Abstract Microcancilla phoenix sp. nov., collected from the Southeast and South coast of Brazil represents the southernmost record of the genus in the Atlantic Ocean. The new species differs from the other congeners of the Atlantic mainly by the presence of microscopic pustules covering the whole shell and by dimensions of the protoconch. “Axelella brasiliensis” Verhecken, 1991, known from the Northeast to South coast of Brazil, is transferred to Microcancilla based on a similar sculpture of microscopic pustules on the protoconch and on other features of the teleoconch discussed in the present study.

Abstract Background: Proteases play an important role for the proper physiological functions of the most diverse organisms. When unregulated, they are associated with several pathologies. Therefore, proteases have become potential therapeutic targets regarding the search for inhibitors. Snake venoms are complex mixtures of molecules that can feature a variety of functions, including peptidase inhibition. Considering this, the present study reports the purification and characterization of a Kunitz-type peptide present in the Dendroaspis polylepis venom as a simultaneous inhibitor of elastase-1 and cathepsin L. Methods: The low molecular weight pool from D. polylepis venom was fractionated in reverse phase HPLC and all peaks were tested in fluorimetric assays. The selected fraction that presented inhibitory activity over both proteases was submitted to mass spectrometry analysis, and the obtained sequence was determined as a Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor homolog dendrotoxin I. The molecular docking of the Kunitz peptide on the elastase was carried out in the program Z-DOCK, and the program RosettaDock was used to add hydrogens to the models, which were re-ranked using ZRANK program. Results: The fraction containing the Kunitz molecule presented similar inhibition of both elastase-1 and cathepsin L. This Kunitz-type peptide was characterized as an uncompetitive inhibitor for elastase-1, presenting an inhibition constant (Ki) of 8 μM. The docking analysis led us to synthesize two peptides: PEP1, which was substrate for both elastase-1 and cathepsin L, and PEP2, a 30-mer cyclic peptide, which showed to be a cathepsin L competitive inhibitor, with a Ki of 1.96 µM, and an elastase-1 substrate. Conclusion: This work describes a Kunitz-type peptide toxin presenting inhibitory potential over serine and cysteine proteases, and this could contribute to further understand the envenomation process by D. polylepis. In addition, the PEP2 inhibits the cathepsin L activity with a low inhibition constant.

RESUMO Neste estudo, avaliaram-se a penetração e a retenção do preservativo borato de cobre cromatado (CCB) em peças roliças de algaroba (Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.) quando submetidas ao método de substituição da seiva. Foram aleatoriamente selecionados 16 fustes, os quais foram divididos em quatro grupos. O primeiro grupo foi submetido à solução preservante duas horas após o abate (situação denominada “normal”); o segundo grupo foi submetido à solução preservante 24 horas após o abate (situação denominada “posterior”); o terceiro grupo foi mantido imerso em água durante 15 dias antes de ser submetido à solução preservante (situação denominada “imersa”); o quarto grupo não foi submetido à preservação. Após o término do processo de imunização, foram retirados discos em três distintas posições de cada tronco (base, meio, topo) para a avaliação dos parâmetros de penetração e retenção. Para análise da penetração, utilizaram-se reações colorimétricas, sendo avaliados os elementos boro e cobre. As análises de retenção para os elementos cromo, cobre e boro foram realizadas por espectrofotometria. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado em arranjo fatorial, com quatro repetições (peças roliças), considerando-se dois fatores: Situação e Posição. O fator Situação foi composto por três níveis (normal, posterior, imersa), assim como o fator Posição (base, meio, topo). O efeito dos fatores principais e suas interações, assim como a comparação de médias, foram analisados considerando-se 5% de probabilidade. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que peças mantidas imersas antes de serem submetidas ao tratamento preservativo apresentaram significativa melhoria de sua tratabilidade, mantendo uma distribuição uniforme dos elementos químicos ao longo do seu comprimento.

ABSTRACT In this study, penetration and retention of the preservative chromated copper borate (CCB) in round pieces of algaroba (Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC) were evaluated when subjected to the sap substitution method. Sixteen trunks were randomly selected and divided into four groups. The first group underwent preservative solution 2 hours after felling (called “normal”); the second group underwent preservative solution 24 hours after the cutting down (called “posterior”); the third group was kept immersed in water for 15 days before being subjected to the preservative solution (called “immersed”); the fourth group was not subjected to preservation. After the end of the preservation process, disks were obtained at three different positions of each trunk (base, middle and top) for the evaluation of the parameters of penetration and retention. For analysis of the penetration, colorimetric reactions were used as well as the reviews of the boron and copper elements. Analyses for retaining the elements chromium, copper, and boron were carried out by spectrophotometry. It used a completely randomized factorial design with four replications (round wood) considering two design factors: Situation and Position. The situation factor consisted of three levels (immediate, posterior, immersed), and the position factor (base, middle, top). The effect of the main factors and their interactions, along with the comparison of means, were analyzed considering 5% of probability. The results indicated that pieces that were kept submerged before being submitted to the preservative treatment showed significant improvement in their treatability, maintaining an even distribution of the chemical elements along its length.

ABSTRACT Berthella currently comprises five valid species recorded from the western Atlantic, of which only Berthella agassizii (MacFarland, 1909) and Berthella stellata (Risso, 1826) have been recorded from Brazil. Two species of Berthellina occur in Brazil: Berthellina quadridens (Mörch, 1963) and Berthellina circularis (Mörch, 1863); however, based on a literature review and the anatomical study presented here, we only recognize B. circularis as occurring in the country. This study gives a detailed re-description of B. agassizii, B. stellata and B. circularis based on material from Brazil, and adds two new species to the genus, from the Brazilian coast, Berthella punctata sp. nov. and Berthellina ignis sp. nov. Berthellina circularis and B. quadridens are considered distinct species based on the denticulation of the radular teeth. B. quadridens presents the majority of teeth with two denticles, rarely three-four denticles, while in B. circularis from Brazil the radular teeth are highly denticulate with up to 17 denticles. Berthella and Berthellina do not form a monophyletic group, and cluster in a large polytomy within Pleurobranchidae. A detailed anatomical study is performed to improve the understanding of the evolutionary history of Pleurobranchidae. The comparison with available data on the odontophoric muscles of Pleurobranchoidea shows that Berthella and Berthellina present a pair of the muscle m10v that connects the mj with the ventral portion of the m5, while in Pleurobranchus and Pleurobranchaea the m10v connects the mj with the ventral portion of the m4; Berthella and Berthellina do not present the muscle m10d, which is present in Pleurobranchus and Pleurobranchaea. Based on these characters, Berthella seems to be more closely related to Berthellina than to Pleurobranchus.

Fusceulima Laseron, 1955 and Halielloides Bouchet & Warén, 1986 are reported from the southwestern Atlantic for the first time. Halielloides ingolfiana Bouchet & Warén, 1986 is considered a valid name, and the taxon is distinct from its previous senior synonym Eulima verrilliana Bush, 1909 in shell shape and absence of an umbilicus. Fusceulima saturata sp. nov. is characterized by a conical shell, domed at the apex, a short ovoid aperture, and a distinct dark-brown spiral band near the suture. Fusceulima toffee sp. nov. also has a conical shell and a dome-shaped apex, but has a taller high aperture and the entire shell is dark brown. Halielloides cf. ingolfiana, Fusceulima cf. boscheineni, and Fusceulima cf. minuta, are here recorded from the continental shelf off southeastern Brazil. The nominal species of these taxa were originally described from the northeastern Atlantic. Their status remains dubious because of lack of information on their biology, anatomy and molecular data. Regarding shell morphology, we cannot distinguish the Brazilian specimens from species in the northeastern Atlantic with the material available. A series of short grooves close to the suture of the protoconch in all species of Fusceulima, including the type species Fusceulima jacksonensis Laseron, 1955, is a possible diagnostic character for this genus.

O trabalho foi desenvolvido para avaliar os efeitos de dois solos submetidos a níveis de disponibilidade de água e idade de corte nos componentes de crescimento vegetativo e composição bromatológica em plantas de jureminha (Desmanthus virgatus L. Willd.). Os tratamentos foram distribuídos em arranjo fatorial 2 x 4 em delineamento de blocos casualizados com doze repetições, com os fatores: dois solos, sendo um da região úmida do município de Alagoinha e outro da região semiárida do município de São João do Cariri, ambos no Estado da Paraíba; quatro níveis de disponibilidade de água (40; 60; 80 e 100% de água disponível) e quatro idades de corte (60; 90; 120 e 150 dias após a emergência das plântulas) conduzidos em casa-de-vegetação do CCA/UFPB, Areia-PB. O aumento da água disponível no solo estimula o crescimento das plantas, mas inibe a produção de proteína bruta da jureminha. As plantas cresceram mais e produziram menos proteína bruta no solo de São João do Cariri em relação ao solo de Alagoinha.

The study was developed to evaluate the effects of two soil-types under different levels of water availability and cropping ages on the components of vegetative growth and chemical composition of jureminha plants (Desmanthusvirgatus L. Willd.). The treatments were distributed in a 2 x 4 factorial in a completely randomized block design with twelve replications of the factors: two soil types, one being from the humid region of the town of Alagoinha, and other from the semi-arid region of the town of São João do Cariri, both in the State of Paraíba; four levels of water availability (40, 60, 80 and 100% of the available water) and four cropping ages (60,; 90; 120 and 150 days after the emergence of seedlings), the study being carried out in a greenhouse at CCA / UFPB,in Areia, Paraíba. An increase in the water available in the soil stimulates plant growth but inhibits gross protein production in jureminha. Plants grew more, and produced less protein in the soil from São João do Cariri in relation to that from Alagoinha.

