Photosynthetic metabolism and antioxidant in Ormosia arborea are modulated by abscisic acid under water deficit? / Metabolismo fotossintético e antioxidante em mudas de Ormosia arborea são modulados pelo ácido abscísico sob deficit hídrico?

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on gas exchange and the activity of antioxidant enzymes of Ormosia arborea (Vell.) Harms seedlings under water deficit and its influence on the recovery potential of the seedlings. The experiment was conducted using four treatments, being daily irrigation or water restriction without and with 10 μM ABA. Seedlings under water deficit + ABA showed greater adjustment to drought, and when re-irrigated, they restored photosynthetic metabolism and water potential. ABA minimizes the reduction in the photosynthetic metabolism and water potential of the leaf, however, it does not increase the antioxidant activity of the O. arborea seedlings under water deficit. These results suggest that this species exhibits plasticity, which enables it to survive also in environments subjected to temporary water deficit regardless of the supplementation of ABA. We suggest that other doses of ABA be researched to expand the beneficial effect of ABA on this species.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do ácido abscísico (ABA) nas trocas gasosas e na atividade de enzimas antioxidantes de mudas de Ormosia arborea (Vell.) Harms sob deficiência hídrica e sua influência no potencial de recuperação das mudas. O experimento foi conduzido com quatro tratamentos, sendo eles irrigação diária ou restrição hídrica sem e com 10 μM ABA. As mudas sob déficit hídrico + ABA apresentaram maior ajuste à seca e ao serem re-irrigadas restabeleceram o metabolismo fotossintético e o potencial hídrico. O ABA minimizou a redução do metabolismo fotossintético e do potencial da água na folha, porém, não aumentou a atividade antioxidante de mudas de O. arborea sob déficit hídrico. Esses resultados sugerem que esta espécie apresenta plasticidade fisiológica, o que lhe permite sobreviver em ambientes sujeitos a déficit hídrico temporário, independente da suplementação de ABA. Sugerimos que outras doses de ABA sejam avaliadas para ampliar os efeitos benéficos do ABA sobre esta espécie.

Photosynthetic metabolism and antioxidant in Ormosia arborea are modulated by abscisic acid under water deficit?

Abstract The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on gas exchange and the activity of antioxidant enzymes of Ormosia arborea (Vell.) Harms seedlings under water deficit and its influence on the recovery potential of the seedlings. The experiment was conducted using four treatments, being daily irrigation or water restriction without and with 10 M ABA. Seedlings under water deficit + ABA showed greater adjustment to drought, and when re-irrigated, they restored photosynthetic metabolism and water potential. ABA minimizes the reduction in the photosynthetic metabolism and water potential of the leaf, however, it does not increase the antioxidant activity of the O. arborea seedlings under water deficit. These results suggest that this species exhibits plasticity, which enables it to survive also in environments subjected to temporary water deficit regardless of the supplementation of ABA. We suggest that other doses of ABA be researched to expand the beneficial effect of ABA on this species.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do ácido abscísico (ABA) nas trocas gasosas e na atividade de enzimas antioxidantes de mudas de Ormosia arborea (Vell.) Harms sob deficiência hídrica e sua influência no potencial de recuperação das mudas. O experimento foi conduzido com quatro tratamentos, sendo eles irrigação diária ou restrição hídrica sem e com 10 M ABA. As mudas sob déficit hídrico + ABA apresentaram maior ajuste à seca e ao serem re-irrigadas restabeleceram o metabolismo fotossintético e o potencial hídrico. O ABA minimizou a redução do metabolismo fotossintético e do potencial da água na folha, porém, não aumentou a atividade antioxidante de mudas de O. arborea sob déficit hídrico. Esses resultados sugerem que esta espécie apresenta plasticidade fisiológica, o que lhe permite sobreviver em ambientes sujeitos a déficit hídrico temporário, independente da suplementação de ABA. Sugerimos que outras doses de ABA sejam avaliadas para ampliar os efeitos benéficos do ABA sobre esta espécie.

