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Brazil is one of the countries that concentrates 90% of all tegumentary and visceral leishmaniases cases and Bahia is one of the highly affected states. In the present report, we consolidated secondary data from several complementary databases that allowed us to record the sand fly species identified including areas of Leishmania spp. transmission in the state of Bahia. We then overlayed the geographical distribution data onto maps of vegetational aspects found across the state. Overall, 21 602 records of phlebotomine sand flies occurrence between 1949 and 2016 were analysed, encompassing 85% of Bahia's municipalities. Seventy‐six sand fly species under 17 genera were enlisted. Among described species, 27 were proven or putative Leishmania spp. vectors and three were considered exclusively endemic in the state. Lutzomyia longipalpis, Nyssomyia intermedia and Nyssomyia whitmani were found in 74, 29 and 27% of municipalities, respectively. Salvador, the state capital and major city presented records for 21 different sand fly species, including known vectors for leishmaniasis. In particular, a wide distribution of Evandromyia sallesi was detected for this city. This consolidated account on phebotomine fauna and distribution may be explored for improving the planning and deployment of vector‐focused leishmaniasis control measures in affected areas of Bahia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Neighbouring forests constitute biological sources that enable the succession from species-poor systems, such as tree-plantings, to highly diverse forests. However, old forest patches are becoming rare in tropical agricultural landscapes. Objective: We were interested in if, and how, spontaneous regeneration under tree-plantings reflects the age and the amount of the neighbouring forest cover. We anticipated that older forests promote a compositionally broader recovery in neighbouring tree-plantings, because older forests likely include disturbance-sensitive species, particularly within least deforested landscapes. Methods: We studied twenty-seven restoration sites implemented as tree-plantings in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We quantified the effects of age and amount of neighbouring forest cover on structural and compositional characteristics of the regeneration community (dbh < 5 cm). We used two landscape groups (presence, or absence, of forests older than 30 years.) with a similar areal range of forest cover, enabling the disentanglement of forest age from forest amount effects on regeneration community responses. Results: Surprisingly, we found that greater forest cover correlated with denser and more species-rich regeneration communities only when neighbouring forests were young. This pattern was promoted by non-vertebrate dispersed species. Regeneration communities in tree-plantings near to young forests had lower seed-mass and relative abundances of forest-specialists, compared to communities found near old forest patches. Conclusion: Regeneration is likely denser in landscapes of vast young-forest coverage. However, small-seeded and habitat-generalist species, frequently related to disturbance tolerance, tend to be dominant if old-growth forests are far away. This biased seed source appears to preclude the restoration of typical historic tropical forest composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background Exercise under hypoxic conditions represents an additional stress in relation to exercise in normoxia. Hypoxia induces oxidative stress and inflammation as mediated through tumour necrosis factor ( TNF)-α release that might be exacerbated through exercise. In addition, vitamin E supplementation might attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation resulting from hypoxia during exercise. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E supplementation (250 mg) on inflammatory parameters and cellular damage after exercise under hypoxia simulating an altitude of 4200 m. Methods Nine volunteers performed three sessions of 60 min of exercise (70% maximal oxygen uptake) interspersed for 1 week under normoxia, hypoxia and hypoxia after vitamin E supplementation 1 h before exercise. Blood was collected before, immediately after and at 1 h after exercise to measure inflammatory parameters and cell damage. Results Percentage oxygen saturation of haemoglobin decreased after exercise and recovered 1 h later in the hypoxia + vitamin condition ( P < 0.05). Supplementation decreased creatine kinase (CK)-TOTAL, CK-MB and lactate dehydrogenase 1 h after exercise ( P < 0.05). The exercise in hypoxia increased interleukin (IL)-6, TNF-α, IL-1ra and IL-10 immediately after exercise ( P < 0.05). Supplementation reversed the changes observed after exercise in hypoxia without supplementation ( P < 0.05). Conclusions We conclude that 250 mg of vitamin E supplementation at 1 h before exercise reduces cell damage markers after exercise in hypoxia and changes the concentration of cytokines, suggesting a possible protective effect against inflammation induced by hypoxia during exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of early deaths associated with birth asphyxia of very low birth weight infants between 2005 and 2010, in Brazil.Study Design:This population study enrolled all live births with birth weight from 400 to 1499 g, gestational age ⩾22 weeks, without malformations that died up to 6 days after birth with perinatal asphyxia. Asphyxia was defined if intrauterine hypoxia, asphyxia at birth or meconium aspiration syndrome were written in any line of the death certificate. Active search was carried out in 27 Brazilian federative units.Result:For every 1000 live births of very low birth weight infants without congenital malformations, 40.25 and 32.38 died with birth asphyxia in the first week after birth, respectively, in 2005 and 2010 (P<0.001). The contribution of birth asphyxia to early neonatal death of these infants was approximately 10 to 12% all study years.Conclusion:Reduction of birth asphyxia in very low birth weight infants is essential to reducing neonatal mortality in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Forestry Review is the property of Commonwealth Forestry Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fine, polished abrasion of teeth provides evidence for use of traditional oral hygiene practices in 32 fragmentary dentitions from a cemetery for newly arrived enslaved Africans who died before leaving Valongo, the slave port and market of Rio de Janeiro. We infer that chewing sticks were used before these people were enslaved. Cosmetic dental modification and abrasion of tooth roots occur in some individuals. High caries frequency, tooth loss and hypercementosis characteristic remains of enslaved Africans with longer residence in the New World were not found in this unique collection. We review evidence that the practice of using chewing sticks persists in some regions of the Americas. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article evaluates the frequency of three novel polymorphisms of bovine Slc11A1 gene, namely p.D321N, p.P356A, and p.Q542del, genotyped in cows with Brucella (B.) abortus in Brazil and its association to the resistant or susceptible phenotypes to brucellosis in cows. All heifers used in the study were serologically negative for brucellosis before challenge. The results indicate a link between Slc11A1 genotype and actual resistance.

In this paper, we report a comparative parametric method 6 (PM6) and Recife model 1 (RM1) study of trans-stilbene in its ground and (excited) singlet, triplet and ionic (positive and negative polarons and bipolarons) states. We evaluated the accuracy of the recently developed PM6 and RM1 comparing the obtained results with other semi-empirical, ab initio methods and available experimental data. PM6 and RM1 predict non-planar ground and singlet states for trans-stilbene, in agreement with the PM5 and the Austin model 1. On the other hand, the PM3 predicts planar configurations, which is in agreement with the available experimental data. PM6 and RM1 overestimate the cis–trans isomerisation energy as well as the ionisation potential of both cis- and trans-stilbene. In spite of the developments of these new methods, PM3 continues to be the only one of these methods to correctly predict the conformation of stilbene. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

PAIVA C.E., FARIA C.B., NASCIMENTO M.S.D.A, DOS SANTOS R., SCAPULATEMPO H.H.L.R.C., COSTA E. & PAIVA B.S.R. (2012) European Journal of Cancer Care 21, 124-130. Effectiveness of a palliative care outpatient programme in improving cancer-related symptoms among ambulatory Brazilian patients The focuses of palliative care are to provide symptom relief and improve quality of life through an interdisciplinary approach. Previous studies conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of palliative care in reducing symptom distress among outpatients confirmed the importance of the palliative care approach. To our knowledge, there is no published information from Brazil regarding the impact of a palliative care outpatient programme in reducing symptom distress. Symptom scores from 232 patients were measured using Edmonton Symptom Assessment System scales in two consecutive consults. Changes in symptoms at follow-up visit were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank paired test. The symptom subtraction indices (SSI) (follow-up scores minus baseline scores) were calculated and then analysed with Spearman's correlation. Edmonton Symptom Assessment System median scores at follow-up visits were statistically significant reduced in all symptoms evaluated. All the SSI positively correlated with well-being-SSI. Other important SSI correlations were: fatigue-SSI and anxiety-SSI, and fatigue-SSI and dyspnoea-SSI. Our palliative care outpatient programme was able to provide a significant improvement in the symptoms evaluated. The well-being-SSI was positively correlated with all the SSI, verifying that the control of symptoms in palliative care is essential for the patient well-being. Adequate/inadequate control of specifically symptoms seems to indirectly improve/worsen other symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The community structure of the reef fish fauna of Trindade Island, a volcanic oceanic island located 1160 km off the coast of Brazil, is described based on intensive visual censuses. Seventy-six species were encountered in 252 censuses, with mean ± s.e. of 99 ± 3 individuals and 15·7 ± 0·3 species 40 m−2 transect. The average fish biomass, calculated from length-class estimation, was 22·1 kg40m−2 transect. The species contributing most to biomass were, in decreasing order, Melichthys niger, Cephalopholis fulva, Kyphosus spp., Holocentrus adscensionis, Sparisoma amplum, Sparisoma axillare, Acanthurus bahianus and Epinephelus adscensionis. Carnivorous fishes were the largest trophic group in terms of biomass, followed by omnivores and roving herbivores. The two predominant types of reef habitat, fringing reefs built by coralline algae and rocky reefs made of volcanic boulders, showed significant differences in the biomass and the abundance of the trophic guilds. Within each habitat type, significant differences in species richness, density and biomass were detected among crest, slope and interface zones. Although similar in overall species composition to coastal reefs in Brazil, the fish fauna of Trindade Island shares certain characteristics, such as a high abundance of planktivores, with other Brazilian oceanic islands. Despite comparatively high fish biomass, including the macro-carnivorous species habitually targeted by fisheries, signs of overfishing were evident. These findings highlight the urgency for a conservation initiative for this isolated, unique and vulnerable reef system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article evaluates three serological tests using commercially available antigens for the diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in experimentally infected rams. Serum samples were obtained from sheep of different ages belonging to a B. ovis-free flock, which was located in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Agar gel immunodiffusion antigens were sensitive and specific for the serological diagnosis, whereas complement fixation resulted in lower sensitivity after the acute phase of infection.

The distribution limits in the Atlantic of Callorhinchus callorynchus (Callorhinchidae) and Odontesthes argentinensis (Atherinopsidae) are extended northwards to 22° 22′ S and 22° 31′ S, respectively, whereas that of Lile piquitinga (Clupeidae) is extended southwards to 22° 22′ S. Their occurrence in the north of Rio de Janeiro State is discussed. Remarks on the osteology of O. argentinensis, and morphometric and meristic data of L. piquitinga, are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses about the health effects of proteocephalid cestodes in Peacock basses living on the Paraná River in São Paulo, Brazil. The study was done on 128 fish gathered from August 2000 to August 2001, where 71 of them were infected by parasites Proteocephalus (P) macrophallus and/or P. Microscopius. Results showed that fish gathered in February 2001 had the largest trace of cestodes with 90 percent prevalence while fish caught in September 2000 were healthy.

