Histological Cuts Research Articles

Optical fiber-based full Mueller polarimeter for endoscopic imaging using a two-wavelength simultaneous measurement method.

This paper reports a technique based on spectrally differential measurement for determining the full Mueller matrix of a biological sample through an optical fiber. In this technique, two close wavelengths were used simultaneously, one for characterizing the fiber and the other for characterizing the assembly of fiber and sample. The characteristics of the fiber measured at one wavelength were used to decouple its contribution from the measurement on the assembly of fiber and sample and then to extract sample Mueller matrix at the second wavelength. The proof of concept was experimentally validated by measuring polarimetric parameters of various calibrated optical components through the optical fiber. Then, polarimetric images of histological cuts of human colon tissues were measured, and retardance, diattenuation, and orientation of the main axes of fibrillar regions were displayed. Finally, these images were successfully compared with images obtained by a free space Mueller microscope. As the reported method does not use any moving component, it offers attractive integration possibilities with an endoscopic probe.

Diagnóstico molecular do granuloma lepróide canino, a partir de cortes histológicos emblocados em parafina, pela técnica de reação em cadeia de polimerase (Pcr) – estudo retrospectivo (2002-2009)

<p class="Pa7" style="margin-right: 28pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; color: black; font-size: 8pt;">O Granuloma lepróide canino (GLC) ou “lepra canina” consiste em micobacteriose, com quadro dermatopático que conta com aspectos ainda obscuros, principalmente quanto ao seu modo de transmissão e agente etiológico envolvido. Com a finalidade de se verificar a caracterização gênica da micobactéria em questão, procedeu-se estudo a partir de cortes histológicos, de animais com diagnóstico estabelecido da enfermidade. A amostragem foi composta de 13 cães, atendidos no Serviço de Dermatologia do HOVET/USP. Tal material foi posteriormente submetido às técnicas de reação em cadeia de polimerase (PCR), “nested” e em tempo real. O método da PCR “nested” confirmou a presença do agente em apenas 18,7% dos animais. Enquanto que, em 69,2% das amostras, o DNA da micobactéria envolvida foi detectado pela PCR em tempo real, demonstrando ser neste estudo, o método de maior sensibilidade. Pôde-se concluir ainda que a espécie de micobactéria causadora do Granuloma lepróide canino nos cães brasileiros possui homologia gênica de 100%, quando comparada às amostras provindas de animais de estudos estrangeiros. <strong></strong></span></p>

Efeitos da Hipervitaminose A sobre o Disco Epifisário de Fêmures de Ratos

A vitamina A (C20H30O) é um álcool (retinol) isoprenóide, insaturado, termoestável, lipossolúvel e insolúvel na água. Pode ser encontrado na forma precursora de β-caroteno, sendo transformada posteriormente nas suas formas ativas (ou pré-formadas) denominadas retinol, ácido retinóico e éster retilínicos. A vitamina A exerce diversas funções no desenvolvimento do ser humano, entretanto, o seu excesso causa várias manifestações, como sonolência, irritabilidade, dermatite escamativa, unhas frágeis, gengivite, fadiga, hipertensão, cefaléias intensas, fraqueza generalizada e fragilidade óssea. Sabendo que a vitamina A influencia no crescimento ósseo, o presente estudo propôs avaliar eventuais alterações produzidas no disco epifisário do fêmur de ratos em crescimento, submetidos a uma hipervitaminose A. Foram administradas, em ratos Wistar, doses na concentração de 150.000 UI (0,5 ml / 100g de peso) por via intraperitoneal e comparados com um grupo controle. Cada grupo composto por 8 animais foi sacrificado com 10, 20, 30 e 40 dias após a injeção e os fêmures foram removidos para obtenção de cortes histológicos. A morfometria dos discos epifisários demonstrou que os animais que receberam as doses elevadas de vitamina A apresentaram uma diminuição na espessura dos discos epifisários, condizente com uma maturação mais acelerada. Dessa forma, os resultados sugerem que excesso de vitamina A pode levar a um aumento no amadurecimento dos discos epifisários.

Endobronchial Ultrasound Reliably Quantifies Airway Smooth Muscle Remodeling in an Equine Asthma Model.

Endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) revealed differences in the thickness of the layer representing subepithelial tissues (L2) between human asthmatics and controls, but whether this measurement correlates with airway smooth muscle (ASM) remodeling in asthma is unknown. In this study, we sought to determine the ability of EBUS to predict histological ASM remodeling in normal and equine asthmatic airways. We studied 109 isolated bronchi from the lungs of 13 horses. They underwent EBUS examination using a 30 MHz radial probe before being processed for histology. ASM remodeling parameters were evaluated in EBUS images (L2 thickness, L2 area, L2 area/internal perimeter [Pi] and L2 area/Pi2) and histological cuts (ASM area/Pi2), and compared. EBUS was then performed ex vivo on the lungs of 4 horses with heaves, an asthma-like condition of horses, and 7 controls to determine whether central bronchial remodeling could be detected with this technique. An optimized approach was developed based on data variability within airways, subjects, and groups, and then validated in 7 horses (3 controls, 4 with heaves) that underwent EBUS in vivo. L2 area was significantly associated to ASM area in isolated lungs (p<0.0001), in the absence of significant bias related to the airway size. Bronchial size significantly affected EBUS ASM-related parameters, except for L2 area/Pi2. L2 area/Pi2 was increased in the airways of asthmatic horses compared to controls, both ex vivo and in vivo (p<0.05). Bronchial histology confirmed our findings (AASM/Pi2 was increased in asthmatic horses compared to controls, p<0.05). In both horses with heaves and controls, L2 was composed of ASM for the outer 75% of its thickness and by ECM for the remaining inner 25%. In conclusion, EBUS reliably allows assessment of asthma-associated ASM remodeling of central airways in a non-invasive way.

Histomorphometric analysis of salivary gland in wistar rats treated chronically with two benzodiazepines.

Benzodiazepines (BZDs), the most commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs with anxiolytic action, may cause hyposalivation. Therefore, this study sought to quantify the acini (N) in parotid glands of Wistar rats treated chronically with two BZDs (Lorazepam and Midazolan) and to verify the action of the pilocarpine when administered with these drugs. Ninety male Wistar rats were distributed in 9 groups according to the administration of: a) S30 - saline solution for 30 days; b) S60 - saline solution for 60 days; c) P60 - pilocarpine for 60 days; d) L30 - Lorazepam for 30 days; e) M30 - Midozolam for 30 days; f) LS60 - Lorazepam for 60 days and, after this period, 30 more days of saline solution; g) MS60 - Midazolam for 30 days and, after this period, 30 more days of saline solution; h) LP60 - Lorazepam and Pilocarpine for 60 days; i) MP60 - Midazolam and Pilocarpine for 60 days. A surgery was performed on the animals to remove the glands. After this, histological cuts were stained by hematoxylin and eosin, from which the N was quantified. The ANOVA and Games-Howell tests were used for statistical analysis. The L30 and M30 groups presented less N than did the S30 group (p<0.05). The LS60, MS60, and LP60 groups presented less N than did the S60 and P60 groups (p<0.05). No differences could be observed between the MP60 and S60 groups. The chronic administration of Midazolam and Lorazepam reduced acini, which may well have collaborated in the reduction of salivary flow previously verified. The association of Midazolam with Pilocarpine led to the reestablishment of acinar cells, which may have favored the restoration of the salivary flow formerly shown.

Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and cytotoxic activity of fibrous clays

Produced worldwide at 1.2m tons per year, fibrous clays are used in the production of pet litter, animal feed stuff to roof parcels, construction and rheological additives, and other applications needing to replace long-fiber length asbestos. To the authors’ knowledge, however, information on the beneficial effects of fibrous clays on health remains scarce. This paper reports on the anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and cytotoxic activity by sepiolite (Vallecas, Spain) and palygorskite (Torrejon El Rubio, Spain). The anti-inflammatory activity was determined using the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) methods. Histological cuts were obtained for quantifying leukocytes found in the epidermis. Palygorkite and sepiolite caused edema inhibition and migration of neutrophils ca. 68.64 and 45.54%, and 80 and 65%, respectively. Fibrous clays yielded high rates of infiltration, explained by cleavage of polysomes and exposure of silanol groups. Also, fibrous clays showed high inhibition of myeloperoxidase contents shortly after exposure, but decreased sharply afterwards. In contrast, tubular clays caused an increasing inhibition of myeloperoxidase with time. Thus, clay structure restricted the kinetics and mechanism of myeloperoxidase inhibition. Fibrous clays were screened in vitro against human cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity was determined using the protein-binding dye sulforhodamine B (SRB). Exposing cancer human cells to sepiolite or palygorskite showed growth inhibition varying with cell line. This study shows that fibrous clays served as an effective anti-inflammatory, limited by chemical transfer and cellular-level signals responding exclusively to an early exposure to clay, and cell viability decreasing significantly only after exposure to high concentrations of sepiolite.

