Utilization of temporal dominance of sensations and time intensity methodology for development of low-sodium Mozzarella cheese using a mixture of salts.

Evidence has linked excessive salt consumption to the development of chronic degenerative diseases. Therefore, special attention has been given to the consumption of healthier products with reduced sodium contents. This study aimed to develop a Mozzarella cheese with a reduced sodium content using a mixture of salts through acceptance testing and temporal sensory evaluation. The following 3 formulations of Mozzarella cheese were prepared: formulation A (control), which was produced only with NaCl (0% sodium reduction), formulation B (30% sodium reduction), and formulation C (54% sodium reduction). Every formulation was produced using a mixture of salts consisting of NaCl, KCl, and monosodium glutamate at different concentrations. The products underwent sensory acceptance tests, and the time intensity and temporal dominance of sensations were evaluated. The proportions of salts used did not cause strange or bad tastes but did result in lower intensities of saltiness. Mozzarella with low sodium content (B and C) had a sensory acceptance similar to that of traditional Mozzarella (A). Therefore, the use of a mixture of salts consisting of NaCl, KCl, and monosodium glutamate is a viable alternative for the production of Mozzarella, with up to a 54% reduction in the sodium content while still maintaining acceptable sensory quality.

Diallel analysis of corn for special use as corn grits: determining the main genetic effects for corn gritting ability.

Corn grits are used for various purposes such as flakes, snacks, livestock feed, hominy, extruded products, beer, etc. The grit size proportion varies according to the hybrid, and thus, once the use of the grits is linked to the particle size, determining the genetic effects is essential to develop hybrids for any specific use. For this purpose a complete diallel series of crosses, involving eight parents, was performed near Maringá, PR, Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities of 28 progeny for selection of hybrids for breeding programs and extraction of inbred lines for hybrid development. The response variables, such as plant height, ear insertion height, crop stand, grain yield, and grits, small grits and bran production, were gauged and appraised for each of the 28 progeny. The trait effects and GCA were significant for all response variables, while for SCA, only grain yield and crop stand showed significance (P < 0.05), according to Griffing (1955) analysis. A significant weak negative partial correlation was found between grain yield and grits conversion. In relation to the hybrid selection for breeding programs, the parent IAC Nelore was highly recommended for recurrent selection and the hybrids IPR 119 x HT 392 and IAC Nelore x HD 332 for the extraction of pure lines for hybrid development.

Conjunctival flora, Schirmer's tear test, intraocular pressure, and conjunctival cytology in neotropical primates from Salvador, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to establish reference values for selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests in healthy neotropical primates from Salvador, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 73 intact adults, including Callithrix jacchus (n = 31), Callithrix penicillata (n = 8), Cebus sp. (n = 22), and Cebus xanthosternos (n = 9) were used to evaluate the normal conjunctival bacterial flora. Cebus xanthosternos (n = 12) were used to evaluate tear production with Schirmer's tear test (STT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and conjunctival cytology. RESULTS: For all animals evaluated, Gram-positive bacteria were predominant. Results of the diagnostic tests in Cebus xanthosternos were as follows: STT: 14.92 ± 5.46 mm/minutes, IOP: 19.62 ± 4.57 mmHg, and conjunctival cytology revealed intermediate squamous epithelial cells in great quantities. CONCLUSIONS: These ophthalmic reference values will be particularly useful to diagnose discrete or unusual pathological changes in the neotropical primates eye.

Indoor air quality in Portuguese archives: a snapshot on exposure levels.

Indoor air quality recently entered legislation in Portugal. Several parameters must be evaluated and kept within limits in order to obtain a certification for air quality and energy consumption. Certification parameters were analyzed in two Portuguese archives in order to assess indoor air quality both for people attending or working on these premises and for maintenance of a written heritage that must be retained for future generations. Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2), formaldehyde, and fungal counts were kept within stipulated limits. Relative humidity (RH), volatile organic compounds (VOC), particulate matter (PM10), and ozone (O3) showed values above legislated levels and justified the implementation of corrective measures. In terms of conservation, studies on the limit values are still needed, but according to the available international guidelines, some of the analyzed parameters such as PM10, O3, and RH were also above desirable values. Corrective measures were proposed to these institutions. Although this study was only of a short duration, it proved valuable in assessing potential eventual problems and constitutes the first Portuguese indoor air quality assessment taking into consideration both aspects of an archive such as human health and heritage safekeeping.

A metal-free blue chromophore derived from plant pigments.

Blue natural pigments are rare, especially among plants. However, flowering species that evolved to attract Hymenoptera pollinators are colored by blue anthocyanin-metal complexes. Plants lacking anthocyanins are pigmented by betalains but are unable to produce blue hues. By extending the π-system of betalains, we designed a photostable and metal-free blue dye named BeetBlue that did not show toxicity to human hepatic and retinal pigment epithelial cells and does not affect zebrafish embryonal development. This chiral dye can be conveniently synthesized from betalamic acid obtained from hydrolyzed red beetroot juice or by enzymatic oxidation of l-dopa. BeetBlue is blue in the solid form and in solution of acidified polar molecular solvents, including water. Its capacity to dye natural matrices makes BeetBlue the prototype of a new class of low-cost bioinspired chromophores suitable for a myriad of applications requiring a blue hue.

Emergent food proteins - Towards sustainability, health and innovation.

There is an increasing demand for alternative and sustainable protein sources, such as vegetables, insects and microorganisms, that can meet the nutritional and sensory pleasantness needs of consumers. This emergent interest for novel protein sources, allied with "green" and cost-effective processing technologies, such as high hydrostatic pressure, ohmic heating and pulsed electric fields, can be used as strategies to improve the consumption of proteins from sustainable sources without compromising food security. In addition to their nutritional value, these novel proteins present several technological-functional properties that can be used to create various protein systems in different scales (i.e., macro, micro and nano scale), which can be tailored for a specific application in innovative food products. However, in order for these novel protein sources to be broadly used in future food products, their fate in the human gastrointestinal tract (e.g., digestion and bioavailability) must be assessed, as well as their safety for consumers must be clearly demonstrated. In particular, these proteins may become novel allergens triggering adverse reactions and, therefore, a comprehensive allergenicity risk assessment is needed. This review presents an overview of the most promising alternative protein sources, their application in the production of innovative food systems, as well as their potential effects on human health. In addition, new insights on sustainable processing strategies are given.

Development and physical-chemical properties of pectin film reinforced with spent coffee grounds by continuous casting.

The ever-growing environmental concerns over the unrestricted fossil sources exploitation for non-biodegradable materials production has stimulated research on alternative renewable resources. The pectin films (HDM) were incorporated in different concentrations of spent coffee grounds (SCG) (5-20% w/w HDM) aiming at developing biodegradable films and the use of an underutilized resource. The films were obtained by continuous casting. The chemical composition, morphology, thermal stability, barrier and mechanical properties (traction and puncture), and functional groups were investigated. Overall, SCG showed sound dispersibility and good interaction with the polymer matrix. The addition of SCG resulted in important pectin-based film properties changes, allowing an increase in color and thermal stability. SCG incorporation significantly improved the water vapor permeability rate improving or at least preserving the physicochemical properties.

Evidence for Tunisian-Like Pestiviruses Presence in Small Ruminants in Italy Since 2007.

The genus Pestivirus, which belongs to the Flaviviridae family, includes ssRNA+ viruses responsible for infectious diseases in pigs, cattle, sheep, goats and other domestic and wild ruminants. Like most of the RNA viruses, pestivirus has high genome variability with practical consequences on disease epidemiology, diagnosis and control. In addition to the officially recognized species in the genus Pestivirus, such as BVDV-1, BVDV-2, BDV and CSFV, other pestiviruses have been detected. Furthermore, most of the ruminant pestiviruses show low or absent species specificity observed in serological tests and are able to infect multiple species. Particularly, small ruminants are receptive hosts of the most heterogeneous group of pestiviruses. The aim of this study was to carry out the molecular characterization of pestiviruses isolated from sheep and goats in Sicily, Italy. Phylogenetic analysis of two viral genomic regions (a fragment of 5'-UTR and the whole Npro regions) revealed the presence of different pestivirus genotypes in the analysed goat and sheep herds. Two of five viral isolates were clustered with BVDV-1d viruses, a strain widespread in Italy, but never reported in Sicily. The other three isolates formed a distinct cluster with high similarity to Tunisian isolates, recently proposed as a new pestivirus species. This represents the first evidence for Tunisian-like pestivirus presence in small ruminants in Italy. Furthermore, one of the isolates was collected from a goat, representing the first isolation of Tunisian-like pestivirus from this species.

Ethylene oligomerization promoted by chromium complexes bearing pyrrolide-imine-amine/ether tridentate ligands.

Chromium(iii) complexes [CrCl2(L)(THF)] based on monoanionic tridentate ligands [, L = {2-(C4H3N-2'-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]N)C2H4NHPh}; , L = {5-tert-butyl-2-(C4H2N-2'-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]N)C2H3NHPh}; , L = {2-(C4H3N-2'-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]N)C2H4OPh}] have been prepared. Complexes and were converted into the monomeric acetonitrile adducts [CrCl2(L)(NCMe)] [, L = {2-(C4H3N-2'-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]N)C2H4NHPh}; , L = {5-tert-butyl-2-(C4H2N-2'-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]N)C2H3NHPh}] by reaction with acetonitrile at room temperature. All Cr complexes were characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, magnetochemistry for , and by X-ray crystallography for and . Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), chromium precatalysts and showed good activity in ethylene oligomerization (TOF = 47.0-57.0 × 10(3) (mol ethylene)(mol Cr)(-1) h(-1) at 80 °C), producing mostly oligomers (93.0-95.6 wt% of total products). On the other hand, under identical oligomerization conditions, /MAO behaved as a polymerization catalyst generating predominantly polyethylene (73.0 wt%). However, the catalytic behavior of the precatalyst can be adjusted by varying the MAO-to-Cr ratio. Thus, the use of 500 equiv. causes a dramatic shift from polymerization to ethylene oligomerization, eventually producing mainly lighter α-olefin fractions [α-C4 (68.7 wt%) and α-C6 (19.2 wt%)]. A further increase in the amount of MAO (1000 equiv.) leads to a more balanced distribution of oligomers, with a drastic decrease in the α-C4 and increase in the α-C8 fractions.

Use of reseeded pastures as an aid in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes.

The degree of nematode infectivity of a previously contaminated pasture which was reseeded after harvesting of a soya bean crop was determined by use of four tracer lambs and four tracer calves. The eight tracers were put to graze for 14 days and housed for another 14 days before being slaughtered, when faeces and the intestinal tracts were examined for worm eggs and parasites. With the exception of one animal, which was found to be harbouring 20 Cooperia punctata, the tracers had no adult or immature nematodes. The implications of the use of such pastures are discussed in relation to their possible role in parasite control and anthelmintic resistance in Brazil.

The prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in nematode parasites of sheep in southern Latin America: Brazil.

This survey was conducted in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul and involved 182 farms located in 26 counties. In addition to the three major broad-spectrum anthelmintic groups (viz. benzimidazole, levamisole and ivermectin) the combination benzimidazole and levamisole and the H. contortus specific anthelmintic, closantel, were tested by the faecal egg count reduction method for the prevalence of anthelmintic resistance. Resistance was found to be 90%, 84%, 13%, 73% and 20%, respectively. This is a crisis situation. Immediate, drastic action needs to be implemented, otherwise the sheep industry in this region (approx. 10 million head) will soon face a lack of any effective anthelmintics with the inevitable consequences of major restructuring or abandonment.

[Evolution of systemic arterial blood pressure during neonatal period in term newborns adequate for gestacional age]. / Evolução dos níveis de pressão arterial sistêmica no período neonatal em recém-nascidos de termo adequados para a idade gestacional.

The authors studied the levels and evolution of systolic, mean and diastolic arterial blood pressure in term newborns adequate for gestacional age during the first month of life. The applied technique was oscillometric, using a non-invasive monitor. The study was prospective, including newborns who had received first minute Apgar score above 6, with no clinical disturbances or use of any drug with possible arterial blood pressure side effects. The measurements of systolic, mean and diastolic arterial blood pressure were taken at 12 hours of life and 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days of life. The authors observed an increase in arterial blood pressure mean values from the 1st to the 7th day of life and that there was no significant changes on the same measurements from the 1st to the 4th week of life.

[Prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight infants]. / Prevalência da retinopatia da prematuridade em recém-nascidos de muito baixo peso.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birthweight infants (birthweight<1500 g). METHOD: A prospective examination was conducted on 102 neonates with very low birthweight admitted to the BAM-HC (FMUSP) between 01/01/92 and 12/31/93. The mapping of the retina with scleral depression was first conducted between 3rd and the 8th weeks of life, and it was repeated every 1 to 4 weeks until the vascularization of the retina was complete or the ROP was present. To classify the ROP the International Classification of ROP was used. For the purposes of statistical analysis, the most serious phase of ROP presented by the neonate was considered. RESULTS: In this study retinopathy of prematurity was present in 29.09% of the neonates, in 78.5% of those under 1,000 g of birthweight, and 72.73% of those with less than 30 weeks of gestational age. Among the newborns with ROP, 77.05% were in phase 1, 13.11% in phase 2, and 9.84% in phase 3. Oxygen in mechanical ventilation and "CPAP" were statistically significant factors for the development the ROP. CONCLUSION: The ophthalmologic examination between the 3rd and 4th weeks of life was an important instrument for the detection of RP and should be done in all very low birth weight infants (weight<1,500 g), especially in neonates with less than 1,250 g and/or gestational age under 34 weeks.

