Plastome phylogenomics and new fossil evidence from Dominican amber shed light on the evolutionary history of the Neotropical fern genus Pecluma.

PREMISE: Molecular studies based on chloroplast markers have questioned the monophyly of the fern genus Pecluma (Polypodioideae, Polypodiaceae), which has several species of Polypodium nested within it. We explored the delimitation of Pecluma and its biogeographic pattern by evaluating the phylogenetic position of four Polypodium species not sequenced thus far and integrating the first fossil evidence of Pecluma. METHODS: Using herbarium material, we applied a genome-skimming approach to obtain a phylogenetic hypothesis of Polypodioideae; assessed the combination of character states observed in the fossil from Miocene Dominican amber using a previously published phylogeny of Polypodioideae based on four plastid markers as framework; calculated divergence times; and conducted an ancestral area estimation. RESULTS: Within Polypodioideae, Pecluma was recovered as sister to Phlebodium. Three of the newly sequenced species-Polypodium otites, P. pinnatissimum, and P. ursipes-were recovered with maximum support within the Pecluma clade, whereas P. christensenii remained within Polypodium. The closest combination of character states of the fossil was found within Pecluma. Our biogeographic analyses suggest an Eocene origin of the genus in South America, with several subsequent Oligocene and Miocene colonization events to Mexico-Central America and to the West Indies. CONCLUSIONS: Although the circumscription of Pecluma is still challenging, our results elucidate the origin and age of the genus. The newly described fossil, Pecluma hispaniolae sp. nov., supports the hypothesis that the epiphytic communities of the Greater Antilles exhibit a constant generic composition since the Miocene. We propose new combinations (Pecluma otites, Pecluma pinnatissima, and Pecluma ursipes) to accommodate three species previously classified in Polypodium.

Unjustified use of amber necklaces for teething symptoms alleviation: Succinic acid release underperforms compared with natural skin bacteria production.

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence of succinic acid release from amber necklace that justifies its biological plausibility. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the release of succinic acid from Baltic amber beads in the presence of Staphylococcus epidermidis. DESIGN: The Baltic amber beads from the necklace were stratified according to their weight (average 0.05 g ± 0.067). Subsequently, the beads (n = 8) were submerged in 0.9% buffered saline (Control) or brain-heart infusion culture medium in the presence of a commercial strain of S. epidermidis, a resident skin bacterium incubated at 37°C for 24 h or 7 days. The samples were centrifuged, and the supernatants were analyzed by 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Multivariate analyses were adopted using the sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis method (p < .05). RESULTS: The group incubated with saline solution showed small release of succinic acid only after 7 days. In the groups with S. epidermidis, the release of succinic acid was observed in the both presence and absence of amber beads, indicating that succinic acid is a product released by bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that amber beads do not exhibit the ability to release expressive succinic acid, especially in a short period of time, which does not justify their use in infants. The most production of succinic acid is tributed to S. epidermidis.

Effects of amber LED on inflammatory and regulatory monocytes and lymphocytes.

The primary objective of the present study was to assess the impact of amber LED photobiomodulation (PBM) on human monocytes and lymphocytes that were polarized into proinflammatory and regulatory/reparative phenotypes. Human leukocytes were polarized with LPS or LPS + IL-4 for 2 h and irradiated after 2 and 6 h with amber LED (590 nm). Cell absorbance spectrum and gene and protein expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α and IFNγ determined after 24 h. The results showed that irradiation did not significantly alter absorbance of non-polarized monocytes, whereas irradiated polarized monocytes presented reduction in absorbance in 625-850 nm region. Irradiated monocytes polarized with LPS + IL-4 presented reduction in absorbance in 600-725 nm region compared to non-irradiated group. Irradiated non-polarized lymphocytes presented absorbance peaks between 650 and 820 nm not seen in non-irradiated group. No difference was found in absorbance pattern of polarized lymphocytes after irradiation. Irradiation led to reduction in protein synthesis of IL-6 and TNFα in monocytes polarized to proinflammatory phenotype and increase in production of IL-17 in lymphocytes. Irradiation reduced production of IL-10 in monocytes and lymphocytes polarized to immunoregulatory phenotype. In conclusion, amber LED modulates light absorbance and expression of important cytokines in inflammatory/repair processes in monocytes and lymphocytes.

