Nanocomposites of Recycled Polycarbonate/Nano-Zinc Oxide (rPC/nZno): Effect of Nanofiller and Gamma-Radiation on the Properties and as Barrier Against Ultraviolet Light.

In order to promote barrier against ultraviolet radiation and increase of mechanical characteristics performance, nanocomposites of recycled polycarbonate/nano-zinc oxide (rPC/nZnO) with different nZnO content were prepared and submitted to doses of gamma-radiation (10­50 kGy). The nanocomposites were also exposed to Xenon light source in a weather chamber viewing to evaluate the action of nZnO against ultraviolet light. The rPC/nZnO nanocomposites were characterized by thermogravimetry (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). There was a progressive reduction of the glass transition temperature (T g) and degradation temperatures, T onset and T max, as function of gamma-radiation dose and nano-zinc oxide content. The lowering of the thermal properties was attributed to the alcoholysis reaction between hydroxyl groups onto the nZnO surface and carbonate linkages of the rPC during the molten state. WAXD revealed a possible chains arrangement (induction of crystallinity) and/or segregation of chains size (scission of rPC chains generating oligomers) associated to the alcoholysis reaction. The action of gamma-radiation as crosslinking agent was not effective. The degree of swelling is zero on account of the stabilization of rPC radicals by oxygen during gamma-radiation exposure. Before exposure to UV light the carbonyl index (CI) show trend to decrease­corroborating the scission of the rPC carbonate bonds. After 100 hours of exposure a recovering of the CI was noticed. The result was associated to the free radicals recombination and esterification reactions. In some extent the combined action of nZnO and gamma-radiation as barrier to UV light was successful.

Genetic diversity of Plathymenia reticulata Benth. in fragments of Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil.

Studies of genetic diversity in natural populations are important for the definition of conservation strategies, especially in populations reduced by processes of fragmentation and continuous forest extraction. Molecular markers stand out as interesting tools for these studies. The objective of this research was to characterize the diversity and genetic structure of Plathymenia reticulata (Fabaceae), occurring in two fragments of the Montana Semideciduous Forest in the southern of Espírito Santo State, Brazil, using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. DNA samples from 149 individuals were analyzed using 10 ISSR primers, generating 156 fragments, of which 101 were polymorphic (64.74%). The individuals sampled were classified into three units: adult trees (A), a mixture of progenies (B), and young regenerating individuals (C). The number of loci used (N = 101) was greater than that established as optimal number (N = 88), indicating precision in analyses. The genetic diversity index of Nei (H' = 0.407) and the Shannon index (I = 0.594) were found to have high genetic diversity. Besides, through the diversity parameters evaluated, it was possible to confirm that in the areas of natural regeneration and progeny mix there is genetic diversity equivalent to that found in adults. The analysis of molecular variance indicated that most of the genetic variation is found within the groups (96.53%). Genetic differentiation among adult trees was low (ΦST = 0.03) indicating that high gene flow rates (Nm = 12.70) are counteracting the effects of genetic drift. The data obtained allowed to evaluate the potential of adult trees as matrices for seed collection and to obtain seedlings with confirmed genetic variability.

Paratuberculosis in Latin America: a systematic review.

Latin America is the definition of the American group, where languages of Latin origin are spoken, including countries in South, Central, and North America. Paratuberculosis is a gastrointestinal contagious chronic disease that affects ruminants, whose etiological agent is the bacilli Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Paratuberculosis is characterized by intermittent diarrhea, decreased milk production, dehydration, and progressive weight loss and is possibly involved in Crohn's disease, a human intestinal disease. MAP is resistant to environmental factors, pasteurization, and water disinfection, which coupled with the subclinical-clinical nature of the disease, and makes paratuberculosis a relevant socioeconomic and public health issue, justifying the descriptive review of research on the disease carried out in Latin American countries. A survey of articles, published until September 2016, on the Scopus database, PubMed, Agris, and Science Direct, about detection of the agent and the disease in Latin America, without restrictions to the date of the research was performed. The keywords were as follows: "paratuberculosis," "Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis," "cattle," "milk," "wildlife," "goat," "ovine," "dairy," and the name of each country in English. Studies found from nine of the 20 Latin America countries, 31 related to Brazil, 17 to Argentina, 14 to Chile, eight to Colombia, six to Mexico, two to Peru, two to Venezuela, and one to Panama and to Bolivia, each. The agent was detected in cattle, goats, sheep, domesticated water buffalo, and wild animals. Microbiological culture, PCR, and ELISA were the frequent techniques. The small number of studies may result in overestimation or underestimation of the real scenario.

