Abstract We investigated the abundance and spatial distribution of Callinectes danae Smith, 1869 during the day/night periods and tidal cycles in a coastal area of Brazil. Sex ratio, size class distribution, and mean sizes of males and females were also analyzed. The sampling occurred between February and March 2011 in the estuary-bay complex of São Vicente. Collections occurred in six sampling stations during both daytime and nighttime. A total of 1997 specimens were collected in the bay and 963 specimens in the estuary. The abundance of males and females differed between the bay and estuary, with males more abundant in the estuary and adult females in the bay. Crabs in all demographic categories were more abundant at night. The species distribution was intrinsically related to the interaction between environmental factors. In addition to the higher capture during nocturnal collections, a positive correlation was found between the abundance of reproductive females and salinity, while juveniles were more abundant in shallower stations and at lower salinities. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the influence of day/night periods and tidal cycles on the abundance and distribution of the swimming crab C. danae.

OBJECTIVES: Unfavorable predicted adult height and psychosocial inadequacy represent parameters used to guide therapeutic intervention in girls with central precocious puberty. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog is the first-line treatment. The aim of this study was to compare two methods used to predict adult height and assess a validated tool for predicting the age at menarche in girls with central precocious puberty. METHODS: The predicted adult height of 48 girls with central precocious puberty was calculated at diagnosis using the Bayley-Pinneau method based on average and advanced bone age tables and compared with the predicted adult height calculated using a mathematical model. In addition, the age at spontaneous menarche was predicted using the new formulae. After Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment, the predicted adult height was calculated using only the Bayley-Pinneau tables. RESULTS: The achieved adult height was within the target height range in all treated girls with central precocious puberty. At diagnosis, the predicted adult height using the Bayley-Pinneau tables was lower than that using the mathematical model. After the Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment, the predicted adult height using the Bayley-Pinneau method with the average bone age tables was the closest to the achieved adult height. Using the formulae, the predicted age at spontaneous menarche was 10.1±0.5 yr. The Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog treatment significantly postponed this event until 11.9±0.7 yr in these “idiopathic” central precocious puberty girls, highlighting the beneficial effect of this treatment. CONCLUSION: Both initial adult height prediction methods are limited and must be used with caution. The prediction of the age at spontaneous menarche represents an innovative tool that can help in clinical decisions regarding pubertal suppression.

Abstract Purpose: To analyze the topical effects of Buriti oil (Mauritia flexuosa L.) in induced myositis in rats. Methods: Thirty six male rats divided into three groups: Control group (C), induced myositis group (MI) and induced myositis group reated with Mauritia flexuosa L. (MT). After inducing myositis with 1% acetic acid, was topically applied 0.5 ml of Mauritia flexuosa L.extract on the posterior region of the right gastrocnemius muscle in animals belonging to group MT, for 7 and 14 days. Results: The neutrophil number there was statistically significant difference, after 7 and 14 days, between groups C and MI (p <0.001) (p<0.01). The group MT there was a significant difference in relation to MI group in both experimental times with (p<0.001). The number of fibroblasts in the 14 days showed that when comparing the groups M and MT the differences were also significant (p<0.001). As for the DLL, in 7 days, there was a significant difference between group C and MI group (p <0.001). When considering the MT group, there was a significant difference in relation to the MI group (p <0.001). Conclusion: The extract of Mauritia flexuosa L. leaves lessened acute and chronic inflammation, increased fibroblast proliferation and reduced macroscopically edema.

Abstract The spatio-temporal distribution of juveniles of the pink shrimps Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis (Latreille, 1817) and Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Pérez-Farfante, 1967) in the Ubatuba region (SP) was investigated. Sampling was performed in the bays of Ubatumirim (UBM), Ubatuba (UBA) and Mar Virado (MV). A total of 2,018 F. brasiliensis and F. paulensis were collected. The largest catch of juveniles of both species occurred in UBA (N = 867), followed by UBM (N = 729) and MV (N= 422). The bottom sediment in MV had the highest silt and clay content, which explains the negative correlation of the substrate with the abundance of both species. Temperature was positively correlated with the abundance of both species. Juveniles were highly abundant in shallower areas in the summer of 1998. The high rainfall in this El Niño period may have lowered the salinity in estuarine waters and led the shrimps to move to coastal areas in search of higher salinities such as in bays. With this unusually early reduction in salinity, individuals migrated to the bay before the closed season began and thus became more exposed to fishing. We confirmed that monitoring environmental variations, especially in El Niño years, is essential for understanding the distribution patterns of juveniles of both species.

