The effects of different irrigation levels and nitrogen rates on the dry matter (DM) yield, nitrogen use efficiency and bromatological composition of andropogon grass (Andropogon gayanus 'Planaltina') were evaluated. The experiment consisted in a completely randomized block design, with three repetitions, with 2x4 factorial arrangement, being two irrigation levels (50% and 80% of evaporation of the Class A evaporation: ECA) and four N levels (200, 400, 600 and 800 kg/ha/ year) applied as urea, divided in function of the cuts number (16.7, 33.3, 50.0 e 66.7 kg/ha/month). The water supply applied presented similar behaviors in relationship to the total dry matter productivity, leaves and stems. The water supply of 80% ECA provided the smaller leaf/stem ratio. The nitrogen fertilization influenced positively the total dry matter productivity, leaves and stems productivities however, the leaf/stem ratio and nitrogen use efficiency decreased. The crude protein contents of leaves and culms were not affected by water supply, but were increased by N fertilization. The NDF and ADF contents were negatively influenced by the largest water supply. The 50% of ECA irrigation presented the best results, associated to the application of 800 kg of N/ha/year, considering the productivity, bromatological composition and the possibility of economy of water, with consequent reduction in the costs of herbage production.

Foram avaliados os efeitos de diferentes lâminas de irrigação e doses de nitrogênio sobre a produção, eficiência do uso do nitrogênio e composição bromatológica do capim-andropogon (Andropogon gayanus'Planaltina'). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, num esquema fatorial 2x4, com três repetições; sendo dois níveis de irrigação (50% e 80% da evaporação do Tanque Classe A, ECA) e quatro níveis de N (200, 400, 600 e 800 kg/ha/ano) aplicados na forma de uréia e fracionados em função do número de cortes (16,7; 33,3; 50,0 e 66,7 kg de N/ha/ mês). As lâminas de irrigação aplicadas apresentaram comportamentos semelhantes em relação à produtividade de matéria seca total, de folhas e colmos. A lâmina de 80% de ECA proporcionou menor relação folha/colmo. A adubação nitrogenada influenciou positivamente a produtividade de matéria seca total, de folhas e colmos, no entanto, diminuiu a relação folha/colmo e a eficiência de utilização do nitrogênio. Os teores de proteína bruta das folhas e colmos não foram influenciados pelas lâminas de irrigação aplicadas, mas aumentou linearmente com a adubação nitrogenada. Os teores de FDN e FDA apresentaram influência negativa da maior lâmina de irrigação. A irrigação de 50% de ECA, associada à aplicação de 800 kg de N/ha/ano, apresentou os melhores resultados, considerando-se a produtividade, relação folha/colmo, composição bromatológica e a possibilidade de economia de água, com conseqüente redução nos custos de produção da forragem.

Preterm delivery is the main cause of neonatal death and ultrasonographic cervical assessment has been shown to be more accurate than digital examination in recognizing a short cervix. This is a cross-sectional study, involving 1131 women at 22-24 weeks of pregnancy, designed to determine the distribution of cervical length and to examine which variables of demographic characteristics and obstetric history increase the risk of a short cervix (15 mm or less). The distribution of maternal demographic and obstetric history characteristics among patients with cervical length £15 mm was analyzed and compared to the findings for the general population. Risk ratios (RR) between subgroups were generated from this comparison. Median cervical length was 37 mm and in 1.5% of cases it was 15 mm or less. The proportion of women with a short cervix (<=15 mm) was significantly higher among patients with a low body mass index (RR = 3.5) and in those with previous fetal losses between 16-23 weeks (RR = 33.1) or spontaneous preterm deliveries between 24-32 weeks (RR = 14.1). We suggest that transvaginal sonographic measurement of cervical length be performed as part of a routine midtrimester ultrasound evaluation. There are specific variables of demographic characteristics and obstetric history which increase the risk of detecting a short cervix at 22-24 weeks.

