ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to determine closure rates of large idiopathic macular holes treated with pars plana vitrectomy and 360-degree pedicled inverted internal limiting membrane flap without face-down posturing and define visual improvement, types of macular hole closure, and external retina integrity as secondary outcomes. Methods: This retrospective case series analyzed all patients who were treated by vitrectomy, 360-degree pedicled inverted internal limiting membrane flap, and gas tamponade, without face-down posturing postoperatively. Age, sex, time of visual acuity reduction, other ocular pathologies, and lens status were collected. The best-corrected visual acuity and optical coherence tomography results were recorded during pre- and postoperative follow-up examinations (15 days and 2 months after surgery). Results: This study enrolled 20 eyes of 19 patients, and the mean age was 66 years. Optical coherence tomography performed 2 months after surgery revealed hole closure in 19 (95%) eyes. The median best-corrected visual acuity improved from +1.08 preoperatively to +0.66 LogMAR 2 months postoperatively (p<0.001), with a median of 20 letters of visual improvement (0.4 LogMAR) on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart. V (47.36%)- and U (52.63%)-types of closure were observed. Conclusion: The 360-degree pedicled inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique, without face-down posturing, provided a high closure rate (95%), external layer recovery, and V- and U-type foveal closure contours, in addition to visual improvement in most cases of large macular holes (even macular holes >650 μm). This technique may be a viable alternative to patients in whom traditional postoperative face-down positioning for large macular hole treatment is not possible.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar as taxas de fechamento de buracos maculares idiopáticos grandes tratados com vitrectomia posterior e técnica de flap invertido 360 graus pediculado de membrana limitante interna, sem posicionamento de cabeça pós-operatório e definir melhora visual, tipos de fechamento do buraco macular e integridade das camadas retinianas externas como objetivo secundário. Métodos: Este estudo foi uma série retrospectiva de casos. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a vitrectomia com flap invertido 360 graus pediculado de membrana limitante interna e tamponamento com gás, sem posição de cabeça no pós-operatório. Idade, gênero, tempo de redução da acuidade visual, outras patologias oculares e status do cristalino foram compilados. Medida de melhor acuidade visual corrigida e tomografia de coerência óptica foram registradas durante as visitas de pré e pós-operatório (15 dias e 2 meses após cirurgia). Resultados: Vinte olhos de 19 pacientes foram incluídos neste estudo. A idade média foi de sessenta e seis anos. Um total de 19 olhos (95%) atingiu fechamento do buraco, observado através das imagens de tomografia de coerência óptica após 2 meses de cirurgia. Melhor acuidade visual corrigida média aumentou +1,08 pré-operatória para +0,66 LogMAR em 2 meses de cirurgia (p<0,001), com média de 20 letras de melhora visual (0,4 LogMAR) na tabela do Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study. Dois tipos de fechamento do buraco foram observados: V (47,36%) e U (52,63%). Conclusão: A técnica de flap invertido 360 graus pediculado de membrana limitante interna, sem posicionamento de cabeça no pós-operatório promoveu elevada taxa de fechamento (95%), reestabelecimento das camadas retinianas externas, fechamento com contorno foveal dos tipos V e U, além de melhora visual na maioria dos casos de BMI gran des (mesmo nos buracos maiores que 650 μm). Esta técnica pode representar uma alternativa para o tratamento de buracos maculares grandes em pacientes impossibilitados de cumprir o tradicional posicionamento de cabeça pós-operatório.

