A new species of Cis Latreille (Coleoptera: Ciidae) widespread in Brazil but with similarities to the African fauna.

Cis caramelo sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected in the North, Northeast, and Southeast Regions of Brazil.

Selective Outcome Reporting Bias in Randomized Controlled Trials on Dental Caries in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Research Study.

Introduction: Selective outcome reporting (SOR) is a bias that can occur in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), defined as the alteration or omission of primary outcome in the publication compared to the original protocol. Researchers may modify outcomes to highlight statistically significant results. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of SOR in RCTs related to dental caries in children and adolescents.

Expert Insights from a Delphi-driven Neurologists' Panel: Real-world Mexiletine use in Patients with Myotonic Disorders in Italy.

Background: Myotonic disorders, such as non-dystrophic myotonias (NDMs) and myotonic dystrophies (DMs) are characterized by a delay in muscle relaxation after a contraction stimulus. There is general consensus that protocols to treat myotonia need to be implemented.

Objective: Mexiletine is the only pharmacological agent approved for the symptomatic treatment of myotonia in adult patients with NDM and is considered to be the first-line treatment for DMs; however, its production in Italy was halted in 2022 making its availability to patients problematic.

Cis occamy sp. nov, the first representative of the Cis bilamellatus species-group (Coleoptera, Ciidae) in the Neotropical region.

Cis occamy sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected at six localities within the Atlantic Forest of the South and Southeast Regions of Brazil.

Flowering and fruiting show phenological complementarity in both trees and non-trees in mosaic-burnt floodable savanna.

The homogenization of fire regimes in a landscape may imply a temporal reduction in the availability of resources, such as flowers and fruits, which affect the fauna, as well as ecosystem services. We hypothesized that maintaining mosaic burning regimes, and thereby pyrodiversity, can diversify phenological patterns, ensuring year-round availability of flowers and fruits. Here we monitored open grassy tropical savanna phenology under different historical fire frequencies and fire seasons in a highly heterogeneous landscape in an Indigenous Territory in Brazil.

[Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on the incidence and severity of falls in institutionalized older people: A longitudinal study].

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, virus contention measures such as strict confinement were declared in nursing homes.

Objective: To assess the impact of confinement on the incidence of falls and their associated factors in institutionalized older persons during the first year of the pandemic compared to the previous year.

Methods: A multicenter, comparative study was conducted between the pre-pandemic year (March 2019 to February 2020) and the first year (March 2020 to February 2021) in five nursing homes in Catalonia (Spain).

Telemedicine in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review.

Telemedicine is defined as the use of electronic technology for information and communication by healthcare professionals with patients (or care givers) aiming at providing and supporting healthcare to patients away from healthcare institutions. This systematic review over the last decade (2013-2022) investigates the use of telemedicine in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We identified 53 publications related to: (1) home tele-monitorization; (2) tele-education and self-management; (3) telerehabilitation; and (4) mobile health (mHealth).

Heart rate variability: A biomarker of frailty in older adults?

Frailty is a state of critical loss of physiological complexity resulting in greater vulnerability to stressors and has been characterized as a debility syndrome in the older adult. Changes in functional capacity and the cardiovascular system during aging are the most significant and relevant for this population, including the clinically healthy. In this sense, this review aims to investigate methods to monitor the performance of older adults, such as heart rate variability and verify how it can be related to frailty.

Distance sampling surveys reveal 17 million vertebrates directly killed by the 2020's wildfires in the Pantanal, Brazil.

Anthropogenic factors have significantly influenced the frequency, duration, and intensity of meteorological drought in many regions of the globe, and the increased frequency of wildfires is among the most visible consequences of human-induced climate change. Despite the fire role in determining biodiversity outcomes in different ecosystems, wildfires can cause negative impacts on wildlife. We conducted ground surveys along line transects to estimate the first-order impact of the 2020 wildfires on vertebrates in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil.

Fecal microbiota transplantation in the intestinal decolonization of carbapenamase-producing enterobacteriaceae.

