Guidelines-based therapeutic strategies for controlling hypertension in non-controlled hypertensive patients followed by family physicians in primary health care in Portugal: the GPHT-PT study

PURPOSE

In a prospective open study, with intervention, conducted in Primary Health Care Units by General Practitioners (GPs) in Portugal, the effectiveness of a single pill of candesartan/amlodipine (ARB/amlodipine), as the only anti-hypertension (anti-HTN) medication, in adult patients with uncontrolled HTN (BP > 140/or > 90 mm Hg), either previously being treated with anti-HTN monotherapies (Group I), or combinations with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (Group II), or not receiving medication at all (Group III), was evaluated across 12-weeks after implementation of the new therapeutic measure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 118 GPs recruited patients with uncontrolled HTN who met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Participants were assigned, according to severity, one of 3 (morning) fixed combination candesartan/amlodipine dosage (8/5 or 16/5 or 16/10 mg/day) and longitudinally evaluated in 3 visits (v0, v6 and v12 weeks). Office blood pressure was measured in each visit, and control of HTN was defined per guidelines (BP< 140/90 mmHg).

RESULTS

Of the 1234 patients approached, 752 (age 61 ± 10 years, 52% women) participated in the study and were assigned to groups according to previous treatment conditions. The 3 groups exhibited a statistically significant increased control of blood pressure after receiving the fixed combination candesartan/amlodipine dosage. The overall proportion of controlled HTN participants increased from 0,8% at v0 to 82% at v12. The mean arterial blood pressure values decreased from SBP= 159.0 (± 13.0) and DBP= 91.1 (± 9.6) at baseline to SBP= 132,1 (± 11.3) and DBP= 77,5 (± 8.8) at 12 weeks (p < 0.01). Results remained consistent when controlling for age and sex.

CONCLUSION

In patients with uncontrolled HTN, therapeutic measures in accordance with guidelines, with a fixed combination candesartan/amlodipine, allowed to overall achieve HTN control at 12 weeks in 82% of previously uncontrolled HTN patients, reinforcing the advantages of these strategies in primary clinical practice.

Vortex polarization and circulation statistics in isotropic turbulence

We carry out an in-depth analysis of a recently introduced vortex gas model of homogeneous and isotropic turbulence. Direct numerical simulations are used to provide a concrete physical interpretation of one of the model's constituent fields: the degree of vortex polarization. Our investigations shed light on the complexity underlying vortex interactions and reveal, furthermore, that despite some striking similarities, classical and quantum turbulence exhibit distinct structural characteristics, even at inertial range scales. Crucially, these differences arise due to correlations between the polarization and circulation intensity within vortex clusters.

Statistics of extreme turbulent circulation events from multifractality breaking

Recent numerical explorations of extremely intense circulation fluctuations at high Reynolds number flows have brought to light novel aspects of turbulent intermittency. Vortex gas modeling ideas, which are related to a picture of turbulence as a dilute system of vortex tube structures, have been introduced alongside such developments, leading to accurate descriptions of the core and the intermediate tails of circulation probability distribution functions (cPDFs), as well as the scaling exponents associated to statistical moments of circulation. We extend the predictive reach of the vortex gas picture of turbulence by emphasizing that multifractality breaking, one of its salient phenomenological ingredients, is the key concept to disclose the asymptotic form of cPDF tails. A remarkable analytical agreement is found with previous results derived within the framework of the instanton approach to circulation intermittency, a functional formalism devised to single out the statistically dominant velocity configurations associated to extreme circulation events.

Early results of rapid-deployment aortic prosthesis in multivalvular surgery – a propensity score matching

Background

Multivalvular surgery (MV) requires prolonged extracorporeal circulation (ECC) and aortic cross-clamp times (X-Ao). Rapid-deployment aortic prosthesis (RD-AV) allow lower ECC and X-Ao times in isolated aortic valve surgery (AVR), but have not been studied in MV surgery.

Purpose

To determine if RD-AV use influences early outcomes when compared to biological stented or mechanical aortic valves in MV surgery.

Methods

Retrospectively collected pre, intra and immediate post-operatory data on all MV adult patients with AVR operated on our Department from January 2016 to February 2022. Bentall surgery and aortic dissection patients were excluded. A propensity score matching (PSM) of patients receiving RD-AV (Group A) compared to patients with non-RD-AV (Group B) was performed using sex, age, Euroscore II, type of surgery (involved valves, CABG, ascending aortic replacement), active endocarditis, ventricular function and redo surgery. After PSM, we compared outcomes until death or discharge. Normal distribution of samples was tested using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Normal data was analysed with unpaired t-testing and non-normal data with non-parametric Mann Whitney U test. Categorical data were analysed with Fisher test. A significance level of p&lt;0.05 was accepted.

Results

205 patients received non-RD-AV and 58 patients RD-AV. After PSM, 57 pairs of patients were obtained. Sex, BMI, Euroscore II, age, redo surgery, insulin dependent DM, baseline creatinine, left ventricle ejection fraction, right ventricle dysfunction, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, and active endocarditis were similar in both groups. Intra-operatory, RD-AV valves (Group A) were associated with shorter surgery duration (167.3±52 vs 206.6±91 min, p=0.005), shorter ECC duration (89.5±36.5 vs. 118.9±56.5 min, p=0.002), and aortic X-clamp time (71.6±28 vs. 98.9±38.2 min, p&lt;0.001). No differences were found between both groups A vs. B in ventilation time (1270±1911 vs. 2428±5627 min, p=0.59), inotropic support (113±178 h vs. 85±101 h, p=0.38), transfusion of red cells units (1.1±1.6, vs. 1.2±1.7, p=0.73), Fresh frozen plasma units (0.86±1.9, vs. 0.77±1.8, p=0.77), platelet pools (0.79±1.0 vs. 0.7±0,9, p=0.67), fibrinogen (0.77±1.5 vs. 0.75±1.4 g, p=0.98), intra-aortic balloon pump use (5 vs. 12 patients, p=0.11), chest drain output (804±656 vs. 825±992 ml, p=0.69), new-onset dialysis (10 vs. 10 patients, p=1.0), new-onset atrial fibrillattion (10 vs 13 patients, p=0.6) and permanent pacemaker implantation (8 vs. 3 patients, p=0.20). Total ICU stay (9.25±21 vs. 4.5±4 days, p=0.3), hospital stay (14.4±26 vs. 10.1±13 days, p=0.52) and intra-hospital mortality (7 vs 9 patients, p=0.79) were also similar.