Influence of the climatic environment and duration of labor on the mother-offspring interaction in Morada Nova sheep.

The objective of this study was to confirm the influences of stress from labor and climate on the formation of the mother-offspring bond in Morada Nova sheep in the first 2 h after delivery or at the moment of the first suckling of the newborn. The data were collected from 80 Morada Nova ewes (25 primiparous and 55 multiparous) and their lambs in 2 periods of the year. On the basis of the average length of parturition and the black globe temperature-humidity index (BGTHI) at the time of the birth, the ewes were grouped into 3 classes corresponding to the length of parturition, classified as short (less than 15 min), medium (between 15 and 30 min), or long (more than 30 min). Similarly, the BGTHI at the moment of birth was classified into 1 of 3 ranges: low (less than 65), intermediate (greater than 65 but less than 80), and high (greater than 80). For the characterization of mother-offspring behavior, evaluations were performed in the first 2 h after birth or until the moment of the first suckling of the newborn. Maternal factors such as maternal grooming, facilitating sucking, frequency of low-pitched bleats, and latency to groom were recorded. For the lamb, attempts to seek the udder, the frequency of low-pitched bleats, latency to first reaction, latency to stand, and latency to suckle were recorded. The lambs were slower (P < 0.05) to stand and suckle when they were born in conditions of a BGTHI below 65. The latencies to stand and suckle were greater (P < 0.05) in newborn lambs born during labor that took more than 30 min. For maternal behaviors, activities such as maternal grooming and the facilitation of suckling were greater (P < 0.05) during the time periods with higher bioclimatic index values. Moreover, the dams cleaned or licked (maternal grooming) the newborns for a lower percentage of time (P < 0.05) when the labor lasted longer than 30 min. From the present study, it can be concluded that newborn Morada Nova lambs are slower to stand and suckle when born under BGTHI conditions below 65. Furthermore, prolonged labor harms the mother-offspring bond, especially in terms of the dam's ability to clean (maternal grooming) her lamb's body and facilitate its first suckling.

Acanthosis nigricans as an indicator of insulin resistance in Chilean adult population.

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with a higher risk of multiple diseases and its early detection would allow to minimize the associated risk; the presence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) it's associated to the presence of IR. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensibility and specificity of AN to diagnose IR in a group of Chilean patients. METHODS: We designed a cross-sectional study and it was included subjects that were attended at the Center for the Attention of Metabolic Diseases at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile. Sixty subjects (18-60 years age) were included. It was determined BMI and diagnosed AN and skin phototype; blood samples were taken and calculated the HOMA-IR. The normality of the variables where analyzed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. There were used χ² and the diagnostic concordance between AN and IR was determined using the Kappa index and Pearson's correlation. Sensibility, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were calculated and accepted p<0.05. RESULTS: The IR diagnose was 67% and AN was 43%. The major proportion of subjects diagnosed as positive for IR were also positive for AN (84.6%). The sensibility of AN to find IR was an 84% and specificity was 100%. Positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 89% respectively. It was observed a positive association between BMI and HOMA-IR (r=0.674; r²=0.454; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: To detect acanthosis nigricans in Chilean population may be effective for the early diagnose of insulin resistance and, therefore, reduce the associated cost of the late treatment of glucose metabolic disturbances.

Aspectos morfológicos macro e microscópicos do estômago de tamanduá-mirim (Tamandua tetradactyla) / Macroscopic and microscopic morphological aspects of lesser anteater stomach (Tamandua tetradactyla)

