Risk factors that determine the severity of Covid-19 have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of coronary artery calcification (CAC) as a risk factor for death or mechanical ventilation (MV) of patients without known heart disease infected with Covid-19. We analyzed 283 consecutive in-patients with acute respiratory symptoms with chest computed tomography (chest-CT), without previous heart disease, and criteria for Covid-19 (RT-PCR positive and/or typical clinical and chest-CT findings). CAC was classified by the number of coronary segments affected as absent (0), mild (1-3), and severe calcification (more than 3). The association between CAC, CAC severity, and death or MV due to severe respiratory failure was assessed by logistic regression. The mean age was 58.7±15.7 years and 54.1% were men. Patients with CAC were older, more likely to have hypertension, and less likely to be obese. CAC was present in 75 patients (26.5%), of which 42 had a mild calcification and 33 had severe calcification, and was associated with death (OR=2.35, 95%CI: 1.01-5.48) or MV (OR=2.72, 95%CI: 1.20-6.20) adjusted for multiple confounders, with significant and increased odds ratio for the severe form of CAC (death: OR=3.70, 95%CI: 1.20-11.42; MV: OR=3.30, 95%CI: 1.09-9.95). We concluded that CAC was an independent risk factor for death or MV in Covid-19 patients without previous heart disease, particularly for those with severe calcification. CAC can be easily visualized on common chest-CT, widely used in evaluation of moderate to severe Covid-19.

RESUMO: O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o desempenho agronômico da soja Intacta RR2 submetida à aplicação de doses de glyphosate em pós-emergência. Para isso, foram realizados dois experimentos em duas localidades (Palotina-PR e Marechal Cândido Rondon-PR). Foram feitas aplicações de doses crescentes de glyphosate (0, 720, 1.440, 2.160, 2.880, 3.600 e 4.320 g e.a. ha-1), constituindo sete tratamentos em delineamento em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições, totalizando 28 parcelas para cada local. O cultivar utilizado em ambos os experimentos foi o Monsoy 6210 Intacta RR2 IPROTM. As variáveis analisadas foram fitotoxicidade aos 3, 7, 14, 21 e 28 DAA, índice de clorofila A, B e total, altura final, número de vagens, massa de 100 sementes e produtividade. Foi empregada a análise de regressão. Houve comportamento positivo da regressão linear para a fitotoxicidade e negativo para altura final, número de vagens, índice de clorofila A, B e total e, ainda, produtividade no município de Palotina. Em Marechal Cândido Rondon, houve ajustes de regressões lineares positivas para a fitotoxicidade e negativas para índice de clorofila total, altura final, número de vagens e produtividade. A partir dos resultados, verificou-se que o aumento das doses de glyphosate a partir de 1.440 g e.a. ha-1 no cultivar estudado prejudicou o desempenho agronômico da cultura.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed at evaluating the agronomic performance of Intacta RR2 soybean submitted to the application of glyphosate doses in post-emergence. For this, two experiments were conducted in two locations (Palotina and Marechal Cândido Rondon - Paraná state). Applications were carried out with increasing rates of glyphosate (0, 720, 1,440, 2,160, 2,880, 3,600, 4,320 g a.e. ha-1), constituting seven treatments with an experimental design in randomized blocks with four replications, totaling 28 plots for each location. The cultivar used for both experiments was Monsoy 6210 Intacta RR2 IPROTM. The analyzed variables were phytotoxicity at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 DAA, A-B and total chlorophyll index, final height, number of pods, 100-seed weight, and yield. A regression analysis was used. There was a positive behavior of the linear regression for phytotoxicity and a negative one for final height, number of pods, A-B and total chlorophyll index, and yield in the city of Palotina. In Marechal Cândido Rondon, there were adjustments of the positive linear regressions for phytotoxicity, and negative linear regressions for chlorophyll index, final height, number of pods and yield. Results show that the glyphosate increase from the dose 1,440 g a.e. ha-1 in the studied cultivar damaged the agronomic performance of the culture.

