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Mariana A Antunes,1,2 José Roberto Lapa e Silva,3 Patricia RM Rocco1,2 1Laboratory of Pulmonary Investigation, Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), RJ, Brazil; 2National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; 3Institute of Thoracic Medicine, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil Abstract: COPD is the most frequent chronic respiratory disease and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The major risk factor for COPD development is cigarette smoke, and the most efficient treatment for COPD is smoking cessation. However, even after smoking cessation, inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress may persist and continue contributing to disease progression. Although current therapies for COPD (primarily based on anti-inflammatory agents) contribute to the reduction of airway obstruction and minimize COPD exacerbations, none can avoid disease progression or reduce mortality. Within this context, recent advances in mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy have made this approach a strong candidate for clinical use in the treatment of several pulmonary diseases. MSCs can be readily harvested from diverse tissues and expanded with high efficiency, and have strong immunosuppressive properties. Preclinical studies have demonstrated encouraging outcomes of MSCs therapy for lung disorders, including emphysema. These findings instigated research groups to assess the impact of MSCs in human COPD/emphysema, but clinical results have fallen short of expectations. However, MSCs have demonstrated a good adjuvant role in the clinical scenario. Trials that used MSCs combined with another, primary treatment (eg, endobronchial valves) found that patients derived greater benefit in pulmonary function tests and/or quality of life reports, as well as reductions in systemic markers of inflammation. The present review summarizes and describes the more recent preclinical studies that have been published about MSC therapy for COPD/emphysema and discusses what has already been applied about MSCs treatment in COPD patients in the clinical setting. Keywords: emphysema, mesenchymal stromal cells, inflammation, remodeling, repair

Proverbs are a part of cultural heritage of people. Proverbs about climate and weather influence human behaviours at such areas as agriculture and fishing. The pedagogical use of proverbs promotes to link everyday knowledge with scientific one. However, teachers should be familiar with the meanings of proverbs to integrate them into their classes. This article presents data collected from prospective teachers (n=22) and senior citizens (n=38). The results show that both of the groups believed proverbs, even though there were some differences concerning their familiarities with the content of the proverbs. This shows that the proverbs should be successfully used in science teaching to facilitate a better conceptual understanding of science content. Therefore, proverbs should be approached in teacher education contexts.

Water demands from agriculture and industry have intensified groundwater extraction, prompting a focused study to bolster water resources, particularly at Gabès region (Southeastern Tunisia). Through extensive geologic and geophysical investigations, the reservoir geometry and structural architecture of crucial aquifers, notably the Mio-Plio-Quaternary and Cretaceous aquifers have been studied. The integration of geochemical and geophysical data allows for a nuanced assessment of fault structures and groundwater hydrodynamics. Advanced techniques, like horizontal gradient and upward extension unveils structural features and density contrasts with precision. This study extends to a spatiotemporal analysis of aquifer hydrodynamics and groundwater mineralization. The Gabès aquifer system exhibits four groundwater facies: Ca–Mg–SO4, Na–Cl–NO3, Ca–Mg–HCO3, and Na–K–HCO3. Results reveal relative isotopic depletion, suggesting recharge under colder climates and at higher altitudes. However, the study underscores the impact of climate change, with increasing temperature and dwindling precipitation in North Africa, since the mid-20th century. This research is a relevant contribution to sustainable water management by emphasizing the impact of climate change scenarios and groundwater resources management. The detailed exploration of hydrogeological characteristics and aquifer dynamics in the Gabès region is pivotal on effective management of groundwater resources strategies in semi-arid environments.

Stepping up to Global Challenges (SGC) aimed to provide students with opportunities for language practice through task-based learning activities and the use of digital platforms for interaction. Marketing students at the Polytechnic of Viseu, Portugal, collaborated with peers from Poland and Turkey, choosing an image on entrepreneurship and posting it on the SGC Facebook page to solicit comments from their own and other groups. This was one of the tasks assigned during the 2nd semester of 2019/20, under the constraints of COVID-19. We analyzed the students’ choices, main difficulties, and motivation to persist in learning and improving their skills to share knowledge with (inter)national peers.

This article presents a case study where FWD and GPR, two NDT methods, were combined to assess the bearing capacity of a flexible pavement. The thickness of the bituminous layer was estimated using a coreless GPR approach: the Common Mid-Point method with Air-Coupled antennas, by combining multiple GPR offset configurations.

OBJETIVOS: Estudar as práticas sexuais de risco para a infecção pelo HIV de estudantes adultos jovens (18 a 25 anos) de escolas públicas noturnas e avaliar as diferenças de gênero e o impacto de um programa de prevenção de Aids. MÉTODOS: Estudo longitudinal de intervenção, em quatro escolas da região central do Município de São Paulo, SP, divididas aleatoriamente em dois grupos: intervenção e controle. Uma amostra de 394 estudantes participou do estudo, e 77% completaram o questionário pós-intervenção. Realizaram-se "Oficinas de Sexo Mais Seguro" para discutir simbolismo da Aids, percepção de risco, influências das normas de gênero nas atitudes, informações sobre Aids, corpo erótico e reprodutivo, prazer sexual e negociação do uso do preservativo. Para a análise estatística, foram empregados os testes qui-quadrado de Pearson e a análise de co-variância. RESULTADOS: A freqüência do uso consistente de preservativo foi baixa (33%), e existiam diferenças significativas entre homens e mulheres com referência à sexualidade e à prevenção de Aids. Ao avaliar os efeitos das oficinas, as mudanças foram estatisticamente significativas entre as mulheres, que relataram maior proporção de sexo protegido entre outros aspectos relacionados à prevenção da Aids. As mudanças não foram significativas entre os homens. CONCLUSÕES: O risco para a infecção pelo HIV pode ser diminuído, mas resultados mais expressivos podem ser encontrados se forem consideradas as diferenças de gênero e de papéis sexuais por meio de programas comunitários específicos de longa duração.

Abstract Background A systematic method for plant genome manipulation is a major aim of plant biotechnology. One approach to achieving this involves producing a double-strand DNA break at a genomic target site followed by the introduction or removal of DNA sequences by cellular DNA repair. Hence, a site-specific endonuclease capable of targeting double-strand breaks to unique locations in the plant genome is needed. Results We engineered and tested a synthetic homing endonuclease, PB1, derived from the I-CreI endonuclease of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which was re-designed to recognize and cleave a newly specified DNA sequence. We demonstrate that an activity-optimized version of the PB1 endonuclease, under the control of a heat-inducible promoter, is capable of targeting DNA breaks to an introduced PB1 recognition site in the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana. We further demonstrate that this engineered endonuclease can very efficiently excise unwanted transgenic DNA, such as an herbicide resistance marker, from the genome when the marker gene is flanked by PB1 recognition sites. Interestingly, under certain conditions the repair of the DNA junctions resulted in a conservative pairing of recognition half sites to remove the intervening DNA and reconstitute a single functional recognition site. Conclusion These results establish parameters needed to use engineered homing endonucleases for the modification of endogenous loci in plant genomes.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of thermal adaptation is crucial to predict the impacts of global warming. However, there is still a lack of research on the effects of rising temperatures over time and of studies involving different populations from the same species. The present study focuses on these two aspects, which are of great importance in understanding how organisms cope and adapt to ongoing changes in their environment. This study investigates the impact of global warming on the gene expression patterns of Drosophila subobscura populations from two different latitudinal locations after 23 generations of evolution. Our results indicate that evolutionary changes depend on the genetic background of the populations, with different starting points for thermal evolution, and that high-latitude populations show more pronounced evolutionary changes, with some evidence of convergence towards low-latitude populations. We found an interplay between plasticity and selection, with the high-latitude population showing fewer initial plastic genes and lower levels of adaptive plasticity, but a greater magnitude of change in both plastic and selective responses during evolution under warming conditions compared with its low-latitude counterpart. A substantial proportion of the transcriptome was observed to be evolving, despite the lack of observable response at higher-order phenotypic traits. The interplay between plasticity and selection may prove to be an essential component in shaping species' evolutionary responses to climate change. Furthermore, the value of conducting studies on multiple populations of the same species is emphasised, given the identification of differences between populations with different backgrounds in several contexts., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Body size is a key morphological trait that affects physiology and metabolism, as well as other relevant traits such as fertility and mating success. Some evidence points to a trend of shrinking body size with increasing temperature, but this is far from unequivocal. Here, we assess the evolution of body size under a warming environment in experimentally evolved Drosophila subobscura populations from two distinct geographical origins, tested in both ancestral and warming environments. We observed a decrease in body size in the warming populations, but only in the lower-latitude populations and only when tested in the ancestral (control) environment. The absence of a body size response in the warming environment may be owing to a balance between forces promoting thermodynamic stability-leading to a tendency for body size to decrease-and selection for increased reproductive output-leading to an increase in body size. Our findings indicate that body size variation is complex, with genotype-by-environment interactions occurring. This may explain the lack of consistency across studies. This highlights that predictions of body size evolution under climate warming are not straightforward and emphasizes the need for considering intra- and inter-specific variation in future studies.

A comprehensive understanding of the genetic mechanisms that shape species responses to thermal variation is essential for more accurate predictions of the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. Experimental evolution with high-throughput resequencing approaches (evolve and resequence) is a highly effective tool that has been increasingly employed to elucidate the genetic basis of adaptation. The number of thermal evolve and resequence studies is rising, yet there is a dearth of efforts to integrate this new wealth of knowledge. Here, we review this literature showing how these studies have contributed to increase our understanding on the genetic basis of thermal adaptation. We identify two major trends: highly polygenic basis of thermal adaptation and general lack of consistency in candidate targets of selection between studies. These findings indicate that the adaptive responses to specific environments are rather independent. A review of the literature reveals several gaps in the existing research. Firstly, there is a paucity of studies done with organisms of diverse taxa. Secondly, there is a need to apply more dynamic and ecologically relevant thermal environments. Thirdly, there is a lack of studies that integrate genomic changes with changes in life history and behavioral traits. Addressing these issues would allow a more in-depth understanding of the relationship between genotype and phenotype. We highlight key methodological aspects that can address some of the limitations and omissions identified. These include the need for greater standardization of methodologies and the utilization of new technologies focusing on the integration of genomic and phenotypic variation in the context of thermal adaptation., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.)

Background: Deep penetrating endometriosis (DE) can affect abdominal and pelvic organs like the bowel and bladder, requiring treatment to alleviate symptoms., Aims: To study and investigate clinical and surgical outcomes in patients diagnosed with DE involving the intestines, aiming to analyze the effectiveness of surgical treatments., Methods: All cases treated from January 2021 to July 2023 were included, focusing on patients aged 18 years or older with the disease affecting the intestines. Patients without intestinal involvement and those with less than six months of post-surgery follow-up were excluded. Intestinal involvement was defined as direct invasion of the intestinal wall or requiring adhesion lysis for complete resection. Primary outcomes were adhesion lysis, rectal shaving, disc excision (no-colectomy group), and segmental resection (colectomy group) along with surgical complications like anastomotic leak and fistulas, monitored for up to 30 days., Results: Out of 169 patients with DE surgically treated, 76 met the inclusion criteria. No colectomy treatment was selected for 50 (65.7%) patients, while 26 (34.2%) underwent rectosigmoidectomy (RTS). Diarrhea during menstruation was the most prevalent symptom in the RTS group (19.2 vs. 6%, p<0.001). Surgical outcomes indicated longer operative times and hospital stays for the segmental resection group, respectively 186.5 vs. 104 min (p<0.001) and 4 vs. 2 days, (p<0.001). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥3) had an overall prevalence of 6 (7.9%) cases, without any difference between the groups. There was no mortality reported. Larger lesions and specific symptoms like dyschezia and rectal bleeding were associated with a higher likelihood of RTS. Bayesian regression highlighted diarrhea close to menstruation as a strong predictor of segmental resection., Conclusions: In patients with DE involving the intestines, symptoms such as dyschezia, rectal bleeding, and menstrual period-related diarrhea predict RTS. However, severe complication rates did not differ significantly between the segmental resection group and no-colectomy group.

Biological collections are important repositories of biodiversity, as they include various types of data potentially useful to different areas of science and can contribute to the establishment of biodiversity conservation policies. For a long time, scientific collections were considered only as physical databases; in this context Harold G. Fowler (19502018) built an ant collection at the Universidade Estadual Paulista, campus Rio Claro (So Paulo state, Brazil), over the course of a 34-year career, comprising around 20,000 ant specimens. Most specimens came from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, but many others came from distinct locations in Brazil and abroad. After his death, the collection was left without the necessary curatorial care for a period of time, which required a project to be conceived for its recovery and conservation, with the goal of incorporating it to the Zoology Museum of the University of So Paulo (MZSP). In addition to applying modern technical curation protocols, other activities such as checking, material identification and digitization of the information contained on the sample labels were carried out, forming an accurate database. This process enabled the identification of new distribution records and the discovery of possible undescribed species and unpublished natural history data. After validating this information, we counted 524 valid species and 201 morphospecies belonging to 105 genera and 10 subfamilies. In addition, we integrated technical curation activities with scientific outreach to draw the general publics attention to the importance of biological collections, thus fostering interest in science, biodiversity and nature conservation. Our work highlights the importance of preserving the areas sampled by Fowlers research group. The preservation of vouchers using curatorial practices reinforces the role of scientific collections as important tools for the study, understanding and preservation of biodiversity.

