Federal University of Amazonas

Twenty-six species are currently assigned to the genus Pseudopaludicola. One of the most conspicuous lineages within this genus corresponds to the long-legged Pseudopaludicola saltica species group, where the three species, Pseudopaludicola jaredi, Pseudopaludicola murundu, and P. saltica, have tibiotarsal articulation extending beyond the tip of the snout. Here, we describe a fourth species belonging to the P. saltica group based on morphologic, molecular, and acoustic evidence. The new species can be distinguished from the other species assigned to the P. saltica group by a yellowish vocal sac in life (grayish vocal sac in P. jaredi and P. murundu and whitish vocal sac in P. saltica). The new species also emits a unique advertisement call compared to other species of the P. saltica group, resembling the rhythm of a galloping horse. This pattern, however, is remarkably similar to that of the distantly related Pseudopaludicola pocoto, suggesting independent evolution in these two species. The new species is described from a single locality in western Tocantins state, Marianópolis municipality (Brazil), in the Araguaia River floodplain. The new taxon described here is the sixth species of Pseudopaludicola known from the Tocantins.

Background The acronym STORCH encompasses gestational infections that can lead to congenital syndromes or adverse neurological outcomes in children. In Brazil and worldwide, there has been an alarming increase in confirmed cases of STORCH in recent years. However, no study has examined the impact of STORCH on infants’ neurodevelopmental outcomes in a large, multi-center cohort, recruiting a substantial number of participants, with analysis across a broad set of variables and ages and based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model. Objective To examine the association between the exposure to classic STORCH (syphilis, toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus infection, and herpes simplex) on components of functioning in infants from 3 to 24 months old in Brazil. Methods We propose a multi-center prospective cohort study that includes data collection in at least one city from each geographical region of Brazil. A proposed total sample size of 296 infants will be included at 3 months (12–15 weeks post term). They will be equitably divided into: (a) an exposed group (n = 148), consisting of those diagnosed with any congenital STORCH infection or whose mothers experienced prenatal STORCH infection; (b) an unexposed group (n = 148). Assessments are carried out longitudinally at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. Assessment tools include Prechtl’s General Movements Assessment, Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination, Alberta Infant Motor Scale; Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development; Survey of Well-being of Young Children; Autism Observational Scale for Infants; Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers; Child Behavior Checklist; and Young Children’s Participation and Environment Measure. Descriptive analyses, including the calculation of relative risk, and logistic regressions will be conducted to examine the association between gestational exposure to STORCH agents and infants’ responses/outcomes. Discussion The STORCH Brazil study will investigate the impact of STORCH exposure on functioning, including neurodevelopmental trajectories, in infants during their first two years, aligning with the ICF framework. This will enhance understanding of the characteristics and needs of STORCH-exposed infants, aiding therapists in making informed clinical decisions. The results might support public policies tailored to this population. Findings will be disseminated to ensure knowledge translation. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

Objetivo: descrever a percepção de puérperas assistidas por enfermeiros obstetras em Centro de Parto Normal Intra-hospitalar da cidade de Manaus – AM. Método: estudo qualitativo, realizado com 15 puérperas cujo parto foi assistido por enfermeiros obstetras em um Centro de Parto Normal Intra-hospitalar. A coleta de dados ocorreu através de entrevistas semiestruturadas, guiadas por um roteiro e submetidas à análise de conteúdo temática de Minayo. Resultados: os depoimentos das puérperas destacaram a importância da atenção, apoio e confiança transmitidos pelas enfermeiras obstetras durante a assistência, contribuindo para uma percepção positiva e uma experiência satisfatória de parto. Considerações finais: as puérperas reconheceram a abordagem holística das enfermeiras obstetras, que atenderam suas necessidades físicas, emocionais e psicossociais durante o parto. O estudo sublinha a necessidade de valorizar o cuidado humanizado e estratégias de conforto na assistência materno-infantil, recomendando o aprimoramento de políticas que fortaleçam o papel das enfermeiras obstetras.

Este artigo buscou mapear como a saúde de mulheres bissexuais é abordada nas produções científicas no contexto dos serviços de saúde. Realizou-se uma revisão de escopo nas bases de dados PubMed, Lilacs, SciELO, BVS e PePSIC, com os descritores "mulheres bissexuais" e "saúde", nos idiomas português, inglês e espanhol, entre 2013 e 2023. Os achados foram interpretados a partir da Análise de Conteúdo e sistematizados em quatro dimensões: saúde física e mental; social; relacional; e política de invisibilidade da bissexualidade. Os resultados apontaram que os estigmas e preconceitos associados à bissexualidade formam barreiras ao acesso das mulheres bissexuais aos serviços de saúde, levando a prejuízos na saúde física, mental, sexual e reprodutiva. A trajetória política da bissexualidade no Brasil e no mundo é envolta por lutas e resistências diante da lógica monossexista e heteronormativa que opera para deslegitimá-la no campo social e científico. É necessário transformar as práticas sociais, médicas e acadêmicas para oferecer cuidados realmente adequados às necessidades de mulheres bissexuais, reconhecendo sua existência e garantindo seus direitos.

Sustainable forest management is an important strategy for the conservation of tropical secondary forests. However, knowledge about their potential for timber production is scarce, especially in the Central Amazon. We performed a silvicultural diagnosis in Central Amazon secondary forests to understand their potential for forest management. The diagnosis was carried out in two secondary forest patches at advanced successional stages located 38 km north and 75 km northeast of Manaus. We quantified the commercial tree species, classified their stem quality and growth conditions (crown exposure and liana infestation), and related tree size (diameter at breast height-DBH) to growth conditions. We identified 46 commercial tree species. Goupia glabra, a very important timber species, exhibited the highest density of individuals (more than 95 individuals ha⁻¹). Good and reasonable quality stems accounted for 87% of the commercial trees, with 45 and 42% classified as of good and reasonable quality, respectively. The species composition and stem quality of the examined secondary forests support timber production through sustainable management. Commercial trees predominantly had crowns with low light exposure (63% with a Dawkins index lower than 4) and were liana infested (62% with lianas on some part of the tree), requiring silvicultural treatments to improve growth conditions. The number of trees under suppressed growth conditions (low light and liana-infested) varied according to species and tree size, requiring specific recommendations for silvicultural treatments. These results demonstrate the potential of secondary forests for timber production and provide valuable insights for management strategies aiming at promoting sustainable management to prevent secondary forest deforestation. Keywords: Regenerating forests; Alternative timber sources; Vegetation structure; Dominant species; Assisted natural regeneration.

The expansion of the agroindustrial sector has led to a significant increase in crop residues, particularly from large‐scale pineapple production. Pineapple leaves, a major byproduct, are often burned in plantations or improperly discarded, causing environmental harm. As lignocellulosic materials, rich in cellulose, these leaves present an opportunity for value‐added applications. This study aimed to extract and characterize lignocellulosic components from pineapple leaves, including moisture content, ash, extractives, holocellulose, cellulose, alpha‐cellulose, and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) via mechanical milling, as well as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) via acid hydrolysis (H2SO4, 60% m/m). Characterization techniques included X‐ray fluorescence (XRF), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that pineapple leaves contain approximately 55% cellulose, a significant proportion for CNC and CNF extraction of Type I cellulose. The crystallinity index was 48% for cellulose, 71% for CNFs, and 84% for CNCs, demonstrating the effectiveness of the methods used. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed the presence of cellulose and revealed reduced lignin‐related bands (1620 and 1606 cm⁻¹) in nanocellulose samples. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated lower thermal stability in CNCs due to sulfate groups introduced during acid hydrolysis. Scanning electron microscopy imaging showed that fresh samples exhibited a lamellar structure with smooth surfaces due to waxes and amorphous materials, where as extracted cellulose had a rougher texture following their removal. The Dynamic light scattering and AFM confirmed the nanoscale dimensions of CNCs and CNFs, validating the extraction process.

Wood density is a critical control on tree biomass, so poor understanding of its spatial variation can lead to large and systematic errors in forest biomass estimates and carbon maps. The need to understand how and why wood density varies is especially critical in tropical America where forests have exceptional species diversity and spatial turnover in composition. As tree identity and forest composition are challenging to estimate remotely, ground surveys are essential to know the wood density of trees, whether measured directly or inferred from their identity. Here, we assemble an extensive dataset of variation in wood density across the most forested and tree-diverse continent, examine how it relates to spatial and environmental variables, and use these relationships to predict spatial variation in wood density over tropical and sub-tropical South America. Our analysis refines previously identified east-west Amazon gradients in wood density, improves them by revealing fine-scale variation, and extends predictions into Andean, dry, and Atlantic forests. The results halve biomass prediction errors compared to a naïve scenario with no knowledge of spatial variation in wood density. Our findings will help improve remote sensing-based estimates of aboveground biomass carbon stocks across tropical South America.

