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.

The pentavalent antimonial (Sb5+) meglumine is the drug of choice for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Brazil. Although the cardiotoxicity of high-dose, long-term Sb5+ therapy is well known, the use of low-dose, short-term meglumine has been considered to be safe and relatively free from significant cardiac effects. In order to investigate the cardiotoxicity of low-dose, short-term therapy with meglumine in cutaneous leishmaniasis, 62 CL patients treated with meglumine were studied. A standard ECG was obtained before and immediately after the first cycle of treatment (15 mg Sb5+ kg-1 day-1). The electrocardiographic interpretation was carried out blindly by two investigators using the Minnesota Code. There were no significant differences in qualitative ECG variables before and after meglumine treatment. However, the corrected QT interval was clearly prolonged after antimonial therapy (420.0 vs 429.3 ms, P<10-6). QTc augmentation exceeded 40 ms in 12 patients, 7 of whom developed marked QTc interval enlargement (500 ms) after meglumine therapy. This previously unrecognized cardiac toxicity induced by short-term, low-dose antimonial therapy has potentially important clinical implications. Since sudden death has been related to QTc prolongation over 500 ms induced by high-dose antimonial therapy, routine electrocardiographic monitoring is probably indicated even in CL patients treated with short-term, low-dose meglumine schedules. Until further studies are conducted to establish the interactions between pentavalent antimonials and other drugs, special care is recommended when using meglumine in combination with other medications, in particular with drugs that also increase the QTc interval.