The usefulness of latissimus dorsi transfer for reconstruction for malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the infraspinatus muscle region: a case report / Utilidad de la transferencia del latissimus dorsi en la reconstrucción por histiocitoma fibroso maligno en la región muscular infraespinosa: reporte de un caso

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a type of highly malignant soft tissue sarcoma with a predilection for the extremities of adults. We report a patient with MFH in the infraspinatus muscle for which wide resection including total resection of the infraspinatus muscle was performed, followed by transfer of the latissimus dorsi muscle for shoulder reconstruction in a onestage operation with good postoperative function.

El histiocitoma fibroso maligno (HFM) es un tipo de sarcoma del tejido suave, altamente maligno, con predilección por las extremidades de los adultos. Reportamos el caso de un paciente con HFM en el músculo infraespinoso, al cual se le hizo una amplia resección que incluyó la resección total del músculo infraespinoso, seguida de una transferencia del músculo latissimus dorsi para la reconstrucción del hombro, en una operación de una sola etapa con buena función postoperatoria.

Environmental education in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, municipality of Porto Rico (Paraná State), Brazil / Educação ambiental na planície alagável do Alto Rio Paraná, Porto Rico - PR, Brasil

Since 2003, researchers, faculty, graduate and undergraduate students from the State University of Maringá have been working alongside teachers from the state and local schools in the municipality of Porto Rico (Paraná State), located on the banks of the Paraná River. Their objective is to outline actions and strategies with the purpose of building methodological paths to insert environmental education into the school curriculum. Based on the action-research methodology, the group has developed the following programs: a) the Continuing Education Program in Environmental Education; b) the Development of Interdisciplinary Projects; c) the Insertion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs); and d) the Production of Teaching Materials. The evaluations of the programs indicate that teachers have been able to gradually build a theoretical and methodological basis for environmental education while simultaneously growing into the role of teacher-researchers as they create the conditions to investigate their pedagogical practices, reflect upon them, share experiences, innovate, and make the teaching-learning process more significant. Allied to the advances in educational practices and with the aid of ICTs, the activities developed in the classroom, in the field and in the lab - all of which involve natural and cultural aspects of the region - have contributed to teachers' and students' better understanding of the ecological, cultural, social and economic value of the floodplain, and consequently, of the importance of preservation and management in order to maintain local biodiversity.

Desde 2003, pesquisadores, professores, pós-graduandos e graduandos da Universidade Estadual de Maringá vêm trabalhando em conjunto com os professores das escolas, estadual e municipal, do município de Porto Rico - PR, localizado às margens do Rio Paraná, com o objetivo de delinear ações e estratégias, no sentido de construir caminhos metodológicos para a inserção da educação ambiental no currículo escolar. Com base na metodologia da pesquisa- ação, o grupo vem desenvolvendo alguns programas: a) Programa de Educação Continuada em Educação Ambiental; b) Desenvolvimento de Projetos Interdisciplinares; c) Inserção de Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TICs); d) Produção de Material Didático. As avaliações dos programas indicam que, gradativamente, os professores têm construído uma base teórica e metodológica da educação ambiental e, ao mesmo tempo, tem desenvolvido uma postura de professor-pesquisador, ao criar condições de investigação de sua prática pedagógica, de refletir sobre a mesma, de trocar experiências, de inovar, de tornar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem mais significativo. Aliado ao aprimoramento das práticas educacionais, e com o apoio das TICs, as atividades desenvolvidas, em sala de aula, campo e laboratório, abordando aspectos naturais e culturais da região, têm contribuído para que professores e alunos compreendam melhor o valor ecológico, cultural, social e econômico da planície e, consequentemente, da importância da conservação e manejo da mesma para a manutenção da biodiversidade local.

Inter-annual variations in the abundance of young-of-the-year of migratory fishes in the Upper Paraná River floodplain: relations with hydrographic attributes / Variações interanuais na abundância de jovens-do-ano de peixes migradores da planície de inundação do Alto Rio Paraná: relação com atributos hidrográficos

In this study, we identified and characterized the hydrographic attributes related to the success of recruitment of migratory fishes in the Upper Paraná River floodplain. To achieve our objectives, we analyzed inter-annual variations in the abundance of young-of-the-year (YOY; index of recruitment) of six migratory species and their relations with hydrographic attributes. Recruitment was related to the intensity, duration (in different fluviometrical levels), elasticity, number of pulses, greater uninterrupted overflow and delay of the floods (all obtained using the PULSO software). Collections of fish were conducted in the period between January 1987 and November 2007 in distinct environments (river channels, secondary channels and connected and disconnected floodplain lakes) distributed along three subsystems (Paraná, Baía and Ivinheima). Relations between recruitment and the attributes of interest were determined through analysis of covariance. In the studied period, the highest abundances of YOY were registered in 2007, followed by 1992, 1993, 2005 and 1988. The abundance of YOY was positively correlated with an intensity of high water levels (potamophase) and the duration of potamophase 1 and negatively with the duration of low water levels (limnophase) and a delay of flood. Higher hydrometric levels (540 and 610 cm for Paraná and 325 and 450 cm for Ivinheima) and greatest uninterrupted overflow presented different relations (significant interactions) among subsystems, but all with positive effects on recruitment. Results evidenced that recruitment responded better when floods started in January with potamophase intensities above 610 cm and water levels above 450 cm over a period of 50 days and repeated every two years (or > 610 cm for 38 days and repeated every two or three years). Therefore, artificial control of the floods at intervals of two or three years by manipulating the discharge of dams located upstream from the floodplain ...

Este estudo buscou identificar e caracterizar os atributos hidrográficos relacionados ao sucesso do recrutamento de peixes migradores na planície de inundação do Alto Rio Paraná. Para isso, foram analisadas as variações interanuais na abundância de jovens do ano (indexador do recrutamento) de seis espécies de peixes migradores e sua relação com os atributos hidrográficos intensidade, duração (em diferentes níveis fluviométricos), elasticidade, número de pulsos, maior cheia contínua e atraso das cheias. As capturas foram realizadas no período de janeiro de 1987 a novembro de 2007 em diferentes ambientes (canal do rio, canais secundários e lagoas abertas e fechadas) distribuídos em três subsistemas (Paraná, Baía e Ivinheima). A relação entre recrutamento e os atributos foi avaliada através de análises de covariância. No período estudado, a maior abundância de jovens-do-ano ocorreu em 2007, seguida de 1992, 1993, 2005 e 1988, sendo incipiente nos demais anos. A abundância de jovens do ano relacionou-se positivamente com a intensidade de potamofase e duração de potamofase 1 e negativamente com a duração do período de águas baixas (limnofase) e atraso no início das cheias. Níveis hidrométricos mais elevados (540 e 610 cm no Rio Paraná e 325 e 400 cm no Rio Ivinheima) e as maiores cheias contínuas apresentaram relações distintas para os subsistemas (interação significativa), com respostas positivas no recrutamento. Os resultados permitem evidenciar que a melhor resposta no recrutamento foi verificada na cheia iniciada em janeiro, com intensidade de potamofase superior a 610 cm, com níveis superiores a 450 cm por mais de 50 dias e repetida a cada dois anos (ou >610 cm durante 38 dias e repetida a cada dois ou três anos). Diante disso, o controle artificial das cheias pela manipulação de vazão das hidrelétricas a montante, que permita a ocorrência de potamofases com potencial para assegurar sucesso no recrutamento dos peixes migradores, a cada ...

Effects of the hydrological regime on the ichthyofauna of riverine environments of the Upper Paraná River floodplain / Efeitos do regime hidrológico sobre a ictiofauna de ambientes fluviais da planície de inundação do Alto Rio Paraná

In this work, spatial and temporal variations in the diversity (species richness and Simpson's Diversity Index) and abundance (indexed by the capture per unit effort - CPUE; total and for reproductive groups) of fish from three rivers (Baía, Ivinheima and Paraná) located in a floodplain of the Upper Paraná River basin were analyzed over a period of 20 years (1987-2007). In addition, we evaluated the relationships of these ecological attributes with variations in the hydrologic regime, considering the possible effects of natural (climatic events) and artificial (discharge control by dams) disturbances. Annual variations in hydrometric attributes were calculated using PULSO software and daily water level data. We applied analysis of covariance to determine the relationships between ecological and hydrometric attributes, the latter summarized in axes of a principal component analysis. Lower values of the fish assemblage attributes (diversity and abundance) were registered in the Paraná River. Species richness, total CPUE and CPUE of long-distance migratory species were positively related to the duration of the floods and the connectivity of the area. Variations in the annual hydrological cycle and their effects on fish assemblage appear to be affected by extreme natural (ENSO) and artificial (discharge control by dams) events.

