Productivity and quality of Brachiaria brizantha B4 seeds in function of nitrogen doses / Produtividade e qualidade de sementes de Brachiaria brizantha B4 em função de doses de nitrogênio

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate aspects of reproductive phenology, yield components and seed quality of the B4 genotype of Brachiaria brizantha in function of nitrogen doses applied at pre-flowering. The experiment was carried out at Embrapa Beef Cattle, in a randomized block design, with seeding density of 2.59kg SPV ha-1 in the first year, in free growth plants. Urea was applied at pre-flowering at doses of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150kg ha-1. The reproductive cycle of the plant lasts 225 days, with late flowering. N doses influenced the following characteristics: number of fully expanded inflorescences, percentage of dry matter, dry biomass, number of spikelets per raceme, seed yield, weight of a thousand seeds, germination, germination speed index, viability and germination at 10 months after harvest. The maximum yield of pure seed was 144.8kg ha-1 for 50kg ha-1 N, with maximum biological potential, based on components of seed yield of 456.27kg ha-1. Seeds presented high dormancy and reduced physiological quality in higher N doses.

RESUMO: Objetivou-se avaliar aspectos da fenologia reprodutiva, componentes do rendimento e qualidade de sementes do genótipo B4 de Brachiaria brizantha em função de doses de nitrogênio aplicado no pré-florescimento. O experimento foi conduzido na Embrapa Gado de Corte, em blocos casualizados, densidade de semeadura de 2,59kg SPV ha-1, em plantas de primeiro ano e em crescimento livre. Ureia foi aplicada no pré-florescimento nas doses 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 e 150kg ha-1. O ciclo reprodutivo da planta foi de 225 dias, com florescimento tardio. Doses de N influenciaram o número de inflorescências totalmente emergidas, porcentagem de matéria seca, biomassa seca, número de espiguetas por racemo, produtividade de sementes puras, peso de mil sementes, germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, viabilidade e germinação aos 10 meses da colheita. A produtividade máxima de sementes puras foi 144,8kg ha-1 para 50kg ha-1 N, com potencial biológico máximo, baseado nos componentes da produção de sementes de 456,27kg ha-1. As sementes apresentaram dormência elevada e redução na qualidade fisiológica nas maiores doses de N.

Tratamiento de dolor lumbar crónico mediante radiofrecuencia pulsada y aplicación de esteroides em forma epidural: estudio comparativo / Treatment of chronic low back pain by means of pulsed radiofrequency and application of steroids in epidural form: comparative study / Tratamento da dor lombar crônica por meio da radiofrequência pulsada e a aplicação de esteroides na forma epidural: estudo comparativo

OBJETIVOS: valorar el resultado clínico de mejoría de dolor y de escala funcional lumbar de radiofrecuencia pulsada, en comparación con aplicación de esteroides epidurales, en el tratamiento de pacientes con dolor lumbar crónico. TIPO DE INVESTIGACIÓN: un ensayo clínico ciego y simple. MÉTODOS: el estudio se realizó dese mayo de 2008 a julio de 2009. Fueron 40 pacientes, de los medios institucional y privado, de la ciudad de Hermosillo, Sonora, en el México, con dolor lumbar crónico. Se aplicó el cuestionario de Roland-Morris y la escala visual análoga de dolor, previa a tratamiento, y posterior al mismo. No se registraron pérdidas de pacientes en el seguimiento. Se analizaron los resultados de las diferentes variables (edad, sexo, ocupación, evolución, trabajo de carga, incapacidad, hallazgos de imagenología), estableciendo una comparación con la prueba de χ2. RESULTADOS: fueron muy similares en ambos grupos de tratamiento (χ2=2.8283, p=0.093), con dos casos complicados por punción en el grupo de esteroides epidurales, sin casos complicados por el procedimiento de radiofrecuencia pulsada. Los valores de χ2 no muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas, con valores de p de 0.09 a 0.9. CONCLUSIÓN: la aplicación de radiofrecuencia pulsada es tan eficaz como la aplicación de esteroides epidurales para el manejo del dolor lumbar crónico.

