The neutrophil is an important cell in host defense against infections, acting as the first line of microorganism control. However, this cell exhibits dysregulated activity in sepsis and may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. This systematic review aimed to highlight the major scientific findings regarding neutrophil activity in sepsis reported in clinical and experimental research published in the last 10 years. The search was conducted in the Virtual Health Library of PAHO-WHO (BVS) and PubMed databases, and articles published between January 2007 and May 2017 in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were eligible. Article selection was carried out independently by two reviewers (CB and IB). A total of 233 articles were found, of which 87 were identified on PubMed and 146 on BVS. Eighty-two articles were duplicates. Of the remaining 151 articles, 19 met the inclusion criteria after title, abstract, and full-text analysis. Overall, research in clinical samples and animal models of sepsis showed reduced capacity of neutrophils to migrate and delayed apoptosis, but there was no consensus on the phagocytic activity of neutrophils in sepsis. Molecules, such as pentraxin 3 (PTX3), have been analyzed as potential diagnostic markers in sepsis but the diversity of soluble molecules detected in blood samples of sepsis patients did not enable further understanding of the correlation of these circulating molecules with neutrophil activity during sepsis. Optimal understanding of the function of neutrophils in sepsis remains a challenge that, if overcome, would eventually allow targeted therapeutic interventions in patients affected by this severe syndrome.

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and cytomegalovirus reactivation are important complications after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). Here, we evaluated the impact of treatment with alemtuzumab on the occurrence of aGVHD, cytomegalovirus reactivation and survival after alloHSCT. This was a prospective cohort study conducted at the allo-HSCT unit of Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil, from January 2009 to December 2011. Fifty-seven patients who underwent alloHSCT were included. Forty-five (79%) patients had a malignant disease. Alemtuzumab was administered before the conditioning regimen at a dose of 1 mg/kg in children and 30 mg/day for 2 days in adults or children weighing more than 40 kg (a total dose of 60 mg) with a non-malignant disease or patients with a malignant disease and high-risk for GVHD mortality. Alemtuzumab was used in 23 (40%) patients, of whom 17 received a reduced-intensity conditioning. Eleven patients presented aGVHD (grade 2–4) and only 1 of them received alemtuzumab. Cumulative incidence of aGVHD (grade 2–4) at day 100 after transplantation (D+100) was 4 for patients receiving alemtuzumab and 29% for patients not receiving alemtuzumab. Cumulative incidence of cytomegalovirus reactivation for patients receiving or not alemtuzumab was 62 and 38%, respectively. Sixteen patients died in the first 100 days after alloHSCT, most of them due to bacterial sepsis. Only 2 patients died of aGVHD until D+100. Overall survival was 50% without any impact of alemtuzumab. Alemtuzumab effectively controlled aGVHD but increased the risk of cytomegalovirus reactivation without improving survival.

Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke seems to be related to an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and changes in muscular and physical performances of healthy smokers. However, these parameters have not yet been evaluated simultaneously in previous studies. The participants of this study were healthy males divided into two groups: smokers (n=20) and non-smokers (n=20). Inflammation was evaluated by measuring plasma levels of the cytokines IL-10, IL-6 e TNF-α, and of the soluble receptors sTNFR1 and sTNFR2. Oxidative stress was evaluated by determination of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) plasma levels, total antioxidant capacity of plasma and erythrocytes activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Muscular performance was evaluated by measuring the peak torque of knee flexors and extensors, and by determining the total work of the knee extensors. Physical performance was assessed by measuring the peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), the maximum heart rate (HRmax) and the walking distance in the shuttle walking test. Smokers showed an increase in the levels of the sTNFR1 and TBARS and a decrease in the total antioxidant capacity of plasma, in the catalase activity and in the total work (P<0.05). IL-6, IL-10, sTNFR2, SOD, peak torque, VO2 peak, HRmax and walking distance were similar between groups. Smokers presented increased oxidative stress and skeletal muscle dysfunction, demonstrating that the changes in molecular and muscular parameters occur simultaneously in healthy smokers.

