Antibodies to Neospora caninum in sheep from slaughterhouses in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Neosporosis is an emergent disease responsible for considerable economic impact due to reproductive losses. Its zoonotic potential remains unknown. This study involved a survey of antibodies to Neospora caninum in slaughtered sheep and their association with epidemiological variables. Serum samples from 596 sheep from the states of Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were collected in two slaughterhouses located in Sao Paulo and evaluated by indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), using cut-off titers of 25. Among these samples, 353/596 (59.23%; 95%CI 55.23-63.10) were positive and 263/353 (74.50%; 95%CI 69.71-78.77%) were from Rio Grande do Sul. Statistical associations were determined in the univariate analysis between the serological results and sex, breed and municipality of origin. Sheep that came from extensive breeding system showed higher chance (OR=2.09) of presenting antibodies to N. caninum in relation to those from semi-intensive system. Higher chance was also observed for the different studied breeds, except Bergamacia, in relation to Hampshire Down. The results revealed the presence of infection by N. caninum in sheep from slaughterhouses.

Oxygen tension affects histone remodeling of in vitro-produced embryos in a bovine model

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

Resultados da atenção farmacêutica no Brasil: uma revisão

The practice of pharmaceutical care (PC) is recent in Brazil and little is known about its impact on the health system or patients. The aim of this review was thus to identify the clinical, humanistic and economic outcomes achieved by the practice of PC in Brazil. In order to assess those outcomes, data published in studies from 1997 to 2011 were collected from Lilacs and MEDLINE databases, using the technique of content analysis. Original studies on PC that included pharmacotherapeutic follow-up were considered eligible for this descriptive review. A total of 306 articles were identified through the chosen descriptors. Of those, ten studies were eligible for this review and only two did not report significant results. The others reported increased adherence to pharmacotherapy, resolution of pharmacotherapeutic issues and control of clinical parameters of diseases (such as maintenance or reduction of blood pressure, reduction in HIV viral load and increase in lymphocyte count), promoting improvements in the general state of health and behavioral changes. However, economic impact was not assessed in any article analyzed, nor was a direct measurement of life quality performed. Although there are few studies on the outcomes of pharmaceutical care services in Brazil, it is demonstrated in this review that positive results were obtained when the pharmacist acted as a provider of optimized pharmacotherapy. This may be considered a result of the actions that followed the Brazilian Pharmaceutical Care Consensus of 2002, such as the restructuring of the curricular basis of pharmacy courses. From this point on, Brazilian researchers and pharmacists should think of a strategy to expand the offer of pharmaceutical care beyond academia and reach people in general who need this type of health care.

Indicadores diagnósticos da síndrome metabólica, butirilcolinesterase e estado de condicionamento físico em adolescentes obesos e eutróficos: uma breve explanação do atual estado da arte

Damage to health caused by excess body fat also generating a negative economic impact, with significant increase in public spending. The metabolic syndrome, which also gets several other names, such as plurimetabolic syndrome or syndrome X, is nothing more than the combined incidence of some diseases or metabolic disorders in which obesity, besides being one of them, seems to promote parallel effects that contribute to the development of other chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Researchers agree that hyper caloric diets associated with a sedentary lifestyle are the main triggers of disease, including the increasing on genetic predisposition to this disease in children and adolescents. In the case of children and adolescents the diagnosis is complicated by the lack of a consensus accepted by the scientific community. In addition to behavioral and environmental factors unfavorable to health, in a more detailed analysis also found hereditary aspects or simply genetic, such as hepatic enzyme Butyrylcholinesterase. When compared to eutrophic, obese adolescents, like adults obese, have higher serum concentration values as well as major activity for this enzyme. Increasing evidence suggests that excess body weight assumes an important role in the variation of metabolic functions in adolescents, favoring the emergence of early diagnostic indicators of metabolic syndrome.

Fatores de risco associados às perdas quantitativas e econômicas ocorridas no manejo pré-abate de suínos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Análise econômica da eficiência da produção de cana-de-açúcar de fornecedores do Estado do Paraná

The sugarcane industry has been important in the Brazilian economy since the colonial period. The search for alternative energy sources has gained more prominence, by offering a product generating clean energy. With the opening of the Brazilian economy, the sector has undergone transformations operating in a free market environment requiring greater efficiency and competitiveness of those involved in order to stay in business. This scenario is producer/supplier independent, and social aspects related to their stay in the market. Although its share in sugarcane production is smaller than the plant itself, it is still considerable having reached around 20% to 25% in 2008 by employing labor, also production factors had an important economic impact in the regions where they operate. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the economic efficiency and production of independent sugarcane producers in the state of Paraná through the DEA model. The Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a nonparametric technique that, using linear programming constructs production borders from production units that employ similar technological processes to transform inputs into outputs.The results showed that of the total surveyed, 13.56% had maximum efficiency (an efficiency score equal to 1). The average efficiency under variable returns to scale (BCC-DEA) was 0.71024. One can thus conclude that for the majority of the samples collected, it might be better use of available resources to the in order to obtain the economic efficiency of the production process.

Potencial do controle biológico para o controle de Pseudoplusia includens (Walker, 1857) e Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner, 1818 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) em soja

The soybean (Glycine max) is of great importance to national economic scenario being a major Brazilian agribusiness products. In most regions, the caterpillar-of-soy (Anticarsia gemmatalis) and caterpillar-false-Medideira (Pseudoplusia includes), act as defoliators, with the highest incidence, usually during the growing season, until the end of flowering, and thus causing a significant reduction in the production, which requires control measures. Due to market demands and the large external environmental awareness exists today, the methods of ecological management have been highlighted in modern agriculture. The use of chemical insecticides, besides being harmful to the environment and man, is, in most cases, the high cost to the farmer. The biological pest control using natural enemies can be used as an alternative control method. Thus this literature review is intended to provide the updated information about these pests and biological control as an alternative form of control, as well as one more tool in the integrated pest of soybean.

Gás natural no panorama brasileiro e um estudo de caso no setor automotivo

The intended purpose of this paper is to present the main aspects of natural gas applied to the public transportation as well as the environmental, economical and technical impacts in this sector. Also it is given specific information to be considered when comparing natural gas to other fuels, specially the diesel. At this point is presented the types of internal combustion engines (Otto and Diesel cycle) and which type is used in each vehicle. Moreover, it is presented the main standards pollutant emission (Euro, US and Proconve) with a brief explanation of the tests made in order to approve the engines. This paper is focused on heavy duty vehicles. Also in this paper is exposed the economic impact due to the natural gas use in the public transportation fleet. In addition is presented a real case (of Berlin) and an estimative to a Brazilian city, presenting the potential of natural gas as vehicular fuel in Brazil, as well as financial and environmental aspects of the substitution