Contribution to the pharmacobotanical study of Echinodorus macrophyllus (Kunth) Micheli (chapéu-de-couro) – Alismataceae

Echinodorus macrophyllus (Kunth) Micheli – Alismataceae, known as "chapéu-de-couro", "chá-mineiro", "erva-de-pântano", "erva-de-bugre", "congonha-do-brejo", "erva-do-brejo", occurs in Minas Gerais and São Paulo. Although it has therapeutic and commercial importance and is described in the two first editions of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (1924, 1959), there are few studies that contemplate it. This present work had the objective to study the leaf and petiole morpho-anatomy of A. macrophyllus, in order to extend its pharmacognosy knowledge, aiming at the quality control. The macroscopic description was carried through disarmed sight, with optical resources and the dimensions with a caliper. The anatomical c haracteristics had been determined, after the harvest, in the fragments of leaves and fixed petioles, freehand sectioned and stained either in glycerin, astra-blue or fuchsine. The morpho-anatomical study of the leaf and petiole of A. macrophyllust contributed to extend and deepen the information contained in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (1924, 1959). The designated structural characteristics assist in the identification of the species and supply parameters that could be applied in the pharmacognosy quality control in the future. And, the presence of non-glandular trichomes in the midribs (adaxial and abaxial surface) and the petiole exhibits diaphragm (specialized cells), key structures in the diagnosis of the species, that are not described in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (1924, 1959), were inserted in the context of the anatomical description.A Echinodorus macrophyllus (Kunth) Micheli - Alismataceae, conhecida como chapéu-de-couro, chá-mineiro, erva-de-pantâno, erva-de-bugre, congonha-do-brejo e erva-do-brejo, ocorre em Minas Gerais e São Paulo. Embora tenha importância terapêutica, comercial e estar inscrita nas duas primeiras edições da Farmacopéia Brasileira (1924, 1959), são poucos os estudos que a contemplam. Este presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a morfoanatomia foliar e do pecíolo da E. macrophyllus, a fim de ampliar o seu conhecimento farmacognóstico, visando o controle de qualidade. A descrição macroscópica foi realizada à vista desarmada, com recursos óticos e as dimensões, com paquímetro. As características anatômicas foram determinadas, após a colheita, nos fragmentos de folhas e pecíolos fixos, seccionados à mão livre e fixados em glicerina, azul-de-astra ou fucsina. O estudo morfo-anatômico da folha e do pecíolo da E. macrophyllus contribuiu para ampliar e aprofundar as informações contidas nas Farmacopéias Brasileiras (1924, 1959). As características estruturais assinaladas auxiliam na identificação da espécie e fornece parâmetros que poderão ser aplicados futuramente no controle de qualidade farmacognóstico. E, inseriu no contexto da descrição anatômica, a presença de pêlos tectores e de células diafragmáticas, estruturas chaves no diagnóstico da espécie, não descritas pelas Farmacopéias Brasileiras (1929, 1959)

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors

Dapagliflozin and Kidney Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 Infection:An Analysis of the DARE-19 Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and objectives: Patients who were hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection are at high risk of AKI and KRT, especially in the presence of CKD. The Dapagliflozin in Respiratory Failure in Patients with COVID-19 (DARE-19) trial showed that in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, treatment with dapagliflozin versus placebo resulted in numerically fewer participants who experienced organ failure or death, although these differences were not statistically significant. We performed a secondary analysis of the DARE-19 trial to determine the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin on kidney outcomes in the overall population and in prespecified subgroups of participants defined by baseline eGFR. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: The DARE-19 trial randomized 1250 patients who were hospitalized (231 [18%] had eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2) with COVID-19 and cardiometabolic risk factors to dapagliflozin or placebo. Dual primary outcomes (time to new or worsened organ dysfunction or death, and a hierarchical composite end point of recovery [change in clinical status by day 30]), and the key secondary kidney outcome (composite of AKI, KRT, or death), and safety were assessed in participants with baseline eGFR <60 and ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Results: The effect of dapagliflozin versus placebo on the primary prevention outcome (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 1.10), primary recovery outcome (win ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.97 to 1.22), and the composite kidney outcome (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.50 to 1.07) were consistent across eGFR subgroups (P for interaction: 0.98, 0.67, and 0.44, respectively). The effects of dapagliflozin on AKI were also similar in participants with eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.29 to 1.77) and ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.37 to 1.29). Dapagliflozin was well tolerated in participants with eGFR <60 and ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Conclusions: The effects of dapagliflozin on primary and secondary outcomes in hospitalized participants with COVID-19 were consistent in those with eGFR below/above 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Dapagliflozin was well tolerated and did not increase the risk of AKI in participants with eGFR below or above 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2

Records of Mantodea (Insecta) collected with light trap at 45 meters height over an Amazon forest canopy, at ZF-2 nucleus, Manaus, Brazil

Insect collections were carried out monthly from January to December of 2004, during three nights of lunar transition third quarter moon/new moon from 18 p.m. to 6 a.m. They were collected over a vertical white sheet illuminated by a 250 watts mixed light and a 20 watts black light (BL) and black light bulb (BLB) lamps. The light trap was mounted at 45 meters height in a metallic tower of 50 meters height, in a "platô de terra firme", in the Cueiras River basin, in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. It was collected 23 species of Mantodea: Chaeteessidae (1 species); Mantoididae (2); Mantidae (15); Thespidae (2) and Acanthopidae (3). Six new species were registered and they will be described opportunely in the following genera: Cardioptera Burmeister, 1838; Phyllovates Kirby, 1904; Pseudovates Saussure, 1869; Stagmomantis Saussure, 1869; Stagmatoptera Burmeister, 1838 and Metilia Stal, 1877. Three species previously recorded to an indetermined Brazilian region are being recorded to Brazilian Amazon: Heterovates pardalina Saussure, 1872; Macromantis ovalifolia (Stoll, 1813) and Photina reticulata (Burmeister, 1838). Four records are new for the Amazonas state: Angela guianensis Rehn, 1906; Photina gracillis Giglio-Tos, 1915; Raptrix perspicua (Fabricius, 1787) and Vates festae Gigio-Tos, 1914. The specimens number collected monthly are presented for each species.Foram realizadas coletas mensais de insetos de janeiro a dezembro de 2004, durante três noites de transição lunar minguante/nova, das 18:00 às 06:00 horas. Os espécimes foram capturados em um lençol iluminado com lâmpada de 250 watts, luz mista de vapor de mercúrio e lâmpada de 20 watts black light (BL) e black light bulb (BLB). A armadilha foi montada a 45 metros de altura numa torre metálica de 50 metros, que ultrapassa a maioria das copas das árvores, num platô de terra firme, na bacia do rio Cuieiras, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil. Foram coletados 23 espécies de Mantodea, sendo Chaeteessidae (1 espécie); Mantoididae (2); Mantidae (15); Thespidae (2) e Acanthopidae (3). Seis espécies são novas e serão descritas oportunamente nos seguintes gênerosCardioptera Burmeister, 1838, Phyllovates Kirby, 1904, Pseudovates Saussure, 1869, Stagmomantis Saussure, 1869, Stagmatoptera Burmeister, 1838 e Metilia Stal, 1877. Três espécies registradas para o Brasil sem uma região determinada estão sendo registradas para a Amazônia brasileiraHeterovates pardalina Saussure, 1872, Macromantis ovalifolia (Stoll, 1813) e Photina reticulata (Burmeister, 1838). Quatro registros são novos para o estado do AmazonasAngela guianensis Rehn, 1906, Photina gracillis Giglio-Tos, 1915, Raptrix perspicua (Fabricius, 1787) e Vates festae Gigio-Tos, 1914. Os números de indivíduos, em cada coleta mensal, são apresentados para cada espécie