Conclusion

Despite shorter surgery duration, ECC duration and aortic X-clamp duration, RD-AV have similar early outcomes when compared with non-RD-AV in multivalvular surgery.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Circulation statistics and the mutually excluding behavior of turbulent vortex structures

The small-scale statistical properties of velocity circulation in classical homogeneous and isotropic turbulent flows are assessed through a modeling framework that brings together the multiplicative cascade and the structural descriptions of turbulence. We find that vortex structures exhibit short-distance repulsive correlations, which is evidenced when they are "tomographically" investigated, by means of planar cuts of the flow, as two-dimensional vortex gases. This phenomenon is suggested from model improvements which allow us to obtain an accurate multiscale description of the intermittent fluctuations of circulation. Its crucial new ingredient, the conjectured hard disk behavior of the effective planar vortices, is then found to be strongly supported from a study of their spatial distributions in direct numerical simulations of the Navier-Stokes equations.

Vortex gas modeling of turbulent circulation statistics

Statistical properties of circulation encode relevant information about the multiscale structure of turbulent cascades. Recent massive computational efforts have posed challenging theoretical issues, such as the dependence of circulation moments upon Reynolds numbers and length scales, and the specific shape of the heavy-tailed circulation probability distribution functions. We address these focal points in an investigation of circulation statistics for planar cuts of three-dimensional flows. The model introduced here borrows ideas from the structural approach to turbulence, whereby turbulent flows are depicted as dilute vortex gases, combined with the standard Obukhov-Kolmogorov phenomenological framework of small-scale intermittency. We are able to reproduce, in this way, key statistical features of circulation, in close agreement with empirical observations compiled from direct numerical simulations.

Paracoccidioidomycosis of the Central Nervous System: CT and MR Imaging Findings

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection mainly caused by the thermodimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the neuroimaging findings from 24 patients with CNS paracoccidioidomycosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis focusing on the radiologic characteristics of CNS paracoccidioidomycosis. The 24 selected patients underwent MR imaging and/or CT, and the diagnosis was made by the presence of typical neuroimaging features, combined with fungus isolation, a serologic test, or the presence of disseminated disease.

RESULTS

Headache was the most common neurologic symptom, while the pseudotumoral form was the most common pattern. The number of lesions ranged from 1 to 11, with most localized on the frontal lobe with >2-cm lesions. CT showed mainly hypoattenuating lesions, whereas MR imaging demonstrated mainly hyposignal lesions on T1WI and T2WI. Furthermore, ring enhancement was present in most patients. The "dual rim sign" on SWI occurred in 100% of our patients with lesions of >2 cm.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnosis of CNS paracoccidioidomycosis is difficult. Nevertheless, imaging examinations can play an important role in the diagnosis and evaluation of the disease.

Onset of intermittency in stochastic Burgers hydrodynamics

We study the onset of intermittency in stochastic Burgers hydrodynamics, as characterized by the statistical behavior of negative velocity gradient fluctuations. The analysis is based on the response functional formalism, where specific velocity configurations-the viscous instantons-are assumed to play a dominant role in modeling the left tails of velocity gradient probability distribution functions. We find, as expected on general grounds, that the field-theoretical approach becomes meaningful in practice only if the effects of fluctuations around instantons are taken into account. Working with a systematic cumulant expansion, it turns out that the integration of fluctuations yields, in leading perturbative order, to an effective description of the Burgers stochastic dynamics given by the renormalization of its associated heat kernel propagator and the external force-force correlation function.

Susceptibility of Brazilian Populations of Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Vip3Aa20

Transgenic maize expressing the insecticidal protein Vip3Aa20 is increasingly being adopted in Brazil. In this study, we determined the baseline susceptibility of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Vip3Aa20, as part of an Insect Resistance Management (IRM) program. Diet-overlay bioassays were conducted with neonates exposed to Vip3Aa20 for 7 d. The baseline susceptibility data were obtained for seven field populations of H. armigera and six of H. zea collected from major soybean-, cotton-, and maize-producing areas in Brazil. To validate the diagnostic concentration, 11 field populations of H. zea were tested from 2014 to 2015. The LC50 for H. armigera populations ranged from 2.97 to 8.41 µg Vip3Aa20/cm2 (threefold variation), and for H. zea populations from 0.04 to 0.21 µg Vip3Aa20/cm2 (fivefold variation). The EC50 for H. armigera ranged from 0.099 to 0.455 µg Vip3Aa20/cm2 (fivefold variation), and for H. zea from 0.004 to 0.020 µg Vip3Aa20/cm2 (fivefold variation). H. armigera was more tolerant to Vip3Aa20 protein than was H. zea (≈40- to 75-fold, based on LC50). Based on the LC99 value, the concentration of 6.4 µg Vip3Aa20/cm2 was defined as a diagnostic concentration for susceptibility monitoring in H. zea, and >44 µg Vip3Aa20/cm2 for H. armigera. Our baseline susceptibility data for Vip3Aa20 in H. armigera and H. zea populations will be useful in IRM programs in Brazil.

Wax Removal and Diamondback Moth Performance in Collards Cultivars

The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is an herbivorous specialist on Brassicaceae species. Brassicas spp. plants developed a range of defenses (chemical, physical, and morphological) to prevent herbivores attack. In this study, we reported the antixenotic and antibiotic effects of outermost layer of two species of epicuticular wax of Brassicaceae, Brassica oleracea L. var. "Santo Antônio," and Hybrid Kope F1 100MX, on larvae and adult of P. xylostella. In the choice experiment, P. xylostella adults showed an oviposition preference for collard cultivars Santo Antônio (control) and Hybrid Kope F1 100MX with wax removal. In the no-choice experiment, oviposition was 6.4 times higher in the Hybrid Kope F1 100MX with wax removal than without wax removal. There were significant differences among larvae feeding on leaf disks of Hybrid Kope F1 100MX in the treatments with (65.3 mg) and without wax removal (23.5 mg). The net reproduction rate (R ₀ ), and intrinsic (rm) and finite rates of increase (λ) of P. xylostella in the cv. Santo Antônio were bigger in the treatment without wax removal (R ₀  = 50.4, rm = 0.23 and λ = 1.26) than treatment with wax removal (R ₀  = 28.5, rm = 0.20 and λ = 1.22). However, only the R ₀ value was affected by mechanical wax removal in the Hybrid Kope F1 100MX (with wax removal R ₀  = 43.3 and without wax removal R ₀  = 30.8). In conclusion, the results indicate that collard's wax is important to accessibility and development of P. xylostella, and its removal changes the resistance of collard's varieties to P. xylostella.

Biopsy vs. peripheral computed tomography to assess bone disease in CKD patients on dialysis: differences and similarities

Results from bone biopsy and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) were compared in 31 CKD patients. There was an agreement mainly for cortical compartment that may represent a perspective on the fracture risk assessment. HR-pQCT also provided some clues on the turnover status, which warrants further studies.

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are at high risk of bone disease. Although bone biopsy is considered the best method to evaluate bone disease, it is expensive and not always available. Here we have compared, for the first time, data obtained from bone biopsy and HR-pQCT in a sample of CKD patients on dialysis.

