Early resynchronization of non-pregnant beef cows based in corpus luteum blood flow evaluation 21 days after Timed-AI.

The study aimed to verify whether a hormone protocol started at Day 13 (D13) after Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI) influences the conception rate. Nelore cows (primiparous and multiparous) from two commercial beef farms (n = 1,431) were first TAI (D0). Timed AI was performed in lots (TAI Lots) ranging from 187 to 346 cows. On D13, regarding the TAI lot, cows were assigned for either receiving (Resynch group, n = 1,002) or not (Control group, a subset of approximately 30%, n = 429) another hormone protocol for resynchronization. The same hormone protocol was used for the first TAI and for the resynchronization, except for 1 mg instead of 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) at the begging of the protocol. Eight days later (D21), the Resynch group was checked for corpus luteum blood flow by color Doppler ultrasonography, and in those detected as non-pregnant, the protocol was completed and a 2nd TAI was performed at D23. Pregnancy diagnosis was later (D30) performed by B-mode ultrasonography in the control group and confirmed in the presumptive pregnant cows from the 1st TAI of the Resynch group. The remaining cows were checked for pregnancy 30 days after the 2nd TAI (experimental Day 53). The statistical model to explain conception rate considered the effects of Group (Control or Resynch), Farm, Parity (primiparous or multiparous), Sire, Technician (who perform AI), TAI Lot and pertinent interactions (Group*Parity, Group*Farm and Group*TAI Lot). The statistical analyses of the model were performed using the Proc Glimmix (SAS virtual University Edition). The conception rate for the 1st TAI was similar (P > 0.4) between Control (50.3%, 216/429) and Resynch group (52.6%, 527/1002). The positive predictive diagnostic on D21 showed high relation with PD30 (90.7%, 527/581). In Resynch group, non-pregnant cows (n = 421, 1002 minus 581) were re-inseminated. The conception rate of the 2nd TAI (42.8%, 180/421) was affected (P < 0.002) by side effects of the Farm (48.5 vs. 33.1%) and Parity (51.2 vs. 40.3%, for multiparous vs. primiparous, p < 0.001). Nevertheless, after the 2 TAIs of the Resynch group, the cumulative conception rate was 70.5% (707/1002). In conclusion, the early resynchronization of cows with a low (1 mg) EB dose and progesterone device at D13 after TAI can be used as a strategy to reduce conception interval in beef cattle, and thus to increase the number of pregnant cows from artificial insemination after the breeding season.

Oral impact on daily performance: need and use of dental prostheses among Brazilian adults.

Although there is a large amount of evidence that demonstrates the relationship between oral health status and oral impact daily performance, there are few studies that have evaluated the impact of prosthetic status, particularly the need for a dental prosthesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between need and use of dental prostheses and the prevalence of oral impact on daily performance. A sample of 720 subjects, aged between 50 and 74 years, was evaluated using a cross-sectional study. Participants were selected through a multistage proportional random sampling. The impact of oral health status on daily performance (oral impact on daily performance--OIDP) and socio-demographic data was assessed using a standardised questionnaire, and clinical data were assessed by oral examination. The outcome was the prevalence of impact. The association between the explanatory variables and the outcome was analysed through two models of multivariate Poisson regression. In the adjusted model, the variables need of upper and lower prosthesis and use of lower prosthesis maintained a statistically significant association. No statistically relevant relation between socio-demographic variables and outcomes was found. Findings show that the need and use and of a prosthesis are related to oral health quality of life.

Search for methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphisms in mutant figs.

