The Influence of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAMEs) in the Biochemistry and the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase Activity of Culex quinquefasciatus Larvae.

Culex quinquefasciatus is the main vector of lymphatic filariasis and combating this insect is of great importance to public health. There are reports of insects that are resistant to the products currently used to control this vector, and therefore, the search for new products has increased. In the present study, we have evaluated the effects of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) that showed larvicidal activity against C. quinquefasciatus, on glucose, total protein, and triacylglycerol contents and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity in mosquito larvae. The exposure of the fourth instar larvae to the compounds caused a decrease in the total protein content and an increase in the activity of the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase. Furthermore, the direct effect of FAMEs on cell membrane was assessed on purified pig kidney Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase membranes, erythrocyte ghost membranes, and larvae membrane preparation. No modifications on total phospholipids and cholesterol content were found after FAMEs 20 min treatment on larvae membrane preparation, but only 360 µg/mL FAME 2 was able to decrease total phospholipid of erythrocyte ghost membrane. Moreover, only 60 and 360 µg/mL FAME 3 caused an activation of purified Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, that was an opposite effect of FAMEs treatment in larvae membrane preparation, and caused an inhibition of the pump activity. These data together suggest that maybe FAMEs can modulate the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase on intact larvae for such mechanisms and not for a direct effect, one time that the direct effect of FAMEs in membrane preparation decreased the activity of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase. The biochemical changes caused by the compounds were significant and may negatively influence the development and survival of C. quinquefasciatus larvae.

Avulsão dentária: efeito da informação na mudança de comportamento dos professores do ensino fundamental / Dental avulsion: information effects in change behavior of elementary school teachers

Objetivo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito da informação na mudança de comportamento de professores do ensino fundamental com relação à conduta emergencial da avulsão na dentição permanente. Métodos: Questionário contendo 11 questões acerca do tema proposto foi aplicado a 90 professores de 10 escolas do ensino fundamental da rede pública, da cidade de João Pessoa-PB. Após o recebimento dos mesmos, devidamente preenchidos, realizou-se uma palestra informativa sobre o assunto, sendo o questionário reaplicado após 30 dias. Os dados coletados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva e inferencial bivariada. Resultados: Sobre avulsão dentária, 69% dos professores desconheciam o assunto, no entanto, houve aumento significativo da resposta "sim", quando comparadas às respostas de antes (16,7%) e após a palestra (100%). Antes da palestra, apenas 2,8% e 13,3% transportariam o dente avulsionado no leite e na saliva, respectivamente. Houve mudança significativa dessas respostas após a palestra (p<0,05). Sobre possibilidade de reimplante do dente avulsionado, a alternativa "sim" majorou de 27,7% para 72,3% e a resposta "talvez" reduziu de 75,6% para 24,4% (p<0,001). Observou-se uma mudança no nível de conhecimento dos professores no que diz respeito ao conceito de avulsão dentária para 100% dos casos, após 30 dias. Conclusão: O nível inicial de conhecimento sobre avulsão dentária foi relativamente baixo, porém, após a palestra, verificou-se mudança no perfil de informação dos professores.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of information on behavior change of elementary school teachers in relation to the conduct of these cases before dental avulsion in permanent dentition. Methods: Questionnaire about the proposed theme was applied to 90 elementary school teachers from public schools in the city of João Pessoa, PB. After collecting the data, duly completed, an informative talk on the subject was held, and the questionnaire was reapplied after 30 days. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential bivariate statistics. Results: 69% of teachers were unaware of dental avulsion, however, a significant increase of answer "yes", when compared to prior answers (16.7%) and after the lecture (100%). Before the lecture, only 2.8% and 13.3% transport the avulsed tooth in milk and saliva, respectively. There was a significant change those answers after the lecture (p<0,05). About possibility of replantation of the avulsed tooth, the alternative "yes" increased from 27.7% to 72.3% and the answer "maybe" decreased from 75.6% to 24.4% (p<0,001). There was a change in the skill level of the teacher about tooth avulsion to 100% of cases, after 30 days. Conclusion: The initial level of knowledge about tooth avulsion was relatively low but, after the lecture, a change in the information from teachers about the emergency treatment of tooth avulsion occurred profile.

Embryonic development of Rhynchophorus palmarum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): dynamics of energy source utilization.

Energy homeostasis is an essential process during oogenesis, nutrients are required for suitable embryonic development, and recently, studies have investigated metabolic activity during this process. This work aims the investigation of dynamics of energy source utilization of Rhynchophorus palmarum during embryogenesis. For this, we first evaluated the mobilization kinetics of the lipids and glycogen. Thereafter, the synthesis of RNA, protein, and the involvement of enzyme of the glycolytic and pentose-phosphate pathways. Results showed that lipid content decreased in contrast with the lipase activity. The total glycogen amounts it was partly consumed and the glucose content increased, but then values remained stable until hatching. Total RNA content increased, and no significant changes in total protein content were observed. A study of the glycolytic pathway data showed activity of hexokinase and pyruvate kinase at the beginning of embryogenesis. Furthermore, glucose-6-phosphate formed is driven into the pentose-phosphate pathway viewed the high activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Finally, these results showed that mobilization of different energy sources together with different enzymatic activities has an important role in embryonic development of R. palmarum.