Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): Analyses and Electrophysiological Studies

Termites have become an important pest of Eucalyptus and Pinus reforestations, sugarcane and other cultures. An alternative for the control of this pest would be the use of attractive traps that take in account the social behavior of these insects. Diverse factors are important for the insects in the localization of the habitat and the choice of the food and specific odors can facilitate this. Studies referring to Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) are scarce. The objective of this work was to analyze the tergal cuticular extract of H. tenuis and determine the selectivity and sensitivity of its antennae to the components of this extract by electroantennography (EAG). The composition of the cuticular extract was determined by GC-MS analysis. The hydrocarbons found were restricted to linear alkanes, being most abundant C24 to C27 that comprises ca. 65% of the total. Olefins were not detected. EAG and behavioral test responses to the cuticular hydrocarbons were greater and significantly different from the control and the high selectivity of the antennae to the extract indicates its potential as chemical messenger. Cuticular hydrocarbons mixture is species-specific and can be used to identify a given taxon without the diagnostic castes, soldiers or imagoes. Difference in the composition appears to relate with the type of habitat of specie.

Labio doble congénito asociado a hemangiomas: A propósito de un caso

Double lip is a developmental abnormality which may occur either isolated or as a component of Ascher's syndrome. A case of congenital double lip associated to hemangiomas and enlargement of the thyroid is reported. The oral and facial hemangiomas were excised under local anesthesia. Surgical reconstruction of the upper lip was done in order to reduce the interference with speech and mastication. The recognition and treatment of the abnormalities are discussed.

Apparent digestible energy and nutrient digestibility coefficients of diet ingredients for pacu Piaractus brachypomus

The digestible energy and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients of common diet ingredients were determined for pacu Piaractus brachypomus (370.21 ± 17.56 g). Fish were fed with pelleted practical diets to apparent satiation and the feces were collected by siphoning. The digestibility value for each ingredient was determined by comparison of the digestibility of a test diet with a reference diet (24.5% crude protein and 1% chromic oxide). The digestible energy values of soybean meal (SBM), fish meal (FM), corn (CN), and wheat bran (WB) were 2382, 3826, 3353, and 1784 kcal/kg, respectively. The apparent dry matter digestibility coefficients were 83.72, 90.14, 89.13, and 82.05% for SBM, FM, CN, and WB, respectively. The apparent crude protein digestibility coefficients were 75.88, 90.49, 85.06, and 61.62% for SBM, FM, CN, and WB, respectively. The apparent lipid digestibility coefficients were 63.03, 77.00, 83.01, and 82.45% for SBM, FM, CN, and WB, respectively. The digestibility of protein, lipid, and energy from SBM were somewhat low compared to values for other warmwater omnivorous fishes, but similar to values reported for pacu-caranha P. mesopotamicus. Otherwise, the nutrient and energy availability of the ingredients to P. brachypomus was similar to that of other fish. This information will be useful in formulating nutritious, economical diets for pacus. © by the World Aquaculture Society 2004.

Naso-orbicular tissue necrosis by Streptococcus parasanguis in a patient with Fanconi anemia: Clinical and laboratory aspects

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by pancytopenia and progressive hypoplasia of the bone marrow. A 23-year-old woman with FA showed severe pancytopenia and developed an abscess on the infraorbicular region on the right side of the face that progressed to phlegmon and caused tissue necrosis of the nostrils, nasal septum, nasal fossa, and posterior orbital region. Laboratory examination showed Streptococcus parasanguis as the etiologic agent of the phlegmon. Supportive treatment was recommended due to donor incompatibility for bone marrow transplant. The intraoral examination showed spontaneous gingival bleeding, edema of the interdental papillae, hematomas on the superior and inferior lips, bacterial and fungal infections, and adequate oral hygiene. The patient was treated with the administration of an antibiotic (imipenem), an antifungal (amphotericin B), and mouth washing with antiseptic solutions. Periodontal prophylaxis and orientation to and control of oral hygiene and diet were also used during the remission period. For functional and esthetic rehabilitation of the alar regions and nasal dorsum, an acrylic resin nasal prosthesis was made, supported by a spectacle frame.