Unveiling deception: Characterizing false amber necklace messages on Facebook.

BACKGROUND: Messages promoting the benefits of amber necklaces for children are common on social media, despite their health risks. AIM: This study characterized Facebook posts with false content about the efficacy of amber necklaces in teething. DESIGN: A sample of 500 English-language Facebook posts was analyzed by two investigators to determine the motivations, author's profile, and sentiments of posts. Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modeling was used to identify salient terms and topics. An intertopic distance map was created to calculate the topic similarity. These data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test, Cramer's V test, and multiple logistic regression models, regarding the time since initial posting and interaction metrics. RESULTS: Most posts were made by business profiles and expressed positive sentiments, with social, psychological, and financial motivations. The posts were categorized into the topics "giveaway," "healing features," and "sales." Overperforming scores and total interaction increased with time since the initial posting. Posts with links had higher overperforming scores. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that Facebook posts about the efficacy of amber necklaces in teething are motivated by financial interests, using psychological and social mechanisms to achieve greater interaction with their target audience.

Qualitative Analysis of Baltic Amber Resin by Gas Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometry and the Therapeutic Potential of this Fossil Resin

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the molecular composition of a sample of Baltic amber taken from an amber bracelet, verify the presence or absence of compounds beneficial to human health, and discuss the therapeutic potential of this fossil resin. Material and Methods: For this, a qualitative analysis was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS system), which can perform an automated separation into individual components of amber. Results: The samples comprised terpenes and terpenoids: monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, hydronaphthalene, succinic acid, and isopimaric acid. These have therapeutic potential for several diseases, inhibit several stages of the inflammatory process, and improve the symptoms caused by it. Conclusion: The amber of this sample tested is formed by terpenes and terpenoids, substances with anti-inflammatory and analgesic. However, an in-depth study is needed on the release and absorption of substances in human skin or their actual effectiveness.

Vanadium complex as a potential modulator of the autophagic mechanism through proteins PI3K and ULK1: development, validation and biological implications of a specific force field for [VO(bpy)2Cl].

The modulation of autophagy has been presented as a very useful strategy in anticancer treatments. In this sense, the vanadium complex (VC) bis(2,2'-bipyridine)chlorooxovanadium(IV), [VO(bpy)2Cl], is known for its ability to induce autophagy in triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBC). An excellent resource to investigate the role of VC in the induction of autophagy is to make use of Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. However, until now, the scarcity of force field parameters for the VC prevented a reliable analysis. The autophagy signaling pathway starts with the PI3K protein and ends with ULK1. Therefore, in the first stage of this work, we developed a new AMBER force field for the VC (VCFF) from a quantum structure, obtained by DFT calculations. In the second stage, the VCFF was validated through structural analyses. From this, it was possible to investigate, through docking and MD (200 ns), the performance of the PI3K-VC and ULK1-VC systems (third stage). The analyses of this last stage involved RMSD, hydrogen bonds, RMSF and two pathways for the modulation of autophagy. In general, this work fills in the absence of force field parameters (FF) for VC by proposing an efficient and new FF, in addition to investigating, at the molecular level, how VC is able to induce autophagy in TNBC cells. This study encourages new parameterizations of metallic complexes and contributes to the understanding of the duality of autophagic processes.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Scorpions trapped in amber: a remarkable window on their evolution over time from the Mesozoic period to present days.

This synoptic review aims to bring some general information on fossil scorpions, namely those trapped in amber - fossilized resin - ranging from Lower Cretaceous through the Palaeocene and up to the Miocene. The question to be addressed is how the study of these fossils can be connected with possible present scorpionism problems. A precise knowledge of these ancient lineages provides information about the evolution of extant lineages, including the buthoids, which contain most known noxious species. Among the Arthropods found trapped in amber, scorpions are considered rare. A limited number of elements have been described from the Late Tertiary Dominican and Mexican amber, while the most ancient Tertiary amber from the Baltic region produced more consistent results in the last 30 years, primarily focusing on a single limited lineage. Contrarily, the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar, also called Burmite, has yielded and continues to yield a significant number of results represented by several distinct lineages, which attest to the considerable degree of diversity that existed in the Burmese amber-producing forests. As in my previous similar contributions to this journal, the content of this note is primarily addressed to non-specialists whose research embraces scorpions in various fields such as venom toxins and public health. An overview knowledge of at least some fossil lineages can eventually help to clarify why some extant elements associated with the buthoids represent dangerous species while others are not noxious.

Parameterization and validation of a new AMBER force field for an oxovanadium (IV) complex with therapeutic potential implications in Alzheimer's disease.

The scarcity of efficient force fields to describe metal complexes may be a problem for new advances in medicinal chemistry. Thus, the development of force fields for these compounds can be valuable for the scientific community, especially when it comes to molecules that show interesting outputs regarding potential treating of diseases. Vanadium complexes, for instance, have shown promising results towards therapeutics of Alzheimer's Disease, most notably the bis(maltolato)oxovanadium (IV). Therefore, the mainly goal of this work is to develop and validate a new set of parameters for this vanadium complex from a minimum energy structure, obtained by DFT calculations, where great results of the new force field are found when confronted with experimental and quantum reference values. Moreover, the new force field showed to be quite effective to describe the molecule of under study whilst GAFF could not describe it effectively. In addition, a case study points out hydrogen bonds in the vanadium complex-PTP1B system.

Evaluation of autophagy inhibition to combat cancer: (vanadium complex)-protein interactions, parameterization, and validation of a new force field.

Autophagy has drawn attention from the scientific community, mainly because of its significant advantages over chemotherapeutic processes. One of these advantages is its direct action on cancer cells, avoiding possible side effects, unlike chemotherapy, which reaches tumor cells and affects healthy cells in the body, leading to a great loss in the quality of life of patients. In this way, it is known that vanadium complex (VC) [VO(oda)(phen)] has proven inhibition effect on autophagy process in pancreatic cancer cells. Keeping that in mind, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can be considered excellent strategies to investigate the interaction of metal complexes and their biological targets. However, simulations of this type are strongly dependent on the appropriate choice of force field (FF). Therefore, this work proposes the development of AMBER FF parameters for VC, having a minimum energy structure as a starting point, obtained through DFT calculations with B3LYP/def2-TZVP level of theory plus ECP for the vanadium atom. An MD simulation in vacuum was performed to validate the developed FF. From the structural analyses, satisfying values of VC bond lengths and angles were obtained, where a good agreement with the experimental data and the quantum reference was found. The RMSD analysis showed an average of only 0.3%. Finally, we performed docking and MD (120 ns) simulations with explicit solvent between VC and PI3K. Overall, our findings encourage new parameterizations of metal complexes with significant biological applications, as well as allow to contribute to the elucidation of the complex process of autophagy.

Deep time extinction of largest insular ant predators and the first fossil Neoponera (Formicidae: Ponerinae) from Miocene age Dominican amber.

BACKGROUND: Ponerine ants are almost exclusively predatory and comprise many of the largest known ant species. Within this clade, the genus Neoponera is among the most conspicuous Neotropical predators. We describe the first fossil member of this lineage: a worker preserved in Miocene-age Dominican amber from Hispaniola. RESULTS: Neoponera vejestoria sp. nov. demonstrates a clear case of local extinction-there are no known extant Neoponera species in the Greater Antilles. The species is attributable to an extant and well-defined species group in the genus, which suggests the group is older than previously estimated. Through CT scan reconstruction and linear morphometrics, we reconstruct the morphospace of extant and fossil ants to evaluate the history and evolution of predatory taxa in this island system. CONCLUSIONS: The fossil attests to a shift in insular ecological community structure since the Miocene. The largest predatory taxa have undergone extinction on the island, but their extant relatives persist throughout the Neotropics. Neoponera vejestoria sp. nov. is larger than all other predatory ant workers known from Hispaniola, extant or extinct. Our results empirically demonstrate the loss of a functional niche associated with body size, which is a trait long hypothesized to be related to extinction risk.

How to study a highly toxic protein to bacteria: A case of voltage sensor domain of mouse sperm-specific sodium/proton exchanger.

