Periodontitis and systemic parameters in chronic kidney disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis to assess recent scientific evidence on the association between periodontitis and systemic parameters/conditions in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The search for studies was performed in MedLine/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and BIREME databases. Reference lists of selected articles were also searched. Studies with different epidemiological designs evaluating the influence of exposure to periodontitis on serum markers and mortality in individuals with CKD were eligible for inclusion. Three independent reviewers performed the article selection and data extraction. The assessment of methodological quality used the adapted Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Random effects meta-analysis was performed to calculate association measurements and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: In total, 3053 records were identified in the database search, with only 25 studies meeting the eligibility criteria and, of these, 10 studies contributed data for meta-analysis. Using a random-effects model, periodontitis was associated with hypoalbuminemia (PRunadjusted = 2.47; 95%CI:1.43-4.26), with high levels of C-reactive protein (PRunadjusted = 1.35; 95%CI%:1.12-1.64), death from cardiovascular disease (RRunadjusted = 2.29; 95%CI:1.67-3.15) and death from all causes (RRunadjusted = 1.73; 95%CI:1.32-2.27). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this review validated a positive association between periodontitis and serum markers and mortality data in individuals with CKD.

Orofacial myofunctional assessment and quality of life of individuals with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize orofacial myofunctional structures of elders with Parkinson's disease (PD) and examine the relationship with the stages of PD, pharmacotherapy, and quality of life. METHODS: PD Group with 45 elders and a control group (CG) of 10 healthy elders of both sexes were included (60-86 years). Structured interviews, medical records, and clinical examination gathered information on health aspects such as the use of drugs, Hoehn & Yahr stages 1-4, and oral health status. The Mini-Mental State Examination, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, and Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores for Elders were applied. RESULTS: Better oral health status was found in participants diagnosed as Hoehn & Yahr stage 1 compared to the later stages. OMES-Elders scores for appearance/posture, mobility, breathing, and speech functions were different between groups, and decreased overall OMES-Elders was observed across the Hoehn & Yahr stages. A higher number of masticatory cycles was required for chewing and ingestion of the test food in the PD group compared to CG (p < .05). Significant differences were found in the mobility and daily living activities domains and an overall score of QoL between the Hoehn & Yahr stages 1 and 4, and worst orofacial functioning was accompanied by the worst self-perception of QoL in the communication domain (rho = -0.32; p = .034). The use of xerogenic drugs did not affect the OMES-Elders swallowing domain. CONCLUSION: Worse dental condition and performance of orofacial functions was observed in the elders with PD as the disease progresses, and poorer orofacial performance negatively affects their perception of communication skills.

Hematological and histopathological changes in medular aplasia resulting from Ehrlichia canis infection in a Border collie dog / Alterações hematológicas e histopatológicas na aplasia medulardecorrente da infecção por Ehrlichia canis em cão da raça Border Collie

The Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) is an infectious disease that commonly affects dogs of all breeds and ages. It is caused by the bacterium Ehrlichia canis and is transmitted by the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The disease may pre-sent itself in the acute, subclinical, and chronic forms. The present study reports the case of a 2-year-old male Border Collie with advanced stage CME, attended at the Pet Clinic of the Veterinary Hospital of the University Federal de Jataí, which resul-ted in medullary aplasia. The diagnosis of marrow aplasia was based on the necroscopic and histopathological examinations. At necropsy, the diaphyses of the long bones were filled with diffuse, strongly whitish and pasty tissue, typical of the adipose tissue, also found in the femoral epiphyses. The histopathology showed unilocular adipose tissue as the major constituent of the bone marrow and rare islands of marrow cells. These findings were compatible with severe hypoplasia of the red bone mar-row and hyperplasia of the white bone marrow, affecting hematopoiesis, resulting in the laboratory alterations observed in the hematocrit, WBC, and plateletogram.

