Abstract Background Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) - immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has been rarely described in low- and middle-income countries. Objective To describe the prevalence of PML-IRIS among PLWHA with PML and its main features in a tertiary hospital in Brazil. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study. We included PLWHA with PML-IRIS patients admitted at Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas, São Paulo, Brazil, between 2011 and 2021. We retrieved information on neurological manifestations, neuroimaging findings, treatments, and outcomes. Results We identified 11 (11.8%) PML-IRIS cases among 93 patients with definite PML. Eight (73%) cases were men and had a median (IQR) age of 41 (27–50) years. Seven (63.6%) patients developed unmasking PML-IRIS and 4 (36.4%) had paradoxical PML-IRIS. The median (IQR) time from initiation of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) to IRIS diagnosis was 49 (30–70) days. Ten (90.9%) patients received corticosteroids. There were 4 (36%) in-hospital deaths and 3 were associated with hospital-acquired pneumonia. Among the 7 (64%) patients who survived, 5 (71.5%) had sequelae at discharge. One year after the PML-IRIS diagnosis, 6 (54.5%) patients were alive. Conclusion The prevalence of PML-IRIS was 11.8%. Most patients had unmasking PML-IRIS. In-hospital mortality and morbidity were high. One-year survival was similar to that described in some high-income countries.

Resumo Antecedentes A síndrome inflamatória de reconstituição imune (SIRI) da leucoencefalopatia multifocal progressiva (LEMP) em pessoas vivendo com HIV/Aids (PVHA) foi raramente descrita em países de baixa e média renda. Objetivo Descrever a prevalência da SIRI-LEMP- em PVHA com LEMP e suas principais características em um hospital no Brasil. Métodos Foi realizado um estudo de coorte retrospectivo. Incluímos PVHA com SIRI-LEMP admitidos no Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas, São Paulo, Brasil, entre 2011 e 2021. Recuperamos informações sobre manifestações neurológicas, neuroimagem, tratamento e desfecho. Resultados Identificamos 11 (11,8%) casos de SIRI-LEMP entre 93 pacientes com LEMP definitiva. Oito (73%) casos eram homens e a mediana de idade (amplitude interquartile - AIQ) foi de 41 (27–50) anos. Sete (63,6%) pacientes desenvolveram SIRI-LEMP “desmascarada” e 4 (36,4%) casos apresentaram SIRI-LEMP “paradoxal”. A mediana de tempo (AIQ) desde o início da terapia antirretroviral combinada (cART) até o diagnóstico de SIRI foi de 49 (30–70) dias. Dez (90,9%) pacientes receberam corticoide. Houve 4 (36%) óbitos intra-hospitalares e 3 foram associados à pneumonia hospitalar. Dos 7 (64%) pacientes que sobreviveram, 5 (71,5%) ficaram com sequelas na alta. Um ano após o diagnóstico de SIRI-LEMP, 6 (54,5%) pacientes estavam vivos. Conclusão A prevalência de SIRI-LEMP foi de 11,8%. A maioria dos pacientes apresentava SIRI-LEMP “desmascarada”. A mortalidade e morbidade hospitalar foram altas. A sobrevida em 1 ano foi semelhante à descrita em alguns países de alta renda.

Resumo Loganiaceae é membro da ordem Gentianales e compreende cerca de 460 espécies em 16 gêneros, sendo principalmente distribuída nas regiões tropicais do mundo. A região Neotropical do Brasil é um dos centros de diversidade para dois dos gêneros mais ricos de Loganiaceae, Spigelia e Strychnos, justificando esforços florísticos para melhor compreensão da diversidade da família nesta região. Este trabalho tem como objetivo atualizar o conhecimento taxonômico sobre Loganiaceae no estado de Pernambuco, Região Nordeste do Brasil, provendo chave de identificação, características diagnósticas dos táxons com ênfase em aspectos vegetativos, ilustrações e fotografias, mapas de distribuição e suas ocorrências em Unidades de Conservação. Foram analisadas coleções botânicas de 18 herbários locais e conduzidas expedições de coleta em locais estratégicos do estado. No total, foram identificadas 16 espécies pertencentes a três gêneros: Mitreola (1), Spigelia (8) e Strychnos (7). Como proposto em estudos prévios, também foi identificado que a morfologia do carpoatlas é determinante no reconhecimento das espécies de Spigelia. Em Pernambuco, Mitreola petiolata, Spigelia flemmingiana, S. laurina, S. scabra, Strychnos atlantica, S. divaricans, S. mattogrossensis e S. trinervis foram encontradas exclusivamente na Mata Atlântica, enquanto Spigelia alborubra, S. linarioides, S. pernambucensis, Strychnos gardneri e S. rubiginosa foram encontradas apenas na Caatinga. Spigelia anthelmia, S. polystachya e Strychnos parvifolia possuem distribuição contínua entre os dois domínios fitogeográficos, apresentando alta variabilidade morfológica nestas áreas. Entre as 16 espécies de Loganiaceae, 13 pertencem a 20 Unidades de Conservação diferentes espalhadas nos dois domínios fitogeográficos, destacando a importância da manutenção destas áreas para a preservação da biodiversidade no estado.

Abstract Loganiaceae is a member of the Gentianales order and comprises about 460 species in 16 genera, being mainly distributed in the tropical regions of the world. The Brazilian Neotropical region is one of the centers of diversity for two of the richest genera of Loganiaceae, Spigelia and Strychnos, justifying floristic efforts to better understand family diversity in this region. This study aims to update the taxonomic knowledge about the Loganiaceae of the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil, providing an identification key, diagnostic characters of the species emphasizing vegetative features, illustrations and photos, distribution maps, and occurrence within Conservation Units. We analyzed collections from 18 local herbaria and conducted field expeditions to strategical locations of the state between 2017 to 2019. In total, we identified 16 species belonging to three genera: Mitreola (1), Spigelia (8) and Strychnos (7). As shown in previous studies, the morphology of the carpoatlas was determinant in the recognition of Spigelia species. In Pernambuco, Mitreola petiolata, Spigelia flemmingiana, S. laurina, S. scabra, Strychnos atlantica, S. divaricans, S. mattogrossensis, and S. trinervis were found only in the Atlantic Forest, while Spigelia alborubra, S. linarioides, S. pernambucensis, Strychnos gardneri, and S. rubiginosa were found only in the Caatinga domain. Spigelia anthelmia, S. polystachya, and Strychnos parvifolia have continuous distribution between both phytogeographic domains, presenting high morphological variability in these areas. Among the 16 loganiaceous species, 13 belong to 20 different Conservation Units spread over the two phytogeographic domains, highlighting the importance of maintaining these areas for the conservation of biodiversity in the state.

Environmental factors can influence secondary plant metabolism, inducing seasonal variation in chemical composition. Few works report how the seasons of Brazilian savanna (Cerrado), rainy and dry, impacts plant metabolism. We investigated the seasonal effect on the production of secondary metabolites in Duguetia furfuracea. Leaves of three individuals were collected monthly for one year and analyzed by ultra-fast liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector and mass spectrometry (UFLC-DAD-MS), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), volcano plot, and Pearson correlation. The main chemical classes found were benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives and flavonoids. Alkaloids are virtually perennial, with qualitative variation during the year, and flavonoids accumulate during the rainy season. Dew point temperature seemed to be the most representative weather indicator in the metabolite change. These results showed for the first time the effect of the Cerrado environment on the levels of flavonoids and alkaloids in Duguetia furfuracea. They could be useful for exploring this species since it is used in popular medicine and accumulates valuable secondary metabolites.

Abstract The extensive marine biodiversity has proved to be a promising source of substances with biomedical potential. In this study, the cytotoxicity of the Brazilian octocoral Phyllogorgia dilatata (Gorgoniidae) was evaluated against two tumor cell lines and three bacterial strains. The methanol/dichloromethane crude extract presented no antibacterial activity up to the highest concentration tested (512 µg/mL), however it revealed a noteworthy antiproliferative effect against HCT-116 (80%) and MCF-7 (54%) cell lines at 50 μg/mL. Therefore, guided by the cytotoxic activity, a multistep chemical fractionation of the extract provided the subfraction 5 (PDPH2-5) with IC50 values of 3.18 and 17.80 μg/mL against HCT-116 and MCF-7, respectively. The LC-HRMS/MS analysis of PDPH2-5 showed ions of m/z 219.1742 and 219.1743, characterized as (E,E) and (Z,E) germacrone, after a LC-DAD-SPE/NMR analysis of the hexanic fraction and comparisons of NMR data with the literature. Previously reported assessments to the cytotoxic activity of the (E,E)-diastereoisomer disclosed higher IC50 values than that obtained for the PDPH2-5 fraction, suggesting, herein, a potentiated effect of the diastereoisomeric mixture. Such remark encourage further bioactivity studies with stereoisomer mixtures and reduce the urge for compound isolation.

