Selectivity of herbicides used in corn on Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don.

In the cropping systems that integrate the corn crop, the insertion of Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don is predominantly intercropped. In this context, there is a need to observe herbicides that present selectivity for this sunn hemp species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the selectivity of pre and post-emergent herbicides on C. ochroleuca. Two field experiments were conducted in randomized blocks with four replications, involving the pre-emergence and post-emergence application of different herbicide treatments. For the pre-emergent ones, amicarbazone, atrazine and flumioxazin provided phytotoxicity higher than 90% and, consequently, low plant biomass. On the other hand, acetochlor and s-metolachlor did not cause phytotoxicity and did not affect the dry mass of crotalaria. In post-emergence, atrazine + mesotrione showed phytotoxicity >95%, followed by nicosulfuron and 2.4-D with phytotoxicity between 50-60%, whereas tembotrione did not cause injury to the plants. Thus, it was found that among the pre-emergent, acetochlor and s-metolachlor were selective, and for the emerging powders, only tembotrione was the most selective for all parameters analyzed.

Antibacterial activity of Barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringens) against Staphylococcus aureus: in vitro and in silico studies.

We evaluated the activity of the aqueous fraction and the ethyl acetate fraction of Stryphnodendron adstringens against Staphylococcus aureus and proposed their mechanism of action. The antibacterial activity of S. adstringens fractions was evaluated against S. aureus and the cell targets were rated by docking. The fractions showed moderate antibacterial activity against S. aureus without toxicity on two mammalian cell lines. They also showed synergistic antibacterial activity with tannic acid (TA). In silico assays indicated FabG, FabZ and FabI as probable targets. The metabolic pathway for fatty acid biosynthesis in S. aureus was affected by components of S. adstringens. The synergistic effect when combining TA with S. adstringens fractions suggests a natural alternative to S. aureus control. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first study describing the possible targets of action of Stryphnodendron adstringens on Staphylococcus aureus. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the components of S. adstringens affected the metabolic pathway for fatty acid biosynthesis (FAS II) in S. aureus, inhibiting the FabI, FabG and FabZ enzymes. As tannic acid (TA) is a known inhibitor of some targets identified, we showed synergistic antibacterial activity of S. adstringens in combination with TA. This combination did not show toxicity against HaCaT and Vero cells and based on all these results we suggest that S. adstringens can be a natural and sustainable alternative to S. aureus control.

Gender-specific impairment of in vitro sinoatrial node chronotropic responses and of myocardial ischemia tolerance in rats exposed prenatally to betamethasone.

Excessive fetal glucocorticoid exposure has been linked to increased susceptibility to hypertension and cardiac diseases in the adult life, a process called fetal programming. The cardiac contribution to the hypertensive phenotype of glucocorticoid-programmed progeny is less known, therefore, we investigated in vitro cardiac functional parameters from rats exposed in utero to betamethasone. Pregnant Wistar rats received vehicle (VEH) or betamethasone (BET, 0.1mg/kg, i.m.) at gestational days 12, 13, 18 and 19. Male and female offspring were killed at post-natal day 30 and the right atrium (RA) was isolated to in vitro evaluation of drug-induced chronotropic responses. Additionally, whole hearts were retrograde-perfused in a Langendorff apparatus and infarct size in response to in vitro ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) protocol was evaluated. Male and female progeny from BET-exposed pregnant rats had reduced birth weight, a hallmark of fetal programming. Male BET-progeny had increased basal RA rate, impaired chronotropic responses to noradrenaline and adenosine, and increased myocardial damage to I/R. Though a 12-fold reduction in the negative chronotropic responses to adenosine, the effects of non-metabolisable adenosine receptor agonists 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)adenosine or 2-Chloro-adenosine were not different between VEH- and BET-exposed male rats. BET-exposed female offspring presented no cardiac dysfunction. Prenatal BET exposure engenders male-specific impairment of sinoatrial node function and on myocardial ischemia tolerance resulting, at least in part, from an increased adenosine metabolism in the heart. In light of the importance of adenosine in the cardiac physiology our results suggest a link between reduced adenosinergic signaling and the cardiac dysfunctions observed in glucocorticoid-induced fetal programming.

Prevalence of coronary artery disease in a semi urban population in Southern Sri Lanka

Introduction: Prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is on the rise in Sri Lanka resulting in high hospital mortality rates. Because of paucity of community based data on CAD we carried out this study to assess prevalence of CAD and associated factors in a suburban population in Southern Sri Lanka. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out among community living adults aged 30 years or more in Bope-Poddala Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area. Total of 1000 eligible individuals were recruited using cluster sampling. Cardiovascular Questionnaire of London School of Hygiene was administered to each participant by trained data collectors. CAD was diagnosed using criteria by Epstein and colleagues and electrocardiograms were classified according to the Minnesota code by a Cardiologist blinded to participant details Results: Total of 579 (57.9%) females and 421 (42.1%) males were studied. Mean age of the group was 53 years. Among the participants 32% had cardiovascular risk related non communicable diseases (NCDs) and 22.2% had a family history of the same. Prevalence of CAD was 6.9% (95% CI: 5.33 - 0.47) and silent ischaemia was 2.2% (95% CI: 1.29 - 3.11). Only gender and past history of cardiovascular risk related NCDs emerged as predictors of CAD Conclusions: CAD was more prevalent among males and those with past history of cardiovascular risk related NCDs. Community based preventive programmes should be implemented to minimize the adverse impact of CAD.

Acrocomia aculeata prevents toxicogenetic damage caused by the antitumor agent cyclophosphamide.

Acrocomia aculeata is a plant rich in antioxidant compounds. Studies suggest that this plant has anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and diuretic potential. We assessed the antigenotoxic, antimutagenic, immunomodulation, and apoptotic potentials of A. aculeata alone and in combination with an antitumor agent, cyclophosphamide. Swiss male mice (N = 140) were used. The animals were divided into 14 experimental groups as follows: a negative group, a positive group (100 mg/kg cyclophosphamide), groups that only received the oil extracted from the almond (AO) and from the pulp (PO) of A. aculeata at doses of 3, 15, and 30 mg/kg, and the associated treatment groups (oils combined with cyclophosphamide) involving pretreatment, simultaneous, and post-treatment protocols. Data suggest that both oils were chemopreventive at all doses, based on the tested protocols. The highest damage reduction percentages, observed for AO and PO were 88.19 and 90.03%, respectively, for the comet assay and 69.73 and 70.93%, respectively, for the micronucleus assay. Both AO and PO demonstrated immunomodulatory activity. The oils reduced the capacity of cyclophosphamide to trigger apoptosis in the liver, spleen, and kidney cells. These results suggest that A. aculeate AO and PO can be classified as a functional food and also enrich other functional foods and nutraceuticals with chemopreventive features. However, they are not appropriate sources for chemotherapeutic adjuvants, in particular for those used in combination with cyclophosphamide.

Application of transcriptomic analyses to reproductive studies in contemporary commercial sows.

Genetic selection in sows has substantially increased the total number of pigs born, but there has been an associated decrease in litter birth weight. Furthermore, irrespective of the total number of pigs born, a repeatable low litter birth weight phenotype has evolved in a subpopulation of mature sows, in which a high ovulation rate drives extremes of intrauterine crowding in early gestation and limits placental development: placental development continues to be compromised in later gestation and is associated with intrauterine growth restriction and a low litter birth weight. Furthermore, although contemporary commercial sows are increasingly resilient to the challenges of lactational catabolism in terms of the traditional measures of reproductive performance, gender-specific effects on early embryonic development of the subsequent litter are apparent and are likely linked to effects of sow catabolism on folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation. Recent transcriptomic studies that have helped elucidate some of the regulatory mechanisms mediating the evolving changes in the reproductive biology of contemporary commercial sows are summarized in the present review. However, the lack of clearly differentiated reproductive phenotypes among commercial sow populations is a problem for ongoing studies. Access to an unselected "wild-type" population with which to make comparisons, or the application of more standardized experimental approaches to mechanistic studies, may help advance the field of sow reproductive biology.

Assessment of the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic potential of Acrocomia aculeata in rats.

Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart. is a plant species commonly used as a foodstuff and also for treating diseases, since it contains high concentrations of antioxidant compounds and monounsaturated fatty acids. Considering its ethnopharmacological relevance, the aim of the present study was to assess the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic effects of an oil extracted from the pulp of A. aculeata (OPAC) in rats. In addition, a chromatographic characterization of the fatty acids present in OPAC was performed. Male and female Wistar rats were treated orally with 125, 250, 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg/body weight OPAC. The effects of OPAC ingestion were determined by performing the comet assay and micronucleus test. The comet assay data demonstrated that OPAC did not increase the frequency or rate of DNA damage in groups treated with any of the concentrations assessed compared to that in the negative control group. In the micronucleus test, the animals treated did not exhibit any cytotoxic or mutagenic changes in peripheral blood erythrocytes. The results demonstrated that OPAC did not exhibit cytotoxic, genotoxic, or mutagenic effects in Wistar rats, thereby increasing the evidence for the safety of oil extracted from this plant.

Follicular dynamics and gene expression in granulosa cells, corpora lutea and oocytes from gilts of breeds with low and high ovulation rates.

Follicular dynamics and the expression of candidate genes using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were compared during the oestrous cycle of pig breeds with high (commercial line; n=24) and low (local Brazilian Piau; n=21) ovulation rates and prolificacy. Gilts were killed on Days 0, 4, 10 and 18 of the oestrous cycle and visible ovarian follicles were classified by follicular diameter. Recovered cumulus-oocyte complexes were classified as normal or atretic and frozen in liquid nitrogen until RNA extraction. Low ovulation rates and/or prolificacy in Piau gilts was associated with a different pattern of follicle development, with lower numbers of small follicles on Day 18, fewer large follicles on Days 0 and 18 (P≤0.05) and a higher proportion of atretic follicles on Days 0 and 18 (P≤0.05). Compared with commercial line gilts, less-prolific Piau gilts exhibited higher expression of apoptotic genes during luteolysis (CASP3 and FASL; P≤0.05), decreased expression of TGFBR2 and BAX mRNA in the corpus luteum (P≤0.05), higher expression of apoptotic genes (FAS, BCL2 and CASP8; P≤0.05) in granulosa cells and a greater abundance (P≤0.05) of genes controlling oocyte-secreted factors (GDF9, BMP15 and BMP6), suggesting underlying mechanisms controlling differences in follicular development, ovulation rate and inherent prolificacy in this pig breed.

Chitosan: a new solution for removal of smear layer after root canal instrumentation.

AIM: To evaluate, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the efficacy of smear layer removal using chitosan compared with different chelating agents, and to quantify, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with flame (AASF), the concentration of calcium ions in these solutions after irrigation. METHODOLOGY: The root canals of twenty-five canines were prepared using a crown-down technique and irrigated with 1% sodium hypochlorite. The teeth were randomly divided into groups (n = 5), according to the type of final irrigation: 15% EDTA, 0.2% chitosan, 10% citric acid, 1% acetic acid and control (without final irrigation). The total volume of each chelating solution was collected from the canals and analysed by AASF for quantification of calcium ions in the solutions. Then, the roots were split longitudinally and examined by SEM for evaluation of smear layer removal in the middle and apical thirds. Cleaning scores were attributed and analysed statistically using the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests. The AASF data were analysed by one-way anova and Tukey-Kramer test. A significant level of α = 0.05 was adopted. RESULTS: 15% EDTA, 0.2% chitosan and 10% citric acid had similar smear layer removal capacity with a significant difference (P < 0.05) from 1% acetic acid and the control group. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the smear layer remaining in the middle and apical thirds. The highest calcium ion concentration was observed with 15% EDTA (121.80 ± 5.13) and 0.2% chitosan (104.13 ± 19.23), with no significant difference. The lowest calcium ion concentration was obtained with 1% acetic acid (25.62 ± 7.68), whilst 10% citric acid (70.38 ± 11.15) had intermediate results, differing significantly from the other solutions (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: 15% EDTA, 0.2% chitosan and 10% citric acid effectively removed smear layer from the middle and apical thirds of the root canal. 15% EDTA and 0.2% chitosan were associated with the greatest effect on root dentine demineralization, followed by 10% citric acid and 1% acetic acid.

Histological characteristics of the corpus luteum of Nelore cows in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy / Características histológicas do corpo lúteo de vacas Nelore nos terços inicial, médio e final da gestação

Foram avaliadas características morfológicas do corpo lúteo de 48 vacas Nelore gestantes obtidos de abatedouros. Os ovários com o corpo lúteo foram coletados, identificados e divididos em três grupos, considerando o estágio da gestação determinado pelo tamanho do feto: Grupo I - onze animais com gestação até 90 dias; Grupo 2 - vinte animais com gestação de 90 a 180 dias, e Grupo 3 - 17 animais com gestação de 180 a 261 dias. Todos os corpos lúteos foram dissecados, submetidos a processamento histológico e avaliados utilizando microscopia de luz. As características morfológicas das células luteais esteroidogênicas não mudou durante a gestação. Porém, foi observado um aumento de tecido conjuntivo, fibroblastos e matriz extracelular durante o final da gestação. Células em degeneração foram observadas em todos os períodos da gestação, mas com maior intensidade no fim do terceiro trimestre. Grânulos foram observados após a coloração com Tricrômico de Gomory e Xylidine Ponceau, caracterizados como grânulos de proteína. Nenhuma explicação foi encontrada na literatura para coloração de grânulos pelo Tricrômico de Gomory.

Gene expression in swine granulosa cells and ovarian tissue during the estrous cycle.

The components of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system appear to be involved in regulation of ovarian follicular growth and atresia in the pig. We investigated the expression pattern of mRNAs for IGF1 (IGF1), its binding proteins (IGFBP1, IGFBP2, IGFBP3, and IGFBP5), and epidermal growth factor in swine follicle cells and ovarian tissue throughout the estrous cycle using the real-time quantitative PCR technique. The results of gene expression were analyzed using linear regression with gene expression as a dependent variable and days of estrous cycle as an independent variable. Additionally, an analysis was made of the correlation of expression levels with plasma concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol-17ß, progesterone, and prolactin. Expression of mRNA of all of these genes was detected in granulosa cells and ovarian tissue. IGFBP3 mRNA showed a quadratic expression pattern (P ≤ 0.001) and was significantly and positively correlated with progesterone (r = 0.81; P ≤ 0.01) but negatively correlated with prolactin (r = -0.596; P ≤ 0.05). Expression of the other genes was unaffected by the stage of the estrous cycle. Real-time quantitative PCR effectively detected all transcripts, including the very low levels of IGFBP1 transcripts, and could be used for studies of follicle dynamics.

Laparoscopic-assisted bowel resection with construction of a colonic reservoir for cavernous hemangioma of the rectum: report of two cases.

Diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectum is an unusual benign vascular lesion, marked by delayed diagnosis and often presenting recurrent rectal bleeding and anemia. Colorectal resection with coloanal anastomosis and construction of a colonic reservoir is the preferred surgical treatment. We report two cases of patients, a 23-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, with cavernous hemangioma of the rectum, diagnosed by colonoscopy and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Arteriography demonstrated vascular tumors in the rectal wall. Use of the embolization technique was not successful, since no large caliber vessel was available for this procedure. The patients underwent anterior abdominal excision of the rectum with a laparoscopic approach+ colonic reservoir and hand sewn coloanal anastomosis. Ileostomy closure was performed in both patients at 3 months after surgery, and they demonstrated good early and late postoperative outcomes. In summary, laparoscopic-assisted bowel resection may be a good option for surgical management of diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectum.

Proporção volumétrica dos constituintes do corpo lúteo de vacas Nelore nos terços inicial, médio e final da gestação / Volumetric proportion of the corpus luteum of Nelore cows in the first, second and third trimester of gestation

A proporção volumétrica dos constituintes do corpo lúteo foi estudada em 48 ovários de vacas Nelore gestantes, coletados em frigorífico e distribuídos em três grupos, considerando-se o terço da gestação. No primeiro terço, utilizaram-se 11 animais em gestação de até 90 dias; no segundo terço, 20 animais em gestação entre 91 e 180 dias, e no terceiro terço 17 animais em gestação entre 181 e 261 dias. O corpo lúteo foi dissecado e submetido a processamento histológico para avaliação em microscopia óptica. Os animais em gestação de até 90 dias apresentaram maior proporção volumétrica de células endoteliais e pericitos, e nos acima de 181 dias de gestação ocorreu menor proporção de citoplasma (42,7 por cento) e núcleo (5,1 por cento) de células lúteas esteroidogênicas, bem como aumento do tecido conjuntivo e fibroblastos (47,7 por cento).

