First Report on the Association Between Ceratocystis fimbriata, an Agent of Mango Wilt, Xyleborus affinis, and the Sawdust Produced During Beetle Colonization in Brazil.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an economically important fruit crop in many tropical and subtropical regions. Recently, the wilt disease caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata has limited mango production in Brazil and other countries (3). There are reports that Hypocryphalus mangifera (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a vector of Ceratocystis spp. and that other beetles, such as Xyleborus affinis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), may attack mango trees and excavate gallery burrows, thereby producing sawdust (1,3). In March 2011, X. affinis was found colonizing diseased mango trees located in Itaperuna, Rio de Janeiro State (21°12'23″ S, 41°53'23″ W). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether both the beetle and the sawdust produced in colonized trees would be associated with C. fimbriata. In March 2011, three isolates of C. fimbriata were collected: CF01 in sawdust from 'Espada' trees with wilt symptoms (yellowish to dried leaves, dried stems, and gum exudation from the stem) in Itaperuna; CF02 from X. affinis colonizing wilted trees in Itaperuna; and CF03 from wilted 'Palmer' trees in Frutal, Minas Gerais State (20°1'11″ S, 48°55'10″ W). To obtain the isolates, fragments of sawdust, beetles, and mango stem were set between carrot disks and incubated in a wet chamber at 25°C with 12 h of light (4). After 10 days, the ascospores produced in perithecia in the carrot tissue were directly transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) in 9-cm petri dishes and incubated at 25°C with 12 h of light. After 10 days, 1-cm mycelial disks were taken from the borders of actively growing colonies. In each of 20 seedlings of 8-month-old 'Espada,' growing in 18 × 25 cm plastic pots with a soil-sand-cow manure mixture (3:1:1, v/v), a 1-cm diameter wound in the stem was made with a cork borer (20 cm above the soil surface). A mycelial disk was placed in each wound (a plain PDA disk was placed in control plants). After inoculation, a wet cotton plug was placed on the wound, which was then wrapped with Parafilm. Five plants were inoculated in each treatment. The seedlings were checked weekly for up to 56 days after inoculation. All three isolates were pathogenic, causing typical disease symptoms on the plants, beginning 7 days after inoculation: gum exudation (60, 60, and 0%); and yellowish and wilt (80, 100, and 80%). The % values are for isolates CF01, CF02, and CF03, respectively. No disease symptoms were observed in the control seedlings. After reisolating, the three isolates were confirmed as being C. fimbriata: perithecia (110 to 250 µm wide, 120 to 250 µm tall), base dark, globose, and long dark necks (440 to 770 µm long, 28 to 40 µm wide); ascospores hyaline, one-celled, galeate (5.0 to 7.5 µm long, 3.5 to 5.0 µm wide), exuded in sticky and cream colored mass at the apex of the perithecium neck (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between C. fimbriata and both X. affinis and the sawdust produced during beetle colonization. Therefore, both the beetle and the sawdust are potential dispersal agents of C. fimbriata in mango orchards. This finding is epidemiologically important, and the disease spread related to both sawdust and beetle is being followed in the field. References: (1) A. O. Al Adawi et al. Eur. J. Plant. Pathol. 135:243, 2013. (2) C. J. B. Engelbrecht and T. C. Harrington. Mycologia 97:57, 2005. (3) A. Masood et al. Pakistan J. Zool. 44:1545, 2012. (4) W. J. Moller and J. E. De Vay. Phytopathology 58:123, 1968.

First Report of Cercospora coffeicola Causing Cercospora Leaf Spot of Castor Beans in Brazil.

