Biology and External Morphology of the Immature Stages of Dirphia moderata Bouvier (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Hemileucinae) in Anacardium occidentale L / Biologia e Morfologia Externa dos Estágios Imaturos de Dirphia moderata Bouvier (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Hemileucinae) em Anacardium occidentale L

Abstract The genus Dirphia Hübner, [1819] presents Neotropical distribution. This genus, besides causing accidents of interest in public health, is a potential defoliator pest of cultivated plants, among them the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.), a crop of great economic importance. This study describes the biology, external morphology of the immature stages of Dirphia moderata Bouvier, 1929 including the first instar larva chaetotaxy. The egg stage had an average duration of 15 days, larval stage 45 days and pupa 60 days, totaling 120 days in average temperature of 28.8 °C and 59.5% relative humidity. Six instars were confirmed by the Dyar rule, with a growth rate of cephalic capsule K = 1.4 times per ínstar. The results found in the first ínstar chaetotaxy follow the general pattern known for Hemileucinae.

Resumo O gênero Dirphia Hübner, [1819] apresenta distribuição Neotropical. Esse gênero, além de causar acidentes de interesse na saúde pública, é uma potencial praga desfolhadora de plantas cultivadas, entre elas o cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale L.), cultura de grande importância econômica. Esse estudo descreve a biologia e morfologia externa dos estágios imaturos de Dirphia moderata Bouvier, 1929 incluindo a quetotaxia da larva de primeiro instar. O estágio de ovo teve duração média de 15 dias, estágio larval de 45 dias e pupa de 60 dias, totalizando 120 dias em temperatura média de 28,8 °C e 59,5% de umidade relativa. Seis ínstares foram confirmados pela regra de Dyar, com razão de crescimento da cápsula cefálica K = 1,4 vezes a cada ínstar. Os resultados encontrados na quetotaxia do primeiro instar segue o padrão geral conhecido para Hemileucinae.

Biology and External Morphology of the Immature Stages of Dirphia moderata Bouvier (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Hemileucinae) in Anacardium occidentale L.

The genus Dirphia Hübner, [1819] presents Neotropical distribution. This genus, besides causing accidents of interest in public health, is a potential defoliator pest of cultivated plants, among them the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.), a crop of great economic importance. This study describes the biology, external morphology of the immature stages of Dirphia moderata Bouvier, 1929 including the first instar larva chaetotaxy. The egg stage had an average duration of 15 days, larval stage 45 days and pupa 60 days, totaling 120 days in average temperature of 28.8 °C and 59.5% relative humidity. Six instars were confirmed by the Dyar rule, with a growth rate of cephalic capsule K = 1.4 times per ínstar. The results found in the first ínstar chaetotaxy follow the general pattern known for Hemileucinae.

Biology and External Morphology of the Immature Stages of Dirphia moderata Bouvier (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Hemileucinae) in Anacardium occidentale L

Abstract The genus Dirphia Hübner, [1819] presents Neotropical distribution. This genus, besides causing accidents of interest in public health, is a potential defoliator pest of cultivated plants, among them the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.), a crop of great economic importance. This study describes the biology, external morphology of the immature stages of Dirphia moderata Bouvier, 1929 including the first instar larva chaetotaxy. The egg stage had an average duration of 15 days, larval stage 45 days and pupa 60 days, totaling 120 days in average temperature of 28.8 °C and 59.5% relative humidity. Six instars were confirmed by the Dyar rule, with a growth rate of cephalic capsule K = 1.4 times per ínstar. The results found in the first ínstar chaetotaxy follow the general pattern known for Hemileucinae.

Resumo O gênero Dirphia Hübner, [1819] apresenta distribuição Neotropical. Esse gênero, além de causar acidentes de interesse na saúde pública, é uma potencial praga desfolhadora de plantas cultivadas, entre elas o cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale L.), cultura de grande importância econômica. Esse estudo descreve a biologia e morfologia externa dos estágios imaturos de Dirphia moderata Bouvier, 1929 incluindo a quetotaxia da larva de primeiro instar. O estágio de ovo teve duração média de 15 dias, estágio larval de 45 dias e pupa de 60 dias, totalizando 120 dias em temperatura média de 28,8 °C e 59,5% de umidade relativa. Seis ínstares foram confirmados pela regra de Dyar, com razão de crescimento da cápsula cefálica K = 1,4 vezes a cada ínstar. Os resultados encontrados na quetotaxia do primeiro instar segue o padrão geral conhecido para Hemileucinae.

