Alterações imunitárias na cirrose hepática alcoólica+.

The alcoholic liver cirrhosis usually causes overall immunological changes which might be attributed to either the hepatic disease itself, to ethanol action and/or to malnourishment of the patient. These immune abnormalities comprise both cellular and humoral immunity, consisting of increased immunoglobulin levels, depressed late-skin response to antigens, lowered proliferative response of lymphocytes to mitogens, lower plasma levels of complement proteins (C3 and C4) and by either lower (IL2 and gamma IF) or increased (IL1, TNF, IL6 and IL8) cytokine levels. Parallel to the systemic immune suppression found in most patients, there is also a concomitant local, genetically based, immune stimulation at the liver level which leads to hepatic self-aggression. The systemic immune-suppression could be responsible for periodical infections or neoplasia found in these patients. The possible factors for the immune exhaustion are: a) lower hepatic clearance of toxins and/or bacteria; b) lower hepatic synthesis of complement components; c) cytokines (IL2 and gamma IF) deficiencies, and d) deficiencies of nutrients related to the antioxidant and/or immune defense mechanisms. The immune stimulation of the liver self aggression is characterized by the preferential migration of cytotoxic T cell and neutrophils to the liver, following stimulatory factors such as Mallory bodies, acetaldehyde and/or antibodies. Moreover, the local increase of cytokines (IL1, TNF, IL6 and IL8) levels would be liable for the local phagocyte chemotaxy (IL8) or part of liver injury (TNF) eased by the lower antioxidant defense of the cirrhotic liver.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Insuficiência renal aguda. Estudo do quadro clínico e prognóstico.

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a frequent complication in hospitalized patients, and is strongly related to increase of mortality. PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical outcome and the prognostic factors in hospital acquired AFR. METHOD: A prospective study was performed. Data from 200 patients with established ARF admitted during the period of January, 1987 and July, 1990 were collected. RESULTS: The incidence of ARF was 4.9/1000 admissions. Renal ischemia (50%) and nephrotoxic drugs (21%) were the main etiologic factors. The histologic study done in 43 patients showed: acute tubular necrosis (53%), tubular hydrophic degeneration (16%), glomerulopathies (16%) and other lesions (15%). Dialysis therapy was performed in 101 patients and the main indications were: uremia (67%), hypervolemia (22%) and hyperkalemia (9%). The mortality rate was 46.5% and the most important causes of death were: sepsis (38%), respiratory failure (19%) and multiple organs failure (11%). Treatment withdraw was the cause of death in 2 patients. Higher mortality was observed in oliguric patients (62.9%) than non-oliguric (34.5%) (p < 0.05) and in ischemic renal failure (56.7%) when compared to nephrotoxic renal failure (14.7%) (p < 0.05). This difference was maintained when the comparison was done only between dialyzed patients. CONCLUSION: As primary cause of death was not associated to the acute renal failure, we conclude that acute renal failure is an important marker of the gravity of the underlying disease and not the cause of death.

Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de pepino cv. pérola, em função da idade e do tempo de repouso pós-colheita dos frutos

This work was carried out at the Fazenda Experimental Lageado, at Botucatu, SP, to evaluate the physiological quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), seeds harvested at different fruit maturity stages and post-harvest resting periods. Fruits of cultivar Pérola were harvested at 6 ages (20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 days after anthesis) and they were stored at room temperature for 0, 5, 10 or 15 days before seed extraction. After this, seeds were fermented for 2 days, washed and dried. External visual characteristics of fruits and seeds were observed at harvest. Seed quality was evaluated as for moisture, dry matter content, dimensions, germination, and vigour. Results showed that seed germination and vigour increased in fruits aging from 20 to 40 days. Post-harvest periods improved seed quality of 20-day old fruits not reaching the seed quality levels observed in 40 or 45-day old fruits, without post-harvest resting period. Seeds from fruits at 25, 30 and 35 days of age, with 10 or 15 days of post-harvest resting period reached the same quality levels of seeds from fruits with 40-45 days old.

Produção de alfafa em função de espaçamentos e densidades

An experiment was conducted to study alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) yields as affected by row spacings of 15, 20, 30 and 40 cm and plant densities originated from 10, 15, 20 and 30 kg/ha of seeds. The experiment was conducted on a Typic Eutrortox (Clay) in Bandeirantes, state of Paraná, Brazil. The experimetal design was a 4 × 4 factorial in randomized triplicated blocks. There was no significant effect of row spacings and plant populations on plant height and dry matter production. The 15 cm row spacing showed higher number of stems throughout the two years of the experiment. Up to the 6th cut the plant density of 30 kg/ha also lead to a higher number of stems/ha.

Variação da massa específica da madeira de Eucalyptus grandis aos 8 anos de idade em função de diferentes níveis de produtividade

It were analyzed Eucalyptus grandis trees of 8 years old in the forest group of Duraflora S/A, with different annual increments based on volume, to the related studies of specific gravity values based on productivity indexes. The methodology used in analysis of specific gravity was the gamma-ray attenuation technique of Americium-241. The Eucalyptus grandis showed a specific gravity decreasing with the increasing of parcel productivity. For a gain of 3,5 m3 in productivity there was a decreasing of 1% in specific gravity. Nevertheless, it was not observed correlation between specific gravity and basal area in a same parcel. The present work stands out too, some of the difficulties found with relation to wood specific gravity determinations and emphasize the importance of take samples in the form of full rounded plates in three or four relative positions in the tree.

