Characterization of Ant Communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Twigs in the Leaf Litter of the Atlantic Rainforest and Eucalyptus Trees in the Southeast Region of Brazil

Fragments of Atlantic Rainforest and extensive eucalyptus plantations are part of the landscape in the southeast region of Brazil. Many studies have been conducted on litter ant diversity in these forests, but there are few reports on the nesting sites. In the present study, we characterized the ant communities that nest in twigs in the leaf litter of dense ombrophilous forests and eucalyptus trees. The colony demographics associated with the physical structure of the nest were recorded. In the eucalyptus forests, the study examined both managed and unmanaged plantations. During five months, all undecomposed twigs between 10 and 30 cm in length containing ants found within a 16-m2 area on the surface of the leaf litter were collected. A total of 307 nests and 44 species were recorded. Pheidole, Solenopsis, and Camponotus were the most represented genera. Pheidole sp.13, Pheidole sp.43 and Linepithema neotropicum were the most populous species. The dense ombrophilous forest and a eucalyptus plantation unmanaged contained the highest number of colonized twigs; these communities were the most similar and the most species rich. Our results indicate that the twigs are important resources as they help to maintain the litter diversity of dense rain forest and abandoned eucalypt crops

Izu-Bonin-Mariana Rear Arc: The Missing Half of the Subduction Factory

4GT) lies in the western part of the Izu fore-arc basin, ~60 km east of the arc-front volcano Aogashima, ~170 km west of the axis of the Izu-Bonin Trench, 1.5 km west of Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 792, and at 1776 meters below sea level (mbsl). It was drilled as a 150 m deep geotechnical test hole for potential future deep drilling (5500 meters below seafloor [mbsf]) at proposed Site IBM-4 using the D/V Chikyu. Core from Site U1436 yielded a rich record of Late Pleistocene explosive volcanism, including distinctive black glassy mafic ash layers that may record large-volume eruptions on the Izu arc front. Because of the importance of this discovery, Site U1436 was drilled in three additional holes (U1436B, U1436C, and U1436D), as part of a contingency operation, in an attempt to get better recovery on the black glassy mafic ash layers and enclosing sediments and to better constrain the thickness of the mafic ash layers. IODP Site U1437 is located in the Izu rear arc, ~330 km west of the axis of the IzuBonin Trench and ~90 km west of the arc-front volcanoes Myojinsho and Myojin Knoll, at 2117 mbsl. The primary scientific objective for Site U1437 was to characterize “the missing half of the subduction factory”; this was because numerous ODP/Integrated Ocean Drilling Program sites had been drilled in the arc to fore-arc region (i.e., ODP Site 782A Leg 126), but this was the first site to be drilled in the rear part of the Izu arc. A complete view of the arc system is needed to understand the formation of oceanic arc crust and its evolution into continental crust. Site U1437 on the rear arc had excellent core recovery in Holes U1437B and U1437D, and we succeeded in hanging the longest casing ever in the history of R/V JOIDES Resolution scientific drilling (1085.6 m) in Hole U1437E and cored to 1806.5 mbsf

Skin color and severe maternal outcomes: evidence from the brazilian network for surveillance of severe maternal morbidity

Taking into account the probable role that race/skin color may have for determining outcomes in maternal health, the objective of this study was to assess whether maternal race/skin color is a predictor of severe maternal morbidity. This is a secondary analysis of the Brazilian Network for Surveillance of Severe Maternal Morbidity, a national multicenter cross-sectional study of 27 Brazilian referral maternity hospitals. A prospective surveillance was performed to identify cases of maternal death (MD), maternal near miss (MNM) events, and potentially life-threatening conditions (PLTC), according to standard WHO definition and criteria. Among 9,555 women with severe maternal morbidity, data on race/skin color was available for 7,139 women, who were further divided into two groups: 4,108 nonwhite women (2,253 black and 1,855 from other races/skin color) and 3,031 white women. Indicators of severe maternal morbidity according to WHO definition are shown by skin color group. Adjusted Prevalence Ratios (PRadj - 95%CI) for Severe Maternal Outcome (SMO=MNM+MD) were estimated according to sociodemographic/obstetric characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, and perinatal results considering race. Results. Among 7,139 women with severe maternal morbidity evaluated, 90.5% were classified as PLTC, 8.5% as MNM, and 1.6% as MD. There was a significantly higher prevalence of MNM and MD among white women. MNMR (maternal near miss ratio) was 9.37 per thousand live births (LB). SMOR (severe maternal outcome ratio) was 11.08 per 1000 LB, and MMR (maternal mortality ratio) was 170.4 per 100,000 LB. Maternal mortality to maternal near miss ratio was 1 to 5.2, irrespective of maternal skin color. Hypertension, the main cause of maternal complications, affected mostly nonwhite women. Hemorrhage, the second more common cause of maternal complication, predominated among white women. Nonwhite skin color was associated with a reduced risk of SMO in multivariate analysis. Nonwhite skin color was associated with a lower risk for severe maternal outcomes. This result could be due to confounding factors linked to a high rate of Brazilian miscegenation.2019CNPQ - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico402702/2008-

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Análise do desempenho cognitivo e motor e sua relação com a atrofia do cerebelo em pacientes com esclerose múltipla surto-remissão

Mestrado em Engenharia BiomédicaA Esclerose Múltipla (EM) é uma doença neurodegenerativa caracterizada pela presença de lesões que provocam danos na bainha de mielina, afetando diversas regiões do sistema nervoso central (SNC). A Ressonância Magnética (RM) ´e o método de eleição para o diagnóstico da EM, pois permite detetar a presença de lesões e quantificar a atrofia encefálica, ajudando na monitorização da progressão da doença. Avaliar a atrofia do cerebelo, através de métodos de segmentação e quantificação automáticos, que recorrem a imagens de RM, e obter a sua relação com a disfunção cognitiva e motora, tem sido alvo de investigação. O objetivo principal do presente trabalho consiste em analisar a performance cognitiva e motora e verificar a sua relação com o grau de atrofia do cerebelo, em pacientes com EM Surto-Remissão (EM-SR), com e sem disfunção clínica do cerebelo. Para concretização do objetivo, foram recolhidos dados clínico-demográficos e resultados dos testes cognitivos e motores, em 44 indivíduos com EM-SR. As imagens de RM de cada indivíduo da amostra foram processadas recorrendo a métodos de segmentação e quantificação automáticos, como o FreeSurfer, volBrain e CERES, para obtenção dos dados volumétricos do cerebelo (regional e lobular). Obtiveram-se diferenças significativas entre os pacientes com e sem disfunção clínica do cerebelo nos resultados do teste cognitivo e no volume total do cerebelo (VTC) e dos lóbulos Crus II e VIIb. Observaram-se também correlações significativas entre os resultados dos testes cognitivos e o VTC, volume da substância branca do cerebelo (VSBC) e volume dos lóbulos IV, Crus II e VIIb. Em conclusão, os pacientes com sinais de disfunção clínica do cerebelo apresentaram mais alterações cognitivas e um maior grau de atrofia no VTC e lóbulos Crus II e VIIb. Para a performance cognitiva concluiu-se que está correlacionada com o grau de atrofia do VTC, VSBC e lóbulos Crus II e VIIb.ABSTRACT - Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the presence of lesions that cause damage to the myelin sheath, affecting several regions of the central nervous system. Magnetic Resonance (MR) is the method of choice for the diagnosis of MS, as it allows the detection of the presence of lesions and the quantification of brain atrophy, helping to monitor the progression of the disease. Evaluating cerebellar atrophy, using automatic segmentation and quantification methods that use NMR images, and obtaining its relationship with cognitive and motor dysfunction, has been a potential target for investigation. The main objective of the present work is to analyze the cognitive and motor performance and to verify its relation with the degree of cerebellar atrophy, in patients with Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS), with and without clinical cerebellar dysfunction. To achieve the objective, clinical-demographic data and results of cognitive and motor tests were collected from 44 individuals with RRMS. The NMR images of the sample were subjected to processing by automatic segmentation and quantification methods, such as FreeSurfer, volBrain, and CERES, to obtain cerebellar volumetric data (regional and lobular). Significant differences were obtained between patients with and without clinical dysfunction of the cerebellum in the results of the cognitive test and in the total cerebellum volume (TCV) and lobes Crus II and VIIb. There were also significant correlations between the results of the cognitive tests and the TCV, cerebellum white matter volume (CWMV), and volume of the lobes IV, Crus II, and VIIb. In conclusion, patients with clinical dysfunction of the cerebellum showed more cognitive changes and a greater degree of atrophy in the TCV and lobes Crus II and VIIb. For the cognitive performance, it was concluded that it is correlated with the degree of atrophy of the TCV, CWMV and Crus II and VIIb lobes.N/

