DESLIZAMENTOS E FRAGMENTAÇÃO FLORESTAL NA REGIÃO SERRANA DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO

Forest fragmentation is a process in which continuous natural vegetation areas are divided into patches of different sizes, originated by human activities or natural causes associated with environmental changes and high magnitude events. This work aims to characterize and to analyze the dynamics of forest fragmentation and the vulnerability of disturbance patches resulting from landslides, originated by heavy rainfall events that occurred in the mountain ranges of Rio de Janeiro state in the year 2011. The fragmentation pattern before and after the events was evaluated by the use of landscape metric indexes, extracted from land cover and landslide scars maps made by the analysis of satellite images. The indexes show a 6% reduction of the forest area and an increase of 107% in the number of forest patches, especially of small ones. A loss of 17% of forest core area and an increase of 43% in the number of forest cores and of 28% of edge density has occurred. The distance from the nearest neighbor decreased 46% due to the narrow and elongated shape of landslide scars. The overall results show that the rainfall events have caused an intensification of the historical process of forest fragmentation, promoting an increase of the ecological vulnerability and instability of the forest remnants, highlighting how high magnitude natural events can cause rapid landscape changes.A fragmentação florestal é um processo em que áreas contínuas de vegetação natural são subdivididas em manchas de tamanhos diversos, originado por atividades antrópicas ou causas naturais associadas às mudanças ambientais e eventos de grande magnitude. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo caracterizar e analisar a dinâmica da fragmentação florestal e a vulnerabilidade das manchas de distúrbios resultantes de deslizamentos ocasionados por chuvas intensas na região serrana do estado do Rio de Janeiro em 2011. Para tanto foi realizada uma avaliação do padrão espacial das manchas antes e após os eventos por meio de índices métricos de paisagem, estimados a partir de mapas de cobertura da terra e das cicatrizes dos deslizamentos, produzidos através da análise de imagens orbitais. Houve uma redução de 6% da área de floresta e um acréscimo de 107% no número de fragmentos, principalmente de pequenos. Ocorreu uma perda de 17% da área nuclear, um acréscimo de 43% do número de núcleos e de 28% da densidade de borda. A distância média do fragmento mais próximo diminuiu 46%, em virtude da forma das cicatrizes, alongadas e estreitas. Os resultados mostram que os deslizamentos ocasionaram uma intensificação do processo histórico de fragmentação florestal, promovendo um aumento da vulnerabilidade e instabilidade ecológica dos remanescentes florestais, evidenciando como eventos naturais de grande magnitude podem alterar rapidamente a paisagem

Açúcar granulado ou em gel no tratamento de feridas em cães Granulated sugar and sugar gel in treating canine wounds

O açúcar é um dos produtos mais utilizados para tratamento de feridas em medicina veterinária. Sua principal vantagem é o efeito higroscópico nos tecidos e morte das bactérias por plasmólise, tornando-o um bactericida pelo efeito físico realizado, sem levar à resistência bacteriana. O objetivo deste experimento foi comparar a evolução cicatricial de feridas cutâneas com o uso tópico de açúcar na forma granulada e na forma de gel. Foram tratadas 16 feridas de cães, das quais oito receberam tratamento com açúcar granulado (grupo A) e oito com gel de açúcar (grupo G). O tempo de tratamento, independente do grupo, levou, no mínimo, sete dias e, no máximo, 14. Quanto à aplicabilidade, o gel demonstrou melhor adesão nas feridas e preenchimento do produto no subcutâneo de forma mais efetiva que o açúcar granulado. Conclui-se que tanto o gel quanto o açúcar foram efetivos na cicatrização das feridas dos animais deste experimento, sendo que o gel demonstrou precocidade na retração cicatricial nos primeiros sete dias.<br>Sugar is one of the most widely used products in the treatment of wounds in veterinary medicine. Its main advantage is the hygroscopic effect on tissues and the bacterial death by plasmolysis, making it a bactericidal agent due to the physical effect observed, without leading to bacterial resistance. The aim of this experiment was to compare cicatricial evolution of cutaneous wounds with the topical use of sugar either granulated or as gel. Sixteen canine wounds were treated: eight with granulated sugar (group A) and eight with sugar gel (group G). Treatment time, independent of the group, took at least seven days and a maximum of 14. Concerning applicability, gel sugar showed better adhesion to wounds and subcutaneous filling more effectively that granulated sugar. It is concluded that both granulated and gel sugar were effective in healing skin wounds, the gel being precocious in cicatricial retraction within the first seven days of treatment