Febrile neutropenia remains a frequent complication in onco-hematological patients, and changes in the circulating level of inflammatory molecules (IM) may precede the occurrence of fever. The present observational prospective study was carried out to evaluate the behavior of plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), soluble TNF-α I and II receptors (sTNFRI and sTNFRII), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1 or chemokine (c-c motif) ligand 2 (CCL2)], macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α or CCL3), eotaxin (CCL11), interleukin-8 (IL-8 or CXCL8), and interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10 or CXCL10) in 32 episodes of neutropenia in 26 onco-hematological patients. IM were tested on enrollment and 24-48 h before the onset of fever and within 24 h of the first occurrence of fever. Eight of 32 episodes of neutropenia did not present fever (control group) and the patients underwent IM tests on three different occasions. sTNFRI levels, measured a median of 11 h (1-15) before the onset of fever, were significantly higher in patients presenting fever during follow-up compared to controls (P = 0.02). Similar results were observed for sTNFRI and CCL2 levels (P = 0.04 for both) in non-transplanted patients. A cut-off of 1514 pg/mL for sTNFRI was able to discriminate between neutropenic patients with or without fever during follow-up, with 65% sensitivity, 87% specificity, and 93% positive predictive value. Measurement of the levels of plasma sTNFRI can be used to predict the occurrence of fever in neutropenic patients.

In this study, genotyping techniques including staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and restriction-modification tests were used to compare the molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates recovered at two times within a 10-year interval (1998 and 2008) from a tertiary Brazilian hospital. In addition, the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were analyzed. All 48 MRSA isolates from 1998 and 85.7% from 2008 (48/56 isolates) displayed multidrug-resistance phenotypes and SCCmec III. All but one of the 13 representative SCCmec III isolates belonged to CC8 and had PFGE patterns similar to that of the BMB9393 strain (Brazilian epidemic clone of MRSA; BEC). In 2008, we found an increased susceptibility to rifampicin and chloramphenicol among the SCCmec III isolates. In addition, we detected the entrance of diverse international MRSA lineages susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT), almost all belonging to CC5. These non-SCCmec III isolates were related to the USA 300 (ST8-SCCmec IV; PFGE-type B), USA 800 (ST5-SCCmec IV; subtype D1), USA 100 (ST5-SCCmec II; subtype D2), and EMRSA-3/Cordobes (ST5-SCCmec I, type C) clones. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the emergence of isolates genetically related to the EMRSA-3/Cordobes clone in southeast Brazil. In this regard, these isolates were the most common non-SCCmec III MRSA in our institution, accounting for 8.9% of all isolates recovered in 2008. Thus, despite the supremacy of BEC isolates in our country, significant changes may occur in local MRSA epidemiology, with possible consequences for the rationality of MRSA empiric therapy.

Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which induces chronic granulomatous infection of the skin and peripheral nerves. The disease ranges from the tuberculoid to the lepromatous forms, depending on the cellular immune response of the host. Chemokines are thought to be involved in the immunopathogenesis of leprosy, but few studies have investigated the expression of chemokine receptors on leukocytes of leprosy patients. In the present study, we evaluated 21 leprosy patients (M/F: 16/5) with a new diagnosis from the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais. The control group was composed of 20 healthy members (M/F: 15/5) of the community recruited by means of announcements. The expression of CCR2, CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR4 was investigated by flow cytometry on the surface of peripheral blood lymphocytes. There was a decrease in percentage of CD3+CXCR4+ and CD4+CXCR4+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of leprosy patients (median [range], 17.6 [2.7-41.9] and 65.3 [3.9-91.9], respectively) compared to the control group (median [range], 43.0 [3.7-61.3] and 77.2 [43.6-93.5], respectively). The percentage of CD4+CXCR4+ was significantly lower in patients with the tuberculoid form (median [range], 45.7 [0.0-83.1]) of the disease, but not in lepromatous patients (median [range], 81.5 [44.9-91.9]). The CXCR4 chemokine receptor may play a role in leprosy immunopathogenesis, probably directing cell migration to tissue lesions in tuberculoid leprosy patients.

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar a distribuição volumétrica e o espectro de gotas das pontas de pulverização de baixa deriva TTI110015, AI110015 e AVI11001 sob diferentes condições operacionais. A distribuição volumétrica foi determinada em bancada de ensaios padronizada analisando o coeficiente de variação (CV%) de uma barra simulada em computador, utilizando pressões de 200, 300 e 400 kPa, altura de 30, 40 e 50 cm em relação à bancada e espaçamento entre pontas de 40 a 100 cm. O espectro de gotas foi produzido utilizando-se apenas água como calda em um analisador de partículas em meio aquoso, nas pressões de 200, 300 e 400 kPa. Foram avaliados o DMV, a porcentagem de gotas com diâmetro inferior a 100 µm (%100 µm) e a amplitude relativa (AR). As pontas proporcionaram perfil descontínuo nas pressões de 300 e 400 kPa e uniforme a 200 kPa. Na pressão de 200 kPa, as pontas foram adequadas apenas para aplicação em faixa, e a 300 e 400 kPa, apenas para área total. Ocorreu menor CV (abaixo de 7%) com a maior pressão de trabalho e menor espaçamento entre pontas. À medida que se aumentou a pressão de trabalho, reduziu-se o DMV. As pontas TTI110015 e AI110015 em todas as pressões e a ponta AVI11001 na pressão de 200 kPa produziram gotas extremamente grossas e gotas grossas nas pressões de 300 e 400 kPa apenas para a ponta AVI11001. As pontas proporcionaram baixos valores de amplitude relativa (AR) e gotas de tamanho uniforme, bem como produziram baixa porcentagem de gotas menores que 100 µm, principalmente TTI110015 e AI110015, com menor risco de deriva.

This study aimed to evaluate the distribution profile and droplet spectra of low drift spray nozzles TTI110015, AI110015 and AI11001 under different operational conditions. The volumetric distribution was determined on a test table (patternator), by analyzing the coefficient of variation (CV) of a computer simulated spraying boom at pressures 200, 300 and 400 kPa, height of 30, 40 and 50 cm in relation to the patternator and nozzle spacing from 40 to 100 cm. Volumetric Median Diameter (VMD), span (A.R.) and percentage of droplets below 100 µm (% 100 µm) diameter, at pressures 200, 300 and 400 kPa were evaluated. Nozzles were adequate at pressure 200 kPa only for band application and at pressures 300 and 400 kPa only for total area application. Satisfactory CV (under 7%) was obtained, when highest pressure and lowest space between nozzles were applied. Droplet size (VMD) was reduced as pressure was increased. Nozzles TTI110015 and AI11015 at all pressures and nozzle AVI11001, at 200 kPa, presented extra coarse droplets and coarse droplets with AVI11001 at pressures 300 and 400 kPa. Nozzles AI and TTI presented more uniform droplet size at the highest pressure than nozzle AVI, considering the span value. Nozzles presented a low percentage of droplets below % 100 µm, especially nozzles TTI110015 and AI110015, with reduced drift risk.

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar as características técnicas das pontas de pulverização tipo espuma LA-1JC e SR-1, sob diferentes pressões de trabalho e altura de barra de pulverização. Avaliaram-se, nas pressões de 100, 200 e 300 kPa, o perfil de distribuição de cada ponta, o coeficiente de variação da distribuição volumétrica, a vazão, o diâmetro da mediana volumétrica (DMV), o diâmetro da mediana numérica (DMN), o coeficiente de homogeneidade (CH), o índice de simetria das pontas e os ângulos de abertura esquerdo, direito e total. A ponta LA-1JC, em todas as pressões, e a ponta SR-1, na pressão de 100 kPa, apresentaram perfil de distribuição contínuo. Nas pressões de 200 e 300 kPa a ponta SR-1 apresentou perfil de distribuição descontínuo. Ambas as pontas apresentaram melhor perfil de distribuição com menor espaçamento entre pontas, maior pressão e maior altura da barra. Houve aumento na abertura do ângulo e vazão com incremento na pressão em ambas as pontas. O espectro de gotas obtido é adequado para aplicação de herbicidas sistêmicos em pós-emergência e para herbicidas aplicados em pré-emergência. As pontas LA-1JC, na pressão de 100 kPa, e SR-1, em todas as pressões, não devem ser utilizadas com sobreposição de jatos.

This study aimed to evaluate the technical characteristics of LA-1JC and SR-1 skim nozzles, at different pressures and spray boom heights. Each nozzle distribution profile, volumetric distribution quotient in one spray boom, rate, volumetric median diameter (VMD), numeric median diameter( NMD),coefficient of homogeneity, nozzle symmetry index and left, right and total opening angles were evaluated at 100, 200, and 300 kPa. Nozzles showed continuous profile at 100 kPa for SR-1 nozzle and at all pressures for LA-1JC nozzle. The SR-1 nozzle showed discontinuous distribution profile at pressures 200 and 300 kPa. The best profile for both nozzles was verified when nozzles were smaller, and pressures and boom height were higher. Increased opening angle and rate were observed with increased pressure in both nozzles. The drop spectrum obtained is adequate to systemic herbicide application in post-emergence and to herbicide applied in preemergence. LA-1JC at 100 kPa and SR-1 at all pressures should not be used in nozzle overlapping at 100 kPa.

Chagas' disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major cause of cardiovascular disability in countries where it is endemic. Damage to the heart microvasculature has been proposed to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of heart dysfunction. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor and exerts its effects via specific ET A and ET B receptors. A few studies have suggested a role for ET-1 and its receptors in the pathogenesis of Chagas' disease. We investigated the effects of treatment with bosentan, an ET A/ET B receptor antagonist, on the course of T. cruzi infection (Y strain) in C57Bl/6 mice. Treatment with bosentan (100 mg kg-1 day-1) was given per os starting day 0 after infection until sacrifice. Bosentan significantly increased myocardial inflammation, with no effects on parasitemia. Although the total number of nests was similar, a lower number of intact amastigote nests was found in the heart of bosentan-treated animals. Bosentan failed to affect the infection-associated increase in the cardiac levels of the cytokines IFN-g and TNF-a and the chemokines CCL2/MCP-1, CCL3/MIP-1a and CCL5/RANTES. In vitro, pre-incubation with ET-1 (0.1 µM) 4 h before infection enhanced the uptake of the parasites by peritoneal macrophages, and this effect was abrogated when macrophages were pre-treated with bosentan (1 µM) 15 min before incubation with ET-1. However, ET-1 did not alter killing of intracellular parasites after 48 h of in vitro infection. Our data suggest that bosentan-treated mice have a delay in controlling parasitism which is compensated for exacerbated inflammation. Infection is eventually controlled in these animals and lethality is unchanged, demonstrating that ET-1 plays a minor role in the protection against acute murine T. cruzi infection.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the human central nervous system. Although its etiology is unknown, the accumulation and activation of mononuclear cells in the central nervous system are crucial to its pathogenesis. Chemokines have been proposed to play a major role in the recruitment and activation of leukocytes in inflammatory sites. They are divided into subfamilies on the basis of the location of conserved cysteine residues. We determined the levels of some CC and CXC chemokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 23 relapsing-remitting MS patients under interferon-ß-1a therapy and 16 control subjects using ELISA. MS patients were categorized as having active or stable disease. CXCL10 was significantly increased in the CSF of active MS patients (mean ± SEM, 369.5 ± 69.3 pg/mL) when compared with controls (178.5 ± 29.1 pg/mL, P < 0.05). CSF levels of CCL2 were significantly lower in active MS (144.7 ± 14.4 pg/mL) than in controls (237.1 ± 16.4 pg/mL, P < 0.01). There was no difference in the concentration of CCL2 and CXCL10 between patients with stable MS and controls. CCL5 was not detectable in the CSF of most patients or controls. The qualitative and quantitative differences of chemokines in CSF during relapses of MS suggest that they may be useful as a marker of disease activity and of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.

A aplicação de herbicidas via água de irrigação (herbigação) por aspersão, especialmente por pivô central, vem crescendo no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a eficácia de doses de fomesafen aplicado via água de irrigação por aspersão no controle de Euphorbia heterophylla. Os tratamentos foram dispostos no esquema fatorial (4 x 3 x 2) + 3, sendo quatro doses do fomesafen (60, 120, 180 e 240 g ha-1), três estádios de desenvolvimento de E. heterophylla (1, 7 e 14 dias após a emergência - DAE), dois métodos de aplicação (pulverização e herbigação) e testemunhas sem herbicida (uma para cada estádio de desenvolvimento da planta daninha). Foi empregado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Cada unidade experimental constou de um vaso com 4,0 L de solo, onde foram distribuídas 50 sementes dessa planta daninha. A pulverização foi feita com 200 L ha-1 de calda; na herbigação foi usada lâmina de água de 4,72 mm, aplicada por simulador de irrigação. E. heterophylla foi mais suscetível ao fomesafen com 1 DAE. Neste estádio, a herbigação controlou-a melhor que a pulverização nas doses de 180 e 240 g ha-1. Na aplicação aos 7 DAE, geralmente a pulverização foi mais eficaz que a herbigação, mas o controle da planta daninha não foi satisfatório. Aplicado com 14 DAE, o herbicida, independentemente da dose e do método de aplicação, proporcionou controle pobre ou nenhum.

Herbicide application via irrigation water (herbigation) has been increasingly used in Brazil, mainly through center pivot. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of fomesafen rates applied via overhead sprinkler irrigation for the control of Euphorbia heterophylla. A (4 x 3 x 2) + 3 factorial experiment was used consisting of: fomesafen rates (60, 120, 180, and 240 g ha-1), weed development stages (1, 7, and 14 days after emergence - DAE), application methods (spray and herbigation) and checks that did not receive the herbicide (one for each weed development stage). A completely randomized design with four replications was used. The experimental unit was a pot with four liters of soil, where 50 seeds of the weed were sown. The spray consisted of 200 liters ha-1; for herbigation, a volume of 4.72 mm of water was applied with an irrigation simulator. The most susceptible stage of E. heterophylla was at 1 DAE, when herbigation was more efficient than spraying at the rates of 180 and 240 g ha-1. At 7 DAE, spraying was generally more efficient than herbigation, but the level of weed control was inadequate. Fomesafen was not efficient when applied at 14 DAE, regardless of the rate and the application method.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common respiratory illnesses characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways. The characterization of induced or spontaneously produced sputum is a useful technique to assess airway inflammation. In the present study, we compared the concentrations of CCL2, CCL11, CXCL8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in plasma and induced sputum of patients with severe asthma or COPD and correlated the levels of these mediators with inflammatory cells in sputum. Asthmatic patients had elevated levels of eosinophils (40.1 ± 6.24%) in sputum whereas neutrophils (63.3 ± 4.66%) predominated in COPD patients. The levels of the chemokine CCL11 were markedly increased in sputum (708.7 ± 330.7 pg/ml) and plasma (716.6 ± 162.2 pg/ml) of asthmatic patients and correlated with the percentage of eosinophils in induced sputum. The concentrations of CXCL8 (817.0 ± 105.2 pg/ml) and TNF-alpha (308.8 ± 96.1 pg/ml) were higher in sputum of COPD patients and correlated with the percentage of neutrophils in induced sputum. There was also an increase in the concentrations of CXCL8 (43.2 ± 6.8 pg/ml) in sputum of asthmatic patients. These results validate that sputum is a suitable method to assess chemokines and cytokines associated with asthma and COPD. Moreover, the mechanisms involved in the synthesis of CCL11 and CXCL8/TNF-alpha would be helpful to better understand the inflammatory profile associated with asthma and COPD, respectively.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a uniformidade de distribuição para a ponta de pulverização TT 11002 em função de espaçamento entre bicos, altura de barra e pressão de trabalho, bem como avaliar a possibilidade de redução do volume de calda por meio da alteração do espaçamento entre bicos. Foram avaliados os perfis de distribuição de pontas TT 11002, para as alturas de 30, 40 e 50 cm, nas pressões de 100, 200, 300 e 400 kPa. A determinação foi realizada em mesa de teste para pontas de pulverização hidráulica, composta por canaletas em "V", espaçadas de 5 cm. Foram utilizadas, para cada configuração, 10 unidades de pontas TT 11002, instaladas isoladamente no centro da mesa. Em seguida, procedeu-se à coleta e à medição do volume pulverizado por 60 segundos e determinou-se o perfil de distribuição. A partir do perfil de distribuição em cada uma das configurações estudadas, simulou-se, utilizando programa computacional, a deposição ao longo da barra de pulverização para bicos espaçados de 40, 50, 80, 100, 120 e 150 cm. A uniformidade de distribuição foi avaliada pelo coeficiente de variação (CV), em uma barra de 12 metros de largura, onde foram utilizados os dados dos seis metros centrais. A ponta de pulverização TT 11002 apresentou boa uniformidade de distribuição (CV inferior a 7%), na pressão de 100 kPa, para bicos espaçados até 50 cm e nas alturas de barra de 40 e 50 cm. Nas pressões acima de 200 kPa, boa uniformidade de distribuição foi verificada para espaçamentos de até 50, 100 e 120 cm, para as alturas de barra de 30, 40 e 50 cm, respectivamente. A ponta TT 11002 possibilita redução de volume de calda com o aumento do espaçamento entre bicos, mantendo boa uniformidade de distribuição com maior capacidade operacional do equipamento de aplicação.

This work aimed to evaluate spray distribution uniformity for nozzle TT 11002 using varying nozzle spacing, spray height and pressure, as well as the possibility of reducing spray volume by increasing nozzle spacing. Nozzle deposition pattern was evaluated for 30, 40 and 50 cm spray heights, at pressures of 100, 200, 300 and 400 kPa, on a pattern table, using a "V" channel and 5 cm spacing. Ten nozzles were individually placed at the center of the pattern table followed by collection and measurement of the volume sprayed for 60 seconds and determination of the distribution pattern. Based on the deposition patterns, distribution uniformity for nozzles spaced at 40, 50, 80, 100, 120 and 150 cm was simulated using a computer program. Nozzle TT 11002 showed good distribution uniformity, with coefficient of variation (CV) below 7 at 100 kPa pressure for nozzles spaced up to 50 cm and at 40 and 50 cm spray heights. At pressures above 200 kPa, good distribution uniformity was verified at up to 50, 100 and 120 cm spacing at 30, 40 and 50 cm spray heights, respectively. Nozzle TT 11002 allows spray volume reduction by increasing nozzle spacing, with good distribution uniformity and increased operational capacity of the spraying equipment.

Food allergy is most frequently the result of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions. Here, we describe a chronic model in which some of the intestinal and systemic consequences of continuous egg white solution ingestion by ovalbumin-sensitized eight-week-old BALB/c mice, 6 animals per group, of both sexes, were investigated. There was a 20% loss of body weight that began one week after antigen exposure and persisted throughout the experiment (3 weeks). The sensitization procedure induced the production of anti-ovalbumin IgG1 and IgE, which were enhanced by oral antigen exposure (129% for IgG1 and 164% for IgE, compared to sensitization values). Intestinal changes were determined by jejunum edema at 6 h (45% Evans blue extravasation) and by a significant eosinophil infiltration with a peak at 48 h. By day 21 of continuous antigen exposure, histological findings were mild, with mast cell hyperplasia (100%) and increased mucus production (483%). Altogether, our data clearly demonstrate that, although immune stimulation was persistently occurring in response to continuous oral antigen exposure, regulatory mechanisms were occurring in the intestinal mucosa, preventing overt pathology. The experimental model described here reproduces the clinical and pathological changes of mild chronic food allergy and may be useful for mechanistic studies of this common clinical condition.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência de uma barra de pulverização com um protetor contra deriva de um pulverizador de transporte animal, para aplicação de herbicida não-seletivo, em lavouras de café em formação. Foram utilizados bicos de pulverização de jato plano e distribuição uniforme do tipo 80-EF-015, três volumes de calda e duas doses de glyphosate. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em uma lavoura de café com 18 meses de plantio. Todos os tratamentos apresentaram valores de eficácia de controle de plantas daninhas, na entrelinha, superiores a 98%. O equipamento proporcionou proteção total contra a deriva, não sendo observado nenhum sinal de impacto de gotas da calda na cultura, bem como não foi observado nenhum sinal de toxicidade do herbicida até 30 dias após as aplicações.

This work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a sprayer boom with a drift protector of an animal powered sprayer for non-selective herbicide applications in young coffee crops. Flat fan type 80-EF-015 nozzles with uniform distribution were used to apply three application volumes and two glyphosate doses. The experiments were conducted in an 18-month-old coffee crop. All treatments showed efficacy values higher than 98% for weed control within the row. The equipment offered total protection against drift, as no signs of drop impact on the crop and of herbicide toxicity for up to 30 days after applications were observed.