as Natal’s Historical Gardens. The caseof Augusto Severo Square, covered here, deals with a previous restoration during which a large esplanade was built,lacking vegetation and inappropriate given local climate and habits. Since the opportunity of cultural rescue has beenlost, at this moment, we expect that the area will recover its place in people’s memory and daily life.Este trabajo trata de los Jardines Históricos de Natal y cuestiona: ¿Por qué los intentos de revitalización de nuestroCentro Histórico no alcanzan sus objetivos y los espacios libres públicos son abandonados por la población, tornándosenuevamente decadentes? El estudio pretende identificar, reconocer y alertar sobre la necesidad de preservarlos Jardines Históricos, evitando desperdicios y garantizando la permanencia histórica del paisaje cultural para lasgeneraciones futuras. Buscando relatar la historia a partir de sus marcas urbanas, la investigación se coloca entre laHistoria cotidiana y la Geografía Cultural, eligiendo la cultura –modos de vida, costumbres, sentimientos de identidady usos cotidianos – como componente de las relaciones entre hombre y espacio. Para alcanzar tales objetivos, seaplicó una reconstitución historiográfica, partiendo de registros fotográficos y descripciones literarias, con objeto detransformar composiciones morfológicas anteriores en realidad virtual. El procedimiento será adoptado en ocho plazas,identificadas preliminarmente como Jardines Históricos de Natal. El caso de la Plaza Augusto Severo, aquí presentado,alude a una pretendida restauración que resultó en una gran explanada sin cobertura vegetal, inadecuada para elclima y los hábitos locales. Ya perdida, en este momento, la oportunidad de rescate cultural, se espera que el espacioreconquiste su lugar en la memoria y vida cotidiana de la población

Dandy-Walker Malformation and Down Syndrome Association: Good Developmental Outcome and Successful Endoscopic Treatment of Hydrocephalus

The association of Down syndrome (DS) with Dandy Walker malformation (DWM) is extremely rare, with only 3 cases reported to date. All cases reported have shown a bad life expectancy and a bad developmental outcome. The present case reveals the possibility of a good prognosis. A 19-month-old male patient had successful endoscopic hydrocephalus treatment and a good developmental outcome. He probably had a better outcome because of good DS and DWM prognostic parameters. Our patient suffered from a DWM with vermis identification of 2 fissures and 3 lobes and a DS with a well-preserved tonus, which was not associated with other congenital systemic defects. We may conclude that the prognosis of DS-DWM association may separately depend on the degree of clinical and neurological involvement of each malformation

On an acute case of Chagas disease in a region under vector control in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Desde a década de 1970 não se notificavam casos autóctones de doença de Chagas aguda em São Paulo. em março de 2006 a Vigilância Epidemiológica registrou óbito por doença de Chagas aguda, em Itaporanga, de paciente de seis anos de idade. Exame histopatológico post mortem realizado no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu confirmou o diagnóstico. Consultamos prontuários de hospitais e entrevistamos profissionais de saúde envolvidos além de familiares do paciente. Descrevemos medidas adotadas in loco para identificar a via de transmissão, reservatórios e vetores. Discutimos as possíveis fontes de infecção. Na região não foram identificados outros casos humanos, vetores ou reservatórios vertebrados infectados por Trypanosoma cruzi. Salientamos a importância de manter a vigilância, mesmo em áreas onde a transmissão de doença de Chagas está interrompida e naquelas ainda infestadas por triatomíneos. Deve-se admitir a hipótese diagnóstica de doença de Chagas quando observados: edema palpebral (uni ou bilateral), insuficiência cardíaca, miocardite, pericardite, anasarca, quadros similares aos de síndrome nefrótica ou glomerulonefrite sem causas outras aparentes, em pacientes com dados epidemiológicos positivos. Encontro, mesmo em raras ocasiões, de triatomíneos na região ou ainda contato com alimento contaminável com formas infectantes de T. cruzi.No vector transmitted cases of Chagas disease had been notified in the state of São Paulo since the 1970s. However, in March, 2006, the death of a six-year-old boy from the municipality of Itaporanga was notified to the Center for Epidemiological Survey of the São Paulo State Health Secretariat: an autochthonous case of acute Chagas disease. The postmortem histopathological examination performed in the Hospital das Clínicas of the Botucatu School of Medicine confirmed the diagnosis. Reference to hospital records, consultation with the health professionals involved in the case and interviews with members of the patient's family supplied the basis for this study. We investigated parasite route of transmission, probable local reservoirs and vectors. No further human cases of acute Chagas disease were diagnosed. No locally captured vectors or reservoirs were found infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Alternative transmission hypotheses - such as the possible ingestion of foods contaminated with vector excreta - are discussed, as well as the need to keep previously endemic regions and infested houses under close surveillance. Clinicians should give due attention to such signs as uni- or bilateral palpebral edema, cardiac failure, myocarditis, pericarditis, anasarca and atypical signs of nephrotic syndrome or nephritis and consider the diagnostic hypothesis of Chagas disease

A cysteine protease from the latex of Ficus benjamina has in vitro anthelmintic activity against Haemonchus contortus

Abstract Haemonchus contortus is a gastrointestinal nematode that is responsible for high mortality rates in ruminant herds. The resistance of nematodes to synthetic anthelmintics is widespread and requires a continuous search for new bioactive molecules, such as proteins. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anthelmintic potential of a protease purified from the latex of Ficus benjamina against H. contortus . Fresh latex was collected from plants via small incisions in the green stems, the rubber was removed by centrifugation, and the latex protein extract (LPE) was obtained. After LPE fractionation with ammonium sulfate and chromatography of the fraction containing the highest proteolytic activity on CM-cellulose, a cysteine protease (FbP) was purified. FbP has a molecular mass of approximately 23.97 kDa, and its proteolytic activity was stable between pH 6.0 and pH 10 and over a broad temperature range, with optimum activity at 60 °C. FbP inhibited both the development and exsheathment of H. contortus larvae, with 50% effective concentrations of 0.26 and 0.79 mg/mL, respectively. We conclude that this cysteine protease from F. benjamina latex with anthelmintic activity against H. contortus could be a promising alternative for the development of products for use in parasite control programmes