Generalist arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi dominated heavy metal polluted soils at two artisanal and small - scale gold mining sites in southeastern Ecuador.

BACKGROUND: Artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities are producing contamination with heavy metals and metalloids (HMM) into soils and water worldwide. The HMM are considered as one of the major abiotic stresses due to their long-term persistence in soil. In this context, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) confer resistance to a variety of abiotic plant stressors including HMM. However, little is known regarding the diversity and composition of AMF communities in heavy metal polluted sites in Ecuador. METHODS: In order to investigate the AMF diversity, root samples and associated soil of six plant species were collected from two sites polluted by heavy metals, located in Zamora-Chinchipe province, Ecuador. The AMF 18S nrDNA genetic region was analyzed and sequenced, and fungal OTUs were defined based on 99% sequence similarity. Results were contrasted with AMF communities from a natural forest and from reforestation sites located in the same province and with available sequences in GenBank. RESULTS: The main pollutants in soils were Pb, Zn, Hg, Cd and Cu with concentrations exceeding the soil reference value for agricultural use. Molecular phylogeny and OTU delimitation showed 19 OTUs, the family Glomeraceae was the most OTU-rich followed by Archaeosporaceae, Acaulosporaceae, Ambisporaceae and Paraglomeraceae. Most of the OTUs (11 of 19) have been found at other locations worldwide, 14 OTUs were proven from nearby non-contaminated sites in Zamora-Chinchipe. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that there are no specialized OTUs at the studied HMM polluted sites, but rather generalists adapted to a wide variety of habitats. Their potential role in phytoremediation approaches remains to be investigated.

Postoperative Delirium Following Orthognathic Surgery in a Young Patient.

Delirium is an organic mental syndrome with acute onset characterized by diffuse brain dysfunction and neural activity disorganization. It is usually related to cognition and perception changes, decreased level of consciousness, and disorganization of thoughts that are unrelated to previous dementia. Occurrence is more frequent in patients with previous degenerative disease and elderly patients, especially those older than 85 years. Although the pathophysiology is not totally known, studies have shown that, among the main factors that lead to delirium, the drugs used for general anesthesia induction are the most relevant (hypnotics, anticholinergic drugs, and H2 receptor blockers), especially those used in long surgical procedures. This report describes the case of a 24-year-old woman with a noncontributory medical and psychological history. She underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery with a total general anesthesia time of 7 hours. Postoperatively, she developed agitation, confusion, and delirium. After a psychiatry consult and discussion with the anesthesia team, the diagnosis of psychotic break owing to late postoperative delirium was established.

Globally Distributed Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated With Invasive Cinchona pubescens on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos.

The presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is essential for the survival and establishment of most plant species in nature. The reproductive success of invasive plant species in a particular habitat could also depend on these AM fungi. Cinchona pubescens, commonly known as quinine, is highly invasive on Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos, but at the same time severely endangered in its native range on mainland Ecuador due to overexploitation in the past. In this study, we aim at determining the AMF communities associated with C. pubescens at both locations to investigate whether the successful invasion of C. pubescens on Santa Cruz is related to its association with a particular community of AMF. For this, roots of C. pubescens trees were sampled at three sites, one site on Santa Cruz and two sites in the province of Loja, on mainland Ecuador. Communities of AM fungi were determined through the molecular cloning and sequencing of the 18S nrDNA gene and through the delimitation of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs), associated with the plant roots. We found 36 AMF OTUs associated with C. pubescens, most of them belonging to the genus Glomus. The highest richness of AMF OTUs was detected in samples from sites located on mainland Ecuador. The AMF communities between Santa Cruz and mainland Ecuador were significantly different, and only five OTUs were shared between both locations. Two dominant OTUs in C. pubescens from Santa Cruz were detected but no dominant OTUs from mainland Ecuador. Almost two thirds of the OTUs associated with C. pubescens had a wide global distribution. Our results suggest that the successful invasion of C. pubescens on Santa Cruz could have been facilitated by local generalist AMF and not by particular AMF. The observed generalist AMF from both locations could be important for conservation plans of restoring the endangered C. pubescens in the native forests on mainland Ecuador.

