Perceived fatigability and metabolic and energetic responses to 6-minute walk test in older women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between perceived fatigability and oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, respiratory exchange ratio and the energy cost of walking in older women. DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-eight community-dwelling older women were recruited from senior centres in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were evaluated in two different sessions. In the first session, sociodemographic and clinical factors were assessed and accelerometers were delivered. In the second session, the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) was performed and expired gases were analysed. Self-reported levels of fatigue were evaluated on a numerical scale from 1 ('extremely energetic') to 7 ('extremely tired'). Severity scores for perceived and performance fatigability were calculated as the ratio of change in performance and fatigue, respectively, with walking distance. The O2 cost of walking was based on the oxygen consumption rate and the 6MWT walking speed. RESULTS: No correlation was found between the severity of perceived fatigability and metabolic measures. However, the severity of perceived fatigability was significantly correlated with greater O2 cost (r=0.579, P<0.01), physical activity (r=-0.654, P<0.01), walking distance (r=-0.712, P<0.01) and severity of performance fatigability (r=0.690, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Perceived fatigability was not directly associated with metabolic measures; however, greater severity of perceived fatigability was associated with an increase in the O2 cost of walking. Important relationships were also found between greater severity of perceived fatigability and poor functional fitness, high level of energy expenditure and lower level of physical activity.

Study of nucleolar behavior during spermatogenesis in Martarega brasiliensis (Heteroptera, Notonectidae).

Few cytogenetic studies have been undertaken using aquatic heteropterans and the nucleolar behavior of these insects has been described in only four species, Limnogonus aduncus, Brachymetra albinerva, Halobatopsis platensis, and Cylindrostethus palmaris. The nucleolus is a cellular structure related to biosynthetic activity and it exhibits a peculiar behavior in the heteropterans of the Triatominae subfamily; it persists during all stages of meiosis. Thus, this study aims to analyze spermatogenesis in Martarega brasiliensis, with an emphasis on nucleolar behavior. Twenty M. brasiliensis adult males were used and collected from the Municipal reservoir in the city of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. The species were fixed in methanol:acetic acid (3:1), then dissected, and the testicles were extracted, torn apart, and impregnated with silver ions. During prophase, the nuclei of M. brasiliensis were composed of the nucleolus and nucleolar corpuscles, which varied in number from one to four, emphasizing that this insect has great synthetic activity during meiosis. The analysis of cells in metaphase I showed that M. brasiliensis presents a nucleolar organizing region in at least one autosome. Furthermore, the phenomenon of nucleolar persistence was not observed. All spermatids presented nucleolar markings that varied in number and position according to the stage of elongation. Moreover, it was also possible to highlight the presence of a vesicle in spermatids. Thus, this paper describes the nucleolar behavior of M. brasiliensis and highlights important characteristics during spermatogenesis, thus, increasing the knowledge about the biology of these aquatic heteropterans.

The first assess of the haplotypes from COI gene sequences in species of spittlebugs (Cicadomorpha: Hemiptera) and aquatic true bugs (Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha: Hemiptera) in Brazil.

We made the first analysis of the COI gene sequences of 22 species of spittlebugs and aquatic true bugs sampled in São Paulo State (Brazil) and used this information to determine the variability within these groups. Considering each codon position, we observed that the third base was the most variable, and the first base was the most conserved. Among species, Mahanarva fimbriolata and Deois flavopicta had the greatest genetic distance (0.181), and Notozulia entreriana and Mahanarva sp had the smallest distance (0.055), with an average variation of 0.119. In Gerromorpha, the greatest distance occurred between Halobatopsis platensis and Rhagovelia zela (0.401), while between Cylindrostethus palmaris and Brachymetra albinervis albinervis, the distance was only 0.187; the average value observed for the Gerromorpha was 0.265. In the Nepomorpha, the species Buenoa antigone antigone and Belostoma micantulum had the greatest genetic distance (0.337), while Martarega brasiliensis and B. a. antigone had the smallest (0.154). The average value observed for Nepomorpha was 0.203. In Cicadomorpha (Auchenorrhyncha) and Nepomorpha (Heteroptera), the COI gene has been conserved; however, it is still useful for characterization of the different taxa. COI analysis was unable to resolve some of the Gerromorpha groups.

Induction of a gloverin-like antimicrobial polypeptide in the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis challenged by septic injury.

Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an important pest for Brazilian sugarcane. In the present study, we detected two distinct spots in hemolymph from septic injured larvae (HDs1 and HDs2), which are separated by 2DE gel electrophoresis. Both spots were subjected to in-gel tryptic digestion and MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis, which revealed the sequence VFGTLGSDDSGLFGK present in both HDs1 and HDs2. This sequence had homology and 80% identity with specific Lepidoptera antimicrobial peptides called gloverins. Analyses using the ImageMaster 2D software showed pI 8.94 of the HDs1 spot, which is similar to that described to Hyalophora gloveri gloverin (pI 8.5). Moreover, the 14-kDa molecular mass of the spot HDs1 is compatible to that of gloverins isolated from the hemolymph of Trichoplusia ni, Helicoverpa armigera and H. gloveri. Antimicrobial assays with partially purified fractions containing the HDs1 and HDs2 polypeptides demonstrated activity against Escherichia coli. This is the first report of antimicrobial polypeptides in D. saccharalis, and the identification of these peptides may help in the generation of new strategies to control this pest.

