The work considers the modeling of turbulent flow in radial diffuser with axial feeding. Due to its claimed capability to predict flow including features such as separation, curvature and adverse pressure gradient, the RNG k-epsilon model of Orzag et al. (1993) is applied in the present analysis. The governing equations are numerically solved using the finite volume methodology. Experiments were conducted to assess the turbulence model. Numerical results of pressure distribution on the front disk surface for different flow conditions when compared to the experimental data indicated that the RNG k-epsilon model is adequate to predict this class of flow.

The role of different cytokines in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferative response and in in vitro granuloma formation was evaluated in a cross-sectional study with patients with the different clinical forms and phases of Schistosoma mansoni infection, as well as a group of individuals "naturally" resistant to infection named normal endemic (NE). The blockage of IL-4 and IL-5 using anti-IL-4 and anti-IL-5 antibodies significantly reduced the PBMC proliferative response to soluble egg (SEA) and adult worm (SWAP) antigens in acute (ACT), chronic intestinal (INT) and hepatosplenic (HS) patients. Similar results were obtained in the in vitro granuloma formation. Blockage of IL-10 had no significant effect on either assay using PBMC from ACT or HS. In contrast, the addition of anti-IL-10 antibodies to PBMC cultures from INT patients significantly increased the proliferative response to SEA and SWAP as well as the in vitro granuloma formation. Interestingly, association of anti-IL-4 and anti-IL-10 antibodies did not increase the PBMC proliferative response of these patients, suggesting that IL-10 may act by modulating IL-4 and IL-5 secretion. Addition of recombinant IL-10 decreased the proliferative response to undetectable levels when PBMC from patients with the different clinical forms were used. Analysis of IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> in the supernatants showed that PBMC from INT patients secreted low levels of IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> upon antigenic stimulation. In contrast, PBMC from NE secreted high levels of IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font>. These data suggest that IL-10 is an important cytokine in regulating the immune response and possibly controlling morbidity in human schistosomiasis mansoni, and that the production of IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> may be associated with resistance to infection.

Em regime descontínuo, o crescimento celular e a formação de 2,3-butanodiol/acetoína por Klebsiella pneumoniae sofrem inibição por concentrações iniciais de sacarose (S0) acima de 60 g/L. Sob condições não inibidoras, uma velocidade máxima de consumo de sacarose de 1,5 g/L/h foi observada. Entretanto, com S0 = 204 g/L, esta velocidade decresceu para 0,15 g/L/h. A fermentação de 204 g/L de sacarose por K. pneumoniae levou à formação de 84,3 g/L de mistura 2,3-butanodiol/acetoína, com uma conversão de 0,41 g/g e uma produtividade de 1,06 g/L/h. Um maior suprimento de oxigênio aumentou a velocidade global do processo mas reduziu a conversão em produto. Em regime descontínuo alimentado, a inibição foi evitada, tendo sido atingida uma concentração final de produtos de 80,0 g/L, com uma produtividade de 2,63 g/L/h e uma conversão de 0,37 g/g.

In batch mode, Klebsiella pneumoniae growth and 2,3-butanediol/acetoin formation are increasingly inhibited by initial sucrose concentrations (S0) over 60 g/L. At non inhibitory conditions, a maximum sucrose consumption rate of 1,5 g/L/h was measured. With S0=204 g/L however, this rate decreased to 0.15 g/L/h. K. pneumoniae fermented 204 g/L sucrose to produce 84.3 g/L of a mixture 2,3-butanediol/acetoin with a yield of 0.41 g/g and a productivity of 1.06 g/L/h. Higher oxygen transfer rates improved the overall process rate but the product yield was reduced. Avoiding substrate inhibition, by performing the fermentation in fed-batch mode, a final 2,3-butanediol/acetoin concentration of 80.0 g/L was achieved. In this case, a productivity of 2.63 g/L/h and a product yield of 0.37 g/g were calculated.

A freqüência e descrição dos efeitos secundários à aplicação subcutânea da vacina antímalãrica SPf66 e placebo, são notificadas para cada dose nos participantes do estudo da eficácia vacinai no Brasil. Efeitos colaterais avaliados duas horas após a aplicação dos preparados foram detectados em 8,0%, 30,2% e 8,8% para a 1ª, 2ª e 3ª doses, respectivamente, no grupo de vacinados; e em 7,0%, 8,5% e 2,9% no grupo que recebeu o placebo. Reações tais como inflamação leve, nódulo e dor freqüentemente acompanhadas de prurido, foram as reações locais mais freqüentes em ambos os grupos (3,8%, 29,1% e 8,5% no gmpo vacinado, e 4,0%, 7,6% e 2,5% no grupo placebo). No grupo que recebeu a vacina, as reações locais foram mais freqüentes em mulheres após a 2ª dose. Os efeitos colaterais sistêmicos basearam-se em sinais e sintomas referidos pelos participantes. Foram mais freqüentes após a aplicação da 1ª dose em ambos os grupos (4,3%, no grupo de vacinados e, 3,0%, no grupo placebo). Alguns participantes referiram mialgias e febre. Nenhum efeito colateral grave foi detectado em nenhuma dose de aplicação ou grupo.

