Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the response of aging rats with sepsis to two different antibiotic regimens. Methods: The study was conducted with 30 aging rats (18 month-old) with autologous feces peritonitis. The animals were divided into three groups: Group 0 received no therapeutic intervention (control), while Group 1 received a single dose of 40 mg/kg meropenem and Group 2 received a single dose of 20 mg/kg moxifloxacin. The intervention in both Groups was made 6 hours after induction of peritonitis. The animals were followed up to 15 days for evaluating morbidity and mortality. The weights at baseline were similar in all groups. Results: At the end of follow-up, weight loss was significantly greater (p=0.0045) in Group 0 (non-intervention controls). Culture from a blood sample at the end of follow-up was positive in all the animals in Group 0, in two animals in Group 1 and in four animals in Group 2. Morbidity/mortality was significantly higher in Group 0 compared to both Groups 1 and 2 (p=0.003) but the scores were not significantly different between Groups 1 and 2 (p=0.6967). Conclusion: Both antibiotic regimens rendered promising results for the treatment of fecal peritonitis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the morphological aspects of brain and eyes in newborn rats whose mother underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis. METHODS: Four pregnant rats that underwent fecal peritonitis, with a 10% fecal suspension in dose of 4 ml per kilogram received two antimicrobial treatments: 1. intraperitoneal moxifloxacin and dexamethazone; and 2. Intravenous meropenem. After head inspection, the brain consistencies and the eyes belonging to all offspring were analyzed. RESULTS: The brains of newborn from rats that received 4 ml/kg of 10% suspension of feces showed, significantly smaller and less than the firm consistency of those in the control group. Congenital cataract was observed in 9 (34.6%). No cataract was observed in the 20 newborn rats from the mothers that received the combination of moxifloxacin and dexamethasone. Cataract could be observed in three (13.6%) offspring from mothers that received meropenem. CONCLUSIONS: Peritonitis can produce brain damage and congenital cataract in rats. The translation to humans is that intra abdominal infection in pregnant women may be associated with damage in brain and eye structures of their concepts. This can be averting using the adequate early therapeutically approach.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment outcome of severe peritonitis in rats with increasing age.METHODS:Thirty Wistar rats stratified in three groups: group I - six month-old; group II - 12 month-old; and group III - 18 month-old, underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis (6 ml/kg rat), and were treated with intravenous meropenem. The survival animals were followed-up for 45 days. The variables were expressed by their mean and standard error of the mean (SEM). p<0.05 was used for rejecting the null hypothesis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee.RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the mortality and morbidity in elderly rats. Of interest, even among young survival rats presenting with severe residual abscesses both in the abdomen and thorax cavities, they present an almost normal life.CONCLUSIONS:The treatment of severe autogenously fecal peritonitis with intravenous meropenem reached reasonable results in rats with six and twelve months of age, even considering residual abscesses on abdomen and thorax cavities. However, the great majority (80%) of elderly rats could not overcome the initial severe infectious challenge, proving that ageing is a very important risk factor for impairing immune response. Thus, sepsis remains a challenging situation, especially in elderly.

PURPOSE:To evaluate the treatment outcome of severe peritonitis in rats submitted to permanent bilateral carotid occlusion (PBCO).METHODS:Sixteen Wistar rats (mean age of 8.5 months) with PBCO underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis, and were treated with moxifloxacin combined with dexamethasone, and followed-up for 45 days. Ten rats (mean age five months) without PBCO were used as a control group. The variables were expressed by their mean and standard error of the mean (SEM). p<0.05 was used for rejecting the null hypothesis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee.RESULTS:There was a significant increase (p=0.0002) in the mortality and morbidity in older rats that underwent PBCO (study group). However, even among the survival rats presenting with severe residual abscesses both in the abdomen and thorax cavities, they present an almost normal life.CONCLUSIONS:The treatment of severe autogenously fecal peritonitis with intraperitoneal moxifloxacin combined with dexamethasone was very effective in young rats without permanent bilateral carotid occlusion. The treatment reached reasonable results in older rats with PBCO, even considering residual abscesses on abdomen and thorax. Older age was the greater risk factor for the outcome of the treatment of severe peritonitis. Sepsis remains a challenging situation, especially in elderly.

