The hydrological effects of forest cover loss are difficult to discern in the case of large‐scale basins with gradual changes and difficult to isolate when climate variability is also present. In the ...present study, we evaluated the effects of climate variability and human activity on the annual streamflow in a basin in the Amazon arc of deforestation. We statistically analyzed the components of the annual water balance and monthly streamflow and used the currently used Tomer‐Schilling, elasticity, and decomposition of Budyko‐type curve methods to separate climate‐induced changes and anthropogenic effects. Annual series of the monthly maximum and minimum streamflow, total streamflow, and total reference evapotranspiration presented statistically significant increasing trends. No significant trend was observed for precipitation. The greatest change in the average annual runoff coefficient was observed between the first (1973–1984) and second (1985–1994) analyzed periods. Even with the continuous reduction in the forested area, the third (1994–2004) and fourth analyzed periods (2003–2016) showed only relatively small changes, most likely due to the intensity of slash‐and‐burn activities and vegetation regrowth. The methods showed that deforestation was the primary cause of the streamflow changes, but with different intensities, and a small recuperation was observed in the last analyzed period. On average, the annual water yield would increase between 26% and 58% after the first time interval without the opposite effect of climate variability, which must be considered in basin management. Future research should focus on analyzing the water storage and the dependence of the precipitation‐runoff relationship from the climate.
Plain Language Summary
The effects of deforestation on water availability are difficult to discern in the case of large river basins and when there are also changes in the climate. We evaluated the effects of both, climate variability and human activities, on the annual average river flow in a water basin situated in the most deforested region of the Amazon biome. Statistical analyzes showed that there were significant increases in the average annual flow of the river and in the annual reference evapotranspiration (determined by the climate) during the years after the beginning of deforestation in the region, but not in precipitation. The greatest change in the percentage of precipitation that turns into streamflow was observed between the first (1973–1984) and second (1985–1994) analyzed periods. Even with the continuous of deforestation in the basin, the other periods (1994–2004 and 2003–2016) showed only relatively small changes, most likely due to vegetation regrowth. Three different methods showed that deforestation was the primary cause of the streamflow change, but annual streamflow would be between 26% and 58% greater without the opposite effect of climate. These results must be considered in the management of water resources in the region.
Key Points
Comparison of three methods to separate land use and climate‐induced effects on streamflow in the Itacaiúnas River basin was shown
We analyze that the intensity of slash‐and‐burn activities and vegetation regrowth, in addition to forested area, can help to explain the results
The methods show that deforestation is the primary cause of streamflow changes, but with different intensities
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
This article describes the impregnation of copper nanoparticles (CuNP) in a polyester fibre filter that can be used in solid–gas filtration to retain the spread of pathogen microorganisms in indoor ...environments. The impregnation of the CuNP was achieved by spraying the suspension on the surface of filter media. An acid pretreatment was also evaluated to increase the adhesion between fibre and nanoparticle. The synthesis of the CuNP was done by chemical reduction. The bacterial effect was measured through the contact method for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and we demonstrate that the presence of CuNP to filter media reduced up to 99.99% of gram‐negative and 99.98% of gram‐positive bacteria. The pretreatment with HCl was a good alternative to filter modification due to the higher adhesion between CuNP and the fibre while the high efficiency against pathogen microorganisms was kept. The modification of filters with CuNP can improve the air quality of indoor environments, vanishing the pathogen microorganisms circulating in the air.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The pathogenesis of Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is poorly understood and no previous studies have analyzed monocytes in TAK. This study evaluated monocyte subsets and monocyte-related chemokines in the ...peripheral blood of TAK patients and healthy controls (HC). Monocyte subsets were identified as classical (CD14
CD16
), intermediate (CD14
CD16
), and non-classical (CD14
CD16
) in the peripheral blood. The chemokines CCL (C-C chemokine ligand)2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CCL7, CXCL (C-X-C motif ligand)10, and CX3CL (C-X3-C motif ligand)1 were measured in the sera. Thirty-two TAK patients and 30 HC were evaluated. Intermediate monocytes were higher in TAK than HC 25.0 cells ×10
/L (16.7-52.0) vs. 17.2 cells ×10
/L (9.2-25.3); p = 0.014. Active disease was associated with monocytosis (p = 0.004), increased classical (p = 0.003), and intermediate (p < 0.001) subsets than HC. Prednisone reduced the percentage of non-classical monocytes (p = 0.011). TAK patients had lower CCL3 (p = 0.033) and CCL4 (p = 0.023) levels than HC, whereas CCL22 levels were higher in active TAK compared to the remission state (p = 0.008). Glucocorticoids were associated with lower CXCL10 levels (p = 0.012). In TAK, CCL4 correlated with total (Rho = 0.489; p = 0.005), classical and intermediate monocytes (Rho = 0.448; p = 0.010 and Rho = 0.412; p = 0.019). In conclusion, TAK is associated with altered counts of monocyte subsets in the peripheral blood compared to HC and CCL22 is the chemokine with the strongest association with active disease in TAK.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
M1 macrophages were more frequent in TAK and atherosclerotic patients compared to heart transplant donors. The expression of CD206 is higher than the expression of CD86 in the aorta from TAK ...patients. T cells were associated with histological disease activity and with prednisone use in TAK.
Summary
Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a large‐vessel granulomatous vasculitis; the inflammatory infiltration in arteries comprises macrophages, multi‐nucleated giant cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, γδ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and neutrophils. However, it is unknown which subtype of macrophages predominates. This study aims to evaluate macrophages subpopulations in the aorta in TAK. Immunohistochemistry was performed in the aorta from TAK patients (n = 22), patients with atherosclerotic disease (n = 9) and heart transplant donors (n = 8) using the markers CD68, CD86, CD206, CD3, CD20 and CD56. Active disease was observed in 54·5% of patients and active histological lesions were found in 40·9%. TAK patients presented atherosclerotic lesions in 27·3% of cases. The frequency of macrophages, M1 macrophages, T, B and NK cells was higher in the aorta from TAK and atherosclerotic patients compared to heart transplant donors. In TAK, macrophages and T cells were the most abundant cells in the aorta, and the expression of CD206 was higher than CD86 (P = 0·0007). No associations were found between the expression of cell markers and active disease or with atherosclerotic lesions. In TAK patients, histological disease activity led to higher T cell counts than chronic fibrotic lesions (P = 0.030), whereas prednisone use was associated with lower T cell counts (P = 0·035). In conclusion, M1 macrophages were more frequent in TAK and atherosclerotic patients compared to heart transplant donors, while M2 macrophages dominated M1 macrophages in TAK. T cells were associated with histological disease activity and with prednisone use in TAK.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Parkinson’s disease affects millions of people around the world and consequently various approaches have emerged to help diagnose this disease, among which we can highlight handwriting exams. ...Extracting features from handwriting exams is an important contribution of the computational field for the diagnosis of this disease. In this paper, we propose an approach that measures the similarity between the exam template and the handwritten trace of the patient following the exam template. This similarity was measured using the Structural Cooccurrence Matrix to calculate how close the handwritten trace of the patient is to the exam template. The proposed approach was evaluated using various exam templates and the handwritten traces of the patient. Each of these variations was used together with the Naïve Bayes, OPF, and SVM classifiers. In conclusion the proposed approach was proven to be better than the existing methods found in the literature and is therefore a promising tool for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Heme: The Lord of the Iron Ring Voltarelli, Vanessa Azevedo; Alves de Souza, Rodrigo W; Miyauchi, Kenji ...
Antioxidants,
05/2023, Volume:
12, Issue:
5
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Heme is an iron-protoporphyrin complex with an essential physiologic function for all cells, especially for those in which heme is a key prosthetic group of proteins such as hemoglobin, myoglobin, ...and cytochromes of the mitochondria. However, it is also known that heme can participate in pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory responses, leading to cytotoxicity in various tissues and organs such as the kidney, brain, heart, liver, and in immune cells. Indeed, heme, released as a result of tissue damage, can stimulate local and remote inflammatory reactions. These can initiate innate immune responses that, if left uncontrolled, can compound primary injuries and promote organ failure. In contrast, a cadre of heme receptors are arrayed on the plasma membrane that is designed either for heme import into the cell, or for the purpose of activating specific signaling pathways. Thus, free heme can serve either as a deleterious molecule, or one that can traffic and initiate highly specific cellular responses that are teleologically important for survival. Herein, we review heme metabolism and signaling pathways, including heme synthesis, degradation, and scavenging. We will focus on trauma and inflammatory diseases, including traumatic brain injury, trauma-related sepsis, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases where current work suggests that heme may be most important.
