Identification of Colletotrichum isolates from Capsicum chinense in Amazon.

Chili pepper (Capsicum chinense) is a great economic important culture on the State of Amazonas, and it represents, approximately, a production of 1.9 thousand tons per year. It is one of the hosts of Colletotrichum genus in the North region of Brazil. The aim of the study was to differentiate and to identify isolates of Colletotrichum collected from C. chinense in Amazon. Molecular characterization, using RFLP-PCR, ERIC-PCR and ISSR, was carried out initially for screening of morphologically similar isolates. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses were performed using combined regions: Actin (ACT), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) for the three isolates, INPA 2066, INPA 2286 and INPA 1858, plus superoxide dismutase (SOD2) for INPA 2066. We showed that the molecular markers were able to distinguish the isolates of Colletotrichum studied and these results were confirmed with the phylogenetic analyses, three different occurrences of Colletotrichum species (C. siamense, C. scovillei and C. brevisporum) causing anthracnose in C. chinense in the State of Amazonas. This study represents the first report of the species C. siamense and C. scovillei in this host in Brazil.

Performance, carcass characteristics, and ruminal pH of Nellore and Angus young bulls fed a whole shelled corn diet.

The objectives of this study were to test the interaction of breed (Nellore or Angus) and diet (whole shelled corn [WSC] or ground corn [GC] with silage) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and ruminal pH of young bulls. Thirty-six bulls (18 Nellore and 18 Angus) with the range in age of 18 to 22 mo and BW of 381 ± 12 kg were used in a completely randomized design experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (2 breeds and 2 diets). Experimental diets (DM basis) included 1) a GC diet containing 30% corn silage and 70% GC- and soybean meal-based concentrate and 2) a WSC diet containing 85% WSC and 15% of a soybean meal- and mineral-based pelleted supplement. An additional 8 bulls were slaughtered at the beginning of the experimental period for determination of initial carcass weight. The treatments were Nellore fed the GC diet, Nellore fed the WSC diet, Angus fed the GC diet, and Angus fed the WSC diet. Greater DMI ( < 0.01), ADG ( < 0.01), and G:F ( < 0.01) were observed in Angus bulls compared with Nellore bulls, regardless of diet. Lower average ruminal pH ( = 0.04), maximum ruminal pH (P = 0.02), and DMI ( < 0.01) were observed in bulls fed the WSC diet than in those fed the GC diet. In addition, bulls fed the WSC diet had greater G:F ( < 0.01). The WSC diet led to greater variation in DMI compared with the GC diet ( < 0.01). Omasum and large intestine percentage was affected by diets only in the Angus breed ( < 0.02) and were greater when bulls were fed the GC diet. The WSC diet without forage may be useful for feedlots because this diet promoted greater G:F than the GC diet, regardless of breed. However, special care must be exercised in feed management during adaptation and throughout the feeding of Nellore animals to avoid digestive disorders and fluctuations in DMI.

Contrasting effects of Na+, K+-ATPase activation on seizure activity in acute versus chronic models.

Epilepsy is a life-shortening brain disorder affecting approximately 1% of the worldwide population. Most epilepsy patients are refractory to currently available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Knowledge about the mechanisms underlying seizure activity and probing for new AEDs is fundamental to the discovery of new therapeutic strategies. Brain Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity contributes to the maintenance of the electrochemical gradients underlying neuronal resting and action potentials as well as the uptake and release of neurotransmitters. Accordingly, a decrease of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase increases neuronal excitability and may predispose to appearing of seizure activity. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that activation of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity with a specific antibody (DRRSAb) raised against a regulatory site in the α subunit would decrease seizure susceptibility. We found that incubation of hippocampal homogenates with DRRSAb (1 µM) increased total and α1 Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activities. A higher concentration (3 µM) increased total, α1 and α2/α3 Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activities. Intrahippocampal injection of DRRSAb decreased the susceptibility of post status epilepticus animals to pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced myoclonic seizures. In contrast, administration of DRRSAb into the hippocampus of naïve animals facilitated the appearance of PTZ-induced seizures. Quantitative analysis of hippocampal electroencephalography (EEG) recordings revealed that DRRSAb increased the percentage of total power contributed by the delta frequency band (0-3 Hz) to a large irregular amplitude pattern of hippocampal EEG. On the other hand, we found no DRRSAb-induced changes regarding the theta functional state. Further studies are necessary to define the potential of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activation as a new therapeutic approach for seizure disorders.

Neural and humoral mechanisms involved in the generation of arterial pressure lability in rats.