Creatinine plays a key role in the function and maturation of fetal kidneys throughout pregnancy. It is important to identify other markers that may help in the diagnosis of renal dysfunction. Our aim was to determine the profile of and the correlation between biochemical markers to be used to assess renal function and maturation of the fetus in the amniotic fluid during pregnancy and to determine the distribution of normal values for creatinine, N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), ß2-microglobulin, glucose, urea, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, uric acid, albumin, and osmolality in three gestational age groups. This was a cross-section study that assessed 115 samples of amniotic fluid during three different periods of pregnancy, i.e., 13 to 20, 27 to 34, and 36 to 42 weeks. Concentrations of creatinine, NAG, urea, potassium and uric acid increased during pregnancy (P<0.05). ß2-Microglobulin, glucose, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, and albumin concentration and osmolality decreased (P<0.05), whereas ß2-microglobulin, glucose and uric acid presented significant correlations with gestational age and creatinine, respectively (r>0.6, P<0.05). Urea, potassium and phosphorus showed mild correlations with both (r>0.5, P<0.05). NAG, sodium, albumin and osmolality did not show significant correlations (r<0.5, P<0.05). These tests confirmed the important role of creatinine in terms of correlation with gestational age. ß2-Microglobulin, glucose and uric acid were significant as markers of function and maturation of fetal kidneys, whereas NAG did not demonstrate a useful role for the assessment of renal maturation.

OBJETIVO: Definir uma curva de normalidade dos valores de alfafetoproteína (AFP) no líquido amniótico em gestantes entre 14 e 21 semanas de gravidez no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Nas 137 mulheres que procuraram o diagnóstico pré-natal e tiveram indicação de coleta de líquido amniótico. A alfafetoproteína foi dosada em todas as amostras por enzima imunoensaio. Foram selecionadas 109 gestações normais (sem malformações, cariótipo normal, não-gemelares) e cujas amostras de líquido amniótico não eram sanguinolentas. Essas foram divididas quanto à idade gestacional e tiveram calculadas as medianas dos valores de AFP e seus múltiplos. RESULTADOS: As medianas da alfafetoproteína (KUI/ml) para cada idade gestacional foram as seguintes: 14 semanas:16,32; 15 semanas:14,36; 16 semanas: 13,43; 17 semanas:10,93; 18 semanas: 8,22; 19 semanas: 7,35; 20 semanas: 5,62; 21 semanas:4,47. CONCLUSÃO: O estabelecimento de uma curva normal de AFP em nosso serviço permite a utilização deste exame para pacientes em risco de defeitos de fechamento de tubo neural. Permite também que sejam analisadas amostras enviadas para estudos citogenéticos ou metabólicos de maneira a identificar fetos com níveis elevados de AFP que necessitarão de estudos ultrasonográficos mais detalhados pela possibilidade de defeitos morfológicos.

BACKGROUND: To define the normal values of amniotic fluid alphafetoprotein in pregnant women, whose gestational ages range from 14 to 21 weeks, in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred thirty seven women with indication for amniocentesis were studied. The alphafetoprotein was measured in all samples using enzyme immunoassay. One hundred and nine normal pregnancies were selected. All of these fetuses had normal cariotype and had no malformation. They were not twins and their amniotic fluid samples were not bloody. These samples were divided by their gestational ages. Then the medians of the alphafetoprotein values and their multiples were calculated. RESULTS: The medians of alphafetoprotein (KUI/ml) for each gestational age were as follows: 14 weeks: 16.32; 15 weeks: 14.36; 16 weeks: 13.43; 17 weeks: 10.93; 18 weeks: 8.22; 19 weeks: 7.35; 20 weeks: 5.62; 21 weeks: 4.47. CONCLUSION: The establishment of alphafetoprotein normal values in our service allows us to use this assay for patients at risk of neural tube defects. It also makes possible to analise samples sent for cytogenetic or metabolic studies, in order to identify elevated levels of alphafetoprotein, so that these fetuses could have a more detailed sonography study to look for malformations.