Brazilian Sites Research Articles

Introduction to the special issue on “Brazilian fossiliferous sites with paleobiological importance”

To enhance our understanding of Brazilian paleontological heritage, we have launched the special edition titled “Brazilian Fossiliferous Sites with Paleobiological Importance”. A total of seven manuscripts have been accepted and published in Vol. 7 No. SI2 (2024). Recognizing our fossil heritage is essential for the scientific and cultural advancement of Brazil. We strongly encourage paleontologists to continuously publish papers on our rich fossiliferous deposits.

Multifocal cutaneous neoplastic vascular proliferations in a rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria) collection with boid inclusion body disease.

Reports on neoplastic processes in snakes are sparse regardless of their location, origin or behavior. Here, we describe the occurrence of multifocal cutaneous neoplastic processes consistent with hemangioma and hemangioendothelioma, with a differential diagnosis of angiomatosis, in a colony of native Brazilian rainbow boas (Epicrates cenchria) which also included animals affected by boid inclusion body disease (BIBD). Thirteen snakes were affected; seven of these had been introduced from other Brazilian sites years earlier, the others had been bred in house but were not offspring of knowingly affected animals. The breeding regime allowed contact between all female and male animals over the years. The cutaneous lesions were first observed over eight years ago, with additional cases detected during the three following years, but no new cases in the last five years. Two affected animals were subjected to a post mortem examination and were found to suffer from peliosis hepatis as one of the additional pathological changes. BIBD was confirmed in five of the eight examined animals, by histology, immunohistology for reptarenavirus nucleoprotein, and multiplex RT-PCR targeting the reptarenavirus S segment. Reptarenavirus infection was also detected in cells in the cutaneous neoplastic processes. PCRs for Bartonella henselae and B. quintana as well as bacterial DNA in general, performed on a pool of six skin lesions, yielded negative results, ruling out ongoing bacterial infection, like bacillary angiomatosis in humans, of the lesions. The results hint towards an association of reptarenavirus infection and BIBD with neoplastic processes which is worth further investigations.

Comparison of the Performance of Commercially Available Quantitative Viral Load Assays Using Clinical Samples from Patients from Regions Where Distinct HIV-1 Subtypes Co-Circulate: Potential Implications for Patient Management.

HIV RNA plasma viral load (VL) is the standard surrogate marker to monitor response to antiretroviral treatment (ART). We compared the linearity, repeatability, and concordance of six commercially available HIV RNA VL platforms using clinical samples from patients from Brazilian sites where different HIV-1 subtypes co-circulate. A total of 150 plasma samples from each city were collected in Curitiba, Southern Brazil (subtype C), São Paulo (subtype B), and Santos (BF recombinants), Southeast Brazil. Platforms were VERSANT® Siemens HIV RNA 1.0 (kPCR); VERSANT® Siemens HIV-1 RNA 3.0 (bDNA); Abbott Real-Time HIV-1; NucliSens EasyQ® HIV-1 v2.0 Biomerieux; COBAS® TaqMan®, Roche; and artus HIV Virus-1 RT-PCR, QIAGEN. OptiQuant HIV-1 RNA quantification panel was used to compare VL linearity, using samples containing 50, 500,5,000, 50,000, 500,000, and 5,000,000 HIV copies/mL. HIV RNA panels with subtypes A, B, C, D, F, G, H, circulating recombinant form (CRF)1, and CRF2 were utilized. A high degree of linearity and repeatability was demonstrated for all platforms. When compared with a subtype B reference sample, 17 of 54 (31.48%) samples diverged by more than 0.5 log10 copies/mL. Except for the Roche platform, all platforms underestimated subtype C VLs. A total of 743 (82.6%) valid results were obtained with samples from São Paulo, 707 (78.6%) from Santos, and 673 (74.8%) from Curitiba (São Paulo vs. Santos, p = .03; São Paulo vs. Curitiba, p = .00006; Santos vs. Curitiba, p = .06). The number of discordant samples between different methodologies when VL was undetectable in one method and detectable in the other ranged from 1.25% (Abbot vs. Siemens) to 44.8% (Abbott vs. Biomerieux). Finding samples with undetectable VL in one method and a high VL in another might have important individual and public health consequences. Standardization of VL measurements, particularly for non-B subtypes infections, especially subtype C, is necessary to maximize the individual and public health benefits of ART globally.