Medicinal plant extracts on the control of Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) / Extratos de plantas medicinais no controle de Diabrotica speciosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the insecticidal effect of aqueous, alcoholic, and oil extracts from leaves of eight medicinal plants against Diabrotica speciosa prepared at five concentrations. The extracts that used commercial soybean oil as solvent showed the highest D. speciosa mortality due to the solvent itself, regardless of the used plants and their concentrations. Thus, commercial soybean oil was discarded as solvent since at these volumes it would cause serious phytotoxicity problems. After 24 hours of exposure of the pest to the extracts, the highest D. speciosa mortality values were observed for Copaifera langsdorfii and Chenopodium ambrosioides extracts, both in 5% alcohol, and Artemisia verlotorum, in 10% water. However, in the last mortality assessment (48 h), C. langsdorfii extract in 5% alcohol showed higher mortality of this pest, followed by C. ambrosioides extract in 5% alcohol, compared to the remaining plants.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito inseticida de extratos aquosos, alcoólicos e oleosos de folhas de oito plantas medicinais contra Diabrotica speciosa preparadas em cinco concentrações. Os extratos que utilizaram óleo de soja comercial como solvente apresentaram as maiores mortalidades de D. speciosa em função do próprio óleo, independentemente das plantas utilizadas em suas concentrações. Sendo assim, o óleo de soja comercial foi descartado como solvente, pois nestes volumes acarretaria sérios problemas de fitotoxidade. Após 24 horas de exposição da praga aos extratos, os maiores valores de mortalidade de D. speciosa foram observados nos extratos de Copaifera Langsdorfii e de Chenopodium ambrosioides, ambos em álcool 5%, e de Artemisia verlotorum, em água 10%. Entretanto, na última avaliação de mortalidade (48 h), o extrato de C. langsdorfii em álcool a 5% apresentou maior mortalidade dessa praga, seguida pelo extrato alcoólico a 5% de C. ambrosioides comparada às demais plantas.

Intraoperative radiotherapy in the conventional linear accelerator room for early breast cancer treatment: an alternative choice in developing countries.

Intraoperative radiotherapy with a single dose of electrons (ELIOT) in the conservative treatment of breast cancer is a possibility under evaluation in clinical trials. The costs of the mobile linear accelerator with a robotic arm, used in intraoperative radiotherapy, are prohibitive for poor countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of ELIOT in the accelerator room of the Radiotherapy Service for early breast cancer treatment. We analyzed 40 patients submitted to breast conservative surgery and ELIOT, in the accelerator room of the Radiotherapy Service at the Hospital of Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil from January 2004 to July 2005. Patients with unifocal breast carcinoma smaller than 25 mm, aged over 45 years, who were candidates for conservative surgery were selected and a total dose of 21Gy was delivered, without further radiotherapy. In the short-term follow-up (median 18 months), six patients (15%) presented with some grade of fibrosis under the scar. One case (2.5%) of local recurrence was reported. There are no cases of contralateral carcinoma or distant metastases so far. Our data show that intraoperative radiotherapy with electrons can be safely performed in an accelerator room with a conventional machine.

Electromyographic fatigue threshold of the biceps brachii: the effect of endurance time.

Muscle fatigue can be a limiting factor to determine index as the electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMGFT) due the alterations in motivation and disconfots. This way, the purpose of this study was to identify the right biceps brachii and left biceps brachii obtained from repetitive elbow flexions at each 100% of total time. Nine healthy subjects performed the exercise named biceps curl until exhaustion with 25%, 35%, and 45%0 of one repetition maximum, in three different days. EMG amplitude (root mean square--RMS) was obtained for concentric contractions during these load levels and correlated with time to determine the slope values for each load and them determine the EMGFT. The EMGFT was obtained within of each 10% of total time and they were compared by analysis of variance. The results showed a progressive increase in RMS with time, for both muscles in all loads, characterizing the muscle fatigue process, and for the EMGFT values ware not found predominantly significant differences between the execution time, as well as between muscles (right biceps x left biceps). This protocol allowed to identify the EMGFT to both muscles during the biceps curl, which was similar at different percentage of total time, indicating the possibility to reduce the length of the contraction test without the need to maintain the contraction until exhaustion. Further studies are needed to evaluate the applicability of this method to determining the effects on performance.