RESUMO No Brasil, o azevém (Lolium multiflorum) foi identificado como resistente ao glyphosate, tornando-se problema, principalmente, em lavouras cultivadas na estação de inverno. Esse herbicida pode afetar indiretamente a fotossíntese, através da inibição da biossíntese de diversos compostos. Com isso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a influência do glyphosate no perfil fisiológico de populações de azevém suscetível e resistente ao herbicida. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado (DIC) com dois tratamentos (720 e 1.080 g e.a. ha-1) e quatro repetições, mais uma testemunha. Foram semeadas duas populações de azevém, sendo uma suscetível e outra resistente ao glyphosate. Após a aplicação dos tratamentos, foram feitas avaliações aos 1, 3, 7 e 28 dias após a aplicação (DAA). As variáveis analisadas foram: taxa de assimilação líquida de CO2, condutância estomática, concentração interna de CO2 e transpiração, eficiência do uso da água e eficiência instantânea de carboxilação. O herbicida glyphosate causou danos irreversíveis à população suscetível, a qual, aos 28 DAA, em todas as variáveis analisadas, já se encontrava morta, impossibilitando assim sua análise; contudo foi mostrado que os efeitos desse herbicida foram intensificados a partir do terceiro dia após a aplicação. No caso da população resistente, aos 3 DAA, nas variáveis analisadas, verificaram-se efeitos significativos em relação à testemunha, mostrando que, mesmo apresentando elevado grau de resistência, o herbicida é capaz de afetar seu metabolismo.

ABSTRACT In Brazil, ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) has been identified as resistant to glyphosate, becoming a major problem, especially in crops cultivated in the winter season. This herbicide can indirectly affect photosynthesis by inhibiting biosynthesis of many compounds. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of glyphosate on the physiological profile of susceptible and resistant ryegrass populations to the herbicide. The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments (720 and 1,080 g e.a. ha-1) and four replications plus control with no treatment. Two ryegrass populations were sown, one susceptible and another one resistant to glyphosate. After the treatments, evaluations were carried out at 1, 3, 7 and 28 days after application (DAA). Variables analyzed were: CO2 net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, CO2 internal concentration, transpiration, water use efficiency and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency. The glyphosate herbicide caused irreversible damage in a susceptible population which at 28 DAA in all variables analyzed this population was already dead and it was impossible to analyze it, but it was shown that the effects of this herbicide were intensified from the third day after application. In the case of the resistant population, at 3 DAA in all variables, it suffered significant effects comparing to the control, showing that even with a high level of resistance the herbicide can affect its metabolism.

RESUMO: O conhecimento da composição florística e da estrutura fitossociológica é condição essencial para definição de estratégias mais eficientes e econômicas de manejo da comunidade infestante em culturas agrícolas no trópico úmido. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi realizar levantamento florístico e fitossociológico para conhecimento das principais plantas daninhas na cultura do arroz de terras altas no trópico úmido do Estado do Maranhão. As coletas das plantas foram obtidas pelo lançamento aleatório de um retângulo vazado de 0,15 m2 nas fases vegetativa e reprodutiva da cultura do arroz, nas safras de 2009/2010 e 2010/2011. Foram identificadas 65 espécies distribuídas em 22 famílias, sendo 35 eudicotiledôneas, 29 monocotiledôneas e 1 pteridófita. As famílias mais representativas foram Poaceae e Cyperaceae, seguidas por Amaranthaceae e Malvaceae. Na fase vegetativa da cultura, as plantas daninhas de maior valor de importância foram Urochloasp., Panicum sp., Cyperus flavus , Commelina benghalensis e Corchorus argutus. Na fase reprodutiva, predominaram Spermacoce latifolia, Corchorus argutus, Ludwigia octovalvis, Alternanthera tenella e Panicum maximum . As plantas daninhas da classe das monocotiledôneas destacaram-se na fase vegetativa da cultura, enquanto na reprodutiva foram as eudicotiledôneas. A diversidade de plantas daninhas foi elevada, e a similaridade florística foi menor na fase vegetativa, comparada à reprodutiva, da cultura do arroz de terras altas no trópico úmido.

