Population structure of the Atlantic seabob shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller, 1862) based on geometric morphometrics / Estructura de la población del camarón langostino del atlántico Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller, 1862) basada en morfometría geométrica

SUMMARY: In 2004, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, one of major species in commercial fisheries in Brazil was included in the list of brazilian overfished species and, in 2006, two cryptic species were identified in the Atlantic Ocean by molecular approaches: Xiphopenaeus sp. I and II. In 2019, Carvalho-Batista et al. described both Xiphopenaeus sp. I and Xiphopenaeus sp. II and these species were named X. kroyeri and X. dincao, respectively. This study aimed at performing morphometric analysis in order to identify potential fishing stocks of X. kroyeri sensu strictum along Brazilian coast. The results obtained separate Caravelas, Atafona and Balneário Camboriú from all the other populations studied and showed three groups: Ubatuba, Nova Almeida; Ubatuba, Cananéia; Ubatuba, Santos. These results indicate that the maritime limits practiced in closed seasons along Brazil are embracing the detected morphometric stock boundaries observed for Xiphopenaeus kroyeris.s.

RESUMEN: En 2004, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, una de las principales especies de la pesca comercial en Brasil, fue incluida en la lista de especies brasileñas sobre explotadas y, en 2006, se identificaron dos especies crípticas en el Océano Atlántico mediante enfoques moleculares: Xiphopenaeus sp. I y II. En 2019, Carvalho-Batista et al. describieron tanto Xiphopenaeus sp. I y Xiphopenaeus sp. II y a estas especies denominaron X. kroyeri y X. dincao, respectivamente. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo realizar un análisis morfométrico con el fin de identificar posibles poblaciones de pesca de X. kroyeri sensu strictum a lo largo de la costa brasileña. Los resultados obtenidos en Caravelas, Atafona y Balneário Camboriú se separaron de todas las demás poblaciones estudiadas y mostraron tres grupos: Ubatuba, Nova Almeida; Ubatuba, Cananéia; Ubatuba, Santos. Estos resultados indican que los límites marítimos practicados en temporadas de veda a lo largo de Brasil están abarcando los límites de stock morfométricos observados para Xiphopenaeus kroyeris.s.

The Impact of Frailty on the Relationship between Life-Space Mobility and Quality of Life in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to abrupt restrictions of life-space mobility. The impact of shelter-in-place orders on older adults' health and well-being is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between life-space mobility and quality of life (QoL) in older adults with and without frailty during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Multicenter prospective cohort study based on structured telephone interviews. SETTING: Four geriatric outpatient clinics in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 557 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older. MEASUREMENTS: The Life-Space Assessment was used to measure community mobility before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a previously validated decrease of ≥ 5 points defined restricted life-space mobility. Frailty was assessed through the FRAIL (fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses, and loss of weight) scale. The impact of shelter-in-place orders on QoL was evaluated with the question «How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting your QoL?¼, to which participants could respond «not at all¼, «to some extent¼, or «to a great extent¼. We used ordinal logistic regressions to investigate the relationship between restricted life-space mobility and impact on QoL, adjusting our analyses for demographics, frailty, comorbidities, cognition, functionality, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. We explored whether frailty modified the association between life-space mobility and impact on QoL. RESULTS: Participants were on average 80±8 years old, 65% were women, and 33% were frail. The COVID-19 quarantine led to a restriction of community mobility in 79% of participants and affected the QoL for 77% of participants. We found that restricted life-space mobility was associated with impact on QoL in older adults during the pandemic, although frailty modified the magnitude of the association (P-value for interaction=0.03). Frail participants who experienced restricted life-space mobility had twice the odds of reporting an impact on QoL when compared with non-frail individuals, with respective adjusted odds ratios of 4.20 (95% CI=2.36-7.50) and 2.18 (95% CI=1.33-3.58). CONCLUSION: Older adults experienced substantial decreases in life-space mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this unexpected change impacted their QoL. Providers should be particularly watchful for the consequences of abrupt life-space restrictions on frail individuals.

