Two new species of Neanuridae (Collembola: Poduromorpha) from littoral of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Samples collected in "restinga" areas of two conservation units in Rio de Janeiro state revealed the presence of two new species of Neanuridae family. The first, Pseudachorutes solaris sp. nov., from Parque Estadual da Costa do Sol and from Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba, differs from other species for having 34-50 vesicles in the postantennal organ, and the second, Friesea jurubatiba sp. nov. from Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba, differs from other species for having 8 clavate chaetae in the abdominal segment VI.

Accumulation of brown adipose tissue and nutritional status. A prospective study of 366 consecutive autopsies

Increased amounts of brown adipose tissue have been reported to occur in association with several diseases. The objective of the present study was to determine whether brown adipose tissue accumulation is related to nutritional status. Histologic sections of periadrenal tissue prospectively obtained at consecutive autopsies from 366 adults were examined. The cases were separated into three groups: malnourished (101 autopsies), normotrophic (128 autopsies), and obese (137 autopsies), according to the Quetelet index. Of these patients, 89 had brown adipose tissue accumulation, 35 were malnourished, 32 were normotrophic, and 22 were obese. The results showed a correlation between brown adipose tissue and patient nutritional status and a higher brown adipose tissue accumulation in malnourished patients. Cardiovascular disease was the most common type of illness present in the cases with brown adipose tissue accumulation.

Accumulation of brown adipose tissue in patients with Chagas heart disease

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is an important source of non-shivering thermogenesis. Increased BAT amounts have been reported to occur in association with several diseases, including congestive heart failure. The objective of the present study was to determine whether BAT accumulation occurs in patients with Chagas disease. Histological sections of peri-adrenal tissue obtained at autopsy from 259 patients were examined. Of these patients, 58 had the digestive form of Chagas disease, 50 had the cardiac form without heart failure and 201 had the cardiac form with heart failure. All cases were investigated in terms of nutritional status and classified as malnourished, normotrophic or obese according to the Quetelet index. The results showed no correlation between BAT and the patients' nutritional status, and more BAT accumulation in patients with the cardiac form of Chagas disease compared to patients with the digestive form. Similarly, a history of heart failure was correlated with greater BAT accumulation. On the basis of the present data and of information reported in the literature, we propose that chronic hypoxia may be the cause of BAT accumulation in Chagas disease patients with heart failure.