Abstract Pantoea ananatis is the causal agent of maize white spot, a foliar disease responsible for significant maize yield reduction worldwide, especially in Brazil. In general, the maize foliar diseases control involves the adoption of resistant genotypes and pesticides application. However, the use of agrochemicals can significantly cause increase production costs, damage to human health and negative environmental impacts. In this sense, the use of biological control agents has been considered among the most promising eco-friendly technologies for sustainable agriculture. Actinobacteria, particularly of Streptomyces genus, has been widely recognized as agroindustrially important microorganism due to its potential in producing diverse range of secondary metabolites, including antibiotics and enzymes. Thus, the aim of this work is to characterize and to evaluate the potential of soil actinobacteria for P. ananatis control. We observed that 59 actinobacteria strains (85%) exhibited proteolytic or chitinolytic activity. Only the strains Streptomyces pseudovenezuelae ACSL 470, that also exhibited high proteolytic activity, S. novaecaesareae ACSL 432 and S. laculatispora ACP 35 demonstrated high or moderate antagonist activity in vitro against P. ananatis. Temporal analysis of metabolites produced by these strains growth in different liquid media indicated greater antibacterial activity at 72 h. In this condition, chromatographic and mass spectrometry analysis revealed that S. pseudovenezuelae ACSL 470 strain produced neomycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic that displayed high bactericidal activity in vitro against P. ananatis. This is the first report of actinobacteria acting as potential microbial antagonists for P. ananatis control. Further studies are needed to determine the control efficacy of maize white spot disease by Streptomyces strains or their metabolites in greenhouse and field conditions.

Resumo Pantoea ananatis é o agente causal da mancha branca do milho, doença foliar responsável pela redução significativa da produtividade do milho em todo o mundo, especialmente no Brasil. Em geral, o controle de doenças foliares do milho envolve a adoção de genótipos resistentes e a aplicação de agrotóxicos. No entanto, o uso de agroquímicos pode causar aumento significativo dos custos de produção, danos à saúde humana e impactos ambientais negativos. Nesse sentido, o uso de agentes de controle biológico tem sido considerado uma das tecnologias ecologicamente corretas mais promissoras para a agricultura sustentável. Actinobactérias, particularmente do gênero Streptomyces, têm sido amplamente reconhecidas como microrganismos de importância agroindustrial devido ao seu potencial de produção de diversos metabólitos secundários, incluindo antibióticos e enzimas. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é caracterizar e avaliar o potencial de actinobactérias do solo para o controle de P. ananatis. Observamos que 59 cepas de actinobactérias (85%) apresentaram atividade proteolítica ou quitinolítica. Apenas as cepas Streptomyces pseudovenezuelae ACSL 470, que também exibiu alta atividade proteolítica, S. novaecaesareae ACSL 432 e S. laculatispora ACP 35 demonstraram alta ou moderada atividade antagonista in vitro contra P. ananatis. A análise temporal do crescimento dos metabólitos produzidos por essas cepas em diferentes meios líquidos indicou maior atividade antibacteriana em 72 h. Nesta condição, análises cromatográficas e de espectrometria de massa revelaram que a cepa S. pseudovenezuelae ACSL 470 produziu neomicina, um antibiótico aminoglicosídeo que apresentou alta atividade bactericida in vitro contra P. ananatis. Este é o primeiro relato de actinobactérias atuando como potenciais antagonistas microbianos para o controle de P. ananatis. Mais estudos são necessários para determinar a eficácia do controle da doença da mancha branca do milho por cepas de Streptomyces ou seus metabólitos em condições de casa de vegetação e campo.

Abstract Introduction: dietary fat has been reported as one of the significant risk factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Objective: this study aimed at assessing the possible association between fat intake and CVD. Methods: the present case-control study was conducted in the center of coronary angiography. Three-hundred and ninety nine patients who referred for elective coronary angiography with clinical suspicion of coronary artery disease were enrolled. Dietary data were collected from each patient using an interview-based food frequency questionnaire. Results: the findings of the present study revealed no significant differences between cases and controls regarding the intake of all types of fat either before or after energy adjustment. For both cases and controls the percentage of fat intake from total energy and the intakes of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, cholesterol, omega-6 and omega-3 were within the recommended amounts. The intake of all fat types (except trans-fat) was not associated with the risk of developing CVD. Trans-fat intake in the second and third quartile increased the risk of CVD by OR 1.86 (95 % CI: 1.03-3.34) and 2.01 (95 % CI: 1.12-3.60), respectively. Conclusions: while trans-fats may be significantly associated with the development of CVD in the first two quartiles, no association has been detected with other fat types.

