Myocardial remodeling and dysfunction are induced by chronic food restriction in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Several studies have shown alterations in hearts from animals subjected to food restriction (FR). However, few experiments in hearts evaluating pressure overload have been reported. We examined the effects of chronic FR on myocardial function and morphology in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Sixty-day-old SHR were fed a control (C) or a restricted diet (daily intake reduced to 50% of amount of food consumed by the control group) for 90 days. Myocardial performance was studied in isolated left ventricular (LV) papillary muscle. Food restriction decreased body weight and LV weight; LV weight/body-weight ratio was lower in the food-restricted group (SHR-C, 2.84 +/- 0.21 mg/g; SHR-FR, 2.56 +/- 0.24 mg/g; P <.05). Food restriction did not change arterial systolic blood pressure. Myocyte surface area was lower in the food-restricted group (P <.01). Food restriction induced myocardial ultrastructural alterations including reduced sarcoplasm content, reduced and disorganized myofilaments, disorganized Z line, dilated sarcoplasmic reticulum, and deep infoldings of plasma membrane. Myocardial hydroxyproline concentration was increased in the restricted rats. Peak developed tension (P <.05) and maximum rate of tension development (P <.01) were decreased in the SHR-FR group. In conclusion, myocardium of SHR subjected to chronic FR presents attenuation of hypertrophy development, ultrastructural changes, increased collagen content, and systolic dysfunction. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Epidemiological aspects in leptospirosis. Research of anti-Leptospira spp antibodies, isolation and biomolecular research in bovines, rodents and workers in rural properties from Botucatu, SP, Brazil.

Leptospirosis is a worldwide infection, transmitted between man and animals that causes a decrease in the production of bovine flocks, and offer risks for public health, as an important zoonosis. The rodents are the main reservoirs of leptospires. It was studied 27 dairy farm properties located in or near from Botucatu-SP, Brazil. In these farms were collected blood and kidney samples from rodents, blood and urine samples from bovines and blood samples from the workers. The serology was performed with microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Samples of bovine urine and rodent kidneys were cultivated searching for leptospires isolation. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the kidneys of the rodents was performed. In MAT, 46/ 140 (32.85%) bovine and 8/34 (23.53%) human sera samples were positive, respectively. In human samples, the serovar Brastilava (37.51%) presented the highest occurrence, while in bovines, the serovars Hardjo and Castellonis were most frequent, with 26.08% each one. All of the rodents were negatives in serology. No leptospire was isolated, and kidney samples were negative in PCR. In bovines, the dam water and the bad hygiene quality of milking process were considered important risks of infection in the affected properties (p<0.05), where other reproductive problems, except abortion, can be related. In other side, to human beings the drainage system was the most important risk factor in the studied properties. Thus, it was verified the necessity of an improvement in zoosanitary handling of the properties, mainly of water supply.

Valor nutritivo da raiz e folhas da mandioca para a tilápia do nilo

The aim was to evaluate the nutritional value of the root and leaves of cassava (Manihot sculenta) for juveniles of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Three diets were prepared, a reference and two test diets. The first tested diet contained 50.0% of cassava root and 50.0% of reference diet and the second one consisted of 30.0% of cassava leaf meal and 70.0% of reference diet. Moreover, in every diet was added 0.1% chromium oxide-III (Cr2O3) as inert marker. Sixty juveniles (100.0 +/- 9.0 g) were accommodated in cages (10 fish/cage) for feeding and feces collection. During the day these cages were maintained in a feeding tank (250 L), one tank for each treatment, where they were fed until apparent satiation. After the aforementioned feeding period they were transferred to a fecal collection tank, where they remained until next morning. The collected feces were frozen and dried for analyzes. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) were calculated on basis of Cr2O3 concentration present in diets and feces. The ADC of reference diet for DM, cassava leaf and root were, respectively 85.23%, 81.22% and 91.44%; CP to 97.35%, 73.37% and 91.46% and for the GE to 87.70%, 64.70% and 92.20%, the values obtained for the diet with cassava root significantly higher (P<0.05). Summarizing, root and cassava leaves can be used as alternative ingredients for compose balanced diets for Nile tilapia juveniles.

Identification and expression analysis of microRNAs and targets in the biofuel crop sugarcane

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

Abarema cochliacarpos: Gastroprotective and ulcer-healing activities

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Espermidina exógena atenua os efeitos do NaCl na germinação e crescimento inicial de leguminosas forrageiras

Objetivou-se nesse estudo avaliar o papel atenuador da espermidina exógena sobre a germinação, vigor de sementes e crescimento de plântulas de cultivares das forrageiras alfafa, guandu e labe-labe submetidas ao estresse salino. A semeadura foi realizada em caixas de plástico tipo gerbox forradas com papel de filtro umedecidos com soluções salinas nas concentrações de 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 e 120 mM de NaCl contendo 0 ou 0,5 mM de espermidina. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3 x 6 x 2 (forrageiras x salinidade x espermidina) com cinco repetições de 25 sementes. As avaliações da germinação foram realizadas no quarto e décimo dias, juntamente com o índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG), avaliado até o nono dia após a semeadura. Determinou-se a concentração salina que reduz em 50% a germinação e a massa seca da parte aérea e raiz no décimo dia após a semeadura. A aplicação de espermidina exógena proporcionou maior acúmulo de massa seca das raízes de labe-labe cv. Rongai, além de ter possibilitado a germinação de 50% das sementes de guandu cv. Caqui até a concentração salina de 72,09 mM de NaCl, assim como maior IVG nas sementes das leguminosas alfafa cv. Crioula e labe-labe cv. Rongai.

