Inter and intraspecific variation on reproductive phenology of the Brazilian Atlantic forest Rubiaceae: Ecology and phylogenetic constraints

The reproductive phenology of seven species of Rubiaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest was compared to evaluate the occurrence of phylogenetic constraints on flowering and fruiting phenologies. Since phenological patterns can be affected by phylogenetic constraints, we expected that reproductive phenology would be similar among plants within a family or genus, occurring during the same time (or season) of the year. Observations on flowering and fruiting phenology were carried out monthly, from December 1996 to January 1998, at Núcleo Picinguaba, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil. Nine phenological variables were calculated to characterize, quantify and compare the reproductive phenology of the Rubiaceae species. The flowering patterns were different among the seven species studied, and the Kruskal-Wallis test indicated significant differences in flowering duration, first flowering, peak flowering and flowering synchrony. The peaks and patterns of fruiting intensity were different among the Rubiaceae species studied and they differed significantly from conspecifics in the phenological variables fruiting duration, fruiting peak date, and fruiting synchrony (Kruskal-Wallis test). Therefore, we found no evidence supporting the phylogenetic hypotheses, and climate does not seem to constrain flowering and fruiting patterns of the Rubiaceae species in the understory of the Atlantic forest.

Labio doble congénito asociado a hemangiomas: A propósito de un caso

Double lip is a developmental abnormality which may occur either isolated or as a component of Ascher's syndrome. A case of congenital double lip associated to hemangiomas and enlargement of the thyroid is reported. The oral and facial hemangiomas were excised under local anesthesia. Surgical reconstruction of the upper lip was done in order to reduce the interference with speech and mastication. The recognition and treatment of the abnormalities are discussed.

Exercício contínuo e intermitente: Efeitos do treinamento e do destreinamento sobre a gordura corporal de ratos obesos

Exercise training is often recommended in prevention and treatment of obesity. The present study was designed to compare the effects of intermittent and continuous exercise on weight loss and carcass composition in obese rats. Obese male Wistar rats (monosodium glutamate [MSG] administration, 4 mg/g of body weight every other day from birth to 14 days old) were used. After drug administration, the rats were separated into three groups: MSG-SED (sedentary), MSG-CONT (continuous, swimming, 45 min/day, 5 days/week, with and overload of 5% body weight for 12 weeks) and MSG-INT (intermittent, 15s swimming intermitted by 15s rest, during 45 min, 5 days/week, with and overload of 15% body weight for 12 weeks). Rats of the same age and strain, administered with saline were used as control (SAL), and subdivided into three groups: SAL-SED, SAL-CONT and SAL-INT. The animals were evaluated at the 10 weeks of training and 8 weeks of its interruption. MSG rats showed higher carcass fat as well as weight and cell size in epididymal adipose tissue than SAL rats, indicting the efficacy of the drug in producing obesity. Intermittent training protocol led to a reduction in blood lactate accumulation during acute exercise and both protocols reduced body weight gain during the experiment in MSG rats. After 8 weeks of training interruption no differences were observed among groups in the examined parameters. Only intermittent exercise training improved aerobic fitness but both protocols were similarly efficient in determining weight loss. However, the effects were transitory, since they disappeared after detraining.

Temporal-spatial distribution of the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis (Decapoda: Diogenidae) from Ubatuba Bay, São Paulo State, Brazil

The present work was conducted to determine the distribution of Loxopagurus loxochelis collected monthly, over a period of one year, in Ubatuba Bay (from September/95 to August/96). A total of 179 specimens were collected (138 males, 30 females and 11 ovigerous females). The greatest depth, predominance of very fine sand and highest mean value of organic matter contents of sediment, in combination with the low temperatures registered in winter (July and August), determined the presence of L. loxochelis in the subarea located at the Ubatuba Bay mouth, exposed to the open sea with high water current energy, important because this position insures that spawned larvae will enter into the oceanic circulation.

Transformación de leucoplasia verrugosa proliferativa en carcinoma oral: diez años de seguimiento

The authors present a case of proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) in a 78-year-old man. It was initially presented as leukoplakia on the tongue but a microscopic investigation in 1991 revealed it to be a mild epithelial dysplasia. After 5 years of follow-up, the lesion presented changes in size and location, and a recidivant behavior. In 1996, a red granular and indurated area that appeared on the tongue was found to be a microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma when microscopically investigated. After a review of the clinicopathologic behavior of this entity, the authors concluded that it was a typical PVL, whose diagnosis is difficult and retrospective, as indicated by others. The authors emphasize the importance of periodic detailed clinical and histological examination of this type of lesions in order to detect early signs of malignancy.

