Scorpion Envenoming as an Emerging Public Health Problem in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Midwest Brazil: Involvement of Tityus confluens and the Need for a Panregional Evaluation of Available Antivenoms.

This contribution highlights the emergence of a newly endemic region for scorpion envenoming in South America, covering eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and the midwestern Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. These areas have not historically been known to harbor life-threatening scorpion species. Tityus confluens, a parthenogenetic species of medical significance in Argentina, has been identified in severe and lethal human cases in Bolivia and Paraguay.

Inhibition of phospholipase C reduces the capacitation of cryopreserved ovine sperm.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of phospholipase C (PLC) on the capacitation of cryopreserved ovine semen. Sixteen semen samples were cryopreserved with diluent added by 0, 10, or 20 μM of U73122, a PLC inhibitor. The sperm kinetics of the thawed samples were evaluated using the "Computer-assisted Sperm Analysis" system, and the integrity of the plasma and mitochondrial membranes was evaluated using fluorescent probes.

Role of Oxidative Stress on Insulin Resistance in Diet-Induced Obesity Mice.

Insulin resistance is the link between obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The molecular mechanism by which obese individuals develop insulin resistance has not yet been fully elucidated; however, inconclusive and contradictory studies have shown that oxidative stress may be involved in the process. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of reactive species on the mechanism of insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice.

Prevention of a dengue outbreak via the large-scale deployment of Sterile Insect Technology in a Brazilian city: a prospective study.

Background: Dengue is a global problem that seems to be worsening, as hyper-urbanization associated with climate change has led to a significant increase in the abundance and geographical spread of its principal vector, the mosquito. Currently available solutions have not been able to stop the spread of dengue which shows the urgent need to implement alternative technologies as practical solutions. In a previous pilot trial, we demonstrated the efficacy and safety of the method 'Natural Vector Control' (NVC) in suppressing the vector population and in blocking the occurrence of an outbreak of dengue in the treated areas.

Effects of Avocado Oil Supplementation on Insulin Sensitivity, Cognition, and Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers in Different Tissues of Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Obesity induces insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurocognitive impairment. Avocado oil (AO) has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. This study evaluated the effect of AO supplementation on obese mice in the adipose tissue, muscle, liver, and hippocampus.

Evaluation of Larval Therapy Compared to Antibiotic Therapy in the Treatment of Skin Wounds in Rabbits.

Larval therapy (LT) is a therapeutic modality that uses larvae of necrophagous flies for the treatment of wounds. The use of this therapy presents several benefits, due to the action of the larvae that remove necrotic tissue selectively, exercising antimicrobial action, and promoting healing. There are situations in which LT proves to be the only or the best alternative for the patient, such as wounds infected by multidrug-resistant microorganisms or when treatment difficulties may lead to an indication for amputation.

Cuminaldehyde potentiates the antimicrobial actions of ciprofloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are important agents of urinary tract infections that can often evolve to severe infections. The rise of antibiotic-resistant strains has driven the search for novel therapies to replace the use or act as adjuvants of antibiotics. In this context, plant-derived compounds have been widely investigated.

Association of L-arginine with heparin on the sperm capacitation improves embryo production in bovine.

We aimed to evaluate the effects of L-arginine (L-arg) in the quality of heparin-induced capacitation of cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa and its effects on IVP. The experimental groups were: Control 0 hour without pre-capacitation, and groups of sperm capacitated for 30 min in the absence of COC with heparin (Control 30 min), with 1 mM L-arg and with 1 mM L-arg + heparin. The capacitation pattern was evaluated by chlortetracycline assay and the integrity of the plasma membrane (PM) and acrosome membrane (AM) by the association of Hoescht 33342 and propidium iodide.

Mitigation of diffuse CH and HS emissions from the liquid phase of UASB-based sewage treatment plants: challenges, techniques, and perspectives.

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors are considered to be a sustainable and well-established technology for sewage treatment in warm climate countries. However, gases dissolved in the effluent of these reactors, CH and HS in some instances, are a major drawback. These dissolved gases can be emitted into the atmosphere downstream of the anaerobic reactors, resulting in odour nuisance and, in the case of HS, corrosion, while in the case of CH, increasing greenhouse gas emissions with a significant loss of potentially recoverable energy.

Fish oil reduces subclinical inflammation, insulin resistance, and atherogenic factors in overweight/obese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: A pre-post pilot study.

Objective: Insulin resistance-associated obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are commonly accompanied with metabolic lipid abnormalities and are characterized by hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-c levels (atherogenic index plasma, AIP). The primary molecular mechanism that is known to cause insulin resistance is chronic low-grade inflammation. Considering that omega-3 fatty acid reduces subclinical inflammation, we hypothesized that fish oil could affect insulin resistance and AIP.

Ginger and avocado as nutraceuticals for obesity and its comorbidities.

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and is one of the factors involved in the etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Obesity induces low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress. The treatment for obesity involves changes in diet, physical activity, and even medication and surgery.

Effects of copaiba oil on dermonecrosis induced by venom.

Background: Accidents caused by spiders of the genus constitute an important public health problem in Brazil. The venom of induces dermonecrosis at the bite site and systemic disease in severe cases. Traditional medicine based on plant-derived products has been proven to reduce the local effects of envenomation.

Divergences between the Brazilian national information systems for recording deaths from venomous animals.

Background: This paper aims to highlight and analyze discrepancies in reporting of deaths due to venomous animals in Brazil, from 2001 to 2015, between two national information systems: The Notifiable Diseases Information System ( - SINAN) and the Mortality Information System ( - SIM).

Methods: Descriptive and comparative study of the SINAN and SIM information systems, was conducted via the following steps: collecting the death notices from SINAN and SIM; constructing tables and comparative graphics; and, only in scorpion sting fatalities, analyzing the distribution of deaths by age group as described in the specialized literature.

Results: While SINAN identifies strong growth in the number of deaths from scorpion stings, SIM shows greater increase in the number of reported deaths from bee stings, especially in the South and Southeast regions.

Cigarette smoke exposure induces ROS-mediated autophagy by regulating sestrin, AMPK, and mTOR level in mice.

Many pathological conditions linked to cigarette smoking are caused by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present study was conducted to analyze the effect of ROS on the lungs of Swiss mice exposed to cigarette smoking, focusing on autophagy-mediated mechanisms, and investigate the involvement of SESN2, AMPK, and mTOR signaling. Mice were exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) for 7, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days; the control group was not exposed to CS.

Strength training and aerobic exercise alter mitochondrial parameters in brown adipose tissue and equally reduce body adiposity in aged rats.

With aging, there is a reduction in mitochondrial activity, and several changes occur in the body composition, including increased adiposity. The dysfunction of mitochondrial activity causes changes and adaptations in tissue catabolic characteristics. Among them, we can mention brown adipose tissue (BAT).

Protective effect of Myrsine parvifolia plant extract against the inflammatory process induced by Bothrops jararaca snake venom.

Accidents involving snakes from the genus Bothrops sp. constitute the most important cause of snake envenomation in Brazil. The Myrsine genus has been reported to be used in folk medicine against snakebites.

First report of Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) in the State of Acre and Rondônia, Amazon, Brazil.

Introduction: This article reports, for the first time, the occurrence of Panstrongylus megistus in the Brazilian Western Amazon.

Methods: Specimens of P. megistus were collected in the cities of Rio Branco, Acre and Extrema, Rondônia.

Multi-regulatory network of ROS: the interconnection of ROS, PGC-1 alpha, and AMPK-SIRT1 during exercise.

Transcriptional factors are easily susceptible to any stimuli, including exercise. Exercise can significantly influence PGC-1 α and AMPK-SIRT1 pathway, as it is involved in the regulation of energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis. Exercise is a major energy deprivation process by which many of transcription factors get tuned positively.