Population dynamics of Achatina fulica in a peri-urban area adjacent to the Fiocruz Atlantic Forest Biological Station (EFMA), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with report on Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection.

Achatina fulica is a species native to East Africa, considered one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world. The present study investigated the population of the snail, A. fulica, in a peri-urban area adjacent to the Fiocruz Atlantic Forest Biological Station (EFMA), in Jacarepaguá, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, focusing on population dynamics and the nematodes associated with this species. To this end, specimens were collected during four climatic seasons of the years 2021 and 2022 in three fixed 20 m × 10 m plots. The abundance of A. fulica in these areas was evaluated in relation to a set of environmental variables (temperature, relative humidity air, and soil pH and calcium). The abundance of snails infected by nematodes was also evaluated in relation to the season and body size of the specimens. The molluscs were found by active search, and standardized (15 minutes/three collections). Nematode larvae were extracted from the specimens by artificial digestion and identified by their external morphology and the sequencing of molecular markers. A total of 280 specimens of A. fulica were collected, with the highest abundances being recorded in the autumn and summer, although no significant relationship was found between the number of specimens collected and the environmental variables. Overall, 192 snails were infected by nematodes: Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Cruzia tentaculata and free-living nematodes, including Caenorhabditis briggsae. These findings demonstrate the epidemiological importance of the study area and the need to implement educational measures in the community, with the aim of controlling the local A. fulica population, thereby minimizing the risk of parasitic infection in the local human population.

Semperula wallacei (Mollusca, Veronicellidae) um hospedeiro natural recém-descoberto de Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Nematoda, Angiostrongylidae) na Bacia do Pacífico.

Semperula wallacei (Issel, 1874) is a species of terrestrial slug that occurs in southeast China and the Pacific Basin and is the only species of its genus that occurs beyond the Oriental region and to the east of Wallace's line in the Australian region, where it has probably been introduced. In this study, we report for the first time S. wallacei as an intermediate host for Angiostrongylus cantonensis (Chen, 1935) based on histological and molecular analyses of slugs from Tuamasaga, Samoa, deposited at the Medical Malacological Collection (Fiocruz-CMM). DNA was obtained from the deparafinized tissues scraped from specimen slides. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) targeted to the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region were carried out using the restriction enzyme Cla I. The RFLP profile observed for our larval specimen of S. wallacei was identical to the profile previously established for A. cantonensis, demonstrating that S. wallacei can be naturally infected with A. cantonensis and is likely to be an intermediate host for this parasitic nematode species in the field. The potential for geographical range expansion of S. wallacei in the Pacific Basin, its small size, and the general role of veronicellids as crop pests and hosts of nematodes, indicate the significance of S. wallacei as an invasive species in the Pacific Basin. Our work also highlights the importance of biological collections for investigating the environmental impact of invasive species on agriculture, public health, and biodiversity conservation.

The invasive giant African land snail, Achatina fulica (Gastropoda: Pulmonata): global geographical distribution of this species as host of nematodes of medical and veterinary importance.

The giant African land snail, Achatina fulica, is an important invasive species in many countries, where it causes losses in biodiversity and agriculture, as well as impacting the health of both humans and animals, as the intermediate host of medically important nematodes. The present study is based on a comprehensive review of the literature on the nematodes that have been found in association with A. fulica, worldwide. We searched a number of different databases and used the findings to investigate the methods used to extract and identify the nematodes, their larval stages, and environment and collecting procedures of the infected molluscs. Between 1965 and 2021, 11 nematode species were recorded in association with A. fulica in 21 countries. Most of the studies recorded associations between A. fulica and Angiostrongylus cantonensis, which causes cerebral angiostrongyliasis in humans and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, which provokes pneumonia in felines. The nematodes were extracted primarily by artificial digestion with hydrochloric acid or pepsin, and identified based on their morphology or through experimental infection to obtain the adult. In most cases, the nematodes were at larval stage L3, and the infected A. fulica were collected from anthropogenic environments. The results demonstrate the importance of A. fulica as a host of nematodes of medical and veterinary importance, as well the contribution of anthropogenic environments to the occurrence of the parasites, and give information about the different methods used to collect and identify the nematodes found associated with this species.

Core stabilisation exercises reduce chronic low back pain in Air Force fighter pilots: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that core stabilisation, strength and endurance training contribute to reduce low back pain in the general population. However, we are not aware of the effect of these exercises on fighter aviation pilots. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects of an exercise protocol on chronic low back pain in Brazilian Air Force fighter pilots. Changes in neck pain, lumbar disability, range of motion, strength and resistance were also investigated. METHODS: Fourteen participants with chronic low back pain were randomised into two groups: stabilisation exercise group (SEG-n=7), exercise protocol twice a week for 12 weeks) and the regular exercise group (REG-n=7), which performed their own usual exercise routine. The evaluations were carried out before and after the training period. The primary outcome was the intensity of low back pain and the secondary outcomes were cervical pain, functional disability, range of motion, maximum isometric strength and trunk muscle resistance. RESULTS: The SEG had a significant reduction in low back pain compared with the REG (difference of 2.3 points, p=0.04) and a lower rate of cervical pain (difference of 2.5 points, p=0.01) at the end of the protocol. Maintenance of trunk muscle strength was also observed in the SEG over the period, while the REG presented a decrease in flexural strength to the right side (difference between groups: -3.7%, p=0.04). There were no differences in the rates of disability, range of motion or resistance to fatigue between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The stabilisation exercise programme focused on the core muscles was successful in decreasing the fighter pilots' chronic lumbar pain. Pilots are normally active; however, our results indicate that specific trunk training programmes should be offered considering the work needs of these subjects. CLINICAL TRIALS: 'Exercise protocol for pilots with back pain' (registered: 09 October 2018)-NCT03713814 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03713814).

Invasive slug Meghimatium pictum (Stoliczka, 1873) infected by Angiostrongylus costaricensis Morera & Céspedes, 1971, and the possible risk of human infection associated with grape consumption.

Many molluscs may be infected with angiostrongylid larvae. Following the histopathological diagnosis of abdominal angiostrongyliasis in a grape farmer from southern Brazil, molluscs in the area were investigated. During a nocturnal search, 245 specimens of slugs were collected and identified as the invasive Chinese slug Meghimatium pictum. Angiostrongylus costaricensis worms were recovered from mice that were experimentally infected with larvae obtained from 11 (4.5%) of the molluscs. This study presents the first report of M. pictum being identified as an intermediate host for A. costaricensis. Most of the slugs were collected from grape plants, which suggests that transmission may be associated with grape consumption.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of electrospun nanofibers of PCL, chitosan and gelatin: a comparative study.

Many polymers have been investigated with respect to their use in skin tissue engineering. However, directly comparable data on the role played by different polymers in assisting skin wound healing requires their in vitro and in vivo evaluation under the same conditions. Therefore, we performed a study in order to compare the performance of electrospun nanofiber mats from three different polymers concerning cell-scaffold interaction and wound healing promotion. A polyester (polycaprolactone, PCL), a protein (gelatin from cold water fish skin, GEL) and a polysaccharide (chitosan, CS) were the polymers chosen. Gelatin nanofibers were crosslinked with glutaraldehyde vapor. The scaffolds were characterized physico-chemically, in vitro by seeding with human fetal fibroblasts, HFFF2, and used in vivo as skin substitutes in a rat wound model with total skin removal. In vitro tests revealed that cells adhered and proliferated in all scaffolds. However, cells deep into the scaffold were only observed in the PCL and CS scaffolds. In in vivo tests CS scaffolds had the highest impact on the healing process by decreasing the extent of wound contraction and enhancing the production of a neodermis and re-epithelialization of the wound.

In vitro evaluation of crosslinked electrospun fish gelatin scaffolds.

Gelatin from cold water fish skin was electrospun, crosslinked and investigated as a substrate for the adhesion and proliferation of cells. Gelatin was first dissolved in either water or concentrated acetic acid and both solutions were successfully electrospun. Cross-linking was achieved via three different routes: glutaraldehyde vapor, genipin and dehydrothermal treatment. Solution's properties (surface tension, electrical conductivity and viscosity) and scaffold's properties (chemical bonds, weight loss and fiber diameters) were measured. Cellular viability was analyzed culturing 3T3 fibroblasts plated on the scaffolds and grown up to 7 days. The cells were fixed and observed with SEM or stained for DNA and F-actin and observed with confocal microscopy. In all scaffolds, the cells attached and spread with varying degrees. The evaluation of cell viability showed proliferation of cells until confluence in scaffolds crosslinked by glutaraldehyde and genipin; however the rate of growth in genipin crosslinked scaffolds was slow, recovering only by day five. The results using the dehydrothermal treatment were the less satisfactory. Our results show that glutaraldehyde treated fish gelatin is the most suitable substrate, of the three studied, for fibroblast adhesion and proliferation.

Telemedicine model for training non-medical persons in the early recognition of melanoma.

A Web-based educational model, called JUTE, was developed for the early diagnosis of melanoma. It was compared with a control Website composed of information available on the Internet for teaching undergraduate medical students. The JUTE model was designed to allow the student linear navigation of the main topics that were assumed to be important in learning to make a diagnosis. The rate of success in correctly deciding to refer pigmented lesions to a dermatologist was compared among 34 new medical students who were randomly divided into two groups. There was no significant difference between the JUTE and control groups in the pre-test. When comparing the pre- and post-tests, the number of correct decisions increased significantly only in the JUTE group. In the JUTE group there was a slight but significant improvement when comparing decisions about thin melanoma before and after the training. The educational approach chosen for the JUTE Website appears to be useful for teaching the early recognition of melanoma and could be used for larger educational campaigns of skin cancer prevention.

The quantification of potassium using a quartz crystal microbalance.

N,N'-dibenzyl-4,13-diaza-18-crown-6 (A) and bis[(benzo-15-crown-5)-4'-ylmethyl] pimelate (B) were tested as coatings for two piezoelectric crystals for potassium quantification. Both sensors showed stability, reversibility and sensitivity characteristics that allowed their use in quantitative analysis. However, compound A is much more sensitive to potassium than B. Compound A also shows a larger relative sensitivity for potassium with regard to sodium than B. A pharmaceutical sample of known composition was analysed both by an acoustic wave sensor with a crystal coated with compound A and by conductivity. No statistically significant difference in the median of the results was found (alpha = 0.05), although precision is superior for the conductivity methodology. Performance of the sensor in terms of frequency stability and selectivity was improved by the incorporation of PVC, a plasticizer and a lipophilic salt in the coating composition. Limits of detection found for potassium were 1.92 ppm, or 1.75 ppm for a crystal with a frequency decrease due to coating of 2.9 kHz or 3.9 kHz, respectively. Selectivity coefficients (fixed interference 80 ppm) for potassium over Na, Ca, Al, Zn, Mg, and Fe ranged from 0.103 to 0.332.

Bilateral putaminal hemorrhage related to methanol poisoning: a complication of hemodialysis? Case report.

A case of acute methanol intoxication is presented, in which bilateral putaminal hemorrhage developed after hemodialysis. Even though the patient was initially comatose and profoundly acidotic, favorable outcome was achieved, with long-term neurologic impairments essentially restricted to mild crural paraparesis, retrograde amnesia, and marked visual deficit. A comparative literature review is evaluated.