PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A LARGE-SCALE TREE INVENTORY OF UPLAND RAIN FOREST IN THE CENTRAL AMAZON

A large-scale inventory of trees > 10cm DBH was conducted in the upland "terra firme" rain forest of the Distrito Agropecuário da SUFRAMA (Manaus Free Zone Authority Agricultural District) approximately 65Km north of the city of Manaus (AM), Srasil. Thegeneral appearance and structure of the forest is described together with local topography and soil texture. Thepreliminary results of the Inventory provide a minimum estimate of 698 tree species in 53 families in the 40Km radius sampled, including 17 undescribed species. Themost numerically abundant families, Lecythidaceae, Leguminosae, 5apotaceae and Burseraceae as also among the most species rich families. One aspect of this diverse assemblage is the proliferation of species within certain genera, Including 26 genera In 17 families with 6 or more species or morphospecies. Most species have very low abundances of less than 1 tree per hectare. While more abundant species do exist at densities ranging up to a mean of 12 trees per ha, many have clumped distributions leading to great variation in local species abundance. The degree of similarity between hectare samples based int the Coefficient of Community similarity Index varies widely over different sample hectares for five ecologically different families. Soil texture apparently plays a significant role In determining species composition in the different one hectare plots examined while results for other variable were less consistent. Greater differences in similarity indices are found for comparisons with a one hectare sample within the same formation approximately 40Km to the south. It is concluded that homogeneity of tree community composition within this single large and diverse yet continuous upland forest formation can not be assumed.

Morfologia e estereologia do miocárdio em ratos hipertensos. Correlação com o tempo de inibição da síntese do óxido nítrico

OBJETIVO: Estudar mudanças estruturais do miocárdio decorrentes do tempo de inibição da síntese do óxido nítrico. MÉTODOS: Estudaram-se 4 grupos de 10 ratos: controle e L-Name (50mg/kg/dia) com 25 e 40 dias de experimentação. Os animais foram sacrificados e os corações processados tecnicamente para estudo em microscopia de luz, onde cortes corados pelo picro-sirius foram estudados com e sem luz polarizada para análise do colágeno do interstício cardíaco. Determinaram-se densidades de volume de miócitos (Vv[m]) e interstício cardíaco (Vv[int]), densidade numérica de miócitos (Nv[m]) e área transversal dos miócitos (A[m]). RESULTADOS: Compararam-se os animais L-Name com os respectivos controles. Nos L-Name a pressão da cauda aumentou 74,5 e 90,2% aos 25 e 40 dias, respectivamente. O peso cardíaco aumentou 50% e 28% aos 25 e 40 dias, respectivamente. O miocárdio dos animais L-Name apresentou hipertrofia de miócitos com aumento da A(m), fibrose perivascular e intersticial, espessamento das túnicas íntima e média das artérias intramiocárdicas. Aos 40 dias diminuíram Vv(m) e Nv(m) e aumentou Vv(int). CONCLUSÃO: Inibição da síntese do óxido nítrico provoca modificações miocárdicas que progridem com o tempo de administração de L-Name. A estereologia é uma metodologia útil para determinar e avaliar as modificações miocárdicas decorrentes deste modelo experimental de hipertensão arterial.

Detection of incipient left ventricular hypertrophy in mild to moderate arterial hypertension with normal electrocardiogram and echocardiogram: a new use for signal-averaged electrocardiography

OBJECTIVE: To assess signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) for diagnosing incipient left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). METHODS: A study with 115 individuals was carried out. The individuals were divided as follows: GI - 38 healthy individuals; GII - 47 individuals with mild to moderate hypertension and normal findings on echocardiogram and ECG; and GIII - 30 individuals with hypertension and documented LVH. The magnitude vector of the SAECG was analyzed with the high-pass cutoff frequency of 40 Hz through the bidirectional four-pole Butterworth high-pass digital filter. The mean quadratic root of the total QRS voltage (RMST) and the two-dimensional integral of the QRS area of the spectro-temporal map were analyzed between 0 and 30 Hz for the frequency domain (Int FD), and between 40 and 250 Hz for the time domain (Int TD). The electrocardiographic criterion for LVH was based on the Cornell Product. Left ventricular mass was calculated with the Devereux formula. RESULTS: All parameters analyzed increased from GI to GIII, except for Int FD (GII vs GIII) and RMST log (GII vs GIII). Int TD showed greater accuracy for detecting LVH with an appropriate cutoff > 8 (sensitivity of 55%, specificity of 81%). Positive values (> 8) were found in 56.5% of the G II patients and in 18.4% of the GI patients (p< 0.0005). CONCLUSION: SAECG can be used in the early diagnosis of LVH in hypertensive patients with normal ECG and echocardiogram.

