Abstract Introduction: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are described in individuals with leprosy without the clinical features of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), a condition involving thromboembolic phenomena. We have described the persistence of these antibodies for over 5 years in patients with leprosy after specific treatment. Objectives: To determine whether epidemiological, clinical and immunological factors played a role in the longterm persistence of aPL antibodies in leprosy patients after multidrug therapy (MDT) had finished. Methods: The study sample consisted of 38 patients with a diagnosis of leprosy being followed up at the Dermatology and Venereology Outpatient Department at the Alfredo da Matta Foundation (FUAM) in Manaus, AM. ELISA was used to detect anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-β2 glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) antibodies. Patients were reassessed on average of 5 years after specific treatment for the disease (MDT) had been completed. Results: Persistence of aPL antibodies among the 38 leprosy patients was 84% (32/38), and all had the IgM isotype. Mean age was 48.1 ± 15.9 years, and 23 (72.0%) were male. The lepromatous form (LL) of leprosy was the most common (n = 16, 50%). Reactional episodes were observed in three patients (9.4%). Eighteen (47.37%) were still taking medication (prednisone and/or thalidomide). Mean IgM levels were 64 U/mL for aCL and 62 U/mL for anti-β2GPI. In the multivariate binary logistic regression the following variables showed a significant association: age (p = 0.045, OR = 0.91 and CI 95% 0.82-0.98), LL clinical presention (p = 0.034; OR = 0.02 and CI 95% = 0.0-0.76) and bacterial index (p = 0.044; OR = 2.74 and CI 95% = 1.03-7.33). We did not find association between prednisone or thalidomide doses and positivity for aPL (p = 0.504 and p = 0.670, respectively). No differences in the variables vascular thrombosis, pregnancy morbidity, diabetes, smoking and alcoholism were found between aPL-positive and aPL-negative patients. Conclusion: Persistence of positivity for aPL antibodies was influenced by age, clinical presentation and bacterial index. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the reason for this persistence, the role played by aPL antibodies in the disease and the B cell lineages responsible for generation of these antibodies.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance, qualitative, morphometric and quantitative carcass traits of Santa Inês lambs of different frame sizes finished in a feedlot. Twenty 120-day-old intact lambs with a 25.0±3.1 kg average body weight at the beginning of the experiment were used. Lambs received a diet containing 17% crude protein and 2.70 Mcal/kg dry matter. Frame size influenced performance and tissue composition in the carcasses of the lambs. Lambs with large frame sizes showed better carcass conformation compared with those of medium-sized frames. Frame size was found to have a significant effect on rump perimeter. Large-framed lambs showed higher compactness on the carcass index and carcass dressing area compared with medium-framed lambs. The cuts of large-framed lambs weighed more than those of mediumframed lambs. However, no significant differences were found in dressing.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar a atividade potencialmente alelopática de óleos essenciais de pimenta longa (Piper hispidinervium C. DC.) e oriza (Pogostemon heyneanus Benth) e analisar, comparativamente, seus efeitos alelopáticos. Óleos essenciais obtidos foram preparados em concentrações de 0,25, 0,5 e 1,0%, tendo como eluente o éter metílico, e testados sobre a germinação de sementes, desenvolvimento da radícula e do hipocótilo das plantas daninhas de área de pastagens cultivadas, malícia (Mimosa pudica) e mata-pasto (Senna obtusifolia). Os óleos das duas espécies evidenciaram atividade alelopática em intensidades que variaram em função da concentração do óleo, da espécie doadora, da planta receptora e do fator da planta analisado. A germinação das sementes foi o fator mais intensamente inibido pelos óleos. As intensidades das inibições estiveram positivamente associadas à concentração, com inibições máximas verificadas a 1,0%. Malícia foi à espécie receptora mais sensível aos efeitos do óleo. Comparativamente, o óleo essencial da pimenta longa revelou maior potencial para inibir a germinação e o desenvolvimento das duas plantas receptoras, notadamente em relação à germinação de sementes, quando as diferenças foram mais marcantes. Os resultados foram atribuídos à composição química dos óleos, especialmente em relação à presença de monoterpenos, monoterpenos oxigenados e sesquiterpenos.

This study aimed to characterize the potential allelopathic activity of essential oils of pimenta longa (Piper hispidinervium C. DC.) and oriza (Pogostemon heyneanus Benth), and to examine, comparatively, their allelopathic effects. Essential oils obtained were prepared at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5% and 1.0%, with ether methanol as eluent, and tested upon the germination of seeds and the development of the radicle and the hypocotyl of the weeds of cultivated grassland areas, malícia (Mimosa pudica) and mata-pasto (Senna obtusifolia). Depending on their concentrations, oils of the two species showed intensities of allelopathic activity on the donor species, on the receptor plant and on the examined plant factor. The germination of seeds was the factor most strongly inhibited by the oils. The intensities of inhibitions were positively related to the concentration, with the maximum inhibitions verified at 1%. Mimosa pudica was the receptor species most sensitive to the effects of oil. In comparison, the essential oil of Piper hispidinervium showed a higher potential for inhibiting the germination and development of the two receptor plants, notably in relation to the germination of seeds, when the differences were more striking. The results were attributed to the chemical composition of oils, especially in relation to the presence of monoterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes.