Objective: To determine the time of diagnosis of typical orofacial clefts in different Brazilian regions and its influence on age at surgical correction.Method: This was a prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in medical centers in the Southeast, South, and Northeast of Brazil. Trained speech therapists and geneticists interviewed the parents of affected children using a previously validated questionnaire. Epi-Info and SPSS were used for data analysis. Significance level was set at 5% (p ≤ 0.05). (30), and after hospital discharge in 10.2% (22). The Southeast had a higher frequency of prenatal diagnosis (27.7%), possibly related to greater purchasing power in this region and greater availability of prenatal investigation. Of all cases diagnosed in the maternity ward, 74.4% occurred in the Northeast. However, no significant difference was found when comparing time of diagnosis, region, and age at first surgery. Results Conclusion:Considering that diagnosis is more common in the maternity ward, local health care teams should be trained in order to effectively improve the initial care of these patients. Although time of diagnosis did not affect age at surgery, it favors the planning of neonatal care and treatment of affected infants.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2011;87(3):225-230: Cleft lip, cleft palate, diagnosis, public health. ResumoObjetivo: Determinar a época do diagnóstico de fendas orofaciais típicas em diferentes regiões brasileiras e sua influência na idade da correção cirúrgica.Método: Estudo prospectivo, descritivo e transversal realizado em centros médicos do Sudeste, Sul e Nordeste do Brasil. Fonoaudiólogos e geneticistas treinados realizaram entrevista, previamente validada, com pais de crianças afetadas. Utilizaram-se os programas Epi-Info e SPSS. Adotou-se nível de significância de 5% (p ≤ 0,05). Resultados:A amostra contou com 215 entrevistas para análise: 21,9% (47) aplicadas no Sudeste, 51,1% (110) no Sul e 27% (58) no Nordeste. A renda mensal no Sudeste foi maior (p ≤ 0,05). A fenda labiopalatal foi encontrada em 61,4% (132) dos casos, a palatal, em 20,9% (45), e a labial, em 17,7% (38). Em 75,3% (162) dos casos, o diagnóstico ocorreu na maternidade, em 14% (30), no pré-natal e, em 10,2% (22), após a alta da maternidade. O Sudeste apresentou maior frequência de diagnóstico pré-natal (27,7%), possivelmente relacionada ao maior poder aquisitivo e a oportunidades de investigação. Dos diagnósticos em maternidades, 74,4% ocorreram no Nordeste. Entretanto, não houve diferença na comparação entre época de diagnóstico, região e idade da primeira cirurgia. Conclusão:Considerando que o diagnóstico é mais frequente em maternidades, sugere-se o treinamento das equipes de saúde desses locais, visando efetiva coordenação do atendimento inicial. Apesar da época do diagnóstico não influenciar a idade das cirurgias, ela favorece o planejamento dos cuidados neonatais e terapêuticos dos afetados.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2011;87(3):225-230: Fenda labial, fenda palatal, diagnóstico, saúde pública.

Objective : To verify feeding resources used prior to corrective surgery among cleft babies from Brazil and to discuss suggestions to improve common feeding problems around the world. Design : Cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at eight medical centers. Participants : A total of 215 parents or guardians of cleft children. Methods : Interview based upon a prevalidated questionnaire. The chi-square test and comparison of means by analysis of variance were used; significance level adopted was 5% (P < .05). Results : Feeding guidelines were provided in the maternity unit to 53% of the families. Breast-feeding was encouraged among 80% of mothers, predominantly in the South (P = .016). However, follow-up after maternity discharge was not appropriately carried out and failure to breast-feed occurred in 78% of families. The feeding tube was used in 21%. According to families, for those who used the ordinary nipple, it was considered the best option by the majority (29%). Conclusion : Neonatal feeding in cleft babies is a global challenge. Reports about the difficulties encountered and successful experiences would be helpful to disseminate strategies and stimulate research directed at the large-scale applicability of neonatal feeding for cleft babies on public health. This study detected the need to increase professional training and emphasizes the need for public policies addressing neonatal referral to specialized care wherever possible. It also stimulates research into using an ordinary nipple as another resource for feeding cleft babies and suggests an international discussion about specific recommendations for humanized primary health care.

Young coffee plants from cultivar Mundo Novo of Coffea arabica were grown without irrigation for 32 consecutive days, to evaluate the effect of leaf water potential on damage caused by low temperatures, under controlled conditions. A wide range of leaf water potentials were evaluated, from - 0.45MPa (wet soil) at the beginning of the experimental period, to - 4.8MPa (severe leaf wilting) at the end. Results showed that under moderate water stress, there was a higher frequency of undamaged plants and lower frequency of severely damaged plants. These results help explain part of the regional variability observed after a frost and stress the importance of new studies associating cold and drought tolerance in coffee.
Mudas de cafeeiros da cultivar Mundo Novo de Coffea arabica foram mantidas sem irrigação em viveiro, por um período de 32 dias consecutivos, com o objetivo de se avaliar o efeito do potencial de água na folha nos danos causados por baixas temperaturas, sob condições controladas. As plantas avaliadas apresentaram potenciais de água nas folhas entre -0,45MPa (solo encharcado) no início do período experimental e -4,8MPa (murchamento severo das folhas) na fase final. Os tratamentos com baixas temperaturas consistiram em submeter as plantas de café protegidas com sacolas plásticas seladas durante 90 minutos a -3ºC ± 0,5ºC, dentro de um banho de solução etanólica. A avaliação dos danos foliares foi feita visualmente por quatro avaliadores independentes, um dia após a submissão às baixas temperaturas. Os resultados mostraram que, sob estresse hídrico moderado, houve maior frequência de plantas não danificadas e menor freqüência de plantas com danos severos. Plantas muito hidratadas sofreram danos severos com maior frequência. Estes resultados podem explicar parte da variabilidade regional nos danos de geadas e destacam a importância de novos estudos associando tolerância ao frio com tolerância à seca

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri strains that cause disease in citrus were investigated by pulsed field and plasmid profile analysis. For the first method, genomic DNA was digested by the rare-cutting enzymes Xba I and Vsp I. The strains evaluated were collected in seven different States of Brazil and in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Genetic variability was found among strains of X. axonopodis pv. citri from different geographical areas Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay, with similarities varying from 0.62 to 0.83. However, the strains collected in Brazil, despite being from different States, have shown a genetic similarity ranging from 0.83 to 1.00. Cluster analysis showed a relationship between genomic similarity and geographical origin of the strains. Plasmids were observed in all strains, with a total of five different plasmids, with sizes between 57.7 and 83.0 kilobases. The 72.6 kb plasmid was the most frequent, present in 15 out of 22 strains, while the 68.1 kb plasmid was observed in two strains only. Although the plasmid diversity detected in the present study was not very great, the X. axonopodis pv. citri strains evaluated showed a considerable degree of diversity with regard to this extrachromosomal genetic element.