Toxicity of sediments from a mangrove forest patch in an urban area in Pernambuco (Brazil).

Industrial and urban residues are discharged every day to the rivers and may arrive at the mangrove forest and prejudice the quality of the environment and the organisms present there. The mangrove forest patch studied is encircled by an urban area of the city of Recife (Brazil) that has approximate 1.5 million inhabitants and is one of the most industrialized centers in Northeast Brazil. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of the sediments of this mangrove patch in terms of metal contamination and ecotoxicology. Samples of surface sediment were collected in six stations for toxicological tests and trace metal determination (Cr, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, Pb, Co and Ni), in July and August, 2006 (rainy season); and in January and February 2007 (dry season). Toxicity tests with solid-phase sediments were carried out with the copepod Tisbe biminiensis in order to observe lethal and sub-lethal endpoints and correlate them with chemical data. In June, there were no observed lethal effect, but two stations presented sub-lethal effects. In January, lethal effect occurred in three stations and sub-lethal in one station. The levels for Zn and Cr were at higher levels than international proposed guidelines (NOAA). There was a negative significant correlation between the copepods׳ fecundity, and Zn and Cr concentrations. Therefore, the studied sediments can be considered to have potential toxic to benthos due to the high content of Zn and Cr.

Microphytoplankton structure from the neritic and oceanic regions of Pernambuco State - Brazil.

This research was carried out to assess phytoplankton diversity, distribution and ecology on the Pernambuco Continental Shelf and Oceanic region (lat. 7 masculine 33' 00' S to 8 masculine 41' 50' S and long. 34 masculine 04' 47' W to 35 masculine 01' 20' W). Samples were collected during the Joint Oceanographics Projects (JOPS II-Leg 5) by double oblique hauls with a baby bongo net 64 microm mesh size at depth between 14 and 150 m in inshore and offshore waters respectively, in seven transects, totaling 34 stations. The temperature and salinity characterised the tropical water masses. The dissolved oxygen was oversaturated in all stations. The nutrient-low concentrations showed an oligothrophic pattern in the whole area. 173 specific and infraspecific taxa were identified: Dinophyta (103 taxa), Bacillariophyta (61 taxa), Cyanobacteria (7 taxa), Chlorophyta and Chrysophyta (1 taxon). The family Ceratiaceae presented the highest species number (47 taxa). The cyanobacteria Trichodesmium erythraeum Ehrenberg, Oscillatoria spp. and the diatom Leptocylindrus danicus Cleve had higher frequence of occurrence and abundance. Species diversity varied from 0.71 to 3.46 bits.cell-1 and this low index was due to Trichodesmium erythraeum bloom and evenness from 0.14 to 0.65, showing an unstable pattern. The oceanic planktonic species were responsible for the higher richness with 78 taxa, corresponding to 58.39% of the total microphytoplankton. The species association presented two groups. The first one divided in two subgroups: one associated to the neritic/oceanic and oceanic planktonic species and the other to the oligotrophic indicator species. The second group was composed of some key species which were the most abundant and frequent in the area. The first three Principal Component Analyses (PCAs) explained 50.91% of the data variance showing that the area is structured by two groups: one offshore composed by oligotrophic indicators, and another nearshore influenced by continental fluxes.

Sedimentary 4-desmethyl sterols and n-alkanols in an eutrophic urban estuary, Capibaribe River, Brazil.

Sterols, n-alkanols, organic carbon (OC), C/N ratios and carbon isotope data (delta 13C) were investigated in sediments of the urban Capibaribe River estuary, NE Brazil, in order to assess allochthonous and autochthonous sources of organic matter (OM). Sedimentary OC values are high, but C/N ratios and delta 13C data generally fall within the range of values reported in other riverine systems, and suggest mixed inputs from aquatic and terrestrial matter. Mean values for total 4-desmethyl sterols and high molecular weight (HMW) n-alkanols are 11.0 micrograms/g and 2.8 micrograms/g, respectively. Sterols are found at highest levels in areas of enhanced urban outfalls. They can be related to major planktonic species growing in riverine waters. Stanol/stenol ratios suggest a high degree of alteration of the autochthonous OM as a result of elevated temperatures and microbiological proliferation. Even though sterols suggest the importance of autochthonous inputs to the river, HMW n-alkanols indicate major terrigenous accumulation at the mouth and 10 km upriver. Coprostanol and epicoprostanol levels are comparable to other sewage contaminated hydrosystems, but not as high as expected given the importance of sewage outfalls and low riverine water discharge. However, high (coprostanol)/(coprostanol + cholestanol) ratio values indicate that fecal contamination is significant.

Redondogastropexia associada a valvula anti-refluxo no tratamento de hernia hiatal de deslizamento. Estudo de 33 casos. / Redondogastropexy associated with antireflux valve in the treatment of sliding hiatal hernia.Study of 33 cases

Os autores apresentam 33 casos de hernia hiatal por deslizamento, sem reducao do calibre do esofago, tratados cirurgicamente pela associacao da redondocardiopexia a valvula anti-refluxo, confeccionada pelo envolvimento parcial do esofago abdominal pelo fundo gastrico, cuja tecnica e descrita. No seguimento continuo dos pacientes verificou-se a cura da doenca em todos os casos. Apenas um paciente, apos dois anos, embora assintomatico, persistiu apresentando refluxo gastroesofagico discreto a esofagogastroscopia. Concluem os autores pela eficiencia da associacao das operacoes, que sao bastante rapidas e seguras

Vesicula biliar em porcelana. Consideracoes a respeito de dois casos. / Porcelain gallbladder. Considerations apropos of 2 cases

Os autores apresentam dois casos de calcificacao da parede da vesicula biliar. Discutem os mecanismos etiopatogenicos desta rara afeccao e ressaltam a necessidade do tratamento cirurgico uma vez que a associacao com o carcinoma do orgao e grande e frequentemente oligossintomatica