Resumen Introducción: se ha establecido que la grasa en la dieta es uno de los factores de riesgo significativos en el desarrollo de enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV). Objetivo: este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la posible asociación entre la ingesta de grasa y la ECV. Métodos: el presente estudio de casos y controles se realizó en el centro de la angiografía coronaria. Se inscribieron 399 pacientes que fueron remitidos para una angiografía coronaria electiva con sospecha clínica de enfermedad coronaria. Los datos dietéticos se obtuvieron de cada paciente mediante un cuestionario de frecuencia de alimentos basado en entrevistas. Resultados: los hallazgos del presente estudio no revelaron diferencias significativas entre los casos y los controles con respecto a la ingesta de todos los tipos de grasa, ya sea antes o después del ajuste de energía. Para ambos casos y controles, el porcentaje de ingesta de grasas de la energía total y las ingestas de grasas poliinsaturadas y monoinsaturadas, colesterol, omega-6 y omega-3 se encuentran dentro de las cantidades recomendadas. La ingesta de todos los tipos de grasa (excepto las grasas trans) no se asoció con el riesgo de desarrollar ECV. La ingesta de grasas trans en el segundo y tercer cuartil aumentó el riesgo de ECV en OR 1,86 (IC 95 %: 1,03-3,34) y 2,01 (IC 95 %: 1,12-3,60), respectivamente. Conclusiones: si bien las grasas trans pueden estar asociadas significativamente con el desarrollo de ECV en los dos primeros cuartiles, no se ha detectado asociación con otros tipos de grasa.

Devido à carência de informações sobre adubação orgânica para alface e uma avaliação quanto à sua influência nos atributos biológicos do ambiente, este trabalho objetivou estudar o efeito de diferentes sistemas de manejo da mucuna preta e o uso de adubação orgânica sólida sobre a diversidade e biomassa microbiana do solo. Os tratamentos consistiram do manejo da mucuna preta, incorporada ou não ao solo, e aplicação de esterco bovino, composto, adubo orgânico comercial e testemunha sem adubação. Os atributos foram avaliados nas seguintes épocas: momento do manejo da mucuna e aos 15, 55 e 105 dias após esse manejo. O manejo e os tratamentos com adubo orgânico sólido não influenciaram de forma significativa na biomassa microbiana e na população bacteriana do solo. Houve aumento na população de fungo coma incorporação da mucuna preta. A incorporação da mucuna preta e o tratamento com composto foram favoráveis para o incremento de fungos micorrízicos. O tratamento com composto, seguido da incorporação da mucuna preta, e o tratamento testemunha proporcionaram população superior de nematoides saprófitas, enquanto a incorporação da mucuna ao solo aumentou as populações de fitonematoides.

Due to the lack of information on the application of commercial organic fertilizers versus manure or composting in the growing of lettuce and their influence on biological attributes of the environment, the present study was carried out to verify the effect of different management systems of velvet beans and the use of manure and solid organic composting on the diversity and microbial biomass of soil. The treatments consisted of the management of velvet beans, incorporated or not into the soil, and the application of bovine manure, composting, commercial organic fertilizer and a control treatment without fertilization. The soil attributes were evaluated at the following times: at the time of the velvet bean management, and at 15, 55 and 105 days after this process. The management and solid organic fertilizer treatments had no significant effect on the microbial biomass and bacterial population. For fungi, the incorporation of velvet bean was more efficient, allied to the use of commercial organic fertilizer. The incorporation of velvet bean and the treatment with composting were favorable for the grown of mycorrhizal fungi. Treatment with composting, followed by the incorporation of velvet beans, and the control treatment provided the higher population of saprophytic nematodes, while the incorporation of velvet bean into the soil increased the population of plant parasitic nematodes.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as correlações entre avaliação objetiva e autoavaliação em ambientes diferentes (ambulatorial e escolar). MÉTODOS: Trezentos e dezenove indivíduos, 178 ambulatoriais (96 meninos e 82 meninas) e 141 (73 meninos e 68 meninas) de escolas públicas (8,3-18,7 anos), com 73 indivíduos (39 meninas e 34 meninos) apresentando índice de massa corporal acima do percentil 85 do Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, de 2000. Todos foram examinados, após consentimento informado, em sequência e individualmente, por dois médicos treinados, e então submetidos a autoavaliação, utilizando fotogramas (Tanner). Dos dados obtidos foram calculados os coeficientes de correlação de kappa entre examinadores e a autoavaliação. Para os testes foi adotado p < 5%. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença significante entre as correlações obtidas no ambulatório e nas escolas e os dois grupos foram analisados em conjunto. As correlações obtidas entre os examinadores foram significantemente maiores que as da autoavaliação, com kappa (e intervalo de confiança) de 0,75 (0,8-0,69) para mamas/genitália entre examinadores contra 0,27 (0,34-0,20) e 0,29 (0,36-0,22) entre os dois examinadores e a autoavaliação (p < 0,0001). CONCLUSÕES: Na amostra estudada, a autoavaliação do estádio puberal não deve substituir a avaliação objetiva feita por profissionais treinados. Um aperfeiçoamento do método de autoavaliação poderia permitir seu uso em estudos populacionais.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlations between objective assessment and self-assessment of sexual maturation in the outpatient and school settings. METHODS: Three hundred and nineteen individuals, 178 (96 boys and 82 girls) from an outpatient clinic and 141 (73 boys and 68 girls) from public schools (8.3-18.7 years), of whom 73 individuals (39 girls an d 34 boys) had a body mass index above the 85th percentile, according to 2000 CDC Growth Chart, were analyzed. All of them were examined sequentially and individually by two trained physicians after a written consent form was signed by parents or surrogates, and then submitted to self-assessment using pictures (Tanner stages). Kappa coefficients between examiners and the self-assessment were calculated based on the collected data. A p value < 5% was established as statistically significant. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between correlations obtained from the outpatient clinic and schools, and both groups were combined for analysis. The correlations obtained by examiners were significantly higher than those from self-assessment, with a kappa coefficient (and confidence interval) of 0.75 (0.8-0.69) for breasts/genitals across examiners against 0.27 (0.34-0.20) and 0.29 (0.36-0.22) between the two examiners and the self-assessment (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In the studied sample, self-assessment of the pubertal stage should not replace the objective assessment made by trained professionals. Improvement of the self-assessment method may validate its use in population-based studies.

In this work, the susceptibility to benznidazole of two parental Trypanosoma cruzi strains, Colombian and Berenice-78, was compared to isolates obtained from dogs infected with these strains for several years. In order to evaluate the susceptibility to benznidazole two groups of mice were infected with one of five distinct populations isolated from dogs as well as the two parental strains of T. cruzi. The first group was treated with benznidazole during the acute phase and the second remained untreated controls. The animals were considered cured when parasitological and serological tests remained persistently negative. Mice infected with the Colombian strain and its isolates Colombian (A and B) did not cure after treatment. On the other hand, all animals infected with Berenice-78 were cured by benznidazole treatment. However, 100%, 50% and 70% of cure rates were observed in animals infected with the isolates Berenice-78 B, C and D, respectively. No significant differences were observed in serological profile of infected control groups, with all animals presenting high antibody levels. However, the ELISA test showed differences in serological patterns between mice inoculated with the different T. cruzi isolates and treated with benznidazole. This variability was dependent on the T. cruzi population used and seemed to be associated with the level of resistance to benznidazole.

A amostra Berenice-78 de T. cruzi recém-isolada apresentou características bem distintas da cepa Berenice isolada há 16 anos da mesma paciente. Foram verificadas sua alta infectividade e baixa virulência para camundongos C3H isogênicos que sobreviveram à fase aguda da infecção. Os parasitas desta cepa apresentaram tropismo para os músculos esquelético e cardíaco, ascensão gradual da parasitemia ao longo de 25 passagens sangüíneas sucessivas e estabilidade da curva de parasitemia. A cepa Berenice apresentou as mesmas características descritas por Brener, Chiari & Alvarenga (1974) em relação ao tropismo e padrão da curva de parasitemia, sendo no entanto demonstrado que sua virulência para camundongos albinos continua aumentando com o decorrer do tempo. Foram discutidas a possibilidade de reinfecção da paciente Berenice e a importância do conhecimento de amostras de T. cruzi de baixa virulência para animais de laboratório.

The Berenice-78 strain of T. cruzi is very different from the Berenice strain isolated 16 years earlier from the same pacient. The authors verified is high infectivity and low virulence for C3H inbred mice that survived the acute phase of infection. In these animals, it was verified that the tropism of parasites was more accentuated for cardiac and skeletal musculature and the parasitaemic level progressively increased with sucessive blood passages with posterior stability.