In vitro assessment of the capacity of certain mycotoxin binders to adsorb some amino acids and water-soluble vitamins.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of 6 mycotoxin binders (MTB) to adsorb 3 AA and 4 water-soluble vitamins (WSV). Two experiments were conducted in in vitro conditions to simulate postruminal digestion with pepsin, malic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, and lactic acid at pH 3.0 and intestinal digestion with bile salts and pancreatin extract at pH 6.5. Experiment 1 was conducted with AA, and experiment 2 was conducted with WSV. Within experiment, main factors were the MTB (bentonite, clinoptiolite, sepiolite, montmorillonite, activated carbon, and yeast cell walls), the substrate (AA: Lys, Met, and Thr; WSV: B1, B2, B3, and B6), and the incubation strategy (substrates alone or mixed). Data were analyzed for the effects of main factors and their interactions. In experiment 1, the adsorption average for AA when incubated separately was 44.3%, ranging from 62.4% for Thr by clinoptiolite to 20.0% for Thr by activated carbon. When incubated together, the average adsorption was reduced to 19.9%, suggesting competition among substrates for adsorption. Adsorption ranged from 29.8% for Thr by yeast cell walls to 5.6% for Met by clinoptiolite, but there were significant interactions among MTB and AA. In experiment 2, the average adsorption of WSV when incubated separately or together was 34.1 and 45.1%, respectively, suggesting possible synergies among substrates. When vitamins were incubated separately, adsorption ranged from 90.5% for vitamin B1 to 4.0% for vitamin B3 by montmorillonite. Vitamins B1 (except by yeast cell walls) and B6 (except by bentonite, sepiolite, and montmorillonite) were absorbed the most, and vitamin B3 was absorbed the least (except by activated carbon and yeast cell walls, which were least together with vitamin B2). When vitamins were incubated together, adsorption ranged from 97.0% for vitamin B1 by montmorillonite to 0% for vitamin B2 by activated carbon and vitamin B3 by bentonite. Vitamins B1 by all MTB and B6 by clinoptiolite, sepiolite, and yeast cell walls were the most adsorbed, and vitamin B3 (except by activated carbon and yeast cell wall) was the least absorbed. There were significant interactions among MTB and WSV. Mycotoxin binders have a high degree of adsorption of the AA and WSV tested in in vitro conditions, which may limit their bioavailability. Results also suggest that when substrates were incubated together some interactions for adsorption occurred, which were competitive among AA and synergic among vitamins.

C-Reactive protein and insulin growth factor 1 serum levels during the menstrual cycle in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: To evaluate C-reactive protein, insulin growth factor 1 and lipid levels during the follicular and luteal phases in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (N = 40) and healthy controls (C; N = 43) were studied during the follicular and luteal phases of their menstrual cycles. C-Reactive protein, insulin growth factor 1 and lipid levels were measured. RESULTS: Adolescents with Type 1 diabetes exhibited higher C-reactive protein levels than the C group during the follicular (P < 0.0001) and luteal phases (P < 0.01). The elevation of C-reactive protein levels was more pronounced in overweight adolescents with Type 1 diabetes than in adolescents in the C group. More adolescents with Type 1 diabetes were classified as having an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (C-reactive protein > 3 mg/l) in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase (37.5% and 17.5%, respectively); half of the overweight adolescents with Type 1 diabetes in the luteal phase reached this level. BMI was the only significant factor affecting follicular and luteal phase C-reactive protein levels in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Lower insulin growth factor 1 levels were observed during both phases of the menstrual cycle in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes compared with controls. An elevation in insulin growth factor 1 levels in the luteal phase relative to the follicular phase was observed in controls, but not in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Luteal insulin growth factor 1 and C-reactive protein exhibited an inverse correlation (r = -0.4, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with Type 1 diabetes have higher C-reactive protein levels and lower insulin growth factor 1 levels relative to controls, especially during the luteal phase. Type 1 diabetes diminishes the natural elevation in insulin growth factor 1 levels observed during the luteal phase in controls. Excess weight exacerbates the subclinical inflammatory state observed during both phases of the menstrual cycle in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.

