Effect of caffeine on larval mortality of Aedes aegypti: efficiency related to solution concentration and age

In two experiments, the duration of the effect of caffeine (CAF) solutions on larval mortality (LM) of Aedes aegypti was analyzed. In the first, LM was studied using solutions at 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL aged from zero to five days in artificial breeding sites exposed to the laboratory environment (LE). In the second, the solutions aged at 1.0, 2.0 and 2.5 mg/mL closed flasks were stored in LE or in the refrigerator (R), and the effect on LM was tested in the experimental breeding sites at 30 days interval. In the first, the duration of the effect increased with the solution age in each CAF concentration. CAF at 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL, without addition of food, produced 100% LM until 25 days after preparation; with food, at 11 and 18 days, respectively. In the second the effectiveness of CAF solutions lasted up to the seventh month, irrespective of whether they were stored in R or in LE. No adult emerged at any of the CAF concentrations used in second experiment.

Effect of different periods of preconditioning with saliva on adhesion of C. albicans to a denture base resin by crystal violet staining and XTT assay.

Aim: The role of saliva on Candida adhesion to biomaterials has not been clearly defined. The present study investigates whether different periods of preconditioning with saliva would influence the adhesion of Candida albicans to a denture base resin. Methods: Ninety samples of acrylic resin with smooth surfaces were made and then divided into five groups: one control without saliva, and four experimental groups conditioned in saliva for periods of 30 min, 1, 3, or 12 h. Candida adhesion was evaluated by crystal violet staining and 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-([phenylamino] carbonyl)-2H-tetrazolium-hydroxide assay. Results: The one-way analysis of variance revealed that there were no significant differences among the mean number of adherent cells or among the mean absorbance for all groups. No significant correlation was found between the two methods used for assessing Candida albicans adhesion. Conclusion: The different periods of preconditioning with saliva had no significant influence on the adhesion of Candida albicans to the denture base acrylic resin.

Effects of coronal leakage on concentration of hydrogen ions and calcium hydroxide release of several calcium hydroxide pastes over different periods of time

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of coronal leakage on concentration of hydrogen ions (pH) and calcium release of several calcium hydroxide pastes, over different periods of time. Material and Methods: Fifty extracted human mandibular central incisors (n=10) were instrumented up to the F2 instrument and assigned to the following intracanal dressing: G1- Calen, G2- Calen with 0.4% chlorhexidine (CHX), G3- Calcium hydroxide with camphorated paramonochlorophenol (CPMC) and glycerin, G4- Calen, but temporary filling material maintained during all test (positive control) and G5- Root canal without intracanal dressing (negative control). All groups were immersed in distilled water for 7 days. In sequence, the temporary filling materials were removed, except in controls groups. All specimens were individually mounted on a specific device and only its root again immersed in distilled water. Concentration of hydrogen ions and calcium release by calcium hydroxide pastes in distilled water were evaluated in 24h, 7, 14 and 28 days. The results were submitted to ANOVA test (p = 0.05). After 28 days, root canals from experimental groups were examined in SEM. Results: G1, G2, G3 and G4 presented similar pH values and calcium release and did not differ from each other (p>0.05), up to 7 days. After this time G1, G2 and G3 presented values lower values than G4 (p<0.05). In SEM analysis, calcium hydroxide residues were observed in all experimental groups. Conclusions: After 7 days, coronal leakage decreased the concentration of hydrogen ions and calcium ion release provided by all calcium hydroxide pastes.

Peritoneal dialysis in acute kidney injury: trends in the outcome across time periods

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) should be considered a suitable method of renal replacement therapy in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. This study is the largest cohort providing patient characteristics, clinical practice, patterns and their relationship to outcomes in a developing country. Its objective was to describe the main determinants of patient and technique survival, including trends over time of PD treatment in AKI patients. This was a Brazilian prospective cohort study in which all adult AKI patients on PD were studied from January/2004 to January/2014. For comparison purposes, patients were divided into 2 groups according to the year of treatment: 2004-2008 and 2009-2014. Patient survival and technique failure (TF) were analyzed using the competing risk model of Fine and Gray. A total of 301 patients were included, 51 were transferred to hemodialysis (16.9%) during the study period. The main cause of TF was mechanical complication (47%) followed by peritonitis (41.2%). There was change in TF during the study period: compared to 2004-2008, patients treated at 2009-2014 had relative risk (RR) reduction of 0.86 (95% CI 0.77-0.96) and three independent risk factors were identified: period of treatment at 2009 and 2014, sepsis and age>65 years. There were 180 deaths (59.8%) during the study. Death was the leading cause of dropout (77.9% of all cases) mainly by sepsis (58.3%), followed cardiovascular disease (36.1%). The overall patient survival was 41% at 30 days. Patient survival improved along study periods: compared to 2004-2008, patients treated at 2009-2014 had a RR reduction of 0.87 (95% CI 0.79-0.98). The independent risk factors for mortality were sepsis, age>70 years, ATN-ISS > 0.65 and positive fluid balance. As conclusion, we observed an improvement in patient survival and TF along the years even after correction for several confounders and using a competing risk approach.

Effects of gaseous atmosphere and antioxidants on the development and cryotolerance of bovine embryos at different periods of in vitro culture

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeito da alimentação do adulto na qualidade do endoparasitoide larval da broca comum da cana-de-açúcar

Aiming qualitative improvements in the mass rearing of Cotesia flavipes (Cameron, 1891) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in laboratory, tests were conducted with adults feed before parasitism on Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae, using 14 artificial diets based on sucrose, brewer yeast and honey. The design was completely randomized with 15 treatments and five replications. The biological parameters evaluated in F1 and F2 generations were: number of adults emerged; sex ratio; adult emergence percentage; weight of pupae mass; and male and female longevity. The highest average of emerged adults were 85 in diet with sucrose 5% for F1 generation, and 91 in diet with sucrose 5% + yeast brewer 2,5% for F2; the smaller average of adult emergency were 63.60 in diet with honey 5% + yeast brewer 2.5 % for F1 generation and 66.80 in diet with honey 5% for F2. Diets that produced more females were honey 5% + yeast brewer 2.5%, showing the sex ratio of 0.82 for F1 generation, and sucrose 10% + 2.5% yeast brewer 2.5% (0.75) for F2, while sucrose 10% + yeast brewer 2.5% (0.60 for F1) and honey 2.5% (0.59) provided fewer females for F2 generation. The highest percentage of adult emergence were 93.90% with the diet containing sucrose 2.5% + yeast brewer 2.5%) and 93.89 % with honey 5% + yeast brewer 2.5%, and the lowest 81.71% (honey 5% + yeast brewer 2.5%) for F1 and 78.96 % (honey 5%) to F1 and F2, respectively. The diet with Mel 2.5% produced greater weight of pupae mass. The adult longevity did not differ significantly for all diets in F1 and F2 generations. Diets containing 5% or 10% of sucrose or honey provide, in general, improve the qualitative development of C. flavipes in mass rearing.

A survey on the set of periods of the graph homeomorphisms

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ovariectomy-associated changes in interradicular septum and in tibia metaphysis in different observation periods in rats

In order to standardize an experimental model to study the effects of absence of ovarian hormones in maxillary bones compared with long bones, the aim of this research was to analyze the influence of ovariectomy (OVX) on rat alveolar bone and tibiae, in different observation periods. Thirty-six female rats were ovariectomized or sham operated. After 60, 90 or 120 days, the animals were sacrificed and their hemimandibles, maxillae and tibiae were removed and routinely prepared for hematoxylin and eosin staining. The percentage of bone matrix area in bone septum in the first molar furcation region, and in tibial metaphysis was calculated, and data were submitted to statistical analysis (p < 0.05). As regards the histomorphometrical analysis in jaw bones, there was no statistical difference between groups, while the effects of ovariectomy on tibiae were seen as early as 60 days. According to the methods used, there was no significant influence of absence of ovarian hormones on interradicular septum of mandibular or maxillary first molars in the periods studied, despite the reduction in bone matrix area in tibia metaphysis as early as 60 days. (C) 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Ideal desiccation periods of Urochloa ruziziensis for a no-till sunflower crop