Bone microstructure analyses in ontogenetic series of Mesosaurus tenuidens from the early Permian of Brazil.

Osteohistological evidence is widely used to infer paleobiological traits of fossil vertebrates, such as ontogeny and growth rates. Mesosaurs, an enigmatic group of aquatic reptiles from the early Permian, are the most well-known Paleozoic amniotes from Africa and South America. Their fossils are abundant in South America, ranging from the central-west region of Brazil to the southernmost areas, as well as parts of Paraguay and Uruguay. In this contribution, we examined the bone microstructure of Mesosaurus tenuidens by analyzing thin sections of axial and appendicular elements of several specimens collected from various Brazilian sites. The microstructure of the bones showed minimal histological variability among elements, predominantly composed of parallel-fibered tissues, indicating slow growth rhythm, along with increased bone density attributed to pachyosteosclerosis. The cortical area consists of poorly vascularized parallel-fibered bone tissue, which was interrupted by multiple cyclical growth marks, some of them being supernumerary, suggesting a strong influence of seasonality. Moreover, the organization of growth marks suggests distinct life history trajectories among individuals collected from different outcrops, reflecting environmental heterogeneity throughout the basin. Internally, the endosteal domain exhibits greater vascularization compared to the cortices and frequently contained calcified cartilage. In the ontogenetic series, there was a progressive filling of the medullary region from small to large individuals. The presence of the External Fundamental System (a proxy indicating somatic maturity) was observed in femora and ribs, suggesting that determinate growth was already occurring in Permian mesosaurs and may not be an exclusive specialization of crown amniotes.

Establishing national clinical diagnostic reference levels and achievable doses for CT examinations in Brazil: A prospective study

PurposeDiagnostic reference levels (DRL) and achievable doses (AD) are important tools for radiation dose optimization. Therefore, a prospective study was performed which aimed to establish a multi-parametric, clinical indication based – DRL(DRLCI) and clinical indication – AD (ADCI) for adult CT in Brazil. MethodsThe prospective study included 4787 patients (50 ± 18 years old; male:female 2041:2746) at 13 Brazilian sites that have been submitted to head, paranasal sinus, cervical spine, chest, or abdomen-pelvis CT between January and October 2021 for 13 clinical indications. The sites provided the following information: patient age, gender, weight, height, body mass index[BMI], clinical indications, scanner information(vendor, model, detector configuration), scan parameters (number of scan phases, kV, mA, pitch) and dose-related quantities (CT dose index volume- CTDIvol, dose length product- DLP). Median(AD) and 75th(DRL) percentile CTDIvol and DLP values were estimated for each body region and clinical indications. Non-normal data were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test. ResultsIn majority of Brazilian sites, body region and clinical indications based DRLs were at or lower than the corresponding DRLs in the US and higher than Europe. Although radiation doses varied significantly for patients in different body mass index groups (p < 0.001), within each body region, there were no differences in radiation doses for different clinical indications (p > 0.1). Radiation doses for 7/13 clinical indications were higher using iterative reconstruction technique than for the filtered back projection. ConclusionsThere was substantial variation in Brazil DRLCI across different institutions with higher doses compared to the European standards. There was also a lack of clinical indication-based protocol and dose optimization based on different clinical indications for the same body region.

