Distribution of Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, purse-seine sets and catches from southern New England to North Carolina, 1985-96

Sets and catches of Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, made in 1985-96 by purse-seine vessels from Virginia and North Carolina were studied by digitizing and analyzing Captain's Daily Fishing Reports (CDFR's), daily logs of fishing activities completed by captains of menhaden vessels. 33,674 CDFR's were processed, representing 125,858 purse-seine sets. On average, the fleet made 10,488 sets annually. Virginia vessels made at least one purse-seine set on 67%-83% of available fishing days between May and December. In most years, five was the median number of sets attempted each fishing day. Mean set duration ranged from 34 to 43 minutes, and median catch per set ranged from 15 to 30 metric tons (t). Spotter aircraft assisted in over 83% of sets overall. Average annual catch in Chesapeake Bay (149,500 t) surpassed all other fishing areas, and accounted for 52% of the fleet's catch. Annual catch from North Carolina waters (49,100 t) ranked a distant second. Fishing activity in ocean waters clustered off the Mid-Atlantic states in June-September, and off North Carolina in November-January. Delaware Bay and the New Jersey coast were important alternate fishing grounds during summer. Across all ocean fishing areas, most sets and catch occurred within 3 mi. of shore, but in Chesapeake Bay about half of all fishing activity occurred farther offshore. In Virginia, areas adjacent to fish factories tended to be heavily fished. Recent regulatory initiatives in various coastal states threaten the Atlantic menhaden fleet's access to traditional nearshore fishing grounds. (PDF file contains 26 pages.)

Guide to the Identification of Larval and Early Juvenile Poachers (Scorpaeniformes: Agonidae) from the Northeastern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea

Developmental stages of 22 species representing 16 genera of agonid fishes occurring in the northeastern Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay to the Arctic Ocean are presented. Three of these species also occur in the North Atlantic Ocean. Larval stages of nine species are described for the first time. Additional information or illustrations intended to augment original descriptions are provided for eight species. Information on five other species is provided from the literature for comparative purposes. The primary objective of this guide is to present taxonomic characters to help identify the early life history stages of agonid fishes in field collections. Meristic, morphometric, osteological, and pigmentation characters are used to identify agonid larvae. Meristic features include numbers of median-fin elements, pectoral-fin rays, dermal plates, and vertebrae. Eye diameter, body depth at the pectoral-fin origin, snout to first dorsal-fin length, and pectoral-fin length are the most useful morphological characters. Presence, absence, numbers, and/or patterns of dermal plates in lateral rows or on the ventral surface of the gut are also useful. Other important characters are the presence, absence, numbers, and ornamentation of larval head spines. Lastly, distinct pigmentation patterns are often diagnostic. The potential utility of larval characters in phylogenetic analysis of the family Agonidae is discussed. (PDF file contains 92 pages.)

Maturation of Nineteen Species of Finfish off the Northeast Coast of the United States, 1985-1990

Observations on maturation stages of nineteen species of economically important finfish off the Northeast coast of the USA were analyzed to examine relationships between fish size or age, and maturity. Maturation schedules and median lengths (L50) and ages (A50) at maturation were derived by fitting the logistic model to the observed proportions. Analyses were generally restricted to observations from 1985 to 1990 obtained during stratified random bottom trawl surveys conducted in spring and autumn by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries in waters of the continental shelf from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Butterfish, Peprilus triacanthus, attained sexual maturity at the smallest median length (11.4 cm, males) and pollock, Pollachius virens, at the highest (41.8 em, males). Median length at maturity for gadiforms ranged from 22.2 to 41.8 em. Within the pleuronectiforms, median length at maturity ranged from 19.1 to 30.4 cm. Median lengths for the pelagic and miscellaneous demersal species were in the same ranges as the pleuronectiforms. Butterfish also attained sexual maturity at the youngest median age (0.9 yr, both sexes) whereas redfish, Sebastes fasciatus, were the latest to mature (5.5 yr, both sexes). For gadids, the median age at maturity ranged from 1.3 to 2.3 yr. Within the pleuronectiforms, median age at maturity ranged from 1.3 to 4.4 yr and, for pelagic species, from 0.9 to 3.0 yr. Median lengths and ages for many species are lower than those reported in earlier studies of the same general region of the Northwest Atlantic. (PDF file contains 72 pages.)

Jarduera fisikoak adineko pertsona autonomoen osasunean duen eragina

294 p. : il.

Prognostic Role of Host Cyclooxygenase and Cytokine Genotypes in a Caucasian Cohort of Patients with Gastric Adenocarcinoma

11 p.

On the physical and biological oceanography near the entrance of the Gulf of California, October 1966-August 1967

ENGLISH: A study of the temporal and spatial distribution of larval tunas and the concomitant oceanic conditions was made in cooperation with the Direccion General de Pesca e Industrias Conexas of Mexico. Field work consisted of eight hydrographic cruises made from October 1966 through August 1967 near the entrance of the Gulf of California. From January through April, surface currents were southerly at velocities up to 20 cm/sec; currents in June were variable in direction and mostly less than 10 cm/sec; by August the surface current was northerly at 10-15 cm/sec. Surface winds were usually secondary to the distribution of mass as an influence on the surface circulation. Currents at 100 m were generally similar in direction to those at the surface, but the water moved more slowly. Between the surface and 100 m, southbound currents crossed the entrance of the Gulf at velocities of 5-10 cm/sec during January and April, forming frontal boundaries with the California Current water, which often occurred south of the entrance. From April to August, the median concentration of surface chlorophyll a increased from 0.65 to 0.97 mg/m3, while the median productivity increased from 5.6 mgC/m3/day in April to 17.8 mgC/m3/day in June before returning to 2.6 mgC/m3/day in August. Primary productivity was closely correlated with the concentration of surface chlorophyll a. Productivity was generally higher in the vicinity of the Gulf than that found for water in the open Pacific. Productivity was highest near Islas Las Tres Marias and second highest near Cabo San Lucas, both locations of local upwelling. The standing crop of phytoplankton was shown to be subjected to progressively heavier grazing pressure in the spring and summer by zooplankton. SPANISH: Un estudio de la distribución temporal y espacial de las larvas de atún y de las condiciones oceánicas concomitantes fue realizado en cooperación con la Dirección General de Pesca e Industrias Conexas de México. El trabajo experimental consistió en ocho cruceros hidrográficos realizados desde octubre 1966 hasta agosto 1967, cerca a la entrada del Golfo de California. De enero a abril, las corrientes superficiales fueron meridionales alcanzando velocidades hasta de 20 cm/seg; las corrientes en junio fueron variables en dirección y la mayoría con una velocidad de menos de 10 cm/seg; en agosto la corriente superficial fue septentrional a 10-15 cm/seg, Los vientos superficiales fueron por lo común secundarios a la dístríbucíón de la masa, como una influencia de la circulación superficial. Las corrientes a 100 m fueron generalmente similares en dirección a las de la superficie, pero el agua se movió más lentamente. Entre la superficie y los 100 m, las corrientes que se dirigen hacia el sur cruzaron la entrada del Golfo a velocidades de 5-10 cm/seg durante enero y abril formando límites frontales con el agua de la Corriente de California, que apareció a menudo al sur de la entrada. De abril a agosto, la concentración media de la clorofila a superficial aumentó de 0.65 a 0.97 mg/m3, mientras que la productividad mediana aumentó de 5.6 mgC/m3/día en abril hasta 17.8 mgC/m3/día en junio antes de regresar a 2.6 mgC/m3/día en agosto. La productividad primaria se correlacionó estrechamente con la concentración de clorofila a superficial. La productividad fue generalmente más alta en la vecindad del Golfo que aquella encontrada en el agua de alta mar del Pacífico. La productividad fue más alta cerca a las Islas Tres Marías, y el segundo máximo fue cerca al Cabo San Lucas, ambas localidades de afloramiento local. Se indicó que la reserva permanente de fitoplancton estaba sujeta por el zooplancton a una fuerta presión progresiva de apacentamiento en la primavera y el verano. (PDF contains 116 pages.)

