Análise comparativa da função pulmonar de ratos usando uma nova técnica de intubação e a traqueostomia

Vários estudos utilizam a intubação orotraqueal ou traqueostomia para coleta de dados na função pulmonar de ratos. Devido à dificuldade de realização da intubação, a traqueostomia é mais comumente utilizada. Conhecendo esta dificuldade, este trabalho demonstra uma nova maneira de realizar a técnica de intubação e compara as variáveis de função pulmonar obtidas por intubação ou traqueostomia. Para a análise de nossa nova técnica de intubação, foram utilizados 30 ratos, e para a análise comparativa dos dados da função pulmonar obtidos pelo uso de nossa técnica de intubação e traqueotomia, 16 ratos foram utilizados, divididos em dois grupos. O grupo T foi submetido a traqueostomia. O grupo de IT foi submetido inicialmente a intubação e, esperada sua recuperação, uma semana depois foi novamente submetido a intubação, que foi então chamado de grupo IT-1W. Nossa técnica de intubação é realizada com a ajuda de uma cunha, cama inclinada e transiluminação percutânea. Nenhum animal morreu durante o procedimento de intubação, e cerca de 77% dos animais foram intubados na primeira tentativa. Não foram obtidas diferenças estatisticamente significativas nas variáveis de função pulmonar entre os grupos. Nossa técnica de intubação é facilmente aprendida e reproduzida. As implicações de tal técnica podem ser generalizadas para todos os laboratórios que lidam com a intubação de ratos.Several studies use intubation or tracheostomy for data collection in lung function of rats. Due to the difficulty of performing intubation, tracheostomy is most commonly used. Knowing this difficulty, this paper demonstrates a new way to perform the intubation technique and compares pulmonary function variables obtained using intubation or tracheostomy. For the analysis of our new technique of intubation, 30 rats were used, and the comparative analysis of lung function data obtained through the use of our technique of intubation and tracheostomy, 16 rats were used, divided into two groups. The T group underwent tracheostomy. The IT group underwent initial intubation and, awaiting recovery, a week later was again subjected to intubation group, which was then called IT-1W. Our intubation technique is performed with the aid of a wedge, inclined bed and percutaneous transillumination. No animals died during the intubation procedure, and about 77% of the animals were intubated at the first attempt. We did not obtain statistically significant differences in the pulmonary function variables between the groups. Our intubation technique is easily learned and reproduced. The implications of such a technique can be generalized to all laboratories dealing with intubation of rats.

Mast cell quantification in the skin of dogs with hormonal dermatosis

The mast cells are important in physiological and pathological skin events. They play an important role in the homeostatic regulatory mechanisms in the skin and thyroid gland. Mast cells present a barrier to difference external environmental stimuli and play a mediating role in the presence of infectious agents under the epidermis. This study aimed to quantify the number of mast cells in histological sections of the skin of healthy dogs and dogs with hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism and to determine the distribution of mast cell numbers in the superficial dermis and deep dermis.  When we compared the total mast cell count per high power field in dogs with hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism and healthy dogs, only dogs with hypothyroidism had a significant difference in the quantification of mast cells per high power field, (p < 0.05). After analyzing our results, it was possible to conclude that animals with hypothyroidism produce greater amount of mast cells in the superficial dermis than patients with hyperadrenocorticism and healthy animals

Análisis de la función pulmonar y estructura micromecanica después de 14 días de restricción en el movimiento en ratas