A erliquiose monocítica canina (EMC) é uma doença infecciosa que comumente afeta cães de todas as raças e idades. Causada pela bactéria Ehrlichia canis e transmitida pelo carrapato Rhipicephalus sanguineus, a doença pode apresentar-se nas for-mas aguda, subclínica e crônica. O presente trabalho relata o caso de um cão, raça Border Collie, macho, 2 anos de idade, com EMC em estágio avançado, atendido no Setor de Clínica de Animais de Companhia do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Jataí, caso este que resultou em aplasia medular. O diagnóstico da aplasia de medula baseou-se na realização de exames necroscópico e histopatológico. Na necropsia verificou-se a diáfise de ossos longos preenchida por tecido difuso, seve-ramente esbranquiçado e pastoso, característico de tecido adiposo, também encontrado em epífises femorais. No histopatoló-gico foi verificado tecido adiposo unilocular como maior constituinte da medula óssea e raras ilhas de células medulares. Esses achados foram compatíveis com hipoplasia severa de medula óssea vermelha e hiperplasia de medula óssea branca, afetando a hematopoiese resultando nas alterações laboratoriais verificadas no eritrograma, leucograma e plaquetograma.

Hematological and histopathological changes in medular aplasia resulting from Ehrlichia canis infection in a Border collie dog / Alterações hematológicas e histopatológicas na aplasia medulardecorrente da infecção por Ehrlichia canis em cão da raça Border Collie

The Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) is an infectious disease that commonly affects dogs of all breeds and ages. It is caused by the bacterium Ehrlichia canis and is transmitted by the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The disease may pre-sent itself in the acute, subclinical, and chronic forms. The present study reports the case of a 2-year-old male Border Collie with advanced stage CME, attended at the Pet Clinic of the Veterinary Hospital of the University Federal de Jataí, which resul-ted in medullary aplasia. The diagnosis of marrow aplasia was based on the necroscopic and histopathological examinations. At necropsy, the diaphyses of the long bones were filled with diffuse, strongly whitish and pasty tissue, typical of the adipose tissue, also found in the femoral epiphyses. The histopathology showed unilocular adipose tissue as the major constituent of the bone marrow and rare islands of marrow cells. These findings were compatible with severe hypoplasia of the red bone mar-row and hyperplasia of the white bone marrow, affecting hematopoiesis, resulting in the laboratory alterations observed in the hematocrit, WBC, and plateletogram.(AU)

A erliquiose monocítica canina (EMC) é uma doença infecciosa que comumente afeta cães de todas as raças e idades. Causada pela bactéria Ehrlichia canis e transmitida pelo carrapato Rhipicephalus sanguineus, a doença pode apresentar-se nas for-mas aguda, subclínica e crônica. O presente trabalho relata o caso de um cão, raça Border Collie, macho, 2 anos de idade, com EMC em estágio avançado, atendido no Setor de Clínica de Animais de Companhia do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Jataí, caso este que resultou em aplasia medular. O diagnóstico da aplasia de medula baseou-se na realização de exames necroscópico e histopatológico. Na necropsia verificou-se a diáfise de ossos longos preenchida por tecido difuso, seve-ramente esbranquiçado e pastoso, característico de tecido adiposo, também encontrado em epífises femorais. No histopatoló-gico foi verificado tecido adiposo unilocular como maior constituinte da medula óssea e raras ilhas de células medulares. Esses achados foram compatíveis com hipoplasia severa de medula óssea vermelha e hiperplasia de medula óssea branca, afetando a hematopoiese resultando nas alterações laboratoriais verificadas no eritrograma, leucograma e plaquetograma.(AU)

Effects of auriculopalpebral nerve block on ocular parameters in dogs

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two local anesthetics used on auriculopalpebral block on eyelid akinesia, tear production, intraocular pressure (IOP) and tear break-up time (TBUT) in conscious dogs. A blind, randomized, prospective study was conducted to determine the effects of auriculopalpebral block using ropivacaine 0.75% and bupivacaine 0.5% in 12 healthy non-brachycephalic dogs (24 eyes). Threat response and eyelid reflex tests, Schirmer tear test (STT), IOP and tear break-up time were conducted before blockage and at 30, 60, 120, 240 and 360 minutes after application. A difference was observed between the values found at 30, 60, 120 and 240 minutes compared to baseline for threat response and eyelid reflex tests in the two groups evaluated, proving eyelid akinesia after blockages. No difference was found for STT, IOP and TBUT between baseline values and post-anesthesia times or between groups. It was possible to conclude that ropivacaine and bupivacaine on auriculopalpebral block in conscious dogs promoted eyelid akinesia for at least 240 minutes, not altering ocular physiological parameters of tear production, intraocular pressure, and tear break-up time after blockages.

