Contribution of the Cerrado as Habitat for Sunflower Pollinating Bees

Agricultural landscapes sometimes include natural habitats which can support the ecosystem by enhancing the pollination of crops, thus boosting the productivity. This research was conducted between May and July 2017, in the municipality of Tangará da Serra, Mato Grosso, Brazil, to assess the Cerrado from the perspective of it being a crucial habitat to sustain the sunflower-pollinating bees (Helianthus annuus L.). The bees were sampled using entomological nets and pan traps, in specifically marked out plots (20 m x 150 m), in the Cerrado, and in a sunflower crop, at different distances from the Cerrado border. The assessment was done in terms of the composion and species richness, abundance of individuals and the mass (g) of the sunflower chapters exposed and isolated from the floral visitors. While species richness showed no differences between the Cerrado and sunflower crop, a difference was observed for abundance, with more numbers of individuals in the sunflower crop, most likely because of the food source supply. In the sunflower crop, the bee diversity decreased proportionally as the distance from the border increased. The seed mass of the sunfl ower chapters was significantly higher in the flowers open to visitors than in those of the isolated chapters open for visitation. From the results, it was evident that the bees presente in the Cerrado visit the sunflower crop to gather pollen and nectar, and thus assist in cross-pollinating them and raising the productivity

Squamous Cell Carcinoma on Marginal Palmar Keratoderma

Queratodermia marginada palmar é caracterizada pela queratodermia em faixa, nos limites das partes dorsal e palmar, em disposição nas bordas cubital e radial em pacientes com intensa exposição solar. De acordo com a literatura, por si só, a queratodermia marginada palmar não é considerada uma lesão pré-maligna. Relatamos o primeiro caso de carcinoma de células escamosas ou carcinoma espinocelular sobre queratodermia marginada palmar em uma mulher de 57 anos.Marginal palmar keratoderma is characterized by palmar keratoderma affecting the limits of the dorsal and palmar regions of ulnar and radial edges in patients with intense sun exposure. According to the literature it is not considered a pre-malignant lesion. Nevertheless, we report the first case of squamous cell carcinoma on marginal palmar keratoderma in a 57 year-old woman

Antioxidant and Antinociceptive Effects of Citrus limon Essential Oil in Mice

The antioxidant and antinociceptive activities of Citrus limon essential oil (EO) were assessed in mice or in vitro tests. EO possesses a strong antioxidant potential according to the scavenging assays. Moreover, it presented scavenger activity against all in vitro tests. Orally, EO (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) significantly reduced the number of writhes, and, at highest doses, it reduced the number of paw licks. Whereas naloxone antagonized the antinociceptive action of EO (highest doses), this suggested, at least, the participation of the opioid system. Further studies currently in progress will enable us to understand the action mechanisms of EO

Cannabidiol Prevents Motor and Cognitive Impairments Induced by Reserpine in Rats

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa that presents antipsychotic, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. In Parkinson's disease patients, CBD is able to attenuate the psychotic symptoms induced by L-DOPA and to improve quality of life. Repeated administration of reserpine in rodents induces motor impairments that are accompanied by cognitive deficits, and has been applied to model both tardive dyskinesia and Parkinson's disease. The present study investigated whether CBD administration would attenuate reserpine-induced motor and cognitive impairments in rats. Male Wistar rats received four injections of CBD (0.5 or 5 mg/kg) or vehicle (days 2-5). On days 3 and 5, animals received also one injection of 1 mg/kg reserpine or vehicle. Locomotor activity, vacuous chewing movements, and catalepsy were assessed from day 1 to day 7. On days 8 and 9, we evaluated animals' performance on the plus-maze discriminative avoidance task, for learning/memory assessment. CBD (0.5 and 5 mg/kg) attenuated the increase in catalepsy behavior and in oral movements - but not the decrease in locomotion induced by reserpine. CBD (0.5 mg/kg) also ameliorated the reserpine-induced memory deficit in the discriminative avoidance task. Our data show that CBD is able to attenuate motor and cognitive impairments induced by reserpine, suggesting the use of this compound in the pharmacotherapy of Parkinson's disease and tardive dyskinesia.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Interdisciplinary Lab Clin Neurosci, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Pharmacol, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Dept Neurosci & Behav, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilNatl Council Sci & Technol Dev, Natl Inst Translat Med, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilInterdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2010/07994-3FAPESP: 2015/03354-3CNPq/MS/SCTIE/DECIT: 26/2014CNPq/MS/SCTIE/DECIT: 466805/2014-4Web of Scienc

Cytological and Histopathological Correlation of Feline Giant Cell-Rich Osteosarcoma