Socio-economic inequalities and COVID-19 incidence and mortality in Brazilian children: a nationwide register-based study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the incidence and mortality rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Brazilian children and to analyze its relationship with socio-economic inequalities in a state-level analysis. STUDY DESIGN: This is a nationwide register-based study. METHODS: To estimate the incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19 in Brazilian children aged 0-19 years, we extracted data of confirmed cases and deaths from the de-identified microdata catalog and official bulletins of the 27 Brazilian states' health department websites until September 3, 2020. Social and economic inequalities were evaluated using the Social Vulnerability Index and Gini coefficient, respectively. The relationship between COVID-19 rates in Brazilian children and socio-economic vulnerability at the state level was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: Of the 3,998,055 individuals with COVID-19 included in our database, 335,279 (8.4%) were children aged 0-19 years. Eight hundred deaths in children were registered, which accounts for about 0.7% of the deaths related to COVID-19 in the country. There were important differences in the incidence and mortality rates among Brazilian regions, and a correlation between mortality rates and social (ρ = 0.519; P-value = 0.007; effect magnitude: moderate) and economic (ρ = 0.615; P-value < 0.001; effect magnitude: strong) inequalities was found in a state-level analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study showed important regional differences in COVID-19 estimates for children in Brazil and a relationship between mortality rates and socio-economic inequalities. The knowledge of sociogeographic differences in the estimates of COVID-19 is crucial to planning societal strategies and local decision-making to mitigate the effects of disease in the pediatric population.

Egg Albumin as a Protein Marker to Study Dispersal of Noctuidae in the Agroecosystem.

Knowledge of dispersal and spatial dynamics of pest populations is fundamental for implementation of integrated pest management and integrated resistance management. This study evaluated 1) the effectiveness of egg white albumin protein to mark larvae and adults of two polyphagous and highly mobile pests, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (fall armyworm) and Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (corn earworm) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and 2) the sensitivity of polyvinylidene difluoride membrane (dot blot) in detecting albumin on marked insects. Laboratory and field experiments tested egg albumin as a protein marker, which was detected using two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), microplate, and dot blot. In the laboratory, 100% of the moths sprayed with 20% egg white solution acquired the albumin marker, which was detected through the last time point tested (5 d) after application. Egg albumin was not effective at long-term marking of larvae, detected only prior the molting to the next instar. Albumin application in field cages resulted in a high percentage of moths detected as marked at 24 h and 5 d for both species. Egg albumin applied in the open field resulted in 15% of the recaptured corn earworm moths marked with most of them collected 150 m from the application area, although some were captured as far as 1,600 m within approximately 6 d after adult emergence. The results indicated egg albumin is a suitable marker to study the dispersion of fall armyworm and corn earworm in the agroecosystem and dot blot was as effective to detect egg albumin as was indirect ELISA.

Genetic diversity of norovirus in children under 5 years of age with acute gastroenteritis from Angola.

Norovirus (NoV) is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE). In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity of NoV strains identified in children under 5 years of age with AGE in four provinces of Angola. Faecal samples from 343 children were screened for NoV by an in house real-time PCR assay and genotyping was performed by partial capsid gene sequencing. NoV was detected in 17.4% (58/334) of the samples, with high detection rates in children <6 months old (19%) and in children aged 12-24 months (23%). Genotype diversity was large, as demonstrated by the 11 identified genotypes. GII.4 was the predominant genotype (20% of all NoV-positive samples), followed by GII.6 (15%), GI.3 (12%), GII.7 (10%) and by other genotypes to a lesser extent. Two GII.4 variants, New Orleans 2009 and Sydney 2012, were detected and several genetic clusters were observed for genotypes GI.3, GII.6 and GII.7. The present study shows high detection rates and genetic diversity of circulating NoV genotypes in paediatric AGE samples from Angola. This information emphasises the importance of continuous assessment of NoV burden and evolution in the target population.

Magnitude and Allele Frequency of Cry1F Resistance in Field Populations of the Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn producing the Cry1F protein was the first highly efficacious Bt corn deployed against the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil, but reduced efficacy of this technology against the fall armyworm has been reported in some regions of the country. Here, we surveyed Cry1F resistance allele frequency and susceptibility of eight S. frugiperda populations collected in 2013 from non-Bt fields in different regions of Brazil. In F1 screen experiments, the overall frequency of the Cry1F resistance alleles in Brazilian populations was estimated at 0.24, with 95% credibility interval between 0.18 and 0.25. In concentration-response bioassays, five of the eight populations surveyed exhibited significant resistance levels, which were over 32 times higher than that of the standard susceptible laboratory strain. The estimates of Cry1F resistance allele frequency were positively correlated with those of median effective or lethal concentrations (i.e., EC50 or LC50). These results show that the allelic frequency and the magnitude of Cry1F resistance are high in field populations of S. frugiperda in Brazil, indicating a challenging situation for resistance management.

Relationship between glycemic control and coronary artery disease severity, prevalence and plaque characteristics by computed tomography coronary angiography in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients.

Evaluate whether glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (DM2) asymptomatic for coronary artery disease (CAD) affects not only the presence and magnitude of CAD but also the characteristics of plaque vulnerability using multidetector row computed coronary tomography (MDCT). Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is frequently observed in asymptomatic DM2 patients. Positive vessel remodeling (PR) and low-attenuation plaques (LAP) identified by MDCT have been demonstrated to be characteristics of subsequent culprit lesions of ACS. However, little is known regarding plaque characteristics in asymptomatic diabetic patients and their relationship with glycemic control. Ninety asymptomatic DM2 patients, aged 40-65 years old, underwent MDCT. The presence of atherosclerotic obstruction, defined as coronary stenosis ≥50 %, and plaque characteristics were compared between two groups of patients with A1c < 7 and A1c ≥ 7 %. Of the 90 patients, 38 (42.2 %) presented with coronary atherosclerotic plaques, 11 had A1c < 7 % and 27 had A1c ≥ 7 % (p = 0.0006). Fourteen patients had significant lumen obstruction higher than 50 %: 3 in the A1c < 7 % group and 11 in the A1c ≥ 7 % group (p = 0.02). Non-calcified plaque was more prevalent in the A1c ≥ 7 % group (p = 0.005). In eleven patients, the simultaneous presence of two vulnerability plaque characteristics (PR and LAP) were observed more frequently in the A1c ≥ 7 group (n = 8) than in the A1c < 7 group (n = 3) (p = 0.04). Asymptomatic DM2 patients with A1c ≥ 7 % have a higher frequency of CAD and a higher proportion of vulnerable atherosclerotic coronary plaque by MDCT compared to patients with DM2 with A1c < 7 in our study.

Avaliação e comparação entre métodos de mensuração de pressão arterial sistólica em gatos hígidos conscientes / Evaluation and comparison between methods of measurement of systolic blood pressure in healthy conscious cats

Após validação de dois diferentes métodos de mensuração de pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) não invasivos ou indiretos (oscilométrico e Doppler vascular) com o invasivo ou direto (cateterização arterial - padrão ouro) em 12 gatos hígidos anestesiados de mesma faixa etária, os métodos não invasivos foram avaliados e comparados em 24 gatos hígidos e conscientes, divididos em quatro grupos de idade. Em cada animal, procedeu-se à mensuração da pressão pelos métodos Doppler e oscilométrico. O método oscilométrico foi o primeiro a ser realizado, e, logo em seguida, o método Doppler. Os valores considerados foram obtidos das médias de sete medidas consecutivas para cada método, com intervalo de 30 segundos entre elas. A primeira medida e as medidas discrepantes (variação ˃ 20% PAS), obtidas com sinais óbvios de estresse e/ou com movimentação do animal, foram descartadas. Os métodos de mensuração oscilométrico e Doppler, embora tenham apresentado médias estatisticamente diferentes em todos os grupos, quando comparados em cada grupo, apresentaram uma correlação significativa, alta e positiva. Ou seja, sempre que for obtido um valor elevado por um método, o mesmo fato ocorrerá com o outro método e vice-versa. Clinicamente, a diferença observada não é relevante, uma vez que a diferença média dos valores obtida pelos dois métodos, em cada grupo, foi menor que 1,1%.(AU)

After two different validation systolic blood pressure measurement methods (PAS), not invasive or indirect (oscillometric and doppler vascular) with invasive or direct (arterial catheterization - Gold Standard) in 12 anesthetized healthy cats of the same age group, not invasive methods were evaluated and compared in 24 healthy conscious cats, divided into four age groups. In each animal, we proceeded to measure the pressure by Doppler and oscillometric methods. The oscillometric method was the first to be performed, and, shortly thereafter, the doppler method. The values considered were obtained from averages from seven consecutive measurements for each method with an interval of thirty seconds between them. The first measurement and disparate measurements (range ˃ 20% PAS) obtained with obvious signs of stress and / or animal movement were discarded. Methods of oscillometric and doppler measurement, although statistically different averages were shown in all groups when compared, each group showed a significant high positive correlation, meaning that when a high value is obtained by a method, the same occurs with the other method, and vice versa. Clinically, the observed difference is not relevant since the mean difference values obtained by the two methods, in each group was lower than 1.1%.(AU)

Interference of anesthetics in blood alcohol analysis by HS-GC-FID: A case report.

