OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be associated with prolonged symptoms and post-recovery health impairment. This study aimed to evaluate the persistence of symptoms, lung function, and pulmonary diffusion for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in patients between 15 and 30 days after hospital discharge after admission for severe COVID-19. METHODS: The evaluation consisted of 1) comparative analysis between the initial symptoms and symptoms still present at the post-discharge evaluation 2) analysis of the chest images obtained during hospitalization, and 3) conducting spirometry, plethysmography, and DLCO assessment. RESULTS: Forty-one patients who were hospitalized for 16±8 days with severe COVID-19 were included. Patients were predominantly men (73%) and had a mean age of 51±14 years. The most frequent comorbidities were arterial hypertension (51%) and diabetes mellitus (37%). Pulmonary evaluation was performed a mean of 36 days after the onset of symptoms, with the most frequent persistent symptoms being dyspnea (83%) and coughing (54%). Approximately 93% of patients still had at least one symptom, and 20% had more than five symptoms. Chest imaging revealed a typical pattern of COVID-19 on X-ray (93%) and computer tomography (95%). Lung function test results showed a restrictive pattern with a reduction in forced vital capacity (FVC) in 54% of individuals, with an average FVC of 78±14%. A reduction in DLCO was observed in 79% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high prevalence of symptoms, in addition to a significant change in lung function and DLCO, in the post-discharge assessment of patients requiring hospitalization after admission for COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the experience of an outpatient clinic with the multidisciplinary evaluation of intensive care unit survivors and to analyze their social, psychological, and physical characteristics in a low-income population and a developing country. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Adult survivors from a general intensive care unit were evaluated three months after discharge in a post-intensive care unit outpatient multidisciplinary clinic over a period of 6 years (2008-2014) in a University Hospital in southern Brazil. RESULTS: A total of 688 out of 1945 intensive care unit survivors received care at the clinic. Of these, 45.2% had psychological disorders (particularly depression), 49.0% had respiratory impairments (abnormal spirometry), and 24.6% had moderate to intense dyspnea during daily life activities. Patients experienced weight loss during hospitalization (mean=11.7%) but good recovery after discharge (mean gain=9.1%), and 94.6% were receiving nutrition orally. One-third of patients showed a reduction of peripheral muscular strength, and 5.7% had moderate to severe tetraparesis or tetraplegia. There was a significant impairment in quality of life (SF-36), particularly in the physical and emotional aspects and in functional capacity. The economic impacts on the affected families, which were mostly low-income families, were considerable. Most patients did not have full access to rehabilitation services, even though half of the families were receiving financial support from the government. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of intensive care unit survivors evaluated 3 months after discharge had psychological, respiratory, motor, and socioeconomic problems; these findings highlight that strategies aimed to assist critically ill patients should be extended to the post-hospitalization period and that this problem is particularly important in low-income populations.

Enzymatic activities for digestion of proteins and carbohydrates were compared among three organs of the digestive system of Pimelodus maculatus in two reservoirs with different trophic conditions during the winter of 2006. The aim was to test the hypothesis that enzymatic activity for the digestion of proteins and carbohydrates differed among organs and that such activities differ between the trophic state of the environment. Enzymatic activities were determined through the assays of specificity for trypsin, chymotrypsin and β-glucosidase enzymes. The intestine had higher trypsin-like enzymatic activities compared to the stomach and liver. The highest β-glucosidase activity was found in the liver compared to the stomach and intestine in the oligotrophic reservoir only. Overall, enzymatic activity did not differ between the eutrophic and oligotrophic reservoirs, although the intestinal chymotrypsin was comparatively higher in the eutrophic reservoir and the hepatic β-glucosidase was higher in the oligotrophic reservoir. These findings indicated that most digestive activity occurred in the intestine for P. maculatus, which was probably related to its omnivorous/carnivorous feeding habits. The highest proteolytic activity in the intestine was expected for most fishes, but the high hepatic β-glucosidase in the oligotrophic reservoir was unexpected. The hepatic β-glucosidase as well as the intestinal chymotrypsin-like activity could be considered as the candidates for biomarkers of environmental quality.

The Gram-negative intestinal microbiota of Hypostomus auroguttatus and Pimelodus maculatus, a detritivorous and an omnivorous fish species, respectively, were compared between fishes from the reservoir and the stretch of the river below the dam of the Funil hydroelectric plant, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Four selective culture media were used under aerobic and two under anaerobic conditions. The omnivorous species had microbiota with higher population levels compared to the detritivorous species. The number of morphotypes and population levels of total bacteria, vibrio and Bacteroides tended to be higher in summer and autumn in the reservoir, and not different in the river. The number of morphotypes of enterobacteria and total bacteria were higher in the lotic environment compared with the lentic one. The bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila and Plesiomonas shigelloides and the obligate anaerobic Fusobacterium mortiferum were the most frequently identified microorganisms in the intestine of both H. auroguttatus and P. maculatus. Both season and habitat influenced the Gram-negative intestinal microbiota of H. auroguttatus and P. maculatus. Environmental factors influenced the Gram-negative intestinal microbiota of both species with possible impact on the interrelationship between the fishes and their digestive ecosystem, although the gut microbiota composition of fishes may result from host-specific selective pressures within the gut.

The enzymatic activities involved in the digestion of proteins and carbohydrates were compared among three organs of the digestive track of two Siluriformes fish species, and between two areas: a reservoir, and an area downriver of it. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that the digestive organs of species with varied feeding habits have different enzymatic activities, and that the enzymatic activity differs among seasons and environmental conditions. The iliophagous/herbivorous species Hypostomus auroguttatus Kner, 1854 had higher trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like peptidase and β-glucosidase activity in the intestine when compared with the omnivorous species Pimelodus maculatus Lacepède, 1803, whereas the latter had more hepatic trypsin-like activity than the former. The peak of activity of the three enzymes in H. auroguttatus was recorded in the winter and spring. On the other hand, P. maculatus tended to have the more prominent peptidase and β-glucosidase activity in the summer, and the smallest in the winter. The intestine of H. auroguttatus had higher enzymatic (trypsin, chymotrypsin and β-glucosidase) activity than the stomach and the liver. For P. maculatus, the highest β-glucosidase activity was found in the liver. The enzymatic activity of H. aurogutattus did not differ between lotic and lentic systems, whereas P. maculatus had comparatively higher stomach and hepatic trypsin levels and hepatic chymotrypsin-like activities in the reservoir than down in the river. These findings indicate that, in H. auroguttatus, most digestive activity occurs in the intestine, which is long and adapted for the digestion of bottom-river vegetable matter and detritus. The seasons and the type of the system (lentic vs. lotic) seem to affect the enzymatic activity for these two species differently, a likely consequence of their different lifestyles.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the sound pressure levels are decreased in the ICU after an educational intervention with the multidisciplinary team. Noise levels were measured inside the ICU (using a decibelimeter installed near the bedside of a patient) for seven days, and repeated the procedure after an educational intervention, which consisted of lectures, posters and dramatizations, among others. There was a large reduction in noise level between the pre and postintervention period, at all times evaluated. The main sources of noise in the ICU were the own team. The noise levels were higher than recommended. The study showed that with an educational intervention with the ICU staff and their awareness of the mechanisms and effects, it is possible to have reduced levels of noise and consequent estresse environment.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar si los niveles de presión sonora se redujeron en la UCI después de una intervención educativa con el equipo multidisciplinario. Se midieron los niveles de ruido en la UCI (utilizando un decibelímetro instalado cerca de la cabecera de un paciente) durante siete días, y se repite el procedimiento después de una intervención educativa con el equipo, que consistió en conferencias, carteles y dramatizaciones, entre otros. Hubo una gran reducción en el nivel de ruido entre el período pre y post-intervención, en todos los tiempos evaluados. Las principales fuentes de ruido en la UCI fueron del proprio equipo. Los niveles de ruidos encontrados eran más altos que los recomendados. Este estudio mostró que con una intervención educativa y de sensibilización acerca de los mecanismos y los efectos del ruido con el personal de la UCI, es posible lograr la reducción de los niveles de ruido y el estrés ambiental consecuente.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se os níveis de pressão sonora dentro da UTI são diminuídos após intervenção educativa com a equipe multiprofissional. Foram mensurados os níveis de ruído no interior da UTI (através de um decibelímetro instalado próximo à cabeceira de um paciente) durante sete dias, sendo repetido o procedimento após uma intervenção educativa, a qual consistiu de palestras, cartazes e dramatizações, entre outros. Houve grande redução do nível de ruído entre o período pré e pós-intervenção, em todos os horários avaliados. As principais fontes de ruídos dentro da UTI foram da própria equipe. Os níveis de ruído encontrados estiveram acima do recomendado. O estudo mostrou que, com uma intervenção educacional junto à equipe da UTI e sua conscientização sobre os mecanismos e efeitos, é possível haver redução dos níveis de ruído e consequente eestressee do ambiente.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se os níveis de pressão sonora dentro da UTI são diminuídos após intervenção educativa com a equipe multiprofissional. Foram mensurados os níveis de ruído no interior da UTI (através de um decibelímetro instalado próximo à cabeceira de um paciente) durante sete dias, sendo repetido o procedimento após uma intervenção educativa, a qual consistiu de palestras, cartazes e dramatizações, entre outros. Houve grande redução do nível de ruído entre o período pré e pós-intervenção, em todos os horários avaliados. As principais fontes de ruídos dentro da UTI foram da própria equipe. Os níveis de ruído encontrados estiveram acima do recomendado. O estudo mostrou que, com uma intervenção educacional junto à equipe da UTI e sua conscientização sobre os mecanismos e efeitos, é possível haver redução dos níveis de ruído e consequente eestressee do ambiente.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the sound pressure levels are decreased in the ICU after an educational intervention with the multidisciplinary team. Noise levels were measured inside the ICU (using a decibelimeter installed near the bedside of a patient) for seven days, and repeated the procedure after an educational intervention, which consisted of lectures, posters and dramatizations, among others. There was a large reduction in noise level between the pre and postintervention period, at all times evaluated. The main sources of noise in the ICU were the own team. The noise levels were higher than recommended. The study showed that with an educational intervention with the ICU staff and their awareness of the mechanisms and effects, it is possible to have reduced levels of noise and consequent estresse environment.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar si los niveles de presión sonora se redujeron en la UCI después de una intervención educativa con el equipo multidisciplinario. Se midieron los niveles de ruido en la UCI (utilizando un decibelímetro instalado cerca de la cabecera de un paciente) durante siete días, y se repite el procedimiento después de una intervención educativa con el equipo, que consistió en conferencias, carteles y dramatizaciones, entre otros. Hubo una gran reducción en el nivel de ruido entre el período pre y post-intervención, en todos los tiempos evaluados. Las principales fuentes de ruido en la UCI fueron del proprio equipo. Los niveles de ruidos encontrados eran más altos que los recomendados. Este estudio mostró que con una intervención educativa y de sensibilización acerca de los mecanismos y los efectos del ruido con el personal de la UCI, es posible lograr la reducción de los niveles de ruido y el estrés ambiental consecuente.

In this work we describe the gonad morphology and spawning season of Hypostomus affinis (Steindachner, 1877) in a tropical reservoir based on 55 males and 125 females. Our aim was to assess eventual adaptations in reproductive tactics developed by this riverine species inhabiting an oligotrophic reservoir with low habitat complexity, few rocks and few other preferred consolidated substrata. We described the stages of cells of reproductive lineage, gonadal development and some reproductive traits which were compared with information in the available literature. Cells from the spermatogenic lineage were spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa, and cells from the oocytarian lineage were primary oocytes, previtelogenic oocytes, cortical vesicle oocytes and yolk globules or vitellogenic. Five stages were described for the males/females according to the distribution of oocytes and spermatogenic lineage cells: resting; initial maturation; advanced maturation; partially spent/spawned; totally spent/spawn. Females outnumbered males and reached larger size. Synchronic ovary development in two groups was found with diameter of mature oocytes ranging from 2 to 3.35 mm. Indication of early maturation, a longer reproductive period and the production of smaller eggs in small clutches seems to be features of the reservoir population not found in riverine systems. Such changes in tactics may indicate a shift to an opportunistic strategy, helping the population to withstand environmental constraints and to succeed in this oligotrophic and poorly structured reservoir.

