Resumo O uso de biomateriais capazes de gerar uma resposta biológica tem sido um dos maiores progressos em medicina regenerativa, devido à sua habilidade de suportar o crescimento e estimular a regeneração do tecido danificado. Neste contexto, biocerâmicas, particularmente o vidro bioativo (VB), foram o objetivo de múltiplos estudos. A técnica de adição de agentes porogênicos para a síntese de scaffolds é uma técnica interessante, pois vários tipos de agentes porogênicos podem ser usados. Este estudo propôs obter scaffolds através de quatro agentes porogênicos e avaliar os efeitos que a mudança na temperatura de tratamento poderiam ter em sua cristalinidade. Scaffolds de vidro bioativo obtidos pela técnica sol-gel 100S (100% SiO2) mais agentes porogênicos (parafina 1, parafina 2, cera e CMC - carboximetilcelulose) foram preparados e caracterizados. Como os melhores resultados foram obtidos com a parafina 1, scaffolds com composição 58S (60%SiO2-36%CaO-4%P2O5) e 100S usando parafina 1 como agente porogênico foram preparados. Os scaffolds foram submetidos a diferentes temperaturas de tratamento para avaliar a cristalinidade do material. A estrutura de poros foi analisada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura e microtomografia computadorizada e apresentou tamanho, distribuição e porosidade satisfatória, características importantes pois permitem migração celular, transporte de nutrientes, vascularização e crescimento tecidual. Por meio da difração de raios X constatou-se a natureza amorfa dos scaffolds. A 900 °C, scaffolds de VB 58S e 100S tiveram um pequeno aumento na sua cristalinidade. As análises de BET (adsorção de N2) mostraram estrutura mesoporosa no material. A área de superfície específica variou de 73,2 m2/g no scaffold 58S tratado a 800 °C até 331,2 m2/g no scaffold 100S tratado a 800 °C. O material não é tóxico pelos ensaios MTT de citotoxicidade. Os resultados mostraram que é possível adicionar agentes porogênicos ao VB obtido via sol-gel e obter scaffolds favoráveis à regeneração tecidual óssea.

Abstract The use of biomaterials capable of generating a biological response has been one of the biggest progresses in regenerative medicine, due to their ability to support growth stimulation and damaged tissue regeneration. In this context, bioceramics, particularly bioactive glass (BG), were the subject of many studies. The technique of porogen agent addition for the synthesis of scaffolds is an interesting procedure, because several types of porogen agents can be used. The aim of the present work was to obtain scaffolds using four porogen agents and to evaluate the effects that a change in treatment temperature can have on their crystallinity. Scaffolds of sol-gel bioactive glass 100S (100% SiO2) using as porogen agents paraffin 1, paraffin 2, wax and CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) were synthesized and characterized. As the best results were obtained with paraffin 1, scaffolds 58S (60%SiO2-36%CaO-4%P2O5) and 100S using paraffin 1 as porogen agent were prepared. The scaffolds were submitted to different treatment temperatures to evaluate the effect on their crystallinity. Pore structure was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography. Scaffolds presented satisfactory pore size and pore size distribution, important characteristics for scaffolds because they allow cell migration, nutrient transport, vascularization and tissue ingrowth. X-ray powder diffraction showed the amorphous nature of the scaffolds. At 900 °C, scaffolds BG 58S and 100S showed a small increase in crystallinity. BET analysis (N2-adsorption) indicated a mesoporous structure. The specific surface area varied from 73.2 m2/g for scaffold 58S treated at 800 °C to 331.2 m2/g for scaffold 100S treated at 800 °C. The materials obtained showed no toxic effects by MTT cytotoxicity assays. Results showed that the development of scaffolds is possible using porogen agents, with 3D interconnected porous structure and might therefore be a potential biomaterial for bone tissue regeneration.

Resumo O Mieloma Múltiplo é uma neoplasia de linfócitos B da medula óssea, caracterizada por inflamação com uma intensa secreção de fatores de crescimento que promovem o aumento do volume do tumor, sobrevivência celular, migração e invasão. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da pravastatina, uma droga usada para reduzir o colesterol, em um linhagem de MM. O ciclo celular e viabilidade foram determinadas por Trypan Blue e iodeto de propídio. IL6, VEGF, bFGF e TGF foram quantificadas por ELISA e qRT-PCR, incluindo aqui de HMG CoA redutase. Observou-se a redução da viabilidade das células, aumento de células na fase G0/G1 do ciclo celular e redução no VEGF e bFGF, sem influência na expressão da enzima 3-Metil-Glutaril Coenzima A redutase. Os resultados demonstraram que a pravastatina induz parada no ciclo celular em G0/G1 e diminuição da produção de fatores de crescimento em várias linhas de células de Mieloma.