Cost-Effectiveness of High, Moderate and Low-Dose Statins in the Prevention of Vascular Events in the Brazilian Public Health System

Background:Statins have proven efficacy in the reduction of cardiovascular events, but the financial impact of its widespread use can be substantial.Objective:To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of three statin dosing schemes in the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) perspective.Methods:We developed a Markov model to evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of low, intermediate and high intensity dose regimens in secondary and four primary scenarios (5%, 10%, 15% and 20% ten-year risk) of prevention of cardiovascular events. Regimens with expected low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction below 30% (e.g. simvastatin 10mg) were considered as low dose; between 30-40%, (atorvastatin 10mg, simvastatin 40mg), intermediate dose; and above 40% (atorvastatin 20-80mg, rosuvastatin 20mg), high-dose statins. Effectiveness data were obtained from a systematic review with 136,000 patients. National data were used to estimate utilities and costs (expressed as International Dollars - Int$). A willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold equal to the Brazilian gross domestic product per capita (circa Int$11,770) was applied.Results:Low dose was dominated by extension in the primary prevention scenarios. In the five scenarios, the ICER of intermediate dose was below Int$10,000 per QALY. The ICER of the high versus intermediate dose comparison was above Int$27,000 per QALY in all scenarios. In the cost-effectiveness acceptability curves, intermediate dose had a probability above 50% of being cost-effective with ICERs between Int$ 9,000-20,000 per QALY in all scenarios.Conclusions:Considering a reasonable WTP threshold, intermediate dose statin therapy is economically attractive, and should be a priority intervention in prevention of cardiovascular events in Brazil.

Use of an indirect haemagglutination test, for the detection of Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin

An indirect haemagglutination (IH) test is described for the detection of Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin, produced by strains isolated from human cases of food poisoning and from contaminated food. Though no strict relationship could be observed between titers in the IH test and the time it took mice to die from the intravenous inoculation of mice (IIM), results of the supernatants examined by both methods demonstrated that the IH test was more sensitive than the ILM one. No unspecific reaction was obtanined int he IH wirh a negative control and the inhibitions of the IH and IIM tests by specific antiserum against C. perfringens enterotoxin showed that the IH test is very spcific. The IH assay is recommended for its sensitivity and easy performance by less-equipped laboratories, by these and other data.

Pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of Alpinia speciosa

Alpinia speciosa Schum or A. nutans is a plant of the Zingiberanceae family, Known popularly as "colony" (colônia) and used as a diuretic and to control hypertensión. We have determinated the concentration of Na+ and K+ found in the alcoholic extract and in the tea concoction. They contained 51.0mEq Na+, and 132 mEq K+ in the extract, and 0,0 mEq of Na+ and 26 mEq K+ in the tea. Phytochemical analysis of the leaves demonstrated the presence of catecquic tanins, phenols and alkaloids, and also some essential oils. When injected intra-peritoneally the hydroalcoholic extract, in range of 100 a 1400 mg/Kg, (or 2500-18000 mg/Kg orally) produced in mice: writhing, psychomorot excitation, hypokinesis and pruritus. The LD50 by ip was 0.760 + or - 0.126 g/Kg and 10.0 + or - 2.5 g/Kg by oral administration for the hydroalcoholic extract. Subacute toxicity made injecting daily for 30 days the LD10 in rats caused an increase in transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase, whereas other parameters such as nlood glucose, urea and creatinine were normal. A histopathological analysis of liver, spleen, gut, lung and heart showed no alterations. The drug also produced a prolongation of the sleeping time. The hydroalcoholic extract induced int he rat and in the dog a dose-dependent fall in blood pressure in doses of 10 to 30 mg/Kg. In isolated atria the extract induced a reduction of the frequnecy and in the inotropic responses. Neither the extract nor the tea had an effect on the diuresis of the rat.

