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Biomedical subjects

A Rocha

Publications and source records attributed to A Rocha.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Monoarthritis of the knee as an isolated manifestation of paracoccidioidomycosis].

Osteoarthritis in paracoccidioidomycosis has been rarely reported. The present case describes a 36-"year"-old woman, with chronic monoarthritis in the knee lasting 4 years. The diagnosis was achieved only after synovial biopsy, by anatomopathological examination showing granulomatous reaction with a large number of the characteristic "pilot wheel"Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast cells. Specific therapy, initially with ketoconazole and followed by cotrimoxazole led to complete functional recovery of the compromised joint. No other affected site was detected by various propaedeutic methods, including computed axial tomography of the thorax and abdomen. The authors emphasize the rarity of the case and discuss its possible pathophysiology.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pancreatic neuronal loss in chronic Chagas' disease patients].

We have not found any anatomical studies about the intrapancreatic ganglia in the chronic Chagas' disease. The lesions in these structures could explain at least in part the functional disturbances in the exocrine and endocrine pancreas described in this form of the disease. Thus we decided to morphologically analyze these ganglia. For this analysis, we studied transversal segments of the head, body and tail of the pancreas of twelve chronic chagasics whose mean age were 46.5 +/- 9.1 years and fourteen controls, mean age 41.2 +/- 11.0 years. These segments were histologically processed and cut into sections in a serial form up to the end and one cut of each seven was analyzed. For statistical analysis we used the non-parametric test of Mann-Whitney. In the head of the pancreas, the mean count of neurons was 57.3 +/- 50.8 in the chagasic group and 117.5 +/- 99.0 for the control group (p < 0.05); in the body 25.9 +/- 19.4 for the chagasic group and 54.7 +/- 47.8 for the control group (p < 0.05); in the tail 23.4 +/- 16.3 for the chagasic group and 54.1 +/- 29.2 for the control group (p < 0.01), the total count being 106.6 +/- 71.1 for the chagasic group and 226.3 +/- 156.5 for the controls (p < 0.01). Our data permitted us to conclude that: a) there was a statistically significant neuronal depopulation in the chagasic group, as compared to the control group, in each pancreatic segment that was analyzed, as well as in the organ as a whole; b) 50% of the chagasics had the total number of neurons smaller than the lowest number observed in the controls (80); c) 75% and 91.6% of the chagasics had the number of neurons smaller than, respectively, the median (171) and the mean (226) of the control group; d) therefore, the pancreatic neuronal depopulation was common, but not constant; e) the variable age was apparently not responsible for the neuronal depopulation of the chagasics.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Toxoplasmic and chagasic meningoencephalitis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: anatomopathologic and tomographic differential diagnosis].

Twenty-two HIV+ patients with encephalitis were studied. Of these, 7 had meningoencephalitis due to Toxoplasma gondii (MT) and 15 due to Trypanosoma cruzi (MC). Pathologic and computerized axial tomography (CAT) changes were compared. We found that focal necrotizing encephalitis due to Toxoplasma involved the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia, whereas lesions due to Trypanosoma cruzi were centered in the white matter, sometimes extending into the cortex. Hemorrhages, myelin lesions and organisms were more pronounced in chagasic than in toxoplasmic encephalitis. These findings are consistent with the literature reviewed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiological study of bancroftian filariasis in Recife, northeastern Brazil.

Wuchereria bancrofti in Pernambuco was first documented in 1952 (Azevedo & Dobbin 1952), and since then it has been reported in surveys carried out in selected areas of Recife. Several surveys were carried out from 1981 to 1991 by SUCAM. In the 1985 SUCAM's report the disease is considered under control. The CPqAM Filariasis Research Program was established in 1985 and a filarial survey was carried out in the town of Olinda, Greater Recife. In order to verify the real epidemiological situation, a study was conducted in the city of Recife. 21/36 of the Special Zones of Social Interest (ZEIS), were randomly selected for the present study. From 10,664 persons screened, 683 were positive and the prevalence rate for microfilaraemia (mf) varied from 0.6% to 14.9%. A mean mf prevalence of 6.5%, showed that the infection occurs in a wide geographic distribution in Greater Recife and that the intensity of transmission is a real and potential threat to public health in affected communities. Mf rate among males and females differed significantly. Due to the rapid increase in population, unplanned urban settlements, poor sanitary facilities and the favorable geographical conditions to the development of the vector, filariasis may actually be increasing in Recife.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The pampiniform plexus in the chronic phase of human Chagas disease: histologic assessment].

The occurrence of Trypanosoma cruzi intracellular clusters and phlebitis was searched for on pampiniform plexus vein walls of chronic chagasic patients. For this purpose, 23 pairs of spermatic cords, epididymides and testes (17 from chagasic patients and 6 from non-chagasic controls) were obtained, at autopsy. Trypanosoma cruzi was investigated by immuno-histochemistry on slides obtained from several sections of the gonads and vessels of each case. Only discrete and focal undetermined chronic phlebitis was observed, with no parasites, in 5 chagasics (bilateral in 3) and 2 controls (chi 2: p < 0.10), and discrete mononuclear interstitial infiltration in the funiculi of 13 chagasics and 5 controls (chi 2: p < 0.75). In conclusion, on the contrary to that published regarding the supra-renal central veins, it seems that the hormonal environment provided by testosterone does not favor the infection of the gonadal vessel wall.

