The rupture of the Brumadinho mining tailings dam in Brazil is considered one of the largest mining disasters in the world, resulting in 244 deaths and 26 missing people, in addition to the ...environmental consequences. The present study aims to evaluate the concentrations of multiple elements and the biological effects on water and sediments of the Paraopeba River after the Brumadinho Dam rupture. The tailings are formed by fine particulate material with large amounts of Fe, Al, Mn, Ti, rare earth metals and toxic metals. In the water, the levels of Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and U were higher than those allowed by Brazilian legislation. In the sediments, Cr, Ni, Cu and Cd levels were higher than the established sediment quality guidelines (TEL-NOAA). The differences in metal concentrations in the water and sediments between the upstream and downstream sides of the dam illustrate the effect of the tailings in the Paraopeba River. Toxicological tests demonstrated that the water and sediments were toxic to different trophic levels, from algae to microcrustaceans and fish. The fish exposed to water and sediments containing mine ore also accumulated metals in muscle tissue. This evaluation emphasizes the necessity of long-term monitoring in the affected area.
Brazil currently ranks second in absolute deaths by COVID-19, even though most of its population has completed the vaccination protocol. With the introduction of Omicron in late 2021, the number of ...COVID-19 cases soared once again in the country. We investigated in this work how lineages BA.1 and BA.2 entered and spread in the country by sequencing 2173 new SARS-CoV-2 genomes collected between October 2021 and April 2022 and analyzing them in addition to more than 18,000 publicly available sequences with phylodynamic methods. We registered that Omicron was present in Brazil as early as 16 November 2021 and by January 2022 was already more than 99% of samples. More importantly, we detected that Omicron has been mostly imported through the state of São Paulo, which in turn dispersed the lineages to other states and regions of Brazil. This knowledge can be used to implement more efficient non-pharmaceutical interventions against the introduction of new SARS-CoV variants focused on surveillance of airports and ground transportation.
ABSTRACT One of the various seaweed species with biostimulating properties is Lithothamnion sp., a calcareous seaweed recognized for its nutritional attributes. This review article aimed to gather ...information on Lithothamnion sp. and its applications in agricultural cultivation, focusing on identifying and analyzing its biostimulant effects. The practical use of this biostimulant in farming has been confirmed by studies highlighting its efficiency, which varies according to the source material (deposit and particle fraction), application methodology (dosage, methods and frequency) and specific crop (genotype and development stages). Lithothamnion sp. is notable for promoting vegetative growth and has established itself as an invaluable biostimulant in producing seedlings of various species. Its application, either via soil or by foliar methods, has led to improvements in the yield and quality of vegetables, fruits, oilseed crops, grains and forage plants. Although the underlying mechanisms need further investigation, the results suggest that Lithothamnion sp. contributes to amplifying photosynthesis, water-use efficiency and phytoalexin production.
RESUMO Diversas algas possuem efeitos bioestimulantes, como o Lithothamnion sp., uma alga marinha calcária conhecida por seu valor nutricional. Objetivou-se, neste artigo de revisão, compilar informações sobre o Lithothamnion sp. e suas aplicações em cultivos agrícolas, visando identificar e analisar seus efeitos bioestimulantes. A aplicação prática desse bioestimulante na agricultura tem sido verificada por meio de estudos que demonstram sua eficácia dependendo da matéria prima utilizada (jazida e fração da partícula), tecnologia de aplicação (dosagem, formas e intervalos) e cultura (genótipo e estádios de desenvolvimento). O Lithothamnion sp. se destaca por induzir o desenvolvimento vegetativo e ser uma ferramenta valiosa na produção de mudas de diversas espécies. Sua aplicação, seja via solo ou foliar, tem revelado melhorias na produção e qualidade de hortaliças, frutas, culturas oleaginosas, grãos e forrageiras. Ainda que os mecanismos subjacentes exijam investigações mais aprofundadas, os resultados sugerem que o Lithothamnion sp. contribui para o aumento na fotossíntese, eficiência do uso da água e produção de fitoalexinas.
One of the various seaweed species with biostimulating properties is Lithothamnion sp., a calcareous seaweed recognized for its nutritional attributes. This review article aimed to gather information ...on Lithothamnion sp. and its applications in agricultural cultivation, focusing on identifying and analyzing its biostimulant effects. The practical use of this biostimulant in farming has been confirmed by studies highlighting its efficiency, which varies according to the source material (deposit and particle fraction), application methodology (dosage, methods and frequency) and specific crop (genotype and development stages). Lithothamnion sp. is notable for promoting vegetative growth and has established itself as an invaluable biostimulant in producing seedlings of various species. Its application, either via soil or by foliar methods, has led to improvements in the yield and quality of vegetables, fruits, oilseed crops, grains and forage plants. Although the underlying mechanisms need further investigation, the results suggest that Lithothamnion sp. contributes to amplifying photosynthesis, water-use efficiency and phytoalexin production.
Abdômen agudo obstrutivo: aspectos clínicos e cirúrgicos Alves de Brito, Cleidiana; Diego Santana de Freitas, Francisco; Philipp Klaus Weyand, Johann ...