Vascular calcification by conventional X-ray and mortality in a cohort of predominantly African descent hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of studies describing the prevalence of vascular calcification (VC) and its association with mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients of African descent. We investigated if a VC score based on the number of calcified vascular beds was associated with mortality in MHD patients. METHODS: We analyzed data from 211 MHD patients enrolled from January 2010 to January 2011 in the prospective cohort study, "The Prospective Study of the Prognosis of Chronic Hemodialysis Patients (PROHEMO)," developed in Salvador, BA, Brazil. VC was evaluated using radiographs of the hands, abdomen, hip, and chest; the score was calculated by the number of calcified sites as 0 (absence of calcification), 1 (one calcified site), 2 (two sites), 3 (⩾3 sites). We used Cox's regression to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of associations between VC and mortality with adjustments for age and comorbidities. RESULTS: VC was detected in 114 (54.0%) patients; 37 (17.5%) with a VC score = 1; 21 (10%) with VC score = 2 and 56 (26.5%) with VC score = 3. Compared with VC score = 0, the adjusted hazard of death was 2.67 (95% CI: 1.12, 6.33) for patients with VC score = 1; HR = 2.89 (95% CI: 0.95, 7.63) for VC score = 2; and HR = 3.27 (95% CI: 1.47, 7.28) for VC score = 3. CONCLUSION: The present study in an African descent MHD population provides support for the VC score based on conventional radiography as a prediction tool for the clinical practice. As shown, the VC score was monotonically and independently associated with mortality.

Distribution and phylogenetics of whiteflies and their endosymbiont relationships after the Mediterranean species invasion in Brazil.

The Bemisia tabaci is a polyphagous insect and a successful vector of plant viruses. B. tabaci is a species complex and in Brazil native species from the New World (NW) group, as well as the invasive species, Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED) were reported. For better understanding the distribution of the different species four years after the Mediterranean species invasion in Brazil, whiteflies were collected from 237 locations throughout the country between the years of 2013 and 2017, species were identified and the facultative endosymbionts detected. The survey revealed that MEAM1 was the prevalent species found on major crops across Brazil. It is the only species present in North, Northwestern and Central Brazil and was associated with virus-infected plants. MED was found in five States from Southeast to South regions, infesting mainly ornamental plants and was not associated with virus-infected plants. The prevalent endosymbionts identified in MEAM1 were Hamiltonella and Rickettsia; and the mtCOI analysis revealed low genetic diversity for MEAM1. In contrast, several different endosymbionts were identified in MED including Hamiltonella, Rickettsia, Wolbachia and Arsenophonus; and two distinct genetic groups were found based on the mtCOI analysis. Monitoring the distribution of the whiteflies species in Brazil is essential for proper management of this pest.

Consenso sobre Ecocardiografia transesofágica perioperatória da Sociedade Brasileira de Anestiologia e do Departamento de Imagem Cardiovascular da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia / Consensus on perioperative transesophageal echocardiography of the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology and the Department of Cardiovascular Image of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology

A Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia, pelo Núcleo Vida de Ecocardiografia Transesofágica Intraoperatória (ETTI/SBA) juntamente com o Departamento de Imagem Cardiovascular da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (DIC/SBC), fez uma força-tarefa para normatizar a feitura da ecocardiografia transesofágica intraoperatória para os anestesiologistas e ecocardiografistas brasileiros com base nas evidências científicas da Sociedade dos Anestesiologistas Cardiovasculares/Sociedade Americana de Ecocardiografia (SCA/ASE) e da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia

Consenso sobre Ecocardiografia Transesofágica Perioperatória da Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia e do Departamento de Imagem Cardiovascular da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia / Consensus on Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography of the BrazilianSociety of Anesthesiology and the Department of Cardiovascular Image of theBrazilian Society of Cardiology

RESUMO: A Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia, pelo Núcleo Vida de Ecocardiografia Transesofágica Intraoperatória (ETTI/SBA) juntamente com o Departamento de Imagem Cardiovascular da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (DIC/SBC), fez uma força-tarefa para normatizar a feitura da ecocardiografia transesofágica intraoperatória para os anestesiologistas e ecocardiografistas brasileiros com base nas evidências científicas da Sociedade dos Anestesiologistas Cardiovasculares/Sociedade Americana de Ecocardiografia (SCA/ASE) e da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia.

ABSTRACT: Through the Life Cycle of Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (ETTI/SBA) the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology, together with the Department of Cardiovascular Image of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (DIC/SBC), createded a task force to standardize the use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography by Brazilian anesthesiologists and echocardiographers based on scientific evidence from the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists/American Society of Echocardiography (SCA/ASE) and the Brazilian Society of Cardiology.

Consenso sobre Ecocardiografia Transesofágica Perioperatória da Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia e do Departamento de Imagem Cardiovascular da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia / Consensus on Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography of the BrazilianSociety of Anesthesiology and the Department of Cardiovascular Image of theBrazilian Society of Cardiology

RESUMO A Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia, pelo Núcleo Vida de Ecocardiografia Transe-sofágica Intraoperatória (ETTI/SBA) juntamente com o Departamento de Imagem Cardiovascularda Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (DIC/SBC), fez uma forc ̧a-tarefa para normatizar afeitura da ecocardiografia transesofágica intraoperatória para os anestesiologistas e ecocar-diografistas brasileiros com base nas evidências científicas da Sociedade dos AnestesiologistasCardiovasculares/Sociedade Americana de Ecocardiografia (SCA/ASE) e da Sociedade Brasileirade Cardiologia.

ABSTRACT Through the Life Cycle of Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography(ETTI/SBA) the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology, together with the Department of Cardi-ovascular Image of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (DIC/SBC), createded a task force tostandardize the use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography by Brazilian anesthesi-ologists and echocardiographers based on scientific evidence from the Society of CardiovascularAnesthesiologists/American Society of Echocardiography (SCA/ASE) and the Brazilian Society ofCardiology.

[Consensus on Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography of the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology and the Department of Cardiovascular Image of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology]. / Consenso sobre Ecocardiografia Transesofágica Perioperatória da Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia e do Departamento de Imagem Cardiovascular da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia.

Through the Life Cycle of Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (ETTI/SBA) the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology, together with the Department of Cardiovascular Image of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (DIC/SBC), createded a task force to standardize the use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography by Brazilian anesthesiologists and echocardiographers based on scientific evidence from the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists/American Society of Echocardiography (SCA/ASE) and the Brazilian Society of Cardiology.

Trophic Niche Differentiation in Rodents and Marsupials Revealed by Stable Isotopes.

Tropical rainforests support the greatest diversity of small mammals in the world, yet we have little understanding about the mechanisms that promote the coexistence of species. Diet partitioning can favor coexistence by lessening competition, and interspecific differences in body size and habitat use are usually proposed to be associated with trophic divergence. However, the use of classic dietary methods (e.g. stomach contents) is challenging in small mammals, particularly in community-level studies, thus we used stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) to infer about trophic niche. We investigated i) how trophic niche is partitioned among rodent and marsupial species in three Atlantic forest sites and ii) if interspecific body size and locomotor habit inequalities can constitute mechanisms underlying the isotopic niche partitioning. We found that rodents occupied a broad isotopic niche space with species distributed in different trophic levels and relying on diverse basal carbon sources (C3 and C4 plants). Surprisingly, on the other hand, marsupials showed a narrow isotopic niche, both in δ13C and δ15N dimensions, which is partially overlapped with rodents, contradicting their description as omnivores and generalists proposed classic dietary studies. Although body mass differences did not explained the divergence in isotopic values among species, groups of species with different locomotor habit presented clear differences in the position of the isotopic niche space, indicating that the use of different forest strata can favor trophic niche partitioning in small mammals communities. We suggest that anthropogenic impacts, such as habitat modification (logging, harvesting), can simplify the vertical structure of ecosystems and collapse the diversity of basal resources, which might affect negatively small mammals communities in Atlantic forests.

