Economic valuation of plant diversity storage service provided by Brazilian rupestrian grassland ecosystems

The rupestrian grassland ecosystems provide various goods and services to society and support a significant amount of biological diversity. Notably the rich plant diversity has high levels of endemism and a variety of uses among the local communities and general society. Despite the socio-ecological importance of these ecosystems, they are subjected to significant anthropogenic pressures. The goal of this study is to perform economic valuation of the plant diversity storage service provided by rupestrian grassland ecosystems to provide grounds for the development of conservation policies and encourage sustainable practices in these ecosystems. Given the intense human disturbances and unique flora, the Serra do Cipó (southern portion of the Espinhaço Range in southeast Brazil) was selected for the study. We estimate the monetary value related to the plant diversity storage service provided by the study area using the maintenance costs of native plants in the living collections of the botanical garden managed by the Zoobotanical Foundation - Belo Horizonte (located 97 km from Serra do Cipó). The plant diversity storage value provided by Serra do Cipó ecosystems is significant, reaching US$25.26 million year-1. This study contributes to the development of perspectives related to the conservation of rupestrian grassland ecosystems as well as others threatened tropical ecosystems with high biodiversity.

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor in late rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the serum levels of VEGF in patients with rheumatoid arthritis of long duration.

METHODS

Serum VEGF levels were measured in 118 patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis according to the ACR criteria (mean duration 12 years). The disease activity score was evaluated by the method of van der Heijde et al.

RESULTS

Serum levels of VEGF in patients with RA were significantly higher than in healthy controls. VEGF levels showed no correlation with CRP, SAA amyloid protein, or the disease activity score.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that, contrary to the results reported in patients with early onset RA, where VEGF appears to play an active part in joint inflammation, in long-standing RA elevated VEGF serum levels may be an independent marker although its significance remain to be established.