Cobertura do solo proporcionada pelo cultivo consorciado de milho com leguminosas e espécies espontâneas.

Os consórcios entre leguminosas e gramíneas são bastante comuns, proporcionando grande preservação do solo e maiores retornos econômicos ao agricultor. As espécies vegetais que emergem espontaneamente na lavoura, conhecidas pelo seu efeito prejudicial, são fundamentais para a melhoria da cobertura do solo, colaborando para a manutenção da camada superficial do solo e de seus nutrientes. No intuito de estudar a cobertura proporcionada ao solo por sistemas de cultivo, avaliou-se a cobertura proporcionada na consorciação de milho + espontâneas com feijão de porco, feijão bravo do ceará, mucuna preta, lablab e guandu. Na implantação dos tratamentos, incorporaram-se as espécies espontâneas e leguminosas do experimento anterior, semeando-se o milho e as leguminosas aos 64 dias. O milho foi colhido aos 120 dias, e as leguminosas aos 144 dias. O consórcio milho + espontâneas + mucuna-preta foi o que acumulou mais matéria seca e nutrientes. A mucuna preta e o feijão-de-porco foram as leguminosas que apresentaram as maiores coberturas do solo. Todos os componentes do consórcio exerceram efeitos de cobertura, contribuindo no acúmulo de matéria seca e na reciclagem de nutrientes, e assim, na sustentabilidade do sistema

The global burden attributable to low bone mineral density

Introduction: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 estimated the worldwide health burden of 291 diseases and injuries and 67 risk factors by calculating disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Osteoporosis was not considered as a disease, and bone mineral density (BMD) was analysed as a risk factor for fractures, which formed part of the health burden due to falls. Objectives: To calculate (1) the global distribution of BMD, (2) its population attributable fraction (PAF) for fractures and subsequently for falls, and (3) the number of DALYs due to BMD. Methods: A systematic review was performed seeking population-based studies in which BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the femoral neck in people aged 50 years and over. Age- and sex-specific mean ± SD BMD values (g/cm2) were extracted from eligible studies. Comparative risk assessment methodology was used to calculate PAFs of BMD for fractures. The theoretical minimum risk exposure distribution was estimated as the age- and sex-specific 90th centile from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Relative risks of fractures were obtained from a previous meta-analysis. Hospital data were used to calculate the fraction of the health burden of falls that was due to fractures. Results: Global deaths and DALYs attributable to low BMD increased from 103 000 and 3 125 000 in 1990 to 188 000 and 5 216 000 in 2010, respectively. The percentage of low BMD in the total global burden almost doubled from 1990 (0.12%) to 2010 (0.21%). Around one-third of falls-related deaths were attributable to low BMD. Conclusions: Low BMD is responsible for a growing global health burden, only partially representative of the real burden of osteoporosis

Soil coverage, phytomass production and, nutrient accumulation in maize and legumes intercropping system.

The maize intercropped with legume cover crops are used at low technological agriculture, due it?s potential to suppress weeds, recycle nutrients, and cover the soil. Weeds suppression it is important due to its competition effect on the commercial crops. The nutrient recycling it is important due to the low fertilizer use on low technological agriculture. The soil cover it is important to prevent the erosion and reduce the nutrients leaching. All those positive effects can be influenced due to the cultivated species on the consortium. This study aimed to evaluate the soil coverage, the phytomass production and, the accumulation of nutrients by plants in a maize and legume cover crops intercropping system. The experiment consisted of rustic maize ?Caiano de Sobrália? variety, intercropped with Brazilian velvet bean, black mucuna, lablab-bean and pigeon pea; a control treatment (sole maize culture) was added. The maize was sown on the experiment; 64 DAE, the legumes were sowed. The soil cover rates were evaluated at 0, 64, 84, 120, and 144 DAE. The corn grains were harvested at 120 DAE, resulting in the corn grain yields. The remaining portion of maize and entire legume cover crop plants were sampled at 144 DAE, when the accumulation of dry mass and nutrient were measured. The consortium system did not affect the corn grains yield and, the soil cover rate provided by maize plants. The black mucuna had the greatest weeds suppression and, nutrient accumulation among the legumes cover crops evaluated

Spinal infection: state of the art and management algorithm

Spinal infection is a rare pathology although a concerning rising incidence has been observed in recent years. This increase might reflect a progressively more susceptible population but also the availability of increased diagnostic accuracy. Yet, even with improved diagnosis tools and procedures, the delay in diagnosis remains an important issue. This review aims to highlight the importance of a methodological attitude towards accurate and prompt diagnosis using an algorithm to aid on spinal infection management. METHODS: Appropriate literature on spinal infection was selected using databases from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. RESULTS: Literature reveals that histopathological analysis of infected tissues is a paramount for diagnosis and must be performed routinely. Antibiotic therapy is transversal to both conservative and surgical approaches and must be initiated after etiological diagnosis. Indications for surgical treatment include neurological deficits or sepsis, spine instability and/or deformity, presence of epidural abscess and upon failure of conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A methodological assessment could lead to diagnosis effectiveness of spinal infection. Towards this, we present a management algorithm based on literature findings