Unveiling neotropical serpentine flora: a list of Brazilian tree species in an iron saturated environment in Bom Sucesso, Minas Gerais

Serpentine soils are those holding at least of 70% iron-magnesium compounds, which make life intolerable for many species. Although plant's adaptation to environmental toughness is widely studied in tropics, virtually nothing is known about Brazilian serpentine flora. Our aim was to bring up and characterize the serpentine flora in Bom Sucesso, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. We performed expeditions utilizing rapid survey sampling method to identify the arboreal compound in the area. Plants within circumference at breast high (CBH) up to 15,7 cm were included in our study. A specialist identified all the individuals to species level. We found 246 species located in 59 botanical families. Fabaceae, Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae were the most representative families in the area. Serpentine areas usually present a few species capable to survive to adverse conditions, contrasting the high number found in our study. To our knowledge, this is the first floristic survey in serpentine areas in the neotropics, reinforcing the need for more studies about plant diversity in those areas. It seems that serpentinites is not the key factor influencing plant diversity in the neotropics. The high diversity found in our study strengthens serpentine areas as a place for conservation concern.

Pathology of asbestosis- An update of the diagnostic criteria: Report of the asbestosis committee of the college of american pathologists and pulmonary pathology society.

Asbestosis is defined as diffuse pulmonary fibrosis caused by the inhalation of excessive amounts of asbestos fibers. Pathologically, both pulmonary fibrosis of a particular pattern and evidence of excess asbestos in the lungs must be present. Clinically, the disease usually progresses slowly, with a typical latent period of more than 20 years from first exposure to onset of symptoms. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS: The pulmonary fibrosis of asbestosis is interstitial and has a basal subpleural distribution, similar to that seen in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which is the principal differential diagnosis. However, there are differences between the 2 diseases apart from the presence or absence of asbestos. First, the interstitial fibrosis of asbestosis is accompanied by very little inflammation, which, although not marked, is better developed in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Second, in keeping with the slow tempo of the disease, the fibroblastic foci that characterize idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are infrequent in asbestosis. Third, asbestosis is almost always accompanied by mild fibrosis of the visceral pleura, a feature that is rare in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: RESPIRATORY BRONCHIOLITIS: Asbestosis is believed to start in the region of the respiratory bronchiole and gradually extends outward to involve more and more of the lung acinus, until the separate foci of fibrosis link, resulting in the characteristically diffuse pattern of the disease. These early stages of the disease are diagnostically problematic because similar centriacinar fibrosis is often seen in cigarette smokers and is characteristic of mixed-dust pneumoconiosis. Fibrosis limited to the walls of the bronchioles does not represent asbestosis. ROLE OF ASBESTOS BODIES: Histologic evidence of asbestos inhalation is provided by the identification of asbestos bodies either lying freely in the air spaces or embedded in the interstitial fibrosis. Asbestos bodies are distinguished from other ferruginous bodies by their thin, transparent core. Two or more asbestos bodies per square centimeter of a 5- mu m-thick lung section, in combination with interstitial fibrosis of the appropriate pattern, are indicative of asbestosis. Fewer asbestos bodies do not necessarily exclude a diagnosis of asbestosis, but evidence of excess asbestos would then require quantitative studies performed on lung digests. ROLE OF FIBER ANALYSIS: Quantification of asbestos load may be performed on lung digests or bronchoalveolar lavage material, employing either light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, or transmission electron microscopy. Whichever technique is employed, the results are only dependable if the laboratory is well practiced in the method chosen, frequently performs such analyses, and the results are compared with those obtained by the same laboratory applying the same technique to a control population.

Características, propiedades, patogenia y fuentes de exposición del asbesto / Asbestos: characteristics, properties, pathogenesis and sources of exposure

El asbesto es un mineral fibroso conocido desdeantiguo, utilizado ampliamente en la industria debido asus propiedades físicas y químicas que lo hacen muyadecuado para dicho fin. Los tipos de asbesto se clasificanen grupo serpentina y en anfiboles según la configuracióncurvada o recta de sus fibras. En cuanto a suspropiedades destacan la resistencia al calor, al desgaste,a los álcalis y ácidos y su flexibilidad entre otrascaracterísticas que lo hacen un material adecuadopara ser utilizado como aislante, en la industria textil yen otros muchos campos. Es conocido desde haceaños el riesgo patogénico del amianto al permanecertiempo en el tejido pulmonar, atribuyéndole según losestudios la alteración de la actividad mucociliar delhuésped, la activación macrofágica y la liberación demediadores inflamatorios así como un aumento de supoder oncogénico al asociarse al humo del tabaco eincluso a ciertos virus

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that has been knownsince ancient times. It is widely used in industry due toits physical and chemical properties which make ithighly suitable for this end. Asbestos is classified intwo groups - serpentine and amphibole - depending onthe curved or straight configuration of their fibres.Outstanding amongst its properties are its resistanceto heat, wear, alkalis and acids, and its flexibility,amongst other characteristics, which make it a suitablematerial for use as insulation, in industrial textiles andin many other fields. The pathogenic risk of asbestosremaining for a long time in the pulmonary tissue hasbeen known for many years; studies attribute it withalteration of the mucociliary activity of the host,macrophage activation and the freeing of inflammatorymediators as well as an increase in their oncogenicstrength on association with tobacco and even someviruses