ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Frailty syndrome is associated with various physical, cognitive, social, economic, and environmental factors. Although frailty syndrome occurs progressively with age, prevention and treatment are possible. Reducing or eliminating risks and increasing protective factors may be potential strategies for reducing the prevalence of injuries related to frailty. One of the most effective actions is to decrease the time spent in sedentary behavior (SB) by increasing regular physical activity (PA). OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothetical effect of substitution of the time spent in sleep or SB with an equivalent time spent performing moderate or vigorous PA on frailty syndrome in the older population. DESIGN AND SETTING: An analytical cross-sectional study conducted using exploratory methods of survey, carried out in Alcobaça city, Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 456 older adults of both sexes, aged ≥ 60 years, participated in this study. Frailty syndrome was identified according to the criteria of the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. PA and SB were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The effects of time substitution on these behaviors were verified using Poisson regression. RESULTS: The replacement of 60 min/day of SB (prevalence ratio, PR = 0.52; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.28–0.96) or sleep (PR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.27–0.98) with 60 min/day of moderate PA (MPA) was associated with a 48% reduction in the prevalence of frailty syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Replacing the time spent sitting or sleeping with the same amount of MPA time may reduce frailty; the longer the duration of time spent in the substitution of sleep or SB with MPA, the greater the benefits.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dynapenia is characterized by mobility limitations in the older population when combined with aggravating behavioral factors that can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothetical effects of reallocation of time spent on sedentary behavior (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sleep on dynapenia in older adults. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective cohort study using exploratory surveys in Alcobaça City, Bahia State, Brazil. METHODS: In total, 176 older adults (≥ 60 years) of both sexes participated in this study. Dynapenia was assessed using the handgrip strength test with cutoff points of < 27 kg for men and < 16 kg for women. MVPA and SB were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS: Effects on reallocation were found for the shortest times, such as 10 minutes (odds ratio (OR) 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85–0.99); substituting MVPA with SB increased the chances of dynapenia by 58.0% (95% CI: 1.01–2.49). Analyzing the substitution of 60 minutes/day of SB with 60 minutes/day of MVPA revealed a protective effect, with a lower OR for dynapenia of 37.0% (OR 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40–0.99). The reallocation of sleep time did not significantly reduce dynapenia. CONCLUSIONS: Substituting the time spent sitting with the same amount of time spent on MVPA can reduce dynapenia, and a longer reallocation time confers greater health benefits in older adults.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dynapenia is characterized by mobility limitations in the older population when combined with aggravating behavioral factors that can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hypothetical effects of reallocation of time spent on sedentary behavior (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sleep on dynapenia in older adults. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective cohort study using exploratory surveys in Alcobaça City, Bahia State, Brazil. METHODS: In total, 176 older adults (≥ 60 years) of both sexes participated in this study. Dynapenia was assessed using the handgrip strength test with cutoff points of < 27 kg for men and < 16 kg for women. MVPA and SB were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS: Effects on reallocation were found for the shortest times, such as 10 minutes (odds ratio (OR) 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85–0.99); substituting MVPA with SB increased the chances of dynapenia by 58.0% (95% CI: 1.01–2.49). Analyzing the substitution of 60 minutes/day of SB with 60 minutes/day of MVPA revealed a protective effect, with a lower OR for dynapenia of 37.0% (OR 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40–0.99). The reallocation of sleep time did not significantly reduce dynapenia. CONCLUSIONS: Substituting the time spent sitting with the same amount of time spent on MVPA can reduce dynapenia, and a longer reallocation time confers greater health benefits in older adults.