1. The role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in the generation of the arterial pressure lability (APL) observed after sino-aortic deafferentation (SAD) in rats was evaluated. 2. SAD was performed in normotensive (N = 8), renal hypertensive (2K-1C, N = 8) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, N = 8) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) recordings were performed 24 h after SAD. 3. MAP was recorded by a computerized technique using a sampling frequency of 30 Hz for 30 min and the data obtained were used to calculate APL. After MAP measurements the activity of the RAS and SNS was pharmacologically evaluated in all groups by the changes in MAP in response to iv injection of captopril and hexamethonium chloride, respectively. 4. SAD produced an increase in MAP (118 +/- 4 vs 99 +/- 2 mmHg) and a large increase in APL (13.4 +/- 1.3 vs 3.8 +/- 0.3 mmHg) in normotensive rats. SAD produced no changes in MAP (161 +/- 7 vs 167 +/- 7 mmHg) in 2K-1C hypertensive rats but induced a large increase in APL (6.7 +/- 0.5 vs 12 +/- 1 mmHg). SAD also produced no changes in MAP (152 +/- 3 vs 152 +/- 4 mmHg) in SHR but induced a marked increase in APL (6.7 +/- 0.3 vs 21 +/- 2.3 mmHg). 5. All SAD rats presented a larger fall in MAP in response to captopril and hexamethonium than the respective control group with intact baroreceptors suggesting an overactivity of both systems after SAD in normotensive, renal hypertensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. 6. The data also show that SAD produced no additional increase in MAP but promoted a significant increase in APL in renal and spontaneously hypertensive rats. 7. We suggest that APL observed after SAD in different experimental models is dependent on an interaction of RAS and SNS, both of which seem to be overactive after removal of arterial baroreceptors.

Evidence for neuronal release of isotopically labelled glycine from the rat ventral medullary surface in vivo.

Spontaneous and stimulus-induced release of isotopically labelled glycine was studied in the superfused rat dorsal or ventral medullary surface in vivo. Superfusion of the ventral medullary surface of anesthetized (urethane, 1.2 g/kg, ip) male adult Wistar rats (250-350 g) with high K+ (40 mM) surrogate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) produced an average increase of 45% over the spontaneous efflux of exogeneously applied glycine (N = 5, P < 0.01). In experiments in which the calcium of the CSF was replaced by an equimolar amount of magnesium, the increase in glycine efflux in response to high K+ was reduced to 15%, a value not statistically different from that observed in control experiments (N = 6). Veratridine stimulation evoked a large (80%) increase in glycine efflux (N = 5, P < 0.001), which was inhibited by tetrodotoxin. High potassium or veratridine failed to modify spontaneous release of glycine on the dorsal medullary surface. Results obtained in control experiments showed that neither high K+ nor veratridine is effective in modifying spontaneous efflux of [3H]-leucine or [3H]-inulin on the ventral or dorsal medullary surface. These data support the hypothesis that glycine is a neurotransmitter on the ventral medullary surface and that it may be part of neural pathways involved in cardiorespiratory regulation present in this region.

Surgical treatment for colorectal endometriosis.

The authors studied the surgical treatment of patients with intestinal endometriosis. A total of 10 patients, with a median age range of 43 years, underwent an operation. Cramp abdominal pain (100%), diarrhea (30%), constipation and enterorrhagia (20%) dominated the clinical picture. At the time of surgery, four patients presented intestinal obstructive symptoms. Five (50%) patients reported gynecological complaints. Four patients were infertile and five had prior surgical gynaecological events. Seven cases presented sigmoid involvement, and three had involvement of the cecal appendix. Pre-operative diagnosis was carried out in two patients only. Surgical indications were due to suspicion of cancer (4 patients), appendicitis (3 patients), diverticular disease (1 patient) and unmanageable pain (2 patients). The following procedures were performed: left colectomy (2 cases), rectosigmoidectomy (3 cases), sigmoidectomy (3 cases), colostomy (2 cases) and three appendicectomy cases associated with concomitant gynecological interventions. No postoperative complications or deaths were observed. The authors emphasize that intestinal stenotic lesions should be treated by means of extirpation while the parietal nodule should be treated by exeresis. Intestinal endometriosis should be suspected in cases of lower abdomen recurrent pain in premenopausal infertile women or with previous surgical, gynecological events associated with intestinal symptoms or distal colon stenosis.

[Watermelon stomach and gastric carcinoid tumor in a cirrhotic patient]. / "Watermelon stomach" e tumor carcinóide gástrico em um paciente cirrótico.

Gastric antral vascular ectasia or watermelon stomach is a rare but important cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The authors report the first case of gastric antral vascular ectasia associated with a gastric carcinoid in a cirrhotic patient. The article provides a literature review with emphasis on etiology, endoscopic features and treatment of this entity.

[Hereditary pancreatitis]. / Pancreatite hereditária.

