Modelling Amazonian forest eddy covariance data: a comparison of big leaf versus sun/shade models for the C-14 tower at Manaus I. Canopy photosynthesis

In this study, we concentrate on modelling gross primary productivity using two simple approaches to simulate canopy photosynthesis: "big leaf" and "sun/shade" models. Two approaches for calibration are used: scaling up of canopy photosynthetic parameters from the leaf to the canopy level and fitting canopy biochemistry to eddy covariance fluxes. Validation of the models is achieved by using eddy covariance data from the LBA site C14. Comparing the performance of both models we conclude that numerically (in terms of goodness of fit) and qualitatively, (in terms of residual response to different environmental variables) sun/shade does a better job. Compared to the sun/shade model, the big leaf model shows a lower goodness of fit and fails to respond to variations in the diffuse fraction, also having skewed responses to temperature and VPD. The separate treatment of sun and shade leaves in combination with the separation of the incoming light into direct beam and diffuse make sun/shade a strong modelling tool that catches more of the observed variability in canopy fluxes as measured by eddy covariance. In conclusion, the sun/shade approach is a relatively simple and effective tool for modelling photosynthetic carbon uptake that could be easily included in many terrestrial carbon models.

Registros de Mantodea (Insecta) coletados à luz no dossel da floresta, na torre do km 14 do núcleo ZF-2, Manaus, Brasil

Foram realizadas coletas mensais de insetos de janeiro a dezembro de 2004, durante três noites de transição lunar minguante/nova, das 18:00 às 06:00 horas. Os espécimes foram capturados em um lençol iluminado com lâmpada de 250 watts, luz mista de vapor de mercúrio e lâmpada de 20 watts black light (BL) e black light bulb (BLB). A armadilha foi montada a 45 metros de altura numa torre metálica de 50 metros, que ultrapassa a maioria das copas das árvores, num platô de terra firme, na bacia do rio Cuieiras, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil. Foram coletados 23 espécies de Mantodea, sendo Chaeteessidae (1 espécie); Mantoididae (2); Mantidae (15); Thespidae (2) e Acanthopidae (3). Seis espécies são novas e serão descritas oportunamente nos seguintes gêneros: Cardioptera Burmeister, 1838, Phyllovates Kirby, 1904, Pseudovates Saussure, 1869, Stagmomantis Saussure, 1869, Stagmatoptera Burmeister, 1838 e Metilia Stal, 1877. Três espécies registradas para o Brasil sem uma região determinada estão sendo registradas para a Amazônia brasileira: Heterovates pardalina Saussure, 1872, Macromantis ovalifolia (Stoll, 1813) e Photina reticulata (Burmeister, 1838). Quatro registros são novos para o estado do Amazonas: Angela guianensis Rehn, 1906, Photina gracillis Giglio-Tos, 1915, Raptrix perspicua (Fabricius, 1787) e Vates festae Gigio-Tos, 1914. Os números de indivíduos, em cada coleta mensal, são apresentados para cada espécie.

Association study of the Ile349val polymorphism of the gene ADH1C and alcohol dependence

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the polymorphism Ile349Val of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase ADH1C gene among individuals with alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. METHODS: A total of 120 subjects residing in Rio de Janeiro city participated in this study. Subjects were divided into two groups: a group consisting of 54 individuals from the ADS group and 66 individuals that declared not having any alcohol dependence (control group). DNA was extracted from mouth epithelial cells by phenol-chloroform method and further submitted to amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Our results did not show differences between the genotypes of control individuals and ADS subjects. Nevertheless, we found increased rates of alcoholism in families of ADS subjects as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results did not show any genotype difference on the ADH1C gene when control and AA genotypes are compared.

Relacionamento entre pai e mãe e consumo de álcool segundo relato de escolares de 12 a 14 anos do sul do Brasil

RESUMO Objetivo Investigar a relação entre uma avaliação negativa do relacionamento entre pai e mãe e seu consumo de álcool segundo o relato de escolares de 12 a 14 anos do sul do Brasil. Métodos Estudo transversal de base escolar, no qual foram visitadas todas as escolas dos municípios de Lajeado e Sapiranga, no interior do Rio Grande do Sul, em 2012, com amostragem aleatória, estratificada por sexo, idade, município e rede de ensino (pública estadual, pública municipal ou privada). Os dados foram submetidos a análise descritiva e a regressão de Poisson, com controle de efeito de delineamento para a variável escola. Resultados A amostra foi composta por 2.189 escolares, sendo 1.351 (61,7%) da cidade de Lajeado e 838 (38,3%) de Sapiranga. Não se identificou associação estatisticamente significativa entre consumo de álcool da mãe e relacionamento entre pai e mãe percebido como negativo. Já o consumo de álcool do pai reduziu a probabilidade de a relação entre ele e a mãe do escolar ser referida de modo negativo, na análise bruta [RP = 0,857 (IC95%: 0,744-0,988)]. Essa associação também desaparece na análise ajustada para sexo, idade e escolaridade do principal responsável. Conclusão Do conjunto dos relatos dos escolares, não se mantém qualquer associação entre o consumo de álcool dos adultos e relacionamentos avaliados pelos jovens como negativos. Há risco de haver dissonância entre essas evidências e as que embasam discursos que indicam riscos decorrentes do consumo de álcool para as relações familiares. Aprofundar estudos como esse pode ser oportuno para qualificar políticas públicas na área.

