Biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems of the Caatinga Biome

The biogeochemical cycles of C, N, P and water, the impacts of land use in the stocks and flows of these elements and how they can affect the structure and functioning of Caatinga were reviewed. About half of this biome is still covered by native secondary vegetation. Soils are deficient in nutrients, especially N and P. Average concentrations of total soil P and C in the top layer (0-20 cm) are 196 mg kg-1 and 9.3 g kg-1, corresponding to C stocks around 23 Mg ha-1. Aboveground biomass of native vegetation varies from 30 to 50 Mg ha-1, and average root biomass from 3 to 12 Mg ha-1. Average annual productivities and biomass accumulation in different land use systems vary from 1 to 7 Mg ha-1 year-1. Biological atmospheric N2 fixation is estimated to vary from 3 to 11 kg N ha-1 year-1and 21 to 26 kg N ha-1 year-1 in mature and secondary Caatinga, respectively. The main processes responsible for nutrient and water losses are fire, soil erosion, runoff and harvest of crops and animal products. Projected climate changes in the future point to higher temperatures and rainfall decreases. In face of the high intrinsic variability, actions to increase sustainability should improve resilience and stability of the ecosystems. Land use systems based on perennial species, as opposed to annual species, may be more stable and resilient, thus more adequate to face future potential increases in climate variability. Long-term studies to investigate the potential of the native biodiversity or adapted exotic species to design sustainable land use systems should be encouraged

The cardiopulmonary reflexes of spontaneously hypertensive rats are normalized after regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension

Cardiopulmonary reflexes are activated via changes in cardiac filling pressure (volume-sensitive reflex) and chemical stimulation (chemosensitive reflex). The sensitivity of the cardiopulmonary reflexes to these stimuli is impaired in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and other models of hypertension and is thought to be associated with cardiac hypertrophy. The present study investigated whether the sensitivity of the cardiopulmonary reflexes in SHR is restored when cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension are reduced by enalapril treatment. Untreated SHR and WKY rats were fed a normal diet. Another groups of rats were treated with enalapril (10 mg kg-1 day-1, mixed in the diet; SHRE or WKYE) for one month. After treatment, the volume-sensitive reflex was evaluated in each group by determining the decrease in magnitude of the efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) produced by acute isotonic saline volume expansion. Chemoreflex sensitivity was evaluated by examining the bradycardia response elicited by phenyldiguanide administration. Cardiac hypertrophy was determined from the left ventricular/body weight (LV/BW) ratio. Volume expansion produced an attenuated renal sympathoinhibitory response in SHR as compared to WKY rats. As compared to the levels observed in normotensive WKY rats, however, enalapril treatment restored the volume expansion-induced decrease in RSNA in SHRE. SHR with established hypertension had a higher LV/BW ratio (45%) as compared to normotensive WKY rats. With enalapril treatment, the LV/BW ratio was reduced to 19% in SHRE. Finally, the reflex-induced bradycardia response produced by phenyldiguanide was significantly attenuated in SHR compared to WKY rats. Unlike the effects on the volume reflex, the sensitivity of the cardiac chemosensitive reflex to phenyldiguanide was not restored by enalapril treatment in SHRE. Taken together, these results indicate that the impairment of the volume-sensitive, but not the chemosensitive, reflex can be restored by treatment of SHR with enalapril. It is possible that by augmenting the gain of the volume-sensitive reflex control of RSNA, enalapril contributed to the reversal of cardiac hypertrophy and normalization of arterial blood pressure in SHR

Hydrogen peroxide production regulates the mitochondrial function in insulin resistant muscle cells: Effect of catalase overexpression