Estimation of the Water Table Position in Unconfined Aquifers with MODFLOW 6.

The numerical estimation of the position of the water table in unconfined aquifers is important for many practical applications. Its determination through observations or analytical methods is restricted to a few cases. Therefore, it is often estimated through numerical simulations, which may be affected by numerical artifacts and/or poor stability. We use MODFLOW to estimate the position of the water table for a seemingly simple example problem and demonstrate difficulties that can be faced when performing this kind of numerical simulation. We explain the causes for the numerical challenges that originate from the properties of the mathematical equations that must be solved. Based on the results of more than 600 steady-state simulations, we show how the stability of the numerical solution can be affected by the values of physical parameters that define the problem (e.g., recharge rate, anisotropy ratio, and other parameters that control the numerical algorithm such as settings of the linear and nonlinear solution methods). Finally, we comment on some best practices to apply numerical simulations to estimate the water table position.

Vivaria calvasensis-A new genus and species of Araceae (Araceae: Aroidea: Spathicarpeae) from southern Ecuador.

We describe a new genus with a new species belonging to Araceae, from southern Ecuador. Vivaria calvasensis gen. et sp. nov. inhabits semi-arid inter- Andean mountains at altitudes ranging between 1100-1300 m a.s.l. The species belongs to the tribe Spathicarpae, which in Ecuador is represented by two other genera, Incarum and Croatellia, both typical for humid environments such as montane forests. This new genus is clearly supported by molecular evidence based on the matK gene, and morphological traits that separate it from the closely-related genera included in this tribe. The analyzed material was collected during several field campaigns carried out during four years in two populations from Loja province (Calvas and Macará), southern Ecuador, near the border with Peru.

Atractiellomycetes belonging to the 'rust' lineage (Pucciniomycotina) form mycorrhizae with terrestrial and epiphytic neotropical orchids.

Distinctive groups of fungi are involved in the diverse mycorrhizal associations of land plants. All previously known mycorrhiza-forming Basidiomycota associated with trees, ericads, liverworts or orchids are hosted in Agaricomycetes, Agaricomycotina. Here we demonstrate for the first time that Atractiellomycetes, members of the 'rust' lineage (Pucciniomycotina), are mycobionts of orchids. The mycobionts of 103 terrestrial and epiphytic orchid individuals, sampled in the tropical mountain rainforest of Southern Ecuador, were identified by sequencing the whole ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and part of 28S rDNA. Mycorrhizae of 13 orchid individuals were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Simple septal pores and symplechosomes in the hyphal coils of mycorrhizae from four orchid individuals indicated members of Atractiellomycetes. Molecular phylogeny of sequences from mycobionts of 32 orchid individuals out of 103 samples confirmed Atractiellomycetes and the placement in Pucciniomycotina, previously known to comprise only parasitic and saprophytic fungi. Thus, our finding reveals these fungi, frequently associated to neotropical orchids, as the most basal living basidiomycetes involved in mycorrhizal associations of land plants.

Positive solution of two-dimensional solute transport in heterogeneous aquifers.

The transport of contaminants in aquifers is usually represented by a convection-dispersion equation. There are several well-known problems of oscillation and artificial dispersion that affect the numerical solution of this equation. For example, several studies have shown that standard treatment of the cross-dispersion terms always leads to a negative concentration. It is also well known that the numerical solution of the convective term is affected by spurious oscillations or substantial numerical dispersion. These difficulties are especially significant for solute transport in nonuniform flow in heterogeneous aquifers. For the case of coupled reactive-transport models, even small negative concentration values can become amplified through nonlinear reaction source/sink terms and thus result in physically erroneous and unstable results. This paper includes a brief discussion about how nonpositive concentrations arise from numerical solution of the convection and cross-dispersion terms. We demonstrate the effectiveness of directional splitting with one-dimensional flux limiters for the convection term. Also, a new numerical scheme for the dispersion term that preserves positivity is presented. The results of the proposed convection scheme and the solution given by the new method to compute dispersion are compared with standard numerical methods as used in MT3DMS.

