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The parties, in general, are part of the culture of different peoples. Since the beginning, man has recorded in its annual calendar dedicated to those days when time to thank, commemorate and celebrate the events that have become important, which should be remembered ritually. It was established, therefore, the holidays, following principles individuals. Note, however, that the period of the great migrations regional and extraespecially with the great voyages of the fifteenth century with colonialism / imperialism and the globalization process, certain rituals and festivities have become part of other companies, albeit insignificant. In light of these facts, we put in evidence in this article reflections on the traditional Festa das Neves, while reflecting the religious expression and fruit of a cultural legacy for the city of Joã o Pessoa. This Party, despite being a public demonstration, denotes the power and prestige of the Catholic Church in the past, so that, through the centuries, while "sacred" and the party "profane" become present in the daily life of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Periódico Tchê Química is the property of Grupo Tche Quimica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and Objectives: The Nd:YAG laser can be used in Dentistry to remove soft tissue, disinfect canals in endodontic procedures and prevent caries. However, there is no protocol for Nd:YAG laser application in dental bleaching. The aims of this in vitro study were: (a) to observe the tooth shade alteration when hydrogen peroxide whitening procedures are associated with dyes with different wavelengths and irradiated with Nd:YAG laser or halogen light; (b) to measure the Vickers (VHN) enamel microhardness before and after the whitening procedure; (c) to evaluate the tensile bond strength of two types of adhesive systems applied on bleached enamel; (d) to observe the failure pattern after bond strength testing; (e) to evaluate the pulpal temperature during the bleaching procedures with halogen light or laser; (f) to measure the kinetic reaction of hydrogen peroxide. Materials and Methods: Extracted sound human molar crowns were sectioned in the mesiodistal direction to obtain 150 fragments that were divided into five groups for each adhesive system: WL (H2O2 + thickener and Nd:YAG), WH (H2O2 + thickener and halogen light), QL (H2O2 + carbopol + Q‐switch and Nd:YAG), QH (H2O2 + carbopol + Q‐switch and halogen light), and C (Control, without whitening agent). Shade assessment was made with a shade guide and the microhardness tests were performed before and after the bleaching procedures. Immediately afterwards, the groups were restored with the adhesive systems Adper Single Bond 2 or Solobond M plus composite resin, and the tensile bond strength test was performed. The temperature was measured by thermocouples placed on the enamel surface and intrapulpal chamber. The kinetics of hydrogen peroxide was observed by ultraviolet analysis. Results: The shade changed seven levels for Nd:YAG laser groups and eight levels for halogen light. According to the student's t‐test, there was no statistical difference between the VHN before and after the whitening protocols (p > 0.05). The tensile bond strength showed no statistical significance between the test groups and the controls, considering both adhesive systems tested by ANOVA and Tukey tests (p > 0.05). The predominant failure pattern after bond strength testing was mixed. The temperature was safe for laser and halogen light. The kinetic reaction showed that after 5 min all the hydrogen peroxide had been consumed. Conclusions: Nd:YAG laser associated with hydrogen peroxide bleached the enamel, the shade being similar to that obtained with the traditional method performed with halogen light. Moreover, the Vickers' microhardness and bond strength values were not altered in comparison with those for nonbleached enamel. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical profile of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil (CZEO) and their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus strains isolated from canine otitis. First, the CZEO chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (CG-MS). External otitis samples collected from dogs were submitted to staphylococcal isolation, followed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry identification. The antimicrobial action was tested against the isolates using the disk-diffusion and microdilution methods. The antibiofilm activity was evaluated by CZEO-based concentrations, subMIC for biofilm formation and supraMIC against preformed biofilm, quantified by crystal violet (CV) staining and CFU counting. The chemical analysis revealed that (E)-cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and (E)-cinnamyl acetate were the main compounds in the CZEO, representing 77.42, 8.17 and 4.50%, respectively. Two strains of three different species, S. saprophyticus, S. schleiferi and S. pseudintermedius, were identified. The disk-diffusion test showed an inhibitory zone diameter, ranging from 34.0 to 49.5 mm, while the MIC and MBC values were around 500 and 1000 µg/mL. SubMIC demonstrated an inhibition on biofilm formation against 4 out the 6 strains tested. On mature biofilm, the