Improved activity and stability of Ce-promoted Ni/γ-A1 2O3 catalysts for carbon dioxide reforming of methane

The CO2 reforming of CH4 was carried out over Ni catalysts supported on γ-Al2O3 and CeO 2-promoted γ-Al2O3. The catalysts were characterized by means of surface area measurements, TPR, CO2 and H2 chemisorption, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The CeO2 addition promoted an increase of catalytic activity and stability. The improvement in the resistance to carbon deposition is attributed to the highest CO2 adsorption presented by the CeO2 addition. The catalytic behavior presented by the samples, with a different CH4/CO2 ratio used, points to the CH4 decomposition reaction as the main source of carbon deposition.

Análise comparativa de métodos de avaliação da composição corporal em homens sadios e em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica: antropometria, impedância bioelétrica e absortiometria de raios-X de dupla energia

The aim of this study was to examine the agreement between the results of body fat (BF and BF%), fat-free mass (FFM) and FFM index (FFMI= FFM/height2) as estimated by skinfold anthropometry (ANT), bioelectrical impedance (BIA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in two groups of men (> or = 50 y), one comprising healthy individuals (n=23) and the other, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (n=24). Comparisons between body composition techniques were done by repeated measures ANOVA; the Bland & Altman procedure was used to analyse agreement. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 1) comparison between healthy and COPD groups showed significant differences between all studied variables; 2) in the healthy group, values for BF, BF%, FFM and FFMI were not significantly different when BIA or ANT was compared to DXA; however, in COPD, values for BF and BF% were significantly higher and for FFM and FFMI significantly lower when BIA was compared to DXA; in contrast, no differences were shown between values for these variables when ANT was compared with DXA; 3) Bland & Altman test, in both groups, showed no agreement between BIA and DXA and between ANT and DXA; it was also shown that body fat was overestimated and fat free mass underestimated by BIA in relation to DXA.

Isolation of Mycobacterium gordonae from poultry slaughterhouse water in São Paulo State, Brazil

Water samples (24 untreated water, 12 treated water and 24 served water) used in different stages of the slaughter process were examined to identify a possible source of pathogenic mycobacteria. The isolates were identified based on microscopy, morphological and biochemical features, mycolic acid analysis and molecular method - PCR-restriction-enzyme analysis. Eighteen mycobacterial strains were isolated from 60 water samples: 11 from untreated water, 5 from treated water and 2 from served water. All mycobacteria isolated were identified as Mycobacterium gordonae and showed the following PRA genotypes: III (27.8%), IV (38.9%) and V (33.3%).

Prótesis radífera: Alternativa en el tratamiento de neoplasias de cabeza y cuello

Radipherpus protheses are a means of treatment for malignant tumor-carrying patients. These protheses are used in cases of brachytherapy or external actinotherapy by contact and allow treating them with high radiation doses that are quickly released from the areas next to tumor, so that the radiations be restricted to the affected region, without the emissions damaging or destroying the soft tissues. Based on these considerations, the present paper was aimed at making literature review on the use of radipherous protheses for the treatment of head and neck neoplasias. © 2006 1995, Editorial Ciencias médicas.

Composition of stingless bee honey: Setting quality standards

Compositional data from 152 stingless bee (Meliponini) honey samples were compiled from studies since 1964, and evaluated to propose a quality standard for this product. Since stingless bee honey has a different composition than Apis mellifera honey, some physicochemical parameters are presented according to stingless bee species. The entomological origin of the honey was known for 17 species of Meliponini from Brazil, one from Costa Rica, six from Mexico, 27 from Panama, one from Surinam, two from Trinidad & Tobago, and seven from Venezuela, most from the genus Melipona. The results varied as follows: moisture (19.9-41.9g/100g), pH (3.15-4.66), free acidity (5.9-109.0meq/Kg), ash (0.01-1.18g/100g), diastase activity (0.9-23.0DN), electrical conductivity (0.49-8.77mS/cm), HMF (0.4-78.4mg/Kg), invertase activity (19.8-90.1IU), nitrogen (14.34-144.00mg/100g), reducing sugars (58.0-75.7g/100g) and sucrose (1.1-4.8g/100g). Moisture content of stingless bee honey is generally higher than the 20% maximum established for A. mellifera honey. Guidelines for further contributions would help make the physicochemical database of meliponine honey more objective, in order to use such data to set quality standards. Pollen analysis should be directed towards the recognition of unifloral honeys produced by stingless bees, in order to obtain standard products from botanical species. A honey quality control campaign directed to both stingless beekeepers and stingless bee honey hunters is needed, as is harmonization of analytical methods. © 2007 Asociación Interciencia.

