Abstract: INTRODUCTION : Molecular analyses are auxiliary tools for detecting Koch's bacilli in clinical specimens from patients with suspected tuberculosis (TB). However, there are still no efficient diagnostic tests that combine high sensitivity and specificity and yield rapid results in the detection of TB. This study evaluated single-tube nested polymerase chain reaction (STNPCR) as a molecular diagnostic test with low risk of cross contamination for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical samples. METHODS: Mycobacterium tuberculosis deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was detected in blood and urine samples by STNPCR followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. In this system, reaction tubes were not opened between the two stages of PCR (simple and nested). RESULTS: STNPCR demonstrated good accuracy in clinical samples with no cross contamination between microtubes. Sensitivity in blood and urine, analyzed in parallel, was 35%-62% for pulmonary and 41%-72% for extrapulmonary TB. The specificity of STNPCR was 100% in most analyses, depending on the type of clinical sample (blood or urine) and clinical form of disease (pulmonary or extrapulmonary). CONCLUSIONS: STNPCR was effective in detecting TB, especially the extrapulmonary form for which sensitivity was higher, and had the advantage of less invasive sample collection from patients for whom a spontaneous sputum sample was unavailable. With low risk of cross contamination, the STNPCR can be used as an adjunct to conventional methods for diagnosing TB.

Blood infection by the simian parasite, Plasmodium simium, was identified in captive (n = 45, 4.4%) and in wild Alouatta clamitans monkeys (n = 20, 35%) from the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. A single malaria infection was symptomatic and the monkey presented clinical and haematological alterations. A high frequency of Plasmodium vivax-specific antibodies was detected among these monkeys, with 87% of the monkeys testing positive against P. vivax antigens. These findings highlight the possibility of malaria as a zoonosis in the remaining Atlantic Forest and its impact on the epidemiology of the disease.

The objective of this study was to characterize the nutritional value of forage legumes Mimosa caesalpiniifolia (Benth.), Bauhinia cheilantha (Bong.) and Leucaena leucocephala (Lan.) and evaluate the anatomy of plants incubated and not incubated in the rumen. The experiment was conducted from September 2007 to November 2008. The experimental plot consisted of three useful plants, totaling three plots per block, and four repetitions. Plants were cut at 1 m height at intervals of 70 days; samples of leaf plus stem with a diameter smaller than 4 mm were collected for determination of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, insoluble protein bound to acid detergent fiber and in vitro dry matter digestibility. The anatomical characterization occurred through the analysis of the proportion of plant tissue nonincubated and incubated in the rumen for a period of 48 hours. The legumes had high crude protein, with an average of 26.1% to Leucena, 22.4% to Sabiá and 18.5% to Mororó, and low levels of in vitro digestibility of dry matter, with an average of 47.3% to Leucena, 42.8% to Mororó and 37.2% to Sabiá. In the leaf blade of Sabiá plants, much lignified tissues that differed from plants of Leucena and Mororó were observed. The degradation process was more visible in the leaves of the Leucena, Sabiá and Mororó plants. The degradation was more pronounced in the spongy parenchyma, leaving the incubated material intact. The average proportion of the epidermis in the incubated and not incubated leaves was 15.8 and 16.4% in Leucena, 16.8 and 19.2% in Mororó and 27.2 and 25.5% in Sabiá, respectively. There are differences in the digestion and nutritional value of leaf tissues of the evaluated legumes.

Seasonal variation of adults and larvae of anophelines was studied during 2003 and 2004 in Roraima State, located in the Northern region of Brazilian Amazon. Species diversity increased with distance of capture to human dwellings. Greater diversity was found in extradomiciliary collections than in peridomiciliary or intradomiciliary. A significant association between Anopheles darlingi Root and An. albitarsis (s.l.) Arribálzaga (Diptera: Culicidae) breeding sites and the proximity to human dwellings was observed. Malaria Sporozoite Antigen Panel Assay (VectestTM Malaria) indicated An. albitarsis s.l. as one of the local vectors in the studied area. In this study, an index to describe the anthropophilic behavior of each anopheline species is proposed.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar a ocorrência de Salmonellae em amostras de carcaças de frango e a suscetibilidade dos isolados a agentes antimicrobianos. Das 260 carcaças analisadas, 25 (9,6%) foram positivas para Salmonella. Salmonella Enteritidis foi o sorovar predominante. Com relação à suscetibilidade a agentes antimicrobianos, 94,7% das cepas de Salmonella testadas, apresentaram resistência a um ou mais agentes antimicrobianos. Os perfís de resistência mais comumente observados entre os isolados foram a resistência à estreptomicina (73,7%), nitrofurantoína (52,3%), tetraciclina (31,6%) e ácido nalidíxico (21%).

