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The present work consisted in obtaining and studying selective surfaces for applications in low-cost flat plate solar collectors, using residues from the granite industry. Five different surfaces were studied, varying the percentage by weight: 100% granite powder, 75% granite powder + 25% titanium oxide, 50% granite powder + 50% titanium oxide, 25% granite powder + 75% titanium oxide and 100% titanium oxide.

Trabalhos de pesquisa no Brasil e em outros países, com a utilização de silicato de cálcio, vem mostrando resultados promissores na cultura da cana- de- açúcar. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito residual da aplicação do silicato de cálcio como material corretivo de acidez do solo, nos atributos químicos do solo e na produtividade da primeira soqueira de cana-de-açúcar. O trabalho foi desenvolvido, em condições de campo, na Fazenda Escola da Anhanguera de Dourados-MS, com a variedade SB803250. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos de doses distintas de silicato de cálcio (0, 700, 1400, 2800, 5600 kg ha-1). No solo, a amostragem foi realizada aos 24 meses após a aplicação do silicato de cálcio, nas camadas de 0-0,2- e 0,20-0,40 m de profundidade, determinando os atributos químicos para fins de fertilidade do solo e a produtividade da cana-soca. O silicato de cálcio promoveu efeito residual benéfico nos atributos de acidez do solo após 24 meses da aplicação. A aplicação do silicato de cálcio, em pré-plantio, promoveu efeito residual positivo na produtividade da soqueira da cana-de-açúcar.

Aiming to evaluate the effects of doses silicon and phosphorus on the phosphate nutrition and production in bean plants, two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse using two soils, Orthic Quartzarenic Neosol (RQo) and Dystroferric Red Latosol (LVdf). Each soil was subjected to three incubation sequences: the first with lime to raise the base saturation to 50%, the second with silicic acid, Si with three doses (0, 240 and 410 and 0, 330 and 560 mg dm-3, respectively, for RQo and LVdf) and the third with basic fertilisation, including phosphorus at four different doses (0, 80, 240 and 410 and 0, 110, 330 and 560 mg dm-3 for RQo and LVdf, respectively). The experiment was performed using a completely randomised 3 x 4 factorial, with four replications. The application of Si did not influence the dry matter production of the aerial part (APDM) or the grain dry matter (DGM) and P accumulation in the aerial part of the bean plants, yet the higher doses of Si increased the accumulation of Si in the APDM. The application of P increased the yield of the APDM and DGM and phosphorus accumulation in the APDM of the bean plants.

O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a influência da aplicação de silício (Si) e fósforo (P) sobre as formas orgânicas e inorgânicas do P em dois solos (Neossolo Quartzarênico órtico e Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico – LVdf), com textura e mineralogiadistinta, antes e após o cultivo do arroz. O experimento foi realizado utilizando-se esquema fatorial, sendo quatro doses de P e três doses de Si. A fertilização fosfatada alterou as formas lábeisde P, enquanto as formas pouco lábeis apresentaram comportamento dependentes da textura e mineralogia. A aplicação do Si apresentou-se promissora em aumentar a disponibilidade de P para as plantas de arroz.Two experiments were conducted with the objective of evaluating the influence of Si and P application upon organic and inorganic P forms in two soils solos: classificação da FAO e Soil Taxonomy (Orthic Quartzarenic Neosol – RQo- and Dystroferric Red Latosol – LVdf), having contrasting texture and mineralogy, before and after rice cultivation. The experimental was in a 4 x 3 factorial scheme, being four P doses and three Si doses. The phosphated fertilization altered the P labile forms, while in the case of low labile P forms the behaviour was dependent upon soil texture and mineralogy. The application of Si was shown to be promising to increase the availability of P for plants in rice.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses de Si e P na produção de matéria seca da parte aérea e de grãos e o acúmulo de Si e P na planta de arroz. Dois solos, RQo e LVdf, foram utilizados no estudo. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por quatro doses de P (0, 80, 240 e 410; 0, 110, 330 e 560 mg dm-3, respectivamente, para o RQo e LVdf) e três doses de Si (0, 240 e 410; 0, 330 e 560 mg dm-3, respectivamente, para o RQo e LVdf). O experimento foi realizado utilizando-se esquema fatorial, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado 4 x 3, com três repetições. A aplicação de P ocasionou incremento na produção de matéria seca da parte aérea e de grãos de arroz e no acúmulo de P na MSPA. Houve interação Si x P somente para o acúmulo de Si na MSPA do arroz.This work's aim was to evaluate the effects of different Si and P doses on dry matter aerial part (DMAP) production, grain production and Si and P rice plant contents. Two soils, RQo and LVdf, were used in the study. The treatments consisted of four doses of P (0, 80, 240,and 410; 0, 110, 330, and 560 mg dm-3, respectively for RQo and LVdf) and three doses of silicon (0, 240, and 410; 0, 330, and 560 mg dm-3, respectively for RQo and LVdf). The experimental design was a 4x3 factorial with three repetitions. Increased P fertilization raised the dry matter production of aerial part and rice grains, and P accumulation in DMAP. There was Si x P interaction only for the silicon accumulated in DMAP of rice plants.

A mulher teve na Iª República portuguesa (1910-1926) um protagonismo social que obrigou os diferentes governos a incluir na esfera educativa um espaço especial para a sua formação. No ensino técnico houve a preocupação de criar cursos específicos para setores que vão desde as rendas à telegrafia, desde o comércio ao desenho, da olaria à pintura decorativa. A expectativa em formar profissionais para profissões novas, mas também renovar o seu espaço socioprofissional e contrariar a permanência no espaço doméstico, levou à criação de cursos, no ensino oficial e particular, destinados especificamente à mulher e que se revelaram ou um fracasso ”“ por exemplo o de economia doméstica ”“ ou um sucesso ”“ caso das oficinas das escolas de desenho industrial. Há cursos especiais que são criados nas escolas industriais ”“ por exemplo o de Lavores Femininos que têm logo grande adesão. No segmento temporal de 1914/1919, apesar de coincidir com a 1ª Guerra Mundial, verifica-se uma tendência que é também visível no período em estudo: a adesão feminina foi sempre maior nos trabalhos oficinais do que nas disciplinas que constituíam os cursos estruturados em formação mais geral e técnica. Das intenções expressas pelos políticos republicanos à s realidades evidenciadas pela história da educação portuguesa daremos conta numa breve incursão pelas medidas implementadas e pela adesão feminina evidenciada.

O presente artigo busca discutir a relação entre brincadeira e cultura através das memórias e relatos de um morador da cidade histórica de Morretes, situada na microrregião litorânea paranaense. A metodologia empregada caracteriza-se como um estudo de caso, e a técnica de coleta de dados escolhida foi a entrevista semi-estruturada e pesquisa bibliográfica em acervo da Casa Rocha Pombo - Secretaria de Cultura e Esportes do município. Pôde-se concluir que a relação entre brincadeira e cultura pode ser enxergada sob vários aspectos, não devendo ser ignorada ou relegada como uma atividade secundária, seja do ponto de vista social seja do individual.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar, pelo método de extração seqüencial, as alterações das formas de P em amostras de solo sob plantio direto (PD) por diferentes tempos de cultivo, em duas profundidades, em relação às amostras de solos de áreas adjacentes nunca cultivadas (referenciais). As amostras de solo foram coletadas nas profundidades de 0-5 e 5-10 cm de um Neossolo Quartzarênico, com um ano de PD; de dois Latossolos Vermelho distróficos com três e cinco anos de PD; e de dois Latossolos Vermelho distroférricos, com sete e 11 anos de PD, e das respectivas áreas adjacentes nunca cultivadas. O método de fracionamento de P foi eficiente para avaliar os efeitos do manejo na dinâmica das alterações das formas de P no solo. As formas de P dos solos apresentaram tendência de redução com a profundidade. Com o tempo de cultivo sob PD, em uma mesma classe de solo, a participação das formas de P não-lábeis em relação ao P total tendeu a diminuir, sendo acompanhada por um aumento relativo das formas mais lábeis.

A analgesia preemptiva tem como princípio básico a administração de analgésicos antes da ocorrência de estímulos dolorosos, reduzindo ou prevenindo a dor e diminuindo a dose analgésica requerida, comparada com a dose usada após a ocorrência do estímulo doloroso. Há redução ou prevenção da "memória" da dor junto ao sistema nervoso central. A analgesia preemptiva permite atenuar ou prevenir o desenvolvimento da sensibilização central induzida pela cirurgia. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o uso do antiinflamatório não esteróide (AINE) ketoprofeno na analgesia preemptiva. Foram utilizados 16 cães, com idades variadas, fêmeas e machos, com peso superior a 10kg. Os animais foram divididos, aleatoriamente, em dois grupos: no grupo K, foram tratados com ketoprofeno e no grupo P foi utilizado placebo constituído de solução fisiológica; no final do procedimento cirúrgico os animais do grupo K receberam placebo e os do grupo P foram tratados com ketoprofeno. Esses procedimentos foram feitos antes da ocorrência do estímulo doloroso causado pela cirurgia de toracotomia. Parâmetros como freqüência cardíaca, freqüência respiratória, volume corrente, volume minuto, hemogasometria e grau de dor foram mensurados por seis horas pós-operatórias. O protocolo utilizado apresentou variações significativas do bicarbonato e dióxido de carbono total, não apresentando variações significativas nos escores de dor. Esses resultados, aparentemente, não justificam o uso do ketoprofeno na analgesia preemptiva.

In the present study, we have performed a comparative analysis of the effect of selective inhibitors of phosphodiesterase (PDE) type III, IV and V on eosinophil chemotaxis triggered by platelet activating factor (PAF) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in vitro. The effect of the analogues N6-2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3':5' cyclic monophosphate (Bt2 cyclic AMP) and N2-2'-O- dibutyrylguanosine 3':5' cyclic monophosphate (Bt2 cyclic GMP) has also been determined. The eosinophils were obtained from the peritoneal cavity of naive Wistar rats and purified in discontinuous Percoll gradients to 85-95% purity. We observed that pre-incubation of eosinophils with the PDE type IV inhibitor rolipram suppressed the chemotactic response triggered by PAF and LTB4, in association with an increase in the intracellular levels of cyclic AMP. In contrast, neither zaprinast (type V inhibitor) nor type III inhibitors milrinone and SK&F 94836 affected the eosinophil migration. Only at the highest concentration tested did the analogue Bt2 cyclic AMP suppress the eosinophil chemotaxis, under conditions where Bt2 cyclic GMP was ineffective. We have concluded that inhibition of PDE IV, but not PDE III or V, was able to block the eosinophil chemotaxis in vitro, suggesting that the suppressive activity of selective PDE IV inhibitors on tissue eosinophil accumulation may, at least, be partially dependent on their ability to directly inhibit the eosinophil migration.

O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a influência da aplicação de silício (Si) e fósforo (P) sobre as formas orgânicas e inorgânicas do P em dois solos (Neossolo Quartzarênico órtico e Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico – LVdf), com textura e mineralogia distinta, antes e após o cultivo do arroz. O experimento foi realizado utilizando-se esquema fatorial, sendo quatro doses de P e três doses de Si. A fertilização fosfatada alterou as formas lábeis de P, enquanto as formas pouco lábeis apresentaram comportamento dependentes da textura e mineralogia. A aplicação do Si apresentou-se promissora em aumentar a disponibilidade de P para as plantas de arroz.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses de Si e P na produção de matéria seca da parte aérea e de grãos e o acúmulo de Si e P na planta de arroz. Dois solos, RQo e LVdf, foram utilizados no estudo. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por quatro doses de P (0, 80, 240 e 410; 0, 110, 330 e 560 mg dm-3, respectivamente, para o RQo e LVdf) e três doses de Si (0, 240 e 410; 0, 330 e 560 mg dm-3, respectivamente, para o RQo e LVdf). O experimento foi realizado utilizando-se esquema fatorial, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado 4 x 3, com três repetições. A aplicação de P ocasionou incremento na produção de matéria seca da parte aérea e de grãos de arroz e no acúmulo de P na MSPA. Houve interação Si x P somente para o acúmulo de Si na MSPA do arroz. Palavras-chave: Oryza sativa, produtividade, adubação fosfatada, silicatada.