OBJETIVO: verificar se as condições referentes à estrutura geral dos asilos, recursos humanos e rotinas diárias de alimentação em instituições asilares, podem potencializar alterações da dinâmica da deglutição em idosos. MÉTODOS: foi aplicado questionário aos dirigentes de cinco instituições asilares do município do Rio de Janeiro, no qual constavam perguntas em relação aos recursos materiais, humanos e rotina alimentar. RESULTADOS: o asilo do sistema privado foi o único a aproximar-se das condições ideais da estrutura geral para o atendimento do idoso. Em relação aos recursos humanos existentes, nenhum dos asilos possuía todos os profissionais exigidos pela portaria nº810/89. Em relação às rotinas diárias de alimentação, em uma das instituições pesquisadas, cuja maioria dos residentes não faziam uso de próteses dentárias, não havia restrição na consistência alimentar oferecida. Outro fator significativo diz respeito à negligência referente à higiene bucal, favorecendo a colonização de bactérias na cavidade oral, podendo agravar infecções pulmonares no caso de microaspirações. O fato dos idosos deitarem para dormir logo após o término das refeições, como ocorrido em três das instituições pesquisadas, tem grande importância na medida em que favorece a ocorrência de episódios de refluxo gastroesofágico. CONCLUSÃO: foram observados que em todas as instituições pesquisadas há fatores que podem potencializar um distúrbio de deglutição, como problemas em relação à estrutura geral e ou aos recursos humanos e ou relativos à rotina alimentar estabelecida.

PURPOSE: to check if the conditions related to general structure, human resources and daily routine of feeding in asylums can increase the chances for an alteration in the deglutition process of the elderlies. METHODS: a questionnaire was elaborated to be applied to the directors of five institutions in the city of Rio de Janeiro. RESULTS: it can be observed that the sole factor related to the structure of the place that had relevance in the obtained results was the nature of the institution, as the private system was the only one that was considered near the ideal conditions. Regarding the existing human resources, none of the institutions had all the professionals demanded by the Ordinance nº810/89. In relation to the daily feeding routines, in one of the investigated institutions, where the majority of the residents did not use denture, there was no restriction as for the offered food consistency. Another significant factor was the carelessness in terms of oral hygiene, favoring the settling of bacteria in the mouth, which can cause serious consequences in case of microaspirations. In three of the investigated institutions, it was observed that the elderlies lay down to sleep soon after the meals, fact that also had great importance, as this favors the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux episodes that can lead to gradual dysphagia. CONCLUSION: despite the fact that the asylum directors did not mention any referring problem in the process of deglutition of the elderlies, they show proper characteristics that can increase the possibilities for occurrence of alterations in the deglutition of these elderlies.

OBJETIVO: Identificar os principais estressores ambientais, conforme a percepção de familiares de pacientes internados em uma UTI-G de adultos de um hospital público universitário. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal descritivo com familiares de pacientes gravemente enfermos internados na UTI de um hospital escola. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se uma escala contendo 25 itens relacionados a eventos da referida UTI. Para análise dos resultados, as respostas foram classificadas como estressores ambientais, referentes à equipe, ao paciente e à visita. RESULTADOS: Participaram 53 familiares, 67,9% mulheres, com média de idade de 39,7 anos. Os fatores relacionados ao paciente foram mais estressantes do que aqueles referentes à equipe e ao ambiente (p < 0,005). Os eventos mais estressantes para os familiares estiveram relacionados à insegurança e ao medo quanto ao estado clínico do paciente, dentre esses, o motivo e o tempo de internação e ver o paciente em coma. CONCLUSÃO: A internação de um parente próximo na UTI foi considerada pelos familiares que efetivamente participaram desse processo um evento estressante. Todos os participantes indicaram pelo menos um evento causador de estresse capaz de provocar diferentes reações emocionais. Conhecer tais eventos pode facilitar as estratégias de humanização hospitalar, propiciando alternativas para reduzir os níveis de estresse e alterações psiquiátricas subsequentes.

OBJECTIVE:To identify main environment stressors according to the perception of relatives of patients hospitalized in an adult ICU in a university public hospital. METHOD: It is a transversal descriptive study involving family members of critically ill patients hospitalized in an ICU of a school hospital. To collect data we used a 25-item scale related to the referred ICU. For result analysis, answers were classified as environmental stressors concerning the team, patients, and visits. RESULTS: There were 53 family-member participants where 67.9% were women averaging 39.7 years of age. Factors related to patients were more stressing than those concerning the hospital team and the environment (p < 0.005). The most stressed events for the family members were related to uncertainty and fear of the clinical state of the patient, among them reason and length of hospital stay, and witness the patients in a coma. CONCLUSION: Hospital ICU stay of a relative was considered by the close to kin, who actually participated in the process, a stressful event. All participants indicated at least one event that causes stress as capable of provoking diverse emotional reactions. Knowing such events can favor hospital humanization strategies thus providing alternatives to reduce stress levels and subsequent psychiatrical disorder.

OBJETIVO: comparar a detectabilidade da ausculta cervical na avaliação clínica com a comprovação da aspiração na videofluoroscopia da deglutição em crianças com paralisia cerebral tetraparética espástica com disfagia orofaríngea. MÉTODOS: estudo retrospectivo com análise de 101 prontuários de crianças, na faixa etária de 1 a 12 anos, pertencentes a uma instituição, com diagnóstico de paralisia cerebral tetraparética espástica e que foram encaminhadas e avaliadas por equipe interdisciplinar. Foi realizada anamnese com avaliação clínica da alimentação com ausculta cervical e videofluoroscopia da deglutição. RESULTADOS: os resultados estatísticos mostraram que há relação significante entre a ausculta cervical positiva e a penetração ou aspiração laríngea constatada na videofluoroscopia da deglutição e que a ausculta cervical negativa está mais associada à não penetração/aspiração. CONCLUSÃO: concluiu-se que a ausculta cervical pode ser utilizada para inferência do risco de aspiração e, portanto, como alerta para atuação precoce nessa população, além da vantagem de ser um método não invasivo.

PURPOSE: to compare the efficacy of cervical auscultation during the clinical evaluation with the confirmation of aspiration in the videofluoroscopy of deglutition in oropharyngeal dysphagic children with tetraparetic cerebral palsy. METHODS: retrospective study with analysis of 101 notes of children, between 1 and 12-year old, enrolled in one institution, with the diagnosis of cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia and referred and evaluated by interdisciplinary team. Clinical history, clinical evaluation of feeding with cervical auscultation and videofluoroscopy of deglutition were performed. RESULTS: the statistical results showed significance between positive cervical auscultation and laryngeal penetration or aspiration during the videofluoroscopy of deglutition and a negative cervical auscultation is correlated to non penetration/aspiration. CONCLUSION: cervical auscultation can be used as an inference to risk of aspiration, therefore a sign to early intervention in this population. Furthermore, it is a non-invasive method.