Biventricular pacing improves clinical behavior and reduces prevalence of ventricular srrhythmia in patients with heart failure

PURPOSE: To analyze the influence of biventricular pacing (BP) on clinical behavior, ventricular arrhythmia (VA) prevalence, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) by gated ventriculography. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB) and NYHA class III and IV underwent pacemaker implantation and were randomized either to the conventional or BP group, all receiving BP after 6 months. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were in NYHA class IV (66.6%) and 8 were in class III (33.4%). After 1-year follow-up, 14 patients were in class II (70%) and 5 were in class III (25%). Two sudden cardiac deaths occurred. A significant reduction in QRS length was found with BP (p=0.006). A significant statistical increase, from a mean of 19.13 ± 5.19% (at baseline) to 25.33 ± 5.90% (with BP) was observed in LVEF Premature ventricular contraction prevalence decreased from a mean of 10,670.00 ± 12,595.39 SD or to a mean of 3,007.00 ± 3,216.63 SD PVC/24 h with BP (p<0.05). Regarding the hospital admission rate over 1 year, we observed a significant reduction from 60. To 16 admissions with BP (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with LBBB and severe heart failure experienced, with BP, a significant NYHA class and LVEF improvement. A reduction in the hospital admission rate and VA prevalence also occurred.

Analysis of the Association Between Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in an Elderly Population with Longevity

OBJECTIVE: To establish the allelic and genotypic frequencies related to apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism and association of the genotypes with risk factors and cardiovascular morbidity in an elderly population with longevity. METHODS: We analyzed 70 elderly patients aged 80 years or more who were part of the Projeto Veranópolis. We used the gene amplification technique through the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and cleavage with the restriction enzyme Hha I to identify the ApoE genotypes. The most frequent genotypes were compared considering biological variables and cardiovascular risks and morbidity. RESULTS: The frequencies of the E2, E3, and E4 alleles were 0.05, 0.84, and 0.11, respectively, and of the genotypes were as follows: E3E3 (0.70), E3E4 (0.22), E2E3 (0.06), and E2E2 (0.02). Individuals with the E3E4 had a mean age greater than those with the E3E3. No association was observed between the genotypes and the variables analyzed, except for obesity, which was associated with the E3E3 genotype. Individuals with the E3E4 genotype had high levels of LDL-cholesterol and fibrinogen as compared with those with the E3E3 genotype. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the E4E4 genotype may be associated with early mortality. A balance between the protective or neutral factors and the cardiovascular risk factors may occur among the individuals with different genotypes, attenuating the negative effects of the E4 allele.

A multicenter, open-label study of the efficacy and safety of telmisartan in mild to moderate hypertensive patients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of telmisartan, given once a day to patients with mild to moderate hypertension, as well as to assess the 24-hour blood pressure profile with ABPM. METHODS: Initially, 163 patients over 18 were selected, regardless of sex, with blood pressure levels >140/90mmHg at visit 1, which was confirmed at visit 2. One hundred thirty-four patients completed the study. After a 4-week placebo run-in phase, telmisartan 40mg/daily was given for 6 weeks. In those patients whose blood pressure (BP) levels were lower than 140/90mmHg, the same dosage was kept for an additional period of 6 weeks. For those who had BP higher than 140/90mmHg, the dosage was increased to 80mg/daily. Sixty-two patients were included in a subgroup that underwent ABPM 3 different times during the study. RESULTS: In the overall group, blood pressure reduction ranged from 162.3±14.5/101.3±5.75 mmHg (baseline) to 147.3±20.1/90.8±10.9 mmHg (week 12) (p<0.05). Mean blood pressure decreases were 14.4mmHg for systolic BP and 10.3mmHg for diastolic BP, after 12 weeks of active treatment. A subanalysis showed that 47 (35%) patients took telmisartan 40mg throughout the study and 81 (65%) had the dosage increased to 80mg daily. Using ABPM, an 8-mmHg reduction in systolic BP as well as a 5-mmHg reduction in diastolic BP were observed, when compared with baseline values in the final 6 hours (18-24 hours after the last dose of study medication). CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that telmisartan given once a day is effective in reducing blood pressure levels in mild to moderate hypertensive patients. This reduction occurs in a sustained and gradual manner during a 24-hour period confirmed by ABPM.