Abstract Background The aetiology of a psychotic disturbance can be due to a functional or organic condition. Organic aetiologies are diverse and encompass organ failures, infections, nutritional deficiencies and space-occupying lesions. Arachnoid cysts are rare, benign space-occupying lesions formed by an arachnoid membrane containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In most cases they are diagnosed by accident. Until recently, the coexistence of arachnoid cysts with psychiatric disturbances had not been closely covered in the literature. However, the appearance of some references that focus on a possible link between arachnoid cysts and psychotic symptoms has increased the interest in this subject and raised questions about the etiopathogeny and the therapeutic approach involved. Clinical presentation We present the clinical report of a 21-year-old man, characterised by the insidious development of psychotic symptoms of varying intensity, delusional ideas with hypochondriac content, complex auditory/verbal hallucinations in the second and third persons, and aggressive behaviour. The neuroimaging studies revealed a voluminous arachnoid cyst at the level of the left sylvian fissure, with a marked mass effect on the left temporal and frontal lobes and the left lateral ventricle, as well as evidence of hypoplasia of the left temporal lobe. Despite the symptoms and the size of the cyst, the neurosurgical department opted against surgical intervention. The patient began antipsychotic therapy and was discharged having shown improvement (behavioural component), but without a complete remission of the psychotic symptoms. Conclusion It is difficult to be absolutely certain whether the lesion had influence on the patient's psychiatric symptoms or not. However, given the anatomical and neuropsychological changes, one cannot exclude the possibility that the lesion played a significant role in this psychiatric presentation. This raises substantial problems when it comes to choosing a therapeutic strategy.

Abstract Background Endometriosis is a common gynaecological disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. The fragments in normal menstruation are composed of necrotic and living cells, which do not survive in ectopic locations because of programmed cell death. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis is changed in eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis throughout the menstrual cycle by studying bax (pro-apoptotic), c-myc (regulator of cell cycle) and TGF-beta1 (involved in cell differentiation) genes. Methods Eutopic endometrium was obtained from: 30 women with endometriosis (32.8 +/- 5 years) and 34 fertile eumenorrheic women (36 +/- 5.3 years). We analyzed apoptosis (TUNEL: DNA fragmentation); cell proliferation (immunohistochemistry (IHC) for Ki67); c-myc, bax and TGF-beta1 mRNA abundance (RT-PCR) and TGF-beta1 protein (IHC) in endometrial explants. Results Cell proliferation strongly decreased from proliferative to late secretory phases in glands, but not in stroma, in both endometria. Positive staining in glands and stroma from proliferative endometrium with endometriosis was 1.9- and 2.2-fold higher than control endometrium, respectively (p < 0.05). Abundance of c-myc mRNA was 65% higher in proliferative endometrium from endometriosis than normal tissue (p < 0.05). TGF-beta1 (mRNA and protein) augmented during mid secretory phase in normal endometrium, effect not observed in endometrium with endometriosis. In normal endometrium, the percentage of apoptotic epithelial and stromal cells increased more than 30-fold during late secretory phase. In contrast, in endometrium from endometriosis, not only this increase was not observed, besides bax mRNA decreased 63% versus normal endometrium (p < 0.05). At once, in early secretory phase, apoptotic stromal cells increased 10-fold with a concomitant augment of bax mRNA abundance (42%) in endometria from endometriosis (p < 0.05). Conclusion An altered expression of c-myc, TGF-beta1 and bax was observed in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis, suggesting its participation in the regulation of cell survival in this disease. The augmented cell viability in eutopic endometrium from these patients as a consequence of a reduction in cell death by apoptosis, and also an increase in cell proliferation indicates that this condition may facilitate the invasive feature of the endometrium.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare hematological malignancy where its development in the intravascular environment is the main characteristic. Despite its ability to affect multiple organic systems, there is a tropism for the central nervous system, which may be related to several clinical syndromes, making this condition a great mimic and consequently a diagnostic challenge. Rapidly progressive dementia may be one of the presenting phenotypes of IVLBCL. This case report aims to highlight the main red flags, such as sustained elevation of lactate dehydrogenase, organomegaly and specific lesions with vasculitis-like bleeding, all that can be used as clinical clues to direct the differential diagnosis. In addition, it reinforces the role of early brain biopsy in this context, since IVLBCL is a treatable disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cooling towers (CTs) are crucial to myriad industrial processes, supporting thermal exchange between fluids in heat exchangers using water from lakes and rivers as coolant. However, CT water can sometimes introduce microbial contaminants that adhere to and colonize various surfaces within the CT system. These microorganisms can form biofilms, significantly hindering the system's thermal exchange efficiency. Current treatment strategies employ oxidizing biocides to prevent microbial growth. However, despite their affordability, they do not eliminate biofilms effectively and can lead to corrosive damage within the system. Herein, we aim to devise an anti-biofilm strategy utilizing hydrolytic enzymes (such as α-amylase, glucoamylase, pectin-lyase, cellulase, protease, and DNase) alongside antibiotics (including meropenem, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and ceftriaxone) to combat microbial growth and biofilm formation in cooling systems., Results: All enzymes reduced the development of the biofilms significantly compared to controls (p < 0.05). The polysaccharidases exhibited biomass reduction of 90%, except for pectin-lyase (80%), followed by DNAse and protease at 43% and 49%, respectively. The antibiotics reduced the biofilms of 70% of isolates in concentration of > 2 mg/mL. The minimal biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) lower than 1 mg/mL was detected for some 7-day-old sessile isolates. The enzymes and antibiotics were also used in combination against biofilms using the modified Chequerboard method. We found six synergistic combinations, with Fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC) < 0.5, out of the ten tested. In the presence of the enzymatic mixture, MBECs presented a significant decrease (p < 0.05), at least 4-fold for antibiotics and 32-fold for enzymes. Moreover, we characterized high molecular weight (> 12 kDa) exopolysaccharides (EPS) from biofilms of ten isolates, and glycosyl composition analysis indicated a high frequency of glucose, mannose, erythrose, arabinose, and idose across isolates EPS contrasting with rhamnose, allose, and those carbohydrates, which were detected in only one isolate., Conclusion: The synergistic approach of combining enzymes with antibiotics emerges as a highly effective and innovative strategy for anti-biofilm intervention, highlighting its potential to enhance biofilm management practices., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Cicatricial alopecia (CA) poses a challenge for dermatologists due to irreversible hair follicle damage. While pharmacological treatments offer limited efficacy, surgical interventions aim to improve aesthetic outcomes. This article explores the serial excision technique (SET) as a viable option for stable cases of inflammatory CA., Case Report/case Presentation: Three adult females with different forms of CA underwent staged surgeries to correct CA patches. Procedures included different incision and closure methods based on individual characteristics such as age, type and extent of alopecia, location, and tissue mobility in the scarred area., Discussion: CA significantly impacts patients' quality of life, demanding comprehensive treatment approaches. SET emerges as an encouraging possibility for stable cases, providing notable cosmetic improvements and enhancing patients' well-being. This technique offers cost-effective benefits with potential standalone efficacy or in combination with hair transplantation, providing promising outcomes for individuals with CA., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2024 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, being the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Despite the progress in screening, early diagnosis, and treatment, approximately 20%-25% of CRC patients still present with metastatic disease at the time of their initial diagnosis. Furthermore, the burden of disease is still expected to increase, especially in individuals younger than 50 years old, among whom early-onset CRC incidence has been increasing. Screening and early detection are pivotal to improve CRC-related outcomes. It is well established that CRC screening not only reduces incidence, but also decreases deaths from CRC. Diverse screening strategies have proven effective in decreasing both CRC incidence and mortality, though variations in efficacy have been reported across the literature. However, uncertainties persist regarding the optimal screening method, age intervals and periodicity. Moreover, adherence to CRC screening remains globally low. In recent years, emerging technologies, notably artificial intelligence, and non-invasive biomarkers, have been developed to overcome these barriers. However, controversy exists over the actual impact of some of the new discoveries on CRC-related outcomes and how to effectively integrate them into daily practice. In this review, we aim to cover the current evidence surrounding CRC screening. We will further critically assess novel approaches under investigation, in an effort to differentiate promising innovations from mere novelties., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: Authors declare no conflict of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

A 23-year-old male from Brazil presented with bright red hematochezia. Proctological examination revealed grade II internal hemorrhoids, but flexible sigmoidoscopy uncovered a 6 mm-pedunculated polyp in the sigmoid colon, which was found to result from inflammatory reaction to Schistosoma mansoni egg deposition. The patient had no signs of portal hypertension and was successfully treated with praziquantel. This case underscores a rare presentation of chronic intestinal schistosomiasis and emphasizes the role of early diagnosis in preventing severe hepatic sequelae of chronic Schistosoma infection.

The objectives of this study were to report Fusarium species associated with Aleurocanthus woglumi (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) collected from citrus leaves from an agroecological polyculture in Brazil, assess sexual reproductive mode of the species with unknown sexual stages, and provide an augmented description of F. volatile , for which we discovered a sexual stage. Nineteen Fusarium isolates were recovered from A. woglumi . These fungi belong to three species complexes, i.e., the F. chlamydosporum species complex (FCSC), the F. fujikuroi species complex (FFSC), and the F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC). Based on multilocus phylogenetic analyses, the species were identified as F. annulatum, F. chlamydosporum, F. pernambucanum, F. sulawesiense, F. verticillioides , and F. volatile . Our results suggest that three species whose sexual stages are unknown ( F. chlamydosporum, F. sulawesiense , and F. volatile ) are also heterothallic. Intraspecific crosses of F. sulawesiense and F. volatile produced protoperithecia, whereas 66.7% of F. volatile crosses produced fertile perithecia. We provide an augmented description of the latter species to include characteristics of its sexual morph and those observed in the asexual morph that had not yet been described for the species. This study highlights the potential of researching insect-associated fungi to increase knowledge about the diversity, taxonomy, and versatility of Fusarium in ecosystems.

Electron and hole transport characteristics were evaluated for perylene-based and pyrene-based compounds using electron-only and hole-only devices. The perylene presented a columnar hexagonal liquid crystal phase at room temperature with strong molecular π-stacking inside the columns. The pyrene crystallizes bellow 166 °C, preserving the close-packed columnar rectangular structure of the mesophase. Photophysical analysis and numerical calculations assisted the interpretation of positive and negative charge carrier mobilities obtained from fitting the space charge limited regime of current vs voltage curves. The pyrene-based material demonstrated an electron mobility two orders of magnitude higher than the perylene one, indicating the potential of this class of materials as electron transporting layer., (Copyright © 2023, Alves et al.)

A 27-year-old Nepalese male presented with recurrent abdominal pain accompanied by a lower stool consistency over the past 2 years. These episodes occurred several times a year, lasting 1 to 2 weeks, and resolved spontaneously, after adjustment of diet and/or medication for symptomatic control (e.g., antispasmodics, probiotics). Over the last year, the patient had undergone an extensive diagnostic investigation, which revealed no alterations in the laboratory workup, abdominal scan, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and colonoscopy, including biopsies of the duodenum, and colon, so the symptoms have been attributed to irritable bowel syndrome. However, the symptoms had become more frequent, so the patient was referred to our gastroenterology department. We repeated and extended the work-up. Laboratory investigations showed an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and faecal calprotectin. The remaining laboratory as well an extensive stool workup for infection were unremarkable. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and ileocolonoscopy were normal. Small bowel capsule endoscopy revealed jejunal mucosa with lymphangiectasias, pseudopolypoids formations and superficial longitudinal ulcers, these findings were corroborated by the double-balloon enteroscopy, and biopsies showed marked architectural distortion, chronic inflammatory infiltrate, and an epithelioid granuloma. The clinical, endoscopic, biochemical, and histological findings were consistent with isolated jejunal Crohn's disease. The patient started adalimumab with complete remission after one year. We present this case given its exuberant endoscopic findings and due to the difficulty in making the diagnosis due to its rarity, location, and unspecific presentation.

The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of orange molasses in replacement of flint corn grain in high-concentrate diets on dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed efficiency (FE) of feedlot lambs. Thirty male lambs without defined racial pattern (30.3 ± 5.3 kg of initial BW; mean ± SD) were used in a randomized complete block design with 10 blocks and 3 treatments. The treatments were defined by partial replacement of flint corn by orange molasses in the diet with 90% of concentrate and 10% of Cynodon spp. hay, as follows: 0OM-control diet without orange molasses; 20OM-20% of orange molasses replacing flint corn; and 40OM-40% of orange molasses replacing flint corn (DM basis). The experiment lasted 72 days divided into 3 subperiods, with 1 subperiod of 16 days and 2 subperiods of 28 days. Animals were weighed after a 16-h fast on days 1, 16, 44, and 72 of the experimental periods to determine the ADG and FE. The DMI, ADG, and FE showed an interaction between treatments and experimental periods. The DMI in the first period decreased linearly (P < 0.01); in the third period, there was no effect of treatments (P > 0.05) on DMI. The ADG decreased linearly (P < 0.01) in the first period as the orange molasses increased. Otherwise, in the third period, ADG increased linearly (P = 0.05) as flint corn was replacement by orange molasses. The FE showed an interaction between treatment and period (P = 0.09). The first period had a decreased linear effect; in the third period, there was a trend (P = 0.07) of increased linear effect. There was no difference between the diets regarding the final BW of the lambs. In conclusion, the orange molasses can replace up to 40% of flint corn in diets for feedlot lambs without affecting final BW. However, it is important to consider the adaptation time proved to be very important for better use of orange molasses as a source of energy in diets for lambs., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Collagen is the major structural protein in extracellular matrix present in connective tissues, including skin, being considered a promising material for skin regeneration. Marine organisms have been attracting interest amongst the industry as an alternative collagen source. In the present work, Atlantic codfish skin collagen was analyzed, to evaluate its potential for skincare. The collagen was extracted from two different skin batches (food industry by-product) using acetic acid (ASColl), confirming the method reproducibility since no significant yield differences were observed. The extracts characterization confirmed a profile compatible with type I collagen, without significant differences between batches or with bovine skin collagen (a reference material in biomedicine). Thermal analyses suggested ASColl's native structure loss at 25 °C, and an inferior thermal stability to bovine skin collagen. No cytotoxicity was found for ASColl up to 10 mg/mL in keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). ASColl was used to develop membranes, which revealed smooth surfaces without significative morphological or biodegradability differences between batches. Their water absorption capacity and water contact angle indicated a hydrophilic feature. The metabolic activity and proliferation of HaCaT were improved by the membranes. Hence, ASColl membranes exhibited attractive characteristics to be applied in the biomedical and cosmeceutical field envisaging skincare.

Marine-origin gelatin has been increasingly used as a safe alternative to bovine and porcine ones due to their structural similarity, avoiding the health-related problems and sociocultural concerns associated with using mammalian-origin materials. Another benefit of marine-origin gelatin is that it can be produced from fish processing-products enabling high production at low cost. Recent studies have demonstrated the excellent capacity of gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA)-based hydrogels in a wide range of biomedical applications due to their suitable biological properties and tunable physical characteristics, such as tissue engineering applications, including the engineering of cartilage. In this study, fish gelatin was obtained from Greenland halibut skins by an acidic extraction method and further functionalized by methacrylation using methacrylic anhydride, developing a photosensitive gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) with a degree of functionalization of 58%. The produced marine GelMA allowed the fabrication of photo-crosslinked hydrogels by incorporating a photoinitiator and UV light exposure. To improve the biological performance, GelMA was combined with two glycosaminoglycans (GAGs): hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS). GAGs methacrylation reaction was necessary, rendering methacrylated HA (HAMA) and methacrylated CS (CSMA). Three different concentrations of GelMA were combined with CSMA and HAMA at different ratios to produce biomechanically stable hydrogels with tunable physicochemical features. The 20% ( w / v ) GelMA-based hydrogels produced in this work were tested as a matrix for chondrocyte culture for cartilage tissue engineering with formulations containing both HAMA and CSMA showing improved cell viability. The obtained results suggest these hybrid hydrogels be used as promising biomaterials for cartilage tissue engineering applications.

The pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been responsible for approximately 6.8 million deaths worldwide, threatening more than 753 million individuals. People with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection often exhibit an immunosuppression condition, resulting in greater chances of developing co-infections with bacteria and fungi, including opportunistic yeasts belonging to the Saccharomyces and Candida genera. In the present work, we have reported the case of a 75-year-old woman admitted at a Brazilian university hospital with an arterial ulcer in the left foot, which was being prepared for surgical amputation. The patient presented other underlying diseases and presented positive tests for COVID-19 prior to hospitalization. She received antimicrobial treatment, but her general condition worsened quickly, leading to death by septic shock after 4 days of hospitalization. Blood samples collected on the day she died were positive for yeast-like organisms, which were later identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae by both biochemical and molecular methods. The fungal strain exhibited low minimal inhibitory concentration values for the antifungal agents tested (amphotericin B, 5-flucytosine, caspofungin, fluconazole and voriconazole), and it was able to produce important virulence factors, such as extracellular bioactive molecules (e.g., aspartic peptidase, phospholipase, esterase, phytase, catalase, hemolysin and siderophore) and biofilm. Despite the activity against planktonic cells, the antifungals were not able to impact the mature biofilm parameters (biomass and viability). Additionally, the S. cerevisiae strain caused the death of Tenebrio molitor larvae, depending on the fungal inoculum, and larvae immunosuppression with corticosteroids increased the larvae mortality rate. In conclusion, the present study highlighted the emergence of S. cerevisiae as an opportunistic fungal pathogen in immunosuppressed patients presenting several severe comorbidities, including COVID-19 infection.

Corneal pathologies from infectious or noninfectious origin have a significant impact on the daily lives of millions of people worldwide. Despite the risk of organ rejection or infection, corneal transplantation is currently the only effective treatment. Finding safe and innovative strategies is the main goal of tissue-engineering-based approaches. In this study, the potential of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels produced from marine-derived gelatin and loaded with ascorbic acid (as an enhancer of the biological activity of cells) was evaluated for corneal stromal applications. Marine GelMA was synthesized with a methacrylation degree of 75%, enabling effective photocrosslinking, and hydrogels with or without ascorbic acid were produced, encompassing human keratocytes. All the produced formulations exhibited excellent optical and swelling properties with easy handling as well as structural stability and adequate degradation rates that may allow proper extracellular matrix remodeling by corneal stromal cells. Formulations loaded with 0.5 mg/mL of ascorbic acid enhanced the biological performance of keratocytes and induced collagen production. These results suggest that, in addition to marine-derived gelatin being suitable for the synthesis of GelMA, the hydrogels produced are promising biomaterials for corneal regeneration applications.

