Combination Blockade of the IL6R/STAT-3 Axis with TIGIT and Its Impact on the Functional Activity of NK Cells against Prostate Cancer Cells.

Methods: We analyzed the secretion of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in 22Rv1, LNCaP, and DU145 cells. In these cells, we also evaluated the expression of NK ligands, IL6R, STAT-3, and phosporylated STAT-3. In NK-92 cells, we evaluated the effects of Stattic (Stt) and tocilizumab (Tcz) on NK receptors. In addition, we assessed if the disruption of the IL6R/STAT-3 pathway and blockade of TIGIT potentiated the cytotoxicity of NK-92 cells versus DU145 cells. Results: DU145 abundantly secretes M-CSF, VEGF, IL-6, CXCL8, and TGF-ß. Furthermore, the expression of CD155 was found to increase in accordance with aggressiveness and metastatic status in the prostate cancer cells. Stt and Tcz induce a decrease in STAT-3 phosphorylation in the DU145 cells and, in turn, induce an increase of NKp46 and a decrease of TIGIT expression in NK-92 cells. Finally, the disruption of the IL6R/STAT-3 axis in prostate cancer cells and the blocking of TIGIT on NK-92 were observed to increase the cytotoxicity of NK-92 cells against DU145 cells through an increase in sFasL, granzyme A, granzyme B, and granulysin. Conclusions: Our results reveal that the combined use of inhibitors directed against the IL6R/STAT-3 axis and TIGIT enhances the functional activity of NK cells against castration-resistant prostate cancer cells.

In ovo feeding of carbohydrates for broilers-a systematic review.

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence that the injection of carbohydrate-based solutions into embryonated eggs improves broiler performance. A literature search was conducted in April 2017 using the keywords broiler, carbohydrate, in ovo, nutrition and poultry. Only papers that involved in ovo carbohydrate injections in poultry were used in this study. After specific selection criteria, 17 papers were selected. The quality scoring system of the selected studies was based on the injection methodology, use of control groups, type of solution injected, period of injection, egg and hens characteristics, number of variables analysed and the statistical design. Among papers, there was no standardised procedure in to inoculate the solutions. Nevertheless, in general, in ovo feeding of carbohydrates decreases the hatch rate, improves the hatch weight, but it does not seem to influence the post-hatch performance of broilers. The inoculation of 75 mg of glucose in the albumen seems to bring better results. Further studies are needed to improve the technical methodology of in ovo injections for commercial use.

Endo-ß-mannanase and ß-tubulin gene expression during the final phases of coffee seed maturation.

Coffee seeds begin to develop shortly after fertilization and can take 6 to 8 months to complete their formation, a period during which all the characteristics of the mature seed are determined, directly influencing physiological quality. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that act during coffee seed maturation. The objective of the current study was to analyze expression of the ß-tubulin (TUB) and endo-ß-mannanase (MAN) genes during different phases at the end of development and in different tissues of Coffea arabica seeds. The transcription levels of the TUB and MAN genes were quantified in a relative manner using qRT-PCR in whole seeds, and dissected into embryos and endosperms at different developmental stages. Greater expression of MAN was observed in whole seeds and in endosperms during the green stage, and in the embryo during the over-ripe stage. High TUB gene expression was observed in whole seeds during the green stage and, in the embryos, there were peaks in expression during the over-ripe stage. In endosperms, the peak of expression occurred in both the green stage and in the cherry stage. These results suggest participation of endo-ß-mannanase during the initial seed developmental stages, and in the stages of physiological maturity in the embryo tissues. TUB gene expression varied depending on the developmental stage and section of seed analyzed, indicating the participation of ß-tubulin during organogenesis and coffee seed maturation.

Expression of genes associated with the biosynthetic pathways of abscisic acid, gibberellin, and ethylene during the germination of lettuce seeds.