Magnetically controllable silicon microring with ferrofluid cladding.

We experimentally investigate the application of magnetic fluids (MFs) on integrated silicon photonics. Using a ferrofluid-clad silicon microring resonator, we demonstrate active control of resonances by applying an external magnetic field. Relatively high loaded quality factors on the order of 6000 are achieved, despite the optical losses introduced by the magnetic nanoparticles. We demonstrate resonance shifts of 185 pm in response to a 110 Oe strong magnetic field, corresponding to an overall refractive index change of -3.2×10-3 for the cladding MF. The combination of MFs and integrated photonics could potentially lead to the development of magnetically controllable optical devices and ultra-compact cost-effective magnetic field sensors.

Modeling the dynamics of BMI changes during adolescence. The Oporto Growth, Health and Performance Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were twofold: (i) to model changes in body mass index (BMI) of 10-18-year-old adolescents, and (ii) to investigate the effects of total physical activity (TPA), physical fitness (PF), sleep duration and fruit/vegetable consumption in BMI trajectories across time. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Oporto Growth, Health and Performance Study and comprised 6894 adolescents (3418 girls) divided into four age cohorts (10, 12, 14 and 16 years) measured annually for 3 years. BMI was computed using the standard formula (kg m(-2)); TPA was estimated with the Baecke questionnaire; PF measures included 1-mile run/walk, 50 yard dash (50YD), standing long jump (SLJ), handgrip strength (HGr) and agility shuttle run. Longitudinal changes in BMI were analyzed using the multilevel modeling approach. RESULTS: The average BMI at age of peak of height velocity was 20.7±0.07 kg m(-2) for girls (P<0.001) and 20.58±0.06 kg m(-2) for boys (P<0.001). The annual increment in BMI was 1.36±0.04 kg m(-2), P<0.001 and 1.23±0.03 kg m(-2), P<0.001 for girls and boys, respectively. PF were related to BMI trajectories in both sexes (Girls: ß1mile=0.12±0.02, P<0.001; ßSLJ=-0.01±0.00, P<0.001; ß50YD=0.28±0.05, P<0.001; ßHGr=-8.91±0.54, P<0.001; Boys: ß1mile=0.18±0.02, P<0.001; ßSLJ=-0.01±0.00, P<0.001; ß50YD=0.26±0.04, P<0.001; and ßHGr=-8.15±0.45, P<0.001). TPA only showed significant, but positive, association with girls' BMI trajectories (ß=0.10±0.03, P=0.001). After adjusting for the covariates, sleep duration and fruit/vegetable intake did not show any significant association with BMI trajectories either sex. CONCLUSIONS: BMI increased linearly with age in both gender. PF levels are negatively associated with BMI across time in both boys and girls. Therefore, promotion of PF in the adolescent years seems to be effective in the early prevention of obesity.