PURPOSE: To develop an alcoholic extract of the inner bark of the Schinus terebinthifolius raddi and to test its impact on autogenously fecal peritonitis in Wistar rats. METHODS: The inner bark of the Schinus terebinthifolius raddi was kept for seven days in 70% ethanol alcohol. The total elimination of the solvent was performed in a rotary evaporator under reduced pressure at 55-60°C. Four milliliter of this extract was injected, after 24 h, into the abdominal cavity of six out of eight survival rats that underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis with five milliliter of 10% filtered fecal suspension. They were clinically followed up for 45 days when they were euthanized. The necropsy findings (inventory) of the abdominal and thorax cavities were inspected and the main findings were recorded and photographed. The investigation was approved by the Ethics Committee. RESULTS: Two out of six survival rats that were critically ill after 24 h died within the 12 h after the extract injection into the abdominal cavity. Four rats that were also critically ill recovered and gradually became healthy, eating well, regaining weight and moving normally in the cage. At 45 days post severe peritonitis the necropsy findings revealed few signs of residual infection on the abdominal and thorax cavities. There were no bowel adhesions. CONCLUSION: The impact of alcoholic extract of the inner bark of the Schinus terebinthifolius raddi was considered very positive and promising as natural local antiseptic against very severe peritonitis in Wistar rats.

PURPOSE: To investigate morbidity, mortality and microbiological response to fecal peritonitis induced in Wistar rats with permanent bilateral carotid ligation (PBCL). METHODS: Fecal peritonitis was induced in 30 rats, with 10 animals in each group: Group1 - normal young animals; Group2 - normal mature animals; and Group3 - rats with PBCL after four months postoperative follow-up. Peritonitis was induced with 10% stool suspension. Morbidity and mortality were evaluated. The survival animals after seven days were euthanized for tests. For microbiological studies blood were collected from the carotids and right ventricle; and fragments of lung and peritoneum. RESULTS: The morbidity and mortality of young animals were significantly lower than in mature animals with and without PBCL. There was no difference in morbidity and mortality among mature rats with and without PBCL. The diversity of microorganisms producing septicemia was similar to native micro biota of the large bowel. CONCLUSIONS: The immune response was more efficient in young animals, represented by significant less morbidity and no natural mortality. PBLC did not affect morbidity and mortality in mature rats. The immune response to fecal peritonitis has age as an independent predictor.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do "cross-linking" corneano na ceratopatia bolhosa sintomática e seu impacto na acuidade visual, espessura corneana e sintomatologia dolorosa. MÉTODOS: Doze pacientes com ceratopatia bolhosa sintomática foram incluídos. Exame clínico com questionário específico para a pesquisa com escala de dor (escala visual analógica numérica), acuidade visual e mensuração da espessura corneana foi realizada pré "cross-linking" corneano, 7, 30 e 60 dias após. Em todos os pacientes o tratamento com UVA-crosslinking foi realizado após abrasão do epitélio corneano na lâmpada de fenda e instilação de solução de riboflavina 0,1% a cada 5 minutos por 30 minutos. Após esse período o paciente foi submetido à exposição à luz ultravioleta A (UVA), utilizando riboflavina e anestesia tópica a cada 5 minutos por 30 minutos. O paciente utilizou colírios de ofloxacina 0,3% e lágrima artificial até completa reepitelização. O teste de Friedman foi usado para comparar as médias das frequências da acuidade visual, sintomatologia dolorosa e espessura central da córnea. Os valores de "p" menor que 0,05 foram considerados como estatisticamente significantes. RESULTADOS: Doze olhos de 12 pacientes com erosões epiteliais recorrentes foram tratados. O tempo de seguimento foi de dois meses. Foi observada redução significante da dor (p<0,001). As medidas da espessura corneana e da acuidade visual não sofreram alterações estatisticamente significantes. CONCLUSÃO: Foi constatado o potencial de aplicação do "cross-linking" corneano no tratamento de pacientes com dor causada por ceratopatia bolhosa. É necessário maior seguimento para confirmar se os resultados podem ser reproduzidos em longo prazo.