Reproductive cycle of Branchiura sowerbyi (Oligochaeta: Naididae: Tubificinae) cultivated under laboratory conditions

The biology of Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard, 1892 has been the focus of many studies in temperate regions, where the species is exotic, according to literature data. Due to its high productivity and easy cultivation, B. sowerbyi is of great interest as a food source for fish farming. The present study reports information on the reproductive biology and growth of B. sowerbyi under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 1ºC. Weekly observations during 52 weeks indicated that the time between cocoon laying and young hatching was 14 to 16 days, the specific daily growth rate was 0.91 ± 0.04% (mean ± SD) and the time to reach sexual maturity was 40.83 ± 6.88 days. As reported by other authors, the hatching rate observed was low (33.08%), but the survival rate of young was high, approximately 96%. Laboratory observations showed that B. sowerbyi has two annual reproductive cycles, the first (between the 5th and 24th week) being more pronounced than the second (between the 31st and 51st week) concerning the number of cocoons.

On a collection of enchytraeids (Oligochaeta) from first order streams in São Paulo State, Brazil

A collection of 21 ethanol-preserved specimens of enchytraeids collected in first order streams in São Paulo State, Brazil, was whole-mounted on slides and investigated under light microscope. Eight species taxa were distinguished, belonging to Achaeta, Guaranidrilus, and Marionina. Five species could be named, one of them tentatively: Achaeta neotropica Černosvitov, 1937, Achaeta singularis Schmelz, 2008, Guaranidrilus oiepe Righi, 1974, Marionina argentea (Michaelsen, 1889) s.l., Marionina cf. seminuda Xie & Rota, 2001. Three further unnamed species taxa of Guaranidrilus were distinguished; two of them may be new species. The presence of sexually mature specimens of A. singularis allowed an emendation of the original description which was based on juvenile specimens. The rod-shaped crystals in the coelom of A. singularis are similar to raphides in plants and sponges, an

Global panorama of studies about freshwater oligochaetes: main trends and gaps

Freshwater oligochaetes have been studied over the years in a wide range of habitats around the world. To analyse the data published about freshwater oligochaetes in the 31 year period between 1985 and 2015, we searched for documents in the ISI Web of Science, Scopus and SciELO databases. A total of 979 works were evaluated from 184 periodicals. The United States is the country with the most publications about aquatic oligochaetes, followed by France, Germany and Italy. Works related to the ecology and ecotoxicology of these organisms are most abundant. Studies carried out in the laboratory are most frequent, consisting of investigations involving bioassays, morphology, genetics and molecular biology. The results also show that spring, cave water bodies and swamps have been studied less than any other aquatic habitat and that countries of the Southern Hemisphere are under-represented in the studies of aquatic oligochaetes. Hence, there is a need for increased efforts to fill in gaps in the knowledge about these oligochaetes

Produção de casulos e taxa de eclosão de Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae)

Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard, 1892 is a Tubificidae species abundant in tropical limnic environments and associated with sediments rich in organic matter and elevated temperatures. The present study aimed at obtaining information on laying and hatching rates of B. sowerbyi cocoons under laboratory conditions. In order to do this, specimens of B. sowerbyi were placed in beakers (250 ml) containing clay sediment and distilled water and kept at 25ºC. The obtained cocoons were placed in beakers of 100 ml and kept in conditions similar to the mature individuals. Fifty seven cocoons were collected, with a mean of 0.13 cocoons·individual-1·day-1 and 1.21 (±0.08) eggs·cocoon-1. Hatching time was approximately two weeks and hatching rate was 44.93%. The results obtained were different from the ones found by other authors for B. sowerbyi. According to the literature, different populations of the same species can present distinct biological aspects, such as the number of cocoons, hatching rates and growth.Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard, 1892 é uma espécie de Tubificidae abundante em ambientes límnicos tropicais, freqüentemente associada a sedimento rico em matéria orgânica e a elevadas temperaturas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo obter informações sobre postura e taxa de eclosão de casulos de B. sowerbyi, em condições laboratoriais. Para isso, exemplares da espécie foram acondicionados em béqueres (250 ml), contendo sedimento argiloso e água destilada, mantidos a 25°C. Os casulos foram separados em béqueres de 100 ml e mantidos em condições similares aos indivíduos adultos. Foram coletados 57 casulos, uma média de 0,13 casulos·indivíduo-1·dia-1, contendo 1,21 (±0,08) ovos·casulo-1 em média. O tempo de eclosão foi aproximadamente duas semanas e a taxa de eclosão foi 44,93%. Os resultados obtidos mostraram-se diferentes daqueles encontrados por outros autores para B. sowerbyi. Os dados gerados no presente estudo podem ser considerados passos importantes para a observação de características da biologia reprodutiva da espécie, B. sowebyi, encontrada no sedimento de ambientes aquáticos brasileiros

