The isothermal crystallization kinetics of PLA stereocomplex (scPLA) and scPLA/graphene oxide nanocomposites was investigated. scPLA was prepared by symmetric blending the two isomers, PLLA and PDLA and the scPLA nanocomposite by polymerization of the respective lactides in presence of commercial graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GNPO+) followed of blending the two composites. The effect of the filler on the crystallization behavior and thermal properties of scPLA was investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Avrami equation was used to describe the isothermal crystallization kinetics and melting behavior. Addition of 0.5 wt% GNPO+ to PLA matrix increases the crystallization rate, lowering the half-time of crystallization t1/2 to around 5.5 min for scPLA nanocomposites, which is about 2.7 min below that found for scPLA when isothermally crystallized at 165ºC. During the isothermal crystallization, homochiral and stereocomplex crystals are formed, depending on the crystallization temperature. As crystallization temperature reaches 160 and 165ºC, the crystallization of homocrystals become prevented and only stereocomplex crystals are formed.

El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar la eficiencia de los insecticidas metoxifenozide, teflubenzuron, piriproxifeno, clorantraniliprole y Azadirachta indica en el control del escarabajo de la cama Alphitobius diaperinus. Se realizaron dos bioensayos en el laboratorio del control microbiano de la Universidade Estadual Londrina (Brasil). En el primero, las larvas de A. diaperinus fueron alimentadas con pienso de maíz tratado con los insecticidas en siete dosis (i.e. dosis recomendada - DR y porcentajes del 50; 25; 12,5; 6,25; 3,12 y 1,65 de la misma). En el segundo bioensayo, lós diferentes tratamientos fueron aplicados en las larvas pero sólo en las tres más altas dosis. La cuantificación de la mortalidad de larvas se hizo diariamente hasta el día 30, cuando se evaluó el número de pupas y adultos. Las mayores mortalidades de larvas se presentaron en larvas alimentadas con raciones con teflubenzuron, clorantraniliprole y A. indica. Los tratamientos con metoxifenozide y piriproxifeno causaron menor mortalidad, sin embargo, con este último, las larvas no alcanzaron a formar pupas ni adultos. Teflubenzuron presentó la mayor toxicidad con menor TL50. Cuando los productos fueron aplicados directamente en las larvas, los tratamientos más eficientes fueron teflubenzuron, clorantraniliprole y A. indica, sin embargo, hubo reducción en los porcentajes de la mortalidad con teflubenzuron y clorantraniliprole. Para A. indica, el método de aplicación no interferió con los niveles de mortalidad. Piriproxifeno, que no había causado mortalidad en el consumo de ración, aumentó hasta el 30% cuando fue aplicado a la larva.

The purpose of this study was to evalúate the efficiency of the insecticides methoxyphenozide, teflubenzuron, pyriproxyfen, chlorantraniliprole and also Azadirachta indica in the control of Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The study was carried out in the Microbial Control laboratory of Universidade Estadual Londrina (Brazil) and consisted of two bioassays. In the first, A. diaperinus larvae were fed with corn feed treated with the insecticides in seven dosages. In the second bioassay, the different treatments were sprayed on the larvae only at the three highest dosages. Evaluations were performed daily, quantifying larval mortality, and on the 30th day, the number of pupae and adults were evaluated. Teflubenzuron, chlorantraniliprole and A. indica were responsible for the greatest percentage of mortalities in larvae fed with treated feed. The treatments with methoxyphenozide and pyriproxyfen caused the lowest mortalities; however, with pyriproxyfen the larvae were not transformed into pupae and adults up to the 30th day of assessment. The treatment with teflubenzuron showed the greatest toxicity, with the lowest survival time (ST50) When the products were applied directly on to the larvae, the most efficient treatments were teflubenzuron, chlorantraniliprole and A. indica; however, there was a reduction in the mortality percentages with teflubenzuron and chlorantraniliprole in relation to the feed bioassay. For A. indica, the application method did not affect the mortality levels. Pyriproxyfen, which had not led to mortality through feed ingestion, obtained an increase of up to 30% after being applied directly on to the larvae.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de pasajes sucesivos de Beauveria bassiana por Alphitobius diaperinus en relación al crecimiento vegetativo, a la producción de conidios, a la virulencia, a la sensibilidad frente a la temperatura y a la radiación UV. Fueron utilizados tres aislados inicialmente multiplicados en medio de cultivo y pasados 15 veces por los insectos. Los conidios de cada aislado, provenientes de los insectos muertos, correspondientes al primer, quinto, décimo y décimo quinto pasaje fueron multiplicados en medio de cultivo y empleados en los experimentos. Los pasajes del hongo por el huésped afectaron la calidad de los conidios, lo que varió en los diferentes aislados. De manera general, hubo reducción del crecimiento vegetativo y de la producción de conidios para los aislados Unioeste 4 y Unioeste 40 a medida que el hongo fue pasando por el huésped. En contraste, el crecimiento vegetativo y la producción de conidios del aislado CG 152 no fueron afectados. Para los tres aislados, la producción de conidios en arroz y la virulencia aumentaron después de los pasajes por el huésped, principalmente en el décimo y décimo quinto pasaje. La sensibilidad a la radiación UV fue reducida con el aumento del número de pasajes en los tres aislados, mientras que la sensibilidad a la temperatura aumentó principalmente en los décimo y décimo quinto pasajes. La calidad de los conidios de B. bassiana en relación a la producción de conidios en arroz, virulencia y sensibilidad frente a la temperatura, fue favorecida por los pasajes del hongo por el huésped.

