Abstract The objective of this study was to reduce the effects of cryoinjury caused in bovine semen by cryopreservation. Ejaculates were collected from Nellore bulls and subjected to freezing in C (control), ozone (15, 30, and 60 µg mL-1 of ozone), quercetin (25, 50, and 100 µg mL-1 of quercetin), and carnosine groups (100, 200, and 300 ng mL-1 of carnosine). Samples were evaluated post-thaw (M0) and post-rapid thermoresistance test (M30) for sperm kinetics (total motility, progressive motility, curvilinear speed, linearity and amplitude of lateral head displacement) and cell structure viability (plasma membrane integrity, acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial potential, membrane fluidity, and lipid peroxidation). There were no differences (P > 0.05) between the control, quercetin, and carnosine-treated groups for the parameters evaluated at M0 and M30. In turn, supplementation with ozone resulted in lower values for sperm kinetics (P < 0.05) and lower mitochondrial potential at M30 (P < 0.05). Quercetin and carnosine at the concentrations used did not promote significant gains in frozen semen, nor did they demonstrate cytotoxicity. We expected to obtain positive results with the use of ozone. Nonetheless, the addition was harmful to the parameters of sperm kinetics, and its effect was not observed as a possible pro-antioxidant. We believe that the fact that the gas did not harm the sperm structure opens avenues for tests with lower dosages, since, by reducing its concentration, we could minimize the damage to sperm kinetics.

Inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are strongly associated with protection against ribavirin (RBV)-induced anaemia in European, American and Asian patients; however, there is a paucity of data for Brazilian patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ITPA SNP (rs7270101/rs1127354) frequency in healthy and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients from Brazil and the association with the development of severe anaemia during antiviral therapy. ITPA SNPs were determined in 200 HCV infected patients and 100 healthy individuals by sequencing. Biochemical parameters and haemoglobin (Hb) levels were analysed in 97 patients who underwent antiviral therapy. A combination of AArs7270101+CCrs1127354 (100% ITPase activity) was observed in 236/300 individuals. Anaemia was observed in 87.5% and 86.2% of treated patients with AA (rs7270101) and CC genotypes (rs1127354), respectively. Men with AA (rs7270101) showed a considerable reduction in Hb at week 12 compared to those with AC/CC (p = 0.1475). In women, there was no influence of genotype (p = 0.5295). For rs1127354, men with the CC genotype also showed a sudden reduction in Hb compared to those with AC. Allelic distribution of rs7270101 and rs1127354 shows high rates of the genotypes AA and CC, respectively, suggesting that the study population had a great propensity for developing RBV-induced anaemia. A progressive Hb reduction during treatment was observed; however, this reduction was greater in men at week 12 than in women.

A fotogrametria vem sendo utilizada como um valioso recurso diagnóstico para a verificação e mensuração de alterações posturais, porém a ausência de padronização das referências anatômicas, dos ângulos obtidos entre estas e sua significância dificulta a comparação entre estudos e a confiabilidade dos resultados encontrados. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a confiabilidade inter e intra-examinadores das medidas angulares propostas pelo software de avaliação postural SAPO v. 0.68. Participaram do estudo 24 sujeitos, os quais foram fotografados na postura em pé, seguindo as recomendações do SAPO. Três avaliadores (A, B e C) experientes no uso do programa analisaram as imagens, repetindo essa análise sete dias após. A variância, o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (ICC) e teste T com nível significância de 5% foram aplicados. Resultados indicaram que na confiabilidade interexaminadores dos 20 ângulos mensurados, dois foram classificados como não aceitáveis (A13: ICC=0,623 e A14: ICC=0,568), um como aceitável (A19: ICC=0,743), um como muito bom (A20: ICC=0,860) e 16 como excelentes (ICC > 0,90). Na avaliação da repetibilidade do método, por um mesmo avaliador, dois ângulos mensurados pelo examinador A foram significativamente diferentes em duas medidas (A11:p=0,015; A12:p=0,026); também dois ângulos pelo examinador B (A2:p=0,019; A12:p=0,015) e um ângulo pelo examinador C (A16;p=0,011). Concluíu-se que os ângulos propostos pelo protocolo SAPO mostraram-se confiáveis após avaliação entre diferentes examinadores para mensurar os segmentos corporais

Photogrammetry is a valuable tool for the diagnosis and measurement of postural changes, but the lack of standardization of anatomical references and angular measures impairs the comparison between studies and compromises the reliability of the results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inter- and intraexaminer reliability of angular measures proposed by the SAPO posture assessment software (v. 0.68). Twenty-four subjects were photographed in the standing position according to the recommendations of the SAPO software. Three examiners (A, B and C) experienced in the use of the software analyzed the images and repeated the analysis after 7 days. Variance, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and t-test adopting a level of significance of 5% were applied. With respect to interexaminer reliability among the 20 angles measured, two were classified as unacceptable (A13: ICC = 0.623; A14: ICC = 0.568), one as acceptable (A19: ICC = 0.743), one as very good (A20: ICC = 0.860), and 16 as excellent (ICC > 0.90). Evaluation of repeatability of the method by the same examiner showed that two angles measured by examiner A differed significantly between the two measurements (A11: p = 0.015; A12: p = 0.026), as did two angles measured by examiner B (A2: p = 0.019; A12: p = 0.015) and one angle measured by examiner C (A16, p = 0.011). In conclusion, comparison between different examiners showed that the angles proposed by the SAPO protocol are reliable for the measurement of body segments.

