18F-FDG measurement in primary lung cancer: SUV normalization to different distribution volumes

Introduction: Standard Uptake Value (SUV) is a measurement of the uptake in a tumour normalized on the basis of a distribution volume and is used to quantify 18F-Fluorodeoxiglucose (FDG) uptake in tumors, such as primary lung tumor. Several sources of error can affect its accuracy. Normalization can be based on body weight, body surface area (BSA) and lean body mass (LBM). The aim of this study is to compare the influence of 3 normalization volumes in the calculation of SUV: body weight (SUVW), BSA (SUVBSA) and LBM (SUVLBM), with and without glucose correction, in patients with known primary lung tumor. The correlation between SUV and weight, height, blood glucose level, injected activity and time between injection and image acquisition is evaluated. Methods: Sample included 30 subjects (8 female and 22 male) with primary lung tumor, with clinical indication for 18F-FDG Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Images were acquired on a Siemens Biography according to the department’s protocol. Maximum pixel SUVW was obtained for abnormal uptake focus through semiautomatic VOI with Quantification 3D isocontour (threshold 2.5). The concentration of radioactivity (kBq/ml) was obtained from SUVW, SUVBSA, SUVLBM and the glucose corrected SUV were mathematically obtained. Results: Statistically significant differences between SUVW, SUVBSA and SUVLBM and between SUVWgluc, SUVBSAgluc and SUVLBMgluc were observed (p=0.000<0.05). The blood glucose level showed significant positive correlations with SUVW (r=0.371; p=0.043) and SUVLBM (r=0.389; p=0.034). SUVBSA showed independence of variations with the blood glucose level. Conclusion: The measurement of a radiopharmaceutical tumor uptake normalized on the basis of different distribution volumes is still variable. Further investigation on this subject is recommended

Biochemical and physiological citrus plants responses under glyphosate application

O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar o comportamento fisiológico e bioquímico de plantas de citros (Citrus spp.) submetidas à aplicação do herbicida glyphosate. Para tanto, foram realizados quatro estudos. No primeiro, avaliou-se o efeito de glyphosate (doses entre 0 e 720 g e.a.ha-1, aplicadas sobre a parte aérea das plantas) nas concentrações foliares de chiquimato, aminoácidos livres totais e fenóis e na fotossíntese de plantas de citros em condições controladas. Foram testadas mudas de limão Cravo (Citrus limonia L. Osbeck), com 4 meses de idade, e mudas de Valência (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) sobre Swingle (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf x Citrus paradisi Macf), com 24 meses de idade. No segundo estudo avaliou-se, em condições de campo, a toxicidade de glyphosate em plantas submetidas à aplicação atingindo o caule (doses entre 0 e 2160 g e.a.ha-1) ou toda a parte aérea (doses entre 0 e 720 g e.a.ha-1). Os materiais vegetais testados foram plantas de laranja Valência sobre Swingle e limão Cravo, com 20 e 27 meses de idade, respectivamente. No terceiro avaliou-se a queda de frutos de laranjeira Pera (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) em função do glyphosate. No último estudo investigou-se a possibilidade de aplicação acidental simulada de glyphosate causar intoxicação e queda de frutos em plantas de laranja Pera. No primeiro estudo verificou-se efeito de glyphosate somente nas concentrações de chiquimato e aminoácidos livres totais das mudas de limão Cravo; porém, os efeitos foram transitórios. Não houve efeito nos conteúdos de fenóis e clorofila total e na atividade fotossintética. Não se constatou qualquer efeito nas características bioquímicas e na fotossíntese das mudas de Valência, indicando significativa tolerância ao herbicida. No estudo a campo, as plantas de citros atingidas pelo glyphosate no caule não sofreram intoxicação. Apenas a aplicação nas doses de 360 e 720 g e.a.ha-1 sobre a parte aérea afetou as plantas. O principal sintoma de intoxicação consistiu na emissão de brotações deformadas, indicando efeito nas regiões meristemáticas. Os efeitos nas folhas pré-formadas foram pequenos ou inexistentes. Todas as plantas atingidas pelo herbicida se recuperaram entre seis e doze meses após a aplicação. Nos estudos para avaliar a queda de frutos observou-se que o glyphosate promove a produção de etileno, causando a queda destes quando estão em fase final de maturação. A queda ocorreu principalmente devido ao contato direto com a pulverização e não devido à translocação do herbicida. No último estudo, constatou-se que a aplicação acidental simulada foi parcialmente interceptada pelo mato, não causando efeito significativo na queda de frutos e no desenvolvimento vegetativo das plantas de citros.The objective of this research was to evaluate physiological and biochemical responses of citrus (Citrus spp.) plants sprayed with the herbicide glyphosate. Four studies were done to attain this objective. By the first one, it were investigated the effects of glyphosate (dosages from 0 to 720 g a.e.ha-1 applied on plants canopies) on the leaf contents of shikimate, total free amino acids and phenolic compounds, and on photosynthesis of citrus plants under controlled conditions. The experiments were conducted using Rangpur Lime (Citrus limonia L. Osbeck) rootstock, with 4 months old, and Valencia (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) scion grafted on Swingle (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf x Citrus paradisi Macf) rootstock, with 24 months old. By the second trial, it was evaluated, under field conditions, the toxicity of glyphosate on citrus plants sprayed directly to the the trunk (dosages from 0 to 2160 g a.e.ha-1) or on the canopy (dosages from 0 to 720 g a.e.ha-1). The plants tested were Valencia var. grafted on Swingle var. and on Rangpur Lime var., with 20 and 27 months old, respectively. By the third trial, it was evaluated the fruit dropping of Pera var. (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) in relation to glyphosate spray. The last trial was conducted to evaluate if an accidental simulated spray of glyphosate can cause toxicity and fruit dropping in Pera citrus var. The results by the first study showed effects of glyphosate only on shikimate and total free amino acids contents of Rangpur Lime seedlings. However, these effects were temporaries. No effect was found on phenolic compound contents and on the photosynthetic characteristics evaluated. It was not postrayed any effect on biochemical and photosynthetic characteristics of the Valencia plants, indicating significant glyphosate tolerance. By the second study, the citrus plants sprayed with glyphosate on their trunks have not showed intoxication. Only the application of glyphosate at dosages of 360 and 720 g a.i.ha-1 on the canopies affected the plants. The main toxic symptoms consisted of deformation of new flushes, indicating effect on plant meristems. The effects of glyphosate were low or none in the mature leaves. All plants sprayed by glyphosate have been recovered by from six to twelve months after the application. In the study, in order to evaluate the fruit dropping, it was found that the herbicide glyphosate induced ethylene production, causing fruit dropping when they are in final phase of ripening. Fruit dropping occurred mainly due to the direct contact of the spraying instead of the herbicide translocation. By the last study it was found that the accidental simulated spraying is partially intercepted by weeds, do not causing significant effect on fruit dropping and citrus growth

