MUDANÇAS CLIMÁTICAS: DESAFIOS E OPORTUNIDADES PARA A CONSERVAÇÃO DA BIODIVERSIDADE BRASILEIRA

A realidade das mudanças climáticas pelas quais o planeta está passando é inequívoca, assim como a influência humana nesse processo. O Painel Intergovernamental sobre Mudanças Climáticas das Nacões Unidas prevê mudanças climáticas substanciais para a região Neotropical. De fato, os impactos dessas mudanças climáticas sobre a biodiversidade da região já estão sendo sentidos: colapso de ecossistemas de corais no Caribe, retração de glaciares nos Andes e eventos extremos de seca na Amazônia. Embora haja um corpo substancial de conhecimento em torno dos possíveis impactos das mudanças climáticas sobre as formações florestais brasileiras, sobretudo as amazônicas, estudos dos impactos sobre elementos da biodiversidade do país são praticamente inexistentes. Nos últimos 20 anos foram publicados apenas dois artigos científicos em periódicos indexados na base do Thompson Institute for Scientific Information (ISI). Essa lacuna de conhecimento impossibilita a elaboração de quaisquer estratégias de adaptação às mudanças climáticas visando à conservação da biodiversidade brasileira. A comunidade científica e as agências de fomento à pesquisa, portanto, devem começar a priorizar estudos dessa natureza. O Brasil, no entanto, não deve se concentrar apenas em estratégias de ‘adaptação', pois existe grande potencial no país para ações de ‘mitigação' das mudanças climáticas em andamento. Apesar da sua matriz energética limpa, o país figura entre os maiores emissores mundiais de gases de efeito estufa, devido às enormes emissões associadas ao desmatamento. Uma questão de primeira ordem é a histórica oposição do país à incorporação de ‘desmatamento evitado' como um dos Mecanismos de Desenvolvimento Limpo do Protocolo de Kyoto. É importante que a comunidade científica brasileira ligada à conservação participe ativamente desse debate, cujas conseqüências para a biodiversidade são bastante graves