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The mitochondrial redox state plays a central role in the link between mitochondrial overloading and insulin resistance. However, the mechanism by which the ROS induce insulin resistance in skeletal muscle cells is not completely understood. We examined the association between mitochondrial function and H2O2 production in insulin resistant cells. Our hypothesis is that the low mitochondrial oxygen consumption leads to elevated ROS production by a mechanism associated with reduced PGC1 alpha transcription and low content of phosphorylated CREB. The cells were transfected with either the encoded sequence for catalase overexpression or the specific siRNA for catalase inhibition. After transfection, myotubes were incubated with palmitic acid (500 mu M) and the insulin response, as well as mitochondrial function and fatty acid metabolism, was determined. The low mitochondrial oxygen consumption led to elevated ROS production by a mechanism associated with beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Rotenone was observed to reduce the ratio of ROS production. The elevated H2O2 production markedly decreased the PGC1 alpha transcription, an effect that was accompanied by a reduced phosphorylation of Akt and CREB. The catalase transfection prevented the reduction in the phosphorylated level of Ala and upregulated the levels of phosphaylated CREB. The mitochondrial function was elevated and H2O2 production reduced, thus increasing the insulin sensitivity. The catalase overexpression improved mitochondrial respiration protecting the cells from fatty acid-induced, insulin resistance. This effect indicates that control of hydrogen peroxide production regulates the mitochondrial respiration preventing the insulin resistance in skeletal muscle cells by a mechanism associated with CREB phosphorylation and beta-oxidation of fatty acids. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.18321015911604Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Selkeäkielisen potilasohjeen kehittäminen varfariinihoitoa saavalle potilaalle

Tässä opinnäytetyössä on tarkoituksena selvittää selkeän kielen tarvetta eteisvärinäpotilaan kirjallisessa ohjauksessa sekä tuottaa juurruttamisen menetelmällä varfariinihoitoa saavan potilaan selkeäkielinen hoito-opas. Opinnäytetyö on tehty yhteistyössä perusturvakuntayhtymä Karviaisen terveyskeskuksien henkilökunnan kanssa. Opinnäytetyö on osa Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulun Pumppu-osahanketta. Pumppu-hanke on ylimaakunnallinen vuosina 2011–2014 toteutettava teemahanke, jota rahoittavat Päijät-Hämeen liitto ja Etelä-Suomen maakuntien EU-yksikkö. Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulun Pumppu-osahankkeessa etsitään keinoja asiakkaan terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin edistämiseen sekä hoitamiseen erilaisilla hyvinvointipoluilla. Aineiston tiedonkeruu tehtiin teemahaastattelulla sekä sähköisellä kyselylomakkeella. Vastaukset analysoitiin sisällönanalyysin avulla. Kehittämistoiminnan lopputuotoksena laadittiin selkeäkielinen Marevan®-hoidon miniopas. Marevan®-hoidon miniopas sisältää selkeäkielistä tietoa Marevan®-lääkityksestä, veren hyytymiskyvyn seurannan merkityksestä, lääkkeen annostelusta sekä ruokavalion, alkoholin että muiden lääkkeiden ja luontaistuotteiden vaikutuksista Marevan®-lääkityksessä. Oppaassa on myös kerrottu Marevan®-lääkityksen erityistilanteista, kuten lääkitykseen liittyvistä vaaratekijöistä. Marevan®-hoidon miniopas on otettu työyhteisössä käyttöön toukokuussa 2013. Työyhteisö kerää asiakkailta palautetta minioppaasta puolistrukturoidulla arviointilomakkeella. Palautteiden pohjalta he tulevat jatkossa arvioimaan oppaan käytön ja kehittämisen tarvetta.The development of a clear language patient guide for a patient with warfarin therapy In this thesis the purpose is to find out the need for a clear language written guidance for a patient with atrial fibrillation and produce a clear language patient´s Guide for a patient with warfarin therapy by using dissemination method. The thesis is made in cooperation with the staff of health centers in Karviainen Health District. The thesis is a part of Pumppu subproject in Laurea University for Applied Sciences. The Pumppu project is an interregional theme of the project which to be carried out in 2011- 2014, and is financed by Päijät-Häme Region Association and the EU unit of southern provinces of Finland. A subproject Pumppu in Laurea University for Applied Sciences is searching for ways to promote and care for a customer`s health and welfare by different welfare paths. The material for this thesis was gathered by using a theme interview and an electronic questionnaire. The answers were analyzed by using content analysis. As the final result of development, a clear language mini guide of Marevan® therapy was drawn up. A Marevan® therapy mini guide includes clear language information about Marevan® therapy, the importance of blood clotting ability monitoring, drug delivery and the effects of diet, alcohol, other medicines and natural remedies for medicine in Marevan® therapy. The guide tells also about the specific situations in Marevan® therapy, such as the risk factors of Marevan® therapy. Marevan® therapy mini guide has been introduced at workplace in May 2013. The workplace collects the feedback of the mini guide from the patients with a semi- structured form. On the basis of feedback they will estimate the need of use and development of the guide in the future