The volumetric proportion of the corpus luteum was evaluated in 48 ovaries from pregnant Nelore cows slaughtered in abattoirs, and divided into three groups, considering the trimester of gestation, and classified by the size of the fetus: First trimester - eleven animals with gestation up to 90 days; Second trimester - twenty animals with gestation between 91 and 180 days, and Third trimester - 17 animals with gestation between 181 and 261 days. The corpus luteum was dissected and submitted to histological processing and evaluations under light microscopy. The animals with gestation up to 90 days presented a higher proportion of endotelial cells and pericites. In the Third trimester there occurred a smaller proportion of cytoplasm (42,7 percent) and nucleus (5,1 percent) of steroidogenic luteal cells, and an increase in the conjunctive tissue, fibroblasts (47,7 percent).

Expanded Milan criteria on pathological examination after liver transplantation: analysis of preoperative data.

BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate the accuracy of imaging techniques related to the Milan criteria (MC) compared with the explant histology and the survival of these patients. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2006, we selected 45 cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma distributed into two groups according to explant histology: MC and Expanded Milan Criteria (EMC). Age, gender, preoperative imaging (ultrasound [US] and/or computed tomography [CT]), maximal tumor dimension, number of tumors, explanted histology, histology degree, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and vascular invasion were compared among the patients to evaluate the value of these prognostic factors for survival after liver transplantation. RESULTS: By histology 42.2% explants were identified as EMC. The mean AFP level was 204.5 ng/mL. Vascular invasion was detected in 31.5% of explants and 68.4% showed incidental tumors. The survival rates after 10 years were 47.4% whereas MC patients showed 57.77%. The mean AFP level among MC patients was 150.2 ng/mL with vascular invasion detected in 7.7% of explants, and 47.4% with incidental tumors. The overall sensitivity of the imaging techniques was 83.3% for CT and 75% for US. The specificity was 96% for CT and 80.1% for US. CONCLUSION: Scan examinations in the preoperative evaluation underestimated about 42.2% of tumors. Those patients had vascular invasion but the survival after 10 years was similar between the ECM and MC groups.

Análise filogenética do gene da miogenina / Phylogenetic analysis of the myogenin gene

Estudou-se a filogenia do gene da miogenina, um membro da família MyoD, reguladora da miogênese, que ocorre durante o desenvolvimento embrionário, e sua história evolutiva em espécies domésticas que apresentem seqüências de DNA depositadas no Genbank, comparando-se o índice de substituição de nucleotídeos não-sinônimos pelo índice de substituição sinônima. Valores maiores do que um (1) indicaram que o gene sofreu mudanças que tornaram o organismo mais adaptado ao ambiente. As árvores filogenéticas foram obtidas por máxima verossimilhança, e os índices de substituição sinônima e não-sinônima foram analisadas pelo método de parcimônia. Os resultados indicaram que, provavelmente, o gene sofreu evolução adaptativa no grupo Ruminantia, Bos taurus e Ovis aries, depois que essas espécies divergiram do ancestral comum. Para as outras espécies analisadas, o gene parece ter evoluído de modo conservativo.

The myogenin gene, a member of the MyoD gene family, is a regulator of the myogenesis that takes place during the embryonic development. The objective of this study was to perform a phylogenic analysis of the myogenin gene to study its evolutionary history in the domestic species that have the sequencing data deposited in the Genbank. One common method to detect a gene evolution is made by comparing the ratio of nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution by the ratio of synonymous substitutions. Values greater than one (1) means that the gene has gone through changes that made the organism more adapted to the environment. The phylogenetic trees were obtained by maximum likelihood and the synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution rates were analyzed by the parsimony method. The results point out that probably the gene suffered an adaptive evolution in the Ruminantia group, Bos Taurus and Ovis aries, after these species diverged from their common ancestral. In the other species, the gene seems to be evolved in a conservative way.