Preditores de função ventricular esquerda global na síndrome metabólica

FUNDAMENTO: A síndrome metabólica (SM) representa um conjunto de fatores de risco cardiovascular que agem de forma sinérgica. OBJETIVO: O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar quais parâmetros estavam associados de forma independente à função global do ventrículo esquerdo (VE) em indivíduos com SM, estimada através do índice Tei. MÉTODOS: O estudo incluiu 234 indivíduos com SM e 96 controles ajustados por idade. A SM foi definida pela presença de três ou mais critérios da ATP-NCEP III. Todos os indivíduos foram submetidos a testes laboratoriais e ecocardiograma bidimensional e com Doppler pulsátil e tecidual. Intervalos de tempo apropriados no Doppler tecidual para a estimativa do índice Tei também foram avaliados. RESULTADOS: O índice Tei estava aumentado em todos os indivíduos com SM (0,35 ± 0,05 vs 0,49 ± 0,10, p < 0,001). Análise de regressão múltipla dos parâmetros clínicos mostrou que a pressão arterial sistólica (β= 0,289, p < 0,001), glicemia de jejum (β= 0,205, p = 0,009), índice de massa do VE (β= 0,301, p < 0,001), E/e'septal (β= 0,267, p < 0,001) e e'septal (β= -0,176, p = 0,011) estavam independentemente associados com a função ventricular esquerda global estimada pelo índice Tei. CONCLUSÃO: A SM teve um impacto significante na função global do VE. A pressão arterial sistólica, glicemia de jejum, índice de massa do VE E/e'septal, e e'septal estavam independentemente associados com a função global do VE.

Subclinical Ventricular Dysfunction Detected by Speckle Tracking Two Years after Use of Anthracycline

Background: Heart failure is a severe complication associated with doxorubicin (DOX) use. Strain, assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking (2D-STE), has been shown to be useful in identifying subclinical ventricular dysfunction. Objectives: a) To investigate the role of strain in the identification of subclinical ventricular dysfunction in patients who used DOX; b) to investigate determinants of strain response in these patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 81 participants: 40 patients who used DOX ±2 years before the study and 41 controls. All participants had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥55%. Total dose of DOX was 396mg (242mg/ms2). The systolic function of the LV was evaluated by LVEF (Simpson), as well as by longitudinal (εLL), circumferential (εCC), and radial (εRR) strains. Multivariate linear regression (MLR) analysis was performed using εLL (model 1) and εCC (model 2) as dependent variables. Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were higher in the control group (p < 0.05). εLL was lower in the DOX group (-12.4 ±2.6%) versus controls (-13.4 ± 1.7%; p = 0.044). The same occurred with εCC: -12.1 ± 2.7% (DOX) versus -16.7 ± 3.6% (controls; p < 0.001). The S’ wave was shorter in the DOX group (p = 0.035). On MLR, DOX was an independent predictor of reduced εCC (B = -4.429, p < 0.001). DOX (B = -1.289, p = 0.012) and age (B = -0.057, p = 0.029) were independent markers of reduced εLL. Conclusion: a) εLL, εCC and the S’ wave are reduced in patients who used DOX ±2 years prior to the study despite normal LVEF, suggesting the presence of subclinical ventricular dysfunction; b) DOX was an independent predictor of reduced εCC; c) prior use of DOX and age were independent markers of reduced εLL.

A contribuição das cooperativas de cafeicultores na melhoria do tipo de café

Êste trabalho estuda estatísticamente dados sôbre café rebeneficiado por cooperativas de cafeicultores do Estado de São Paulo. Seis cooperativas foram estudadas, com um total de 289 partidas de café. Em cada partida se determinou a média ponderada, do número de defeitos, antes e depois do rebeneficiamento. As raízes quadradas dos dados assim obtidos é que foram analisados. Melhoria estatisticamente significativa do tipo do café foi comprovada em tôdas as cooperativas, com uma única exceção, referente à Cooperativa da Média Sorocabana, onde a diminuição do número de defeitos não atingiu o nível de significância. Esta exceção da Cooperativa da Média Sorocabana provàvelmente se deve às seguintes razões: a) Apenas 7 partidas de café foram beneficiadas. b) A Cooperativa, ainda nova, não dispunha ainda de equipamento completo. Resultados excelentes foram obtidos, por exemplo, na Cooperativa dos Cafeicultores da Alta Mogiana, onde a diferênça observada foi significativa ao nível de 1% de probabilidade. As médias foram as seguintes: Média das raízes quadradas dos números de defeitos antes do rebeneficiamento = 7,81 ± 0,21. Média das raízes quadradas dos números de defeitos depois do rebeneficiamento = 3,53 ± 4,21. Estas médias correspondem a 61 defeitos para o café antes do rebeneficiamento, e 12 depois dêle.

Nutrição mineral de plantas ornamentais I : absorção de nutrientes pela cultura de gladíolos

Bulbos de gladíolos (Gladiolus communis, var. Itapetininga) foram postos a germinar em vasos com capacidade de 7 kg de silica. Após a germinação, as plantas foram irrigadas com solução nutritiva completa de HOAGLAND & ARNON (1950). Quinze dias, após a germinação e em períodos de 10 dias subsequentes, plantas foram coletadas e divididas em: parte aérea, bulbo velho, bulbo em formação e bulbilhos. Os materiais foram pesados e analisados para nitrogênio, fosforo, potássio, calcio, magnésio, enxofre, boro, cobre, ferro, manganês e zinco. Foi constatado que o gladíolo tem um crescimento acentuado ate aos 55 dias de idade, sendo que após êste período somente aumenta em peso ate aos 75 dias de idade. Uma planta de gladíolo no fim do ciclo acumula 362,6 mg de nitrogênio, 78,4 mg de fosforo, 586,4 mg de potássio, 78,4 mg de calcio, 27,9 mg de magnesio, 35,9 mg de enxofre, 1019,4 ug de boro, 94,7 ug de cobre, 1655,6 ug de ferro, 914,6 ug de manganês e 272,8 ug de zinco. Foi constatado igualmente que os nutrientes contidos no bulbo velho sao insuficientes para a nutrição da planta.

Problemas nematológicos em bananeiras (Musa spp.) no Brasil

Em levantamento nematológico realizado durante quatro anos (1977-1981), envolvendo 157 amostras de raízes e solo da rizosfera de bananeiras (Musa spp.) coletadas em diversos estados brasileiros, obtiveram-se as seguintes porcentagens, de amostras positivas e densidades populacionais em 10g de raízes, respectiva mente para as espécies de nematóides identificadas: Helicotylenchus dihystera (23,5%-272), Heliootylenchus multicinctus (80,2%-1770), Macroposthonia ornata (1,2%-122), Meloidogyne spp.(55,4%--725), Radopholus sinilis (43,3%-1326), Rotylenchulus reniformis (7,6%-225) e Tylenchus sp. (0,6%-114). H. multicinatus foi a espécie mais abundante e distribuída. R. similis foi encontrado somente em áreas cultivadas com bananeiras Cavendish, com elevadas populações associadas a marcantes sintomas de presença do parasito. Meloidogyne spp. e //. dihyslera foram espécies amplamente distribuídas e possivelmente causem danos econômicos. A ocorrência ainda restrita de R. similis sugere a adoção de enérgicas medidas de controle visando a impedir a sua disseminação no País e a proteção de outros cultivos eventuais hospedeiros.

Triatoma sordida Stål 1859 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae: Triatominae) in palms of northeastern Argentina

Several palms species provide an important habitat for triatomines and associate vertebrates in tropical America. The objective of this work is to identify the triatomine species living in the palms of rural areas in the Province of Corrientes, and to estimate the potential epidemiological risk they represent for the residents of nearby houses. The survey was carried out in a palm community in Colonia Laurel, Department San Roque, Province of Corrientes, Argentina. Samplings were performed in October, November and December 1998; January, February and March 1999; May and June 1999. Thirty palms: 27 (90%) Butia yatay (Mart.) Becc. and 3 Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd ex Mart. were dissected. Triatoma sordida Stål 1859 was found in 96.2% of B. yatay and in all the A. aculeata palms. A total of 272 live T. sordida was collected; 36 of them (13.2%) were found in bird nests in the frond and the remainder in other locations of the tree. The mean number of triatomines per palm was 9.6 (range 1-60, mode 2). T. sordida was collected during all the sampling months and all stages were present at all seasons. The highest population density was reached in spring and the lowest in autumn. Trypanosoma cruzi was detected in 38.5% in feces of 174 examined insects and identified as such, both by microscopical examination and PCR. This is the first finding of T. sordida populations in B. yatay, an endemic palm of South America distributed in southern Brazil, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina. The high infection prevalence found in this work suggests that T. sordida plays an essential role in the maintenance of the wild T. cruzi transmission cycle in northeastern Argentina.

