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While mycoprotein has gained traction as a human food source, its potential as a nutrient for animals remains largely unexplored. The mycoprotein-producing Rhizopus microsporus var. oligosporus, a fungus traditionally used for human food in Indonesia, is promising. It could revolutionise animal nutrition once it is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and is a biosafety level 1 (BSL1) organism. To enhance sustainably, we propose using sugar cane molasses (SM) and corn steep liquor (CSL) as nutrient sources. Also, we investigated the growth of R. microsporus var. oligosporus in five 14 L external-loop airlift bioreactors using CSL as the sole nutrient source. After 96 h of fermentation, at 25 °C and 0.5 vvm, the mycelium produced had an average biomass yield of 38.34 g L -1 , with 70.18 % (m v -1 ) crude protein (mycoprotein). This bioprocess, which is scalable and economically viable, produces high amounts of mycoprotein for animal feed using CSL, a cost-effective agro-industrial by-product, providing a practical solution to the growing demand for animal protein., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Edvaldo Antonio Ribeiro Rosa reports financial support was provided by BRF SA. Luiz Fernando Bianchini reports financial support was provided by BFR SA. If there are other authors, they 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. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Nutritional disorders of phosphorus (P), due to deficiency or toxicity, reduce the development of Eucalyptus spp. seedlings. Phosphorus deficiency often results in stunted growth and reduced vigor, while phosphorus toxicity can lead to nutrient imbalances and decreased physiological function. These sensitivities highlight the need for precise management of P levels in cultivation practices. The use of the beneficial element silicon (Si) has shown promising results under nutritional stress; nevertheless, comprehensive studies on its effects on Eucalyptus spp. seedlings are still emerging. To further elucidate the role of Si under varying P conditions, an experiment was conducted with clonal seedlings of a hybrid Eucalyptus spp. (Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla, A207) in a soilless cultivation system. Seedlings were propagated using the minicutting method in vermiculite-filled tubes, followed by treatment with a nutrient solution at three P concentrations: a deficient dose (0.1 mM), an adequate dose (1.0 mM) and an excessive dose (10 mM), with and without the addition of Si (2mM). This study assessed P and Si concentration, nutritional efficiency, oxidative metabolism, photosynthetic parameters, and dry matter production., Results: Si supply increased phenolic compounds production and reduced electrolyte leakage in seedlings provided with 0.1 mM of P. On the other hand, Si favored quantum efficiency of photosystem II as well as chlorophyll a content in seedlings supplemented with 10 mM of P. In general, Si attenuates P nutritional disorder by reducing the oxidative stress, favoring the non-enzymatic antioxidant system and photosynthetic parameters in seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla., Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla seedlings are sensitive to P deficiency and toxicity and Si has shown a beneficial effect, attenuating P nutritional disorder by reducing the oxidative stress, favoring the non-enzymatic antioxidant system and photosynthetic parameters., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Infectious diseases are one of the most concerning threats to maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) due to the potential impact on free-ranging populations. The species is currently classified as vulnerable according to the national list of threatened species and occurs mainly in open habitats, such as the Cerrado, a tropical savannah, which comprises its main distribution area in Brazil. In the northeastern region, it occurs in the Cerrado of Bahia, Piauí, Maranhão, and Tocantins states. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the occurrence of infectious agents in Chrysocyon brachyurus through an epidemiological assessment of free-ranging individuals in western Bahia, specifically in the Barreiras microregion, a Cerrado area intensely fragmented and anthropized by agricultural activity. Eleven specimens were evaluated for serological titration, antigen research, and genetic material research for canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV), adenovirus-canine-type 1 (CAdV-1), canine coronavirus (CCoV), Leptospira interrogans and Toxoplasma gondii from 2020 to 2022. In addition to maned wolves, domestic dogs were also evaluated and tested. All maned wolves (100%) evaluated by the dot-ELISA technique exhibited immunoglobulin M (IgM) and seven (64%) exhibited immunoglobulin G (IgG) against CDV and CPV, while 100% exhibited IgG against CDV when using the immunochromatographic technique. Regarding CAdV-1, 90% were seropositive for IgG, while 64% exhibited IgG against T. gondii. Nine dogs from the region were also sampled, and all (100%) exhibited IgM and IgG against CDV and CPV. For IgG against T. gondii and against CAdV-1, 90% of the animals were seropositive. Molecular evaluation yielded negative results for all maned wolves and dogs assessed for CAdV-1, CDV, and T. gondii, as well as the CCoV antigen. These data indicate the occurrence of viral agents and Toxoplasma gondii in maned wolves and dogs, suggesting circulation in both populations., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

Ethnopharmacology and botanical taxonomy are valid criteria used to selecting plants for antimalarial bioprospection purposes. Based on these two criteria, ethanol extracts of 11 plants from Santarém City vicinities, Western Pará State, Brazilian Amazonia, had their in vitro antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum (W2 clone) assessed by the PfLDH method, whereas their cytotoxicity to HepG2-A16 cells was assessed through MTT assay. Acmella oleracea, Siparuna krukovii and Trema micrantha extracts disclosed the highest rate of parasite growth inhibition (90 %) in screening tests. In vivo antimalarial assays were conducted with these extracts against Plasmodium berghei (NK 65 strain) infected mice. Inhibition rate of parasite multiplication ranged from 41.4 % to 60.9 % at the lowest extract dose (25 mg/kg). HPLC-ESI-HRMS 2 analyses allowed the putative identification of alkylamides, fatty acids, flavonoid glycosides and alkaloids in ethanol extracts deriving from these three plant species. Results pointed towards A. oleracea flowers ethanol extract as the most promising potential candidate to preclinical studies aiming the development of antimalarial phytomedicine., (© 2023 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

The maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ) is the largest South American canid. In Brazil, as in other countries, it is considered an endangered species. Habitat loss, landscape changes, hunting, and roadkill are the main threats to this species. In addition, invasive diseases of domestic animals are considered to be an emerging threat to the maned wolf, where parasitic diseases are relevant. Sarcoptic mange is a skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei . This disease is currently almost globally distributed, with a remarkable host diversity. In Brazil, reports of sarcoptic mange in wildlife include several species, both wild and captive. However, the impact of this disease on wildlife is unknown. At the time of writing, there is only one published report of sarcoptic mange in maned wolves. This study sheds light on the occurrence of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging maned wolves in their natural range. A total of 52 cases (suspected and confirmed) of sarcoptic mange were identified through social media review, camera trapping, chemical immobilization and sample collection. These cases were distributed in southeastern Brazil, in the states of São Paulo (n = 34), Minas Gerais (n = 17), and Rio de Janeiro (n = 1), demonstrating a rapid and widespread spread of this disease, although it still only occurs in part of the species' range. We expect that these results will help to subsidize future actions relevant to the control of this emerging disease.

COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 reduced human mobility, providing an opportunity to disentangle its effects on animals from those of landscape modifications. Using GPS data, we compared movements and road avoidance of 2300 terrestrial mammals (43 species) during the lockdowns to the same period in 2019. Individual responses were variable with no change in average movements or road avoidance behavior, likely due to variable lockdown conditions. However, under strict lockdowns 10-day 95th percentile displacements increased by 73%, suggesting increased landscape permeability. Animals' 1-hour 95th percentile displacements declined by 12% and animals were 36% closer to roads in areas of high human footprint, indicating reduced avoidance during lockdowns. Overall, lockdowns rapidly altered some spatial behaviors, highlighting variable but substantial impacts of human mobility on wildlife worldwide.

The main form of control of leishmaniasis is the treatment, however various side effects and poor efficacy are associated with presently available drugs. The investigation of bioactive natural products for new antileishmanial drugs is a valid approach. The present study reports the in vitro efficacy of natural isoflavonoids and terpenes against Leishmania infantum and L. amazonensis and their cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells. L. infantum and L. amazonensis promastigotes were exposed to the terpenes kaurenoic acid, xylopic acid, and (-)-α-bisabolol and to the isoflavonoids (-)-duartin and (3R)-claussequinone for antileishmanial activity and to cytotoxicity to HepG2 cells. The most effective substance against both L. infantum and L. amazonensis species was (3R)-claussequinone (IC 50  = 3.21 μg/mL and 2.47 μg/mL, respectively) that disclosed low cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells (CC 50  = 387.79 μg/mL). The efficacy of (3R)-claussequinone against intracellular amastigotes of L. infantum and the externalization of phosphatidylserine in promastigotes of this isoflavanoid were investigated by infection of Raw 264.7 macrophages and marking with Annexin V-FITC and propidium Iodide for flow cytometry analysis. The results for amastigotes showed that (3R)-claussequinone was able to reduce the rate of infection with IC 50  = 4.61 μg/mL and did not alter the externalization of phosphatidylserine. In conclusion it is presently reported, for the first time, the striking antileishmanial activity of (3R)-claussequinone against L. infantum and L. amazonensis associated to low cytotoxicity. Furthermore, these results suggest that (3R)-claussequinone is a new hit aiming to develop new therapeutic alternatives., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The remarkable radiation of South American (SA) canids produced 10 extant species distributed across diverse habitats, including disparate forms such as the short-legged, hypercarnivorous bush dog and the long-legged, largely frugivorous maned wolf. Despite considerable research spanning nearly two centuries, many aspects of their evolutionary history remain unknown. Here, we analyzed 31 whole genomes encompassing all extant SA canid species to assess phylogenetic relationships, interspecific hybridization, historical demography, current genetic diversity, and the molecular bases of adaptations in the bush dog and maned wolf. We found that SA canids originated from a single ancestor that colonized South America 3.9 to 3.5 Mya, followed by diversification east of the Andes and then a single colonization event and radiation of Lycalopex species west of the Andes. We detected extensive historical gene flow between recently diverged lineages and observed distinct patterns of genomic diversity and demographic history in SA canids, likely induced by past climatic cycles compounded by human-induced population declines. Genome-wide scans of selection showed that disparate limb proportions in the bush dog and maned wolf may derive from mutations in genes regulating chondrocyte proliferation and enlargement. Further, frugivory in the maned wolf may have been enabled by variants in genes associated with energy intake from short-chain fatty acids. In contrast, unique genetic variants detected in the bush dog may underlie interdigital webbing and dental adaptations for hypercarnivory. Our analyses shed light on the evolution of a unique carnivoran radiation and how it was shaped by South American topography and climate change.

Objective: To estimate the change in odds of covid-19 over time following primary series completion of the inactivated whole virus vaccine CoronaVac (Sinovac Biotech) in São Paulo State, Brazil., Design: Test negative case-control study., Setting: Community testing for covid-19 in São Paulo State, Brazil., Participants: Adults aged ≥18 years who were residents of São Paulo state, had received two doses of CoronaVac, did not have a laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection before vaccination, and underwent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2 from 17 January to 14 December 2021. Cases were matched to test negative controls by age (in 5 year bands), municipality of residence, healthcare worker status, and epidemiological week of RT-PCR test., Main Outcome Measures: RT-PCR confirmed symptomatic covid-19 and associated hospital admissions and deaths. Conditional logistic regression was adjusted for sex, number of covid-19 associated comorbidities, race, and previous acute respiratory illness., Results: From 202 741 eligible people, 52 170 cases with symptomatic covid-19 and 69 115 test negative controls with covid-19 symptoms were formed into 43 257 matched sets. Adjusted odds ratios of symptomatic covid-19 increased with time since completion of the vaccination series. The increase in odds was greater in younger people and among healthcare workers, although sensitivity analyses suggested that this was in part due to bias. In addition, the adjusted odds ratios of covid-19 related hospital admission or death significantly increased with time compared with the odds 14-41 days after series completion: from 1.25 (95% confidence interval 1.04 to 1.51) at 70-97 days up to 1.94 (1.41 to 2.67) from 182 days onwards., Conclusions: Significant increases in the risk of moderate and severe covid-19 outcomes occurred three months after primary vaccination with CoronaVac among people aged 65 and older. These findings provide supportive evidence for the implementation of vaccine boosters in these populations who received this inactivated vaccine. Studies of waning should include analyses designed to uncover common biases., Competing Interests: Competing interests: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at www.icmje.org/disclosure-of-interest/ and declare: support from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases and from the Sendas Family and Beatrice Kleinberg Neuwirth Funds; MDTH and DATC report a contract from Merck (to the University of Florida) for research unrelated to this manuscript; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

