Requerimentos de polinização de variedades de minimelancia com e sem semente cultivadas em ambiente protegido

The objective of this work was to evaluate the floral biology and pollination requirements of seeded and seedless mini watermelon varieties, and to determine the best varieties to cultivate under protected environment. Three seedless (HA‑5106, HA‑5158, and HA‑5161) and two seeded (Minipol and Polimore) genotypes were tested. Flowers were monitored from the pre‑anthesis stage to senescence, and fruit quality was also evaluated. The evaluated treatments were hand‑geitonogamous pollination (MG), cross‑pollination with pollen from the Polimore variety (MCP), cross‑pollination with pollen from the Minipol variety (MCM), and restricted pollination. All varieties had monoecious plants with diclinous flowers, and the stigmas remained receptive throughout anthesis. Fruit set rates of 84.62% (MG), 61.54% (MCP), 48% (MCM), and 0% (restricted) were obtained for seeded varieties, but of 0% (MG), 76.36% (MCP), 82.69% (MCM), and 0% (restricted) for seedless varieties. Fruits did not differ in quality among treatments within each genotype. Therefore, all the studied varieties require a pollination agent and diploid pollen for fruit set to occur, regardless of the donor variety; and Minipol or Polimore with HA‑5106 or HA‑5158 are the varieties recommended for cultivation in protected environment.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a biologia floral e os requerimentos de polinização de variedades de minimelancia com e sem sementes, e determinar as melhores variedades para cultivo em ambiente protegido. Três genótipos sem semente (HA‑5106, HA‑5158 e HA‑5161) e dois com semente (Minipol e Polimore) foram testados. As flores foram monitoradas da pré‑antese à senescência, e a qualidade dos frutos também foi avaliada. Avaliaram-se tratamentos de polinização manual por geitonogamia (MG), de pólen cruzado da variedade Polimore (MCP), de pólen cruzado da variedade Minipol (MCM) e de polinização restrita. Todas as variedades apresentaram plantas monoicas e flores díclinas, e os estigmas permaneceram receptivos durante toda a antese. Foram obtidas taxas de vingamento de 84,62% (MG), 61,54% (MCP), 48% (MCM) e 0% (restrita) para as variedades com semente, mas de 0% (MG), 76,36% (MCP), 82,69% (MCM) e 0% (restrita) para aquelas sem semente. Os frutos não diferiram quanto à qualidade entre os tratamentos dentro de cada genótipo. Portanto, todas as variedades estudadas requerem um agente polinizador e pólen diploide para o vingamento de frutos, independentemente da variedade doadora; e Minipol ou Polimore com HA‑5106 ou HA‑5158 são as variedades recomendadas para cultivo em ambiente protegido

The behavior and diagnostic utility of procalcitonin and five other inflammatory molecules in critically ill patients with respiratory distress and suspected 2009 influenza a H1N1 infection

OBJECTIVES: During the 2009 influenza A H1N1 pandemic, it became difficult to differentiate viral infections from other conditions in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. We sought to evaluate the behavior and diagnostic utility of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and four other molecules in patients with suspected 2009 Influenza A H1N1 infection. METHODS: The serum levels of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor α, interferon γ, interleukin 1β, and interleukin 10 were tested on admission and on days 3, 5, and 7 in 35 patients with suspected 2009 H1N1 infection who were admitted to two ICUs. RESULTS: Twelve patients had confirmed 2009 influenza A H1N1 infections, 6 had seasonal influenza infections, and 17 patients had negative swabs. The procalcitonin levels at inclusion and on day 3, and the C-reactive protein levels on day 3 were higher among subjects with 2009 influenza A H1N1 infections. The baseline levels of interleukin 1b were higher among the 2009 influenza A H1N1 patients compared with the other groups. The C-reactive protein levels on days 3, 5, and 7 and procalcitonin on days 5 and 7 were greater in non-surviving patients. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and interleukin-1β might occur in critically ill patients who had a 2009 H1N1 infection. Neither procalcitonin nor CRP were useful in discriminating severe 2009 H1N1 pneumonia. Higher levels of CRP and procalcitonin appeared to identify patients with worse outcomes

Causas de mortalidade de leitões neonatos em sistema intensivo de produção de suínos

