Case report: Abdominal mesothelioma in Atelerix albiventris.

Hedgehogs, as exotic species, are more susceptible to various neoplastic conditions affecting diverse bodily systems, particularly the tegumentary, hemolymphatic, and digestive systems. Among these conditions, epithelial tumors are the most prevalent, followed by round cell tumors and mesenchymal tumors. A striking characteristic is the malignant nature of over 8% of these tumors, leading to a generally unfavorable prognosis. This study aims to present a unique case involving a 2.5 year-old male African pygmy hedgehog in Concepción, Biobío District, Chile, diagnosed with a mesenchymal neoplasia originating from mesothelial cells. The hedgehog presented to the veterinary clinic with acute abdominal pain, prompting ultrasound imaging, and comprehensive cytological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses. During abdominal ultrasound, a mass was observed, and its cytological examination revealed the presence of malignant cells. The histopathological examination unveiled a diffuse mesothelial cell tissue interwoven with abundant fibrous tissue and small cysts containing serous fluid, all enveloped by flattened or cuboidal cells of mesothelial origin. Immunohistochemistry further confirmed the diagnosis, demonstrating positive immunostaining for calretinin and mesothelin markers, corroborating the diagnosis of fibrous malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. This case highlights the complexity of neoplastic conditions in hedgehogs and emphasizes the importance of multimodal diagnostic approaches for accurate identification and understanding of these rare diseases.

In vitro toxicity of latex, its terpenoidal fractions and isolated phorbol esters from Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns on monocytic and melanoma cells.

In Brazil, latex from Euphorbia umbellata (African milk tree) has been increasingly used in folk medicine to treat several types of cancer, including melanoma. The effect of lyophilized latex (LL), its hydroethanolic extract (E80), triterpene (F-TRI)- and diterpene (F-DIT)-enriched fractions, along with six isolated phorbol esters from LL and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on J774A.1, THP-1, SK-MEL-28, and B16-F10 cell line viability were evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. The compounds were identified by 2D-NMR and HRESIMS. The effect of the LL, extract and fractions on cell viability was also assessed through a resazurin reduction assay. At 100 µg/ml, LL, and its fractions moderately inhibited J774A.1 (37.5-59.5%) and THP-1 (12.6-43.6%) metabolism. LL (IC50 70 µg/ml) and F-TRI (IC50 68 µg/ml) were barely more effective against B16-F10 cells, and only F-TRI exerted an inhibitory effect on SK-MEL-28 cells (IC50 66-75 µg/ml). The samples did not effectively inhibit THP-1 growth (IC50 69-87 µg/ml, assessed by MTT). B16-F10 was susceptible to PMA (IC50 53 µM) and two 12-phenylacetate esters (IC50 56-60 µM), while SK-MEL-28 growth was inhibited (IC50 58 µM) by one of these kinds of esters with an additional 4ß-deoxy structure. Synagrantol A (IC50 39 µM) was as effective as PMA (IC50 47 µM) in inhibiting J774A.1 growth in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, an in silico study with target receptors indicated a high interaction of the compounds with the PKC proteins. These results provide useful knowledge on the effect of tigliane-type diterpenes on tumor cell from the perspective of medicinal chemistry.

The Frequency of Porcine Cysticercosis and Factors Associated with Taenia solium Infection in the Municipality of Tuchín-Córdoba, Colombia.

Taeniasis and cysticercosis are parasitic infections that affect humans and pigs. Their global distribution constitutes a serious public health issue with significant implications for pork production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of porcine cysticercosis in backyard swine from 42 indigenous communities throughout Tuchín-Córdoba, Colombia. Between December 2020 and March 2021, free-range pigs (n = 442) were assessed using the ELISA cysticercosis Ag test; 85 pigs were examined through sublingual visual evaluation, and 4 slaughtered pig carcasses were subjected to standard operation inspection. The collected cysticercus underwent histological and PCR analysis. Furthermore, 192 surveys of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) were used to identify the factors that facilitate infection transmission. Serological investigation revealed that 9.7% (46/472) of the animals were positive for cysticerci Ag. Sublingual inspection identified cysticercus in 28.7% (25/87) of the animals, while PCR analysis indicated that cysticercus corresponded to the T. solium American/African genotype. The factors associated with T. solium infection in the pigs in the surveyed areas numbered 14. The majority are associated with factors that promote the active persistence of Taenia solium's life cycle in an area, such as lack of environmental sanitation, a lack of coverage or care for drinking water and wastewater treatment services, and no solid waste disposal.

Molecular Detection and Genetic Diversity of Cytomegaloviruses and Lymphocryptoviruses in Free-Roaming and Captive African Green Monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus).