Electromyographic fatigue threshold of the biceps brachii muscle during dynamic contraction.

The purpose of this study was to identify the Electromyographic Fatigue Threshold (EMGFT) of the biceps brachii muscle bilaterally during the elbow flexion in tests performed in different times. 30 second test, 1 minute test and fatiguing test, in concentric (CC) and eccentric (EC) phases. Nine healthy young men performed the elbow flexion with loads corresponding at 25%, 35% and 45% of the one repetition maximum (1-RM) in separate days. The results indicated that the test applied for the biceps brachii muscle during elbow flexion induced a progressive increment of EMG activity with time indicating muscle fatigue and allowed the identification of the EMGFT. The three tests presented no difference of EMGFT between CC and EC phases bilaterally.

Comparação entre protocolos de exaustão e de 30 segundos utilizados na avaliação da fadiga eletromiografica dos musculos eretores da espinha / Comparasion between exhaustion and 30-second protocols utilized in evaluating electromyographic fatigue of the erector spinae muscles

A dor lombar tem demosntrado relacao com a baixa resistencia isometrica dos musculos eretores da espinha, resultante da fadiga muscular. Por esse motivo, testes direcionados a avaliacao dessa variavel tem sido propostos. Entretanto, fatores subjetivos nao relacionados a fadiga muscular podem ser responsaveis por interferencia nos resultados deses testes. Objetivo: verificar se a identificacao da fadiga dos musculos eretores da espinha a partir de um teste de resistencia isometrica realizado ate a exaustao (TRI) e reproduzida no mesmo teste, mas com duracao de 30 segundos(T30). Nove voluntarios saudaveis realizaram a extensao isometrica do tronco contra cargas de (5, 10, 15 e 20 por cento) da carga maxima. Foi captada a atividade eletromiografica do musculo multifido bilateralmente. A fadiga muscular foi identificada por meio do coeficiente angular resultante da correlacao entre os valores de Root mean Square e de tempo, o qual, sendo positivo, revelou que a atividade eletromiografica aumentou em funcao do tempo,indicando assim, o desenvolvimento da fadiga muscular. resultados: os resultados demonstraram que apenas o T30 foi capaz de demonstrar a fadiga do musculo multifidio. Conclusao: a partir dos resultados obtidos, recomenda-se a realizacao do teste proposto, o qual e suficiente para identificar a fadiga do musculo multifidio ao mesmo tempo em que otimiza sua execucao, exigindo menos tempo para a avaliacao e minimizando, assim, interferencias resultantes da conducao de testes desse tipo ate a exaustao, como motivacao, medo e dor

[Ecoepidemiology of urban schistosomiasis in Itamaracá Island, Pernambuco, Brazil]. / Ecoepidemiologia da esquistossomose urbana na ilha de Itamaracá, Estado de Pernambuco.

INTRODUCTION: In 1988, 22 autochthonous cases from accidental exposure were registered in Forte Orange beach, Itamaracá Island, Pernambuco, Brazil. All cases occurred in middle-to-upper class individuals who were vacationing in the island. After the cases were identified, the major objective was to find breeding sites of schistosomiasis vectors and correlate the biological factors with the environmental conditions. METHODS: The environmental characteristics of the beach before human occupation were obtained from several documents. Also, a one-year malacological survey was conducted with monthly collection of mollusks, and the determination of their infectivity rates. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: The malacological survey was able to identify 20 breeding sites of Biomphalaria glabrata and 28 capture station were set up. Snails were collected and examined each month throughout a whole year. The results show a seasonal variation in the mollusk population density associated with infection rates and types of breeding sites. The importance of this new epidemiological profile of schistosomiasis in the State of Pernambuco relies on the fact that it can be related with the drastic human interference on the environment. Ecological, environmental, and demographic factors as well as the epidemiological characteristics of the disease have social and economic repercussions.

Possible hybridization of Brazilian planorbid snails and its importance in population dynamics.

This study focuses on the possibility of experimental hybridization among host snail species for Schistosoma mansoni in Brazil, with morphological characterization of the hybrids found. By using albinism as a genetic marker, intraspecific crossbreedings were performed between two strains of each species involved, in addition to interspecific crossbreedings; the only viable crossbreeding was between pigmented Biomphalaria glabrata (Paulista, PE) and albino B. tenagophila (Joinville, SC), with the formation of F1 and F2 generations. All offspring in F1 displayed black eyes and a renal ridge on the mantle, while F2 displayed dissociated morphological traits. With regard to reproduction, F1 was more efficient than F2. The experiment's results suggest post-zygotic reproductive isolation.