Two research was conducted to evaluate and to classify the occurrence of the preweaning losses (based on the postmortem findings) of piglets in an intense swine production system, at the west of São Paulo State during the year 2000. Among total piglets born alive. 7.19 % died during the first 24 suckling days, but most of them (5.63 %) died on the 1st week of life all over the year. The most important causes of losses were overlaying (2.61 %), weakness (1.45 %), diarrhea syndrome (1.10 %), and genetic defects (0.56 %), occurring mainly on the 1st week of life. Stillbirth rate, in relation to total born, was 5.96 %. Evidences indicated higher number of overlaying during the hottest months of the year, caused probably by the longer staying out of the piglet's pen. It was suggested some control measures to reduce the piglets mortality in order to maximize the productive efficiency of the system.Objetivou-se, neste estudo, avaliar e classificar (através de achados de necropsia) as ocorrências de mortes de leitões durante o aleitamento em um sistema intensivo de produção de suínos (SIPS), localizado na região oeste do Estado de São Paulo durante o ano de 2000. Foi verificado que 7,19 % do total de nascidos vivos morreram durante os 24 dias de aleitamento, concentrando a maioria das mortes na 1ª semana de vida, cerca 5,63 %, e independentemente dos meses do ano. As causas mais freqüentes de mortalidade, em relação ao total de nascidos, foram o esmagamento (2,61 %), debilitação (1,45 %), síndrome diarréica (1,10 %) e anomalia genética (0,56%). A distribuição das mortes nos dias após o nascimento variou de maneira similar ao descrito anteriormente, maiores perdas nos primeiros dias de vida devido, principalmente, ao esmagamento, debilitação, síndrome diarréica e anomalia genético. A taxa de natimortos, em relação ao total de nascidos, foi de 5,96 %. Notou-se, ainda, uma tendência de mortalidade por esmagamento nos meses mais quentes do ano, devido, provavelmente, a uma maior permanência dos leitões fora do escamoteador. Medidas de controle direcionadas aos primeiros dias de vida dos leitões devem ser implantadas, a fim de aumentar a eficiência produtiva do SIPS

The Heart and COVID-19: What Cardiologists Need to Know

In face of the pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the management of patients with cardiovascular risk factors and/or disease is challenging. The cardiovascular complications evidenced in patients with COVID-19 derive from several mechanisms, ranging from direct viral injury to complications secondary to the inflammatory and thrombotic responses to the infection. The proper care of patients with COVID-19 requires special attention to the cardiovascular system aimed at better outcomes

Prevention of hypertension in patients with pre-hypertension: protocol for the PREVER-prevention trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Blood pressure (BP) within pre-hypertensive levels confers higher cardiovascular risk and is an intermediate stage for full hypertension, which develops in an annual rate of 7 out of 100 individuals with 40 to 50 years of age. Non-drug interventions to prevent hypertension have had low effectiveness. In individuals with previous cardiovascular disease or diabetes, the use of BP-lowering agents reduces the incidence of major cardiovascular events. In the absence of higher baseline risk, the use of BP agents reduces the incidence of hypertension. The PREVER-prevention trial aims to investigate the efficacy, safety and feasibility of a population-based intervention to prevent the incidence of hypertension and the development of target-organ damage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, with participants aged 30 to 70 years, with pre-hypertension. The trial arms will be chlorthalidone 12.5 mg plus amiloride 2.5 mg or identical placebo. The primary outcomes will be the incidence of hypertension, adverse events and development or worsening of microalbuminuria and of left ventricular hypertrophy in the EKG. The secondary outcomes will be fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular events: myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, evidence of new sub-clinical atherosclerosis, and sudden death. The study will last 18 months. The sample size was calculated on the basis of an incidence of hypertension of 14% in the control group, a size effect of 40%, power of 85% and P alpha of 5%, resulting in 625 participants per group. The project was approved by the Ethics committee of each participating institution.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The early use of blood pressure-lowering drugs, particularly diuretics, which act on the main mechanism of blood pressure rising with age, may prevent cardiovascular events and the incidence of hypertension in individuals with hypertension. If this intervention shows to be effective and safe in a population-based perspective, it could be the basis for an innovative public health program to prevent hypertension in Brazil.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Clinical Trials <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00970931">NCT00970931</a>.</p

Virulence in Murine Model Shows the Existence of Two Distinct Populations of Brazilian Vaccinia virus Strains

Brazilian Vaccinia virus had been isolated from sentinel mice, rodents and recently from humans, cows and calves during outbreaks on dairy farms in several rural areas in Brazil, leading to high economic and social impact. Some phylogenetic studies have demonstrated the existence of two different populations of Brazilian Vaccinia virus strains circulating in nature, but little is known about their biological characteristics. Therefore, our goal was to study the virulence pattern of seven Brazilian Vaccinia virus strains. Infected BALB/c mice were monitored for morbidity, mortality and viral replication in organs as trachea, lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, brain and spleen. Based on the virulence potential, the Brazilian Vaccinia virus strains were grouped into two groups. One group contained GP1V, VBH, SAV and BAV which caused disease and death in infected mice and the second one included ARAV, GP2V and PSTV which did not cause any clinical signals or death in infected BALB/c mice. The subdivision of Brazilian Vaccinia virus strains into two groups is in agreement with previous genetic studies. Those data reinforce the existence of different populations circulating in Brazil regarding the genetic and virulence characteristics

O Coração e a COVID-19: O que o Cardiologista Precisa Saber

Frente à pandemia da doença causada pelo novo coronavírus (COVID-19), o manejo do paciente com fator de risco e/ou doença cardiovascular é desafiador nos dias de hoje. As complicações cardiovasculares evidenciadas nos pacientes com COVID-19 resultam de vários mecanismos, que vão desde lesão direta pelo vírus até complicações secundárias à resposta inflamatória e trombótica desencadeada pela infecção. O cuidado adequado do paciente com COVID-19 exige atenção ao sistema cardiovascular em busca de melhores desfechos