Objective: The lower recommended age of the donor cornea is a controversial matter. Although newborn corneas have a high endothelial cell density, there are anatomical, refractive (myopic shift) and postoperative problems. Two cases are analyzed; one had an atypical refractive result and the other an unexpectedly severe immune response. We also review the use of pediatric donor corneas in penetrating keratoplasty. Methods: Two young patients with keratoconus, in whom a penetrating keratoplasty was done using a 4-month-old newborn corneal donor with high endothelial cell density (4.500 cell/mm²) are reported. Results: In the early postoperative period, both had high hypermetropy with weak astigmatism that improved over the next few months. In one patient a marked increase in the astigmatism after removal of the continuous suture was observed. One and a half years after the penetrating keratoplasty there was V=1 corrected vision and the endothelial population was almost unchanged (4,300 cell/mm²). The other patient suffered an allograft reaction with corneal oedema in the seventh postoperative month, and subsequent rupture of the continuous suture made its early removal necessary. The oedema partially diminished with high doses of steroids, but still persisted eighteen months later. Conclusion: The newborn corneal graft might have led to an early strong hypermetropy as opposed to the supposed myopic shift referred to in the literature. The extremely rapid healing seen in young recipients may lead to early loosening of the continuous suture. High endothelial cell density increases the risk of irreversible graft failure probably due to a high antigenic response. The use of a newborn donor cornea is questionable due to unpredictable refractive and immunological responses.

Objetivo: El límite inferior de edad del donante corneal resulta polémico. A pesar de la mayor densidad endotelial neonatal existen problemas quirúrgicos (anatomía corneal infantil), refractivos (tendencia a miopización) y postoperatorios (mayor inmunogenicidad). Se analizan dos casos con empleo de tejido donante de 4 meses, con resultado refractivo postoperatorio atípico en ambos y desproporcionada respuesta inmune en uno. A propósito de los mismos, se realiza una revisión sobre el uso de injertos de donantes pediátricos en la queratoplastia penetrante. Métodos: Se presentan dos pacientes jóvenes con queratocono intervenidos de queratoplastia penetrante con injerto donante de 4 meses y alta densidad endotelial (4.500 cel/mm²). Resultados: En el postoperatorio inmediato presentaron una elevada hipermetropía (se redujo posteriormente) con escaso astigmatismo. En uno aumentó notablemente el astigmatismo tras la excisión de sutura precisando queratotomía arcuata y puntos de refuerzo, mostrando al año y medio injerto transparente, agudeza visual corregida de V=1 y densidad endotelial alta (4.300 cel/mm²). El otro presentó a los 7 meses un rechazo con edema del injerto y poco después aflojamiento y rotura de la sutura obligando a su escisión precoz. Pese al intenso tratamiento el edema cedió solo parcialmente. Conclusiones: El injerto neonatal puede originar una fuerte hipermetropía inicial, contrario a la supuesta y descrita miopización, aunque parece reducirse paulatinamente. El moderado astigmatismo inicial cambia notablemente tras la escisión de sutura. La más rápida cicatrización en jóvenes puede provocar un aflojamiento precoz de la sutura. El riesgo de rechazo irreversible parece superior, presumiblemente, por una mayor inmunogenicidad. El empleo de córnea neonatal es cuestionable, debido a su impredecible respuesta refractiva e inmune.

OBJETIVO: Em locais onde a exposição aos raios do sol durante o inverno é limitada, a densidade mineral óssea (DMO) pode apresentar variações sazonais, elevando-se durante o período do verão e diminuindo durante o inverno. Tem sido sugerido que esta variação pode influenciar a avaliação prospectiva de estudos de DMO. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se a estação do ano está associada a variações nos valores de DMO. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, de base clínica, desenvolvido no estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Estudos densitométricos representativos dos períodos do verão/inverno foram selecionados para análise. As densitometrias foram realizadas em aparelho Hologic 4500 através da técnica dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTADOS/CONCLUSÕES: De 853 exames densitométricos realizados durante um período de 12 meses, 201 foram realizados no verão e 321 no inverno. Os valores de DMO, corrigidos para o peso corporal, não diferiram significamente entre o grupo de indivíduos que realizou o exame no verão ou no inverno (P>0,05). Em conclusão, no RS a estação do ano não afeta os resultados da DMO e não precisa ser levada em conta quando da interpretação dos estudos densitométricos. Este achado, provavelmente, pode ser extrapolado para as demais regiões do Brasil, uma vez que o inverno nestas regiões é menos severo que no RS.

OBJECTIVE: In places where sun exposure during the winter is limited, bone mineral density (BMD) may present seasonal variations, increasing during the summer and decreasing during the winter period. There have been suggestions that this variation could influence prospective evaluations of BMD studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the seasons of the year (summer/winter) are associated to variations in BMD values. METHODS: Clinic based cross-sectional study, conducted in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Densitometric studies representative of the periods of winter/summer were selected. The densitometric studies were realized in a Hologic 4500 unit, using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Of 853 densitometric measurements realized during a 12-month period, 201 were realized in the summer, and 321 in the winter. The BMD measurements, corrected to body weight, did not differ between the group of individuals that were tested in the summer or winter (P>0.05). In conclusion, in RS, the season of the year did not affect the BMD results, and does not need to be taken into account when analyzing densitometry measurements. This finding probably could be extrapolated to other regions of Brazil, since winter in those areas is less severe than in RS.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a freqüência de osteoporose de acordo com os sítios ósseos avaliados, utilizando um estudo transversal de base clínica. Foram avaliados 610 exames densitométricos em relação a freqüência de osteoporose/osteopenia e concordância do diagnóstico de acordo com o local avaliado. Apesar de alta correlação da DMO entre os sítios ósseos, a freqüência de osteoporose variou de acordo com o sítio avaliado. Osteoporose esteve presente em 14 e 18% dos pacientes, quando considerado o colo do fêmur e fêmur total, e 42 e 30% quando considerados o triângulo do Ward e coluna (p< 0,05). Um quarto das mulheres consideradas em risco aumentado de fratura pelo exame da coluna lombar foi classificado como normal pelo estudo do colo do fêmur; 16% com risco aumentado pelo estudo do colo do fêmur foi classificado como normal no estudo da coluna. Este estudo demonstra que existe discordância nos resultados densitométricos de acordo com a área estudada, afetando a ocorrência de osteoporose. Para julgamento clínico de risco de fratura, a avaliação combinada de dois sítios ósseos é o procedimento mais adequado.