To date, limited information is available on cytomegalovirus (CMV) and lymphocryptovirus (LCV) from Chlorocebus monkeys. We report here high detection rates of herpesviruses in free-roaming African green monkeys (AGMs, Chlorocebus sabaeus) (26.4%, 23/87) and in captive AGMs (75%, 3/4) with respiratory disease on the Caribbean Island of St. Kitts. LCV (81.25%) was more prevalent than CMV (18.75%) in the AGMs. Applying a bigenic PCR approach (targeting DNA polymerase (DPOL) and glycoprotein B (gB) genes), long sequences were obtained from representative AGM CMV (KNA-SD6) and LCV (KNA-E4, -N6 and -R15) samples, and mixed LCV infections were identified in KNA-N6 and -R15. The nucleotide (nt) sequence (partial DPOL-intergenic region-partial gB) and partial DPOL- and gB-amino acid (aa) sequences of AGM CMV KNA-SD6 were closely related to Cytomegalovirus cercopithecinebeta5 isolates from grivet monkeys, whilst those of AGM LCV KNA-E4 and -N6 (and E4-like gB of KNA-R15) were more closely related to cognate sequences of erythrocebus patas LCV1 from patas monkey than other LCVs, corroborating the concept of cospeciation in the evolution of CMV/LCV. On the other hand, the partial DPOL aa sequence of KNA-R15, and additional gB sequences (N6-gB-2 and R15-gB-2) from samples KNA-N6 and -R15 (respectively) appeared to be distinct from those of Old World monkey LCVs, indicating LCV evolutionary patterns that were not synchronous with those of host species. The present study is the first to report the molecular prevalence and genetic diversity of CMV/LCV from free-roaming/wild and captive AGMs, and is the first report on analysis of CMV nt/deduced aa sequences from AGMs and LCV gB sequences from Chlorocebus monkeys.

Thoracic lipoblastoma in a 6-year-old African male: a case report.

Lipoblastoma is a very infrequent tumor, characteristic of early childhood. The thoracic location is infrequent, with isolated reports to date. We present the case of a 6-year-old male patient with a right thoracic tumor of months of evolution that was surgically removed by right anterolateral thoracotomy and in which the diagnosis of classic well-differentiated lipoblastoma was histologically confirmed. The patient evolved favorably and was discharged. He is currently under follow-up and without recurrence 1 year after surgery. This is, to our knowledge, the first thoracic lipoblastoma reported in an African pediatric patient. The importance of knowing the clinical, semiological, and intraoperative characteristics of this tumor becomes even more important, as in our case, in the context of international cooperation, where in many cases, there is no possibility of performing pre-operative imaging studies or subsequent genetic studies.

El lipoblastoma es un tumor muy infrecuente, característico de la primera infancia. La localización torácica es infrecuente, con reportes aislados hasta la fecha. Presentamos el caso de un paciente varón de 6 años con una tumoración torácica derecha de meses de evolución que fue extirpada quirúrgicamente mediante toracotomía anterolateral derecha y en la que se confirmó histológicamente el diagnóstico de lipoblastoma clásico bien diferenciado. El paciente evolucionó favorablemente y fue dado de alta. Actualmente se encuentra en seguimiento y sin recidiva un año después de la cirugía. Este es, hasta donde sabemos, el primer lipoblastoma torácico reportado en un paciente pediátrico africano. La importancia de conocer las características clínicas, semiológicas e intraoperatorias de este tumor cobra aún más importancia, como en nuestro caso, en el contexto de la cooperación internacional, donde en muchos casos no existe la posibilidad de realizar estudios de imagen preoperatorios ni estudios genéticos posteriores.

Recent progress and major gaps in the vaccine development for African swine fever.

The swine industry across the globe is recently facing a devastating situation imparted by a highly contagious and deadly viral disease, African swine fever. The disease is caused by a DNA virus, the African swine fever virus (ASFV) of the genus Asfivirus. ASFV affects both wild boars and domestic pigs resulting in an acute form of hemorrhagic fever. Since the first report in 1921, the disease remains endemic in some of the African countries. However, the recent occurrence of ASF outbreaks in Asia led to a fresh and formidable challenge to the global swine production industry. Culling of the infected animals along with the implementation of strict sanitary measures remains the only options to control this devastating disease. Efforts to develop an effective and safe vaccine against ASF began as early as in the mid-1960s. Different approaches have been employed for the development of effective ASF vaccines including inactivated vaccines, subunit vaccines, DNA vaccines, virus-vectored vaccines, and live attenuated vaccines (LAVs). Inactivated vaccines are a non-feasible strategy against ASF due to their inability to generate a complete cellular immune response. However genetically engineered vaccines, such as subunit vaccines, DNA vaccines, and virus vector vaccines, represent tailored approaches with minimal adverse effects and enhanced safety profiles. As per the available data, gene deleted LAVs appear to be the most potential vaccine candidates. Currently, a gene deleted LAV (ASFV-G-∆I177L), developed in Vietnam, stands as the sole commercially available vaccine against ASF. The major barrier to the goal of developing an effective vaccine is the critical gaps in the knowledge of ASFV biology and the immune response induced by ASFV infection. The precise contribution of various hosts, vectors, and environmental factors in the virus transmission must also be investigated in depth to unravel the disease epidemiology. In this review, we mainly focus on the recent progress in vaccine development against ASF and the major gaps associated with it.

