Flood-promoted vessel formation in Prioria copaifera trees in the Darien Gap, Colombia.

Trees growing in floodplains develop mechanisms by which to overcome anoxic conditions. Prioria copaifera Griseb. grows on the floodplains of the Atrato River, Colombia, and monodominant communities of this species remain flooded for at least 6 months a year. The aims of this study were as follows: (i) to compare variations in tree-ring structure with varying river water levels; and (ii) to reconstruct variations in water levels from the chronology of variations in the porosity of the tree rings. Discs were taken from 12 trees, and the number of vessels along 3-mm-wide radial transects was counted. Standard dendrochronological techniques were used to determine the mean number of vessels over 130 years, between 1877 and 2006; the signal-to-noise ratio was 13.3 and the expressed population signal 0.93. Furthermore, this series of vessel numbers was calibrated against variations in the water levels between 1977 and 2000; positive correlations were found with the mean for both the annual river water level and the level from June to August. The transfer function between the principal components of the mean annual water level and those of chronology allowed us to reconstruct the river levels over 130 years. Our conclusions are as follows: (i) the number of vessels per ring is an appropriate proxy for determining variations in water levels; and (ii) P. copaifera grows thicker and produces more vessels when water levels rise. The probable ecophysiological causes of this interesting behaviour are discussed.

Calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en usuarios de un programa de actividad física / Health-related quality of life in users of a physical activity program

Introducción: la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) permite evaluar el estado de salud de las personas y diseñar, implementar y evaluar programas de salud. Objetivo: determinar la percepción de la CVRS en usuarios de un programa de actividad física (AF). Metodología: estudio transversal en 177 sujetos pertenecientes a un programa de actividad física. Se aplicó el cuestionario SF-36v1.2 para evaluar la CVRS; se evaluó el consumo máximo de oxígeno (VO2máx) por medio la prueba de 2.000 metros y se determinó la prevalencia de algunos factores de riesgo cardiovascular a partir de las historias clínicas. Resultados: el puntaje promedio de CVRS más alto fue en el funcionamiento físico (FF) 90,5 (DE: 10,8) y más bajo en dolor corporal (DC) 78,1 (DE: 22,4) y vitalidad (VT) 78,1 (DE: 15,5). En las personas fumadoras, hipertensas, diabéticas, obesas y con niveles bajos de actividad fisica la mayoría de los puntajes de CVRS fueron más bajos (diferencias clínica y estadísticamente significativas). El VO2máx mostró correlación con los dominios funcionamiento físico (FF) (rho = 0,371; p = 0,0001), desempeño físico (DF) (rho = 0,177; p = 0,018) y dolor corporal (DC) (rho = 0,207; p = 0,006). Conclusión: las personas estudiadas tienen una percepción buena de la CVRS; sin embargo, en quienes reportaron tabaquismo, hipertensión arterial, diabetes mellitus, obesidad, dislipidemias y baja potencia aeróbica se presentó una menor percepción de la CVRS; las personas con obesidad mostraron mejores puntajes en los dominios del componente mental y aquellos con bajo nivel de AF mostraron puntajes bajos en dicho componente.

Introduction: Health related quality of life (HRQL) allows to assess people health status, and to design, implement and evaluate health programs. Objective: To determine the perception of HRQL in users of a physical activity (PA) program. Methodology: Cross-sectional study in 177 subjects belonging to a physical activity program. SF-36v1.2 questionnaire was used to assess HRQL; maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was evaluated by the 2.000 meters test and prevalence of some cardiovascular risk factors was determined from medical records. Results: The higher average score for HRQL was in physical function (PF) 90,5 (SD: 10.8), compared with the lowest scores of body pain (BP) 78,1 (SD: 22,4) and vitality (VT) 78,1 (SD: 15,5). In smokers, hypertensive, diabetics, obese and people with low levels of physical activity most HRQL scores were lower (clinically and statistically significant differences). VO2max correlated with PF subscales (rho = 0.371; p = 0.0001), physical performance (rho = 0.177; p = 0.018) and BP (rho = 0.207; p = 0.006). Conclusion: The studied individuals have a good perception of HRQL; nevertheless, those who reported smoking, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia and low aerobic power, had a reduced perception of HRQL; obese people showed improved scores in mental component domains and those with low levels of PA showed low scores in that component.