Biodiversidade nos centros urbanos: levantamento das palmeiras no Parque Antônio Danúbio

The green areas conservation in urban perimeters is an effective way to maintain native plant species, in addition to the important socio-environmental role they play in cities. Parque Antônio Danúbio is a conserved forest fragment in the metropolitan area of Belém, Pará, which presents a great diversity of native flora species, especially palm trees. The present study objective was to carry out a survey of the palm trees in Parque Antônio Danúbio aiming to know the vegetation structure through the distribution and frequency of the registered species. The study was made using a qualitative approach, frequency and structure analyzes (height classes) were also carried out. Nine palm species were identified, being açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), mumbaca (Astrocaryum gynacanthum Mart.) and bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba Mart.) the most frequent. Individuals distribution in the height classes indicated that there is regeneration in the environment. Such results show that Parque Antônio Danúbio presents a representative diversity of native palm trees, and the populations of these species enjoy good conditions for their development.  A conservação de áreas verdes em perímetros urbanos é um caminho eficaz para a manutenção de espécies vegetais nativas, além da importante função socioambiental que elas desempenham nas cidades. O Parque Danúbio constitui um fragmento conservado de floresta na área metropolitana de Belém, Pará, que apresenta grande diversidade de espécies da flora nativa, especialmente de palmeiras. O objetivo do presente estudo foi realizar um levantamento das palmeiras do Parque Antônio Danúbio visando o conhecimento da estrutura vegetacional em relação a distribuição e frequência das espécies encontradas. O levantamento foi realizado utilizando abordagem qualitativa, também foram realizadas análises de frequência e de estrutura (classes de altura). Nove espécies de palmeiras foram identificadas, sendo o açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), mumbaca (Astrocaryum gynacanthum Mart.) e bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba Mart.) as mais frequentes. A distribuição dos indivíduos nas classes de altura indicou que há regeneração no ambiente. Tais resultados mostram que o Parque Antônio Danúbio abriga uma diversidade representativa de palmeiras nativas, e que as populações destas espécies desfrutam de boas condições para o seu desenvolvimento

Harina de mandioca en la feria Ver-o-Peso: Socioeconomia y conocimiento tradicional

A farinha de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) é um alimento de referência histórica e produto de inestimável valor cultural e econômico na região amazônica. O estudo objetivou investigar os tipos de farinha de mandioca comercializados na feira do Ver-o-Peso (Belém, Pará), considerando a historicidade, socioeconomia e suas expressões bioculturais. A coleta de dados incluiu observação não participante, entrevistas semiestruturadas, aplicação da lista livre e consulta à obras especializadas. Na feira do Ver-o-Peso foram identificados três tipos de farinha (d’água, seca e tapioca), 12 variedades de farinha e três subprodutos (crueira, carimã e goma), tendo a Farinha tip. d’água subtipo. comum o valor máximo de importância. Trata-se de uma farinha de forte apelo econômico, sendo a preferida dos vendedores por significar venda garantida e, pelos consumidores, por ser tradicionalmente acompanhamento obrigatório das refeições. Cada tipologia expressou concepções individuais, resultado de um laborioso processo de produção, venda e consumo, que transitam entre o campo econômico e o biocultural.Manioc flour (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a food of historical reference and an invaluable cultural and economic product in the Amazon region. This study aimed to investigate the types of  cassava  flour  marketed  at  the  Ver-o-Peso fair  (Belém, Pará),  evaluating  the  associated  socioeconomic  and  cultural  aspects. The data  collection  included   non-participant   observation,semi-structured interviews, application of the free list and consultation of specialized works. At the Ver -o- Peso fair, three types of flour were identified (water, dry and tapioca), 12 subtypes of flour and three by-products (crueira, carimã and gum), with the. Flour of d’água var. the maximum value of importance.It is a flour that integrates the economic and cultural aspects, being the sellers' favorite because of its expressive market demand, and by consumers because it is traditionally mandatory accompaniment to meals. The typologies expressed individual values, the result of a laborious process of production, sale and consumption that transited between the economic and the cultural field.La harina de yuca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) es un alimento de referencia historica y un producto de inestimable valor cultural y económico en la región amazónica. El objetivo fue investigar los tipos de harina de yuca vendidos en la feria Ver-o-Peso (Belém, Pará), considerando la historicidad, expresión socioeconómica y biocultural. La recolección de datos incluyó observación no participante, entrevistas semiestructuradas, aplicación de la lista libre y consulta de trabajos especializados. En la feria Ver-o-Peso se identificaron tres tipos de harina (agua, seca y tapioca), 12 subtipos de harina y tres subproductos (crueira, carimã y chicle), con la harina punta agua var. común el valor máximo de importancia. Es una harina con un fuerte atractivo económico, siendo la preferida por los vendedores porque significa ventas garantizadas y por los consumidores, porque tradicionalmente es un acompañamientos obligatorio de las comidas. Cada tipología expresa conceptos individuales, resultado de un laborioso proceso de producion, venta y consumo, que se mueven entre los campos económico y biocultural

Blood coagulation abnormalities in multibacillary leprosy patients

<div><p>Background</p><p>Leprosy is a chronic dermato-neurological disease caused by <i>Mycobacterium leprae</i> infection. In 2016, more than 200,000 new cases of leprosy were detected around the world, representing the most frequent cause of infectious irreversible deformities and disabilities.</p><p>Principal findings</p><p>In the present work, we demonstrate a consistent procoagulant profile on 40 reactional and non-reactional multibacillary leprosy patients. A retrospective analysis in search of signs of coagulation abnormalities among 638 leprosy patients identified 35 leprosy patients (5.48%) which displayed a characteristic lipid-like clot formed between blood clot and serum during serum harvesting, herein named ‘leprosum clot’. Most of these patients (n = 16, 45.7%) belonged to the lepromatous leprosy pole of the disease. In addition, formation of the leprosum clot was directly correlated with increased plasma levels of soluble tissue factor and von Willebrand factor. High performance thin layer chromatography demonstrated a high content of neutral lipids in the leprosum clot, and proteomic analysis demonstrated that the leprosum clot presented in these patients is highly enriched in fibrin. Remarkably, differential 2D-proteomics analysis between leprosum clots and control clots identified two proteins present only in leprosy patients clots: complement component 3 and 4 and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor family heavy chain-related protein (IHRP). In agreement with those observations we demonstrated that <i>M</i>. <i>leprae</i> induces hepatocytes release of IHRP <i>in vitro</i>.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>We demonstrated that leprosy MB patients develop a procoagulant status due to high levels of plasmatic fibrinogen, anti-cardiolipin antibodies, von Willebrand factor and soluble tissue factor. We propose that some of these components, fibrinogen for example, presents potential as predictive biomarkers of leprosy reactions, generating tools for earlier diagnosis and treatment of these events.</p></div

Multibacillary leprosy patients present prolonged coagulation time in both coagulation pathways.

<p>Coagulation times were determined on plasma from 50 non-leprosy patients (Controls), 9 non-reactional multibacillary patients (MB-NR) and 15 multibacillary erythema nodosum leprosum patients (MB-ENL). A) Activated partial thromboplastin time test (aPPT); B) prothrombin time test (PT). MB-NR group are composed by 10LL and 1 BL patients. MB-ENL group are composed by 13 LL and 1 BL individuals. Neither of them presented the leprosum clot during serum harvesting. All patients’ details are listed in <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006214#pntd.0006214.s001" target="_blank">S1 Table</a>. *** indicate p<0.0001 with ANOVA.</p

Complement component 4 (C4) and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor protein (IHRP) production are induced by <i>M</i>. <i>leprae</i>.

<p>IHRP and C4 were determined in multibacillary leprosy patient serum presenting the leprosum clot (during LC). We also performed the same analysis in previously harvested serum, varying from weeks to months, from the same group of patients before the occurrence of the leprosum clot (before LC). IHRP (A) and C4 (B) are more abundant in leprosy patient sera than healthy controls. Although <i>M</i>. <i>leprae</i> fail to induce C4 synthesis and release by human hepatocytes <i>in vitro</i> (C); we successfully mimetized the phenomenon <i>in vitro</i> observing strong IHRP induction in our model (D). * indicates p<0.05, and ** indicates p<0.001.</p

Correlation between the leprosum clot and pro-coagulant factors.

<p>Pro-coagulant factors were determined in multibacillary leprosy patient serum presenting the leprosum clot (during LC). We also performed the same analysis in previously harvested serum, varying from weeks to months, from the same group of patients before the occurrence of the leprosum clot (before LC). Levels of anti-cardiolipin IgM (A), soluble tissue factor (B) and von Willebrand factor (C) were determined in serum from 35 leprosy outpatients (11 female, 24 male; mean age, 48 years; range, 10–71 years). 1AU indicates the 1 μg/mL signal of affinity chromatography purified anti-cardiolipin IgM. * indicates p<0.01, ** indicates p<0.005 and *** indicates p<0.001 with ANOVA.</p

Multibacillary leprosy patients present a procoagulant phenotype.

<p>Coagulation parameters were determined on plasma from 50 non-leprosy patients (Controls), 9 non-reactional multibacillary leprosy patients (MB-NR) and 15 multibacillary erythema nodosum leprosum patients (MB-ENL). A) Fibrinogen and B) d-dimer plasma concentrations were determined. C) Platelet counting showed no alteration among samples. MB-NR group are composed by 10LL and 1 BL patients. MB-ENL group are composed by 13 LL and 1 BL individuals. * indicate p<0.01 and *** indicate p<0.0001 with ANOVA.</p

Most abundant proteins identified on the 2DE gels exclusively in Control Clot (CC), Leprosy Clot (LC) or both (CC/LC) by MS/MS.

<p>Most abundant proteins identified on the 2DE gels exclusively in Control Clot (CC), Leprosy Clot (LC) or both (CC/LC) by MS/MS.</p

Protein-protein interaction network constructed by STRING 10.

<p>(A) Protein differential identification by 2DE in control (CC) and leprosy clots (LC). Pixel intensity value in PPM for each protein. Black bars represent proteins exclusively identified in CC: TPM4 (tropomyosin alpha-4), TMO (tyrosine 3-monooxygenase) KNG1 (kininogen 1), and orange bars represent proteins identified only in LC: C4A (complement component 4A) and IHRP (inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor family heavy chain-related protein). (C) Confidence view based on the Gene Ontology enrichment to biological processes related to blood coagulation (p = 1.469⁻³); (B) Evidence view showing all detected proteins in both clots by different line colors representing the types of association evidence (only associations with p = 1.98⁻¹³ are shown); (C) and inflammatory response (p = 6.369⁻⁴). Stronger associations are represented by thicker lines. IHRP is represented by a small sphere, indicating that there is no crystallographic data about its structure. Proteins highlighted by black rings were exclusively detected in control clots, and proteins highlighted by orange rings were exclusively detected in leprosy clots.</p