Characteristics and outcomes of thymomas in Latin America: results from over 10 years of experience (CLICaP-LATimus)

Background: Thymomas are a group of rare neoplasms of the anterior mediastinum.The objective of this study was to describe the demographics, clinical characteristicsand treatment approaches in Latin America.Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study including patients withhistologically proven thymomas diagnosed between 1997 and 2018. Demographics, linicopathological characteristics and therapeutic outcomes were collected locallyand analyzed in a centralized manner.Results: A total of 135 patients were included. Median age at diagnos is was 53 yearsold (19–84), 53.3% (n = 72) of patients were female and 87.4% had an ECOG perfor-mance score ranging from 0–1. A total of 47 patients (34.8%) had metastatic diseaseat diagnosis. Concurrent myasthenia gravis occurred in 21.5% of patients. Surgerywas performed in 74 patients (54.8%), comprising 27 (20%) tumorectomies and47 (34.8%) thymectomies. According to the Masaoka-Koga system, overall survival(OS) at five-years was 73.4%, 63.8% and 51%, at stages I–II, III–IVA and IVB,respectively (p = 0.005). Furthermore, patients with low lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) (≤373 IU/L) at baseline and myasthenia gravis concur rence showed signifi-cantly better OS (p = 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). In multivariate analysis, highLDH levels (HR 2.8 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–7.8]; p = 0.036) at baselineand not performing a surgical resection (HR 4.1 [95% CI: 1.3–12.7]; p = 0.016) weresignificantly associated with increased risk of death.Conclusions: Our data provides the largest insight into the clinical characteristics andoutcomes of patients with thymomas in Latin America. Survival in patients withthymomas continues to be very favorable, especially when subjected to adequatelocal control

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

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data