Insights to Design New Drugs against Human African Trypanosomiasis Targeting Rhodesain using Covalent Docking, Molecular Dynamics Simulations, and MM-PBSA Calculations.

BACKGROUND: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are parasitic and bacterial diseases that affect approximately 149 countries, mainly the poor population without basic sanitation. Among these, African Human Trypanosomiasis (HAT), known as sleeping sickness, shows alarming data, with treatment based on suramin and pentamidine in the initial phase and melarsoprol and eflornithine in the chronic phase. Thus, to discover new drugs, several studies point to rhodesain as a promising drug target due to the function of protein degradation and intracellular transport of proteins between the insect and host cells and is present in all cycle phases of the parasite. METHODOLOGY: Here, based on the previous studies by Nascimento et al. (2021) that show the main rhodesain inhibitors development in the last decade, molecular docking and dynamics were applied in these inhibitors datasets to reveal crucial information that can be into drug design. Thus, conventional and covalent docking was employed and highlighted the presence of Michael acceptors in the ligands in a peptidomimetics scaffold, and interaction with Gly19, Gly23, Gly65, Asp161, and Trp184 is essential to the inhibiting activity. RESULTS: Also, our findings using MD simulations and MM-PBSA calculations confirmed Gly19, Gly23, Gly65, Asp161, and Trp184, showing high binding energy (ΔGbind between -72.782 to -124.477 kJ.mol-1). In addition, Van der Waals interactions have a better contribution (-140,930 to -96,988 kJ.mol-1) than electrostatic forces (-43,270 to -6,854 kJ.mol-1), indicating Van der Waals interactions are the leading forces in forming and maintaining ligand-rhodesain complexes. CONCLUSION: Furthermore, the Dynamic Cross-Correlation Maps (DCCM) show more correlated movements for all complexes than the free rhodesain and strong interactions in the regions of the aforementioned residues. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrates complex stability corroborating with RMSF and RMSD. This study can provide valuable insights that can guide researchers worldwide to discover a new promising drug against HAT.

Longitudinal follow-up of mixed connective tissue disease and overlapping autoimmune diseases of childhood onset in the Afro-descendant population of the French West Indies.

INTRODUCTION: Overlap autoimmune syndromes (OAS) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) are rare in children. We performed a retrospective, longitudinal and descriptive study of Afro-Caribbean patients from the French West Indies followed for MCTD and OAS to describe their characteristics and outcomes during childhood. METHODS: Retrospective study from January 2000 to 2023. Listings of patients were obtained from multiple sources: computerized hospital archives and national hospital-based surveillance system, registry of pediatricians and adult specialists in internal medicine and the national registry for rare diseases. MCTD was defined according to Kasukawa's criteria. OAS was defined as overlapping features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and dermatomyositis/autoimmune myositis (DM/AM). RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included over a 23-year period (10 MCTD and 6 OAS). The incidence was 0.23 per 100,000 children-years. The mean age at diagnosis was 11.9 years old (2.4-17) with median follow up of 7.9 years (2.1-19.6). SLE phenotype was present in the highest, followed by SSc and DM/AM. Patients had an average of three flares during childhood (1-7). A quarter (25%) had symptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Ninety-four percent received steroids during follow-up and 88% required a corticosteroid-sparing therapy. Three patients (19%) developed SLE after more than 10y of follow-up. There were no death and no chronic organ failure. CONCLUSION: This is the largest pediatric cohort of MCTD and OAS in Afro-descendant patients treated in a country with a high standard of care. The clinical evolution did not differ between MCTD and OAS. The main complication was PAH, more frequent in our cohort.

Acute myeloid leukemia with neutrophilic differentiation in a 12-year-old African lion (Panthera leo).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation, progression, and diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with neutrophilic differentiation in an African lion (Panthera leo). ANIMAL: A 12-year-old male African lion kept at a zoological institution in Colombia. CLINICAL PRESENTATION, PROGRESSION, AND PROCEDURES: The lion presented for anorexia, pale mucous membranes, and a hind limb lameness of acute onset. Feline leukemia virus testing was negative, and repeated blood samples revealed severe anemia, intermittent thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and neutrophilia. Coinfection with Anaplasma and Mycoplasma spp and chronic kidney disease were diagnosed based on clinicopathological findings. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The lion received symptomatic treatment, doxycycline, and methylprednisolone or prednisolone. Euthanasia was elected due to clinical deterioration and unresponsive anemia, despite the resolution of Anaplasma and Mycoplasma spp infections. AML with neutrophilic differentiation was diagnosed based on bone marrow cytology, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: AML is a rare, aggressive hematopoietic disorder in domestic cats, although it has not yet been reported in nondomestic cats. This is the first description of the clinicopathological, histological, and immunohistochemical features of AML with neutrophilic differentiation in an FeLV-negative African lion that lacked circulating blasts.

