A melissa (Melissa officinalis) é uma planta medicinal comumente usada como calmante e ingerida na forma de chá. Para otimizar sua produção, este trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses de esterco bovino, com relação ao fertilizante mineral na produção de biomassa foliar e teor de óleo essencial. O experimento foi conduzido na Universidade Federal de Uberlândia e no Instituto Agronômico de Campinas. O delineamento estatístico foi de blocos casualisados com seis tratamentos (0, 1, 2, 4, 8 kg m-2 de esterco bovino e 30 g m-2 de NPK 4-14-8), em quatro repetições. O óleo essencial foi extraído por hidrodestilação em equipamento tipo Clevenger modificado. As doses de esterco bovino influenciaram a altura de plantas, massa fresca total e massa seca foliar por planta e por hectare. As duas formas de adubação foram superiores à testemunha para praticamente todas as variáveis, exceto em relação ao comprimento e largura foliar, teor de óleo na matéria seca e fresca foliar. Conclui-se que a melissa responde à adubação orgânica com esterco bovino e adubação mineral para produção de biomassa.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a medicinal plant commonly used as a sedative and ingested as a tea. Studies on agricultural practices are required to optimize its yield. To optimize its production, this study evaluated the effect of different doses of organic fertilizer (cow manure) in comparison to mineral fertilizer on biomass production and essential oil yield. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, and at the Agronomic Institute of Campinas, São Paulo state, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks with six treatments (0, 1, 2, 4, 8 kg m-2 of manure and 30 g m-2 of NPK 4-14-8), and four replications. Hydro-distillation was done with a modified Clevenger distiller for essential oil extraction. Cattle manure influenced plant height, total fresh and dry mass of leaves, per plant and per hectare. The two fertilization forms were better than the non-fertilized control for all variables, except for leaf length and width and oil content in the leaf fresh and dry matter. It can be concluded that lemon balm is responsive to organic fertilization with manure and mineral fertilization for biomass production.

A cenoura é a principal hortaliça em valor econômico cujo produto é a raiz, encontrando-se entre as dez espécies de olerícolas mais cultivadas no Brasil. O presente trabalho avaliou a produtividade, número e qualidade de raízes comerciais de cenoura, cultivar Brasília-RL, em diferentes adubações de cobertura. O experimento foi conduzido num Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo, da Fazenda Olhos D'Água, em São Gotardo-MG, de janeiro a abril de 2006. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com nove tratamentos (T0= testemunha sem cobertura; T1= 100 kg ha-1 de 20-00-20 aos 30 e 45 dias após semeadura; T2= 200 kg ha-1 de 20-00-20 aos 30 e 45 dias após semeadura; T3= 300 kg ha-1 de 20-00-20 aos 30 e 45 dias após semeadura; T4= 200 kg ha-1 de 20-00-20 aos 30 dias após semeadura; T5= 200 kg ha-1 de 20-00-20 aos 45 dias após a semeadura; T6= 300 kg ha-1 de 20-00-20 aos 45 dias após a semeadura; T7= 130 kg ha-1de nitrocálcio aos 30 e 45 dias após semeadura e T8= 130 kg ha-1 de nitrocálcio aos 30 dias após semeadura e T9= 133 kg ha-1 de 15-00-14 aos 45 dias após semeadura) e cinco repetições. Foram avaliados o número e a massa de raízes nas classes comerciais: C-10 (>10<14 cm), C-14 (>14<18 cm), C-18 (>18<22 cm), C- 22 (>22<26 cm) e C-26 (>26 cm), o número e massa de raízes comerciais (C) e não comerciais (NC) e número total de raízes (T). O número total de raízes de cenoura (T) não foi afetado significativamente pelos tratamentos de adubação de cobertura, sendo a máxima produtividade de raízes (27,5 t ha-1), utilizando-se o formulado 20-00-20, obtida com a aplicação de 229,1 kg ha-1. A aplicação conjunta de fontes de nitrogênio, potássio e cálcio aumentou a produtividade de raízes comerciais, principalmente na classe de maior valor (C-18).

The carrot is included among the ten most economically important vegetables in Brazil. We evaluated the root yield, number and quality of commercial carrots, cultivar Brasília-RL, under different top-dressing fertilizations. The experiment was carried out on a Latosol, at Fazenda Olhos D'Água, in São Gotardo, Minas Gerais State, from January to April 2006. The experiment was set up in randomized blocks with nine treatments (T0= no top-dressing control; T1= 100 kg ha-1 20-00-20 at 30 and 45 days after sowing; T2= 200 kg ha-1 20-00-20 at 30 and 45 days after sowing; T3= 300 kg ha-1 20-00-20 at 30 and 45 days after sowing; T4= 200 kg ha-1 20-00-20 at 30 days after sowing; T5= 200 kg ha-1 20-00-20 at 45 days after sowing; T6= 300 kg ha-1 20-00-20 at 45 days after sowing; T7= 130 kg ha-1 nitrocalcium at 30 and 45 days after sowing; T8= 130 kg ha-1 nitrocalcium at 30 days after sowing and T9= 133 kg ha-1 15-00-14 at 45 days after sowing) and five replications. The root number and weight in each commercial class were evaluated: C-10 (>10<14 cm), C-14 (>14<18 cm), C-18 (>18<22 cm), C-22 (>22<26 cm), C-26 (>26 cm), the commercial (C), the non commercial (NC) and total (T) root number and weight were also evaluated. The total number of carrot roots (T) did not present significant differences with the top-dressing fertilizations. Maximum root yield (27.5 t ha-1) using 20-00-20 was obtained with the fertilization with 229.1 kg ha-1. However the joint application of nitrogen, potassium and calcium sources increased commercial root yield, especially of those classified as C-18, which is the major commercial class.

