Search

ABSTRACT Neural leprosy, which is characterized by nerve involvement without visible skin lesions, presents a diagnostic challenge. This case report examined the significance of diverse diagnostic modalities in the identification of pure neural leprosy. A 28-year-old patient with symptoms of edema, pain, paresthesia, and diminished sensitivity in the lower limbs underwent various tests. A stilt skin smear yielded negative results on bacilloscopy, whereas a Fast ML Flow leprosy test and electroneuromyography supported the diagnosis. This discussion highlights the importance of accessible methods for early investigation. This study emphasizes the multidisciplinary approach and value of the Fast ML Flow leprosy test and electroneuromyography for diagnosing neural leprosy.

This paper proposes a framework for a collaborative environment formed by a University Research Centre (URC) in Project Studies and external organizations. The framework resulted from a literature review process enriched with empirical data from twenty-eight semi-structured interviews with academics, PhD candidates, and practitioners. The thematic analysis identified four macro-elements of the URC ecosystem: Project Studies; Impact Generation Process (Partners, Resources, Activities, Outputs, Outcomes, Impacts); Governance & Management and Circumstances; and Context, broken down into sixty elements, for the co-creation of knowledge in Project Studies. The study adds to the body of knowledge on Project Studies by proposing a “Ba” for the co-exploration and co-exploitation of the knowledge generated by academics and practitioners. Furthermore, it reinforces the importance of engaged scholarship and supports the proposal of more robust theories that lead, in practice, to better collaborative project performance.

Abstract Purpose: To provide a conceptual framework of the ecosystem of a collaborative research center in project studies. The ecosystem is an environment capable of articulating and integrating different actors, such as academics and practitioners from public and private organizations, non-governmental organizations, and professional associations. Furthermore, it discusses theoretical and empirical frontiers in project studies and produces knowledge and technologies directly applicable to organizations, generating impact at the individual, organizational, and social levels. Originality/value: The creation of a collaborative workspace that includes academics and practitioners in the co-production of knowledge has been highlighted as critical to driving project management forward. The framework establishes a common language among academics and practitioners to enhance the impact of the results of collaborative research on project management. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review was carried out from a search on the Scopus and Web of Science databases, with 11 frameworks being evaluated from the perspective of sustainable impacts. The most appropriate framework was identified, analyzed, and enriched with an additional layer dedicated to project management. Findings: The conceptual framework proposed comprises four layers: project studies, process (resources, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts), supporting mechanisms and circumstances, and context. For future studies, we suggest adding empirical data to the proposed structure and evaluating the framework in a collaborative academic environment. / Resumo Objetivo: Propor o framework conceitual do ecossistema de um centro de pesquisa universitária em project studies. Trata-se de um ambiente capaz de articular e integrar distintos atores, como acadêmicos e praticantes de organizações públicas e privadas, organizações não governamentais e associações de classes, com o propósito de discutir fronteiras teóricas e empíricas em project studies e produzir conhecimento e tecnologias diretamente aplicáveis às organizações, e assim gerar impacto em nível individual, das organizações e da sociedade. Originalidade/valor: A criação de espaço colaborativo, envolvendo aca-dêmicos e praticantes, para coprodução de conhecimento, tem sido apontada como crítica para impulsionar a área de gestão de projetos. O framework estabelece uma linguagem comum entre acadêmicos e praticantes para potencializar o impacto dos resultados de pesquisas colaborativas em gestão de projetos. Design/metodologia/abordagem: Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura a partir de uma busca nas bases de dados Scopus e Web of Science, e avaliaram-se 11 frameworks sob a perspectiva de impactos sustentáveis. O framework mais aderente foi identificado, analisado e enriquecido com uma camada adicional dedicada à área de gestão de projetos. Resultados: O framework conceitual proposto é composto por quatro camadas: project studies, elementos processuais (recursos, atividades, resultados diretos, indiretos e impactos), mecanismos organizacionais de suporte e circunstâncias, e contexto. Como estudos futuros, sugerem-se a agregação de dados empíricos à estrutura proposta e a avaliação do framework em um ambiente acadêmico colaborativo.

Resumo As possibilidades de estreitamento das relações entre universidades e empresas por meio dos Centros de Pesquisa Universitária têm gerado oportunidades de desenvolvimento de conhecimento e avanço tecnológico entre outras vantagens. Entender as relações existentes entre estes atores, certamente, produzirá melhorias no desenvolvimento tecnológico e social que permeiam esse ambiente. Este artigo visa compreender como se caracteriza o ambiente colaborativo formado por CPUs, Universidades e Empresas. Como estratégia de pesquisa, optou-se pela revisão sistemática da literatura que, a partir das buscas nas bases Scopus e Web of Science, resultou em 63 artigos que compuseram a amostra final. Como resultado, descreve as características de CPUs, motivações dos atores para se estabelecer relacionamentos, principais modalidades e formas de colaboração, medição de resultados da colaboração, performance dos CPUs, assim como transferências de conhecimento e tecnologia entre os colaboradores. A pesquisa também revela que a teoria do capital humano, a visão baseada em recursos, a teoria institucional e a lógica institucional são as principais lentes teóricas utilizadas nos estudos analisados. Por fim, apresenta-se um framework que integra os elementos discutidos.

Uma vez que stakeholders de projetos afetam seus resultados, o gerenciamento desses atores deve ser considerado uma atividade relevante no gerenciamento de projetos. Somado a essa evidência, este estudo reconhece que os resultados de projetos podem ser incrementados quando há o apoio de um Escritório de Gerenciamento de Projetos (EGP). Assim, busca-se analisar a influência positiva do gerenciamento de stakeholders nos resultados dos projetos, especificamente na probabilidade de sua conclusão dentro de prazos e custos previstos, considerando o efeito moderador do apoio de EGPs. Para isso, o estudo apresenta um modelo conceitual validado por regressão logarítmica, usando dados coletados em pesquisa do tipo survey respondida por 216 professionais experientes da área de gerenciamento de projetos e que estudam o tema em cursos de pós-graduação. Os resultados indicam que o gerenciamento de stakeholders melhora os resultados de projetos e confirmam que o EGP aprimora a influência desse tipo de gerenciamento nos resultados. Como contribuição, a pesquisa reforça o gerenciamento de stakeholders e o apoio de EGPs como elementos-chave para o sucesso no gerenciamento de projetos. A amostragem foi suficiente para a replicabilidade da pesquisa, contudo restringiu-se a profissionais que vivem no Peru. Portanto, estudos futuros podem buscar alcançar uma população mais ampla.