Development of new and accurate measurement devices (TruSlice and TruSlice Digital) for use in histological dissection: an attempt to improve specimen dissection precision

ABSTRACTHistological dissection of human tissue has relied on conventional procedures, which have largely remained unchanged for decades. Practices to determine measurement parameters employed in these procedures have largely relied on the use of rulers and weighing scales. It is well documented in the scientific literature that both fixation and processing of tissue can significantly affect the viability of the of tissue sections both for tinctorial and immunocytochemical investigations. Both of these factors can be compounded in their negative effects by inappropriate sampling of tissue at histological cut up. There are five key factors to ensure good surgical grossing technique, flat uniformly perpendicular specimen cutting face, appropriate immobilisation of the tissue specimen during grossing, good visualisation of the cutting tissue face, sharp cutting knives and the grossing knife action. Meeting these factors implies the devices are fit for purpose. Here we describe an innovative approach to designing cut up devices to improve accuracy and precision, which take these five key requirements into consideration. The devices showed accuracy and precision, enabling tissue slices to be produced in a uniformly perpendicular fashion to within 2 mm in thickness and to enable consistency and reproducibility of performance across a series of tissue types. The application of a digital rule on one of these devices ensures accuracy and also enables quality control issues to be clearly assessed. As cellular pathology laboratories conform to ever increasing standards of compliance and performance in practice, the advent of assured precision and accuracy at cut up is awaited. Recommendations from accreditation bodies such as the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) continue to push for improvements in this area of histological investigation. These newly designed devices may give the answers to these requirements and provide the impetus for a new generation of innovative equipment for histological dissection.

Human thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysmal tissues: Damage experiments, statistical analysis and constitutive modeling

Development of aortic aneurysms includes significant morphological changes within the tissue: collagen content increases, elastin content reduces and smooth muscle cells degenerate. We seek to quantify the impact of these changes on the passive mechanical response of aneurysms in the supra-physiological loading range via mechanical testing and constitutive modeling. We perform uniaxial extension tests on circumferentially and axially oriented strips from five thoracic (65.6 years±13.4, mean±SD) and eight abdominal (63.9 years±11.4) aortic fusiform aneurysms to investigate both continuous and discontinuous softening during supra-physiological loading. We determine the significance of the differences between the fitted model parameters: diseased thoracic versus abdominal tissues, and healthy (Weisbecker et al., J. Mech. Behav. Biomed. Mater. 12, 93–106, 2012) versus diseased tissues. We also test correlations among these parameters and age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and preoperative aneurysm diameter, and investigate histological cuts. Tissue response is anisotropic for all tests and the anisotropic pseudo-elastic damage model fits the data well for both primary loading and discontinuous softening which we interpret as damage. We found statistically relevant differences between model parameters fitted to diseased thoracic versus abdominal tissues, as well as between those fitted to healthy versus diseased tissues. Only BMI correlated with fitted model parameters in abdominal aortic aneurysmal tissues.

Posterior atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial area and its surgical interest.

Classic anatomical studies describe two membranes - atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial in the posterior aspect of the craniocervical region. During many surgical procedures in this area, however, we have not found such membranes. To clarify the anatomical aspects and structures taking part of the posterior atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial area. Analysis of histological cuts of three human fetuses and anatomical studies of 8 adult human cadavers. In both atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial areas, we have observed attachment between suboccipital deep muscles and the spinal cervical dura. However, anatomical description of such attachments could not be found in textbooks of anatomy. Our study shows the absence of the classical atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial membranes; the occipito-C1 and C1-C2 posterior intervals are an open area, allowing aponeurotic attachment among cervical dura mater and posterior cervical muscles.

MORPHOMETRIC ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROGNOSIS OF CURRENT IN APLASTIC ANEMIA PATIENTS AFTER SPLENECTOMY

The article presents the method of definition of the forecast of current in aplastic anemia patients after splenectomy, based on morphometric analysis of functional zones of a spleen in histologic cuts at painting by hematoxylin and eosine. At an estimation of a preparation in a light microscope by means of the computer program calculated the average area of a white pulp, further calculated its weight. Reduction in weight of a white pulp of a spleen below 10,0 g testifies to the favorable forecast of current aplastic anemia, increase - more than 10,0 g specifies adverse current of disease. This method is allows to solve differently the indications for immunosuppressive treatment of patients with given pathology after splenectomy.