Background: The negative impacts of climate change on biodiversity are consistently increasing. Developmental stages are particularly sensitive in many ectotherms. Moreover, sex-specific differences in how organisms cope with thermal stress can produce biased sex ratios upon emergence, with potentially major impacts on population persistence. This is an issue that needs investigation, particularly testing whether thermal selection can alleviate sex ratio distortions in the long-term is a critical but neglected issue. Here, we report an experiment analyzing the sex ratio patterns at different developmental temperatures in Drosophila subobscura populations subjected to long-term experimental evolution (~ 30 generations) under a warming environment., Results: We show that exposure to high developmental temperatures consistently promotes sex ratio imbalance upon emergence, with a higher number of female than male offspring. Furthermore, we found that thermal selection resulting from evolution in a warming environment did not alleviate such sex ratio distortions generated by heat stress., Conclusions: We demonstrate that heat stress during development can lead to clear sex ratio deviations upon emergence likely because of differential survival between sexes. In face of these findings, it is likely that sex ratio deviations of this sort occur in natural populations when facing environmental perturbation. The inability of many insects to avoid thermal shifts during their (more) sessile developmental stages makes this finding particularly troublesome for population subsistence in face of climate warming events., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Dexmedetomidine (DEX) and low-dose ketamine (KET) present neuroprotective effects in acute ischemic stroke (AIS); however, to date, no studies have evaluated which has better protective effects not only on the brain but also lungs in AIS., Methods: AIS-induced Wistar rats (390 ± 30 g) were randomized after 24-h, receiving dexmedetomidine (STROKE-DEX, n = 10) or low-dose S(+)-ketamine (STROKE-KET, n = 10). After 1-h protective ventilation, perilesional brain tissue and lungs were removed for histologic and molecular biology analysis. STROKE animals (n = 5), receiving sodium thiopental but not ventilated, had brain and lungs removed for molecular biology analysis. Effects of DEX and KET mean plasma concentrations on alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, and lung endothelial cells, extracted primarily 24-h after AIS, were evaluated., Results: In perilesional brain tissue, apoptosis did not differ between groups. In STROKE-DEX, compared to STROKE-KET, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expressions were reduced, but no changes in nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and super oxide dismutase (SOD)-1 were observed. In lungs, TNF-α and VCAM-1 were reduced, whereas Nrf2 and SOD-1 were increased in STROKE-DEX. In alveolar macrophages, TNF-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (M1 macrophage phenotype) were lower and arginase and transforming growth factor-β (M2 macrophage phenotype) higher in STROKE-DEX. In lung neutrophils, CXC chemokine receptors (CXCR2 and CXCR4) were higher in STROKE-DEX. In lung endothelial cells, E-selectin and VCAM-1 were lower in STROKE-DEX., Conclusions: In the current AIS model, dexmedetomidine compared to low-dose ketamine reduced inflammation and endothelial cell damage in both brain and lung, suggesting greater protection., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a major cause of lymphoma in cattle and has been recently correlated to breast cancer in humans. How and whether BLV might reach humans remains unknown but it could be through cattle-derived milk and meat. Here our aim was to investigate whether BLV DNA could be found in fresh milk and raw meat destined to human consumption and whether anti-BLV antibodies could be detected in human blood at the same geographical region. Milk (n = 36) and meat (n = 54) samples were collected from cows knowingly seropositive or negative to BLV and evaluated by nested PCR targeting BLV tax gene. Human serum samples (n = 900) were tested by ELISA to detect anti-BLV antibodies. BLV DNA was detected in 39 % of the milk samples and in 32 % of meat samples from BLV positive cows. Anti-BLV antibodies were found in 4.1 % of the human serum samples. Our data further supports the hypothesis that BLV might cause a zoonotic infection and indicate that milk and meat from BLV-infected cattle might be considered a potential source of infection to humans., 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.)

This study aimed to analyze whether community food environments are associated with individual food consumption among nutrition students and newly graduated nutritionists. This cross-sectional study used data from the Nutritionists' Health Study cohort, which included 357 undergraduate nutrition students from the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Exposure to the food environment was defined as the proximity and availability of food outlets within a 500 m buffer from the participants' homes. Food consumption was assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire and analyzed according to the NOVA classification. Multi-level linear regression models with fixed effects were used to estimate the presence of food outlets within the buffer and their association with food consumption. The presence of mini-markets in the buffer in the fourth quartile was associated with lower consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) when observing socioeconomic and lifestyle conditions (β = -3.29; 95% CI = -6.39 to -0.19). The presence of bakeries and coffee shops was related to lower consumption of ultra-processed foods among participants when observing socioeconomic conditions (β = -3.10; 95% CI = -6.18 to -0.02). There was no clear evidence of an association between the type of food outlet and UPF consumption. The community food environment seemed to influence food consumption among study participants, although clearer and more consistent evidence on this subject is needed.

The increasing resistance to antifungal agents associated with toxicity and interactions turns therapeutic management of fungal infections difficult. This scenario emphasizes the importance of drug repositioning, such as nitroxoline - a urinary antibacterial agent that has shown potential antifungal activity. The aims of this study were to discover the possible therapeutic targets of nitroxoline using an in silico approach, and to determine the in vitro antifungal activity of the drug against the fungal cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane. We explored the biological activity of nitroxoline using PASS, SwissTargetPrediction and Cortellis Drug Discovery Intelligence web tools. After confirmation, the molecule was designed and optimized in HyperChem software. GOLD 2020.1 software was used to predict the interactions between the drug and the target proteins. In vitro investigation evaluated the effect of nitroxoline on the fungal cell wall through sorbitol protection assay. Ergosterol binding assay was carried out to assess the effect of the drug on the cytoplasmic membrane. In silico investigation revealed biological activity with alkane 1-monooxygenase and methionine aminopeptidase enzymes, showing nine and five interactions in the molecular docking, respectively. In vitro results exhibited no effect on the fungal cell wall or cytoplasmic membrane. Finally, nitroxoline has potential as an antifungal agent due to the interaction with alkane 1-monooxygenase and methionine aminopeptidase enzymes, which are not the main human therapeutic targets. These results have potentially revealed a new biological target for the treatment of fungal infections. We also consider that further studies are required to confirm the biological activity of nitroxoline on fungal cells, mainly the confirmation of the alkB gene., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Current rising temperatures are threatening biodiversity. It is therefore crucial to understand how climate change impacts male and female fertility and whether evolutionary responses can help in coping with heat stress. We use experimental evolution to study male and female fertility during the real-time evolution of two historically differentiated populations of Drosophila subobscura under different thermal selection regimes for 23 generations. We aim to (a) tease apart sex-specific differences in fertility after exposure to warming conditions during development, (b) test whether thermal selection can enhance fertility under thermal stress, and (c) address the role of historically distinct genetic backgrounds. Contrary to expectations, heat stress during development had a higher negative impact on female fertility than on male fertility. We did not find clear evidence for enhanced fertility in males or females evolving under warming conditions. Population history had a clear impact on fertility response under thermal stress, particularly in males with those from lower latitude presenting better performance than their higher latitude counterparts. We show that the impact of thermal stress on fertility varies between traits, sexes, and genetic backgrounds. Incorporating these several levels of variation is crucial for a deeper understanding of how fertility evolves under climate change., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE). All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: Despite higher sperm DNA fragmentation may affect intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes, sperm selection protocols do not evaluate this parameter. Therefore, sperm's head birefringence has been suggested as an adjuvant of seminal processing to select viable sperm for couples with severe male factor. Considering men with normal seminal parameters may also curse with DNA fragmentation, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of sperm selection by birefringence on ICSI outcomes in couples with different infertility factors compared to those submitted to conventional sperm selection., Methods: In this case-control study, medical records from 181 couples who underwent ICSI from January 2018 to August 2020 (107 from the Conventional and 74 from the Birefringence group) were included in the study. Clinical characteristics and ICSI outcomes were compared between the groups using Student's t test or Chi-square test (p<0.05) and a multivariate logistic regression model was applied regarding clinical pregnancy., Results: Despite the Birefringence group showed higher female age (p=0.01), lower seminal sperm concentration (p<0.01) and higher sperm DNA fragmentation (p<0.01), those patients cursed with both higher cleavage rate (p=0.04), clinical pregnancy rate per transfer (p=0.03) and clinical pregnancy rate per initiated cycle (p=0.02). The logistic regression showed a positive group effect on clinical pregnancy., Conclusions: The findings suggest a positive clinical impact of this cheap and easily reproducible adjuvant technique on ICSI outcomes in couples with different infertility factors. If confirmed by further methodologically appropriate studies, the sperm's head birefringence could be considered to improve the reproductive chances of those patients.