Detection of calicivirus from fecal samples from children with acute gastroenteritis in the West Central region of Brazil

The objective of this study was to describe the circulation of caliciviruses in the West Central region of Brazil and its correlation with children's gender and age, as well as with the year and months of the sample collection. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the human calicivirus genome in 1006 fecal samples that were collected in Goiânia (n = 696) and Brasília (n = 310). Viral RNA was detected in 8.6% of the samples. No significant difference in viral prevalence was found regarding gender, age or year of the sample. However, it was observed that in Goiânia, there is a higher incidence of caliciviruses from September to March. The analysis employing three primer pairs demonstrated that the Ni/E3 or JV12/13 primer pairs, which detect norovirus (NoV), detected 41 positive samples while the 289/290 primer pair, which detects NoV or sapovirus, detected the remaining 46 samples. Calicivirus circulates in the West Central region of Brazil and for better detection of this virus it is important to use more than one primer pair. Also, we conclude that the seasonality presented by this virus is related to higher humidity in the period.

Soluble inflammatory markers as predictors of virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection treated with interferon-α plus ribavirin

The host immune response plays an important role in viral clearance in patients who are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and are treated with interferon and ribavirin. Activation of the immune system involves the release of pro and anti-inflammatory molecules that can be measured in plasma samples. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between pretreatment plasma levels of chemokines and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNF-R) and the virological response in treated patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Forty-one chronically-infected HCV patients that were being treated with interferon-α (IFN-α) plus ribavirin were included in the study. Socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected and pretreatment plasma levels of chemokine CCL2, CCL3, CCL11, CCL24, chemokine CXCL9, CXCL10, sTNF-R1 and sTNF-R2 were measured. The virological response was assessed at treatment week 12, at the end of treatment and 24 weeks after treatment. Pretreatment CXCL10 levels were significantly higher in patients without an early virological response (EVR) or sustained virological response (SVR) compared to responders [512.9 pg/mL vs. 179.1 pg/mL (p = 0.011) and 289.9 pg/mL vs. 142.7 pg/mL (p = 0.045), respectively]. The accuracy of CXCL10 as a predictor of the absence of EVR and SVR was 0.79 [confidence interval (CI) 95%: 0.59-0.99] and 0.69 (CI 95%: 0.51-0.87), respectively. Pretreatment plasma levels of the other soluble inflammatory markers evaluated were not associated with a treatment response. Pretreatment CXCL10 levels were predictive of both EVR and SVR to IFN-α and ribavirin and may be useful in the evaluation of candidates for therapy.

Specificity of the rapid rK39 antigen-based immunochromatographic test Kalazar Detect(r) in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the specificity of a rapid immunochromatographic test that was developed to detect antibodies against the rK39 antigen for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). This evaluation was performed using sera from patients with a confirmed diagnosis of active cutaneous leishmaniasis. The sera from 272 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of localised cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) who resided in an area endemic for Leishmania braziliensis in Brazil were obtained before the initiation of antileishmanial treatment. Kalazar Detect(r)(InBios, Seattle, WA) recombinant K39 antigen-based immunochromatographic strips were used according to the manufacturer's instructions. The test results were evaluated independently by two examiners in sequential order. The positive controls for the test included five serum samples from five patients with parasitologically confirmed diagnosis of VL caused by Leishmania infantum in Brazil. Overall, 100% of the samples obtained from patients with CL were negative, confirming the absence of a serological cross-reaction for individuals with cutaneous disease when these patients were evaluated using the rapid test. The lack of a cross-reaction in patients who were infected by parasites of the same genus highlights the specificity of the rK39 antigen for the diagnosis of VL in areas with the sympatric circulation of L. braziliensis and L. infantum.