Low glyphosate rates do not affect citrus limonia (l.) osbeck seedlings

Glyphosate is used to control weeds in citrus orchards, and accidental spraying or wind drift onto the seedlings may cause growth arrest owing to metabolism disturbance. Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of non-lethal rates (0, 180, 360 and 720 g Al ha(-1)) of glyphosate on four-month-old 'Cravo' lime, Citrus limonia (L.) Osbeck, seedlings. Photosynthesis and the concentrations of shikimic acid, total free amino acids and phenolic acids were evaluated. Only transitory effects were observed in the! contents of shikimate and total free amino acids. No visual effects were observed. The present study showed that glyphosate at non-lethal rates, which is very usual when accidental spraying or wind drift occurs in citrus orchard, did not cause severe metabolic damage in 'Cravo' lime seedlings654420425CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNP

Glyphosate has low toxicity to citrus plants growing in the field

Gravena, R., Filho, R. V., Alves, P. L. C. A., Mazzafera, P. and Gravena, A. R. 2012. Glyphosate has low toxicity to citrus plants growing in the field. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 119-127. There has been controversy over whether glyphosate used for weed management in citrus fields causes significant toxicity to citrus plants. Glyphosate may be toxic to non-target plants exposed to accidental application or drift. This work evaluated glyphosate toxicity in plants of Valencia citrus (Citrus sinensis. L. Osbeck) grafted onto 'Rangpur lime' (Citrus limonia L. Osbeck) and citrumelo 'Swingle' (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf x Citrus paradisi Mad) by trunk- or foliar-directed herbicide applications under field conditions. In the first experiment, glyphosate was sprayed at rates of 0, 90, 180, 260, 540, 1080 and 2160 g a.e. ha(-1) directly on the trunk to a height of 5 cm above the grafting region. In the second experiment, glyphosate was sprayed on the plant canopies at rates of 0, 0.036, 0.36, 3.6, 36, 360 and 720 g a.e. ha(-1). There was no visual damage caused by glyphosate applied directly to the trunk, but the plants were affected by glyphosate sprayed directly on the canopies at rates over 360 g a.e. ha(-1). The main symptom was observed in the new shoots formed after the application, indicating an effect on meristems. Little or no effect was observed in mature leaves. Eight days after application the levels of shikimate, total free amino acids and total phenolic compounds were unaffected. All plants affected by glyphosate recovered between 6 and 12 mo after the treatments. Therefore, despite some transient symptoms Valencia citrus grafted onto 'Rangpur lime' and citrumelo 'Swingle' were tolerant to glyphosate.Brazilian National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq)Brazilian National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq)CNPqCNP

Ácaros predadores associados ao ácaro-da-erinose da lichia

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar ácaros predadores em plantas de lichia e correlacionar o desenvolvimento populacional dessas espécies com o do ácaro-da-erinose da lichia, Aceria litchii. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no Município de Casa Branca, SP, com árvores adultas, de 12 anos de idade, da variedade Bengal. Mensalmente, de agosto de 2008 a setembro de 2009, foram coletadas folhas para avaliação dos níveis populacionais de A. litchii e de ácaros predadores. Foram registrados 6.557 indivíduos da família Phytoseiidae. A espécie mais abundante foi Amblyseius compositus (42,6%), seguida por Phytoseius intermedius (31,2%), Euseius concordis (14,1%), Amblyseius herbicolus (8,8%) e Iphiseiodes zuluagai (3,3%). O desenvolvimento populacional de A. compositus, E. concordis e I. zuluagai correlacionou-se positivamente com o de Aceria litchii, o que indica relação de predação