Urbanization causes environmental impacts that threaten the health of aquatic communities and alter their recovery patterns. In this study, we evaluated the diversity of intertidal fish in six areas ...affected by urbanization (areas with native vegetation, deforested areas, and areas in process of restoration of vegetation) along an urban waterfront in the Amazon River. 20 species were identified, representing 17 genera, 14 families, and 8 orders. The different degrees of habitat degradation had a major effect on the composition of the fish fauna; the two least affected sectors were the only ones in that all 20 species were found. Eight species were recorded in the most degraded areas. The analysis revealed two well-defined groups, coinciding with the sectors in better ecological quality and degraded areas, respectively. The native vegetation has been identified as the crucial factor to the recovery and homeostasis of the studied ecosystem, justifying its legal protection and its use in the restoration and conservation of altered and threatened environments. These results reinforce the importance of maintaining the native vegetation as well as its restoration in order to benefit of the fish populations in intertidal zones impacted by alterations resulting from inadequate urbanization.
The exploitation of resources by closely related species with similar niches may be mediated by differences in activity patterns, which may vary in nycthemeral scale and seasonal scale. Piranhas ...Serrasalmus gibbus and Serrasalmus rhombeus are Neotropical predators that occur sympatrically in many environments of the Amazon basin. To evaluate the strategies adopted by these two species in a restricted environment (a reservoir), nycthemeral and seasonal samples were made, identifying the composition of the diet and their activity patterns. A total of 402 specimens were collected: 341 S. gibbus and 61 S. rhombeus. Both species fed themselves primarily on fish, with some seasonal variation being found in S. gibbus during the flood season, when plant material was consumed. There was considerable temporal overlap in the foraging behavior of the two species, although S. rhombeus presented a bimodal pattern of abundance over the 24-hour cycle. S. rhombeus was more active during the nighttime, between dusk and early morning, whereas S. gibbus was active throughout the nycthemeral cycle. These findings indicate low levels of competition between the two species, which allowed for a considerable overlap in nighttime foraging, following distinct nycthemeral patterns of foraging activity and allowing their coexistence.
Considering that the conventional tillage changes the soil physical properties in a negative way, and that the use of multivariate statistics provides better perception and interpretation of the ...interactions between the variables involved in the changes than the univariate does, this study aimed to evaluate soil physical quality indicators through statistical techniques and then infer about the physical quality of the soils. The studied area has been cultivated with pineapple for eight years. Water is supplied through a drip irrigation system and the soil is classified as Cambisol. In order to evaluate soil physical quality, disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected in these layers for physical analyses: granulometry, dispersed clay, soil bulk and particle densities, organic carbon, aggregate stability, mean weight diameter and resistance to penetration. A completely randomized design was considered with split-plot treatments 2 3 5 (two soil scenarios: under cultivation and secondary forest; three soil layers: 0.0-0.1, 0.1-0.2 and 0.2-0.3 m; five replicates). Statistical tests were used: Kolmogorov-Smirnov to verify data normality, F for variance analysis and Tukey for comparing treatment means, all at 5% of probability. Cluster analysis, principal component analysis and factor analysis were used to better analyze the dataset of the studied variables. As a conclusion, it was refuted the hypothesis of worse physical quality for the soil under conventional pineapple cultivation comparing it to the soil under secondary forest. The multivariate statistical techniques were essential to better understand the set of studied variables and their interaction with soil uses, thus being possible to determine objectively which attributes discriminated each soil use situation and the respective layers. It was also possible to find results not shown by univariate analysis. Therefore, multivariate analysis is recommended as an auxiliary tool in studies to evaluate soil physical quality.
ABSTRACT In this study, the composition of the diet and the feeding activity of Electrophorus varii were evaluated. The influence of ontogeny and seasonality in these feeding parameters was also ...examined. Fish were collected in the Curiaú River Basin, Amazon, Brazil, from March 2005 to February 2006, during the rainy (January-June) and dry (July-December) seasons. Diet composition was characterized based on the analysis of stomach contents and feeding dynamics was assessed based on the Stomach Fullness Index (IR) calculated using stomach weight. Stomach content and RI data were grouped into four-cm size classes (40-80, 80-120, 120-160, and 160-200) and two seasonal periods (rainy and dry). The influence of ontogeny and seasonality in the diet was investigated through PERMANOVA, and in the food dynamics through ANOVA. The analysis of stomach contents revealed that fish were the most consumed preys by electric eels, especially Callichthyidae and Cichlidae. Diet composition and RI values of electric eels were not influenced by ontogeny and seasonality. Electric eels are fish predators, regardless of size class and seasonal period.
RESUMO Neste estudo foram avaliadas a composição da dieta e a atividade alimentar de Electrophorus varii. A influência da ontogenia e da sazonalidade nestes aspectos da alimentação dos poraquês também foi examinada. Os peixes foram coletados na Bacia do rio Curiaú, Amazônia, Brasil, no período de março de 2005 a fevereiro de 2006, abrangendo os períodos chuvoso (janeiro-junho) e o seco (julho-dezembro). A dieta foi avaliada por meio da análise dos conteúdos estomacais e a dinâmica alimentar por meio do Índice de Repleção Estomacal (RI) baseado nos dados de peso do estômago. Os dados do conteúdo estomacal e do RI foram agrupados em quatro classes de tamanho em cm (40-80, 80-120, 120-160 e 160-200) e dois períodos sazonais (chuvoso e seco). A influência da ontogenia e da sazonalidade na dieta foi investigada por meio da PERMANOVA, e na dinâmica alimentar por meio da ANOVA. A análise do conteúdo estomacal mostrou que os peixes foram as presas mais consumidas pelos poraquês, especialmente Callichthyidae e Cichlidae. A composição da dieta e os valores de RI dos poraquês não foram influenciadas pela ontogenia e pela sazonalidade. Os poraquês são predadores piscívoros, independente da classe de tamanho e do período sazonal.
The evaluation of the growth patterns and reproductive strategies of fish species are vitally important for the understanding of their biology and the management of stocks. The present study focused ...on the Amazonian electric eel (Electrophorus electricus), which is capable of producing an electrical discharge of up to 800 V. Specimens were collected on a monthly schedule from a floodplain in the eastern Amazon basin. The gonads of these specimens were examined, and the sex ratio, growth parameters, population structure, body size at first gonadal maturation, and the gonadosomatic index were determined. A balanced sex ratio was found. Males were larger than females, and both sexes presented isometric growth, which is unusual in species with an elongated anatomy. This isometry may be related to the reduction of the coelomic cavity, and its position near the head. The spawning period coincided with the start of the rainy season, and continued until high water, with the variation in gonadal development following the fluctuations in precipitation and river water levels. The asymptotic body length in both sexes was relatively large, and was inversely related to the growth coefficient (k), with a slower growth rate being recorded in the males. Mortality rates were relatively low in comparison with most species of tropical fish. The larger size of the male may be related to their role in parental care, and sexual selection on the part of the females. These findings may be important for the management of wild stocks, as well as captive rearing.
The objective of this study was to characterize oligofructose-induced acute rumen lactic acidosis and its consequences in zebu cattle. We used 29 Nellore heifers which were submitted to experimental ...induction of laminitis by oligofructose excess. During the induction period, the animals underwent clinical examination, including laminitis diagnosis (hoof pressure testing and locomotion score) and blood and ruminal fluid sampling every six hours (over the initial 24 h) and every 12 h (up to 72 h), after the highest dose. Almost half of the animals (48.1%) required treatment with bicarbonate and saline to correct metabolic acidosis and dehydration. Due to this treatment, the animals were analyzed in treated (n = 13) and non-treated (n = 14) groups. The induction model promoted marked reduction in rumen pH, rumen anaerobiosis, carbon dioxide pressure, and increase in rumen lactate, blood osmolarity, and cortisol concentration. The animals treated had lower values of rumen pH and marked dehydration, evidenced by the increase in globular volume and serum urea. The clinical condition caused by excess oligofructose is severe, with the differential of the appearance of ephemeral fever and respiratory compensation against systemic acidosis, in addition to the frequent appearance of laminitis.
Primary Leiomyosarcoma of the Glans da Costa Junior, Raimundo Nonato Gois; Teixeira Júnior, Antonio Augusto Lima; Rocha, Thalita Moura Silva ...