As estruturas teciduais do trato gastrintestinal de Pimelodus maculatus La Cepède, 1803, do reservatório de Funil (22º30'-22º35'S; 44º35'- 44º40'W) foram descritas através das técnicas de hematoxilina-eosina (HE), tricômico Gomori, ácido Periódico de Schiff (PAS) e alcian blue (AB) pH 2,5. Objetivou-se a detecção de glicoproteínas (GPs) na mucosa através de uma análise histoquímica e caracterização de possíveis alterações ao longo do trato digestório destes peixes neste sistema de elevado grau de alteração. Cinqüenta e quatro indivíduos adultos, coletados entre abril de 2003 e julho de 2004 (CT=19-38 cm) foram utilizados. Na cavidade bucofaríngea, a mucosa apresenta-se com pregas longitudinais e o epitélio é do tipo estratificado pavimentoso. O esôfago apresenta o mesmo tipo de epitélio da cavidade bucofaríngea, destacando-se a predominância de células mucosas que tiveram forte reação aos métodos utilizados. O estômago foi diferenciado em região cárdica, fúndica e pilórica. A mucosa é continuamente revestida por um epitélio simples cilíndrico que apresentou reação positiva ao AB e PAS somente na superfície apical das células; a lâmina própria possui glândulas tubulares que se ramificam gradativamente e consistem de um tipo celular denominado oxinticopépticas, relacionadas com a síntese de ácido clorídrico e pepsinogênio. O intestino apresenta vilosidades revestidas por um epitélio simples cilíndrico com planura estriada e células caliciformes. Na camada submucosa do duodeno foi observada a abertura do colédoco, sendo o epitélio do tipo simples cilíndrico sem células caliciformes, positivo tanto ao PAS quanto ao AB. O ambiente eutrófico do reservatório de Funil não parece influenciar os padrões morfológicos das estruturas (esôfago, estômago e intestino) e não foram observadas modificações nas atividades das células mucosas.

Histological structures of the digestive traits of Pimelodus maculatus La Cepède, 1803, in the Funil reservoir (22º30'- 22º35'S; 44º35'- 44º40'W) were described using haematoxilin-eosin (HE), trichome Gomori, periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5 techniques. The main aim of this study was to detect the levels of glycoproteins (GPs) in the mucous tunic based in histochemical techniques and to characterize eventual alteration in the digestive tract of this species in a polluted system. Fifty-four adult individuals collected between April-2003 and July-2004 (TL=19-38 cm) were examined. The mucosa showed longitudinal folds in the buccopharyngeal cavity, with a stratified squamous epithelium. The oesophagus showed epithelium similar to buccopharyngeal cavity, with a predominance of mucous cells, which reacted strongly with the used methods. The stomach showed three regions: cardic, fundic and pyloric. The mucous tunic is continuously revested by a single cylindrical epithelium which showed positive reaction to AB and PAS only at the apical cells surface. The proper tunic has tubular glands that ramify gradatively, being a cellular type named oxyntopeptic, related to chloridric acid and pepsinogenic cells synthesis. The intestine showed vilosities, with the mucous tunic revested by a single cylindrical epithelium with striated planure and caliciform cells. The duodenum submucosa layer was located at the coledocum opening, as a single cylindrical epithelium lacking caliciforms cells, reacting positively with both PAS and AB. The eutrophic environment of Funil reservoir did not seem to influence morphologic patterns of the structures (oesophagus, stomach and intestine) and no modification was observed in the mucous cells activity.

A morfologia das gônadas e a época de desova de Loricariichthys spixii, no reservatório de Lajes foi descrita baseada em 175 machos e 613 fêmeas, coletados de Janeiro-1996 a Dezembro-1997. Células de linhagem espermatogênica foram divididas em 4 fases: espermatogônias (primárias e secundárias), espermatócitos (primários e secundários), espermátides e espermatozóides, enquanto as células de linhagem ovocitária também foram divididas em 4 fases, baseadas em características do núcleo, ooplasma e folículos dos ovócitos: ovócitos primários (O1), ovócitos previtelogênicos (O2), ovócitos de vesícula cortical (O3) e glóbulos de vitelo ou vitelogênicos (O4). Cinco estádios gonadais foram descritos para machos/fêmeas de acordo com a distribuição das células de linhagem ovocitária / espermatogênicas: repouso (1); maturação inicial (2a); maturação avançada (2b); parcialmente esvaziado/desovado (4a); totalmente esvaziado/desovado (4b). Desova é parcelada, ocorrendo através do ano. O repouso/recuperação ocorreu em Julho/Agosto para fêmeas coincidindo com menores temperaturas e pluviosidades, e diminuições do níveis da água. O amplo período reprodutivo é parte da estratégia desenvolvida por esta espécie para suportar as pressões ambientais (bióticas e abióticas) e obter sucesso neste reservatório oligotrófico e pobremente estruturado.

