ABSTRACT Organic fertilizers are a viable alternative to increase oilseed productivity in family agriculture systems. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of timing and placement of cattle manure and/or gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium Jacq. Walp) prunings on cotton (Gossipium hirsutum L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) nutrient accumulation and biomass productivity. Experiments were carried out in 2010 and 2011 in Taperoá, Paraíba, Brazil. The organic fertilization treatments were: GI - gliricidia incorporated before planting; GS - gliricidia applied on surface 45 days after planting (DAP); MI + GI - manure and gliricidia incorporated before planting; MI + GS - manure incorporated before planting and gliricídia applied on the surface 45 DAP; MI - manure incorporated before planting; and T - with no organic fertilization. In 2010, treatment MI + GS increased N, P, and K accumulation in cotton (12 and 7 kg ha-1) as well as in sunflower (20 and 29 kg ha-1). In 2011, GI and GS treatments resulted in higher N, P, K accumulations in both crops. The highest cotton productivity in 2010 was obtained with MI + GS treatment (198 kg ha-1) and in 2011 with GS treatment (594 kg ha-1). For sunflower, MI + GS treatment yielded the highest productivity in 2010 (466 kg ha-1) and GI treatment in 2011 (3542 kg ha-1). GI and MI + GS treatments increased total biomass productivity for cotton and sunflower. The treatment that combined both cattle manure incorporated into the soil before planting and gliricidia applied on the surface 45 days after planting was the most viable management strategy.

The development of drug delivery systems for photodynamic therapy (PDT) is increasingly demanded due to the hydrophobicity presented by most of photosensitizers molecules. Bacterial cellulose (BC), a highly pure cellulose produced by bacteria, possesses the essential features for applications in drug delivery systems, such as large surface area and excellent loading capacity. BC membranes prepared containing a photosensitizer, chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc), were tested aiming applications as a drug delivery system for PDT skin cancer protocols. BC membranes production was optimized regarding thickness and optical transmission. Thinner membranes lead to higher relative incorporation efficiencies. Skin permeation and retention in vitro tests were performed by using pig's ears as a skin model. ClAlPc was retained at stratum corneum and epidermis/dermis, showing adequate properties for topical administration of ClAlPc. Photophysical studies showed that singlet oxygen production was not affected for ClAlPc compartmentalized in the BC array. BC-ClAlPc membranes did not present cytotoxic effects in vitro.

O sistema reprodutivo de Capparis jacobinae Moric. ex Eichler (Brassicaceae), uma espécie endêmica da Caatinga no Brasil, foi analisado através de polinizações controladas e observações do desenvolvimento dos tubos polínicos por meio de microscopia de fluorescência. De 105 flores autopolinizadas, apenas uma formou fruto (sucesso= 0,95%), ocorrendo a abscisão das demais em um intervalo de tempo uniforme, entre o oitavo e o décimo dia após a antese. Entretanto, tanto tubos polínicos procedentes de autopolinização quanto de polinização cruzada penetraram na micrópila, sendo a taxa de óvulos penetrados menor em flores autopolinizadas durante as 24 horas posteriores à polinização, igualando-se entre os dois tratamentos para 48, 72 e 96 horas posteriores à polinização. Além disso, foram realizadas duas estimativas indiretas do sistema reprodutivo, baseadas na razão pólen/óvulo e semente/óvulo, cujos resultados foram característicos de espécies xenógamas. Conclui-se, portanto, que C. jacobinae é auto-incompatível, apresentando sistema de auto-incompatibilidade de ação tardia, sendo este o terceiro registro deste mecanismo encontrado para o gênero e o primeiro encontrado em uma espécie de Capparis endêmica da Caatinga. É sugerido que este sistema de auto-incompatibilidade seja encontrado em outros representantes do mesmo gênero e família.

We studied the reproductive system of Capparis jacobinae Moric ex Eichler (Brassicaceae), based on controlled hand-pollination and observation of pollen tube growth made in a fluorescence microscope. Of 105 self-pollinated flowers only one produced fruits (success = 0.95%), all the other flowers abscised at the same time, between the eighth and tenth day after anthesis. Nevertheless, self- and cross-pollinated pollen tubes reached the micropyle. The rate of penetrated ovules in self-pollinated flowers was lower during the first 24 h after pollination; thereafter this rate was similar between self- and cross-pollinated flowers for treatments of 48 h, 72 h and 96 h after pollination. In addition, we carried out two indirect estimates of the reproductive system, based on pollen/ovule and seed/ovule ratios, which resulted in typical features of xenogamous species. We concluded that C. jacobinae has a late-acting self-incompatibility system. This is the third record of this mechanism for the genus and the first for a species of Capparis endemic to the Caatinga. We suggest that this self-incompatibility system may occur in other species of the same genus and family.

