Resumen Varias especies de plagas atacan al maíz, entre ellas la principal plaga del maíz almacenado, Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Este estudio determinó las CL50 y DL50 de insecticidas a base de nim (AzaMax® y Natuneem®) en comparación con un insecticida piretroide sintético (Decis® 25 CE) para S. zeamais. Los bioensayos consistieron de exposición de insectos solos (aplicación tópica mediante microjeringa) y de exposición de insectos y semillas tratados simultáneamente. El bioensayo final utilizó de cuatro a seis concentraciones de cada formulación por bioensayo, diluidas en agua destilada. Los bioensayos se hicieron con 10 adultos no sexados de S. zeamais por repetición y tras 48h de exposición se evaluó la mortalidad. Los datos de concentración y dosis-mortalidad fueron analizados mediante análisis de probit. Las CL50 y DL50 fueron utilizadas para calcular la tasa de toxicidad con su respectivo intervalo de confianza. Los bioensayos con aplicación tópica produjeron DL50 de 51,32, 76,76 y 42,75 µL de AzaMax, Natuneem y Decis/g de insectos, respectivamente. Los bioensayos con exposición simultánea de insectos y semillas produjeron CL50 de 4,01, 4,46 y 0,41 µL de AzaMax, Natuneem y Decis/g de semillas, respectivamente. No se detectaron diferencias significativas entre los valores de CL50 de insecticidas botánicos, así que ambos se pueden utilizar para el manejo del maíz almacenado infestado con S. zeamais. El costo para tratar el maíz y obtener un control efectivo de S. zeamais es menor para Decis <Natuneem <Azamax. Los valores de CL50 encontrados serían equivalentes a usar 8,02, 8,92 y 0,82 L de AzaMax, Natuneem y Decis/ton de semillas.

Abstract Maize is attacked by various pest species, including the key-pest of stored maize, Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). This study determined the LC50 and LD50 of neem-based insecticides (AzaMax® and Natuneem®) in comparison to a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide (Decis® 25 CE) to S. zeamais. The bioassays consisted of insects’ exposure alone (topical application with microsyringe) and exposure of both insects and seeds treated simultaneously. The final bioassays used four to six concentrations of each formulation per bioassay, diluted in distilled water. The bioassays were run with the use of 10 non-sexed adults of S. zeamais per replication and mortality was assessed after 48 h of exposure. The data regarding concentration and dose-mortality were analyzed by probit analysis. Both LC50 and LD50 were used to calculate LCR and LDR’s and their respective confidence interval (CI). After using topical application, the bioassays yielded LD50-values of 51.32, 76.76 and 42.75 µL of AzaMax, Natuneem and Decis/g of insects, respectively. The bioassays with simultaneous exposure of both insects and seeds yielded LC50-values of 4.01, 4.46 and 0.41 µL of AzaMax, Natuneem and Decis/g of seeds, respectively. Regarding the fact that there were no significant differences between the LC50-values of the botanical insecticides, both of them can be used to manage S. zeamais infesting stored corn. The cost to treat maize and to obtain effective control of S. zeamais is cheapest for Decis<Natuneem<Azamax. The LC50-values found in our study would be equivalent to use 8.02, 8.92 and 0.82 L of AzaMax, Natuneem and Decis/ton of seeds.

Este estudo analisou moduladores de apoptose no miocárdio de ratos submetidos a treinamento físico. Os ratos foram distribuídos nos seguintes grupos, respectivamente: não treinados; treinados. Os animais realizaram exercício em esteira (60 min./dia; 6 x semana) por 13 semanas. O ventrículo esquerdo foi processado para análise da expressão gênica e protéica de fatores anti-apoptóticos (Bcl-2, c-IAP1, c-IAP2, Survivina, ILK, Akt e pAkt) e pro-apoptóticos (Bad) por PCR em tempo real (exceto Akt e pAkt) e Western blot, respectivamente. O teor de RNAm da Bad (p<0,05) foi significativamente reduzido após treinamento. Porém, a expressão protéica da Bad não foi diferente entre os grupos. A expressão gênica e proteica de todos os fatores anti-apoptóticos foi significativamente aumentada com o treinamento. A exceção foi para c-IAP2, que aumentou somente em nível transcripcional (p<0,05). Os achados deste estudo indicam que o exercício cria um ambiente favorável para sobrevivência dos cardiomiócitos a apoptose.

