Heteroptera research in Latin America and the Caribbean (Insecta, Hemiptera): status and perspectives in the 21st century.

Latin American and the Caribbean regions (LAC) harbor one of the most biodiverse areas of the world, the Neotropics. True bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) are a diverse lineage of insects, with more than 45,000 species, particularly speciose in the Neotropical region. True bugs are fundamental in the dynamics of natural and modified ecosystems, with several species critical to agriculture and public health. We compiled Heteroptera research in LAC from 1998-2022 using bibliographic databases. Productivity, collaborative networks, and the main topics studied were analyzed. A total of 1,651 Heteroptera studies from LAC were found, with continuous growth being 2021 the most prolific. Four categories (Taxonomy of extant species, Faunistic inventories and new records, Pest species biology, and Community ecology) represent most of the published research. About 60 percent of the records evaluated correspond to five families (Pentatomidae, Reduviidae, Coreidae, Miridae, and Rhyparochromidae). We emphasize the need to keep working on Heteroptera taxonomy because it will allow further advances in other areas such as phylogenetic analyses, biogeography, ecology, and natural history, among others. The results of our analyses characterize the current state of heteropterology in the region, establishing a baseline for future studies and efforts to broaden the knowledge of the group.

On the Identity of the Mirine Plant Bug Capsus bimaculatus Fabricius (Hemiptera: Miridae): New Synonyms, and Lectotype Designation.

The identity of Capsus bimaculatus Fabricius, 1803 is revised, as well as the varieties described by Berg (1892): Cal. (Par.) bimaculatus typicus, Cal. (Par.) bimaculatus vittatus, and Cal. (Par.) bimaculatus niger. The examination of all the bibliographies treating these names as well their type specimens resulted in the selection of a lectotype for C. bimaculatus, the synonymization of the three varieties described by Berg, selecting Taedia typica (Berg, 1892) as the valid name, and other taxonomic problems traced during the revision process are addressed.

Outside the pattern: Evolution of the genital asymmetry in Saicinae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae).

Despite genital structures in insects being consistently important as systematic and taxonomy evidence, within assassin bugs (Heteroptera, Reduviidae) at least, the male and female genitalic structures of several subfamilies are poorly or totally unknown. The genital structure is mostly symmetric within Saicinae genera, but male genital asymmetry has been recorded in Gallobelgicus, Polytoxus, and recently Pseudosaica. The subfamily has been considered as closely related to Emesinae and Visayanocorinae but this hypothesis has never been tested using a comprehensive taxa sampling, being a constraint to test morphological traits changes or exploring characters' evolution hypotheses. Here, we compiled a morphological data set of 170 characters that includes external morphological characters and genitalia of both sexes of Saicinae which was analyzed cladistically including 55 terminals, comprising 16 genera (64% of the generic diversity), 43 species of Saicinae and 12 outgroups. Saicinae was recovered as polyphyletic, Saicireta correntina is recovered as sister-species of Empicoris armatus + Collartida (Emesinae), Oncerotrachelus, Carayonia (Visayanocorinae), and the Clade Saicinae sensu stricto. Carayonia orientalis is recovered as sister-species of Saicinae sensu stricto. Ancestral state reconstruction of symmetry of the male genitalia shows an ancestor with symmetric male genitalia, two independent emergences of asymmetrical male genitalia within Saicinae sensu stricto, and the asymmetrical endosomal sclerites appearing before the other asymmetric traits.

