Distúrbios neurológicos em trabalhadores com baixos níveis de chumbo no sangue. I: Neuropatia periférica

This is a cross-sectional study with a randomized choice of individuals aiming at studying the validity of the Brazilian biological exposure limits applied to lead level in the blood (PbB) and delta-aminolevulinic acid in the urine (ALAU), which are 60 μg/dl and 10 mg/g.creat., respectively. For this purpose, twenty workers, whose PbB and ALAU values have been below these limits over the past two years, were selected at random at a battery production plant in the State of S. Paulo, Brazil. The workers were submitted to a peripheral nerve conduction study. The results were compared with those obtained for workers of a control group also chosen at random. The lead workers showed a decrease in the velocity conduction of the radial nerves. Comparing this group with a randomized control group, a significant difference was observed (p-value = 0.0067). The results suggest that the Brazilian biological exposure limits above should be rearranged.

Distúrbios neurológicos em trabalhadores com baixos níveis de chumbo no sangue. II-Disfunc̈ões neurocomportamentais

This is a cross-sectional study with a randomized choice of individuals aiming at studying the validity of the Brazilian biological exposure limits applied to lead level in the blood (PbB) and delta-aminolevulinic acid in the urine (ALAU), which are 60 μ/dl and 10 mg/g.creat., respectively. Thus, twenty workers, whose PbB and ALAU values have been below these limits over the past two years, were selected at random at a battery plant in the State of S. Paulo, Brazil. The workers were submitted to a variation of the WHO Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery. The results were compared with those obtained for workers of a control group also chosen at random. The lead workers showed memory, mood and motor coordination disorders. Comparing these results with those obtained from the control group, a significant difference was observed (p-value < 0.02). The results indicate that the Brazilian biological exposure limits above should be reconsidered.

Distúrbios de memória em pacientes epilépticos

The author studied the mnemonic activity from epileptic patients with complex partial seizures (CPS), with the aims: 1) to identify memory disorders; and 2) to compare the patients' with the controls' results. Fifty adult patients and 20 subjects without neuropsychiatric disorders were studied. The methods consisted in: 1) investigation of the mnemonic activity through the Wechsler Memory Test (subtests: Storage and Recall, Recent Memory, and Immediate Memory); 2) comparison among the results of both groups; association from mnemonic activity with brain SPECT. In the three subtests, the patients showed cognitive performance significantly lower than the controls (p <0,05). It was found association from reduced blood flow, mainly in left temporal region, with memory impairment of the three subtetsts. The conclusion was that the CPS are associated to memory impairment.

Efeitos da nutrição mineral na competição inter e intraespecífica de Eucalyptus grandis e brachiaria decumbens: 1- crescimento

The present work was conducted with the objective to study the effects of mineral nutrition on Eucalyptus grandis and Brachiaria decumbens (#BRADC) growth, when submitted to inter- and intra-specific competition. The treatments consisted of two plants of Eucalypts/pot, two plants of BRADC/pot, and one plant of each species/pot. The plants were nourished with the Hoagland e Arnon (1950) complete solution; with no K, P or N; or only with either N, P or K. Sixty days after growing side by side, no effect of the inter- and intra-specific competition on eucalypts plant high, branch number and leaf dry mass was observed. When mineral nutrition did not limit plant growth (complete solution or solution with no K), intra-specific competition reduced on average, 23% of eucalypts root length, leaf area, and stem and root dry mass, and inter-specific competition reduced, on average, 75% of BRADC dry mass. When mineral nutrition became a limiting factor, no plant competition effect on the parameters studied was detected.

Pediatras e os distúrbios respiratórios do sono na criança

OBJECTIVES. assessment of opinions and practices of pediatricians concerning sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children. Methods. randomly 516 pediatricians were selected in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A survey mailed to them included questions regarding: their professional profile, knowledge about SDB in childhood, opinions and practices for diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. RESULTS. 112 anonymous completed surveys were returned (21.7%). The teaching of SDB during medical school and pediatric residency training was considered unsatisfactory respectively by 65.2% and 34.8% of the pediatricians. Forty-nine respondents (43.8%) rated their knowledge about SDB in children as regular, 39 (34.8%) as good and 17 (15.2%) as unsatisfactory. The most important sleep-related questions were: mouth breathing, breathing pauses, sleep amount, excessive daytime sleepiness and nocturnal wheezing. Clinical aspects regarded as the most significant for suspecting obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) were: breathing pauses, adenoid hypertrophy, mouth breathing, craniofacial anomaly and snoring. The most frequent practices for evaluation of OSAS in children were: cavum radiography with referral to an otorhinolarnygologist (25%) and nocturnal pulse oximetry (14.2%). Only 11.6% of pediatricians recommended overnight polysomnography and 4.5%, nap polysomnography. The most effective practices for SDB were considered to be: adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy, parents counseling, weight loss and sleep hygiene. CONCLUSIONS. there is a gap between research on SDB in childhood and pediatric practice. © 2006 Associação Médica Brasileira.

Potencialidades da utilização de taninos na conservação de forragens e nutrição de ruminantes-revisão

This review present a discussion abouth the tannins. The tannins are compounds that have the ability to bind other macromolecules, reducing their availability to animal metabolism. This characteristic can be benefic or deleterious, depending on the tannin concentration degree in the plant and its structure. Positive effects are mainly related with a better use of the dietary protein and an increased efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. The use of tannins to reduce ruminal methane emission has been subject of current researches, firmly indicating a decrease of ruminal methanogenesis. However, many of these studies, carried out to evaluate the effects of tannins on forage fermentation and animal metabolism, are based on legume plants, so their results can not be surpassed to studies concerning tanniniferous grasses. By improving the characterization of the profile and reactivity of tannins in tanniniferous forages, such as some sorghum hybrids, as well as conducting experiments to demonstrate the effects of tannins on animal metabolism and performance, the real potential of forages with tannin will be enlightened.

Desenvolvimento e nutrição do capim-Tanzânia em função da aplicação de zinco

It was aimed to assess the effects of zinc in the development and nutrition of Tanzania grass. The experimental design used was fully randomized, consisting of six doses of zinc (0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240 mg dm'3) and four repetitions. The experimental unit was formed in a vase filled with a Red Latosol dystrophic (Zn = 0.4 mg dm). There were two cuts, the first after 53 days of transplanting seedlings and the second 35 days after the first cut. Was evaluated the concentration of zinc in the soil, the content of zinc leaf, the number of tillers, number of leaves, plant height, the dry mass of the shoot, root system and the whole plant. The doses of zinc influenced the concentration of zinc in soil and plant, and production of dry mass of Tanzania grass, especially the first cut. The Tanzania grass shows high tolerance to the toxicity of zinc, and toxic critical level of 273 mg kg-1.

Prevalência das arritmas cardíacas e distúrbios de condução em cães e gatos em Botucatu, Brasil (2003-2007)

Cardiac arrhythmias are important electrocardiographic disorders in small animal medicine since some of them can cause serious situations, such as cardiac arrest and death. It's essential to recognize ECG abnormalities and the frequency they occur to improve the therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias in dogs from January 2003 to April 2007 by retrospective analysis of ECGs obtained at the Veterinary Hospital at UNESP - Botucatu - SP. The most common rhythm disturbances in this population were sinus tachycardia and ventricular premature complexes in dogs and sinoventricular rhythm in cats.

Omissão de macronutrientes na nutrição e no crescimento da cana-de-açúcar cultivada em solução nutritiva

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Fertilizantes orgânicos e resíduo de bauxita na disponibilidade de nutrientes e nutrição da cana-de- açúcar irrigada com água potável e residuária

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic fertilizers (urban solid waste and swine manure) as a source of nutrients and residue from bauxite processing as a corrective of soil acidity, in area cultivated with sugar cane irrigated with potable water and served in the availability of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S) levels in the soil and plants. For this experiment was carried out in pots, using a Alfisol, assessing the availability of the elements in the 0-20 cm layer and the concentration of these nutrients in the leaves of sugarcane. The data showed that the residues increased the concentrations of Ca and Mg in soil, as the concentration of K was not changed and S was not detected, due to the low concentration in the soil. In the leave +1 of sugarcane the residue of bauxite increased levels of N, P, K, Ca and Mg (15.68, 1.73, 10.43, 3.50 and 1.08 g kg-1, respectively). The application of urban solid waste and swine manure also increased the levels of N, K and Ca (11.56, 9.18 and 2.81 g kg-1, respectively). The quality of irrigation water did not alter the availability of P, K, Ca, Mg and S in the soil as well as the levels of these macronutrients in the plant.

