Do low-cost 3-dimensional printers produce suitable dental models?

INTRODUCTION: When choosing a 3-dimensional printer for dental models, the cost-benefit ratio should be evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy, precision, cost, and time taken to prepare and print using different low-cost techniques (2 digital light processing [DLP] and 1 fused filament fabrication [FFF] printer) compared with the reference proven to be clinically accepted (PolyJet). METHODS: For this purpose, the upper and lower virtual models of 5 patients were printed using: (1) DLP printer Moonray, (2) DLP printer Anycubic, (3) DLP printer Moonray with Anycubic resin, (4) Filament printer UpMini 2 (FFF), and (5) Polyjet printer Objet Eden500V. One of the virtual models was also printed 4 consecutive times on each printer to allow consistency assessment. Afterward, the 14 printed resin models were scanned, and their accuracy was evaluated by model superimposition using Geomagic Qualify software (3D Systems, Rock Hill, SC). A digital caliper was also used to obtain linear measurements. All measurements were carried out by a calibrated examiner. RESULTS: The results showed that all printers produced similar results, although Moonray with Anycubic resin showed loss of accuracy and Anycubic showed inconsistent vertical dimensions. The printing cost and time consumed from each pair of models were calculated for the overall printing process, analyzing which would have the best cost-benefit ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Polyjet printing was considered the fastest method but with the highest cost. FFF printing was the lowest printing and input cost but was considerably more time-consuming. There was a balance in both DLP printers, and they were considered the best cost-benefit ratio for small independent dental offices.

SAFIIRA: A heavy-ion multi-purpose irradiation facility in Brazil.

This work describes the new facility for applied nuclear physics at the University of Sao Paulo, mainly for irradiation of electronic devices. It is a setup composed of a quadrupole doublet for beam focusing/defocusing plus multiple scattering through gold foils to produce low intensity, large-area, and high-uniformity heavy-ion beams from 1H to 107Ag. Beam intensities can be easily adjusted from 102 particles cm2/s to hundreds of nA for an area as large as 2.0 cm2 and uniformity better than 90%. Its irradiation chamber has a high-precision motorized stage, and the system is controlled by a LabViewTM environment, allowing measurement automation. Design considerations and examples of use are presented.

Changes in cardiac biomarkers in goats naturally affected by pregnancy toxemia.

Pregnancy toxemia (PT) is considered one of the most common metabolic diseases with high impact on the production of small ruminants. The objective of this study was investigate possible myocardial damage in goats affected with PT by the determination of serum myocardial biomarkers CK-MB and cTnI. A total of 44 goats affected with PT, and 10 apparently healthy goats (control group or CG) were used in the study. In goats with PT, the serum concentrations of cTnI (0.43 ng/mL) were significantly higher than that in CG goats (0.06 ng/mL). Although CK-MB showed no significant difference, it was approximately three times higher in animals with PT. The serum concentrations of insulin were significantly lower in PT goats (5.03 ppmol/L) compared to CG goats (10.66 pmol/L). The serum concentrations of cortisol in PT goats (155.41 nmol/L) were significantly higher than that in CG goats (36.58 nmol/L). Results of this study indicate that a clinically significant myocardial damage might occur in goats affected with PT leading to significant elevations in values of cTnI and CK-MB. Therefore, these parameters could be used as a potential prognostic indicator in goats affected with this important disease.

A low-cost portable system for elemental mapping by XRF aiming in situ analyses.

This work presents the development of a portable system that allows 2D elemental mapping of large areas (maximum of 35.0 × 35.0 cm2) by XRF. A measuring head, composed of an x-ray source and a detector, is mounted on a 3-axis stage with movement reproducibility better that 0.03 mm. The final elemental map resolution of 1.4 mm was experimentally determined in the best condition of collimation, and the same experiments indicate that the resolution is fully dominated by the x-ray beam spot size. The main goal of this new setup is to perform analyses of historical, archaeological and geological objects. Because it's lightweight, our setup has the potential to be of great utility for in situ analyses, given the great difficulty and high costs transporting the artifacts from the museum to a laboratory. The importance of this instrumentation is related to the need to identify the distribution of the chemical elements in large surface areas of cultural heritage objects by a nondestructive method.

