One sixth of Amazonian tree diversity is dependent on river floodplains

Amazonia's floodplain system is the largest and most biodiverse on Earth. Although forests are crucial to the ecological integrity of floodplains, our understanding of their species composition and how this may differ from surrounding forest types is still far too limited, particularly as changing inundation regimes begin to reshape floodplain tree communities and the critical ecosystem functions they underpin. Here we address this gap by taking a spatially explicit look at Amazonia-wide patterns of tree-species turnover and ecological specialization of the region's floodplain forests. We show that the majority of Amazonian tree species can inhabit floodplains, and about a sixth of Amazonian tree diversity is ecologically specialized on floodplains. The degree of specialization in floodplain communities is driven by regional flood patterns, with the most compositionally differentiated floodplain forests located centrally within the fluvial network and contingent on the most extraordinary flood magnitudes regionally. Our results provide a spatially explicit view of ecological specialization of floodplain forest communities and expose the need for whole-basin hydrological integrity to protect the Amazon's tree diversity and its function.

Screening of probiotic strains to improve visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome by using in vitro and in vivo approaches

Oral administration of probiotics has been proposed as a promising biotherapy to prevent and treat different diseases related to gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Due to the increasing research area on the characterisation of new probiotic bacterial strains, it is necessary to perform suitable in vitro experiments, using pertinent cellular models, in order to establish appropriate readout profiles based on IBS symptoms and subtypes. In this work, a collection of 30 candidate strains, belonging mainly to the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera, were screened using three different sets of in vitro experiments with different readouts to identify promising probiotic strains with: (1) the ability to inhibit the synthesis of IL-8 production by TNF-α stimulated HT-29 cells, (2) immunomodulatory properties quantified as increased IL-10 levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs), and (3) the ability to maintain epithelial barrier integrity by increasing the trans-epithelial/endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) values in Caco-2 cells. Based on these criteria, three strains were selected: Lactobacillus gasseri PI41, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus PI48 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis PI50, and tested in a murine model of low-grade inflammation induced by dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS), which mimics some of the symptoms of IBS. Among the three strains, L. gasseri PI41 improved overall host well-being by preventing body weight loss in DNBS-treated mice and restored gut homeostasis by normalising the intestinal permeability and reducing pro-inflammatory markers. Therefore, the potential of this strain was confirmed in a second murine model known to reproduce IBS symptoms: the neonatal maternal separation (NMS) model. The PI41 strain was effective in preventing intestinal permeability and reducing colonic hypersensitivity. In conclusion, the set of in vitro experiments combined with in vivo assessments allowed us to identify a promising probiotic candidate strain, L. gasseri PI41, in the context of IBS.

Consistent patterns of common species across tropical tree communities

Trees structure the Earth's most biodiverse ecosystem, tropical forests. The vast number of tree species presents a formidable challenge to understanding these forests, including their response to environmental change, as very little is known about most tropical tree species. A focus on the common species may circumvent this challenge. Here we investigate abundance patterns of common tree species using inventory data on 1,003,805 trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm across 1,568 locations1-6 in closed-canopy, structurally intact old-growth tropical forests in Africa, Amazonia and Southeast Asia. We estimate that 2.2%, 2.2% and 2.3% of species comprise 50% of the tropical trees in these regions, respectively. Extrapolating across all closed-canopy tropical forests, we estimate that just 1,053 species comprise half of Earth's 800 billion tropical trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm. Despite differing biogeographic, climatic and anthropogenic histories7, we find notably consistent patterns of common species and species abundance distributions across the continents. This suggests that fundamental mechanisms of tree community assembly may apply to all tropical forests. Resampling analyses show that the most common species are likely to belong to a manageable list of known species, enabling targeted efforts to understand their ecology. Although they do not detract from the importance of rare species, our results open new opportunities to understand the world's most diverse forests, including modelling their response to environmental change, by focusing on the common species that constitute the majority of their trees.

