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Lactic acid bacteria (LABs) are microorganisms of significant scientific and industrial importance and have great potential for application in meat and meat products. This comprehensive review addresses the main characteristics of LABs, their nutritional, functional, and technological benefits, and especially their importance not only as starter cultures. LABs produce several metabolites during their fermentation process, which include bioactive compounds, such as peptides with antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and immunomodulatory properties. These metabolites present several benefits as health promoters but are also important from a technological point of view. For example, bacteriocins, organic acids, and other compounds are of great importance, whether from a sensory or product quality or a safety point of view. With the production of GABA, exopolysaccharides, antioxidants, and vitamins are beneficial metabolites that influence safety, technological processes, and even health-promoting consumer benefits. Despite the benefits, this review also highlights that some LABs may present virulence properties, requiring critical evaluation for using specific strains in food formulations. Overall, this review hopes to contribute to the scientific literature by increasing knowledge of the various benefits of LABs in meat and meat products.

The pathogenic nature of infections caused by Candida spp. underscores the necessity for novel therapeutic agents. Extracts of Schinopsis brasilienses Engl are \ a promising source of agents with antifungal effects. This study aimed to assess the antifungal potential of the leaf extract of S. brasilienses. The antifungal activity was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations and fungicide concentrations (MIC and MFC). The antibiofilm potential was assessed by counting colony-forming units/mL. The study examined the inhibition kinetics of fungal growth and potential synergism between gallic acid or the extract and nystatin using the Checkerboard method. Cytotoxicity was evaluated through the MTT assay. The extract exhibited antifungal effect against all tested strains, with MIC and MFC ranging from 31.25-250 μg/mL. Gallic acid, the main isolated compound, displayed a MIC of 2000 μg/mL. The extract of S. brasilienses at 31.25 μg/mL inhibited the formation of biofilm by C. albicans and significantly reduced the mass of mature biofilm after 24 and 48 h (p < 0. 05). At a concentration of 125 μg/mL, the extract demonstrated significant inhibition of fungal growth after 6 hours. The combination of gallic acid or extract with nystatin did not exhibit synergistic or antagonistic effect. Furthermore, the extract did not induce cytotoxicity to a human cell line. The extract of S. brasiliensis demonstrates antifungal activity against Candida, generally exhibiting fungicidal action and capacity to inhibit biofilm formation as well as reduce mature biofilms. Additionally, the extract showed low cytotoxicity to human cells.

