Energetic sustainability of three arabica coffee growing systems used by family farming units in Espírito Santo state

Three growing systems of Arabica coffee were evaluated under the energy perspective, in the state of Espírito Santo in Brazil. The systems are conventional cultivation (CC), cultivation with good agricultural practices (CGP) and organic farming (OF). It was made a comparison of the energy flows within these three systems to show sustainable levels of each one based on production average data of several family-farming units. Therefore, we analyzed crop yield, total energy efficiency reverse (TEER), energy efficiency of ripe coffee (EERC) and non-renewable energy efficiency (NREE). OF system had values for TEER, EERC and NREE of 3.3 4.7 and 7.9 respectively. Yet CC showed values of 1.8, 1.9 and 1.6 for TEER, EERC and NREE respectively. Furthermore, CGP presented values for TEER, EERC and NREE of 0.7, 1.3 and 1.4 respectively. The highest yield was observed in CGP, reaching an amount of 1794 kg ha-1(17,455 MJ); however, this system expends more energy than it converts. Thus, over those points, OF is the most sustainable system.

Câncer gástrico precoce: contribuição ao diagnóstico e resultado do tratamento cirúrgico

OBJETIVOS: Analisar o diagnóstico e tratamento de pacientes portadores de câncer gástrico precoce. MÉTODO: Foram estudados 34 pacientes portadores de neoplasia gástrica precoce (CGP) tratados no Serviço de Cirurgia do Aparelho Digestivo Alto da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da PUC- Campinas durante o período de janeiro de 1978 a dezembro de 1998. RESULTADOS: O diagnóstico foi feito através da endoscopia digestiva alta e biópsia, sendo que em dois deles (5,9%) a biópsia revelou apenas atipias em lesão ulcerada gástrica. O estudo histopatológico das peças cirúrgicas confirmou a existência de adenocarcinoma em todos os pacientes. A localização mais freqüente da neoplasia foi o antro gástrico e os tipos macroscópicos mais encontrados foram IIc e IIc + III. Quanto à profundidade na parede do estômago, verificou-se a prevalência da localização na mucosa. Em nenhum dos casos constatou-se invasão linfonodal. Todos os doentes foram submetidos à gastrectomia subtotal com linfadenectomia D2 e a reconstrução mais freqüente foi a gastro-jejunostomia em Y de Roux (67,6%). O seguimento pós-operatório dos pacientes variou de 17 dias a 21 anos e meio, o qual mostrou complicações em três deles (8,8%). Apenas dois óbitos ocorreram (5,8%), um por complicações pós-operatórias e outro, tardiamente, por recidiva da doença. CONCLUSÕES: A incidência de câncer gástrico precoce (CGP) encontrada no presente estudo (8,7%), mostrou-se semelhante àquela referida pela literatura dos países ocidentais, sendo, entretanto, pobre em relação à incidência referida nas séries japonesas. Este fato valoriza a necessidade da realização de exames endoscópicos periódicos nos pacientes que compõem o chamado grupo de risco para a doença neoplásica do estômago. Finalmente, entendeu-se que quando o CGP está localizado na mucosa e não apresenta invasão de linfonodos e nem metástases à distância, a sobrevida é muito boa.

Effect of selective angiotensin antagonists on the antidiuresis produced by angiotensin-(1-7) in water-loaded rats

In the present study we evaluated the nature of angiotensin receptors involved in the antidiuretic effect of angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7)) in water-loaded rats. Water diuresis was induced in male Wistar rats weighing 280 to 320 g by water load (5 ml/100 g body weight by gavage). Immediately after water load the rats were treated subcutaneously with (doses are per 100 g body weight): 1) vehicle (0.05 ml 0.9% NaCl); 2) graded doses of 20, 40 or 80 pmol Ang-(1-7); 3) 200 nmol Losartan; 4) 200 nmol Losartan combined with 40 pmol Ang-(1-7); 5) 1.1 or 4.4 nmol A-779; 6) 1.1 nmol A-779 combined with graded doses of 20, 40 or 80 pmol Ang-(1-7); 7) 4.4 nmol A-779 combined with graded doses of 20, 40 or 80 pmol Ang-(1-7); 8) 95 nmol CGP 42112A, or 9) 95 nmol CGP 42112A combined with 40 pmol Ang-(1-7). The antidiuretic effect of Ang-(1-7) was associated with an increase in urinary Na+ concentration, an increase in urinary osmolality and a reduction in creatinine clearance (CCr: 0.65 ± 0.04 ml/min vs 1.45 ± 0.18 ml/min in vehicle-treated rats, P<0.05). A-779 and Losartan completely blocked the effect of Ang-(1-7) on water diuresis (2.93 ± 0.34 ml/60 min and 3.39 ± 0.58 ml/60 min, respectively). CGP 42112A, at the dose used, did not modify the antidiuretic effect of Ang-(1-7). The blockade produced by Losartan was associated with an increase in CCr and with an increase in sodium and water excretion as compared with Ang-(1-7)-treated rats. When Ang-(1-7) was combined with A-779 there was an increase in CCr and natriuresis and a reduction in urine osmolality compared with rats treated with Ang-(1-7) alone. The observation that both A-779, which does not bind to AT1 receptors, and Losartan blocked the effect of Ang-(1-7) suggests that the kidney effects of Ang-(1-7) are mediated by a non-AT1 angiotensin receptor that is recognized by Losartan.