Fenologia e prospecção fitoquímica do jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Holmes) / Phenology and phytochemical prospection of Jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Holmes)

RESUMO O estudo fenológico tem como finalidade determinar o ritmo sazonal dos eventos do ciclo de vida da planta, como floração e frutificação. Estes eventos são determinados por uma série de fatores, como: alternância de períodos chuvosos ou não chuvosos, intensidade da radiação solar, entre outros. A fitoquímica tem por objetivos conhecer os constituintes químicos de espécies vegetais ou avaliar sua presença. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar a caracterização fenológica e a prospecção fitoquímica de folhas de jaborandi. A área de estudo para a avaliação do material vegetal foi o Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de Jaborandi da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, situada no município de Belém-PA. Os acessos escolhidos foram: Merck, cultivado a pleno sol e à sombra; Japonês e Bonal 4, cultivados a pleno sol. Os registros foram realizados diariamente por um período de 28 meses correspondendo a agosto de 2010 a dezembro de 2012, de cinco plantas/acesso e organizados para demonstração mensal, através de fichas com a numeração respectiva das plantas, com registro de presença ou ausência das fenofases, floração e frutificação. A determinação do peso seco das amostras coletadas dos acessos foi realizada no Laboratório de Agroindústria da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, onde, após a triagem e remoção das impurezas, as folhas foram cortadas, pesadas, colocadas em bandejas de inox e secas em estufa com circulação mecânica (FANEM 320-SE), à temperatura de 45º C por 120 h. Em seguida, as amostras foram pesadas, trituradas e acondicionadas em sacos plásticos devidamente identificados e guardados sob refrigeração à temperatura de 10º C até o uso. Os extratos das plantas foram preparados utilizando-se 100 g de folhas secas de cada acesso, triturados e submetidos à extração hidroalcoólica (etanol 80%) em banho-maria sob refluxo, por aproximadamente 4 horas. Os extratos foram armazenados protegidos da luz na geladeira até o momento das análises. Foi analisada a presença das seguintes classes de substâncias químicas: ácidos orgânicos, açúcares redutores, polissacarídeos, proteínas e aminoácidos, taninos, catequinas, flavonoides, glicosídeos cardíacos, lactonas sesquiterpênicas, azulenos, carotenoides, esteroides e triterpenoides, depsídeos e depsidonas, derivados da cumarina, saponina espumídica, alcaloides, purinas, antraquinonas. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que a espécie Pilocarpus microphyllus apresentou floração durante o ano todo e frutificação em onze meses, e a prospecção fitoquímica revelou a presença de 11 classes de constituintes químicos.

ABSTRACT Phenological studies aim to determine the seasonal rhythm of the plant life cycle events, as flowering and fruiting. These events are determined by different factors, such as: alternating periods of rainy or dryer seasons, solar radiation intensity, among others. Phytochemistry aims to identify the chemical constituents of plant species or to evaluate their presence. This study aimed the phenological characterization and the phytochemical prospection of jaborandi leaves. The chosen study area for the plant material assessment was the Active Germplasm Bank of Jaborandi in the Embrapa Eastern Amazon, located in the city of Belém, PA, Brazil. The chosen accessions were the following: Merck, grown in full sun and in shade; Japanese and Bonal 4, both grown in full sun. Records were taken on a daily basis for a period of 28 months (August of 2010 to December of 2012), from five plants/accession, and arranged for monthly demonstrations by record sheets containing the corresponding plant numeration and the presence or absence of flowering and fruiting phenophases. The dry weight of the samples collected from the accessions was measured at the Laboratory of Agribusiness of Embrapa Eastern Amazon, where, after the sorting and removal of impurities, the leaves were cut, weighed, placed in stainless steel trays, and dried in forced air circulation oven (FANEM 320 UP) at a 45°C for 120h. Then, the samples were weighed, crushed, and placed in plastic bags properly identified and stored under refrigeration at a temperature of 10ºC until the use. The plant extracts were prepared using 100g of dried leaves from each accession, crushed, and subjected to hydroalcoholic extraction (80% ethanol) with water bath heating under reflux for approximately 4 hours. The extracts were stored protected from light in a refrigerator until the analysis. We analyzed the presence of the following classes of chemical substances: organic acids, reducing sugars, polysaccharides, proteins and amino acids, tannins, catechins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, sesquiterpene lactones, azulenes, carotenoids, steroids and triterpernoids, depsides and depsidones, coumarin derivatives, foam saponin, alkaloids, purines, anthraquinones. Our results showed that the flowering of Pilocarpus microphyllus occurred throughout the year and fruiting occurred in eleven months, and the phytochemical prospection revealed the presence of 11 classes of chemical constituents.