Aesthetic and functional rehabilitation of child using mock-up combined with stratified technique.

BACKGROUND: The loss of the vertical dimension of occlusion in children with quickly progressing early childhood caries hinders the aesthetic rehabilitation of primary incisors. Minimally invasive restorations using chemical-mechanical caries removal methods preserve sound dental tissue and maintains the health of the pulp. This is the treatment of choice for children and allows crown reconstruction of the primary incisors without the need for endodontic treatment. The resources employed in the rehabilitation process range from biological restorations to direct and indirect crowns with or without the aid of a celluloid matrix. CASE REPORT: The aim of this study was to describe a case of maxillary incisor rehabilitation in a female patient aged two years five months using a mock-up combined with the stratified technique and Planas' direct tracks. After a 26-month follow-up period only a little fracture of the reconstructed incisor had occurred. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In the case described, neuro-occlusal and functional rehabilitation enabled the establishment of satisfactory aesthetics in the primary incisors.

[Papillary thyroid cancer: case reports of four family cases]. / Cáncer tiroideo papilar. Reporte de 4 casos familiares.

INTRODUCTION: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, representing 80% of all thyroid cancers; only 10% of cases are manifested before age 21 and have an estimated incidence of 0.54 cases per 100,000 people. In children it is diagnosed at a more advanced stage of the disease but with good therapeutic response and very low mortality. OBJECTIVE: To present four family cases with PTC, discuss the particular characteristics and the importance of early diagnosis. CASE REPORTS: 4 families with members affected by family papillary thyroid carcinoma are presented, all pediatric cases were manifested after a direct member adult case was diagnosed, therefore pediatric patients were early detected, but despite a timely treatment, the disease was advanced at the time of diagnosis. The pediatric cases are 3 females and 1 male with an average age of 12 ½ years old at diagnosis. DISCUSSION: The family variety of papillary thyroid carcinoma (2 or more direct members affected), represents 5% of papillary cancers. It is transmitted through autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. It occurs at a younger age than the sporadic type, and it is more aggressive with greater local invasion (32%), recurrence (20-50%) and lymphatic metastases (57 %), and it is associated with benign thyroid diseases and often, it is multifocal. CONCLUSION: The family papillary thyroid cancer is a disease with worse prognosis than the sporadic variety; therefore, a high index of suspicion is required in affected families for early diagnosis and treatment.

Multicenter study. Nursing professionals' perception of training needs in pain assessment in pediatric patients with cognitive dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric patients with cognitive dysfunction are at greater risk of pain than typically developing children. Pain assessment in these patients is complex and could generate uncertainty in health professionals about what the key aspects are. AIM: To determine the training needs perceived by nursing professionals regarding acute pain assessment in pediatric patients with cognitive dysfunction. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and multicenter study was performed using a survey addressed to nursing professionals who work in pediatrics during the months of August and September 2022. RESULTS: 163 responses were obtained. Most of the professionals who responded were female (92.6%, n = 151), with a mean age of 38.98 ±â€¯10.40 years. The most frequent work unit was the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), in 36% (n = 58). Most of the participants reported not having previously received training on pain assessment in pediatric patients with cognitive disabilities (85.9%, n = 139). However, 70.4% (n = 114) considered it "very necessary" for the development of their work to receive specific training on this topic. Knowing how to assess acute pain in this population (85.3%, n = 139) and knowing the clinical and behavioral manifestations of pain in this type of patient (84.7%, n = 138) were the aspects that obtained higher scores. CONCLUSION: This research notes more than 90% of participants consider "quite necessary" and "strong necessary" to be training in pediatric cognitive dysfunction patients pain assessment. Furthermore, work experience, academic education and to be pediatric specialist obtain statistical significance data.

Influence of a pig respiratory disease on the pharmacokinetic behaviour of amoxicillin after oral ad libitum administration in medicated feed.

