Cyclosporin A-induced gingival overgrowth in renal transplant patients

Background: the incidence of gingival overgrowth (GO) associated with the use of cyclosporin A (CsA) is controversial. In the present study, we determined the incidence of GO in Brazilian renal transplant patients treated with CsA and the possible associations between periodontal and pharmacological variables.Methods: the test group consisted of 20 renal transplant patients, and the control group included 20 non-transplant patients. Periodontal conditions were evaluated based on the plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and the rate of gingival overgrowth, together with pharmacological variables (daily CsA dose and duration of treatment).Results: A significant difference in PI (P<0.0001) and PD (P<0.0001) was observed between groups, while GI (P=0.15) did not differ significantly. Using the Pearson correlation coefficient, a significant correlation was observed not only between GI (P<0.001; r=0.8141) and GO, but also for PD (P<0.001; r=0.866) and GO. The other correlations were not statistically significant.Conclusions: We conclude that GO induced by CsA may vary according to the individual sensitivity of each patient and may or may not be correlated with other local factors (periodontal variables).

Genetics of neotropical fish: from chromosomes to populations

The Neotropical freshwater fish fauna is very rich-according to the most recent catalogue 71 families and 4,475 species have been described. However, only a small amount of general information is available on the composition of Neotropical marine fishes. In Brazil, 1,298 marine species have been recorded. General analysis of available cytogenetic and population genetic data clearly indicates research has been mainly concentrated on freshwater fishes. Thus, today, cytogenetic information is available for 475 species of Characiformes, 318 species of Siluriformes, 48 species of Gymnotiformes, 199 freshwater species that do not belong to the superorder Ostariophysi, and only 109 species of marine fishes. For the species studied, only about 6% have sex chromosomes and about 5% have supernumerary or B chromosomes. A review of the cytogenetic studies shows that these data have provided valuable information about the relationships between fish groups, the occurrence of cryptic species and species complexes, the mechanism of sex determination and sex chromosome evolution, the distribution of nucleolus organizer regions, the existence supernumerary chromosomes, and the relationship between polyploidy and evolution. In relation to populations in Neotropical marine waters, the studies have shown the presence of cryptic species, which has important implications for fishery management. Different levels of genetic structuring can be found among Neotropical freshwater migratory fish species. This raises important implications for fish population genetic diversity and consequently its sustainable utilization in inland fisheries and aquaculture, specifically for conservation of ichthyo-diversity and survival.

Depression in patients with Parkinson's disease: Impact on functioning

Depression is a frequently observed neuropsychiatric phenomenon in Parkinson's disease (PD) and it has been lately considered as a manifestation of such disease. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between depression and clinical aspects of PD and to assess the impact of the co-occurrence of such condition on the burden imposed by PD. Fifty Outpatients diagnosed with idiopathic PD according to the London Brain Bank criteria were examined. PD was evaluated using Hoehn & Yahr staging (H&Y), United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Schwab & England (S&E) functional capacity evaluation. A semi-structured clinical interview was used. The diagnosis of PD was made by neurologist experts on movement disorders, and the diagnosis of depression was trade by a psychiatrist, according to the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria. Depressive symptoms were additionally measured using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale. The analysis of quantitative data was performed using descriptive statistics, Univariate linear regression, T-Student Test and ANOVA. Seventeen (34%) patients were diagnosed as clinically depressed and, when compared to the non-depressed ones, presented the following results: H&Y: 3.2 vs. 2.8; UPDRS total: 75.7 vs. 65.3; S&E: 53.5% vs. 65.8% and PD duration: 114.4 months vs. 125.8 months. Depressed patients showed more advanced staging (H&Y), a more severe global clinical condition (UPDRS) and also a greater decrease in their functional capacity (S&E). These data reinforce the hypothesis that depression is associated to poorer functioning in patients with PD. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Effects of obstacle height on obstacle crossing in mild Parkinson's disease

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

The specialized reproductive mode of the treefrog Aplastodiscus perviridis (Anura : Hylidae)

Males of the South American treefrog Aplastodiscus perviridis construct concealed subterranean nests. Using a complex courtship behavior that involves tactile stimuli and vocalizations, males guide the females to the subterranean nests where eggs are laid. Embryos and facultatively oophagous tadpoles (at least in stage 25) stay in subterranean nests until flooding transports them to ponds or streams. This is a rare reproductive mode previously known for few species in the Hyla albosignata and H. albofrenata complexes. Based on similarities of reproductive mode we suggest a monophyletic origin for Aplastodiscus and these complexes of Hyla.

Aspectos físicos e mentais na qualidade de vida de pacientes com doença de Parkinson idiopática

A doença de Parkinson (DP) é um distúrbio crônico e progressivo, caracterizado pela degeneração de neurônios dopaminérgicos da substantia nigra mesencefálica. A lesão das vias subcorticais, em especial a nigro-estriato-palidal, é particularmente comum e ocasiona uma série de sinais e sintomas incapacitantes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a qualidade de vida (QV) relacionada à saúde de sujeitos com DP e compará-la à de indivíduos controles saudáveis. Foram avaliados 40 sujeitos com idades entre 61 e 83 anos, de ambos os sexos, que foram divididos em dois grupos: grupo Parkinson (n=21), composto por sujeitos com DP idiopática, e grupo controle (n=19), de indivíduos sem distúrbios neurodegenerativos. Para a coleta de dados, foi utilizada a versão brasileira do questionário Brasil SF-36. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente, com nível de significância fixado em 1%. Os sujeitos do grupo Parkinson apresentaram escores significativamente mais baixos do que os do grupo controle, tanto no domínio físico quanto no mental, medidos pelo SF-36. Essa baixa QV provavelmente é explicada pela co-ocorrência de fenômenos neurodegenerativos e do sofrimento psíquico gerado pela doença e pelo estigma que ela produz. Abordagens interdisciplinares devem ser estimuladas a pacientes com DP, com o objetivo de melhorar sua qualidade de vida e postergar o declínio físico e mental inerente às condições degenerativas.

Desempenho de cordeiros Santa Inês puros e cruzas Santa Inês com Texel, Ile de France e Bergamácia

O trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de estudar o efeito do sexo dos animais, do grupo genético e do peso de abate no desempenho de animais confinados. Foram utilizados 103 cordeiros, machos e fêmeas, Santa Inês puros (SS) e cruzas Santa Inês com Texel (TS), Ile de France (FS) e Bergamácia (BS), confinados em gaiolas individuais. Mediram-se a dieta fornecida e as sobras diárias, para cálculo do consumo de matéria seca (MS), energia metabolizável (EM), proteína digestível (PD) e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN). Os cordeiros foram abatidos em quatro pesos: 15, 25, 35 e 45 kg de peso vivo. Avaliaram-se o ganho de peso diário (GPD), o número de dias no confinamento (ND), a conversão alimentar (CA) e o consumo de MS, PD, em e FDN, nas três fases de crescimento: 15 a 25 kg (1), 25 a 35 kg (2) e 35 a 45 kg (3). Também foram avaliados as idades de abate (IA), o peso do corpo vazio (PCVZ) e rendimento de carcaça (RC). Aos 35 e 45 kg, os cordeiros TS e FS apresentaram IA inferiores e as cordeiras SS, IA superiores. O ND dos cordeiros BS de 35 a 45 kg foi maior que dos TS. Aos 35 e 45 kg, o PCVZ dos cordeiros TS e FS foram menores. Os melhores GPD foram dos cordeiros TS, seguidos do FS e SS. Os consumos de MS, PD, em e FDN foram semelhantes entre os grupos genéticos, nas fases 1 e 2 de crescimento. Verificou-se que os cordeiros TS tenderam a aumentar o consumo, com o incremento de peso, enquanto os outros grupos tenderam a diminuir. A CA elevou-se com o aumento de peso, com exceção dos machos FS. Os machos não apresentaram diferenças na CA entre os grupos genéticos, entretanto, as fêmeas TS e FS apresentaram valores melhores. Aos 35 e 45 kg, as fêmeas apresentaram maiores RC que os machos. Aos 35 kg, os melhores RC foram dos machos TS.