RESUMO Objetivo Estimar a prevalência de sintomatologia depressiva em idosos brasileiros residentes na comunidade. Métodos Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática nas bases de dados Medline, SciELO, Web of Science, Scopus e CINAHL, sendo selecionados estudos com idosos brasileiros que identificaram a prevalência de sintomatologia depressiva. De forma independente, dois pesquisadores selecionaram os estudos, extraíram os dados e avaliaram a qualidade metodológica. A metanálise foi realizada para estimar a prevalência de sintomatologia depressiva usando um modelo de efeito aleatório. Resultados Foram identificados 176 artigos e 33 foram incluídos na revisão, que investigaram 34 prevalências, com um total de 39.431 idosos. A distribuição geográfica dos estudos indicou pesquisas em todas as regiões do Brasil. A versão curta da Escala de Depressão Geriátrica foi a mais utilizada. A prevalência estimada de sintomatologia depressiva foi de 21,0% (IC de 95%: 18,0-25,0; I2 = 98,3%). As análises de subgrupos revelaram elevada heterogeneidade em todas as categorias analisadas. A metarregressão não identificou as causas da heterogeneidade. Conclusão Apesar da heterogeneidade entre os estudos analisados, os resultados indicam a necessidade de estratégias de intervenção para reduzir a prevalência de sintomatologia depressiva.

ABSTRACT Objective To estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Brazilian elderly people living in the community. Methods We searched the electronic databases Medline (PubMed), SciELO, Web of Science, Scopus and CINAHL, and also selected studies with Brazilian elderly people that identified the prevalence of depressive symptoms. Independently, two researchers selected the studies, extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality. The meta-analysis was performed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms using a random effect model. Results We identified 176 articles and 33 were included in the review, which investigated 34 prevalences, with a total of 39,431 elderly people. The geographical distribution of the studies indicated researches in all regions of Brazil. The short version of the Geriatric Depression Scale was the most used. The estimated prevalence of depressive symptoms for Brazilian community-dwelling older adults was 21.0% (95% CI: 18.0-25.0, I2 = 98.3%). Subgroup analyzes revealed high heterogeneity in all categories analyzed. Meta-regression did not identify the causes of heterogeneity. Conclusion Despite the heterogeneity between the studies analyzed, the results indicate the need for intervention strategies to reduce the prevalence of depressive symptoms.

O oídio causado pelo fungo Pseudoidium anacardii é atualmente a doença mais importante do cajueiro no Brasil e na África Oriental. Os sintomas ocorrem em tecidos jovens das folhas, flores e frutos. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito dos diferentes níveis de severidade do oídio na germinação de castanhas e no desenvolvimento das plantas seminais (seedlings) dos clones de cajueiro-anão ‘CCP 06’ e ‘BRS 189’. As castanhas foram separadas em níveis de severidade da doença variando de “0” a “5”. Avaliaram-se as características morfométricas das castanhas e das amêndoas, germinação das castanhas e o desenvolvimento das plantas até 65 dias após a sementeira. Os maiores níveis de severidade de oídio influenciaram negativamente a massa, o comprimento e a largura das castanhas, com consequente aumento na espessura, alterando o formato natural reniforme para o formato redondo. As amêndoas das castanhas do ‘CCP 06’ foram afetadas pela doença, apresentando redução na massa, no comprimento e na largura quando nos maiores níveis de severidade. A germinação das castanhas e as características biométricas das plantas de ambos os clones não foram prejudicadas pelo oídio, mesmo em níveis elevados de severidade nas castanhas.

The powdery mildew caused by the fungus Pseudoidium anacardii is currently the most important cashew disease in Brazil and east Africa. Symptoms occur in sprouts, peduncles, and cashew nuts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of powdery mildew on cashew nut germination and seedlings development. The cashew nuts from 'CCP 06' and 'BRS 189' dwarf cashew clones infected by powdery mildew were used and classified into disease severity levels ranging from "0" to "5". The morphometric characteristics of cashew nuts and kernels, cashew nuts germination and seedlings development were evaluated up to 65 days after sowing. The higher levels of powdery mildew provided negative influence on cashew nuts mass, length and width, with consequent increase in thickness, changing the natural reniform format to the round shape. Cashew kernels of ‘CCP 06’ were affected by the disease, with reduction in mass, length and width when at the highest levels of disease severity. In both clones, the cashew nuts germination and the seedlings biometric characteristics were not affected by the powdery mildew, even at high levels of disease severity.