The gonad morphology and spawning season of Loricariichthys spixii in Lajes reservoir were described based on 175 males and 613 females. Cells from the spermatogenic lineage were divided in four phases: spermatogonia (primary and secondary), spermatocytes (primary and secondary), spermatids and spermatozoa, and the cells from the ovocitarian lineage were divided in four phases: primary oocytes (O1), previtellogenic oocytes (O2), cortical vesicle oocytes (O3) and yolk globules or vitellogenic (O4). Five gonadal stages were described for the males/females according to oocytes and spermatogenic lineage cells distribution: resting (1); initial maturation (2a); advanced maturation (2b); partially spent/spawned (4a); totally spent/spawned (4b). Spawning was iteroparous, occurring throughout the year. Resting/recover occurred in July/August for the females coinciding with lower temperature and rainfall and decreasing water level. The wide spawning period was the part of the strategy developed to withstand environmental pressure and to get success in this oligotrophic and poorly structured environment.

The catfish Trachelyopterus striatulus Steindachner, 1877 is a very abundant fish species in reservoirs in Southeast Brazil, and its relative abundance seems to be increasing in several lentic environments. Despite of being a very common species, few information is available on its distribution and other aspects of ecology. The Lajes reservoir (22º42'-22º50'S e 43º53'-44º05'W) is the largest manmade lake for hydropower purposes in Rio de Janeiro State, where this species rank among the top abundant fishes, both in number and in biomass. Its relative abundance were compared in three zones of the reservoir (upper, central and lower), based on a standardized program, during three annual periods (monthly sampling in 1994 and bi-monthly sampling in 1996 and 1997), with a total of three hundred twenty samples, using gill nets. Environmental variables of water temperature, pH and transparency were taken in each sampling occasion, and information on rainfall and level of the water were recorded. Trachelyopterus striatulus showed an increasing abundance during the study period, rising from fifty rank in 1994 to the most abundant fish in 1997, coinciding with decreasing water level, and suggesting that this species take advantage of the harsh conditions in the reservoir to increase population. Highest number and weight were recorded in the upper zone, which presented the lowest transparency. Seasonally no significance (p > 0,05) difference in abundance was found over the whole period.

The armored catfish Loricariichthys spixii (Steindachner, 1882) is the most abundant member of the Loricariidae family in the Lajes reservoir (22º42'-22º50'S 43º53' -44º05'W), the largest dam in the State of Rio de Janeiro State, but little is known about its biology and life cycle. A standardized fish sampling program in three zones of the reservoir (lower, middle and upper reaches), during three annual cycles: monthly in 1994/1996 and bi-monthly in 1997 was conducted out aiming to assess and add knowledge of the population structure of this species. Fishes were caught using gill nets (50 m long, 3 m depth and 25 to 45 mm meshes), amounting 160 samples. Water temperature, pH and transparency were registered at each sample to correlate with fish abundance. Loricariichthys spixii (Steindachner, 1882) was the most abundant fish species in the reservoir, contributing about on third of the total number and half of the total weight of the catches, but a decreasing trend was observed over the three year of the study, with number and biomass being significantly more abundant in 1994, followed by 1996 and 1997. There is no clear dependence between environmental parameters and fish occurrence, except for the coincidence of decreasing fish abundance and decreasing levels of water of the reservoir over the three year. Fishes were more abundant in the high and intermediate reaches of the reservoir, near to mouth of the tributaries. Seasonally, there is no clear variation in relative abundance. The success of use of the reservoir by L. spixii could be attributed to availability of muddy and sandy substrate associated with its k-strategy by carrying eggs, which could allow this species faces the environmental changes of the reservoir, mainly the variations in level of water, by hydroelectric power demand.