Resumo O advento da Nova Gestão Pública introduziu o conceito de gestão de projetos, até então exclusivo do setor privado, abrindo caminho para o aumento da eficiência do Estado. Nesse cenário, o objetivo deste artigo é localizar, sintetizar e identificar as proximidades teóricas entre os estudos de gestão de projetos no contexto público. Para alcançá-lo, definiu-se a abordagem metodológica bibliométrica recorrendo à análise relacional de citações, realizada pelos métodos de cocitação e de pareamento bibliográfico, a fim de descobrir relações de conectividade entre as obras publicadas. As análises fatoriais exploratórias da cocitação e do pareamento conduziram a 6 fatores, indicando a estrutura intelectual e possibilitando, também, a geração de um framework de integração dos fatores a partir das citações mais frequentes. Os resultados indicaram a prevalência de estudos sobre competências em gestão de projetos e governo eletrônico. Abre-se, ainda, o leque de discussões com a apresentação de uma agenda especificamente direcionada à gestão de projetos públicos.

The research analyses the germination of seeds of Cinchona officinalis L., in three soils of populations located in three sectors of the province of Cajamarca in Peru, for its reintroduction in areas where it has disappeared. The seeds were collected in the localities from which the soil samples were obtained and moved to the city of Trujillo, Peru. An experimental design was established per block with three soils and three replicates of 2 kg each with 100 seeds per replicate, for a total of 300 seeds per soil. Perforated plastic containers with lids were used. Spray irrigation was applied daily and the units were covered to conserve humidity. Seedlings were counted between 13 and 60 days and their height was measured at the end of the study. Non-parametric analysis of variance was performed with α = 0.05 to establish the influence of soil on the percentage of germination. It was concluded that the seeds of C. officinalis L. can germinate maintaining similar conditions to those of its habitat (temperature and humidity); also the soil where the biggest quantity of seeds germinated was the one with a sandy loam texture. It was concluded that the type of soil has significant influence on the percentage of germination with p

Abstract: This article aims to understand how the risk management influences the project portfolio success. Two methodological approaches were selected in this research: a bibliometric survey followed by a case study. The object of study was the new products project portfolio of an organization from the industrial sector, manufacturer of durable goods. The findings revealed a low intensity of project portfolio risk management. This is aligned with the bibliometric survey results and with the evidence from the investigation performed on the case study unit. In order to evaluate the risk management influence over the portfolio success, this article proposes a matrix which suggests the risk management intensity associated with the project portfolio management processes. The proposed matrix application can be considered a contribution element to deepen the knowledge of the risk management influence on the project portfolio success.

This research aims to demonstrate how portfolio management influences the decision-making process in the projects of a financial organization. And to achieve this goal was used the single case study method. In order to reach this goal, the study began by means of bibliometric research on the subject of portfolio management and subsequent bibliographic research on the theme, decision making. Next, the relationships between portfolio management and decision making were studied. The results of the data collected confirmed the relationship between "the use of the project identification process in portfolio management to influence decision making" in order to add value to the business. It is also possible to demonstrate moderately that "the use of criteria for project selection influences the consequences of decision making", helping in the strategic management of the organization. One of the academic contributions was to note a migration of the portfolio management process, such as a tool that only controls the projects that will compose the portfolio of an organization, for a process that aims at a direct alignment with the strategic management of the organization. Regarding the practical implications, it was verified the importance of portfolio analysis for decision making, to the detriment of the evaluation of only one project. Taking into account the profitability and the return on investment of the projects, as the most important aspects for a decision making.

Este estudo objetivou identificar o processo de seleção de projetos de esporte de alto rendimento em organizações esportivas privadas. Pesquisa de caráter exploratória e qualitativa utilizou o estudo de caso único como estratégia de pesquisa. O arcabouço teórico valeu-se dos modelos de seleção de portfólio de projetos de Archer e Ghasemzadeh (1999), do modelo stage-gate de Cooper, Edgett e Kleinschmidt (2001) e do modelo Sports Policies Leading to International Sport Success (SPLISS) de De Bosscher, De Knop, Van Bottenburg, Shibli, e Bingham, (2009). O processo de seleção de projetos de esporte de alto rendimento foi analisado a partir de variáveis provenientes do referencial teórico. Os resultados revelaram que tal processo é estruturado em etapas e pontos de decisões, embora apresentando algumas peculiaridades; a organização atende à maioria dos pilares do modelo SPLISS; e que não se identificou nenhum processo de pontuação, ranking ou lista para classificação dos projetos de esporte de alto rendimento.

Resumo: O objetivo com esta pesquisa foi investigar a influência da gestão de integração de projetos e dos mecanismos culturais no desempenho de projetos de construção civil na indústria farmacêutica. Como estratégia de pesquisa, recorreu-se ao estudo de caso múltiplo para analisar os elementos da investigação nas filiais de uma empresa farmacêutica no Brasil e na Rússia. A revisão da literatura, sobre o tema abordado, possibilitou a formulação de oito proposições teóricas. Os resultados indicam diferenças entre a influência da gestão de integração e mecanismos culturais no desempenho de custo e de prazo dos projetos em cada contexto analisado. A contribuição teórica com este trabalho foi estabelecer um diálogo entre conceitos gerenciais de naturezas distintas. De um lado, a gestão de integração, cuja característica é incorporar consistentemente áreas de conhecimento, e, de outro, os mecanismos culturais e suas influências em diferentes unidades gestoras. A contribuição prática foi apresentar subsídios para a elaboração de uma lista de atividades, tomando-se como base a gestão da integração e os mecanismos culturais para potencializar os efeitos positivos nos resultados de um empreendimento. Palavras-chave: Gestão da integração. Mecanismos culturais. Desempenho em projetos. Projetos globais. Gerenciamento de projetos. Influence of the management of the integration and cultural mechanisms in the project performance: the case of construction in the pharmaceutical segment Abstract: The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of project integration management and cultural mechanisms in the performance of civil construction projects in the pharmaceutical industry. As a research strategy, the multiple case study was used to analyze the elements of the investigation in the branches of a pharmaceutical company in Brazil and Russia. The review of the literature on the subject addressed allowed the formulation of eight theoretical propositions. The results show differences between the influence of integration management and cultural mechanisms on the cost and time performance of the projects in each analyzed context. The theoretical contribution of this study was to establish a dialogue between management concepts of different nature. On the one hand the integration management, whose characteristic is to consistently incorporate areas of knowledge and, on the other hand the cultural mechanisms and their influences in different management units. The practical contribution was to contribute to the preparation of a list of activities, taking as a base the integration management and the cultural mechanisms to increase the positive effects in the results of an enterprise. Keywords: Management mechanisms. Cultural mechanisms. Project performance. Global projects. Project management.

This paper presents one case study about strategic transformation with project. It was built a theoretical frame literature on the project management contingency theory. The case study methodology was used in the creation project of Parque da Juventude, the former Carandiru prison complex in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. As a result it was found the adoption of a traditional management practice with emphasis variables of high intensity and high complexity. Therefore, it was possible to give a practical contribution to understanding the contingency theory applied in the project management.

En este estudio presentamos los resultados de una investigación sobre el trabajo doméstico o reproductivo y las relaciones de género en la región indígena mazahua del Estado de México, en el contexto de migración nacional e internacional. En los tres poblados estudiados, encontramos un proceso de refuncionalización de la dominación androcéntrica tradicional: las madres de familia tienen más responsabilidades en ausencia de sus cónyuges, pero no siempre más autonomía. La experiencia migratoria de jóvenes mujeres ha traído pocos cambios significativos cuando ellas se reincorporan a las comunidades. En suma, las actividades cotidianas tanto de las mujeres que emigran y se reintegran como las que se quedan rebasan con creces las fronteras del trabajo reproductivo tradicionalmente definido. Muchas de estas actividades son consideradas para la producción social, pero al pasar al dominio femenino, pierden su valor y se asumen como nuevas tareas reproductivas.

O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar os vínculos existentes entre as práticas de gerenciamento de projetos vis-à-vis a adequação da estrutura e das competências organizacionais. A metodologia de estudo de caso foi escolhida para auxiliar na apresentação deste trabalho na forma de resultados de uma investigação empírica. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma empresa da cadeia produtiva do setor automobilístico. Os resultados apontaram os fatores determinantes da estrutura, dos quais se destacam: a falta de memória técnica, o desenvolvimento gerencial e o custo da estrutura. Além disso, foi constatado um cenário de baixas competências nos âmbitos do indivíduo, das equipes e da organização.This study aims to understand the links between project management practices and organizational structure and competences. The case study methodology was chosen in order to present an empirical investigation. The research was conducted in a company in the automotive sector. The results show the structure determinants, among which are: lack of memory technology, management development, and cost structure. Furthermore, a scenario of low competences was found in the individual, team , and organizational dimensions.

Há uma grande expectativa acerca das aplicações da Tecnologia da Informação (TI), que possibilitam novas alternativas de estratégias de negócios e novas possibilidades para as organizações, como é o caso do "e-business". Contudo, há também um grande questionamento sobre os reais ganhos advindos dos investimentos em TI. Um enfoque centrado unicamente na eficiência das aplicações de TI não permite responder estas questões. Para avaliar os impactos da TI nas operações e estratégias das organizações, é necessário que haja foco na sua eficácia, i.e., nos resultados advindos das aplicações da TI em relação aos objetivos, metas e requisitos destas organizações. A eficácia deve ser mantida ao longo do tempo e, para este fim, é fundamental o conceito de Alinhamento Estratégico entre a TI e o negócio. O presente estudo apresenta uma análise comparativa dos diversos trabalhos que abordam o papel da TI nas organizações. Com base numa revisão bibliográfica elabora-se um quadro teórico que procura elucidar os principais pontos que transformam a TI numa real ferramenta de competitividade para as organizações.There is great expectation about Information Technology (IT) as an enabler to create opportunities for new business strategies and new possibilities for organizations, like the case of e-business. However, the measurement of the effects corresponding to the large amount of resources invested in IT applications is still a controversial issue. Considering only efficiency does not answer this question. It is necessary to focus on the effectiveness of the IT applications relating it to its goals, objectives and requirements of the organizations, in order to evaluate IT impacts on business operations and strategies of these organizations. Alignment between IT and business strategies is an essential concept in order to consider effectiveness continuously. This study presents a comparative analysis of different papers that study the role of IT in the organizations. Based on a bibliographic research, a theoretical analysis is developed in order to clarify the main aspects that make IT an actual tool for competitiveness of organizations.

The goal of this study is to comprehend the impact of risk management on project performance. Further it aims to investigate the degree of diffusion of risk management practice in Brazilian companies. The methodological approach involves a survey of 415 projects at different levels of complexity in different industrial sectors in several states of Brazil. The results demonstrate that adopting risk management practices has a significant positive impact on project success. They also show a positive impact from the presence of a risk manager on project success. The study’s principal limitations are the methodological choice of non probability sampling and a questionnaire based on respondent perception. From the practical point of view, paying attention to uncertainties during the project, making use of the risk management techniques and deeply understand the business environment are critical success factors, demanding attention of project managers and risk managers. The results demonstrate the impact of risk management practices on project success. They also show a positive impact from the presence of a risk manager on project success. Furthermore, it demonstrated the importance of soft skill in risk management.

O desenvolvimento de recursos e competências organizacionais tem gerado bastante interesse no campo da estratégia. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o desenvolvimento e a evolução das competências, tendo como objeto do caso o processo de planejamento estratégico do escritório de projetos da Transpetro – subsidiária da Petrobras. A metodologia qualitativa de estudo de caso foi adotada. O processo de planejamento estratégico foi acompanhado em dois ciclos, com exame de documentos internos, realização de entrevistas e observação direta. Como referência utilizou-se da RBV e gerenciamento de projetos, com ênfase nos escritórios de projetos. A discussão e conclusão apontaram para a potencialidade de entender o gerenciamento e o escritório de projetos como uma capacidade organizacional capaz de gerar e sustentar vantagem competitiva. Foi possível mostrar que a formação dos recursos e competências é um processo de aprendizagem, em que a ambiguidade causal tem um papel relevante, e em que as variáveis, "tempo" e "amadurecimento", foram importantes na investigação.

O desenvolvimento de recursos e competências organizacionais tem gerado bastante interesse no campo da estratégia. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o desenvolvimento e a evolução das competências, tendo como objeto do caso o processo de planejamento estratégico do escritório de projetos da Transpetro â subsidiária da Petrobras. A metodologia qualitativa de estudo de caso foi adotada. O processo de planejamento estratégico foi acompanhado em dois ciclos, com exame de documentos internos, realização de entrevistas e observação direta. Como referência utilizou-se da RBV e gerenciamento de projetos, com ênfase nos escritórios de projetos. A discussão e conclusão apontaram para a potencialidade de entender o gerenciamento e o escritório de projetos como uma capacidade organizacional capaz de gerar e sustentar vantagem competitiva. Foi possível mostrar que a formação dos recursos e competências é um processo de aprendizagem, em que a ambiguidade causal tem um papel relevante, e em que as variáveis, "tempo" e "amadurecimento", foram importantes na investigação.

