Potential use of Erica andevalensis and Erica australis in phytoremediation of sulphide mine environments: São Domingos, Portugal

The area around the São Domingos copper mine (Iberian Pyrite Belt) is subject of great environmental concern as acid mine water occurs several kilometres downstream of the mine. In addition thousands of tons of mine waste are present. Erica australis and Erica andevalensis, which are two spontaneous plant species of this area, have been studied with regard to their potential for phytostabilization. Soils and plants from São Domingos and from a reference site (Moreanes) were analysed for soil characteristics, chemical element content in soils (total and AB-DTPA bioavailable fraction) and in plants. Superficial and seepage water as well as waste material leachates were also analysed. Seepage water showed high redox potential (mean 481 mV), high conductivity (mean 4337 μS cm−1) and low pH values (mean 2.6), being classified as mining water. Leachate solutions possessed mainly high levels of Fe, Al and SO42−. Soils in the mining area were highly contaminated in Pb, As and Sb. Locally also high values of Cu and Zn were encountered and the soil available fraction of the majority of the elements showed also quite high values. E. andevalensis grows in soils with pH between 3 and 4, whereas E. australis was only found in soils with pH above 3.5. Both species grow spontaneously in soils, highly contaminated with Pb, As and Sb. These plants, even in the non contaminated soils, are Al-tolerant and Mn-accumulators. In contaminated soils these species are also As-tolerant. Considering the tolerant behaviour in extreme environmental conditions, these Erica species may be of major importance for the recovery of the sulphide mining areas, with climate conditions compatible with its breeding and growing, by physical and chemical stabilization of contaminated soils and even waste material

A double-blind comparison of the effect of the antipsychotics haloperidol and olanzapine on sleep in mania

The effects of haloperidol and olanzapine on polysomnographic measures made in bipolar patients during manic episodes were compared. Twelve DSM-IV mania patients were randomly assigned to receive either haloperidol (mean ± SD final dosage: 5.8 ± 3.8 mg) or olanzapine (mean ± SD final dosage: 13.6 ± 6.9 mg) in a 6-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. One-night polysomnographic evaluation was performed before and after the haloperidol or olanzapine treatment. Psychopathology and illness severity were rated respectively with the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Clinical Global Impressions - Bipolar version (CGI-BP). There was a significant improvement in the YMRS and CGI-BP scores at the end of the study for both groups. Mixed ANOVA used to compare the polysomnographic measures of both drugs demonstrated significant improvement in sleep measures with olanzapine. In the olanzapine group, statistically significant time-drug interaction effects on sleep continuity measures were observed: sleep efficiency (mean ± SEM pre-treatment value: 6.7 ± 20.3%; after-treatment: 85.7 ± 10.9%), total wake time (pre-treatment: 140.0 ± 92.5 min; after-treatment: 55.2 ± 44.2 min), and wake time after sleep onset (pre-treatment: 109.7 ± 70.8 min; after-treatment: 32.2 ± 20.7 min). Conversely, improvement of polysomnographic measures was not observed for the haloperidol group (P > 0.05). These results suggest that olanzapine is more effective than haloperidol in terms of sleep-promoting effects, although olanzapine is comparatively as effective as haloperidol in treating mania. Polysomnography records should provide useful information on how manic states can be affected by psychopharmacological agents

MENÇÕES SOBRE O ESTADO NUTRICIONAL. Nos Registos Clínicos de Doentes Hospitalizadosvo