To investigate the effectiveness of paced breathing guided by biofeedback on clinical and functional outcomes of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An uncontrolled pilot study comprising a training with paced breathing guided by biofeedback (three sessions of 35 min per week) was conducted over four weeks (12 sessions). Assessments included respiratory muscle strength (using a manovacuometer), anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), dyspnea (Baseline Dyspnea Index), functionality (Timed Up and Go Test), health status (COPD Assessment Test) and health-related quality of life (Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire). The sample consisted of nine patients with a mean age of 68.2 ± 7.8 years. After intervention, patients significantly improved in health status and health-related quality of life, assessed using the COPD Assessment Test (p < 0.001) and Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (p < 0.001); anxiety (p < 0.001); and depression (p = 0.001). Patients also significantly improved in dyspnea (p = 0.008), TUG (p = 0.015), CC Score (p = 0.031), and maximum inspiratory (p = 0.004) and expiratory pressures (p < 0.001). An intervention with paced breathing guided by biofeedback promoted positive results on dyspnea, anxiety, depression, health status and perceived health-related quality of life in patients with COPD. Moreover, gains in respiratory muscle strength and functional performance were observed, affecting the performance of daily activities., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Rootstocks less vigorous are among the most crucial management techniques to modernize fruit cultivation. Replanting with fallow land has become necessary due to a lack of land to establish new orchards., Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of various rootstocks of the American Geneva® series on the yield performance of the apple ( Malus domestica Borkh) cultivars 'Gala Select' and 'Fuji Suprema' under replanting conditions in southern Brazil. Methods : After two years of fallow land, the experiments were initiated in 2017 and conducted during the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 growing seasons in Painel and Caxias do Sul municipalities at the Santa Catarina and the Rio Grande do Sul State, respectively. The 'Gala Select' and 'Fuji Suprema' were grafted onto the G.202, G.814, G.210, and G.213 Geneva series rootstocks in a tall spindle training system using a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to assess the interrelationship among the variable's vigor, productivity, and fruit quality., Results: The PCA result showed significant differences in vigor, productivity, and fruit quality when the G.210 and G.213 and G.814 and G.213 Geneva series rootstocks were used in combination with Gala Select and Fuji Suprema cultivars, respectively. The PCA analysis clustered all cultivar/rootstock combinations into two groups, based on their vigor and productivity and the yield performance and fruit quality data, that differed significantly among combinations and regions. The 'Gala Select'/G.202 and 'Fuji Suprema'/G.213 combinations were less vigorous than the 'Gala Select'/G.210 and 'Fuji Suprema'/G.814 combinations. However, 'Gala Select'/G.210 (semi-dwarfing) and G.213 (dwarfing) are the combinations with high yield performance, productive efficiency and fruit quality, being more reliable to the producer, and less vigorous, resulting in lower labor costs under replating conditions, with two years of fallow land, from 2018 until 2021 growing seasons., Competing Interests: On behalf of all Co-authors and been the Corresponding Author, I declare must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Objective: To analyze respiratory muscle strength of patients with heart failure (HF) and correlate with functional capacity., Methods: This cross-sectional study involved patients with compensated HF of both sexes, aged above 18 years. Respiratory muscle strength was assessed by measuring maximum inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressures (MEP) using a manovacuometer. Patients were randomized into two groups to assess functional capacity: six-minute walk test (6MWT) and incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT)., Results: Forty-eight patients were evaluated (23 from 6MWT and 25 from ISWT group). Most were male (67.8%), with mean age of 62.3 years and left ventricular ejection fraction of 40.8%. Mean predicted values of MIP [81.2% (74.7-87.8%)] and MEP [95.6% (88.2-103.0%)] did not indicate respiratory muscle weakness. The higher the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, the lower the MIP (p = .011) and MEP (p = .016) values. Physically active patients presented higher respiratory muscle strength than those sedentary (MIP: 104.5 vs. 71.9 cmH 2 O, p < .001; MEP: 120.0 vs. 91.1 cmH 2 O, p = .004). Functional capacity was impaired [6MWT: 416.0 m (372.8-459.3 m); ISWT: 304 m (263.4-344.9 m)], and distance covered in the ISWT was shorter than 6MWT group (p < .001). Distance covered in the ISWT group presented a moderate positive correlation with MIP (r = 0.45; p = .022) and MEP (r = 0.41; p = .041)., Conclusion: Most patients with HF presented respiratory muscle strength close to predicted values; however, sedentary patients and those with high NYHA functional class, showed reduced MIP and MEP. Functional capacity was reduced, and MIP and MEP correlated with distance covered in the ISWT.

Background: Biomarkers can help understand the impact of achieving therapeutic goals in developing vascular diseases in diabetics. Aim: To assess the association between lipid and glycemic profiles and endothelial biomarkers in diabetics. Methods: Cross-sectional study that evaluated lipid and glycemic levels and biomarkers (VCAM-1, Sdc-1, FGF-23 and KIM-1 in diabetics. Results: Higher VCAM-1 levels were associated with higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (in the group with inadequate glycohemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] levels), with higher glycemic levels (in the group with inadequate HDL cholesterol levels) and with lower HDL cholesterol levels (both groups). VCAM-1 was independently associated with not achieving adequate HbA1c levels. Conclusion: In uncontrolled diabetics, VCAM-1 was independently associated with having inadequate HbA1c levels, suggesting they may already have endothelial damage.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the stability-indicating capacity of an analytical method for Eugenia uniflora, enhance understanding of the stability of myricitrin, and assess the effect of degradation of spray-dried extract (SDE) on antioxidant and antifungal activities. Validation of the stability-indicating method was carried out through a forced degradation study of SDE and standard myricitrin. The antioxidant and antifungal activities of SDE were evaluated both before and after degradation. The quantification method described was found to be both accurate and precise in measuring myricitrin levels in SDE from E. uniflora, with excellent selectivity that confirmed its stability-indicating capability. The forced degradation study revealed that the marker myricitrin is sensitive to hydrolysis, but generally stable under other stress conditions. By contrast, the standard myricitrin displayed greater susceptibility to degradation under forced degradation conditions. Analysis of the antioxidant activity of SDE before and after degradation showed a negative impact in this activity due to degradation, while no significant effect was observed on antifungal activity. The method described can be a valuable tool in the quality control of E. uniflora, and the findings can assist in determining the optimal conditions and storage of products derived from this species., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The aim of the present study was to report on the occurrence of parasitism by Amblyomma rotundatum ticks on two species of Teiidae lizards and test the presence of rickettsiae in the collected ticks, in the western Brazilian Amazon region. Ticks were collected in July 2019, from a fragment of terra firme forest in the municipality of Senador Guiomard, Acre, Brazil. Two lizards that were infested by immature stages of ticks were caught using mist net and Tomahawk traps. Ectoparasites were collected manually, and the lizard specimens were identified and released at the same location where they had been caught. Three nymphs and 49 larvae were collected from Ameiva ameiva, while 25 nymphs and nine larvae were collected from Tupinambis cuzcoensis, which are both in the family Teiidae. The ticks were identified morphologically as belonging to the genus Amblyomma. Nymphs were identified at species level through molecular analysis, resulting in the tick species Amblyomma rotundatum. This is the first record of parasitism by the tick A. rotundatum on T. cuzcoensis lizard, and the first report of an association between A. rotundatum and the lizard species A. ameiva and T. cuzcoensis in Acre, in the western part of the Amazon region.

The gaining popularity of tobacco and nicotine delivery products, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) being perceived as relatively safe is of a medical concern. The long-term safety of these new products remains uncertain for oral health. In this study, in vitro effects of e-liquid were assessed in a panel of normal oral epithelium cell lines (NOE and HMK), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) human cell lines (CAL27 and HSC3), and a mouse oral cancer cell line (AT84) using cell proliferation, survival/cell death, and cell invasion assays. In addition, signaling pathways underlying the pro-invasive activity of e-cigarettes were evaluated by gene and protein expression analysis. We demonstrated that e-liquid promotes proliferation and anchorage-independent growth of OSCC and induces morphological changes associated with enhanced motility and invasive phenotypes. Furthermore, e-liquid-exposed cells express significantly reduced cell viability, regardless of e-cigarette flavour content. At the gene expression level, e-liquid induces changes in gene expression consistent with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) revealed by reduced expression of cell epithelial markers such as E-cadherin and enhanced expression of mesenchymal proteins like vimentin and B-catenin seen both in OSCC cell lines and normal oral epithelium cells. In summary, the ability of e-liquid to induce proliferative and invasive properties along the activation of the EMT process can contribute to the development of tumorigenesis in normal epithelial cells and promote aggressive phenotype in pre-existing oral malignant cells., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Statement of Problem: Stone casts are subject to contamination, but whether disinfectants incorporated into the stone are effective is unclear., Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and the mechanical and surface properties of self-disinfecting gypsum (SDG) and gypsum mixed with 2% chlorhexidine (GCHX)., Material and Methods: Antimicrobial action was evaluated using the diffusion-disk technique on Streptococcus aureus and Candida albicans 1 hour and 24 hours after pouring the gypsum. The groups were SDG, GCHX, a positive control (PC) of gypsum mixed with distilled water, and a negative control (NC) of filter paper disk soaked with 2% chlorhexidine; n=8. Inhibition halos were measured using the ImageJ software program and statistically analyzed using the repeated measures mixed ANOVA with time×group interaction. Compressive strength (CS) in MPa and surface roughness (SR) in μm (parameters: Ra - roughness average; and Sa - 3-dimensional (3D) arithmetic mean of the surface profile) tests were performed to characterize the specimens (evaluated groups: SDG, GCHX, and PC; n=10). CS data were analyzed by a 2-way ANOVA with time×group interaction, and SR data by a 1-way ANOVA (α=.05)., Results: For S aureus, there were differences between GCHX and SDG at 1 hour and 24 hours (P<.05), but no significant differences were found for C albicans (P>.05). GCHX was better than PC, except for C albicans, and showed a reduction in CS when compared with PC and SDG (P<.05) at all time intervals. The SR of GCHX increased (Ra:1.76, Sa:2.08) when compared with PC (Ra:0.89, Sa:1.12) and SDG (Ra:1.03, Sa:1.35) (Ra: P<.004 and Sa: P<.001)., Conclusions: The antimicrobial activity of GCHX against S aureus was better than that of SDG, but neither had an effect against C albicans. As for CS and SR, GCHX presented a decrease in properties when compared with PC and SDG but was within the American Dental Association #25 specification values., (Copyright © 2022 Editorial Council for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common malignancy of the thyroid gland and early stages are curable. However, a subset of PTCs shows an unusually aggressive phenotype with extensive lymph node metastasis and higher incidence of locoregional recurrence. In this study, we investigated a large cohort of PTC cases with an unusual aggressive phenotype using a high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify differentially regulated genes associated with metastatic PTC. All metastatic PTC with mutated BRAF (V600E) but not BRAF wild-type expressed an up-regulation of R-Spondin Protein 4 (RSPO4) concomitant with an upregulation of genes involved in focal adhesion and cell-extracellular matrix signaling. Further immunohistochemistry validation confirmed the upregulation of these target genes in metastatic PTC cases. Preclinical studies using established PTC cell lines support that RSPO4 overexpression is associated with BRAF V600E mutation and is a critical upstream event that promote activation of kinases of focal adhesion signaling known to drive cancer cell locomotion and invasion. This finding opens up the potential of co-targeting B-Raf, RSPO and focal adhesion proteins as a pharmacological approach for aggressive BRAF V600E PTC.

