Researches on genetic relationships among water buffalo populations are useful in supporting conservation decisions and designing of breeding schemes. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic relationships among Cuban Buffalypso/Carabao hybrids and Murrah and Jaffarabadi Brazilian buffaloes using nine cattle microsatellite markers. During the analysis, four loci were excluded due to the presence of null alleles, stuttering and gametic disequilibrium. Mean numbers of alleles and the heterozygosities observed and expected in the three populations were not significantly different. Heterozygosities found were above 60%. All five loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Wright´s index for estimating inbreeding were negative in the three populations. A moderate population differentiation was found among Cuban and Brazilian populations. The AMOVA showed that only 8.3% of the total variation observed occurred among breeds (P<0.05). The multivariate factorial correspondence analysis showed low breed-specific clustering and most of Murrah and Jaffarabadi Brazilian animals plotted overlapping. UPGMA dendrogram obtained from Nei's D A genetic distance differentiated two clusters, one grouped Cuban buffaloes (bootstrap value 89%), and the other included the Brazilian populations (bootstrap value 100%). Bayesian clustering approach reinforced the previous results. The origin of Buffalypso breed and its genetic management in Cuba could be the reason to the moderate differentiation between Cuban and Brazilian populations. This study provided a preliminary analysis on genetic relationships between Cuban and Brazilian buffaloes. The research must be extended to include a higher number of microsatellite loci and buffalo populations from other geographical regions of each country.

Las investigaciones sobre relaciones genéticas entre poblaciones de búfalos de agua son fundamentales para las decisiones relacionadas con la conservación y el diseño de esquemas de mejora. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar las relaciones genéticas entre búfalos de Cuba y de Brasil a través de nueve marcadores microsatélites. Se excluyeron del análisis cuatro loci por presencia de alelos nulos, posibles errores de lectura por tartamudeo de las bandas y desequilibrio gamético. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre las medias del número de alelos y las heterocigosidades observadas y esperadas en las tres poblaciones. Los niveles de heterocigosidad encontrados están por encima del 60%. Los cinco loci se hallaban en equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg. El índice de Wright para estimar la endogamia de la población fue negativo en las tres. Se estimó una diferenciación moderada entre las poblaciones de búfalos de Cuba y de Brasil. El AMOVA mostró que solo el 8.3% de la variación total observada estaba entre las razas. En el análisis factorial de correspondencia se observó una baja especificidad en el agrupamiento en razas y una ubicación sobrelapada de la mayoría de los animales brasileños. El dendograma UPGMA, a partir de la distancia genética de Nei (D A), mostró dos grupos: uno agrupó a los búfalos cubanos y el otro incluyó a las poblaciones brasileñas. El agrupamiento por métodos bayesianos reforzó los resultados previos. El origen de la raza Buffalypso y su manejo genético en Cuba pueden ser las razones de la moderada diferenciación entre las poblaciones de búfalos de Cuba y de Brasil. Estos resultados constituyen un análisis preliminar de las relaciones genéticas entre búfalos de Cuba y de Brasil. La investigación debe ser ampliada para analizar un mayor número de loci microsatélite, así como para incluir más poblaciones de otras regiones geográficas en cada país.

The present study evaluated the effects of postnatal intermittent hypoxia on locomotor activity and neuronal cell survival in early adulthood rats. During a critical period of brain development on postnatal day (PD) 7-11, male rat pups were exposed to intermittent hypoxia and randomly assigned to three experimental groups: (1) intermittent hypoxia, (2) normoxia, and (3) control (unhandled). One and a half months later on PD56, a behavioral test was conducted, and cell survival was estimated in the hilus, dental gyrus, and CA1 and CA3 subfields of the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens shell and core, dorsal and ventral striatum, and prefrontal cortex. Our results showed that intermittent hypoxia produced hyperactivity that correlated well with psychomotor agitation observed in patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, post-hypoxic rats exhibited a reduction of the number of neurons in the hilar region of the hippocampus and dorsal striatum, structures that have been neuropathologically associated with schizophrenia.These findings suggest that intermittent hypoxia can modify the pattern of locomotor activity and selectively affect neurons in rats tested in early adulthood.