Seed germination and dormancy are complex phenomena that are controlled by many genes and environmental factors. Such genes are indicated by phytohormones that interact with each other, and may cause dormancy or promote seed germination. The objective of this study was to investigate gene expression associated with the biosynthetic pathways of abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA), and ethylene (ET) in dormant and germinated lettuce seeds. The expressions of LsNCED, LsGA3ox1, and ACO-B were evaluated in germinating and dormant seeds from the cultivars Everglades, Babá de Verão, Verônica, Salinas, Colorado, and Regina 71. The expressions of LsNCED, LsGA3ox1, and ACO-B were related to the biosynthesis of ABA, GA, and ET, respectively; therefore, the presence of these substances depends on genotype. LsNCED expression only occurred in dormant seeds, and was connected to dormancy. LsGA3ox1expression only occurred in germinated seeds, and was connected to germination. The ACO-B gene was involved in ET biosynthesis, and was expressed differently in germinated and dormant seeds, depending on the genotype, indicating different functions for different characteristics. Furthermore, sensitivity to phytohormones appeared to be more important than the expression levels of LsNCED, LsGA3ox1, or ACO-B.

Uso da cana de açúcar triturada na alimentação de frangos de corte tipo caipira / Use of ground sugarcane in diets for free-range broiler chickens

Um experimento foi realizado com 276 frangos do tipo caipira da linhagem Gauchão, para avaliar a suplementação de cana de açúcar triturada (CAT) na dieta sobre o desempenho, valor energético das rações e rendimento de carcaça. As aves foram distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com três tratamentos e quatro repetições de 23 aves cada. Os tratamentos foram constituídos da inclusão ou não de CAT de forma on top em uma ração balanceada (RB), (100% RB; 85% RB + 15% CAT e 70% RB + 30% CAT). As rações experimentais foram fornecidas dos 29 aos 85 dias de idade e ao final do período experimental procedeu-se a avaliação do consumo de ração, conversão alimentar e rendimento de carcaça dos frangos. Aos 52 dias de idade foi realizado ensaio de metabolismo, para determinação da energia metabolizável aparente (EMA), energia metabolizável aparente corrigida pelo nitrogênio retido (EMAn) e coeficientes de metabolizabilidade aparente da matéria seca (CMMS), proteína bruta (CMPB), fibra em detergente neutro (CMFDN) e do extrato etéreo (CMEE). A suplementação de CAT na dieta proporcionou aumento no consumo de ração e piora no ganho de peso de acordo com o aumento no nível de inclusão. Os CMMS, CMFDN e CMEE foram superiores para os frangos que receberam o tratamento com 85% RB + 15% CAT, quando comparadas aos frangos alimentados com o tratamento controle (100% RB), com exceção do CMPB que não foi influenciado pela suplementação de CAT. O rendimento de carcaça, cortes e peso de órgãos não diferiram com a inclusão da CAT, porém o peso do pâncreas e da moela foram maiores nos frangos que receberam a dieta com 70% RB + 30% CAT em relação aos que receberam apenas RB. A inclusão da cana de açúcar triturada on top na dieta de frangos tipo caipira, como alimento alternativo, justifica-se até o nível de 15%, pois não afeta o conversão alimentar das aves e melhora o aproveitamento dos nutrientes da ração...(AU)

An experiment was conducted using 276 free-range broiler chickens of the Gauchão lineage to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with ground sugarcane (GSC) on performance, energy value of the diets, and carcass yield. The animals were assigned to three treatments and four repetitions of 23 animals each in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of the on-top inclusion or not of GSC in a balanced diet (BD) (100% BD; 85% BD + 15% GSC, and 70% BD + 30% GSC). The experimental diets were offered from 29 to 85 days of age and feed intake, feed conversion and carcass yield of the chickens were evaluated at the end of the experimental period. A metabolism assay was conducted at 52 days of age to determine apparent metabolizable energy, apparent metabolizable energy corrected for retained nitrogen, and apparent metabolizability coefficients of dry matter (MCDM), crude protein (MCCP), neutral detergent fiber (MCNDF) and ether extract (MCEE). Dietary supplementation with GSC increased feed intake and worsened weight gain with increasing level of inclusion. MCDM, MCNDF and MCEE were higher for chickens receiving 85% BD + 15% GSC when compared to animals fed the control diet (100% BD), except for MCCP which was not influence by supplementation with GSC. Carcass yield, cut yield or organ weight did not differ between diets with and without GSC inclusion, while the weights of pancreas and gizzard were higher in chickens receiving 70% BD + 30% GSC compared to those receiving only BD. The on-top inclusion of GSC in the diet of free-range broiler chickens as a feed alternative is justified up to a level of 15% since it does not affect feed conversion of the animals and improves the utilization of dietary nutrients...(AU)

Suplementação de enzimas amilase, fitase e protease para codornas japonesas em postura / Supplementation of laying japanese quail with amylase, phytase and protease

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da suplementação das enzimas amilase, fitase e protease de formas isoladas e em associação, em dietas para codornas japonesas em postura. Foram utilizadas 300 codornas, distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições de dez aves por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos foram: uma dieta controle e dietas formuladas com a suplementação de 300 ppm de amilase, 300 ppm de protease e 500 FTU/kg de fitase e com a associação de enzimas. Nas fórmulas com inclusão de enzimas houve aplicação de redução na exigência nutricional de um ou mais dos seguintes componentes: proteína, aminoácidos digestíveis, energia, cálcio e fósforo, valorizando o uso das enzimas. As avaliações foram realizadas em quatro períodos de 21 dias cada. Foram avaliados desempenho (produção média de ovos, consumo de ração, peso médio dos ovos e conversão alimentar), qualidade dos ovos (proporção dos constituintes do ovo e peso específico dos ovos) e digestibilidade dos nutrientes da ração (coeficiente de metabolizabilidade aparente da matéria seca e da proteína bruta). Não houve efeito significativo dos tratamentos nas variáveis analisadas (P>0,05), indicando que as enzimas têm efeito benéfico, isoladamente ou em associação, mantendo o desempenho e qualidade dos ovos de codornas japonesas...(AU)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation of diets for laying Japanese quail with amylase, phytase and protease alone or in combination. Three-hundred quail were assigned to a completely randomized design consisting of five treatments and six repetitions, with 10 animals per experimental unit. The treatments were: a control diet and diets supplemented with 300 ppm amylase, 300 ppm protease and 500 phytase units (FTU)/kg and the combination of these enzymes. In the diets containing the enzymes, the nutritional requirements of one or more of the following components were reduced: protein, digestible amino acids, energy, calcium and phosphorus, giving priority to the use of enzymes. The evaluations were performed over four periods of 21 days each. Performance (mean egg production, feed intake, mean egg weight, and feed conversion), egg quality (proportion of egg constituents and specific egg weight), and dietary nutrient digestibility (apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter and crude protein) were evaluated. There was no significant effect of the treatments on the variables analyzed (P>0.05), indicating that the enzymes, alone or in combination, have beneficial effects, maintaining performance and egg quality of Japanese quail...(AU)

Suplementação de enzimas amilase, fitase e protease para codornas japonesas em postura / Supplementation of laying japanese quail with amylase, phytase and protease

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da suplementação das enzimas amilase, fitase e protease de formas isoladas e em associação, em dietas para codornas japonesas em postura. Foram utilizadas 300 codornas, distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições de dez aves por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos foram: uma dieta controle e dietas formuladas com a suplementação de 300 ppm de amilase, 300 ppm de protease e 500 FTU/kg de fitase e com a associação de enzimas. Nas fórmulas com inclusão de enzimas houve aplicação de redução na exigência nutricional de um ou mais dos seguintes componentes: proteína, aminoácidos digestíveis, energia, cálcio e fósforo, valorizando o uso das enzimas. As avaliações foram realizadas em quatro períodos de 21 dias cada. Foram avaliados desempenho (produção média de ovos, consumo de ração, peso médio dos ovos e conversão alimentar), qualidade dos ovos (proporção dos constituintes do ovo e peso específico dos ovos) e digestibilidade dos nutrientes da ração (coeficiente de metabolizabilidade aparente da matéria seca e da proteína bruta). Não houve efeito significativo dos tratamentos nas variáveis analisadas (P>0,05), indicando que as enzimas têm efeito benéfico, isoladamente ou em associação, mantendo o desempenho e qualidade dos ovos de codornas japonesas...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation of diets for laying Japanese quail with amylase, phytase and protease alone or in combination. Three-hundred quail were assigned to a completely randomized design consisting of five treatments and six repetitions, with 10 animals per experimental unit. The treatments were: a control diet and diets supplemented with 300 ppm amylase, 300 ppm protease and 500 phytase units (FTU)/kg and the combination of these enzymes. In the diets containing the enzymes, the nutritional requirements of one or more of the following components were reduced: protein, digestible amino acids, energy, calcium and phosphorus, giving priority to the use of enzymes. The evaluations were performed over four periods of 21 days each. Performance (mean egg production, feed intake, mean egg weight, and feed conversion), egg quality (proportion of egg constituents and specific egg weight), and dietary nutrient digestibility (apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter and crude protein) were evaluated. There was no significant effect of the treatments on the variables analyzed (P>0.05), indicating that the enzymes, alone or in combination, have beneficial effects, maintaining performance and egg quality of Japanese quail...