Ações possíveis para implantação de uma política de automação da informação num instituto de pesquisas tecnológicas.

Resumo Este estudo tem por objetivo compreender como se caracteriza a gestão dos fatores de risco no desempenho de projetos de infraestrutura. Para tal, utilizou-se o referencial teórico associado tanto à literatura voltada para o gerenciamento de riscos quanto sobre complexidade e desempenho de projetos. A estratégia de pesquisa utilizada baseou-se no método de estudo de casos múltiplos, compreendendo a análise de cinco empreendimentos em dois segmentos econômicos distintos. As evidências empíricas sugerem que o impacto dos fatores de risco no desempenho dos projetos depende da intensidade da gestão dos riscos e das habilidades dos gerentes de risco, mas não varia com a complexidade dos projetos. O estudo também indica que a intensidade do desempenho nas dimensões analisadas varia de acordo com a influência dos fatores considerados.

According to the IPCC, by the year 2100, rises in global temperature could reach up to 5 °C above current averages. On a planet-wide scale, this is one of the effects of climate changes that could have repercussions on the biological cycle of Aedes aegypti, the main arbovirus vector in urban environments and a transmitter of the arboviruses that cause dengue, Zika, chikungunya and urban yellow fever. The objective of this study was to evaluate morphological changes in Ae. aegypti eggs and embryos maintained in a climate change simulator. For this, specimens obtained from an insectarium were kept in four chambers that simulated the range of environmental scenarios predicted by the IPCC for the year 2100. The eggs obtained from each room were collected and transported to the laboratory for morphometric and morphological analysis, using confocal and scanning microscopy. Aedes aegypti eggs (n=20) were used to obtain the following variables: total width, total length, length-width ratio and diameter of the micropylar disc. Additionally, 20 embryos were used to obtain the data on head capsule length, width and length-width ratio. The data were subjected to a normality test and the means of each variable were compared using ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test, considering (p ≤ 0.05). A significant reduction (p < 0.05) was observed mainly in the mean lengths under the current-extreme scenario (587.5 and 553.6 μm, respectively), as well as in the widths under the current-mild scenario (171 and 158.4 μm, respectively). The length of the cephalic capsule was also affected, showing significant differences in the means under the current-intermediate scenario (189.5 and 208.5 μm, respectively), as well as in the widths between the current-intermediate scenarios (173.7 and 194.9 μm, respectively). The results suggest significant changes in the morphometry of Ae. aegypti eggs and embryos as a result of the climatic influences to which the adults were subjected, which may have an impact on vector population density and, consequently, on arbovirus dynamics in urban environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in this study., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Highly anthropophilic and adapted to urban environments, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the main vectors of arboviruses that cause human diseases such as dengue, zika, and chikungunya fever, especially in countries with tropical and subtropical climates. Microorganisms with mosquitocidal and larvicidal activities have been suggested as environmentally safe alternatives to chemical or mechanical mosquito control methods. Here, we analyzed cultivable bacteria isolated from all stages of the mosquito life cycle for their larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti. A total of 424 bacterial strains isolated from eggs, larvae, pupae, or adult Ae. aegypti were analyzed for the pathogenic potential of their crude cultures against larvae of this same mosquito species. Nine strains displayed larvicidal activity comparable to the strain AM65-52, reisolated from commercial BTi-based product VectoBac® WG. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the set of larvicidal strains contains two representatives of the genus Bacillus, five Enterobacter, and two Stenotrophomonas. This study demonstrates that some bacteria isolated from Ae. aegypti are pathogenic for the mosquito from which they were isolated. The data are promising for developing novel bioinsecticides for the control of these medically important mosquitoes., 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 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) causes an important disease and directly affects public health, being the arbovirus that presents the highest number of infections and deaths in the Western Brazilian Amazon. This virus is divided into 4 serotypes that have already circulated in the region., Methodology: Molecular characterization of a cohort containing 841 samples collected from febrile patients between 2021 and 2023 was analyzed using a commercial kit to detect the main arboviruses circulating in Brazil: Zika, DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4 and, Chikungunya. Subsequently, Sanger sequencing was performed for positive samples., Results: The cohort detected 162 positive samples, 12 for DENV-1 and 150 identified as DENV-2, indicating co-circulation of serotypes. The samples were subjected to sequencing and the analysis of the sequences that obtained good quality revealed that 5 samples belonged to the V genotype of DENV-1 and 46 were characterized as DENV-2 Cosmopolitan genotype-lineage 5., Conclusion: The results allowed us to identify for the first time the Cosmopolitan genotype in Rondônia, Brazilian Western Amazon, and its fast spread dispersion., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Synthetic insecticides have been the primary approach in controlling Aedes aegypti; however, their indiscriminate use has led to the development of resistance and toxicity to non-target animals. In contrast, essential oils (EOs) are alternatives for vector control. This study investigated the mechanism of larvicidal action of the EO and β-caryophyllene from Piper tuberculatum against A. aegypti larvae, as well as evaluated the toxicity of both on non-target animals. The EO extracted from P. tuberculatum leaves was majority constituted of β-caryophyllene (54.8%). Both demonstrated larvicidal activity (LC 50 of 48.61 and 57.20 ppm, p < 0.05), acetylcholinesterase inhibition (IC 50 of 57.78 and 71.97 ppm), and an increase in the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in larvae after exposure to the EO and β-caryophyllene. Furthermore, EO and β-caryophyllene demonstrate no toxicity to non-target animals Toxorhynchites haemorrhoidalis, Anisops bouvieri, and Diplonychus indicus (100% of survival rate), while the insecticide α-cypermethrin was highly toxic (100% of death). The results demonstrate that the EO from P. tuberculatum and β-caryophyllene are important larvicidal agents., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