The host immunologic response to a specific material is a critical aspect when considering it for clinical implementation. Collagen and gelatin extracted from marine sources have been proposed as biomaterials for tissue engineering applications, but there is a lack of information in the literature about their immunogenicity. In this work, we evaluated the immune response to collagen and/or gelatin from blue shark and codfish, previously extracted and characterized. After endotoxin evaluation, bone marrow-derived macrophages were exposed to the materials and a panel of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated both for protein quantification and gene expression. Then, the impact of those materials in the host was evaluated through peritoneal injection in C57BL/6 mice. The results suggested shark collagen as the less immunogenic material, inducing low expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (encoded by Nos2) and high expression of Arginase 1 (encoded by Arg1). Although shark gelatin appeared to be the material with higher pro-inflammatory expression, it also presents a high expression of IL-10 (anti-inflammatory cytokine) and Arginase (both markers for M2-like macrophages). When injected in the peritoneal cavity of mice, our materials demonstrated a transient recruitment of neutrophil, being almost non-existent after 24 hours of injection. Based on these findings, the studied collagenous materials can be considered interesting biomaterial candidates for regenerative medicine as they may induce an activation of the M2-like macrophage population, which is involved in suppressing the inflammatory processes promoting tissue remodeling. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Marine-origin biomaterials are emerging in the biomedical arena, namely the ones based in marine-derived collagen/gelatin proposed as cell templates for tissue regeneration. Nevertheless, although the major cause of implant rejection in clinical practice is the host's negative immune response, there is a lack of information in the literature about the immunological impact of these marine collagenous materials. This work aims to contribute with knowledge about the immunologic response to collagen/gelatin extracted from blue shark and codfish skins. The results demonstrated that despite some differences observed, all the materials can induce a macrophage phenotype related with anti-inflammation resolution and then act as immuno-modulators and anti-inflammatory inducible materials., 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 © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Tapirs are endangered terrestrial mammals that inhabit several continents. They have anatomical similarities to horses, sharing a common ancestral lineage. This article reports the case of a 14-yr-old female lowland tapir ( Tapirus terrestris ) presented for intermittent lameness due to upward fixation of the patella causing extension of the limb in the caudal phase of the stride. Medial patellar desmotomy was performed under general anesthesia, correcting the problem. To date there are no reports of this condition or treatment recommendations in tapirs. An anatomical study including stifle dissection, advanced MRI, and CT was performed in a separate lowland tapir. According to the clinical case and the anatomical findings in the other lowland tapir, upward fixation of the patella may occur in the tapir, although the anatomy varies slightly from that of the horse. Because the lowland tapir does not have parapatellar cartilage or as large of a medial patellar ligament or medial trochlea of the distal femur compared to the horse, more severe disease secondary to complete or persistent upward fixation of the patella may not occur in tapirs. Rather, mild forms of the disease associated with intermittent upward fixation of the patella or delayed patellar release appear more likely in the tapir.

It is central to the management of patients with Medication-overuse headache that they reverse their behavior regarding the frequent use of pain medication. The objective of this study was to compare two counseling techniques for treating patients with Medication-overuse headache (MOH). This was a randomized, blind, controlled clinical trial that compared a structured (FRAMES) and unstructured counseling, for the treatment of MOH. Patients were assessed before the counseling and then again four and eight weeks after it. Semi-structured interview, headache diary, the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used. Primary endpoints were the following: number of patients who stopped medication overuse; days with acute medication use; HIT-6; the number of patients who returned for consultations. Secondary endpoints were as follows: days per month of headache; 50% reduction in monthly days with acute medication use; the number of patients with less than 15 days of headache. Thirty-seven patients were allocated to the "FRAMES Group" and 33 to the "Control Group". There was no difference regarding primary or secondary outcomes between the two groups. There was a significant reduction in the frequency of headache and the number of days using pain medication in the first and second months of follow-up compared to baseline in both groups. There was a significant reduction in the HIT-6 in the first and second months of follow-up compared to baseline in the FRAMES Group, but not in the control group. Patients in both counseling groups significantly decreased the use of pain medications and the frequency of their headaches., (© 2021. Belgian Neurological Society.)

Background: The current standard of treatment in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), although a considerable proportion of patients show incomplete response resulting in disease progression., Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of incomplete response to UDCA and determine associated patients' characteristics., Methods: Patients with PBC as main diagnosis were included from a national multicentric patient registry-Liver.pt. Main endpoints included incomplete response to UDCA treatment according to Barcelona, Paris I and Paris II criteria, Globe and UK PBC scores and the association between baseline characteristics and incomplete response according to Paris II criteria., Results: A total of 434 PBC patients were identified, with a mean age of 55 years and 89.2% females. Nearly half of patients were asymptomatic at diagnosis and 93.2% had positive anti-mitochondrial antibodies. Almost all patients (95.6%) had been prescribed at least one drug for PBC treatment. At the last follow-up visit, 93.3% were under treatment of which 99.8% received UDCA. Incomplete response to UDCA was observed in 30.7%, 35.3%, 53.7% and 36.4% of patients according to Barcelona, Paris I, Paris II criteria and Globe score, respectively. After adjusting for age and sex, and accordingly to Paris II criteria, the risk for incomplete biochemical response was 25% higher for patients with cirrhosis at diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.02-1.54; p = 0.033) and 35% (95%CI:1.06-1.72; p = 0.016) and 5% (OR = 1.05; 95%CI:1.01-1.10; p = 0.013) for those with elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)., Conclusion: A considerable proportion of patients showed incomplete biochemical response to UDCA treatment according to Paris II criteria. Cirrhosis, elevated GGT and ALP at diagnosis were identified as associated risk factors for incomplete response. Early identification of patients at risk of incomplete response could improve treatment care and guide clinical decision to a more careful patient monitorization., (© 2021 The Authors. United European Gastroenterology Journal published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of United European Gastroenterology.)

In the present study, the complete characterization of cDNA and genomic sequences of IL-1β and IL-8, as well as the expression profile of these genes in the South American fish pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) is provided. The full-length pmIL-1β cDNA was composed of 1208 nucleotides that would produce a precursor peptide with 273 amino acid residues. A putative caspase-1 cleavage site, similar to what is found in mammalian IL-1β, was identified producing a mature peptide with a theoretical molecular weight of 17.21 kDa. The pmIL-8 cDNA sequence consisted of 1019 nucleotides which encoded a 95-amino acid protein with a theoretical molecular weight of 10.43 kDa that showed all typical CXC chemokine features, including a 20-residue signal peptide and four conserved cysteine residues. Constitutive mRNA expression was detected for both genes in the liver, head kidney, gill, intestine, skin and spleen. After a bacterial challenge, up-regulation was detected for both pmIL-1β and pmIL-8 in the spleen and head kidney at 12 h post-infection. At 24 h post-infection there was a decrease in the expression of both genes, with pmIL-8 showing a significant down-regulation in the liver and head kidney when compared to the control groups.

