SEVERE NEUROLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF COVID-19: CASE SERIES

SARS-CoV-2 is the etiologic agent of the pandemic started in December 2019 and has been reaching alarming numbers worldwide. Neurological manifestations have been reported and must be highlighted. This study reports cases of severe neurological manifestations associated with COVID-19 in patients admitted to a tertiary hospital. The first patient was referred with history of generalized seizures after the diagnosis of COVID-19; imaging exam indicated cerebral venous thrombosis. The second patient, already treated for COVID-19, developed pain in the dorsal region, progressing to ascending paresthesia, and had diagnosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, with fatal outcome. The third patient, also with fatal outcome, presented with headache and left hemiparesis. After imaging exams, was discharged, but days after, returned with mental confusion and the hypothesis of encephalitis was confirmed. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed after death. The main objective of this study is to report severe neurological manifestations related to COVID-19

Sinantropia e sazonalidade de moscas varejeiras (Diptera: Calliphoridae) no Sudeste do Brasil: visões ecológica, médica, veterinária e forense

O presente estudo teve por objetivo verificar a ocorrência das principais espécies de moscas da família Calliphoridae em diferentes ambientes (urbano, rural e silvestre) do município de Botucatu, SP. Para tanto, foram usadas armadilhas apropriadas e iscas, substituídas diariamente, distribuídas em cada local de coleta mensalmente durante aproximadamente o período de um ano. Foram coletados um total de 3188 espécimes. Análises estatísticas e testes de correlação também foram usados para medir a relação das espécies com os fatores ambientais, locais, preferência e atratividade por iscas e as relações e interações ecológicas entre as diferentes espécie

Pruning and loss of excitatory synapses by the parkin ubiquitin ligase

Mutations in the PARK2 gene cause hereditary Parkinson disease (PD). The PARK2 gene product, termed parkin, is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that mediates the transfer of ubiquitin onto diverse substrate proteins. Despite progress in defining the molecular properties and substrates of parkin, little is known about its physiological function. Here, we show that parkin regulates the function and stability of excitatory glutamatergic synapses. Postsynaptic expression of parkin dampens excitatory synaptic transmission and causes a marked loss of excitatory synapses onto hippocampal neurons. Conversely, knockdown of endogenous parkin or expression of PD-linked parkin mutants profoundly enhances synaptic efficacy and triggers a proliferation of glutamatergic synapses. This proliferation is associated with increased vulnerability to synaptic excitotoxicity. Thus, parkin negatively regulates the number and strength of excitatory synapses. Increased excitatory drive produced by disruption of parkin may contribute to the pathophysiology of PD

Key components of a hepatobiliary surgery curriculum for general surgery residents: results of the FULCRUM International Delphi consensus

Background: In general surgery residency, hepatobiliary training varies significantly across the world. The aim of this study was to establish an international consensus among hepatobiliary surgeons on components of a hepatobiliary curriculum for general surgery residents. Methods: A three-round modified Delphi technique was employed. Fifty-two hepatobiliary surgeons involved in general surgery training programs were invited. An initial questionnaire was developed by a group of experts in hepatobiliary and educational research after a systematic literature review. It comprised 90 statements about knowledge, technical skills, attitudes, and postoperative care. Panelists could add or alter items. The survey was delivered electronically and the panel was instructed to score the items based on 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was reached when at least 80% of panelists agreed on a statement with Cronbach's alpha value >0.8. Results: Forty-one (79%) experts have participated. Sixteen panelists are based in Asia, 14 in Europe, and 11 in the Americas. Eighty percent of all proposed skills (81/101) were considered fundamental including knowledge (39/43), technical skills (16/32), attitude (15/15), and postoperative care (11/11). Conclusion: An international consensus was achieved on components of a hepatobiliary curriculum. Acquiring broad knowledge is fundamental during residency. Advanced liver resection techniques require specialized hepatobiliary training