Interpreting histopathology in the epididymis

While most of this Special Issue is devoted to the testis (which is where most drug and chemically induced toxicity of the male reproductive tract is identified), being able to recognize and understand the potential effects of toxicants on the epididymis is immensely important and an area that is often overlooked. The epididymis is the organ where the post-testicular sperm differentiation occurs, through a complex and still not completely understood sperm maturation process, allowing them to fertilize the oocyte. Also in the epididymis, sperm are stored until ejaculation, while being protected from immunogenic reaction by a blood-epididymis barrier. From a toxicologic perspective the epididymis is inherently complicated as its structure and function can be altered both indirectly and directly. In this review we will discuss the factors that must be considered when attempting to distinguish between indirect and direct epididymal toxicity and highlight what is currently known about mechanisms of epididymal toxicants, using the rat as a reference model. We identify 2 distinguishable signature lesions - one representing androgen deprivation (secondary to Leydig cell toxicity in the testis) and another representing a direct acting toxicant. Other commonly observed alterations will also be shown and discussed. Finally, we point out that many of the key functions of the epididymis can be altered in the absence of a detectable change in tissue structure. Collectively, we hope this will provide pathologists with increased confidence in identification of epididymal toxicity and enable more informed guidance as mechanism of action is considered.

Comparative toxicity of antifouling compounds on the development of sea urchin

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of nutritional support on hospital outcome in dogs and cats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Fontes de proteína e carboidratos para cães e gatos

O mercado de alimentos para cães e gatos absorve importante quantidade de proteínas e carboidratos, apesar disso poucos estudos existem sobre digestibilidade e energia metabolizável destes ingredientes. Arroz e milho têm sido considerados as melhores fontes de amido, mas demonstra-se que o sorgo é igualmente bem digerido por cães. Na interpretação dos estudos, deve-se distinguir os que empregaram farinhas ou amidos purificados dos que empregaram ingredientes moídos, como utilizado na fabricação de alimentos para animais de companhia. Além de sua digestibilidade e valor energético, amidos interferem na glicemia de cães, o que torna interessante se empregar, para animais em condições específicas, fontes de carboidrato que levem à menores respostas de glicose e insulina. Devido a elevada necessidade de proteína, ingredientes protéicos são importantes nas formulações. Proteínas de origem animal apresentam maior variação em composição química, qualidade e digestibilidade que as de origem vegetal. Farinhas de origem animal podem apresentar excesso de matéria mineral, limitando sua inclusão na fórmula, enquanto derivados protéicos vegetais apresentam diversos fatores anti-nutricionais que devem ser inativados durante seu processamento. Demonstra-se que proteínas vegetais apresentam boa digestibilidade e energia metabolizável para cães e gatos, sendo sua inclusão interessante para reduzir a matéria mineral da dieta, controlar o excesso de bases do alimento e manter adequada a digestibilidade do produto, neste sentido soja micronizada e o farelo de glúten de milho 60% se destacam em digestibilidade e teor de energia metabolizável. A farinha de vísceras de frango, dentre as proteínas de origem animal secas demonstra-se como a de melhor digestibilidade e energia metabolizável.

O relevo na interpretação da variabilidade espacial dos teores de nutrientes em folha de citros

Foliar diagnosis is a method for assessing the nutritional status of agricultural crops, which helps in the understanding of soil fertility and rationalized application of fertilizers taking into account economic and environmental criteria. The study aimed to use the landrelief as criteria to assist in interpreting the spatial variability of nutrient content of the citrus leaf. The leaves were collected at regular intervals of 50 m, totaling 332 sampling points. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, geostatistics and induction of decision tree. With the aid of digital elevation model (MDE) and the profile planaltimetric, the area was divided into three different landrelief and sub-strands. The highest values for nutrients from the leaves of citrus were observed at the top (concave area) segments on a half-slope and lower slope. The nutrients from the citrus leaves showed high values of correlation (above 0.5) with the altitude of the study area. The technique of geostatistics and the induction of decision tree show that the relief is the variable with the greatest potential to interpret the maps of spatial variability of nutrients from the citrus leaves.

