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Biomedical subjects

A Rocha

Publications and source records attributed to A Rocha.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Ivermectin treatment of bancroftian filariasis in Recife, Brazil.

To determine the effectiveness of single oral dosages of ivermectin ranging between 20 and 200 micrograms/kg and to make detailed observations of both the kinetics of parasite killing and the adverse reactions induced by treatment, the present double-blind study on ivermectin treatment of lymphatic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti was undertaken with 43 microfilaremic patients in Recife, Brazil. Follow-up at one year indicated equivalent efficacy for the 20-, 100-, and 200-micrograms/kg drug dosages in reducing microfilaremia to geometric means of 13-25% of pretreatment levels. Adverse clinical reactions (predominantly fever, headache, weakness, and myalgia) occurred to some degree in almost all patients but generally lasted only 24-48 hr and were easily managed symptomatically. Adverse reactions were significantly milder in those receiving the lowest (20 micrograms/kg) ivermectin dose, and they were significantly correlated with individuals' pretreatment microfilaremia levels in all groups. Posttreatment eosinophilia was a regular feature of the response to treatment, with the magnitude and kinetics also proportional to pretreatment microfilarial levels. Transient pulmonary function abnormalities (16 of 42, 38%), liver enzyme elevations (10 of 43, 23%), and hematuria (9 of 42, 22%) developed posttreatment, but all cleared without significant complications. The results indicate that W. bancrofti from Brazil is similar to strains of the parasites studied elsewhere in susceptibility to ivermectin, that the drug's systemic adverse reactions are essentially those resulting from parasite clearance, and that the intensity of these reactions can be significantly reduced by using the low (20 micrograms/kg) dose of ivermectin. This detailed dose-finding study provides information necessary for developing optimal regimens to treat bancroftian filariasis with ivermectin either alone or in combination with other medications.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[The histopathology of the trabecular section of the right branch of the bundle of His in chronic chagasic patients with a right bundle-branch block].

PURPOSE: To evaluate possible morphological changes in chronic chagasic of the right bundle trabecular branch (RB) with right branch block (RBB) and to draw clinicopathological correlations. METHODS: Eight RBB chronic chagasic septo-marginal trabeculae (SMT) (group A), six left branch block (LBB) chagasic SMT (group B) and six SMT from non-chagasics with no heart disease (group C) were analyzed. Every SMT was completely embedded in paraffin, sub-serially sectioned to the end of the paraffin-block and the sections were processed for pathological study. RESULTS: Right bundle branch trabecular segment mononuclear infiltrate and/or fibrosis were found for 87.5 (7/8) of group A, 50% (3/6) of group B and 16.6% (1/6) of group C. Moderate mononuclear infiltrate and fibrosis were noted respectively for 3 and 1 cases, from group A. For the remaining group A cases and for all the group B and C cases the mononuclear infiltrate and fibrosis were slight. CONCLUSION: The frequency and degree of RB lesions might explain some of RBB. On the other hand, the absence of lesions in one case RBB and the slight degree of RB lesions in chagasics with LBB and in one non-chagasic case indicate that sometimes it is not possible to establish electrocardiographic-pathological correlations after TSM histological examination.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Immunocytochemical localization of surface and intracellular antigens recognized by human sera in microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti.

Sera from patients with various clinical pictures of lymphatic filariasis, including tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE), were used for the localization of surface and intracellular antigens in microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti embedded in Lowicryl K4M. Very few or no antigenic sites were located on the outer face of the sheath. The most inner layer, as well as the space between the cuticle and the sheath, was intensely labeled. Sera from TPE patients intensely labeled the cuticle and the cytoplasm of muscle cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Performance of Bos indicus-influenced bulls in serving capacity tests and multiple-sire breeding groups.

Three experiments were conducted with Santa Gertrudis (SG) or F1 (Gelbvieh x SG or Red Angus x SG) bulls to assess factors that influence copulatory activity and fertility of Bos indicus-influenced genotypes. In Exp. 1, 3-yr-old SG bulls (n = 20) with sexual experience and 20-mo-old virgin SG bulls (n = 34) were allotted in a split-plot design (age, bull within age group, test day, and heifer treatment). Number of mounts (Mt), intromissions (I), and ejaculations (E) were measured 14 d apart during two 30-min serving capacity (SC) tests. Estrus was either induced via progesterone+estradiol cypionate (PE) injections or synchronized with Syncro-Mate B (SMB). There were more (P less than .05) I and E on Test d 2 than on Test d 1. Heifers treated with SMB received more (P less than .001) Mt, I, and E than did heifers treated with PE. Sixteen 20-mo-old bulls from Exp. 1 were allotted to breeding pastures at a bull:heifer ratio of 4:119 +/- 3 for 50 d in Exp. 2. Breeding pasture treatments either included or excluded low-SC bulls. Neither pregnancy rate nor least squares mean day of conception differed between treatments. Experiment 3 evaluated copulatory activity with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (breed and test day) in 14- to 16-mo-old SG (n = 45) and F1 (n = 16) bulls. The F1 bulls had more Mt, I, and E than did the SG bulls (P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Renal abnormalities in microfilaremic patients with Bancroftian filariasis.

