Avaliação dos perfis minerais séricos, urinários e sedimentares de ovinos recebendo dieta calculogênica / Evaluation of mineral profile in serum, urine and sediment of sheep receiving calculogenic diet

A urolitíase obstrutiva em pequenos ruminantes é uma doença metabólica de etiologia multifatorial com distribuição mundial. A elevação da concentração urinária de solutos, minerais ionizados (cristaloides) que formam cristais insolúveis é citada por alguns autores como o fator mais importante. Assim, o conhecimento do perfil mineral dos animais submetidos a dietas calculogênicas e a composição química dos urólitos tornam-se ferramentas eficazes na prevenção da doença. Neste estudo, foram utilizados 14 ovinos hígidos, machos (não castrados), da raça Santa Inês, com idade aproximada de 90 dias, distribuídos em dois grupos (G1 - sem vitamina C e G2 - com vitamina C) e alimentados com dieta calculogênica. A análise dos perfis minerais, séricos e urinários revelou completo desbalanceamento na relação entre concentrações de cálcio, fósforo e magnésio, havendo elevação expressiva do fósforo e do magnésio e diminuição substancial do cálcio. Com isso, a análise bioquímica dos urólitos demonstrou que o cálcio esteve presente em 50% das amostras analisadas.(AU)

Urolithiasis in small ruminants is a metabolic disease of multifactorial etiology with worldwide distribution. Increased urinary concentration of solutes, ionized minerals (crystalloid) that form insoluble crystals is cited by some authors as the most important factor. Thus, knowledge of mineral profile of the animals fed calculogenic diets and chemical composition of uroliths becomes an effective tool in preventing the disease. In this study, we used 14 healthy, male, non-neutered sheep, of the Santa Ines breed, aged approximately 90 days, divided into two groups (G1-without vitamin C and G2-with vitamin C) fed calculogenic diet. Analysis of mineral profiles in serum and urine revealed complete imbalance in the relationship between concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, with significant increase of phosphorus and magnesium and substantial reduction of calcium. Thus, biochemical analysis of uroliths showed that calcium was present in 50% of samples.(AU)

Host preference, population growth and injuries assessment of Polyphagotarsonemus latus (banks) (ACARI: Tarsonemidae) on Capsicum annuum L. Genotypes.

Despite the continued efforts on the search for different genotypes, Capsicum annuum (L.) is quite susceptible to attack by pest arthropods, especially the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks. Thus, the host preference, population growth and the injuries assessment of P. latus was studied on six C. annuum genotypes used in Brazil (Atlantis, California Wonder, Impact, Palloma, Rubia and Tendence). Host preference was accessed in choice tests, pairing the several genotypes, and the population growth was observed through non-choice tests in laboratory. The injuries assessments were evaluated in the greenhouse, comparing the injury level among the six genotypes. The results indicate that California Wonder and Palloma genotypes were more preferred by P. latus, and Impact and Tendence were less preferred. P. latus presented positive population growth rates (ri) on all the genotypes, however, Palloma and California Wonder showed the highest values of population growth rate (ri = 0.344 and ri = 0.340, respectively), while Impact had the lowest value (ri = 0.281). All the evaluated C. annuum genotypes showed low tolerance to P. latus and exhibited several injuries, but there was no statistical difference between them. California Wonder had the highest average number of mites/leaf (57.15), while Impact and Tendence obtained the lowest values (36.67 and 35.12, respectively) at the end of the evaluation period. The total average of injuries notes at the end of the bioassay did not differ between the genotypes. The number of mites/leaf was growing for the injury scale to the note 3.0, but when the injury scale approached the note 4.0, there was observed a decrease in the number of mites/leaf for all the genotypes.