DESLOCAMENTO NA MATRIZ PARA ESPÉCIES DA MATA ATLÂNTICA E A DIFICULDADE DA CONSTRUÇÃO DE PERFIS ECOLÓGICOS

INTER-HABITAT MOVIMENT FOR ATLANTIC FOREST SPECIES AND THE DIFICULTY TO BUILD ECOPROFILES. Few studies have evaluated the animals' capacity of inter-patch movement, which contributed to the buildup over the years of approaches that use a target species to represent and protect the local biodiversity. Recently, the ‘ecoprofiles' approach, seeks to fill some gaps left by other approaches. The ecoprofiles taking into account three main characteristics (type of ecosystem, area requirements and capacity of inter-patch movement) of target species, which may serve as representatives of a range of species that do not possess such information and demanding ‘similar' ecological requirements. Here, we performed a scientometric study on the subject of inter-patch movement, focusing on Atlantic Forest species. We also evaluated the possible use of ecoprofiles approach for this biome. In a general view, Brazil contributed with 0.005% to the total of  published articles worldwide on the subject, which permit to conclude that the Brazilian contribution on the subject is still recent and restricted. Focusing in the Atlantic Forest biome, we found 24 papers published until January 2010, 15 of which presented explicit results on inter-patch movement for Atlantic Forest species. Among these 15 papers, the most common objective was to evaluate the species' dispersal capacity (the capacity to cross the matrix from one remnant forest to another). The non-volant mammals were the most frequent group in the articles and the birds showed the highest number of species studied. Only birds and small mammals were studied, probably because they are easily found and captured in remnant forests. This fact resulted in low values of inter-patch movement found for Atlantic Forest species. Moreover, this contribution presents a strong regional bias, since the state of Rio de Janeiro contributed all information about the subject for non-volant mammals and São Paulo for birds. Considering all the studies analyzed, although several aspects of the issue have been addressed, it is clear that knowledge about the ability to shift in the matrix is still very restricted. This fact, coupled with the lack of information on area requirements of the species, makes it virtually impossible to apply the ecoprofiles approach for the Atlantic Forest, at least in the short term.Keywords: Functional connectivity; gap crossing; perceptual range; Landscape Ecology; scientometrics.DESPLAZAMIENTO DE ESPECIES DEL BOSQUE ATLANTICO ENTRE PARCHES DE UNA MATRIZ Y LA DIFICULTAD DE CONSTRUIR PERFILES ECOLOGICOS. Pocos estudios han evaluado la capacidad de desplazamiento de especies entre parches de una matriz, que hayan contribuido a mejorar las aproximaciones que usan una especie blanco para representar y proteger la biodiversidad local. Recientemente, la aproximación de los “perfiles ecológicos” busca llenar algunos vacios dejados por otras aproximaciones. Esta tiene en consideración tres características principales de las especies blanco (tipo de ecosistema, requerimientos de área y capacidad de desplazamiento en la matriz), que pueden ser representativas de una gama de especies para la que no se posea información y tengan “similares” requerimientos ecológicos. En este trabajo realizamos un estudio cienciométrico sobre el desplazamiento entre parches de una matriz, enfocado en especies del Bosque Atlántico y evaluamos el uso posible de la aproximación de perfiles publicado mundialmente para este bioma. La contribución de Brasil es reciente y reducida. Para el Bosque Atlántico, encontramos 24 artículos publicados hasta enero del 2010, de los cuales solo 15 presentaron resultados explícitos de desplazamientos en la matriz para este bioma. De estos 15, el objetivo más común fue evaluar la dispersión de especies (capacidad de atravesar una matriz pasando de un hábitat a otro). Los mamíferos no voladores fueron el grupo más frecuente en los trabajos y las aves constituyeron el mayor número de especies estudiadas. Probablemente,  por la mayor facilidad de captura y mayor ocurrencia en los parches boscosos, solo las aves y pequeños mamíferos fueron estudiados, lo que dio como resultado bajos valores de desplazamiento en la matriz para especies del Bosque Atlántico. Además, esta contribución muestra un fuerte sesgo regional ya que el estado de Río de Janeiro contribuye con toda la información sobre la temática para los mamíferos no voladores y Sao Paulo para las aves. Teniendo en consideración todos los estudios analizados, si bien algunos aspectos sobre la temática han sido considerados, se hace evidente que el conocimiento sobre la capacidad de desplazamiento de especies entre parches de una matriz es muy restringido. Este hecho junto con la carencia de información sobre requerimientos de área de las especies, hace prácticamente imposible aplicar la aproximación de los “perfiles ecológicos” en el Bosque Atlántico, al menos en el corto plazo. Palabras clave: Conectividad funcional; gap crossing; rango perceptual; Ecología del Paisaje; cienciometría.Poucos estudos têm avaliado a capacidade de deslocamento das espécies na matriz, o que contribuiu para o acúmulo ao longo dos anos de abordagens que utilizavam uma espécie alvo para representar e proteger a biodiversidade local, sendo a de perfis ecológicos a mais recente. Nesse estudo, realizamos um estudo cienciométrico com enfoque na temática deslocamento na matriz para espécies que ocorrem na Mata Atlântica e avaliamos o possível uso da abordagem de perfis ecológicos para o bioma. Em uma visão geral, o Brasil contribui com menos de 0,005% do que é publicado mundialmente sobre a temática. Com relação à Mata Atlântica, ao todo 24 artigos foram selecionados até janeiro de 2010, sendo que apenas 15 apresentaram valores explícitos de deslocamento na matriz para espécies desse bioma. Os mamíferos não-voadores foram os mais estudados e o grupo das aves foi o que apresentou o maior número de espécies estudadas. Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo são os estados que contribuem com a maior parte do conhecimento sobre a temática. Dentre os 15 artigos que apresentaram resultados explícitos sobre deslocamento na matriz, o objetivo mais comum foi avaliar a dispersão de espécies entre fragmentos florestais. A abordagem de perfis ecológicos não pode ser utilizada para a Mata Atlântica, já que não há informação suficiente sobre a capacidade de dispersão das espécies e das exigências de habitat, que é outra variável contida na abordagem. Podemos concluir que a contribuição brasileira sobre a temática é ínfima e recente, acarretando em baixos valores de deslocamento encontrados para espécies da Mata Atlântica, já que apenas aves e mamíferos de pequeno porte foram estudados. Isso ocorre por serem facilmente capturados e encontrados em fragmentos florestais, além de sofrerem um forte viés regional, já que o estado do Rio de Janeiro contribui com toda a informação sobre a temática para os mamíferos não-voadores e São Paulo para o grupo das aves. Considerando todos os estudos, diversos aspectos sobre a temática foram enfocados, no entanto, o conhecimento sobre o assunto ainda é muito restrito, o que torna a abordagem de perfis ecológicos inadequada para a Mata Atlântica

Glucokinase (GCK) Mutations and Their Characterization in MODY2 Children of Southern Italy

Type 2 Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY2) is a monogenic autosomal disease characterized by a primary defect in insulin secretion and hyperglycemia. It results from GCK gene mutations that impair enzyme activity. Between 2006 and 2010, we investigated GCK mutations in 66 diabetic children from southern Italy with suspected MODY2. Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (DHPLC) and sequence analysis revealed 19 GCK mutations in 28 children, six of which were novel: p.Glu40Asp, p.Val154Leu, p.Arg447Glyfs, p.Lys458_Cys461del, p.Glu395_Arg397del and c.580-2A>T. We evaluated the effect of these 19 mutations using bioinformatic tools such as Polymorphism Phenotyping (Polyphen), Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant (SIFT) and in silico modelling. We also conducted a functional study to evaluate the pathogenic significance of seven mutations that are among the most severe mutations found in our population, and have never been characterized: p.Glu70Asp, p.His137Asp, p.Phe150Tyr, p.Val154Leu, p.Gly162Asp, p.Arg303Trp and p.Arg392Ser. These seven mutations, by altering one or more kinetic parameters, reduced enzyme catalytic activity by >40%. All mutations except p.Glu70Asp displayed thermal-instability, indeed >50% of enzyme activity was lost at 50°C/30 min. Thus, these seven mutations play a pathogenic role in MODY2 insurgence. In conclusion, this report revealed six novel GCK mutations and sheds some light on the structure-function relationship of human GCK mutations and MODY2

A Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception Study on Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Multicentric Italian Survey Insights

In January 2020, Chinese health authorities identified a novel coronavirus strain never before isolated in humans. It quickly spread across the world, and was eventually declared a pandemic, leading to about 310 million confirmed cases and to 5,497,113 deaths (data as of 11 January 2022). Influenza viruses affect millions of people during cold seasons, with high impacts, in terms of mortality and morbidity. Patients with comorbidities are at a higher risk of acquiring severe problems due to COVID-19 and the flu-infections that could impact their underlying clinical conditions. In the present study, knowledge, attitudes, and opinions of the general population regarding COVID-19 and influenza immunization were evaluated. A multicenter, web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted between 10 February and 12 July 2020, during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections among the general population in Italy. A sample of 4116 questionnaires was collected at the end of the study period. Overall, 17.5% of respondents stated that it was unlikely that they would accept a future COVID-19 vaccine (n = 720). Reasons behind vaccine refusal/indecision were mainly a lack of trust in the vaccine (41.1%), the fear of side effects (23.4%), or a lack of perception of susceptibility to the disease (17.1%). More than 50% (53.8%; n = 2214) of the sample participants were willing to receive flu vaccinations in the forthcoming vaccination campaign, but only 28.2% of cases had received it at least once in the previous five seasons. A higher knowledge score about SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 and at least one flu vaccination during previous influenza seasons were significantly associated with the intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza. The continuous study of factors, determining vaccination acceptance and hesitancy, is fundamental in the current context, in regard to improve vaccination confidence and adherence rates against vaccine preventable diseases

