The insecticidal potential of Foeniculum vulgareMill., Pimpinella anisum L. and Caryophillus aromaticus L. to control aphid on kale plants / Potencial inseticida de Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Pimpinella anisum L. e Caryophillus aromaticus L.no controle de pulgão em couve

ABSTRACTThe use of natural substances for pest control in agriculture is, economically, a viable option and has benefits for both the humanbeing and the environment, due to its low persistence and toxicity. Thus, this trial aimed on determining the insecticidal potential of the extracts and essential oils of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) and clove (Caryophillus aromaticus L.) to control Brevicoryne brassicae L. in kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala DC.). The treatments were: fennel, anise, cloves extracts at 10%; fennel, anise, cloves oils at 1% and control with distilled water. The mortality tests were carried out with aphids in laboratory, with three replications, after 1, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours. During laboratory trials , it was found out that fennel oil at 1% showed the best rate of mortality on aphid nymphs (70% at 72 h), followed by clove extract at 10% with 37% mortality. Tests in pots were only carried out only with cloves extracts at 10% and fennel oil at 1% treatment, in which such efficiency was alsoindicated on aphid nymphs.

RESUMOO uso de produtos naturais para controle de pragas da agricultura é opção economicamente viável e traz benefícios tanto ao homem como ao ambiente devido à sua baixa persistência e toxicidade. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o potencial inseticida de extratos e óleos essenciais de funcho (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), erva doce (Pimpinella anisum L.) e cravo-da-índia (Caryophillusaromaticus L.) para o controle de pulgão (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) em couve (Brassica oleracea var. acephala DC.). Os tratamentos utilizados foram os extratos de funcho, erva-doce e cravo-da-índia a 10%; óleos de funcho, erva-doce, cravo-da- índia a 1% e testemunha com água destilada. Testes de mortalidade sobre pulgão em condições de laboratório foram realizados com três repetições e avaliações após 1, 12, 24, 48 e 72 h. Em laboratório, verificou-se que o óleo de funcho a 1% apresentou maior atividade sobre as ninfas de pulgão (70% em 72 h), seguido do extrato de cravo a 10%, com 37% de mortalidade. Testes em vasos foram realizados somente com o extrato de cravo-da-índia a 10% e óleo de funcho a 1%, nos quais também se constatou a eficácia sobre as ninfas de pulgão.

[Medical visits before return to work, after a long lasting absence, above 60 days, for injuries or common diseases in a public transport company. Analysis and discussions of utility and consequences in term of evaluation of fitness to specific job]. / La visita al rientro da una malattia/infortunio di durata superiore a 60 giorni: analisi critica di una casistica relativa ad una grande azienda di trasporti.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the opportunity to do medical visits before return to work, after a long continuous absence, above 60 days, for injuries (occupational and non-occupational) or common diseases. We have examined medical records of 403 workers, in 2010 and 2011, occupied in a public transport company, in order to control the following variables: job, age, clinical conditions related to the absences, classification of the absence as injuries or common disease and conclusions about medical fitness to specific job. Our findings have shown an equal percentage of causes of absences in term of injuries or common diseases. The main cause of absence and of non fit to specific job, after medical evaluation, is depending on orthopaedic post-traumatic diseases. This evidence support the importance to do medical visits after long-lasting absence from work, particularly in case of jobs (bus, tram, subway drivers) at risk for other people.

Avaliação farmacognóstica e microbiológica da droga vegetal camomila (Chamomilla recutita L. ) comercializada como alimento em Cascavel - Paraná / Pharmacognostic and microbiological evaluation of the medicinal plant chamomile (Chamomilla recutita L. ) commercialized as food in Cascavel Municipality, Paraná State, Brazil

