Genetic fidelity and variability of micropropagated cassava plants (Manihot esculenta Crantz) evaluated using ISSR markers.

Molecular markers are efficient for assessing the genetic fidelity of various species of plants after in vitro culture. In this study, we evaluated the genetic fidelity and variability of micropropagated cassava plants (Manihot esculenta Crantz) using inter-simple sequence repeat markers. Twenty-two cassava accessions from the Embrapa Cassava & Fruits Germplasm Bank were used. For each accession, DNA was extracted from a plant maintained in the field and from 3 plants grown in vitro. For DNA amplification, 27 inter-simple sequence repeat primers were used, of which 24 generated 175 bands; 100 of those bands were polymorphic and were used to study genetic variability among accessions of cassava plants maintained in the field. Based on the genetic distance matrix calculated using the arithmetic complement of the Jaccard's index, genotypes were clustered using the unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages. The number of bands per primer was 2-13, with an average of 7.3. For most micropropagated accessions, the fidelity study showed no genetic variation between plants of the same accessions maintained in the field and those maintained in vitro, confirming the high genetic fidelity of the micropropagated plants. However, genetic variability was observed among different accessions grown in the field, and clustering based on the dissimilarity matrix revealed 7 groups. Inter-simple sequence repeat markers were efficient for detecting the genetic homogeneity of cassava plants derived from meristem culture, demonstrating the reliability of this propagation system.

Host Preference and Fitness of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Different Instars of the Aphid Schizaphis graminum.

Parasitoid fitness is strongly influenced by host quality for immature parasitoid development and by oviposition host choice patterns made by adult female parasitoids. This study aimed to determine immature host quality of Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) host instars preference. To this end, the host quality of immature stages of S. graminum was assessed by rearing the parasitoid in all four instars of the aphid, placing each nymph stage of the aphid parasitized by L. testaceipes in separate Petri dishes with sorghum leaves over a 1% agar-water solution at 23 ± 1°C and a 12:12 h L:D photoperiod. The host-age preferences of the parasitoid between second and fourth instar nymphs were analyzed by choice (ten nymphs of each instar) and non-choice (ten nymphs of one instar) tests, observing parasitoid foraging in a 5-cm arena for 5 min under a stereoscopic microscope. Third and fourth instars were better hosts than first or second instars, with faster developmental times, resulting in larger wasps with bigger hind tibia size and more eggs in their ovarioles (i.e., higher initial egg load). Females preferred to oviposit in fourth instar aphids in both choice and non-choice tests. Selection by adult L. testaceipes females of older instars of S. graminum for oviposition maximizes parasitoid fitness as these instars are intrinsically more suitable for development of parasitoid offspring.

Chondrosarcoma secondary to hereditary multiple exostosis treated by extended internal hemipelvectomy.

The authors report on the case of a 28-year-old patient with extensive chondrosarcoma of the left ischium and pubis involving hip joint, skin, and soft tissue of the gluteal region, secondary to hereditary multiple exostosis submitted to an extended internal Enneking type II and III hemipelvectomy. No prosthesis or arthrodesis was used. A few years ago, patients with extensive tumors like this one were treated with interilioabdominal amputation, resulting in a loss of quality of life. Two years after the limb-preserving surgery, this patient was disease free, with good functional results, including bipedal ambulation with support.

[Socioeconomic and educational characterization of nursing students in the schools of Minas Gerais]. / Caracterização socioeconômica e educacional do estudante de enfermagem nas escolas de Minas Gerais.

This study compare the profile of nursing students from public and private schools located in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It shows the similarities and differences between the two groups. The results show that the most significant differences are related to school life, requisites for learning and the economic situation of the students. The private schools student is in disadvantage, he enters at university later, disposes less time to study, the majority works, his parents have less regular instruction. This results can be used by other professionals to continue this kind of research with a broader scope.

Survival and functional results of Pearson's near-total laryngectomy for larynx and pyriform sinus carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Current treatment for most T3 and T4 transglottic and pyriform sinus carcinomas is total laryngectomy or total laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy. Voice rehabilitation usually requires the use of a tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP). Pearson's near-total laryngectomy (NTL) is an option for voice preservation in selected cases with no invasion of the interarythenoid space and limited invasion of the subglottis. The purpose of this study is to report the functional and survival results of 42 consecutive patients who underwent NTL from 1988 to 1995. Patients and Methods The patients were 40 men and two women, with a median age of 58 years. All patients had squamous cell carcinoma. There were 37 larynx and five pyriform sinus tumors. T3 stage tumor represented 85.7% of the cases. RESULTS: There were complications in 13 patients (28.9%). Vocal quality was considered good in 83.3% of the cases. To date, eight patients presented tumor recurrences: two local, two in the neck, and four distant. The 5-year actuarial overall survival rates were of 81.7% in larynx carcinoma and 66.6% in pyriform sinus carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: In selected transglottic and pyriform sinus carcinomas, NTL can be carried out with acceptable morbidity and a high potential of voice preservation and tumor control.