A method for estimating paleotemperatures from pollen assemblages applied to the quantification of the Early Holocene warming in Central Brazil

This study presents a method for the quantification of paleotemperatures from pollen records based on the predominant leaf margin trait of the genera represented in the pollen assemblages. The method presented here uses the well-known and widely used relationship between leaf margin and mean annual temperature, which is commonly applied to macrofloras to reconstruct paleotemperatures. Here, genera occurring in the arboreal vegetation of Central Brazil were analyzed respective to the presence or absence of species bearing toothed leaves. Using floristic surveys, a correlation between the proportion of genera without toothed species and the mean annual temperature was investigated. A positive linear correlation between these two variables was found for forest sites, but not for the arboreal savannas. The equation derived from the linear regression between the two variables - proportion of genera without toothed species and mean annual temperature (MAT) - was applied to pollen assemblages collected on forest sites. The equation was used to calculate estimated MATs for surface samples in order to test the validity of its application to pollen assemblages. The equation was then applied to fossil records to estimate paleoMATs for two Brazilian sites located respectively at 15.5° and 28° of latitude, during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition (between 13.6 and 10 kyr cal BP). While MAT increases of around 3 °C were found for the higher latitude site, no significant differences between final Pleistocene and early Holocene MATs were found for the near-equatorial site.

Use of dry bean fields by birds and mammals in Brazil: Insights from a field study and its use in pesticide risk assessment.

The relationship between agriculture and wildlife can be both synergetic and challenging, as the increased surface of agricultural land makes it increasingly important for agriculture and wildlife to coexist. This study aims to describe the use of freshly drilled dry bean fields by birds and mammals in Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest sites and their diversity and abundance within in-crop and off-crop areas (with native permanent vegetation and other surrounding crop fields) at four different farms. A comprehensive survey was conducted, using various sampling methods, including point counts, foraging counts, trail cameras, and occasional encounters. In all, contacts for 12 518 birds across 306 species and 313 mammals across 34 species were registered. The off-crop areas exhibited greater species richness, abundance, and diversity than the in-crop areas on all farms. For birds, 47 species were recorded in-crop, of which 15 were classified as insectivores, 15 as granivores, seven as omnivores, seven as carnivores, and three as frugivores. The number of in-crop observations per species was small. The abundance off-crop was greater for 31 species observed in-crop, indicating that dry bean fields are probably not a preferred habitat for those species. Species classified as granivorous are most likely to feed on dry bean seeds. However, almost all granivorous species observed in-crop areas are too small to be able to feed on dry bean seeds. For mammals, nine species were recorded in-crop, of which four were classified as carnivores, three as omnivores, one as insectivore, and one as granivore. Additionally, despite the considerable effort in this study, no evidence was found that birds and mammals feed on dry bean seeds. The results highlight the importance of off-crop areas in dry bean fields, characterized by a more diverse and abundant bird community than in-crop. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:864-874. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Integrating chemical and biological data by chemometrics to evaluate detoxification responses of a neotropical bivalve to metal and metalloid contamination

Mangroves represent a challenge in monitoring studies due to their physical and chemical conditions under constant marine and anthropogenic influences. This study investigated metals/metalloids whole-body bioaccumulation (soft tissues) and the risk associated with their uptake, biochemical and morphological detoxification processes in gills and metals/metalloids immobilisation in shells of the neotropical sentinel oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae from two Brazilian estuarine sites. Biochemical and morphological responses indicated three main mechanisms: (1) catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione played important roles as the first defence against reactive oxygen species; (2) antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals, glutathione S-transferase, metallothionein prevent protein damage and (3) metals/metalloids sequestration into oyster shells as a mechanism of oyster detoxification. However, the estimated daily intake, target hazard quotient, and hazard index showed that the human consumption of oysters would not represent a human health risk. Among 14 analysed metals/metalloids, chemometrics indicate that Mn, As, Pb, Zn and Fe overload the antioxidant system leading to morphological alterations in gills. Overall, results indicated cellular vacuolization and increases in mucous cell density as defence mechanisms to prevent metals/metalloids accumulation and the reduction in gill cilia; these have long-term implications in respiration and feeding and, consequently, for growth and development. The integration of data from different sites and environmental conditions using chemometrics highlights the main biological patterns of detoxification from a neotropical estuarine bivalve, indicating the way in which species can cope with metals/metalloids contamination and its ecological consequences.

Cognitive Impairment Predicts Sarcopenia 9 Years Later Among Older Adults.

To assess the longitudinal association between cognitive impairment and sarcopenia in a sample of Brazilian community-dwelling older adults. Nine-year observational prospective study. A total of 521 community-dwelling older adults from 2 Brazilian sites of the Frailty in Brazilian Older Adults (FIBRA in Portuguese) study. Sarcopenia was defined as low hand-grip strength and low muscle mass. Cognitive impairment was determined at baseline using the Mini-Mental State Examination, with education-adjusted cutoff scores. The logistic regression model was used to assess the association between cognitive impairment and incident sarcopenia after adjusting for gender, age, education, morbidities, physical activity, and body mass index. Inverse probability weighting was applied to correct for sample loss at follow-up. The mean age of the study population was 72.7 (±5.6) years, and 365 were women (70.1%). Being 80years and older (odds ratio [OR], 4.62; 95% CI, 1.38-15.48; P= .013), being under- and overweight (OR,0.29; 95% CI, 0.11-0.76; P= .012, and OR, 5.12; 95% CI, 2.18-12.01; P < .001, respectively) and having cognitive impairment (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.18-5.04; P= .016) at baseline predicted sarcopenia after 9 years. Cognitive impairment may predict sarcopenia in Brazilian older adults. More studies are necessary to identify the main mechanisms shared by sarcopenia and cognitive decline, which could support the development of prevention interventions.

Diversity of anamorphic Cordyceps (formerly Isaria) isolated from Brazilian agricultural sites

A total of 53 anamorphic strains of Brazilian Cordyceps species currently maintained in a government-owned culture collection, were reassessed for diversity and species identity using multi-loci-based phylogenetic methods. The strains used in this study were originally obtained from soil samples or were isolated from insects of the orders Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Diptera, mostly from agricultural sites. A Bayesian phylogenetic tree was constructed based on a concatenation of five loci (ITS, LSU, RPB1, RPB2 and TEF). In a few cases of ambiguity, morphological traits were also considered for species delimitations. Considerable variability within the set of strains was detected and six Cordyceps species were identified: C. amoenerosea, C. fumosorosea, C. javanica, C. tenuipes and, for the first time, C. brevistroma and C. spegazzinii are reported in Brazil. Four other taxonomically equivocal groups, closely related to other known taxa (C. amoenerosea, C. cateniannulata, C. polyarthra and C. spegazzinii), were also recognized, although further studies will be required to confirm their identifications or their descriptions as new species. Cordyceps javanica was the most common species in our dataset, originally isolated from soil and several different insect orders, and includes 17 strains from the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. Interestingly, strains previously identified as C. fumosorosea based on morphology and growth characteristics, were shown to be C. javanica, including the active ingredients of some commercial mycoinsecticides. Cordyceps farinosa, usually mentioned in the literature as occurring in Brazil, was not found in our study. Since most strains were from insect crop pests, further studies with hosts from non-agricultural settings or from environmental samples would be advisable for a deeper understanding of the occurrence of anamorphic Cordyceps in Brazil.

Seasonal variation of the shaft resistance of CFA piles in unsaturated soil: a case study

Excessive settlements or failure of piles observed in some Brazilian unsaturated soil sites indicates that the shaft resistance can vary with the seasonal variability of top soil water content, especially in the case of foundations of transmission towers or installed at the periphery of buildings, situations in which the soil is more susceptible to suction fluctuation due to the higher exposure to rainfall action. The objective of the research described in this paper was to provide field evidence with the purpose of alerting practising engineers and to help researchers to better understand the contribution of matric suction on pile capacity. For this aim, the seasonal variability of the shaft resistance of Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles in a typical Brazilian unsaturated tropical soil was evaluated by performing axial tensile load tests on eight instrumented CFA piles in different periods of the year. Soil suction was monitored throughout the period of tests, and the results indicate that the shaft resistance of the pile upper part varies considerably during the year and tends to decrease with decreasing soil suction. This work provides valuable insights into the application of unsaturated soil mechanics, which is usually disconnected to classical geotechnical practice.

