Riverine landscape changes: case-study of Paramopama River, Sergipe State

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram analisar as alterações da paisagem promovidas pela erosão marginal e verificar a eficácia da técnica de bioengenharia de solos na recuperação das margens de um trecho do rio Paramopama, localizado no município de São Cristóvão, estado de Sergipe. Para a avaliação da alteração da paisagem, classificada como de altíssimo, alto e baixo grau de antropização, foram analisadas séries fotográficas compreendidas no período de 1998-2008. As espécies que se estabeleceram com maior ocorrência foram as pertencentes à família Poaceae. Dentre os fatores responsáveis pela alteração da paisagem, destacaram-se a erosão e a instalação de dutos atravessando a calha do rio. No rio Paramopama, foram observados dois momentos distintos, um com altíssimo e outro com alto grau de antropização. A técnica de bioengenharia de solos mostrou-se eficiente no que se refere à recuperação da paisagem, além de prover condições para a recuperação do ecossistema ribeirinho.Palavras-chave: Margens de cursos d´água; recuperação de paisagem; antropização. AbstractRiverine landscape changes: case-study of Paramopama River, Sergipe State. This work aimed to analyze current changes caused by riverbank’s erosion, as well as to verify the effectiveness of soil bioengineering techniques on the landscape recovery applied to Paramopama River banks. In order to verify landscape’s changes, it analyzed a photographic set produced during the period of 1998-2008, which had been classified according to its degree of anthropization as very high, high and low degree. Species with higher occurrence were those belonging to botanic family of Gramineae. There were many factors to landscape change, erosion was the most important followed by disturbances caused by ducts installation across the river channel. At Paramopama River two different moments could be observed, firstly, a very high degree of anthropization followed by a high degree of anthropization. Soil bioengineering technique was efficient to landscape recovery, providing ecological conditions to ecosystem recovery.Keywords: Stream banks; landscape recovery; anthropization.This work aimed to analyze current changes caused by riverbank’s erosion, as well as to verify the effectiveness of soil bioengineering techniques on the landscape recovery applied to Paramopama River banks. In order to verify landscape’s changes, it analyzed a photographic set produced during the period of 1998-2008, which had been classified according to its degree of anthropization as very high, high and low degree. Species with higher occurrence were those belonging to botanic family of Gramineae. There were many factors to landscape change, erosion was the most important followed by disturbances caused by ducts installation across the river channel. At Paramopama River two different moments could be observed, firstly, a very high degree of anthropization followed by a high degree of anthropization. Soil bioengineering technique was efficient to landscape recovery, providing ecological conditions to ecosystem recovery

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Antiproliferative Effect Of Extracts And Pyranonaphthoquinones Obtained From Cipura Paludosa Bulbs.

Cipura paludosa Aubl. (Iridaceae) is widely used in folk medicine to treat several ailments. Experimental studies have confirmed its anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and neuroprotective effects. This study evaluates the possible antiproliferative potential of the crude methanol extract and three isolated compounds from the bulbs of C. paludosa. Phytochemical analysis was carried out by conventional chromatographic techniques, and the resulting compounds were identified by NMR (1)H and (13)C. The antiproliferative activity was analysed using the sulforhodamine B assay. Crude methanol extract of C. paludosa bulbs showed GI50 values of between 1.6 and 30.8 μg/mL. The naphthoquinone derivatives (eleutherine, isoeleutherine, and eleutherol) isolated from the bulbs of C. paludosa exhibited promising cytotoxicity against several human tumour cell lines, especially the two main compounds, eleutherine and isoeleutherine, against glioma and breast cancer cell lines, with TGI values of between 2.6 and 13.8 μg/mL. Cipura paludosa bulbs produce active principles with relevant antiproliferative potential, such as naphthoquinone derivatives, identified as eleutherine, isoeleutherine, and eleutherol. This is the first report indicating C. paludosa with antiproliferative potential.1-

Significant differe nces in demographic, clinical, and pathological features in relation to smoking and alcohol consumption among 1,633 head and neck cancer patients

OBJECTIVE: As a lifestyle-related disease, social and cultural disparities may influence the features of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in different geographic regions. We describe demographic, clinical, and pathological aspects of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck according to the smoking and alcohol consumption habits of patients in a Brazilian cohort. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed the smoking and alcohol consumption habits of 1,633 patients enrolled in five São Paulo hospitals that participated in the Brazilian Head and Neck Genome Project - Gencapo. RESULTS: The patients who smoked and drank were younger, and those who smoked were leaner than the other patients, regardless of alcohol consumption. The non-smokers/non-drinkers were typically elderly white females who had more differentiated oral cavity cancers and fewer first-degree relatives who smoked. The patients who drank presented significantly more frequent nodal metastasis, and those who smoked presented less-differentiated tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck demonstrated demographic, clinical, and pathological features that were markedly different according to their smoking and drinking habits. A subset of elderly females who had oral cavity cancer and had never smoked or consumed alcohol was notable. Alcohol consumption seemed to be related to nodal metastasis, whereas smoking correlated with the degree of differentiation

Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and the prognosis of head and neck cancer in a geographical region with a low prevalence of HPV infection

The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) survival in regions with low HPV prevalence is not yet clear. We evaluated the HPV16 infection on survival of HNSCC Brazilian patient series.This cohort comprised 1,093 HNSCC cases recruited from 1998 to 2008 in four Brazilian cities and followed up until June 2009. HPV16 antibodies were analyzed by multiplex Luminex assay. in a subset of 398 fresh frozen or paraffin blocks of HNSCC specimens, we analyzed for HPV16 DNA by L1 generic primer polymerase chain reaction. HNSCC survival according to HPV16 antibodies was evaluated through Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression.Prevalence of HPV16 E6 and E6/E7 antibodies was higher in oropharyngeal cancer than in other head and neck tumor sites. HPV16 DNA positive in tumor tissue was also higher in the oropharynx. Seropositivity for HPV16 E6 antibodies was correlated with improved HNSCC survival and oropharyngeal cancer. the presence of HPV16 E6/E7 antibodies was correlated with improved HNSCC survival and oropharyngeal cancer survival. the death risk of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients HPV16 E6/E7 antibodies positive was 78 % lower than to those who test negative.Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is less aggressive in the HPV16 E6/E7 positive serology patients. HPV16 E6/E7 antibody is a clinically sensible surrogate prognostic marker of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)European CommissionUniv São Paulo, Fac Saude Publ, BR-01246904 São Paulo, BrazilHosp Canc Barretos, Inst Ensino & Pesquisa, Barretos, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Med Trop, BR-01246904 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med, BR-01246904 São Paulo, BrazilFundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Escola Nacl Saude Publ, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilHosp Araujo Jorge, Goiania, BrazilInt Prevent Res Inst, Lyon, FranceUniv São Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, BR-01246904 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Hosp Clin, BR-14049 Ribeirao Preto, BrazilHosp Heliopolis, São Paulo, BrazilHosp Canc AC Camargo, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Hosp São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilInst Canc Arnaldo Viera Carvalho, São Paulo, BrazilFac Med Sao Jose Rio Preto, São Paulo, BrazilGerman Canc Res Ctr, Heidelberg, GermanyMt Sinai Sch Med, Tisch Canc Inst, New York, NY USAInt Agcy Res Canc, F-69372 Lyon, FranceUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Hosp São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 10/50733-6FAPESP: 09/52031-1FAPESP: 04/12054-9European Commission: IC18-CT97-0222Web of Scienc