Genetic variation detected by RAPD markers in natural populations of babassu palm (Attalea speciosa Mart.).

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of management on the genetic structure of natural populations of Attalea speciosa in the State of Piauí, Brazil, using random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Three babassu populations under different management systems were selected. Polymerase chain reactions were performed for 20 RAPD primers. A total of 146 bands were generated, 141 of which were polymorphic (96.58%), with a variation of 4 and 12 loci and an average of 7 bands per primer. A dendrogram revealed a clear separation between the three populations (0.57). Data reliability and node consistency were verified by bootstrap values and the cophenetic correlation coefficient (88.15%). Coefficients of similarity between pairs of genotypes ranged from 0.26 to 0.86, with a mean of 0.57. Nei's genetic diversity index (HE) value of the population sampled in Teresina was 0.212, of Esperantina it was 0.195, and of José de Freitas it was 0.207. After the HE was decomposed, the complete diversity was found to be 0.3213. Genetic differentiation between populations was 0.362, and the estimation of gene flow between populations was low (0.879). Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 59.52% of the variation was contained within populations, and 40.48% was between populations. RAPD markers were effective for genetic diversity analysis within and between natural babassu populations, and exhibited a high level of polymorphism. Genetic diversity was the highest within populations; variability was lower in the managed populations than in the undisturbed populations.

Nutritional intake according to injury extent in ulcerative colitis patients.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is often associated with nutritional deficiency, which appears to contribute to the progression of UC severity. The present study aimed to evaluate nutritional status and dietary intake in UC remission patients. METHODS: The present study comprised a cross-sectional study in which variables such as extent of disease (distal colitis, left-sided colitis, pancolitis), remission period, sex and age were recorded. Extent of disease was assessed by the results of a colonoscopy and dietary intake was evaluated by using 3-day, 24-h recalls. A Kruskall-Wallis test was used to compare the intake of macro- and micronutrients among the three study groups. The analysis was complemented by the Mann-Whitney test. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictive factors of extent of disease (pancolitis versus left-sided colitis versus distal colitis). RESULTS: The median (range) age of the 59 patients was 49.0 (37.0-63.0) years and 53.3% were female. Twenty-six (44.1%) patients had distal colitis, 11 (18.6%) patients had left-sided colitis and 22 (37.3%) patients had pancolitis. A high probability of an inadequate intake of fibre (100%), fat soluble vitamins (>40% for vitamin A and >95% for vitamin E), vitamin C (>34%), calcium (>90%) and magnesium (>50%) was identified in the study group. Vitamin D intake (odds ratio = 0.60; 95% confidence interval = 0.39-0.94; P < 0.05) was significantly associated with increased intestinal damage. CONCLUSIONS: A large number of individuals showed an inadequate intake of nutrients. In addition, the consumption of vitamin D was significantly associated with extent of disease.

Different nutritional-state indicators of HIV-positive individuals undergoing antiretroviral therapy

This study aimed at learning about the nutritional profile of HIV-positive individuals undergoing antiretroviral therapy and at comparing the performance of nutritional-state indicators. A transversal study was performed on 94 patients attending the Tropical Diseases Outpatient Hospital of Botucatu Medical School (FMB) - UNESP. The body mass index (BMI) and the classification by Papini-Berto (PB) were used to evaluate nutritional state, aiming at detecting malnutrition and obesity. The waist-to-hips ratio (W/HR) and waist circumference (WC) were adopted for identification of abdominal obesity and lipodystrophy. According to BMI, most of the individuals were eutrophic, followed by 30.9 percent overweight and 6.4 percent malnourished. By using the PB classification, the frequency of malnourished increased (22.3 percent). The analysis of the PB classification in relation to BMI indicated that the former presented high sensitivity and good specificity for malnutrition diagnosis, namely 100 percent and 83 percent, respectively. The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 7.44 percent according to WC, and a higher prevalence (38.3 percent) was observed when taking W/HR into account. There was significant positive association between nutritional diagnosis according to PB and T CD4+ lymphocyte. The results support the use of PB classification for malnutrition detection as well as that of BMI and W/HR for overweight and fat redistribution.

Medicinal plants popularly used in the Brazilian Tropical Atlantic Forest.

A survey of medicinal plants used by rural and urban inhabitants of the three cities of the Tropical Atlantic Forest, Region of Vale do Ribeira, State of São Paulo, Brazil was performed by means of 200 interviews with medicinal plant users and extractors and, traditional healers. One hundred fourteen herbal remedies were recorded and the following information reported: Latin, vernacular and English names, plant part used, forms of preparation and application of the herbal remedies, medicinal or food uses, areas of plant collection, economic importance (when available) and other data.

[Assessing breastfeeding status in an urban area of southeastern Brazil: use of a simplified method]. / Diagnóstico da situação do aleitamento materno em área urbana do sudeste do Brasil: utilização de metodologia simplificada.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of breastfeeding status in populations is necessary to define aims and to evaluate support and promotion programs related to this practice. Thus, the feasibility of undertaking such a diagnosis concomitantly with the National Multivaccination Campaign, was tested. METHOD: A simplified questionnaire was used (3 yes/no questions) to study the present feeding of 1,550 children under 1 year old (91.8% coverage) who attended the vaccination venues in August 19th, 1995. The medians and frequencies from three patterns of breastfeeding were calculated by probit analysis technique. RESULTS: The medians were: exclusive breastfeeding = 17 days (IC: 4.6-28.7); complete breastfeeding = 64 days (IC: 53.0-74.5) and breastfeeding = 167 days (IC: 153.7-182.2). The good adjustment of three patterns was attested by R2 values and by Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results confirmed the need for this program in the city. The simplified methodology was found to be available and is recommended for breastfeeding trend management and for studies on the impact resulting from intervention.