RESUMO Atualmente, na cultura da cana-de-açúcar, têm-se utilizado com frequência maturadores químicos, de forma a aumentar sua rentabilidade. No entanto, a deriva desses produtos pode expor plantas suscetíveis não alvo, como o girassol, impactando indiretamente o crescimento e o desenvolvimento da cultura. Portanto, objetivou-se neste estudo avaliar a intoxicação e caracterizar possíveis alterações no crescimento de plantas de girassol expostas à deriva simulada de glyphosate e trinexapac-ethyl. Para cada maturador, foram utilizadas as seguintes doses: glyphosate (0 - controle; 3,6; 7,2; 14,4; 28,8; e 86,4 g e.a ha-1); e trinexapac-ethyl: (0 - controle; 3,12; 6,25; 12,50; 25; e 75 g i.a ha-1). Foram avaliados os efeitos desses produtos sobre a altura das plantas, número de folhas, área foliar, diâmetro de caule, matéria seca (folhas, caule, flores, raiz, parte aérea e total), além de análises visuais de sintomas de fitotoxidade. Plantas de girassol apresentaram efeitos distintos em relação aos maturadores e doses; plantas tratadas com glyphosate apresentaram seu padrão de crescimento alterado, indicando sua alta sensibilidade ao herbicida. Com o aumento das doses, os resultados demonstraram que a deriva do glyphosate promoveu menor crescimento e desenvolvimento das plantas, podendo afetar negativamente sua produtividade. Contudo, a deriva do trinexapac-ethyl, nas doses avaliadas, não afetou as plantas de girassol.

ABSTRACT Chemical ripeners are frequently used on sugarcane crops in order to increase profitability. However, the drift of these products to neighbouring fields can expose susceptible non-target plants, such as sunflower, to these agents causing indirect impacts on growth and development. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the toxicity characterize possible changes in the growth of sunflower plants exposed to simulated drift of the ripeners glyphosate and trinexapac-ethyl. For each ripener, the following doses were used: glyphosate (0 (control), 3.6, 7.2, 14.4, 28.8 and 86.4 g a.e ha-1) and trinexapac-ethyl (0, 3.12, 6.25, 12.50, 25 and 75 g a.i ha-1). The effects of these products on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem diameter and dry matter (leaves, stem, flower, root, shoot and total) were evaluated. We also conducted a visual analysis of symptoms of phytotoxicity after exposure. The effects of the ripeners on sunflower plants varied depending on the type of agent used and the dose. Plants treated with glyphosate showed altered growth patterns, indicating high sensitivity of these plants to the herbicide. With increasing doses, glyphosate drift promoted lower growth and development of sunflower plants and negatively affected productivity. Nevertheless, trinexapac-ethyl drift, in the evaluated doses, did not affect sunflower plants.

