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Objective: To evaluate the effect of conservative therapeutic interventions in adult patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and associated otologic symptoms., Methods: An electronic search across six databases and grey literature was conducted. Studies were assessed for risk of bias, a random-effects meta-analysis, and the certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE tool., Results: Eighteen studies were included in the final synthesis. Otologic symptoms significantly decreased following intervention compared to baseline [OR = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.04 - 0.23, I² = 56%], reflecting an approximately 11-fold reduction in symptom likelihood of otologic symptoms after conservative treatment. Of the studies, eight had a low risk of bias, five had moderate, and four had high risk, with evidence certainty rated as very low., Conclusion: Conservative therapeutic interventions for TMD appear to reduce otologic symptoms. However, the certainty of the current evidence is limited, warranting further research to establish more definitive conclusions..

Introduction: G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) expressed on neutrophils regulate their mobilization from the bone marrow into the blood, their half-live in the circulation, and their pro- and anti-inflammatory activities during inflammation. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with systemic inflammatory responses, and neutrophilia is a hallmark of CKD onset and progression. Nonetheless, the role of neutrophils in CKD is currently unclear., Methods: Blood and renal tissue were collected from non-dialysis CKD (grade 3 - 5) patients to evaluate GPCR neutrophil expressions and functions in CKD development., Results: CKD patients presented a higher blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), which was inversely correlated with the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). A higher frequency of neutrophils expressing the senescent GPCR receptor (CXCR4) and activation markers (CD18 + CD11b + CD62L + ) was detected in CKD patients. Moreover, CKD neutrophils expressed higher amounts of GPCR formyl peptide receptors (FPR) 1 and 2, known as neutrophil pro- and anti-inflammatory receptors, respectively. Cytoskeletal organization, migration, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by CKD neutrophils were impaired in response to the FPR1 agonist (fMLP), despite the higher expression of FPR1. In addition, CKD neutrophils presented enhanced intracellular, but reduced membrane expression of the protein Annexin A1 (AnxA1), and an impaired ability to secrete it into the extracellular compartment. Secreted and phosphorylated AnxA1 is a recognized ligand of FPR2, pivotal in anti-inflammatory and efferocytosis effects. CKD renal tissue presented a low number of neutrophils, which were AnxA1 + ., Conclusion: Together, these data highlight that CKD neutrophils overexpress GPCRs, which may contribute to an unbalanced aging process in the circulation, migration into inflamed tissues, and efferocytosis., 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 © 2024 Scharf, Sandri, Rizzetto, Xavier, Grosso, Correia-Silva, Farsky, Gil and Farsky.)

The IgG response against SARS-CoV-2 infection can persist for over six months (long response; LR). However, among 30% of those infected, the duration can be as short as three months or less (short response; SR). The present study assembled serological data on the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG response duration of two previous studies and integrated these results with the plasmatic cytokine levels and genetic profile of 10 immune-relevant SNPs that were also previously published, along with the plasmatic total IgG, IgA, and IgM levels, allowing for the genetic, clinical, immunological, and epidemiological aspects of the post-COVID-19 IgG response duration to be understood. The SR was associated with previous mild acute COVID-19 and with an SNP (rs2228145) in IL6R related to low gene expression. Additionally, among the SR subgroup, no statistically significant Spearman correlations were observed between the plasma levels of IL-17A and the Th17 regulatory cytokines IFN-γ (rs = 0.2399; p = 0.1043), IL-4 (rs = 0.0273; p = 0.8554), and IL-2 (rs = 0.2204; p = 0.1365), while among the LR subgroup, weaker but statistically significant Spearman correlations were observed between the plasma levels of IL-17A and IFN-γ (rs = 0.3873; p = 0.0016), IL-4 (rs = 0.2671; p = 0.0328), and IL-2 (rs = 0.3959; p = 0.0012). These results suggest that the Th17 response mediated by the IL-6 pathway has a role in the prolonged IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Sleep disorders are common among patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). This study aimed to assess the perceptions of sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and stress reported by ICU patients and the relationships between these perceptions and patient variables., Methods: This cross-sectional study used consecutive non-probabilistic sampling to select participants. All patients admitted for more than 72 hours of ICU hospitalization at a Portuguese hospital between March and June 2020 were asked to complete the "Richard Campbell Sleep Questionnaire" and "Anxiety, depression, and Stress Assessment Questionnaire." The resulting data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, Student t-tests for independent samples, and analysis of variance. The significance level for rejecting the null hypothesis was set to α ≤0.05., Results: A total of 52 patients admitted to the ICU for at least 72 hours was recruited. The mean age of the participants was 64 years (standard deviation, 14.6); 32 (61.5%) of the participants were male. Approximately 19% had psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of self-reported poor sleep was higher in women (t[50]=2,147, P=0.037) and in participants with psychiatric problems, although this difference was not statistically significant (t[50]=-0.777, P=0.441). Those who reported having sleep disorders before hospitalization had a worse perception of their sleep., Conclusions: Sleep quality perception was worse in female ICU patients, those with psychiatric disorders, and those with sleep alterations before hospitalization. Implementing early interventions and designing nonpharmacological techniques to improve sleep quality of ICU patients is essential.

The cGAS-STING pathway appears to contribute to dysregulated inflammation during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, inflammatory factors related to long COVID are still being investigated. In the present study, we evaluated the association of cGAS and STING gene expression levels and plasma IFN-α, TNF-α and IL-6 levels with COVID-19 severity in acute infection and long COVID, based on analysis of blood samples from 148 individuals, 87 with acute COVID-19 and 61 in the post-COVID-19 period. Quantification of gene expression was performed by real-time PCR, and cytokine levels were quantified by ELISA and flow cytometry. In acute COVID-19, cGAS, STING, IFN-α, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were higher in patients with severe disease than in those with nonsevere manifestations (p < 0.05). Long COVID was associated with elevated cGAS, STING and IFN-α levels (p < 0.05). Activation of the cGAS-STING pathway may contribute to an intense systemic inflammatory state in severe COVID-19 and, after infection resolution, induce an autoinflammatory disease in some tissues, resulting in long COVID., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In this study, we tested the taxonomic validation of red snappers species (Southern red snapper Lutjanus purpureus; Silk snapper L. vivanus; Blackfin snapper L. buccanella; and Pacific red snapper L. peru) based on comparative analysis, using four methods for species delimitation. These methods were based on either genetic similarity or phylogenetic trees inferred from two mitochondrial (Cytochrome b and D-loop) and two nuclear (Myostatin and S7 introns) markers. On one hand, the genetic results corroborated the presence of four red snapper species, confirming their taxonomic validation despite their remarkable morphological similarity. On the other hand, few incongruencies in the species delimitation methods were observed according to the phylogenetic reconstruction method (maximum likelihood or Bayesian inference) when using. Based on the phylogenetic results, L. buccanella should represent a more ancient lineage in relation to the clade that encompasses L. purpureus, L. peru and L. vivanus. The single-locus phylogenetic analysis based on Cytb recovered each the red snapper species as a well-supported clade. Overall, this study provided a DNA-based validation of the traditional morphological taxonomy of red snappers.

