Effects of a Mixture of Pesticides on the Adult Female Reproductive System of Sprague-Dawley, Wistar, and Lewis Rats

The Brazilian federal government Agency for Health Surveillance detected pesticide residues in fresh food available for consumers all over the country. The current study investigated the effects of a mixture of some of those pesticides (dichlorvos, dicofol, dieldrin, endosulfan, and permethrin) on the reproductive system of Sprague-Dawley (SD), Wistar (WT), and Lewis (LEW) rats. Female rats from each strain were randomized into three experimental groups and were fed a control diet or diets added with pesticides mixture at their respective no-observed-effect level (NOEL)/no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) (low dose) (mg/kg/d): dichlorvos (0.23), dicofol (0.5), dieldrin (0.025), endosulfan (0.7), permethrin (5), or lowest-observed-effect level (LOEL)/lowest-effect level (LEL)/ lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) (toxically effective dose) (mg/kg/d): dichlorvos (2.3), dicofol (2.1), dieldrin (0.05), endosulfan (3.8), and permethrin (25) as reported in the literature. Euthanasia was performed between wk 10 and 12, during the estrous stage. Decreased body weights gain (SD and WT) and increased liver weights (SD, WT, and LEW) were observed in each strain fed the pesticides mixture at the higher levels. At that dose level, rat strains also varied in their responses regarding the estrous cycle, hormonal levels, and number of developing ovarian follicles. The studied mixture of pesticides was found to interfere with the female reproductive system when individual pesticides were mixed above a certain level, indicating a threshold exists for each of the strains studied.

Prevalence of iodine intake inadequacy in elderly Brazilian women. A cross-sectional study

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

Diversity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Brazilian Water Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese

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

Prediction of soil shear strength in agricultural and natural environments of the Brazilian Cerrado

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Stable retrograde orbits around the triple system 2001 SN263

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Distribution of non-LEE-encoded type 3 secretion system dependent effectors in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

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

Seedling structure in Asteraceae weedy species: considerations on the vasculature system

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of cropping systems in no-till farming on the quality of a Brazilian Oxisol

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Plant density in production of mini lettuce cultivars in organic system management

Production of mini vegetables in organic system is a good alternative to improve profit, but there are no researches about the optimum plant density for these cultivars in Brazilian conditions. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the production of mini lettuce cultivars in different plant densities. Experiment 1 was conducted from January 1th (sowing) to February 10th (harvesting), 2012. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks, with six treatments in factorial scheme, 3 mini lettuce cultivars (Tudela, Renoir and Sartre) x 2 spacing between plants (16 and 20 cm), with eight replications and plots (2.04 m(2)) with six rows, spaced 15 cm. Experiment 2 was conducted from June 6th (sowing) to July 18th (harvesting), 2012. The cultivars Sartre and Renoir were evaluated under four plant densities (444,444; 333,333; 266,667 and 200,000 plants ha(-1), corresponding to spacing of 15x15, 15x20, 25x15 and 25x20 cm, respectively). Eight treatments were defined by a factorial scheme 2 (cultivars) x 4 (plant densities) and arranged in a completely randomized block design, with nine replications and plots with 2.04 m2. The evaluated characteristics in both experiments were total and marketable fresh weight per plant, plant dry weight, plant diameter and height, marketable yield and discard percentage. In first experiment, during the summer, cultivar Sartre showed the highest marketable fresh weight (72 g plant(-1)). Heaviest plants (91.6 g plant(-1)) were obtained with the higher plant spacing, but the highest yield (2.51 kg m(-2)) was obtained with the smaller spacing. In winter, plants with higher total (190 g plant(-1)) and marketable (146 g planta(-1)) fresh weight were obtained with cultivar Sartre, and the same was observed in low plant density. However, the higher plant density, the higher the yield.

Properties of glass-ceramics obtained from crystallization of the SiO2-Al2O3-MgO-Li2O system with addition of ZrO2

This paper presents the study results with glass-ceramics obtained from base glass (MgO-Al2O3- SiO2-Li2O system) with addition of ZrO2 as nucleating agent. The glass was melted at 1650 degrees C for 3 h and at a heating rate of 10 degrees C/min. The molten glass was poured into a graphite mold to obtain monolithic samples and also in water in order to obtain particulate material. Such material was grinded and then pressed by both uniaxial and isostatic pressing methods before being sintered. Both the monolithic and pressed samples were performed under two different conditions of heat treatment so that their nucleation and crystallization occurred. In the first one, the samples were heated to 1100 degrees C with a heating rate of 10 degrees C/min. In the second one, there was an initial heating rate of 10 degrees C/min up to 780 degrees C, which was kept for 5 minutes. After that, the samples were heated to 1100 degrees C at a heating rate of 1 degrees C/min. Microhardness analyses showed that base glass presented values around 7.0 GPa. The glass-ceramics obtained from the powder sintering showed microhardness values lower than those obtained from monolithic samples. The highest hardness values were observed in the samples which were treated with two heating rates, whose values were around 9.2 +/- 0.5 GPa. Moreover, the glass-ceramics which were produced with an only heating rate, presented values around 7.1 +/- 0.2 GPa, very close to those observed in the base glass.

Comparative study of the ovarian morphology in the order Polydesmida (Diplopoda) and description of unusual structures in the female reproductive system

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

Anti-inflammatory effects of Brazilian ginseng (Pfaffia paniculata) on TNBS-induced intestinal inflammation: experimental evidence

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing, idiopathic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical studies suggest that the initiation of IBD is multifactorial, involving genetics, the immune system and environmental factors, such as diet, drugs and stress. Pfaffia paniculata is an adaptogenic medicinal plant used in Brazilian folk medicine as an anti-stress agent. Thus, we hypothesised that the P. paniculata enhances the response of animals subjected to colonic inflammation. Our aim was to investigate the intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of P. paniculata in rats before or after induction of intestinal inflammation using trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). The animals were divided into groups that received the vehicle, prednisolone or P. paniculata extract daily starting 14days before or 7days after TNBS induction. At the end of the procedure, the animals were killed and their colons were assessed for the macroscopic damage score (MDS), extent of the lesion (EL) and weight/length ratio, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and glutathione (GSH), cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Histological evaluation and ultrastructural analysis of the colonic samples were performed. Treatment with the 200mg/kg dose on the curative schedule was able to reduce the MDS and the EL. In addition, MPO activity was reduced, GSH levels were maintained, and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and CRP were decreased. In conclusion, the protective effect of P. paniculata was related to reduced oxidative stress and CRP colonic levels, and due to immunomodulatory activity as evidenced by reduced levels of IL-1β, INF-γ, TNF-α and IL-6.

Socio-eco-efficiency of integrated and non-integrated systems of crop, forestry and livestock in the Ipameri city, at brazilian Cerrado

Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais - Sorocaba

Brazilian community health agents and qualitative primary healthcare information

The aim of this study was to explore female community health agents’ views about the value of recording qualitative information on contextual health issues they observe during home visits, data that are not officially required to be documented for the Brazilian System of Primary Healthcare Information. Background: The study was conducted in community primary healthcare centres located in the cities of Araçatuba and Coroados (state of São Paulo) and Rio de Janeiro (state of Rio de Janeiro), Brazil. Methods: The design was a qualitative, exploratory study. The purposeful sampling criteria were being female, with a minimum of three years of continuous service in the same location. Data collection with 62 participants was conducted via 11 focus groups (in 2007 and 2008). Audio files were transcribed and submitted to the method of thematic analysis. Four themes guided the analysis: working with qualitative information and undocumented observation; reflecting on qualitative information; integrating/analysing quantitative and qualitative information; and information-sharing with agents and family health teams. In 2010, 25 community health agents verified the final interpretation of the findings. Findings: Participants valued the recording of qualitative, contextual information to expand understanding of primary healthcare issues and as an indicator of clients’ improved health behaviour and health literacy. While participants initiated the recording of additional health information, they generally did not inform the family health team about these findings. They perceived that team members devalued this type of information by considering it a reflection of the clientele’s social conditions or problems beyond the scope of medical concerns. Documentation of qualitative evidence can account for the effectiveness of health education in two ways: by improving preventative care, and by amplifying the voices of underprivileged clients who live in poverty to ensure the most appropriate and best quality primary healthcare for them.

Association between bruxism, alcohol and tobaco use among brazilian students

The etiology of bruxism is not well defined. Different factors affecting the central nervous system are considered as risk factors for bruxism. Dental students are not immune to the bruxism, alcohol consumption and tobacco use, despite their training, knowledge of its effects and social responsibility. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between bruxism, alcohol consumption and tobacco use among Brazilian dental students. Participants were chosen among 180, 17-29 year-old students at the UNESP’s Dentistry School – Araçatuba Campus. They were divided into those with and without bruxism on the basis at validated clinical criteria. The clinical examinations were carried out by four standardized examiners (Intraexaminer and Interexaminer Unweighted kappa= 0.82, Weighted kappa= 0.89, respectively), in the clinic, with daylight and a tongue depressor. Bruxism was registered with the following categories: no wear facets, wear facets in enamel, dentine wear facets, facets wear half of the crown and wear facets more than 2/3 of the tooth crown. A self report validated questionnaire for alcohol consumption and tobacco use with 29 questions was completed by both groups. Fischer exact test and T-test were used and Odds Ratio and Confidence Interval was estimated. Bruxism was more frequent among cigarette smokers both in men (68.4%) and in women (56.8%). Among all respondents in this group, 82.6% reported that they would like to quit smoking and those who have tried previously to quit (76.4%) found it made them more stressed. Drinker was more frequent in the group with bruxism also (66.5% of the female and 73.5% of the male). 88.4% reported drinking alcohol because it “allows dealing with stress in an adequate way”. Results suggest a positive association between bruxism and alcohol consumption and tobacco use.