Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects millions of people worldwide, and special attention should be given to treatment because the available drugs have limitations, which can lead to low therapeutic adherence and parasitic resistance. This study evaluated the activity of the bioactive naphthoquinones, lapachol and β-lapachone, against Leishmania amazonensis. The cell alterations were evaluated in vitro on promastigote and amastigote forms. The lethal dose (LD50) at 24, 48, and 72 h on the promastigote's forms using lapachol was 75.60, 72.82, and 58.85 μg/mL and for β-lapachone was 0.65, 1.24, and 0.71 μg/mL, respectively. The naphthoquinones significantly inhibited the survival rate of L. amazonensis amastigotes at 83.11, 57.59, and 34.95% for lapachol (82.28, 41.14, and 20.57 µg/mL), and 78.49, 83.25, and 80.22% for β-lapachone (3.26, 1.63, and 0.815 µg/mL). The compounds on the promastigote's forms led to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, induced changes in the integrity of the membrane, caused damage to cells suggestive of the apoptotic process, and showed inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 production. The results showed that these naphthoquinones are promising candidates for research on new drugs with anti-Leishmania activity derived from natural products.

An experiment was carried out to assess the performance of steers on Brachiaria brizantha and Cynodon dactylon cv. Coast cross pastures by the continuous stocking method with a variable stocking rate. A completely randomized experimental design was used with two pastures representing the treatments, each containing 10 replicates. The results of t-tests demonstrated that the steers grazed for less time (7:19 h) on the B. brizantha grass pasture than the on Coast-cross grass pasture (8:13 h). There was no difference in rumination time from 6:46 and 6:89 h for the B. brizantha and Coast-cross pastures, respectively. There was a significant difference for the values regarding the time that the steers remained idle, and the animals were more frequently idle on the B. brizantha pasture, which was associated with less grazing time because there was no significant difference in the total rumination time. The lowest bite rates were observed in the Coast-cross pasture compared with B. brizantha during the daytime and nighttime. Nonetheless, the total number of bites were significantly higher in the Coast cross pasture; however, the lowest bite rate overall was recorded in the B. brizantha pasture. These results suggested that there was a compensation mechanism between the grazing times and the bite rates so that the animals could regulate the quantity of forage ingested.

Se realizó un experimento para evaluar el comportamiento de novillos en pasturas de Brachiaria brizantha y Cynodon dactylon, en pastoreo continuo con carga animal variable. El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar con las dos pasturas como tratamientos, cada uno con diez repeticiones. La prueba T demostró que los novillos pastaban en menos tiempo la pastura de Brachiaria, con el tiempo 7:19 horas, mientras que el tiempo en la pastura Coast-cross era 8:13 horas. No hubo diferencias en el tiempo rumia, lo cual fue 6:46 y 6:89 horas para pastos de hierba Brachiaria y Coast-cross, respectivamente. Para las cantidades relacionadas con el momento en que los novillos se quedaron inactivos, hubo diferencias significativas, con más tiempo para los animales que permanecieron en la pradera de Brachiaria; este hecho se asocia con el menor tiempo pastoreo, ya que no hubo diferencias significativas en el tiempo total de la rumia. Las tasas de mordeduras más bajos fueron significativamente inferiores en Coast-cross en comparación con Brachiaria, ya sea en el día o la noche. No obstante, el número total de mordeduras fueron significativamente más altos para en Coast-cross pastos, sin embargo, la tasa de picadura más bajo sobre el tiempo total se registró en Bracharia pastos. Los resultados sugieren que existe un mecanismo de compensación entre los tiempos de pastoreo y la tasa de mordeduras, de modo que los animales podían regular la cantidad de forraje consumido.

Foram analisadas as influências da temperatura (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 e 40 °C), umidade (0 e 6 h em câmara úmida), concentração de inóculo de Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (0; 3,4 x 10¹; 3,4 x 10²; 3,4 x 10³; 3,4 x 10(4); 3,4 x 10(5); 3,4 x 10(6) e 3,4 x 10(7) UFC.ml-1) e idade do fruto (40, 50, 60 e 70 dias) na severidade da mancha-aquosa em frutos de melão (Cucumis melo) do tipo Amarelo. Os frutos foram inoculados pelo método de injeção subepidérmica determinando-se: período de incubação, diâmetro da lesão externa e profundidade da lesão. O período de incubação não foi influenciado significativamente pela temperatura nos frutos mantidos sem e com câmara úmida. As maiores lesões externas foram observadas em frutos mantidos a 30 °C (19,5 mm) em câmara úmida por 6 h, e a 35° C (15,3 mm) sem câmara úmida. Maior profundidade das lesões foi observada nos frutos mantidos em câmara úmida a 30 °C (17,5 mm). Sem câmara úmida, as lesões foram maiores nas temperaturas de 25 °C (11,7 mm) e 30 °C (11,3 mm). Não foram observados sintomas da doença em frutos mantidos a 15 e 20 °C. A umidade não influenciou o diâmetro e a profundidade da lesão nas temperaturas de 35 e 25 °C, respectivamente. O diâmetro e profundidade das lesões aumentaram com a elevação da concentração de inóculo. A idade do fruto não influenciou significativamente o diâmetro da lesão externa e maior profundidade das lesões foi observada nos frutos com 50 dias.