OBJETIVOS: avaliar o resultado clínico de melhoria da dor e da escala funcional lombar de radiofrequência pulsada, comparada com a aplicação de esteroides epidurais, no tratamento de pacientes com dor lombar crônico. TIPO DE INVESTIGAÇÃO: um ensaio clínico cego e simples. MÉTODOS: o estudo foi realizado desde maio de 2008 a julho de 2009. Foram utilizados 40 pacientes, dos meios institucional e privado, da cidade de Hermosillo, Sonora, no México, com dor lombar crônico. Foi aplicado o questionário de Roland-Morris e a escala visual análoga de dor, com tratamento prévio e posterior a este. Não foram registradas perdas de pacientes no seguimento. Analisaram-se os resultados de diferentes variáveis (idade, sexo, ocupação, evolução, trabalho de carga, incapacidade, achados de imagenologia), estabelecendo uma comparação com a teste do χ2. RESULTADOS: foram muito similares em ambos os grupos de tratamento (χ2=2,8283, p=0,093), com dois casos complicados por punção no grupo de esteroides epidurais, sem casos complicados pelo procedimento de radiofrequência pulsada. Os valores do χ2 não mostraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas com valores de p de 0,09 a 0,9. CONCLUSÃO: a aplicação da radiofrequência pulsada é tão eficaz quanto a aplicação de esteroides por via peridural no tratamento da dor lombar crônica.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the clinical outcome of improving pain and functional scale lumbar pulsed radiofrequency, compared to the use of epidural steroids in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain. TYPE OF RESEARCH: a randomized single and blind. METHODS: the study was conducted from May, 2008 to July, 2009. There were 40 patients, through institutional and private means, in the city of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, with chronic low back pain. The survey was conducted by Roland-Morris and visual analog scale of pain, with previous treatment, and subsequent to it. There were no losses of patients in the follow-up. We analyzed the results of different variables (age, sex, occupation, development, work load, disability, findings on imaging), and compared with the χ2 test. RESULTS: they were very similar in both treatment groups (χ2=2.8283, p=0.093), with two cases complicated by puncture in the epidural steroid group, without cases complicated by use of pulsed radiofrequency. The values of χ2 showed no statistically significant differences, with p-values from 0.09 to 0.9. CONCLUSION: the application of pulsed radiofrequency is as effective as the application of epidural steroids for management of chronic low back pain.

Second hand smoke (SHS) exposure in children. An evaluation of a preventative measure.

AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of the preventative programme "Smoke-free Homes" undertaken in 4th year children and their parents or guardians, aiming to reduce children's exposure to second hand smoke (SHS) in the home. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a pre- and post-test pre-experimental study, in students from 32 Braga district primary schools 2007/08. A self-administered and structured questionnaire was given out to 795 students in the classroom before and after the programme. In analysing data, we used the chi-squared test for the categorical variables. RESULTS: The rate of children exposed to regular or occasional SHS due to living with at least one smoker dropped from 42.2% to 32.6% (p=0.001). The percentage of students, children of smokers who stated that their father smoked regularly or occasionally at home, dropped from 68.0% pre-test to 51.6% posttest (p=0.000). No significant reduction was seen in mothers. CONCLUSION: Based on the data, we can conclude that the "Smoke-free Homes" programme was effective in preventing smoking in the home, and therefore reducing the rate of children exposed to SHS by about 10%. However, it appears that about a third of children are still exposed, which highlights the need for further measures in this area. Healthcare professionals, particularly those working in Paediatrics, should advise parents to quit smoking, especially in the home.

Erlotinib as an alternative treatment for NSCLC. Case Report. / Erlotinib no tratamento de CPNPC em terceira linha linha. Caso clínico.

INTRODUCTION: Erlotinib is an approved treatment for NSCLC locally advanced or with metastases, after failure of initial chemotherapy. The authors present a NSCLC clinical case of great clinical and imaging improvement, with no drug-induced toxicity observed, after treatment with erlotinib. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year-old woman, never-smoker, had been diagnosed for lung adenocarcinoma, through thoracoscopy, after presenting a large-volume pleural effusion. At the time of diagnosis it was inoperable (stage IIIB - T4 N1 M0). She was submitted to two consecutive chemotherapy treatments with carboplatin+gemcitabin and pemetrexed, respectively. Due to its failure, with lack of response, erlotinib was set as the alternative choice, with great clinical and imaging improvement after 6 months of treatment. CONCLUSION: The authors recommend, even in the absence of EGFR result, the use of erlotinib when progression of the disease is seen, after initial chemotherapy, especially in lung adenocarcinoma and in never-smokers. Rev Port Pneumol 2008; XIV (Supl 3): S61-S63.

[Indoor air pollution caused by cigarette smoke in public places in Portugal]. / Poluição do ar interior provocada pelo fumo do cigarro em locais públicos de Portugal.

