The Heteroptera are known for their odour, for being pests or for being disease carriers. However, they are still not extensively studied, perhaps because they form a very large group. Therefore, with the aim of enhancing the knowledge of the morphology of the testes of this insect order, we collected and analysed 18 species of terrestrial Heteroptera from the northwestern part of São Paulo. The analysis of these species revealed some differences between the testicles of these species, including their shape (elongated, oval, round or pecten), the morphology of the testicular lobes (elongated and paired side by side or united in a single region), the colours of the peritoneal sheath that surrounds the lobes (red, orange, yellow or translucent), and the number of testicular lobes (one, two, four, five, six or seven). Because the aspects analysed were highly variable, our study suggests a need for further analysis of Heteropteran testicular morphological differences.

Insects of the suborder Heteroptera are known for their odor, for being pests, or for being disease carriers. To gain better insight into the cytogenetic characteristics of heteropterans, 18 species of terrestrial Heteroptera belonging to eight families were studied. The presence of heteropycnotic corpuscles during prophase I, terminal or interstitial chiasmas, telomeric associations between chromosomes, ring disposals of autosomes during metaphase, and late migrations of the sex chromosomes during anaphase were analyzed. These features showed identical patterns to other species of Heteroptera previously described in the literature. Another studied characteristic was chromosome complements. The male chromosome complements observed were 2 n  = 12 chromosomes [10 A  + XY, Galgupha sidae (Amyot & Serville) (Corimelaenidae) and Pachycoris torridus (Scopoli) (Scutelleridae)]; 2 n  = 13 [10 A  + 2 m  + X0, Harmostes serratus (Fabricius), Harmostes apicatus (Stål), Jadera haematoloma (Herrich-Schaeffer), Jadera sanguinolenta (Fabricius), Jadera sp. (Rhopalidae)], and Neomegalotomus parvus (Westwood) (Alydidae); 2 n  = 13 [12 A  + X0, Stenocoris furcifera (Westwood) (Alydidae); 2 n  = 14 [12 A  + XY, Dictyla monotropidia (Stål) (Tingidae)]; 2 n  = 19 [18 A  + X0, Acanonicus hahni (Stål) (Coreidae)]; 2 n  = 21 [18 A  + 2 m  + X0, Acanthocephala sp. (Dallas) (Coreidae)]; 2 n  = 27 [24 A  + 2 m  + X0, Anisoscelis foliacea marginella (Dallas) (Coreidae)]; 2 n  = 18 [ 16A  + XY, Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas) (Lygaeidae)]; 2 n  = 17 [14 A  + X 1 X 2 Y, Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa) (Lygaeidae)]; 2 n  = 16 [12 A  + 2 m  + XY, Pachybrachius bilobatus (Say) (Lygaeidae)]; 2 n  = 26 [24 A  + XY, Atopozelus opsinus (Elkins) (Reduviidae)]; and 2 n  = 27 [24 A  + X 1 X 2 Y, Doldina carinulata (Stål) (Reduviidae)]. The diversity of the cytogenetic characteristics of Heteroptera was reflected in the 18 studied species. Thus, this study extends the knowledge of these characteristics, such as the variations related to chromosome complements, sex chromosome systems, and meiotic behavior.

Background The syndemics theory seeks to understand the effect of multiple synergic problems in promoting poor health outcomes. To disentangle which and how syndemic conditions affect quality of life (QoL) may be important to improve well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This study evaluates the association between syndemic conditions and quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS. METHODS This was a secondary analysis from data obtained between 2014 and 2017 among PLWHA under care in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The outcomes were the six QoL domains (physical, psychological, level of independence, social relationships, environmental, and spirituality) measured through the World Health Organization Quality of Life in HIV infection scale, abbreviated version (WHOQOL-HIV-BREF). The independent variables were demographic and clinical characteristics, syndemic conditions (binge drinking, compulsive sexual behavior, polysubstance use, intimate partner violence, and depression), and syndemics (two or more syndemic conditions simultaneously). Bivariate analysis (t-test and ANOVA) and linear regressions were performed for each quality-of-life domain. RESULTS The analytical sample comprised 1530 participants, mostly male at birth (64%) and with median age of 43 years. The syndemic conditions most frequently observed were binge drinking (56%), IPV (13%), and depression (9%). Both individual syndemic conditions and syndemics were associated with worse QoL. In the multivariate analysis, positive screening for depression was associated with worse QoL in all domains. Polysubstance users presented worse QoL at social and environmental domains. Intimate partner violence was associated with worse QoL at environment domain while binge drinking was associated with worse scores in the physical domain. The presence of syndemics increased the likelihood of worse scores in the psychological, social, and environment domains. CONCLUSIONS Our study expands the understanding of QoL in PLWHA, as it considers a holistic/integral, multifactorial, and synergistic approach to the determinants of QoL. Seeking strategies that target syndemics may be important to improve patient-centered outcomes in health.