ABSTRACT Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Pseudoidium anacardii, is currently the most important cashew disease, affecting leaves, inflorescences, and fruits. However, there is a lack of detailed reports associating the effects of P. anacardii to cashew yield. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the damage caused by powdery mildew to BRS 189 cashew clone nut, kernel, and peduncles. One experiment was conducted at the Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical Experimental Field in Pacajus, state of Ceará, Brazil, from July to December 2014, with BRS 189 cashew clone, with eight sulfur doses needed for achieving a disease gradient, distributed in a randomized block with four replications. The incidence (%) and severity of powdery mildew in cashew plants were estimated in a scale ranging from 0 to 4, and then correlated with plant yield and biometric characteristics of cashew nuts, kernels, and peduncles. The results showed that powdery mildew did not reduce productivity of nuts on this clone, although it caused a reduction in the mass and size of the kernels. On the other hand, powdery mildew affected mass, size, and quality of cashew peduncles at the lack of control.

RESUMO O oídio, causado pelo fungo Pseudoidium anacardii é atualmente a principal doença do cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale). Devido à importância dessa fitomoléstia e à ausência de métodos padronizados para a sua quantificação, uma escala diagramática descritiva com os níveis 0 (Nota 0), 5 (Nota 1), 17,5 (Nota 2), 37,5 (Nota 3), 62,5 (Nota 4) e 87,5% de área superficial lesionada (Nota 5) foi proposta, elaborada e testada para a acurácia, precisão e reprodutibilidade das estimativas de severidade do ataque do fungo em castanhas de cajueiro. A escala foi testada por vinte pessoas (dez com experiência e dez sem experiência) que utilizaram cinquenta castanhas com diferentes níveis de severidade, previamente mensuradas com auxílio do programa Assess®, para serem avaliadas sem e com o uso da escala diagramática descritiva proposta. Regressões lineares simples entre a severidade real (mensurada eletronicamente) e a severidade estimada por cada avaliador foram utilizadas para a determinação da acurácia e precisão. A reprodutibilidade foi obtida por regressões lineares entre as severidades estimadas da mesma unidade amostral por diferentes avaliadores, combinados em pares, com e sem o uso da escala. O emprego da escala diagramática descritiva para avaliação da severidade do oídio em castanhas de cajueiro mostrou ser de fácil utilização e melhorou os níveis de acurácia, precisão e reprodutibilidade das estimativas, independente da experiência do avaliador. Com o seu uso em levantamento de campo, estudos epidemiológicos, resistência e estudos de medidas de controle do oídio, será possível obter informações mais precisas sobre a intensidade da doença nesse importante patossistema, podendo ser usada por estudantes, técnicos, pesquisadores e produtores para quantificar sintomas do oídio em plantas de cajueiro.

ABSTRACT Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Pseudoidium anacardii, is currently the main disease of cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale). In view of the importance of such plant disease and the absence of standardized methods for its quantification, a descriptive diagrammatic scale was proposed with levels 0 (Score 0), 5 (Score 1), 17.5 (Score 2), 37.5 (Score 3), 62.5 (Score 4) and 87.5% injured superficial area (Score 5), and was elaborated and tested for accuracy, precision and reproducibility of severity estimates of fungal attack on cashew nuts. The scale was tested by twenty people (ten experienced and ten inexperienced people) who used fifty nuts showing different severity levels, previously measured with the Assess® program, to be evaluated without and with the proposed descriptive diagrammatic scale. Simple linear regressions between the actual severity (measured electronically) and the severity estimated by each evaluator were used to determine accuracy and precision. Reproducibility was obtained based on linear regressions between severities of the same sampling unit estimated by different raters, combined in pairs, with and without the scale. The descriptive diagrammatic scale to assess powdery mildew severity in cashew nuts was easy to use and improved the levels of accuracy, precision and reproducibility of the estimates, regardless of the evaluator’s experience. Using the scale in field surveys and epidemiological, resistance and powdery mildew control measures studies will provide more precise information on the disease intensity in such an important pathosystem, besides allowing its use by students, technicians, researchers and farmers to quantify powdery mildew symptoms in cashew plants.

RESUMO O oídio (Pseudoidium anacardii) reduz quantitativa e qualitativamente a produção do cajueiro em diferentes regiões do Brasil. Severas epidemias ocorrem com frequência, iniciando-se durante a floração e se estendendo até o final do ciclo de produção da planta. O progresso da doença está relacionado à densidade de inóculo na área com cajueiros, aos fatores ambientais e à suscetibilidade dos órgãos para a infecção. Face a inexistência de informações sobre a epidemiologia dessa doença, objetivou-se caracterizar o progresso do oídio do cajueiro-anão em função da fenologia da planta. Foram aplicados seis tratamentos correspondentes aos períodos de proteção fenológica, com a aplicação de fungicida à base de enxofre, para quantificar a severidade do oídio nas panículas em duas floradas sucessivas. A partir dos dados coletados, foram geradas curvas de progresso da doença ajustadas a modelos lineares. O modelo Monomolecular foi o que melhor se ajustou às curvas de progresso do oídio nas panículas nas épocas I e II na ausência de proteção com enxofre. No modelo Monomolecular as taxas de progresso do oídio foram maiores na época I em relação à época II. Por outro lado, o modelo Logístico apresentou o melhor ajuste quando se introduziu o enxofre para proteger as panículas e reduzir a epidemia. Para maiores períodos de proteção, não foi possível ajustes de modelos em função da baixa severidade do oídio. É possível utilizar o modelo Monomolecular para estimar a taxa de doença e, o atraso do início da epidemia está diretamente relacionado ao aumento da proteção das panículas.

ABSTRACT Powdery mildew (Pseudoidium anacardii) quantitatively and qualitatively decreases cashew production in different regions of Brazil. Severe epidemics are frequent, starting during flowering and extending to the end of the plant production cycle. The disease progress is related to the inoculum density in the area with cashew trees, to the environmental factors and to the susceptibility of the plant organs to infection. Given the lack of information on the epidemiology of this disease, the present study aimed to characterize powdery mildew progress in dwarf cashew trees according the plant phenology. Six treatments corresponding to the phenological protection periods were used, including the application of sulfur fungicide to quantify powdery mildew severity in two successive flowering stages. The collected data were used to generate disease progress curves adjusted to linear models. The Monomolecular model best fit to the powdery mildew progress curves for the panicles in periods I and II in the absence of protection with sulfur. According to the Monomolecular model, powdery mildew progress rates were greater in period I compared to period II. On the other hand, the Logistic model showed the best fit when sulfur was introduced to protect the panicles and reduce the epidemics. For longer periods of protection, the models could not be fit due to the low severity of powdery mildew. The Monomolecular model can be used to estimate the disease progress rate, and the delay in the beginning of the epidemics is directly related to the increase in the protection of panicles.

RESUMO A ocorrência do oídio (Pseudoidium anacardii) está correlacionada com a brotação nova do cajueiro e à infecção que se processa em botões, flores e maturis jovens. Tecidos maduros tornam-se naturalmente resistentes ao fungo e, para o controle da doença, é necessária a proteção preventiva com fungicida à base de enxofre. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar as épocas de floração e os períodos de proteção fenológica do cajueiro-anão BRS 189 à infecção de P. anacardii. O experimento foi realizado em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, em que as parcelas foram duas épocas de floração e, as subparcelas, os seis períodos de proteção fenológica. Foram avaliados os graus de severidade do oídio na panícula, no pedúnculo e na castanha e a produção de cajus, durante as duas épocas do fluxo de florações. Verificou-se que as épocas e os períodos de proteção fenológica influenciaram no grau de severidade da doença e na produção de cajus. Para as variáveis de doença, observaram-se menores graus de severidade do oídio para os maiores períodos de proteção fenológica na panícula, no pedúnculo e na castanha. Não houve diferença significativa entre as épocas, quando se avaliaram os períodos de proteção fenológica, em relação ao peso total e pedúnculo, ao passo que, em ambas as épocas, o período de proteção (T6) foi diferente dos demais. Porém, não houve diferença entre épocas e período de proteção fenológica em relação ao peso das castanhas. Os resultados indicam que as épocas do fluxo de florações e os períodos de proteção fenológica interferem na severidade da doença e na produção de cajus do clone BRS 189.

