Wet tropical forest trees display a wide range of leaf phenology dynamics. However, the interrelation between deciduousness, water status, and leaf and stem characteristics have been poorly investigated compared with dry forests. We studied wet forest trees to answer the following questions: (1) do water regulation modes (iso/anisohydric behavior) of evergreen species differ from those found in deciduous species? (2) Does leaf water potential (ΨL) influences leaffall and emergence dynamics? (3) Are leaf and stem characteristics consistent across evergreen and deciduous trees? We evaluated vegetative phenology, ΨL, and leaf and stem characteristics of six evergreen and three deciduous species monthly for 2 yr. Species exhibited different leaffall and emergence dynamics, as well as different water regulation modes, independent of their deciduousness. Thus, the relationship between leaf phenology and water regulation behaviors appears to be a species‐specific property rather than a functional group attribute. ΨL had no direct influence on the dynamics of leaffall and/or emergence, indicating that this process is not modulated by water availability alone. Individual groups of evergreen and deciduous species could not be identified using principal component analysis (PCA), but a decoupling was observed in the leaf and stem economics spectra. The lack of an interrelation between deciduousness and iso/anisohydry, as well as the independence of leaf and stem trade‐offs, emphasizes that more systematic measurements of vegetative phenology and ecophysiological characteristics are necessary to advance our knowledge of leaf habit and water regulation behaviors based on the functional traits of wet forest plants.

INTRODUCTION:Dysphagia is the important symptom in achalasia, and surgery is the most common treatment. The Heller–Pinotti technique is the method preferred by Brazilian surgeons. For many years, this technique was performed by laparotomy, and now the laparoscopic method has been introduced. The objective was to evaluate the immediate and long‐term results of patients submitted to surgery by either laparotomy or laparoscopy.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A total of 67 patients submitted to surgery between 1994 and 2001 with at least 5 years of follow‐up were evaluated retrospectively and divided into two groups: laparotomy (41 patients) and laparoscopy (26 patients). Chagas was the etiology in 76.12% of cases. Dysphagia was evaluated according to the classification defined by Saeed et al.RESULTS:There were no cases of conversion to open surgery. The mean duration of hospitalization was 3.32 days for laparotomy and 2.54 days for laparoscopy (p<0.05). An improvement in dysphagia occurred with both groups reporting good or excellent results (laparotomy: 73.17% and laparoscopy: 73.08%). Mean duration of follow‐up was 8 years.CONCLUSIONS:There was no difference between the two groups with respect to relief from dysphagia, thereby confirming the safety and effectiveness of the Heller–Pinotti technique, which can be performed by laparotomy or laparoscopy, depending on the surgeon's experience.

ABSTRACT ABSTRACTObjectives: Objectives: Objectives: Objectives: Objectives: To verify some possible factors, which would be associated with better or worse results for surgical treatment of megaesophagus. Methods Methods Methods Methods Methods: There were 417 patients operated on for megaesophagus, but only 390 medical charts were analyzed between 1989 and 2005. The presence of intraoperative and postoperative complications and the maintenance of severe dysphagia complaints were evaluated in a directed questionnaire, studying association with: the surgical approach chosen, megaesophagus degree, etiology and presence of other digestive alterations. Results Results ResultsResults Results: There were 360 cardiomiotomies, 20 esophagectomies and 11 mucosectomies. The results indicate that the cardiomiotomy is the safest surgery and the esophagectomy has more complications. The degree of megaesophagus is directed related with the results; more advanced megaesophagus has the worse results. The presence of digestive alterations has also a direct influence with worse results. Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion: The most important factor considering the results is the surgery chosen, and the best one were seen with cardiomiotomy. The degree of megaesophagus has also influenced the results. The etiology suggests better results with Chagas disease patients, maybe for the chronic course of this disease. The presence of digestive alteration is a factor which causes worse results, especially if associated with gastritis, esophagitis, megacolon and others.

RESUMO -A hidratação controlada pode favorecer a germinação e o estabelecimento das plantas de diversas espécies. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do condicionamento fisiológico pela técnica da hidratação controlada seguida de secagem na qualidade fisiológica e no estabelecimento de plantas de pinhão manso. Por lote, foi estabelecida a curva de absorção de água pelas sementes. Posteriormente, as sementes foram imersas em água destilada (8 mL g -1 ), secas a 32 o C até atingir teor de água próximo ao inicial e submetidas aos testes de germinação e de vigor (primeira contagem, classificação de plântulas e emergência de plântulas em areia). Em casa de vegetação, as sementes foram distribuídas entre substrato plantmax. De acordo com resultados pode-se concluir que a hidratação promoveu o aumento do comprimento e da massa seca de plântulas e favoreceu a emergência de plântulas de pinhão manso. A sobrevivência das plantas provenientes apenas de sementes de qualidade fisiológica intermediária é beneficiada pela hidratação das sementes de pinhão manso.Palavras-chave: Jathorpha curcas L. Plantas e água. Germinação.ABSTRACT -Controlled hydration can promote the germination and establishment of the plants of various species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of priming, using a technique of controlled hydration followed by drying, on the physiological attributes and establishment of jatropha plants. The water-absorption curve was established per batch of seeds. Subsequently, the seeds were immersed in distilled water (8 mL g -1 ), dried at 32 °C until a water content close to the initial levels was reached, and subjected to tests for germination and vigor (initial counting, seedling classification, and the emergence of seedlings in sand). In the greenhouse, seeds were distributed in a plantmax substrate. From the results it can be concluded that hydration promotes an increase in the length and dry matter of seedlings, and favors the emergence of Jatropha seedlings. The survival of plants from seeds with only intermediate physiological attributes, benefits from the hydration of Jatropha seeds.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal Dieulafoy's lesion is a rare entity, of unknown etiology, and corresponds to an arterial malformation at the submucosal space that can be a source of life-threatening hemorrhage. We report a case of a Cecum Dieulafoy's bleeding lesion that was managed endoscopically with a favorable outcome. Case report: Female, 70-year-old, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, and chronic heart failure associated with rheumatic mitral stenosis, submitted to biological valve replacement in 2006 and with permanent atrial fibrillation using vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant for thrombosis prophylaxis. Her background includes a stroke in 2004 without any permanent disability. In 2016, the patient experienced voluptuous and painless lower gastrointestinal bleeding with severe acute anemia, requiring hospital admission, fluid resuscitation and blood transfusion. Urgent colonoscopy revealed a small reddish vascular malformation at the cecum with oozing active bleeding, about 3 mm in size. Initially argon plasma coagulation was performed with satisfactory and immediate hemostasis. One week later, she recurred with hematochezia. The lesion at the cecum was reassessed and it was possible to notice a large caliber vessel surrounded by a normal appearance mucosa, compatible with Dieulafoy's lesion and it was treated with an endoscopic clip placement with a good long-term response. Conclusion: Endoscopy is the method of choice for diagnosis of Dieulafoy's lesion and may provide efficient treatment with mechanical hemostasis such as endoclip placement with a high success rate.