Abstract This study evaluated the effect of Euclea natalensis gel on the reduction of erosive wear with or without abrasion, in enamel and dentin. During two five-day experimental crossover phases, volunteers (n = 10) wore palatal devices containing human enamel and dentin blocks (E = 8 and D = 8). The gel was applied in a thin layer in the experimental group, and was not applied in the control group. In the intraoral phase, volunteers used the palatal appliance for 12 h before the gel treatment, and were instructed to start the erosive challenges 6 h after the gel application. Erosion was performed with Coca-Cola® (for 5 min) 4 times/day. The appliance was then put back into the mouth and was brushed after 30 minutes. After intraoral exposure, the appliances were removed and the specimens were analyzed using profilometry (mean ± SD, μm). The Euclea natalensis gel caused less wear in enamel in the experimental group (EROS = 12.86 ± 1.75 µm; EROS + ABRAS = 12.13 ± 2.12 µm) than in the control group (EROS = 14.12 ± 7.66 µm; EROS + ABRAS = 16.29 ± 10.72 µm); however, the groups did not differ from each other significantly. A statistically significant value was found for erosion and eros + abrasion in dentin (p = 0.001). Euclea natalensis may play a role in the prevention of dentin loss under mild erosive and abrasive conditions. A clinical trial is required to confirm these promising results in a clinical situation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the seasonal and daily variation in sexual behavior of Morada Nova breeders raised in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The data were collected from four rams and 114 ewes of the Morada Nova breed - 55 females in the dry season and another 59 in the rainy season. Observations were performed in the dry and rainy seasons, divided into four times of the day: morning (05:01 h to 11.00 h), afternoon (11.01 h to 17.00 h), evening (17.01 h to 23:00 h), and dawn (23:01 h to 05.00 h). Sexual behavior was assessed for a period of 24 h/day, in a breeding season. One ram was used each three days. The behavioral patterns of the rams in view of females were observed during the recognition (sniffing the female urine, bouts of anogenital sniffing, and flehmen reaction), preparatory (exposure of tongue and penis, leg-kicking, and low-pitched bleats), and copulatory (number of mounts, number of ejaculations, and refractory period) phases. The rams were more active during daytime. The animals in the rainy season showed more efficient sexual behaviors by the lower frequency of mounts per ejaculation and greater number of ejaculations in a shorter time. In contrast, courting behaviors such as exposure of tongue, number of mounts, low-pitched bleats, and leg-kicking were more frequent in the dry season. In the semi-arid region with latitudes close to 7°N, Morada Nova rams have a higher intensity of precopulatory behaviors and lower frequency of ejaculations in the dry season.

The purpose of this study was to assess the cytotoxic effect of the non-fractionated aqueous extract of A. sylvaticus mushroom in cultures of non-tumor cells (NIH3T3) and tumor cells (OSCC-3). The cells were maintained in DMEN cell culture medium added of 10% of fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotic. For the cytotoxicity test we prepared the aqueous mushroom extract at concentrations of 0.01 mg.ml-1, 0.02 mg.ml-1, 0.04 mg.ml-1, 0.08 mg.ml-1, 0.16 mg.ml-1, and 0.32 mg.ml-1. For the culture, 2 x 10(5) cells/ml was deposited in 96-well microplates during 24 hour incubation with subsequent exchange of medium by another containing the mushroom concentrations. After 24 hour incubation the medium was discarded and 100 ml of tetrazolium blue (MTT) was added at a concentration of 5 mg.ml-1. The microplates were incubated for 2 h at 37º C. Spectrophotometric analysis was performed using 570 nm wavelength. From the values of the optical densities we determined the drug concentration capable of reducing cell viability by 50%. Therefore, the mushroom A. sylvaticus, at all concentrations tested, did not show cytotoxic effects, once the inhibitory concentration (IC50) obtained for tumor cells OSCC-3 was 0.06194 mg.ml-1, and the IC50 checked for non-tumor cells NIH3T3 was 0,06468 mg.ml-1. This test made it possible to determine that A. sylvaticus mushroom has no cytotoxic effects, suggesting its use safe for human consumption.