Proteomic profiling of the rat hypothalamus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The hypothalamus plays a pivotal role in numerous mechanisms highly relevant to the maintenance of body homeostasis, such as the control of food intake and energy expenditure. Impairment of these mechanisms has been associated with the metabolic disturbances involved in the pathogenesis of obesity. Since rodent species constitute important models for metabolism studies and the rat hypothalamus is poorly characterized by proteomic strategies, we performed experiments aimed at constructing a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) profile of rat hypothalamus proteins.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>As a first step, we established the best conditions for tissue collection and protein extraction, quantification and separation. The extraction buffer composition selected for proteome characterization of rat hypothalamus was urea 7 M, thiourea 2 M, CHAPS 4%, Triton X-100 0.5%, followed by a precipitation step with chloroform/methanol. Two-dimensional (2-D) gels of hypothalamic extracts from four-month-old rats were analyzed; the protein spots were digested and identified by using tandem mass spectrometry and database query using the protein search engine MASCOT. Eighty-six hypothalamic proteins were identified, the majority of which were classified as participating in metabolic processes, consistent with the finding of a large number of proteins with catalytic activity. Genes encoding proteins identified in this study have been related to obesity development.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present results indicate that the 2-DE technique will be useful for nutritional studies focusing on hypothalamic proteins. The data presented herein will serve as a reference database for studies testing the effects of dietary manipulations on hypothalamic proteome. We trust that these experiments will lead to important knowledge on protein targets of nutritional variables potentially able to affect the complex central nervous system control of energy homeostasis.</p

Neutrophil extracellular trap-enriched supernatants carry microRNAs able to modulate TNF-α production by macrophages

Submitted by Fábio Marques ([email protected]) on 2020-03-11T19:02:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Neutrophil_Marcelo_Ribeiro-Alves_INI_Lapclin-AIDS_2020.pdf: 5714491 bytes, checksum: 100fa09485db1c68f6bf137e79c8b78e (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Regina Costa ([email protected]) on 2020-03-12T14:44:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Neutrophil_Marcelo_Ribeiro-Alves_INI_Lapclin-AIDS_2020.pdf: 5714491 bytes, checksum: 100fa09485db1c68f6bf137e79c8b78e (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2020-03-12T14:44:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Neutrophil_Marcelo_Ribeiro-Alves_INI_Lapclin-AIDS_2020.pdf: 5714491 bytes, checksum: 100fa09485db1c68f6bf137e79c8b78e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020Laboratory of Immunobiology of Leishmaniasis, Department of Immunology, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Timo. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Neuroimunomodulação. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em DST/AIDS. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Instituto de Bioquimica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Timo. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Laboratory of Immunobiology of Leishmaniasis, Department of Immunology, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Laboratory of Immunobiology of Leishmaniasis, Department of Immunology, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Timo. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Neuroimunomodulação. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Instituto de Bioquimica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Pesquisa em Timo. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Neuroimunomodulação. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Laboratory of Immunobiology of Leishmaniasis, Department of Immunology, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) emerge from the cell as a DNA scaffold associated with cytoplasmic and granular proteins, able to immobilize and kill pathogens. This association occurs following nuclear and granular membrane disintegration, allowing contact with the decondensed chromatin. Thus, it is reasonable to speculate that the DNA can also mix with miRNAs and carry them in NETs. Here, we report for the first time the presence of the miRNA carriers associated with NETs and miRNAs present in NET-enriched supernatants (NET-miRs), thus adding a novel class of molecules and new proteins that can be released and transported in the NET platform. We observed that the majority of NET-miRs were common to all four stimuli used (PMA, interleukin-8, amyloid fibrils and Leishmania), and that miRNA-142-3p carried by NETs down-modulates protein kinase Cα and regulates TNF-α production in macrophages upon NET interaction with these cells. Our findings unveil a novel role for NETs in the cell communication processes, allowing the conveyance of miRNA from neutrophils to neighboring cells

Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity to tumor cells of nitric oxide donor and silver nanoparticles containing PVA/PEG films for topical applications

Because of their antibacterial activity, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been explored in biomedical applications. Similarly, nitric oxide (NO) is an important endogenous free radical with an antimicrobial effect and toxicity toward cancer cells that plays pivotal roles in several processes. In this work, biogenic AgNPs were prepared using green tea extract and the principles of green chemistry, and the NO donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) was prepared by the nitrosation of glutathione. To enhance the potentialities of GSNO and AgNPs in biomedical applications, the NO donor and metallic nanoparticles were individually or simultaneously incorporated into polymeric solid films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The resulting solid nanocomposites were characterized by several techniques, and the diffusion profiles of GSNO and AgNPs were investigated. The results demonstrated the formation of homogeneous PVA/PEG solid films containing GSNO and nanoscale AgNPs that are distributed in the polymeric matrix. PVA/PEG films containing AgNPs demonstrated a potent antibacterial effect against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. GSNO-containing PVA/PEG films demonstrated toxicity toward human cervical carcinoma and human prostate cancer cell lines. Interestingly, the incorporation of AgNPs in PVA/PEG/GSNO films had a superior effect on the decrease of cell viability of both cancer cell lines, compared with cells treated with films containing GSNO or AgNPs individually. To our best knowledge, this is the first report to describe the preparation of PVA/PEG solid films containing GSNO and/or biogenically synthesized AgNPs. These polymeric films might find important biomedical applications as a solid material with antimicrobial and antitumorigenic properties11665896604CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informaçãosem informação2016/10347-6; 2018/02832-