The present study was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of Salmonellae in broiler chicken carcasses and to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolated strains. Twenty-five out of the 260 broiler chicken carcasses samples (9.6%) were positive for Salmonella. S. Enteritidis was the most frequent serovar. Nineteen Salmonella isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance, and the results indicated that 94.7% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Resistance to streptomycin (73.7%), nitrofurantoin (52.3%), tetracycline (31.6%), and nalidixic acid (21%) were the prevalent amongst Salmonella strains tested.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do tipo de fístula e da hora de coleta sobre a composição química e a degradabilidade in situ da ração em ovinos criados na caatinga. Foram utilizados dez ovinos mestiços de Santa Inês (cinco com cânula no rúmen e cinco com cânula no esôfago) recebendo água e mistura mineral ad libitum. Os percentuais de matéria seca (MS) variaram de 11,99 a 25,28%, matéria mineral (MM), 10,92 a 14,44%, proteína bruta (PB), 10,64 a 17,19%, extrato etéreo (EE), 2,95 a 4,77%, fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), 54,83 a 63,14%, fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), 39,40 a 46,62%, proteína insolúvel em detergente neutro (PIDN), 49,74 a 57,95%, proteína insolúvel em detergente ácido (PIDA), 28,52 a 39,15%, carboidratos totais (CT), 65,40 a 72,73%, carboidratos não-fibrosos (CNF), 5,47 a 12,86%, fenóis totais (FT), 0,37 a 0,52%, taninos totais (TT), 0,16 a 0,28% e taninos condensados (TC), 1,28 a 6,24%, respectivamente. A degradabilidade potencial variou de 48,25 a 64,63% para MS; 36,43 a 54,34% para FDN; e de 62,13 a 77,24% para proteína; a fração B, de 35,77 a 47,78% para MS; 33,28 a 50,38% para FDN; e 35,44 a 56,09% para proteína; a fração C, de 4,60 a 13,40% para MS; 3,84 a 8,42% para FDN; e 5,37 a 14,36% para proteína; a fração A, 9,74 a 18,13% para MS; 2,16 a 4,41% para FDN; e 20,21 a 31,49% para proteína; a degradabilidade efetiva para a taxa de passagem de 2%/hora, de 43,28 a 55,71 para MS; 29,21 a 36,54 para FDN; 55,84 a 67,49 para proteína; e a degradabilidade efetiva para a taxa de passagem de 5%/hora, de 37,60 a 47,27 para MS; 23,02 a 33,33 para FDN; e 45,74 a 59,99 para proteína. A composição química e a degradabilidade in situ da ração em ovinos foi influenciada pelo mês de avaliação. A dieta apresentou baixa digestibilidade in situ da MS, FDN e PB. A fistula ruminal, em comparação à fistula de esôfago, permitiu melhor avaliação da dieta, em virtude da recuperação total da extrusa.