Impact of socioeconomic vulnerability on Covid-19 outcomes and social distancing in Brazil / Impacto da vulnerabilidade socioeconômica nos resultados da Covid-19 e no distanciamento social no Brasil / Impacto de la vulnerabilidad socioeconómica en los resultados del Covid-19 y el distanciamiento social en Brasil

Due to the persistently high cases and deaths, Brazil became one of the worst countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the possible health inequities is essential, given the population's diversity and the country's fragile socioeco- nomic situation. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact and correlation of socioeco- nomic vulnerability on COVID-19 outcomes and social distancing in Brazil. The Gini Coefficient (GC), the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), epidemiological data on the CO- VID-19 epidemic in Brazil, and the Social Distancing Index (SDI) were retrieved from online databases and assessed for each Brazilian state. Data was statistically analyzed through non-parametric tests and multiple linear regressions. The mean values for the GC and SVI were 0.495 and 0.261, respectively. A positive statistically significant correlation was found between the socioeconomic indicators and the three variables related to the COVID-19 outbreak. States with very low social vulnerability presented fewer deaths per 100 thousand inhabitants due to COVID-19 than states with moderate social vulnerability. SVI was a predictor of accumulated cases, confirmed deaths, and social distancing. The COVID-19 outcomes and SDI in Brazilian states are correlated to socioeconomic condi- tions. The pandemic impacts are more severe on less favored communities.

Devido ao número persistentemente alto de casos e mortes, o Brasil se tornou um dos países mais afetados pela pandemia da COVID-19. Compreender as possíveis desigualdades em saúde é essencial, dada a diversidade da população e a frágil situação socioeconômica do país. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto e a correlação da vulnerabilidade socioeconômica sobre os resultados da COVID-19 e o dis- tanciamento social no Brasil. O Coeficiente de Gini (CG), o Índice de Vulnerabilidade Social (IVS), os dados epidemiológicos sobre a epidemia de COVID-19 no Brasil e o Índice de Distanciamento Social (IDS) foram recuperados de bancos de dados on-line e avaliados para cada estado brasileiro. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente por meio de testes não paramétricos e regressões lineares múltiplas. Os valores médios para o GC e o SVI foram 0,495 e 0,261, respectivamente. Foi encontrada uma correlação po- sitiva estatisticamente significativa entre os indicadores socioeconômicos e as três variá- veis relacionadas ao surto de COVID-19. Os estados com vulnerabilidade social muito baixa apresentaram menos mortes por 100 mil habitantes devido à COVID-19 do que os estados com vulnerabilidade social moderada. O IVS foi um preditor de casos acumula- dos, mortes confirmadas e distanciamento social. Os resultados da COVID-19 e o SDI nos estados brasileiros estão correlacionados às condições socioeconômicas. Os impactos da pandemia são mais graves nas comunidades menos favorecidas.

Debido a la persistencia de un elevado número de casos y muertes, Brasil se convirtió en uno de los países más afectados por la pandemia de COVID-19. Compren- der las posibles desigualdades sanitarias es esencial, dada la diversidad de la población y la frágil situación socioeconómica del país. Así, este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el impacto y la correlación de la vulnerabilidad socioeconómica en los resultados del CO- VID-19 y el distanciamiento social en Brasil. El Coeficiente de Gini (CG), el Índice de Vulnerabilidad Social (IVS), datos epidemiológicos sobre la epidemia de COVID-19 en Brasil y el Índice de Distanciamiento Social (IDS) fueron recuperados de bases de datos en línea y evaluados para cada estado brasileño. Los datos se analizaron estadísticamente mediante pruebas no paramétricas y regresiones lineales múltiples. Los valores medios del CG y del IVS fueron 0,495 y 0,261, respectivamente. Se encontró una correlación estadísticamente significativa positiva entre los indicadores socioeconómicos y las tres variables relacionadas con el brote de COVID-19. Los estados con vulnerabilidad social muy baja presentaron una mayor vulnerabilidad social. Los estados con muy baja vulne- rabilidad social presentaron menos muertes por cada 100 mil habitantes debidas al CO- VID-19 que los estados con vulnerabilidad social moderada. El IVS fue un predictor de casos acumulados, muertes confirmadas y distanciamiento social. Los resultados de la COVID-19 y el IVS en los estados brasileños están correlacionados con las condiciones socioeconómicas. Los impactos de la pandemia son más severos en las comunidades me- nos favorecidas.

Survival and prognostic factors in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma / Supervivencia y factores pronósticos en pacientes con carcinoma oral de células escamosas

Background: This study aimed to evaluate sociodemographic and clinical factors influencing overall survival(OS) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Material and Methods: Medical charts of 547 patients with OSCC from a public hospital in northeastern Brazilseen between 1999 and 2013 were evaluated. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method.The influence of age, sex, ethnicity, clinical stage, anatomical location, type of treatment, and comorbidities on thepatients’ prognosis was evaluated. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify independentprognostic factors.Results: The 5-year OS was 39%. Multivariate analysis showed that age < 40 years (HR = 2.20; 95%CI: 1.02-4.72)and a single treatment modality (HR = 1.91; 95%CI: 1.37-2.67) were associated with a poor prognosis, while earlyclinical stage resulted in better outcomes (HR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.25-0.58).Conclusions: OSCC patients in advanced clinical stages, diagnosed at a younger age, and submitted to a singletherapeutic modality have a poorer prognosis.(AU)

A new species of emCosmoclopius/em Stål, 1866 from Argentina (Hemiptera, Reduviidae).

A new species of Cosmoclopius Stål, 1866, C. joceliae sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected in northern Argentina. This new species is recognized by the vertical and truncate median process of pygophore, and the short-recurved spine on the apex of the dorsal phallothecal sclerite; and other features such as the dorsally black head, pronotum, and femora, and the thoracic sterna black with median pale markings; some females show lighter posterior pronotal lobe and femora with more conspicuous dark and pale bands. Digital images of the adult male and female and male genitalia are provided, as well as a comparison with the species of the genus are given.

The impact of socioeconomic vulnerability on COVID-19 outcomes and social distancing in Brazil / El impacto de la vulnerabilidad socioeconómica en los resultados del COVID-19 y en el aislamiento social en Brasil / O impacto da vulnerabilidade socioeconômica nos desfechos da COVID-19 e no distanciamento social no Brasil

Objective: To assess the impact and correlation of socioeconomic vulnerability on COVID-19 outcomes and social distancing in Brazil. Methods: The Gini Coefficient (GC), the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), epidemiological data on COVID-19 epidemic in Brazil, and the Social Distancing Index (SDI) were retrieved from online databases and assessed for each Brazilian state. Data was statistically analyzed through non-parametric tests and multiple linear regressions. Results: The mean values for the GC and SVI were 0.495 and 0.261, respectively. A positive statistically significant correlation between the socioeconomic indicators and the three variables related to the COVID-19 outbreak was found. States with very low social vulnerability presented fewer deaths per 100 thousand inhabitants due to COVID-19 than states with moderate social vulnerability. SVI was a predictor of accumulated cases, confirmed deaths, and social distancing in Brazilian states during COVID-19. Conclusions: The COVID-19 outcomes and SDI in Brazilian states are correlated to the socioeconomic condition. The pandemic impacts are more severe in less favored communities.

Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto e a correlação da vulnerabilidade socioeconômica nos desfechos da COVID-19 e no distanciamento social no Brasil. Materiais e Métodos: O Coeficiente de Gini (CG), o Índice de Vulnerabilidade Social (IVS), dados epidemiológicos sobre a epidemia da COVID-19 no Brasil e o Índice de Distanciamento Social (IDS) foram obtidos a partir de bases de dados online e avaliados para cada estado brasileiro. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente através de testes não-paramétricos e de regressão logística linear. Resultados: Os valores médios para o CG e IVS foram 0.495 e 0.261, respectivamente. Uma correlação estatística positiva foi encontrada entre os indicadores socioeconômicos e as três variáveis relacionadas à epidemia de COVID-19. Os estados brasileiros com menores índices de vulnerabilidade social apresentaram uma quantidade menor de mortes pela COVID-19, para cada cem mil habitantes, quando comparados com estados com vulnerabilidade social moderada. O IVS foi um preditor para o acumulado de casos, mortes confirmadas e distanciamento social nos estados brasileiros durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Conclusão: Os desfechos da COVID-19 e o IDS nos estados brasileiros estão correlacionados com a condição socioeconômica. Os impactos da pandemia são mais severos nas localidades mais vulneráveis.

The use of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in infectious oral lesions of patients with leukemia under antineoplastic treatment: Two case reports.

Opportunistic infections in the oral cavity can cause serious complications in immunocompromised cancer patients. Efficient treatments options are essential. This article reports two clinical cases of adolescent patients diagnosed with leukemia, who presented with infectious conditions in the oral cavity. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy was used as an adjuvant therapy to abbreviate the course of these oral lesions.

Hospital and oncological dental care: a series of cases / Assistência odontológica hospitalar e oncológica: uma série de casos

ABTRACT Hospital dental care is an educational and health care strategy whose purpose is to intervene, in a multidisciplinary way, in the health-disease process of vulnerable individuals, as unsatisfactory oral health is a risk factor for local and systemic infections. Patients in cancer treatment usually present oral manifestations because of the antineoplastic therapies to which they are submitted. Chemotherapy, radiation and cancer surgery, when the latter held in the head and neck region, have the potential to generate side effects in the oral cavity. These oral manifestations can be serious and interfere with the results of medical therapy, leading to important systemic complications, which can increase hospital stay, treatment costs, and affect the quality of life. In view of this reality, the incorporation of the dentist into the multiprofessional team in oncology is essential to guarantee the patient's integral care in all stages of therapy. This article then proposes to report a series of cases of patients attended at the Dentistry Service of the Oncology Center of the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital of the University of Pernambuco, that exemplify the dental surgeon performance in a hospital environment, participating as an active member of a multidisciplinary team in oncology.

RESUMO O atendimento odontológico hospitalar é uma estratégia educativa e assistencial que tem como objetivo intervir, de forma multidisciplinar, no processo saúde-doença de indivíduos vulneráveis, uma vez que a saúde bucal insatisfatória é um fator de risco para infecções locais e sistêmicas. Pacientes em tratamento oncológico geralmente apresentam manifestações orais por causa das terapias antineoplásicas às quais são submetidos. Quimioterapia, radioterapia e cirurgia oncológica, quando realizadas na região da cabeça e pescoço, têm o potencial de gerar efeitos colaterais na cavidade bucal. Essas manifestações orais podem ser graves e interferir nos resultados da terapia medicamentosa, levando a importantes complicações sistêmicas, que podem aumentar a permanência hospitalar, os custos do tratamento e afetar a qualidade de vida. Diante dessa realidade, a incorporação do cirurgião-dentista na equipe multiprofissional em oncologia é fundamental para garantir a integralidade do cuidado em todas as etapas da terapia. Este artigo se propõe a relatar uma série de casos de pacientes atendidos no Serviço de Odontologia do Centro de Oncologia do Hospital Universitário Oswaldo Cruz da Universidade de Pernambuco, que exemplificam possibilidades de atuação do cirurgião-dentista em ambiente hospitalar, participando como membro ativo de uma equipe multidisciplinar em oncologia.

Fecal peritonitis in aging rat model. Therapeutic response to different antibiotic strategies.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the response of aging rats with sepsis to two different antibiotic regimens. METHODS: The study was conducted with 30 aging rats (18 month-old) with autologous feces peritonitis. The animals were divided into three groups: Group 0 received no therapeutic intervention (control), while Group 1 received a single dose of 40 mg/kg meropenem and Group 2 received a single dose of 20 mg/kg moxifloxacin. The intervention in both Groups was made 6 hours after induction of peritonitis. The animals were followed up to 15 days for evaluating morbidity and mortality. The weights at baseline were similar in all groups. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, weight loss was significantly greater (p=0.0045) in Group 0 (non-intervention controls). Culture from a blood sample at the end of follow-up was positive in all the animals in Group 0, in two animals in Group 1 and in four animals in Group 2. Morbidity/mortality was significantly higher in Group 0 compared to both Groups 1 and 2 (p=0.003) but the scores were not significantly different between Groups 1 and 2 (p=0.6967). CONCLUSION: Both antibiotic regimens rendered promising results for the treatment of fecal peritonitis.

