SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the metoclopramide-induced hyperprolactinemia in cellular death and proliferation in the harderian gland of female mice. METHODS: Twenty female mice were divided into two groups of 10 animals each and treated: 0.2 mL of saline solution (controls, Ctr) and 200 µg of metoclopramide (experimental, hyperprolactinemia), both for 50 consecutive days and at 12:00 a.m. On the 50th day, the female were euthanized, and the harderian glands were removed and processed for immunohistochemistry for detected ki67 and TUNEL method. Data were statistically analyzed by unpaired Student’s t test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The harderian gland of the hyperprolactinemia group showed increase in the immunoexpression of Ki67 and TUNEL compared to the Ctr group (p<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the amount of porphyrin in the HPrl group compared to the Ctr group. CONCLUSION: The hyperprolactinemia led to increased cell death in the acini the harderian gland and cell proliferation in the stroma glandular, fact that suggesting a reduction process of cellular activity and fibrosis, which suggests impairment in the functioning of the lacrimal harderian.

There is a great paucity of information about Helicobacter pylori infection in the countries of the Caribbean basin. Almost no studies have been performed to determine the prevalence, antibiotic resistance or virulence factors of the bacterium. To measure the prevalence of H. pylori infection among patients attending endoscopy in three clinics in Havana, Cuba, to evaluate clarithromycin resistance, and to determine the cagA status of the strains obtained. Endoscopy was performed and biopsies were obtained from 117 successive patients attending the Institute of Oncology, the Institute of Gastroenterology, and the Calixto Garcia Hospital in Havana, Cuba. Biopsies were maintained at -70 ºC before being cultured on three different media (two selective and one non-selective) and incubated for 7 days at 37 °C under a microaerobic atmosphere. The presence of H. pylori was identified by oxidase, catalase and urease activities. DNA was extracted, and PCR was performed with primers H2761676 which amplify a 397 bp fragment of the cagA gene. Clarithromycin susceptibility was measured by the gel diffusion method. The diagnoses of patients were: 1 gastric carcinoma; 19 duodenal ulcers; 8 gastric ulcers; and 89 non-ulcer dyspepsia, including (62) gastritis, (9) hiatal hernia,(2) biliary reflux, (1) gastric polyps, and (15) no abnormality. Among the 117 biopsies tested, 83 were H. pylori positive (70.9%). The cagA status determined for 35 cases gave a positive result in 31 cases (88.5%). Only 3% of the strains were resistant to clarithromycin.The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the symptomatic population of La Habana is the same as reported for other developing countries. Most strains were cagA positive and are likely harbour the cag pathogenicity island. The low resistance to clarithromycin in the strains studied probably reflects the low degree of use of the antibiotic in this population.

Existe una gran falta de información acerca de la infección por Helicobacter pylori en los países de la región del Caribe. Nuestros objetivos en este estudio fueron determinar la prevalencia, la resistencia a los antibióticos y los factores de virulencia de la bacteria. La medida de la prevalencia de la infección por H. pylori se determinó en un grupo de pacientes a los que se les practicó una endoscopia en tres centros hospitalarios de La Ciudad de La Habana, lo que nos permitió evaluar la resistencia a la claritromicina y la presencia de cagA + en las cepas obtenidas. De las endoscopias realizadas se obtuvieron 117 biopsias gástricas, procedentes de tres centros hospitalarios de La Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba: Instituto de Oncología, Instituto de Gastroenterología y el Hospital Calixto García. Las biopsias fueron mantenidas a -70 ºC para posterior cultivo en tres medios diferentes (dos selectivos y uno no selectivo) y su posterior incubación por 7 días a 37 ºC en una atmósfera de microaerofilia. La presencia de H. pylori fue identificada por la presencia de diferentes enzimas (oxidasa, catalasa, ureasa). Se realizó la extracción del DNA y la PCR, donde se utilizó el primer H2761676 y se amplificó con 397 fragmentos del gen cagA. La susceptibilidad a la claritromicina fue medida por el método de difusión en gel. Diagnóstico endoscópico: (1) cáncer gástrico; (19) úlcera duodenal; (8) úlcera gástrica; (89) dispepsias no ulcerosas, incluyendo (62) gastritis; (9) hernia hiatal; (2) reflujo biliar; (1) pólipo gástrico; (15) panendoscopias normales. Del total de 117 biopsias realizadas, 83 fueron positivas a la infección por H.pylori (70,9% ). De las 35 cepas a las que se les realizó presencia de cagA+ resultaron positivas 31 (88,5%). Solo el 3% de las cepas fueron resistentes a la claritromicina. La prevalencia de la infección por H. pylori en la población sintomática de La Ciudad de La Habana es la misma que la reportada en países desarrollados. La mayoría de las cepas fueron cagA positivas y son probablemente el puerto de la Isla de patogenicidad (cagPAI). La baja resistencia a la claritromicina en las cepas estudiadas, probablemente refleja la escasa utilización de este antibiótico en la población estudiada.