Adaptation to increasingly warmer environments may be critical to avoid extinction. Whether and how these adaptive responses can arise is under debate. Though several studies have tackled evolutionary responses under different thermal selective regimes, very few have specifically addressed the underlying patterns of thermal adaptation under scenarios of progressive warming conditions. Also, considering how much past history affects such evolutionary response is critical. Here, we report a long-term experimental evolution study addressing the adaptive response of Drosophila subobscura populations with distinct biogeographical history to two thermal regimes. Our results showed clear differences between the historically differentiated populations, with adaptation to the warming conditions only evident in the low latitude populations. Furthermore, this adaptation was only detected after more than 30 generations of thermal evolution. Our findings show some evolutionary potential of Drosophila populations to respond to a warming environment, but the response was slow and population specific, emphasizing limitations to the ability of ectotherms to adapt to rapid thermal shifts., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: To investigate the relationship between covid-19 hospital mortality and risk factors, innovating by considering contextual and individual factors and spatial dependency and using data from the city of São Paulo, Brazil., Methods: The study was performed with a spatial hierarchical retrospective cohort design using secondary data (individuals and contextual data) from hospitalized patients and their geographic unit residences. The study period corresponded to the first year of the pandemic, from February 25, 2020 to February 24, 2021. Mortality was modeled with the Bayesian context, Bernoulli probability distribution, and the integrated nested Laplace approximations. The demographic, distal, medial, and proximal covariates were considered., Results: We found that per capita income, a contextual covariate, was a protective factor (odds ratio: 0.76 [95% credible interval: 0.74-0.78]). After adjusting for income, the other adjustments revealed no differences in spatial dependence. Without income inequality in São Paulo, the spatial risk of death would be close to one in the city. Other factors associated with high covid-19 hospital mortality were male sex, advanced age, comorbidities, ventilation, treatment in public healthcare settings, and experiencing the first covid-19 symptoms between January 24 and February 24, 2021., Conclusions: Other than sex and age differences, geographic income inequality was the main factor responsible for the spatial differences in the risk of covid-19 hospital mortality. Investing in public policies to reduce socioeconomic inequities, infection prevention, and other intersectoral measures should focus on lower per capita income, to control covid-19 hospital mortality.

Objective: To estimate seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in schoolchildren aged 4 to 14 years living in the city of São Paulo, according to clinical, demographic, epidemiological, and social variables, during the school closure period as a measure against covid-19 spread., Methods: A serological survey was made in September 2020 with a random sample stratified by school system (municipal public, state public and private) type. A venous blood sample was collected using the Wondfo SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Test (lateral flow method) for detection of total SARS-CoV-2 virus antibodies. Semi-structured questionnaires were applied to collect clinical, demographic, social, and epidemiological data., Results: Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in schoolchildren was of 16.6% (95%CI 15.4-17.8). The study found higher seroprevalence in the municipal (18.5%; 95%CI 16.6-20.6) and state (16.2%; 95%CI 14.4-18.2) public school systems compared to the private school system (11.7; 95%CI 10.0-13.7), among black and brown students (18.4%; 95%CI 16.8-20.2) and in the most vulnerable social stratum (18.5 %;95%CI 16.9-20.2). Lower seroprevalence was identified in schoolchildren who reported following the recommended protective measures against covid-19., Conclusion: Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies is found mainly in the most socially vulnerable schoolchildren. This study can contribute to support public policies that reinforce the importance of suspending face-to-face classes and developing strategies aimed at protective measures and monitoring of the serological status of those who have not yet been included in the vaccination schedule.

The effects of the administration of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) may vary according to the source. We hypothesized that MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) obtained from bone marrow (BM), adipose (AD), or lung (L) tissues may also lead to different effects in sepsis. We profiled the proteome from EVs as a first step toward understanding their mechanisms of action. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by cecal ligation and puncture (SEPSIS) and SHAM (control) animals only underwent laparotomy. Twenty-four hours after surgery, animals in the SEPSIS group were randomized to receive saline or 3 × 10 6 MSC-derived EVs from BM, AD, or L. The diffuse alveolar damage was decreased with EVs from all three sources. In kidneys, BM-, AD-, and L-EVs reduced edema and expression of interleukin-18. Kidney injury molecule-1 expression decreased only in BM- and L-EVs groups. In the liver, only BM-EVs reduced congestion and cell infiltration. The size and number of EVs from different sources were not different, but the proteome of the EVs differed. BM-EVs were enriched for anti-inflammatory proteins compared with AD-EVs and L-EVs. In conclusion, BM-EVs were associated with less organ damage compared with the other sources of EVs, which may be related to differences detected in their proteome.

Objective: Childhood maltreatment is associated with late-life depression. Preliminary evidence indicates that personality characteristics, in particular neuroticism and extroversion, and an anxious attachment style mediate this association. The objective is to evaluate 3 models, in which personality and attachment are considered mediators between childhood maltreatment and late-life depression in a socioeconomically disadvantaged Brazilian population., Methods: This study included participants (n = 260) from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods of Porto Alegre, Brazil, who completed measures of childhood maltreatment (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - CTQ), personality characteristics (NEO-Five Factor Inventory), attachment styles (Relationship Scales Questionnaire), and geriatric depression (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus). General multiple and sequential mediation analyses were used to test for possible associations., Results: Attachment anxiety but not attachment avoidance is a mediator between childhood maltreatment and geriatric depression. Neuroticism is a full mediator. At that, attachment anxiety was found to be a predictor of neuroticism. Finally, sequential mediation analysis shows a path from childhood maltreatment to geriatric depression through attachment anxiety and neuroticism., Conclusions: The results suggest a pathway from childhood maltreatment to anxious attachment, which in turn predicts higher neuroticism that itself may favor late-life depression. This hypothesis could have implications for older adults living in low socioeconomic settings in that treating the high-risk group of maltreated children may help prevent late-life depression.