Heterologous expression systems have been used as a powerful experimental strategy to study the function of many proteins, particularly ion transporters. For this experiment, it is fundamental to prepare an expression vector encoding a protein of interest. However, we encountered problems in vector preparation of the voltage sensor domain (VSD) of murine sperm-specific Na+/H+ exchanger (sNHE) due to its severe toxicity to bacteria. We overcame the problems by insertion of an amber stop codon or a synthetic intron into the coding sequence of the VSD in the expression vectors. Both methods allowed us to express the protein of interest in HEK293 cells (combined with a stop codon suppression system for amber codon). The VSD of mouse sNHE generates voltage-dependent outward ionic currents, which is a probable cause of toxicity to bacteria. We propose these two strategies as practical solutions to study the function of any protein toxic to bacteria.

Efeito da resina de âmbar e terapêuticas não farmacológicas para sintomatologia da erupção de dentes decíduos / Effect of amber resin and nonpharmacological therapeutic for syntptomatology of eruption of deciduous theeth

Esta tese é composta por 5 artigos científicos e 1 produto técnico. O primeiro artigo científico, é uma revisão sistemática sobre a eficácia de tratamentos para alívio dos sinais e sintomas da erupção de dentes decíduos. Foram incluídos estudos clínicos que avaliaram o efeito de qualquer intervenção para aliviar os sinais e sintomas associados à dentição em bebês e crianças. O risco de viés foi avaliado usando as ferramentas ROB-2 e ROBINS-I. Foram selecionados 5 artigos, classificados como alto ou grave risco de viés respectivamente. Três estudos usando homeopatia relataram melhora nos distúrbios do apetite, desconforto nas gengivas e excesso de salivação. Um estudo mostrou que um novo gel com ácido hialurônico foi mais eficaz do que um gel anestésico na melhora de sinais e sintomas como dor, vermelhidão gengival e má qualidade do sono. Outro estudo selecionado aplicou tratamentos não farmacológicos, que se mostraram mais eficazes, principalmente contra o excesso de salivação. O segundo artigo avaliou as práticas clínicas adotadas por odontopediatras (OPs) frente aos sinais e sintomas da erupção dos dentes decíduos e a influência do tempo de formado e de especialista no autorrelato (AR) de segurança na adoção de tais medidas. Aplicou-se um questionário online aos OPs. Coletaram-se dados sobre tipo de prática, relato de eficácia, fonte de conhecimento sobre o tema, segurança na prática adotada, tempo de formado e tempo de especialista. Realizaram-se análises descritivas e inferenciais (teste X2, α=0,05). Foram 451 respondentes. Mordedores gelados (96,8%); alimentos congelados (69,1%) e massagem digital (58,3%) foram os mais prescritos e considerados eficazes (78,2%, 30,3% e 28,8%, respectivamente). Livros de odontopediatria (58,9%), curso/congresso (56,3%) e experiência profissional (40,7%) foram as fontes de conhecimento mais citadas. O tempo médio de formado dos OPs foi 18,4±11,3 anos, sendo 13,1±11,0 anos de especialista. A maioria sente-se seguro (79,6%) no tratamento dos sinais e sintomas da erupção dentária, mas 93,1% sentem falta de estudos científicos sobre o tema. O tempo de formado (p=0,12) e o de especialista (p=0,90) não influenciaram no AR de segurança na prática adotada. O terceiro artigo analisou a composição molecular de uma amostra de âmbar báltico, verificou-se a presença ou ausência de compostos benéficos à saúde humana e discutiu o potencial terapêutico dessa resina fóssil. Para isso, foi realizada uma análise qualitativa por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (sistema GC-MS), que é capaz de realizar uma separação automatizada em componentes individuais do âmbar. As amostras eram compostas por terpenos e terpenóides: monoterpenóides; sesquiterpenóides; diterpenóides; hidronaftaleno; ácido succínico e ácido isopimárico. Estes componentes têm potencial terapêutico para várias doenças; inibem várias fases do processo inflamatório e tem efeitos analgésicos. No quarto artigo analisouse e avaliou-se a qualidade, confiabilidade