Predicting Difficulty in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies: An Evaluation of the Labbad-Vivas Score and Its Correlation With the Parkland Grading Scale.

Background Difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC) denotes the surgical extraction of the gallbladder under circumstances where associated conditions within the same organ, adjacent structures, or patient-specific conditions impede a smooth, expeditious, and comfortable dissection. It is imperative to utilize tools that aid in anticipating this challenging surgical scenario, enabling the implementation of appropriate measures. Objective This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the Labbad-Vivas score (LVS) in predicting DLC and its correlation with the Parkland Grading Scale (PGS). Methodology A prospective study was conducted, including patients diagnosed with gallstone disease undergoing LC (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) at the "Dr. Luis Razetti" University Hospital in Barcelona, Venezuela, between September and December 2023. Results Forty patients were studied, with 80% (n=32) being female and 95% (n=38) under the age of 65; surgeries were elective in 72.5% (n=29) of cases; 35% (n=14) had an LVS ≥16 (difficult cholecystectomy); and 62.5% (n=25) of patients presented Grades 1 and 2 on the PGS. Total cholecystectomy was performed in 95% (n=38) of the patients. The LVS showed a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 92%, positive predictive value of 85.7%, and negative predictive value of 88.5% to predict DLC, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.897 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.792-1.003). A Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.805 (95% CI = 0.656 - 0.904) was obtained between both scores. Conclusion The use of the LVS score in the preoperative setting is feasible as a predictor of DLC, given its effectiveness and high correlation with the PGS.

Migration process of Venezuelan women to Brazil: living conditions and use of health services in Manaus and Boa Vista, 2018-2021.

BACKGROUND: The last decade saw the emergence of a new significant migration corridor due to the mass migration of Venezuelans to neighboring countries in South America. Since 2018, Brazil became the third host country of Venezuelan displaced populations. Little is known about how migratory processes affect needs, access to social programs, and public health services of migrant women. The goal of this study is to shed light on the socio-economic profile, living conditions, and use of health services of Venezuelan migrant women in two main reception cities in Brazil. METHODS: A survey was conducted using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in the cities of Boa Vista (Roraima), and Manaus (Amazonas). The study included 2012 Venezuelan migrant women aged between 15 and 49 years old who migrated from Venezuela to Brazil between 2018 and 2021. Relative prevalence was calculated, and the χ2 test was used to analyse the homogeneity of proportions. All analyses considered the complex sampling. RESULTS: The main reasons for migrating relate to difficulties obtaining food (54%) and accessing health services (37.8%) in their country of origin. They were young and mixed race (65.7%) and had high school education (69.9%). In Manaus, 3.7% of the interviewees declared that they had no family income in the last month, while in Boa Vista, it was higher (66.2%) (p-value < 0.001). Almost one-third of them sought health care in the last 15 days, and 95% of them received care. The residents of Boa Vista arrived more recently and family income and access to paid work improved with time of residence in Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: Given the increasing flow of Venezuelan migrants crossing to Brazil, a reception system was established for the provision of food, shelter, access to health services, and income transfer programs to migrants. This was the case despite high unemployment and poverty levels and income inequality, particularly in the city of Boa Vista. However, the majority had legal migrant status and had access to the public and universal healthcare system in Brazil (SUS). The use of the SUS was similar in both cities, acting as a buffer for the differences in opportunities offered.

Persistent Food Insecurity and Material Hardships: A Latent Class Analysis of Experiences among Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants in Urban Colombia.

The causes and conditions of displacement often increase the vulnerability of migrant and refugee populations to food insecurity, alongside other material hardships. We aimed to examine the multidimensional aspects and patterns of food insecurity and other material hardships in a cross-sectional sample of 6221 Venezuelan refugees and migrants in urban Colombia using a latent class analysis. Using multinomial and logistic regression models, we investigated the demographic and migratory experiences associated with identified classes and how class membership is associated with multiple health outcomes among Venezuelan refugees and migrants, respectively. Approximately two thirds of the sample was comprised cisgender women, and the participants had a median age of 32 years (IQR: 26-41). Four heterogeneous classes of food insecurity and material hardships emerged: Class 1-low food insecurity and material hardship; Class 2-high food insecurity and material hardship; Class 3-high income hardship with insufficient food intake; and Class 4-income hardship with food affordability challenges. Class 2 reflected the most severe food insecurity and material hardships and had the highest class membership; Venezuelans with an irregular migration status were almost 1.5 times more likely to belong to this class. Food insecurity and material hardship class membership was independently associated with self-rated health, mental health symptoms, and recent violence victimization and marginally associated with infectious disease outcomes (laboratory-confirmed HIV and/or syphilis infection). Social safety nets, social protection, and other interventions that reduce and prevent material hardships and food insecurity among refugees and migrants, alongside the host community, may improve public health, support development, and reduce healthcare costs. In the long term, regularization and social policies for migrants aimed at enhancing refugees' and migrants' social and economic inclusion may contribute to improving food security in this population.

Genomic insights into the population history and adaptive traits of Latin American Criollo cattle.

Criollo cattle, the descendants of animals brought by Iberian colonists to the Americas, have been the subject of natural and human-mediated selection in novel tropical agroecological zones for centuries. Consequently, these breeds have evolved distinct characteristics such as resistance to diseases and exceptional heat tolerance. In addition to European taurine (Bos taurus) ancestry, it has been proposed that gene flow from African taurine and Asian indicine (Bos indicus) cattle has shaped the ancestry of Criollo cattle. In this study, we analysed Criollo breeds from Colombia and Venezuela using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array data to examine population structure and admixture at high resolution. Analysis of genetic structure and ancestry components provided evidence for African taurine and Asian indicine admixture in Criollo cattle. In addition, using WGS data, we detected selection signatures associated with a myriad of adaptive traits, revealing genes linked to thermotolerance, reproduction, fertility, immunity and distinct coat and skin coloration traits. This study underscores the remarkable adaptability of Criollo cattle and highlights the genetic richness and potential of these breeds in the face of climate change, habitat flux and disease challenges. Further research is warranted to leverage these findings for more effective and sustainable cattle breeding programmes.

Update of the geographic range of Humboldt's squirrel monkeys (Saimiri cassiquiarensis cassiquiarensis Lesson, 1840) using a model-based approach.

Saimiri cassiquiarensis cassiquiarensis (Cebidae) is a primate subspecies with a wide distribution in the Amazonian region of Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. However, the boundaries of its geographic range remain poorly defined. This study presents new occurrence localities for this subspecies and updates its distribution using a compiled data set of 140 occurrence records based on literature, specimens vouchered in scientific collections, and new field data to produce model-based range maps. After cleaning our data set, we updated the subspecies' extent of occurrence, which was used in model calibration. We then modeled the subspecies' range using a maximum entropy algorithm (MaxEnt). The final model was adjusted using a fixed threshold, and we revised this polygon based on known geographic barriers and parapatric congeneric ranges. Our findings indicate that this subspecies is strongly associated with lowland areas, with consistently high daily temperatures. We propose modifications to all range boundaries and estimate that 3% of the area of occupancy (AOO, as defined by IUCN) has already been lost due to deforestation, resulting in a current range of 224,469 km2. We also found that 54% of their AOO is currently covered by protected areas (PAs). Based on these results, we consider that this subspecies is currently properly classified as Least Concern, because it occupies an extensive range, which is relatively well covered by PAs, and is currently experiencing low rates of deforestation.

