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Gossypol is a terpene-polyphenolic compound specific to cotton plants. Considered as an anti-nutritional factor, monogastric livestock show greater sensitivity to this metabolite than ruminants. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the toxicological effects of gossypol-containing and biodetoxified cottonseed-cake on hepatic function in rats. Biodetoxification of cottonseed cake was performed by the macrofungi Fistulina hepatica BRM 047114 and Pleurotus ostreatus BRM 055505 in a solid-state cultivation process. A toxicological study was performed using albino Wistar rat males (Rattus norvergicus). A feed assay was conducted using the macrofungi cultivated on cottonseed cake (5%, 15%, and 25%). Animal growth, feed conversion, hemogram, serum biochemical analyses and histopathology were evaluated. For biodetoxified cottonseed cake treatments with both macrofungi, concentrations of feed up to 15% resulted in animal development similar to that of the untreated group. Histopathological analysis after feeding with biodetoxified cottonseed cake presented an unaltered cordonal arrangement. Nevertheless, the group fed with cottonseed cake biodetoxified using F. hepatica BRM 047114 showed discrete inflammatory infiltrate, vacuolization, and pyknotic nuclei in hepatocytes. P. ostreatus BRM 055505 resulted in efficient reduction in toxic effects of free gossypol, with regular animal growth, maintenance of normal liver activities, and a reduction in circulating cholesterol levels. In conclusion, P. ostreatus and F. hepatica were able to minimize the toxic effects of free gossypol in rat diets, representing an important contribution for feed-formulation development for non-ruminants.

Abstract: The ethanol test supplies information on physiological problems related to seed deterioration. The test optimization is crucial for its application in the seed analysis routine. This study aimed to evaluate vigor test for Plathymenia reticulataseeds based on ethanol production in order to establish execution guidelines and verify its relationship with other seed vigor tests. Seed lots were subjected to germination and vigor tests, and seed coat evaluation. Ethanol production assessment was carried out based on two trials testing water volumes for imbibition (0.25; 0.5; 0.75; 1.00; and 1.25 mL), reading periods (2, 4, 6, 8, 24, and 48 h), and seed quantities (5, 10, and 15). There was a distinction in physiological potential between the lots, indicated by the ethanol test and other traditionally used tests. The ethanol test was efficient for vigor assessment in Plathymenia seeds, as were the other vigor tests, when conducted with 15 seeds imbibed in a volume of water 2.5 times their mass for 48 h. The vigor test based on ethanol production proved reliable and it is recommended for use in a system of seed production and commercialization in nurseries and forestry companies.

IntroductionLeprosy reactions, the main cause of neural damage, can occur up to 7 years after starting multidrug therapy. We aimed to approach the prognostic factors that may influence the leprosy reactions over the follow-up time.MethodsRetrospective cohort study, encompassing 10 years of data collection, composed of 390 patients, divided into 201 affected by reactions and 189 reaction-free individuals. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory variables were approached as prognostic factors associated with leprosy reactions. The association among variables was analyzed by a binomial test and survival curves were compared by the Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional-hazards regression.Results51.5% (201/390) of patients were affected by leprosy reactions. These immunological events were associated with lepromatous leprosy (16.2%; 63/390; p < 0.0001) and multibacillary group (43%; 169/390; p < 0.0001). This study showed that survival curves for the prognostic factor anti-PGL-I, comparing positive and negative cases at diagnosis, differed in relation to the follow-up time (Log Rank: p = 0.0760; Breslow: p = 0.0090; Tarone-Ware: p = 0.0110). The median survival times (time at which 50% of patients were affected by leprosy reactions) were 5 and 9 months for those reactional cases with negative (26/51) and positive serology (75/150), respectively. The time-dependent covariates in the cox proportional-hazards regression showed anti-PGL-I as the main prognostic factor to predict leprosy reactions (hazard ratio=1.91; p = 0.0110) throughout the follow-up time.ConclusionsFinally, these findings demonstrated that anti-PGL-I serology at diagnosis is the most important prognostic factor for leprosy reactions after starting multidrug therapy, thus enabling prediction of this immunological event.