CZEO-based supraMIC groups had slightly change on biomass, however, the biofilm cell viability decreased the CFU in 3 magnitude orders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It has been proposed that striatonigral GABAergic transmission in the substantia nigra reticulata (SNr) is enhanced during Parkinson''s disease and subsequent l-DOPA treatment. To evaluate this proposal we determined the effects of activating dopamine D1 receptors on depolarization induced [3H]-GABA release and on [3H]-cAMP accumulation in slices of SNr of rats with unilateral 6-OHDA lesions with and without l-DOPA treatment. Denervation increased depolarization induced D1-stimulated [3H]-GABA release, while repeated l-DOPA treatment further enhanced this response. Both also enhanced the effects of forskolin on [3H]-cAMP production and [3H]-GABA release, while neither modified the stimulating effects of 8-Br-cAMP on the release. These results shown that, after 6-OHDA lesions and l-DOPA treatment, cAMP signaling is enhanced. Furthermore, the results suggest that activation of sites in the signaling cascade downstream of cAMP synthesis is not required to increase release. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica is the property of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica is the property of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica is the property of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica is the property of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica is the property of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The effectiveness of dengue control interventions depends on an effective integrated surveillance system that involves analysis of multiple variables associated with the natural history and transmission dynamics of this arbovirus. Entomological indicators associated with other biotic and abiotic parameters can assertively characterize the spatiotemporal trends related to dengue transmission risk. However, the unpredictability of the non-linear nature of the data, as well as the uncertainty and subjectivity inherent in biological data are often neglected in conventional models. Methods: As an alternative for analyzing dengue-related data, we devised a fuzzy-logic approach to test ensembles of these indicators across categories, which align with the concept of degrees of truth to characterize the success of dengue transmission by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in an endemic city in Brazil. We used locally gathered entomological, demographic, environmental and epidemiological data as input sources using freely available data on digital platforms. The outcome variable, risk of transmission, was aggregated into three categories: low, medium, and high. Spatial data was georeferenced and the defuzzified values were interpolated to create a map, translating our findings to local public health managers and decision-makers to direct further vector control interventions. Results: The classification of low, medium, and high transmission risk areas followed a seasonal trend expected for dengue occurrence in the region. The fuzzy approach captured the 2020 outbreak, when only 14.06% of the areas were classified as low risk. The classification of transmission risk based on the fuzzy system revealed effective in predicting an increase in dengue transmission, since more than 75% of high-risk areas had an increase in dengue incidence within the following 15 days. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated the ability of fuzzy logic to characterize the city's spatiotemporal heterogeneity in relation to areas at high risk of dengue transmission, suggesting it can be considered as part of an integrated surveillance system to support timely decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus are common health issues in obese (OB) cats. In humans, obesity leads to alterations in adipokine and proinflammatory cytokine secretion, causing persistent inflammation. The inflammatory impact of obesity in cats remains unproven. This study investigated associations between obesity and inflammatory and metabolic changes in three groups of client-owned Brazilian domestic shorthair cats: naturally lean, overweight (OW), and OB. Materials and Methods: Cats from the Veterinary Hospital of Professor Sylvio Barbosa e Cardoso (FAVET/UECE) were clinically evaluated. Blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical profile measurements, and part of the serum was used for measuring adipokine and inflammatory cytokines using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In both the OW and OB groups, serum cholesterol and insulin concentrations increased, while triglyceride concentrations were notably elevated in the OB group. In the OW and OB groups, serum adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β levels were elevated, and leptin levels were significantly higher in the OB group. Conclusion: This study is the first in Brazil to reveal increased serum levels of inflammatory markers in OW and OB client-owned felines. OW cats exhibited higher proinflammatory marker levels, implying obesity-induced inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes the development of a novel sensor comprising a rectangular microstrip antenna enclosed within a small cubic container made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). A complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) has been incorporated into the antenna, endowing it with two resonance frequencies within the desired range. The sensor is designed to determine the soil water content (SWC) of various soil types. The operational principle relies on the modulation of two resonance frequencies of the antenna due to changes in the relative permittivity of the material under test (MUT). The sensor's sensitivity was thoroughly examined and compared with various sensors documented in the literature. Additionally, an electric field analysis was conducted, revealing that optimizing the dimensions of the CSRR can enhance its sensitivity. Consequently, the proposed sensor exhibited superior sensitivity compared to other sensors reported in the literature. [Display omitted] • Sensitivity analysis of the proposed Compact CSRR-Based sensor. • The optimization of the sensor based in the electromagnetic fields' analysis. • The analysis of dielectric properties of two different types of soil. • Determination of soil water content with the proposed sensor and fitted equations. • Improvement of the sensitivity compared with the other systems presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Arboviruses, such as dengue (DENV), zika (ZIKV), and chikungunya (CHIKV), constitute a growing urban public health threat. Focusing on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, their primary vectors, is crucial for mitigation. While traditional immature‐stage mosquito surveillance has limitations, capturing adult mosquitoes through traps yields more accurate data on disease transmission. However, deploying traps presents logistical and financial challenges, demonstrating effective temporal predictions but lacking spatial accuracy. Our goal is to identify smaller representative areas within cities to enhance the early warning system for DENV outbreaks. Methods: We created Sentinel Geographic Units (SGUs), smaller areas of 1 km2 within each stratum, larger areas, with the aim of aligning the Trap Positivity Index (TPI) and Adult Density Index (ADI) with their respective strata. We conducted a two‐step evaluation of SGUs. First, we examined the equivalence of TPI and ADI between SGUs and strata from January 2017 to July 2022. Second, we assessed the ability of SGU's TPI and ADI to predict DENV outbreaks in comparison to Foz do Iguaçu's Early‐Warning System, which forecasts outbreaks up to 4 weeks ahead. Spatial and temporal analyses were carried out, including data interpolation and model selection based on Akaike information criteria (AIC). Results: Entomological indicators produced in small SGUs can effectively replace larger sentinel areas to access dengue outbreaks. Based on historical data, the best predictive capability is achieved 2 weeks after infestation verification. Implementing the SGU strategy with more frequent sampling can provide more precise space–time estimates and enhance dengue control. Conclusions: The implementation of SGUs offers an efficient way to monitor mosquito populations, reducing the need for extensive resources. This approach has the potential to improve dengue transmission management and enhance the public health response in endemic cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Portuguesa de Ciências do Desporto is the property of Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Desporto and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mixed magnetic composites of manganese ferrite and cristobalite (MnFe 2 O 4 –SiO 2) were produced by the solid-state reaction method, using as starting materials in natura ores found in the state of Rio Grande do Norte – Brazil. Based on the stoichiometric proportions of the precursor ores, various composites in the form of powders and pellets were synthesized at a temperature of 1200 °C/12h under ambient atmosphere. Samples in the form of pellets were made at compression pressures of 370 and 740 MPa to investigate the effect of pressure on the physicochemical, and dielectric properties of the material. Structural, morphological and magnetic analyses were studied for the series of samples. X-ray diffractogram (XRD) results confirmed the formation of the mixed spinel phase MnFe 2 O 4 with cubic symmetry and space group Fd-3m:1, together with peaks corresponding to SiO 2 –cristobalite. The Rietveld refinements identified a predominance of about 90% of the MnFe 2 O 4 phase with crystallite variations of 130–190 nm due to the effect of compaction pressure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) mappings show clusters of triangular crystals in the pellets series. Magnetic hysteresis cycles at room temperature show a fast magnetization saturation (M S) response in a field of ∼4 kOe, with parameters dependent on the size and shape of the crystallites. The magnetically soft ferrites exhibited very low coercive field values. The hysteretic curves measured at 5 K showed a significant gain in the M S of ∼30 emu/g. Analyzes of magnetization as a function of temperature identified a blocked regime with a maximum ∼97 K (powder) and ∼170 K (pellets), and an irreversibility of the ZFC–FC curves up to room temperature. An indication of a spin-glass (SG) like state close to 20 K can also be seen in