METHODS

HR-pQCT and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were performed in 31 CKD patients (30 on dialysis). Biopsies were analyzed by quantitative histomorphometry, and classified according to TMV.

RESULTS

We have found an inverse correlation between radius cortical density measured by HR-pQCT, with serum, as well as histomorphometric bone remodeling markers. Trabecular density and BV/TV measured through HR-pQCT in the distal radius correlated with trabecular and mineralized trabecular bone volume. Trabecular number, separation, and thickness obtained from HR-pQCT and from bone biopsy correlated with each other. Patients with cortical porosity on bone histomorphometry presented lower cortical density at the distal radius. Cortical density at radius was higher while bone alkaline phosphatase was lower in patients with low turnover. Combined, these parameters could identify the turnover status better than individually.

CONCLUSIONS

There was an agreement between HR-pQCT and bone biopsy parameters, particularly in cortical compartment, which may point to a new perspective on the fracture risk assessment for CKD patients. Besides classical bone resorption markers, HR-pQCT provided some clues on the turnover status by measurements of cortical density at radius, although the significance of this finding warrants further studies.

Vision in the common bed bug Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae): eye morphology and spectral sensitivity

Bed bugs as pests of public health importance recently experienced a resurgence in populations throughout the U.S. and other countries. Consequently, recent research efforts have focused on improving understanding of bed bug physiology and behaviour to improve management. While few studies have investigated the visual capabilities of bed bugs, the present study focused specifically on eye morphology and spectral sensitivity. A 3-D imaging technique was used to document bed bug eye morphology from the first instar through adult and revealed morphological characteristics that differentiate the common bed bug from the tropical bed bug as well as sex-specific differences. Electrophysiological measurements were used to evaluate the spectral sensitivity of adult bed bugs. Male bed bugs were more responsive than females at some wavelengths. Electrophysiological studies provided evidence for at least one photoreceptor with a spectral sensitivity curve peak in the green (λ_max 520 nm) region of the spectrum. The broadened long wavelength portion of the spectral sensitivity curve may potentially indicate another photoreceptor in the yellow-green (λ_max 550 nm) portion of the spectrum or screening pigments. Understanding more about bed bug visual biology is vital for designing traps, which are an important component of integrated bed bug management.

Unveiling the Role of the Integrated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response in Leishmania Infection - Future Perspectives

The integrated endoplasmic reticulum stress response (IERSR) is an evolutionarily conserved adaptive mechanism that ensures endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and cellular survival in the presence of stress including nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, and imbalance of Ca(+) homeostasis, toxins, and microbial infection. Three transmembrane proteins regulate integrated signaling pathways that comprise the IERSR, namely, IRE-1 that activates XBP-1, the pancreatic ER kinase (PERK) that phosphorylates the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 and transcription factor 6 (ATF6). The roles of IRE-1, PERK, and ATF4 in viral and some bacterial infections are well characterized. The role of IERSR in infections by intracellular parasites is still poorly understood, although one could anticipate that IERSR may play an important role on the host's cell response. Recently, our group reported the important aspects of XBP-1 activation in Leishmania amazonensis infection. It is, however, necessary to address the relevance of the other IERSR branches, together with the possible role of IERSR in infections by other Leishmania species, and furthermore, to pursue the possible implications in the pathogenesis and control of parasite replication in macrophages.

Risk factors for amenorrhea in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE): a Brazilian multicentre cohort study

We evaluated the prevalence and clinical associations of amenorrhea in 298 female juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) patients (ACR criteria) followed in 12 Brazilian Paediatric Rheumatology centres. Amenorrhea was observed in 35 patients (11.7%) with a mean duration of 7.2 ± 3.6 months. The hormones were performed in 32/35 patients and none of them had FSH and LH levels above and estradiol below the normal range according to pubertal changes. JSLE patients with amenorrhea were younger (15.04 ± 2.5 versus 17.8 ± 3.1 years; P = 0.001), and had a shorter period of time between menarche and current age (3.4 ± 2.9 versus 6.7 ± 5.4 years; P = 0.001). Interestingly, the frequency, cumulative dose, number of pulses and duration of intravenous cyclophosphamide treatment were alike in patients with and without amenorrhea ( P > 0.05). In contrast, patients with amenorrhea had significantly higher SLEDAI ( P = 0.01) and SLICC/ACR-DI ( P = 0.024) scores compared to those without this condition. Independent risk factors identified by multivariate analysis were higher SLEDAI (OR = 1.059; CI = 1.004—1.116; P = 0.034) and SLICC/ACR-DI (OR = 2.125; IC = 1.373—3.291; P = 0.001) scores. Our data suggest that in spite of immunosuppressive therapy, JSLE patients have an adequate ovarian follicular reserve and amenorrhea is particularly associated with disease activity and damage. Lupus (2007) 16, 531—536.

Severe Paracoccidioidomycosis in a 14-Year-Old Boy

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most important systemic mycoses in Latin America. We describe a severe case of paracoccidioidomycosis in a 14-year-old boy, with a rapid disease progression. The fungal strain was isolated and inoculated into a T and/or B cell immunocompromised mice, which revealed a highly virulent strain. The case report presented herein emphasizes the importance of considering PCM in the differential diagnosis of patients with other infectious diseases in endemic areas and highlights a novel isolate.

Herpes zoster infection in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a large multicenter study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this multicenter study in a large childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) population was to assess the herpes zoster infection (HZI) prevalence, demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective multicenter cohort study (Brazilian cSLE group) was performed in ten Pediatric Rheumatology services in São Paulo State, Brazil, and included 852 cSLE patients. HZI was defined according to the presence of acute vesicular-bullous lesions on erythematous/edematous base, in a dermatomal distribution. Post-herpetic neuralgia was defined as persistent pain after one month of resolution of lesions in the same dermatome. Patients were divided in two groups for the assessment of current lupus manifestations, laboratory findings, and treatment: patients with HZI (evaluated at the first HZI) and patients without HZI (evaluated at the last visit).

