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It is crucial to investigate the effects of mixtures of contaminants on aquatic organisms, because they reflect what occurs in the environment. Cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) are metals that co-occur in aquatic ecosystems, and information is scarce on their joint toxicity to Chlorophyceae using multiple endpoints. We evaluated the effects of isolated and combined Cd and Ni metals on multiple endpoints of the chlorophycean Raphidocelis subcapitata. The results showed that Cd inhibited cell density, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (up to 308% at 0.075 mg L -1 of Cd), chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence (0.050-0.100 mg L -1 of Cd), cell size (0.025-0.100 mg L -1 of Cd), and cell complexity in all concentrations evaluated. Nickel exposure decreased ROS production by up to 25% at 0.25 mg L -1 of Ni and Chl a fluorescence in all concentrations assessed. Cell density and oxygen-evolving complex (initial fluorescence/variable fluorescence [F 0 /F v ]) were only affected at 0.5 mg L -1 of Ni. In terms of algal growth, mixture toxicity showed antagonism at low doses and synergism at high doses, with a dose level change greater than the median inhibitory concentration. The independent action model and dose-level-dependent deviation best fit our data. Cadmium and Ni mixtures resulted in a significant increase in cell size and cell complexity, as well as changes in ROS production and Chl a fluorescence, and they did not affect the photosynthetic parameters. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1855-1869. © 2024 SETAC., (© 2024 SETAC.)

Introduction: Genetic mutations or inflammatory, degenerative, or neoplastic conditions can trigger amyloidosis. Hereditary gelsolin amyloidosis is a genetic disorder primarily marked by amyloid fibrils composed of misfolded gelsolin fragments., Case Report: We present three sisters with AGel amyloidosis, illustrating its clinical diversity. Patient 1, a 51-year-old, had bilateral ptosis, ocular discomfort, and dry eye syndrome due to cranial nerve involvement. Patient 2, a 53-year-old, experienced progressive bilateral visual impairment. Patient 3, a 50-year-old, exhibited right eye ectropion. Genetic analysis, with the identical mutation, heterozygous c.640G > A (p.Asp214Asn) mutation, confirmed AGel amyloidosis diagnoses, with common findings including lattice corneal amyloidosis, reduced corneal sensitivity, and recurrent corneal erosions. Neurological manifestations included ataxia and peripheral neuropathy, with skin abnormalities observed in patient 1. Ocular involvement severity and distribution varied among patients., Discussion: Common ocular and neurological manifestations validated AGel amyloidosis diagnoses, reinforcing its hereditary basis. Neurological symptoms highlighted the disorder's impact on various organ systems, while skin abnormalities contributed to ocular discomfort. Variable ocular involvement emphasized the disorder's heterogeneity. These patients emphasize hereditary gelsolin amyloidosis's clinical diversity and suggest potential environmental influences on disease expression. Genetic confirmation and confocal microscopy findings reaffirm the genetic basis while raising questions about assessing systemic disease severity, necessitating further investigation in larger cohorts. Ophthalmologists' specialized care is crucial for managing ocular symptoms, given the absence of a universal cure., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Persistent molecules, such as pesticides, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals, pose significant threats to both the environment and human health. Advancements in developing efficient photocatalysts for degrading these substances can play a fundamental role in remediating contaminated environments, thereby enhancing safety for all forms of life. This study investigates the enhancement of photocatalytic efficiency achieved by incorporating La 3+ into Ag 3 PO 4 , using the co-precipitation method in an aqueous medium. These materials were utilized in the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Ciprofloxacin (CIP) under visible light irradiation, with monitoring conducted through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The synthesized materials exhibited improved stability and photodegradation levels for RhB. Particularly noteworthy was the 2% La 3+ -incorporated sample (APL2), which achieved a 32.6% mineralization of CIP, nearly three times higher than pure Ag 3 PO 4 . Toxicological analysis of the residue from CIP photodegradation using the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata revealed high toxicity due to the leaching of Ag  +  ions from the catalyst. This underscores the necessity for cautious wastewater disposal after using the photocatalyst. The toxicity of the APL2 photocatalysts was thoroughly assessed through comprehensive toxicological tests involving embryo development in Danio rerio, revealing its potential to induce death and malformations in zebrafish embryos, even at low concentrations. This emphasizes the importance of meticulous management. Essentially, this study adeptly delineated a thorough toxicological profile intricately intertwined with the photocatalytic efficacy of newly developed catalysts and the resultant waste produced, prompting deliberations on the disposal of degraded materials post-exposure to photocatalysts., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nanoparticles have applications in many sectors in the society. ZnWO 4 nanoparticles (ZnWO 4 -NPs) have potential in the fabrication of sensors, lasers, and batteries, and in environmental remediation. Thus, these NPs may reach aquatic ecosystems. However, we still do not know their effects on aquatic biota and, to our knowledge, this is the first study that evaluates the toxicity of ZnWO 4 -NPs in a eukaryotic organism. We evaluated the toxicity of ZnWO 4 -NPs on the green microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata for 96 h, in terms of growth, cell parameters, photosynthesis, and biochemical analysis. Results show that most of Zn was presented in its particulate form, with low amounts of Zn 2+ , resulting in toxicity at higher levels. The growth was affected from 8.4 mg L -1 , with 96h-IC50 of 23.34 mg L -1 . The chlorophyll a (Chl a) content increased at 30.2 mg L -1 , while the fluorescence of Chl a (FL3-H) decreased at 15.2 mg L -1 . We observed increased ROS levels at 44.4 mg L -1 . Regarding photosynthesis, the NPs affected the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) and the efficiency of the photosystem II at 22.9 mg L -1 . At 44.4 mg L -1 the qP decreased, indicating closure of reaction centers, probably affecting carbon assimilation, which explains the decay of carbohydrates. There was a decrease of qN (non-regulated energy dissipation, not used in photosynthesis), NPQ (regulated energy dissipation) and Y(NPQ) (regulated energy dissipation via heat), indicating damage to the photoprotection system; and an increase in Y(NO), which is the non-regulated energy dissipation via heat and fluorescence. The results showed that ZnWO 4 -NPs can affect the growth and physiological and biochemical parameters of the chlorophycean R. subcapitata. Microalgae are the base of aquatic food chains, the toxicity of emerging contaminants on microalgae can affect entire ecosystems. Therefore, our study can provide some help for better protection of aquatic ecosystems., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of cases with olfactory loss, other respiratory viruses can also cause this condition. We aimed to compare the prevalence of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and other respiratory viruses in patients with sudden smell loss, and to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 viral load and co-infection on olfactory symptoms., Methods: Patients with sudden smell loss were recruited in a multicenter prospective cohort study in 15 hospitals in Brazil. Clinical questionnaire, Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) olfactory test and nasopharyngeal swab to perform a PCR-based respiratory viral panel were collected at first visit (day 0) and 30 and 60 days after recruitment., Results: 188 of 213 patients presented positive test result for SARS-CoV-2, among which 65 were co-infected with other respiratory viruses (e.g., rhinovirus, enterovirus, and parainfluenza). 25 had negative test results for SARS-CoV-2. Patients in both SARSCoV-2 and non-SARS-CoV-2 groups had objective anosmia (less than 2 points according to the psychophysical olfactory CCCRC) at day 0, with no significant difference between them. Both groups had significant smell scores improvement after 30 and 60 days, with no difference between them. Co-infection with other respiratory viruses, and SARS-CoV-2 viral load did not impact olfactory scores., Conclusion: Patients with sudden smell loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses had similar presentation, with most participants initiating with anosmia, and total or near total recovery after 60 days. SARS-CoV-2 viral load and co-infections with other respiratory viruses were not associated with poorer olfactory outcomes.