We investigated the larvicidal activity of the essential oil (EO) from Tetradenia riparia and its majority compound fenchone for controlling Culex quinquefasciatus larvae, focusing on reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, and total thiol content as oxidative stress indicators. Moreover, the lethal effect of EO and fenchone was evaluated against Anisops bouvieri, Diplonychus indicus, Danio rerio, and Paracheirodon axelrodi. The EO and fenchone (5 to 25 µg/mL) showed larvicidal activity (LC 50 from 16.05 to 18.94 µg/mL), followed by an overproduction of RONS, and changes in the activity of CAT, GST, AChE, and total thiol content. The Kaplan-Meier followed by Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) analyses showed a 100% survival rate for A. bouvieri, D. indicus, D. rerio, and P. axelrodi when exposed to EO and fenchone (262.6 and 302.60 µg/mL), while α-cypermethrin (0.25 µg/mL) was extremely toxic to these non-target animals, causing 100% of death. These findings emphasize that the EO from T. riparia and fenchone serve as suitable larvicides for controlling C. quinquefasciatus larvae, without imposing lethal effects on the non-target animals investigated., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Oropouche virus (OROV) is characterized as a re-emerging arbovirus of great concern for public health, being responsible for several outbreaks of acute fever identified in Latin American countries, registering more than half a million reported cases. The incidence of reports of this virus is intrinsically favored by environmental conditions, in which such characteristics are related to the increase and distribution of the vector population to areas of human traffic. Moreover, there is a problem regarding the lack of diagnosis in Brazil that aggregates the success of the etiologic agent. Thus, by means of molecular techniques, we identified 27 positive cases of the OROV circulating in border locations in western Amazon, with 44.44% (12/27) of the cohort characterized as infected individuals with reported symptoms, mainly ranging from fever, myalgia, and back pain. Among the positive samples, it was possible to obtain a total of 48.14% (13/27) samples to analyze the S and M segments of Oropouche, which showed similarities among the Brazilian sequences. Thus, it was possible to verify the circulation of the OROV in Rondonia and border areas, in which the tracking of neglected arboviruses is necessary for the genomic surveillance of emerging and re-emerging viruses.IMPORTANCEThe western Amazon region is known for outbreaks of acute febrile illnesses, to which the lack of specific diagnostics for different pathogens hinders the management of patients in healthcare units. The Oropouche virus has already been recorded in the region in the 1990s. However, this is the first study, after this record, to perform the detection of individuals with acute febrile illness using a screening test to exclude Zika, dengue, and chikungunya, confirmed by sequencing the circulation of the virus in the state of Rondonia and border areas. We emphasize the importance of including diagnostics for viruses such as Oropouche, which suffers underreporting for years and is related to seasonal periods in Western Amazon locations, a factor that has a direct influence on public health in the region. In addition, we emphasize the importance of genomic surveillance in the elucidation of outbreaks that affect the resident population of these locations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Culex quinquefasciatus is the main vector of lymphatic filariasis in Brazil, which present resistance to commercial insecticides. Nowadays, essential oils (EOs) exhibiting larvicidal activity, such as those derived from Piper alatipetiolatum, provide a promising alternative for vector control, including Culex species. This study aimed to investigate the larvicidal activity and the oxidative stress indicators of the EO from P. alatipetiolatum in Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae. The EO was extracted from P. alatipetiolatum leaves using the hydrodistillation method, resulting in a yield of 7.2 ± 0.1%, analysed by gas chromatography coupled with spectrometry and gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector (GC-MS and GC-FID), and evaluated against Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae. Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species (RONS), Catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and Thiol levels were used as oxidative stress indicators. Analysis by CG-MS and CG-FID revealed that the main compound in the EO was the oxygenated sesquiterpene ishwarone, constituting 78.6% of the composition. Furthermore, the EO exhibited larvicidal activity, ranging from 26 to 100%, with an LC 50 of 4.53 μg/mL and LC 90 of 15.37 μg/mL. This activity was accompanied by a significant increase in RONS production, alterations in CAT, GST, AChE activity, and thiol levels compared to the control groups (p < 0.05). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the larvicidal activity and oxidative stress induced by the EO from P. alatipetiolatum against Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae. Therefore, we propose that this EO shows promise as larvicidal agent for the effective control of Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Mayaro virus (MAYV) is a significant reemerging arbovirus of public health concern, responsible for outbreaks in several countries including Brazil. In this study, 857 samples of patients with acute fever in the state of Rondônia, Brazil, were analyzed by reverse transcriptase qualitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detect Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses. The mean age of the population was 38 years (SD = 17.46). Negative samples were subjected to duplex RT-qPCR to detect MAYV and Oropouche virus. One MAYV-positive sample with a negative result for all other viruses tested was identified and subsequently sequenced using the automated Sanger method and, through phylogenetic analysis, was characterized as belonging to genotype D, making it the first case of Mayaro in humans isolated in Rondônia. The symptoms reported by the positive patient were fever, vomiting, back pain, nausea, severe arthralgia, and retro-orbital pain. The study reinforces the need for differential diagnosis for Mayaro in the laboratory routine and the importance of genomic surveillance of this virus, mainly due to the similarity of symptoms with other arboviruses, which makes this screening difficult.

In this study, we investigated the microencapsulation of two strains of the entomopathogenic bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis) (BtMA-750 and BtMA-1114), which are biopesticides of high toxicity for the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. The encapsulation of different concentrations of microorganisms in starch microparticles was evaluated, and the inverse suspension polymerization technique was explored. It was possible to observe that the higher amounts of the biopesticide caused a slight decrease in the diameter of the particles; however, even when encapsulated, the biopesticide still presents an average diameter that is able to be consumed by the larvae of Aedes aegypti. Furthermore, it was noticed that the presence of both of the B. thuringiensis strains did not affect the thermal stability of the particles. The microencapsulated bacterial strains presented a high number of viable spores and preserved the expression of proteins with molecular masses corresponding to the insecticidal toxins Cry and Cyt, indicating that the encapsulation process was conducted satisfactorily. Finally, the encapsulated strains were tested against Ae. aegypti larvae and maintained 100% larval mortality even after 35 days. Therefore, microencapsulation of B. thuringiensis not only guarantees the bacterial activity, but also prolongs the action of the biopesticide. Collectively, such findings highlight the great potential of the new biopesticides, which may help to reduce the population indices of the mosquito vector Ae. aegypti via a sustainable and environment-friendly route., 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate ecological aspects of Mansonia species before the construction of hydroelectric plants on the Madeira River, and thus enable the assessment of the impact of these projects on mosquitoes. A total of 199 samplings were carried out between November 2003 and August 2004, using the technique of attraction with protection. Temporal distribution was evaluated from monthly incidence values obtained from the bite index per man/hour. Relative abundance was subsequently calculated to evaluate the spatial distribution of species, according to land use and municipal districts; furthermore, the pattern of hematophagous activity was evaluated from 12-h and 4-h samplings. The data were analyzed according to the negative binomial distribution and generalized linear models to estimate the influence of environmental factors on the presence and abundance of Mansonia . A total of 1479 specimens were collected, distributed among four species- Mansonia titillans (87%), Mansonia humeralis (6.3%), Mansonia amazonensis (6%), and Mansonia indubitans (0.5%), and spatial distribution analysis showed Ma. titillans to be dominant. Hematophagous activity had peaks between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and species incidence was higher during the rainy season and in areas where domestic animals are raised. Therefore, the region studied presented characteristics favorable to the reproduction of Mansonia even before the construction of the hydroelectric plants and after construction, these conditions were enhanced, due to the increase in the availability of breeding sites for immatures and blood sources for females, as a consequence of changes in the environment.