The variable nature of the coastal 14C marine reservoir effect: A temporal perspective for Rio de Janeiro

The radiocarbon (14C) marine reservoir effect (MRE) is very sensitive to physical and chemical processes affecting the local carbon (C) cycle. In coastal zones, these tend to be numerous and complex, hindering the derivation of local marine reservoir offsets (ΔR) for the establishment of archaeological chronologies. Although discussions of how the magnitude of the MRE responds to factors such as the presence of coastal upwelling are common in the literature, little has been done to assess how the effect is influenced by a changing relative sea level. Here, we address the MRE temporal variation on the coast of Rio de Janeiro in the light of updated 14C calibration curves and considering the Holocene relative sea-level curve for the region. To achieve this, we employ Bayesian modelling to analyze published and new 14C ages from Brazilian archaeological sites and pre-bomb samples. In this study, we show evidence for a Late Holocene increase in the MRE, varying from −577 ± 56 14C yr at ca. 5500 cal BP to −29 ± 25 14C yr at present, associated with a decreased relative sea-level.

A phase II trial of pembrolizumab combined with platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line systemic therapy in advanced penile cancer: HERCULES (LACOG 0218) trial.

TPS14 Background: Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is an uncommon malignancy which accounts for 2,300 new cases and 400 deaths annually worldwide. However, in low-income countries from South America, Asia and Africa, incidence corresponds to 10-20% of all malignancies in men. Approximately 4% of PSCC patients present with metastatic disease at diagnosis. Also, even if diagnosed in early stages (localized disease), around 30% of patients will recur. No improvements have been achieved over the last three decades in platinum-based chemotherapy, which remains the standard-of-care; objective response rate (ORR), median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) are currently at 20-30%, 3-4 months and 7-15 months, respectively. HPV16 is the most important known risk factor for PSCC. Favorable results have been achieved with Pembrolizumab in other HPV-associated cancers, such as cervical and oropharyngeal cancer. HERCULES (LACOG 0218) aims to evaluate the efficacy of pembrolizumab combined with platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment in advanced PSCC. Methods: HERCULES is a phase 2, single-arm, multicentric trial evaluating patients with histologically proven PSCC and metastatic disease (de novo or recurrent); or recurrent locally advanced disease not amenable to curative-intent therapy; or TanyN3M0 or T4NanyM0 (stage IV – AJCC 8th ed) not amenable to curative-intent therapy. Additional inclusion criteria were ECOG PS 0–1; measurable disease by RECIST 1.1; no prior systemic therapy for recurrent or metastatic disease (however, patients progressing after 12 months of neo/adjuvant chemotherapy completion are allowed). The primary endpoint is ORR up to week 24. Secondary endpoints are OS, PFS, clinical benefit rate, immune related response criteria, quality of life, safety, and predictive biomarkers of response/survival. Eligible subjects receive 5-FU 1000mg/m²/day IV D1-D4, cisplatin 70mg/m² or carboplatin AUC 5 IV D1 plus pembrolizumab 200mg IV D1 at each 3-week (Q3W) dosing cycle for 6 cycles, followed by Pembrolizumab 200mg IV Q3W maintenance. Patients without disease progression are allowed to continue pembrolizumab monotherapy until completing 34 cycles, disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, whichever comes first. Tumor evaluations are performed every 6 weeks until week 24. Sample size was calculated as 33 patients to detect an increase in ORR from 20% to 40% up to week 24 with 78.5% power and considering 10% drop-out. From Aug 2020 to Jul 2022, 33 patients were enrolled in 11 Brazilian research sites. Results are expected in 2023. NCT04224740. Clinical trial information: NCT04224740 .