Mapping density, diversity and species-richness of the Amazon tree flora

Using 2.046 botanically-inventoried tree plots across the largest tropical forest on Earth, we mapped tree species-diversity and tree species-richness at 0.1-degree resolution, and investigated drivers for diversity and richness. Using only location, stratified by forest type, as predictor, our spatial model, to the best of our knowledge, provides the most accurate map of tree diversity in Amazonia to date, explaining approximately 70% of the tree diversity and species-richness. Large soil-forest combinations determine a significant percentage of the variation in tree species-richness and tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian forest-plots. We suggest that the size and fragmentation of these systems drive their large-scale diversity patterns and hence local diversity. A model not using location but cumulative water deficit, tree density, and temperature seasonality explains 47% of the tree species-richness in the terra-firme forest in Amazonia. Over large areas across Amazonia, residuals of this relationship are small and poorly spatially structured, suggesting that much of the residual variation may be local. The Guyana Shield area has consistently negative residuals, showing that this area has lower tree species-richness than expected by our models. We provide extensive plot meta-data, including tree density, tree alpha-diversity and tree species-richness results and gridded maps at 0.1-degree resolution.

More than 10,000 pre-Columbian earthworks are still hidden throughout Amazonia

Indigenous societies are known to have occupied the Amazon basin for more than 12,000 years, but the scale of their influence on Amazonian forests remains uncertain. We report the discovery, using LIDAR (light detection and ranging) information from across the basin, of 24 previously undetected pre-Columbian earthworks beneath the forest canopy. Modeled distribution and abundance of large-scale archaeological sites across Amazonia suggest that between 10,272 and 23,648 sites remain to be discovered and that most will be found in the southwest. We also identified 53 domesticated tree species significantly associated with earthwork occurrence probability, likely suggesting past management practices. Closed-canopy forests across Amazonia are likely to contain thousands of undiscovered archaeological sites around which pre-Columbian societies actively modified forests, a discovery that opens opportunities for better understanding the magnitude of ancient human influence on Amazonia and its current state.

Spiny but photogenic: Amateur sightings complement herbarium specimens to reveal the bioregions of cacti

PREMISE

Cacti are characteristic elements of the Neotropical flora and of major interest for biogeographic, evolutionary, and ecological studies. We tested global biogeographic boundaries for Neotropical Cactaceae using specimen-based occurrences, coupled with data from visual observations, as a means to tackle the known collection biases in the family.

METHODS

Species richness and record density were assessed for preserved specimens and human observations, and a bioregional scheme tailored to Cactaceae was produced using the interactive web application Infomap Bioregions, based on data from 261,272 point records cleaned through automated and manual steps.

RESULTS

We found that areas in Mexico and southwestern USA, in eastern Brazil, and along the Andean region have the greatest density of records and the highest species richness. Human observations complement information from preserved specimens substantially, especially along the Andes. We propose 24 cactus bioregions, among which the most species-rich are northern Mexico/southwestern USA, central Mexico, southern central Mexico, Central America, Mexican Pacific coast, central and southern Andes, northwestern Mexico/extreme southwestern USA, southwestern Bolivia, northeastern Brazil, and Mexico/Baja California.

CONCLUSIONS

The bioregionalization proposed shows biogeographic boundaries specific to cacti and can thereby aid further evolutionary, biogeographic, and ecological studies by providing a validated framework for further analyses. This classification builds upon, and is distinctive from, other expert-derived regionalization schemes for other taxa. Our results showcase how observation data, including citizen-science records, can complement traditional specimen-based data for biogeographic research, particularly for taxa with specific specimen collection and preservation challenges and those that are threatened or internationally protected.

Amazon tree dominance across forest strata

The forests of Amazonia are among the most biodiverse plant communities on Earth. Given the immediate threats posed by climate and land-use change, an improved understanding of how this extraordinary biodiversity is spatially organized is urgently required to develop effective conservation strategies. Most Amazonian tree species are extremely rare but a few are common across the region. Indeed, just 227 'hyperdominant' species account for >50% of all individuals >10 cm diameter at 1.3 m in height. Yet, the degree to which the phenomenon of hyperdominance is sensitive to tree size, the extent to which the composition of dominant species changes with size class and how evolutionary history constrains tree hyperdominance, all remain unknown. Here, we use a large floristic dataset to show that, while hyperdominance is a universal phenomenon across forest strata, different species dominate the forest understory, midstory and canopy. We further find that, although species belonging to a range of phylogenetically dispersed lineages have become hyperdominant in small size classes, hyperdominants in large size classes are restricted to a few lineages. Our results demonstrate that it is essential to consider all forest strata to understand regional patterns of dominance and composition in Amazonia. More generally, through the lens of 654 hyperdominant species, we outline a tractable pathway for understanding the functioning of half of Amazonian forests across vertical strata and geographical locations.

Toll-like receptor 5 knock-out mice exhibit a specific low level of anxiety

While toll-like receptors (TLRs), which mediate innate immunity, are known to play an important role in host defense, recent work suggest their involvement in some integrated behaviors, including anxiety, depressive and cognitive functions. Here, we investigated the potential involvement of the flagellin receptor, TLR5, in anxiety, depression and cognitive behaviors using male TLR5 knock-out (KO) mice. We aobserved a specific low level of basal anxiety in TLR5 KO mice with an alteration of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis (HPA) response to acute restraint stress, illustrated by a decrease of both plasma corticosterone level and c-fos expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus where TLR5 was expressed, compared to WT littermates. However, depression and cognitive-related behaviors were not different between TLR5 KO and WT mice. Nor there were significant changes in the expression of some cytokines (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α) and other TLRs (TLR2, TLR3 and TLR4) in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus of TLR5 KO mice compared to WT mice. Moreover, mRNA expression of BDNF and glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus and amygdala, respectively, was not different. Finally, acute intracerebroventricular administration of flagellin, a specific TLR5 agonist, or chronic neomycin treatment did not exhibit a significant main effect, only a significant main effect of genotype was observed between TLR5 KO and WT mice. Together, those findings suggest a previously undescribed and specific role of TLR5 in anxiety and open original prospects in our understanding of the brain-gut axis function.

Climbing plants from Seridó Ecological Station: diversity, interactive key and five new records from Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil

Abstract In Brazil, Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTFs) are represented by Caatinga, which exhibits one of the greatest species richness and endemisms among the Neotropical SDTFs. However, studies of the flora of this biome remain deficient, especially in scientifically neglected areas, such as the Seridó region. Located between the states of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) and Paraíba, the Seridó region has an underestimated floristic diversity, especially for non-arboreal components such as climbers. Given this scenario, the study aimed to survey the climbers of the Seridó Ecological Station, a federal conservation unit located in the RN state, as well as to provide a multiple access online identification key. Collections were carried out from 2018 to 2019, as well as consultation of material deposited at the UFRN herbarium. In total, 56 species were listed, being 33 herbaceous and 23 woody climbers, respectively, adding 14 species of climbers to the previous checklist of the unit. Five new occurrences were found for the state of Rio Grande do Norte: Cuscuta globosa, Cuscuta partita (Convolvulaceae), Macroptilium bracteatum (Fabaceae), Heteropterys trichanthera and Tetrapterys longibracteata (Malpighiaceae), being the latest a new occurrence of the genus Tetrapterys for the state. Convolvulaceae is the most representative family (18 spp.), followed by Fabaceae (10 spp.), Apocynaceae (eight spp.) and Cucurbitaceae (five spp.). This is the first study that provides an interactive identification key for the Seridó region and for the RN state. The interactive identification key is published throughout the Xper³ platform, and can be accessed at <xper3.fr/xper3GeneratedFiles/publish/identification/-4505993480748774750/mkey.html>.

An overview of the Sixth International Conference on the Comparative Biology of Monocotyledons - Monocots VI - Natal, Brazil, 2018

Abstract In this paper we present an overview of the abstracts, scientific and social programs, field trips, and achievements in terms of participant number, represented countries, sponsorships, and themes treated during the Sixth International Conference on the Comparative Biology of Monocotyledons that took place in Natal, Brazil, October 7th -12th 2018. Some comments received by the organizers and a few suggestions for organizers of the next meeting, in Costa Rica, are also provided. The conference’s complete abstract book was published and provide additional information.

No one-size-fits-all solution to clean GBIF

Species occurrence records provide the basis for many biodiversity studies. They derive from georeferenced specimens deposited in natural history collections and visual observations, such as those obtained through various mobile applications. Given the rapid increase in availability of such data, the control of quality and accuracy constitutes a particular concern. Automatic filtering is a scalable and reproducible means to identify potentially problematic records and tailor datasets from public databases such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF; http://www.gbif.org), for biodiversity analyses. However, it is unclear how much data may be lost by filtering, whether the same filters should be applied across all taxonomic groups, and what the effect of filtering is on common downstream analyses. Here, we evaluate the effect of 13 recently proposed filters on the inference of species richness patterns and automated conservation assessments for 18 Neotropical taxa, including terrestrial and marine animals, fungi, and plants downloaded from GBIF. We find that a total of 44.3% of the records are potentially problematic, with large variation across taxonomic groups (25–90%). A small fraction of records was identified as erroneous in the strict sense (4.2%), and a much larger proportion as unfit for most downstream analyses (41.7%). Filters of duplicated information, collection year, and basis of record, as well as coordinates in urban areas, or for terrestrial taxa in the sea or marine taxa on land, have the greatest effect. Automated filtering can help in identifying problematic records, but requires customization of which tests and thresholds should be applied to the taxonomic group and geographic area under focus. Our results stress the importance of thorough recording and exploration of the meta-data associated with species records for biodiversity research.

Biased-corrected richness estimates for the Amazonian tree flora

Amazonian forests are extraordinarily diverse, but the estimated species richness is very much debated. Here, we apply an ensemble of parametric estimators and a novel technique that includes conspecific spatial aggregation to an extended database of forest plots with up-to-date taxonomy. We show that the species abundance distribution of Amazonia is best approximated by a logseries with aggregated individuals, where aggregation increases with rarity. By averaging several methods to estimate total richness, we confirm that over 15,000 tree species are expected to occur in Amazonia. We also show that using ten times the number of plots would result in an increase to just ~50% of those 15,000 estimated species. To get a more complete sample of all tree species, rigorous field campaigns may be needed but the number of trees in Amazonia will remain an estimate for years to come.

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such “monodominant” forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors.

Flora das cangas da Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brasil: Humiriaceae

Resumo Este estudo apresenta uma descrição detalhada, ilustração e comentários morfológicos de Sacoglottis guianensis e Sacoglottis mattogrossensis, as únicas espécies de Humiriaceae registradas para as cangas da Serra dos Carajás, no estado do Pará. Sacoglottis guianensis é uma espécie de ampla distribuição na América do Sul. Por outro lado, S. mattogrossensis ocorre ao sul da Amazônia e na Mata Atlântica, estendendo-se até São Paulo. Em Carajás, ambas espécies ocorrem nas cangas e nas matas baixas na transição da canga aberta para a Floresta Ombrófila.

Species Distribution Modelling: Contrasting presence-only models with plot abundance data

Species distribution models (SDMs) are widely used in ecology and conservation. Presence-only SDMs such as MaxEnt frequently use natural history collections (NHCs) as occurrence data, given their huge numbers and accessibility. NHCs are often spatially biased which may generate inaccuracies in SDMs. Here, we test how the distribution of NHCs and MaxEnt predictions relates to a spatial abundance model, based on a large plot dataset for Amazonian tree species, using inverse distance weighting (IDW). We also propose a new pipeline to deal with inconsistencies in NHCs and to limit the area of occupancy of the species. We found a significant but weak positive relationship between the distribution of NHCs and IDW for 66% of the species. The relationship between SDMs and IDW was also significant but weakly positive for 95% of the species, and sensitivity for both analyses was high. Furthermore, the pipeline removed half of the NHCs records. Presence-only SDM applications should consider this limitation, especially for large biodiversity assessments projects, when they are automatically generated without subsequent checking. Our pipeline provides a conservative estimate of a species’ area of occupancy, within an area slightly larger than its extent of occurrence, compatible to e.g. IUCN red list assessments.

Atomic force microscopy and graph analysis to study the P-cadherin/SFK mechanotransduction signalling in breast cancer cells

Physical forces mediated by cell-cell adhesion molecules, as cadherins, play a crucial role in preserving normal tissue architecture. Accordingly, altered cadherins' expression has been documented as a common event during cancer progression. However, in most studies, no data exist linking pro-tumorigenic signaling and variations in the mechanical balance mediated by adhesive forces. In breast cancer, P-cadherin overexpression increases in vivo tumorigenic ability, as well as in vitro cell invasion, by activating Src family kinase (SFK) signalling. However, it is not known how P-cadherin and SFK activation impact cell-cell biomechanical properties. In the present work, using atomic force microscopy (AFM) images, cell stiffness and cell-cell adhesion measurements, and undirected graph analysis based on microscopic images, we have demonstrated that P-cadherin overexpression promotes significant alterations in cell's morphology, by decreasing cellular height and increasing its area. It also affects biomechanical properties, by decreasing cell-cell adhesion and cell stiffness. Furthermore, cellular network analysis showed alterations in intercellular organization, which is associated with cell-cell adhesion dysfunction, destabilization of an E-cadherin/p120ctn membrane complex and increased cell invasion. Remarkably, inhibition of SFK signaling, using dasatinib, reverted the pathogenic P-cadherin induced effects by increasing cell's height, cell-cell adhesion and cell stiffness, and generating more compact epithelial aggregates, as quantified by intercellular network analysis. In conclusion, P-cadherin/SFK signalling induces topological, morphological and biomechanical cell-cell alterations, which are associated with more invasive breast cancer cells. These effects could be further reverted by dasatinib treatment, demonstrating the applicability of AFM and cell network diagrams for measuring the epithelial biomechanical properties and structural organization.

