Citizen science reveals alarming update on the invasion of the Asian mantleslug Meghimatium pictum in Brazil.

The Asian mantleslug Meghimatium pictum is an exotic species introduced to Brazil in the late 1990s, but only formally reported in 2011. Since then, it has been deemed an agricultural pest and given the status of an invasive species; furthermore, it has been confirmed as an intermediate host for the nematode Angiostrongylus costaricensis in Brazil. Despite its potential for impacts, no additional studies on the status of its invasion have been conducted since the initial report.

Investigating autonomic nervous system dysfunction among patients with post-COVID condition and prolonged cardiovascular symptoms.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and arterial pressure (AP) variability and their responses to head-up tilt test (HUTT) were investigated in Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) patients reporting tachycardia and/or postural hypotension. Besides tachycardia, PCS patients also showed attenuation of the following HRV parameters: RMSSD [square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal-to-normal (NN) intervals] from statistical measures; the power of RR (beat-to-beat interval) spectra at HF (high frequency) from the linear method spectral analysis; occurrence of 2UV (two unlike variation) pattern of RR from the nonlinear method symbolic analysis; and the new family of statistics named sample entropy, when compared to control subjects. Basal AP and LF (low frequency) power of systolic AP were similar between PCS patients and control subjects, while 0 V (zero variation) patterns of AP from the nonlinear method symbolic analysis were exacerbated in PCS patients.

Molecular phylogeny of the Orthalicoidea land snails: Further support and surprises.

The superfamily Orthalicoidea comprises approximately 2,000 species of terrestrial gastropods, mostly concentrated in the Neotropics but also present in southern Africa and Oceania. We provide a multi-marker molecular phylogeny of this superfamily, reassessing its family- and genus-level classification. We exclude two families from the group, Odontostomidae and Vidaliellidae, transferring them to Rhytidoidea based on their phylogenetic relationships as recovered herein.

Effect of Volatile Anesthetics on Myocardial Infarction After Coronary Artery Surgery: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of volatile anesthetics on the rates of postoperative myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiac death after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

Design: A post hoc analysis of a randomized trial.

Setting: Cardiac surgical operating rooms.

Volatile Anesthetics versus Total Intravenous Anesthesia for Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Volatile (inhaled) anesthetic agents have cardioprotective effects, which might improve clinical outcomes in patients undergoing coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: We conducted a pragmatic, multicenter, single-blind, controlled trial at 36 centers in 13 countries. Patients scheduled to undergo elective CABG were randomly assigned to an intraoperative anesthetic regimen that included a volatile anesthetic (desflurane, isoflurane, or sevoflurane) or to total intravenous anesthesia.

Role of melanocortin 4 receptor in hypertension induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia.

Aim: We previously demonstrated that central nervous system (CNS) melanocortin 4 receptors (MC4R) play a key role in regulating blood pressure (BP) in some conditions associated with increased SNS activity, including obesity. In this study, we examined whether activation of CNS MC4R contributes to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)-induced hypertension and ventilatory responses to hypercapnia.

Methods: Rats were instrumented with an intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula in the lateral cerebral ventricle for continuous infusion of MC4R antagonist (SHU-9119) and telemetry probes for measuring mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR).

Effects of nalfurafine on the reinforcing, thermal antinociceptive, and respiratory-depressant effects of oxycodone: modeling an abuse-deterrent opioid analgesic in rats.

Rationale: Strategies to reduce the misuse of mu opioid agonists are critically needed. Previous work has shown that kappa opioid agonists can diminish the abuse-related effects and augment the antinociceptive effects of mu agonists. However, use of traditional kappa agonists is limited by their dysphoric side effects.

Radiofrequency for the treatment of skin laxity: myth or truth.

The nonablative radiofrequency is a procedure commonly used for the treatment of skin laxity from an increase in tissue temperature. The goal is to induce thermal damage to thus stimulate neocollagenesis in deep layers of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. However, many of these devices haven't been tested and their parameters are still not accepted by the scientific community.

Somatic and cognitive-affective depressive symptoms among patients with heart disease: differences by sex and age.

Objective: this study investigated the association of somatic and cognitive-affective symptoms with sex and age, among patients hospitalized with heart disease.

Method: this study was a secondary analysis of two previous observational studies totaling 531 patients with heart disease, hospitalized from 2005 to 2011 in two public hospitals in Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Somatic and cognitive-affective symptoms were assessed using the subscales of the Beck Depression Inventory - I (BDI-I).

Radiographic evaluation of the effect of obesity on alveolar bone in rats with ligature-induced periodontal disease.

There is evidence that the lack of metabolic control of obese patients may accelerate periodontitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate radiographically the effect of cafeteria-diet-induced obesity on alveolar bone loss in rats subjected to periodontal disease. Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: 1) control group, 2) control and ligature group; 3) cafeteria group; and 4) cafeteria and ligature group.

Psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese versions of the 29- and 13-item scales of the Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence (SOC-29 and SOC-13) evaluated in Brazilian cardiac patients.

Aim And Objectives: To assess the construct validity and reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese versions of the 29- and 13-item scales of the Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29 and SOC-13).

Background: Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence Questionnaire was developed to measure the main construct of the salutogenic theory, the sense of coherence. The use of the sense of coherence by health professionals might help identifying specific coping strategies used by person with chronic illness.

Presence of depressive symptoms in patients with a first episode of acute coronary syndrome.

Aim: to compare possible differences regarding the presence of depressive symptoms according to the clinical diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome, gender and age, one week before the first cardiac event.

Method: cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study, which used the Beck Depression Inventory. The sample consisted of 253 patients.

Development of an eye protector for phototherapy on newborns: a technology.

Hyperbilirubinemia results from the predisposition of newborns to produce bilirubin and their ability to excrete it. The treatment applied is phototherapy; however, one of its complications is degeneration of the retina by exposure to light, making it essential to provide proper eye protection. The objective of this study is to describe the development of an invention (utility model patented) for eye protection in newborn phototherapy.