This study evaluated modulators of apoptosis in the myocardium of rats subjected to exercise training. Rats were assigned to non-trained and exercise-trained groups, respectively. The animals ran for 1 h per day, 6 times per week and, for a total of 13 weeks. The left ventricle was processed for analysis of gene and protein anti- (Bcl-2, c-IAP1, c-IAP2, Survivin, ILK, Akt and pAkt) and pro- (Bad) apoptotic expression by real-time PCR (except for Akt and pAkt) and Western blot, respectively. The Bad mRNA (p<0.05), but not the protein expression (p = 0.19), was significantly lower after training. The exercise training significantly increased the gene and protein expression for all anti-apoptotic factors. However, a significant change in the c-IAP2 was seen only for gene expression (p<0.05). The present findings indicate that exercise can create a favorable milieu for the survival of cardiomyocytes when apoptosis is increased.

El estudio analizó moduladores de la apoptosis en el miocardio de ratas entrenadas físicamente. Las ratas se dividieron en no entrenado y entrenadas. Los animales se ha ejecutado (60 por día x 6 semanas) a las 13 semanas. El ventrículo izquierdo se procesan para el análisis de la expresión de sus genes y proteínas que inhiben (Bcl-2, c-IAP1, c-IAP2, survivina, ILK, Akt y pAkt) y causa (Bad) de la apoptosis por PCR en tiempo real (excepto Akt y pAkt) y Western blot. El nivel de ARNm de Bad (p<0,05) se redujo después de la entrenamiento, pero no era diferente de proteína. La expresión de los inhibidores de la apoptosis fue significativamente mayor con la entrenamiento. La excepción fue para c-IAP2, que aumentó sólo en el nivel transcripcional (p<0,05). Los resultados de este estudio indican que el ejercicio crea un entorno buen para la supervivencia de la apoptosis de los cardiomiocitos.

The World Health Organization has promoted health impact assessment (HIA) for over 20 years. At the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), HIA was discussed as a critical method for linking health to "green economy" and "institutional framework" strategies for sustainable development. In countries having a high human development index (HDI), HIA has been added to the overall assessment suite that typically includes potential environmental and social impacts, but it is rarely required as part of the environmental and social impact assessment for large development projects. When they are performed, project-driven HIAs are governed by a combination of project proponent and multilateral lender performance standards rather than host country requirements. Not surprisingly, in low-HDI countries HIA is missing from the programme and policy arena in the absence of an external project driver. Major drivers of global change (e.g. population growth and urbanization, growing pressure on natural resources and climate change) inordinately affect low- and medium-HDI countries; however, in such countries HIA is conspicuously absent. If the cloak of HIA invisibility is to be removed, it must be shown that HIA is useful and beneficial and, hence, an essential component of the 21st century's sustainable development agenda. We analyse where and how HIA can become fully integrated into the impact assessment suite and argue that the impact of HIA must not remain obscure.

La Organización Mundial de la Salud ha promovido la evaluación del impacto sanitario (EIS) a lo largo de más de 20 años. En la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Desarrollo Sostenible (Río+20) celebrada en el año 2012, se debatió sobre la EIS como método fundamental para vincular la salud con estrategias para promover una «economía ecológica» y un «marco institucional» para el desarrollo sostenible. En los países con un índice de desarrollo humano (IDH) elevado, la EIS se ha agregado a la evaluación global que normalmente incluye los impactos medioambientales y sociales, pero raramente se requiere como parte de la evaluación del impacto medioambiental y social de proyectos de desarrollo de grandes dimensiones. Cuando estos se llevan a cabo, las EIS impulsadas por proyectos se rigen más por una combinación de los estándares del defensor del proyecto y la función multilateral del prestamista que por los requerimientos del país anfitrión. No sorprende que, en países con un IDH bajo, la EIS no se incluya en los programas y en las estrategias debido a la ausencia de un conductor externo de los proyectos. Los principales factores del cambio global (por ejemplo, el crecimiento demográfico y la urbanización, la creciente presión sobre los recursos naturales y el cambio climático) afectan excesivamente a los países con IDH bajos y medios; sin embargo, en esos países la EIS brilla por su ausencia. Si se desea eliminar la capa de invisibilidad de la EIS, es necesario demostrar que esta última es útil y beneficiosa y, por tanto, un punto esencial de la agenda para el desarrollo sostenible del siglo XXI. Analizamos dónde y cómo podría integrarse plenamente la EIS dentro de las evaluaciones de impactos y opinamos que el impacto de la EIS no debe permanecer oculto.

