Prevalência de sífilis e fatores de risco associados em internos do sistema prisional do Piauí / Prevalence of syphilis and associated risk factors in prisoners in the Piauí prison system / Prevalencia de sífilis y factores de riesgo asociados en internos del sistema penitenciario de Piauí

Objetivo: Objetivou-se analisar a prevalência de sífilis e fatores de risco em internos nos presídios do Estado do Piauí, Brasil. Métodos: Estudo epidemiológico, transversal, realizado com 2.131 presidiários. Na estatística inferencial foram aplicados testes de hipóteses, com a utilização de regressão logística. O nível de significância utilizado foi de 5%. Resultados: A prevalência de positividade para sífilis foi de 8,4% (IC95% = 7,3-9,6), sendo 19,5% no sexo feminino e 80,5% no sexo masculino. Na análise bivariada observou-se associação entre a sífilis e as variáveis: sexo, uso de drogas ilícitas, uso de piercings, prática sexual com parceiros do mesmo sexo, uso de drogas antes das relações sexuais e conhecimento sobre a forma de transmissão. No modelo multivariado permaneceu associada apenas o uso de drogas antes das relações sexuais. Conclusão: Faz-se necessário promover articulação entre esferas governamentais e entre gestão da saúde e da justiça, para elaborar estratégias de modo a contemplar a demanda de saúde dos internos do sistema prisional do Estado. (AU)

Objective: The objective was to analyze the prevalence of syphilis and risk factors in inmates in prisons in the State of Piauí, Brazil. Methods: Epidemiological, cross-sectional study carried out with 2,131 inmates. In inferential statistics, hypothesis tests were applied, using logistic regression. The level of significance used was 5%. Results: The prevalence of positivity for syphilis was 8.4% (95% CI = 7.3-9.6), 19.5% in females and 80.5% in males. In the bivariate analysis, an association was observed between syphilis and the variables: sex, use of illicit drugs, use of piercings, sexual practice with partners of the same sex, use of drugs before sexual intercourse and knowledge about the form of transmission. In the multivariate model, only drug use remained associated before sexual intercourse. Conclusion: It is necessary to promote articulation between governmental spheres and between health and justice management, in order to develop strategies in order to contemplate the health demand of inmates in the state prison system. (AU)

Objetivo: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la prevalencia de sífilis y factores de riesgo en reclusos en cárceles del estado de Piauí, Brasil. Métodos: Estudio epidemiológico transversal realizado con 2.131 internos. En estadística inferencial se aplicaron pruebas de hipótesis mediante regresión logística. El nivel de significancia utilizado fue del 5%. Resultados: La prevalencia de positividad para sífilis fue del 8,4% (IC 95% = 7,3-9,6), siendo 19,5% en mujeres y 80,5% en hombres. En el análisis bivariado se observó asociación entre sífilis y las variables: género, uso de drogas ilícitas, uso de piercings, práctica sexual con parejas del mismo sexo, uso de drogas antes de la relación sexual y conocimiento sobre la forma de transmisión. En el modelo multivariado, solo el consumo de drogas antes de las relaciones sexuales permaneció asociado. Conclusion: Es necesario promover la articulación entre los ámbitos gubernamentales y entre la gestión de la salud y la justicia, a fin de desarrollar estrategias para atender la demanda de salud de los internos del sistema penitenciario estatal. (AU)

Tryptanthrin derivatives as efficient singlet oxygen sensitizers.

Halogenated tryptanthrin and aminotryptanthrin were synthesized from indigo or isatin precursors. Dibromo- and tetrabromo-tryptanthrin were obtained from indigo dyes following green chemistry procedures, through microwave-assisted synthesis in mild oxidation conditions. Spectral and photophysical properties of the compounds, including quantitative determination of all the different deactivation pathways of S1 and T1, were obtained in different solvents and temperatures. The triplet state (T1) has a dominant role on the photophysical properties of these compounds, which is further enhanced by the halogens at the fused-phenyl rings. Substitution with an amino group, 2-aminotryptanthrin (TRYP-NH2), leads a dominance of the radiative decay channel. Moreover, with the sole exception of TRYP-NH2, S1 ~ ~ > T1 intersystem crossing constitutes the dominant route, with internal conversion playing a minor role in the deactivation of S1 in all the studied derivatives. In agreement with tryptanthrin, emission of the triplet state of tryptanthrin derivatives (with exception of TRYP-NH2), was observed together with an enhancement of the singlet oxygen sensitization quantum yield: from 70% in tryptanthrin to 92% in the iodine derivative. This strongly contrasts with indigo and its derivatives, where singlet oxygen sensitization is found inefficient.

