ESTRUTURA FITOSSOCIOLÓGICA DE UMA FLORESTA ESTACIONAL DECIDUAL NA REGIÃO DE SANTA MARIA, RS

Em um inventário de 14 unidades amostrais, de 15 X 50 m (750 m2), realizado em uma Floresta Estacional Decidual, localizada no Morro do Centro de Instrução de Santa Maria, Distrito de Boca do Monte, em Santa Maria, RS, para um estudo da estrutura fitossociológica. Para tal, foram identificados e quantificados os indivíduos com circunferência a altura do peito (CAP) maior ou igual a 30 cm. Em cada amostra foram identificadas duas sub-amostras circulares concêntricas, para análise dos indivíduos em regeneração natural. Uma de 10 m² (raio de 1,78 m) para as classes de 0 a 15 cm e outra de 100 m² (raio de 5,64 m) para as classes de 15,1 a 30 cm de circunferência. Identificaram-se 51 espécies vegetais, distribuídas em 45 gêneros e 26 famílias botânicas. As espécies Cupania vernalis, Trichilia clausseni, Nectandra megapotamica, Myrcianthes pungens e Matayba elaeagnoides estão entre as mais características e importantes da associação, tanto em relação a estrutura vertical como horizontal

A síndrome de Burnout no esporte

The burnout syndrome, considered a reaction to chronic stress, was discovered in the “human services” professions, like doctors, nurses and lawyers, being later expanded to the sport environment professionals. The purpose of this study was to revise contents related to the syndrome from the burnout’s representative theoretical models in the sportive environment. Historic aspects, psychometrically instruments of evaluation and burnout manifestations in athletic directors, officials, coaches and athletes were analyzed. It was concluded that independently the way individual involves himself professionally with the sport, there is a latent risk of the syndrome’s manifestation.A síndrome de burnout, considerada uma reação ao estresse crônico, foi descoberta em profissões caracterizadas como de “serviços humanos”, casos de médicos, enfermeiros e advogados, expandindo-se, posteriormente, aos profissionais do âmbito esportivo. Assim sendo, o objetivo dessa pesquisa consistiu em revisar conteúdos referentes à síndrome no ambiente esportivo a partir dos seus modelos representativos teóricos. Foram analisados os aspectos históricos, instrumentos psicométricos de avaliação e manifestações de burnout em atletas, treinadores, árbitros e diretores esportivos. Conclui-se, portanto, que, independentemente do modo com o qual o indivíduo se relaciona profissionalmente com o esporte, existe o risco latente de manifestação da síndrome

Estrutura fitossociológica de uma Floresta Estacional Decidual na região de Santa Maria, RS.

In one inventory of fourteen sample units of 15 X 50 m (750 m²) performed in a portion of the Decidual Seasonal Forest, located on the top of Instruction Centre of Santa Maria hill, in Boca do Monte district in Santa Maria in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, realized on a study of phytosociologic structure. For such, were identified and quantitied  the Individuals with a CAP bigger or equal than 30 cm. In each sample there were taken of two circular and concentric subsamples for an analysis of the individuals in natural regeneration process. One subsample of 10 m² with a  radius of 1,78 m for the circunference classes from 0 to15 cm and the other one of 100 m² with a radius of  5,64 m for the circunference classes from 15,1 to 30 cm. There are 51 vegetable species distributed in 45 classes and 26 botanical families which were identified. Cupania vernalis, Trichilia clausseni, Nectandra megapotamica, Myrcianthes pungens and Matayba elaeagnoides are among the most important and characteristical species from the association, in relation either with the vertical or the horizon structure, creating the typical physionomy of this forest.Em um inventário de 14 unidades amostrais, de 15 X 50 m (750 m2), realizado em uma Floresta Estacional Decidual, localizada no Morro do Centro de Instrução de Santa Maria, Distrito de Boca do Monte, em Santa Maria, RS, para um estudo da  estrutura fitossociológica. Para tal, foram identificados e quantificados os indivíduos com circunferência a altura do peito (CAP) maior ou igual a 30 cm. Em cada amostra foram identificadas duas sub-amostras circulares  concêntricas,  para  análise  dos  indivíduos em regeneração natural. Uma de 10 m² (raio de 1,78 m) para as classes de 0 a 15 cm e outra de 100 m² (raio de 5,64 m) para as classes de 15,1 a 30 cm de circunferência. Identificaram-se 51 espécies vegetais, distribuídas em 45 gêneros e 26 famílias botânicas. As espécies Cupania vernalis, Trichilia clausseni, Nectandra megapotamica, Myrcianthes pungens e Matayba elaeagnoides estão entre as mais características e importantes da associação, tanto em relação a estrutura vertical como horizontal