The pharmacokinetic properties of amoxicillin in healthy and respiratory-diseased pigs were studied, after ad libitum administration of medicated feed. In addition, amoxicillin dose linearity and drug penetration into respiratory tract tissues were evaluated in diseased animals. The respiratory disease involves porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and bacterial agents such as Pasteurella multocida, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Streptococcus suis. Typical clinical signs and gross lesions of respiratory disease were observed. The plasma pharmacokinetic analysis was performed by means of a noncompartmental approach. After single intravenous bolus administration of amoxicillin to healthy pigs, the steady-state volume of distribution was 0.61 L/kg, the total plasma clearance was 0.83 L/h/kg and the mean residence time was 0.81 h. After oral bolus administration, the mean absorption time was 1.6 h and the peak plasma concentration (3.09 µg/mL) reached at 1.1 h postadministration. The oral bioavailability was 34%. For oral ad libitum administration, plasma concentration-time profiles were related to the feeding behaviour. Plasma concentrations at steady-state were established between 12 and 120 h. The pharmacokinetic parameters calculated (C(maxss) , C(minss) , C(avss) and AUC(24ss) ) showed significantly lower values in healthy pigs compared to diseased animals. This was in accordance with the significantly higher amoxicillin bioavailability (44.7% vs. 14.1%) and longer absorption period observed in diseased pigs. Amoxicillin dose linearity in diseased animals was established in a dose range of 4-18 mg/kg. On the other hand, tissue distribution ratio in diseased animals was 0.65 for bronchial mucosa, 0.48 for lung tissue and 0.38 for lymph nodes. Our results suggest that the pharmacokinetic properties and disposition of amoxicillin can be influenced by the disease state or by related factors such as changes in the gastrointestinal transit.

[Psychophysiological distress among health care professionals working in Chilean public hospitals]. / Malestar psicofisiológico en profesionales de la salud pública de la Región Metropolitana.

BACKGROUND: The public health reform in Chile resulted in changes in working conditions and organization of health centers. AIM: To examine the presence of psychophysiological symptoms in professionals of public hospitals in the Metropolitan Region and their association with current working conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire of quality of working life was applied to a sample of 80 physicians and 110 nurses. The questionnaire considers scales and open questions. RESULTS: Nurses had a higher level of discomfort than physicians (p < 0.01) and had significantly higher scores for emotional distress, physical fatigue, digestive disorders, headache, insomnia, back pain and muscle tension (p < 0.01). There were statistically significant negative correlations between psychophysiological distress and working conditions (r = -0.418), social climate (r = -0.395), satisfaction with the organization (r = -0.337) and psychosocial well-being (r = -0.267). A regression model showed that 21% of the variance in psychophysiological distress was explained by working conditions, psychosocial well-being and adaptation to the organization. CONCLUSIONS: There is a relationship between the high prevalence of psychophysiological symptoms and bad working conditions of public health professionals.

Quantitative determination of fluoxetine in human serum by high performance thin layer chromatography.

A high performance thin layer chromatographic method was developed and validated for the quantification of fluoxetine in human serum. Fluoxetine was extracted by liquid-liquid extraction method with diethyl ether as extraction solvent. Imipramine was used as internal standard. The chromatographic separation was achieved on precoated silica gel F 254 high performance thin layer chromatographic plates using a mixture of toluene/acetic acid glacial (4:5 v/v) as mobile phase. 4-Dimethylamino-azobenzene-4-sulphonyl chloride was used as derivatization reagent. Densitometric detection was done at 272 nm. The method was linear between 12.5 and 87.5 ng/spot, corresponding to 0.05 and 0.35 ng/microL of fluoxetine in human serum after extraction process and applying 25 microL to the chromatographic plates. The method correlation coefficient was 0.999. The intra-assay and inter-assay precisions, expressed as the RSD, were in the range of 0.70-2.01% (n=3) and 0.81-3.90% (n=9), respectively. The LOD was 0.23 ng, and the LOQ was 0.70 ng. The method proved be accurate, with a recovery between 94.75 and 98.95%, with a RSD not higher than 3.61% and was selective for the active principle tested. This method was successfully applied to quantify fluoxetine in patient serum samples. In conclusion, the method is useful for quantitative determination of fluoxetine in human serum.