Saimiri cassiquiarensis cassiquiarensis (Cebidae) é uma subespécie de primata com ampla distribuição na região amazônica do Brasil, Colômbia e Venezuela. No entanto, os limites de sua distribuição geográfica permanecem mal definidos. Este estudo apresenta novas localidades de ocorrência para essa subespécie e atualiza sua distribuição usando 140 registros de ocorrência compilados com base na literatura, espécimes depositados em coleções científicas e novos registros de campo para produzir mapas de distribuição baseados em modelos. Após a limpeza do nosso banco de dados, atualizamos a extensão de ocorrência da subespécie, que foi usada na calibração do modelo. Em seguida, modelamos a área de distribuição da subespécie usando um algoritmo de entropia máxima (MaxEnt). O modelo final foi ajustado usando um limiar fixo e revisamos esse polígono com base em barreiras geográficas conhecidas e na distribuição de congêneres parapátricas. Nosso modelo sugere que a espécie é fortemente associada a áreas planas, com temperaturas diárias consistentemente altas. Propomos modificações em todos os limites da área de distribuição e estimamos que 3% da área de ocupação (AOO, conforme definida pela IUCN) da subespécie já foi perdida devido ao desmatamento, resultando em uma área de distribuição atual de 224,469 km2. Também estimamos que 54% de sua AOO encontra­se atualmente coberta por áreas protegidas. Com base nesses resultados, consideramos que a subespécie está apropriadamente classificada como Pouco Preocupante, pois ocupa uma área extensa, que é relativamente bem coberta por áreas protegidas e atualmente apresenta baixas taxas de desmatamento.

Some trematodes including three new species from freshwater fishes of Venezuela.

The present paper comprises a systematic survey of trematodes found in 13 species of freshwater fishes in Venezuela collected in 1992, 1996 and 2001. The following 15 trematode species were recorded: Adults: Genarchella venezuelaensis sp. n., Thometrema dissimilis sp. n., Megacoelium spinicavum Thatcher et Varella, 1981, Doradamphistoma bacuense Thatcher, 1999, Crassicutis cichlasomae Manter, 1936, Parspina carapo Ostrowski de Núñez, Arredonto et Gil de Pertierra, 2011, Phyllodistomoides hoplerythrini sp. n. Larvae (metacercariae): Clinostomatopsis sorbens (Braun, 1899), Clinostomum marginatum (Rudolphi, 1819), C. detruncatum Braun, 1899, Ithyoclinostomum dimorphum (Diesing, 1850), Odhneriotrema microcephala (Travassos, 1922), Tylodelphys sp., Posthodiplostomum sp., Sphincterodiplostomum sp. All these parasites are reported from Venezuela for the first time and many of these findings represent new host records. The new species G. venezuelaensis sp. n., T. dissimilis sp. n. and P. hoplerythrini sp. n. were collected from the accessory respiratory organ of Loricariichthys brunneus (Hancock) (Loricariidae), from the stomach of Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus (Spix et Agassiz) (Erythrinidae) and from the intestine of H. unitaeniatus, respectively. All parasites are briefly described and illustrated and problems concerning their morphology, taxonomy, hosts and geographical distribution are discussed. Megacoelium spinispecum Thatcher et Varella, 1981 is considered a junior synonym of M. spinicavum Thatcher et Varella, 1981, and Crassicutis opisthoseminis Bravo-Hollis et Arroyo, 1962 as a junior synonym of C. cichlasomae Manter, 1936.

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) report of healthcare-associated infections, data summary of 25 countries for 2014-2023, Surgical Site Infections Module.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) prevalence is higher in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) than in high-income counterparts. This study covers 116 INICC member hospitals in 75 cities across 25 Latin American, Asian, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern countries, including Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Honduras, India, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela, and Vietnam. METHODS: Prospective cohort multinational surveillance data were collected through the INICC Surveillance Online System. CDC-NHSN definitions were applied for surgical site infections (SSI). Surgical procedures were categorized into 41 types according to the ICD-9 criteria, 9th edition. RESULTS: From 2014 to 2023, we collected data on 1,251 SSIs associated with 56,617 SPs. SSI rates were significantly higher in SPs of INICC compared to CDC-NSHN data, including hip prosthesis (3.68% vs. 0.67%, RR=5.46, 95%CI=3.71-8.03, p<0.0001), knee prosthesis (2.02% vs. 0.58%, RR=3.49, 95%CI=1.87-6.49, p<0.0001), coronary artery bypass graft (4.16% vs. 1.37%, RR=3.03, 95%CI=2.35-3.91, p<0.0001, peripheral vascular bypass (15.69% vs. 2.93%, RR=5.35, 95%CI=2.30-12.48, p<0.0001), abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (8.51% vs. 2.12%, RR=4.02, 95%CI=2.11-7.65, p<0.0001), spinal fusion (6.47% vs. 0.70%, RR=9.27, 95%CI=6.21-13.84, p<0.0001), and laminectomy (2.68% vs. 0.72%, RR=3.75, 95%CI=2.36-5.95, p<0.0001), among others. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated SSI rates in LMICs emphasize the need for effective interventions to alleviate this substantial burden.

Association between air pollution and adolescent obesity: an ecological study.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to assess the association between exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) and adolescent obesity, and to identify and visualize the world areas where the problems of adolescent obesity and air pollution by fine PM are more severe. METHODS: An ecological study, based on publicly available data from a WHO site. RESULTS: For each increase in air pollution there was an increase in the probability of being in the higher prevalence obesity group (OR = 1.18 (95% CI, 1.06-1.31)). High prevalence rates for both adolescent obesity and air pollution by PM2.5 were identified in several countries, including Venezuela, Algeria, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Oceania islands. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts by local authorities and world organizations should be focused on the countries with the highest prevalence rates for both conditions.

From the Caribbean to the Arctic, the most abundant microplastic particles in the ocean have escaped detection.

Comprehensive methodologies for monitoring microplastics (MPs) in the ocean are critical for accurately assessing abundances across a broad size spectrum, and to document distributions, sources, sinks, temporal trends, and exposure risks for organisms. Discrete 0.5-L water samples from the northeastern-coast of Venezuela (NECV), Pacific-Arctic Ocean (PAO), and Gulf Stream Current (GSC) were analyzed by Raman microspectroscopy to detect MPs not captured by net-tow surveys. Equivalent spherical diameters (ESD) of most MPs were <5 µm, accounting for 68, 83, 86 % of total inventories in NECV, GSC, PAO samples. We did not observe a single MP particle >53 µm ESD. Abundances of MPs in the 0.5-200 µm size fraction were 5-6 orders of magnitude higher than previous surveys that were almost exclusively based on net tow collections of MPs > 300 µm ESD. Abundances of MPs in NECV samples were ~10-fold higher than those from PAO and GSC. The most abundant polymers were polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), consistent with composition of plastic waste generated globally.

MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF AMBLYOMMA SCUTATUM (ACARI: IXODIDAE) ACCIDENTALLY INTRODUCED IN ITALY.

Eight ticks were found in Comacchio (FE), Italy parasitizing a young black iguana (Ctenosaura similis) that had been accidentally transported in a commercial plant container from Costa Rica. Specimens were identified morphologically as Amblyomma scutatum and then confirmed by the barcoding of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Amblyomma scutatum is a common tick known to infest reptiles in Central America, Mexico, and Venezuela, but not in Europe. In Italy, the possibility for this tick to become endemic is unlikely because of the absence of its principal hosts. Nevertheless, this finding confirms the high risk of introducing exotic species that is linked with global commerce and therefore the need for veterinary control of shipments.

Comparative reproductive ecology of Old and New World Trogons, an order in decline across the world.