RESULTS

The frequency of HZI in cSLE patients was 120/852 (14%). Hospitalization occurred in 73 (61%) and overlap bacterial infection in 16 (13%). Intravenous or oral aciclovir was administered in 113/120 (94%) cSLE patients at HZI diagnosis. None of them had ophthalmic complication or death. Post-herpetic neuralgia occurred in 6/120 (5%). After Holm-Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, disease duration (1.58 vs 4.41 years, p < 0.0001) was significantly lower in HZI cSLE patients compared to those without HZI. Nephritis (37% vs 18%, p < 0.0001), lymphopenia (32% vs 17%, p < 0.0001) prednisone (97% vs 77%, p < 0.0001), cyclophosphamide (20% vs 5%, p < 0.0001) and SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (6.0 (0-35) vs 2 (0-45), p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in the former group. The logistic regression model showed that four independent variables were associated with HZI: disease duration < 1 year (OR 2.893 (CI 1.821-4.597), p < 0.0001), lymphopenia <1500/mm(3) (OR 1.931 (CI 1.183-3.153), p = 0.009), prednisone (OR 6.723 (CI 2.072-21.815), p = 0.002), and cyclophosphamide use (OR 4.060 (CI 2.174-7.583), p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

HZI is an early viral infection in cSLE with a typical dermatomal distribution. Lymphopenia and immunosuppressive treatment seem to be major factors underlying this complication in spite of a benign course.

Geostatistics as a tool to study mite dispersion in physic nut plantations

Spatial distribution studies in pest management identify the locations where pest attacks on crops are most severe, enabling us to understand and predict the movement of such pests. Studies on the spatial distribution of two mite species, however, are rather scarce. The mites Polyphagotarsonemus latus and Tetranychus bastosi are the major pests affecting physic nut plantations (Jatropha curcas). Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure the spatial distributions of P. latus and T. bastosi in the physic nut plantations. Mite densities were monitored over 2 years in two different plantations. Sample locations were georeferenced. The experimental data were analyzed using geostatistical analyses. The total mite density was found to be higher when only one species was present (T. bastosi). When both the mite species were found in the same plantation, their peak densities occurred at different times. These mites, however, exhibited uniform spatial distribution when found at extreme densities (low or high). However, the mites showed an aggregated distribution in intermediate densities. Mite spatial distribution models were isotropic. Mite colonization commenced at the periphery of the areas under study, whereas the high-density patches extended until they reached 30 m in diameter. This has not been reported for J. curcas plants before.

Climbing Ability of the Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Little is known about what factors influence the climbing ability of bed bugs, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), in relation to the various surfaces they encounter. We examined how sex, time since last fed, and what surfaces the bed bugs were in contact with affected their climbing performance. The effects of sex and time since fed were tested by counting the number of bed bugs able to climb a 45° slope. The pulling force was recorded using an analytical balance technique that captured the sequential vertical pulling force output of bed bugs attached to various surfaces. Recently fed female bed bugs were found to have the most difficulty in climbing smooth surfaces in comparison with males. This difference can be explained by the larger weight gained from bloodmeals by female bed bugs. A variety of vertical pulling forces were observed on surfaces ranging from sandpaper to talc powder-covered glass. For surfaces not treated with talc powder, bed bugs generated the least amount of vertical pulling force from synthetically created 0.6-µm plastron surfaces. This vast range in the ability of bed bugs to grip onto various surfaces may have implications on limiting bed bugs dispersal and hitchhiking behaviors.

Lattice Boltzmann method for bosons and fermions and the fourth-order Hermite polynomial expansion

The Boltzmann equation with the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook collision operator is considered for the Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac equilibrium distribution functions. We show that the expansion of the microscopic velocity in terms of Hermite polynomials must be carried to the fourth order to correctly describe the energy equation. The viscosity and thermal coefficients, previously obtained by Yang et al. [Shi and Yang, J. Comput. Phys. 227, 9389 (2008); Yang and Hung, Phys. Rev. E 79, 056708 (2009)] through the Uehling-Uhlenbeck approach, are also derived here. Thus the construction of a lattice Boltzmann method for the quantum fluid is possible provided that the Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac equilibrium distribution functions are expanded to fourth order in the Hermite polynomials.

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.

Vorticity statistics and the time scales of turbulent strain

Time scales of turbulent strain activity, denoted as the strain persistence times of first and second order, are obtained from time-dependent expectation values and correlation functions of Lagrangian rate-of-strain eigenvalues taken in particularly defined statistical ensembles. Taking into account direct numerical simulation data, our approach relies on heuristic closure hypotheses which allow us to establish a connection between the statistics of vorticity and strain. It turns out that softly divergent prefactors correct the usual "1/s" strain time-scale estimate of standard turbulence phenomenology, in a way which is consistent with the phenomenon of vorticity intermittency.

Potential population growth and harmful effects on humans from bed bug populations exposed to different feeding regimes

Effects of host availability and feeding period on bed bugs, Cimex lectularius (L.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), were measured. Population growth and the potential harmful effect of bed bug populations on human hosts were modelled. Bloodmeal sizes were affected by both feeding length and frequency, with >2-fold difference between insects fed daily or weekly. Blood consumption increased >2-fold between bed bugs fed occasionally and often, and 1.5-fold between occasional and daily feeding. Bed bugs fed more often than once a week, potentially every 2-4 days. Egg production was associated with nutrition, being strongly correlated with blood consumption in the previous week. Bed bug populations can grow under different feeding regimes and are hard to control with <80% mortality. Bed bugs can survive and grow even in locations with a limited blood supply, where bed bug persistence may be important for the continual spread of populations. Persistence in non-traditional locations and a potential association with human pathogens increase the health risks of bed bugs. Potential blood loss as a result of a bed bug can have serious consequences because uncontrolled populations can reach harmful levels in 3-8 months. The reproduction potential of bed bug populations suggests serious consequences to human health and the need for efficacious control measures.

Behavioral and physiological response of Musca domestica to colored visual targets

A better understanding of the visual attraction of house flies to colors and patterns is needed to improve fly trap performance. This study combined physiological responses measured with electroretinogram studies of the house fly's compound eyes and ocelli with behavioral attraction of flies to reflective colors and patterns in light tunnel assays. Compound eye and ocellar electroretinogram responses to reflected light were similar, with the largest responses to white and blue followed by yellow, red, green, and black. However, data from light tunnel behavioral assays showed that flies were attracted to white and blue light but were repelled by yellow. The addition of a black line pattern enhanced the attractiveness of blue visual targets, whereas yellow lines decreased attractiveness. Sensory input from the compound eye and the ocellus seems to be integrated to direct fly behavior. There is a direct correlation of house fly attractiveness to visual targets and the intensity of electrophysiological response, except for the yellow targets, which repel flies despite of intense electrophysiological response.

Control of Cimex lectularius using heat combined with dichlorvos resin strips

Successful management of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), is difficult because of its pesticide resistance, which can allow a reduction in population, but not elimination. We evaluated the effect of heat and/or air circulation on the efficacy of dichlorvos resin strips in the control of bed bugs. Treatments were performed in unoccupied dormitory rooms and consisted of dichlorvos resin strips containing 18.6% active ingredient, the same strips + fan, and strips + fan + heat. The mortality of recently fed bed bugs and weight loss of the dichlorvos strips were evaluated over 7 days. Dichlorvos resin strips killed bed bugs and eggs in just over 7 days. The addition of a fan or a fan + heat decreased time to 100% mortality to 3 days and 36 h, respectively. Eggs located in treated rooms did not hatch. Resin strips in the strips + fan treatment and the strips + fan + heat treatment volatilized 10 and 70 times, respectively, faster than strips in the strips-only treatment. The addition of heat in treatments with dichlorvos resin strips enhances the overall efficacy of the volatile insecticide and reduces the time required to eliminate live bed bugs and eggs.

