Hypopituitarism after moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is usually underdiagnosed and therefore undertreated. Its course can be divided in an acute phase during the first 14 days after TBI with 50 to 80% risk of hypopituitarism, and a chronic phase, beginning three months after the event, with a prevalence of hypopituitarism that ranges from 2 to 70%. Its pathophysiology has been addressed in several studies, suggesting that a vascular injury to the pituitary tissue is the most important mechanism during the acute phase, and an autoimmune one during chronic stages. In the acute phase, there are difficulties to correctly interpret pituitary axes. Hence, we propose a simple and cost-effective algorithm to detect and treat a potential hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis impairment and alterations of sodium homeostasis, both of which can be life-threatening. In the chronic phase, post-concussion syndrome is the most important differential diagnosis. Given the high prevalence of hypopituitarism, we suggest that all pituitary axes should be assessed in all patients with moderate to severe TBI, between 3 to 6 months after the event, and then repeated at 12 months after trauma by a specialized team in pituitary disease.

Background: There is a gap between the number of patients requiring a renal allograft and the number of potential deceased donors (DD). One alternative is using allografts from non-related living donors (NRLD). Aim: To compare survival and complications of renal allograft recipients from DD, related living donors (RLD) and NRLD. Material and Methods: Observational study of a cohort of renal allograft recipients. Of 253 transplants performed in a Chilean region between 1981 and 2003, 20 patients received and allograft from a NRLD. Graft and patient survival of these patients were compared with those of 93 patients receiving an allograft from a related living donor and 140 receiving it from a DD. Patients were followed for 10 years or until death or dialysis requirement. Results: No significant differences between groups in graft and patient survival, deaths with a functioning graft or return to dialysis were observed. Receptors of DD had more hospital admissions during the first years after receiving the graft, usually due to infections. Also a delayed graft function was more common among them. Glomerular filtration rate ten years after the graft was similar among the three groups. Conclusions: No differences in graft or patient survival was observed between patients receiving a renal allograft from NRLD, RLD or DD.

Introduction: Oral Cancer accounts 3% of all human cancers. Squamous Cell Carcinoma is the most common. nowadays, in Chile and the world, oral cancer is reaching relevance because of its high incidence and low survival rates; most often is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Aim: We analyzed the five-year survival of 161 patients diagnosed with SCC. Also was studied relationships between survival and gender, age, location, tobacco, alcohol and treatment. Methods: Retrospective study among 1989 and 2010. The study population was mainly men gender (59%), average age 64 years and location of the CEC preferably in tongue (37.6%). 54% were well differentiated carcinomas and TOM, the majority corresponding to T2N0M0. Kaplan-Meier curve and Log Rank test were used for survival analysis and to compare them. We determined significant difference when p value < 0.05. Results: The overall survival at five years was 46%, the lowest rates were in the male gender, age group 60, floor of mouth, smokers and alcohol consumers. Conclusions: Although tobacco and alcohol are factors highly related to the presence of CEC, there was no significant difference between survival and these habits. There were differences between the survival curves for patients treated with surgery associated with radiotherapy in comparison to other treatments.

Introducción: Hoy en día, en Chile y el mundo, el cáncer oral ha tomado mayor importancia por su incidencia y bajos porcentajes de sobrevida, el más frecuente corresponde al Carcinoma Espinocelular (CEC). Objetivo: Analizar la sobrevida a cinco años de 161 pacientes de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad Mayor y Fundación Arturo López Pérez (FALP), diagnosticados con CEC de mucosa oral mediante biopsia. Se analizó cómo afecta a la sobrevida, el género, edad, localización, consumo de tabaco y/o alcohol y tratamiento. Material y método: Estudio retrospectivo entre los años 1989 y 2010. La población estudiada correspondía principalmente a hombres (59%), edad promedio de 64 años y ubicación del CEC preferentemente en lengua (37,6%). El 54% eran carcinomas bien diferenciados y, según TNM, la mayor parte correspondía a T2N0M0. Se utilizó para los análisis de sobrevida la curva de Kaplan-Meier y Log Rank Test para compararlas. Se determinó si existían diferencias significativas cuando el valor de p < 0,05. Resultados: La sobrevida general a los cinco años fue de 46%, las tasas más bajas fueron en el género masculino, el grupo mayores de 60 años, en piso de boca, fumadores y bebedores de alcohol. Conclusiones: A pesar que el tabaco y el alcohol son factores altamente relacionados a la presencia de CEC, no se observó diferencia significativa entre la sobrevida y estos hábitos. Hubo diferencia entre las curvas de sobrevida de pacientes tratados con cirugía asociada a radioterapia en relación a otros tratamientos.

A baixa produção de sementes híbridas de abóbora obtida em nossas condições deve-se provavelmente aos métodos de produção pouco eficientes. A quantidade de pólen transferido naturalmente ou artificialmente entre os parentais pode afetar não só a produção como também a qualidade das sementes híbridas. Neste estudo, utilizou-se a polinização manual, a qual constou de cinco tratamentos relacionados com a quantidade de pólen do progenitor masculino para polinizar uma única flor feminina: um quarto da quantidade de pólen de uma flor; metade da quantidade de pólen de uma flor; a quantidade de pólen de uma flor; a quantidade de pólen de duas flores, e a quantidade de pólen de quatro flores masculinas. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições e dezoito plantas por parcela. O aumento da quantidade de pólen aplicada aumentou a produção de sementes por fruto e consequentemente a produção de sementes por área. A qualidade fisiológica das sementes praticamente não foi afetada entre os tratamentos, embora foi observada uma menor germinação das sementes obtidas em frutos provenientes de flores polinizadas com 1/4 de pólen.

The low production of squash hybrid seeds obtained in our conditions is probably due to the inefficient production methods. The amount of pollen transferred naturally or artificially between the two parents may affect not only the hybrid seed production but also the seed quality of squash. In this study, flowers were manually pollinated using five amounts of pollen to pollinate one female flower: 1/4 of pollen from one flower; half of the amount of pollen from one flower; pollen of one flower; pollen of two flowers and pollen of four flowers. The randomized complete block design was adopted, with three replications and eighteen plants per plot. The increasing pollen amount affected significantly seed yield per fruit and seed yield per area, but did not influence significantly seed quality. A lower germination was observed in fruits originated from flowers pollinated with 1/4 of pollen of one flower.

Background: Evaluating quality of Life is a key element in the curative treatment and palliative treatment of cancer patients. Cervical cancer treatment has important sequels that are an obstacle to patients' quality of life. Objective: To evaluate the quality of life to cervical cancer patients treated in the Fundación Arturo López Pérez (FALP), using surveys for cancer in general (QOL-C30) and specific to cervical cancer (QOL-CX24) from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Results: We evaluated quality of life of 72 patients. Emotional and economical problems, tiredness, body image, menopausical symptoms and everything related to sexual activity were found to be relevant. Conclusion: To evaluate the quality of life, must be part of general approach of this patients, to take good decisions and early detection of hidden problems.

Antecedentes: La evaluación de la calidad de vida es un elemento clave en el tratamiento curativo y paliativo de pacientes con cáncer. El tratamiento del cáncer de cuello uterino tiene secuelas importantes que dificultan la calidad de vida de las pacientes. Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad de vida a pacientes tratadas por cáncer de cuello uterino en la Fundación Arturo López Pérez (FALP), utilizando las encuestas para cáncer en general (QOL-C30) y específica para cáncer de cuello (QOL-CX24) de la European Organizaron for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Resultados: Evaluamos la calidad de vida a 72 pacientes. Fueron relevantes los problemas emocionales y económicos, el cansancio, la imagen corporal, los síntomas menopáusicos y todo lo relacionado con la actividad sexual. Conclusión: La evaluación de la calidad de vida debe ser parte del enfoque integral, para una adecuada toma de decisiones y detección de problemas ocultos.