Colonic overexpression of the T-type calcium channel Cav 3.2 in a mouse model of visceral hypersensitivity and in irritable bowel syndrome patients

BACKGROUND

Among the different mechanisms involved in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) physiopathology, visceral hypersensitivity seems to play a key role. It involves sensitization of the colonic primary afferent fibers, especially through an overexpression of ion channels. The aims of this translational study were to investigate the colonic expression of Ca_v 3.2 calcium channels and their involvement in an animal model of colonic hypersensitivity, and to assess their expression in the colonic mucosa of symptomatic IBS patients.

METHODS

This bench-to-bed study combined a preclinical experimental study on mice and a case-control clinical study. Preclinical studies were performed on wild-type and Ca_v 3.2-KO mice. Colonic sensitivity and Ca_v 3.2 expression were studied after a low-dose treatment of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS 0.5%). Regarding the clinical study, colonic biopsies were performed in 14 IBS patients and 16 controls during a colonoscopy to analyze the mucosal Ca_v 3.2 expression.

KEY RESULTS

Wild-type, but not Ca_v 3.2-KO, mice developed visceral hypersensitivity without colonic inflammation, after 0.5% DSS treatment. A significant increase of Ca_v 3.2 mRNA (p = 0.04) was found in the colon of low-dose DSS-treated wild-type (WT) mice compared to their controls. In human colonic biopsies, the Ca_v 3.2 mRNA level was significantly higher in the IBS group compared to the control group (p = 0.01). The immunofluorescence staining revealed their protein expression in colonic mucosa, particularly in nerve fibers.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

This translational study supports the involvement of the calcium channels Ca_v 3.2 in abdominal pain, as observed in IBS patients. It opens new therapeutic perspectives based on molecules specifically blocking these channels.

A Quality by design (QbD) approach on starch-based nanocapsules: A promising platform for topical drug delivery

Exploring novel applications for approved excipients with a history of safe use in therapeutics is a smart strategy to obtain improved pharmaceutical products. The present study aimed at developing a novel starch-based nanoparticulate carrier system (StNC) for topical delivery of lipophilic bioactive molecules. The role of the different factors that affect the particle size distribution and zeta potential of StNC prepared by the emulsification-solvent evaporation method was assessed using a quality by design approach. An optimal formulation was selected and fully characterized in terms of molecular interactions (DSC and FTIR), morphology (TEM and AFM), as well as in vitro and in vivo biological properties, including biological sensitivity/irritation studies performed in human volunteers. Results show the surfactant and lipid contents play a major role in StNC particle size distribution. In addition, all tested formulations presented a zeta potential of ca. +33.6±6.7 mV, indicating a good physical stability, while revealing an excellent compromise between stability, safety and cosmeticity, evidencing that StNC are suitable nanocarriers for topical use. Finally, the design planning methodology has clearly shown its usefulness for optimizing the formulation, being also crucial for the understanding of StNC formation process. The StNC proved to be a promising formulation strategy and a potential nanocarrier for topical lipophilic bioactive molecules.

Anti-nociceptive effect of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in non-inflammatory IBS-like models

Visceral pain and intestinal dysbiosis are associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a common functional gastrointestinal disorder without available efficient therapies. In this study, a decrease of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii presence has been observed in an IBS-like rodent model induced by a neonatal maternal separation (NMS) stress. Moreover, it was investigated whether F. prausnitzii may have an impact on colonic sensitivity. The A2-165 reference strain, but not its supernatant, significantly decreased colonic hypersensitivity induced by either NMS in mice or partial restraint stress in rats. This effect was associated with a reinforcement of intestinal epithelial barrier. Thus, F. prausnitzii exhibits anti-nociceptive properties, indicating its potential to treat abdominal pain in IBS patients.

Estimating the global conservation status of more than 15,000 Amazonian tree species

Estimates of extinction risk for Amazonian plant and animal species are rare and not often incorporated into land-use policy and conservation planning. We overlay spatial distribution models with historical and projected deforestation to show that at least 36% and up to 57% of all Amazonian tree species are likely to qualify as globally threatened under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria. If confirmed, these results would increase the number of threatened plant species on Earth by 22%. We show that the trends observed in Amazonia apply to trees throughout the tropics, and we predict that most of the world's >40,000 tropical tree species now qualify as globally threatened. A gap analysis suggests that existing Amazonian protected areas and indigenous territories will protect viable populations of most threatened species if these areas suffer no further degradation, highlighting the key roles that protected areas, indigenous peoples, and improved governance can play in preventing large-scale extinctions in the tropics in this century.

Correct names for some of the closest relatives of Carica papaya: A review of the Mexican/Guatemalan genera Jarilla and Horovitzia

Using molecular data, we recently showed that Carica papaya L. is sister to a Mexican/Guatemalan clade of two genera, Jarilla Rusby with three species and Horovitzia V.M. Badillo with one. These species are herbs or thin-stemmed trees and may be of interest for future genomics-enabled papaya breeding. Here we clarify the correct names of Jarilla heterophylla (Cerv. ex La Llave) Rusby and Jarilla caudata (Brandegee) Standl., which were confused in a recent systematic treatment of Jarilla (McVaugh 2001). We designate epitypes for both, provide weblinks to type specimens, a key to the species of Jarilla and Horovitzia, and notes on their habitats and distribution.

Visual Attention in Children With Migraine: A Controlled Comparative Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the visual attention of children with migraine and compare it with a control group. Thirty migrainous children and 30 controls without headache were subjected to a visual attention assessment with Trail Making Tests (TMT) A/B, Letter Cancellation Test, and the Brazilian computerized test Visual Attention Test, third edition. The migraine group was evaluated after 2 days without headache. The migraine group had an inferior performance compared with the control group on TMT A ( P = 0.03) and B ( P = 0.001), and more errors on tasks 1 ( P = 0.032) and 2 ( P = 0.015) of the Visual Attention Test, presenting difficulty with selective and alternate attention. Attention is a neurological function that depends on structures such as the brainstem, cerebral cortex and the limbic system and on neurotransmitters such as dopamine and noradrenaline. The neurochemical aspects involved in the physiopathology of migraine and attention mechanisms probably predispose these children to visual attention deficits.

The relation between the erythrocyte nitric oxide and hemorheological parameters

We stimulated human erythrocytes obtained from patients with hypercholesterolemia (HC; n = 42), renal transplantation (RT; n = 18) and hypertension (HT; n = 10) with acetylcholine (ACh 10 microM) and measured the amperometric NO production, comparing with the NO levels achieved on erythrocytes of healthy persons (n = 27). We also measured the hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte aggregation, erythrocyte deformability, plasma viscosity and fibrinogen concentration from human blood samples. The erythrocytes NO levels were of 2.5 +/- 0.7 nM (P = 0.038, HC), 2.4 +/- 1.1 nM (RT) and 2.2 +/- 0.8 nM (HT) against the 2.0 +/- 0.8 nM for the control groups. For each group and at each shear stress value, the erythrocytes deformability decreases with the increase of the NO concentration after ACh stimulation. We observed a significant increase of the control values on the erythrocyte aggregation results on each patient group. Besides the lower erythrocyte deformability obtained on HC, RT and HT blood samples, the erythrocytes produced higher NO levels after ACh stimulation than the healthy ones. The power of erythrocyte hemorheological behaviour could be compensated by the NO production at the presence of acetylcholine. We can hypothesises that cholinergic drugs could be used as co-adjuvants of specific therapeutics compounds on these studied diseases.

