ABSTRACT. As an alternative to the use of cytochalasin B (CB), 6-dimethylamino-purine (6-DMAP) and thermal shock (heat shock by increasing the temperature from 25 to 36ºC) could be used to induce tetraploidy in Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) diploids. Induction was performed by applying shocks after elimination of the first polar corpuscle at the end of meiosis I. Ploidy rates were verified using flow cytometry. Tetraploid larvae were obtained using all inductor (6-DMAP, thermal shock and CB) treatments. No difference in the efficiency of tetraploidy induction was noted among 6-DMAP, thermal shock and CB. The number of D-larvae and their yield, determined by calculating the percentage of well-formed D-larvae in relation to the total number of larvae, was similar (p > 0.05) among the evaluated induction methods. We suggest that 6-DMAP and thermal shock should be used in tetraploidy induction protocols, thereby avoiding the use of CB, which is a harmful agent for both humans and the environment.

ABSTRACT. In Brazil, the cultivation of Crassostrea tulipa (= C. gasar) is gaining in importance. However, little is known about the best conditions for farming. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of oyster density (50, 100, 200, and 400 mL of seeds/0.15 m2; 100, 200, 300, and 400 ind/0.10 m2 (basket area) and 30, 60, 120, and 180 ind/0.13 m2 (lantern floor area) in nursey, juvenile and adult phase, respectively) on the growth and survival of C. tulipa in farm cultivation. In the nursery phase, the 50 mL density resulted in smaller oyster size, as expressed in height and height/length (H/L) ratio (1.31 ± 0.03 mm), compared to other densities, while the length and width was equal among densities. The animals' individual average weight and H/L ratio were negatively influenced by a density of 100 ind/0.10 m2 or bigger. However, animals grown at the density of 200 ind/0.10 m2 did not differ statistically in length or width from those grown with 100 ind/0.10 m2. A high survival rate (≥98%) was found in the nursery and juvenile phases.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a porcentagem de concordância entre métodos de diagnóstico por imagem na avaliação de linfonodomegalias em pacientes HIV(+)/AIDS. Materiais e Métodos: Foi realizado estudo aberto, comparativo e prospectivo dos métodos de diagnóstico por imagem na avaliação de linfonodomegalias. Foram avaliados 30 pacientes (19 homens e 11 mulheres). Todos foram submetidos a ultrassonografia e tomografia computadorizada (TC) e 20 também foram submetidos a ressonância magnética (RM). Foi determinado o grau de concordância entre dois examinadores usando-se métodos de diagnóstico por imagem. Resultados: A TC obteve o maior grau de concordância, com taxa de 28/30 (93,3%) e coeficiente kappa de 0,85. Quando comparado o grau de concordância para linfonodomegalias entre dois examinadores e entre TC e ultrassonografia, o examinador 1 teve taxa de 24/30 (80,0%) e kappa de 0,49, e o examinador 2 teve taxa de 21/30 (70,0%) e kappa de 0,31. Entre RM e TC, o examinador 1 teve taxa de 10/20 (50,0%) e kappa de -0,18, e o examinador 2 teve taxa de 17/20 (85,0%) e kappa de 0,69. Entre RM e ultrassonografia, o examinador 1 teve taxa de 14/20 (70,0%) e kappa de 0,20, e o examinador 2 teve taxa de 15/20 (75,0%) e kappa de 0,38. Conclusão: Este estudo indica que a concordância entre métodos depende fortemente da forma como a pesquisa é conduzida e não da capacidade do examinador.

Abstract Objective: To assess the percent agreement between diagnostic imaging modalities for the evaluation of lymphadenopathies in HIV-infected/AIDS patients. Materials and Methods: This was an open, comparative, prospective study of diagnostic imaging methods for lymphadenopathy evaluation. We evaluated 30 patients (19 men and 11 women). All underwent ultrasound and computed tomography (CT). Twenty of the patients also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We determined the percent agreement between two examiners using the various imaging methods to evaluate lymphadenopathies. Results: CT had the highest percent agreement, at 93.3%, with a kappa coefficient of 0.85, corresponding to 28 of the 30 examinations. When we compared the percent agreement between the two examiners and between CT and ultrasound, examiner 1 had an observed rate of 80.0%, with a kappa of 0.49, corresponding to 24 of the 30 examinations, whereas examiner 2 had a rate of 70.0%, with a kappa of 0.31, corresponding to 21 of the 30 examinations. Between MRI and CT, the percent agreement for examiner 1 was 50.0%, with a kappa of −0.18, corresponding to 10 of the 20 examinations, whereas that for examiner 2 was 85.0%, with a kappa of 0.69, corresponding to 17 of the 20 examinations. For MRI and ultrasound, examiner 1 had a percent agreement of 70.0%, with a kappa of 0.20, corresponding to 14 of the 20 examinations, and examiner 2 had a percent agreement of 75.0%, with a kappa of 0.38, corresponding to 15 of the 20 examinations. Conclusion: This study indicates that intermethod agreement is highly dependent on the way in which the research is conducted, rather than on the level of experience of the examiner.

Abstract The species Maytenus guyanensis Klotzsch ex Reissek, Celastraceae, present a wide variety of possible pharmacological activities and its roots and stems are used by popular medicine in the western Amazon rainforest. Few studies have demonstrated the genotoxic safety of the popular use of this species, and owing to this, the present study aimed to perform an analysis of the acute genotoxicity in vivo of the aqueous extract of M. guyanensis. Male and female mice from Mus musculus species, of weights ranging from 20 to 40 g, organized in eight groups with different treatments were used. The aqueous extracts of the bark of M. guyanensis were administered orally by gavage with 0.1 ml of the test substance per 10 g of the animal, followed by performance of comet assay in peripheral blood, PCE/NCE correlation and occurrence of micronuclei in the bone marrow. It was found that the aqueous extract of M. guyanensis, with ten times higher concentration than those used in ethnopharmacology, did not present genotoxic effect and, moreover, it has antigenotoxic action in mice treated acutely. Further studies regarding bioaccumulation and chronic effects of this species are suggested, in order to improve the understanding of its mechanism of action, ensuring the efficacy and safety of its utilization and developing phytotherapics and drugs.

Esse artigo é uma síntese da trabalho vencedor do 1º lugar no concurso de monografias do Tribunal de Contas da União - Prêmio Serzedello Corrêa - Versão 2001. O trabalho tem como objetivo evidenciar os mecanismos de controle da Administração Pública Federal com a implantação do modelo gerencial (pós-burocrático), fazendose uma avaliação das condições da sociedade brasileira para exercer o controle social. Assim, busca-se caminhar na direção de criar um pensamento crítico sobre o tema e propor medidas concretas de ação em resposta à seguinte questão: Quais as perspectivas para o controle social no Brasil? São analisados aspectos administrativos, culturais, políticos, sociais e históricos envolvidos. Conclui-se que o principal alicerce para o controle efetivo da administração pública, considerado na reforma gerencial em curso, seria o controle social, porém a análise de aspectos da formação cultural e política de nossa sociedade demonstram que a mesma não está preparada para exercer essa tarefa. Além disso, há fortes evidências de existirem deficiências pelo lado da Administração. Diante desse dilema, são propostas linhas de ação, considerando o estágio atual de implementação da reforma, que possam produzir mudanças na Administração e trazer perspectivas de melhoria das condições para o exercício do controle social. As linhas de ação envolvem os seguintes pontos: Valorização do Controle Social na estratégia de mudança; Criação de canais de atuação para controle social; Melhoria de capacitação e cultura no serviço público; Desenvolvimento e padronização de indicadores de desempenho; e Uniformização e integração dos sistemas de informação.

This article is a synthesis of the winning paper of monographs of the Court of Accounts of the Union, Prize Serzedello Corrêa, year 2001. The aims to show the mechanisms of control of the Federal Public Administration with the implantation of the managerial model (post-bureaucratic), in order to evaluate of the conditions of Brazilian society to exert the social control. Thus, one searchs to create a critical thought on the subject and to consider concrete actions to investigate the perspectives for the social control in Brazil Administrative, cultural, politicians, social and historical aspects are analyzed. One concludes that the main foundation for the effective control of the public administration, considered in the managerial reform in course, would be the social control. However main aspects of the cultural and political formation of our society demonstrate that this one is not prepared to exert this task. Moreover, it has strong evidences of failure from the side of the public Administration. Facing this dilemma, some proposals are presented taking into account the present stage of the state reform, which can produce changes in the Administration and bring perspectives of improvement of the conditions for social control. The action lines involve the following points: Valuation of the Social Control in the change strategy; Creation of channels of performance for social control; Improvement of qualification and culture in the public service; Development and standardization of performance indicators and standardization and integration of the information systems.