Most eukaryotic proteins are N-terminally acetylated, but the functional impact on a global scale has remained obscure. Using genome-wide CRISPR knockout screens in human cells, we reveal a strong genetic dependency between a major N-terminal acetyltransferase and specific ubiquitin ligases. Biochemical analyses uncover that both the ubiquitin ligase complex UBR4-KCMF1 and the acetyltransferase NatC recognize proteins bearing an unacetylated N-terminal methionine followed by a hydrophobic residue. NatC KO-induced protein degradation and phenotypes are reversed by UBR knockdown, demonstrating the central cellular role of this interplay. We reveal that loss of Drosophila NatC is associated with male sterility, reduced longevity, and age-dependent loss of motility due to developmental muscle defects. Remarkably, muscle-specific overexpression of UbcE2M, one of the proteins targeted for NatC KO-mediated degradation, suppresses defects of NatC deletion. In conclusion, NatC-mediated N-terminal acetylation acts as a protective mechanism against protein degradation, which is relevant for increased longevity and motility., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

The impact of the Antarctic Ozone Hole Influence over Southern Brazil in October 2015 was analyzed using daily mean data of the Total Column Ozone (TCO), Ultraviolet Index (UVI) and Radiative Cloud Fraction (RCF) from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument satellite instrument. Vertical profiles and fields of ozone content and Potential Vorticity available from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast reanalysis, air masses backward trajectories from the HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model and channel 3 water vapor images from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite GOES-13 were also analyzed. The five identified events showed an -7.4±2.3% average TCO reduction, leading to an +16.6±54.6% UVI increase even with a predominance of partly cloudy days. Other impacts were observed in the ozone profiles, where the most significant anomalies occurred from 650 K reaching 1.2 ppmv at the 850 K level. In the ozone fields at 700 K, the presence of a polar origin tongue was observed causing negatives anomalies between -0.2 and 0.4 ppmv in a transient system format forced with eastward-traveling Rossby waves passing through the Southern of Brazil and Uruguay.

Objectives: Previously, we presented the effectiveness of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 half-dose (HD) immunization for preventing new COVID-19 cases. Here, we evaluated the administration of an HD of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in the primary immunization protocol (up to two doses) in reducing moderate and severe cases, hospitalizations, and deaths when compared to the administration of full doses (FD) after a long-term follow-up., Methods: We evaluated data from 29,469 participants between January 2021 and November 2022 who received an HD or FD vaccine and crossed this information with their medical records to identify those who developed moderate or severe cases. All participants were classified into four groups according to their immunization status and followed 500 days after the last vaccine administration., Results: The propensity-score matching analysis indicates that the administration of the two HDs of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 was equivalent to the use of two FDs to reduce moderate and severe COVID-19 cases. The relative risk of being infected and developing moderate or severe conditions after the administration of at least one HD or FD was similar 150 or 500 days after the administration of the immunizers., Conclusion: Administering two HDs can be used safely as a cost-effective alternative to the primary immunization protocol., Competing Interests: The authors have no competing interests to declare., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Mitotic chromatin is largely assumed incompatible with transcription due to changes in the transcription machinery and chromosome architecture. However, the mechanisms of mitotic transcriptional inactivation and their interplay with chromosome assembly remain largely unknown. By monitoring ongoing transcription in Drosophila early embryos, we reveal that eviction of nascent mRNAs from mitotic chromatin occurs after substantial chromosome compaction and is not promoted by condensin I. Instead, we show that the timely removal of transcripts from mitotic chromatin is driven by the SNF2 helicase-like protein Lodestar (Lds), identified here as a modulator of sister chromatid cohesion defects. In addition to the eviction of nascent transcripts, we uncover that Lds cooperates with Topoisomerase 2 to ensure efficient sister chromatid resolution and mitotic fidelity. We conclude that the removal of nascent transcripts upon mitotic entry is not a passive consequence of cell cycle progression and/or chromosome compaction but occurs via dedicated mechanisms with functional parallelisms to sister chromatid resolution., (© 2023 The Authors. Published under the terms of the CC BY NC ND 4.0 license.)

Bacteriophages are ubiquitous organisms that can be specific to one or multiple strains of hosts, in addition to being the most abundant entities on the planet. It is estimated that they exceed ten times the total number of bacteria. They are classified as temperate, which means that phages can integrate their genome into the host genome, originating a prophage that replicates with the host cell and may confer immunity against infection by the same type of phage; and lytics, those with greater biotechnological interest and are viruses that lyse the host cell at the end of its reproductive cycle. When lysogenic, they are capable of disseminating bacterial antibiotic resistance genes through horizontal gene transfer. When professionally lytic-that is, obligately lytic and not recently descended from a temperate ancestor-they become allies in bacterial control in ecological imbalance scenarios; these viruses have a biofilm-reducing capacity. Phage therapy has also been advocated by the scientific community, given the uniqueness of issues related to the control of microorganisms and biofilm production when compared to other commonly used techniques. The advantages of using bacteriophages appear as a viable and promising alternative. This review will provide updates on the landscape of phage applications for the biocontrol of pathogens in industrial settings and healthcare.

