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

Protein malnutrition during gestation and early life decreases neuronal size in the medial prefrontal cortex of post-pubertal rats

Retrospective studies in human populations indicate that protein deprivation during pregnancy and early life (early protein malnutrition, EPM) is associated with cognitive impairments, learning disabilities and may represent a risk factor for the late onset of some psychiatric disorders, fundamentally schizophrenia, a condition where the prefrontal cortex plays an important role. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether EPM affects structural aspects of the rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), such as cortical volume, neuronal density and neuronal soma size, which seem altered in patients with schizophrenia. For this, a rat model of EPM (5% casein from conception to postnatal day 60) was adopted and the rat mPFC volume, total number of neurons and average neuronal volume were evaluated on postnatal day 60 (post-pubertal animals) by histo- and immunohistochemical techniques using unbiased stereological analysis. EPM did not alter the number of NeuN+ neurons in the rat mPFC. However, a very significant decrease in mPFC volume and average neuronal size was observed in malnourished rats. Although the present study does not establish causal relationships between malnutrition and schizophrenia, our results may indicate a similar structural phenomenon in these two situations

Tratamento periodontal de pacientes portadores de doenças sistêmicas crônicas

Some studies consider that the presence of periodontal bacterias can cause systemic inflammation and thus influence the progression of some chronic systemic diseases. Therefore, treatment and prevention of periodontal diseases can collaborate in the control of chronic systemic diseases. One of the aims of this project is to provide a differentiated and personalized periodontal care in patients with chronic systemic diseases. Patients were recruited from the screening sector, Araçatuba College of DentistryUNESP and Medical Ambulatory of EspecialitiesAME. In this project, there were several kinds of patients: diabetics, hypertenses, patients with heart disease, patients with vascular-cerebral accident history, alcoholics, smokers, depressives and down syndrome carrier. As for clinical procedures, patients were treated by undergraduate and graduate students who performed nonsurgical and surgical periodontal treatment, as well as advising oral hygiene and plaque control.The project is of great importance, since the concepts of care for chronic diseases are covered, aiming medical and dental treatment, prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, which affect a large segment of the population, Furthermore students can put into practice the acquired concepts in related disciplines.Alguns estudos consideram que a presença de bactérias periodontopatogênicas podem provocar uma inflamação sistêmica e influenciar na progressão de algumas doenças sistêmicas crônicas. Sendo assim, o tratamento e prevenção das doenças periodontais podem colaborar no controle das doenças sistêmicas crônicas. Um dos objetivos do presente projeto é fornecer uma atenção e atendimento periodontal diferenciado e personalizado nos pacientes portadores de doenças sistêmicas crônicas. Os pacientes foram recrutados do setor de Triagem da Faculdade de Odontologia de Araçatuba, UNESP e do Ambulatório Médico de Especialidades- AME. Foram atendidos no projeto pacientes diabéticos, hipertensos, cardíacos, portadores de doenças auto-imunes, historia de acidente vasculo-cerebral, alcóolatras, fumantes e depressivos e portador de síndrome de down. Quanto aos procedimentos clínicos, os pacientes foram atendidos por alunos de graduação e pós-graduação que realizaram o tratamento periodontal não cirúrgico e cirúrgico, além da orientação de higiene bucal e controle de placa bacteriana. O projeto é de grande relevância, uma vez que são abordados os conceitos de tratamento das doenças crônicas, objetivando além do tratamento médico, o tratamento odontológico, como forma de prevenção e tratamento das doenças crônicas, que atingem grande faixa da população, além disso os alunos podem aplicar na prática os conceitos adquiridos nas disciplinas afins