Nesse trabalho foi avaliada a variação espaço-temporal na diversidade (riqueza de espécies e Índice de Diversidade de Simpson) e abundância (indexada pela captura por unidade de esforço - CPUE; total e por grupo reprodutivo) de espécies de peixes de três rios (Baía, Ivinheima e Paraná), localizados na planície de inundação do Alto Rio Paraná, ao longo de 20 anos (1987-2007). Ainda, avaliamos as relações desses atributos ecológicos (diversidade e abundância) à variação anual do regime hidrológico, considerando a influência de distúrbios naturais (eventos climáticos) e artificiais (regulação hidrológica por barragens). Para representar a variação anual do regime hidrológico de cada rio, foram utilizados os atributos hidrométricos calculados pelo programa PULSO, a partir de medidas do nível hidrométrico diário. Análise de covariância foi aplicada para avaliar a relação entre os atributos ecológicos das assembléias de peixes e a variação no regime hidrológico, esta sumarizada em eixos de uma análise de componentes principais. A riqueza de espécies, a CPUE total e a de migradores de longa distância foram relacionadas positivamente à duração das cheias e conectividade, sendo que o Rio Paraná apresentou os menores valores médios desses atributos. Dessa forma, as variações constatadas no ciclo hidrológico anual e seus reflexos sobre a estrutura das assembléias de peixes do rio Paraná parecem decorrer do efeito combinado de eventos naturais (El Niño - ENSO) e artificiais (controle da vazão pelas barragens).

Distribution of unengorged larvae of Leptotrombidium pallidum and other species in and around the rodent nest holes.

The distribution of unengorged larvae of Leptotrombidium pallidum, L. fuji and L. kitasatoi in and around 12 rodent-nest holes in Oita Prefecture, Japan was studied using the Tullgren funnel apparatus. Soil was taken from each nest hole, and the ground-surface soil and litter from the surrounding area A (an inner quadrate of 20 cm x 20 cm except the nest hole), and also from the outer area B (an outer quadrate of 40 cm x 40 cm excluding A and the nest hole) were sampled, separately. The numbers (% of the total) of L. pallidum collected from soil samples of the nest holes and areas A and B were 38 (19.0), 111 (55.5) and 30 (15.0); those of L. fuji were 171 (58.8), 104 (35.7) and 14 (4.8); those of L. kitasatoi were 35 (77.9), 7 (15.6) and 3 (6.7), and those of G. saduski were 20 (50.0), 17 (42.5) and 3 (7.5). The larvae recovered from litter samples were few, representing 0-8.5% of the total. It is shown that unengorged larvae of these species are distributed not only in the nest holes but also in the nearby areas, and exist mainly on (or in) the soil.

Etiology of acute lower respiratory infection in Filipino children under five years.

This study conducted at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine from April 1990 to December 1992, identified the etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) in 119 (36.9%) of 317 hospitalized children < 5 years of age. A higher proportion of respiratory viruses (27.2%) than bacterial agents (10.7%) were identified. Viral agents (adenovirus, RSV, parainfluenza 3, influenza A and influenza B) and bacterial agents (mainly Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae) are the pathogenic agents involved in ALRI among Filipino children less than 5 years old.

Vitrectomia via pars plana. (Sistema automatizado de aspiracao e focalizacao). / Pars plana vitrectomy (automated system of aspiration and focalization

Os autores descrevem a construcao de um sistema de aspiracao e focalizacao automatizado usado em vitrectomia via pars plana

Microfilarial periodicity analysis of the survey data from six localities in Indonesia.

The survey data of microfilarial periodicity of 2 species of filariae Brugia malayi at 4 localities, Mahang and Lampihong in South Kalimantan, Bengkulu in South Sumatra, Palolo in Central Sulwesi, and the species of Brugia timori at 2 localities, Flores and Alor Islands in Nusa Tenggara were analysed by using Aikat and Das's modified statistical method. Nine cases at Mahang and five cases at Lampihong were recognized as same group of non-periodic B. malayi and 1 case at Mahang was considered to be nocturnal subperiodic B. malayi by their parameters estimated by the wave equation, the amplitude (a), the peak hour of microfilaria density (k) the periodicity index (D) and the test of equality for comparison of two series of data. The data of 9 cases from Bengkulu and 11 cases from Palolo were similarly analysed and recognized as the nocturnal periodic type of B. malayi. The data of 5 cases from Flores Island and 5 cases from Alor Island were also recognized as the nocturanal periodic type of B. timori. Thus, in these observations the non periodic strain of Brugia malayi was detected in South Kalimantan. Further studies on the principal vectors and their bionomics should be carried out.