Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Risk factors and outcome in 100 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: Clinical and surgical outcome of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to ruptured aneurysm were assessed in comparison to pre-operative data and risk factors such as previous medical history, clinical presenting condition, CT findings and site of bleeding. METHODS: We evaluated 100 consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH. Gender, color, history of hypertension, smoking habit, site and size of aneurysm, admittance and before surgery Hunt Hess scale, need for cerebro-spinal fluid shunt, presence of complications during the surgical procedure, Glasgow Outcome Scale, presence of vasospasm and of rebleeding were assessed and these data matched to outcome. For statistical analysis, we applied the chi-squared test or Fisher's test using the pondered kappa coeficient. Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison of continue variables. Tendency of proportion was analyzed through Cochran-Armitage test. Significance level adopted was 5%. RESULTS: Patients studied were mainly white, female, without previous history of hypertension and non-smokers. Upon hospital admittance, grade 2 of Hunt-Hess scale was most frequently observed (34%), while grade 3 of Fisher scale was the most prevalent. Single aneurysms were most frequent at anterior circulation, between 12 and 24 mm. The most frequent Glasgow Outcome Scale observed was 5 (60%). Hunt Hess upon the moment of surgery and presence of complications during surgical procedure showed positive correlation with clinical outcome (p=0.00002 and p=0.001, respectively). Other variables were not significantly correlated to prognosis. Tendency of proportion was observed between Hunt-Hess scale and Fisher scale. CONCLUSION: Among variables such as epidemiological data, previous medical history and presenting conditions of patients with ruptured aneurysms, the Hunt-Hess scale upon the moment of surgery and the presence of surgical adversities are statistically related to degree of disability

Pre-clinical (acute and sub-acute) toxicologic study of phytomedicinal Propovit Plus® in rodents

Realizou-se a avaliação toxicológica do fitoterápico Propovit Plus® em roedores. Os testes agudos não produziram mortalidade, com DL50 acima de 5 g/kg (oral) e 2,5 g/kg (i.p.), mas encontrou-se diminuição no peso dos corações dos grupos 5 g/kg (oral) e 2,5; 1,5 e 1,0 g/kg (i.p.). No tratamento sub-agudo, ocorreram três mortes no grupo 1,5 g/kg, aumento no peso dos pulmões dos machos tratados com a dose de 1,5 g/kg, aumento no peso do fígado e diminuição no peso dos pulmões das fêmeas tratadas também com a maior dose. Os testes sangüíneos mostraram diversos resultados significativos, embora sem correlação dose-resposta, sem ocorrência em ambos os sexos e com vários parâmetros dentro de faixas de normalidade. A avaliação histopatológica evidenciou poucas alterações, ocorrentes em praticamente todos os grupos e não dependentes da dose. Demonstra-se que o produto Propovit Plus® apresenta baixa toxicidade, mais evidente na dose de 1,5 g/kg, cerca de sessenta vezes maior que a dose terapêutica.We report the toxicological evaluation of the phytomedicinal Propovit Plus in rodents. The acute tests didn't produce mortality, with DL50 above 5 g/kg (oral) and 2,5 g/kg (i.p.), but it was decrease in the weight of the hearts in groups 5 g/kg (oral) and 2,5; 1,5 and 1,0 g/kg (i.p.). In the long-term treatment, it happened three deaths in the group 1,5 g/kg, increase in the weight of the lungs of the males treated with the dose of 1,5 g/kg, increase in the weight of the liver and decrease in the weight of the lungs of the females also treated with the largest dose. The blood tests showed several significant results, although without correlation dose-answer, occurrence in both sexes and with several parameters inside of normality strips. The histological evaluation evidenced few alterations in practically all of the groups and was no dose-dependent. It is demonstrated that the product Propovit Plus present low toxicity, more evident in the dosage of 1,5 g/kg, about sixty times larger than the therapeutic dosage.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Pre-clinical (acute and sub-acute) toxicologic study of phytomedicinal Propovit Plus® in rodents

Realizou-se a avaliação toxicológica do fitoterápico Propovit Plus® em roedores. Os testes agudos não produziram mortalidade, com DL50 acima de 5 g/kg (oral) e 2,5 g/kg (i.p.), mas encontrou-se diminuição no peso dos corações dos grupos 5 g/kg (oral) e 2,5; 1,5 e 1,0 g/kg (i.p.). No tratamento sub-agudo, ocorreram três mortes no grupo 1,5 g/kg, aumento no peso dos pulmões dos machos tratados com a dose de 1,5 g/kg, aumento no peso do fígado e diminuição no peso dos pulmões das fêmeas tratadas também com a maior dose. Os testes sangüíneos mostraram diversos resultados significativos, embora sem correlação dose-resposta, sem ocorrência em ambos os sexos e com vários parâmetros dentro de faixas de normalidade. A avaliação histopatológica evidenciou poucas alterações, ocorrentes em praticamente todos os grupos e não dependentes da dose. Demonstra-se que o produto Propovit Plus® apresenta baixa toxicidade, mais evidente na dose de 1,5 g/kg, cerca de sessenta vezes maior que a dose terapêutica.We report the toxicological evaluation of the phytomedicinal Propovit Plus in rodents. The acute tests didn't produce mortality, with DL50 above 5 g/kg (oral) and 2,5 g/kg (i.p.), but it was decrease in the weight of the hearts in groups 5 g/kg (oral) and 2,5; 1,5 and 1,0 g/kg (i.p.). In the long-term treatment, it happened three deaths in the group 1,5 g/kg, increase in the weight of the lungs of the males treated with the dose of 1,5 g/kg, increase in the weight of the liver and decrease in the weight of the lungs of the females also treated with the largest dose. The blood tests showed several significant results, although without correlation dose-answer, occurrence in both sexes and with several parameters inside of normality strips. The histological evaluation evidenced few alterations in practically all of the groups and was no dose-dependent. It is demonstrated that the product Propovit Plus present low toxicity, more evident in the dosage of 1,5 g/kg, about sixty times larger than the therapeutic dosage.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Influ?ncia dos fatores ambientais e antr?picos nas ?guas superficiais no rio Matip?, afluente do rio Doce.

O presente estudo foi realizado numa bacia hidrogr?fica do rio Matip?, um afluente do rio Doce, em Minas Gerais ? Brasil. O principal objetivo foi avaliar a influ?ncia das atividades humanas e das caracter?sticas naturais na qualidade das ?guas superficiais. Para tal, foram realizadas amostragens de ?gua em 25 esta??es de coleta situadas ao longo do curso do manancial, em duas etapas, uma realizada durante o per?odo chuvoso e a outra durante o per?odo de estiagem. Para a compreens?o e discuss?o dos dados obtidos foi aplicada a An?lise das Componentes Principais (PCA). Foram mensuradas 15 vari?veis de ?guas superficiais reduzidas em 5 componentes principais, sendo que juntas explicaram 72,15% da vari?ncia dos dados. A an?lise do gr?fico dos escores, permitiu identificar 5 grupos formados por pontos onde a interfer?ncia antr?pica foi mais percept?vel. A an?lise de PCA possibilitou averiguar quais fatores ambientais e antr?picos influenciam na qualidade da ?gua rio utilizado como estudo de caso. Os impactos ambientais verificados na bacia hidrogr?fica, como o desmatamento, eros?o, lan?amento de esgoto dom?stico e uso de fertilizantes de forma inadequada, foram os principais fatores que interferiram na qualidade da ?gua.This study was carried out at a Matip? river basin, a tributary of the Doce river, in Minas Gerais ? Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of anthropogenic activities and the natural characteristics of its surface water quality. Water samples of 25 stations located along the spring course were collected in two stages, one during the rainy season and the other in the dry season. To understand and discuss data, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied. Fifteen surface water variables reduced by five principal components, which altogether explained 72.15% of the data variance, were measured. By analysing the graphic, five groups, formed by points where the anthropogenic interference was more noticeable, were identified. PCA enabled to assess whether the environmental and anthropogenic factors influence the water quality. The environmental impacts observed in the watershed as deforestation, erosion and sewage release were the main factors which interfered in the quality of the water

PATHOGENICITY OF Blastocystis sp. TO THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF MICE: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INOCULUM SIZE AND PERIOD OF INFECTION

The pathogenic potential of Blastocystis sp. in experimental models requires further investigation. In this work, the pathogenicity of this parasite in the gastrointestinal tract of male Swiss mice was evaluated according to the inoculum size and period of infection. Animals were infected intragastrically, with 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 Blastocystis sp. vacuolar forms obtained from a mixture of eight human isolates cultured axenically in Jones' medium. After seven, 14, 21, 28 and 60 days of infection, the animals were sacrificed and fragments of the small intestine (duodenum), large intestine, and cecum were subjected to histopathological analysis. Blastocystis sp. triggered an inflammatory response in the different tissues analyzed, with a predominance of mononuclear cells. The parasite was found in the muscular layer of the cecum, showing its invasive character. Larger inocula triggered inflammatory processes earlier (seven days) than smaller ones (from 21 days). We conclude that, in the proposed model, the pathogenicity of Blastocystis sp. isolates that were studied is related to inoculum size and period of infection