Possible association between the lrrk2 gene and anxiety behavior: a systematic literature review.

Alterations to the LRRK2 gene have been associated with Parkinson's disease and alcohol consumption in animals and humans. Furthermore, these disorders are strongly related to anxiety disorders (ADs). Thus, we investigated how the LRRK2 gene might influence anxiety in humans and mice. We elaborated a systematic review based on the PRISMA Statement of studies that investigated levels of anxiety in animal or human models with alterations in the LRRK2 gene. The search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, and in reference lists with descriptors related to ADs and the LRRK2. From the 62 articles assessed for eligibility, 16 were included: 11 conducted in humans and seven, in mice. Lrrk2 KO mice and the LRRK2 G2019S, LRRK2 R1441G, and LRRK2 R1441C variants were addressed. Five articles reported an increase in anxiety levels concerning the LRRK2 variants. Decreased anxiety levels were observed in two articles, one focusing on the LRRK2 G2019S and the other, on the Lrrk2 KO mice. Eight other articles reported no differences in anxiety levels in individuals with Lrrk2 alterations compared to their healthy controls. This study discusses a possible influence between the LRRK2 gene and anxiety, adding information to the existing knowledge respecting the influence of genetics on anxiety.

First record of Neobenedenia melleni (Monogenea: Capsalidae) in dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) in the western South Atlantic / Primeiro registro de Neobenedenia melleni (Monogenea: Capsalidae) em dentão (Lutjanus jocu) no oeste do Atlântico Sul

Neobenedenia melleni (MacCallum, 1927) (Monogenea) é um patógeno amplamente distribuído em cultivo de teleósteos marinhos no mundo. Com o crescimento da piscicultura marinha no Brasil, faz-se necessário um maior cuidado em relação à identificação e ao tratamento das principais patologias nesse tipo de cultivo. Este estudo relata a primeira ocorrência de Neobenedenia melleni em dentão (Lutjanus jocu) no oeste do Atlântico Sul. Também são sugeridos procedimentos adotados para eliminação desse parasito em peixes cultivados em laboratório.(AU)

First record of Neobenedenia melleni (Monogenea: Capsalidae) in dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) in the western South Atlantic / Primeiro registro de Neobenedenia melleni (Monogenea: Capsalidae) em dentão (Lutjanus jocu) no oeste do Atlântico Sul

Neobenedenia melleni (MacCallum, 1927) (Monogenea) é um patógeno amplamente distribuído em cultivo de teleósteos marinhos no mundo. Com o crescimento da piscicultura marinha no Brasil, faz-se necessário um maior cuidado em relação à identificação e ao tratamento das principais patologias nesse tipo de cultivo. Este estudo relata a primeira ocorrência de Neobenedenia melleni em dentão (Lutjanus jocu) no oeste do Atlântico Sul. Também são sugeridos procedimentos adotados para eliminação desse parasito em peixes cultivados em laboratório.(AU)

Methylene Blue Location in (Hydroperoxized) Cardiolipin Monolayer: Implication in Membrane Photodegradation.

We present molecular dynamics simulations of cardiolipin (CL) and CL monohydroperoxized derivative (CLOOH) monolayers to investigate the initial steps of phospholipid oxidation induced by methylene blue (MB) photoexcitation under continuous illumination. We considered different MB atomic charge distributions to simulate the MB electronic distribution in the singlet ground and triplet excited states. Simulation results allied to experimental data revealed that initial CL photooxidation probably occurs via a type II mechanism, to produce lipid hydroperoxide by singlet oxygen attack to the alkyl chain unsaturations. The resulting hydroperoxide group prefers to reside near the aqueous interface, to increase the membrane surface area and to decrease lipid packing. Interestingly, MB orientation changes from nearly parallel to the water-monolayer interface in the ground state to normal to the interface in its triplet excited state. The latter orientation favors oxidative chain reaction continuity via a type I mechanism, during which the hydrogen atom must be transferred from the hydroperoxide group to triplet MB. Taken together, the present results can be extrapolated to improve our understanding of how oxidation progresses in lipidic biomembrane, which will lead to the formation of oxidized species with shortened chains and will cause severe photodamage to self-organized systems.

Serotypes, virulence markers and cell invasion ability of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from healthy dairy cattle.