High risk for obstructive sleep apnea in truck drivers estimated by the Berlin questionnaire: prevalence and associated factors

The health issues that attract our attention when analyzing the truck driver population are the high prevalence of sedentary habits, inadequate diet, obesity, and proportion of hypertensive. All these are either considered risk factors for or a consequence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The objective of this study was to investigate the risk for OSA among 10,101 truck drivers and to correlate it with potentially related factors, such as serum glucose and cholesterol levels, smoking habits, alcohol and drug consumption, and self-reported physical activity. The drivers were invited to participate in the campaign "Saúde na Boléia" (Health Behind the Wheel) promoted by a Brazilian company responsible for the maintenance of approximately 360km of roads in the country. Drivers who spontaneously stopped at the campaign booths placed along the roads were invited to answer a questionnaire covering sociodemographic data such as age, alcohol, and drug consumption. All participants completed a Berlin Questionnaire and were classified as low- or high-risk subjects for OSA based on questions about snoring, tiredness during the day, and the presence of hypertension or obesity. Blood collection was accomplished at the same site by nurses and/or nursing students collaborating with the campaign for subsequent laboratory studies. Approximately 26% of the truck drivers were found to be at high-risk group for OSA. An adjusted multiple logistic model found the independent risk factors of smoking (OR=1.16; p=0.014) and drug use (OR= 1.32; p < 0.0001) were associated with high risk for OSA. The presence of self-reported occasional (OR=0.62; p<0.0001) and regular (OR=0.53; p < 0.0001) physical activity was found to be an independent factor protective of OSA. Educational programs, including ones aimed at improving one's health habits, such as engagement in physical exercise, should be considered in the development of initiatives to reduce the risk for OSA among the truck driver population.

Combined interleukin-12 and topical chemotherapy for established Leishmaniasis drastically reduces tissue parasitism and relapses in susceptible mice

The efficacy of the association of paromomycin sulfate (PA) with recombinant (r) interleukin (IL)-12 was investigated by topical treatment of BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major that displayed fully developed cutaneous lesions. Although healing was observed in PA-treated groups, lesions recurred in 100% of these animals 70 days after treatment. In contrast, lesions were absent in a high proportion of PA- and rIL-12-treated mice 120 days after treatment. The PA/rIL-12-treated mice had a switch in cytokine response, from high IL-4 and low interferon (IFN)-gamma levels to low IL-4 and high IFN-gamma levels, and reductions in parasite load, dissemination of parasites, and inflammation. Thus, the association of rIL-12 to topical chemotherapy for leishmaniasis may be an important strategy for increasing cure rates and decreasing the incidence of relapse.

[Intestinal entomothoramycosis: report of a case]

A case of intestinal entomophthoramycosis caused by Entomophthorales in a man with 19 years-old, farmer and without associated disease. The patient was submitted to a intestinal resection and diagnosis was carried through after analysis of the surgical specimen. After a review of the literature, the clinical evolution, clinico-pathologic features, difficulties in diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

Breed affects thermoregulation and epithelial morphology in imported and native cattle subjected to heat stress

The objective of this study conducted in tropical Brazil was to characterize some physiological responses to heat stress in imported Bos taurus, native Bos taurus, and native Bos indicus cattle. Imported Simmental (n = 107) native Simmental (n = 99), and native Bos indicus cattle (n = 121) (42 to 80 mo of age) were evaluated. Animals were walked 7 km at 37 degrees C and 60 to 65% relative humidity during midday. Rectal temperatures and respiration rates were taken before and after the walk. A .01-cm2 sample of cutaneous tissue from the lateral cervical region was obtained from each animal. Slices were stained with hematoxylin-eosin solution, and the epithelial strata were counted. Perimeter of the sweat glands was also calculated. Rectal temperatures before the walk were greater (P < .001) in imported Simmental (40.52 +/- .04 degrees C) than in native Simmental (38.92 +/- .04 degrees C) or Bos indicus (38.90 +/- .04 degrees C). Rectal temperatures after the walk were greater (P < .001) in native Simmental (39.87 +/- .05 degrees C) than in Bos indicus (39.46 +/- .05 degrees C). Because of the heat, imported Simmental were not capable of finishing the drive, and rectal temperatures could not be taken. Respiration rates before and after the walk were greater (P < .001) in imported Simmental (64.3 +/- .6; 95.8 +/- .8) than in native Simmental (35.0 +/- .6; 56.8 +/- .8) or Bos indicus (15.0 +/- .2; 33.2 +/- .8). Sweat gland perimeter was greater (P < .001) in Bos indicus (540.5 +/- 19.1 mm) than in native Simmental (382.0 +/- 27.6 micrograms) or imported Simmental 497.2 +/- 17.4 micrograms). Native Bos indicus were environmentally adapted, native Simmental had elevated body temperatures and respiration rates, and imported Simmental had dramatically increased body temperatures and respiration rates. Native Bos indicus cattle were environmentally adapted and differed in skin histology, sweat gland histometry, and number of epithelial strata.