A variação diuturna na abundância e no tamanho de Pleoticus muelleri foi investigada na região de Ubatuba durante o ano de 2000. Em cada estação do ano, as coletas foram realizadas no período diurno e noturno em 8 profundidades, de 5 a 40 m. O número estimado de camarões foi de 955 indivíduos, 272 coletados durante o dia e 683 à noite. Houve diferença na abundância de P. muelleri entre o dia e a noite (χ², p=2.33E-40). A abundância durante o dia e à noite diferiu por estação com exceção da primavera (χ², p=0.06). A abundância em ambos os períodos também diferiu por profundidade, exceto nos 15 e 30 metros (χ², p=0.84 e 0.06, respectivamente). Os camarões capturados à noite foram geralmente menores do que os capturados durante o dia (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, p<0.01). Os juvenis de Pleoticus muelleri foram encontrados principalmente à noite e tal tendência pode ter influenciado no menor tamanho médio obtido nesse período. O tipo de sedimento e a temperatura de fundo parecem influenciar o comportamento da espécie em questão e, consequentemente, a taxa de captura durante os períodos analisados.

Diel variation in the abundance and size of Pleoticus muelleri in the Ubatuba region was investigated during 2000. During each season of the year, sampling was conducted during the day and at night at 8 depths, from 5 to 40 m. The estimated number of shrimp was 955 individuals, 272 collected during the day and 683 at night. There was a difference in the abundance of P. muelleri between day and night (χ², p=2.33E-40). The abundance during the day and at night differed by season with the exception of the spring (χ², p=0.06). The abundance during both periods also differed by depth, except at 15 and 30 m, where it was not significant (χ², p=0.84 and 0.06, respectively). The shrimp caught at night were generally smaller than those caught during the day (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, p<0.01). Pleoticus muelleri juveniles were found primarily at night. This tendency could have influenced the lower mean size for this period. The sediment type and the bottom temperature appear to influence the behavior of this species and consequently the catch rate during the periods analyzed.

A influência dos fatores ambientais na distribuição espacial e temporal do camarão sete-barbas Xiphopenaeus kroyeri foi investigada na Baía de Santos e Estuário de São Vicente, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. As amostras foram obtidas mensalmente, de maio de 2008 a abril de 2010, em quatro locais do estuário e quatro da baía. Nenhum indivíduo foi coletado no estuário e isto foi atribuído à baixa salinidade média registrada neste ambiente. Foram coletados 109.153 indivíduos na baía e não houve diferença na abundância entre os anos de estudo. A semelhança na distribuição espacial pode estar relacionada à composição do sedimento que em todos os locais de amostragem teve predomínio de areia muito fina. A maior quantidade de fêmeas reprodutivas foi obtida no início de 2010, quando a temperatura estava alta, e resultou em um pico de recrutamento juvenil em abril de 2010. De acordo com nossos resultados, a distribuição de X. kroyeri na área de estudo é influenciada pela temperatura, relacionada à reprodução, e à salinidade, que limita a entrada dos indivíduos no estuário.

We investigated the influence of environmental factors in spatial and temporal distribution of the seabob shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in Santos Bay and São Vicente Estuary, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Monthly samples were obtained, from May 2008 through April 2010, from four locations in the estuary and four in the bay. No individual was collected in the estuary and this was attributed to the low salinity means recorded in this environment. We collected 109,153 individuals in the bay and there was no difference in abundance between the two years comprised by the study period. The similarity in spatial distribution can be related to sediment grain size that in all sampling locations showed great amount of very fine sand. The largest amount of reproductive females was obtained in early 2010, when temperature was high, and this could have increased the juvenile recruitment in April 2010. According to our results, the distribution of X. kroyeri in the study area is influenced by temperature, which is related to reproduction, and salinity, limiting the entrance of individuals in the estuarine region.