Immobilization is a condition that affects several segments and organic systems, including the respiratory system, leading to structural and functional alterations. The purpose of this study was to analyze pulmonary function and micromechanical structure after 14 days of movement restriction in rats. Fourteen female Wistar rats with body mass between 210±50 g were used, divided into two groups, composed of (n=7) each group: Control (C) and Immobilized (I). The immobilization procedure involved the abdomen (and last ribs), pelvis, hip and knee extension and the ankle in plantar flexion in the two week period. After the immobilization period, an analysis of the pulmonary function was performed using a mechanical ventilator for small animals, flexVent, and alveolar recruitment maneuvers. Subsequently, lung strips were removed from each animal for pulmonary micromechanics analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using the unpaired t test with pLa inmobilización es una condición que compromete diversos segmentos y sistemas orgánicos incluso el sistema respiratorio, llevando a alteraciones estructurales y funcionales. El objectivo de este estudio fue analizar la función pulmonar y estructura micromecánica después de 14 días de restricción en el movimiento de ratas. Fueron utilizados catorce ratas Wistar con masa corporal entre 210 g±50 g, distribuidas en dos grupos, compuestos por (n=7) cada grupo: Control (C) y Inmobilizado (I). El procedimiento de inmobilización envolvió el abdomen (y últimas costillas), la pelvis, la cadera y la rodilla en extensión y el tobillo en flexión plantar el periodo de dos semanas. Después del periodo de inmobilización fue realizado el análisis de la función pulmonar por medio del ventilador mecánico para pequeños animales flexVent y manobras de recrutamiento alveolar (MR). Posteriormente, fueron retirados pedazos del pulmón de cada animal para análisis de la micromecánica pulmonar. Para el análisis estadística se utilizó la prueba t no pareada con significación estadística (pA imobilização é uma condição que compromete diversos segmentos e sistemas orgânicos, inclusive o sistema respiratório, levando a alterações estruturais e funcionais. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a função pulmonar e estrutura micromecânica após 14 dias de restrição de movimento de ratas. Foram utilizados catorze ratas Wistar com massa corporal entre 210 g±50 g, distribuídas em dois grupos, compostos por (n=7) cada grupo: Controle (C) e Imobilizado (I). O procedimento de imobilização envolveu abdômen (e últimas costelas), pelve, quadril e joelho em extensão, além de tornozelo em flexão plantar, por duas semanas. Após esse período de imobilização, foi realizada a análise da função pulmonar por ventilador mecânico para pequenos animais (flexiVent) e manobras de recrutamento alveolar (MR). E, posteriormente, foram retiradas tiras do pulmão de cada animal para analisar a micromecânica pulmonar. Para a análise estatística, utilizou-se o teste t não pareado com significância estatística (

DISPENSAÇÃO DE INSULINAS EM UMA UNIDADE DO SISTEMA ÚNICO DE SAÚDE EM UM MUNICÍPIO BRASILEIRO NO SUL DE MINAS GERAIS

Diabetes mellitus (DM) é um grupo heterogêneo de distúrbios endócrino-metabólicos que tem como característica comum o acúmulo de glicose pelo organismo sendo caracterizado pela diminuição gradativa do hormônio insulina. Este é um estudo observacional, descritivo/quantitativo e transversal no qual foi avaliado a dispensação de diferentes tipos de insulina, entre Janeiro e Dezembro de 2015, em um Centro de Distribuição de Medicamentos (CDM) do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), em Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brasil. As insulinas foram dispensadas para pacientes com diferentes tipos de DM (DM tipo 1, DM tipo 2, outros tipos específicos de DM ou DM gestacional), tendo ocorrido uma maior dispensação para pacientes do sexo feminino. A insulina mais dispensada foi a NPH (3948 dispensações, 65,6% do total), devido a sua ação intermediária, seguida das associações (misturas): NPH e Lispro (801 dispensações, 13,3%); NPH e Regular (580 dispensações, 9,6%), sendo que as insulinas Lispro e Regular possuem ação rápida e curta, respectivamente, e estas misturas são utilizadas antes das refeições. Houve 332 dispensações de Lispro e 321 de Glargina (uma insulina de ação longa). A insulina NPH foi mais utilizada por pacientes da faixa etária acima dos 61 anos (2057 dispensações, 34,2% do total), devido principalmente ao seu custo benefício e posologia. Portanto, atualmente é elevado o número de pacientes que utilizam diversos tipos de insulinas (inclusive as associações) disponibilizadas por uma CDM. Estas dispensações levam em conta os fatores farmacocinéticos de cada insulina, com propósitos de evitar picos de hipoglicemia durante o dia, facilitar a aderência do paciente ao tratamento e consequentemente aumentar a efetividade terapêutica, com a utilização da insulina que seja mais adequada aos hábitos cotidianos e perfil de DM de cada paciente.

The number of tree species on Earth

One of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth. However, due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties connected to the species concept definition, the global numbers of species, including those of important and well-studied life forms such as trees, still remain largely unknown. Here, based on global groundsourced data, we estimate the total tree species richness at global, continental, and biome levels. Our results indicate that there are 73,000 tree species globally, among which ∼9,000 tree species are yet to be discovered. Roughly 40% of undiscovered tree species are in South America. Moreover, almost one-third of all tree species to be discovered may be rare, with very low populations and limited spatial distribution (likely in remote tropical lowlands and mountains). These findings highlight the vulnerability of global forest biodiversity to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate, which disproportionately threaten rare species and thus, global tree richness

The number of tree species on Earth.