Objective: Currently, not much is known about the interactions between voice and growth hormone (GH). We have described large kindred with isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) due to a GHRH receptor mutation, resulting in severe short stature and high-pitched voice. These IGHD individuals have little interest in GH treatment, as they consider themselves "short long-lived people", rather than patients. Interestingly, they report normal general quality of life, but they rate their Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) as low. Here, we assessed the social and auditory-perceptual impacts of artistic-intervention voice therapy with semioccluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTE) and choral singing, on their voices., Methods: Seventeen GH-naïve adult IGHD individuals were enrolled in a single-arm interventional pre-post study with 13 weekly sessions of choir singing over 90 days. Outcome measures were V-RQOL scores, self-assessment of voice, and auditory-perceptual analysis (GRBAS scale, G: grade of the severity of dysphonia; R: roughness; B: breathiness; A: asthenia; and S: strain)., Results: Marked improvements in total (p = 0.0001), physical (p = 0.0002), and socioemotional (p = 0.0001) V-RQOL scores and in self-assessment of voice (p = 0.004) were found. The general grades of vocal deviation (p = 0.0001), roughness (p = 0.0001), breathiness (p = 0.0001) and strain (p = 0.0001) exhibited accentuated reductions., Conclusion: Voice therapy with semioccluded vocal tract exercises and choral training improved social impact and perceptual voice assessments in IGHD subjects and markedly improved their voice-related quality of life. This is particularly important in a setting where GH replacement therapy is not widely accepted.

Coffee ( Coffea arabica L.) presents an asynchronous flowering regulated by an endogenous and environmental stimulus, and anthesis occurs once plants are rehydrated after a period of water deficit. We evaluated the evolution of Abscisic Acid (ABA), ethylene, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) content, ACC oxidase (ACO) activity, and expression analysis of the Lysine Histidine Transporter 1 ( LHT1 ) transporter, in the roots, leaves, and flower buds from three coffee genotypes ( C. arabica L. cv Oeiras, Acauã, and Semperflorens) cultivated under field conditions with two experiments. In a third field experiment, the effect of the exogenous supply of ACC in coffee anthesis was evaluated. We found an increased ACC level, low ACO activity, decreased level of ethylene, and a decreased level of ABA in all tissues from the three coffee genotypes in the re-watering period just before anthesis, and a high expression of the LHT1 in flower buds and leaves. The ethylene content and ACO activity decreased from rainy to dry period whereas the ABA content increased. A higher number of opened and G6 stage flower buds were observed in the treatment with exogenous ACC. The results showed that the interaction of ABA-ACO-ethylene and intercellular ACC transport among the leaves, buds, and roots in coffee favors an increased level of ACC that is most likely, involved as a modulator in coffee anthesis. This study provides evidence that ACC can play an important role independently of ethylene in the anthesis process in a perennial crop., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 López, Silva Santos, Marquez Gutiérrez, Jaramillo Mesa, Cardon, Espíndola Lima, Almeida Lima and Chalfun-Junior.)