Este estudo analisa a ecologia de Lucifer faxoni Borradaile, 1915 em Ubatuba, São Paulo. Os indivíduos foram coletados mensalmente de julho de 2005 a dezembro de 2006, com uma rede de Renfro, arrastada por uma distância de 50 m, totalizando um esforço amostral de 50 m² em cada ponto de coleta. Nove pontos foram amostrados, variando de 1 a 15 m de profundidade. Cada 3 pontos foram agrupados em 3 zonas (Z1, Z2 e Z3). Os valores de salinidade, temperatura e pluviosidade foram registrados mensalmente em cada transecto. Os espécimes foram medidos quanto ao comprimento do somito pré-bucal (SL). Os resultados mostram que nas zonas mais rasas (Z1 e Z2) foram coletados 6306 indivíduos, enquanto que na mais profunda (Z3) obteve-se 3808 espécimes, não havendo diferença estatística entre as zonas (ANOVA, p=0.25). A abundância não diferiu estatisticamente entre as estações do ano (Tukey, p=0.02), exceto para a primavera. Em todas as estações amostradas, o sex ratio diferiu estatisticamente (χ², p< 0.05). Os fatores ambientais aqui analisados apresentaram relação estreita com a distribuição espaço-temporal de L. faxoni. A pluviosidade influenciou diretamente a salinidade, que provocou o deslocamento dos camarões L. faxoni para áreas mais profundas.

Luciferid shrimps have short life spans and a rapid turnover of generations, engage in sequential spawning, and protect their eggs during incubation. This study investigates the ecology of Lucifer faxoni Borradaile, 1915 in the littoral zone, Ubatuba region, São Paulo. Sampling was conducted monthly from July 2005 to December 2006 using a Renfro net trawled over a distance of 50 m for a total sampling effort of 50 m² at each station. Nine stations were sampled, ranging from 1 to 15 m deep. Three stations each were grouped into zones 1, 2 and 3 (Z1, Z2 and Z3). Monthly values of salinity, temperature and rainfall were recorded at each station. The pre-buccal somite length (SL) of each specimen was measured. The results showed that in shallower zones (Z1 and Z2), 6306 individuals were captured, whereas in the deeper zone (Z3), 3808 specimens were captured, but no significant differences in SL was detected between the specimens from Z1 and Z2 and those from Z3 (ANOVA, p=0.25). The abundance of shrimps did not differ significantly between seasons (Tukey's test, p=0.02) except in the spring. The sex ratio differed significantly over the seasons (χ², p<0.05). The results were closely associated with environmental factors with respect to the spatial and seasonal distribution of L. faxoni. Rainfall affected salinity directly, and contributed to the displacement of these shrimps to deeper areas.

The relationship between species abundance and environmental factors such as the bottom water temperature and salinity, the texture and organic matter content of the sediment and the distribution of Pleoticus muelleri and Artemesia longinaris were investigated. Specimens and samples of abiotic factors were collected monthly from May 2008 to April 2010 at 4 locations in Santos Bay on the southern coast of the State of São Paulo. A shrimp boat equipped with an otter-trawl net with an 8 m mouth aperture and a mesh size of 20 mm tapering to 18 mm at the cod end was used for sampling. Shrimp abundances were compared with an analysis of variance (ANOVA). However, when the data did not follow a normal distribution, we used the Kruskal-Wallis test. The relationship between environmental factors and the abundance of individuals was assessed with a Pearson's correlation. The largest catches of individuals of both species occurred in the late spring of 2008. The greatest abundance occurred at the outer part of the bay (collection point 4). The greatest abundance of P. muelleri was associated with lower temperatures and sediments with higher clay and organic matter content, whereas for A. longinaris, there was no significant correlation with any of the abiotic factors recorded. However, the occurrence of both species was related to lower bottom temperatures associated with the intrusion of the South Atlantic Central Water in the region.