Abstract Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B cell bone marrow neoplasia characterized by inflammation with an intense secretion of growth factors that promote tumor growth, cell survival, migration and invasion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pravastatin, a drug used to reduce cholesterol, in a MM cell line.Cell cycle and viability were determinate by Trypan Blue and Propidium Iodide. IL6, VEGF, bFGF and TGFβ were quantified by ELISA and qRT-PCR including here de HMG CoA reductase. It was observed reduction of cell viability, increase of cells in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and reducing the factors VEGF and bFGF without influence on 3-Methyl-Glutaryl Coenzyme A reductase expression.The results demonstrated that pravastatin induces cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 and decreased production of growth factors in Multiple Myeloma cell line.

Foi identificado xenótimo (YPO4) aluvionar em concentrados de bateia colhidos numa campanha de prospecção de terras raras desenvolvida pelo ex-IGM no centro-leste de Portugal. O xenótimo ocorre em grãos sub-rolados de dimensão média ≈ 250 µm e a sua identidade foi confirmada através de difracção de raios X e análises de microssonda electrónica. As concentrações mais significativas foram identificadas em Nisa, S.to António das Areias e Marvão. A geologia regional e o cortejo mineral das amostras sugerem que a proveniência do xenótimo possa estar nos maciços graníticos de Penamacor e Nisa e ainda as Arcoses da Beira Baixa e níveis de cascalheiras Plio-Plistocénicas com intercalações argilo-arenosas. Embora o seu interesse económico seja actualmente limitado, a procura deste mineral pode aumentar como resultado da potencial utilização de ítrio no fabrico de supercondutores estáveis à temperatura ambiente.

Trace amounts of alluvial xenotime (YPO4) were identified in black sands from pan concentrates collected during a rare earth reconnaissance survey, carried by the Instituto Geológico e Mineiro (IGM) in Central Eastern Portugal. The xenotime occurs as sub-rounded grains with an average size of ≈ 250 mm, and its identification was confirmed through XRD methods and EPMA analysis. It is believed that xenotime is more abundant than normally recognized and therefore frequently overlooked. The largest concentrations of this mineral occur in Nisa, S.to António das Areias and Marvão. The regional geology and the accompanying mineral suite suggest xenotime originates from the granitic massifs of Nisa and Penamacor as well as the Beira Baixa Arkoses and levels of Plio-Pleistocene gravels interspersed with sandy clay. Although its economic interest is presently limited, its demand may increase as a result of the potential use of yttrium in the manufacturing of superconductors that are stable at ambient temperature.

Site-selective luminescence spectroscopy (SSL) was employed to resolve the vibracional modes in self-assembled poly(p-phenylene vinylene), PPV. Using Franck-Condon analysis, the PPV spectra can be well described by three effective vibrational modes at 330, 1160 and 1550 cm-1. As the temperature increases from 4 to 180 K the electron-phonon coupling (S factor) remains constant for the 1550 cm-1 mode while for other lower energy modes the coupling increases monotonically. This trend is consistent with the decrease of the conjugation length due to the increase of thermal disorder. We find that the temperature dependence of vibrational progression in PPV films is determined mainly by low frequency torsional modes.

