Plasma amino acid levels have never been studied in the placental intervillous space of preterm gestations. Our objective was to determine the possible relationship between plasma amino acids of maternal venous blood (M), of the placental intervillous space (PIVS) and of the umbilical vein (UV) of preterm newborn infants. Plasma amino acid levels were analyzed by ion-exchange chromatography in M from 14 parturients and in the PIVS and UV of their preterm newborn infants. Mean gestational age was 34 ± 2 weeks, weight = 1827 ± 510 g, and all newborns were considered adequate for gestational age. The mean Apgar score was 8 and 9 at the first and fifth minutes. Plasma amino acid values were significantly lower in M than in PIVS (166%), except for aminobutyric acid. On average, plasma amino acid levels were significantly higher in UV than in M (107%) and were closer to PIVS than to M values, except for cystine and aminobutyric acid (P < 0.05). Comparison of the mean plasma amino acid concentrations in the UV of preterm to those of term newborn infants previously studied by our group showed no significant difference, except for proline (P < 0.05), preterm > term. These data suggest that the mechanisms of active amino acid transport are centralized in the syncytiotrophoblast, with their passage to the fetus being an active bidirectional process with asymmetric efflux. PIVS could be a reserve amino acid space for the protection of the fetal compartment from inadequate maternal amino acid variations.

RESUMO Diversas propriedades medicinais como antibacteriana, antifúngica, cicatrizante e antioxidante são popularmente relatadas ao mel. Poucos estudos têm sido realizados sobre atividade antimicrobiana (AA) do mel de abelhas sociais da subfamília Meliponinae. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a AA do mel de Nannotrigona testaceicornis, uma espécie de abelha indígena sem ferrão. Para a avaliação da AA do mel foi empregado o método da difusão em ágar, utilizando-se discos de 6 mm de diâmetro em presença de 10 diferentes microrganismos, obtidos de focos de infecções clínicas. Os testes indicaram resistência em: Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus ? -hemolítico; e indicaram sensibilidade em: Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, bem como Staphylococcus spp. coagulase. Vinte e três antibióticos comerciais distintos foram também avaliados no presente estudo. Os resultados obtidos até o momento apontam para um excelente potencial terapêutico deste produto apícola.

ABSTRACT Several medicinal properties, such as antibacterial, antifungal, healing and antioxidant activities, are popularly reported for honey. Few studies have been done on the antimicrobial activity (AA) of honey produced by social bees from the sub-family Meliponinae. The objective of this study was to investigate the AA of honey produced by Nannotrigona testaceicornis, a native stingless bee. For the honey AA evaluation, the agar diffusion method was assayed against 10 different microorganisms isolated from inoculi obtained from clinically infected sites. Tests indicated resistance in Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, ? hemolytic Streptococcus. Susceptibility was observed in Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes as well as in negativecoagulase Staphylococcus spp. Twenty-three distinct commercial antibiotics were also assayed in the present study. Results obtained up to this date indicate an excellent therapeutical potential for this natural product.

RESUMO Este estudo avaliou as atividades antimicrobianas (AA) de extratos hidro-alcoólicos, obtidos de 17 espécies de árvores nativas do Brasil. Para os ensaios de antibiose foi utilizado o método da difusão em ágar, frente a 10 diferentes microrganismos, isolados de inóculos obtidos de focos de infecções clínicas. Dos 170 testes realizados, 25% mostraram alta AA, destacando-se extratos de Bixaorellana, Psidiumguajava e Anacardium occidentale. Excepcional AA foi observada em Mimosa tenuiflora contra Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus e Staphylococcus spp. coagulase-negativa, e os extratos de Stryphnodendron adstringens e Eugenia uniflora contra Escherichia coli, Providencia spp., Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus e Staphylococcus spp. coagulase-negativa. Ensaios de antibiose com antibióticos comerciais foram realizados contra estas bactérias, com a finalidade de se comparar o potencial de AA de extratos destas árvores.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the antimicrobial activities (AA) of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from 17 species of native Brazilian trees. The agar diffusion method was used against 10 different microorganisms isolated from inoculi obtained from clinically infected spots, for antibiosis assay purposes. Of the 170 tested carried out, 25% exhibited high AA, with Bixa orellana, Psidium guajava and Anacardium occidentale showing the most outstanding extract qualities. Exceptional AA was observed for Mimosa tenuiflora against Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. and Stryphnodendron adstringens, and for Eugenia uniflora extracts against Escherichia coli, Providencia spp., Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. Antibiosis essays with commercially available antibiotics were simultaneously conducted against the above-mentioned bacteria to compare with the AA potential of the trees extracts studied.

Dez misturas artificiais foram estudadas para avaliar o efeito sobre o enraizamento de estacas apicais de Kalanchoe x blossfeldiana cv. Singapur, da família Crassulaceae. Essas misturas foram as seguintes: vermiculita + casca de arroz tostada nas proporções 1:1, 2:1 e 3:1; vermiculita + torta de filtro Oliver nas proporções 1:1, 2:1 e 3:1; vermiculita + turfa da região de Atibaia-SP, nas proporções 1:l, 2:le3:l; vermiculita + casca de pinheiro (mistura comercial). Os melhores resultados foram obtidos com a mistura vermiculita + torta de filtro Oliver em todas as proporções, vermiculita + casca de arroz tostada 3:1 e vermiculita + turfa 3:1. Os piores desempenhos foram os das misturas vermiculita + casca de pinheiro e vermiculita + turfa 1:1.

Ten different artificial mixtures were studied as rooting media for Kalanchoe x blossfeldiana cv. Singapur cuttings. They were: vermiculite + toasted rice hulls (1:1, 2:1, 3:1); vermiculite + Oliver filter cake (1:1, 2:1, 3:1); vermiculite + peat (1:1, 2:1, 3:1); and vermiculite + pine bark (commercial mixture). The best results were observed for vermiculite + Oliver filter cake (1:1, 2:1, 3:1), vermiculite + toasted rice hulls (3:1) and vermiculite + peat (3:1). The worst results were observed with vermiculite + pine bark and vermiculite + peat (1:1).

Estudou-se o efeito de aplicação de diferentes níveis de N P K: N = 0,200, 400; P = 0,400, 800 e K = 0,200, 400 kg/ha, em condições de campo na produção de mudas, por sementes, do hedíquio amarelo, Hedyohium gardnerianum Sheppard ex Ker-Gawl, Zingiberaceae, e sua influência sobre o peso da matéria seca. Através dos dados obtidos concluiu-se que a maior produção da matéria seca total, incluindo-se a parte aérea e o rizoma foram obtidos com os níveis de: a) 20g de N; 80 de P e 20 de K/m² b) 40g de N; 80 de P e 40 de K/m² c) 20g de N; 40 de P e 40 de K/m².

A study was made of the effect of different levels of N P K: N = 0,200, 400; P = 0,400, 800 and K = 0,200, 400 kg/ha, under field conditions, on the seedling production of ginger-lily, Hedyohium gardnerianum Sheppard ex Ker-gawl, Zingiberaceae and the influence on the dry matter Weight. From the data it was concluded that the best results were reached with the following levels: 20g of N; 80g of P; 20g of K/m² 40g of N; 80g of P; 40g of K/m² 20g of N; 40g of P; 40g of K/m².