Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Can patients with left main coronary artery disease wait for myocardial revascularization surgery?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the occurrence of cardiac events in patients diagnosed with left main coronary artery disease on diagnostic cardiac catheterization and waiting for myocardial revascularization surgery. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with left main coronary artery disease (stenosis > or = 50%) consecutively identified on diagnostic cardiac catheterization during an 8-month period were selected for the study. The group comprised 56 patients (40 males and 16 females) with a mean age of 61±10 years. The cardiac events included death, nonfatal acute myocardial infarction, acute left ventricular failure, unstable angina, and emergency surgery. RESULTS: While waiting for surgery, patients experienced the following cardiac events: 7 acute myocardial infarctions and 1 death. All events occurred within the first 60 days after the diagnostic cardiac catheterization. More patients, whose indication for diagnostic cardiac catheterization was unstable angina, experienced events as compared with those with other indications [p=0.03, relative risk (RR) = 5.25, 95% confidence interval = 1.47 - 18.7]. In the multivariate analysis of logistic regression, unstable angina was also the only factor that independently contributed to a greater number of events (p = 0.02, OR = 8.43, 95% CI =1.37 - 51.7). CONCLUSION: Unstable angina in patients with left main coronary artery disease acts as a high risk factor for cardiac events, emergency surgery being recommended in these cases

Evidência de melhora na qualidade do cuidado assistencial no infarto agudo do miocárdio Evidence of healthcare quality improvement in acute myocardial infarction

FUNDAMENTO: A monitoração dos indicadores de qualidade no cuidado com a saúde (IQS) é um processo de fundamental importância na atenção à saúde dos pacientes. OBJETIVO: Avaliar se a monitoração dos IQS e a análise da causa-raiz melhoram a qualidade do cuidado no infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM). MÉTODOS: Foi realizada uma análise transversal e comparativa dos IQS em pacientes com IAM nos anos de 2006 e 2007. Dos 1.461 pacientes admitidos com dor torácica, 172 (11,7%) tiveram o diagnóstico de IAM e foram incluídos na análise. RESULTADOS: A taxa de angioplastia primária foi 8,47% maior em 2007 (97,3%) do que em 2006 (89,7%), mas esta diferença não alcançou significado estatístico (p = 0,35). Também não houve diferença estatística no tempo de hospitalização (4 vs 5 dias, p = 0,15) e na mortalidade intra-hospitalar (7,8% vs 5,1%, p = 0,67) entre 2007 e 2006, respectivamente. No entanto, o tempo até o resultado da primeira troponina foi 27% menor em 2007 (69 min.; IC 95% = 44-94 min.) do que em 2006 (95 min.; 53-136 min.) (p = 0,025). O tempo porta-balão foi 12% menor (72 ± 29 min. vs 109 ± 85 min.; p = 0,03), a taxa de prescrição de aspirina na alta foi 35% maior (94,7% vs 70,3%; p = 0,002) e a taxa de APCP, menor do que 90 minutos, foi 52% maior (78,3 vs 51,4%; p = 0,03) em 2007, quando comparada a 2006. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados sugerem que a estratégia de monitorar os IQS e a de implementação da metodologia de análise da causa-raiz melhora o processo de cuidado com a saúde no IAM.BACKGROUND: The monitoring of healthcare quality indicators (HCQI) is a process of utmost importance in patient healthcare services. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the monitoring of HCQI and the root-cause analysis improve the healthcare quality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: A cross-sectional and comparative analysis of HCQI was performed in patients with AMI in the years 2006 and 2007. Of the 1,461 patients admitted with chest pain, 172 (11.7%) had a diagnosis of AMI and were included in the analysis. RESULTS: The rate of primary angioplasty was 8.47% higher in 2007 (97.3%) when compared to that in 2006 (89.7%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.35). Moreover, there was no difference regarding the time of hospitalization (4 vs 5 days, p = 0.15) and the in-hospital mortality (7.8% vs 5.1%, p = 0.67) between 2007 and 2006, respectively. However, the time to the first troponin level was 27% shorter in 2007 (69 min.; 95%CI = 44-94 min.) when compared to 2006 (95 min.; 53-136 min.) (p = 0.025). The door-to-balloon time was 12% shorter (72 ± 29 min. vs 109 ± 85 min.; p = 0.03), the rate of ASA prescription at hospital discharge was 35% higher (94.7% vs 70.3%; p = 0.002) and the rate of PCA shorter than 90 minutes was 52% higher (78.3 vs 51.4%; p = 0.03) in 2007, when compared to 2006. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the strategy of monitoring the HCQI and the implementation of the root-cause analysis methodology can improve the healthcare process in patients with AMI