ABSTRACT The occurrence of powdery mildew, Pseudoidium anacardii, is conditioned by new sprouting of the cashew tree and the infection that occurs in buds, flowers, and young maturis (green cashew nuts). Mature tissues naturally become resistant to fungus and, for the control of the disease, preventive protection with a sulfur-based fungicide is necessary. The objective was to verify the flowering time and phenological protection periods in the dwarf cashew BRS 189 against P. anacardii infection. The experimental design was randomized blocks in split-plot scheme with four replications. The main plots were flowering time (time I and II) and split plots were six phenological protection periods. The severity of powdery mildew in the panicle, peduncle, and cashew nuts and cashew production was evaluated. It was verified that the flowering times and the phenological protection periods influenced the severity of the disease and cashew production. For disease variables, lower severities of powdery mildew were observed for the greater phenological protection periods in panicle, peduncle, and chestnuts. There was no significant difference between the flowering times when the phenological protection periods were analyzed for total weight and peduncle. In both flowering times the protection period (T6) was different from the others. However, there was no difference between flowering times and phenological protection periods in relation to the weight of the nuts. The results indicate that flowering times and phenological protection periods interfere with the severity of the disease and cashew production (peduncle) of the BRS 189.

ABSTRACT Dogs are considered the main reservoir of Leishmania infantum. This protozoan causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL), an uncontrolled urban zoonosis in Brazil. Serological tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on peripheral blood were performed to identify infected dogs in scenarios of higher and lower prevalence of the disease (Teresina and Vitória). One-hundred infected and 57 non-infected animals from Teresina and 100 non-infected animals from Vitória were studied. Animal selection was not dependent on previous serology. The sensitivity (Teresina) and specificity (Teresina and Vitória) were as follows: indirect antibody fluorescence (IFAT) cut-off of 1:40 (IFAT 1:40): 96%, 18%, and 76%; IFAT 1:80: 90%, 33%, and 93%; direct agglutination test (DAT): 96%, 33%, and 98%; fast agglutination screening test (FAST): 93%, 68%, and 100%; immunochromatographic assay with a recombinant rK39 antigen (rK39): 88%, 74%, and 98%; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): 91%, 79%, and 98%; rapid dual-path platform test (TR DPP®): 98%, 60%, and 98%; and blood PCR: 29%, 93%, and 97%, respectively. In the high transmission area, none of the tests adequately discriminated L. infantum-infected from non-infected dogs. However, in the high transmission city, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of FAST, DAT, ICrK39, ELISA and TR DPP® was high.

Resumo Em meados do século passado, transformações na economia e sociedade brasileira somaram-se para desencadear uma rápida transição demográfica, que se caracterizou pelo aumento de idosos. Assim, presenciou-se um envelhecimento populacional, que foi acompanhado pelo aumento da incidência de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. Alguns fatores de risco estão bem estabelecidos para o desenvolvimento das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, como excesso de peso, consumo de tabaco e álcool, alimentação inadequada e inatividade física. Adicionalmente, o comportamento sedentário mostrou-se relacionado a importantes efeitos deletérios à saúde, como, por exemplo, diabetes mellitus tipo 2, obesidade e mortalidade.O estudo teve como objetivo investigar a associação entre tempo sentado e diabetes mellitus em idosos. Estudo transversal, realizado em 24 municípios integrantes da Superintendência Regional de Saúde de Uberaba, MG. Os indivíduos selecionados responderam um questionário estruturado e foram submetidos à avaliação antropométrica. Foram analisados 3.265 idosos. A prevalência de diabetes mellitus foi de 20,0% e a mediana de tempo sentado de 240,00 (P25º=137,14 e P75º=330,00) minutos/dia. A análise de regressão logística ajustada demonstrou que o tempo sentado superior a 330,00 minutos/dia associou-se positivamente com a diabetes mellitus (OR=1,329; IC95%: 1,040-1,700). Pode-se concluir que os idosos que ficam sentados por longos períodos diariamente apresentam maior chance de ter diabetes mellitus quando comparados com aqueles que ficam sentados por menor tempo.