Background And Aims: fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is effective for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Intestinal decolonization of carbapenamase-producing enterobacteriaceae (CPE) can prevent transmission and infection by these agents. The aim of this study was to assess CPE decolonization after FMT.

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics.

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown.

Hypoxia and Macrophages Act in Concert Towards a Beneficial Outcome in Colon Cancer.

In colon cancer, the prognostic value of macrophages is controversial, and it is still unknown how hypoxia modulates macrophage-cancer cell crosstalk. To unravel this, co-cultures of human primary macrophages and colon cancer cells were performed at 20% and 1% O, followed by characterization of both cellular components. Different colon cancer patient cohorts were analyzed for hypoxia and immune markers, and their association with patient overall survival was established.

Antibiotic Clinic: Two Years' Experience in Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy in a Portuguese Hospital.

Introduction: Outpatient antimicrobial therapy programs have been in place for more than four decades. They provide safe and effective treatment for a selected group of patients while reducing costs. In Europe in general, and in Portugal in particular, these programs are still a relatively new phenomenon.

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics.

Xenarthrans-anteaters, sloths, and armadillos-have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths.

Fecal microbiota transplantation in refractory or recurrent Clostridium difficile infection: a real-life experience in a non-academic center.

Aim: this study aimed to describe the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for the treatment of refractory and recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).

Methods: this was an observational study of patients with refractory or recurrent CDI treated with FMT between June 2014 and January 2017. Primary and secondary outcomes were the resolution of diarrhea without CDI recurrence within two months after one or more FMT.

In-class Active Video Game Supplementation and Adherence to Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Purpose: The application of active video games (AVGs) during cardiac rehabilitation (CR) sessions could potentially facilitate patient adherence. The feasibility, safety, and efficacy of in-class AVG supplementation as an alternative to conventional phase 2 programs were investigated.

Methods: A pilot, evaluator-blinded, intention-to-treat, randomized controlled trial recruited 32 low-moderate risk CR participants and allocated them to conventional or AVG-supplemented exercise.

Association of Species Isolated From the Dental Plaque of HIV-infected Children and Prevalence of Early Carious Lesions.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to: (1) quantify and identify Candida species (spp.) in the dental plaque of children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and compare with noninfected children; and (2) determine the association of Candida spp. with the presence of caries.

Predictors of consistent condom use among Portuguese women attending family planning clinics.

Women account for 30% of all AIDS cases reported to the Health Ministry in Portugal and most infections are acquired through unprotected heterosexual sex with infected partners. This study analyzed socio-demographic and psychosocial predictors of consistent condom use and the role of education as a moderator variable among Portuguese women attending family planning clinics. A cross-sectional study using interviewer-administered fully structured questionnaires was conducted among 767 sexually active women (ages 18-65).

Initial experience with fecal microbiota transplantation in Clostridium difficile infection - transplant protocol and preliminary results.

Background And Aims: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) constitutes an important cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Recurrence after first-line treatment with antibiotics is high and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may be effective for refractory and recurrent CDI. This series aims to describe the efficacy of FMT in the treatment of refractory and recurrent CDI.

Assessing alcohol dependence in hospitalized patients.

Alcohol misuse is generally not detected in hospital settings. The goal of this study was to estimate the prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence in hospitalized patients in a university hospital in Sao Paulo (Brazil). Patients were randomly selected from all hospital admissions.

Restriction of dairy products; a reality in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Introduction: Calcium deficiency is considered a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Various dietary restrictions, including milk products are reported by these patients.

Objective: To evaluate dairy product and dietary calcium intake by IBD patients.

[TORCH serology and group B Streptococcus screening analysis in the population of a maternity].

Introduction: Systematic screening for TORCH infections and group B Streptococcus (GBS) during pregnancy has been an important factor in the improvement of perinatal care.

Aim: To evaluate TORCH serology and GBS carriers state in the population of a maternity, to assess variability with age and nationality and to search for congenital infections.

Material And Methods: Non-probabilistic prevalence study.