The vegetative growth, conidial production, conidial yield on rice, virulence, and heat and UV radiation tolerances of Beauveria bassiana after successive passages through Alphitobius diaperinus were investigated. Three strains of B. bassiana were cultivated in a culture medium, and passed them up to 15 times through the host insect. The conidia of each strain, derived from dead insects, were cultivated in a culture medium. We used conidia corresponding to the first, fifth, tenth, and fifteenth passages in our experiments. Our results showed that successive passages of the fungus through the host insect affected the quality of the conidia; moreover, the effect on conidial quality varied among the strains. For strains Unioeste 4 and Unioeste 40, successive passages through the host insect resulted in reduced vegetative growth and conidial production. In contrast, vegetative growth and conidial production of strain CG 152 were unaffected by successive passages through the host insect. For all 3 strains, successive passages through the host insect resulted in a higher conidial yield on rice and increased virulence, especially after the tenth and fifteenth passages. In addition, an increase in the number of passages through the host insect led to a decrease in the UV radiation tolerance, but an increase in the heat tolerance, especially after the tenth and fifteenth passages. Our results indicate that the conidial yield on rice, virulence, and heat tolerance of B. bassiana are favored by successive passages through A. diaperinus.

El efecto de subcultivos sucesivos in vitro de Beauveria bassiana a diferentes condiciones nutricionales fue evaluado mediante el crecimiento vegetativo, la producción conidial, la virulencia, tolerancia a la radiación UV y al calor. Se usaron los medios agar dextrosa papa (PDA) y un medio basado en adultos de Alphitobius diaperinus (MAD) para la producción conidial. El hongo se inoculó en los insectos, se aisló, y subcultivó 17 veces en medios diferentes. Después de subcultivados, los hongos se inocularon en los insectos, y se aislaron nuevamente a partir de ellos. Los subcultivos sucesivos y las condiciones nutricionales influenciaron la calidad de los hongos. El medio MAD mantuvo el crecimiento vegetativo y la producción conidial en cultivo y en arroz, después de un gran número de subcultivos en PDA. Así mismo, la reducción en la producción de conidias en MAD fue poco percibida comparado con la producción en PDA. El cultivo de conidias en MAD mantuvo la virulencia luego de 17 subcultivos sucesivos. Las conidias cultivados en PDA preservaron los niveles iniciales de termotolerancia. La viabilidade de los conídios disminuyó después de recibir radiación UV, pero esta disminución no afectó los subculivos sucesivos en PDA y MAD. La virulencia, la producción conidial y la tolerancia a alta temperatura, se redujeron después de los sucesivos subcultivos in vitro, pero restauradas con el paso de los hongos a través del hospedero.

The effect of successive subculturing of Beauveria bassiana under different in vitro nutritional conditions was evaluated on vegetative growth, conidial production, virulence, tolerance to UV radiation and heat tolerance. Potato dextrose agar (PDA) and a medium based on adult Alphitobius diaperinus (MAD) were used. The fungus was inoculated on the insects, isolated, and subcultured 17 times on the different media. After subculturing, the fungus was again inoculated on the insects, and it was then re-isolated. Successive subculturing and nutritional conditions influenced fungus quality. MAD favored maintenance of vegetative growth and conidial production on culture medium and on rice after a greater number of successive subcultures than PDA. Furthermore, a decrease in conidial production in MAD was less pronounced than in conidia from the PDA medium. Conidia cultured on MAD maintained virulence after 17 successive subcultures. Conidia cultured on PDA retained initial thermotolerance levels. Conidial viability decreased after UV irradiation, but this decrease was unaffected by successive subculturing on PDA and MAD. Virulence, conidial production, and temperature tolerance, which were reduced after successive in vitro subculture, were restored with fungus passage through the host.

A granulomatose de Wegener (GW) é uma vasculite necrotizante multissistêmica que afeta classicamente o trato respiratório superior, pulmões e rins. O envolvimento da hipófise foi descrita em 24 pacientes na literatura, até hoje. O objetivo deste artigo é relatar um caso de GW com envolvimento pituitário, e apresentar uma revisão da literatura sobre esta associação. Apresentamos uma paciente com GW que evoluiu para diabetes insipidus central (DIC), panhipopituitarismo e leve hiperprolactinemia. A RM mostrou um padrão infiltrativo. O envolvimento da hipófise foi relatado em cerca de 1% dos pacientes cm GW, na sua maioria mulheres. A desordem é representada por DIC e hipopituitarismo. A RM geralmente mostra o aumento da hipófise, aumento da espessura da haste, e perda da hiperintensidade da neurohipofise. Normalmente, é necessária terapia endócrina permanente. A GW é geralmente considerada nos casos de DIC e hipopituitarismo, essencialmente se há suspeita de vasculite e quando desordens selares mais comuns foram descartadas.

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a multi-system necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis which classically affects the upper respiratory tract, lungs and kidneys. Pituitary participation has been described in 24 patients in the literature to date. The aim of this article is to report a case of pituitary involvement in WG, and to present a literature review on this association. We present a female patient with WG who evolved with central diabetes insipidus (CDI), panhypopituitarism, and mild hyperprolactinemia. MRI showed an infiltrative pattern. Pituitary involvement has been reported in around 1% of patients with WG, mostly in women. It is represented by CDI and hypopituitarism. MRI generally shows pituitary enlargement, stalk thickening and loss of hyperintensity of the neurohypophysis. Permanent endocrine therapy is generally needed. WG should be considered in cases of CDI and hypopituitarism, essentially if a vasculitis is suspected and more common sellar disorders have been ruled out.

Há na literatura inúmeras descrições de amiloidose limitada à laringe, sendo que esta afecção corresponde a cerca de 1% dos tumores benignos da laringe. Entretanto, há somente três relatos de amiloidose acometendo a região do anel de Waldeyer. Descreveremos um raro caso de amiloidose em que há acometimento de sítios distintos do trato aéreo-digestivo superior: pilar amigdaliano, rinofaringe, supraglote e glote, sem continuidade aparente do tecido amilóide. Abordaremos, também, o seguimento pós-operatório com uma disfagia grave.

There are some reports of localized amyloidosis in the larynx, an entity that corresponds to one percent of all benign tumors of this region. However, there are only two cases of amyloidosis in the Waldeyer's ring 6, 13, 14. We hereby describe a rare case of amyloidosis in areas not associated with the upper aero-digestive tract: tonsil pillar, rhinopharynx, supraglottis and glottis, without visible continuity of amyloid tissue. We will also discuss post-operative follow up with severe dysphagia.

Um dos requisitos para o sucesso na produção comercial de agentes de controle biológico é manter sua viabilidade por longos períodos, em condições não controladas, aumentando a vida de prateleira. A atividade de água (Aw) é um parâmetro importante no estudo da estabilidade no armazenamento de produtos desidratados, mas sua determinação direta exige equipamentos nem sempre disponíveis. As isotermas de sorção de água correlacionam Aw com a umidade de um produto; a isoterma de adsorção é importante para definir o sistema de embalagem e a de dessorção o processo de secagem. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar as isotermas de sorção de conídios de Beauveria bassiana e ajustá-las utilizando um modelo matemático. A adsorção e a dessorção foram determinadas por técnica gravimétrica a 25ºC e os dados ajustados pelo modelo de BET. Na dessorção, inicialmente os conídios apresentaram alto conteúdo de umidade (98% em base seca) e Aw (0,93); de 98% a 50% foi observada uma baixa redução na Aw, pois a água estava na forma livre. Quando a umidade estava em torno de 505, uma pequena redução na umidade resultou em grande depressão na Aw, pois a água estava na forma ligada. A curva de adsorção mostrou que quando a umidade variou de 9% a 50% um pequeno aumento na umidade dos conídios resultou num grande acréscimo na Aw. O modelo de BET representou adequadamente as isotermas de sorção dos conídios de B. bassiana, sendo útil no estudo do armazenamento do patógeno.

One of the requirements for successful commercial production of biological control agent is the maintenance of viability for long periods at room temperature, increasing shelf life. The water activity (Aw) is an important parameter to study the stability in the storage of dehydrated products but its determination demands equipments not always available. The water sorption isotherms correlate the Aw with the moisture of a product; adsorption isotherm is important to define the packaging system, and desorption isotherm the drying process. The objective of this study was to determine the sorption isotherms of Beauveria bassiana conidia and adjust them using a mathematical model. The adsorption and desorption were determined by gravimetric technique at 25°C and data were adjusted by the BET model. During desorption, conidia initially presented high moisture content (98% in dry basis) and Aw (0,93); from 98% to 50% a low reduction in Aw was observed, because the water was in a free form. When moisture was around 50%, a small reduction on moisture resulted in a great decrease in Aw, because the water was in a bound form. The adsorption curve showed that when moisture varied from 9% to 50% a small increment in conidia moisture resulted in a high increment in Aw. The BET model adequately represented the sorption isotherms of B. bassiana conidia, being useful to define the ideal moisture to storage this biological control agent.