Modeling habitat suitability of the invasive clam Corbicula fluminea in a Neotropical shallow lagoon, southern Brazil / Modelagem da adequabilidade de habitat do bivalve invasor Corbicula fluminea em uma lagoa rasa Neotropical

Abstract This study aimed to model the habitat suitability for an invasive clam Corbicula fluminea in a coastal shallow lagoon in the southern Neotropical region (–30.22, –50.55). The lagoon (19km2, maximum deep 2.5m) was sampled with an Ekman dredge in an orthogonal matrix comprising 84 points. At each sampling point, were obtained environmental descriptors as depth, organic matter content (OMC), average granulometry (Avgran), and the percentage of sand (Pcsand). Prediction performance of Generalized Linear Models (GLM), Generalized Additive Models (GAM) and Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) were compared. Also, niche overlapping with other native clam species (Castalia martensi, Neocorbicula limosa and Anodontites trapesialis) was examined. A BRT model with 1400 trees was selected as the best model, with cross-validated correlation of 0.82. The relative contributions of predictors were Pcsand-42.6%, OMC-35.8%, Avgran-10.9% and Depth-10.8%. Were identified that C. fluminea occur mainly in sandy sediments with few organic matter, in shallow areas nor by the shore. The PCA showed a wide niche overlap with the native clam species C. martensi, N. limosa and A. trapesialis.

Resumo O objetivo de deste estudo foi modelar a adequabilidade de habitat do bivalve invasor Corbicula fluminea em uma lagoa costeira na região Neotropical (–30.22, –50.55). A lagoa (19km2, 2,5 m de profundidade máxima) foi amostrada com uma draga Ekman em uma matriz ortogonal compreendendo 84 pontos. Em cada ponto de amostragem foram obtidos descritores ambientais como a profundidade, teor de matéria orgânica (OMC), granulometria média (Avgran), e a percentagem de areia (Pcsand). O poder preditivo dos métodos Modelos Lineares Generalizados (GLM), Modelos Aditivos Generalizados (GAM) e Boosted Regression Trees (BRT) foram comparados. Além disso, a sobreposição de nicho com espécies de moluscos nativos (Castalia martensi, Neocorbicula limosa e Anodontites trapesialis) foi examinada. Um modelo BRT com 1.400 árvores foi selecionado como o melhor modelo, com correlação da validação cruzada de 0,82. As contribuições relativas dos preditores foram Pcsand-42,6%, OMC-35,8%, Avgran-10,9% e profundidade-10,8%. Foi demonstrado que C. fluminea está associada a sedimentos arenosos com pouca matéria orgânica, em áreas rasas próximo às margens. A PCA mostrou uma ampla sobreposição de nicho com as espécies de moluscos nativos C. martensi, N. limosa e A. trapesialis.

Phytoplankton composition of the water and gastrointestinal tract of the mussel Diplodon enno (Ortmann, 1921) from São Francisco river (Bahia, Brazil) / Composição fitoplanctônica da água e do trato gastrointestinal do molusco Diplodon enno (Ortmann) do rio São Francisco (BA - Brasil)

Abstract The knowledge on diet composition of the freshwater mussel Diplodon enno (Ortmann) would aid in its culture and propagation allowing, this way, the replacement of natural endangered populations in Brazil. Microalgae are the main food source for captive mussels and unionids have displayed an ability to sort algae based on the cellular characteristics prior to ingestion. The main objective of the present work is to analyze the phytoplankton composition of the water from and of the gastrointestinal contents of the mussel D. enno, as an initial step for development of a suitable rearing diet. Therefore, water samples and bivalve specimens were collected from S. Francisco River, city of Paulo Afonso, Bahia, Brazil. The microalgal composition found in water and stomach/gut content samples was very diverse being represented by the following divisions: Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Dinophyta and Heterokontophyta (Diatoms). Concerning the relative abundance of microalgae divisions, it is possible to state, for the water and gastrointestinal contents, that Cyanophyta represents 15% and 14%, Chlorophyta 54% in both, Heterokontophyta 31% and 27% and Dinophyta 0% and 5%, respectively. According to the Brazilian CETESB criteria for phytoplankton species classification, 50% of Cyanophyta and 15% of Chlorophyta species observed in the water samples were classified as “very frequent”, as were 68% of Heterokontophyta and 33% of Chlorophyta species in the gut/stomach tract samples. Focusing at a species level, although in the water only Coelastrum sp. and Chroococcus sp. were observed in 100% and 75% of the samples, respectively, in the gastrointestinal tract the species Staurastrum sp., Aulacoseira sp., Scenedesmus sp. and Fragilaria crotonensis occurred in 80% to 100% of the samples. The present results showed that D. enno feeds not only on small chlorophytes microalgae, due to their convenient size that facilitates higher feeding rates, but also on large size diatoms, due to a possible nutritional advantage for the bivalves. Thus, a diet composed by large diatoms and small chlorophytes microalgae may be considered as the most reasonable for the maintenance of D. enno populations.

Resumo O conhecimento da composição da dieta do molusco de água doce Diplodon enno é de extrema importância para a sua cultura e propagação, permitindo desta forma a recuperação de populações em perigo de extinção no Brasil. As microalgas são a principal fonte de alimento para moluscos filtradores e os uniónidos sendo selecionadas por estes com base nas suas características celulares. O principal objectivo deste trabalho é analisar a composição fitoplanctônica da água e do conteúdo gastrointestinal do molusco D. enno, de forma a desenvolver uma dieta apropriada ao seu cultivo. Para isso, amostras de água e espécimes de bivalves foram recolhidos do rio São Francisco, cidade de Paulo Afonso, Bahia, Brasil. A composição de microalgas encontrada na água e no conteúdo do estômago/intestino foi muito diversa, sendo representada pelas seguintes divisões: Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Dinophyta e Heterokontophyta (diatomáceas). Atendendo à abundância relativa de cada divisão de microalgas, podemos afirmar que na água e no trato gastrointestinal Cyanophyta representa 15% e 14%, Chlorophyta 54% em ambos, Heterokontophyta 31% e 27% e Dinophyta 0% and 5%, respectivamente. De acordo com o critério CETESB de classificação de espécies de fitoplâncton, 50% das espécies de Cyanophyta e 15% das de Chlorophyta observadas nas amostras de água foram classificadas como “muito frequentes”, tal como aconteceu para 68% das espécies de Heterokontophyta e 33% das de Chlorophyta nas amostras do conteúdo do trato gastrointestinal. Realçando as espécies presentes, apesar de apenas Coelastrum sp. e Chroococcus sp. terem sido observadas em 100% e 75% das amostras de água, respectivamente, nas amostras de trato gastrointestinal Staurastrum sp., Aulacoseira sp., Scenedesmus sp. e Fragilaria crotonensis foram identificadas em entre 80% e 100% das amostras. Os resultados deste estudo mostram que D. enno se alimenta não apenas de pequenas microalgas clorófitas, devido ao seu pequeno tamanho que possibilita maiores taxas de filtração, como também de diatomáceas maiores, devido a uma possível vantagem nutricional para os bivalves. Assim sendo, uma dieta composta por diatomáceas e pequenas clorófitas poderá ser considerada a mais indicada para a manutenção de populações de D. enno.

Production and Evaluation of Biosurfactant by Serratia marcescens UCP 1549 Using Industrial Wastes.

Aims: Biosurfactants are surface-active agents of microbial origin that have a property of lowering the surface tension between two liquids. This study aimed to the production of biosurfactant by Serratia marcescens UCP 1549 in medium containing agro-industrial wastes for making possible its industrial application in the near future and to propose its environmental applications. Place and Duration of Study: Center of Science and Technology from State University of Paraíba - UEPB, Campina Grande – PB, Brazil and Nucleus of Research in Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology (NPCIAMB), Catholic University of Pernambuco - UNICAP, Recife-PE, Brazil between June 2011 and July 2012. Methodology: According to the proposed factorial design, the culture medium was developed and used for the production of biosurfactant and incubated at 28ºC, 155 rpm during 48 h. The produced biosurfactant was evaluated by emulsifying index, emulsifying activity and surface tension using hydrophobic substrates as vegetable oils after frying, nhexadecane and diesel. Results: The best results for emulsification index were found between 79.92 and 100% of emulsification and for activity were values between 2.304 and 5.000 EA (emulsification activity) using vegetable oil after frying as substrate. In relation of the surface tension, the best value obtained was 33.10mN/m in the condition of the central point of the experimental design. Conclusion: The results show that Serratia marcescens UCP 1549 was capable of producing a biosurfactant with emulsifying property from industrial wastes in the studied conditions in this work.

Red blood cell and leukocyte alloimmunization in patients awaiting kidney transplantation

Objective: To determine the rates of red blood cell and leukocyte alloimmunization in patients with chronic kidney disease awaiting kidney transplantation. Methods: In this cross-sectional and prospective study, the serum of 393 chronic kidney disease patients on a transplant waiting list in Ceará, Northeastern Brazil were tested for red cell and leukocyte antibodies. In addition, demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected. Results: The average age in the sample of 393 patients was 34.1 ± 14 years. Slightly more than half (208; 52.9%) were male. The average numbers of transfusions and gestations were 3.1 ± 3.3 and 1.6 ± 6, respectively. One third (33.6%) were alloimmunized: 78% with leukocyte antibodies, 9.1% with red cell antibodies and 12.9% with both. Red cell antibodies were detected in 29 cases (7.4%), 17 of whom were women, who had received more transfusions than the males (p-value < 0.0001). The most frequently detected red cell antibodies belonged to the Rh (24.1%) and Kell (13.8%) blood group systems. Leukocyte antibodies were detected in 30.5% of cases, 83 of whom were women, who had received more transfusions than the males (p-value < 0.0001) and were more reactive to panel reactive antibodies (p-value < 0.0001). The mean alloreactivity to panel reactive antibodies was 47.7 ± 31.2%. Conclusion: Chronic kidney disease patients on the transplant waiting list in Ceará, Brazil, display high ...