Diante do escasso conhecimento morfofisiológico do trato digestório do Tamandua tetradactyla, este trabalho pretendeu esclarecer a morfologia do estômago dessa espécie. Utilizaram-se seis espécimes, sendo três machos e três fêmeas jovens, provenientes da área de Mina Bauxita Paragominas - PA, doados, após morte por atropelamento, ao Laboratório de Pesquisa Morfológica Animal (LaPMA). Os animais foram fixados com solução aquosa de formaldeído (10 por cento), seguido de dissecação, avaliação da topografia do estômago, com posterior descrição, mensuração e coleta de material para microscopia. As análises topográfica e macroscópica revelaram que o estômago, unicavitário, com presença de pequena e grande curvaturas, estava localizado no antímero esquerdo da cavidade abdominal, ligado cranialmente ao esôfago e caudalmente ao duodeno, e apresentou um aumento de superfície na região pilórica (toro pilórico). Histologicamente, era constituído por epitélio colunar simples (região glandular), epitélio estratificado pavimentoso (região aglandular), lâmina própria, muscular da mucosa, submucosa, muscular circular interna, muscular longitudinal externa e serosa. A região do piloro apresentou um grande espessamento da camada muscular da mucosa, e foram observadas nesta região fossetas gástricas profundas. O estômago de T. tetradactyla revelou características morfológicas macroscópicas e histológicas semelhantes às espécies domésticas e selvagens...

Given the limited morphophysiological knowledge about the digestive tract of Tamandua tetradactyla, this study aimed to clarify the morphology of the stomach of this species. We used six young specimens, three males and three females, from the area of Paragominas bauxite mine - PA, donated after death by trampling, to the Research Laboratory Animal Morphological (LaPMA). The animals were fixed with an aqueous solution of formaldehyde (10 percent), followed by dissection, evaluation of the topography of the stomach, with further description, measurement and collection of material for microscopy. The topographical and macroscopic analysis showed that the stomach was located in left on-timer of the abdominal cavity, connected entirely to the esophagus and caudally to the duodenum, was unicavitary with the presence of small and large curvature and showed a surface increase in the pyloric region (torus pylorus). Histologically it was composed of simple columnar epithelium (glandular region), stratified epithelium (aglandular region), lamina propria, muscular of mucous, submucous, muscular internal circular, muscular external longitudinal and serosa. The region of the pylorus presented a great thickening of the muscular layer of mucous, and deep gastric pits were observed in this region. The stomach of T. tetradactyla revealed macroscopic and histological morphological characteristics similar to domestic and wild species...

Efeito do extrato aquoso de cabelo de milho (Zea mays L. ) sobre a excreção renal de água e eletrólitos e pressão arterial em ratos Wistar anestesiados / Effect of aqueous extract of corn silks (Zea mays L. ) on the renal excretion of water and electrolytes and arterial pressure in anesthetized Wistar rats

O milho (Zea mays L.) possui nos estigmas (cabelo de milho) substâncias que o tornam diurético, podendo ser importante no controle da hipertensão. No presente estudo, foi investigado o efeito do extrato aquoso (EA) do cabelo de milho sobre o fluxo renal de água (V) e eletrólitos e a pressão arterial (PA) em ratos Wistar anestesiados. Foram realizados 3 grupos: I) Controle - administração intragástrica (AI) de 1mL de água destilada; II) AI de 1 mL de EA de cabelo de milho a 20 por cento e III) AI de 1 mL de solução contendo furosemida. Canulou-se a artéria carótida esquerda para mensuração da PA, de 10 em 10 minutos, e a bexiga urinária, para mensuração de V de 30 em 30 minutos e da carga excretada dos íons sódio (Qe (Na+)) e potássio (Qe (K+)). Protocolo experimental: quatro períodos de 30 minutos cada: basal (avaliação dos parâmetros basais) e experimentais (Ex) 1, 2 e 3 (30, 60 e 90 minutos após a AI, respectivamente). O Grupo I não apresentou alterações significativas entre os períodos nos parâmetros analisados (p>0,05). O Grupo II apresentou aumento significativo (p<0,05) em V, em Qe (Na+) e em Qe (K+) nos períodos Ex2 e Ex3, com redução significativa na PA (p<0,05) em Ex2 e Ex3. Conforme esperado, o Grupo III apresentou aumento significativo em V nos períodos Ex2 (p<0,05) e Ex3 (p<0,001), aumento em Qe (Na+) em Ex1 (p<0,05), Ex2 (p<0,001) e Ex3 (p<0,001) e aumento em Qe (K+) em Ex2 (p<0,05) e Ex3 (p<0,001), com redução significativa na PA (p<0,05) em Ex2 e Ex3. Os dados mostram que o EA do cabelo de milho possui efeito diurético, porém não age como um diurético "de alça", uma vez que não levou à expoliação de potássio e nem a uma excreção tão acentuada de sódio quanto à furosemida.

