Biometric measurements involving the terminal portion of the thoracic duct on left level IV: an anatomic study

INTRODUÇÃO: No esvaziamento cervical do nível IV à esquerda, a porção final do ducto torácico (DT) pode ser lesada, aumentando significativamente a morbimortalidade pós-operatória. O melhor tratamento é a prevenção. Contudo, não há disponível na literatura medidas biométricas que auxiliem a identificação da desembocadura do DT. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: a desembocadura do DT foi identificada e distâncias úteis foram medidas em 25 cadáveres não-formolizados. Análise estatística foi realizada para verificar associações. RESULTADOS: a desembocadura do DT ocorreu na confluência jugulo-subclávia (CJS – 60%), na veia jugular interna esquerda (VJIE – 36%) e na veia braquiocefálica esquerda (4%). Uma associação estatisticamente significante foi encontrada entre a desembocadura na confluência jugulo-subclávia e a distância entre a VJIE e o músculo omo-hioide (Medida #1). Indivíduos cujo DT desemboca na CJS apresentaram a Medida #1 com mediana de 34.5±12.0mm, já os com desembocadura na VJIE apresentaram mediana de 22.3±8.7mm (p=0.015 – Student´s t-test). A regressão logística demonstrou que para cada aumento de 10mm na Medida #1 há uma chance de 1.12x de encontrar a desembocadura do DT na CJS (OR=1.12; CI95%:1,01-1,25; p=0.032). Para essa Medida #1 estabeleceu-se um cut-off de 19mm como teste diagnóstico para prever a desembocadura do DT na CJS, com sensibilidade de 86.7% (CI95%:59.5-98.3%), especificidade de 55.6% (CI95%:21.2-86.3%), PPV de 76.5% (CI95%:50.1-93.2%), NPV de 71.4% (CI95%:25.8-97.2%) e ROC AUC de 79.3% (CI95%: 58.0-92.9%). CONCLUSÃO: este estudo anatômico demonstrou que o local de desembocadura do DT mais frequente é a CJS e que a Medida #1 é capaz de prever o local de desembocadura do DT.BACKGROUND: During a neck dissection involving the left IV level, the final segment of the thoracic duct (TD) may be injured, significantly increasing postoperative morbi-mortality. The best treatment is its prevention. However, there is a lack of helpful biometric measurements focusing on the TD termination in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The TD termination was identified and some helpful biometric measurements were obtained on 25 non-preserved cadavers. Statistical analysis was performed to analyze correlations. RESULTS: TD termination was found on the jugulo-subclavian junction (JSJ - 60%), on the left internal jugular vein (LIJV - 36%), and on the left brachiocephalic vein in 4%. A statistically significant association was found between TD termination on the JSJ and the distance between LIJV and omohyoid muscle (Measurement #1). Individuals with TD termination on the JSJ had median Measurement #1 of 34.5±12.0mm, compared with median Measurement #1 of 22.3±8.7mm among individuals with TD termination on LIJV (p=0.015 – Student´s t-test). The logistic regression showed for every 10mm increment of Measurement #1 there was 1.12x chance to find the TD termination on the JSJ (OR=1.12; CI95%:1,01-1,25; p=0.032). A 19mm cut-off was established for this distance as a diagnostic test to predict the TD termination on the JSJ, with sensitivity of 86.7% (CI95%:59.5-98.3%), specificity of 55.6% (CI95%:21.2-86.3%), PPV of 76.5% (CI95%:50.1-93.2%), NPV of 71.4% (CI95%:25.8-97.2%) and ROC AUC of 79.3% (CI95%: 58.0-92.9%). CONCLUSION: This anatomic study demonstrated the most frequent TD termination was on JSJ and Measurement #1 is able to predict the localization of TD termination

Doce em massa misto de jabuticaba e maçã adicionado de albedo de melancia

Este trabalho objetivou elaborar, caracterizar e avaliar a qualidade do doce em massa misto de jabuticaba e maçã adicionado de albedo de melancia. Para isso, o doce foi elaborado e avaliado em até 90 dias de armazenamento, quanto ao pH, sólidos solúveis, umidade, acidez titulável, fibra bruta, ácido ascórbico, cinzas, cor, fungos filamentosos e leveduras e aceitação sensorial. As análises físico-químicas e microbiológicas apresentaram congruência com a literatura e a legislação ao comparar os diferentes tempos de armazenamento. Na análise sensorial, verificou-se que o doce não apresentou diferenças estatísticas nos tempos 0 dia e 90 dias de armazenamento, relativas aos atributos cor, sabor, aroma, aparência, consistência e impressão global. Porém, houve diferença significativa no atributo intenção de compra, no qual o doce armazenado no tempo 0 dia apresentou maior escore médio (4,26). O doce foi seguro para consumo humano e apresentou boa aceitação pelos provadores, sendo tecnologicamente viável sua produção

Bait attractiveness changes community metrics in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Species relative abundance (SRA) is an essential attribute of biotic communities, which can provide an accurate description of community structure. However, the sampling method used may have a direct influence on SRA quantification, since the use of attractants (e.g., baits, light, and pheromones) can introduce additional sources of variation in trap performance. We tested how sampling aided by baits affect community data and therefore alter derived metrics. We tested our hypothesis on dung beetles using data from flight interception traps (FITs) as a baseline to evaluate baited pitfall trap performance. Our objective was to assess the effect of bait attractiveness on estimates of SRA and assemblage metrics when sampled by pitfall traps baited with human feces.Dung beetles were sampled at three terra firme primary forest sites in the Brazilian Amazon. To achieve our objective, we (i) identified species with variable levels of attraction to pitfall baited with human feces; (ii) assessed differences in SRA; and (iii) assessed the effect of bait on the most commonly used diversity metrics derived from relative abundance (Shannon and Simpson indices). We identified species less and highly attracted to the baits used, because most attracted species showed greater relative abundances within baited pitfall traps samples compared with our baseline. Assemblages sampled by baited pitfall traps tend to show lower diversity and higher dominance than those sampled by unbaited FITs. Our findings suggest that for ecological questions focused on species relative abundance, baited pitfall traps may lead to inaccurate conclusions regarding assemblage structure. Although tested on dung beetles, we suggest that the same effect could be observed for other insect taxa that are also sampled with baited traps. We highlight a need for further studies on other groups to elucidate any potential effects of using baits

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on Kupffer cell phagosomal motility, bacterial clearance, and liver function

Background: Zinc oxide engineered nanoparticles (ZnO ENPs) have potential as nanomedicines due to their inherent properties. Studies have described their pulmonary impact, but less is known about the consequences of ZnO ENP interactions with the liver. This study was designed to describe the effects of ZnO ENPs on the liver and Kupffer cells after intravenous (IV) administration. Materials and methods First, pharmacokinetic studies were conducted to determine the tissue distribution of neutron-activated 65ZnO ENPs post-IV injection in Wistar Han rats. Then, a noninvasive in vivo method to assess Kupffer cell phagosomal motility was employed using ferromagnetic iron particles and magnetometry. We also examined whether prior IV injection of ZnO ENPs altered Kupffer cell bactericidal activity on circulating Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Serum and liver tissues were collected to assess liver-injury biomarkers and histological changes, respectively. Results: We found that the liver was the major site of initial uptake of 65ZnO ENPs. There was a time-dependent decrease in tissue levels of 65Zn in all organs examined, refecting particle dissolution. In vivo magnetometry showed a time-dependent and transient reduction in Kupffer cell phagosomal motility. Animals challenged with P. aeruginosa 24 hours post-ZnO ENP injection showed an initial (30 minutes) delay in vascular bacterial clearance. However, by 4 hours, IV-injected bacteria were cleared from the blood, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Seven days post-ZnO ENP injection, creatine phosphokinase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in serum were significantly increased. Histological evidence of hepatocyte damage and marginated neutrophils were observed in the liver. Conclusion: Administration of ZnO ENPs transiently inhibited Kupffer cell phagosomal motility and later induced hepatocyte injury, but did not alter bacterial clearance from the blood or killing in the liver, spleen, lungs, or kidneys. Our data show that diminished Kupffer cell organelle motion correlated with ZnO ENP-induced liver injury

Relative frequencies (%) of urological comorbidities in relation to ED (n = 20,789).

Relative frequencies (%) of urological comorbidities in relation to ED (n = 20,789).</p