Esta pesquisa teve o objetivo de determinar os índices de conforto térmico em instalações para ovinos, analisar os parâmetros fisiológicos e o gradiente térmico de quatro grupos genéticos, na região semiárida paraibana. Foram utilizados 40 animais, dez por grupo genético, que foram: Cariri, Morada Nova, Barriga Negra e Cara Curta, todas fêmeas, alojadas aleatoriamente em quatro apriscos. Os índices ambientais dentro das instalações, principalmente das 11 às 15 h, ficaram acima da zona de conforto térmico para ovinos adultos, com exceção da umidade relativa do ar, que ficou com média diária de 67,5%. A temperatura retal dos animais esteve dentro da faixa normal, sendo o grupo genético Morada Nova o que apresentou menor valor (38,6 ºC). A frequência respiratória dos animais em cada grupo genético ficou acima do valor recomendado, porém o Morada Nova apresentou o menor valor (43,5 mov min-1); em contrapartida, o Cariri e o Barriga Negra apresentaram os maiores valores (48,0 e 47,3 mov min-1, respectivamente). Os animais com pelagem mais escura e de maior porte, como os da raça Cariri, apresentaram maior gradiente térmico entre a temperatura do ar e a temperatura superficial. Os animais apresentaram alto índice de tolerância ao calor, ou seja, bem adaptados ao ambiente tropical, podendo o grupo genético Cariri ser caracterizado como o menos adaptado e o Morada Nova considerado o mais bem adaptado às condições experimentais.

The objective of this research was to determine the thermal comfort indexes for sheep raising installations, analyze the physiological parameters and the thermal gradient of four sheep genetic groups in the semi-arid region of the state of Paraiba, Brazil. Forty animals were used, being ten individuals per genetic group; the groups were: 'Cariri', 'Morada Nova', 'Barriga Negra' and 'Cara Curta'. All of them females and randomly housed in four adequate installations. The environmental indexes inside the lodging, mainly from 11 a.m. to 13 p.m., remained above the thermal comfort zone for adult sheep, except for the relative humidity, that had a daily average of 67.5%. The rectal temperature of the animals was kept within the normal range, except for the genetic group 'Morada Nova' that presented the lowest values (38.6 ºC). The respiration frequency for each of the genetic group was above the normal value; with the 'Morada Nova' once again presenting the lowest values (43.5 mov min-1); the 'Cariri' and 'Barriga Negra' showed the highest frequency (48.0 and 47.3 mov min ¹, respectively). Animals with darker hair color and larger size, such as those belonging to the genetic group 'Cariri', presented a higher thermal gradient between air and body surface temperatures. Animals showed high tolerance to heat, in other words, they are well adapted to the tropical environment, except for the genetic group 'Cariri' that was the least adapted. The genetic group 'Morada Nova' was considered the best adapted group for the experimental conditions.

RESUMO O gênero Copaifera está presente na África (4 spp.), América Central (4 spp.), América do Sul (cerca de 37 spp.) e, provavelmente, na Ásia (1 sp.). Foram reconhecidas nove espécies de Copaifera na Amazônia brasileira: Copaifera duckei, C. glycycarpa, C. guyanensis, C. martii, C. multijuga, C. paupera, C. piresii, C. pubiflora e C. reticulata, representadas tanto por arbustos ou árvores que chegam a atingir até 40 metros de altura, fornecendo tanto madeira como o óleo-resina, extraído de seu tronco, utilizada na preparação de medicamentos, cosméticos, tintas e revelação de fotografias. O presente trabalho apresenta uma chave para identificação das espécies que ocorrem na Amazônia brasileira, incluindo ilustrações, descrições e comentários sobre morfologia e taxonomia.

ABSTRACT Copaifera occurs in Africa (4 spp.), Central America (4 spp.), South America (about 37 spp.) and probably in Asia (1 sp.). Nine species were recognized within the Brazilian Amazon: Copaifera duckei, C. glycycarpa, C. guyanensis, C. martii, C. multijuga, C. paupera, C. piresii, C. pubiflora e C. reticulata. Their habit varies between shrubby and tree-like, with some species forming 40 m tall trees. Copaifera is economically important as a timber source, and increasingly as the source of an oleoresin used as a component of medicines, cosmetics, ink and film-development. The present treatment includes an identification key for the species, illustrations, descriptions and comments regarding the morphology, taxonomy and distribution of the species treated.

OBJETIVOS: Por meio da análise de um grupo de pacientes com DM2, temos por objetivos: avaliar por monitoração da glicose subcutânea (MGSG) as excursões pós-prandiais da glicose subcutânea; analisar as correlações da glicose subcutânea e glicemias capilares com a HbA1c e avaliar a eficácia, a segurança e a tolerabilidade da MGSC. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados 40 pacientes com DM2, com HbA1c até 7,3%, em uso de agentes orais e com menos de 10 anos de diagnóstico. Foram submetidos à MGSC por 72 horas, cujos dados foram confrontados com a HbA1c e as glicemias capilares. RESULTADOS: A excursão média da glicose subcutânea do desjejum foi estatisticamente maior que a do jantar (95%IC -24,96 a -1,66). A razão excursão da glicose subcutânea/conteúdo de carboidrato da refeição foi estatisticamente maior no desjejum que nas demais refeições (p = 0,001). Não houve correlação entre as taxas de glicose subcutânea e as glicemias capilares com HbA1c. Não houve complicações com o uso da MGSC. CONCLUSÕES: As excursões de glicose subcutânea predominaram no desjejum. Não se encontrou correlação entre HbA1c e parâmetros de controle glicêmico. A MGSC mostrou-se eficaz, segura e bem tolerada nesse grupo de pacientes.

OBJECTIVES: Through the analysis of a group of type 2 diabetes patients, the aims of this study are: to evaluate through CGMS (continuous glucose monitoring system) the post-prandial subcutaneous glucose excursions; to analyze the correlations between subcutaneous glucose and capillary glycemia with HbA1c and to evaluate the effectiveness, safety and broadmindedness of the CGMS. METHODS: Forty type 2 diabetes patients were analyzed, with HbA1c until 7.3%, in use of oral agents and within less than a ten-year diagnosis. They were submitted to CGMS for 72h, whose data were compared with HbA1c and capillary glycemia. RESULTS: The average subcutaneous glucose excursion at breakfast was statistically bigger than at dinner (95%CI -24,96 a -1,66). The subcutaneous glucose excursion/meal carbohydrates content ratio was statistically bigger at breakfast than at other meals (p 0,001). There was no correlation between the levels of subcutaneous glucose and capillary glycemia with HbA1c. There weren’t complications using CGMS. CONCLUSIONS: The subcutaneous glucose excursions were predominant at breakfast. There were no correlations between HbA1c and glycemic control parameters. CGMS showed itself efficient, secure and well tolerated in this group of patients.

A doença de Addison de etiologia auto-imune é uma endocrinopatia rara e potencialmente fatal, que pode ocorrer de forma isolada ou como parte das síndromes poliglandulares auto-imunes (SPA) dos tipo I e II. Auto-anticorpos anti-cortex adrenal são considerados marcadores imunológicos sensíveis do processo auto-imune destrutivo, podendo identificar indivíduos na fase pré-clínica da doença. A enzima 21-hidroxilase (citocromo P450c21) representa o principal antígeno adrenocortical, embora outros citocromos P450 (17a-hidroxílase e colesterol desmolase) possam, também, desencadear a resposta auto-imune, principalmente na SPA do tipo I e na doença de Addison associada à falência ovariana precoce. O papel dos auto-anticorpos anti-P450c21 na patogênse da falência adrenal ainda não está bem estabelecido, assim como aquele dos anticorpos anti-receptor do ACTH.

Autoimmune Addison's disease is a rare and potentially, fatal endocrinopathy, that can occur either isolated or as part of the types I and II polyglandular autoimmune syndromes (PAS). Adrenocortical autoantibodies are considered sensitive immunological markers of the destructive autoimmune process, and can identify individuals in the pre-clinical stage of the disease. The steroidogenic enzyme 21-hydroxylase (P450c21) represents the major adrenal autoantigen, although other P450 cytochromes (17a-hydroxylase and side chain cleavage) can also trigger an autoimmune response, mainly in the PAS type I and in Addison's disease with associated premature ovarian failure. The role of P45021 autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of the adrenal failure is not yet well established, and the same happens with the anti-ACTH receptor antibodies.