FIR laser lines from CH3OD: A review

The methanol isotopic species CH3OD has also proved to be an efficient and powerful medium to generate radiation in the far infrared (FIR) region. After the critical review of 1994, six papers have been published dealing with new FIR laser lines from this molecule. As a consequence of the use of wide tunability waveguide CO2 lasers as well as a new pulsed CO2 laser operating at hot and sequential bands, as of optical pumping sources, the total number of the FIR laser lines increased from 122 in 1994 to 227 today. In this communication we present an updated and complete catalogue of FIR laser lines generated from CH3OD. Information on wavelength, offset, relative polarization, intensity, and optimum operation pressure is generally available.

Produtividade da soja correlacionada com a porosidade e a densidade de um Latossolo Vermelho do cerrado brasileiro

No ano agrícola de 2004/05, na Fazenda Experimental da FE/Unesp-Campus de Ilha Solteira, localizada no Município de Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul - (MS), foram estudadas a variabilidade e a dependência espacial entre a macroporosidade (MA), a microporosidade (MI), a porosidade total (PT) e a densidade do solo (DS), em três profundidades, com a produtividade da soja (PG), em sistema plantio direto, sobre um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico. O objetivo foi pesquisar a variabilidade e as correlações lineares e espaciais entre os atributos da planta e do solo, visando a selecionar um indicador da qualidade física do solo para a produtividade da soja. Foi instalada a malha geoestatística, para a coleta de dados do solo e da planta, contendo 124 pontos amostrais, numa área de 4.000m². A correlação linear entre a produtividade de grãos de soja com os atributos do solo estudados foi baixa. Houve correlação espacial direta entre a PG e a MA nas camadas de zero-0,10m e 0,10-0,20m. A macroporosidade do solo (MA1), avaliada na camada de zero-0,10m, apresentou-se como o melhor indicador da qualidade física do solo quando destinada à avaliação da produtividade de soja, nas condições de plantio direto, em solo de cerrado.

Avaliação de fontes de nitrogênio e épocas de aplicação em cobertura para o cultivo do trigo

The mineral nutrition, mainly to concern to nitrogen, is essential to obtain high productivity in the corn crop. This work was accomplished at experimental station of State University of São Paulo - UNESP - Ilha Solteira Campus, UNESP/FEIS, in Selviria-MS, in a Red dystrophic Latosol (Oxisol), in the agricultural year 2004/05. The objective of this study was to evaluate sources and times of nitrogen application on corn yield. A randomized blocks design was used with four replications, in a 3x5 factorial scheme. The treatments were three sources of nitrogen (Entec - Ammonium sulfonitrate with nitrification inhibitor, Ammonium sulfate and Urea) applied at sowing and/or at covering, stadium of 6-8 leaves completely unfolded, in 5 combinations (0 + 120; 30 + 90; 60 + 60; 90 + 30 and 120 + 0 kg of N ha(-1)). The nitrogen sources as Entec and the combination of 60 kg ha(-1) at sowing and at 6-8 leaf stadium provided the larger N leaf content. The higher grain yield was reached in the treatment that received the higher N doses at covering.

Miomas submucosos: classificação pré-operatória para avaliação da viabilidade da cirurgia histeroscópica

OBJETIVO: desenvolver uma nova classificação pré-operatória dos miomas submucosos para avaliação da viabilidade e do grau de dificuldade da miomectomia histeroscópica. MÉTODOS: conduzimos um estudo onde quarenta e quatro pacientes foram submetidas a ressecção histeroscópica de 51 miomas submucosos. Foram considerados a possibilidade da ressecção total do mioma, o tempo cirúrgico, o balanço hídrico e a incidência de complicações. Os miomas foram classificados pela classificação da sociedade Européia de Cirurgia Endoscópica (CSECE) e pela Classificação Proposta (CP) pelo nosso grupo, que, além do grau de penetração do mioma no miométrio, adiciona como parâmetros a extensão da base do mioma em relação à parede do útero, o tamanho do nódulo em centímetros e a topografia na cavidade uterina. Para análise estatística foram usados o teste de Fisher, o teste t de Student e a análise de variância. Foi considerado estatisticamente significativo quando o valor de p-valor foi menor que 0,05 no teste bicaudal. RESULTADOS: em 47 miomas a cirurgia histeroscópica foi considerada completa. Não houve diferença significativa entre os três níveis (0, 1 e 2) da CSECE. Pela CP, a diferença quanto ao número de cirurgias completas foi significativa (p=0,001) entre os dois níveis (grupos I e II). A diferença da duração da cirurgia quando se compara as duas classificações foi significativa. em relação ao balanço hídrico, apenas a CP mostrou diferenças entre os níveis (p=0,02). CONCLUSÕES: a CP inclui mais dados sinalizadores das dificuldades da miomectomia histeroscópica do que a CSECE, atualmente em uso. Deve ser enfatizado que o número de miomectomias histeroscópicas usado para essa análise foi modesto, sendo interessante a avaliação do desempenho dessa classificação em séries maiores de casos.

