Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R J Hay.
18 girls from an orphanage (Orfanato Santo Antônio) in Niterói presented tinea capitis due to Trichophyton tonsurans (15 cases-83.3%) and Microsporum canis (3 cases-26.7%). Comments are made about clinical, mycological and therapeutic aspects of this microepidemic.
An extensive and severe actinomycetoma by Nocardia asteroides, a rare etiologic agent of this infection in Brazil, observed during a 9 year follow-up is reported. Unsuitable social and financial conditions led to amputation as the only possible solution for this case, no signs of infection relapse having been observed in three years after his surgery.
We have purified to homogeneity a putative superoxide dismutase of 19.5 kDa from the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans by homogenization, isoelectric focusing and gel filtration. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of this protein indicates a significant sequence homology with known manganese-containing superoxide dismutases (Mn-SODs) from various organisms. In addition, the presence of superoxide dismutase activity was confirmed using specific substrate gels which detect this enzyme when nitro-tetrazolium blue reduction is prevented by the photochemical source of superoxide, in the presence of riboflavin when exposed to light. Superoxide dismutase activity was also assayed using cytochrome c. The molecular weight of the native enzyme (on non-denaturing gels) is 80 kDa. The optimum pH for the enzyme is 7.5 and its pi = 6.6. The enzyme was inhibited by sodium dodecyl sulphate, sodium azide, o-phenanthroline, and EDTA, in descending order.