Cystic fibrosis at a Brazilian center of excellence: clinical and laboratory characteristics of 104 patients and their association with genotype and disease severity

OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical, laboratory and radiographic characteristics of the cystic fibrosis patients under care at Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) in the last decade of the twentieth century, and to investigate the association of these characteristics with genotype and severity of the disease as measured by the Shwachman score. METHODS: Descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study of the patients assisted at UNICAMP hospital's Cystic Fibrosis Clinic from July 1990 to July 2000. RESULTS: One hundred and four patients were studied; 53.8% male; 93.3% Caucasian; 89.4% presented with respiratory symptoms; 59.6% presented with digestive symptoms; 5.8% had meconium ileus ; 4.8% had diabetes. The mean age at onset of symptoms was 3 months, and the mean age at diagnosis was 2 years and 4 months. At diagnosis, 69.9 and 56.6% of the patients had weight and height below 10th percentile, respectively; in 10.6%, sweat chloride was < 60 mEq/l. Staphylococcus aureus was found in 80.2%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 76.0%, and Burkholderia cepacia in 5.2%. deltaF508 homozygosis was observed in 18.75%, whereas 62.50% of the patients were deltaF508 heterozygous. A moderate/severe Shwachman score was found in 15.7%. Eighteen patients died in that period (17.3%). The mean age at death was 7 years and 8 months; median survival after diagnosis was 18 years and 4 months. Patients who have at least one deltaF508 mutation have more frequent alterations in fecal fat levels when compared to patients who do not have this mutation (p < 0.05). There were no differences in any parameter between deltaF508 homozygous and heterozygous patients. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the 104 patients studied were similar to the characteristics described for patients in other countries. Exceptions are the higher age at diagnosis and lower survival. Our results support the recommendation for early diagnosis and the need for more treatment opportunities in the population of cystic fibrosis patients.OBJETIVO: Estudar as características clínicas, laboratoriais e radiográficas de pacientes fibrocísticos acompanhados na última década do século 20 na UNICAMP e verificar se existe associação com o genótipo e a gravidade da doença medida pelo escore de Shwachman. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, retrospectivo e de corte transversal dos pacientes fibrocísticos acompanhados na UNICAMP, que tiveram atendimento entre julho de 1990 e julho de 2000. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 104 pacientes: sexo masculino - 53,8%; raça caucasóide - 93,3%; comprometimento pulmonar - 89,4%, comprometimento digestivo - 59,6%; íleo meconial - 5,8%; diabetes melito - 4,8%; mediana da idade de início dos sintomas - 3 meses; mediana da idade no diagnóstico - 2 anos e 4 meses; 69,9 e 56,6% apresentavam peso e estatura abaixo do percentil 10, respectivamente, na época do diagnóstico; dosagem de cloro no suor < 60 mEq/l - 10,6%; colonização: S. aureus - 80,2%, P. aeruginosa - 76,0%, B. cepacia - 5,2%; delta F508 homozigoto - 18,75%, deltaF508 heterozigoto - 62,5%; escore de Shwachman moderado/grave - 15,7%. Foram a óbito 18 pacientes (17,3%); mediana de idade do óbito de 7 anos e 8 meses; sobrevida mediana após o diagnóstico no término do estudo de 18 anos e 4 meses. Os pacientes com a mutação deltaF508 apresentaram balanço de gordura nas fezes alterado com maior freqüência que os pacientes sem essa mutação (p < 0,05). Quando comparados os pacientes que apresentavam uma ou duas mutações deltaF508, nenhum parâmetro apresentou diferença estatisticamente significativa. CONCLUSÕES: As características clínicas e laboratoriais dos pacientes estudados foram semelhantes às descritas na população fibrocística de outros países, com algumas exceções, dentre as quais destacamos maior idade no diagnóstico e menor sobrevida. Desta forma, nossos dados permitem inferir que esforços para um diagnóstico precoce e maior oportunidade de tratamento necessitam ser dirigidos aos pacientes fibrocísticos.37137

Silicon sources for studies of rice plants in nutrient solutions

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of various Si sources currently used in studies of Si doses in nutrient solutions on dry matter yield and the accumulation of nutrients and Si in rice plants. Treatments of rice plants with three sources of Si (monossilicic acid, sodium metasilicate, potassium metasilicate) and a treatment without Si were allocated in a randomized block design with ten replications. After 39 days in the nutrient solution, the following traits were evaluated: leaf area, leaf specific mass, dry matter yield of roots and shoots, and levels of K, Na, and Si in leaves and roots. Si increased leaf area, leaf specific mass, and dry matter yield of shoots and roots regardless of the Si source. Levels of Si in leaves and roots were significantly higher in relation to the control treatment but no significant difference among Si sources was identified. It was also observed that K and Na were adequately balanced across the treatments. Thus, a cheaper and easier to obtain Si source, such as sodium metasilicate and potassium metasilicate, may be chosen to carry out studies of Si additions to nutrient solutions

