Mercury in muscle and liver of Plagioscion squamosissimus (Acanthuriformes: Sciaenidae) from the Machado River, Brazilian Amazon / Mercúrio no músculo e fígado de Plagioscion squamosissimus (Acanthuriformes: Sciaenidae) do Rio Machado, Amazônia brasileira

The Machado River is the main tributary of the Madeira River in the state of Rondônia, a region that has been impacted by deforestation, livestock, urban development, alluvial gold mining and urban and industrial effluents that likely contribute to the introduction of mercury (Hg) in the aquatic system. We aimed to determine the concentrations of total Hg (THg) in muscle and liver of Plagioscion squamosissimus, a main fishing resource in the region. Fish were sampled for two years at five sites, along a 90-km stretch of the middle Machado River. THg concentrations were analyzed in 64 muscle and 54 liver samples by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FIMS-400). THg levels were related with fish size and sex and with periods of the hydrological cycle. THg concentrations in both organs were positively and significantly related with fish body size. There was no significant variation in THg among periods of the hydrological cycle. Mean THg concentrations in muscle (1.09 ± 0.72 mg kg-1) and liver (1.28 ± 1.23 mg kg-1) were higher than the limit established by the WHO. Our results suggest that residual mercury from former alluvial gold extraction and lixiviation of mercury naturally occurring in the soil due to large-scale deforestaion is accumulating in the aquatic food chain in the Machado River. We conclude that it is necessary to monitor the levels of mercury in commercially important fish species in the region.(AU)

O Rio Machado é o principal afluente do Rio Madeira no estado de Rondônia, uma região impactada por desmatamento, pecuária, desenvolvimento urbano, mineração de ouro e efluentes urbanos e industriais, que provavelmente contribuem para a introdução de mercúrio (Hg) no sistema aquático. Nosso objetivo foi determinar as concentrações de Hg total (THg) em músculo e fígado de Plagioscion squamosissimus, um importante recurso pesqueiro na região. Os peixes foram amostrados durante dois anos em cinco locais ao longo de 90 km no médio Rio Machado. As concentrações de THg foram analisadas em 64 amostras de músculos e 54 de fígado por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica com vapor frio (FIMS-400). As concentrações de mercúrio foram relacionadas ao tamanho e sexo dos peixes, e com períodos do ciclo hidrológico. As concentrações de THg em ambos os órgãos foram relacionadas positiva e significativamente com o tamanho corporal dos peixes. Não houve variação significativa do THg entre os períodos do ciclo hidrológico. As concentrações médias de THg no músculo (1,09 ± 0,72 mg kg-1) e no fígado (1,28 ± 1,23 mg kg-1) foram superiores ao limite estabelecido pela OMS. Os resultados sugerem que o mercúrio residual da extração de ouro e lixiviação de mercúrio que ocorre naturalmente no solo desmatado está se acumulando na cadeia alimentar aquática do Rio Machado. Concluímos que é necessário monitorar os níveis de mercúrio em espécies de peixes comerciais na região.(AU)

Influence of Iron on Physiological Parameters and Intracellular Microcystin in Microcystis Panniformis Strain Isolated from a Reservoir in the Amazon.

In the Amazon, the leaching from soil left unprotected by deforestation increases the entry of iron, among other elements, in aquatic ecosystems, which can cause cyanobacterial blooms. This study aimed to investigate the physiological response of a strain of Microcystis panniformis to iron variation. The strain was isolated from a reservoir located in the Western Amazon and produces microcystin-LR. After a period of iron deprivation, the cultures were submitted to three conditions: control (223 µgFe.L-1), treatment with 23 µgFe.L-1, and absence of iron. At regular intervals for eight days, the cell density, levels of chlorophyll a and microcystins were determined. On the second and fourth day, transcription of genes responsive to iron limitation was quantified. Starting on the fourth day of the experiment, the different iron concentrations affected growth, and on the eighth day in the iron-free condition cell density was 90% lower than in control. Chlorophyll cell quota in 23 µgFe.L-1 and control presented similar values, while without iron the cells became chlorotic as of the fourth day Toxin concentration in cells grow in 0 µgFe.L-1 in relation to the control. Higher transcription levels of the feo and fut genes were observed in the 0 µgFe.L-1 and 23 µgFe.L-1 treatments, indicating that the cells were activating high-affinity capture systems to reestablish an adequate concentration of intracellular iron. The increasing deforestation in the Jamari River Basin (Amazon region), can contribute to the occurrence of toxic cyanobacterial blooms due to the greater entrance of iron in water bodies.

Dynamics of mercury in the plankton of a hydroelectric reservoir, Western Amazon.

The energy transfer in the aquatic food chain is an important way for mercury (Hg) to enter other trophic levels. The objective of this work was to evaluate the Hg concentrations in plankton upstream and downstream of the Samuel Hydroelectric Reservoir, Rondônia, Brazil. Phytoplankton and zooplankton samples were collected with 20-µm and 68-µm nylon nets. An aliquot was removed for taxonomic analysis and another for total mercury determination, performed by cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. Water physical-chemical parameters were also measured. The Hg concentrations in total plankton (phytoplankton and zooplankton samples) obtained at the three sampling upstream stations showed the same behavior, with the highest values registered in June 2005 (232 µg kg-1, 118 µg kg-1, 128 µg kg-1). The lowest values at stations J1 and M1 were recorded in November 2005 (4 µg kg-1 and 22 µg kg-1, respectively), while the lowest values at stations M4 and M8 were recorded in October 2005 (22 µg kg-1 and 5 µg kg-1, respectively). The Hg results found in the plankton in this study corroborate the results of other recent studies in the same region. The statistical analyses revealed that Hg concentrations in plankton do not explain the distribution of these organisms at the four sampling stations of Samuel Reservoir. Graphical Abstract.

Sexual dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review of prevalence.

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature regarding the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular diseases. An article search of the ISI Web of Science and PubMed databases using the search terms "sexual dysfunction", "cardiovascular diseases", "coronary artery disease", "myocardial infarct" and "prevalence" was performed. In total, 893 references were found. Non-English-language and repeated references were excluded. After an abstract analysis, 91 references were included for full-text reading, and 24 articles that evaluated sexual function using validated instruments were selected for this review. This research was conducted in October 2012, and no time restrictions were placed on any of the database searches. Reviews and theoretical articles were excluded; only clinical trials and epidemiological studies were selected for this review. The studies were mostly cross-sectional, observational and case-control in nature; other studies used prospective cohort or randomized clinical designs. In women, all domains of sexual function (desire, arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasm, sexual dissatisfaction and pain) were affected. The domains prevalent in men included erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation and orgasm. Sexual dysfunction was related to the severity of cardiovascular disease. When they resumed sexual activity, patients with heart disease reported significant difficulty, including a lack of interest in sex, sexual dissatisfaction and a decrease in the frequency of sexual activity.

Sexual dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review of prevalence

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature regarding the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular diseases. An article search of the ISI Web of Science and PubMed databases using the search terms "sexual dysfunction”, “cardiovascular diseases”, “coronary artery disease", “myocardial infarct" and “prevalence” was performed. In total, 893 references were found. Non-English-language and repeated references were excluded. After an abstract analysis, 91 references were included for full-text reading, and 24 articles that evaluated sexual function using validated instruments were selected for this review. This research was conducted in October 2012, and no time restrictions were placed on any of the database searches. Reviews and theoretical articles were excluded; only clinical trials and epidemiological studies were selected for this review. The studies were mostly cross-sectional, observational and case-control in nature; other studies used prospective cohort or randomized clinical designs. In women, all domains of sexual function (desire, arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasm, sexual dissatisfaction and pain) were affected. The domains prevalent in men included erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation and orgasm. Sexual dysfunction was related to the severity of cardiovascular disease. When they resumed sexual activity, patients with heart disease reported significant difficulty, including a lack of interest in sex, sexual dissatisfaction and a decrease in the frequency of sexual activity. .

Benefícios e perigos do aproveitamento da casca de maracujá (Passiflora edulis) como ingrediente na produção de alimentos / Benefits and risks of using passion fruit peel (Passiflora edulis) as an ingredient in food production

A produção do maracujá amarelo cresce no Brasil e o descarte inadequado das cascas representa tanto um problema para o meio ambiente, como a perda de ingrediente rico em fibras. O seu uso é fonte de renda para o produtor rural. Esta revisão traz os estudos que têm sido realizados sobre o aproveitamento da cascado maracujá, considerando-se os aspectos nutricionais e, também, uma alternativa segura, em termos toxicológicos, para o aproveitamento desse resíduo. Muitos autores avaliaram a casca do maracujá e detectaram teores de fibra alimentar de 35 a 90 %; e os benefícios do seu consumo foram identificados por meio de testes in vivo em ratos e em humanos. Em função de interesse, incentivou-se o desenvolvimento de produtos enriquecidos em fibra alimentar utilizando esse resíduo como componente da formulação. Há muito tempo foram identificados glicosídeos cianogênicos no maracujá, exceto nas sementes. Os efeitos tóxicos de alimentos com cianogênicos são observados em países africanos, onde é comum o consumo da mandioca brava sem o tratamento adequado. O processo de extrusão termoplástica tem sido estudado como ferramenta útil na redução de substâncias tóxicas e sua utilização será importante para processar as cascas e reduzir cianogênicos aos níveis aceitáveis pela legislação.(AU)

The production of yellow passion fruit has increased in Brazil, and the inadequate disposal of peels hasresulted in environment issue, and also a loss of fibers-rich ingredients. Its use contributes to increase the farmer income. This review analyzes the studies which have been performed on the use of passion fruit peel, considering the nutritional aspects, and to propose safe alternatives for employing this residue. Several investigators have assessed the dietary fiber contents in passion fruit peel which ranged from35 to 90 %, and the in vivo tests in mice and humans have identified the benefits of its consumption. Owing to this concern, it has strengthen the development of products enriched with dietary fiber as an ingredient in the formulation. A long time ago, the cyanogenic glycosides have been identified in passion fruit, except in the seeds. The toxic effects of foods containing cyanogenic compounds have been observed in African countries, where the cassava without adequate treatment has commonly been consumed. The thermoplastic extrusion procedure has been considered as a useful tool for reducing toxic components, and its use will be important for processing peels and to reduce cyanogens to the acceptable levels in accordance with the food regulation.(AU)

Benefícios e perigos do aproveitamento da casca de maracujá (Passiflora edulis) como ingrediente na produção de alimentos / Benefits and risks of using passion fruit peel (Passiflora edulis) as an ingredient in food production

A produção do maracujá amarelo cresce no Brasil e o descarte inadequado das cascas representa tanto umproblema para o meio ambiente, como a perda de ingrediente rico em fibras. O seu uso é fonte de rendapara o produtor rural. Esta revisão traz os estudos que têm sido realizados sobre o aproveitamento da cascado maracujá, considerando-se os aspectos nutricionais e, também, uma alternativa segura, em termostoxicológicos, para o aproveitamento desse resíduo. Muitos autores avaliaram a casca do maracujá edetectaram teores de fibra alimentar de 35 a 90 %; e os benefícios do seu consumo foram identificados pormeio de testes in vivo em ratos e em humanos. Em função de interesse, incentivou-se o desenvolvimentode produtos enriquecidos em fibra alimentar utilizando esse resíduo como componente da formulação. Hámuito tempo foram identificados glicosídeos cianogênicos no maracujá, exceto nas sementes. Os efeitostóxicos de alimentos com cianogênicos são observados em países africanos, onde é comum o consumoda mandioca brava sem o tratamento adequado. O processo de extrusão termoplástica tem sido estudadocomo ferramenta útil na redução de substâncias tóxicas e sua utilização será importante para processar ascascas e reduzir cianogênicos aos níveis aceitáveis pela legislação.

Mercury in the environment and riverside population in the Madeira River Basin, Amazon, Brazil.

This work presents quality control results on the mercury concentrations in different environmental (river sediments, forest soils, river suspended matter and fish) and human samples from the lower Madeira River, Amazon sampled between 2001 and 2003, about 15-20 years after the nearly cessation of gold mining activities in the region, which reached its peak in the late 1980s. The study aimed to compare mercury concentrations in these environmental samples with those reported by other authors during the gold rush of the Madeira River Basin. Today, in the Madeira River the releases of mercury register a sudden reduction due the gold price fall in the international trade. However, about 100 t of Hg were released to the atmosphere and to aquatic systems in the region during the gold rush. The present survey shows that notwithstanding the reduction of Hg emissions to the Madeira River Basin from gold mining proper, concentrations in fish and humans are similar to those measured during the gold rush. Reduction in Hg concentrations is restricted to areas close to old point sources and only for abiotic compartments (air and sediments). Remobilization of Hg from bottom sediments plus re-emission from soils due to land use changes are probably responsible for keeping high Hg concentrations in biological samples.

A assistência médica suplementar no Paraná, estudo de caso: convênio empresa-Unimed na região de Ponta Grossa / The supplemental medical attendance in Paraná, case study: agreement company-Unimed in the area of Ponta Grossa

A reforma do sistema de saúde tem sido marcada por intensos debates sobre os limites dos setores público e privado na provisão de assistência médica. A demanda à assistência médica tem sido um grande problema para a política da saúde no Brasil. As empresas visando amenizar essa situação buscam firmar convênios junto às operadoras de assistência médica privada, estabelecendo um processo de assistência suplementar à saúde aos seus funcionários. Este estudo, objetivando estudar a atenção médica suplementar focalizando sua atuação no Estado do Paraná, pesquisa os convênios firmados por duas indústrias de Ponta Grossa (Paraná) com a operadora de assistência médica suplementar - Unimed, visto que Ponta Grossa é a 3° Regional de Saúde do Estado e polo de atendimento de diversos municípios da região, e, portanto, se qualificando como importante amostra para o estudo em tela. Por outro lado, a Unimed como uma das operadoras de maior atuação no Estado do Paraná permite melhor compreender a complexidade da assistência suplementar. Assim, o desenvolvimento do estudo se verificou pela revisão das políticas de saúde e assistência médica suplementar, focalizando o Paraná e particularizando a cidade de Ponta Grossa. A caracterização das conjunturas e das estruturas políticas de atenção à saúde permitiu a formulação crítica dos convênios mencionados, à luz da Lei 9.656/98 e a atuação da ANS para a regulamentação desses convênios. A pesquisa, além de buscar nos referenciais teóricos subsídios para interpretar os procedimentos da operadora, realizou pesquisas de campo, através do acesso a documentos e entrevistas com os usuários e contratantes, possibilitando assim a obtenção de dados que deram sustentabilidade às críticas e sugestões estabelecidas na conclusão. Entre as conclusões principais destacam-se: o desconhecimento generalizado entre gerentes, trabalhadores e sindicatos das empresas sobre o modus operandi da Unimed tanto quanto sobre os reais custos e limites dos planos oferecidos, bem como a não adesão da operadora às normas da ANS, com os subseqüentes prejuízos para os usários. Finalmente, salienta-se que o estudo de caso mostrou ser possível introduzir mudanças nesses âmbitos desde que haja transparência nas transações e informações e sejam processadas mediante negociações e consensos entre todos os interesses envolvidos.