Redução da nocicepção articular induzida pela formalina em ratos tratados com laser de baixa potência 670 ou 830 nm / Reduction of joint nociception induced by formalin in rats treated ith low level laser therapy 670 or 830 nm

Modelo do estudo: estudo experimental, de caráter transversal. Objetivo: avaliar os efeitos do laser de baixa potência (LBP), com comprimento de onda de 670nm e 820nm, na nocicepção de ratos Wistar submetidos à hipernocicepção articular no joelho direito. Metodologia: foram utilizados 18 ratos Wistar, separados em 3 grupos: G1 – não tratados; G2 – tratados com LBP 670 nm; G3 – tratados com LBP 830nm. Para a indução da hipernocicepção foi injetado no espaço articular tíbio-femoral 100 µL de formalina 5%. Para avaliar a nocicepção foi utilizado o filamento de von Frey digital, tanto com pressão sobre o joelho, quanto na região plantar; esta avaliação aconteceu: pré-lesão (AV1), após 15 (AV2), 30 (AV3) e 60(AV4) minutos da indução da hipernocicepção. Para o tratamento com LBP foi usada fluência de 8 J/cm, logo após AV2. Resultados: o limiar de retirada, quando a pressão foi realizada no joelho, mostrou que 670 nm produziu elevação do limiar em AV3 e AV4, retornando para valores semelhantes aos de AV1.Para a região plantar, apenas 830 nm mostrou restauração dos valores em AV4, e foi maior em AV3 ao comparar com o grupo controle. Conclusão: ambos os comprimentos de onda produziram elevação do limiar de retirada da pata, em ratos com hipernocicepção em joelho.

Study design: experimental study of cross-cutting nature. Objective: To evaluate the low level laser therapy (LLLT) effects, with a wavelength of 670 and 820nm, in nociception of Wistar rats submitted to hypernociception in his right knee. Methods: 18 Wistar rats, separated into 3 groups: G1 – untreated; G2– treated with LBP 670 nm; G3 – treated with LBP 830 nm. For the hypernociception induction was injected into the tibiofemoral articular space 100 µL of 5% formalin. To evaluate nociception was used digital von Frey filament, both with pressure on the knee, as in the plantar region. The evaluations occurred: pre-injury (EV1), 15 (EV2), 30 (EV3) and 60 (EV4) minutes after hypernociception induction. For the treatment with LBP was used to 8 J/cm2, after EV2. Results: the with drawal threshold, when the pressure was held at the knee, showed that 670 nm produced threshold elevation in EV3 and EV4, returning to values similar to those of EV1. For the plantar region, only 830 nm showed restoration of values inEV4, and was higher in EV3 when comparing with G1. Conclusion: Both wavelengths produced raising the paw with drawal threshold in rats with knee hypernociception.

Backcrossing to increase meiotic stability in triticale.

Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) is an intergeneric hybrid derived from a cross between wheat and rye. As a newly created allopolyploid, the plant shows instabilities during the meiotic process, which may result in the loss of fertility. This genomic instability has hindered the success of triticale-breeding programs. Therefore, strategies should be developed to obtain stable triticale lines for use in breeding. In some species, backcrossing has been effective in increasing the meiotic stability of lineages. To assess whether backcrossing has the same effect in triticale, indices of meiotic abnormalities, meiotic index, and pollen viability were determined in genotypes from multiple generations of triticale (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1a, and BC1b). All analyzed genotypes exhibited instability during meiosis, and their meiotic index values were all lower than normal. However, the backcrosses BC1a and BC1b showed the lowest mean meiotic abnormalities and the highest meiotic indices, demonstrating higher stability. All genotypes showed a high rate of pollen viability, with the backcrosses BC1a and BC1b again exhibiting the best values. Statistical analyses confirmed that backcrossing positively affects the meiotic stability of triticale. Our results show that backcrossing should be considered by breeders aiming to obtain triticale lines with improved genomic stability.

An isolate of the nematophagous fungus Monacrosporium thaumasium for the control of cattle trichostrongyles in south-eastern Brazil.

A mycelial formulation in sodium alginate pellets of the nematophagous fungus Monacrosporium thaumasium (isolate NF34A) was assessed in the biological control of beef cattle trichostrongyles in tropical Brazil. Two groups of ten male Nellore calves aged 6 months, a fungus-treated group and a control group, were fed on a pasture of Brachiaria decumbens naturally infected with larvae of cattle trichostrongyles. The fungus-treated group received doses of sodium alginate mycelial pellets orally (1 g pellets (0.2 g fungus)/10 kg live weight) twice a week for 12 months. At the end of the study there was a significant reduction (P< 0.01) in the number of eggs per gram of faeces and coprocultures of the fungus-treated group--47.8% and 50.2%, respectively--in relation to the control group. There was a 47.3% reduction in herbage samples, collected up to 0-20 cm from faecal pats, between the fungus-treated and control groups, and a 58% reduction when the sampling distance was 20-40 cm from faecal pats (P< 0.01). The treatment with sodium alginate pellets containing the nematode-trapping fungus M. thaumasium reduced trichostrongyles in tropical south-eastern Brazil and could be an effective tool for the biological control of this parasitic nematode in beef cattle. However, in such a tropical climate with low rainfall the fungal viability can be reduced.

Long-term 3-dimensional stability of mandibular advancement surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate 3-dimensional changes in the position of the condyles, rami, and chin from 1 to 3 years after mandibular advancement surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study used pre- and postoperative cone-beam computed tomograms of 27 subjects with skeletal Class II jaw relation and normal or deep overbite. An automatic technique of cranial base superimposition was used to assess positional and bone remodeling changes that were visually displayed and quantified using 3-dimensional color maps. Analysis of covariance with presence of genioplasty, age at time of surgery, and gender as explanatory variables was used to estimate and test adjusted mean changes for each region of interest. RESULTS: The chin rotated downward and backward 1 to 3 years after surgery. Changes of at least 2 mm were observed in 17% of cases. Mandibular condyles presented with displacements or bone remodeling of at least 2 mm on the anterior surface (21% of cases on the left side and 13% on the right), superior surface (8% on right and left sides), and lateral poles (17% on left side and 4% on right). Posterior borders of the rami exhibited symmetric lateral or rotational displacements in 4% of cases. CONCLUSION: In the hierarchy of surgical stability, mandibular advancement surgery is considered one of the most stable surgical procedures. However, 1 to 3 years after surgery, approximately 20% of patients had 2- to 4-mm changes in horizontal and vertical chin positions or changes in condylar position and adaptive bone remodeling.

Comparison between the action of nematode predatory fungi Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium thaumasium in the biological control of bovine gastrointestinal nematodiasis in tropical southeastern Brazil.

Sodium alginate pellets of the nematode predatory fungi Duddingtonia flagrans and Monacrosporium thaumasium were evaluated in the biological control of bovine gastrointestinal nematodiasis. Three groups (A-C) of ten six month old male Nelore bulls were kept in paddocks of Brachiaria decumbens for 12 months. Each animal of group A received 1g/10 kg of body weight (b.w.) of pellets of D. flagrans (0.2 g of fungus/10 kg b.w.) and of group B, 1g/10 kg of b.w. of pellets of M. thaumasium (0.2 g of fungus/10 kg b.w.), twice a week, for 12 months. Animals of the group control received no fungus. The monthly averages of egg count per gram of feces of the animals of groups A and B were 56.67% and 47.8% smaller, than the animals of group C (p<0.05), respectively. Treatment of bulls with pellets containing the nematophagous fungi D. flagrans and M. thaumasium can be used as an alternative treatment of bovine gastrointestinal nematodiasis, however, D. flagrans was more efficient than M. thaumasium for the biological control in the environmental conditions of the present study.

Confirmação de infecção por Brucella abortus em um rebanho bovino certificado livre em Minas Gerais: relato de caso / Brucella abortus infection in an officially brucellosis-free bovine herd in Minas Gerais state - Brazil: a case report

Relata-se a ocorrência de um surto de brucelose em um rebanho de aproximadamente 1000 animais, livre da doença há 18 anos, certificado pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento desde 2006. Dois animais reagiram aos testes sorológicos de diagnóstico por ocasião dos procedimentos de recertificação em 2008. Após o sacrifício deles, Brucella abortus, biovariedade 1, amostra não vacinal, foi isolada e identificada por meio de provas bioquímicas e de biologia molecular (PCR AMOS). A origem do agente no rebanho é de difícil determinação. No entanto, a adoção de procedimentos preconizados pelo Programa Nacional de Controle e Erradicação da Brucelose permitiu evitar a disseminação da enfermidade. Ocorrências como essas, em que rebanhos livres foram infectados após anos sem a ocorrência de brucelose, nunca haviam sido relatadas no Brasil.

A Brucellosis outbreak is reported in a bovine herd free from the disease for over 18 years, officially free since 2006. One heifer and one cow tested positive in serological tests for the 2008 annual recertification in a herd of almost 1000 animals. Isolation and identification by biochemical tests and molecular biology (AMOS PCR) confirmed the infection by a Brucella abortus biovar 1 field strain. It wasn't possible to find the source of the infection. However, adoption of standard procedures prescribed by the Brazilian National Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Control and Eradication Program hindered the spread of the disease. This is the first report of a Brucella infection in an officially Brucellosis-free bovine herd in Brazil.

Anticoccidial efficacy of drinking water soluble diclazuril in the control of Eimeria acervulina oocysts on experimentally-infected broiler chickens / Eficiência do diclazuril (formulação líquida) no controle de oocistos de Eimeria acervulina em frangos de corte experimentalmente infectados

The experiment was carried out with 150 Cobb broiler chickens divided into 3 groups with 50 birds each. The groups of infected chickens orally received 1ml of inoculum containing 3x103 Eimeria acervulina sporulated oocysts at 12 days of age. Group 1 was kept as a positive control with infected non-medicated birds, group 2 was medicated with diclazuril (1%) with a dose of 1mL/4 L of drinking water for 2 successive days, 5 days after infection, while group 3 was kept as negative control with non-infected and non-medicated birds. Oocysts count per gram of feces, score of macroscopic intestinal lesions and weight gain were evaluated. The group treated with diclazuril showed significant and satisfactory improvement in the assessment criteria when compared to the infected non-medicated group. The results revealed more reduction in the total oocyst count and intestinal lesion score in the medicated than in the infected non-treated group. The results confirmed that (1%) liquid diclazuril is effective to control Eimeria infection.

O experimento foi realizado com 150 frangos de corte da linhagem Cobb, divididos em 3 grupos de 50 aves cada. Os frangos de dois grupos (G1 e G2) receberam, por via oral, 1mL de inóculo contendo 3x103 oocistos de Eimeria acervulina aos 12 dias de idade. O grupo 1 foi mantido como grupo controle positivo (infectado não medicado), o grupo 2 foi medicado com diclazuril (1%) na dose de 1mL/4 litros de água potável por dois dias sucessivos, cinco dias após a infecção. Um terceiro grupo (G3) foi mantido como controle negativo não infectado e não medicado. O número de oocistos por grama de fezes (OOPG), o escore de lesões macroscópicas intestinais e o ganho de peso corporal foram avaliados. No G1, o OOPG foi de 3,67x106 e o peso final foi de 1,392kg, valores significativamente diferentes do OOPG de 1,93x106 oocistos e do peso final de 1,613kg do G2 (diclazuril). Os resultados provaram que o diclazuril (1%) em formulação líquida e na dosagem de 1mL/4 litros de água por dois dias sucessivos foi eficaz no controle de Eimeria acervulina.

Biological control of trichostrongyles in beef cattle by the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans in tropical southeastern Brazil.

The efficacy of a fungal formulation based on the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans was assessed in the control of cattle trichostrongyles. Twenty male Nellore calves, six-month-old, divided in two groups (fungus-treated and control without fungus) were fed on a pasture of Brachiaria decumbens naturally infected with larvae of bovine trichostrongyles. Animals of the treated group received doses of sodium alginate mycelial pellets orally (1 g/10 kg live weight, twice a week), for 12 months. Feces samples were collected for egg count (eggs per gram of feces-EPG) and coprocultures during 12 months. There was a significant reduction in EPG (56.7%) and infective larvae (L3) in coprocultures (60.5%) for animals of the treated group in relation to the control group at the end of the study. There was a significant reduction of L3 (64.5%) in herbage samples collected up to 0-20 cm from fecal pats and 73.2% in distant samples (20-40 cm) between the fungus-treated group and the control group. The treatment with sodium alginate pellets containing the nematode trapping fungus D. flagrans reduced trichostrongylid in tropical southeastern Brazil and could be an effective tool for biological control of this parasitic nematode in beef cattle.

