Exploring the potential of Brazilian Amazonian scorpion venoms: A comprehensive review of research from 2001 to 2021.

The Amazon biome is home to many scorpion species, with around two hundred identified in the region. Of these, forty-eight species have been reported in Brazil so far and six of them are of medical importance: Tityus apiacas, T. metuendus, T. obscurus, T. raquelae, T. silvestris, and T. strandi. Three non-medically important species have also been studied: Opisthanthuscayaporum, Brotheas amazonicus and Rhopalurus laticauda. The venom of the scorpion T. obscurus is the most studied, followed by O. cayaporum. We aim to update the study of these Amazonian scorpion species. We will explore the harmful and beneficial properties of scorpion venom toxins and how they could be applied in drug development. This systematic review will focus on collecting and analyzing venoms from scorpions in Brazil. Only papers on Amazonian scorpion venom studies published between 2001 and 2021 (scientific articles, theses, and dissertations) were selected, based on the lists of scorpions available in the literature. Species found in the Amazon but not confirmed to be Brazilian were omitted from the review. Theses and dissertations were chosen over their derived articles. We found 42 eligible studies (13 theses, 27 articles and 2 patents) out of 17,950 studies and a basic statistical analysis was performed. The literature showed that T. obscurus was the most studied venom with 28 publications, followed by O. cayaporum with seven articles, B. amazonicus with four articles, T. metuendus with two article and R. laticauda with one article. No publication on the characterization of T. silvestris and T. apiacas venoms were found during the reviewed period, only the clinical aspects were covered. There is still much to be explored despite the increasing number of studies conducted in recent years. Amazonian scorpions have promising potential for pharmaceutical and clinical applications.

Synergy of the Tropical Earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus and Oil Palm Bagasse in the Removal of Heavy Crude Oil.

The tropical endogeic earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus, a non-standard species used in ecotoxicity, has been found in crude oil-contaminated habitats. We estimated the removal of total hydrocarbons from heavy crude "Maya" oil on an artificially contaminated soil with a median lethal concentration of P. corethrurus and an addition of oil palm bagasse. P. corethrurus had a high survival rate, and the addition of oil palm bagasse led to a greater growth and an increase in abundance of bacteria and fungi. The activity of P. corethrurus and the nutritional quality of oil palm bagasse had a significant impact on the removal of a larger amount of petroleum hydrocarbons from contaminated soil. We concluded that the endogeic earthworm P. corethrurus and oil palm bagasse acted synergistically to achieve a more effective removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons from soil. These results show the potential for using P. corethrurus to remove, either directly or indirectly, crude oil from soil.

Substrate evaluation for biobeds in the degradation of ethylene bis-dithiocarbamate in wastewater from pesticide application in banana.

The efficacy of biobeds was evaluated by testing three agricultural residues (sugarcane top, banana stem, and eucalyptus chip) as substrates for the degradation of ethylene bis-dithiocarbamate (EBDC) and ethylene thiourea (ETU) in wastewater from banana spraying. Acrylic columns with a capacity to treat 1 L/ea. of wastewater were used as experimental units. Each unit was filled with different proportions of the test substrate (30%, 50% and 70% v/v) and the difference in volume was made up of equal parts of sugar cane cachasse and Fluvisol soil. Subsequently, the units were contaminated with suspensions of 878 mgL-1 of EBDC, and the dose was repeated periodically. The ETU concentration and leachate toxicity were evaluated every month for six months. The mixtures with 30% sugarcane top and 50% eucalyptus chip gave the best results, with leachable ETU concentrations down to a level protective of the environment, and toxicity down to background levels or nearly so. This was only found in mixtures with a high C:N ratio (20-25), thus, the effectiveness of the biobeds appears to be related to high lignolytic activity. .

Using fisher-contributed secondary fins to fill critical shark-fisheries data gaps.

Developing-world shark fisheries are typically not assessed or actively managed for sustainability; one fundamental obstacle is the lack of species and size-composition catch data. We tested and implemented a new and potentially widely applicable approach for collecting these data: mandatory submission of low-value secondary fins (anal fins) from landed sharks by fishers and use of the fins to reconstruct catch species and size. Visual and low-cost genetic identification were used to determine species composition, and linear regression was applied to total length and anal fin base length for catch-size reconstruction. We tested the feasibility of this approach in Belize, first in a local proof-of-concept study and then scaling it up to the national level for the 2017-2018 shark-fishing season (1,786 fins analyzed). Sixteen species occurred in this fishery. The most common were the Caribbean reef (Carcharhinus perezi), blacktip (C. limbatus), sharpnose (Atlantic [Rhizoprionodon terraenovae] and Caribbean [R. porosus] considered as a group), and bonnethead (Sphyrna cf. tiburo). Sharpnose and bonnethead sharks were landed primarily above size at maturity, whereas Caribbean reef and blacktip sharks were primarily landed below size at maturity. Our approach proved effective in obtaining critical data for managing the shark fishery, and we suggest the tools developed as part of this program could be exported to other nations in this region and applied almost immediately if there were means to communicate with fishers and incentivize them to provide anal fins. Outside the tropical Western Atlantic, we recommend further investigation of the feasibility of sampling of secondary fins, including considerations of time, effort, and cost of species identification from these fins, what secondary fin type to use, and the means with which to communicate with fishers and incentivize participation. This program could be a model for collecting urgently needed data for developing-world shark fisheries globally. Article impact statement: Shark fins collected from fishers yield data critical to shark fisheries management in developing nations.

Uso de Aletas Secundarias Proporcionadas por Pescadores para Llenar Vacíos Importantes de Información sobre las Pesquerías de Tiburones Resumen Con frecuencia no se evalúan las pesquerías de tiburones del mundo en desarrollo ni cuentan con un manejo activo de sustentabilidad. Uno de los principales obstáculos para esto es la falta de información sobre las especies y la composición de los tamaños en las capturas. Probamos e implementamos una estrategia nueva y potencialmente aplicable en todas partes para la recolección de estos datos: la entrega obligatoria de las aletas secundarias de bajo valor económico (aletas anales) obtenidas de los tiburones desembarcados por parte de los pescadores y el uso de estas aletas para reconstruir las especies y tamaños en la captura. Usamos identificaciones genéticas de bajo costo e identificaciones visuales para determinar la composición de las especies y aplicamos una regresión lineal a la longitud total y a la de la base de la aleta anal para la reconstrucción del tamaño en captura. Probamos la viabilidad de esta estrategia en Belice, primero en un estudio de prueba de concepto y después subiendo al nivel nacional para la temporada de pesca de tiburón 2017-2018 (1,786 aletas analizadas). Se registraron 16 especies en esta pesquería. Las más comunes fueron Carcharhinus perezi, C. limbatus, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae y R. porosus (consideradas como un grupo) y Sphyrna cf. tiburo. Las últimas tres especies fueron desembarcadas principalmente por encima del tamaño maduro, mientras que con las dos primeras especies lo hacían por debajo del tamaño maduro. Nuestra estrategia demostró ser efectiva en la obtención de información crítica para el manejo de la pesquería de tiburones y sugerimos que las herramientas desarrolladas como parte de este programa puedan ser exportadas a otras naciones en esta región y aplicadas casi de manera inmediata si existen los medios para comunicarse con los pescadores e incentivarlos a proporcionar las aletas anales. Fuera del Atlántico Occidental tropical, recomendamos una mayor investigación de la viabilidad del muestreo de aletas secundarias, incluyendo la consideración del tiempo, esfuerzo y costo de la identificación de especies a partir de estas aletas; cuál tipo de aleta secundaria utilizar; y los medios mediante los cuales comunicarse con los pescadores e incentivarlos a participar. Este programa podría ser un modelo para la recolección de información de necesidad urgente para las pesquerías del mundo en desarrollo.

