Relations between soil attributes and the abundance of Bacillus thurigiensis in the Cerrado of Maranhão state, Brazil

The influence of abiotic factors on the abundance of microorganism populations in soil has been sparsely studied, especially regarding Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria. Therefore, this research was aimed at analyzing the relationship between the chemical and textural characteristics of the soil of the Cerrado (savanna) of Maranhão State on the abundance of Bacillus thuringiensis. Soil samples were collected in different municipalities in eastern Maranhão: São Mateus do Maranhão, Alto Alegre, Coroatá, Timbiras and Codó. The soil samples were obtained in the 0-0.1 m layer for soil fertility and texture analysis. Then, in the same area for the isolation of Bt, 1 g of soil was collected. The colonies obtained in the isolation that featured morphological characteristics of Bacillus spp. were visualized under phase contrast microscopy. Principal component analysis, clustering and correlations were peformed. Results: The sand content correlated positively with the Bacillus thuringiensis index (iBt). The cluster analysis allowed for verifying that the soils not showed iBt in function of high concentrations of aluminum (Al) and potential acidity (H+Al). Considering as these attributes (Al and H+Al) alter the availability of P in the soil, the abundance of Bacillus thuringiensis may have been impaired by the deficiency of this element in the environment. Conclusion: Bt has correlations with soil texture, and high concentrations of aluminum and potential acidity in the soil influencing the permanence of Bacillus thuringiensis in Maranhão eastern Cerrado.

Monensin associated or not with virginiamycin or functional oil for feedlot beef cattle

The objective of this study was to evaluate diets containing monensin (MON) associated or not with virginiamycin (VM) or functional oil based on cashew nut shell and castor beans (FO_cc) for beef cattle in feedlots on nutritional (intake and digestibility) and productive parameters. A total of 1410 non-castrated Nellore cattle were selected, with an average age of 18 months and with an initial mean body weight (BW) of 305 ± 41.52 kg. The diet showed a roughage to concentrate ratio of 23:77, with the supply of corn silage as a source of roughage. The following additive inclusions in the diet were evaluated: (1) MON: 27 mg MON/kg dry matter (DM); (2) MON + VM: 22 mg MON/kg DM + 19 mg VM/kg DM; and (3) MON + FO_cc: 22 mg MON/kg DM + 500 mg FO_cc/kg DM. Statistical analyses were obtained through a linear model using initial BW and days of feedlot as covariables and comparisons between treatments using mutually orthogonal linear contrasts with a 5% significance level. The association or not of MON with VM or FO_cc does not affect any of the nutritional and productive parameters evaluated. Animals that receive diets with MON + VM have higher average daily gain and feed efficiency (FE) than those that receive MON + FO_cc without showing differences in nutritional parameters. The supply of MON associated with VM or FO_cc does not increase intake and productive performance and, consequently, efficiency of feedlot beef cattle. However, in the case of use associated with MON, the VM provides greater performance than FO_cc without changing food intake.

Coleoptera (Insecta) as forest fragmentation indicators in the Rio Negro sub-region of the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the integrity of two forest fragments in Rio Negro Pantanal sub-region, using coleopterans as environmental indicators. The study was carried out at Santa Emilia Farm in the Rio Negro sub-region, municipality of Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul (19º 30' 18'' S and 55° 36' 45'' W). Two sites were selected, locally denominated as "cordilheiras" (narrow and elongated strands of elevated soil), one with low degree of anthropic disturbance (CL) and the other, currently undergoing restoration process (TD). The sampling sites were determined using a GPS device. Ten pit-fall traps containing water and detergent were used for the specimens sampling, which were screened and identified. Abundance, richness, diversity and similarity were determined. Abundance was higher for CL (n = 277) than for TD (n = 251). The same was observed for the diversity indices, CL showed H' = 2.83 bit.individual-1 and TD = 2.48 bit.individual-1, confirming the interferences made for abundance. Specimens of ten families were captured in CL area and seven families in TD area, indicating higher richness in CL, when compared to TD. The linear correlation coefficient (p > 0.05) indicates that both areas are significantly different, showing similarity value of 66.7%. The data show that the structure and disturbance degree in the environment integrity influence the composition of beetles fauna, causing the increase of abundance, richness and diversity in anthropogenic environments undergoing the early stage of regeneration.