Asthma morbidity measures across Black ethnic subgroups.

BACKGROUND: Black adults are disproportionately affected by asthma and are often considered a homogeneous group in research studies despite cultural and ancestral differences. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine if asthma morbidity differs across adults in Black ethnic subgroups. METHODS: Adults with moderate-severe asthma were recruited across the continental United States and Puerto Rico for the PREPARE (PeRson EmPowered Asthma RElief) trial. Using self-identifications, we categorized multiethnic Black (ME/B) participants (n = 226) as Black Latinx participants (n = 146) or Caribbean, continental African, or other Black participants (n = 80). African American (AA/B) participants (n = 518) were categorized as Black participants who identified their ethnicity as being American. Baseline characteristics and retrospective asthma morbidity measures (self-reported exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids [SCs], emergency department/urgent care [ED/UC] visits, hospitalizations) were compared across subgroups using multivariable regression. RESULTS: Compared with AA/B participants, ME/B participants were more likely to be younger, residing in the US Northeast, and Spanish speaking and to have lower body mass index, health literacy, and <1 comorbidity, but higher blood eosinophil counts. In a multivariable analysis, ME/B participants were significantly more likely to have ED/UC visits (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.04-1.72) and SC use (IRR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.00-1.62) for asthma than AA/B participants. Of the ME/B subgroups, Puerto Rican Black Latinx participants (n = 120) were significantly more likely to have ED/UC visits (IRR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.22-2.21) and SC use for asthma (IRR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.06-1.92) than AA/B participants. There were no significant differences in hospitalizations for asthma among subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: ME/B adults, specifically Puerto Rican Black Latinx adults, have higher risk of ED/UC visits and SC use for asthma than other Black subgroups.

Itinerários terapêuticos para cuidados em saúde bucal de adultos quilombolas de um distrito rural da Bahia, Brasil / Therapeutic itineraries of quilombola adults for oral health care in a rural district of Bahia, Brazil

Resumo O estudo analisou os itinerários terapêuticos relacionados à saúde bucal de adultos quilombolas de um distrito rural de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, na qual foram realizadas dez entrevistas semiestruturadas com adultos quilombolas em maio de 2021, transcritas e analisadas por meio da análise de conteúdo. Os resultados evidenciaram ausência e/ou precariedade na higiene bucal em alguma fase da vida, especialmente infância e adolescência; utilização de práticas populares para cuidado a saúde bucal e experiências de cuidado profissional marcados pela exodontia. A utilização de serviços de saúde foi relatada, em sua maioria, apenas no período anterior à pandemia de COVID-19, os entrevistados divergiram quanto à percepção de facilidade do acesso aos serviços de saúde em sua comunidade. Os relatos sobre a satisfação da saúde bucal destacaram a necessidade de uso ou substituição de próteses dentárias. À guisa de conclusão, entende-se que é necessária a promoção de saúde bucal de forma articulada com ações que possibilitem a prevenção de agravos, a reabilitação odontológica e a valorização do conhecimento e da visão de mundo da população quilombola.

Abstract This study examined the oral health-related therapeutic itineraries of quilombola adults in a rural district of Vitória da Conquista, Bahia. This qualitative study involved ten semi-structured interviews of adult members of the quilombola community, in May 2021, which were then transcribed and analysed using content analysis. The results showed little or poor oral hygiene at some stage of life, especially in childhood and adolescence, the use of popular oral health care practices, and experiences of professional care featuring tooth extraction. Use of health services was mostly reported only in the period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses as to perceived ease of access to health services in the community varied. One common complaint as to satisfaction with oral health was the need to use or replace dental prostheses. This study concluded that oral health must be promoted jointly with disease prevention, dental rehabilitation and recognition for the knowledge and worldview of the quilombola population.

Itinerários terapêuticos no cuidado em saúde em comunidades quilombolas / Therapeutic itineraries in health care in Quilombola communities

Resumo Este artigo teve como objetivo mapear os itinerários terapêuticos no cuidado em saúde em comunidades quilombolas rurais no norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Trata-se de um recorte de uma pesquisa qualitativa realizada em seis comunidades visitadas. Os dados foram produzidos por meio de 18 entrevistas individuais, analisados pelo referencial teórico-metodológico dos itinerários terapêuticos e organizados em três temas empíricos. As narrativas permitiram a compreensão dos percursos trilhados no cuidado em saúde pela população quilombola, a identificação dos componentes do subsistema popular (recursos naturais, o uso de chás e remédios caseiros), do subsistema familiar (transmissão de conhecimentos e herança cultural de cuidados), e do subsistema profissional (nível hospitalar, cuidados médicos, atenção primária e especializada). As dificuldades de acesso não decorrem apenas das distâncias geográficas, envolvem aspectos mais amplos da determinação social, como o racismo institucional, a baixa oferta de serviços, a necessidade de pagamento para deslocamentos e procedimentos médicos. Nesse sentido, fazem-se necessárias uma abordagem e intervenções das políticas públicas frente às desigualdades étnico-raciais, econômicas e de acesso aos serviços de cuidado em saúde.

Abstract This article aimed to map therapeutic itineraries in health care within rural Quilombola communities in the north of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This is a section of a qualitative research conducted in six visited communities. The data was collected through 18 individual interviews, analyzed using the theoretical-methodological framework of Therapeutic Itineraries, and organized into three empirical themes. The narratives allowed for understanding the paths taken in health care by the Quilombola population, identifying the components of the popular subsystem (natural resources, the use of teas and home remedies), the family subsystem (transmission of knowledge and cultural heritage of care), and the professional subsystem (hospital level, medical care, primary and specialized attention). The difficulties of access are not only due to geographical distances, but also broader aspects of social determination, such as institutional racism, low availability of services, the need for payment for transportation and medical procedures. In this sense, it is necessary to have an approach and interventions from public policies to address ethnic-racial, economic, and access inequalities in health care services.

O campo de estudos sobre saúde da população negra no Brasil: uma revisão sistemática das últimas três décadas / The field of studies on the black population health in Brazil: a systematic review of the last three decades

Resumo A saúde da população negra (SPN) pode ser compreendida simultaneamente como campo de estudos, de intervenção social e de domínio cultural. Essa complexa esfera de conhecimento e prática surgiu imbricada com demandas de movimentos sociais e de profissionais, sobretudo de mulheres negras, com a finalidade de enfrentar problemas concretos de saúde pública. Como campo de estudos, ainda é incipiente a produção científica no Brasil. Dado esse contexto, conduzimos esta investigação com o objetivo de demonstrar como tem se estruturado a produção sobre SPN no país nas últimas três décadas. Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática integrativa, que visa a síntese e a análise do conhecimento científico já produzido sobre esse tema. Selecionamos 400 trabalhos publicados entre 1998 e 2020 e analisamos a evolução do volume de produção, seus lócus (estados, instituições, áreas científicas e abrangência territorial), temáticas e metodologias, bem como alguns desses intercruzamentos. Como resultado, encontramos um aumento notório do volume de pesquisas mais recentemente, em um campo interdisciplinar e com maior diversidade temática em relação aos estudos pioneiros. Essa evolução pode apontar um processo de consolidação do campo de estudos sobre saúde e raça no Brasil, ainda que os sinais apresentados sejam ambíguos.

Abstract Black population health (BPH) can be understood, at the same time, as a field of study, of social intervention, and of cultural domain. This complex sphere of knowledge and practice emerged from the demands of social movements, especially those of black women, to face concrete public health problems. As a field of study, scientific production in Brazil is still incipient. Given this context, we conducted this investigation to demonstrate how the production on BPH has been structured in Brazil in the last three decades. This is an integrative systematic review that aims to synthesize and analyze the scientific knowledge already produced on this topic. We selected 400 works among articles, theses, and dissertations published between 1998 and 2020 and analyzed the evolution of the production volume, its locus (states, institutions, scientific areas, and territorial scope of the studies), themes and methodologies, as well as some of these intercrossing. As a result, we found a notable increase in the research volume in recent years, in an interdisciplinary field with wide thematic diversity in relation to pioneer studies. This evolution may point to a process of consolidation of the field of studies on health and race in Brazil, even if the signs presented are ambiguous.

Natural products as a control measure of the Achatina fulica (Gastropoda: Achatinidae) / Produtos naturais como medida de controle do molusco Achatina fulica (Gastropoda: Achatinidae)

Achatina fulica is a terrestrial mollusk known as the giant African snail that is related to environmental, economic, urban, and public health problems. As control measures for this mollusk, cooking salt (NaCl) and calcium oxide (CaO) are used, and baits are composed of metaldehyde. However, these measures have environmental toxicity and impact the soil. In this way, natural products have been tested on this mollusk to discover and develop a substance to combat this urban and agricultural pest. This article aims to evaluate studies involving natural products to control the population of Achatina fulica. Articles and works published in books were included in the present work. A total of 1,103 works were found during the search. Of these, 14 works met the objective of these review and were included in this article. The tests do not possess methodological standardization, do not have a maximum concentration to be considered active, or a maximum exposure time. A lack of standardization in the methodology of tests on A. fulica was observed. The performance of tests on other life stages of the mollusk, as well as tests that analyze other parameters, are essential. Only one article analyzed presented phytochemical analysis. No ecotoxicity tests were reported either. Some extracts showed promising results, highlighting the aqueous extract of Capsicum frutescens. More studies investigating the molluscicidal activity of natural products on A. fulica are needed. It is very relevant that the new studies present a phytochemical analysis of the tested extracts, as well as ecotoxicity studies.

Achatina fulica é um molusco terrestre conhecido como caramujo gigante africano que está relacionado a problemas ambientais, econômicos, urbanos e de saúde pública. Como medidas de controle para esse molusco, são utilizados sal de cozinha (NaCl) e óxido de cálcio (CaO), e as iscas são compostas de metaldeído. No entanto, essas medidas têm toxicidade ambiental e impactam o solo. Desta forma, produtos naturais foram testados neste molusco para descobrir e desenvolver uma substância para combater esta praga urbana e agrícola. Este artigo tem como objetivo avaliar estudos envolvendo produtos naturais para controle da população de Achatina fulica. Artigos e trabalhos publicados em livros foram incluídos no presente trabalho. Um total de 1.103 trabalhos foram encontrados durante a pesquisa. Destes, 14 trabalhos atendiam ao objetivo desta revisão e foram incluídos neste artigo. Os testes não possuem padronização metodológica, não possuem concentração máxima para serem considerados ativos ou tempo máximo de exposição. Observou-se uma falta de padronização na metodologia de testes em A. fulica. A realização de testes em outras fases da vida do molusco, bem como testes que analisem outros parâmetros, são essenciais. Apenas um artigo analisado apresentou análise fitoquímica. Também não foram relatados testes de ecotoxicidade. Alguns extratos apresentaram resultados promissores, com destaque para o extrato aquoso de Capsicum frutescens. Mais estudos investigando a atividade molusquicida de produtos naturais sobre A. fulica são necessários. É muito relevante que os novos estudos apresentem uma análise fitoquímica dos extratos testados, bem como estudos de ecotoxicidade.

Epidemiological Assessment of African Swine Fever Spread in the Dominican Republic.

Since African Swine Fever (ASF) was detected in the Dominican Republic in July 2021, it has negatively impacted the country's swine industry. Assessing the epidemiological situation is crucial to helping local authorities and industry stakeholders control the disease. Here, data on 155 reported outbreaks in the Dominican Republic from November 2022 to June 2023 were evaluated. Descriptive spatiotemporal analysis was performed to characterize disease distribution and spread, and between-herd R0 was calculated for the study period. The Knox test and a space-time permutation model were used to evaluate clustering. Data on clinical presentation, biosecurity measures, and suspected reasons for introduction were categorized and summarized. The majority (78%) of outbreaks occurred on backyard farms which generally had low biosecurity. Across farm types, the majority of pigs were still alive at the time of depopulation. Spatiotemporal findings and R0 estimates suggest an endemic pattern of disease geographically located centrally within the country. Clustering was detected even at small temporal and spatial distances due to outbreaks amongst neighboring backyard farms. These results provide critical information on the current state of the ASF epidemic in the Dominican Republic and will aid government officials and swine industry leaders in developing effective ASF control strategies.

Implicações no cuidado de um familiar doente: mulheres negras cuidadoras

Introdução: As desvantagens ligadas ao gênero feminino são visualizadas em diversos aspectos da vida, mediante ao patriarcado. É possível compreender que, no caso de mulheres negras, estas se encontram desfavorecidas frente as estruturas sociais, atravessadas por condicionantes de classe, raça e gênero. Além disso, é visto que, em diversos casos, as cuidadoras mulheres, sobretudo, mulheres negras, não escolhem de forma voluntária este papel dentro da conjuntura familiar. Objetivo: Identificar as implicações do cuidado ao familiar adoecido realizado por mulheres negras cuidadoras considerando suas condições socioculturais. Metodologia: Este trabalho é uma revisão integrativa, cuja busca no banco de dados foi realizada em dezembro de 2020, onde 3 resultados foram encontrados na base de dados Web of Science, 48 na base de dados PubMed e 29 na base de dados LILACS. Depois de ler os resumos dos 80 artigos e aplicar os critérios de exclusão, 7 artigos foram selecionados para leitura completa. Finalmente, 4 artigos foram incluídos para análise. Resultados: Apenas um estudo abordou exclusivamente mulheres, e a maioria eram afro-americanos. Dados indicam que, dentro de uma comunidade quilombola, o cuidado com a saúde é repassado do mais velho para o mais novo, como símbolo de respeito aos saberes ancestrais. Além disso, ficou evidente que cuidadores afro-americanos de pessoas com demência precisam de informações de qualidade sobre cuidados e autocuidado, necessitando de recursos em sua comunidade. Conclusão: É possível notar as desigualdades de acordo com as construções históricas, políticas e culturais causadas, para diferenciar homens e mulheres no cuidado familiar. Havendo uma necessidade de debates que tenham como enfoque a população negra, principalmente as cuidadoras, visando estratégias para reduzir sua sobrecarga para cuidar de familiares em adoecimento.

Introducción: Las desventajas vinculadas al género femenino se visualizan en diversos aspectos de la vida, a través del patriarcado. Es posible entender que, en el caso de las mujeres negras, ellas están en desventaja frente a las estructuras sociales, atravesadas por condiciones de clase, raza y género. Además, se observa que, en varios casos, las cuidadoras, especialmente las mujeres negras, no eligen voluntariamente este rol dentro del contexto familiar. Objetivo: Identificar las implicaciones del cuidado a un familiar enfermo realizado por cuidadoras negras considerando sus condiciones socioculturales. Metodología: Este trabajo es una revisión integradora, cuya búsqueda en la base de datos tuvo lugar en diciembre de 2020, donde se encontraron 3 resultados en la base de datos Web of Science, 48 en la base de datos PubMed y 29 en la base de datos LILACS. Después de leer los resúmenes de los 80 artículos. y aplicar los criterios de exclusión, se seleccionaron 7 artículos para su lectura íntegra. Finalmente, 4 artículos fueron incluidos para el análisis. Resultados: Solo un estudio se refería exclusivamente a mujeres, y la mayoría eran afroamericanas. Los datos indican que, en el seno de una comunidad quilombola, los cuidados de salud se transmiten de los más ancianos a los más jóvenes, como símbolo de respeto a los conocimientos ancestrales. Además, se puso de manifiesto que los cuidadores afroamericanos de personas con demencia necesitan información de calidad sobre cuidados y autocuidados y precisan recursos en su comunidad. Conclusión: Es posible percibir las desigualdades según las construcciones históricas, políticas y culturales provocadas, para diferenciar hombres y mujeres en el cuidado de la familia. Hay una necesidad de debates que se centren en la población negra, especialmente en las cuidadoras, con miras a elaborar estrategias para reducir su carga para cuidar a los familiares enfermos.

Introduction: The disadvantages linked to the female gender are viewed in different aspects of life, through patriarchy. It is possible to understand that, in the case of black women, they are disadvantaged in the face of social structures, crossed by class, race and gender conditioning factors. In addition, it is seen that, in several cases, female caregivers, especially black women, do not voluntarily choose this role within the family environment. Objective: To identify the implications of care for a sick family member performed by black women caregivers considering their sociocultural conditions. Methodology: This work is an integrative review, whose search in the database was carried out in December 2020, where 3 results were found in the Web of Science database, 48 in the PubMed database and 29 in the LILACS database. After reading the abstracts of the 80 articles and applying the exclusion criteria, 7 articles were selected for full reading. Finally, 4 articles were included for analysis. Results: Only one study exclusively addressed women, and most were African Americans. Data indicate that, within a quilombola community, health care is passed on from the oldest to the youngest, as a symbol of respect for ancestral knowledge. In addition, it became evident that African-American caregivers of people with dementia need quality information about care and self-care, requiring resources in their community. Conclusion: It is possible to notice the inequalities according to the historical, political and cultural constructions caused, in order to differentiate men and women in family care. There is a need for debates that focus on the black population, especially caregivers, aiming at strategies to reduce their burden to care for sick family members.

Use of health services by quilombola elderly people / Utilização de serviços de saúde por idosos quilombolas

Objective: To analyze the use of health services by quilombola elderly people. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and household-based study conducted in 11 quilombola communities, with 236 elderly people ≥60 years old. Statistical differences were found in the estimates of indicators of the use of health services according to gender and age group. Pearson's Chi-square or Fisher's Exact tests were performed. Differences were considered statistically significant when p<0.05. Results: Most of the elderly people did not have a health insurance plan, seeking mainly public hospital/outpatient unit. The last medical consultation for 80.3% of the participants was performed in the 12 months prior to the interviews, with fewer consultations for men (p= 0.027). There was a low hospitalization rate in the last year and a low demand for health services in the last two weeks. Conclusion: Quilombola women and long-lived elderly people use health services more and, in general, the elderly citizens depend on SUS to exercise their right to health. The public hospital/outpatient unit was the most used service, and PHCU was little sought (AU).