Impacts of introducing a new tool for the manual harvesting of sugar cane: the ergonomic analysis contribution.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of introduction a new work tool on health and productivity of manual harvesting sugarcane workers. In this study it was performed aErgonomic Work Analysis (EWA) to analyze the work tool changes.The study included sugarcane workers, drivers, fiscals, and technical's safety at work.During the analysis process, 134 questionnaires were applied,aimed to identify the constraints that such workers are submitted,to evaluate the tool introduced, in order to propose modifications to improve it.The results showed a decrease in perceived exertion and discomfort, without compromising the cut quality. The main contributions of Ergonomic Work Analysis were the possibility of bringing the logic of the worker, in order to understand the inherent real work characteristics, to the process of developing the new tool. Besides, it was also noted that this methodology, based on the analysis workers activity in a real usage, as an application tool in design projects, providing innovations from the workers perspective.

Microdissection testicular sperm extraction causes spermatogenic alterations in the contralateral testis.

Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) associated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection has allowed many men presenting non-obstructive azoospermia to achieve fatherhood. Microdissection TESE (microTESE) was proposed as a method to improve sperm retrieval rates in these patients; however, there have been failures. Little is known about whether microTESE leads to spermatogenic alterations in the contralateral testis. We assessed histological outcomes of experimental microTESE in the contralateral testis of adult male rabbits. Nine adult male rabbits were divided into three groups: control (testicular biopsy to observe normal histological and morphometric values), sham (incision of the tunica vaginalis, and a contralateral testicular biopsy to observe histological and morphometric patterns, 45 days later), and study (left testicular microTESE, and a right testicular biopsy to observe histological and morphometric patterns, 45 days later). Sections were assessed by calculating Johnsen-like scores, and measuring total tubule diameter, lumen diameter and epithelial height. The results were compared using ANOVA and Bonferroni's statistical analysis. Morphometric evaluation of the seminiferous tubules did not demonstrate differences between the three groups. However, microTESE caused spermatogenic alterations, leading to maturation arrest in the contralateral testis.

Corneal astigmatism measuring module for slit lamps.

We have developed an automatic keratometer module for slit lamps that provides automatic measurements of the radii of the corneal curvature. The system projects 72 light spots displayed in a precise circle at the examined cornea. The displacement and deformation of the reflected image of these light spots are analysed providing the keratometry. Measurements in the range of 26.8-75 D can be obtained and a self-calibration system has been specially designed in order to keep the system calibrated. Infrared LEDs indicate automatically which eye is being examined. Volunteer patients (492) have been submitted to the system and the results show that our system has a high correlation factor with the commercially available manual keratometers and the keratometry measurements from a topographer. Our developed system is 95% in agreement with the corneal topographer (Humphrey--Atlas 995 CZM) and the manual keratometer (Topcon OM-4). The system's nominal precision is 0.05 mm for the radii of curvature and 1 degree for the associated axis.

Effects of Angular Leaf Spot and Rust on Yield Loss of Phaseolus vulgaris.

ABSTRACT Three field experiments were conducted in 1997, 1998, and 1999 to investigate the effects of angular leaf spot and rust, separately or combined, on host growth and yield of individual bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris). In each experiment, three treatments were established by inoculating cv. Carioca with Phaeoisariopsis griseola, Uromyces appendiculatus, or with both pathogens. An additional control treatment was not inoculated, but was sprayed with a fungicide. In the 1997 and 1999 experiments, angular leaf spot reached higher disease levels than rust, whereas in 1998, rust was more severe than angular leaf spot. Host growth, expressed as healthy leaf area duration (HAD), and yield were the highest in 1997 and lowest in 1998. In each experiment, the treatments did not differ significantly to the area under leaf area progress curve, HAD, and healthy leaf area absorption (HAA). All inoculated treatments had significantly more severe disease and less yield than the control treatment. Based on the analysis of 60 plants in each experiment, yield was not related to the areas under disease progress curve for either or both diseases. In 1997 and 1999, yield was related to HAD (R(2) = 0.57 and 0.43) and HAA(R(2) = 0.60 and 0.55). Based on the combined analysis of all 36 plots, angular leaf spot reduced the leaf area because of defoliation, whereas rust did not affect the leaf area. Rust reduced yield more than four times that of angular leaf spot, although the decrease in photosynthesis to angular leaf spot was twice that of rust.

Porphyria cutanea tarda in Brazilian patients: association with hemochromatosis C282Y mutation and hepatitis C virus infection.

