RESUMO Introdução: O diagnóstico laboratorial de doença renal crônica (DRC) é simples e econômico e permite a detecção de estágios iniciais da doença, o que é essencial para evitar danos renais e risco de morte. Consiste em medir a concentração de creatinina sérica e albumina urinária e calcular a taxa de filtração glomerular (eTFG). Em 2012, as diretrizes para avaliação laboratorial da DRC foram divulgadas pela Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO). Objetivos: Os objetivos deste estudo são avaliar se os laboratórios em hospitais do Sistema Nacional de Saúde Português seguem essas diretrizes e se fornecem diagnóstico correto de DRC. Material e método: Um questionário com 32 perguntas foi enviado aos serviços de patologia clínica de todos os hospitais inseridos no sistema. Resultados: Todos os 49 laboratórios responderam que medem creatinina e 18, eTFG. Dez disseram que medem a eTFG apenas se especificamente solicitado. Quarenta e quatro medem proteínas totais e albumina urinária; três, apenas proteínas; um, somente albumina; e um não mede nenhuma delas. Tipo de amostras, métodos, reagentes, equipamentos, unidades de expressão dos resultados e intervalos de referência variaram. Conclusão: Existe grande variabilidade entre laboratórios em relação às metodologias de medida da creatinina sérica, albumina e proteínas totais na urina. Há grandes variações quanto à liberação dos resultados. A maioria dos laboratórios não segue as diretrizes recomendadas pela KDIGO 2012. Este trabalho indica que existe necessidade de serem desenvolvidos processos de educação e harmonização no diagnóstico laboratorial de DRC nos laboratórios instalados em hospitais inseridos no Sistema Nacional de Saúde Português.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The laboratory diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a simple and cost-effective procedure that allows the detection of early stages of the disease, which is essential to avoid kidney damage and a life threateaning event. It consists of measuring serum creatinine concentration, urinary albumin concentration and calculating the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). In 2012, the guidelines for laboratory evaluation of the CKD were published by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO). Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate whether the laboratories in hospitals of the Portuguese National Health System follow these guidelines and provide a correct diagnosis of CKD. Material and method: A questionnaire composed of 32 questions was sent to the Clinical Pathology Services of all hospitals inserted in the System. Results: All 49 labs responded that measure serum creatinine, 18 reported measurering eGFR. Ten reported measuring eGFR only if specifically ordered. Forty-four measure total protein and albumin in the urine, three only protein, one albumin alone, and one measure none of them. The type of samples, methods, reagents, equipment, expression units of results and reference intervals varied. Conclusion: There is great variability among laboratories in relation to the methodology of measuring serum creatinine, albumin and total protein in the urine. There are wide variations in the release of results. Most laboratories do not follow the guidelines recommended by the KDIGO 2012. This work indicates that there is a need to develop education and alignment processes in the laboratory diagnosis of CKD in the laboratories installed in hospitals inserted in the Portuguese National Health System.

ABSTRACT Accurate estimates of group sizes through line transect sampling methods are important to correctly ascertain the abundance of animals that occur in groups. Since the average observed group size is a component of the distance sampling formula, bias in these data leads to biased abundance estimates. This study aimed to evaluate the potential errors in group size estimation during line transect ship surveys to estimate abundances of the humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski 1781). In a research cruise along the Brazilian coast, an experiment to collect group size information was conducted from two different sighting platforms on the same vessel. Group sizes were recorded by primary observers at first sighting (PO1) and, in some cases, after some time (PO2). A tracker (T) was located on a higher platform to estimate the sizes of groups detected by the primary observers, but tracked one group at a time until it passed abeam. Thus, the dedicated effort to obtain multiple group counts (i.e. higher platform, more time and no responsibility for detecting new groups) was expected to provide more accurate numbers. PO2 estimates were compared with PO1 estimates, and T estimates were compared with both PO1 and PO2. Additionally, ratios between T and both PO2 (R1) and PO1 (R2), and between PO2 and PO1 (R3) were calculated. To investigate a possible improvement in abundance estimates, a correction factor (CF) was computed from the ratio of T and PO2 means. Primary observer self-correction (= 1.60, CV% = 70.3) was statistically similar to the correction for the tracker (= 1.62, CV% = 84.1). CF resulted in 1 and would not improve abundance estimates. This study supports that observers conducting line transect surveys on large whales have the potential to provide group size information that is as adequate as the correction procedure adopted.

Balancing power production and environmental conservation can be problematic. The objective of this study was to investigate the abundance of marsh deer in the Paraná River Basin, above the Sergio Motta (Porto Primavera) Dam, before and after the impact of the dam closure. A fixed-wing, flat window aircraft was used to survey study transects. Observations were recorded based on the distance sampling line transect method, assuming that the detection probability decreases with increased distance. The abundance of marsh deer in the survey region prior to flooding was estimated to be 974 individuals (CV = 0.23). The overall abundance dropped from 974 to 444 (CV = 0.26) individuals after flooding, an overall reduction of 54%. This reduction can be attributed to the direct impact of the flooding process, but it was likely exacerbated by indirect effects, such as increased disease, hunting, and reduction in food availability. Prior to flooding, the marsh deer was distributed widely throughout the dam's catchment area; however, the marsh deer habitat was almost completely destroyed by the flooding process. This situation highlights the need to implement management strategies that ensure the survival of the remaining fragmented population.

Botos-da-Amazônia (ou botos; Inia geoffrensis) são atualmente provisionados com alimentos para uso em atrações turísticas em cinco locais da Amazônia Brasileira. Apesar dos efeitos negativos associados com interações homem-golfinho já terem sido reportados, esta atividade foi recentemente regulamentada e licenciada no Parque Nacional de Anavilhanas, em Novo Airão, estado do Amazonas, Brasil. No presente trabalho apresentamos uma avaliação detalhada da percepção da comunidade local com relação aos possíveis impactos socioeconômicos deste turismo em Novo Airão. Em abril de 2011, 45 entrevistas foram realizadas com habitantes do município. Um pequeno segmento de Novo Airão possui a percepção de que são atualmente dependentes do turismo de alimentação artificial de botos. Apesar disso, os benefícios econômicos dessa atividade controversa aparentemente não são compartilhados entre a maior parte dos habitantes, e este turismo é percebido como gerando diversos efeitos negativos. Nós concluímos que se esta atividade fosse banida ou modificada para uma atividade turística menos impactante, esta ação provavelmente não iria afetar significativamente a vida da população em geral.

Botos (Inia geoffrensis) are currently provisioned for use in tourist attractions in five sites in the Brazilian Amazon. Despite the known negative effects associated with human-wild dolphin interactions, this activity has been regulated and licensed in the Anavilhanas National Park in Novo Airão, Amazonas State, Brazil. We present an updated evaluation of the perception of the local community concerning the possible socioeconomic impacts of this tourism in Novo Airão. In April 2011, 45 interviews were conducted with inhabitants. A small segment of Novo Airão perceives currently itself as being economically dependent on the botos feeding tourism. Despite that, the economic benefits of this controversial activity apparently are not shared among most inhabitants, and botos feeding tourism is perceived as generating diverse negative effects. We conclude that if the activity was banned or modified into a less impacting tourist activity, this action would probably not majorly affect the lives of the general population.

Animal studies and premarketing clinical trials have revealed hepatotoxicity of statins, primarily minor elevations in serum alanine aminotransferase levels. The combined chronic use of medicines and eventual ethanol abuse are common and may present a synergistic action regarding liver injury. Our objective was to study the effect of the chronic use of atorvastatin associated with acute ethanol administration on the liver in a rat model. One group of rats was treated daily for 5 days a week for 2 months with 0.8 mg/kg atorvastatin by gavage. At the end of the treatment the livers were perfused with 72 mM ethanol for 60 min. Control groups (at least 4 animals in each group) consisted of a group of 2-month-old male Wistar EPM-1 rats exposed to 10% ethanol (v/v) ad libitum replacing water for 2 months, followed by perfusion of the liver with 61 nM atorvastatin for 60 min, and a group of animals without chronic ethanol treatment whose livers were perfused with atorvastatin and/or ethanol. The combination of atorvastatin with ethanol did not increase the release of injury marker enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactic dehydrogenase) from the liver and no change in liver function markers (bromosulfophthalein clearance, and oxygen consumption) was observed. Our results suggest that the combination of atorvastatin with ethanol is not more hepatotoxic than the separate use of each substance.

