PHENODYNAMICS OF Solanum mauritianum SCOP. IN A PLANTATION FOR SUBTROPICAL FOREST RESTORATION

We evaluated the phenodynamics of Solanum mauritianum Scop. in a forest plantation to check the ecological behavior of this species in restoration condition. Twelve trees were observed over 24 months, according to regrowth, flowering, fruiting and defoliation. The phenophases were correlated with the photoperiod, climatic variables, maximum, average, minimum temperature and precipitation through Pearson´s correlation. The species exhibited over the year highly synchronic, flowering and fruiting. The flowering occurred from January to December, with floral buds being observed simultaneously with ripe fruits, reaching a maximum dispersion in February. Temperatures below 10°C and frosts inhibited the leaf re-sprouts, promoting a leaf deciduous peak in March and June. The permanent availability of resources as flowers and fruits and the resilience of vegetative phenophases in response to severe frosts make S. mauritianum an adapted species of highly ecological potential to be used in regional restoration projects.

Trema micrantha (L.) Blume. EM PLANTAÇÕES PARA RESTAURAÇÃO ECOLÓGICA: DESENVOLVIMENTO INICIAL NA FLORESTA SUBTROPICAL BRASILEIRA

The understanding of silviculture of native species in a determined region is fundamental for the selection of more appropriate species for using in ecological restoration. Trema micrantha (Cannabaceae), a pioneer species which is widely distributed, shading and attractive to birds, is intensively planted in restoration projects of the southeastern Brazilian Atlantic Forest. In order to get information regarding to the performance of this species in subtropical forests (subject to the yearly frosts), we analyzed its early growth in a planting carried out with 70 native tree species in 3 x 2 m spacing in four plots of 40 x 54 m. Semianually, we collected data of 72 individuals of Trema micrantha. These data were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Software Assistat-beta submitted to Tukey test (p<0.05) and graphically described by R. Trema micrantha showed excellent performance at 3.5 years of age in root collar diameter (12.01 ± 5.24 cm), total height (5.95 ± 1.44 m), crown projection area (22.56 ± 11.26 m²) and crown volume (61.34 ± 37.46 m³), enduring severe frosts with a yearly survival rate of 78%. Based on the results obtained, and considering that this species has broad natural distribution, we recommend its extensive use also in forestry restoration projects in the subtropical regions of Brazil.O conhecimento da silvicultura de espécies nativas em determinada região é fundamental para a escolha de espécies mais adequadas à utilização em plantios de restauração ecológica. Trema micrantha (Cannabaceae), espécie pioneira de ampla distribuição geográfica, sombreadora e atrativa de avifauna, é intensivamente plantada em projetos de restauração da Mata Atlântica na região sudeste brasileira. A fim de se obter informações referentes à atuação desta espécie em florestas subtropicais sujeitas às geadas anuais, analisou-se o seu crescimento inicial na região sudoeste do estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil. Em um plantio realizado com 70 espécies arbóreas nativas sob espaçamento 3 x 2 m em quatro parcelas de 40 x 54 m, coletaram-se dados semestrais de 72 indivíduos de Trema micrantha. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente utilizando o software Assistat-beta, submetido ao teste de Tukey (p<0.05) e descritos graficamente através do software R. Trema micrantha apresentou excelente desempenho aos 3,5 anos de idade com diâmetro de colo (12,01±5,24 cm), altura total (5,95±1,44 m), área de projeção de copa (22,56 ±11,26 m²) e volume de copa (61,34 ± 37,46 m³), suportando severas geadas anuais com sobrevivência de 78%. Baseando-se nos resultados obtidos e considerando que se trata de uma espécie de ampla distribuição natural, seu uso extensivo é também recomendado em projetos de restauração florestal em regiões subtropicais do Brasil

Canopy cover and invasive grasses effects in distinct ecological restoration technologies: 5-y monitoring in a Brazilian subtropical forest

The establishment of canopy and the following elimination of invasive exotic grasses are among the main barriers towards the restoration of subtropical forests. We compared canopy initial cover and biological invasion by exotic grasses in different restoration technologies, up to 5-y, in Paraná State, southern Brazil. We tested three treatments in four randomized blocks as follows: T1 – passive restoration; T2 – nucleation; and T3 – high diversity plantation. We sampled 117 points per plot (54 x 40 m). We registered the presence or absence of invasive grasses cover and canopy cover percentage (using a spherical crown densiometer). The high density of fast-growing trees plus dense crowns was probably responsible for the highest shadowing and faster elimination of grasses in the plantation, while nucleation and the passive restoration showed the lowest canopy cover followed by the highest invasion by grasses. We recommend managers to use plantations to make a fast covering, although with higher inputs, or use nucleation in a long-term shadowing basis project

Genotypic Characterization of Streptococcus canis Isolated from Distinct Hosts with Special Emphasis on Multilocus Sequence Typing

Background: The animal pathogen Streptococcus canis is increasingly being noticed in human infections. Our aim was to develop a new multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for Streptococcus canis and to compare isolates recovered from house pets and humans, in order to define the clonal structure of the S. canis population and explore the zoonotic potential of distinct S. canis genetic lineages. Methods: Eighty-five S. canis isolates recovered from infections in animals (n = 78, recovered from 2000 to 2010 in three European countries, mainly from house pets) and humans (n = 7, recovered from 2006 to 2010 in Portugal) were studied. Isolates were identified by API 20 Strep, 23S rRNA gene targeted PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and characterized by MLST, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and emm typing. Results: All isolates were successfully typed with the proposed MLST scheme, indicating its applicability to S. canis from distinct sources. The MLST analysis showed a polyclonal structure of the S. canis population, where the same genetic lineages are found infecting house pets and humans and are disseminated in distinct geographic locations. PFGE confirmed the MLST findings, as it identified the same prevailing lineages and further strengthened the similarity between animal and human isolates. Phylogenetic analysis conducted with the 16S rRNA and MLST loci sequence data indicated that S. canis was a divergent taxon of the sister species Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, and found evidence of acquisition of genetic material by S. canis from the latter species. The presence of emm-like genes was restricted to a few isolates and correlated with MLST defined genetic lineages. Conclusion: Our data shows that S. canis isolated from house pets and humans are a single population, and demonstrates that isolates belonging to the main genetic lineages identified are able to infect the human host, providing strong evidence for the zoonotic nature of S. canis infection in humans. A MLST database for S. canis was established at http://pubmlst.org/scanis/ (hosted by the Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom), constituting a valuable tool for future studies on the molecular epidemiology of this pathogen

Rivaroxaban or aspirin for patent foramen ovale and embolic stroke of undetermined source: a prespecified subgroup analysis from the NAVIGATE ESUS trial

Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a contributor to embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Subgroup analyses from previous studies suggest that anticoagulation could reduce recurrent stroke compared with antiplatelet therapy. We hypothesised that anticoagulant treatment with rivaroxaban, an oral factor Xa inhibitor, would reduce the risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke compared with aspirin among patients with PFO enrolled in the NAVIGATE ESUS trial. Methods: NAVIGATE ESUS was a double-blinded, randomised, phase 3 trial done at 459 centres in 31 countries that assessed the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban versus aspirin for secondary stroke prevention in patients with ESUS. For this prespecified subgroup analysis, cohorts with and without PFO were defined on the basis of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE). The primary efficacy outcome was time to recurrent ischaemic stroke between treatment groups. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding, according to the criteria of the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. The primary analyses were based on the intention-to-treat population. Additionally, we did a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of studies in which patients with cryptogenic stroke and PFO were randomly assigned to receive anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy. Findings: Between Dec 23, 2014, and Sept 20, 2017, 7213 participants were enrolled and assigned to receive rivaroxaban (n=3609) or aspirin (n=3604). Patients were followed up for a mean of 11 months because of early trial termination. PFO was reported as present in 534 (7·4%) patients on the basis of either TTE or TOE. Patients with PFO assigned to receive aspirin had a recurrent ischaemic stroke rate of 4·8 events per 100 person-years compared with 2·6 events per 100 person-years in those treated with rivaroxaban. Among patients with known PFO, there was insufficient evidence to support a difference in risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke between rivaroxaban and aspirin (hazard ratio [HR] 0·54; 95% CI 0·22–1·36), and the risk was similar for those without known PFO (1·06; 0·84–1·33; pinteraction=0·18). The risks of major bleeding with rivaroxaban versus aspirin were similar in patients with PFO detected (HR 2·05; 95% CI 0·51–8·18) and in those without PFO detected (HR 2·82; 95% CI 1·69–4·70; pinteraction=0·68). The random-effects meta-analysis combined data from NAVIGATE ESUS with data from two previous trials (PICSS and CLOSE) and yielded a summary odds ratio of 0·48 (95% CI 0·24–0·96; p=0·04) for ischaemic stroke in favour of anticoagulation, without evidence of heterogeneity. Interpretation: Among patients with ESUS who have PFO, anticoagulation might reduce the risk of recurrent stroke by about half, although substantial imprecision remains. Dedicated trials of anticoagulation versus antiplatelet therapy or PFO closure, or both, are warranted. Funding: Bayer and Janssen