ABSTRACT: Knowledge of the floristic composition and vegetation structure are essential conditions for development of more efficient and economic weed management strategies in crops in the humid tropics. The objective of the research was to carry on floristic and phytosociological surveys to know the main weeds in upland rice fields in the humid tropics of the Brazilian State of Maranhão. Weed samples were done by means of an open metal rectangle of 0.15 m2 thrown at random in the vegetative and reproductive stages of rice crop in 2009/10 and 2010/2011 harvest. A total of 65 species from 23 families was identified 35 (53.85%) from the eudicotyledons botanical group, 29 (44.06%) from the monocotyledonous and one (1.53%) belonged to the pteridophytes. The most representative families were from the monocotyledonous botanical group including Poaceae and Cyperaceae, followed by Amaranthaceae and Malvaceae, both from the eudicotyledons group. The weed species with higher importance values in the upland rice crop vegetative stage were Urochloasp., Panicumsp., C. flavus, C. benghalensis and C. argutus whereas in the reproductive stage the higher importance values were recorded for S. latifolia, C. argutus, L. octovalvis, A.tenella and P.maximum. The most important weeds in the crop vegetative phase were mainly from the monocotyledonous group, while in reproductive one they were the eudicotyledons. Weed diversity was high and the floristic similarity was lower in the vegetative one compared to the reproductive stage of upland rice cultivation in the humid tropics.

RESUMO: O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a ocorrência de chuvas na eficiência de diferentes formulações de glyphosate aplicadas de forma isolada e em mistura com o saflufenacil, sobre o controle de Brachiaria decumbens. O estudo foi realizado no primeiro semestre de 2013. Os tratamentos constaram da aplicação isolada de três formulações de glyphosate (Roundup Original, Roundup Transorb R e Roundup WG) a 1.080 g e.a. ha-1 e em mistura com o saflufenacil a 24,5 g i.a. ha-1 + Dash a 0,5% v/v e, seis intervalos de tempo para simulação da chuva: 15; 30; 60; 120; 240 e 360 minutos após a aplicação dos herbicidas e uma testemunha sem chuva. Foram realizadas avaliações visuais de controle das plantas aos 4; 7; 14; 21 e 28 dias após a aplicação dos herbicidas. A mistura de saflufenacil + Dash às formulações de Roundup original, Roundup transorb R e Roundup WG aumentaram a velocidade de controle das plantas de B. decumbens, independente do intervalo de chuva estudado. As formulações de glyphosate (Roundup Transorb R e Roundup WG) aplicados isolados foram afetadas por chuvas que ocorreram logo após a pulverização e quando em mistura com saflufenacil + Dash observou-se efeito sinérgico no controle das plantas daninhas.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rain on the efficiency of different formulations of glyphosate applied in isolation and in combination with saflufenacil on the control of Brachiaria decumbens. This study was conducted during the first half of 2013. The treatments consisted of an isolated application of three formulations of glyphosate (Roundup Original, Roundup Transorb R, and Roundup WG) at 1,080 g a.e. ha-1 and mixed with saflufenacil at 24.5 g a.e. ha-1 + Dash at 0.5% v/v at six time intervals of simulated rain: 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 360 minutes after application of herbicides and a control treatment without rain. We performed visual evaluations of plant control at 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after application of herbicides. The mixture of saflufenacil + Dash with the original Roundup formulations, Roundup Transorb R and Roundup WG increased the control speed of B. decumbens plants regardless of the rain interval studied. The formulations of glyphosate (Roundup Transorb R and Roundup WG) applied in isolation were affected by rains that occurred shortly after spraying. In combination with saflufenacil + Dash, there was a synergistic effect on weed control.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by deficits in the individual’s ability to socialize, communicate, and use the imagination, in addition to stereotyped behaviors. These disorders have a heterogenous phenotype, both in relation to symptoms and regarding severity. Organic problems related to the gastrointestinal tract are often associated with ASD, including dysbiosis, inflammatory bowel disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, celiac disease, indigestion, malabsorption, food intolerance, and food allergies, leading to vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition. In an attempt to explain the pathophysiology involved in autism, a theory founded on opioid excess has been the focus of various investigations, since it partially explains the symptomatology of the disorder. Another hypothesis has been put forward whereby the probable triggers of ASDs would be related to the presence of bacteria in the bowel, oxidative stress, and intestinal permeability. The present update reviews these hypotheses.