The potential of secondary metabolites from plants as drugs or leads against protozoan neglected diseases - part I

Infections with protozoan parasites are a major cause of disease and mortality in many tropical countries of the world. Diseases caused by species of the genera Trypanosoma (Human African Trypanosomiasis and Chagas Disease) and Leishmania (various forms of Leishmaniasis) are among the seventeen "Neglected Tropical Diseases" (NTDs) defined as such by WHO due to the neglect of financial investment into research and development of new drugs by a large part of pharmaceutical industry and neglect of public awareness in high income countries. Another major tropical protozoan disease is malaria (caused by various Plasmodium species), which -although not mentioned currently by the WHO as a neglected disease- still represents a major problem, especially to people living under poor circumstances in tropical countries. Malaria causes by far the highest number of deaths of all protozoan infections and is often (as in this review) included in the NTDs. The mentioned diseases threaten many millions of lives world-wide and they are mostly associated with poor socioeconomic and hygienic environment. Existing therapies suffer from various shortcomings, namely, a high degree of toxicity and unwanted effects, lack of availability and/or problematic application under the life conditions of affected populations. Development of new, safe and affordable drugs is therefore an urgent need. Nature has provided an innumerable number of drugs for the treatment of many serious diseases. Among the natural sources for new bioactive chemicals, plants are still predominant. Their secondary metabolism yields an immeasurable wealth of chemical structures which has been and will continue to be a source of new drugs, directly in their native form and after optimization by synthetic medicinal chemistry. The current review, published in two parts, attempts to give an overview on the potential of such plant-derived natural products as antiprotozoal leads and/or drugs in the fight against NTDs.

Campilobacteriose genital bovina e tricomonose genital bovina: epidemiologia, diagnóstico e controle / Bovine genital campylobacteriosis and bovine genital trichomonosis: epidemiology, diagnosis and control

A presente atualização trata de duas das mais importantes doenças sexualmente transmitidas de bovinos, a campilobacteriose genital bovina e a tricomonose genital bovina. São abordados aspectos relacionados à epidemiologia destas doenças, principalmente em relação a sua distribuição no Brasil. Também são revisados aspectos importantes de diagnóstico, incluindo as técnicas e interpretação dos resultados, além de medidas de controle para ambas as doenças.

The present update deals with two of the most important sexually transmitted diseases of cattle: bovine genital campylobacteriosis and bovine genital trichomonosis. Epidemiological aspects, mainly their distribution in Brazil, alongside with their diagnosis in cattle are presented and commented. The main points in their diagnoses, including the description of the techniques and the interpretation of the results are also reviewed. Finally the control and prevention of both diseases are discussed.

Late-life depression, heart failure and frontal white matter hyperintensity: a structural magnetic resonance imaging study

The relevance of the relationship between cardiac disease and depressive symptoms is well established. White matter hyperintensity, a bright signal area in the brain on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans, has been separately associated with cardiovascular risk factors, cardiac disease and late-life depression. However, no study has directly investigated the association between heart failure, major depressive symptoms and the presence of hyperintensities. Using a visual assessment scale, we have investigated the frequency and severity of white matter hyperintensities identified by magnetic resonance imaging in eight patients with late-life depression and heart failure, ten patients with heart failure without depression, and fourteen healthy elderly volunteers. Since the frontal lobe has been the proposed site for the preferential location of white matter hyperintensities in patients with late-life depression, we focused our investigation specifically on this brain region. Although there were no significant group differences in white matter hyperintensities in the frontal region, a significant direct correlation emerged between the severity of frontal periventricular white matter hyperintensity and scores on the Hamilton scale for depression in the group with heart failure and depression (P = 0.016, controlled for the confounding influence of age). There were no significant findings in any other areas of the brain. This pattern of results adds support to a relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and depressive symptoms, and provides preliminary evidence that the presence of white matter hyperintensities specifically in frontal regions may contribute to the severity of depressive symptoms in cardiac disease.