In a coffee (Coffea arabica) farm located in Ervália, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, we observed castor bean (CB; Ricinnus communis) plants growing as weeds. Currently, there is increasing interest in CB as a crop in Brazil because it is an alternative source for biofuel production, but there is little knowledge on CB diseases. According to reports from Costa Rica (2) and Malawi (3), Cercospora coffeicola can cause leaf spots in CB plants. Considering the increasing importance of Cercospora leaf spot on coffee and the expansion of CB plantings in Brazil, in 2008 we evaluated whether CB plants were susceptible to C. coffeicola. Healthy seedlings of an unknown CB cultivar were collected from the experimental coffee area in Ervália, transplanted to pots, and kept under greenhouse conditions. Each of two C. coffeicola isolates from coffee, obtained from the collection of the Departamento de Fitopatologia, was inoculated on two CB plants and three 'Catuaí Vermelho' coffee plants, each with four fully expanded leaves. Conidia were produced following a standard protocol (4). A suspension with 1 × 104 conidia ml-1 was sprayed with a DeVilbiss atomizer on both leaf surfaces until runoff, dispensing approximately 3 ml per leaf. As controls, two CB and three coffee plants were sprayed with distilled water. All treated plants were kept in a dew chamber at >90% relative humidity, 25°C, and with 12 h per day of light. After 48 h, the plants were placed in a greenhouse with natural lighting and an average temperature of 25 ± 3°C. Plants were checked at 3-day intervals for disease symptoms. On average, the incubation period (time between inoculation and appearance of the first leaf symptom) was 9 days and the latent period (time between inoculation and visualization of the first leaf sporulating lesion) was 12 days for the disease in CB. Both C. coffeicola isolates were pathogenic to all inoculated CB plants, in which approximately 20 spots developed per leaf. Control plants did not develop any symptoms. Leaf spots in CB plants were similar to those previously described (2): necrotic lesions that were black and purple with a yellowish halo and a pale white center. There was intense sporulation at the lesion center, and the conidia were hyaline, acicular to obclavate, nearly straight with truncate to subtruncate bases and acute tips, multiseptate, 2 to 4 × 40 to 150 µm and were produced in fascicles of conidiophores that were pale to medium brown, septate, and 4 to 6 × 20 to 275 µm (1,4). The pathogen was reisolated from the CB leaf spots, grown on potato dextrose agar medium, and the morphology of the colonies was similar to the colonies of the isolates from the C. coffeicola collection. The reisolated cultures were set to sporulate and reinoculated onto new healthy coffee and CB leaves, on which leaf spots developed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of castor beans as a host of C. coffeicola in Brazil. Considering the expansion of CB crops in Brazil, studies are needed to evaluate the susceptibility of the commercial CB cultivars that are grown in the country, particularly those planted close to coffee-production areas where Cercospora leaf spot is endemic and important. References: (1) C. Chupp. A Monograph of the Fungus Genus Cercospora. Charles Chupp, Ithaca, NY, 1954. (2) E. Echandi. Turrialba 9:54, 1959. (3) M. A. Siddiqi. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 54:415, 1970. (4) A. G. C. Souza et al. J. Phytopathol. 159:6, 2011.

Genetic variability of Cercospora coffeicola from organic and conventional coffee plantings, characterized by vegetative compatibility.

Cercospora leaf spot is a destructive fungal disease that has become a threat to the coffee industry in Brazil. Nevertheless, little is known about populations of its causal agent, Cercospora coffeicola. We evaluated the potential of using nitrogen-nonutilizing (nit) mutants and vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) to characterize the genetic variability of the C. coffeicola population associated with coffee plantings in Minas Gerais state (MG), Brazil. A total of 90 monosporic isolates were obtained from samples collected according to a hierarchical sampling scheme: (i) state geographical regions (Sul, Mata, and Triângulo), and (ii) production systems (conventional and organic). Nit mutants were obtained and 28 VCGs were identified. The 10 largest VCGs included 72.31% of all isolates, whereas each of the remaining 18 VCGs included 1.54% of the isolates. Isolates of the largest VCGs were found in the three regions sampled. Based on the frequencies of VCGs at each sampled level, we estimated the Shannon diversity index, as well as its richness and evenness components. Genetic variability was high at all hierarchical levels, and a high number of VCGs was found in populations of C. coffeicola associated with both conventional and organic coffee plantings.

Brazilian isolates of Clonostachys rosea: colonization under different temperature and moisture conditions and temporal dynamics on strawberry leaves.