Using native fish in eco-genotoxic assessment of heavy metal contamination pollution arising from nearby large Brazilian rivers

ABSTRACT Worldwide water quality has declined progressively due to continuous pollution of aquatic resources by agrochemicals in particular heavy metals. Fish genotoxicity biomarkers are vital to identify and complement chemical parameters for determining environmental risk of adverse effects. Therefore, it was of interest to examine the eco-genotoxicity attributed to water pollution over different stream sections of Brazilian rivers by using Cichlasoma paranaense (Teleostei: Cichlidae), a neotropical freshwater cichlid fish, as a biological model. Chemical analysis of water and sediments collected from different Brazilian rivers sites demonstrated contamination by metals. Cichlasoma paranaense were collected at a reference location (a permanent water preservation area), maintained in the lab under standard conditions (controlled temperature, lighting, daily feeding, and constant aeration) and exposed to environmental samples of water and sediments. Subsequently, micronucleus (MN) and nuclear abnormalities (NA) frequencies were assessed in erythrocytes obtained from the caudal and gill regions. The highest concentrations of Cu were found in samples from river sites with forest fragmentation attributed to intensive agriculture practices. Similarly, exposure of fish to samples from agricultural areas induced significantly higher number of genotoxic effects. There was no marked difference between the tissues (tail and gill) regarding the observed frequencies of MN and NA. Thus C. paranaense fish served as a reliable model for detecting genotoxic effects, especially when water samples were collected near the discharge of agrochemicals. Evidence indicates that this method be considered for other global river sites which are also exposed to agrochemicals discharges containing Cu.

Accuracy of screening strategies for masked hypertension: a large-scale nationwide study based on home blood pressure monitoring.

This study compared the ability of guideline-proposed office blood pressure (OBP) screening thresholds [European Society of Hypertension (ESH) guidelines: 130/85 mmHg for individuals with an OBP < 140/90 mmHg; American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines: 120/75 mmHg for individuals with an OBP < 130/80 mmHg] and novel screening scores to identify normotensive individuals at high risk of having masked hypertension (MH) in an office setting. We cross-sectionally evaluated untreated participants with an OBP < 140/90 mmHg (n = 22,266) and an OBP < 130/80 mmHg (n = 10,005) who underwent home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) (derivation cohort) from 686 Brazilian sites. MH was defined according to criteria suggested by the ESH (OBP < 140/90 mmHg; HBPM ≥ 135/85 mmHg), Brazilian Society of Cardiology (BSC) (OBP < 140/90 mmHg; HBPM ≥ 130/80 mmHg) and ACC/AHA (OBP < 130/80 mmHg; HBPM ≥ 130/80 mmHg). Scores were generated from multivariable logistic regression coefficients between MH and clinical variables (OBP, age, sex, and BMI). Considering the ESH, BSC, and ACC/AHA criteria, 17.2%, 38.5%, and 21.2% of the participants had MH, respectively. Guideline-proposed OBP screening thresholds yielded area under curve (AUC) values of 0.640 (for ESH criteria), 0.641 (for BSC criteria), and 0.619 (for ACC/AHA criteria) for predicting MH, while scores presented as continuous variables or quartiles yielded AUC values of 0.700 and 0.688 (for ESH criteria), 0.720 and 0.709 (for BSC criteria), and 0.671 and 0.661 (for ACC/AHA criteria), respectively. Further analyses performed with alternative untreated participants (validation cohort; n = 2807 with an OBP < 140/90 mmHg; n = 1269 with an OBP < 130/80 mmHg) yielded similar AUC values. In conclusion, the accuracy of guideline-proposed OBP screening thresholds in identifying individuals at high risk of having MH in an office setting is limited and is inferior to that yielded by scores derived from simple clinical variables.

