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Biomedical subjects

M L Silva

Publications and source records attributed to M L Silva.

67 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Inhibition of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) adherence to HEp-2 cells by bovine colostrum and milk.

BACKGROUND: enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is the main etiological agent of infantile diarrhea in Brazil and other developing countries. Human milk IgA protects newborn intestinal mucosa by inhibiting bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells and this effect is shown by in vitro assays of EPEC adhesion to HEp-2 cultured cells. Bovine milk, if effective in promoting this protection, could be an useful tool in the absence of the natural breastfeeding, in high-risk nurseries or in hospital infections. METHODS: the effect of colostrum, milk, and serum from dairy cows on the adherence to EPEC to HEp-2 cells was investigated. Colostrum from immunized and control animals and industrialized milk formulas were fractionated through a membrane device with a molecular weight cut off 10 kDa. The high molecular weight fraction (HMWF) of bovine colostrum was depleted of IgG through an affinity column and absorbed with an EPEC adherent strain. Antibodies were searched by ELISA and immunoblotting (IB). RESULTS: colostrum and milk from EPEC-immunized animals showed and inhibitory activity on adherence similar to that of control non-immunized animals. The inhibitory effect on adhesion was related to the HMWF. IgG-depleted colostrum partially retained the inhibitory effect, whereas IgG-rich eluate lost this property. The EPEC-absorbed fraction retained the inhibitory property. Industrialized milk formulas and respective HMWF also inhibited bacterial adherence. In IB assays, colostrum and milk samples from immunized animals recognized proteins of 30-40 kDa and 94 kDa, a molecular weight consistent with the adhesin intimin, in EPEC extracts. CONCLUSIONS: the inhibitory effect of EPEC adherence may be mediated by HMWF components, and IgG was not the only component responsible for this phenomenon.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Direct immunofluorescence in lupus erythematosus (LE).

One hundred and twenty-six patients with LE were studied. They were distributed as follows: 84 with DLE, 13 with SALE and 29 with SLE. Biopsies from the skin lesions were performed and submitted to DIF. Positive results were equal to 69, 61.5 and 72.4 percent of the DLE, SALE and SLE cases, respectively. These data are in accordance with the literature. IgM was the most frequently found immunoglobulin, followed by the association IgM + C3.

Adolescent↗

[The importance of chest radiograph in the diagnosis of Scimitar syndrome]

OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the importance of chest X-Rays in the diagnosis of Scimitar Syndrome. This anomaly is usually characterized by the presence of anomalous venous drainage of the right lung to the inferior vena cava, abnormal bronchial segmentation, and alterations of pulmonary artery and right lung vascularization.METHODS: The authors report a case of Scimitar Syndrome in an 8 year-old-child, discussing its diagnostic methods and surgical treatment.RESULTS: The child presented good outcome after surgical therapy, with an uneventful follow-up.CONCLUSION: The Scimitar Syndrome is a rare anomaly, which may present few clinical manifestations. The chest X-Ray is a very relevant tool in the screening of this disease, since it discloses a persisting right paracardiac image, as a result of abnormal right pulmonary venous drainage to inferior vena cava ("Scimitar sign").

Journal Article↗

[Post-parotitis myocarditis: case report].

In November, 1993,M.G., a 6 year and 11 month-old girl, was admitted at Hospital Infantil Joana de Gusmão--Florianópolis, SC, Brazil--with post-parotitis myocarditis and congestive heart failure. Three days after admission it was evidenced, on an echocardiogram, a thrombus in the left ventricle apex which, despite of correct treatment, embolized to iliac and small mesenteric arteries. Epidemic parotitis (mumps) is very common, being endemic around the world. Complications are rare and myocarditis, one of them, is more common than diagnosed because of its poor and benign manifestations, generally transient abnormalities of cardiac rhythm and conduction. This case was astonishing because of its rare subsequent event, that is, the formation of a ventricular mural thrombus during an acute myocarditis.

English Abstract↗

Comparison of volatile acid number test with enzymatic acetic acid assay for assessment of seafood quality.

Volatile acid number, an official AOAC method for assessing seafood quality, was compared with an enzymatic method for measuring acetic acid. Thirty-eight samples of fresh fish and 23 samples of canned fish were evaluated. The data showed high positive correlations between volatile acid number and enzymatic acetic acid methods; the correlation coefficient was 0.98 for fresh fish and 0.95 for canned fish. Positive correlation coefficients of 0.93 and 0.96 were also associated with samples of fish divided into 2 groups on the basis of acceptable or unacceptable quality, respectively. There was no significant difference between the means for the volatile acid number and enzymatic acetic acid procedures at the 5% level of significance. Decomposition studies on cod and mackerel, representing a lean and fatty fish, respectively, were monitored over 9 days by using the following analyses: volatile acid number, acetic acid, total volatile bases, and thiobarbituric acid. Results of the decomposition studies showed that enzymatic acetic acid levels closely paralleled volatile acid number values in both lean and fatty fish. Total volatile bases was a reliable supplemental measure for evaluating lean seafood quality, whereas thiobarbituric acid was more appropriate for further assessment of fatty fish quality.

Acetates↗

[Infections of central venous catheters].

The central venous catheter is considered the lifeline of patients requiring long-term parenteral nutrition, and its infectious complications accordingly represent a frequent cause for hospitalization and morbidity. Modern catheters made of Silastic increase the duration and efficiency of venous access, but their substitution is also more complex and expensive. In a small series of patients undergoing home parenteral nutrition due to short bowel syndrome, and carrying. Silastic catheters, infection of the cannula was treated by administration of systemic as well as local antimicrobial agents. The septic process was resolved without the need of removing the catheters, and with excellent tolerance to the medications. It is concluded that in-situ sterilization of long-term catheters should be attempted in selected cases.

Adult↗

Statistical classification of seafood quality.

Discriminant function analysis (DFA) was used to classify the freshness quality of lean fish, fatty fish, and shrimp as either acceptable (Class 1), marginal (Class 2), or unacceptable (Class 3). Fresh and frozen survey samples were statistically classified following an initial precategorization using sensory, chemical, and microbiological indices as predictor variables. Computer elimination of nonsignificant predictor tests, p > 0.05, was used to optimize the test protocol. DFA correctly classified 98.5% of 67 preclassed lean fish samples (34 Class 1; 13 Class 2; 20 Class 3), 86.2% of 58 preclassed fatty fish samples (22 Class 1; 16 Class 2; 20 Class 3), and 98.7% of 79 preclassed shrimp samples (45 Class 1; 18 Class 2; 16 Class 3) by using all the quality indices. Computer selection of significant predictor indices at p < 0.05 yielded correct predicted classifications of 95.5, 81.0, and 97.5%, respectively. The number of tests required to effectively categorize quality were reduced from 15 to 3 for lean fish, from 13 to 3 for fatty fish, and from 11 to 6 for shrimp, with minimal losses in prediction accuracy and a substantial reduction in analysis time.

Animals↗