Electroantennographic responses of Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) to synthetic (3Z,6Z,8E)-Dodecatrien-1-ol

The subterranean termite Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) is a pest of great importance for the Brazilian economy as it causes serious damages in commercial reforestations of Eucalyptus spp. and sugarcane cultures. (3Z,6Z,8E)-Dodecatrien-1-ol has been identified as a pheromone of some species of subterranean termites. The objective of this research was to synthesize (3Z,6Z,8E)-dodecatrien-1-ol and determine by electroantennographic (EAG) bioassays the selectivity and sensitivity of H. tenius antennae to its whole worker extract and to the synthetic triene alcohol.

Surgical and clinical management of a patient with Glanzmann thrombasthenia: A case report

A 6-year-old girl with Glanzmann thrombasthenia presented with caries and periapical lesions in the primary mandibular second molars and moderate gingivitis of the maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth. Dental extraction was recommended, and before every surgical intervention, the patient underwent platelet-concentrate transfusion to prevent hemorrhage. Epsilon aminocaproic acid was administered 6 hours before, and 48 hours after every dental procedure to prevent bleeding. In this case, treatment was effective in the prevention of hemorrhagic complications, during the required dental procedures.

Oral toxicity of chemical substances found in Dimorphandra mollis (Caesalpiniaceae) against honeybees (Apis mellifera) (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Dimorphandra mollis is a characteristic plant from Brazilian saP vanna-like vegetation. The pollen of this species could be toxic to bees and the objective of the present investigation was to study the toxicity of methanolic extracts obtained from the flowers, peduncles and stem bark of D. mollis to Apis mellifera workers. For the study, the extracts were incorporated into the diet of the bees for later evaluation of mortality rates. The substances isolated: neoisoastilbin, catechin, astilbin and tannins were tested on adult workers and only catechin did not cause toxic effects. The data obtained in the toxicity bioassays were analyzed statistically by Log Rank test and all methanolic extracts showed significant (p<0.0001) toxic effects. Astilbin is also the major component of pollen grains, and is probably responsible for honeybee mortality during blooming periods.

Oral manifestations during chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A case report

A 14-year-old, male patient was referred for the treatment of mucositis, idiopathic facial asymmetry, and candidiasis. The patient had been undergoing chemotherapy for 5 years for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He presented with a swollen face, fever, and generalized symptomatology in the mouth with burning. On physical examination, general signs of poor health, paleness, malnutrition, and jaundice were observed. The extraoral clinical examination showed edema on the right side of the face and cutaneous erythema. On intraoral clinical examination, generalized ulcers with extensive necrosis on the hard palate mucosa were observed, extending to the posterior region. Both free and attached gingivae were ulcerated and edematous with exudation and spontaneous bleeding, mainly in the superior and inferior anterior teeth region. The tongue had no papillae and was coated, due to poor oral hygiene. The patient also presented with carious white lesions and enamel hypoplasia, mouth opening limitation, and foul odor. After exfoliative cytology of the affected areas, the diagnosis was mixed infection by Candida albicans and bacteria. Recommended treatment was antibiotics and antifungal administration, periodontal prophylaxis, topical application of fluor 1.23%, and orientation on and control of proper oral hygiene and diet during the remission phase of the disease.

A new imidazole alkaloid and other constituents from Pilocarpus grandiflorus and their antifungal activity

The stems of Pilocarpus grandiflorus have afforded the new imidazole alkaloid 4,6-dehydro-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2,5-dioxopilocarpine in addition to the 17 known compounds germanicol, β-amiryn, ocotillone, stigmast-4-en-3-one, 3β-hydroxy-stigmast-5-en-7-one, 6β-hydroxy-stigmast-4-en-3-one, β-sitosterol, scopoletin, 3-(1′,1′-dimethylallyl)-scopoletin, elisin, dictamine, 4-methoxy-2-quinolone, platydesmine, syringaresinol, syringaldehyde, syringic acid and vanillic acid. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. The phenolic compounds vanillic acid and syringaldehyde and the furoquinoline alkaloid platydesmine exhibited antifungal activity against Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, the symbiotic fungus of leaf-cutting ants (Atta sexdens rubropilosa). © 2005 Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung.

Leaf-cutting ants toxicity of limonexic acid and degraded limonoids from Raulinoa echinata. X-ray structure of epoxy-fraxinellone

Phytochemical survey of roots extracts of the South Brazilian endemic plant Raulinoa echinata Cowan, Rutaceae led to the isolation of known degraded limonoids: fraxinellone, fraxinellonone and epoxy-fraxinellone. The latter was previously isolated also from the stems, but the relative configuration could not be solved by NMR experiments. This paper deals with the X-ray diffraction analysis of epoxy-fraxinellone and its toxicity to leaf-cutting ants, describes the isolation of fraxinellonone and fraxinellone for the first time in Raulinoa. Epoxy-fraxinellone showed no toxicity to the leaf-cutting ants (Atta sexdens rubropilosa). The limonoid limonexic acid, isolated from stems, presented high toxicity to the leaf-cutting ants, diminishing considerably their longevity. ©2005 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.