This work describes the first determination of the absolute configuration (AC) of (−)-cubebin by means of electronic circular dichroism (ECD), supported by quantum chemical calculations. The comparison of experimental ECD with the corresponding quantum chemical prediction for the proper diastereoisomer resulted in the definitive assignment of the AC of the naturally occurring (−)-cubebin as (8R,8aR,9S). The challenging determination of the relative configuration (RC) of cubebin based only on experimental nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods is stressed. Computation of the 13C and 1H NMR chemical shifts for all the possible diastereoisomers leads to values of mean absolute error and root mean square deviation that do not allow distinguishing among them. Thus, errors in stereochemical determination can easily occur even when using two-dimensional methods, which clearly demonstrate the complexity of this special case. To determine the RC of this bioactive natural compound with high level of confidence, it was necessary to combine the DP4+ method with X-ray crystallography. Therefore, employing the commonly used empirical methods to determine the AC of (−)-cubebin can easily lead to misassignment of its stereochemistry.

Acanthaceae, Gesneriaceae, and Loganiaceae are well-represented in Brazil and in the Neotropical region, although they have been poorly studied in northeastern Brazil, especially in the Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco State. Thus, aiming to contribute with the taxonomic knowledge about these taxa, this study had the objective of identifying and characterizing the species found in forest fragments of the Usina São José, in Igarassu, as a continuation of the monograph series for the area. Fieldwork was carried out between January 2017 and January 2018. Specimens from the herbaria CEPEC, HST, IPA, JPB, NY, PEUFR, RB, and UFP were also analyzed. Eleven species were found in the study area, five belonging to Acanthaceae, two to Gesneriaceae, and four to Loganiaceae. An identification key, descriptions, illustrations and comments on distribution and habitats are provided.

Acanthaceae, Gesneriaceae e Loganiaceae são bem representadas na flora Neotropical e brasileira, no entanto são famílias pouco estudadas no Nordeste do país, em especial na Mata Atlântica do Estado de Pernambuco. Dessa forma, visando contribuir com o conhecimento taxonômico acerca desses táxons, este estudo teve como objetivo identificar e caracterizar morfologicamente as espécies ocorrentes nos fragmentos da Usina São José, localizada em Igarassu, dando continuidade à série de monografias para a área. Expedições de coletas foram realizadas na área entre janeiro de 2017 e janeiro de 2018. Os espécimes depositados nas coleções dos herbários CEPEC, HST, IPA, JPB, NY, PEUFR, RB e UFP também foram analisados. Para a área de estudo, foram encontradas onze espécies, cinco de Acanthaceae, duas de Gesneriaceae e quatro de Loganiaceae. São apresentados chave de identificação, descrições, ilustrações e comentários sobre distribuição geográfica e hábitats.

RESUMO (Flora da Usina São José, Igarassu, Estado de Pernambuco: Acanthaceae, Gesneriaceae e Loganiaceae). Acanthaceae, Gesneriaceae e Loganiaceae são bem representadas na flora Neotropical e brasileira, no entanto são famílias pouco estudadas no Nordeste do país, em especial na Mata Atlântica do Estado de Pernambuco. Dessa forma, visando contribuir com o conhecimento taxonômico acerca desses táxons, este estudo teve como objetivo identificar e caracterizar morfologicamente as espécies ocorrentes nos fragmentos da Usina São José, localizada em Igarassu, dando continuidade à série de monografias para a área. Expedições de coletas foram realizadas na área entre janeiro de 2017 e janeiro de 2018. Os espécimes depositados nas coleções dos herbários CEPEC, HST, IPA, JPB, NY, PEUFR, RB e UFP também foram analisados. Para a área de estudo, foram encontradas onze espécies, cinco de Acanthaceae, duas de Gesneriaceae e quatro de Loganiaceae. São apresentados chave de identificação, descrições, ilustrações e comentários sobre distribuição geográfica e hábitats.