AbstractThis work presents a numerical model to simulate the failure behavior of slender reinforced concrete columns subjected to eccentric compression loads. Due to the significant influence of the lateral displacements on the loading state provided by an eccentric load, geometric nonlinearity is considered. The responses of the concrete in tension and compression are described by two scalar damage variables that reduce, respectively, the positive and negative effective stress tensors, which lead to two different damage surfaces that control the dimension of the elastic domain. To describe the behavior of the reinforcements, truss finite elements with elastoplastic material model are employed. Interaction between the steel bars and concrete is modeled through the use of interface finite elements with high aspect ratio and a damage model designed to describe the bond-slip behavior. The results showed that the numerical model is able to represent the nonlinear behavior of slender concrete columns with good accuracy, taking into account: formation of cracks steel yielding crushing of the concrete in the compressive region and interaction between rebars and concrete.

The present study evaluated electrocardiographic alterations in rats with epilepsy submitted to an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model induced by cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. Rats were randomly divided into two groups: control (n=12) and epilepsy (n=14). It was found that rats with epilepsy presented a significant reduction in atrioventricular block incidence following the ischemia and reperfusion procedure. In addition, significant alterations were observed in electrocardiogram intervals during the stabilization, ischemia, and reperfusion periods of rats with epilepsy compared to control rats. It was noted that rats with epilepsy presented a significant increase in the QRS interval during the stabilization period in relation to control rats (P<0.01). During the ischemia period, there was an increase in the QRS interval (P<0.05) and a reduction in the P wave and QT intervals (P<0.05 for both) in rats with epilepsy compared to control rats. During the reperfusion period, a significant reduction in the QT interval (P<0.01) was verified in the epilepsy group in relation to the control group. Our results indicate that rats submitted to an epilepsy model induced by pilocarpine presented electrical conductivity alterations of cardiac tissue, mainly during an AMI episode.

A cutia espécie Dasyprocta prymnolopha (D. prymnolopha) é um roedor de tamanho médio, diurno e característico do Nordeste do Brasil, sul da Amazônia. Vários estudos têm sido feitos sobre estes roedores. No entanto, há uma carência de estudos do sistema estomatognático, em particular, a morfologia dos dentes. Assim, esta pesquisa procura descrever aspectos anatômicos e histológicos dos dentes cutia. Para isto, nós utilizamos cutias adultas, em que as mensurações e as descrições dos dentes e dos tecidos dentais foram feitas. Observou-se que a arcada dentária de D. prymnolopha é composta por vinte dentes, distribuídas uniformemente no arco superior e inferior, sendo os dentes inferiores, maiores do que os seus correspondentes superiores. Os incisivos são maiores, e entre os pré-molares e molares posteriores, existe um aumento gradual no comprimento do arco anterior-posterior. No exame microscópico, uma forma prismática foi observada o que consiste de prismas de esmalte dispostos em diferentes direções, atrás do esmalte e dentina com túbulos dentinários com padrão tubular de diâmetro variável e distantes entre si, mostrando também um caminho sinuoso a partir da parte interna da junção com o esmalte mais superficial. A análise morfológica dos tecidos dentários mostrou um esmalte com a organização estrutural adaptada para o ato de mastigar e dentina de alto impacto compatível com a função do padrão tubular de resiliência e amortecimento mecânico de forças mastigatórias, como encontrado em animais maiores, confirmando o entendimento de hábitos alimentares que definem muito das suas funções ecológicas dentro do ecossistema em que vivem.