The frequency and description of side effects secondaiy to the subcutaneous application of SPf66 malaria vaccine and placebo are reported for each dose of application in the participants of the vaccine efficacy trial in Brazil. Side effects evaluated two hours after each application were detected in 8.0%, 30.2% and 8.8%, for the Is', and 3"' dose, respectively, in the SPf66group, and in 7.0%, 8.5% and 2.9% in the placebo group. Local reactions such as mild inflammation, nodule and pain or erythema frequently accompanied by pruritus were the most common reactions detected in both groups (3-8%, 29.1% and 8.5% in the SPf66 group and 4.0%, 7.6% and 2.5% in the placebo group). Among vaccinees, local side effects after the 2nd dose were more frequent in females. Systemic side effects were expressed mainly through general symptoms referred by the participants and were most frequent after the 1st dose in both groups (4.3% in the SPf66 group and 3-0% in the placebo group). Muscle aches and fever were refewred by few participants. No severe adverse reactions were detected for either dose of application or group.

O presente artigo descreve a população de estudo e o desenho do ensaio de campo de fase III da vacina sintética SPf66 no Brasil. São avaliados os princípios básicos de validade e precisão, essenciais para a estimação adequada da eficácia vacinal. Os resultados da análise exploratória de dados são discutidos assim como, a abordagem analítica para a estimação da eficácia vacinal. Este trabalho fornece o marco conceitual para futuras publicações.

This paper describes the study population and the study design of the phase III field trial of the SPf66 vaccine in Brazil. Assessment of validity and precision principles necessary for the appropriate evaluation of the protective effect of the vaccine are discussed, as well as the results of the preliminary analyses of the gathered data. The analytical approach for the estimation of the protective effect of the vaccine is presented. This paper provides the conceptual framework for future publications.

Em uma área endêmica onde havia interrupção da transmissão, foram tratados 164 esquistossomóticos com a associação oxamniquine e praziquantel em doses reduzidas. Cada indivíduo tomou de uma só vez uma cápsula de 250mg de oxamniquine e um comprimido de 300mg de praziquantel, ingeridos na nossa presença. As doses de oxamniquine variaram de 3,5 a 16,6mg/kg de peso corporal e as de praziquantel de 4,2 a 20mg. O controle de cura constou de oito exames parasitológicos de fezes de cada paciente, pelo método de Kato-Katz, num período de 6 meses. Os índices de cura variaram de 30% a 56,6%. A percentagem total de cura foi de 39,6%. A tolerância à associação foi boa. Nossos resultados mostraram baixo percentual de cura e aparente ausência de sinergismo da associação oxamniquine epraziquantel em doses reduzidas no tratamento da esquistossomose mansônica no Brasil.

In an endemic area where transmission of schistosomiasis has been interrupted 164 infected patients were treated with oxamniquine and praziquantel in reduced doses. Each individual took, under supervision, one 250 mg capsule of oxamniquine and one tablet of 300 mg of praziquantel. The doses of oxamniquine varied from 3.5 to 16.6 mg/kilo body weight and that of praziquantel from 4.2 to 20 mg. The control of cure was eight faecal examination for eggs by the Kato-Katz method carried out overaperiod ofsix months. The indices ofcure varied from 30 to 57%. The total percentage of cure ivas 40%. Tolerance was good. Our results show a low cure rate and an apparent lack of synergism of the association of oxamniquine and praziquantel in reduced doses in the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni in Brazil.

420 patients were treated with a combination of mebendazol (5ml or one tablet equaling 100mg) and thiabendazole (various doses) given twice a day for two to three days. The following indexes of cure were obtained. Approximately 90-95% for Enterobius, Strongyloides, Tricocephalus and Ascaris and between 80-90% for hookworm. These results were in hospitalised patients with a control of cure of four examinations in a month. In outpatients the indices of cure declined related to the degree of vigilance observed in relation to drug taking. Then the dose of thiabendazole is raised to 166mg-250mg in 5ml or 500mg in a tablet the duration of treatment can be reduced to three or two days. However more side effects are observed with this regimen.