ABSTRACT (Flora of the Usina São José, Igarassu, Pernambuco State, Brazil: Acanthaceae, Gesneriaceae and Loganiaceae). Acanthaceae, Gesneriaceae, and Loganiaceae are well-represented in Brazil and in the Neotropical region, although they have been poorly studied in northeastern Brazil, especially in the Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco State. Thus, aiming to contribute with the taxonomic knowledge about these taxa, this study had the objective of identifying and characterizing the species found in forest fragments of the Usina São José, in Igarassu, as a continuation of the monograph series for the area. Fieldwork was carried out between January 2017 and January 2018. Specimens from the herbaria CEPEC, HST, IPA, JPB, NY, PEUFR, RB, and UFP were also analyzed. Eleven species were found in the study area, five belonging to Acanthaceae, two to Gesneriaceae, and four to Loganiaceae. An identification key, descriptions, illustrations and comments on distribution and habitats are provided.

Resumo Malpighiales compreende 36 famílias com grande heterogeneidade morfológica e está representada por várias espécies na Mata Atlântica ao longo da costa brasileira. Este trabalho é parte da série de monografias taxonômicas de famílias ocorrentes em fragmentos de Mata Atlântica da Usina São José (USJ), Igarassu, Pernambuco. Aqui são apresentados os tratamentos de quatro famílias da ordem Malpighiales: Chrysobalanaceae, Humiriaceae, Lacistemataceae e Trigoniaceae. Coletas foram realizadas em seis fragmentos, entre 2009 e 2017, além de visitas a herbários. Foram reconhecidos nove taxa: Chrysobalanaceae está representada por seis espécies, e as demais famílias por uma espécie cada. As espécies no geral são amplamente distribuídas na América do Sul, com exceção de Couepia rufa, Moquilea tomentosa e Lacistema robustum, que são endêmicas da Mata Atlântica. Uma chave para espécies, descrições, comentários e ilustrações também são fornecidas.

Abstract Malpighiales comprises 36 families with large morphological heterogeneity and is represented by several species in the Atlantic rain forest along the Brazilian coast. This article is part of a series of taxonomic monographs of families occurring on fragments of Atlantic Forest from Usina São José (USJ), Igarassu, Pernambuco. Treatments to four families of Malpighiales are presented: Chrysobalanaceae, Humiriaceae, Lacistemataceae and Trigoniaceae. Fieldwork was conducted in six fragments, between 2009 and 2017, in addition to visits to herbaria. Nine taxa were found: Chrysobalanaceae is represented by six species, and the other families have a single species each. Most species are widely distributed in South America, except for Couepia rufa, Moquilea tomentosa and Lacistema robustum, which are endemic to the Atlantic Forest. A key to species, descriptions, comments and illustrations are also provided.

Tomando como referência a evolução e as características do sistema brasileiro de educação superior discute-se neste artigo os fundamentos de uma efetiva reforma da educação superior. Procura-se mostrar que a adequação desse sistema para o enfrentamento dos desafios da sociedade do conhecimento, em um país como o Brasil, deve necessariamente resolver três questões: a modernização do sistema, o efetivo aprimoramento da qualidade da educação brasileira em todos os níveis, graus e modalidades e a democratização do ensino promovendo a inclusão social.

This paper aims to present the essential basis for an effective higher education reform. The strategies chosen by the authors to develop and to construct their proposals are based on studies of evolution and special features of the Brazilian Higher Education System. By analyzing this special and highly complex system the authors could conclude that in order to fit the challenges which emerge from the knowledge society the higher education system reform adjusted to a country like Brazil has to be reorganized in order to present solutions to three main questions: the system modernization, the improvement of the quality of the whole brazilian education system and the promotion of social inclusion through the access democratization.

Tomando como referencia la evolución y las características del sistema brasileño de educación superior, en este artículo se discuten los fundamentos de una efectiva reforma de la educación superior. Se intenta mostrar que la adecuación de este sistema para el enfrentamiento de los desafíos de la sociedad del conocimiento, en un país como Brasil, se deben necesariamente resolver tres cuestiones la modernización del sistema, la efectiva mejora de la calidad de la educación brasileña a todos los niveles, grados y modalidades, y, la democratización de la enseñanza promoviendo la inclusión social.

Cem ratos norvégicus, machos, com aproximadamente 3 meses de idade foram distribuídos por sorteio em 2 grupos experimentais: Grupo Controle (GC): com 50 ratos sadios, não diabéticos e Grupo Diabético (GD): com 50 ratos diabéticos, induzidos pela aloxana, sem qualquer tratamento. Cada grupo foi dividido em 5 subgrupos com 10 ratos cada e sacrificados com 1, 3, 6, 9 e 12 meses de seguimento, respectivamente. Parâmetros clínicos (peso, ingestão hídrica e alimentar, e diurese) e laboratoriais (glicemia, glicose urinária e insulina) foram documentados em todos os momentos de avaliação. Um segmento do nervo ciático foi obtido de cada animal, em ambos os grupos, para estudo à MO. e ME. Alterações clínicas e laboratoriais significativas (P<0,01), compatíveis com diabetes grave, foram observadas em todos os animais do GD a partir do 4o dia após a indução. Ratos de ambos os grupos apresentaram alterações no número de fibras mielínicas e nos depósitos intraaxonais de glicogênio que não diferiram, estatisticamente, aos 1, 3 e 6 meses de seguimento. Entretanto, aos 9 e 12 meses, ratos do GD apresentaram diminuição significativa no número de fibras mielínicas, com aumento do número de fibras mielínicas de menor calibre, quando comparados com ratos do GC (P<0,05). Grânulos de glicogênio intraaxonais também foram mais acentuados em ratos do GD no 9o e 12o mês de seguimento. Não foram observadas diferenças na densidade de fibras amielínicas ou alterações ultraestruturais significativas entre os dois grupos, em relação aos espaços intraaxonais e endoneurais, bainhas de mielina e células de Schwann durante todo o estudo.

One-hundred male norvegicus rats, approximately 3-months old, were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: Control Group (CG) included 50 non-diabetic control rats and Diabetic Group (DG) included 50 alloxan untreated-diabetic rats. Each group was further divided into 5 subgroups of 10 rats and sacrificed at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow-up, respectively. Clinical (body weight, water and food intake and urine output) and laboratory parameters (blood glucose, urinary glucose and insulin) were documented in all moments of evaluation. A segment of the sciatic nerve was taken from each animal in both groups for light and eletron microscopy. Significant clinical and laboratory changes (P<0.01), compatibles with severe diabetes, were observed in all animals of DG beginning at 4 th day after diabetes induction. There were no significant changes in the number of myelinic fibers and of glycogen granules in DG rats when compared with CG rats at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up. However, DG rats presented a significantly decreased number of myelinic fibers, with increase of the number of smaller myelinic fibers, when compared with CG rats (P < 0.05) at 9 and 12 months of follow-up. Intra-axonal glycogen granules were also more evident in DG rats in these periods. No difference was observed between the two experimental groups in the number of unmyelinated fibers. There was also no structural difference in both groups in the intra-axonal and endoneural spaces, in the myelin sheath or in the Schwann cells all over the study.

We studied the effects of islet of Langerhans transplantation (IT) on the kidney lesions of rats with alloxan-induced diabetes. Forty-five inbred male Lewis rats were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups: group Gl included 15 non-diabetic control rats (NC), group GIT included 15 alloxan-induced diabetic rats (DC), and group III included 15 alloxan-induced diabetic rats that received pancreatic islet transplantation prepared by nonenzymatic method from normal donor Lewis rats and injected into the portal vein (IT). Each group was further divided into 3 subgroups of 5 rats which were sacrificed at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up, respectively. Clinical and laboratorial parameters were recorded in the mentioned periods in the 3 experimental groups. For histology, the kidneys of all rats of each subgroup were studied and 50 glomeruli and 50 tubules of each kidney were analyzed using light microscopy by two different investigators in a double blind study. The results showed progressive glomerular basement membrane thickening (GBMT), mesangial enlargement (ME), and Bowman's capsule thickening (BCT) in the 3 experimental groups throughout the follow-up. These alterations were significantly more severe in DC rats at 6 months when compared to NC rats (p < 0.01). However, the degree of GBMT, ME, and BCT observed in DC rats was not statistically different from IT rats at 1, 3, and 6 months. In addition, Armanni-Ebstein lesions of the tubules (AE) and tubular lumen protein (PRO) observed in DC rats were also observed in IT rats all over the study. These lesions were never present in NC rats. We conclude that IT did not prevent progression of kidney lesions in alloxan-induced diabetic rats within 6 months after transplantation.