Background: COVID-19 forced healthcare systems to make unprecedented changes in clinical care processes. The authors hypothesized that the COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted timely access to care, perioperative processes, and clinical outcomes for pediatric patients undergoing primary appendectomy., Methods: A retrospective, international, multicenter study was conducted using matched cohorts within participating centers of the international PEdiatric Anesthesia COVID-19 Collaborative (PEACOC). Patients younger than 18 yr old were matched using age, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status, and sex. The primary outcome was the difference in hospital length of stay of patients undergoing primary appendectomy during a 2-month period early in the COVID-19 pandemic (April to May 2020) compared with prepandemic (April to May 2019). Secondary outcomes included time to appendectomy and the incidence of complicated appendicitis., Results: A total of 3,351 cases from 28 institutions were available with 1,684 cases in the prepandemic cohort matched to 1,618 in the pandemic cohort. Hospital length of stay was statistically significantly different between the two groups: 29 h (interquartile range: 18 to 79) in the pandemic cohort versus 28 h (interquartile range: 18 to 67) in the prepandemic cohort (adjusted coefficient, 1 [95% CI, 0.39 to 1.61]; P < 0.001), but this difference was small. Eight centers demonstrated a statistically significantly longer hospital length of stay in the pandemic period than in the prepandemic period, while 13 were shorter and 7 did not observe a statistically significant difference. During the pandemic period, there was a greater occurrence of complicated appendicitis, prepandemic 313 (18.6%) versus pandemic 389 (24.1%), an absolute difference of 5.5% (adjusted odds ratio, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.1 to 1.59]; P = 0.003). Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 testing was associated with significantly longer time-to-appendectomy, 720 min (interquartile range: 430 to 1,112) with testing versus 414 min (interquartile range: 231 to 770) without testing, adjusted coefficient, 306 min (95% CI, 241 to 371; P < 0.001), and longer hospital length of stay, 31 h (interquartile range: 20 to 83) with testing versus 24 h (interquartile range: 14 to 68) without testing, adjusted coefficient, 7.0 (95% CI, 2.7 to 11.3; P = 0.002)., Conclusions: For children undergoing appendectomy, the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly impact hospital length of stay., (Copyright © 2023 American Society of Anesthesiologists. All Rights Reserved.)

The number of people diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (MetS) has increased dramatically to reach alarming proportions worldwide. The origin of MetS derives from bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. Most people consume foods high in carbohydrates and saturated fat. In recent years, it has been reported that alterations in insulin at the brain level could have an impact on the appearance of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, dementia, depression, and other types of disorders that compromise brain function. These alterations have been associated with damage to the structure and function of neurons located in the reptilian and limbic systems, a decrease in dendritic arborization and an exacerbated inflammatory state that impaired learning and memory and increased in the state of stress and anxiety. Although the molecular mechanisms induced by MetS to cause neurodegeneration are not fully understood. The aim of this study is to know the effect of the intake of hypercaloric diets on the structure and function of neurons located in the frontal cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus and its impact on behavior in rats with metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, the present study illustrated that chronic exposure to hypercaloric diets, with a high content of sugars and saturated fatty acids, induces a proinflammatory state and exacerbates oxidative stress in brain regions such as the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and frontal cortex, leading to dysfunction. metabolism, neuronal damage, and recognition memory loss., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Mansonia mosquitoes transmit arboviruses to humans. This study describes the karyotypes and C-banding of Mansonia humeralis, Mansonia titillans, Mansonia pseudotitillans, and Mansonia indubitans., Methods: From the 202 larvae, the brain ganglia were dissected (n=120) for the preparation of slides. Twenty slides with well-distended chromosomes for each species (10 for karyotyping and 10 for C-banding) were selected for further study., Results: The haploid genome and the average lengths of the chromosomal arms differed in relation to the centromere between species, and intraspecific differences also occurred in the distribution of the C-bands., Conclusions: These results are useful for better understanding of the chromosomal variability of Mansonia mosquitoes.