Introduction: Radiomics in uro-oncology is a rapidly evolving science proving to be a novel approach for optimizing the analysis of massive data from medical images to provide auxiliary guidance in clinical issues. This scoping review aimed to identify key aspects wherein radiomics can potentially improve the accuracy of diagnosis, staging, and grading of renal and bladder cancer., Material and Methods: A literature search was performed in June 2022 using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Controlled Register of Trials. Studies were included if radiomics were compared with radiological reports only., Results: Twenty-two papers were included, 4 were pertinent to bladder cancer, and 18 to renal cancer. Radiomics outperforms the visual assessment by radiologists in contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) to predict muscle invasion but are equivalent to CT reporting by radiologists in predicting lymph node metastasis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics outperforms radiological reporting for lymph node metastasis. Radiomics perform better than radiologists reporting the probability of renal cell carcinoma, improving interreader concordance and performance. Radiomics also helps to determine differences in types of renal pathology and between malignant lesions from their benign counterparts. Radiomics can be helpful to establish a model for differentiating low-grade from high-grade clear cell renal cancer with high accuracy just from contrast-enhanced CT scans., Conclusions: Our review shows that radiomic models outperform individual reports by radiologists by their ability to incorporate many more complex radiological features., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright by Polish Urological Association.)

Since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, vaccination has been the core strategy to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in humans. This paper analyzes the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. We analyzed data from 23,516 hospitalized COVID-19 patients diagnosed between April 2020 and August 2021. We excluded the data from patients hospitalized through direct occupancy, unknown outcomes, and unconfirmed COVID-19 cases, resulting in data from 12,635 patients cross-referenced with the immunization status during hospitalization. Our results indicated that administering at least one dose of the immunizers was sufficient to significantly reduce the occurrence of moderate and severe COVID-19 cases among patients under 59 years. Considering the partially or fully immunized patients, the mean age is similar between the analyzed groups, despite the occurrence of comorbidities and higher than that observed among not immunized patients. Thus, immunized patients present lower Unified Score for Prioritization (USP) levels when diagnosed with COVID-19. Our data suggest that COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduced the hospitalization and death of elderly patients (60+ years) after administration of at least one dose. Comorbidities do not change the mean age of moderate/severe COVID-19 cases and the days required for the hospitalization of these patients.

Hippocampus is the brain area where aluminum (Al) accumulates in abundance and is widely associated with learning and memory. In the present study, we evaluate behavioral, tissue, and proteomic changes in the hippocampus of Wistar rats caused by exposure to doses that mimic human consumption of aluminum chloride (AlCl 3 ) in urban areas. For this, male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: Control (distilled water) and AlCl 3 (8.3 mg/kg/day), both groups were exposed orally for 60 days. After the Al exposure protocol, cognitive functions were assessed by the Water maze test, followed by a collection for analysis of the global proteomic profile of the hippocampus by mass spectrometry. Aside from proteomic analysis, we performed a histological analysis of the hippocampus, to the determination of cell body density by cresyl violet staining in Cornu Ammonis fields (CA) 1 and 3, and hilus regions. Our results indicated that exposure to low doses of aluminum chloride triggered a decreased cognitive performance in learning and memory, being associated with the deregulation of proteins expression, mainly those related to the regulation of the cytoskeleton, cellular metabolism, mitochondrial activity, redox regulation, nervous system regulation, and synaptic signaling, reduced cell body density in CA1, CA3, and hilus.

The synaptonemal complex (SC) is a proteinaceous scaffold that is assembled between paired homologous chromosomes during the onset of meiosis. Timely expression of SC coding genes is essential for SC assembly and successful meiosis. However, SC components have an intrinsic tendency to self-organize into abnormal repetitive structures, which are not assembled between the paired homologs and whose formation is potentially deleterious for meiosis and gametogenesis. This creates an interesting conundrum, where SC genes need to be robustly expressed during meiosis, but their expression must be carefully regulated to prevent the formation of anomalous SC structures. In this manuscript, we show that the Polycomb group protein Sfmbt, the Drosophila ortholog of human MBTD1 and L3MBTL2, is required to avoid excessive expression of SC genes during prophase I. Although SC assembly is normal after Sfmbt depletion, SC disassembly is abnormal with the formation of multiple synaptonemal complexes (polycomplexes) within the oocyte. Overexpression of the SC gene corona and depletion of other Polycomb group proteins are similarly associated with polycomplex formation during SC disassembly. These polycomplexes are highly dynamic and have a well-defined periodic structure. Further confirming the importance of Sfmbt, germ line depletion of this protein is associated with significant metaphase I defects and a reduction in female fertility. Since transcription of SC genes mostly occurs during early prophase I, our results suggest a role of Sfmbt and other Polycomb group proteins in downregulating the expression of these and other early prophase I genes during later stages of meiosis.

This study evaluated the anatomical factors that influence the virtual planning of zygomatic implants by using cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) scans. CBCT scans of 268 edentulous patients were transferred to specialized implant planning software for the following measurements: maxillo-sinus concavity size (small, medium, and large), zygoma width, implant insertion angle, implant length, and implant apical anchorage. Concavity sizes found were as follows: 34.95% small, 52.30% medium, and 7.35% large. The mean insertion angle was 43.2 degrees, and the average implant apical anchorage was 9.1 mm. The most frequent implant length was 40 mm. Significant differences were found when the different types of concavities in relation to the installation angle, the distance of the apical portion of the implant in contact with the zygomatic bone, and the lateral-lateral thickness of the zygomatic bone were compared (P < .001). Medium-sized maxillary sinus concavity presented greater apical anchorage of the implant (9.7 mm) and was the most frequent type (52.30%). The zygomatic bone is a viable site for zygomatic fixtures, and the use of specialized implant planning software is an important tool to achieve predictable outcomes for zygomatic implants and allows good visualization of the relation between implants and anatomical structures.

The Floc and Sink technique promotes, through the application of coagulants and clays, the removal of phosphorus and algal biomass from the water column by flocculation and sedimentation. Although it is a promising technique for mitigating harmful cyanobacterial blooms, little is known about the impacts on other phytoplankton species as well as it is not known how species with mechanisms of resistance to sedimentation respond to the application of these products. In this study, a laboratory experiment was carried out with water from a eutrophic reservoir to assess the impact of applying aluminum-based coagulants, aluminum sulfate and polyaluminium chloride, and chitosan, alone and combined with lanthanum modified bentonite and natural bentonite on the phytoplankton community, in a functional approach based on morphology (Morphology-Based Functional Groups - MBFG, Kruk et al., 2010 and Reynolds et al., 2014), with an emphasis on the characteristics that provide resistance to sedimentation. We tested two hypotheses: phytoplankton species with adaptive mechanisms that provide buoyancy to cells are more resistant to the removal from the water column by coagulants and clays; and coagulants based on metals and modified clays are more efficient in sedimentation of microalgal cells compared to natural products, regardless of the presence of an adaptive mechanism of resistance to sedimentation. Our results showed that aluminum sulfate and polyaluminium chloride alone or combined with lanthanum modified bentonite and natural bentonite effectively sedimented the cells, regardless of the presence of buoyancy mechanisms. In contrast, the natural coagulant chitosan alone or combined with lanthanum modified bentonite and natural bentonite removed only those species that were small-celled or small colonial without specialized structures or with the presence of spines, arms and siliceous exoskeleton. In the case of species with aerotopes and flagella, the removal was not effective and still caused an increase in algal biomass due to the formation of suspended cell aggregates on the surface of the water column of the experimental units. Therefore, we concluded that the Floc and Sink technique has an impact on the phytoplankton community because it removes from the water column species that are not the target of coagulants and clays, but that are considered important sources of energy in freshwater trophic webs. This result differs according to the type of product used as well as it is related to the morphological adaptations that favor the buoyancy of cells in the water column. Species with aerotopes and flagella are more resistant to sedimentation and may make the use of products applied in the Floc and Sink technique unfeasible. Nevertheless, these results represent only an immediate effect of the technique on the phytoplankton community, thus requiring a longer time scale evaluation to determine the algae that can effectively recover water column. Therefore, we also emphasize that algae of nutritional value can recover over time and make the long-term application of the technique acceptable., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. In 2016, it was declared an epidemic in Brazil due to its high morbidity and mortality rates, mainly in cases of maternal syphilis (MS) and congenital syphilis (CS) with unfavorable outcomes. This paper aimed to mathematically describe the relationship between MS and CS cases reported in Brazil over the interval from 2010 to 2020, considering the likelihood of diagnosis and effective and timely maternal treatment during prenatal care, thus supporting the decision-making and coordination of syphilis response efforts., Methods: The model used in this paper was based on stochastic Petri net (SPN) theory. Three different regressions, including linear, polynomial, and logistic regression, were used to obtain the weights of an SPN model. To validate the model, we ran 100 independent simulations for each probability of an untreated MS case leading to CS case (PUMLC) and performed a statistical t-test to reinforce the results reported herein., Results: According to our analysis, the model for predicting congenital syphilis cases consistently achieved an average accuracy of 93% or more for all tested probabilities of an untreated MS case leading to CS case., Conclusions: The SPN approach proved to be suitable for explaining the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) dataset using the range of 75-95% for the probability of an untreated MS case leading to a CS case (PUMLC). In addition, the model's predictive power can help plan actions to fight against the disease., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Formyl peptide receptors (Fprs) are a G-protein-coupled receptor family mainly expressed on leukocytes. The activation of Fpr1 and Fpr2 triggers a cascade of signaling events, leading to leukocyte migration, cytokine release, and increased phagocytosis. In this study, we evaluate the effects of the Fpr1 and Fpr2 agonists Ac 9-12 and WKYMV, respectively, in carrageenan-induced acute peritonitis and LPS-stimulated macrophages. Peritonitis was induced in male C57BL/6 mice through the intraperitoneal injection of 1 mL of 3% carrageenan solution or saline (control). Pre-treatments with Ac 9-12 and WKYMV reduced leukocyte influx to the peritoneal cavity, particularly neutrophils and monocytes, and the release of IL-1β. The addition of the Fpr2 antagonist WRW4 reversed only the anti-inflammatory actions of WKYMV. In vitro, the administration of Boc2 and WRW4 reversed the effects of Ac 9-12 and WKYMV, respectively, in the production of IL-6 by LPS-stimulated macrophages. These biological effects of peptides were differently regulated by ERK and p38 signaling pathways. Lipidomic analysis evidenced that Ac 9-12 and WKYMV altered the intracellular lipid profile of LPS-stimulated macrophages, revealing an increased concentration of several glycerophospholipids, suggesting regulation of inflammatory pathways triggered by LPS. Overall, our data indicate the therapeutic potential of Ac 9-12 and WKYMV via Fpr1 or Fpr2-activation in the inflammatory response and macrophage activation.

Introduction: Lithotripsy during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) can be achieved either by fragmentation and extraction or dusting with spontaneous passage. We aimed to perform a systematic review on the safety and stone-free rate after RIRS by comparing the techniques of dusting vs fragmentation/extraction., Material and Methods: This review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. The inverse variance of the mean difference and 95% Confidence Interval (CI), Categorical variables were assessed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel Method with the random effect model and reported as Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% CI. Statistical significance was set at p <0.05., Results: There were 1141 patients included in 10 studies. Stone size was up to 2.5 cm All studies used holmium laser for lithotripsy. Meta-analysis showed no significant difference in surgical time (MD -5.39 minutes 95% CI -13.92-2.31, p = 0.16), postoperative length of stay (MD -0.19 days 95% CI -0.60 - -0.22, p=0.36), overall complications (OR 0.98 95% CI 0.58-1.66, p = 0.95), hematuria (OR 1.01 95% CI 0.30-3.42, p = 0.99), postoperative fever (OR 0.70 95% CI 0.41-1.19, p = 0.19) and sepsis (OR 1.03 95% CI 0.10-10.35, p = 0.98), immediate (OR 0.40 95% CI 0.13-1.24, p = 0.11) and overall stone-free rate (OR 0.76 95% CI 0.43-1.32, p = 0.33), and retreatment rate (OR 1.35 95% CI 0.57-3.20, p = 0.49) between the groups., Conclusions: This systematic review infers that urologists can safely use either option of fragmentation and basket extraction or dusting without extraction to achieve similar outcomes as both techniques are similar for efficacy and safety., Competing Interests: Rodrigo Donalisio da Silva is a consultant for Lumenis. Jeremy Yuen-Chun Teoh had honorarium/lecture for: Astellas, Boston Scientific, Combat Medical, Ferring, Ipsen, Janssen, Olympus, Sanofy. Jeremy Yuen-Chun Teoh is a consultant for: Astellas, Combat Medical, Ferring, Janssen, MRI PRO. Jeremy Yuen-Chun Teoh had research grant from: Baxter, Janssen, Storz, Olympus, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright by Polish Urological Association.)

