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The functional response and predation parameters of three species of predatory pirate bugs Amphiareus constrictus (Stal), Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius, and Orius tristicolor (White) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) were evaluated at four different densities of eggs of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Experiments were conducted in Petri dishes containing a tomato leaf disk infested with the pest eggs, and maintained inside growth chamber with environmental conditions of 25 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 10% relative humidity, and a photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D) h. A. constrictus and B. pallescens showed a type III functional response where predation increased at a decreasing rate after egg density was higher than 12 per leaf disk, reaching an upper plateau of 18.86 and 25.42 eggs per 24 hours, respectively. By contrast, O. tristicolor showed a type II functional response where the number of eggs preyed upon increased at a decreasing rate as egg density increased, reaching an upper limit of 15.20 eggs per 24 hours. The predator equations used in this study estimated handling time of 1.25, 0.87, 0.96 h for A. constrictus, B. pallescens, and O. tristicolor, respectively. The lower handling time and possible higher attack rate of B. pallescens suggests a higher efficiency and probably greater impact on the pest population. If conservation or classical biological control of T. absoluta is to be implemented, then prioritizing which natural enemy species is the most efficient is an important first step., (© The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The aim of this study was to assess seminal plasma (SP) and serum concentrations of zinc (Zn), selenium (Se) and testosterone (T) in domestic cats and determine whether these are related to sperm quality and testicular biometry. Six tomcats were collected using an artificial vagina and sperm analysis included motility by CASA, morphology, plasma membrane integrity, and sperm count. Serum and SP were submitted to total T concentration determination using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay technique while Zn and Se were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Serum T concentrations were greater compared to SP concentrations, but both values were significantly correlated. Se concentrations were higher in serum, whereas SP had greater Zn values. Concentrations of Se, Zn and T were not correlated with each other either in serum or SP. Negative correlations were detected between Se concentrations in SP and total sperm head defects, and between Se concentrations in serum and VAP, VSL, STR, and LIN. Serum concentrations of Zn were negatively correlated with total abnormal sperm and midpiece defects and positively related to progressive motility. Both serum and SP concentrations of T had no relationship with sperm quality. Concentrations of Se exhibited a negative correlation with total testicular weight, whereas T concentrations in SP and serum were correlated with total testicular volume and weight. In conclusion, both Se and Zn concentrations in serum were correlated to sperm quality variables in the domestic cat, thus, making these potential candidates for fertility markers., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In beef cattle, the ability to conceive has been associated positively with size of the preovulatory follicle (POF). Proestrus estradiol and subsequent progesterone concentrations can regulate the endometrium to affect receptivity and fertility. The aim of the present study was to verify the effect of the size of the POF on luteal and endometrial gene expression during subsequent early diestrus in beef cattle. Eighty-three multiparous, nonlactating, presynchronized Nelore cows received a progesterone-releasing device and estradiol benzoate on Day-10 (D-10). Animals received cloprostenol (large follicle-large CL group; LF-LCL; N = 42) or not (small follicle-small CL group; SF-SCL; N = 41) on D-10. Progesterone devices were withdrawn and cloprostenol administered 42 to 60 hours (LF-LCL) or 30 to 36 hours (SF-SCL) before GnRH treatment (D0). Tissues were collected at slaughter on D7. The LF-LCL group had larger (P < 0.0001) POF (13.24 ± 0.33 mm vs. 10.76 ± 0.29 mm), greater (P < 0.0007) estradiol concentrations on D0 (2.94 ± 0.28 pg/mL vs. 1.27 ± 0.20 pg/mL), and greater (P < 0.01) progesterone concentrations on D7 (3.71 ± 0.25 ng/mL vs. 2.62 ± 0.26 ng/mL) compared with the SF-SCL group. Luteal gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A, kinase insert domain receptor, fms-related tyrosine kinase 1, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450, family 11, subfamily A, polypeptide 1, and hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase, 3 beta- and steroid delta-isomerase 7 was similar between groups. Endometrial gene expression of oxytocin receptor and peptidase inhibitor 3, skin-derived was reduced, and estrogen receptor alpha 2, aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C4, and lipoprotein lipase expression was increased in LF-LCL versus SF-SCL. Results support the hypothesis that the size of the POF alters the periovulatory endocrine milieu (i.e., proestrus estradiol and diestrus progesterone concentrations) and acts on the uterus to alter endometrial gene expression. It is proposed that the uterine environment and receptivity might also be modulated. Additionally, it is suggested that increased progesterone secretion of cows ovulating larger follicles is likely due to increased CL size rather than increased luteal expression of steroidogenic genes., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The occurrence of a high incidence of sperm tail defects in a male domestic cat resembling the known 'Dag-like' defect is reported. Sperm analyses were performed in ejaculated samples collected by an artificial vagina and in testicular and epididymal sperm cells after castration. The following alterations were observed using transmission electron microscope: heavily coiled sperm tails containing several axonemal units enclosed in the same common cell membrane; aberrations in the axonemal main structure; and swollen and unevenly distributed mitochondria in the midpiece. Abnormal modifications in the mitochondrial sheath were also found in sperm cells retrieved from testes and epididymides. Considering these findings, we can conclude that this is the Dag-like defect, described previously in other domestic species and a testicular origin may be involved.

