Bipolar I and II disorder residual symptoms: oxcarbazepine and carbamazepine as add-on treatment to lithium in a double-blind, randomized trial.

Bipolar affective disorders often require adjunctive therapy to treat persistent symptoms. In order to evaluate bipolar symptoms inadequately responsive to lithium, we have compared the effects of two structurally related compounds carbamazepine (CBZ) and oxcarbazepine (OXC). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of CBZ and OXC administration in residual symptoms as an adjunctive therapy in Bipolar I (BP I) and Bipolar II (BP II) patients while on lithium maintenance treatment. We selected from 153 bipolar patients in treatment those fulfilling Research Diagnostic Criteria for mania or hypomania, according to the SADS-L and conducted in 52 bipolar patients (27 BP I, 25 BP II) a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, single centre, clinical trial. Bipolar I and II outpatients, were randomly assigned on a 1:1 ratio to OXC (n=26) or CBZ (n=26) for an 8-week period as add-on treatment to the existing lithium regimen. Outcome measures included the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 21 items (HDRS-21) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Clinical Global Impression severity (CGI-S) and improvement illness (CGI-I). These scales were administered at baseline and at the end of weeks 2, 4 and 8. All the fifty-two patients completed the trial. Overall, females were 35 (65%) and mean (S.D.) age was 39.4 (11.9) years; final doses at the end of week 8 in OXC group was 637.7 (210) mg/day and in the CBZ group 673.5 (179) mg/day; lithium plasma levels were 0.73 (0.25) meq/l and 0.71 (0.28) meq/l, respectively. Both OXC and CBZ were effective in reducing bipolar scores from baseline to endpoint (p<0.01). OXC was more effective than CBZ at weeks 4 and 8 on all 5 outcome measures. OXC resulted in greater significant mean reductions in YMRS, HDRS-21, MADRS, CGI-S and CGI-I scores from baseline to week 4 (p<0.05) and from baseline to week 8 (p<0.001), except YMRS (p<0.01). OXC appeared to be significantly more effective and with better tolerability than CBZ as add-on strategy treatment in BP I and BP II patients. This pilot, randomized clinical trial, suggests the potential usefulness of OXC as adjunctive therapy to lithium both in acute and long-term treatment of bipolar disorder. However, further adequately placebo-controlled trials are needed to expand these findings.

Laboratory evaluation of the effects of triflumuron on the development of Rhodnius prolixus nymph

Studies were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the growth regulator, triflumuron (TFM) (Starycide® sc 480 Bayer), for disrupting the development of Rhodnius prolixus fifth-instar nymph by oral, topical or continuous treatment. All treatments were able to induce high levels of mortality, delay development and molt inhibition. Oral treatment induced molt inhibition in all insects that survived at doses of 0.25, 0.50 and 5.0 mg/mL of a blood meal. The highest levels of both mortality in 24 h and molt inhibition were always observed after topical treatment. The lowest doses needed to obtain considerable biological effects were always observed after continuous treatment. In this way, the highest levels of mortality within 30 days were detected after continuous treatment, which also induced an extended inter-molting period, a lower number of over-aged nymphs and the highest level of molting in nymphs that survived. Moreover, the effects of TFM on insects were often displayed in a dose response manner. These results indicate that TFM acts as a potent growth inhibitor of R. prolixus nymphs and has the potential to be used in integrated vector control programs against hematophagous triatomine species.

Laboratory evaluation of the effects of triflumuron on the development of Rhodnius prolixus nymph.

Studies were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the growth regulator, triflumuron (TFM) (Starycide sc 480 Bayer), for disrupting the development of Rhodnius prolixus fifth-instar nymph by oral, topical or continuous treatment. All treatments were able to induce high levels of mortality, delay development and molt inhibition. Oral treatment induced molt inhibition in all insects that survived at doses of 0.25, 0.50 and 5.0 mg/mL of a blood meal. The highest levels of both mortality in 24 h and molt inhibition were always observed after topical treatment. The lowest doses needed to obtain considerable biological effects were always observed after continuous treatment. In this way, the highest levels of mortality within 30 days were detected after continuous treatment, which also induced an extended inter-molting period, a lower number of over-aged nymphs and the highest level of molting in nymphs that survived. Moreover, the effects of TFM on insects were often displayed in a dose response manner. These results indicate that TFM acts as a potent growth inhibitor of R. prolixus nymphs and has the potential to be used in integrated vector control programs against hematophagous triatomine species.

Diversity of Meloidogyne spp. on Musa in Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana.

