Purpose: The aim of this study is to develop a new experimental model of inducing interstitial cystitis (IC) through vesical instillation of a polymeric solution containing the NO donor S-nitrousglutathione (GSNO) and to compare it to the experimental interstitial cystitis induced by vesical instillation of protamine and potassium chloride. Material and method: For that purpose 40 female Wistar rats were used, divided in four groups: 1. saline solution + GSNO; 2. saline solution + polymeric solution (without GNSO); 3. protamine sulphate + KCl; 4. protamine sulphate + GSNO. The rats received one application (5 animals) or 3 applications (5 animals) of the corresponding substance through intravesical instillation, and after 6days (5 animals) or 9days (5 animals) they were euthanized and their bladders were removed for macroscopic evaluation and histological study. Results: In the macroscopic evaluation we observed edema and hyperemia of the mucosa in 2 (22%) of the animals in group 1, in 0 (0%) of the animals in group 2, in 10 (100%) of the animals in group 3, and in 5 (50%) of the animals in group 4. In the protamine + KCl group and in saline + GSNO similar effects were observed on the bladder wall. The animals in group 2 (saline + polymeric) showed vascular congestion, significantly smaller than the rest after 9days instillations (p=0.0035). Significant increased fibrosis was observed after instillations in groups 3 and 4, after 6days (p=0.3781) and 9days (p=0.0459) respectively, when compared to control (group 2). All groups presented neutrophilic infiltrate of variable intensity 6days after instillations (p=0.7277). After 9days, there was a regression of the infiltrate, with no evidence of accentuated neutrophilic reaction in all the groups (p=0.2301). Conclusion: The inflammatory response to bladder instillation of an aqueous solution of S-nitrousglutathione was very similar to that induced by bladder instillation of protamine and KCl. Instillation of an aqueous solution of GSNO can be considered a new model for experimental induction of interstitial cystitis.

Objetivo: La principal finalidad de este estudio es el desarrollo de un nuevo modelo experimental para la inducción de cistitis intersticial (CI) mediante la instilación vesical de una solución polimérica que contiene el S-nitrosoglutatión donante de óxido nítrico (GSNO), y su comparación con la cistitis intersticial experimental inducida por instilación vesical de protamina y cloruro potásico. Material y métodos: Para la consecución de nuestro objetivo utilizamos 40 hembras de rata Wistar divididas en cuatro grupos: a) solución salina + GSNO; b) solución salina + solución polimérica (sin GNSO); c) sulfato de protamina + KCl; y d) sulfato de protamina + GSNO. Se realizó bien una aplicación a las ratas (5 animales), bien 3 aplicaciones (5 animales) de la sustancia correspondiente mediante instilación vesical, y al cabo de 6 días (5 animales) o 9 días (5 animales) se les practicó la eutanasia y se les extrajeron las vejigas para su evaluación macroscópica y estudio histológico. Resultados: En términos de evaluación macroscópica observamos edema e hiperemia de la mucosa en dos (22%) de los animales del grupo 1, en 0 (0%) de los del grupo 2, en 10 (100%) de los del 3 y en 5 (50%) de los animales del grupo 4. En el grupo de protamina + KCl y en solución salina + GSNO se observaron efectos similares en la pared vesical. Los animales del grupo 2 (solución salina + polimérica) mostraban congestión vascular, bastante menos significativa que en el resto después de 9 días de instilaciones (p=0,0035). Se observó un aumento de la fibrosis tras las instilaciones en los grupos 3 y 4 a los 6 días (p=0,3781) y a los 9 días (p=0,0459) respectivamente, en comparación con los controles (grupo 2). En todos los grupos aparecía un infiltrado de neutrófilos con intensidad variable a los 6 días de las instilaciones (p=0,7277). Al cabo de 9 días se producía una regresión del infiltrado, y sin evidencias de reacción neutrofílica marcada en todos los grupos (p=0,2301). Conclusión: La respuesta inflamatoria a la instilación vesical de una solución acuosa de S-nitrosoglutatión fue muy parecida a la inducida por la instilación vesical de protamina y KCl. La instilación de una solución acuosa de GSNO puede considerarse un nuevo modelo para la inducción experimental de cistitis intersticial.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus, and most people have serological evidence of previous viral infection at adult age. EBV is associated with infectious mononucleosis and human cancers, including some lymphomas and gastric carcinomas. Although EBV was first reported in lymphoepithelioma-like gastric carcinoma, the virus was also found in conventional adenocarcinomas. In the present study, 53 gastric carcinomas diagnosed in São Paulo State, Brazil, were evaluated for EBV infection by non-isotopic in situ hybridization with a biotinylated probe (Biotin-AGACACCGTCCTCACCACCC GGGACTTGTA) directed to the viral transcript EBER-I, which is actively expressed in EBV latently infected cells. EBV infection was found in 6 of 53 (11.32%) gastric carcinomas, mostly from male patients (66.7%), with a mean age of 59 years old. Most EBV-positive tumors were in gastric antrum. Two EBV-positive tumors (33.3%) were conventional adenocarcinomas, whereas four (66.7%) were classified as lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas. EBV infection in gastric carcinomas was reported elsewhere in frequencies that range from 5.6% (Korea) up to 18% (Germany). In Brazil, a previous work found EBV infection in 4 of 80 (5%) gastric carcinomas, whereas another study found 4.7 and 11.2% of EBV-positive gastric carcinomas of Brazilians of Japanese origin or not, respectively. In the present study, the frequency of EBV-positive gastric carcinomas is similar to that reported in other series, and the clinicopathologic characteristics of these EBV-positive tumors are in agreement with the data in the literature.