Caracterização de rizóbios indicados para produção de inoculantes por meio de sequenciamento parcial do 16S rRNA

O objetivo deste trabalho foi confrontar as sequências parciais do gene 16S rRNA de estirpes padrão de rizóbios com as de estirpes recomendadas para a produção de inoculantes no Brasil, com vistas à verificação da confiabilidade do sequenciamento parcial desse gene para a identificação rápida de estirpes. Foram realizados sequenciamentos através de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) com iniciadores relativos à região codificadora do gene 16S rRNA entre as bactérias estudadas. Os resultados foram analisados pela consulta de similaridade de nucleotídeos aos do Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (Blastn) e por meio da interpretação de árvores filogenéticas geradas usando ferramentas de bioinformática. A classificação taxonômica das estirpes Semia recomendadas para inoculação de leguminosas com base em propriedades morfológicas e especificidade hospedeira não foi confirmada em todas as estirpes. A maioria das estirpes estudadas, consultadas no Blastn, é consistente com a classificação proposta pela construção de árvores filogenéticas das sequências destas estirpes, com base na similaridade pelo sequenciamento parcial do gene considerado.

The Incremental Shuttle Walk Test in Older Brazilian Adults

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

A percepção de enfermeiros sobre o cuidar de pacientes com problemas físicos que interferem na autoimagem: uma abordagem fenomenológica

O presente estudo tem como objetivo compreender a percepção e o significado do cuidar de pacientes com problemas de auto-imagem, resultantes de alteração física, por enfermeiros de um hospital universitário. A trajetória metodológica foi a fenomenologia, os sujeitos da pesquisa foram oito enfermeiros. Para a análise dos depoimentos, realizou-se a transcrição e as leituras, buscando a essência das unidades, expressão dos significados, tematizando e interpretando as falas, buscando convergências, divergências e idiossincrasias e a síntese do fenômeno. Os temas desvelados foram: (não)aceitação da enfermidade; trabalho em equipe; limitações conseqüentes da doença; sentimentos e comportamento do enfermeiro e equipe; vínculo entre equipe, paciente e família; a família; auto-imagem do paciente; idade dos pacientes; o preconceito; (re) conhecimento da doença; nível e cuidados mais intensos; a religião e capacitação. Pela amplitude do fenômeno outros ângulos podem ser desvelados e outras perspectivas habitadas.

Evaluation of cytologic and biochemical variables in blood, plasma, and peritoneal fluid from calves before and after umbilical herniorrhaphy

Objective-To establish reference intervals for cytologic and biochemical variables in peritoneal fluid, whole blood, and plasma in calves with congenital umbilical hernias (CUHs) before and after herniorrhaphy and to assess whether those variables in calves with CUHs were altered, compared with findings in clinically normal calves.Animals-20 Holstein calves with or without a CUH.Procedures-10 calves with CUHs underwent herniorrhaphy. Blood and peritoneal fluid samples from all 20 calves were collected for cytologic and biochemical analyses on days 0 (before surgery), 1, 3, 5, 7, and 15. Data from the 2 groups were compared.Results-Reference intervals for the variables of interest were established for each group, Before surgery, calves with CUHs had significantly greater plasma total protein concentration and creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase activities and peritoneal fluid specific gravity values, compared with values for calves without CUHs. At various time points after surgery, peritoneal fluid total protein concentration; fibrinogen concentration; nucleated cell, polymorphonuclear cell, and lymphocyte counts; specific gravity; and lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and CK activities in calves with CUHs were significantly different from values in calves without CUHs. Some plasma and blood variables leg, total protein concentration, neutrophil count, and CK activity were significantly different between the 2 groups.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Values of certain cytologic and biochemical variables in peritoneal fluid, blood, and plasma were different between calves with and without CUHs. Thus, determination of reference intervals for these variables is important for interpreting diagnostic test results in calves with CUHs. (Am J Vet Res 2009;70:423-432)