Two variants (A and B) of the widely employed Walker 256 rat tumor cells are known. When inoculated sc, the A variant produces solid, invasive, highly metastasizing tumors that cause severe systemic effects and death. We have obtained a regressive variant (AR) whose sc growth is slower, resulting in 70-80% regression followed by development of immunity against A and AR variants. Simultaneously with the beginning of tumor regression, a temporary anemia developed (~8 days duration), accompanied by marked splenomegaly (~300%) and changes in red blood cell osmotic fragility, with mean corpuscular fragility increasing from 4.1 to 6.5 g/l NaCl. The possibility was raised that plasma factors associated with the immune response induced these changes. In the present study, we identify and compare the osmotic fragility increasing activity of plasma fractions obtained from A and AR tumor bearers at different stages of tumor development. The results showed that by day 4 compounds precipitating in 60% (NH4)2SO4 and able to increase red blood cell osmotic fragility appeared in the plasma of A and AR tumor bearers. Later, these compounds disappeared from the plasma of A tumor bearers but slightly increased in the plasma of AR tumor bearers. Furthermore, by day 10, compounds precipitating between 60 and 80% (NH4)2SO4 and with similar effects appeared only in plasma of AR tumor bearers. The salt solubility, production kinetics and hemolytic activity of these compounds resemble those of the immunoglobulins. This, together with their preferential increase in rats bearing the AR variant, suggest their association with an immune response against this tumor.

The influence of electron-phonon coupling in the emission spectra of self-assembly (SA) films of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) is discussed. PPV is an important polymeric system because it exhibits strong luminescence effect. A semi-empirical model was used to analyze the photoluminescence spectra of PPV. This model assumes that defects along the molecule give rise to a distribution of conjugated segments of different lengths. In addition, it was considered that electronic transition was essentially coupled with three effective phonon modes with correspondent energies at 62, -139 and 192 meV, which were observed experimentally.

Cancer anemia is classified as an anemia of chronic diseases, although it is sometimes the first symptom of cancer. Cancer anemia includes a hemolytic component, important in the terminal stage when even transfused cells are rapidly destroyed. The presence of a chronic component and the terminal complications of the illness limit studies of the hemolytic component. A multifocal model of tumor growth was used here to simulate the terminal metastatic dissemination stage (several simultaneous inoculations of Walker 256 cells). The hemolytic component of anemia began 3-4 days after inoculation in 100% of the rats and progressed rapidly thereafter: Hb levels dropped from 14.9 ± 0.02 to 8.7 ± 0.06 from days 7 to 11 (~5 times the physiologically normal rate in rats) in the absence of bleeding. The development of anemia was correlated (r2 = 0.86) with the development of other systemic effects such as anorexia. There was a significant decrease in the osmotic fragility of circulating erythrocytes: the NaCl concentration causing 50% lysis was reduced from 4.52 ± 0.06 to 4.10 ± 0.01 (P<0.01) on day 7, indicating a reduction in erythrocyte volume. However, with mild metabolic stress (4-h incubation at 37oC), the erythrocytes showed a greater increase in osmotic fragility than the controls, suggesting marked alteration of erythrocyte homeostasis. These effects may be due to primary plasma membrane alterations (transport and/or permeability) and/or may be secondary to metabolic changes. This multifocal model is adequate for studying the hemolytic component of cancer anemia since it is rapid, highly reproducible and causes minimal animal suffering.

In the course of studies on the effects of septal area lesions on neuroimmunomodulation and Walker 256 tumor development, it was observed that tumor-induced sodium and water retention was less marked in lesioned than in non-lesioned rats. In the present study possible mechanisms involved in this phenomenon were investigated. The experiments were performed in septal-lesioned (LW; N = 15) and sham-operated (SW; N = 7) 8-week-old male Wistar rats, which received multifocal simultaneous subcutaneous (sc) inoculations of Walker 256 tumor cells about 30 days after the stereotaxic surgery. Control groups (no tumor, sham-operated food-restricted (SFR), N = 7) and lesioned food-restricted (LFR, N = 10) were subjected to a feeding pattern similar to that observed in tumor-bearing animals. Multifocal inoculation of Walker 256 tumor rapidly induces anorexia, which is paradoxically accompanied by an increase in body weight, as a result of renal Na+ and fluid retention. These effects of the tumor were also seen in LW rats, although the rise in fractional sodium balance during the early clinical period was significantly smaller than in SW rats (day 4: SW = 47.6 ± 6.4% and LW = 13.8 ± 5.2%; day 5: SW = 57.5 ± 3.5% and LW = 25.7 ± 4.8%; day 6: SW = 54.4 ± 3.8% and LW = 32.1 ± 4.4%; P<0.05), suggesting a temporary reduction in tumor-induced sodium retention. In contrast, urine output was significantly reduced in SW rats and increased in LW rats (LW up to -0.85 and SW up to 4.5 ml/100 g body weight), with no change in osmolar excretion. These temporary changes in the tumor's effects on LW rats may reflect a "reversal" of the secondary central antidiuretic response induced by the tumor (from antidiuretic to diuretic).