Neurological involvement in antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is common, and its occurrence increases morbidity and mortality. Patients may present variable neurological involvement, such as ...cerebrovascular disease, cognitive dysfunction, headache, seizures, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis-like syndrome, transverse myelitis and ocular symptoms. Most neurological manifestations are associated with thrombosis of the microcirculation or of large vessels; nonetheless, there is compelling evidence suggesting that, in some cases, symptoms are secondary to an immune-mediated pathogenesis, with direct binding of aPL on neurons and glia. Herein we describe clinical characteristics and management of neurological APS manifestations.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Physical exercise has profound effects on quality of life and susceptibility to chronic disease; however, the regulation of skeletal muscle function at the molecular level after exercise remains ...unclear. We tested the hypothesis that the benefits of exercise on muscle function are linked partly to microtraumatic events that result in accumulation of circulating heme. Effective metabolism of heme is controlled by Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1, Hmox1), and we find that mouse skeletal muscle-specific HO-1 deletion (Tam-Cre-HSA-Hmox1fl/fl) shifts the proportion of muscle fibers from type IIA to type IIB concomitant with a disruption in mitochondrial content and function. In addition to a significant impairment in running performance and response to exercise training, Tam-Cre-HSA-Hmox1fl/fl mice show remarkable muscle atrophy compared to Hmox1fl/fl controls. Collectively, these data define a role for heme and HO-1 as central regulators in the physiologic response of skeletal muscle to exercise.
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•Aerobic exercise increases circulating free heme due to skeletal muscle microtrauma•Hemopexin-null mice show higher heme levels but no difference in running capacity•Skeletal muscle lacking HO-1 has defective mitochondria and a fatigue-prone phenotype•HO-1 is required to maintain skeletal muscle health during aerobic training
Alves de Souza et al. show that deficiency in the heme-degrading enzyme heme oxygenase-1 in skeletal muscle results in atrophy, mitochondrial dysfunction, and a profound inability to adapt to exercise. Heme metabolism is an essential pathway necessary for developing and maintaining exercise capacity, tissue damage control, and muscle health.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Summary
The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of CD4+ T cell subsets in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), urine and renal tissue from patients with lupus nephritis (LN). ...PBMC and urinary cells were collected from 17 patients with active LN, 20 disease controls (DC) with primary glomerulonephritis and 10 healthy controls (HC) and were analysed by flow cytometry with markers for T helper type 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17 and regulatory T cells (Treg) cells. T cell subsets were assessed by immunohistochemistry from LN biopsy specimens from 12 LN patients. T cell subtypes in PBMC were re‐evaluated at 6 months of therapy. CD4+ T cells were decreased in PBMC in LN compared with DC and HC (P = 0·0001). No differences were observed in urinary CD4+ T cell subsets between LN and DC. The frequency of urinary Th17 cells was higher in patients with non‐proliferative than in proliferative LN (P = 0·041). CD3+ and T‐box 21 (
Tbet+) cells were found in glomeruli and interstitium of LN patients, while forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3), retinoid‐related orphan receptor gamma (ROR‐γ) and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA‐3) were present only in glomeruli. Th1 cells in PBMC were correlated negatively with urinary Th1 cells (Rho = –0·531; P = 0·028) and with Tbet in renal interstitium (Rho = –0·782; P = 0·004). At 6 months, LN patients showed an increase in Th17 cells in PBMC. In conclusion, the inverse association between Th1 cells from PBMC and urinary/renal tissue indicate a role for Th1 in LN pathophysiology. Urinary Th17 cells were associated with less severe LN, and Th17 increased in PBMC during therapy. Urinary CD4+ T cells were not different between LN and DC.
The expression of the transcription factor Tbet in the glomerulus from a patient with active lupus nephritis. Th1 cells in peripheral blood are inversely correlated with urinary Th1 cells and with Tbet expression in renal tissue of patients with active lupus nephritis, whereas the Th17 response in urine is associated with a less severe course of the disease. Thus, the Th1 response seems to play a relevant role in the pathophysiology of lupus nephritis.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The relationship between carbon monoxide and the heart has been extensively studied in both clinical and preclinical settings. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is keenly focused on the ill ...effects of carbon monoxide on the heart when presented with proposals for clinical trials to evaluate efficacy of this gasotransmitter in a various disease settings. This review provides an overview of the rationale that examines the actions of the FDA when considering clinical testing of CO, and contrast that with the continued accumulation of data that clearly show not only that CO can be used safely, but is potently cardioprotective in clinically relevant small and large animal models. Data emerging from Phase I and Phase II clinical trials argues against CO being dangerous to the heart and thus it needs to be redefined and evaluated as any other substance being proposed for use in humans. More than twenty years ago, the belief that CO could be used as a salutary molecule was ridiculed by experts in physiology and medicine. Like all agents designed for use in humans, careful pharmacology and safety are paramount, but continuing to hinder progress based on long-standing dogma in the absence of data is improper. Now, CO is being tested in multiple clinical trials using innovative delivery methods and has proven to be safe. The hope, based on compelling preclinical data, is that it will continue to be evaluated and ultimately approved as an effective therapeutic.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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