Comparative descriptions of eggs from three species of Rhodnius (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

The authors describe and compare the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of eggs from the three most recent described species of the genus Rhodnius Stål, 1859, which have not previously been studied. These species are Rhodnius colombiensis (Mejia, Galvão & Jurberg 1999), Rhodnius milesi (Carcavallo, Rocha, Galvão & Jurberg 2001) and Rhodnius stali (Lent, Jurberg & Galvão 1993). The results revealed that there are similarities in the exochorial architecture of optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy; these include the predominance of hexagonal cells that are common to all Rhodnius species and variable degrees of lateral flattening, which is common not only to species of this genus, but also to the Rhodniini tribe. Differences in overall colour, the presence of a collar in R. milesi, a longitudinal bevel in R. stali and the precise length of R. colombiensis can be useful distinguishing features. As a result of this study, the key for egg identification proposed by Barata in 1981 can be updated.European Community - Chagas Disease Intervention ActivitiesCNPqCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

Chewing analysis in subjects aged between 07 to 12 years with unilateral cross bite

PURPOSE: to analyze the function of chewing, related to the posterior unilateral crossbite in children aged between 07 to 12 years. METHODS: 10 samples of both genders with posterior unilateral crossbite, with no orthodontic treatment history. During the speech language pathology evaluation the examined items were: food cutting, side of the chewing, rhythm, lips position, food escape, jaw movement, exaggerated participation of the perioral muscles, food accumulation in the vestibule of the mouth, position and size of the alimentary cake. RESULTS: from the 10 evaluated samples, 80% demonstrated unilateral chewing of the same side of the posterior unilateral crossbite and 20% bilateral chewing. From the 08 analyzed samples, the results were: previous cut, without escape of food and rotatory movements 100%; slow rhythm 50% and fast rhythm 50%; closed lips 75%; exaggerated participation of perioral muscles 62,5%; without accumulation of food 87,5%; alimentary cake cente-red 62,5%; small cale size 62,5%. CONCLUSION: from the evaluated cases, it was observed that 80% confirmed the relation between unilateral chewing and unilateral posterior crossbite, corroborating the literature s reporting. In the chewing, no any alterations related to the posterior unilateral crossbite and unilateral chewing have been noted.OBJETIVO: analisar a função de mastigação relacionada à mordida cruzada posterior unilateral em crianças na faixa etária de sete a doze anos. MÉTODOS: dez indivíduos de ambos os sexos com mordida cruzada unilateral posterior sem intervenção ortodôntica. Na avaliação fonoaudiológica os itens considerados foram: corte do alimento, lado da mastigação, ritmo, postura labial, escape de alimentos, movimento de mandíbula, participação exagerada da musculatura perioral, acúmulo de alimento no vestíbulo da boca, posição e tamanho do bolo alimentar. RESULTADOS: dos dez indivíduos avaliados, 80% apresentaram mastigação unilateral do mesmo lado da mordida cruzada posterior unilateral e 20% mastigação bilateral. Dos oito indivíduos analisados com mastigação unilateral, os resultados encontrados foram: corte anterior, sem escape de alimentos e movimentos rotatórios 100%; ritmo lento 50% e rápido 50%; lábios fechados 75%; participação exagerada da musculatura perioral 62,5%; sem acúmulo de alimentos 87,5%; bolo alimentar centralizado 75%; tamanho do bolo pequeno 62,5%. CONCLUSÃO: dos casos avaliados, observou-se que 80% confirmam a relação entre mastigação unilateral e mordida cruzada posterior unilateral. Na mastigação, não foram evidenciadas quaisquer outras alterações que possam estar relacionadas à mordida cruzada posterior unilateral e mastigação unilateral.Prefeitura do Rio de JaneiroUniversidade do Estado do Rio de JaneiroCEFAC - Saúde e EducaçãoHospital Estadual Adão Pereira NunesUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Setor de Investigação em Doenças NeuromuscularesUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESP, Setor de Investigação em Doenças NeuromuscularesUNIFESPSciEL

2 nd Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease, 2015

Abstract Chagas disease is a neglected chronic condition with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. It has considerable psychological, social, and economic impacts. The disease represents a significant public health issue in Brazil, with different regional patterns. This document presents the evidence that resulted in the Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease. The objective was to review and standardize strategies for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of Chagas disease in the country, based on the available scientific evidence. The consensus is based on the articulation and strategic contribution of renowned Brazilian experts with knowledge and experience on various aspects of the disease. It is the result of a close collaboration between the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine and the Ministry of Health. It is hoped that this document will strengthen the development of integrated actions against Chagas disease in the country, focusing on epidemiology, management, comprehensive care (including families and communities), communication, information, education, and research

Soil water-holding capacity and monodominance in Southern Amazon tropical forests

Background and aims: We explored the hypothesis that low soil water-holding capacity is the main factor driving the monodominance of Brosimum rubescens in a monodominant forest in Southern Amazonia. Tropical monodominant forests are rare ecosystems with low diversity and high dominance of a single tree species. The causes of this atypical condition are still poorly understood. Some studies have shown a relationship between monodominance and waterlogging or soil attributes, while others have concluded that edaphic factors have little or no explanatory value, but none has accounted for soil-moisture variation other than waterlogging. This study is the first to explicitly explore how low soil water-holding capacity influences the monodominance of tropical forests. Methods: We conducted in situ measurements of vertical soil moisture using electrical resistance collected over 1 year at 0–5; 35–40 and 75–80 cm depths in a B. rubescens monodominant forest and in an adjacent mixed-species forest in the Amazon-Cerrado transition zone, Brazil. Minimum leaf water potential (Ψmin) of the seven most common species, including B. rubescens, and soil water-holding capacity for both forests were determined. Results: The vertical soil moisture decay pattern was similar in both forests for all depths. However, the slightly higher water availability in the monodominant forest and Ψmin similarity between B. rubescens and nearby mixed forest species indicate that low water-availability does not cause the monodominance. Conclusions: We reject the hypothesis that monodominance of B. rubescens is primarily determined by low soil water-holding capacity, reinforcing the idea that monodominance in tropical forests is not determined by a single factor

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

Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents’ growth and development

AbstractOptimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was &lt;1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified.</jats:p