Chagas Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Medullary and intracranial metastases of myxopapillary ependymoma].

After a brief introduction about the clinical, histological and therapeutic characteristics of myxopapillar spinal ependymoma of cone medullar and filum terminale, three cases with medullar and intracranial seeding of myxopapillar spinal ependymoma are retrospectively reviewed. Surgical resection was total in the child and partial in the adult cases and the histological results were myxopapillar. The diagnosis was made by CT and MRI between 1-2 months before surgical treatment. No extra-neural tumour was found. The mechanisms and factors that influence the seeding of this type of tumour are discussed. The most important literature is reviewed and the cases discussed. The authors stress the importance of surgery on prognosis and the need of an MRI of the whole neural-axis, particularly in children, and subtotal exeresis in adults.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the indirect immunofluorescence test for the diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis using microfilariae W. bancrofti as the antigen, in Recife-PE, Brazil].

The authors analysed the indirect immunofluorescence assay, for the diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis using papain treated W. bancrofti microfilariae as antigen, widely used in Recife-Brazil. Sera from 50 patients with several clinical forms of the disease including asymptomatic carriers, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, elephantiasis, filarial fever and chyluria were analysed. For the control group, 50 individuals were selected, living at least 5 years in endemic area, with neither previous DEC treatment nor clinical-laboratory evidences of the disease, called normals endemic. The sensitivity and specificity were analysed taking into account different cut off values. It was not possible to differentiate infected individuals from the control group. It was not even possible to establish any correlation with IMF titers among different clinical presentation of the disease. Crossed reactions with various intestinal helminths were considered, but no relationship was found.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevalence of cholelithiasis in necropsies of patients with chronic Chagas' disease in the mining triangle--correlation with megaesophagus, megacolon and cardiac insufficiency].

Retrospective analysis of the diagnosis of 2.517 autopsies performed in the western region of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, showed that cholelithiasis has significant association with megaesophagus and megacolon but not with Chagas' disease (when considered in all of its anatomo-clinic presentations) or with heart failure due to chronic chagasic cardiopathy. Possible explanations to these findings are discussed and the scanty pertinent literature is commented.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevalence of biliary lithiasis in cirrhotics: necropsy evaluation].

In order to investigate a possible association between hepatic cirrhosis and biliary lithiasis, an analysis on 3,332 necropsy report diagnosis was carried out. Gallstones were present in 19.5% of 123 cirrhotics and in 4.9% of 3,209 non-cirrhotics patients. We concluded that lithiasis is significantly more frequent in cirrhotics than in non-cirrhotics. Chronic hemolysis, slow emptying of the gallbladder, and defective bile acidification by the gallbladder would explain such association. The male-to-female ratio of lithiasis occurrence was 2.08:1 in the cirrhotic group and 2.4:1 among the non-cirrhotics. This difference was not significant. Pigmentary gallstones were commoner among cirrhotics and significantly more frequent in cirrhotics than in non-cirrhotics. This would be explained by chronic hemolysis and by bilirubin conjugation defects. Lithiasis was more frequent in secondary biliary cirrhosis, followed by postnecrotic cirrhosis of viral etiology.

Cholelithiasis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Cholelithiasis in chronic Chageas' disease patients].

The studies on the occurrence of biliary lithiasis in patients with chronic Chagas' disease have shown conflicting results. Aiming at contributing to a better understanding of the topic was assessed, by ultrasonographic scan, the frequency of Colelithiasis in chagasic patients with different anatomo-clinical forms of the disease. A total of 128 patients were studied, 85 males (mean age: 53 +/- 13 years) and 43 females (mean age: 53 +/_ 10 years) nineteen males and 18 females had the cardiac form ; 32 males and 19 females the digestive form; 20 males and 3 females the cardiac and digestive forms simultaneously; and 14 males and 3 females the indeterminate form. Controls were a series of 1139 individuals without Chagas' disease, 716 males and 423 females (mean age 46 +/_ 14 years for both sexes), who were submitted to postmortem examination. The frequency of cholelithiasis in chagasic males (14.1%) was significantly higher than in the controls (6%); by subgroup, it was significantly higher in the individuals with the cardiac and cardiac-digestive form (26.3% and 20% respectively), but not in those with the digestive form (9.4%). The frequency of colelithiasis was also significantly higher in chagasic females in the total (42%) and in the cardiac (50%) and digestive (31.6%) forms, when compared to the control group (14%). Male and female chronic chagasic patients have an increased frequency of colelithiasis, and therefore the preoccupation about this finding should not be restricted to the digestive form of the disease, as previous studies on this subject have suggested.

Adult↗