ABSTRACT In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) several studies have reported genetic gain for grain yield over the years. However, studies on wheat bread-making quality are scarce. Our objective was to estimate the progress due to genetic and environmental components in wheat bread-making quality parameters. In addition, we aimed to examine trends in historical cultivars and associate traits performance with geographical parameters. We used data from multi-environment trials (MET) represented by eight years (2005-2012) and 458 genotypes, including lines and commercial cultivars (controls). We determined the genetic progress by the contrasts between genotypes assessed in each biennium, excluding the year effect. This effect is previously estimated by existing variation among common genotypes. Genotype replacement rate was 52% and reflects the dynamism of the breeding program to develop better genotypes in terms of bread-making quality. The genetic progress estimated for gluten strength (W) was 1.30% yr-1. The progress in W demonstrated to be partly counterbalanced by the environmental effect (-0.78% yr-1). We observed disequilibrium tendency in relationship between tenacity and extensibility (P/L ratio) as a consequence of searching for lines with high W. Analysis showed that P/L ratio can be reduced in responses to the increase in latitude of the location. Environmental and genetic effects on the traits variation were discussed.

O teste imunoenzimático (ELISA) constitui a ferramenta mais utilizada no diagnóstico individual da toxocaríase humana e/ou em inquéritos soroepidemiológicos para pesquisa de anticorpos IgG anti-Toxocara spp. Tendo em vista a elevada freqüência da toxocaríase (32,2% e 56,0%) observada em crianças atendidas em Unidades Básicas de Saúde de municípios do noroeste do Paraná, durante pesquisas realizadas ao longo dos últimos oito anos, o objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar estas frequências em crianças encaminhadas a uma unidade de Pneumologia do serviço de saúde pública da cidade de Maringá, noroeste do Estado do Paraná, Brasil e descrever os achados laboratoriais, clínicos e epidemiológicos das crianças soropositivas. A pesquisa foi realizada no Centro de Especialidades Regional - CISAMUSEP - entre julho de 2009 a julho de 2010, em crianças com idade entre um e 15 anos. De 167 crianças investigadas, sete (4,2%) apresentaram anticorpos IgG anti-Toxocara spp. Entre elas, duas (1,2%) crianças soropositivas apresentaram eosinofilia (baixos níveis), seis mostraram níveis elevados de IgE e cinco, teste alérgico positivo, principalmente para ácaros. Concluindo, no noroeste do estado do Paraná foram observados raros casos de crianças com toxocaríase envolvendo o trato respiratório e que foram atendidas por serviços públicos de Pneumologia ainda que na região estudada tenha sido observada elevada prevalência de toxocaríase em crianças assistidas pelas Unidades Básicas de Saúde (BHU).

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most widely used tool to detect anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies for both serodiagnostic and seroepidemiological surveys on human toxocariasis. In the last eight years a high prevalence of toxocariasis (32.2-56.0%) has been reported in children attending public health units from municipalities in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Therefore, the aim of this work was to compare the frequency found among the general child population with that of children attending a public pneumology service in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil and describe the laboratorial, clinical and epidemiological findings. The research was conducted at the Consórcio Público Intermunicipal de Saúde do Setentrião Paranaense (CISAMUSEP) from July 2009 to July 2010 among children aged between one and 15 years. From a total of 167 children studied, only 4.2% (7/167) tested positive for anti-Toxocara spp. IgG antibodies and presented mild eosinophilia (2/7), increased serum IgE levels (6/7) and a positive allergy test for mites (5/7). The presence of pets (dogs or cats) at home did not correlate with the seroprevalence. In conclusion, cases of toxocariasis involving the respiratory tract are rare in children attending a public health pneumology unit in the northwestern region of Paraná State, despite the high prevalence of this type of toxocariasis among the infantile population attending Basic Health Units in the same geographical area.