Acute kidney injury in a tropical country: a cohort study of 253 patients in an infectious diseases intensive care unit

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent and potentially fatal complication in infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical aspects of AKI associated with infectious diseases and the factors associated with mortality. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in patients with AKI who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary infectious diseases hospital from January 2003 to January 2012. The major underlying diseases and clinical and laboratory findings were evaluated. Results: A total of 253 cases were included. The mean age was 46±16 years, and 72% of the patients were male. The main diseases were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (30%), tuberculosis (12%), leptospirosis (11%) and dengue (4%). Dialysis was performed in 70 cases (27.6%). The patients were classified as risk (4.4%), injury (63.6%) or failure (32%). The time between AKI diagnosis and dialysis was 3.6±4.7 days. Oliguria was observed in 112 cases (45.7%). The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores were higher in patients with HIV/AIDS (57±20, p-value=0.01) and dengue (68±11, p-value=0.01). Death occurred in 159 cases (62.8%). Mortality was higher in patients with HIV/AIDS (76.6%, p-value=0.02). A multivariate analysis identified the following independent risk factors for death: oliguria, metabolic acidosis, sepsis, hypovolemia, the need for vasoactive drugs, the need for mechanical ventilation and the APACHE II score. Conclusions: AKI is a common complication in infectious diseases, with high mortality. Mortality was higher in patients with HIV/AIDS, most likely due to the severity of immunosuppression and opportunistic diseases

Chemical composition and bioactive compounds of grape pomace (Vitis vinifera L.), Benitaka variety, grown in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil

Grape pomace (Vitis vinifera L.), Benitaka variety, grown in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil was evaluated in relation to chemical composition, and content of minerals and functional properties. Its microbiological quality and toxic potential, using Artemia salina sp, were also investigated. The results showed that the flour obtained from these residues had below neutral pH (3.82), moisture (3.33g/100g), acidity of (0.64g of citric acid/100g), and ash (4.65 g/100g). The amount of total dietary fiber (46.17g/100g) stood out quantitatively compared to the content of carbohydrate (29.2g/100 g), protein (8.49g/100g), and lipids (8.16g/100g). The total energy was 224Kcal/100g. With regard to the compounds with functional properties, higher values of insoluble fiber 79% (36.4 g/100 g); vitamin C (26.25 mg of acid ascorbic/100g), and anthocyanins (131mg/100g) were found. The minerals iron, potassium, zinc, manganese, and calcium were present in higher concentrations. There were no significant copper values. The results showed that the grape residues are an important source of nutrients and compounds with functional properties suggesting that they can be incorporated as an ingredient in the diet and/or used as a dietary supplement aiming at health benefits. The residues did not show microbiological contamination and were considered nontoxic

Chemical composition, fatty acid profile and bioactive compounds of guava seeds (Psidium guajava L.)

This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition, determine the fatty acid profile, and quantify the bioactive compounds present in guava seed powder (Psidium guajava L.). The powder resulted from seeds obtained from guava pulp processing. The agro-industrial seeds from red guava cv. paluma were used, and they were donated by a frozen pulp fruit manufacturer. They contain varying amounts of macronutrients and micronutrients, with a high content of total dietary fiber (63.94 g/100g), protein (11.19 g/100g), iron (13.8 mg/100g), zinc (3.31 mg/100g), and reduced calorie content (182 kcal/100g). Their lipid profile showed a predominance of unsaturated fatty acids (87.06%), especially linoleic acid (n6) and oleic acid (n9). The powder obtained contained significant amounts of bioactive compounds such as ascorbic acid (87.44 mg/100g), total carotenoids (1.25 mg/100 g) and insoluble dietary fiber (63.55 g/100g). With regard to their microbiological quality, the samples were found suitable for consumption. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the powder produced has favorable attributes for industrial use, and that use of these seeds would be a viable alternative to prevent various diseases and malnutrition in our country and to reduce the environmental impact of agricultural waste