Ninety-six isolates of Meloidogyne species collected from banana fields from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana, were examined using esterase (Est) and malate dehydrogenase (Mdh) phenotypes. Adult females identified as M. arenaria, M. incognita, M. javanica, M. cruciani, M. hispanica, and Meloidogyne sp. showed species-specific phenotypes only for the esterase enzymes. Intraspecific variability among isolates of M. arenaria, M. incognita, and M. javanica was detected using Est and Mdh. Perineal patterns were used as a complementary tool together with enzyme characterization and were essential for checking the morphological consistency of the identification. The major species of M. arenaria and M. incognita were detected at 61.9% and 34.3% of the total number of isolates, respectively, and the other minor species at 3.8%. The mixed Meloidogyne species were detected in 45.1% of the samples. Genetic analysis was conducted using RAPD markers, which alone or in combination provided reliable polymorphisms both between and within species. RAPD analysis of the data resulted in clustering of species and isolates congruent with esterase phenotype characterization. The intraspecific variability in M. incognita and in M. arenaria represented 14.9% and 61.6% of the amplified polymorphic fragments, respectively. This high level of variation in M. arenaria isolates may indicate multiple origins for populations classified as M. arenaria or more than one species inside the same group, but more detailed morphological and DNA studies will be necessary to test this hypothesis.

Helicobacter pylori na doença gastroduodenal em brejo da madre de Deus - Pernambuco / Helicobacter pylori associated whit gastroduodenal disease in Brejo da Madre de Deus - Pernambuco

Brejo da Madre de Deus situada na Zona Agreste de Pernambuco, faz parte do Projeto de Saude Pública no Nordeste - convênio UFPE/Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de Pernambuco/Núcleo de Saúde Pública/Agência Internacional de Cooperação Japonesa (NUSP/JICA). Numa análise preliminar, verificou-se um grande número de pessoas com queixas digestivas e antecedentes familiares de gastrite úlcera e câncer gástrico. A população vive principalmente da agricultura. com registro de uso abusivo de agrotóxicos, fato cogitado na gênese dessas doenças. A descoberta da infecção gastrica pelo Helicobacter pylori determinou mudança na abordagem dessas doenças, justificando a importância desta pesquisa. Foi aplicado questionário acerca das queixas digestivas, antecedentes pessoais e familiares, além das condições sócio-econômicas. Os pacientes que preencheram oos questionparios realizaram endoscopia digestiva e pesquisa do Helicobacter pylori através dos teste de Urese. Os portadores de úlcera gástrica, bem como os suspeitos de neoplasia gástrica submeteram-se a estudo histopatológico da mucosa gástrica. Foram estudados 619 pacientes com idade média de 39,6ñ9,5, sendo 30,0por cento feminino. foram anotadas queixas de dor epigástrica em85,6 por cento, queimor epigástrico em 16,3 por cento, empachamento pós-prandial em 22,3por cento, náusea em 19,9por cento, vômitos em 22,8 por cento, disfagia em 2,6por cento e hemorragia em 1,9por cento. Antecedentes pessoais de agrotóxicos em 25,4por cento, tabagismo em 25,4 por cento, álcool em 34,7por cento, excesso de sal em 33,8 por cento e frituras em 46,4 por cento. Antecedentes familiares de gastrite em 42,6 por cento, úlcera em 19,1 por cento e câncer gástrico em 12,1 por cento. O diagnóstico endoscópico do estômago foi normal em 38,0 por cento. Gastrite em 52,7 por cento, úlcera gástrica em 4,5por cento, câncer gástrico em 1,5por cemto, úlcera duodenal em 11,6por cento, duodenite em 12,6por cento. O Helicobacter pylori esteve presente em 59,4 por cento dos casos e em 77,3 por cento, quando se estudou gastrite. Em conclusão, o Helicobacter Pylori teve alta frequência em Brejo da Madre de Deus e que, provalvelmente, é o fator determinante do alto índice de doenças gastroduodenais, podendo ser coadjuvada pelo uso de agrotóxios

Meloidogyne paranaensis n. sp. (Nemata: Meloidogynidae), a Root-Knot Nematode Parasitizing Coffee in Brazil.

A root-knot nematode parasitizing coffee in Paran State, Brazil, is described as Meloidogyne paranaensis n. sp. The suggested common name is Paraná coffee root-knot nematode. The perineal pattern is similar to that of M. incognita; the labial disc and medial lips of the female are fused and asymmetric and rectangular; the lateral lips are small, triangular, and fused laterally with the head region. The female stylet is 15.0-17.5 mum long, with broad, distinctly set-off knobs; the distance from the dorsal esophageal gland orifice (DGO) to the stylet base is 4.2-5.5 mum. Males have a high, round head cap continuous with the body contour. The labial disc is fused with the medial lips to form an elongate lip structure. The head region is frequently marked by an incomplete annulation. The stylet is robust, 20-27 mum long, usually with round to transversely elongate knobs, sometimes with one or two projections protruding from the shaft. The stylet length of second-stage juveniles is 13-14 mum, the distance of the DGO to the stylet base is 4.0-4.5 mum, and the tail length is 48-51 mum. Biochemically, the esterase (F) and malate dehydrogenase (N) phenotypes are the most useful characters to differentiate M. paranaensis from other species. However, the esterase phenotype appears similar to that of M. konaensis. Reproduction is by mitotic parthenogenesis, 3n = 50-52. In differential host tests, tobacco, watermelon, and tomato were good hosts, whereas cotton, pepper, and peanut were nonhosts.