E feito um estudo da ultra-estrutura da forma epismastigota do Trypanosoma cruzi mantida em meio de cultivo acelular. O núcleo das formas em divisão apresenta um aspecto homogêneo. Microtúbulos intranucleares são observados durante a divisão. No entanto, a membrana nuclear permanece íntegra. O citoplasma apresenta-se com vacúolos de dimensões e aspectos variados. Com o método do ácido periódico-tiosemicarbazida-proteinato de prata, polissacaríáeos e/ou glicoproteínas foram localizados na membrana celular e na membrana que delimita certos vacúolos citoplasmáticos.

In this paper the fine structure of the epimastigotes forms of Trypanosoma cruzi maintained in an acellular culture medium, is described. During division the nucleus shows a homogenous structure owing to the dispersion of its chromatin and nucleolar material. Microtubules similar to those of a mitotic spindle in metazoan cells appear, running frorn one pole to the other. During the whole process of division the nuclear membrane remains intact. The cytoplam shows many vacuoles. With the cytochemical method of acid periodic-thiosemicarbazide-silver proteinate, a polysaccharide surface coat is observed on the whole surface membrane system of T. cruzi. A positive re- action is also observed in the membranes of some vacuoles in the cytoplasm of the parasites.

Há muito tempo é sabido serem as aves refratárias ao "T. (S.) cruzi". Em trabalhos anteriores verificou-se que nas galinhas pode-se obter infecções "in ovo" diagnosticáveis até o 21º de incubação, porém, logo após o nascimento os pintos mostram-se refratários ao parasito, que é destruído no ponto de inoculação. Neste trabalho verificou-se que tripomastigotas injetados diretamente no sangue, podem ser esporadicamente encontrados até 1h depois. Verificou-se também que galinhas bursectomizadas, com associação de testosterona "in ovo" e ciclofosfamida nos 4 primeiros dias de vida permanecem refratárias. Entretanto, o soro dessas aves perde a capacidade lítica que o soro das aves normais possui para os epimastigotas do "T. (S.) cruzi", pela qual são responsáveis as gama-globulinas séricas, conforme foi verificado após o fracionamento do soro em coluna de DEAE-Sefádex A50. A dissociação dos 2 fenômenos, mostra que a capacidade lítica pode ser atribuída a um "anticorpo natural" - uma vez que é eliminada ou grandemente diminuída com a supressão do sistema imunitário bursa- dependente - porém, o mesmo não se pode concluir quanto à refratariedade. Esta, provavelmente, deve estar relacionada ao próprio metabolismo celular após o nascimento.

The refractory state of birds to the "T (S) cruzi" is well known since long ago. In previous papers it was possible to observe in chicks, infection "in ovo", still present at the last dat of incubation. Nevertheless after hatching the chicks become refractory to the parasite. The destruction of the parasites takes place in the skin at the inoculation point. Throughout these studies the authors verified that the trypomastigotes forms disappear within an hour, after being injected directly into the blood stream. Bursectomized chicks by treatment with testosterone "in ovo" plus cyclophosphamide in the first four days of life, show also the refractory condition, but their sera lack the lytic capacity to the epimastigotes of "T. (S.) cruzi", which is peculiar to normal chicken sera. Fractionation of chicken sera in column of DEAE Sephadex-A50 led to the conclusion that the gammaglobulins are the principal responsible for these lytic capacity. The dissociation of the two phenomena shows that the lytic capacity must be attributed to a "natural antibody" - since it is eliminated or become greatly reduced by depression of the immunity bursa-dependent system. Regarding to the refractory condition, the same conclusion cannot be drawn. Perhaps it is related to cellular metabolism after the process of hatching.