Matéria seca, concentração e acúmulo de nutrientes em mudas de Eucalyptus grandis em função da idade

E grandis seedlings of Bofete progeny, cultivated in nurseries of Eucatex Florestal, were collected at ages of 55, 69, 83, and 97 days, separated into leaves, stem, and roots. The seedlings were then placed in identified paper bags, and oven-dried until weight became constant. They were then weighed and chemically analyzed for the determinate of dry matter production, concentrations and accumulation of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in the several seedling ages. The distribution of total dry matter weight complied with the following descending order: leaf > stem > roots. Conversely to expectations, the highest concentrations of nutrients occurred in leaves for N and Mn only. Seedling hardened process resulted in N and S deficiency. The sequence of macronutrient concentration in seedlings at the time of shipment was the following: leaf > root > stem for N; root = stem > leaf for P; leaf = root = stem for K; stem > root > leaf for Ca; root > leaf > stem for Mg and S. All macronutrient concentrations in organs decreased with age, except for Ca. Concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Zn in all seedling specimens decreased with age. The sequence of micronutrient concentrations in seedling specimens at the time of shipment was the following: root >stem = leaf for B; root > stem > leaf for Cu and Fe; root > leaf > stem for Zn, and leaf > stem > root for Mn. At the time of shipment, at 97 days of age, K was the most extracted macronutrient of all, followed in a descending order by Ca, N, Mg, P, and e S. At the end of the seedling production rotation, Mn was the most extracted micronutrient, followed by Fe, Zn, Cu, and B.

Desenvolvimento e produtividade da cúrcuma (Curcuma longa L.) em função de doses de nitrogênio e potássio

The objective of the experiment was evaluating the development and production of turmeric, it was carried out at FCAV-UNESP, in Jaboticabal-SP, during 11/18/ 1999 to 7/18/2000, in randomized blocks, with three replications, factorial scheme 5 × 5. The factors evaluated were doses of N (0, 68, 136, 170 and 204 kg.ha-1) and doses of K2O (0, 92, 184, 230 and 276 kg.ha-1). The potassium doses influenced plant-mother's height significantly, answering lineally to the increment in the potassium fertilization. There was significant interaction between nitrogen and potassium on the number of leaves of the sons and total-plant. In the doses of 0 and 92 kg of K2O.ha-1 a lineal increase was observed in the number of leaves with the increment of the applied nitrogen. The potassium doses also influenced the foliar area of the sons and total-plant, reaching values of 3260 and 4971 cm2 per plant, respectively, for the application of 276 kg K2O.ha1. The number of sons had a lineal increment with the growing fertilization of potassium, contemplating on the dry mass of the aerial part of the sons. The production of rhizomes per plant wasn't influenced for the factors evaluated.

Efeitos do extrato aquoso de cebola (Allium cepa L.) sobre a função renal e a pressão arterial em ratos Wistar

The vegetal species, Allium cepa, known as onion, is widely used in the folk medicine as diuretic, besides it has been used on the bronchitis, cough, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension treatment. In this study we evaluate the onion aqueous extract (AE) effect on water flow and electrolytes in anesthetized Wistar rats, besides we also evaluate arterial pressure alterations. Two groups were studied: Group 1 (control) - oral tratment with 1.0 mL of distilled water, and Group 2 (experimental) - oral treatment with 1.0 mL of AE 20%. The rats were anesthetized and we canulate the trachea, left carotide artery (for arterial pressure measurement and blood collecting), jugular vein (to execute inulin perfusion - to register glomerular filtration), and urinary bladder (to collect urine). The Group 1 results had shown that the animals had not presented significant alterations (p>0.05) in the analyzed parameters. The animals of Group 2 had a significant reduction (p<0.05) in the arterial pressure (22.0%). However, there were not significant alterations in renal parameters (p>0.05). These results show that the treatment with the AE lead a hypotensor effect in anesthetized Wistar rats, but not followed by renal parameters alterations.

Mortalidade e prognóstico específico em pacientes com insuficiência renal aguda

A variety of systems of risk factor stratification have been studied to predict the outcome in acute renal failure (ARF). OBJECTIVES. Assess and compare mortality and the Acute Tubular Necrosis Individual Severity Score (ATN-ISS) in patients with AFR treated in a university hospital. METHODS. A prospective analysis was made of 103 patients with a diagnosis of intrinsic ARF admitted to the Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP. Patients were followed up until recovery of renal function or death. The Score ATN-ISS was recorded during the first hours of the assessment by a nephrologist. Results were reported as median or mean ± SD, with statistical significance of p<0.05. RESULTS. Fifty-one percent of patients were male with a mean age of 58 ± 36 years. Forty-four percent died in the hospital. Mortality was higher in patients from the surgical wards (52.7%) and in patients who were treated with dialysis (63.8%). The score ATN-ISS showed a good confidence level, with high discriminatory power (area under the curve of 0.95) and good accuracy. CONCLUSIONS. Mortality in this study was comparable to that found in literature. The ATN-ISS was shown to be a prognostic index with a high confidence level that could be routinely applied by nephrologists to patients with AFR.

