Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Ultrasound-guided continuous block technique for thoracic limbs of the equine: median and ulnar nerves

Introdução: A alta prevalência de claudicação em equinos é preocupante, principalmente quando envolve cavalos atletas por diminuírem performance e pelo impacto econômico. Quando a dor se torna incontrolável, em muitos casos, há indicação de eutanásia. O bloqueio contínuo de nervos periféricos é uma técnica bem conhecida em seres humanos, mas ainda não foi bem estabelecida na Medicina Veterinária, principalmente na espécie equina. Objetivo: Desenvolver a técnica de bloqueio contínuo dos nervos mediano e ulnar, guiado por ultrassom, em equinos para controle da dor refratária aos tratamentos analgésicos convencionais. Métodos: Após aprovação da Comissão de Ética no Uso de Animais (CEUA) da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ-USP) e da Faculdade de Medicina (FM-USP), ambas da Universidade de São Paulo, o estudo foi dividido em duas fases: na primeira, in vitro, foram utilizadas 16 peças anatômicas de membros torácicos de equinos. Nessa fase, também foram avaliadas: anatomia topográfica, sonoanatomia, técnica de agulhamento e fixação de cateter perineurais, sendo ainda realizados estudos de tomografia computadorizada com renderização de imagem para comprovação da localização das infiltrações e fixação dos cateteres. A segunda fase, in vivo, foi realizada em 18 animais saudáveis, sendo seis cavalos da raça Quarto de Milha, seis cavalos da raça Árabe e seis cavalos da raça Brasileiro de Hipismo de sexo, peso e idade variados. Neles foram realizados estudos de imagens de ultrassonografia e efetuadas as medidas externas, definindo janela acústica para abordagem dos nervos e medidas internas, bem como definindo profundida e área dos nervos-alvos. As infiltrações nos nervos foram realizadas com solução constituída de gel à base de celulose, contraste iodado e azul de metileno. Resultados: Os estudos in vitro e in vivo foram primordiais para o desenvolvimento da técnica de BCNP guiado por ultrassom, possibilitando, com a visualização em tempo real, que a inserção da agulha, a dispersão da solução e a implantação do cateter fossem alcançadas com uma acurácia de 100%. Conclusão: A utilização do ultrassom mostrou-se prática, permitindo visualização, em tempo real, da agulha, do cateter e da dispersão do fármaco, evitando lesões de nervos, músculos e vasos sanguíneos, aumentando, consequentemente, a taxa de sucesso dos bloqueios anestésicos e possibilitando seu emprego na clínica de equinos. No entanto, serão necessários estudos clínicos que venham comprovar a aplicabilidade dessa técnica e a eficácia dos bloqueios contínuos nos nervos propostosIntroduction: The high prevalence of claudication in equines is worrisome, especially when it involves horses athletes for diminishing performance and economic impact. When the pain becomes uncontrollable in many cases, there is euthanasia indication. Continuous peripheral nerve block is a well-known technique in humans; however, it has not yet been well established in Veterinary Medicine, especially in the equine species. Objective: To develop continuous block technique of median and ulnar nerves, guided by ultrasound, in horses to control pain refractory to conventional analgesic treatments. Methods: After approval of the Ethics Committee on the Use of Animals (CEUA) of the Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ-USP) and the Faculdade de Medicina (FM-USP), both from the University of São Paulo, the study was divided into two phases: in the first, in vitro, 16 anatomical pieces of thoracic limbs of horses were used. At this stage, topographical anatomy, sonoanatomy, needling and perineural catheter fixing techniques were evaluated and CT image rendering studies were conducted to prove the location of leaks and securing the catheter. The second phase, in vivo, was performed in 18 healthy animals, six Quarter Horses, six Arabian horses and six horses of the Brazilian breed of Equestrian of different sex, weight and age. Ultrasound imaging studies and external measurements were performed, defining acoustic window to approach the nerves and internal measurements as well as defining the depth and area of the target nerves. The infiltrations in the nerves were carried out with solution consisting of gel based on cellulose, iodinated contrast and methylene blue. Results: In vitro and in vivo studies were essential for the development of the ultrasound-guided CPNB technique, allowing, with real-time visualization, needle insertion, solution dispersion and catheter implantation to be achieved with an accuracy of 100%. Conclusion: The use of ultrasound was practical, allowing real-time visualization of the needle, catheter and dispersion of the drug, avoiding lesions of nerves, muscles and blood vessels, increasing, consequently, the success rate of anesthetic blocks, making its use possible in the equine clinic with refractory pain. However, clinical studies will be necessary to verify the applicability of this technique and the efficacy of continuous nerve blocks in the proposed nerve

Clinical evaluation of the effects of continuous infusion of fentanyl, ketamine or lidocaine on the requirement of isoflurane in horses undergoing arthroscopic surgery