Aquatic organisms are exposed to several compounds that occur in mixtures in the environment. Thus, it is important to investigate their impacts on organisms because these combined effects can be potentiated. Cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) are metals that occur in the environment and are used in human activities. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies that investigated the combined effects of these metals on a freshwater Chlorophyceae. Therefore, this study analyzed the isolated and combined effects of Co and Ni in cell density, physiological and morphological parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS), carbohydrates and photosynthetic parameters of the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata. Data showed that Co affected the cell density from 0.25 mg Co L -1 ; the fluorescence of chlorophyll a (Chl a) (0.10 mg Co L -1 ); ROS production (0.50 mg Co L -1 ), total carbohydrates and efficiency of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) at all tested concentrations; and the maximum quantum yield (Φ M ) from 0.50 mg Co L -1 . Ni exposure decreased ROS and cell density (0.35 mg Ni L -1 ); altered Chl a fluorescence and carbohydrates at all tested concentrations; and did not alter photosynthetic parameters. Regarding the Co-Ni mixtures, our data best fitted the concentration addition (CA) model and dose-ratio dependent (DR) deviation in which synergism was observed at low doses of Co and high doses of Ni and antagonism occurred at high doses of Co and low doses of Ni. The combined metals affected ROS production, carbohydrates, Φ M , OEC and morphological and physiological parameters., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The objective of this work was to evaluate elemental changes in pepper exposed to Cd stress through different chemometric tools. For this purpose, pepper plants were grown under five different treatments with different Cd concentrations in the nutrient solution. Considering the hypothesis that pepper plants exposed to Cd stress during growth undergo changes in the macro- and microelemental distribution in leaves, stems, and roots, principal component analysis (PCA) and parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis were applied to compare bidirectional and multivariate chemometric strategies to assess elemental changes in pepper plants. Since the number of variables and the data generated were large and complex, the application of chemometric tools was justified to facilitate the visualization and interpretation of results. The mineral composition, namely the Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, and P contents, was assessed in 180 samples of leaves, stems, and roots of the cultivated peppers. Then, PCA and PARAFAC analysis were applied to compare bidirectional and multivariate chemometric strategies to assess elemental changes throughout pepper plants. The visualization of the trend on each sample and their intrinsic relationship with the variables were possible with the application of PCA. The use of PARAFAC analysis permitted the simultaneous study of all samples in a straightforward representation of the information that facilitated a quick and comprehensive understanding of the spatial distribution of elements in plants. Thus, macroelements (Ca, K, Mg, N, and P) that were found in higher concentrations in leaves did not present significant differences in the distribution along the plants under different treatment conditions. In contrast, a significant impact on the microelement (Cu, Fe, and Mn) distribution was produced between uncontaminated and contaminated samples. This analysis revealed a significant accumulation of Cd in roots and adverse effects on normal plant growth, demonstrating their level of phytotoxicity to pepper., 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 © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Metals occur simultaneously in the environment, and therefore it is important to know their toxicity and mechanism of action when associated with another metal. Furthermore, anthropogenic actions increase their concentrations in the environment where they can interact and undergo transformations that can even increase their toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cadmium (Cd) and cobalt (Co), isolated and combined, on the microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata. Regarding the toxicity of isolated metals, the IC 50 96 h was 0.08 mg L -1 of Cd and 0.16 mg L -1 of Co. Cell density decreased at all concentrations of the Cd tested. The parameters related to cell size, cell complexity and mean cell chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence were significantly affected by both metals. According to species sensitivity curves (SSD), the microalgae R. subcapitata was the second most sensitive organism to Co exposure and the tenth concerning Cd. Metal mixture data were