e visualizações dos vídeos disponibilizados no Youtube® como fonte de informação, relacionados ao uso terapêutico do colar de âmbar para bebês durante o período de erupção dentária. Uma busca no YouTube®, foi realizada no dia 23 de agosto de 2022. O termo escolhido para a busca foi "colar de âmbar para bebê" no site Google Trends®. Como critério de inclusão, os vídeos deveriam conter informações sobre o uso do colar de âmbar como terapia para diminuir os sintomas da erupção dentária em bebês. Os vídeos foram analisados quanto à confiabilidade das informações, com base em uma escala de 5 pontos, adaptada da ferramenta DISCERN, e quanto à qualidade com a ferramenta Global Quality Score (GQS), que varia de 1- má qualidade a 5- excelente qualidade. Foram encontrados 22 vídeos com o termo de busca, dos quais 15 foram selecionados. A frequência de qualidade GQS "1" foi a mais alta e observou-se que houve diferença de qualidade entre as origens dos vídeos (p<0,05). As fontes provenientes de jornais e profissionais de saúde foram iguais e melhores (p=0,002) na escala de confiabilidade, quando comparadas aos outros grupos como Opiniões e Fontes de marketing. No quinto artigo objetivou-se identificar os possíveis benefícios da resina de âmbar na sintomatologia da fase de erupção dentária dos bebês, através de um estudo clínico preliminar observacional. Foram incluídos bebês de ambos os gêneros, com idade entre 8 e 36 meses que já tivessem pelo menos um dente da dentição primária em erupção. A amostra foi composta por 3 grupos: 1. Grupo que não usou nenhum tratamento (controle); 2. Grupo que usou a pulseira placebo e 3. Grupo que usou a pulseira de âmbar. Os sintomas da dentição mais frequentes na linha de base (t1) foram coceira, inchaço e irritação; após o tratamento foram os mesmos, acrescido de vermelhidão. Houve diferenças de frequência, com diminuição dos sintomas, entre os grupos, para as manifestações clínicas irritação e coceira. A segunda etapa consistiu na criação de um vídeo, na plataforma de criação de vídeos PowToon®, informativo para os responsáveis, sobre a fase de erupção dentária. No vídeo procurou-se abordar sobre a sequência comum de erupção dentária, os principais sinais e sintomas e possíveis tratamentos não farmacológicos para alívio dessa fase que gera muitas dúvidas nos responsáveis. Pode-se concluir com os estudos que algumas terapias não farmacológicas podem ter um efeito favorável sobre os sinais e sintomas relacionados à dentição. No entanto, conclusões definitivas sobre sua eficácia não podem ser tiradas, devido à certeza muito baixa das evidências. Pesquisas primárias, intervencionais sobre o assunto são escassas, heterogêneas e tem falhas metodológicas; a prescrição de tratamentos não farmacológicos para a dentição decídua é uma prática comum entre os odontopediatras, e seu auto relato de segurança no uso de tais medidas não está associada ao tempo decorrido após a graduação e especialização; o âmbar da amostra testada no terceiro estudo, é formado por terpenos e terpenóides, substâncias com propriedades anti-inflamatórias e analgésicas. Entretanto, é necessário um estudo aprofundado sobre a liberação e absorção de substâncias na pele humana, ou seja, atentar a sua real eficácia; Vídeos assistidos através da plataforma do YouTube®, ainda que postados por profissionais e veículos de comunicação, não possuem embasamento científico suficiente sobre o assunto quando se fala sobre o âmbar e seu uso para saúde, o que implica baixa confiabilidade e segurança da informação. Nesse sentido, estudos clínicos controlados, com maior número de participantes, sobre os reais benefícios do uso da resina de âmbar para bebês no período de erupção dentária, são fundamentais e devem ser realizados, a fim de consolidar as evidências sobre o assunto e reais benefícios para a saúde. Da mesma forma que o vídeo criado serve como informação aos pais sobre a fase de erupção dentária, e que foi baseado no que foi encontrado em evidências científicas. Após a realização da presente tese, observou-se que não existem muitos estudos que abordem sobre os tratamentos mais eficazes para essa fase na vida do bebê. (AU)