Nutrição e produtividade do crambe em razão da adubação de semeadura na safrinha

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Crescimento inicial e nutrição de cedro (Cedrela fissilis Vell.) em função de doses de nitrogênio

We aimed to evaluate the effects of nitrogen rates in early growth, SPAD index, content and accumulation of nutrients in cedar seedlings. The experiment was carried out in a plastic greenhouse and the seedlings were grown in plastic pots filled with 20 dm-3of Rhodic Hapludox, arranged inrandomized blocks with four replications. Rates of 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 mg dm-3N were tested. Fertilization up to 160 mg dm-3N promoted increases in SPAD index and early growth of plants, beyond greater absorption of N,P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. Overall, lower N rates limited growth but not the absorption of nutrients by cedar plants. In leaves, the only nutrien taffected was the B which their content was reduced with increasing of N rate. Increased of nitrogen fertilization changed the Cu distributionin plants, since increased Cu content in roots and reduced their content in stem. Higher N rates promoted higher accumulation of all nutrients due to the increase of dry matter. Nitrogen fertilization changed the dynamic of nutrient absorption in cedar. With 160 mg dm-3N, the amount absorbed followed the order: N>S>Ca>K>Mg>P>Fe>Mn>B> Zn> Cu.

Efeito residual de fontes de fósforo nos atributos químicos do solo, nutrição e produtividade de biomassa da cana-de-açúcar

In tropical regions, the residual effect of phosphate fertilizer source is of crucial importance. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of application of P sources in chemical properties of soil, nutrition and productivity of sugarcane plant and during the first and second ratoon. The sources of P applied in furrows at planting were, triple superphosphate, Arad phosphate, bone meal (100 kg ha-1 P2O5 total) and a control without P, the varieties of sugarcane studied were IAC86-2480 and SP79-1011. A randomized block design in a 4 × 2 factorial was used, with four replications. The study was conducted in the municipality of Alta Floresta-MT, Brazil, in Typic Hapludox. After each cutting, in soil P content, pH and Ca were evaluated. In the plant, the production of green and dry matter of shoots, the concentration of P in the biomass harvested, the export of P and agronomic efficiency of the sources of P were determined. The bone meal had a higher agronomic efficiency resulted in greater accumulation and export of P by crop, higher content of available Ca and P and increase soil pH. The Arad reactive phosphate increased its agronomic efficiency between crop cycles.

Nutrição e produtividade da nogueira-macadâmia em função de doses de nitrogênio

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of nitrogen doses on mineral nutrition and yield of macadamia nut (Macadamia integrifolia). The experiment was carried out during three agricultural years, in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. The experimental design was a complete block with four replicates. Five doses of N (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1 per year), applied as urea, were evaluated. The increase in N doses increased the nutrient concentration in the leaves and the yield of nuts and almonds. Ca, Mg, and S contents decreased and the ones of Fe and Mg increased linearly with N fertilization. Nut and almond yields were positively correlated with leaf N concentration, and the range from 14 to 18 g kg-1 allowed the highest yields. The dose of 150 kg ha-1 of N per year provides higher nut yields, without reducing the recovery rate of almonds.

Sistemas de manejo e efeito residual do potássio na produtividade e nutrição do feijão-caupi

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp] have great social and economic importance for the Para State. It grows well in areas with low precipitation and two crop cycles can be obtained annually. This study aimed to assess the effect of the residual fertilization from a previous culture (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and crop systems on cowpea yield and macronutrient concentration on leaves of three cowpea cultivars (BRSMilênio, BRS-Urubuquara e BRS-Guariba). The study was conducted at the UFRA. The treatments were two crop systems (minimum tillage and conventional), four levels of potassium (50, 100, 200 e 300 kg de KCl ha-1 applied to a previous sorghum culture) and the three cowpea cultivars. Treatments were organized as a three (4 x 2 x 3) factor experiment on a randomized complete block design. The soil was a yellow latosol. In each experiment plot five plants were selected to determine shoot dry matter and foliar nutrient concentration. Grain yield was determined after harvesting all plants on the experiment plot. The residual KCl fertilization affected foliar nutrient content, but did not affect shoot dry mass or yield of grain. Yield was higher in the minimum tillage system. Highest yield (1590 kg ha-1) was recorded int the cv. 'Guariba' when 100 kg of KCl ha-1 had been used in the previous crop. The highest content of leaf N and K was found in cowpea under minimum tillage system. The amount of P and Mg were higher in the conventional system whereas the amount of Ca did not change.