Effect of a quality improvement program on compliance to the sepsis bundle in non-ICU patients: a multicenter prospective before and after cohort study

ObjectiveSepsis and septic shock are major challenges and economic burdens to healthcare, impacting millions of people globally and representing significant causes of mortality. Recently, a large number of quality improvement programs focused on sepsis resuscitation bundles have been instituted worldwide. These educational initiatives have been shown to be associated with improvements in clinical outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a multi-faceted quality implementing program (QIP) on the compliance of a “simplified 1-h bundle” (Sepsis 6) and hospital mortality of severe sepsis and septic shock patients out of the intensive care unit (ICU).MethodsEmergency departments (EDs) and medical wards (MWs) of 12 academic and non-academic hospitals in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy) were involved in a multi-faceted QIP, which included educational and organizational interventions. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock according to the Sepsis-2 criteria were enrolled in two different periods: from May 2011 to November 2011 (before-QIP cohort) and from August 2012 to June 2013 (after-QIP cohort).Measurements and main resultsThe effect of QIP on bundle compliance and hospital mortality was evaluated in a before–after analysis. We enrolled 467 patients in the before-QIP group and 656 in the after-QIP group. At the time of enrollment, septic shock was diagnosed in 50% of patients, similarly between the two periods. In the after-QIP group, we observed increased compliance to the “simplified rapid (1 h) intervention bundle” (the Sepsis 6 bundle – S6) at three time-points evaluated (1 h, 13.7 to 18.7%, p = 0.018, 3 h, 37.1 to 48.0%, p = 0.013, overall study period, 46.2 to 57.9%, p < 0.001). We then analyzed compliance with S6 and hospital mortality in the before- and after-QIP periods, stratifying the two patients’ cohorts by admission characteristics. Adherence to the S6 bundle was increased in patients with severe sepsis in the absence of shock, in patients with serum lactate <4.0 mmol/L, and in patients with hypotension at the time of enrollment, regardless of the type of admission (from EDs or MWs). Subsequently, in an observational analysis, we also investigated the relation between bundle compliance and hospital mortality by logistic regression. In the after-QIP cohort, we observed a lower in-hospital mortality than that observed in the before-QIP cohort. This finding was reported in subgroups where a higher adherence to the S6 bundle in the after-QIP period was found. After adjustment for confounders, the QIP appeared to be independently associated with a significant improvement in hospital mortality. Among the single S6 procedures applied within the first hour of sepsis diagnosis, compliance with blood culture and antibiotic therapy appeared significantly associated with reduced in-hospital mortality.ConclusionA multi-faceted QIP aimed at promoting an early simplified bundle of care for the management of septic patients out of the ICU was associated with improved compliance with sepsis bundles and lower in-hospital mortality

Determinants of geographical distribution in Atlantic Forest species of Drymophila (Aves: Thamnophilidae)

Climate, altitude and vegetation are usually considered as limiting factors in plant and animal distribution. Among vertebrates, climate and vegetation have consistently been considered as major determinants of geographical distributions. Here we analyzed the role of climate and the vegetation in limiting the geographical range of Atlantic Forest species of Drymophila Swainson, 1824 and assessed the performance of discriminant analysis to model the distribution of sympatric taxa. From each empirical point (locality) we recorded the values for nine climatic variables and the type of vegetation. The climatic data were obtained from a climate database elaborated by the Laboratório de Vertebrados and vegetation data from the ecoregions digital map of Latin America. The overlap of the climatic distribution map with the ecoregion map suggested that both factors are important in limiting the geographical range of Drymophila species. The discriminant approach, as applied here, was not satisfactory when compared with similar analysis carried out on parapatric species