Frontiers in oncology,
05/2022, Letnik:
12
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Penile leiomyosarcoma isz an extremely uncommon entity that rarely occurs in the glans. Due to the limited number of cases described in literature, guidelines regarding non-surgical treatment, ...prognosis, and management remain equivocal. Among the mesenchymal tumors of the penis, leiomyosarcoma has the highest propensity for recurrence. It originates in the smooth muscle cells from two distinct locations: superficial and deep. The deep subtype is the most aggressive and has the highest potential for metastasis. Surgical treatment should be implemented early and must be locally aggressive. Herein, we present a rare case of a 54-year-old patient with deep localized leiomyosarcoma of the glans, albeit with superficial characteristics. A review of the main histopathological, clinical, immunohistochemical, and therapeutic aspects of this unusual entity is presented.
Curcuma zedoaria, commonly known as zedoary, is a plant from the Zingiberaceae family, native to India. It is currently cultivated in Brazil and countries in South and Southwest Asia. This study ...evaluated the bioinsecticidal potential of the essential oil (EO) obtained from C. zedoaria (Zingiberaceae) rhizomes. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation (3 h) and identified by GC/FID/MS. In vitro toxicity of C. zedoaria essential oil was evaluated against C. felis felis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae model, and the acetylcholinesterase mechanism was analyzed. The yield was 0.15%, and the three main chemical constituents found were 1,8-cineole (24.11%), camphor (12.13%), and curzerenone (9.68%). In the bioassays of the reproductive stages of C. felis felis in contact with different concentrations of the essential oil, the impregnation method on filter paper was employed. The results showed that adult fleas exhibited 100 % mortality starting from the concentration of 800 μg.cm−2 at 24 h and 48 h, differing from the pupal stages with 94.23 % mortality at the concentration of 396 μg.cm−2, larvae with 100% mortality at the concentration of 117.5 μg.cm−2 at 24 h and 48 h, and eggs with 98% mortality at the concentration of 396 μg.cm−2. Regarding the inhibitory action of C. zedoaria EO on the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, as verified through the modified Ellman method, a decrease of approximately 20% in the enzymatic activity was observed even at the highest concentration (0.5 mg.mL−1) of C. zedoaria essential oil. In toxicity assays using the yeast S. cerevisiae as a eukaryotic model, it was observed that C. zedoaria EO exhibited toxicity, as the assay resulted in mitochondrial damage, thus impairing cellular development. Further studies are required, as despite showing bioinsecticidal potential against different developmental stages of the flea C. felis felis, the EO proved to be toxic in the assays conducted with the yeast S. cerevisiae.
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•Biocontrol of fleas using essential oil.•Essential oil and pulicidal agents.•Brazilian plants as insecticidal.
In folk medicine Hyptis suaveolens (Lamiaceae) has been reported to relieve respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, indigestion, cold, pain, fever, cramps, skin diseases, gastric ulcer and ...inflammatory disorders. This study investigated the effects and the mechanisms of action of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit (Lamiaceae) ethanol extract (Hs-EtOH) and hexane phase (Hs-HexF) against intestinal inflammation.
Acute and relapse TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis protocols were used to evaluate intestinal anti-inflammatory activity. Damage evaluations, biochemical, histological and immunostaining parameters were determined.
Both extracts decreased macroscopic colonic inflammation and the area of lesion induced by TNBS. Nevertheless, only Hs-HexF was able to reduce colonic wall thickness, edema and diffuse inflammatory cell infiltration and to prevent GSH depletion in the acute model of ulcerative colitis. In the chronic phase with relapse of colonic ulceration, yet again only Hs-HexF significantly attenuated inflammatory parameters and presented a decrease in nitrite/nitrate, MDA, MPO, IL-1-β and TNF-α and increased levels of SOD, CAT, GSH and IL-10. Hs-HexF also significantly reduced positive cells immunostained for PCNA.
The data indicate intestinal anti-inflammatory activity for H. suaveolens, due to the participation of the antioxidant system, decreased neutrophil infiltration and cytokine modulation, as well as, owing to regulation of cell proliferation.
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•The major compounds found in H. suaveolens hexane phase, such as myristic acid ethyl ester, were identified.•H. suaveolens hexane phase intestinal anti-inflammatory activity is due to antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects.•Regulation of cell proliferation is also involved in the intestinal protection exerted by H. suaveolens hexane phase.
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