Background: Primary bone tumours are uncommon and poorly reported in cats but osteosarcoma (OSA) is the most frequent, mostly in elderly animals. Giant cell-rich OSA is considered rare in the literature representing 3% of all OSA in humans. The mitotic index seems to have a significant effect on the survival time of cats affected by this neoplasm as well as the tumour histopathological grade. The objective of this study was to report the cytological and histopathological findings of a giant cell rich OSA in a 4-year old cat with persistent feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigenaemia.Case: A 4-year-old male neutered cat was referred with a history of persistent FeLV viraemia and pelvic limb lameness with a firm swelling. Previous radiographs of the affected limb revealed bone lysis in the third and fourth metatarsals and increased soft tissue radiopacity in the tarsal region. The referral veterinary assumed it to be osteomyelitis and initiated clinical treatment with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory. The cat was referred after there was no response to medical treatment. The cat was presented with a 5cm diameter ulcerated mass, with putrid odor in the pelvic limb. Complementary exams were performed, and abnormalities were found, including increased urea, creatinine, calcium and potassium, and decreased sodium and phosphorus. A new radiograph showed exuberant bone proliferation, with increased radiopacity involving tarsal, metatarsal, distal third of tarsal I and II, and distal diaphysis of metatarsal V, without compromising the metaphyseal region of distal diaphysis of metatarsal IV. Chest radiographs and abdominal ultrasound were unremarkable. Fine-needle aspiration was performed for cytological analysis, which reavealed a moderate amount of pleomorphic mesenchymal cells with moderate adhesion, cytoplasm with a format ranging from fusiform to stellate, pronounced anisocytosis and cellular pleomorphism, and elevated nucleus:cytoplasm ratio. Nucleus was oval and presented loose chromatin, single to double large and evident nucleolus, frequent karyomegaly, along with marked anisocariosis and nuclear pleomorphism. Multinucleated giant cells were and there was a single mitotic figure in 12 high power fields (0.196 mm2 FN20/400x). Therefore, it was suggestive of malignant mesenchymal neoplasia with possibility of OSA, fibrosarcoma oe undifferentiated sarcoma. Limb amputation with femoral disarticulation was performed uneventfully. The material was conserved in 10% formalin, submitted to macroscopic and microscopic evaluation, which showed a large number of fusiform and stellate cells, with indistinct edges, scarce eosinophilic cytoplasm, high nucleus:cytoplasm ratio and oval nucleus, presenting moderate to marked anisocariosis, loose chromatin, with unique and evident nucleoli, besides of bone trabeculae. Nuclear pleomorphism was moderate and there was four mitotic figures in three random high-power fields (400x). It was observed areas of vascular ectasia, and neoplastic embolization in lymphatic and blood vessels. Among the cells, collagenous stroma was predominant but in some areas there was an eosinophilic amorphous material with the possibility of osteoid matrix or collagen. There was also a large numbers of multinucleated giant cells. The histopathological result was compatible with a grade III giant cell rich OSA.Discussion: Although bone tumours are uncommon in cats, OSA is the most frequent, affecting maingly middle-aged to elderly cats, with a mean age of 10 years, which is different from the present report in a 4-year old cat, with FeLV persistent viraemia. Retroviral status may have influenced the development of the disease at na early onset. FeLV induces uncontrolled cell proliferation through insertional mutagenesis (usually near myc) inducing malignant neoplasias, mainly lymphoma, but also multiple cartilaginous exostosis, which, along with osteomyelitis and bone cyst were included in this patient´s list of differential diagnoses. Despite the macroscopic and radiographical andagressiveness there was no metastasis identified through chest radiographs or abdominal ultrasound, and feline OSA is associated with a lower metastatic rate, if compared to canine OSA. Cytological analysis was compatible with malignant mesenchymal neoplasia, being suggestive of giant cell rich OSA. There is no cytological classification for OSA, however cytological findings of malignancy may be correlated with the patient's clinical course. Cytological features were in agreement with the histopathological findings, compatible with a grade III giant cell rich OSA. Therefore, it is concluded that the characteristics of malignancy presented by cytology were sufficient for the recommendation of amputation of the affected limb, once there was no imaging sign of metastases in the chest or abdomen

Assistência de enfermagem a pacientes oncológicos em cuidados paliativos / Nursing assistance to oncological patients in palliative care

Os cuidados paliativos são considerados uma forma terapêutica cujo objetivo é proporcionar uma qualidade de vida e bem-estar aos enfermos, que sofrem de patologias que ameaçam a vida. A prática da enfermagem está diretamente ligada à oferta do cuidado longitudinal, ao controle dos sinais e sintomas tendo grande relevância, uma vez que está presente desde o diagnóstico até a fase terminal. Desse modo, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo buscar evidências científicas na literatura que abordam a assistência de enfermagem acerca dos pacientes oncológicos em cuidados paliativos. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura que se baseou na análise de artigos publicados entre 2015 e 2020 cuja busca foi realizada através de materiais científicos indexados na Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), sendo utilizadas as seguintes bases de dados: LILACS, SCIELO e BDENF onde foram incluídos 12 artigos. A equipe de enfermagem desempenha um papel muito importante acerca dos cuidados oferecidos ao cliente na paliação. Porém, não se trata de uma tarefa fácil. Entende-se a complexidade das ações que devem visar qualidade de vida, conforto e bem-estar. Para tanto se faz necessário embasamento teórico-prático no âmbito das intervenções biopsicossociais e espirituais.