Análise baseada em SIG sobre as relações entre cobertura do solo e relevo e sobre fragmentação florestal em Votorantim-SP

Considerando a importância que a informação sobre cobertura do solo possui sobre alguns tipos de riscos a também sobre a compreensão do processo de fragmentação florestal, objetivou-se estudar as relações entre a cobertura do solo e o relevo, bem como a situação da fragmentação florestal da Vegetação Natural Remanescente do município de Votorantim-SP. Para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho utilizou-se o Modelo de Elevação Digital e um mapa de cobertura do solo de 2003. O estudo foi desenvolvido através de técnicas de geoprocessamento e utilizando o software Idrisi (versão Kilimanjaro). Os principais resultados apontam uma situação favorável de cobertura do solo em relação às características do relevo. Ocorreram poucas áreas consideradas de risco. Por outro lado, registraram-se fragmentos florestais considerados pequenos e com poucas oportunidades para manutenção dos padrões originais de biodiversidade, a menos que uma efetiva conexão entre estes fragmentos seja estabelecida, visando promover a transição de animais silvestres entre os fragmentos. Palavras-chave: Cobertura do solo. Riscos ambientais. Fragmentação florestal. Votorantim-SP, Sistema de informação geográfica

Developing Therapies for C3 Glomerulopathy: Report of the Kidney Health Initiative C3 Glomerulopathy Trial Endpoints Work Group

Copyright \ua9 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.Randomized clinical trials are underway to evaluate the efficacy of novel agents targeting the alternative complement pathway in patients with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), a rare glomerular disease. The Kidney Health Initiative convened a panel of experts in C3G to (1) assess the data supporting the use of the prespecified trial end points as measures of clinical benefit and (2) opine on efficacy findings they would consider compelling as treatment(s) of C3G in native kidneys. Two subpanels of the C3G Trial Endpoints Work Group reviewed the available evidence and uncertainties for the association between the three prespecified end points - (1) proteinuria, (2) eGFR, and (3) histopathology - and anticipated outcomes. The full work group provided feedback on the summaries provided by the subpanels and on what potential treatment effects on the proposed end points they would consider compelling to support evidence of an investigational product\u27s effectiveness for treating C3G. Members of the full work group agreed with the characterization of the data, evidence, and uncertainties, supporting the end points. Given the limitations of the available data, the work group was unable to define a minimum threshold for change in any of the end points that might be considered clinically meaningful. The work group concluded that a favorable treatment effect on all three end points would provide convincing evidence of efficacy in the setting of a therapy that targeted the complement pathway. A therapy might be considered effective in the absence of complete alignment in all three end points if there was meaningful lowering of proteinuria and stabilization or improvement in eGFR. The panel unanimously supported efforts to foster data sharing between academic and industry partners to address the gaps in the current knowledge identified by the review of the end points in the aforementioned trials

Assessing mechanical integrity of spinal fusion by in situ endochondral osteoinduction in the murine model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Historically, radiographs, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) exams, palpation and histology have been used to assess fusions in a mouse spine. The objective of this study was to develop a faster, cheaper, reproducible test to directly quantify the mechanical integrity of spinal fusions in mice.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fusions were induced in ten mice spine using a previously described technique of in situ endochondral ossification, harvested with soft tissue, and cast in radiolucent alginate material for handling. Using a validated software package and a customized mechanical apparatus that flexed and extended the spinal column, the amount of intervertebral motion between adjacent vertebral discs was determined with static flexed and extended lateral spine radiographs. Micro-CT images of the same were also blindly reviewed for fusion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean intervertebral motion between control, non-fused, spinal vertebral discs was 6.1 ± 0.2° during spine flexion/extension. In fusion samples, adjacent vertebrae with less than 3.5° intervertebral motion had fusions documented by micro-CT inspection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Measuring the amount of intervertebral rotation between vertebrae during spine flexion/extension is a relatively simple, cheap (<$100), clinically relevant, and fast test for assessing the mechanical success of spinal fusion in mice that compared favorably to the standard, micro-CT.</p

Spatial and temporal analysis of the land cover in riparian buffer zones (Areas for Permanent Preservation) in Sorocaba City, SP, Brazil

