Effect of candesartan on the expression of sclera-choroidal intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in hypercholesterolemic models

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of blocking the angiotensin II AT-1 receptor by the systemic administration of candesartan on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the sclera and choroid of hypercholesterolemic rabbits. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups, as follows: GI, which was fed a rabbit standard diet; GII, which was fed a hypercholesterolemic diet; and GIII, which received hypercholesterolemic diet plus candesartan. Samples of the rabbits' sclera and choroid were then studied by hematoxylin-eosin staining and histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression. RESULTS: Histological analysis of hematoxylin- and eosin-stained sclera and choroid revealed that macrophages were rarely present in GI, and GII had significantly increased macrophage numbers compared to GIII. Moreover, in GII, the sclera and choroid morphometry showed a significant increase in thickness in comparison to GI and GIII. GIII presented a significant increase in thickness in relation to GI. Sclera and choroid immunohistochemical analysis for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression revealed a significant increase in immunoreactivity in GII in relation to GI and GIII. GIII showed a significant increase in immunoreactivity in relation to GI. CONCLUSION: Candesartan reduced the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and consequently macrophage accumulation in the sclera and choroid of hypercholesterolemic rabbits

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

CARACTERIZAÇÃO DA COBERTURA VEGETAL E USO DO SOLO NO MUNICÍPIO DE URUÇUÍ, PIAUÍ, BRASIL

Os estudos de uso e ocupação do solo são parâmetros importantes para se trabalhar a gestão da exploração agrícola e florestal, como é o caso de Uruçuí, localizado na região sudoeste do Piauí, importante município em expansão no agronegócio brasileiro. Desta forma, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo caracterizar através de mapeamento em SIG (Sistema de Informações Geográficas), a cobertura vegetal e uso do solo no município de Uruçuí – Piauí. Utilizou-se imagens via Satélite Landsat TM 8 referente a 2016 com o intuito de avaliar a atual configuração da área. Realizou-se classificação não-supervisionada, divididas em cinco classes, e processadas pelo comando Maximum Likelihood Classification do software ArcGIS 10.3. Com base no mapeamento, constatou-se 260,7 km² da classe Vegetação Ripária ou Floresta Densa, 1.807,13 km² de Cerrado Denso, 2.788,71 km² de Cerrado Típico, 1.785,9 km² de Campo Cerrado ou Vegetação Rala, 1.069,37 km² de Talhão Agrícola e uma área correspondente a 704,67 km² de Solo Exposto. A partir dos resultados, constatou-se elevado uso e ocupação do solo no município de Uruçuí (PI), doravante com áreas potenciais para avanço, fazendo-se necessárias intervenções dos órgãos ambientais responsáveis para promoção de políticas públicas para conservação e preservação, manejo e uso racional do solo.Palavra-chave: Sistema de Informações Geográficas (SIG), MATOPIBA, Desmatamento, Geoprocessamento. CHARACTERIZATION OF VEGETABLE COVERAGE AND USE OF SOIL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF URUÇUÍ, PIAUÍ, BRAZIL ABSTRACTLand use and occupation studies are important parameters for the management of agricultural and forestry operations, such as Uruçuí, located in the southwest region of Piauí, an important municipality in the Brazilian agribusiness. In this way, the objective of this work is to characterize, through GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping, the vegetation cover and land use in the municipality of Uruçuí - Piauí. Landsat TM 8 satellite images were used for 2016 in order to evaluate the current configuration of the area. An unsupervised classification was performed, divided into five classes, and processed by the Maximum Likelihood Classification command of the ArcGIS 10.3 software. Based on the mapping, we observed 260.7 km² of the class Ripária or Dense Forest, 1,807.13 km² of Cerrado Denso, 2,788.71 km² of Cerrado Typical, 1,785.9 km² of Cerrado Field or Rala Vegetation, 1,069.37 Km² of Agricultural Field and an area corresponding to 704.67 km² of Exposed Ground. From the results, high land use and occupation in the municipality of Uruçuí (PI) was verified, henceforth potential areas for advancement, making necessary interventions of the responsible environmental agencies for the promotion of public policies for the conservation and preservation, management and Rational use of the soil.Keywords: Geographic Information System (GIS), MATOPIBA, deforestation, geoprocessing. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/2318-7670.v05n05a0

Effect of candesartan on the expression of sclera-choroidal intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in hypercholesterolemic models

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of blocking the angiotensin II AT-1 receptor by the systemic administration of candesartan on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the sclera and choroid of hypercholesterolemic rabbits. METHODS: New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups, as follows: GI, which was fed a rabbit standard diet; GII, which was fed a hypercholesterolemic diet; and GIII, which received hypercholesterolemic diet plus candesartan. Samples of the rabbits' sclera and choroid were then studied by hematoxylin-eosin staining and histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression. RESULTS: Histological analysis of hematoxylin- and eosin-stained sclera and choroid revealed that macrophages were rarely present in GI, and GII had significantly increased macrophage numbers compared to GIII. Moreover, in GII, the sclera and choroid morphometry showed a significant increase in thickness in comparison to GI and GIII. GIII presented a significant increase in thickness in relation to GI. Sclera and choroid immunohistochemical analysis for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression revealed a significant increase in immunoreactivity in GII in relation to GI and GIII. GIII showed a significant increase in immunoreactivity in relation to GI. CONCLUSION: Candesartan reduced the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and consequently macrophage accumulation in the sclera and choroid of hypercholesterolemic rabbits

Gastos em saúde e incidência de benefício no município de Senhor do Bonfim (BA) em 2003 Publics expenditures and benefit incidence in Senhor do Bonfim, city of the state of Bahia, in 2003

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a desigualdade no acesso e utilização dos serviços de saúde no município de Senhor do Bonfim (BA). O método utilizado é o "benefit incidence", ou incidência de benefício, que permite identificar quais os grupos sociais que se beneficiam dos gastos do Governo. A incidência de benefício no município de Senhor do Bonfim, para 2003, foi estimada por grupos da população previamente definidos (renda, gênero e cor da pele), com o objetivo de avaliar o grau de iniqüidade dos gastos públicos em saúde. Os gastos públicos foram desagregados por nível de complexidade. Combinando os dados referentes aos subsídios com os resultados da pesquisa domiciliar, observou-se iniqüidade da distribuição dos gastos públicos com saúde em Senhor do Bonfim.<br>The goal of this paper is to analyze inequality in the access and use of services of health in Senhor do Bonfim, city of the state of Bahia. It describes benefit incidence analysis, which allows to identify which social groups benefit governmental subsidies. The benefit incidence in Senhor do Bonfim, Bahia, was estimated, in 2003, for groups of the population previously defined (income, gender and race), with the objective of evaluating the inequity of the public expenditure in health in this city. The public expenses had been fragmented by complexity level. Combining the unit subsidies with the use patterns reported in the household survey reveals a very unequal distribution health spending in Senhor do Bonfim

Hydrolysis of galacto&#45;oligosaccharides in soy molasses by &#945; &#45;galactosidases and invertase from Aspergillus terreus

Two &#945; -galactosidase (P1 and P2) and one invertase present in the culture of Aspergillus terreus grown on wheat straw for 168 h at 28ºC were partially purified by gel filtration and hydrophobic interaction chromatographies. Optimum pH and temperatures for P1, P2 and invertase preparations were 4.5-5.0, 5.5 and 4.0 and 60, 55 and 65ºC, respectively. The K M app for Ï� -nitrophenyl-&#945; -D-galactopyranoside were 1.32 mM and 0.72 mM for P1 and P2, respectively, while the K M app value for invertase, using sacarose as a substrate was 15.66 mM. Enzyme preparations P1 and P2 maintained their activities after pre-incubation for 3 h at 50ºC and invertase maintained about 90% after 6 h at 55 ºC. P1 and P2 presented different inhibition sensitivities by Ag+, D-galactose, and SDS. All enzyme preparations hydrolyzed galacto-ologosaccharides present in soymolasses.<br>Duas &#945;-galactosidases (P1 e P2) e uma invertase produzidas no sobrenadante da cultura do fungo Aspergillus terreus quando crescido por 168 h a 28ºC com farelo de trigo como fonte de carbono foram parcialmente purificadas por cromatografias de gel filtração e interação hidrofóbica. O pH e temperatura ótimos para as preparações P1, P2 e invertase foram entre 4,5-5,0, 5,5 e 4,0 e 60, 55 e 65ºC, respectivamente. O K M app para Ï�-nitrofenil-&#945;-D-galactopiranosideo foi 1.32 mM e 0.72 mM para P1 e P2, respectivamente. O valor de K M app para invertase usando sacarose como substrato foi de 15,66 mM. As preparações enzimáticas P1 e P2 mantiveram suas atividades após 3 h de pré-incubação a 50 ºC e a invertase manteve cerca de 90% após 6 h a 55 ºC. P1 e P2 foram diferentemente sensíveis à inibição por Ag+, D-galactose e SDS. As preparações enzimáticas hidrolisaram os galactooligossacarídeos presentes em melaço de soja