Study on placing electromyography electrodes on lumbar multifidus muscles

Several studies have been carried out in the last decades showing that specific exercises for the multifidus muscle can aid the lumbar back pain treatment. Hence, it is very important to determine the exact location of these muscles for an electromyographic evaluation. The objective of this study is to conduct a literature review to show the different techniques used to place invasive electrodes and test a specific technique through an anatomic study in cadavers. PubMed database in the period of 1970 to 2009 was used. The results suggest that the needle should be introduced 2.5 cm laterally and 1.0 cm cranially from the most inferior point of the spinous process at a 45° medial inclination toward the vertebral laminae until reaching the periosteum. For the L5 level, the needle is inserted at the same angle, 2.5 lateral to the midline between the posterior superior iliac spines.

Controlled tooth movement to correct an iatrogenic problem.

This case report describes the treatment of a 9-year old boy, who had his maxillary central incisors extruded by noncontrolled elastic mechanics to close a diastema. The article describes the consequences of this movement and how the problem was solved with controlled intrusion.

Qualidade de silagem de cultivares de brachiaria brizantha ensilado com diferentes níveis de farelo de milheto / Silage quality of brachiaria brizantha cultivars ensiled with different levels of millet meal

The silage quality of Brachiaria brizantha cultivars ensiled with different levels of millet meal was evaluated. The experimental design was a completely randomized with three replications in a factorial 3 x 4, with three cultivars of Brachiaria brizantha: marandu, xaraés, and piatã and four levels of millet meal 0, 5, 10, and 15 percent. The addition of millet meal improved the quality of B. brizantha silage. The inclusion of the additive at 15 percent provided the best nutritional values. The piatã silage had the lowest contents of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and lignin and the highest content of total digestible nutrients, being a better quality silage as compared to those of xaraés and marandu grasses.

Avaliou-se a qualidade de silagem de cultivares de Brachiaria brizantha ensilados com diferentes níveis de farelo de milheto. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente ao acaso, com três repetições, em esquema fatorial 3 x 4, sendo, três cultivares de Brachiaria brizantha: marandu, xaraés e piatã e quatro níveis de farelo de milheto: 0, 5, 10 e 15 por cento. A adição de farelo de milheto melhorou a qualidade das silagens de cultivares de B. brizantha. A inclusão de 15 por cento do aditivo proporcionou os melhores valores nutritivos. A silagem de capim-piatã apresentou os menores teores de fibra em detergente neutro, de fibra em detergente ácido e de lignina, e o maior teor de nutrientes digestíveis totais, mostrando ser de melhor qualidade quando comparada com as silagens de capim-xaraés e capim-marandu.

Leishmania infantum: Lipophosphoglycan intraspecific variation and interaction with vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.

Interspecies variations in lipophosphoglycan (LPG) have been the focus of intense study over the years due its role in specificity during sand fly-Leishmania interaction. This cell surface glycoconjugate is highly polymorphic among species with variations in sugars that branch off the conserved Gal(ß1,4)Man(α1)-PO(4) backbone of repeat units. However, the degree of intraspecies polymorphism in LPG of Leishmania infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi) is not known. In this study, intraspecific variation in the repeat units of LPG was evaluated in 16 strains of L. infantum from Brazil, France, Algeria and Tunisia. The structural polymorphism in the L. infantum LPG repeat units was relatively slight and consisted of three types: type I does not have side chains; type II has one ß-glucose residue that branches off the disaccharide-phosphate repeat units and type III has up to three glucose residues (oligo-glucosylated). The significance of these modifications was investigated during in vivo interaction of L. infantum with Lutzomyia longipalpis, and in vitro interaction of the parasites and respective LPGs with murine macrophages. There were no consequential differences in the parasite densities in sand fly midguts infected with Leishmania strains exhibiting type I, II and III LPGs. However, higher nitric oxide production was observed in macrophages exposed to glucosylated type II LPG.

Outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in young children with death due to rotavirus genotype G9 in Rio Branco, Brazilian Amazon region, 2005.

