RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a eficácia da anestesia paravertebral proximal em ovinos, com o uso de estimulador de nervos periféricos, comparando-a com a técnica de Cambridge. Oito ovinos da raça Santa Inês, cinco fêmeas e três machos, com idade de dois anos e peso de 66±13kg, foram incluídos no estudo. Foi realizada anestesia paravertebral proximal direita com lidocaína a 2% sem vasoconstritor, injetada nos espaços entre T13-L1, L1-L2 e L2-L3, com e sem o auxílio de estimulador de nervo periférico, em dois procedimentos com intervalo de sete dias entre os tratamentos, que consistiram em: TE (tratamento com estimulador: 3mg kg-1 de lidocaína 2%) e TC (tratamento controle Cambridge, 6mg kg-1 de lidocaína 2%). As variáveis cardiorrespiratórias foram registradas antes do tratamento (basal, TB) e depois, aos 15, 30, 45 e 60 minutos (T15, T30, T45 e T60, respectivamente) após a anestesia local. A eficácia da anestesia regional foi avaliada por meio de pinçamento mecânico da pele, em um ponto entre a crista ilíaca e a borda inferior da última costela. Os dados foram testados para distribuição normal usando-se o teste de Shapiro-Wilk, e comparados usando-se Kruskal-Wallis, seguido pelo teste post-hoc de Dunn. A duração do bloqueio foi analisada por meio de uma curva de sobrevivência de Kaplan-Meyer. As análises foram realizadas com 5% de significância. O TE demorou significativamente mais tempo e teve maior sucesso e maior duração. A resposta positiva ao pinçamento cutâneo no TC foi obtida em sete animais no T15 e em um no T45, enquanto no TE, um animal respondeu ao pinçamento cutâneo no T15, dois no T30, quatro no T45 e um no T60. A duração foi significativamente mais longa no TE em comparação com o TC, de acordo com a análise de Kaplan-Meyer. Não foram observadas alterações nas variáveis cardiorrespiratórias ao longo do estudo. Em conclusão, o estimulador de nervo periférico aumenta o sucesso da anestesia paravertebral proximal, usando-se uma dose menor de lidocaína a 2% em ovelhas saudáveis.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of proximal paravertebral anesthesia in sheep using a peripheral nerve stimulator and compare it to the Cambridge technique. Eight Santa Inês sheep, five females and three males aged 2 years and weighing 13kg were enrolled in the study. Right proximal paravertebral anesthesia was carried out using 2% lidocaine without vasoconstrictor, injected in the spaces between T13-L1, L1-L2 and L2-L3, with and without the aid of a peripheral nerve stimulator in two procedures with an interval of 7 days between treatments, which comprised: ST (stimulator treatment: 3mg kg-1 of lidocaine 2%) and CT (Cambridge control treatment, 6mg kg-1 of lidocaine 2%). Cardiorespiratory variables were recorded before the treatment (baseline, TB) and then at 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes (T15, T30, T45 and T60, respectively) following local anesthesia. Effectiveness of the regional anesthesia was assessed by means of mechanical skin clamping at a point between the iliac crest and the lowest border of the last rib. Data were tested for normal distribution using the Shapiro-Wilk test and compared using Kruskal-Wallis followed by Dunn post-hoc test. Duration of the blockade was analyzed using a Kaplan-Meyer survival curve. Analyses were performed under 5% significance. ST took significantly longer and had greater success and greater duration. Positive response to skin clamping in CT was obtained in seven animals at T15 and one at T45, whereas in ST, one animal responded to skin clamping at T15, two at T30, four at T45 and one at T60. Duration was significantly longer in ST compared to CT according to the Kaplan-Meyer analysis. No changes were seen in cardiorespiratory variables throughout the study. In conclusion, the peripheral nerve stimulator increases the success of proximal paravertebral anesthesia using a lower dose of 2% lidocaine in healthy sheep.