One of the techniques most widely used in ethanol analysis in forensic laboratories is undoubtedly the headspace gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection (HS-GC-FID) since the determination of this substance is carried out directly, without the need for additional purification procedures, which leads to increased productivity. This is a very important factor due to the high number of alcohol analysis requested to these laboratories. The presence of other volatile substances can cause a problem given the fact that they can be interferents in ethanol analysis by HS-GC-FID, which can have legal consequences related with driving under the influence of alcohol. The authors report a case of a routine analysis by HS-GC-FID for the determination of ethanol of a driver who has suffered an accident in which the use of two chromatographic columns with different polarities was essential to obtain an unequivocally identification of this substance in presence of an interfering volatile anesthetic administered in the hospital. The method was validated according to international recommendations before being introduced into routine laboratory in terms of selectivity, limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantification (LOQ), linearity, repeatability, intermediate precision, accuracy, robustness and carryover.

Cross-protective efficacy from a immunogen firstly identified in Leishmania infantum against tegumentary leishmaniasis.

Experimental vaccine candidates have been evaluated to prevent leishmaniasis, but no commercial vaccine has been proved to be effective against more than one parasite species. LiHyT is a Leishmania-specific protein that was firstly identified as protective against Leishmania infantum. In this study, LiHyT was evaluated as a vaccine to against two Leishmania species causing tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL): Leishmania major and Leishmania braziliensis. BALB/c mice were immunized with rLiHyT plus saponin and lately challenged with promastigotes of the two parasite species. The immune response generated was evaluated before and 10 weeks after infection, as well as the parasite burden at this time after infection. The vaccination induced a Th1 response, which was characterized by the production of IFN-γ, IL-12 and GM-CSF, as well as by high levels of IgG2a antibodies, after in vitro stimulation using both the protein and parasite extracts. After challenge, vaccinated mice showed significant reductions in their infected footpads, as well as in the parasite burden in the tissue and organs evaluated, when compared to the control groups. The anti-Leishmania Th1 response was maintained after infection, being the IFN-γ production based mainly on CD4(+) T cells. We described one conserved Leishmania-specific protein that could compose a pan-Leishmania vaccine.

Water quality monitoring of the Pirapó River watershed, Paraná, Brazil / Monitoramento da qualidade da água na bacia hidrográfica do Rio Pirapó, Paraná, Brasil

This study aimed to evaluate the water quality of the Pirapó River watershed in Paraná, Brazil, and identify the critical pollution sites throughout the drainage basin. The water quality was monitored during the period from January 2011 to December 2012. Nine points distributed throughout the main channel of the Pirapó River were sampled for a total of 17 samplings. The water quality was evaluated based on the determination of 14 physical, chemical and microbiological parameters. Analysis of the variables monitored in the Pirapó River watershed using factor analysis/principal components analysis (FA/PCA) indicated the formation of three distinct groups of parameters: water temperature (Twater), dissolved oxygen (DO) and a group composed of total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity and nitrite (NO2–). The parameters Twater and DO exhibited a relationship with the seasonality, and the TSS, turbidity, and NO2– levels were correlated with surface runoff caused by rainfall events. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the sampling points enabled the selection of the 10 most important variables from among the 14 evaluated parameters. The results showed that the nitrate (NO3–), NO2–, TSS, turbidity and total phosphorous (TP) levels were related to the soil type, and the parameters DO, electrical conductivity (EC), ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3) and thermotolerant coliforms (TC) were related to organic matter pollution, with the P5 sampling site being the most critical site. The ordination diagram of the sampling points as a function of the PCA indicated a reduction from 9 to 5 sampling points, indicating the potential for decreasing the costs associated with monitoring.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade da água na bacia hidrográfica do rio Pirapó, Paraná-Brasil, e identificar os pontos críticos de poluição ao longo da bacia. O monitoramento da qualidade da água foi realizado no período de Jan/2011 a Dez/2012, em nove pontos de amostragem distribuídos ao longo do canal principal do rio Pirapó, totalizando 17 coletas. A qualidade da água foi avaliada por meio da determinação de 14 parâmetros físicos, químicos e microbiológicos. A aplicação da Análise Fatorial/Análise das Componentes Principais (AF/ACP) nas variáveis monitoradas na bacia do rio Pirapó indicou a formação de três grupos distintos: Temperatura da água (Tágua), oxigênio dissolvido (OD) e um grupo composto por sólidos suspensos totais (SST), Turbidez e Nitrito (NO2–). Os parâmetros Tágua e OD demonstraram relação com a sazonalidade, e os parâmetros SST, Turbidez e NO2– com o escoamento superficial provocado por eventos de precipitação. A análise dos pontos de amostragem por componentes principais (ACP) permitiu selecionar 10 variáveis com maior importância entre as 14 avaliadas. Verificou-se que os parâmetros nitrato (NO3–), NO2–, SST, Turbidez e Fósforo Total (FT) estão relacionados ao tipo de solo, e os parâmetros OD, condutividade elétrica (CE), nitrogênio amoniacal (N-NH3) e coliformes termotolerantes (CT) à poluição por matéria orgânica, sendo o ponto P5 de amostragem o trecho mais crítico. O diagrama de ordenação dos pontos de amostragem em função da ACP indicou a redução de 9 para 5 pontos de amostragem, o que implica redução de custos associados ao monitoramento.

