Uso da análise faunística de insetos na avaliação do impacto ambiental

Com o objetivo de avaliar o impacto ambiental ocorrido na área experimental do Departamento de Entomologia - ESALQ/USP, num período de 25 anos, aplicou-se a análise faunística aos resultados da coleta de insetos, com armadilha luminosa, em 1965/66 e 1990/91. Comparando-se os índices fisiográficos das épocas estudadas, verifica-se uma redução de 35,1% entre 1965/66 e 1990/91. Como conseqüência, o índice de diversidade também diminuiu em 60,3% nas datas estudadas, em decorrência da menor coleta de insetos, caracterizando considerável impacto ambiental.Environmental changes at the experimental area of the Department of Entomology, University of São Paulo, in Piracicaba, in a period of 25 years, were evaluated using a faunistc insect analysis of samples collected by light traps in 1965/66 and 1990/91. A reduction of 35.1% in the faunistic index between these two periods was recorded. Consequently, the diversity index also decreased by 60.3% due to the low number of insects collected. These indices suggest a considerable environmental change in the experimental area over this 25 years period

Association between hospital anxiety depression scale and autonomic recovery following exercise

The hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS) is a benchmark used to investigate possible and probable cases of psychosomatic illness. Its affiliation with autonomic recovery after exercise is unclear and, as a technique applied to evaluate cardiovascular risk. We assessed a possible link between HADS and autonomic recovery after exercise. We studied healthy subjects split into two groups: Low HADS (n = 20) and High HADS (n = 21). Subjects consented to moderate aerobic exercise on a treadmill at 60% to 65% of the maximum heart rate (HR) for 30 min. We studied HR variability (HRV) before and during 30 min after exercise. Subjects with higher HADS values presented delayed recovery of HR and root-mean square of differences between adjacent normal RR intervals (RMSSD) after submaximal exercise. RMSSD during recovery from exercise had a significant association with HADS. In summary, subjects with higher HADS presented slower vagal recovery following exercise

Altered glucose homeostasis and hepatic function in obese mice deficient for both kinin receptor genes

The Kallikrein-Kinin System (KKS) has been implicated in several aspects of metabolism, including the regulation of glucose homeostasis and adiposity. Kinins and des-Arg-kinins are the major effectors of this system and promote their effects by binding to two different receptors, the kinin B2 and B1 receptors, respectively. To understand the influence of the KKS on the pathophysiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), we generated an animal model deficient for both kinin receptor genes and leptin (obB1B2KO). Six-month-old obB1B2KO mice showed increased blood glucose levels. Isolated islets of the transgenic animals were more responsive to glucose stimulation releasing greater amounts of insulin, mainly in 3-month-old mice, which was corroborated by elevated serum C-peptide concentrations. Furthermore, they presented hepatomegaly, pronounced steatosis, and increased levels of circulating transaminases. This mouse also demonstrated exacerbated gluconeogenesis during the pyruvate challenge test. The hepatic abnormalities were accompanied by changes in the gene expression of factors linked to glucose and lipid metabolisms in the liver. Thus, we conclude that kinin receptors are important for modulation of insulin secretion and for the preservation of normal glucose levels and hepatic functions in obese mice, suggesting a protective role of the KKS regarding complications associated with obesity and T2DM

Selection among and within half-sib families in "Dentado Composto" maize variety for resistance to S. frugiperda and H. zea. ll cycle.

Estudou-se a obtenção de parâmetros genéticos para alguns caracteres de planta e espiga de milho (Zea mays L.) cv. Composto Dentado. O material é do segundo ciclo de seleção entre e dentro de famílias de meios-irmãos. Avaliaram-se 400 progénies num delineamento de látice simples 10 x 10 com uma repetição por local: Caruaru e S. Bento do Una, PE. Os experimentos não receberam tratamentos fitossanitários, e foram isolados das áreas que receberam tratamentos com inseticidas, utilizando-se infestações naturais. Foram coletados os dados para: altura da planta (AP) e da espiga (AE), número de espigas por planta (NE) e de espigas mal empalhadas (NEME), danos causados por H. zea (HZ) e S. frugiperda (SF), e produção de grãos (PG). As estimativas de variância genética aditiva foram altas (P < 0,05) para AP, AE e PG, e baixas para os demais caracteres. Tendo em vista os baixos valores encontrados para a variabilidade genética concernentes aos caracteres HZ e SF, é necessário um controle ambiental mais eficiente nas avaliações das progénies.The obtention of genetic parameters was studied for some characters of plant and ear of maize (Zea mays L.) cv. Composto Dentado. The material came from the second cicle of selection inter and intra families of half-sibs. Four hundred progenies were evaluated in a 10 x 10 simple lattice design, with one replicate for each place: Caruaru and São Bento do Una, PE, Brazil. The experiments did not receive phytosanitary treatments. They were isolated from the areas that received insecticide applications and lhe natural infestation was used. Data were colected for: plant height (PH), ear height (EH), number of ears per plant (NE), number of ear with loosed husk (NELH), S.frugiperda damage (SFD), H. Zea damage (HZD) and grain yield (GY). The variance analysis showed significance (P < 0.01) for all characters studied except for SFD. The estimate values for the additive genetic variance were high for PH, EH and GY and low for Lhe other characters. Considering the low values found for genetic variability concerning the characters HZ and SF, an environmental control more efficient ia the progenie evaluations is needed

Guidelines for the management and treatment of periodic fever syndromes Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (cryopyrinopathies – CAPS)

AbstractObjectiveTo establish guidelines based on cientific evidences for the management of cryopyrin associated periodic syndromes.Description of the evidence collection methodThe Guideline was prepared from 4 clinical questions that were structured through PICO (Patient, Intervention or indicator, Comparison and Outcome), to search in key primary scientific information databases. After defining the potential studies to support the recommendations, these were graduated considering their strength of evidence and grade of recommendation.Results1215 articles were retrieved and evaluated by title and abstract; from these, 42 articles were selected to support the recommendations.Recommendations1. The diagnosis of CAPS is based on clinical history and clinical manifestations, and later confirmed by genetic study. CAPS may manifest itself in three phenotypes: FCAS (mild form), MWS (intermediate form) and CINCA (severe form). Neurological, ophthalmic, otorhinolaryngological and radiological assessments may be highly valuable in distinguishing between syndromes; 2. The genetic diagnosis with NLRP3 gene analysis must be conducted in suspected cases of CAPS, i.e., individuals presenting before 20 years of age, recurrent episodes of inflammation expressed by a mild fever and urticaria; 3. Laboratory abnormalities include leukocytosis and elevated serum levels of inflammatory proteins; and 4. Targeted therapies directed against interleukin-1 lead to rapid remission of symptoms in most patients. However, there are important limitations on the long-term safety. None of the three anti-IL-1β inhibitors prevents progression of bone lesions

Search for charginos in e+e- interactions at sqrt(s) = 189 GeV

An update of the searches for charginos and gravitinos is presented, based on a data sample corresponding to the 158 pb^{-1} recorded by the DELPHI detector in 1998, at a centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV. No evidence for a signal was found. The lower mass limits are 4-5 GeV/c^2 higher than those obtained at a centre-of-mass energy of 183 GeV. The (\mu,M_2) MSSM domain excluded by combining the chargino searches with neutralino searches at the Z resonance implies a limit on the mass of the lightest neutralino which, for a heavy sneutrino, is constrained to be above 31.0 GeV/c^2 for tan(beta) \geq 1.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figure