This work was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effect of the type of fistula and time of collection on the chemical composition and in situ digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber and crude protein in the caatinga region. The experiment was conducted between September 2004 and July 2005. Ten Santa Inês castrated sheep, five with permanent ruminal cannula and five with esophageal cannula, were used. Samples were collected from both cannulas at 7:00 am and 2:00 pm. Sheep had free access to water and mineral mix. The percentage of DM, MM, CP, EE, NDF, ADF, NDIP, ADIP, CHOT, NFC, FT, TT and TC ranged from 11.99 to 25.28%; 10.92 to 14.44; 10.64 to 17.19%; 2.95 to 4.77; 54.83 to 63.14%; 39.40 to 46.62%; 49.74 to 57.95; 28.52 to 39.15; 65.40 to 72.73; 5.47 to 12.86%; 0.37 to 0.52%; 0.16 to 0.28%; and from 1.28 to 6.24%, respectively. Potential degradability (%), fraction B (%), fraction C (%/h), fraction A (%), effective degradability and passage rate of 2 and 5%/h ranged from 48.25 to 64.63; 35.77 to 47.78; 4.60 to 13.40; 9.74 to 18.13; 43.28 to 55.71 and 37.60 to 47.27 for dry matter; from 36.43 to 54.34; 33.28 to 50.38; 3.84 to 8.42; 2.16 to 4.41; 29.21 to 36.54; 23.02 to 33.33 for neutral detergent fiber and from 62.13 to 77.24; 35.44 to 56.09; 5.37 to 14.36; 20.21 to 31.49; 55.84 to 67.49; 45.74 to 59.99 for protein, respectively. The chemical composition and in situ digestibilility of diets for sheep in caatinga is influenced by the month of evaluation. The diet for sheep in the caatinga region presented low in situ digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber and crude protein. Ruminal cannula instead of esophageal cannula can be used to characterize the chemical composition and degradability of diet consumed by small ruminants.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do local da fistula e do horário de coleta sobre a composição botânica da dieta selecionada. Utilizaram-se dez ovinos mestiços Santa Inês, castrados (cinco com cânulas permanentes no rúmen e cinco com cânulas no esôfago), em pastejo na Caatinga com água e mistura mineral à vontade. Foram identificadas 39 espécies na extrusa dos ovinos, com participação média de 20 espécies por mês de coleta, além de outras espécies da família Poaceae, que não foram identificadas. Houve efeito do mês de coleta sobre a composição botânica da extrusa e das frações das plantas selecionadas pelos ovinos. A folha foi a fração mais consumida e correspondeu a 55% do total da extrusa. O componente caule foi influenciado pela interação mês x hora de coleta. O local da fistula e o horário de coleta não influenciaram a composição botânica da dieta. No entanto, as interações mês de coleta x tipo de fistula e mês de coleta x hora de coleta influenciaram a composição botânica e a porcentagem das frações da planta na extrusa. O índice de seletividade das espécies variou ao longo do mês e esteve diretamente relacionado ao comportamento ingestivo dos ovinos. A dieta selecionada pelos ovinos é muito diversificada e caracteriza-se pela maior proporção de espécies malváceas e poáceas. Em comparação à fístula esofágica, a fistula ruminal possibilita melhor caracterização da composição botânica da dieta de pequenos ruminantes.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of cannula placement site and hour of collection on the botanical composition of sheep diet. Ten castrated sheep Santa Inês breed were used, with five of them using permanent ruminal cannula and the five others with esophageal cannula. Water and mineral mix were available ad libitum. Samples collected from both cannulas revealed 39 species with an average of 20 species occurring in each monthly sampling. In addition, other Poaceae species were not identified. There was a significant effect of collection time on the botanical composition and on the plant fractions selected by the sheeps. Leaf was the most consumed fraction, corresponding to 55% of the extrusa sample. Stem proportion was affected by month x hour of collection interaction. There was no effect of the place of fistula or time of collection on botanical composition of the diet, however, the interaction of month of collection, fistula placement and, time of collection affected botanical composition and proportion of plant fractions consumed. The selectivity index varied during the study for several species, being directly related to the ingestive behavior of the sheep. Feed selected by sheep presented a large number of plant species with malvaceae and poaceae being the most important families. Ruminal cannula instead of esophageal cannula can be used to characterize the botanical composition of the diet consumed by small ruminants.

Avaliaram-se a composição corporal e as exigências líquidas dos macroelementos minerais cálcio (Ca), fósforo (P), magnésio (Mg) e potássio (K) para ganho de peso em bovinos mestiços 5/8 Holandês-Zebu criados em pastagem de Brachiaria decumbens Spaft. Foram utilizados 16 animais com 10 meses de idade e peso vivo de 180 ± 19,95 kg. Os tratamentos foram livre acesso ao pasto e pastejo restrito, todos com suplementação com mistura mineral comercial. Quatro animais foram abatidos no início do experimento e serviram como referência à estimativa de peso do corpo vazio (PCVZ) e da composição corporal inicial dos animais remanescentes. Os outros animais foram abatidos aos 84 dias do período experimental. Ajustaram-se as equações do logaritmo dos conteúdos corporais de Ca, P, Mg e K em função do logaritmo do PCVZ, para cada tratamento. Derivando-se essas equações estimaram-se as exigências líquidas de Ca, P, Mg e K para ganho de peso. As exigências líquidas dos macrominerais estudados (Ca, P, Mg e K) decresceram à medida que o peso aumentou. As exigências líquidas de Ca e P diferiram das preconizadas pelos comitês internacionais britânico e americano de exigências nutricionais.