Renin-angiotensin system contributes to naive T-cell migration in vivo.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays an important role in the regulation of the T-cell response during inflammation. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the regulation of lymphocytes under physiologic conditions have not yet been studied. Here, we tested the influence of Ang II on T-cell migration using T cells from BALB/c mice. The results obtained in vivo showed that when Ang II production or the AT1 receptor were blocked, T-cell counts were enhanced in blood but decreased in the spleen. The significance of these effects was confirmed by observing that these cells migrate, through fibronectin to Ang II via the AT1 receptor. We also observed a gradient of Ang II from peripheral blood to the spleen, which explains its chemotactic effect on this organ. The following cellular mechanisms were identified to mediate the Ang II effect: upregulation of the chemokine receptor CCR9; upregulation of the adhesion molecule CD62L; increased production of the chemokines CCL19 and CCL25 in the spleen. These results indicate that the higher levels of Ang II in the spleen and AT1 receptor activation contribute to migration of naive T cells to the spleen, which expands our understanding on how the Ang II/AT1 receptor axis contributes to adaptive immunity.

Short communication: Prediction of intake in dairy cows under tropical conditions.

A meta-analysis was conducted to develop a model for predicting dry matter intake (DMI) in dairy cows under the tropical conditions of Brazil and to assess its adequacy compared with 5 currently available DMI prediction models: Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC); National Research Council (NRC); Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS; version 6); and 2 other Brazilian models. The data set was created using 457 observations (n=1,655 cows) from 100 studies, and it was randomly divided into 2 subsets for statistical analysis. The first subset was used to develop a DMI prediction equation (60 studies; 309 treatment means) and the second subset was used to assess the adequacy of DMI predictive models (40 studies; 148 treatment means). The DMI prediction model proposed in the current study was developed using a nonlinear mixed model analysis after reparameterizing the NRC equation but including study as a random effect in the model. Body weight (mean = 540 ± 57.6 kg), 4% fat-corrected milk (mean = 21.3 ± 7.7 kg/d), and days in milk (mean = 110 ± 62 d) were used as independent variables in the model. The adequacy of the DMI prediction models was evaluated based on coefficient of determination, mean square prediction error (MSPE), root MSPE (RMSPE), and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The observed DMI obtained from the data set used to evaluate the prediction models averaged 17.6 ± 3.2 kg/d. The following model was proposed: DMI (kg/d) = [0.4762 (± 0.0358) × 4% fat-corrected milk + 0.07219 (± 0.00605) × body weight(0.75)] × (1 - e(-0.03202 (± 0.00615) × [days in milk + 24.9576 (± 5.909)])). This model explained 93.0% of the variation in DMI, predicting it with the lowest mean bias (0.11 kg/d) and RMSPE (4.9% of the observed DMI) and the highest precision [correlation coefficient estimate (ρ) = 0.97] and accuracy [bias correction factor (Cb)=0.99]. The NRC model prediction equation explained 92.0% of the variation in DMI and had the second lowest mean bias (0.42 kg/d) and RMSPE (5.8% of the observed DMI), as well as the second highest precision (ρ = 0.94) and accuracy (Cb = 0.98). The CNCPS and AFRC DMI prediction models explained 93.0 and 85.0% of the variation in DMI but underpredicted DMI by 1.8 and 1.4 kg/d, respectively. These 2 models (CNCPS and AFRC) resulted, respectively, in RMSPE of 11.3 and 10.7% of the observed DMI, with moderate to high precision (ρ = 0.81 and 0.82) and accuracy (Cb = 0.84 and 0.89). The remaining 2 models resulted in the poorest results, underpredicting DMI by 2.3 and 1.9 kg/d, with RMSPE of 22.8 and 14.9% of the observed DMI and moderate to low precision (ρ = 0.49 and 0.76) and accuracy (Cb = 0.81 and 0.86). The new model derived from the current meta-analytical approach provided the best accuracy and precision for predicting DMI in lactating dairy cows under Brazilian conditions.