L'Organisation mondiale de la Santé encourage l'évaluation de l'impact sanitaire (EIS) depuis plus de 20 ans. Lors de la Conférence des Nations Unies de 2012 sur le développement durable (Rio+20), l'EIS a été discutée comme une méthode essentielle pour lier la santé à «l'économie verte» et aux stratégies du «cadre institutionnel» pour le développement durable. Dans les pays présentant un indice de développement humain élevé (IDH), l'EIS a été ajoutée à la suite de l'évaluation globale qui inclut généralement les impacts environnementaux et sociaux, mais qui est rarement nécessaire dans le cadre de l'évaluation de l'impact environnemental et social des grands projets de développement. Quand elles sont effectuées, les EIS axées sur les projets sont régies par une combinaison de normes de performances multilatérales du prêteur et du promoteur du projet, plutôt que par les exigences du pays d'accueil. Il n'est pas surprenant de constater que, dans les pays à faible IDH, l'EIS ne fait pas partie du programme et de la scène politique en l'absence d'un pilote externe du projet. Les principaux facteurs du changement mondial (comme la croissance démographique et l'urbanisation, la pression croissante sur les ressources naturelles et le changement climatique) affectent démesurément les pays à faible et à moyen IDH. Toutefois, dans ces pays, l'EIS est ostensiblement absente. Si la cape d'invisibilité de l'EIS doit être retirée, on doit prouver que l'EIS est utile et bénéfique, et que c'est donc une composante essentielle du programme du XXIe siècle en matière de développement durable. Nous analysons où et comment l'EIS peut être pleinement intégrée dans la suite de l'évaluation de l'impact et soutenons que l'impact de l'EIS ne doit pas rester dans l'ombre.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the range of the influence of the baroreflex on blood pressure in chronic renal hypertensive rats. Supramaximal electrical stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve and section of the baroreceptor nerves (sinoaortic denervation) were used to obtain a global analysis of the baroreceptor-sympathetic reflex in normotensive control and in chronic (2 months) 1-kidney, 1-clip hypertensive rats. The fall in blood pressure produced by electrical baroreceptor stimulation was greater in renal hypertensive rats than in normotensive controls (right nerve: -47 ± 8 vs -23 ± 4 mmHg; left nerve: -51 ± 7 vs -30 ± 4 mmHg; and both right and left nerves: -50 ± 8 vs -30 ± 4 mmHg; P < 0.05). Furthermore, the increase in blood pressure level produced by baroreceptor denervation in chronic renal hypertensive rats was similar to that observed in control animals 2-5 h (control: 163 ± 5 vs 121 ± 1 mmHg; 1K-1C: 203 ± 7 vs 170 ± 5 mmHg; P < 0.05) and 24 h (control: 149 ± 3 vs 121 ± 1 mmHg; 1K-1C: 198 ± 8 vs 170 ± 5 mmHg; P < 0.05) after sinoaortic denervation. Taken together, these data indicate that the central and peripheral components of the baroreflex are acting efficiently at higher arterial pressure in renal hypertensive rats when the aortic nerve is maximally stimulated or the activity is abolished.