The objective was to evaluate the body composition and net requirements of the macro minerals calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) for weight gain in 5/8 crossbreed Holstein-Zebu cattle maintained in pasture Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. Sixteen animals were used with 10 month of age and 180 ± 19.95 kg BW. The treatments were open access to pasture and restricted grazing, both supplemented with commercial mineral salt. Four animals slaughtered in the beginning of the experiment to serve as reference for the estimation of empty body weight (EBWi) and initial body composition of the remaining animals. The others animals were slaughtered at 84 days of the experimental period. Regressions equation of the logarithm of Ca, P, Mg, and K of body content were fitted in function of the logarithm of EBW for each treatment. By deriving these equations Ca, P, Mg, K liquid requirements for gain for 1 kg EBW (GEBW) were estimated. The estimated macro minerals net requirements (Ca, P, K, Mg) decreased as body weight increased. The net Ca, P, K and Mg requirements differed from the British and American nutritional requirements systems.

Malária continua sendo uma das mais importantes doenças endêmicas da região Amazônica. Esse estudo mostra o impacto da colonização humana sobre a estrutura populacional de Anopheles. Diversidade, abundância, riqueza e distribuição do gênero Anopheles foi observado em duas áreas com diferentes graus de antropização no município do Cantá, Estado de Roraima, Norte do Brasil. A influência das estações seca e chuvosa sobre a população dos mosquitos também foram investigadas. A captura dos mosquitos foi realizada entre 6:00 e 10:00 pm na estação seca (Fevereiro e Novembro) e estação chuvosa (Maio e Agosto) em quatro locais diferentes. Entre as 11 espécies de Anopheles identificadas através das características dos adultos, An. albitarsis s.l. (45.5%) e An. darlingi (19.2%) foram as mais abundantes nas áreas mais intensamente antropizadas, enquanto An. triannulatus (19.2%) foi a espécie mais comum na área menos modificada. As outras espécies encontradas foram An. nuneztovari (10.9%), An. oswaldoi (2.0%), An. evansae (1.7%), An. brasiliensis (0.6%), An. intermedius (0.3%), An. mediopunctatus (0.5%), An. periassui (0.08%) e An. argyritarsis (0.04%). A mais alta densidade populacional de mosquitos foi observada em Maio e as mais baixas em Fevereiro e Novembro. Esses resultados demonstram a existência de uma alta diversidade de anofelinos na área estudada e que mudanças antrópicas no ambiente e variabilidade climática afetam a densidade populacional desses vetores.

Malaria has still been one of the most important endemic diseases in the Amazonian region. This study presents the impact of human settlements on the structure of Anopheles population. Diversity, abundance, richness and distribution of the genus Anopheles were observed in two areas with different levels of human settlement in the Cantá city, Roraima State, Northern Brazil. The influence of the dry and rainy seasons on mosquito populations was also observed. Mosquito captures were performed between 6:00 and 10:00 pm during the dry (February and November) and rainy (May and August) seasons at four different sites of each area. Among the 11 species of Anopheles identified through the adults' characteristics, An. albitarsis s.l. (45.5%) and An. darlingi (19.2%) were the most abundant in the more intensively anthropized area while An. triannulatus (19.2%) was more common in the less modified area. Other species found were An. nuneztovari (10.9%), An. oswaldoi (2.0%), An. evansae (1.7%), An. brasiliensis (0.6%), An. intermedius (0.3%), An. mediopunctatus (0.5%), An. periassui (0.08%) and An. argyritarsis (0.04%). The highest mosquitoes' population density was observed in May and the lowest one was observed in February and November. These results demonstrate the existence of a high diversity of anophelines in the study areas, showing that anthropic changes in the environment and climate variability affect both the population density and relative abundance of these vectors.

Understanding the different background landscapes in which malaria transmission occurs is fundamental to understanding malaria epidemiology and to designing effective local malaria control programs. Geology, geomorphology, vegetation, climate, land use, and anopheline distribution were used as a basis for an ecological classification of the state of Roraima, Brazil, in the northern Amazon Basin, focused on the natural history of malaria and transmission. We used unsupervised maximum likelihood classification, principal components analysis, and weighted overlay with equal contribution analyses to fine-scale thematic maps that resulted in clustered regions. We used ecological niche modeling techniques to develop a fine-scale picture of malaria vector distributions in the state. Eight ecoregions were identified and malaria-related aspects are discussed based on this classification, including 5 types of dense tropical rain forest and 3 types of savannah. Ecoregions formed by dense tropical rain forest were named as montane (ecoregion I), submontane (II), plateau (III), lowland (IV), and alluvial (V). Ecoregions formed by savannah were divided into steppe (VI, campos de Roraima), savannah (VII, cerrado), and wetland (VIII, campinarana). Such ecoregional mappings are important tools in integrated malaria control programs that aim to identify specific characteristics of malaria transmission, classify transmission risk, and define priority areas and appropriate interventions. For some areas, extension of these approaches to still-finer resolutions will provide an improved picture of malaria transmission patterns.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria infection and antibodies against the repetitive epitopes of the circumsporozoite (CS) proteins of Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae, P. vivax VK210, P. vivax VK247, and P. vivax-like in individuals living in the states of Rondônia, Pará, Mato Grosso, Amazonas, and Acre. Active malaria transmission was occurring in all studied sites, except in Acre. P. falciparum was the predominant species in Pará and Rondônia and P. vivax in Mato Grosso. Infection by P. malariae was low but this Plasmodium species was detected in Rondônia (3.5%), Mato Grosso (2.5%), and Pará (0.8%). High prevalence and levels of serological reactivity against the CS repeat peptides of P. falciparum were detected in Rondônia (93%) and Pará (85%). Sera containing antibodies against the CS repeat of P. malariae occurred more frequently in Rondônia (79%), Pará (76%), and Amazonas (68%). Antibodies against the repeat epitope of the standard CS protein of P. vivax VK210, P. vivax VK247, and P. vivax-like were more frequent in Rondônia, Pará, and Mato Grosso. The high frequency of reactions to P. malariae in most of the areas suggests that the infection by this Plasmodium species has been underestimated in Brazil.

Infecção pelo vírus varicela zoster (VVZ) em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil (LESJ) tem sido pouco descrita. Durante um período de 12 anos, ocorreram 195 internações em 77 pacientes com LESJ e estas foram acompanhadas pela Unidade de Reumatologia Pediátrica do Instituto da Criança do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo. Onze pacientes (14%), dez do sexo feminino, apresentaram 14 internações (7,1%) pelo VVZ. Nesses pacientes, a média de idade foi de 16 anos e 5 meses e a média do tempo de duração do LESJ até a primeira infecção devido ao VVZ foi de 4 anos. Todos os episódios das infecções estavam associados com atividade da doença, que se apresentaram como lesões vesicobolhosas seguindo trajeto nervoso. As regiões do tórax e membros foram mais comumente afetadas. Todos haviam utilizado prednisona e quatro usaram ciclofosfamida EV. Todos receberam aciclovir EV por 7 a 10 dias. Nenhum paciente apresentou neuralgia pós-herpética, infecção bacteriana secundária ou evoluiu para óbito. Entretanto, uma paciente em uso de aciclovir apresentou amaurose aguda por vasculite necrosante retiniana bilateral associado ao VVZ, necessitando de duas aplicações de ganciclovir intravítreo e gamaglobulina EV (2 g/kg/dose), com recuperação parcial da acuidade visual. Assim sendo, infecção por VVZ em pacientes com LESJ foi infreqüente, habitualmente associada à atividade da doença e à corticoterapia. Essa infecção foi controlada com aciclovir, e os pacientes raramente apresentaram complicações.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) has been rarely described. 195 hospitalizations of 77 JSLE patients occurred in a period of 12 years and were followed at the Pediatric Rheumatology Unity of the Instituto da Criança - Hospital das Clínicas - Universidade de São Paulo. Eleven patients (14%), 10 female, had 14 hospitalizations (7.1%) due to VZV. In these patients, the mean age was 16 years and 5 months and the mean duration of the JSLE until the first infection was 4 years. All of these VZV infections were associated with disease activity. All patients presented vesicles and blister lesions along a nerve. The thorax and limbs regions were the most frequently affected. All of the patients received prednisone and 4 cyclophosphamide IV. All patients received acyclovir IV from 7 to 10 days. None of the patients had post-herpetic neuralgia, secondary bacterial infection or died. One patient that was receiving acyclovir had acute blindness by bilateral retinal necrosis vasculitis associated to the VZV, needed two applications of intra-vitreous gancyclovir and immunoglobulin (2 g/kg/dose IV) and her vision partially improved. VZV infection in patients with JSLE was rarely observed and was usually associated with disease activity and steroid use. Infection was controlled with acyclovir without serious adverse complications.