Mosquito surveillance is an essential component of mosquito control and mosquito traps are a universally employed tool to monitor adult populations. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the new modular Biogents BG-Pro mosquito trap (BGP) and compare its performance to 4 widely used traps for adult mosquitoes: the BG-Sentinel (BGS), the BG Mosquitaire (BGM), the CDC miniature light trap (CDC), and the encephalitis vector survey trap (EVS). One semi-field and 9 field Latin square trials were performed in 7 countries. Results showed that the collection performance of the BGP was equivalent to or exceeded that of the BGS, BGM, CDC, and EVS traps in head-to-head comparisons. The BGP uses 35% less power than the CDC and 75% less than the BGS and BGM. This lower power consumption allows it to run at 5 V for 2 days using a small lightweight 10,000-mAh rechargeable power bank. The BG-Pro is an excellent alternative for the surveillance of mosquito species that are usually monitored with BG-Sentinel, CDC, or EVS traps., (Copyright © 2021 by The American Mosquito Control Association, Inc.)

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.

We report the use of bacteriophages for control of Salmonella Enteritidis in poultry production. Phage was isolated by the double-agar plate assay from agricultural waste samples, and one isolate, named SM1, was selected and propagated for application in poultry litter. Two experimental protocols were tested: single treatment and repeated treatment (re-application of phage SM1 after 6 h and 12 h). Each treatment cycle involved 25 g of poultry litter placed in plastic boxes and contaminated with 10 5 Colony Forming Units mL -1 (CFU mL -1 ) of S. Enteritidis, in independent duplicates. The contaminated litter was treated with 10 6 Plaque Forming Units mL -1 (PFU mL -1 ) of SM1 phage by dripping. Repeated application of phage SM1 reduced Salmonella counts by over 99.9%; the phage persisted in poultry litter for over 35 days. This study illustrates the application of SM1 treatment as a promising technology for bacterial control in production matrices that could allow safe and sustainable use of agricultural waste products as biofertilizers.

Background: To describe our experience with outpatient transperineal biopsy (TPB) without antibiotics compared to transrectal biopsy (TRB) with antibiotics and bowel preparation. The literature elicits comparable cancer detection, time, and cost between the two. As antibiotic resistance increases, antimicrobial stewardship is imperative., Methods: In our retrospective review, we compared the TPB to TRB in our institution for outpatient prostate biopsies with local anesthesia from June 1st, 2017 to June 1st, 2019. Patients had negative urinalysis on day of procedure. Patients presenting with symptoms concerning for UTI followed by positive urine culture were determined to have a UTI., Results: Two hundred twenty-two patients met inclusion criteria. Age, race, BMI, pre-procedure PSA, history of UTI, BPH or other GU history were similar between both groups. Two TPB patients (1.8%) had post-procedure UTI; one received oral antibiotics and one received a dose of intravenous and subsequent oral antibiotics. There were no sepsis events or admissions. Six TRB patients (5.4%) had post-procedure UTI; five received oral antibiotics, and one received intravenous antibiotics and required admission for sepsis. One TPB patient (0.9%) had post-procedure retention and required catheterization, while four TRB patients (3.6%) had retention requiring catheterization. No significant difference noted in cancer detection between the two groups., Conclusion: Outpatient TPB without antibiotic prophylaxis/bowel prep is comparable to TRB in regard to safety and cancer detection. TPB without antibiotics had a lower infection and retention rate than TRB with antibiotics. Efforts to reduce antibiotic resistance should be implemented into daily practice. Future multi-institutional studies can provide further evidence for guideline changes., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Galectin-9 (Gal-9) is a beta-galactoside-binding protein with a variety of biological functions related to immune response. However, in allergic diseases, its mechanism of action is not fully understood. This study evaluates the expression pattern of Gal-9 in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced experimental atopic dermatitis (AD) in mice, as well as its effect on human keratinocytes. The skin of OVA-immunized BALB/c mice was challenged with drops containing OVA on days 11, 14-18, and 21-24. HaCaT cells were cultured in the following experimental conditions: control (growth medium only) or stimulated with TNF-α/IFN-γ, or IL-4, or IL-17 with or without Gal-9 treatment. AD was characterized by increased levels of Gal-9 in mouse and human skin, especially in the epidermis, and with a marked influx of Gal-9 positive eosinophils and mast cells compared to the control group. Gal-9 showed an immunomodulatory effect on keratinocytes by decreasing the release of IL-6 by IL-4-stimulated keratinocytes or increasing the IL-6 and RANTES levels by IL-17- or TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulated cells, respectively. Under IL-17, Gal-9 treatment also altered the proliferation rate of cells. Overall, increased levels of Gal-9 in AD skin contribute to the control of inflammatory response and the proliferative process of keratinocytes, suggesting this lectin as a relevant therapeutic target.

This study evaluated the role of endogenous and exogenous annexin A1 (AnxA1) in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in isolated peritoneal neutrophils. C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and AnxA1 knockout mice (AnxA1 -/- ) received 0.3% carrageenan intraperitoneally and, after 3 h, the peritoneal exudate was collected. WT and AnxA1 -/- neutrophils were then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, followed by the NLRP3 agonists nigericin or ATP. To determine the exogenous effect of AnxA1, the neutrophils were pretreated with the AnxA1-derived peptide Ac 2-26 followed by the NLRP3 agonists. Ac 2-26 administration reduced NLRP3-derived IL-1β production by WT neutrophils after nigericin and ATP stimulation. However, IL-1β release was impaired in AnxA1 -/- neutrophils stimulated by both agonists, and there was no further impairment in IL-1β release with Ac 2-26 treatment before stimulation. Despite this, ATP- and nigericin-stimulated AnxA1 -/- neutrophils had increased levels of cleaved caspase-1. The lipidomics of supernatants from nigericin-stimulated WT and AnxA1 -/- neutrophils showed potential lipid biomarkers of cell stress and activation, including specific sphingolipids and glycerophospholipids. AnxA1 peptidomimetic treatment also increased the concentration of phosphatidylserines and oxidized phosphocholines, which are lipid biomarkers related to the inflammatory resolution pathway. Together, our results indicate that exogenous AnxA1 negatively regulates NLRP3-derived IL-1β production by neutrophils, while endogenous AnxA1 is required for the activation of the NLRP3 machinery.