The agouti species Dasyprocta prymnolopha (D. prymnolopha) is a medium-sized rodent, diurnal, and characteristic of northeastern Brazil, south of the Amazon. Several studies have been made on these rodents. However, there is a lack of analysis of masticatory system, in particular morphology of the teeth. Thus, this research seeks to describe anatomical and histological aspects of the agouti teeth. For this purpose, we used adult agouti, in which measurements and descriptions of teeth and dental tissues were made. It was observed that the dental arch of D. prymnolopha comprises of twenty teeth, evenly distributed in the upper and lower arch, being inferior teeth larger than their corresponding higher. The incisors are larger, and between the posterior premolars and molars, there is a gradual increase in length in the anterior-posterior arch. In microscopic examination, a prismatic appearance was observed consisting of enamel prisms arranged in different directions, behind the enamel and dentin with standard tubular dentinal tubules with variable diameter and far between, also showing a sinuous path from the inner portion to the junction with more superficial enamel. Morphological analysis of dental tissues showed that an enamel with structural organization adapted to the act of chewing and high impact dentin compatible with standard tubular function resilience and mechanical damping of masticatory forces, as found in larger animals, confirming the understanding of eating habits that define much of its ecological functions within the ecosystem they inhabit.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) remains one of the major causes of infection in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with the length of hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. We compared the frequency of VAP 10 months prior to (pre-intervention group) and 13 months after (post-intervention group) initiation of the use of a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) filter. This is a study with prospective before-and-after design performed in the ICU in a tertiary university hospital. Three hundred and fourteen patients were admitted to the ICU under mechanical ventilation, 168 of whom were included in group HH (heated humidifier) and 146 in group HME. The frequency of VAP per 1000 ventilator-days was similar for both the HH and HME groups (18.7 vs 17.4, respectively; P = 0.97). Duration of mechanical ventilation (11 vs 12 days, respectively; P = 0.48) and length of ICU stay (11 vs 12 days, respectively; P = 0.39) did not differ between the HH and HME groups. The chance of developing VAP was higher in patients with a longer ICU stay and longer duration of mechanical ventilation. This finding was similar when adjusted for the use of HME. The use of HME in intensive care did not reduce the incidence of VAP, the duration of mechanical ventilation, or the length of stay in the ICU in the study population.