A case study of Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) causing ocular myiasis in a western hognose snake

Late instar larvae of the scuttle fly, Megaselia scalaris Loew, were found near the right eye of a live captive-reared western hognose snake, Heterodon nasicus Baird and Girard. Dissection and removal of the snake's dorsal cranial bones revealed tissue degradation of the infected eye, the optic nerve, and the brain case; we suggest that these factors contributed to the death of this snake. This case study further demonstrates the opportunistic behavior of M. scalaris.

Effect of trans-10 cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid on bovine oocyte competence and fatty acid composition

The reproductive performance of dairy cows may be improved by feeding conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplements during early lactation. The mechanism of action of t10,c12 CLA is not clearly known. Our objective was to investigate the effect of t10,c12 CLA on oocyte maturation and lipid composition of cumulus oocyte complexes (COC). The developmental potential of oocytes incubated in in vitro maturation (IVM) medium supplemented with t10,c12 CLA to the blastocyst stage and embryo quality were also assessed. In experiment 1, abattoir-derived oocytes were matured in TCM199 + 10% serum supplemented with 100 μM t10,c12 CLA (t10,c12 CLA n = 672) or without it (control n = 672). Mature oocytes were either stained for chromatin configuration or inseminated and cultured for embryo development assessment. In experiment 2, COC and IVM culture media were subjected to fatty acid (FA) analysis prior and after maturation with t10,c12 CLA or without it (control). Total lipids and FA profiles in oocytes, cumulus cells and culture media were determined by gas chromatography. t10,c12 CLA supplementation to IVM medium improved (p = 0.05) embryo quality evaluated morphologically. This effect was associated with t10,c12 CLA presence (3.1 ± 0.7%, p = 0.04) and lower levels of arachidonic acid in FA profile of t10,c12 CLA mature oocytes (immature oocytes = 4.4 ± 1.9%, t10,c12 CLA mature oocytes = 1.0 ± 0.7%, p = 0.05). Differences in myristic and eicotrienoic acids, saturated and unsaturated FA concentrations between oocytes and cumulus cells were detected (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, the presence of t10,c12 CLA during maturation interfered on lipid metabolism improving bovine oocyte competence to develop into higher quality embryos.

Acoustic indicators for targeted detection of stored product and urban insect pests by inexpensive infrared, acoustic, and vibrational detection of movement

Crawling and scraping activity of three stored-product pests, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and Stegobium paniceum (L.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), and two urban pests, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Blattellidae) and Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), were monitored individually by infrared sensors, microphones, and a piezoelectric sensor in a small arena to evaluate effects of insect locomotory behavior and size on the ability of an inexpensively constructed instrument to detect insects and distinguish among different species. Adults of all species could be detected when crawling or scraping. The smallest insects in the study, first-fourth-instar C. lectularius nymphs, could not be detected easily when crawling, but could be detected when scraping. Sound and vibration sensors detected brief, 3-10-ms impulses from all tested species, often grouped in distinctive trains (bursts), typical of impulses in previous acoustic detection experiments. To consider the potential for targeting or focusing detection on particular species of interest, indicators were developed to assess the likelihood of detection of C. lectularius. Statistically significant differences were found between C. lectularius and other species in distributions of three measured variables: infrared signal durations, sound impulse-burst durations, and sound pressure levels (energy) of impulses that best matched an averaged spectrum (profile) of scraping behavior. Thus, there is potential that signals collected by an inexpensive, polymodal-sensor instrument could be used in automated trapping systems to detect a targeted species, 0.1 mg or larger, in environments where servicing of traps is difficult or when timeliness of trapping information is important.

Log-Poisson cascade description of turbulent velocity-gradient statistics

The Log-Poisson phenomenological description of the turbulent energy cascade is evoked to discuss high-order statistics of velocity derivatives and the mapping between their probability distribution functions at different Reynolds numbers. The striking confirmation of theoretical predictions suggests that numerical solutions of the flow obtained at low/moderate Reynolds numbers can play an important quantitative role in the analysis of experimental high Reynolds number phenomena, where small scales fluctuations are in general inaccessible from direct numerical simulations.

Toxicity of fatty acid salts to German and American cockroaches

The toxicity of fatty acid salts to German, Blattella germanica (L.), and American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (L.), was evaluated. Potassium and sodium laurate caused up to 95% mortality of German cockroaches and 100% mortality of American cockroaches. Even-numbered potassium fatty acid salts, C8-C18 were assessed for toxicity at 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2% concentrations by a 30-s immersion of cockroaches. The more soluble of the fatty acid salts at 2% concentration caused 65-95% mortality of German cockroaches and 100% mortality of American cockroaches. Potassium oleate, C18, was most toxic to both German (LC50 = 0.36%) and American (LC50 = 0.17%) cockroaches. Fatty acid salt solutions on a substrate were tested by placing cockroaches in contact with treated floor tiles immediately after application (wet) or after the solutions had dried. Sodium laurate and potassium caprate caused mortality of German (62 +/- 17.4 and 58 +/- 12.6%, respectively) and American cockroaches (52 +/- 18.5 and 28 +/- 4.9%, respectively) on wet tiles, whereas potassium oleate caused mortality of German cockroaches (67 +/- 14.1%) only. Dry fatty acids caused no mortality among exposed cockroaches. Fatty acid salt solutions can be effective in killing German and American cockroaches but only when insects are thoroughly wetted with 1-2% fatty acid salt solutions.

