Abstract. Visceral leishmaniasis, or kala azar (KA), affects the rural poor, causing significant morbidity and mortality. We examined the epidemiologic, social, and economic impact of KA in a village in Bangladesh. A populationbased survey among 2,348 people demonstrated a KA incidence of 2% per year from 2000 to 2002, with a case-fatality rate of 19% among adult women, compared with 6−8% among other demographic groups. Kala azar cases were geographically clustered in certain sections of the village. Anti-leishmanial drug shortages and the high cost of diagnosis and treatment caused substantial emotional and economic hardship for affected families. Communities wanted to learn more about KA, and were willing to take collective action to confront the problems it causes. To decrease the KA burden in endemic areas, community efforts should be supplemented with effective treatment programs to ensure access to appropriate and affordable diagnosis and case management.

The anatomical features of growth rings of 13 representative species of the swamp forests within the Atlantic rain forest of the State of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, were studied. Most species showed distinct rings. The growth ring boundaries were marked by fibrous zones frequently associated with marginal parenchyma bands, and growth ring boundary features were characteristic of the particular families and genera analysed. Leaf fall can be related to the occurrence of growth rings in seven species, whereas in evergreen species growth rings can be related to flooding. In Euphorbiaceae species, flooding regime differences (periodical or permanent) are related to the shape and distribution of new cells produced by the cambium and, thus, growth ring structure.

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RESUMO -(Anatomia foliar de quatro espécies do gênero Cattleya Lindl. (Orchidaceae) do Planalto Central Brasileiro). As espécies analisadas (Cattleya araguaiensis Pabst, C. bicolor Lindl., C. nobilior Rchb. e C. walkeriana Gardn.) apresentam epiderme uniestratificada em ambas as faces da lâmina foliar, ocorrendo estômatos na face abaxial; deposição de cera epicuticular em crostas, escamas, flocos e plaquetas; em C. araguaiensis ocorrem estegmatas incrustados nas células epidérmicas; em todas as espécies ocorre hipoderme com células de paredes espessadas; mesofilo bifacial, compacto; células paliçádicas atípicas, com barras de espessamento; feixes vasculares colaterais dispostos alternadamente, acompanhados por bainha de fibras; cordões fibrosos acompanhados por estegmatas ocorrem longitudinalmente na lâmina foliar; presença de ráfides. Os aspectos descritos revelam acentuada xeromorfia, em função de economia de água.Palavras-chave -Orchidaceae, Cattleya, anatomia foliar, epifitismo ABSTRACT -(Foliar anatomy of four species of genus Cattleya Lindl. (Orchidaceae) of the Brazilian Central Planalt). The analyzed species (Cattleya araguaiensis Pabst, C. bicolor Lindl., C. nobilior Rchb. e C. walkeriana Gardn.) present unistratified epidermis at both surfaces with stomata at abaxial surface; deposition of epicuticular wax in crusts, scales, granules and plates; C. araguaiensis presents stegmata at epidermal cells; others characteristics present at all species are: hypodermis cells with thick walls; bifacial and compact mesophyll; atipic cells of palisade parenchyma with thichness bars; collateral vascular bundles alternate accompanied by sheath fibers; cordon fibers accompanied by stegmata in the foliar blade; raphids. The described aspects reveal accentuate xeromorphy for water economy.

RESUMO O trabalho propõe a utilização dos caracteres anatômicos da madeira na interpretação da estrutura da comunidade arbórea da Reserva Biológica de Poço das Antas, RJ, Brasil (22º30' e 22º33'S e 42º15' e 42º19'W). Foram analisadas 26 espécies de 14 famílias, totalizando 72 espécimens. A alta incidência de características anatômicas comuns - camadas de crescimento distintas, porosidade difusa, placas de perfuração simples, fibras de paredes delgadas a espessas, raios com freqüência de 4 a 12/mm', com 1-3 células de largura, - foi corroborada pelas análises estatísticas, o que sugere a ocorrência de um padrão anatômico. Os resultados descritos se enquadram nas tendências ecológicas para espécies de planícies tropicais, que se caracterizam por uma menor freqüência de elementos de vaso mais largos e com placas de perfuração simples. Tais caracteres propiciam o transporte de grandes volumes de água por unidade de tempo e área transversal da madeira.