Identification of parathyroid glands: anatomical study and surgical implications

While performing thyroid surgery, the unintentional lesion of parathyroid glands and laryngeal nerves results in a profound alteration in patient's quality of life. To minimize thyroid surgery morbidity, the surgeon must have an in-depth knowledge of the thyroid gland morphology and its anatomical relations in the anterior compartment of the neck. This work intended to simulate total thyroidectomies using cadaver parts and isolate fragments that may correspond to parathyroid glands. The thyroid glands and "eventual" parathyroid glands were then submitted to histological study. Ninety-two cadaver parts were used for macroscopic dissection. A total of 242 fragments were isolated, 154 of which were confirmed through histological study to be parathyroid glands. In 36 cases, all "eventual" parathyroid glands isolated during dissection were confirmed through histological verification. In 40 cases, some glands were confirmed. In 16 cases, none of the "eventual" parathyroid glands was confirmed. The 92 thyroid glands isolated during dissection were also submitted to histological study. In 21 thyroid glands, 16 parathyroid glands were identified in the histological cuts: 8 sub-capsular, 8 extra-capsular, 6 intra-thyroidal. There was no statistical difference between the dimensions of the parathyroid glands. Parathyroid gland identification and preservation are sometimes a challenge during thyroid surgery, difficulty that has been demonstrated during dissection of cadaver parts.

Gill-derived glands in species ofAstyanax(Teleostei: Characidae)

The presence of a gill-derived gland is herein reported for the first time in males of species of Astyanax and related genera; they are described through histological cuts and SEM. The gill-derived glands described for the Characidae, when fully developed, present a similar structure in different species. The main external feature of gill-derived glands is the fusion of anteriormost gill filaments on the ventral branch of first gill arch. This fusion is caused by squamous stratified epithelial tissue that covers adjacent filaments, forming a series of chambers. In the region where the gill-derived gland develops, the secondary lamellae of the gill filaments are much reduced or completely atrophied being characterized by the presence of glandular cells forming nests.

Giant Uterine Leiomyoma Mimicking Pregnancy

A 39-year-old woman gravida 0, para 0 presented to our surgical department with a 4-month history of progressive constipation, increasing abdominal size, back pain, vague abdominal pressure sensations and urinary frequency. At admission, she stated that she was pregnant and this child was “a gift from God’’. Medical history revealed several hospitalizations due to mental illness. Blood tests and gynecological consultation excluded pregnancy. Physical examination revealed a 36-week-sized uterus (Figure 1). Transabdominal ultrasound and computed tomographic scanning suggested a giant abdominopelvic mass without ascites, metastases, or enlarged pelvic or para-aortic lymph nodes. After psychological support, the patient consented to surgical treatment. An exploratory laparotomy with a midline incision revealed a giant mass that protruded from the incision (Figure 2). Abdominal supracervical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed (Figure 3). Macroscopically, the specimen was a 28.1 kg uterine leiomyoma measuring 62×39×21 cm (Figure 4), well circumscribed, with solid nodules that were white or tan, with a whorled appearance on histological cuts. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 10th postoperative day.Figure 3Abdominal supracervical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload (PPT)Figure 4The 28.1 kg uterine leiomyoma measured 62×39×21 cm.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload (PPT) By definition, giant uterine leiomyomas weigh more than 11.4 kg and are very rare. They represent a great diagnostic and therapeutic challenge because of the often atypical presentation and the possibility of underlying malignancy, mainly leiomyosarcoma. A history of growing abdominal mass, back pain, and urinary disturbances is almost universally present. Imaging such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, along with evaluation of tumor markers, can provide clues for the histological status of the tumor. Because there is potential for underlying malignancy, the treatment of choice is transabdominal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy.