Drospirenone (DRSP) is a progestin with anti-aldosterone properties and it reduces blood pressure in hypertensive women. However, the effects of DRSP on endothelium-dependent coronary vasodilation have not been evaluated. This study investigated the effects of combined therapy with estrogen (E2) and DRSP on endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the coronary bed of ovariectomized (OVX) spontaneously hypertensive rats. Female spontaneously hypertensive rats (n=87) at 12 weeks of age were randomly divided into sham operated (Sham), OVX, OVX treated with E2 (E2), and OVX treated with E2 and DRSP (E2+DRSP) groups. Hemodynamic parameters were directly evaluated by catheter insertion into the femoral artery. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation in response to bradykinin in the coronary arterial bed was assessed using isolated hearts according to a modified Langendorff method. Coronary protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) was assessed by Western blotting. Histological slices of coronary arteries were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and morphometric parameters were analyzed. Oxidative stress was assessed in situ by dihydroethidium fluorescence. Ovariectomy increased systolic blood pressure, which was only prevented by E2+DRSP treatment. Estrogen deficiency caused endothelial dysfunction, which was prevented by both treatments. However, the vasodilator response in the E2+DRSP group was significantly higher at the three highest concentrations compared with the OVX group. Reduced ER-α expression in OVX rats was restored by both treatments. Morphometric parameters and oxidative stress were augmented by OVX and reduced by E2 and E2+DRSP treatments. Hormonal therapy with E2 and DRSP may be an important therapeutic option in the prevention of coronary heart disease in hypertensive post-menopausal women.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tamoxifen on the plasma concentration of NT-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer and to correlate changes in NT-proBNP with the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Over a period of 12 months, we followed 60 women with a diagnosis of breast cancer. The patients were separated into a group that received only chemotherapy (n=23), a group that received chemotherapy + tamoxifen (n=21), and a group that received only tamoxifen (n=16). Plasma levels of NT-proBNP were assessed at 0 (T0), 6 (T6), and 12 (T12) months of treatment, and echocardiography data were assessed at T0 and T12. Plasma NT-proBNP levels were increased in the chemotherapy-only group at T6 and T12, whereas elevated NT-proBNP levels were only found at T6 in the chemotherapy + tamoxifen group. At T12, the chemotherapy + tamoxifen group exhibited a significant reduction in the peptide to levels similar to the group that received tamoxifen alone. The chemotherapy-only group exhibited a significant decrease in LVEF at T12, whereas the chemotherapy + tamoxifen and tamoxifen-only groups maintained levels similar to those at the beginning of treatment. Treatment with tamoxifen for 6 months after chemotherapy significantly reduced the plasma levels of NT-proBNP and did not change LVEF in women with breast cancer.

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a eficácia de armadilhas e atrativos alimentares alternativos na captura de moscas-da-fruta (Diptera: Tephritidae). Os estudos foram realizados em um pomar de goiaba no Crato, CE, nos períodos de 6 de novembro a 18 de dezembro de 2009 (armadilhas) e 13 de janeiro a 24 de fevereiro de 2010 (atrativos). Utilizaram-se pote de margarina, frasco de vinagre, garrafa PET, frasco de álcool, garrafa de óleo vegetal, garrafa de detergente e garrafa de soro, para comparar com a armadilha McPhail, tendo como atrativo alimentar a proteína hidrolisada de milho. Empregaram-se caldo de cana-de-açúcar, fermento industrializado de pão, vinagre tinto de uva, suco de goiaba, açúcar mascavo, urina humana e açúcar cristal, para comparar com a proteína hidrolisada de milho, utilizando-se a armadilha McPhail. Os experimentos foram inteiramente casualizados, com avaliações semanais. A garrafa PET pode ser utilizada em substituição a McPhail na captura de moscas-das-frutas, com maiores capturas na primeira e segunda avaliação após a instalação das armadilhas. O suco de goiaba pode ser utilizado na captura de moscas-das-frutas em substituição a proteína hidrolisada de milho, enquanto que o fermento e o vinagre demonstraram-se ineficazes.

This work aimed to evaluate the efficacy of alternative traps and food lures in capturing fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). This research was carried out in a guava orchard in Crato, state of Ceará, Brazil, from 6 November to 18 December 2009 (traps) and from 13 January to 24 February 2010 (food lures). To compare them with McPhail traps containing hydrolyzed corn protein as food lure, we utilized margarine containers, vinegar bottles, PET bottles, alcohol bottles, vegetable oil bottles, saline-solution bottles and detergent bottles. For purposes of food lure comparison, sugarcane juice, industrialized baker's yeast, red grape vinegar, guava juice, brown sugar, human urine and crystal sugar were used as alternatives to hydrolyzed corn protein, using the McPhail traps. The experiments were set up using a completely randomized design; evaluations occurred once a week. PET bottles may replace McPhail traps, with higher captures of fruit flies observed at the first and second evaluation after installation of traps. Guava juice may replace hydrolyzed corn protein to capture these pests, while industrialized baker's yeast and red grape vinegar were inefficient in fruit fly capture.