One of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth. However, due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties connected to the species concept definition, the global numbers of species, including those of important and well-studied life forms such as trees, still remain largely unknown. Here, based on global ground-sourced data, we estimate the total tree species richness at global, continental, and biome levels. Our results indicate that there are ∼73,000 tree species globally, among which ∼9,000 tree species are yet to be discovered. Roughly 40% of undiscovered tree species are in South America. Moreover, almost one-third of all tree species to be discovered may be rare, with very low populations and limited spatial distribution (likely in remote tropical lowlands and mountains). These findings highlight the vulnerability of global forest biodiversity to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate, which disproportionately threaten rare species and thus, global tree richness

The number of tree species on Earth.

One of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth. However, due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties connected to the species concept definition, the global numbers of species, including those of important and well-studied life forms such as trees, still remain largely unknown. Here, based on global ground-sourced data, we estimate the total tree species richness at global, continental, and biome levels. Our results indicate that there are ∼73,000 tree species globally, among which ∼9,000 tree species are yet to be discovered. Roughly 40% of undiscovered tree species are in South America. Moreover, almost one-third of all tree species to be discovered may be rare, with very low populations and limited spatial distribution (likely in remote tropical lowlands and mountains). These findings highlight the vulnerability of global forest biodiversity to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate, which disproportionately threaten rare species and thus, global tree richness

Evenness mediates the global relationship between forest productivity and richness

1. Biodiversity is an important component of natural ecosystems, with higher species richness often correlating with an increase in ecosystem productivity. Yet, this relationship varies substantially across environments, typically becoming less pronounced at high levels of species richness. However, species richness alone cannot reflect all important properties of a community, including community evenness, which may mediate the relationship between biodiversity and productivity. If the evenness of a community correlates negatively with richness across forests globally, then a greater number of species may not always increase overall diversity and productivity of the system. Theoretical work and local empirical studies have shown that the effect of evenness on ecosystem functioning may be especially strong at high richness levels, yet the consistency of this remains untested at a global scale. 2. Here, we used a dataset of forests from across the globe, which includes composition, biomass accumulation and net primary productivity, to explore whether productivity correlates with community evenness and richness in a way that evenness appears to buffer the effect of richness. Specifically, we evaluated whether low levels of evenness in speciose communities correlate with the attenuation of the richness–productivity relationship. 3. We found that tree species richness and evenness are negatively correlated across forests globally, with highly speciose forests typically comprising a few dominant and many rare species. Furthermore, we found that the correlation between diversity and productivity changes with evenness: at low richness, uneven communities are more productive, while at high richness, even communities are more productive. 4. Synthesis. Collectively, these results demonstrate that evenness is an integral component of the relationship between biodiversity and productivity, and that the attenuating effect of richness on forest productivity might be partly explained by low evenness in speciose communities. Productivity generally increases with species richness, until reduced evenness limits the overall increases in community diversity. Our research suggests that evenness is a fundamental component of biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships, and is of critical importance for guiding conservation and sustainable ecosystem management decisions

Native diversity buffers against severity of non-native tree invasions

Determining the drivers of non-native plant invasions is critical for managing native ecosystems and limiting the spread of invasive species$^{1,2}$. Tree invasions in particular have been relatively overlooked, even though they have the potential to transform ecosystems and economies$^{3,4}$. Here, leveraging global tree databases$^{5,6,7}$, we explore how the phylogenetic and functional diversity of native tree communities, human pressure and the environment influence the establishment of non-native tree species and the subsequent invasion severity. We find that anthropogenic factors are key to predicting whether a location is invaded, but that invasion severity is underpinned by native diversity, with higher diversity predicting lower invasion severity. Temperature and precipitation emerge as strong predictors of invasion strategy, with non-native species invading successfully when they are similar to the native community in cold or dry extremes. Yet, despite the influence of these ecological forces in determining invasion strategy, we find evidence that these patterns can be obscured by human activity, with lower ecological signal in areas with higher proximity to shipping ports. Our global perspective of non-native tree invasion highlights that human drivers influence non-native tree presence, and that native phylogenetic and functional diversity have a critical role in the establishment and spread of subsequent invasions