Brazilian Journal of Implantology and Health Sciences,
06/2024, Letnik:
6, Številka:
6
Journal Article
O abdome agudo obstrutivo é caracterizado por uma parada de progressão do trânsito intestinal e corresponde a, aproximadamente, 20% dos casos de abdome agudo no departamento de emergência. Trata-se ...de uma revisão integrativa utilizando como base de dados a BVS, a SciELO, o LILACS e o PubMed, nos últimos 5 anos. Foram avaliados 997 artigos sobre o tema com ênfase em uma síntese dos conhecimentos mais recentes e de maior consistência científica. O paciente com obstrução intestinal apresenta queixa de dor e, principalmente, distensão abdominal, além de parada da eliminação de flatos e fezes, tipicamente com vômitos. Na história da doença atual, busca-se por outros sinais e sintomas como febre ou aspecto do vômito (alimentar, bilioso ou fecaloide). Conclui-se que a avaliação diagnóstica no abdome agudo parte da avaliação clínica, com anamnese e exame físico. Baseando-se nas suspeitas diagnósticas, exames adicionais são realizados a depender de cada etiologia.
Purpose
Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with a decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL). More recent studies have pointed toward a genetic basis of patient-reported quality of life ...outcomes. Taking into account that the influence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the HRQOL of CHC patients has not been studied, we investigated the combined
IL10
-1082G/A, − 819C/T, and − 592C/A SNPs, and
IL6
-174G/C SNP. We also evaluated the association between demographic, clinical, psychiatric, virological, and genetic variables with domains and summaries of HRQOL in CHC patients.
Methods
132 consecutive CHC patients and 98 controls underwent psychiatric evaluation by using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. HRQOL was assessed by a generic questionnaire, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and by the specific Liver Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (LDQOL).
IL
6 and
IL
10 polymorphisms were evaluated by Taqman SNP genotyping assay. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the associations.
Results
Major depressive disorder was associated with lower SF-36 and LDQOL scores in seven and ten domains, respectively. Diabetes and hypertension were also associated with reduced HRQOL. CHC patients carrying the combination of
IL
10 ATA haplotype/
IL
6-GG genotype had lower scores in the SF-36—physical functioning domain, and reduced scores in the LDQOL effects of liver disease on activities of daily living, quality of social interaction, and sexual function domains than the non-carriers of the combined haplotype/genotype.
Conclusion
This is the first study to demonstrate that combined
IL
6 high-producer GG genotype and
IL
10 low-producer ATA haplotype is associated with poorer HRQOL in CHC patients.
The study investigated allogenic pulp transplantation as an innovative method of regenerative endodontic therapy. Three patients were selected for the endodontic treatment of single-root teeth, who ...also had a son/daughter with deciduous teeth or third molars scheduled for extraction. Receptor teeth were endodontically instrumented and irrigated using a tri-antibiotic solution. During the transplant procedures, the teeth from the son/daughter were extracted, sectioned, and the pulp was carefully removed. The harvested pulp from the donor was inserted into the root canal of the host tooth (father/mother), followed by direct pulp capping and resin composite restoration. The teeth were followed-up with for 2 years and were surveyed with computed tomography, the electric pulp vitality test, and Doppler ultrasound examination. At the 6-month follow-up, positive pulp vitality and the formation of periapical lesions were verified in cases 1 and 2. Case 3 showed remarkable periapical radiolucency before transplantation, but after 1 year, such lesions disappeared and there was positive vitality. All teeth were revascularized as determined by Doppler imaging after 2 years with no signs of endodontic/periodontal radiolucency. In conclusion, although this was a case series with only three patients and four teeth treated, it is possible to suppose that this allogenic pulp transplantation protocol could represent a potential strategy for pulp revitalization in specific endodontic cases.
Tropical forests have played an important role as a carbon sink over time. However, the carbon dynamics of Brazilian non-Amazon tropical forests are still not well understood. Here, we used data from ...32 tropical seasonal forest sites, monitored from 1987 to 2020 (mean site monitoring length, ~15 years) to investigate their long-term trends in carbon stocks and sinks. Our results highlight a long-term decline in the net carbon sink (0.13 Mg C ha
year
) caused by decreasing carbon gains (2.6% by year) and increasing carbon losses (3.4% by year). The driest and warmest sites are experiencing the most severe carbon sink decline and have already moved from carbon sinks to carbon sources. Because of the importance of the terrestrial carbon sink for the global climate, policies are needed to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases and to restore and protect tropical seasonal forests.
Abstract
Aims
We aimed at disentangling the effects of spatial distance, current and past environmental dissimilarity, and their combinations on tree community taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover by ...addressing the following questions: (i) Is tree community taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover related to the indirect effects of spatial distance via environmental dissimilarity? (ii) Does tree community taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover respond to paleoclimate (Last Glacial Maximum and Mid-Holocene)?
Methods
The study was carried out in 14 Atlantic rainforest sites in Brazil (20.4 ha sampled) containing 615 tree species from 83 plant families. We obtained plot-level geographic coordinates and soil variables and site-level bioclimatic variables in the current, Mid-Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum. We used structural equation models with a distance-based approach to (i) test the direct effects of spatial distance and environmental dissimilarity and (ii) test the indirect effects of spatial distance via environmental dissimilarity on taxonomic (Bray–Curtis distance) and phylogenetic turnover (Comdist and Comdistnt distances).
Important Findings
Our results suggest a weak indirect effect of spatial distance via environmental dissimilarity on taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover. Tree community turnover was driven by the direct effects of neutral, niche-based and historical processes. Thus, we inferred that the paleoclimate (historical processes) promoted the selection of the clades that gave rise to the current flora, while spatial distances (neutral processes) limited the dispersal range of species from the regional pool and environmental conditions (niche-based processes) locally selected the taxa that are able to persist.
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