As plantas medicinais, dentre elas a camomila, têm sido muito utilizadas na forma de droga vegetal pela população em geral, como importantes alternativas alimentícias e terapêuticas. Considerando que a fiscalização sanitária destes produtos é precária, este quadro torna-se preocupante, visto que, um produto em condições inadequadas para consumo pode acarretar vários riscos ao consumidor. Diante disso, este trabalho teve por objetivo realizar avaliação farmacognóstica e microbiológica em quinze amostras de chá de camomila comercializadas na cidade de Cascavel, Paraná. A metodologia adotada para a realização dos testes foi a preconizada pela Farmacopéia Brasileira (1988, 1996, 1998). O estudo de autenticidade revelou que todas as amostras eram constituídas por Chamomilla recutita L., porém na maioria das amostras os capítulos florais apresentavam-se excessivamente destruídos. Seis amostras apresentaram teor de materiais estranhos acima de 5 por cento. Quanto ao doseamento de óleo essencial, todas as amostras foram insatisfatórias, visto que, apresentaram apenas traços de óleos essenciais, ou seja, valores abaixo de 0,4 por cento, sendo este valor o mínimo exigido pela Farmacopéia. Com relação às análises de bolores e leveduras foi verificado que quatro amostras apresentaram valores acima do limite de 10(4) UFC mL-1, conforme preconizado pela Organização Mundial de Saúde. A partir dos dados obtidos concluiu-se que a camomila comercializada na cidade de Cascavel - Paraná apresenta problemas com relação à qualidade, sendo necessário definir medidas adequadas de controle higiênico sanitário ao longo da cadeia de produção, para garantir a qualidade e segurança destes produtos.

Medicinal plants, including chamomile, have been largely used by the general population as important food and therapeutic alternatives. Considering that the sanitary control of such products is precarious, this situation becomes worrisome since a product presenting unsuitable conditions for consumption can lead to several risks to the consumer. Thus, the present study aimed to perform a pharmacognostic and microbiological evaluation of fifteen samples of chamomile tea commercialized in Cascavel Municipality, Paraná State, Brazil. The adopted methodology for the tests was that recommended by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (1988, 1996, 1998). The authenticity study indicated that all samples were constituted of Chamomilla recutita L.; however, most samples had excessively destroyed flower capitula. Six samples had levels of strange materials above 5 percent. As regards essential oil evaluation, all samples were unsatisfactory, since they only had essential oil traces, i.e. values under 0.4 percent, which is the lowest value accepted by the Pharmacopoeia. As regards mold and yeast analyses, four samples had values above the limit of 10(4) UFC mL-1, according to that recommended by the World Health Organization. The obtained data suggest that the chamomile commercialized in Cascavel Municipality has problems regarding quality; thus, establishing suitable procedures for sanitary hygienic control in its production chain is needed to assure the quality and the safety of such products.

Biosynthesis of beta-carotene (provitamin A) in rice endosperm achieved by genetic engineering.

To obtain a functioning provitamin A (beta-carotene) biosynthetic pathway in rice endosperm, we introduced in a single, combined transformation effort the cDNAs coding for (1) phytoene synthase (psy) and (2) lycopene beta-cyclase (beta-lcy; both from Narcissus pseudonarcissus and both under control of the endosperm-specific glutelin promoter), with (3) a bacterial phytoene desaturase (crtI, from Erwinia uredovora under constitutive 35S promoter control). This combination covers the requirements for beta-carotene synthesis, and yellow, beta-carotene-bearing rice endosperm was obtained in the T0 generation. However, further experiments revealed that the presence of beta-lcy was not necessary, since psy and crtI alone were able to drive beta-carotene synthesis as well as the formation of further downstream xanthophylls. This finding could be explained if these downstream enzymes are either constitutively expressed in rice endosperm or are induced by the transformation, e.g. by products derived therefrom. Based on results in N. pseudonarcissus as a model system, a likely hypothesis can be developed that trans lycopene or a trans lycopene derivative acts as an inductor in a kind of feedback mechanism stimulating endogenous carotenogenic genes.

Engineering the provitamin A (beta-carotene) biosynthetic pathway into (carotenoid-free) rice endosperm.

Rice (Oryza sativa), a major staple food, is usually milled to remove the oil-rich aleurone layer that turns rancid upon storage, especially in tropical areas. The remaining edible part of rice grains, the endosperm, lacks several essential nutrients, such as provitamin A. Thus, predominant rice consumption promotes vitamin A deficiency, a serious public health problem in at least 26 countries, including highly populated areas of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Recombinant DNA technology was used to improve its nutritional value in this respect. A combination of transgenes enabled biosynthesis of provitamin A in the endosperm.

Upstream and downstream sequence elements determine the specificity of the rice tungro bacilliform virus promoter and influence RNA production after transcription initiation.

