Resumo A produção e decomposição da serapilheira é importante no funcionamento e na dinâmica de um ecossistema florestal, associando variáveis climatológicas à biomassa. Com isso, investigou-se o estoque de serapilheira em função da sozanalidade dos elementos do clima em uma floresta sucessional na Amazônia oriental. O estudo foi conduzido em uma floresta sucessional, na Região Metropolitana de Belém (RMB), Pará. No ecossistema foi realizada uma amostragem aleatória em três transectos alocados ao longo da perpendicular da linha de borda de 50 m. A análise do efeito da sazonalidade dos elementos do clima nas propriedades físicas (volume, espessura, densidade e massa seca) e no carbono da serapilheira foram realizadas utilizando o teste t student e ANOVA do teste F a 5 % de significância. A precipitação (495,2±125 mm e 109,8±60 mm) e a umidade relativa do ar (89,0±1,7 % e 79,6±2,8 %) apresentaram diferença estatística na sazonalidade (p<0,05), diferente da temperatura (27,1±0,2 ºC e 27,6±0,3 ºC) que não houve diferença. As variáveis da serapilheira não foram influenciadas pela sazonalidade dos elementos do clima e não diferiram estatisticamente entre os períodos chuvoso e menos chuvoso, respectivamente: quantidade de serapilheira acumulada (16,46±4,17 Mg ha-1 e 13,91±7,61 Mg ha-1), estoque de carbono da serapilheira (7,9±2,0 Mg ha-1 e 6,6 ± 3,61 Mg ha-1), volume (26,21±0,92 cm3 e 24,88±0,92 cm3), espessura (4,19±0,92 cm e 3,99±0,95 cm) e densidade (0,041±0,92 g/cm3 e 0,034±0,92 g/cm3). A sazonalidade dos elementos do clima não apresentou variação considerável a ponto de alterar as propriedades físicas e o carbono da serapilheira.

Abstract The production and decomposition of litter is important in the functioning and dynamic of a forest ecosystem, associating climatological variables to biomass. With that, the litter stock was investigated due to the seasonality of the climate in a successional forest in eastern Amazon. The study was conducted in a successional forest, in the metropolitan region of Belém (RMB), Pará. In the ecosystem, a random sampling was performed in three transects located along the perpendicular of the 50m border line. The analysis of the effect of the seasonality of the elements of the climate on the litter physical properties (volume, thickness, density and dry mass) and carbon content were carried out using the t Student test and ANOVA of the F test at 5 % significance level. Precipitation (495.2 ± 125 mm and 109.8 ± 60 mm) and relative humidity (89.0 ± 1.7 % and 79.6 ± 2.8 %) showed a statistical difference in seasonality (p<0.05), different from the temperature (27.1 ± 0.2 ºC and 27.6 ± 0.3 ºC), there was no difference. The litter variables were not influenced by the seasonality of the elements of the climate and did not differ statistically between the rainy and less rainy periods, respectively: amount of accumulated litter (16.46 ± 4.17 Mg.ha-1 and 13.91 ± 7.61 Mg.ha-1), litter carbon stock (7.9 ± 2, 0 Mg.ha-1 and 6.6 ± 3.61 Mg.ha-1), volume (26.21 ± 0.92cm3 and 24.88 ± 0.92 cm3), thickness (4.19 ± 0.92 cm and 3.99 ± 0.95 cm) and density (0.041 ± 0.92 g/cm3 and 0.034 ± 0.92 g/cm3). The seasonality of the elements of the climate did not show considerable variation to the point of altering the litter physical properties and carbon content.

Abstract Lipoid proteinosis is a rare autosomal recessive disease, characterized by hyaline deposits of PAS-positive material in tissues due to mutations in the ECM1 gene. This study evaluated the ultrastructure of the skin of a 6-year-old child affected by this condition. The light microscopy identified PAS-positive hyaline deposits, which were more intense in the papillary dermis. Scanning electron microscopy of the dermis showed a compact papillary dermis and fibrillar deposits in the middle dermis. Transmission electron microscopy clearly showed the deposition of fibrillar material in the dermis, forming clusters adherent to elastic fibers, between the collagen bundles and the collagen fibers, and also filling up the cytoplasm of dermal fibroblasts.

Torque Teno Virus (TTV) presence was investigated in peripheral blood of 117 brazilian women by nested polymerase chain reaction. TTV DNA was observed in 18.6% of healthy donors and in 24.32% Human Papillomavirus (HPV) patients. TTV presence was also investigated in the HPV positive group for comparison between the cervical cancer and noncancerous patients. TTV DNA prevalence was significantly higher among the HPV positive patients with cervical cancer (57.14%) than in HPV noncancerous patients (16.67%). Thus, the presence of TTV infection could be a risk factor for cancer development in the patients presenting HPV-TTV coinfection. Further studies are required to clarify the TTV influence in HPV pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the response of periapical tissues to the endodontic sealer Endométhasone in root canal fillings short of or beyond the apical foramen. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty root canals of premolars and incisors of 2 mongrel dogs were used. After coronal access and pulp extirpation, the canals were instrumented up to a size 55 K-file and the apical cemental barrier was penetrated with a size 15 K-file to obtain a main apical foramen, which was widened to a size 25 K-file. The canals were irrigated with saline at each change of file. The root canals were obturated either short of or beyond the apical foramen by the lateral condensation of gutta-percha and Endométhasone, originating 2 experimental groups: G1: Endométhasone/short of the apical foramen; G2: Endométhasone/beyond the apical foramen. The animals were killed by anesthetic overdose 90 days after endodontic treatment. The individual roots were obtained and serial histological sections were prepared for histomorphological analysis (H&E and Brown & Brenn techniques) under light microscopy. The following parameters were examined: closure of the apical foramen of the main root canal and apical opening of accessory canals, apical cementum resorption, intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate, presence of giant cells and thickness and organization of the apical periodontal ligament. Each parameter was scored 1 to 4, 1 being the best result and 4 the worst. Data were analyzed statistically by the Wilcoxon nonparametric tests (p=0.05). RESULTS: Comparing the 2 groups, the best result (p<0.05) was obtained with root canal filling with Endométhasone short of the apical foramen but a chronic inflammatory infiltrate was present in all specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Limiting the filling material to the root canal space apically is important to determine the best treatment outcome when Endométhasone is used as sealer.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a transmissão sexual de GBV-C/HBV, através da detecção do RNA viral em raspados cérvico-vaginais. Portanto, a presença do RNA GBV-C/HGV foi investigada em raspados cérvico-vaginais em mulheres aparentemente saudáveis que realizaram exames preventivos para câncer cervical. GBV-C/HGV RNA foi detectado por reação de transcriptase reversa e reação em cadeia da polimerase (RT-PCR). Apenas uma mulher apresentou a co-infecção com o papiloma vírus humano (HPV). O RNA GBV-C/HGV foi detectado em 13/73 (17,57%) mulheres saudáveis e sua prevalência entre participantes da idade de 28-43 anos foi de 53,85%. Não foi observada relação entre a presença do RNA GBV-C/HGV com a idade de primeira relação sexual, nem com o número de gestações. Entre as mulheres que apresentavam o RNA viral, 69,23% eram casadas. O presente estudo demonstrou que secreções cérvico-vaginais podem conter o RNA viral GBV-C/HBV.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the sexual transmission of GBV-C/HGV, through RNA detection in cervicovaginal smears. Therefore the GBV-C/HGV RNA in cervicovaginal smears from apparently healthy women was investigated using routine proceedings for prophylactic screening to cervical cancer. GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected by reverse transcriptase and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Only one woman presented co-infection with human papilloma virus (HPV). The GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected in 13/73 (17.57%) healthy women and it's prevalence in participating women between 28-43 years old was 53.85%. No association was found with GBV-C/HGV for the age of first sexual intercourse and number of pregnancies. In GBV-C/HGV RNA positive women, 69.23% were married. In conclusion, the present findings show that cervical and vaginal specimens could contain the GBV-C/HGV RNA.