Photosynthetic metabolism and antioxidant in Ormosia arborea are modulated by abscisic acid under water deficit? / Metabolismo fotossintético e antioxidante em mudas de Ormosia arborea são modulados pelo ácido abscísico sob deficit hídrico?

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on gas exchange and the activity of antioxidant enzymes of Ormosia arborea (Vell.) Harms seedlings under water deficit and its influence on the recovery potential of the seedlings. The experiment was conducted using four treatments, being daily irrigation or water restriction without and with 10 µM ABA. Seedlings under water deficit + ABA showed greater adjustment to drought, and when re-irrigated, they restored photosynthetic metabolism and water potential. ABA minimizes the reduction in the photosynthetic metabolism and water potential of the leaf, however, it does not increase the antioxidant activity of the O. arborea seedlings under water deficit. These results suggest that this species exhibits plasticity, which enables it to survive also in environments subjected to temporary water deficit regardless of the supplementation of ABA. We suggest that other doses of ABA be researched to expand the beneficial effect of ABA on this species.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do ácido abscísico (ABA) nas trocas gasosas e na atividade de enzimas antioxidantes de mudas de Ormosia arborea (Vell.) Harms sob deficiência hídrica e sua influência no potencial de recuperação das mudas. O experimento foi conduzido com quatro tratamentos, sendo eles irrigação diária ou restrição hídrica sem e com 10 µM ABA. As mudas sob déficit hídrico + ABA apresentaram maior ajuste à seca e ao serem re-irrigadas restabeleceram o metabolismo fotossintético e o potencial hídrico. O ABA minimizou a redução do metabolismo fotossintético e do potencial da água na folha, porém, não aumentou a atividade antioxidante de mudas de O. arborea sob déficit hídrico. Esses resultados sugerem que esta espécie apresenta plasticidade fisiológica, o que lhe permite sobreviver em ambientes sujeitos a déficit hídrico temporário, independente da suplementação de ABA. Sugerimos que outras doses de ABA sejam avaliadas para ampliar os efeitos benéficos do ABA sobre esta espécie.

International multicentre observational study to assess the efficacy and safety of a 0·5 mg kg-1 per day starting dose of oral corticosteroids to treat bullous pemphigoid.

BACKGROUND: European guidelines propose a 0·5 mg kg-1 per day dose of oral prednisone as initial treatment for bullous pemphigoid (BP). We assessed the safety and efficacy of this regimen depending on BP extent and general condition of the patients. METHODS: In a prospective international study, we consecutively included all patients diagnosed with BP. Patients received a 0·5 mg kg-1 per day dose of prednisone, which was then gradually tapered 15 days after disease control, with the aim of stopping prednisone or maintaining minimal treatment (0·1 mg kg-1 per day) within 6 months after the start of treatment. The two coprimary endpoints were control of disease activity at day 21 and 1-year overall survival. Disease severity was assessed according to the Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index (BPDAI) score. RESULTS: In total, 198 patients were included between 2015 and 2017. The final analysis comprised 190 patients with a mean age of 80·9 (SD 9·1) years. Control of disease activity was achieved at day 21 in 119 patients [62·6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 55·3-69.5]; 18 of 24 patients (75%, 95% CI 53·3-90·2), 75 of 110 patients (68·8%, 95% CI 59·2-77·3) and 26 of 56 patients (46.4%, 95% CI 33·0-60·3) had mild, moderate and severe BP, respectively (P = 0·0218). A total of 30 patients died during the study. The overall Kaplan-Meier 1-year survival was 82·6% (95% CI 76·3-87·4) corresponding to 90·9%, 83·0% and 80·0% rates in patients with mild, moderate and severe BP, respectively (P = 0·5). Thresholds of 49 points for BPDAI score and 70 points for Karnofsky score yielded maximal Youden index values with respect to disease control at day 21 and 1-year survival, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A 0·5 mg kg-1 per day dose of prednisone is a valuable therapeutic option in patients with mild or moderate BP whose general condition allows them to be autonomous.

Photosynthetic metabolism and antioxidant in Ormosia arborea are modulated by abscisic acid under water deficit?

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on gas exchange and the activity of antioxidant enzymes of Ormosia arborea (Vell.) Harms seedlings under water deficit and its influence on the recovery potential of the seedlings. The experiment was conducted using four treatments, being daily irrigation or water restriction without and with 10 µM ABA. Seedlings under water deficit + ABA showed greater adjustment to drought, and when re-irrigated, they restored photosynthetic metabolism and water potential. ABA minimizes the reduction in the photosynthetic metabolism and water potential of the leaf, however, it does not increase the antioxidant activity of the O. arborea seedlings under water deficit. These results suggest that this species exhibits plasticity, which enables it to survive also in environments subjected to temporary water deficit regardless of the supplementation of ABA. We suggest that other doses of ABA be researched to expand the beneficial effect of ABA on this species.

Improving the imaging capability of an on-axis transmission Kikuchi detector.

Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD) in the scanning electron microscope has been developing at a fast pace since its introduction less than a decade ago. The recently presented on-axis detector configuration, with its optimized geometry, has significantly increased the signal yield and facilitated the acquisition of STEM images in bright field (BF) and dark field (DF) mode, in addition to the automated orientation mapping of nanocrystalline electron transparent samples. However, the physical position of the integrated imaging system, located outside the detector screen, requires its movement in order to combine high resolution STEM images with high resolution orientation measurements. The difference between the two positions makes it impossible to acquire optimal signals simultaneously, leading to challenges when investigating site-specific nanocrystalline microstructures. To eliminate this drawback, a new imaging capability was added at the centre of the on-axis TKD detector, thus enabling acquisition of optimal quality BF images and orientation maps without detector movement. The advantages brought about by this new configuration are presented and the associated limitations are discussed.

Impact of a sepsis bundle in wards of a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a prevalent disease worldwide and still exhibits high rates of mortality. In the last years, many interventions aiming a positive impact on sepsis evolution have been studied. One of the main is the use of managed care protocols (sepsis bundles), which consist in systematization of diagnosis and treatment, such as standardization of antibiotics, collection of specific tests (cultures, lactate), and fluid replacement. Some studies have shown a reduction in hospital costs and lower mortality with the use of these tools. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of a sepsis bundle in wards of a tertiary hospital. METHODS: One hundred sixty-seven patients were retrospectively studied. The intervention was called "3-h bundle" and consisted of collecting lactate and cultures, start broad-spectrum antibiotics in the first hour of sepsis diagnosis, and volume replacement with crystalloid if hypotension or lactate ≥2 mmol/L. RESULTS: The overall mortality was 31.1%. Individuals who received the 3-h bundle showed a 44% lower mortality in comparison with who did not (25.6 vs. 45.7%; p = 0.01). Furthermore, the use of the sepsis bundle was independently correlated with lower mortality (OR = 0.175; CI = 0.04-0.64; p = 0.009). Therefore, a lower need for ICU admission and shorter length of stay in these units were observed in patients who received the intervention. CONCLUSION: The use of a sepsis protocol with systematic care in wards was associated with lower mortality, less need for ICU admission and shorter stay on these units.

Grupo Cooperativo Iberoamericano de Medicina Transfusional. Programa Consulta al Experto. El uso adecuado de la sangre y sus alternativas en cirugía / Ibero-American Cooperative Group on Transfusion Medicine. Consulting the Expert. Appropiate use of blood products and its alternatives in surgical procedures

La transfusión de productos sanguíneos tiene como objetivo restaurar o mantener la capacidad de transportar oxígeno, y la homeostasis del volumen sanguíneo. En los últimos años se han introducido mejoras en las indicaciones de los productos sanguíneos ya que se ha demostrado que su uso supone un riesgo para el paciente y también es costoso para el sistema de salud. Hay grupos que están trabajando con la práctica de la "cirugía sin sangre". El propósito principal de realizar intervenciones utilizando poca sangre ("cirugía sin sangre") está enfocada en minimizar las pérdidas y reducir o eliminar la exposición a los componentes sanguíneos alogeneicos. Los riesgos asociados con las transfusiones de sangre han sido bien documentados, y el objetivo de los centros de "cirugía sin sangre" es evitar complicaciones y el uso innecesario de las transfusiones. Hay una estrategia universal de uso conservador de la sangre que es aplicable a todos los pacientes y poblaciones. Factores tales como las condiciones preexistentes van a cambiar el enfoque en casos específicos. Un protocolo de cirugía exitosa con poca pérdida de sangre requiere trabajo en equipo y la cooperación entre el banco de sangre, hematólogos, cirujanos y anestesiólogos, para asegurar que se cumplan los objetivos de minimizar la pérdida de sangre y evitar las transfusiones, sin poner en riesgo la vida y el bienestar del paciente.

[Joubert's syndrome: report of 12 cases]. / Síndrome de Joubert: revisión de 12 casos.

INTRODUCTION: Joubert syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder whose main clinical signs are hypotonia, ataxia, mental retardation, abnormal eye movements and a respiratory pattern of alternating tachypnea-apnea during first months of life. The most characteristic imaging features are elongation and thinning of the pontomesencephalic junction with deepening of the interpeduncular fosse, thickening of the superior cerebellar peduncles, hypoplasia of the vermis and incomplete fusion of the halves of the vermis, creating a sagittal vermic cleft. The first three findings are components of the molar tooth sign . OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to review the clinical features and the neuroradiological findings in 12 children with clinical diagnosis of Joubert syndrome, along with the attempt to correlate clinical and radiological findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study, and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging was achieved in all cases. RESULTS: All the children have mental retardation, hypotonia, ataxia and oculomotor abnormalities. Other clinical findings are respiratory rhythm abnormalities, abnormal retinal pigmentation, mouth-tongye-facial dyskinesias, ptosis, polydactyly, scoliosis, congenital heart defects, polycystic kidneys and seizures. All patients have agenesis of the vermis and the molar tooth sign is present in nine patients. Five children have other associated cerebral malformations. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of a biochemical or genetic marker for the Joubert syndrome, we need to have a group of patients with homogeneous clinical and neuroradiological characteristics, in order to avoid an overlap with other syndromes. According to our experience and the review of the literature, we believe that the following should be considered as major diagnostic criteria for Joubert syndrome: hypotonia, ataxia, mental retardation, oculomotor apraxia and the molar tooth sign . Supporting clinical features are: abnormal respiratory pattern, retinal pigmentation, renal abnormalities and facial dysmorphism.

Lipossarcoma mixóide de membro inferior: relato de caso / Myxoid liposarcoma of the thigh: case report

O lipossarcoma mixóide se constitui em um subgrupo de lipossarcomas que, na maioria das séries, representa o segundo ou terceiro mais comum tipo de sarcoma de partes moles. Os autores apresentam um caso de lipossarcoma mixóide gigante de membro inferior submetido à ressecção cirúrgica. Paciente de 64 anos, sexo masculino queixava-se de massa de crescimento insidioso na perna, que alcançou grande extensão. O tratamento consistiu na excisão radical do tumor. Histologicamente o tumor era composto de núcleos atípicos e figuras mitóticas, típicas do lipossarcoma mixóide. Os autores discutem os principais fatores que influenciam as taxas de sobrevida e o tratamento do tumor.

Evaluation of recombinant antigens for serodiagnosis of Chagas' disease in South and Central America.