Prevalence of systemic hypertension in students aged 7 to 14 years in the municipality of Barbacena, in the State of Minas Gerais, in 1999

OBJECTIVE: To detect the prevalence of systemic hypertension in children and to establish the relation between blood pressure levels and sex, age, ethnicity, weight, and height. METHODS: The prevalence of systemic hypertension and its relation to sex, age, ethnicity, weight, and height were studied in 611 students aged 7 to 14 years out of 19.928 students classified according to age, ethnicity, and sex, who underwent anthropometric evaluation and blood pressure measurement. Hypertensive individuals were considered those whose blood pressure level was > the 95th percentile for age and sex, confirmed on 3 examinations. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension was 16.6% in the first evaluation, and 4.6% and 2.5% in the subsequent evaluations. The mean blood pressure levels increased with age. Weight was important, not only to determine blood pressure in healthy children, but also to determine systemic hypertension in children, which was not observed with height despite the different studies. The prevalence of systemic hypertension in the different ethnic groups and the mean blood pressure levels according to sex were similar. CONCLUSION: In addition to routine physical examinations, age, weight, and appropriate cuff size should be considered when assessing blood pressure in children to prevent hypertension, morbidity and mortality, and to avoid placing a financial burden on health care providers.

Tumores renais e adrenais com invasão cardíaca: resultados cirúrgicos imediatos em 14 pacientes

FUNDAMENTO: A ressecção do trombo tumoral em veia cava inferior (VCI) e átrio direito (AD) aumenta a sobrevida do paciente com câncer renal/supra-renal. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a conduta cirúrgica do trombo da VCI e AD no tratamento dos tumores renais e supra-renais. MÉTODOS:De janeiro de 1997 a junho de 2007 foram avaliados, retrospectivamente, 14 pacientes tratados cirurgicamente para retirada de trombo em VCI e/ou AD decorrente de tumor renal ou supra-renal. Desses, 64,2% eram do sexo masculino, e havia 42,8% de casos de tumor de Wilms (TW), 28,5% de adenocarcinoma de supra-renal (AS) e 28,5% de carcinoma de células claras (CC), com idades médias de 4,5, 60,5 e 2,5 anos, respectivamente. Aspectos epidemiológicos e parâmetros intra e pós-operatórios hospitalar foram avaliados. RESULTADOS: Em todos os casos encontrou-se trombo tumoral em VCI supra-hepática, e em 62,4% o trombo invadiu o AD. A trombectomia foi realizada com o emprego da circulação extracorpórea associada à hipotermia profunda e parada circulatória total em 85,7% dos casos e moderada no restante. Ligou-se a VCI em 7,1% dos pacientes, e reconstruiu-se por rafia em 92,9%. Os tempos de intubação orotraqueal e internação variaram conforme o tipo de tumor. Ocorreram dois óbitos hospitalares no grupo de AS, por parada cardiorrespiratória intra-operatória. CONCLUSÃO: Existe maior número de casos de trombo tumoral em VCI e AD decorrente de TW. Os casos de AS evoluem com mais complicações no pós-operatório, e o prognóstico no pós-operatório hospitalar dos pacientes com TW é melhor.

Correlação entre variáveis de composição corporal e metabólica em adolescentes do sexo feminino

FUNDAMENTO: Análise das alterações metabólicas e de composição corporal em adolescentes. OBJETIVO: Estudar a correlação entre níveis séricos de lipídios, glicemia, insulina, homocisteína, HOMA-IR e pressão arterial, entre si e com variáveis corporais. MÉTODOS: Coletaram-se dados referentes a glicemia, colesterol total e frações (LDL, HDL e VLDL), triacilgliceróis, insulina, homocisteína e pressão arterial em 100 adolescentes de 14 a 17 anos de escolas públicas de Viçosa (MG) que já haviam apresentado a menarca. A porcentagem de gordura corporal (%GC) foi avaliada pela bioimpedância horizontal. RESULTADOS: Em relação ao estado nutricional, 83%, 11% e 6%, respectivamente, apresentaram eutrofia (EU), risco de sobrepeso/sobrepeso (RS/SP) e baixo peso (BP) (CDC/NCHS, 2000), e 61% apresentaram alta %GC. O colesterol total foi o que apresentou maior porcentagem de inadequação (57%), seguido do HDL (50%), LDL (47%) e triacilgliceróis (22%). Observou-se inadequação em 11%, 9%, 5% e 4%, respectivamente, em relação à resistência a insulina, insulina, pressão arterial e glicemia. Para colesterol total, insulina, HOMA-IR e estado nutricional, RS/SP>BP (p<0,05). Para as variáveis de composição corporal e estado nutricional, RS/SP>EU>BP (p<0,001). Encontraram-se correlações positivas e fortes entre o IMC e as medidas antropométricas que estimam a %GC total, bem como distribuição central, exceto para relação cintura/quadril. A %GC correlacionou-se com níveis de insulina (r=0,303; p<0,001) e HOMA-IR (r=0,281; p<0,001). CONCLUSÃO: Encontraram-se alterações metabólicas ligadas na maioria das vezes ao excesso de peso e de gordura corporal e à resistência a insulina, reforçando a importância de programas específicos de atenção à saúde do adolescente.