Objective: the clinical phenotype of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) varies among geographical areas. The aim of this study is to determine the salient features of AIH in adult patients from the province of Valencia, Spain. Material and methods: eighty-one patients with AIH attended to in eight acute-care hospitals between 1994 and 2003. New patients diagnosed with AIH during year 2003 were evaluated prospectively. Data from patients currently attending follow-up visits and diagnosed before 2003 were collected retrospectively. Results: a total of 94% of patients were females. Forty-three percent were asymptomatic, 27% had acute hepatitis, and 30% had chronic hepatitis. Type 1 AIH was diagnosed in 90% of cases. Type 2 AIH was more frequent in younger patients, and presented with an acute pattern. One third of patients had cirrhosis at onset. Patients with cirrhosis were older than 60 years more frequently. Immunosuppressants were given to 57 patients, with complete or partial remission in 87.7%. There were no significant differences in response to immunosuppression according to presentation pattern or AIH subtype. Conclusions: AIH in Valencia was predominantly diagnosed in asymptomatic women. Most cases were type 1, and in 25% of patients another autoimmune disease coexisted. At the time of diagnosis one third of patients had cirrhosis, particularly those over 60 years.

Introducción: existen factores geográficos que influyen en las características de la hepatitis autoinmune (HAI). Objetivo: conocer las características epidemiológicas, clínicas y respuesta al tratamiento de la hepatitis autoinmune en la provincia de Valencia. Material y métodos: se trata de un estudio realizado en ocho hospitales de Valencia, recogiendo de forma prospectiva los casos de hepatitis autoinmune diagnosticados en el año 2003 y de forma retrospectiva los diagnosticados entre 1994 y 2002. Resultados: se incluyeron 81 pacientes con HAI, siendo el 94% mujeres. La forma de presentación fue: 43% asintomático, 27% hepatitis aguda y 30% enfermedad hepática crónica. La mayoría (90%) fueron del tipo 1, mientras que las de tipo 2 fueron más jóvenes (p = 0,007) y con predominio de hepatitis aguda (p = 0,04). Existía otra enfermedad autoinmune en uno de cada 4 casos. Al momento del diagnóstico una tercera parte de los pacientes presentaba cirrosis. La cirrosis se presentó sobre todo en pacientes de más de 60 años (p < 0,01) y sin diferencias según la formas clínica (p = 0,1). El tratamiento se indicó en 57 casos y con respuesta -completa o parcial- en el 87,7%. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la respuesta terapéutica según la forma de presentación ni los tipos de hepatitis autoinmune. Conclusiones: en nuestra zona la hepatitis autoinmune del adulto se presenta sobre todo en mujeres y de manera asintomática. La mayoría es tipo 1 y en el 25% de los casos coexiste otra enfermedad autoinmune. Al diagnóstico la tercera parte presenta cirrosis hepática, sobre todo en los que tienen más de 60 años.

Resumo É estudada a incidência da trichomoníase vaginal em gestantes na cidade de Manaus. Das pacientes que deram entrada no serviço de pré-natal da Maternidade-Escola "Ana Nery" durante o segundo semestre de 1977, 313 foram escolhidas ao acaso para participarem do estudo. Realizou-se o exame a fresco direto do material coletado da cavidade vaginal, por um swab esterilizado. Em 63.9% das pacientes o protozoário estava presente no material examinado. Verificou-se que o maior número de gestantes procurou os serviços médicos no sétimo mês de gestação e o maior número de infectadas estava na segunda gravidez. Os resultados obtidos são comparados com aqueles citados por outros autores nacionais e estrangeiros.

Summary The occurrency of vaginal trichomoniasis was investigated in pregnant women in the city of Manaus. Amazonas during de second semester of 1977. 313 women were randomly chosen to participate in the study. From the clientela of the prenatal, clinic of the main State Maternity Home. Freshly collected specimens of vaginal cavity were examined directly. 63.9% of the women were shown to be infected with trichomonas. It was also shown that the majority of pregnant mothers sought medical advice in the seventh month of pregnancy, infections were most frequent in mothers in the second pregnancy. The results are discussed and compared with other studies, both national and international.