Celiac disease in the Mediterranean area

Background: The World Gastroenterology Organization recommends developing national guidelines for the diagnosis of Celiac Disease (CD): hence a profile of the diagnosis of CD in each country is required. We aim to describe a cross-sectional picture of the clinical features and diagnostic facilities in 16 countries of the Mediterranean basin. Since a new ESPGHAN diagnostic protocol was recently published, our secondary aim is to estimate how many cases in the same area could be identified without a small intestinal biopsy. Methods: By a stratified cross-sectional retrospective study design, we examined clinical, histological and laboratory data from 749 consecutive unselected CD children diagnosed by national referral centers. Results: The vast majority of cases were diagnosed before the age of 10 (median: 5 years), affected by diarrhea, weight loss and food refusal, as expected. Only 59 cases (7.8%) did not suffer of major complaints. Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) assay was available, but one-third of centers reported financial constraints in the regular purchase of the assay kits. 252 cases (33.6%) showed tTG values over 10 times the local normal limit. Endomysial antibodies and HLA typing were routinely available in only half of the centers. CD was mainly diagnosed from small intestinal biopsy, available in all centers. Based on these data, only 154/749 cases (20.5%) would have qualified for a diagnosis of CD without a small intestinal biopsy, according to the new ESPGHAN protocol. Conclusions: This cross-sectional study of CD in the Mediterranean referral centers offers a puzzling picture of the capacities to deal with the emerging epidemic of CD in the area, giving a substantive support to the World Gastroenterology Organization guidelines.

Soluble Angiopoietin Receptor Tie-2 In Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction And Its Detection By Optical Protein-Chip

The Tie-2 receptor has been shown to play a role in angiogenesis in atherosclerosis. The conventional method assaying the level of soluble Tie-2 (sTie-2) was ELISA. However, this method has some disadvantages. The aims of this research are to establish a more simple detection method, the optical protein-chip based on imaging ellipsomtry (OPC-IE) applying to Tie-2 assay. The sTie-2 biosensor surface on silicon wafer was prepared first, and then serum levels of sTie-2 in 38 patients with AMI were measured on admission (day 1), day 2, day 3 and day 7 after onset of chest pain and 41 healthy controls by ELISA and OPC-IE in parallel. Median level of sTie-2 increased significantly in the AMI patients when compared with the controls. Statistics showed there was a significant correlation in sTie-2 results between the two methods (r=0.923, P0.01). The result of this study showed that the level of sTie-2 increased in AMI, and OPC-IE assay was a fast, reliable, and convenient technique to measure sTie-2 in serum.

Aspects of the reproductive biology of Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1857) in Bonny Estuary

Aspects of the reproductive biology of Mugil cephalus in the Bonny estuary (Nigeria) were studied between January and December 1996. Males were observed to be more slender than females while the females have deeper bodies. The male:female ratio (1:0:95) was not significantly different. The minimum size at maturity was 16.6cm (0.5 yr). Fish matured at 24.3cm TL(1.76 yr) with median maturity size of 19.5cm TL(0.71 yr). Median maturity for male and female fish were 16.4cm TL(0.41 yr) and 18.2cm TL(0.60 yr) respectively. Breeding occurred once a year between September and December, from late rainy season to early dry season. Mean absolute fecundity was 1,403, 808 eggs (range 107, 729-4,445, 423 eggs) for fish of 17.0.29.5cm TL (mean 22.5cm TL). Fecundity correlated positively with fish total weight, length, ovary weight and age

MEASUREMENT OF SOLID SLURRY FLOW VIA CORRELATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FLOW METER, ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE TOMOGRAPHY AND MECHANISTIC MODELLING

The study presented here was carried out to obtain the actual solids flow rate by the combination of electrical resistance tomography and electromagnetic flow meter. A new in-situ measurement method based on measurements of the Electromagnetic Flow Meters (EFM) and Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) to study the flow rates of individual phases in a vertical flow was proposed. The study was based on laboratory experiments that were carried out with a 50 mm vertical flow rig for a number of sand concentrations and different mixture velocities. A range of sand slurries with median particle size from 212 mu m to 355 mu m was tested. The solid concentration by volume covered was 5% and 15%, and the corresponding density of 5% was 1078 kg/m(3) and of 15% was 1238 kg/m(3). The flow velocity was between 1.5 m/s and 3.0 m/s. A total of 6 experimental tests were conducted. The equivalent liquid model was adopted to validate in-situ volumetric solids fraction and calculate the slip velocity. The results show that the ERT technique can be used in conjunction with an electromagnetic flow meter as a way of measurement of slurry flow rate in a vertical pipe flow. However it should be emphasized that the EFM results must be treated with reservation when the flow pattern at the EFM mounting position is a non-homogenous flow. The flow rate obtained by the EFM should be corrected considering the slip velocity and the flow pattern.

Toxic effect of Raphia vinifera on fish leech (Piscicola geometra)

This study examines acute toxicity of Raphia vinifera on fish leech, Piscicola geometra. The leeches with a mean total length of (TL) 4.2+1.0cm were exposed to various concentrations of both crude powdered and ethanolic extracts of the botanical. Median lethal concentration (LC50) was determined with static-renewal tests using logarithmic and arithmetic graphic methods. The LC50 (for 96 hours of crude powdered (aqueous) extracts of the botanical on Piscicola geometra was 1.10 ppm arithmetically and 1.14ppm logarithmically. The 95% confidence limits was 0.10ppm arithmetically and 0.12ppm logarithmically. The LC50 of ethanolic extract of the poison at 96-h was 0.5ppm arithmetically and 0.48ppm logarithmically. The 95% confidence limits were less than 0.10ppm. The use of extracts of R. vinifera in the control of leeches in fish ponds is discussed

Detailed properties of high redshift galaxies

Galaxies evolve throughout the history of the universe from the first star-forming sources, through gas-rich asymmetric structures with rapid star formation rates, to the massive symmetrical stellar systems observed at the present day. Determining the physical processes which drive galaxy formation and evolution is one of the most important questions in observational astrophysics. This thesis presents four projects aimed at improving our understanding of galaxy evolution from detailed measurements of star forming galaxies at high redshift.

We use resolved spectroscopy of gravitationally lensed z ≃ 2 - 3 star forming galaxies to measure their kinematic and star formation properties. The combination of lensing with adaptive optics yields physical resolution of ≃ 100 pc, sufficient to resolve giant Hii regions. We find that ~ 70 % of galaxies in our sample display ordered rotation with high local velocity dispersion indicating turbulent thick disks. The rotating galaxies are gravitationally unstable and are expected to fragment into giant clumps. The size and dynamical mass of giant Hii regions are in agreement with predictions for such clumps indicating that gravitational instability drives the rapid star formation. The remainder of our sample is comprised of ongoing major mergers. Merging galaxies display similar star formation rate, morphology, and local velocity dispersion as isolated sources, but their velocity fields are more chaotic with no coherent rotation.

We measure resolved metallicity in four lensed galaxies at z = 2.0 − 2.4 from optical emission line diagnostics. Three rotating galaxies display radial gradients with higher metallicity at smaller radii, while the fourth is undergoing a merger and has an inverted gradient with lower metallicity at the center. Strong gradients in the rotating galaxies indicate that they are growing inside-out with star formation fueled by accretion of metal-poor gas at large radii. By comparing measured gradients with an appropriate comparison sample at z = 0, we demonstrate that metallicity gradients in isolated galaxies must flatten at later times. The amount of size growth inferred by the gradients is in rough agreement with direct measurements of massive galaxies. We develop a chemical evolution model to interpret these data and conclude that metallicity gradients are established by a gradient in the outflow mass loading factor, combined with radial inflow of metal-enriched gas.

We present the first rest-frame optical spectroscopic survey of a large sample of low-luminosity galaxies at high redshift (L < L*, 1.5 < z < 3.5). This population dominates the star formation density of the universe at high redshifts, yet such galaxies are normally too faint to be studied spectroscopically. We take advantage of strong gravitational lensing magnification to compile observations for a sample of 29 galaxies using modest integration times with the Keck and Palomar telescopes. Balmer emission lines confirm that the sample has a median SFR ∼ 10 M_sun yr^−1 and extends to lower SFR than has been probed by other surveys at similar redshift. We derive the metallicity, dust extinction, SFR, ionization parameter, and dynamical mass from the spectroscopic data, providing the first accurate characterization of the star-forming environment in low-luminosity galaxies at high redshift. For the first time, we directly test the proposal that the relation between galaxy stellar mass, star formation rate, and gas phase metallicity does not evolve. We find lower gas phase metallicity in the high redshift galaxies than in local sources with equivalent stellar mass and star formation rate, arguing against a time-invariant relation. While our result is preliminary and may be biased by measurement errors, this represents an important first measurement that will be further constrained by ongoing analysis of the full data set and by future observations.

We present a study of composite rest-frame ultraviolet spectra of Lyman break galaxies at z = 4 and discuss implications for the distribution of neutral outflowing gas in the circumgalactic medium. In general we find similar spectroscopic trends to those found at z = 3 by earlier surveys. In particular, absorption lines which trace neutral gas are weaker in less evolved galaxies with lower stellar masses, smaller radii, lower luminosity, less dust, and stronger Lyα emission. Typical galaxies are thus expected to have stronger Lyα emission and weaker low-ionization absorption at earlier times, and we indeed find somewhat weaker low-ionization absorption at higher redshifts. In conjunction with earlier results, we argue that the reduced low-ionization absorption is likely caused by lower covering fraction and/or velocity range of outflowing neutral gas at earlier epochs. This result has important implications for the hypothesis that early galaxies were responsible for cosmic reionization. We additionally show that fine structure emission lines are sensitive to the spatial extent of neutral gas, and demonstrate that neutral gas is concentrated at smaller galactocentric radii in higher redshift galaxies.

The results of this thesis present a coherent picture of galaxy evolution at high redshifts 2 ≲ z ≲ 4. Roughly 1/3 of massive star forming galaxies at this period are undergoing major mergers, while the rest are growing inside-out with star formation occurring in gravitationally unstable thick disks. Star formation, stellar mass, and metallicity are limited by outflows which create a circumgalactic medium of metal-enriched material. We conclude by describing some remaining open questions and prospects for improving our understanding of galaxy evolution with future observations of gravitationally lensed galaxies.

Comparative study on the catch efficiency and size selection of entangling nets in Lake Kainji, Nigeria

The relative catch performance and selectively of gillnets and trammel nets were investigated in 12 sampling stations in Lake Kainji, Nigeria. 3 types of nets with dimensions 50mx3m were constructed using 76mm and 178mm meshsizes for two gillnets, 76mm and 178mm meshsizes for the lint and ar mour nets of the trammelnets respectively. All the nets were randomly ganged together to form a fleet of nine nets each, and were set twice in each of the 12 stations which gave a total of 24 fishing operations. A total of 365 fish weighing 88.9kg and belonging to 16 different species were caught in all the nets. The trammelnet had the highest catch by number and weight constituting 60% and 69.22% of the total catch and weight respectively with a relative species Diversity Index of 0.82. This was followed by 76mm gillnet which constituted 38.63% by number, 28.09% by weight, 0.69 relative Species Diversity Index. The 178mm gillnet had the least catch of 1.37% and 2.9% by number and weight respectively with 0.25 relative Species Diversity Index. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in the number and weight of fish caught in the different nets. The minimum selection length for these species caught were the same for each net. The trammel net had a wider selection range that skewed to the right, a higher modal and median length indicating larger individual species being entangled in the net

Partos assistidos por enfermeiras: práticas obstétricas realizadas no ambiente hospitalar no período de 2004 a 2008

A temática deste estudo está centrada na participação da enfermeira obstétrica no modelo humanizado de atenção ao parto e teve como objetivos: identificar as práticas de enfermeiras obstétricas atuantes no trabalho de parto e parto em uma maternidade municipal do Rio de Janeiro; avaliar a consonância das práticas desenvolvidas por enfermeiras obstétricas durante o trabalho de parto e parto com as recomendações do MS/OMS; analisar a implementação das práticas das enfermeiras obstétricas na assistência ao trabalho de parto e parto entre 2004 e 2008. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, quantitativo, transversal. O período pesquisado foi de setembro de 2004 a setembro de 2008. A coleta dos dados foi através do livro de registro de partos onde foram registrados 4.510 partos assistidos por enfermeiras. Para a análise foram calculadas a média, mediana e proporção de cada variável estudada, conforme a indicação. As análises foram realizadas utilizando os programas Epi info versão 3.5.1 e Microsoft Word Excel 2007. Verificou-se que a maioria das parturientes assistidas foram jovens, sendo a mediana de idade de 23 anos, que já tinham engravidado duas vezes ou mais e que já tinham parido anteriormente pelo menos uma vez. Com relação à assistência pré-natal 92,8% realizaram o mesmo, contudo apenas 68,2% destas mulheres realizaram seis consultas ou mais. Identificou-se que o acompanhante esteve presente em 60,6% dos partos, porém esta presença foi maior nos partos das adolescentes (77,4%). A posição do parto predominante durante todo o período do estudo foi a vertical (77,6%). As lacerações perineais ocorreram em 52,3% dos partos e a mais incidente foi a laceração de primeiro grau (34,2%). As parturientes que não sofreram qualquer injúria perineal, seja esta espontânea ou cirúrgica, representaram 30,2% dos casos. As práticas obstétricas que não interferem na fisiologia do parto foram realizadas por 85,3% das parturientes, sendo que as mais utilizadas foram os exercícios respiratórios (73,6%), os movimentos pélvicos (42,1%) e a deambulação (29,8%). 67,9% das mulheres assistidas pelas enfermeiras receberam as práticas intervencionistas à fisiologia do parto, destas as mais registradas foram: a realização da amniotomia (25,1%), a administração endovenosa de ocitocina (54%), a realização da episiotomia (22,9%). A episiotomia foi mais utilizada entre as adolescentes (34,8%), nulíparas (44%) e naquelas que pariram na posição horizontal (28,8%). 40,2% das mulheres que não realizaram episiotomia não tiveram laceração perineal e a posição de parto com a menor incidência de laceração perineal foi a quatro apoios (25%), sendo esta classificada como primeiro grau. As adolescentes (55,1%) e as multíparas (71,8%) foram as que menos apresentaram lacerações de períneo. Conclui-se que tanto a prática apoiada no modelo tecnocrático, quanto àquela baseada no modelo humanizado de atenção ao parto, foram registradas na unidade pesquisada. Considera-se que tal fato pode ser investigado em outros estudos, com o objetivo de identificar os fatores que levam à realização de práticas que interferem na fisiologia do parto durante a assistência das enfermeiras obstétricas.