Soil Odor as An Extra-Official Criterion for Qualifying Remediation Projects of Crude Oil-Contaminated Soil.

Unfortunately, many property owners in southeastern Mexico do not trust environmental authorities, and the de facto method they use to evaluate the progress in environmental remediation projects is soil smell. This criterion was evaluated to determine if it was reliable to assess soil fertility and toxicity. Three soils (Fluvisol, Gleysol, and Arenosol), were contaminated with 2% medium or heavy crude oil (30.2, 17.1°API, respectively), and treated for 18 months to simulate bioremediation or natural attenuation. Every two months, field capacity, water repellency, hydrocarbon concentration, acute toxicity and soil odor were measured. Odor was measured in controlled conditions with a group of unexperienced panelists. During remediation, the Fluvisol and Gleysol were perceived to have an odor intensity between slight to low, and were considered acceptable. Meanwhile, in the Arenosol, the odor intensity was between low to medium and was considered unacceptable. After treatment, the hydrocarbon concentration was reduced to low levels, very near Mexican norm, and all the soils, including the Arenosol, were perceived to have an intensity between neutral to slightly agreeable, were considered acceptable, and no toxicity was observed in the earthworm bioassay (no false positives). However, in various soil samples from the Fluvisol and Arenosol, important risks were present with respect to field capacity and water repellency. Due to these observations, even though soil smell may be a trustworthy guide to soil toxicity, it does not ensure that the remediated soil's fertility has been restored.

Fertility Deterioration in a Remediated Petroleum-Contaminated Soil.

A soil that had been remediated by soil washing and chemical oxidation was evaluated, comparing it to an uncontaminated control soil ~30 m away. Profile descriptions were made of both soils over a 0-1 m depth, and samples were analyzed from each soil horizon. Samples were also analyzed from surface soil (0-30 cm). The control soil (a Fluvisol), had several unaltered A and C horizons, but the remediated soil presented only two poorly differentiated horizons, without structure and much lower in organic matter (<0.5%). In surface samples (0-30 cm), the bulk density, sand-silt-clay contents, field capacity, organic matter, and porosity were different with respect to the control (p > 0.05), and there was much greater compaction (3.04 vs. 1.10 MPa). However, the hydrocarbon concentration in the remediated soil was low (969.12 mg kg-1, average), and was not correlated to soil fertility parameters, such as porosity, organic matter, pH, moisture, field capacity or texture (R2 < 0.69), indicating that the impacts (such as compaction, lower field capacity and moisture content) were not due to residual hydrocarbons. Likewise, acute toxicity (Microtox) was not found, nor water repellency (penetration time < 5 s). It was concluded that the fertility deterioration in this soil was caused principally from the mixture of upper (loam) and lower (silty clay to silty clay loam) horizons during remediation treatment. Another important factor was the reduction in organic material, probably caused by the chemical oxidation treatment.

Necesidad de estudios sobre costos en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas Guantánamo / Need for cost studies at the University of Medical Sciences Guantánamo

Se presentaron resultados parciales del Proyecto Institucional Evaluación del impacto de la metodología para el desarrollo del capital intelectual en los servicios de salud, en ejecución por la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Guantánamo desde el 2016. La investigación permitió fundamentar la necesidad del efectivo dominio del costo como herramienta de administración económica en Salud, estableciéndose el problema en cómo contribuir a su implementación en el funcionamiento colectivo de la institución. Los métodos de investigación empleados aportaron la información primaria a partir de la cual pudo caracterizarse el estado actual del problema y el diseño de un material instructivo para el tratamiento sistémico del costo que, como objetivo cumplido, puede favorecer la satisfacción de las demandas que tiene la Universidad Médica dentro del desarrollo económico hasta el 2030 en la provincia(AU)