A difusão de pacotes tecnológicos que preconizam o uso de altas dosagens de adubos químicos e o controle de pragas e doenças, como métodos para manter o potencial produtivo das lavouras, obriga o produtor a utilizar aplicações sistemáticas de fertilizantes inorgânicos e pesticidas, o que vem afetando a sustentabilidade do agroecossistema cafeeiro, gerando uma total dependência de insumos industrializados. O objetivo deste estudo foi relacionar as mudanças nas características químicas, físicas e microbiológicas de um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico (LVd), da região de Santo Antônio do Amparo (MG), sob agroecossistemas de produção de "café orgânico", "em conversão" e "convencional", em relação a um fragmento de mata nativa. Em duas fazendas sob influência de condições similares de clima e relevo, apresentando o mesmo cultivar (Acaiá IAC474-19) e idade da lavoura (cinco anos), foi realizado um levantamento de dados por um período de um ano. O solo foi amostrado na profundidade de 0-20 cm, em duas épocas (julho/1999 e dezembro/1999). A análise de componentes principais permitiu uma visualização conjunta das características que mais influíram no comportamento do solo dos diferentes sistemas estudados. De modo geral, as formas de manejo para produção de café orgânico, em conversão e convencional, proporcionaram aumentos na fertilidade do solo, quando comparados com a condição do solo do fragmento de mata nativa. No agroecossistema de produção de café orgânico, foram obtidas maiores alterações das características químicas em relação ao convencional; houve incrementos no pH e nos valores de Ca, Mg, K, P, Zn, B, CTC do solo, soma de bases, saturação por bases e diminuição do Al trocável.

Widespread marketing technologies recomend the use of high doses of chemical fertilizers and the control of pests and diseases to maintain the productive potential of farms. This affects the sustainability of the coffee agroecosystem, creating a total dependence of industrialized products. The objective of this study was to compare the alterations of some chemical, physical, and microbiological characteristics of a Typic Hapludox from the region of Santo Antônio do Amparo (Minas Gerais State, Brazil), in agroecosystems of "organic coffee", "in conversion", and "conventional" coffee production, to a native forest fragment. Data were collected throughout one year on two farms, under the influence of similar climate and relief conditions, and using the same cultivar (Acaiá IAC474-19) of equal age (five years). Soil samples were collected twice (July 1999 and December 1999) at a depth of 0-20 cm. The principal component analysis allowed a comprehensive visualization of the characteristics that most influenced the soil behavior in the different studied systems. In general, the management forms for the production of organic, in conversion and conventional plantations increased the soil fertility in comparison to the soil under the native forest fragment. Larger chemical characteristic alterations were observed in the agroecosystem of organic coffee production in relation to the conventional; there were increments in the values of soil pH and Ca, Mg, K, P, Zn, B, CTC, base saturation, and decrease of exchangeable Al.

O uso agrícola provoca alteração das características físicas, químicas e biológicas do solo. Normalmente, ocorre uma deterioração de sua qualidade, em decorrência da retirada da cobertura vegetal e excessiva mecanização. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a alteração das características físicas e químicas de um Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro distrófico sob vegetação de cerrado, quando submetido a diferentes sistemas de uso. Foram coletadas amostras em cinco agroecossistemas: pastagem nativa, pastagem plantada de braquiária, culturas anuais, um reflorestamento de eucalipto com 15 anos e área de reforma de eucalipto com um ano. O solo foi amostrado em duas profundidades (0-20 e 20-40 cm) e em quatro épocas (novembro/1993, junho/1994, novembro/1994 e junho/1995). O agroecossistema com culturas anuais foi o que mais se diferenciou do ecossistema original de cerrado, e as características mais afetadas foram: K, Ca, Mg, S, P, densidade do solo, microporosidade, porosidade total e percentagem de agregados > 2 mm. Em relação às características químicas, os maiores teores foram encontrados no solo com culturas anuais, decorrentes da calagem e fertilização. Entretanto, o cultivo anual promoveu a deterioração das características físicas com aumento da microporosidade e da densidade do solo, o que pode dificultar o desenvolvimento do sistema radicular e diminuir disponibilidade de água para as plantas. De maneira geral, observou-se que, entre os ecossistemas artificiais, os que requerem manejo menos intensivo foram menos impactantes, notadamente o reflorestamento de eucalipto que, além de promover uma reciclagem de nutrientes a grandes profundidades, praticamente não promove exportação de nutrientes do solo, quando os cortes são feitos a grandes intervalos de tempo.

The agricultural use of soil changes its physical, chemical and biological characteristics. In many instances, these alterations can result in degradation of soil quality, due to destruction of the natural soil cover and excessive use of machines. The objective of this study was to characterize the alterations of some physical and chemical properties of a dystrophic Dark Red Latosol under cerrado vegetation, under different land uses. The soil samples were taken from five different agro-ecosystems: native pasture; improved brachiaria pasture; annual crops; 15 year old reforested land and one year old reforestation with eucalyptus. The soil samples were taken at two depths (0-20 and 20-40 cm), in four periods (November 1993, June 1994, November 1994 and June 1995). The annual crop agro-ecosystem presented the highest difference to the natural cerrado. The more affected characteristics were: K, Ca, Mg, S, P, bulk density, soil microporosity, total porosity and agreggate percentage > 2 mm. In relation to chemical characteristics, higher levels of nutrient were found in soil under annual cultivation as a result of liming and soil fertilization. The annual cultivation leads to soil physical degradation, with increasing microporosity and bulk density, resulting in less root development, and decreasing water availability to the plants. It was observed that among the artificial systems, those which require less intensive managements are the ones which caused less impacts, especially eucalyptus reforestation. Eucalyptus promotes efficient nutrient cycling in deeper layers of the soil profile, with little exportation of soil nutrients, if the cutting at larger intervals is kept.