Correlação entre gestão da tecnologia e gestão ambiental nas empresas

Este trabalho analisa a correlação entre a gestão da tecnologia de produtos e processos e a gestão ambiental em empresas de manufatura. Partindo de um modelo conceitual simplificado e desdobramentos das dimensões gestão da tecnologia e gestão ambiental, foi possível analisar em pesquisa de campo vários conceitos disponíveis na literatura para esses dois campos, envolvendo 78 empresas do setor de manufaturados, através de projeto de pesquisa survey e projeto de pesquisa qualitativa. Visando avaliar a capabilidade tecnológica das organizações, foram usados os conceitos de microtecnologia e macrotecnologia relatados em Silva (2003). Concluiu-se que, dentro do campo pesquisado de empresas, existe correlação positiva entre os níveis de capabilidade tecnológica e os níveis de capabilidade ambiental.

Histopathological findings and detection of parasites in the eyes of dogs infected naturally with Leishmania chagasi

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

Tempo de implantação de sistemas ERP: análise da influência de fatores e aplicação de técnicas de gerenciamento de projetos

Freqüentemente, a implantação de sistemas ERP é complexa e demorada, requerendo, em alguns casos, três ou quatro anos. em geral, um sistema ERP divide-se em módulos cujas implantações são feitas em vários estágios. Um problema sério é que os prazos para a implantação desses módulos são críticos e raramente são cumpridos. Esses atrasos geram insatisfação dos clientes, pois resultam em custos adicionais não previstos. A implantação de sistemas ERP depende de vários fatores, alguns dos quais têm muita influência nos prazos de implantação. Considera-se neste trabalho a técnica de planejamento de experimentos para a determinação dos principais fatores. Além disso, são usados métodos de caminhos críticos para a identificação das atividades que requerem mais investimentos para que haja redução no tempo total de implantação do projeto.

Compression of the peripheral branches of the sciatic nerve by lipoma

The authors report two female patients with chronic sensitive and motor findings in lower limbs caused by compression of distal branches of sciatic nerve by lipoma. Similar eases were not described on literature. Nerve conduction studies allowed to localize the exact site of compression. At surgery, lipomas compressing the deep peroneal nerve (case 1) and the posterior tibial nerve (case 2) were observed. Histologic studies of tumors confirmed the diagnoses.

Multimodal evoked potentials and the ovarian cycle in young ovulating women

There is controversy over how hormonal conditions influence cerebral physiology. We studied pattern-shift visual evoked potentials (PS-VEP), brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEV) in 20 female volunteers at different phases of the menstrual cycle (estrogen phase, ovulatory day and progesterone phase). Statistical analysis showed decreased latencies for P 100 (PS-VEP), N 19and P 22 (SSEV) waves in the progesterone phase compared with the estrogen phase. There was no significant difference between the estrogen and the ovulation day values. Comparing the three above stages, there were no significant differences in the brainstem auditory evoked potentials. The reduction of the latencies of the potentials generated in multisynaptic circuits provides the first consistent neurophysiological basis for a tentative comprehension of human pre-menstrual syndrome.

Vernonia polyanthes as a new source of antiulcer drugs

Methanolic (VPME) and chloroformic (VPCL) extracts, obtained from the aerial parts of Vernonia polyanthes, were investigated for its antiulcerogenic properties. Administration of VPME (250 mg/kg) and VPCL (50 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the gastric mucosa damage (64% and 90%, respectively) caused by absolute ethanol (p.o.). Otherwise, in NSAID-induced gastric damage, their gastroprotective effects have decreased. Since the VPCL extract resulted to be more effective than the VPME we focused our efforts over VPCL action mechanism of action. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Atributos químicos do solo e produtividade da cultura de soja em área de semeadura direta após calagem superficial

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of surface application of lime rates on soil chemical attributes and soybean yield in a no-tillage system. It was installed a field experiment in a factorial 2×4, and the factors were: two types of lime (calcitic and dolomitic); four rates (0.0 - 0.5 - 1.0 and 1.5 t ha-1 of CaCO3), in a completely randomized blocks experimental design, with four replications. The experiment was located in Matupá, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, being the work developed between November 2006 and May 2007. The evaluations were chemical attributes in the soil layers (0,0-2,5 cm, 2,5-5,0 cm and 5,0-10,0 cm), and the productive characteristics of soybean. Application of lime increased the soil pH (CaCl 2), the exchangeable Ca and Mg, the effective CEC and the base saturation only in the soil surface layer. The two limes were different only for Ca and Mg values in the first layer of soil, and only for the Mg values in the layer of 2,5-5,0 cm. The surface liming in no-tillage system did not change soybean yield.