The present study investigated the antinociceptive effects of Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) leaf essential oil (LEO) and (-)-linalool (LIN) in formalin (2%)-, glutamate (25 µM)- and capsaicin (2.5 µg)- induced orofacial nociception models in mice. The involvement of these substances was further evaluated on the neuronal excitability of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Male mice (n=8/group) were pretreated separately with LEO and by LIN (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.p.), morphine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and vehicle (saline + Tween 80 0.2%), before injection of nociceptive agent into the right upper lip (perinasal area). The LEO and LIN reduced the nociceptive face-rubbing behaviour in both phases on formalin test. LEO and LIN, at high doses, produced significantly antinociceptive effect in the capsaicin and glutamate tests. In hippocampal slices, LEO inhibited the population spike generated by stimulation of the hylus (antidromic stimulation), with an IC50 of 0.1±0.05 mg/mL. This response was reversibly blocked by lidocaine (0.5 mg/mL), a known voltage-dependent sodium channel antagonist and by LIN (0.5 mg/mL). Our results suggest that LEO and LIN modulate neurogenic and inflammatory pain in the tests of orofacial nociception induced by formalin, capsaicin and glutamate. Part of these effects may be associated with decreased peripheral and central neuronal excitability.

Dezoito genótipos de aveia foram testados quanto à dissimilaridade genética, com e sem o controle de moléstias da parte aérea. As variáveis avaliadas foram rendimento de grãos desaristados, peso de mil grãos, peso do hectolitro, estatura de planta e dias da emergência à floração. Foram empregados análises por variáveis canônicas e técnicas de agrupamento por meio dos métodos de otimização de Tocher e o método hierárquico do vizinho mais próximo, tendo como medida de dissimilaridade a distância generalizada de Mahalanobis. Pelos resultados, constatou-se significativa dissimilaridade genética entre os genótipos, indicando a existência de variabilidade para os caracteres avaliados. O método de Tocher e o método do vizinho mais próximo permitiram a separação dos genótipos em grupos distintos, possibilitando a identificação de futuros genitores que possam ser utilizados em cruzamentos artificiais que produzam progênies com maior heterose. Os caracteres que mais contribuíram para a dissimilaridade genética foram o peso do hectolitro e a estatura de planta.

Eighteen oat genotypes were tested for genetic dissimilarity, with and without shoot disease control. The evaluated variables were grain yield, weight of one thousand grains, test weight, plant stature and days from emergence to flowering. Cannonical variables and clustering methods by Tocher's optimization test and the hierarchical method of nearest neighbor were employed, having as a measure of dissimilarity the general distance of Mahalanobis. The results showed a significant genetic dissimilarity among the genotypes, indicating the presence of genetic variability for the evaluated traits. Tocher's and nearest neighbor methods allowed the separation of genotypes in distinct groups, enabling the identification of potential parents for artificial crosses to obtain progenies with higher heterosis. The major traits contributing to genetic dissimilarity in our study were test weight and plant stature.

We studied the effects of chronic intoxication with the heavy metals lead (Pb2+) and zinc (Zn2+) on memory formation in mice. Animals were intoxicated through drinking water during the pre- and postnatal periods and then tested in the step-through inhibitory avoidance memory task. Chronic postnatal intoxication with Pb2+ did not change the step-through latency values recorded during the 4 weeks of the test (ANOVA, P>0.05). In contrast, mice intoxicated during the prenatal period showed significantly reduced latency values when compared to the control group (day 1: q = 4.62, P<0.05; day 7: q = 4.42, P<0.05; day 14: q = 5.65, P<0.05; day 21: q = 3.96, P<0.05, and day 28: q = 6.09, P<0.05). Although chronic postnatal intoxication with Zn2+ did not alter a memory retention test performed 24 h after training, we noticed a gradual decrease in latency at subsequent 4-week intervals (F = 3.07, P<0.05), an effect that was not observed in the control or in the Pb2+-treated groups. These results suggest an impairment of memory formation by Pb2+ when the animals are exposed during the critical period of neurogenesis, while Zn2+ appears to facilitate learning extinction.