Genetic variability affecting Exserohilum turcicum resistance in popcorn lines grown under high and low phosphorus conditions.

Northern leaf blight (NLB), caused by Exserohilum turcicum, is one of the main foliar diseases that affect popcorn culture. Farmers use many control measures to minimize damage caused by this disease, among which, the use of cultivars with genetic resistance is the most effective and economical. The aim of this study was to investigate genetic variability influencing resistance to NLB in 25 popcorn maize lines grown under high and low phosphorus conditions in relation to foliar fungal disease caused by E. turcicum. We evaluated the disease incidence and severity, by analysis of variance and cluster test (Scott-Knott). There was sufficient genetic variability between strains for resistance traits. Genotypic variance was higher than environmental variance, and had more discriminatory power. We conclude that new progenies could be selected for the establishment of future populations. P-7, P-9, L-59, L-71, and L-76 progenies possess promising characteristics that simultaneously reduce the severity and the incidence of NLB in popcorn plants.

Development of attention in preterm infants.

The quality of the awake state and attention in preterm infants has been evaluated by rating indices of attention such as widening of the eye, type of fixation, brightening, scanning, and cessation of sucking measured during visual fixation of patterns. Twenty-six infants ranging from 28 to 32 weeks' gestation at birth (mean, 31 weeks) were tested from one to four weeks postnatally until 36 weeks' gestation. Indices of attention were rated on a scale of 4 with an optimal mean index of 4. A progressive increase in behaviors associated with fixation of visual stimuli has been shown from 32 to 36 weeks of conceptual age. Mean scores ranged from 0.7 at 31 weeks' gestation to 1.8 at 34 weeks' and 2.7 at 36 weeks' gestation. The possibility therefore exists that by as early as 31 to 32 weeks from conception the human brain may be capable of waking states and thus able to process some sensory stimulation.rease in behaviors associated with fixation of visual stimuli has been shown from 32 to 36 weeks of conceptual age. Mean scores ranged from 0.7 at 31 weeks' gestation to 1.8 at 34 weeks' and 2.7 at 36 weeks' gestation. The possibility therefore exists that by as early as 31 to 32 weeks from conception the human brain may be capable of waking states and thus able to process some sensory stimulation.

State of awakeness during visual fixation in preterm infants.

To demonstrate the presence of discriminable awake states in preterm infants, facial behaviors and visual fixation to a single patterned stimulus were recorded. Five healthy preterm infants born at a mean of 29 weeks' gestation were followed from 30 to 35 weeks' postmenstrual age. Behaviors (eye openness, movements, mouthing, and vocalizations) were recorded simultaneously with visual fixation measured by the corneal reflection technique. Test time was determined by the duration of time the infant remained awake before crying or closing eyes. The presence of both quiet awakeness and drowsiness was demonstrated. Younger infants spent more time in drowsiness, whereas older infants had more quiet awakeness. Visual pattern fixation was observed as early as 30 weeks. Fixation time increased with increasing postmenstrual age. More fixation was observed during quiet awakeness than during drowsiness.

Anesthesia for pancreas transplantation alone or simultaneous with kidney.

Improvements in perioperative care, namely, organ preservation solutions, immunosuppression, and increased experience of surgical, anesthetic, and intensive care teams, have contributed to the success of pancreas transplantation. The objective of this study was to present data on anesthesia for pancreas transplantation alone (PTA) or simultaneous with kidney (SPKT), evaluating crystalloid, albumin and blood component infusions, graft ischemic times, and weights and ages of recipient. We evaluated patients undergoing SPKT (n=73), PTA (n=49), or SPKT with kidney living donor (n=8). Aggressive monitoring and therapy were used to avoid hypoperfusion, optimized with intravenous fluids, vasoative drugs, and correction of metabolic disturbances. Three SPKT patients were not extubated at the end of surgery. There were no other complications related to anesthesia in any patient. Although it is a high-risk surgery, PTA or SPKT is routine in our practice. Adequate perioperative care is important not only for the safety of the procedure but also for graft viability, contributing to a promising long-term treatment of insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

Glycemic control during pancreas transplantation: continous infusion versus bolus.

Pancreas transplantation is a method to restore endogenous insulin secretion in insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Because glycemia >150 mg/dL may harm pancreatic graft beta cells, early glucose control using insulin administration is recommended during transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of strict glycemic control during pancreas transplantation by comparing two types of insulin and glucose administration: continuous infusion and bolus. Capillary glucose was measured every 30 minutes after anesthetic induction for pancreas transplantation alone or simultaneously with kidney transplantation. Intravenous regular insulin was administered for values >150 mg/dL or glucose for values <100 mg/dL. The following timepoints were evaluated: anesthetic induction, before pancreatic graft reperfusion, and the first 4 minutes after reperfusion. Pancreatic graft ischemia time was significantly lower in the bolus group (P <.02). Immediately after reperfusion, there was a small increase in glycemia with a decrease in subsequent measurements in both groups. No significant difference in glycemia was observed between the groups at any time. Induction values were greater than all other timepoints in both groups. Glycemic control is important; it was successfully obtained with both methods. The trend to decrease glucose after reperfusion suggest early graft function.

[Segawa's disease: progressive dystonia responsive to L-dopa. A case report]. / Doença de Segawa: distonia progressiva sensível à L-dopa. Relato de caso.

Segawa's disease (SD) is a hereditary progressive dystonia with marked diurnal fluctuation with onset in childhood or adolescence and a striking responsiveness to L-dopa. Here we describe a typical case of SD in a 28 year old woman whose disease begun at the age of 18 years. This patient had a second cousin with probable hereditary spastic paraplegia (Strumpell's familiar spastic paraplegia) who had no benefit on a recent L-dopa trial. Due to this family history our patient had been misdiagnosed as Strumpell's disease for more than 10 years. There was no other apparent case of SD in the family. Her father had an atypical gait but was otherwise normal. Her daughter had motor developmental delay due to hypotonia. Pes cavus was a common feature to the patient, her father and her cousin.

Newborn infant attention to form of contour.

Human neonates selectively fixated patterns with curved rather than straight contours when the outermost contours differed in this form variable and when quantitative variables were controlled. The presence from birth of a discrimination ability basic to later form perception was evidenced.

Vesicular pityriasis rosea: response to erythromycin treatment.

Pityriasis rosea (PR) is a relatively common disease although its aetiology has not yet been identified. It occurs worldwide and there is no racial susceptibility factor. It usually affects teenagers and young adults between 10 and 35 years of age. Typical PR is much easier to diagnose than the rare atypical forms. We report a rare case of vesicular PR in a black woman who had vesicular lesions limited to her palms and soles in addition to regular typical lesions. We devised an efficient oral erythromycin treatment for this patient.

Neonatal pattern vision: a predictor of future mental performance?

The visual fixation responses of 33 high-risk neonates to patterned stimuli were rated as normal, suspect, or abnormal in an attempt to predict future intellectual performance. For comparison purposes, a neurologic examination was aslo administered. Follow-up studies based on autopsies and neurologic and psychological testing agreed with the neonatal visual preference ratings in 27 cases, but with the neurologic examination ratings in only 22 cases. This preliminary study suggests that neonatal visual testing is a promising technique for evaluating brain integrity in the newborn period.