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto citotóxico de un extracto acuoso no fraccionado de la seta A. sylvaticus en cultivos de células no tumorales (NIH3T3) y tumorales (OSCC-3). Se mantuvo a las células en un medio de cultivo celular DMEN al que se añadió suero de ternera fetal al 10% y antibiótico al 1%. Para la prueba de toxicidad, se preparó el extracto acuoso del hongo a concentraciones 0,01 mg.ml-1, 0,02 mg.ml-1, 0,04 mg.ml-1, 0,08 mg.ml-1, 0,16 mg.ml-1 y 0,32 mg.ml-1. Para el cultivo, 2 x 105 células/ml se depositaron en microplacas de 96 pocillos durante 24 horas de incubación con el subsiguiente recambio del medio por otro que contenía las concentraciones del hongo. Tras 24 horas de incubación, se desechó el medio y se añadieron 100 ml de azul de tetrazolio (MTT) a una concentración de 5 mg.ml-1. Se incubaron las microplacas durante 2 h a 37º C. Se realizó un análisis espectrofotométrico con una longitud de onda de 570 nm. A partir de los valores de las densidades ópticas, se determinó la concentración de la droga capaz de reducir la viabilidad celular en un 50 %. La seta A. sylvaticus, a todas las concentraciones probadas, no mostró efectos citotóxicos una vez que la concentración inhibitoria (IC50) obtenida para las células tumorales OSCC-3 fue de 0,06194 mg.ml-1 y la IC50 comprobada para las células no tumorales NIH3T3 fue de 0,06468 mg.ml-1. Esta prueba consiguió determinar que la seta A. sylvaticus no posee efectos citotóxicos lo que sugiere un uso seguro para el consumo humano.

Óleo essencial de Ocimum basilicum L. com alta concentração de linalol é valorizado no mercado internacional e amplamente usado na indústria de condimentos e cosméticos. Para garantir excelente qualidade e rendimento de óleo essencial é crucial a determinação do efeito dos fatores ambientais e de processamento na sua composição. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do horário de colheita, da temperatura e do tempo de secagem no teor e na composição química do óleo essencial de O. basilicum. Colheitas foram realizadas aos 40 e 93 dias após transplantio das mudas. Colheitas realizadas às 8:00 h e 12:00 h proporcionaram os maiores rendimentos de óleo essencial. Ao quinto dia de secagem o teor de linalol no óleo essencial subiu de 45,18% para 86,80%. O. basilicum deve ser colhido pela manhã e a biomassa deve ser seca a 40 ºC por um período de cinco dias para obter óleo essencial rico em linalol.

Ocimum basilicum L. essential oil with high concentration of linalool is valuable in international business. O. basilicum essential oil is widely used as seasoning and in cosmetic industry. To assure proper essential oil yield and quality, it is crucial to determine which environmental and processing factors are affecting its composition. The goal of our work is to evaluate the effects of harvesting time, temperature, and drying period on the yield and chemical composition of O. basilicum essential oil. Harvestings were performed 40 and 93 days after seedling transplantation. Harvesting performed at 8:00 h and 12:00 h provided higher essential oil yield. After five days drying, the concentration of linalool raised from 45.18% to 86.80%. O. basilicum should be harvested during morning and the biomass dried at 40ºC for five days to obtain linalool rich essential oil.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a relação entre as concentrações sangüíneas de chumbo, hemoglobina, zinco protoporfirina e ferritina em crianças. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado com 136 crianças anêmicas e não anêmicas residentes em duas vilas da região rural de Adrianópolis, Estado do Paraná, próximas a uma usina de beneficiamento de chumbo, de julho a setembro de 2001. A eletroforese de hemoglobina foi realizada para excluir as crianças com anemia associada a hemoglobinas variantes e síndromes talassêmicas. O chumbo foi determinado por meio de espectrofotometria de absorção atômica; a hemoglobina por contador celular automático; a zinco protoporfirina por hematofluorometria, e a ferritina por quimioluminescência. Os testes t de student, Mann-Whitney e chi2 foram utilizados para verificar a significância das diferenças entre as variáveis. Foi realizada uma análise de regressão linear multivariada stepwise, utilizando dois modelos, para crianças anêmicas e não anêmicas respectivamente. RESULTADOS: No primeiro modelo o chumbo estava negativamente associado com a hemoglobina (p<0,017), e no segundo modelo, estava positivamente associado com a zinco protopofirina (p<0,004), controlando-se por ferritina, idade, sexo e renda per capita. Detectou-se uma associação inversa entre as concentrações sangüíneas de hemoglobina e chumbo, em crianças anêmicas. Não foi possível confirmar se as crianças anêmicas tiveram anemia ferropriva ou infecção subclínica, considerando-se que a maioria delas (90,4%) apresentou concentrações normais de ferritina. CONCLUSÕES: Detectou-se uma relação entre anemia e concentrações sangüíneas elevadas de chumbo. É necessário o desenvolvimento de futuros estudos epidemiológicos investigando o impacto de intervenções nutricionais com ferro na tentativa de diminuição dos níveis sangüíneos de chumbo em crianças.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship of blood lead and hemoglobin, zinc protoporphyrin, and ferritin concentrations in children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 136 anemic and non-anemic children from two rural villages near a lead smelter in Adrianópolis, Southern Brazil, from July to September 2001. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was performed to exclude children with hemoglobin variants and thalassemia syndromes associated with anemia. Lead was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry; hemoglobin by automated cell counting; zinc protoporphyrin by hematofluorometry; ferritin by chemiluminescence. Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and the c² test were used to assess the significance of the differences between the variables investigated in anemic and non-anemic children. Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis was performed using two models for anemic and non-anemic children respectively. RESULTS: Lead was negatively associated to hemoglobin (p<0.017) in the first model, and in the second model lead was positively associated to zinc protoporphyrin (p<0.004) after controlling for ferritin, age, sex, and per capita income. There was an inverse association between hemoglobin and blood lead in anemic children. It was not possible to confirm if anemic children had iron deficiency anemia or subclinical infection, considering that the majority (90.4%) had normal ferritin. CONCLUSIONS: The study detected a relationship between anemia and elevated blood lead concentrations. Further epidemiological studies are necessary to investigate the impact of iron nutritional interventions as an attempt to decrease blood lead in children.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a relação entre as concentrações sangüíneas de chumbo, hemoglobina, zinco protoporfirina e ferritina em crianças. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado com 136 crianças anêmicas e não anêmicas residentes em duas vilas da região rural de Adrianópolis, Estado do Paraná, próximas a uma usina de beneficiamento de chumbo, de julho a setembro de 2001. A eletroforese de hemoglobina foi realizada para excluir as crianças com anemia associada a hemoglobinas variantes e síndromes talassêmicas. O chumbo foi determinado por meio de espectrofotometria de absorção atômica; a hemoglobina por contador celular automático; a zinco protoporfirina por hematofluorometria, e a ferritina por quimioluminescência. Os testes t de student, Mann-Whitney e chi2 foram utilizados para verificar a significância das diferenças entre as variáveis. Foi realizada uma análise de regressão linear multivariada stepwise, utilizando dois modelos, para crianças anêmicas e não anêmicas respectivamente. RESULTADOS: No primeiro modelo o chumbo estava negativamente associado com a hemoglobina (p<0,017), e no segundo modelo, estava positivamente associado com a zinco protopofirina (p<0,004), controlando-se por ferritina, idade, sexo e renda per capita. Detectou-se uma associação inversa entre as concentrações sangüíneas de hemoglobina e chumbo, em crianças anêmicas. Não foi possível confirmar se as crianças anêmicas tiveram anemia ferropriva ou infecção subclínica, considerando-se que a maioria delas (90,4%) apresentou concentrações normais de ferritina. CONCLUSÕES: Detectou-se uma relação entre anemia e concentrações sangüíneas elevadas de chumbo. É necessário o desenvolvimento de futuros estudos epidemiológicos investigando o impacto de intervenções nutricionais com ferro na tentativa de diminuição dos níveis sangüíneos de chumbo em crianças.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship of blood lead and hemoglobin, zinc protoporphyrin, and ferritin concentrations in children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 136 anemic and non-anemic children from two rural villages near a lead smelter in Adrianópolis, Southern Brazil, from July to September 2001. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was performed to exclude children with hemoglobin variants and thalassemia syndromes associated with anemia. Lead was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry; hemoglobin by automated cell counting; zinc protoporphyrin by hematofluorometry; ferritin by chemiluminescence. Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and the c² test were used to assess the significance of the differences between the variables investigated in anemic and non-anemic children. Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis was performed using two models for anemic and non-anemic children respectively. RESULTS: Lead was negatively associated to hemoglobin (p<0.017) in the first model, and in the second model lead was positively associated to zinc protoporphyrin (p<0.004) after controlling for ferritin, age, sex, and per capita income. There was an inverse association between hemoglobin and blood lead in anemic children. It was not possible to confirm if anemic children had iron deficiency anemia or subclinical infection, considering that the majority (90.4%) had normal ferritin. CONCLUSIONS: The study detected a relationship between anemia and elevated blood lead concentrations. Further epidemiological studies are necessary to investigate the impact of iron nutritional interventions as an attempt to decrease blood lead in children.