The contribution of sequences upstream and downstream of the transcription start site to the strength and specificity of the promoter of rice tungro bacilliform virus was analysed in transgenic rice plants. The promoter is strongly stimulated by downstream sequences which include an intron and is active in all vascular and epidermal cells. Expression in the vascular tissue requires a promoter element located between -100 and -164 to which protein(s) from rice nuclear extracts bind. Elimination of this region leads to specificity for the epidermis. Due to the presence of a polyadenylation signal in the intron, short-stop RNA is produced from the promoter in addition to full-length primary transcript and its spliced derivatives. The ratio between short-stop RNA and full-length or spliced RNA is determined by upstream promoter sequences, suggesting the assembly of RNA polymerase complexes with different processivity on this promoter.

Left ventricular function and exercise tolerance in patients with type II diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) preload changes may alter exercise tolerance (ET), probably lessening activation of the Maestrini-Starling mechanism. Reduced LV filling (pre-load) during the diastolic phase, usually impaired in diabetic patients, could affect ventricular function. HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the relationship between some echocardiographic LV function indices and ET, 24 patients (age 43-75 years, mean 54 +/- 13 years, Group A) with type II diabetes mellitus (DM), not suffering from other pathologies, and for whom the ergometric stress test (EST) resulted in an early interruption because of muscular fatigue and/or dyspnea, and 14 patients (age 38-70 years, mean 53 +/- 12 years, Group B) with type II DM and maximal ergometric stress test, used as control group, were studied. METHODS: The EST was performed by increasing the load by 25 W every 2 min; its duration was used as an ET index and correlated with clinical parameters of LV function obtained with M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: No patients in either Group A or Group B showed a high systolic blood pressure value at rest and/or an LV hypertrophy and/or an alteration of systolic functional indices. In neither group was there significant correlation between ET and duration of DM, basal heart rate, basal and max systolic blood pressure, and EF values. Linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between Doppler parameters of the diastolic function and ET index in Group A, while there was no significant correlation in Group B. CONCLUSION: From these data we can deduce that in absence of left systolic ventricular dysfunction the impairment of LV relaxation in DM can influence exercise tolerance, probably by limiting activation of the contractile reserve.

Electrophysiologic significance of leftward QRS axis deviation in bifascicular and trifascicular blocks.

BACKGROUND: Intraventricular conduction disturbances determine complete impairment of impulse propagation along the right or left bundle branch or the two left fascicles. HYPOTHESIS: This study was undertaken to investigate the electrophysiologic significance of QRS axis (QRSA) orientation in bifascicular and trifascicular blocks. METHODS: A group of 76 subjects, 43 with right bundle-branch block (RBBB) and left anterior hemiblock (LAH) (Group A), and 33 with left bundle-branch block (LBBB) (Group B), was submitted to electrophysiologic evaluation. RESULTS: In Group A, QRSA was inversely related only to intraventricular conduction, while in Group B, QRSA inversely related to infrahisal conduction times. A value of < -60 degrees was considered the cut-off point for determining subjects with a considerable leftward QRSA deviation. Of the 27 Group A patients with a QRSA < -60 degrees, 38.5% developed an infrahisal second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block during incremental atrial stimulation (IAS) in comparison with 11.1% of those with QRSA > -60 degrees. Of the 9 Group B patients with a QRSA < -60 degrees, 44.4% exhibited severe impairment of infrahisal conduction at baseline and 66.6% developed an infrahisal second-degree AV block during IAS, whereas among the remaining 24 with a QRSA > -60 degrees, in only 8.3% were both infrahisal (HV1 and HV2) intervals dangerously prolonged, and 23.8% encountered an infrahisal second-degree AV block during IAS. In Group A, atrioventricular conduction time > 200 ms exhibited a better predictive accuracy than QRSA < -60 degrees for the development of an infrahisal second-degree AV block during IAS, whereas the latter appeared the best noninvasive predictor in Group B with a slightly lesser predictive accuracy than HV > 80 ms. CONCLUSION: The degree of leftward QRSA deviation seems to reflect the entity of intraventricular conduction delay in patients with RBBB + LAH, while it appears to be directly related to infrahisal conduction prolongation in those with LBBB.

QTc and not QTc dispersion behavior affects the occurrence of ventricular extrasystole during exercise in infarcted patients.