Second-generation antipsychotics are the drugs of choice for the treatment of neurodevelopmental-related mental diseases such as schizophrenia. Despite the effectiveness of these drugs to ameliorate some of the symptoms of schizophrenia, specifically the positive ones, the mechanisms beyond their antipsychotic effect are still poorly understood. Second-generation antipsychotics are reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroplastic properties. Using the neonatal ventral hippocampus lesion (nVHL) in the rat, an accepted schizophrenia-related model, we evaluated the effect of the second-generation antipsychotic olanzapine (OLZ) in the behavioral, neuroplastic, and neuroinflammatory alterations exhibited in the nVHL animals. OLZ corrected the hyperlocomotion and impaired working memory of the nVHL rats but failed to enhance social behavior disturbances of these animals. In the prefrontal cortex (PFC), OLZ restored the pyramidal cell structural plasticity in the nVHL rats, enhancing the dendritic arbor length, the spinogenesis and the proportion of mature spines. Moreover, OLZ attenuated astrogliosis as well as some pro-inflammatory, oxidative stress, and apoptosis-related molecules in the PFC. These findings reinforce the evidence of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neurotrophic mechanisms of second-generation antipsychotics in the nVHL schizophrenia-related model, which allows for the possibility of developing more specific drugs for this disorder and thus avoiding the side effects of current schizophrenia treatments., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Malaria and dengue are diseases transmitted by mosquitoes of the genera Anopheles and Aedes resistant to commercial insecticides, which are toxic to non-target animals. Alternatively, eco-friendly strategies have focused on searching for essential oil (EO) from plants to control these mosquitoes. In this aspect, this study was carried out to investigate the toxicity of the EO from Tetradenia riparia and its main constituent against Anopheles and Aedes larvae and non-target animals Toxorhynchites haemorrhoidalis and Gambusia affinis. The mechanism of the larvicidal action of the EO and its main compound was investigated by the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. The EO from T. riparia was extracted by hydrodistillation with yield of 1.4 ± 0.17%. The analysis of the EO by GC-MS and GC-FID revealed fenchone (38.62%) as the main compound. The EO (100 ppm) showed larvicidal activity against Anopheles and Aedes larvae (91 to 100% of mortality) (LC 50 from 29.31 to 40.76 ppm). On the other hand, fenchone (10 ppm) showed more activity (89 to 100% of mortality) (LC 50 from 5.93 to 7.00 ppm) than the EO. The EO and fenchone caused the inhibition of AChE (IC 50 from 1.93 to 2.65 ppm), suggesting the inhibition of this enzyme as a possible mechanism of larvicidal action. Regarding toxicity, the EO (1000 ppm) and fenchone (100 ppm) showed low toxicity against T. haemorrhoidalis and G. affinis (9 to 74% of mortality) (LC 50 from 170.50 to 924.89 ppm) (SI/PSF from 17.99 to 31.91) than the α-cypermethrin (0.52 ppm) which was extremally toxic against these non-target animals (100% of mortality, LC 50 from 0.22 to 0.29 ppm). This significant larvicidal activity of the T. riparia EO and its main constituent, along with the low toxicity towards non-target organisms indicate these samples as a possible eco-friendly alternative for the control of malaria and dengue vectors., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of viruses, such as Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and dengue. In this context, a biomonitored chemical study was conducted to evaluate the activity of the crude extract of the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. against the larvae of Aedes aegypti., Methods: Crude extract, fractions, and isolated substances were evaluated in in-vitro assays against third-stage larvae of Aedes aegypti., Results: We isolated 3-nitropropionic acid with an LC50 of 15.172 ppm and LC90 of 18.178 ppm after 24 hours of larval exposure., Conclusions: The results indicated that 3-nitropropionic acid exerted larvicidal activity.

Mirror neurons have been associated with empathy. People with psychopathic traits present low levels of empathy. To analyze this, a systematic review of fMRI studies of people with psychopathic traits during an emotional facial expression processing task was performed. The regions of interest were structures associated with the mirror neuron system: ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), inferior parietal lobe (IPL), inferior frontal gyrus and superior temporal sulcus. The analysis was also extended to structures related to affective empathy (insula, amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex) and to two more emotional processing areas (orbitofrontal cortex and fusiform gyrus). Hypoactivation was more frequently observed in regions of the mirror neuron system from people with high psychopathic traits, as well as in the emotional processing structures, and those associated with affective empathy, except for the insula, where it presented higher activity. Differences were observed for all types of emotions. The results suggest that the mirror neuron system is altered in psychopathy and their relationship with affective empathy deficits is discussed.

This work aimed to evaluate the spatial distribution of mosquitoes in different seasonal periods and the interaction between climatic factors and the abundance of mosquitoes, especially those belonging to the tribe Mansoniini in the area surrounding the Amazon hydroelectric production region (Jirau-HP) of Rondônia state, Brazil. Mosquito specimens were collected in May, July, October, and December 2018, and April, July, September, and November 2019, over periods of three alternating days during the hours of 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Mosquito sampling was performed using automatic CDC and Shannon light traps. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), combined with Monte Carlo permutations, was used to evaluate the correlation between climatic variables and species distribution. In addition, non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to verify the similarity among the sampled communities from the different collections. After analyzing the total mosquito fauna at all sampling points, 46,564 specimens were identified, with Mansonia dyari showing the highest relative abundance in 2018 (35.9%). In contrast, Mansonia titillans had the highest relative abundance in 2019 (25.34%), followed by Mansonia iguassuensis (24.26%). The CCA showed that maximum temperature significantly influenced the distribution of mosquito populations in the study area (p = 0.0406). The NMDS showed that sampling carried out in the rainy and dry seasons formed two distinct groups. There was a significant correlation between species richness and cumulative precipitation 15 days before the sampling period (R 2  = 58.39%; p = 0.0272). Thus, both temperature and precipitation affected mosquito population dynamics. The effect of rainfall on mosquito communities may be due to variations in habitat availability for immature forms., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Previous studies have linked the construction of hydroelectric dams with increases in the density of mosquitoes, especially Mansonia. In Brazil, Mansonia mosquitoes are still poorly studied at the taxonomic, biological, ecological and epidemiological levels, and nothing is known about the genetic diversity and the cryptic speciation of the group. The current study analyzed the molecular taxonomy of Mansonia species captured in the area surrounding the Jirau hydroelectric dam, Rondônia state, Brazil. Samples were collected from fifteen locations between 2018 and 2019. Genomic DNA of the specimens was extracted, and the DNA barcode region of the Cytochrome Oxidase, subunit I gene was amplified with PCR and both DNA strands were sequenced. The dataset was analyzed using MEGA, Mr. Bayes and DnaSP software. The results provided COI sequences for 100 specimens collected in the area surrounding from Jirau hydroelectric dam. These belonged to five species of the Mansonia subgenus, identified morphologically as Mansonia humeralis, Mansonia amazonensis, Mansonia titillans, Mansonia dyari and Mansonia indubitans. Findings showed that the COI gene is an effective and accessible DNA barcode that provides a high-resolution tool for delimiting species within the subgenus Mansonia, with the tree construction (Bayesian Inference) well supported and non-overlapping intraspecific and interspecific (K2-P) genetic distance values. These findings also indicate the occurrence of cryptic speciation within M. dyari and near of M. titillans. This is the first study to apply molecular tools to the taxonomy of Mansonia species from Brazil., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