Teores de nutrientes na folha e nos grãos de aveia-preta em função da adubação com fósforo e potássio

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Precisão de plantas planialtimétricas em função do posicionamento de pontos em irradiadas de campo

The present experiment aimed to study the influence of point positioning in an irradiated field to produce a planialtimetric plant. A planialtimetric evaluation was carried out in a 14-acre experimental area with well-defined topographic variations. Planialtimetric maps were designed using manual procedures, Datageosis and Topoesalq. Datageosis built all the curves after numerical surface modeling. Topoesalq provided only height reports and the drawing of curves was done manually. The third method was a manual procedure. Because there were planialtimetry representation differences, longitudinal profiles were used in the sites where there was a great divergence among plants. When obtained profiles and plants were compared, it was verified that the one produced by Datageosis represented the relief plant better. Later, only the irradiated field points were evaluated and each point presented positioned readings before and after each relief map variation. The processing through the three methods resulted in significant plants of the local planialtimetry, according to the control profiles. It was concluded that the planning of the field procedure should be suitable to the posterior treatment method of obtained data in order to make a planialtimetric plant to accord to the evaluated local topography.

Área foliar e evapotranspiração de callas cultivadas em substrato em função do nível freático

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of five different water levels on the crop development of Calla. The crop parameters evaluated were leaf area and evapotranspiration. The study was conducted in glass greenhouse with 50% of sunlight reduction. The plants were grown in PVC pots with 150 mm diameter, which were filled with substrate. The plant tubers weighed from 10 g to 12 g. The pots were placed within containers, under water level constant automatically.. The table water levels used were 10, 17, 24, 31 and 38 cm. Nine evaluations during the growth cycle checked the growth development. The evaporation varied from 26.89 to 46.14 L.plant-1 for 38 and 10 cm water levels, respectively and leaf area per plant showed 1011.6 to 2016.3 for the same levels. The substrate water was more available in the treatment 24 cm, with more restrictions in the upper and lower treatments. There was positive correlation between leaf area and evapotranspiration at the final of the culture.

eIF5A: Uma proteína essencial para a viabilidade celular cuja função permanece obscura

The putative translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is a highly abundant and conserved protein in all eukaryotes and archaebacteria. This factor is essential for cell viability and is the only cellular protein known to contain the unusual amino acid residue hypusine. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae eIF5A is expressed in aerobic conditions by the gene TIF51A. Although eIF5A has been known for almost 30 years, the biological role of this protein is still obscure. This article reviews the research on the function of eIF5A, discussing the evidence for its involvement in various steps of mRNA metabolism, including translation initiation, nucleocytoplasmic transport and mRNA decay. Moreover, it indicates other studies that have associated eIF5A with cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Finally, this review presents recent results obtained in our laboratory that reemphasize the role of eIF5A in the translation scenario. Further experiments will be necessary to define the role played by eIF5A in the translational machinery.

Abordagem initial do paciente com mielopatia aguda não compressiva

Acute myelopathy are characterized by spinal cord dysfunction, developing sensitive, motor and autonomic signs and symptons. Since they are relatively rare, there are some difficulties to early diagnosis and to the beginning of the treatment. So, literature was reviewed to describe the main aetiologies of acute non compressive myelopathy: 1) demyelinating diseases; 2) systemic disease; 3) parainfectious; 4) delayed radiation myelopathy; 5) vascular myelopathy; 6) idiopatic and 7) vitamin B12 deficiency. Besides, we suggest an algorithm to initial approach of these patients and further aethiologic investigation. © Copyright Morelra Jr. Editora.

Teníase: Uma causa rara de apendicite aguda

Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical condition of acute abdomen. Approximately 7 percent of the population will have appendicitis during their lifetime, with the peak incidence occurring between 10 through 30 years-old Obstruction of the appendix lumen with subsequent bacterial infection initiates the pathophysiological sequence of acute appendicitis. Obstruction may have multiple causes, including fecalith, lymphoid hyperplasia (related to viral illnesses, including upper respiratory infection, mononucleosis, and gastroenteritis), foreign bodies, carcinoid tumor and parasites. In Asia, Africa and Latin America, Enterobius vermicularis has been reported as the main parasite that causes appendix obstruction. Rarely, Taenia sp., has been pointed as a cause of parasitic appendicitis. We reported a 30 years-old patient clinically diagnosed with acute appendicitis. The appendectomy was performed through a McBurney incision. The patient's convalescence was uneventful, and he was discharged from hospital 48 hours after operation. Histological examination of the appendix showed acute appendicitis, and it was found aparasite (Taenia sp.) lying inside of the appendix lumen at a transverse section. He has received 10 mg/Kg weight of praziquantel for taeniasis treatment.