Traditional botanical knowledge of artisanal fishers in southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: This study characterized the botanical knowledge of artisanal fishers of the Lami community, Porto Alegre, southern Brazil based on answers to the following question: Is the local botanical knowledge of the artisanal fishers of the rural-urban district of Lami still active, even since the district's insertion into the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre? METHODS: This region, which contains a mosaic of urban and rural areas, hosts the Lami Biological Reserve (LBR) and a community of 13 artisanal fisher families. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 fishers, complemented by participatory observation techniques and free-lists; in these interviews, the species of plants used by the community and their indicated uses were identified. RESULTS: A total of 111 species belonging to 50 families were identified. No significant differences between the diversities of native and exotic species were found. Seven use categories were reported: medicinal (49%), human food (23.2%), fishing (12.3%), condiments (8%), firewood (5%), mystical purposes (1.45%), and animal food (0.72%). The medicinal species with the highest level of agreement regarding their main uses (AMUs) were Aloe arborescens Mill., Plectranthus barbatus Andrews, Dodonaea viscosa Jacq., Plectranthus ornatus Codd, Eugenia uniflora L., and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. For illness and diseases, most plants were used for problems with the digestive system (20 species), followed by the respiratory system (16 species). This community possesses a wide botanical knowledge, especially of medicinal plants, comparable to observations made in other studies with fishing communities in coastal areas of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnobotanical studies in rural-urban areas contribute to preserving local knowledge and provide information that aids in conserving the remaining ecosystems in the region.

Inspiratory muscle training did not accelerate weaning from mechanical ventilation but did improve tidal volume and maximal respiratory pressures: a randomised trial.

QUESTION: Does inspiratory muscle training accelerate weaning from mechanical ventilation? Does it improve respiratory muscle strength, tidal volume, and the rapid shallow breathing index? DESIGN: Randomised trial with concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis. PARTICIPANTS: 92 patients receiving pressure support ventilation were included in the study and followed up until extubation, tracheostomy, or death. INTERVENTION: The experimental group received usual care and inspiratory muscle training using a threshold device, with a load of 40% of their maximal inspiratory pressure with a regimen of 5 sets of 10 breaths, twice a day, 7 days a week. The control group received usual care only. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the duration of the weaning period. The secondary outcomes were the changes in respiratory muscle strength, tidal volume, and the rapid shallow breathing index. RESULTS: Although the weaning period was a mean of 8 hours shorter in the experimental group, this difference was not statistically significant (95% CI -16 to 32). Maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures increased in the experimental group and decreased in the control group, with significant mean differences of 10cmH2O (95% CI 5 to 15) and 8cmH2O (95% CI 2 to 13), respectively. The tidal volume also increased in the experimental group and decreased in the control group (mean difference 72 ml, 95% CI 17 to 128). The rapid shallow breathing index did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: Inspiratory muscle training did not shorten the weaning period significantly but it increased respiratory muscle strength and tidal volume.

Exegesis de la Epistola de Pablo a Tito capitulo 1 y su relacion con el lider cristiano

Contiene: Planteamiento del problema - Justificacion - Objetivo general - Hipotesis - Objeto de investigacion - Marco teorico - Conclusion.

Exegesis de la epistola de Pablo a Tito capitulo 1 y su relacion con el lider cristiano

El presente documento elaborado, exponemos varios aspectos, todos ellos extraidos exegeticamente los mismos que contienen demasiada riqueza, que son aplicables y que estan dirigidos al ministro, a su ministerio y a sus ministrados, una trilogia con total relacion.