Abstract Introduction Inferior turbinate surgery is often performed concomitantly with rhinoseptoplasty. As inferior turbinates play a major role in allergic rhinitis, it seems reasonable to suggest that inferior turbinate surgery reduces allergy. Objective To assess the impact of nasal turbinate surgery on non-obstructive allergic symptoms (nasal discharge, sneezing, pruritus, and allergic conjunctivitis) and on the use of allergic medication in patients with allergic rhinitis undergoing rhinoseptoplasty. Methods Secondary analysis of aggregated data from two randomized controlled trials. Participants with allergic rhinitis aged 2: 16 years were recruited. Data from two groups were analyzed: patients with rhinoseptoplasty and concomitant turbinate reduction (intervention group) and patients with rhinoseptoplasty only (control group). The 90-day postoperative frequency of non-obstructive allergic symptoms and of nasal steroid and oral antihistamine use were analyzed. Results A total of 100 patients were studied. The groups were similar in terms of allergic symptom intensity and mean age. The frequency of non-obstructive allergic symptoms decreased 90 days postoperative in both groups (p < 0.01). There was no difference between the groups in the frequency of non-obstructive allergic symptoms at 90 days (p = 0.835). Topical nasal steroid and oral histamine antagonist use decreased in the intervention group at 90 days (p < 0.05). Conclusions Ninety days after the surgery, turbinate reduction performed in association with rhinoseptoplasty did not reduce the frequency of non-obstructive allergic symptoms more than rhinoplasty alone. However, the observed decrease in nasal steroid and oral antihistamine use suggests an impact of turbinate reduction on medication use in patients with allergic rhinitis undergoing rhinoseptoplasty. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT01457638 and NCT02231216).

Abstract Purpose: To evaluated the effects of L-lysine on the intestinal and urothelial epithelia in cystoplasty in rats. Methods: Twenty-eight 9-week-old rats were assigned to 4 groups: Group A (n=8) cystoplasty followed by administration of L-lysine (150 mg/kg body weight by gavage) for 30 weeks; Group B (n=8) cystoplasty + water for 30 weeks; Group C (n=6) L-lysine for 30 weeks; Group D (n=6) water for 30 weeks. Results: On histopathology with hematoxylin and eosin, mild to moderate hyperplasia transitional was observed in at the site of anastomosis in all animals submitted to cystoplasty (Groups A and B), but "transitional metaplasia" of the intestinal glandular epithelium was more accentuated in Group A (p=0.045). No inflammatory cells, dysplasia or abnormalities were observed. Staining with Alcian blue revealed a substantial reduction of goblet cells and mucins in the colon segment (Groups A and B). Conclusion: The administration of L-lysine to rats accelerated the development of transitional metaplasia in the epithelium of the colon segment in cystoplasty.

Two endophytic strains of Methylobacterium spp. were used to evaluate biofilm formation on sugarcane roots and on inert wooden sticks. Results show that biofilm formation is variable and that plant surface and possibly root exudates have a role in Methylobacterium spp. host recognition, biofilm formation and successful colonization as endophytes.

The colonization of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith larvae and rice seedlings by genetically modified endophytic bacterium Methylobacterium mesophilicum, and also the possible transfer of this bacterium to inside the larva's body during seedlings consumption were studied. The data obtained by bacterial reisolation and fluorescence microscopy showed that the bacterium colonized the rice seedlings, the larva's body and that the endophytic bacteria present in seedlings could be acquired by the larvae. In that way, the transference of endophytic bacterium from plants to insect can be a new and important strategy to insect control using engineered microorganisms.

Resumo Antes da recomendação em larga escala de biossólido em plantações florestais, é preciso compreender seus efeitos no solo e na planta. Assim, o crescimento de mudas de eucalipto fertilizado com diferentes doses de biossólido doméstico, foi avaliado em um experimento nos meses de julho a outubro de 2007, no Núcleo de Estudos e de Difusão de Tecnologia em Floresta, Recursos Hídricos e Agricultura Sustentável. O experimento foi montando no delineamento inteiramente casualizado, no esquema fatorial 5 x 5 (cinco tratamentos e cinco períodos de incubação), com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos da aplicação de doses de lodo esgoto (0; 25; 50; 75 e 100 ton ha-1) e os períodos de incubação foram de 0; 20; 40; 60 e 80 dias. Em cada período de incubação correspondente, foi realizada uma análise de crescimento, onde foi retirada uma planta de cada unidade experimental para determinação da área foliar, massa seca total, razão de área foliar e as taxas de crescimento relativo e absoluto. Considerando-se o caso específico do biossólido caracterizado neste trabalho, a sua aplicação nas quantidades apresentadas aumentou os valores da área foliar, matéria seca total, razão de área foliar e das taxas de crescimento relativo e absoluto das plantas de eucalipto. Por outro lado, os períodos de incubação estabelecidos não proporcionaram alterações nas características avaliadas, exceto para área foliar que teve reflexo positivo aumentando seus valores com o incremento dos dias.

Abstract Before the recommendation of use of biosolids in large scale in forest plantations, we must understand their effects in soil and plant. Thus, the growth of eucalyptus seedlings fertilized with different doses of sewage sludge from home was assessed in an experiment from July to October of 2007 in the Studies and Dissemination of Technology in Forest, Water Resources and Sustainable Agriculture Nucleus, in containers of 50 L filled with latossol. The experiment was mounted in a randomized design in a factorial 5 × 5 (five treatments and five incubation periods) with four replications. The treatments consisted on application of doses of sewage sludge (0; 25; 50; 75 and 100 ton ha-1) and incubation periods were 0; 20; 40; 60 and 80 days. In each period of incubation was performed an analysis of growth where a plant was removed from each experimental unit for determination of leaf area, total dry weight, ratio of leaf area and growth rates. Considering the specific case of sewage sludge characterized in this work, its application in the quantities used, increased the values of leaf area, total dry matter, leaf area ratio and rates of absolute and relative growth of the plants of eucalyptus. Moreover, the incubation periods set provided no changes in the characteristics evaluated, except for leaf area that increased with the increase of days.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity can cause deleterious effects on respiratory function and impair health and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of obesity on the pulmonary function of adult women. METHODS: An obese group, constituted of 20 women between 20 and 35 years old with a BMI of 35 - 49.99 kg/m² who were non-smokers and sedentary and had no lung disease were recruited. The non-obese group consisted of 20 women between 20 and 35 years old who were sedentary and non-smokers and had no lung disease and a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.99 kg/m². Spirometry was performed in all subjects. The statistical analysis consisted of parametric or non-parametric tests, depending on the distribution of each variable, considering p < 0.05 to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The obese group presented a mean age of 25.85 ± 3.89 years and a mean BMI of 41.1 ± 3.46 kg/m², and the non-obese group presented a mean age of 23.9 ± 2.97 years and a mean body mass index of 21.91 ± 1.81 kg/m². There were no significant differences between the obese group and the non-obese group as to the age, vital capacity, tidal volume, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in one second. However, the obese group presented a greater inspiratory reserve volume (2.44 ± 0.47 L vs. 1.87 ± 0.42 L), a lower expiratory reserve volume (0.52 ± 0.32 L vs. 1.15 ± 0.32 L), and a maximal voluntary ventilation (108.5 ± 13.3 L/min vs. 122.6 ± 19.8 L/min) than the non-obese group, respectively. CONCLUSION: The alterations evidenced in the components of the vital capacity (inspiratory reserve volume and expiratory reserve volume) suggest damage to the chest mechanics caused by obesity. These factors probably contributed to a reduction of the maximal voluntary ventilation.

Mutantes incapazes de converter o sulfato extracelular em sulfito foram isolados utilizando o análogo tóxico selenato. De 28 mutantes isolados, apenas 3 foram sensíveis ao cromato, provavelmente apresentando lesão no gene que codifica a ATP sulfurilase. Os demais foram resistentes ao cromato e devem conter lesão no gene sB ou também no gene sC. A metionina elevou os níveis de resistência ao selenato e a freqüência de mutantes espontâneos obtida em meio contendo este aminoácido foi maior (entre 2,42 x 10-6 e 18,04 x 10-6) do que a obtida no meio sem a adição de qualquer fonte intencional de enxofre (entre 0,71 x 10-6 e 5,0 x 10-6). A linhagem original e os mutantes foram capazes de crescer, mesmo depois de quatro etapas de inóculo, fato que pode ser explicado pela existência de traços do referido elemento no meio e/ou a presença de um sistema eficiente de estocagem intracelular. A produção de cefalosporina C foi estudada e a análise dos dados revelou que não houve diferença significativa entre os níveis produzidos pelos mutantes e os produzidos pela linhagem original.

Mutants unable to convert exogenous sulfate to sulfite were isolated using the toxic analogue selenate. Three of twenty-eight isolated mutants were chromate sensitive. They showed a possible lesion in the gene that codes the ATP sulfurylase. The others were chromate resistant, and probably had a lesion in one or both of the genes that code the sulfate permease. Methionine increased the resistance levels to selenate. In addition, the frequency of spontaneous mutants obtained in a medium containing methionine was higher (between 2.4 x 10-6 and 18.0 x 10-6) than that obtained using a medium without any intentional source of sulfur (between 0.7 x 10-6 and 5.0 x 10-6). The original strain, as well as the mutants, were able to grow in a sulfur-free liquid medium even after 4 consecutive inoculation procedures. These results indicated the existence of sulfur traces in the medium and/or an efficient intracellular storage system. There was no significant difference between cephalosporin C production in mutants and the original strain.

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.