Dynamics of vegetation structure in a fragmented landscape in Minas Gerais, Brazil / Dinâmica da estrutura da vegetação em uma paisagem fragmentada em Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract Considering that area and edge effects are the most important factors that lead to landscape changes from the fragmentation of terrestrial communities, the present study aimed to analyze changes in the structure of vegetation classes of a fragmented landscape. The methodology employed was based on a model of patch dynamics for the years between 1979 and 2015. The analysis was performed with quantitative (area, shape and edge effect) and qualitative (low declivity of the terrain, fire resistance and tolerance to variation in light) variables of the classes of vegetation. Processes of retraction and expansion of the vegetation classes were identified, as well as the alteration of the structure of the fragments, which resulted in the intensification of the edge effect.

Resumo Considerando que os efeitos de área e os efeitos de borda são os mais importantes fatores que levam às alterações na paisagem através da fragmentação de comunidades terrestre, o presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar as mudanças em área e estrutura das classes de vegetação de uma paisagem fragmentada. Para tanto, a metodologia foi baseada no modelo de dinâmica de manchas entre os anos de 1979 e 2015 e a análise por meio de variáveis quantitativas (área, formato e efeito de borda) e qualitativas (baixa declividade do terreno, resistência ao fogo e tolerância à variação de luz) das classes de vegetação. O presente estudo identificou processos de retração e expansão das classes de vegetação e a alteração na estrutura dos fragmentos resultando na intensificação do efeito de borda.

The Effect of Obesity on Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients who have Undergone Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in Sri Lanka. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG) is considered as the main revascularization procedure in patients with CAD. Cardiac rehabilitation is a multiphasic and multi-disciplinary program and is considered as a significant component of postoperative management after CABG. Objective: To study the effect of obesity on Cardiac Rehabilitation Program II (CRPII), a 1-month period of cardiac rehabilitation following discharge from the hospital, in patients who have undergone CABG. Methods: This was a prospective analytical study involving a convenient sample of 100 patients after CABG surgery. The patients (age: 40-70 years, both males and females) were selected from the cardiac rehabilitation program of the Cardiology Unit at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Data collection was done using 5 interviewer based questionnaires: socio-demographic characteristics using socio-demographic questionnaire, cardio-vascular endurance and fatigue levels using 6 minute-walk test (6MWT) and Borg scale (BS), anxiety and depression levels using Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD) and overall quality of life using quality of life questionnaire cardiac version (QOL). Data collection 1 was done on the first day of CRPII and data collection 2 was done on the final day of the program. Results: There were 33% obese and 67% non-obese patients in the study population. Both groups showed a statistically significant improvement (p<0.0001) of 6MWT, BS, HAD and QOL after CRPII. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the improvement of 6MWT in the non-obese group compared to the obese group and there was no difference in BS, HAD and QOL between obese and non-obese groups. Conclusions: CRPII led to an improvement in cardiovascular endurance, anxiety/depression and overall quality of life in patients who underwent CABG. Non-obese patients showed a better improvement in cardiovascular endurance compared to obese patients after CRPII.

Production and characterization of a biosurfactant produced by Streptomyces sp. DPUA 1559 isolated from lichens of the Amazon region

Surfactants are amphipathic compounds containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, capable to lower the surface or interfacial tension. Considering the advantages of the use of biosurfactants produced by microorganisms, the aim of this paper was to develop and characterize a biosurfactant produced by Streptomyces sp. DPUA1559 isolated from lichens of the Amazon region. The microorganism was cultured in a mineral medium containing 1% residual frying soybean oil as the carbon source. The kinetics of biosurfactant production was accompanied by reducing the surface tension of the culture medium from 60 to values around 27.14 mN/m, and by the emulsification index, which showed the efficiency of the biosurfactant as an emulsifier of hydrophobic compounds. The yield of the isolated biosurfactant was 1.74 g/L, in addition to the excellent capability of reducing the surface tension (25.34 mN/m), as observed from the central composite rotational design when the biosurfactant was produced at pH 8.5 at 28°C. The critical micelle concentration of the biosurfactant was determined as 0.01 g/mL. The biosurfactant showed thermal and pH stability regarding the surface tension reduction, and tolerance under high salt concentrations. The isolated biosurfactant showed no toxicity to the micro-crustacean Artemia salina, and to the seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.). The biochemistry characterization of the biosurfactant showed a single protein band, an acid character and a molecular weight around 14.3 kDa, suggesting its glycoproteic nature. The results are promising for the industrial application of this new biosurfactant.

