RESUMO O presente estudo avaliou o uso da haptoglobina (Hp) como indicadora de sanidade e desempenho em 166 bezerras Holandesas criadas em um sistema de produção intensivo. As bezerras foram avaliadas nos momentos D6-9; D10-13; D20-23; D35-38 e D65-68, sendo estes correspondentes aos dias de vida. A ausência ou a presença de doenças foi avaliada por meio do exame físico e da classificação por escores. Os parâmetros de desempenho avaliados foram peso corporal, altura de cernelha e largura de garupa. A Hp foi mensurada por técnica espectrofotométrica. A maior prevalência de diarreia (59,4%; 98/165) foi observada em D10-13, doença respiratória bovina (DRB) ocorreu em D35-38 (25,8%; 42/163) e inflamações umbilicais em D6-D9 (7,8%; 13/166). O valor de Hp foi maior nos animais que apresentaram diarreia (P=0,02) e inflamações umbilicais (P=0,057), em comparação ao grupo de bezerras saudáveis. Houve correlação negativa significativa entre a Hp e os índices de desempenho. Essa proteína apresentou uma importante relação com a diarreia e com o desempenho das bezerras, abrindo perspectivas sobre a sua utilização como biomarcadora de doenças.

ABSTRACT The present study evaluated the use of haptoglobin (Hp) as an indicator of health and performance in 166 Holstein heifer calves reared in an intensive production system. Calves were evaluated at D6-9; D10-13; D20-23; D35-38 and D65-68, corresponding to the days of life. The absence or presence of diseases was evaluated by physical examination and classification of scores. The performance parameters evaluated were body weight, height at withers and hind width. Hp was measured by spectrophotometric technique. The highest prevalence of diarrhea (59.4%; 98/165) was observed in D10-13, bovine respiratory disease (BRD) was on D35-38 (25.8%; 42/163), and umbilical inflammations in D6-D9 (7.8%; 13/166). Highest values of Hp were observed in animals with diarrhea (P=0.02), and umbilical inflammation (P=0.057), in comparison with the group of healthy calves. A significant negative correlation was observed between Hp and performance index. This protein presented an important relation with diarrhea and performance of the calves, opening perspectives on its utilization as a biomarker of diseases.

The objective of this prospective study was to determine the plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) in women with chronic pelvic pain secondary to endometriosis (n=24) and abdominal myofascial pain syndrome (n=16). NO levels were measured in plasma collected before and 1 month after treatment. Pretreatment NO levels (μM) were lower in healthy volunteers (47.0±12.7) than in women with myofascial pain (64.2±5.0, P=0.01) or endometriosis (99.5±12.9, P<0.0001). After treatment, plasma NO levels were reduced only in the endometriosis group (99.5±12.9 vs 61.6±5.9, P=0.002). A correlation between reduction of pain intensity and reduction of NO level was observed in the endometriosis group [correlation = 0.67 (95%CI = 0.35 to 0.85), P<0.0001]. Reduction of NO levels was associated with an increase of pain threshold in this group [correlation = -0.53 (-0.78 to -0.14), P<0.0001]. NO levels appeared elevated in women with chronic pelvic pain diagnosed as secondary to endometriosis, and were directly associated with reduction in pain intensity and increase in pain threshold after treatment. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of NO in the pathophysiology of pain in women with endometriosis and its eventual association with central sensitization.

Descreve-se um procedimento rápido para extração de DNA genômico de isolados de Staphylococcus aureus capaz de produzir DNA estafilocócico em qualidade e quantidade suficiente para a amplificação de genes que codificam enterotoxinas estafilocócicas (A - E) e para TSST-1 e restrição enzimática (HaeIII) de isolados ambientais. O método proposto foi capaz de detectar esses genes em um produto de extração contendo tanto quanto 10(5) células, e reações positivas de PCR foram obtidas de aproximadamente 10pg de DNA.

This study describes a rapid procedure for the isolation of genomic DNA from Staphylococcus aureus that yielded a good amount of high quality DNA for the amplification of staphylococcal enterotoxins genes (A, B, C, D, and E) and the TSST-1 gene as well as enzymatic restriction (HaeIII) from environmental isolates. With this method, it was possible to detect these genes in a sample containing as little as 10(5) cells with positive PCR reactions obtained from approximately 10pg of DNA in a final reaction volume of 25µl.

RESUMO Durante um período de 2 anos (20032004), 132 cepas de Staphylococcus aureus isoladas de leite cru foram coletadas de diferentes regiões de Piracicaba, no Estado de São Paulo. Foi investigada a presença dos genes de enterotoxinas (ent) e genes da Toxina-1 da Síndrome do Choque Tóxico (tst). A reação da polimerase em cadeia (PCR) foi executada usando 6 pares de oligonucleotídeos específicos para cada gene em questão. Noventa e quatro isolados (68,18%) se mostraram positivos para a presença de um (47 isolados) ou mais genes (43 isolados). A combinação da presença de entA e tst mostrou alta prevalência (33 isolados). Houve boa correlação entre a presença do gene e a produção/detecção da toxina, feita pelo teste da sensibilidade ótima em placas (OSP), que foi observada quando 44,44% dos isolados mostraramse positivos para a produção de toxina.

ABSTRACT During a 2-year period (2003-2004), 132 strains of Staphylococcusaureus isolated from crude milk (without thermal treatment) collected in different places in Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil, were investigated for the presence of genes for enterotoxins (ent) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (tst). Polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) was performed by using 6 pairs of relevant oligonucleotide primers. Ninety isolates (68.18%) were positive for (47 strains) or 2 (43 strains) toxin genes. The combination of entA and tst showed the highest prevalence (33 strains).The good correlation between PCR results and toxin protein detection and identification by optimum-sensitivity-plate (OSP) test was observed when 44.45% of strains showed positive for toxin production.

The detection of delayed X-rays produced by the decay that follows electron capture in the residual nuclei has been used in the past for the determination of fusion cross sections of tightly bound nuclei. In this work we applied this technique to study the effect of the break-up of a weakly bound projectile, like in the case of the 9Be + 144Sm system. Preliminary results of the complete fusion in this system at near barrier energies are presented.

Fusion cross-sections were measured for the 6Li+27 Al,64 Zn and 9Be+64Zn systems at energies around the Coulomb barrier, in order to study the influence of the break-up of weakly bound nuclei on the fusion process.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi selecionar entre 300 estirpes de Bacillus thuringiensis as efetivas simultaneamente contra larvas de Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith e Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Aedes aegypti Linnaeus e Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae). Foram selecionadas duas estirpes de B. thuringiensis, denominadas S234 e S997, que apresentaram atividade contra as três ordens de insetos. As estirpes foram caracterizadas por métodos morfológicos, bioquímicos e moleculares. As mesmas apresentaram duas proteínas principais de 130 e 65 kDa, produtos de reação em cadeia da polimerase de tamanho esperado para a detecção dos genes cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1B e cry2 e cristais bipiramidais, cubóides e esféricos.

The aim of this work was to select among 300 strains of Bacillus thuringiensis those which are simultaneously effective against larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith and Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Aedes aegypti Linnaeus and Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae). Two strains of B. thuringiensis were selected, S234 and S997, which presented activity against those three insect orders. Both strains were characterized by morphological, biochemical and molecular methods. They have presented two main proteins with 130 and 65 kDa, polimerase chain reaction products with expected sizes for detection of the genes cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1B and cry2 and bipiramidal, cubical and spherical crystals.

We present results of the study of the influence of the break-up process on the fusion, scattering and reaction cross sections, at near barrier energies. Most of the discussed reactions and scattering mechanisms are induced by the stable weakly bound nuclei 6,7Li and 9Be, although comparisons with reactions induced by strongly bound nuclei are also made. We give a picture of the break-up and fusion mechanisms at energies above the Coulomb barrier.

The short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are the best nutrients for the colonocytes. Glucose is poorly used as a fuel but may be transformed into SCFA by colonic bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SCFA or glucose on experimental colitis. Colitis was induced in 30 Wistar rats by colonic instillation of 4% acetic acid. Five days later they were randomized to receive twice a day colonic lavage containing saline (controls, N = 10), 10% hypertonic glucose (N = 10) or SCFA (N = 10) until day 8 when they were killed. At autopsy, the colon was removed and weighed and the mucosa was evaluated macro- and microscopically and stripped out for DNA assay. Data are reported as mean ± SD or median [range] as appropriate. All animals lost weight but there was no difference between groups. Colon weight was significantly lower in the SCFA group (3.8 ± 0.5 g) than in the control (5.3 ± 2.1 g) and glucose (5.2 ± 1.3 g) groups (P<0.05). Macroscopically, the severity of inflammation was less in SCFA (grade 2 [1-5]) than in control (grade 9 [4-10]) and glucose-treated (grade 9 [2-10]) animals (P<0.01). Microscopically, ulceration of the mucosa was more severe in the glucose and control groups than in the SCFA group. The DNA content of the mucosa of SCFA-treated animals (8.2 [5.0-20.2] mg/g of tissue) was higher than in glucose-treated (5.1 [4.2-8.5] mg/g of tissue; P<0.01) and control (6.2 [4.5-8.9] mg/g of tissue; P<0.05) animals. We conclude that SCFA may enhance mucosal re-epithelialization in experimental colitis, whereas hypertonic glucose is of no benefit.