Screen printed PLZT thick films prepared from nanopowders

The gap between the bulk materials and thin films can be filled with thick films suitably designed and appropriate processed. Thick films of complex system like lead-lanthanum-zirconium titanate (PLZT) is difficult to produce by simple solid-state reaction keeping compositional homogeneity and optimal grain size distribution. In the present work, PLZT thick films were fabricated by screen-printing technique from nanosized powders obtained through soft chemistry by polymeric precursor method. Thick film paste was obtained by mixing PLZT fine powders and organic vehicle. The upper and bottom electrodes based on Ag-Pd and functional component based on PLZT were screen-printed on alumina substrate and after that annealed in air atmosphere. The powder morphology, microstructure, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of 9.5/65/35 PLZT thick films were analysed. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of modifiers for determination of V in parsley by GF AAS

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

Modificacoes na ação mecânica do coração isolado de cobaia por doses de propafenon capazes de alterar o eletrocardiograma

Inotropic effects of Propafenon were studied in isovolumic isolated guinea pig hearts submitted to infusion of the drug during 10 minutes. The dosages utilized caused: bradycardia, depression of AV nodal conduction and QRS widening. Simultaneously there was: decrease of the developed pressure (DP) and of the rate of rise of pressure (dp/dt), and elongation of the time of peak pressure. Since there was no clear relation between the heart rate and the inotropic indices (PD and dp/dt), it could be supposed that the depressor effect was not due to impairment of the chronotropism only. After the infusion of Propafenon, the chronotropic effect disapeared after 15 min, while the inotropic state presented a less satisfatory recuperation. The coronary output accompanied the myocardial metabolic needs, that is to say, there was a fall during the period of depressed cardiac function and a later tendency to increase during recovery.

The in vivo electrical parameters of toad skin

1. 1. Open-circuit voltage (PD) and short-circuit current (SCC) across toad skin were studied in in vivo conditions. An improved technique for fastening a lucite chamber on the abdominal region of the animal was developed. 2. 2. Saline bridges (230 mM Nacl in 4% agar solution) were placed subcutaneously to make the connections between the extracellular fluid and the half-cells. 3. 3. A clear relationship was observed between the electrical parameters and sodium transport by the skin, since PD and SCC were related to the sodium concentration of the bathing solution, and abolished by the presence of amiloride-a specific sodium transport inhibitor in epithelia. 4. 4. The initial control values of SCC in vivo were higher than those in vitro, which was attributed to hormonal stimulation. However, these high initial control values of SCC in vivo fell with time, reaching steady levels after a 2 hr period. 5. 5. Vasopressin failed to increase SCC in vivo when the external sodium concentration was 115 mM, being effective only when the sodium concentration was low (5 mM). 6. 6. On the other hand, in isolated preparations vasopressin significantly promoted an increase in both PD and SCC. © 1983.

Relative growth of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Ocypodidae) at Iguape, São Paulo, Brazil

A total of 2,130 individuals of Ucides cordatus (1,255 males and 875 females) were captured in a mangrove forest at Iguape, São Paulo, Brazil. For each crab, the following body structures were measured: carapace (width = CW; length = CL; depth = CD), 5th abdominal somite (AW), major chelar propodus (length = PL; width = PW; depth = PD), and 1st and 2 nd gonopod pairs (length = GL1 and GL2). The Student t and Snedecor F tests were used to verify any changes in growth allometric rates during ontogeny. The relationships CLxCW, PLxCW (for both sexes), GL1xCW and GL2xCW (males) and AWxCW (females), showed a better fit by two equations for the juvenile and adult phases (p<0.01). The inflexion point size between regression lines, indicated by each morphometric relationship, allowed to propose four morphotypes for U. cordatus. Males were classified in juvenile (CW le; 32 mm), pre-puberty (32 ≤ CW ≤ 51 mm), sub-adult (51 ≤ CW ≤ 59 mm) and adult (CW > 59 mm). Females showed a similar size interval: (juvenile CW ≤ 39 mm, pre-puberty 39 ≤ CW ≤ 53 mm, sub-adult 53 ≤ CW ≤ 58 mm, adult CW > 58 mm).

