Expansion of the area of occurrence of the genus Anochetus Mayr 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

The study was carried out on an agroecological property located in Cologne São Manoel, 8th district of Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Anochetus neglectus Emery, 1894 was collected in an area of peach orchard that has been under an agroecological system for 18 years. This record expands the area of ​​occurrence and distribution of this rare species in the Neotropical Region.

What is the influence of agroecological and conventional crops under ant assemblages?

The objective of the study was to compare the richness and diversity of ant assemblages in an agroecological system under peach orchard, conventional system under peach orchard cultivation and native vegetation in rural properties located in a Pampa Biome. The study was conducted in four samplings in 2017: 1st and 09th March (summer); 24th and 31st July (winter); and four samplings in 2018: 23rd and 30th January (summer); 31st July and 07th August (winter). Pitfall traps were used. The assemblages were characterized and compared using richness, number of occurrences of ants, Shannon diversity (H'), equitability, rarefaction analysis and Chao 1. The association of the species with the samples was evaluated by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The agroecological system had the highest number of occurrences, while the conventional orchard the lowest number. Richness and abundance were greatest during the summer. The conventional peach orchard obtained the lowest H' for both seasons when compared to the agroecological orchard and native vegetation. The PCA explained 77.40% of the occurrence of ants in the environments and in the seasons. The results found demonstrated that conservationist systems tend to harbor greater wealth and diversity of ant assemblages, as well as occurring in native áreas.

Elevated IL-17 levels and echocardiographic signs of preserved myocardial function in benznidazole-treated individuals with chronic Chagas' disease.

BACKGROUND: The immunological and clinical impact of trypanocidal treatment in chronic Chagas' disease (CCD) is unclear. METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS: Several cytokines were measured in plasma of 66 patients with CCD. Thirty-three patients had been previously treated with benznidazole and 33 had never been treated. The treated group exhibited higher levels of IL-17 (median 142.45×1.22pg/ml, P=0.025), which was the only one significantly associated with Bz treatment, especially after adjusting for time of disease and NYHA class (P=0.024; OR 1.006, 95% CI 1.001-1.010). Compared to untreated patients, the treated group exhibited higher median values of mitral annular E' lateral (13.0×10.0cm/s, P=0.038), S' infero-lateral (8.9×7.6cm/s, P=0.013), S' septal (8.5×7.4cm/s, P=0.034), mean S' (9.0×7.9cm/s, P=0.013) and tricuspid annular S' (13.3×11.1cm/s, P=0.001) and lower values of E/E' septal (7.2×9.5cm/s, P=0.049). After adjustment for time of disease and NYHA class, S' infero-lateral (P=0.031), mean S' (P=0.049) and S' tricuspid (P=0.024) persisted as significantly associated with treatment. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that the group of CCD patients treated with Bz displayed increased plasma levels of IL-17 and preserved myocardial function, reinforcing the idea that Bz treatment may be beneficial.