ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and non-vascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest

Epiphytes are hyper-diverse and one of the frequently undervalued life forms in plant surveys and biodiversity inventories. Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, have high endemism and radiated recently in the Pliocene. We aimed to (1) compile an extensive Atlantic Forest data set on vascular, non-vascular plants (including hemiepiphytes), and lichen epiphyte species occurrence and abundance; (2) describe the epiphyte distribution in the Atlantic Forest, in order to indicate future sampling efforts. Our work presents the first epiphyte data set with information on abundance and occurrence of epiphyte phorophyte species. All data compiled here come from three main sources provided by the authors: published sources (comprising peer-reviewed articles, books, and theses), unpublished data, and herbarium data. We compiled a data set composed of 2,095 species, from 89,270 holo/hemiepiphyte records, in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, recorded from 1824 to early 2018. Most of the records were from qualitative data (occurrence only, 88%), well distributed throughout the Atlantic Forest. For quantitative records, the most common sampling method was individual trees (71%), followed by plot sampling (19%), and transect sampling (10%). Angiosperms (81%) were the most frequently registered group, and Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae were the families with the greatest number of records (27,272 and 21,945, respectively). Ferns and Lycophytes presented fewer records than Angiosperms, and Polypodiaceae were the most recorded family, and more concentrated in the Southern and Southeastern regions. Data on non-vascular plants and lichens were scarce, with a few disjunct records concentrated in the Northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest. For all non-vascular plant records, Lejeuneaceae, a family of liverworts, was the most recorded family. We hope that our effort to organize scattered epiphyte data help advance the knowledge of epiphyte ecology, as well as our understanding of macroecological and biogeographical patterns in the Atlantic Forest. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Ecology Data Paper if the data are used in publication and teaching events. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ

Estudo randomizado de correção cirúrgica de fibrilação atrial permanente: resultados parciais Randomized study of surgical correction of permanent atrial fibrillation: preliminary results

OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados de dois modos de tratar a fibrilação atrial (FA): com cirurgia do Labirinto e com Isolamento de Veias Pulmonares (IVP), comparando com grupo controle, para estabelecer o melhor tratamento aos portadores desta arritmia. MÉTODO:Todos os pacientes tinham indicação cirúrgica por outra lesão cardíaca, concomitantemente tratada. Foram randomizados 51 pacientes no período de julho de 1999 a setembro de 2003. Em nenhum paciente foi utilizada crioablação. Analisamos inicialmente as seguintes variáveis: tempo de circulação extracorpórea (CEC), pinçamento aórtico (ISQ), taxa de reversão a ritmo sinusal na alta hospitalar, e complicações do trans e pós-operatório imediato. RESULTADOS: Houve dois óbitos intra-hospitalares, um no grupo Labirinto e um no grupo IVP. O grupo Labirinto apresentou o maior tempo de CEC (p<0,001). Seguimento médio de 28,4±14,1 meses, sem diferença entre os grupos. O grupo IVP teve a maior taxa de sucesso com 84,2% de reversão a ritmo sinusal na alta e 88,9% após seguimento. No grupo Labirinto, 78,5% de ritmo sinusal à alta, e após seguimento, 84,6%. No grupo controle, 87,5% dos pacientes tiveram alta em FA, e após seguimento 56,3% seguem assim. A classe funcional pela NYHA não foi diferente entre os grupos após o seguimento (p=0,56), e os pacientes do grupo controle apresentaram mais complicações (p=0,017). CONCLUSÃO: Estes resultados mostram que qualquer das técnicas empregadas para correção de FA, Labirinto ou IVP, apresenta vantagens sobre a operação tradicional de simples correção de cardiopatias quando associadas à FA.<br>OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of techniques in the treatment of atrial fibrillation: the Maze procedure and Isolation of Pulmonary Veins were compared together with Control group, to establish the best treatment for this arrhythmia. METHOD: All patients were referred for surgery due for other cardiac lesions, which were treated concurrently. From July 1999 to September 2003, fifty-one patients where randomly allocated to the different groups. No cryoablation or other source of energy was used. The following variables were initially analyzed: total bypass time, aortic clamping time, sinus rhythm at discharge, and trans-operative and immediate post-operative complications. RESULTS: There were two intra-hospitalar deaths, one in the Maze group and one in the Isolation of Pulmonary Veins group. The Maze group had the longest bypass time (p<0,001). The duration of follow-up of 28.4 ±14 months was similar between the groups. The Isolation of Pulmonary Veins achieved the best results concerning reversion to sinus rhythm with 84.2% at hospital discharge and 88.9% after follow-up. In the Maze group, 78.5% of sinus rhythm was seen detected at discharge and 84.6% at the end of follow-up. In the Control group 87.5% of the patients have atrial fibrillation at discharge and after follow-up atrial fibrillation remained at 56.3% of the patients. There was no difference in the NYHA class between the groups after follow-up (p=0.56) and Control group patients had more complications (p=0.017). CONCLUSION: These results show that both techniques, the Maze and Isolation of Pulmonary Veins, have advantages over simple correction of cardiac lesions when associated to atrial fibrillation