The objective was to use subzonal sperm injection (SUZI) to understand sperm penetration patterns and to use intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to improve production of bovine embryos using poor quality gametes. In experiment 1, poor versus good quality oocytes were fertilized with sperm from two bulls, A and B, with poor and good sperm vigor, respectively. The blastocyst rate was higher for good versus poor quality oocytes (23.3% vs. 11.1%, P < 0.05), regardless of the bull used. There was no significant difference in blastocyst rate for bull A (low vigor) regardless of oocyte quality, and for bull B (high vigor), blastocyst rate was better for good versus poor quality oocytes (25.7% vs. 9.2%, P < 0.05). In experiment 2, poor quality oocytes were subjected to SUZI. The oocyte penetration rate was lower for bull A than for bull B (29.6% vs. 53.8%, P < 0.05), when SUZI was performed within 1 hour after sperm processing. However, when SUZI was performed 2 to 3 hours after sperm processing, penetrating capacity was similar between bulls, but for bull B, penetrating capacity significantly decreased after 3 hours of sperm processing. In an attempt to overcome sperm penetrating disorders, poor and good quality oocytes were subjected to ICSI (experiment 3). Irrespective of the bull or of the oocyte quality grade, there were no differences in cleavage or blastocyst rates. Both bulls had distinct IVF embryo production rates, which we inferred were because of particular individual sperm characteristics. In conclusion, ICSI was an effective means to achieve in vitro production of bovine embryos with gametes of variable quality., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This is an integrative literature review which aims to identify the multi-professional scientific production on educational practices for individuals with diabetes available in the databases: Latin American Literature in Health Sciences (Literatura Latino Americana em Ciências da Saúde-LILACS), Medical Literature and Retrieval System online (Medline), Spanish Bibliographical Index in Health Sciences (Indice Bibliográfico Español en Ciencias de la Salud-Ibecs) and the Database on Nursing (Base de Dados em Enfermagem-BDENF), from 1999 to 2009. Results show that educational practices are developed mainly for adults and seniors up to 80 years of age, and involve themes that reflect the daily ife of living with diabetes. These practices are spread mainly through groups, bringing benefits not only for the individual with diabetes but also for the healthcare professional. Thus, we can see the process of changing the traditional education paradigm to a problem-based dialogical education, with a view for promoting health.

Malaria parasite transmission-blocking control strategies within the mosquito vector require an adequate understanding of the parasite mosquito interaction at the molecular level. The ookinete P25-P28 surface proteins are required for the transition from ookinete to oocyst in the mosquito midgut; however, their respective molecular interactions in the mosquito are largely unknown. We used recombinant Pvs25 and Pvs28 as probes for identification of potential Anopheles albimanus midgut ligands. A 50 kDa protein interacted with Pvs25 but not with Pvs28 in blot overlay assays. This protein was identified as calreticulin by LS MS and was detected in membrane, but not in soluble midgut protein extracts. Calreticulin was detected in An. albimanus midgut microvilli by immunofluorescence analysis. The An. albimanus calreticulin cDNA was cloned and recombinant calreticulin was shown to interact with recombinant Pvs25 in overlay and co-immunoprecipitation assays, confirming the interaction of the two proteins. The Pvs25-calreticulin interaction in vivo could represent a potential target for developing transmission blocking strategies based on interfering the parasite-midgut interaction.

