Smith-Magenis syndrome: clinical evaluation in seven Brazilian patients

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Qualidade dos méis produzidos por Melipona fasciculata Smith da região do cerrado maranhense

The honey of Melipona fasciculata is few known in terms of composition, and therefore generally associated with the characteristics of the honey of Apis mellifera. This study contributes to the knowledge of the physico-chemical characteristics of honey of M. fasciculata of the municipalities of Barra do Corda, Jenipapo dos Vieiras, Fernando Falcão, Carolina and Riachão, in cerrado region from Maranhão. The parameters studied were: moisture, pH, acidity, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, hydroxymethylfurfural, diastase activity, insoluble solids, ash and color. Some of the observed patterns may conform to the established for A. mellifera, but others must be accompanied by a specific legislation.

Cryogenic preservation of embryos of Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1836) (Characiforme; Prochilodontidae)

While the freezing techniques of mammal embryos have been providing promising results, the cryopreservation of teleostean eggs and embryos have remained unsuccessful up to now. Therefore, this work aimed to develop a procedure of cryogenic preservation of embryos of Prochilodus lineatus and to observe, at both structural and ultrastructural levels, the morphological alterations that took place after the application of freezing/thawing techniques. The embryos at the morula stage could not tolerate exposure to the cryoprotectants ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, methanol, dimethyl sulphoxide and propylene glycol, presenting 100% of mortality. Embryos at the 4- to 6-somites stage tolerated exposure to propylene glycol and dimethyl sulphoxide, and the results revealed no significant differences (alpha = 0.05) regarding survival from both treatments. None of the freezing, thawing and hydration protocols was effective on preserving embryo viability. The ultrastructural analyses of frozen and thawed embryos showed that cells from ectoderm, somites, notochord and endoderm were structurally intact, with well preserved nuclei and mitochondria. The yolk globules were able to tolerate the freezing process, but the yolk syncytial layer was unorganized, displaying an electron-dense and compacted appearance, collapsed reticules, nuclei with modified chromatin and ruptures on the plasmatic membrane at the contact zone with endoderm. It might be concluded that the procedures tested for freezing were unable to avoid the formation of intracellular ice crystals, leading to drastic morphological modifications and making P. lineatus embryos unviable.

The reproductive cycle of Callinectes danae Smith, 1869 (Decapoda, Portunidae) in the Ubatuba Region, Brazil

Callinectes danae Smith, 1869, known as siri-azul, is an important fishery resource along the Brazilian coast. The reproductive cycle of this species was studied based on their moult cycle and the development of their gonads. The animals were collected with an otter-trawl in the Ubatuba region (23 degrees 26'S 45 degrees 02'W) every other month from July 1991 to May 1993. A total of 1826 specimens were captured: 788 males and 1038 females. Ovigerous females and specimens with developed gonads in both sexes were found in all months sampled. In females, moult activity was recorded in all size classes while in males, it was verified from 20-27 mm to 90-97 mm size classes. The females produced more than one clutch during a single reproductive season, a fact evidenced by the presence of ovigerous females with ovaries in all the development phases. The species C. danae reproduces continuously, like most brachyurans from tropical waters.

Biology and shell relationship in Clibanarius vittatus (Bosc, 1802) (Crustacea, Diogenidae) from Sao Vicente, SP, Brasil.

This study aimed to characterize the populational structure of Clibanarius vittatus (Bosc, 1802), as well as to determine the morphometric relations between the animal's size and the variables: length of their chelar propodus and the size of the shell opening. C. vittatus is a relatively abundant pagurid on the west Atlantic coast, it occurs in the intertidal region from 38 degrees N to 28 degrees S. The animals in this study were randomly sampled every month on the Paranapu (a) over tilde Beach (46 degrees 23' S e 23 degrees 59' W), S (a) over tilde $ o Vicente (SP), Brazil. The biometrics data were adjusted to the power equation (y = ax(b)), by means of the minimum square method. A total of 427 individuals were collected. The size of the cephalothoraxic shield ranged from 2.5 to 12.7 mm, evidencing a representative sample of the population. The of most commonly genus of Gastropoda shells occupied by the hermits was Thais (97,26%). In relation to the morphometric analyses performed, it was observed a positive correlation between the animal size and the variables length of the chelar propodus and the size of the shells.