Four new species of the pyramidellid Odostomiinae from Brazil are described: Chrysallida conifera sp. nov., characterized by a small and regularly conical shell with prominent nodules; Parthenina biumbilicata sp. nov., characterized by a deep and wide umbilicus and a regularly increasing aperture diameter at the protoconch, which bears a small circular umbilicus; Eulimastoma franklini sp. nov., which is very similar to Eulimastoma dydima (Verrill & Bush, 1900) but has a prominent helicoid protoconch; Eulimastoma exiguum sp. nov., similar to Eulimastoma weberi (Morrison, 1965) but without spiral ridges. Fargoa diantophila (Wells & Wells, 1961) and Chrysallida nioba (Dall & Bartsch, 1911) are reported from the southwestern Atlantic for the first time.

The taxonomy of the species of Metaxia Monterosato, 1884 from Brazil is revised. Previously to this study, only Metaxia excelsa Faber & Moolenbeek, 1991 was known to occur in this country, under its older name Metaxia exilis (C.B. Adams, 1850). The review of a large amount of shells in malacological collections in Brazil revealed the occurrence of three known additional species: Metaxia taeniolata (Dall, 1889); Metaxia rugulosa (C.B. Adams, 1850); Metaxia prompta Rolán & Fernández-Garcés, 2008, all previously reported from the southeast coast of the USA and/or the Caribbean region. Metaxia gongyloskymnus sp. nov., diagnosed by the globose protoconch with continuous axial ribs and microscopic spiral sculpture, is restricted to localities off the Southeastern Brazilian coast.

Análises morfo-anatômicas e micromorfométricas de duas cultivares de soja, MG/BR46 (Conquista) e BR16—tolerante e sensível à seca, respectivamente, em experimento conduzido em casa de vegetação—foram feitas para estudar as diferentes estratégias de tolerância ao déficit hídrico. Tratamentos de seca foram aplicados no estádio reprodutivo R2 e R7, onde avaliações foram conduzidas em 30 dias e 45 dias após o inicio do estresse, respectivamente. O comprimento total das plantas da cultivar Conquista (parte aérea e raiz) foi maior do que das plantas da cultivar BR16. A massa seca da vagem foi adversamente afetada pelo déficit hídrico, diminuindo a produtividade das plantas da cultivar Conquista. Ambas as cultivares tiveram o desenvolvimento de pêlos radiciais normais e, uma diminuição da razão córtex:cilindro central foi observada em BR16 estressada por 30 dias, além de apresentar uma espessura do folíolo e distribuição dos estômatos normais. Diferenças na tolerância à seca observada entre as duas cultivares devem estar relacionadas também a outros fatores, alm das características morfológicas, já que esta espécie possui um ciclo de vida curto.

