Effect of watergym in knee osteoarthritis

Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of watergym to alleviate knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms and improve locomotor function. Methods: Forty-two volunteers, 38 women and four men with OA, practicing watergym, divided into the following groups: beginners, intermediate, advanced, and advanced level with other physical activities in addition to watergym were included in the study. Individuals were assessed at times zero, 8 and 12 weeks, with classes lasting 45 minutes, twice a week. Function was assessed by the Aggregate Locomotor Function (ALF) score, and pain and other symptoms by the visual analogical scale (VAS) and by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out by the variance analysis for repeated measurements, followed by Tukey's method for comparison of time point means whenever required. Results: None of the tests showed a significant improvement of pain or locomotion. Conclusion: Watergym was not effective in improving symptoms and did not affect the locomotor capacity of individuals with knee OA.

Population Dynamics of Lepidoptera Pests in Eucalyptus urophylla Plantations in the Brazilian Amazonia

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Belvosia sp (diptera: tachinidae) parasitizing halysidota sp (lepidoptera: arctiidae) caterpillars on ficus benjamina (moraceae) in Brazil

Ficus benjamina L. (Moraceae) is an exotic ornamental plant in Brazil. The aim of this study was to identify a defoliator and its parasitoid on F. benjamina plants in Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil and to determine the number of pupae and the emergence of lepidopteran and a dipteran. Four Halysidota sp. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) groups, with 158, 144, 137 and 129 last-instar caterpillars aggregated on the trunks of 4 F. benjamina trees. These caterpillars were collected, held in plastic containers with ficus leaves until development and emergence were completed. Adults of 1 undescribed lepidopteran species (Halysidota) and 1 dipteran species [Belvosia (Tachinidae)] emerged from the Halysidota pupae. An average of 118 viable Halysidota pupae per group were formed, and an average of 62.5 Belvosia individuals emerged from these host pupae per Halysidota group. From a grand total of 472 Halysidota pupae only one adult emerged. Halysidota sp. damaged F. benjamina plants in Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, but this defoliator was parasitized by Belvosia sp. The findings reported here indicate that Belvosia sp. appears to have the potential to reduce populations of Halysidota sp. and possibly protect F. benjamina in ornamental plantings.

A new fibrin sealant as a three-dimensional scaffold candidate for mesenchymal stem cells

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

Equine mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow, adipose tissue and umbilical cord: immunophenotypic characterization and differentiation potential

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Improving postcryopreservation survival capacity: an embryo-focused approach

The major challenge for a greater dissemination of in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos is to improve embryonic survival after cryopreservation. The involvement of embryonic lipids on this issue is well documented. However, it has been recognized that not only the amount of lipids that affects embryo cryotolerance, but the embryo survival capacity after cryopreservation is a rather multifactorial event. In this review, some strategies to improve embryonic lipid composition and postcryopreservation survival by modifying the embryos themselves to make them more cryopreservable are overviewed. The use of semi-defined and defined serum-free culture media, the addition of some chemicals in the culture media to modify embryo lipid composition, and the modulation of embryo cell membrane fluidity by cholesterol or unsaturated fatty acids added to the culture media and oocyte/embryo donor nutritional management with a diet enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids, were described as alternatives for the improvement of IVP embryo survival after cryopreservation.