Ocular Manifestations and Therapeutic Options in Patients with Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: This paper aims to review the morphological and functional characteristics of patients affected by familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), with greater focus on type I and its progression after liver transplantation. We also analyse therapeutic options for the ophthalmic manifestations. METHODS: The literature from 2002 through 2015 was reviewed, with a total of 45 articles studied, using the key terms related to amyloidosis and its therapeutic approaches. Information was collated, evaluated, critically assessed, and then summarised in its present form. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND TREATMENT: FAP results from mutation of the transthyretin gene, with Val30Met being the most frequent substitution. The symptoms are those typical of a sensorimotor autonomic neuropathy and can be halted with liver transplantation. Nowadays there are new medical therapies that delay the progression of the systemic neuropathy. However, there are still no options to avoid ocular disease. CONCLUSION: The main ocular manifestations in patients with FAP type I are amyloid deposition in the vitreous, dry eye, and secondary glaucoma. Despite liver transplantation, eye synthesis of amyloid persists and is associated with progressive ocular manifestations, which require continued ophthalmologic follow-up. New therapeutic strategies are therefore needed, particularly to target the ocular synthesis of the abnormal protein.

Water quality monitoring of the Pirapó River watershed, Paraná, Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the water quality of the Pirapó River watershed in Paraná, Brazil, and identify the critical pollution sites throughout the drainage basin. The water quality was monitored during the period from January 2011 to December 2012. Nine points distributed throughout the main channel of the Pirapó River were sampled for a total of 17 samplings. The water quality was evaluated based on the determination of 14 physical, chemical and microbiological parameters. Analysis of the variables monitored in the Pirapó River watershed using factor analysis/principal components analysis (FA/PCA) indicated the formation of three distinct groups of parameters: water temperature (Twater), dissolved oxygen (DO) and a group composed of total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity and nitrite (NO2). The parameters Twater and DO exhibited a relationship with the seasonality, and the TSS, turbidity, and NO2 levels were correlated with surface runoff caused by rainfall events. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the sampling points enabled the selection of the 10 most important variables from among the 14 evaluated parameters. The results showed that the nitrate (NO3), NO2, TSS, turbidity and total phosphorous (TP) levels were related to the soil type, and the parameters DO, electrical conductivity (EC), ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3) and thermotolerant coliforms (TC) were related to organic matter pollution, with the P5 sampling site being the most critical site. The ordination diagram of the sampling points as a function of the PCA indicated a reduction from 9 to 5 sampling points, indicating the potential for decreasing the costs associated with monitoring.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade da água na bacia hidrográfica do rio Pirapó, Paraná-Brasil, e identificar os pontos críticos de poluição ao longo da bacia. O monitoramento da qualidade da água foi realizado no período de Jan/2011 a Dez/2012, em nove pontos de amostragem distribuídos ao longo do canal principal do rio Pirapó, totalizando 17 coletas. A qualidade da água foi avaliada por meio da determinação de 14 parâmetros físicos, químicos e microbiológicos. A aplicação da Análise Fatorial/Análise das Componentes Principais (AF/ACP) nas variáveis monitoradas na bacia do rio Pirapó indicou a formação de três grupos distintos: Temperatura da água (Tágua), oxigênio dissolvido (OD) e um grupo composto por sólidos suspensos totais (SST), Turbidez e Nitrito (NO2). Os parâmetros Tágua e OD demonstraram relação com a sazonalidade, e os parâmetros SST, Turbidez e NO2 com o escoamento superficial provocado por eventos de precipitação. A análise dos pontos de amostragem por componentes principais (ACP) permitiu selecionar 10 variáveis com maior importância entre as 14 avaliadas. Verificou-se que os parâmetros nitrato (NO3), NO2, SST, Turbidez e Fósforo Total (FT) estão relacionados ao tipo de solo, e os parâmetros OD, condutividade elétrica (CE), nitrogênio amoniacal (N-NH3) e coliformes termotolerantes (CT) à poluição por matéria orgânica, sendo o ponto P5 de amostragem o trecho mais crítico. O diagrama de ordenação dos pontos de amostragem em função da ACP indicou a redução de 9 para 5 pontos de amostragem, o que implica redução de custos associados ao monitoramento.