Papel da colonoscopia no câncer colorretal

O câncer colorretal (CCR) é a terceira neoplasia maligna mais freqüente no mundo. No entanto, pouco ou nenhum benefício de sobrevida foi obtido nos últimos 50 anos. Quanto à doença genética, crescente investigação epidemiológica e de genética molecular apontam para a definição de grupos de risco, específicos para o CCR, favorecendo a aplicação de protocolos de rastreamento e possibilitando maior diagnóstico precoce. O CCR é melhor diagnosticado pelo exame colonoscópico que possibilita diagnóstico histológico através da biópsia. Lesões pré-malignas e cânceres precoces são diagnosticados preferencialmente pela colonoscopia em nosso meio. No entanto, significativa redução de custos se faz necessária à sua aplicação no rastreamento da população de risco normal para CCR. A polipectomia e a mucossectomia endoscópicas representam tratamento curativo para casos selecionados de CCR invasivo. Da mesma forma, adequada paliação pode ser alcançada utilizando alguns recursos da colonoscopia.Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents the third most common malignancy throughout the world. Little or no improvement in survival has been effectively achieved in the last 50 years. Extensive epidemiological and genetic data are able to identify more precisely definite risk-groups so screening and early diagnosis can be more frequently accomplished. CRC is best detected by colonoscopy, which allows sampling for histologic diagnosis. Colonoscopy is the gold standard for detection of small and premalignant lesions, although it is not cost-effective for screening average-risk population. Colonoscopic polypectomy and mucosal resection constitute curative treatment for selective cases of invasive CRC. Similarly, alternative trans-colonoscopic treatment can be offered for adequate palliation, thus avoiding surgery

Oligochaeta (Annelida: Clitellata) in headwater streams of the Parque Estadual de Campos do Jordão (São Paulo - Brazil)

This study inventoried stream oligochaetes of the Campos do Jordão State Park (CJSP), São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 2302 individuals of three families (Naididae, Enchytraeidae, Turbificidae) were obtained. Seventeen species were inventoried: Achaeta sp., Allonais paraguayensis, Chaetogaster diastrophus, Nais communis, Nais variabilis, Pristina biserrata, Pristina leidyi, Pristina proboscidea, Pristinella jenkinae, Pristinella longidentata, Pristinella minuta, Pristinella notopora, Pristinella osborni, Pristinella sima, Aulodrilus limnobius, Bothrioneurum sp., and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri. The total number of species found represents 24% of all oligochaetes species (70) recorded in diverse aquatic environments in Brazil, making this inventory very important given the poor knowledge of this group in Brazil.O objetivo desse artigo foi inventariar as espécies de oligoquetos limnícolas que habitam córregos do Parque Estadual de Campos do Jordão (PECJ). As amostras revelaram 2302 indivíduos, distribuídos em três famílias (Naididae, Enchytraeidae, Tubificidae). Foram inventariadas 17 espécies, sendo elas: Achaeta sp., Allonais paraguayensis, Chaetogaster diastrophus, Nais communis, Nais variabilis, Pristina biserrata, Pristina leidyi, Pristina proboscidea, Pristinella jenkinae, Pristinella longidentata, Pristinella minuta, Pristinella notopora, Pristinella osborni, Pristinella sima, Aulodrilus limnobius, Botrioneurum sp. e Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri. O número total de espécies encontrado representa 24% de todas as espécies de oligoquetos registrados em diversos ambientes aquáticos no Brasil (70), evidenciando a importância deste trabalho, visto que há ainda grandes lacunas no conhecimento da fauna de oligoquetos límnicos no Brasil

Insetos aquáticos associados a macrófitas da região litoral da represa do Ribeirão das Anhumas (município de Américo Brasiliense, São Paulo, Brasil)

