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Leprosy household contacts are generally more prone to develop the disease compared to the general population. Previous studies have demonstrated that genes related to the alternative activation (M2) profile in macrophages are associated with the increased bacillary load in multibacillary leprosy patients (MB), and that contacts of MB patients have a higher risk of contracting the disease. In addition, positive serological responses to PGL-1 or LID-1 are associated with a higher risk of disease. We performed a 5-year follow-up of contacts of leprosy patients and evaluated the pattern of gene and protein expression in cells from contacts that developed leprosy during this period. Leprosy household contacts had decreased soluble CD163 and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) serum levels when compared with healthy donors and leprosy patients. In contrast, arginase 1 activities were higher in contacts when compared with both healthy donors and leprosy patients. Of the contacts, 33 developed leprosy during the follow-up. Gene expression analysis revealed reduced ARG1 expression in these contacts when compared with contacts that did not develop disease. Arginase activity was a good predictive marker of protection in contacts (sensitivity: 90.0%, specificity: 96.77%) and the association with serology for anti-PGL-1 and anti-LID-1 increased the sensitivity to 100%. Altogether, the data presented here demonstrate a positive role of arginase against leprosy and suggest that the evaluation of arginase activity should be incorporated into leprosy control programs in order to aid in the decision of which contacts should receive chemoprophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Perceptions of Dating Infidelity Scale (PDIS) assesses how people perceive infidelity through specific behaviors. Originally developed by Wilson et al. (2011), it contains 12 items distributed into three factors: (1) ambiguous, (2) deceptive, and (3) explicit behaviors. In the present research, translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the PDIS in Brazilian Portuguese were performed. First, qualitative analyses took place: translation, translation synthesis, content validation, pre-test, and reverse translation. Then, quantitative analyses were conducted: psychometric parameter tests with confirmatory factor analysis and reliability. A total of 252 participants were recruited, 160 of whom were female (63.5%). The results indicated consistent PDIS adequacy (conceptual and idiomatic equivalences); satisfactory content validity coefficients regarding language clarity, practical pertinence, and theoretical relevance; and an almost perfect level of consensus regarding the theoretical dimension. The application of the pre-test was proven to be a good parameter for estimating the comprehension of the instrument in the culture for which it was intended. Confirmatory factor analysis showed good indices of adjustment quality of the tested trifactorial model (three factors being identified with ambiguous, deceptive, and explicit behaviors). Therefore, the structure indicated in the original version was corroborated and the instrument's reliability confirmed. The Brazilian Portuguese PDIS is a useful tool for evaluating infidelity perceptions in the Brazilian culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to evaluate if different rate of a nicosulfuron and atrazine mixture applied post-emergence to effectively control weeds in sweet sorghum without interfering in the initial growth and gas exchanges of the crop. The genotypes BRS 506, BRS 511, and SF 15 were subjected to weed management with atrazine (2500 g a.i. ha−1) mixed with six different doses of nicosulfuron (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 g a.i. ha−1). The herbicide mixtures were applied 12 days after sowing. At 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after application (DAA), phytotoxicity evaluations were performed in sorghum genotypes and weed control efficiency was evaluated. Initial growth (plant height, stalk diameter, leaf area, and number of leaves), gas exchanges, and relative chlorophyll index (a and b) were determined 7 DAA. The production of total fresh biomass, total soluble solids and ethanol yield were carried out at the end of the culture cycle. The mixture with doses higher than 40 g a.i. ha−1 of nicosulfuron with atrazine caused greater phytotoxicity in sweet sorghum and better weed control. Gradual increase in nicosulfuron reduced photosynthesis, transpiration, and initial growth of sorghum crop. The weed control did not interfere with production of fresh biomass, total soluble solids content and ethanol production, but showed different response in tested genotypes (BRS 511 > BRS 506 > SF 15). Thus, within the dose range evaluated, the mixture of 30 g a.i. ha−1 of nicosulfuron with atrazine was found effective in controlling weeds in sweet sorghum plantations without causing significant damage to the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits and vegetables (FV) consumed in natura or processed produce a significant volume of waste, causing an economic deficit in the productive chain. FV markets feature a significant production of vegetable residues with potential of use, since they commercialize an increasing amount of minimally processed vegetables and fruit juices. To this end, it is important to identify, quantify, and characterize these wastes and to propose feasible and coherent alternatives for their use at regional and worldwide levels. In this paper, a case study of two FV markets in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was conducted to identify and quantify FV processing waste. Over a period of 20 days, the FV residues from 31 vegetables and 17 fruits were identified and weighed. It is estimated by extrapolation that 106,000 kg of FV were processed in 1 year in two units of FV markets and 48.6% of FV were discarded as by-products. This may be a consequence of factors that contribute to waste generation, such as the low preparation and/or training of the manipulators as well as the quality of the equipment and the maintenance thereof. Thus, studies that aim to understand the environmental impact by monitoring the of FV waste are fundamental, since this waste can be used as raw material and converted into value-added products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A radial distribution analysis of pairs between the constituent atoms of protic ionic 2-(hydroxy)ethylammonium acetate was performed with molecular dynamics technique (MDT). The ionic liquid structure will help us in different engineering applications, as emulsification process (petroleum industry). The results presented here show that the development of force field to predict the high interaction behaviour between the cation and the anion, as well as the formation of ion-pair dispersed aggregates. These results can contribute to help the different applications of ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out to evaluate the production and quality of sweet sorghum juice produced in Brazilian semi-arid region, identifying the best spatial arrangements and varieties for this goal. Two agricultural cycles (years 2015 and 2016) were carried out, in a sandy-loam Planosol under rainfed conditions. We assessed BRS 506 and SF-15 varieties, with row spacing (50, 60, 70 and 80 cm) and plant spacing (8, 12 and 16 cm) evaluated in a randomised complete block design with four replications in a triple factorial scheme. During the first cycle, BRS 506 presented mean values of 12.01 m3 ha−1, 23.86 kg ha−1, 16.88 °Brix, 140.02 g L−1 and 4,157.85 L ha−1 for juice yield and weight, total soluble solids content, total soluble carbohydrates and ethanol production. Even during the second cycle, under low rainfall, BRS 506 presented good juice production with proper quality, thus being drought tolerant. Our results showed that the smallest row spacing favoured the variables studied, and the sweet sorghum, cv. BRS 506, is indicated for ethanol production under Brazilian semi-arid conditions, at a spacing of 50 cm between rows and 8 cm between plants. We proved this crop is, therefore, a viable alternative for cultivation during sugar cane off-season in semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In Caco-2 cells, folate uptake via the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) increases significantly by a 3-day treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)D). Additionally, mRNA content and protein expression of the transporter OATP1A2 were increased up to ninefold with 1,25(OH)D. We investigated whether these in vitro findings can be confirmed in humans in vivo. Methods: Ten healthy volunteers (six women) received 5 mg folic acid orally once before and once together with the last intake of a 10-day course of 0.5 μg 1,25(OH)D orally. One hundred twenty milligrams fexofenadine, an OATP1A2 substrate, was taken in 1 day before the first folic acid intake, and again on the ninth day of 1,25(OH)D intake. Duodenal biopsies were taken for transporter mRNA assessments once before and once on the ninth or tenth day of the vitamin D course. Serum folic acid and fexofenadine concentrations were quantified with a chemiluminescence immunoassay and LC-MS/MS, respectively. Pharmacokinetics were compared between periods with standard bioequivalence approaches. Results: While geometric mean folic acid AUC, which mainly reflects absorption, was 0.403 and 0.414 mg/L·h before and after the vitamin D course (geometric mean ratio (GMR), 1.027; 90 % confidence interval (90 % CI), 0.788-1.340), the geometric mean fexofenadine AUC was 1.932 and 2.761 mg/L·h, respectively (GMR, 1.429; 90 % CI, 0.890-2.294). PCFT- and OATP1A2-mRNA expressions in duodenal biopsies were essentially unchanged. Conclusions: No significant changes in folic acid and fexofenadine absorption were observed after a 10-day course of 1,25(OH)D in humans in vivo. This study underlines the importance of confirming in vitro findings in vivo in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim:Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic agent to treat schizophrenia, which acts through dopamine D2 partial agonism, serotonin 5-HT1A partial agonism and 5-HT2A antagonism. This study was designed to evaluate the neurobehavioral effects and genotoxic/mutagenic activities of the agent, as well as its effects on lipoperoxidation.Methods:Open field and inhibitory avoidance tasks were used. Thirty min before performing the behavioral tasks, adult male CF-1 mice were administered aripiprazole (1, 3 or 10 mg/kg, ip) once for the acute treatment, or the same doses for 5 d for the subchronic treatment. Genotoxic effects were assessed using comet assay in the blood and brain tissues. Mutagenic effects were evaluated using bone marrow micronucleus test. Lipoperoxidation was assessed with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS).Results:Acute and subchronic treatments significantly decreased the number of crossing and rearing in the open field task. Acute treatment significantly increased the step-down latency for both the short- and long-term memory in the inhibitory avoidance task. Subchronic treatments with aripiprazole (3 and 10 mg/kg) caused significant DNA strain-break damage in peripheral blood but not in the brain. Mutagenic effect was not detected in the acute and subchronic treatments. Nor TBARS levels in the liver were affected.Conclusion:Aripiprazole improved memory, but could impair motor activities in mice. The drug increased DNA damage in blood, but did not show mutagenic effects, suggesting that it might affect long-term genomic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the expression of TNF-α and TGF-β in the tibialis anterior muscle of rats following cryoinjury. Muscle regeneration involves cell proliferation, migration and differentiation and is regulated by growth factors and cytokines. A growing body of evidence suggests that LLLT promotes skeletal muscle regeneration by reducing the duration of acute inflammation and accelerating tissue repair. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 35) were randomly divided into three groups: control group (no lesion, untreated, n = 5), cryoinjury without LLLT group (n = 15), and cryoinjury with LLLT group (n = 15). The injured region was irradiated three times a week using an AlGaInP laser (660 nm; beam spot 0.04 cm(2), output power 20 mW, power density 500 mW/cm(2), energy density 5 J/cm(2), exposure time 10 s). Muscle remodeling was evaluated at 1, 7 and 14 days (long-term) following injury. The muscles were removed and total RNA was isolated using TRIzol reagent and cDNA synthesis. Real-time polymerase chain reactions were performed using TNF-α and TGF-β primers; GAPDH was used to normalize the data. LLLT caused a decrease in TNF-α mRNA expression at 1 and 7 days following injury and in TGF-β mRNA expression at 7 days following cryoinjury in comparison to the control group. LLLT modulated cytokine expression during short-term muscle remodeling, inducing a decrease in TNF-α and TGF-β. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]