The growth hormone 1 gene (GH1) is a candidate gene for body weight and weight gain in cattle since it plays a fundamental role in growth regulation. We investigated the GH1 gene AluI and DdeI restriction enzyme polymorphisms, located 149 bp apart in the cattle genome, as possible markers of the production potential of Canchim crossbreed cattle, a 5/8 Charolais (Bos taurus) and 3/8 Nelore (Bos indicus) breed developed in Brazil, by evaluating the birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight and plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration of 7 month to 10 months old Canchim calves (n = 204) of known genealogy and which had been genotyped for the AluI and DdeI markers. Our results showed significant effect (p < 0.05) between the homozygous DdeI+/DdeI+ polymorphism and the estimated breeding value for weaning weight (ESB-WW), while the AluI leucine homozygous (L/L) and leucine/valine (L/V) heterozygous polymorphisms showed no significant effect on the traits studied. The restriction sites of the two enzymes led to the formation of haplotypes which also exerted a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the ESB-WW, with the largest difference being 8.5 kg in favor of the homozygous L plus DdeI+/L plus DdeI+ genotype over the heterozygous L plus DdeI-/V plus DdeI+ genotype.

Os autores descrevem um caso de paciente adulto infectado com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) que apresentou retinopatia tóxica secundária ao uso da didanosina (DDI). A didanosina é inibidor da transcriptase reversa utilizado no tratamento da síndrome da imuno-deficiência adquirida (AIDS). A associação da didanosina com retinopatia é bem estabelecida em crianças, porém é bastante rara em adultos.

The authors report a case of an adult patient infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who presented with retinal toxicity due to didanosine. Didanosine is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in AIDS treatment. The association of didanosine and retinal toxicity is well established in children although it is very rare in adults.

Objetivo: Estabelecer critérios seguros para a suspensão da terapia de manutenção anti-CMV em pacientes que apresentaram recuperação imunológica após o uso da HAART ("Highly Active Antiretroviral therapy"). Métodos: Vinte e quatro pacientes que apresentavam retinite por citomegalovirus inativa, carga viral indetectável e contagem de CD4+ > 200 céls./mm³ tiveram a medicação anti-CMV de manutenção suspensa. Os pacientes mantiveram acompanhamento quinzenal por meio de oftalmoscopia indireta a partir da suspensão da terapia até dezembro de 1998. Resultados: Dos 24 pacientes estudados nenhum apresentou reativação ou progressão da retinite. Todos os pacientes mantiveram a contagem de CD4+ > 200 céls/mm³. Apenas um apresentou carga viral de 4000 cópias, os demais mantiveram carga viral indetectável. O acompanhamento médio dos pacientes foi de 10,5 meses. Conclusão: Acreditamos que os parâmetros por nós estabelecidos sejam seguros para a suspensão da terapia de manutenção, porém novos estudos devam ser realizados a fim de estabelecer outros critérios. O exame oftalmológico, a contagem de CD4+ e a carga viral são fundamentais no acompanhamento dos pacientes após a suspensão da terapia específica de manutenção para a retinite por CMV.

Purpose: To establish safety parameters for stopping anti-CMV maintenance therapy in patients who had immune recovery after highly active antiretroviral therapy. Methods: The anti-CMV maintenance therapy was stopped in 24 patients who presented with inactive CMV retinitis, CD4+ > 200 cells./mm³ and indetectlabe viral load. The pa-tients were examined every 15 days with indirect ophthal-moscopy after maintenance therapy discontinuation until december 1998. Results: None of the 24 patients presented retinitis reactvation or progression. All of them kept CD4+ counts above 200 cells/mm³. One patient presented a viral load of 4000, the others maintained indetectable viral load. The average follow-up was 10,5 months. Conclusion: We believe that our established parameters are safe to stop anti-CMV maintenance therapy although other studies should be performed. Routine ophthalmologic exa- mination,CD4+ count and the viral load are fundamental in the follow-up of patients with inactive CMV retinitis after stopping maintenance therapy.

RESUMO O objetivo do trabalho é apresentar um caso de repercussão ocular de criptococose na SIDA em que o paciente apresentou perda súbita da acuidade visual. O exame oftalmoscópico revelou quadro de edema de disco óptico unila teral, que após 15 dias evoluiu para atrofia. Sugerimos, pela evolução rápida e importante perda visual (amaurose), o diagnóstico de neuropatia óptica compressiva secundária à aracnoidite criptocócica presumida.

SUMMARY The aim of this paper is to report a case of ocular manifestation of Cryptococcus neoformans infection in AIDS, in which the patient presented sudden loss of vision. Ophthalmoscopy revealed unilateral optic disc edema, evolving to optic atrophy after 15 days. We suggest, by the evolution and important visual loss (amaurosis), the diagnosis of unilateral optic neuropathy secondary to presumed Cryptococcus neoformans aracnoiditis.