A database of installation monitoring and uplift load tests of round-shaft helical anchors in Brazil

Helical anchors have been widely used during the last 15 years to support electrical transmission line towers in Brazil; however, the prediction of the uplift capacity of these anchors is still a very difficult task. Typically, costly and time-consuming static load tests complemented with torque–capacity correlations are used for the determination of anchor capacity. One reason for the inability of the existing design methods is the degree of soil disturbance during installation, which is variable according to the soil type, number of helices, anchor configuration, and quality of installation. Therefore, an extensive database of field load tests and installation monitoring of helical foundations in different Brazilian sites would be valuable to guide the engineers for a better and optimum design, reducing project cost. The current paper presents a helical anchor database that includes data of soil characterization, anchor geometry, installation torque and load–displacement response of 107 anchor cases in 40 different sites in Brazil. Additionally, an analysis of the data presented here indicated that the torque-correlation method, used frequently for the quality control of helical anchors, needs to be improved by considering the influence of parameters such as relative embedment depth and soil type. Moreover, this database can contribute to a better understanding of helical anchor behaviour and be used for: (i) calibration of uplift capacity estimation methods and of resistance factors for ULS and SLS design, (ii) development of torque–capacity correlation models, (iii) correlations between ultimate helix bearing pressure and SPT blow count; (iv) characterization of the uncertainties of design methods; (v) improvement of numerical models; etc.

Linking anthropogenic burning activities to magnetic susceptibility: Studies at Brazilian archaeological sites

AbstractThis study provides the first survey of Brazilian magnetic susceptibility (MS) data from varying archaeological and geological contexts, including open‐air sites, quartzite, and limestone rockshelters, and Amazonian dark earths. Our MS analyses associated with archaeological findings allow us to propose MS values as proxies of intense anthropogenic burning activities for archaeological sites with (i) systematic use of large hearth lit in the same places; (ii) systematic burns and highly diverse uses; (iii) higher diversity use with few fire activities and knapping playing an essential role; and (iv) incipient human activities and the initial use of the archaeological site. Our data are limited to understanding anthropogenic burning activities and cannot be extended to reveal other archaeological aspects. The results have implications for understanding human occupation in a large area with numerous archaeological sites. This study was the first step in distinguishing archaeological fires from natural fires and provided a new perspective for further research that attempts to identify distinct types of human fires.

TRIALS IN PROGRESS: THE THRIVE STUDIES EVALUATING THE EFFICACY, SAFETY, AND LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH INCLACUMAB, A P-SELECTIN INHIBITOR, IN PATIENTS WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive red blood cell (RBC) disorder caused by a single point mutation in the β-globin gene, resulting in the production of hemoglobin S. Hemoglobin S polymerization within deoxygenated RBCs contributes to hemolysis, vaso-occlusion, and end-organ damage. Additionally, abnormal heterocellular adhesive interactions between RBCs and endothelial cells, leukocytes, and platelets play a central role in triggering painful vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in patients with SCD. Inclacumab is a recombinant, fully human, monoclonal antibody directed against human P-selectin, a cell adhesion molecule produced by endothelial cells and platelets. Inclacumab interferes with the adhesion of sickle RBCs, platelets, and leukocytes to the endothelium by binding P-selectin and preventing P-selectin from binding to its ligands. This is the putative mechanism by which inclacumab may potentially reduce the incidence of VOCs. We aim to conduct 2 global, multicenter, phase 3 studies and an open-label extension (OLE) study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of inclacumab in individuals with SCD. The THRIVE studies (THRIVE-131, THRIVE-132, THRIVE OLE) are being conducted in approximately 75 sites worldwide, including 13 sites in Brazil. Of the Brazilian sites, 2 are currently activated. THRIVE-131 (NCT04935879) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial in which 240 participants aged ≥12 years experiencing 2 to 10 VOCs in the previous 12 months will be randomized 1:1 to receive intravenous (IV) inclacumab or placebo every 12 weeks for 48 weeks. The primary endpoint is the rate of VOCs during the 48-week treatment period. THRIVE-132 (NCT04927247) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial in which 280 participants aged ≥12 years experiencing 2 to 10 VOCs in the previous 12 months will be randomized 1:1 to receive a single dose of IV inclacumab or placebo within 5 days of resolution of an index VOC that required admission to a healthcare facility and treatment with parenteral pain medication. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients with readmission for a VOC within 90 days of randomization. After completion of their participation in THRIVE-131 or THRIVE-132, participants may enroll in THRIVE-133 OLE in which the long-term safety of inclacumab will be investigated. In THRIVE-133 OLE, participants will receive IV inclacumab every 12 weeks as long as the clinical benefit of treatment outweighs the risk and until access to inclacumab from an alternative source (eg, through commercialization or a managed-access program) becomes available. Recruiting for both THRIVE-131 and THRIVE-132 began in October 2021 and is ongoing. The THRIVE-131 and THRIVE-132 phase 3 studies will examine the efficacy of inclacumab in reducing the frequency of VOCs and readmissions due to VOCs, and the THRIVE-133 OLE study will examine the long-term safety of inclacumab in individuals with SCD. The phase 3 THRIVE studies are expected to provide valuable data on the safety and efficacy of inclacumab as a potential therapy for VOCs associated with SCD. These studies are supported by Global Blood Therapeutics.

