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Copyright of Revista Alergia de Mexico is the property of Coleg. Mexicano de Inmunologia Clinica y Alergia A.C.; Soc. Lat. de Alergia, Asma e Inmunologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Para caracterizar la dinámica de acumulación de biomasa de la guinea Mombaza (Panicum maximum Jacq) durante tres años, se utilizó un diseño de muestreo sistemático con cinco repeticiones. En el primer año, se estudiaron diferentes edades de rebrote (14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126, 140 y 154 d) para el período lluvioso, y hasta 168 d para el poco lluvioso. Para los dos años restantes se estudiaron hasta los 168 d en ambas épocas del año. La altura y el rendimiento de materia seca fueron los indicadores de crecimiento. Los resultados se analizaron mediante los paquetes estadísticos Infostat y SPSS y se probaron los modelos que mayor bondad de ajuste mostraron, teniendo en cuenta el coeficiente de determinación, el cuadrado medio del error y la significación de cada modelo. El modelo logístico fue el que mejor ajuste presentó para los indicadores agronómicos. Se identificó que aproximadamente a los 56 d de rebrote se encuentra el punto de inflexión, momento en el que se inicia el crecimiento de la guinea Mombaza. En las condiciones estudiadas, el rendimiento potencial de materia seca de la Mombaza fue de 21.09 t/ha como promedio en los tres años. La altura alcanzada fue de 224 cm a los 168 d de rebrote. Mientras que en el período seco alcanzó 74 cm a la misma edad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic sampling design with five repetitions was used to characterize the dynamics of accumulation of biomass of Guinea grass Mombaza (Panicum maximum Jacq). In the first year, different regrowth ages (14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126, 140, and 154 d) were studied in the rainy season, and up to 168 d, in the dry season. For the rest of the years, they were studied up to 168 d in both seasons. The height and yield of dry matter were the growth indicators. The results were analyzed through the statistical software Infostat and SPSS and the models of best goodness of fit were tested considering the coefficient of determination, the mean square of the error, and the significance of each model. The logistic model was the one with the best fit to the agronomic indicators. It was identified that at about 56 d of regrowth there is an inflection point, time in which there is start of the growth of the Guinea grass Mombaza. In the conditions under study, the potential yield of dry matter from Mombaza was of 21.09 t/ha as average in the three years. The height attained was of 224 cm at 168 d of regorwth; whereas in the dry season it attained 74 cm at the same age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate whether initial and accrued organ damage measured by Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) Damage Index (SDI) predicts mortality in cohort of Brazilian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). One hundred and five outpatients with SLE were enrolled from July 2000 to March 2001; their demographics, disease manifestations, interventions and quantified disease activity (SLEDAI) were obtained. SDI was measured at baseline and at the end of follow-up. Initial and accrued SDI prognostic values for mortality were investigated by multivariate Cox survival analysis and Kaplan-Meyer survival curves. After a median follow-up of 6.3 years, 19 patients died due to disease activity, end-organ failure, cardiovascular events, cancer and infection. Deceased patients had longer disease duration and greater initial and final SDI than survivors had. After adjustment for age, sex and disease duration, both initial and final SDI ≥ 3 points were independent predictors of mortality, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 3.0 (1.1-8.2) and 4.7 (1.6-14.5), respectively. Damage accrual during follow-up was the strongest predictor of death (HR: 5.1, 2.0-13.0). Renal and pulmonary damages were the main predictors of increased mortality risk. In conclusion, baseline and accrued damage increase mortality risk in Brazilian patients with SLE. Measures to prevent damage development and progression are urgent to reduce the mortality of patients with SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. QT-interval parameters are presumed markers of cardiovascular risk and have not been previously evaluated in SLE. Standard 12-lead ECGs were obtained from 140 female SLE outpatients and 37 age and body mass index-matched controls. QT interval was measured in each lead and heart rate-corrected maximum QT-interval duration (QTcmax) and QT-interval dispersion (QTd) were calculated. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease and lupus clinical features, disease treatment, disease activity and damage index were recorded. SLE patients have increased QT-interval parameters when compared to controls (QTcmax:427.91 ± 31.53 ms1/2 versus 410.05 ± 15.45 ms1/2, P < 0.001; QTd: 52.38 ± 22.21 ms versus 37.12 ± 12.88 ms, P < 0.001). These differences persisted after excluding those patients with arterial hypertension, diabetes and with ECG abnormalities (QTcmax: 419.90 ± 28.78 ms1/2 versus 409.15 ± 15.85 ms1/2, P = 0.041; QTd: 54.74 ± 26.00 ms versus 37.96 ± 13.05 ms, P = 0.001). Multivariate linear regression for factors associated with QTcmax selected the presence of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH) (P = 0.003), nonspecific ST-T-wave abnormalities (P = 0.022) and left atrial enlargement (P = 0.044). Multivariate associates with QTd were age (P = 0.018), ECG-LVH (P = 0.022) and ST-T abnormalities (P = 0.031). In conclusion, SLE patients have increased QT interval parameters when compared to controls. This prolongation may lead to an increased cardiovascular risk. This finding might be due to subclinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]