Considering the fundamental role that the riparian vegetation plays in relation to maintenance of the environmental health of a watershed and the necessity of restoring sectors of the buffer zone without natural vegetation, in this paper we investigated what land cover classes occur along the riparian buffer stripes considered Area for Permanent Preservation (APP) in the Sorocaba municipality, SP in three periods: 1988, 1995 and 2003. Based on GIS technology and using the drainage network map, the APP stripes (riparian buffer zones) map was generated, and this map was overlaid to the land cover map (1988, 1995 and 2003) to provide a land cover map specifically of the riparian buffer zones. The results show that 58.43% of the APPs have no land cover of native vegetation and therefore, need to be reforested, representing 5,400 hectares to be restored

Full-endoscopic technique for anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion: 5-year follow-up results of 67 cases

With minimally invasive technique becoming more popular, endoscopic operations such as arthroscopy or laparoscopy have become the standard of care in several other areas. In this study, we evaluated the 5-year follow-up outcomes of anterior cervical (Ahn et al. in Photomed Laser Surg 23:362–368, 2005) discectomy and interbody fusion (ACDF) performed via endoscopic approach. Sixty-seven patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and cage fusion performed using endoscopic technique were followed for at least 5 years. We reviewed the clinical and radiographic records of these patients. The postoperative radiographic measures accessed were the anterior intervertebral height (AIH) and the lordosis angle (LDA). Clinical outcomes were determined using the previously validated Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and the pain visual analog scale (VAS). Patients included had a minimal follow-up period of 5 years and based on the outcomes criteria (JOA, VAS), 86.6% of patients reported excellent or good results. The AIH increased on average 18.7% of the original height (p < 0.01), and the LDA were more physiologic at final follow-up. Of the 67 cases, there was no segmental instability, and the bone fusion rate was 100%. One patient required revision open ACDF due to adjacent segment disc herniation 6 years postoperatively. There were no intraoperative complications, dysphasia or esophageal injury in this study group. It indicated endoscopic technique for ACDF can obtain satisfactory results in patients with cervical disc herniation, cervical myelopathy, or radiculopathy. Compared with a traditional approach, this technique may be associated with less morbidity while improving cosmesis and postoperative recovery. Prospective randomized control trials are needed to directly compare these two procedures

Nitric oxide modulates recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2-induced corticocancellous autograft incorporation: a study in rat intertransverse fusion

A novel rat model was used to investigate the effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibition in posterior spinal fusion augmented with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2. Nitric oxide (NO) has important physiological functions including the modulation of fracture healing. Recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) enhances spinal fusion. It is not known whether nitric oxide has a role in rhBMP-2 enhanced spinal fusion and remodeling. A novel rat intertransverse fusion model was created using a defined volume of bone graft along with a collagen sponge carrier, which was compacted and delivered using a custom jig. The control groups consisted of a sham group (S, n = 20), an autograft + carrier group (A, n = 28) and a group consisting of 43 μg of rhBMP-2 mixed with autograft + carrier (AB, n = 28). Two experimental groups received a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, NG-nitro l-arginine methyl ester, in a dose of 1 mg/ml ad lib in the drinking water (AL, n = 28) and one of these experimental groups had rhBMP-2 added to the graft mixture at the time of surgery (ALB, n = 28). Rats were killed at 22 and 44 days, spinal columns subjected to radiology, biomechanics and histology. On a radiographic score (0–4) indicating progressive maturation of bone fusion mass, no difference was found between the A and AL groups, however, there was a significant enhancement of fusion when rhBMP-2 was added when compared to the A group (P < 0.001). However, on day 44, the ALB group showed significantly less fusion progression when compared to the AB group (P < 0.01). There was a 25% (P < 0.05) more fusion-mass-area in day 44 of ALB group when compared to day 44 of the AB group indicating that NOS inhibition delayed the remodeling of the fusion mass. Biomechanically, the rhBMP-2 groups were stiffer at all time points compared to the NOS inhibited groups. Decalcified histology demonstrated that there was a delay in graft incorporation whenever NOS was inhibited (AL and ALB groups) as assessed by a 5 point histological maturation score. In a novel model of rat intertransverse process fusion, nitric oxide synthase modulates rhBMP-2 induced corticocancellous autograft incorporation