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the corneal cross-linking (CXL) effect on symptomatic bullous keratopathy, and its impact on the visual acuity, corneal thickness and pain symptomatology. METHODS: Twelve patients with symptomatic bullous keratophaty were included. A clinical examination with a specific questionnaire (pain scale - visual numeric analog scale), visual acuity, and corneal thickness measures was performed before corneal cross-linking and 7, 30 and 60 days after the procedure. In all patients, the treatment with the UVA-crosslinking was done after corneal abrasion on the slit-lamp and instillation of 0.1% riboflavin in saline for every five minutes, lasting 30 minutes. Subsequently, the patient underwent the UVA light exposure, using riboflavin and topical anesthesia, every five minutes lasting 30 minutes. The patient received 0.3% ofloxacine drops, and artificial tears until complete reepithelization. The Friedman test was used to compare the means of frequencies of visual acuity, pain symptoms and corneal thickness. A "p" value <0.05 was considered for rejecting the null hypothesis. RESULTS: Twelve eyes from 12 patients with recurrent epithelium erosions were treated. The mean follow-up was two months. Significant pain reduction was observed (p<0.001). Corneal thickness and visual acuity measurements presented with no significant difference. CONCLUSION: The potential use of cross-linking in the treatment of bullous keratopathy pain was proved to be likely. A longer follow-up to confirm whether these results can be reproduced in the long term is necessary.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a resposta humoral para o vírus dengue em pacientes com sequência de Möbius e suas mães, analisando a relação entre a infecção na gestação e o nascimento de portadores da sequência de Möbius. MÉTODOS: Foram revisados os prontuários dos pacientes atendidos em centro de referência. Aplicou-se um questionário estruturado a cada genitora. Sorologia por Elisa para IgG de dengue foi efetuada em 35 pacientes e suas mães. O teste de neutralização por redução em placas foi feito nas que referiram infecção viral na gestação e em seus filhos, para determinar o sorotipo viral causador da infecção. RESULTADOS: Febre, cefaléia e/ou dor retro-orbitária foi referida por 18 (51,4%) mães. Três (8,6%) referiram dengue no primeiro ou início do segundo trimestre de gestação. Cruzando-se as informações das sorologias das mães e crianças observou-se que em 57,1% dos casos há positividade sorológica para o vírus do dengue na mãe e no filho. Das três mães com infecção na gestação, uma e seu filho, apresentou teste de neutralização por redução em placa positivo para o vírus dengue tipo três (DENV-3), entretanto o sorotipo apenas foi introduzido em Pernambuco em 2002, o que exclui a possibilidade de ter ocorrido transmissão vertical da doença. CONCLUSÃO: As sorologias dos casos que tiveram diagnóstico clínico de dengue na gravidez revelaram-se incompatíveis com a hipótese de ter ocorrido transmissão vertical da doença. Portanto, na amostra estudada, a infecção pelo vírus do dengue não pode ser considerada como fator implicado na gênese da sequência de Möbius.

PURPOSE: To investigate the humoral immune response to dengue virus in patients with Möbius sequence and their mothers, assessing the relation between this infection during pregnancy and Möbius sequence. METHODS: The medical records were reviewed, and a questionnaire was answered by each mother. IgG ELISA was performed in 35 patients and their mothers. A plaque reduction neutralization test was further done in the mothers who reported a viral infection during pregnancy and in their children for determining which dengue serotype virus had caused the infection. RESULTS: Fever, headache and/or retrobulbar pain during pregnancy was referred by eighteen (51.4%) mothers. Three (8.6%) reported dengue during the first or second quarteers of pregnancy. When cross analyzing the mothers and their respective children serological results, 57.1% of them matched. Of the three mothers with clinical diagnosis of viral infection during pregnancy, one and its respective children had a positive plaque reduction neutralization test for dengue serotype three (DENV-3), this serotype reached Pernambuco in 2002, which excludes the possibility of a vertical transmission to the children. CONCLUSION: The serology of the cases that had clinical diagnosis of dengue during pregnancy proved to be incompatible with the hypothesis of the disease vertical transmission. Therefore, in the present serie, the dengue virus infection can not be considered as a factor involved in the genesis of Möbius sequence.