Relatam-se dois casos de transplante pulmonar isolado à esquerda, em portadores de fibrose pulmonar, um em paciente do sexo maculino de 50 anos de idade, que se encontra no 8º mês de pós-operatório, livre de complicações, e outro de mulher de 36 anos pesando 45 kg, que recebeu o lobo superior de um doador de 85 kg. Esta manteve, nos três primeiros dias de pós-operatório, boas condições ventilatórias e hemodinâmicas e as radiografias mostraram boa expansão do lobo do doador. Teve quadro provável de rejeição e, a seguir, tamponamento cardíaco inesperado complicado por parada cardíaca, culminando com falência de múltiplos órgãos e óbito no 8º dia. A necropsia revelou integridade das anastomoses e broncopneumonia. Nos dois casos substituiu-se o omento por retalhos pediculados de gordura pericárdica para proteção das anastomoses e, no primeiro caso, empregou-se técnica de telescopagem na anastomose brônquica. Ambos pacientes receberam corticóides desde o início do esquema de imunossupressão, que constou de ciclosporina, prednisona e azatioprina. Concluem os autores que a introdução precoce do corticóide não interferiu na anastomose brônquica em um dos casos e, possivelmente, no outro; a feitura da anastomose brônquica em telescopagem no primeiro caso conferiu bom diâmetro e não mostrou estenose tardia; o enxerto do lobo superior no segundo caso ocupou o hemitórax do receptor e mostrou normalidade funcional até que surgissem complicações cardiovasculares. Sugerem a possibilidade futura do transplante de lobo em pacientes do grupo pediátrico portadores de cardiopatias congênitas com hipertensão pulmonar irreversível, onde a falta de doadores adequados constitui séria limitação.

Two cases of left single lung transplantation for pulmonary fibrosis are reported, one of a 50 years old white male who is alive and well 8 months after the transplantation and the other of a 36 years old female weighing 45 kg who received an upper lobe transplantation from a 85 kg donor. This patient died of multiple organ failure in the 8th postoperative day due to complications related to an unexplained cardiac tamponade and also possible rejection but was able to maintain good ventilatory and hemodynamic conditions in the first 3 days following transplantation; radiographic studies showed adequate expansion of the transplanted lobe. Autopsy revealed no problems in the anastomotic sites and signs of difuse bronchopneumonia. In the two cases a flap of pericardial fat was utilized instead of omental flap to protect the bronchial anastomosis and in the first case a telescoping anastomotic technique was done. Both patients received corticoids since the begining and the immunossupression protocol consisted of cyclosporin, prednisone and azathioprine and had no airways complications. In spite of being an initial experience, the authors express their hope in single lung and lobe transplantation for selected terminal lung diseases and in the near future also as an alternative in the surgical treatment of complex congenital cardiac anomalies.

Resumo Estudo realizado em ecossistema de floresta tropical equatorial da Amazônia, em solo de terra-firme, no Km 30 da Rodovia Manaus-ltacoatiara. A finalidade do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do desmatamento na atividade dos microorganismos do solo. Foram delimitadas três áreas contíguas: uma de floresta primária, outra com vegetação secundária (capoeira) desenvolvida após a derrubada e queima da floresta primária e a terceira com vegetação secundária (capoeira) desenvolvida após a derrubada da floresta primária. O solo do local é um latossolo amarelo e o clima caracteria-se por elevadas temperaturas e precipitação pluvial durante a maior parte do ano. A atividade dos microorganismos do solo foi avaliada através de medições da resiração edáfica e de taxa de decomposição da celulose. A respiração edáfica e a taxa de decomposição da celulose decrescem na seguinte ordem: capoeira desenvolvida após derrubada e queima da floresta primária (CDQ) > capoeira desenvolvida após derrubada da floresta primária (CD) > floresta primária (FP). É discutida a influência do manejo de solos sobre a atividade dos microorganismos do solo sobre a produção de cultivos.

Summary This study was carried out at Km 30 on the Manaus-Itacoatiara highway, in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, with the purpose of evaluating microorganism activity in three adjacent areas: undisturbed primary forest; secondary forest developed after clearing and burning; and secondary forest developed after clearing only. The area studied is an equatorial humid forest, with the soil classified as oxisol. The annual mean temperature is 26,7°C and annual mean precipitation is 1.650mm, with drought in September. Microorganism activity was measured by soil respiration with the "inverted box" method, and the "cotton buried" method determined the rate of cellulose decomposition. The secondary forest developed after daring and burning had higher microorganism activity than the secondary forest developed after clearing only. The undisturbed primary forest had the least microorganism activity. In this paper the influence of soil management on the activity of soil microorganism and on crop production is discussed.