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In the Brazilian Amazon, the snake Bothrops atrox is the primary cause of snakebites. B. atrox (BaV) venom can cause systemic pathophysiological changes such as acute kidney injury (AKI), which leads to the production of chemokines and cytokines in response to the envenomation. These soluble immunological molecules act by modulating the inflammatory response; however, the mechanisms associated with the development of AKI are still poorly understood. Here, we characterize the profile of these soluble immunological molecules as possible predictive biomarkers of the development of AKI. The study involved 34 patients who had been victims of snakebites by Bothrops sp. These were categorized into two groups according to the development of AKI (AKI (-) /AKI (+) ), using healthy donors as the control (HD). Peripheral blood samples were collected at three-time points: before antivenom administration (T0) and at 24 and 48 hours after antivenom (T1 and T2, respectively). The soluble immunological molecules (CXCL-8, CCL-5, CXCL-9, CCL-2, CXCL-10, IL-6, TNF, IL-2, IL-10, IFN- γ , IL-4, and IL-17A) were quantified using cytometric bead array. Our results demonstrated an increase in CXCL-9, CXCL-10, IL-6, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-17A molecules in the groups of patients who suffered Bothrops snakebites (AKI (-) and AKI (+) ) before antivenom administration, when compared to HD. In the AKI (+) group, levels of CXCL-8 and CCL-2 molecules were elevated on admission and progressively decreased during the clinical evolution of patients after antivenom administration. In addition, in the signature analysis, these were produced exclusively by the group AKI (+) at T0. Thus, these chemokines may be related to the initiation and extension of AKI after envenomation by Bothrops and present themselves as two potential biomarkers of AKI at T0., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was carried out without any commercial or financial relationships that could be interpreted as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Juliana Costa Ferreira Neves et al.)

Duguetia pycnastera Sandwith (Annonaceae) is a tropical tree that can be found in the Guyanas, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Brazil. In Brazil, it is popularly known as “ata”, “envira”, “envira-preta”, and “envira-surucucu”. In the present work, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo HepG2 cell growth inhibition capacity of D. pycnastera leaf essential oil (EO). The chemical composition of the EO was determined by GC−MS and GC−FID analyses. The alamar blue assay was used to examine the in vitro cytotoxicity of EO in cancer cell lines and non-cancerous cells. In EO-treated HepG2 cells, DNA fragmentation was measured by flow cytometry. The in vivo antitumor activity of the EO was assessed in C.B-17 SCID mice xenografted with HepG2 cells treated with the EO at a dosage of 40 mg/kg. Chemical composition analysis displayed the sesquiterpenes α-gurjunene (26.83%), bicyclogermacrene (24.90%), germacrene D (15.35%), and spathulenol (12.97%) as the main EO constituents. The EO exhibited cytotoxicity, with IC50 values ranging from 3.28 to 39.39 μg/mL in the cancer cell lines SCC4 and CAL27, respectively. The cytotoxic activity of the EO in non-cancerous cells revealed IC50 values of 16.57, 21.28, and >50 μg/mL for MRC-5, PBMC, and BJ cells, respectively. An increase of the fragmented DNA content was observed in EO-treated HepG2 cells. In vivo, EO displayed tumor mass inhibition activity by 47.76%. These findings imply that D. pycnastera leaf EO may have anti-liver cancer properties.

The Amazon region has a significant biodiversity composed of several fruits with health benefits and distinguished potential for technological application and development of novel products. Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) is one of the main Amazonian fruits with expressive nutraceutical properties. For this reason, this review aims to elucidate the current state of knowledge on buriti, providing information on its bioactive compounds, nutraceutical, and health potential for both technological and economic development especially in food and pharmaceutical areas. Different parts of buriti are important sources of carotenoids, fatty acids, phenolic compounds, and fibers. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, prebiotic, anti-diabetes, and anti-cancer properties have also been reported. In addition, the buriti oil presents a synergistic effect with antibiotics and it has been also an alternative to artificial dyes. However, there is a lack of information about the in vivo evaluation of the buriti's bioactive compounds providing a clearer elucidation on its biological potential, toxicity information and mechanisms of action. Proper sensory methods and the relationship between sensory quality and consumer perception are also needed to extend the possibility of developing new products. Finally, the use of non-thermal techniques is encouraged to improve the bioavailability of nutraceutical compounds and potentiate their action on human health., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

TiO 2 time-dependent electrodeposited thin films were synthesized using an electrophoretic apparatus. The XRD analysis revealed that the films could exhibit a crystalline structure composed of ~81% anatase and ~6% rutile after 10 s of deposition, with crystallite size of 15 nm. AFM 3D maps showed that the surfaces obtained between 2 and 10 s of deposition exhibit strong topographical irregularities with long-range and short-range correlations being observed in different surface regions, a trend also observed by the Minkowski functionals. The height-based ISO, as well as specific surface microtexture parameters, showed an overall decrease from 2 to 10 s of deposition, showing a subtle decrease in the vertical growth of the films. The surfaces were also mapped to have low spatial dominant frequencies, which is associated with the similar roughness profile of the films, despite the overall difference in vertical growth observed. The electrical conductivity measurements showed that despite the decrease in topographical roughness, the films acquired a thickness capable of making them increasingly insulating from 2 to 10 s of deposition. Thus, our results prove that the deposition time used during the electrophoretic experiment consistently affects the films' structure, morphology, and electrical conductivity.

A new systematic structural study was performed using the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) reporting statistical parameters of polymeric particles based on gelatin and poly- ε -caprolactone (PCL) containing essential oil from Lippia origanoides . The developed biocides are efficient alternative controlling agents of Conotrachelus humeropictus and Moniliophtora perniciosa , the main pests of Theobroma grandiflorum . Our results showed that the particles morphology can be successfully controlled by advanced stereometric parameters, pointing to an appropriate concentration of encapsulated essential oil according to the particle surface characteristics. For this reason, the absolute concentration of 1000 µg·mL -1 (P 1000 system) was encapsulated, resulting in the most suitable surface microtexture, allowing a faster and more efficient essential oil release. Loaded particles presented zeta potential around (-54.3 ± 2.3) mV at pH = 8, and particle size distribution ranging from 113 to 442 nm. The hydrodynamic diameter of 90% of the particle population was found to be up to (405 ± 31) nm in the P 1000 system. The essential oil release was evaluated up to 80 h, with maximum release concentrations of 63% and 95% for P 500 and P 1000 , respectively. The best fit for the release profiles was obtained using the Korsmeyer-Peppas mathematical model. Loaded particles resulted in 100% mortality of C. humeropictus up to 48 h. The antifungal tests against M. perniciosa resulted in a minimum inhibitory concentration of 250 µg·mL -1 , and the P 1000 system produced growth inhibition up to 7 days. The developed system has potential as alternative controlling agent, due to its physical stability, particle surface microtexture, as well as pronounced bioactivity of the encapsulated essential oil.

Considerable efforts have been spent on environmentally friendly particles for the encapsulation of essential oils. Polymeric particles were developed to encapsulate the essential oil from Piper nigrum based on gelatin and poly- ε -caprolactone (PCL) carriers. Gas Chromatography ((Flame Ionization Detection (GC/FID) and Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA), Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy were used for the full colloidal system characterization. The essential oil was mainly composed of β -caryophyllene (~35%). The stability of the encapsulated systems was evaluated by Encapsulation Efficiency (EE%), electrical conductivity, turbidity, pH, and organoleptic properties (color and odor) after adding different preservatives. The mixture of phenoxyethanol/isotialzoni-3-one (PNE system) resulted in enhanced stability of approximately 120 and 210 days under constant handling and shelf-life tests, respectively. The developed polymeric system presented a similar controlled release in acidic, neutral, or basic pH, and the release curves suggested a pulsatile release mechanism due to a complexation of essential oil in the PCL matrix. Our results showed that the developed system has potential as an alternative stable product and as a controlling agent, due to the pronounced bioactivity of the encapsulated essential oil.

Utilizing a plasma focus (PF) instrument, magnesium nitride (Mg 3 N 2 ) thin films were synthesized on stainless steel substrates. Twenty five optimum focus shots at 8 cm distance from the anode tip were used to deposit the films at different angular positions regarded to the anode axis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed to assess the surface morphology and structural characteristics of Mg 3 N 2 films. Based on AFM images, these films were studied to understand the effect of angular position variation on their surfaces through morphological and fractal parameters. By increasing the angle, we verify that the grain size decreased from 130(0) nm to 75(5) nm and also the mean quadratic surface roughness of the films reduced in its average values from (28.97 ± 3.24) nm to (23.10 ± 1.34) nm. Power spectrum density analysis indicated that films become more self-affine at larger angles. Furthermore, the corrosion behavior of the films was investigated through a potentiodynamic polarization test in H 2 SO 4 solution. It was found that the ion energy and flux, varying with the angular positions from the anode tip, directly affected the nanostructured roughness and surface morphology of the samples. The electrochemical studies of films show that the uncoated sample presented the lowest corrosion resistance. The highest corrosion resistance was obtained for the sample deposited with 25 optimum shots and at 0° angular position reaching a reduction in the corrosion current density of almost 800 times compared to the pure stainless steel-304 substrate. HIGHLIGHTS: Mg 3 N 2 /SS films have been deposited at different angles by plasma focus (PF) instruments. The effect of angular position on the surface microtexture, morphological parameters, and corrosion features of the films was studied. The RBS measurement and X-ray diffraction are utilized to identify the crystalline phases and thickness of films., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The development of conjugated polymer-based nanocomposites by adding metallic particles into the polymerization medium allows the proposition of novel materials presenting improved electrical and optical properties. Polyaniline Emeraldine-salt form (ES-PANI) has been extensively studied due to its controllable electrical conductivity and oxidation states. On the other hand, tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) and its di-hydrated phases, such as WO 3 ·2H 2 O, have been reported as important materials in photocatalysis and sensors. Herein, the WO 3 ·2H 2 O phase was directly obtained during the in-situ polymerization of aniline hydrochloride from metallic tungsten (W), allowing the formation of hybrid nanocomposites based on its full oxidation into WO 3 ·2H 2 O. The developed ES-PANI-WO 3 ·2H 2 O nanocomposites were successfully characterized using experimental techniques combined with Density Functional Theory (DFT). The formation of WO 3 ·2H 2 O was clearly verified after two hours of synthesis (PW 2 nanocomposite), allowing the confirmation of purely physical interaction between matrix and reinforcement. As a result, increased electrical conductivity was verified in the PW 2 nanocomposite: the DFT calculations revealed a charge transfer from the p -orbitals of the polymeric phase to the d -orbitals of the oxide phase, resulting in higher conductivity when compared to the pure ES-PANI.

In this study, we investigated the morphology of synthesized Cu/Ni nanoparticles in trace of carbon sources by the co-deposition process of RF sputtering and RF-PECVD methods and localized surface plasmon resonance of CO gas sensing of Cu/Ni nanoparticles. The surface morphology was studied by analyzing 3D micrographs of atomic force microscopy using image processing techniques and fractal/multifractal analyses. The MountainsMap® Premium software with the two-way ANOVA (Variance analysis) and least-significant differences tests were used for statistical analysis. The surface nano-patterns have a local and global particular distribution. Experimental and simulated Rutherford backscattering spectra confirm the quality of nanoparticles. Then, prepared samples were exposed to CO gas flue to study their gas sensor application using the localized surface plasmon resonance method. Increasing the Ni layer over Cu one shows an interesting result in both morphology and gas sensing sides. Advanced stereometric analyses for the surface topography of thin films in conjunction with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and Spectroscopic analysis make a unique study in the field., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Guatteria olivacea R. E. Fries (synonym Guatteria punctata (Aubl.) R.A. Howard) is a tree of 10-27 m tall popularly known as "envira-bobó", "envira-fofa", "envireira", "embira", "embira-branca", "embira-preta", envira-branca", and "envira-preta", which can be found in the Brazilian Amazon biome. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxic and antitumor effects of the essential oil (EO) obtained from the leaves of G. olivacea against liver cancer using HepG2 cells as a model. EO was obtained using a hydrodistillation Clevenger-type apparatus and was qualitatively and quantitatively characterized using GC-MS and GC-FID, respectively. The alamar blue assay was used to assess the cytotoxic potential of EO in a panel of human cancer cell lines and human non-cancerous cells. In HepG2 cells treated with EO, YO-PRO-1/propidium iodide staining, cell cycle distribution, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined. In C.B-17 SCID mice with HepG2 cell xenografts, the efficacy of the EO (20 and 40 mg/kg) was tested in vivo. GC-MS and GC-FID analyses showed germacrene D (17.65%), 1- epi -cubenol (13.21%), caryophyllene oxide (12.03%), spathulenol (11.26%), ( E )-caryophyllene (7.26%), bicyclogermacrene (5.87%), and δ-elemene (4.95%) as the major constituents of G. olivacea leaf EO. In vitro cytotoxicity of EO was observed, including anti-liver cancer action with an IC 50 value of 30.82 μg/mL for HepG2 cells. In HepG2 cells, EO treatment increased apoptotic cells and DNA fragmentation, without changes in ROS levels. Furthermore, the EO inhibited tumor mass in vivo by 32.8-57.9%. These findings suggest that G. olivacea leaf EO has anti-liver cancer potential.

Introduction: Lymphoepithelial cysts (LECs) are extremely uncommon disorders with pancreatic affection. It is predominant in middle-aged men and may be located in any portion of the pancreas. Differential diagnosis with malignant conditions is difficult., Case Presentation: A 53-year-old woman with abdominal pain and cystic lesion involving pancreas managed thorugh laparoscopic excision and colecistectomy due to chronic cholecystitis., Discussion and Conclusion: LECs are a type of true cysts that may occur in any portion of the pancreas, most common sites are the tail and body, with unclear pathogenesis. Accuracy in diagnosis with proper image investigation is necessary to separate surgical cases from conservatively managed., Competing Interests: Each named author has no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise., (© 2022 The Authors.)