AIM: The occurrence of virulence markers, serotypes and invasive ability were investigated in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolated from faecal samples of healthy dairy cattle at Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 1562 stx-positive faecal samples, 105 STEC strains were isolated by immuno-magnetic separation (IMS) or plating onto MacConkey agar (MC) followed by colony hybridisation. Fifty (47·6%) strains belonged to nine serotypes (O8:H19, O22:H8, O22:H16, O74:H42, O113:H21, O141:H21, O157:H7, O171:H2 and ONT:H21). The prevalent serotypes were O157:H7 (12·4%), O113:H21 (6·7%) and O8:H19 (5·7%). Virulence genes were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). E-hlyA (77·1%) was the more prevalent virulence marker, followed by espP (64·8%), saa (39%), eae (24·8%) and astA (21·9%). All O157:H7 strains carried the γ (gamma) variant of the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) genes and the stx2c gene, while the stx1/stx2 genotype prevailed among the eae-negative strains. None of the eae-positive STEC produced the localized adherence (LA) phenotype in HEp-2 or Caco-2 cells. However, intimate attachment (judged by the fluorescent actin staining test) was detected in some eae-positive strains, both in HEp-2 (23·1%) and in Caco-2 cells (11·5%). Most strains (87·5%) showed 'peripheral association' (PA) adherence phenotype to undifferentiated Caco-2 cells. Twenty-five (92·6%) of 27 strains invaded Caco-2 cells. The highest average value of invasion (9·6%) was observed among the eae-negative bovine strains from serotypes described in human disease. CONCLUSION: Healthy dairy cattle is a reservoir of STEC carrying virulence genes and properties associated with human disease. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Although reports of human disease associated with STEC are scarce in Brazil, the colonization of the animal reservoir by potentially pathogenic strains offers a significant risk to our population.

An overview of molecular dynamics simulations of oxidized lipid systems, with a comparison of ELBA and MARTINI force fields for coarse grained lipid simulations.

Biological membranes and model lipid systems containing high amounts of unsaturated lipids and sterols are subject to chemical and/or photo-induced lipid oxidation, which leads to the creation of exotic oxidized lipid products (OxPLs). OxPLs are known to have significant physiological impact in cellular systems and also affect physical properties of both biological and model lipid bilayers. In this paper we (i) provide a perspective on the existing literature on simulations of lipid bilayer systems containing oxidized lipid species as well as the main related experimental results, (ii) describe our new data of all-atom and coarse-grained simulations of hydroperoxidized lipid monolayer and bilayer systems and (iii) provide a comparison of the MARTINI and ELBA coarse grained force fields for lipid bilayer systems. We show that the better electrostatic treatment of interactions in ELBA is able to resolve previous conflicts between experiments and simulations. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Biosimulations edited by Ilpo Vattulainen and Tomasz Róg.

Plantas medicinais com ação antiparasitária: conhecimento tradicional na etnia Kantaruré, aldeia Baixa das Pedras, Bahia, Brasil / Medicinal plants with antiparasitic action: traditional knowledge of the Kantaruré ethnic group, Baixa das Pedras village, Bahia, Brazil

RESUMO O uso de espécies vegetais para curar doenças e sintomas remonta ao início da civilização. Em várias culturas produtos botânicos eram empregados para essa finalidade. No Brasil, sob influência das interações culturais entre índios, negros e portugueses, essa relação homem-natureza permitiu a disseminação da sabedoria herdada em relação ao uso e cultivo de diversas espécies vegetais. O presente trabalho objetivou realizar um levantamento das plantas medicinais indicadas pelos índios da etnia Kantaruré, aldeia Baixa das Pedras com ação antiparasitária. Para a coleta de dados foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com quatorze pessoas, pertencentes a uma população de 150 indígenas, selecionadas pela técnica da bola de neve, reconhecidas pela comunidade como maiores detentores do conhecimento sobre a realidade local e sobre plantas. Os resultados indicam que doze espécies são utilizadas na medicina tradicional local com ação antiparasitária, podendo destacar a caçatinga (Croton argyrophylloides Muell. Arg.), mastruz (Chenopodium ambrosioides L.), hortelã miúdo (Mentha piperita L.) e babosa (Aloe vera (L.) Burm f.) como as mais indicadas. As plantas citadas pertencem à vegetação nativa, sendo que as espécies cultivadas são encontradas principalmente nos quintais, nas proximidades das residências e em locais de cultivo próprio. Os dados levantados nesta pesquisa evidenciam a importância terapêutica, cultural e histórica do uso de espécies botânicas na prevenção e cura de enfermidades. A aldeia estudada depende diretamente dos recursos vegetais para as suas práticas de cura. Os resultados dessa pesquisa podem servir como base para bioprospecção bem como para seleção de espécies da caatinga para estudos futuros visando o seu uso e manejo sustentável.

ABSTRACT The use of plant species to cure diseases and symptoms dates back to the dawn of civilization. In various cultures, botanical products were employed for this purpose. In Brazil, influenced by cultural interactions between native indians, Africans, and the Portuguese, this man-nature relationship allowed the spread of inherited knowledge regarding the use and cultivation of various species of plants. The purpose of this study was to carry out a survey of medicinal plants with antiparasitic action indicated by the Kantaruré indians from the Baixa das Pedras village. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 people belonging to an indigenous population of 150, selected by the snowball technique, recognized by the community as the most knowledgeable on the local situation and plants. The results indicate that 12 species with antiparasitic action are used in traditional local medicine, with emphasis on the caçatinga (Croton argyrophylloides Muell. Arg.), mastruz (Chenopodium ambrosioides L.), peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), and babosa (Aloe vera (L.) Burm f.) as the most suitable. These plants belong to the native vegetation, and the cultivated species are found mainly in backyards, near homes, and on cultivation sites. The data from this study demonstrate the therapeutic, cultural, and historical importance of the use of botanical species to prevent and cure diseases. The village studied depends directly on plant resources for their healing practices. The results of this study can serve as a basis for bioprospecting as well as for the selection of caatinga species in future studies toward its use and sustainable management.

Investigation of urban ethnoveterinary in three veterinary clinics at east zone of São Paulo city, Brazil.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Urban Ethnoveterinary should be further explored because of its value as it resists conventional medical care. In addition, the comparison between the resources used by Ethnoveterinary and Ethnopharmacology should be investigated in depth, increasing the availability of new bioactive potential in human and veterinary medicines. This project aimed to determine whether plants are used in the health care of dogs and/or cats in urban area and to compare its uses with other ethnoveterinary and ethnopharmacological data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three veterinary clinics from east area of São Paulo city were selected, in order to record the offering of plants to pets by their owners. Individual interviews were conducted from May to November 2012 and consisted of application of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. A literature search was performed to compare our findings with other ethnopharmacological and ethnoveterinarian data from the literature. RESULTS: A total of 273 people were interviewed and 46 (16.84%) of them utilize medicinal plants for their pets. Most plant species are exclusively home grown (57.9%). The plants most cited were Plectranthus barbatus Andrews, Matricaria chamomilla L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. The most frequent route of administration, part utilized and mode of preparation was oral (80.35%), leaves (89.47%) and infusion (61.90%), respectively. From 19 cited plants, 14 (73.7%) are mentioned in ethnoveterinary literature, whereas 11 (57.9%) are used for the same purposes. All plants reported in our study have at least one common use with ethnopharmacology. CONCLUSION: The survey provided evidence of ethnoveterinary use of medicinal plants for dogs and/or cats in urban area of São Paulo, complementarily with the official veterinary, and showed that the plants used in pets are also used in humans with the same purposes and routes of administration, as well as in other animals.

Salt intake during pregnancy alters offspring's myocardial structure.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To evaluate the effects of low or high salt intake during pregnancy on left ventricle of adult male offspring. METHODS AND RESULTS: Low- (LS, 0.15%), normal- (NS, 1.3%) or high-salt (HS, 8% NaCl) diet was given to Wistar rats during pregnancy. During lactation all dams received NS as well as the offspring after weaning. To evaluate cardiac response to salt overload, 50% of each offspring group was fed a high-salt (hs, 4% NaCl) diet from the 21st to the 36th week of age (LShs, NShs, HShs). The remaining 50% was maintained on NS (LSns, NSns and HSns). Echocardiography was done at 20 and 30 weeks of age. Mean blood pressure (MBP), histology and left ventricular angiotensin II content (AII) were analyzed at 36 weeks of age. Interventricular septum, left ventricular posterior wall and relative wall thickness increased from the 20th to the 30th week of age only in HShs, cardiomyocyte mean volume was higher in HShs compared to NShs, LShs and HSns. AII and left ventricular fibrosis were not different among groups. CONCLUSIONS: HS during pregnancy programs adult male offspring to a blood pressure and angiotensin II independent concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, with no fibrosis, in response to a chronic high-salt intake.