Agro-industrial residues are generated in large quantities and have the potential to be repurposed for the development of materials. Currently, there are few studies on the use of residues from the oil extraction process of buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) in the development of sustainable panels. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and characterize the addition of buriti residue in panels produced with wood and polyurethane resin. The buriti residue has a high extractive content (72%), while the wood residue has an extractive content of 10.14%. Multilayer panels with the addition of buriti residue showed a reduction in the Modulus of Rupture (MOR) value (2.17 MPa) compared to wood panels (9.11 MPa). Despite the reduction in mechanical properties, the panels exhibited low thickness swelling (~5%), demonstrating their potential for use in non-structural humid conditions, interior design, or furniture for outdoor areas.

Understanding the capacity of forests to adapt to climate change is of pivotal importance for conservation science, yet this is still widely unknown. This knowledge gap is particularly acute in high-biodiversity tropical forests. Here, we examined how tropical forests of the Americas have shifted community trait composition in recent decades as a response to changes in climate. Based on historical trait-climate relationships, we found that, overall, the studied functional traits show shifts of less than 8% of what would be expected given the observed changes in climate. However, the recruit assemblage shows shifts of 21% relative to climate change expectation. The most diverse forests on Earth are changing in functional trait composition but at a rate that is fundamentally insufficient to track climate change.

The occurrence of mosquito-borne diseases is increasing, and their geographical range is expanding due to climate change. New control measures are urgently needed to combat these debilitating and, in some cases, fatal diseases. Bacteria of the genus Bacillus are of interest due to the production of bioactive compounds, including those useful for insect control. The discovery and characterization of new species of Bacillus with mosquito larvicidal activity may offer opportunities to develop new products for vector control. In this study, we evaluated larvicidal activity, described morphological characteristics, and sequenced and analyzed the genome of a bacterial strain (GD02.13) isolated from the Amazon region. The metabolites produced by GD02.13 are as effective in killing Aedes aegypti larvae as the commercial product Natular™ DT (Spinosad). Furthermore, the morphological characteristics of the GD02.13 spores and crystal inclusions resemble those previously described for B. thuringiensis. A phylogenetic analysis based on 443 single-copy orthologs indicated that the bacterial strain GD02.13 belongs to the Bacillus thuringiensis species. Its genome, which was assembled and has a size of 6.6 Mb, contains 16 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters and genes encoding insecticidal proteins, predicted based on sequence similarity. The data obtained in this study support the development of new insecticide products based on the strain GD02.13 of B. thuringiensis.

Background Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN‐DBS) is a well‐established treatment for Parkinson's Disease (PD). However, the long‐term trajectory of Quality of Life (QoL) following STN‐DBS remains underexplored. Objectives We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis to assess QoL trends up to five years after STN‐DBS. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases from inception to August 2024 for studies involving PD patients treated with bilateral STN‐DBS, evaluating QoL using the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ), with a minimum follow‐up of 12 months post‐surgery. Continuous outcomes were pooled using standardized mean differences (SMD), and statistical analyses were conducted using R version 4.3.2. Results Out of 4106 screened articles, 42 studies with a total of 2767 patients were included in the meta‐analysis. QoL improvements were observed up to 36 months post‐surgery (SMD 0.83; 95% CI 0.29 to 1.37), followed by a decline to pre‐operative levels at 60 months (SMD ‐0.06; 95% CI ‐0.26 to 0.15). Subdomain analysis at 60 months revealed significant deterioration in cognitive function and communication. Meta‐regression indicated that QoL improvements were independent of clinical and sociodemographic factors such as age, sex, and disease duration; however, there was a correlation with mean baseline PDQ ( P = 0.01). Conclusions This meta‐analysis provides long‐term QoL trends following STN‐DBS, highlighting a further need to explore the factors driving the decline in QoL and develop strategies to mitigate this deterioration.

Natural products, especially specific metabolites found in many medicinal plants, exhibit extensive therapeutic potential due to their diverse biological characteristics. Among these compounds, diterpenes stand out for their active principles described in phytochemical studies. Diterpenes exhibit immunomodulatory effects by influencing the production of cytokines and other signaling molecules involved in the immune response. These actions contribute to achieving a more balanced immune profile. The ability to selectively and harmoniously modulate the immune response positions compounds derived from natural products is a promising research field in the development of immunomodulatory therapies. Due to the broad biological activities of diterpenes, the use of molecular docking emerges as a relevant tool for the quantitative screening of a large number of these substances. This review comprehensively examines the pharmacological potential of diterpenes in modulating the immune system. It highlights the existing experimental evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of these compounds as potential treatment for immune dysfunctions. Ultimately, this review aims to contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies in this field.

Aedes aegypti and Anopheles darlingi are the primary vectors of dengue and malaria in Brazil. Natural products are currently regarded as promising alternatives for their control, offering environmentally friendly solutions for larval management due to their low toxicity to non-target organisms. Thus, Piplartine, isolated for the first time from Piper purusanum, exhibited larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti and An. darlingi (LC50 of 14.56 and 26.44 μg/mL), occasioned by the overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (66.67 ± 7% and 86.33 ± 6%). Furthermore, piplartine enhanced the activity of key detoxifying enzymes, including catalase (87.00 ± 9 and 94.67 ± 9 μmol of H2O2 consumed per minute per mg of protein), glutathione S-transferase (76.00 ± 1 and 134.00 ± 1 μmol/min/mg), mixed-function oxidase (26.67 ± 5 and 55.00 ± 1 nmol cti mg⁻¹ protein), α-esterase, and β-esterase (27.67 ± 7 to 46.33 ± 1 nmol cti mg⁻¹ protein). In contrast, piplartine inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity (43.33 ± 7 and 48.00 ± 2 μmol/min/mg) compared to the negative control DMSO (87.33 ± 1 and 146.30 ± 3 μmol/min/mg). It is important to highlight that piplartine showed no lethal effects on non-target aquatic insects, with 100% survival observed at a concentration of 264.4 μg/mL. In contrast, α-cypermethrin demonstrated acute and rapid toxicity to non-target organisms, with only 9.1% survival. These findings highlight piplartine as a promising larvicide with selective toxicity and low environmental impact, suitable for integrated larval management strategies.

This study aimed to assess the impact of dietary supplementation with Schizochytrium sp. meal, a source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on the growth, hemato-biochemical parameters, and fatty acid composition of juvenile pirarucu (Arapaima gigas). Two diets were used: a test diet (5%SZ) and a control diet (0 SZ). Juvenile pirarucu (561.3 ± 13.4 g; 47.5 ± 7.1 cm) were kept in recirculating aquaculture tanks and fed three times daily for 12 weeks. No significant differences in growth performance or adverse effects on hemato-biochemical parameters were found, except for hemoglobin and total protein. The fatty acid profile of the fillets from the fish fed the 5 SZ diet mirrored that of the Schizochytrium sp. meal, with increased levels of palmitic acid, DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and decreased levels of linoleic and linolenic acids. The inclusion of Schizochytrium sp. meal reduced monounsaturated fatty acids from 39.6% to 32.0% and increased highly unsaturated fatty acids from 3.05% to 11.9% of total lipids. The DHA content was 9.45 times higher in the fillets of the fish fed 5 SZ, improving the n-3/n-6 ratio from 0.26 to 1.19. In conclusion, adding 5% Schizochytrium sp. meal enhances the nutritional quality of pirarucu fillets by increasing DHA and the n-3/n-6 ratio.

The impact of COVID‐19 on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is negative, increasing the likelihood of exertional symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath, and adversely affecting vascular function, impairing cardiovascular health. This study investigated endothelial function and its relationship with CRF in patients who have recovered COVID‐19. Patients were evaluated 1 month after infection, including clinical assessment, pulmonary function, endothelial function (measured by flow‐mediated dilation), and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. COVID‐19 survivors exhibited reduced exercise capacity, with poor values of peak V̇O2peak and FMD (%) according to disease severity. However, endothelial function was worse in COVID‐19 patients, regardless of severity, compared to the control group. Significant associations were observed between poorer FMD (%) and peak V̇O2, workload, circulatory power, and V̇O2peak/WR. Endothelial function was significantly associated with CRF in COVID‐19 patients according to disease severity. Strategies to improve CRF and reduce the negative impacts of endothelial function damage should be further investigated.