Cerium uptake, translocation and toxicity in the salt marsh halophyte Halimione portulacoides (L.), Aellen.

Halimione portulacoides plants were exposed to dissolved cerium (Ce) in a hydroponic medium for five days. Ce accumulation in plants followed the metal's increase in the medium although with a very low translocation factor (TF < 0.01) between roots and shoots. Ce median concentrations in roots were 586, 988 and 1103 µg/g (dry wt.), while in shoots the median values reached 1.9, 3.5 and 10.0 µg/g (dry wt.), for plants exposed to 300, 600 and 1200 µg/L of Ce, respectively. No significant differences occurred in the length of roots and shoots among treatment groups, albeit plants exposed to the highest Ce concentration showed a clear loss of turgor pressure on the fifth day. An increase of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde levels were observed in the plant shoots at 1200 µg/L of Ce. The highest concentration also triggered an answer by the shoots' antioxidant enzymes with a decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase and an increase in peroxidase. However, no significant change in catalase activity was observed, compared to the control group, which may indicate that peroxidase played a more crucial role against the oxidative stress than catalase. Combined results indicate that H. portulacoides was actively responding to a toxic effect imposed by this higher Ce concentration. Nevertheless, changes in normal environmental conditions, may increase the bioavailability of Ce, while in areas where acid mine drainage may occur, the highest Ce concentration tested in this study may be largely exceeded, placing the sustainability of halophytes and estuarine marshes at risk.

Assessing local acid mine drainage impacts on natural regeneration-revegetation of São Domingos mine (Portugal) using a mineralogical, biochemical and textural approach.

São Domingos sulfide mine was shut down more than 50 years ago leaving behind eroded and depositional surfaces due to acid mine drainage (AMD). The aim of this study was to assess six selected sites subjected to AMD, considered phytotoxic regions characterized by vegetation scarcity. Two main criteria, nature and composition of soluble fractions and total chemistry of surficial products related to jarosites presence, enabled to set up an overall dichotomy between superficial proximal/discharge and distal/sedimentation areas. Wet and dry sieving results comparison revealed that samples have a predominant sandy texture and lithic (phyllite, quartzite and volcanic country rocks) composition. Quartz, and subordinate feldspar enrichment is also detected in the coarse silt fraction. The results also suggest that the materials under study, when subjected to the local torrential hydrologic regime, have a high mechanical vulnerability, facilitating erosion and mud transport, both critical for vegetation support, and triggering contamination transfer and dispersion. The vicinity and ground-level surfaces of discharging areas are enriched in the jarosite group minerals whereas the sedimentation ones present hypersaline aluminous tendency. The formation of jarosite is considered as an efficient positive environmental contribution to metals and metalloids sequestration/immobilization. The remediation/revegetation solutions to be adopted in each location must have into consideration these differentiating aspects.

Coping strategies of caregivers of patients receiving palliative home care / Estratégias de enfrentamento de cuidadores de pacientes em cuidados paliativos no domicílio / Estrategias de enfrentamiento de los cuidadores de pacientes en cuidados paliativos en el domicilio

This research aimed to understand the coping strategies of caregivers of patients in palliative care. It is a qualitative, descriptive-exploratory study with nine caregivers of patients in palliative care of a home hospitalization program in the southern region of Brazil. A semistructured interview collected data and submitted to content analysis. The results showed strategies about personal resources before care and social support. Family, faith, and support from the home team were significant coping resources. The patient's clinical situation and caregiver-patient affection made it difficult for the caregiver's exposure to personal problems, devaluing health complaints. It is concluded that caring for a family member is a challenging task, which influences the caregiver's health and can lead to the illness of the caregiver, and the relay of care can reduce their overload. It is necessary to integrate the caregiver into the care of the team and implement educational actions to their health.

A pesquisa objetivou compreender as estratégias de enfrentamento de cuidadores de pacientes em cuidados paliativos. Estudo qualitativo, descritivo-exploratório, com nove cuidadores de pacientes em cuidados paliativos de um programa de internação domiciliar do Sul do Brasil. Os dados foram coletados por uma entrevista semiestruturada e submetidos à análise de conteúdo. Os resultados evidenciaram estratégias sobre recursos pessoais prévios ao cuidado e ao apoio social. A família, a fé e o apoio da equipe domiciliar foram importantes recursos. A situação clínica do paciente e o afeto entre cuidador e paciente dificultaram a exposição do cuidador sobre seus problemas pessoais, desvalorizando queixas de saúde. Conclui-se que cuidar de um familiar é uma tarefa desafiadora, que influencia a saúde do cuidador, podendo acarretar o adoecimento deste, e o revezamento do cuidado pode diminuir a sua sobrecarga. É necessário integrar o cuidador na assistência da equipe e implementar ações educativas à sua saúde.

La investigación objetivó comprender las estrategias de enfrentamiento de los cuidadores de pacientes en cuidados paliativos. Estudio cualitativo, descriptivo-exploratorio, con nueve cuidadores de pacientes en cuidados paliativos de un programa de internación domiciliaria de la región sur de Brasil. Datos recolectados por una entrevista semiestructurada y sometidos a análisis de contenido. Resultados evidenciaron estrategias sobre recursos personales previos al cuidado y al apoyo social. Familia, fe y el apoyo del equipo domiciliar, fueron importantes recursos. La situación clínica del paciente y el afecto entre cuidador-paciente, dificulta la exposición del cuidador sobre sus problemas, desvalorizando sus quejas de salud y descuidando el autocuidado. Se concluye que cuidar de un familiar es una tarea desafiante, que influye en la salud del cuidador, puede acarrear en su enfermedad, y el relevo del cuidado puede disminuir su sobrecarga. Necesario integrar al cuidador en la asistencia del equipo y implementar acciones educativas a su salud.