A hidratação controlada pode favorecer a germinação e o estabelecimento das plantas de diversas espécies. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do condicionamento fisiológico pela técnica da hidratação controlada seguida de secagem na qualidade fisiológica e no estabelecimento de plantas de pinhão manso. Por lote, foi estabelecida a curva de absorção de água pelas sementes. Posteriormente, as sementes foram imersas em água destilada (8 mL g-1), secas a 32 ºC até atingir teor de água próximo ao inicial e submetidas aos testes de germinação e de vigor (primeira contagem, classificação de plântulas e emergência de plântulas em areia). Em casa de vegetação, as sementes foram distribuídas entre substrato plantmax. De acordo com resultados pode-se concluir que a hidratação promoveu o aumento do comprimento e da massa seca de plântulas e favoreceu a emergência de plântulas de pinhão manso. A sobrevivência das plantas provenientes apenas de sementes de qualidade fisiológica intermediária é beneficiada pela hidratação das sementes de pinhão manso.

Controlled hydration can promote the germination and establishment of the plants of various species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of priming, using a technique of controlled hydration followed by drying, on the physiological attributes and establishment of jatropha plants. The water-absorption curve was established per batch of seeds. Subsequently, the seeds were immersed in distilled water (8 mL g-1), dried at 32 ºC until a water content close to the initial levels was reached, and subjected to tests for germination and vigor (initial counting, seedling classification, and the emergence of seedlings in sand). In the greenhouse, seeds were distributed in a plantmax substrate. From the results it can be concluded that hydration promotes an increase in the length and dry matter of seedlings, and favors the emergence of Jatropha seedlings. The survival of plants from seeds with only intermediate physiological attributes, benefits from the hydration of Jatropha seeds.

INTRODUCTION: Dysphagia is the important symptom in achalasia, and surgery is the most common treatment. The Heller-Pinotti technique is the method preferred by Brazilian surgeons. For many years, this technique was performed by laparotomy, and now the laparoscopic method has been introduced. The objective was to evaluate the immediate and long-term results of patients submitted to surgery by either laparotomy or laparoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 67 patients submitted to surgery between 1994 and 2001 with at least 5 years of follow-up were evaluated retrospectively and divided into two groups: laparotomy (41 patients) and laparoscopy (26 patients). Chagas was the etiology in 76.12% of cases. Dysphagia was evaluated according to the classification defined by Saeed et al. RESULTS: There were no cases of conversion to open surgery. The mean duration of hospitalization was 3.32 days for laparotomy and 2.54 days for laparoscopy (p<0.05). An improvement in dysphagia occurred with both groups reporting good or excellent results (laparotomy: 73.17% and laparoscopy: 73.08%). Mean duration of follow-up was 8 years. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference between the two groups with respect to relief from dysphagia, thereby confirming the safety and effectiveness of the Heller-Pinotti technique, which can be performed by laparotomy or laparoscopy, depending on the surgeon's experience.

OBJETIVO: Estudar e verificar os possíveis fatores associados a melhores ou a piores resultados cirúrgicos em pacientes submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico para megaesôfago. MÉTODOS: Um estudo retrospectivo analisou dados específicos nos prontuários dos pacientes. Avaliaram-se a ocorrência de complicações no intra ou no pós-operatório e a manutenção de queixas de disfagia que merecesse alguma intervenção após a cirurgia, com o auxílio de um questionário dirigido, estudando possíveis associações a: modalidade cirúrgica adotada, grau da doença, etiologia e presença de outras doenças digestivas. O total de pacientes operados foi 417, sendo levantados 390 prontuários. RESULTADOS: Foram 360 cardiomiotomias, 20 esofagectomias e 11 mucosectomias. Sete pacientes saíram da análise por não estarem adequadamente registrados. CONCLUSÃO: O tipo de operação é o que mais influi nos resultados cirúrgicos (as cardiomiotomias têm melhor resolução); as complicações são maiores com o aumento do grau do megaesôfago. O tratamento cirúrgico em pacientes com doença chagásica teve resultados piores que nos pacientes com megaesôfago idiopático; a associação de outras doenças do trato digestivo é fator de piora nos resultados pós-cirúrgicos.

OBJECTIVES: To verify some possible factors, which would be associated with better or worse results for surgical treatment of megaesophagus. MEHTODS: There were 417 patients operated on for megaesophagus, but only 390 medical charts were analyzed between 1989 and 2005. The presence of intraoperative and postoperative complications and the maintenance of severe dysphagia complaints were evaluated in a directed questionnaire, studying association with: the surgical approach chosen, megaesophagus degree, etiology and presence of other digestive alterations. RESULTS: There were 360 cardiomiotomies, 20 esophagectomies and 11 mucosectomies. The results indicate that the cardiomiotomy is the safest surgery and the esophagectomy has more complications. The degree of megaesophagus is directed related with the results; more advanced megaesophagus has the worse results. The presence of digestive alterations has also a direct influence with worse results. CONLCUSION: The most important factor considering the results is the surgery chosen, and the best one were seen with cardiomiotomy. The degree of megaesophagus has also influenced the results. The etiology suggests better results with Chagas disease patients, maybe for the chronic course of this disease. The presence of digestive alteration is a factor which causes worse results, especially if associated with gastritis, esophagitis, megacolon and others.