ABSTRACT
Análises de um levantamento de três anos da avifauna do Pantanal de Poconé indicam que a maioria das espécies residentes e estacionais utiliza dois ou mais tipos de habitats. Estes habitats podem ser ordenados num gradiente de riqueza de espécies e estabilidade (medida pela proporção de espécies estacionais): 1) matas - mais ricas e estáveis; 2) cerrados e pastos intermediários; e 3) campos inundáveis/aquáticos menos ricos e menos estáveis. Enquanto a proporção de espécies estacionais nas matas permanece relativamente constante ao longo do ano, há aumento significativo destas espécies nos outros habitats durante a estação seca. A abundância das espécies residentes parece ligada ao uso de maior variedade de habitats. São discutidas possíveis implicações decorrentes da destruição de habitats e perturbações antrópicas na conservação desta comunidade de aves.
Subject(s)
Animals , Biodiversity , Birds/classification , Brazil , Birds/physiology , Population Density , Population Dynamics , SeasonsABSTRACT
Analysis of a three-year bird survey in the pantanal of Poconé revealed that most of the resident and seasonal birds are habitat generalists, using two or more habitats. In this study, previously sampled habitats were ranked in relation to species richness and stability (as measured by the ratio of seasonal to resident species). In all, nine habitats were grouped into three categories; results are as follows: 1) forests: more species-rich and more stable; 2) cerrado: intermediate levels; and 3) aquatic: less species-rich and less stable. The number of seasonal species remained relatively constant in forests throughout the year, while increasing in the other habitats during the dry season. The abundance of resident species seems to be related to species use of multiple habitats. Although many species were found to be habitat generalists, we discuss possible consequences of habitat loss and other human impacts on efforts to conserve this important bird community.
Análises de um levantamento de três anos da avifauna do Pantanal de Poconé indicam que a maioria das espécies residentes e estacionais utiliza dois ou mais tipos de habitats. Estes habitats podem ser ordenados num gradiente de riqueza de espécies e estabilidade (medida pela proporção de espécies estacionais): 1) matas - mais ricas e estáveis; 2) cerrados e pastos - intermediários; e 3) campos inundáveis/aquáticos - menos ricos e menos estáveis. Enquanto a proporção de espécies estacionais nas matas permanece relativamente constante ao longo do ano, há aumento significativo destas espécies nos outros habitats durante a estação seca. A abundância das espécies residentes parece ligada ao uso de maior variedade de habitats. São discutidas possíveis implicações decorrentes da destruição de habitats e perturbações antrópicas na conservação desta comunidade de aves.
ABSTRACT
We have evaluated the cellular and humoral immune response to primary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in young infants. Serum specimens from 65 patients <=12 months of age (39 males and 26 females, 28 cases <3 months and 37 cases > or = 3 months; median 3 ± 3.9 months) were tested for anti-RSV IgG and IgG subclass antibodies by EIA. Flow cytometry was used to characterize cell surface markers expressed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 29 RSV-infected children. There was a low rate of seroconversion in children <3 months of age, whose acute-phase PBMC were mostly T lymphocytes (63.0 ± 9.0 percent). In contrast, a higher rate of seroconversion was observed in children >3 months of age, with predominance of B lymphocytes (71.0 ± 17.7 percent). Stimulation of PBMC with RSV (2 x 10(5) TCID50) for 48 h did not induce a detectable increase in intracellular cytokines and only a few showed a detectable increase in RSV-specific secreted cytokines. These data suggest that age is an important factor affecting the infants' ability to develop an immune response to RSV
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant , Infant, Newborn , B-Lymphocytes , Cytokines , Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections , Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human , T-Lymphocytes , Age Factors , Antibodies, Viral , Antigens, Surface , Biomarkers , Brazil , Flow Cytometry , Immunoenzyme TechniquesABSTRACT
An association between depression and altered immune and hormonal systems has been suggested by the results of many studies. In the present study we carried out immune and hormonal measurements in 40 non-medicated, ambulatory adult patients with depression determined by CID-10 criteria and compared with 34 healthy nondepressed subjects. The severity of the condition was determined with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Of 40 depressed patients, 31 had very severe and 9 severe or moderate depression, 29 (72.5 percent) were females and 11 (27.5 percent) were males (2.6:1 ratio). The results revealed a significant reduction of albumin and elevation of alpha-1, alpha-2 and beta-globulins, and soluble IL-2 receptor in patients with depression compared to the values obtained for nondepressed subjects (P<0.05). The decrease lymphocyte proliferation in response to a mitogen was significantly lower in severely or moderately depressed patients when compared to control (P<0.05). These data confirm the immunological disturbance of acute phase proteins and cellular immune response in patients with depression. Other results may be explained by a variety of interacting factors such as number of patients, age, sex, and the nature, severity and/or duration of depression. Thus, the data obtained should be interpreted with caution and the precise clinical relevance of these findings requires further investigation
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Blood Proteins , Cytokines , Depression , Hormones , Cell Division , Cytokines , Hormones , Lymphocytes , Outpatients , Receptors, Interleukin-2 , Serum Albumin , Serum Globulins , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
Os autores descrevem três casos de atelectasias cronicas do lobo inferior esquerdo que evoluiram com infecçöes e destruiçäo lobar, necessitando ressecçäo cirurgica. As atelectasias de duas das crianças nao foram reconhecidas e tratadas na fase aguda, o que pode ter influido na evoluçäo desfavorável destes casos. Os autores ressaltam a dificuldade no diagnostico clinico e radiografico da atelectasia cronica do lobo inferior esquerdo e a eventual necessidade de terapeutica cirurgica
Subject(s)
Humans , Child , Male , Chronic Disease , Cough/etiology , Pulmonary Atelectasis/surgery , Clinical Evolution , PneumonectomyABSTRACT
Os autores descrevem três casos de infecçäo causada por Parvovirus em escolares com apresentaçäo clínica atípica. Aspectos relativos ao exantema, enfartamento ganglionar, hepatomegalia, e outros comemorativos foram distintos do observado no eritema infeccioso classicamente descrito. Os autores ressaltam a dificuldade no diagnóstico e o significado dos achados frente as recentes descriçöes de quadros graves causados por Parvovirus
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child , Erythema Infectiosum , Exanthema/etiology , Parvoviridae Infections/diagnosis , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
Os autores analisaram 19 casos de criancas asmaticas que apresentavam crises espaticas severas apesar da utilizacao domiciliar de aerosol de salbutamol. Os pacientes eram seguidos em ambulatorio especializado. Foram avaliadas as tecnicas de utilizacao do inalador, constatando-se 32 erros. Na continuidade do trabalho foi acoplado espacador ao aerosol e realizado treinamento breve. A avaliacao subsequente da tecnica inalatoria observou apenas 1 erro em todo o grupo.