Sowing crops following cover crops on forage may cause injuries and productivity reduction, due reasons as allelopathy or glyphosate residues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of differing periods between cover crop (Urochloa ruziziensis) desiccation with glyphosate and sunflower (Aguara 4) sowing in a no-tillage system on crop development and productivity. Two assays were performed in two seasons, one in pots and the other in a field. Treatments in field assay consisted on 5 desiccation times of U. ruziziensis (with an application of glyphosate at 1.08 kg ae ha(-1)) preceding the sowing of no-till sunflower (0, 3, 7, 10 and 30 days). At the pot assays, 6 times were studied: 0, 3, 7, 10, 15 and 20 days between cover crop desiccation and sunflower sowing. A control without cover crop was also included in this assay. Biometric evaluations were performed at the vegetative stage and at harvest. As the period between U. ruziziensis desiccation and sunflower sowing was shortened, achene production in sunflower was exponentially reduced. Glyphosate application at 3 or 0 days pre sowing diminished sunflower development and achene production by approximately 30% compared to desiccation periods greater than 7 days.

Evaluation of different periods of estrogen replacement onset in the tibia of ovariectomized rats

Background and aims Estrogen deficiency results in increased bone turnover and can lead to osteoporosis. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) seems to be the most effective means of reducing bone loss and fractures. However, the effects of the period of HRT onset on bone tissue require further elucidation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different periods of HRT onset on the trabecular bone of ovariectomized rats.Methods Seventy-five ovariectomized Wistar rats were divided into five groups according to the onset of treatment. Each group was subdivided into experimental (E; n = 10) and control (C; n = 5), according to treatment with 17-beta-estradiol or vehicle alone (soybean oil), respectively, administered subcutaneously. The first group received treatment immediately post-surgery, while treatment in the remaining groups was initiated 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks post-surgery. Euthanasia occurred at 9 weeks post-surgery. The left tibias were removed and prepared for histomorphometric analyses. The histomorphometric results were statistically analyzed by the Student's t test (p < 0.05).Results The percentage of trabecular bone was significantly greater in the first (p = 0.002) and second (p = 0.039) experimental subgroups compared with the control for the same period. In the experimental subgroups, the percentage of trabecular bone decreased according to the delay in HRT onset and was statistically significant (t = 3.367; p = 0.0023).Conclusion These findings indicate an increase in trabecular bone loss in tibia at 9 weeks post-ovariectomy. The period of HRT/E onset is important for preventing bone loss; however, despite its preventive effects, HRT/E does not restore lost bone.

Morphology of the first larval stage of Macrobrachium brasiliense (Heller, 1868) (Caridea: Palaemonidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Differences in larval nutritional requirements and female oviposition preference reflect the order of fruit colonization of Zaprionus indianus and Drosophila simulans

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Extended periods of alcohol intake negatively affects osseointegration in rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Detection of Trypanosoma vivax using PCR and LAMP during aparasitemic periods

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

On-plant larval movement and feeding behavior of fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on reproductive corn stages

Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (fall armyworm) is considered one of the most destructive pests of corn throughout the Americas. Although this pest has been extensively studied, little is known about its larval movement and feeding behavior on reproductive compared to vegetative corn stages. Thus, we conducted studies with two corn stages (R1 and R3) and four corn plant zones (tassel, above ear, ear zone, and below ear) in the field at Concord, NE (USA), and in the field and greenhouse at Botucatu, SP (Brazil), to investigate on-plant larval movement. The effects of different corn tissues (opened tassel, closed tassel, silk, kernel, and leaf), two feeding sequence scenarios (closed tassel-leaf-silk-kernel and leaf-silk-kernel), and artificial diet (positive control) on larval survival and development were also evaluated in the laboratory. Ear zone has a strong effect on feeding choice and survival of fall armyworm larvae regardless of reproductive corn stage. Feeding site choice is made by first-instar. Corn leaves of reproductive plants were not suitable for early instar development, but silk and kernel tissues had a positive effect on survival and development of fall armyworm larvae on reproductive stage corn.