INTRODUCTION: Much evidence indicates the importance of the endothelium and hypercholesterolemia in atherosclerosis, as well as the decline in endothelial function with aging. However, it is unclear if treating dyslipidemia in elderly patients improves endothelial function and reduces C-reactive protein levels. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate vasomotor function, lipids and C-reactive protein in mildly hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic elderly patients treated with atorvastatin. METHODS: Forty-seven elderly Brazilian subjects (> 65 years old) with LDL cholesterol (LDL-c) > 130 mg/dL were randomly assigned, in a double-blinded manner, to receive either placebo (n = 23) or 20 mg/day of atorvastatin (n = 24) for 4 weeks. Exclusion criteria included diabetes, serious hypertension, obesity, steroid use, hormone replacement, and statin use within the previous six months. All patients underwent clinical examinations, laboratory tests (glucose, lipids, liver enzymes, creatine phosphokinase and high sensitivity C-reactive protein) and assessment of vasomotor function by high-resolution ultrasound examination of the brachial artery (flow-mediated dilation and sublingual nitrate), both before and after treatment. RESULTS: The patients were 65 to 91 years old; there was no significant difference between basal flow-mediated dilation of placebo (7.3 ± 6.1%) and atorvastatin (4.5 ± 5.1%; p = 0.20). The same was observed after treatment (6.6 ± 6.2 vs. 5.0 ± 5.6; p = 0.55). The initial nitrate dilatation (8.1 ± 5.4% vs. 10.8 ± 7.5%; p = 0.24) and that after 4 week treatment (7.1 ± 4.7% vs. 8.6 ± 5.0%; p = 0.37) were similar. Atorvastatin produced a reduction of 20% of the C-reactive protein and 42% in the LDL-c; however, there were no changes in the flow-mediated dilation. CONCLUSIONS: Atorvastatin produced a significant change of lipids and C-reactive protein; however, there were no changes in vasomotor function, suggesting the existence of intrinsic age-related vessel alterations.

A prevalência da infecção pelo Helicobacter pylori foi avaliada em amostra randomizada de indivíduos de uma comunidade urbana de baixa renda em Fortaleza, Estado do Ceará. O H. pylori foi detectado em 384 (62.9%) dos 610 participantes. A taxa de infecção foi de 47.5% em indivíduos com seis meses a 10 anos de idade, aumentou para 73.3% entre indivíduos com 11 a 20 anos, e continuou a aumentar com a idade, atingindo 87% naqueles com aproximadamente 60 anos. Após essa idade, a prevalência diminuiu discretamente. A prevalência da infecção aumentou significantemente com a idade (p<0.0001).

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was assessed in a randomly selected sample of individuals from low-income community in Fortaleza, Northeastern Brazil. Overall, 384 out of 610 participants (62.9%) were H. pylori positive. A 47.5% infection rate was found in subjects aged six months to 10 years old, increased to 73.3% in subjects aged 11-20 years and then continued to increase with age reaching up to 87% in those over 60 years old. After this age group, the prevalence decreased slightly. The prevalence of infection increased significantly with age (p<0.0001).

A prevalência da infecção pelo Helicobacter pylori foi avaliada em amostra randomizada de indivíduos de uma comunidade urbana de baixa renda em Fortaleza, Estado do Ceará. O H. pylori foi detectado em 384 (62.9%) dos 610 participantes. A taxa de infecção foi de 47.5% em indivíduos com seis meses a 10 anos de idade, aumentou para 73.3% entre indivíduos com 11 a 20 anos, e continuou a aumentar com a idade, atingindo 87% naqueles com aproximadamente 60 anos. Após essa idade, a prevalência diminuiu discretamente. A prevalência da infecção aumentou significantemente com a idade (p<0.0001).

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was assessed in a randomly selected sample of individuals from low-income community in Fortaleza, Northeastern Brazil. Overall, 384 out of 610 participants (62.9%) were H. pylori positive. A 47.5% infection rate was found in subjects aged six months to 10 years old, increased to 73.3% in subjects aged 11-20 years and then continued to increase with age reaching up to 87% in those over 60 years old. After this age group, the prevalence decreased slightly. The prevalence of infection increased significantly with age (p<0.0001).