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The positive balance between inputs/outputs of carbon in wooded pastures may be associated with soil physical-hydric attributes. These relationships are not totally known. This study aims to examine the relation between soil physical-hydric parameters with balance between primary production (carbon input) and soil respiration (carbon output). The study was carried out in three grazing systems: A Urochloa mosambicensis grass pasture (LU1), a silvopastoral system with U. mosambicensis and tree legume (LU2), and an area with U. mosambicensis and a herbaceous legume (LU3). The soil CO2 efflux (ECO2) and ten indicators of soil physical-hydric quality were measured: macroporosity, aeration capacity, plant-available water capacity (PAWC), relative field capacity (RFC), characteristic pore radius, quantity of hydraulically active pores, sorptivity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil bulk density, and soil penetration resistance. The leaf area index was used as an indicator of forage production. In the dry period, LU2 had averages of 0.17 m3 m−3 (PAWC) and 0.63 (RFC), while LU1 and LU3 both had an PAWC of 0.14 m3 m−3 and RFC of 0.54 and 0.57, respectively. This study provides the first evidence that soil physical-hydric attributes, specifically the plant-available water capacity and the connectivity of pores with wooded pastures, in semi-arid regions, favors a positive carbon balance in these systems (higher input/lower output). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reclamation of salt-affected soils is considered a slow process that urges the development of faster recovery strategies as a priority. The present article aimed at investigating the effect of mixing different chemical and organic conditioners on the growth of Atriplex and its salt extraction efficiency during its early growth stage. A pot experiment was conducted on saline-sodic Cambisol cultivated with Atriplex for 60 days and subjected to the following conditioner mixtures: Atriplex; Atriplex + gypsum + organic matter; Atriplex + elemental sulfur + organic matter; and Atriplex + gypsum + elemental sulfur + organic matter. The mixtures of conditioners did not affect the Atriplex growth, but caused significant increase in Na+ and Cl− contents in the dry matter of Atriplex plants. Additionally, there was an increase in the Atriplex's ability of extracting salt due to the application of the mixtures. Results suggest that the "gypsum + organic matter" mixture is preferable for a faster recovery of salts/sodium affected soils through phytoremediation by Atriplex plants, mainly due to a more significant increase in the efficiency of salt absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias is the property of Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Treatment with anti-angiogenic drugs is one of the most widely used modalities of treatment of macular edema related conditions. Intravitreal injection of a VEGF-A inhibitor is highly effective, but is related to adverse effects such as increased intraocular pressure. The objective of this study was to evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) variation in patients who underwent intravitreal injections of ranibizumab, variation according to phakic/aphakic and history of previous injections. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. All patients submitted to intravitreal injections with diagnosis of exudative age-related macular degeneration, retinal central vein occlusion with macular ede-ma, or diabetic macular edema were included. The IOP was measured before the injection, immediately after and 30 minutes after the injection with a portable tonometer. Results: 143 intravitreal injections were performed, with 96 injec-tions performed in 55 participants. The comparison between IOP before and 30 minutes after intravitreal injection showed to be statistically significant with higher than initial IOP (p <0.0001) in patients with diabetic macular edema. Phakic and aphakic patients did not show significant differences regarding IOP variation. When only those participants who had received previous injections were analyzed, no significant variation was found. Conclusion: We conclude in this study that there is a significant difference between intraocular pressure before and 30 minutes after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in patients with diabetic macular edema, showing that this period of time was not sufficient for regression of IOP at the pre-injection value . We did not find significant differences between other groups, comparing phakic and aphakic patients, nor in patients who had received previous injections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Oftalmologia is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Oftalmologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus retinitis is one of the ocular manifestations of AIDS. The objective of the present study was to determine possible associations of class I and II HLA antigens and alleles in patients with AIDS and cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMV-R) with and without macular involvement. Method: The study population consisted of 22 patients with AIDS and CMV-R with macular involvement (Group I), 19 patients with AIDS and CMV-R without macular involvement (Group II), and 202 individuals with negative serology for human immunodeficiency virus (Group III - control). Class I HLA antigens were typed by classical serology. Class II alleles were identified using sequence-specific oligonucleotide primers hybridized with amplified DNA. Results: HLA-DRB1*14 and HLA-DRB1*10 specificities were more frequent among patients with macular involvement, possibly indicating greater susceptibility to this condition. In contrast, the HLA-B35 antigen may be associated with protection against macular involvement since it was significantly more frequent among patients without this involvement. Conclusions: The HLA-DRB1*14 and HLA-DRB1*10 alleles may favor the development of CMV-R with macular involvement, whereas the HLA-B35 subtype may be associated with protection against macular involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência Agronômica is the property of Revista Ciencia Agronomica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia is the property of Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Prcis: Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and medical therapy groups displayed comparable intraocular pressure (IOP) at most follow-ups. SLT was associated with significantly decreased rates of glaucoma surgeries, antiglaucomatous medications, and ocular adverse effects., Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) compared to medical therapy in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT)., Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SLT with medical therapy were included. We computed mean differences (MDs) or standardized mean differences (STDs) for continuous endpoints and risk ratios (RRs) for binary endpoints, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. Software R, version 4.2.1, was used for statistical analyses. Subgroup analyses were performed on treatment-naive patients and on the class of drugs in the medical therapy group., Results: Fourteen RCTs comprising 1,706 patients were included, of whom 936 were submitted to SLT. Medical therapy was associated with a significantly improved IOP at 1 month and a higher proportion of patients achieving ≥20% IOP reduction. There were no significant differences between groups in IOP at 2, 3, 6, and 12 months, IOP fluctuation, rate of eyes at target IOP, visual field, and quality of life. The SLT group exhibited significantly decreased rates of glaucoma surgeries, antiglaucoma medications, and ocular adverse effects., Conclusion: SLT demonstrated comparable efficacy to medical therapy in IOP control at most follow-ups, along with favorable impacts on critical treatment-related factors. Our findings support SLT as a safe and effective treatment for OAG or OHT., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)