This thesis is composed of 5 scientific articles and 1 technical product. The first scientific article is a systematic review on the effectiveness of treatments to relieve the signs and symptoms of eruption of deciduous teeth. Clinical trials evaluating the effect of any intervention to alleviate signs and symptoms associated with teething in infants and children were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the ROB-2 and ROBINS-I tools. Five articles were selected, classified as high or severe risk of bias. Three studies using homeopathy reported improvement in appetite disorders, gum discomfort and excess salivation. One study showed that a new gel with hyaluronic acid was more effective than an anesthetic gel in improving signs and symptoms such as pain, gum redness and poor sleep quality. Another selected study applied nonpharmacological treatments, which proved to be more effective, especially against excess salivation. The second article evaluated the clinical practices adopted by pediatric dentists (POs) in view of the signs and symptoms of eruption of deciduous teeth and the influence of time since graduation and specialist in the self-report (AR) of safety in the adoption of such measures. An online questionnaire was applied to the OPs. Data were collected on the type of practice, effectiveness report, source of knowledge on the subject, safety in the adopted practice, time since graduation and time as a specialist. Descriptive and inferential analyzes were performed (X2 test, α=0.05). There were 451 respondents. iced teethers (96.8%); frozen foods (69.1%) and digital massage (58.3%) were the most prescribed and considered effective (78.2%, 30.3% and 28.8%, respectively). Pediatric dentistry books (58.9%), course/conference (56.3%) and professional experience (40.7%) were the most cited sources of knowledge. The average time since graduation of OPs was 18.4±11.3 years, with 13.1±11.0 years as a specialist. Most feel confident (79.6%) in treating the signs and symptoms of tooth eruption, but 93.1% feel that there is a lack of scientific studies on the subject. Time since graduation (p=0.12) and specialist time (p=0.90) did not influence the AR of safety in the adopted practice. The third article analyzed the molecular composition of a sample of Baltic amber, verified the presence or absence of compounds beneficial to human health and discussed the therapeutic potential of this fossil resin. For this, a qualitative analysis was carried out by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS system), which can perform an automated separation into individual amber components. The samples were composed of terpenes and terpenoids: monoterpenoids; sesquiterpenoids; diterpenoids; hydronaphthalene; succinic acid and isopimaric acid. These components have therapeutic potential for various diseases; inhibit various phases of the inflammatory process and have analgesic effects. The fourth article analyzed and evaluated the quality, reliability and views of the videos available on YouTube® as a source of information, related to the therapeutic use of the amber necklace for babies during the period of tooth eruption. A search on YouTube® was performed on August 23, 2022. The term chosen for the search was "baby amber necklace" on the Google Trends® website. As an inclusion criterion, the videos should contain information about the use of the amber necklace as a therapy to reduce the symptoms of tooth eruption in babies. The videos were analyzed for the reliability of the information, based on a 5-point scale, adapted from the DISCERN tool, and for quality with the Global Quality Score (GQS) tool, which ranges from 1-poor quality to 5-excellent quality. 22 videos were found with the search term, of which 15 were selected. The GQS quality frequency "1" was the highest and it was observed that there was a difference in quality between the origins of the videos (p<0.05). Sources from newspapers and health professionals were equal and better (p=0.002) on the reliability scale, when compared to other groups such as Opinions and Marketing sources. The fifth article aimed to identify the possible benefits of amber resin in the symptomatology of the tooth eruption phase of babies, through a preliminary observational study. Infants of both genders, aged between 8 and 36 months, who already had at least one erupting primary dentition tooth, were included. The sample consisted of 3 groups: 1. Group that did not use any treatment (control); 2. Group that used the placebo bracelet and 3. Group that used the amber bracelet. The most frequent dentition symptoms at baseline (t1) were itching, swelling and irritation; after treatment they were the same, plus redness. There were differences in frequency, with a decrease in symptoms, between the groups, for the clinical manifestations of irritation and itching. The second stage consisted of creating a video, on the PowToon® video creation platform, informative for those responsible, about the tooth eruption phase. In the video, an attempt was made to address the common sequence of tooth eruption, the main signs and symptoms and possible nonpharmacological treatments to alleviate this phase, which raises many doubts in those responsible. It can be concluded from the studies that some non-pharmacological therapies can have a favorable effect on signs and symptoms related to dentition. However, definitive conclusions about its effectiveness cannot be drawn, due to the very low certainty of the evidence. Primary, interventional research on the subject is scarce, heterogeneous and has methodological flaws; the prescription of nonpharmacological treatments for the primary dentition is a common practice among pediatric dentists, and their self-reported safety in the use of such measures is not associated with the time elapsed after graduation and specialization; the amber of the sample tested in the third study is formed by terpenes and terpenoids, substances with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. However, an in-depth study on the release and absorption of substances in human skin is necessary, that is, paying attention to their real effectiveness; Videos watched through the Youtube® platform, even if posted by professionals and communication vehicles, do not have sufficient scientific basis on the subject when talking about amber and its use for health, which implies low reliability and information security. In this sense, controlled clinical studies, with a larger number of participants, on the real benefits of using amber resin for babies in the period of tooth eruption, are fundamental and must be carried out, in order to consolidate the evidence on the subject and real benefits for health. In the same way that the video created serves as information to parents about the stage of tooth eruption, and which was based on what was found in scientific evidence. After carrying out this thesis, it was observed that there are not many studies that address the most effective treatments for this phase in the baby's life. (AU)