Many tropical species show declining populations. The pantropical order Trogoniformes has 76% of its species ranked as declining, reflecting a worldwide problem. Here, we report on the reproductive ecology and life history traits of the declining and near-threatened old world Whitehead's Trogon (Harpactes whiteheadi), the declining new world Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris), and the stable Masked Trogon (T. personatus). We also reviewed the literature on reproductive ecology and life history traits of trogons to assess possible commonalities that might help explain population declines. We found that the declining Whitehead's and Collared Trogons had reasonable nest success (32% and 25%, respectively), while the stable Masked Trogon had poor reproductive success (9%), all contrary to population trends. However, the limited literature data suggested that poor reproductive success may be common among trogons, which may contribute to population declines. Parents fed young at a low rate and had long on-bouts for incubation and nestling warming that reduced activity at the nest, as favored by high nest predation risk over evolutionary time. We found that young fledged from the nest with poorly developed wings, as also favored by high nest predation risk. Evolved nestling periods among trogon species suggests that poor wing development is likely common. Wing development has been shown to affect juvenile survival after leaving the nest. The poor wing development may be an important contributor to population declines that deserves more attention. Evolved life history traits are important to recognize as creating population vulnerabilities in a changing world.

The Crisis Migration Experience Scale: Developing and validating a tool for Venezuelan youth and adults residing in Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Although prior research has shown that an array of distinct experiences related to crisis migration are associated with mental health, there is a pressing need for a theory-driven, multidimensional measure to assess the broad spectrum of crisis migration experiences. As such, the present study focused on developing and validating the Crisis Migration Experience Scale (CMES) with a sample of Venezuelan migrants in Colombia. METHOD: Participants were adolescent (ages 12-17; n = 430) and adult migrants from Venezuela (ages 18+; n = 569). Randomly splitting the adolescent and adult samples in half, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted with 26 original items. After identifying a satisfactory factor structure to generate a 16-item CMES (CMES-16), we examined the associations of the CMES-16 with mental health outcomes. RESULTS: We provide evidence for reliability, factorial validity, and concurrent validity of scores generated by the CMES-16 in a sample of Venezuelan crisis migrants in Colombia. Whereas our a priori conceptualization included seven domains, the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated that four are especially salient: material hardship, desperation, danger, and unplanned departure. CONCLUSIONS: Crisis migration is an increasingly important construct frequently referenced in the literature on migrant health and by international humanitarian organizations. The number of crisis migrant groups worldwide is increasing, with Ukrainians and Afghans recently added to the list of such groups, along with Venezuelans, Syrians, South Sudanese, Iraqis, and Central Americans. Developing and validating the CMES-16 with Venezuelan crisis migrants opens up important avenues of research, including work that incorporates other crisis migrant populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Knowledge and attitudes toward anaphylaxis to local anesthetics in dental practice.

OBJECTIVE/AIM: The absence of a comprehensive understanding of potential anaphylactic reactions to local anesthetics (LAs) and management can result in grave consequences. For this reason we aim to assess Latin American dentists' knowledge, preparedness, and competency in managing anaphylactic reactions to LAs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to February 2022. Board-certified dentists answered a survey comprising 26 structured questions. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were performed in Stata 17.0. SETTING: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, and other Latin American countries. RESULTS: Of 507 respondents, lidocaine was the most frequently used LA (88.1%). While 85.2% could identify dyspnea as a symptom of anaphylaxis, only 50.1% knew the correct route for epinephrine administration, and just 43.5% had epinephrine in their emergency kits. Confidence in managing anaphylactic reactions was low (9.6%). Older age was inversely related to both knowledge of anaphylaxis management and the possession of epinephrine (P = 0.003 and P = 0.0001, respectively). DISCUSSION: Our study highlights a concerning discrepancy between the practical readiness of Latin American dentists in handling anaphylaxis. CONCLUSION: The study's findings underscore the need for educational interventions to improve the readiness to identify and handle anaphylactic emergencies in dental practice.

Fundación Hospital Cardiológico Infantil Latinoamericano Dr. Gilberto Rodríguez Ochoa

Ente Adscrito al Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud. El Servicio Aurónomo Hospital Cardiológico Infantil Latinoamericano Dr. Gilberto Rodríguez Ochoa, creado el 20 de agosto de 2006, con el objetivo de cubrir la gran demanda de pacientes entre 0 y 18 años de edad con malformaciones cardíacas de Venezuela y Latinoamérica.

Characterization of water-soluble ions in PM10 over an industrial area in northern Colombia: Temporal variations and correlation with satellite data.

This study was designed to assess the concentrations of nine water-soluble ions in PM10 mass at two sites of an open-pit coal mine and to analyze the correlation and variation of the spatial distribution of sulfate ions with the PM10 sulfate aerosol optical depth at 550 nm (suaod550) in two (North and South) stations of the study area. The daily average of PM10 concentrations ranged from 20.48 to 53.10 µg/m3 and thus did not exceed the daily average maximum permissible level of PM10 (100 µg/m3) established in the Colombia standard at any station. The concentrations of nine water-soluble ions in PM10 (Cl-, NO3-, PO43-, SO42- Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) were determined. The ions under analysis, SO42-, Na+, and NH4+ had the highest concentrations. Combined, they accounted for 75% of the mass of water-soluble ions in a total of 210 samples. The SO42- concentrations in PM10 significantly correlated with suaod550 (r ranging from 0.57 to 0.66), emphasizing the strong effect of suaod550 from Venezuela (Lake Maracaibo) on central and northern Colombia. These results demonstrate that the effects of local sulfate emissions near monitoring sites can be predicted and assessed using satellite data.

Tepuazines A-E: Phenazine Glycosides from a Venezuelan Quartz-Rich (Tepui) Cave Soil-Derived Streptomyces virginiae CMB-CA091.

Investigation of the secondary metabolites of Streptomyces virginiae CMB-CA091 isolated from the quartz-rich (tepui) soil of a cave in Venezuela yielded two new dimeric phenazine glycosides, tepuazines A and B (1 and 2); three new monomeric phenazine glycosides, tepuazines C-E (3-5); and a series of known analogues, baraphenazine G (6), phenazinolin D (7), izumiphenazine C (8), 4-methylaminobenzoyl-l-rhamnopyranoside (9), and 2-acetamidophenol (10). Structures were assigned to 1-10 on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis and biosynthetic considerations, with 1 and 2 featuring a rare 2-oxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-like ring C/D bridge shared with only a handful of known Streptomyces natural products. We propose a plausible convergent biosynthetic relationship linking all known members of this structure class that provides a rationale for the observed ring C/D configuration.

First Report of Golovinomyces bolayi Causing Powdery Mildew on Lettuce in Mexico.

In August 2022, powdery mildew symptoms were detected on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in a commercial field located in Quecholac, Puebla, Mexico. Signs appeared as whitish powdery masses on leaves. Disease incidence was about 100% and signs covered up to 40% of leaf surface. Mycelium was amphigenous forming white patches. Hyphal appressoria were indistinct or nipple-shaped and solitary. Conidiophores (n= 30) were hyaline, erect, arising from the upper surface of hyphal mother cells or lateral, and of 90 to 201 µm long. Foot cells were cylindrical, of 49 to 92 × 10-15 µm, followed by 1-3 shorter cells, and forming conidia in chains. Conidia (n= 100) were hyaline, ellipsoid-ovoid, doliiform-subcylindrical, 27 to 40 × 14 to 20 µm. Conidial germination belonging to the Euoidium type. Chasmothecia were not observed. The morphological characters were consistent with those of Golovinomyces bolayi (Braun et al. 2019). A voucher specimen was deposited in the Herbarium of the Department of Agricultural Parasitology at the Chapingo Autonomous University under accession number UACH451. To confirm the identification of the fungus, genomic DNA was extracted from conidia and mycelium following the CTAB method (Doyle and Doyle 1990), and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified by PCR using the primers ITS5/ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and sequenced. The resulting 506 bp sequence had 100% identity to those of G. bolayi (LC417109 and LC417106). Phylogenetic analyses using the Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony methods were performed and confirmed the results obtained in the morphological analysis. The isolate UACH451 grouped in a clade with isolates of G. bolayi. The ITS sequence was deposited in GenBank under accession number OR467546. Pathogenicity was confirmed by gently dusting conidia onto ten leaves of healthy lettuce plants. Five non-inoculated leaves served as controls. The plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 25 to 30 ºC, and relative humidity of 70%. All inoculated leaves developed similar symptoms to the original observation after 10 days, whereas control leaves remained disease free. Microscopic examination of the fungus on inoculated leaves showed that it was morphologically identical to that originally observed. Based on morphological data and phylogenetic analysis, the fungus was identified as G. bolayi. This pathogen has been previously reported causing powdery mildew on lettuce in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, USA and Venezuela (Braun et al. 2019; Mieslerová et al. 2020). To our knowledge, this is the first report of G. bolayi causing powdery mildew on lettuce in Mexico.

Impact of Technological Processes on the Formation of Furosine, Acrylamide and Furan in Traditional Venezuelan Cocoa.

The present study was conducted to determine and analyse the content of furosine, acrylamide and furan in fermented cocoa beans from the Chuao ("criollo variety") and Barlovento ("trinitario variety") regions of Venezuela, after roasting (in the shell at 110-180 °C for 15-60 min) and alkalisation (with sodium bicarbonate or potassium carbonate, at concentrations of 10-25 g/kg in order to evaluate the impact of these operations. The highest furosine contents (up to 249 mg/100 g of protein) were found in fermented, sun-dried samples, and were higher in the nibs than in the shells. The acrylamide content increased in line with the temperature, to 160 °C in the shells, and to 180 °C in the nibs. At temperatures of up to 140 °C, the acrylamide content was higher in the shells than in the nibs. The furan content increased in line with the temperature and in this case too, was greater in the shells. The content of both furosine and furan decreased with alkalisation, while the presence of acrylamide was irregular and determined by the roasting temperature and the alkalising agent employed. Although the furosine, acrylamide and furan contents varied between the beans from the two regions and the varieties considered (Chuao and Barlovento), these three compounds were correlated to a statistically significant degree.

Systematics of Pilielmis Hinton, 1971 (Coleoptera: Dryopoidea: Elmidae).

Pilielmis is a small genus of Neotropical Elmidae found in the Amazon basin and French Guiana, with distribution in five countries: Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Peru, and Venezuela. Currently, seven species of Pilielmis are known, six of which were described in the original description of the genus by Hinton (1971), and the most recent one was described by Polizei & Barclay (2019). In this paper, we review the genus Pilielmis based on the analysis of type-specimens and material collected in different regions of northern South America. A phylogenetic study was performed to hypothesize the relationship between all species of Pilielmis and to test the monophyly of this genus. For this purpose, 42 morphological characters of adults were investigated, among them some structures that were not illustrated and described in the original descriptions. As result, all seven previously known species were redescribed with standardized morphological information. Three new species were discovered in the examined material: Pilielmis baniwa sp. nov., Pilielmis muricula sp. nov., Pilielmis nheengatu sp. nov. A key for identification of the adults of Pilielmis is proposed and new records for Suriname, Peru, and some Brazilian states are presented. The phylogenetic analysis corroborated the monophyly of Pilielmis and presented phylogenetic information from characteristics not used before in the taxonomy of the genus, such as mouth parts and female ovipositor.

Three new species of Cirrothaumatia Razowski & Becker from Peru, with notes on the genus (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Cochylini).

Three new species of the cochyline genus Cirrothaumatia Razowski & Becker, 1986 are described and illustrated from submontane Andean sites in Peru (Depts. Amazonas, Junn, and San Martn): C. pichita n. sp., C. huemboana n. sp., and C. moyobamba n. sp. Comments and illustrations are provided for the three previously described species from southern Mexico (Veracruz), Central America (Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama), and northern South America (Venezuela: Edo. Aragua; Ecuador: Pichincha Prov.).