The effect of pyriproxyfen on the concentration of circulating metabolic fuel molecules and chemical elements in the hemolymph of Acraea horta L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): A quantitative analysis.

Many pollinating insects expand their niche to adjacent agricultural areas and are, therefore, exposed to chemical insecticides. Acraea horta L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) is a pollinator butterfly widely distributed in the Southern African region. The objectives of this work were to evaluate carbohydrate, lipid and chemical elements in the hemolymph of A. horta exposed to pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone analog (JHA). Last instar larvae (L6: day 1 or day 2) were topically exposed to an aqueous solution of pyriproxyfen (100 µg of the active ingredient per insect) or to diluent (control group). Hemolymph was collected after adult eclosion to determine total carbohydrate and lipid concentrations: in the control group lipids were present in lower concentrations than carbohydrates and there was no significant difference in metabolite levels between sexes; a similar pattern with similar levels were measured in the treated group, except that lipid concentrations in treated males were lower, and carbohydrate concentrations in treated females were lower than the control values. Morphologically intact adult males from treated larvae were subjected to free flight; their hemolymph carbohydrate levels were significantly reduced and did not recover to starting levels in a 30 min rest period following the exhaustive flight episode. To assess the effect of pyriproxyfen on a different stage of development, 48 h old butterflies were treated in the same way as described for the L6 larvae above; hemolymph samples were taken 48 h later for metabolite measurements and for quantification of chemical elements: carbohydrate levels decreased significantly after pyriproxyfen exposure, while lipid levels increased; inorganic elements measured in untreated adults were more abundant in females, with a general decrease in concentration following pyriproxyfen exposure, except for an increase in Fe levels in males and Cl levels in females. The quantitative changes measured in A. horta hemolymph via biochemical and chemical element analyses may indicate distinct physiological interferences beyond the main mode of action of pyriproxyfen on JH activity. In conclusion, the use and quantification of pyriproxyfen should be carefully evaluated prior to application in areas where A. horta and other pollinator species occur.

Red-Purple Photochromic Indigos from Green Chemistry: Mono-tBOC or Di-tBOC N-Substituted Indigos Displaying Excited State Proton Transfer or Photoisomerization.

In indigo, excited state proton transfer (ESPT) is known to be associated with the molecular mechanism responsible for highly efficient radiationless deactivation. When this route is blocked (partially or totally), new deactivation routes become available. Using new green chemistry procedures, with favorable green chemistry metrics, monosubstitution and disubstitution of N group(s) in indigo, by tert-butoxy carbonyl groups, N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)indigo (NtBOCInd) and N,N'-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)indigo (N,N'tBOCInd), respectively, were synthetically accomplished. The compounds display red to purple colors depending on the solvent and substitution. Different excited-state deactivation pathways were observed and found to be structure- and solvent-dependent. Trans-cis photoisomerization was found to be absent with NtBOCInd and present with N,N'tBOCInd in nonpolar solvents. Time-resolved fluorescence experiments revealed single-exponential decays for the two compounds which, linked to time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) studies, show that with NtBOCInd ESPT is extremely fast and barrierless-predicted to be 1 kJ mol-1 in methylcyclohexane and 5 kJ mol-1 in dimethylsulfoxide-, which contrasts with ∼11 kJ mol-1 experimentally obtained for indigo. An alternative ESPT, competitive with the N-H···O═C intramolecular pathway, involving dimer units is also probed by TDDFT and found to be consistent with the experimentally observed time-resolved data. N,N'tBOCInd, where ESPT is precluded, shows solvent-dependent trans-cis/cis-trans photoisomerization and is surprisingly found to be more stable in the nonemissive cis conformation, whose deactivation to S0 is found to be solvent-dependent.

Sulfonated tryptanthrin anolyte increases performance in pH neutral aqueous redox flow batteries.

Aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs) hold great promise as low-cost, environmentally friendly and safe alternative energy storage media. Here we present aqueous organometallic and all-organic active materials for RFBs with a water-soluble active material, sulfonated tryptanthrin (TRYP-SO3H), working at a neutral pH and showing long-term stability. Electrochemical measurements show that TRYP-SO3H displays reversible peaks at neutral pH values, allowing its use as an anolyte combined with potassium ferrocyanide or 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzenedisulfonic acid disodium salt monohydrate as catholytes. Single cell tests show reproducible charge-discharge cycles for both catholytes, with significantly improved results for the aqueous all-organic RFB reaching high cell voltage (0.94 V) and high energy efficiencies, stabilized during at least 50 working cycles.

Deep in blue with green chemistry: influence of solvent and chain length on the behaviour of N- and N,N'- alkyl indigo derivatives.

Using green chemistry procedures the synthesis of N-alkyl (NC n Ind) and N,N'-dialkyl (N,N'C n Ind) indigo derivatives, with n = 1-3, 6, 8, 12 and 18, was undertaken, leading to compounds with blueish to greenish colors in solution. The effect of the alkyl chain length on the spectral (including color) and photophysical properties of the compounds was explored. This was done with solvents of different viscosities and polarities (dielectric constants). From time-resolved fluorescence and femtosecond-transient absorption (fs-TA) for the NC n Ind derivatives with n = 1 and 2, the decays are, in methylcyclohexane (MCH) and n-dodecane, single-exponential, while in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2MeTHF) they are bi-exponential. The excited state proton transfer (ESPT) is ultrafast (<1 ps) for NC1,2Ind in MCH and n-dodecane, supported by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations, thus showing that both the chain length and solvent influence the ESPT process. For N,N'C n Ind, from time-resolved experiments, and with the exception of the shortest member of the series, N,N'C1Ind, two conformers are found to be present in the excited state.

Correction: Deep in blue with green chemistry: influence of solvent and chain length on the behaviour of N- and N,N'-alkyl indigo derivatives.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D0SC04958A.].

Macro-elements in the hemolymph of adult Euschistus heros (Fabr.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) treated with pyriproxyfen.

Euschistus heros is an important pest in many crops in Brazil, and different control strategies, mainly involving chemicals, have been evaluated; however, the side effects of these chemicals on the balance of inorganic element levels in the hemolymph are unknown. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine the concentration of inorganic elements (focusing on macro-elements) in the hemolymph of female and male E. heros adults, after applying pyriproxyfen at a sublethal concentration (LC30 = 6.68 mL L-1 diluted in distilled water) to 4th instar nymphs, which were kept in controlled conditions. The hemolymph pool was removed 48 h after adult emergence, centrifuged and placed on an acrylic disk added with Gallium as internal standard for the analysis of total reflection X-ray fluorescence. Most of the elements in the control treatment did not differ between females and males. However, following insecticide application to females and males, respectively, there was a significant increase in sulfur (19 and 51%), chlorine (33 and 137%) and calcium (47 and 82%) in the hemolymph. The significantly higher increase in macro-elements in males' hemolymph indicates that the action of pyriproxyfen may be sex-specific. Phosphorus and potassium concentrations also differed between females and males in the control and treated groups. The observed variation in inorganic elements in the insect's hemolymph may be related to the unknown effects of pyriproxyfen, mainly on immune and reproductive performance.

Guard cell-specific upregulation of sucrose synthase 3 reveals that the role of sucrose in stomatal function is primarily energetic.

Isoform 3 of sucrose synthase (SUS3) is highly expressed in guard cells; however, the precise function of SUS3 in this cell type remains to be elucidated. Here, we characterized transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants overexpressing SUS3 under the control of the stomatal-specific KST1 promoter, and investigated the changes in guard cell metabolism during the dark to light transition. Guard cell-specific SUS3 overexpression led to increased SUS activity, stomatal aperture, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, net photosynthetic rate and growth. Although only minor changes were observed in the metabolite profile in whole leaves, an increased fructose level and decreased organic acid levels and sucrose to fructose ratio were observed in guard cells of transgenic lines. Furthermore, guard cell sucrose content was lower during light-induced stomatal opening. In a complementary approach, we incubated guard cell-enriched epidermal fragments in (13) C-NaHCO3 and followed the redistribution of label during dark to light transitions; this revealed increased labeling in metabolites of, or associated with, the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The results suggest that sucrose breakdown is a mechanism to provide substrate for the provision of organic acids for respiration, and imply that manipulation of guard cell metabolism may represent an effective strategy for plant growth improvement.

Avaliação dos atendimentos antirrábicos humanos no município de Porto Alegre

A raiva é uma zoonose causada por vírus, que se caracteriza como uma encefalite de progressão aguda e letal. A transmissão ocorre quando o vírus presente na saliva e secreções do animal infectado penetra no tecido através de mordedura, arranhadura e lambedura de mucosas ou pele lesionada. Controlar e erradicar a raiva significa controlar a sua fonte animal, através da vacinação dos cães. Outras formas de controle são a vacinação humana preventiva ou a administração da profilaxia de pós exposição ao vírus. Todo caso humano suspeito /de raiva é de notificação compulsória e todo atendimento antirrábico deve ser notificado e investigado pelos serviços de saúde através da ficha de investigação do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação – SINAN. Esse projeto de pesquisa objetiva identificar e analisar as condutas da profilaxia em casos de exposição ao vírus da raiva em humanos, na Região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre, comparando com o que é preconizado, em condutas protocolizadas, para identificar adequações e inadequações.

Tobacco guard cells fix CO2 by both Rubisco and PEPcase while sucrose acts as a substrate during light-induced stomatal opening.

Transcriptomic and proteomic studies have improved our knowledge of guard cell function; however, metabolic changes in guard cells remain relatively poorly understood. Here we analysed metabolic changes in guard cell-enriched epidermal fragments from tobacco during light-induced stomatal opening. Increases in sucrose, glucose and fructose were observed during light-induced stomatal opening in the presence of sucrose in the medium while no changes in starch were observed, suggesting that the elevated fructose and glucose levels were a consequence of sucrose rather than starch breakdown. Conversely, reduction in sucrose was observed during light- plus potassium-induced stomatal opening. Concomitant with the decrease in sucrose, we observed an increase in the level as well as in the (13) C enrichment in metabolites of, or associated with, the tricarboxylic acid cycle following incubation of the guard cell-enriched preparations in (13) C-labelled bicarbonate. Collectively, the results obtained support the hypothesis that sucrose is catabolized within guard cells in order to provide carbon skeletons for organic acid production. Furthermore, they provide a qualitative demonstration that CO2 fixation occurs both via ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPcase). The combined data are discussed with respect to current models of guard cell metabolism and function.

The effect of polyaromatic hydrocarbons on the spectral and photophysical properties of diaryl-pyrrole derivatives: an experimental and theoretical study.

A new class of diaryl-pyrrole derivatives of the polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) benzene, naphthalene, anthracene and pyrene were synthesized in a multicomponent reaction under microwave irradiation and studied in solution at room (293 K) and low (77 K) temperature. The study includes a complete spectroscopic evaluation (singlet-singlet and triplet-triplet absorption, fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra) as well as photophysical evaluation (fluorescence, phosphorescence and triplet lifetimes together with fluorescence and triplet occupation and singlet oxygen sensitization quantum yields). From the above evaluation, a complete set of deactivation rate constants (kF, kIC and kISC) could be obtained. The study was further complemented with TDDFT calculations. It is shown that, with the exception of the anthracene derivative, the diaryl-pyrrole moiety strongly influences the spectral and photophysical properties of the PAH and that with the exception of the benzene derivative, the excited state internal conversion deactivation channel of the diaryl-pyrrole derivatives is higher than that of the PAH counterparts.

Melhora da Dor em Paciente com Sequela de Hanseníase Pós-Aplicação do Ultrassom Pulsado / Pain Relief in Patients with Leprosy Sequelae after Implementation of Pulsed Ultrasound

A Hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa crônica e que tem como preferência pele e nervos periféricos. A evolução da doença pode levar à instalação de neuropatias periféricas que causam incapacidades e deformidades. Visando minimizar os efeitos da problemática causada pela Hanseníase , em relação às sequelas neuropáticas de pacientes com reação tipo 1 (a mais comum), é possível associar, ao tratamento convencional, o recurso do ultrassom pulsado de baixa intensidade. Sendo assim, este trabalho tem com o objetivo verificar a diminuição da dor, a qual foi avaliada através de uma escala analógica aplicada antes e após cada sessão terapêutica com o ultrassom pulsado e também avaliar a possível reparação do nervo periférico afetado, através de exame de eletroneuromiografia. Para isso, foi realizado tratamento em paciente do sexo feminino que apresentava sequela de Hanseníase , com dores. Foram realizadas sessenta sessões com aplicação do ultrassom terapêutico de 1 Mhz, intensidade de 1W/cm², modo pulsado 1:5, delimitando a área a ser tratada, totalizando 30 minutos por sessão. Os resultados mostraram uma melhora da dor inicial quando comparada com a dor final e o exame de eletroneuromiografia mostrou que houve reparação tecidual do nervo ulnar esquerdo em se tratando da neurocondução sensitiva e motora, quando comparado com o exame realizado antes do início do tratamento fisioterapêutico. Sendo assim, é possível concluir que o uso do ultrassom terapêutico pulsado pode ser benéfico tanto na diminuição da dor aguda, quanto no processo de regeneração nervosa em pacientes com neuropatia hanseniana, sendo um complemento ao tratamento médico.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that affects skin and peripheral nerves, leading possibly to peripheral neuropathies that may cause deformities. In order to minimize some problems caused by leprosy in relation to neuropathic sequelae in patients with type 1 reaction (the most common), it was to possible to associate the low-intensity pulsed ultrasound to the conventional treatment. Thus, this study aims to verify the pain relief, which was assessed by an analog scale, applied before and after each therapy session, as well as to evaluate by electromyography the possible repair of the peripheral nerve affected. The treatment was performed in a female patient who had leprosy sequelae with pain. For this, sixty sessions was conducted with application of therapeutic ultrasound of 1MHz, intensity1W/cm², and pulsed model 1:5, by delimiting the area to be treated, totalizing 30 minutes per session. The results showed an improvement of the pain as comparing both conditions before and after the treatment. The Electroneuromyography showed that the left ulnar nerve was repaired regarding the sensory and motorneuroconduction, when compared to other exams performed before physiotherapeutic treatment. Therefore, we concluded that the pulsed therapeutic ultrasound can bring benefits by reducing the acute pain in the nerve regeneration process in neuropathy leprosy patients, being a complement to medical treatment.

Benefícios do CPAP na apneia obstrutiva do sono: relato de caso / Benefits of CPAP in obstructive sleep apnea: case report

O aparelho CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) nasal � indicado para pacientes com s�ndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono - SOAP. Sabe-se que diversos eventos patol�gicos respirat�rios que caracterizam a SOAP ocorrem durante a noite e s�o definidos como: apneia obstrutiva, apneia central, hipopneia, os quais, quando presentes, afetam diretamente a qualidade de vida da pessoa. Sendo assim, o objetivo desse estudo foi relatar o caso de um paciente com SAOS e apresentar os benef�cios do tratamento com CPAP. Para isso, foi eleg�vel paciente do sexo masculino, 42 anos, com diagn�stico de SAOS, em uso de CPAP nasal, residente na cidade de Tangar� da Serra- MT. A avalia��o constou de polissonografia e question�rios de qualidade do sono (�ndice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh) e propor��o de sonol�ncia (Escala de Sonol�ncia de Epworth) pr� e p�s-uso do aparelho do CPAP (3 meses). Foi poss�vel constar melhora cl�nica do paciente em rela��o � hipersonia diurna e a qualidade do sono, com elimina��o das apneias e as hipopneias, o que interferiu diretamente na qualidade de vida do paciente. Desta forma, foi poss�vel comprovar que a utiliza��o do CPAP foi eficiente no tratamento da Apneia Obstrutiva do Sono.

Nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is indicated for patients with the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (SOAP). It is know that many pathological respiratory diseases that characterize SOAP occurs during the night and it could be define as obstructive apnea, central apnea and hypopnea, which may affect life quality. The aim of this study is relate one case report of a patient with SAOS, as well as to report CPAP benefits. For this, a male patient, 42 years old, resident in Tangar� da Serra, MT, in use of nasal CPAP presented diagnosis of SAOS. The evaluation consisted of polysomnography exam and questionnaires of sleep quality (Index of Quality of the Sleep of Pittsburgh) and ratio of sleepiness (Sleepiness Epworth Scale) before and after CPAP use (3 months). There was improvement in relation to diurnal hypersomnia and sleep quality, with elimination of apneas and hypopneas. Thus, it was possible to prove the efficacy of CPAP in the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Importância do autoconhecimento dos grupos sanguíneos (ABO e Rh) de alunos de Tangará da Serra-MT / Importance of self-knowledge of ABO and Rh blood-groups of students in Tangará da Serra-MT

Os sistemas ABO e Rh são importantes do ponto de vista das transfusões sanguíneas, o que os tornam muito utilizados nas seleções de doadores. O autoconhecimento dos grupos sanguíneos ABO e Rh entre os estudantes vem sendo incentivado, com o intuito de promover um maior esclarecimento com relação à captação de doadores de sangue. Sendo assim, esse estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o autoconhecimento dos alunos da Escola Estadual 13 de Maio -Tangará da Serra-MT sobre os grupos sanguíneos ABO e Rh e transmitir aos alunos os fundamentos do sistema sanguíneo através de palestras, além de incentivar a prática da doação de sangue e a conscientização da importância da captação de doadores. Para isso, foram aplicados questionários fechados a 120 alunos da 1ª série do ensino médio (04 questões). Os dados foram avaliados estaticamente por frequência relativa. Em seguida, foram oferecidas palestras teórico-práticas e incentivada a doação de sangue. Dos avaliados, mais de 90% tinham entre 15-16 anos e apenas 27% sabiam a qual grupo sanguíneo pertenciam, dos quais apenas 48% pertenciam ao grupo sanguíneo O+, não tendo sido observado indivíduos do grupo AB. Sendo assim, foi possível concluir que poucos jovens têm conhecimento sobre o seu tipo sanguíneo e que a população tangaraense tende a ser predominantemente composta por indivíduos O+, enquanto que poucos indivíduos seriam tangaraenses de tipo sanguíneo AB. Esse trabalho comprova também a necessidade de se realizar mais trabalhos nesse assunto, principalmente com o enfoque na doação sanguínea.

The ABO and Rh systems are important to blood transfusions, thus they have been used to select donors. The self-knowledge about blood groups ABO and Rh of young students has been encouraged in order to elucidate explanations on blood donors. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the self-knowledge of the students from the ?State School 13 de Maio? in Tangará da Serra-MT regarding the ABO and Rh blood groups, as well as elucidate the subject through lectures, and encourage blood donation practice and its importance. Questionnaires were applied to 120 students of the 1st grade of high school (04 questions). Data were statistically assessed by relative frequency. Then, lectures were offered to encourage blood donation. Based on the results, 90% of students were 15-16 years old, but only 27% knew their own blood group, and 48% belonged to the group O+; there was no individuals on AB group.Thus, we concluded that few students known about blood type and the population of Tangará da Serra-MT may be predominantly O+ blood type individuals, while the AB group was considered as less predominant in the region. This research demonstrates the need of more studies regarding this subject, mainly focusing blood donation.

Maternal protein restriction during pregnancy affects gene expression and immunolocalization of intestinal nutrient transporters in rats.

Intrauterine dietary restriction may cause changes in the functioning of offspring organs and systems later in life, an effect known as fetal programming. The present study evaluated mRNA abundance and immunolocalization of nutrient transporters as well as enterocytes proliferation in the proximal, median and distal segments of small intestine of rats born to protein-restricted dams. Pregnant rats were fed hypoproteic (6% protein) or control (17% protein) diets, and offspring rats were evaluated at 3 and 16 weeks of age. The presence of SGLT1 (sodium-glucose co-transporter 1), GLUT2 (glucose transporter 2), PEPT1 (peptide transporter 1) and the intestinal proliferation were evaluated by immunohistochemical techniques and the abundance of specific mRNA for SGLT1, GLUT2 and PEPT1 was assessed by the real-time PCR technique. Rats born to protein-restricted dams showed higher cell proliferation in all intestinal segments and higher gene expression of SGLT1 and PEPT1 in the duodenum. Moreover, in adult animals born to protein-restricted dams the immunoreactivity of SGLT1, GLUT2 and PEPT1 in the duodenum was more intense than in control rats. Taken together, the results indicate that changes in the small intestine observed in adulthood can be programmed during the gestation. In addition, they show that this response is caused by both up-regulation in transporter gene expression, a specific adaptation mechanism, and intestinal proliferation, an unspecific adaptation mechanism.

