Peixes ornamentais exóticos introduzidos em corpos d’água na Mata Atlântica, Brasil

Specimens of Puntius arulius, P. ticto, P. titteya, P. oligolepis, Nannostomus beckfordi, Poecilia latipinna, P. velifera, Trichogaster pectoralis, and Betta splendens were recorded in the largest ornamental aquaculture center in Brazil. These fishes were introduced in the study sites by accidental escape and intentional release. There is evidence that six species are reproducing. Measures are proposed to prevent further spread of ornamental exotic fishes in the region. Key words: Brazil, species introduction, exotic fishes, ornamental aquaculture.Exemplares de Puntius arulius, P. ticto, P. titteya, P. oligolepis, Nannostomus beckfordi, Poecilia latipinna, P. velifera, Trichogaster pectoralis e Betta splendens foram registrados no maior centro de piscicultura ornamental do Brasil. Estes peixes alcançaram os locais de estudo devido a fugas acidentais e liberação intencional. Há evidências de que seis espécies estejam se reproduzindo. Medidas são propostas para se prevenir futuras introduções de peixes ornamentais exóticos na região. Palavras-chave: Brasil, fugas, peixes exóticos, piscicultura ornamental

Reprodução do peixe não-nativo Barbo-Rosado Pethia conchonius (Hamilton, 1822) (Pisces: Cyprinidae) na Zona de Amortecimento do Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro (PESB), Minas Gerais

Foi realizado um estudo para avaliar a reprodução do peixe ornamental não-nativo Pethia conchonius em um riacho de cabeceira localizado na Zona de Amortecimento do Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro (PESB), bacia do rio Paraíba do Sul, Minas Gerais. Coletas com peneiras ocorreram bimestralmente de janeiro a dezembro de 2004 no riacho Pinheiros. Com base nas características microscópicas de ovários e testículos, foram determinadas as seguintes fases da ciclo reprodutivo: 1=Repouso, 2=Maduro, 3=Desovado para fêmeas e espermiado para machos. Foram encontrados fêmeas e machos em reprodução (estádios 2, 3) durante todo o período de estudo. Ovários desovados contendo ovócitos 1 (perinucleolar inicial), 2 (perinucleolar avançado), 3 (pré-vitelogênico), 4 (vitelogênico) e folículos pós-ovulatórios indicaram desova parcelada para a espécie. Juvenis também foram coletados por todo o ano de 2004. A proporção sexual não variou entre fêmeas e machos bimestralmente e para o período total. Medidas conservacionistas tais como telas nos equipamentos dos tanques para conter as fugas, monitoramento contínuo das pisciculturas ornamentais e conscientização são sugeridas para se evitar a degradação ambiental pela introdução de P. conchonius e outras espécies de peixes ornamentais na região

Peixes ornamentais exóticos introduzidos em corpos d’água na Mata Atlântica, Brasil

Specimens of Puntius arulius, P. ticto, P. titteya, P. oligolepis, Nannostomus beckfordi, Poecilia latipinna, P. velifera, Trichogaster pectoralis, and Betta splendens were recorded in the largest ornamental aquaculture center in Brazil. These fishes were introduced in the study sites by accidental escape and intentional release. There is evidence that six species are reproducing. Measures are proposed to prevent further spread of ornamental exotic fishes in the region. Key words: Brazil, species introduction, exotic fishes, ornamental aquaculture.Exemplares de Puntius arulius, P. ticto, P. titteya, P. oligolepis, Nannostomus beckfordi, Poecilia latipinna, P. velifera, Trichogaster pectoralis e Betta splendens foram registrados no maior centro de piscicultura ornamental do Brasil. Estes peixes alcançaram os locais de estudo devido a fugas acidentais e liberação intencional. Há evidências de que seis espécies estejam se reproduzindo. Medidas são propostas para se prevenir futuras introduções de peixes ornamentais exóticos na região. Palavras-chave: Brasil, fugas, peixes exóticos, piscicultura ornamental

Rethinking research processes to strengthen co-production in low and middle income countries.

Article - No abstract available

COVID-19 Follow-App. Mobile App-Based Monitoring of COVID-19 Patients after Hospital Discharge: A Single-Center, Open-Label, Randomized Clinical Trial

COVID-19; App; PneumoniaCOVID-19; App; PneumòniaCOVID-19; App; NeumoníaIntroduction: In the midst of a pandemic, apps can be used to provide close follow-up, ensure that patients are monitored at home, avoid excessive pressure on medical facilities, prevent the movement of people (both patients and health professionals), and reduce the risk of infection. Objective: To adapt and validate the use of a smartphone application for outpatient follow-up of COVID-19 patients after hospital discharge. Methods: We conducted an open-label clinical trial at Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to be followed by the Farmalarm app or by their primary care center. The primary endpoint was the reduction in the need for in-person return visits. Results: From 31 March to 4 May 2020, 150 patients were enrolled in the study at hospital discharge: 74 patients were randomized to the experimental group, and 76 to the control group. All patients in the control group and all except for six in the experimental group completed the study. During hospitalization, before study inclusion, all but 4 (97.3%) had viral pneumonia, 91 (60.7%) required supplemental oxygen, and 16 (10.7%) required intensive care unit (ICU) admission. COVID-19–related return visits to the emergency department were significantly higher in the control group (7.9% vs. 0%; p = 0.028) in the per-protocol analysis. Telephone consultations with the emergency department were performed by 12 (15.8%) patients in the control group and 0 (0%) in the experimental group (p < 0.001). Satisfaction with outpatient monitoring was rated higher by the experimental group (5 vs. 4 points; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Following COVID-19 hospital discharge, home follow-up via a mobile app was effective in reducing in-person return visits without undermining patient satisfaction or perception of health, compared with standard follow-up

Ecologia de ervas-de-passarinho Neotropicais: um importante componente do dossel de ecossistemas brasileiros

Mistletoes have been studied in temperate countries regularly because they can be pests of cultivated plants and forest plantations. In comparison with temperate habitats, little is known about the ecology of mistletoes in the Neotropics. More emphasis should be given to neotropical mistletoes because they could be important elements of plant communities, acting as key resources for pollinators, seed dispersers and herbivores. Using a combination of findings from early mistletoe studies and empirical evidence from several recent case studies, we report emerging patterns of mistletoe interactions with associated organisms and propose aims for further studies. There has been increasing interest in working with mistletoes in Brazil. Although there are some data on the ecology of mistletoe seed dispersal, reproductive biology studies are scarce and represent a wide range of fieldwork to be explored. Knowledge of the basic biology of mistletoes will be very important for modeling their spatial distribution using metapopulation or epidemiological approaches. In this review, we summarize the studies conducted in the neotropical region in order to provide a framework for current research and new ideas for future investigations of mistletoes, especially in Brazil.Ervas-de-passarinho têm sim sido regularmente estudadas em países temperados por afetar negativamente espécies cultivadas e florestas manejadas. Em comparação com ambientes temperados pouco se conhece sobre a ecologia das ervas-de-passarinho neotropicais. Desta forma, é necessário maior conhecimento sobre o grupo porque são importantes elementos de comunidades vegetais, atuando como recurso-chave para polinizadores, dispersores de sementes e herbívoros. Através de uma combinação de trabalhos clássicos já publicados com evidências empíricas recentes, nós apresentamos padrões emergentes da interação entre ervas-de-passarinho com os organismos associados e questionamentos para estudos adicionais. Existe um crescente interesse neste grupo no Brasil. E embora existam informações sobre dispersão de sementes, estudos sobre biologia reprodutiva são raros e representam um campo a ser explorado. O conhecimento da biologia básica das ervas-de-passarinho será relevante para modelar sua distribuição espacial usando uma abordagem metapopulacional ou epidemiológica. Nesta revisão nós sumarizamos os principais estudos conduzidos na região Neotropical para fornecer um panorama atual das pesquisas desenvolvidas, bem como novas ideias para futuras investigações, especialmente no Brasil.26427

Ecologia de ervas-de-passarinho Neotropicais : um importante componente do dossel de ecossistemas brasileiros

