Histoplasma capsulatum infection causes significant morbidity and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals, particularly those in countries with limited access to rapid diagnostics or antiretroviral therapies. The fungus easily disseminates in persons with AIDS, resulting in progressive disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH), which can progress rapidly to death if undiagnosed. The availability of a simple, rapid method to detect H. capsulatum infection in less developed countries where the infection is endemic would dramatically decrease the time to diagnosis and treatment of PDH. We have developed an antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect PDH antigenuria in infected patients. The assay uses polyclonal antibodies against H. capsulatum as both capture and detection reagents, and a standard reference curve is included to quantify antigenuria and ensure reproducibility. We evaluated this assay using specimens collected from patients with AIDS and culture-proven histoplasmosis in a Guatemalan clinic (n ‫؍‬ 48), from healthy persons (n ‫؍‬ 83), and from patients with other, nonhistoplasmosis diseases (n ‫؍‬ 114). The ELISA demonstrated a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 95% in detecting H. capsulatum antigen in urine. This assay relies on simple technology that can be performed in institutions with limited resources. Use of this test will facilitate rapid diagnosis of PDH in countries where mortality is high, expediting treatment and likely reducing PDH-related mortality.

Dermoid cysts of the floor of the mouth are rare lesions thought to be caused by entrapment of germinal epithelium during the closure of the mandibular and hyoid branchial arches. They usually present as a nonpainful swelling. This type of lesion occurs more frequently in patients between 15 and 35 years, but can be seen in all age ranges. Histologically, all dermoids are lined by epidermis. The contents of the cyst lining determine the histological categories of the cyst: epidermoid, if epidermis is lining the cyst; dermoid, if skin annexes exist; or teratoid, if there are tissues derivated from the three germinal layers. Anatomical classification is useful for surgical approach choice, intra- or extraorally. This report presents a case of a dermoid cyst of the floor of the mouth in a 12-year-old patient, and a review of all steps necessary for its diagnosis and treatment was made.

The aim of this research was to analyze the surgical approaches and methods of rigid fixation used to treat zygomatic complex (ZC) fractures over a 10-year period. One hundred fifty-three patients who underwent surgery to treat ZC fractures between 1999 and 2008 were retrospectively evaluated. Demographic information, signs, and symptoms of the fractures, classification, surgical approaches, and methods of internal fixation were obtained from the medical records. The data were analyzed using statistical descriptive analysis and chi test (P < 0.05). The mean age of the sample was 31 years, and males were predominant (82.3%). In 60.1% of the patients, one surgical approach was used to treat the ZC fractures, whereas 2 surgical approaches were used in 24.8% of the patients. The zygomaticomaxillary buttress was fixed in 86.9% of the patients, followed by infraorbital rim fixation and zygomaticofrontal. There was a statistical significance between fracture displacement and surgical approach for the infraorbital rim (P < 0.0001) and zygomaticofrontal suture (P < 0.0001). Considering that adequate reduction and fixation should be performed and that we try to minimize the amount of scarring, the intraoral zygomaticomaxillary buttress approach is the first choice to treat ZC fractures. In cases of displacement bigger than 5 mm, approaches to 3 of 4 points of the ZC are mandatory to reduce the fractures. The infraorbital rim and zygomaticofrontal suture approaches are indicated to treat displaced fractures.

Developing teeth are commonly the criteria used for age estimation in children and young adults. The method developed by Cameriere et al. (Int J Legal Med 2006;120:49-52) is based on measures of teeth with open apex, and application of a formula, to estimate chronological age of children. The present study evaluated a sample of panoramic radiographs from Brazilian children from 5 to 15 years of age, to evaluate the accuracy of the method proposed by Cameriere et al. The results has proven the system reliable for age estimation, with a median residual error of -0.014 years between chronological and estimated ages (p = 0.603). There was a slight tendency to overestimate the ages of 5-10 years and underestimate the ages of 11-15 years.

Loxoscelism is the most important form of araneism in South America. The treatment of these accidents uses heterologous antivenoms obtained from immunization of production animals with crude loxoscelic venom. Due to the scarcity of this immunogen, new alternatives for its substitution in antivenom production are of medical interest. In the present work, three linear epitopes for Loxosceles astacin-like protease 1 (LALP-1) (SLGRGCTDFGTILHE, ENNTRTIGPFDYDSIMLYGAY, and KLYKCPPVNPYPGGIRPYVNV) and two for hyaluronidase (LiHYAL) (NGGIPQLGDLKAHLEKSAVDI and ILDKSATGLRIIDWEAWR) from Loxosceles intermedia spider venom were identified by SPOT-synthesis technique. One formerly characterized linear epitope (DFSGPYLPSLPTLDA) of sphingomyelinase D (SMase D) SMase-I from Loxosceles laeta was also chosen to constitute a new recombinant multiepitopic protein. These epitopes were combined with a previously produced chimeric multiepitopic protein (rCpLi) composed by linear and conformational B-cell epitopes from SMase D from L. intermedia venom, generating a new recombinant multiepitopic protein derived from loxoscelic toxins (rMEPLox). We demonstrated that rMEPLox is non-toxic and antibodies elicited in rabbits against this antigen present reactivity in ELISA and immunoblot assays with Brazilian L. intermedia, L. laeta, L. gaucho, and L. similis spider venoms. In vivo and in vitro neutralization assays showed that anti-rMEPLox antibodies can efficiently neutralize the sphingomyelinase, hyaluronidase, and metalloproteinase activity of L. intermedia venom. This study suggests that this multiepitopic protein can be a suitable candidate for experimental vaccination approaches or for antivenom production against Loxosceles spp. venoms.