The combination of marine origin biopolymers for tissue engineering (TE) applications is of high interest, due to their similarities with the proteins and polysaccharides present in the extracellular matrix of different human tissues. This manuscript reports on innovative collagen-chitosan-fucoidan cryogels formed by the simultaneous blending of these three marine polymers in a chemical-free crosslinking approach. The physicochemical characterization of marine biopolymers comprised FTIR, amino acid analysis, circular dichroism and SDS-PAGE, and suggested that the jellyfish collagen used in the cryogels was not denatured (preserved the triple helical structure) and had similarities with type II collagen. The chitosan presented a high deacetylation degree (90.1%) that can strongly influence the polymer physicochemical properties and biomaterial formation. By its turn, rheology, and SEM studies confirmed that these novel cryogels present interesting properties for TE purposes, such as effective blending of biopolymers without visible material segregation, mechanical stability (strong viscoelastic character), as well as adequate porosity to support cell proliferation and exchange of nutrients and waste products. Additionally, in vitro cellular assessments of all cryogel formulations revealed a non-cytotoxic behavior. The MTS test, live/dead assay and cell morphology assessment (phalloidin DAPI) showed that cryogels can provide a proper microenvironment for cell culturing, supporting cell viability and promoting cell proliferation. Overall, the obtained results suggest that the novel collagen-chitosan-fucoidan cryogels herein presented are promising scaffolds envisaging tissue engineering purposes, as both acellular biomaterials or cell-laden cryogels.

Tibial plateau fractures are a risk to the functional integrity of the knee, affecting the axial alignment and capable of leading to pain and disability of the individual. Early weight bearing and joint mobilization can prevent these functional deficits. the goal of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature about studies that quote the beginning, evolution, and progression criteria for weight-bearing in postoperative period of tibial plateau fractures. We selected articles published in the last 12 years, in Portuguese and English, that described the time of onset and progression of weight-bearing, considering the severity of the fracture. Thirty-six articles were selected. There is no consensus in the literature as to the beginning and evolution of weight-bearing in the postoperative period of tibial plateau fractures; however, a relationship between the severity of the fracture and the fixation method has been observed., Competing Interests: Conflito de Interesses Os autores declaram não haver conflito de interesses.

Introduction: Clinical trials are expensive and often require funding from the pharmaceutical industry (PI). We aimed to compare studies funded by the PI with those funded by other sources in terms of costs, reported results, and strength of evidence., Methods: We searched PubMed for clinical trial reports on metastatic NSCLC published between 2012 and 2017. We divided all the studies into two groups: studies funded by the PI and those funded by other sources. The primary end point was to compare the evidence strength of each group. The secondary end points were to compare the number of patients included, the number and costs of innovative drugs studied, whether there was preferential reporting of positive results in the experimental arm, and the risk of bias., Results: We found 3004 studies, and of these, we analyzed 477 studies (275 sponsored by the PI and 202 funded by other sources). A total of 85,328 patients overall were included (64,434 in studies sponsored by the PI and 20,894 in studies with other funding sources; p < 0.001). The studies funded by the PI had stronger evidence (p < 0.001), evaluated more innovative therapies (72% versus 36%; p < 0.001), and resulted in a higher proportion of open-access manuscripts (63% versus 47%; p < 0.001). There was no considerable difference regarding the reporting of experimental arm superiority or the risk of bias between the two groups., Conclusions: Compared with studies from other sources of funding, those funded by the PI in the lung cancer field collected stronger evidence, assessed more expensive and innovative therapies, and seemed to equally emphasize positive and negative results., (Copyright © 2020 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Atlantic cod is processed industrially for food purposes, with several by-products being directed to animal feed and other ends. Looking particularly into swim bladders, the extraction of collagen can be a valuable strategy for by-product valorization, explored in the present work for the first time. Collagen was extracted using acetic acid (ASCsb) and pepsin (PSCsb) with yields of 5.72% (w/w) and 11.14% (w/w), respectively. SDS-PAGE profile showed that the extracts were compatible with type I collagen. FTIR, CD and XRD results suggest that the PSCsb structure underwent partial denaturation, with microDSC showing a band at 54 °C probably corresponding to a melting process, while ASCsb structure remained intact, with preserved triple helix and a denaturation temperature of 29.6 °C. Amino acid composition indicates that the total content of proline-like amino acids was 148/1000 residues for ASCsb and 141/1000 residues for PSCsb, with a hydroxylation degree of about 37%. The extracts exhibited a typical shear thinning behavior, interesting property regarding their further processing toward the development of biomaterials. In this regard, assessment of metabolic activity of human fibroblast cells cultured in the presence of collagen extracts with concentrations up to 3 mg/mL revealed the absence of cytotoxic behavior. Collagen extracts obtained from Atlantic cod swim bladders shown attractive properties regarding their use in cosmetic or biomedical applications.

Introduction and Aims: Interval colorectal cancer (iCRC) can occur due to missed lesions or to a newly developed lesion. The present study aimed to assess the iCRC rate and its characteristics in our population and find possible explanations., Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosed between January 2011 and January 2015 at our department. Demographics, endoscopic data, and tumor characteristics (location, histology, staging) were collected. We identified patients diagnosed with CCR who underwent colonoscopy at our department in the previous 10years and presented the disease (iCRC) before the date of their next recommended exam. The cases of iCRC were characterized and compared with other CRC cases. Possible explanations for the appearance of iCRC were analyzed., Results: A total of 266 patients presented with CRC, 61.7% were men, and mean patient age was 70.7years. We identified 10 patients with iCRC: 6 were men, and mean patient age was 71.1years. Mean time for iCRC diagnosis after index colonoscopy was 3.5±1.84years. Tumor was located in the right colon in 50% of the patients with iCRC and in 24.5% of the patients without iCRC (P=.091). More patients with iCRC had a family history of CRC (50%) than the patients with reference CRC (3.1%) (P=.000)., Conclusions: In our case series, 3.76% of all CRC were iCRC. There were no statistically significant differences between patients with or without iCRC, with the exception of family history of CRC., (Copyright © 2018. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A.)