Non-volant mammals from Núcleo Santa Virgínia, Serra do Mar State Park, São Paulo, Brazil / Mamíferos não voadores do Núcleo Santa Virgínia, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, São Paulo, Brazil

This study presents data on the composition and species richness of non-flying mammals in the northern part of the Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, called Núcleo Santa Virgínia (NSV - around 17000 hectares of Atlantic Forest), São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil. The species list was based on ca. 660 km of line-transects, 25512 hours of cameras traps, 7740 trap.nights for small mammals, and 394 track-station.days, as well as occasional records and registers from local people (period 2002 to 2009). Based on these complementary methods, a total of 58 species were recorded from the 85-104 possible. Eighteen taxa are listed in the Brazilian endangered species list, 29 in the state list. The high species richness of non-volant mammals and the presence of threatened species show the importance of NSV for the conservation of Atlantic Forest mammals.

Este estudo apresenta dados de composição e riqueza de espécies de mamíferos não voadores da porção norte do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, que corresponde è região do núcleo Santa Virgínia (NSV - cerca de 17.000 hectares de Floresta Atlântica), estado de São Paulo, sudeste do Brasil. A listagem de espécies foi elaborada durante o período de 2002 a 2009, por meio de ca. 660 km de transecções lineares, 25.512 horas de armadilha fotográfica, 394 armadilhas-de-pegada.dia, registros ocasionais e relatos de moradores da região (entrevistas) para mamíferos de médio e grande porte, e 7.740 armadilhas.noite para pequenos mamíferos. Foram registradas 58 espécies de 85-104 de possível ocorrência dada suas potenciais distribuições. Dezoito espécies fazem parte da lista nacional da fauna ameaçada de extinção e 29 da lista estadual. A elevada riqueza de mamíferos não voadores com a presença de várias espécies ameaçadas, indica a importância do NSV para conservação da mastofauna regional.

Brazilian Registry of Bone Biopsy (REBRABO): design, data elements and methodology.

INTRODUCTION: Mineral bone disorder (MBD) is a common condition in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Data involving prevalence of alterations in bone histological patterns, impact of different treatments and its repercussion in outcomes, such as bone fractures, hospitalization, cardiovascular disease and mortality, are scarce. Data bank registry can be a valuable tool to understand epidemiological aspects of MBD CKD. The Brazilian Registry of Bone Biopsy (REBRABO) will be a national registry, coordinating by the Brazilian Society of Nephrology - Committee of MBD-CKD. OBJECTIVE: To describe REBRABO's design, elements of data and methodology. METHODS: Will be an online national observational and multicentric data registry divided in two phases (retrospective, 1st phase) and prospective (2nd phase), including information from bone tissue histomorphometric analysis and demographics, clinical and laboratorial data from CKD-MBD patients. RESULTS: The REBRABO's first phase will explore data on demographics, clinical, laboratorial and bone histomorphometric analysis data from January/1986 to December/2013. The first RESULTS are expected in early 2015. CONCLUSION: Studies in the field of CKD-MBD are needed, particularly those analyzing its prevalence, associations between demographic, clinical, histological parameters, and major outcomes. The REBRABO will be a unique retrospective and prospective research platform including bone biopsy data in CKD-MBD patients.

Registro Brasileiro de Biópsias Ósseas (REBRABO): desenho, banco de dados e metodologia / Brazilian Registry of Bone Biopsy (REBRABO): design, data elements and methodology

Introdução: Os distúrbios mineral e ósseo (DMO) são encontrados com frequência em pacientes com doença renal crônica (DRC) e são causa importante de morbidade e mortalidade nessa população. São escassos na literatura estudos que avaliam a prevalência dos tipos de alterações histológicas no tecido ósseo e suas associações com desfechos clínicos, como fraturas, hospitalização, doença cardiovascular e mortalidade. Os estudos epidemiológicos dos DMO-DRC podem ser facilitados pela criação de registros. O Registro Brasileiro de Biópsias Ósseas (REBRABO) será uma base de dados coordenada pelo Comitê DMO-DRC da Sociedade Brasileira de Nefrologia. Objetivo: Descrever o desenho, banco de dados e metodologia do REBRABO. Métodos: Será uma base de dados eletrônica online, envolvendo informações nacionais, observacionais, multicêntricas retrospectivas (1ª fase), e prospectivas (2ª fase), contendo dados demográficos, clínicos, laboratoriais e de histologia óssea, obtidos por meio da técnica de histomorfometria em pacientes com DMO-DRC; serão empregadas análises estatísticas de relação e comparação para identificar possíveis associações entre os DMODRC e desfechos clínicos, incluindo fraturas, hospitalizações e mortalidade. Resultados: A primeira fase do REBRABO revelará análise de informações demográficas, clínicas, laboratoriais e de histologia do tecido ósseo de janeiro/1986 até dezembro/2013, cujos Resultados são esperados no primeiro semestre de 2015. Conclusão: Existe a necessidade de estudos que avaliem a prevalência, associações entre variáveis sociodemográficas, clínicas, laboratoriais ...

Introduction: Mineral bone disorder (MBD) is a common condition in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Data involving prevalence of alterations in bone histological patterns, impact of different treatments and its repercussion in outcomes, such as bone fractures, hospitalization, cardiovascular disease and mortality, are scarce. Data bank registry can be a valuable tool to understand epidemiological aspects of MBD CKD. The Brazilian Registry of Bone Biopsy (REBRABO) will be a national registry, coordinating by the Brazilian Society of Nephrology - Committee of MBD-CKD. Objective: To describe REBRABO's design, elements of data and methodology. Methods: Will be an online national observational and multicentric data registry divided in two phases (retrospective, 1st phase) and prospective (2nd phase), including information from bone tissue histomorphometric analysis and demographics, clinical and laboratorial data from CKD-MBD patients. Results: The REBRABO's first phase will explore data on demographics, clinical, laboratorial and bone histomorphometric analysis data from January/1986 to December/2013. The first Results are expected in early 2015. Conclusion: Studies in the field of CKD-MBD are needed, particularly those analyzing its prevalence, associations between demographic, clinical, histological parameters, and major outcomes. The REBRABO will be a unique retrospective and prospective research platform including bone biopsy data in CKD-MBD patients. .

New karyologycal data and cytotaxonomic considerations on small mammals from Santa Virgínia (Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Atlantic Forest, Brazil).

Atlantic Forest, in the eastern coast of Brazil, is a hotspot of biodiversity of mammals, and Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (PESM) is the largest continuous area of this biome. Here, we characterized the karyotype composition of the small mammals from Santa Virgínia, a region in the northern part of PESM. Specimens were collected from July 2008 to September 2009. We identified 17 species (13 rodents and 4 marsupials) from which 7 exhibited species-specific karyotypes, illustrating the importance of karyotype information in cytotaxonomy. We report for first time the karyotype of Monodelphis scalops (Thomas, 1888) and two new records for PESM: Akodon montensis Thomas, 1913 and Brucepattersonius soricinus Hershkovitz, 1998. Cytogenetic polymorphisms were detected for some species trapped in the area. Our results show the importance of Santa Virgínia / PESM in addressing studies for the conservation of small mammal wildlife in the Atlantic Forest.

Persistence of bone and mineral disorders 2 years after successful kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Studies that have conducted bone biopsies after kidney transplantation are scarce, and the results are conflicting. METHODS: We evaluate the bone histomorphometry, in vitro proliferation, and alkaline phosphatase expression in osteoblasts isolated from bone biopsies from 27 kidney transplant patients. The patients had preserved renal function and were treated with the same immunosuppressive therapy, receiving a minimum dose of corticosteroids. RESULTS: The biochemical analysis revealed that 41% of the patients presented with hypercalcemia, 26% presented with hypophosphatemia, and hypovitaminosis D was detected in 63%. The histomorphometric analysis showed a reduced trabecular number and increased trabecular separation, mineral apposition rate, and mineralization lag time, as well as higher osteoid surface, osteoblastic surface, resorption surface, and osteoclastic surface and a lower mineralizing surface, compared with the controls. Based on the TMV classification, bone turnover was normal in 48%, high in 26%, and low in 26% of patients. Bone mineralization was delayed in 48% of the patients, and 58% of the patients with hypovitaminosis D presented with delayed bone mineralization. Bone volume was low in 37% of the patients. The osteoblasts from patients exhibited a higher degree of proliferation compared with those from controls. CONCLUSION: Eight-two percent of our patients presented with alterations in at least one of the TMV parameters. Persistence of hyperparathyroidism, hypovitaminosis D, and immunosuppressive drugs may have influenced osteoblast function, which would explain many of the bone alterations found in these patients.