Dynamics of vegetation structure in a fragmented landscape in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract Considering that area and edge effects are the most important factors that lead to landscape changes from the fragmentation of terrestrial communities, the present study aimed to analyze changes in the structure of vegetation classes of a fragmented landscape. The methodology employed was based on a model of patch dynamics for the years between 1979 and 2015. The analysis was performed with quantitative (area, shape and edge effect) and qualitative (low declivity of the terrain, fire resistance and tolerance to variation in light) variables of the classes of vegetation. Processes of retraction and expansion of the vegetation classes were identified, as well as the alteration of the structure of the fragments, which resulted in the intensification of the edge effect.

Resumo Considerando que os efeitos de área e os efeitos de borda são os mais importantes fatores que levam às alterações na paisagem através da fragmentação de comunidades terrestre, o presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar as mudanças em área e estrutura das classes de vegetação de uma paisagem fragmentada. Para tanto, a metodologia foi baseada no modelo de dinâmica de manchas entre os anos de 1979 e 2015 e a análise por meio de variáveis quantitativas (área, formato e efeito de borda) e qualitativas (baixa declividade do terreno, resistência ao fogo e tolerância à variação de luz) das classes de vegetação. O presente estudo identificou processos de retração e expansão das classes de vegetação e a alteração na estrutura dos fragmentos resultando na intensificação do efeito de borda.

Levantamento de plantas medicinais cultivadas no município de Solânea, agreste paraibano: reconhecimento e valorização do saber tradicional / A survey of cultivated medicinal plants from Solanea, dry area of Paraiba: recognition and recovery of the traditional knowledge

RESUMO Objetivou-se neste trabalho reconhecer e sistematizar o conhecimento tradicional sobre as espécies medicinais, as indicações terapêuticas, as formas de uso e as técnicas de produção e comercialização de plantas medicinais no agreste nordestino, no município de Solânea, Paraíba. Visitas, entrevistas e amostragem foram realizadas a agricultores familiares da região por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas utilizando a técnica de turnê guiada. Após as visitas foi identificada uma atriz - informante. Foi feito um herbário com as plantas medicinais encontradas, nas quais foram identificadas e categorizadas quanto às indicações terapêuticas de acordo com a Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde. Foram verificadas 59 espécies com propriedades medicinais distribuídas em 36 famílias botânicas, com o predomínio da família Lamiaceae. Enfermidades de afecções digestivas foram as mais indicadas. O chá foi o preparado de maior frequência.

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to recognize and to order the traditional knowledge about the medicinal species, the therapeutic indications, the application forms, and the productions and marketing techniques of medicinal plants in the dry area of the northeast, in the city of Solanea, Paraíba. Visits, interviews and sampling were conducted to family farmers in the region through semi-structured interviews using the guided tour technique. A herbarium was built with the medicinal plants found and they were identified and classified regarding their therapeutic indications according to the Diseases International Statistical Classification and the Health Related Problems. 59 species with medicinal properties were identified and distributed in 36 different botanical families, with the Lamiaceae family predominance. The tea preparation was the more frequent one.

TP53 codon 72 polymorphism as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in a Brazilian population

TP53, a tumor suppressor gene, has a critical role in cell cycle, apoptosis and cell senescence and participates in many crucial physiological and pathological processes. Identification of TP53 polymorphism in older people and age-related diseases may provide an understanding of its physiology and pathophysiological role as well as risk factors for complex diseases. TP53 codon 72 (TP53:72) polymorphism was investigated in 383 individuals aged 66 to 97 years in a cohort from a Brazilian Elderly Longitudinal Study. We investigated allele frequency, genotype distribution and allele association with morbidities such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, obesity, neoplasia, low cognitive level (dementia), and depression. We also determined the association of this polymorphism with serum lipid fractions and urea, creatinine, albumin, fasting glucose, and glycated hemoglobin levels. DNA was isolated from blood cells, amplified by PCR using sense 5'-TTGCCGTCCCAAGCAATGGATGA-3' and antisense 5'-TCTGGGAAGGGACAGAAGATGAC-3' primers and digested with the BstUI enzyme. This polymorphism is within exon 4 at nucleotide residue 347. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression analysis and Student t-test using the multiple comparison test were used. Allele frequencies, R (Arg) = 0.69 and P (Pro) = 0.31, were similar to other populations. Genotype distributions were within Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. This polymorphism did not show significant association with any age-related disease or serum variables. However, R allele carriers showed lower HDL levels and a higher frequency of cardiovascular disease than P allele subjects. These findings may help to elucidate the physiopathological role of TP53:72 polymorphism in Brazilian elderly people.