Seasonality in insect abundance in the "Cerrado" of Goiás State, Brazil

Seasonality in insect abundance in the "Cerrado" of Goiás State, Brazil. Many studies have provided evidence that tropical insects undergo seasonal changes in abundance and that this is partly due to alternation between the dry and rainy seasons. In the Brazilian "Cerrado" (savannah), this season alternation is particularly evident. The purpose of this work was to study the seasonal abundance of insects in a "Cerrado" area in the municipality of Pirenópolis, Goiás State, Brazil. The insects were captured fortnightly using a light trap between September 2005 and August 2006. The insects collected were separated at the order level and counted. Faunistic analysis was performed to select the predominant insect orders, a multiple linear regression to examine the relation between climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) with the abundance of insects and a circular distribution analysis to evaluate the existence of seasonality in the abundance of insect orders. A total of 34,741 insect specimens were captured, belonging to 19 orders. The orders with the greatest number of specimens were Hymenoptera (8,022), Coleoptera (6,680), Diptera (6,394), Lepidoptera (6,223), Isoptera (2,272), Hemiptera (2,240) and Trichoptera (1,967), which represent 97.3% of all the specimens collected. All the orders, except for Diptera, Isoptera and Trichoptera, showed a relationship with the climate variables (temperature), and all the orders, except for Diptera, presented a grouped distribution, with greater abundance in the transition from the end of the dry season (September) to the start of the rainy one (October/November). A discussion about seasonality on the abundance of the insects is presented.

Susceptibility of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) to cypermethrin, dichlorvos and triflumuron in southern Brazil

Susceptibility of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) to cypermethrin, dichlorvos and triflumuron in southern Brazil. The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), is an important insect pest in poultry houses in Brazil. Susceptibility of the lesser mealworm collected from eight poultry houses in Paraná state, southern Brazil, was evaluated for cypermethrin, dichlorvos and triflumuron. Adult A. diaperinus were tested in bioassays with cypermethrin and dichlorvos. Larvae were fed rabbit feed wetted with a triflumuron-water solution. Concentration-mortality regressions were estimated using Probit analysis and resistance ratios were calculated based on the susceptible population. Among the field populations evaluated, cypermethrin LC50 values for adults, ranged from 68.1 to 6,263 ng (AI)/cm². LC50 values for adults challenged with dichlorvos ranged from 10.3 to 1,385 ng (AI)/cm². One population from Pato Branco showed reduced susceptibility to triflumuron (LC50 = 272 µg (AI)/ml of solution) when compared to the most susceptible population (LC50 = 109.8 µg (AI)/ml). Application of cypermethrin and dichlorvos analogues should be managed with caution to minimize insecticide resistance problems.

Estoques de carbono orgânico e de nitrogênio, pH e densidade de um Latossolo após três aplicações de lodos de esgoto

O elevado conteúdo de matéria orgânica de lodo de esgoto é uma das motivações para sua disposição no ambiente como condicionador do solo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de aplicações consecutivas de lodo de esgoto sobre o acúmulo de C e de N (total e mineral), sobre o pH e sobre a densidade de um Latossolo. As avaliações foram feitas em duas profundidades do solo (0-0,1 e 0,2-0,4 m) após três cultivos de milho, em experimento realizado entre os anos de 1999 e 2001, em Jaguariúna-SP. Os tratamentos consistiram de cinco doses crescentes de dois tipos de lodo de esgoto, aplicadas a cada cultivo. O aumento das doses aplicadas (totalizando 0, 10.284, 20.568, 41.136 e 82.272 kg ha-1) do lodo da Estação de Tratamento de Esgotos de Franca-SP, de origem urbana, causou crescimento significativo dos estoques de C orgânico e de N na camada superficial. Nos tratamentos com o lodo da Estação de Tratamento de Esgotos de Barueri-SP (totalizando 0, 17.405, 34.810, 69.620 e 139.240 kg ha-1), produzido a partir de esgotos urbanos e industriais, apesar da incorporação de 14 % a mais de C ao solo, os estoques de C não foram influenciados pelas doses aplicadas e houve crescimento significativo dos estoques de N. A densidade na camada superficial diminuiu significativamente com o aumento das doses dos dois tipos de lodo de esgoto. Houve acidificação do solo nas duas camadas estudadas, com necessidade de duas calagens, após o segundo e terceiro cultivos. Observou-se lixiviação de N-mineral para maiores profundidades do solo.