Uso da cana de açúcar triturada na alimentação de frangos de corte tipo caipira / Use of ground sugarcane in diets for free-range broiler chickens

Um experimento foi realizado com 276 frangos do tipo caipira da linhagem Gauchão, para avaliar a suplementação de cana de açúcar triturada (CAT) na dieta sobre o desempenho, valor energético das rações e rendimento de carcaça. As aves foram distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com três tratamentos e quatro repetições de 23 aves cada. Os tratamentos foram constituídos da inclusão ou não de CAT de forma on top em uma ração balanceada (RB), (100% RB; 85% RB + 15% CAT e 70% RB + 30% CAT). As rações experimentais foram fornecidas dos 29 aos 85 dias de idade e ao final do período experimental procedeu-se a avaliação do consumo de ração, conversão alimentar e rendimento de carcaça dos frangos. Aos 52 dias de idade foi realizado ensaio de metabolismo, para determinação da energia metabolizável aparente (EMA), energia metabolizável aparente corrigida pelo nitrogênio retido (EMAn) e coeficientes de metabolizabilidade aparente da matéria seca (CMMS), proteína bruta (CMPB), fibra em detergente neutro (CMFDN) e do extrato etéreo (CMEE). A suplementação de CAT na dieta proporcionou aumento no consumo de ração e piora no ganho de peso de acordo com o aumento no nível de inclusão. Os CMMS, CMFDN e CMEE foram superiores para os frangos que receberam o tratamento com 85% RB + 15% CAT, quando comparadas aos frangos alimentados com o tratamento controle (100% RB), com exceção do CMPB que não foi influenciado pela suplementação de CAT. O rendimento de carcaça, cortes e peso de órgãos não diferiram com a inclusão da CAT, porém o peso do pâncreas e da moela foram maiores nos frangos que receberam a dieta com 70% RB + 30% CAT em relação aos que receberam apenas RB. A inclusão da cana de açúcar triturada on top na dieta de frangos tipo caipira, como alimento alternativo, justifica-se até o nível de 15%, pois não afeta o conversão alimentar das aves e melhora o aproveitamento dos nutrientes da ração...

An experiment was conducted using 276 free-range broiler chickens of the Gauchão lineage to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with ground sugarcane (GSC) on performance, energy value of the diets, and carcass yield. The animals were assigned to three treatments and four repetitions of 23 animals each in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of the on-top inclusion or not of GSC in a balanced diet (BD) (100% BD; 85% BD + 15% GSC, and 70% BD + 30% GSC). The experimental diets were offered from 29 to 85 days of age and feed intake, feed conversion and carcass yield of the chickens were evaluated at the end of the experimental period. A metabolism assay was conducted at 52 days of age to determine apparent metabolizable energy, apparent metabolizable energy corrected for retained nitrogen, and apparent metabolizability coefficients of dry matter (MCDM), crude protein (MCCP), neutral detergent fiber (MCNDF) and ether extract (MCEE). Dietary supplementation with GSC increased feed intake and worsened weight gain with increasing level of inclusion. MCDM, MCNDF and MCEE were higher for chickens receiving 85% BD + 15% GSC when compared to animals fed the control diet (100% BD), except for MCCP which was not influence by supplementation with GSC. Carcass yield, cut yield or organ weight did not differ between diets with and without GSC inclusion, while the weights of pancreas and gizzard were higher in chickens receiving 70% BD + 30% GSC compared to those receiving only BD. The on-top inclusion of GSC in the diet of free-range broiler chickens as a feed alternative is justified up to a level of 15% since it does not affect feed conversion of the animals and improves the utilization of dietary nutrients...

Gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and coffee seed quality during pre- and post-physiological maturity.

Seeds collected at different maturation stages vary in physiological quality and patterns of protective antioxidant systems against deterioration. In this study we investigated the expression of genes that codify catalase (CAT), dismutase superoxide (SOD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) during the pre- and post-physiological maturation phases in whole seeds and in endosperms and embryos extracted from the seeds. Coffea arabica L. berries were collected at the green, yellowish-green, cherry, over-ripe, and dry stages, and the seeds were examined physiologically. The transcription levels of the genes were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction using coffee-specific primers. The highest level of SOD expression was observed in the endosperm at the cherry and over-ripe stages; in addition, these seeds presented the greatest physiological quality (assessed via germination test). The highest CAT3 transcript expression was observed at the green stage in whole seeds, and at the green and over-ripe stages in the embryos and endosperms. High expression of the PPO transcript was observed at the green and yellowish-green stages in whole seeds. In embryos and endosperms, peak expression of the PPO transcript was observed at the green stage; subsequently, peaks at the cherry and over-ripe stages were observed. We concluded that the expression patterns of the SOD and CAT3 transcripts were similar at the more advanced maturation stages, which corresponded to enhanced physiological seed quality. High expression of the PPO transcript at the over-ripe stage, also observed in the embryos and endosperms at the cherry stage, coincided with the highest physiological seed quality.

Beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on insulin signaling cascade, dyslipidemia, and body adiposity of diet-induced obese rats

Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) has been indicated as an efficient medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2. It remains unclear if its effects are due to an improvement of the insulin signaling cascade, especially in obese subjects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of GbE on insulin tolerance, food intake, body adiposity, lipid profile, fasting insulin, and muscle levels of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B), and protein kinase B (Akt), as well as Akt phosphorylation, in diet-induced obese rats. Rats were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) or a normal fat diet (NFD) for 8 weeks. After that, the HFD group was divided into two groups: rats gavaged with a saline vehicle (HFD+V), and rats gavaged with 500 mg/kg of GbE diluted in the saline vehicle (HFD+Gb). NFD rats were gavaged with the saline vehicle only. At the end of the treatment, the rats were anesthetized, insulin was injected into the portal vein, and after 90s, the gastrocnemius muscle was removed. The quantification of IRS-1, Akt, and Akt phosphorylation was performed using Western blotting. Serum levels of fasting insulin and glucose, triacylglycerols and total cholesterol, and LDL and HDL fractions were measured. An insulin tolerance test was also performed. Ingestion of a hyperlipidic diet promoted loss of insulin sensitivity and also resulted in a significant increase in body adiposity, plasma triacylglycerol, and glucose levels. In addition, GbE treatment significantly reduced food intake and body adiposity while it protected against hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in diet-induced obesity rats. It also enhanced insulin sensitivity in comparison to HFD+V rats, while it restored insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation, increased IRS-1, and reduced PTP-1B levels in gastrocnemius muscle. The present findings suggest that G. biloba might be efficient in preventing and treating obesity-induced insulin signaling impairment.

Beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on insulin signaling cascade, dyslipidemia, and body adiposity of diet-induced obese rats.

Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) has been indicated as an efficient medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2. It remains unclear if its effects are due to an improvement of the insulin signaling cascade, especially in obese subjects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of GbE on insulin tolerance, food intake, body adiposity, lipid profile, fasting insulin, and muscle levels of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B), and protein kinase B (Akt), as well as Akt phosphorylation, in diet-induced obese rats. Rats were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) or a normal fat diet (NFD) for 8 weeks. After that, the HFD group was divided into two groups: rats gavaged with a saline vehicle (HFD+V), and rats gavaged with 500 mg/kg of GbE diluted in the saline vehicle (HFD+Gb). NFD rats were gavaged with the saline vehicle only. At the end of the treatment, the rats were anesthetized, insulin was injected into the portal vein, and after 90s, the gastrocnemius muscle was removed. The quantification of IRS-1, Akt, and Akt phosphorylation was performed using Western blotting. Serum levels of fasting insulin and glucose, triacylglycerols and total cholesterol, and LDL and HDL fractions were measured. An insulin tolerance test was also performed. Ingestion of a hyperlipidic diet promoted loss of insulin sensitivity and also resulted in a significant increase in body adiposity, plasma triacylglycerol, and glucose levels. In addition, GbE treatment significantly reduced food intake and body adiposity while it protected against hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in diet-induced obesity rats. It also enhanced insulin sensitivity in comparison to HFD+V rats, while it restored insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation, increased IRS-1, and reduced PTP-1B levels in gastrocnemius muscle. The present findings suggest that G. biloba might be efficient in preventing and treating obesity-induced insulin signaling impairment.

Effects of different physical exercises on leptin concentration in obese adolescents.

In order to compare the effects of leisure physical activity (LPA), aerobic training (AT) and aerobic plus resistance training (AT + RT) as part of a 6-month interdisciplinary therapy in body composition, insulin resistance and leptin concentrations in obese adolescents, 72 volunteers (n = 24 in each group) ages 15-19 years were evaluated. Delta (Δ) body mass (kg) and Δ BMI (kg/m(2)) was different between AT and LPA groups and in AT + RT group compared to both LPA and AT groups; Δ body fat mass (kg and %) was different only in AT + RT group compared to both LPA and AT; Δ body lean mass (%) was different only in AT + RT group; Δ body lean mass (kg) was negative only in AT and positive and different from AT in AT + RT group; ΔHOMA-IR did not differ among groups; Δ leptin (ng/ml) was negative and different from LPA for both AT and AT + RT groups. In conclusion, both AT and AT + RT promoted a reduction on leptin levels, however, the adolescents subjected to AT + RT presented better results in body composition than the AT group. These results highlight the importance of associating aerobic and resistance training with nutritional and psychological approaches in the treatment of obese adolescents.

Occurrence of Magellanic penguins along the Northeast Brazilian coast during 2008 Austral winter.

During the austral winter of 2008, thousands of penguins traveled to low latitudes along the South Atlantic coast of South America. The atmospheric and oceanic conditions from April to July 2008 may account for the penguins' unusual geographic distribution. During that period, South Atlantic coastal waters were cooler; the wind anomalies had northward and onshore components; the ocean's coastal region presented northward currents that favored the penguins to travel toward lower latitudes. This anomalous climate regime resulted from extreme meteorological frontal systems that occurred mainly during June 2008. Three consecutive extreme midlatitude cyclones produced strong wind shear that resulted in the northward oceanic flow along the South American eastern shoreline favoring the penguins to be spotted in northern tropical waters.

A diachronic view of the net longshore sediment drift during the Late Holocene at the Jequitinhonha River delta, Brazil, using numerical modeling

Using numerical modeling, this work estimates sediment dispersion patterns caused by the incidence of waves in five distinct coastline contours of the Jequitinhonha River delta plain during the Late Holocene. For this study, a wave cliate odel based on the construction of ave refraction diagras relative to the current boundary conditions as defined and assumed to be valid for the five coastlines. Numerical modeling from the refraction diagrams was carried out considering the angle of incidence and wave height along the coastline. This work has allowed us to reproduce past and current patterns of net longshore sediment drift defined by a conceptual model developed from the integration of sediment cores, aerial photograph interpretation, C14 datings and geomorphic indicators of longshore drift. These results show that, on average, current wave conditions in the east-northeastern Brazilian region seem to have remained characteristically the same from approximately 5100 years BP until the present time. This type of information can be important when attempting to simulate possible future situations in terms of the long-term general behavior of the east-northeastern Brazilian coastal region.