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia , Chaetomella pseudocircinoseta and Coniella pseudodiospyri on Eucalyptus microcorys leaves, Cladophialophora eucalypti , Teratosphaeria dunnii and Vermiculariopsiella dunnii on Eucalyptus dunnii leaves, Cylindrium grande and Hypsotheca eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus grandis leaves, Elsinoe salignae on Eucalyptus saligna leaves, Marasmius lebeliae on litter of regenerating subtropical rainforest, Phialoseptomonium eucalypti (incl. Phialoseptomonium gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus grandis × camaldulensis leaves, Phlogicylindrium pawpawense on Eucalyptus tereticornis leaves, Phyllosticta longicauda as an endophyte from healthy Eustrephus latifolius leaves, Pseudosydowia eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus sp. leaves, Saitozyma wallum on Banksia aemula leaves, Teratosphaeria henryi on Corymbia henryi leaves . Brazil , Aspergillus bezerrae , Backusella azygospora , Mariannaea terricola and Talaromyces pernambucoensis from soil, Calonectria matogrossensis on Eucalyptus urophylla leaves, Calvatia brasiliensis on soil, Carcinomyces nordestinensis on Bromelia antiacantha leaves, Dendryphiella stromaticola on small branches of an unidentified plant, Nigrospora brasiliensis on Nopalea cochenillifera leaves, Penicillium alagoense as a leaf endophyte on a Miconia sp., Podosordaria nigrobrunnea on dung, Spegazzinia bromeliacearum as a leaf endophyte on Tilandsia catimbauensis , Xylobolus brasiliensis on decaying wood. Bulgaria , Kazachstania molopis from the gut of the beetle Molops piceus. Croatia , Mollisia endocrystallina from a fallen decorticated Picea abies tree trunk . Ecuador , Hygrocybe rodomaculata on soil. Hungary , Alfoldia vorosii (incl. Alfoldia gen. nov.) from Juniperus communis roots, Kiskunsagia ubrizsyi (incl. Kiskunsagia gen. nov.) from Fumana procumbens roots . India , Aureobasidium tremulum as laboratory contaminant, Leucosporidium himalayensis and Naganishia indica from windblown dust on glaciers. Italy , Neodevriesia cycadicola on Cycas sp. leaves, Pseudocercospora pseudomyrticola on Myrtus communis leaves, Ramularia pistaciae on Pistacia lentiscus leaves, Neognomoniopsis quercina (incl. Neognomoniopsis gen. nov.) on Quercus ilex leaves . Japan , Diaporthe fructicola on Passiflora edulis × P . edulis f. flavicarpa fruit, Entoloma nipponicum on leaf litter in a mixed Cryptomeria japonica and Acer spp. forest. Macedonia , Astraeus macedonicus on soil. Malaysia , Fusicladium eucalyptigenum on Eucalyptus sp. twigs, Neoacrodontiella eucalypti (incl. Neoacrodontiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus urophylla leaves . Mozambique , Meliola gorongosensis on dead Philenoptera violacea leaflets . Nepal , Coniochaeta dendrobiicola from Dendriobium lognicornu roots . New Zealand , Neodevriesia sexualis and Thozetella neonivea on Archontophoenix cunninghamiana leaves . Norway , Calophoma sandfjordenica from a piece of board on a rocky shoreline, Clavaria parvispora on soil, Didymella finnmarkica from a piece of Pinus sylvestris driftwood. Poland , Sugiyamaella trypani from soil. Portugal , Colletotrichum feijoicola from Acca sellowiana. Russia , Crepidotus tobolensis on Populus tremula debris, Entoloma ekaterinae , Entoloma erhardii and Suillus gastroflavus on soil, Nakazawaea ambrosiae from the galleries of Ips typographus under the bark of Picea abies. Slovenia , Pluteus ludwigii on twigs of broadleaved trees. South Africa , Anungitiomyces stellenboschiensis (incl. Anungitiomyces gen. nov.) and Niesslia stellenboschiana on Eucalyptus sp. leaves, Beltraniella pseudoportoricensis on Podocarpus falcatus leaf litter, Corynespora encephalarti on Encephalartos sp. leaves, Cytospora pavettae on Pavetta revoluta leaves, Helminthosporium erythrinicola on Erythrina humeana leaves, Helminthosporium syzygii on a Syzygium sp. bark canker, Libertasomyces aloeticus on Aloe sp. leaves, Penicillium lunae from Musa sp. fruit, Phyllosticta lauridiae on Lauridia tetragona leaves, Pseudotruncatella bolusanthi (incl. Pseudotruncatellaceae fam. nov.) and Dactylella bolusanthi on Bolusanthus speciosus leaves . Spain , Apenidiella foetida on submerged plant debris, Inocybe grammatoides on Quercus ilex subsp. ilex forest humus, Ossicaulis salomii on soil, Phialemonium guarroi from soil. Thailand , Pantospora chromolaenae on Chromolaena odorata leaves . Ukraine , Cadophora helianthi from Helianthus annuus stems . USA , Boletus pseudopinophilus on soil under slash pine, Botryotrichum foricae , Penicillium americanum and Penicillium minnesotense from air. Vietnam , Lycoperdon vietnamense on soil. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important effector molecule which is involved in a myriad of biological processes, including immune responses against pathogens such as parasites, virus and bacteria. During the inflammatory processes in vertebrates, NO is produced by the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) enzyme in practically all nucleated cells to suppress or kill intracellular pathogens. The aim of the present study was to characterize the full coding region of the iNOS gene of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), an economically and ecologically important South American fish species, and to analyze mRNA expression levels following intraperitoneal infection with the pathogenic bacterium Aeromonas dhakensis by means of quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). The results showed that the pacu iNOS transcript is 3237 bp in length, encoding a putative protein composed of 1078 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence showed similarities ranging from 69.03% to 94.34% with other teleost fish and 57.70% with the human iNOS, with all characteristic domains and cofactor binding sites of the enzyme detected. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the iNOS from the red-bellied piranha, another South American characiform, was the closest related sequence to the pacu iNOS. iNOS transcripts were constitutively detected in the liver, spleen and head kidney, and there was a significant upregulation in the liver and spleen at 12, 24 and 48 h after infection with A. dhakensis. No significant variations were observed in the head kidney during the periods analyzed. These results show that iNOS expression was induced by A. dhakensis infection and suggest that this enzyme may be involved in the response to this bacterium in pacu., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)