Biopsied and vitrified bovine embryos viability is improved by trans10, cis12 conjugated linoleic acid supplementation during in vitro embryo culture

Bovine embryos cultured in serum-containing media abnormally accumulate lipids in the cytoplasm. This is well known to contribute to their higher susceptibility to cryopreservation and biopsied embryos are even further susceptible. We aimed to improve in vitro produced (IVP) embryos resistance to micromanipulation and cryopreservation by supplementing serum-containing media with trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (t10, c12 CLA). The effect of t10, c12 CLA on lipid deposition and embryonic development was also tested. After in vitro maturation and fertilization (IVF day=D0), zygotes were cultured on granulosa cells+M199+10% serum+100microM GSH supplemented with 100microM of t10, c12 CLA (CLA group, n=1394) or without supplementation (control group, n=1431). Samples of D7/D8 embryos were observed under Nomarsky microscopy for lipid droplets evaluation while others were biopsied and vitrified (group B-Control, n=24; group B-CLA, n=23). Non-biopsied embryos were also frozen (group NB-Control, n=49; group NB-CLA, n=45). Biopsied cells were used for embryo sex determination. Postwarming embryo survival and viability were determined at 0 and 24h of culture, respectively. Supplementation of t10, c12 CLA did not influence cleavage, embryo sex ratio, D7/D8 embryo rate or morphological quality. CLA embryos had higher number of small lipid droplets (P<or=0.003) and a smaller (P<0.001) fat embryo index being leaner (P=0.008) than control embryos. Embryo postwarming survival was higher in B-CLA than in B-control group (95.0+/-7.0% versus 62.5+/-7.9%; P<0.001). After 24h of culture, the viability (expansion rate) of biopsied embryos and nonbiopsied embryos, cultured with t10, c12 CLA was higher than control embryos (B-CLA=64.6+/-4.4% and B-control=27.5+/-2.5%, P=0.01; NB-CLA=86.0+/-3.5% and NB-Control=68.6+/-7.0%, P=0.05). Results showed that supplying t10, c12 CLA to serum-containing media decreases embryo cytoplasmic lipid deposition during in vitro culture and significantly improves resistance of IVP embryos to micromanipulation and cryopreservation.

Embryos and culture cells: a model for studying the effect of progesterone

A positive association between P4 concentration and initial bovine embryo survival has been reported. The objective of this study was to establish two coculture systems as a model to study the influence of progesterone on the initial bovine embryo development. Granulosa cells (GC) or bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs) were used at the base of embryo culture medium microdroplets (TCM199 and 10% of superovulated oestrus cow serum, (SOCS)) supplemented or not with progesterone (P4, 33.4 ng mL(-1)) and/or a progesterone receptor antagonist (onapristone, OP, 2.2x10(-5)M). Presumptive zygotes were transferred to monolayers after in vitro maturation and fertilization of bovine oocytes with thawed swim-up selected sperm. Embryo development was carried out according to the following groups: experiment 1, BOEC (n=378) and BOEC plus OP (n=325); experiment 2, GC (n=514); GC plus OP (n=509); BOEC (n=490); BOEC plus P4 (n=500); BOEC plus P4 and OP (n=502). Embryos were checked for cleavage at day 2 and for stage development between days 8 and 12 of culture. In experiment 1, no differences (P>0.05) were identified between BOEC and BOECOP groups for embryo rates of development, quality or developmental stages. Also in experiment 2, no differences were found in embryo rates of development, quality or developmental stages between embryos cultured under the two coculture systems when no supplementation was added. Embryo development rates were not affected by OP presence in GCOP group. However, P4 negatively affected Day 8 (D8) embryo development rates in BOEC system (BOECP4=16.8+/-2.6% vs. BOEC=23.7+/-1.7%, P=0.02). This negative effect was abolished when P4 antagonist (OP) was added to the culture medium. BOEC supplementation with P4 also induced a delay on embryo development at D8 as confirmed by a lower development score (BOECP4=3.0+/-1.4 vs. GC=3.4+/-0.1, GCOP=3.5+/-0.1, BOEC=3.4+/-0.1 and BOECP4OP=3.5+/-0.1; P<0.05). These results demonstrate that OP supplementation had no harmful effect on embryo development either in granulosa, where P4 is naturally synthesised, or in BOEC coculture systems. Also we can not confirm a direct association between high P4 concentrations and embryo survival during early stages, although P4 may influence early embryo development through different mechanisms mediated by the type of cells present.

Cryosurvival of bovine blastocysts is enhanced by culture with trans-10 cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (10t,12c CLA)

An excessive lipid content in embryo cells is a consequence of embryo culture in the presence of serum which is suggested to be responsible for their high susceptibility to cryopreservation. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of supplementing serum-containing culture media with trans-10 cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (10t,12c CLA) on embryo lipid accumulation and its subsequent cryopreservation. Abattoir-derived oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro (IVF=day 0). On day 1, presumptive zygotes (n=3390) were randomly placed in: (I) (MS), granulosa cell monolayer cultured with M199 and 10% serum; (II) (SCLA), granulosa cell monolayer cultured with M199, 10% serum and 100 microM 10t,12c CLA and (III) (SOF), modified synthetic oviduct fluid, where embryo culture proceeded for 8 days. Cleavage rates or D7/D8 embryo quality did not vary among treatments. D7/D8 embryo production rate was significantly (P<0.001) lower in SOF (17.9+/-1.6%) than in groups MS (29.8+/-2.5%) and SCLA (27.8+/-2.0%). After cytoplasmic lipid droplets observation under Nomarski microscopy, classified embryos were the leanest when cultured in SOF, intermediate in SCLA and the fattest in MS (P<0.02). Post-thawing intact blastocyst rates where significantly higher in the SCLA group (84.7+/-4.1%) than in SOCS (50.3+/-4.8%, P=0.0007) or SOF (65.3+/-6.9%, P=0.03) groups. Post-thawing re-expanding rates were significantly lower when embryos were cultured in MS (34.7+/-3.7%) than in SCLA (63.7+/-5.3%, P=0.0006) or SOF (49.0+/-4.6%, P=0.04). Moreover, re-expanding rates were lower (P=0.05) in SOF than in SCLA cultured embryos. These results clearly show that addition of CLA to serum-containing media reduced lipid accumulation during in vitro culture and significantly improved cryopreservation survival.

Penetrance of adrenocortical tumours associated with the germline TP53 R337H mutation

BACKGROUND

An inherited germline P53 mutation has been identified in cases of childhood adrenocortical carcinoma (ACT), a neoplasm with a high incidence in southern Brazil. The penetrance of ACT in carriers of the point mutation, which encodes an arginine-to-histidine substitution at codon 337 of TP53 (R337H), has not been determined.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the penetrance of childhood ACT in carriers of the R337H TP53 mutation.

METHODS

The family histories of 30 kindreds of 41 southern Brazilian children with ACT were obtained. A PCR based assay was used to detect this P53 mutation in a large number of relatives of children with ACT. In all, 927 individuals were tested for the mutation, 232 from the non-carrier and 695 (including the 40 probands) from the carrier parental lines.

RESULTS

40 children with ACT carried the TP53 R337H mutation; the remaining child with ACT was not tested. There was no evidence of Li-Fraumeni syndrome in any of the kindreds; however, seven met the criteria for Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome. The carrier parental line was identified in each kindred. Of the 695 individuals tested in the carrier parental line, 240 (34.5%) were positive for the mutation, while none of the 232 individuals in the other parental line carried the mutation. The penetrance of ACT was 9.9% (95% confidence interval, 8.7% to 11.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

The TP53 R337H mutation dramatically increases predisposition to childhood ACT but not to other cancers, and explains the increased frequency of ACT observed in this geographic region.

