Guido Carlos Levi

Smallpox, vaccine prevention and the bioterrorism threat

With the international threat of bioterrorism, smallpox is again a matter of intense debate. The authors review this disease and raise considerations on the exploitation of the etiologic agent as a biological weapon. Also bring to discussion the available efforts to produce and develop vaccines against the disease.

Histoplasmose do sistema nervoso central como única manifestação da doença em pacientes imunocompetentes: apresentação de dois casos

We present two patients with central nervous system involvement as the unique clinical manifestation of histoplasmosis. A clinical review confirmed the infrequency of this form of the disease, overall in childhood, being one of these cases the youngest in Brazilian reports. Comments about the diversity of clinical presentation and main differential diagnosis are presented. We analyze the serologic and cerebrospinal fluid results and, finally, discuss the drugs and duration of treatment.

Tratamento da criptosporidiase, em pacientes com AIDS, por meio da paromomicina

The authors treated with paromomycin 25 patients, with AIDS and cryptosporidiasis. The drug was given orally in a doses of 500mg qid, for a period of 14 days. Tolerance was good, with just two cases of mild side-effects. Clinical improvement was obtained in 19 (76%) patients. Parasitological cure, however, occurred only in a low percentage (25%). In some cases where initial success was observed, recrudescence occurred after some weeks or few months, but with retreatment again clinical improvement was obtained. Even if it does not lead to frequent parasite eradication, the good clinical results and tolerance permit us to consider paromomycin one of the few drugs effective for the treatment of cryptosporidial diarrhea in AIDS patients. Studies with maintainance therapy are indicated.

Observações complementares sôbre a presença do Toxoplasma gondii na saliva de pacientes com toxoplasmose

Through the intraperitoneal inoculation in mice the authors were able to show the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in the spittle of 12 (60%) bearers of toxoplasmosis. The total number of studied patients was twenty. This study represents a complement of a previous and preliminary one on the same subjetc. The presence of the parasite in the saliva is stressed because of its significance in the transmission of the disease.

Eficácia do tinidazol no tratamento da giardíase

Utilizando o tinidazol, trataram os autores 30 individuos adultos injetados pela Giardia lamblia. Administraram uma dragea de 150 mg duas vezes em 24 horas, durante sete dias consecutivos. Constataram a percentagem de curas de 93.3% sendo que a tolerância ao medicamento usado foi em geral, muito satisfatoria. Em face aos resultados obtidos, salientaram que, sem duvida, a droga antiparatitaria empregada, de advento recente e atualmente submetida a multiplas investigacoes de carater terapeutico, representa eficiente recurso capaz de debelai a infeccao motivada pela Giardia lamblia. Alem disso, consideraram conveniente, depois da pesquisa, efetuada, procurar estabelecer esquemas posologicos dotados de virtudes ainda, mais destacaveis.

Results of tuberculin tests performed three months after BCG intradermal vaccination on persons of various ages residing in S. Pauto, Brazil

Foram analisados os resultados de teste tuberculinico, efetuado tres meses apos vacinacao com BCG (amostra Moreau-Rio de Janeiro), pela via intradermica. A casuistica correspondeu a 7.790 pessoas, incluindo as de grupo pertinente ao primeiro trimestre de vida e merecedor, atualmente, de especial atencao. Ficou constatada, globalmente, a percentagem de positividade de 69%. Houve apreciacao, especifica e detalhada, referente a individuos de idades diversas, e a abordagem do tema tornou-se oportuna em face ao interesse que esse tipo de imunizacao vem despertando no Brasil e, tambem, em virtude da necessidade de coletar informes aptos a apoiar trabalhos profilaticos.

Tratamento da amebíase intestinal por meio de pequenas quantidades diárias de etofamida, usadas em esquemas de curta duração

Adults and children of both sexes and different ages bearers of intestinal amebiasis, were treated with etofamide. The total number of patients was 40, divided into two groups of 20 individuais each: one group was given 100 mg. of the drug, three times a day, during five consecutive days; the other was given 100 mg. five times a day, during three consecutive days. The global percentage of 90% of obtained cures was actually worth of mention; however, the dosage schedule based on a shorter period of treatment with higher daily doses was of greater effectiveness yielding the cure of all treated persons. The trial, carried out in patients with different clinical forms of the disease (assymptomatic, mild or chronic colitis) show the efficacy of the used drug which, being practieally free of side-effects, can be easily prescribed under very simple schedules.

Observações sobre o tratamento da giardiase em crianças por meio da nitrimidazina

Usando a nitrimidazina, trataram, os autores 60 criancas com giardiase. Aos pacientes, com idades variaveis de dois a dez anos, administraram 200 mg do medicamento duas ou tres vezes em 24 horas, durante cinco ou sete dias. Obtiveram a percentagem global de curas de 90% e as diferencas notadas, em relacao aos tres grupos constituidos e compostos de 20 individuos, foram inexpressivas. A tolerância ao composto antiparasitârio utilizado pode ser considerada satisfatoria, sendo que esse fato e os resultados terapeuticos registrados conduziram a conviccao de que se trata de novo e eficiente recurso indicavel para a elminacao da infeccao devida a Giardia lamtalia.

Tratamento da febre tifóide pela as sociação de sulfametoxazol e trimetroprim

By associating sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim, the authors treated seven patients of typhoid fever. The results were considered as satisfactory and comparable to those obtained with chloramphenicol. It was thus thought convenient to undertake further investigations in this field, chiefly with the purpose to establish adequate dosage schedules