ABSTRACT Background: Bone tissue repair remains a challenge in tissue engineering. Currently, new materials are being applied and often integrated with live cells and biological scaffolds. The fibrin biopolymer (FBP) proposed in this study has hemostatic, sealant, adhesive, scaffolding and drug-delivery properties. The regenerative potential of an association of FBP, biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was evaluated in defects of rat femurs. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were submitted to a 5-mm defect in the femur. This was filled with the following materials and/or associations: BPC; FBP and BCP; FBP and MSCs; and BCP, FBP and MSCs. Bone defect without filling was defined as the control group. Thirty and sixty days after the procedure, animals were euthanatized and subjected to computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy and qualitative and quantitative histological analysis. Results: It was shown that FBP is a suitable scaffold for bone defects due to the formation of a stable clot that facilitates the handling and optimizes the surgical procedures, allowing also cell adhesion and proliferation. The association between the materials was biocompatible. Progressive deposition of bone matrix was higher in the group treated with FBP and MSCs. Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteogenic lineage was not necessary to stimulate bone formation. Conclusions: FBP proved to be an excellent scaffold candidate for bone repair therapies due to application ease and biocompatibility with synthetic calcium-based materials. The satisfactory results obtained by the association of FBP with MSCs may provide a more effective and less costly new approach for bone tissue engineering.

RESUMO A conservação de plantas forrageiras adaptadas ao clima Semiárido na forma de silagem pode minimizar o déficit alimentar dos animais nos períodos de estiagem. Nesse contexto, objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de níveis de inclusão de resíduo de uva na dinâmica fermentativa, na digestibilidade in vitro, nos nutrientes digestíveis totais e na microbiologia da silagem de flor-de-seda (Calotropis procera). Em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos (0, 10, 20 e 40% na matéria natural) e quatro repetições. Após 90 dias os silos foram abertos, e foram determinados os teores de carboidratos solúveis, etanol, ácidos orgânicos, pH e nitrogênio amoniacal, perdas fermentativas, recuperação da MS e densidade, populações microbianas. Em todas as silagens o pH encontrado mostrou-se adequado ao processo de ensilagem (variação de 3,96 a 3,87). À medida que aumentou os níveis de resíduo de uva foi verificado redução (P<0,05) nos teores de carboidratos solúveis e aumento nos valores de etanol. Houve reduções (P<0,05) nos teores de ácido lático de 5,3 a 1,94% da MS e aumento nos teores de acético, propiônico e butírico com o aumento do resíduo de uva. As bactérias produtoras de ácido lático apresentaram redução linear (P<0,05) e variando de 6,43 a 5,82 log UFC/g de silagem, os fungos e leveduras apresentaram efeito cúbico (P<0,05), não foram encontradas enterobactérias e Clostridium spp. Com adição do resíduo de uva houve aumento nas perdas por efluentes e nas perdas por gases variaram de 5,35 a 14,4%. Observou-se efeito quadrático para nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) sendo estimado a partir da equação de regressão seu valor máximo de 82,95% na MS ao nível de inclusão de 3,5% de resíduo de uva e redução linear (P<0,05) no percentual de digestibilidade. A silagem de flor-de-seda apresentou potencial para conservação na forma de silagem, não havendo necessidade de utilização de resíduo de uva.

ABSTRACT Preserving forage plants adapted to a semi-arid climate as silage may minimize the animal feed deficit during drought. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different quantities of grape pomace added to Calotropis procera silage on its fermentation, in vitro digestibility, total digestible nutrients and microbiology. A completely randomized experimental design was used with four treatments (0, 10, 20 and 40% fresh matter) and four replicates. The silos were opened after 90 days of ensilage, and the soluble carbohydrate, ethanol, organic acid and ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations; pH; fermentation loss; dry matter (DM) recovery; DM density, and microbial populations were determined. The pH (3.96-3.87) was adequate for ensiling in all silage samples. The soluble carbohydrate concentration decreased (p<0.05), and the ethanol concentration increased with increasing quantities of grape pomace. The lactic acid concentration decreased (p<0.05) from 5.3 to 1.94% DM, and the acetic, propionic and butyric acid concentrations increased with increasing quantities of grape pomace. The lactic acid bacteria decreased linearly (p <0.05), varying from 6.43 to 5.82 log CFU/g silage. The mold and yeast population variations fit best using a third-order polynomial equation (p <0.05). Enterobacteria and Clostridium spp were not observed. Adding grape pomace to the silage increased the effluent and gas loss; the latter varied from 5.35 to 14.4%. The total digestible nutrient (TDN) variation fit best using a second-order polynomial equation, and the maximum value was estimated at 82.95% DM with 3.5% grape pomace using the regression equation. The percent digestibility decreased linearly (p<0.05) with increasing quantities of grape pomace. We show that Calotropis procera has potential as silage even without adding grape pomace.

Muitos patógenos, principalmente fungos, ocorrem em várias espécies de eucalipto, desde a fase de viveiro até os plantios adultos. Dentre as doenças fúngicas, destaca-se a mancha de micosferela, considerada uma das principais doenças, e o Eucalyptus globulus, uma das espécies mais suscetíveis. Esta doença é causada por várias espécies pertencentes aos gêneros Teratosphaeria e Mycosphaerella, sendo T. nubilosa de maior importância. O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a presença do fungo T.nubilosa em materiais coletados nos seguintes locais: Bagé-RS, Pedras Altas-RS, Botucatu-SP, Jacareí- SP e Itapeva-SP. Por meio de isolamentos a partir de folhas de E. globulus apresentando mancha de micosferela, foi possível a obtenção de isolados do fungo. A observação quanto ao padrão de germinação dos ascósporos, o seu crescimento micelial, e também por meio de PCR com primers da região genômica ITS1 e ITS4 e sequenciamento, e submissão ao GenBank, foi possível a determinação do gênero e da espécie do patógeno como T. nubilosa. Nos cinco locais estudados foi confirmada a presença deste agente causal de mancha de micosferela em plantios de E. globulus nas regiões Sul e Sudeste do Brasil.

A large number of pathogens, especially fungi affect several eucalypt species from the nursery phase to the adult crops. Among fungal diseases, Mycosphaerella leaf disease is considered one of the main conditions, to which Eucalyptus globulus, is one of the most susceptible species. This disease is caused by several species into the genera Teratosphaeria and Mycosphaerella, and Teratosphaeria nubilosa is the most importance species. The aim of the present study was to verify the presence of T. nubilosa in materials collected in: Bagé-RS, Pedras Altas-RS, Botucatu-SP, Jacareí-SP and Itapeva-SP. By means of isolations from E. globulus leaves presenting cha racter istic symptoms of T. nubilosa, isolates of the fungus could be observed as to ascospore germination pattern and mycelial growth. The pathogen specie was determined by PCR using primers ITS1 and ITS4 and DNA sequencing, and submission to GenBank. From materials collected in all five studied places, confirming the presence of the agent of Mycosphaerella leaf disease in some of E. globulus crops in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil.