Abstract The corn cropping system can influence the natural enemy identity and the number of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith, 1797 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) individuals infesting the cartridge, ear and stem of this plant. The objectives were to identify the S. frugiperda natural enemies and differences in the number of individuals infesting the cartridge, ear and stem of corn plants under conventional and organic cropping systems, in Brazil after an initial collection of adult males through semiochemical traps. We also evaluated key morphometrical parameters of the larva and factors contributing with the viability of S. frugiperda. A total of 16 and 136 adult males was trapped, and 1,124 and 1,112 larvae was recovered from conventional and organic systems with 4.7 and 6.7% of them parasitized by dipteran and hymenopteran, respectively. Most of the parasitoids recovered had occurrence in both cropping systems, except Cremastinae and Ophion flavidus Brullé, 1846 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), which were recorded only in organic and Campoletis sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) only in conventional corns. The number of parasitoids recovered was similar in corn plant samples between both cropping systems. A total of 152 and 31 larvae was recovered from corn ears under conventional and organic systems, respectively. Doru luteipes (Scudder, 1876) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) was recovered from all samples under conventional system. The larva length was overall similar between cropping systems. Parasitism by dipteran and hymenopteran, infection by microorganisms, larva mortality by undetermined causes, and differences in viability of S. frugiperda stages were factors contributing with the supression of this pest. The new associations and parasitoids reported represent possibilities of expanding the biological control strategies to manage S. frugiperda in corn crops. JE J E J.E Smith 179 Lepidoptera (Lepidoptera Noctuidae cartridge S traps 1 13 trapped 1124 124 1,12 1112 112 1,11 47 4 7 4. 67 6 6.7 hymenopteran respectively Brullé 184 Hymenoptera (Hymenoptera Ichneumonidae, Ichneumonidae , sp corns 15 3 Scudder, Scudder (Scudder 1876 Dermaptera (Dermaptera Forficulidae microorganisms causes pest crops 17 12 1,1 111 11 6. 18 187 1,

Piper aduncum L., Piperaceae, stands out due to its biological activities, however, it is still found in the wild and little is known about its agronomic point of view. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth and to analyze the chemical composition of essential oils from leaves of P. aduncum collected in two different sites of Cerrado as well as in cultivated plants. The cultivation was installed out in a greenhouse using cuttings of adult specimens. Essential oils were obtained from fresh leaves. Plants from the two studied locations showed erect growth habit and behavior of linear growth. The essential oils composition of P. aduncum from Bocaiuva did not differ between wild and cultivated plants, as the major substance identified as 1,8-cineole. The plants from Montes Claros site showed a distinct concentration for the two samples, being the major substance characterized as transocimene (13.4%) for wild and 1,8-cineole (31.3%) for cultivated plants. Samples from both locations showed a similar essential oil composition in cultivars. Our results showed that P. aduncum cultivation is feasible and the variation in chemical composition of the two sites may indicate an environmental influence, since chemical and isoenzyme analysis did not show great differences.

RESUMOPiper aduncum L. é utilizada na medicina popular para o tratamento de doenças respiratórias e inflamatórias. O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar o óleo essencial das folhas de P. aduncum coletadas no Cerrado brasileiro, Norte de Minas Gerais, assim como avaliar a atividade larvicida desse óleo e de sua substância majoritária. O óleo essencial foi analisado por cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas e por cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada a detector por ionização de chamas, que permitiu a caracterização de 23 substâncias (monoterpenos: 90,4%; sesquiterpenos: 7,0%). O componente majoritário foi o 1,8-cineol (53,9%). O óleo essencial desse exemplar mostrou ser muito diferente do óleo da mesma espécie. Larvas de Aedes aegypti foram expostas a diferentes concentrações do óleo essencial e do 1,8-cineol. Após 24h do tratamento com o óleo registrou-se uma taxa de mortalidade de 100% das larvas nas concentrações de 500 e 1,000 ppm. Após 48h a taxa de mortalidade foi de 80% e 50% para as concentrações de 250 e 100 ppm, respectivamente. A CL50 obtida após 24h foi estimada em 289,9 ppm e após 48h foi de 134,1 ppm. A substância majoritária 1,8-cineol não apresentou atividade larvicida.