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to determine closure rates of large idiopathic macular holes treated with pars plana vitrectomy and 360-degree pedicled inverted internal limiting membrane flap without face-down posturing and define visual improvement, types of macular hole closure, and external retina integrity as secondary outcomes. Methods: This retrospective case series analyzed all patients who were treated by vitrectomy, 360-degree pedicled inverted internal limiting membrane flap, and gas tamponade, without face-down posturing postoperatively. Age, sex, time of visual acuity reduction, other ocular pathologies, and lens status were collected. The best-corrected visual acuity and optical coherence tomography results were recorded during pre- and postoperative follow-up examinations (15 days and 2 months after surgery). Results: This study enrolled 20 eyes of 19 patients, and the mean age was 66 years. Optical coherence tomography performed 2 months after surgery revealed hole closure in 19 (95%) eyes. The median best-corrected visual acuity improved from +1.08 preoperatively to +0.66 LogMAR 2 months postoperatively (p<0.001), with a median of 20 letters of visual improvement (0.4 LogMAR) on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart. V (47.36%)- and U (52.63%)-types of closure were observed. Conclusion: The 360-degree pedicled inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique, without face-down posturing, provided a high closure rate (95%), external layer recovery, and V- and U-type foveal closure contours, in addition to visual improvement in most cases of large macular holes (even macular holes >650 μm). This technique may be a viable alternative to patients in whom traditional postoperative face-down positioning for large macular hole treatment is not possible.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar as taxas de fechamento de buracos maculares idiopáticos grandes tratados com vitrectomia posterior e técnica de flap invertido 360 graus pediculado de membrana limitante interna, sem posicionamento de cabeça pós-operatório e definir melhora visual, tipos de fechamento do buraco macular e integridade das camadas retinianas externas como objetivo secundário. Métodos: Este estudo foi uma série retrospectiva de casos. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a vitrectomia com flap invertido 360 graus pediculado de membrana limitante interna e tamponamento com gás, sem posição de cabeça no pós-operatório. Idade, gênero, tempo de redução da acuidade visual, outras patologias oculares e status do cristalino foram compilados. Medida de melhor acuidade visual corrigida e tomografia de coerência óptica foram registradas durante as visitas de pré e pós-operatório (15 dias e 2 meses após cirurgia). Resultados: Vinte olhos de 19 pacientes foram incluídos neste estudo. A idade média foi de sessenta e seis anos. Um total de 19 olhos (95%) atingiu fechamento do buraco, observado através das imagens de tomografia de coerência óptica após 2 meses de cirurgia. Melhor acuidade visual corrigida média aumentou +1,08 pré-operatória para +0,66 LogMAR em 2 meses de cirurgia (p<0,001), com média de 20 letras de melhora visual (0,4 LogMAR) na tabela do Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study. Dois tipos de fechamento do buraco foram observados: V (47,36%) e U (52,63%). Conclusão: A técnica de flap invertido 360 graus pediculado de membrana limitante interna, sem posicionamento de cabeça no pós-operatório promoveu elevada taxa de fechamento (95%), reestabelecimento das camadas retinianas externas, fechamento com contorno foveal dos tipos V e U, além de melhora visual na maioria dos casos de BMI gran des (mesmo nos buracos maiores que 650 μm). Esta técnica pode representar uma alternativa para o tratamento de buracos maculares grandes em pacientes impossibilitados de cumprir o tradicional posicionamento de cabeça pós-operatório.

Abstract: The present study aimed to evaluate the applicability and efficiency of the FAI-BLUP index in the genetic selection of maize hybrids, using 84 maize hybrids that were evaluated for cycle, morphology, and yield traits in four environments. Models accounting for homogeneous and heterogeneous residual variances were tested, and variance components were estimated using the residual maximum likelihood. Genotypic values were predicted by best linear unbiased prediction, and factor analysis was applied to group the traits. The FAI-BLUP index was used for the selection of maize hybrids based on ideotype design. Three factors explained more than 70% of genotypic variability, with selective accuracies varying from low (0.46) to high (0.99). Predicted genetic gains were positive for traits related to yield and negative for traits related to cycle and morphology, as is desirable in maize crop.