AIMS: In a research programme for managing diseases caused by Botryis cinerea, four isolates of the antagonistic fungus Clonostachys rosea (Cr) were obtained from different ecosystems in Brazil. We studied ecological requirements for the colonization of strawberry leaves by these isolates. METHODS AND RESULTS: Temperature effects on both mycelial growth in vitro and leaf colonization by Cr were studied. At 10 degrees C, growth on potato dextrose agar and colonization of leaf discs were poor. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth and leaf colonization was around 25 degrees C. The isolates were applied to leaves which were exposed to 0-48 h intervals of moisture. They were also applied to leaves which remained from 0 to 36 h without wetness. All isolates efficiently colonized leaves, regardless of moisture interval or the delay to begin wetness. Although all isolates survived in green leaves of whole plants, colonization decreased throughout a 49-day period. CONCLUSIONS: Brazilian isolates of Cr can establish and colonize strawberry leaves under a wide range of temperature and moisture conditions. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: It is expected that the Brazilian isolates of Cr will establish efficiently in strawberry leaves where they can compete with B. cinerea.

Incidence-Severity Relationships in the Pathosystem Coffea arabica-Hemileia vastatrix.

Incidence-severity relationships for coffee rust were studied to determine if the easily assessed incidence could be used to evaluate host resistance and fungicide treatment. At two locations in each of 3 years, the incidence of rust on 300 leaves was compared with two assessments of severity: (i) the average number of sporulating pustules per leaf, and (ii) the estimated leaf area with rust. For nine or 10 assessments in time at one location and pooled over 3 years, the average number of sporulating pustules per leaf (Y sp) was well related with the incidence of leaves with rust (X) as Y sp = 0.02982+ 0.017035X +0.000573X 2; R 2 = 0.87. The leaf area with rust (Y la) was also well related with incidence of leaves with rust as Y la = 0.001 - 0.01076X +0.008376X 2; R 2 = 0.92. For two independent data sets from a second location obtained over two seasons, the above models satisfactorily fit the relationships for the average sporulating pustules per leaf (R 2 = 0.97 and 0.96) and for the estimated leaf area with rust (R 2 = 0.95 and 0.98). Therefore, the readily determined incidence can be used to estimate both measures of disease severity of coffee rust.

[Video-thoracoscopic pulmonary lobectomy. Our experience]. / Lobectomie polmonari videotoracoscopiche. Nostra esperienza.

Video-endoscopic surgery developed from laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder and can be used for treatment of certain disease processes of the chest. The major application of this technique is the performance of pulmonary resections (lobectomies and pneumonectomies). Video-thoracoscopic lobectomy requires general anesthesia with a double lumen intubation. After collapse of the involved lung, two intercostal incisions are performed (the first one in seventh space, mid axillary and the second one in fifth space, below the angle of the scapula) and an additional mini-thoracotomy (submammillary in the fifth space) is made. The lobar arteries, veins and bronchus are occluded with an automatic endoscopic stapling device. Seven cases of pulmonary neoplasms (stage I) have been treated by video pulmonary lobectomy (3 right lower lobectomies, 2 right upper lobectomies, 2 left lower lobectomies). Two procedures have been converted for an advanced neoplastic stage that required a radical pneumonectomy and an uncontrolled bleeding. This new procedure has the advantage of greatly reducing the pain and ventilatory disability associated with conventional open thoracic surgery.

[Immediate reconstruction after radical mastectomy for breast carcinoma with a Becker-type expander prosthesis]. / Ricostruzione immediata dopo mastectomia radicale per carcinoma mammario con protesi-espansore tipo Becker.

In recent years, the breast has won importance from the female psychology point of view. After ablative surgery for cancer, the loss of the breast gives rise in the woman to a feeling of refusal of her new body shape. Reconstruction produces positive feelings in the patient. The best-used surgical technique for operable breast cancer is modified radical mastectomy. An immediate reconstruction of the missing breast is considered when the following conditions are fulfilled: desire for reconstruction, age of the patient, clinical and pathologic evaluation (tumor size-tumor grade-lymph-node status). After modified radical mastectomy with "en bloc" removal of axillary lymph nodes, an immediate reconstruction is performed by lining the surfaces with human fibrin glue (Tissucol) followed by the insertion of a prosthesis of appropriate size (Becker Expander Mammary Prosthesis-Type 1) in the subserratus-subpectoral position. Human fibrin lining reduces the incidence of capsular contracture and effusion production. A suction drain is placed in the axillary area and is removed after 5 days. The use of expanding-type prostheses means that the patient must return for further expanding. When the pathologic features are negative, the delayed nipple areola reconstruction is possible with the full-thickness skin grafts in the groin or in pre-existent appendectomy incision. By this procedure, adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy can be performed if required. From 1987 to 1991 the procedure has been performed in 35 cases of mammary neoplasm (mean age 40 years) at INRCA Department of Surgery of Ancona). No evidence of adverse effect on the natural course of the breast disease for have been seen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Radical reconstructive hemorrhoidectomy. Apropos of a new technic]. / L'emorroidectomia radicale ricostruttiva (ERR). A proposito di una nuova tecnica.