Prevalencia de maloclusión en la dentición primaria en el municipio de Cáceres, Brasil

Objective: To evaluate the occlusal condition of children with 5 years of age examined by the Brazil Oral Health 2003 Project in Cáceres city, Brazil. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 170 preschool children raffled from 20 schools participant of the project. For the analysis of the occlusal it was used the 1987' World Health Organization index, modified by the Public Health School of São Paulo University, Brazil, in 1996, which establish criteria according to severity of malocclusion. Results: It was observed that 65.3 % of children presented normal occlusion, 31.18 % presented light occlusal problems and 2.35 % showed moderate/severe. Conclusion: Due to the large presence of malocclusion, it is necessary this kind of survey, so that the city can plan and perform preventive orthodontic treatments, besides other preventive proceeding, to obtain a proper oral environment for the normal evolution of occlusion. © 2008 1995, Editorial Ciencias médicas.

Sobredentadura inmediata y con carga tardía: Revisión de la literatura

The oral rehabilitation of the patients toothless totals presents large difficulties, because diverse factors act limiting the treatment with complete dentures conventional, as severe reabsorption of the alveolar process, generating for the phonetic patient difficulties and of mastication, annoyance, retention lack and stability of the prosthesis. With the emergence of you implant them osseointegratin idealized by Prof o Branemark, these aspects were improved by means of the possibility of new treatment options, as the overdentures tissue-implant-supported. However, the protocol of Branemark demanded a period of scaring from three to six months, owing the patients to await this time for the placement of the final prosthesis. This way, the surgical technique of immediate load was proposed to abbreviate this period, improving the transition phase, at the same time that it reduces the problems psychological associates. This way, the objective of the present study is to carry out a literature revision about the works that used overdentures comparing immediate and late load, the best alternative and factors wrapped in the success of the procedure discussing. © 2008 1995, Editorial Ciencias médicas.

Instalación inmediata de prótesis provisionales en la reapertura de implantes

The study of techniques to reach aesthetics in the anterior region when using osseointegrated implants is of great importance. A literature review was made to compare effivciency and suitability of immediate provisionalization in re-opening of osseointegrated implants with respect to the set time (use of standardized cicatrizants and emergency profile cicatrizants). Immediate provisional denture in the phase of re-opening makes the restoration of the gingival contourn quicker when compared to the use of cicatrizants without intermediate phases required. © 2008 1995, Editorial Ciencias médicas.

Espermidina e espermina exogena na micropropagação de Aloe vera (L.) Burm

The lateral shoots of the Aloe vera L. Burm have been inoculated in culture medium. The work has been divided in two phases. In the phase I different concentrations of NAA and BAP were added to the MS . In the phase II, plants proceeding of the MS were inoculated in medium containing or not spermidine and/or spermine. In the phase I the best results for mass production and shooting came out with the use of MS + 8,88 m mol L -1 BAP + 5,36 m mol L -1 NAA and these treatments didn't induce the rooting. Plants submitted to treatments with polyamines presented emission of roots during the phase II, suggesting possible inductor effect when used by isolated means during the rooting. No traces of oxidation were noted in the culture medium containing the polyamines. The use of spermidine in the culture-medium promoted a greater mass increasing and the most number of shoots was obtained with the use of the combination of polyamines. © 2008 1999, Editorial Ciencias Médicas.

Comparación de tres métodos para estimar estabilidad del rendimiento en nueve variedades de algodón

With the purpose of selecting and recommending promissory cultivars of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L) with high yield potential and stability, for crop areas in Venezuela, the yield (seed included) of nine cotton varieties was evaluated. The data from the 1995-96 and 1996-97 cycles was used. The experimental design was a randomized completed block design with four repetitions on twelve environments. Parameters of stability offered by the methods of Eberhart and Russell, (1966), Cruz et al. (1989) and the AMMI model were estimated and compared to determine the best method or combination. There was no coincidence between the best yield varieties, Unellez-2 and the commercial variety Delta Pine 16, in relation to stability criteria. According to Eberhart and Russell, these were classified as stable, while according to Cruz et al. they were adaptive to favorable environments and according to AMMI they were unstable with high interaction,.Of the three methods studied, the AMMI model allowed associating the response of high yield varieties to specific environments, gave more information and was easier to interpret.