ABSTRACT: Traditional method of soil survey is expensive, slow, and must be carried out by experienced researchers. Thus, advances in soil observation technologies and the need to obtain information quickly by modern techniques have intensified the use of proximal sensing. This study characterized surface reflectance spectra (A horizon) and related them to traditional soil classification, based on morphological, physical, and chemical properties of representative pedogenetic profiles, developed in two toposequences of the Distrito Federal, Brazil. In the toposequences, 15 soil profiles were selected for a complete morphological description and sampling for laboratory analyses. Soil-landscape relationships were established, and profiles were classified to the fourth level of the Brazilian Soil Classification System (SiBCS). Classes of similar soils were grouped based on their surface spectra, resulting in spectral curves of 10 representative soils in the studied area. The Morphological Interpretation of Reflectance Spectrum (MIRS) and second derivative of the Kubelka-Munk (KM) function were applied to the soil spectra. The clustered soils were similar, mainly in terms of color, textural class, and organic matter content. Groups based on soil physical and chemical properties and on surface and subsurface colors were similar to those determined by surface reflectance. The identification of soil-landscape relationships was fundamental to understand the genesis and distribution of the soils, which had similar chemical and physical properties to their parent materials. The analysis of clusters based on soil surface reflectance proved efficient in determining groups of soil classes with similar properties. Surface reflectance data were related to the soil surface and subsurface properties determined by traditional soil sample analyses, since the two approaches formed similar groups. The simultaneous interaction of soil properties was assessed by MIRS analysis, while the second derivative of the KM function adequately quantified the mineralogy of the spectra.

Ameloblastic fibrosarcoma is a rare odontogenic neoplasm and is considered the malignant counterpart of ameloblastic fibroma. The diagnosis is made by histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation, since the epithelial component remains benign and the mesenchymal component becomes malignant. Until 2012, only 72 cases were published in English-literature. This article presents a case of intraoral mass at the posterior mandible of a 23 year-old female patient. Panoramic radiography showed a multilocular radiolucent lesion with ill-defined borders and tooth involvement. The mandibular canal presented loss of architecture also. The computed tomography images (bone window) showed hypodense lesion leading to expansion, tapering and irregular destruction of cortical, and tooth involvement. Incisional biopsy was performed for histopathological evaluation. The results revealed a mixed lesion with epithelial and mesenchymal cellular proliferation. At immunohistochemical analysis, the mesenchymal portion was vimentin positive and the epithelial component was positive for cytokeratin AE1-AE3. It also showed p53 intense labeling in all tumorous cells. The final diagnosis was ameloblastic fibrosarcoma. The lesion was surgically excised with clear margins. The radiographic appearance, even imperative for treatment planning, poorly contributed to final diagnosis, which was reached by histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations. The treatment is still controversial, without a definition regarding chemotherapy and radiotherapy as coadjutant treatment.

El fibrosarcoma ameloblástico es una neoplasia odontogénica poco frecuente y es considerada la contraparte maligna del fibroma ameloblástico. El diagnóstico se realiza mediante la evaluación histopatológica e inmunohistoquímica, ya que el componente epitelial sigue siendo benigno y el componente mesenquimal se convierte en maligno. Hasta 2012, solo 72 casos fueron publicados en la literatura inglesa. En este artículo se presenta un caso de masa intraoral en la mandíbula parte posterior, de una paciente de 23 años de edad. La radiografía panorámica mostró una lesión radiolúcida multilocular con bordes mal definidos y con un diente incluso en la lesión. El canal mandibular también presentaba pérdida de la arquitectura. La tomografía computarizada (TC) (ventana de hueso) presentó lesión hipodensa que provocaba una expansión que se estrechaba y destruía irregularmente la cortical, además envolvía la pieza dentaria. Se realizó biopsia incisional para evaluación histopatológica. Los resultados revelaron una lesión mixta con proliferación celular epitelial y mesenquimal. En el análisis inmunohistoquímico, la porción mesenquimal fue positivo para vimentina y el componente epitelial fue positivo para citoqueratina AE1-AE3. También mostró marcación intensa para p53 en todas las células tumorales. El diagnóstico final fue de fibrosarcoma ameloblástico. La lesión fue extirpada quirúrgicamente con márgenes de seguridad. El aspecto radiológico, aunque imprescindible para la planificación del tratamiento, poco contribuyó al diagnóstico final, que fue alcanzado por las evaluaciones histopatológicas e inmunohistoquímicas. El tratamiento sigue siendo controvertido, sin una definición respecto de la quimioterapia y la radioterapia como tratamiento coadyuvante.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Many authors consider the Bernard technique modified by Webster the first choice for total lower lip reconstruction. This technique preserves skin folds and anatomical landmarks on the face, and interferes minimally with the tactile sensibility of the reconstructed lip, resulting in satisfying cosmetic and functional outcomes. Despite agreeing with the principles of the Webster technique, a modification is proposed to improve reconstruction of vermilion, by using bilateral nasolabial flaps associated with the original advancement flaps. Methods: We report five surgical cases carried out between 2003 and 2008, and discussion of results. Results: Dissection need to advance flaps in Bernard-Webster technique does not make nasolabial flaps unviable, and they can be rotated properly to add volume and skin to the reconstructed vermilion. Conclusion: Proposed modification of Bernard-Webster technique does not increase risk or damage compared with classic technique, and it maintains the same reconstructive capabilities or even enhances it.

