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

Profile of apheresis donors at Professor Alberto Antunes University Hospital of the Federal University of Alagoas

Os serviços de hemoterapia desempenham um papel fundamental na atração de doadores e no fornecimento de sangue seguro à população. No entanto, o recrutamento e a retenção desses doadores ainda representam um grande desafio. Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil dos doadores de hemocomponentes por aférese na Unidade de Transfusão do Hospital Universitário Professor Alberto Antunes - UFAL, bem como conhecer os parâmetros hematológicos pré e pós-doação, a ocorrência dos principais eventos adversos relacionados à procedimento e as dificuldades enfrentadas pelo doador. Método: Estudo observacional transversal. Foram analisadas 160 fichas de doadores de aférese de março de 2017 a junho de 2018. Os dados foram tabulados no programa Excel e analisados para determinar os objetivos. Resultados: A maioria dos doadores era do sexo masculino (93,13%), com idade entre 25 e 40 anos (48,75%) e parda (25,62%). Houve uma leve prevalência de solteiros (49,37%) e 73,75% eram de Maceió. A fenotipagem ABO e Rh mais prevalente foi O+ (39,3%). A maioria dos procedimentos foi de coleta simples de plaquetas (75,60%) e a ocorrência de eventos adversos durante as doações foi de 30,63%. Conclusão: A avaliação do perfil do doador de aférese e o conhecimento dos possíveis efeitos colaterais relacionados ao procedimento proporcionaram uma melhor compreensão sobre esse tipo de doação e podem ajudar a melhorar os processos de captura e retenção desses indivíduos, minimizando os efeitos da falta de sangue para a população Alagoana.Hemotherapy services play a key role in attracting donors and providing safe blood to the population. The apheresis platelet collection procedure is a relatively simple, safe and important procedure for increasing the stocks of these services. However, the recruitment and retention of these donors still represent a major challenge. Objective: Evaluating the profile of donors of blood components by apheresis in the Transfusion Unit of Professor Alberto Antunes University Hospital - UFAL, as well as knowing the hematological parameters pre- and post-donation, the occurrence of the main adverse events related to the procedure and the difficulties faced by the donor. Method: This was a cross-sectional observational study. We analyzed a total of 160 forms of apheresis donors from March 2017 to June 2018. The data were tabulated using the Excel program, and then analyzed in order to determinethe objectives. Results: Most donors were male (93.13%), aged between 25 and 40 years (48.75%) and brown (25.62%). There was a slight prevalence of singles (49.37%) and 73.75% were from Maceió. The most prevalent ABO and Rh phenotyping was O+ (39.3%). Most of the procedures were simple platelet collection (75.60%) and the occurrence of adverse events during donations was 30.63%. Conclusion: Evaluation of apheresis donor profile and the knowledge of the possible side effects related to the procedure provided a better understanding of this type of donation and may improve the capture and retention processes of these individuals, minimizing the effects of lack of blood for Alagoana population

Analyses of the soluble levels of sCD40L, sCD62P and sCD40 in pediatric sickle cell anemia patients with abnormal transcranial Doppler

Introduction: Serum levels of sCD40L, sCD40 and sCD62P were evaluated in sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients aged between 2 and 16 years with normal transcranial Doppler (TCD) and no stroke (G1, n = 24); in SCA patients with abnormal TCD (G2, n = 16); in SCA patients with a previous history of stroke (G3, n = 8), and; in healthy controls (aged 2 to 13 years; n = 26). Results: The levels of sCD40L were significantly higher in the G1, G2 and G3 groups, compared to controls (p = 0.0001, p < 0.0002 and p = 0.004, respectively). Among patients with SCA, higher levels of sCD40L were found in the G3 group, compared to the G2 group (p = 0.03). In the sCD62P analysis, high levels in G3, compared to G1 (p = 0.0001), G2 (p = 0.03) and G4 (p = 0.01), and G2 also had high levels, compared to G1 (p = 0.04). The G1 patients had a higher sCD40L/sCD62P ratio, compared to G2 (p = 0.003) and controls (p < 0.0001). The sCD40L/sCD40 ratios were higher in G1, G2 and G3, compared to controls (p < 0.0001, p = 0.008 and p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: It was concluded that the combination of TCD abnormality, associated with levels of sCD40L and sCD62P, may contribute to a better assessment of the risk for stroke in pediatric SCA patients.Favor pedir para os autores corrigirem esta frase, pois NÃO é uma sentença completa em inglês: Our data suggest that decreased values of the s[LSM1] CD40L/sCD62P ratio involving two inflammatory mediators produced in platelet activation, being unprecedented in the literature

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

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