Taxas de prenhez em novilhas de corte acasaladas aos 18 e 24 meses de idade / Differences in pregnancy rate of beef heifers mating at 18 and 24 months of age

Avaliaram-se os efeitos da idade de acasalamento e classe de peso sobre a taxa de prenhez (TP) de novilhas de corte Hereford (n=119) acasaladas aos 18 (18M) ou 24 meses (24M) e classificadas em leves (18ML = 260kg; 24ML = 280kg) e pesadas (18MP = 300kg; 24MP = 330kg). O período de monta foi de 05/04 a 21/05/01 (outono) e de 04/11 a 20/12/01 (primavera) para 18M e 24M, respectivamente. Avaliaram-se os efeitos do peso no início do acasalamento (PIA), escore da condição corporal (CCI) e ganho de peso (GDM). Não ocorreram diferenças (P>0,05) na TP entre os grupos 18MP (73,3 por cento), 24ML (72,4 por cento) e 24MP (83,3 por cento), mas a TP foi mais baixa entre as novilhas 18ML (26,7 por cento). O GDM foi maior para novilhas 24M (0,664 vs 0,537kg/d) (P<0,05) que para as 18M. No grupo 18MP, as novilhas que conceberam tiveram maior GDM (0,621 vs 0,429kg/d) em relação às falhadas. O CCI foi mais alto (P<0,10) nas novilhas que conceberam (3,5) que nas falhadas (3,32). Observou-se efeito quadrático do PIA (P<0,01) sobre a TP (Y= -993,03 + 6,4543PIA - 0,0097PIA²; R²=0,98).

The effects of the mating age and weight class on the pregnancy rate (PR) of Hereford heifers (n=119) at 18 (18M) or 24 months (24M) of age were evaluated. The heifers were divided into classes as light (18ML=260kg; 24ML=280kg) or heavy (18MP=300kg; 24MP=330kg). The breeding seasons were: 18M: 04/05 - 05/21 (fall) and 24M: 11/04 - 12/21 (spring). The traits analyzed were live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) at the beginning of the mating season and the average daily gain (ADG) on the pregnancy rate (PR). The PR were 73.3 percent (18MP), 72.4 percent (24ML), 83.3 percent (24MP) (P>0.05) and the 18ML heifers have shown lower PR (26.7 percent) (P<0.05). The 24M heifers showed higher ADG (0.664 vs 0.537kg/d) than the 18M heifers and in this group the open heifers had lower ADG (0.429 vs 0.621kg/d) than the pregnant heifers. The BCS were higher (P<0.10) for the pregnant heifers (3.50) than the open (3.24) heifers. A quadratic effect of LW on the PR (Y= -993.03 + 6.4543LW - 0.0097LW²; R²=0.98) was observed.

Effect of unsaturated fatty acids on myocardial performance, metabolism and morphology

Diets rich in saturated fatty acids are one of the most important causes of atherosclerosis in men, and have been replaced with diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) for the prevention of this disorder. However, the effect of UFA on myocardial performance, metabolism and morphology has not been completely characterized. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of a UFA-rich diet on cardiac muscle function, oxidative stress, and morphology. Sixty-day-old male Wistar rats were fed a control (N = 8) or a UFA-rich diet (N = 8) for 60 days. Myocardial performance was studied in isolated papillary muscle by isometric and isotonic contractions under basal conditions after calcium chloride (5.2 mM) and ß-adrenergic stimulation with 1.0 æM isoproterenol. Fragments of the left ventricle free wall were used to study oxidative stress and were analyzed by light microscopy, and the myocardial ultrastructure was examined in left ventricle papillary muscle. After 60 days the UFA-rich diet did not change myocardial function. However, it caused high lipid hydroperoxide (176 ± 5 vs 158 ± 5, P < 0.0005) and low catalase (7 ± 1 vs 9 ± 1, P < 0.005) and superoxide-dismutase (18 ± 2 vs 27 ± 5, P < 0.005) levels, and discrete morphological changes in UFA-rich diet hearts such as lipid deposits and mitochondrial membrane alterations compared to control rats. These data show that a UFA-rich diet caused myocardial oxidative stress and mild structural alterations, but did not change mechanical function.

Frequency of Werner helicase 1367 polymorphism and age-related morbidity in an elderly Brazilian population

Werner syndrome (WS) is a premature aging disease caused by a mutation in the WRN gene. The gene was identified in 1996 and its product acts as a DNA helicase and exonuclease. Some specific WRN polymorphic variants were associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. The identification of genetic polymorphisms as risk factors for complex diseases affecting older people can improve their prevention, diagnosis and prognosis. We investigated WRN codon 1367 polymorphism in 383 residents in a district of the city of São Paulo, who were enrolled in an Elderly Brazilian Longitudinal Study. Their mean age was 79.70 ± 5.32 years, ranging from 67 to 97. This population was composed of 262 females (68.4 percent) and 121 males (31.6 percent) of European (89.2 percent), Japanese (3.3 percent), Middle Eastern (1.81 percent), and mixed and/or other origins (5.7 percent). There are no studies concerning this polymorphism in Brazilian population. These subjects were evaluated clinically every two years. The major health problems and morbidities affecting this cohort were cardiovascular diseases (21.7 percent), hypertension (83.7 percent), diabetes (63.3 percent), obesity (41.23 percent), dementia (8.0 percent), depression (20.0 percent), and neoplasia (10.8 percent). Their prevalence is similar to some urban elderly Brazilian samples. DNA was isolated from blood cells, amplified by PCR and digested with PmaCI. Allele frequencies were 0.788 for the cysteine and 0.211 for the arginine. Genotype distributions were within that expected for the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Female gender was associated with hypertension and obesity. Logistic regression analysis did not detect significant association between the polymorphism and morbidity. These findings confirm those from Europeans and differ from Japanese population.

Avaliaçäo microbiológica da água de coco produzida e comercializada na cidade de Salvador - BA / Evaluation of microbiological coco milk produced and sold in city of Salvador - BA

Foi avaliada a qualidade microbiológica de amostras de água de coco refrigerada, comercializada em vendedores ambulantes na cidade de Salvador - BA. Nas análises microbiológicas foram quantificados os seguintes microrganismos: coliformes totais e fecais, bolores e leveduras, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Clostrídios sulfito redutores, Salmonella sp.. Foi feita a distribuiçäo em freqüência das amostras, segundo os microrganismos pesquisados, os resultados encontrados indicaram, que em sua maioria, as amostras apresentaram contaminaçäo elevada por coliformes totais, coliformes fecais, bolores e leveduras, demonstrando qualidade microbiológica insatisfatória e evidenciando deficiências higiênico-sanitárias nas diversas etapas do processamento, operaçöes inadequadas de limpeza e sanificaçäo dos equipamentos, utensílios e unidade de fabricaçäo. Uma vez que a água de coco apresenta-se estéril em seu invólucro original, a presença de bactérias indicadoras de contaminaçäo fecal e Staphylococcus aureus, implica, necessariamento, em contaminaçäo por manipuladores. Pode-se concluir que estas amostras de água de coco refrigerada, em sua maioria, säo de qualidade microbiológica insatisfatória; há necessidade de serem elaborados padröes de identidade e qualidade para este produto, e as empresas necessitam de orientaçäo tecnológica para colocarem no mercado produtos com qualidade satisfatória.

Effect of long-term treatment with insulin and/or acarbose on glomerular basement membrane thickening in alloxan-diabetic rats

Acarbose is a competitive inhibitor of the intestinal alpha-glycosidases, that can delay absorption of intestinal carbohydrates causing their malabsorption. In the present paper we studied the effects of insulin, acarbose and their association on glomerular basement membrane thickening in alloxan-diabetic rats. Twenty-five male and female Wistar rats, approximately 3 months old at the beginning of the experiment, were assigned randomly to each of five experimental groups: normal control rats, alloxan-diabetic control rats, alloxan-diabetic rats treated with acarbose, alloxan-diabetic rats treated with insulin, and aloxan-diabetic rats treated with insulin plus acarbose. Alloxan was administered in a single iv dose of 42 mg/kg body weight. Insulin was given subcutaneously at doses of 18 to 30 IU/kg corrected daily on the basis of glycosuria and ketonuria. Acarbose was given mixed with rat chow in a dose of 50 mg/100 g chow. Body weight, water and food intake and diuresis, as well as blood and urine glucose were determined after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment. Glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickening was determined by electron microscopy at the same times. Clear clinical and laboratory signs of severe diabetes, with blood glucose levels above 200 mg/dl and urine glucose above 3000 mg/dl, were observed in all alloxan-diabetic control rats, in all periods of follow-up, whereas administration of insulin or acarbose reduced the blood glucose levels of treated groups. The most satisfactory control of blood and urine glucose was observed in animals treated with both insulin and acarbose. However, diarrhea was observed in diabetic rats treated with acarbose associated or not with insulin, GBM thickening was correlated with age in all groups. Beginning at six months after diabetes induction, the GBM of untreated diabetic rats was significantly thicker (mean + 4.446 + 0.45 mm) than that of normal rats (2.977 + 0.63 mm). Both insulin and acarbose prevented GBM thickening and their combination induced thickening similar to the age-dependent thickening observed for normal rats of the same age. We conclude that acarbose when combined with insulin may be a good option in the control of diabetes and its renal complications.

Fluxo migratório de casos de malária em Cuiabá/MT, 1986 / Migrating flow of malaria cases in Cuiabá/MT, 1986

Foram estudadas 2.406 pessoas que procuraram a SUCAM/Cuiabá para diagnóstico e tratamento da malária. Destes, l.l5l tiveram lâminas positivas através da gota espessa: 720 P. vivax, 421 P. falciparum e 10 forma mista; 1.255 foram negativos à pesquisa de hematozoários. As entrevistas foram realizadas através de questionário padronizado onde procurou-se categorizar as pessoas conforme o sexo, idade, profissäo, naturalidade, renda mensal, procedência e destino. Da análise efetuada vimos que os casos de malária originaram-se mais da micro-regiäo Norte-Matogrossense para a Baixada Cuiabana (56,5%), colocando em risco toda a populaçäo desta micro-regiäo, que encontra-se com borrificaçäo suspensa (DDT) na maioria das localidades. É também importante o fluxo de casos de malária do Estado de Rondônia (20,6%) e para os Estados da regiäo Sul e Sudeste (4,4%) do país. Concluímos que medidas urgentes devam ser tomadas para a reformulaçäo da campanha de controle da malária, planejando a intervençäo nos aspectos sociais, políticos e econômicos

Manifestaçöes respiratórias na malária por Plasmodium falciparum e vivax / Respiratory manifestations in malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum and vivax

Foram selecionados 110 pacientes que procuraram a SUCAM/CUIABA para diagnóstico e tratamento de malária, com queixa de febre e procedentes de área malarígena. Nestes pacientes foram realizados: gota espessa para a pesquisa de Plasmodium; aplicaçäo de questionário padronizado para detectar sintomas respiratórios presentes no momento da entrevista; gasometria arterial e espirometria para avaliar a funçäo pulmonar. Desta amostra, 62 pacientes foram positivos para malária sendo 41 P. vivax, 20 P. falciparum e 01 forma mista (grupo Malárico); 48 mostraram-se negativos à pesquisa de hematozoários através da gota espessa (grupo Näo Malárico). As manifestaçöes respiratórias encontradas nesta populaçäo quando comparadas os grupos Malárico e Näo Malárico, foram respectivamente: 1§) Sintomáticos Respiratórios de 46,8% para 22,9% (p<0,05); 2§) Alteraçöes Espirométricas de 53,2% para 20,8% (p<0,05); 3§) Alteraçöes Gasométricas de 62,9% para 25,0% (p<0,05). Com estes resultados concluímos que há nítida associaçäo entre a Malária produzida pelo P. vivax e P. falciparum e as manifestaçöes respiratórias apresentadas, nesta populaçäo de estudo

Laparoscopy in children and for screening: a new technique.

Uma nova tecnica de laparoscopia em criancas e para exploracao rapida e descrita. O instrumento e o laparoscopico infantil de 4mm da firma Storz usado com uma canula trocarte especial. A vantagem do metodo e de requerer somente uma puncao da cavidade peritonial, sendo o instrumento optico introduzido atraves da canula de pneumoperitonio

Peritonite tuberculosa.Estudo de 100 casos. / Tuberculous peritonitis. Study of 100 cases

Cem casos de peritonite tuberculosa foram estudados. Sessenta e sete doentes pertenciam ao sexo feminino e 33 ao masculino; as idades variavam de quatro a 73 anos. Entre as manifestacoes clinicas, as mais importantes eram ascite e febre. O liquido ascitico apresentava aspecto sero-fibrinoso na grande maioria dos casos; menos frequentemente ele era seroso, hemorragico ou leitoso; em comparacao com os derrames por hipertensao portal, os valores de proteinas totais, colesterol, mucoproteina e deidrogenase latica no liquido ascitico eram bem mais altos, enquanto os de glicose eram, em media, mais baixos. Em 29 doentes foi realizada a pesquisa de microbacterias no liquido ascitico pela cultura em meio liquido de Dubos, obtendo-se resultados positivos em 21 deles. Dosagens de proteinas totais e fracoes no soro mostraram, na grande maioria dos casos, aumento de globulinas e diminuicao de albumina. Em todos os doentes, o diagnostico de peritonite tuberculosa foi confirmado pela biopsia peritonial realizada, na maioria das vezes, em conjunto com a laparoscopia