RESUMO O estudo da profilaxia da raiva humana contribui para orientação quanto ao uso de vacinas e soros antirrábicos, servindo de base para a definição de estratégias de prevenção, controle e avaliação da doença. Objetivou-se avaliar o atendimento antirrábico humano pós-exposição e possíveis incompatibilidades com o protocolo do Ministério da Saúde, em agressões por cães, no município de Belo Horizonte. Analisaram-se as fichas de atendimento antirrábico do SINAN para comparação dos tratamentos prescritos com as Normas de Profilaxia antirrábica do Ministério da Saúde. As características dos atendimentos foram: quanto à exposição, 93,0% decorrentes de mordedura; quanto à localização da agressão, 35,5% ocorreram nos membros inferiores; quanto ao ferimento, 62,0% foram lesões únicas; quanto ao tipo de ferimento, 65,8% foram superficiais; quanto à condição do animal, 85,0% ocorreram por animais sadios; em 83,4% dos casos os animais eram observáveis; quanto ao tratamento, observação e vacina (57,3%). O tratamento foi inadequado em 32,7% das condutas. O número de tratamentos instituídos foi muito elevado, 75,7% dos casos. De todos os atendimentos 21,2% das indicações foram consideradas excessivas e 11,5% insuficientes. O sistema de vigilância apresenta falhas e existe a necessidade de corrigi-las para que as informações referentes à finalização dos casos sejam conclusivas.

ABSTRACT The study of prophylaxis of human rabies contributes to guidance on the use of vaccines and anti-rabies serums, providing the basis for the definition of strategies for prevention, control and evaluation of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the service to early post-exposure human anti-rabies and possible incompatibilities with the Ministry of Health protocol attacks by dogs in the city of Belo Horizonte. The anti-rabies care records of SINAN were analyzed for comparison of treatments prescribed in the Prophylaxis of Rabies Standards of the Ministry of Health. The characteristics of the calls were about the exposure, 93.0% resulting from biting; the location of the assault, 35.5% occurred in the lower limbs; the injury, only 62.0% were injuries; the type of injury, 65.8% were superficial; the condition of the animal, 85.0% occurred in healthy animals; 83.4% of the cases the animals were observed; as treatment, observation and vaccine (57.3%). The treatment was inadequate in 32.7%. The number of established treatments was very high, 75.7% of cases. In all 21.2% of indications consultations were considered excessive and 11.5% insufficient. The surveillance system is faulty and there is a need to correct them so that the information regarding the completion of cases are conclusive.

RESUMO O ciclo silvestre da raiva constitui um sério desafio para a vigilância epidemiológica no controle da doença nos animais domésticos, de companhia ou de produção, e nos seres humanos. O entendimento sobre a circulação do vírus rábico no ambiente natural é cada vez mais importante, em razão da constância de reservatórios naturais da doença e da presença de vetores potenciais da infecção aos humanos e aos animais domésticos. Com o objetivo de avaliar a ocorrência da raiva no estado de Sergipe, foram analisados 935 morcegos hematófagos (Desmodus rotundus), 46 cachorros-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous) e 24 primatas (Callithrix spp.) no período de 1987 a 2014, dos quais resultaram positivos um morcego, 17 cachorros-do-mato e nenhum primata. Em que pese a contundente falta de resultados positivos em morcegos hematófagos, principal vetor da raiva dos herbívoros, mais estudos são necessários no monitoramento dos casos, pois o estado, do ponto de vista epidemiológico, é endêmico para a raiva dos herbívoros. A vigilância epidemiológica do vírus da raiva nos animais silvestres é primordial para o sucesso dos programas de controle da doença em rebanhos de animais domésticos e em seres humanos.

ABSTRACT The wild cycle of rabies constitutes a serious challenge to epidemiological surveillance for disease control in domestic, companion or production animals, and in humans. The understanding of rabies virus circulation in the natural environment is increasingly important due to the constancy of natural reservoirs of the disease and the presence of potential vectors of the infection to humans and domestic animals. Aiming to evaluate the occurrence of rabies in the State of Sergipe a total of 935 hematophagous bats (Desmodus rotundus), 46 wild dogs (Cerdocyon thous) and 24 primates (Callithrix spp.) were analyzed from 1987 to 2014, of which 1 bat, 17 crab-eating foxes and no primates were positive. Due to the lack of positive results in hematophagous bats, the main vector of herbivorous rabies, more studies are needed to monitor cases, because from an epidemiological point of view, Sergipe is endemic for herbivorous rabies. Epidemiological surveillance of rabies virus in wild animals is primordial for the success of disease control programs in herds of domestic animals and humans.

The semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla and the spotted sandpiper Actitis macularia are long- and short-distance migrants, respectively. C. pusilla breeds in the sub-arctic and mid-arctic tundra of Canada and Alaska and winters on the north and east coasts of South America. A. macularia breeds in a broad distribution across most of North America from the treeline to the southern United States. It winters in the southern United States, and Central and South America. The autumn migration route of C. pusilla includes a non-stop flight over the Atlantic Ocean, whereas autumn route of A. macularia is largely over land. Because of this difference in their migratory paths and the visuo-spatial recognition tasks involved, we hypothesized that hippocampal volume and neuronal and glial numbers would differ between these two species. A. macularia did not differ from C. pusilla in the total number of hippocampal neurons, but the species had a larger hippocampal formation and more hippocampal microglia. It remains to be investigated whether these differences indicate interspecies differences or neural specializations associated with different strategies of orientation and navigation.

In cardiac and skeletal muscle, eugenol (μM range) blocks excitation-contraction coupling. In skeletal muscle, however, larger doses of eugenol (mM range) induce calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The effects of eugenol are therefore dependent on its concentration. In this study, we evaluated the effects of eugenol on the contractility of isolated, quiescent atrial trabeculae from male Wistar rats (250-300 g; n=131) and measured atrial ATP content. Eugenol (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 mM) increased resting tension in a dose-dependent manner. Ryanodine [100 µM; a specific ryanodine receptor (RyR) blocker] and procaine (30 mM; a nonspecific RyR blocker) did not block the increased resting tension induced by eugenol regardless of whether extracellular calcium was present. The myosin-specific inhibitor 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM), however, reversed the increase in resting tension induced by eugenol. In Triton-skinned atrial trabeculae, in which all membranes were solubilized, eugenol did not change resting tension, maximum force produced, or the force vs pCa relationship (pCa=-log [Ca2+]). Given that eugenol reduced ATP concentration, the increase in resting tension observed in this study may have resulted from cooperative activation of cardiac thin filaments by strongly attached cross-bridges (rigor state).

Avaliaram-se a produção e o valor nutritivo do capim-coastcross (Cynodon dactylon) sob cinco doses de nitrogênio - 0, 100, 200, 300 e 400kg/ha.ano - e duas idades de rebrotação - 28 e 42 dias. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em esquema fatorial, em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições. A adubação com nitrogênio (N) foi parcelada em três aplicações, realizadas logo após os cortes. A densidade populacional de perfilhos apresentou padrão de resposta quadrático em resposta à aplicação de N. A produção de forragem do capim-coastcross variou de 8,0 a 17,2t/ha.ano para as doses de 0 a 400kg/ha.ano de N, apresentando resposta linear positiva com a adubação nitrogenada. Maiores valores de relação folha:colmo (RFC) foram obtidos em cortes mais tardios, na ausência de aplicação de N. Em geral, as doses crescentes de N diminuíram linearmente a RFC do capim-coastcross. A adubação nitrogenada aumentou linearmente os teores de proteína bruta (PB), observando-se maior eficiência de resposta na idade de 28 dias. Aumentos na digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca em resposta à aplicação de doses crescentes de N somente ocorreram em plantas mais jovens, aos 28 dias de rebrotação. O teor de fibra em detergente neutro reduziu linearmente com a adubação nitrogenada. O efeito da adubação nitrogenada no valor nutritivo do capim-coastcross depende da idade de rebrotação dessa forrageira. Com a aplicação de maiores doses de N e sob condições favoráveis de crescimento, o pasto de capim-coastcross deve ser manejado com frequência de desfolhação de 28 dias.

The production and nutritive value of the bermudagrass cv. coastcross under five different nitrogen doses (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400kg/ha.year) and two regrowth ages (28 and 42 days) were evaluated. The experiment was arranged in a factorial scheme in a complete randomized block design with three repetitions. The nitrogen (N) fertilization was performed in three applications right after harvest. Tiller population density showed quadratic response to N application. The forage production varied from 8.0 to 17.2t/ha.year at N doses ranging from 0 to 400kg/ha.year, showing positive linear response to nitrogen fertilization. The highest values of leaf:stem relation (LSR) were observed for later harvest in the absence of N fertilization. In general, as the N doses increased the LSR of grass decreased linearly. The crude protein contents increased linearly with nitrogen fertilization, showing higher efficiency at 28 days of regrowth. In vitro digestibility increases regarding the N fertilization occurred for younger plants at 28 days of regrowth. The neutral detergent fiber content decreased linearly with nitrogen fertilization. The nitrogen fertilization effect on the nutritional value of bermudagrass cv. coastcross depends on the regrowth age of this forage. When applying higher N doses under favorable growth conditions, the coastcross grass pasture should be managed to have defoliation each 28 days.

Asthma is a common chronic illness that imposes a heavy burden on all aspects of the patient's life, including personal and health care cost expenditures. To analyze the direct cost associated to uncontrolled asthma patients, a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine costs related to patients with uncontrolled and controlled asthma. Uncontrolled patient was defined by daytime symptoms more than twice a week or nocturnal symptoms during two consecutive nights or any limitations of activities, or need for relief rescue medication more than twice a week, and an ACQ score less than 2 points. A questionnaire about direct cost stratification in health services, including emergency room visits, hospitalization, ambulatory visits, and asthma medications prescribed, was applied. Ninety asthma patients were enrolled (45 uncontrolled/45 controlled). Uncontrolled asthmatics accounted for higher health care expenditures than controlled patients, US$125.45 and US$15.58, respectively [emergency room visits (US$39.15 vs US$2.70) and hospitalization (US$86.30 vs US$12.88)], per patient over 6 months. The costs with medications in the last month for patients with mild, moderate and severe asthma were US$1.60, 9.60, and 25.00 in the uncontrolled patients, respectively, and US$6.50, 19.00 and 49.00 in the controlled patients. In view of the small proportion of uncontrolled subjects receiving regular maintenance medication (22.2%) and their lack of resources, providing free medication for uncontrolled patients might be a cost-effective strategy for the public health system.

Avaliaram-se a produção e a composição do leite de vacas da raça Holandesa alimentadas com diferentes proporções de forragem e teores de lipídeos na dieta. Foram utilizadas oito vacas com 58±9 dias em lactação, com produção média de 28±4kg/dia de leite, distribuídas em delineamento quadrado latino 4 x 4 duplo, em arranjo fatorial 2 x 2. Os tratamentos foram dietas com alta forragem e baixo nível de lipídeos, alta forragem e alto nível de lipídeos, baixa forragem e baixo nível de lipídeos e baixa forragem e alto nível de lipídeos. As produções de leite e leite corrigido para 3,5% de gordura não diferiu entre os tratamentos (P>0,05). A redução na proporção de forragem reduziu a produção e a concentração de gordura no leite (P<0,05). O aumento no teor de lipídeos nas dietas reduziu a concentração de sólidos totais e o teor de nitrogênio uréico no leite (P<0,05).

Milk yield and composition of Holstein dairy cows fed different forage to concentrate ratio as well as different lipid contents in the diets were studied. Eight cows with 58±9 days in milk and average production of 28±4 kg/day were assigned in a double Latin square design 4 x 4, in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Treatments were diets with high forage and low lipid levels, high forage and high lipid levels, low forage and low lipid levels and low forage and high lipid levels. Milk yield and fat corrected milk yield (3.5%) were not affected by treatments (P>0.05). The reduction on forage ratio in the diet decreased milk fat percentage and production (P<0.05). The increase in lipid levels in the diets reduced total milk solids as well as milk urea nitrogen concentrations (P<0.05).

RESUMO Para o manejo de pragas é necessária a busca constante de inseticidas que, além de serem eficientes no controle de pragas, apresentem seletividade em favor de seus predadores. É crescente o número de ensaios que comparam estratégias de controle de pragas do algodoeiro por meio de inseticidas, porém, é muito pequeno o número de experimentos que identifica o impacto desses inseticidas sobre predadores de pragas de algodoeiro. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar dois métodos de amostragem de artrópodos (plantas individualizadas e batida de pano) como subsídio para a quantificação do impacto de inseticidas sobre os predadores de pragas do algodoeiro. O melhor método para a amostragem de predadores foi o método de batida de pano, apresentando uma série de vantagens como ser menos monótono, mais simples, mais prático e muito mais rápido para ser utilizado. Este método ainda possibilitou a coleta de maior diversidade de inimigos naturais, porém não permite amostrar ovos e pupas.

ABSTRACT Pest management demands the permanent search of chemical products that, besides being efficient in pest control, present selectivity to their predators. There is an increasing number of trials that compare strategies of cotton pests control through chemical products, although There is a very small the number of experiments able to identify the impact of these insecticides over the cotton pest predators. The objective of this paper was to compare two sampling methods of arthropods (individualized plants and beat cloth methods) for the quantification of the impact of the insecticides over the cotton pest predators. The best method for the sampling of predators was the beat cloth method, which presented several advantages like being less boring, simpler, more practical, and much faster to be utilized. Moreover, this method still permitted the harvesting of a greater variety of natural enemies, although it is not able to sample eggs and pupas.

Determinou-se a composição química do sorgo pela espectroscopia de reflectância no infravermelho próximo (NIRS), comparando-a com os dados obtidos pelas análises convencionais de laboratório. Foram utilizadas 132 amostras de quatro variedades de sorgo: AG212 (porte alto), AG 2002 (porte alto), AG 2005 (duplo propósito) e AG 213 (porte alto). Com o intuito de se obter uma curva ampla, todas as amostras foram agrupadas compondo uma curva denominada sorgo in natura. As variáveis avaliadas foram carboidratos solúveis (CHO sol), fibra detergente neutro (FDN), fibra detergente ácido (FDA), proteína bruta (PB), matéria seca (MS) e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS). Utilizou-se o tratamento de absorbância e foram encontrados os seguintes coeficientes de determinação (%): CHO sol = 98,7, FDN = 96,4, FDA = 98,1, PB = 99,5, MS = 95,8 e DIVMS = 93,1. A calibração foi boa (baixo erro de calibração e alto coeficiente de determinação) para o tratamento de absorbância.

The study aimed to evaluate the near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique potential for predicting the chemical composition of sorghum. One hundred thirty two samples of four sorghum hybrids: AG212 (tall size), AG2002 (tall size), AG 2005 (dual purpose) and AG213 (tall size) were used in the analyses. The chemical composition was evaluated for the following fractions: dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and carboydrates (CHO). The coefficients of determination (R²) for the fractions DM, CP, NDF, ADF, IVDMD and CHO were: 95.8, 99.5, 96.4, 98.1, 93.1 and 98.7%, respectively. Low sec-error and high coefficient of determination were observed for the absorbance treatment.

Análise da qualidade de plantas comercializadas para fins terapêuticos em mercados públicos de São Luís/MA. Realizou-se pesquisa de elementos estranhos, avaliação das características macroscópicas, determinação do teor de umidade e pesquisa de contaminantes microbiológicos, comprovandose a má qualidade do material vegetal disponibilizado à população maranhense, expondo ao risco real de aquisição e utilização de produto impróprio para consumo.

Qualitative analysis of plants commercialized for medical purposes in public markets in São Luís/MA. It's made a research on strange materials, evaluation of macroscopic characteristics, determination of humidity level and research on microbiological contamination, this way proving the bad quality of vegetable material available for the population in Maranhão state.

RESUMO O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a não-preferência do bicudo do algodoeiro (Anthonomus grandis Boh., 1843) para alimentação e oviposição, em dez genótipos de algodão herbáceo, Gossypium hirsutum L. Os seguintes genótipos, escolhidos na VII Reunión de Coordenación de la Investigación Algodonera en el Cono Sul, Paysandú-Uruguai, foram avaliados: IAN 338, IAN 93-64, CHACO 520, CACIQUE, OC 95-621, CD 401, OC 94-146, IAC 96-280, CNPA 7H e CCA 331. As avaliações do ataque do bicudo em botões florais e maçãs encontrados nas plantas ocorreram aos 64, 85 e 112 dias após a emergência, enquanto as avaliações do ataque da praga em botões florais e maçãs encontrados no solo, foram realizados aos 81, 98, 105, 112, 116, 125 e 144 dias após a emergência. Os dados foram submetidos ao teste de Duncan (α = 0,05), e foram constatadas diferenças significativas para total de maçãs atacadas com orifícios de alimentação e oviposição dentre as caídas (TMAC) e para total de botões com orifícios de alimentação e oviposição dentre os caídos (TBAC), apresentando menor índice de ataque o genótipo CD 401 para TMAC e TBAC, contudo, sem diferir estatisticamente, para esta última variável, dos genótipos CCA 331, IAC 96280, CHACO 520 e CNPA 7H. Como o genótipo CD 401 mostrou-se mais precoce em relação aos outros materiais; os resultados podem estar relacionados a assincronia fenológica ou evasão hospedeira.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the non-preference of cotton bollweevil (Anthonomus grandis Boh., 1843) feeding and egg laying for ten upland cotton genotypes, Gossypium hirsutum L. Cotton genotypes ( IAN 338, IAN 93-64, CHACO 520, CACIQUE, OC 95-621, CD 401, OC 94-146, IAC 96-280, CNPA 7H, and CCA 331) were chosen based on recommendation by the VII Reunión de Coordenación de la Investigación Algodonera en el Cono Sul, Paysandú-Uruguai. Evaluations were made on squares and bolls attacked to the plants at 64, 85, and 122 days after emergence and we did evaluations on squares and cotton bolls present on the ground at 81, 98, 105, 112, 116, 125 and 144 days after emergence. After statistical analysis (Duncan, α = 0.05), significative differences were detected for total number of bolls showing feeding lesions and egg laying puncture and total number of squares (TMAC) and egg laying with feeding lesions/punctures among the evaluated fallen materials (TBAC), showing smaller attack grades CD 401for TMAC and TBAC, with no detected differences CCA 331, IAC 96-280, CHACO 520 and CNPA 7h. Considering that CD 401 had a shorter cycle compared to the other genotypes, it is possible that there was a phenological asynchrony or host escape.

Uma análise do perfil dos antígenos HLA de classe II numa amostra da população de São Paulo é descrita neste trabalho. Os dados foram obtidos através de técnicas de amplificação gênica utilizando-se iniciadores seqüências-específicos para HLA-DRB (PCR-SSP) ou amplificação gênica seguida de hibridação com oligonucleotídeos específicos (PCR-SSOP) para HLA-DQA e DQB. Foram calculadas as freqüências gênicas e as freqüências haplotípicas DRB-DQB e DQA-DQB e a população mostrou estar em equilíbrio genético de acordo com a lei de Hardy-Weinberg. Finalmente, comparamos também os dados obtidos com os da população de Porto Velho, Rondônia, salientando a importância da obtenção de dados regionais para os controles quando se estuda este complexo sistema genético.

In the present paper we show data obtained from a normal population with a racially mixed profile typical of the city of São Paulo, State of São Paulo. Data were generated with polymerase chain reaction using sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) for HLA-DRB and polymerase chain reaction followed by hybridization with sequence specific oligonucleotide probes (PCR-SSO) for HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 loci. HLA-DRB, DQA1, DQB1 and haplotype frequencies as well as common linkage disequilibria were found. This population was also shown to be in genetic equilibrium according to the Hardy-Weinberg law. HLA-DR typing of a normal sample from the city of Porto Velho, State of Rondonia, highlighted the importance of different sets of HLA profiles found in other regions of the country. This database provides essential information for screening studies of disease associations, forensic analyses and transplants.

The antinociceptive effects of stimulating the medial (ME) and central (CE) nuclei of the amygdala in rats were evaluated by the changes in the latency for the tail withdrawal reflex to noxious heating of the skin. A 30-s period of sine-wave stimulation of the ME or CE produced a significant and short increase in the duration of tail flick latency. A 15-s period of stimulation was ineffective. Repeated stimulation of these nuclei at 48-h intervals produced progressively smaller effects. The antinociception evoked from the ME was significantly reduced by the previous systemic administration of naloxone, methysergide, atropine, phenoxybenzamine, and propranolol, but not by mecamylamine, all given at the dose of 1.0 mg/kg. Previous systemic administration of naloxone, atropine, and propranolol, but not methysergide, phenoxybenzamine, or mecamylamine, was effective against the effects of stimulating the CE. We conclude that the antinociceptive effects of stimulating the ME involve at least opioid, serotonergic, adrenergic, and muscarinic cholinergic descending mechanisms. The effects of stimulating the CE involve at least opioid, ß-adrenergic, and muscarinic cholinergic descending mechanisms.

Studies on the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphism and bone mineral density (BMD) in different populations have produced conflicting results probably due to ethnic differences in the populations studied. The Brazilian population is characterized by a very broad genetic background and a high degree of miscegenation. Of an initial group of 164, we studied 127 women from the city of São Paulo, aged 20 to 47 years (median, 31 years), with normal menses, a normal diet and no history of diseases or use of any medication that could alter BMD. VDR genotype was assessed by PCR amplification followed by BsmI digestion of DNA isolated from peripheral leukocytes. BMD was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar DPX) at the lumbar site (L2-L4) and femoral neck. Most of the women (77.6%) were considered to be of predominantly European ancestry (20.6% of them reported also native American ancestry), 12.8% were of African-Brazilian ancestry and 9.6% of Asian ancestry, 41.0% (52) were classified as bb, 48.8% (62) as Bb and 10.2% (13) as BB. The BB, Bb and bb groups did not differ in age, height, weight, body mass index or age at menarche. Lumbar spine BMD was significantly higher in the bb group (1.22 ± 0.16 g/cm²) than in the BB group (1.08 ± 0.14; P<0.05), and the Bb group presented an intermediate value (1.17 ± 0.15). Femoral neck BMD was higher in the bb group (0.99 ± 0.11 g/cm²) compared to Bb (0.93 ± 0.12) and BB (0.90 ± 0.09) (P<0.05). These data indicate that there is a significant correlation between the VDR BsmI genotype and BMD in healthy Brazilian premenopausal females.