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Introduction: Cytogenetic studies on stingless bees have significantly contributed to our understanding of karyotypic evolution and the composition of euchromatin and heterochromatin regions, including repetitive sequences., Methods: In this study, we performed classical cytogenetics, chromosomal banding, and mapping of some repetitive sequences in two stingless bee species, Frieseomelitta trichocerata and Plebeia poecilochroa., Results: The species exhibit the typical diploid chromosome number of each genera, 2n=30 for Frieseomelitta and 2n=34 for Plebeia. Additionally, some individuals of P. poecilochroa presented a small heterochromatic B chromosome, showing a numeric variation of n=17 to 18 in males and 2n=34 to 35 in females. In both species heterochromatin is primarily distributed in the short arm and centromeric regions. Centromeric regions were found to be AT-rich in both species, while subterminal/terminal regions of the short arms of one and six chromosomes presented GC-rich sites in P. poecilochroa and F. trichocerata, respectively. The rDNA clusters mapped on two chromosome pairs in F. trichocerata, and in only one in P. poecilochroa. Microsatellites (GA)n, (GAG)n, and (CAA)n were predominantly mapped in euchromatic regions, while the telomeric motif (TTAGG)n mapped to the ends of most chromosomes, including the B chromosome of P. poecilochroa. The other repetitive probes used, including the rDNA clusters, do not label the B chromosome of P. poecilochroa., Conclusion: Our cytogenetic data highlight both similarities and differences when compared to other congeneric species, expanding the chromosomal data for both genera., (S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Severe maxillary atrophy and edentulism can pose a range of challenges in implant planning and oral rehabilitation. Modern dentistry has allowed for a review of the concepts and surgical protocols of subperiosteal implants, presenting them as a solution for the rehabilitation of atrophic maxillary and mandibular bone deficiencies. This study aims to address a series of 3 patients with severe maxillary atrophy, as evidenced by presurgical and postsurgical radiographic images, as well as computer-assisted planning and analysis of patient anatomy for rehabilitation with custom sintered subperiosteal implants. Promising results these clinical cases, highlighting the precise technique, biocompatibility, and durability of these materials. The absence of postoperative complications was evident, with high success rates in procedures and patient reports. Importantly, periodic follow-up is needed to assess the longevity and effectiveness of the technique used., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

This study characterizes the chromosomal organization of DNA repetitive sequences and the karyotypic evolution in four representatives of the solitary wasp genus Trypoxylon using conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques. Our findings present the first cytogenetic data for Trypoxylon rogenhoferi (2 n = 30) and Trypoxylon albonigrum (2 n = 32), while the karyotypes of Trypoxylon nitidum (2 n = 30) and Trypoxylon lactitarse (2 n = 30) were similar to those previously described. Fluorochrome staining and microsatellite distribution data revealed differences in the constitutive heterochromatin composition among species. Trypoxylon nitidum and T. albonigrum exhibited one major rDNA cluster, potentially representing an ancestral pattern for aculeate Hymenoptera, while T. rogenhoferi and T. lactitarse showed two pericentromeric rRNA gene sites, suggesting amplification events in their ancestral clade. The (TCAGG) n motif hybridized in the terminal regions of the chromosomes in all four Trypoxylon species, which may suggest that this sequence represents DNA telomeric repeat. Notably, the presence of this repetitive sequence in the centromeric regions of certain chromosome pairs in two species supports the hypothesis of chromosomal fusions or inversions in the ancestral karyotype of Trypoxylon . The study expands the chromosomal mapping data of repetitive sequences in wasps and offers insights into the dynamic evolutionary landscape of karyotypes in these insects., Competing Interests: The authors have no competing of interest to declare.

Blepharoplasty is a commonly performed cosmetic surgery worldwide to address the excess skin and fat on the upper eyelids. The purpose of this paper is to present a surgical variation on blepharoplasty, achieving more pleasant outcomes. This paper describes the cauterization + plication technique, which involves using a cauterizing tool to remove excess skin and fat from the upper eyelid before using sutures to create a crease. It provides valuable insights into the advantages and limitations of this technique, drawing on relevant literature and clinical experience. Muscle cauterization and plication technique is an upgrade from the traditional technique, producing more esthetically pleasing results. This study highlights the importance of understanding the different techniques available for blepharoplasty to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Pain is present in the dental clinic, whether due to oral problems such as dental caries and its complications or related to dental procedures. Pain evaluation in patients with communication difficulties (PCDs) is challenging for dentists, potentially compromising treatment. The aim of this study was to develop and validate an instrument to assess the perception of dentists about pain in PCDs. This study followed a quantitative methodological approach involving constructing and validating an instrument administered to 50 dentists. The initial instrument consisted of 29 items divided into four domains. Content and construct validity and internal consistency were confirmed. Content validation was performed by judges using the Content Validity Index. The instrument underwent construct validation and internal consistency assessments through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis using Cronbach's α, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin, and Bartlett's sphericity tests. The final instrument consisted of 21 items divided into three domains, with a high Cronbach's α for one domain and moderate values for the others. The total variance accounted for was above 46.03%. Each factor retained at least three items, with factor loadings greater than 0.3, commonalities greater than 0.2, and eigenvalues >1. Despite the study's limitations, the instrument demonstrated its applicability and potential in evaluating the perception and management of pain in PCDs.

Background: Early hospital readmission (EHR) is associated with worse outcomes. The use of anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG) induction therapy is associated with increased efficacy in preventing acute rejection, although safety concerns still exist., Methods: This retrospective single-center study compared the incidence, causes of EHR, and one-year clinical outcomes of patients receiving a kidney transplant between August 18, 2011 and December 31, 2012 (old era), in which only high-risk patients received 5 mg/kg rATG, with those transplanted between August 18, 2014 and December 31, 2015 (new era), in which all patients received a single 3 mg/kg dose of rATG., Results: There were 788 patients from the Old Era and 800 from the New Era. The EHR incidence in the old era patients was 26.4% and in the new era patients, 22.5% (p = 0.071). The main cause of EHR in both eras was infection (67% vs. 68%). The incidence of acute rejection episodes was lower (22.7% vs 3.5%, p < 0.001) and the one-year patient survival was higher (95.6% vs. 98.1%, vs. p = 0.004) in new era patients., Conclusion: The universal use of 3 mg/kg rATG single-dose induction therapy in the new era was associated with a trend towards reduced EHR and a reduction in the incidence of acute rejection and mortality.

Cytogenetic studies have enabled the characterization of the chromosomal macrostructure and microstructure and have contributed to the understanding of the evolution of wasp karyotypes. However, studies on Eumeninae solitary wasps are scarce. In this study, we characterized the karyotype of Ancistrocerus flavomarginatus (Brèthes , 1906) and compared it with previous data from other Ancistrocerus (Wesmael, 1836) species to shed light on the chromosomal diversity of the genus. A chromosome number of 2 n  = 24 in females and n  = 12 in males was observed. Comparing the A. flavomarginatus karyotype with that of another Ancistrocerus species showed variations in the morphology of some chromosomal pairs. The presence of two larger chromosome pairs, almost entirely heterochromatic, and the predominance of subtelocentric chromosomes with heterochromatic short arms in A. flavomarginatus support the occurrence of fissions in Ancistrocerus . A single site of ribosomal genes was observed in A. flavomarginatus , in addition to a size polymorphism of these rDNA clusters between the homologues of some analyzed females. This polymorphism may originate from duplications/deletions due to unequal crossing-over or amplification via transposable elements. The (GA) 15 microsatellite is located exclusively in euchromatic regions. Our data show that different rearrangements seem to shape chromosomal evolution in Ancistrocerus species.

Objectives: Sports etiology is one of the most common causes of maxillofacial injuries. This work aimed to provide an up-to-date review of sports-related maxillofacial injuries., Methods: An updated review was conducted on Pubmed and Google Scholar. No publication year and language restrictions were applied. Two different search strategies were performed, the first addressed which sports, generally associated with maxillofacial injuries, and the second search was conducted to determine the frequency of maxillofacial injuries associated with each sport individually., Results: The first search returned 26 articles distributed across different sports, from different countries, and with varied age distribution. The second search displayed 85 articles on individual sports group. Papers were rated and categorized according by the sport associated to the reported injury. A useful sports risk scale for maxillofacial injuries has been developed. Peculiar themes from all participating sports were evaluated. The use of protective equipment and other preventive measures were highlighted., Conclusions: Some sports with ball and cycling can be considered riskier sports for maxillofacial injuries. Athlete education and the mandatory use of mouthguards, helmets, and eye protection, among other things, are crucial to prevent these injuries. Tailor-made mouthguards and protective masks, which are becoming cheaper, are in vogue. The Sports-related Maxillofacial Injuries Risk scale can be useful for athletes, athletic coaches, and maxillofacial surgeons., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Capecitabine is an oral anticancer drug which can cause some adverse reactions and the great challenge for its use is to ensure the medication adherence. The aim of this study was to analyze adverse reactions and adherence to capecitabine in patients with gastrointestinal cancer., Methods: A prospective study was performed in a tertiary teaching hospital in Brazil. Outpatients undergoing capecitabine treatment for colorectal or gastric cancer were followed for three cycles of treatment. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics data were collected. Adverse reactions were analyzed using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v.4. Adherence to capecitabine were evaluated using Morisky-Green and MedTake tests. Statistical analysis was conducted using Chi-square, Fisher's exact and McNemer tests., Results: One hundred and four patients were enrolled in this study, with a mean age was 58.5 ± 10.9 years; 51.0% were men and 51.0% Caucasian. Nausea and diarrhea were the most frequently reported adverse reactions (82.7% and 62.5%, respectively), followed by vomiting (54.8%), fatigue (54.8%), and hand-foot syndrome (53.9%). Nausea and diarrhea were also the most severe adverse reactions. Most patients were adherent to capecitabine in all cycles of treatment using the Morisky-Green test. Adherence increased significantly between cycle 1 and cycle 2 by MedTake test (p < 0.001). Some demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with adverse reactions (e.g., age and nausea, gender and nausea and vomiting) and capecitabine adherence (e.g., marital status and educational level) as well as some adverse reactions were associated with capecitabine adherence (hand-foot syndrome and nausea)., Conclusions: Clinical oncology pharmacists must provide patient information on the correct use of capecitabine, manage adverse reactions, and monitor adherence to treatment. Strategies to prevent non-adherence to capecitabine must be adopted to ensure the success of pharmacotherapy.

Copper sulfate (CuSO 4 ) is widely used in agriculture as a pesticide and foliar fertilizer. However, the possible environmental risks associated with CuSO 4 use, particularly related to pollinating insects, have been poorly studied. In this study, we evaluated both lethal and sublethal effects of CuSO 4 on the stingless bee Partamona helleri. Foragers were orally exposed to five concentrations of CuSO 4 (5000, 1666.7, 554.2, 183.4, 58.4 μg mL -1 ), and the concentration killing 50% (LC 50 ) was estimated. This concentration (142.95 μg mL -1 ) was subsequently used in behavioral, midgut morphology, and antioxidant activity analyses. Bee mortality increased with the ingestion of increasing concentrations of CuSO 4 . Ingestion at the estimated LC 50 resulted in altered walking behavior and damage to the midgut epithelium and peritrophic matrix of bees. Furthermore, the LC 50 increased the catalase or superoxide dismutase activities and levels of the lipid peroxidation biomarker malondialdehyde. Furthermore, the in situ detection of caspase-3 and LC3, proteins related to apoptosis and autophagy, respectively, revealed that these processes are intensified in the midgut of treated bees. These data show that the ingestion of CuSO 4 can have considerable sublethal effects on the walking behavior and midgut of stingless bees, and therefore could pose potential risks to pollinators including native bees. Graphical abstract., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: It is known that clinical pharmacists intercept prescribing errors and contribute to patient safety in several medical specialties. The aim of this study was to identify, quantify and classify prescribing errors and pharmacist interventions carried out in onco-hematology and bone marrow transplant inpatient units., Methods: This was a prospective and quantitative study, conducted from February 2018 to July 2018 in onco-hematology and bone marrow transplant inpatient units of a tertiary teaching hospital in Brazil. A pharmacist detected prescribing errors and performed interventions. The type and incidence of prescribing errors, error severity, type of pharmacist interventions, potential impact of interventions in patient care, and intervention acceptance rates were evaluated., Results: A total of 1172 prescriptions were evaluated, 9% of them contained errors (total of 135 errors), and the most common error was related to prescribing the wrong dose (31.8%). Wrong dose and omission of drug were the two most frequent errors in onco-hematology, while wrong dose followed by inappropriate dilution were the most frequent in bone marrow transplantation. The pharmacist performed 135 interventions and the most common intervention was related to the treatment regimen (41.5%). Serious errors and very significant pharmacist interventions were the most frequent in both inpatient units. The acceptance rate of pharmacist interventions was high (90%)., Conclusions: Clinical pharmacy improves patient safety and quality of care in onco-hematology and bone marrow transplant inpatient units.

Eumeninae represents the largest subfamily within Vespidae, with 3,600 species described. Of these, only 18 have been cytogenetically analysed. In the present study, we used both classical and molecular techniques to characterise and compare the karyotypes of 3 Eumeninae species, namely, Ancistrocerus sp., Pachodynerus grandis, and Pachodynerus nasidens. Ancistrocerus sp. presented a haploid chromosome number of n = 12, with the first 2 chromosomes of the karyotype being almost entirely heterochromatic and much larger than the remaining chromosomes. The 2 Pachodynerus species presented the same chromosome number (n = 11 and 2n = 22) but displayed different karyotypic formulae. Additionally, chromosomal polymorphisms were observed in the analysed P. nasidens female. In the 3 species, heterochromatin was located in one of the chromosome arms. Fluorochrome staining revealed a balanced composition of AT and GC bases within the chromatin for each of the 3 species, except for few regions that were visibly GC-rich. All species had a single 18S rDNA site that co-localised with GC-rich regions; however, this localisation varied from species to species and not all GC-rich regions corresponded to ribosomal genes. Based on the cytogenetic data obtained here, we discuss the possible numerical/structural rearrangements that may be involved in the karyotypic evolution of the 3 studied species. In addition to the first description of the molecular cytogenetic characteristics of the Eumeninae subfamily and the genus Pachodynerus, this study also provides a relevant contribution towards the discussion of chromosomal evolution in Eumeninae wasps., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Early hospital readmission (EHR), defined as all readmissions within 30 days of initial hospital discharge, is a health care quality measure. It is influenced by the demographic characteristics of the population at risk, the multidisciplinary approach for hospital discharge, the access, coverage, and comprehensiveness of the health care system, and reimbursement policies. EHR is associated with higher morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs. Monitoring EHR enables the identification of hospital and outpatient healthcare weaknesses and the implementation of corrective interventions. Among kidney transplant recipients in the USA, EHR ranges between 18 and 47%, and is associated with one-year increased mortality and graft loss. One study in Brazil showed an incidence of 19.8% of EHR. The main causes of readmission were infections and surgical and metabolic complications. Strategies to reduce early hospital readmission are therefore essential and should consider the local factors, including socio-economic conditions, epidemiology and endemic diseases, and mobility.

It is thought that two evolutionary mechanisms gave rise to chromosomal variation in bees: the first one points to polyploidy as the main cause of chromosomal evolution, while the second, Minimum Interaction Theory (MIT), is more frequently used to explain chromosomal changes in Meliponini and suggests that centric fission is responsible for variations in karyotype. However, differences in chromosome number between Meliponini and its sister taxa and in the karyotype patterns of the Melipona genus cannot be explained by MIT, suggesting that other events were involved in chromosomal evolution. Thus, we assembled cytogenetical and molecular information to reconstruct an ancestral chromosome number for Meliponini and its sister group, Bombini, and propose a hypothesis to explain the evolutionary pathways underpinning chromosomal changes in Meliponini. We hypothesize that the common ancestor shared by the Meliponini and Bombini tribes possessed a chromosome number of n = 18. The karyotype with n = 17 chromosomes was maintained in Meliponini, and variations of haploid numbers possibly originated through additional Robertsonian fissions and fusions. Thus, the low chromosome number would not be an ancestral condition, as predicted by MIT. We then conclude that Robertsonian fission and fusions are unlikely to be the cause of chromosomal rearrangements that originated the current karyotypes in Meliponini., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objectives: To describe the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/disease in kidney transplant recipients receiving an mTOR-inhibitor-containing immunosuppressive regimen without prophylactic CMV treatment., Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort analysis included all de novo kidney transplant recipients (09/15/2015-07/31/2017) receiving 3 mg/kg single dose of rabbit antithymocyte globulin induction, tacrolimus, everolimus, and prednisone. Preemptive therapy was initiated only in patients deemed at higher risk for CMV infection: (a) D+/R- CMV patients; (b) after treatment for acute rejection (ARt); and (c) after everolimus discontinuation (EVRd)., Results: Of 230 patients, there were no episodes of CMV disease among 217 (94%) without criteria to initiate preemptive therapy. Of 77 (33.5%) patients initiating preemptive therapy, 13 were D+/R-, 30 were ARt, and 34 were EVRd. The overall incidence of first CMV infection/disease was 6% (46.1% in D+/R-, 13.3% ARt [all patients had also discontinued everolimus], and 11.8% after early [<90 days] EVRd). The incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection was 5.6%, and median glomerular filtration rate at month 12 was 47 mL/min/1.73m 2 . One-year patient and death-censored graft survivals were 97.4% and 98.1%., Conclusion: This study suggests that everolimus-containing immunosuppressive regimen reduces the need for preventive strategies for CMV infection in the majority of kidney transplant recipients, reducing antiviral drug-associated toxicities and healthcare-related expenditures., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Management and prevention of problems related to oncology drugs are particularly important due to the excessive cost, high toxicity, and narrow therapeutic index of the antineoplastic drugs, in addition to the patients' state of health. Therefore, the presence of the pharmacist as a member of the multidisciplinary team is essential to contribute to patient safety. In this work, the interventions performed were identified, quantified, and classified to characterize the work of the clinical oncology pharmacist. This is a prospective and quantitative study, conducted over a period of six months in the outpatient oncology and chemotherapy clinic of the University Hospital of the University of Campinas, Brazil. A total of 3526 medical prescriptions were evaluated for the 780 patients seen and, among these prescriptions, 220 (6.24%) contained errors, representing 6.24% of the total number. The most common error was dose-related with 79 (22.83%) cases of overdosing. Wrong-patient medication error was the least reported (0.29%). Thirty drugs were involved in the pharmaceutical interventions, Carboplatin and Ondansetron being the most frequent. Thirteen types of potential errors were evaluated according to the method proposed by Cardinal and Fernandes. Two (15.38%) included interventions of indication, contraindication, and therapeutic efficacy of a drug. Five of them (38.46%) are related to the treatment regimen, and two (15.38%) were related to prevention of potential adverse events. Four interventions (30.77%) concerned technical interventions in injectable drugs such as dilution, compatibility, and administration time. Of the 346 interventions performed, 1 (0.29%) was classified as potentially lethal, 114 as serious (32.95%), 140 as significant (40.46%), and 91 as minor (26.30%).

The use of insecticides based on metabolites found in live organisms, such as the insecticide spinosad, has been an option for the control of agricultural pests because of the allegedly low toxicological risk for nontarget arthropods, such as stingless bees. In the current study, we evaluate the effects of chronic oral exposure to spinosad during the larval phase on survival, developmental time, body mass, midgut epithelial remodeling, and the peritrophic matrix (PM) of Partamona helleri stingless bee workers. Worker larvae that were raised in the laboratory were orally exposed to different concentrations (0, 6.53, 13.06, 32.64, and 3,264 ng. a.i. bee -1 ) of spinosad (formulation), and the resulting survival, developmental time, and body mass were studied. The concentration of spinosad recommended for use in the field (3,264 ng. a.i. bee -1 ) reduced the survival of workers during development. Also, sublethal concentrations of spinosad delayed the development and caused morphological changes in the midgut epithelium. Finally, the chronic exposure of larvae to 32.64 ng. a.i. bee -1 spinosad also altered the remodeling of the midgut during metamorphosis and affected the organization of the PM of larvae, pupae, and adults. Our data suggest possible environmental risks for using spinosad in cultures that are naturally pollinated by stingless bees., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to analyze whether exposure to environmental enrichment (EE) during the juvenile phase of life interferes with the electrical activity of the adult rat brain. In addition, the present research also investigated whether this putative effect on brain electrical activity could be affected by prior overnutrition during lactation. Electrophysiology was measured through cortical spreading depression (CSD), a phenomenon related to brain excitability., Methods: Wistar rats were suckled in litters of either nine or three pups, forming the nourished (N) or overnourished (ON) groups, respectively. At 36 days old, half of the animals from each nutritional condition were exposed to EE. The other half was kept in the standard environment (SE). At 90-120 days of life, each animal was anesthetized for CSD recordings., Results: Overnutrition during lactation caused increases (p < 0.05) in body and brain weights. The EE decelerated CSD propagation velocity regardless of nutritional state during lactation (p < 0.001). The CSD deceleration in the N-EE group was 23.8% and in the ON-EE group was 15% in comparison with the N-SE and ON-SE groups, respectively., Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that EE exposure in the juvenile phase of the rat's life reduced brain excitability, and this effect was observed even if animals were overnourished during lactation. An EE could be considered an adjuvant therapeutic resource to modulate brain excitability.

Populations of stingless bees have declined around the world and pesticides have been indicated as one of the possible causes of this decrease. Spinosad, which is synthesized from the fermentation process produced by the soil actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa, is one of the most used bioinsecticides today. This study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of spinosad (formulation) on survival, general group activity and the processes of autophagy, apoptosis and oxidative stress in two organs (midgut and brain) of workers of Partamona helleri, after 24 h of oral exposure. Workers were orally exposed to different concentrations of spinosad. The concentration (8.16 × 10 -3  mg a.i./mL) that led to the mortality of approximately half the number of treated bees was considered LC 50 and was used in behavior, histology and immunofluorescence bioassays. The results revealed that bee survival was substantially reduced with increasing spinosad concentrations. The LC 50 of the bioinsecticide compromised general group activity, caused morphological alterations in the midgut and intensified the processes of autophagy, apoptosis and oxidative stress in this organ. The brain, on the other hand, did not present significant alterations under the tested conditions. The data obtained demonstrate, therefore, that spinosad negatively affects individual survival, general group activity and the midgut epithelium of P. helleri., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Tuberculosis (TB) mortality is high among kidney transplant (KT) recipients. Although local epidemiology is an important factor, diagnostic/therapeutic challenges and immunosuppressive therapy (ISS) may influence outcomes. We analyzed the cumulative incidence (CumI) of TB in KT recipients receiving a variety of ISS with long-term follow-up. Our retrospective single-center cohort study included all KT procedures performed between January 1, 1998, and August 31, 2014, with follow-up until August 31, 2014. Induction therapy was based on perceived immunological risk; maintenance ISS included prednisone and calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) plus azathioprine (AZA), and mycophenolic acid (MPA) or mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor (mTORi). Thirty-four patients received belatacept/MPA. KT was performed on 11 453 patients and followed for 1989 (IQR 932 to 3632) days. Among these, 152 patients were diagnosed with TB (CumI 1.32%). Median time from KT to TB was 18.8 (IQR 7.2 to 60) months, with 59% of patients diagnosed after the first year. Unadjusted analysis revealed an increasing confidence interval (CI) of TB (0.94% CNI/AZA vs 1.6% CNI/MPA [HR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.13 to 2.34, P = .009] vs 2.85% CNI/mTORi [HR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.49 to 4.32, P < .001] vs 14.7% belatacept/MPA [HR = 13.14, 95% CI = 5.27 to 32.79, P < .001]). Thirty-seven (24%) patients died, and 39 (25.6%) patients experienced graft loss. Cytomegalovirus infection (P = .02) and definitive ISS discontinuation (P < .001) were associated with death. Rejection (P = .018) and ISS discontinuation (P = .005) occurred with graft loss. TB occurred at any time after KT and was influenced by ISS., (© 2018 The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.)

Early hospital readmission (EHR) is associated with increased mortality after kidney transplantation. This is influenced by population demographics and the comprehensiveness of the healthcare system. We investigated the incidence and risk factors associated with EHR and 1-year patient and graft survivals. METHODS: We included all recipients of kidney transplant between 2011 and 2012. We excluded recipients younger than 18 years, retransplants and who died or lost the graft during the index hospital admission. RESULTS: Among 1175 recipients, the incidence of EHR was 26.6%. The main reasons for EHR were infection (67%), surgical complications (14%), and metabolic disturbances (11%). Independent risk factors associated with EHR were recipient age (OR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.46-2.63, P < 0.001), CMV serology negative (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.31-3.65, P = 0.003), use of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (OR = 2.06, 95% CI 1.33-3.13, P < 0.001), treatment for acute rejection during index hospitalization (OR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.15-2.47, P = 0.008), and length of stay (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.18-2.5, P = 0.005). Patient (88.8% vs 97.6%, P < 0.001) and death-censored graft (97.4% vs 99.0%, P < 0.001) survivals were inferior comparing patients with and without EHR. Conclusion EHR was independently associated with mortality (OR 4.01, 95% CI 2.13-7.54, P < 0.001), but its incidence and causes are directly related to the local characteristics of the population and healthcare system., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Since 2014, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) has stated that asthma control should be measured using four questions concerning diurnal and nocturnal symptoms, activity limitation, and rescue medication use. We assessed how asthma control by this definition correlates with airway inflammation and quality of life. 113 asthmatic subjects consecutively recruited from their routine clinical appointment underwent spirometry, sputum induction and answered the Standardised Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ(S)) during a single visit. 43 (38.1%), 37 (32.7%) and 33 (29.2%) subjects had controlled asthma, partly controlled asthma and uncontrolled asthma, respectively. The majority of subjects with controlled asthma (67.4%) had paucigranulocytic sputum. Eosinophilic sputum was present in all levels of asthma control. Although most subjects with controlled asthma (58.1%) achieved an AQLQ(S) score ≥6 (minimal or no impairment), the remaining patients (41.9%) had moderate/some impairment (AQLQ(S) score <6 and ≥3) due to activity impairment and environmental exposure. The present GINA definition of current symptom control reflects control of airway inflammation. However, quality of life impairment can be present even in these patients. Measuring quality of life may provide useful information when evaluating asthma control., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: M.M.M. Pizzichini has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: C.C. Rocha has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: M.G. de Souza Tavares has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: L.J.M. Steidle has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: R. Maureci da Silva has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: F. dal Pizzol has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: P.G. Gibson reports receiving grants and personal fees from AstraZeneca, GSK and Novartis, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: E. Pizzichini has nothing to disclose.

Stingless bees are distributed widely in the tropics, where they are major pollinators of several plant species. In this study, the karyotype of Meliponaquinquefasciata Lepeletier, 1836 was analysed, with emphasis on the presence of B chromosomes. Post-defecating larvae were analysed using Giemsa staining, the C-banding technique, sequential staining with fluorochromes, and FISH. The chromosome number ranged from 2n = 18 to 22 (females) and from n = 9 to 13 (males) due to the presence of 0-4 B chromosomes. This result demonstrates that M.quinquefasciata has the same chromosomal number as other Melipona Illiger, 1806 species. Considering the A complement, heterochromatin was located only in the pericentromeric region of pair 1. Staining with chromomycin A 3 (CMA 3 ) and labelling with rDNA probe, indicated that this region corresponded to the nucleolus organising region. The B chromosomes of M.quinquefasciata could be found in individuals from different localities, they were completely heterochromatic (C-banding) and uniformly stained by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Variations in the number of B chromosomes were detected between cells of the same individual, between individuals of the same colony, and between colonies from different localities.

Cytogenetic characteristics and genome size are powerful tools for species characterization and identification of cryptic species, providing critical insights into phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships. Sitophilus Linnaeus, 1758 grain weevils can benefit from such tools as key pest species of stored products and also as sources of archeological information on human history and past urban environments. Moreover, the phylogenetic relationship among these weevil species remains controversial and is largely based on single DNA fragment analyses. Therefore, cytogenetic analyses and genome size determinations were performed for four Sitophilus grain weevil species, namely the granary weevil Sitophilus granarius (Linnaeus, 1758), the tamarind weevil S. linearis (Herbst, 1797), the rice weevil S. oryzae (Linnaeus, 1763), and the maize weevil S. zeamais Motschulsky, 1855. Both maize and rice weevils exhibited the same chromosome number (2n=22; 10 A + Xyp). In contrast, the granary and tamarind weevils exhibited higher chromosome number (2n=24; 11 A + Xyp and 11 A + neo-XY, respectively). The nuclear DNA content of these species was not proportionally related to either chromosome number or heterochromatin amount. Maize and rice weevils exhibited similar and larger genome sizes (0.730±0.003 pg and 0.786±0.003 pg, respectively), followed by the granary weevil (0.553±0.003 pg), and the tamarind weevil (0.440±0.001 pg). Parsimony phylogenetic analysis of the insect karyotypes indicate that S. zeamais and S. oryzae were phylogenetically closer than S. granarius and S. linearis , which were more closely related and share a more recent ancestral relationship.

Objective: Virgin coconut oil (CO) and treadmill exercise have been reported to improve memory performance in young rats. CO has also been associated with antistress properties in young, stressed mice. Therefore, in this study we aimed to investigate whether CO and treadmill exercise could synergistically ameliorate the effects of chronic stress on anxiety-like behavior and episodic-like memory in young rats., Methods: The rats received CO and were exercised (Ex) from the 15 th to the 45 th day of life. The animals were supplemented with CO (10 mL kg -1 day -1 ) or a vehicle (V, distilled water and 0.009% Cremophor) via oral gavage. The Ex animals were placed for 30 min day -1 on a treadmill, with the speed gradually increasing from the first week to the last. From the 46 th to the 54 th postnatal day, with the exception of the 51 st and the 52 nd day, all rats were subjected to restraint stress. Afterwards, all rats underwent the open-field test to evaluate locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior. To evaluate episodic-like memory, all animals underwent tests to recognize object identity and special location. Lastly, lipid profile and murinometric parameters were evaluated., Results: A two-way ANOVA test followed by a Tukey test demonstrated that the CO&Ex group explored more of the unprotected central area of the OFT (27.04 ± 4.03 s, p < 0.01), when compared to the control group (15.36 ± 2.54 s). CO&Ex spent more time exploring the novel location of the object (71.62 ± 3.04%, p < 0.01), when compared to the control group (58.62 ± 2.48%)., Discussion: CO and exercise during lactation can ameliorate the effects of stress on anxiety-like behavior and episodic-like memory in young rats.

The present study provides a comprehensive review of cytogenetic data on Meliponini and their chromosomal evolution. The compiled data show that only 104 species of stingless bees, representing 32 of the 54 living genera have been studied cytogenetically and that among these species, it is possible to recognize three main groups with n = 9, 15 and 17, respectively. The first group comprises the species of the genus Melipona, whereas karyotypes with n = 15 and n = 17 have been detected in species from different genera. Karyotypes with n = 17 are the most common among the Meliponini studied to date. Cytogenetic information on Meliponini also shows that although chromosome number, in general, is conserved among species of a certain genus, other aspects, such as chromosome morphology, quantity, distribution and composition of heterochromatin, may vary between them. This reinforces the fact that the variations observed in the karyotypes of different Meliponini groups cannot be explained by a single theory or a single type of structural change. In addition, we present a discussion about how these karyotype variations are related to the phylogenetic relationships among the different genera of this tribe.

Across the globe, wild bees are threatened by ongoing natural habitat loss, risking the maintenance of plant biodiversity and agricultural production. Despite the ecological and economic importance of wild bees and the fact that several species are now managed for pollination services worldwide, little is known about how land use and beekeeping practices jointly influence gene flow. Using stingless bees as a model system, containing wild and managed species that are presumed to be particularly susceptible to habitat degradation, here we examine the main drivers of tropical bee gene flow. We employ a novel landscape genetic approach to analyse data from 135 populations of 17 stingless bee species distributed across diverse tropical biomes within the Americas. Our work has important methodological implications, as we illustrate how a maximum-likelihood approach can be applied in a meta-analysis framework to account for multiple factors, and weight estimates by sample size. In contrast to previously held beliefs, gene flow was not related to body size or deforestation, and isolation by geographic distance (IBD) was significantly affected by management, with managed species exhibiting a weaker IBD than wild ones. Our study thus reveals the critical importance of beekeeping practices in shaping the patterns of genetic differentiation across bee species. Additionally, our results show that many stingless bee species maintain high gene flow across heterogeneous landscapes. We suggest that future efforts to preserve wild tropical bees should focus on regulating beekeeping practices to maintain natural gene flow and enhancing pollinator-friendly habitats, prioritizing species showing a limited dispersal ability., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This report describes the development of an analytical methodology on microchip electrophoresis (ME) devices coupled with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C(4)D) to monitor inorganic anions in environmental samples. The buffer composition as well as detection operating parameters were optimized to achieve the best separation selectivity and detector sensitivity, respectively. Electrophoretic separations of Cl(-), NO3(-), SO4(2-) and NO2(-) were successfully performed within 60s using a running buffer composed of 30mmol L(-1) latic acid and 15mmol L(-1)l-histidine (His). The best detectability levels were found applying a sinusoidal wave with 1100-kHz-frequency and 60-Vpp amplitude. Quantitative analyzes of inorganic anions were carried out in the presence of Cr2O7(2-) ion as internal standard (IS), which ensured great repeatability in terms of migration times (<1%) and peak areas (6.2-7.6%) for thirty consecutive injections. The analytical performance revealed a linear behavior for concentration ranges between 0-120μmol L(-1) (Cl(-), NO2(-) and NO3(-)) and 0-60μmol L(-1) (SO4(2-)) and limits of detection (LODs) varying from 2.0 to 4.9μmol L(-1). The concentration levels of anionic species were determined in aquarium, river and biofertilizer samples with recovery values between 91% and 105%. The nitrification steps associated with conversion of ammonium to nitrite followed by the conversion of nitrite to nitrate were successfully monitored in a simulated environment without fishes during a period of twelve weeks. Lastly, the monitoring of anionic species was carried out during eight weeks in an aquarium environment containing ten fishes from Danio rerio (Ciprynidae). The recorded data revealed the absence of nitrite and a gradual increase on the ammonium and nitrate concentration levels during eight weeks, thus suggesting the direct conversion of ammonium to nitrate. Based on the data herein reported, the proposed analytical methodology can be used for routine environmental analysis., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to determine the best method to treat a textile effluent containing the dye basic blue 99 (BB). Treatments by the electrochemical and the Fenton processes were compared by means of a 2(3) experimental design, and the interaction of experimental conditions for BB oxidation were determined. The electrochemical treatment gave better results in the presence of NaCl as electrolyte and high current density (30 mA cm(-2)); the Fenton reaction provided better results at H2O2 and Fe(2+) concentrations of 10 mg L(-1) and 0.5 mmol L(-1), respectively. Electrochemical treatment was 23 times faster than the Fenton reaction because formation of chlorinated species during electrooxidation significantly contributed to dye oxidation. Although the electrochemical process was more efficient, the resulting treated effluent was more toxic to Lactuca sativa germination and growth, which indicated some biotoxicity. Results demonstrated that both processes efficiently remediated effluents containing the dye BB, but they need to be combined with other processes to ensure complete adequacy of the effluent for disposal.

Background: During past glacial periods, many species of forest-dwelling animals experienced range contractions. In contrast, species living outside such moist habitats appear to have reacted to Quaternary changes in different ways. The Atlantic Forest represents an excellent opportunity to test phylogeographic hypotheses, because it has a wide range of vegetation types, including unforested habitats covered predominantly by herbaceous and shrubby plants, which are strongly influenced by the harsh environment with strong wind and high insolation. Here, we investigated the distribution of genetic diversity in the endemic sand dune ant Mycetophylax simplex across its known range along the Brazilian coast, with the aim of contributing to the understanding of alternative phylogeographic patterns. We used partial sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I and nuclear gene wingless from 108 specimens and 51 specimens, respectively, to assess the phylogeography and demographic history of this species. To achieve this we performed different methods of phylogenetic and standard population genetic analyses., Results: The observed genetic diversity distribution and historical demographic profile suggests that the history of M. simplex does not match the scenario suggested for other Atlantic Forest species. Instead, it underwent demographic changes and range expansions during glacial periods. Our results show that M. simplex presents a shallow phylogeographic structure with isolation by distance among the studied populations, living in an almost panmictic population. Our coalescence approach indicates that the species maintained a stable population size until roughly 75,000 years ago, when it underwent a gradual demographic expansion that were coincident with the low sea-level during the Quaternary. Such demographic events were likely triggered by the expansion of the shorelines during the lowering of the sea level., Conclusions: Our data suggest that over evolutionary time M. simplex did not undergo dramatic range fragmentation, but rather it likely persisted in largely interconnected populations. Furthermore, we add an important framework about how both glacial and interglacial events could positively affect the distribution and diversification of species. The growing number of contrasting phylogeographic patterns within and among species and regions have shown that Quaternary events influenced the distribution of species in more ways than first supposed.

Cytogenetic data avalaible for the maize weevil Sitophiluszeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), one of the most destructive pests of stored cereal grains, are controversial. Earlier studies focused on single populations and emphasized chromosome number and sex determination system. In this paper, the karyotypes of four populations of Sitophiluszeamais were characterized by conventional staining, C-banding and sequential staining with the fluorochromes chromomycin-A3/4-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (CMA3/DAPI). The analyses of metaphases obtained from the cerebral ganglia of last instar larvae and the testes of adults showed that the species had 2n = 22 chromosomes, with 10 autosomal pairs and a sex chromosome pair (XX in females and Xyp in males). Chromosome number, however, ranged from 2n = 22 to 26 due to the presence of 0-4 supernumerary chromosomes in individuals from the populations of Viçosa, Unai and Porto Alegre. With the exception of the Y chromosome, which was dot-like, all other chromosomes of this species were metacentric, including the supernumeraries. The heterochromatin was present in the centromeric regions of all autosomes and in the centromere of the X chromosome. The B chromosomes were partially or totally heterochromatic, and the Y chromosome was euchromatic. The heterochromatic regions were labeled with C-banding and DAPI, which showed that they were rich in AT base pairs.

The genetic diversity and structure of the ant Atta robusta were assessed by ISSR (inter-simple sequence repeats) in 72 colonies collected from 10 localities in the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo (48 colonies) and Rio de Janeiro (24 colonies). The ISSR pattern included 67 bands, 51 of them (76.1%) polymorphic. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a high level (57.4%) of inter-population variation, which suggested a high degree of genetic structure that was confirmed by UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method using an arithmetic average) cluster analysis. The significant correlation between genetic and geographic distances (r = 0.64, p < 0.05) indicated isolation that reflected the distance between locations. Overall, the populations were found to be genetically divergent. This finding indicates the need for management plans to preserve and reduce the risk of extinction of A. robusta.

Among insect taxa, ants exhibit one of the most variable chromosome numbers ranging from n = 1 to n = 60. This high karyotype diversity is suggested to be correlated to ants diversification. The karyotype evolution of ants is usually understood in terms of Robertsonian rearrangements towards an increase in chromosome numbers. The ant genus Mycetophylax is a small monogynous basal Attini ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae), endemic to sand dunes along the Brazilian coastlines. A recent taxonomic revision validates three species, Mycetophylax morschi, M. conformis and M. simplex. In this paper, we cytogenetically characterized all species that belongs to the genus and analyzed the karyotypic evolution of Mycetophylax in the context of a molecular phylogeny and ancestral character state reconstruction. M. morschi showed a polymorphic number of chromosomes, with colonies showing 2n = 26 and 2n = 30 chromosomes. M. conformis presented a diploid chromosome number of 30 chromosomes, while M. simplex showed 36 chromosomes. The probabilistic models suggest that the ancestral haploid chromosome number of Mycetophylax was 17 (Likelihood framework) or 18 (Bayesian framework). The analysis also suggested that fusions were responsible for the evolutionary reduction in chromosome numbers of M. conformis and M. morschi karyotypes whereas fission may determines the M. simplex karyotype. These results obtained show the importance of fusions in chromosome changes towards a chromosome number reduction in Formicidae and how a phylogenetic background can be used to reconstruct hypotheses about chromosomes evolution.

Background: Lutzomyia gomezi (Nitzulescu, 1931) is one of the main Leishmania (Vianna) panamensis vectors in Panama, and despite its medical significance, there are no population genetic studies regarding this species. In this study, we used the sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b/start of NADH1 and the nuclear elongation gene α-1 in order to analyze genetic variation and phylogeographic structure of the Lu. gomezi populations., Methods: A total of 86 Lu. gomezi individuals were captured in 38 locations where cutaneous leishmaniasis occurred. DNA was extracted with phenol/chloroform methods and amplification of genes was performed using PCR primers for mitochondrial and nuclear markers., Results: We found a total of 37 and 26 haplotypes of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, high haplotype diversity (h) for all three populations were detected with both molecular markers. Nucleotide diversity (π) was estimated to be high for all three populations with the mitochondrial marker, which was opposite to the estimate with the nuclear marker. In the AMOVA Φst recorded moderate (mitochondrial) and small (nuclear) population structure with statistical significance among populations. The analysis of the fixation index (Fst) used to measure the differentiation of populations showed that with the exception of the population located in the region of Bocas del Toro, the other populations presented with minor genetic differentiation. The median-Joining network of the mitochondrial marker reveled three clusters and recorded four haplotypes exclusively of localities sampled from Western Panama, demonstrating strong divergence. We found demographic population expansion with Fu´s Fs neutrality test. In the analysis mismatch distribution was observed as a bimodal curve., Conclusion: Lu. gomezi is a species with higher genetic pool or variability and mild population structure, due to possible capacity migration and local adaptation to environmental changes or colonization potential. Thus, knowledge of the genetic population and evolutionary history is useful to understand the implications of different population genetic structures for cutaneous leishmaniasis epidemiology.

The origin of supernumerary (B) chromosomes is still a debated topic, with intra- and interspecific origins being the most plausible options. In the bee Partamona helleri, a sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker being specific to B chromosomes suggested the possibility of interspecific origin. Here, we search for this marker in 3 close relative species and perform DNA sequence comparison between species. The SCAR sequence does not show homology with other sequences in the databases, but does contain an open reading frame with sequence homology with a reverse transcriptase. Dot-blot hybridization using the SCAR marker as a probe confirmed that it is present in B-carrying, but not B-lacking larvae of P. helleri, and indicated its presence in adult individuals of P. cupira and P. criptica. Additionally, PCR amplification of the SCAR marker was successful on genomic DNA obtained from P. helleri and P. rustica larvae carrying B chromosomes, and on genomic DNA obtained from adult individuals of P. cupira, P. criptica and P. rustica. Finally, a comparison of the DNA sequence of the SCAR markers amplified from these 4 species showed very few nucleotide differences between the species. The complete association between B chromosome and SCAR presence and the scarce divergence observed for this DNA sequence between the 4 species analyzed suggest the possibility that this B chromosome has recently been transferred between species through several episodes of interspecific hybridization., (© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Molecular methods have substantially advanced our knowledge about ant systematics in the past few years. Here, we infer the molecular phylogeny of sand dune ants of the genus Mycetophylax, Emery 1913 (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini) using 730 base pairs of DNA sequences of the two nuclear genes longwave rhodopsin and wingless. Our analyses indicate that Mycetophylax is monophyletic, as suggested by its morphological characters. M. morschi, previously considered a species of Cyphomyrmex due to a scrobe-like impressed area on the head, forms a well-supported cluster with the two other species of Mycetophylax, M. conformis and M. simplex. Our analysis yields the first comprehensive phylogeny of Mycetophylax based on molecular data and includes specimens from localities within a wide distributional range as well as all species belonging to the genus following the recent taxonomic revision., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Melipona quadrifasciata is a stingless bee widely found throughout the Brazilian territory, with two recognized subspecies, M. quadrifasciata anthidioides, that exhibits interrupted metasomal stripes, and M. quadrifasciata quadrifasciata, with continuous metasomal stripes. This study aimed to estimate the genetic variability of these subspecies. For this purpose, 127 colonies from 15 Brazilian localities were analyzed, using nine species-specific microsatellite primers. At these loci, the number of alleles ranged from three to 15 (mean: 7.2), and the observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranged from 0.03-0.21, while the expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.23-0.47. The genetic distances among populations ranged from 0.03-0.45. The FST multilocus value (0.23) indicated that the populations sampled were structured, and the clustering analysis showed the formation of two subgroups and two more distant populations. The first group contained the subspecies M. quadrifasciata quadrifasciata, and the other, the subspecies M. quadrifasciata anthidioides and the two M. quadrifasciata populations with continuous metasomal stripes from northern Minas Gerais. These results confirmed that the yellow metasomal stripes alone are not a good means for correctly identifying the different subspecies of M. quadrifasciata.

Genome size estimates and their evolution can be useful for studying the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of a particular group. In the present study, the genome sizes of the three species that comprise the Mycetophylax genus were estimated by flow cytometry (FCM). There was little variation in genome size among them. The mean haploid genome size value of male and female individuals of Mycetophylax morschi was 312.96 Mbp (0.32 pg) and that of Mycetophylax conformis and Mycetophylax simplex females were 312.96 Mbp (0.32 pg) and 381.42 Mbp (0.39 pg), respectively. At first glance, this variation could be related with the heterochromatin content. Our results, together with other previous reports, have contributed to our knowledge about Attini genome size and will be useful to improve the understanding of the evolution of this tribe. It will help select potential model species in Attini for future genomic and sequencing projects., (Copyright © 2012 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Physicochemical analyses were carried out to evaluate 27 samples of honeys from three species of the Brazilian genus Melipona (M. capixaba, M. rufiventris and M. mondury) from Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais States. The parameters water activity (Aw), percentage of soluble solids (Brix %), pH, acidity (meq/Kg) and moisture (%) were evaluated. The honey characteristics obtained from these samples were very similar to the ones from other Melipona species. However, regarding the honey from Apis (honey bee), only the pH values were similar. The low pH value and the high acidity detected in Melipona honey are potential factors for increasing the honey shelf life because they do not provide favorable conditions for the microbial development. On the other hand, the high level of water activity favors the growth of microorganisms, especially yeast, which demands a more careful handled and storage. The observed differences between Melipona and Apis honey reinforce the need for specific quality settings for stingless bee honey.

Unlabelled: Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a rare benign vascular tumor of the nasopharynx. Although the treatment of choice is surgery, there is no consensus on what is the best approach., Aim: To compare surgical time and intraoperative transfusion requirements in patients undergoing endoscopic surgery versus open / combined and relate the need for transfusion during surgery with the time between embolization and surgery., Material and Methods: Study descriptive, analytical, retrospective study with a quantitative approach developed in the Otorhinolaryngology department of a teaching hospital. Analyzed 37 patients with angiofibroma undergoing surgical treatment. Data obtained from medical records. Analyzed with tests of the Fisher-Freeman-Halton and Games-Howell. Was considered significant if p <0.05., Study Design: Historical cohort study with cross-sectional., Results: The endoscopic approach had a shorter operative time (p <0.0001). There is less need for transfusion during surgery when the embolization was performed on the fourth day., Conclusion: This suggests that the period ahead would be ideal to perform the process of embolization and endoscopic surgery by demanding less time would be associated with a lower morbidity. This study, however, failed to show which group of patients according to tumor stage would benefit from specific technical.

In Panama, species of the genus Lutzomyia are vectors of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). There is no recent ecological information that may be used to develop tools for the control of this disease. Thus, the goal of this study was to determine the composition, distribution and diversity of Lutzomyia species that serve as vectors of ACL. Sandfly sampling was conducted in forests, fragmented forests and rural environments, in locations with records of ACL. Lutzomyia gomezi, Lutzomyia panamensis and Lutzomyia trapidoi were the most widely distributed and prevalent species. Analysis of each sampling point showed that the species abundance and diversity were greatest at points located in the fragmented forest landscape. However, when the samples were grouped according to the landscape characteristics of the locations, there was a greater diversity of species in the rural environment locations. The Kruskal Wallis analysis of species abundance found that Lu. gomezi and Lu. trapidoi were associated with fragmented environments, while Lu. panamensis, Lutzomyia olmeca bicolor and Lutzomyia ylephiletor were associated with forested environments. Therefore, we suggest that human activity influences the distribution, composition and diversity of the vector species responsible for leishmaniasis in Panama.

Lutzomyia longipalpis is the primary vector of the parasite responsible for visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas. In the present study, Lu. longipalpis was found in a domiciliary area in Limón, a district in Capira, a region in which cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in Panama. Previously, this species has been found in a humid forest in this same region. Finding Lu. longipalpis in domiciliary areas indicates that this species may be adapting to new habitats and that it may play a role in the transmission of leishmaniasis in Panama.

In Hymenoptera, homozygosity at the sex locus results in the production of diploid males. In social species, these pose a double burden by having low fitness and drawing resources normally spent for increasing the work force of a colony. Yet, diploid males are of academic interest as they can elucidate effects of ploidy (normal males are haploid, whereas the female castes, the queens and workers, are diploid) on morphology and life history. Herein we investigated expression levels of ten caste-related genes in the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata, comparing newly emerged and 5-day-old diploid males with haploid males, queens and workers. In diploid males, transcript levels for dunce and paramyosin were increased during the first five days of adult life, while those for diacylglycerol kinase and the transcriptional co-repressor groucho diminished. Two general trends were apparent, (i) gene expression patterns in diploid males were overall more similar to haploid ones and workers than to queens, and (ii) in queens and workers, more genes were up-regulated after emergence until day five, whereas in diploid and especially so in haploid males more genes were down-regulated. This difference between the sexes may be related to longevity, which is much longer in females than in males.

Stingless bee colonies typically consist of one single-mated mother queen and her worker offspring. The stingless bee Melipona bicolor (Hymenoptera: Apidae) shows facultative polygyny, which makes this species particularly suitable for testing theoretical expectations concerning social behavior. In this study, we investigated the social structure and genetic relatedness among workers from eight natural and six manipulated colonies of M. bicolor over a period of one year. The populations of M. bicolor contained monogynous and polygynous colonies. The estimated genetic relatedness among workers from monogynous and polygynous colonies was 0.75 ± 0.12 and 0.53 ± 0.16 (mean ± SEM), respectively. Although the parental genotypes had significant effects on genetic relatedness in monogynous and polygynous colonies, polygyny markedly decreased the relatedness among nestmate workers. Our findings also demonstrate that polygyny in M. bicolor may arise from the adoption of related or unrelated queens.

Objective: We tested whether diets containing partially hydrogenated fat (PHVO, rich in trans fatty acids) or palm oil (PO, rich in saturated fat-C16 palmitic fatty acid) had different effects on the propensity for venous thrombosis, a marker of haemostatic cardiovascular risk., Methods: Female Wistar rats were fed normolipidic diets containing PHVO or PO during lactation, and their young male pups were fed the same diets from weaning until the 180th day of life. We evaluated platelet fatty acid composition, serum lipids, platelet aggregation, clotting time, and venous thrombus formation., Results: A significant and cumulative incorporation of trans fatty acid was observed only in the platelet lipids from the PHVO group, associated with an increased sensitivity to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and venous thrombus formation in vivo. Platelets from rats raised on the PO diet also exhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and an increase in venous thrombus weight, with a concomitant increase in serum triglycerides., Conclusion: The prolonged replacement of dietary hydrogenated fat by PO impaired platelet aggregability and venous thrombosis, suggesting an increased risk of thromboembolic diseases., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of a specific scoring instrument for the comprehensive control of asthma, the Asthma Control Scoring System (ACSS), for use in Brazil., Methods: The protocol included ten steps: acquisition of written permission from the author of the ACSS; translation of the instrument to Brazilian Portuguese, carried out by three separate translators; analysis and comparison of the three versions by a review committee; literal back-translation to English; review and harmonization of the back-translation; acquisition of the approval of the original author; review of the translation by specialists; cognitive debriefing: test of clarity to, understanding by, and acceptance of the target population (evaluation of the translation by 10 health care workers); second cognitive debriefing: review of the revised version by a second group of health care workers; and reconciliation and preparation of the final version by the review committee., Results: The Brazilian Portuguese-language version of the ACSS showed clarity, understandability, and acceptability. The instrument was considered to be comprehensive because it includes the clinical manifestations of asthma, as well as the functional and inflammatory aspects of the disease., Conclusions: With the use of this careful methodology in the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the ACSS, we have ensured its cultural adequacy for Brazil. The use of this instrument could facilitate future studies on asthma control.

Partamona is a Neotropical genus of stingless bees that comprises 33 species distributed from Mexico to southern Brazil. These bees are well-adapted to anthropic environments and build their nests in several substrates. In this study, 66 colonies of Partamona helleri from five localities in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais (São Miguel do Anta, Teixeiras, Porto Firme, Viçosa and Rio Vermelho) were analyzed using nine microsatellite loci in order to assess their genetic variability. Low levels of observed (H(o) = 0.099-0.137) and expected (H (e) = 0.128-0.145) heterozygosity were encountered and revealed discrete genetic differentiation among the populations (F (ST) = 0.025). AMOVA further showed that most of the total genetic variation (94.24%) in P. helleri was explained by the variability within local populations.

When working at quantifying the genome size of stingless bees, it was observed that males of Lestrimelitta sp possessed the same amount of nuclear DNA as the females. Thus, we used flow cytometry (FCM) and cytogenetic analysis to confirm the ploidy of these individuals. The males analyzed proved to be diploid, since, through cytometric analysis, it was demonstrated that the mean genome size of both males and females was the same (C = 0.463 pg), and, furthermore, cytogenetic analysis demonstrated that both had 2n = 28 chromosomes.

Four colonies of the stingless bee Partamona cupira (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were cytogenetically analyzed using conventional staining and the fluorochromes CMA(3) e DAPI. The females have 2n = 34 chromosomes (2K = 32 M¯+2 A¯). Some females, however, presented an additional large B acrocentric chromosome, to a total of 2n = 35. Chromosome B and the chromosomal pairs 2, 9 and 10 showed CMA (3) (+) bands, indicating an excess of CG base-pairs. A clear association was verified between the P. helleri B chromosome SCAR marker and the presence of a B chromosome in P. cupira. The data obtained suggests that B chromosomes in P. helleri and P. cupira share a common origin.