Outra leitura do "outro lado":o espaço da Zona Norte em questão

It analyzes the production of the space of the North Zone of Natal/RN, of the beginning of its formation - decade of 1970 - a present time, under the optics of the urban planning and of the administration of the territory. Inside of that path, it examines the interests that orientated the "creation" of the referred space, as support to the process of urban planning and of administration of the territory; as well as the recent processes that evidence a new partner-space dynamics, which is configured, now as an incipient insert of the North Zone to the context natalense urban-space, now as a "reedition" of its report process of partner-space segregation. It stands out that, while in the beginning of the formation of the North Zone, the State was made the main actor, making possible the expansion of the capital in the north sense of the city of Natal, through the implantation of the Industrial District of Natal (DIN) and of the expansion of the habitational politics of the House of Financial System (SFH); at the present time, the new space processes are configured through the economical inclination, through expansion of the tertiary section in the city of Natal. It is based in bibliography regarding the theme in focus, in primary and secondary sources, as well as in processes and forms that were unchained in the North Zone along the research. It analyzes the North Zone then in its group, the one that makes possible apprehend the inherent conflicts to the process of production-appropriation of the urban space, for the several social actors - the State, the capital and the society - that dispute the control of the production of the space according themselves their interests

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with panic disorder

Comorbidity studies have shown an important association between panic disorder (PD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and OCD in patients with PD. Forty-eight consecutive PD cases (DSM-IV diagnostic criteria) referred to a Brazilian university hospital clinic were studied. The Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) checklist was used to identify the OCS. Subclinical OCD was considered when subjects met all but one DSM-IV criteria for OCD (symptoms did not cause significant distress and interference, did not last more than 1 hour per day, or were not considered excessive or irrational), and OCS when only the criterion for presence of obsessions or compulsions was met. Twenty-nine (60.4%) of the 48 patients evaluated (19 men and 29 women) had at least one OCS: nine (18.8%) had mild OCS, 11 (22.9%) had subclinical OCD, and nine (18.8%) had comorbid OCD. Therefore, 41.7% of the patients had either clinical or subclinical OCD. OCS occurred more frequently in women and, in 70.4% of the cases, preceded the onset of PD. Our results suggest that it is important to evaluate systematically the co-occurrence of OCS in patients with PD, due to the considerable overlap found in symptoms, which may have therapeutic implications. As panic symptoms are usually the main complaint, OCS are often found only when directly investigated. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Urodinâmica convencional versus cistometria simplificada para caracterização da incontinência urinária feminina

OBJETIVO: avaliar a concordância dos diferentes parâmetros urodinâmicos comparados à cistometria simplificada, permitindo uma diminuição na relação custo-benefício no diagnóstico da incontinência urinária de esforço (IUE) na mulher. MÉTODOS: foram coletadas e avaliadas retrospectivamente as informações contidas dos prontuários de trinta pacientes acompanhadas, no período de janeiro de 2000 a março de 2001. Todas foram submetidas a exame físico geral e ginecológico. O estudo urodinâmico foi realizado pela técnica convencional, utilizando-se aparelho Dynograph Recorder R-611. A cistometria simplificada foi realizada com auxílio de um equipo em Y de PVC (pressão venosa central), conectado a um sonda de Foley 14 F, que permitia tanto a infusão de soro fisiológico como a captação da pressão intra-vesical. Foram analisados os parâmetros: volume residual, capacidade vesical, complacência, presença de contrações involuntárias do detrusor e perdas urinárias aos esforços. Para determinação da proporção de concordância entre os métodos foram utilizados o teste de concordância de Pearson e o teste de Wilcoxon, para amostras relacionadas. RESULTADOS: a média de idade foi de 50 anos, com extremos variando de 28 a 70 anos. O índice de concordância entre os estudos, na demonstração das perdas urinárias aos esforços, foi de 67%. Para a detecção das contrações involuntárias do detrusor, a proporção de concordância foi de 90%. A média do volume residual encontrado na cistometria simplificada foi de 16,8 ml contra 2 ml da urodinâmica convencional, com diferença significativa (p < 0,01). A média de capacidade vesical máxima no estudo urodinâmico foi de 440,5 ml, enquanto que, na cistometria simplificada, foi de 387 ml (p < 0,05). A complacência vesical foi, em média, significativamente maior na cistometria simplificada (43,0 ml/cmH2O) quando comparada ao estudo urodinâmico (31,5 ml/cmH2O), com p < 0,01. CONCLUSÃO: Avaliações preliminares sugerem que a propedêutica uroginecológica associada à cistometria simplificada é uma opção a ser considerada na avaliação clínica e pré-operatória de pacientes com IUE em substituição à urodinâmica convencional, particularmente onde esta última não se encontra disponível. A cistometria simplificada é um exame acessível que é capaz de detectar contrações involuntárias do detrusor, assim como identificar perdas urinárias com relativa sensibilidade, proporcionando ao examinador noções fidedignas do comportamento vesical.

