Normal Doppler velocimetry of renal vasculature in Persian cats

Renal diseases are common in older cats. Decreased renal blood flow may be the first sign of dysfunction and can be evaluated by Doppler ultrasound. But previous studies suggest that the resistive index (RI) has a low sensitivity for detecting renal disease. Doppler waveforms of renal and intrarenal arteries demonstrate decreased blood flow before there are any changes in the RI. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the normal Doppler flowmetrics parameters of renal arteries (RAs), interlobar arteries (IAs) and abdominal aorta (AO) in adult healthy, Persian cats. Twenty-five Persian cats (13 females and 12 males with mean age of 30 months and an age range 12-60 months) with normal clinical examinations and biochemical tests and normal systemic blood pressure were given B-mode ultrasonographies in order to exclude all nephropathies, including polycystic kidney disease. All measurements were performed on both kidneys. Both kidneys (n = 50) were examined by color mapping of the renal vasculature. Pulsed Doppler was used to examine both RAs, the IAs at cranial, middle and caudal sites, and the AO. The RI was calculated for all of the vessels. Early systolic acceleration (ESA) of RA and IA was obtained with Doppler spectral analysis. Furthermore, the ratio indices between RA/AO, and IA/RA velocities were calculated. The mean values of peak systolic velocity (PSV) and the diameter for AO were 53.17 +/- 13.46 cm/s and 0.38 +/- 0.08 cm, respectively. The mean RA diameter for all 50 kidneys was 0.15 +/- 0.02 cm. Considering the velocimetric values in both RAs, the mean PSV and RI that were obtained were 41.17 +/- 9.40 cm/s and 0.54 +/- 0.07. The RA had a mean ESA of 1.12 +/- 1.14 m/s(2) and the calculated upper limit of the reference value was 3.40 m/s(2). The mean renal-aortic ratio was 0.828 +/- 0.296. The IA showed PSV and RI values of 32.16 +/- 9.33 cm/s and 0.52 +/- 0.06, respectively. The mean ESA of all IAs was 0.73 +/- 0.61 m/s(2). The calculated upper limit of the reference value was 2.0 m/s(2). The mean renal-interlobar artery ratio was 1.45 +/- 0.57. The RI values obtained in this study were similar to values reported in the literature. Some conditions that lead to a decrease in compliance and to an increase in vascular resistance can affect the Doppler spectral waveforms without changes in RI. To our knowledge, there are no studies that were directed toward to the normal ESA values of the renal vasculature in Persian cats. This study introduced a new ratio between the PSV of the RA and the IA. This index was developed based on the well-known effects of Doppler on the detection of stenosis, regardless of the cause. Further studies are necessary to verify the hemodynamic behavior of this index under pathological conditions in cats as well as the effect of aging, nephropathies and systemic pressure on Doppler velocimetric parameters. (C) 2010 ISFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Soil mineralogy of mangrove forests from the state of Sao Paulo, Southeastern Brazil

The minerals of the clay fraction in estuarine plains are mainly detrital being a mixture of marine and continental sediments, but can also be authigenic. Because of the importance of mangrove ecosystems in tropical estuarine areas and the relatively few existing studies of the mineralogical composition of soils in these environments, the aim of this study was to determine the mineralogical assemblage and identify potential contrasts along the coast of the State of Sao Paulo. Soils from I I mangroves distributed along the coastal plain of the State of Sao Paulo were sampled at depths of 0 to 20 and 60 to 80 cm, and samples of suspended sediments from the Ribeira do Iguape River were collected for analysis. Mineralogical analyses were performed on the clay and silt fractions by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy, and fresh soil samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry and suspended sediments by XRD. The silt fraction contained quartz, feldspars, gibbsite, kaolinite, illite, and vermiculite, and the clay fraction contained smectite, kaolinite, illite, gibbsite, quartz, and feldspars. Locally, vermiculite, biotite, anatase, halloysite, and goethite may occur because of recent transport of sediments to the system. Pyrite was identified in fresh samples. The allochthonous minerals found either were terrestrial and transported by rivers or had originated from the continental platform by past transgressive events. We suggest that the neoformation of smectite and kaolinite occurs in mangrove soils. Different geomorphological settings along the Sao Paulo coast appear to regulate mineral distribution in mangrove soils.