Metabolic Syndrome and Positive Frailty Screening: A Cross-Sectional Study with Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background: Metabolic Syndrome is a set of disorders that characterized by the association of three or more risk factors, like the obesity central, dyslipidemia, borderline blood pressure, hyperglycemia, and the increase of triglycerides. However, these factors also can be associated with pathophysiology of frailty. Objectives: verifying whether the metabolic syndrome is associated to the positive frailty screening in the older people. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: 443 older people living in Rio Branco, Brazil. Setting: Data collection was carried out in two stages: a personal interview and blood collection. Measurements: The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on the criteria of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. The frailty screening was performed using subjective questions validated in a previous study. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were used for data analyses. Results: There was a predominance of female older people (69.07%), aged between 60 and 79 years (87.13%), with an income greater than or equal to one minimum wage (72.09%), no cognitive decline (75.94%) and depressive symptoms (63.31%), independent for BADL (86.46%) and dependent for IADL (51.69%). From the total sample, 56.88% of the older people were identified as frail, 34.09% pre-frail and 9.03% non frail. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 51.69%. After adjusting by the independent variables, an association between metabolic syndrome and pre-frailty was observed, and older people with metabolic syndrome were more likely to be prefrail (RRR=2.36; 95%CI=1.08-5.18). Conclusion: The metabolic syndrome was associated to the increase chance of screening for prefrailty in the older people evaluated, which reinforces the needy to establish preventive measures in relation to the metabolic syndrome to avoid frailty in the older people.

Pregnancy after percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration in an 81-year-old man with obstructive azoospermia.

There has been observed a trend to delay childbearing, reflecting couple's desire to have children at older ages. Maternal age is a well-known factor that influences the achievement of a pregnancy. In contrast, there are few studies examining the effect of paternal age on the outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), and results are conflicting. Our patient was vasectomised at the age of 60 years, and his wife was 38 years old. A total of four metaphase II oocytes were inseminated 4 h later (day 0) by intracytoplasmic sperm injection using spermatozoa from percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration. On day 2, the three resulting embryos were transferred (two had four cells, and one had two cells). Two healthy infants were born at the 37th gestational week by caesarean section. Although the effect of paternal age on ART outcomes and results are conflicting, this case report contributes to point out that advanced age of the man has probably lesser negative influence in the reproductive function.

Iron-limited condition modulates biofilm formation and interaction with human epithelial cells of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC).

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of low iron availability on biofilm formation and adherence to HEp-2 cells of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) strains isolated from diarrhoea cases. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ability of EAEC to form biofilm on a plastic surface was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively after 3 and 18 h of incubation of strains with or without the iron chelator 2,2-dipyridyl. When submitted to low iron conditions, prototype EAEC 042 strain showed a decrease in biofilm formation. Conversely, an increase in biofilm formation was observed for the clinical EAEC strains cultured in restricted iron condition. Moreover, the reduction of iron concentration inhibited the aggregative adherence to HEp-2 cells of all EAEC strains tested. However, all effects promoted by iron chelation were suppressed by thiourea. CONCLUSIONS: Low iron availability may modulate biofilm formation and adhesive properties of EAEC strains to HEp-2 cells. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The data obtained in this study provide useful insights on the influence of low iron conditions possibly associated with redox stress on the pathogenesis of EAEC strains.

Calcicole behaviour of Callisthene fasciculata Mart., an Al-accumulating species from the Brazilian Cerrado.

Most aluminium (Al)-accumulating species are found on soils with high Al saturation and low Ca availability (Ca poor). Callisthene fasciculata Mart. (Vochysiaceae), however, is an Al-accumulating tree restricted to Ca-rich soils with low Al saturation in the Brazilian Cerrado savanna. Here we tested its calcicole behaviour, and the possible role of organic acids in detoxification of Al during the early stages of plant development. We assessed growth, dry mass, nutrients, Al and organic acids in seedlings grown for 50 days on two contrasting Cerrado soils; one with high Ca concentrations and low Al saturation and the other with low Ca availability and high Al saturation. Relative to plants on Ca-rich soil, plants on Ca-poor soil had necrotic spots and bronzing of leaves. Roots and shoots contained reduced concentrations of P and Cu, but higher concentrations of Fe, Al and citrate. Despite lower concentrations in the soil, Ca and Mg increased in shoots. Shoot concentrations of oxalate were also higher. We confirmed C. fasciculata as an Al-accumulating species with calcicole behaviour. The increased concentrations of organic acids in plants with higher Al accumulation suggest that high availability of soluble Al does not prevent occurrence of this species on soils with high Al saturation. Instead, the absence of C. fasciculata from Ca-poor soils is probably due to imbalances in tissue Fe, Cu and Zn imposed by this soil type.

Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum isolated from relevant clinical sites of infection: a human pathogen overlooked in emerging countries.

AIMS: To examine the occurrence of and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum among patients with bacterial infections at a teaching hospital. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 113 Coryne. pseudodiphtheriticum strains identified by conventional biochemical methods and API-Coryne System were recovered from patients from different age groups: 65.48% adults (18 to < or =59 years old), 9.73% aged (> or =60 years old); 14.15% infants (<18 years old); 4.42% newborns (0-7 days). Micro-organisms were mostly related to infections in the urinary (29.2%) and respiratory tracts (27.45%) and intravenous sites (18.6%). Clinical samples were obtained only from 32.7% patients (26 adults, four aged, four infants and three newborns) presenting at least one of the predisposing conditions: end-stage renal disease; renal transplant; AIDS and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection; cancer, hepatic cirrhosis; haemodialysis and catheter use. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests identified multiresistant phenotypes. Most strains (>50%) were resistant to oxacillin, erythromycin and clindamycin. CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant differences in age and functional status of patients Coryne. pseudodiphtheriticum may be implicated as a cause of respiratory and nonrespiratory human infections. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Data are valuable for practitioners indicating the occurrence of multiresistant phenotypes and the possibility of severe infections due to Coryne. pseudodiphtheriticum, a pathogen usually overlooked in emerging countries.

Use of pcr-rflp of the fla a gene for detection and subtyping of Campylobacter jejuni strains Potentially related to Guillain-barré syndrome, isolated from humans and animals.

The objectives of the present study were the subtyping of Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni strains obtained from humans and different animal species using PCR-RFLP, and the detection, by means of the same technique, of strains related to serotype PEN O19:LIO 7, the main C. jejuni serotype linked to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). Seventy C. jejuni strains isolated from human feces (n=33), primates (n=15), dogs (n=5), swine (n=2), bovines (n=1), abortion material from goats (n=2) and poultry carcasses (n=12), all collected in the state of São Paulo, were subtyped by means of PCR-RFLP of fla A gene, using restriction endonucleases Hae III, Afa I and Mbo I. Seven subtypes were observed when using the enzyme Hae III; eight when using Mbo I; and seven when using Afa I. The combination of the three endonucleases led to 16 fla-RFLP subtypes, from which ten subtypes shared strains of human and animal origin. From these, seven subtypes were observed in human and broiler strains. In eight subtypes, the other animal species shared patterns with human strains. It was inferred that, besides broilers, swine, goats, dogs and primates may be sources of infection for human in São Paulo. PCR-RFLP is a highly discriminatory technique that may be applied to molecular epidemiology studies of samples from different origins. Besides, the study also enabled the detection of two human strains and two primate strains related to serotype PEN O19: LIO 7.

DNase test as a novel approach for the routine screening of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

AIMS: To examine the value of the DNase test as an alternative procedure for differentiating Corynebacterium diphtheriae from Corynebacterium-like colonies. METHODS AND RESULTS: DNase test medium was inoculated by spotting a loopful of bacterial growth and incubated aerobically at 37 degrees C. The DNase production was detectable following both 24 and 48 h incubation periods. The DNase activity was detected in all 91 C. diphtheriae (37 toxigenic and 54 nontoxigenic) strains examined, previously identified by both conventional biochemical methods and API Coryne System. Conversely, DNase test results were negative in 93.9% of the 564 nondiphtherial Gram-positive rod clinical strains. CONCLUSIONS: The DNase test emerged as an easily interpretable and cost-effective alternative screening procedure for C. diphtheriae laboratory identification. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The method should facilitate routine laboratory diagnosis of toxigenic and nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae.