Stereotactic subthalamic nucleus lesioning for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of unilateral STN lesioning in 23 patients with PD. L-Dopa intake and dyskinesia, Hoehn & Yahr, Schwab & England, and UPDRS motor scores were recorded pre- and postoperatively. Stereotactic MRI and CT and macrostimulation were used to establish target coordinates. A single RF lesion was performed. All patients underwent postoperative MRI. Contralateral tremor arrest and decrease of rigidity and bradykinesia should be regarded as hallmarks to STN stimulation. All recorded parameters were significantly improved after a mean follow-up of 13.5 months. Patients with STN lateral territory lesioning (alpha <0.05), younger than 61 years and with a duration of the disease between 6 and 9 years (alpha >0.05) did better than the others. The recurrence rate was 10%. Two patients developed dyskinesias which were completely resolved by a Vim/VOp lesion. Other significant complications were rare. The authors conclude that unilateral STN lesioning is a safe and very effective procedure to treat PD.

SPECT-based tailoring of psychosurgical procedures: is it possible?

In contrast to the other areas of functional neurosurgery, psychosurgery has remained basically empiric and unchanged since the seventies, except for the recent suggestion to use chronic stimulation instead of ablative surgery. In this study, the authors investigated the value of SPECT abnormalities to guide psychosurgery and correlated the surgical results with the postoperative SPECT. This new approach, SPECT-based tailored psychosurgery, was applied in 4 of 11 patients referred for surgery, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria adopted. Excellent results were obtained in all of them after a follow-up of 30-52 months. Postoperative SPECT normalized in every case. We conclude, based on this small series, that it is possible to individualize and lateralize (tailor) psychosurgical procedures for every patient and that, to achieve this goal, SPECT is a rather impressive means and that postoperative SPECT closely correlated with the surgical results.

Characterization of a divergent vanD-type resistance element from the first glycopeptide-resistant strain of Enterococcus faecium isolated in Brazil

Enterococcus faecium 10/96A from Brazil was resistant to vancomycin (MIC, 256 microg/ml) but gave no amplification products with primers specific for known van genotypes. A 2,368-bp fragment of a van cluster contained one open reading frame encoding a peptide with 83% amino acid identity to VanH(D), and a second encoding a D-alanine-D-lactate ligase with 83 to 85% identity to VanD. The divergent glycopeptide resistance phenotype was designated VanD4.

[Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis]

A four years-old boy with Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis was surgically treated at the Pediatric Surgery Unit of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia of Maceió. Comments are made upon pathology, pre-operative diagnostic difficulties, differential diagnosis, and the rare occurrence in children.

[Treatment of neurocysticercosis with praziquantel]

Twenty seven patients with neurocysticercosis were treated with praziquantel in progressive doses reaching 50 mg/kg/day associated with dexamethasone for 21 days. The patients were followed during and after treatment and those followed up for one year repeated their immunological tests (indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA) at this time. Headache was the most frequent symptom during the treatment, occurring on 37% of patients. During the treatment 18.5% of patients had intracranial hypertension and one died. One year after treatment 72.2% of patients who finished treatment improved. The immunological tests became negative in 45.4% of patients sera and 42.8% of cerebrospinal fluids. There was no correlation between the clinical evolution and immunological tests. In this study it is not possible to affirm that both negative immunological tests and good clinical evolution were consequent to the efficacy of praziquantel treatment. Due to the great frequency and seriousness of this treatment complications, the patients with neurocysticercosis must be individually evaluated to know the risks and the benefits of the treatment with praziquantel.

Levantamento das condições de habitação e saúde da comunidade da favela do Borel, Tijuca

O presente estudo Jaz o levantamento das condições de habitação e saúde da comunidade da favela do Borel, acompanhado de inquérito parasitológico em amostra da população de 0 a 14 anos. Tal levantamento traz subsídios ao Centro Médico Sanitário Heitor Beltrão visando a uma campanha de educação sanitária e saneamento, além de proporcionar treinamento de estudantes em condições reais de trabalho.