Plant litter dynamics in the forest-stream interface: Precipitation is a major control across tropical biomes

Riparian plant litter is a major energy source for forested streams across the world and its decomposition has repercussions on nutrient cycling, food webs and ecosystem functioning. However, we know little about plant litter dynamics in tropical streams, even though the tropics occupy 40% of the Earth's land surface. Here we investigated spatial and temporal (along a year cycle) patterns of litter inputs and storage in multiple streams of three tropical biomes in Brazil (Atlantic forest, Amazon forest and Cerrado savanna), predicting major differences among biomes in relation to temperature and precipitation regimes. Precipitation explained most of litter inputs and storage, which were generally higher in more humid biomes (litterfall: 384, 422 and 308 g m-2 y-1, storage: 55, 113 and 38 g m-2, on average in Atlantic forest, Amazon and Cerrado, respectively). Temporal dynamics varied across biomes in relation to precipitation and temperature, with uniform litter inputs but seasonal storage in Atlantic forest streams, seasonal inputs in Amazon and Cerrado streams, and aseasonal storage in Amazon streams. Our findings suggest that litter dynamics vary greatly within the tropics, but point to the major role of precipitation, which contrasts with the main influence of temperature in temperate areas. © 2017 The Author(s)

Frequência e fatores de risco associados à doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica em pacientes com diabetes melito tipo 2

Submitted by Kamylla Nascimento ([email protected]) on 2018-08-14T11:44:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Frequency and risk factors.pdf: 154489 bytes, checksum: 36f0be6855bed22cf753f4b1b186cb1e (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Kamylla Nascimento ([email protected]) on 2018-08-14T11:58:41Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Frequency and risk factors.pdf: 154489 bytes, checksum: 36f0be6855bed22cf753f4b1b186cb1e (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T11:58:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Frequency and risk factors.pdf: 154489 bytes, checksum: 36f0be6855bed22cf753f4b1b186cb1e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). Departamento de Medicina Clínica. Recife, PE, Brazil.Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). Departamento de Medicina Clínica. Recife, PE, Brazil.Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). Departamento de Medicina Clínica. Recife, PE, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Aggeu Magalhães. Recife, PE, Brasil.Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). Laboratório Central do Hospital das Clínicas (HC). Recife, PE, Brazil.Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). Departamento de Medicina Clínica. Recife, PE, Brazil.Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). Departamento de Medicina Clínica. Recife, PE, Brazil.Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). Departamento de Medicina Clínica. Recife, PE, Brazil.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a frequência de doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica (DHGNA) em pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) e descrever seus fatores de risco. SUJEITOS E MÉTODOS: Amostras de sangue foram coletadas de 78 pacientes para avaliação dos perfis glicídico e lipídico, enzimas hepáticas, TNF-α e HOMA-IR. O diagnóstico de DHGNA foi estabelecido por ultrassonografia. RESULTADOS: NAFLD foi observada em 42% dos pacientes que apresentaram maior IMC (p < 0,001). Hipertensão arterial sistêmica (p < 0,001) e síndrome metabólica foram mais frequentes naqueles com DHGNA (p = 0,019). Os níveis de aspartato aminotransferase, alanina aminotransferase, γ-glutamil transpeptidase, ácido úrico, TNF-α, insulina e HOMA-IR foram significativamente maiores nos pacientes com do que naqueles sem DHGNA. CONCLUSÃO: Quase metade dos pacientes com DM2 apresentaram DHGNA, os quais tiveram IMC mais elevado, bem como maiores níveis de aminotransferases, γ-GT, ácido úrico, TNF-α, insulina e HOMA-IR do que os indivíduos sem DHGNA. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2010;54(4):362-8OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and to describe its risk factors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Blood samples of 78 patients were collected for assessment of glycemic and lipid profile, liver enzymes, TNF-α and HOMA-IR. The diagnosis of NAFLD was established by ultrasound. RESULTS: NAFLD was observed in 42% of patients who had greater BMI (p < 0.001), and frequency of hypertension (p < 0.001). Metabolic syndrome was more frequent in those with NAFLD (p = 0.019). The levels of aspartate, alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, uric acid, TNF-α, insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD than those without NAFLD. CONCLUSION: Almost half of patients with DM2 were found to have NAFLD, and they have more elevated BMI, as well as higher levels of aminotransferases, γ-GT, uric acid, TNF-α, insulin and HOMA-IR than subjects without NAFLD. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2010;54(4):362-