Abstract By the middle of the last century, changes in the Brazilian economy and society triggered a rapid demographic transition characterized by an increased number of older adults in the population. Thus, Brazil has witnessed population aging, which was accompanied by an increased incidence of non-communicable chronic diseases. Some risk factors for the development of the chronic non-communicable diseases have been well established, such as overweight, tobacco and alcohol consumption, inadequate nutrition, and physical inactivity. Additionally, sedentary behavior has been related to significant deleterious effects on health, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, obesity and mortality. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between sitting time and diabetes mellitus in older adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 24 municipalities in the Regional Health Superintendence of Uberaba, MG. Selected subjects answered a structured questionnaire and underwent anthropometric assessment. A total of 3,265 elderly subjects, with a median time spent sitting of 240.00 (P25th=137.14 and P75th=330.00) minutes/day and a 20.0% prevalence of diabetes mellitus were detected. Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that a sitting time of more than 330.00 minutes/day was positively associated with diabetes mellitus (OR=1.351, 95%CI: 1.057-1.729). It was concluded that older adults who daily sit for long periods of time have higher chances of having diabetes compared to those who sit for less time.

A tangerineira é uma das espécies de Citrus mais importantes, comercialmente. No entanto, é elevada a quantidade de patógenos que afetam a cultura, destacando-se o fungo Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, causador da antracnose. A antracnose pode resultar em grandes prejuízos econômicos, ocasionando perdas de produção e qualidade dos frutos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resistência de cultivares de tangerineira à antracnose em diferentes sistemas de irrigação. Foi estudada a incidência da antracnose em três cultivares de tangerineira, sob três sistemas de cultivo. Utilizaram-se as cultivares 'Murcote', 'Ponkan' e 'Cravo', enxertadas sobre porta-enxerto de limão Cravo e os sistemas de irrigação por microaspersão e por gotejamento. Uma testemunha de sequeiro foi incluída. Os resultados mostraram que as plantas cultivadas sob irrigação são mais resistentes à antracnose que aquelas sob regime de sequeiro, sendo que a cultivar Ponkan apresentou maior resistência genética á antracnose. Verificou-se também que existe correlação positiva entre a incidência baseada no percentual de plantas afetadas e a incidência com base no número de ramos afetados por planta.

The mandarin is one of the most commercially important Citrus species. However, a large number of pathogens have affected this crop, specially the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, which causes anthracnose. The latter may lead to significant economic damage, causing both yield and fruit quality losses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance of mandarin cultivars to anthracnose under different irrigation systems. The incidence of anthracnose was studied by using three cultivars under three cultivation systems. The cultivars were 'Murcott', 'Ponkan' and 'Cravo', grafted onto Rangpur lime rootstock, while the irrigation systems were micro-sprinkler and drip irrigation. A rainfed control was included. Results showed that plants grown under irrigation are more resistant to anthracnose than those under rainfed conditions, and the cultivar 'Ponkan' had greater genetic resistance to anthracnose. There was also a positive correlation between the incidence based on the percentage of affected plants and the incidence based on the number of affected branches per plant.

Lasiodiplodia theobromae é um fungo cosmopolita, polífago e oportunista, com reduzida especialização patogênica, capaz de infectar espécies de plantas em regiões tropicais e temperadas, causando os mais variados sintomas. Este estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar isolados de L. theobromae associados a frutíferas tropicais na região nordeste, considerando os aspectos cultural, morfológico e patogênico. Foram avaliados o crescimento micelial, coloração da colônia, dimensões dos conídios e patogenicidade dos isolados em mudas de cajazeira (Spondia mombin L.), cajueiro (Anacardium occidentale L.), gravioleira (Annona muricata L.) e umbuzeiro (Spondias tuberosa Arruda). Os dados de caracterização morfológica e cultural revelaram diversidade na população do patógeno. Alta variabilidade patogênica foi também detectada, embora não tenha sido possível observar especificidade patogênica em cajueiro. O umbuzeiro apresentou maior resistência relativa ao fungo. Os dados demonstraram também uma interação entre as características morfo-culturais e a patogenicidade dos isolados de L. theobromae.

Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a cosmopolitan, polyphagous and opportunistic fungus with reduced pathogenic specialization, which is capable of infecting plant species in tropical and temperate regions, causing varied symptoms. This study aimed to characterize L. theobromae isolates associated with tropical fruit plants in Northeastern Brazil, considering their cultural, morphological and pathogenic characteristics. The evaluated aspects were mycelial growth, colony coloration, conidium dimension and pathogenicity of the isolates for seedlings of yellow mombin (Spondias mombin L.), cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.), soursop (Annona muricata L.), and Brazil plum (Spondias tuberosa Arruda). Data of morphological and cultural characterization revealed diversity in the pathogen population. High pathogenic variability was also detected, although no pathogenic specificity was found for cashew. Brazil plum showed higher relative resistance to the fungus. The data also demonstrated interaction between morphocultural characteristics and aggressiveness of L. theobromae isolates.

OBJECTIVE: Sepsis is a common condition encountered in hospital environments. There is no effective treatment for sepsis, and it remains an important cause of death at intensive care units. This study aimed to discuss some methods that are available in clinics, and tests that have been recently developed for the diagnosis of sepsis. METHODS: A systematic review was performed through the analysis of the following descriptors: sepsis, diagnostic methods, biological markers, and cytokines. RESULTS: The deleterious effects of sepsis are caused by an imbalance between the invasiveness of the pathogen and the ability of the host to mount an effective immune response. Consequently, the host's immune surveillance fails to eliminate the pathogen, allowing it to spread. Moreover, there is a pro-inflammatory mediator release, inappropriate activation of the coagulation and complement cascades, leading to dysfunction of multiple organs and systems. The difficulty achieve total recovery of the patient is explainable. There is an increased incidence of sepsis worldwide due to factors such as aging population, larger number of surgeries, and number of microorganisms resistant to existing antibiotics. CONCLUSION: The search for new diagnostic markers associated with increased risk of sepsis development and molecules that can be correlated to certain steps of sepsis is becoming necessary. This would allow for earlier diagnosis, facilitate patient prognosis characterization, and prediction of possible evolution of each case. All other markers are regrettably constrained to research units.

OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos da pentoxifilina (PTX) na pancreatite aguda (PA) experimental administrando a droga após a indução da doença. MÉTODOS: Cem ratos machos Wistar foram submetidos à indução da PA através da infusão de taurocolato de sódio e divididos em três grupos: Grupo Sham: sham-operated ratos, Grupo Salina: AP e solução salina, e Grupo PTX: AP e PTX. Solução salina e PTX foram administradas 1 hora após a indução da PA. Três horas após indução da PA os níveis de fator de necrose tumoral (TNF)-α no líquido peritoneal e os níveis séricos de interleucina (IL)-6 e IL-10 foram analisados pelo método de Enzima Imunoensaio (ELISA). A atividade da mieloperoxidase (MPO) foi analisada no pulmão e foram realizadas análises histológicas do pulmão e pâncreas, além do estudo da mortalidade. RESULTADOS: A administração de PTX 1 hora após a indução da PA reduziu significativamente os níveis de TNF-α peritoneal e os níveis séricos de IL-6 e IL-10 quando comparado ao grupo salina. Redução na mortalidade foi observado após o tratamento com PTX comparado ao grupo salina. CONCLUSÃO: A administração de PTX após a indução da PA diminuiu os níveis sistêmicos de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, sugerindo a possibilidade de que existe uma janela terapêutica para PTX após o início do PA.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) in experimental acute pancreatitis (AP) starting drug administration after the induction of the disease. METHODS: One hundred male Wistar rats were submitted to taurocholate-induced AP and divided into three groups: Group Sham: sham-operated rats, Group Saline: AP plus saline solution, and Group PTX: AP plus PTX. Saline solution and PTX were administered 1 hour after induction of AP. At 3 hours after AP induction, peritoneal levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 levels were assayed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Determinations of lung myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), histological analysis of lung and pancreas, and mortality study were performed. RESULTS: PTX administration 1 hour after induction of AP caused a significant decrease in peritoneal levels of TNF-α and in serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 when compared to the saline group. There were no differences in lung MPO activity between the two groups with AP. A decrease in mortality was observed in the PTX treatment compared to the saline group. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of PTX after the onset of AP decreased the systemic levels of proinflammatory cytokines, raising the possibility that there is an early therapeutic window for PTX after the initiation of AP.