Objetivo: Analisar a utilização de serviços de saúde por idosos quilombolas. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, de base domiciliar, realizado em 11 comunidades quilombolas, com 236 idosos ≥60 anos. Verificou-se diferenças estatísticas nas estimativas dos indicadores de uso de serviços de saúde segundo sexo e faixa etária. Realizaram-se testes de Qui-quadrado de Pearson ou Exato de Fisher. As diferenças foram consideradas estatisticamente significantes quando p<0,05. Resultados: A maioria dos idosos não possuía plano de saúde, buscando, principalmente, hospital/ambulatório público. A última consulta médica de 80,3% dos participantes foi realizada nos 12 meses anteriores às entrevistas, com número menor de consulta para os homens (p= 0,027). Houve baixa internação hospitalar no último ano e procura de algum serviço de saúde nas duas últimas semanas. Conclusão: As mulheres quilombolas e os idosos mais velhos utilizam mais os serviços de saúde e, no geral, os idosos dependem do SUS para exercer o seu direito à saúde. O hospital/ambulatório público foi o serviço mais utilizado, e a UBS pouco procurada (AU).

Juvenile Dermatomyositis in Afro-Caribbean children: a cohort study in the French West Indies.

INTRODUCTION: The epidemiology of Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) in non-Caucasian population is poorly described. We performed a study of patients followed up in the French West Indies for JDM. We aimed to describe clinical and biological specificities during childhood. METHODS: Retrospective study covering the period from Januarys 2000-2023. Listings of patients were obtained from multiple sources, namely computerized hospital archives, registry of referent pediatricians and adult specialists in internal medicine and the French National Registry for rare diseases. JDM and organ involvement were defined according to the international ILAR criteria. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were included over a 23 year-period. Median age at onset was 8.1 years (Range: 2.5-13.9) with a median follow up of 8 years (Range: 2-19). Two-thirds (14/21) had dysphagia at onset and 33% had respiratory involvement. Thirteen had specific autoantibodies (58%), most frequently anti-Mi-2. The median number of flares during childhood was three (1-9). During childhood, 76% had calcinosis lesions. Clinical evolution seemed to be more aggressive for boys than girls (respectively 4.2 versus 2.2 flares (p = 0.04) and 50% vs 18% needing more than one background therapy, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: This retrospective study is the largest cohort of pediatric patients of Afro-Caribbean and Black African descent treated for JDM in a high-income health system, and the first to describe the incidence and immunological profile in a population of African descent. They had higher rate of calcinosis and similar respiratory involvement. Overall outcomes during childhood were similar to North America and European countries.

Espiritualidade e religiosidade para mulheres umbandistas e candomblecistas: representação social e implicações na saúde / Spirituality and religiosity for umbandist and candomblecist women: social representation and health implications

Resumo O objeto de estudo se refere às representações da espiritualidade e da religiosidade para mulheres que pertencem às religiões afrodiaspóricas, em específico às que são fiéis da umbanda e do candomblé. Buscou-se analisar a estrutura representacional da espiritualidade e da religiosidade para mulheres umbandistas e candomblecistas com vistas a se pensar um modelo explicativo dessa construção simbólica e as implicações para a prática de cuidado na área da saúde. Estudo qualitativo, à luz das representações sociais em sua abordagem estrutural. Dados coletados com 207 mulheres umbandistas e candomblecistas por meio de evocações livres aos termos indutores espiritualidade e religiosidade, além da caracterização e da escala de religiosidade. As evocações foram submetidas às análises prototípica e de similitude com o Iramuteq, e os dados quantitativos, pela estatística descritiva. Os resultados mostram que os elementos centrais para a religiosidade são fé, crença, Deus e amor, enquanto para espiritualidade, fé, Orixás, Deus, paz e amor. A árvore de similitude explicita a centralidade da fé para a estruturação dessa representação. As representações se organizam ao redor da ideia de relação entre o humano e o divino.

Abstract The object of study refers to the representations of spirituality and religiosity for women who belong to Afro-diasporic religions, specifically those who are faithful to Umbanda and Candomblé. The objective was to analyze the representational structure of spirituality and religiosity for Umbandist and Candomblecist women with the aim of thinking of an explanatory model of this symbolic construction and implications for the practice of care in the area of health. Qualitative study, in the light of Social Representations in its structural approach. Data collected with 207 Umbandist and Candomblecist women through free evocations of the inducing terms "spirituality" and "religiosity", in addition to the characterization and scale of religiosity. The evocations were submitted to prototypical and similarity analyses with Iramuteq, while quantitative data to descriptive statistics. The results show that the central elements for religiosity are faith, belief, God and love, while for spirituality, they are faith, Orixás, God, peace and love. The tree of similarity explains the centrality of faith for the structuring of this representation. The representations are organized around the idea of ​​a relationship between the human and the divine.