Plant lectins, chemical and biological aspects

Lectins, carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immune origin, that agglutinate cells or precipitate polysaccharides and glycoconjugates, are well distributed in nature, mainly in the Plant Kingdom. The great majority of the plante lectins are present in seed cotyledons where they are found in the cytoplasm or int he protein bodies, although they have also been found in roots, stems and leaves. Due to their peculiar properties, the lectins are used as a tool both for analytical and preparative purposes in biochemistry, cellular biology, immunology and related areas. In agriculture and medicine the use of lectins greatly improved in the last few years. The lextins, with few exceptions, are glycoproteins, need divalent cations to display full activity and are, in general, oligomers with variable molecular weight. Although the studies on lectins have completed a century, their role in nature is yet ynknown . Several hypotheses on their physiological functions have been suggested. Thus, lectins could play important roles in defense against pathogens, plant-microorganism symbiosis, cell organization, embryo morphogenesis, phagocytosis, cell wall elongation, pollen recognition and as reserve proteins. A brief review on the general properties and roles of the lectins is given.

Role of Immune Complexes from Pacients with Different Clinical Forms of Schistosomiasis in the Modulation of In Vitro Granuloma Reaction

Schistosomiasis is a disease whose pathology is strongly related to the granulomatous reaction formed around parasite eggs trapped in host tissues. Studies have shown that the chronic intestinal form (INT) of this infection is associated with a variety of immunoregulatory mechanisms which lead to a diminished granulomatous reaction. Using an in vitro model of granuloma reaction, we show that immune complexes (IC) isolated from sera of INT patients are able to reduce granulomatous reaction developed by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from acute (AC), INT and hepatosplenic (HE) patients to soluble egg antigen (SEA)-conjugated polyacrylamide beads (PB-SEA). This inhibitory activity is also observed in cell proliferation assay of PBMC from INT and HE patients stimulated with SEA and adult worm antigen (SWAP). Furthermore, IC isolated from sera of patients with different clinical forms of the disease are also able to suppress INT patients PBMC reactivity. Therefore, our results show that circulating IC present in sera of patients with different clinical forms of schistosomiasis may down-regulate PBMC reactivity to parasite antigens resulting in a diminished granuloma reaction to parasite eggs

High expression of co-stimulatory and adhesion molecules are observed on eosinophils during human Schistosoma mansoni infection

Herein we have focused attention on major phenotypic features of peripheral blood eosinophils from chronic Schistosoma mansoni-infected patients. For this purpose, detailed immunophenotypic profiles of a range of cell surface markers were performed, including activation markers (CD23/CD69/CD25/HLA-DR), co-stimulatory molecules (CD28/CD80/CD86), chemokine receptors (CXCR1/CXCR2/CCR3/CCR5) besides L-selectin-CD62L and adhesion molecules (CD18/CD54). Our major findings pointed out increased frequency of CD23+-cells, besides decreased percentages of CD69+-eosinophils, suggesting a chronic activation status with low frequency of early activated eosinophils in chronic S. mansoni-infected patients (INT) in comparison to non-infected individuals (NI). Moreover, a dichotomic expression of beta-chemokine receptors was observed during human schistosomiasis mansoni with higher CCR5 and lower levels of CCR3 observed between groups. Enhanced expression of co-stimulatory receptors (CD28/CD86) and adhesion molecules (CD54/CD18), besides striking lower frequency of L-selectin+ were reported for eosinophils from INT group as compared to NI. Interestingly, the frequency of CD62L+-eosinophils and a range of cell activation related molecules pointed out an opposite pattern of association in NI and INT, where only INT patients that display lower frequency of CD62L+-eosinophils (first CD62L tertile) kept the unusual relationship between the expression of L-selectin and the CD23 activation marker. These findings suggest that distinct dynamic of activation markers expressed by eosinophils may occur during chronic S. mansoni infection.

Quantificação de micélio extrarradicular de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares em plantas cítricas e endófitos: I. Método empregado

Otimização de métodos de extração e avaliação de micélio extrarradicular ativo (MEA) e total (MET) constituem os principais passos para um estudo mais profundo da interação fungo micorrízico arbuscular (FMA) e hospedeiro, já que a absorção e translocação dos nutrientes do substrato ao hospedeiro são realizadas, respectivamente, por tais estruturas fúngicas. Métodos de extração de micélio extrarradicular de FMAs propostos por diversos autores foram reavaliados e mesclados, originando um método exclusivo e de fácil execução, juntamente com a calibração de métodos para avaliação e quantificação de MEA (fluorescência induzida com a hidrólise do diacetato de fluoresceína e redução de iodonitrotetrazólio), em substrato arenoso.

Quantificação de micélio extrarradicular de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares em plantas cítricas: II. Comparação entre diferentes espécies cítricas e endófitos

Visando verificar a influência da utilização de diferentes métodos de quantificação de micélio extrarradicular ativo (MEA) e micélio extrarradicular total (MET) de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMAs) e de diferentes hospedeiros nesta simbiose, foi realizado um experimento em casa de vegetação, com delineamento inteiramente casualizado e esquema fatorial: 3 espécies de FMAs (Glomus intraradices, G. etunicatum e G. clarum) e um controle sem FMA x 6 doses de P (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 e 250 mg kg-1 de substrato) x 2 plantas cítricas: tangerina cleópatra (Citrus reshni) e laranja caipira (Citrus sinensis), com 5 repetições por tratamento. Seis meses após o transplantio e inoculação das mudas, determinaram-se altura e diâmetro do caule, colheram-se as plantas e avaliaram-se matéria seca e nutrientes da parte aérea, porcentagem de colonização radicular e comprimento de MEA e MET pelos métodos de fluorescência induzida com diacetato de fluoresceína (FDA) e redução do iodonitrotetrazólio (INT). As doses crescentes de P proporcionaram redução da porcentagem de colonização radicular nos dois porta-enxertos estudados e aumentos nas características altura, diâmetro, matéria seca da parte aérea e quantidade total absorvida de macro e micronutrientes por ambos os porta-enxertos. Houve correlação negativa entre comprimento de MEA e quantidade total absorvida de macronutrientes (P, N, Ca e Mg) por laranja caipira e correlação positiva entre comprimento de MET e quantidade absorvida por tangerina cleópatra, sugerindo ser esta última mais micotrófica que a anterior, além de haver, possivelmente, outros mecanismos de absorção de nutrientes que não pelo MEA, cujos resultados variaram em função do método empregado.

Propágulos de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares em solos deficientes em fósforo sob diferentes usos, da região semi-arida no nordeste do Brasil

A conversão de áreas de caatinga em agricultura e pecuária de subsistência é uma das características marcantes da região semi-árida do Nordeste do Brasil. O presente estudo investigou o efeito dessa conversão sobre os propágulos de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) em 10 locais diferentes, distribuídos nos Estados da Paraíba e de Pernambuco. Cada local consistiu de uma área de vegetação nativa (caatinga) contígua com uma área cultivada, na mesma posição de encosta. Amostras de solo foram coletadas a intervalos de 20-30 m, nas profundidades de 0-7,5 e 7,5-15 cm (10 locais x 2 usos do solo x 2 profundidades com 4 pontos amostrais) ao longo de uma transecção que cruzava as áreas contíguas. As raízes (< 2 mm) catadas das amostras de solo (n = 160) foram coloridas com azul de tripan para quantificar o grau de colonização por FMA, verificando-se também o tipo de estruturas fúngicas presentes. Esporos de FMA extraídos do solo por peneiramento úmido foram incubados em solução de cloreto de iodonitrotetrazólio (INT) e contados, considerando-se viáveis os corados pelo INT. O solo foi analisado quanto ao teor de P-resina e CO total (COT). Para análise dos resultados, as 10 áreas com vegetação nativa foram separadas em dois subgrupos: caatinga preservada (CaatP, n = 6) e caatinga raleada (CaatR, n = 4), por apresentarem diferentes graus de degradação. Pelo mesmo motivo, as áreas cultivadas também foram separadas em dois subgrupos: cultivada preservada (CultP, n = 4) e cultivada degradada (CultD, n = 6). Dessa forma, foram estabelecidos quatro níveis de intensidade de uso do solo ou degradação, conforme o histórico de uso, a observação visual da degradação da vegetação ou do solo e a erosão do solo avaliada pela técnica do 137Cs. O efeito da intensidade de uso do solo nos propágulos de FMA somente foi observado na camada de 0-7,5 cm, exceto para esporos não-viáveis. A densidade de esporos viáveis variou de 1,4 a 6,8 esporos/50 g de solo e a de não-viáveis, de 91,4 a 226 esporos/50 g de solo. A categoria CaatR foi a que apresentou resultados mais consistentes em relação ao estímulo do desmatamento seletivo (raleamento) sobre os propágulos, com maior número de esporos viáveis, maior intensidade de colonização e diminuição da proporção de amostras com vesículas, em relação às demais categorias. Os teores de P-resina nas amostras de solo foram, em geral, muito baixos (< 6 mg kg-1), tendo-se observado que a colonização radicular em amostras com teores inferiores a 1,5 mg kg-1 foi menos intensa naquelas com P-resina acima desse valor. Observou-se também que a colonização das raízes foi favorecida pelos teores mais altos de COT, o mesmo acontecendo com o número de esporos viáveis.