Morphohistological study of the venom gland in workers of the ant Pachycondyla striata F. Smith (Hymenoptera : Ponerinae)

Themorphology of the venom gland in workers of the ant Pachycondyla striata (F. Smith) (Hymenoptera: Ponerinae) consists of an elongated sac that is directly connected to the sting apparatus. Three distinct regions compose this gland: the external secretory portion, composed by a secretory filament that bifurcates to originate another two; the internal secretory portion, which is represented by the convoluted gland from which rises the excretory duct that liberates the venom; and the storage portion, consisting of a large sac-shaped reservoir. The histology showed that the gland possesses a strong musculature on its distal third. Underneath these muscle layers, we noted the presence of an epithelium that envelops the internal wall of the reservoir. The presence of a convoluted gland as well as secretion inside the reservoir was also noted.

Ultrastructural studies of the mandibular gland of Melipona quadrifasciata Lepeletier, 1836 (Apidae, Meliponini): a comparison between workers and queens

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

Ultrastructural profile of metapleural gland cells of the ant Atta laevigata (F. Smith, 1858) (Formicidae: Attini)

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

A comparative cytochemical study of the dufour gland in the eusocial bee Apis mellifera Linne, 1758 and Melipona bicolor Lepeletier, 1836

Dufour glands of Apis mellifera and Melipona bicolor were studied under light and transmission electron microscopy, using the cytochemical techniques of mercury bromophenol blue for protein detection, imidazole-buffered osmium tetroxide selective staining of unsaturated lipids, lanthanum nitrate for intercellular junction identification and zinc-iodide-osmium tetroxide for cytoplasmic endomembrane visualization. The results in both species corroborated the lipid nature of the gland secretion and showed in A. mellifera the poverty of the synthetic machinery in the worker gland cells in comparison with the queen, as expected by previous biochemical analyses. The pathway of the exogenous compounds of the secretion is intracellular, since substances can penetrate the cell folds and intercellular junctions, but their access to the, gland lumen is barred by the apical intercellular junctions.

Ultrastructural aspects of the mandibular gland of Melipona bicolor Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera : Apidae, Meliponini) in the castes

The mandibular gland in Melipona bicolor workers and queens was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. There is no difference in the gland anatomy between the castes, but the transmission electron microscopy showed variation of the cellular ultrastructure according to the secretory phase of the gland in both castes. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum was abundant in the secretory cells of physogastric queens, indicating that these cells produce lipid secretion that is stored in granules with multi-lamellar bodies. Mitochondrial variations during the cell secretory cycle indicates their participation in the lipid synthesis. After secretion, release in the reservoir lumen through the collecting canals, the secretory cells contain many myelinic bodies, indicative of cellular regression. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Age and growth of the Scalloped Hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini (Griffith and Smith, 1834), from the southern Brazilian coast

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

Nest architecture of Pachycondyla striata Fr. Smith, 1858 (Formicidae, Ponerinae)

Nine nests of Pachycondyla striata Fr. Smith, 1858 were excavated between 2006 and 2007 at the UNESP university campus in Rio Claro, SP, southeastern Brazil. The P. striata population was larger in the two nests excavated in the months of August and November, 2006. The nests of this species are simple and poorly elaborated, with chambers and tunnels close to the ground surface. P. striata places the pupae in chambers isolated from the other individuals. The lack of chambers with the specific purpose of conditioning food and garbage underscores the simplicity of these nests.

Parasitism capacity of Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs

Este trabalho estudou a capacidade de parasitismo de Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) em ovos de Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) nas temperaturas de 15, 20, 25, 28, 31 e 35ºC objetivando usar esse inimigo natural em programas de controle biológico em culturas onde S. frugiperda é considerada praga. O parasitismo ocorrido nas primeiras 24 h foi de 60,90; 81,65; 121,05; 117,55 e 108,55 ovos parasitados por fêmea em massas ovos com aproximadamente 150 ovos, nas temperaturas de 15, 20, 25, 28 e 31ºC. Fêmeas de T. remus causaram mais de 80% do parasitismo dos ovos nas temperaturas de 15, 20, 25, 28 e 31ºC aos 5, 27, 8, 2 e 2 dias, respectivamente. Na temperatura de 35ºC não houve parasitismo. As maiores taxas de parasitismo ocorreram nas temperaturas de 20, 25, 28 e 31ºC. A longevidade média de fêmeas de T. remus nas temperaturas compreendidas entre 15 e 31ºC variou de 15,5 a 7,7 dias. A temperatura máxima testada (35ºC) foi inadequada ao desenvolvimento de T. remus, sendo que nessa temperatura as fêmeas apresentaram longevidade bastante reduzida (1,7±0,02 dia) e não houve emergência de adultos. Todas as curvas de sobrevivência para T. remus foram do tipo I o que mostram que para todas as temperaturas há um aumento da taxa de mortalidade com o tempo.

Migration of the curimbatá Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1836) (Pisces, Prochilodontidae) at the waterfall Cachoeira de Emas of the Mogi-Guaçu river - São Paulo, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)