Adaptive evolution is critical for animal populations to thrive in the fast-changing natural environments. Ectotherms are particularly vulnerable to global warming and, although their limited coping ability has been suggested, few real-time evolution experiments have directly accessed their evolutionary potential. Here, we report a long-term experimental evolution study addressing the evolution of Drosophila thermal reaction norms, after ∼30 generations under different dynamic thermal regimes: fluctuating (daily variation between 15 and 21 °C) or warming (daily fluctuation with increases in both thermal mean and variance across generations). We analyzed the evolutionary dynamics of Drosophila subobscura populations as a function of the thermally variable environments in which they evolved and their distinct background. Our results showed clear differences between the historically differentiated populations: high latitude D. subobscura populations responded to selection, improving their reproductive success at higher temperatures whereas their low latitude counterparts did not. This suggests population variation in the amount of genetic variation available for thermal adaptation, an aspect that needs to be considered to allow for better predictions of future climate change responses. Our results highlight the complex nature of thermal responses in face of environmental heterogeneity and emphasize the importance of considering inter-population variation in thermal evolution studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no competing interests to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To identify spatial variability of mortality from breast and cervical cancer and to assess factors associated in the city of São Paulo., Methods: Between 2009 and 2016, 10,124 deaths from breast cancer and 2,116 deaths from cervical cancer were recorded in the Mortality Information System among women aged 20 years and over. The records were geocoded by address of residence and grouped according to Primary Health Care coverage areas. A spatial regression modeling was put together using the Bayesian approach with a Besag-York-Mollié structure to verify the association of deaths with selected indicators., Results: Mortality rates from these types of cancer showed inverse spatial patterns. These variables were associated with breast cancer mortality: travel time between one and two hours to work (RR - relative risk: 0.97; 95%CI - credible interval: 0.93-1.00); women being the head of the household (RR 0.97; 95%CI 0.94-0.99) and deaths from breast cancer in private health institutions (RR 1.04; 95%CI 1.00-1.07). The following variables were associated with mortality from cervical cancer: travel time to work between half an hour and one hour (RR 0.92; 95%CI 0.87-0.98); per capita household income of up to 3 minimum wages (RR 1.27; 95%CI 1.18-1.37) and ratio of children under one year of age related to the female population aged 15 to 49 years (RR 1.09; 95%CI 1.01-1.18)., Conclusion: The predicted RR for mortality from these cancers were calculated and associated with the socioeconomic conditions of the areas covered.

Background: Many individuals experience visual symptoms associated with near work. The level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of digital screen use., Objective: To study the eye discomfort with near tasks in university students in the pre-COVID period and in the period of confinement due to the pandemic., Methods: Two independent samples of students, aged between 18 and 35 years, were used to assess symptomatic behaviour with the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) questionnaire. In the pre-COVID period the sample had 342 participants, 64.6% females and in the COVID period 322 students participated, 71.4% females. The study of differences was carried out by the Mann-Whitney U test. The interpretation of the statistical inference was performed for a significance level≤0.05., Results: There was an increase in the number of symptomatic cases in the COVID period without statistical evidence of differences in the frequency of symptoms reported in the two periods. The dimensions "somatic sensations" and "cognitive performance" were the typology of symptoms that most contributed to visual complaints with near vision. There was a significantly different symptomatic behaviour between genders in the period of confinement (p = 0.001), worsening in females and improving in males., Conclusion: These findings suggest that females and males exposed to digital environments, over time, may exhibit different symptomatic behaviour. Our results suggest that boys adapt more quickly than girls. Factors that predispose to these changes, aetiology and potential intervention actions still need further study.

Background: Sedatives and mild hypothermia alone may yield neuroprotective effects in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the impact of this combination is still under investigation. We compared the effects of the combination of mild hypothermia or normothermia with propofol or dexmedetomidine on brain, lung, and kidney in experimental AIS. AIS-induced Wistar rats (n = 30) were randomly assigned, after 24 h, to normothermia or mild hypothermia (32-35 °C) with propofol or dexmedetomidine. Histologic injury score and molecular biomarkers were evaluated not only in brain, but also in lung and kidney. Hemodynamics, ventilatory parameters, and carotid Doppler ultrasonography were analyzed for 60 min., Results: In brain: (1) hypothermia compared to normothermia, regardless of sedative, decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression and histologic injury score; (2) normothermia + dexmedetomidine reduced TNF-α and histologic injury score compared to normothermia + propofol; (3) hypothermia + dexmedetomidine increased zonula occludens-1 expression compared to normothermia + dexmedetomidine. In lungs: (1) hypothermia + propofol compared to normothermia + propofol reduced TNF-α and histologic injury score; (2) hypothermia + dexmedetomidine compared to normothermia + dexmedetomidine reduced histologic injury score. In kidneys: (1) hypothermia + dexmedetomidine compared to normothermia + dexmedetomidine decreased syndecan expression and histologic injury score; (2) hypothermia + dexmedetomidine compared to hypothermia + propofol decreased histologic injury score., Conclusions: In experimental AIS, the combination of mild hypothermia with dexmedetomidine reduced brain, lung, and kidney damage., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

This paper describes studies for the determination of total concentration and bioaccessible fraction of minerals in peaches by MIP OES. The PCA analysis identified 3 distinct groups of elements concerning the total concentration, which was attributed to the origin of each cultivar. Among the macroelements, K presented higher values for total concentration, while B and Fe predominated among the microelements. Regarding the bioaccessible fraction, Mn presented the highest percentage (46-84%), followed by Zn and B (10-63% and 33-57%, respectively). Pearson's correlation coefficient revealed that reducing sugars and titratable acidity can influence the mineral bioaccessibility, highlighting the strong positive correlations between reducing sugars with Mn and total acidity with Fe. Peach cultivars have satisfactory nutritional value, but the total and bioaccessible concentrations of minerals obtained do not meet the recommended daily needs, requiring the consumption of other fruits and vegetables to complement the diet., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Silicosis is an irreversible and progressive fibrotic lung disease caused by massive inhalation of crystalline silica dust at workplaces, affecting millions of industrial workers worldwide. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor, nintedanib (NTB), has emerged as a potential silicosis treatment due to its inhibitory effects on key signaling pathways that promote silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, chronic and frequent use of the oral NTB formulation clinically approved for treating other fibrotic lung diseases often results in significant side effects. To this end, we engineered a nanocrystal-based suspension formulation of NTB (NTB-NS) possessing specific physicochemical properties to enhance drug retention in the lung for localized treatment of silicosis via inhalation. Our NTB-NS formulation was prepared using a wet-milling procedure in presence of Pluronic F127 to endow the formulation with nonadhesive surface coatings to minimize interactions with therapy-inactivating delivery barriers in the lung. We found that NTB-NS, following intratracheal administration, provided robust anti-fibrotic effects and mechanical lung function recovery in a mouse model of silicosis, whereas a 100-fold greater oral NTB dose given with a triple dosing frequency failed to do so. Importantly, several key pathological phenotypes were fully normalized by NTB-NS without displaying notable local or systemic adverse effects. Overall, NTB-NS may open a new avenue for localized treatment of silicosis and potentially other fibrotic lung diseases., (© 2022 The Authors. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Institute of Chemical Engineers.)