Fig (Ficus carica) breeding programs that use conventional approaches to develop new cultivars are rare, owing to limited genetic variability and the difficulty in obtaining plants via gamete fusion. Cytosine methylation in plants leads to gene repression, thereby affecting transcription without changing the DNA sequence. Previous studies using random amplification of polymorphic DNA and amplified fragment length polymorphism markers revealed no polymorphisms among select fig mutants that originated from gamma-irradiated buds. Therefore, we conducted methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism analysis to verify the existence of variability due to epigenetic DNA methylation among these mutant selections compared to the main cultivar 'Roxo-de-Valinhos'. Samples of genomic DNA were double-digested with either HpaII (methylation sensitive) or MspI (methylation insensitive) and with EcoRI. Fourteen primer combinations were tested, and on an average, non-methylated CCGG, symmetrically methylated CmCGG, and hemimethylated hmCCGG sites accounted for 87.9, 10.1, and 2.0%, respectively. MSAP analysis was effective in detecting differentially methylated sites in the genomic DNA of fig mutants, and methylation may be responsible for the phenotypic variation between treatments. Further analyses such as polymorphic DNA sequencing are necessary to validate these differences, standardize the regions of methylation, and analyze reads using bioinformatic tools.

Genetic characterization of fig tree mutants with molecular markers.

The fig (Ficus carica L.) is a fruit tree of great world importance and, therefore, the genetic improvement becomes an important field of research for better crops, being necessary to gather information on this species, mainly regarding its genetic variability so that appropriate propagation projects and management are made. The improvement programs of fig trees using conventional procedures in order to obtain new cultivars are rare in many countries, such as Brazil, especially due to the little genetic variability and to the difficulties in obtaining plants from gamete fusion once the wasp Blastophaga psenes, responsible for the natural pollinating, is not found in Brazil. In this way, the mutagenic genetic improvement becomes a solution of it. For this reason, in an experiment conducted earlier, fig plants formed by cuttings treated with gamma ray were selected based on their agronomic characteristics of interest. We determined the genetic variability in these fig tree selections, using RAPD and AFLP molecular markers, comparing them to each other and to the Roxo-de-Valinhos, used as the standard. For the reactions of DNA amplification, 140 RAPD primers and 12 primer combinations for AFLP analysis were used. The selections did not differ genetically between themselves and between them and the Roxo-de-Valinhos cultivar. Techniques that can detect polymorphism between treatments, such as DNA sequencing, must be tested. The phenotypic variation of plants may be due to epigenetic variation, necessitating the use of techniques with methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes.

Spiroplasma infection in Drosophila melanogaster: what is the advantage of killing males?

Male-killing bacteria are maternally inherited agents that cause death of sons of infected females. Their transmission rate is commonly high but imperfect and also sensitive to different environmental factors. Therefore, the proportion of infected females should be reduced in each generation. In order to explain male-killers spread and persistence in host population, a mechanism resulting in the relative increase of infected females must outweigh the losses caused by the imperfect transmission. The resource release hypothesis states that the males' death results in increased resources available to sibling females which would otherwise be used by their male siblings. Infected females are then expected: to be larger than uninfected females in natural populations; or to have higher viability; or to have shorter development times; or any combination of these outcomes. Here, we tested the resource release hypothesis by measuring body size of infected and uninfected wild-caught Drosophila melanogaster females and carried out other fitness related measures in the laboratory. Wild-caught infected females produced more daughters than uninfected females in their first days in the laboratory. However, although no significant difference in viability was found in a controlled experiment with infected and uninfected flies from a standard laboratory strain, there was a decrease in development time probably mediated by reduced competition. Fitness effects conditioned by the host genetic background are pointed out as a possible explanation for this difference between wild and laboratory flies. Our findings are discussed in the context of the resource advantage hypothesis.

Flavonoids of Lavoisiera, Microlicia and Trembleya (Melastomataceae) and their taxonomic meaning.

Leaves of species of three closely related genera of Melastomataceae, Lavoisiera, Microlicia and Trembleya were analyzed for their flavonoid composition. A total of 116 compounds were obtained, comprising 69 flavonol and 47 flavone glycosides. The common occurrence of flavones, including 6-oxygenated derivatives, characterize Lavoisiera (which often yielded methoxylated flavonols and flavones). Flavonols predominate in species of Microlicia. The flavonoid patterns of Trembleya are rather confusing, some species being akin to Lavoisiera, others to Microlicia. UPGMA analysis using the flavonoid aglycones as characters and the samples analyzed as OTUs gives no complete resolution for the three genera, but provides clusters combining exclusively or preferentially species of either Lavoisiera and Microlicia. Species of Trembleya emerge from the phenogram interspersed among species of the other genera. The data suggest the recognition of Lavoisiera and Microlicia and the lumping of species of Trembleya with either of these genera. If greater flavone diversity is viewed as indicative of further evolutionary advancement, shrubby habits in Microliceae (Lavoisiera and Trembleya) should be regarded as derived from herbaceous ones (Microlicia).

