Plant Silicon Amendment Does Not Reduce Population Growth of Schizaphis graminum or Host Quality for the Parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes

Interactions between different pest control methods can affect Integrated Pest Management efficiency. This study sought to evaluate (1) if Si accumulation is related to the level of constitutive resistance in sorghum genotypes, (2) the level of Si induces resistance by antibiosis in sorghum genotypes with different levels of constitutive resistance to Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (reared individualized or in colonies), and (3) the fitness of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) in aphids reared on Si-treated and untreated plants. Several experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions, using sorghum genotypes with different levels of resistance grown in pots with or without the addition of Si to the soil. The susceptible (BR007B), moderately resistant (GB3B), and highly resistant (TX430XGR111) genotypes all absorbed more Si when it was added to the soil compared with when it was not amended. However, the final Si content of treated plants was not related to the level of constitutive resistance among treated genotypes. While Si soil application did reduce the fecundity of individualized aphids reared on the susceptible and moderately resistant sorghum plants, it did not reduce populational growth of aphid colonies, independent of the level of plant's constitutive resistance. Parasitoid (L. testaceipes) had higher weight when reared from aphids fed on plants with added Si. Sorghum × constitutive resistance × S. graminum interactions were affected by plant Si content only for individualized aphids but not for aphid colonies. Sorghum × S. graminum × L. testaceipes interactions suggest that Si can have, overall, a positive effect on the biological control of S. graminum.

Localization effect on AMS fabric revealed by microstructural evidence across small-scale shear zone in marble

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) is regularly applied as a tool to infer structural analysis of deformation and flow in rocks, particularly, with low anisotropy. AMS integrates the magnetic signature of crystallographic and shape preferred orientation of all mineral grains present in the rock microstructure. Those preferred orientations result from multiple processes affecting the rock during its evolution, therefore the desirable AMS-strain relationship is not straightforward. Here we show that due to localization of deformation, AMS is indirectly dependent on the magnitude and character of deformation. In order to decipher the AMS-strain relationship, AMS studies should be accompanied by microstructural analyses combined with numerical modelling of magnetic fabric. A small-scale shear zone produced by single deformation event was studied. The resultant AMS fabric is "inverse" due to the presence of Fe-dolomite and controlled by calcite and dolomite crystallographic preferred orientations. The localized deformation resulted in the angular deviation between macroscopic and magnetic fabric in the shear zone, systematically increasing with increasing strain. This is a result of the presence of microstructural subfabrics of coarse porphyroclasts and fine-grained recrystallized matrix produced by localization.The localization of deformation is a multiscale and widespread process that should be considered whenever interpreting AMS in deformed rocks and regions.

Canal Transportation and Centering Ability of Reciproc Blue, WaveOne Gold and ProTaper Next in Simulated Curved Canals

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the canal transportation and centering ability of ProTaper Next (PTN), WaveOne Gold (WOG) and Reciproc Blue (RCB) in simulated curved resin canals.

Methods and Materials

A total of 43 blocks of simulated resin canals with 40° of curvature were prepared to an apical size of 0.02. Flexofile #15 instruments were used along the root canal to reach patency. The blocks were randomly assessed and sequence instruments were used according to each system: PTN, RCB and WOG. The imposition of pre and post instrumentation images were composited and analyzed. The canal transportation and apical centralization were measured using the software GIMP (2.8.4, Creative Commons - Share Alike 4.0 International License, 2013). Data were statistically analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, ANOVA test and Tukey's test. The level of significance was set at 0.05.

Results

There were no statistical differences in canal transportation between three systems. The general assessment of three systems presented the RCB group with higher values of centralization and more numbers of centralized points with significant differences between the PTN and RCB groups (P<0.05).

Conclusion

In this in vitro study, there were no statistical differences in canal transportation between the RCB, WOG and PTN systems. The lowest transportation was observed in the apical region at 3 mm performed with RCB system, followed by WOG and PTN systems. The RCB demonstrated higher values of centralization and more centralized points when assessed by regions.