A new virus, named Mutum virus, related to members of the family Tymoviridae, was isolated from mosquitoes (Mansonia spp.) in clone C6/36 cells, and its complete genome was sequenced. Its genome is 6494 nt in size with an organization resembling that of tymovirids. The isolated virus is phylogenetically related to two viruses isolated from Culex spp. mosquitoes: Ek Balam virus, reported in Mexico, and Culex-originated Tymoviridae-like virus, isolated in China. The results of this study suggest that this virus is a new member of the family Tymoviridae., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The mosquito vectors of the genera Aedes and Anopheles present resistance to several commercial insecticides, which are also toxic to non-predator targets. On the other hand, essential oils are a promising source of insecticides. Thus, in this work, the essential oil from the leaves of Piper purusanum was characterized by gas chromatography-based approaches and evaluated as biodefensive against malaria and dengue vectors. The main compounds of P. purusanum essential oil were β-caryophyllene (57.05%), α-humulene (14.50%), and germacrene D (8.20%). The essential oil inhibited egg hatching (7.6 ± 1.5 to 95.6 ± 4.5%), caused larval death (LC 50 from 49.84 to 51.60 ppm), and inhibited the action of acetylcholinesterase (IC 50 of 2.29 µg/mL), which can be related to the mechanisms of action. On the other hand, the biological activities of β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, and germacrene D were higher than that of essential oil. In addition, these sesquiterpenes and essential oil did not show a lethal effect on Toxorhynchites splendens, Anisops bouvieri, Gambusia affinis, and Diplonychus indicus (LC 50 from 2098.80 to 7707.13 ppm), although D. indicus is more sensitive (SI/PSF from 48.56 to 252.02 ppm) to essential oil, representing a natural alternative against these relevant vectors., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHAD) is a neurobehavioral disorder that affects children and adolescents with a high prevalence. Despite its prevalence and an unclear etiology, previous reports suggest that it is closely related to homocysteine metabolism. Male Sprague Dawley rats were administered with homocysteine from postnatal day (PD) 2 to PD 16. Locomotor activity was evaluated at 35 PD (prepuberal age) and 60 PD (adult age) before and after amphetamine administration. In rats evaluated at both ages, homocysteine induced hyperactivity, and the amphetamine administration reduced hyperactivity significantly at 35 PD, but not at 60 PD. In the social interaction test, homocysteine reduced the number of contacts and increased the latency to the first contact only in rats at 35 PD. Homocysteine also had an effect on short term memory at 35D and 60 PD and long-term memory at 60 PD. Morphological changes were found mainly in the shape of dendritic spines in the prefrontal cortex (PFC-3), dorsal hippocampus (CA1), dentate gyrus (DG) and nucleus accumbens (NAcc), in rats administered neonatally with homocysteine at both ages studied. In prepuberal and adult rats, there was an increase in dendritic length in DG and NAcc, respectively. The dendritic spine morphology also was altered at both ages, mainly decreasing the number of mushroom spines in NAcc and CA1 at 30 PD and in all the areas studied at 60 PD rats. Those areas are associated with the processes of attention, learning and memory that were studied, and those alterations are possibly related to changes observed in the behavioral tests. These behavioral and morphological changes in rats at 35 PD administered with homocysteine could be similar to changes found in children diagnosed with ADHD. Moreover, half to two thirds of children diagnosed with ADHD reach adulthood with this disorder. In this study we found similarities with ADHD, finding alterations in both rats at 35 PD and 60 PD. So, this may be proposed as an animal model to study this disorder present in children, adolescents and adults., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The receptor tyrosine kinase MuSK, its co-receptor Lrp4 and the Agrin ligand constitute a signaling pathway that is crucial in axial muscle for neuromuscular synapse development, yet whether this pathway functions similarly in appendicular muscle is unclear. Here, using the larval zebrafish pectoral fin, equivalent to tetrapod forelimbs, we show that, similar to axial muscle, developing appendicular muscles form aneural acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters prior to innervation. As motor axons arrive, neural AChR clusters form, eventually leading to functional synapses in a MuSK-dependent manner. We find that loss of Agrin or Lrp4 function, which abolishes synaptic AChR clusters in axial muscle, results in enlarged presynaptic nerve regions and progressively expanding appendicular AChR clusters, mimicking the consequences of motoneuron ablation. Moreover, musk depletion in lrp4 mutants partially restores synaptic AChR patterning. Combined, our results provide compelling evidence that, in addition to the canonical pathway in which Agrin/Lrp4 stimulates MuSK activity, Agrin/Lrp4 signaling in appendicular muscle constrains MuSK-dependent neuromuscular synapse organization. Thus, we reveal a previously unappreciated role for Agrin/Lrp4 signaling, thereby highlighting distinct differences between axial and appendicular synapse development., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2021. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Increased dopaminergic activity in the striatum underlies the neurobiology of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia (SZ). Beyond the impaired connectivity among the limbic system, the excess of dopamine could lead to inflammation and oxidative/nitrosative stress. It has been suggested that atypical antipsychotic drugs attenuate psychosis not only due to their modulatory activity on the dopaminergic/serotonergic neurotransmission but also due to their anti-inflammatory/antioxidant effects. In such a manner, we assessed the effects of the atypical antipsychotic risperidone (RISP) on the structural neuroplasticity and biochemistry of the striatum in adult rats with neonatal ventral hippocampus lesion (NVHL), which is a developmental SZ-related model. RISP administration (0.25 mg/kg, i.p.) ameliorated the neuronal atrophy and the impairments in the morphology of the dendritic spines in the spiny projection neurons (SPNs) of the ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens: NAcc) in the NVHL rats. Also, RISP treatment normalized the pro-inflammatory pathways and induced the antioxidant activity of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) in this model. Our results point to the neurotrophic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of RISP, together with its canonical antipsychotic mechanism, to enhance striatum function in animals with NVHL., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

It is known that continuous abuse of amphetamine (AMPH) results in alterations in neuronal structure and cognitive behaviors related to the reward system. However, the impact of AMPH abuse on the hippocampus remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the damage caused by AMPH in the hippocampus in an addiction model. We reproduced the AMPH sensitization model proposed by Robinson et al. in 1997 and performed the novel object recognition test (NORt) to evaluate learning and memory behaviors. After the NORt, we performed Golgi-Cox staining, a stereological cell count, immunohistochemistry to determine the presence of GFAP, CASP3, and MT-III, and evaluated oxidative stress in the hippocampus. We found that AMPH treatment generates impairment in short- and long-term memories and a decrease in neuronal density in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. The morphological test showed an increase in the total dendritic length, but a decrease in the number of mature spines in the CA1 region. GFAP labeling increased in the CA1 region and MT-III increased in the CA1 and CA3 regions. Finally, we found a decrease in Zn concentration in the hippocampus after AMPH treatment. An increase in the dopaminergic tone caused by AMPH sensitization generates oxidative stress, neuronal death, and morphological changes in the hippocampus that affect cognitive behaviors like short- and long-term memories., (© 2020. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)