Como a produção de oocistos pelo T. gondii no gato parece vinculada à forma cística, uma vez que ela não ocorre pela ministração de formas vegetativas (17), cérebros de camundongos e ratos, com infecção crônica de T. gondii, forma ministrados "per os" a um total de 32 gatos. Com uma amostra (TC1) nenhum dos 8 gatos experimentados eliminou oocistos atribuiíveis a T. gondii; e com as outras 3 amostras a produção de oocistos foi de 25% ("pombo") e 37,5% ("sonia" e "AS-28"). Esses resultados forma atribuídos, em parte, à pobreza de cistos nos cérebros ministrados aos gatos; e, em parte, à existência em condições naturais de amostras de "T. gondii" oocistogênicas, paucloocistogênicas e noocistogênicas. Ao contrário dos gatos infectados com formas vegetativas (17), nenhum gato morreu de toxoplasmose; microscopicamente as lesões com toxoplasmas foram de pouca intensidade e o número de reações de Sabin-Feldman (RSF) negativas foi, relativamente, elevado. Foram vistas raras formas evolutivas do T. gondii no epitélio intestinal de um gato, não parasitado por Isospora as quais são menores que as de I. felis e I. rivolta, do mesmo modo que os seus oocistos. Assim como parece não existir imunidade entre as Isospora (I. felis e I. rivolta), também parece não existir imunidade entre estas e o T. gondii. Em 185 gatos examinados, foi encontrado um deles com oocistos de T. gondii em condições naturais (0,54%). É discutida a importância do gato na epidemilogia da toxoplasmose, destacando-se que a descoberta do ciclo sexuado, decisiva para a classificação do parasito, parece não ter tido repercussão semelhante na epidemiologia.

As the production of oocysts by T. gondii in the cat seems to be correlated with the cystic form, once it does not occur when vegetative forms are given to cats, (17), brains of mice and rats with T. gondii chronic infection were orally administered to 32 cats. With TC1 strain none of the eight cats inoculated excreted Toxoplasma-type oocysts. With the 3 other strains the results were the following: "pombo" strain - 25%; "AS-28" strain - 37,5% and "sonia" strain - 37,5%. These results were interpreted partially as a consequence of the scarcity of cysts in the brains adminstered to cats and partially due to the existence in natural conditions of T. gondii strain which may be oocystogenic, paucioocystogenic and anoocystogenic. Diverselly from the results obtained when cats are fed with vegetative forms (17), none of the inoculated animals died on account of toxoplasmosis; microscopically the lesions with toxoplasms were very few and the number of negative RSF was relativelly high. A few evolutive forms of T. gondii were also studied in the gut epithelium of a cat without Isospora and, in the same manner as the oocystes, they are smaller than those of I. felis and I. rivolta. As cross immunity seems not to occur between the species of Isospora (I. felis and I. rivolta) it is possible that the same happens between the last ones and T. gondii. From a total of 185 cats examined only one (0,54%) excreted (in natural conditions) oocysts atributable to T. gondii. The role of the cat in the epidemiology of Toxoplasmosis is discussed emphasizing the fact that the discovery of the sexual cycle was decisive for the classification of the parasite, but was probably not so valuable for the epidemiological studies.

"A refratariedade das galinhas ao T. (S.) cruzi, ocorre desde o nascimento e não é eliminada pela bursectomia hormonal. Noventa e oito pintos de 1 a 15 dias de vida (normais ou tratados com testosterona) inoculados com o T. (S.) cruzi foram negativos. Deste modo, dificilmente a refratariedade poderia ser interpretada como decorrência de um "anticorpo natural", uma vez que a bursectomia provoca uma queda na produção de anticorpos e das gamaglobulinas. Em cerca de 50% de ovos embrionados (normais ou tratados com o hormônio) foram vistos flagelados do 4º ao 12º dia de inoculação, observando-se ninhos de amastigotos em alguns embriões. Os pintos nascidos dos mesmos grupos dos ovos examinados e positivos, foram sistematicamente negativos pelo exame do sangue. Um deles sacrificado horas depois de nascido, mostrou amastigotos no coração, mas esses parasitos pareciam degenerados. Provavelmente, se alguns chegam a evoluir para tripomastigotos, estes são destruídos á medida que as células hospedeiras se rompem, e assim jamais são encontrados no sangue circulante.