Induction of a gloverin-like antimicrobial polypeptide in the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis challenged by septic injury

Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an important pest for Brazilian sugarcane. In the present study, we detected two distinct spots in hemolymph from septic injured larvae (HDs1 and HDs2), which are separated by 2DE gel electrophoresis. Both spots were subjected to in-gel tryptic digestion and MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis, which revealed the sequence VFGTLGSDDSGLFGK present in both HDs1 and HDs2. This sequence had homology and 80 percent identity with specific Lepidoptera antimicrobial peptides called gloverins. Analyses using the ImageMaster 2D software showed pI 8.94 of the HDs1 spot, which is similar to that described to Hyalophora gloveri gloverin (pI 8.5). Moreover, the 14-kDa molecular mass of the spot HDs1 is compatible to that of gloverins isolated from the hemolymph of Trichoplusia ni, Helicoverpa armigera and H. gloveri. Antimicrobial assays with partially purified fractions containing the HDs1 and HDs2 polypeptides demonstrated activity against Escherichia coli. This is the first report of antimicrobial polypeptides in D. saccharalis, and the identification of these peptides may help in the generation of new strategies to control this pest.

Allelic variability in the third intron of the fibroin light chain gene in Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae).

Conformation-sensitive gel electrophoresis is a useful method for identifying allele polymorphism; it provides co-dominant molecular markers. Using this method, we identified genetic variability in the third intron of the fibroin light chain gene, fib-L, in six Bombyx mori strains. Only Chinese C21A strain did not demonstrate allelic alterations, showing only homoduplex DNA molecules. We found distinct heteroduplex profiles in the Japanese HAA, M12B and M19-2 and the Chinese C25B and C24-2 strains. Analysis with restriction endonuclease fingerprinting conformation-sensitive gel electrophoresis demonstrated the potential of this method for the identification of allelic variability in B. mori; this was confirmed by cloning and sequencing the different alleles. The main alteration was a 12-bp deletion in two alleles of the C24-2 strain and one allele of the HAA strain; this deletion results in specific heteroduplex DNA molecule profiles.

Use of Bactimos briquets (B.t.i. formulation) combined with the backswimmer Notonecta irrorata (Hemiptera:Notonectidae) for control of mosquito larvae.

The efficacies of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bactimos briquets) and the backswimmer Notonecta irrorata were evaluated both individually and in combination to control mosquito larvae in plastic containers in Monterrey, Mexico. The combined strategy proved to be the most effective one.

Câncer da laringe: estudo de 741 casos observados no período 1953-1973 / Cancer of larynx: study of 741 observed cases in the period 1953-1973

Estudaram-se 741 casos de câncer da laringe no período de 20 anos observados no Instituto Central - Hospital A. C. Camargo, da Fundaçäo Antonio Prudente. Aborda-se a incidência, etiologia, patologia microscópica, evoluçäo clínica, diagnóstico, tratamento e resultados. Duzentos e trinta e três casos submeteram-se à terapêutica cirúrgica e 149 à radioterapia. As taxas de sobrevida a 5 anos foram de 52,5% para os submetidos à cirurgia e de 12,6% para os tratados pela irradiaçäo; esta última cifra sobe para 24,7%, ao computarem-se os casos resgatados pela cirurgia. Esses resultados podem ser considerados maus; os principais fatores de falha terapêutica foram as más condiçöes dos pacientes, as modificaçöes de evoluçäo de qualidade de fonte irradiante e foram diversos cirurgiöes os que executaram a cirurgia

Estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo Brasil. Diagnostico e diagnose diferencial do cancer da nasofaringe.Parte III. / Epidemiological and therapeutic study and relation to Epstein Barr virus of nasopharyngeal cancer in Sao Paulo - Brazil. Diagnostic and differential diagnosis in nasopharyngeal cancer. Part III

No estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo - Brasil, sao analisados: 1) anatomia da rinofaringe b) incidencia, frequencia, distribuicao etaria e racial, c) Etiologia, d) Estudo clinico e patologico, e) Terapeutica, f) Prognostico e resultados, g) Instrumental para exame e biopsia e, h) Relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr

Estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo Brasil. Terapeutica, prognostico e resultados no cancer da nasofaringe.Parte IV. / Epidemiological, therapeutic study and relation with Epstein Barr virus of nasopharyngeal cancer in Sao Paulo - Brazil. Prognosis,therapeutic and results of nasopharyngeal cancer. Part IV

No estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo - Brasil, sao analisados: a ) Anatomia da rinofaringe, b) Incidencia, frequencia, distribuicao etaria e racial, c) Etiologia, d) Estudo clinico e patologico, e) Terapeutica, f) Prognostico e resultados, g) Instrumental para exame e biopsia e, h) Relacao com o virus Esptein e Barr

Estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo Brasil. Historico e anatomia da nasofaringe - parte I. / Epidemiological, therapeutic and relation with Epstein Barr virus, study of nasopharyngeal cancer in Sao Paulo - Brazil. History and anatomy of the nasopharynx part I

No estudo epidemiologico, terapeutico e de relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr do cancer da nasofaringe em Sao Paulo-Brasil,sao analisados: a) anatomia do rinofaringe, b) incidencia, frequencia, distribuicao etaria e racial, c) etiologia, d) estudo clinico e patologico, e) terapeutica,f) prognostico e resultados, g) instrumental para exame e biopsia e h) relacao com o virus Epstein e Barr