Effects of continuous vs interval exercise training on oxygen uptake efficiency slope in patients with coronary artery disease

The oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) is a submaximal index incorporating cardiovascular, peripheral, and pulmonary factors that determine the ventilatory response to exercise. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of continuous exercise training and interval exercise training on the OUES in patients with coronary artery disease. Thirty-five patients (59.3±1.8 years old; 28 men, 7 women) with coronary artery disease were randomly divided into two groups: continuous exercise training (n=18) and interval exercise training (n=17). All patients performed graded exercise tests with respiratory gas analysis before and 3 months after the exercise-training program to determine ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT), respiratory compensation point, and peak oxygen consumption (peak VO₂). The OUES was assessed based on data from the second minute of exercise until exhaustion by calculating the slope of the linear relation between oxygen uptake and the logarithm of total ventilation. After the interventions, both groups showed increased aerobic fitness (P<0.05). In addition, both the continuous exercise and interval exercise training groups demonstrated an increase in OUES (P<0.05). Significant associations were observed in both groups: 1) continuous exercise training (OUES and peak VO₂ r=0.57; OUES and VO₂ VAT r=0.57); 2) interval exercise training (OUES and peak VO₂ r=0.80; OUES and VO₂ VAT r=0.67). Continuous and interval exercise training resulted in a similar increase in OUES among patients with coronary artery disease. These findings suggest that improvements in OUES among CAD patients after aerobic exercise training may be dependent on peripheral and central mechanisms.

Dentin reactions to caries are misinterpreted by histological "gold standards"

Dentin reactions to caries, crucial for pathogenesis and for the determination of the severity of caries lesions, are believed to be reasonably detected by stereomicroscopy (SM) and polarized light microscopy in quinoline (PLMQ), but accuracies are not available. Here, stereomicroscopy of wet (SW) and dry (SD) ground sections of natural occlusal caries lesions resulted in moderate (0.7, for normal dentin) and low accuracies (< 0.6, for carious and sclerotic dentin) as validated by contrast-corrected microradiography. Accuracies of PLMQ were moderate for both normal (0.71) and carious dentin (0.71). The hypothesis that detection of dentin reactions by SM and PLMQ would be influenced by the contrast quality of micrographic images was rejected. Dentin reactions were scored by SW, SD, PLMQ, and three types of microradiographic images with varying contrast qualities and each technique was compared against the one that resulted in the highest number of scores for each dentin reaction. Large differences resulted, mainly related to the detection of sclerotic dentin by both SW and SD, and normal and carious dentin by PLMQ. It is concluded that contrast-corrected microradiography should be preferred as the gold standard and SM and PLMQ should be avoided, but the relationship of PLMQ with dentin mineralization deserves further investigation.

Producing a sulfamethazine quality control material under the framework of ISO/CD Guide 80

The increasing use of antimicrobial agents such as sulfonamides by the pig industry is of concern, since residues in both pork and its by-products, when derived from animals treated improperly, can endanger human health. The aim of this study was to establish the production conditions and to evaluate the homogeneity and the stability of sulfamethazine in porcine liver quality control material, produced 'in-house' for use in ring tests of the laboratory network of residues and contaminants of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, Brazil. In the process of preparing the material, a FOSS blender was used, where the samples were ground to obtain a homogeneous mass, which was packed in polypropylene bottles. The material resulting from this process of homogenisation was sampled and analysed by LC/MS/MS. The analytical results were statistically evaluated by one-way ANOVA. According to statistical evaluation, the material produced was considered homogeneous, with 95% confidence. Stability tests were performed with the bottles stored under the specified storage conditions. They were randomly selected and analysed in duplicate by the same analytical method as the homogeneity study. The analytical results were statistically evaluated by the procedures for a stability check described in ISO 13528:2005, indicating that the material was unstable under the conditions of storage.