OBJECTIVE: Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is commonly associated with iron overload and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Association between hemochromatosis C282Y or H63D mutations and PCT has been observed, although not uniformly, and iron overload is also commonly found in chronic HCV hepatitis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of C282Y and H63D mutations and HCV infection in Brazilian patients with PCT and their relationship with iron overload. METHODS: Twenty-three patients (19 men) aged 39.6 +/- 11.1 yr were studied. All had dermatological lesions of PCT and high levels of urinary uroporphyrin. HCV infection and iron overload were investigated. DNA samples were analyzed for the presence of HFE mutations. RESULTS: The frequency of C282Y was significantly higher in PCT patients than in 278 healthy individuals (17.4% vs 4%, odds ratio = 5.1, 95% confidence interval 1.5-17.6, p = 0.02), whereas no difference was observed regarding the H63D mutation (30.4% vs 31%, odds ratio = 1, 95% confidence interval 0.4-2.4, p = 1). Biochemical tests in PCT patients showed iron overload with transferrin saturation = 47.3 +/- 20.7% and ferritin = 566.8 +/- 425 ng/ml. Fifteen of 23 (65.2%) patients had HCV infection and alcohol ingestion was observed in 17 of 23 (73.9%). CONCLUSIONS: PCT patients exhibited evidence of iron overload, a high frequency of HCV, and an association with C282Y mutation. These data further support the notion that both acquired and inherited factors contribute to the occurrence of PCT, and indicate that screening for C282Y may be justified in PCT patients.

Angular leaf spot of phaseolus beans: relationships between disease, healthy leaf area, and yield.

ABSTRACT Five field experiments were conducted to investigate the relationship between the severity of visible disease (X), area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), healthy leaf area index on any given day (HLAI), radiation intercepted by healthy leaf area on any given day (HRI), healthy leaf area duration (HAD), total healthy leaf area absorption (HAA), and yield of Phaseolus beans, cultivars Rosinha and Carioca, inoculated with Phaeoisariopsis griseola at several doses. In general, yield was not related to disease severity (X) or AUDPC. In contrast, the highest yields were always related to the highest values of HAD and HAA. The relationship between yield and HAD was linear in each of five trials (29.9 < R(2) < 70.2%, P < 0.001). The relationship between yield and HAA was linear in four of the trials (52.3 < R(2) < 70.3%, P < 0.001) and exponential in one of them (in which the plant canopy was the largest). Singlepoint models using HRI to estimate yield at various times during the crop season were developed. The slope of the yield-HRI relationship proved to be stable (26.8 +/-2.4 g MJ(-1)), regardless of cultivar, locale, planting date, and bean growth stage (from R5 to R8). The yield-HLAI relationship proved to be less consistent. HRI is proposed as a key explanatory variable for a transportable system of disease management; it may be useful in producing precise recommendations at the farm level.

Lesion expansion as an epidemic component.

ABSTRACT A simulator for the enlargement of cohorts of circular lesions on cohorts of host tissue was used to examine five epidemiological parameters: radial rate (mm day(-1)) of lesion expansion, k (exp); maximum basic infection rate, R (m); proportion of lesion area as infectious, f; initial lesion size (mm(2)), z; and proportion of susceptible host sites, s. Based on the proportion of disease severity at day 50 and the proportion of the total disease that originated solely from lesion expansion, k(exp) was the most sensitive of the five parameters. A radial rate of only 0.1 mm day(-1) resulted in a proportion of >0.7 of the diseased area that came from lesion expansion. In an extensive survey of phytopathological literature, many plant pathogens had radial rates greater than 0.1 mm day(-1), which would result in a proportion of >0.95 of the total disease that comes from lesion expansion. Susceptible host sites, s, was a sensitive parameter, as this determined the host area into which lesions could expand. Naturally, R(m) was a sensitive parameter for the proportion of disease on day 50, as it controlled the overall speed of the epidemic. Initial lesion size was a relatively insensitive parameter, although z interacted significantly with s. The greatest proportion of disease that originated from lesion expansion occurred with fast k(exp), small z, and low values of s, R(m), and f. The model was validated with lesion numbers and severities obtained in natural epidemics of Cercospora medicaginis on alfalfa and Exserohilum turcicum on maize. We recommend that the 'epidemic quintuplet' used to describe polycyclic epidemics be expanded to the 'epidemic sextuplet' with the inclusion of k(exp), since lesion expansion is a major component of many polycyclic epidemics.