Avitaminosis A y trastornos de desarrollo dentoalveolar

Numerosas investigaciones han demostrado los efectos adversos de la hipovitaminosis A en el campo estomatológico, caracterizados por atrofia de las células ectomesenquimales y desordenada hiperactividad osteoblástica durante la fase del desarrollo embrionario; sin embargo, es limitada la información acerca de las manifestaciones histológicas por deficiencia en etapas posteriores al nacimiento; teniendo en cuenta que somos un país en desarrollo con problemas nutricionales no resueltos. El presente estudio se realizó con el objetivo de establecer los cambios morfológicos del complejo dentoalveolar presentes, después del nacimiento, por deficiencia de vitamina A; para lo cual, se empleó 20 ratas Holstman, de 21 días de edad, alimentados con dieta carente de vitamina A. El grupo control en adición recibió semanalmente una dosis de 100 V.L de retinol a fin de completar el balance dietético normal. Los cortes histológicos obtenidos por métodos convencionales, después de 7 y 8 semanas de fase experimental, de incisivos de rata con avitaminosis A, mostraron en la base odontogénica, aposición adamantina ácido resistente, que va de O a 3 M de espesor (Fig.3), con ameloblástos cilindricos funcionalmente inhibidos; en algunos casos, con pérdida de sus conexiones plasmáticas laterales. Además, presenta diferenciación de odontoblastos bucales con reducida producción de matriz dentinaria y ausencia de odontoblastos linguales (Fig.3). La pulpa dentaria adyacente a las células especializadas es mesenquimatosa y vascularizada (Fig.3). Los cortes longitudinales y transversales coronarios de molares de rata con avitaminosis A, muestran un complejo dentinopulpar con escasa producción de predentina, en algunos casos no existe. El complejo periodontal mostró un aparente engrosamiento de la cresta alveolar, sin muestras de remodelación (Fig.4). Los cambios morfológicos del complejo dentoalveolar presente en la avitaminosis A, probado con chi cuadrado a un nivel de confianza del 99%, es altamente significativa (ver gráficos 1-7).

In vivo high-content evaluation of three-dimensional scaffolds biocompatibility.

While developing tissue engineering strategies, inflammatory response caused by biomaterials is an unavoidable aspect to be taken into consideration, as it may be an early limiting step of tissue regeneration approaches. We demonstrate the application of flat and flexible films exhibiting patterned high-contrast wettability regions as implantable platforms for the high-content in vivo study of inflammatory response caused by biomaterials. Screening biomaterials by using high-throughput platforms is a powerful method to detect hit spots with promising properties and to exclude uninteresting conditions for targeted applications. High-content analysis of biomaterials has been mostly restricted to in vitro tests where crucial information is lost, as in vivo environment is highly complex. Conventional biomaterials implantation requires the use of high numbers of animals, leading to ethical questions and costly experimentation. Inflammatory response of biomaterials has also been highly neglected in high-throughput studies. We designed an array of 36 combinations of biomaterials based on an initial library of four polysaccharides. Biomaterials were dispensed onto biomimetic superhydrophobic platforms with wettable regions and processed as freeze-dried three-dimensional scaffolds with a high control of the array configuration. These chips were afterward implanted subcutaneously in Wistar rats. Lymphocyte recruitment and activated macrophages were studied on-chip, by performing immunocytochemistry in the miniaturized biomaterials after 24 h and 7 days of implantation. Histological cuts of the surrounding tissue of the implants were also analyzed. Localized and independent inflammatory responses were detected. The integration of these data with control data proved that these chips are robust platforms for the rapid screening of early-stage in vivo biomaterials' response.

Isolation and characterization of mycorrhizal fungi in Cyrtopodium vernum Rchb. F. &amp; Warm (Orchidaceae)

Mycorrhizal fungi establish mutualistic associations with the majority of vascular plants. In orchids, mycorrhizal fungi favor the processes of seed germination, seedling establishment and adult plant development. Isolation and identification of fungi that occur in mycorrhizal associations with orchids can assist in the establishment of seedlings, the reintroduction of species in nature and large-scale production. In August 2008, roots from Cyrtopodium vernum were collected in the Biological Reserve Professor Jose Ângelo Rizzo, a 144-ha remnant forest in the city of Mossâmedes, GO. The predominant vegetation type in the area is cerrado rupestre, and species were found growing in rocky, dry and acidic soils with low fertility. The roots were used for the isolation of mycorrhizae and to obtain transverse and longitudinal histological cuts. Two genera of Rhizoctonia-like fungi were isolated and identified: Epulorhiza and Rhizoctonia, both frequently found in association with terrestrial and rupicolous orchids. Masses of hyphae, called pelotons, were observed in histological sections of the roots within the parenchymal cells of the cortex of the roots.

Favre-Racouchot syndrome.

Favre-Racouchot syndrome.

Morphological characterization of the nasopalatine region in human fetuses and its association to pathologies

The nasopalatine region is composed of structures such as the vomeronasal organ and nasopalatine duct. The nasopalatine duct may provide the communication of the mouth to the nasal cavity in human fetuses and can be obliterated in an adult human. Knowledge on the development of the nasopalatine region and nasopalatine duct in humans is necessary for understanding the morphology and etiopathogenesis of lesions that occur in this region.Objective:The aim of the present study was to describe the morphological aspects of the nasopalatine region in human fetuses and correlate these aspects with the development of pathologies in this region. Material and Methods:Five human fetuses with no facial or palatine abnormalities were used for the acquisition of specimens from the nasopalatine region. After demineralization, the specimens were histologically processed. Histological cuts were stained with methylene blue to orient the cutting plane and hematoxylin-eosin for the descriptive histological analysis. Results:The age of the fetuses was 8.00, 8.25, 9.00 and 9.25 weeks, and it was not possible to determine the age in the last one. The incisive canal was observed in all specimens as an opening delimited laterally by the periosteum and connecting oral and nasal cavity. The nasopalatine duct is an epithelial structure with the greatest morphological variation, with either unilateral or bilateral occurrence and total patent, partial patent and islet forms. The vomeronasal organ is a bilateral epithelized structure located alongside the nasal septum above the incisive canal in all the fetuses. Conclusions:The incisive canal, nasopalatine duct and vomeronasal organ are distinct anatomic structures. The development of nasopalatine duct cysts may occur in all forms of the nasopalatine duct.

Differentiation of Early from Advanced Coronary Atherosclerotic Lesions: Systematic Comparison of CT, Intravascular US, and Optical Frequency Domain Imaging with Histopathologic Examination in ex Vivo Human Hearts

To establish an ex vivo experimental setup for imaging coronary atherosclerosis with coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography, intravascular ultrasonography (US), and optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) and to investigate their ability to help differentiate early from advanced coronary plaques. All procedures were performed in accordance with local and federal regulations and the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval of the local Ethics Committee was obtained. Overall, 379 histologic cuts from nine coronary arteries from three donor hearts were acquired, coregistered among modalities, and assessed for the presence and composition of atherosclerotic plaque. To assess the discriminatory capacity of the different modalities in the detection of advanced lesions, c statistic analysis was used. Interobserver agreement was assessed with the Cohen κ statistic. Cross sections without plaque at coronary CT angiography and with fibrous plaque at OFDI almost never showed advanced lesions at histopathologic examination (odds ratio [OR]: 0.02 and 0.06, respectively; both P<.0001), while mixed plaque at coronary CT angiography, calcified plaque at intravascular US, and lipid-rich plaque at OFDI were associated with advanced lesions (OR: 2.49, P=.0003; OR: 2.60, P=.002; and OR: 31.2, P<.0001, respectively). OFDI had higher accuracy for discriminating early from advanced lesions than intravascular US and coronary CT angiography (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.858 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.802, 0.913], 0.631 [95% CI: 0.554, 0.709], and 0.679 [95% CI: 0.618, 0.740]; respectively, P<.0001). Interobserver agreement was excellent for OFDI and coronary CT angiography (κ=0.87 and 0.85, respectively) and was good for intravascular US (κ=0.66). Systematic and standardized comparison between invasive and noninvasive modalities for coronary plaque characterization in ex vivo specimens demonstrated that coronary CT angiography and intravascular US are reasonably associated with plaque composition and lesion grading according to histopathologic findings, while OFDI was strongly associated. These data may help to develop initial concepts of sequential imaging strategies to identify patients with advanced coronary plaques.

Impacto da Traça-Verde Palpita vitrealis (Rossi) em diferentes cultivares de oliveirana Cova da Beira

The attacks of jasmine moth were monitored in three olive cultivars, ‘Arbequina’, ‘Cobrancosa’ and ‘Galega Vulgar’,in a five years old olive grove and also in a plot of‘Galega Vulgar’ one year old near Belmonte. The observations were carried out in 2000, from April 5 to November 7 and the first symptoms were observed on July 7. ‘Cobrancosa’ was significantly less attacked throughout the observation period and no significant differences were detected between the remaining. In order to explain thesedifferences, leaf thickness of the different cultivars were compared by histological cuts but no differences were detected. No other differences regarding the presence and abundance of trichomes were found.