Angiostrongylus costaricensis intermediate hosts are terrestrial mollusks mostly belonging to the Veronicellidae family. In the present investigation we focused on the mechanisms of larval expulsion from Sarasinula marginata infected with A. costaricensis. Twenty-five mollusks were individually infected with 5000 L1 and sacrificed at 30 min and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h post-infection and at days 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, and 30 post-infection; the mollusks were then fixed and stained. Diverse organs involved throughout the course of the migratory routes of larvae from oral penetration on were specified and the mechanisms of larval access to the fibromuscular layer through the kidney, rectum, and vascular system were defined. The elimination of L3, derived from oral and/or cutaneous infections, appears to depend on granulomas located close to the excretory ducts of mucous cells.

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A técnica da dose preparatória é uma alternativa para encurtar o tempo de latência dos bloqueadores neuromusculares adespolarizantes. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o tempo para instalação do bloqueio neuromuscular máximo, as condições de intubação traqueal e as alterações cardiocirculatórias ocasionadas por diferentes doses de cisatracúrio em injeção única e em doses fracionadas. MÉTODO: Foram estudados 80 pacientes, estado físico ASA I e II, distribuídos em dois grupos de acordo com a dose de cisatracúrio: Grupo I (0,1 mg.kg-1) e Grupo II (0,2 mg.kg-1). Formaram-se subgrupos de acordo com a técnica de curarização usada: Subgrupos P1 e P2 (dose preparatória) - 0,02 mg.kg-1ou 0,04 mg.kg-1 de cisatracúrio, respectivamente, seguido após um minuto de 0,08 mg.kg-1 ou 0,16 mg.kg-1 do mesmo bloqueador neuromuscular, respectivamente; Subgrupos U1 e U2 - injeção única de dose total de 0,1 mg.kg-1 ou 0,2 mg.kg-1 de cisatracúrio, respectivamente. A Indução anestésica foi feita com etomidato precedido de alfentanil. A função neuromuscular foi monitorizada empregando-se a SQE a cada 12 segundos. Foram avaliados: o tempo para instalação do bloqueio neuromuscular máximo; as alterações de pressão arterial média e de freqüência cardíaca, e as condições de intubação traqueal. RESULTADOS: Os tempos para instalação do bloqueio neuromuscular máximo foram: Grupo I (3,90 ± 0,60 min e 3,88 ± 0,74 min, nos subgrupos P1 e U1, respectivamente) e Grupo II (1,40 ± 0,40 min e 2 ± 0,30 min, nos subgrupos P2 e U2, respectivamente) sem diferença significativa. A comparação entre os subgrupos P1 e P2 e os subgrupos U1 e U2, mostrou diferença significativa. As condições de intubação traqueal foram aceitáveis em todos os pacientes sem alterações cardiocirculatórias. CONCLUSÕES: As doses empregadas de cisatracúrio não encurtou o tempo para a instalação do bloqueio neuromuscular máximo, em relação ao seu emprego em injeção única, porém proporcionaram condições aceitáveis de intubação traqueal, sem alterações cardiocirculatórias.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The priming technique is an alternative to shorten nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers onset time. This study aimed at evaluating maximum neuromuscular block onset, tracheal intubation conditions and cardiocirculatory changes determined by different cisatracurium single or fractional doses. METHODS: Participated in this study 80 patients physical status ASA I and II, who were distributed into two groups according to cisatracurium doses: Group I (0.1 mg.kg-1) and Group II (0.2 mg.kg-1). Subgroups were constituted according to the curarization technique employed: subgroups P1 and P2 (priming-dose) - 0.02 mg.kg-1 or 0.04 mg.kg-1cisatracurium, respectively, followed one minute later, by 0.08 mg.kg-1 or 0.16 mg.kg-1 of the same neuromuscular blocker, respectively; subgroups U1 and U2 - total bolus injection of 0.1 mg.kg-1 or 0.2 mg.kg-1 cisatracurium, respectively. Anesthesia was induced with etomidate, preceded by alfentanil. Train of Four (TOF) stimulation was applied at 12-second intervals to monitor neuromuscular function. Maximum neuromuscular blockade onset time, tracheal intubation conditions and changes in hemodynamic parameters (arterial mean blood pressure and heart rate) were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean times for maximum neuromuscular block onset were: Group I (3.90 ± 0.60 min and 3.88 ± 0.74 min, for subgroups P1 and U1, respectively) and Group II (1.40 ± 0.40 min and 2 ± 0.30 min, for subgroups P2 and U2, respectively) with no significant differences. Comparison between subgroups P1 and P2 and between subgroups U1 and U2, has shown statistically significant differences. Tracheal intubation conditions were acceptable in all patients and there were no cardiovascular changes. CONCLUSIONS: Fractional cisatracurium doses have not shortened maximum neuromuscular block onset as compared to bolus injections. They have however produced acceptable tracheal intubation conditions without cardiovascular changes.