In this study, the multi-marker approach was used for the first time with a highly urbanized lake located in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil, to provide a comprehensive view of temporal trends in sources of pollutants and evaluate the relation between the influence of anthropogenic activities and socioeconomic development. Total concentrations of the markers analyzed ranged from 21.0 to 103.8 ng g -1 , 450.2 to 2390.2 ng g -1 , and 233.8 to 9827.3 ng g -1 for ∑ PAHs , ∑ n-alk , and ∑ sterols , respectively. Concentrations and patterns of PAH, AH, and sterol ratio distribution changed over time and may be associated with different episodes in the history of the city of Fortaleza. The marker ratio distribution in the sediment core revealed an overlap of natural and anthropogenic sources, with degraded oil, biogenic inputs, pyrogenic processes, and fecal contamination from humans and animals in the past changing to petroleum fossil inputs and high contamination from sewage in the present day. The distribution of markers and the chronological history of Fortaleza revealed two distinct periods related to human activities during the development of the city. In the first period (prior to the 1950s), the main human activities were animal breeding and the use of biomass for domestic activities, public and cargo transportation, and commercial activities, especially food production. In the second period (after the 1950s), expansion of the city occurred due to the so-called Brazilian economic miracle and the main human activities were industrialization and urbanization processes, involving deforestation, paving, sewage discharge, and petroleum combustion., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The Amazon rainforest has a rich biodiversity, and studies of Basidiomycete fungi that have biomolecules of biotechnological interest are relevant. The use of lignocellulosic biomass in biotechnological processes proposes an alternative use, and also adds value to the material when employed in the bioconversion of agro-industrial waste. In this context, this study evaluate the production of lignocellulolytic enzymes (carboxymethylcellulases (CMCase), xylanase, pectinase, laccase) as well as phenolic compounds and proteases by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using the fungus Lentinus strigosus isolated from Amazon. The guarana (Paullinia cupana) residue was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). SSF was carried out with 60% humidification of the residue, at 30 °C, for 10 days. The lignocellulosic biomass presented fragmented structures with irregular shapes and porosities, and was mainly constituted by cellulose (19.16%), hemicellulose (32.83%), and lignin (6.06%). During the SSF, significant values of CMCase (0.84 U/g) on the 8th day, xylanase (1.00 U/g) on the 7th day, pectinase (2.19 U/g) on the 6th day, laccase (176.23 U/mL) on the 5th day, phenolic compounds (10.27 μg/mL) on the 1st day, soluble proteins (0.08 mg/mL) on the 5th day, and protease (8.30 U/mL) on the 6th day were observed. In general, the agro-industrial residue used provided promising results as a viable alternative for use as a substrate in biotechnological processes., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The trends related to ohmic heating technology in food processing were evaluated using bibliometric analysis based on the scientific literature published in the last decade. Publications from Turkey, Brazil, and Iran represent 32% of all publications. Most studies have targeted the definition of the best combinations of operational parameters for application in different food matrices and their possible effects on the food properties. In addition, a tendency to use ohmic heating as an alternative technology for pasteurization was observed. Future studies should develop mathematical models that evaluate process parameters and food characteristics in the inactivation of microorganisms and enzymes and maintenance of bioactive compounds, the study of the non-thermal effect of electromagnetic waves on the food quality, the evaluation of the processing conditions and food physicochemical properties in the electrode corrosion and migration of metal ions to the treated food, and improvements of homogeneity during processing. This study was the first to perform a bibliometric analysis based on scientific literature concerning ohmic heating in food processing and presented the challenges, future trends, and evolution of scientific research., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Poly( o -methoxyaniline) emeraldine-salt form (ES-POMA) was chemically synthesized using hydrochloric acid and subjected to a heat treatment (HT) process for 1 h at 100 °C (TT 100 ) and 200 °C (TT 200 ). The HT process promoted a progressive decrease in crystallinity. The Le Bail method revealed a decomposition from tetrameric to trimeric-folded chains after the HT process. The unheated POMA-ES presented a globular vesicular morphology with varied micrometric sizes. The heat treatment promoted a reduction in these globular structures, increasing the non-crystalline phase. The boundary length (S) and connectivity/Euler feature (χ) parameters were calculated from the SEM images, revealing that ES-POMA presented a wide distribution of heights. The TT 100 and TT 200 presented a narrow boundary distribution, suggesting smoother surfaces with smaller height variations. The UV-VIS analysis revealed that the transition at 343 nm (nonlocal π → π* ) was more intense in the TT 200 due to the electronic delocalization, which resulted from the reduced polymer chain caused by the HT process. In addition to the loss of conjugation, counter ion withdrawal reduced the ion-chain interaction, decreasing the local electron density. This result shows the influence of the chlorine counter ions on the peaks position related to the HOMO → LUMO transition, since the π → polaron transition occurs due to the creation of the energy states due to the presence of counter ions. Finally, the electrical conductivity decreased after the HT process from 1.4 × 10 -4 S.cm -1 to 2.4 × 10 -6 S.cm -1 as result of the polymer deprotonation/degradation. Thus, this paper proposed a systematic evaluation of the POMA molecular structure and crystallite size and shape after heat treatment.

Alkaloids are natural products known as ethnobotanicals that have attracted increasing attention due to a wide range of their pharmacological properties. In this study, cholinesterase inhibitors were obtained from branches of Abuta panurensis Eichler (Menispermaceae), an endemic species from the Amazonian rainforest. Five alkaloids were isolated, and their structure was elucidated by a combination of 1D and 2D 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy, HPLC-MS, and high-resolution MS: Lindoldhamine isomer m / z 569.2674 ( 1 ), stepharine m / z 298.1461 ( 2 ), palmatine m / z 352.1616 ( 3 ), 5- N -methylmaytenine m / z 420.2669 ( 4 ) and the N - trans -feruloyltyramine m / z 314.1404 ( 5 ). The compounds 1 , 3 , and 5 were isolated from A. panurensis for the first time. Interaction of the above-mentioned alkaloids with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes was investigated in silico by molecular docking and molecular dynamics. The molecules under investigation were able to bind effectively with the active sites of the AChE and BChE enzymes. The compounds 1 - 4 demonstrated in vitro an inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase with IC 50 values in the range of 19.55 µM to 61.24 µM. The data obtained in silico corroborate the results of AChE enzyme inhibition.

Objectives: To determine the accuracy of the 5-time stand-to-sit (5TSTS) test for the identification of older adults with reduced gait speed., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting and Participants: A total of 559 community-dwelling older adults were included in the study, divided into groups of women (n = 465) and men (n = 94)., Methods: 5TSTS and gait speed were assessed. Multiple linear regression analysis with adjustment was performed in order to determine the association between 5TSTS and gait speed, followed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the identification of the usefulness of 5TSTS to discriminate older adults with reduced gait speed. Based on the ROC curve, we identified the area under the curve, the sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff points of the 5TSST. Statistical analyses were made using the SPSS software (version 25.0), and a significance level of 5% (P ≤ .05) was adopted., Results: The 5TSTS showed correlation with gait speed. Additionally, 5TSTS was able to discriminate reduced gait speed with moderate accuracy (P < .05; AUC between 0.7 and 0.8). For women, the cutoff scores for 5TSTS to identify gait speed <0.8 m/s was 14.15 seconds; for gait speed <1.0 m/s, it was 12.67 seconds. For men, the cutoff scores for 5TSTS to identify gait speed <0.8 m/s was 14.67 seconds, and for gait speed <1.0 m/s, it was 13.63 seconds., Conclusion and Implications: The 5TSTS is clinically useful and can be an alternative assessment for discriminating community-dwelling older adults with reduced gait speed, when the gait evaluation is not feasible. The study also suggests different cutoff values for 5TSTS considering the gait speeds <0.8 and <1.0 m/s for older women and men, respectively., (Copyright © 2021 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Retained rectal objects represent a rare complaint in the emergency room, affecting mainly males between 20 and 40 years, with most objects of a sexual nature, but the examiner must be aware of objects of an unusual nature., Presentation of Case: A 54-year-old male patient arrives at the surgical emergency department, with a report of an accident with the insertion of an object via the rectum, a gym dumbbell. Initially opted for transrectal object removal, but with difficulties due to its position., Discussion: Retained rectal objects are a rare complaint in the emergency department, but with an increasingly important occurrence in recent years. Physical examination should include an assessment of the abdomen and digital rectal examination. Imaging tests are mandatory for diagnosis, with abdominal and pelvis radiography being the most requested. Although there is no consensus on the most appropriate removal technique, less invasive initial approaches are recommended, with transanal removal with a 60-75% success rate under local anesthesia. The follow-up after the procedure depends on several factors, and in general, the patient should be kept under observation and attention should be paid to significant changes in the evolution and alterations in the imaging tests., Conclusion: The clinical history in these cases can be confusing, due to the patient's fear of reporting the complaints. Radiography is the best initial test, and CT is reserved for cases of suspected complications. Whenever possible, perform the extraction rectally., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Duguetia A. St. Hill (Annonaceae) is recognized as one of the major genera with approximately 100 species, 67 of which are found in Brazil (29 of those are endemic). They are arboreal species with edible fruits known as "pindaíba", "pindaíva" "pinha", and "envira" in Brazil. Many Duguetia species, in particular, have been used in traditional medicine to treat renal colic, stomachache, rheumatism, cough, toothache, muscle pain, fever, gastrointestinal pain, and breathing difficulties. In this study, we reviewed the chemical constituents and pharmacological properties of essential oils (EOs) from Duguetia species. A total of 12 species were found, along with their EO chemical constituents and bioactivities. Bicyclogermacrene, humulene epoxide II, spathulenol, germacrene D, caryophyllene oxide, viridiflorene, α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, and β-pinene were the main chemical constituents reported. The pharmacological effects of Duguetia species EOs included anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-trypanosoma, cytotoxic and antitumor properties. This information adds to our understanding of the potential of the EOs of Duguetia species.