these results. Dielectric characterization of the pellets was performed from 1.0 to 8.5 GHz, and presented well-defined behavior, where real permittivity can be highly related to Rietveld refinement of XRD, and SEM/EDS results. This research suggests the feasibility of producing manganese ferrite composites directly from minerals, without the use of high-purity chemical reagents, allowing their obtainment on a large scale for commercial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics and socioeconomic factors associated with the incidence of congenital syphilis in the Brazilian Northeast from 2008 to 2018. Method: An ecological study conducted on cases of congenital syphilis in the Northeast and notified in the Information System of Notifiable Diseases. Methods of temporal and spatial analysis were applied to identify trends and clusters of the disease as well as a model of linear regression to point out indicators related to congenital syphilis with a 5% significance level. Results: The incidence of congenital syphilis has significantly increased in all states of the Northeast (p<0.001), with higher indexes and clusters mostly in municipalities of the coast region. The variables associated with the incidence of congenital syphilis in the Northeast were: percentage of alive newborns with low birth weight (p<0.001), Human Development Index (p<0.001), income per capita (p<0.001), percentage of poor people (p<0.001), percentage of people with 18 years or more with complete basic education (p<0.001), and illiteracy rate (p<0.001). Conclusion: it was verified that incidence of congenital syphilis during the period analyzed and high indexes clusters in the coast of the Northeast coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the space-time pattern and the factors associated with suicide mortality among young people in northeastern Brazil. Method: An ecological study that analyzed suicide deaths among young people aged 15 to 24 years in the Northeast region. Joinpoint software was used for temporal analysis and spatial analysis was carried out using local empirical Bayesian methods, Global and Local Moran Index and scanning spatial statistics technique. The multivariate model Ordinary Least Squares Estimation was used to identify the factors associated with mortality. The Scan scanning method identified six statistically significant spatial suicide clusters. Results: Suicide among young people showed significant growth (p<0.001) of 2.8% per year in the Northeast region in the period studied. Moran's scattering analysis identified spatial clusters of deaths in the states of Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba. The indicators: percentage of unemployed from 15 to 24 years (β = -0.05; p=0.02) and percentage of vulnerable to poverty (β =-0.06; p=0.03) had a negative association, while the illiteracy rate from 18 to 24 years (β= 0.15; p=0.01) and the percentage of people aged 18 to 24 years with complete elementary school (β = 0,09; p<0,001) positive association with suicide mortality among young people. Conclusions: There was a significant increase in suicide among young people in the Northeast region. Clusters with the highest suicide rates were located in the state of Piauí. Four socioeconomic indicators were associated with suicide among young people in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the general welfare state of two strains of transgenic goats bred in a region with a hot and humid tropical climate. Nine females were used, being three transgenic for human lysozyme (hLZ group), three transgenic for human glucocerebrosidase (hGCase group), and three non-transgenic (control group). The temperature and humidity index (THI) were recorded during the morning, afternoon, and evening. The physiological parameters measured were respiratory rate, heart rate, and rectal and vaginal temperatures. Venous blood samples were collected using Vacutainer® tubes containing 10% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Also, analysis of erythrogram, leukogram, and some biochemical parameters of serum was performed. It was observed that the afternoon shift presented the largest THI, being potentially more impactful on the physiology of animals. In general, respiratory and heart rates were higher in transgenic animals, especially in the hLZ group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Regarding the hematological parameters, the quantification of red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the hGCase group compared to that in the hLZ and control. The leukocyte count was considerably lower (P < 0.05) in the hLZ group compared to that in the hGCase and control. Correlation analysis showed that the increase in THI was associated with a change in physiological parameters normally used as indicators of thermal stress. Despite the differences found among the experimental groups, all the physiological parameters remained within the normal limits recommended for the goat species. Further studies involving a larger number of animals from different categories should be carried out to elucidate the impacts that transgenesis can have on animal welfare under different THI conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The optimized extraction method provides the extraction of a variety of secondary metabolites from whole flours of brown and yellow flaxseed and black and white sesame seed. • Chlorogenic, vanillic, caffeic and ferulic acids were detected in whole flours of flaxseed and sesame seed, besides other phenolic acids and flavonoids. • Higher antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content was verified for whole flours of black sesame. • With multivariate analysis it was possible to distinguish the flours according to the type of seed and to verify the authenticity of whole flours. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and their derivatives, such as whole flour, are considered as functional food, rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds with potential beneficial health effects. In this work were used chemometric tools for the optimization of the extraction method of bioactive phenolics and for the analysis of the phenolic profile of whole flours of brown and yellow flaxseed and black and white sesame seed. Using qualitative phytochemical analysis, the presence of lignans, tannins and terpenes in the flours analyzed was verified. Higher antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content was verified for whole flours of black sesame. Some phenolic and flavonoid acids were quantified in the analyzed flours by High Performance Liquid Chromatography, and chlorogenic, vanillic, caffeic and ferulic acids were detected in all samples. With multivariate analyses (Artificial Neural Networks, Principal Components Analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis) it was possible to distinguish the flour samples by the type of seed, showing the potential of the chemometry for verification of the authenticity and quality of whole flours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to perform a bibliometric analysis of starch films with nanocellulose, using the Scopus database and VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software. A total of 258 documents were identified between 2019 and 2023, reflecting a growing interest in research, particularly in journals such as the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Polymers, and Carbohydrate Polymers. The most common terms were "starch" (349 occurrences), "cellulose" (207), and "tensile strength" (175). China (58 articles), Brazil (38), and India (33) led scientific production, with authors like Ilyas (13 articles) and Sapuan (10) at the forefront. Approximately 41.7 % of the studies used corn starch. The analysis revealed that 66 % of the studies investigated films with cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), 32 % with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), and 2 % with bacterial nanocellulose (CB). The majority of studies (94.1 %) used the casting method for film production. Additionally, 35.44 % focused on reinforcing films with nanocellulose, while 7 % developed blends with other biopolymers. About 59.44 % examined the performance of starch films for food packaging, 11.25 % explored practical applications in various foods. Furthermore, 7.94 % incorporated active agents to improve antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, 1.30 % investigated active packaging. Moreover, 2.36 % explored the use of films in materials engineering, and 2.36 % explored biomedical potential. Only 0.40 % evaluated the impact of films on wastewater treatment. The analysis highlights the potential of starch films with nanocellulose, demonstrating their diverse applications and the growing interest in the field., 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 © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Assess complications and risks in staged femoral shaft fracture treatment using external fixation and intramedullary nailing (DCO)., Methods: Analysis involved 37 patients with 40 fractures, mostly male (87.5%), average age 32.9 years. Data included ASA score, AO/OTA and Gustilo classifications, Glasgow Coma Score, Injury Severity Score, times to external fixation and conversion, ICU duration, nail type, and reaming status. Complications tracked were mortality, deep infection, and non-union., Results: Predominant fracture type was AO/OTA A (45%), with 40% open (Gustilo A, 93.8%). Average ISS was 21; GCS was 12.7. Median ICU stay was 3 days; average time to conversion was 10.2 days. Retrograde nails were used in 50% of cases, with reaming in 67.5%. Complications included deep infections in 5% and non-union in 2.5%., Conclusion: DCO strategy resulted in low infection and non-union rates, associated with lower GCS and longer ICU stays. Level of Evidence III; Retrospective Cohort Study. , Competing Interests: All authors declare no potential conflict of interest related to this article.

Clinical Data: Female, seven years old, referred to our service complaining about congestive heart failure symptoms due to mitral valve regurgitation and atrial septal defect. Technical description: Echocardiographic findings compatible with Barlow's disease and atrial septal defect, ostium secundum type., Operation: She was submitted to mitral valvuloplasty with chordal shortening and prosthetic posterior ring (Gregori-Braile®) along with patch atrioseptoplasty., Comments: Mitral valve regurgitation is a rare congenital heart disease and Barlow's disease is probably rarer. Mitral valve repair is the treatment of choice.