best fitted to the concentration addition (CA) model and dose-ratio dependence (DR) deviation, showing synergism at high concentrations of Co and low concentrations of Cd. Besides that, antagonism was observed at low concentrations of Co and high concentrations of Cd. Photosynthetic performance, assessed by maximum quantum yield (Φ M ) and oxygen evolving complex (OEC), presented antagonism effects for both analyzed parameters. Thus, the mixture of Cd and Co showed synergistic and antagonistic interactions for the parameters analyzed in R. Subcapitata, indicating the importance of understanding the mechanisms of toxicity of metal mixtures in phytoplankton., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Silver-based materials have microbicidal action, photocatalytic activity and electronic properties. The increase in manufacturing and consumption of these compounds, given their wide functionality and application, is a source of contamination to freshwater ecosystems and causes toxicity to aquatic biota. Therefore, for the first time, we evaluated the toxicity of the silver tungstate (α-Ag 2 WO 4 ), in different morphologies (cube and rod), for the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata. To investigate the toxicity, we evaluated the growth rate, cell complexity and size, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence. The α-Ag 2 WO 4 - R (rod) was 1.7 times more toxic than α-Ag 2 WO 4 -C (cube), with IC 10 and IC 50 values of, respectively, 8.68 ± 0.91 μg L -1 and 13.72 ± 1.48 μg L -1 for α-Ag 2 WO 4 - R and 18.60 ± 1.61 μg L -1 and 23.47 ± 1.16 μg L -1 for α-Ag 2 WO 4 -C. The release of silver ions was quantified and indicated that the silver ions dissolution from the α-Ag 2 WO 4 - R ranged from 34 to 71%, while the Ag ions from the α-Ag 2 WO 4 -C varied from 35 to 97%. The α-Ag 2 WO 4 -C induced, after 24 h exposure, the increase of ROS at the lowest concentrations (8.81 and 19.32 μg L -1 ), whereas the α-Ag 2 WO 4 - R significantly induced ROS production at 96 h at the highest concentration (31.76 μg L -1 ). Both microcrystal shapes significantly altered the cellular complexity and decreased the Chl a fluorescence at all tested concentrations. We conclude that the different morphologies of α-Ag 2 WO 4 negatively affect the microalga and are important sources of silver ions leading to harmful consequences to the aquatic ecosystem., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Basil is an edible, aromatic plant, which makes the study of the ecotoxicity of metals in plant metabolism relevant. Given the above, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of metals, aluminum, lead, and cadmium, in the synthesis of phenolic compounds and in the dry mass of basil plants (O. basilicum L.) grown in a hydroponic system. The plants were subjected to four different concentrations of cadmium (0.2, 0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 mmol L -1 ), lead and aluminum (0.04, 0.08, 0.12, and 0.16 mmol L -1 ), and compared with the control. After desiccation of the plant material, the total dry mass was obtained and then, hydroethanolic extracts (43% distilled water and 57% ethanol) were made for biochemical analyzes, which consisted of the determination of caffeic acid (CA) and rosmarinic acid (RA) by high performance liquid chromatography analysis with a diode detector (HPLC-DAD); total phenolics (TP) and total flavonoids (TF) by spectrophotometry. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and multivariate analysis (principal component analysis-PCA and hierarchical cluster analysis-HCA) was applied for data association. The phenolic compounds showed a high positive correlation with each other, and the total dry mass showed low and negative correlations with the analyzed variables. The results showed that the metals aluminum, lead, and cadmium promoted a stress condition in basil plants, which resulted in the reduction of the dry matter mass and an increase in the synthesis of phenolic compounds, according to the type and concentration of the metal., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction/objectives: Parvoviral enteritis (PVE) can cause either primary or secondary myocardial injury; the latter is associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis. Strain (St) and strain rate (SR) are relatively new speckle tracking echocardiographic (STE) variables used to assess myocardial function and are less influenced by preload and volume status than are conventional variables. The aim of this study was to evaluate systolic function in dogs with PVE using two-dimensional STE., Animals: Forty-five client-owned dogs were included., Materials and Methods: Dogs were classified into four groups: healthy (n = 9), PVE-mild (n = 15), PVE-severe (n = 13) and PVE-died (n = 8). Left ventricular global and segmental myocardial St and SR were assessed in radial, circumferential and longitudinal axes in the right parasternal