Os equinos são comumente anestesiados com agentes voláteis em procedimentos cirúrgicos acima de 60 minutos, resultando em depressão cardiovascular dosedependente, contribuindo para uma alta taxa de mortalidade. Sendo assim, este estudo objetivou determinar se o fentanil, em infusão contínua, seria capaz de diminuir a fração expirada de isoflurano, promovendo estabilidade cardiovascular transoperatória e uma melhor recuperação após cirurgia de artroscopia, em comparação à infusão de lidocaína ou quetamina, durante a manutenção da anestesia com isoflurano. Para tanto foram utilizados 20 equinos de 3 a 8 anos e pesando 350 a 500kg, submetidos a cirurgia de artroscopia em decúbito dorsal. Os animais foram divididos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos: GL (1,5 mg/kg em bolus e infusão de 0,15mg/kg/min) ; GQ (2mg/kg em bolus e infusão de 0,2mg/kg/min); GF (7µg/kg em bolus e infusão de 0,7µg/kg/min) e GI que não recebeu infusão de nenhum fármaco adjuvante. Foram avaliados os parâmetros cardiovasculares (FC, PAM, PAS e PAD), ventilatórios e de oxigenação (PaO2, PaCO2, Compl e Rva), fração expirada de isoflurano [ISSO](Fexp%), e qualidade de recuperação. Em relação à [ISSO] (Fexp%) as maiores quedas foram observadas no momento 30bolus em todos os grupos, que utilizaram adjuvantes, comparados ao momento basal sendo, GL (1,50 para 0,90%) GQ (1,44 para 0,96%) e GF (1,32 para 0,96%). Observou-se que após 15 minutos da interrupção da infusão contínua de fentanil e lidocaína a fração expirada de isoflurano foi aumentada GL 25% e GF 45%. Apesar de não ter havido diferença estatística, o GF apresentou escore de recuperação menor 16,8 pontos, GL 24,6; GQ 30,0 e GI 31,8 pontos. Conclui-se então que o uso do fentanil foi capaz de reduzir a fração expirada de isoflurano em até 43%, não observando qualquer efeito colateral no momento da recuperação após re-sedação com xilazina 0,5mg/kg.Volatile anesthetics are commonly used in horse anesthesia in surgical procedures over 60 minutes, resulting in a dose-dependent cardiovascular depression, contributing to a high mortality rate. Thus, the aimed this study was determine whether fentanyl continuous rate infusion would be able to reduce end tidal isoflurane, promoting intraoperative cardiovascular stability and a better recovery after arthroscopic surgery, when compared to lidocaine or ketamine infusion during maintenance of anesthesia with isoflurane. Therefore, 20 horses aging 3-8 years and weighing 350 to 500 kg underwent arthroscopic surgery in dorsal recumbence. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: GL (1.5 mg/kg bolus and 0.15 mg/kg/min infusion rate of lidocaine), GQ (2 mg/kg bolus and 0.2 mg/kg/min infusion of ketamine); GF (7µg/kg bolus and 0.7 mg/kg/min infusion rate of fentanyl) and GI did not receive any adjuvant infusion. Cardiovascular parameters (HR, MBP, SBP and DBP), ventilatory and oxygenation (PaO2, PaCO2, Cst and Rva), end tidal isoflurano [ISO] (Fexp%), and quality of recovery were evaluated. Regarding [ISO] (Fexp%) the highest decreases were observed at the time 30bolus in all groups with adjuvants, in comparison to base line -GL (1.50 to 0.90%) GQ (1.44 to 0.96 %) and GF (1.32 to 0.96%). At 15 minutes after the end of continuous rate infusion of fentanyl and lidocaine, expired fraction of isoflurane was increased 25% for GL and 45% for GF. Although there was no statistical difference, GF showed lower recovery score - 16.8 points, while 24.6 for GL, 30.0 for GQ and 31.8 points for GI. In conclusion, fentanyl was able to reduce end tidal isoflurane to 43%, with no side effects at recovery time after re-sedation with xylazine 0.5 mg / kg

Clinical evaluation of the effects of continuous infusion of fentanyl, ketamine or lidocaine on the requirement of isoflurane in horses undergoing arthroscopic surgery