Identification and frequency of transposable elements in Eucalyptus

Transposable elements (TE) are major components of eukaryotic genomes and involved in cell regulation and organism evolution. We have analyzed 123,889 expressed sequence tags of the Eucalyptus Genome Project database and found 124 sequences representing 76 TE in 9 groups, of which copia, MuDR and FAR1 groups were the most abundant. The low amount of sequences of TE may reflect the high efficiency of repression of these elements, a process that is called TE silencing. Frequency of groups of TE in Eucalyptus libraries which were prepared with different tissues or physiologic conditions from seedlings or adult plants indicated that developing plants experience the expression of a much wider spectrum of TE groups than that seen in adult plants. These are preliminary results that identify the most relevant TE groups involved with Eucalyptus development, which is important for industrial wood production. Copyright by the Brazilian Society of Genetics.

Toxicity of straight-chain fatty acids to leaf-cutting ants Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus

This work determined toxicity and attractiveness of straight-chain fatty acids (C 5 to C 12) to Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Forel) workers. The effect to the symbiotic fungus, Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Singer) Möller, was also tested with the fatty acids C 6 to C 12. A strong mortality of leaf-cutting ants that were fed with an artificial diet containing fatty acids C to C at concentrations above 1.0 mg.ml -1 was observed. Rice flakes impregnated with solutions of these fatty acids were repellent to leaf-cutting ants. Contact experiments showed that treatments with C 6 and C 7 at concentration of 100 mg.ml -1 significantly reduced the survival rate of leaf-cutting ants. The fatty acids C 8 to C 11 were toxic to leaf-cutting ants when topically tested at concentration of 200 mg.ml -1. In relation to the fungus' bioassays, the fatty acids C 6 to C 12 at concentration of 0.1 mg.ml -1 inhibited 100% of the fungal development. Although when the concentration was reduced by half no inhibition effects were observed. The results showed that straight-chain fatty acids have desirable properties for controlling leaf-cutting ants since they directly interfere with both organisms of the symbiotic relationship. The potential of fatty acids as well as ways to control leaf-cutting ants with these compounds are discussed in this article.

Electrophysiological responses of Atta sexdens rubropilosa workers to essential oils of Eucalyptus and its chemical composition

The leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908 is the most harmful of the Eucalyptus pests, causing severe losses in wood production through defoliation. Various strategies have been tried and effort spent on the development of methods to control this pest, however no practical and environmentally acceptable one currently exists. In this work the chemical composition of the essential oil of seven Eucalyptus species was identified and the selectivity and sensitivity of antennal receptors of A. sexdens rubropilosa workers to the volatile compounds were determined using the electroantennographic technique (EAG and GC-EAD). Analysis by GC-EAD showed in E. cloesiana and E. maculata, respectively, seventeen and sixteen terpenes that elicited responses in ant workers' antennae, indicating the potential role of the essential oils as allelochemicals that determine the choice of the foraging material. © 2006 Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung.

Avaliação das respostas fisiológicas de bezerros Zebuínos puros e cruzados nascidos em clima subtropical

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Propriedades físicas e indicador de qualidade de um latossolo vermelho submetido a diferentes sistemas de uso e manejo

The conventional system for soil management and preparation has the intensive mechanization as its basic principle and that changes soil properties, especially physical ones, faster and significantly. This study aimed to obtain and compare physical properties such as distribution of particle sizes, density, distribution of pore sizes, curves of water retention and degradation index of a Red Latosol, under intensive cultivation and no-cultivation for six years. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 m. There was a clay increment as a result of cultivated soil increase. The no-till soil density decreased as depth increased; however, in the arable layer (0.3 m) of the cultivated soil, the opposite was verified. The largest volume of pores was verified in the cultivated soil, especially in the superficial layers. In the smallest applied tension (0.001 MPa), the cultivated soil retained more water; however, starting from 0.033 MPa, the highest humidity values occurred in the no-till soil. The highest degradation index was observed at a depth of 0.1 m in no-till soil. However, that value was superior (0.020) to what is physically considered very poor soil.