Gossypol is a terpene-polyphenolic compound specific to cotton plants. Considered as an anti-nutritional factor, monogastric livestock show greater sensitivity to this metabolite than ruminants. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the toxicological effects of gossypol-containing and biodetoxified cottonseed-cake on hepatic function in rats. Biodetoxification of cottonseed cake was performed by the macrofungi Fistulina hepatica BRM 047114 and Pleurotus ostreatus BRM 055505 in a solid-state cultivation process. A toxicological study was performed using albino Wistar rat males (Rattus norvergicus). A feed assay was conducted using the macrofungi cultivated on cottonseed cake (5%, 15%, and 25%). Animal growth, feed conversion, hemogram, serum biochemical analyses and histopathology were evaluated. For biodetoxified cottonseed cake treatments with both macrofungi, concentrations of feed up to 15% resulted in animal development similar to that of the untreated group. Histopathological analysis after feeding with biodetoxified cottonseed cake presented an unaltered cordonal arrangement. Nevertheless, the group fed with cottonseed cake biodetoxified using F. hepatica BRM 047114 showed discrete inflammatory infiltrate, vacuolization, and pyknotic nuclei in hepatocytes. P. ostreatus BRM 055505 resulted in efficient reduction in toxic effects of free gossypol, with regular animal growth, maintenance of normal liver activities, and a reduction in circulating cholesterol levels. In conclusion, P. ostreatus and F. hepatica were able to minimize the toxic effects of free gossypol in rat diets, representing an important contribution for feed-formulation development for non-ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many antimicrobial compounds have been seeking to protect the human body against pathogenic microbial infections. In recent times, there has been considerable growth of pathogens resistant to existing drugs due to the inappropriate use of antibiotics. In the present study, bacteria isolated from the honey of stingless bees native to the Amazon called Scaptotrigona aff. postica and Apis mellifera were used to determine their potential antimicrobial properties and characterize the medium cultivated with isolated bacteria. The results showed inhibition of nine isolates. Among these isolates, SCA12, SCA13, and SCA15 showed inhibitory activity similar to that of vancomycin, which was used as a positive control. The SCA13 strain obtained the best results with antimicrobial extract against the tested pathogens; the species was identified as Enterococcus faecalis, and its lyophilized extract was characterized by temperature, pH, and trypsin, in which they showed antimicrobial activity. This work shows that bacteria isolated from the stingless bee honey, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, have the potential to produce antimicrobial substances.

Changes in nutritional and lighting conditions to obtain compounds of interest and biomass via microalgal cultures are among the main foci of studies in algal biotechnology. Growth medium supplementation using organic compounds, such as glycerol, is a promising approach for increasing biomass productivity and the viability of microalgal cultivation and adding value to byproducts of the biodiesel industry. In this study, the influence of crude glycerol on Spirulina sp. LEB 18 was investigated via culturing using different photoperiods, and its effect on biomass composition and cell growth was evaluated. The microalgae were subjected to three photoperiods (continuous light, 24:0; 12 h light and 12 h dark, 12:12; and no illumination, 0:24) and crude glycerol supplementation (2.5 g L−1); better productivity and biomass concentrations were obtained in cultures with a 12:12 photoperiod (28.36 mg L−1 h−1 and 1.24 g L−1, respectively). Under this condition, the highest protein yield was achieved (647.3 mg L−1, 52.2% w w−1), and the obtained biomass showed favorable characteristics for applications in animal feed enrichment.

There is an urgent need for improvements in animal production, particularly for ruminants, such that more sustainable and efficient processes are developed for obtaining more nutritious and efficient feeds. Filamentous fungi can add value to residual plant biomass, and may also have the potential to produce metabolites and enrich plant biomasses used in animal nutrition, converting them into nutraceutical sources. Thus, in this work, filamentous fungal fermentation of ruminant feed biomasses commonly used in Brazil was performed, and the enrichment for bioactive metabolites was tested. For this, Fistulina hepatica, Ganoderma lucidum, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Panus lecomtei, and Aspergillus terreus were grown for 28 days on different substrates: starchy grains- (sorghum, oat, and corn), fibrous substrates (coast-cross, rice husk, and moringa plant) and protein-rich substrates (cottonseed cake and pigeon pea plant). Fermented substrates were evaluated for laccase activity, crude protein, β-glucan, and lovastatin content. The highest growth rate was observed for G. lucidum in oat substrate (OT-01) (0.708 ± 0.035 cm/day) and F. hepatica in oat + coast-cross + pigeon pea treatment (OT-10) (0.607 ± 0.012 cm/day). High laccase activity was observed for P. lecomtei grown in starchy grain + moringa + pigeon pea substrate, reaching an activity of 416.8 ± 20.28 U/g. A. terreus growth in ST-09 (sorghum + pigeon pea) showed higher protein (15.3 ± 0.46%), β-glucan (503.56 ± 8.6 mg/g) and lovastatin (1.10 ± 0.17 mg/g) content compared to untreated substrates. These results demonstrate that filamentous fungi are an alternative for nutraceutical enrichment of ruminant feed biomasses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in which P. lecomtei and F. hepatica are evaluated for their ability to be cultivated in ruminant feed substrates from Brazil.

ABSTRACT Every day, professionals who work with esthetics are faced with the challenge of meeting patients expectations who longs for a perfect smile, where every detail must show harmony and naturality. In this context, composite resin reanatomization is widely indicated for small corrections of color and shape in one or more dental elements, for diastema closure and sometimes for correction of small dental misalignment. The case report presented here discuss the planning and treatment for the esthetic and functional improvement of the dental units 1.1, 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2, by making direct restorations in composite resin. The patient sought the Faculty of Dentistry of UFBA in search of esthetic treatment, reporting dissatisfaction with the smile. During an evaluation, the thickness and size of the upper back teeth were dissonant, besides of the interincisal diastema and a discrete gyroversion of the lateral incisors, which together compromised the esthetic area of the smile. Therefore, the proposed treatment for solving this clinical situation was direct esthetic rehabilitation with composite resin in units 1.2 to 2.2. After obtaining the study models, it was accomplished diagnostic waxing and silicone guide as auxiliary resources on the planning and restorative stage. Nanoparticulate composite resins were used, making a stratification technique to obtain a harmonic result. The treatment was able to reproduce the esthetic and natural appearance of the teeth, through a conservative alternative, fast and with an excellent cost-benefit relation when compared to the indirect techniques.

Objective: Primary objective was to evaluate efficacy of lacosamide administered concomitantly with 1–3 antiseizure medications in young children with uncontrolled focal (partial‐onset) seizures. Methods: Double‐blind, parallel‐group trial (SP0967: NCT02477839/2013‐000717‐20) conducted between June 2015 and May 2020 at hospitals and clinics in 25 countries. Patients (aged ≥1 month to <4 years) with uncontrolled focal seizures were randomized 1:1 to adjunctive lacosamide or placebo using an interactive voice/web response system and stratified by age. After a 20‐day titration period, patients who reached target‐dose range (8–12 mg/kg/day) entered a 7‐day maintenance period. Region‐specific primary efficacy variables were based on ≤72‐h video‐electroencephalograms: change in average daily frequency (ADF) of electrographic focal seizures as measured on end‐of‐maintenance video‐electroencephalogram versus end‐of‐baseline video‐electroencephalogram (United States); 50% responder rate (≥50% reduction in ADF of focal seizures) during maintenance (European Union). Results: In total, 255 patients were randomized (lacosamide/placebo: 128/127) and received ≥1 trial medication dose. Percentage reduction in ADF of focal seizures for lacosamide (116 patients) versus placebo (120 patients) was 3.2% (95% confidence interval = −13.6 to 17.5, p = 0.69). 50% responder rate was 41.4% for lacosamide (116 patients), 37.5% for placebo (120 patients) (p = 0.58). Treatment‐emergent adverse events were reported by 44.5% of lacosamide‐treated patients (placebo 51.2%). Interpretation: Adjunctive lacosamide did not show superior efficacy versus placebo in young children with focal seizures. However, efficacy variables were potentially affected by high variability and low reliability between readers in video‐electroencephalogram interpretation. Lacosamide was generally well tolerated; safety profile was acceptable and consistent with that in adults and children aged ≥4 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus niger KIJH was grown in solid and submerged fermentation using leaves and roots (with and without bark) of plants typically from Brazilian semiarid as substrate to produce a multienzymatic extract, which was characterised for its potential biotechnological applications. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) was applied to select the most promising plants biomass as induction substrates for the production of hydrolytic enzymes by fungus. The best biomasses were used as substrate in submerged fermentation (SmF) assays at two scales. Samples of up scale fermented culture were partially purified by ultrafiltration and activity and pH and temperature stability of CMCase and xylanase were evaluated. A. niger KIJH produced hydrolytic enzymes under SSF containing unconventional plants biomass from Brazilian semiarid. In SmF conditions, maximum CMCase (0.264 U mL-1) and xylanase (1.163 U mL-1) activities were induced by Jacaratia corumbensis. Scaling up the SmF to 500 mL of medium was able to maintain constant the production of CMCase (0.346 U mL-1) and xylanase (1.273 U mL-1) on the fermented culture. Ultrafiltered and concentrated extract presented CMCase activities practically constant in all temperature ranges (30-80°C) and pH (3.0-9.0), while xylanase optimum activity temperature was 50°C and pH in the range of 3.0 to 5.0. CMCase activity remained stable for 24 hours at 50°C and xylanase was reduced in 53% after two hours incubation at the same temperature. CMCase and xylanase obtained by A. niger KIJH cultivated in submerged culture containing J. corumbensis as carbon source may have application in biotechnology processes that require enzymes that remain active under routine extreme conditions.

Cottonseed cake biomass, which is a residue of oil extraction, is potentially appropriate for use as animal feed, given the high mineral, fibre and protein content. The presence of free gossypol, however, a toxic pigment in the glands of the cotton plant, limits use of this biomass for monogastric livestock. A promising method to detoxify cottonseed cake relies on fermentation by fungi, which can eliminate up to 100% of gossypol. In order to quantify trace levels of free gossypol in different cotton materials, including cottonseed cake treated with macrofungi, a simple and rapid chromatographic detection method was developed and validated. Under optimized conditions, extraction was performed using 70% acetone. The extract was then analysed by Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC), with gradient elution on a C18 reverse phase column KINETEX® (100 x 2.10 mm, 2.6 μm). Methanol-0.1% TFA aqueous solution was employed as mobile phase and PDA detection conducted at 254 nm. The optimized method was validated by analysis of specificity, linearity and range, limit of detection, limit of quantification, precision and accuracy. Detection and quantification limits were observed at 0.2 and 0.5 μg/mL, respectively. With good reproducibility, with precision (RSD)

Purpose: This study, conducted during the COVID-19 crisis, primarily aimed to compare the acute toxicity between conventional fractionated radiation therapy (CF-RT) with hypofractionated radiation therapy (HF-RT) among patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy in whom breast or chest wall and regional nodal irradiation (RNI) were indicated. The secondary endpoints were both acute and subacute toxicity, cosmesis, quality of life, and lymphedema features. Methods: In this open and non-inferiority randomized trial, patients (n = 86) were randomly allocated 2:1 in the CF-RT arm (n = 33; 50 Gy/25 fractions ± sequential boost [10 Gy/5 fractions]) versus the HF-RT arm (n = 53; 40 Gy/15 fractions ± concomitant boost [8 Gy/15 fractions]). Toxic effects and cosmesis evaluation used the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.03 (CTCAE) and the Harvard/National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scale. For the patientreported quality of life (QoL), the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the breast cancer-specific supplementary questionnaire (QLQ-BR23) were used. Lymphedema was assessed by comparing volume differences between the affected and contralateral arms using the Casley-Smith formula. Results: Grade 2 and grade 3 dermatitis were lower with HF-RT than with CF-RT (28% vs. 52%, and 0% vs. 6%, respectively; p = 0.022). HF-RT had a lower rate of grade 2 hyperpigmentation (23% vs. 55%; p = 0.005), compared to CF-RT. No other differences in overall rates of physician-assessed grade 2 or higher and grade 3 or higher acute toxicity between HF-RT and CF-RT were registered. There was no statistical difference between groups regarding cosmesis, lymphedema rate (13% vs. 12% HF-RT vs. CF-RT; p = 1.000), and functional and symptom scales, during both the irradiation period and after 6 months of the end of treatment. The results revealed that the subset of patients up to 65 years or older did not show a statistical difference between both arm fractionation schedules (p > 0.05) regarding skin rash, fibrosis, and lymphedema. Conclusion: HF-RT was non-inferior to CF-RT, and moderate hypofractionation showed lower rates of acute toxicity, with no changes in quality-of-life outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Ginástica Laboral surgiu no início do século passado, objetivando momentos de descontração aos funcionários, além de pausas para a prática de exercício físico. Sendo utilizada como ferramenta de suporte na redução de sintomas de distúrbios osteomusculares. Dentre as lesões que podem atingir o membro superior, tem-se a síndrome do túnel do carpo (STC), sendo a neuropatia de maior incidência, resultante da compressão do nervo mediano quando passa pelo túnel do carpo. Este estudo tem como objetivo conhecer a influência da ginástica laboral na prevenção da síndrome do túnel do carpo em funcionários que trabalham diretamente com computadores. O tipo desta pesquisa caracteriza-se como revisão bibliográfica. Os resultados parecem indicar a importância de se desenvolver programas de Ginástica Laboral na prevenção e na redução de doenças ocupacionais, trazendo grandes benefícios para as empresas e os trabalhadores. A ginástica laboral tem como finalidade proporcionar benefícios tanto para o trabalhador, quanto para a empresa, atuando através de exercícios de alongamento, mobilidade articular e relaxamento, visando atenuar e evitar o aparecimento das LER/DORT, proporcionando assim uma melhora na qualidade de vida do indivíduo.

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The article discusses conversation with Giuseppe Civitarese, a psychiatrist and one of the leading psychoanalysts on the Italian and international scene. Topic discussed includes His frequent and consistent contributions to the development of the theory and practice of post-Bionian analytic Bi-personal Field Theory (BFT) occupy an important place in contemporary psychoanalysis.