Rebrota do capim-marandu submetido ao ataque de cigarrinhas

The objective of this experiment was to characterize and quantify responses of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu under different infestation levels of adult spittlebugs of the genus Mahanarva (Hemiptera: Cercopidae). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in Piracicaba, SP. Treatments corresponded to four spittlebugs infestation levels (5, 10, 20 and 40 adults pot-1) plus the control (unifested), distributed in the experimental units (pots) according to a completely randomized design. The study included period of infestation by insects and regrowth of plants. The following response variables were measured: forage yield, root mass and organic reserves. No significant spittlebug effect was observed on regrowth, stubble and root mass of marandu palisadegrass (p > 0.05). The stubble and root mass, as well as the nonstructural carbohydrates concentration, were influenced only during the regrowth period (p 0.0001). The total nitrogen concentration in stubble and in roots was influenced by the interaction between infestation levels and regrowth period (p 0.0001 and p = 0.0521).

O objetivo deste experimento foi caracterizar e quantificar respostas de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu sob níveis de infestações de cigarrinhas adultas do gênero Mahanarva (Hemiptera: Cercopidae). O ensaio foi realizado em casa de vegetação na Cidade de Piracicaba, SP, e seus tratamentos corresponderam a quatro níveis de infestações de cigarrinhas (5, 10, 20 e 40 insetos adultos vaso-1) mais o controle (sem cigarrinhas), distribuídos nas unidades experimentais (vasos) segundo delineamento inteiramente casualizado. O estudo compreendeu período de infestação pelo inseto e de rebrota das plantas. Avaliaram-se as seguintes variáveis-resposta: acúmulo de forragem, massa de raiz e teor de reservas orgânicas. Não foi observado efeito das cigarrinhas na massa das frações rebrote, resíduo e sistema radicular do capim-marandu (p > 0,05). A massa do resíduo e sistema radicular, assim como a concentração de carboidratos não estruturais nesses órgãos de acúmulo, sofreram influência apenas do período de rebrota (p 0,0001). Já a concentração de nitrogênio total no resíduo e nas raízes foi influenciada pela interação entre níveis de infestação e período de rebrota (p 0,0001 e p = 0,0521).

Clinical experiences of using a cellulose dressing on burns and donor site wounds.

These preliminary results suggest this temporary skin substitute reduces pain and achieves comparable healing rates to other dressings. Furthermore, its transparency enables regular inspection of the wound bed for signs of infection.

[Pulmonary lesion in electric injury: report of a case]. / Comprometimento pulmonar em trauma elétrico: relato de caso.

Major electrical injuries constitute approximately 5% of all admissions to Burn Units. Visceral complications are associated with a high mortality rate. The most common visceral lesions associated to electric burns are cardiac lesions. Pulmonary compromise is rare, if compared to inhalation injuries in termical burns. Although, when the entry or exit ports are the toracic wall, pleural effusion, hemotorax and pneumonitis may occur. A rare case of high-voltage electrical injury with massive pulmonary lesion is presented, regarding to clinical course and roentgenographic patterns.

Immunohistochemical markers in the identification of metastatic breast cancer.

A panel of nine monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were tested regarding specificity for metastatic breast cancer. A hundred metastatic tumors were stained, 50 of breast origin and 50 of other origins. Antibodies used were anti-alpha-lactalbumin, anti-lactoferrin, anti-casein, E29 (Dako-EMA), anti-secretory component, anti-gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDFP15), BRST1, BRST2, and MC5. Analyses of the results were performed using chi-square and logistic regression. Positivity for MC5, BRST1, BRST2, lactoferrin, EMA, and GCDFP15 was significantly higher in tumors of breast origin than in others (p less than 0.05). Analyses of the whole panel indicated that GCDEP15 and MC5 were the best markers for identification of breast cancer metastases. When both were positive (58% of breast origin cases), the predicted probability of breast origin was 98%, compared to only 5% when both were negative. Comparison of anti-GCDFP15 with BRST2, a monoclonal antibody against the same protein, showed a slightly better sensitivity of the former, and a similar degree of specificity for breast tissue. In conclusion, a panel of antibodies can be used to securely differentiate metastatic breast cancer from other cancers in a large number of metastatic tumors of unknown origin.

Sequential determination of immunocytochemical estrogen receptor and nuclear DNA content in fine needle biopsies from breast carcinoma.