Research on aquatic insects in Brazil has increased in the last years. However, gaps exist on the knowledge relating their association with aquatic macrophytes. The objective of this work was to assess the composition and abundance of the entomofauna associated with macrophytes occurring at Ribeirão das Anhumas reservoir (Américo Brasiliense, São Paulo, Brazil), to evaluate the insects functional trophic levels, to compare the faunistic similarities between sampling periods and between macrophytes through PSC analyzes (similarity) and PCA (Principal Components Analysis), besides establishing the relation between macrophytes wet/dry weight and its associated fauna. We identified 1173 specimens belonging to 26 families distributed in seven orders. The macrophytes support a community predominantly represented for collectors insects (62% of its fauna) followed by predators (31%). The PCA analyses also indicated that different collection periods did not influence the faunistic structure; however this analysis indicated spatial segregation between some macrophytes, with a probable existence of a relation between macrophytes space complexity and associated fauna diversity. The analysis of plants dry weight biomass didn't indicate direct relation with insect abundance.As pesquisas sobre insetos aquáticos vem sendo muito difundidas nos últimos anos. Entretanto, existem lacunas sobre o conhecimento de suas relações com macrófitas aquáticas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a composição e estrutura da entomofauna associada a seis gêneros de macrófitas da represa do Ribeirão das Anhumas (Américo Brasiliense/SP), avaliar as categorias funcionais tróficas dos insetos, comparar as similaridades faunísticas entre os períodos de coletas e entre as macrófitas através das analises PSC (similaridade) e ACP (Análise de Componentes Principais), além de estabelecer a relação entre peso úmido/seco das macrófitas e a fauna associada. Identificamos 1173 espécimes pertencentes a 26 famílias distribuídas em sete ordens. As macrófitas sustentam uma comunidade predominantemente representada por insetos coletores (62% da fauna) seguida por predadores (31%). A análise ACP também não indicou que os diferentes períodos de coleta influenciam a estrutura faunística, entretanto esta análise indicou separação espacial entre algumas macrófitas, o que provavelmente relaciona a diversidade da fauna associada com complexidade espacial das macrófitas. A análise da biomassa das plantas refletiu que o peso seco não exerce influência diretamente relacionada à abundância de insetos

Levantamento Preliminar da Entomofauna Associada a Macrófitas Aquáticas da Região Litoral de Ambientes Lênticos

Devido à função ecológica representada pelos insetos aquáticos, é de grande importância conhecermos a composição destes organismos presentes em macrófitas aquáticas. O objetivo do trabalho foi conhecer a variedade e a abundância da entomofauna associada a macrófitas de ambientes lênticos da região central do Estado de São Paulo. A fauna analisada consiste naquela associada a 16 plantas, coletadas na Represa do Ribeirão das Anhumas (Américo Brasiliense/SP), e em um viveiro de piscicultura (Araraquara/SP)

Níveis séricos pré-operatórios de CA 72-4, CEA, CA 19-9 e Alfa-fetoproteína em pacientes com câncer gástrico

INTRODUCTION: The clinical importance of preoperative serum levels of CA 72-4, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was prospectively evaluated in 44 patients with gastric cancer. METHOD: The serum tumor marker levels were determined by commercial radioimmunoassay kits. Positivity for CA 72-4 (>;4 U/mL), CEA (>;5 ng/mL), CA 19-9 (>;37 U/mL), and AFP (>;10 ng/mL) were correlated according to the stage, histology, and lymph node metastasis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: CA 72-4 showed a higher positivity rate for gastric cancer (47.7%) than CEA (25%), CA 19-9 (25%), and AFP (0%). The combination of CA 72-4 with CEA and CA 19-9 increased the sensitivity to 61.4%. The positivity rates of CA 72-4 in patients at stages I and II (initial disease) and in patients at stages III and IV (advanced disease) were 9% and 60.6%, respectively (P ;4 U/ml), CEA (>;5 ng/ml), CA 19-9 (>;37 U/ml) e AFP (>;10 ng/ml), foi correlacionada com o estágio da doença, a histologia do tumor e comprometimento de linfonodo. RESULTADOS E DISCUSSÃO: O marcador CA 72-4 apresentou maior positividade para o câncer gástrico (47,7%) que CEA (25%), CA 19-9 (25%) e AFP (0%). A associação de CA 72-4, CEA e CA 19-9 aumentou a sensibilidade para 61,4%. A positividade do CA 72-4 nos pacientes com estágios I e II (Doença Inicial) e nos pacientes com estágios III e IV (Doença Avançada) foi de 9 e 60,6%, respectivamente (