Native Lizards Living in Brazilian Cities: Effects of Developmental Environments on Thermal Sensitivity and Morpho-Functional Associations of Locomotion.

Environmental conditions often affect developmental processes and consequently influence the range of phenotypic variation expressed at population level. Expansion of urban sites poses new challenges for native species, as urbanization usually affects the intensity of solar exposure and shade availability, determining the thermal regimes organisms are exposed to. In this study, we evaluate the effects of different developmental conditions in a Tropidurus lizard commonly found in Brazilian urban sites. After incubating embryos of Tropidurus catalanensis in two different thermal regimes (Developmental Environments [DE]: cold 24°C and warm 30°C), we measured morphological traits in the neonates and quantified locomotor performance in horizontal and vertical surfaces at three temperatures [Test Temperatures (TT) = 24°C, 30°C and 36°C]. Results indicate effects of developmental temperatures on morphological features, expressing functional implications that might be decisive for the viability of T. catalanensis in urbanized areas. Lizards ran similarly on horizontal and vertical surfaces, and isolated analyses did not identify significant effects of DE or TT on the sprint speeds measured. Absolute Vmax (i.e., the maximum sprint speed reached among all TTs) positively correlated with body size (SVL), and neonates from the warm DE (30°C) were larger than those from the cold DE (24°C). Morpho-functional associations of absolute Vmax also involved pelvic girdle width and forelimb, hindlimb, trunk, and tail lengths. Emerging discussions aim to understand how animals cope with abrupt environmental shifts, a likely common challenge in urbanized sites. Our findings add a new dimension to the topic, providing evidence that temperature, an environmental parameter often affected by urbanization, influences the thermal sensitivity of locomotion and the morphological profile of T. catalanensis neonates. Thermal sensitivity of specific developmental processes may influence the ability of these lizards to remain in habitats that change fast, as those suffering rapid urbanization due to city growth.

Reflections on research ethics in a public health emergency: Experiences of Brazilian women affected by Zika.

In Brazil, the epicenter of the Zika crisis, brown, black, and indigenous poor women living in municipalities with scarce resources were disproportionally affected. The gendered consequences of the epidemic exposed how intersectional lenses are central to understand the impact of public health emergencies in the lives of women and girls. The demand for Zika-affected children and women to be research participants is relevant for an ethical analysis of participant protection procedures during a crisis. We investigated how women experienced research participation by analyzing their narratives. Two-year-long longitudinal qualitative study in Brazilian sites located in the epidemic's epicenter was performed using mixed methods: ethnography with women from two distinct states and individual semi-structured interviews with five women in different Zika-affected states, four of which were community leaders. All women in the study were mothers or grandmothers of Zika-affected children. Thematic analysis was used for data evaluation. Women perceived being pressured to participate in research and a lack of benefit sharing. Structural determinants of gender inequality, such as its effect on power distribution, were found to impact research participant protection. Formal procedures for research protocols approvals were insufficient in protecting participants because these instruments were unable to account for structural aspects. Communitarian mobilization, through WhatsApp groups, was found to be an important mechanism to create conditions to challenge oppressive structures. Strengthening public health, effective community-based participation in research planning and implantation of ethical strategies that promotes gender equality can have transformative effect on unequal power structures and promote participant protection.