A two-dose regimen of the Oxford-AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1) Covid-19 vaccine with an inter-dose interval of three months has been implemented in many countries with restricted vaccine supply. However, there is limited evidence for the effectiveness of ChAdOx1 by dose in elderly populations in countries with high prevalence of the Gamma variant of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we estimate ChAdOx1 effectiveness by dose against the primary endpoint of RT-PCR-confirmed Covid-19, and secondary endpoints of Covid-19 hospitalization and Covid-19-related death, in adults aged ≥60 years during an epidemic with high Gamma variant prevalence in São Paulo state, Brazil using a matched, test-negative case-control study. Starting 28 days after the first dose, effectiveness of a single dose of ChAdOx1 is 33.4% (95% CI, 26.4-39.7) against Covid-19, 55.1% (95% CI, 46.6-62.2) against hospitalization, and 61.8% (95% CI, 48.9-71.4) against death. Starting 14 days after the second dose, effectiveness of the two-dose schedule is 77.9% (95% CI, 69.2-84.2) against Covid-19, 87.6% (95% CI, 78.2-92.9) against hospitalization, and 93.6% (95% CI, 81.9-97.7) against death. Completion of the ChAdOx1 vaccine schedule affords significantly increased protection over a single dose against mild and severe Covid-19 outcomes in elderly individuals during widespread Gamma variant circulation., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Headache is the most common neurological symptom in COVID-19, reported in 6.5 to 34% of patients. Few studies have analyzed its characteristics, and some of them included cases without laboratory confirmation or reported only critical patients. We aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 associated headache in laboratory-confirmed cases. We conducted a retrospective evaluation of patients with COVID-19 and neurological symptoms. Patients who reported headache answered an interview about its clinical characteristics. Twenty-four patients with COVID-19 associated headache completed the interview. Mean age of patients was 53.8 (standard deviation-17.44), and 14 out of 24 (58.3%) were male. The majority (75%) had no previous history of headache. Fever was documented in 19 out of the 24 patients (79.1%). Headache was predominantly bifrontal or holocranial, in pressure, during hours, worsening with cough or physical activity. COVID-19 headache tends to appear in the first days of symptoms, be either frontal or holocranial and last for days. The quality of pain in pressure and the worsening with cough or physical activity were reported in most cases. We have not found any characteristic that could differentiate COVID-19 associated headache from other causes of headache, possibly because of its multifactorial mechanism., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Nitrogen deficiency and toxicity, primarily in its ammonium form (NH4+), can suppress plant growth and development. The use of silicon (Si) or salicylic acid (SA) may be an alternative to minimize the harmful effects of nutrient imbalances caused by NH4+, thereby improving the photosynthetic efficiency of plants. The aim of the present study was to assess the action of fertigation-applied Si and SA foliar spraying in mitigating NH4+ toxicity and deficiency in eucalyptus clonal seedlings. Two experiments were performed with eucalyptus clonal seedlings (Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis), in a greenhouse. Both were carried out using a 4x2 factorial design and four concentrations of NH4+ (5, 15, 30 and 60 mmol L-1), in the absence and presence of Si (2 mmol L-1), in experiment I; or with and without SA foliar application (10-2 mmol L-1), in experiment II, with six repetitions. Nitrogen content rose as a result of increasing N-NH4+ concentration in the nutrient solution, and Si supplied via the nutrient solution was efficient in increasing the Si content in eucalyptus seedlings. The rise in N-NH4+ concentration favored the maintenance of the photosynthetic apparatus, but high N-NH4+ concentration increased energy loss through fluorescence and decreased the efficiency of photosystem II. The addition of Si to the nutrient solution proved to be beneficial to the photosynthetic apparatus by decreasing F0 at 15 and 30 mmol L-1 of NH4+; and Fm at all NH4+ concentrations studied. In addition, the beneficial element also increases Fv/Fm at all NH4+ concentrations studied. SA foliar application was also efficient in reducing photosynthetic energy losses by decreasing F0 and Fm at all NH4+ concentrations studied. However, SA only increased the Fv/Fm at the high concentrations studied (30 and 60 mmol L-1 of NH4+). Nitrogen disorder by deficiency or N-NH4+ toxicity reduced shoot dry mass production. The addition of Si to the nutrient solution and SA foliar application increased shoot dry mass production at all N-NH4+ concentrations studied, and benefitted the photosynthetic apparatus by decreasing fluorescence and improving the quantum efficiency of photosystem II as well as dry mass production., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Galactomannan extracted from Cassia fistula seed endosperm present little data related to the its structural characterization. This study reports the chemical characterization of the galactomannan from Cassia fistula (CF) and their oxidized derivatives. The extracted CF presented a yield of 26.5% (w/w) and the intrinsic viscosity [η] was 9.73 dL/g. 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) confirmed that the polysaccharide has a backbone of 4-linked β-D-mannose units, and contains galactose units as pending groups. These galactose units are linked to the central core through a (1→6) linkage and the galactomannan presented Man/Gal ratio of 3.1/1. The galactomannan from Cassia fistula presents low cytotoxicity in Vero cells with a CC 50  > 1000 μg/ml. The properties of CF resemble other commercially important galactomannans such as Locust bean gum. Three oxidized derivatives of CF were produced by periodate oxidation, which were carefully characterized by different structural techniques. It was observed that as the degree of oxidation increased, there was an increase in the Man/Gal ratio and a reduction in molar mass and viscosity. The polialdehyde produced may be explored as a versality material to react with amine group of the protein and amined polysaccharide to produce biomaterials., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data., (© 2020 The Authors. Ecology © 2020 The Ecological Society of America.)

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data., (© 2020 The Authors. Ecology © 2020 The Ecological Society of America.)

Accurately quantifying species' area requirements is a prerequisite for effective area-based conservation. This typically involves collecting tracking data on species of interest and then conducting home-range analyses. Problematically, autocorrelation in tracking data can result in space needs being severely underestimated. Based on the previous work, we hypothesized the magnitude of underestimation varies with body mass, a relationship that could have serious conservation implications. To evaluate this hypothesis for terrestrial mammals, we estimated home-range areas with global positioning system (GPS) locations from 757 individuals across 61 globally distributed mammalian species with body masses ranging from 0.4 to 4000 kg. We then applied block cross-validation to quantify bias in empirical home-range estimates. Area requirements of mammals <10 kg were underestimated by a mean approximately15%, and species weighing approximately100 kg were underestimated by approximately50% on average. Thus, we found area estimation was subject to autocorrelation-induced bias that was worse for large species. Combined with the fact that extinction risk increases as body mass increases, the allometric scaling of bias we observed suggests the most threatened species are also likely to be those with the least accurate home-range estimates. As a correction, we tested whether data thinning or autocorrelation-informed home-range estimation minimized the scaling effect of autocorrelation on area estimates. Data thinning required an approximately93% data loss to achieve statistical independence with 95% confidence and was, therefore, not a viable solution. In contrast, autocorrelation-informed home-range estimation resulted in consistently accurate estimates irrespective of mass. When relating body mass to home range size, we detected that correcting for autocorrelation resulted in a scaling exponent significantly >1, meaning the scaling of the relationship changed substantially at the upper end of the mass spectrum., (© 2020 The Authors. Conservation Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Conservation Biology.)

The treatment of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum using meglumine antimoniate (MA) encapsulated in conventional liposomes (LC) in association with allopurinol has been previously reported to promote a marked reduction in the parasite burden in the main infection sites. Here, a new assay in naturally infected dogs was performed using a novel liposome formulation of MA consisting of a mixture of conventional and long-circulating (PEGylated) liposomes (LCP), with expected broader distribution among affected tissues of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Experimental groups of naturally infected dogs were as follows: LCP plus Allop, receiving LCP intravenously as 2 cycles of 6 doses (6.5 mg Sb/kg of body weight/dose) at 4-day intervals plus allopurinol at 30 mg/kg/12 h per os (p.o.) during 130 days (LCP+Allop); LC plus Allop, receiving LC intravenously as 2 cycles of 6 doses (6.5 mg Sb/kg/dose) plus allopurinol during 130 days (LC+Allop); Allop, treated with allopurinol only; and a nontreated control. Parasite loads were evaluated by quantitative PCR in liver, spleen, and bone marrow tissue and by immunohistochemistry in the ear skin, before treatment, just after treatment, and 4 months later. The LCP+Allop and LC+Allop groups, but not the Allop group, showed significant suppression of the parasites in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow 4 months after treatment compared to the pretreatment period or the control group. Only LCP+Allop group showed significantly lower parasite burden in the skin in comparison to the control group. On the basis of clinical staging and parasitological evaluations, the LCP formulation exhibited a more favorable therapeutic profile than the LC one, being therefore promising for the treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Microbiology.)

Xenarthrans-anteaters, sloths, and armadillos-have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data., (© 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of America.)