ABSTRACTPiper aduncum L. is used in folk medicine to treat respiratory and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to analyze the essential oil from leaves ofP. aduncum collected in the Brazilian Cerrado, North of Minas Gerais, as well as to evaluate the larvicidal activity of this oil and of its major constituent. The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry that allowed characterizing 23 compounds (monoterpenes: 90.4%; sesquiterpenes: 7.0%). The major component was 1,8-cineole (53.9%). This oil showed to be very different from those obtained from the same species. Larvae of A. aegypti were exposed to different concentrations of the essential oil and 1,8-cineole. The mortality rate of 100% was obtained after 24h of treatment with the oil at concentrations of 500 and 1,000 ppm. After 48h of treatment, the mortality rate was 80% and 50% for concentrations of 250 and 100 ppm, respectively. The LC50 obtained after 24h was estimated in 289.9 ppm and after 48h was 134.1 ppm. The major compound 1,8-cineole showed no larvicidal activity.

Espécies de Byrsonima, família Malpighiaceae, são popularmente conhecidas como "murici". Existem várias propriedades atribuídas às folhas de espécies de Byrsonima incluindo febrífuga, no tratamento de disfunções gastrintestinais e doenças de pele. Neste trabalho avaliamos a atividade antimicrobiana dos extratos das folhas de Byrsonima fagifolia, B. basiloba e B. intermedia usando o método de difusão em disco. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os extratos metanólicos das folhas apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana contra todos os microrganismos testados.

Byrsonima species, family Malpighiaceae, is popularly known as "murici". There are several properties attributed to the leaves of Byrsonima species including febrifuge, to treat gastrointestinal dysfunctions and skin diseases. In this work, the antimicrobial activity of Byrsonima fagifolia, B. basiloba and B. intermedia extracts obtained from the leaves were evaluated by using the disc-diffusion method. The results obtained showed that the methanol extracts of leaves had presented antimicrobial activity against all the microorganisms tested.

This study was performed with the purpose of testing the hypothesis that the high prevalence of hepatitis C among former athletes is associated with their past use of injectable stimulants. The study involved the participation of 208 former professional and amateur soccer and basketball players from the region of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, who answered a questionnaire regarding their exposure to risk factors, including the use of injectable stimulants in the time they were engaged in sporting activities. ELISA tests were used to detect infection by the hepatitis C virus, and confirmed with PCR and genotyping for the positive cases. It was observed that the former use of injectable stimulants was a practice disseminated among the participants (24.5%), reaching 50.8% in the professionals. The overall prevalence for hepatitis C was 7.2%, with values of 11% among professionals and 5.5% among amateurs. In both categories, the presence of infection was markedly higher among those who admitted past use of injectable stimulants when compared to those who denied such practice (36% and 0.8% among amateurs; 21.9% and 0% among professionals, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that the use of those substances was the only variable associated with the risk of hepatitis C. This confirms previous observations, performed with reduced sample sizes and without comparison groups, which indicated that the use of injectable vitamins was a risk factor of hepatitis C among former athletes.

OBJETIVOS: Estimar a prevalência de marcadores de hepatite B e estudar os fatores de risco para esta doença entre mulheres profissionais do sexo na cidade de Ribeirão Preto, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foi aplicado um questionário a 449 mulheres profissionais do sexo, com a finalidade de levantar informações demográficas, socioeconômicas e comportamentais. Amostras de sangue das participantes foram analisadas através de técnicas imunoenzimáticas, para detecção dos marcadores HBsAg, anti-HBs e anti-HBc. RESULTADOS: A idade média das participantes foi 23 anos, variando de 13 a 64 anos. Uma elevada mobilidade espacial foi verificada, com 47,9% delas residindo em locais fora da região de Ribeirão Preto ou em outros estados brasileiros. Completa ausência de vacinação prévia contra hepatite B foi referida por 98,2%. No total, observou-se presença de qualquer marcador de hepatite B em 106 participantes (prevalência de 23,6%; IC95%: 19,7 27,5), com 84 positivos para anti-HBs (18,7%), 100 para anti-HBc (22,3%) e apenas 3 para HBsAg (0,7%). A análise por regressão logística evidenciou associação entre marcadores de hepatite B e as seguintes co-variáveis: idade, baixo nível socioeconômico, consumo de crack, relações sexuais com indivíduos infectados pelo HIV, história de hepatite prévia, relações sexuais com pessoas portadoras de hepatite e positividade para hepatite C. CONCLUSÕES: As profissionais do sexo em Ribeirão Preto apresentam diversos fatores de risco para hepatite B e quase total ausência de vacinação prévia específica, tornando necessários esforços concentrados na aplicação dessa medida de baixo custo, preferencialmente através do uso de equipes móveis que levem a vacina até os seus locais de trabalho.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B markers and to study the risk factors for this disease among female sex workers in the city of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. METHODS: A questionnaire was given to 449 female sex workers in order to obtain information about demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral variables. Blood samples were collected and analyzed by immunoenzymatic techniques for detection of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc and anti-HCV markers. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 23 years, varying from 13 to 64 years. A high spatial mobility was observed, with 47.9% of participants residing in places out of the region of Ribeirão Preto or in other Brazilian states. Complete absence of previous vaccine against hepatitis B was referred by 98.2%. Overall, the presence of any hepatitis B marker was observed in 106 participants (prevalence of 23.6%; 95% CI: 19.7 27.5), with 84 positive for anti-HBs (18.7%), 100 for anti-HBc (22.3%), and only 3 for HBsAg (0.7%). The logistic regression analysis showed association between hepatitis B markers and the following co-variables: residence in Ribeirão Preto, age, low socioeconomic level, consumption of crack, intercourse with HIV-infected individuals, history of previous hepatitis, intercourse with a case of hepatitis, and positivity for hepatitis C. CONCLUSIONS: Ribeirão Preto's female sex workers present several risk factors for hepatitis B and almost absence of previous specific vaccination, making it necessary to emphasize this low-cost preventive measure, preferably through the use of a mobile team, taking the vaccine to their places of work.

OBJETIVOS: Estimar a prevalência de marcadores de hepatite B e estudar os fatores de risco para esta doença entre mulheres profissionais do sexo na cidade de Ribeirão Preto, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foi aplicado um questionário a 449 mulheres profissionais do sexo, com a finalidade de levantar informações demográficas, socioeconômicas e comportamentais. Amostras de sangue das participantes foram analisadas através de técnicas imunoenzimáticas, para detecção dos marcadores HBsAg, anti-HBs e anti-HBc. RESULTADOS: A idade média das participantes foi 23 anos, variando de 13 a 64 anos. Uma elevada mobilidade espacial foi verificada, com 47,9% delas residindo em locais fora da região de Ribeirão Preto ou em outros estados brasileiros. Completa ausência de vacinação prévia contra hepatite B foi referida por 98,2%. No total, observou-se presença de qualquer marcador de hepatite B em 106 participantes (prevalência de 23,6%; IC95%: 19,7 27,5), com 84 positivos para anti-HBs (18,7%), 100 para anti-HBc (22,3%) e apenas 3 para HBsAg (0,7%). A análise por regressão logística evidenciou associação entre marcadores de hepatite B e as seguintes co-variáveis: idade, baixo nível socioeconômico, consumo de crack, relações sexuais com indivíduos infectados pelo HIV, história de hepatite prévia, relações sexuais com pessoas portadoras de hepatite e positividade para hepatite C. CONCLUSÕES: As profissionais do sexo em Ribeirão Preto apresentam diversos fatores de risco para hepatite B e quase total ausência de vacinação prévia específica, tornando necessários esforços concentrados na aplicação dessa medida de baixo custo, preferencialmente através do uso de equipes móveis que levem a vacina até os seus locais de trabalho.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B markers and to study the risk factors for this disease among female sex workers in the city of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. METHODS: A questionnaire was given to 449 female sex workers in order to obtain information about demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral variables. Blood samples were collected and analyzed by immunoenzymatic techniques for detection of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc and anti-HCV markers. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 23 years, varying from 13 to 64 years. A high spatial mobility was observed, with 47.9% of participants residing in places out of the region of Ribeirão Preto or in other Brazilian states. Complete absence of previous vaccine against hepatitis B was referred by 98.2%. Overall, the presence of any hepatitis B marker was observed in 106 participants (prevalence of 23.6%; 95% CI: 19.7 27.5), with 84 positive for anti-HBs (18.7%), 100 for anti-HBc (22.3%), and only 3 for HBsAg (0.7%). The logistic regression analysis showed association between hepatitis B markers and the following co-variables: residence in Ribeirão Preto, age, low socioeconomic level, consumption of crack, intercourse with HIV-infected individuals, history of previous hepatitis, intercourse with a case of hepatitis, and positivity for hepatitis C. CONCLUSIONS: Ribeirão Preto's female sex workers present several risk factors for hepatitis B and almost absence of previous specific vaccination, making it necessary to emphasize this low-cost preventive measure, preferably through the use of a mobile team, taking the vaccine to their places of work.

