Seasonal composition of the phytoplankton community in Itapeva lake (north coast of Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil) in function of hydrodynamic aspects

A estrutura da comunidade planctônica na lagoa Itapeva esteve formada por 7 filos e mais de 148 espécies fitoplanctônicas, e o microplâncton foi a classe de tamanho predominante. Maior riqueza foi encontrada para a divisão Bacillariophyta na primavera. As diatomáceas e as cianobactérias foram características para a lagoa, tanto em densidade, quanto em riqueza. A distribuição sazonal revelou que nas estações frias do ano ocorreu um aumento de densidade média na comunidade fitoplanctônica, embora tivesse sido registrado o pico primaveril. Na primavera foi registrada a ocorrência de uma espécie de diatomácea dominante (Aulacoseira granulata) em todas as estações de amostragem. Excetuando o outono, quando ocorreu a floração de cianobactéria (Anabaena circinalis), somente no Norte esta espécie dominou nas demais estações do ano. Durante o inverno/98 ocorreu a maior diversidade média (H= 2,21), enquanto que, no outono observou-se a menor diversidade (H= 1,07). Correlações entre diatomáceas e aspectos hidrodinâmicos (vento e nível d’água) sugerem que este grupo fitoplanctônico é significativamente afetado pela hidrodinâmica desta lagoa rasaThe structure of the phytoplankton community in Itapeva lake was formed by 7 phyla and more than 148 phytoplankton species, in which microplankton was the predominant size class. The largest richness recorded was for the Bacillariophyta in springtime. Diatoms and cyanobacteria presented higher density and richness in the lake. The seasonal distribution revealed that during the cold seasons, mean density increased in the phytoplankton community, although a spring “peak” had been recorded. In spring, the dominance of a diatom (Aulacoseira granulata) occured at all sampling stations. The cyanobacteria (Anabaena circinalis) bloom dominated in the North sampling site during the other seasons of the year. The greatest mean diversity (H=2.21) was found during winter/98, while in autumn, the smallest diversity was observed (H= 1.07). These changes were closely related to hydrodynamic aspects of the Itapeva lake, due to the wind action on the spatial distribution of the phytoplankton community. The relationships of diatoms with hydrodynamics aspects (wind and water level) are indexes that the phytoplankton group is a good indicator of hydrodynamics in the lak

Evaluation of phytoplankton pigments in a shallow coastal lake submitted to strong hydrodynamics : comparative analysis of spectrophotometric methods

Métodos espectrofotométricos foram usados na avaliação da concentração de pigmentos fitoplanctônicos na Lagoa ltapeva. uma lagoa costeira rasa no litoral norte do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil). A comparação entre metodologias da análise de clorofila a mostrou que os dados obtidos pelos métodos tricromáticos (DO 664 nm e 663 nm) e pelo método do pigmento total estiveram significativamente correlacionados entre si. Além disso. estes métodos obtiveram melhores resultados em detrimento dos métodos monocromáticos, devido ao baixo número de amostras com valor negativo. Os resultados de ambos métodos na determinação de feopigmentos, geralmente, exibiram durante o ano o mesmo comportamento. As relações entre densidades ópticas, antes e após a acidificação, foram de extrema valia para a interpretação do estado fisiológico das amostras, servindo comoum bom indicador da adequação dos métodos empregados na análise de pigmentos. Os pigmentos fitoplanctônicos exibiram uma distribuição espaço-temporal em função da ação dos ventos, onde o "fetch" teve um grande efeito na hidrodinâmica e sob a comunidade fitoplanctônica.Spectrophotometric methods were used to evaluate the variability on concentrations of phytoplankton pigments in ltapeva Lake. a shallow coastal lake on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). The comparison between methodologies of chlorophyll a showed that data from the trichromatic (OD 664 nm and 663 nm) and from the total pigment methods were significantly correlated to each other. Moreover, these methods achieved better results than the monochromatic methods. due to the small number of samples with a negative value. The results of both methods of pheopigments determination exhibited seasonally the same behavior. The relationships between optical densities. before and after acidification. were adequate to explain the physiological status of the samples. serving as a good indicator of the methods' adequacy for pigment determination. The phytoplankton pigments presented a spatial and temporal distribution according to wind action. in which fetch had a marked effect on hydrodynamics and on the phytoplankton community

Risco de sarcopenia pode predizer pior qualidade de vida entre pacientes em hemodiálise?