Optimal fluid management is critical during mechanical ventilation to mitigate lung damage. Under normovolemia and protective ventilation, pulmonary tensile stress during pressure-support ventilation (PSV) results in comparable lung protection to compressive stress during pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) in experimental acute lung injury (ALI). It is not yet known whether tensile stress can lead to comparable protection to compressive stress in ALI under a liberal fluid strategy (LF). A conservative fluid strategy (CF) was compared with LF during PSV and PCV on lungs and kidneys in an established model of ALI. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats received endotoxin intratracheally. After 24 h, they were treated with CF (minimum volume of Ringer's lactate to maintain normovolemia and mean arterial pressure ≥70 mmHg) or LF (~4 times higher than CF) combined with PSV or PCV (V T  = 6 ml/kg, PEEP = 3 cmH 2 O) for 1 h. Nonventilated animals (n = 4) were used for molecular biology analyses. CF-PSV compared with LF-PSV: (1) decreased the diffuse alveolar damage score (10 [7.8-12] vs. 25 [23-31.5], p = 0.006), mainly due to edema in axial and alveolar parenchyma; (2) increased birefringence for occludin and claudin-4 in lung tissue and expression of zonula-occludens-1 and metalloproteinase-9 in lung. LF compared with CF reduced neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and interleukin-6 expression in the kidneys in PSV and PCV. In conclusion, CF compared with LF combined with PSV yielded less lung epithelial cell damage in the current model of ALI. However, LF compared with CF resulted in less kidney injury markers, regardless of the ventilatory strategy., (© 2022 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society.)

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is an indispensable tool in antibody discovery projects. However, the limits on NGS read length make it difficult to reconstruct full antibody sequences from the sequencing runs, especially if the six CDRs are randomized. To overcome that, we took advantage of Illumina's cluster mapping capabilities to pair non-overlapping reads and reconstruct full Fab sequences with accurate V L :V H pairings. The method relies on in silico cluster coordinate information, and not on extensive in vitro manipulation, making the protocol easily deployable and less prone to PCR-derived errors. This work maintains the throughput necessary for antibody discovery campaigns, and a high degree of fidelity, which potentiates not only phage-display and synthetic library-based discovery methods, but also the NGS-driven analysis of naïve and immune libraries., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

The time-controlled adaptive ventilation (TCAV) method attenuates lung damage in acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, so far, no study has evaluated the impact of the TCAV method on ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) and cardiac function in emphysema. We hypothesized that the use of the TCAV method to achieve an expiratory flow termination/expiratory peak flow (E FT /E PF ) of 25% could reduce VILI and improve right ventricular function in elastase-induced lung emphysema in rats. Five weeks after the last intratracheal instillation of elastase, animals were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated for 1 h using TCAV adjusted to either E FT /E PF 25% or E FT /E PF 75%, the latter often applied in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) groups with positive end-expiratory pressure levels similar to positive end-release pressure in TCAV with E FT /E PF 25% and E FT /E PF 75% were also analyzed. Echocardiography and lung ultrasonography were monitored. Lung morphometry, alveolar heterogeneity, and biological markers related to inflammation [interleukin 6 (IL-6), CINC-1], alveolar pulmonary stretch (amphiregulin), lung matrix damage [metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9)] were assessed. E FT /E PF 25% reduced respiratory system peak pressure, mean linear intercept, B lines at lung ultrasonography, and increased pulmonary acceleration time/pulmonary ejection time ratio compared with E FT /E PF 75%. The volume fraction of mononuclear cells, neutrophils, and expression of IL-6, CINC-1, amphiregulin, and MMP-9 were lower with E FT /E PF 25% than with E FT /E PF 75%. In conclusion, TCAV with E FT /E PF 25%, compared with E FT /E PF 75%, led to less lung inflammation, hyperinflation, and pulmonary arterial hypertension, which may be a promising strategy for patients with emphysema. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The TCAV method reduces lung damage in ARDS. However, so far, no study has evaluated the impact of the TCAV method on ventilator-induced lung injury and cardiac function in experimental emphysema. The TCAV method at E FT /E PF ratio of 25%, compared with E FT /E PF of 75% (frequently used in ARDS), reduced lung inflammation, alveolar heterogeneity and hyperinflation, and pulmonary arterial hypertension in elastase-induced emphysema. TCAV may be a promising and personalized ventilation strategy for patients with emphysema.

Fusariosis affects cereal grain crops worldwide and is responsible for devastating crops, reducing grain quality and yield, and producing strong mycotoxins. Benzimidazoles and triazoles were recommended to combat fusariosis; however, there were reports of resistance, making it necessary to reflect on the reasons for this occurrence. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the fusariosis resistance to the main agricultural fungicides, to observe whether this resistance can cause changes in the production of mycotoxins, and to verify the influence of resistance on the cereal grain production chain. Scientific articles were selected from the ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Pubmed databases, published at maximum 10 years ago and covering the main fungicide classes that combat phytopathogenesis and mycotoxin production. A high occurrence of resistance to carbendazim was found, while few reports of resistance to triazoles are available. The effectiveness of strobilurins is doubtful, due to an increase of mycotoxins linked to it. It is possible to conclude that the large-scale use of fungicides can select resistant strains that will contribute to an increase in the production of mycotoxins and harm sectors of the world economy, not only the agriculture, but also sanitation and foreign trade., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Acute ischemic stroke is associated with pulmonary complications, and often dexmedetomidine and propofol are used to decrease cerebral metabolic rate. However, it is unknown the immunomodulatory actions of dexmedetomidine and propofol on brain and lungs during acute ischemic stroke. The effects of dexmedetomidine and propofol were compared on perilesional brain tissue and lung damage after acute ischemic stroke in rats. Further, the mean amount of both sedatives was directly evaluated on alveolar macrophages and lung endothelial cells primarily extracted 24-h after acute ischemic stroke. In twenty-five Wistar rats, ischemic stroke was induced and after 24-h treated with sodium thiopental (STROKE), dexmedetomidine and propofol. Dexmedetomidine, compared to STROKE, reduced diffuse alveolar damage score [median(interquartile range); 12(7.8-15.3) vs. 19.5(18-24), p = 0.007)], bronchoconstriction index [2.28(2.08-2.36) vs. 2.64(2.53-2.77), p = 0.006], and TNF-α expression (p = 0.0003), while propofol increased VCAM-1 expression compared to STROKE (p = 0.0004). In perilesional brain tissue, dexmedetomidine, compared to STROKE, decreased TNF-α (p = 0.010), while propofol increased VCAM-1 compared to STROKE (p = 0.024). In alveolar macrophages and endothelial cells, dexmedetomidine decreased IL-6 and IL-1β compared to STROKE (p = 0.002, and p = 0.040, respectively), and reduced IL-1β compared to propofol (p = 0.014). Dexmedetomidine, but not propofol, induced brain and lung protection in experimental acute ischemic stroke., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer and is the leading cause of death from cancer in the female population. Screening mammograms and early treatment are the most frequently used means to attempt to reduce this mortality and are promoted during Pink October, an annual awareness-raising campaign. However, recent studies have correlated the increase in screening with higher morbidity and mortality, due to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. The current study assessed searches related to breast cancer and mammogram in Google Trends from 2004 to 2019 in terms of trend, seasonality, and distribution in Brazilian states. The study also evaluatedH the correlation between the number of searches in Google Trends and the number of screening mammograms. The two series showed a seasonal pattern with peaks in October, and there was an excess in tests performed outside the recommended age bracket. Pink October transmitted and popularized health information and induced behaviors related to this information, which are three desirable aspects in health communication and education. However, the campaign also generated an excess in screening mammograms and did not encourage autonomy and free and informed consent. Pink October revealed both the potential of mass communication in health and the need for messages to be aligned with the best available scientific evidence.

