Disentangling the veil line for Brazilian biodiversity: An overview from two long-term research programs reveals huge gaps in ecological data reporting.

The lack of synthesized information regarding biodiversity is a major problem among researchers, leading to a pervasive cycle where ecologists make field campaigns to collect information that already exists and yet has not been made available for a broader audience. This problem leads to long-lasting effects in public policies such as spending money multiple times to conduct similar studies in the same area. We aim to identify this knowledge gap by synthesizing information available regarding two Brazilian long-term biodiversity programs and the metadata generated by them.

Factors associated with mortality of patients with COVID-19 on invasive mechanical ventilation: A retrospective cohort study in a university hospital in Northeastern Brazil.

The aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation at a university hospital in Northeastern Brazil. This is a retrospective cohort from April to August 2020 through an analysis of medical records, considering the demographic profile, comorbidities, complications, supports, respiratory and laboratory parameters. A total of 65 patients required invasive mechanical ventilation, of which 64.

Unilateral Sacral Erector Spinae Plane Block for Thigh Amputation: Case Report.

Selection of anesthetic technique for thigh amputation is complicated by patients' comorbid conditions. The sacral erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is an emerging technique with potential as a primary anesthetic for thigh amputation. We detail a case involving a 79-year-old undergoing thigh amputation, where sacral ESPB proved insufficient, prompting a shift to spinal anesthesia.

Chagas disease stroke and associated risk factors: A case-control study.

Introduction: The intricate relationship between Chagas disease and ischemic stroke remains unclear. Limited evidence exists concerning secondary prophylaxis, etiological diagnosis, and stroke-related determinants. This study aims to discern factors linked to stroke in Chagas disease by contrasting patients with and without a history of ischemic stroke.

Effectiveness of exercise and pramipexole in the treatment of restless leg syndrome: Implications on the dopaminergic system and PTPRD.

Objective: Dopaminergic dysfunction, iron reduction and variations in the PTPRD gene (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type delta) may be associated with restless leg syndrome (RLS). Here, we evaluate the effect of pramipexole (PPX) and exercise on genes and proteins associated with RLS and on sleep patterns in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Methods: Animals were distributed into 4 groups: 1) Control (CTRL); 2) Exercise (EX); 3) Exercise and pramipexole (EX + PPX); and 4) Pramipexole (PPX).

Comparison of glass and digital slides for cervical cytopathology screening and interpretation.

Cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer and a leading cause of premature death among women aged 15 to 44 worldwide. In Brazil, there is a high prevalence of infection by the human papillomavirus - HPV. Digital pathology optimizes time and space for reading cervicovaginal cytology slides.

Applicability of thermography for cancer diagnosis in small animals.

Medical thermography is an imaging test used to monitor skin surface temperature. Although it is not a recent technique, significant advances have been made since the 2000s with the equipment modernization, leading to its popularization. In cancer diagnosis, the application of thermography is supported by the difference in thermal distribution between neoplastic processes and adjacent healthy tissue.

Use of Cold Atmospheric Plasma in the Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma: in vitro Effects and Clinical Application in Feline Tumors: A Pilot Study.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has shown promising results against squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in both in vivo and in vitro assays, mainly in humans and mice. Its applicability for treatment of feline tumors, however, remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer effects of CAP on a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lineage and against a clinical case of cutaneous SCC in a cat.

Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of Copper-Based Metallic Compounds Against Bacteria Related with Healthcare-Associated Infections.

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) contribute to a significant rate of morbidity, mortality, and financial burden on health systems. These infections are caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria that produce biofilm as the main virulence factor. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the copper-based metallic compounds [Cu(phen)(pz)NO]Cl (I), [Cu(bpy)(pz)(NO)]Cl (II), and [Cu(phen)(INA)NO]Cl (III), where phen = phenanthroline, bpy = bipyridine, pz = pyrazinamide, and INA = isonicotinic acid, against planktonic cells and biofilms formation of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type delta (PTPRD) gene in an animal model of restless legs syndrome.

The pathophysiology of the restless legs syndrome (RLS) is related to dopaminergic dysfunction, reduced iron and variations in gene expression, such as the protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type delta gene (PTPRD). Animal models could be key to achieving a mechanistic understanding of RLS and to facilitate efficient platforms for evaluating new therapeutics. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of PTPRD, of genes and proteins associated with RLS, the sleep patterns and the cardiovascular parameters in an animal model of RLS (spontaneously hypertensive rat [SHR]).

Dengue fever presenting as acute cerebellar ataxia: Case report and literature review.