The objective of the present study was to determine if there is a relationship between serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the number of T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2/FLAIR) lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS). The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revolutionized the study of MS. However, MRI has limitations and the use of other biomarkers such as BDNF may be useful for the clinical assessment and the study of the disease. Serum was obtained from 28 MS patients, 18-50 years old (median 38), 21 women, 0.5-10 years (median 5) of disease duration, EDSS 1-4 (median 1.5) and 28 healthy controls, 19-49 years old (median 33), 19 women. BDNF levels were measured by ELISA. T1, T2/FLAIR and gadolinium-enhanced lesions were measured by a trained radiologist. BDNF was reduced in MS patients (median [range] pg/mL; 1160 [352.6-2640]) compared to healthy controls (1640 [632.4-4268]; P = 0.03, Mann-Whitney test) and was negatively correlated (Spearman correlation test, r = -0.41; P = 0.02) with T2/FLAIR (11-81 lesions, median 42). We found that serum BDNF levels were inversely correlated with the number of T2/FLAIR lesions in patients with MS. BDNF may be a promising biomarker of MS.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a eficiência do controle dos herbicidas 2,4-D, diquat e glyphosate e as alterações anatômicas do limbo foliar provocadas por eles em plantas de Polygonum lapathifolium. As plantas foram cultivadas em caixas-d'água sob condições de campo e, quando atingiram seu pleno desenvolvimento (antes do florescimento), pulverizadas com os herbicidas. Avaliaram-se quantitativamente as seguintes características anatômicas da nervura central e internervural das folhas: porcentagem da epiderme adaxial e abaxial, porcentagem da bainha do feixe, porcentagem do feixe vascular, porcentagem de esclerênquima e colênquima, porcentagem de parênquima paliçádico e lacunoso, bem como a espessura foliar (μm). Os tratamentos químicos foram: diquat (400 g i.a. ha-1 do produto comercial Reward), 2,4-D (1.340 g e.a. ha -1 do produto comercial DMA 806 BR) e glyphosate (4.320 g e.a. ha-1 do produto comercial Rodeo) com a adição do surfatante Silwet L-77 a 0,01% v v-1. Os principais caracteres anatômicos quantitativos da região da nervura central do limbo foliar que sofreram alterações após a aplicação dos herbicidas foram a porcentagem da epiderme adaxial, a porcentagem de feixe vascular, a porcentagem de colênquima, a porcentagem de parênquima paliçádico e lacunoso e a espessura foliar. Para a região internervural do limbo foliar, os principais caracteres anatômicos quantitativos que sofreram alterações após a aplicação dos herbicidas foram a porcentagem da epiderme adaxial, a porcentagem da bainha do feixe e a espessura foliar. Os herbicidas diquat e 2,4-D foram ineficientes no controle das plantas de P. lapathifolium; o glyphosate apresentou controle superior a 90% das plantas aos 100 dias após a aplicação. Entretanto, todos os herbicidas permitiram rebrota das plantas.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of some herbicides (2,4-D, diquat, and glyphosate) and the leaf blade anatomic changes such herbicides caused in Polygonum lapathifolium. The plants were cultivated in reservoirs containing water under field conditions and were sprayed with herbicide when reaching full development (before flowering). The following anatomical characteristics were quantitatively evaluated from the central nervure regions and the leaf inter nervural blade: adaxial and abaxial epidermis percentage, bundle sheath percentage, vascular bundle percentage, sclerenchyma and colenchyma percentage, palisade and lacuna parenchyma percentage and leaf thickness (μm). The following treatments were carried out: diquat (400 g a.i. ha-1 - Reward), 2,4-D (1.340 g a.e. ha-1 DMA 806 BR) and glyphosate (4.320 g a.e. ha-1 - Rodeo) with the Silwet L-77 surfactant addition at 0.01% v v-1. The main quantitative anatomical region characteristics of the central nervure of the leaf limbus which changed after herbicide application were: adaxial epidermis percentage, vascular bundle percentage, colenchyma percentage, palisade and lacuna parenchyma percentage, and leaf thickness. For the inter-nervural region of the leaf blade, the major quantitative anatomical characters which changed after herbicide application were: adaxial epidermis percentage, bundle sheath percentage, and leaf thickness. The herbicides diquat and 2,4-D were inefficient for P. lapathifolium plants and glyphosate showed a good control over 90% at 100 days after application. However, all herbicides allowed plant re-growth.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a eficiência do controle dos herbicidas 2,4-D, diquat e glyphosate e as alterações anatômicas do limbo foliar provocadas pelos produtos em plantas de Eichhornia crassipes, coletadas nos reservatórios do complexo CESP. As plantas foram cultivadas em caixas-d'água sob condições de campo e, quando atingiram estádio de pleno desenvolvimento vegetativo, foram pulverizadas com soluções de diquat a 400 g i.a.ha-1, 2,4-D a 1.340 g e.a. ha-1 e glyphosate a 4.320 g e.a. ha-1 em associação com o adjuvante Silwet L-77 a 0,01% v v-1. Foi utilizada uma testemunha sem aplicação de herbicida. A seguir, foram realizadas avaliações de controle e das seguintes características anatômicas quantitativas das regiões da nervura central e da internervural do limbo foliar: porcentagem da epiderme adaxial e abaxial, porcentagem da endoderme, porcentagem do feixe vascular, porcentagem de lacunas do aerênquima, porcentagem de parênquima e espessura foliar (µm). Com base nos resultados, os principais caracteres anatômicos quantitativos das regiões da nervura central e internervural do limbo foliar que sofreram alterações após a aplicação dos herbicidas foram a porcentagem da epiderme adaxial, a porcentagem da endoderme e a espessura foliar. Os herbicidas diquat e 2,4-D foram os que mais promoveram alterações nos caracteres anatômicos quantitativos das regiões da nervura central e internervural do limbo foliar das plantas de E. crassipes. Apenas o glyphosate apresentou controle de 100% das plantas aos 22 dias após a aplicação, quando comparado com o observado na testemunha sem herbicida.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of 2,4-D, diquat and glyphosate control and the leaf blade anatomic changes provided by these herbicides in Eichhornia crassipes, collected in the reservoirs of the CESP complex. The plants were grown in reservoirs containing water under field conditions. When these plants reached the stage of full vegetative development, they were sprayed with solutions of diquat at 400 g a.i. ha-1 , 2,4-D at 1.340 g a.e. ha-1 and glyphosate at 4.320 g a.e. ha 1 in combination with Silwet L-77 at 0.01% v v-1.A control without herbicide was also used .Evaluations were carried out of the control and of the following anatomical quantitative characteristics of the vein and intervein central regions of the leaf blade: percentage of the adaxial and abaxial epidermis, percentage of the endoderm, percentage of vascular bundle, percentage of the aerenchyma lacuna, percentage of parenchyma and leaf thickness (µm). According to the results, the main anatomical quantitative characters of the vein and intervein central regions of the leaf blade that changed after herbicide application were: percentage of the adaxial epidermis, percentage of the endoderm, and leaf thickness. Diquat and 2,4-D promoted changes in the anatomical quantitative characters of the vein and intervein central regions of the leaf blade in E. crassipes. Only glyphosate provided 100% of E. crassipes control at 22 days after application, compared with the control without herbicide.