Mechanical forces including pressure and shear stress play an important role in vascular homeostasis via the control of the production and release of a variety of vasoactive factors. An increase in vascular shear stress is accompanied by nitric oxide (NO) release and NO synthase activation. Previously, we have demonstrated that shear stress induces angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) down-regulation in vivo and in vitro. In the present study, we determined whether NO participates in the shear stress-induced ACE suppression response. Rabbit aortic endothelial cells were evaluated using the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME, and two NO donors, diethylamine NONOate (DEA/NO) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Under static conditions, incubation of endothelial cells with 1 mM L-NAME for 18 h increased ACE activity by 27% (from 1.000 ± 0.090 to 1.272 ± 0.182) while DEA/NO and SNP (0.1, 0.5 and 1 mM) caused no change in ACE activity. Interestingly, ACE activity was down-regulated similarly in the presence or absence of L-NAME (delta(0 mM) = 0.26 ± 0.055, delta(0.1 mM) = 0.21 ± 0.22, delta(1 mM) = 0.36 ± 0.13) upon 18 h shear stress activation (from static to 15 dyn/cm²). Taken together, these results indicate that NO can participate in the maintenance of basal ACE levels in the static condition but NO is not associated with the shear stress-induced inactivation of ACE.

Almost all individuals (182) belonging to an Amazonian riverine population (Portuchuelo, RO, Brazil) were investigated for ascertaining data on epidemiological aspects of malaria. Thirteen genetic blood polymorphisms were investigated (ABO, MNSs, Rh, Kell, and Duffy systems, haptoglobins, hemoglobins, and the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glyoxalase, phosphoglucomutase, carbonic anhydrase, red cell acid phosphatase, and esterase D). The results indicated that the Duffy system is associated with susceptibility to malaria, as observed in other endemic areas. Moreover, suggestions also arose indicating that the EsD and Rh loci may be significantly associated with resistance to malaria. If statistical type II errors and sample stratification could be ruled out, hypotheses on the existence of a causal mechanism or an unknown closely linked locus involved in susceptibility to malaria infection may explain the present findings.

Some demographic and epidemiological patterns of the rural population of Monte Negro, locality situated in the State of Rondônia (Brazil), Western Amazonia, are described based on a sample of 924 randomly selected individuals, approximately 10% of the whole population. The main features of this sample are (1) the illiteracy rates in the parental generation were 23% for fathers and 20% for mothers. Among children, this figure dropped to 6%; (2) housing in Monte Negro is characterized by being constructed with wood (92%), and also a floor (75%). Nevertheless, only 32% of these houses had electric energy; (3) the mean ages for the parental generation were 41.9 for males and 36.3 for females. These values for the offspring generation were 12.2 and 10.5, respectively; (4) the sex-ratio of the offspring generation was 1.32;(5) the bioassay of kinship was estimated as .033 for this long range migrant population; (6) the prevalence of some macrophage dependent infectious disease was conspicuously high; (7) the reported number of malarial episodes among males and females was statistically different, suggesting that malaria may be, in part, a "professional" disease; (8) the prevalence of serum-positive reactions against B-hepatitis is distressing. It has a strong age dependence and reaches 74% among adult males. Conversely, signs of active infection (AgHbs) rises to 16% among children.

A malaria control pilot project was developed in the Urupá agro-industrial farm that is situated in the State of Rondônia (Western Amazon Region, Brazil). Around 180 inhabitants had been surveyed for the past five years. The control measures were based on (1) training a community agent to perform on the spot microscopical diagnosis of malaria and to treat the uncomplicated cases of malaria; (2) limiting the use of insecticides to a short period before the high transmission season. This resulted in a significant reduction in the time between the onset of clinical symptoms and specific chemotherapy which fell from 3.5 to 1.3 days. In relation to the previous three reference years the total number of malaria cases was reduced to 50% in the first year and to 25% in the second year. The introduction of these measures coincided with pronounced reduction in the frequency of Plasmodium falciparum infections but this was less marked for P. vivax infections. In the second year of the pilot experiment there was no P. falciparum transmission on the farm. During the last decade there was a general decrease in the endemicity of malaria in the State of Rondônia. The linear regression coefficient values indicate that the decline was more pronounced in Urupá than in the general municipality and that the falciparum malaria API in Urupá farm is significantly lower than in the general municipality of Candeias were the farm is situated.