SOYBEAN YIELD COMPONENTS IN DIFFERENT SOWING PERIODS IN THE WESTERN OF STATE OF BAHIA

Yield is closely linked to the plant yield components and depend directly of the genotype interaction with the environment. Essays were installed in the experimental field of the Bahia Foundation in the Maria Gabriela farm in the county of Sao Desiderio - BA in the year 2006-2007. The aim of this work was to evaluate yield components of five soybean cultivars with different maturation cycles indicated for the Western Region of Bahia in different sowing periods. The experimental design was in random blocks in 4 x 5 factorial scheme (four sowing periods: Ep1 first - 11/29/2006, Ep2 second - 12/14/2006, Ep3 third - 12/28/2007, Ep4 fourth - 01/12/2007 and five cultivars: M-SOY 8411, BRS Corisco, BRS 263 [Diferente], BRS Barreiras e M-SOY 9350) with four repetitions. The following characteristics were evaluated: total number of pods per plant, total number of beans per plant, mass of 1000 beans and yield. Plant yield components, total number of pods per plant, total number of beans per plant, mass of 1000 beans, reduced with sowing delay and showed compensation effect between cultivars and sowing periods. Late sowing Ep3 (28/12/2006) and Ep4 (12/01/2007) were not favourable to raise yield of soybean in the Western Region of Bahia.

THE MONTHLY RAINFALL IN THE RIO DE JANEIRO STATE, BRAZIL: SEASONALITY AND TREND

The objective of this work was to carry a descriptive analysis in the monthly precipitation of rainfall stations from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, using data of position and dispersion and graphical analyses, and to verify the presence of seasonality and trend in these data, with a study about the application of models of time series. The descriptive statistics was to characterize the general behavior of the series in three stations selected which present consistent historical series. The methodology of analysis of variance in randomized blocks and the determination of models of multiple linear regression, considering years and months as predictors variables, disclosed the presence of seasonality, what allowed to infer on the occurrence of repetitive natural phenomena throughout the time and absence of trend in the data. It was applied the methodology of multiple linear regression to removal the seasonality of these time series. The original data had been deducted from the estimates made by the adjusted model and the analysis of variance in randomized blocks for the residues of regression was preceded again. With the results obtained it was possible to conclude that the monthly rainfall present seasonality and they don`t present trend, the analysis of multiple regression was efficient in the removal of the seasonality, and the rainfall can be studied by means of time series.

Physical and sensory characterization of coffee produced in the topoclimatic conditions at Jesuitas, Parana State (Brazil)

Climatic variations influence formation and maturation of coffee grains by altering their intrinsic characteristics, which call allow for several types of coffee qualities, including the potential for production of special coffee. This study was carried out to verify the effect of environmental conditions and crop cultivation on chemical composition and their consequences in cup quality of coffees from region of Jesuitas, Parana State. During the same crop season this study was accomplished (2002-2003), cup quality was evaluated among the producers in several coffee-growing municipalities in Parana State. It was observed that 86% of samples were classified simply as ""soft"" (smooth flavor) or ""hard"" (bolder flavor), and 14% were classified as rioysh/rio (strong unpleasant taste). The results concluded that the practices adopted by producers, who have collaborated with the study, reflected positively oil the final cup quality, when compared to the overall quality results in the State. The climatic conditions and practices of crop management and harvest ill the Jesuitas region made for bolder coffee with low acidity, comparable to high quality coffees produced in Brazil and abroad.

Phytoplasma closely related to the pigeon pea witches`-broom phytoplasma (16Sr IX) is associated with citrus huanglongbing symptoms in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil

In February 2007, sweet orange trees with characteristic symptoms of huanglongbing (HLB) were encountered in a region of Sao Paulo state (SPs) hitherto free of HLB. These trees tested negative for the three liberibacter species associated with HLB. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product from symptomatic fruit columella DNA amplifications with universal primers fDI/rPI was cloned and sequenced. The corresponding agent was found to have highest 16S rDNA sequence identity (99%) with the Pigeon pea witches`-broom phytoplasma of group 16Sr IX. Sequences of PCR products obtained with phytoplasma 16S rDNA primer pairs fU5/rU3, fU5/P7 confirm these result.,;. With two primers D7f2/D7r2 designed based oil the 16S rDNA Sequence of the cloned DNA fragment, positive amplifications were obtained from more than one hundred samples including symptomatic fruits and blotchy mottle leaves. Samples positive for phytoplasmas were negative for liberibacters, except for four samples, which were positive for both the phytoplasma and `Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus`. The phytoplasma was detected by electron microscopy in the sieve tubes of midribs from symptomatic leaves. These results Show that a phytoplasma of group IX is associated with citrus HLB symptoms ill northern, central, and Southern SPs. This phytoplasma has very probably been transmitted to citrus from an external Source of inoculum, but the Putative insect vector is not yet known.

