Renal dysfunction due to leukemic infiltration of kidneys in a case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Renal failure due to leukemic infiltration of kidney in chronic lymphocytic leukemia is an extremely rare condition. The authors report a case of a 59-year-old white female, with a past medical history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with 2 years of evolution without medical therapy, admitted with nonoliguric acute renal failure needing dialysis. Renal biopsy showed extensive small lymphocytes' infiltration in the cortical interstitium by CLL cells. Cyclophosphamide and prednisolone were started and 1 month later changed to fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide with improvement of renal function. Although renal failure due to leukemic infiltration has been described in many cases of acute leukemia, only 11 cases of renal failure due to CLL cells' infiltration have been described in the literature. Renal histology is an extremely important tool to confirm diagnosis.     

Characterization and Distribution of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Traditional Cocoa Bean Fermentations in Bahia

Bacteria of the families Lactobacilaceae and Streptococcaceae were isolated from cocoa beans fermented by the traditional method used in the State of Bahia (Brazil). During the first 48 hr of the process these bacteria were better established than the yeasts. This observation differs from those reported by other researchers working in other countries. Identification studies showed eight homolactic species: Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus lactis, Pediococcus cerevisiae, Pediococcus acidilactici, Streptococcus lactis and two heterolactic species: Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus brevis. L. plantarum was found better distributed and the thermophile L. delbrueckii was found to constitute 26% of the population at 16 hr.     

Impact of ammonium additions on volatile acidity, ethanol, and aromatic compound production by different Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains during fermentation in controlled synthetic media

Variations in ethanol, volatile acidity, and aromatic compounds produced by different Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were studied in controlled synthetic medium (CSM). Different amounts of assimilable nitrogen (in the form of ammonium sulfate) were added at two fermentation stages (i.e. the beginning of fermentation and the halfway point). There were significant differences in the amount of ethanol produced when ammonia was added to the CSM, although this depended on the yeast strain used. When assimilable nitrogen was added, ethanol production either increased (with Fermicru AR2 and Stellevin NT116 yeast strains) or decreased (with LW LVCB CT1+ yeast strain). The degree of variation also depended on the time that the ammonia was added, with differences of up to 0.7% (v/v). Adding ammonium to the CSM always resulted in lower volatile acidity in the fermentation product. Different yeast strains ( P < 0.0001) and varying amounts of ammonium produced significant differences. Maximum impact – up to 70% less volatile acidity – was obtained using the Stellevin NT116 yeast strain and adding 280 mgN/L ammonium at the halfway point in fermentation. Acetoin production increased at higher concentrations of added ammonium, most markedly when it was added halfway through fermentation. The total amount of esters increased when 140 mgN/L was added to all three yeasts strains tested, irrespective of the fermentation stage. Smaller amounts of higher alcohols were produced following larger ammonium additions, especially at the beginning of fermentation.     

Sperm ultrastructure and spermatogenesis in the lizard, <i>Tropidurus itambere</i>

Spermatogenesis, with emphasis on spermiogenesis, is described for the lizard, Tropidurus itambere, using light microscopy, phase contrast and epifluorescence, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Cellular differentiation involves events of chromatin condensation, nuclear elongation and the formation of structural complexes, such as the acrosomal and axonemal ones. Other new characteristics, exclusive for this species, include various aspects of the subacrosomal granule, the insertion of the proacrosomal vesicle and the development of these structures to participate in the acrosomal complex. Radial projections occur just above the nuclear shoulders, which have been recognized already from the beginning of cellular elongation. The development of the midpiece, the dense bodies, formation of the flagellum and elimination of residual cytoplasm result in the final characterization of the mature spermatozoon. Comparisons between Tropiduridae and other lizard families are made.     

Seasonal testicular changes in <i>Dendropsophus minutus</i> Peters, 1872 (Anura,Hylidae)

The reproductive cycle in anurans may be either continuous or discontinuous. These differences may be connected to seasonal climate changes and/or to anthropic activity. Forty adult male individuals of the Dendropsophus minutus species were collected during one year, in the municipality of Chapada dos Guimarães (Mato Grosso, Brazil). The testicles were studied under light and transmission electron microscopy. No variations were observed when the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the thickness of the interstitial tissue were studied. However, changes in spermatogenesis were conspicuous and indicated that the reproductive cycle of D. minutus in Chapada dos Guimarães is discontinuous and seems related to variations in air temperature and rainfall.     

Changes in the redox status of the brain in an experimental glaucoma model

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the redox status changes of primary visual targets in the rat brain of a high pressure-induced glaucoma model. The animal model consisted of inducing ocular hypertension by cauterizing two episcleral veins on the left eye. The markers of oxidative damage and the oxidative balance evaluated in the brain seven days postoperative were: nitrites concentration, levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes activity.
The increase in the nitrite content, which could be the result of the enhancement in the production of nitrogen species, and in the activity of NADPH oxidase in the glaucoma group could lead to an increase on lipid and protein damage.
The decrease on the non-enzymatic antioxidants and the compensatory increase of the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities could be a consequence of the increase of oxidative processes. The decrease in the activity of glutathione reductase leads to a decrease in the recycling of thiol groups.
We suggest that oxidative stress can possibly acts as a risk factor for neurodegeneration in the brain. Therapeutic strategies to stop the progression of the disease in glaucoma should also be considered the central neuronal degeneration beyond the retina and the optic nerve.     

Analytical Method for Determination of Some Aroma Compounds on White Wines by Solid Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography

ABSTRACT A method for analyzing volatiles such as alcohols (1-octen-3-ol), aldehydes (trans-trans -2,4-decadienal, trans -2-nonenal), terpenols (linalool, terpineol, and oxides), and isoprenoids (β-damascenone, β-ionone, 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphtalen and vitispirane) on white wines using solid phase microextraction has been developed. The analytes were extracted directly from the headspace of a constant volume of wine using 7 different fibers coated with different stationary phases compared with a classic dichloromethane extract. The best extraction efficiency was obtained with a divinylbenzene/Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane, 50/30 μm. Sample volume, time, and temperature of the extraction were optimized and the matrix effect studied. The limits of quantification varied between 0.013 and 1.81 μg/L. The r-values for linearity studies varied between 0.9761 and 0.9999. Among the compounds measured, some are related to the aroma of young white wine, such as linalol, terpineol, β-damascenone, whereas others, for example, 1-octen-3-ol, trans-trans -2,4-decadienal, trans -2-nonenal, 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphtalene, and vitispirane, are related to evolution characteristic of white wines.