Impact of Insecticides Used in Soybean Crops to the Egg Parasitoid Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae).

The objective of this study was to evaluate possible side effects of insecticides used in soybean crops on pupae and adults of the egg parasitoid Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) under laboratory conditions. The protocol was adapted from standard methodology stablished by the Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms Working Group of the International Organization for Biological and integrated Control (IOBC) for Trichogramma cacoeciae (Marchal) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). All tested benzoylureas, diacylhydrazines, diamides and spinosins as well as pyrethroid beta-cyfluthrin were harmless to T. podisi pupae and adults, and therefore, can be used in IPM without damage to this biological control agent. The tested organophosphate, pyrethroids (except beta-cyfluthrin) and its combinations with either neonicotinoids or diamides triggered deleterious effects on at least one of the life stages of the parasitoid and should, whenever possible, be replaced by other insecticides more selective to natural enemies.

In vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial effects of different intracanal medications in necrotic immature teeth.

AIM: This was to assess the antimicrobial effectiveness of pastes used as intracanal medicaments against Enterococcus faecalis in necrotic immature teeth. METHOD: An agar-disc diffusion method over a period of 30 days was used. The following medications were analysed: triple antibiotic paste (TAP) I; double antibiotic paste (DAP) I; DAP I with calcium hydroxide; calcium hydroxide paste with saline solution 0.9 %; calcium hydroxide paste with chlorhexidine 2 % gel; DAP II; DAP II with zinc oxide; DAP II with calcium hydroxide; and saline solution 0.9 % as control. The diameters of the halos of inhibition (in mm) of tested medicaments were determined and analysed with one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc tests. RESULTS: TAP I (G1) was significantly more effective against E. faecalis, and showed the largest halo of inhibition during all the experiments. DAP groups (G2 and G6) also showed inhibiting bacterial growth with said inhibition remaining stable throughout the 30-day period. In contrast, G4 and G5 groups, in which Ca(OH)2 was added to saline and chlorhexidine, had no antibacterial effect. CONCLUSIONS: TAP and DAP showed better antibacterial efficacy and remained active for 30 days. Combination of Ca(OH)2 with antibiotics should be avoided, due to the possibility of antibiotic hydrolysis.

Side-Effects of Glyphosate to the Parasitoid Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae).

The aim of this study was to compare the side-effects of glyphosate to the parasitoid Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) when parasitoids were exposed to this chemical at the pupal (inside host eggs) and adult stages. Bioassays were conducted under laboratory conditions according to the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) standard methods for testing side-effects of pesticides to egg parasitoids. Different glyphosate-based pesticides (Roundup Original®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup Transorb®, Roundup WG®, and Zapp Qi®) were tested at the same acid equivalent concentration. Treatments were classified following the IOBC toxicity categories as (1) harmless, (2) slightly harmful, (3) moderately harmful, and (4) harmful. When tested against T. remus adults, Roundup Original®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup Transorb®, and Roundup WG® reduced parasitism 2 days after parasitoid emergence, being classified as slightly harmful. Differently, when tested against T. remus pupae, all tested glyphosate-based products did not differ in their lethal effect and therefore did not reduce T. remus adult emergence or parasitism capacity, being classified as harmless. However, differences on sublethal toxicity were found. Parasitism of individuals emerging from parasitized eggs sprayed at the pupal stage of T. remus with Zapp Qi® was lower compared to control, but parasitism was still higher than 66%, and therefore, Zapp Qi® was still classified as harmless. In conclusion, all tested glyphosate-based products can be used in agriculture without negative impact to T. remus as none was classified as harmful or moderately harmful to this parasitoid when exposure occurred at the pupal or adult stages.

Rating of perceived exertion as a tool for prescribing and self regulating interval training: a pilot study.

The aim of the present study was to analyse the usefulness of the 6-20 rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale for prescribing and self-regulating high-intensity interval training (HIT) in young individuals. Eight healthy young subjects (age = 27.5±6.7 years) performed maximal graded exercise testing to determine their maximal and reserve heart rate (HR). Subjects then performed two HIT sessions (20 min on a treadmill) prescribed and regulated by their HR (HR: 1 min at 50% alternated with 1 min at 85% of reserve HR) or RPE (RPE: 1 minute at the 9-11 level [very light-fairly light] alternated with 1 minute at the 15-17 level [hard-very hard]) in random order. HR response and walking/running speed during the 20 min of exercise were compared between sessions. No significant difference between sessions was observed in HR during low- (HR: 135±15 bpm; RPE: 138±20 bpm) and high-intensity intervals (HR: 168±15 bpm; RPE: 170±18 bpm). Walking/running speed during low- (HR: 5.7±1.2 km · h(-1); RPE: 5.7±1.3 km · h(-1)) and high-intensity intervals (HR: 7.8±1.9 km · h(-1); RPE: 8.2±1.7 km · h(-1)) was also not different between sessions. No significant differences were observed in HR response and walking/running speed between HIT sessions prescribed and regulated by HR or RPE. This finding suggests that the 6-20 RPE scale may be a useful tool for prescribing and self-regulating HIT in young subjects.

VO2 kinetics during heavy and severe exercise in swimming.

The purpose of this study was to describe the VO2 kinetics above and below respiratory compensation point (RCP) during swimming. After determination of the gas-exchange threshold (GET), RCP and VO(2max), 9 well-trained swimmers (21.0 ± 7.1 year, VO(2max)=57.9 ± 5.1 ml.kg (- 1).min (- 1)), completed a series of "square-wave" swimming transitions to a speed corresponding to 2.5% below (S - 2.5%) and 2.5% above (S+2.5%) the speed observed at RCP for the determination of pulmonary VO2 kinetics. The trial below (~2.7%) and above RCP (~2%) was performed at 1.28 ± 0.05 m.s (- 1) (76.5 ± 6.3% VO(2max)) and 1.34 0.05 m.s (- 1) (91.3 ± 4.0% VO(2max)), respectively. The time constant of the primary component was not different between the trials below (17.8 ± 5.9 s) and above RCP (16.5 ± 5.1 s). The amplitude of the VO(2)slow component was similar between the exercise intensities performed around RCP (S - 2.5%=329.2 ± 152.6 ml.min (- 1) vs. S+2.5%=313.7 ± 285.2 ml.min (- 1)), but VO(2max) was attained only during trial performed above RCP (S-2.5%=91.4 ± 5.9% VO(2max) vs. S+2.5%=103.0 ± 8.2% VO(2max)). Thus, similar to the critical power during cycling exercise, the RCP appears to represent a physiological boundary that dictates whether VO(2) kinetics is characteristic of heavy- or severe-intensity exercise during swimming.

Optimization of a university cataract-patient care service in Campinas, Brazil.

PURPOSE: To show the results of operational research techniques applied to the cataract service of a public university hospital in Brazil. METHODS: Using a heuristic approach for operational research, a study was designed to evaluate, develop solutions, and validate the implemented modifications to optimize service performance. RESULTS: Following implementation of the solutions and modifications, 24.9% more patients were examined and 39.9% more cataract surgery was performed than during a similar period prior to implementation. Solutions were provided by group discussion among service professionals and based on common sense, possibility of prompt implementation, and the use of available resources and fixed costs. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show the importance of operational research to a public cataract service wishing to improve its performance with simple and efficient solutions.

Acute renal failure due to hemolytic uremic syndrome in adult patients.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal failure. Clinical/ pathologic data, along with the treatment and outcome of 8 adult patients with HUS, are described. There were 7 females and 1 male, age 30.7 +/- 12 years; 7 were White and 1 Black. Three patients were kidney graft recipients, 2 of whom were receiving cyclosporine; 2 patients were postpartum; 1 case followed an abortion; 1 occurred with prodromic infection; and 1 case was without a causal factor. All patients presented with hematuria and 6 with oligoanuria. Laboratory data showed hemolytic anemia with schistocytes, LDH values were 2584 +/- 2191 U/L, platelets were 79,000 +/- 40,000/mL, creatinine concentrations were 5.9 +/- 2.5 mg/dL. Renal biopsy showed thrombotic microangiopathy. Two had predominant glomerular involvement. 2 showed renal cortical necrosis, 4 were marked by predominant arteriolar involvement. In 5 patients dialytic therapy was performed. All were treated with fresh-frozen plasma infusion and 6 with plasmapheresis. Three patients died, 2 without recovery of renal function. In conclusion, the trigger events were related to renal transplant in 3.2 of them taking cyclosporine; 3 with pregnancy; 1 to precedent infection; and 1 with no causal factor. There was no correlation between histological form and outcome in this group of patients. The benefit of plasmapheresis was evident in the recovery of the extrarenal manifestations, although it did not change the renal outcome. The prognosis is poor, with a high mortality (37.5%) and/or end-stage renal failure (37.5%). Complete recovery of renal function was obtained in 25%.

Latex particle agglutination test in the diagnosis of Haemophilus influenzae type B, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis A and C meningitis in infants and children.

The knowledge of purulent meningitis etiology is essential in deciding the immediate therapy; in developing countries, however, the etiological agent identification does not reach 60% of the cases. A comparative study using the latex particle agglutination test (LPAT) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the diagnosis of meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae type b, Streptococcus pneumoniae or Neisseria meningitidis A and C was carried out in Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil. CSF culture was used as a gold-standard. Two hundred and ninety-nine children, ranging from 3 months to 14 years of age, were included in the investigation. One hundred and forty-four presented a positive CSF culture for the above mentioned bacteria; the remaining presented meningitis due to other organisms (other bacteria or viral) or a normal CSF. The sensitivity and the specificity of LPAT was 95.7 and 100.0% for N. meningitidis C, 95.2 and 100.0% for H. influenzae type b and 86.5 and 100.0% for S. pneumoniae, respectively. When all three organisms were considered simultaneously, the sensitivity and the specificity was 93.0 and 100.0%, respectively. Taking into consideration a realistic estimate of disease prevalence in the community where the diagnostic test is being used, the positive predictive value and the posttest probability were estimated as 36.7 and 47.1% for children < 5 years and as 21.3 and 35.1% for children < 14 years of age, respectively. LPAT is a useful diagnostic test for meningitis due to the studied pathogens, especially in developing countries where laboratory facilities are limited.

Fotoalergia. Estudo de 75 doentes. / Photoallergy: study of 75 patients

Os autores estudam 75 doentes com fotoalergia, com quadro dermatologico representado por lesoes eczematosas em areas expostas. Relacionam os doentes quanto a sexo, idade, cor e epoca do ano em que se manifestou a doenca. Ha maior incidencia em mulheres, na faixa etaria de 51 a 60 anos, em individuos brancos e maior frequencia nos meses de janeiro, abril, junho e dezembro. Relacionam tambem as substancias que produziram o quadro de fotoalergia. Concluem os autores ser a causa de fotoalergia mais frequente a prometazina de uso topico, seguindo-se os sulfamidicos. Em relacao a droga de uso sistemico houve maior incidencia, no grupo estudado, dos sulfamidicos