Background: Understanding differences in hospital case fatality rates (HCFRs) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may help evaluate its severity and the capacity of the healthcare system to reduce mortality., Methods: We examined the variability in HCFRs of COVID-19 in relation to spatial inequalities in socio-economic factors, hospital health sector and patient medical condition across the city of São Paulo, Brazil. We obtained the standardized hospital case fatality ratio adjusted indirectly by age and sex, which is the ratio between the HCFR of a specific spatial unit and the HCFR for the entire study area. We modelled it using a generalized linear mixed model with spatial random effects in a Bayesian context., Results: We found that HCFRs were higher for men and for individuals ≥60 y of age. Our models identified per capita income as a significant factor that is negatively associated with the HCFRs of COVID-19, even after adjusting for age, sex and presence of risk factors., Conclusions: Spatial analyses of the implementation of these methods and of disparities in COVID-19 outcomes may help in the development of policies for at-risk populations in geographically defined areas., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)

Objective: To estimate the evolution of the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection among residents aged 18 years or over in the municipality of São Paulo., Methods: This is a population-based household survey conducted every 15 days, between June and September 2020, and January and February 2021. In total, the study comprised 11 phases. The presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was identified in venous blood using a lateral flow test, Wondfo Biotech. In the last phase, the researchers combined it with an immunoenzymatic test, Euroimmun. The participants also answered a semi-structured questionnaire on sociodemographic and economic factors, and on social distancing measures. Prevalence estimates and the 95% confidence interval were estimated according to regions, Human Development Index, sex, age group, ethnicity, education, income, and variables associated with risk or prevention of infection. To compare the frequencies among the categories of each variable, the chi-square test with Rao-Scott correction was used, considering a significance level of 5%., Results: In total, 23,397 individuals were interviewed and had their samples collected. The estimated prevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 ranged from 9.7% (95%CI: 7.9-11.8%) to 25.0% (95%CI: 21.7-28.7). The prevalence of individuals with antibodies against the virus was higher among black and brown people, people with lower schooling and income, and among residents of regions with lower Human Development Index. The lowest prevalences were associated with recommended measures of disease protection. The proportion of asymptomatic infection was 45.1%., Conclusion: The estimated prevalence of the infection was lower than the cumulative incidence variation, except for the last phase of the study. The differences in prevalence estimates observed among subpopulations showed social inequality as a risk of infection. The lower prevalence observed among those who could follow prevention measures reinforce the need to maintain social distancing measures as a way to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.

This paper provides a taxonomic revision of the Neotropical ant genus Hylomyrma Forel (1912) (Myrmicinae: Pogonomyrmecini). Morphological traits combined with geographical data and natural history information led to the recognition of 30 species, fourteen of them described here as new: Hylomyrma adelae sp. n., Hylomyrma dandarae sp. n., Hylomyrma jeronimae sp. n., Hylomyrma lispectorae sp. n., Hylomyrma lopesi sp. n., Hylomyrma macielae sp. n., Hylomyrma margaridae sp. n., Hylomyrma mariae sp. n., Hylomyrma marielleae sp. n., Hylomyrma mitiae sp. n., Hylomyrma peetersi sp. n., Hylomyrma primavesi sp. n., Hylomyrma virginiae sp. n. and Hylomyrma wachiperi sp. n. Lectotypes for H. speciosa (junior synonym of H. balzani) and H. reitteri are here designated from syntypes to improve nomenclatural stability. Except for the three species most recently described (H. montana, H. plumosa, and H. villemantae), the external morphology of workers is described or redescribed, as well as for the known males and queens, most described here for the first time. Of the 30 recognized species herein, 11 present intercastes; at least three of them present female specimens with queen-like traits that may be understood as ergatoids. An updated identification key for Hylomyrma workers is provided, as well as high resolution photographs of all known sexes and castes, species distribution maps, and a summary of what is known from the biology of all species.

