Xantoma retrobulbar em gato europeu comum : estudo de um caso clínico

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina VeterináriaOs xantomas são lesões benignas granulomatosas, caracterizadas por conterem depósitos de derivados lipoproteicos. Localizam-se normalmente na derme e, apesar de raros, têm sido descritos casos em animais de companhia. As zonas mais afetadas são principalmente a cabeça, extremidades distais e zonas correspondentes a proeminências ósseas. Contudo, até a data não se conhecem casos de xantomas com localização retrobulbar. A formação de xantomas normalmente reflete uma concentração plasmática anormal de colesterol, triglicéridos ou lipoproteínas, estanto intimamente relacionada com alterações no metabolismo dos lípidos. No entanto, a patofisologia e a etiologia não se encontram totalmente estabelecidas. Acredita-se que a formação de xantomas seja o resultado da infiltração e posterior fagocitose de lipoproteinas de densidade baixa (LDL) por macrófagos residentes. O tratamento passa pela correcção da causa primária, uma vez que a excisão cirúrgica isolada pode conduzir a recidivas. Neste trabalho descreve-se um caso clínico de xantoma em felideo com uma localizaçao atipica: no espaço retrobulbar. O objetivo deste estudo é descrever pela primeira vez um caso clínico de xantoma retrobulbar em medicina veterinária, especificamente num gato. É apresentada a sintomatologia, exames complementares realizados para chegar a um diagnóstico definitivo e o método terapêutico selecionado. O felídeo apresentou-se a consulta com exoftalmia moderada e diminuição marcada da retropulsão no olho direito (OD). Como exames complementares de diagnóstico foram realizados ecografia ocular, punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF) ecoguiada e respectiva citologia, hemograma, bioquímicas séricas, TC da cabeça e biópsia guiada por TC. O resultado histopatologico foi o exame que permitiu o diagnóstico definitivo, tendos-se observado lesões sugestivas de xantoma. Optou-se por um tratamento cirúrgico, sendo a exenteração a técnica realizada. Analisaram-se as concentrações séricas de triglicéridos e colesterol, tendo-se verificado existencia de hipertrigliceridémia. Sete meses após a realização da exenteração, não se verificaram sinais de recidivas. Devem ser realizados mais estudos para clarificar a etiologia e patogenia destadoença.ABSTRACT - Orbital Xanthoma in a European Cat – Case Report - Xanthomas are benign granulomatous injuries, caracterized by lipoproteic intracellular deposits. They are usually located on the derme and have been reported unfrequetly in companion animals. The most commonly affected areas include the head, distal extremities and bone proeminences. To the best of our knolegdge this is the first description of orbital xantoma in a cat. The patogenesis of xanthomas is normally associated with abnormal serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides or lipoproteins, and are deeply related with lipid metabolism abdormalitis. The pathophisiology and etiology are not totally established, but it is believed that the xanthomas are the result of infiltration and posterior LDL phagocitosis by resident macrophages. The treatment involves the correction of the primary cause because cirurgical excision by itself usually leads to recurrences. This study reports a clinical case of xanthoma in a cat with an atipical localizacion: retrobulbar space. The main goal of this study is to describe for the first time a case of a retrobulbar xanthoma in veterinary medicine, specifically in a cat. The clinical signs, complementary exams needed to establish a definitve diagnosis and the elected treatment were described. The feline presented with moderate exophtalmia and marked decrease of retropulsion of the right eye. Several complementary diagnostic tests were performed which included ocular ultrasonography, fine needle aspiration citology, cuture and antibiogram, cell blood count, serum biochemistry, CT scan of the head and CT scan guided biopsy of the mass. The result of histopathology allowed the definitive diagnosis. Exenteration was elected a definitive surgical treatment. The serum concentration of cholesterol and tryglicerids were analysed and hypertrigliciridaemia was identified. Seven months post surgery no signs of recurrence were reported. More studies to clarify the etiology and pathogeny of this disease are warranted in the future.N/

A Transcript Finishing Initiative for Closing Gaps in the Human Transcriptome

We report the results of a transcript finishing initiative, undertaken for the purpose of identifying and characterizing novel human transcripts, in which RT-PCR was used to bridge gaps between paired EST clusters, mapped against the genomic sequence. Each pair of EST clusters selected for experimental validation was designated a transcript finishing unit (TFU). A total of 489 TFUs were selected for validation, and an overall efficiency of 43.1% was achieved. We generated a total of 59,975 bp of transcribed sequences organized into 432 exons, contributing to the definition of the structure of 211 human transcripts. The structure of several transcripts reported here was confirmed during the course of this project, through the generation of their corresponding full-length cDNA sequences. Nevertheless, for 21% of the validated TFUs, a full-length cDNA sequence is not yet available in public databases, and the structure of 69.2% of these TFUs was not correctly predicted by computer programs. The TF strategy provides a significant contribution to the definition of the complete catalog of human genes and transcripts, because it appears to be particularly useful for identification of low abundance transcripts expressed in a restricted set of tissues as well as for the delineation of gene boundaries and alternatively spliced isoforms

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora