Evaluation of the process of reabilitation of a stretch of Riparian forest in Itapemirim river watershed - ES

Este estudo foi realizado em uma área de floresta ciliar em processo de recuperação mediante reabilitação.A área de estudo está localizada na sub-bacia hidrográfica do rio Itapemirim, no Município de Alegre, ES, Brasil.A ocupação e uso do solo antes da revegetação eram de pastagem com Brachiaria sp. A revegetação da áreafoi feita em 1997, com espécies autóctones e alóctones arbóreas, em arranjo de distribuição aleatório, em umaárea de 1,2 ha. Para a realização dos estudos foram feitos inventários florestais nos períodos de 2004/2005e 2005/2006, sendo medidos os indivíduos de hábito arbustivo e arbóreo com circunferência à altura do peito(CAP) > 5 cm e suas alturas totais. As espécies encontradas na área foram identificadas e classificadas de acordocom seus grupos ecológicos, síndromes de dispersão e presença silvestre, sendo calculados os parâmetros florísticos,a estrutura vertical e a dinâmica estrutural desse povoamento. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimentodo povoamento implantado para subsidiar práticas silviculturais quanto à seleção e implantação de espécies pararevegetação de áreas de floresta ciliar degradadas, em condições semelhantes. Os resultados demonstraram quefoi implantado um povoamento florestal com grande diversidade de espécies e a estratificação em classes dealtura foi à semelhança de povoamentos heterogêneos naturais. As espécies identificadas como edificadoras darevegetação da área estudada foram: Anadenanthera colubrina, Caesalpinia leyostachia, Acacia auriculiformis,Acacia mangium, Handroanthus serratifolius, Inga edulis, Joannesia princeps, Pterogyne nitens, Enterelobiumcontortisiliquum, Tabernaemontana hystrix e Anthocephalus indicus. A distribuição em classes de tamanho dacomunidade implantada ocorre em forma de "J" reverso, havendo a predominância de indivíduos pioneiros emtodas as classes de CAP. A dinâmica da estrutura horizontal apontou que, para o sucesso, continuidade e desenvolvimentoda recuperação da área, seja monitorada a regeneração natural em relação à sua presença e à eficiência dos fatoresbióticos e abióticos que nela interferem. A não observância de indivíduos arbustivos e arbóreos regenerados naturalmente,na classe de inclusão do estudo, indica a fragilidade inicial da área rumo à sustentabilidade do sistema.The study was realized in an area of riparian forest in process by means of rehabilitation. Thestudy area is located in Rio Itapemirim, in Alegre city, Brazil. The occupation and use of the soil beforethe recovery were of pasture with Brachiaria sp. The recovery of this area was in 1997, with autochthonousand allochthonous species, in casually distribution arrangement, in an area of 1,2 ha. For this studies wasrealized forest inventories in the periods of 2004/2005 and 2005/2006, being measured the arboreal individualswith circumference at breast height (CBH) and total heights. The species found in the area were identifiedand classified in this ecological groups, dispersion syndromes and wild presence, it forms calculated thefloristic parameters, the vertical structure and the structural dynamics of this plantation. The objective ofthis work went evaluate the development of the plantation implanted to subsidize practical silviculture withrelationship to the selection and plantation of species for the revegetation of degraded areas of riparianforest, in similar conditions. The results of the studies demonstrated that a forest plantation was implantedwith great diversity of species and the bedding in height classes it went to the likeness of natural heterogeneous.The species identified as builders of the plantation of the studied area were: Anadenanthera colubrina, Caesalpinia leyostachia, Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia mangium, Handroanthus serratifolius, Inga edulis, Joannesia princeps,Pterogyne nitens, Enterelobium contortisiliquum, Tabernaemontana hystrix, and Anthocephalus indicus . Theimplanted community's distribution diametric happens in reverse J shape having the pioneer individuals'predominance in all the classes of CBH. The dynamics of the horizontal structure points that for the success,continuity and development of the recovery of the area, the natural regeneration be monitored in relationto its presence and efficiency of the biotic factors and abiotic those interfere in the same. The not tree individualsobservance in natural regeneration, in the class of inclusion of the study, indicate the initial fragility of thearea heading for sustentabilidade of the system

Home-based exercise program in the indeterminate form of Chagas disease (PEDI-CHAGAS study): A study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundChagas disease (CD) is a neglected endemic disease with worldwide impact due to migration. Approximately 50–70% of individuals in the chronic phase of CD present the indeterminate form, characterized by parasitological and/or serological evidence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, but without clinical signs and symptoms. Subclinical abnormalities have been reported in indeterminate form of CD, including pro-inflammatory states and alterations in cardiac function, biomarkers and autonomic modulation. Moreover, individuals with CD are usually impacted on their personal and professional life, making social insertion difficult and impacting their mental health and quality of life (QoL). Physical exercise has been acknowledged as an important strategy to prevent and control numerous chronic-degenerative diseases, but unexplored in individuals with the indeterminate form of CD. The PEDI-CHAGAS study (which stands for “Home-Based Exercise Program in the Indeterminate Form of Chagas Disease” in Portuguese) aims to evaluate the effects of a home-based exercise program on physical and mental health outcomes in individuals with indeterminate form of CD.Methods and designThe PEDI-CHAGAS is a two-arm (exercise and control) phase 3 superiority randomized clinical trial including patients with indeterminate form of CD. The exclusion criteria are <18 years old, evidence of non-Chagasic cardiomyopathy, musculoskeletal or cognitive limitations that preclude the realization of exercise protocol, clinical contraindication for regular exercise, and regular physical exercise (≥1 × per week). Participants will be assessed at baseline, and after three and 6 months of follow-up. The primary outcome will be QoL. Secondary outcomes will include blood pressure, physical fitness components, nutritional status, fatigability, autonomic modulation, cardiac morphology and function, low back pain, depression and anxiety, stress, sleep quality, medication use and adherence, and biochemical, inflammatory and cardiac biomarkers. Participants in the intervention group will undergo a home-based exercise program whilst those in the control group will receive only general information regarding the benefits of physical activity. Both groups will receive the same general nutritional counseling consisting of general orientations about healthy diets.ConclusionThe findings from the present study may support public health intervention strategies to improve physical and mental health parameters to be implemented more effectively in this population.Clinical trial registration[https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-10yxgcr9/], identifier [U1111-1263-0153]

Carbon sequestration potential of second-growth forest regeneration in the Latin American tropics

Regrowth of tropical secondary forests following complete or nearly complete removal of forest vegetation actively stores carbon in aboveground biomass, partially counterbalancing carbon emissions from deforestation, forest degradation, burning of fossil fuels, and other anthropogenic sources. We estimate the age and spatial extent of lowland second-growth forests in the Latin American tropics and model their potential aboveground carbon accumulation over four decades. Our model shows that, in 2008, second-growth forests (1 to 60 years old) covered 2.4 million km2 of land (28.1%of the total study area).Over 40 years, these lands can potentially accumulate a total aboveground carbon stock of 8.48 Pg C (petagrams of carbon) in aboveground biomass via low-cost natural regeneration or assisted regeneration, corresponding to a total CO2 sequestration of 31.09 Pg CO2. This total is equivalent to carbon emissions from fossil fuel use and industrial processes in all of Latin America and the Caribbean from1993 to 2014. Ten countries account for 95% of this carbon storage potential, led by Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. We model future land-use scenarios to guide national carbon mitigation policies. Permitting natural regeneration on 40% of lowland pastures potentially stores an additional 2.0 Pg C over 40 years. Our study provides information and maps to guide national-level forest-based carbon mitigation plans on the basis of estimated rates of natural regeneration and pasture abandonment. Coupled with avoided deforestation and sustainable forestmanagement, natural regeneration of second-growth forests provides a low-costmechanism that yields a high carbon sequestration potential with multiple benefits for biodiversity and ecosystem services. © 2016 The Authors

Diretriz da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia sobre Diagnóstico e Tratamento de Pacientes com Cardiomiopatia da Doença de Chagas