The authors review the literature about the cronic nervous form of Chagas' disease, directing their attention toward peripheral neurological aspects. Specifically, they analyse the results obtained from a "bind" research realized in a small community in the countryside of the state of Bahia, Brazil, where a high frequency of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi is reported. From 99 individuals examined, 50 showad a positive sorological test for Chagas' disease. The most frequent neurological findings in the total of 99 individuals were sensory loss and impairment of the deep reflexes. Among those with abolition of deep reflexes, there were 18 cases carrying a positive sorology for Chagas' disease, being that 15 from these 18 cases additionally presented a mild sensory deficit, characterizing a polyneuritic syndrome. In conclusion, they suggest that there is a neuritic form, as subdivision of a nervous form of Chagas' disease, particularly identified as a mixed polyneuritis.

Reações de fixação de complemento feitas em três laboratórios, usando basicamente a mesma técnica, apresentaram resultados discrepantes com soros chagásicos. Somente 16 soros de um lote de 26 pacientes em fase aguda de infecção tiveram resultados positivos nos três laboratórios, embora nenhum deles fosse unanimente negativo. Quando 224 soros de casos parasitologicamente comprovados de doença de Chagas foram examinados, resultados positivos foram obtidos em 95% deles em um laboratório, 89% em outro e apenas 64% no terceiro. Os resultados mostraram que as discrepãncias observadas dependiam da qualidade dos antígenos usados, dando ênfase à necessidade não só da padronização dos preparados antigênicos, como também da metodologia do teste, a fim de se poder ter resultados comparáveis quanto à sensibilidade e especificidade da reação de Guerreiro-Machado.

Complement-fixation tests performed in three laborarories, using basically the same tecnique, presented discrepant results with Chagasic sera. Only 16 sera from a lot of 26 in the acute phase of the infection had positive tests in the three laboratories, although none of them presented a consensus of negative tests. When 224 sera from parasitologically proven cases of Chagas disease were tested, positive results were obtained in 95% of them in one laboratory, 89% in the second one and only 64% in the other. The results showed that the discrepancies observeddependedof the quality of the antigens used, stressing the necessity of the standardization not only of the antigen preparations but also of the methodology of the tests, in order to have comparable results in the Guerreiro-Machado tests, in sensitivity and specificity.

Foram tratados pela oxamniquine, sob a forma de xarope, 75 esquistossomôticos. com idade de 3 a 12 anos, distribuídos uniformente por quatro grupos, utilizando-se os esquemas de 15, 20 e 25 mg por quilo de peso corporal, em dose única e 20mg subdivididos em duas doses com intervalo de quatro horas. O controle de cura foi feito com cinco exames de fezes no período de seis meses. A dose de 20 mg, mesmo subdividida, apresentou os melhores resultados com 94,7% de cura e boa tolerabilidade. A dose de 15 mg, embora sendo a melhor tolerada, deu somente 62,5 % de cura. A dose de 25 mg foi a que apresentou pior tolerância. A eficácia das doses de oxamniquine aumenta com a idade das , crianças tratadas.

75 patients aged 3 to 12 years were divided equally into 4 groups and treated with oxamniquine syrup in doses of 15, 20 and 25 mg per kg/body weight given as a single dose and 20 mg divided into two doses with an interval of 4 hours between doses. The control of cure was 5 faecal examinations performed consecutively during a period of six months. The divided dose of 20 mg gave very good results with 94.7% cure and good tolerance. The 15 mg dose although well tolerated gave only 62.5% cure. A 25 mg single dose was poorly tolerated. The efficacy of the dose of oxamniquine rose with the age of child treated.

Determinou-se a quantidade de compostos organo-clorados no tecido adiposo de onze esquistossomóticos hepatosplenicos e de 20 outros doentes. O material foi colhido durante ato cirúrgico. A quantidade de DDT foi, em média, 10,66ppm nos hepatosplenicos, 4,83ppm em pacientes submetidos a herniorrafia ou laparotomia e 5,67ppm em doentes operados por apresentar doenças neoplasicas ou inflamatórias. A diferença tem significação estatística. O aumento de depósito de DDT nos hepatosplenicos poderia ser devido a redução na metabolização de p,p'-DDT e na excreção de seus metabolitos ou a maior exposição a inseticidas organo-clorados. Presume-se que os hepatosplenicos venham habitualmente de zonas de irrigação, onde o consumo de inseticidas na agricultura seja maior.

This paper reports on the findings of a survey on OCI storage in people in Bahia, Brasil. In this survey 11 samples of adipose tissue were taken from people who underwent splenectomy for hepato splenic schistosomiasis. In these patients, total DDT averaged 10.66 ppm as compared to 4,83 ppm of total DDT found in presumably healthy people. The difference was statistically significant. It is considered that the increased DDT storage in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiass may be the result of a reduced metabolzation of p,p'-DDT and reduced excretion of its metabolites. Another possíbility is the increased exposure to organochlorine nsectedes by hepatosplenc patients who frequently come from irrigation zones, where these compounds are more used in intensive cultivatíon.