Aeration condition of a clayey oxisol under long-term no-tillage

The hypothesis of this study was that the absence of soil tillage in long-term no-tillage (NT) systems can be detrimental to soil aeration. The objective was to assess the aeration condition of an Oxisol (Rhodic Ferrasol), very clayey texture (750 g kg-1 of clay; 200 g kg-1 of sand), after 30 years of cultivation under NT. The physical property soil air permeability (Ka) is sensitive to changes in the soil pore system. Aside from Ka, the air-filled porosity (ε a) and indices of pore continuity (K1 and N), derived from the relationship between Ka and εa, were used as indices of soil aeration. From the soil layers 0.0-0.1 and 0.1-0.2 m, 240 undisturbed samples were collected along a transect perpendicular to the crop rows, at three sampling positions: corn plant row (CR); center of the interrow (INT); and the equidistant point between CR and INT (PE). The properties Ka and εa were determined at soil matric potentials (Ψm) of -2, -4, -6, -10, -30, and -50 kPa. Soil bulk density (BD) was also determined. The results confirmed the hypothesis. In the 0.0-0.1 m layer, Ka, K1, N and Ψa were significantly greater and BD significantly lower in CR than at the other sampling positions. At a Ψm of -10 kPa, the Ka of CR was 6.9 and 8.4 times higher than in PE and INT, respectively, in the 0.0-0.1 m layer. The properties Ka, K1 and N were sensitive enough to detect changes in the pore system and their differences between the sampling positions demonstrated the importance of the spatial location for soil sampling. Tilling the crop rows provides better soil aeration under NT.

Sementes nocivas que ocorreram em amostras de sementes de azevém (Lolium multiflorum), analisadas no Rio Grande do Sul nos anos de 1978 e 1979

Foram levantadas informações sobre a qualidade da semente de azevém utilizadas no Rio Grande do Sul e produzida no próprio Estado ou em outras uni dades da Federação e mesmo em outros Países, nos anos de 1978 e 1979. Estas informações foram obtidas através de fichas e Boletins de Análise de Sementes dos Laboratórios de Análise de Sementes (LAS) do Rio Grande do Sul. Em 1978 analisou-se 2.319 t de azevém sendo 74% da semente oriunda do Rio Grande do Sul e 26% introduzida, enquanto que das 4.772 t analisadas em 1979 99,6% são do Rio Grande do Sul e 0,4% são introduzidas. O percentual de sementes de azevém, produzidas no Estado, contaminadas com sementes nocivas foi de 61,5% em 1978 e de 60,0% em 1979; e o de sementes int roduzidas no Estado foi de 45,6% em 1978 e de 29,4%em 1979. Foi observado que ent re as sementes originárias do RS destacaram -se com maior ocorrênci a em 1978 as espécies nocivas de Silene gallica, Setaria geniculata, Anthemis cotula, Digitaria adscendens e Echinochloa spp, enquanto que nas sementes int roduzidas desta caram-se Sida spp e Rumex spp; em 1979, na semente oriunda do Estado desta caram-se Amaranthus spp, Silene gallica e Setaria geniculata, enquanto que nas sementes introduzidas a maior ocorrência foi de Setaria geniculata, Echinochloa spp e Solanum spp.