Land use intensification in the humid tropics increased both alpha and beta diversity of soil bacteria

Anthropogenic pressures on tropical forests are rapidly intensifying, but our understanding of their implications for biological diversity is still very limited, especially with regard to soil biota, and in particular soil bacterial communities. Here we evaluated bacterial community composition and diversity across a gradient of land use intensity in the eastern Amazon from undisturbed primary forest, through primary forests varyingly disturbed by fire, regenerating secondary forest, pasture, and mechanized agriculture. Soil bacteria were assessed by paired-end Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments (V4 region). The resulting sequences were clustered into operational taxonomic units (OTU) at a 97% similarity threshold. Land use intensification increased the observed bacterial diversity (both OTU richness and community heterogeneity across space) and this effect was strongly associated with changes in soil pH. Moreover, land use intensification and subsequent changes in soil fertility, especially pH, altered the bacterial community composition, with pastures and areas of mechanized agriculture displaying the most contrasting communities in relation to undisturbed primary forest. Together, these results indicate that tropical forest conversion impacts soil bacteria not through loss of diversity, as previously thought, but mainly by imposing marked shifts on bacterial community composition, with unknown yet potentially important implications for ecological functions and services performed by these communities

Venous ulcer in lower extremities

The lower limbs chronic venous ulcers are extremely stressful for patients and their families due to the physical limitation and the need of special care caused by that disease, which is responsible for the decrease of their life quality and productivity. Despite being a common problem in health care units, venous ulcers do not have adequate treatment in most of these specialized services mainly because of the ignorance of pathophysiology and therapists. Among the complex therapeutic measures described in the literature, prevention and early diagnosis are the primary steps of a proper treatment; minimizing, thus, the physical and psychological consequences brought to lower limb ulcerationsA úlcera venosa crônica de membros inferiores é extremamente desgastante para o paciente e familiares, deteriorando a qualidade de vida e a produtividade das pessoas. Apesar de ser um problema comum nas unidades de saúde, as úlceras venosas não possuem tratamento adequado na maioria dos serviços devido principalmente ao desconhecimento de sua fisiopatologia e dos métodos terapêticos. Entre as medidas terapêuticas complexas descrita na literatura, a prevenção e o diagnóstico precoce são as etapas primordiais para o tratamento adequado desses pacientes, minimizando as sequelas físicas e psicológicas de uma lesão ulcerada em membros inferiore

PERFIL HEMATOLÓGICO E EPIDEMIOLÓGICO EM CÃES COM BABESIOSE,NO MUNICÍPIO DE FORTALEZA/CE

Canine babesiosis is a hemoparasitosis caused by a protozoan of the genusBabesia spp., that parasitize the erythrocytes of infected animals. This study aimed to analyze the hematological and epidemiological profile of dogs diagnosed with babesiosis, through visualization in blood smear ofmerozoitesinside erythrocytes, in the city of Fortaleza/CE, for five years (2015 to 2019). During the period, 38 affected dogs were observed. The second half, the dry period, was the one with the highest number of cases (60.5%). A higher frequency was observed in male dogs (57.8%), mixed breed (57.8%) under one year of age (73.6%). The most frequent hematological changes were thrombocytopenia (86.8%) and anemia (81.5%). In these cases, it is suggested to include babesiosis as a differential diagnosis. Despite the low sensitivity, the search for hemoparasites in the blood smear can be used in the clinical routine.A babesiose canina é uma hemoparasitose, causada por um protozoário do gênero Babesia spp., que parasita os eritrócitos de animais infectados. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o perfil hematológico e epidemiológico de cães diagnosticados com babesiose, através da visualização, no esfregaço sanguíneo, de merozoítos no interior dos eritrócitos, na cidade de Fortaleza/CE, durante cinco anos (2015 a 2019). No período, foram observados 38 cães acometidos. O segundo semestre, o período seco, foi o que apresentou um maior número de casos (60,5%). Observou-se maior frequência em cães machos (57,8%), sem raça definida (57,8%), com menos de um ano de idade (73,6%). As alterações hematológicas mais frequentes foram trombocitopenia (86,8%) e anemia (81,5%). Sugere-se, nesses casos, a inclusão da babesiose como diagnóstico diferencial. Apesar da baixa sensibilidade, a pesquisa de hemoparasitos, no esfregaço sanguíneo, pode ser utilizada na rotina clínica

SEVERE CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS AND C-REACTIVE PROTEIN LEVELS

This study aims to analyze the relationship between chronic periodontitis and C-reactive protein (CRP), taking certain associated factors into consideration. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 75 adults of both sexes. After the participants had been interviewed, they underwent physical and dental examinations and blood collection. CRP levels were evaluated by means of nephelometry. A periodontal clinical examination was conducted by trained examiners and the diagnosis of chronic periodontitis was established when at least 30% of the individual’s teeth presented clinical attachment loss ≥ 5 mm. The analysis procedures consisted of descriptive analysis and linear regression. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in CRP levels between the groups with and without periodontitis. The median CRP level in the group with periodontitis was 2.3 mg/l (25-75% interquartile range, IQR = 0.74-5.4) and in the group without periodontitis, 1.8 mg/l (25-75% IQR = 0.79-4.54) (p = 0.417). Log CRP was significantly correlated only with the individual’s body mass index (BMI). The main findings from this study indicate that there is no association between severe chronic periodontitis and CRP, and factors like BMI need to be analyzed carefully in studies on this topic

