Diversidade de Lepidoptera (Papilionoidea e Hesperioidea) em dois fragmentos de floresta no município de Frederico Westphalen, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Foram realizados levantamentos mensais em duas localidades no Município, fragmento da Vila Faguense e do Santuário de Schoenstatt, os quais distam entre si em 1.500 m, entre março de 2005 e abril de 2006. Em 140 horas de amostragem foram registrados 3.123 indivíduos distribuídos em 169 espécies. Nymphalidae foi a família mais amostrada com aproximadamente 53% das espécies registradas. Nove espécies ainda não haviam sido registradas para o Estado. O índice de Diversidade de Shannon-Wiener foi maior no fragmento da Vila Faguense, local menos perturbado. Os índices de dominância de Simpson e Berger-Parker foram mais representativos no Santuário de Schoenstatt, com maior número de espécies abundantes. Foram registradas em Frederico Westphalen 126 (74,55%) espécies acidentais, 25 acessórias (14,80%) e 18 constantes (10,65%).

Vitamin C requirements in parenteral nutrition.

Some biochemical functions of vitamin C make it an essential component of parenteral nutrition (PN) and an important therapeutic supplement in other acute conditions. Ascorbic acid is a strong aqueous antioxidant and is a cofactor for several enzymes. The average body pool of vitamin C is 1.5 g, of which 3%-4% (40-60 mg) is used daily. Steady state is maintained with 60 mg/d in nonsmokers and 140 mg/d in smokers. Shocked surgical, trauma, and septic patients have a drastic reduction of circulating plasma ascorbate concentrations. These low concentrations require 3-g doses/d to restore normal plasma ascorbate concentrations, questioning the recommended PN dose of 100 mg/d. Determination of intravenous requirements is usually based on plasma concentrations, which are altered during the inflammatory response. There is no clear indicator of deficiency: serum or plasma ascorbate concentrations <0.3 mg/dL (20 micromol/L) indicates inadequate vitamin C status. On the basis of available pharmacokinetic data the 100 mg/d dose for patients receiving home PN and 200 mg/d for stable adult patients receiving PN are adequate, but requirements have been shown to be higher in perioperative, trauma, burn, and critically ill patients, paralleling oxidative stress. One recommendation cannot fit all categories of patients. Large vitamin C supplements may be considered in severe critical illness, major trauma, and burns because of increased requirements resulting from oxidative stress and wound healing. Future research should distinguish therapeutic use of high-dose ascorbic acid antioxidant therapy from nutritional PN requirements.

Who is at low risk for cardiovascular disease? An assessment of different definitions

Purpose: To assess the prevalence and trends of low cardiovascular risk factor (RF) profile in the Swiss population according to different definitions. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study of 6170 subjects (3241 women) aged 35-75 years living in Lausanne, Switzerland. Trends were assessed using data from the Swiss MONICA population surveys conducted in 1984-6 (N=3300), 1988-9 (N=3331) and 1992-3 (N=3133) and restricted to the same age group. Seven different definitions of low RF profile were used. Results: Prevalence of low RF profile varied between 6.5% (95% confidence interval: 5.9-7.1) and 9.7% (9.0-10.5) depending on the definition used. The prevalence was inversely related to the number of criteria used and higher than in other countries. Irrespective of the definition used, the prevalence of low RF profile was higher in women and in physically active participants, and decreased with increasing age or in the presence of a family history of cardiovascular disease (table). The prevalence of low RF profile increased from 3.8% (3.1-4.5) in 1984-6 to 6.7% (6.1-7.3) in 2003-6; using another definition, the results were 5.9% (5.1-6.8) and 9.7% (9.0-10.5), respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of low RF profile varies according to the criteria used; this prevalence is relatively high and increasing in the Swiss population, which might partly explain the low and decreasing trend in cardiovascular mortality rates.

The major genetic determinants of HIV-1 control affect HLA class I peptide presentation.

Infectious and inflammatory diseases have repeatedly shown strong genetic associations within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC); however, the basis for these associations remains elusive. To define host genetic effects on the outcome of a chronic viral infection, we performed genome-wide association analysis in a multiethnic cohort of HIV-1 controllers and progressors, and we analyzed the effects of individual amino acids within the classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins. We identified >300 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the MHC and none elsewhere. Specific amino acids in the HLA-B peptide binding groove, as well as an independent HLA-C effect, explain the SNP associations and reconcile both protective and risk HLA alleles. These results implicate the nature of the HLA-viral peptide interaction as the major factor modulating durable control of HIV infection.

The genus Aloe L. (Xanthorrhoeaceae) in Djibouti

The Horn of Africa is rich in succulent plants, yet the flora in some parts of the region remains under-explored, owing largely to political instability and inaccessibility. The Republic of Djibouti is a relatively small, politically stable country where botanical studies continue to identify new species records and new taxa. Here, we focus on the genus Aloe L. (Xanthorrhoeaceae subfamily Asphodeloideae) in Djibouti. Recent field surveys resulted in five new species records for the country (A. rigens Reynolds & Bally, A. macrocarpa Tod., A. eumassawana Carter, Gilbert & Sebsebe, A. ericahenriettae McCoy and A. djiboutiensis McCoy), in addition to the three taxa included in treatment for the Flora of Djibouti (Aloe trichosantha A.Berger, A. aff. trichosantha and A. mcloughlinii Christian). We present notes on the determination distribution and habitats of the nine Aloe species recorded in Djibouti.

Prediction of functional outcome 18 months after a first psychotic episode: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

CONTEXT: Recent magnetic resonance imaging studies have attempted to relate volumetric brain measurements in early schizophrenia to clinical and functional outcome some years later. These studies have generally been negative, perhaps because gray and white matter volumes inaccurately assess the underlying dysfunction that might be predictive of outcome. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of frontal and temporal spectroscopy measures for outcome in patients with first-episode psychoses. DESIGN: Left prefrontal cortex and left mediotemporal lobe voxels were assessed using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to provide the ratio of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and choline-containing compounds to creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr) (NAA/Cr ratio). These data were used to predict outcome at 18 months after admission, as assessed by a systematic medical record audit. SETTING: Early psychosis clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-six patients with first-episode psychosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We used regression models that included age at imaging and duration of untreated psychosis to predict outcome scores on the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, Clinical Global Impression scales, and Social and Occupational Functional Assessment Scale, as well as the number of admissions during the treatment period. We then further considered the contributions of premorbid function and baseline level of negative symptoms. RESULTS: The only spectroscopic predictor of outcome was the NAA/Cr ratio in the prefrontal cortex. Low scores on this variable were related to poorer outcome on all measures. In addition, the frontal NAA/Cr ratio explained 17% to 30% of the variance in outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Prefrontal neuronal dysfunction is an inconsistent feature of early psychosis; rather, it is an early marker of poor prognosis across the first years of illness. The extent to which this can be used to guide treatment and whether it predicts outcome some years after first presentation are questions for further research.

lntergenerational differences in overweight and obesity levels in Switzerland

Background/Introduction: There is little information regarding intergenerational trends in obesity levels in Switzerland. We aimed at assessing generational differences in obesity levels. Methods: Data from MONICA (1984-1986) and CoLaus-(2003-2006) surveys. Analyses were stratified by gender and age groups (35-44, 45-54, 55-64 and 65-74 years). Results: No changes were found for body mass index (BMI) between surveys (26.2±3.4 vs. 26.6±4.0 kg/m2 in men and 24.8±4.3 vs. 25.1±4.8 kg/m2 in women, for MONICA and CoLaus, respectively). ln men, the prevalence of overweight decreased from 48.6% to 46.0% and the prevalence of obesity increased slightly from 12.4% to 16.7% (p=NS). ln women, the prevalence of overweight decreased from 29.4% to 28.4% and the prevalence of obesity increased slightly from 12.9% to 14.5% (p=NS). After multivariate adjustment on age, education and smoking levels, the odds ratio (OR) and (95% confidence interval) of being obese in 2003-6 relative to 1984-6 was 1.36 (1.01-1.83) in men and 1.44 (1.07-1.93) in women, while no significant trend was found for overweight. After stratifying for age, no increase in BMI levels was found for bath genders. Obesity levels increased in participants aged 35-44 years (from 6.2% to 11.5% in men and from 4.9% to 10.0% in women, p<0.001) and 45-54 years (from 6.2% to 14.5% in men and 4.9% to 14.5% in women, p<0.001 ). After multivariate adjustment on age, education and smoking levels, the increase in obesity levels was signifiant in women aged 35-44, OR=2.10 (1.02-4.30), while a similar, albeit nonsignificant trend was obser11ed in men: 1.85 (0.97-3.51 ). Conclusion: BMI levels appear to have levelled off in Switzerland, but the prevalence of obesity is still on the rise. The increase in obesity levels among the youngest generations is of particular concern.

Mutation spectrum of MLL2 in a cohort of Kabuki syndrome patients.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Kabuki syndrome (Niikawa-Kuroki syndrome) is a rare, multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation syndrome characterized by a peculiar face, short stature, skeletal, visceral and dermatoglyphic abnormalities, cardiac anomalies, and immunological defects. Recently mutations in the histone methyl transferase MLL2 gene have been identified as its underlying cause. METHODS: Genomic DNAs were extracted from 62 index patients clinically diagnosed as affected by Kabuki syndrome. Sanger sequencing was performed to analyze the whole coding region of the MLL2 gene including intron-exon junctions. The putative causal and possible functional effect of each nucleotide variant identified was estimated by in silico prediction tools. RESULTS: We identified 45 patients with MLL2 nucleotide variants. 38 out of the 42 variants were never described before. Consistently with previous reports, the majority are nonsense or frameshift mutations predicted to generate a truncated polypeptide. We also identified 3 indel, 7 missense and 3 splice site. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the relevance of mutational screening of the MLL2 gene among patients diagnosed with Kabuki syndrome. The identification of a large spectrum of MLL2 mutations possibly offers the opportunity to improve the actual knowledge on the clinical basis of this multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation syndrome, design functional studies to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this disease, establish genotype-phenotype correlations and improve clinical management.

The development of a stable oral solution of captopril for paediatric patients

Study objectives: Many major drugs are not available in paediatric form. The aim of this study was to develop a stable liquid solution of captopril for oral paediatric use allowing individualised dosage and easy administration to newborn and young patients. Methods: A specific HPLC-UV method was developed. In a pilot study, a number of formulations described in the literature as affording one-month stability were examined. In the proper long-term study, the formulation that gave the best results was then prepared in large batches and its stability monitored for two years at 5°C and room temperature, and for one year at 40°C. Results: Most formulations described in the literature were found wanting in our pilot study. A simple solution of the drug (1 mg/mL) in purified water (European Pharmacopeia) containing 0.1% disodium edetate (EDTA-Na) as preservative proved chemically and microbiologically stable at 5°C and room temperature for two years. Conclusion: The proposed in-house formulation fulfils stringent criteria of purity and stability and is fully acceptable for oral administration to newborn and young patients.