This article is a case report of a high grade, radio-induced, breast malignant fibrous histiocytoma (undifferentiated high grade pleomorphic sarcoma), which developed in a 44-year old female, seven years after breast conservative surgery and radiotherapy for a T1N0M0 invasive left breast ductal carcinoma. The sarcoma presented as a fast growing tumour, 9.5 cm in the largest diameter, with skin, left breast, chest wall muscle and rib invasion. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was performed with epirubicin and ifosfamide. Extended radical surgery according to oncological standards and soft tissue reconstruction were carried out. Despite bad prognostic features of high grade and large invasive sarcoma, the patient is currently, after 44 months of follow up, without local recurrence, or metastases, exceeding the 12.8-month mean recurrence period and mortality rate for these tumours larger than 8.1 cm (+/- 1.2 cm) as described in the literature.

Purpose: A variety of predictive factors for the evolution of arterial grafts in patients with critical ischemia have been well defined in clinical studies, including diabetes mellitus, dialytic renal insufficiency, smoking, and distal arterial runoff. The goal of this study was to determine whether patients with critical ischemia undergoing arterial reconstruction in which ischemic lesions appeared spontaneously, compared to those in which the ischemic lesion appeared following an external aggression to the limb present different patterns of evolution., Methods: From February 2002 to January 2004, 100 patients undergoing infra-inguinal arterial reconstruction were followed. They were divided into 2 groups: 1) the spontaneous group (n = 52), comprising individuals presenting with ischemic lesions of spontaneous origin and 2) the external aggression to the limb group (n = 48), comprising individuals for which an external causal mechanism for the appearance of the ischemic lesion was identified. The variables analyzed were limb salvage and graft functioning rates., Results: Patients with spontaneous lesions had rates of limb salvage and graft functioning significantly lower than those for patients with lesions that were secondary to external aggression (42.3% versus 87.5%, respectively for both outcomes; P <.001)., Conclusions: The absence of an external aggression as a contributing factor to a critical ischemic lesion in the lower limb may result in a poorer evolution of both graft function and limb salvage following arterial revascularization. However, this factor is not expected to directly influence the case conduct, since almost half of the patients without evident external aggression had good graft functioning and limb salvage. This prognostic factor should be used just as all others are, i.e., to give patients and doctors a better idea of the possible evolution in such cases.

A total of 30 animals of the genus Dasyprocta were cytogenetically studied. They belong to the following species: D. prymnolopha (N=20), D. leporina (N=6), D. fuliginosa (N=1) and Dasyprocta sp. (N=3) (Dasyproctidae, Hystricognathi). Cell suspensions were obtained by peripheral blood culture, besides bone marrow and spleen cells, from D. prymnolopha and D. leporina. The diploid number was 64/65 for all samples. The karyotypes showed similarity, and chromosomal polymorphism was not detected by Giemsa conventional staining and G banding. The constitutive heterochromatin distribution at the pericentromeric region of all the chromosomes was similar in all species. D. prymnolopha, D. leporina and Dasyprocta sp. presented variation in the heterochromatical block size at one of the homologues of the A18 pair. D. fuliginosa presented the heterochromatin uniformly distributed in all chromosomes. There was not variation in the NORs pattern in the species studied.

The effect of iron on the activity of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase (PMA) from corn root microsomal fraction (CRMF) was investigated. In the presence of either Fe(2+) or Fe(3+) (100-200 microM of FeSO(4) or FeCl(3), respectively), 80-90% inhibition of ATP hydrolysis by PMA was observed. Half-maximal inhibition was attained at 25 microM and 50 microM for Fe(2+) and Fe(3+), respectively. Inhibition of the ATPase activity was prevented in the presence of metal ion chelators such as EDTA, deferoxamine or o-phenanthroline in the incubation medium. However, preincubation of CRMF in the presence of 100 microM Fe(2+), but not with 100 microM Fe(3+), rendered the ATPase activity (measured in the presence of excess EDTA) irreversibly inhibited. Inhibition was also observed using a preparation further enriched in plasma membranes by gradient centrifugation. Addition of 0.5 mM ATP to the preincubation medium, either in the presence or in the absence of 5 mM MgCl(2), reduced the extent of irreversible inhibition of the H(+)-ATPase. Addition of 40 microM butylated hydroxytoluene and/or 5 mM dithiothreitol, or deoxygenation of the incubation medium by bubbling a stream of argon in the solution, also caused significant protection of the ATPase activity against irreversible inhibition by iron. Western blots of CRMF probed with a polyclonal antiserum against the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase showed a 100 kDa cross-reactive band, which disappeared in samples previously exposed to 500 microM Fe(2+). Interestingly, preservation of the 100 kDa band was observed when CRMF were exposed to Fe(2+) in the presence of either 5 mM dithiothreitol or 40 microM butylated hydroxytoluene. These results indicate that iron causes irreversible inhibition of the corn root plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase by oxidation of sulfhydryl groups of the enzyme following lipid peroxidation.

In this retrospective (1980-1998) study, we have analyzed clinico-demographically, from the records of the University Hospital of Fortaleza (Brazil), a group of 87 patients showing signs and symptoms of motor neuron diseases (MNDs). Their diagnosis was determined clinically and laboratorially. The WFN criteria were used for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis. The clinico-demographic analysis of the 87 cases of MNDs showed that 4 were diagnosed as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), 5 cases as ALS subsets: 2 as progressive bulbar paralysis (PBP), 2 as progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) and 1 as monomelic amyotrophy (MA), and 78 cases of ALS. The latter comprised 51 males and 27 females, with a mean age of 42.02 years. They were sub-divided into 4 groups according to age: from 15 to 29 years (n= 17), 30 to 39 years (n= 18), 40 to 69 years (n= 39) and 70 to 78 years (n= 4). From the 78 ALS patients, 76 were of the classic sporadic form whilst only 2 were of the familial form. The analysis of the 87 patients with MNDs from the University Hospital of Fortaleza showed a predominance of ALS patients, with a high number of cases of juvenile and early onset adult sporadic ALS.

Baclofen (beta-p-chlorophenyl-GABA) has been used in humans to treat spasticity, as well as trigeminal neuralgia. Since GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) has been implicated in inhibitory and analgesic effects in the nervous system, it was of interest to study the effect of baclofen in experimental neuropathic pain. With this purpose, experiments were carried out in 17 neuropathic rats with constrictive sciatic injury, as described by Bennet and Xie (1988), taking as pain parameters scratching behaviour and the latency to the thermal nociceptive stimulus. The results showed that baclofen induces, in a dose-dependent manner, significant decrease (p < 0.05) of scratching behaviour and significant increase (p < 0.05) of the latency to the nociceptive thermal stimulus. The absence of antagonism of naloxone suggested a non-participation of an opioid-mediated mechanism in this analgesic effect of baclofen on experimental neuropathic pain.

HTLV-I infection and associated myelopathy has been reproduced experimentally in vitro and in vivo and these studies have shown the possibility of creating several lines of infective cells and of detecting minor and major clinical expressions of HTLV-I associated myelopathy in rabbits and rats.

Hemostatic effects of oxidized cellulose (Surgicel) are well known. Based on a possible similar effect of a sponge obtained after lyophilization of biosynthetic cellulose, two different experimental studies were planned. Phase I-Pieces of cellulose sponge were inserted into small provoked cortical wounds of twelve dogs. The time elapsed to obtain bloodstill after cortical damage and application of cellulose was observed in every dog, searching to detect any possible hemostatic effect of the material. The animals were sacrificed after 7, 30 and 90 days. An average time of 1 minute was elapsed until bleeding control was achieved. No clinical adverse effect was noticed. Microscopy showed histiocytic and mild foreign body reaction at 7 days, which diminished at 30 days. Almost no reaction surrounded the implant at 90 days. Lyophilized cellulose has a peculiar eosinophilic appearance, composed by thin irregular filaments which diminished their thickness with the time. At 90 days only sparse irregular cellulose filaments could be detected. Phase II-Small equal sponge fragments were inserted in the liver of twelve rats and observed 7, 30 and 90 days. At autopsy, small peritoneal adhesions were noticed at 30 and 90 days. Microscopy showed intense histioplasmocytic and foreign body reaction in all animals mainly at 7 days. In two animals, refringent intracellular cellulose particles were evident inside giant foreign body cells after 90 days. This fact evidences that cellulose can be reabsorbed by phagocytic phenomena when implanted in mammalians. A comparative group with other hemostatic material and the same method must be done to clarify the issue of hemostatic effects of this membrane.