RESUMO Introdução: A técnica de Bernard modificada por Webster é considerada por diversos autores a primeira escolha para reconstrução total de lábio inferior. Ela preserva as linhas e pontos de referência estética da face, e proporciona boa sensibilidade no lábio reconstruído, permitindo alcançar resultados estéticos e funcionais satisfatórios. Apesar de concordar com os princípios da técnica de Webster, uma modificação é proposta visando aperfeiçoar a reconstrução do vermelhão, usando retalhos nasogenianos bilaterais associados aos retalhos de avançamento originais. Métodos: São apresentados cinco casos operados pelo autor no período de 2003 a 2008, e os resultados são discutidos. Resultados: Demonstrou-se que a dissecção necessária para avançar os retalhos da bochecha na técnica de Bernard-Webster não inviabiliza os retalhos nasogenianos, e estes podem ser rotados adequadamente para acrescentar pele e volume ao vermelhão reconstruído. Conclusão: A modificação proposta não impõe risco aumentado ou prejuízo sobre a técnica original, e mantém ou aumenta a sua capacidade reconstrutiva.

The phytochemical investigation of the stem bark and leaves of G. elliptica provided a mixture of the norisoprenoids blumenol B and 6-epiblumenol B along with the triterpenes friedelin, as the major constituent, friedelanol, ursa-9(11),12-dien-3-ol, a-amyrin, β-amyrin, morentenol, epifriedelanol, as well as the sesquiterpenes trans-caryophyllene, α-humulene, ethyl hydnocarpate and other fatty acid esters. The identification of the compounds was performed on basis of spectrometric methods such as GC-MS, IR, MS and 1D and 2D NMR. Stem bark extracts showed significant leishmanicidal activity against promastigote forms of Leishmania braziliensis, with the best results for the chloroform extract.

Um total de 59 amostras de soros de suínos, procedentes de vários locais de abate clandestino, apresentaram ao "card test" e à soroaglutinação rápida anticorpos anti-Brucella e títulos de anticorpos sugestivos de infecção brucélica. Ações e medidas de vigilância sanitária são recomendadas para prevenir o risco potencial de infecção brucélica zoonótica.

To determine the sanitary risk to human health, 59 sera samples of clandestine slaughtered porks were examined through serologic procedures and have demonstrated to have anti-Brucella antibodies and antibodies titles suggestive of brucellosis infection. Surveillance measurements are recommended to prevent potential risk of zoonotic infection.

Um total de 59 amostras de soros de suínos, procedentes de vários locais de abate clandestino, apresentaram ao "card test" e à soroaglutinação rápida anticorpos anti-Brucella e títulos de anticorpos sugestivos de infecção brucélica. Ações e medidas de vigilância sanitária são recomendadas para prevenir o risco potencial de infecção brucélica zoonótica.

To determine the sanitary risk to human health, 59 sera samples of clandestine slaughtered porks were examined through serologic procedures and have demonstrated to have anti-Brucella antibodies and antibodies titles suggestive of brucellosis infection. Surveillance measurements are recommended to prevent potential risk of zoonotic infection.