Alterações nas concentrações das SRAT, conteúdo de GSH e atividade da CAT em pacientes com esquistossomose aguda

Schistosomiasis is an ancient disease caused by helminth Schistosoma mansoni and is a public health problem in Brazil. The granulomatous lesion, typical of the disease, associates itself with increase in the oxidative damage through the generation of free radicals. The aim of this work was to evaluate the occurrence of changes in parameters oxidant / antioxidant that are part of the human defense system, and observe whether they would cause oxidative stress in subjects with schistosomiasis. Moreover, correlating with some biochemical and hematological parameters. Two groups were selected for study, consisting of individuals of both sexes, aged between 16 and 30 years. A control group, formed by individuals without schistosomiasis (n = 30) and a test group, formed by individuals with schistosomiasis (n = 30). The evaluation of lipid peroxidation in plasma was performed by determination of malondialdehyde and antioxidant defense by the quantification of reduced glutathione and catalase activity. For the parameters that assess oxidative stress, the results showed a decrease in the content of reduced glutathione and no change in the activity of catalase, with an increase in the value of malondialdehyde. Therefore, the data found suggest the occurrence of oxidative stress in subjects with schistosomiasis. Of the parameters that assess hepatic function, only levels of aspartate aminotransferase have been high, while there was a decrease of bilirubine. There was a significant change in the lipid profile (p <0.5), however with regard to the renal function of patients, there was a decrease in creatinine. The assessment hematological, made through hemogram and the quantification of hemoglobin, shows increase of eosinophils individuals in the group test, which can be related to the presence of the parasite. The amendments suggest the involvement of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of this disease

Preliminary cryocrystallography analysis of an eumenine mastoparan toxin isolated from the venom of the wasp Anterhynchium flavomarginatum micado

Mastoparans are tetradecapeptides found to be the major component of vespid venoms. These peptides present a wide spectrum of biological activities, such as mast cell degranulation, hemolytic activity and also reveals antimicrobial activity. A mastoparan toxin isolated from the venom of Anterhynchium flavomarginatum micado has been crystallized. At room temperature these crystals diffracted to 2.8 Angstrom resolution. However, upon cooling to cryogenic temperature around 85 K, the original resolution limit could be improved to 2.0 Angstrom. Crystals were determined to belong to the space group P3(1) (P3(2)). This is the first mastoparan to be crystallized and it will provide further insights in the conformational significance of mastoparan toxins, with respect to their potency and activity in G protein regulation. (C) 3001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative biology and production costs of Podisus nigrispinus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) when fed different types of prey

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Quality of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) reared at different host densities and the estimated cost of its commercial production

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Parasitismo em ovos de percevejos da soja Euschistus heros (Fabricius) e Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) em São Gabriel do Oeste, MS

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

Não-preferência para oviposição e alimentação de Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) por cultivares de amendoim.

This study aimed to select peanut cultivars resistant to Spodoptera frugiperda, selecting non-oviposition and non-feeding preference in choice and no-choice tests. Peanut cultivars with upright growth habit (IAC 5, IAC 8112, IAC 22 and IAC Tatu ST) and runner growth habit (IAC 503, IAC 505, IAC 147, IAC 125, IAC Caiapo and IAC Runner 886) were evaluated. Tests of non-oviposition preference were conducted with newly emerged adults. Adults were fed a 10% honey solution, remaining in cages for 4 days until the start of the evaluations. The evaluations consisted of quantifying the number of eggs and egg masses, followed by calculating the number of eggs per egg mass. To perform non-feeding preference tests, leaf discs from different peanut cultivars were placed in disposable Petri dishes followed by releasing of a third-instar caterpillar for each cultivar. The attractiveness at 1, 5; 10, 15, 30, 60, 120, 360, 720 and 1,440 minutes was evaluated by counting the caterpillars that were feeding on cultivars. The leaf area consumed was evaluated at the end of the experiment for each cultivar. In the tests of non-oviposition and non-feeding preference, with choice or no-choice, none of the cultivars of the upright growth and runner growth habit influenced the oviposition or food of S. frugiperda. Thus, the peanut cultivars showed no resistance of the non-feeding and non-oviposition types.

Efeito do corante Vermelho de sudan B na marcaçao e no desenvolvimento de Diatraea saccharalis ( Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) e de Cotesia flavipes (Cameron, 1891) ( Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

The objective of this work was to evaluate biological aspects of Diatraea saccharalis fed on artificial diet containing different concentrations of the Sudan B Red dye and the possibility to mark the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes, when submitted to the parasitism of dyed caterpillars. For that, were added to the artificial diet four concentrations of Sudan Red B dye (100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm) and control (no dye addition). It was evaluated larval and pupal period, larval and pupal viability, longevity, sex rate, pupal weigh, eggs per female, eggs per day, number of eggs per egg mass, egg viability and embrionary period; besides same were accomplished measurements in the caterpillars (bioassay I). Caterpillars of 17 days old (30) of each treatment were removed from the tubes and exposed to the parasitism of C. flavipes (bioassay 2). The egg-pupae period, sex rate, pupal period and viability, number of females, males, total of emerged adults and longevity were evaluated. The data were submitted to the multivariate analisys methods: cluster analysis, two-way and principal component analysis. Based on analysis, it was observed that the treatment of 100 ppm was the least harmful to the biology of the sugar cane borer larvae by groping to the control and did not influence negatively its biological aspects. The concentration of 400 ppm affected negatively the biology of C. flavipes. The Sudan Red B it is ended doses marked the caterpillars and the adults, however the concentration of 100 ppm is the most suitable to dye D. saccharalis. None of the tested concentration marked adults of C. flavipes, despite to affect negatively its biology. It is unviable to increase the concentration seeking futures tests, for that dye to be harmful to the biological aspects of D. saccharalis and C. flavipes.

Desempenho de híbridos de milho submetidos a diferentes espaçamentos e densidades populacionais

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de espaçamentos entre linhas e densidades populacionais, nos componentes de produção e na produtividade de grãos, em dois híbridos de milho (Zea mays). O experimento foi conduzido na safra 2006/2007, em Latossolo Vermelho eutrófico típico, textura argilosa, em Jaboticabal, SP. O delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso foi composto por 24 tratamentos com parcelas subsubdivididas. As parcelas principais foram constituídas por três espaçamentos entre linhas (0,40, 0,60 e 0,80 m), as subparcelas, por dois híbridos e as subsubparcelas, por quatro densidades populacionais (30 mil, 50 mil, 70 mil e 90 mil plantas por hectare). Foram avaliadas as variáveis: altura de planta e altura da inserção da primeira espiga, diâmetro de colmo, número de grãos por espiga, massa de 1.000 grãos, produtividade de grãos e índice de colheita. A produtividade do milho aumentou com a redução do espaçamento entrelinhas para os híbridos avaliados. O incremento na densidade populacional de milho resultou em aumentos na altura das plantas e na altura da inserção da primeira espiga e em redução do número de grãos por espiga. O melhor arranjo de plantas para os híbridos avaliados é de 0,40 m de espaçamento entre linhas e de 75 mil e 80 mil plantas por hectare de densidade populacional.

Componentes da produção e produtividade de cultivares de arroz e feijão em função de calcário e gesso aplicados na superfície do solo

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

Laboratory evaluation of Amazon forest biomass burning emissions

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

Aplicação foliar e em cobertura de nitrogênio na cultura do trigo no cerrado

The nitrogen in wheat is essential for obtaining high yields, not only the dose but also the time and the way of application are critical, reducing potential leaching and the cost of production. The objective is evaluating leaf and sidedressing nitrogen application on wheat crop in years of 2006 and 2007. A randomized blocks design in a factorial scheme 5x3x2 was used. The treatments consisted of five doses of nitrogen in the solution (0; 2.5; 5.0; 7.5 and 10%), three application times (at tillering: 30 days after plant emergency (DAE), at full flowering (50 DAE) + in the beginning of grain formation (70 DAE) and at tillering + in the beginning of grain formation), with and without sidedressing nitrogen applied at 40 DAE, using urea as source. They were evaluated: chlorophyll and nitrogen content in leaf, number of spikelets per ear, number of grains per ear, mass of grains per ear, number of grains per spikelet, mass hectolitric, mass of 100 grains and productivity of grains. The application of nitrogen topdressing in both years, influenced the yield characteristics of wheat. The times of leaf nitrogen only affected the leaf N content. The leaf nitrogen concentrations increased linearly the number of grains per spikelets, grains per spike, chlorophyll content, grain weight per ear and grain yield, and reduced mean weight per hectoliter, only in 2007.

Correlação linear e espacial dos componentes de produção e produtividade da soja

The soybean is the crop most cultivated in Brazil, with great socioeconomic importance. In the agriculture year 2008/09 in Selviria County, Mato Grosso do Sul State, in the Brazilian Savannah, was analyzed the production components and the soybean yield cultivated in a Typic Acrustox on no-tillage. The main purpose objective was select among the production components number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, number of grains per plant, mass of a thousand grains, mass of grains per plant and population of plants, which of the best linear and spatial correlation aiming explain the soybean yield variability. The irregular geostatistical grid was installed to collect of data, with 120 sampling points, in an area of 8.34 ha. The values of spatial dependence range to be utilized should be among 38.1 and 114.7 meters. The model of the adjusted semivariograma was predominantly the spherical. of the lineal and spatial point of view, the number of pods per plant and the mass of grains per plant they were correlated in a direct way with the soybean yield, demonstrating be the best components to esteem her.

Efeito do adubo verde e época de semeadura sobre a produtividade do feijão, em plantio direto em região de cerrado

Effect of green manure and sowing date on the productivity of bean no-tillage in the Cerrado region. Green manure and sowing date are two important factors that influence the productivity of cultivars. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production of biomass from different vegetation covers (millet, sorghum and Brachiaria brizantha) and the accumulation of nutrients and their effects on the bean cultivars (Pearl, IAC Tuna and Carioca Precoce) at different sowing dates (6/22 and 7/6). The experiment was conducted at the experimental area of the Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp, located in Selviria, Mato Grosso do Sul State, in the 2006/2007 agricultural year. The randomized blocks design was used with four replications, and the evaluations of the coverage were: the biomass of fresh and dry matter and nutrients accumulated in plants; for the beans: cycle, final stand, number of pods/plant, number of seeds per pod, mass of 100 seeds, and productivity. It was observed that millet and sorghum showed higher productivity of fresh and dry mass, and accumulate greater quantity of nutrients in straw; the time most suitable for sowing was in June, and the late sowing of cv. Carioca Precoce did not affect their productivity, the use of Brachiaria brizantha straw in coverage provided better conditions for productivity in the bean no-tillage system.

Sidestream cigarette smoke effects on cardiovascular responses in conscious rats: involvement of oxidative stress in the fourth cerebral ventricle

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

Economic traits and performance of Italian quails reared at different cage stocking densities

This study assessed the effect of different cage stocking densities on the performance of Italian quails in the laying period. Two hundred and sixty four quails with 30 weeks of age and 280g mean body weight were used. Birds were randomly assigned to 96 x 33 x 16 cm cages and distributed in a randomized block design with 4 treatments (12, 15, 18 and 21 quails per cage or 264, 211, 176 and 151 cm² per quail, respectively) and 4 replicates. Birds were given feed and water ad libitum and submitted to the same experimental conditions. The experimental diet was formulated based on NRC (1994) recommendations. There were no significant differences among treatments for feed conversion per egg mass (kg:kg), percentage of broken eggs and mortality. There was a linear reduction (p<0.05) in egg weight, feed consumption, percentage of production, egg mass and feed conversion per dozen with the increase in stocking density. The gain per house per day was better at the cage density of 151 cm² per bird. However, the density of 211 cm² per bird provided the best gain per bird per day, because this stocking density had better productive indexes when compared with the other treatments.