The corn (Z. mays) has in its stigmas (corn silks) substances that make it diuretic, which may be important in hypertension control. In this study, the effect of aqueous extract (AE) of corn silks on the renal flow of water (V) and electrolytes and arterial pressure (AP) was investigated in anesthetized Wistar rats. Three groups were tested: I) Control - intragastric administration (IA) of 1mL of distilled water, II) IA of 1 mL of AE of corn silks at 20 percent and III) IA of 1 mL of a solution containing furosemide. Cannulation was performed in the left carotid artery to measure AP, at every 10 minutes, and in the urinary bladder to measure V, at every 30 minutes, and the excreted load of ions sodium (Qe (Na+)) and potassium (Qe (K+)). Experimental protocol: four periods of 30 minutes each: basal (evaluation of basal parameters) and experimental (Ex) 1, 2 and 3 (30, 60 and 90 minutes after IA, respectively). Group I had no significant differences between periods for the analyzed parameters (p>0.05). Group II presented a significant increase (p<0.05) in V, Qe (Na+) and Qe (K+) in periods Ex2 and Ex3, with significant reduction in AP (p<0.05) in Ex2 and Ex3. As expected, Group III had a significant increase in V in periods Ex2 (p<0.05) and Ex3 (p<0.001), an increase in Qe (Na+) in Ex1 (p<0.05), Ex2 (p<0.001) and Ex3 (p<0.001) and an increase in Qe (K+) in Ex2 (p<0.05) and Ex3 (p<0.001), with an important reduction in AP (p<0.05) in Ex2 and Ex3. These data show that AE of corn silks has a diuretic effect but does not act as a loop diuretic since it did not lead to potassium loss or marked sodium loss, compared to furosemide.

Organization and relative content of smooth muscle cells, collagen and elastic fibers in the corpus cavernosum of rat penis.

PURPOSE: The corpus cavernosum smooth muscle and extracellular matrix are essential for normal penile erection and are implicated in erectile dysfunction. Although investigations of these issues have used the rat corpus cavernosum, organization of its components is to date not well known. We characterized and quantified the smooth muscle cells and the main extracellular matrix components of the rat corpus cavernosum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Collagen, elastic fibers and smooth muscle cells were stained on paraffin sections of rat penises using sirius red and Gomori's reticulin, Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin and an anti-smooth muscle cells alpha-actin antibody, respectively. Stained components were then quantified by computer aided morphometry. RESULTS: Smooth muscle cells were restricted to the subendothelial space of corpus cavernosum and had a volumetric density of 9.1%. Collagen was thick, usually in transversely oriented bundles and was the most abundant component of the trabeculae with a volumetric density of 62.7%. Gomori's reticulin disclosed a meshwork of fibrils also in the subendothelial space but did not stain the thicker bundles. Volumetric density of elastic fibers was 4.9%, and at the periphery of the corpus cavernosum the fibers were parallel to the long axis of the penis, while in deeper regions most of them were transversely oriented and at different directions from those of collagen. CONCLUSIONS: Rat corpus cavernosum differs from that of humans by lesser amounts of smooth muscle cells, greater amounts of collagen and the presence of fibrillar collagen and smooth muscle cell subendothelial layers. Therefore, these differences should be considered when using the rat penis for studies on erection.

Snakebite in pregnancy: a preliminary study

Worldwide occurrence of envenomation by snakebite in pregnancy is rare according to the medical literature. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of snakebite envenomation cases as well as their obstetrical consequences. Thus, we conducted this study based on the medical records of 157 patients, aged from 13 to 54 years old who had been attended at the "Joao de Barros Barreto" University Hospital from January 1989 to May 1994. These patients presented epidemiological and clinical diagnosis of snakebite envenomation. Of the 157 patients, 8 (5 per cent) were pregnant, 6 of them (75 per cent) were in the first trimester of pregnancy and 2 (25 per cent) in the 2nd trimester. Most of the victims were usually over 18 years old (7 cases, 87.5 per cent). Concerning the severity of the envenomation cases, 5 of them were considered mild accidents. Obstetrical consequences occurred in 3 (37.5 per cent) patients, 2 patients (25 per cent) with moderate manifestations, while 1 (12.5 per cent) presented severe manifestations. Patients developed vaginal bleeding in 3 cases (100 per cent), and uterine contraction, threatened abortion, decreased fetal movements, absence of fetal heartbeat and fetal death in one case (33.35 per cent). Snakebite is not common among pregnant women, since in most cases, these women are homebound. However, the obstetrical consequences are severe and related to severity of the envenomation.