Quality control of food products purchased by the National School-Feeding Programme in Pernambuco, northeast Brazil, from 1985 to 1988.

The effectiveness of the Quality Control System (QCS) implemented by the Fundação de Assistência ao Escolar (FAE) for quality control of food products from different types and origins purchased by the National School-Feeding Programme (NSFP) in Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil, was evaluated. Physicochemical, microbiological, microscopical and organopetical analyses were performed in 4,860 food samples and the main causes of alterations were detected. Perishability was the characteristic used for distribution of food items into 3 main groups: A, B, and C. In accordance with 972 Quality Certificates between 1985 and 1988, 31.89 of the samples were rejected. The main reasons for rejection were innacuracies of net weight and drained weight and high moisture contents. Group B presented the smallest number of altered samples (27%); for Groups A and C these values were 33% and 44%, respectively. Our data lead to the conclusion that the QCS implemented by FAE is of paramount importance for an adequate quality control of foods provided to beneficiaries and for a good cost effectiveness of the school-feeding programme.

PIP: In Brazil, approximately 25 million children from state elementary schools are covered by the National School-Feeding Program (NSFP). Since 1985 a quality control system (QCS) has supervised the foods distributed by the NSFP. The control of 24 accredited laboratories, called Basis Units (BUs), includes collection, inspection, and analysis. The effectiveness of the QCS was investigated after 4 years of implementation in Pernambuco, Brazil. A total of 4860 samples of food (972 lots) was collected, inspected, and analyzed between 1985 and 1988. Foods were distributed into: Group A (the least perishable goods: sugar, beans, rice, oil, salt), Group B (moderately perishable goods: biscuits, chocolate, manioc flour, corn, meal, dried skim milk, macaroni, sugar-cane syrup, canned sardines, ground corn) and Group C (the most perishable goods: dried and salted fish and meat). Physicochemical, organoleptical, microscopical, and microbiological analyses were performed by the Laboratory of Food Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco. Results were transcribed to the correspondent Quality Certificate and compared with standard values. Rejection occurred when only 1 critical alteration and/or 2 or more acceptable alterations were present in the food. Data from 972 Quality Certificates showed a slight decline in the rejection levels of food samples from 1985 to 1987, with a tendency towards stabilization in 1988. However, in 1988, rejection levels declined for Group B and increased for Groups A and C. About 31.89% of the total samples did not comply with the standards and were rejected. The highest and the lowest values for quality were found in samples of Group B and C, respectively; and intermediate values were detected in Group A. Group B presented the smallest number of altered samples (27%). The main reasons for rejection of foods in Group A were inaccuracies of the net weight, unsatisfactory grain classification, high moisture contents, and the presence of insects. The QCS is of paramount importance for beneficiaries' protection and for cost effectiveness of the school-feeding program.

Quality control of food products purchased by the National School-Feeding Programme in Pernambuco, northeast Brazil, from 1985 to 1988

The effectiveness of the Quality Control System (QCS) implemented by the Fundaçäo de Assistência ao Escolar (FAE) for quality control of food products from different types and origins purchased by the National School-Feeding Programme (NSFP) in Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil, was evaluated. Physicochemical, microbiological, microscopical and organopetical analyses were performed in 4,860 food samples and the main causes of alterations were detected. Perishability was the characteristic used for distribution of food items into 3 main groups: A, B, and C. In accordance with 972 Quality Certificates between 1985 and 1988, 31.89 of the samples were rejected. The main reasons for rejection were innacuracies of net weight and drained weight and high moisture contents. Group B presented the smallest number of altered samples (27%); for Groups A and C these values were 33% and 44%, respectively. Our data lead to the conclusion that the QCS implemented by FAE is of paramount importance for an adequate quality control of foods provided to beneficiaries and for a good cost effectiveness of the school-feeding programme