Prophylactic properties of a Leishmania-specific hypothetical protein in a murine model of visceral leishmaniasis.

In this work, the effect of vaccination of a newly described Leishmania infantum antigenic protein has been studied in BALB/c mice infected with this parasite species. The LiHyD protein was characterized after a proteomic screening performed with the sera from dogs suffering visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Its recombinant version was expressed, purified and administered to BALB/c mice in combination with saponin. As a result of vaccination and 10 weeks after challenge using an infective dose of L. infantum stationary promastigotes, vaccinated mice showed lower parasite burdens in different organs (liver, spleen, bone marrow and footpads' draining lymph nodes) than mice inoculated with the adjuvant alone or the vaccine diluent. Protected mice showed anti-Leishmania IgG2a antibodies and a predominant IL-12-driven IFN-γ production (mainly produced by CD4(+) T cells) against parasite proteins, whereas unprotected controls showed anti-Leishmania IgG1 antibodies and parasite-mediated IL-4 and IL-10 responses. Vaccinated mice showed an anti-LiHyD IgG2a humoral response, and their spleen cells were able to secrete LiHyD-specific IFN-γ, IL-12 and GM-CSF cytokines before and after infection. The protection was correlated with the Leishmania-specific production on nitric oxide. Altogether, the results indicate that the new LiHyD protein could be considered in vaccine formulations against VL.

Reproductive Requirements and Life Cycle of Iberorhyzobius rondensis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Potential Biological Control Agent of Matsucoccus feytaudi (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae).

Several pine bast scales (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae) are important pests of pine trees in the Northern Hemisphere. Some species are invasive and cause significant economic and environmental impacts. Such is the case with Matsucoccus feytaudi Ducasse, an invasive pest of maritime pine forests in Southeastern France, Italy, and Corsica. The ladybird Iberorhyzobius rondensis (Eizaguirre) is a recently described species that is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and is a potential candidate for the biological control of M. feytaudi. However, little is known of the biology of I. rondensis. As part of the risk assessment study for a classical biological control program, the phenology and reproductive mechanisms of the beetle were analyzed. I. rondensis is univoltine and is seasonally synchronized with the phenology of the prey M. feytaudi, which is also univoltine. An obligatory reproductive diapause of 5-6 mo and the need to feed on the eggs of the prey to begin oviposition emerged as the two primary mechanisms that assure life cycle synchronization of the ladybird with its prey. Female fecundity was also higher when the ladybirds were fed M. feytaudi eggs. Life cycle synchronization with M. feytaudi and reproduction triggered by consumption of prey eggs indicate that I. rondensis is a promising biological control agent of the pine bast scale.

Water quality monitoring of the Pirapó River watershed, Paraná, Brazil.

This study aimed to evaluate the water quality of the Pirapó River watershed in Paraná, Brazil, and identify the critical pollution sites throughout the drainage basin. The water quality was monitored during the period from January 2011 to December 2012. Nine points distributed throughout the main channel of the Pirapó River were sampled for a total of 17 samplings. The water quality was evaluated based on the determination of 14 physical, chemical and microbiological parameters. Analysis of the variables monitored in the Pirapó River watershed using factor analysis/principal components analysis (FA/PCA) indicated the formation of three distinct groups of parameters: water temperature (Twater), dissolved oxygen (DO) and a group composed of total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity and nitrite (NO2⁻). The parameters Twater and DO exhibited a relationship with the seasonality, and the TSS, turbidity, and NO2⁻ levels were correlated with surface runoff caused by rainfall events. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the sampling points enabled the selection of the 10 most important variables from among the 14 evaluated parameters. The results showed that the nitrate (NO3⁻), NO2⁻, TSS, turbidity and total phosphorous (TP) levels were related to the soil type, and the parameters DO, electrical conductivity (EC), ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3) and thermotolerant coliforms (TC) were related to organic matter pollution, with the P5 sampling site being the most critical site. The ordination diagram of the sampling points as a function of the PCA indicated a reduction from 9 to 5 sampling points, indicating the potential for decreasing the costs associated with monitoring.

Avaliação e comparação entre métodos de mensuração de pressão arterial sistólica em gatos hígidos anestesiados / Evaluation and comparison between methods of measurement of systolic blood pressure in healthy anesthetized cats

Foram avaliados e comparados, para fins de validação, dois diferentes métodos de mensuração de pressão arterial sistólica (PAS), não invasivos ou indiretos (oscilométrico e Doppler vascular) com o invasivo ou direto (cateterização arterial - padrão ouro), em 12 gatos hígidos anestesiados de idade variando entre sete meses e dois anos. Em cada animal, procedeu-se à mensuração simultânea da pressão não invasiva e da invasiva. O método oscilométrico foi comparado, por meio de sete medidas consecutivas, com intervalo de 30 segundos entre elas, com o método invasivo, e, logo em seguida, o método Doppler foi comparado ao método invasivo da mesma maneira. Concluiu-se que o método oscilométrico é estatisticamente igual ao método invasivo, enquanto o Doppler difere de ambos. Entretanto, pela forte correlação positiva entre os métodos Doppler e invasivo, foi possível criar um fator de correção (equação de regressão linear) para se determinar o valor da pressão invasiva, a partir do valor obtido pelo método Doppler. Para obtenção de valores mais fidedignos, recomenda-se a utilização desse fator de correção quando o método Doppler for utilizado para mensuração de PAS em gatos anestesiados.

For validation purposes, two different methods of measurement of systolic blood pressure (SBP), noninvasive or indirect (oscillometric and vascular doppler), direct or invasive (arterial catheterization - the gold standard) were evaluated and compared in 12 healthy anesthetized cats, varying between seven months to two years old. In each animal, we proceeded to the simultaneous noninvasive and invasive measurement of pressure. The oscillometric method was compared by means of seven consecutive measurements with an interval of 30 seconds between them, with the invasive method, and soon after, the doppler method was compared to the invasive method in the same way. It was concluded that the oscillometric method is statistically equal to the invasive method, whereas doppler differs from both. However, due to the strong positive correlation between doppler and invasive methods, it was possible to create a correction factor (linear regression) to determine the value of invasive pressure from the value obtained by the doppler method. To obtain more reliable figures, it is recommended to use this correction factor when the doppler method is used to measure SBP in anesthetized cats.

Study of the effect of the silver content on the structural and mechanical behavior of Ag-ZrCN coatings for orthopedic prostheses.

With the increase of elderly population and health problems that are arising nowadays, hip joint prostheses are being widely used. However, it is estimated that 20% of hip replacement surgeries simply fails after few years, mainly due to wear fatigue. Bearing this in mind, this work reports on the development of new coatings that are able to sustain long and innocuous life inside the patient, which will confer to the usual biomaterials improved physical, mechanical and tribological properties. In particular, the development of multifunctional coatings based on Ag-ZrCN, prepared by DC reactive magnetron sputtering using two targets, Zr and a modified Zr target, in an Ar+C2H2+N2 atmosphere. Silver pellets were placed in the erosion area of the alloyed Zr target in order to obtain a silver content up to 8 at.%. The structural results obtained by x-ray diffraction show that the coatings crystallize in a NaCl crystal structure typical of ZrC1-xNx. The increase of Ag content promoted the formation of an additional a-CNx amorphous phase, besides a silver crystalline phase. Hardness is decreasing, as increasing silver content. Despite the low thicknesses, adhesion values (LC3) can be considered as good. Dynamic fatigue results suggest that these coatings system can be a real asset in terms of mechanical properties, by improving the performance of usual Stainless Steel 316 L biomaterials.