Instrumental planar chromatographic method for determination of carbamazepine in human serum.

An instrumental planar chromatographic (HPTLC) method for quantification of carbamazepine in human serum was developed using liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane, fluorescence activation with perchloric acid 60%/ethanol/water (1:1:1, v/v) and fluorescence detection. Planar chromatographic separation was performed on precoated silica gel F254 HPTLC plates using a mixture of ethyl acetate/toluene/methanol/acetic acid glacial (5:4:0.5:0.5, v/v) as mobile phase. Densitometric detection was done at 366 nm. The method was validated for linearity, precision and accuracy. Linear calibration curves in the range of 3 and 20 ng/microL showed correlation coefficient of 0.998. The intra-assay and inter-assay precision, expressed as the RSD, were in the range of 0.41-1.24% (n = 3) and 2.17-3.17% (n = 9), respectively. The LOD was 0.19 ng, and the LOQ was 0.57 ng. Accuracy, calculated as percentage recovery, was between 98.98 and 101.96%, with a RSD not higher than 1.52%. The method was selective for the active principle tested. In conclusion, the method is useful for quantitative determination of carbamazepine in human serum.

Effect of age and gender in the pharmacokinetics of albendazole and albendazole sulphoxide enantiomers in goats.

The kinetics of albendazole metabolites and albendazole sulphoxide enantiomers were studied in 2- and 14-month-old female and male goats, after a single oral dose administration (10mg/kg) of an albendazole formulation. Blood samples from the jugular vein were collected at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 and 54h post-treatment and analyzed using a high performance liquid chromatography method. In all groups the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and peak concentration (C(max)) values of (+)-ABZSO were significantly higher than those of (-)-ABZSO. The AUC and C(max) values obtained for (+)-ABZSO and (-)-ABZSO in adult animals were higher compared to the results in young animals, showing significant differences except for (+)-ABZSO in female animals. In young animals, independently of gender, the C(max) appeared earlier compared to adult animals. The mean residence time (MRT) values were shorter in young animals compared to adult animals for all compounds analyzed. No sex-related differences were found for any of the parameters calculated except for the (+)-ABZSO from adult animals.

Evaluating average bioequivalence using methods for high variability drugs: a case study.

The purpose of this study was to determine if different methods for average bioequivalence in high variability drugs coincide or not in their conclusions when applied to the same dataset, and to discuss the method validity and reliability of the conclusions. Different approaches for the evaluation of average bioequivalence were applied to the results of a bioavailability trial on the diuretic drug Furosemide. These methods included widening the bioequivalence limits according to regulatory recommendations, scaling the limits and scaling the bioequivalence statistic, jointly with evaluating alternative bioavailability measures. The methods to establish the bioequivalence limits were also combined with some alternative methods to construct confidence intervals. The decision on bioequivalence depends much more on the bioavailability measures than on the statistical approach. The reliability of the final decision lies mainly in the interpretation of these measures and on the special characteristics of each drug.

Epidemiology of bacteremia and factors associated with multi-drug-resistant gram-negative bacteremia in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

The incidence of Gram-negative bacteremia has increased in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. We prospectively collected data from 13 Brazilian HSCT centers to characterize the epidemiology of bacteremia occurring early post transplant, and to identify factors associated with infection due to multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative isolates. MDR was defined as an isolate with resistance to at least two of the following: third- or fourth-generation cephalosporins, carbapenems or piperacillin-tazobactam. Among 411 HSCT, fever occurred in 333, and 91 developed bacteremia (118 isolates): 47% owing to Gram-positive, 37% owing to Gram-negative, and 16% caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (19%) and Escherichia coli (17%) accounted for the majority of Gram-negative isolates, and 37% were MDR. These isolates were recovered from 20 patients, representing 5% of all 411 HSCT and 22% of the episodes with bacteremia. By multivariate analysis, treatment with third-generation cephalosporins (odds ratio (OR) 10.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.75-30.27) and being at one of the hospitals (OR 9.47, 95% CI 2.60-34.40) were associated with infection due to MDR Gram-negative isolates. These findings may have important clinical implications in the decision of giving prophylaxis and selecting the empiric antibiotic regimen.

Converting to a generic formulation of mycophenolate mofetil in stable kidney transplant recipients: 1 year of drug surveillance and outcome.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of a generic formulation with the innovator mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). METHODS AND PATIENTS: Thirteen patients with stable renal grafts received MMF posttransplantation (mean, 32 months; confidence interval 95%: 51, 9-12, 36). Graft function improved significantly (serum creatinine levels 2.72 +/- 1.75 mg/dL to 1.9 +/- 0.66 and 1.79 +/- 0.86 mg/dL at 12 and 30 months, respectively; P < .05). Three point (basal, 2, and 6 hours) profiles were performed. Five patients were switched 1:1 to a generic formulation for 60 days and repeating the pharmacokinetics were repeated. Afterwards, they returned to the innovator MMF for 45 days. Finally, all patients received generic MMF, repeating the pharmacokinetics between 15 days and 6 months later. RESULTS: The area under the curve (AUC 0-6) of MPA was 52.68 +/- 17.5 microg/mL*hr, with 61.5% of basal determinations (Co) under 5 microg/mL (4.08 +/- 0.74). The Pearson correlation coefficient was high between both MMF formulations regarding FMPA AUC 0.768 (P < .005), Co (0.774; P < 0.05), and C6 (0.996; P < .005). GMPA AUC were similar (Pearson) 0.7 (P < .01), Co 0.99 (P < .01), and C6 0.86 (P < .01). C2 MMF levels were variable and showed poor correlation. FMPA AUC of generic and original formulations after 60 days had tight correlation. (Pearson 0.883; P < .025) and comparing 15 and 60 days postconversion with generic drug in the same patients were similar (Pearson 0.58; P < .025). Renal function at 12 months remained stable postconversion. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion to generic MMF in stable renal transplant recipients showed good clinical results.

High HCV subtype heterogeneity in a chronically infected general population revealed by high-resolution hepatitis C virus subtyping.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize the chronically infected general hepatitis C virus (HCV) population in Barcelona using a highly sensitive subtyping method that can identify the 67 recognized HCV subtypes and diagnose mixed infection by various genotypes/subtypes in a single individual. The resulting information has implications for selecting optimal direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for each patient and establishing public healthcare policies in our setting. METHODS: Consecutive HCV patients (treatment-naïve or interferon-based failures) attending Vall d'Hebron Hospital outpatient clinics from February 2015 to May 2016 (N=1473) were included in the study. Patient samples were characterized using HCV subtyping by next-generation ultra-deep pyrosequencing. RESULTS: The following genotypes (G) were found: G1 (1126/1473 (76.4%)), G4 (145/1473 (9.8%)), G3 (135/1473 (9.2%)), G2 (51/1473 (3.5%)), and G5 (1/1473 (0.1%)). Twenty-two subtypes were seen: 1b (790/1473 (53.6%)), 1a (332/1473 (22.5%)), 3a (133/1473 (9.0%)), 4d (105/1473 (7.1%)), 4a (29/1473 (2.0%)), and 2c (25/1473 (1.7%)), with 16 low-prevalence subtypes accounting for the remaining 3.0% (44/1473). There was a worrisome 1.0% (15/1473) of mixed infections. G2 (51/1473 (3.5%)) showed a high level of heterogeneity. Analyses by age groups showed a predominance of G1b over G1a (428/506 (84.6%) vs. 24/506 (4.7%)) in patients born before 1950 (N=506/1473), and similar percentages of these subtypes in those born between 1951 and 1975 (N=834/1473) (315/834, 37.8% vs. 266/834, 31.9%) and after 1976 (N=133/1473) (47/133, 35.3% vs. 42/133, 31.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Subtype distribution showed a higher level of heterogeneity than was expected, particularly for G2. Prevalence of mixed infections was around 1%. HCV subtype distribution related to patient age group suggested that patients born from 1936 to 1975 in our setting should undergo screening for the infection. Next-generation sequencing enabled better classification of candidates for DAA-based treatment.

Predicting severity of asian soybean rust epidemics with empirical rainfall models.

ABSTRACT Although Asian soybean rust occurs in a broad range of environmental conditions, the most explosive and severe epidemics have been reported in seasons with warm temperature and abundant moisture. Associations between weather and epidemics have been reported previously, but attempts to identify the major factors and model these relationships with field data have been limited to specific locations. Using data from 2002-03 to 2004-05 from 34 field experiments at 21 locations in Brazil that represented all major soybean production areas, we attempted to identify weather variables using a 1-month time window following disease detection to develop simple models to predict final disease severity. Four linear models were identified, and these models explained 85 to 93% of variation in disease severity. Temperature variables had lower correlation with disease severity compared with rainfall, and had minimal predictive value for final disease severity. A curvilinear relationship was observed between 1 month of accumulated rainfall and final disease severity, and a quadratic response model using this variable had the lowest prediction error. Linear response models using only rainfall or number of rainy days in the 1-month period tended to overestimate disease for severity <30%. The study highlights the importance of rainfall in influencing soybean rust epidemics in Brazil, as well as its potential use to provide quantitative risk assessments and seasonal forecasts for soybean rust, especially for regions where temperature is not a limiting factor for disease development.

Caracterización del nivel ético profesional de estudiantes y docentes de la carrera de medicina veterinaria de la Universidad Santo Tomás, sede Puerto Montt, Chile / Characterization of the professional ethical level of students and teachers of the veterinary medicine career at the Santo Tomás University, Puerto Montt headquarters, Chile

RESUMEN El objetivo principal de este estudio fue caracterizar el nivel ético en estudiantes y docentes de la carrera de medicina veterinaria de la Universidad Santo Tomás, sede de Puerto Montt, Chile. Para esto, se aplicó una encuesta dilemática a 3 grupos de estudio conformados por estudiantes de primer y quinto año, además de docentes que imparten asignaturas de formación profesional de la sede Puerto Montt. La creación de la encuesta fue por medio de la contratación de especificaciones éticas de la carrera con los diles de juicio moral en Kohlberg. De los resultados obtenidos se pudo concluir que las especificaciones de la carrera de medicina veterinaria solo contemplan el 20% de 59 artículos estudiados del Código de Ética profesional. Además, es posible decir que los estudiantes de primero y quinto año, y los docentes no conocen a cabalidad los artículos del Código de Ética según la clasificación de la teoría de Kohlberg.

ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to characterize the ethical level in students and teachers of the veterinary medicine career of the Santo Tomás University, Puerto Montt headquarters, Chile. For this a dilemmatic survey was applied to 3 study groups, made up of students from the first and fifth years, in addition to teachers who teach professional training subjects at the Puerto Montt campus. The survey was created by contracting ethical specifications of the career with the moral judgment diles in Kohlberg. From the results obtained, it was possible to conclude that the specifications of the veterinary medicine career only contemplate 20% of the 59 articles studied of the professional code of ethics. In addition, it was possible to say that the first and fifth year students, and teachers do not fully know the articles of the code of ethics according to the classification of Kohlberg's theory.

Epidemics of Soybean Rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) in Brazil and Paraguay from 2001 to 2003.

In 5 March 2001, a severe rust outbreak was recorded at Pitapó, Paraguay, and the causal organism was determined to be Phakopsora pachyrhizi using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequence analysis. In May, rust surveys showed spread throughout most of Paraguay and into western and northern Parana, Brazil. In the 2001-02 season, rust was widespread in Paraguay, but losses were reduced due to severe drought; however, in Brazil it spread to more than 60% of the soybean acreage, causing field losses estimated at 0.1 million metric tons (MMT). In 2003, the disease was observed in more than 90% of the fields in Brazil, and the projected losses in Mato Grosso and Bahia alone are 2.2 MMT (US$487.3 million). Approximately 80% of the soybean acreage in Brazil was sprayed twice with fungicides at the cost of US$544 million. Differences in efficacy have been observed among the commercial strobilurin and triazol fungicides.

Effect of fatty acids on self-assembly of soybean lecithin systems.

With the increasing interest in natural formulations for drug administration and functional foods, it is desirable a good knowledge of the phase behavior of lecithin/fatty acid formulations. Phase structure and properties of ternary lecithin/fatty acids/water systems are studied at 37°C, making emphasis in regions with relatively low water and fatty acid content. The effect of fatty acid saturation degree on the phase microstructure is studied by comparing a fully saturated (palmitic acid, C16:0), monounsaturated (oleic acid, C18:1), and diunsaturated (linoleic acid, C18:2) fatty acids. Phase determinations are based on a combination of polarized light microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements. Interestingly, unsaturated (oleic acid and linoleic acid) fatty acid destabilizes the lamellar bilayer. Slight differences are observed between the phase diagrams produced by the unsaturated ones: small lamellar, medium cubic and large hexagonal regions. A narrow isotropic fluid region also appears on the lecithin-fatty acid axis, up to 8wt% water. In contrast, a marked difference in phase microsctructure was observed between unsaturated and saturated systems in which the cubic and isotropic fluid phases are not formed. These differences are, probably, a consequence of the high Krafft point of the C16 saturated chains that imply rather rigid chains. However, unsaturated fatty acids result in more flexible tails. The frequent presence of, at least, one unsaturated chain in phospholipids makes it very likely a better mixing situation than in the case of more rigid chains. This swelling potential favors the formation of reverse hexagonal, cubic, and micellar phases. Both unsaturated fatty acid systems evolve by aging, with a reduction of the extension of reverse hexagonal phase and migration of the cubic phase to lower fatty acid and water contents. The kinetic stability of the systems seems to be controlled by the unsaturation of fatty acids.

Circulating endothelial cells are increased in chronic myeloid leukemia blast crisis.

We measured circulating endothelial precursor cells (EPCs), activated circulating endothelial cells (aCECs), and mature circulating endothelial cells (mCECs) using four-color multiparametric flow cytometry in the peripheral blood of 84 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients and 65 healthy controls; and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by quantitative real-time PCR in 50 CML patients and 32 healthy controls. Because of an increase in mCECs, the median percentage of CECs in CML blast crisis (0.0146%) was significantly higher than in healthy subjects (0.0059%, P<0.01) and in the accelerated phase (0.0059%, P=0.01). There were no significant differences in the percentages of CECs in chronic- or active-phase patients and healthy subjects (P>0.05). In addition, VEGF gene expression was significantly higher in all phases of CML: 0.245 in blast crisis, 0.320 in the active phase, and 0.330 in chronic phase patients than it was in healthy subjects (0.145). In conclusion, CML in blast crisis had increased levels of CECs and VEGF gene expression, which may serve as markers of disease progression and may become targets for the management of CML.

Epilepsy-induced electrocardiographic alterations following cardiac ischemia and reperfusion in rats.

The present study evaluated electrocardiographic alterations in rats with epilepsy submitted to an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model induced by cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. Rats were randomly divided into two groups: control (n=12) and epilepsy (n=14). It was found that rats with epilepsy presented a significant reduction in atrioventricular block incidence following the ischemia and reperfusion procedure. In addition, significant alterations were observed in electrocardiogram intervals during the stabilization, ischemia, and reperfusion periods of rats with epilepsy compared to control rats. It was noted that rats with epilepsy presented a significant increase in the QRS interval during the stabilization period in relation to control rats (P<0.01). During the ischemia period, there was an increase in the QRS interval (P<0.05) and a reduction in the P wave and QT intervals (P<0.05 for both) in rats with epilepsy compared to control rats. During the reperfusion period, a significant reduction in the QT interval (P<0.01) was verified in the epilepsy group in relation to the control group. Our results indicate that rats submitted to an epilepsy model induced by pilocarpine presented electrical conductivity alterations of cardiac tissue, mainly during an AMI episode.