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Liposomes composed of rice (RL) and soybean (SL) lecithins were produced by reverse phase evaporation and used for the encapsulation of phenolic extracts from Spirulina LEB-18 (S-RL and S-SL for liposomes of rice and soybean lechitin, respectively). Liposomes were characterized in terms of size distribution, polydispersity index, and ζ-potential; the chemical interactions between the phenolic compounds from Spirulina and liposomes were evaluated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to evaluate their crystallinity pattern. The release behavior of phenolic extracts was evaluated under two different pH conditions. Afterwards, in vitro digestibility of liposomes was evaluated in a dynamic gastrointestinal system. Liposomes exhibited high encapsulation efficiency (88.28% and 97.35% for S-RL and S-SL, respectively) and sizes ranging between 250 and 291 nm, showing to be good candidates for the encapsulation of phenolic extracts obtained from microalgae. Results showed that liposomes are stable at low pH values and that they are able to resist to the stomach conditions but they lose their integrity under intestinal conditions. This work increases the knowledge about the effects of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on liposomes and provides important information for the design of liposome formulations aiming their application in pharmaceutical and food applications. Unlabelled Image • Rice and soybean lecithin were successfully used for liposomes production. • Phenolic extracts from Spirulina LEB-18 were encapsulated in liposomes. • Produced liposomes are stable at low pH value resisting to (in vitro) stomach conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mauritia flexuosa in an extra-Amazon environment was classified a supra-annual species. • Vegetative phenophases was negatively correlated with precipitation and photoperiod. • Number of flowers produced by male individuals was higher than female individuals. • Reproductive phenophases, flowering and mature fruits showed seasonality. • Mauritia flexuosa shows a clear pattern of phenological plasticity. Here, we characterized the vegetative and reproductive phenology of Mauritia flexuosa in an extra-Amazonian environment, in four veredas (humid environment) in the Brazilian semiarid Cerrado region. Our objectives were to identify whether the phenology of palms growing in the veredas follows the same pattern as populations in other localities, such as the Amazon, or if the phenological pattern of M. flexuosa corresponds to local seasonality, to test for correlations between phenophases and local environmental variables, and to summarize the differences in biometric and quantitative parameters of reproductive structures between male and female individuals. The study was conducted in the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of Rio Pandeiros, municipality of Bonito de Minas, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. For phenological monitoring, 100 adult individuals were selected (60 females and 40 males), and monitoring was conducted monthly for 50 months (November 2015 to December 2019). Circular statistics and linear models were used to correlate phenophase data with abiotic variables and compare floral and inflorescence biometry data. Mauritia flexuosa produces spear, green, and old leaves continuously throughout the year. Mauritia flexuosa was classified as a supra-annual presenting flowering/fruiting event at intervals longer than one year. The reproductive and vegetative phenophases were correlated with different abiotic variables (precipitation, photoperiod, and temperature). When we consider the "bigger picture" and compare different palm populations from Amazonian and non-Amazonian regions, M. flexuosa flowering and fruiting phenology differ depending on locality, sometimes occurring during the dry season and at other times during rainy periods. The phenological differences found here confirm the importance of characterizing species and phenological patterns in different environments of occurrence to better understand the ability of species to adapt to a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is recognized as the leading cause of nosocomial respiratory infection among hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients, causing considerable morbidity and mortality. RSV is easily transmitted by contact with contaminated surfaces, and in HSCT units, more than 50% of RSV infections have been characterized as of nosocomial origin. From April 2001 to October 2002, RSV was identified by direct immunofluorescent assay in 42 symptomatic HSCT recipients. Seven RSV strains from 2001 and 12 RSV strains from 2002 were sequenced. RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and seminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers complementary to RSV genes G and F were performed. PCR products were analyzed by nucleotide sequencing of the C-terminal region of gene G for typing (in group A or B). Of the 7 strains analyzed in 2001, only 2 belonged to group B; the other 5 belonged to group A. Of these 7 strains, 3 were identical and were from recipients receiving outpatient care. In 2002, of the 12 strains analyzed, 3 belonged to group A and the other 9 belonged to group B. Of these 9 strains, 7 were genetically identical and were also from recipients receiving outpatient care. Therefore, multiple strains of RSV cocirculated in the hematopoietic stem cell transplant units (ward and outpatient units) between 2001 and 2002. Nosocomial transmission was more likely to occur at the HSCT outpatient unit than in the HSCT ward. Infection control practices should also be implemented in the outpatient setting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: The mechanisms whereby advanced glycation end products (AGE) contribute to atherogenesis in diabetes mellitus are not fully understood. In this study we analyzed in vitro the influence of advanced glycated albumin (AGE-albumin) as well as the role of the AGE inhibitors – aminoguanidine (AMG) and metformin (MF) – on the cell cholesterol efflux. Methods: HDL3 and albumin-mediated cholesterol efflux was measured in mouse peritoneal macrophages and in SR-BI transfected cells that had been treated along time with dicarbonyl sugars or AGE-albumin, both in the presence or in the absence