Objetivou-se, neste experimento, quantificar a disponibilidade de massa seca e avaliar a composição botânica e bromatológica de pastagem de capim-buffel diferida e da dieta de bovinos, durante o período seco. Foram realizadas estimativas visuais para determinação da composição botânica e do corte de amostras, para determinação da disponibilidade da forragem, sendo os dados processados pelo programa BOTANAL. Três animais fistulados no esôfago foram utilizados para avaliar a qualidade e composição botânica da dieta selecionada. As médias foram comparadas pelo teste Tukey a 5% de probabilidade, empregando-se o procedimento estatístico SAS. Na pastagem foram encontradas 10 famílias, 19 gêneros e 19 espécies de plantas; os componentes que apresentaram maior disponibilidade e participação foram o buffel e a orelha-de-onça, variando de 1.392 a 2.750; e 1.167 a 1.215 kg de massa seca (MS)/ha, com participação de 50 e 30% na composição da pastagem, respectivamente. A composição bromatológica da pastagem variou de 63,0 a 81,6; 3,3 a 5,2; 0,9 a 1,4; 69,3 a 76,0; 53,0 a 57,4; 5,2 a 8,9; 86,0 a 88,6; e 10,8 a 16,4% para massa seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), fibras em detergente neutro (FDN) e ácido (FDA), material mineral (MM), carboidratos totais (CHOT) e não-fibrosos (CNF), respectivamente. A composição da extrusa variou de 18,5 a 22,3; 4,5 a 5,6; 1,3 a 1,9; 52,0 a 75,0; 52,3 a 59,8; 9,4 a 11,4; 81,8 a 84,4; 6,8 a 20,6; 45,7 a 49,1 para MS, PB,EE, FDN, FDA, MM, CHOT, CNF e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS), respectivamente.

The experiment aimed to determine the herbage mass and to evaluate the botanical and chemical composition of a stockpiled Buffelgrass pasture during the dry season. Visual estimates were accomplished for determination of the botanical composition. Samples were cut for forage availability determination. The data were processed by the BOTANAL program. Three esophagus fistulated animals were used to evaluate the quality and botanical composition of the selected diet. On the pasture a total of 10 families, 19 genus and 19 species of plants were observed. The botanical components that showed the highest herbage mass and participation were Buffel grass and "Orelha-de-onça" (Macroptilium martii Benth.), ranging from 1392 to 2750 kg DM/ha and 50% and, 1167 to 1215 kg DM/ha and 30%, respectively. The forage chemical composition ranged from 63.0 to 81.6 %, 3.3 to 5.2 %, 0.9 to 1.4 %, 69.3 to 76.0 %, 53.0 to 57.4 %, 5.2 to 8.9 %, 86.0 to 88.6 % and, 10.8 to 16.4 % for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ashes (ASH), total carbohydrates (TCH) and, no fiber carbohydrates (NFC), respectively. Extrusa chemical composition showed values ranging from 18.5 to 22.3 %, 4.5 to 5.6 %, 1.3 to 1.9 %, 52.0 to 75.0 %, 52.3 to 59.8 %, 9.4 to 11.4 %, 81.8 to 84.4 %, 6.8 to 20.6 % and, 45.7 to 49.1 % for DM, CP, EE, NDF, ADF, ASH, TCH, NFC and, "in vitro" dry matter digestibility, respectively.