[Prevalence of prenatal exposure to cocaine in a sample of newborns from a university teaching hospital]

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of prenatal exposure to cocaine in a sample of newborns using two methods: fluorescence polarization immunoassay and interview with the mother. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in a university teaching hospital. The population included all live births between March 23, 1999 and June 01, 1999 (n=847). Exposure was determined by a benzoylecgonine-positive meconium specimen and/or by a positive interview with the mother. RESULTS: The prevalence of prenatal exposure to cocaine in this sample was 2.4% (16 cases) according to the interviews, and 3.4% (25 cases) according to the meconium analysis. A rate of 4.6% (34 cases) was found when both methods were associated. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that the meconium test was more effective than the maternal interview for the diagnosis of prenatal exposure to cocaine. The meconium analysis enhanced diagnostic chances by 53.4%, compared to 26% in the case of maternal interview.

Primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock on admission

AIM

To evaluate primary angioplasty results for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock on admission.

POPULATION AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 11 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (defined as systolic blood pressure below 80 mmHg and signs of hypoperfusion, despite volume expanders and/or vasopressors infusion) treated with primary angioplasty. Clinical characteristics, angiographic data, hospital outcome and follow-up were analysed.

RESULTS

There were ten males (90.9%) with a mean age of 66 years. Eight patients had anterior wall myocardial infarction and three patients had inferior wall myocardial infarction, two of which with extension to the right ventricle. The mean time between symptom onset and angioplasty was 3.5 hours. Three patients had left main coronary artery occlusion; three patients had single vessel disease and five patients had multivessel disease. The angiographic success rate (open infarct-related artery and TIMI III flow) was 90.9% (ten patients). Stent implantation was performed in five patients. Abciximab was given in five patients. In-hospital mortality rate was 36.4% (four patients). The surviving patients had a mean ejection fraction of 43.1% on discharge. In a mean follow-up of 16.2 months, one patient had coronary artery bypass graft and one had stroke.

CONCLUSION

Based on published data, our experience with this short series of cases shows that primary angiography should be regarded as a positive option for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

Photophysical properties and photobiological activity of the furanochromones visnagin and khellin

The larger photobiological activity of visnagin (VI) versus khellin (KH) toward several living organisms, including fungi, viruses, yeasts and bacteria, induced a detailed investigation of the photophysical properties of these naturally occurring furanochromones, using laser-flash-photolysis, photoacoustic calorimetry and fluorescence (steady-state and time-resolved) techniques in solvents with different polarity and content of water, including micelles and vesicles. The results have shown that the magnitude of all the three rate constants out of S1 (radiative, kf; internal conversion, kic and intersystem crossing, kisc) for VI and KH strongly depend on the solvent, namely on its hydrogen bonding ability and polarity. The changes of kf and kisc are due to the solvent-assisted mixing and/or inversion of the two first singlet excited states (1n, pi and 1 pi, pi), while kic increases with a decrease of the S0-S1 energy gap. As a consequence, the quantum yield of triplet formation (phi T) strongly decreases from values of approximately 0.8 in dioxane to < 0.05 in water for both compounds. The magnitude of solvent polarity/hydrogen bonding ability required, at which the state order is inverted and phi T starts to decrease, is greater for VI than for KH and consequently phi T (VI) >> phi T (KH) over a broad range of water content including that appropriate to the environment of the compounds in a living system. These facts account for the larger photobiological activity of VI with respect to KH, regarding both the fungus Fusarium culmorum L. and the wild strain of Escherichia coli, studied by us.

[Ruptura of the thoracic esophagus due to closed abdominal trauma]

The authors present a rare case of closed abdominal trauma in a five year old girl resulting from a washtub fall on her causing three lacerations in the middle third of the esophagus, identified 48 hours after the trauma. The stitcher surgical treatment of the lacerations associated with gastrostomy and lengthy parenteral nutrition did not prevent the recurrence of the esophagus-pleural fistula, and an esophagectomy plus cervical esophagostomy was required. After a 10-month follow-up, the digestive passage was reconstructed by an esophagocoloplasty. At present, after 5 years of follow-up, the patient is cured. The authors discuss the causes of esophagus rupture in children and its etiopathogeny. They propose that preservativement the esophagus is the best initial treatment, in spite of the foot that this procedure was ineffective in the present case.