Biodegradable particles were developed using poly-ε-caprolactone and gelatin carriers containing different concentrations of Allium sativum essential oil (EO) (360 µg/mL, 420 µg/mL, and 460 µg/mL). Atomic force microscopy was useful to evaluate the particles' surface based on morphological parameters. The particles' size varied from 150 nm to 300 nm. The diameter was related to the increase of the particles' height as a function of the EO concentration, influencing the roughness of the surface core values (from 20 to 30 nm) and surface irregularity. The spatial parameters Str (texture aspect ratio) and Std (texture direction) revealed low spatial frequency components. The hybrid parameters Sdq (root mean square gradient) and Sdr (interfacial area ratio) also increased as a function of the EO concentration, revealing fewer flat particles. On the other hand, the functional parameters (inverse areal material ratio and peak extreme height) suggested differences in surface irregularities. Higher concentrations of EO resulted in greater microtexture asperity on the particles' surface, as well as sharper peaks. The nanoscale morphological surface analysis allowed the determination of the most appropriate concentration of encapsulated EO, influencing statistical surface parameters.

This study focused on the biological evaluation and chemical characterization of Malabaila lasiocarpa Boiss. (M. lasiocarpa) (Family: Apiaceae). The phytochemical profile, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory of the methanolic, aqueous, dichloromethane, hexane extracts were investigated. Based on UHPLC-HRMS analyses, a total of 101 peaks were annotated or identified for the first time in M. lasiocarpa extracts. They include hydroxybenzoic, hydroxycinnamic, acylquinic acids and their glycosides, C- and O-glycosyl and O-diglycosyl flavonoids. In addition, 10 simple mono- and disubstituted coumarins together with 10 furanocoumarins were tentatively annotated. The methanolic extract possessing the highest phenolic (24.36±0.60 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract) and flavonoid (69.15±0.37 mg rutin equivalent/g extract) content also exhibited the strongest radical scavenging potential against 2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl (21.73±0.42 mg Trolox equivalent/g extract, respectively), and highest reducing capacity (57.81±0.97 and 28.00±0.40 mg Trolox equivalent/g extract, for cupric reducing antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power, respectively). The dichloromethane extract substantially depressed the tyrosinase (73.92±5.37 mg kojic acid equivalent/g extract), α-amylase (0.63±0.01 mmol acarbose equivalent/g extract) and α-glucosidase (0.69±0.02 mmol acarbose equivalent/g extract) enzymes. This study has produced critical scientific data on M. lasiocarpa which are potential contenders for the development of novel phyto-pharmaceuticals., (© 2022 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Multielement concentrations (P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, and Rh) and total mercury (T-Hg) were analyzed in different organs and tissues of Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis). Samples of 27 T. inunguis specimens, maintained in the collection of the Amazonian Center for the Research and Preservation of Aquatic Mammals, were used, situated in an area highly impacted by gold mining in the northern region of the Brazilian Amazon. Samples of aquatic plants used as food by the animals were also analyzed. The elements S, Cl, K, Cr, and Mn accumulated mainly in the musculature, while Fe and Cu were more concentrated in the liver. Trace elements, such as rubidium (Rb) and rhodium (Rh), not previously reported in the organs of animals of the family Trichechidae, were also identified. The averages for T-Hg in the skin, muscle, encephalon, liver, kidney, and lung samples were, respectively, 0.1540 ± 0.1332, 0.0593 ± 0.1044, 0.0517 ± 0.0467, 0.0486 ± 0.0543, 0.0237 ± 0.0336, and 0.0013 ± 0.0032 µg.g -1 . The values obtained for the vibrissae samples were below the limit of quantification, which allows for the conclusion that this tissue cannot be used as a contamination marker. It was observed that even when kept in a conservation breeding site, these animals were exposed to non-essential trace elements. Differences in the accumulation of elements were observed between the different organs and tissues analyzed. The presence of contaminants in animals that live in a preservation center, even at low levels, deserves attention., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Heteroresistance, defined as the occurrence of apparently homogeneous subpopulations of microbial cells showing different levels of antimicrobial susceptibility is a problem that has been associated with therapeutical failure in cryptococcosis. The purpose of the study was an investigation on the level of heteroresistance to fluconazole (LHF) as observed in clinical and environmental C. neoformans/C. gattii complex species isolates from Amazonas State (AM), Brazil. A total of 45 isolates and 9 type strains were analyzed. The assessments comprised testing for minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), for LHFs, for the strains' capacity of adaptation to high fluconazole (FLC) concentrations above the LHF, and for the stability of the heteroresistance phenomenon. The mean MICs for clinical isolates of C. gattii (6.4 µg/ml) were higher than those observed for environmental C. gattii strains (1.7 µg/ml) and clinical (3.7 µg/ml) as well as environmental (1.5 µg/ml) C. neoformans isolates. The phenomenon of heteroresistance to FLC was recorded for all isolates. On average, the LHF (8-256 µg/ml) of the isolates was 16 times higher than the FLC MICs (0.5-16 µg/ml) and a proportion of 85% isolates showed LHFs ≥ 16 µg/ml, 40% even ≥ 32 µg/ml. According to the adaptation assay, a considerable number of isolates (58%) showed the capacity of adaptation to MICs even higher than the initially recorded LHF. After the adaptation experiment, the adaptative-LHF values (8-512 µg/ml) were about 60 times higher than the original MIC values. After nine subsequent passages in drug-free broth, the isolates had their adaptative-LHF reduced. However, the LHF did not revert to the initially measured level. Our findings challenge the clinical interpretation of the antifungal MIC testing and motivate future studies correlating the levels of heteroresistance and parameters like LHF and adaptative-LHF with cryptococcosis-associated morbidity and mortality., Lay Summary: Cryptococcosis affects many people and is caused by fungi of the Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii complexes. These agents appear to become more resistant to antifungals when exposed to increasing concentrations of antifungals due to a phenomenon called heteroresistance., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.)

In this work, the topographical effect of the scratching trajectory and the feed direction on the formation of lithographed lines on the (001) InP surface was investigated using an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip-based nanomachining approach. Nanoscratching tests were carried out using the sharp face of a diamond AFM tip in contact mode. From the topographic maps obtained by AFM, several morphological and fractal parameters were obtained and analyzed. Surface morphology presented a surface smoothing for surfaces with scratches produced in [011] and [001] directions. The height parameters confirmed this behavior because scratches in [001] direction exhibited lower roughness. Moreover, this scratch direction promoted the height distribution most symmetrical and platykurtic. The other morphological parameters revealed that this direction provided a more irregular surface (smaller S mc and S xp ), peak distribution, denser and pointed, smaller portion of material in the core, less deep furrows, higher spatial frequency components, and high isotropy. Fractal parameters revealed that FRE90 has the highest spatial complexity, it is dominated by higher spatial frequencies, and has the lowest surface percolation. Furthermore, all samples exhibited high topographic uniformity., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis may develop in any organ system, including the spine. The affection of spinal cord is called Pott's disease and it is the most frequent set. Pott's disease can present as back pain and be related to complications such psoas muscle abscess., Case Presentation: We report a case of 23-year-old Brazilian woman, natural from Amazonas, presenting with psoas abscess associated to Pott's disease treated with surgical debridement and drainage and extended tuberculosis scheme., Discussion: Psoas abscess is rare and the main agents related to psoas abscess are Staphylococcus aureus , followed by Streptococcus and Escherichia coli . Retrofascial abscesses usually originate from bone lesions, including spine tuberculosis as our case, or due to contiguity of the retroperitoneal space., Conclusion: Psoas abscess related to Pott's disease is a difficult diagnosis, requiring high suspicious and proper investigation through good anamnesis, CT scan and culture., Competing Interests: All authors declare no conflict of interests., (© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of IJS Publishing Group Ltd.)

A study of image analysis of Ti 1-x Al x N films deposited on corning glass substrates by a direct current (DC)/radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering system was performed. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) data were studied to understand how the impact of the concentration of Al content influences the 3D surface morphology as well as the surface texture parameters. The results showed that the superficial morphology was modified by the increase of Al content in the Ti 1-x Al x N films, as well as the surface microtexture. It has also been observed that the Ti 1-x Al x N film surface with the highest aluminum (Al) doping concentration presented a similar surface morphology to pristine titanium nitride (TiN) thin films. The Abbott-Firestone curves for all films exhibited an S-like shape suggesting topographic uniformity and Gaussian distribution of heights. An increase in surface uniformity is observed with Al concentration. The characterization of the surface morphology of Ti 1-x Al x N films by the evaluation of surface statistical parameters suggests that the surface topography can be adjusted by suitable doping of aluminum and offers a deeper understanding of the applicability of these films., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Trichosporon yeasts are widely employed to produce lipids, lipases, and aspartic peptidases, but there are no previous studies on collagenase production. This work aimed to select the best collagenase producing Amazonian Trichosporon strains. Moreover, a 2 3 -full factorial design (FFD) and a 2 2 -central composite design combined with Response Surface Methodology were applied to optimize production and find the best conditions for hydrolysis of type I bovine collagen. Most of the studied strains had some collagenolytic activity, but the selected one achieved the highest value (44.02 U) and a biomass concentration of 2.31 g/L. The best collagenase production conditions were 160 rpm of agitation, pH 5.5 and a substrate concentration of 4.0 g/L. The former experimental design showed that substrate concentration was the only statistically significant factor on both biomass concentration and collagenase activity, while the latter showed simultaneous effects of substrate concentration and pH on collagenolytic activity, which peaked at pH 5.5-6.4 and substrate concentration of 3.0-3.4 g/L. An additional 2³-FFD was finally used to optimize the conditions collagen hydrolysis, and pH 6, 25 °C and a substrate concentration of 7.5 (g/L) ensured the highest hydrolysis degree. This study is the first that describes optimized conditions of collagenase production by Trichosporon strains.

Objective: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of spineless cactus (0%, 33%, 66%, and 100%) used as a substitute for wheat bran in buffalo diets on quantitative and qualitative traits of the meat and carcass., Methods: Twenty Murrah buffaloes at 18 months of age, with a mean initial weight of 292.9±57.3 kg, were randomly allocated to four treatments with five replicates. The animals were slaughtered after 90 days in the feedlot. The effects of spineless cactus as a replacement for wheat bran in the diet of the buffaloes on the carcass and meat traits, slaughter weight, carcass yield and carcass measurements were studied., Results: Increased spineless cactus levels led to linear reduction in average daily gain, slaughter weight, hot and cold carcass weight, compactness index and in the amount of muscle in the carcass, and there is no difference between the control treatment and the 33% replacing level for these parameters. The quality of the meat was not influenced by the treatments., Conclusion: Spineless cactus can replace wheat bran by up to 33% in sugarcane-based diets for buffaloes, without influencing quantitative and qualitative traits of the meat and carcass.

The main cause of physical degradation in pasture areas is overgrazing, and when combined with poorly productive soils, it causes the loss of millions of hectares of agricultural soils a year. Thus, work is needed to indicate which physical attributes are most sensitive to degradation, generating information so that soil management can be proposed, with a view to economic, social, and environmental aspects. Therefore, the objective of the work was to evaluate the impacts caused on the physical attributes of the soil, in forests converted to pastures in northern Rondônia, Brazil. The study was carried out in three areas within the municipality of Porto Velho, Rondônia, one area with forest and two with pastures (brachiaria and mombaça grass). In the field, deformed soil samples were collected at a depth of 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m in the three study areas. In the laboratory, physical analyses of texture, aggregates and porosity, compaction, and an additional analysis of soil organic carbon were carried out. Then, univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed, as well as geostatistical analysis. The conversion of forest to pasture had a negative impact on aggregates, compaction, porosity, and accumulation of organic carbon in the soil. The studied environments are influenced by the high levels of sand and clay, which interfere in the aggregation, compaction, porosity, and accumulation of organic carbon in the soil. We observed greater spatial variability of physical attributes in the environment with mombaça grass and attributed this to the greater grazing and trampling intensity of the animals., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The main toxicity mechanism of organophosphate insecticides such as malathion is the acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition. However, fish responses to organophosphates may vary depending on the activation of different defense mechanisms as well as the length of exposure. As such, the evaluation of acetylcholinesterase activity, in combination with the evaluation of biotransformation and antioxidants enzymes levels, is useful for indicating damage in fish exposed to this insecticide. Moreover, evaluating mitochondrial activity might evidence how the hierarchic responses occur in relation to the length of time that the fish is exposed. Therefore, the aim of our study is to evaluate whether the length of exposure to malathion differentially affects the biochemical responses of tambaqui. Our hypothesis is that the physiological alterations due to exposure are time dependent. Fish were exposed to sublethal concentrations of the insecticide during 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. Contrary to expectations, there was no acetylcholinesterase activity inhibition during the experiment, which indicates an absence of neurotoxicity. Phase II biotransformation mechanism was activated early, especially in the liver. Oxidative damage was evident in the first hours of exposure and was concurrent with the activation of antioxidant enzymes. Mitochondrial bioenergetics were differentially affected by the length of exposure. The data suggest that the tambaqui regulates mitochondrial respiration differently over time, seeking to maintain homeostasis and ATP demand, and ensures the activation of response mechanisms, thus minimizing oxidative damage and avoiding the neurotoxicity of malathion., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Titica vine ( Heteropsis flexuosa ) is a typical plant of the Amazon region commonly used for making baskets, bags, brooms and furniture, owing to its stiff fibers. In spite of its interesting properties, there is so far no reported information regarding the use of titica vine fibers (TVFs) in engineering composite materials. In this work, the TVF and its epoxy composites were for the first time physically, thermally and mechanically characterized. Additionally, the effect of two kinds of chemical treatments, one with sodium carbonate and one with calcium lignosulfonate, as well as different volume fractions, 10, 20, 30 and 40 vol%, of TVF-reinforced composites were assessed for corresponding basic properties. The thermogravimetric results of the composites reveal enhanced thermal stability for higher TVF content. In addition, the composite incorporated with 40 vol% of TVFs treated with sodium carbonate absorbed 19% more water than the composites with untreated fibers. By contrast, the calcium lignosulfonate treatment decreased water absorption by 8%. The Charpy and Izod impact tests showed that the composites, incorporated with the highest investigated volume fraction (40 vol%) of TVF, significantly increased the absorbed energy by 18% and 28%, respectively, compared to neat epoxy. ANOVA and Tukey statistical analyses displayed no direct influence of the chemical treatments on the energy absorption of the composites for either impact tests. SEM images revealed the main fracture mechanisms responsible for the performance of TVF composites.