Occurrence and distribution of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in retail oysters in Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a potentially pathogenic bacterium that occurs naturally in estuarine environments worldwide, and is often associated with gastroenteritis in humans following consumption of raw bivalve mollusks, especially raw oysters. The occurrence of total and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in 74 samples of raw oysters collected in restaurants, supermarkets, groceries and beach huts in Sao Paulo State, was monitored between February 2006 and January 2007. Enumeration of V. parahaemolyticus was performed according to the most probable number (MPN) procedure. Five to ten typical colonies were selected from thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose (TCBS) agar plates for confirmation by the presence of the species-specific gene tlh and the virulence genes tdh and trh by multiplex PCR. V. parahaemolyticus was detected in 100% of samples. The densities of total V. parahaemolyticus varied from 1.78 to 6.04 logio (MPN/g), with higher densities being detected in fall and summer, and lower densities in winter (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference among densities of V parahaemolyticus regarding the site of collection. None of the 1943 V parahaemolyticus isolates contained tdh and/or trh. These data provide information for the assessment of exposure to V. parahaemolyticus in oysters consumed in Sao Paulo, State, Brazil. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Correlation between Environmental Factors and Prevalence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Oysters Harvested in the Southern Coastal Area of Sao Paulo State, Brazil

The presence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in 123 oyster samples collected from an estuary on the southern coast of Sao Paulo state, Brazil, was investigated. Of the 123 samples, 99.2% were positive with densities ranging from <3 to 10(5) most probable number (MPN)/g. Densities correlated significantly with water temperature (r = 0.48; P < 0.001) but not with salinity (r = -0.09; P = 0.34). The effect of harvest site on counts was not significant (P > 0.05). These data provide information for the assessment of exposure of V. parahaemolyticus in oysters at harvest.

Genetic population data of 12 STR loci of the PowerPlex (R) Y system in the state of Sao Paulo population (Southeast of Brazil)

Allele frequency distributions and population data for 12 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) included in the PowerPlex (R) Y Systems (Promega) were obtained for a sample of 200 healthy unrelated males living in S (a) over tildeo Paulo State (Southeast of Brazil). A total of 192 haplotypes were identified, of which 184 were unique and 8 were found in 2 individuals. The average gene diversity of the 12 Y-STR was 0.6746 and the haplotype diversity was 0.9996. Pairwise analysis confirmed that our population is more similar with the Italy, North Portugal and Spain, being more distant of the Japan. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Orange juice decreases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic subjects and improves lipid transfer to high-density lipoprotein in normal and hypercholesterolemic subjects

Orange juice (OJ) is regularly consumed worldwide, but its effects on plasma lipids have rarely been explored. This study hypothesized that consumption of OJ concentrate would improve lipid levels and lipid metabolism, which are important in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function in normolipidemic (NC) and hypercholesterolemic (HCH) subjects. Fourteen HCH and 31 NC adults consumed 750 mL/day OJ concentrate (1:6 OJ/water) for 60 days. Eight control subjects did not consume OJ for 60 days. Plasma was collected before and on the last clay for biochemical analysis and an in vitro as

Organophosphate and carbamate poisonings in the northwest of Parana state, Brazil from 1994 to 2005: clinical and epidemiological aspects

In the present study, clinical and epidemiological aspects of 529 intoxication cases of organophosphate or carbamate pesticides in the northwest of the state of Parana, Brazil, over a twelve-year period (1994-2005), are presented. One hundred-five of 257 patients (40.8%) who attempted suicide were admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs), with an average hospital stay of two days (range 1-40 days). Men corresponded to 56.4% of the cases of suicide attempts and sixteen individuals died. One hundred-forty patients intoxicated due to occupational exposure were all young adults and nine of them were admitted to ICU, with average hospital stays of eight days (range 1-16 days). Of these cases, two patients died. One hundred twenty-four patients intoxicated due to accidental exposure were mainly children and had a hospital average stay of four days. Twenty patients were admitted to the ICU, and one of them died. Overall complications included respiratory failure, convulsions, and aspiration pneumonia. Deliberate ingestion of organophosphates and carbamates Was much more toxic than occupational and accidental exposure. Men aged 15-39 years were the most likely to attempt suicide with these agents and had more prolonged ICU with significant complications and mortality

New antitumoral agents I: In vitro anticancer activity and in vivo acute toxicity of synthetic 1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadien-3-one and derivatives

This paper describes a new method for the preparation of 1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadien-3-one 1 and its derivatives 2-5. This set of synthetic compounds exhibited high antitumoral activities regarding in vitro screening against several human tumor cell lines as lung carcinoma NCI-460, melanoma UACC-62, breast MCF-7, colon HT-29, renal 786-O, ovarian OVCAR-03 and ovarian expressing the resistance phenotype for adriamycin NCI-ADR/ RES, prostate PC-3, and leukemia K-562. Compounds were also tested against murine tumor cell line B16F10 melanoma and lymphocytic leukemia L1210 as well as to their effect toward normal macrophages. Specific activity against colon cancer cells HT-29 was observed for all tested compounds and suggests further studies with models of colon cancer. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed significant cytotoxic activity with IC(50) values <= 2.3 mu M for all human cancer cell lines. Intraperitoneal acute administration of compound 1 and 2 showed very low toxicity rate. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Impact of cholesterol on ABC and SLC transporters expression and function and its role in disposition variability to lipid-lowering drugs

This report focuses on the effects of cholesterol on the expression and function of the ATP-binding cassette (ABCB1, ABCG2 and ABCC2) and solute-linked carrier (SLCO1B1 and SLCO2B1) drug transporters with a particular focus on the potential impact of cholesterol on lipid-lowering drug disposition. Statins are the most active agents in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. However, considerable interindividual variation exists in the response to statin therapy. Therefore, it would be huge progress if factors were identified that reliably differentiate between responders and nonresponders. Many studies have suggested that plasma lipid concentrations can affect drug disposition of compounds, such as ciclosporin and amphotericin B. Both compounds are able to affect the expression and function of ABC transporters. Although still speculative, these effects might be owing to the regulation of drug transporters by plasma cholesterol levels. Studies with normo- and hyper-cholesterolemic individuals, before and after atorvastatin treatment, have demonstrated that plasma cholesterol levels are correlated with drug transporter expression, as well as being related to atorvastatin`s cholesterol-lowering effect. The mechanism influencing the correlation between cholesterol levels and the expression and function of drug transporters remains unclear. Some studies provide strong evidence that nuclear receptors, such as the pregnane X receptor and the constitutive androstane receptor, mediate this effect. In the near future, pharmacogenomic studies with individuals in a pathological state should be performed in order to identify whether high plasma cholesterol levels might be a factor contributing to interindividual oral drug bioavailability.

Sero-epidemiology of toxocariasis in a rural settlement in Sao Paulo state, Brazil

The seroprevalence of Toxocara canis and risk factors for infection with this parasite were explored in a rural settlement in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. Total IgA and IgE levels in 79 subjects were determined by turbidimetry and chemiluminescence, respectively. Total counts of leucocytes and erythrocytes and differential counts of leucocytes were made by flow cytometry. ELISA for the detection of anti-Toxocara IgG, IgA and IgE were standardized using Toxocara excretory-secretory antigens (TES) obtained from the cultured second-stage larvae of T. canis. Seventeen (21.5%) of the subjects were found positive for anti-Toxocara IgG, with no significant differences in such seropositivity with age or gender. Thirty (38%) of the subjects showed eosinophilia and 70 (89%) had elevated levels of total IgE. Among the 17 subjects found seropositive for anti-Toxocara IgG, the percentage of leucocytes represented by eosinophils (P=0.0069) and total levels of IgE (P=0.0452) were positively correlated with the levels of anti-TES IgE. Although anti-TES IgA was detected in 10 (59%) of the subjects, there was no significant correlation between the levels of total IgA and those of Toxocara-specific IgA. Only one of the 17 subjects found positive for anti-Toxocara IgG had attended a secondary school and all but two belonged to households with monthly incomes of < U.S.$100. In the study community at least, seropositivity may be related to poor living standards and lack of basic sanitary conditions. The presence of anti-Toxocara IgE and IgA may facilitate the diagnosis of toxocariasis and may well be useful for monitoring the success of treatment.

Genetic analysis of complement C1s deficiency associated with systemic lupus erythernatosus highlights alternative splicing of normal C1s gene

Deficiencies of complement proteins of the classical pathway are strongly associated with the development of autoimmune diseases. Deficiency of Clr has been observed to occur concomitantly with deficiency in Cls and 9 out of 15 reported cases presented systemic lupus erythernatosus (SLE). Here, we describe a family in which all four children are deficient in Cls but only two of them developed SLE. Hemolytic activity mediated by the alternative and the lectin pathways were normal, but classical pathway activation was absent in all children`s sera. Cls was undetectable, while in the parents` sera it was lower than in the normal controls. The levels of Clr observed in the siblings and parents sera were lower than in the control, while the concentrations of other complement proteins (C3, C4, MBL and MASP-2) were normal in all family members. Impairment of Cls synthesis was observed in the patients` fibroblasts when analyzed by confocal microscopy. We show that all four siblings are homozygous for a mutation at position 938 in exon 6 of the Cls cDNA that creates a premature stop codon. Our investigations led us to reveal the presence of previously uncharacterized splice variants of Cls mRNA transcripts in normal human cells. These variants are derived from the skipping of exon 3 and from the use of an alternative 3` splice site within intron I which increases the size of exon 2 by 87 nucleotides. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.