Mapping Oil and Gas Development Potential in the US Intermountain West and Estimating Impacts to Species

Many studies have quantified the indirect effect of hydrocarbon-based economies on climate change and biodiversity, concluding that a significant proportion of species will be threatened with extinction. However, few studies have measured the direct effect of new energy production infrastructure on species persistence. in the western US and translate the build-out scenarios into estimated impacts on sage-grouse. We project that future oil and gas development will cause a 7–19 percent decline from 2007 sage-grouse lek population counts and impact 3.7 million ha of sagebrush shrublands and 1.1 million ha of grasslands in the study area.Maps of where oil and gas development is anticipated in the US Intermountain West can be used by decision-makers intent on minimizing impacts to sage-grouse. This analysis also provides a general framework for using predictive models and build-out scenarios to anticipate impacts to species. These predictive models and build-out scenarios allow tradeoffs to be considered between species conservation and energy development prior to implementation

Association between vascular endothelial growth factor and hypertension in children and adolescents type I diabetes mellitus

The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between the serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the incidence of hypertension (HT) in children and adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM). One hundred and five patients with T1DM were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 30 healthy controls. All the T1DM patients were subjected to biochemical analyses, ophthalmologic examination and 24-h blood pressure monitoring. Besides, all the patients and healthy controls had serum VEGF levels measured with the use of the ELISA methodology. The essence of our research is that patients with T1DM and HT and with microalbuminuria (MA) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) (MA/DR) are characterized by a significantly higher level of VEGF (340.23±93.22 pg ml–1) in blood serum in comparison with the group of T1DM patients without HT and MA/DR (183.6±96.6 pg ml–1) and with healthy controls (145.32±75.58 pg ml–1). In addition, the VEGF level was significantly higher in T1DM patients, who presented all three complications, that is HT, retinopathy and MA in comparison with T1DM patients without HT, but with MA/DR (P=0.036). On the other hand, no statistically significant differences (P=0.19) were noted in the level of VEGF in serum between T1DM patients without HT and MA/DR and the healthy control group. At a further stage of analysis, using the method of multiple regression, it was shown that systolic pressure, HbA1c and duration of disease are independent factors influencing the concentration of VEGF. Summarizing, the measurement of VEGF serum levels allows for the identification of groups of patients who have the highest risk of HT and, subsequently, progression of vascular complications

Limitação ao fluxo aéreo em brasileiros da raça branca: VEF1/VEF6 vs. VEF1/CVF Airflow limitation in brazilian caucasians: FEV1/FEV6 vs. FEV1/FVC

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a utilidade da relação volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo/volume expiratório forçado nos primeiros seis segundos (VEF1/VEF6) na detecção de obstrução leve ao fluxo aéreo como alternativa à relação VEF1/capacidade vital forçada (CVF). MÉTODOS: As equações sugeridas para a população brasileira em 2006 foram utilizadas para determinar os limites inferiores normais para as relações entre VEF1/VEF6 e VEF1/CVF. Foram avaliadas as espirometrias de 155 pacientes com diferença entre a relação VEF1/CVF prevista-observada abaixo de 15% e VEF1 > 60% do previsto, com idades entre 20 e 84 anos e com tempo expiratório de 6 s no mínimo. Os critérios de aceitabilidade e reprodutibilidade para a espirometria sugeridos pela Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia foram preenchidos. RESULTADOS: Os valores médios (± dp) para VEF1/CVF e VEF1/VEF6 foram, respectivamente, 73 ± 4% e 75 ± 3%. A obstrução ao fluxo aéreo foi detectada pela relação VEF1/CVF em 61 pacientes, mas foi detectada pela relação VEF1/VEF6 em apenas 46 deles, mostrando uma sensibilidade de 75% (p < 0,001). CONCLUSÕES: A relação VEF1/VEF6 tem sensibilidade insuficiente para substituir a relação VEF1/CVF no diagnóstico de obstrução leve ao fluxo aéreo.<br>OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of the forced expiratory volume in one second/forced expiratory volume in six seconds (FEV1/FEV6) ratio as an alternative to the FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio in the detection of mild airway obstruction. METHODS: Reference equations for the Brazilian population in 2006 were used in order to determine the lower limits of normality for the FEV1/FEV6 and FEV1/FVC ratios. The spirometry findings of 155 patients from 20 to 84 years of age were analyzed. All of the patients presented the following: a < 15% difference between predicted and observed FEV1/FVC ratio; an FEV1 > 60% of predicted; and an exhalation time of at least 6 s. The Brazilian Thoracic Society criteria for acceptability and reproducibility in spirometry were met. RESULTS: Mean values (± SD) for FEV1/FEV6 and FEV1/FVC were 73 ± 4% and 75 ± 3%, respectively. Using the FEV1/FVC ratio, we identified airflow obstruction in 61 patients, compared with only 46 patients when we used the FEV1/FEV6 ratio, showing a sensitivity of 75% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The FEV1/FEV6 ratio has poor sensitivity and should not be used to replace the FEV1/FVC ratio in the diagnosis of mild airway obstruction