Background: Sarcopenia and low quality of life (QOL) are widely found among hemodialysis (HD) patients. We aimed to verify whether risk of sarcopenia can predict QOL level in patients submitted to HD. Methods: The sample was formed by 147 chronic kidney disease patients undergoing HD in October 2020 at a single dialysis center.  Demographic and clinical data were collected. Risk of sarcopenia was classified using the SARC-F questionnaire. QOL was evaluated by the Brazilian version of the SF-36. QOL scores were compared between patients with and without risk of sarcopenia. Multivariate linear regression was performed to test risk of sarcopenia as an independent predictor of QOL scores. Results: There were 62 (42.2%) patients classified as having risk of sarcopenia. In the comparison of QOL scores between patients with and without risk of sarcopenia, scores of seven dimensions were significantly lower among patients with sarcopenia risk, the only exception being role-emotional. Risk of sarcopenia was an independent predictor of six dimensions of QOL, except for role-emotional and mental health. Conclusion: We found risk of sarcopenia to be an independent predictor of QOL among HD patients. Our results point to the possibility of improving patients’ QOL by intervening to minimize the risk of sarcopenia.Introdução: Sarcopenia e baixa qualidade de vida (QV) são amplamente encontradas entre pacientes em hemodiálise (HD). Nosso objetivo foi verificar se o risco de sarcopenia prediz o nível de QV nesta população. Métodos: A amostra foi formada por 147 pacientes em HD em outubro de 2020 em um único centro de diálise. Dados demográficos e clínicos foram coletados. O risco de sarcopenia foi classificado pelo questionário SARC-F. A QV foi avaliada pela versão brasileira do SF-36. Os escores de QV foram comparados entre pacientes com e sem risco de sarcopenia. A regressão linear multivariada foi realizada para testar o risco de sarcopenia como preditor independente dos escores de QV. Resultados: Havia 62 (42,2%) pacientes classificados como tendo risco de sarcopenia. Comparando os escores de QV entre pacientes com e sem risco de sarcopenia, os escores de 7 dimensões foram significativamente menores entre os pacientes com risco de sarcopenia, exceto aspectos emocionais. O risco de sarcopenia foi um preditor independente de 6 dimensões da QV, exceto para aspectos emocionais e saúde mental. Conclusão: O risco de sarcopenia é um preditor independente de QV entre os pacientes em HD. Nossos resultados apontam para a possibilidade de melhorar a QV dos pacientes intervindo para minimizar o risco de sarcopenia

Efeitos biológicos das antocianinas no processo aterosclerótico

As antocianinas são metabólitos secundários biossintetizados por plantas e perten- centes ao grupo dos flavonóides. Pesquisas indicam que as antocianinas podem aumentar a resistência da LDL à oxidação, comparado a outros compostos com alto poder antioxidante, como o ácido L-ascórbico, e reduzir fatores pró-inflamatórios, como citocinas, quimiocinas, moléculas de adesão e metaloproteinases. Como a inflamação e a oxidação são processos característicos da aterosclerose, tem se investi- gado o efeito das antocianinas no processo aterosclerótico e há evidências que estes compostos podem diminuir o desenvolvimento e a progressão das lesões ateroscle- róticas.Anthocyanins are secondary metabolites biosynthesized by plants and belonging to the group of flavonoids. Research indicates that anthocyanins can increase resis- tance of LDL to oxidation, compared to other compounds with high antioxidant properties, such as L-ascorbic acid, and reduce pro-inflammatory factors such as cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules and metalloproteinases. As inflamma- tion and oxidation processes are characteristic of atherosclerosis, has investigated the effect of anthocyanins in the atherosclerotic process and there is evidence that these compounds can reduce the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions

Production of Formosa papaya seedlings irrigated with wastewater and application of biostimulant