transverse and apical 4-chamber views. In the circumferential and longitudinal axes, the value of each segment was determined separately at the endocardial and epicardial levels., Results: Compared to healthy animals, all dogs with PVE showed significantly impaired St and SR values, mainly for PVE-severe and PVE-died groups. Moreover, the lowest SR value was observed in the circumferential axis at the mid-septal epicardial segment in the PVE-died group. For this variable, a cut-off value of 0.95 s -1 demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing between PVE-severe and PVE-died groups., Conclusions: In the present study, all dogs with PVE developed systolic dysfunction, which was more severe in non-survivors. Assessment of St and SR in dogs with PVE might be clinically useful for evaluating haemodynamic status and developing suitable therapeutic strategies to improve prognosis., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present work aimed to analyze the mineral nutrition of Physalis angulata L. under stress by aluminum in the nutrient solution. The treatments consisted of five different concentrations of aluminum in the nutrient solution (0, 0.04, 0.08, 0.12, and 0.16 mmol L -1 ) in the AlCl 3 form. The plants were exposed to Al for 30 days. Subsequently, nutritional and aluminum analyses were performed on plant tissue. The data were submitted to analysis of variance (p < 0.05), and, in case of significance, the regression study was performed as well as hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used. The formation of four groups occurred, where we can observe the similarity and differences in the treatments between them. The separation of the treatments into groups reflected the heterogeneity of the treatments about the aluminum levels in the nutrient solution, evidencing its phytotoxicity level in Physalis angulata plants. Among the analyzed variables, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mo, and Zn were the most influential ones demonstrated by principal component analysis (PCA). The stress of 0.16 mmol L -1 of Al increased the phosphorus contents in the stems and roots and the potassium, copper, and molybdenum contents in all parts of the plants. In contrast, Al reduced the levels of calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc in P. angulata plants. Iron being the micronutrient that showed the largest reduction, followed by zinc in the leaves. The highest levels of aluminum were found in the roots.

Metals may cause damage to the biota of contaminated environments. Moreover, using multiple endpoints in ecotoxicological studies is useful to better elucidate the mechanisms of toxicity of these compounds. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of cadmium (Cd) and cobalt (Co) on growth, biochemical and photosynthetic parameters of the microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata, through quantification of lipid classes composition, chlorophyll a (Chl a) content, maximum (Φ M ) and effective (Φ' M ) quantum yields and efficiency of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). Both metals affected the algal population growth, with an IC 50-96h of 0.67 and 1.53 μM of Cd and Co, respectively. Moreover, the metals led to an increase in the total lipid content and reduced efficiency of OEC and Φ M . Cell density was the most sensitive endpoint to detect Cd toxicity after 96 h of treatment. Regarding Co, the photosynthetic parameters were the most affected and the total lipid content was the most sensitive endpoint as it was altered by the exposure to this metal in all concentrations. Cd led to increased contents of the lipid class wax esters (0.89 μM) and phospholipids (PL - at 0.89 and 1.11 μM) and decreased values of triglycerides (at 0.22 μM) and acetone-mobile polar lipids (AMPL - at 0.44 and 1.11 μM). The percentage of free fatty acids (FFA) and PL of microalgae exposed to Co increased, whereas AMPL decreased in all concentrations tested. We were able to detect differences between the toxicity mechanisms of each metal, especially how Co interferes in the microalgae at a biochemical level. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting Co effects in lipid classes of a freshwater Chlorophyceae. The damage caused by Cd and Co may reach higher trophic levels, causing potential damage to the aquatic communities as microalgae are primary producers and the base of the food chain., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Scorpionism is responsible for most accidents involving venomous animals in Brazil, which leads to severe symptoms that can evolve to death. Scorpion venoms consist of complexes cocktails, including peptides, proteins, and non-protein compounds, making separation and purification procedures extremely difficult and time-consuming. Scorpion toxins target different biological systems and can be used in basic science, for clinical, and biotechnological applications. This