[Schistosomiasis: reproduction and expansion of the endemia to the state of Pernambuco in Brazil]. / Esquistossomose: reprodução e expansão da endemia no Estado de Pernambuco no Brasil.

Schistosomiasis mansoni can be considered an important public health problem in Northeastern Brazil, in spite of the reduction in the prevalence of the hepatosplenic clinical forms which have been attributed to the large scale use of chemotherapy in this country. However, the rise in the prevalence rates and the spread of this endemic disease to new areas show that schistosomiasis is assuming its must cruel expression: less lethal but more greatly incapacitating in terms of irreversible physical and moral damage to human beings. The state of Pernambuco presents growing rates for schistosomiasis infection in humans. The epidemiological profile of this disease displays high and consistent prevalence rates (up to 80%) in rural areas, and new cases of acute infection on the coast, where schistosomiasis has recently been introduced. The reproduction and expansion of this endemic disease can be better understood on the basic of a conception of structural and historical causation. The disease construction process should be reconstructed in the light of biological as well as the social, political and cultural factors which are jointly responsible for the present endemic situation. Within that frame work, the historical and socioeconomic features that interact with the parasite and give rise to the present proportions of the schistosomiasis epidemic in Pernambuco are discussed. The mode of occupation and use of the land, unemployment, under-nutrition, migration, etc., raise the question of the growing difficulties confronting the control of the disease, both in rural areas where populations are extremely mobile as well as in the poorly organized urban population. Epidemiological investigation is fulfilling its role in its attempts to understand the complex relationships of an intrinsecally social nature of the health/disease process between health problems and the quality of life for the purpose of producing consistent disease control models.

[Hepatosplenic forms of schistosomiasis mansoni in the interior of Northeastern Brazil]. / Formas hepatosplênicas da esquistossomose mansônica no interior do Nordeste do Brasil.

Field studies on the morbidity of schistosomiasis mansoni were carried out in some rural endemic areas of Northeastern Brazil during the first semester of 1991. These cross-sectional studies were limited to the assessment of the gradient of clinical forms of the disease. The entire population present in a house-to-house survey was examined. Results have shown a reduction in the prevalence rates of the more severe form of schistosomiasis, the hepatosplenic form, when compared with previous similar studies made in the same areas during the 1960s and 1970s. Changes in prevalence rates of the severe clinical forms from the younger to the older age groups were observed.

Determination and control of schistosomiasis.

The subject of this conference reflects the scientific community's interest in seeking to understand the complex causal web whose various social, economic, and biological components interact in the production and reproduction of schistosomiasis and its control in relation to community participation. From the onset, the author stresses the impossibility of dealing separately with community participation, as if social components were just one more "weapon" in the arsenal for schistosomiasis control. This study begins with a brief historical review of the 71 years of control activities with this endemic disease, stressing the enormous efforts and huge expenditures in this field vis-à-vis the limited results, despite the extraordinary technological development of specific, classical control inputs such as new treatment drugs and molluscicides. The article then discusses the various strategies used in control programs, emphasizing ideological consistencies and contradictions. Interactions at the macro and micro levels are discussed, as are the determinants and risk factors involved in producing the disease's endemicity. Unequal occupation of space leaves the segregated portion of the population exposed to extremely favorable conditions for transmission of the disease. This raises the issue of how to control an endemic disease which is so closely linked to the way of life imposed on the population. The study challenges the classical control model and suggests an alternative model now undergoing medium-term investigation in the States of Espirito Santo, and Pernambuco, Brazil. The author concludes that we do not need new strategies, but a new control model, contrary to the prevailing classical model in both concept and practice. From the conceptual point of view, the new model mentioned above is different from others in that schistosomiasis control is seen from a social perspective stressing the population's accumulated knowledge in addition to the building of shared knowledge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The bioecology of snail vectors for schitosomiasis in Brazil.

This paper describes the ecology of two species of Biomphalaria: B. glabrata and B. straminea. These species have been intensively studied in Brazil and in other countries since the 1950s. The literature in this area can be broadly subdivided into three categories, linked to three distinct historical periods: 1) an accumulated store of early studies carried out in the laboratory and in the field; 2) the development of quantitative ecological models; and 3) the development of an alternative methodology for breeding snails under seminatural conditions.

Long-term controlled field experiment on the competition between two species of Biomphalaria (Mollusca, Basommatophora), the snail vectors of Schistosoma mansoni in Northeastern Brazil.

A long-term controlled field experiment on the interactions of the populations of Biomphalaria glabrata (target population) and B. straminea (competitor) was carried out in the county of Alhandra, state of Paraíba, Brazil, during the period 1980 through 1989. Results obtained in the current paper show that the snail B. straminea has strong competitive advantages over B. glabrata. In six out of nine streams the native population of B. glabrata were totally excluded and replaced by B. straminea. There is evidence showing that seasonal dryness has marked influence on the phenomenon studied in this paper. In all the streams were B. straminea already predominated, return of B. glabrata was never observed.

[An alternative model for schistosomiasis control: the present status of the project in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil]. / Modelo alternativo para o controle da esquistossomose: estado atual do projeto no Estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil.

An intervention study for schistosomiasis control is being carried out in the county of Afonso Cláudio, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, having begun in February 1992. This study is an alternative response to classical control methods. The project is being developed using an interdisciplinary approach and involves both research and service institutions. The organization of health services at the primary care level is part of the project. Participant observation is seen as the methodological point of departure for guiding data collection and analysis and the intervention process in local reality. Control methods are restricted to the medical treatment given to all infected individuals and to improvements in the sanitation facilities available in the area. These methods are obviously integrated with the above-mentioned social actions. Consisting of three phases - pre-control, control (intervention), and final evaluation - the project is now in its intervention phase, lasting approximately three years.

Transmission of Schistosoma mansoni under experimental conditions using the bovine--Biomphalaria glabrata-bovine model.

Three calves experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni, and passing viable eggs in feces, as well as 5 normal calves (coming from a non-endemic area for schistosomiasis) kept as controls, were maintained in an enclosure (850 m2 in area). In this enclosure, a tank with water received 500 laboratory reared Biomphalaria glabrata. All the control calves were infected for a period ranging from 79 to 202 days after the beginning of the experiment, and afterwards presented viable S. mansoni eggs in feces. The mean worm recovery was 555. The snail population increased throughout the experimental period, showing a high number of B. glabrata infected with S. mansoni (42% on average). According to the present study, bovine has been suggested as having potentially a role in the maintenance of the life cycle of S. mansoni.

Alternative approaches in schistosomiasis control.

Measures for the control of schistosomiasis were implemented in Egypt beginning 1922. This shows that developing endemic countries are facing this problem for near 70 years. However, results in the control of this infection have not been satisfactorily obtained in spite of the technologies and strategies recently developed. The idea that social and economic components are relevant in the control of schistosomiasis is not new although its extension and profundity have not usually been well understood. More recently, most of the workers have recognized that the focal distribution of the prevalence rates of schistosomiasis should not be neglected in the control of the infection. At present, field work projects on the control of schistosomiasis are being developed in rural areas of two Brazilian studies (Espírito Santo and Pernambuco). The adopted strategy aims to interfere in the complex relationships between man and his bio-social-cultural environment, without forgetting that the unequal distribution of the space is a consequence of the political and economic organization of the Society.

Aspectos epidemiológicos da esquistossomose mansoni em bovinos / Epidemiological aspects of Schistosomiasis mansoni in bovine

Com o objetivo de avaliar a inserçäo da espécie bovina no processo de transmissäo da esquistossomose mansoni, realizaram-se exames de fezes e raspagem de mucosa retal em 894 bezerros, provenientes de 20 fazendas de bovinocultura de leite e 10 de aptidäo mista, selecionadas segundo critérios bioecológicos relativos à transmissäo da parasitose. Detectaram-se ovos viáveis de Schistosoma mansoni nas fezes de nove bezerros, obtendo-se uma prevalência de 1 por cento. Foi impossível infectar B. glabrata criadas em laboratório, a partir das fezes de um bezerro, que num período de observaçäo de seis meses, eliminou ovos viáveis. Concluiu-se que a participaçäo de bovinos enquanto hospedeiros e transmissores do S. mansoni, é determinado, além de critérios biológicos pela forma de organizaçäo da produçäo agropecuária