An improved HPLC method for the quantitation of 6-mercaptopurine and its metabolites in red blood cells

A procedure is described for the rapid determination of the intra-erythrocyte concentration of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and its metabolites, 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGN) and 6-methylmercaptopurine (6-MMP). Erythrocytes (8 x 10(8) cells) in 350 æl Hanks solution containing 7.5 mg dithiothreitol were treated with 50 æl 70 percent perchloric acid. The precipitate was removed by centrifugation (13,000 g) and the supernatant hydrolyzed at 100§C for 45 min. After cooling, 100 æl was analyzed directly by HPLC using a Radialpack Resolve C18 column eluted with methanol-water (7.5:92.5, v/v) containing 100 mM triethylamine. 6-TG, 6-MP and the hydrolysis product of 6-MMP, 4-amino-5-(methylthio)carbonyl imidazole, were monitored at 342, 322 and 303 nm using a Shimadzu SPD-M10A diode array UV detector. The analytes eluted at 5.3, 6.0 and 10.2 min, respectively. The calibration curves were linear (rý > 0.998), and the analytical recoveries were 73.2 percent for 6-TG, 119.1 percent for 6-MP and 97.4 percent for 6-MMP. The intra- and inter-assay variations were highest for 6-MP (9.6 and 14.3 percent, respectively). The lowest detectable concentrations were 3, 3 and 25 pmol/8 x 10(8) erythrocytes for 6-TG, 6-MP and 6-MMP, respectively. The quantification limits (coefficients of variation <15 percent) were 8, 10 and 70 pmol/8 x 10(8) erythrocytes for 6-TG, 6-MP and 6-MMP, respectively. The method was applied to the analysis of 183 samples from 36 children under chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The concentrations of the metabolites in the red cells of the patients ranged from 0 to 1934 pmol/8 x 10(8) erythrocytes for 6-TGN, and from 0 to 105.8 and 0 to 45.9 nmol/8 x 10(8) erythrocytes for 6-MP and 6-MMP, respectively. The procedure gave results that were in agreement with those obtained with other methods designed to detect cases of non-compliance with treatment, including patient interviews and medical evaluation, among others, demonstrating its applicability to monitoring the treatment of leukemic children.

Analise da transmissibilidade ultra-sonica de medicamentos utilizados na pratica da fonoforese / Analysis of ultrasound transmission by medicine customarily used in phonophoresis

A fonoforese e um sistema de aplicacao de drogas atraves da pele que utiliza o ultra-som para aumentar a eficacia da penetracao. Embora atualmente seja modalidade bastante empregada na pratica fisioterapeutica, poucos produtos tem apresentado caracteristicas apropriadas para o uso. O proposito do presente estudo foi avaliar a transmissibilidade dos medicamentos mais utilizados nas clinicas de fisioterapia, por meio de analises qualitativas e quantitativas. A analise qualitativa foi realizada por meio da observacao da movimentacao de ondas ultra-sonicas na superficie de uma camada de agua, enquanto a analise quantitativa foi feita com o auxilio de uma balanca semi analitica. Foi constatada uma pratica de 65 (por cento) da fonoforese nas clinicas avaliadas, sendo que os modos continuo e pulsatil sao aplicados em iguais proporcoes. Na analise qualitativa, o gelol, o Inflamene creme e o Iodex pomada foram reprovados. Ja na analise quantitativa, o Proflam creme e o Clofenak gel demonstraram transmissibilidade pobre, Calminex pomada, transmissao moderada e os demais medicamentos, 8 no total, mostraram boa transmissibilidade. Os dados finais demontraram que, dos 14 medicamentos avaliados, 8 revelaram-se adequados para o uso da fonoforese, e entre esses estao os mais utilizados pelos fisioterapeutas na pratica da fonoforese

Perfil dos reumatologistas no Norte/Nordeste brasileiro / Profile of the rheumatologists in the Brazilian north/northeast

Objetivo - Avaliar o perfil dos reumatolgistas do Norte/Nordeste brasileiro e montar um programa adequado para desenvolvimento da especialidade. Método - Utilizou-se como instrumento de avaliação um questionário enviado juntamente com o Boletim da LIRNNE (Liga de Reumatologia do Norte/Nordeste) a todos os sócios cadastrados. Resultados - Obteve-se um índice de resposta de apenas 19,5 por cento. Oitenta por cento dos reumatologistas graduaram-se após 1970, mas apenas 8 por cento apresentam título de doutorado. Revelou-se um equilíbrio entre os sexos, com discreto predomínio masculino (58 por cento). Setenta e dois por cento possuem título de especialista e 56 por cento trabalham em universidades. Mas apenas 88 por cento estão dispostos a realizar pesquisas. Conclusões - O Norte/Nordeste possui 232 sócios da Sociedade Brasileira de Reumatologia (SBR), sendo 48 por cento efetivos (TE), um bom percentual se comparado baixo índice de resposta revela a pouca prática do brasileiro de participar nos diversos tipos de sociedades ou o pouco interesse de mudanças