ABORDAGEM DIAGNÓSTICA DE MASTOCITOMA CUTÂNEO METASTÁTICO EM CANINO

Mast cell tumors are one of the most common skin neoplasms that affect dogs. The diagnosis is based on clinical and laboratory aspects, with cytology and histopathology being the preferred methods. Therefore, this study aims to report the importance of the broad diagnostic approach of metastatic cutaneous mastocytoma in a castrated a female dog attended at the Veterinary Hospital of the State University of Ceará, with a neoformation in a member compatible with mast cell tumor. The patient’s staging was performed through laboratory tests of complete blood count, aspiration cytology of regional lymph nodes and bone marrow, which showed the presence of focus of metastasis, as well as the abdominal ultrasound examination, which showed changes in the liver parenchymas and right medial iliac lymphadenopathy. Given the suspicions, the patient was euthanized and the body was sent for necropsy and histopathological examination, which confirmed the diagnosis of high-grade cutaneous mast cell tumor, with metastasis in the liver, lung, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Thus, it can be is concluded that mast cell tumor is a neoplasm of multifactorial diagnosis, where hematological tests associated with cytology, histopathological, and imaging analyses are essential to establish the definitive diagnosis to determine a better therapeutic behavior and prognosis of canine patients.O mastocitoma é uma das neoplasias cutâneas mais comuns que acometem cães. O diagnóstico da doença é baseado em aspectos clínicos e laboratoriais, sendo a citologia e a histopatologia os métodos de eleição. Diante disso, o objetivo deste estudo é relatar a importância da ampla abordagem diagnóstica de mastocitoma cutâneo metastático em uma fêmea canina castrada, atendida no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Estadual do Ceará, com uma neoformação em membro compatível com mastocitoma. O estadiamento da paciente foi feito através de exames laboratoriais de hemograma completo, e citologia aspirativa de linfonodo regional e medula óssea, que evidenciaram a presença de focos de metástase; bem como do exame de ultrassom abdominal, que evidenciou alterações no parênquima hepático e linfoadenomegalia ilíaco medial direita. Diante das suspeitas, optou-se pela eutanasia da paciente, cujo corpo foi enviado para os exames de necropsia e histopatologia, os quais confirmaram o diagnóstico de mastocitoma cutâneo de alto grau, com metástase em fígado, pulmão, medula e linfonodos. Desta forma pode-se concluir que o mastocitoma cutâneo metastático é uma neoplasia de diagnóstico multifatorial, em que a realização de exames hematológicos associados às análises citológicas, histopatológicas e de imagem são indispensáveis para estabelecer o diagnóstico definitivo para qu seja determinada uma melhor conduta terapêutica e prognóstico de pacientes caninos

Scavenging Activity on Reactive Oxygen Species with Biological Relevance by Varronia curassavica

Varronia curassavica Jacq. is a medicinal plant found in Brazil used as anti-inflammatory. Here, we investigated the in vitro antioxidant activity of 70 % ethanol extract of V. curassavica leaves on synthetic radicals (ABTS•+/DPPH•) and reactive oxygen species (O2•-, ROO•, HOCl/OCl-, H2O2), besides its in vitro cytotoxicity. The extract was characterized by UPLC-ESI-QToF-MSE and the annotated compounds were one hydroxybenzoic acid, five phenylpropanoids, and three glycosylated quercetin derivatives, being the main compound rosmarinic acid or its isomer. The antioxidant activity was very promising in all tests, highlighting on the capture of O2•-, which EC50 value was three times lower than Trolox. This activity may be due to the presence of the major compounds, all phenolic compounds. The extract also presented low cytotoxicity. Thus, the extract from V. curassavica leaves has great potential as an antioxidant

Perfil da mortalidade infantil em Petrolina (PE) entre os anos de 1994 a 2005

Infant mortality is a public health problem that has experienced reductions in recent years in Brazil, due to better conditions of life and investments to promote maternal and child health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of infant mortality in Petrolina-PE, between the years 1994 to 2005. There has been research that are descriptive and quantitative, using indicators of live births and infant mortality, describing the profile of infant mortality in Petrolina. We applied the system DATASUS for data collection, and the income was through graphs and tables. In the data analysis, we observed that, in Petrolina over the 12 years studied was an average of 25 infant deaths per thousand live births. In an attempt to minimize the mortality public health policies need to be more effective actions, with focus to education in maternal and child health, and invest in the achievement of pre-natal to better quality.A mortalidade infantil é um problema de saúde pública que vem sofrendo reduções nos últimos anos no Brasil, devido às melhores condições de vida da população e investimentos de promoção à saúde materno-infantil. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o perfil da mortalidade infantil em Petrolina (PE), entre os anos de 1994 a 2005. Foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa de caráter descritivo e quantitativo, utilizando-se os indicadores de nascidos vivos e mortalidade infantil e descrevendo-se o perfil da mortalidade infantil em Petrolina. Empregou-se o sistema DATASUS para a coleta de dados, e a demonstração dos resultados ocorreu através de gráficos e tabelas. Na análise dos dados, observou-se que, em Petrolina, durante os 12 anos estudados, ocorreu uma média de 25 mortes infantis por mil nascidos vivos. Na tentativa de minimizar a mortalidade infantil, as políticas públicas de saúde necessitam de ações mais efetivas, com enfoque para a educação em saúde materno-infantil, além de investimentos na realização de um pré-natal de melhor qualidade