Performance of indirect immunofluorescence assay, immunochromatography assay and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for detecting human respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal aspirate samples.

Comparison of the use of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), immunochromatography assay (ICA-BD) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detecting human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) in 306 nasopharyngeal aspirates samples (NPA) was performed in order to assess their analytical performance. By comparing the results obtained using ICA-BD with those using IFA, we found relative indices of 85.0% for sensitivity and 91.2% for specificity, and the positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were 85.0% and 91.2%, respectively. The relative indices for sensitivity and specificity as well as the PPV and NPV for RT-PCR were 98.0%, 89.0%, 84.0% and 99.0%, respectively, when compared to the results of IFA. In addition, comparison of the results of ICA-BD and those of RT-PCR yielded relative indices of 79.5% for sensitivity and 95.4% for specificity, as well as PPV and NPV of 92.9% and 86.0%, respectively. Although RT-PCR has shown the best performance, the substantial agreement between the ICA-BD and IFA results suggests that ICA-BD, also in addition to being a rapid and facile assay, could be suitable as an alternative diagnostic screening for HRSV infection in children.

New species of Eimeria and Isospora (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) in Geochelone spp. (Chelonia: Testudinidae) from Amazonian Brazil.

Tetrasporocystic, dizoic oocysts of reptiles have been separated by some authors into the genera Eimeria, Choleoeimeria and Acroeimeria (Protozoa: Eimeriidae), based on the site and mode of development of their endogenous stages. The majority of Eimeria species have been, and still are, however, described on oocyst morphology alone. Four different oocysts with this basic morphology were encountered in the faeces of Brazilian tortoises, Geochelone carbonaria Spix, 1824 and are assigned to the genus Eimeria, with the view that they can readily be transferred to the genus Choleoeimeria or Acroeimeria if this is indicated by a future examination of their endogenous development. A morphological comparison distinguishes the oocysts from those of Eimeria spp., previously described in chelonids of the family Testudinidae, and the names E. amazonensis, E. carbonaria, E. carajasensis and E. wellcomei n. spp. are proposed. Coccidial infection appears to be common in G. carbonaria, with three of seven animals examined passing oocysts. Oocysts of Isospora rodriguesae n. sp. (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) are described in the faeces of Geochelone denticulata Linnaeus, 1766. They are morphologically very different from those of Isospora testudae, Davronov, 1985 in Testudo horsfieldi. Eimeria motelo Hurková et al., 2000, previously described in Geochelone denticulata from Peru, is here recorded in the some chelonid from Amazonian Brazil.

Limonene: Aroma of innovation in health and disease.

Natural products obtained in dietary components may aid the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases. Reports in the scientific literature have demonstrated that the consumption of terpenes is a successful alternative in the treatment of several diseases, triggering beneficial biological effects in clinical and preclinical studies. The monoterpene limonene is largely used in alimentary items, cleaning products, and it is one of the most frequent fragrances used in cosmetics formulation. The therapeutic effects of limonene have been extensively studied, proving anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antinociceptive, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihyperalgesic, antiviral, and gastroprotective effects, among other beneficial effects in health. In this review, we collected, presented, and analyzed evidence from the scientific literature regarding the usage of limonene and its activities and underlying mechanisms involved in combating diseases. The highlighting of limonene applications could develop a useful targeting of innovative research in this field as well as the development of a limonene-based phytomedicine which could be used in a variety of conditions of health and disease.

Vibrational normal modes of diazo-dimedone: a comparative study by Fourier infrared/Raman spectroscopies and conformational analysis by MM/QM.