A idade influencia os desfechos em pacientes com idade igual ou superior a 70 anos submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica isolada Age influences outcomes in 70-year or older patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery

OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados da cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica (CRVM) isolada com circulação extracorpórea em pacientes com idade > 70 anos em comparação àqueles com < 70 anos. MÉTODOS: Pacientes submetidos consecutivamente à CRVM isolada. Os pacientes foram agrupados em G1 (idade e" 70 anos) e G2 (idade < 70 anos). Os desfechos analisados foram letalidade hospitalar, infarto agudo miocárdio (IAM), acidente vascular encefálico (AVE), reoperação para revisão de hemostasia (RRH), necessidade de balão intra-aórtico (BIA), complicações respiratórias, insuficiência renal aguda (IRA), mediastinite, sepse, fibrilação atrial (FA) e bloqueio atrioventricular total (BAVT). RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 1033 pacientes, 257 (24,8%) do G1 e 776 (75,2%) do G2. A letalidade hospitalar foi significantemente maior no G1 quando comparado ao G2 (8,9% vs. 3,6%, P=0,001), enquanto a incidência de IAM foi semelhante (5,8% vs. 5,5%; P=0,87). Maior número de pacientes do G1 necessitou de RRH (12,1% vs. 6,1%; P=0,003). Da mesma forma, no G1 houve maior incidência de complicações respiratórias (21,4% vs. 9,1%; P<0,001), mediastinite (5,1% vs. 1,9%; P=0,013), AVE (3,9% vs. 1,3%; P=0,016), IRA (7,8% vs. 1,3%, P<0,001), sepse (3,9% vs. 1,9%; P=0,003), fibrilação atrial (15,6% vs. 9,8%; P=0,016) e BAVT (3,5% vs. 1,2%; P=0,023) do que o G2. Não houve diferença significante na necessidade de BIA. Na análise regressão logística multivariada "forward stepwise", a idade >70 anos foi fator preditivo independente para maior letalidade operatória (P=0,004) e para RRH (P=0,002), sepse (P=0,002), complicações respiratórias (P<0,001), mediastinite (P=0,016), AVE (P=0,029), IRA (P<0,001), FA (P=0,021) e BAVT (P=0,031) no pós-operatório. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo sugere que pacientes com idade > 70 anos estão sob maior risco de morte e outras complicações no pós-operatório de CRVM em comparação aos pacientes mais jovens.<br>OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in patients >70 years-old in comparison to patients <70 years-old. METHODS: Patients undergoing isolated CABG were selected for the study. The patients were grouped in G1 (age > 70 years-old) and G2 (age <70 years-old). The endpoints were in-hospital mortality, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, reexploration for bleeding, intra-aortic balloon for circulatory shock, respiratory complications, acute renal failure, mediastinitis, sepsis, atrial fibrillation, and complete atrioventricular block (CAVB). RESULTS: 1,033 patients were included, 257 (24.8%) in G1 and 776 (75.2%) in G2. Patients in G1 were more likely to have in-hospital mortality than G2 (8.9% vs. 3.6%, respectively; P=0.001), while the incidence of AMI was similar (5.8% vs. 5.5%; P=0.87) than G2. More patients in G1 had re-exploration for bleeding (12.1% vs. 6.1%; P=0.003). G1 had more incidence of respiratory complications (21.4% vs. 9.1%; P<0.001), mediastinitis (5.1% vs. 1.9%; P=0.013), stroke (3.9% vs. 1.3%; P=0.016), acute renal failure (7.8% vs. 1.3%; P<0.001), sepsis (3.9% vs. 1.9%;P=0.003), atrial fibrillation (15.6% vs. 9.8%; P=0.016), and CAVB (3.5% vs. 1.2%; P=0.023) than G2. There was no significant difference in the use of intra-aortic balloon. In the forward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis age > 70-year-old was an independent predictive factor for higher in-hospital mortality (P=0.004), reexploration for bleeding (P=0.002), sepsis (P=0.002), respiratory complications (P<0.001), mediastinitis (P=0.016), stroke (P=0.029), acute renal failure (P<0.001), atrial fibrillation (P=0.021) and CAVB (P=0.031). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that patients > 70 years-old were at increased risk of death and other complications in the CABG's postoperative period in comparison to younger patients