Seasonal changes in the gonadossomatic index, allometric condition factor and sex ratio of an auchenipterid catfish from eastern Amazonia

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar alterações sazonais no índice gonadossomático (IGS%), fator de condição (K) e proporção sexual, a fim de determinar o período de atividade reprodutiva do bagre Auchenipterichthys longimanus (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae), a partir da análise de exemplares coletados em igarapés da Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, estado do Pará, Brasil. Através de coletas bimestrais entre julho de 2008 e julho de 2009, foram capturados 589 exemplares de A. longimanus, sendo 251 machos e 338 fêmeas. Dentre os machos, 171 exemplares foram classificados como adultos e 80 foram jovens, e dentre as fêmeas, 249 eram adultas e 89 jovens. Por meio do estabelecimento de uma equação senoidal, a análise do IGS% evidenciou uma assincronia reprodutiva entre os sexos, pois os machos obtiveram maiores valores de IGS% em janeiro e as fêmeas apresentaram seu pico em março. Para os valores de IGS% de machos, a equação senoide mostrou-se significante somente para os valores brutos (P=0,001), sendo não identificada uma tendência com os valores médios do IGS% (P=0,136). Para as fêmeas, os valores de significância da equação senoide para o IGS% foram obtidos tanto para os dados brutos (P=0,012) quanto para os dados médios (P=0,026). Para o Fator de Condição, a equação senoide demonstrou variação nos valores brutos e médios de machos adultos (P=0,02 e P=0,00, respectivamente) e nos valores brutos de fêmeas (P=0,04), refletindo diferenças nos padrões de investimento energético entre os sexos. Em relação à proporção sexual, foi observada uma maior frequência de capturas de fêmeas reprodutivas em relação aos machos nos meses de Janeiro e Março de 2009, sugerindo um padrão de segregação sexual com fins reprodutivos. Esses parâmetros são fundamentais na avaliação, conservação e manejo dos estoques naturais de peixes, assim como para subsidiar estratégias e procedimentos para a preservação e conservação da ictiofauna.

Pesca e ictiofauna na área adjacente ao terminal de Vila do Conde - Pará, Brasil

O município de Barcarena – PA está localizado ao sul da Baía de Marajó. Esta região é um importante pólo industrial e apesar da importância da pesca e do perigo de um impacto ambiental, não há nenhum estudo aprofundado sobre a pesca e ictiofauna na região. Com o objetivo de descrever a atividade pesqueira e a ictiofauna na região de Barcarena, os desembarques foram acompanhados no mercado municipal de Barcarena e na Praia do Conde de dezembro de 2005 a novembro de 2006. Adicionalmente foram realizados cadastros das embarcações pesqueiras utilizando-se fichas especializadas e coletores treinados da própria comunidade. O índice de abundância relativa CPUE (kg/viagem) foi utilizado para identificação da concentração das espécies mais importantes e seu período de safra, sazonalidade de ocorrência das embarcações, artes de pesca e principais pesqueiros. Foram cadastradas 74 embarcações pesqueiras, sendo dominantes os barcos de pequeno porte Observaram-se diferenças tecnológicas entre as embarcações dos dois locais de desembarque, exceto quando considerado o comprimento entre as categorias. As embarcações do mercado possuíram maior número de tripulantes, dias pescando e produção média de pescado por mês. As embarcações de Vila do Conde utilizam principalmente espinhel, enquanto que as do mercado utilizam principalmente rede de emalhar. Durante todo o ano de 2006, as embarcações de Vila do Conde atuaram da Ilha do Capim até o furo do Arrozal, enquanto que as embarcações do mercado atuaram de Cutaju a Cotijuba. As embarcações seguiram o padrão de safra das espécies comerciais que foram a dourada (Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii), pescada branca (Plagioscion squamosissimus), filhote (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum) e sarda (Pellona flavipinnis e P. castelnaeana). A CPUE das embarcações do mercado foi de 19 kg/viagem e para as de Vila do Conde foi de 11 kg/viagem. O período de safra vai de outubro a maio na área adjacente ao terminal de Vila do Conde com pico no primeiro trimestre. A rede de emalhar possui CPUE maior que o espinhel. A principal espécie capturada pela rede de emalhar é a pescada branca e pelo espinhel é a dourada. A CPUE das embarcações não motorizadas é menor que das motorizadas. A dourada foi regular e abundante durante todo o ano para toda a área de estudo não apresentando diferença entre as artes de pesca, trimestres e pesqueiros. O filhote ocorreu com abundância de outubro a março com pico em janeiro, capturada principalmente com espinhel e o seu principal pesqueiro foi Cutaju com 55 kg/viagem. A pescada branca foi regular e abundante durante todo o ano. Esta espécie foi capturada principalmente com rede de emalhar, sendo que o pesqueiro com maior CPUE foi Carnapijó. A sarda ocorreu de outubro a maio com pico em outubro, capturada principalmente pelas embarcações de Vila do Conde com rede de emalhar, sendo o principal pesqueiro Estacamento. Estimou-se uma produção de mais de 200 toneladas de peixes capturados em Barcarena gerando R$ 724.431,00 de renda para o município. A dourada participou com 31% da produção total e 46% da renda. O mês de outubro foi o mais produtivo com 23% da produção e 15% da renda e o Barco de Pequeno Porte participou com 37% da produção e 41% da renda.

Severity of temporomandibular disorders in women: validity and reliability of the Fonseca Anamnestic Index

The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (IAF), used to assess the severity of temporomandibular disorders, applied to Brazilian women. We used a probabilistic sampling design. The participants were 700 women over 18 years of age, living in the city of Araraquara (SP). The IAF questionnaire was applied by telephone interviews. We conducted Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using Chi-Square Over Degrees of Freedom (χ2/df), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) as goodness of fit indices. We calculated the convergent validity, the average variance extracted (AVE) and the composite reliability (CR). Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α).The factorial weights of questions 8 and 10 were below the adequate values. Thus, we refined the original model and these questions were excluded. The resulting factorial model showed appropriate goodness of fit to the sample (χ2/df = 3.319, CFI = 0.978, TLI = 0.967, RMSEA = 0.058). The convergent validity (AVE = 0.513, CR = 0.878) and internal consistency (α = 0.745) were adequate. The reduced IAF version showed adequate validity and reliability in a sample of Brazilian women.

Psoriasis: correlation between severity index (PASI) and quality of life index (DLQI) in patients assessed before and after systemic treatment

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that affects patients of all ages and both genders. The impact of the disease on quality of life is greater among patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: to establish a correlation between the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) based on a quality of life questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian context for patients with plaque psoriasis before and after systemic treatment. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study of psoriasis patients who did not undergo treatment or who manifested clinical activity of the disease. Patients were evaluated according to the PASI and the quality of life questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian context before and 60 days after systemic treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients participated in the study. Twenty-six were men, with a mean age of 46 years. There was no correlation between the PASI and the quality of life questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian context, but there was a correlation between the PASI and some items of the quality of life questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian context, such as jobs involving public contact. CONCLUSION: The non-correlation between the PASI and the quality of life questionnaire adapted to the Brazilian context in this work may be associated with a history of chronic disease, which implies greater acceptance of the illness, or may be related to the low income and social status of the patients studied. The correlation observed among patients with careers involving public contact suggests that some professions are more impacted by the disease. It may be necessary to adapt the quality of life questionnaire to patients with a low income and cultural and social limitations. The small sample size (n=35 patients) and the short follow-up period of 60 days were some of the limitations of this work.

The effects of different inspired oxygen fractions on gas exchange and Tei-index of myocardial performance in propofol-anesthetized dogs

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Body mass index, dental caries and sugar intake in 2-5 year-old preschoolers

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

Validation of the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index in complete denture wearers

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

Bispectral index in calves anesthetized with xylazine, midazolam, ketamine, isoflurane and subjected to continuous rate infusion of lidocaine

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

Genetic gain in the selection by multi-effects index in open-pollinated progenies of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden

In Brazil, Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden is widely used for commercial reforestation, especially for production of pulp, paper and energy. Its genetic variability is being explored in tree improvement programs for over 30 years. The objective of this work was to estimate genetic parameters and compare genetic gains by multi-effects index in a breeding population of E. grandis. Progeny tests were established using open-pollinated seeds from ten provenances ranging from 153 to 160 progenies established in a completely randomized block design in four sites of Sao Paulo State (Anhembi, Avere Itarare e Pratania). At 24 months of age the traits diameter at breast height (DBH), height (ALT) and volume (VOL) were measured. The individual site analyses indicated significant genetic differences among progenies, height genetic variability and the mean progeny heritability (> 0.70). For joint analyses of sites, significant differences in genotype x environmental interaction effects were detected, showing differences of performance of the progenies in different sites. The Itarare site gave high genetic gains, effective size and genetic diversity. The genetic diversity and low effective size are unviable factors; considering that the progeny tests studied should retain adequate levels of genetic variability in order to be transformed in future seedling seed orchards.

Estimation of hourly, daily and monthly mean diffuse radiation based on MEO shadowring correction

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

Chronic active disease pattern predicts early damage in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

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

Continuous infusion of propofol in calves: bispectral index and hemodynamic effects

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

Birth weight, current body mass index, and insulin sensitivity and secretion in young adults in two Latin American populations

Background and aims: Although studies have shown association of birth weight (BW) and adult body mass index (BMI) with insulin sensitivity in adults, there is limited evidence that BW is associated with insulin secretion. We assessed the associations between BW and current BMI with insulin sensitivity and secretion in young Latin American adults. Methods and results: Two birth cohorts, one from Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, based on 1984 participants aged 23-25 years, and another from Limache, Chile, based on 965 participants aged 22-28 years were studied. Weight and height at birth, and current fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured. Insulin sensitivity (HOMA%S) and secretion (HOMA%beta) were estimated using the Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA2). Multiple linear regression analyses were carried out to test the associations between BW and adult BMI z-scores on log HOMA%S and log HOMA%beta. BW z-score was associated with HOMA%S in the two populations and HOMA%beta in Ribeirao Preto when adult BMI z-score was included in the model. BW z-score was associated with decreasing insulin secretion even without adjusting for adult BMI, but only in Ribeirao Preto. BMI z-score was associated with low HOMA%S and high HOMA%beta. No interactions between BW and BMI z-scores on insulin sensitivity were shown. Conclusions: This study supports the finding that BW may affect insulin sensitivity and secretion in young adults. The effect size of BW on insulin status is small in comparison to current BMI. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Corpus callosum index and long-term disability in multiple sclerosis patients

Prediction of long-term disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is essential. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurement of brain volume may be of predictive value but sophisticated MRI techniques are often inaccessible in clinical practice. The corpus callosum index (CCI) is a normalized measurement that reflects changes of brain volume. We investigated medical records and 533 MRI scans at diagnosis and during clinical follow-up of 169 MS patients (mean age 42 +/- 11 years, 86% relapsing-remitting MS, time since first relapse 11 +/- 9 years). CCI at diagnosis was 0.345 +/- 0.04 and correlated with duration of disease (p = 0.002; r = -0.234) and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score at diagnosis (r = -0.428; p < 0.001). Linear regression analyses identified age, duration of disease, relapse rate and EDSS at diagnosis as independent predictors for disability after mean of 7.1 years (Nagelkerkes' R:0.56). Annual CCI decrease was 0.01 +/- 0.02 (annual tissue loss: 1.3%). In secondary progressive MS patients, CCI decrease was double compared to that in relapsing-remitting MS patients (p = 0.04). There was a trend of greater CCI decrease in untreated patients compared to those who received disease modifying drugs (p = 0.2). CCI is an easy to use MRI marker for estimating brain atrophy in patients with MS. Brain atrophy as measured with CCI was associated with disability progression but it was not an independent predictor of long-term disability.

Incident cancer burden attributable to excess body mass index in 30 European countries

Excess adiposity is associated with increased risks of developing adult malignancies. To inform public health policy and guide further research, the incident cancer burden attributable to excess body mass index (BMI >or= 25 kg/m(2)) across 30 European countries were estimated. Population attributable risks (PARs) were calculated using European- and gender-specific risk estimates from a published meta-analysis and gender-specific mean BMI estimates from a World Health Organization Global Infobase. Country-specific numbers of new cancers were derived from Globocan2002. A ten-year lag-period between risk exposure and cancer incidence was assumed and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated in Monte Carlo simulations. In 2002, there were 2,171,351 new all cancer diagnoses in the 30 countries of Europe. Estimated PARs were 2.5% (95% CI 1.5-3.6%) in men and 4.1% (2.3-5.9%) in women. These collectively corresponded to 70,288 (95% CI 40,069-100,668) new cases. Sensitivity analyses revealed estimates were most influenced by the assumed shape of the BMI distribution in the population and cancer-specific risk estimates. In a scenario analysis of a plausible contemporary (2008) population, the estimated PARs increased to 3.2% (2.1-4.3%) and 8.6% (5.6-11.5%), respectively, in men and women. Endometrial, post-menopausal breast and colorectal cancers accounted for 65% of these cancers. This analysis quantifies the burden of incident cancers attributable to excess BMI in Europe. The estimates reported here provide a baseline for future modelling, and underline the need for research into interventions to control weight in the context of endometrial, breast and colorectal cancer.