The SISBIOTA-Diptera Brazilian Network: A long-term survey of Diptera from unexplored Brazilian Western Arc of Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal

ABSTRACT The SISBIOTA-BRASIL was a three-year multimillion-dollar research program of the Brazilian government to document plants and animals in endangered/understudied areas and biomes in Brazil. Distributional patterns and the historical events that generated them are extensively unknown regarding Brazilian fauna and flora. This deficiency hinders the development of conservation policies and the understanding of evolutionary processes. Conservation decisions depend on precise knowledge of the taxonomy and geographic distribution of species. Given such a premise, we proposed to research the diversity of Diptera of the Brazilian western arc of Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal in the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Rondônia. Three important biomes of the South American continent characterize these Brazilian states: Amazon forest, Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), and Pantanal. Besides their ecological relevance, these biomes historically lack intensive entomological surveys. Therefore, they are much underrepresented in the Brazilian natural history collections and in the scientific literature, which is further aggravated by the fact that these areas are being exponentially and rapidly converted to commercial lands. Our project involved over 90 collaborators from 24 different Brazilian institutions and one from Colombia among researchers, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students, and technicians. We processed and analyzed nearly 300,000 specimens from ~60 families of Diptera collected with a large variety of methods in the sampled areas. Here, we provide a detailed overview of the genera and species diversity of 41 families treated. Our results point to a total of 2,130 species and 514 genera compiled and identified for the three states altogether, with an increase of 41% and 29% in the numbers of species and genera known for the three states combined, respectively. Overall, the 10 most species-rich families were Tachinidae, Cecidomyiidae, Tabanidae, Psychodidae, Sarcophagidae, Stratiomyidae, Bombyliidae, Syrphidae, Tephritidae, and Asilidae. The 10 most diverse in the number of genera were Tachinidae, Stratiomyidae, Asilidae, Mycetophilidae, Syrphidae, Tabanidae, Muscidae, Dolichopodidae, Sarcophagidae, and Chloropidae. So far, 111 scientific papers were published regarding taxonomic, phylogenetic, and biogeographical aspects of the studied families, with the description of 101 new species and three new genera. We expect that additional publications will result from this investigation because several specimens are now curated and being researched by specialists.

Effects of sodium nitroprusside in the prevention of schizophrenia-like symptoms induced by ketamine - A translational double-blind study

Abstract Background: Recent evidence has shown improvements in schizophrenia symptoms after the infusion of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor. In the rat model of schizophrenia using ketamine injection, pretreatment with SNP seems to prevent behavioral changes associated with positive symptoms for up to one week. Objective: We investigated whether SNP would have preventative effects on psychogenic symptoms induced by ketamine in healthy subjects. Methods: Healthy subjects (N = 38) were assigned to distinct groups that received SNP in different doses (0.15, 0.25, and 0.5 mcg/kg/min). First, participants received an infusion of SNP or placebo over 75 minutes. After 10 minutes, they were injected for 1 minute with a bolus of 0.26 mg/kg of ketamine and a maintenance dose was started 5 minutes later, with 0.25 mg/kg/h of ketamine for 50 minutes. Results: Ketamine-induced psychopathological alterations induced were reduced by SNP, as assessed with the Brief Psychological Rating Scale. Scores in the objective subscale of the Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale were also lower in SNP sessions compared to placebo. SNP had protective effects against deterioration in facial emotion and identity recognition tasks induced by ketamine. Discussion: Our findings support the view that SNP has preventative properties against psychotic manifestations.

Prevalência de halitose em pacientes com periodontite crônica ou gengivite / Halitosis in patients with chronic periodontitis or gingivitis

Estima-se que 90% da população possui alguma forma de doença periodontal e que a halitose afeta cerca de 50% dessa. Apesar de evidências sugerirem a correlação entre halitose e doença periodontal, são escassos os estudos que confirmam a prevalência da halitose nesses pacientes. Soma-se a isso o fato de haver variações e divergências entre os trabalhos existentes. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi comparar a prevalência da halitose em pacientes com periodontite crônica e em pacientes com gengivite. Foram avaliados 51 pacientes com periodontite crônica (grupo 1) e 42 pacientes com gengivite associada a placa sem fatores de retenção (grupo 2). Os níveis intraorais de compostos sulfurados voláteis (CSV) foram medidos pelo monitor de sulfetos (Halímeter). Também foram avaliados o índice de placa (IP), a profundidade de sondagem (PS) e o nível de inserção clínica (NIC). Os resultados evidenciaram que houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos 1 e 2 para os níveis do hálito e os demais parâmetros clínicos mensurados (p < 0,0001). Através da análise da matriz de correlação linear também foi constatada correlação positiva moderada significativa entre o hálito e IP (p=0,03), e entre hálito e PS (p=0,03). Concluiu-se que a doença periodontal contribuiu efetivamente para a ocorrência de halitose, e que o tipo e a severidade da doença interferiram na sua magnitude e expressão clínica.

Una rara presentación de la enfermedad de hirschsprung en el adulto / A rare presentation of adult hirschsprung disease

Objetivo: Presentación de un caso clínico de una patología bastante infrecuente, como es el síndrome de Waardenburg tipo IV, en un paciente intervenido en el servicio de Cirugía 2 del Hospital Domingo Luciani. IVSS, Caracas. Métodos: Paciente masculino de 32 años, quien consultó por presentar dolor y distensión abdominal. Al examen físico se evidenció desnutrición, retardo en el crecimiento, hipoacusia y distopia cantorum. Diagnóstico clínico: síndrome de Waardenburg, tipo IV. Resultados: Se practicó una laparotomía exploradora, evidenciándose gran dilatación pancolónica. Biopsias rectales compatibles con enfermedad de Hirschsprung. Un procedimiento de Soave fue realizado, con una ileostomía en asa. Actualmente en espera del cierre de la ileostomía Conclusión: El síndrome de Waardenburg es una rara enfermedad autosómica dominante de presentación clínica y genética heterogénea, de penetración variable. El tipo IV está asociado a enfermedad de Hisrchsprung(AU)

Objective: Presentation of a clinical case of a quite uncommon pathology, the Waardenburg's syndrome type IV, in a patient treated at Surgery 2 service of the Hospital Domingo Luciani. IVSS, Caracas. Methods: A 32 year old male patient, consulted for presenting pain and abdominal distention. Physical examination showed malnutrition, failure to thrive, hearing loss and dystopia cantorum. Clinical diagnosis: Syndrome Waardenburg type IV. Results: It was performed a laparotomy, showing a great pancolonic dilatation. Rectal biopsies compatible with Hirschsprung disease. A Soave procedure was done with a loop ileostomy. Currently waiting for ileostomy closure. Conclusion: Waardenburg syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disease with heterogeneous clinical and genetic presentation of variable penetration. Type IV is associated with Hisrchsprung disease(AU)