Species composition and diversity of woody communities along an elevational gradient in tropical Dwarf Cloud Forest

Elucidating woody community diversity and structure change along environmental gradients is still a central issue of tropical forest ecology. We have evaluated changes in alpha and beta diversity, community composition and structure of woody communities along an elevational gradient in Dwarf Cloud Forests, Southeast Brazil. We selected five areas along an elevational gradient(1,300-1,600 m asl), and randomly allocated 10 plots(10 m × 20 m) in each area in the Ibitipoca State Park(ISP), Serra da Mantiqueira, southeastern Brazil. All woody species(diameter at breast height ≥ 5.0 cm) were collected for taxonomic identification. Thus, we analysed the woody communities based on a phytosociological approach. Overall, 147 species and 37 families were recorded, distributed in 2,303 individuals. No differences in the species richness pattern were observed between areas using the rarefaction and extrapolation curves. Significant differences in species composition and structure between areas were observed. The high beta diversity observed, corroborated by the Jaccard coefficient, increases with decreasing altitude. Our results showed that woody communities in the studied Dwarf Cloud Forests have a higher diversity and structural variability along elevational gradient.

Diagnosis and management of small bowel neuroendocrine tumors:A state-of-the-art

This review provides an update on the epidemiology,pathophysiology,symptoms,diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine neoplasms(NENs)of the small bowel(SB).These NENs are defined as a group of neoplasms deriving from neuroendocrine cells.NENs are currently the most common primary tumors of the SB,mainly involving the ileum,making the SB the most frequently affected part of the gastrointestinal tract.SB NENs by definition are located between the ligament of Treitz and the ileocecal valve.They are characterized by small size and induce an extensive fibrotic reaction in the small intestine including the mesentery,resulting in narrowing or twisting of the intestine.Clinical manifestations of bowel functionality are related to the precise location of the primary tumor.The majority of them are non-functional NENs and generally asymptomatic;in an advanced stage,NENs present symptoms of mass effect by non-specific abdominal pain or carcinoid syndrome which appears in patients with liver metastasis(around 10%).The main manifestations of the carcinoid syndrome are facial flushing(94%),diarrhea(78%),abdominal cramps(50%),heart valve disease(50%),telangiectasia(25%),wheezing(15%)and edema(19%).Diagnosis is made by imaging or biochemical tests,and the order of request will depend on the initial diagnostic hypothesis,while confirmation will always be histological.All patients with a localized SB NEN with or without near metastasis in the mesentery are recommended for curative resection.Locoregional and distant spread may be susceptible to several therapeutic strategies,such as chemotherapy,somatostatin analogs and palliative resection.

Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrogels Based on Potato Starch/Poly(vinyl Alcohol)/N,N′-Methylenebisacrylamide

Several hydrogels were synthesized by free-radical polymerization in an aqueous medium based on potato starch(PS),poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA),and N,N′-Methylenebisacrylamide(MBAm),being possible to study these hydrogels as a function of the proportion of components incorporated.In this way,the products generated from the synthesis were characterized by swelling and deswelling kinetics,the first swelling being verified with Schott and statistical models,allowing to contrast the proximity between the experimental and theoretical behavior.Additionally,water retention in soil(R%),spectroscopy(FTIR),morphological(SEM),and thermal(TGA and DSC)analysis allowing to know the intrinsic characteristics of the material,increasing in general terms the knowledge of this type of material.In this context,it was possible to verify the characteristics and effectiveness of the synthesis and crosslinking of the main components.The experimental results obtained show that the synthesized hydrogels present representative swellings consistent with kinetic and statistical models,optimal thermal stability depending on the amount of crosslinker,and excellent water retention in environments such as soil,presenting it as an excellent alternative to be used in agro-industrial applications in an eco-friendly way.

Oxfendazole as successful treatment of Taenia hydatigena metacestodes in naturally infected pigs

The efficacy of oxfendazole(OFZ) on Taenia hydatigena metacestodes, also called Cysticercus tenuicollis(C. tenuicollis), was studied in 648 raising pigs. This study was performed in Tumbes Department in Peru, an endemic area for cysticercosis. Pigs were randomized in two groups; untreated group(n = 142) did not receive any treatment and treated group(n = 506) received OFZ treatment at a single dose of 30 mg/kg body weight.Six months after treatment, the pigs were necropsied. The prevalence of infection by C. tenuicollis among the pigs was 27.5%(39/142) and 2.0%(10/506) in untreated and treated groups, respectively. Untreated group was infested only with viable cysts, whereas treated group had no viable cysts. All the cysts found in treated group presented degeneration, with a thick membrane, and they contained milky fluid and fibrous tissue. A single dose of OFZ was effective against C. tenuicollis, thus providing an alternative drug for controlling this parasite in pigs.