Ervas-de-passarinho têm sim sido regularmente estudadas em países temperados por afetar negativamente espécies cultivadas e florestas manejadas. Em comparação com ambientes temperados pouco se conhece sobre a ecologia das ervas-de-passarinho neotropicais. Desta forma, é necessário maior conhecimento sobre o grupo porque são importantes elementos de comunidades vegetais, atuando como recurso-chave para polinizadores, dispersores de sementes e herbívoros. Através de uma combinação de trabalhos clássicos já publicados com evidências empíricas recentes, nós apresentamos padrões emergentes da interação entre ervas-de-passarinho com os organismos associados e questionamentos para estudos adicionais. Existe um crescente interesse neste grupo no Brasil. E embora existam informações sobre dispersão de sementes, estudos sobre biologia reprodutiva são raros e representam um campo a ser explorado. O conhecimento da biologia básica das ervas-de-passarinho será relevante para modelar sua distribuição espacial usando uma abordagem metapopulacional ou epidemiológica. Nesta revisão nós sumarizamos os principais estudos conduzidos na região Neotropical para fornecer um panorama atual das pesquisas desenvolvidas, bem como novas ideias para futuras investigações, especialmente no Brasil.Mistletoes have been studied in temperate countries regularly because they can be pests of cultivated plants and forest plantations. In comparison with temperate habitats, little is known about the ecology of mistletoes in the Neotropics. More emphasis should be given to neotropical mistletoes because they could be important elements of plant communities, acting as key resources for pollinators, seed dispersers and herbivores. Using a combination of findings from early mistletoe studies and empirical evidence from several recent case studies, we report emerging patterns of mistletoe interactions with associated organisms and propose aims for further studies. There has been increasing interest in working with mistletoes in Brazil. Although there are some data on the ecology of mistletoe seed dispersal, reproductive biology studies are scarce and represent a wide range of fieldwork to be explored. Knowledge of the basic biology of mistletoes will be very important for modeling their spatial distribution using metapopulation or epidemiological approaches. In this review, we summarize the studies conducted in the neotropical region in order to provide a framework for current research and new ideas for future investigations of mistletoes, especially in Brazil

Assessing the costs and cost-effectiveness of ICare internet-based interventions (protocol)

Background: Mental health problems are common and place a burden on the individual as well as on societal resources. Despite the existence of evidence-based treatments, access to treatment is often prevented or delayed due to insufficient health care resources. Effective internet-based self-help interventions have the potential to reduce the risk for mental health problems, to successfully bridge waiting time for face-to-face treatment and to address inequities in access. However, little is known about the cost-effectiveness of such interventions. This paper describes the study protocol for the economic evaluation of the studies that form the ICare programme of internet-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of a range of mental health problems. Methods: An overarching work package within the ICare programme was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the internet-based interventions alongside the clinical trials. There are two underlying tasks in the ICare economic evaluation. First, to develop schedules that generate equivalent and comparable information on use of services and supports across seven countries taking part in clinical trials of different interventions and second, to estimate unit costs for each service and support used. From these data the cost per person will be estimated by multiplying each participant's use of each service by the unit cost for that service, taking both a public sector and a societal perspective. This individual level of cost data matches the level of outcome data used in the clinical trials. Following the analyses of service use and costs data, joint analysis of costs and outcomes will be undertaken to provide findings on the relative cost-effectiveness of the interventions. These analyses use a well-established framework, the Production of Welfare approach, and standard methods and techniques underpinned by economic theory. Discussion/conclusion: Existing research tends to support the effectiveness of internet-based interventions, but there is little information on their cost-effectiveness compared to ‘treatment as usual’. The economic evaluation of ICare interventions will add considerably to this evidence base

Onset and progression of diabetes in kidney transplant patients receiving everolimus or cyclosporine therapy: an analysis of two randomized, multicenter trials

Background: Conversion from calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) therapy to a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor following kidney transplantation may help to preserve graft function. Data are sparse, however, concerning the impact of conversion on posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) or the progression of pre-existing diabetes. Methods: PTDM and other diabetes-related parameters were assessed post hoc in two large open-label multicenter trials. Kidney transplant recipients were randomized (i) at month 4.5 to switch to everolimus or remain on a standard cyclosporine (CsA)-based regimen (ZEUS, n = 300), or (ii) at month 3 to switch to everolimus, remain on standard CNI therapy or convert to everolimus with reduced-exposure CsA (HERAKLES, n = 497). Results: There were no significant differences in the incidence of PTDM between treatment groups (log rank p = 0.97 [ZEUS], p = 0.90 [HERAKLES]). The mean change in random blood glucose from randomization to month 12 was also similar between treatment groups in both trials for patients with or without PTDM, and with or without pre-existing diabetes. The change in eGFR from randomization to month 12 showed a benefit for everolimus versus comparator groups in all subpopulations, but only reached significance in larger subgroups (no PTDM or no pre-existing diabetes). Conclusions: Within the restrictions of this post hoc analysis, including non-standardized diagnostic criteria and limited glycemia laboratory parameters, these data do not indicate any difference in the incidence or severity of PTDM with early conversion from a CsA-based regimen to everolimus, or in the progression of pre-existing diabetes. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov , NCT00154310 (registered September 2005) and NCT00514514 (registered August 2007); EudraCT ( 2006-007021-32 and 2004-004346-40 )