Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time, and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space. While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes, vast areas of the tropics remain understudied. In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity, but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases. To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications 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, 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

Angiotensin II activates the ouabain-insensitive Na+-ATPase from renal proximal tubules through a G-protein

AbstractAngiotensin II (AG II) stimulates the ouabain-insensitive, furosemide- sensitive Na+-ATPase present in the basolateral membrane of pig renal proximal tubules in a dose dependent manner. Maximum effect was obtained with 10−8 M AG II, which corresponded to an activity 134% higher than control. Half of the maximum effect was observed between 10−11 M and 10−10 M, corresponding to physiological hormone levels. Saralasin, an AG II peptide analogue receptor antagonist, abolished the phenomenon, demonstrating that AG II interacts with specific sites in pig proximal tubules. The AG II stimulatory effect was also prevented by dithiothreitol (DTT), a reducing compound, and by 10 nM losartan, a non-peptide antagonist highly specific for AT1 receptors, characterizing AG II binding to AT1 receptors. GTPγS, a non-hydrolysable GTP analogue, increased by 159% the enzyme activity as compared to the control values. The simultaneous addition of 10−5 M GTPγS and 10−8 M AG II did not have additive effects. Furthermore, the stimulatory action of AG II was completely abolished by 0.1 μM GDPβS, a non-hydrolysable GDP analogue. Two μg ml−1 pertussis toxin, an inhibitor of Gi-protein, did not modulate the AG II stimulatory effect. On the other hand, the Na+-ATPase activity was enhanced 100% in the presence of cholera toxin and 85% in the presence of both AG II and cholera toxin. Taken together, these data suggest that AG II activates the Na+-ATPase activity through AT1 receptors coupled to a pertussis-insensitive and cholera-sensitive G-protein

Microsporidiosis in a Brazilian University Hospital: case report Microsporidíase em Hospital Universitário no Brasil: relato de caso

This is the report on a patient with chronic diarrhea caused by microsporidia. He is married, infected with HIV and has low CD4 cell count. The diagnosis was established through stool parasite search using concentration methods and Gram - chromotrope staining technique. Ileum biopsy was also performed in this case. The etiological diagnosis may be established in a clinical laboratory, by chromotrope staining technique in routine microscopic examination of stool specimens.<br>Este é o relato de caso de doente com diarréia crônica causada por Microsporidia. O doente era homem, casado, infectado com HIV e tinha baixa taxa de linfócitos CD4+. O diagnóstico foi feito em exame de fezes utilizando métodos de concentração e técnica de coloração de Gram-Chromotrope. Biópsia de íleo também foi realizada neste caso. O diagnóstico etiológico pode ser feito em laboratório clínico, por técnicas de coloração baseada em cromotrope na rotina da observação microscópica direta

O trabalho interdisciplinar no contexto da exclusão

O presente artigo apresenta um programa de intervenção psico-educativo e sócio-cultural com crianças e adolescentes em situação de risco. Discute-se um modelo de atendimento em rede, através da compreensão interdisciplinar que propõe atuação em diferentes níveis: atendimentos clínicos, oficinas psico-educativas e de teatro. Percebe-se ainda que a instituição, enquanto conjunto de regras, a equipe de profissionais, enquanto figuras modelares, o grupo, enquanto oportunidade de pertencimento, possibilitam a inscrição do adolescente em um processo de trocas intersubjetivas, promovendo regulação de novas relações e possibilidades de resgate e apropriação de sua história subjetiva