Both a long QTc and a large QTc dispersion (QTcd) can predispose infarcted patients to ventricular arrhythmias. The former simply reflects a general prolongation of ventricular recovery time, whereas QTcd is useful for revealing regional inhomogeneities of ventricular repolarization. The aim of our study was to evaluate QTc and QTcd behavior during exercise in 50 patients (all men) with previous myocardial infarction, and its possible correlation with the occurrence of exercise-induced premature ventricular complexes (EIPVC). Our patients underwent ergometric stress test with a load increase of 25 W, every 2 min, until the maximal age-related heart rate or symptoms were obtained, followed by a 10-min recovery phase. QTc and QTcd measurement was performed at rest (BS) and during exercise at two progressively increasing heart rate steps: 100-115 beats/min (T1) and 116-130 beats/ min (T2). The patients were divided into two groups according to the absence (group A; n = 22) or presence (group B; n = 28) of EIPVC. In terms of QTcd, no significant difference was found between the two groups at BS, T1, and T2. As for the mean QTc (QTcm), it was significantly longer in group B at BS (416 +/- 22 ms versus 395 +/- 19 ms; P = 0.001) and at T1 (431 +/- 24 ms versus 410 +/- 8 ms; P = 0.0001). When group B was further differentiated into two subgroups-Bx and Bz-according to the severity of EIPVC, we noted that patients with the most severe arrhythmic response (group Bz; n = 12) showed a persisting, significantly longer QTcm than group A (BS, 426 +/- 28 ms versus 395 +/- 19 ms; P < 0.05; T1, 445 +/- 24 ms versus 410 +/- 8 ms; P < 0.05; T2, 427 +/- 17 ms versus 412 +/- 14 ms; P < 0.05), and group Bx (n = 16) (BS, 426 +/- 28 ms versus 409 +/- 15 ms; P < 0.05; T1, 445 +/- 24 ms versus 420 +/- 19 ms; P < 0.05; T2, 427 +/- 17 ms versus 410 +/- 17 ms; P < 0.05). Group Bx showed a significantly longer QTcm than group A only at BS (409 +/- 15 ms versus 395 +/- 19 ms; P < 0.05). No significant difference in QTcd was found between the three groups at BS, T1, and T2. We also noted that the relationship between QTcm and QTcd was modified by the exercise, changing from a trend of direct relation at BS, towards an inverse one during effort, which reached significance at T2 (r = -0.319; P = 0.037). Based on our data, EIPVC occurrence seems to be more affected by the total duration rather than by regional inhomogeneities of the ventricular recovery time. In those patients with the most severe arrhythmic response, the autonomic modifications generated by the exercise succeed in attenuating only the regional inhomogeneities, but do not eliminate the differences in total duration of the repolarization period.

Correlation between late potentials duration and QTc dispersion: Is there a causal relationship?

QTc interval dispersion (QTcd) analysis (difference between maximum and minimum QTc calculated from at least five of the standard 12 ECG leads) and signal-averaged electrocardiograms were performed on 23 patients referred to our coronary care unit because of acute myocardial infarction. Late potentials were considered positive if all three of the following criteria were satisfied: (1) total QRS duration (QRSd) > 114 ms; (2) duration of QRS under 40 muV (LAS 40) > 38 ms; (3) root mean square voltage of the last 40 ms of QRS (RMS 40) < 25 muV. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (group A, 9 patients) or absence of late potentials (group B, 14 patients). Group A patients showed a significantly higher QTcd (0.0652 +/- 0.0177 s vs. 0.0448 +/- 0.0201 s; P = 0.021) and a significantly longer mean QTcm (0.43117 +/- 0.01817 s vs. 0.40472 +/- 0.03013 s; P = 0.028) than group B patients. Among the three different parameters used to define the presence of late potentials, QTcd was significantly related to LAS 40 (r = 0.418, P = 0.047) and mean QT cm to QRSd (r = 0.497; P = 0.016). We also found a significant correlation between QTcd and mean QTcm (r = 0.426; P = 0.043). In conclusion, our data suggest that (1) the presence of late potentials is associated with a greater dishomogeneity of ventricular recovery time; (2) the longer the duration of late potentials, expressed by LAS 40, the greater the QTcd, suggesting that the dispersion of repolarization could be attributed to slowly conducting areas from which late potentials arise; (3) mean QTcm is not useful to identify these areas because it is more affected by total rather than by terminal QRS duration; (4) regional discrepancies of ventricular recovery time are connected with general repolarization duration.

[Infectious endocarditis in dentistry practice: recent controversies and modes of the use of antibiotic prophylaxis]. / L'endocardite infettiva nella pratica odontostomatologica: recenti controversie e modalità di applicazione dell profilassi antibiotica.

A survey by questionnaire to assess the daily practice of the antibiotic prophylaxis of infective endocarditis by physicians attending post-graduate schools of the Institutes of Oral Surgery and Stomatology (Group A n = 83) and Cardiology (Group B n = 46) of the Second University of Naples has been conducted. They were asked about dental procedure and cardiopathies that require prophylaxis for infective endocarditis, the relationship between infective endocarditis and rheumatic disease and the provision of antibiotic. Extraction of tooth and dental and oral surgery have been reported as the most risky procedures. Moreover provision of antibiotic prophylaxis was suggested to patients not at risk (pacemaker or coronary artery bypass), and was not suggested in high risk conditions (mitral valve prolapse with regurgitation and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). Most of the 50-60% practitioners usually start the prophylaxis 24-48 hours before the procedure and prolong it for 48-72 hours. These results underline the need for improvement of the knowledge for the antibiotic prophylaxis of infective endocarditis.

[Cardiovascular adaptation to the stress test in subjects with Cooley's disease]. / Adattamenti cardiovascolari al test da sforzo in soggetti affetti da morbo di Cooley.

Thalassaemia major determines an impaired effort tolerance because of a condition of severe anaemia, progressive left ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary circulation compromise. The aim of our study is to evaluate haemodynamic response to exercise in thalassaemic patients without clinical features of heart failure. We have selected 13 patients affected by thalassaemia major (Thal+; 10-18 years). Each patient was transfused when haemoglobin values were < 9-9.5 g/dl and was treated with desferrioxamine (40 mg/kg sc) when serum ferritin values were > 2,000 ng/ml. Thal+ patients were compared with normal subjects (Thal- 10-16 years). No patient assumed hypotensive therapy, no had familiar history of hypertension. Both groups have undergone an ergometric stress test at the cycloergometer, with increase of 25 W every 2 min, up to the reaching of the maximum age-related heart rate, or up to muscle exhaustion or unbearable dyspnea, followed by a 10 min recovery phase. The following parameters were taken in consideration: systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, heart rate (HR), the product of the heart rate by the systolic blood pressure (DP), at rest, at the maximum common work (MCW), at maximum stress and in the recovery phases. At rest, only DP showed significant differences between the two groups: in Thal+ patients higher than in Thal- (p = 0.045). At the MCW, Thal+ patients had SBP (p = 0.019), DBP (p = 0.01), HR (p = 0.035) and DP (p = 0.003) higher than Thal- patients. At maximum stress only DBP showed significant differences in Thal+ patients (p = 0.019), although Thal+ patients achieved lower levels of workload (p = 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Arterial pressure in obese subjects during ergometric stress test and recovery]. / Comportamento della pressione arteriosa in soggetti obesi durante sforzo e nel recupero.

In obesity, the systemic resistances (SR) are reduced while the blood volume is increased. The rise of cardiac output (CO), stress-induced, produces an increase in blood pressure (BP), as an hypertensive behavior of the stress-response. The aim of our study is to evaluate if, in obese subjects, the considerable increase of BP is more related to the rise of CO than to the rise of SR. For this reason we studied the behavior of BP through indexes derived from the ratio of SBP values at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 10th minutes of the recovery by the SBP value at the acme of stress. These indexes are under neurovegetative control, and were shown to be impaired in hypertensive pts. The results of ergometric stress test (EST) of 37 obese subjects (Ob+) (27 males and 10 females, mean age 46.2 +/- 7.3 years), determined according to Lorentz's formula, was compared with the parameters deduced from the EST of 18 normal subjects (Ob-) (13 males and 5 females, mean age 36.7 +/- 8.5). The exercise showed an increase, more pronounced in Ob+ subjects, of SBP and DBP, and this also persisted in the recovery phase. Although BP was significantly higher in the Ob+group, the SBP indexes did not differ in the two groups. Then, from these data it can be deduced that, although during EST in obese subjects there is an absolute increase of BP and this persists in the recovery phase, the behavior of this parameter probably cannot be related to alteration of neurovegetative system as demonstrated by the normal SBP indexes.