To determine the frequency of renal abnormalities occurring with Bancroftian filarial infections and to assess the effects of treatment on such abnormalities, we initiated a prospective, hospital-based study of 20 microfilaremic and five amicrofilaremic patients with Wuchereria bancrofti infections. Thorough clinical evaluations and detailed renal assessments were made prior to treatment and at multiple time points for 60 days following a standard twelve-day course of treatment with diethylcarbamazine (DEC). There were two important findings. First, even prior to DEC treatment, almost half of the microfilaremic patients had hematuria and/or proteinuria. Second, treatment with DEC induced these same abnormalities in almost all of the remaining microfilaremic patients. However, this DEC-induced hematuria and/or proteinuria was transient, and the long-term response to DEC in all of the microfilaremic patients was resolution of the abnormal renal findings during the two-month followup period. In the amicrofilaremic study patients, no hematuria or proteinuria was detected before, during, or after treatment with DEC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Acute fatal Trypanosoma cruzi meningoencephalitis in a human immunodeficiency virus-positive hemophiliac patient.

A 37-year-old hemophiliac patient with known, asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection and chronic Chagas' disease was admitted to the hospital complaining of fever and headache. A computed tomographic scan revealed multiple ring-enhancing lesions in both cerebral hemispheres. No antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi were found in the cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment for toxoplasmosis of the central nervous system, which was considered the most likely diagnosis, was instituted, but the patient died after progressive neurologic deterioration. An autopsy revealed severe meningoencephalitis caused by T. cruzi.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

[Basic causes of death in elderly patients with Chagas' disease].

The main causes of death of 100 elderly Chagas' patients (group A), of 100 elderly non-Chagas' disease (group B) and of 100 non-elderly Chagas' disease patients (group C) were surveyed clinically and by postmortem data. Compared to B, the A group showed significantly more deaths due to chronic Chagas' heart disease and digestive "megas", and less frequently to malignant neoplasm. Deaths due to pulmonary emphysema and malignant neoplasms were significantly more common and deaths due to chronic Chagas' heart disease were significantly less common in the A group when compared to the C group. Chronic Chagas' heart disease caused 26 unexpected sudden deaths in the C group (the younger patients) and none in the A group (the eldest patients).

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Physical examination of the reproductive organs of range beef bulls in Mozambique.

Physical examinations were performed on 3991 bulls reared in subtropical (75%) and tropical (25%) Mozambique. A culling rate of 16.3% (651 sires) was found. The range of culling rate between farms varied from 3 to 44%. The main culling reasons were a) epididymitis, b) atrophy and/or hypoplasia, and c) testicular fibrosis (contributing to 30.4, 20.9, and 15.2%, respectively, of the culled bulls). Epididymitis-vaginitis (epivag) syndrome was considered the main reason for the high incidence of epididymitis and testicular fibrosis. A highly significant difference (P<0.001) in culling rate for Simmental (37.7%) and Brahman (13.1%) bulls was found. A more comprehensive investigation of culling rate of different breeds used in the country is needed, as well as a program for controlling epivag in the more affected areas. Examining the reproductive organs of the beef bulls in Mozambique before the breeding season is very important to improve fertility in the beef herds.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Spironolactone-reversible rickets associated with 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency syndrome.

A 7-year-old girl had growth retardation, hypertension, and hypokalemic alkalosis. Baseline serum aldosterone concentration and plasma renin activity were low and unresponsive to sodium deprivation and to orthostatic changes. Baseline serum progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycortisol, and cortisol levels were normal and adequately responsive to ACTH stimulation. No steroid was found abnormally elevated. A diagnosis of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency was established on the basis of elevated urinary tetrahydrocortisol plus allotetrahydrocortisol/tetrahydrocortisone ratio, determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Evaluation of bone mineral metabolism and parathyroid function, and skeletal radiographs, revealed the presence of rickets and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Treatment with spironolactone alone for 2 months corrected hypertension, hypokalemic alkalosis, and all laboratory and radiologic evidence of rickets and hyperparathyroidism, resulting in acceleration of growth rate. The response to spironolactone suggests that a hypermineralocorticoid state is responsible for the hypertensive syndrome and that rickets and hyperparathyroidism could be a consequence of excess mineralocorticoid activity.

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1984

Renal artery stenosis in transplant patients.

Although hypertension appears not infrequently among recipients of kidney transplants, renal artery stenosis is relatively rare as a causative factor. A 23-year experience of patients receiving kidney grafts at the Brigham and Women's Hospital was reviewed to ascertain the incidence of renal artery stenosis and its surgical management. Risk factors leading to the condition and selection of patients for operation are emphasized. The incidence of arterial stenosis severe enough to require operation was 2.7% of 914 kidney transplants; the overall incidence in these patients is unknown, although operated patients comprise about one-half of those undergoing arteriography to diagnose hypertension. The mean time for development of the condition was 21.4 months from date of engraftment. A successful outcome as measured by fall in blood pressure and/or serum creatinine was achieved in 14 of 21 patients (67%) in whom surgical repair of the effected artery was undertaken. Reparative surgery was unsuccessful in seven patients, although hypertension was improved in one of these individuals following transplant nephrectomy. Surgery was never undertaken in four patients because of chronic rejection noted on biopsy. There was no mortality. Operative repair should be offered to patients with renal artery stenosis leading to unmanageable hypertension or renal dysfunction, but withheld from those with documented chronic rejection regardless of major arterial compromise.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Post-mortem diagnosis of chronic Chagas's disease comparative evaluation of three serological tests on pericardial fluid.

In an attempt to improve the post-mortem diagnosis of Chagas's disease the authors performed haemagglutination tests (HAT), fluorescent Trypanosoma cruzi antibody tests (FAT), and complement fixation tests (CFT) on the pericardial fluid obtained at autopsy of 50 individuals with Chagas's heart disease, and 93 patients in whom this disease was not thought to be present. The results demonstrate that all three tests are efficient for the post-mortem diagnosis of Chagas's disease but suggest that their combined use would detect more cases than would one isolated reaction only.

Antibodies↗