First report on dung beetles in intra-Amazonian savannahs in Roraima, Brazil

This is the first study to address the dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) diversity in intra-Amazonian savannahs in the state of Roraima, Brazil. Our aim was to survey the dung beetle fauna associated with these savannahs (regionally called 'lavrado'), since little is known about the dung beetles from this environment. We conducted three field samples using pitfall traps baited with human dung in savannah areas near the city of Boa Vista during the rainy seasons of 1996, 1997, and 2008. We collected 383 individuals from ten species, wherein six have no previous record in intra-Amazonian savannahs. The most abundant species were Ontherus appendiculatus (Mannerheim, 1829), Canthidium aff. humerale (Germar, 1813), Dichotomius nisus (Olivier, 1789), and Pseudocanthon aff. xanthurus (Blanchard, 1846). We believe that knowing the dung beetles diversity associated with the intra-Amazonian savannahs is ideal for understanding the occurrence and distribution of these organisms in a highly threatened environment, it thus being the first step towards conservation strategy development

Impact of Bariatric Surgical Intervention on Peripheral Blood Neutrophil (PBN) Function in Obesity.

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of weight loss following gastric band surgery on multiple measures of peripheral blood neutrophil (PBN) function. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-three obese patients undergoing gastric band surgery were recruited to a longitudinal intervention study, alongside non-obese, healthy gender- and age-matched controls. Eighteen pairs of patients and controls completed all stages of the study. PBNs were isolated by density centrifugation and a comprehensive analysis of PBN function was undertaken at various stages of the patients' bariatric surgical care pathway. RESULTS Obese patients exhibited exaggerated PBN activity in response to various stimuli, characterised by higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (n = 18, p < 0.001) and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (n = 10, p < 0.05) and lower PBN extracellular trap (NET) formation (n = 18, p < 0.01). PBN chemotactic accuracy was also impaired prior to surgery (n = 18, p < 0.01). Weight loss was associated with normalised NET production and lower ROS production and cytokine release relative to healthy controls. However, chemotactic accuracy remained impaired in patients. CONCLUSIONS Weight loss following gastric band surgery was associated with a decrease in the pro-inflammatory activities of peripheral blood neutrophils (PBNs). A hyper-inflammatory PBN phenotype, involving excess ROS and cytokine release, reduced NET formation and chemotaxis, may lead to a reduced ability to eliminate infection, alongside inflammation-mediated tissue damage in obese individuals