The commercially available diagnostic tests for Chagas' disease employ whole extracts or semipurified fractions of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. Considerable variation in the reproducibility and reliability of these tests has been reported by different research laboratories, mainly due to cross-reactivity with other pathogens and standardization of the reagents. The use of recombinant antigens for the serodiagnosis of Chagas' disease is recommended to increase the sensitivity and specificity of serological tests. Expressed in Escherichia coli, as fusion products with glutathione S-transferase, six T. cruzi recombinant antigens (H49, JL7, A13, B13, JL8, and 1F8) were evaluated in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Chagas' disease. The study was carried out with a panel of 541 serum samples of chagasic and nonchagasic patients from nine countries of Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela). The optimal concentration of each recombinant antigen for coating of plates was determined with the help of 125I-labelled recombinant proteins. While the specificity of the epimastigote antigen was 84% because of false positives from leishmaniasis cases, for the recombinant antigens it varied from 96.2 to 99.6%. Recombinant antigens reacted with 79 to 100% of serum samples from chronic chagasic patients. In this way, it is proposed that a mixture of a few T. cruzi recombinant antigens should be employed in a diagnostic kit to minimize individual variation and promote high sensitivity in the diagnosis of Chagas' disease.

Trichoderma spp. en el control biológico de colletotrichum lindemuthianum (sacc.etmagn.) Scribb, agente de la antracnosis del frijol (phaseolus vulgaris l.) / Trichoderma spp. in the biological control of colletotrichum lindemuthianum (sacc. etmagn.) scribb, agent of the bean anthracnose (phaseolus vulgaris l.)

Para seleccionar especies de trichoderma con mejor desempeño antagónico sobre razas de colletotrichum lindemutianum in vitro, fueron utilizadas las técnicas de cultivos pareados y la del papel celofán. Se utilizaron las especies de trichoderma harzianum (t25), t. koniingii (t15), t. pseudokonigii (t26), t.aureoviride (t10) y t. viride (tr2), además de las razas de colletotrichum lindemuthianum Ba2 y Ba10. En el test de apareamiento, se verificó que las 5 especies de trichoderma, causaron alteraciones morfológicas en las hifas de las 2 razas del fitopatógeno, evidenciando un posible antagonismo. El test del papel celofán, con la raza Ba2, mostró que t.harzianum y t. viridem, causaron una disminución apreciable en el diametro de las colonias, en relación a las otras especies. Con la raza Ba10, se verificó que t. koningii, t. harzianum, t. aureoviride y t. viride, causaron una disminución apreciable en los diámetros de las colonias en orden creciente, siendo t. viride la más eficiente. T. pseudokoningii, no causó reducciones apreciables sobre la raza ba10

[A peripheral neuroectodermal tumor of the vulva]. / Tumor neuroectodérmico periférico da vulva.

A case of malignant peripheral neuroectodermal tumor occurring in the vulva of a 29-year-old woman is reported. It is a rare malignant tumor with aggressive biological behavior belonging to a wide group, the so-called small round-cell tumors. The patient is well and free of disease 8 months after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

[Prevalence of headache as an symptom in a urban area of Salvador, Bahia]. / Prevalência de cefaléia como sintoma em um setor urbano de Salvador, Bahia.

The prevalence of headache was studied as part of an epidemiologic survey of neuropsychiatric disorders carried out with an adult sample (N = 1,511) of an urban area of Salvador City, Bahia, Brazil. The overall prevalence of headache complaints was 14.8%, significantly higher among the eldest, female, less educated, migrants, unemployed, low SES and married/divorced. Stratified analysis for age and gender as confounders erased out the effect of marital status and socio-economic status indicators. The presence of psychiatric disorders was strongly, significantly associated with the prevalence of headache (odds ratio of 4.2). These results are compared to the international literature, emphasizing the extremely lower rates found as well as the profiles of risk factors completely distinct from those reported in other sociocultural realities.

Estrogen receptors in breast cancer--therapeutic response to the treatment of recurrences.

The authors analyze estrogen receptors in 501 cases of breast cancer and the therapeutic response achieved with treatment of patients who relapsed. The method utilized to determine the presence of estrogen receptor was cytosol protein-counting and Dextran coated charcoal (DCC) saturation analysis. Patients were treated with chemotherapy when the primary tumor was estrogen-receptor negative. If receptor was present, anti-estrogen drug (Tamoxifen) was added. Patients previously treated with the anti-estrogen presented a better response to anti-estrogen therapy and a lower recurrence rate. Recurrences were more frequent in estrogen receptor negative cases and better responses to treatment were found in estrogen receptor positive ones.

