High genetic diversity of Jatropha curcas assessed by ISSR.

Jatropha curcas L. is a highly promising oilseed for sustainable production of biofuels and bio-kerosene due to its high oil content and excellent quality. However, it is a perennial and incipiently domesticated species with none stable cultivar created until now despite genetic breeding programs in progress in several countries. Knowledge of the genetic structure and diversity of the species is a necessary step for breeding programs. The molecular marker can be used as a tool for speed up the process. This study was carried out to assess genetic diversity of a germplasm bank represented by J. curcas accessions from different provenance beside interspecific hybrid and backcrosses generated by IAC breeding programs using inter-simple sequence repeat markers. The molecular study revealed 271 bands of which 98.9% were polymorphic with an average of 22.7 polymorphic bands per primer. Genetic diversity of the germplasm evaluated was slightly higher than other germplasm around the world and ranged from 0.55 to 0.86 with an average of 0.59 (Jaccard index). Cluster analysis (UPGMA) revealed no clear grouping as to the geographical origin of accessions, consistent with genetic structure analysis using the Structure software. For diversity analysis between groups, accessions were divided into eight groups by origin. Nei's genetic distance between groups was 0.14. The results showed the importance of Mexican accessions, congeneric wild species, and interspecific hybrids for conservation and development of new genotypes in breeding programs.

Performance of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) Biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on Weeds.

Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is regarded as a pest with a large number of hosts, including crops and weeds. The performance of this whitefly on seven weeds was evaluated in order to identify the most suitable host. The following weeds that are very common in intense agricultural areas in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, were selected for this study: spurge (Euphorbia heterophylla), beggarticks (Bidens pilosa), red tasselflower (Emilia sonchifolia), small-flower galinsoga (Galinsoga parviflora), pigweed (Amaranthus viridis), black nightshade (Solanum americanum), and morning glory (Ipomoea sp.). In free-choice tests, adult preference and oviposition were greatest on spurge. In contrast, morning glory was the least attractive and least oviposited plant. In assays carried out for egg-adult development, egg viability was greater than 87% over all weeds, whereas nymph viability ranged from 74 to 97%. The developmental period from egg to adult ranged from 26.7 to 49.1 days among the hosts under study. The lowest nymph density rate was observed for beggarticks and morning glory. Cluster analysis resulted in a single group formed by spurge, indicating its superiority as a host for B. tabaci biotype B. Even though the parameters evaluated indicate that spurge is the most suitable host among the weeds, all the others allow the reproduction of B. tabaci biotype B. For this reason, they should be observed during cropping and the intercrop period in areas infested by this whitefly.

Development and characterization of microsatellites markers from the macaw.

Macaw (Acrocomia aculeata) is a native palm tree from tropical forests, highly abundant in Brazil and cited as one of the principal sources of plant oil, thus presenting a high potential for biodiesel production. We have optimized and utilized a set of eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for A. aculeata from an enriched genomic library. Automatic sequencing and fluorescence detection were employed to analyse 43 individuals from natural populations. In this study, we have obtained an average number of five alleles per locus. These loci will be employed in future studies of population genetics by providing subsidy information for the species conservation and genetic breeding.

[Postoperative complications in acute abdomen: prospective study of 586 patients]. / Complicações pós-operatórias no abdome agudo: estudo prospectivo de 586 pacientes.

Septic complications were prospectively studied in 586 consecutive adult patients operated for acute abdominal conditions. The purpose was to identify the postoperative infectious problems and to correlate such findings with diagnostic syndrome and with mortality. The investigation was performed in the period of January 1981 to October 1986 and a specific protocol was designed, with data about identification, diagnosis, surgical treatment, infectious and general morbidity, as well as mortality. The distribution according to symptoms at admission, shows the following conditions: inflammatory disease--72.2% of the population; obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract--13.5%; perforative manifestations--11.0%; hemorrhagic conditions--3.3%. There were 138 infectious complications after surgery (65.4%), as compared with only 73 non-septic ones (34.6%). A significant association between inflammatory and perforative symptoms and postoperative sepsis could be demonstrated, when compared with patients admitted and operated for obstruction or hemorrhage. Among the former cases, patients already exhibiting signs of peritonitis suffered the highest number of surgical wound infections and intra-abdominal abscesses. Thirty two patients died, 27 (84.4%) in consequence of sepsis. It is concluded that sepsis was the main cause of morbidity and mortality in this series. Although fatal cases were equally distributed among the different diagnostic groups, infectious complications occurred more often after surgery for inflammatory and perforative emergencies, than after obstructive or hemorrhagic symptoms.

[Repercussions of blood transfusions on postoperative complications in patients with multiple trauma]. / Repercussões das transfusões sangüíneas sobre as complicações pós-operatórias em pacientes traumatizados.

Multiple factors connected with the trauma itself or with its therapy may cause post-operative complications in injured patients. In a previous study we have reported on a higher mortality rate in patients that received large quantities of blood. The present report concerns 223 cases of trauma by penetrating and non-penetrating injuries in which the possible influence of blood transfusions on subsequent morbidity was assessed. It was verified that transfused patients exhibited more infections and general complications, as well as a higher mortality rate than controls. A progressive effect related to the number of units of blood administered could be demonstrated. The most unfavorable outcomes correspond to the transfusions of more than 1500 ml of blood.

[Traumatic injuries of the colon: primary suture or colostomy?]. / Lesões traumáticas do cólon: sutura primária ou colostomia?

The indications for colostomies in traumatic lesions of the colon were prospectively analysed in the light of the anatomical and functional impairment, the time that elapsed after the injury and additional risk factors. In the period between January 1981 and June 1986 75 patients were operated for colonic trauma: 39 had gunshot wounds, 29 suffered stab wounds and seven had blunt injuries. Colostomies were indicated in 47 patients that presented the most severe lesions, whereas the other 28 patients underwent primary repair. Infectious complications occurred in 21 cases; they were related to a pre-operative interval of more than 10 hours, severity of colonic lesion (CIS) grade III to V, blood transfusion of more than 2500 ml, the presence of colostomy, and an abdominal trauma index (PATI) of more than 25. Five patients died in consequence of infectious complications (p less than 0.05), all of them suffering from severe injuries. These findings suggest that in acute trauma of the colon after less than 6 hours colostomy is justified when the CIS is III to V, the PATI more than 25, or in hemodinamically unstable patients.