Partial results of the Institutional Project Evaluation of the impact of the methodology for the development of intellectual capital in health services were presented, in execution by the University of Medical Sciences of Guantanamo since 2016. The investigation allowed substantiating the need for effective domain of the cost as a tool of economic administration in Health, establishing the problem in, how to contribute to its implementation in the collective operation of the institution. The research methods were used and provided the primary information from which the current state of the problem could be characterized and the design of an instructive material for the systemic treatment of the cost, as a fulfilled objective, can favor the satisfaction of the demands of the Medical University within the economic development until 2030 in the province(AU)

Concentración rssidual de hidrocarburos en suel del trópico. ii: afectación a la fertilidad y su recuperación / Residual concentration of hydrocarbons in soil inthe tropics. ii: impacts to ferrtility and reclamation / Concentraço resiidual de hidrocarbonetos em solo do trópic. ii: afetação da fertilidade e sua recuperação

En este trabajo se evalúan factores de fertilidad con respecto a los criterios de saneamiento de suelo contaminado con hidrocarburos en un ambiente tropical rural. Aunque la toxicidad puede afectar la fertilidad en derrames recientes, en general este tipo de impacto es mínimo para derrames antiguos y en suelos que han sido remediados y que tienen concentraciones <25000mg TPH/kg de suelo (base seca). Sin embargo, en concentraciones aún muy bajas (~2500mg TPH/kg) se observan afectaciones en el crecimiento de la vegetación e impactos en varios parámetros físico-químicos de fertilidad, particularmente sobre la capacidad de campo, temperatura, capacidad de intercambio catiónico, repelencia al agua, y porosidad. Estos impactos de toxicidad, así como los cambios en parámetros físico-químicos, pueden ser mitigados con el empleo de abonos orgánicos en concentraciones de 1-4%, resultando en un crecimiento vigoroso de la vegetación en un ambiente tropical húmedo impactado. Se presentan lineamientos de parámetros edáficos como criterios de saneamiento para suelos típicos del trópico.

In this article factors related to fertility are evaluated with respect to clean up criteria for soil in a tropical rural environment. Although toxicity can affect fertility in recent spills, in general this kind of impact is minimal for old spills and in soils that have been remediated and that have <25000mg TPH/kg of soil (dry weight). Nonetheless, even in very low concentrations (~2500mg/kg) vegetation growth is affected and impacts are observed in various physical-chemical fertility parameters, especially field capacity, temperature, cation exchange capacity, water repellency, and porosity. These toxicity impacts, as well as changes in physical-chemical parameters, can be mitigated with the use of organic amendments in concentrations of 1-4%, resulting in the vigorous growth of vegetation in an impacted humid tropical environment. Guidelines for soil parameters as clean up criteria are presented for soils typical of the tropics.

Neste trabalho são avaliados fatores de fertilidade em relação aos critérios de saneamento de solo contaminado com hidrocarbonetos em um ambiente tropical rural. Mesmo que a toxicidade por vazamentos recentes possa afetar a fertilidade, em geral é mínimo este tipo de impacto em vazamentos antigos e em solos que têm sido remediados e que têm concentrações <25.000mg TPH/kg de solo (base seca). No entanto, em concentrações ainda mais baixas (~2,500mg TPH/kg) se observam afetações no crescimento da vegetação e impactos em vários parâmetros físico-químicos de fertilidade, particularmente sobre a capacidade de campo, temperatura, capacidade de intercâmbio catiônico, repelência à água, e porosidade. Estes impactos de toxicidade, assim como as mudanças em parâmetros físico-químicos, podem ser mitigados com o emprego de adubos orgânicos em concentrações de 1-4%, resultando em um crescimento vigoroso da vegetação em um ambiente tropical úmido impactado. Apresentam-se lineamentos de parâmetros edáficos como critérios de saneamento para solos típicos do trópico.

Immunogenicity and safety assessment of the Cuban recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in healthy adults.

