Anurans from a local assemblage in central Brazil: linking local processes with macroecological patterns.

Macroecological variables of Anuran species found in a local assemblage from Central Brazil (Silvânia, Goiás State) were linked to population dyamics statistics of these species. Geographical range size (GRS), body size, and species' midpoints were the macroecological variables investigated for those species found in the local assemblage and for all other species (105 in the total) found in the Cerrado biome. For each species found in the local assemblage, data on abundance was obtained. Using this data, local population variability as expressed by the coefficient of variation was estimated. Distribution of means, medians, maximum, variances, and skewness (g1), for both GRS and body size, estimated in the local assemblage were compared, using null models, with the data extracted from the overall Cerrado species pool. The results indicated a clear macroecological relationship between GRS and body size and a decrease in local abundance when distance between the locality analyzed and species midpoint increased. According to null models, both body size and GRS values measured in the local assemblage can be considered a random sample from the regional species pool (Cerrado region). Finally, a three-dimensional analysis using body size, GRS, and local population estimates (abundance and variability), indicated that less abundant and more fluctuating species fell near the lower boundary of the polygonal relationship between GRS and body size. Thus, macroecological results linked with local data on population dynamics supported the minimum viable population model.

Anurans from a local assemblage in Central Brazil: linking local processes with macroecological patterns

Variáveis macroecológicas de uma assembléia local de espécies de anfíbios anuros do Brasil Central (Silvânia, Estado de Goiás) foram relacionadas com estatísticas de dinâmica de população dessas espécies. A extensão de ocorrência (GRS), o tamanho de corpo e o centro de distribuição das espécies foram as variáveis macroecológicas investigadas para as espécies da assembléia local e para todas as outras espécies (105 no total) encontradas no bioma de Cerrado. Também foram obtidos dados de abundância para 15 espécies da assembléia local. Usando esses dados, a variabilidade populacional foi estimada pelo coeficiente de variação. A distribuição de médias, medianas, máximos, assimetrias e curtoses, para GRS e tamanho de corpo, da assembléia local foi comparada, por intermédio de modelos nulos, com os dados do conjunto de espécies do Cerrado. Os resultados indicaram clara relação macroecológica entre a GRS e o tamanho do corpo, bem como diminuição da abundância local com o aumento da distância entre os centros de distribuição das espécies e a localidade analisada. De acordo com os modelos nulos, os valores do tamanho de corpo e da GRS das espécies da assembléia local podem ser considerados uma amostra aleatória proveniente da composição regional de todo o Cerrado. Finalmente, uma análise tridimensional considerando o tamanho do corpo, a GRS, a abundância local e a variabilidade populacional indicou que espécies menos abundantes, com maior variabilidade populacional, estão próximas ao limite inferior da relação poligonal entre GRS e tamanho de corpo. Assim, os resultados macroecológicos, quando relacionados a dados obtidos em pequenas escalas espaciais, corroboraram o modelo de população mínima viável.

[The usefulness of Doppler in evaluating heart murmurs]. / Utilidad del Doppler en la evaluación de soplos cardíacos.

In two hundred and two patients with heart murmurs, the diagnosis obtained utilizing the physical exam were compared with the diagnosis arrived by echocardiography and color Doppler ultrasound. The comparisons revealed improvements in specificity with the utilization of echocardiography and color Doppler ultrasonography. It is concluded that these techniques represent a significant improvement in our diagnostic capabilities. The problems of overdependence in the ultrasound technique and the current loss of physical diagnosis skills is recognized.

Utilidad del Doppler en la evaluación de soplos cardíacos / The usefulness of Doppler in evaluating heart murmurs

In two hundred and two patients with heart murmurs, the diagnosis obtained utilizing the physical exam were compared with the diagnosis arrived by echocardiography and color Doppler ultrasound. The comparisons revealed improvements in specificity with the utilization of echocardiography and color Doppler ultrasonography. It is concluded that these techniques represent a significant improvement in our diagnostic capabilities. The problems of overdependence in the ultrasound technique and the current loss of physical diagnosis skills is recognized

Apnea obstructiva durante el sueno.Presentacion de un caso. / Obstructive apnea during sleep. Report of a case

El sindrome apnea obstructiva durante el sueno se caracteriza por obstrucciones repetidas de las vias respiratorias superiores durante el sueno. Se presenta un caso visto en nuestra institucion y se discuten los hallazgos observados en este sindrome, como son las respiraciones periodicas durante el sueno, la arritmia sinusal ciclica y los cambios hemodinamicos. Se describen las modalidades terapeuticas como son la perdida de peso, la amigdalectomia y la traquetomia

Evaluation of the echocardiogram as an epidemiologic tool in an asymptomatic population.

An asymptomatic adult population of 196 men and women was studied with the echocardiogram to derive age- and sex-specific "normal" values for a number of clinically used echocardiograhic variables. The results are in general agreement with previously published normal values. Body position during the examination, age and sex influence the echocardiographic results; body surface area correction normalized most of these effects. The prevalence of occult abnormalities determined by the echocardiogram is 7%; the most common finding was mitral valve prolapse. Inter- and intraobserver variability was assessed. The interobserver differences found on analysis are statistically, but not clinically , significant. The echocardiogram appears to be a suitable tool to use in epidemiologic studies to detect selected cardiac abnormalities, but is limited for this purpose because some subjects in such a population cannot be adequately examined.