Universidade Estadual de Londrina

About: Universidade Estadual de Londrina is a education organization based out in Londrina, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Toxoplasma gondii. The organization has 13052 authors who have published 19291 publications receiving 212123 citations.

Genetic Characterization of Soybean Rhizobia in Paraguay

Abstract: The soybean is an exotic plant introduced in Paraguay in this century; commercial cropping expanded after the 1970s. Inoculation is practiced in just 15 to 20% of the cropping areas, but root nodulation occurs in most sites where soybeans grow. Little is known about rhizobial diversity in South America, and no study has been performed in Paraguay until this time. Therefore, in this study, the molecular characterization of 78 rhizobial isolates from soybean root nodules, collected under field conditions in 16 sites located in the two main producing states, Alto Parana and Itapua, was undertaken. A high level of genetic diversity was detected by an ERIC-REP-PCR analysis, with the majority of the isolates representing unique strains. Most of the 58 isolates characterized by slow growth and alkaline reactions in a medium containing mannitol as a carbon source were clustered with strains representative of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii species, and the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences of 5 of those isolates confirmed the species identities. However, slow growers were highly polymorphic in relation to the reference strains, including five carried in commercial inoculants in neighboring countries, thus indicating that the Paraguayan isolates might represent native bradyrhizobia. Twenty isolates highly polymorphic in the ERIC-REP-PCR profiles were characterized by fast growth and acid reactions in vitro, and two of them showed high 16S rDNA identities with Rhizobium genomic species Q. However, two other fast growers showed high 16S rDNA identity with Agrobacterium spp., and both of these strains established efficient symbioses with soybean plants.

Adverse drug reactions caused by drug–drug interactions in elderly outpatients: a prospective cohort study

Abstract: Purpose Although the prevalence of drug–drug interactions (DDIs) in elderly outpatients is high, many potential DDIs do not have any actual clinical effect, and data on the occurrence of DDI-related adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in elderly outpatients are scarce. This study aimed to determine the incidence and characteristics of DDI-related ADRs among elderly outpatients as well as the factors associated with these reactions.

Phytic Acid: From Antinutritional to Multiple Protection Factor of Organic Systems

Abstract: Several studies have shown the benefits of natural antioxidants on health and food preservation. Phytic acid (IP6) is a natural antioxidant that is found mainly in cereals and vegetables and, for a long period of time, was considered an antinutritional factor. However, in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated its beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of several pathological conditions and cancer. Despite the numerous benefits of IP6, the signs and intracellular interactions mediated by this antioxidant remain poorly understood. This review describes the main chemical and biological aspects of IP6, as well as its actions in the prevention and treatment of various diseases.

Prevalência e caracterização da dor crônica em idosos não institucionalizados

Abstract: Os objetivos deste estudo foram: determinar a prevalencia da dor cronica em idosos servidores municipais e caracterizar esta dor quanto ao local, intensidade, duracao, frequencia do episodio e horario preferencial. Estudo transversal de base populacional realizado em area urbana de Londrina, Parana, Brasil. A populacao pesquisada foi de 451 idosos servidores municipais. A coleta de dados foi realizada por entrevista domiciliar, aplicada ao idoso. Considerou-se dor cronica toda dor com duracao igual ou superior a seis meses, e idoso, todo servidor com mais de sessenta anos. Constatou-se prevalencia de dor cronica de 51,44%. Os locais de dores mais frequentes foram: regiao dorsal (21,73%) e membros inferiores (21,5%). A dor em regiao dorsal foi descrita como diaria (31,63%), continua ou com duracao entre 1 e 6 horas (19,39%), leve (50%) e sem horario preferencial (56,12%). Dor em membros inferiores foi descrita como diaria (42,27%), com duracao variavel (32,99%) ou continua (22,68%), leve (53,61%) e sem horario preferencial (48,45%). Evidenciou-se alta prevalencia de dor cronica em idosos. As caracteristicas da dor observadas podem interferir na qualidade de vida dessa populacao, impondo sofrimento desnecessario.

Muscle water control in crustaceans and fishes as a function of habitat, osmoregulatory capacity, and degree of euryhalinity

Abstract: This study aimed at detecting possible patterns in the relationship between Anisosmotic Extracellular Regulation (AER) and Isosmotic Intracellular Regulation (IIR) in crustaceans and teleost fish from different habitats and evolutionary histories in fresh water (FW), thus different osmoregulatory capabilities, and degrees of euryhalinity. Crustaceans used were the hololimnetic FW Aegla schmitti, and Macrobrachium potiuna, the diadromous FW Macrobrachium acanthurus, the estuarine Palaemon pandaliformis and the marine Hepatus pudibundus; fishes used were the FW Corydoras ehrhardti, Mimagoniates microlepis, and Geophagus brasiliensis, and the marine-estuarine Diapterus auratus. The capacity for IIR was assessed in vitro following wet weight changes of isolated muscle slices incubated in anisosmotic saline (~50% change). M. potiuna was the crustacean with the highest capacity for IIR; the euryhaline perciforms G. brasiliensis and D. auratus displayed total capacity for IIR. It is proposed that a high capacity for IIR is required for invading a new habitat, but that it is later lost after a long time of evolution in a stable habitat, such as in the FW anomuran crab A. schmitti, and the Ostariophysian fishes C. ehrhardti and M. microlepis. More recent FW invaders such as the palaemonid shrimps (M. potiuna and M. acanthurus) and the cichlid G. brasiliensis are euryhaline and still display a high capacity for IIR.