In this study a cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate the frequency of osteoporosis according to the site used. Six hundred and ten densitometric exams were analyzed regarding the frequency of osteoporosis/osteopenia according to the bone site. Besides the high correlation of bone density among the different sites analyzed, the frequency of osteoporosis has significantly changed with respect to the bone site examined. Osteoporosis was present in 14% and 18% of the patients when neck or total femur were used for diagnosis, whereas these numbers were 42% and 30% for Ward's triangle and lumbar spine sites, respectively. About 25% of the patients who were considered at risk for bone fracture using the lumbar spine evaluation were considered at no risk when the femoral neck was used as reference; on the other hand, 16% considered at increased risk using the femur were considered at no risk at lumbar spine. In conclusion, the frequency of osteoporosis changes according to the site used. For fracture risk assessment, the use of at least two different bone sites would be the best approach.

Recentemente disponível para uso comercial no Brasil, o iodo 123 (123I) apresenta várias vantagens em relação ao iodo 131 (131I) para estudos tireoideanos. O objetivo deste estudo foi a padronização de valores de referência para o índice de captação do 123I em 6 e 24 horas em uma amostra de indivíduos procedentes de Porto Alegre, RS. Uma equação sugerida para estimar a captação do radioiodo em 24 horas a partir dos valores de 6 horas também foi avaliada. Trinta e nove voluntários (29 mulheres, 10 homens, idade média 34 anos) eutireoideanos, foram submetidos ao teste de captação do 123I como descrito a seguir: 123I (CNEN - IEN, Rio de Janeiro) 0,037MBq foram administrados por via oral e a atividade na tireóide foi determinada 6 e 24 horas após, através da contagem na região cervical por 60 segundos. A captação foi expressa como percentual da dose administrada [Captação % = (contagens cervicais - contagens da coxa) / ( contagens do padrão - contagens do ambiente). A estimativa da captação em 24 horas foi feita através da equação: Captação 24 h % = 73,2 x Log10 (% captação em 6 horas) - 55,7. O valor médio da captação em 6 horas foi de 15,8 % ± 3,3 (I.C. 95% 9,4-22,2 %) e em 24 horas 24,6 % ± 6,4 (I.C. 95 % 12,7 - 36,1%). Uma correlação significativa entre os valores estimados e medidos em 24 horas foi encontrada (r = 0,55, p < 0,01), mas com importante variação individual. Resumindo, definimos os valores de referência do índice de captação do 123I para nossa população e sugerimos seja adotado o tempo de 6 horas como rotina.

Recently 123 Iodine (123I) has become available for commercial use in Brazil. It has several advantages over the commonly used 131 Iodine (131I) for thyroidal studies. The aim of this study was to establish the reference values for thyroid 123I uptake at 6 and 24h in a sample of healthy individuals from Porto Alegre, RS. An equation for estimation of iodine uptake at 24h using the values of 6h was also evaluated. Thirty nine healthy volunteers (29 females, 10 males; mean age 34 years) without previous thyroid disease and normal thyroid function tests were submitted to thyroid 123I uptake test as follows: 123I (CNEN - IEN, Rio de Janeiro) 0.037MBq was administered orally and the activity in the thyroid gland was determined after 6 and 24h by counting over the neck during 60 seconds. The uptake was expressed as a percentage of administered dose corrected for extrathyroid (thigh) activity. The 24h 123I uptake was estimated from the equation: 24h % Uptake = 73.2 x Log10 (% Uptake 6h) - 55.7. The mean value at 6h was 15.8% ± 3.3 (95 % C.I 9.4-22.2 %) and at 24h was 24.6 % ± 6.4 (95 % C.I. 12.7 - 36.1 %). Significant correlation between estimated and measured values at 24h was found (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), but with significant individual variation. In summary, the values of reference for our population were defined and we suggest that the thyroid uptake should be done at 6h instead of 24h.

The Health Administration Agencies of many municipalities in Greater Buenos Aires (GBA) receive frequent reports on triatomines in houses. The aim of this work was to identify and describe the dispersal foci of Triatoma infestans in an urban neighborhood of GBA, and contribute to the knowledge of the epidemiological situation in the region. In June 1998, potentially infested places were entomologically evaluated. T. infestans was only detected in a hen building for egg production, which housed approximately 6,000 birds. A total of 2,930 insects were collected. Density was about 9 triatomines/m². The proportions of fifth instar nymphs and adults were significantly higher than those of the other stages (p<0.001). The number of triatomines collected largely exceeded the highest domestic infestation found in one house from rural endemic areas of Argentina. Though triatomines were negative for Trypanosoma cruzi, they could acquire the parasite by coming in contact with infected people living in GBA. Besides, the numerous and widely distributed places housing hens and chickens, would favor the settlement of the vector. Together, both facts may constitute a risk of parasitic vectorial transmission. It is recommended to intensify systematic activities of vector search and case detection in GBA.