Influência da gestação e do puerpério no lipidograma de bovinos da raça Holandesa / Influence of gestation and puerperium on the lipid profile of Holstein cattle

Avaliou-se a influência da gestação e do puerpério no lipidograma de bovinos da raça Holandesa por meio da determinação de colesterol, triglicérides, ácidos graxos não esterificados (AGNE), β-hidroxibutirato (β-HBO) e glicose em 80 amostras de soro e plasma sangüíneo. Os animais foram distribuídos em cinco grupos (G) experimentais: G1 - constituído por 16 fêmeas não prenhes; G2 -18 fêmeas na fase inicial da gestação (com até três meses); G3 - 15 fêmeas prenhes, entre três e seis meses de gestação; G4 - 15 fêmeas na fase final da gestação (entre seis e nove meses); G5 - 16 fêmeas recém-paridas, com até 30 dias de puerpério. Houve influência da gestação sobre o lipidograma, pois os teores séricos de AGNE foram mais altos no terço final da gestação, enquanto os teores séricos de β - HBO foram mais elevados durante o terço inicial de gestação. O puerpério influenciou os constituintes do lipidograma, pois, nos primeiros 30 dias após a parição, os teores séricos de AGNE e β - HBO foram mais altos, enquanto os de triglicérides foram mais baixos nos animais no puerpério em relação aos que estavam em gestação.(AU)

In order to establish the influence of gestation and puerperium on the lipid profile of Holstein cattle, the concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxibutyrate (β-HBO), and glucose were determined in samples of serum and plasma from 80 animals distributed into five experimental groups (G): G1 - 16 non pregnant females; G2 - 18 females in the initial phase of gestation, up to three months; G3 -15 pregnant females, with gestation from three to six months; G4 - 15 females in the last stage of gestation, from six to nine months; G5 - 16 females soon after delivering, up to 30 days in puerperium. The lipid profile of healthy Holstein cows was influenced by gestation. The concentration of NEFA was higher in the last trimester of gestation while the serum concentration of β-HBO was higher in the first trimester of gestation. In the first 30 days after delivering, the concentrations of NEFA and β-HBO were higher, while those of triglycerides were lower when compared to those of cows during gestation.(AU)

Influência da gestação e do puerpério no lipidograma de bovinos da raça Holandesa / Influence of gestation and puerperium on the lipid profile of Holstein cattle

Avaliou-se a influência da gestação e do puerpério no lipidograma de bovinos da raça Holandesa por meio da determinação de colesterol, triglicérides, ácidos graxos não esterificados (AGNE), β-hidroxibutirato (β-HBO) e glicose em 80 amostras de soro e plasma sangüíneo. Os animais foram distribuídos em cinco grupos (G) experimentais: G1 - constituído por 16 fêmeas não prenhes; G2 -18 fêmeas na fase inicial da gestação (com até três meses); G3 - 15 fêmeas prenhes, entre três e seis meses de gestação; G4 - 15 fêmeas na fase final da gestação (entre seis e nove meses); G5 - 16 fêmeas recém-paridas, com até 30 dias de puerpério. Houve influência da gestação sobre o lipidograma, pois os teores séricos de AGNE foram mais altos no terço final da gestação, enquanto os teores séricos de β - HBO foram mais elevados durante o terço inicial de gestação. O puerpério influenciou os constituintes do lipidograma, pois, nos primeiros 30 dias após a parição, os teores séricos de AGNE e β - HBO foram mais altos, enquanto os de triglicérides foram mais baixos nos animais no puerpério em relação aos que estavam em gestação.

In order to establish the influence of gestation and puerperium on the lipid profile of Holstein cattle, the concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxibutyrate (β-HBO), and glucose were determined in samples of serum and plasma from 80 animals distributed into five experimental groups (G): G1 - 16 non pregnant females; G2 - 18 females in the initial phase of gestation, up to three months; G3 -15 pregnant females, with gestation from three to six months; G4 - 15 females in the last stage of gestation, from six to nine months; G5 - 16 females soon after delivering, up to 30 days in puerperium. The lipid profile of healthy Holstein cows was influenced by gestation. The concentration of NEFA was higher in the last trimester of gestation while the serum concentration of β-HBO was higher in the first trimester of gestation. In the first 30 days after delivering, the concentrations of NEFA and β-HBO were higher, while those of triglycerides were lower when compared to those of cows during gestation.

Neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis in São Paulo State, Brazil: a pilot study

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common autosomal recessive hereditary diseases in the Caucasian population, with an incidence of 1:2000 to 1:3500 liveborns. More than 1000 mutations have been described with the most common being F508del. It has a prevalence of 23-55 percent within the Brazilian population. The lack of population-based studies evaluating the incidence of cystic fibrosis in São Paulo State, Brazil, and an analysis concerning the costs of implantation of a screening program motivated the present study. A total of 60,000 dried blood samples from Guthrie cards obtained from April 2005 to January 2006 for neonatal screening at 4 reference centers in São Paulo State were analyzed. The immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT)/IRT protocol was used with the cut-off value being 70 ng/mL. A total of 532 children (0.9 percent) showed IRT >70 ng/mL and a 2nd sample was collected from 418 (80.3 percent) of these patients. Four affected children were detected at two centers, corresponding to an incidence of 1:8403. The average age at diagnosis was 69 days, and 3 of the children already showed severe symptoms of the disease. The rate of false-positive results was 95.2 percent and the positive predictive value for the test was 8 percent. The cost of detecting an affected subject was approximately US$8,000.00 when this cystic fibrosis program was added to an existing neonatal screening program. The present study clearly shows the difficulties involved in cystic fibrosis screening using the IRT/IRT protocol, particularly in a population with no long-term tradition of neonatal screening.

Neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis in São Paulo State, Brazil: a pilot study.

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common autosomal recessive hereditary diseases in the Caucasian population, with an incidence of 1:2000 to 1:3500 liveborns. More than 1000 mutations have been described with the most common being F508del. It has a prevalence of 23-55% within the Brazilian population. The lack of population-based studies evaluating the incidence of cystic fibrosis in São Paulo State, Brazil, and an analysis concerning the costs of implantation of a screening program motivated the present study. A total of 60,000 dried blood samples from Guthrie cards obtained from April 2005 to January 2006 for neonatal screening at 4 reference centers in São Paulo State were analyzed. The immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT)/IRT protocol was used with the cut-off value being 70 ng/mL. A total of 532 children (0.9%) showed IRT >70 ng/mL and a 2nd sample was collected from 418 (80.3%) of these patients. Four affected children were detected at two centers, corresponding to an incidence of 1:8403. The average age at diagnosis was 69 days, and 3 of the children already showed severe symptoms of the disease. The rate of false-positive results was 95.2% and the positive predictive value for the test was 8%. The cost of detecting an affected subject was approximately US$8,000.00 when this cystic fibrosis program was added to an existing neonatal screening program. The present study clearly shows the difficulties involved in cystic fibrosis screening using the IRT/IRT protocol, particularly in a population with no long-term tradition of neonatal screening.

Primeiro registro de atta sexdens rubropilosa forel atacando árvores de nim, azadirachta indica a. juss

ABSTRACT The present study was aimed at registering the damage by Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel in Neem trees, Azadirachta indica A. Juss., in Brazil. Workers were collected in May 2007 in an area located in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The damages were registered in 5 Neem trees. Two nests were found at the site. Workers cut the leaves from low to top. A group of workers went up into the tree and initiated the cut of leaves, knocking them down to the soil so that other ants could cut and carry them into the nest. This is the first report of A. sexdens rubropilosa damaging Neem trees, in the state of Minas Gerais and in Brazil.

RESUMO Este trabalho tem como objetivo registrar o ataque de Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel em árvores de Nim, Azadirachta indica A. Juss., no Brasil. Operárias foram coletadas em maio de 2007 na região da Zona da Mata Mineira. O desfolhamento pelas formigas foi registrado em cinco árvores de Nim. Encontraram-se no local dois sauveiros. A desfolha aconteceu de baixo para cima. Um grupo de operárias subia na árvore e iniciava o corte das folhas derrubando-as no chão para que outras saúvas pudessem cortá-las e transportá-las para dentro do sauveiro. Este é o primeiro registro desta formiga cortando folhas de Nim, no Estado de Minas Gerais e no Brasil.

Effect of iron overload on the severity of liver histologic alterations and on the response to interferon and ribavirin therapy of patients with hepatitis C infection.

The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of hepatic iron overload in patients with chronic HCV infection and to correlate it with histologic alterations, HCV genotype and response to therapy. Liver tissue samples from 95 patients with chronic hepatitis C were divided into two groups: group I, presence of iron overload in hepatic tissue (Perls' staining) and group II, no iron overload. Hepatic iron overload was detected in 30 (31.6%) of 95 patients. Of the 69 patients tested by genotyping, 49 (71.01%) were genotype 1 and 20 (28.99%) genotype non-1. Iron overload was detected in 14 (28.6%) patients with genotype 1 and in 6 (30%) with genotype non-1 (P = 0.906). There was a significant difference in fibrosis stage between groups (P = 0.005). In group I (N = 30), one patient had stage F0/F1 of fibrosis, while in group II (N = 65), 22 (33.8%) patients had minimal or no fibrosis. Fibrosis stage F2/F3 was observed in 70% of group I patients compared to 46.2% of group II. Eighty-five patients were treated with a combination of interferon and ribavirin; 29 of them (34.1%) had a sustained virologic response and 8 (27.6%) of them had hepatic iron overload. Iron overload was detected in 18 (32.1%) of the 56 non-responders (P = 0.73). Hepatic iron overload was frequent among patients with chronic hepatitis C and was associated with a more severe stage of liver fibrosis. There was no association between iron overload and HCV genotype and response to interferon and ribavirin therapy.

Effect of iron overload on the severity of liver histologic alterations and on the response to interferon and ribavirin therapy of patients with hepatitis C infection

The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of hepatic iron overload in patients with chronic HCV infection and to correlate it with histologic alterations, HCV genotype and response to therapy. Liver tissue samples from 95 patients with chronic hepatitis C were divided into two groups: group I, presence of iron overload in hepatic tissue (Perls' staining) and group II, no iron overload. Hepatic iron overload was detected in 30 (31.6 percent) of 95 patients. Of the 69 patients tested by genotyping, 49 (71.01 percent) were genotype 1 and 20 (28.99 percent) genotype non-1. Iron overload was detected in 14 (28.6 percent) patients with genotype 1 and in 6 (30 percent) with genotype non-1 (P = 0.906). There was a significant difference in fibrosis stage between groups (P = 0.005). In group I (N = 30), one patient had stage F0/F1 of fibrosis, while in group II (N = 65), 22 (33.8 percent) patients had minimal or no fibrosis. Fibrosis stage F2/F3 was observed in 70 percent of group I patients compared to 46.2 percent of group II. Eighty-five patients were treated with a combination of interferon and ribavirin; 29 of them (34.1 percent) had a sustained virologic response and 8 (27.6 percent) of them had hepatic iron overload. Iron overload was detected in 18 (32.1 percent) of the 56 non-responders (P = 0.73). Hepatic iron overload was frequent among patients with chronic hepatitis C and was associated with a more severe stage of liver fibrosis. There was no association between iron overload and HCV genotype and response to interferon and ribavirin therapy.

Ocorrência da dermatofilose (dermatophilus congolensis) em suínos criados no estado de são paulo, brasil

ABSTRACT We describe the occurrence of dermatophilosis in adult pigs admitted at the Clinic for Cattle in the Center for Research and Diagnostics of Ruminant Diseases in the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of São Paulo, Brazil. The sick animals had an exudative epidermitis, characterized by the presence of easily removable scabs with an underlying purulent exsudate. The lesions were observed mainly on the animals backs and ears. The smear of the scabs and secretions revealed the presence of structures that were similar to coccus which were displayed in filaments and were morphologically similar to the Dermatophilus congolensis zoospore. The diagnosis was confirmed by skin biopsy and by the isolation of the etiologic agent from samples collected from the sick animals.

RESUMO Descreveu-se a ocorrência da Dermatofilose em suínos adultos atendidos pela Clínica de Bovinos do Centro de Pesquisa e Diagnóstico de Enfermidades de Ruminantes da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo. Os animais enfermos apresentaram uma epidermite exsudativa caracterizada pela formação de crostas que se destacavam com facilidade e que apresentavam uma secreção com aspecto purulento, principalmente nas regiões do dorso e nas orelhas dos animais. Os esfregaços das crostas e secreções revelaram a presença de estruturas similares a cocos que se arranjavam em filamentos, morfologicamente semelhantes ao zoósporo do Dermatophilus congolensis, sendo a confirmação do diagnóstico realizada por biopsia de pele e isolamento do agente etiológico da doença em amostras colhidas dos dois animais enfermos.

Desenvolvimento de comprimidos de mebendazol e avaliação comparativa com dois genéricos disponíveis no mercado / Development of mebendazole tablets and comparative evaluation with two commercially available generic products

Apesar da grande preocupação mundial com as doenças parasitárias, as helmintoses continuam vencendo essa batalha. A sua disseminação aumenta com a diminuição das condições sócio-econômicas das populações. O desenvolvimento farmacotécnico deve ser feito de uma maneira racional, para que agregue em um mesmo produto qualidade e baixo custo. Este trabalho objetivou a obtenção de comprimidos de mebendazol 100mg, bem como, desenvolver estudo comparativo com medicamentos genéricos disponíveis no mercado. O desenvolvimento das formulações foi iniciado por meio de um planejamento qualitativo e quantitativo de excipientes, com lotes de bancada com até 300g. Foram produzidos nove lotes e avaliados os parâmetros: aspecto, peso médio, friabilidade, dureza, desintegração, dissolução e doseamento. Os comprimidos de mebendazol 100mg e os medicamentos genéricos avaliados apresentaram-se com resultados dentro das especificações demonstrando que existe entre eles uma equivalência frente aos parâmetros avaliados. A técnica empregada, compressão direta, exceto para o LB I (granulação via úmida), para obtenção dos comprimidos, mostrou-se adequada para produção destes, pois resultou em comprimidos dentro das especificações farmacopéicas, além de agregar vantagens industriais para a produção pela via direta.

Qualidade da carcaça de suínos em terminação alimentados com diferentes níveis de restrição alimentar e de energia na dieta / Carcass quality of pigs in the finishing period fed with different feed restriction levels and energy in the diet

O trabalho objetivou avaliar quatro níveis de restrição alimentar (RA) (0, 5, 10 e 15 por cento) e dois níveis de energia líquida (EL) na dieta (2.083 e 2.252kcal EL/kg de ração) sobre as características de carcaça de suínos na fase de terminação. Foram utilizados 48 suínos Dalland, 24 machos castrados e 24 fêmeas, distribuídos em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso em arranjo fatorial 4 2 2 (nível de restrição x nível de energia x sexo). Foram avaliados: peso da carcaça quente, comprimento da carcaça, espessura média do toucinho, rendimentos da carcaça e de cortes e relação carne:gordura na carcaça. Os resultados mostraram melhora na qualidade da carcaça, considerando-se a redução na espessura de toucinho (Y= 2,587 - 0,0186RA) e o aumento no peso (Y= 6,628 + 0,0276RA) e nos rendimentos do lombo (Y= 6,5895 + 0,1389RA - 0,0081RA²) e do pernil (Y= 17,143 + 0,0646RA) com o aumento da restrição alimentar. O aumento da energia líquida da dieta resultou em aumento no rendimento da carcaça (77,4 e 79,1 por cento). As fêmeas apresentaram menor espessura de toucinho do que os machos castrados (2,36 e 2,54 cm).(AU)

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of feed restriction (FR) and net energy (NE) levels on the carcass quality of pigs in the finishing period. Forty eight animals, 24 barrows and 24 gilts were used in a completely randomized block design with three replicates of each sex. The treatments consisted of a 4 2 2 factorial (four levels of feed restriction - 0, 5, 10 and 15% - and two levels of net energy - 2083 and 2252kcal NE/kg of feed). The hot carcass weight, carcass length, backfat thickness, dressing percentage of carcass and of cuts and meat:fat ratio in the carcass were evaluated. The results showed an improvement in carcass quality, considering the reduction in backfat thickness (Y= 2.587 - 0.0186FR) and the increase in weight (Y= 6.628 + 0.0276FR) and in yielding of ham (Y= 6.5895 + 0.1389FR - 0.0081FR²) and loin (Y= 17.1430 + 0.0646FR) with the increase of feed restriction level. The increase in the net energy level of the diet resulted in an increase in carcass dressing percentage (77.4 and 79.1%). Gilts had better backfat tickness than the castrated males (2.36 and 2.54cm).(AU)