Detection of the Vandibular Canal and the Mental Foramen in Panoramic Radiographs: Intraexaminer Agreement

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intraexaminer agreement in the detection of the mandibular canal roof (MCR) and mental foramen (MF) in panoramic radiographs. Forty panoramic radiographs of edentulous patients were used. Two calibrated examiners (A and B) read the images 2 times, for both sides independently, under blind conditions. The interval between the readings was 10 days. The intraexaminer agreement in the interpretation of MCR and MF was performed by kappa statistics with linear weighting (x). The intraexaminer agreement for the detection of MCR, in the left side, was good for both examiners (A: kappa = 0.67; B: kappa = 0.71). Related to the right side, it was found to be kappa = 0.47 and kappa = 0.62, respectively to A and B. The intraexaminer agreement for the detection of MF was good for both examiners interpreting the left side (A: kappa = 0.61; B: kappa = 0.63), and in relation to the right side, it was moderate (A: kappa = 0.51) and fair (B: kappa = 0.38). The intraexaminer agreement in the detection of MCR was good and from good to fair in the detection of MF.

On the algebraic K theory of the massive D8 and M9-branes

In this paper we review some basic relations of algebraic K theory and we formulate them in the language of D-branes. Then we study the relation between the D8-branes wrapped on an orientable, compact manifold W in a massive Type IIA, supergravity background and the M9-branes wrapped on a compact manifold Z in a massive d = 11 supergravity background from the K-theoretic point of view. By interpreting the D8-brane charges as elements of K-0(C(W)) and the (inequivalent classes of) spaces of gauge fields on the M9-branes as the elements of K-0(C(Z) x ((k) over bar*) G) where G is a one-dimensional compact group, a connection between charges and gauge fields is argued to exists. This connection could be realized as a composition map between the corresponding algebraic K theory groups.

What do very nearly flat detectable cosmic topologies Rook like?

Recent studies of the delectability of the cosmic topology of nearly flat universes have often concentrated on the range of values of Omega(0) given by current observations. Here we study the consequences of taking a range of bounds satisfying \Omega(0) - 1\ much less than 1, which include those expected from future observations such as the Planck mission, as well as those predicted by inflationary models. We show that in this limit, a generic detectable non-flat manifold is locally indistinguishable from either a cylindrical (R-2 X S) or toroidal (R x T-2) manifold, irrespective of its global shape, with the former being more likely. Importantly, this is compatible with some recent indications of the alignment of the quadrupole and octupole moments, based on the analysis of the first year WMAP data. It also implies that in this limit an observer would not be able to distinguish topologically whether the universe is spherical, hyperbolic or flat. By severely restricting the expected topological signatures of detectable isometries, our results provide an effective theoretical framework for interpreting cosmological observations, and can be used to confine the parameter spaces which realistic search strategies, such as the 'circles in the sky' method, need to concentrate on.

Search for excited muons in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

We present the results of a search for the production of an excited state of the muon, mu(*), in proton antiproton collisions at root s =1.96 TeV. The data have been collected with the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider and correspond to an integrated luminosity of approximately 380 pb(-1). We search for mu(*) in the process p (p) over bar ->mu(*)mu, with the mu(*) subsequently decaying to a muon plus photon. No excess above the standard model expectation is observed in data. Interpreting our data in the context of a model that describes mu(*) production by four-fermion contact interactions and mu(*) decay via electroweak processes, we set a 95% confidence level production cross section upper limit ranging from 0.057 to 0.112 pb, depending on the mass of the excited muon. Choosing the scale for contact interactions to be Lambda=1 TeV, excited muon masses below 618 GeV are excluded.

A search for excited leptons in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Universal aspects of light halo nuclei

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