Hereditary pancreatitis (HP) is a rare cause of chronic pancreatitis. Recurrent abdominal pain is the most common clinical manifestation, with onset in childhood or adolescence. PURPOSE--Report of a case of HP with atypical presentation and a review of the literature. METHODS--A non-alcoholic patient, without history of abdominal pain, with steatorrhea and malnutrition was investigated. The diagnostic evaluation revealed severe chronic pancreatitis. Two close relatives with early onset calcifying pancreatitis were detected. Epidemiologic and clinical features of HP were reviewed. CONCLUSION--Although uncommon, HP should be regarded in the differential diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. Familial screening of suspected cases should be routinely performed.

Neural and humoral mechanisms involved in the generation of arterial pressure lability in rats

1. The role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in the generation of the arterial pressure lability (APL) observed after sino-aortic deafferentation (SAD) in rats was evaluated. 2. SAD was performed in normotensive (N = 8), renal hypertensive (2K-1C, N = 8) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, N = 8) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) recordings were performed 24 h after SAD. 3. MAP was recorded by a computerized technique using a sampling frequency of 30 Hz for 30 min and the data obtained were used to calculate APL. After MAP measurements the activity of the RAS and SNS was pharmacologically evaluated in all groups by the changes in MAP in response to iv injection of captopril and hexamethonium chloride, respectively. 4. SAD produced an increase in MAP (118 +/- 4 vs 99 +/- 2 mmHg) and a large increase in APL (13.4 +/- 1.3 vs 3.8 +/- 0.3 mmHg) in normotensive rats. SAD produced no changes in MAP (161 +/- 7 vs 167 +/- 7 mmHg) in 2K-1C hypertensive rats but induced a large increase in APL (6.7 +/- 0.5 vs 12 +/- 1 mmHg). SAD also produced no changes in MAP (152 +/- 3 vs 152 +/- 4 mmHg) in SHR but induced a marked increase in APL (6.7 +/- 0.3 vs 21 +/- 2.3 mmHg). 5. All SAD rats presented a larger fall in MAP in response to captopril and hexamethonium than the respective control group with intact baroreceptors suggesting an overactivity of both systems after SAD in normotensive, renal hypertensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. 6. The data also show that SAD produced no additional increase in MAP but promoted a significant increase in APL in renal and spontaneously hypertensive rats. 7. We suggest that APL observed after SAD in different experimental models is dependent on an interaction of RAS and SNS, both of which seem to be overactive after removal of arterial baroreceptors

Pancreatite hereditária / Hereditary pancreatitis

Pancreatite hereditaria (PH) é uma causa rara de pancreatite crônica cuja manifestaçäo clínica mais comum é a dor abdominal recorrente que se inicia na infância ou na adolescência. OBJETIVO. Relatar um caso de PH com apresentaçäo atipica e revisäo da literatura. MÉTODOS. Estudou-se um paciente näo etilista, sem história de dor abdominal, que apresentava quadro de esteatorréia e desnutriçäo. A investigaçäo diagnóstica revelou a presença de pancreatite crônica avançada. Dois outros casos semelhantes foram detectados na família. Aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos desta entidade foram revisados. CONCLUSäO. PH, embora incomum, deve fazer parte do diagnóstico diferencial das pancreatites crônicas, efetuando-se a triagem familiar diante da suspeita clínica

Evidence for neuronal release of isotopically labelled glycine from the rat ventral medullary surface in vivo

Spontaneous and stimulus-induced release of isotopically labelled glycine was studied in the superfused rat dorsal or ventral medullary surface in vivo. Superfusion of the ventral medullary surface of anesthetized (urethane, 1.2 g/kg, ip) male adult Wistar rats (250-350 g) with high K+ (40 mM) surrogate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) produced an average increase of 45 per cent over the spontaneous efflux of exogenously applied glycine (N = 5, P<0.01). In experiments in which the calcium of the CSF was replaced by an equimolar amount of magnesium, the increase in glycine efflux in response to high K+ was reduced to 15 per cent, a value not statistically different from that observed in control experiments (N = 6). Veratridine stimulation evoked a large (80 per cent) increase in glycine efflux (N = 5, P<0.001), which was inhibited by tetrodotoxin. High potassium or veratridine failed to modify spontaneous release of glycine on the dorsal medullary surface. Results obtained in control experiments showed that neither high K+ nor veratridine is effective in modifying spontaneous efflux of [(3)H]-leucine or [(3)H]-inulin on the ventral or dorsal medullary surface. These data support the hypothesis that glycine is a neurotransmitter on the ventral medullary surface and that it may be part of neural pathways involved in cardiorespiratory regulation present in this region.

Pseudomixoma peritoneal / Pseudomyxoma peritonei

Pseudomixoma de peritónio , uma patologia para que se manifesta por implantes de mucina na cavidade peritoneal decorrentes de tumor de ov rio ou apêndice. Os autores relatam um caso e fazem revisäo de literatura.