The NineTeen Complex (NTC), also known as pre-mRNA-processing factor 19 (Prp19) complex, regulates distinct spliceosome conformational changes necessary for splicing. During Drosophila midblastula transition, splicing is particularly sensitive to mutations in NTC-subunit Fandango, which suggests differential requirements of NTC during development. We show that NTC-subunit Salsa, the Drosophila ortholog of human RNA helicase Aquarius, is rate-limiting for splicing of a subset of small first introns during oogenesis, including the first intron of gurken Germline depletion of Salsa and splice site mutations within gurken first intron impair both adult female fertility and oocyte dorsal-ventral patterning, due to an abnormal expression of Gurken. Supporting causality, the fertility and dorsal-ventral patterning defects observed after Salsa depletion could be suppressed by the expression of a gurken construct without its first intron. Altogether, our results suggest that one of the key rate-limiting functions of Salsa during oogenesis is to ensure the correct expression and efficient splicing of the first intron of gurken mRNA. Retention of gurken first intron compromises the function of this gene most likely because it undermines the correct structure and function of the transcript 5'UTR., (© 2020 Rathore et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press for the RNA Society.)

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) derived from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly (WJ) have a wide therapeutic potential in cell therapy and tissue engineering because of their multipotential capacity, which can be reinforced through gene therapy in order to modulate specific responses. However, reported methodologies to transfect WJ-MSC using cationic polymers are scarce. Here, WJ-MSC were transfected using 25 kDa branched- polyethylenimine (PEI) and a DNA plasmid encoding GFP. PEI/plasmid complexes were characterized to establish the best transfection efficiencies with lowest toxicity. Expression of MSC-related cell surface markers was evaluated. Likewise, immunomodulatory activity and multipotential capacity of transfected WJ-MSC were assessed by CD2/CD3/CD28-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cocultures and osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation assays, respectively. An association between cell number, PEI and DNA content, and transfection efficiency was observed. The highest transfection efficiency (15.3 ± 8.6%) at the lowest toxicity was achieved using 2 ng/μL DNA and 3.6 ng/μL PEI with 45,000 WJ-MSC in a 24-well plate format (200 μL). Under these conditions, there was no significant difference between the expression of MSC-identity markers, inhibitory effect on CD3+ T lymphocytes proliferation and osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation ability of transfected WJ-MSC, as compared with non-transfected cells. These results suggest that the functional properties of WJ-MSC were not altered after optimized transfection with PEI.

Cells can sense changes in their extracellular environment and subsequently adapt their biomass composition. Nutrient abundance defines the capability of the cell to produce biomass components. Under nutrient-limited conditions, resource allocation dramatically shifts to carbon-rich molecules. Here, we used dynamic biomass composition data to predict changes in growth and reaction flux distributions using the available genome-scale metabolic models of five eukaryotic organisms (three heterotrophs and two phototrophs). We identified temporal profiles of metabolic fluxes that indicate long-term trends in pathway and organelle function in response to nitrogen depletion. Surprisingly, our calculations of model sensitivity and biosynthetic cost showed that free energy of biomass metabolites is the main driver of biosynthetic cost and not molecular weight, thus explaining the high costs of arginine and histidine. We demonstrated how metabolic models can accurately predict the complexity of interwoven mechanisms in response to stress over the course of growth.

In this work, ultrasound-assisted electrocatalytic hydrogenation (US-ECHSA) of safrole was carried out in water medium, using sacrificial anode of nickel. The ultrasonic irradiation was carried out at frequency of 20 kHz ± 500 Hz with a titanium cylindrical horn (MS 73 microtip; Ti-6AI-4V alloy; 3.0 mm diameter). The optimal conditions were analyzed by statistical experimental design (fractional factorial). The influence of the sonoelectrochemical reactor design was also investigated by using computational fluid dynamics as simulation tool. Among the five parameters studied: catalyst type, use of β-cyclodextrin as inverse phase transfer catalyst, sonoelectrochemical reactor design, ultrasound mode and the temperature of the solution, only the last three were significant. The hydrogenation product, dihydrosafrole, reached 94% yield, depending on the experimental conditions applied. Data of computational fluid dynamics showed that a wing shape tube added to the sonoelectrochemical reactor can work as a cooling apparatus, during the electrochemical process. The reactional solution temperature diminishes 14 °C when compared to the four-way-type reactor. Cooper cathode, absence of β-cyclodextrin, four-way-type reactor, ultrasound continuous mode (14 W) and absence of temperature control were the most effective reaction parameters for the safrole hydrogenation using US-ECHSA method. The proposed approach represents an important contribution for understanding the hydrodynamic behavior of sonoelectrochemical reactors designs and, consequently, for the reducing of the experimental costs inherent to the sonoelectrochemical process., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: None declared.

Xenarthrans-anteaters, sloths, and armadillos-have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data., (© 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of America.)

This is a report on how 1H NMR-based metabonomics was employed to discriminate osteopenia from osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, identifying the main metabolites associated to the separation between the groups. The Assays were performed using seventy-eight samples, being twenty-eight healthy volunteers, twenty-six osteopenia patients and twenty-four osteoporosis patients. PCA, LDA, PLS-DA and OPLS-DA formalisms were used. PCA discriminated the samples from healthy volunteers from diseased patient samples. Osteopenia-osteoporosis discrimination was only obtained using Analysis Discriminants formalisms, as LDA, PLS-DA and OPLS-DA. The metabonomics model using LDA formalism presented 88.0% accuracy, 88.5% specificity and 88.0% sensitivity. Cross-Validation, however, presented some problems as the accuracy of modeling decreased. LOOCV resulted in 78.0% accuracy. The OPLS-DA based model was better: R2Y and Q2 values equal to 0.871 (p<0.001) and 0.415 (p<0.001). LDA and OPLS-DA indicated the important spectral regions for discrimination, making possible to assign the metabolites involved in the skeletal system homeostasis, as follows: VLDL, LDL, leucine, isoleucine, allantoin, taurine and unsaturated lipids. These results indicate that 1H NMR-based metabonomics can be used as a diagnosis tool to discriminate osteoporosis from osteopenia using a single serum sample., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Precision medicine relies on individually tailored therapeutic intervention taking into account individual variability. It is strongly dependent on the availability of target-specific drugs and/or imaging agents that recognize molecular targets and patient-specific disease mechanisms. The most sensitive molecular imaging modalities, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), rely on the interaction between an imaging radioprobe and a target. Moreover, the use of target-specific molecular tools for both diagnostics and therapy, theranostic agents, represent an established methodology in nuclear medicine that is assuming an increasingly important role in precision medicine. The design of innovative imaging and/or theranostic agents is key for further accomplishments in the field. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), apart from being highly relevant drug targets, have also been largely exploited as molecular targets for non-invasive imaging and/or systemic radiotherapy of various diseases. Herein, we will discuss recent efforts towards the development of innovative imaging and/or theranostic agents targeting selected emergent GPCRs, namely the Frizzled receptor (FZD), Ghrelin receptor (GHSR-1a), G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), and Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR). The pharmacological and clinical relevance will be highlighted, giving particular attention to the studies on the synthesis and characterization of targeted molecular imaging agents, biological evaluation, and potential clinical applications in oncology and non-oncology diseases. Whenever relevant, supporting computational studies will be also discussed.

The fidelity of mitosis depends on cohesive forces that keep sister chromatids together. This is mediated by cohesin that embraces sister chromatid fibers from the time of their replication until the subsequent mitosis [1-3]. Cleavage of cohesin marks anaphase onset, where single chromatids are dragged to the poles by the mitotic spindle [4-6]. Cohesin cleavage should only occur when all chromosomes are properly bio-oriented to ensure equal genome distribution and prevent random chromosome segregation. Unscheduled loss of sister chromatid cohesion is prevented by a safeguard mechanism known as the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) [7, 8]. To identify specific conditions capable of restoring defects associated with cohesion loss, we screened for genes whose depletion modulates Drosophila wing development when sister chromatid cohesion is impaired. Cohesion deficiency was induced by knockdown of the acetyltransferase separation anxiety (San)/Naa50, a cohesin complex stabilizer [9-12]. Several genes whose function impacts wing development upon cohesion loss were identified. Surprisingly, knockdown of key SAC proteins, Mad2 and Mps1, suppressed developmental defects associated with San depletion. SAC impairment upon cohesin removal, triggered by San depletion or artificial removal of the cohesin complex, prevented extensive genome shuffling, reduced segregation defects, and restored cell survival. This counterintuitive phenotypic suppression was caused by an intrinsic bias for efficient chromosome biorientation at mitotic entry, coupled with slow engagement of error-correction reactions. Thus, in contrast to SAC's role as a safeguard mechanism for mitotic fidelity, removal of this checkpoint alleviates mitotic errors when sister chromatid cohesion is compromised., (Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Production of biofuels and bioenergy precursors by phototrophic microorganisms, such as microalgae and cyanobacteria, is a promising alternative to conventional fuels obtained from non-renewable resources. Several species of microalgae have been investigated as potential candidates for the production of biofuels, for the most part due to their exceptional metabolic capability to accumulate large quantities of lipids. Constraint-based modeling, a systems biology approach that accurately predicts the metabolic phenotype of phototrophs, has been deployed to identify suitable culture conditions as well as to explore genetic enhancement strategies for bioproduction. Core metabolic models were employed to gain insight into the central carbon metabolism in photosynthetic microorganisms. More recently, comprehensive genome-scale models, including organelle-specific information at high resolution, have been developed to gain new insight into the metabolism of phototrophic cell factories. Here, we review the current state of the art of constraint-based modeling and computational method development and discuss how advanced models led to increased prediction accuracy and thus improved lipid production in microalgae.

Aim: To develop metabonomic models (MMs), using 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of serum, to predict significant liver fibrosis (SF: Metavir ≥ F2), advanced liver fibrosis (AF: METAVIR ≥ F3) and cirrhosis (C: METAVIR = F4 or clinical cirrhosis) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Additionally, to compare the accuracy of the MMs with the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4)., Methods: Sixty-nine patients who had undergone biopsy in the previous 12 mo or had clinical cirrhosis were included. The presence of any other liver disease was a criterion for exclusion. The MMs, constructed using partial least squares discriminant analysis and linear discriminant analysis formalisms, were tested by cross-validation, considering SF, AF and C., Results: Results showed that forty-two patients (61%) presented SF, 28 (40%) AF and 18 (26%) C. The MMs showed sensitivity and specificity of 97.6% and 92.6% to predict SF; 96.4% and 95.1% to predict AF; and 100% and 98.0% to predict C. Besides that, the MMs correctly classified all 27 (39.7%) and 25 (38.8%) patients with intermediate values of APRI and FIB-4, respectively., Conclusion: The metabonomic strategy performed excellently in predicting significant and advanced liver fibrosis in CHC patients, including those in the gray zone of APRI and FIB-4, which may contribute to reducing the need for these patients to undergo liver biopsy., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

For the implementation of cellulosic ethanol technology, the maximum use of lignocellulosic materials is important to increase efficiency and to reduce costs. In this context, appropriate use of the pentose released by hemicellulose hydrolysis could improve de economic viability of this process. Since the Saccharomyces cerevisiae is unable to ferment the pentose, the search for pentose-fermenting microorganisms could be an alternative. In this work, the isolation of yeast strains from decaying vegetal materials, flowers, fruits and insects and their application for assimilation and alcoholic fermentation of xylose were carried out. From a total of 30 isolated strains, 12 were able to assimilate 30gL -1 of xylose in 120h. The strain Candida tropicalis S4 produced 6gL -1 of ethanol from 56gL -1 of xylose, while the strain C. tropicalis E2 produced 22gL -1 of xylitol. The strains Candida oleophila G10.1 and Metschnikowia koreensis G18 consumed significant amount of xylose in aerobic cultivation releasing non-identified metabolites. The different materials in environment were source for pentose-assimilating yeast with variable metabolic profile., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.)

Background: Tuberculosis remains an important disease which mainly affects the majority of vulnerable individuals in society, who are subjected to poor living conditions and difficulties to access the services of public health. Under these circumstances, the present study aims to understand patients' perception in relation to the influence of individual and social vulnerabilities on the adherence to tuberculosis treatment., Methods: A qualitative descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in one large municipality at the state of Paraíba, Northeast of Brazil. The study subjects, who were residents of the study site, covered all tuberculosis cases diagnosed between March and June 2015. The sample was defined by the criteria of response saturation. All interviews were audio recorded, and data analysis was developed through the hermeneutic dialectic method and the theory of Generative Route Sense. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of São Paulo (USP)., Results: A total of 13 individuals were interviewed and the responses were identified into two analytical categories: the difficulties they had and the enabling factors they could mention during their tuberculosis treatment. Patients brought up social exclusion as an obstacle to treatment adherence, which, along with stigmatization, weakened their link with family members and health professionals. Moreover, economic precariousness was a major hindrance to the maintenance of a proper diet and transportation access to health centers. However, social support and directly observed treatment helped to break down barriers of prejudice and to promote individual and family empowerment. Finally, patients also reported that their will to live and faith gave them the strength to continue with the treatment., Conclusions: According to patients in this study, social support and the strengthening of links with family members and health professionals may reduce social exclusion and other difficulties they face, thus encouraging them to the adhere to tuberculosis treatment.

Background: Diagnosis of liver involvement due to schistosomiasis in asymptomatic patients from endemic areas previously diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV) and periportal fibrosis is challenging. H-1 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-based metabonomics strategy is a powerful tool for providing a profile of endogenous metabolites of low molecular weight in biofluids in a non-invasive way. The aim of this study was to diagnose periportal fibrosis due to schistosomiasis mansoni in patients with chronic HBV or HCV infection through NMR-based metabonomics models., Methodology/principal Findings: The study included 40 patients divided into two groups: (i) 18 coinfected patients with schistosomiasis mansoni and HBV or HCV; and (ii) 22 HBV or HCV monoinfected patients. The serum samples were analyzed through H-1 NMR spectroscopy and the models were based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA). Ultrasonography examination was used to ascertain the diagnosis of periportal fibrosis. Exploratory analysis showed a clear separation between coinfected and monoinfected samples. The supervised model built from PLS-DA showed accuracy, R2 and Q2 values equal to 100%, 98.1% and 97.5%, respectively. According to the variable importance in the projection plot, lactate serum levels were higher in the coinfected group, while the signals attributed to HDL serum cholesterol were more intense in the monoinfected group., Conclusions/significance: The metabonomics models constructed in this study are promising as an alternative tool for diagnosis of periportal fibrosis by schistosomiasis in patients with chronic HBV or HCV infection from endemic areas for Schistosoma mansoni.

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of bilateral or left sympathectomy on left ventricular remodeling and function after myocardial infarction in rats., Methods: Myocardial infarction was induced in rats by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary. Seven days later, rats were divided into 4 groups: the myocardial infarction, myocardial infarction with left sympathectomy, myocardial infarction with bilateral sympathectomy, and sham groups. After 8 weeks, left ventricular function was evaluated with the use of a pressure-volume conductance catheter under steady-state conditions and pharmacological stress. Infarct size and extracellular matrix fibrosis were evaluated, and cardiac matrix metalloproteinases and myocardial inflammatory markers were analyzed., Results: The myocardial infarction and left sympathectomy group had an increased end diastolic volume, whereas the bilateral sympathectomy group had a mean end-diastolic volume similar to that of the sham group (P < .002). Significant reduction in ejection fraction was observed in the myocardial infarction and left sympathectomy group, whereas it was preserved after bilateral sympathectomy (P < .001). In response to dobutamine, left ventricular contractility increased in sham rats, rising stroke work, cardiac output, systolic volume, end-diastolic volume, ejection fraction, and dP/dt max. Only bilateral sympathectomy rats had significant increases in ejection fraction (P < .001) with dobutamine. Fibrotic tissue and matrix metalloproteinase expression decreased in the bilateral sympathectomy group compared to that in the myocardial infarction group (P < .001) and was associated with left ventricular wall thickness maintenance and better apoptotic markers in noninfarcted myocardium., Conclusions: Bilateral sympathectomy effectively attenuated left ventricular remodeling and preserved systolic function after myocardial infarction induction in rats., (Copyright © 2016 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Atta capiguara is a grass-cutting ant species frequently found in Cerrado biome. However, little is known about the giant nest architecture of this ant. In this study, we investigated the architecture of three A. capiguara nests from a fragment of Cerrado in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Casts were made of the nests by filling them with cement to permit better visualization of internal structures such as chambers and tunnels. After excavation, the depth and dimensions (length, width, and height) of the chambers were measured. The results showed the shape of Atta capiguara nests consisting of mounds of loose soil with unique features resembling a conic section. The fungus chambers were found distant from the mound of loose soil and were spaced apart and distributed laterally at the soil profile. The waste chambers were located beneath the largest mound of loose soil. Both the fungus and waste chambers were separated and distant. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the so far unknown nest architecture of the grass-cutting ant A. capiguara .

The fecal coliform can contaminate water of human consumption causing problems to public health. Many of these microorganisms may contain plasmid and transfer them to other bacteria. This genetic material may confer selective advantages, among them resistance to antibiotics. The objectives of this study were to analyze the presence of fecal coliforms in water and at drinker surface, to identify the existence of plasmid, conducting studies of resistance to antibiotics, plasmid stability and capacity of bacterial conjugation. Were collected microorganisms in water of drinker surface and were used specific culture media and biochemical tests for identification of organisms, tests were performed by checking the resistance to antibiotics (ampicillin 10 μg, tetracycline 30 μg, and ciprofloxacin 5 μg), was performed extraction of plasmid DNA, plasmid stability and bacterial conjugation. Was obtained results of 31% of Salmonella spp. and 51% for other coliforms. Among the samples positive for coliforms, 27 had plasmid stable and with the ability to perform conjugation. The plasmids had similar forms, suggesting that the resistance in some bacteria may be linked to those genes extra chromosomal.

Objective: To analyze the available evidence regarding the efficacy of using therapeutic play on behavior and anxiety in children undergoing invasive procedures., Data Source: The systematic review search was performed in the MEDLINE, LILACS, CENTRAL and CINAHL databases. There was no limitation on the year or language., Synthesis of Data: The literature search found 1892 articles and selected 22 for full reading. Eight articles were excluded, as they did not address the objectives assessed in this review. Twelve studies, representing 14 articles, were included. The studies were conducted between 1983 and 2015, five in Brazil, one in the United States, five in China, one in Lebanon, one in Taiwan, and one in Iran. Most studies showed that intervention with therapeutic play promotes reduction in the level of anxiety and promotes collaborative behavior and acceptance of the invasive procedure., Conclusions: Evidence related to the use of therapeutic play on anxiety and behavior of children undergoing invasive procedures is still questionable. The absence, in most studies, of the creation of a random sequence to assign the subjects to either the control or the experimental group, as well as allocation concealment, are factors that contribute to these questions. Another issue that characterizes an important source of bias is the absence of blinded evaluators. It is necessary to perform further studies that will take into account greater methodological stringency., (Copyright © 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)