OBJECTIVE: There have been few studies investigating the level of cigarette smoke pollution to which people in several public and private places are exposed. The purpose of this study was to quantify the level of air pollution produced by cigarette smoking in workplaces and leisure settings. METHODS: The study was carried out in Braga, Portugal, in 2005. Nicotine content in indoor air was measured using passive monitors containing a 37-mm diameter filter inside treated with sodium bisulphate. The monitors were installed in predefined public workplaces and leisure settings. Median nicotine content was estimated for each place studied. RESULTS: Nicotine was detected in 85% of the samples. Extremely high air contamination levels were found in discos with a median of 82.26 microg/m3, ranging between 5.79 and 106.31 microg/m3. Workplaces of public administration and university buildings showed the lowest nicotine content. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings confirm the need to promote the implementation of smoke-free policies in workplaces and leisure settings to protect workers' health and as a reinforcing measure of an environment which facilitates smokers to quit smoking.

Poluição do ar interior provocada pelo fumo do cigarro em locais públicos de Portugal / Indoor air pollution caused by cigarette smoke in public places in Portugal

OBJETIVO: Poucos têm sido os estudos para conhecer o grau de poluição pelo fumo do tabaco a que estão sujeitas as pessoas em vários lugares públicos e privados. O objectivo do estudo foi quantificar o nível de poluição do ar provocada pelo fumo do cigarro em locais de trabalho e de lazer. MÉTODOS: O estudo foi realizado no concelho de Braga, Portugal, em 2005. A medição dos teores de nicotina no ar interior foi realizada com monitores passivos contendo um filtro de 37 mm de diâmetro tratado com bissulfato sódico no seu interior. Os monitores foram colocados em lugares públicos, de trabalho e de lazer, pré-definidos. Para cada um dos locais, calculou-se a mediana da nicotina. RESULTADOS: A presença de nicotina foi detectada em 85 por cento das amostras. Foram encontrados valores elevados de contaminação do ar nas discotecas, com mediana de 82,26 mug/m³, variando entre os 5,79 e os 106,31 mug/m³.Os locais de trabalho da administração pública e da universidade apresentaram os valores mais baixos de nicotina. CONCLUSÕES: Os dados confirmam a necessidade de reforçar a implemen-tação e sobretudo, o cumprimento de políticas sem fumo nos locais de trabalho e de lazer, em benefício da saúde dos trabalhadores e como medida reforçadora de um ambiente que facilite aos fumadores o abandono do fumo do tabaco.

OBJECTIVE: There have been few studies investigating the level of cigarette smoke pollution to which people in several public and private places are exposed. The purpose of this study was to quantify the level of air pollution produced by cigarette smoking in workplaces and leisure settings. METHODS: The study was carried out in Braga, Portugal, in 2005. Nicotine content in indoor air was measured using passive monitors containing a 37-mm diameter filter inside treated with sodium bisulphate. The monitors were installed in predefined public workplaces and leisure settings. Median nicotine content was estimated for each place studied. RESULTS: Nicotine was detected in 85 percent of the samples. Extremely high air contamination levels were found in discos with a median of 82.26 mug/m³, ranging between 5.79 and 106.31 mug/m³. Workplaces of public administration and university buildings showed the lowest nicotine content. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings confirm the need to promote the implementation of smoke-free policies in workplaces and leisure settings to protect workers' health and as a reinforcing measure of an environment which facilitates smokers to quit smoking.

Smoking trends in Portuguese school-aged children and approaches for a control--an analysis based on the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) data.

While smoking has negative health consequences for children and adolescents, the major risk of smoking onset by these age groups is tobacco dependence, in most cases for the rest of their lives, which can later lead to the suffering of diseases related to smoking. This fact shows the importance of smoking prevention in teens to avoid the negative health, economic and environmental effects related to smoking. Although Portugal does not have a National Smoking Prevention Programme, some schools have developed prevention campaigns to control the spread of the tobacco epidemic. To determine the efficacy of smoking prevention campaigns developed in Portuguese schools we compared the data of smoking prevalence provided by Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) (11-15 years old) from 1997/98 and 2002. The results show the rise of smoking prevalence in students on both sexes, especially among girls. Data supports the conclusion that Portuguese schools are not effective in smoking prevention and in Portugal it is necessary to continue smoking prevention campaigns aimed at the younger children.

[The global smoking prevention programme of Braga]. / O plano global de prevenção do tabagismo do Município de Braga.

In spite of its negative impacts on health, in the society, in the economy and in the environment, smoking is a behaviour spread national and internationally. The data collected in 1999 by the Health National Inquire about smoking prevalence in people from 15 and over, in Portugal mainland, show that 29.3% of men and around 7.9% of women were daily smokers, which means a total of 1,626,597 smokers (1,248,212 men and 378,385 women). If we analyse the data from other sources (Health National Inquires and Eurobarometer) we can see that the tobacco epidemy is growing among both gender but in a particulary alarming way in the female group. It is necessary and urgent to take some primary prevention measures especially addressed to young people and women and at the same time give all the smokers the chance of treatment. Bearing in mind the idea of the Ecologist Movement "thinking globally, acting locally" we defend the implementation of global but local actions as the best approach to control smoking. In this article we describe the state and the trends of smoking in Portugal as well as The Global Prevention Programme of Tobacco Consumption in Braga (North of Portugal). This action plan is intended to solve in a decisive way the tobacco consumption in Braga and at the same time to be taken as an example for the elaboration of a National Plan for Prevention the Tobacco Consumption.

Sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica para el paciente diabético; el uso de tecnología computacional en la calidad de la atención médica / Epidemiologic surveillance of diabetic patients; use of computer technology in the quality of medical care

Objetivo. Presentar un instrumento que permita llevar a cabo la vigilangia epidemiológica y evaluar la calidad de la atención a la diabetes mellitus en el primer nivel de atención. Material y métodos. Este estudio se realizó del 1 de enero de 1998 al 30 de junio de 1999, en la Unidad de Investigación Epidemiológica y en Servicios de Salud, del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), en Hermosillo, Sonora. Se diseñó un formato único de resporte compuesto por los diferentes elementos que integran el sistema para la atención del paciente diabético en una Unidad de Medicina Familiar del IMSS. Resultados. Se desarrolló e implementó un paquete de computación (software)que permite la captura de los datos de dicho formato y la generación de reportes, de tipo individual y grupal, sobre el cumplimiento de citas, antecedentes personales patológicos y no patológicos, evolución de signos y síntomas, exámenes de laboratorio y el manejo terapéutico. Conclusiones. La sistematización de datos en forma electrónica favorece la obtención de información confiable y permanente para la vigilangia de los procesos en la atención integral del paciente diabético.

Reordenación de la mortalidad en el noroeste de México, según el índice de años de vida productivos perdidos / Mortality ranking in the northwest of Mexico according to the years of potential life lost index

Objetivo. Determinar el orden de causas de muerte en las entidades federativas de la región noroeste de México, utilizando el índice de años de vida productivos perdidos (AVPPipc). Material y métodos. Se utilizó la base de datos elaborada por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática, sobre mortalidad en Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa y Sonora para 1995. Se siguieron los pasos de bustamante y colaboradores para ponderar las defunciones entre la inversión, la producción y el consumo potencial de cada individuo, de acuerdo con la etapa de productivida en que los individuos fallecen. Resultados. Al utilizar el indicador AVPPipc se reordenaron las causas de muerte. En las cuatro entidades federativas el grupo de edad con mayor pérdida potencial es el de 5 a 14 años, sobre todo en Baja California y Sonora. De acuerdo con la IX Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades, el grupo de causas "Ciertas afecciones originadas en el periodo perinatal" ocupa el primer lugar en tres de las entidades federativas, y el de "homicidios y lesiones inflingidas intencionalmente por otra persona" es el primero en Sinaloa. Conclusiones. Este trabajo resalta el hecho de que al utilizar un indicador de años potencialmente perdidos con una ponderación económica, se puede hacer una discriminación entre las entidades federativas, dento de una región aparentemente homogeneas en la mortalidad

Factores en la no utilización de detección oportuna del cáncer cervicouterino en medicina familiar / Associated factors to the no utilization of the opportune detection of the cervical cancer in family medicine

Se aplicó una encuesta a 746 mujeres, entre 28 y 65 años de edad, adscritas a 13 unidades del primer nivel de atención de la Delegación del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social en Sonora, tanto del medio rural como urbano, para cuantificar la frecuencia y los factores asociados con la no utilización de la detección oportuna del cáncer cervicouterino. La encuesta arrojó que la frecuencia de no utilización fue de 31.4 por ciento, y que este factor se asoció con edad menor de 35 años y edad mayor de 54 años, escolaridad menor de 10 años aprobados desconocimiento de la prueba de papanicolaou, vivir a más de 30 minutos de la unidad, no recibir explicación de los pasos a seguir en la toma del papanicolaou y haberse practicado papanicolaou previamente en institución diferente al IMSS