Participação do L-NAME, da L-arginina e da N-acetilcisteína no enfisema pulmonar induzido por fumaça de cigarro em camundongos

O óxido nítrico (NO) constitui um dos mais importantes mediadores intra e extracelulares e tem sido descrita sua participação tanto em processos biológicos como patológicos. Nosso objetivo foi verificar se o aumento ou a diminuição do óxido nítrico apresenta um efeito benéfico na proteção do tecido pulmonar no enfisema pulmonar induzido por fumaça de cigarro em camundongos. Para tanto, utilizamos o L-NAME (inibidor do NO), a L-arginina (substrato para a formação do NO) e os comparamos com a N-acetilcisteína (utilizada no tratamento da DPOC). Foram utilizados 65 camundongos C57BL/6 machos. Cinquenta animais foram divididos em grupos controle, fumaça de cigarro (FC), fumaça de cigarro + L-NAME (FC+LN), fumaça de cigarro + L-arginina (FC+LA), fumaça de cigarro + N-acetilcisteína (FC+NAC) (n=10, por grupo). Durante sessenta dias 40 animais foram expostos a 12 cigarros comerciais por dia, 3 vezes ao dia. Os grupos controle e FC foram submetidos à gavagens orogástricas com o veículo. Os grupos FC+LN, FC+LA, FC+NAC receberam gavagens diárias de L-NAME (60 mg/kg), L-arginina (120 mg/kg) ou NAC (200 mg/kg) respectivamente. Quinze animais (n = 5, por grupo) foram expostos ao ar ambiente e tratados apenas com L-NAME, L-arginina e NAC. Realizamos a análise do perfil das células do lavado broncoalveolar após o sacrifício. O pulmão direito foi removido para as análises histológicas do alargamento dos espaços aéreos determinado pela medida do diâmetro alveolar médio (Lm) e da densidade de superfície (Sv) dos septos alveolares. Os pulmões esquerdos foram removidos e homogeneizados para a as análises da atividade enzimática (SOD, CAT e MPO) e do sistema glutationa (GSH/GSSG), para a análise dos valores de nitrito e da expressão de 4-HNE, MMP-12, NE, TIMP-1, TIMP-2. Nossos resultados apontam que o L-NAME tem uma ação voltada para a matriz extracelular (via protease-antiprotease), enquanto que a L-arginina possui uma ação voltada para os oxidantes, assim como a NAC. Porém a NAC atua aumentando os níveis de glutationa, o que interfere diretamente nos oxidantes (via oxidante-antioxidante), enquanto a L-arginina interfere aumentando o burden oxidativo concomitante a um aumento da velocidade de ação dos oxidantes o que aumenta as células inflamatórias, mas diminui seu tempo de ação permitindo uma maior proteção. Concluímos que tanto o favorecimento para a produção e liberação do NOatravés da administração da L-arginina quanto a inibição do NOpela utilização do L-NAME foi eficiente na proteção do pulmão, apesar de não terem alcançado um resultado tão bom quanto a NAC.