of AMG and MF. 125I-HDL3 cell binding and 125I-AGE-albumin cell degradation were measured. Carboxymethyllysine (CML) formation and SR-BI expressions were determined by immunoblot. Results: AGE-albumin efficiently trapped cell cholesterol but impaired the HDL-mediated cell cholesterol efflux by decreasing HDL binding to the cell surface and inducing intracellular glycoxidation, without interfering with the SR-BI expression. Cell treatment with dicarbonyl sugars also disrupted the HDL-mediated cell cholesterol efflux, but this was prevented by AMG and MF that reduced CML formation. Conclusions: By adversely impairing the HDL-mediated cell cholesterol removal rate, AGE-albumin and cell glycoxidation could facilitate the development of premature atherosclerosis in diabetes mellitus (DM) and in other diseases associated with carbonyl and oxidative stress like in chronic uremia. Thus, drugs that prevent AGE formation may be useful to correct disturbances in cell cholesterol transport. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• About 30% and 20% reported lack of parental support and monitoring, respectively. • Loneliness and sleep problems due to worries were more prevalent among girls. • Loneliness was more prevalent among students from private schools. • Lack of parental monitoring/support were associated with higher prevalence of outcomes. Early identification of adolescent's mental health issues, may help to plan effective strategies to prevent severe psychological diseases. The aim of this study was to verify the association between parental monitoring/support and loneliness and sleep problems due to worries in adolescents from a representative Brazilian school-based survey (PeNSE). This study presented cross-sectional design and was carried out in 2015 with Brazilian students from 9th grade. Information were assessed through self-administered questionnaire. The outcomes were loneliness and sleep problems due to worries. The exposures were missing class without permission, parents' knowledge about free time and parental understanding about concerns. Poisson regression was used for association analyses, stratified by sex and school type (public; private). Girls were more likely to presented both outcomes (p < 0.001). Loneliness was more prevalent among private schools' students (17.2% 95%CI: 16.2%; 18.2%) than among public school' students (15.8% 95%CI:15.3%; 16.3%). While, the prevalence of sleep problems due to worries was not different according school type. A dose-response gradient was observed, where the higher the lack of parental monitoring/support the higher the prevalence of outcomes in the adolescents. Lack of parental monitoring and support were associated with higher prevalence of loneliness and sleep problems due to worries in adolescents from Brazil. A good adolescent-parent relationship may be helpful in early identification of possible problems of adolescents' behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ACT and DBS were well accepted by participants in a middle-income country (Brazil). • Attendance rates of the interventions were high (ACT = 64.2%; DBS = 76.6%). • Few variables predicted attendance rates in this study. Parent training programmes have significant potential to improve the quality of children's early environments and thereby their development and life-course outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify and explain the extent to which parents engaged in two group-based training programmes, offered to high-risk families enrolled in a randomized controlled trial study called PIÁ in Southern Brazil. The programmes were: (1) ACT: Raising Safe Kids, a 9-week programme aiming to reduce harsh parenting and maltreatment and improve positive parenting practices; (2) Dialogic book-sharing (DBS), an 8-week programme aiming to promote parental sensitivity and improve child cognitive development and social understanding. Of the 123 mothers randomly allocated to the ACT programme, 64.2% (n = 79) completed the course, and of 124 mothers allocated to DBS, 76.6% (n = 95) completed the course. After the interventions, mothers were very positive about the experience of both programmes but highlighted practical difficulties in attending. In adjusted regression analyses, only two variables significantly predicted ACT course completion (maternal age and distance between the intervention site and household); no significant predictor was found for DBS attendance. We conclude that although high completion rates are possible, there are important challenges to engaging parents of young children in training programmes, and practical difficulties occurring during training courses may be more important for attendance than baseline participant characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Vitamin C promote a better performance of chickens after long fasting on housing. • Lymphoid tissue did not have effects of encapsulated ascorbic acid supplementation. • Addition of protect ascorbic acid didn't change mitochondrial oxygen uptake. Ascorbic acid is involved in many essential functions in broiler chickens. Vitamin C has been used as a supplement in broiler chicken diets with the objective of improving performance characteristics, especially under stressful situations. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of low levels of ascorbic acid supplementation on performance, the relative weight of organs and the mitochondrial metabolism of liver cells in broiler chickens after a delay in housing conditions. Eight hundred thirty-two one-day-old male Cobb 500 chicks were used in a randomised study with 4 treatments (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg of encapsulated ascorbic acid dietary supplementation during the prestarter stage of development) with 8 replicates. Feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BW gain), feed conversion ratio (FCR), viability, liver O 2 respiration and the mass and relative weights of organs were measured. Our results demonstrated that dietary supplementation with ascorbic acid had a beneficial effect on characteristics such as BW gain and FCR in the initial phase. These data indicate that the use of polyethoxylated ascorbic acid in the diets of broiler chickens during the prestarter stage can improve their performance when there is a delay in housing the animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]