Tratamento cirúrgico conservador do câncer de mama / Conservative surgical treatment of cancer of the breast

Os autores descrevem as variaçöes técnicas da quadrantectomia e a incisäo padräo axilar para o tratamento do carcinoma de mama estádios I e II. Salientam a importância do planejamento pré-cirúrgico, onde a presença do cirurgiäo plástico é indispensável a fim de se obter um bom resultado estético. Após o tratamento primário, as 77 pacientes foram tratadas com irradiaçäo e 36 delas receberam quimioterapia, devido ao envolvimento ganglionar axilar. As complicaçöes dos tratamentos foram mínimas. Após seguimento médio de 50 meses, näo se observou diferença quanto à recidiva local (2,5% x 3,89%) e metástases a distância, quando se comparou estas pacientes àquelas tratadas com mastectomia radical, mantendo-se equiparáveis o intervalo livre de doença e a sobrevida total

Comprometimento psicomotor por anestésicos locais: estudo prospectivo visando anestesia ambulatorial / Psychomotor involvement by local anesthetics: prospective study aiming the ambulatorial anesthesia

A normalizaçäo das funçöes psicomotoras ao nível de normalidade tem sido apontado como critério de alta do paciente externo (ambulatorial). Objetiva-se avaliar prospectivamente o comprometimento das funçöes psicomotoras (intensidade e duraçäo de pacientes submetidos a anestesia com a lidocaína e a bupivacaína. Foram estudadas as variaçöes de testes psicomotores em 24 pacientes, todos ASA I, de ambos os sexos, programados para cirurgias sobre o membro superior, após a aplicaçäo de doses supramaximais das drogas, em bloqueios do plexo braquial por via axiliar, comparado a parâmetros controles estabelecidos antes da anestesia. Os testes que avaliaram Memória, Atençäo, Vigilância, Percepçäo Visual, Organizaçäo no Espaço, Rapidez de Movimentos Horizontais e Verticais, Percepçäo Auditiva, Habilidade Manual, Cálculos, Equilíbrio Estático e Dinâmico, Controle Psotural, Noçäo de Posiçäo Segmentar, Apraxia Ideomotora, Cogniçäo, Verbalizaçäo Abstrata, Lógica e Coordenaçäo Dinâmica Manual, demonstraram que näo houve deterioraçäo significativa nas habilidades, exceto na Memória Visual com o grupo da lidocaína aos 137 + ou - 27,6 após a execuçäo do bloqueio. Os elementos que participam no complexo da Memória Visual estäo, também, presentes em outros testes que näo demonstram modificaçöes significativas. Säo aventadas hipóteses emocionais e farmacológicas para esta ocorrência. Quanto ao comportamento Global das funçöes mais elaboradas do Sistema Nervoso Central, näo houve variaçäo significativa mesmo no momento teórico de maior nível plasmático das drogas, o que permite deduzir que, do ponto de vista da psicomotricidade, näo há contra-indicaçäo absoluta de alta precoce dos pacientes submetidos ao bloqueio do plexo braquial por via axilar, com bupivacaína e lidocaína, ainda que o bloqueio esteja atuando. Mesmo assim, recomenda-se a utilizaçäo de alguns testes da anestesia e antes da alta, p ara evitar algumas variaçöes para pior, de ordem absolutamente individual

Estudo caso-controle da associacao entre migracao e desordens depressivas em mulheres. / The association between migration and depressive disorders in women

O presente estudo pretende testar a hipotese da associacao positiva entre migracao e desordens depressivas em individuos do sexo feminino. Para tanto, realizou-se um estudo tipo caso-controle com 30 pacientes do servico psiquiatrico de um hospital universitario e 60 controles oriundos de um inquerito epidemiologico na comunidade.A analise de resultados indicou um risco relativo de ocorrencia de doencas depressivas de 5,93 para mulheres migrantes em relacao as nao-migrantes, estatisticamente significante. A analise dos efeitos de confounding para outras variaveis,como situacao familiar e escolaridade, nao forneceu evidencias contrarias a hipotese testada