Dieta hiperlipídica com farinha de soja como fonte proteica: utilização na seleção de ratos propensos e resistentes à obesidade / High-fat diet using soybean meal as protein source: use for selecting rats prone and resistant to obesity

OBJETIVO: Desenvolver uma dieta hiperlipídica de baixo custo, tendo farinha de soja como fonte proteica, que seja eficiente na seleção de ratos propensos e resistentes à obesidade e que permita alcançar fenótipo obeso nos animais propensos. Além desses requisitos, a dieta deve ser palatável e não rejeitada a curto prazo pelo animal. MÉTODOS: A dieta proposta foi obtida misturando-se leite condensado (15,5 por cento), amendoim (18,5 por cento), farinha de soja (20,0 por cento), óleo de milho (6,0 por cento), ração Bio Tec (30,0 por cento) e bolacha wafer de chocolate (10,0 por cento). A mistura foi peletizada e submetida à análise bromatológica. A dieta foi ofertada a ratos Wistar durante uma semana; posteriormente, os animais foram divididos em três grupos, de acordo com o ganho de peso. O terço superior foi considerado propenso à obesidade e o terço inferior, resistente à obesidade. Após 80 dias de oferta da dieta, os animais foram sacrificados e foram quantificados o peso corpóreo, consumo alimentar, gorduras retroperitoneal, periepididimal, de carcaça e gorduras totais. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se que a dieta apresentava 5,31kcal/g, com a seguinte composição: 22,3 por cento de gordura, 22,2 por cento de proteína, 15,9 por cento de fibra, estimando-se 35,7 por cento de carboidrato. Ratos propensos à obesidade, alimentados por 87 dias com a dieta hipercalórica, apresentaram peso corpóreo, gorduras retroperitoneal, periepididimal e totais significativamente maiores do que animais resistentes à obesidade (p<0,05). O consumo de alimentos também foi maior em animais propensos (p<0,05). Verificou-se também que a substituição da caseína pela farinha de soja, como componente proteico da ração, levou à diminuição de 96,0 por cento no custo do estudo. CONCLUSÃO: A dieta formulada com farinha de soja apresentou custo reduzido e foi capaz de desenvolver o fenótipo obeso em ratos propensos, à semelhança do observado na literatura com outras dietas.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to develop a high-fat, low cost diet, using soybean meal as protein source. This diet should effectively discriminate between rats prone and resistant to obesity and allow the obese phenotype to be achieved in the animals that are prone to obesity. Furthermore, the diet must be palatable and not be rejected by the animal in the short run. METHODS: The chow was obtained by mixing the following ingredients: condensed milk (15.5 percent), peanuts (18.5 percent), soybean meal (20.0 percent), corn oil (6.0 percent), Bio Tec chow (30.0 percent) and chocolate wafer cookies (10.0 percent). In order to make it appropriate for rats, the mixture was pelleted and subjected to food analysis. The chow was offered to Wistar rats for a week. The animals were subsequently separated according to weight gained. The upper third group was considered prone to obesity and the lower third group was considered resistant to obesity. The animals were sacrificed 80 days later to determine body weight, food intake, retroperitoneal, periepididymal and carcass fats and total fats. RESULTS: Food analysis found that the chow had an energy density of 5.31 Kcal/g, 22.3 percent fat, 22.2 percent protein, 15.9 percent fiber and 35.7 percent carbohydrates. After being fed for 87 days with the high-fat diet, obesity-prone rats had higher body weight and retroperitoneal, periepididymal and total fats than obesity-resistant animals (p<0.05). Food intake was also higher among obesity-prone rats (p<0.05). The replacement of casein by soybean meal as protein source reduced the cost of the study by 96.0 percent. CONCLUSION: The substitution of casein by soybean meal in a high-fat diet allows cost reduction and the identification of obese-prone rats. Continuous use of this high-fat diet resulted in the development of the obese phenotype, as seen with other diets used in the literature.

Morphological regional differences of epithelial cells along the midgut in Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae.

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius, is a pest to sugarcane and many other crops. This work aims to characterize morphological variability in the epithelial cells (columnar, goblet and regenerative) along the midgut of D. saccharalis larvae. Fragments of the midgut (anterior, middle and posterior regions) were fixed and processed by light and scanning electron microscopy. There are both cytochemical and ultrastructural differences in the morphology of the epithelial cells, depending on their localization along the midgut. The apical surface of columnar cells shows an increase in both number and size of the apical protrusions from the anterior to the posterior midgut regions. There is an increase in the amount of PAS-positive (Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction) granules detected in the cytoplasm of both the columnar and regenerative cells, from the anterior to the posterior region. The goblet cell apical surface is narrow in the anterior region, and enlarged in the posterior midgut; the chamber's cytoplasm extrusion are small and thin at the apical cavity surface, being thicker, longer and more numerous at the basal portion of the cavity. Our results suggest that the sugarcane borer midgut has two morphologically different regions, the anterior and the posterior; the middle region is a transitional region.

Spherites in the midgut epithelial cells of the sugarcane borer parasitized by Cotesia flavipes.

Diatraea saccharalis, the main pest of sugarcane, has been controlled by Cotesia flavipes. Very little is known about the effect of parasitism on the host organs, including the midgut. The Lepidoptera midgut epithelium is composed of columnar, goblet, regenerative, and endocrine cells. Spherites have been described in columnar and regenerative cells of several Lepidoptera species, and presented a lot of functional meaning. We identified spherites in the midgut epithelial cells of non-parasitized D. saccharalis larvae analyzed the effect of parasitism on spherite morphology and distribution along the length of the midgut. Midgut fragments of both non-parasitized and parasitized larvae were processed for transmission electron microscopy. All the midgut epithelial cells showed spherites, but they were not preferentially located in a particular part of the cells. Parasitized larvae had more spherites, mainly in the columnar cells, than non-parasitized larvae. This observation was associated with an ionic imbalance within the insect host. Spherites were more abundant in the anterior midgut region than in other regions, which suggests that this region is involved in ion transport by intracellular and/or paracellular route. The morphological variability of spherites in the cells of parasitized larvae was related to the developmental stages of these structures.

Morphological regional differences of epithelial cells along the midgut in Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae / Diferenças morfológicas regionais das células epiteliais ao longo do intestino médio de larvas de Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius, is a pest to sugarcane and many other crops. This work aims to characterize morphological variability in the epithelial cells (columnar, goblet and regenerative) along the midgut of D. saccharalis larvae. Fragments of the midgut (anterior, middle and posterior regions) were fixed and processed by light and scanning electron microscopy. There are both cytochemical and ultrastructural differences in the morphology of the epithelial cells, depending on their localization along the midgut. The apical surface of columnar cells shows an increase in both number and size of the apical protrusions from the anterior to the posterior midgut regions. There is an increase in the amount of PAS-positive (Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction) granules detected in the cytoplasm of both the columnar and regenerative cells, from the anterior to the posterior region. The goblet cell apical surface is narrow in the anterior region, and enlarged in the posterior midgut; the chamber's cytoplasm extrusion are small and thin at the apical cavity surface, being thicker, longer and more numerous at the basal portion of the cavity. Our results suggest that the sugarcane borer midgut has two morphologically different regions, the anterior and the posterior; the middle region is a transitional region.

A broca da cana, Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius, é uma praga da cana-de-açúcar e outras plantações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar variações morfológicas nas células epiteliais (colunares, caliciformes e regenerativas) ao longo do intestino médio de larvas de D. saccharalis. Fragmentos do intestino médio (anterior, mediano e posterior) foram fixados e processados para microscopia de luz e eletrônica de varredura. Existem diferenças morfológicas citoquímicas e ultra-estruturais nas células epiteliais, dependendo da sua localização no intestino médio. A superfície apical de algumas células colunares exibe projeções citoplasmáticas que aumentam em número e volume da região anterior para a posterior do intestino médio. Existe aumento dos grânulos PAS-positivos (Reação de Schiff) no citoplasma apical das células colunares e regenerativas, da região anterior para a posterior. A câmara das células caliciformes, na região anterior do intestino médio, mostra seu ápice estreito, enquanto que na posterior essa porção da câmara é alargada; as evaginações citoplasmáticas da câmara são pequenas e finas no ápice, sendo numerosas, longas e mais espessas na porção basal. Os resultados sugerem que o intestino médio da broca da cana apresenta duas regiões morfologicamente distintas, a anterior e posterior; a região mediana é uma região de transição.