A destruição dos habitats naturais e a extinção de espécies têm crescido muito a partir da última metade do século XX. Nesse contexto, o aumento do número de espécies ameaçadas tem proporcionado maior uso da reintrodução como estratégia de conservação no combate à atual taxa de extinção. O presente trabalho focaliza um estudo de 16 meses realizado com cervos-do-pantanal reintroduzidos na Estação Ecológica de Jataí. Os animais foram marcados com rádio-colares e monitorados diariamente entre dezembro de 1998 e abril de 2000, tendo suas atividades de deslocamento e uso do espaço acompanhadas por triangulação. Os animais exploraram várzeas dentro da unidade de conservação e também uma área de várzea pertencente a uma propriedade particular localizada na fronteira oeste da estação. Durante o período de estudo, a maioria dos cervos reintroduzidos utilizou a área de várzea particular mais intensivamente que as várzeas da unidade de conservação. A preferência demonstrada por essa área confirmou sua importância ecológica, evidenciando a necessidade de proteção por meio de sua incorporação aos limites da Estação Ecológica de Jataí.

Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, wildlife habitat destruction and species extinctions have greatly increased. As the number of endangered species grows, the use of reintroduction as a conservation tool against species extinction increases. This study focuses on a 16-month study on marsh deer reintroduced in the Jataí Ecological Station. The animals were radio tagged and tracked daily between December 1998 and April 2000. Displacement activity and spatial preferences were monitored by triangulation. The animals wandered the floodplains inside the protected area and also a floodplain that is part of privately owned property on the western edge of the Jataí Ecological Station. During the study, most of the reintroduced marsh deer preferred the private floodplain area more than the floodplains inside the protected area. This preference revealed the ecological importance of the area and the necessity of its incorporation into the Jataí Ecological Station.

O número de frutos em plantas de tomateiro cultivadas em alta densidade e com índice de área foliar similar mantido através de desfolhamento foi determinado em três condições ambientais, no interior de túneis de polietileno. O experimento 1 foi conduzido no outono, com radiação solar média recebida pela cultura de 8,0 MJ m-2 dia-1 e temperatura média exterior de 18,1ºC. Os experimentos 2 e 3 foram conduzidos na primavera, com temperatura média exterior de 19,7ºC. No experimento 2, a radiação solar média recebida pela cultura foi de 12,4 MJ m-2 dia-1, enquanto no experimento 3 foi reduzida para 5,9 MJ m-2 dia-1 por meio de uma tela com 52% de sombreamento. As plantas foram cultivadas em sacolas, com 1,0 m entre fileiras e 0,3 m entre sacolas, enchidas com 5,5 L de substrato comercial. Nutrientes e água foram fornecidos via solução nutritiva, de forma a repor os volumes perdidos pela transpiração. Os tratamentos consistiram de uma (T1), duas (T2) e três (T3) plantas por sacola, correspondendo a densidades de 3,3; 6,7 e 10 plantas m-2, respectivamente. Em T1, três folhas por simpódio foram mantidas, com uma proporção de 3:1 entre o número de folhas e de inflorescências, em cada simpódio. Em T2, duas e uma folha foram mantidas respectivamente em dois simpódios consecutivos, alternativamente em ambas as plantas da sacola. A relação entre o número de folhas e de inflorescências foi de 3:2. Em T3, com três plantas por sacola, somente uma folha por simpódio foi mantida, com uma relação de 3:3. Em todos os experimentos, o número de inflorescências por unidade de área em T2 e T3 foi duas e três vezes maior que em T1, respectivamente. O número de frutos fixados por área de solo foi menor em T1 e similar em T2 e T3 no primeiro experimento, enquanto no segundo e terceiro experimentos valores similares foram observados entre os tratamentos. Os resultados indicaram que as plantas de tomateiro ajustam o número de frutos fixados e as flores excedentes são abortadas. Uma densidade de 6,7 plantas m-2 combinada com uma proporção de 3:2 entre o número de folhas e de inflorescências por unidade de área de solo é apontada como a mais indicada para maximizar a fixação de frutos da cultura.