Poucos são os estudos relacionados à germinação de espécies de plantas daninhas tropicais, incluindo-se a de Tridax procumbens, apesar de sua importância como infestante em áreas de lavoura. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de luz e KNO3 sobre a germinação de sementes de T. procumbens em temperatura constante e alternada. Quatro subamostras de 75 sementes foram submetidas ao teste de germinação utilizando-se uma combinação fatorial de luz (escuro; fotoperíodo de 12 horas diárias de luz) e umedecimento do substrato com solução de KNO3 (0% de KNO3; 0,2% de KNO3) para os ensaios na temperatura de 25 °C constante e alternada de 15 ºC/35 ºC, em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado. Efetuou-se a contagem diária da germinação pela emissão da raiz primária, bem como as análises de porcentagem de germinação acumulada, velocidade de germinação e curva de germinação acumulada. Em temperatura constante, a luz contribuiu para aumentar a porcentagem e a velocidade de germinação, enquanto em temperaturas alternadas houve aumento na porcentagem e velocidade de germinação com a aplicação de KNO3, independentemente da presença ou ausência de luz. As curvas de germinação acumulada se ajustaram ao modelo logístico tanto a 25 ºC quanto a 15 ºC/35 ºC, demonstrando assincronia na germinação de sementes no tempo.

There are few studies available on germination of tropical weed species, Tridax procumbens included, despite its importance as a crop weed. This study was carried out at the Laboratory of Plant Biophysics of Embrapa Cerrados, Planaltina, DF, to evaluate the effect of light and KNO3 on T. procumbens seed germination at constant and alternating temperatures. Four sub-samples of 75 seeds were submitted to a factorial combination of light (darkness; 12 daily hours of light photoperiod) and substrate moistened with KNO3 solution (0% of KNO3; 0.2% of KNO3) for the assays at 25 °C constant and 15 ºC/35 ºC alternating temperatures, arranged in a completely randomized experimental design. Seed germination was daily counted based on emission of primary roots, with accumulated germination percentage, germination speed and accumulated germination curve being evaluated. Light contributed to increase germination percentage and speed at constant temperature, while at alternating temperatures, increase of germination percentage and speed occurred with KNO3 application, regardless of the presence or absence of light. The accumulated germination curves at 25 ºC and 15 ºC/35 ºC were adjusted to the logistic model, showing seed germination asynchrony along time.

Avaliou-se o efeito de sistemas de cultivo, preparo do solo e níveis de adubação sobre a composição florística de banco de sementes no solo em áreas submetidas a três sistemas de cultivo (lavoura contínua, lavoura-pastagem-lavoura e pastagem-lavoura-pastagem), dois sistemas de preparo do solo (convencional e semeadura direta) e dois níveis de adubação (manutenção e corretiva gradual), e uma área de pastagem contínua com preparo convencional e adubação corretiva gradual. Dessa forma, verificou-se que o sistema de cultivo e o sistema de preparo do solo foram os fatores mais importantes na determinação da estrutura florística dos bancos de sementes. Além disso, a adubação corretiva gradual aumentou o número de famílias e de espécies, em relação à de manutenção.

The effect of cultivation systems, tillage and fertilization levels on the floristic composition of seedbanks was evaluated at three cultivation systems (continuous crop, crop-pasture-crop, pasture-crop-pasture), two tillage systems (tillage and no-tillage) and two fertilization levels (corrective and maintenance), and a continuous pasture area under no-tillage and corrective fertilization. Cultivation and tillage system were the most important factors affecting the floristic structure of seedbanks. Besides, corrective fertilization increased the number of families and species in relation to maintenance fertilization.

No presente trabalho discute-se a problemática de bancos de sementes de invasoras em solos agrícolas, com relação a sua importância, mecanismos que garantem a manutenção de elevados números de sementes no solo e dinâmica. São também discutidas formas de manejo de bancos de sementes com ênfase nas práticas de preparo do solo e aplicação de substâncias estimulantes de germinação de sementes do solo.

The problematic of weed seed banks in the soil is discussed in terms of its importance, the mechanisms that guarantee the maintenance of large seed numbers in the soil and the dynamics of weed seed banks. The management of weed seed banks in the soil is also discussed with emphasis in the practices of soil tillage and the application of germination stimulants.