Stable oil nanocapsules based on acetylated Sterculia striata polysaccharide (ASSP) were produced without the use of a surfactant, and derivatives of ASSP with four different degrees of substitution (DS) were synthesised. The data revealed that only derivatives with high DS were able to produce nanocapsules (NC), which exhibited monomodal size distribution profiles with a Z-average particle size, ζ-potential, and polydispersity index (PDI) that were dependent on ASSP DS and concentration. Nanocapsules were loaded with amphotericin B (AMB) with encapsulation efficiencies (EE%) that were dependent on drug and ASSP concentrations and DS. A maximum EE% value of 99.2% was achieved, and the loaded AMB was found to be in a monomeric form, even with a concentration one hundredfold higher than that usually observed for commercial AMB aqueous solutions. Loaded nanocapsules show an in vitro controlled release of AMB. As the monomeric AMB state decreased drug toxicity, ASSP nanocapsules loaded with AMB (NC1.68) have potential for use as a drug delivery system. AMB loaded NC 1.68 keeps its activity against 5 strains of Candida albicans tested., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Leishmaniasis is one of the most important neglected diseases worldwide. It is a life-threatening disease and causes significant morbidity, long-term disability, and early death. Treatment involves disease control or use of intervention measures, although the currently used drugs require long-lasting therapy, and display toxicity and reduced efficacy. The use of natural products isolated from plants, such as lapachol, an abundant naphthoquinone naturally occurring in South American Handroanthus species (Tabebuia, Bignoniaceae), is a promising option for the treatment of leishmaniasis. In this study, we investigated the leishmanicidal activity of lapachol in vitro and in vivo against Leishmania infantum and L. amazonensis, causative agents of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, respectively. Low cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells (3405.8 ± 261.33 μM), good anti-Leishmania activity, and favorable selectivity indexes (SI) against promastigotes of both L. amazonensis (IC 50  = 79.84 ± 9.10 μM, SI = 42.65) and L. infantum (IC 50  = 135.79 ± 33.04 μM, SI = 25.08) were observed. Furthermore, anti-Leishmania activity assays performed on intracellular amastigotes showed good activity for lapachol (IC 50  = 191.95 μM for L. amazonensis and 171.26 μM for L. infantum). Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the cytotoxic effect of lapachol in Leishmania promastigotes was caused by apoptosis-like death. Interestingly, the in vitro leishmanicidal effect of lapachol was confirmed in vivo in murine models of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, as lapachol (25 mg/kg oral route for 24 h over 10 days) was able to significantly reduce the parasitic load in skin lesions, liver, and spleen, similar to amphotericin B, the reference drug. These results reinforce the therapeutic potential of lapachol, which warrants further investigations as an anti-leishmaniasis therapeutic., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that affects people all over the world. The number of cases of leishmaniasis is increasing and the drugs used for its treatment are toxic and not always effective. The recognition of the global nature of this disease and its direct or indirect effects on health economics and actions focuses attention on the development of new therapeutic options. In Brazil, this parasitic disease is endemic in many regions. The plants used by the population against leishmaniasis can be good starting points in the search of new lead compounds for antileishmanial drugs., Aim of the Study: The aim of the present study was to investigate the antileishmanial activity of extracts from leaves and stems of seven Brazilian plant species used by the population to treat leishmaniasis, and symptoms that might be related to Leishmania infections., Materials and Methods: Twenty two extracts from seven plants belonging to five different botanical families were prepared by different methods and evaluated for their effect on the viability of promastigote forms of Leishmania infantum (MHOM/BR/1967/BH46) using the resazurin-based colorimetric assay. The extracts were considered active when they inhibited the growth of promastigotes in a percentage greater than or equal to 50% at 100 and 200 µg/mL. The active samples were further investigated to determine IC 50 , CC 50 and SI values against promastigote forms of L. infantum. The active and non-cytotoxic extracts (SI> 10) were evaluated against amastigote forms of L. infantum. In addition, the active extracts against the amastigote forms were analyzed by TLC and HPLC, while the EtOAc extract of stems from Aspidosperma tomentosum was also evaluated by GC/MS., Results: Among the twenty two extracts evaluated, two were considered active against L. infantum. The EtOH extract of leaves from Dyospiros hispida (IC 50 55.48 ± 2.77 µg/mL and IC 50 80.63 ± 13.17 µg/mL, respectively) and the EtOAc extract of stems from Aspidosperma tomentosum (IC 50 9.70 ± 2.82 µg/mL and IC 50 15.88 ± 1.53 µg/mL, respectively) inhibited significantly the growth of promastigote and amastigote forms of L. infantum. Some extracts, although active in the initial screening, were considered toxic since the SI was lower than 10. In TLC and HPLC analysis the leaf extract of Dyospiros hispida showed the presence of anthraquinones, terpenes and saponins, and in the EtOAc extract of stems from Aspidosperma tomentosum alkaloids and flavonoids were detected. In addition, in the latter extract the indole alkaloids uleine and dasycarpidone could be identified by GC/MS., Conclusions: The ethnopharmacological data of Aspidosperma tomentosum and Dyospiros hispida in part support the results found in the biological models used. Extracts of Aspidosperma tomentosum and Dyospiros hispida presented promising results against L. infantum., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Venous punctures are among the most common procedures performed by healthcare professionals. In particular, the cubital fossa is the site where the venous accesses are frequently made due to the number of superficial veins and the numerous anastomoses in this region. The arrangement of these venous connections is of particular interest for clinical application in several areas, thus, the healthcare professional must possess knowledge about these vessels and their anatomical relationships. The present study aims to analyze the venous pattern of the cubital fossa among individuals from Brazil. This study was approved by a Research Ethics Committee. The sample had 100 healthy individuals (50 men and 50 women). The superficial veins of the cubital fossa were analyzed with the aid of a sphygmomanometer. When inflated, the pressure in the forearm increased and the veins became prominent. It was observed that in the selected sample the types with the highest prevalence were the Type I and Type VII, both with 22% in 200 limbs studied. The chi 2 test showed a significant statistical difference between the anastomosis pattern and the sex of the studied sample. The anastomotic pattern of the superficial veins of the studies sample is similar to African, European and Asian populations. The study of these variations is necessary to provide scientific basis for the healthcare professional during a venipuncture in order to avoid iatrogenic errors and damages in cutaneous nerves or neighboring arteries., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Many new endovascular devices have been used under the guidance of the International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial. Clipping still offers higher occlusion rates, and its technique continues to evolve, resulting in smaller exposures and reduced manipulation to brain tissue. We sought to evaluate the routine use of the minisphenoidal approach to manage intracranial aneurysms in a high-volume institution., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our database of patients with aneurysm from October 2013 to May 2016. Data were originally collected prospectively. The minisphenoidal approach has been progressively replacing the pterional approach for managing aneurysms in our department. Occlusion rates for ruptured and unruptured aneurysms were analyzed using late follow-up angiograms. Functional outcome assessment and the impact on quality of life were also measured., Results: We performed 124 minisphenoidal craniotomies in 117 patients to clip 147 aneurysms. Patient mean age was 53.9 years. Seventy patients (59.8%) presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Middle cerebral artery aneurysms represented 48% of the total number of aneurysms; posterior communicating artery aneurysms represented 24%. The minisphenoidal craniotomy was helpful in managing superior cerebellar artery aneurysms and 1 ruptured orbitofrontal artery aneurysm. We achieved an occlusion rate of 97.8%, with a mean follow-up of 13.2 months. Favorable outcomes were achieved for 79% of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and for 98% of unruptured patients., Conclusions: Evolution of endovascular techniques has paved the way for minimizing surgical exposures. Routine use of the minisphenoidal approach for managing ruptured, unruptured, and previously coiled aneurysms is safe and provides adequate exposure with robust occlusion rates., (Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Essential oils have many applications in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food fields, however, their use is limited to the fact that they are very labile, requiring their a priori encapsulation, aiming to preserve their properties.This work reports on the preparation of chitosan-gum nanoparticles loaded with thymol containing Lippia sidoides essential oil, using exudates of Anacardium Occidentale (cashew gum), Sterculia striata (chichá gum), and Anadenanthera macrocarpa trees (angico gum). Nanoparticles were produced by spray drying an emulsion of L. sidoides essential oil and aqueous solution of gums with different chitosan : gum ratios. Samples were characterized by FTIR and UV/VIS spectroscopy, particle size, volume distribution, and zeta potential. The FTIR spectrum showed the main signals of chitosan and the gums. Data obtained revealed that the samples had sizes in the nano range, varying from 17 nm to 800 nm. The zeta potential varied from + 30 mV to - 40 mV. Nanoparticle loading values varied from 6.7 % to 15.6 %, with an average encapsulating efficiency of 62 %, where the samples with high ratios of cashew gum and chichá gum presented high oil loading values. The data revealed that both the chitosan : gum ratio and polysaccharide characteristics play major roles in nanoencapsulation processes., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Accurately estimating home range and understanding movement behavior can provide important information on ecological processes. Advances in data collection and analysis have improved our ability to estimate home range and movement parameters, both of which have the potential to impact species conservation. Fitting continuous-time movement model to data and incorporating the autocorrelated kernel density estimator (AKDE), we investigated range residency of forty-four jaguars fit with GPS collars across five biomes in Brazil and Argentina. We assessed home range and movement parameters of range resident animals and compared AKDE estimates with kernel density estimates (KDE). We accounted for differential space use and movement among individuals, sex, region, and habitat quality. Thirty-three (80%) of collared jaguars were range resident. Home range estimates using AKDE were 1.02 to 4.80 times larger than KDE estimates that did not consider autocorrelation. Males exhibited larger home ranges, more directional movement paths, and a trend towards larger distances traveled per day. Jaguars with the largest home ranges occupied the Atlantic Forest, a biome with high levels of deforestation and high human population density. Our results fill a gap in the knowledge of the species' ecology with an aim towards better conservation of this endangered/critically endangered carnivore-the top predator in the Neotropics., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: All the authors report no financial relationship with Orient Express Hotels or Dallas World Aquarium. These companies were responsible for funding resources and equipment for studying jaguar ecology at Iguaçu National Park and Estação Ecológica Taiamã. No competing interests included. All equipment was donated for research purpose only. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Cashew gum (CG) was grafted with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) by radical polymerization to originate a stimuli-sensitive copolymer for drug delivery purposes. NMR and IR spectroscopy confirmed the insertion of NIPA onto the cashew gum chains. The graft copolymer (CG:NIPA) demonstrated thermal responsiveness. The critical aggregation concentration of the copolymers at 25°C was higher than at 50°C. At temperatures lower than the LCST, the nanoparticle size ranged from 12 to 21nm, depending on the CG:NIPA ratio, but above the LCST the particles aggregated, increasing the particle size. Regarding the potential for future oral application, the nanoparticles showed no cytotoxic activity against the Caco-2 and HT29-MTX intestine cell lines. Epirubicin was encapsulated into nanoparticles of CG-NIPA (1:1), resulting in a 64% association efficiency and 22% loading capacity. Thus, the CG:NIPA graft copolymer demonstrates good potential for used in controlled drug delivery systems., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The jaguar is the top predator of the Atlantic Forest (AF), which is a highly threatened biodiversity hotspot that occurs in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. By combining data sets from 14 research groups across the region, we determine the population status of the jaguar and propose a spatial prioritization for conservation actions. About 85% of the jaguar's habitat in the AF has been lost and only 7% remains in good condition. Jaguars persist in around 2.8% of the region, and live in very low densities in most of the areas. The population of jaguars in the AF is probably lower than 300 individuals scattered in small sub-populations. We identified seven Jaguar Conservation Units (JCUs) and seven potential JCUs, and only three of these areas may have ≥50 individuals. A connectivity analysis shows that most of the JCUs are isolated. Habitat loss and fragmentation were the major causes for jaguar decline, but human induced mortality is the main threat for the remaining population. We classified areas according to their contribution to jaguar conservation and we recommend management actions for each of them. The methodology in this study could be used for conservation planning of other carnivore species.

Protein-free guar gum (DGG) was oxidized (DGGOX) or sulfated (DGGSU) by insertion of new groups in C-6 (manose) and C-6 (galactose), for DGGOX and DGGSU, respectively. Rats were subjected to anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) of the knee, joint pain recorded using the articular incapacitation test, and the analgesic effect of intraarticular 100μg DGG, DGGOX or DGGSU solutions at days 4-7 was evaluated. Other groups received DGG or saline weekly, from days 7 to 70 and joint damage assessed using histology and biochemistry as the chondroitin sulfate (CS) content of cartilage. The molar mass of CS samples was obtained by comparing their relative electrophoretic mobility to standard CS. DGG but not DGGOX or DGGSU significantly inhibited joint pain. DGG significantly reversed the increase in CS, its reduced electrophoretic mobility, and histological changes following ACLT, as compared to vehicle. Structural integrity accounts for DGG benefits in experimental osteoarthritis., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Periodicity in activity level (rest/activity cycles) is ubiquitous in nature, but whether and how these periodicities translate into periodic patterns of space use by animals is much less documented. Here we introduce an analytical protocol based on the Lomb-Scargle periodogram (LSP) to facilitate exploration of animal tracking datasets for periodic patterns. The LSP accommodates missing observations and variation in the sampling intervals of the location time series., Results: We describe a new, fast algorithm to compute the LSP. The gain in speed compared to other R implementations of the LSP makes it tractable to analyze long datasets (>10(6) records). We also give a detailed primer on periodicity analysis, focusing on the specificities of movement data. In particular, we warn against the risk of flawed inference when the sampling schedule creates artefactual periodicities and we introduce a new statistical test of periodicity that accommodates temporally autocorrelated background noise. Applying our LSP-based analytical protocol to tracking data from three species revealed that an ungulate exhibited periodicity in its movement speed but not in its locations, that a central place-foraging seabird tracked moon phase, and that the movements of a range-resident canid included a daily patrolling component that was initially masked by the stochasticity of the movements., Conclusion: The new, fast algorithm tailored for movement data analysis and now available in the R-package ctmm makes the LSP a convenient exploratory tool to detect periodic patterns in animal movement data.

Nanoparticles are produced by means of polyelectrolyte complexation (PEC) of oppositely charged polycationic chitosan (CH) with polyanionic polysaccharide extracted from Sterculia striata exudates (rhamnogalacturonoglycan (RG)-type polysaccharide). The nanoparticles formed with low-molar-mass CH are larger than those formed with high-molar-mass CH. This behavior is in contrast with that previously observed for other systems and may be attributed to different mechanisms related to the association of CH with RG of higher persistence length chain than that of CH. Nanoparticles harnessed with a charge ratio (n(+)/n(-)) of <1 are smaller than particles with an excess of polycations. Particles with hydrodynamic sizes smaller than 100nm are achieved using a polyelectrolyte concentration of 10(-4)gmL(-1) and charge ratio (n(+)/n(-)) of <1. The CH/RG nanoparticles are associated with chloroquine (CQ) with an efficiency of 28% and release it for up to ∼60% within ∼10h, whereas in the latter, only ∼40% of the CQ was released after 24h. The main factor that influenced drug release rate is the nanoparticle charge ratio., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nanoprecipitation and dialysis methods were employed to obtain nanoparticles (NPs) of acetylated cashew gum (ACG). NPs synthesized by dialysis showed greater average size compared to those synthesized by nanoprecipitation, but they presented improved stability and yield. NPs were loaded with diclofenac diethylamine and the efficiency of the drug incorporation was over 60% for both methods, for an ACG:NP a weight ratio of 10:1. The cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that the NPs had no significant effect on the cell viability, verifying their biocompatibility. The release profile for the diclofenac diethylamine associated with the ACG-NPs showed a more controlled release compared to the free drug and a Fickian diffusion mechanism was observed. Transdermal permeation reached 90% penetration of the drug., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Several species of the genus Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) are used for the treatment of human malaria in Brazil and other meso- and South American countries., Methods: Ethanol extract from Aspidosperma parvifolium trunk bark was submitted to acid-base extractions leading to alkaloid and neutral fractions. The alkaloid fraction was chromatographed over a silica gel column. Ethanol extract, fractions and uleine were analysed by HPLC-DAD, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and HPLC-ESI-MicroTOF-MS. The anti-malarial activity was assayed against resistant and sensitive chloroquine Plasmodium falciparum strains by microscopic, [(3)H]-hypoxanthine incorporation and HRPII techniques. Cytotoxicity (CC50) was evaluated against Vero and HepG2 cell lines by the MTT technique; selectivity indexes (SI = CC50/IC50) were calculated., Results: The major peak in the HPLC-DAD chromatograms of the ethanol extract, alkaloid and neutral fractions suggested the presence of uleine that was isolated from the alkaloid fraction by column chromatography and was characterized by spectroscopic methods. A total of 15 alkaloids, besides uleine, were identified in the alkaloid fraction by UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS and HPLC-ESI-MicroTOF-MS. The ethanol extract from Aspidosperma parvifolium and the neutral fraction were moderately active against P. falciparum strains. The alkaloid fraction and uleine disclosed high anti-malarial activity against chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum strain (IC50 < 1 µg/mL). The ethanol extract, neutral fraction and uleine showed low cytotoxicity against Vero and HepG2 cell lines (CC50 > 300 µg/mL). The alkaloid fraction showed moderate cytotoxicity to HepG2 cell line (CC50 = 74.4 µg/mL). High SI values (>10) were determined for all samples., Conclusion: Ethanol extract from Aspidosperma parvifolium trunk bark afforded uleine that is the major constituent of the alkaloid fraction and disclosed a good in vitro anti-malarial activity. Moreover, 15 other indole alkaloids have been identified along with uleine.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antinociceptive actions of PFPe, a polysaccharide fraction isolated from the dried fruit of the Passiflora edulis., Methods: Animals were pretreated with PFPe (0.3, 1 or 3 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 h before induction of paw oedema by carrageenan, histamine, serotonin, compound 48/80 or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Neutrophil migration and vascular permeability were measured after carrageenan injection into the peritoneum, and the action of the PFPe on the tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels was also evaluated. To assay nociception, we examined acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced paw licking and response latency in the hot plate test., Key Findings: Pretreatment with PFPe significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw oedema. PFPe also reduced paw oedema induced by compound 48/80, histamine, serotonin, and PGE2 and compound 48/80-induced vascular permeability. In addition, PFPe significantly reduced the MPO activity, MDA and GSH concentrations, and IL-1β level. In the nociception tests, PFPe reduced acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin-induced paw licking and did not increase the response latency time., Conclusions: Our results suggest that PFPe administration reduces the inflammatory response by modulation of the liberation or synthesis of histamine and serotonin, by reduction of neutrophil migration, IL-1β levels, and oxidative stress and nociception., (© 2015 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.)