Os equinos são comumente anestesiados com agentes voláteis em procedimentos cirúrgicos acima de 60 minutos, resultando em depressão cardiovascular dosedependente, contribuindo para uma alta taxa de mortalidade. Sendo assim, este estudo objetivou determinar se o fentanil, em infusão contínua, seria capaz de diminuir a fração expirada de isoflurano, promovendo estabilidade cardiovascular transoperatória e uma melhor recuperação após cirurgia de artroscopia, em comparação à infusão de lidocaína ou quetamina, durante a manutenção da anestesia com isoflurano. Para tanto foram utilizados 20 equinos de 3 a 8 anos e pesando 350 a 500kg, submetidos a cirurgia de artroscopia em decúbito dorsal. Os animais foram divididos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos: GL (1,5 mg/kg em bolus e infusão de 0,15mg/kg/min) ; GQ (2mg/kg em bolus e infusão de 0,2mg/kg/min); GF (7µg/kg em bolus e infusão de 0,7µg/kg/min) e GI que não recebeu infusão de nenhum fármaco adjuvante. Foram avaliados os parâmetros cardiovasculares (FC, PAM, PAS e PAD), ventilatórios e de oxigenação (PaO2, PaCO2, Compl e Rva), fração expirada de isoflurano [ISSO](Fexp%), e qualidade de recuperação. Em relação à [ISSO] (Fexp%) as maiores quedas foram observadas no momento 30bolus em todos os grupos, que utilizaram adjuvantes, comparados ao momento basal sendo, GL (1,50 para 0,90%) GQ (1,44 para 0,96%) e GF (1,32 para 0,96%). Observou-se que após 15 minutos da interrupção da infusão contínua de fentanil e lidocaína a fração expirada de isoflurano foi aumentada GL 25% e GF 45%. Apesar de não ter havido diferença estatística, o GF apresentou escore de recuperação menor 16,8 pontos, GL 24,6; GQ 30,0 e GI 31,8 pontos. Conclui-se então que o uso do fentanil foi capaz de reduzir a fração expirada de isoflurano em até 43%, não observando qualquer efeito colateral no momento da recuperação após re-sedação com xilazina 0,5mg/kg.Volatile anesthetics are commonly used in horse anesthesia in surgical procedures over 60 minutes, resulting in a dose-dependent cardiovascular depression, contributing to a high mortality rate. Thus, the aimed this study was determine whether fentanyl continuous rate infusion would be able to reduce end tidal isoflurane, promoting intraoperative cardiovascular stability and a better recovery after arthroscopic surgery, when compared to lidocaine or ketamine infusion during maintenance of anesthesia with isoflurane. Therefore, 20 horses aging 3-8 years and weighing 350 to 500 kg underwent arthroscopic surgery in dorsal recumbence. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: GL (1.5 mg/kg bolus and 0.15 mg/kg/min infusion rate of lidocaine), GQ (2 mg/kg bolus and 0.2 mg/kg/min infusion of ketamine); GF (7µg/kg bolus and 0.7 mg/kg/min infusion rate of fentanyl) and GI did not receive any adjuvant infusion. Cardiovascular parameters (HR, MBP, SBP and DBP), ventilatory and oxygenation (PaO2, PaCO2, Cst and Rva), end tidal isoflurano [ISO] (Fexp%), and quality of recovery were evaluated. Regarding [ISO] (Fexp%) the highest decreases were observed at the time 30bolus in all groups with adjuvants, in comparison to base line -GL (1.50 to 0.90%) GQ (1.44 to 0.96 %) and GF (1.32 to 0.96%). At 15 minutes after the end of continuous rate infusion of fentanyl and lidocaine, expired fraction of isoflurane was increased 25% for GL and 45% for GF. Although there was no statistical difference, GF showed lower recovery score - 16.8 points, while 24.6 for GL, 30.0 for GQ and 31.8 points for GI. In conclusion, fentanyl was able to reduce end tidal isoflurane to 43%, with no side effects at recovery time after re-sedation with xylazine 0.5 mg / kg

Internal inguinal ring closure by laparoscopy using homologous pericardium grafts in horses

ABSTRACT: The occlusion of inguinal ring is the treatment to avoid the inguinal hernia in horses. The aim of this study is evaluate the efficacy of homologous pericardium grafts for internal inguinal ring closure in horses, comparing mechanical or manual laparoscopic suture. Cross over study, using six healthy intact male Mangalarga breed horses aged between 3 and 12 years. Horses were operated under general anesthesia in 25º Trendelenburg position. Five laparoscopic portals were employed. Pericardium grafts measuring 4x5cm were anchored covering the left and right internal inguinal rings using either manual intracorporeal suture or laparoscopic stapler. Horses were followed-up during 11 weeks when were submitted to a laparoscopic control. Surgical time, trans and postoperative complications and effectiveness of internal inguinal closure were evaluated and statistically analyzed. The level of significance was set at 5% P<0.05. The procedures were realized without complications and the mean time required for manual and mechanical suture procedures differed significantly (67.8±15.3 and 14.1±2.1 min respectively; P<0.05). All manually sutured grafts remained in place and partial suture dehiscence with incomplete occlusion of the internal inguinal ring was observed in two stapled grafts. Non-severe complications were observed trans or postoperatively. One synechiae and three omental adhesions were observed by laparoscopic control on day 77, but without clinical relevance in the evaluated period. The use of homologous pericardium grafts was effectiveness to internal inguinal ring closure by laparoscopy. Mechanical suture was faster to perform than manual, but provided less satisfactory results concerning safety of graft fixation