O presente trabalho apresenta uma estimativa, por modelagem numérica, dos padrões de dispersão de sedimentos causados pela incidência de ondas em cinco distintos contornos de linhas de costa da planície deltaica do Rio Jequitinhonha durante o Holoceno Tardio. Para isso, um modelo de clima de ondas baseado na construção de diagramas de refração de onda, em função das condições de contorno atuais, foi definido e assumido ser válido para as cinco linhas de costa. A modelagem numérica, a partir dos diagramas de refração, foi feita considerando o ângulo de aproximação e a altura da onda ao longo da linha de costa. O trabalho permitiu reproduzir os padrões pretéritos e atuais da deriva litorânea efetiva de sedimentos, definidos por um modelo conceitual desenvolvido a partir da integração de testemunhos de sedimentos, interpretação de fotos aéreas e datações de C14, bem como por indicadores geomórficos de deriva. Estes resultados mostram que, em média, em relação à região leste-nordeste brasileira as condições de onda atuais parecem ter permanecido com as mesmas características desde aproximadamente 5.100 anos A.P. até o tempo atual. Esse tipo de informação pode ser importante para tentativas de simulação de possíveis situações futuras em termos do comportamento genérico de longa duração das regiões costeiras leste-nordeste brasileira.

Multiple cervical arcocristectomies for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy: surgical technique and results.

OBJECT: In the surgical treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, a posterior approach is recommended for patients with multilevel cervical stenosis. In this article the authors describe the multiple cervical arcocristectomy technique and results. METHODS: This surgical technique involves the removal of the upper half of the cervical laminae and was performed in 17 patients between 1997 and 2005 with a mean follow-up of 55 months. RESULTS: Sixteen patients showed immediate improvement in myelopathic symptoms, and all of them had long-term improvement with no complications and a relatively short surgical time. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple cervical arcocristectomy is a surgical technique that offers physiological and biomechanical advantages in the treatment of the spondylotic myelopathy.

[Epidural hematoma at the vertex: case report]. / Hematoma extradural do vértex: relato de caso.

We report the unusual case of a 37 years old man with an epidural traumatic hematoma at the vertex with intracranial hypertension symptoms. The diagnostic was achieved with coronal cranial tomographic scans and a craniotomy was performed for hematoma removal.

Hematoma extradural do vértex: relato de caso / Epidural hematoma at the vertex: case report

Relatamos caso incomum de um paciente de 37 anos com hematoma extradural traumático do vértex com sintomas de hipertensão intracraniana. O diagnóstico foi feito através da tomografia do crânio em cortes coronais e o paciente foi submetido a craniotomia com drenagem do hematoma.

Erupción polimorfa del embarazo: informe de 12 casos / Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy: a report of 12 cases

Antecedentes. Las dermatosis específicas del embarazo son un grupo de enfermedades con terminología confusa, sin signos patognomónicos para distinguirlas entre sí. Objetivo. Conocer la prevalencia de las dermatosis específicas del embarazo en nuestro medio. Pacientes y métodos. Durante 18 meses se efectuó un examen clínico, histológico y de laboratorio a todas las embarazadas con dermatosis pruriginosas que acudieron al Servicio de Obstetricia del Hospital Central Militar de la Ciudad de México, DF. Resultados. Entre 4,458 embarazadas se encontraron 12 casos de dermatosis pruriginosas del embarazo (0.27 por ciento), de las cuales dos se identificaron como dermatosis papulosa del embarazo (DPE); tres casos como prurigo de la gestación (PG) y siete casos como pápulas y placas urticarias pruriginosas del embarazo (PUPPP). Conclusión. El presente estudio prospectivo se refiere a las dermatosis pruriginosas del embarazo. Nuestro resultados muestran un cuadro clínico-histopatológico muy similar a lo que consideramos el grupo de enfermedades más común y mejor definido de las dermatosis del embarazo y que se identifica como erupción polimorfa el embarazo.

Terapéutica dermatológica / Dermatologic therapy

En el presente artículo se revisan reportes de la literatura referentes a avances recientes en la terapéutica dermatológica, enfatizando los relativos a procedimientos quirúrgicos, enfermedades infecciosas y parasitarias observadas en nuestro medio