Tomato fruit setting on high density defoliated tomato plants with similar leaf area index was determined in three environmental conditions, inside polyethylene tunnels. Experiment 1 was carried out in autumn when average solar radiation received by the crop was 8.0 MJ m-2 day-1. Average external temperature was 18.1ºC. Experiments 2 and 3 were conducted in spring, when average external temperature was 19.7ºC. In experiment 2, average solar radiation received by the crop was 12.4 MJ m-2 day-1, whereas in experiment 3 it was reduced to 5.9 MJ m-2 day-1 by a 52% shading net. Plants were grown in bags, spaced 1.0 m between row and 0.3 m within row bags distance, using 5.5 L of a commercial substrate. Nutrients and water were supplied by means of a nutrient solution, delivered daily in order to replace volumes lost by transpiration. Treatments consisted of one (T1), two (T2) and three (T3) plants per bag, leading to plant densities of 3.3, 6.7 and 10 plants m-2, respectively. In T1, three leaves per sympod were kept, with a ratio of 3:1 between number of leaves and inflorescences per sympod. In T2, two and one leaf was kept respectively on two consecutive sympods, alternatively on both plants. The ratio between number of leaves and inflorescences was 3:2. In T3, with three plants per bag, only one leaf per sympod was kept on each plant. The ratio between number of leaves and inflorescences was 3:3. In all experiments, the number of trusses per area in T2 and T3 was two and three times higher than in T1, respectively. The number of fruits per unit ground area was lower in T1 plants and similar in T2 and T3 plants in the first experiment, whereas in the second and third experiments similar values were observed among treatments. Results indicated that tomato plants adjust the number of fruits, and exceeding flowers are aborted. The use of a plant density of 6.7 plants m-2 combined with a 3:2 ratio between number of leaves and inflorescences per unit ground area seems to be the upper limit in maximizing the number of set fruits of this crop.

We tested the correlation of the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (A/C) in an early-morning urine sample, measured with a commercial kit (DCA 2000®), with the conventional immunoturbidimetric determination in the laboratory and with overnight albumin excretion rate (reference method). Fifty-five type 1 diabetic adolescents had their first-morning urine collected on the 1st and 8th day of the period. Urinary albumin and creatinine were determined immediately using the DCA 2000® kit. Samples were also stored for laboratory analysis. To evaluate the correlation between early-morning urinary A/C ratio and overnight albumin excretion rate, 16 subjects had a timed overnight urine collection. A/C ratios determined with the DCA 2000® kit and by the laboratory method were 13.1 ± 20.5 and 20.4 ± 46.3 mg/g, respectively. A/C results by both methods proved to be strongly correlated (r = 0.98, P<0.001). DCA 2000®-determined A/C showed 50% sensitivity and 100% specificity when compared to the reference method. Spot urinary A/C of the subset of 16 subjects significantly correlated with their overnight albumin excretion rate (r = 0.98, P<0.001). Intraindividual variation ranged from 17 to 32% and from 9 to 63% for A/C and overnight albumin excretion rate, respectively. In conclusion, an early-morning specimen should be used instead of timed overnight urine and the A/C ratio is an accurate, reliable and easily determined parameter for the screening of diabetic nephropathy. Immediate measurement of the A/C ratio is feasible using the DCA 2000® kit. Intraindividual variability indicates the need for repeated determinations to confirm microalbuminuria and the diagnosis of incipient diabetic nephropathy.

São revistas as indicações de monitorização terapêutica dos quatro anticonvulsivantes de maior aplicação» na prática médica diária em nosso meio e é descrito um método simples, sensível e preciso de quantificação destas drogas em soro ou plasma, por cromatografia líquida de alta pressão. O método permite a determinação simultânea de fenobarbital, fenitoína, carbamazepina e primidona, que são perfeitamente separados dos componentes normais do plasma e de outros medicamentos eventualmente presentes na amostra. A eluição foi monitorizada em 214 nm e a concentração de cada uma das drogas foi calculada pela relação entre as alturas dos picos destas com a dos respectivos padrões. Os resultados foram comparados com os obtidos por enzima-imunoensaio, apresentando os seguintes coeficientes de correlação: fenobarbital r= 0,990, fenitoína r = 0,993, carbamazepina r = 0,994 e primidona r = 0,992. Algumas outras drogas foram analisadas no sentido de avaliar eventuais interferências.

We describe a sensitive and precise method for the simultaneous high pressure liquid-chromatography determination of phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin, primidone, and carbamazepine in serum. The drugs are extracted into chloroform, dried and dissolved in the mobile phase. The drugs are eluted from a reverse-phase column with methanol/water and detected by their absorption at 214 nm. Concentrations are estimated from their peak heights.The results, when compared with those by enzyme-immuneassay, gave correlation coefficients of 0.990 for phenobarbital, 0.993 for diphenulhydantoin, 0.992 for primidone and 0.994 for carbamazepine.