IntroduçãoA rã-touro, Rana catesbeiana (Shaw, 1802), assim como todos os anfíbios, é um animal ectotérmico, ou seja, seu metabolismo está inteiramente dependente da temperatura ambiente. Esta característica influi grandemente na produção comercial, pois, quando a alimentação e a nutrição ocorrem numa faixa de temperatura ótima, ocorre maior consumo de alimento por parte dos animais, possibilitando maior ganho de peso em menor espaço de tempo, que é o principal objetivo de uma criação zootécnica.Segundo DUELLMAN et al. (1986), não existe evidências de mecanismos internos para produção de calor que aumenta a temperatura corporal dos anfíbi-os acima da temperatura ambiente. A quantidade de calor metabólico produzida é tão pequena que rapidamente se perde para o ambiente (FROMM, 1956). A relação térmica dos anfíbios com o ambiente envolve perda ou ganho de calor por convecção e condução, radiação térmica do ambiente e perda de calor por evaporação.O grupo dos anfíbios apresenta grandes variações com relação a tolerância térmica, refletindo os diferentes regimes térmicos de seus habitats. Entretanto, indivíduos podem se aclimatar em diferentes ambientes, o que resultará em alterações dos limites de tolerância.De acordo com BRATISTROM (1979), o estudo da termorregulação em anfíbios é complicado, devido à necessidade da manutenção de umidade na pele desses animais para garantir as trocas gasosas, po- RESUMO -Um experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da temperatura ambiente no desempenho da rã-touro na fase de recria. Foram utilizadas 405 rãs com peso médio inicial de 37,5±1,5 g, em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado três tratamentos (20,2±0,7°C, 25,1±0,4°C e 30,4±0,5°C), cinco repetições (baias) e 27 rãs por baia. O período experimental foi de 45 dias, sendo dez dias para adaptação das rãs às instalações e ao manejo alimentar. A alimentação foi fornecida diariamente, sendo composta uma por ração comercial de truta com 45% de proteína bruta e larva de mosca, utilizada como atrativo. Avaliou-se o desempenho dos animais e concluiu-se que a temperatura afetou significativamente o consumo de ração e de larva de mosca e o ganho de peso das rãs, porém os valores de conversão alimentar não diferiram entre as rãs nos três tratamentos. O desenvolvimento da rã-touro está diretamente relacionado com a temperatura ambiente, que influencia o consumo e a utilização do alimento pelos animais.Palavras-chave: desempenho, Rana catesbeiana, rã-touro, temperaturaInfluence of Environmental Temperature on the Bullfrog Performance, Rana catesbeiana (Shaw, 1802) in the Growing Phase ABSTRACT -An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of environmental temperature on the bullfrog performance in the growing phase. Four hundred and fuve frogs, weighing 37,5±1,5 grams, were assigned to a randomized experimental design with three treatments (20,2±0,7°C, 25,1±0,4°C and 30,2±0,5°C), five replicates (boxes) and 27 frogs in each replicate. The experimental period was of 45 days, being ten days for adapta...

The aim of this retrospective research was to establish the association between variables for the surgical treatment of zygomatic complex (ZC) fractures. In a 10-year period, 532 patients were examined for ZC fractures. The medical records of patients were analyzed to obtain information related to sociodemographic characteristics, trauma etiology, sign and symptoms of patients, and surgical or nonsurgical treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using χ test with statistical significance of P < 0.05. Most fractures were sustained by subjects between 21 and 40 years of age (55.8%), being principally men (80.1%), and 153 patients underwent surgery (28.8%). Surgical treatment of ZC fractures was statistically associated to the presence of other facial fractures (P = 0.004), alteration of occlusion (P = 0.0001; probably due to jaw fractures), presence of the comminuted fractures (P = 0.0002), and infraorbital nerve sensory disturbances (P = 0.003). A mixture of complex variables can be associated to surgical treatment; however, variables as comminuted fracture and alteration of occlusion were associated to surgical treatment indications.

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