Soil compaction and eucalyptus growth in response to forwarder traffic intensity and load

During timber exploitation in forest stands harvesting machines pass repeatedly along the same track and can cause soil compaction, which leads to soil erosion and restricted tree root growth. The level of soil compaction depends on the number of passes and weight of the wood load. This paper aimed to evaluate soil compaction and eucalyptus growth as affected by the number of passes and wood load of a forwarder. The study was carried out in Santa Maria de Itabira county, Minas Gerais State - Brazil, on a seven-year-old eucalyptus stand planted on an Oxisol. The trees were felled by chainsaw and manually removed. Plots of 144 m² (four rows 12 m long in a 3 x 2 m spacing) were then marked off for the conduction of two trials. The first tested the traffic intensity of a forwarder which weighed 11,900 kg and carried 12 m³ wood (density of 480 kg m-3) and passed 2, 4, and 8 times along the same track. In the second trial, the forwarder carried loads of 4, 8, and 12 m³ of wood, and the machine was driven four times along the same track. In each plot, the passes affected four rows. Eucalyptus was planted in 30 x 30 x 30 cm holes on the compacted tracks. The soil in the area is clayey (470 clay and 440 g kg-1 sand content) and at depths of 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm, respectively, soil organic carbon was 406 and 272 g kg-1 and the moisture content during the trial 248 and 249 g kg-1. These layers were assessed for soil bulk density and water-stable aggregates. The infiltration rate was measured by a cylinder infiltrometer. After 441 days the measurements were repeated, with additional analyses of: soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, N-NH4+, N-NO3-, porosity, and penetration resistance. Tree height, stem diameter, and stem dry matter were measured. Forwarder traffic increased soil compaction, resistance to penetration and microporosity while it reduced the geometric mean diameter, total porosity, macroporosity and infiltration rate. Stem dry matter yield and tree height were not affected by soil compaction. Two passes of the forwarder were enough to cause the disturbances at the highest levels. The compaction effects were still persistent 441 days after forwarder traffic.

Isolamento e prospecção de bactérias endofíticas e epifíticas na cana-de-açúcar em áreas com e sem cupinicida

A exploração e o conhecimento dos mecanismos de interação bactéria-planta podem ser utilizados para a produção sustentável de diversas culturas, como a cana-de-açúcar. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar e prospectar bactérias associadas à cultura da cana-de-açúcar com capacidade de fixar nitrogênio e solubilizar fosfato inorgânico em áreas com e sem aplicação de cupinicida. Bactérias endofíticas, de folha e raiz, e do rizoplano foram isoladas de três variedades comerciais (RB 92579, RB 867515 e RB 863129) de cana-de-açúcar, cultivadas no Nordeste brasileiro, em áreas com e sem aplicação de cupinicida, aos quatro meses após o plantio. Foram obtidos 272 isolados, selecionados quanto à sua capacidade de solubilizar fosfato inorgânico e fixar nitrogênio. O uso do cupinicida não provocou alterações nas comunidades microbianas endofíticas de folha e raiz e epifíticas do rizoplano. As variedades estudadas apresentam uma comunidade bacteriana associada com potencial aplicação para a promoção de crescimento vegetal, pois possuem a capacidade de fixar N2 e solubilizar fosfato inorgânico.

Effect of fertilization at sowing on nutrition and yield of crambe in second season

The interest in crambe (Crambe abyssinica ) cultivation in Brazil is on the rise, whereas information on the nutrient requirements for this crop is scarce. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P2O5-K2O formula 8:28:16) fertilization (0, 150, and 300 kg ha-1) on crambe shoot biomass production, grain and oil yields, and nutrient extraction and exportation in the second growing season after soybean. The experiment with a Haplorthox (Dystroferric Red Latosol) was carried out for two years in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. A randomized complete block design with eight replications was used. Fertilization with NPK at sowing increased the shoot biomass production, grain yield, grain oil content, as well as nutrient extraction and exportation at harvest. In the fertilized treatments, the average amounts of nutrients extracted per hectare were 91 kg K, 71 kg N, 52 kg Ca, 9.4 kg P, 9.4 kg Mg, 7.9 kg S, 2,348 g Fe, 289 g Zn, 135 g Mn, and 18.2 g Cu; while the average values of nutrient exportation per hectare were 54 kg N, 20 kg K, 12.3 kg Ca, 10 kg P, 6.6 kg S, 3.2 kg Mg, 365 g Zn, 60 g Fe, 50 g Mn, and 7.3 g Cu, with NPK fertilizer application.