In a greenhouse experiment, morpho-anatomical and micromorphometrical analyses of two soybean cultivars, MG/BR46 (Conquista) and BR16-tolerant and sensitive to drought, respectively-were used to study their water-deficit-tolerance strategies. Drought treatments were applied at reproductive stages from R2 to R7, where evaluations were conducted at 30 days and 45 days after stress started, respectively. The total length of Conquista plants (shoot + root) was greater than of BR16 plants. Pod dry weight was adversely affected due to the lack of moisture, decreasing productivity even of Conquista plants. Both the cultivars had normal development of root hairs; however, it was observed a decrease in the cortex:central cylinder ratio in BR16 stressed for 30 days, and they also showed similar leaflet thickness and stomata distribution. Differences in drought tolerance observed between the two cultivars seemed to be related to factors other than morphological traits since this species has a short lifecycle.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o edema corneano central e a recuperação visual após cirurgia de catarata realizada através de duas tecnologias: ultrassônica convencional e liquefação (Aqualase®). MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo com análise contralateral, onde 20 pacientes se submeteram à facectomia sob condições pré-operatórias comparáveis. A avaliação pré-operatória envolveu exame oftalmológico completo com graduação da catarata de acordo com o Lens Opacity Classification System II, e foram incluídos no estudo pacientes com catarata nuclear bilateral até grau II. A mesma técnica cirúrgica foi realizada em todos os casos pelo mesmo cirurgião, utilizando as duas tecnologias: liquefação e facoemulsificação convencional. As medidas do edema corneano pós-operatório foram realizadas com paquímetro óptico corneano (Orbscan II®) nos dias 1, 3, 7 e 10 de pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: Nenhum dos pacientes inicialmente inscritos no estudo foi excluído ou perdido durante o seguimento. No primeiro dia pós-operatório a acuidade visual média foi de 0.031 logMAR no grupo de Aqualase e 0.043 logMAR no grupo convencional. Nenhuma diferença estatisticamente significativa foi detectada na análise de acuidade visual durante o período pós-operatório. A paquimetria corneana central variou de 543.93 + 34.69 no pré-operatório para 545.08 ± 25.67 no último dia de acompanhamento no grupo de Aqualase e de 543.13 + 30.62 para 536.08 + 34.89 no grupo convencional, sem diferença estatisticamente significativa. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo sugere que as duas técnicas são igualmente eficaz para as cirurgias nucleares graus I e II, além de apresentarem resultados similares em relação ao edema corneano central e à recuperação visual.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study is to assess central corneal edema and visual recovery after cataract surgery performed according to two technologies: conventional ultrasonic and liquefaction (Aqualase®). METHODS:This is a prospective contralateral study in wich 20 patients with comparable preoperative conditions were submitted to cataract surgery were evaluated. Preoperative assessment involved complete ophthalmological examination and the study included patients with bilateral cataracts up to grade 2, according to the Lens Opacity Classification System II. The same cristaline fracture technique was used in all cases, and surgical procedures were performed by the same experienced surgeon, using two technologies: liquefaction or conventional phacoemulsification. Postoperative central corneal edema was measured by corneal optical pachymetry (Orbscan II®) on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 10th postoperative days. RESULTS:None of the 20 patients submitted to surgery was lost during the postoperative follow-up or excluded from the analysis. On the first postoperative, the visual acuity average was 0.031 logMAR in the Aqualase® group and 0.043 logMAR in the conventional surgery group. No statistical difference was detected in the assessment of visual acuity throughout the postoperative period. Central corneal pachymetry varied from 543.93 + 34.69 preoperatively to 545.08 ± 25.67 on the last day of follow-up in the Aqualase® group, and from 543.13 + 30.62 to 536.08 + 34.89 in the conventional technique group, without statistical significance. CONCLUSION:This study suggests that both techniques are equally effective for surgery on lenses with grade I or II cataract, and that they provide similar results in terms of visual recovery and central corneal edema.

The gastropods Costaclis egregia (Dall, 1889), Thaleia nisonis (Dall, 1889), Tjaernoeia michaeli Engl, 2001 and the bivalves Bathyarca sp., Myonera aff. ruginosa (Jeffreys, 1882) are recorded for the first time in Brazilian waters. This paper presents a brief description of these species and also include ilustrations.

OBJETIVO: Os hematomas de mama são comuns após traumatismo, cirurgias ou contusões. Raramente são espontâneos, podendo ocorrer em pacientes com doença hematológica ou outras doenças associadas a distúrbios da coagulação sangüínea. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Os autores relatam o caso de paciente feminina, 48 anos, com diagnóstico e acompanhamento de Hemoglobinúria paroxística noturna há 27 anos, submetida a mamografia por apresentar em consulta de rotina nódulo palpável em quadrante superior interno (QSI ) da mama direita, móvel e indolor. RESULTADOS: A mamografia evidenciou nódulo heterogêneo, de 35 mm, em QSI da mama direita, de contorno parcialmente delimitado, sem microcalcificações, que correlacionado com a história clínica, sugeria o diagnóstico de hematoma. O controle evolutivo com mamografia e ecografia, após 45 dias mostrou substancial regressão da lesão e novo exame após 60 dias foi normal. Decorridos 75 dias do primeiro episódio, a paciente apresentou outro nódulo, agora associado a hematoma cutâneo, em quadrante superior externo da mesma mama, interpretado como novo hematoma. O controle clínico após dois meses do segundo episódio foi normal. CONCLUSÕES: A hipótese de hematoma deve ser considerada no diagnóstico diferencial de nódulo mamário, com ou sem história de trauma ou doença sistêmica associada.

BACKGROUND: Breast hematomas are common after traumas, surgeries, or contusions. They are rarely spontaneous, but they can occur spontaneously in patients with hematologic disease or with coagulation disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors report a clinical case of a 48-year-old female with a 27-year history of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria who underwent mammography screening because of a painless palpable moveable node in the upper inner quadrant of the right breast. RESULTS: Mammography showed a partially defined heterogeneous node of 35 mm without microcalcifications in the upper inner quadrant of the right breast which, associated with the clinical features, seemed to be an hematoma. Further mammography and ultrasound after 45 days showed retrocession of the lesion, and another mammography obtained after 60 days was normal. Seventy-five days after the first episode, the patient complained of another node with a skin bruise in the upper outer quadrant of the same breast, which seemed to be a recurrent hematoma. Two months later the mammography obtained was normal. CONCLUSION: Breast hematoma must be thought of as a differential diagnosis for a breast node, regardless of previous trauma or hematologic disorders.