Zygomycosis is an infection caused by opportunistic fungi of the Zygomycetes class, specifically those from the Mucorales and Entomophthorales orders. It is an uncommon disease, mainly restricted to immunocompromised patients. We report a case of a 73-year-old male patient with a history of fever (39°C) lasting for 1 day, accompanied by shivering, trembling, and intense asthenia. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit with complex partial seizures, and submitted to orotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation under sedation with midazolam. The electroencephalogram showed evidence of non-convulsive status epilepticus. There is no fast specific laboratory test that permits confirmation of invasive fungal disease. Unless the physician suspects this condition, the disease may progress rapidly while the patient is treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Differential diagnosis between fungal and bacterial infection is often difficult. The clinical presentation is sometimes atypical, and etiological investigation is not always successful. In the present case, the histopathological examination of the biopsy obtained from the right temporal lobe indicated the presence of irregular, round, thick-walled fungi forming papillae and elongated structures of irregular diameter, with no septa, indicative of zygomycete (Basidiobolus). Treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and fluconazole was initiated after diagnosis of meningoencephalitis by zygomycete, with a successful outcome.

Avaliaram-se o desempenho e a morfologia da mucosa intestinal de frangos de corte alimentados com mananoligossacarídeos (MOS) e enzimas (E) até os 21 dias de idade. Utilizaram-se 750 pintainhos de um dia em delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2 + 1 (dois níveis de MOS - 0 e 0,1%, dois níveis de E - 0 e 0,05% e uma dieta controle positivo com antibióticos) totalizando cinco tratamentos com cinco repetições cada. A interação MOS x E foi significativa para o perímetro de altura de vilos no duodeno (P<0,02 e P<0,02) e no íleo (P<0,04 e P<0,05), sendo os valores menores observados na mucosa das aves alimentadas com dietas não-suplementadas. A dieta contendo MOS determinou aumento no perímetro dos vilos no jejuno (P<0,05). Comparado com o grupo controle positivo, o perímetro (P<0,02) e a altura (P<0,005) dos vilos e a profundidade de cripta (P<0,02) no duodeno das aves do tratamento com MOS foram maiores. As aves que consumiram dietas com MOS e/ou E não tiveram melhor desempenho, mas maiores perímetros e alturas de vilos foram observados na mucosa intestinal dessas aves.

The performance and the morphology of intestinal mucosa of broilers fed mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and enzymes (E) from one to 21-day-old were evaluated using 750 one-day-old chicks, assigned to a 2 x 2 + 1 factorial design - two levels of MOS (0 and 0.1%), two levels of E (0 and 0.05%) plus an antibiotic positive control diet - performing five treatments of five replications each one. MOS x E interaction was significant for both duodenal (P<0.002 and P<0.002) and ileal (P<0.04 and P<0.05) perimeters and heights of villi, being the values lower in the mucosa of birds fed non-supplemented diets. MOS based-diet determined an increase on perimeter of jejunal villi (P<0.05). Compared with antibiotic treatment group, villi perimeter (P<0.02) and height (P<0.005), and crypt depth (P<0.02) of duodenum of broiler fed MOS were higher. Broilers fed MOS and/or E did not perform better, but higher villi perimeter and height were observed in the intestinal mucosa of those birds.