Sexual dimorphism, female fertility, and diet of Physalaemus feioi (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from southeastern Brazil

Physalaemus feioi é uma rã da América do Sul, endêmica da Mata Atlântica, registrada nos estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo. Avaliamos o dimorfismo sexual, a fertilidade nas fêmeas e dieta dessa espécie em duas localidades do estado de Minas Gerais, incluindo a localidade-tipo da espécie. Coletamos 73 indivíduos (16 fêmeas adultas e 57 machos adultos) por meio de busca ativa. O número de oócitos encontrados para P. feioi (x̅ = 1385 ± 498,13) foi alto quando comparado com outras espécies do gênero como P. maculiventris, P. signifer, P. cuvieri e P. ephippifer mas este semelha o número de oócitos de P. centralis, P. kroyeri e P. marmoratus. As presas com maior índice de importância foram Coleoptera (IIR = 24,26) e Formicidae (IIR = 16,46). Não houve diferenças entre machos e fêmeas quanto ao número de presas ingeridas e nem o volume do conteúdo estomacal. Em resumo, Physalaemus feioi teve semelhanças com outras espécies do gênero em relação ao dimorfismo sexual, fecundidade e hábitos alimentares.Physalaemus feioi is a South American frog endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest that occurs in the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. We evaluated sexual dimorphism, female fertility, and diet of P. feioi from two locations in the state of Minas Gerais, including the type locality of the species. We collected 73 individuals (16 adult females and 57 adult males). The number of oocytes of P. feioi (x̅ = 1385 ±498.13) was higher than in other species of the genus, such as P. maculiventris, P. signifer, P. cuvieri, and P. ephippifer, but it resembles that of P. centralis, P. kroyeri, and P. marmoratus. The prey items with the highest index of importance were Coleoptera (IIR = 24.26) and Formicidae (IIR = 16.46). We found no sex differences regarding the number of ingested prey and the volume of the stomach contents. In summary, Physalaemus feioi was similar to other species of the genus regarding sexual dimorphism, fecundity, and feeding habits

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Effects of Dimilin® insecticide in gills morphology of males and females of Hyphessobrycon eques adults (Steindachner, 1882)

O uso intensivo de agrotóxicos na agricultura tem levado à contaminação dos ambientes aquáticos. O diflubenzuron (Dimilin®) é um inseticida bastante usado em áreas agrícolas no combate a pragas de insetos e tem sido frequentemente utilizado nas pisciculturas devido à sua eficácia no controle de ectoparasitas em peixes. O uso indiscriminado deste inseticida nas pisciculturas pode resultar em toxicidade causando danos à saúde dos peixes. O objetivo desse trabalho foi discriminar a possível influência do sexo dos peixes em resposta à ação do inseticida Dimilin®, e determinar se a exposição subletal a este inseticida causa alterações na morfologia das brânquias de machos e fêmeas de Hyphessobrycon eques. Os peixes foram expostos às concentrações de 0,01, 0,1 e 1,0 mg.L-1 de Dimilin® por 96 h e 17 dias. No experimento de 96 h foi realizada uma única aplicação do tóxico na água, e no experimento de 17 dias foram realizadas duas aplicações, sendo uma no primeiro dia e a outra no quarto dia de experimento. Ao final do experimento, amostras do tecido branquial de 10 animais de cada grupo foram coletados e processados para estudo histológico. Foram analisados dados morfométricos e histopatológicos em 10 campos por animal. A análise da água mostrou-se em conformidade com as condições de cultivo e criação de peixes tropicais. Alterações histológicas foram encontradas nas brânquias de machos e fêmeas de H. eques. As análises histopatológicas e morfométricas mostraram diferenças estatísticas (P0,05) após exposição a concentrações subletais do inseticida Dimilin®. Os resultados mostraram que mesmo nas concentrações mais baixas, o inseticida causou alterações morfológicas leves a moderadas nas brânquias de machos e fêmeas, comprometendo a função deste tecido. Assim, H. eques pode ser considerado bioindicador da contaminação ambiental por Dimilin®, e ser utilizado como modelo em ensaios toxicológicos e avaliações ambientais.The intensive use of pesticides in agriculture has caused contamination of aquatic environments. Diflubenzuron (Dimilin®) is a widely used insecticide for agricultural areas in combating insect pests, and has been frequently used in fish farms due to its effectiveness in the control of fish ectoparasites. The indiscriminate use of this pesticide in pisciculture can result in toxicity causing fish health problems. The aim of this study to discriminate the possible influence of sex of the fish in response to the action of Dimilin®, to determine whether sublethal exposure to this pesticide causes changes in the morphology of the gills of male and female Hyphessobrycon eques. The fish were exposed to concentrations of 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg.L-1 Dimilin® for 96 hours and 17 days. In the 96 hour experiment a single application of toxic in water was carried out and in the 17 days experiment two applications were performed, one one the first day and another on the fourth day of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, gill tissue samples of 10 animals from each group were collected and processed for histological study. Morphometric and histopathological findings in 10 fields per animal were analyzed. Analysis of the water showed in to be in accordance with the conditions for cultivation and creation of tropical fish. Histological changes were found in the gills of male and female Hyphessobrycon eques. Histologic and morphometric analyses showed significant differences (P0.05) after exposure to sublethal concentrations of insecticide Dimilin®. The results showed that even at lower concentrations the insecticide caused mild to moderate morphological changes in the gills of males and females, compromising tissue function. So, Hyphessonbrycon eques can be considered bioindicator of environmental contamination by Dimilin® and be used as a model in toxicological tests and environmental assessments.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superio

O inseticida Thiodan® sobre o desenvolvimento folicular de lambaris

O Thiodan(r) é um organoclorado a base de endosulfan que pode causar alterações morfológicas nos tecidos de peixes, dependendo da concentração e tempo de exposição. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a CL50-96h do Thiodan(r) (endosulfan 350g L-1) para fêmeas de lambaris Astyanax bimaculatus em período de reprodução e analisar a morfologia do desenvolvimento folicular em diferentes concentrações do agrotóxico. Foram feitos quatro experimentos: 1) sem aclimatação e sem alimentação; 2) sem aclimatação e alimentados; 3) com aclimatação de 10 dias e sem alimentação; 4) com aclimatação de 10 dias e alimentados. A CL50-96h determinada foi de 13,6µg L-1, com intervalo de confiança de 10,1 a 18,4µg L-1 (P<0,05). Em todos os experimentos, foram utilizadas três concentrações diferentes do Thiodan(r) inferiores à CL50-96h pré-determinada em laboratório de acordo com a NBR 15088 (ABNT, 2007). Os lambaris foram expostos ao Thiodan(r) por 96 horas em três concentrações subletais de 1,15; 2,3 e 5,6µg L-1 e um grupo controle, livre de agrotóxico. Morfologicamente, percebeu-se que a ação do Thiodan(r) nas concentrações subletais não alterou a morfologia do desenvolvimento folicular. Porém, o diâmetro folicular nos folículos secundários no experimento com aclimatação/com alimentação expostos ao Thiodan(r) foi maior em relação ao grupo controle (P<0,05). Esses dados sugerem que a reprodução pode ser afetada pelo produto químico e pode causar comprometimento no desenvolvimento folicula

Pathological and histometric analysis of the gills of female Hyphessobrycon eques (Teleostei:Characidae) exposed to different concentrations of the insecticide Dimilin®

Female individuals of Hyphessobrycon eques were exposed to Diflubenzuron (Dimilin®) in order to determine whether exposure to sublethal levels of this insecticide causes changes in gill morphology. Fish were exposed to 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg L−1 for 96 h and 17 days and then submitted to pathological and histometric evaluation. Pathological lesions, such as hyperplasia, lamellar fusion, vascular congestion, secondary lamellar disarray, vasodilatation, hemorrhage and increased lamellar epithelium, were significantly more common in the gills of fish exposed to Dimilin® than the control. Histometric analysis documented significant changes in blood vessel diameter, primary lamellae width and secondary lamellae length, and the appearance of hemorrhage foci in all concentrations tested. Even at low Dimilin® concentrations, the histopathological alteration index was mild to moderate, thereby indicating that the function of this tissue was compromised. These findings indicate that indiscriminate use of Dimilin® can adversely affect the structural integrity of the gills of H. eques, which can cause numerous problems for fish farming systems