Fecal peritonitis in aging rat model. Therapeutic response to different antibiotic strategies

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the response of aging rats with sepsis to two different antibiotic regimens. Methods: The study was conducted with 30 aging rats (18 month-old) with autologous feces peritonitis. The animals were divided into three groups: Group 0 received no therapeutic intervention (control), while Group 1 received a single dose of 40 mg/kg meropenem and Group 2 received a single dose of 20 mg/kg moxifloxacin. The intervention in both Groups was made 6 hours after induction of peritonitis. The animals were followed up to 15 days for evaluating morbidity and mortality. The weights at baseline were similar in all groups. Results: At the end of follow-up, weight loss was significantly greater (p=0.0045) in Group 0 (non-intervention controls). Culture from a blood sample at the end of follow-up was positive in all the animals in Group 0, in two animals in Group 1 and in four animals in Group 2. Morbidity/mortality was significantly higher in Group 0 compared to both Groups 1 and 2 (p=0.003) but the scores were not significantly different between Groups 1 and 2 (p=0.6967). Conclusion: Both antibiotic regimens rendered promising results for the treatment of fecal peritonitis.

The use of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in oral injuries of a pediatric patient with myelodysplastic syndrome: case report.

AIM: To report a case of a pediatric patient carrier of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with severe oral infectious disease, in which antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) was used as a therapeutic choice to support systemic treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: This case report refers to a 1-year-old male patient with MDS and hospitalized for investigation and treatment of complications at a Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Center in Recife/PE, Brazil. The intraoral examination revealed a violaceous lesion surrounding the lower incisor teeth, which progressed with alteration of color to milky yellowish white, compromising the entire lower gingival border, leading to tooth mobility and consequent loss of teeth 71 and 81. The patient was treated under systemic antimicrobial therapy and aPDT was also performed, using a photosensitizing agent (methylene blue, 0.01%) and a low-intensity laser in the visible red spectrum. Oral clinical improvement was observed, but the patient died after 45 days of hospitalization in the Pediatric ICU due to other systemic complications. CONCLUSION: MDS may present limiting oral repercussions interfering in patients' quality of life. The aPDT is presented as an adjuvant therapeutic modality in oral infections with satisfactory results.

The fate of endemic insects of the Andean region under the effect of global warming.

Three independent but complementary lines of research have provided evidence for the recognition of refugia: paleontology, phylogeography and species distributional modelling (SDM). SDM assesses the ecological requirements of a species based on its known occurrences and enables its distribution to be projected on past climatological reconstructions. One advantage over the other two approaches is that it provides an explicit link to environment and geography, thereby enabling the analysis of a large number of taxa in the search for more general refugia patterns. We propose a methodology for using SDM to recognize biogeographical patterns of endemic insects from Southern South America. We built species distributional models for 59 insect species using Maxent. The species analyzed in the study have narrow niche breadth and were classified into four assemblages according to the ecoregion they inhabit. Models were built for the Late Pleistocene, Mid-Holocene and Present. Through the procedure developed for this study we used the models to recognize: Late Pleistocene refugia; areas with high species richness during all three periods; climatically constant areas (in situ refugia); consistent patterns among in situ refugia, Pleistocene refugia and current distribution of endemic species. We recognized two adjacent Pleistocene refugia with distinct climates; four in situ refugia, some of which are undergoing a process of fragmentation and retraction or enlargement. Interestingly, we found a congruent pattern among in situ refugia, Pleistocene refugia and endemic species. Our results seem to be consistent with the idea that long-term climate stability is known to have a key role in promoting persistence of biodiversity in an area. Our Pleistocene and in situ refugia are consistent with refugia identified in studies focusing on different taxa and applying other methodologies, showing that the method developed can be used to identify such areas and prove their importance for conservation.

Brain damage and congenital cataract due to autogenously fecal peritonitis in pregnant Wistar rats.