A leucemia linfocítica crônica (LLC) é o tipo de leucemia mais prevalente no Ocidente e é caracterizada por curso clínico extremamente variável. O objetivo deste estudo foi detectar as anomalias cromossômicas mais freqüentes em pacientes com LLC, empregando a técnica FISH, e correlacioná-las com idade, sexo, estádio clínico, expressão de CD 38 e ZAP-70. Foram encontradas alterações cromossômicas em 51,7% dos pacientes. A mais freqüente foi a del 13q14, observada em 34,5% dos casos e que esteve associada a outras anomalias em 17,2%. Deleção 17p13 foi encontrada em 17,2% e trissomia 12 em 13,8% (isolada em 6,9% e associada à del 13q14 em 6,9%). Deleção 11q22 foi observada em um caso em concomitância à del 13q14. Para melhor avaliar a relação entre alteração cromossômica e outros fatores prognósticos em LLC, dois grupos citogenéticos foram considerados: favorável (deleção 13q isolada e ausência de alterações) e desfavorável (trissomia 12, deleção 17p13, deleção 11q22 e duas anomalias simultâneas). As alterações desfavoráveis foram mais freqüentemente observadas em indivíduos jovens (<60 anos) e em mulheres (70%)(p=0,04). Em relação ao sistema de estadiamento de Binet, houve tendência dos pacientes com alterações cromossômicas desfavoráveis apresenteram-se nos estágios B e C enquanto no grupo favorável prevaleceram aqueles com estágio A. Em adição, pacientes com achados citogenéticos de prognóstico desfavorável tiveram tendência a expressar proteínas CD 38 e ZAP-70.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most prevalent type of leukemia in the West. It is characterized by an extremely variable clinical course. The aim of the study was to detect the most frequent chromosomal abnormalities in patients with CLL using FISH, and assess them regarding age, gender, clinical stage and CD38 and ZAP-70 expressions. We found 51.7% of the patients with chromosome abnormalities. The most frequent one was del 13q14 in 34.5% of cases. It was associated to other alterations in 17.2%. 17p13 deletions were found in 17.2% and trisomy 12 in 13.8% (in isolation in 6.9% and associated to del 13q14, in 6.9% of the cases). An 11q22 deletion was found in one case associated to a 13q14 deletion. To better evaluate the relationship between chromosome aberrations and other prognostic factors in CLL, two cytogenetics groups were considered: favorable (13q deletion in isolation and no alteration) and unfavorable outcomes (trisomy 12, 17p13 deletion, 11q22 deletion and two simultaneous alterations).The unfavorable alterations were more frequently seen among young individuals (<60y). There were more females (70%) than males in this group (p=0.04). In relation to the Binet's staging system, patients with unfavorable cytogenetic alterations, tended to be B and C stages, while in the favorable group prevailed patients in stage A. Additionally, patients with poor prognostic cytogenetics tended to express CD38 and ZAP-70 proteins.

Folhas e cascas de algumas especies do gênero Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae) são empregadas popularmente contra diarréia. Contudo, não existem dados na literatura à respeito de investigacões químicas ou farmacológicas dos extratos de B. cinera. Neste estudo, nós avaliamos a atividade antidiarreica dos extratos metanólico e hidrometanólico das folhas de B. cinera em ratos Swiss. Os resultados mostraram que ambos os extratos reduziram signitivamente a motilidade intestinal. Investigacão fitoquímica do extrato metanólico levou ao isolamento e identificacão da (+)-catequina e da quercetina-3-O-a-L-arabinopiranosídeo. A atividade observada pode estar correlacaionada com a presença dessas substâncias nos extratos.

Leaves and bark of some Byrsonima species (Malpighiaceae) are popularly employed against diarrhoeal diseases. However, no data were reported in the literature about the chemisty and pharmacology of extracts from B. cinera leaves. In the present study we evaluated the anti-diarrhoeal activity of methanolic and hydromethanolic extracts obtained from the leaves of B. cinera in Swiss mice. Results showed that both extracts reduced significantly the gastrintestinal motility. Phytochemical evaluation of the methanolic extract led to the isolation and identification of (+)-catechin and quercetin-3-O-a-L-arabinopyranoside. The observed activity may be correlated to the presence of these compounds in the extract.

Fungal infections caused by Candida species have increased in incidence during the past two decades in England, North America and Europe. Candidal arthritis is rare in patients who are not intravenous drug users or are who not using a prostheses. We report the case of a 24-year-old man with acute lymphoid leukemia, who developed Candida tropicalis arthritis during an aplastic period after chemotherapy. This is the eighth case described in the literature of C. tropicalis causing arthritis without intra-articular inoculation. We call attention to an unusual first sign of fungal infection: septic arthritis without intra-articular inoculation. However, this case differs from the other seven, since despite therapy a fast and lethal evolution was observed. We reviewed reported cases, incidence, risk factors, mortality and treatment of neutropenic patients with fungal infections.