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: La técnica de la dosis preparatoria es una alternativa para disminuir el tiempo de latencia de los bloqueadores neuromusculares adespolarizantes. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el tiempo para instalación del bloqueo neuromuscular máximo, las condiciones de intubación traqueal y las alteraciones cardiocirculatorias ocasionadas por diferentes dosis de cisatracúrio en inyección única y en dosis fraccionadas. MÉTODO: Fueron estudiados 80 pacientes, estado físico ASA I y II, distribuidos en dos grupos de acuerdo con la dosis de cisatracúrio: Grupo I (0,1 mg.kg-1) y Grupo II (0,2 mg.kg-1). Se formaron subgrupos de acuerdo con la técnica de curarización usada: Subgrupos P1 y P2 (dosis preparatoria) - 0,02 mg.kg-1ó 0,04 mg.kg-1 de cisatracúrio, respectivamente, seguido después de un minuto de 0,08 mg.kg-1ó 0,16 mg.kg-1 del mismo bloqueador neuromuscular, respectivamente; Subgrupos U1 y U2 - inyección única de dosis total de 0,1 mg.kg-1ó 0,2mg.kg-1 de cisatracúrio, respectivamente. La inducción anestésica fue hecha con etomidato precedido de alfentanil. La función neuromuscular fue monitorizada empleándose la SQE a cada 12 segundos. Fueron evaluados: el tiempo para instalación del bloqueo neuromuscular máximo; las alteraciones de presión arterial media y de frecuencia cardíaca, y las condiciones de intubación traqueal. RESULTADOS: Los tiempos para instalación del bloqueo neuromuscular máximo fueron: Grupo I (3,90 ± 0,60 min y 3,88 ± 0,74 min, en los subgrupos P1 y U1, respectivamente) y Grupo II (1,40 ± 0,40 min y 2 ± 0,30 min, en los subgrupos P2 y U2, respectivamente) sin diferencia significativa. La comparación entre los subgrupos P1 y P2 y los subgrupos U1 y U2, mostró diferencia significativa. Las condiciones de intubación traqueal fueron aceptables en todos los pacientes sin alteraciones cardiocirculatorias. CONCLUSIONES: Las dosis empleadas de cisatracúrio no disminuyó el tiempo para la instalación del bloqueo neuromuscular máximo, en relación a su empleo en inyección única, sin embargo proporcionaron condiciones aceptables de intubación traqueal, sin alteraciones cardiocirculatorias.

Schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni became resistant to antibody-dependent complement damage in vitro after pre-incubation with normal human erythrocytes (NHuE) whatever the ABO or Rh blood group. Resistant parasites were shown to acquire host decay accelerating factor (DAF) , a 70 kDa glycoprotein attached to the membrane of NHue by a GPI anchor. IgG2a mAb anti-human DAF (IA10) immunoprecipitated a 70 kDa molecule from 125I-labeled schistosomula pre-incubated with NHuE and inhibited their resistance to complement-dependent killing in vtro. Incubationof schistosomula with erytrocytes from patients with paroxsimal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNHE) or SRBC, wich are DAF-deficient, did not protect the parasites from complement lesion. Supernatant of 100,000 x g collected from NHuE incubated for 24 h in defined medium was shown to contain a soluble form of DAF and to protect schistosomula from complement killing. Schistosomula treated with trypsin before incubation with NHuE ghosts did not become resistant to complement damage. On the other hand, pre-treatment with chymotrypsin did not interfere with the acquisition of resistance by the schistosomula. These results indicate that, in vitro, NHuE DAF can be transferred to schistosomula in a soluble form and that the binding of this molecule to the parasite surface is dependent upon trypsin-sensitive chymotrypsin-insensitive polipeptide(s) present on the surface of the worm.