Scorpions trapped in amber: a remarkable window on their evolution over time from the Mesozoic period to present days

This synoptic review aims to bring some general information on fossil scorpions, namely those trapped in amber - fossilized resin - ranging from Lower Cretaceous through the Palaeocene and up to the Miocene. The question to be addressed is how the study of these fossils can be connected with possible present scorpionism problems. A precise knowledge of these ancient lineages provides information about the evolution of extant lineages, including the buthoids, which contain most known noxious species. Among the Arthropods found trapped in amber, scorpions are considered rare. A limited number of elements have been described from the Late Tertiary Dominican and Mexican amber, while the most ancient Tertiary amber from the Baltic region produced more consistent results in the last 30 years, primarily focusing on a single limited lineage. Contrarily, the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar, also called Burmite, has yielded and continues to yield a significant number of results represented by several distinct lineages, which attest to the considerable degree of diversity that existed in the Burmese amber-producing forests. As in my previous similar contributions to this journal, the content of this note is primarily addressed to non-specialists whose research embraces scorpions in various fields such as venom toxins and public health. An overview knowledge of at least some fossil lineages can eventually help to clarify why some extant elements associated with the buthoids represent dangerous species while others are not noxious.(AU)

Scorpions trapped in amber: a remarkable window on their evolution over time from the Mesozoic period to present days

This synoptic review aims to bring some general information on fossil scorpions, namely those trapped in amber - fossilized resin - ranging from Lower Cretaceous through the Palaeocene and up to the Miocene. The question to be addressed is how the study of these fossils can be connected with possible present scorpionism problems. A precise knowledge of these ancient lineages provides information about the evolution of extant lineages, including the buthoids, which contain most known noxious species. Among the Arthropods found trapped in amber, scorpions are considered rare. A limited number of elements have been described from the Late Tertiary Dominican and Mexican amber, while the most ancient Tertiary amber from the Baltic region produced more consistent results in the last 30 years, primarily focusing on a single limited lineage. Contrarily, the Cretaceous amber from Myanmar, also called Burmite, has yielded and continues to yield a significant number of results represented by several distinct lineages, which attest to the considerable degree of diversity that existed in the Burmese amber-producing forests. As in my previous similar contributions to this journal, the content of this note is primarily addressed to non-specialists whose research embraces scorpions in various fields such as venom toxins and public health. An overview knowledge of at least some fossil lineages can eventually help to clarify why some extant elements associated with the buthoids represent dangerous species while others are not noxious.(AU)

Earliest teredid beetle from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Coccinelloidea: Teredidae): new genus and species

The earliest fossil member of Teredidae, Delteredolaemus hei Li & Cai gen. et sp. nov., is reported from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Delteredolaemus is assigned to the extant tribe Teredini, and shares a generally similar morphology with the extant genus Teredolaemus Sharp, 1885, although it can be distinguished from all other members in the tribe by the shape of the pronotum and mesoventral process, as well as the anteromedially tumid metaventrite.(AU)

Use of the amber teething necklace by the child population: risks versus benefits / Uso do colar de âmbar pela população infantil: riscos x benefícios

Abstract Objective: Based on scientific evidence, the objective of the present study is to report the possible risks and benefits of the amber teething necklace for children who use it. Data source: This is an integrative literature review, carried out based on the following guiding question: "Does the amber teething necklace have therapeutic properties that justify its usage during tooth eruption?". The consulted databases were LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature) and PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information), with the following descriptors: "Amber," "Deciduous teeth," "Strangulation," and "Local symptoms." Data synthesis: A total of five scientific articles were selected, which indicates an insufficient basis regarding the benefits associated with the use of the amber teething necklace. Conversely, there is a convergence regarding the possibility of health risks such as strangulation, asphyxiation, and swallowing of beads. Conclusions: Health professionals should discourage the use of the amber teething necklace by children insofar more studies on the topic are carried out.