Está descrito que a frequência de desnutrição associada à doença (DAD) afecta cerca de 30 a 60% dos doentes no momento da admissão hospitalar e cerca de 10% dos indivíduos na comunidade. A DAD tem vindo a ser associada a graves consequências, como ao maior risco de infecções e de disfunção de órgãos e a um aumento significativo, não só da morbilidade e mortalidade, como da frequência e dos custos com os cuidados de saúde. A falta do reconhecimento e da monitorização dos aspectos relacionados com o estado nutricional, têm sido apontados como factores que contribuem para o aumento da frequência de DAD, durante o internamento hospitalar. Foi objectivo deste estudo avaliar a relevância que é dada a aspectos relacionados com o estado nutricional dos doentes (peso, ingestão alimentar) e saber se os doentes em risco nutricional ou desnutridos serão alvo de maior atenção por parte dos profissionais de saúde. Foi recolhida uma amostra sistemática de seis hospitais portugueses, correspondente a 42-50% do total de camas de cada serviço de internamento. Foram critérios de exclusão a doença crítica, a gravidez, a idade inferior a 18 anos, a incapacidade de aplicação do protocolo de rastreio nutricional e o tempo de internamento inferior a 24h. Recolheram- se dados sócio-demográficos, antropométricos, sobre as menções dos processos clínicos respeitantes ao peso, cuidados alimentares/nutricionais prestados e ingestão alimentar/nutricional dos doentes e aplicou-se uma ferramenta de rastreio nutricional (Nutritional Risk Screening 2002). Em 1152 doentes estudados, a frequência de risco nutricional variou entre os 28,5% e 47,3%, enquanto que a frequência de desnutrição antropométrica oscilou entre 6,3% e 14,9%. Dois em cada três doentes tinha menções acerca de cuidados alimentares/ nutricionais prestados nos processos clínicos, mas apenas um em cada três tinha o seu peso medido e registado. Os doentes desnutridos foram pesados com menor frequência mas a sua alimentação e problemas a ela associados foram monitorizados com maior regularidade. A frequência de DAD, no momento de admissão hospitalar, é muito elevada, enquanto que a de menções relevantes para o estado nutricional é muito escassa. A presente investigação reforça a necessidade de investir na sensibilização dos profissionais de saúde, sobre a importância do rastreio e da prescrição/monitorização da alimentação e do peso dos doentes, na admissão e durante todo o internamento hospitalar

Relationships between leaf water potential and photosynthetic activity of field grapevines grown under different soil water regimes

Relationships between ecophysiological parameters from a grapevine irrigation experiment (rain-fed vs. deficit irrigation) conducted during 1998 at Alentejo, south of Portugal, with the red variety Aragonez (syn. Tempranillo) are presented and discussed. The irrigation affected positively grapevine physiology without changing berry composition. Predawn leaf water potential shows a significant dependence on available soil water, measured by a neutron probe, the correlation coefficients being higher in nonirrigated plants than in irrigated ones. Leaf water potential (Ψ) values measured in exposed leaves in the morning and afternoon were also significantly correlated with available soil water. Net CO2 assimilation rate (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) of sun leaves measured throughout the growing season at three different periods of the day were significantly correlated with predawn leaf water potential, nonirrigated vines presenting the highest correlation coefficients. Significant correlations were also found between Ψ and A or gs measured in the early morning. Our results show that, in water stress conditions, predawn leaf water potential can be used as an indicator of soil water availability and physiological activity of sun exposed leavesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Multivariate analysis of the water quality variation in the Serra da Estrela (Portugal) Natural Park as a consequence of road deicing with salt.

The concentration of some anions (Cl, F, NO3, and SO4), cations (Na, K, Ca, and Mg), pH and conductivity was determined in seven sampling points in the Serra da Estrela Mountains (Portugal) to verify if the application of road deicing with salt provokes impact in the water quality. Multivariate chemometric data analysis techniques of clustering and factor analysis were used. Preliminary analysis shows an overall conductivity increase in late spring and a decrease in late summer. A strong association between sodium chloride and the conductivity was observed by cluster analysis. Factor analysis supports the previous results and shows that the variation of the concentration of sodium chloride is the main source of the variance of the data along the year. In conclusion, the spreading of salt during the winter creates a local and seasonal impact on the water quality

PRIMER REGISTRO DE METACERCARIAS (DIGENEA) INFECTANDO ASTRONOTUS OCELLATUS (PERCIFORMES: CICHLIDAE) DE LA REGIÓN AMAZÓNICA, BRASIL

This study aimed to report infection by metacercariae ofthe genera Posthodiplostomum Dubois, 1936 (Diplostomidae) and Herpetodiplostomum Dubois, 1936 (Proterodiplostomidae) in the gills of Oscar Astronotus ocellatus Agassiz, 1831 (Cichlidae) from Lake Pracuúba, in the municipality of Pracuúba, State of Amapá (eastern Amazonia), Brazil. Out of 202 A. ocellatus examined, 142 had gills infected by metacercariae of Herpetodiplostomum sp. (prevalence= 70.3%) and Posthodiplostomum sp. (prevalence= 59.4%). However, 97 hosts were infected by both metacercariae species (prevalence= 48.0%). A total of 1123 specimens of Herpetodiplostomum sp. and 463 specimens of Posthodiplostomum sp. were collected and the mean intensity of infection was 7.8 ± 11.6 and 3.9 ± 4.4, respectively. This is the first report of Digenea in A. ocellatus.Este estudio tiene como objetivo el registro de la infestación por metacercarias de los géneros Posthodiplostomum Dubois, 1936 (Diplostomidae) y Dubois Herpetodiplostomum, 1936 (Proterodiplostomidae) en las branquias del Astronotus ocellatus Agassiz, 1831 (Cichlidae) del lago Pracuúba, en el Municipio de Pracuúba, Estado de Amapá, Brasil. De doscientos ejemplares de A. ocellatus examinados, 142 tenian las branquias infestadas por Herpetodiplostomum sp. (prevalencia = 70,3%) y por Posthodiplostomum sp. (prevalencia = 59,4%). Sin embargo 97 hospederos fueron infestados por estas dos especies de metacercarias (prevalencia = 48,0%). Del total de ejemplares de A. ocellatus examinados fueron extraidos 1.123 parasitos de Herpetodiplostomum sp. y 463 parasitos de Posthodiplostomum sp., y la media de intensidad de la infestación fue de 7,8 ± 3,9 y 11,6 ± 4,4, respectivamente. Este es el primer registro de Digenea en A. ocellatus