Mycobacterium simiae infection in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Mycobacterium simiae is usually an environmental contaminant rarely associated with human disease. We report a fatal case of M.simiae infection in a 37 year old, HIV positive, male from whom the organism was isolated from blood culture. The identification of M.simiae was performed using DNA amplification followed by analysis on 3% agarose gel of the amplicon fragments after digestion by restriction endonucleases. The precise identification of mycobacterial isolates to the species level is important, with both epidemiological and therapeutic implications.

Effect of impact load and active load on bone metabolism and body composition of adolescent athletes

PURPOSE

It is unclear whether adolescents involved in nonweight-bearing activities experience a delay in bone growth acquisition and sexual maturation. The purpose of this study was to compare bone mineral density (BMD), body composition, hormonal profile, and bone biochemical markers of adolescent athletes active in sports involved in impact load sports with those participating in active load sports.

METHODS

Forty-five male Caucasian athletes aged 12--18 yr were divided into two groups according to type of skeleton loading, impact (N = 18), or active (N = 27). Twenty-four male Caucasian adolescents (12--18 yr) served as controls and only performed the activities included in their physical education classes. All subjects were assessed for bone mass, body composition, and bone age by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), total testosterone, FSH, LH, urinary calcium to creatinine ratio (Ca/Cr), and urinary deoxypyridinoline crosslinks to creatinine ratio (DPD/Cr) were measured.

RESULTS

The impact load group presented the highest BMD among the three groups for all studied sites. Lean mass and absolute weight were correlated with all of the bone mass measurements. BAP levels were significantly higher and testosterone levels significantly lower in the active load group compared with the impact group.

CONCLUSION

High-impact load exercises have a beneficial effect on bone mass in male adolescents. There is also a positive correlation of weight and body composition with BMD. However, further longitudinal studies are necessary to determine whether there is a delay in bone growth acquisition among adolescents involved in a nonweight-bearing exercise regimen and its association with sex hormones.

Viability and stability of biological control agents on cotton and snap bean seeds

Cotton and snap bean were selected for a multi-year, multi-state regional (south-eastern USA) research project to evaluate the efficacy of both commercial and experimental bacterial and fungal biological control agents for the management of damping-off diseases. The goal for this portion of the project was to determine the viability and stability of biological agents after application to seed. The biological seed treatments used included: (1) Bacillaceae bacteria, (2) non-Bacillaceae bacteria, (3) the fungus Trichoderma and (4) the fungus Beauveria bassiana. Seed assays were conducted to evaluate the following application factors: short-term (< or = 3 months) stability after seed treatment; quality (i.e. isolate purity); compatibility with chemical pesticides and other biocontrol agents; application uniformity between years and plant species. For the bacterial treatments, the Bacillaceae genera (Bacillus and Paenibacillus) maintained the greatest population of bacteria per seed, the best viability over time and the best application uniformity across years and seed type. The non-Bacillaceae genera Burkholderia and Pseudomonas had the least viability and uniformity. Although Beauveria bassiana was only evaluated one year, the seed fungal populations were high and uniform. The seed fungal populations and uniformity for the Trichoderma isolates were more variable, except for the commercial product T-22. However, this product was contaminated with a Streptomyces isolate in both the years that it was evaluated. The study demonstrated that Bacillaceae can be mixed with Trichoderma isolates or with numerous pesticides to provide an integrated pest control/growth enhancement package.

Effect of 17beta-estradiol or alendronate on the bone densitometry, bone histomorphometry and bone metabolism of ovariectomized rats

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 17beta-estradiol or alendronate in preventing bone loss in 3-month-old ovariectomized Wistar rats. One group underwent sham ovariectomy (control, N = 10), and the remaining three underwent double ovariectomy. One ovariectomized group did not receive any treatment (OVX, N = 12). A second received subcutaneous 17beta-estradiol at a dose of 30 microg/kg for 6 weeks (OVX-E, N = 11) and a third, subcutaneous alendronate at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg for 6 weeks (OVX-A, N = 8). Histomorphometry, densitometry, osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline measurements were applied to all groups. After 6 weeks there was a significant decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) at the trabecular site (distal femur) in OVX rats. Both alendronate and 17beta-estradiol increased the BMD of ovariectomized rats, with the BMD of the OVX-A group being higher than that of the OVX-E group. Histomorphometry of the distal femur showed a decrease in trabecular volume in the untreated group (OVX), and an increase in the two treated groups, principally in the alendronate group. In OVX-A there was a greater increase in trabecular number. An increase in trabecular thickness, however, was seen only in the OVX-E group. There was also a decrease in bone turnover in both OVX-E and OVX-A. The osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline levels were decreased in both treated groups, mainly in OVX-A. Although both drugs were effective in inhibiting bone loss, alendronate proved to be more effective than estradiol at the doses used in increasing bone mass.

Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 stimulates GH secretion in GH-deficient patients with mutated GH-releasing hormone receptor

GH-releasing peptides (GHRPs) are synthetic peptides that bind to specific receptors and thereby stimulate the secretion of pituitary GH. In vivo it is uncertain whether these peptides act directly on somatotroph cells or indirectly via release of GHRH from the hypothalamus. In this study we compared the pituitary hormone response to GHRP-2 in 11 individuals with isolated GH deficiency (GHD) due to a homozygous mutation of the GHRH receptor (GHRH-R) gene and in 8 normal unrelated controls. Basal serum GH levels were lower in the GHD group compared with controls [0.11 +/- 0.11 (range, <0.04 to 0.38) vs. 0.59 +/- 0.76 microg/L (range, 0.04-2.12 microg/L); P = 0.052]. After GHRP-2 administration there was a 4.5-fold increase in serum GH relative to baseline values in the GHD group (0.49 +/- 0.41 vs. 0.11 +/- 0.11 microg/L; P = 0.002), which was significantly less than the 79-fold increase in the control group (46.8 +/- 17.6 vs. 0.59 +/- 0.76 microg/L; P = 0.008). Basal and post-GHRP-2 serum levels of ACTH, cortisol, and PRL were similar in both groups. Basal levels of serum TSH were significantly higher in the GHD group than in the control group (3.23 +/- 2.21 vs. 1.37 +/- 0.34 microIU/mL; P = 0.003). TSH levels in both groups did not change after GHRP-2 administration. These results suggest that an intact GHRH signaling system is not an absolute requirement for GHRP-2 action on GH secretion and that GHRP-2 has a GHRH-independent effect on pituitary somatotroph cells.