Aedes aegypti (L.), the main vector of dengue fever in Brazil, has been controlled with the use of massive chemical products, contributing to the development of resistance and decreasing the insect control efficiency. The control of dipterans with bioinsecticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis has been satisfactory, due to the production of insecticidal proteins denominated Cry (crystal), Cyt (cytolytic) toxins and Chi (chitinase), and to the synergistic effects among them. The present work aimed to select B. thuringiensis isolates efficient against A. aegypti larvae. A bacterial collection containing 1,073 isolates of B. thuringiensis, obtained from different locations of Brazilian territory, had the DNA isolated and submitted to PCR amplifications using specific primers for cry4Aa, cry4Ba, cry11Aa, cry11Ba, cyt1Aa, cyt1Ab, cyt2Aa and chi genes. For the LC50 and LC90 determination, the entomopathogenic isolates were evaluated by selective and quantitative bioassays. Only 45 isolates (4.2%) presented amplicons for the cry and cyt genes. The chi gene sequence was detected in 25 (54.3%) of those isolates. From the 45 isolates submitted to the selective bioassays, 13 caused 100% mortality of A. aegypti larvae. The identification of cry, cyt and chi genes of B. thuringiensis and the toxicity analysis on A. aegypti led to the selection of a set of isolates that have the potential to be used in the formulation of new bioinsecticides.

O presente trabalho foi realizado visando à avaliação do movimento do nitrato (N-NO-3) proveniente de águas residuárias de frigorífico, em colunas de solo. No experimento, foram utilizados dois tipos de solo, um de textura argilosa e outro de textura arenosa, ambos corrigidos com calcário, quatro colunas de PVC, de 500 mm de comprimento e 75 mm de diâmetro. Após saturação com CaCl2 0,01 M, foi mantida na parte superior de cada coluna, por meio de frasco de Mariotte, uma lâmina de 100 mm da água residuária, que permitiu uma lâmina total de infiltração correspondente a 2,5 vezes o volume total de poros de cada coluna avaliada. Foi coletado, para cada coluna, um total de 100 amostras do efluente percolado, sendo analisadas 20 amostras com intervalo de cinco amostras. As análises realizadas foram: pH, condutividade elétrica (CE) e concentrações de nitrato. Os resultados mostraram uma elevação na taxa de nitrato acima da concentração inicial C0, para todos os efluentes percolados nos solos, sendo esses valores mais acentuados para a coluna de solo arenoso com calcário. A adição de calcário induziu uma predisposição para a lixiviação do nitrato e apresentou menor diminuição no pH do lixiviado. O solo arenoso, independentemente do calcário, apresentou maior lixiviação de sais totais e de nitrato.

The present work was accomplished seeking the evaluation of the movement of the nitrate (N-NO-3) originated from freezer residual waters in soil columns. For the experiment two soil types were used, one of loamy texture and another of sandy texture, respectively areas from Medianeira and Umuarama, Paraná - Brazil. Four columns of PVC, of 500 mm of length and 75 mm of diameter, were mounted and filled out with the soils, with and without limestone (80% CaCO2). In the columns, after saturation with CaCl2 0,01 M, was maintained in the superior part, through flask of Mariotte, a sheet of 100 mm of residual water which allowed a displaced fluid in a total of 2.5 times the total volume of pores (Vp). It was collected for each column a total of 100 samples of the percolated effluent and it was analyzed 20 samples in an interval of each 5 samples. It was analyzed pH values, electric conductivity (CE) and concentrations of nitrate. The results of this study showed an elevation in the rate of nitrate over the initial concentration C O, for all the percolated effluent in the soils, being these values more accentuated for the column of sandy soil with limestone. The limestone addition induced a predisposition lixiviation of the nitrate and also a smaller decrease in the pH of the leached. The sandy soil, independently of the limestone, presented a larger lixiviation of total salts and of nitrate.

Os autores utilizam como método de proteção medular em cirurgia de aorta descendente, circulação extracorpórea átrio esquerdo-femoral esquerda, com baixa dose de heparina (1 mg/kg), bomba centrífuga (bio-pump) e exsangüinação controlada. Operaram 4 doentes com esta metodologia sem que houvesse mortalidade, paraplegia ou sangramento excessivo.

The authors have used for spinal cord protection during descending aortic surgery, partial extracorporeal circulation from left atrium to left femoral artery, low dose of heparin (1 mg/kg), centrifugal pump (bio-pump) and controlled exsanguination. They have operated upon with this methodology 4 patients without mortality, paraplegia or excessive bleeding.