PURPOSE: To investigate the morphological aspects of brain and eyes in newborn rats whose mother underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis. METHODS: Four pregnant rats that underwent fecal peritonitis, with a 10% fecal suspension in dose of 4 ml per kilogram received two antimicrobial treatments: 1. intraperitoneal moxifloxacin and dexamethazone; and 2. Intravenous meropenem. After head inspection, the brain consistencies and the eyes belonging to all offspring were analyzed. RESULTS: The brains of newborn from rats that received 4 ml/kg of 10% suspension of feces showed, significantly smaller and less than the firm consistency of those in the control group. Congenital cataract was observed in 9 (34.6%). No cataract was observed in the 20 newborn rats from the mothers that received the combination of moxifloxacin and dexamethasone. Cataract could be observed in three (13.6%) offspring from mothers that received meropenem. CONCLUSIONS: Peritonitis can produce brain damage and congenital cataract in rats. The translation to humans is that intra abdominal infection in pregnant women may be associated with damage in brain and eye structures of their concepts. This can be averting using the adequate early therapeutically approach.

Brain damage and congenital cataract due to autogenously fecal peritonitis in pregnant Wistar rats

PURPOSE: To investigate the morphological aspects of brain and eyes in newborn rats whose mother underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis. METHODS: Four pregnant rats that underwent fecal peritonitis, with a 10% fecal suspension in dose of 4 ml per kilogram received two antimicrobial treatments: 1. intraperitoneal moxifloxacin and dexamethazone; and 2. Intravenous meropenem. After head inspection, the brain consistencies and the eyes belonging to all offspring were analyzed. RESULTS: The brains of newborn from rats that received 4 ml/kg of 10% suspension of feces showed, significantly smaller and less than the firm consistency of those in the control group. Congenital cataract was observed in 9 (34.6%). No cataract was observed in the 20 newborn rats from the mothers that received the combination of moxifloxacin and dexamethasone. Cataract could be observed in three (13.6%) offspring from mothers that received meropenem. CONCLUSIONS: Peritonitis can produce brain damage and congenital cataract in rats. The translation to humans is that intra abdominal infection in pregnant women may be associated with damage in brain and eye structures of their concepts. This can be averting using the adequate early therapeutically approach. .

Severe autogenously fecal peritonitis in ageing Wistar rats. Response to intravenous meropenem.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment outcome of severe peritonitis in rats with increasing age. METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats stratified in three groups: group I - six month-old; group II - 12 month-old; and group III - 18 month-old, underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis (6 ml/kg rat), and were treated with intravenous meropenem. The survival animals were followed-up for 45 days. The variables were expressed by their mean and standard error of the mean (SEM). p<0.05 was used for rejecting the null hypothesis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the mortality and morbidity in elderly rats. Of interest, even among young survival rats presenting with severe residual abscesses both in the abdomen and thorax cavities, they present an almost normal life. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of severe autogenously fecal peritonitis with intravenous meropenem reached reasonable results in rats with six and twelve months of age, even considering residual abscesses on abdomen and thorax cavities. However, the great majority (80%) of elderly rats could not overcome the initial severe infectious challenge, proving that ageing is a very important risk factor for impairing immune response. Thus, sepsis remains a challenging situation, especially in elderly.

Alcohol extract of Schinu sterebinthifolius raddi (anacardiaceae) as a local antimicrobial agent in severe autogenously fecal peritonitis in rats.

PURPOSE: To develop an alcoholic extract of the inner bark of the Schinus terebinthifolius raddi and to test its impact on autogenously fecal peritonitis in Wistar rats. METHODS: The inner bark of the Schinus terebinthifolius raddi was kept for seven days in 70% ethanol alcohol. The total elimination of the solvent was performed in a rotary evaporator under reduced pressure at 55-60°C. Four milliliter of this extract was injected, after 24 h, into the abdominal cavity of six out of eight survival rats that underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis with five milliliter of 10% filtered fecal suspension. They were clinically followed up for 45 days when they were euthanized. The necropsy findings (inventory) of the abdominal and thorax cavities were inspected and the main findings were recorded and photographed. The investigation was approved by the Ethics Committee. RESULTS: Two out of six survival rats that were critically ill after 24 h died within the 12 h after the extract injection into the abdominal cavity. Four rats that were also critically ill recovered and gradually became healthy, eating well, regaining weight and moving normally in the cage. At 45 days post severe peritonitis the necropsy findings revealed few signs of residual infection on the abdominal and thorax cavities. There were no bowel adhesions. CONCLUSION: The impact of alcoholic extract of the inner bark of the Schinus terebinthifolius raddi was considered very positive and promising as natural local antiseptic against very severe peritonitis in Wistar rats.

Severe autogenously fecal peritonitis in ageing Wistar rats. Response to intravenous meropenem

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment outcome of severe peritonitis in rats with increasing age. METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats stratified in three groups: group I - six month-old; group II - 12 month-old; and group III - 18 month-old, underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis (6 ml/kg rat), and were treated with intravenous meropenem. The survival animals were followed-up for 45 days. The variables were expressed by their mean and standard error of the mean (SEM). p<0.05 was used for rejecting the null hypothesis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the mortality and morbidity in elderly rats. Of interest, even among young survival rats presenting with severe residual abscesses both in the abdomen and thorax cavities, they present an almost normal life. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of severe autogenously fecal peritonitis with intravenous meropenem reached reasonable results in rats with six and twelve months of age, even considering residual abscesses on abdomen and thorax cavities. However, the great majority (80%) of elderly rats could not overcome the initial severe infectious challenge, proving that ageing is a very important risk factor for impairing immune response. Thus, sepsis remains a challenging situation, especially in elderly. .

Severe autogenously fecal peritonitis in Wistar rats with permanent bilateral carotid occlusion. Response to intra peritoneal moxifloxacin combined with dexamethasone.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment outcome of severe peritonitis in rats submitted to permanent bilateral carotid occlusion (PBCO). METHODS: Sixteen Wistar rats (mean age of 8.5 months) with PBCO underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis, and were treated with moxifloxacin combined with dexamethasone, and followed-up for 45 days. Ten rats (mean age five months) without PBCO were used as a control group. The variables were expressed by their mean and standard error of the mean (SEM). p<0.05 was used for rejecting the null hypothesis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee. RESULTS: There was a significant increase (p=0.0002) in the mortality and morbidity in older rats that underwent PBCO (study group). However, even among the survival rats presenting with severe residual abscesses both in the abdomen and thorax cavities, they present an almost normal life. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of severe autogenously fecal peritonitis with intraperitoneal moxifloxacin combined with dexamethasone was very effective in young rats without permanent bilateral carotid occlusion. The treatment reached reasonable results in older rats with PBCO, even considering residual abscesses on abdomen and thorax. Older age was the greater risk factor for the outcome of the treatment of severe peritonitis. Sepsis remains a challenging situation, especially in elderly.

Severe autogenously fecal peritonitis in Wistar rats with permanent bilateral carotid occlusion. Response to intra peritoneal moxifloxacin combined with dexamethasone

To evaluate the treatment outcome of severe peritonitis in rats submitted to permanent bilateral carotid occlusion (PBCO). METHODS: Sixteen Wistar rats (mean age of 8.5 months) with PBCO underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis, and were treated with moxifloxacin combined with dexamethasone, and followed-up for 45 days. Ten rats (mean age five months) without PBCO were used as a control group. The variables were expressed by their mean and standard error of the mean (SEM). p<0.05 was used for rejecting the null hypothesis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee. RESULTS: There was a significant increase (p=0.0002) in the mortality and morbidity in older rats that underwent PBCO (study group). However, even among the survival rats presenting with severe residual abscesses both in the abdomen and thorax cavities, they present an almost normal life. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of severe autogenously fecal peritonitis with intraperitoneal moxifloxacin combined with dexamethasone was very effective in young rats without permanent bilateral carotid occlusion. The treatment reached reasonable results in older rats with PBCO, even considering residual abscesses on abdomen and thorax. Older age was the greater risk factor for the outcome of the treatment of severe peritonitis. Sepsis remains a challenging situation, especially in elderly.