study is the first to explore the venom content of the unexplored scorpion species Rhopalurus crassicauda , which inhabits exclusively the northernmost state of Brazil, named Roraima, and southern region of Guyana. Here, we pioneer the fractionation of the R. crassicauda venom and isolated and characterized a novel scorpion beta-neurotoxin, designated Rc1, and a monomeric hyaluronidase. R. crassicauda venom and Rc1 (6,882 Da) demonstrated pro-inflammatory activities in vitro and a nociceptive response in vivo . Moreover, Rc1 toxin showed specificity for activating Na v 1.4, Na v 1.6, and BgNa v 1 voltage-gated ion channels. This study also represents a new perspective for the treatment of envenomings in Roraima, since the Brazilian scorpion and arachnid antivenoms were not able to recognize R. crassicauda venom and its fractions (with exception of hyaluronidase). Our work provides useful insights for the first understanding of the painful sting and pro-inflammatory effects associated with R. crassicauda envenomings., (Copyright © 2020 Abreu, Bordon, Cerni, Oliveira, Balenzuela, Alexandre-Silva, Zoccal, Reis, Wiezel, Peigneur, Pinheiro-Júnior, Tytgat, Cunha, Quinton, Faccioli, Arantes, Zottich and Pucca.)

Objective: We evaluated the impact of subclinical enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) infection alone and in combination with other pathogens in the first 6 months of life on child growth., Methods: Nondiarrheal samples from 1684 children across 8 Multisite Birth Cohort Study, Malnutrition and Enteric Diseases (MAL-ED) sites in Asia, Africa, and Latin America were tested monthly; more than 90% of children were followed-up twice weekly for the first 6 months of life., Results: Children with subclinical EAEC infection did not show altered growth between enrollment and 6 months. Conversely, EAEC coinfection with any other pathogen was negatively associated with delta weight-for-length (P < 0.05) and weight-for-age (P > 0.05) z scores between 0 and 6 months. The presence of 2 or more pathogens without EAEC was not significantly associated with delta weight-for-length and weight-for-age. The most frequent EAEC coinfections included Campylobacter spp, heat-labile toxin-producing enterotoxigenic E coli, Cryptosporidium spp, and atypical enteropathogenic E coli. Myeloperoxidase levels were increased with EAEC coinfection (P < 0.05). EAEC pathogen codetection was associated with lower neopterin levels compared to those of no-pathogen control children (P < 0.05). Mothers of children with EAEC coinfections had lower levels of education, poorer hygiene and sanitation, lower socioeconomic status, and lower breast-feeding rates compared to mothers of children in whom no pathogen was detected (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: These data emphasize the public health importance of subclinical EAEC infection in early infancy in association with other pathogens and the need for improved maternal and child care, hygiene, sanitation, and socioeconomic factors.

Malnutrition results in serious consequences for growth and cognitive development in children. We studied select child and maternal biologic factors, socioeconomic factors, enteric pathogenic burden and gut function biomarkers in 402 children 6-24 months of age in Northeastern Brazil. In this prospective case-control study, not being fed colostrum [odds ratio (OR): 3.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.73-6.26], maternal age ≥18 years (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.10-3.22) and no electric fan (OR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.22-4.96) or bicycle (OR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.10-2.95) in the household were positively associated, and higher birth weight (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.19-0.38), larger head circumference (OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.66-0.82) and shortness of breath in the last 2 weeks (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.27-0.90) were negatively associated with malnutrition. Subclinical enteric pathogen infections were common, and enteroaggregative Escherichia coli infections were more prevalent in malnourished children (P = 0.045). Biomarkers such as the lactulose-mannitol test, myeloperoxidase, neopterin and calprotectin were highly elevated in both malnourished and nourished children. Nourished children had a better systemic immune response than the malnourished children, as detected by elevated serum amyloid A-1 and soluble cluster of differentiation protein 14 biomarkers (P < 0.001). Serum amyloid A-1 and soluble cluster of differentiation protein 14 were also associated with better nutritional Z scores. Neonatal, maternal and socioeconomic factors were associated with malnutrition in children. There was a substantial subclinical enteric pathogen burden, particularly with enteroaggregative E. coli, in malnourished children.