O micofenolato mofetil (MFM) é uma droga imunossupressora utilizada no tratamento de doenças auto-imunes, incluindo o lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil, particularmente nos casos de nefrite lúpica refratária à terapia com corticosteróides, ciclofosfamida, azatioprina, metotrexato e/ou ciclosporina. Relatamos a eficácia e os eventos adversos do MFM em quatro pacientes com nefrite lúpica refratária. Os pacientes foram acompanhados por um período de 2,1 a 11,1 anos (média de 6,8 anos) e tratados com MFM na dose de 1 a 3g/dia por um período de 3 a 36 meses (média de 13,75 meses). Dois pacientes (um classe histológica renal IV e outro classe V) responderam ao tratamento com MFM e apresentaram melhora da proteinúria de 24h. A melhor resposta ocorreu na paciente com classe V, como é descrito na literatura. Dois pacientes não obtiveram resposta (um classe III e um classe IV) e evoluíram para insuficiência renal aguda, um deles com manutenção da proteinúria nefrótica. Não foram observados eventos adversos. O MFM pode ser uma alternativa terapêutica em pacientes juvenis com nefrite lúpica refratária, particularmente nas classes histológicas renais V e IV.

The mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an immunosuppressive drug used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases including juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus, especially in cases of lupus nephritis refractory to treatment with corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate and/or cyclosporine. This paper describes the efficacy and adverse events of MMF in four patients with refractory lupus nephritis. The patients were followed up for 2,1 to 11,1 years (mean 6,8 years) and treated with a MMF dose of 1 to 3g/day for a period of 3 to 36 months (mean 13,75 months). Two patients (one with renal histologic class IV and another with class V) presented an improvement with a decrease in the 24h proteinúria. The best efficacy was observed in the patient with class V, as described in literature. Two patients did not respond (one class III and other class IV) and they presented acute renal failure, one of them continued with nephrotic proteinúria. Adverse events were not observed. MMF can be an alternative therapy for juvenile patients with refractory lupus nephritis, especially in cases of renal histologic classes V and IV.

Entre os meses de Janeiro/Fevereiro de 1997, foi realizado um levantamento entomológico nos seringais c comunidades localizadas no vale do rios Acre e Purus, como parte do projeto “Revisitando a Amazônia de Carlos Chagas; da Borracha a Biodiversidade”. Foram capturados no processo de pouso, um total de 1.285 anofelinos pertencentes a 11 espécies. As quatro espécies encontradas em maior número foram: Anopheles albitarsis s.l. (n=778). A. darlingi (n=359) A. rangeli (n=69) e A. oswaldoi (n=60). Também foram coletadas um total de 252 larvas pertencentes a 10 espécies de anofelinos. As espécies mais abundantes foram: A. albitarsis (n=88), A. deaneorum (n=45) e A. triannulalus (n=40). O número reduzido de anofelinos coletados e a ausência do A. darlingi nos seringais sugere que essa região não é de alta endemicidade para malária. Outros mosquitos do gênero Diptera coletados foram: Culex sp., Mansonia titillans, Mansonia pseudotitillans, Psorophora ciliata, Psorophora sp., Coquillettidia (Rhynchotaenia) sp., Simulium amazonicum e S. sanguineum.

From January 19 to February 25, 1997 an entomological survey of the seringais and larger towns along the Acre and Purus rivers was made as part of the project “Revisitando a Amazônia de Carlos Chagas; da Borracha a Biodiversidad”. Eleven anopheline species and 1285 specimens were collected landing on human baits. The four most abundant species were Anopheles albitarsis s.l. (n=778), A. darlingi (n=359), A. rangeli (n=69) and A. oswaldoi (n=60). A total of 252 larvae were collected of which 10 anopheline species were identified. The most abundant species collected were A. albitarsis s.l. (n=88), A. deaneorum (n=45) and A. triannulatus (n=40). The low numbers of Anopheles collected and the absence of the principal malaria vector A. darlingi at the seringais sites suggests that they arc not high risk malarious areas. Other Diptera collected were Culex sp., Mansonia titillans, Mansonia pseudotitillans, Psorophora ciliata, Psorophora sp., Coquillettidia (Rhynchotaenia) sp., Simulium amazonicum and S. sanguineum.