Associação de tireopatias em uma população de pacientes com diabetes

OBJETIVO: Avaliar morfológica e funcionalmente a tireóide de pacientes com diabetes mellitus (DM) acompanhados ambulatorialmente no Hospital das Clínicas de Botucatu. MÉTODOS: No período de 1996 a 1998, a todo paciente com DM, exceto os com tireopatia prévia, era solicitada dosagem sérica de T4L, TSH, anti-TPO e TRAb e ultra-sonografia (US) da tireóide. Diagnosticou-se tireopatia quando havia dois ou mais parâmetros séricos ou a US alterados. Procedeu-se igualmente com pacientes ambulatoriais da mesma Instituição, sem DM e não-tireopatas prévios (controle). RESULTADOS: Os 256 pacientes com DM apresentaram maior freqüência de tireopatias que os 75 controles (51,6% vs. 38,7%; P<0,05). Entre os com tireopatias, ambos os grupos não diferiram quanto ao estado funcional da tireóide. Entre os pacientes com DM com e sem tireopatias, os primeiros apresentaram maior freqüência de mulheres, de DM tipo 2 e de história familiar de tireopatia. CONCLUSÕES: A elevada prevalência de tireopatias na população com DM conduz à recomendação de avaliação tireoidiana em todo paciente com DM.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate thyroid function and morphology in all diabetic outpatients from our institution. METHODS: From 1996 to 1998, all diabetic patients were submitted to thyroid ultrasonography (US) and serum measurement of free T4, TSH, TPOAB, and TRAb. The control group, encompassing outpatients of the same hospital without diabetes and thyroid diseases, was submitted to the same evaluation. A patient was shown to have thyroid disorder when two or more measurements were altered, or when the US was abnormal. RESULTS: The diabetic patients (n= 256) differed from controls (n= 75) by presenting a greater frequency of thyroid disorders (51.6% vs. 38.7%; P<0.05). In patients with thyroid disorders, both groups did not differ regarding thyroid function. In diabetic patients with thyroid disorders there was a higher frequency of women, type 2 diabetes, and family history of thyroid disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of thyroid disorders in the diabetic population leads us to recommend thyroid evaluations in all diabetic patients

Relevãncia do padrão de remodelamento ventricular no modelo de infarto do miocárdio em ratos

Background: The relevance of the remodeling pattern in the model of infarcted rats is not known. Objective: To analyze the presence of different patterns of remodeling in this model and its functional implications. Methods: Infarcted rats (n=47) have been divided according to the geometry pattern, analyzed by echocardiogram: normal (normal mass index and normal relative thickness), concentric remodeling (normal mass index and increased relative thickness), concentric hypertrophy (increased mass index and increased relative thickness) and eccentric hypertrophy (increased mass index and normal relative thickness). Data are median and interquartile range. Results: Infarcted rats showed only two of the four geometric patterns: normal pattern (15%) and eccentric hypertrophy - EH (85%). Groups of normal pattern and EH showed no differences in the values of fractional area change (Normal = 32.1-28.8 to 50.7; EH = 31.3-26.5 to 36.7; p = 0.343). Out of the infarcted animals, 34 (74%) had systolic dysfunction, detected by fractional area change. Considering these two geometry patterns, 77% of animals with eccentric hypertrophy and 57% with normal geometry presented systolic dysfunction (p=0.355). The relative wall thickness, the geometric patterns and the body mass index were not predictors of ventricular dysfunction (p>0.05). On the other hand, infarct size was a predictive factor for ventricular dysfunction in univariate analysis (p<0.001) and multivariate analysis (p = 0.004). Conclusion: Rats that underwent coronary occlusion showed two different patterns of remodeling, which do not constitute a predictor of ventricular dysfunction