Reduction of cardiac imaging tests during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Italy. Findings from the IAEA Non-invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Background: In early 2020, COVID-19 massively hit Italy, earlier and harder than any other European country. This caused a series of strict containment measures, aimed at blocking the spread of the pandemic. Healthcare delivery was also affected when resources were diverted towards care of COVID-19 patients, including intensive care wards. Aim of the study: The aim is assessing the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac imaging in Italy, compare to the Rest of Europe (RoE) and the World (RoW). Methods: A global survey was conducted in May–June 2020 worldwide, through a questionnaire distributed online. The survey covered three periods: March and April 2020, and March 2019. Data from 52 Italian centres, a subset of the 909 participating centres from 108 countries, were analyzed. Results: In Italy, volumes decreased by 67% in March 2020, compared to March 2019, as opposed to a significantly lower decrease (p &lt; 0.001) in RoE and RoW (41% and 40%, respectively). A further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 summed up to 76% for the North, 77% for the Centre and 86% for the South. When compared to the RoE and RoW, this further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 in Italy was significantly less (p = 0.005), most likely reflecting the earlier effects of the containment measures in Italy, taken earlier than anywhere else in the West. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic massively hit Italy and caused a disruption of healthcare services, including cardiac imaging studies. This raises concern about the medium- and long-term consequences for the high number of patients who were denied timely diagnoses and the subsequent lifesaving therapies and procedures

International Impact of COVID-19 on the Diagnosis of Heart Disease

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases. Its effects on delivery of diagnostic care for cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death worldwide, have not been quantified. Objectives: The study sought to assess COVID-19's impact on global cardiovascular diagnostic procedural volumes and safety practices. Methods: The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations in cardiovascular procedure volumes and safety practices resulting from COVID-19. Noninvasive and invasive cardiac testing volumes were obtained from participating sites for March and April 2020 and compared with those from March 2019. Availability of personal protective equipment and pandemic-related testing practice changes were ascertained. Results: Surveys were submitted from 909 inpatient and outpatient centers performing cardiac diagnostic procedures, in 108 countries. Procedure volumes decreased 42% from March 2019 to March 2020, and 64% from March 2019 to April 2020. Transthoracic echocardiography decreased by 59%, transesophageal echocardiography 76%, and stress tests 78%, which varied between stress modalities. Coronary angiography (invasive or computed tomography) decreased 55% (p &lt; 0.001 for each procedure). In multivariable regression, significantly greater reduction in procedures occurred for centers in countries with lower gross domestic product. Location in a low-income and lower–middle-income country was associated with an additional 22% reduction in cardiac procedures and less availability of personal protective equipment and telehealth. Conclusions: COVID-19 was associated with a significant and abrupt reduction in cardiovascular diagnostic testing across the globe, especially affecting the world's economically challenged. Further study of cardiovascular outcomes and COVID-19–related changes in care delivery is warranted

Impact of COVID-19 on Diagnostic Cardiac Procedural Volume in Oceania: The IAEA Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Objectives: The INCAPS COVID Oceania study aimed to assess the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac procedure volume provided in the Oceania region. Methods: A retrospective survey was performed comparing procedure volumes within March 2019 (pre-COVID-19) with April 2020 (during first wave of COVID-19 pandemic). Sixty-three (63) health care facilities within Oceania that perform cardiac diagnostic procedures were surveyed, including a mixture of metropolitan and regional, hospital and outpatient, public and private sites, and 846 facilities outside of Oceania. The percentage change in procedure volume was measured between March 2019 and April 2020, compared by test type and by facility. Results: In Oceania, the total cardiac diagnostic procedure volume was reduced by 52.2% from March 2019 to April 2020, compared to a reduction of 75.9% seen in the rest of the world (p&lt;0.001). Within Oceania sites, this reduction varied significantly between procedure types, but not between types of health care facility. All procedure types (other than stress cardiac magnetic resonance [CMR] and positron emission tomography [PET]) saw significant reductions in volume over this time period (p&lt;0.001). In Oceania, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) decreased by 51.6%, transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) by 74.0%, and stress tests by 65% overall, which was more pronounced for stress electrocardiograph (ECG) (81.8%) and stress echocardiography (76.7%) compared to stress single-photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT) (44.3%). Invasive coronary angiography decreased by 36.7% in Oceania. Conclusion: A significant reduction in cardiac diagnostic procedure volume was seen across all facility types in Oceania and was likely a function of recommendations from cardiac societies and directives from government to minimise spread of COVID-19 amongst patients and staff. Longer term evaluation is important to assess for negative patient outcomes which may relate to deferral of usual models of care within cardiology