Anti-inflammatory effects of methanolic extract of green algae Caulerpa mexicana in a murine model of ulcerative colitis

Inflammatory bowel diseases, which include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are characterized by chronic and relapsed gut inflammation. Caulerpa mexicana is a type of green marine algae that can be found in tropical areas, such as the Brazilian Coastland. These macrophytes exhibit in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties such as the ability to reduce both cell migration to different sites and edema formation induced by chemical irritants. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the C. mexicana methanolic extract on the treatment of colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate. Acute experimental colitis was induced in BALB/c mice by treatment with 3% dextran sodium sulfate orally for 14 days. During this 14-day period, C. mexicana methanolic extract (2 mg/kg/day) was given intravenously on alternate days. Treatment with the methanolic extract significantly attenuated body weight loss and severe clinical symptoms. This was associated with a remarkable amelioration of colonic architecture disruption and a significant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokine production. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory action of C. mexicana methanolic extract on colorectal sites may be a useful therapeutic approach for inflammatory bowel diseases

Taxonomia e variação geográfica das espécies do gênero Alouatta Lacépède (Primates, Atelidae) no Brasil Taxonomy and geographic variation of species of the genus Alouatta Lacépède (Primates, Atelidae) in Brazil

Neste estudo analisou-se a variação geográfica e não-geográfica de táxons de bugios, gênero Alouatta Lacépède, 1799, que ocorrem no Brasil, com o objetivo de esclarecer a taxonomia do grupo. Para a análise morfológica, examinou-se um total de 1.286 espécimes mantidos em cinco museus brasileiros e dois norte-americanos. O material consistiu basicamente de peles, crânios e ossos hióides; esqueletos e espécimes preservados em via úmida foram escassos. O estudo se baseou na análise qualitativa dos complexos morfológicos em adição a 18 morfométicos do crânio e osso hióide. Antes das decisões taxonômicas, elaborou-se um estudo de variação geográfica, sexual, ontogenética e individual. Reconheceu-se 10 espécies de Alouatta ocorrendo no Brasil, sendo a maioria definida por caracteres discretos, porém diagnósticos. São elas: Alouatta caraya (Humboldt, 1812), A. fusca (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1812), A. clamitans Cabrera, 1940, A. belzebul (Linnaeus, 1766), A. discolor (Spix, 1823), A. ululata Elliot, 1912; A. juara (Linnaeus, 1766), A. macconnelli (Humboldt, 1812), A. puruensis Lönnberg, 1941 e A. nigerrima Lönnberg, 1941. Alouatta macconnelli e A. clamitans mostraram notável variação geográfica na coloração da pelagem e algumas variáveis morfométricas (polimorfismo) o que dificultou as definições e limites dos táxons. Alouatta belzebul apresentou variação em mosaico na coloração da pelagem. Alouatta ululata e A. puruensis foram definidas pela presença de dicromatismo sexual na pelagem, mas este caráter pode ser um artefato e necessita estudos adicionais para corroborar sua validade. Sinonimizou-se Alouatta belzebul mexianae Hagmann, 1908 com A. discolor; e a validade de Alouatta seniculus amazonica Lönnberg 1941, não foi considerada.<br>In this monograph, was studied non-geographic and geographic variation of taxa of Howling Monkeys, genus Alouatta Lacépède, 1799, occuring in Brazil, in order to solve the taxonomy of the group. For the morphological analysis, were examined a total of 1,286 specimens kept in five Brazilian and two North-American museums. The material consisted mostly of skin, skull and hyoid bone; skeleton or fluid-preserved specimens were scarse. The study was based on qualitative analysis of the morphological complexes in addition 18 morphometric characters of the skull and hyoid bone. Prior to making taxonomic decisions, was conducted a study of geographic, sexual, ontogenetic, and individual variation. Were recognized ten species of Alouatta occuring in Brazil and most of them were defined by discrete, but diagnostic characters. The species are: Alouatta caraya (Humboldt, 1812), A. fusca (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1812), A. clamitans Cabrera, 1940, A. belzebul (Linnaeus, 1766), A. discolor (Spix, 1823), A. ululata Elliot, 1912; A. juara (Linnaeus, 1766), A. macconnelli (Humboldt, 1812), A. puruensis Lönnberg, 1941, and A. nigerrima Lönnberg, 1941. Alouatta macconnelli and A. clamitans showed noticeable geographic variation on pelage coloration and some morphometric characters (polymorphism) difficulting their definition and geographic limits. Alouatta belzebul presented an accentuated geographic mosaic variation on coat coloration. Alouatta ululata and A. puruensis were defined in presenting sexual dicromism on pelage, but this character can be an artefate due the small sample and both taxa need further studies to confirm their validity. Alouatta belzebul mexianae Hagmann, 1908 was sinonimized with A. discolor; and the validity of Alouatta seniculus amazonica Lönnberg 1941 was not considered

