Several sesquiterpene lactone were synthesized and their inhibitive activities on phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) from Bothrops jararacussu venom were evaluated. Compounds Lac01 and Lac02 were efficient against PLA(2) edema-inducing, enzymatic and myotoxic activities and it reduces around 85% of myotoxicity and around 70% of edema-inducing activity. Lac05-Lac08 presented lower efficiency in inhibiting the biological activities studied and reduce the myotoxic and edema-inducing activities around only 15%. The enzymatic activity was significantly reduced. The values of inhibition constants (K(I)) for Lac01 and Lac02 were approximately 740 μM, and for compounds Lac05-Lac08 the inhibition constants were approximately 7.622-9.240 μM. The enzymatic kinetic studies show that the sesquiterpene lactones inhibit PLA(2) in a non-competitive manner. Some aspects of the structure-activity relationships (topologic, molecular and electronic parameters) were obtained using ab initio quantum calculations and analyzed by chemometric methods (HCA and PCA). The quantum chemistry calculations show that compounds with a higher capacity of inhibiting PLA(2) (Lac01-Lac04) present lower values of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy and molecular volume (VOL) and bigger values of hydrophobicity (LogP). These results indicate some topologic aspects of the binding site of sesquiterpene lactone derivatives and PLA(2).

In the Brazilian HIV-1 epidemic, subtypes B, C, and F1 are cocirculating in the population. Sequences of the partial pol gene from 463 HIV-1-infected patients were obtained from plasma samples and viral subtype was characterized. BF recombinants were found in 8% of the samples. Fifteen different patterns were observed. A CRF28_BF and CRF29_BF structure was found in 29.7% of the samples, CRF12_BF in 13.5%, and CRF39_BF in 2.7%. Two other patterns were identified in each of three samples. These findings could indicate a new CRF description, but to determine this a full length study is required.

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SUMMARYThe present study aimed at standardizing a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay to evaluate the presence of GBV-C/HGV RNA. A "TaqMan" assay using primers and probe derived from the 5′ NCR region was developed and validated. Two hundred and fifty-three plasma samples from HIV-infected women were tested for GBV-C viremia and antibody against the envelope protein 2. GBV-C RNA was detected in 22.5% of the patients whereas the antibody was identified in 25.3% of the cohort. Detection of viral RNA and of antibodies was mutually exclusive. Viral loads showed a mean of 1,777 arbitrary units / mL, being 1.1 and 13,625 arbitrary units / mL respectively the lowest and highest values measured. We conclude that the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction method developed is appropriate for the investigation of GBV-C RNA since it was shown to be highly specific and sensitive, as well as requiring few steps, preventing contamination and providing additional information as to the relative viremia of carriers, a parameter that must be included in studies evaluating the co-factors influencing the clinical outcome of HIV/AIDS.

The tomato is one of the most economically, socially and nutritionally important vegetables, presenting high added value. The culture allows high profit for the producers, but it is a high risk activity due to, specially, the sensibility of some varieties to climate conditions as well as multiple plagues and diseases that attack the culture. Therefore, the search for new hybrids with more tolerance to biotic and abiotic factors is extremely important to attend to the demand of the culture’s productive chain. The objective of this work was to demonstrate the importance of multivariate and univariate techniques in evaluating the level of similarity among hybrids of the tomato plant of the salad group with the purpose of diagnosing possible groups in relation to the variables analyzed. A total of 23 hybrids of tomato from the salad group were evaluated; of those, 9 were commercial hybrids and 14 were experimental hybrids. Throughout the conduction of the experiment, the productive characters of the culture were evaluated as well as the characteristics of the fruits and the agronomic characters of the plant. For the productive characters and the characteristics of the fruits, the multiple factor analysis was performed, and the averages were compared by the Scott-Knott test. For the agronomic characters of the plant, the exploratory data analysis was used with the correspondence analysis. The commercial hybrids studied present a high degree of similarity among them, with more than 77% of the materials with strong or high similarity with the other materials. Meanwhile, for the experimental hybrids, this result is seen in only 42.86% of the materials. The experimental hybrids 3124, 3139, and 3126 present higher divergence when compared to the other materials studied. They are, therefore, recommended to increase the genetic base of the tomato plant’s breeding program.

CONTRIBUIÇÃO AO ESTUDO DO DIAGNÓSTICO CLÍNICO LABORATORIAL E DIFERENCIAL DASEntamoeba histolytica E Entamoeba dispar RESUMODesde que, a Entamoeba histolytica foi considerada espécie distinta da Entamoeba dispar, o diagnóstico diferencial entre elas tornou-se indispensável. Nesse cenário esse estudo, objetivou realizar uma revisão bibliográfica a partir de documentos e bases de dados consolidadas com a meta de subsidiar os profissionais em saúde sobre o conhecimento no que concerne aos exames clínicos laboratoriais para efetuar a distinção entre os amebídeos antes citados, minimizando as dúvidas que por ventura permeia esses profissionais. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:Diagnóstico Diferencial; Entamoeba histolytica; Entamoeba dispar. CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF CLINICAL LABORATORY AND DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF THE Entamoeba histolytica AND Entamoeba dispar ABSTRACTSince Entamoeba histolytica was considered distinct specie from Entamoeba dispar, the different diagnostics between them became indispensable. In this scenario, this study aimed the realization of a bibliographic revision starting at documents and consolidated data bases, with the goal of subsidize the health proffessionals about the knowledge of what concerns about clinical lab exams, to make a distinction between the species upped cited, minimizing the doubts that could eventually come to the mind of those proffessionals.

Análise transversal da incidência de infecção meningocócica em crianças e adultos de 1 a 59 anos em Sergipe comparativamente com o Brasil, nos anos de 2008 a 2017 Cross-sectional analysis of the incidence of meningococcal infection in children and adults aged 1 to 59 years in Sergipe compared to Brazil in the years 2008 to 2017

Os arranjos produtivos de beterraba (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivada sob sistema de irrigação negligenciam técnicas que quantificam a real necessidade hídrica da cultura. Assim, o objetivo do trabalho foi investigar se lâminas de irrigação interferem no diâmetro e na produtividade de beterraba. O experimento foi conduzido no Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais (MG), Campus Bambuí, MG, de setembro a dezembro de 2016, com a cultivar EWTT - SK. Os tratamentos consistiram em cinco manejo de irrigação, com aplicação de lâminas de água correspondentes aos percentuais da evapotranspiração da cultura de 80%, 90%, 100%, 110% e 120%, fornecidas manualmente toda vez que o solo atingisse 80% da sua disponibilidade real. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. A semeadura foi feita em bandejas de isopor e as mudas transplantadas no solo aos 34 dias. A colheita foi realizada 105 dias após a semeadura. Avaliou-se o diâmetro (mm) e a produtividade (t ha-1) de beterraba. À partir dos resultados obtidos, observou-se que houve diferença significativa para ambas avaliações, sendo que o tratamento com lâmina de 120% da evapotranspiração da cultura obteve melhor resultado nas duas avaliações, comparado aos outros tratamentos. Desta forma, conclui-se que o aumento da lâmina de irrigação apresenta efeito direto no diâmetro e na produtividade da beterraba, sendo que a lâmina de 120% da ETc apresenta os melhores resultados. O emprego de lâminas menores promovem redução nestas características analisadas, comprometendo, assim, a produção da cultura. Os resultados reforçam a importância da irrigação e do seu manejo para a produção da cultura.