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among bacterial pathogens necessitates novel treatment strategies, particularly in veterinary medicine where otitis in dogs is very common in small animals' clinical routines. Considering this challenge, this study explores the efficacy of aromatic plant compounds (APC), including eugenol (EUG), trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC), and geraniol (GER), and their synergistic potential when combined with the antiseptic agent chlorhexidine (CLX), offering insight into alternative therapeutic approaches. The disk diffusion assay revealed differential sensitivity of Staphylococcus spp. strains to the tested compounds, with EUG and GER showing moderate inhibition zones and TC displaying considerably larger inhibition zones. Further analysis through MIC and MBC determinations suggested that EUG required the highest concentrations to inhibit and kill the bacteria, whereas TC and GER were effective at lower concentrations. Combined with CLX, all three plant-derived compounds demonstrated a significant enhancement of antibacterial activity, indicated by reduced MIC values and a predominantly synergistic interaction across the strains tested. GER was the most potent in combination with CLX, presenting the lowest mean FICi values and the highest fold reductions in MIC. This study emphasizes the APC's potential as an adjunct to conventional antimicrobial agents like CLX. The marked synergy observed, especially with GER, suggests that such combinations could be promising alternatives in managing bacterial otitis in dogs, potentially mitigating the impact of antibiotic resistance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No potential conflict of interest was reported., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Clinical Data: Infant, 11-month-old, male, diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot with retrotracheoesophageal course of the brachiocephalic vein. Usual findings of Tetralogy of Fallot on physical examination. Technical description: Chest radiography showed slightly reduced pulmonary vascular markings and no cardiomegaly. Normal preoperative electrocardiogram with postoperative right bundle branch block. Usual findings of Tetralogy of Fallot on echocardiogram. Postoperative computed tomography angiography confirmed left brachiocephalic vein with anomalous retrotracheoesophageal course, configuring a U-shaped garland vein, in addition to postoperative findings of total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot., Operation: Complete surgical repair was performed with pulmonary valve commissurotomy and placement of bovine pericardial patch to solve right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, pulmonary trunk enlargement, and ventricular septal defect closure., Comments: Systemic venous drainage may show variations in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot. These abnormalities are usually of little clinical relevance, as they are asymptomatic. We presented a rare case of retrotracheoesophageal course of an anomalous left brachiocephalic vein with intraoperative diagnosis, confirmed by imaging during postoperative follow-up, without compromising clinical management or surgical approach.

The identification of putative prognostic factors in canine mammary neoplasms (CMNs) has been focused on tissue-specific biomarkers, but the serum biomarkers, including cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), c-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) have been demonstrated to display clinical application in cases of CMNs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the levels of these serum biomarkers and their association with well-established prognostic factors in CMNs. Samples from 15 female canines with CMNs and 15 clinically healthy ones were collected. The results were evaluated using the Tukey's, Pearson, or Spearman tests. The cut-off point, sensitivity, specificity, and area under curve (AUC) were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis in a logistic regression model (P<0.05). The levels of CA 15-3, CRP and LDH were significantly higher in the serum of female dogs with CMNs compared to the healthy ones. Moreover, these factors were positively correlated with ulceration, tumor size, histopathological grade, metastatic lymph node, and clinical staging. Female dogs with CMNs were found to exhibit highest serum levels of CA 15-3, CRP, and LDH. Therefore, they can be applied to improve the efficacy of the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation in casas of CMNs., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

The environmental and health risks associated with the application of synthetic chemical inputs in agriculture increased the demand for technologies that allow higher performance and quality of vegetable crops by implementing synergistic materials with the principles of sustainability. In this work, the seed coating with the biomass of Dunaliella salina incorporated in a bioplastic film of Manihot esculenta (cassava) was evaluated as an initial growth and secondary compounds stimulator of Coriandrum sativum (coriander) plants. The obtained results demonstrated that the coating stimulated an increase in the germination percentage (28.75%) and also in concentration of bioactive compounds, such as the six-fold increment of caffeic acid (13.33 mg 100 g-1). The carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins present in the microalgae biomass seem to be responsible for these increments once they are known for providing energy to the seedling development and coordinating the secondary metabolites synthesis. As conclusion, we consider the coating with biomass of D. salina an alternative for crop improvement that contributes to the development of sustainable agricultural practices.

Although technically simple, surgical correction of patent ductus arteriosus can have serious complications. In this context, acute ventricular failure must be remembered, as its prompt diagnosis and proper management can change clinical outcomes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical profile of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil (CZEO) and their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus strains isolated from canine otitis. First, the CZEO chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (CG-MS). External otitis samples collected from dogs were submitted to staphylococcal isolation, followed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry identification. The antimicrobial action was tested against the isolates using the disk-diffusion and microdilution methods. The antibiofilm activity was evaluated by CZEO-based concentrations, subMIC for biofilm formation and supraMIC against preformed biofilm, quantified by crystal violet (CV) staining and CFU counting. The chemical analysis revealed that (E)-cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and (E)-cinnamyl acetate were the main compounds in the CZEO, representing 77.42, 8.17 and 4.50%, respectively. Two strains of three different species, S. saprophyticus , S. schleiferi and S. pseudintermedius , were identified. The disk-diffusion test showed an inhibitory zone diameter, ranging from 34.0 to 49.5 mm, while the MIC and MBC values were around 500 and 1000 µg/mL. SubMIC demonstrated an inhibition on biofilm formation against 4 out the 6 strains tested. On mature biofilm, the CZEO-based supraMIC groups had slightly change on biomass, however, the biofilm cell viability decreased the CFU in 3 magnitude orders.

(1) The aim of the present study was to describe the endoscopic and histopathological findings in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum in patients with Crohn's disease. (2) Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included patients receiving treatment from the inflammatory bowel disease outpatient clinic. Esophagogastroduodenoscopies with biopsies of the stomach and proximal duodenum were performed. Presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria was assessed by Giemsa staining. (3) Results: We included 58 patients. Erosive esophagitis was identified in 25 patients (43.1%), gastritis was diagnosed in 32 patients (55.2%) and erosive duodenitis was found in eight (13.8%). The most frequent histopathological finding in the H. pylori -positive group was increased inflammatory activity in the gastric body and antrum, with a predominance of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells. In turn, the most frequent finding in the H. pylori -negative group was chronic inflammation with predominance of mononuclear cells. Focally enhanced gastritis was identified in four patients (6.9%), all of whom were negative for H. pylori . Granulomas were not observed. H. pylori infection was present in 19 patients (32.8%). (4) Conclusions: Nonspecific endoscopic and histological findings were frequent in patients with Crohn's disease. Focally enhanced gastritis was uncommon and observed only in H. pylori- negative patients. The time from the diagnosis, patient age, and therapy in use may have influenced the nondetection of epithelioid granuloma.

Scimitar syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by partial or complete anomalous pulmonary venous drainage of the right (rarely left) lung into the inferior vena cava. This anomalous vein resembles the curved Turkish sword "scimitar"[]. Only few cases were reported with two scimitar veins[]. "Myocardial bridge" constitutes a portion of the myocardial tissue that bridges a segment of the coronary artery, mostly the left anterior descending coronary artery. For the first time, a combination of double scimitar vein and a myocardial bridge was described in this study.

In this paper, a semi-automatic multi-object tracking method to track a group of unmarked zebrafish is proposed. This method can handle partial occlusion cases, maintaining the correct identity of each individual. For every object, we extracted a set of geometric features to be used in the two main stages of the algorithm. The first stage selected the best candidate, based both on the blobs identified in the image and the estimate generated by a Kalman Filter instance. In the second stage, if the same candidate-blob is selected by two or more instances, a blob-partitioning algorithm takes place in order to split this blob and reestablish the instances' identities. If the algorithm cannot determine the identity of a blob, a manual intervention is required. This procedure was compared against a manual labeled ground truth on four video sequences with different numbers of fish and spatial resolution. The performance of the proposed method is then compared against two well-known zebrafish tracking methods found in the literature: one that treats occlusion scenarios and one that only track fish that are not in occlusion. Based on the data set used, the proposed method outperforms the first method in correctly separating fish in occlusion, increasing its efficiency by at least 8.15% of the cases. As for the second, the proposed method's overall performance outperformed the second in some of the tested videos, especially those with lower image quality, because the second method requires high-spatial resolution images, which is not a requirement for the proposed method. Yet, the proposed method was able to separate fish involved in occlusion and correctly assign its identity in up to 87.85% of the cases, without accounting for user intervention., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study evaluated the stress distribution by loads, under a internal connection implant system with two sort of abutment screws and prosthetic crown models at ten observation points., Materials and Method: The analysis were made in two models with internal butt joint, and with gold and titanium screw, respectively. The load was 382N with 90 masculine to the occlusal surface and 15 masculine to the implant axis at 4 and 6 mm from the implant center., Results: In both models, a large amount of stress was located around the implant neck and little stress was concentrated along the abutment screw., Conclusion: The simulations made suggest that the internal connection protects the abutment screw from the accumulated stresses; however, it exposes the implant walls to these stresses.