Cortisol inhibits the differentiation and apoptosis of osteoblasts in culture

Glucocorticoids decrease the replication of cells of the osteoblastic lineage and the function of the osteoblast. However, under certain conditions, they enhance the differentiation of osteoblastic cells, an effect that appears contradictory to their inhibitory actions on cell function. In this study we examine the effects of cortisol on the proliferation, differentiation, and fate of osteoblastic enriched cells from 22-day-old fetal rat calvariae (osteoblastic cells) in the absence and presence of beta-glycerophosphate. In the absence of beta-glycerophosphate, there was a progressive accumulation of DNA and cells, which was impaired by cortisol. In the presence of beta-glycerophosphate, there was an initial accumulation of DNA and cells followed by a marked decline that was prevented by cortisol. Despite the sustained number of cells, cortisol did not affect their mineralization, and inhibited Core binding factor a1 (Cbfa1), but not alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, or type I collagen transcripts. The decrease in cell number by cortisol observed in the absence of beta-glycerophosphate was due to a decrease in DNA synthesis, whereas the increase in cell number observed in the presence of beta-glycerophosphate was due to a relative increase in DNA synthesis and a decrease in apoptosis as determined by DNA fragmentation and acridine orange staining of the cells. This was correlated by a decrease in transcripts of proapoptotic genes and caspase 3 activity, and an increase of antiapoptotic genes. In conclusion, cortisol decreases the replication of cells of the osteoblastic lineage, but under conditions of differentiation/mineralization, cortisol prevents terminal differentiation of the cells and maintains an immature cell population.

Effect of lipids and oleic acid on biomass development in anaerobic fixed-bed reactors. Part I: Biofilm growth and activity

Two similar anaerobic fixed-bed bioreactors which allowed the biomass to be periodically withdrawn were run in parallel. After feeding each digester with synthetic dairy wastes of different lipid content (Period I), both digesters were fed with increasing sodium oleate concentrations with skim milk as co-substrate (Period II) and oleate as the sole carbon source (Period III). In Period I, the digester fed with lipids was more efficient and exhibited lower levels of volatile fatty acids than the digester fed without lipids. The biofilm built up in the presence of lipids was thinner, but more resistant to the presence of oleate than the biofilm formed in the absence of lipids, which lost 53% of its solids after contacting with oleic acid. The specific methanogenic activity with butyrate as substrate was enhanced in the presence of lipids, but no significant effect was detected on the acetoclastic and hydrogenophilic activities, which remained similar for both digesters along the trial period.

Effects of lipids and oleic acid on biomass development in anaerobic fixed-bed reactors. Part II: Oleic acid toxicity and biodegradability

Oleic acid toxicity and biodegradability were followed during long-term operation of two similar anaerobic fixed-bed units. When treating an oleate based effluent, the sludge from the bioreactor that was acclimated with lipids during the first operation period, showed a higher tolerance to oleic acid toxicity (IC50 = 137 mg/l) compared with the sludge fed with a non-fat substrate (IC50 = 80 mg/l). This sludge showed also the highest biodegradation capacity of oleic acid, achieving maximum methane production rates between 33 and 46 mlCH4(STP)/gVS.day and maximum percentages of methanization between 85 and 98% for the range of concentrations between 500 and 900 mg oleate/l. When oleate was the sole carbon source fed to both digesters, the biomass became encapsulated with organic matter, possibly oleate or an intermediate of its degradation, e.g. stearate that was degraded at a maximum rate of 99 mlCH4(STP)/gVS.day. This suggests the possibility of using adsorption-degradation cycles for the treatment of LCFA based effluents. Both tolerance to toxicity and biodegradability of oleic acid were improved by acclimatization with lipids or oleate below a threshold concentration.

Amplification of 9q34 in childhood adrenocortical tumors: a specific feature unrelated to ethnic origin or living conditions

Adrenocortical tumors (ACT) in children under 15 years of age exhibit some clinical and biological features distinct from ACT in adults. Cell proliferation, hypertrophy and cell death in adrenal cortex during the last months of gestation and the immediate postnatal period seem to be critical for the origin of ACT in children. Studies with large numbers of patients with childhood ACT have indicated a median age at diagnosis of about 4 years. In our institution, the median age was 3 years and 5 months, while the median age for first signs and symptoms was 2 years and 5 months (N = 72). Using the comparative genomic hybridization technique, we have reported a high frequency of 9q34 amplification in adenomas and carcinomas. This finding has been confirmed more recently by investigators in England. The lower socioeconomic status, the distinctive ethnic groups and all the regional differences in Southern Brazil in relation to patients in England indicate that these differences are not important to determine 9q34 amplification. Candidate amplified genes mapped to this locus are currently being investigated and Southern blot results obtained so far have discarded amplification of the abl oncogene. Amplification of 9q34 has not been found to be related to tumor size, staging, or malignant histopathological features, nor does it seem to be responsible for the higher incidence of ACT observed in Southern Brazil, but could be related to an ACT from embryonic origin.

[Risk factors associated with the acquisition of multiresistant bacteria in a pediatric nursery]

OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk factors in patients who had a multiresistant bacteria during their staying in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and in a pediatric nursery of a tertiary teaching hospital.METHODS: Chart review of the patients who stayed in the units from January, 1995 to July, 1997 and had a multiresistant microorganism isolated (both infection and colonization). A case-control study was done using McNemar test for group comparison and using stepwise logistic regression to select independent risk factors. The following risk factors were tested: prior hospital staying, underlying disease, intensive care unit admission, surgical procedure, urinary catheter, central venous line, ventilator, prior antibiotic therapy and skin lesion.RESULTS: Among 52 patients, 66 multiresistant bacteria were identified (among them, 33 were gram-negative bacilli and 33 were methicillin-resistant S. aureus). The logistic regression analysis of the case-control study identified 2 risk factors: prior antibiotic therapy and skin lesion. A single risk factor was indicated for patients with gram-negative bacilli. Nevertheless, for patients with methicillin-resistant S. aureus, central venous lines and skin lesion were significant.CONCLUSION: Prior antibiotic therapy and skin lesion were the factors associated with the acquisition of multiresistant bacteria. Besides skin lesion, for oxacilin-resistant S. aureus colonized patients, central venous catheter use was a risk factor. The strategies employed to limit the spread of those bacteria in the hospital should consider these three factors.

[Isoniazid-induced hepatic failure. Report of a case]

Isoniazid and pyrazinamide are both well-known hepatotoxic drugs. When isoniazid is used, the hepatic lesion appears before than when pyrazinamide is used. This paper intends to relate a case of a 5-month-old patient who had lungs' and meningeal tuberculosis and who developed toxic hepatitis accomplished by hepatic failure while he was being treated with isoniazid, pyrazinamide and rifampicin. The clinic manifestations and the laboratory alterations were detected in the fifth day of treatment and the recovery was fast; and almost complete by the end of the first week, in which the use of isoniazid had been suspended. Although it was necessary to take the patient to the intensive care unit, he had a good recovery, without sequels.