It has already been shown that the refractory state of chickens toward "T. (S.) cruzi" appears early at time of hatch. Fifty-four normal newly hatched and inoculated chicks were negative. it has also been verified that this refractory state persists even after hormonal bursectomy (eggs being injected with 2.5 mg of testosterone). Forty-four bursectomized and inoculated newly hatched chicks were negative. If we consider the fact that bursectomy causes a deficiency in the production of antibodies and gammaglobulins, the refractory state seems not to occur on account of a "natural antibody". Inoculations of "T. (S.) cruzi" made in 153 eggs (normal or treated with testosterone) produced infections of variable intensity in about 50% of them. Although chicks newly hatched from the same groups were always negative. As we have some embryos to be positive until the 21st day of incubation it seems probable that some of those not previously examined and from which these chicks were hatched might have been positive too. Nevertheless, all of them have not parasithemia. So, something happens near the time of hatch that turns the organisms of birds an unfavorable environment to the parasites. The most impressive idea is that in several of the positive embryos the parasites found were remainders of the inoculum and resulting of the infection of the chorioallantoic membrane and its surrounding blood vessels. However there is no doubt that in some embryos invasion of tissues by the parasites definetely occured with amastigote multiplication forms specially in the heart and liver. These amastigotes could persist for sometime after hatching but it seems that they degenerated and only excepcionally could accomplish its evolution to trypomastigote forms. And even when this happened the flagellates were destroyed as soon as the host cells burst. Probably that is the reason why they were not met in the peripheral blood. Parasithemia of the embryos results mainly of extracellular multiplication. Epimastigotes in binary division are very frequent.

Quatro frangos e três pombos (1ª e 2ª experiências) não se infectaram com o "T. (S.) cruzi" (amostra Y), injetados na pele com doses de 9,8 x10*5 a 3,8 x 10*6 parasitos (mistura de formas de cultivo tripomastigotos sangüíneos). Em outros 2 frangos (6ª experiência), a refratariedade não foi rompida com, respectivamente, 5 injeções peritoneais em dias alternados, de 2,8 x 10*6 a 6,1 x 10*6 parasitos, e 5 injeções peritoneais diárias do conteúdo de um cultivo suspenso em salina, adicionado de tripamastigotos sangüíneos, obtidos de 3 camundongos jovens infectados. E, ainda em outros 2 frangos (7ª experiência), a refratariedade não foi rompida associando-se a doses peritoneais de 8,1 x 10*6 e 3,5 x 10*7 parasitos, respectivamente, a ministração de dexametasona, seja com o início da droga no mesmo dia da inoculação (0,4 mg/8 doses/10 dias), seja com o ínicio da droga 3dias antes do dia da inoculação (0,4 mg/10 doses/12 dias). Nessas 11 aves a refratariedade foi comprovada pela inoculação do sangue em camundongos albinos recém-nascidos (total de 54 inoculaçoes negativas em 301 camundongos); e por 52 xenodiagnósticos negativos (total de 175 larvas e adultos de Triatoma infestans e Panstrongylys megistus). As inoculações e os xenodiagnósticos foram feitos entre 1 hora (h) e 96 h e aos 10, 20 e 30 dias depois da inoculação das aves. (Quadro 1). Portanto, além da refratariedade, ficou demonstrado que os parasitos não passam para o sangue circulante das aves. em 10 frangos (3ª, 4ª e 5ª experiências) inoculados na pele com, 1,9 x 10*6 a 3,7 x 10*6 parasitos, verificou-se a duração da viabilidade dos parasitos nas áreas injetadas. Estas foram puncionadas de 1/2 com 1/2 hora, e o material obtido microscopado e inoculado em camundongos recém-nascidos. De 17 inoculações feitas até às 8:30 h, doze foram positivas, inclusive a última; e de 13 inoculações feitas entre 9 e 90 h (as 4 primeiras ainda de 1/2 em 1/2 h), todas foram negativas. Por outro lado, de 10 xenodiagnósticos feitos nas áreas injetadas, entre 1/2h e 9 h após a inoculação das aves, apenas 2 foram positivos; e de 10 xenodiagnósticos feitos entre 9 e 90 h, todos foram negativos. (Quadro 2). Em 4 frangos (8ª experiência), 10 xenodiagnósticos foram feitos entre 1 e 10 h, sendo 2 positivos (7 h e 8 h). Apesar de dificuldades operacionais na execução dos xenodiagnósticos, nas condições experimentais deste trabalho, eles se mostraram inferiores ás inoculações em camundongos recém-nascidos, como prova diagnóstica laboratorial. Portanto, verificou-se que ainda são encontrados parasitos viáveis nas áreas injetadas, pelo menos até ás 8:30 h depois inoculação. todavia, a partir de 2 h após a inoculação os parasitos diminuem de número progressivamente nas áreas injetadas, ao mesmo tempo que mostram sensíveis alterações morfológicas, encontrando-se também muito deles mortos. Ao exame direto, não mais foram vistos depois das 5:30 h. As inoculações provocam na pele dos frangos...