Manufactures of biotechnological/biological products (including vaccines) frequently make changes to manufacturing processes of products both during development and after approval. In our case, a non-inferiority bridging study was carried out to demonstrate that changes in the production plant facilities of Cuban recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, Heberbiovac HB, did not affect the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine. This controlled, randomized, doubled-blinded trial included 501 volunteers, aged between 20 and 64, who were given three doses of vaccine (20 microg HBsAg/mL) at month 0, 1, and 2. Four lots were evaluated (three corresponding to the new production facilities and a control one produced in the older facilities). One month after the third dose, were observed protective levels of anti-HBsAg in 97% of the subjects that concluded the study with a geometric mean antibody titer (GMT) of 931.18 IU/L. Normal values of body mass index (BMI), the younger ages, and being a female, were significantly related to a good antibody response. The vaccine was well tolerated. Pain at the injection site was the most commonly reported symptom. We conclude that Heberbiovac HB vaccine maintains its characteristics after the modifications carried out in the production plant facilities and both, lot obtained in previous facilities and in the new ones, are comparable in terms of safety and immunogenicity.

Recuperación parcial de rabia humana / Partial recovery in human rabies

Introducción. Se tienen reportados en la literatura médica nacional 3 casos de rabia humana con recuperación parcial, todos ellos ocurridos en niños y transmitidos por perros. Caso clínico. Se presenta 1 caso de rabia con recuperación parcial en una niña de 5 años de edad que fue mordida por un murciélago en el dedo índice derecho, sin haber recibido un manejo apropiado de la herida ni el tratamiento profiláctico postexposición correspondiente. La paciente falleció por desnutrición grave y neumonía aguda casi 6 meses después de haber iniciado su cuadro clínico de encefalitis rábica. Conclusión. Si bien el diagnóstico de rabia incluyó aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos y estudios específicos de laboratorio, ha de destacarse el hecho de que solamente las titulaciones de anticuerpos antirrábicos fueron positivos. Resulta preocupante que el caso que se reporta, al igual que el de una hermana, no haya recibido el tratamiento profiláctico correspondiente, lo que pone en evidencia las graves carencias socioeconómicas y culturales existentes en diversas regiones del país

Intoxicación por Karwinskia Johnstonii / Intoxication by karwinskia johnstonii

El género Karwinskia (Rhamnaceae) incluye alrededor de 15 especies de árboles y arbustos cuyo hábitat natural va del sur de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica al norte de Colombia y el Caribe. En la República Mexicana se han identificado once especies las que, con excepción de K. Johntonii y K. tehuacana, han sido objeto de estudios botánicos, químicos y toxicológicos, teniéndose, además, en el caso específico de K. humboldtiana, diversos estudios clínicos. De K. johnstonii Fernández solamente se tenían referencias acerca de su descripción botánica, distribución geográfica, nombres comunes uso medicinal atribuido a sus hojas. En este trabajo se incluyen 12 casos de parálisis o paresia fláccidad atendidos en el Hospital Infantil de Morelia, en los que logró identificarse como agente causal a K. johnstonii Fernández. Tales casos forman parte de un ancestral y grave problema regional de salud pública para los estados de Michoacán y Guerrero, respectivamente

Correlación de alto riesgo obstétrico con la mortalidad neonatal

El presente es un estudio de seguimiento realizado en el centro materno infantil San Lorenzo de Los Mina, que durante un período de tres (3) meses siguió a los productos de embarazos de alto riesgo, desde su nacimiento hasta los 28 días de vida, con el objetivo de conocer la frecuencia de presentación de mortalidad neonatal atribuida a dichos embarazos. Ocurrieron 129 defunciones neonatales relacionadas con embarazos de alto riesgo. El 42.4 por ciento de dichas de funciones se debieron al Síndrome de insuficiencia respiratroia idiopatica (Siri) el 24.8 por ciento a la sepsis neonatal y el 12,0 por ciento a la hemorragia pulmonar. Los riesgos obstétricos que tuvieron mayor influencia sobre la mortalidad neonatal fueron la toxemia del embarazo, embarazo pretérmino en labor de parto (sin causa aparente), ruptura prematura de membranas y embarazo múltiple