Risco nutricional em cirurgia avaliado pelo índice de massa corporal ajustado ou não para pacientes idosos Nutritional risk in surgery evaluated by body mass index adjusted or not to elderly patients

RACIONAL: O índice de massa corporal vem sendo usado indistintamente entre idosos ou não para a avaliação do estado nutricional. A hipótese deste trabalho é a de que em pacientes idosos um ponto de corte mais alto para o índice de massa corporal pode ter maior validade na aferição do risco nutricional em cirurgia. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a morbimortalidade em pacientes cirúrgicos idosos comparada a pacientes mais jovens e sua associação com valores baixos de índice de massa corporal utilizando-se um ponto de corte convencional (18,5 kg/m²) e outro adaptado para pacientes com idade avançada (24 kg/m²). PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: Um mil e novecentos e doze pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: <65 anos n = 1627) e >65 anos (n = 285). Comparou-se nos dois grupos o tempo de internação e a morbimortalidade. Pacientes com idade >65 anos foram estratificados segundo o índice de massa corporal <18,5 kg/m² ou <24 kg/m², e analisados quanto a complicações pós-operatórias, reoperações, óbito e tempo de internação. RESULTADOS: O tempo de internação foi maior em pacientes com idade >65 anos (6 [1-75] dias vs. 4 [1-137] dias), assim como as complicações pós-operatórias (37/285; 13,0% vs. 109/1627; 6,7%; OR 2,1; IC95% 1,40-3,09) e óbitos (15/285; 5,3% vs. 34/1627; 2,1%; OR 2,6; IC95% 1,40-4,84). Em pacientes com índice de massa corporal < 24 kg/m², o tempo de internação (8 [1-75] dias vs. 4 [1-43] dias), complicações pós-operatórias (28/152; 18,4% vs. 9/133; 6,8%; OR 3,1; IC95% 1,41-6,86) e reoperações (16/152; 10,5% vs. 3/133; 2,2%; OR 5,1; IC95% 1,45-17,91) mostraram-se maiores. Utilizando-se como ponto de corte o índice de massa corporal de 18,5 kg/m², não houve diferenças. CONCLUSÕES: A morbimortalidade é alta em pacientes cirúrgicos de idade avançada. Nestes, o índice de massa corporal abaixo de 24 kg/m² mostrou melhor associação com a ocorrência de complicações pós-operatórias, reoperações e tempo prolongado de internação.<br>BACKGROUND: Standard body mass index cut-off points for malnutrition are routinely used for adults independently of their age. The hypothesis of this study was that a cut-off point higher than the usual for the diagnosis of malnutrition might be more precise to access the nutritional risk of aged surgical patients. AIM: To evaluate the morbimortality in aged surgical patients and its association with nutritional status assessed by body mass index using either the standard and a higher cut-off point for malnutrition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients admitted for operative procedures (n = 1,912) were allocated to either two groups: <65 years (n = 1,627) or >65 years old (n = 285). The body mass index was used to access the nutritional status. Two different cut-off points for malnutrition (18.5 or 24 kg/m²) were used in the group of older patients. Endpoints of the study were length of stay, morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Length of stay was higher in patients over 65 years (6 [1-75] days vs. 4 [1-137] days). Both postoperative complications (37/285; 13.0% vs. 109/1627; 6,7%; OR 2,1; IC95% 1,40-3,09) and deaths (15/285; 5.3% vs. 34/1627; 2,1%; OR 2,6; IC95% 1,40-4,84) were most common in the older group. Using a higher cut-off (24 kg/m²), the length of stay (8 [1-75] days vs. 4 [1-43] days), postoperative complications (28/152; 18.4% versus 9/133; 6.8%; OR 3,1; IC95% 1.41-6.86) and re-operations (16/152; 10.5% versus 3/133; 2.2%; OR 5.1; IC95% 1.45-17.91) were greater in malnourished patients. However these correlations were not statistically significant with the cut-off point for malnutrition in 18.5 kg/m². CONCLUSIONS: Morbimortality is higher in surgical patients over 65 years old. In these, the cut-off point set in 24 kg/m² was most associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications, re-operations and length of stay