BACKGROUND: An epidemic of acute gastroenteritis occurred in Rio Branco City, Acre State, in Brazil's Amazon region in 2005. An investigation was conducted to confirm the etiology and identify possible risk factors for death. METHODS: Rio Branco municipality surveillance data for the period May to October 2005 were reviewed. In a case-control study, children who died following acute gastroenteritis were compared to age-matched controls with acute gastroenteritis who survived. Rotavirus A (RV-A) was investigated in 799 stool samples and genotyped by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of diarrhea in children aged <5 years was 21%. A fatal outcome was significantly associated with uncovered household water storage containers. RV-A was identified in 88% of samples and G9 was the prevalent genotype (71%). CONCLUSIONS: Oral rehydration solution and boiling or chlorinating drinking water likely limited mortality. This epidemic was caused by RV-A genotype G9. After the outbreak, a rotavirus vaccine was introduced into the official childhood immunization schedule in Brazil.

In vitro evaluation of Clostridium septicum alpha toxoid / Avaliação in vitro de toxoide alfa de Clostridium septicum

Aiming to investigate in vitro alternatives, a test for neutralizing antibody detection using cell culture was developed. This test was more sensitive than previous animal models, allowing for detection of substantially lower alpha toxin and anti-alpha toxin titers. Titers observed during in vivo and in vitro seroneutralization had a correlation of 99.12 percent, indicating that cell culture is a viable alternative in the evaluation of vaccine potency, screening of vaccinal seeds, and Clostridium septicum alpha toxin titration.

Padronizou-se um teste para detecção de anticorpos neutralizantes in vitro, em cultura de células. O modelo in vitro mostrou-se mais sensível que os testes com animais, permitindo a detecção de títulos de toxina e antitoxina alfa mais baixos. Os títulos observados na soroneutralização in vivo e in vitro, apresentaram correlação de 99,12 por cento, demonstrando ser a cultura de células uma alternativa viável na avaliação da potência de vacinas, triagem de sementes vacinais e titulação de toxina alfa de Clostridium septicum.

Mionecroses clostridiais bovinas / Bovine clostridial myonecrosis

As mionecroses são enfermidades altamente fatais, representadas pelo carbúnculo sintomático e edema maligno. Com o objetivo de determinar a ocorrência dos diferentes clostrídios envolvidos nas mionecroses em bovinos no Brasil, foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo a partir de 30 casos suspeitos de carbúnculo sintomático e edema maligno. Empregou-se a técnica de estreptavidina biotina peroxidase em tecidos de bovinos fixados em formol e incluídos em parafina de arquivos de patologia de diferentes estados do país. Foram detectados 21 Clostridium chauvoei (70%), cincoClostridium septicum(17%), seguidos de doisC. chauvoeiassociado aoC. septicum (7%), um C. chauvoei mais Clostridium sordellii (3%) e um C. chauvoei mais Clostridium novyi tipo A (3%). Este é o primeiro diagnóstico de C. novyi tipo A no Brasil, e o primeiro relato da ocorrência de C. chauvoei associado à lesão no miocárdio. Os achados da maior ocorrência de C. chauvoei e C. septicum corroboram com estudos anteriores no país. Estes dados sobre a ocorrência dos agentes responsáveis pelas mionecroses em diferentes estados do país são de extrema importância frente às decisões relativas ao controle dessas enfermidades.

Clostridial myonecroses are highly fatal diseases, characterized by black leg and malignant oedema. In order to determine the occurrence of the different agents involved in Brazilian clostridial myonecrosis, a retrospective study was conducted concerning 30 suspected cases of blackleg and gas gangrene using a streptavidin-biotin peroxidase technique in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of cattle from the archives of pathology of different states of Brazil. The clostridia predominantly detected wereClostridium chauvoei(70%), followed by Clostridium septicum (5 cases or 17%), C. chauvoei plus C. septicum (2 cases or 7%), C. chauvoei plus Clostridium sordellii (1 case or 3%), C. chauvoei plus Clostridium novyi type A (1 case or 3%). This is the first diagnosis of C. novyi type A in Brazil. The findings of the higher occurrence of C. chauvoei and C. septicum concur with previous works in Brazil. This article also includes the first report in Brazil of the occurrence of C. chauvoei associated with a lesion in the myocardium. Thus, this study supplies important data about the occurrence of the agents responsible for clostridial myonecrosis in different states of Brazil, these data being important for decisions relative to control of these diseases.