Acute bacterial cystitis does not cause deoxyribonucleic acid damage detectable by the alkaline comet assay in urothelial cells of dogs

Considering the high incidence of dogs with acute bacterial cystitis (BC) and the relationship among inflammation, genotoxicity, and carcinogenesis, we conducted a case-control study comparing the frequency of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) lesions assessed by the comet assay between disease-free animals (13 males and 13 females) and cytology-confirmed cases of acute BC (12 males and 12 females), which was mainly caused by Staphylococcus sp. (40%) and Escherichia coli (35%). The results show no increase in DNA damage in cells obtained by bladder washings and no influence of age, sex, and breed due to acute BC. In conclusion, DNA damage was seemingly not associated with the infection by specific bacteria.

Prolonged interval between parturition of normal live pups in a bitch

On day 64 after artificial insemination, a six-year-old primiparous briard bitch whelped three live pups between 05.00 and 08.00. It was presented at 11.00 on the same day with failure to complete parturition. on ultrasound examination, a normal live fetus was observed and the bitch was treated with oxytocin three times during the day (1(.)0, 2(.)0 and 2(.)0 iu intramuscularly), with no effect. The following day, a higher dose of oxytocin (5(.)0 iu) was administered intramuscularly at 11.00, after a uterine ultrasound examination confirmed viability of the fetus. At 18.00 of the same day, the bitch whelped the fourth normal live pup, 37 hours after initiation of parturition and 34 hours after expulsion of the last fetus. Effectiveness of oxytocin and normal versus prolonged parturition due to uterine inertia are discussed.

Moxonidine and rilmenidine injected into the medial septal area reduces the salivation induced by pilocarpine

We determined the effects of moxonidine and rilmenidine 20 mol (alpha(2)-adrenergic and imidazoline receptor agonists) injected into the medial septal area (MSA) on the pilocarpine-induced salivation, when injected intraperitoneally (i.p.), of male Holtzman rats weighing 250300 g, with stainless-steel cannula implanted into the MSA. The rats were anesthetized with zoletil 50 mg kg(-1) b.wt. (tiletamine chloridrate 125.0 mg and zolazepan chloridrate 125.0 mg) into quadriceps muscle intramuscularly (IM), saliva was collected using pre-weighed small cotton balls inserted in the animal's mouth. The pre-treatment with moxonidine injected into the MSA reduced the salivation induced by pilocarpine (1 mg kg(-1)) injected i.p. (12 +/- 3 mg min(-1)) vs. control (99 +/- 9 mg min(-1)). The pre-treatment with rilmenidine 40 nmol also reduced the salivation induce by pilocarpine injected i.p. (20 +/- 5 mg min(-1)) vs. control (94 +/- 7 mg min(-1)). Idazoxan 40 nmol (imidazoline receptor antagonist) injected into the MSA previous to moxonidine and rilmenidine partially blocked the effect of moxonidine and totally blocked the rilmenidine effect in pilocarpine-induced salivation injected i.p. (60 +/- 8 and 95 +/- 10 mg min(-1), respectively). Yohimbine 40 nmol (alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor antagonist) injected into the MSA previously to moxonidine and rilmenidine partially blocked the moxonidine effect but produced no change on the rilmenidine effect on i.p. pilocarpine-induced salivation (70 +/- 6 and 24 +/- 6 mg min(-1), respectively). Injection of these alpha(2)-adrenergic and imidazoline agonists and antagonists agents i.p. produced no change on i.p. pilocarpine-induced salivation. These results show that central, but not peripheral, injection of alpha(2)-adrenergic and imidazoline agonists' agents inhibit pilocarpine-induced salivation. Idazoxan, an imidazoline receptor antagonist, totally inhibits the rilmenidine effect and partially inhibits the moxonidine effect on pilocarpine-induced salivation. Yohimbine produced no change on rilmenidine effect but partially inhibited the moxonidine effect. Both of these antagonists when injected into the MSA previous to pilocarpine i.p. potentiated the sialogogue effect of pilocarpine. The results suggest that alpha(2)-adrenergic/imidazoline receptor of the MSA when stimulated blocked pilocarpine-induced salivation in rats when injected intraperitonially These receptors of the medial septal area have an inhibitory mechanism on salivary secretion. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of angiotensin and vasopressin V-1 receptors on water and sodium intake induced by injection of vasopressin into lateral septal area