[Limb amputations carried out in hospitals of the national health service in the years from 1990 to 1993]. / Amputações de membros efectuadas nos hospitais do Serviço Nacional de Saúde nos anos de 1990 a 1993.

This study was to assess the number of limbs amputations in Portugal State Hospitals over a four years period (1990 to 1993), analysing their incidence according to etiology, sex, average age, duration of hospitalization, level of amputation and mortality rate. The authors emphasise the levels of amputation which are mot favourable for an effective rehabilitation.

Ant foraging on extrafloral nectaries of Qualea grandiflora (Vochysiaceae) in cerrado vegetation: ants as potential antiherbivore agents.

Qualea grandiflora is a typical tree of Brazilian cerrados (savanna-like vegetation) that bears paired extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) along its stems. Results show that possession of EFNs increases ant density on Q. grandiflora shrubs over that of neighbouring non-nectariferous plants. Frequency of ant occupancy and mean number of ants per plant were much higher on Qualea than on plants lacking EFNs. These differences resulted in many more live termitebaits being attacked by foraging ants on Qualea than on neighbours without EFNs. Termites were attacked in equal numbers and with equal speeds on different-aged leaves of Qualea. The greatest potential for herbivore deterrence was presented by Camponotus ants (C. crassus, C. rufipes and C. aff. blandus), which together attacked significantly more termites than nine other ant species grouped. EFNs are regarded as important promoters of ant activity on cerado plants.

O comportamento da reação de Mitsuda em tuberculosos após becegeização oral / The behavior of the Mitsuda reaction in tuberculosis patients after oral BCG

Os AA. iniciam seu trabalho fazendo uma revisão bibliogr fica sôbre a cos-sensibilização aos Mycobacterium tuberculosis e Mycobacterium leprae. Em seguida, falam da experiência brasileira com BCG por via digestiva, procurando demonstrar através de citações, fatos que comprovam a dissociação de alergia e imunidade. Referem à experiência de um dos autores usando a orobecegeização em portadores de dermatoses e hiperérgicos à tuberculina, nos quais observou o desaparecimento de lesões cutâneas e melhoria do estado geral, fatos interpretados como consequentes a um esforço de imunidade e dessensibilização. Procuram interpretar os casos de lepromatosos que apresentam reação de Mantoux positiva como sendo indiv¡duos que tiveram infecção tuberculosa, alergizaram-se e permaneceram alérgicos, mas perderam a imunidade de maneira a permitir a sôbre-existência da infecção leprótica. Passando ao estudo da reação da lepromona em tuberculosos, referem-se às experiências de outros e à sua no presente trabalho, depois de reveram a literatura sôbre a tolerância do BCG. O material de estudo constou de 57 doentes portadores de tuberculose pulmonar ativa, em graus diversos de evolução, todos internados no Hospital Clemente Ferreira, da Liga Paulista Contra a Tuberculose. Foi feita a reação de Mantoux a 1:10.000 (0,001 mg de tuberculina) e a 1:1.000 (0,01 mg de tuberculina), tendo encontrado 38 analérgicos e em 6 não puderam fazer a reação à tuberculina. A percentagem de tuberculina positiva foi de 74,5 por cento. Após a reação de Mantoux fizeram a de Mitsuda e, em 30 dias, verificaram em 33 doentes pápulas de diâmetro iguais ou maiores de 5 mm; em 22, pápulas inferiores e 2 foram absolutamente negativos. Os que apresentaram pápulas inferiores a 5 mm foram submetidos ao BCG, recebendo 0,20 g de vacina, de uma a três vêzes, com 7 dias de intervalo. Notaram quase iniformemente aumento de diámetro das pápulas pela ação da vacina, enquanto que nos não calmetizados houve diminuição...