Resumo Objetivo: Com base em evidências científicas, a proposta do presente trabalho é relatar os prováveis riscos e benefícios do uso do colar de âmbar pela população infantil. Fontes de dados: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, realizada a partir da elaboração da questão norteadora: "O colar de âmbar apresenta propriedades que justifiquem seu uso durante a erupção dentária?''. As bases de dados utilizadas foram LILACS (Literatura Latino-americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde), PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information), por meio dos descritores: Âmbar; Dentes decíduos; Estrangulamento; Sintomas locais. Síntese dos dados: Após a busca dos dados, foram selecionados cinco artigos, os quais apontam insuficiente embasamento científico que comprove os benefícios relacionados ao uso do colar de âmbar. Em contrapartida, existe uma convergência quanto à possibilidade de riscos à saúde, como estrangulamento, asfixia e deglutição das pedras. Conclusões: Conclui-se que os profissionais da saúde devem desencorajar o seu uso por crianças até que pesquisas clínicas bem delineadas sejam disponibilizadas.

REVIEW OF PARASITES FOUND IN EXTINCT ANIMALS: WHAT CAN BE REVEALED.

Parasitism is inherent to life and observed in all species. Extinct animals have been studied to understand what they looked like, where and how they lived, what they fed on, and the reasons they became extinct. Paleoparasitology helps to clarify these questions based on the study of the parasites and microorganisms that infected those animals, using as a source material coprolites, fossils in rock, tissue, bone, mummy, and amber, analyses of ancient DNA, immunodiagnosis, and microscopy.

Revisiting the morphology of the Cretaceous ommatid beetle Clessidromma palmeri(Coleoptera: Archostemata: Ommatidae)

The morphology of Clessidromma palmeri Jarzembowski et al. from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is revised based on a reexamination of the type specimen. Contrary to previous studies, our observation confirms that Clessidromma has open procoxal cavities. The characters such as platform on the ventral side of head, modified metacoxae, and ridges on head and pronotum are suggested to be diagnostic characters for Clessidromma. Clessidromma zengi Kirejtshuk from the same deposit is transferred into a new genus, as Kirejtomma zengicomb. nov.(AU)

Revisiting the morphology and systematic placement of the enigmatic Cretaceous ommatid beetle Bukhkalius lindae(Coleoptera: Archostemata: Ommatidae)

The systematic position of Bukhkalius lindae (Jarzembowski et al. 2017) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber is revised based on a re-examination of the type specimen. Our observations confirm that B. lindae lacks unique apomorphies of Tetraphalerus Waterhouse, in which it was originally placed, including complete antennal grooves and mushroom-shaped micro-tubercles. It is well justified to place it into a separate genus, i.e., Bukhkalius Kirejtshuk & Jarzembowski, 2020. The incomplete but distinct antennal grooves and the Tetraphalerus-like mouthparts of B. lindae suggest that it has a close affinity to Tetraphalerus. Therefore, B. lindae may represent a missing link bridging the morphological gap between extant ommatid subfamilies Tetraphalerinae and Ommatinae.(AU)

New species of Paraodontomma from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber with muscle tissue preservation (Coleoptera: Archostemata: Ommatidae)

The third member of the extinct ommatid genus Paraodontomma is reported from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Our observation confirms the transverse ridges on elytra as a diagnostic character for the genus. Paraodontomma leptocristatumsp. nov. differs from previously reported congeners mainly in head subquadrate and without prominent protuberances, pronotal disc without prominent ridges, elytral ridges indistinct, and teeth along elytral margins not forming a wavy pattern. Musculature is preserved in the newly discovered specimen of P. leptocristatum, which further demonstrates the preservation potential and irreplaceable value of amber fossils.(AU)