The influence of temperature (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C), humidity (0 and 6 h in a moist chamber), inoculum concentration of Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (0; 3.4 x 10¹; 3.4 x 10²; 3.4 x 10³; 3.4 x 10(4); 3.4 x 10(5); 3.4 x 10(6) and 3.4 x 10(7) CFU.ml-1) and fruit age (40, 50, 60 and 70 days) on the severity of fruit blotch of melon (Cucumis melo) yellow type was studied. Fruits were inoculated by sub-epidermal injection and incubation period, external lesion diameter and lesion depth were determined . The incubation period was not significantly affected by temperature in fruits kept within or without a moist chamber. Larger external lesions were observed on fruits kept at 30 °C (19.5 mm) in a moist chamber for 6 h and 35 °C (15.3 mm) without a moist chamber. Deeper lesions were observed on fruits kept in a moist chamber at 30 °C (17.5 mm). Under dry conditions, deeper lesions were observed at 25 °C (11.7 mm) and 30 °C (11.3 mm). No disease symptoms were observed on fruits kept at 15 and 20 °C. The humidity did not influence the lesion diameter and depth at 35 and 25 °C, respectively. Lesion diameter and depth were positively correlated to inoculum concentration. Fruit age did not significantly influence lesion diameter, 50-day old fruits showed deeper lesions.

A prevalência e a manifestação das formas clinicas de Trypanosoma cruzi foram avaliadas em candidatos a doadores de sangue atendidos em um hospital geral de Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, no período de janeiro de 1997 a abril de 1999. A pesquisa sorológica foi realizada por meio do teste de hemaglutinação indireta e confirmada pelo ELISA. Os dados foram coletados considerando os exames clínicos, eletrocardiograma convencional, radiografia de tórax e ecocardiografia. Os resultados demonstraram que, apesar da prevalência ser de 1,17% (128 pacientes), principalmente entre homens com idade igual ou superior a 40 anos, 70,8%, principalmente de homens entre 19 e 39 anos, demonstraram alterações que permitiram o diagnóstico de cardiopatias e/ou esofagopatias, ratificando mais uma vez sua importância nos centros urbanos.

The prevalence and clinical forms of Trypanosoma cruzi were evaluated among blood donor candidates attended at a general hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from January 1997 to April 1999. The investigation was done by means of the indirect hemagglutination test and was confirmed via ELISA. Data were collected from clinical examinations, conventional electrocardiogram, chest radiography and echocar-diography. The results showed that despite Trypanosoma cruzi prevalence of 1.17% (128 patients), mainly in males aged 40 years or over, 70.8% of these patients, mainly males aged 19 to 39 years, demonstrated abnormalities that allowed the diagnosis of cardiopathy and/or esophagopathy. This once again corroborates the importance of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in urban centers.

A prevalência e a manifestação das formas clinicas de Trypanosoma cruzi foram avaliadas em candidatos a doadores de sangue atendidos em um hospital geral de Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, no período de janeiro de 1997 a abril de 1999. A pesquisa sorológica foi realizada por meio do teste de hemaglutinação indireta e confirmada pelo ELISA. Os dados foram coletados considerando os exames clínicos, eletrocardiograma convencional, radiografia de tórax e ecocardiografia. Os resultados demonstraram que, apesar da prevalência ser de 1,17% (128 pacientes), principalmente entre homens com idade igual ou superior a 40 anos, 70,8%, principalmente de homens entre 19 e 39 anos, demonstraram alterações que permitiram o diagnóstico de cardiopatias e/ou esofagopatias, ratificando mais uma vez sua importância nos centros urbanos.

The prevalence and clinical forms of Trypanosoma cruzi were evaluated among blood donor candidates attended at a general hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from January 1997 to April 1999. The investigation was done by means of the indirect hemagglutination test and was confirmed via ELISA. Data were collected from clinical examinations, conventional electrocardiogram, chest radiography and echocar-diography. The results showed that despite Trypanosoma cruzi prevalence of 1.17% (128 patients), mainly in males aged 40 years or over, 70.8% of these patients, mainly males aged 19 to 39 years, demonstrated abnormalities that allowed the diagnosis of cardiopathy and/or esophagopathy. This once again corroborates the importance of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in urban centers.