On the basis of personal experience of the surgical treatment of hemorrhoidal lesions of the third stage, the Authors describe a new technique for radical hemorrhoidectomy. Sixty-one patients (67% males and 33% females) affected by hemorrhoidal lesions of the third (96%) and second (2%) stage were treated using this method at the INRCA Surgical Centre in Ancona. 19% of patients also suffered from chronic anal fissure which were treated by internal lateral sphincterotomy. No major complications were observed, although minimum postoperative bleeding (17%) and a congestive edematous suffusion (20%) were observed, as was the partial leakage of the mucous-cutaneous suture in 7% of cases. The follow-up after 24 months of 50 patients revealed only one relapse (2%) and persistent soiling for approximately 90 days in 22% of cases.

Ressecçao local por via transanal do carcinoma do reto, no paciente idoso: nossa experiencia no tratamento combinado com radioterapia / Local transanal treatment of rectal cancer in the elderly: our experience in treatment with adjuvant radiotherapy

O crescente interesse pela Preservaçao dos Esfincteres Anais no tratamento do carcinoma da ampola retal induziu numerosos autores a procurarem metodos de ressecçao local menos agressivos e melhor tolerados, particularmente, em pacientes geriatricos com condiçoes gerais muito comprometidos. Os autores apresentam oito casos tratados com ressecçao local combinada com radioterapia e sete casos tratados com exerese local com alça de diatermocoagulaçao. Naoforam verificadas complicaçoes per ou pos-operatorias. O seguimento medio foi de35,8 meses e nao foram observadas nem recidiva nem metastase a distancia.

Changes in myocardial norepinephrine levels in response to stress, exercise and aging in control and T. cruzi-infected rats.

The effect of mild acute exercise (swimming for 1 h), restraint for 1 h and fasting for 48 h on myocardial norepinephrine concentration was compared with rats "at rest" using 320 control and chronically T. cruzi-infected rats at 50, 110, 200 and 380 days of age. Ventricular norepinephrine concentrations of control and similarly aged T. cruzi-infected rats were different for 2 of 4 "at rest" groups. Significant and opposite differences in ventricular norepinephrine were observed for restrained T. cruzi-infected rats when compared to controls (-35% in 50-day old rats and +40% in 110-day old rats). Exercised, "at rest" and fasted control rats presented a significant age-dependent decrease of ventricular norepinephrine concentration, which was not observed for restrained control rats. Norepinephrine levels of pooled atria from 120-day old "at rest" T. cruzi-infected rats were significantly lower than those from non-infected controls, whereas no difference was found in serotonin levels. The lability of myocardial norepinephrine levels in T. cruzi-infected rats suggests, but does not demonstrate, that there is a disturbance of the cardiac sympathetic control.

Protein quality of two varieties of high-lysine maize fed alone and with black beans or milk to normal and depleted weanling rats.

Opaque-2 corn, modified high-lysine corn with vitreous endosperm, and common corn were compared in rat growth studies. Corn alone supplied 8.6% protein; and at both 8.6 and 11.4% protein, corn furnished 60% of the protein and either milk or black beans supplied 40%. The modified corn, which also was high in both lysine and tryptophan, did not differ significantly from Opaque-2 corn in its ability to stimulate growth and nitrogen deposition in both well-nourished and partially protein-depleted rats; and both were significantly superior to common corn when fed alone. Milk was a more effective supplement for corn than black beans, especially when high-lysine varieties were fed, whereas beans exerted a similar effect on all varieties of corn. The depleted rats deposited more nitrogen as a result of eating most diets than did well nourished rats. Implications of these findings for preschool children are discussed.