The continuous interest in discovering new bioactive molecules derived from natural products (NP) has stimulated the development of improved screening assays to help overcome challenges in NP-based drug discovery. Here, we describe a unique platform for the online screening of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors without the need for pre-treating the sample. In the current study, we have demonstrated the ability to combine reversed-phase separation with a capillary immobilized enzyme reactor (cIMER) in two-dimensional liquid chromatography system coupled with mass spectrometry detection. We systematically investigated the effects of method parameters that are of practical significance and are known to affect the enzyme assay and interfere in the analysis such as: bioreactor dimensions, loop sizes, amount of immobilized enzyme, second dimension flow rates, reaction time, substrate concentration, presence of organic modifier, limit of detection and signal suppression. The performance of this new platform was evaluated using a mixture containing three known AChE inhibitors (tacrine, galanthamine and donepezil) and an ethanolic extract obtained from the dry bulbs of Hippeastrum calyptratum (Amaryllidaceae) was investigated to provide a proof of concept of the applicability of the platform for the analysis of complex mixtures such as those derived from NPs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Seidl, Lima, Leme, Pires, Stoll and Cardoso.)

Background: Hemispherectomy has an established role as a treatment of last resort in patients with unilateral hemispheric lesions suffering from refractory epilepsy., Methods: Seven patients were evaluated at our Epilepsy Unit. We compared the seizure outcome at 6 months, 1, 2, 5 years post-surgery, as well as at end follow-up (mean 7.1 years) using Engel classification. Reduction of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) was also assessed utilizing equal time frames., Results: The mean age of seizure onset was 5.4 years. Engel I was achieved in 5 patients at 6 months (71.4%). Engel at 1 year was predicted by the Engel at 6 months (p=0.013) with a similar number of patients being classified as Engel I outcome. Engel at 2 years was also predicted by Engel at 6 months and at 1 year (p=0.030). At end follow-up only 3 patients (42.9%) remained categorized as Engel I outcome. There was a trend toward a stability in Engel classification. All patients with developmental causes for their epilepsy experienced some deterioration of the surgical outcomes. Conversely, all patients with acquired causes were stable throughout follow-up. Seizure outcome at 6 months was worse in the patients who had post-op complications (p=0.044). Adult and pediatric populations did not differ significantly in any tested variable., Conclusions: Hemispherectomy is a valuable resource for seizure control in properly selected patients. Engel patient's evolution could be predicted at 6 months interval. Hemispherectomy could be considered a useful attitude in difficult cases., (Copyright © 2021 Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The commercial determinants of health (CDoH) describe the adverse health effects associated with for-profit actors and their actions. Despite efforts to advance the definition, conceptualization, and empirical analyses of CDoH, the term's practical application to mitigate these effects requires the capacity to measure the influences of specific components of CDoH and the cumulative impacts of CDoH on the health and well-being of specific populations. Building on the Global Burden of Disease Study, we begin by conceptualizing CDoH as risk factor exposures that span agency and structural influences. We identify 6 components of these influences and propose an initial set of indicators and datasets to rank exposures as high, medium, or low. These are combined into a commercial determinants of health index (CDoHi) and illustrated by 3 countries. Although now a proof of concept, comparative analysis of CDoH exposures by population, over time and space, and their associated health outcomes will become possible with further development of indicators and datasets. Expansion of the CDoHi and application to varied populations groups will enable finer targeting of interventions to reduce health harms. The measurement of improvements to health and wellness from such interventions will, in turn, inform overall efforts to address the CDoH.

In recent years, the concept of commercial determinants of health (CDoH) has attracted scholarly, public policy, and activist interest. To date, however, this new attention has failed to yield a clear and consistent definition, well-defined metrics for quantifying its impact, or coherent directions for research and intervention. By tracing the origins of this concept over 2 centuries of interactions between market forces and public health action and research, we propose an expanded framework and definition of CDoH. This conceptualization enables public health professionals and researchers to more fully realize the potential of the CDoH concept to yield insights that can be used to improve global and national health and reduce the stark health inequities within and between nations. It also widens the utility of CDoH from its main current use to study noncommunicable diseases to other health conditions such as infectious diseases, mental health conditions, injuries, and exposure to environmental threats. We suggest specific actions that public health professionals can take to transform the burgeoning interest in CDoH into meaningful improvements in health. ( Am J Public Health . 2021;111(12):2202-2211. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306491).