Resumo Objetivo Desenvolver curvas de referência para o peso fetal estimado em uma população de Curitiba, Sul do Brasil, e compará-las com curvas estabelecidas para outras populações. Métodos Foi realizado um estudo observacional, transversal e retrospectivo. Um modelo de referência para o peso fetal estimado foi desenvolvido usando uma amostra local de 2.211 gestações únicas de baixo risco de distúrbios do crescimento e idade gestacional bem definida. Este modelo foi comparado graficamente com as curvas de Hadlock e Intergrowth 21st. Resultados As curvas de referência para o peso fetal estimado foram desenvolvidas para uma população local. O coeficiente de determinação foi de R2 = 99,11%, indicando que 99,11% das variações do peso fetal foram explicadas pelo modelo. Em comparação com as curvas de Hadlock, os percentis 50, 90, e 97 neste modelo foram inferiores, enquanto o percentil 10 quase se sobrepôs, e o percentil 3 foi ligeiramente superior no modelo proposto. Os percentis foram maiores no modelo proposto em comparação com as curvas do Intergrowth 21st, particularmente para os percentis 3, 10, e 50. Conclusão Fornecemos uma curva de referência local para o peso fetal estimado. O modelo proposto foi diferente de outros modelos, e essas diferenças podem ser devido ao uso de diferentes populações para a construção do modelo.

Abstract Objective To develop reference curves of estimated fetal weight for a local population in Curitiba, South of Brazil, and compare them with the curves established for other populations. Methods An observational, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted. A reference model for estimated fetal weight was developed using a local sample of 2,211 singleton pregnancies with low risk of growth disorders and well-defined gestational age. This model was compared graphically with the Hadlock and Intergrowth 21st curves. Results Reference curves for estimated fetal weight were developed for a local population. The coefficient of determination was R2 = 99.11%, indicating that 99.11% of the fetal weight variations were explained by the model. Compared with Hadlock curves, the 50th, 90th, and 97th percentiles in this model were lower, whereas the 10th percentile nearly overlapped, and the 3rd percentile was slightly higher in the proposed model. The percentiles were higher in the proposed model compared with the Intergrowth 21st curves, particularly for the 3rd, 10th, and 50th percentiles. Conclusion We provide a local reference curve for estimated fetal weight. The proposed model was different from other models, and these differences might be due to the use of different populations for model construction.

Nos últimos anos a ferrugem asiática, causada pelo fungo Phakopsora pachyrhizi tornou-se uma das mais sérias ameaças a produção de soja Brasileira. Linhagens melhoradas e variedades têm sido selecionadas para a resistência à ferrugem da soja na Ásia, entretanto para a seleção e utilização dessas fontes de resistência, diferenças de virulência entre populações Asiáticas e Brasileiras desse fungo devem ser consideradas. Neste trabalho sugerimos um critério para se distinguir resistência de susceptibilidade pela análise de quatro caracteres de resistência: freqüência de lesões contendo urédias, número de urédias por lesão, freqüência de urédias abertas e nível de esporulação determinados pela utilização de 63 genótipos. Sob condições controladas em câmaras de crescimento, treze variedades de soja foram expostas a três populações de fungos - uma população proveniente do Japão e duas populações provenientes do Brasil-e avaliadas quanto aos caracteres de resistência mencionados acima. As populações Brasileiras diferiram entre si claramente quanto a virulência e em relação à população de isolados do Japão. Apenas dois genes de resistência, Rpp4 presente na variedade PI459025 e Rpp5 presente na variedade Shiranui conferiram resistência as três populações da ferrugem. O número de variedades ou genes resistentes úteis em ambos os países parece ser limitado. Assim, um cultivar universalmente efetivo contra a ferrugem da soja deveria ser desenvolvido pela piramidação de genes maiores de resistência e pela introdução de resistência horizontal.

In recent years soybean rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi has become one of the most serious threats to soybean production in Brazil. Breeding lines and varieties have been selected for resistance to soybean rust in Asia. However, differences in virulence between Asian and Brazilian rust populations should be considered in order to select and use resistant resources from Asia. Here, we suggest criteria for distinguishing resistant from susceptible types by the analysis of four resistance characters: frequency of lesions having uredinia, number of uredinia per lesion, frequency of open uredinia, and sporulation level, determined by the utilization of 63 genotypes. Under growth chamber conditions, a set of 13 soybean varieties were exposed to three rust populations-one from Japan and two from Brazil-and evaluated for the resistance characters mentioned above. The Japanese and Brazilian populations clearly differed in virulence, as did the two Brazilian populations. Only two resistance genes, Rpp4 from PI459025 and Rpp5 from Shiranui, commonly conferred resistance on all three rust populations. The number of resistant varieties or resistance genes useful in both countries appears limited. Therefore, a resistant cultivar that is universally effective against soybean rust should be developed by pyramiding some major resistance genes and by introducing horizontal resistance.

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, there has been a rise in the incidence of prostate cancer (PCa), and routine screening for the disease has become a well accepted clinical practice. Even with the recognized benefit of this approach, some men are still reluctant to undergo digital rectal examination (DRE). For this reason, we designed the present study in order to better understand men's reactions about this method of screening. The aim was to identify possible drawbacks that could be overcome to increase DRE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We randomly selected 269 patients that were enrolled in an institutional PCa screening program. They were first asked to answer a question regarding their preferred position to undergo the examination. Following this step, they answered a questionnaire in which physical and psychological reactions regarding the DRE were presented. Finally, we used a visual analogical scale (VAS) to analyze the perception of pain during DRE. RESULTS: The supine position was preferred for most patients (53.9%). Before DRE, about 59.4% of patients felt that the exam would be acceptable. After DRE, this figure increased to 91.5% (p < 0.001). Mean VAS score during DRE was 1.69 on a scale with a range between 0 and 10 (0 = no pain; 10 = extreme pain). CONCLUSION: Patient expectations about DRE were negative before examination and changed significantly following the exam. Pain during examination was negligible, contrary to the prevalent belief. These two findings must be clearly presented to patients in order to improve PCa screening acceptance.