Background: Cladocera is an important group of freshwater zooplankton, and the species plays an important role in energy transfer and in aquatic food webs. Oxyurella longicaudis is a Chydoridae species that has been recorded in North and South America. The aim of this study is to investigate the life cycle aspects of parthenogenetic females of O. longicaudis cultured in laboratory under controlled conditions: temperature (23°C ± 05°C), photoperiod (12 h light/12 h dark), food supply, and reconstituted water., Results: Embryonic development duration (2.3 ± 0.5 days), post-embryonic development (5.2 ± 0.69 days), mean fecundity (two eggs female -1 brood -1 ), total egg production (22.55 ± 3.98 eggs), average longevity (58 days), and body growth of the species were recorded. We also report the first DNA barcode for O. longicaudis isolated in Brazil, which will allow for easy identification in future zooplankton community studies. The analysis shows a genetic divergence of around 7% between our Brazilian isolate and O. longicaudis isolates from Mexico., Conclusions: The time of embryonic and post-embryonic development of O. longicaudis was higher than that of the other species of the same family, which contributed to lower total egg production throughout its life cycle. The genetic divergence appears to be sufficient to classify the two isolates as different species.

The Etiology, Risk Factors and Interactions of Enteric Infections and Malnutrition and the Consequences for Child Health and Development (MAL-ED) cohort in the study's Fortaleza, Brazil, catchment area has a population of approximately 82 300 inhabitants. Most of the households (87%) have access to clean water, 98% have electricity, and 69% have access to improved toilet/sanitation. Most childbirths occur at the hospital, and the under-5 mortality rate is 20 per 1000 live births. The MAL-ED case-control study population, identified through the Institute for the Promotion of Nutrition and Human Development (IPREDE), serves 600 000 inhabitants from areas totaling about 42% of the city of Fortaleza. IPREDE receives referrals from throughout the state of Ceará for infant nutrition, and provides services including teaching activities and the training of graduate students and health professionals, while supporting research projects on child nutrition and health. In this article, we describe the geographic, demographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric, and environmental status of the MAL-ED cohort and case-control study populations in Fortaleza, Brazil., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure, developed with the aim of restoring patency of the paranasal sinuses ostia with minimal damage to the mucosa., Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of balloon sinuplasty in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis., Methods: This was a prospective cohort study comprising 18 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without polyposis who underwent balloon sinuplasty. Patients were evaluated for clinical criteria, quality of life (Sino-Nasal Outcome Questionnaire Test-20 [SNOT-20]), and computed tomography of the sinuses (Lund-Mackay staging) preoperatively and three to six months after the procedure., Results: Out of 18 patients assessed, 13 were included, with a mean age of 39.9±15.6 years. Ostia sinuplasty was performed in 24 ostia (four sphenoid, ten frontal, and ten maxillary sinus). At the follow-up, 22 (92%) ostia were patent and there was no major complication. There was symptomatic improvement (SNOT-20), with Cronbach coefficients for consistency of the questionnaire items of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.73-0.94) preoperatively and of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.77-0.95) postoperatively, the difference being statistically significant (p<0.001). In addition, there was marked reduction of the computed tomography signs, an average of 4.2 point score (p<0.001)., Conclusion: Sinuplasty is effective in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life as a treatment option for chronic rhinosinusitis in selected patients., (Copyright © 2014 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been identified as the main cause for outflow of acid water and radioactive/non-radioactive contaminants. AMD encompasses pyrites oxidation when water and oxygen are available. AMD was identified in uranium waste rock piles (WRPs) of Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil-Caldas facility (Brazilian uranium mine), resulting in high costs for water treatment. AMD reduction is the main challenge, and scientific investigation has been conducted to understand oxygen and water transportation within WRPs, where 222Rn is used as natural tracer for oxygen transportation. The study consists of soil radon gas mapping in the top layer of WRP4 using active soil gas pumping, radon adsorption in active charcoal and 222Rn determination using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. A sampling network of 71 points was built where samples were collected at a depth of 40 cm. Soil radon gas concentration ranged from 33.7 to 1484.2 kBq m(-3) with mean concentration of 320.7±263.3 kBq m(-3)., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Knowledge of reproductive rates and life cycle of the Cladocera species is essential for population dynamic studies, secondary production and food webs, as well as the management and preservation of aquatic ecosystems. The present study aimed to understand the life cycle and growth of Alona iheringula Kotov & Sinev, 2004 (Crustacea, Anomopoda, Chydoridae), a Neotropical species, as well as its DNA barcoding, providing new information on the Aloninae taxonomy. The specimens were collected in the dammed portion of the Cabo Verde River (21°26'05″ S and 46°10'57″ W), in the Furnas Reservoir, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Forty neonates were observed individually two or three times a day under controlled temperature (25±1°C), photoperiod (12 h light/12 h dark) and feeding (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata at a concentration of 105 cells.mL-1 and a mixed suspension of yeast and fish feed in equal proportion). Individual body growth was measured daily under optical microscope using a micrometric grid and 40× magnification. The species had a mean size of 413(±29) µm, a maximum size of 510 µm and reached maturity at 3.24(±0.69) days of age. Mean fecundity was 2 eggs per female per brood and the mean number of eggs produced per female during the entire life cycle was 47.6(±6.3) eggs per female. The embryonic development time was 1.79(±0.23) days and the maximum longevity was 54 days. The species had eight instars throughout its life cycle and four instars between neonate and primipara stage. The present study using molecular data (a 461 bp smaller COI fragment) demonstrated a deep divergence in the Aloninae subfamily.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adenotonsillectomy on visual attention and daytime sleepiness in children with sleep-disordered breathing., Design: This was a controlled prospective cohort study., Setting: Outpatients from the Otorhinolaryngology Division of Edmundo Vasconcelos Hospital Complex, São Paulo, Brazil., Participants: Patients aged 6-17 years with upper airway obstruction scheduled to undergo adenotonsillectomy (treatment group) in the Otorhinolaryngology Division of Edmundo Vasconcelos Hospital Complex, in São Paulo, Brazil. Participants of control group were consecutively selected from another outpatient clinic of paediatric surgery, but those with symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing were excluded., Main Outcome Measures: Children were submitted to visual attention tests (TAVIS-3) that discriminates normal subjects from those with attentional disorders in advance of the surgery and 2 months later, and in the same period for the control group. Parents were interviewed about lifestyle, sleep characteristics and daytime sleepiness., Results: The analysis included 27 patients in the adenotonsillectomy group and 30 controls, who had similar age (10.0 ± 3.3 versus 10.3 ± 3.7 years; P = 0.8), gender (41% boys versus 57%, respectively) and body mass index. There was marked decrease in daytime sleepiness after surgery (delta between groups: -4.7 ± 3.8; P < 0.001), as well as reductions in reaction time, errors of omission and errors of commission in the treatment compared with the control group at both time points, before and after surgery., Conclusions: This study shows that adenotonsillectomy in children and adolescents with sleep-disordered breathing reduces daytime sleepiness and improves the performance in tests of visual attention., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)