SUMMARY Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder frequently characterized by obesity, growth hormone deficiency, genital abnormalities, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Incomplete or delayed pubertal development as well as premature adrenarche are usually found in PWS, whereas central precocious puberty (CPP) is very rare. This study aimed to report the clinical and biochemical follow-up of a PWS boy with CPP and to discuss the management of pubertal growth. By the age of 6, he had obesity, short stature, and many clinical criteria of PWS diagnosis, which was confirmed by DNA methylation test. Therapy with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) replacement (0.15 IU/kg/day) was started. Later, he presented psychomotor agitation, aggressive behavior, and increased testicular volume. Laboratory analyses were consistent with the diagnosis of CPP (gonadorelin-stimulated LH peak 15.8 IU/L, testosterone 54.7 ng/dL). The patient was then treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa). Hypothalamic dysfunctions have been implicated in hormonal disturbances related to pubertal development, but no morphologic abnormalities were detected in the present case. Additional methylation analysis (MS-MLPA) of the chromosome 15q11 locus confirmed PWS diagnosis. We presented the fifth case of CPP in a genetically-confirmed PWS male. Combined therapy with GnRHa and rhGH may be beneficial in this rare condition of precocious pubertal development in PWS.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi selecionar genótipos de capim-elefante com base na produção de matéria seca, utilizando a metodologia de modelos mistos (REML/BLUP). O experimento foi conduzido na Pesagro, RJ, Brasil. Foram obtidos 25 híbridos em esquema de dialelo parcial, 10 genitores e a cultivar Capim Cana D’África. Foram avaliadas as características largura da folha (LL), comprimento da folha (CF), diâmetro do colmo (DC) e número de perfilhos (NP) em seis semanas a partir da 5ª semana após o plantio. Na última semana foram avaliadas a porcentagem (%MS) e produção de matéria seca (PMS). Os componentes de variância e coeficientes de repetibilidade foram estimados pelo método da máxima verossimilhança restrita (REML) e a predição de valores genotípicos pela melhor predição linear não viciada (BLUP). Para análise das variáveis foi utilizado o software Selegen-REML/BLUP. Observou-se grande influência da variância ambiental na variância fenotípica para as características LL, CF, DC e NP. Foram obtidos valores de repetibilidade de média magnitude para a LL, CF e DC. Os genótipos que apresentaram potencial para maior produção de biomassa foram H16, H17, G, P1, H4, P4, H25 e H22.

The objective of this work was to select elephant grass genotypes based on dry matter production, using the mixed model methodology (REML/BLUP). The experiment was conducted at Pesagro, RJ, Brazil. Twenty five hybrids were obtained in partial diallel scheme, 10 parents and the cultivar Capim Cana D'Africa. We evaluated the characteristics sheet width (LL), leaf length (CF), stem diameter (DC) and number of tillers (NP) in six weeks from the fifth week after planting. The percentage (% MS) and dry matter production (PMS) was evaluated in the last week. The components of variance and repeatability coefficients were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) and the prediction of phenotypic and genotypic values for the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). The Selegen-REML/BLUP software was used for analysis of the variables. There was great influence of environmental variance in phenotypic variance for traits, CF, DC and NP. Average magnitude of repeatability values were obtained for the LL, CF and DC. The genotypes that presented potential for greater production of biomass were H16, H17, G, P1, H4, P4, H25 and H22.

Background The potentially harmful consequences of alcohol use among undergraduates have become a growing concern in recent years. Objectives This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hazardous use of alcohol in this population and to identify demographic and psychosocial factors associated with this pattern of consumption. Methods This was a cross-sectional study using an anonymous and self-completed questionnaire in the classroom. The questionnaire was administered to 1,290 enrolled male and female students, which comprised a proportional sample of the main areas of knowledge at University of Campinas. The questionnaire produced sociodemographic and psychosocial profiles and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test was used to detect hazardous use of alcohol. Results The prevalence of hazardous use of alcohol among the study participants was 24%. Male gender, subjective perceived social support in case of difficulties, being sexually active, not dating, having smoked tobacco cigarettes or marijuana, and having used other illicit psychoactive substances were associated with hazardous use of alcohol. Discussion Variables related to gender, sexuality, affective partnerships, and consumption of other psychoactive substances were associated with hazardous use of alcohol, which was identified in a quarter of the evaluated students, and indicate the need for strategies to prevent and to treat problems.

Análogos da somatostatina de longa duração são freqüentemente usados no tratamento da acromegalia, como adjuvante à cirurgia ou à radioterapia ou, mais recentemente, como opção terapêutica primária. Essas drogas parecem ser razoavelmente seguras, mas podem ocorrer feitos colaterais ainda não descritos com o uso das relativamente novas formulações de ação prolongada. Neste relato de caso, descrevemos uma reação cutânea grave (eritema multiforme) em uma paciente tratada com octreotide de liberação prolongada (LAR) e discutimos a necessidade de submeter os pacientes previamente a um "teste" com a formulação subcutânea do octreotide de ação rápida.

Long-acting somatostatin analogs are often used for treating acromegaly, either as adjuvant to surgery or radiotherapy or, more recently, as a primary therapeutic option. These drugs seem to be reasonably safe, but new adverse effects not yet described may occur during the use of the relatively new long-acting formulations. In this case report, we describe a severe cutaneous reaction (erythema multiforme) in a patient treated with long-acting release (LAR) octreotide, and also discuss the need of previous "testing" with short subcutaneous preparation of octreotide.