Isolamento das veias pulmonares em pacientes com fibrilação atrial permanente secundária a valvopatia mitral Isolation of the pulmonary veins in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation secondary to mitral valve disease

OBJETIVO: Analisar a eficácia do isolamento cirúrgico das veias pulmonares para restabelecer ritmo sinusal em pacientes com fibrilação atrial secundária à doença mitral. MÉTODOS: 33 pacientes com indicação de correção cirúrgica da valva mitral e com fibrilação atrial permanente, foram submetidos ao isolamento cirúrgico das veias pulmonares, sendo 67% mulheres. Média de idade de 56,3±10 anos, classe funcional NYHA pré-operatória de 3,2±0,6, tamanho de átrio esquerdo de 5,5± 0,9 cm, fração de ejeção de 61,3±13%. A técnica cirúrgica consistiu de incisão circunferencial ao redor das 4 veias pulmonares, excisão do apêndice atrial esquerdo e de incisão perpendicular desde a borda inferior da incisão, isolando as veias pulmonares, até o ânulo da valva mitral. Arritmias precoces foram tratadas, agressivamente, com cardioversão. RESULTADOS: O seguimento médio foi de 23,9±17 meses e ocorreram 3 óbitos no pós-operatório. Dez pacientes necessitaram de cardioversão elétrica no pós-operatório; 87% apresentavam ritmo sinusal na última consulta e 33% estavam em uso de amiodarona. CONCLUSÃO: Isolamento das veias pulmonares associado à cirurgia da valva mitral é uma técnica efetiva e segura na manutenção de ritmo sinusal em pacientes com fribilação atrial permanente.<br>OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of surgical isolation of the pulmonary veins for re-establishing sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation secondary to mitral valve disease. METHODS: Thirty-three (67% were women) patients with permanent atrial fibrillation and indication for surgical correction of the mitral valve underwent surgical isolation of the pulmonary veins. Their mean age was 56.3±10 years, preoperative NYHA functional class was 3.2±0.6, left atrial size was 5.5±0.9 cm, and ejection fraction was 61.3±13%. The surgical technique consisted of a circumferential incision surrounding the 4 pulmonary veins, excision of the left atrial appendage, and a perpendicular incision originating in the inferior margin of the circumferential incision isolating the pulmonary veins down to the mitral valve. Early arrhythmias were aggressively treated with cardioversion. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 23.9±17 months, and 3 patients died in the postoperative period. Ten patients required electrical cardioversion in the postoperative period; 87% had sinus rhythm in the last medical visit, and 33% were using amiodarone. CONCLUSION: Isolation of the pulmonary veins associated with mitral valve surgery is an effective and safe technique for maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation

Phytochemical and antifungal activity of anthraquinones and root and leaf extracts of Coccoloba mollis on phytopathogens

The aim of this work was to study the phytochemical and antifungal activity of anthraquinones and root and leaf extracts of Coccoloba mollis on phytopathogens. The chemical analysis of ethanolic extracts showed a mixture of long-chain hydrocarbons, carboxyl esters and 3-taraxerone in the leaf extract. Two anthraquinones (emodin and physcion) were isolated and identified from the root extract. Phytochemical screening using the pharmacognostic methods revealed the presence of flavonoids and tannins in the leaves and roots. Anthraquinones were only found in the root extract, no alkaloids, coumarins, saponins and simple phenolics were present. The antifungal activity of C. mollis extracts and anthraquinones isolated from the root of this plant against Botryospheria ribis, B. rhodina, Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Fusarium sp showed promising results for their use as fungicides, where emodin was the most active compound, which inhibited the microorganisms tested up to 44%