The specific arginine(8)-vasopressin (AVP) V, receptors antagonist (AAVP) was injected (20, 40 and 80 nmol) into the lateral septal area (LSA) to determine the effects of selective septal V, receptor on water and 3% sodium intake in rats. Was also observed the effects of losartan and CGP42112A (select ligands of the AT(1) and AT(2) ANG II receptors, respectively) injected into LSA prior AVP on the same appetites. Twenty-four hours before the experiments, the rats were deprived of water. The volume of drug solution injected was 0.5 mul. Water and sodium intake were measured at 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2,0 h. Injection of AVP reduced the water and sodium ingestion vs. control (0.15 M saline). Pre-treatment with AAVP (40, 80 and 160 nmol) did not alter the decrease in the water ingestion induced by AVP, whereas AAVP abolished the action of AVP-induced sodium intake. Losartan (40, 80 and 160 nmol) did not alter the effect of AVP on water and sodium intake, whereas CGP42112A (20, 40 and 60 nmol) at the first 30 min increased water ingestion. Losartan and CGP42112A together increased the actions of AVP, showing more pronounced effects than when the two antagonists were injected alone. The results showed that AVP inhibited the appetites and these effects were increased by the AAVP. The involvement of angiotensinergic receptors in the effects of AVP is also suggested. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mitochondrial alterations and apoptosis in smooth muscle from aged rats

We studied changes in mitochondrial morphology and function in the smooth muscle of rat colon. Under confocal microscopy, tissues loaded with potentiometric dye displayed rapid and spontaneous depolarization. Cyclosporin A (CsA), inhibitor of the permeability transition pore (PTP), caused an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) in tissues from adult young animals. In aged rats these changes were not observed. This suggests that physiological activation of PTP in aged rats is reduced. Electron microscopy showed alterations of the mitochondrial ultrastructure in tissues from aged rats involving a decreased definition of the cristae and fragmentation of the mitochondrial membranes. We also detected an increase in apoptotic cells in the smooth muscle from aged animals. Our results show that the aging process changes PTP activity, the ability to maintain DeltaPsi(m) and mitochondrial morphology. It is suggested that these can be associated with mitochondrial damage and cell death. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Immediate reconstruction of frontal sinus fractures: review of 26 cases

Purpose: the purpose of this study was to evaluate complications occurring after immediate reconstruction of severe frontal sinus fractures, including cases where the fracture was not limited to the anterior wall and also involved the posterior wall and/or sinus floor.Patients and Methods: the records of twenty-six patients presently undergoing follow-up for frontal sinus fracture reconstruction were reviewed. Information regarding demographics, fracture characteristics and causes, associated facial fractures, use of grafts or implants, type of fixation used, nasofrontal duct management, use of antibiotics, and complications were noted. Patients were asked to return for clinical and radiographic follow-up to access late complications.Results: the average age of patients with frontal fractures was 29.1 years and 92.3% were male. Mean follow-up was 3.6 years. The most common causes of fracture were motor vehicle accidents and physical aggression. All patients presented with comminuted and dislocated anterior wall fractures, 34.6% presented with posterior wall fractures, and 46% had sinus floor fractures. Complications occurred in 7 patients (26.92%) and included pneumoencephalus, frontal cutaneous fistula, frontal bone irregularity, and sinusitis.Conclusions: Frontal sinus reconstruction is a good procedure for immediate fracture treatment if there is not excessive comminution, dislocation, or instability of the posterior wall and if the frontonasal duct area is intact or can be repaired. Most complications result from incorrect indication for reconstruction. (C) 2004 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Cloning and Identification of a Complete cDNA Coding for a Bactericidal and Antitumoral Acidic Phospholipase A(2) from Bothrops jararacussu Venom

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

A novel ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system for the genus Leporinus (Pisces, Anostomidae, Characiformes)

A wide range of sex chromosome mechanisms, including simple and multiple chromosome systems is characteristic of fishes. The Leporinus genus represent a good model to study sex chromosome mechanisms, because an unambiguous ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system was previously described for seven species, while the remaining studied species of the genus do not show differentiated sex chromosomes. The occurrence of sex chromosomes in Leporinus trifasciatus and Leporinus sp2 from the Araguaia river, Amazon basin, Brazil, was here investigated. ZZ/ ZW sex chromosomes were detected for both species. The Z and W chromosome morphology of L. trifasciatus is the same as described for other species of the genus Leporinus. However, the Z and W chromosomes of L. sp2 were quite different in their morphology and banding pattern suggesting that the ZW system of this species have originated independently from the ZW system previously described for other Leporinus.