Evaluation of temporomandibular joint disc displacement as a risk factor for osteoarthrosis.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc displacement is a clinical sign often found in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and associated with TMJ osteoarthrosis. Osteoarthrosis is a degenerative joint disease that may be associated with pain and functional disability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the odds ratio (OR) of joints with disc displacement presenting osteoarthrosis via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis. In total, 224 TMJ images from patients with signs and symptoms of a TMD were evaluated. The OR, a measure of association, was used to calculate the likelihood of TMJ disc displacement (with or without reduction) with osteoarthrosis. Joints with anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDwR) and anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR) were 2.73- and 8.25-times, respectively, more likely to have osteoarthrosis. A nine-times greater likelihood of osteophyte occurrence was observed in cases of ADDwoR, whereas a lower OR for their occurrence (OR 2.96) was observed in cases of ADDwR. The significant OR of joints with disc displacement presenting osteoarthrosis, particularly in cases of ADDwoR, emphasizes the importance of accurate assessment of changes in disc position, which may be associated with other painful and functional disorders of the TMJ.

Temporal variability in epifaunal assemblages associated with temperate gorgonian gardens.

The present study is one of the few that investigate the temporal variability of epifaunal assemblages associated with coral species, particularly the octocorals Eunicella gazella and Leptogorgia lusitanica in south Portugal. The results suggest time rather than colony size as a primary driver of the ecological patterns of these assemblages, which were dominated by amphipods, molluscs and polychaetes. Temporal variability was linked to changes in environmental parameters, namely temperature, chlorophyll a and particulate organic carbon. Hence, temporal variability must be taken into account for the design of future biodiversity assessment studies, as different patterns may be observed depending on the sampling time. Associated epifaunal assemblages were consistently dominated by resident species (i.e. species present in all sampling periods) and a peak of rare species was observed in the transition from spring to summer following the increase in seawater temperature. Turnover was particularly high in the transition between the spring and summer periods. In both hosts, turnover was higher in the small sized colonies, which harboured less diverse and less abundant assemblages that also differed from those inhabiting larger size colonies. The high levels of diversity associated with gorgonian colonies highlight the need for the conservation of this priority habitat.

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Characterization of eight microsatellite loci in the woolly mouse opossum, Micoureus paraguayanus, isolated from Micoureus demerarae.

Eight novel microsatellite markers were isolated from the woolly mouse opossum from the Amazon Forest in Peru, Micoureus demerarae, using a partial genomic DNA library and an enrichment protocol. These loci were polymorphic in M. demerarae and Micoureus paraguayanus populations from the Atlantic Forest in Brazil with the number of alleles ranging from two to 23. Those eight loci plus another five already described for M. paraguayanus will allow for the evaluation of genetic diversity of populations from the 'Rio Doce' Park, one of the last Atlantic Forest fragments in Minas Gerais state, Brazil.

Formação e estrutura populacional do eqüino Brasileiro de Hipismo

Data from Brasileiro de Hipismo Stud Book, collected by the breed Association (ABCCH), from July 1977 to September 1998 were analyzed. Final data set included 19,303 animals, 11,508 Brasileiro de Hipismo (BH) and 7,795 of other foundation breeds. Data were analyzed for frequency, central tendency and range of variation according to owner, breeder, sex, type of registration, county and state of birth and foundation breeds. The frequency of crosses using foundation breeds and inbreeding coefficient according to year of birth and sex were estimated. Generation number for each animal, generation interval and effective population size (Ne) were calculated. Among the 20 breeds used in the formation of the BH horse, the most important were: Thoroughbred (15.0%), Hanoverian (8.1%), Westphalian (5.2%), Holsteiner (4.8%), Trakehner (4.1%), graded BH (22.5%) and unknown pedigree animals (21.9%). The records came from 14 states and 76% of the animals were registered in São Paulo State. The maximum number of generations was 3.12 (one animal), with 59.7% of the horses in the first generation and 24.1% in generation 1.5. Generation interval was 9.7 years, 10.4 for males and 9.3 for females. The Ne was 253 animals, and the inbreeding coefficient was close to zero.

Analisaram-se dados do Stud Book Brasileiro do Cavalo de Hipismo, da Associação Brasileira de Criadores do Cavalo de Hipismo (ABCCH), correspondentes a julho de 1977 a setembro de 1998. O arquivo final continha 19.303 eqüinos, 11.508 da raça Brasileira de Hipismo (BH) e 7.795 de raças formadoras. Distribuição de freqüência, medidas de tendência central e de dispersão por criador, proprietário, sexo, tipo de registro, estado do nascimento, raça formadora, cruzamento utilizado na formação e coeficiente de endogamia foram estabelecidas para os efetivos da raça BH. Foram também calculados número da geração de cada animal, intervalo de gerações (anos) e tamanho efetivo da população (Ne). Vinte raças foram utilizadas na formação do BH, sendo as principais: BH (22,5%), animais sem genealogia conhecida (21,9%), PSI (15,0%), Hanoverana (8,1%), Westfalen (5,2%), Holsteiner (4,8%) e Trakehner (4,1%). Registros foram feitos em 14 estados da Federação, 76% deles em São Paulo. Número máximo de gerações encontrado foi de 3,12 (um animal), 59,7% dos animais na geração base e 24,1% na geração 1,5. O intervalo médio de gerações foi de 9,9 anos, 10,4 para garanhões e 9,3 para éguas. O Ne foi de 253 animais e os coeficientes de endogamia observado e esperado foram próximos de zero.