This guideline aimed to update the concepts and formulate the standards of conduct and scientific evidence that support them, regarding the diagnosis and treatment of the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease, with special emphasis on the rationality base that supported it.  Chagas disease in the 21st century maintains an epidemiological pattern of endemicity in 21 Latin American countries. Researchers and managers from endemic and non-endemic countries point to the need to adopt comprehensive public health policies to effectively control the interhuman transmission of T. cruzi infection, and to obtain an optimized level of care for already infected individuals, focusing on diagnostic and therapeutic opportunistic opportunities.   Pathogenic and pathophysiological mechanisms of the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease were revisited after in-depth updating and the notion that necrosis and fibrosis are stimulated by tissue parasitic persistence and adverse immune reaction, as fundamental mechanisms, assisted by autonomic and microvascular disorders, was well established. Some of them have recently formed potential targets of therapies.  The natural history of the acute and chronic phases was reviewed, with enhancement for oral transmission, indeterminate form and chronic syndromes. Recent meta-analyses of observational studies have estimated the risk of evolution from acute and indeterminate forms and mortality after chronic cardiomyopathy. Therapeutic approaches applicable to individuals with Indeterminate form of Chagas disease were specifically addressed. All methods to detect structural and/or functional alterations with various cardiac imaging techniques were also reviewed, with recommendations for use in various clinical scenarios. Mortality risk stratification based on the Rassi score, with recent studies of its application, was complemented by methods that detect myocardial fibrosis.  The current methodology for etiological diagnosis and the consequent implications of trypanonomic treatment deserved a comprehensive and in-depth approach. Also the treatment of patients at risk or with heart failure, arrhythmias and thromboembolic events, based on pharmacological and complementary resources, received special attention. Additional chapters supported the conducts applicable to several special contexts, including t. cruzi/HIV co-infection, risk during surgeries, in pregnant women, in the reactivation of infection after heart transplantation, and others.     Finally, two chapters of great social significance, addressing the structuring of specialized services to care for individuals with the Cardiomyopathy of Chagas disease, and reviewing the concepts of severe heart disease and its medical-labor implications completed this guideline.Esta diretriz teve como objetivo principal atualizar os conceitos e formular as normas de conduta e evidências científicas que as suportam, quanto ao diagnóstico e tratamento da CDC, com especial ênfase na base de racionalidade que a embasou. A DC no século XXI mantém padrão epidemiológico de endemicidade em 21 países da América Latina. Investigadores e gestores de países endêmicos e não endêmicos indigitam a necessidade de se adotarem políticas abrangentes, de saúde pública, para controle eficaz da transmissão inter-humanos da infecção pelo T. cruzi, e obter-se nível otimizado de atendimento aos indivíduos já infectados, com foco em oportunização diagnóstica e terapêutica. Mecanismos patogênicos e fisiopatológicos da CDC foram revisitados após atualização aprofundada e ficou bem consolidada a noção de que necrose e fibrose sejam estimuladas pela persistência parasitária tissular e reação imune adversa, como mecanismos fundamentais, coadjuvados por distúrbios autonômicos e microvasculares. Alguns deles recentemente constituíram alvos potenciais de terapêuticas. A história natural das fases aguda e crônica foi revista, com realce para a transmissão oral, a forma indeterminada e as síndromes crônicas. Metanálises recentes de estudos observacionais estimaram o risco de evolução a partir das formas aguda e indeterminada e de mortalidade após instalação da cardiomiopatia crônica. Condutas terapêuticas aplicáveis aos indivíduos com a FIDC foram abordadas especificamente. Todos os métodos para detectar alterações estruturais e/ou funcionais com variadas técnicas de imageamento cardíaco também foram revisados, com recomendações de uso nos vários cenários clínicos. Estratificação de risco de mortalidade fundamentada no escore de Rassi, com estudos recentes de sua aplicação, foi complementada por métodos que detectam fibrose miocárdica. A metodologia atual para diagnóstico etiológico e as consequentes implicações do tratamento tripanossomicida mereceram enfoque abrangente e aprofundado. Também o tratamento de pacientes em risco ou com insuficiência cardíaca, arritmias e eventos tromboembólicos, baseado em recursos farmacológicos e complementares, recebeu especial atenção. Capítulos suplementares subsidiaram as condutas aplicáveis a diversos contextos especiais, entre eles o da co-infecção por T. cruzi/HIV, risco durante cirurgias, em grávidas, na reativação da infecção após transplante cardíacos, e outros.    Por fim, dois capítulos de grande significado social, abordando a estruturação de serviços especializados para atendimento aos indivíduos com a CDC, e revisando os conceitos de cardiopatia grave e suas implicações médico-trabalhistas completaram esta diretriz.&nbsp