Dengue fever has been associated with several neurological complications, cerebellar involvement being among the rarest of them. Here, we describe the case of a 70-year-old female who presented a cerebellar syndrome during the first day of an arboviral infection, posteriorly confirmed as dengue fever. Among the seven other cases in which the relationship between dengue virus and ataxia was reported, only in one cerebellar presentation occurred as early.

Clinical effects of assisted robotic gait training in walking distance, speed, and functionality are maintained over the long term in individuals with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To identify the short-term effects of robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) on walking distance, gait speed and functionality of cerebral palsy (CP) patients, and to verify if the effects of RAGT are maintained in the long term.

Methods: A systematic literature review was performed in PubMed, PEDro, CINAHL, and LILACS databases. Studies were included considering: (1) population (CP individuals); (2) study design (experimental studies); (3) type of intervention (RAGT); (4) outcome (gait parameters and function); and (5) period (short and long term).

Arteriovenous anastomosis learning curve using low cost simulator.

Background: In order to reduce difficulties with learning surgical techniques, supplementary tools for training were developed. This paper describes the learning curve followed by student volunteer research subjects who used an alternative model for practicing vascular anastomosis.

Objectives: To evaluate the vascular anastomosis technique learning curve and development of manual skills using a low-cost experimental model.

Low-Dose Coconut Oil Supplementation Induces Hypothalamic Inflammation, Behavioral Dysfunction, and Metabolic Damage in Healthy Mice.

Scope: Coconut oil (CO) diets remain controversial due to the possible association with metabolic disorder and obesity. This study investigates the metabolic effects of a low amount of CO supplementation.

Methods And Results: Swiss male mice are assigned to be supplemented orally during 8 weeks with 300 µL of water for the control group (CV), 100 or 300 µL of CO (CO100 and CO300) and 100 or 300 µL of soybean oil (SO; SO100 and SO300).

Impact of Covid-19 on the restless legs syndrome.

The COVID-19 pandemic is strongly impacting global health and mental health, and has caused routine changes in much of the world. All of these changes can have physical and mental consequences for the population. Metabolic changes, mood disorders and their pharmacotherapy, such as the use of antidepressants can increase the chances of developing sleep disorders, such as Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).

Risk factors for death in patients with sepsis admitted to an obstetric intensive care unit: A cohort study.

Improving understanding of the prognostic factors associated with death resulting from sepsis in obstetric patients is essential to allow management to be optimized. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the risk factors for death in patients with sepsis admitted to the obstetric intensive care unit of a tertiary teaching hospital in northeastern Brazil between April 2012 and April 2016.The clinical, obstetric, and laboratory data of the sepsis patients, as well as data on their final outcome, were collected.

PTPRD as a candidate druggable target for therapies for restless legs syndrome?

The gene that encodes the protein tyrosine phosphatase D (PTPRD) may be related to brain circuits associated with sleep, and has been seen as an interesting molecule, a "druggable" drug target. This gene is a potential candidate for increasing therapeutic advances in restless legs syndrome, a sleep-related movement disorder, that manifests as an uncontrollable desire to move limbs (legs) to relieve uncomfortable sensations. Changes in the PTPRD gene expression may increase the chance of developing this syndrome.

Gallbladder histological alterations in patients undergoing cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis.

Objective: to describe the histological findings of the gallbladders of patients undergoing cholecystectomy and to evaluate the presence of factors associated with gallbladder incidental cancer.

Methods: we conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional, observational study with 1,278 histopathological exams of gallbladders coming from cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis and of their reports, held from January 2008 to December 2017.

Results: the most common pathological finding was chronic cholecystitis, present in 1,251 patients (97.

How do leaf wetting events affect gas exchange and leaf lifespan of plants from seasonally dry tropical vegetation?

Foliar uptake of dew is likely an important mechanism of water acquisition for plants from tropical dry environments. However, there is still limited experimental evidence describing the anatomical pathways involved in this process and the effects of this water subsidy on the maintenance of gas exchange and leaf lifespan of species from seasonally dry tropical vegetation such as the Brazilian caatinga. We performed scanning electron, bright-field and confocal microscopic analyses and used apoplastic tracers to examine the foliar water uptake (FWU) routes in four woody species with different foliar phenology and widely distributed in the caatinga.

Expression of interleukins 6 and 10 and population of inflammatory cells in the equine endometrium: diagnostic implications.

Endometritis consists of an acute or chronic inflammatory process involving the endometrium and together with endometrosis constitute the main causes of infertility in mares. The aim of this study was to associate the histopathological findings with the immunohistochemical markers interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 10 (IL-10) to evaluate the inflammatory changes and progression of uterine tissue lesions of mares in the diestrus phase and their diagnostic implications. Twelve crossbred cyclic mares were used for endometrial biopsy collection.