The application of fine needle biopsy as a tool for early detection of breast cancer is becoming extensive, therefore parameters reported to be associated with prognosis should be standardized in this material. We propose the sequential determination of estrogen receptor (ER) status and DNA ploidy on the same smear obtained from a fine needle biopsy of a breast carcinoma, since both parameters seem to reflect properties associated with tumor behaviour and biological aggressiveness. Fifty fine-needle biopsies were investigated for presence of ER by the monoclonal antibody D75 followed by DNA content quantification using Feulgen-DNA cytophotometry. Overall, 66% of the tumors showed immunoreactivity for ER and 66% were classified as aneuploid. Forty-one percent of the aneuploid tumors were negative for ER, while only 7% of the diploid tumors showed no immunoreaction (p less than 0.05). The significant association between absence of immunocytochemical ER and DNA aneuploidy on the same fine-needle smear is consistent with data obtained through other methods previously reported using much larger tissue samples.

Tissue carcinoembryonic antigen in the prognosis of early invasive breast cancer.

Twenty-five patients with stage II ductal breast carcinoma followed up for ten years were studied for the presence of tissue carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Overall expression of CEA was 60%. The ten year survival rate was significantly higher for patients with CEA-negative tumours (70%) than for patients with CEA-positive tumours (27%), while the difference between the survival rate of patients with (30%) or without (53%) lymph node involvement did not reach significance. Among the 10 patients with lymph node involvement, CEA-negative patients had a better outcome. These results suggest that there is a correlation between the presence of tissue CEA and the prognosis of the disease, and that CEA status might possibly be more important than lymph node involvement, at least within stage II breast carcinomas.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein and cytokeratin in choroid plexus tumors. An immunohistochemical study.

Ten cases of choroid plexus tumors (3 papillomas and 7 carcinomas) were tested for the presence of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and cytokeratin. None of the papillomas and one of the carcinomas were positive with GFAP antisera. Cytokeratin-positive cells were present in 2 of 7 carcinomas and in all papillomas. There seems to be a positive correlation between the degree of the tumor differentiation and the expression of intermediate filaments.

[Use of immunohistochemistry in detecting the primary site in neoplasm metastasis]. / Utilização da imuno-histoquímica na detecção da sede primária em neoplasias metastáticas.

The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the sensitivity, specificity and applicability of several tissue markers in the determination of the primary sites of metastatic tumors. The immunoperoxidase technique was used in 19 metastatic tumors from breast (6), gastrointestinal tract (6), thyroid (3), prostate (1), ovary (1), pancreas (1) and melanoma (1). Polyclonal antisera against thyroglobulin and prostatic specific antigen were used. The following monoclonal antibodies were employed: BRST-1, BRST-2, CAR-3, BD-5 and HMB-45. BRST-1 and BRST-2 are considered to be breast cancer markers, while CAR-3 and BD-5 gastrointestinal markers. HMB-45 was described as a melanoma marker. Breast markers were positive for 3 out of 6 breast metastases. BRST-1 was also positive for metastases from melanoma and prostate. CAR-3 and BD-5 were positive for 5 out of 6 gastrointestinal metastases. CAR-3 also presented focal positivity for 4 out of 6 breast metastasis, 1 out of 3 thyroid metastasis and for metastasis from ovary, prostate, pancreas and melanoma. BD-5 was also positive for prostate metastasis. Thyroglobulin and prostatic specific antigen were only positive for thyroid and prostate metastasis, respectively. In conclusion, immunocytochemistry and monoclonal antibodies are useful tools in the detection of the primary sites of metastatic tumors of unknown origin. In some of the fields, the results are already satisfactory. Nevertheless, further studies should be carried out to improve this promising technique.

[Estrogen and progesterone receptors in uterine cervix]. / Receptores de estrogeno e progesterona em cervix uterina.

PIP: This report describes the measurement of estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) in cytosols of human exocervix and endometrium, using a charcoal dextran method. Endometrial tissues were obtained from patients undergoing hysterectomy. Curettage specimens of exocervix were obtained from healthy women throughout the menstrual cycle, from women taking combined oral contraceptives, and from postmenopausal women. The highest ER and PR concentrations and ER/PR ratio were detected in endometrium. Exocervix ER and PR levels were lower as compared to endometrium (14% and 3.6% respectively) and no cyclic variations were detectable. Specimens of exocervix from women taking oral contraceptives showed a significant PR decrease. In postmenopausal women, cervical ER and PR levels were significantly higher than in premenopausal women. No difference in binding specificity of estradiol and progesterone to their receptors could be found between endometrium and exocervix. The authors concluded that the effect of estrogen and progesterone on the cervix is limited by the low cytoplasmic receptor levels.^ieng