Intra-articular bupivacaine or bupivacaine and morphine after ACL reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Reconstructive surgery of the ACL is one of the most commonly performed surgeries today and the control of postoperative pain is part of the priorities of the surgeon. Within the arsenal of analgesia we have the intra-articular application of drugs, and the most studied one is bupivacaine with or without morphine. This study compared the application of bupivacaine with or without morphine with a control group after ACL reconstruction with flexor tendon graft. METHODS: Forty-five patients were randomized into three groups: in group I, 20 ml of saline were applied intra-articularly at the end of the surgery; in group II, 20 ml of bupivacaine 0.25%; and in group III, bupivacaine 0.25% associated with 1 mg of morphine. The groups were assessed for degree of pain by the Visual Analog Scale at 6, 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Group III had less pain at all times, but the pain was not as intense in all groups to the point of needing extra medications beyond the established protocol. CONCLUSION: The intra-articular application of these medications after ACL reconstruction with flexor tendon graft when performed under spinal anesthesia is not useful enough to use regularly. Level of Evidence II, Lesser quality RCT.

Bupivacaina ou bupivacaina e morfina intra-articular pós reconstrução do LCA / Intra-articular bupivacaine or bupivacaine and morphine after ACL reconstruction

OBJETIVO: A cirurgia de reconstrução do LCA é hoje uma das mais realizadas e o controle da dor pós-operatória faz parte das prioridades do cirurgião. Dentro do arsenal de analgesia temos a aplicação intra-articular de drogas, sendo a mais estudada a bupivacaina associada ou não a morfina. Neste estudo comparamos a aplicação de bupivacaina associada ou não a morfina com grupo controle, após reconstrução do LCA com enxerto de tendões flexores. MÉTODOS: Quarenta e cinco pacientes foram randomizados em três grupos, sendo que no grupo I foi aplicado ao fim da cirurgia 20ml de soro fisiológico intra-articular, no grupo II 20ml de bupivacaina 0,25% e no grupo III bupivacaina 0,25% associado a 1mg de morfina. Os grupos foram avaliados quanto ao grau de dor pela escala analógica visual com 6, 24 e 48 horas de pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: O grupo III teve menos dor em todos os momentos, porém a dor não foi tão intensa em todos os grupos a ponto de necessitar medicações extras além do protocolo estabelecido. CONCLUSÃO: A aplicação intra-articular destas medicações pós-reconstrução do LCA com enxerto dos tendões flexores quando realizada sob anestesia raquideana não traz vantagens suficientes para fazer seu uso regularmente. Nível de Evidência II, Ensaio Clínico Randomizado de Menor Qualidade.

OBJECTIVE: Reconstructive surgery of the ACL is one of the most commonly performed surgeries today and the control of postoperative pain is part of the priorities of the surgeon. Within the arsenal of analgesia we have the intra-articular application of drugs, and the most studied one is bupivacaine with or without morphine. This study compared the application of bupivacaine with or without morphine with a control group after ACL reconstruction with flexor tendon graft. METHODS: Forty-five patients were randomized into three groups: in group I, 20 ml of saline were applied intra-articularly at the end of the surgery; in group II, 20 ml of bupivacaine 0.25%; and in group III, bupivacaine 0.25% associated with 1 mg of morphine. The groups were assessed for degree of pain by the Visual Analog Scale at 6, 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Group III had less pain at all times, but the pain was not as intense in all groups to the point of needing extra medications beyond the established protocol. CONCLUSION: The intra-articular application of these medications after ACL reconstruction with flexor tendon graft when performed under spinal anesthesia is not useful enough to use regularly. Level of Evidence II, Lesser quality RCT.

Retalho do músculo grácil: estudo anatômico e uso clínico / Gracilis muscle flap: anatomical study and clinical use

Objetivo: Considerando que o músculo grácil tem sido cada vez mais utilizado como retalho muscular livre, tevese como objetivo detalhar o seu estudo anatômico, dando ênfase às dimensões do pedículo principal, padrão vascular do retalho, área cutânea suprida pelo pedículo principal, dimensões do músculo e seu tendão. Material: Este estudo foi realizado com a dissecção de 16 cadáveres frescos, num total de 32 peças anatômicas, em que foram estudadas as dimensões do pedículo vascular principal (20 casos), a extensão da área cutânea suprida pelo pedículo principal (oito casos) e o estudo das perfurantes fasciocutâneas e seu padrão vascular (quatro casos). Resultado: Obteve-se um pedículo vascular principal formado por uma artéria e duas veias, com origem nos vasos femorais profundos em todos os casos, apresentando diâmetro médio de 3,2mm para a artéria, 2,6 e 3,6mm para as veias e 2,lmm para o nervo, com comprimento médio dos vasos de 6,9cm e do nervo de 7,Ocm, com entrada no músculo em média a 9,6cm da origem muscular no púbis. A extensão da área cutânea suprida pelo pedículo principal foi, em média, de 17,2cm de comprimento por 9,8cm de largura, situada na face medial proximal da coxa. O comprimento do segmento muscular e tendíneo foi, em média, de 42,8 e 9,8cm, respectivamente. Complementou-se o estudo anatômico com a demonstração de um caso clínico, em que foi utilizado o retalho em sua forma livre para reconstrução de flexores dos dedos da mão. Conclusão: Baseados em seus achados, os autores concluem que o músculo grácil apresenta anatomia constante, com pedículo de dimensões compatíveis com a sua utilização para anastomoses vasculares e neurotização, podendo ser utilizado um segmento cutâneo adicional ao muscular

Efeitos da nalbufina na depressäo respiratória e analgesia produzidas pelo fentanil / Effects of nalbuphine on the respiratory depression and analgesia produced by fentanyl

Justificativa e Objetivos - A nalbufina é um opióide agonista-antagonista com ação antagonista menor do que a da naloxona. Os objetivos deste estudo foram verificar se a nalbufina, na dose de 5 mg, é capaz de reverter a depressão respiratória induzida pelo fentanil utilizado em doses moderadas para anestesia geral balanceada, permitindo analgesia residual sem efeitos hemodinâmicos indesejáveis; se a nalbufina altera o consumo de analgésicos no pós-operatório imediato. Método - Participaram do estudo 15 pacientes aos quais foi administrado de modo encoberto, nalbufina (n=6) ou placebo n+9) no final de cirurgias abdominais, sob anestesia geral balanceada onde foram utilizadas doses moderadas de fentanil (15 mg.kgúû). Foram observados e comparados os seguintes dados; a) reversão da depressão respiratória causada pelo fentanil; b) intensidade da dor no pós-operatório; c) consumo de analgésicos no pós-operatório; d) pressão arterial sistólica, distólica e frequência cardíaca. Resultados - Na dose de 5 mg a nalbufina apresentou resposta antagonista irregular sobre a depressão causada pelo fentanil. Não se observou diferença significativa na avaliação da dor pós-operatória. Entretanto a administração de nalbufina diminuiu o consumo de analgésicos opióides no pós-operatório imediato. A frequência cardíaca e a pressão arterial aumentaram pela administração de nalbufina. Conclusão - A nalbufina apresentou padrão irregular na reversão da depressão respiratória induzida pelo fentanil, porém diminuiu a quantidade de opióides necessários para o controle da dor pós-operatória.

Infusäo venosa de lidocaína no tratamento da dor neuropática / Venous infusion of Lidocaine to treat neuropathic pain

Avaliou-se o uso de Lidocaína parenteral (intra-venosa) em 16 pacientes com dores neuropáticas. Verificou-se resposta satisfatória, inclusive com efeito prolongado em 3 casos. Demonstra-se a extrema utilidade da lidocaína no manuseio dessa condiçäo, salientando-se o papel de opçäo segura e eficaz, quando ocorrer falha (refratariedade) com outras formas de tratamento