Chemical Solution Deposition of YBa2Cu3O7 Films on YSZ （100） Substrates

We report the epitaxial growth of YBCO （YBa2Cu3O7） films on YSZ （Yttria-stabilized Zirconia） （100） substrates by chemical solution deposition. The precursor solution was prepared by dissolving stoichiometric amounts of acetates of Y（OOCCH3）3·4H2O, Ba（OOCCH3）2 and Cu（OOCCH3）·2H2O in an aqueous solution of oxalic acid （H2C2O4） and following the sol-gel route. This solution was directly dripped onto YSZ （100） substrates with the help of a Fisher pipette. To form the YBCO film, the sample was crystallized by annealing at 860 ℃ for 12 h in an oxidizing atmosphere. The characterization was performed by XRD （X-ray diffraction） analysis which revealed high intensity （001） reflections and denoted that most of the grains were c-axis oriented. Randomly oriented grains and other phases such as Y2BaCuO5 and CuO were also detected. The superconducting YBCO phase is demonstrated from the susceptibility versus temperature measurements which indicate a superconducting critical temperature ≈ 90 K. In addition, a surface morphology analysis was performed by optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy which revealed an average roughness of 0.2197 μm.

A Novel Urine Method for the Diagnosis of Active Tuberculosis by Immunoassay for the Detection of ESAT-6 Using Hydrogel Nanoparticles in HIV Patients

Background: In patients with HIV, conventional tests are of low sensitivity;therefore, a new diagnostic test with hydrogel nanoparticles with reactive blue dye is proposed, which allows the capture, conservation and concentration of ESAT-6 in urine. NIPAs are copolymers that capture low molecular weight proteins and protect against enzymatic degradation. Using an immunoassay, it is possible to detect and quantify ESAT-6 present in urine as a possible marker of active TB. Design/Methods: Study in Lima, Peru, HIV+ participants, ≥18 years with and without tuberculosis (TB). Smear microscopy, culture in solid medium and urine immunoassay were performed. The reference was the diagnosis of TB by radiological or clinical microbiological criteria (indication for TB treatment). There were 2 preanalytical processes: untreated and treated urine (centrifuged, heated), then incubation with NIPAm. After washing, elution, sonication, heat and centrifugation, the final eluate was obtained. This was placed on nitrocellulose membranes, which by means of fixation and incubation processes with anti-ESAT-6 and anti-IgG antibodies, revelation with C-DiGit® Blot Scanner and FluorChem R FR0001. Calibration curves were included in the membranes, density was measured using Image J software. ROC curves, sensitivity and specificity were obtained. Results: The result by groups was HIV+ patient: ROC: 0.75, cut-off point ≥24.06 ng/ml, sensitivity 76.32%, specificity 68.89%, patients ≤200 cells CD4 mm3/ml, ROC: 0.78, cutoff point ≥26.20 ng/ml, sensitivity 75.86%, specificity 71.88%, patients >200 CD4 mm3 cells/ml, ROC: 0.73, cutoff point ≥24.6 CD4 mm3/ml, sensitivity 73.68%, specificity 73.68%. Conclusions: The ESAT-6 detection assay using NIPAm was effective, with higher rates in patients with ≤200 CD4 cells/mm3, the test being more sensitive than smear and culture, but less specific.

The role of microglia in depression

According to studies,neuroinflammation is increasingly being linked to the development of major depressive disorder(MDD).In response to inflammatory stimuli,brain microglia,which are immune cells,can change into reactive states.Because of this,microglia play an essentiall role in the early stages of neuroinflammation.Experiments have shown that microglia are able to detect infected or damaged cells,which then activates a cytotoxic response that further exacerbates the harm to brain cells.It has been proven that microglia are quite good at recognizing infections and damaged cells.Microglia,on the other hand,have been found to respond in a number of ways to injury and may even help regenerate damaged tissues.Chronic activation of microglia has been observed in persons with MDD.Deficits in neuroplasticity have been linked to depression,and recent studies show that this may be related to changes in microglia shape and function brought on by either excessive inflammatory activity or the natural aging process.Changing the phenotype of microglia by regulation of inflammatory pathways may be necessary for harnessing neuroinflammation in MDD.Recent research has linked several microglial phenotypes to individual metabolic pathways,showing that energy metabolism plays a pivotal role in coordinating microglial activity.In this study,we investigate whether or not traditional pro-inflammatory,anti-inflammatory,and metabolic pathways in microglia can be used as novel therapeutic routes for regulating neuroinflammation in brain diseases.The focus of this essay is on MDD,although we will also discuss related mental health issues.

Collaterals of Life: Fistulous Communication of Vieussens’ Arterial Ring

The Vieussens’ arterial ring (VAR) is a rare coronary anomaly that may be associated with a pulmonary fistula, and has been linked to ischemia, myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden death. We present the case of a 54-year-old man who was admitted to the emergency room with angina and dyspnea on moderate exertion, in the context of atrial fibrillation and decompensated heart failure with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. In the study of its etiology, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) identified an anomalous conal artery outflow (type C) as part of the VAR and a fistula to the pulmonary artery trunk (variant 1b), with an arterial flow linking the conal artery and the middle third of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), which then fistulized to the pulmonary artery trunk. The hemodynamic and clinical repercussions presented with signs of ischemia in the LAD territory and acute heart failure. In this case, CCTA identified the coronary anomaly and its trajectory with great precision through volume rendering reconstruction, as well as the dynamics of coronary flow in the presence of the pulmonary fistula. This anatomical variant is rarely described, and CCTA is of great utility in the therapeutic decision for fistula closure.

Microbiota and depression an update

The highest rates of morbidity and impairment related to gastrointestinal difficulties are associated with depression,which is associated with the highest rates of all mental disorders.It has been demonstrated that the composition of an individual's gut microbiome plays a significant part in determining that person's risk of developing depression.According to the hypothesis known as the gut-brain axis,there may be a connection between the intestinal microbial system and the brain.In recent years,it has been common practice to treat disorders by concentrating on the bacteria that are found in the digestive tract(for instance,by making use of probiotics)and incorporating the gut-brain axis mechanism.Our research revealed a remarkable association between the composition of the bacteria in the stomach and the incidence of depression.Alterations in the structure of the microbiota system in the gut could possibly have direct and special impacts on the rise in the prevalence of depression.This study investigated the mechanisms underlying the two-way communication in the gut-brain axis,including the current techniques of relieving symptoms and antidepressant medicines that are related to gut microbiota.An increase in the amount of research into the medical potential of probiotics has led to a rapid expansion of the field of probiotics over the past few decades.Numerous preclinical and clinical studies have established that the therapeutic effects of probiotics-mediated microbiota remodeling near the microbiota-gut-brain axis(MGBA)are present.These studies were conducted near one another.However,the potential effects of probiotics on numerous mental illnesses,which have been proved in vivo and in vitro research,have set the ground for the translation of preclinical models to humans,which is still in its infancy.

Chronic hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients:Prevalence and liver fibrosis impact in the National Center for Renal Health in Peru

Background:Hepatitis C(HCV)remains a serious public health problem in high-risk persons such as patients on chronic hemodialysis.We aimed to estimate the serological prevalence of HCV,the HCV viral load and genotype,and liver fibrosis stage among patients on chronic hemodialysis at the National Renal Health Center in Lima,Peru.Methods:From June 2019 to March 2021,all patients who received chronic hemodialysis were invited to participate.Subjects who provided written informed consent were enrolled.Patients with HCV-positive serology underwent determination of HCV viral load.Samples from subjects with detectable viral load,underwent determination of HCV genotype.Then,HCV infected subjects underwent determination of liver fibrosis using transitional elastography(Fibroscan 402):Metavir score:F0-F1:2.5-7.5 kPa,F2:7.6-9.5 Kpa,F3:9.6-12 Kpa,F4(Cirrhosis):12.1-75 Kpa.Results:Of the 303 subjects invited to participate,174(57.4%)subjects gave their written consent.Mean age was 52 years(range 22-91)and 116(66.6%)were male.HCV serology was positive in 35.1%of patients(61/174);however,the prevalence of positive serology with detectable viral load was 20.11%(35/174).Genotype 1a was the most prevalent(85%).The majority(83.6%)of subjects with detectable viral load had values lower than 800.000 IU/mL.Twenty-nine of those 35 subjects underwent elastography evaluation,and 13(44.8%)of them were found to have stage F2-F4 fibrosis.Conclusions:The prevalence of HCV at the largest reference center for hemodialysis in Lima remains high,with GT1a predominance,viral load usually below 800,000 IU/mL and significant liver fibrosis.