Climate Long-Term Trends Impacting Wheat Production Systems in Kansas

Winter wheat production is of major importance in Kansas. The purpose of the study was to verify the evidence of climate change in a long-term weather data series from Wellington and Parsons, KS, to understand whether climate change has been affecting yield production

Kinin B2 receptor regulates chemokines CCL2 and CCL5 expression and modulates leukocyte recruitment and pathology in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice

BACKGROUND: Kinins are important mediators of inflammation and act through stimulation of two receptor subtypes, B1 and B2. Leukocyte infiltration contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmune inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS), occurring not only in multiple sclerosis (MS) but also in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We have previously shown that the chemokines CCL2 and CCL5 play an important role in the adhesion of leukocytes to the brain microcirculation in EAE. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relevance of B2 receptors to leukocyte-endothelium interactions in the cerebral microcirculation, and its participation in CNS inflammation in the experimental model of myelin-oligodendrocyte-glycoprotein (MOG)35-55-induced EAE in mice. METHODS: In order to evaluate the role of B2 receptor in the cerebral microvasculature we used wild-type (WT) and kinin B2 receptor knockout (B2-/-) mice subjected to MOG35-55-induced EAE. Intravital microscopy was used to investigate leukocyte recruitment on pial matter vessels in B2-/- and WT EAE mice. Histological documentation of inflammatory infiltrates in brain and spinal cords was correlated with intravital findings. The expression of CCL5 and CCL2 in cerebral tissue was assessed by ELISA. RESULTS: Clinical parameters of disease were reduced in B2-/- mice in comparison to wild type EAE mice. At day 14 after EAE induction, there was a significant decrease in the number of adherent leukocytes, a reduction of cerebral CCL5 and CCL2 expressions, and smaller inflammatory and degenerative changes in B2-/- mice when compared to WT. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that B2 receptors have two major effects in the control of EAE severity: (i) B2 regulates the expression of chemokines, including CCL2 and CCL5, and (ii) B2 modulates leukocyte recruitment and inflammatory lesions in the CNS

Application of Flow-Injection Spectrophotometry to Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analyses

The discovery of new drugs, especially when many samples have to be analyzed in the minimum of time, demand the improvement or development of new analytical methods. Various techniques may be employed for this purpose. In this context, this chapter gathers the collection of paper and represents the review of past work on spectrophotometric technique coupled to a continuous flow system to determine low concentrations of several chemical species in different kinds of pharmaceutical and biological samples. A short historical background of the flow-injection analysis technique and a brief discussion of the basic principles and potential are presented. Part of this chapter is devoted to describing the sample preparation techniques, principles, and figures of merit of analytical methods. Representative applications of flow-injection spectrophotometry to pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis are also described

Geochemical behavior of trace elements in the surroundings of Mina de S. Domingos, Alentejo: Tapada and Telheiro sites

Even thought the mining activity in S Domingos finished more than forty years ago, the mining site is still a source of polluting trace elements for soils and sediments downstream the open pit. The present work aims to evaluate the contamination of these soils and sediments. Therefore two sampling areas were selected: one, assumed as non-contaminated (Tapada), is used to access the reference values of the chemical variables for this region, and the other, downstream from the mining site, is affected by the mining activity (Telheiro). The soils and sediments were characterised on the <2 mm fraction, by pH (H2O), organic carbon and free iron oxides content. A total multi element analysis was done on the same fraction. Univariate and multivariate statistics were performed, as well as geochemical mapping using geostatistical interpolation methods. In Telheiro some samples had high levels of trace elements (mainly As, Pb, Sb, and Hg) and very low pH values (minimum 2.66), this is particularly obvious in the samples collected close to the acid mine drainage. In Tapada no contaminated soils were found. The multivariate analysis showed an association between As, Pb and Sb and between Cu and Z