Tillering dynamics in spring and summer of marandu palisade grass pastures previously used under deferred grazing / [Dinâmica de perfilhamento na primavera e no verão de pastagens de capim-marandu previamente utilizadas sob pastejo diferido]

This work was conducted to evaluate the effect of deferred pasture condition of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu in the late winter on tillering during the growing season. The treatments were three pasture conditions at late winter: short pasture, tall pasture and tall/mown pasture. In September and October, tiller appearance rate (TApR) and tiller mortality rate (TMoR) were greater in the tall/mown pasture. In November and December, tall pasture presented greater TApR. From November to January the TMoR was greater in the tall pasture. The tiller stability index of short and tall/mown pastures were greater in October. The short pasture presented a greater tiller number than the tall and tall/mown pastures during the entire experimental period. Deferred and short pasture of marandu palisade grass at late winter presents in general lower tiller mortality and higher population density of tillers from the early spring onwards, in comparison to tall pasture. The mowing of marandu palisade grass with high forage mass at the late winter, although it only temporarily compromises the population stability of tillers, also stimulates its fast tillering from spring on.(AU)

Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da condição da pastagem diferida de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu ao final do inverno sobre o perfilhamento durante a estação de crescimento. Os tratamentos foram três condições de pastagem no final do inverno: pasto baixo, pasto alto e pasto alto/roçado. Nos meses de setembro e outubro, a taxa de aparecimento de perfilhos (TApP) e a taxa de mortalidade de perfilhos (TMoP) foram maiores na pastagem alta/roçada. Nos meses de novembro e dezembro, a pastagem alta apresentou maior TApP. De novembro a janeiro, a TMoP foi maior na pastagem alta. Os índices de estabilidade de perfilhos das pastagens baixas e altas/roçadas foram maiores em outubro. A pastagem baixa apresentou maior número de perfilhos do que as pastagens altas e altas/roçadas durante todo o período experimental. A pastagem diferida e baixa de capim-marandu no final do inverno apresenta, em geral, menor mortalidade de perfilhos e maior densidade populacional de perfilhos no início da primavera, em comparação com a pastagem alta. A roçada do capim-marandu com alta massa de forragem ao final do inverno, embora comprometa apenas temporariamente a estabilidade populacional dos perfilhos, também estimula o perfilhamento rápido a partir da primavera.(AU)

Morphogenesis of stockpiled Marandu, Piatã, Xaraés and Paiaguás brachiaria grass cultivars / [Morfogênese de cultivares de capins marandu piatã, xaraés e paiaguás diferidos]

The objective this study was to identify differences in the morphogenic patterns of four Urochloa brizantha cultivars (marandu, piatã, xaraés and paiaguás grasses) during the stockpiling period. A completely randomized design was used, with three replications, in experimental plots of 9m². The evaluations took place over 2 years. The grasses were stockpiled for 92 (Year 1) and 95 (Year 2) days. The leaf appearance rate of paiaguás grass was higher, compared to other grasses. In Year 1, the stem elongation rate of xaraés grass was higher than other grasses. At the end of stockpiling period of Year 1, the tiller population density (TPD) was higher in the paiaguás grass, intermediate in the xaraés and marandu grasses and lower in the piatã grass. At the end of the stockpiling period in Year 2, TPD was higher in the paiaguás grass canopy, intermediate in the marandu and piatã grasses canopies, and lower in the xaraés grass canopy. Paiaguás grass has greater leaf growth during the stockpiling period and is therefore suitable for use under stockpiled grazing. Xaraés grass has high stem elongation during the stockpiling period, which is why its use under stockpiled grazing must be accompanied by adjustments in pasture management.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar diferenças nos padrões morfogênicos de quatro cultivares de Urochloa brizantha (marandu, piatã, xaraés e paiaguás) durante o período de diferimento. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com três repetições, em parcelas experimentais de 9m². As avaliações ocorreram por dois anos. Os capins foram diferidos por 92 (Ano 1) e 95 (Ano 2) dias. A taxa de aparecimento foliar do capim-paiaguás foi maior, em comparação aos demais capins. No Ano 1, a taxa de alongamento do colmo do capim-xaraés foi superior aos demais capins. No final do diferimento do Ano 1, a densidade populacional de perfilho (DPP) foi maior no capim-paiaguás, intermediária nos capins xaraés e marandu e inferior no capim-piatã. No fim do período de diferimento do Ano 2, a DPP foi superior no dossel de capim-paiaguás, intermediária nos dosséis dos capins marandu e piatã, e menor no dossel de capim-xaraés. O capim-paiaguás tem maior crescimento foliar durante o período de diferimento, sendo, portanto, apropriado para uso sob pastejo diferido. O capim-xaraés apresenta elevado alongamento de colmo durante o período de diferimento, razão pela qual seu uso sob pastejo diferido deve vir acompanhado de ajustes no manejo da pastagem.(AU)

Does the lowering strategy before the stockpiling period modify the marandu palisade grass production and structure? / [A estratégia de desfolhação prévia ao período de diferimento modifica a produção e a estrutura do capim-marandu?]

The objective was to identify lowering strategies for Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu in the beginning of the stockpiling period that increase forage production and improve the structure of stockpiled canopies. Three lowering strategies were evaluated: maintenance of marandu palisade grass with 15cm four months before the stockpiling period; maintenance of palisade grass with 30cm for four months, and lowering to 15cm before the stockpiling period; and maintaining of palisade grass at 45cm for four months, and lowering to 15cm before the stockpiling period. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications. At the end of stockpiling, the number of reproductive tillers and forage mass were higher in the canopy under 15/15cm than in the others; the percentage of live leaf was higher in the canopy under 45/15cm than under 15/15cm. Forage production during the stockpiling period was higher in the canopy under 15/15cm and lower in the under 45/15cm. Maintaining 15cm marandu palisadegrass for four months before the stockpiling period increases forage production during this period. The lowering of the marandu palisadegrass from 45 to 15cm at the beginning of the stockpiling period improves the structure of the stockpiled canopy.(AU)

Objetivou-se identificar estratégias de rebaixamento da Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu no início do diferimento, as quais resultem em aumento da produção e em melhoria da estrutura do dossel diferido. Foram avaliadas três estratégias de rebaixamento no início do diferimento: manutenção do capim-marandu com 15cm por quatro meses antes do início do diferimento; manutenção do capim-marandu com 30cm por quatro mese, e rebaixamento para 15cm no início do diferimento; e manutenção do capim com 45cm por quatro meses e rebaixamento para 15cm no início do diferimento. O delineamento foi inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro repetições. No fim do diferimento, o número de perfilho reprodutivo e a massa de forragem foram superiores no dossel sob 15/15cm do que nos demais; a percentagem de folha viva foi maior no dossel sob 45/15cm do que sob 15/15cm. A produção de forragem durante o diferimento foi superior no dossel sob 15/15cm e inferior no sob 45/15cm. A manutenção do capim-marandu com 15cm por quatro meses antes do período de diferimento aumenta a produção de forragem neste período. O rebaixamento do capim-marandu de 45 para 15cm no início do diferimento melhora a estrutura do dossel diferido.(AU)

Chemoreflex control of the cardiovascular system remains altered after recovery from low protein diet early in life.

This study aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular component of the arterial chemoreflex in rats recovered from low protein diet. Male Fischer rats were randomly divided into control and recovered (R-PR) groups after weaning. R-PR rats were fed with low protein diet for 35days and recovered under normal protein diet for 70days. Control rats received normal protein diet for 105days. Arterial chemoreflex was elicited by intravenous injection of KCN. Results showed that pressor response of the chemoreflex was increased in R-PR. Data suggest that protein restriction may alter cardiovascular response to chemical activation of the chemoreflex after recovery.

Analysis of disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with luminal a breast cancer stratified according to TNM.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The TNM classification of malignant tumours is the most commonly used system to assess the stage as well as the prognosis of cancer. However, one of the biggest challenges in treatment of breast cancer is the understanding of tumour heterogeneity typical of these carcinomas. The aim of this study was to analyse the disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with luminal A subtype of breast cancer, stratified by TNM staging system. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A total of 363 medical records from January 2001 to May 2006 were evaluated for data collection. There were 136 patients with luminal A breast cancer, selected for the cohort. The main objective was the analysis of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with luminal A breast cancer, stratified according to the TNM classification. RESULTS: The group of 136 patients with immunohistochemically defined luminal A subtype represented 53% of the 253 patients with breast cancer. There was no significant difference in the number and type of patients as for TNM stage and histological grading among patients treated with chemotherapy and HT in comparison to patients treated with HT alone. CONCLUSION: Our analysis did not prove any significant difference in survival of patients treated with chemotherapy followed by hormone therapy in comparison to patients treated with HT alone. We suggest that the IHC luminal A subtype of breast cancer generally warrants a good prognosis independently on other prognostic factors such as TNM stage. We conclude that patients might not benefit of adding a chemotherapy to hormonal therapy in adjuvant settings.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation in the chronic constriction injury model of neuropathic pain in anaesthetized rats.

BACKGROUND: The role of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) in nociception has been explored in the last years. While in spinal cord their activation is frequently correlated with pain or acute noxious stimuli, supraspinally, this association is not so evident and remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate ERK1/2 activation in the spinal cord and brainstem nuclei upon neuropathy and/or an additional mechanical stimulus. METHODS: Acute noxious mechanical stimulation was applied in the left hindpaw of anaesthetized SHAM-operated and chronic constriction injured (CCI, neuropathic pain model) rats. Other SHAM or CCI rats did not receive any stimulus. Immunohistochemistry against the phosphorylated isoforms of ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) was performed in lumbar spinal cord and brainstem sections to assess ERK1/2 activation. RESULTS: In the spinal cord, stimulation promoted an increase in pERK1/2 expression in the superficial dorsal horn of SHAM rats. No significant effects were caused by CCI alone. At supraspinal level, changes in ERK1/2 activation induced by CCI were observed in A5, locus coeruleus (LC), raphe obscurus (ROb), raphe magnus, dorsal raphe (DRN), lateral reticular and paragigantocellularis nucleus. CCI increased pERK1/2 expression in all these nuclei, with exception of LC, where a significant decrease was verified. Mechanical noxious stimulation of CCI rats decreased pERK1/2 expression in ROb and DRN, but no further changes were detected in either SHAM- or CCI-stimulated animals. CONCLUSION: ERK1/2 are differentially activated in the spinal cord and in selected brainstem nuclei implicated in nociception, in response to an acute noxious stimulus and/or to a neuropathic pain condition.

Pneumonitis after intravenous self-administration of solvent.

Intravenous self-administration of petroleum distillates is a rare condition. Most experience with petroleum distillates poisoning is with ingestion by children, and the most common and serious manifestation is chemical pneumonitis. We report a case of chemical pneumonitis after intravenous self-administration of ink solvent.