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

Critical care usage after major gastrointestinal and liver surgery: a prospective, multicentre observational study

Background Patient selection for critical care admission must balance patient safety with optimal resource allocation. This study aimed to determine the relationship between critical care admission, and postoperative mortality after abdominal surgery. Methods This prespecified secondary analysis of a multicentre, prospective, observational study included consecutive patients enrolled in the DISCOVER study from UK and Republic of Ireland undergoing major gastrointestinal and liver surgery between October and December 2014. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore associations between critical care admission (planned and unplanned) and mortality, and inter-centre variation in critical care admission after emergency laparotomy. Results Of 4529 patients included, 37.8% (n=1713) underwent planned critical care admissions from theatre. Some 3.1% (n=86/2816) admitted to ward-level care subsequently underwent unplanned critical care admission. Overall 30-day mortality was 2.9% (n=133/4519), and the risk-adjusted association between 30-day mortality and critical care admission was higher in unplanned [odds ratio (OR): 8.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.51–19.97) than planned admissions (OR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.43–3.85). Some 26.7% of patients (n=1210/4529) underwent emergency laparotomies. After adjustment, 49.3% (95% CI: 46.8–51.9%, P<0.001) were predicted to have planned critical care admissions, with 7% (n=10/145) of centres outside the 95% CI. Conclusions After risk adjustment, no 30-day survival benefit was identified for either planned or unplanned postoperative admissions to critical care within this cohort. This likely represents appropriate admission of the highest-risk patients. Planned admissions in selected, intermediate-risk patients may present a strategy to mitigate the risk of unplanned admission. Substantial inter-centre variation exists in planned critical care admissions after emergency laparotomies

Body mass index and complications following major gastrointestinal surgery: A prospective, international cohort study and meta-analysis

Aim Previous studies reported conflicting evidence on the effects of obesity on outcomes after gastrointestinal surgery. The aims of this study were to explore the relationship of obesity with major postoperative complications in an international cohort and to present a metaanalysis of all available prospective data. Methods This prospective, multicentre study included adults undergoing both elective and emergency gastrointestinal resection, reversal of stoma or formation of stoma. The primary end-point was 30-day major complications (Clavien–Dindo Grades III–V). A systematic search was undertaken for studies assessing the relationship between obesity and major complications after gastrointestinal surgery. Individual patient meta-analysis was used to analyse pooled results. Results This study included 2519 patients across 127 centres, of whom 560 (22.2%) were obese. Unadjusted major complication rates were lower in obese vs normal weight patients (13.0% vs 16.2%, respectively), but this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.863) on multivariate analysis for patients having surgery for either malignant or benign conditions. Individual patient meta-analysis demonstrated that obese patients undergoing surgery formalignancy were at increased risk of major complications (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.49–2.96, P < 0.001), whereas obese patients undergoing surgery for benign indications were at decreased risk (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46–0.75, P < 0.001) compared to normal weight patients. Conclusions In our international data, obesity was not found to be associated with major complications following gastrointestinal surgery. Meta-analysis of available prospective data made a novel finding of obesity being associated with different outcomes depending on whether patients were undergoing surgery for benign or malignant disease