Introduction: Accidents involving chainsaws are not uncommon in trauma care and may present as penetrating injuries with retention of a foreign object in the patient's chest. The current literature, however, does not present a consensus on the best way to approach these cases., Presentation of Case: Male patient, 46-year-old man, born in Amazonas countryside, brought to the city of Manaus with a penetrating injury resulting from an accident with a chainsaw and retaining a 2cm sawtooth in his chest, six days after the event. After laboratory and imaging tests, as well as pre-operative preparation, an open thoracotomy was realized, the object was removed, and the patient was placed under a thoracostomy tube., Discussion: The diagnosis of chainsaw incidents is generally described in the literature as post-mortem, mainly due to the inappropriate use of the equipment. Surgical removal of a foreign body is indicated in most cases, except when it is peripheral or when there is some impossibility. Early surgical treatment benefits the patient, with lower mortality and morbidity., Conclusion: In view of the absence of consensus and guidelines to the approach of thoracic injury with foreign body retention, it is up to the surgeon to evaluate the best conduct in each case and according to the available resources., (© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of IJS Publishing Group Ltd.)

Introduction: Spigelian hernia is a rare differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. It affects mainly women above the fifth decade of life, more on the left side than on the right side, usually with comorbidities that lead to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, described as risk factors for the outbreak of ventral hernias. The content of a ventral hernia might be an epiploic appendix and lead to appendagitis., Presentation of Case: This article presents the case of an 82-year-old female patient who presented epiploic appendagitis in a Spigelian hernia., Discussion: Spigelian hernia is a rare type of ventral hernia, especially in association with an epiploic appendagitis. A literature search of this rare entity yielded three publications presenting epiploic appendagitis in a Spigelian hernia. The initial approach after the diagnosis should be adequate analgesia associated with surgical correction of the hernia. There is no gold standard treatment for the repair. European and American societies suggest that if there is no palpable nodule, laparoscopic repair is preferable, always using a mesh., Conclusion: Epiploic appendagitis in a Spigelian hernia is a rare condition whose diagnosis is a big challenge. However, the correct diagnosis can lead to a shorter hospital stay, with less cost and avoid the use of unnecessary medications., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

User experience (UX) is a quality aspect that considers the emotions evoked by the system, extending the usability concept beyond effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. Practitioners and researchers are aware of the importance of evaluating UX. Thus, UX evaluation is a growing field with diverse approaches. Despite various approaches, most of them produce a general indication of the experience as a result and do not seek to capture the problem that gave rise to the bad UX. This information makes it difficult to obtain relevant results to improve the application, making it challenging to identify what caused a negative user experience. To address this gap, we developed a UX evaluation technique called UX-Tips. This paper presents UX-Tips and reports two empirical studies performed in an academic and an industrial setting to evaluate it. Our results show that UX-Tips had good performance in terms of efficiency and effectiveness, making it possible to identify the causes that led to a negative user experience, and it was easy to use. In this sense, we present a new technique suitable for use in both academic and industrial settings, allowing UX evaluation and finding the problems that may lead to a negative experience.

Some bands in the frequency spectrum have become overloaded and others underutilized due to the considerable increase in demand and user allocation policy. Cognitive radio applies detection techniques to dynamically allocate unlicensed users. Cooperative spectrum sensing is currently showing promising results. Therefore, in this work, we propose a cooperative spectrum detection system based on a residual neural network architecture combined with feature extractor and random forest classifier. The objective of this paper is to propose a cooperative spectrum sensing approach that can achieve high accuracy in higher levels of noise power density with less unlicensed users cooperating in the system. Therefore, we propose to extract features of the sensing information of each unlicensed user, then we use a random forest to classify if there is a presence of a licensed user in each band analyzed by the unlicensed user. Then, information from several unlicensed users are shared to a fusion center, where the decision about the presence or absence of a licensed user is accomplished by a model trained by a residual neural network. In our work, we achieved a high level of accuracy even when the noise power density is high, which means that our proposed approach is able to recognize the presence of a licensed user in 98% of the cases when the evaluated channel suffers a high level of noise power density (-134 dBm/Hz). This result was achieved with the cooperation of 10 unlicensed users.

The World Health Organization Call to Eliminate Cervical Cancer resonates in cities like Manaus, Brazil, where the burden is among the world's highest. Manaus has offered free cytology-based screening since 1990 and HPV immunization since 2013, but the public system is constrained by many challenges and performance is not well-defined. We obtained cervical cancer prevention activities within Manaus public health records for 2019 to evaluate immunization and screening coverage, screening by region and neighborhood, and the annual Pink October screening campaign. We estimated that among girls and boys age 14-18, 85.9% and 64.9% had 1+ doses of HPV vaccine, higher than rates for age 9-13 (73.4% and 43.3%, respectively). Of the 90,209 cytology tests performed, 24.9% were outside the target age and the remaining 72,230 corresponded to 40.1% of the target population (one-third of women age 25-64). The East zone had highest screening coverage (49.1%), highest high-grade cytology rate (2.5%) and lowest estimated cancers (38.1/100,000) compared with the South zone (32.9%, 1.8% and 48.5/100,000, respectively). Largest neighborhoods had fewer per capita screening locations, resulting in lower coverage. During October, some clinics successfully achieved higher screening volumes and high-grade cytology rates (up to 15.4%). Although we found evidence of some follow-up within 10 months post-screening for 51/70 women (72.9%) with high-grade or worse cytology, only 18 had complete work-up confirmed. Manaus has successfully initiated HPV vaccination, forecasting substantial cervical cancer reductions by 2050. With concerted efforts during campaigns, some clinics improved screening coverage and reached high-risk women. Screening campaigns in community locations in high-risk neighborhoods using self-collected HPV testing can achieve widespread coverage. Simplifying triage and treatment with fewer visits closer to communities would greatly improve follow-up and program effectiveness. Achieving WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination goals in high-burden cities will require major reforms for screening and simpler follow-up and treatment., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Coconut production in the Amazon requires the knowledge and development of sustainable technologies to alleviate the detrimental effects of inorganic chemical fertilizers and intensive farming practices. In this study, we investigated the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolated from coconut seedlings on nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and physiological mechanisms related to biomass accumulation of seedlings grown with reduced inorganic fertilizer levels. Of the 96 PGPR isolates tested on rice plants, the isolate Bacillus cereus (UFRABC40) was selected, as it resulted in the most significant gain in growth variables. In a commercial coconut tree nursery, we subjected seedlings to two treatments, both with seven replications: control 100% NPK chemical fertilizer (CF) and B. cereus + 50% NPK CF. The results indicated that the inoculation increased phytohormone levels [190% indole acetic acid (IAA), 31% gibberellic acid GA 3 , and 17% gibberellic acid GA 4 ] and leaf gas exchange [48% by assimilation of CO 2 ( A ), 35% stomatal conductance to water vapor ( gs ), 33% transpiration, and 57% instantaneous carboxylation efficiency] in leaves. Furthermore, growth parameters (shoot, root, and total dry weight, height, and diameter) and macro- and micronutrient levels (95% N, 44% P, 92% K, 103 Ca, 46% Fe, 84% B) were improved. Our results show the potential ability of strain Bacillus cereus UFRABC40 to promote the growth performance of coconut seedlings under decreased application of inorganic fertilizers. The application of microbial-based products in coconut seedling production systems improves plants' physiological performance and the efficiency of nutrient use., 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 © 2021 Cardoso, Alves, da Costa, de Moraes, da Silva Júnior, Lins and da Silva.)

Background: Understanding of the influence of trunk muscles on the older adult's limit of stability (LOS) is important for clinical practice., Objective: To compare the anterior and posterior LOS and the flexor and extensor trunk muscle function; verify the association of trunk muscles and LOS, and the association of LOS and the previous falls of community-dwelling older adults., Methods: Sample characterization data, trunk muscle function (peak torque - PT and torque steadiness - TS), LOS and previous falls (6 months) were collected from 79 older people. Comparisons were made between the variables of the anterior/posterior LOS (Reaction time, Movement velocity, Maximum excursion, Directional control), between trunk extensors/flexors muscle function and between TS at 10% and at 50%. Associations were made between the anterior/posterior LOS and the number of previous falls and between LOS and trunk muscle function., Results: The posterior LOS was worse than the anterior LOS, except for the reaction time. The flexor muscles obtained a lower PT, but better performance in TS. The TS at 10% of the trunk extensor was associated with the posterior directional control (p = 0.032). There was no association between trunk muscle function and the anterior LOS, or between previous falls and LOS., Conclusions: The older adults presented worse performance in the posterior LOS and worse TS in the trunk extensor muscles, although the trunk extensor muscles presented a higher PT. Although no association between LOS and previous falls, the better the TS at 10% of the trunk extensors, better posterior directional control., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most lethal form of leukemia. Standard anti-AML treatment remains almost unchanged for decades. Tingenone (TG) and 22-hydroxytingenone (22-HTG) are quinonemethide triterpenes found in the Amazonian plant Salacia impressifolia (Celastraceae), with cytotoxic properties in different histological types of cancer cells. In the present work, we investigated the anti-AML action mechanism of TG and 22-HTG in the AML HL-60 cell line. Both compounds exhibited potent cytotoxicity in a panel of cancer cell lines. Mechanistic studies found that TG and 22-HTG reduced cell growth and caused the externalization of phosphatidylserine, the fragmentation of internucleosomal DNA and the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential in HL-60 cells. In addition, pre-incubation with Z-VAD(OMe)-FMK, a pan-caspase inhibitor, prevented TG- and 22-HTG-induced apoptosis, indicating cell death by apoptosis via a caspase-dependent pathway. The analysis of the RNA transcripts of several genes indicated the interruption of the cellular antioxidant system, including the downregulation of thioredoxin, as a target for TG and 22-HTG. The application of N-acetyl-cysteine, an antioxidant, completely prevented apoptosis induced by TG and 22-HTG, indicating activation of the apoptosis pathway mediated by oxidative stress. Moreover, TG and 22-HTG induced DNA double-strand break and phosphorylation of JNK2 (T183/Y185) and p38α (T180/Y182), and co-incubation with SP 600125 (JNK/SAPK inhibitor) and PD 169316 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) partially prevented apoptosis induced by TG and 22-HTG. Together, these data indicate that TG and 22-HTG are new candidate for anti-AML therapy targeting thioredoxin., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Foreign body ingestion is a common clinical scenario found in clinical practice. Perforations related to foreign bodies are rare, but they can present as a serious condition in emergency surgery services. The most common sites of perforation are angled areas, such as: ileocecal valve, sigmoid colon, duodenojejunal flexure and small intestine. We are going to describe a rare case of extensive perforation of rectosigmoid transition, without associated obstructive clinical picture, related to voluntary ingestion of foreign body caused by multiple seeds of a typical amazon fruit., Presentation of Case: This case report describes the presentation and management of a 46-year-old man who presented signs of acute perforating abdomen, without obstructive condition, after ingestion of foreign body. Imaging examination revealed the presence of foreign bodies with signs of intestinal perforation. Exploratory laparotomy was performed to treat the lesion and remove foreign bodies., Discussion: Bowel perforation by a non-sharp foreign body is a rare complication of object ingestion. Object shape, quantity, narrowing of gastrointestinal tract are factors that can favor perforation. The clinic is not very specific, usually preceded by when obstructive or sub occlusive, and the clinical history is relevant for diagnostic formulation. Regions and cultures with a high intake of food with seeds may constitute an extra risk factor., Conclusion: The importance of alerting surgical teams to the possibility of bowel perforation without associated occlusive conditions caused by multiple non-sharp seeds is highlighted, as well as the need for early treatment aiming at favorable clinical outcome., Competing Interests: We do not have any conflicts of interests., (© 2021 The Authors.)

The increase in blood pressure (BP) during somatic growth might have direct determinants but also mediating factors. We investigated whether uric acid (UA) and other metabolic factors would mediate the association between body composition components and BP. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 928 children and adolescents (aged 6-18 years), in which body composition and blood biochemistry were evaluated. Structural equation modeling was performed to test the direct and indirect pathways between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and body composition parameters. Muscle mass (MM) showed a strong direct effect on BP, regardless of sex. In girls, a mediating pathway through UA was not significant, but the association between fat mass (FM) and MM with SBP was mediated by the cluster of metabolic factors. In boys, both MM and FM were associated with SBP through a mediating pathway via UA, but not via the cluster of metabolic factors. The association between body composition and BP in children and adolescents has a complex design and also has a sex-specific mediating component. The increase in the UA levels may affect BP levels early in boys. Also, metabolic changes elicited by FM contribute to the increase in BP at an early age in girls. Novelty: MM showed a strong direct effect on BP, regardless of sex. In girls, the association between FM and MM with SBP was mediated by the cluster of metabolic factors. In boys, both MM and FM were associated with SBP through a mediating pathway via UA.

Background: Pot-pollen is a fermented product stored by stingless bees in cerumen pots and traditionally used as food or medicine by natives in tropical regions. Knowledge of pot-pollen composition from the Amazon region is important to strengthen the breeding of native bees and consequently contribute to sustainable development in this region. The aim of the present study was to determine the chemical composition of Melipona seminigra pot-pollen from Amazonas, Brazil., Results: We report the identification of 21 phenolic compounds using ultra-performance liquid chromatography- electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry. Overall, the predominant constituents of pot-pollen were protein (333.8-470.7 g kg -1 ) and dietary fibers (247.6-353.3 g kg -1 ). The predominant fatty acids were polyunsaturated (44.95-59.57% of total fatty acid content) and the samples contained all essential amino acids. Total carotenoid content ranged from 3.2 to 48.0 μg g -1 , total flavonoid content (as catechin equivalents) from 1.9 to 4.5 mg g -1 , total reducing capacity (as gallic acid equivalents) from 7.0 to 15.0 mg g -1 , ferric-reducing antioxidant power from 2.8 to 8.9 μmol g -1 and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (as Trolox equivalents) from 224.9 to 1117.0 μmol g -1 ., Conclusions: This study reports for the first time a comprehensive chemical characterization of M. seminigra pot-pollen. The samples presented antioxidant activity, high values of nutrients and bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, carotenoids, insoluble dietary fibers, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and essential amino acids, comparable to other health foods. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Introduction: Colovesical fistula is the pathological communication between the colon and urinary bladder. It is related with high morbimortality rate and it is and uncommon complication of diverticulosis in young adults., Case Presentation: We report a case of a 38-year-old Brazilian man with fecaluria and pneumaturia for eight months, whose colovesical fistula was undetectable in CT scan and with surgical management., Discussion: Diverticulosis is the main inflammatory condition causing colovesical fistulas and the sigmoid colon is the most common part involved. It is more prevalent in patients over 60 years old and in western countries due to low fiber diet., Conclusion: Colovesical fistula diagnosis is difficult, requiring high suspicious and proper investigation through good anamnesis, CT scan and also colonoscopy and cystoscopy when necessary., Competing Interests: Each named author has no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise., (© 2021 The Authors.)

This study analyzed sex steroid hormones and morphology of the reproductive tract in free-living adult males of the cururu stingray (Potamotrygon wallacei). These stingrays were captured during the transition between drought and rising waters in the middle Rio Negro basin, which coincides with the reproductive period (spermatogenesis and copulation) of this endemic species. Levels of the plasma steroid hormones testosterone (T), 17 β-estradiol (E 2 ), and progesterone (P 4 ), the gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices, as well as histological characteristics of the testis and epididymis were evaluated. Three reproductive maturational stages were observed: regression males, capable to reproduce males, and active males. Plasma T levels were increasing and parallel with the rising water period in the middle Rio Negro basin and were associated with the progress of spermatogenesis. This was not observed for E 2 , which did not vary significantly among the different reproductive stages. The high P 4 concentrations in males in regression and males capable of reproducing appeared to regulate the progression of spermatogenesis. Increases in this hormone in the plasma of active males was associated with spermiogenesis and spermiation events. These findings have not been previously observed in Amazonian freshwater stingrays and demonstrate that the reproductive activity of P. wallacei males is concomitant to the period of rising waters in the middle Rio Negro basin, and is regulated by the action of gonadal steroids, mainly testosterone., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis , known in Brazil as guarana plant, is an important plant and a major traditional crop in the State of Amazonas. It is a native Brazilian species of great economic and social importance, particularly in the Amazon region. Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. is the main challenge for this crop. Therefore, the present study verified whether C. siamense , an endophytic fungus infected with a mycovirus, could protect the seedlings and reduce or eliminate the characteristic symptoms. Total proteins and enzymatic activities of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRPs), including peroxidase (POX), chitinase (CHI), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), were quantified. Guarana seedlings of cultivar Maués were sprayed with a C. siamense conidia suspension (5.0 × 10 3 conidia/mL). After ten days, the seedlings were sprayed with a suspension of the phytopathogen's conidia (1.0 × 10 6 conidia/mL). One group of these seedlings received the fungicide indicated for this crop. The fungicide was applied twice with an interval of 15 days between applications. Negative control seedlings did not receive any treatment (except water and fertilization), and positive control seedlings were treated only with the phytopathogen. The experiment was conducted between December 2019 and February 2020 in a greenhouse. The treatments were applied at an average temperature of 25°C and 85% relative humidity. Leaflets were randomly collected from each treatment group at 0, 48, 72, and 96 hours after pathogen inoculation and analyzed for total protein and enzyme production (POX, PAL, and CHI). After 28 days, the percentage of leaf lesions on the seedlings was evaluated. C. siamense inoculation reduced lesions. There were differences in total proteins and PRPs at different timepoints after inoculation, except for CHI activity, among treatments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of resistance induction in guarana plants., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Luana L. Casas et al.)

Quinones are plant-derived secondary metabolites that present diverse pharmacological properties, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and anticancer activities. In the present study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of a new naphthoquinone 6b,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta [b]naphtho [2,1-d]furan-5,6 (9aH)-dione) (CNFD) in different tumor cell lines. CNFD displayed cytotoxic activity against different tumor cell lines, especially in MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma cells, which showed IC 50 values of 3.06 and 0.98 μM for 24 and 48 h incubation, respectively. In wound-healing migration assays, CNFD promoted inhibition of cell migration. We have found typical hallmarks of apoptosis, such as cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, phosphatidylserine exposure, increase of caspases-9 and-3 activation, increase of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation without affecting the cell membrane permeabilization, increase of ROS production, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential induced by CNFD. Moreover, gene expression experiments indicated that CNFD increased the expression of the genes CDKN1A, FOS, MAX, and RAC1 and decreased the levels of mRNA transcripts of several genes, including CCND1, CDK2, SOS1, RHOA, GRB2, EGFR and KRAS. The CNFD treatment of MCF-7 cells induced the phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and inactivation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). In a study using melanoma cells in a murine model in vivo, CNFD induced a potent anti-tumor activity. Herein, we describe, for the first time, the cytotoxicity and anti-tumor activity of CNFD and sequential mechanisms of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. CNFD seems to be a promising candidate for anti-tumor therapy., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dinizia excelsa Ducke under three different cut conditions were carefully analyzed. The morphology and stereometry of different wood cutting surfaces (longitudinal radial, longitudinal tangential, and transversal) were studied by SEM and AFM. The results obtained in this study suggest that both the height parameters and the advanced stereometric parameters of the surfaces did not reveal a significant difference, indicating that the spatial patterns do not change according to the type of cut. In this way, the surface microtexture does not vary depending on the cut type. Similarly, the Hurst's coefficients did not show any significant difference in the spectrum of the PSD fractal region. On the other hand, Minkowski functionals presented a morphological difference between the samples. These results showed that the microtexture of the wood surface does not change as a function of the type of cut submitted to the same polishing process., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Diclinanona calycina R. E. Fries popularly known as "envira", is a species of the Annonaceae family endemic to Brazil. In our ongoing search for bioactive compounds from Annonaceae Amazon plants, the bark of D. calycina was investigated by classical chromatography techniques that yielded thirteen compounds (alkaloids and flavonoids) described for the first time in D. calycina as well as in the genus Diclinanona . The structure of these isolated compounds were established by extensive analysis using 1D/2D-NMR spectroscopy in combination with MS. The isolated alkaloids were identified as belonging to the subclasses: simple isoquinoline, thalifoline ( 1 ); aporphine, anonaine ( 2 ); oxoaporphine, liriodenine ( 3 ); benzyltetrahydroisoquinolines, ( S )-(+)-reticuline ( 4 ); dehydro-oxonorreticuline (3,4-dihydro-7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-isoquinolinyl)(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-methanone) ( 5 ); (+)-1 S ,2 R -reticuline N β -oxide ( 6 ); and (+)-1 S ,2 S -reticuline N α -oxide ( 7 ); tetrahydroprotoberberine, coreximine ( 8 ); and pavine, bisnorargemonine ( 9 ), and a mixture of uvarinol ( 10 ), dichamanetin ( 11 ), and a mixture of uvarinol ( 12 is described for the first time in the literature as a natural product. The cytotoxic activity of the main isolated compounds was evaluated against cancer and non-cancerous cell lines. Among the tested compounds, the most promising results were found for the benzylated dihydroflavones dichamanetin ( 13 ), and the mixture of uvarinol ( 5 is described for the first time in the literature as a natural product. The cytotoxic activity of the main isolated compounds was evaluated against cancer and non-cancerous cell lines. Among the tested compounds, the most promising results were found for the benzylated dihydroflavones dichamanetin ( 10 ), and the mixture of uvarinol ( 12 ) and isouvarinol ( 13 ), which presented moderate cytotoxic activity against the tested cancer cell lines (<20.0 µg·mL -1 ) and low cytotoxicity against the non-cancerous cell line MRC-5 (>25.0 µg·mL -1 values of 15.78 µg·mL 11 ) showed cytotoxic activity against HL-60 and HCT116 with IC 50 values of 15.78 µg·mL -1 (33.70 µmol·L -1 ), respectively while the mixture of uvarinol ( -1 (40.56 µmol·L -1 ), respectively while the mixture of uvarinol ( 12 value of 9.74 µg·mL 13 ) demonstrated cytotoxic activity against HL-60, with an IC 50 value of 17.31 µg·mL -1 . These cytotoxic activities can be attributed to the presence of one or more hydroxybenzyl groups present in these molecules as well as the position in which these groups are linked. The cytotoxic activities of reticuline, anonaine and liriodenine have been previously established, with liriodenine being the most potent compound.50 value of 17.31 µg·mL -1 . These cytotoxic activities can be attributed to the presence of one or more hydroxybenzyl groups present in these molecules as well as the position in which these groups are linked. The cytotoxic activities of reticuline, anonaine and liriodenine have been previously established, with liriodenine being the most potent compound.

Knowledge of the sperm-oocyte ratio in fish fertilization serves as the basis for studies on artificial reproduction and gamete manipulation. The aim of this study was to determine the minimum insemination dose for Brycon amazonicus oocyte fertilization. Female and male gametes were used and tested with the following doses of spermatozoa oocyte-1 ml-1: 10,000, 20,000, 40,000, 60,000 and 80,000 (in triplicate). Fertilization rates were calculated and estimated from the regression equation by applying the segmented regression model 'Linear Response Plateau' to determine the appropriate proportion of gametes. Based on the equation Ŷ = 14.3415 + 0.0007836X, the fertilization rate increased up to 63.34% as it reached a plateau with a proportion of 62,524 spermatozoa oocyte-1 ml-1, which is the minimum insemination dose recommended for artificial insemination of the species.