Inhibitors of the 5-lipoxygenase arachidonic acid pathway induce ATP release and ATP-dependent organic cation transport in macrophages

AbstractWe have previously described that arachidonic acid (AA)-5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) metabolism inhibitors such as NDGA and MK886, inhibit cell death by apoptosis, but not by necrosis, induced by extracellular ATP (ATPe) binding to P2X7 receptors in macrophages. ATPe binding to P2X7 also induces large cationic and anionic organic molecules uptake in these cells, a process that involves at least two distinct transport mechanisms: one for cations and another for anions. Here we show that inhibitors of the AA-5-LO pathway do not inhibit P2X7 receptors, as judged by the maintenance of the ATPe-induced uptake of fluorescent anionic dyes. In addition, we describe two new transport phenomena induced by these inhibitors in macrophages: a cation-selective uptake of fluorescent dyes and the release of ATP. The cation uptake requires secreted ATPe, but, differently from the P2X7/ATPe-induced phenomena, it is also present in macrophages derived from mice deficient in the P2X7 gene. Inhibitors of phospholipase A2 and of the AA-cyclooxygenase pathway did not induce the cation uptake. The uptake of non-organic cations was investigated by measuring the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) by Fura-2 fluorescence. NDGA, but not MK886, induced an increase in [Ca2+]i. Chelating Ca2+ ions in the extracellular medium suppressed the intracellular Ca2+ signal without interfering in the uptake of cationic dyes. We conclude that inhibitors of the AA-5-LO pathway do not block P2X7 receptors, trigger the release of ATP, and induce an ATP-dependent uptake of organic cations by a Ca2+- and P2X7-independent transport mechanism in macrophages

Meralgia paresthetica by compression from a modeling girdle

Meralgia paresthetica is characterized by pain, paresthesia or burning sensation, and reduction of tactile and pain sensitivity in the anterolateral surface of the thigh. This disability is caused by a neuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). Conservative treatment is often successful at relieving the symptoms in the majority of patients. We describe the case of a 44-year-old patient who presented with these symptoms caused by postoperative use of a surgical girdle after aesthetic surgery

Association between alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency and cystic fibrosis severity

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the distribution of alpha 1 antitrypsin genotypes and correlate it with the severity of pulmonary disease in patients with cystic fibrosis METHOD: A clinical and laboratory cross sectional study of 70 patients at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas teaching hospital. Cystic fibrosis diagnoses was confirmed by both clinical and laboratory methods. The severity of cystic fibrosis was evaluated by Shwachman score. All the patients were tested for the presence of S and Z alleles for alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Nine (12.8%) patients were heterozygous for S or Z alleles or the heterozygote compound (SZ). No significant differences were found in clinical severity of Cystic fibrosis between genotypes of alpha 1 antitrypsin. No significant differences were found when the patients were divided according to the presence or absence of the deltaF508 mutation. CONCLUSION: In this study, the first undertaken in Brazil into the association of alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency and cystic fibrosis, we did not find an association between the deficiency and cystic fibrosis severity.OBJETIVO: Verificar a distribuição dos genótipos da alfa-1-antitripsina e correlacionar com a gravidade da doença pulmonar em pacientes fibrocísticos. MÉTODO: Estudo clínico-laboratorial de corte transversal, com 70 pacientes fibrocísticos do Hospital Universitário da UNICAMP. Os fibrocísticos tiveram diagnóstico confirmado clínica e laboratorialmente. A gravidade da fibrose cística foi avaliada pelo escore de Shwachman. Todos os pacientes foram analisados para os alelos S e Z de alfa-1-antitripsina usando a reação em cadeia da polimerase. RESULTADOS: Nove pacientes (12,8%) foram heterozigotos para os alelos S ou Z ou heterozigoto composto (SZ). Nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada na gravidade clínica da fibrose cística entre os genótipos da alfa-1-antitripsina. Nenhuma diferença com significância estatística foi encontrada quando os pacientes foram separados pela presença ou ausência da mutação deltaF508. CONCLUSÃO: Neste estudo, o primeiro realizado no Brasil sobre a associação entre deficiência de alfa-1-antitripsina e fibrose cística, não encontramos uma associação entre essa deficiência e a gravidade da fibrose cística.485490Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP