Cognition, culture and utility:Plant classification by Paraguayan immigrant farmers in Misiones, Argentina

Background: This study was conducted in three rural communities of small farmers of Paraguayan origin living in the province of Misiones, Argentina. These Criollos (Mestizos) hail chiefly from departments located in the east of Paraguay, where the climate and flora have similar characteristics as those in Misiones. These ecological features contribute to the continuation and maintenance of knowledge and practices related to the use of plants. Methods: Fieldwork was conducted between September 2014 and August 2015. Forty five informants from three rural localities situated along the Parana River participated in an ethno-classification task. For the classification event, photographs of 30 medicinal and edible plants were chosen, specifically those yielding the highest frequency of mention among the members of that community (based on data obtained in the first stage of research in 2014). Variation in local plant classifications was examined and compared using principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Results: We found that people classify plants according to application or use (primarily medicinal, to a lesser extent as edible). Morphology is rarely taken into account, even for very similar and closely-related species such as varieties of palms. In light of our findings, we highlight a dominant functionality model at work in the process of plant cognition and classification among farmers of Paraguayan origin. Salient cultural beliefs and practices associated with rural Paraguayan plant-based medicine are described. Additionally, the manner by which residents’ concepts of plants articulate with local folk epistemology is discussed. Conclusions: Culturally constructed use patterns ultimately override morphological variables in rural Paraguayans’ ethnobotanical classification.Antecedentes: Este trabajo se realizó con pequeños agricultores de origen paraguayo, que habitan en la provincia de Misiones, Argentina. Los criollos (mestizos) en su mayoría provienen de departamentos ubicados al oriente del Paraguay, donde el clima y la flora presentan características similares a la provincia de Misiones. Estas características ecológicas contribuyen a la continuación y el mantenimiento de los conocimientos y las prácticas relacionados al uso de las plantas. Métodos El trabajo de campo se realizó entre septiembre de 2014 y agosto de 2015. En la etnoclasificación participaron 45 informantes, provenientes de tres localidades rurales, situadas a lo largo del río Paraná, frontera entre los dos países. Para la clasificación se utilizaron imágenes fotográficas de 30 especies -comestibles y medicinales- preseleccionadas como las de mayor frecuencia de mención entre los habitantes de la región (a partir de los datos obtenidos en una primera etapa de investigación en el año 2014). Por medio del análisis de componentes principales y el análisis de agrupamiento (cluster) se contrastaron y compararon las variaciones en las etnoclasificaciones locales de plantas. Resultados Se encontró que los pobladores clasifican sus plantas según su aplicación y uso (mayormente asociadas a la categoría medicinal y en menor medida a la comestible). Mientras, la morfología rara vez se tiene en cuenta, incluso en aquellas especies muy similares y estrechamente relacionadas como las palmeras. A la luz de los hallazgos, se destaca un modelo de funcionalidad dominante en el proceso de cognición y de clasificación de las plantas entre los agricultores de origen paraguayo. Se describen las principales creencias y prácticas culturales asociadas a la medicina rural paraguaya. Adicionalmente, se discuten algunos de los conceptos de las plantas que mantienen los paraguayos y su articulación con la epistemología local. Conclusiones En la clasificación etnobotánica de los pobladores de origen paraguayo los patrones de uso construidos culturalmente tienen mayor peso que las variables morfológicas.Fil: Kujawska, Monika. University Of Lodz; ArgentinaFil: Jiménez Escobar, Néstor David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Antropología de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades. Instituto de Antropología de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Nolan, Justin M.. University Of Arkansas; Estados UnidosFil: Arias Mutis, Daniel. University of Groningen; Países Bajo

Efecto de la disciplina deportiva sobre valores hematológicos en hombres deportistas

Se establecieron los volúmenes sanguíneos y la masa de Hb (método de retoma de CO) y el consumo de oxígeno máximo (VO2max) en 15 individuos sedentarios de Bogotá (UT-Bog), 17 deportistas de diferentes disciplinas residentes en Bogotá (TR-Bog), divididos por deporte (marcha, cinco; patinaje, siete; triatlón, cinco) y cuatro deportistas provenientes de Sao Paulo (Brasil), que permanecieron ocho semanas en Bogotá, Colombia y a los que se les efectuaron dos medidas, a las dos (Brasil 1) y a las siete (Brasil 2) semana. Hubo diferencia significativa en el VO2max entre TR-Bog (65,4 +/- 7,9), Brasil 1 y 2 (56,2 +/- 1,7, y 55,8 +/- 2,8,

Development and characterization of an experimental model of diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rabbit

<div><p>Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become one of the main concerns for public health because of its link to cardiovascular disease. Murine models have been used to study the effect of MetS on the cardiovascular system, but they have limitations for studying cardiac electrophysiology. In contrast, the rabbit cardiac electrophysiology is similar to human, but a detailed characterization of the different components of MetS in this animal is still needed. Our objective was to develop and characterize a diet-induced experimental model of MetS that allows the study of cardiovascular remodeling and arrhythmogenesis. Male NZW rabbits were assigned to control (n = 15) or MetS group (n = 16), fed during 28 weeks with high-fat, high-sucrose diet. We measured weight, morphological characteristics, blood pressure, glycaemia, standard plasma biochemistry and the metabolomic profile at weeks 14 and 28. Liver histological changes were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin staining. A mixed model ANOVA or unpaired t-test were used for statistical analysis (P<0.05). Weight, abdominal contour, body mass index, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure increased in the MetS group at weeks 14 and 28. Glucose, triglycerides, LDL, GOT-AST, GOT/GPT, bilirubin and bile acid increased, whereas HDL decreased in the MetS group at weeks 14 and 28. We found a 40% increase in hepatocyte area and lipid vacuoles infiltration in the liver from MetS rabbits. Metabolomic analysis revealed differences in metabolites related to fatty acids, energetic metabolism and microbiota, compounds linked with cardiovascular disease. Administration of high-fat and high-sucrose diet during 28 weeks induced obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertension, non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis and metabolic alterations, thus reproducing the main clinical manifestations of the metabolic syndrome in humans. This experimental model should provide a valuable tool for studies into the mechanisms of cardiovascular problems related to MetS, with special relevance in the study of cardiovascular remodeling, arrhythmias and SCD.</p></div

Modifications in blood pressure.

<p>Panels (A) and (B) show systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements at week 14 and 28 in both experimental groups. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is presented in panel (C). Control (n = 10), MetS (n = 11), *p<0.05 <i>vs</i>. control, error bars display SEM.</p

Blood glucose regulation.

<p>Blood glucose measurements were taken after fasting before diet and at 14 and 28 weeks of high-fat, high-sucrose administration (A). The results of the IVGTT at weeks 14 and 28 are shown in panel (C) and the quantification of the area under the curve (AUC) is depicted in panel (B). Control (n = 12), MetS (n = 13), *p<0.05 <i>vs</i>. control, ^$p<0.05 vs basal, error bars display SEM.</p

Lipid profile.

<p>Plasma measurements of total cholesterol (A), HDL (B), LDL (C) and tryglicerides (D) at weeks 14 and 28. Control (n = 11), MetS (n = 13), *p<0.05 <i>vs</i>. control, error bars display SEM.</p

Modifications of metabolites as shown by metabolomic analysis.

<p>Modifications of metabolites as shown by metabolomic analysis.</p

Energy intake in the experimental groups.

<p>Panel (A) illustrates the evolution of weekly intake during the 28 weeks of the experimental period. In panel (B), mean caloric intake is displayed. The relative intake in percentage of kcal from high-fat chow and the drinking solution can be observed in panel (C). Control (n = 6), MetS (n = 8), *p<0.05 <i>vs</i>. control, error bars display SEM.</p

Liver damage markers at week 14 and 28.

<p>Plasma measurements of transaminases (GOT-AST, GPT-ALT and GOT/GPT ratio) are depicted in panels (A-C). Other liver function markers such as gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), bile acid and bilirubin are shown in panels (D-F). Control (n = 11), MetS (n = 13), *p<0.05 <i>vs</i>. control, error bars display SEM.</p

Morphological characteristics.

<p>Morphological characteristics.</p