Objectives The methods currently available for the measurement of energy expenditure in patients, such as indirect calorimetry and double-labelled water, are expensive and are limited in Brazil to research projects. Thus, equations for the prediction of resting metabolic rate appear to be a viable alternative for clinical practice. However, there are no specific equations for the Brazilian population and few studies have been conducted on Brazilian women in the climacteric period using existing and commonly applied equations. On this basis, the objective of the present study was to investigate the concordance between the predictive equations most frequently used and indirect calorimetry for the measurement of resting metabolic rate. Methods We calculated the St. Laurent concordance correlation coefficient between the equations and resting metabolic rate calculated by indirect calorimetry in 46 climacteric women. Results The equation showing the best concordance was that of the FAO//WHO//UNU formula ((0.63)), which proved to be better than the Harris & Benedict equation ((0.55)) for the sample studied. Conclusions On the basis of the results of the present study, we conclude that the FAO//WHO//UNU formula can be used to predict better the resting metabolic rate of climacteric women. Further studies using more homogeneous and larger samples are needed to permit the use of the FAO//WHO//UNU formula for this population group with greater accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of a four-year-old Mangalarga Marchador stallion with histological findings and clinical signs compatible with equine coital exanthema (ECE) as related to equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV-3) detection. The stallion from a herd in the central part of Brazil was examined and showed inappetence, apathy and swelling of scrotum and prepuce and multifocal erosive lesions with hyperemic edge. The article discusses sulfa trimethoprim treatment to prevent screwworm infection.

Chromosomes of the South American geckos Gymnodactylus amarali and G. geckoides from open and dry areas of the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes in Brazil, respectively, were studied for the first time, after conventional and AgNOR staining, CBG- and RBG-banding, and FISH with telomeric sequences. Comparative analyses between the karyotypes of open areas and the previously studied Atlantic forest species G. darwinii were also performed. The chromosomal polymorphisms detected in populations of G. amarali from the states of Goiás and Tocantins is the result of centric fusions (2n = 38, 39 and 40), suggesting a differentiation from a 2n = 40 ancestral karyotype and the presence of supernumerary chromosomes. The CBG- and RBG-banding patterns of the Bs are described. G. geckoides has 40 chromosomes with gradually decreasing sizes, but it is distinct from the 2n = 40 karyotypes of G. amarali and G. darwinii due to occurrence of pericentric inversions or centromere repositioning. NOR location seems to be a marker for Gymnodactylus, as G. amarali and G. geckoides share a medium-sized subtelocentric NOR-bearing pair, while G. darwinii has NORs at the secondary constriction of the long arm of pair 1. The comparative analyses indicate a non-random nature of the Robertsonian rearrangements in the genus Gymnodactylus. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The section Heteranthae of Arachis is endemic to Brazil, occurring mainly in the semi-arid northeastern region. The section is considered derived within the genus and includes only annual herbs. Most previous cytological evaluations were restricted to chromosome numbers and morphology. The present approach comprised karyomorphological evaluation in 10 accessions from five species of this section, including standard staining and fluorochrome banding [chromomycin A3 (CMA)/4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)]. All accessions presented diploid chromosome numbers (2 n = 20) with a prevalence of metacentric to submetacentric chromosome morphology. Arachis dardani, Arachis pusilla, and Arachis interrupta presented karyotypic formula 18m + 4sm and satellite type 2, while Arachis sylvestris and Arachis giacomettii presented 16m + 4sm and satellite type 10. Despite the conserved morphological features, higher diversity was detected in terms of size and number of GC-rich (CMA+) heterochromatic blocks among the species; however, all of them were located in the pericentromeric regions. The species A. pusilla presented the highest number of GC-rich blocks, present in all chromosomes of the complement. Based on the data obtained and considering literature data, we suggest that A. dardani and A. interrupta occupy a basal position in the group due to their moderate asymmetry and satellite type. At least in A. pusilla, the constitutive heterochromatin seems to have suffered recent modifications of its constitution, in contrast to other species that present pericentromeric CMA+ blocks in all chromosomes. A. giacomettii and A. sylvestris are closely related to each other and also similar to the previously studied Arachis seridoensis, revealing two clear-cut subgroups within the section from the karyological point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents a study which measures the nitrogen natural abundance values of 320 individuals belonging to 45 different plant species of savannas in Brazil. The study determines the function of nitrogen of soil to soil depth. It cites the many factors that contribute to the important variability within individual species which include N-fixing legumes.

Toxic blooms of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, a microcystin producer, have been observed in the past two decades in the Patos Lagoon estuary (southern Brazil). This cyanobacterium reaches the estuary from northern waters and accumulates as toxic blooms in the shallow margins of the environment. Microcystins are phosphatase (PP1 and PP2A) inhibitors and cause animal death via alteration of the liver cell cytoskeletons and intrahepatic hemorrhage. The massive accumulation of toxic material affects the survival of several benthonic estuarine local organisms. The tanaidacea Kalliapseudes schubartii is a benthonic estuarine species which occurs at high densities throughout the year in mixohaline areas of the Patos Lagoon. This microcrustacean is of high ecological relevance and plays an important role in the estuarine food web, as it is consumed on a large scale by estuarine fish. This work verifies the acute toxicity of aqueous extracts of M. aeruginosa RST9501 and of sediments spiked with lyophilized material of the same strain on K. schubartii; it also evaluates the sublethal effects on tanaidacean oxygen consumption rates and glycogen levels under acute exposure to M. aeruginosa aqueous extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pineapple, Ananas comosus L. Merr., cultivars differing in resistance to fusariose were examined for the phytotoxic effect of culture filtrate (CF), and fusaric acid (FA) isolated from Fusarium subglutinans (Wollew & Reinking) Nelson, Toussoun & Marasas. The possibility of using these substances on F1 hybrids as selection agents for resistance was also evaluated. The phytotoxic effect of these substances was assessed in pineapple plantlets from tissue culture by placing them on wounded leaf segments. The resistance level of the F1 hybrids and cultivars under natural conditions was measured in greenhouse field tests. The susceptible cultivars proved to be the most sensitive in each test, whereas resistant cultivars showed resistance to CF. FA affected all the cultivars independently of the degree of resistance of the cultivars The presence of other metabolites in CF was responsible for the screening effect between the varieties. Using CF as selection criteria allowed the selection of resistant plants with behaviour quite similar to plants where the fungus itself was used as the selection agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, the donation waiting list for a liver is growing and the mortality rate in this list can reach 23%. Therefore, the investigation for new therapeutic proposals, such as the production of bio-artificial organs, is extremely relevant. From this perspective, hepatocyte-like cells, derived from iPS generated from blood cells collected from end-stage liver diseased patient, can be expanded ex vivo and repopulate liver scaffolds to be transplanted in patients who might end up dying on the waiting list. In this study we have evaluated the feasibility of using controlled perfusion of detergents to obtain decellularized human whole liver scaffolds (DHLS) from diseased liver. One amyloidotic liver discarded for transplantation purpose by State Transplant Program from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) was decellularized by freezing and thawing followed by detergent perfusion (Triton X-100, SDC and SDS) through the portal vein (PV) and inferior vena cava (IVC) in a fourteen-day process. Histological processing (HE, PAS, Picrosirius red, Congo red staining) and DNA content analysis were made to evaluate our new protocol of decellularization of diseased liver. Prior decellularization, the liver, weighing 2100g, presented harden, important hepatomegaly, blunted edge and yellowish. At the end of the decellularization process, DHLS retained an opaque and pale appearance. The weight of the liver was reduced by 40% (1333g) indicating loss of cellular content. In consonance, DNA content analysis indicated significant reduction from 404,8±136.9 [average ± standard deviation (SD)] before decellularization to 40±3,2 ng DNA/mg wet weight in the DHLS. H&E staining analysis showed that the decellularization process removed cells and preserved vascular structures and components of the DHLS. PAS staining for glycogen after process showed that hepatocytes were removed when compared to liver sample before decellularization. Picrosirius red staining revealed that collagen content was preserved in the acellular scaffold. Congo red staining confirmed intense protein deposit in the liver, such content was partially removed during decellularization. Production of whole human liver scaffolds from discarded organ is feasible and may provide a natural structure for organ recovery through recellularization. These organs may offer an alternative to patients who have no life expectancy in donation waiting list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In May 2011, a Rhincodon typus was sighted on the continental shelf of the central Brazilian coast, in the vicinity of a gas platform. During the video record, an interspecific following association was observed between a Caranx crysos school and the R. typus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turbidity currents, tectonism, debris flows, glaciation, and other geologic processes are considered to be responsible for the generation of Silurian–Mississippian diamictites in northern Brazil. Processes that best account for the features observed in these strata are glaciation, deglaciation and sedimentary deformation. Four main glacial ages are identified to have occurred in the Parnaíba Basin during the Paleozoic. Glacially influenced deposits are found in the Lower Silurian, Upper Devonian, Lower Mississippian, and Middle Mississippian strata. The Parnaíba Basin is characterized by outcrops providing robust lithological evidence for three glacial ages, identified by lithological features and dated by palynological studies. A fourth glaciation, as old as Tournaisian, was recently recognized only in the subsurface of the basin. The glacial features were illustrated and the rocks accurately dated with palynomorphs based on very accurate palynological studies. Additional, palynological information, derives from outcrops and shallow boreholes drilled by a private company (Themag) and the National State Mineral Production Department (Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineral -DNPM), and the Brazilian Geological Survey Company (Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais-CPRM). The purpose of this reexamination, including many new illustrations, interpretations and conclusions, is to evaluate primary sedimentological and paleontological data related to the above mentioned glaciations. Some authors remain skeptical about the record of Early to early Late Paleozoic glaciations in western Gondwana, especially in Brazil, mainly because evidence provided in the literature is relatively scanty. The Parnaíba Basin provides special conditions for the study of these glaciations, although evidence for each of them varies considerably as discussed in the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate conception and pregnancy rates after embryo transfer (ET) in cows after estrous or ovulation synchronization. The trial was conducted at a dairy farm located in Descalvado, SP, Brazil in September 2005. Cycling cows producing 32.4 ± 9.5 kg of milk/d with 215.0 ± 160.0 DIM were divided in two groups. Group 1 (n=43) was treated with PGF2α injection (Ciosin®Coopers, 2ml) and received ET 6 to 8 days after heat detection (41.8%; 18/43) if CL was present (66.7%; 12/18). Group 2 (n=49) received HEATSYNCH protocol, consisted in an implant of intravaginal P4 device (CIDR® 1,9mg Pfizer Animal Health, Brazil), plus an injection of GnRH (1mL Fertagyl® Intervet) on first day. After 7 days CIDR® was removed plus an injection of PGF2α (5mL Lutalyse® Pfizer Animal Health, Brazil), followed by an injection of Estradiol Cypionate (0,5mL ECP® Pfizer Animal Health, Brazil), 24 hours later. Heat was also detected in Group 2 (57.1%, 28/49). Every cow treated with HEATSYNCH protocol was checked for a presence of CL 9 days after ECP injection, and cows with CL received ET 79.6% (39/49). All cows received an in vivo produced fresh embryo (grade 1 or 2) from lactating or non-lactating dairy cows, transferred by one trained technician. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by US on day 25 and 39. The data was analyzed by qui-square test. Conception rate was 50.0% (6/12) and 53.9% (21/39) and pregnancy rate was 14.0% (6/43) and 42.9% (21/49) for Group 1 and 2, respectively. Group 2 (HEATSYNCH protocol) had the same conception rate, but the pregnancy rate was higher (P<0.01) than in Group 1 (PGF2α + heat detection). Cows detected in heat after HEATSYNCH protocol had the same conception rate of cows which were not detected in heat (56.3 vs. 52.2%, respectively). Transfer of fresh embryo can be performed after HEATSYNCH protocol because it maintains conception rates and increases pregnancy rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the structure, diversity and composition of the regenerating shrub-tree species community along a stretch of riparian vegetation in relation to environmental heterogeneity. In the Environmental Protection Area of Pandeiros River, southeastern Brazil, the regenerating stratum on 70 plots (25 m2) divided into four groups according to their soil characteristics and natural barriers was sampled. For each plot observations were made of variables related to several soil properties, canopy openness and flooding regime. In addition to the traditional calculation of phytosociological parameters and diversity, a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to examine the existing relationships between environmental variables and species distribution was performed. The families with the highest species richness were Fabaceae and Myrtaceae and the species with the highest importance value indices were Zygia latifolia, Tapirira guianensis, Butia capitata, Bauhinia rufa and Hirtella gracilipes. The CCA largely confirmed the groups that were originally proposed. The stretch of riparian vegetation studied was highly heterogeneous with regard to both the abiotic variables tested and floristic structure and composition. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We evaluated how tree community floristic composition, forest structure and dynamics varied over a period of 13 years across a topographic gradient of ravines created by anthropic disturbance in Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The study area is located within a fragment of Atlantic Forest (21° 09' S, 44° 54' W), in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. This work was based on data of tree diameter at 1.3 m from the soil, collected in four inventories. Each individual was recorded as being in one of three stratified topographic classes: hilltop, slope and bottom. We used direct gradient analysis to evaluate floristic compositional changes, phytosociological analysis to evaluate structural variations, and assessed demographic and biomass changes over time through analysis of rates of forest dynamics. The results did not reflect modifications in the patterns of floristic composition and species diversity along the topographic gradient, while differences in forest structural attributes and dynamics may be detected at these smaller spatial scales. Thus, the same species group may employ different strategies against different restrictive environmental factors. Finally, we suggest that floristic composition and species diversity may be less sensitive parameters for post-disturbance responses than forest dynamics and structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Anxiety disorders may be associated with several non-psychiatric disorders. Current literature has been investigating the association between anxiety and joint hypermobility (JHM), with special interest in non-articular symptoms that may be related to autonomic dysfunction. This study investigated the association between anxiety and JHM in a sample of Brazilian university students. Methods Data were cross-sectionally collected in two Brazilian universities (N = 2600). Participants completed three validated self-rating anxiety scales: Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) and the brief-version of SPIN (Mini-SPIN). They also answered the self-rating screening questionnaire for JHM: the Five-part Questionnaire for Identifying Hypermobility. Results Hypermobile women showed significantly higher scores in all the anxiety scales, when compared with men: BAI total score (t = 3.77; p < 0.001), its four subscales, SPIN score (t = 2.71; p < 0.007) and Mini-SPIN (t = 2.58; p < 0.01). Among BAI subscales, the autonomic subscale was shown to be more significantly (t = 3.89; p < 0.001) associated with joint hypermobility in women. Conclusions The results of the present study support earlier evidence on the relationship between anxiety and JHM in women, showing specific gender-related features in this field. It also directs attention to non-articular symptoms that may be enrolled in this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in 2014 and Zika virus (ZIKV) in 2015 has raised new concerns raised about the prevalence of these arboviruses. B Background: b The Dengue virus (DENV) has been in circulation in Brazil for decades, resulting in the occurrence of several outbreaks. Concurrent outbreaks of DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV have taken place in Brazil since 2015, notably in major cities throughout the country's northeastern region. [Extracted from the article]

To assess the cost-per-responder of biologic therapies available in Brazil to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) using as outcomes a reduction of 75%, 90%, and 100% in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75/90/100). Conclusions Among the evaluated biologic therapies, risankizumab was associated with lowest cost-per-responder in all analyzed PASI outcomes, with more pronounced difference in higher PASI responses, considering Brazilian private healthcare system. [Extracted from the article]

The lack of synthesized information regarding biodiversity is a major problem among researchers, leading to a pervasive cycle where ecologists make field campaigns to collect information that already exists and yet has not been made available for a broader audience. This problem leads to long-lasting effects in public policies such as spending money multiple times to conduct similar studies in the same area. We aim to identify this knowledge gap by synthesizing information available regarding two Brazilian long-term biodiversity programs and the metadata generated by them. Using a unique dataset containing 1904 metadata, we identified patterns of metadata distribution and intensity of research conducted in Brazil, as well as where we should concentrate research efforts in the next decades. We found that the majority of metadata were about vertebrates, followed by plants, invertebrates, and fungi. Caatinga was the biome with least metadata, and that there's still a lack of information regarding all biomes in Brazil, with none of them being sufficiently sampled. We hope that these results will have implications for broader conservation and management guiding, as well as to funding allocation programs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of flexible intensive care unit (ICU) visitation on the 1-year prevalence of post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression symptoms among family members of critically ill patients., Methods: This is a long-term outcome analysis of a cluster-crossover randomized clinical trial that evaluated a flexible visitation model in the ICU (12 h/day) compared to a restrictive visitation model (median 1.5 h/day) in 36 Brazilian ICUs. In this analysis, family members were assessed 12 months after patient discharge from the ICU for the following outcomes: post-traumatic stress symptoms measured by the Impact Event Scale-6 and anxiety and depression symptoms measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale., Results: A total of 519 family members were analyzed (288 in the flexible visitation group and 231 in the restrictive visitation group). Three-hundred sixty-nine (71.1%) were women, and the mean age was 46.6 years. Compared to family members in the restrictive visitation group, family members in the flexible visitation group had a significantly lower prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms (21% vs. 30.5%; adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.85-0.98; p = 0.01). The prevalence of anxiety (28.9% vs. 33.2%; aPR 0.93; 95% CI 0.72-1.21; p = 0.59) and depression symptoms (19.2% vs. 25%; aPR, 0.78; 95% CI 0.60-1.02; p = 0.07) did not differ significantly between the groups., Conclusion: Flexible ICU visitation, compared to the restrictive visitation, was associated with a significant reduction in the 1-year prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms in family members., (© 2024. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This quasi-experimental study investigated the preliminary effects of a structured education intervention in a pooled sample of cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) patients in Brazil. Recently enrolled (RE) and long-term enrolled (LTE) patients attended 12 weekly education sessions in addition to three weekly exercise sessions. Patients completed surveys assessing disease-related knowledge, physical activity, food intake, self-efficacy, and health literacy. Functional capacity was assessed by the 6-minutes walking test. All outcomes were assessed at pre-,post-CR, and 6-months follow-up. Bonferroni correction was applied. In total, 69 (69.7%) patients completed all three assessments. There were significant improvements in knowledge pre-to post-test in both subgroups (p < 0.001), and in functional capacity (p ≤ 0.001) and food intake (p ≤ 0.001) pre-to post-test in the RE subgroup. Post-test knowledge was correlated to physical activity, functional capacity and health literacy. This preliminary study suggests the importance of structured education for CR patients. A larger study using a randomized controlled design is needed to determine efficacy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Global biodiversity is under substantial threat due to biological invasions, a problem exacerbated by climate change. Such invasions have detrimental effects on the environment, economy, and human health, resulting in significant financial burdens. Recently, understanding these challenges has become a highlighted priority within the scientific community. This study focuses on the evaluation of Schinus terebinthifolia, native to South America, and its invasive spread into North and Central America, which has resulted in wide distribution and considerable impact. The primary objectives of this study include analyzing the potential distribution of the species under current and future climate scenarios, identifying the areas where its climatic niche is changing. Data collection encompassed a vast dataset of over 30,000 occurrence records of this species, from the following databases: (1) The Global Biodiversity Information Facility provided 22,163 records (GBIF), (2) The virtual Herbarium Reflora contributed 1,438 records, and NeoTropTree made available 6,591 records. Following a rigorous filtering process, 992 occurrences were considered for modeling. In this process, we utilized climate data and climate projections, employing various algorithms, with an emphasis on the consensus model methodology. The research results reveal a clear trend of reduced habitat suitability for S. terebinthifolia, especially under scenarios of high global warming. This accentuates the urgency of implementing emission control measures and mitigation strategies. Additionally, the study underscores the crucial importance of continuous monitoring, as well as actions for controlling and restoring affected ecosystems. The significant role played by S. terebinthifolia in both its native and invaded areas highlights the need for comprehensive management approaches. In the face of climate change and biodiversity threats, this study provides insightful observations on the dynamics of biological invasions. Success in addressing these issues relies on close cooperation between the scientific community, policymakers, land managers, and local communities. This collaboration is essential for guiding and conducting conservation and biodiversity management efforts in an ever-evolving world.

Rationale: Evidence about long-term sequelae after hospitalization for acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 is still scarce., Purpose: To evaluate changes in pulmonary, cardiac, and renal function and in quality of life after hospitalization for acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19., Methods: This will be a multicenter case-control study of 220 participants. Eligible are patients who are hospitalized for acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19. In the control group, individuals with no history of hospitalization in the last 12 months or long-term symptoms of COVID-19 will be selected. All individuals will be subjected to pulmonary spirometry with a carbon monoxide diffusion test, chest tomography, cardiac and renal magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium, ergospirometry, serum and urinary creatinine, total protein, and urinary microalbuminuria, in addition to quality-of-life questionnaires. Patients will be evaluated 12 months after hospital discharge, and controls will be evaluated within 90 days of inclusion in the study. For all the statistical analyses, p < 0.05 is the threshold for significance., Results: The primary outcome of the study will be the pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide measured after 12 months. The other parameters of pulmonary, cardiac, and renal function and quality of life are secondary outcomes., Conclusion: This study aims to determine the long-term sequelae of pulmonary, cardiac, and renal function and the quality of life of patients hospitalized for acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 in the Brazilian population.

The increasing global importance of pink peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia, Anacardiaceae) as a high-value commercial crop and its potential for expansion in production demand appropriate management due to uncertainties regarding its sexual system. This study focused on evaluating the morphology of sterile and fertile floral whorls, as well as analyzing the sexual system of pink pepper in two populations in northeastern Brazil. The results revealed no significant differences in the morphological characteristics of the flowers between the studied areas, suggesting that the species possesses notable adaptability to environmental conditions. However, a significant difference in the proportion of staminate individuals was observed in both areas, representing over 88% and 72%, respectively. A correlation was observed between the size of the stamens and the presence of apparently atrophied pistils (r=0.275; df=178; p<0.001), along with the occurrence of fruits in these hermaphroditic plants. In this context, the species should be considered gynodioecious due to the presence of plants with hermaphroditic flowers and plants with pistillate flowers. However, further research is essential to elucidate the role of pollinators, especially bees and wasps, and to better understand the fruiting process in hermaphroditic flowers. These insights have the potential to significantly enhance management aiming for efficient fruit production, promoting its economic and ecological relevance.

The study aimed to detect high-risk areas for deaths of children and adolescents 5 to 14 years of age in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, from 2009 to 2020. This was an exploratory ecological study with municipalities as the units of analysis. Considering mortality data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and demographic data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the study used multivariate statistics to identify space-time clusters of excess mortality risk in this age group. From 5 to 9 years of age, two clusters with high mortality risk were detected; the most likely located in the state's southern mesoregion (RR: 1.6; LRT: 8,53). Among the 5 clusters detected in the 10-14-year age group, the main cluster was in the state's northern mesoregion (RR: 2,26; LRT: 7,84). A reduction in mortality rates was observed in the younger age group and an increase in these rates in the older group. The identification of these clusters, whose analysis merits replication in other parts of Brazil, is the initial stage in the investigation of possible factors associated with morbidity and mortality in this group, still insufficiently explored, and for planning adequate interventions.

Smoking is highly prevalent in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), leading to detrimental effects in different tissues. We examined the effects of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) on smoking cessation and vascular health. From December 2019 to October 2021, we prospectively enrolled PLHA who were actively smoking. The primary outcome was endothelial function measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). We evaluated the percent change in FMD compared to the baseline measure (Δ%FMD) to detect improvements among participants who quit smoking. To confirm the results, we used linear regression models to account for classical cardiovascular (CV) confounders. We included 117 participants with median age of 45.5 years (IQR= 36.4-54.8); 22 (20.4%) had hypertension, 9 (8.3%) had diabetes, almost half were smoking 20+ cigarettes/day (41.7%). After 12 weeks 30.76% participants quit smoking. Comparison of Δ%FMD change from baseline to week 12 showed that among participants adherent to therapy, there has been an increase in Δ%FMD when compared to those who relapsed (1.17% [0.29-2.98] vs -0.19% [-1.95-0.91], p<0.001). After adjustment for CV factors, multiple linear regression showed that Δ%FMD in participants who quit smoking presented a 2.54 mean increase in comparison to those who continued smoking (p=0.007). In conclusion, this study provides evidence that a strategy of NRT and counseling is modestly effective for smoking cessation in PLHA and improves vascular health in a short period of time. This reinforces the importance of the widespread anti-tobacco programs in HIV clinics and the expected impact lowering the incidence of future cardiovascular events., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Dr. Moreira reports financial support was provided by Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. The remaining authors have no competing interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Several additional COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in the Brazilian population to prevent the disease caused by the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant. The efficacy of a third dose as a booster is already well described. However, it is important to clarify the humoral immune response gain induced by a fourth dose. In this study, we evaluate the effect of the fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose in a diverse Brazilian population, considering a real-life context. Our study reveals that the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine increased the neutralizing antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and significantly contributed in the reduction of the disease caused by this variant., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The recent agricultural expansion in the Matopiba region, Brazil's new agricultural frontier, has raised questions about the risk of increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) loss as large areas of native vegetation (NV; i.e., Cerrado biome) have been replaced by large-scale mechanized agriculture. Although sustainable managements, such as integrated crop-livestock (ICL) systems, are considered strategic to counterbalance the SOC loss associated with land-use change (LUC) while keeping food production, little is known about their long-term effects on SOC stocks in the Matopiba region. To this end, we used the DayCent model to simulate the effects of converting the management commonly used in this region, i.e., soybean-cotton rotation under no-tillage (NT), into ICL systems with distinct levels of intensification (e.g., crop rotations: soybean-pasture and soybean-pasture-cotton; soil and crop management: grass irrigation, scarification/harrowing, and length of grass cultivation) on long term SOC dynamics. Additionally, data from two projected climate scenarios: SSP2-4.5 [greenhouse gases emissions (GHG) will not change markedly over time and global temperature will increase by 2.0 °C by 2060] and SSP5-8.5 (marked changes in GHG emissions are expected to occur resulting in an increase of 2.4 and 4.4 °C in global temperature in the middle and at the end of the century) were included in our simulations to evaluate climate change effects on SOC dynamics in this region. Based on a 50-yr-time frame simulation, we observed that SOC stocks under ICL systems were, on average, 23% and 47% higher than in the NV (36.9 Mg ha -1 ) and soybean-cotton rotation under NT (30.9 Mg ha -1 ), respectively. Growing grasses interlaid with crops was crucial to increase SOC stocks even when disruptive soil practices were followed. Although the irrigation of grass resulted in an early increase of SOC stocks and a higher pasture stoking rate, it did not increase SOC stocks in the long term compared to non-irrigated treatments. The SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 climate scenarios had little effects on SOC dynamics in the simulated ICL systems. However, additional SOC loss (∼0.065 Mg ha -1 yr -1 ) is predicted to occur if the current management is not improved. These findings can help guide management decisions for the Matopiba region, Brazil, to alleviate the anthropogenic pressure associated with agriculture development. More broadly, they confirm that crop-livestock integration in croplands is a successful strategy to regenerate SOC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Main Results: Annual vaccination coverage was below 95% in Brazil. The second dose of the vaccine showed stationary and decreasing trends in the country's Federative Units. The dropout rate varied greatly throughout the study period., Implications for Services: The results found regarding the trends serve to inform and point to the urgency of planning actions aimed at improving coverage of the triple viral vaccine nationally in Brazil., Perspectives: Investments in enhanced training of epidemiological surveillance professionals and enhanced computerized systems are necessary, with a view to continuous monitoring, to support actions to promote better and timely vaccine coverage., Objective: to analyze the temporal trend of coverage and dropout rate for triple viral vaccine in Brazil, according to the country's Federative Units and Macro-Regions, between 2014 and 2021., Methods: this was an ecological time series study, using data from the National Immunization Program Information System and the Live Birth Information System; joinpoint regression models were used., Results: in Brazil as a whole annual vaccination coverage was below 95% and ranged from 92.3% (2015) to 54.4% (2021); the second dose of the vaccine showed a decreasing temporal trend in the period (average change over the period = -5.8; 95%CI -10.5;-0.8); the temporal trends were stationary and decreasing in the country's Federative Units; the dropout rate ranged from 22.2% (2014) to 37.4% (2021)., Conclusion: there was a downward trend in vaccination coverage and an increase in the dropout rate in Brazil as a whole and in the country's Federative Units.

Chicken meat has achieved significant index rates worldwide, with Brazil leading production and exports. The agribusiness significance has led to strengthening attention to the environmental burdens produced by the poultry industry. This research considered reducing the environmental impacts in the life cycle of Brazilian chicken meat regarding strategies for recycling waste from the production process. An attributional cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment was performed, with the functional unit of 1 kg of slaughtered and unpacked chicken meat. The two suggested scenarios used: i) chicken bedding for biogas production and ii) chicken carcass waste as meat meals in feed production. Handling poultry litter for biogas production avoided methane and ammonia emissions, reducing over 50% of the environmental indicators of Climate Change, Terrestrial Acidification, and Freshwater Eutrophication. Reuse poultry waste to produce meat meals reduced from 12% to 55% in all impact categories, decreasing emissions from carcasses destined for decomposition in landfills and using less raw materials from bovine sources. Investigating the environmental performance of the chicken meat production chain encouraged the circularity of natural resources and waste recovery strategies in the system boundary, thus helping to accomplish Sustainable Development Goals 7, 9, 12, and 13 of the UN Agenda 2030., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Rabies is a fatal viral zoonosis caused by rabies virus (RABV). RABV infects the central nervous system and triggers acute encephalomyelitis in both humans and animals. Endemic in the Brazilian Northeast region, RABV emergence in distinct wildlife species has been identified as a source of human rabies infection and as such, constitutes a public health concern. Here, we performed post-mortem RABV analyses of 144 encephalic tissues from bats sampled from January to July 2022, belonging to 15 different species. We identified phylogenetically distinct RABV from Phyllostomidae and Molossidae bats circulating in Northeastern Brazil. Phylogenetic clustering revealed the close evolutionary relationship between RABV viruses circulating in bats and variants hosted in white-tufted marmosets, commonly captured to be kept as pets and linked to human rabies cases and deaths in Brazil. Our findings underline the urgent need to implement a phylogenetic-scale epidemiological surveillance platform to track multiple RABV variants which may pose a threat to both humans and animals., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The emergence and reemergence of mosquito-borne diseases in Brazil such as yellow fever, zika, chikungunya, and dengue have had serious impacts on public health. Concerns have been raised due to the rapid dissemination of the chikungunya virus across the country since its first detection in 2014 in Northeast Brazil. In this work, we carried out on-site training activities in genomic surveillance in partnership with the National Network of Public Health Laboratories that have led to the generation of 422 chikungunya virus genomes from 12 Brazilian states over the past two years (2021-2022), a period that has seen more than 312 thousand chikungunya fever cases reported in the country. These genomes increased the amount of available data and allowed a more comprehensive characterization of the dispersal dynamics of the chikungunya virus East-Central-South-African lineage in Brazil. Tree branching patterns revealed the emergence and expansion of two distinct subclades. Phylogeographic analysis indicated that the northeast region has been the leading hub of virus spread towards other regions. Increased frequency of C > T transitions among the new genomes suggested that host restriction factors from the immune system such as ADAR and AID/APOBEC deaminases might be driving the genetic diversity of the chikungunya virus in Brazil., (© 2023. The Author(s).)