This study was conducted to identify patients at high risk of the development of Pulmonary Embolism (PE) after open heart surgery, to evaluate pertinent diagnostic methods, and to assess the mortality associated with this complication. We evaluated the records of 2,551 consecutive patients who underwent open heart surgery over a 10-year period to identify those patients in whom PE developed. All surgical reports, ventilation/perfusion scans, pulmonary angiograms, and autopsies from the same period were also reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative risk factors for pulmonary embolism were also analyzed, as well as the outcome of this complication in each type of surgical procedure. Pulmonary embolism was identified in 69 (2.7%) patients after open heart surgery, in 43 (62.3%) of whom the diagnosis was established within the first week of surgery. Factors associated with high incidence for PE were hyperlipidemia, congestive heart failure and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (P < 0.001); obesity and prolonged mechanical ventilation (P < 0.005); and prior right heart catheterization by the femoral approach and prior PE and/or deep vein thrombosis (P < 0.05). The diagnosis of PE was established by a high-probability ventilation/perfusion scan in 25 patients, by pulmonary angiography in 42 (29 of whom had prior V/Q scan read as intermediate or low probability for PE) and by autopsy in two patients. The mortality rate in patients who had PE was 7.2%, while in those without this complication it was 3.2%. These findings suggest that aggressive approach for the diagnosis of PE by pulmonary angiography whenever the V/Q scan is not read as high probability is crucial in patients with recent open heart surgery; such approach may identify patients with PE at an early stage and may have an impact in reducing mortality incurred by this complication. This diagnostic assessment should be emphasized in the perioperative period, especially in patients with multiple significant and identifiable risk factors for PE.

This study compares the recanalization characteristics of intracoronary streptokinase (IC-SK) with those of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated in the first 6 hours after onset of symptoms. We studied 263 patients with AMI. Among these, 160 were treated with IC-SK; in 59 the drug was given within the first 3 hours and in 101 from 3 to 6 hours. Another 103 patients were treated with IV t-PA; in 64 the drug was given in the first 3 hours and in 39 within 3 to 6 hours. The recanalization rate in the IC-SK group at 0 to 3 hours was 73% and at 3 to 6 hours was 71%, with an overall recanalization rate of 72% from 0 to 6 hours. In the t-PA group, the recanalization rate at 0 to 3 hours was 72% and at 3 to 6 hours was 46%, with an overall recanalization rate of 62%. We conclude that during the first 6 hours of AMI, IC-SK treatment resulted in a rather steady thrombolysis rate, while t-PA treatment with the standard regimen produced a significant decline in recanalization when administered after 3 hours from the onset of AMI symptoms.

Plasma membrane vesicles derived from corn (Zea mays L.) roots retain a membrane-bound H+-ATPase that is able to form a H+ gradient across the vesicle membranes. The activity of this ATPase is enhanced 2- to 3-fold when Triton X-100 or lysophosphatidylcholine is added to the medium at a protein:detergent ratio of 2:1 (w/w). In the absence of detergent, the ATPase exhibits only one Km for ATP (0.1-0.2 mM), which is the same as for the pumping of H+. After the addition of either Triton X-100 or lysophosphatidylcholine, two Km's for ATP are detected, one in the range of 1 to 3 [mu]M and a second in the range of 0.1 to 0.2 mM. The Vmax of the second Km for ATP increases as the temperature of the assay medium is raised from 15[deg]C to 38[deg]C. The Arrhenius plot reveals a single break at 30[deg]C, both in the absence and in the presence of detergents. In the presence of Triton X-100 the H+-ATPase catalyzes the cleavage of glucose-6-phosphate when both hexokinase and ADP are included in the assay medium. There is no measurable cleavage when the apparent affinity for ATP of the H+-ATPase is not enhanced by Triton X-100 or when 1 mM glucose is included in the assay medium. These data indicate that when the high-affinity Km for ATP is unmasked with the use of detergent, the ATPase can use glucose-6-phosphate and hexokinase as an ATP-regenerating system.