In experiments number one and two, four chickens and three pigeons were not infected when subjected to skin inoculations containing parasites doses of 9.9 X 10*5 and 3.8 X 10*6 both from culture plus blood borne forms. In experiment number 6 the refractory state was not broken when two other chickens received every other day 5 intraperitoneal injections of 2.8 X 10*6 to 6.1 X 10*6 parasites or 5 intraperitoneal injections daily of the parasites from a culture tube suspended in saline plus blood borne forms from 3 infected young mice. The refractory state was not broken also in two chickens from experiment number 7, where dexamethasone was associated to the intraperitoneal parasites doses of 8.1 X 10*6 and 3.5 X 10*7, respectively. This drug was administered either on the first day (0.4 mg/8 doses/10 days) or three days prior to the inoculation (0.4 mg/10 doses/12 days). In these 11 birds the refractory state was proven following blood inoculation to newborn albino mice (54 negative inoculations in 301 mice), 52 negative xenodiagnosis tests (175 larvae and adults from Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus). The inoculations and the xenodiagnosis were performed between 1 and 96 hours and on the 10th, 20th and 30th days after the bird were inoculated. Therefore, besides the refractory condition it was alsoshown that the parasites do not enter the peripheral blood. Table 1. In the experiments number3, 4 and 5, a total of 10 chickens were inoculated in the skin with 1.8 X 10*6 to 3.6 X 10*6 parasites and viable forms were found in the site. In these areas punctions were made every half-anhour and the harvested material inoculated into newborn mice. From 17 inoculations performed within 8½ hours, 12 were positive, including the last one; and from 12 performed between 9 and 90 hours (the first four still made every half-and-hour), all were negative. On the other hand, from 10 xenodiagnosis made in the sites of inoculation between hal-and-hour and 9 hours after inoculation, two were positive; and all xenodiagnosis performed between 9 and 90 hours were negative. When 10 xenodiagnosis were repeated in 4 new chickens (experiment number 8) between half-an-hour and 10 hours only 2 were positive (7 and 8 hours). Table 2 . The xenodiagnosis under the experimental conditions of this work, as a laboratory diagnostic test, was inferior to the newborn mice inoculation. Then viable parasites were still present in the inoculated areas at least 8½ hours after inoculation. However, the number of parasites decreased progressively in the inoculated areas, 2 hours after inoculation, showing at the same time clear morphological alterations as well as many dead forms. Under direct examination none was seen after 5½ hours of inoculation. The inoculation cause an inflammatory picture of chicken skin that envolves both the adipose tissue and muscles leading to abscesses formation. Phagocytosis which is chiefly produced by heterophil leucocytestakes place...

O trabalho refere as observações feitas em 1947 em um foco de leishmaniose muco-cutânea na Baixada Fluminense (Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil). A existência da moléstia como uma endemia na região foi comprovada pelo encontro de 21 cicatrizes típicas, reagindo positivamente à intradermo-reação com antígeno específico, algumas datando de 5 a 15 anos. Na época dos trabalhos, entretanto, foi constatado um "surto epidêmico", o qual coincidira com uma grande derrubada florestal para fabrico de carvão vegetal. De 306 pessoas examinadas (cêrca de 50% da população local), foram encontradas 39 com lesões leishmanióticas (12,7%). Dentro e fora dos domicílios foram capturados Phlebotomus intermedius. Em 12 cães examinados foi encontrado um com diagnóstico provável da moléstia. Quinze gatos examinados mostraram-se negativos e, do mesmo modo, 28 mamíferos silvestres de pequeno porte. Dos 39 paciente, 4 tinham lesões mucosas (10,3%); 16 apresentavam lesões múltiplas (41,0%); e 19 eram mulheres (48,7%). Havia absoluta predominância das lesões nas partes descobertas do corpo. Cêrca de 1/3 dos casos era em crianças até 10 anos, atestando uma intensa transmissão domiciliária. Existiam casas com 2 a 6 enfermos. Com base nos informes dos pacientes ou responsáveis quanto ao tempo de doença (e admitindo-se um período incubativo médio de 2 meses), conclui-se que, provàvelmente, a grande maioria das infecções se dera entre julho e novembro, coincidindo com a derrubada florestal acima citada. Em 36 casos foi feita a intradermo-reação de Montenegro, obtendo-se respostas duvidosas em 2 e positivas em 34, com intensidade variável. Foram feitas 18 biópsias. Na epiderme havia hiperacantose e, freqüentement, pseudoepiteliomatose com globos córneos e microabcessos; e na derme observaram-se 2 quadros característicos: ou um infiltrado de plasmócitos predominantes, ou uma reação granulomatosa, os quais, às vêzes, se associavam. Em geral, a granulomatose ocorria nos casos mais antigos, isolada ou associada à infiltração, que predominava nos casos mais recentes da enfermidade. A granulomatose traduziria um estado hiperérgico do organismo, uma vez que os indivífuos que a apresentaram tinham maior tempo de doença e reagiam fortemente à intradermo-reação. As leishmanias nunca se mostraram muito numerosas nos cortes estudados. Em 3 paciente foi observada cura espontânea. Foram tratados 26 doentes, sendo 18 com tártaro emético, 4 com "fuadina" e 4 com ambos os remédios. O tártaro mostrou-se tóxico, embora desse resultados tão bons quanto a "fuadina". Dois paciente com lesões da mucosa nasal não se curaram completamente, não obstante terem recebido ambos os remédios. Cinco anos depois dêste inquérito contatou-se pràticamente a extinção dêste foco de leishmaniose. Durante êsse tempo tinham sido feitas aspersões domiciliárias periódicas com o DDT para combate à malária (NERY GUIMARÃES & BUSTAMANTE, 1953).

The paper reports a survey made in a focus of muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis in a locality of the lowlands of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Baixada Fluminense). The existence of the disease as an endemic of the region was confirmed by the finding of 21 cases with typical scars and responding positively to Montenegro's intradermo-reaction with specific antigen and some of them dating back from 5 to 15 years. At the time of the survey, however, an epidemic outbreak was discovered, coincidig with a great felling of trees for the making of charcoal. Out of 306 persons examined (50% of the local population), 39 presented leishmaniotic lesions (12,7%). Both within the houses and outside, adults Phlebotomus intermedius were captured. From 12 houses, 136 specimens were captured (11,3 per house). Out of 23 dogs examined, one was found with a probable diagnosis of elishmaniasis. Fifteen cats were found negative, as well as 28 small wild mammals. From the 39 patients, 4 had mucous lesions (10,3%), 16 presented multiple lesions (41,0%), and 19 were female (48,7%). There was an absolute predominance of lesions on bare parts of the body. About one third of the cases were children of 10 years or less, confirming the intense domiciliary transmission. Some houses had 2 to 6 patients. On basis of informations furnished by the patients of by their relatives as to the time elapsed since the beginning of the infection, and admitting an incubation period of 2 months, it is possible to conclude that the great majority of infections probably occurred between July and December, coinciding with the great felling of trees already referred to. In 36 cases Montenegro's intradermo-reaction was made, with 2 doubtful and 34 positive results of variable intensity. Eighteen biopsies were made, the epidermis presenting hyperacanthosis, and frquently pseudoepitheliomatosis with corneous globules and micro-abscesses. The dermis showed two characteristic pictures: an infiltration with predominance of plasmocytes or a granulomatous lesion with epithelioid and giant cells. In general, granulomatosis occurred in older cases, isolated or associated to infiltration with plasmocytes. It seems that granulomatosis represents a hyperergic condition of the infected organism, as the patients who showed it had the disease for a longer time and reponded strongly to the intradermo-reaction. Leishmaniae were not numerous in sections. Three patients showed spontaneous cure. Twenty six patients were treated, 16 with tartar emetic, 4 with "fuadin" and 4 with both these drugs. Some of the patients treated with tartar showed toxic symptoms, although the results were as good as those obtained with "fuadin". Two patients with nasal mucous lesions were not cured, notwithstanding the use of both these drugs. Five years after this survey, muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis was absent from the region, probably as a consequence of several preiodical DDT house sprayings to combate malaria during the intervening years (NERY GHIMARÃES & BUSTAMANTE, 1953).