The 2-diazo-5,5-dimethyl-cyclohexane-1,3-dione (3) was synthesized and the FT-IR/Raman spectra were measured with the purpose of obtain a full assignment of the vibrational modes. Singular aspects concerning the -CNN oscillator are discussed in view of two strong bands observed in the region of 2300-2100 cm(-1) in both, Infrared and Raman spectra. The density functional theory (DFT) was used to obtain the geometrical structure and for assisting in the vibrational assignment joint to the traditional normal coordinate analysis (NCA). The observed wavenumbers at 2145 (IR), 2144(R) are assigned as the coupled nu(NN)+nu(CN) vibrational mode with higher participation of the NN stretching. A 2188 cm(-1) (IR) and at 2186 cm(-1) (R) can be assigned as a overtone of one of nu(CC) normal mode or to a combination band of the fundamentals delta(CCH) found at 1169 cm(-1) and the delta (CCN) found at 1017 cm(-1) enhanced by Fermi resonance.

Natural and experimental infection of the lizard Ameiva ameiva with Hemolivia stellata (Adeleina: Haemogregarinidae) of the toad Bufo marinus.

Developmental stages of a haemogregarine in erythrocytes of the lizard Ameiva ameiva (Teiidae), from Pará State, north Brazil, were shown to be those of Hemolivia by the nature of the parasite's sporogonic cycle in the tick Amblyomma rotondatum. The type species, Hemolivia stellata Petit et al., 1990 was described in the giant toad Bufo marinus and the tick Amblyomma rotondatum, also from Pará State, and in view of the fact that A. ameiva and Bufo marinus share the same habitat and are both commonly infested by A. rotondatum, the possibility that the parasite of A. ameiva is H. stellata had to be considered. Uninfected lizards fed with material from infected ticks taken from B. marinus, and others fed with liver of toads containing tissue-cysts of H. stellata, were shown to subsequently develop typical Hemolivia infections, with all stages of the development similar to those seen in the naturally infected lizards. Conversely, a juvenile, uninfected toad became infected when fed with sporocysts of Hemolivia in a macerated tick that had fed on an infected A. ameiva and pieces of liver containing tissuecysts from the same lizard. The remarkable lack of host specificity shown by H. stellata, in hosts so widely separated as an amphibian and a reptile, is discussed.

Local inhibition of nitrergic activity in tenotomized rats accelerates muscle regeneration by increasing fiber area and decreasing central core lesions.

Muscular atrophy is a progressive degeneration characterized by muscular proteolysis, loss of mass and decrease in fiber area. Tendon rupture induces muscular atrophy due to an intrinsic functional connection. Local inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) by Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) accelerates tendon histological recovery and induces functional improvement. Here we evaluate the effects of such local nitrergic inhibition on the pattern of soleus muscle regeneration after tenotomy. Adult male Wistar rats (240 to 280 g) were divided into four experimental groups: control (n=4), tenotomized (n=6), vehicle (n=6), and L-NAME (n=6). Muscular atrophy was induced by calcaneal tendon rupture in rats. Changes in muscle wet weight and total protein levels were determined by the Bradford method, and muscle fiber area and central core lesion (CCL) occurrence were evaluated by histochemical assays. Compared to tenotomized (69.3±22%) and vehicle groups (68.1%±17%), L-NAME treatment induced an increase in total protein level (108.3±21%) after 21 days post-injury. A reduction in fiber areas was observed in tenotomized (56.3±1.3%) and vehicle groups (53.9±3.9%). However, L-NAME treatment caused an increase in this parameter (69.3±1.6%). Such events were preceded by a remarkable reduction in the number of fibers with CCL in L-NAME-treated animals (12±2%), but not in tenotomized (21±2.5%) and vehicle groups (19.6±2.8%). Altogether, our data reveal that inhibition of tendon NOS contributed to the attenuation of atrophy and acceleration of muscle regeneration.