General anesthetics in children: neurotoxic or neuroprotective?

Introduction: general anesthetics are involved in neuroprotection in adults after ischemic events and cognitive impairment, thus, they also may be associated with learning disorders in children exposed to them before three years of age. Objective: Describe about the neurotoxic effects of general anesthetics in experimental animals and children. Method: This is a systematic review, performed from search in databases and on PubMed using the keywords "neurotoxicity" and "general anesthetics," and "general anesthetics," "neurotoxicity", "children", "young child "and" pediatric ". Results: The search resulted in 185 articles. Out of these, 78 met our inclusion criteria. We found that there was a significant evidence of neurotoxicity induced by general anesthetics in experimental animals that were just born, resulting in late and permanent cognitive deficits. This effect was associated with multiple exposures, exposure length of time and combination of drugs. However, some studies found cognitive impairment after a single exposure to anesthetic. Conclusion: There is insufficient evidence to state that general anesthetics are neurotoxic and have the potential to trigger learning and behavior disabilities in children. However, we suggest caution in indicating surgery in children under three years old, analyzing risk-benefit and inserting the family in the decision process.   Keywords: Neurotoxicity; Neuroprotection; Cognitive Impairment; Children; General Anesthesics     &nbsp

ESTABILIDADE AERÓBICA E QUALIDADE DE SILAGENS DE CAPIM-ELEFANTE CONTENDO NÍVEIS DE RESÍDUO DE AÇAÍ

The objective of this study is to evaluate the elephant grass silage with different levels of inclusion of açaí residue on the fermentative quality and aerobic stability. For this purpose 20 silos (SE) were made, 04 per treatment. The elephant grass and the residue of açaí berry were mixed at the time of the silage. The experimental design was completely in randomized design in five levels of inclusion, 0; 10; 20; 30 and 40% of industrial residue of açaí. The SE were opened in 30 days and samples were collected for bromatological analysis. The content of dry matter (DM) increased by 10.8% in 0 to 40% of silages of inclusion of the residue. At every 1% of added residue, organic matter content increased 0.063%. At temperatures of the silages there was linear reduction (P < 0.05) of 0.028% with the addition of the açaí residue of açaí. Silages with 20 and 30% of residue of açaí remained for a longer period within the ideal range of pH, 3.82 and 3.98 at 60 and 72 hours, respectively. Silages with 10, 20, 30, 40% presented the highest aerobic stability, because they reached 2° C elevation in relation to room temperature, with 12 hours of exposure to oxygen. However, the silage without inclusion of açaí residue remained stable for only 1 hour. All treatments with residue of açaí provided silages with sensory, fermentative features and MS content that tank them as having good quality, especially the treatment with 20% of açaí residue, as it presents the best results of the analyzed variables.El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar el ensilaje de hierba de elefante con diferentes niveles de inclusión de residuos de açaí en la calidad fermentativa y la estabilidad aeróbica. Para esto, se realizaron 20 silos experimentales (SE), 04 por tratamiento. La hierba de elefante y los residuos de açaí se mezclaron en el momento del ensilado. El diseño utilizado fue completamente al azar en cinco niveles de inclusión, 0; 10; 20; 30 y 40% de los residuos agroindustriales de açaí. Los SE se abrieron después de 30 días y se tomaron muestras para análisis bromatológicos. El contenido de materia seca (MS) aumentó hasta un 10,8% en ensilajes del 0 al 40% de inclusión del residuo. Por cada 1% de residuo agregado, el contenido de materia orgánica aumentó en un 0.063%. En las temperaturas de los ensilajes hubo una reducción lineal (P <0.05) de 0.028% con la adición del residuo de açaí. Los ensilajes con 20 y 30% de residuo de Açaí permanecieron por más tiempo dentro del rango de pH ideal, 3.82 y 3.98 a las 60 y 72 horas, respectivamente. Los ensilajes con 10, 20, 30, 40% mostraron la mayor estabilidad aeróbica, ya que alcanzaron una elevación de 2 ° C en relación con la temperatura ambiente, con 12 horas de exposición al oxígeno. Sin embargo, el ensilaje sin incluir residuos de Açaí permaneció estable durante solo 1 hora. Todos los tratamientos con residuo de Açaí proporcionaron ensilajes con características sensoriales, fermentativas y contenido de MS que los clasifica como de buena calidad, destacando el tratamiento con 20% de residuo de Açaí, para presentar los mejores resultados de las variables analizadas.Objetivou-se nesta pesquisa avaliar a silagem de capim-elefante com diferentes níveis de inclusão de resíduo de açaí sobre a qualidade fermentativa e a estabilidade aeróbia. Para isso foram confeccionados 20 silos experimentais (SE), 04 por tratamento. O capim-elefante e o resíduo de açaí foram misturados no momento da ensilagem. O delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado em cinco níveis de inclusão, 0; 10; 20; 30 e 40% do resíduo agroindustrial do açaí. Os SE foram abertos com 30 dias e colhidas amostras para análise bromatológica. O teor de matéria seca (MS) aumentou em até 10,8% nas silagens de 0 a 40% de inclusão do resíduo. A cada 1% de resíduo adicionado, o teor de matéria orgânica apresentou acréscimo de 0,063%. Nas temperaturas das silagens houve redução (P<0,05) linear de 0,028% com a adição do resíduo de açaí. As silagens com 20 e 30% de resíduo do açaí permaneceram por mais tempos dentro da faixa ideal de pH, 3,82 e 3,98 às 60 e 72 horas, respectivamente. As silagens com 10, 20, 30, 40% apresentaram a maior estabilidade aeróbia, pois atingiram elevação de 2°C em relação à temperatura ambiente, com 12 horas de exposição ao oxigênio. Porém, a silagem sem inclusão do resíduo de açaí manteve-se estável por apenas 1 hora. Todos os tratamentos com resíduo de açaí proporcionaram silagens com características sensoriais, fermentativas e teor de MS que as classificam como de boa qualidade, destacando-se o tratamento com 20% de resíduo de açaí, por apresentar os melhores resultados das variáveis analisadas

Alimentação de cães e gatos cardiopatas

Atualmente se reconhece a importância do manejo alimentar no auxílio de prevenção de algumas doenças e muita das vezes da sua cura. Com isso, objetivou-se avaliar na literatura o manejo na alimentação de cães e gatos condicionados ao problema cardíaco. Problemas do coração são uma das maiores causas de morte em alguns pets, facilitando a falência de outros órgãos e ainda podendo provocar outros tipos de doença. De acordo com as pesquisas foi observado um avanço na dieta desses animais, sendo que o comércio hoje disponibiliza alimentação específica para cardiopatas, com níveis adequados de nutrientes essenciais. É importante observar as quantidades principalmente de sódio, magnésio e taurina, além de outros considerados importantes para a manutenção de cães e gatos. Diversos trabalhos disponibilizam ainda outras opções como a dieta caseira, no entanto, tendo auxílio de um especialista em nutrição

Pentoxifylline reduces the inflammatory process in diabetic rats: relationship with decreases of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase

Studies suggest that inflammation is a key factor in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha, are produced by adipose tissue in large quantities, in obese and especially in diabetic individuals. Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions that may contribute to alleviate diabetes side effects, as neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy. This study aims to investigate PTX anti-inflammatory effects on the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic animals (male Wistar rats, 200–250 g) were daily treated with PTX (25, 50, 100 mg/kg, p.o.), glibenclamide (GLI, 5 mg/kg, p.o., as reference) or water, for 5 days. Afterwards, carrageenan-treated paws were dissected, their skin removed and the tissue used for preparation of homogenates and measurements of IL-6 and TNF-alpha by Elisa. Serum levels of nitrite were also determined and paw slices used for iNOS immunohistochemistry assays. We showed that diabetic rats presented an amplification of the inflammatory response, as related to non-diabetic rats, what was evident 48 h after the edema-induction. The PTX-treatment of diabetic rats reduced glycemia (as related to untreated-diabetic ones) and the paw edema. It also brought edema volumes to values similar to those of non-diabetic rats, at the same observation time. The increased TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in paws of untreated-diabetic rats were reduced in diabetic animals after PTX treatments. Besides, the increased levels of nitrite in the serum of diabetic rats were also decreased by PTX. Furthermore, a higher number of iNOS immunostained cells was demonstrated in paw tissues from untreated-diabetic rats, as related to those of PTX-treated diabetic animals. Our results show that PTX reduces inflammatory parameters, as pro-inflammatory cytokines and iNOS expression, indicating the potential benefit of the drug for the treatment of diabetes and related pathologic conditions

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora

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