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the leading fruit trees in Brazil, mainly in the Northeast region. However, some regions suffer from water scarcity, making wastewater reuse a viable alternative for crop production. Also, biostimulants may be used to maximize papaya growth and development. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the use of Acadian® biostimulant in the growth of Formosa papaya seedlings irrigated with different concentrations of fish-farming wastewater. The experiment was block randomized in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, use and non-use of biostimulant and five concentrations of wastewater (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40%) diluted in potable water, with four replicates. Qualitative data were compared by t-test at 5% probability, and quantitative data were submitted to regression analysis. Results showed that high concentrations of wastewater negatively affect the production of Formosa papaya seedlings. Acadian® negatively influences plant height, number of leaves, and the ratio between shoot and root. However, the seaweed biostimulant positively influenced the chlorophyll content index.Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the leading fruit trees in Brazil, mainly in the Northeast region. However, some regions suffer from water scarcity, making wastewater reuse a viable alternative for crop production. Also, biostimulants may be used to maximize papaya growth and development. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the use of Acadian® biostimulant in the growth of Formosa papaya seedlings irrigated with different concentrations of fish-farming wastewater. The experiment was block randomized in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, use and non-use of biostimulant and five concentrations of wastewater (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40%) diluted in potable water, with four replicates. Qualitative data were compared by t-test at 5% probability, and quantitative data were submitted to regression analysis. Results showed that high concentrations of wastewater negatively affect the production of Formosa papaya seedlings. Acadian® negatively influences plant height, number of leaves, and the ratio between shoot and root. However, the seaweed biostimulant positively influenced the chlorophyll content index

Evaluation of the traditional and revised world health organization classifications of dengue cases in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: Dengue is a worldwide public health problem with approximately 50 million cases reported annually. The World Health Organization proposed a revised classification system in 2008 to more effectively identify the patients who are at increased risk of complications from dengue. Few studies have validated this new classification system in clinical practice. We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients hospitalized for dengue in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, to evaluate the capacity of the two classification systems for detecting severe cases of dengue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of survey data from the medical records of patients admitted to the University Hospital of the Federal University of Grande Dourados under clinical suspicion of dengue during an epidemic from September 2009 to April 2010. RESULTS: The distribution of patients according to the traditional classification system was as follows: dengue fever, 150/181 (82.9%); dengue hemorrhagic fever, 27/181 (14.9%); and dengue hemorrhagic shock, 4/181 (2.2%). Using the revised classification system, the distribution was as follows: dengue without warning signs, 45/181 (24.3%); dengue with warning signs, 107/181 (59.1%); and severe dengue, 29/181 (15.6%). Of the 150 patients classified as having dengue fever, 105 (70%) were reclassified as having dengue with warning signs or severe dengue. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that the revised classification system has greater discriminatory power for detecting patients at risk of progression to severe disease and those needing hospitalization

Influence of the hydrological changes on the phytoplantkton structure and dynamics in a subtropical wetland-lake system

The hydroperiod-phytoplankton response in wetlands-lake coastal system is proposed in this study. The samples were taken monthly in three subsystems (North, transition and South) of Taim’s Hydrologic System (THS), since March to December in 2001. Only five species, two diatoms (Aulacoseira granulata and Synedra acus) and three cyanobacteria (Aphanocapsa delicatissima, Cylindrospermopsis raciborski and Planktolyngbya contorta) were related to water dynamics from 333 phytoplankton species identified to the THS. Diatoms species showed high densities in Mangueira Lake (north zone) during spring, when the highest wind velocity and water level were registered. On the other hand, cyanobacteria species were abundant in Mangueira Lake during calm periods and low water level. In the subsystems North and transition, none spatial phytoplankton patterns were identified as observed in South subsystem. Subsystems North and transition are constituted by small lakes where the wind force is not strong enough to drive hydrodynamics process. Therefore, in Mangueira Lake (South subsystem from THS) the hydrodynamic was the force which drove phytoplankton structure.A resposta do fitoplâncton ao hidroperíodo em um sistema costeiro lagoa-banhado é proposta neste estudo. As amostras foram tomadas mensalmente em três subsistemas (norte, transição e sul) do Sistema Hidrológico do Taim (SHT), de março a dezembro de 2001. Das 333 espécies fitoplanctônicas identificadas para o SHT somente cinco espécies, duas diatomáceas (Aulacoseira granulata e Synedra acus ) e três cianobactérias (Aphanocapsa delicatissima, Cylindrospermopsis raciborski e Planktolyngbya contorta) estiveram relacionadas com a dinâmica da água. Espécies de diatomáceas mostraram elevadas densidades na Lagoa Mangueira (zona norte) durante a primavera, quando os valores mais altos de velocidade do vento e nível d’água foram registrados. Por outro lado, espécies de cianobactérias foram abundantes na Lagoa Mangueira durante períodos calmos e baixo nível d’água. Nos subsistemas norte e de transição um padrão espacial não foi identificado para o fitoplâncton como observado no subsistema sul. Subsistemas norte e de transição são formados por pequenas lagoas onde a força do vento não é forte o suficiente para afetar os processos hidrodinâmicos. Portanto, na Lagoa Mangueira (subsistema sul do SHT) a hidrodinâmica foi a força que regula a estrutura do fitoplâncton

Development and Validation of a PCR-ELISA for the Diagnosis of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Infection by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum

A kDNA PCR enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (kDNA PCR-ELISA) for the diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) was developed. The detection limit of the reaction, precision measurements, and cut-off of the kDNA PCR-ELISA were defined in a proof-of-concept phase. A reference strain of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and a bank of 14 peripheral blood samples from immunocompetent patients with VL were characterized using techniques considered gold standards, and 11 blood samples obtained from healthy individuals of an endemic area were also assessed. Phase II evaluation determined the performance of the assay in peripheral blood samples from 105 patients with VL (adults and children), 25 patients with Leishmania/HIV coinfection, 40 healthy individuals, and 33 asymptomatic individuals living in endemic areas. The kDNA PCR-ELISA exhibited satisfactory precision, with a detection limit of 0.07 fg of DNA from L. (L.) infantum and 1 parasite/mL blood. The overall sensitivity of the assay for all groups studied was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 97.1–100%), and the specificity was 95% (95% CI: 83.5–98.6%). The kDNA PCR-ELISA was shown to be a useful tool for VL symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals diagnosis and its use in endemic countries may help monitor control interventions

FATORES DE RISCO PARA O CÂNCER DE PRÓSTATA: POPULAÇÃO DE UMA UNIDADE BÁSICA DE SAÚDE

The present investigation aimed to identify prostate cancer risk factors in men assisted in a basic health unit in the state of São Paulo in November 2015. It was a descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study, with a sample of 150 male users that went to the unit for a medical appointment and/or nursing care. The most relevant risk factors were age, level of education, sedentary lifestyle, consumption of alcohol, red meat, milk and fat and a high body mass index. The most used screening test was the prostate-specific antigen exam, followed by a rectal examination. The number of participants that presented at least one prostate cancer risk factor was high and that family history prompted men to seek prevention measures, such as appointments with urologists and screening exams.El estudio apuntó a identificar los factores de riesgo de cáncer de próstata entre hombres atendidos durante noviembre de 2015 en un Centro de Salud del Estado de São Paulo. Estudio descriptivo, transversal, de abordaje cuantitativo. Muestra integrada por 150 usuarios masculinos, que comparecieron en la unidad para realización de consulta y/o acogimiento de enfermería. Los factores de riesgo de mayor relevancia resultaron: edad, nivel de escolarización, sedentarismo, abuso de bebidas alcohólicas, ingesta de carnes rojas, leche y grasas, e Índice de Masa Corporal elevado. El examen de rastreo más realizado fue el de Antígeno Prostático Específico, seguido del tacto rectal. El número de participantes que presentó factores de riesgo de cáncer de próstata fue elevado. Se observó que la historia familiar de la enfermedad motiva a los hombres a buscar medidas preventivas, realizando consultas con el urólogo y análisis de rastreo.O estudo objetivou identificar os fatores de risco para o câncer de próstata entre homens atendidos durante o mês de novembro de 2015, em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde do estado de São Paulo. Estudo descritivo, transversal e de abordagem quantitativa, composta por 150 usuários homens que compareceram na unidade para realização de consulta e/ou acolhimento de enfermagem. Os fatores de risco com maior relevância foram idade, nível de escolaridade, sedentarismo, uso de bebida alcoólica, ingestão de carne vermelha, leite e gorduras e Índice de Massa Corporal aumentado. O exame de rastreio mais realizado foi o Antígeno Prostático Específico, seguido do toque retal. O número de participantes que apresentou algum fator de risco para o câncer de próstata foi elevado, observou-se que a história familiar da doença motiva os homens a procurarem por medidas de prevenção, com a realização de consulta com o urologista e exames de rastreio