Due to inadvertent cardiac or great vessel injury, sternal foramina may pose as a great hazard during sternal puncture. They can also be misinterpreted as osteolytic lesions in cross-sectional imaging of the sternum. The distribution of these variations differs between populations, but data from Brazilians are scarcely reported. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the frequency of midline sternal foramen and double-ended xiphoid process, as developmental variations, in order to avoid fatal complications following sternal puncture of sternal acupuncture treatment. A total of 114 chest computed tomograms were evaluated. The frequency of midline sternal foramen in a complication risk bearing feature is of approximately 10.5%. The double-ended xiphoid process was present in 17.5%. We conclude that sternal acupuncture should be planned in the region of corpus-previous CT should be done to rule out this variation. Furthermore, we strongly recommend the acupuncture technique which prescribes a safe superficial-oblique approach to the sternum.

Aim of the Study: Although low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has been consistently demonstrated a predictor of atherosclerotic disease in a large spectrum of clinical settings, among individuals aged of 80 years or older this concept is uncertain. This study was evaluated in a carefully selected population if the association between LDL-C and coronary atherosclerotic burden remains significant in the very elderly., Methods: Individuals aged of 80 years or older (n = 208) who spontaneously sought primary prevention care and have never manifested cardiovascular disease, malnutrition, neoplastic or consumptive disease were enrolled for a cross-sectional analysis. Medical evaluation, anthropometric measurements, blood tests and cardiac computed tomography were obtained., Results: In analyses adjusted for age, gender, diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, smoking and statin therapy, no association was found between coronary calcium score (CCS) and LDL-C [1.79 (0.75-4.29)]. There was no association between triglycerides and CCS. The association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and CCS was significant and robust in unadjusted [0.32 (0.15-0.67)] as well as in the fully adjusted analysis [0.34 (0.15-0.75)]., Conclusion: The present study confirms in a healthy cohort of individuals aged of 80 years or more that while the association between LDL-C and coronary atherosclerosis weakens with aging, the opposite occurs with the levels of HDL-C.

Polysaccharides (PLS) have notably diverse pharmacological properties. In the present study, we investigated the previously unexplored anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the PLS fraction isolated from the marine red alga Digenea simplex. We found that the PLS fraction reduced carrageenan-induced edema in a dose-dependent manner, and inhibited inflammation induced by dextran, histamine, serotonin, and bradykinin. The fraction also inhibited neutrophil migration into both mouse paw and peritoneal cavity. This effect was accompanied by decreases in IL1-β and TNF-α levels in the peritoneal fluid. Pre-treatment of mice with PLS (60 mg/kg) significantly reduced acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing. This same dose of PLS also reduced total licking time in both phases of a formalin test, and increased latency in a hot plate test. Therefore, we conclude that PLS extracted from D. simplex possess anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities and can be useful as therapeutic agents against inflammatory diseases., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Reduced zinc intake has been related to atherogenesis and arteriosclerosis. We verified this assumption in very old individuals, which are particularly prone to both zinc deficiency and structural and functional changes in the arterial wall., Methods: Subjects (n = 201, 80-102 years) with uneventful cardiovascular history and who were not in use of anti-inflammatory treatments in the last 30-days were enrolled. Daily intake of zinc, lipid profile, plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma zinc, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), carotid ultrasonography and cardiac computed tomography were obtained. Young's Elastic Modulus, Stiffness Index and Artery Compliance were calculated., Results: There was no significant difference in clinical or laboratorial data between subjects grouped according to plasma zinc tertile, except for CRP (p = 0.01) and blood leukocytes (p = 0.002), of which levels were higher in the upper tertiles. The average daily intake of zinc was not significantly correlated with zinc or CRP plasma levels. The plasma zinc/zinc intake ratio was inversely correlated with plasma CRP levels (- 0.18; p = 0.01). There was no significant difference between the plasma zinc tertiles and FMD, carotid intima-media thickness, coronary calcium score, carotid plaque presence, remodeled noncalcified coronary plaques, or low-attenuation noncalcified coronary plaques., Conclusion: Although plasma zinc level is inversely related to systemic inflammatory activity, its plasma levels of daily intake are not associated to alterations in structure or function of the arterial wall., General Significance: In the very elderly plasma concentrations or daily intake of zinc is not related to endothelial dysfunction, arteriosclerosis or atherosclerotic burden at coronary or carotid arteries.

The jaguar, Panthera onca, is a top predator with the extant population found within the Brazilian Caatinga biome now known to be on the brink of extinction. Designing new conservation units and potential corridors are therefore crucial for the long-term survival of the species within the Caatinga biome. Thus, our aims were: 1) to recognize suitable areas for jaguar occurrence, 2) to delineate areas for jaguar conservation (PJCUs), 3) to design corridors among priority areas, and 4) to prioritize PJCUs. A total of 62 points records of jaguar occurrence and 10 potential predictors were analyzed in a GIS environment. A predictive distributional map was obtained using Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) as performed by the Maximum Entropy (Maxent) algorithm. Areas equal to or higher than the median suitability value of 0.595 were selected as of high suitability for jaguar occurrence and named as Priority Jaguar Conservation Units (PJCU). Ten PJCUs with sizes varying from 23.6 km2 to 4,311.0 km2 were identified. Afterwards, we combined the response curve, as generated by SDM, and expert opinions to create a permeability matrix and to identify least cost corridors and buffer zones between each PJCU pair. Connectivity corridors and buffer zone for jaguar movement included an area of 8.884,26 km2 and the total corridor length is about 160.94 km. Prioritizing criteria indicated the PJCU representing c.a. 68.61% of the total PJCU area (PJCU # 1) as of high priority for conservation and connectivity with others PJCUs (PJCUs # 4, 5 and 7) desirable for the long term survival of the species. In conclusion, by using the jaguar as a focal species and combining SDM and expert opinion we were able to create a valid framework for practical conservation actions at the Caatinga biome. The same approach could be used for the conservation of other carnivores.