Localization of myosin-Va in subpopulations of cells in rat endocrine organs

Myosin-Va is a Ca 2+/calmodulin-regulated unconventional myosin involved in the transport of vesicles, membranous organelles, and macromolecular complexes composed of proteins and mRNA. The cellular localization of myosin-Va has been described in great detail in several vertebrate cell types, including neurons, melanocytes, lymphocytes, auditory tissues, and a number of cultured cells. Here, we provide an immunohistochemical view of the tissue distribution of myosin-Va in the major endocrine organs. Myosin-Va is highly expressed in the pineal and pituitary glands and in specific cell populations of other endocrine glands, especially the parafollicular cells of the thyroid, the principal cells of the parathyroid, the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas, the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla, and a subpopulation of interstitial testicular cells. Weak to moderate staining has been detected in steroidogenic cells of the adrenal cortex, ovary, and Leydig cells. Myosin-Va has also been localized to non-endocrine cells, such as the germ cells of the seminiferous epithelium and maturing oocytes and in the intercalated ducts of the exocrine pancreas. These data provide the first systematic description of myosin-Va localization in the major endocrine organs of rat. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.

Arterial hypertension perpetuates alveolar bone loss

Few studies have focused on the impact of hypertension on the progression of periodontitis (PD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether hypertension affects PD by enhancing bone loss even after the stimulus for PD induction is removed. Ligature-induced PD was created on the first mandibular molars of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive rats (Wistar Kyoto-WKY). The animals were assigned to non-ligated controls (C) and PD groups: WKY-C, WKY-PD, SHR-C, and SHR-PD. After 10 days, five animals of each group were killed and the ligatures of the other animals were removed. On the 21st day (11 days without PD induced), the remaining animals were killed. The jaws were defleshed and the amount of bone loss was measured. After 10 days, the PD groups showed more bone loss than its controls (P < .05); SHR-PD = 0.72 ± 0.05 mm, SHR-C = 0.39 ± 0.04 mm, WKY-PD = 0.75 ± 0.04 mm, and WKY-C = 0.56 ± 0.04 mm. The cumulative bone loss on day 21 (0.94 ± 0.13 mm) was significantly worse than on day 10 only in SHR-PD group (P < .05). The final bone loss differences between PD and C groups accounted for 102% (SHR) and 26% (WKY) increase in comparison with the initial control levels. Hypertension is associated with progressive alveolar bone loss even when the stimulus for PD induction is removed and it may be speculated that host condition perpetuates alveolar bone loss. © 2013 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.

Controle em pós-colheita de Penicillium digitatum em laranja-pera com microrganismos e tratamento térmico

The consumer market demands food without pesticide residues. Therefore, this study focused on evaluating the control of green mold in Pera orange trees with biocontrol agents (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis (QST 713)), associated or not with heat treatment. The fruit was obtained in packinghouse before processing, being washed and disinfected with the use of Sodium Hypochlorite. Fruits submitted to these treatments were stored from 11 to 28 days at temperature of 10 °C and RH 90%±5 or for eight days at 20 °C and 90%±5. In general, the heat treatment reduced the disease severity determine by the area under the disease progress curve in the fruit and the incidence of natural postharvest disease in Pera oranges. On the other hand, biocontrol agents did not control the disease, showing that the organisms tested did not present curative activity against the green mold.