Several plant species belonging to the genus Aspidosperma are traditionally used in Brazil and other Meso- and South American countries for the treatment of malaria and fevers. These traditional uses were motivation for this review. A literature survey completed for this review has identified scientific bibliographical references to the use of 24 Aspidosperma species to treat malaria/fevers and to 19 species that have had their extracts and/or alkaloids evaluated, with good results, for in vitro and/or in vivo antimalarial activity. Indole alkaloids are typical constituents of Aspidosperma species. However, only 20 out of more than 200 known indole alkaloids isolated from this genus have been assayed for antimalarial activity. These data support the potential of Aspidosperma species as sources of antimalarials and the importance of research aimed at validating their use in the treatment of human malaria., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Twenty-seven 7-chloroquinolinotriazole derivatives with different substituents in the triazole moiety were synthesized via copper-catalyzed cycloaddition (CuAAC) click chemistry between 4-azido-7-chloroquinoline and several alkynes. All the synthetic compounds were evaluated for their in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum (W2) and cytotoxicity to Hep G2A16 cells. All the products disclosed low cytotoxicity (CC50 > 100 μM) and five of them have shown moderate antimalarial activity (IC50 from 9.6 to 40.9 μM). As chloroquine analogs it was expected that these compounds might inhibit the heme polymerization and SAR studies were performed aiming to explain their antimalarial profile. New structural variations can be designed on the basis of the results obtained., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Dimorphandra gardneriana galactomannan (DG) was sulfated in pyridine:formamide using chlorosulfonic acid as the sulfation agent. The degree of substitution was 0.32, determined from the sulfur percentage. Confirmation of sulfation was obtained by FTIR spectroscopy through the presence of an asymmetrical SO stretching vibration at 1,259 cm(-1). NMR data showed that the sulfation occurred on primary hydroxyl groups. NMR and GPC data indicate degradation during reaction with elimination of galactose. At the maximum tested concentration of 1,000 μg/mL, unmodified DG polysaccharide did not show a statistically significant cytotoxicity in Vero cells by the MTT method. Therefore, the CC50>1,000 μg/mL obtained for the sulfated polysaccharides from D. gardneriana in Vero cells point to its lower cytotoxicity than the sulfated galactomannan from Mimosa scabrella., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Alginate/cashew gum nanoparticles were prepared via spray-drying, aiming at the development of a biopolymer blend for encapsulation of an essential oil. Nanoparticles were characterized regarding to their hydrodynamic volume, surface charge, Lippia sidoides essential oil content and release profile, in addition to being analyzed by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal analysis (TGA/DSC) and X-ray diffractometry. Nanoparticles in solution were found to have averaged sizes in the range 223-399 nm, and zeta potential values ranging from -30 to -36 mV. Encapsulated oil levels varied from 1.9 to 4.4% with an encapsulation efficiency of up to 55%. The in vitro release profile showed that between 45 and 95% of oil was released within 30-50h. Kinetic studies revealed that release pattern follow a Korsmeyer-Peppas mechanism., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The sulfated polysaccharide (PLS) fraction of Agardhiella ramosissima was characterized by microanalysis, infrared spectroscopy, NMR and gas-liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry. The main constituent of PLS was the ι carrageenan. The monosaccharide composition of the PLS showed galactose, 3,6-anhydrogalactose and 6-O-methylgalactose. The PLS (30 mg kg(-1)) significantly reduced the paw oedema induced by carrageenan, dextran, histamine and serotonin and also was able to significantly inhibit leucocyte migration into the peritoneal cavity and decrease the concentration of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in paw tissue. In the antinociceptive tests, the pre-treatment with PLS reduced the number of writhes, the licking time but did not increase the latency time of response. This study demonstrates for the first time the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of PLS from A. ramosissima. Thus, we concluded that PLS could be a new natural tool in pain and acute inflammatory conditions., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This paper reports on the syntheses and spectrometric characterisation of eleven novel ent-kaurane diterpenoids, including a complete set of (1)H, (13)C NMR and crystallographic data for two novel ent-kaurane diepoxides. Moreover, the antineoplastic cytotoxicity for kaurenoic acid and the majority of ent-kaurane derivatives were assessed in vitro against a panel of fourteen cancer cell lines, of which allylic alcohols were shown to be the most active compounds. The good in vitro antimalarial activity and the higher selectivity index values observed for some ent-kaurane epoxides against the chloroquine-resistant W2 clone of Plasmodium falciparum indicate that this class of natural products may provide new hits for the development of antimalarial drugs., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Seaweeds are considered an important source of bioactive molecules. In this work the marine red alga Gracilaria caudata was submitted to aqueous extraction of their polysaccharides for 2 h at 100 °C. The polysaccharide fraction (PGC) presented a recovery of 32.8%. The sulfate content of PGC, calculated by S%, is 1 ± 0.2% and the degree of sulfation accounts for 0.13 ± 0.2. High-Performance Size-Exclusion Chromatography demonstrated that PGC consists of a high molecular weight polysaccharide (2.5 × 10(5)gmol(-1)). Chemical analysis of PGC was performed by microanalysis, infrared (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR, 1 and 2D) spectroscopy. The structure of PGC is mainly constituted by the alternating residues 3-linked-β-D-galactopyranose and 4-linked-3,6-α-L-anhydrogalactose; however some hydroxyl groups were substituted by methyl groups and pyruvic acid acetal. The biological precursor of 3,6-α-L-anhydrogalactose (6-sulfate-α-l-galactose) was also detected., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chitosan of high molar mass and with 82% deacetylation was sulfated using two procedures and characterized. In the first method sample chitosan-S1 was produced using chlorosulfonic acid as the sulfating agent and N,N-dimethylformamide as the medium, and in the second method (chitosan-S2) formic acid was also used. The degrees of sulfation were 0.87 (chitosan-S1) and 0.67 (chitosan-S2). FTIR spectra showed bands at 1230, 800 and 580 cm(-1), attributed to sulfation. Moisture content followed the order: chitosan-S-0.87>chitosan-S-0.67>chitosan. Chain depolymerization was verified by GPC. Aqueous solutions showed pseudoplastic behavior and the viscosity at a concentration of 0.3% (w/v) was higher than that of healthy human tears (close to 3 mPas at shear rate 130 s(-1)). Substitutions in the C2NH and in C6OH groups were verified by NMR. Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not observed. Considering that chitosan-S-0.67 had a higher solubility, less chain depolymerization, higher yield and better thermal stability in comparison with chitosan-S-0.87, the derivative with DS 0.67 offered the greatest potential for use in formulations of tear substitutes., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study we measured excreted fecal corticoid metabolites (FCM) in maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) living within a protected reserve, on farmlands or in a boundary zone between the two habitats, and determined the impacts of season and reproductive status on adrenal activity. Feces were collected within a national park (n=191 samples), a park boundary zone (n=39) and on nearby farmlands (n=27), processed and analyzed by enzyme immunoassay. FCM amounts from samples collected on farmlands were higher (P<0.05) than in those collected inside the reserve and from the boundary zone. In relation to seasonality, FCM were elevated (P<0.05) in spring (September-November) when wolf pairs were raising young. We then divided the samples collected during breeding season (March-August) into cycling females and male/non-cycling females based on fecal progesterone: fecal testosterone ratio. FCM concentrations of the former collected inside the park were higher than (P<0.05) than the latter group. However, there were no differences in FCM levels between the two groups for samples collected in the boundary zone and on farmlands. Furthermore, FCM concentrations of male/non-cycling females samples collected on farmlands were 2- to 5-fold higher (P<0.05) than in counterparts collected inside the park. The consistently high FCM concentrations in samples collected on farmlands indicate that, in addition to seasonality, gender and reproductive status, anthropogenic pressures also contribute to elevating adrenal steroid for individuals living in altered habitat., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)