We hypothesized whether propofol or active propofol component (2,6-diisopropylphenol [DIPPH] and lipid excipient [LIP-EXC]) separately may alter inflammatory mediators expressed by macrophages and neutrophils in lean and obese rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 10) were randomly assigned to receive a standard (lean) or obesity-inducing diet (obese) for 12 weeks. Animals were euthanized, and alveolar macrophages and neutrophils from lean and obese animals were exposed to propofol (50 µM), active propofol component (50 µM, 2,6-DIPPH), and lipid excipient (soybean oil, purified egg phospholipid, and glycerol) for 1 h. The primary outcome was IL-6 expression after propofol and its components exposure by alveolar macrophages extracted from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The secondary outcomes were the production of mediators released by macrophages from adipose tissue, and neutrophils from lung and adipose tissues, and neutrophil migration. IL-6 increased after the exposure to both propofol (median [interquartile range] 4.14[1.95-5.20]; p = .04) and its active component (2,6-DIPPH) (4.09[1.67-5.91]; p = .04) in alveolar macrophages from obese animals. However, only 2,6-DIPPH increased IL-10 expression (7.59[6.28-12.95]; p = .001) in adipose tissue-derived macrophages. Additionally, 2,6-DIPPH increased C-X-C chemokine receptor 2 and 4 (CXCR2 and CXCR4, respectively) in lung (10.08[8.23-29.01]; p = .02; 1.55[1.49-3.43]; p = .02) and adipose tissues (8.78[4.15-11.57]; p = .03; 2.86[2.17-3.71]; p = .01), as well as improved lung-derived neutrophil migration (28.00[-3.42 to 45.07]; p = .001). In obesity, the active component of propofol affected both the M1 and M2 markers as well as neutrophils in both alveolar and adipose tissue cells, suggesting that lipid excipient may hinder the effects of active propofol., (© 2021 The Authors. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives published by British Pharmacological Society and American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Neuropathic pain (NP) is characterized by the presence of spontaneous pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is one of neuromodulatory techniques that induces satisfactory NP relief, including that from refractory pain patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate rTMS treatment over long term memory (LTM) and hippocampal BDNF and IL-10 levels in rats submitted to a NP model. A total of 81 adult (60-days old) male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to one of the following 9 experimental groups: control, control + sham rTMS, control + rTMS, sham neuropathic pain, sham neuropathic pain + sham rTMS, sham neuropathic pain + rTMS, neuropathic pain (NP), neuropathic pain + sham rTMS and neuropathic pain + rTMS. Fourteen days after the surgery for chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, NP establishment was accomplished. Then, rats were treated with daily 5-minute sessions of rTMS for eight consecutive days. LTM was assessed by the object recognition test (ORT) twenty-four hours after the end of rTMS treatment. Biochemical assays (BDNF and IL-10 levels) were performed in hippocampus tissue homogenates. rTMS treatment reversed the reduction of the discrimination index in the ORT and the hippocampal IL-10 levels in NP rats. This result shows that rTMS reverses the impairment LTM and the increase in the hippocampal IL-10 levels, both induced by NP. Moreover, it appears to be a safe non-pharmacological therapeutic tool since it did not alter LTM and neurochemical parameters in naive animals., (Copyright © 2021 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: We hypothesized that a decrease in frequency of controlled breaths during biphasic positive airway pressure (BIVENT), associated with an increase in spontaneous breaths, whether pressure support (PSV)-assisted or not, would mitigate lung and diaphragm damage in mild experimental acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)., Materials and Methods: Wistar rats received Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide intratracheally. After 24 hours, animals were randomly assigned to: 1) BIVENT-100+PSV0%: airway pressure (Phigh) adjusted to VT = 6 mL/kg and frequency of controlled breaths (f) = 100 bpm; 2) BIVENT-50+PSV0%: Phigh adjusted to VT = 6 mL/kg and f = 50 bpm; 3) BIVENT-50+PSV50% (PSV set to half the Phigh reference value, i.e., PSV50%); or 4) BIVENT-50+PSV100% (PSV equal to Phigh reference value, i.e., PSV100%). Positive end-expiratory pressure (Plow) was equal to 5 cmH2O. Nonventilated animals were used for lung and diaphragm histology and molecular biology analysis., Results: BIVENT-50+PSV0%, compared to BIVENT-100+PSV0%, reduced the diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) score, the expression of amphiregulin (marker of alveolar stretch) and muscle atrophy F-box (marker of diaphragm atrophy). In BIVENT-50 groups, the increase in PSV (BIVENT-50+PSV50% versus BIVENT-50+PSV100%) yielded better lung mechanics and less alveolar collapse, interstitial edema, cumulative DAD score, as well as gene expressions associated with lung inflammation, epithelial and endothelial cell damage in lung tissue, and muscle ring finger protein 1 (marker of muscle proteolysis) in diaphragm. Transpulmonary peak pressure (Ppeak,L) and pressure-time product per minute (PTPmin) at Phigh were associated with lung damage, while increased spontaneous breathing at Plow did not promote lung injury., Conclusion: In the ARDS model used herein, during BIVENT, the level of PSV and the phase of the respiratory cycle in which the inspiratory effort occurs affected lung and diaphragm damage. Partitioning of inspiratory effort and transpulmonary pressure in spontaneous breaths at Plow and Phigh is required to minimize VILI., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: We evaluated the effects of abrupt versus gradual PEEP decrease, combined with standard versus high-volume fluid administration, on cardiac function, as well as lung and kidney damage in an established model of mild-moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)., Methods: Wistar rats received endotoxin intratracheally. After 24 h, they were treated with Ringer's lactate at standard (10 mL/kg/h) or high (30 mL/kg/h) dose. For 30 min, all animals were mechanically ventilated with tidal volume = 6 mL/kg and PEEP = 9 cmH 2 O (to keep alveoli open), then randomized to undergo abrupt or gradual (0.2 cmH 2 O/min for 30 min) PEEP decrease from 9 to 3 cmH 2 O. Animals were then further ventilated for 10 min at PEEP = 3 cmH 2 O, euthanized, and their lungs and kidneys removed for molecular biology analysis., Results: At the end of the experiment, left and right ventricular end-diastolic areas were greater in animals treated with high compared to standard fluid administration, regardless of PEEP decrease rate. However, pulmonary arterial pressure, indicated by the pulmonary acceleration time (PAT)/pulmonary ejection time (PET) ratio, was higher in abrupt compared to gradual PEEP decrease, independent of fluid status. Animals treated with high fluids and abrupt PEEP decrease exhibited greater diffuse alveolar damage and higher expression of interleukin-6 (a pro-inflammatory marker) and vascular endothelial growth factor (a marker of endothelial cell damage) compared to the other groups. The combination of standard fluid administration and gradual PEEP decrease increased zonula occludens-1 expression, suggesting epithelial cell preservation. Expression of club cell-16 protein, an alveolar epithelial cell damage marker, was higher in abrupt compared to gradual PEEP decrease groups, regardless of fluid status. Acute kidney injury score and gene expression of kidney injury molecule-1 were higher in the high versus standard fluid administration groups, regardless of PEEP decrease rate., Conclusion: In the ARDS model used herein, decreasing PEEP abruptly increased pulmonary arterial hypertension, independent of fluid status. The combination of abrupt PEEP decrease and high fluid administration led to greater lung and kidney damage. This information adds to the growing body of evidence that supports gradual transitioning of ventilatory patterns and warrants directing additional investigative effort into vascular and deflation issues that impact lung protection., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Introduction: The present study aimed to describe an in vitro study model to investigate root surface strain (RSS) and its correlation with the initiation/propagation of microcracks during different endodontic procedures., Methods: Four lower human incisors extracted microcrack free were selected by micro-computed tomographic imaging. Two strain gauges were bonded to the root surface of each incisor. Then, the teeth were prepared to reproduce the periodontal ligament artificially. The gauges were attached to a data acquisition system. The RSS was recorded during the entire endodontic procedure, which consisted of accessing the endodontic cavity, cleaning, shaping preparation with an Mtwo rotary system (VDW, Munich, Germany), and filling with a standardized technique. Each incisor was submitted to a different retreatment protocol and supplementary cleaning method as follows: (1) Reciproc (RC, VDW) + Flatsonic (FS; Helse, Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Brazil), (2) RC + XP-endo Finisher (XPF; FKG Dentaire, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland), (3) Mtwo retreatment (MR) + FS, and (4) MR + XPF. Finally, the teeth were rescanned to establish the postoperative microcrack formation by 2 well-trained and blinded examiners., Results: The maximum and minimum RSS values were -120 and 510 microstrains, respectively, for all of the files. RC showed the highest RSS values during endodontic retreatment compared with MR. FS demonstrated a higher variation between the minimum and maximum RSS than XPF. No microcracks were observed in the specimens., Conclusions: This preliminary study proposed an experimental model that would combine 2 methods to evaluate the effects of endodontic systems on dentin. Although strain gauges would provide data on the stresses created, the pre- and postoperative evaluation of micro-computed tomographic images would enable microcrack formation to be determined., (Copyright © 2021 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Although bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) appear to be phenotypically and functionally similar to BM-MSCs from healthy sources in vitro , the impact of COPD on MSC metabolism and mitochondrial function has not been evaluated. In this study, we aimed to comparatively characterize MSCs from healthy and emphysematous donors (H-MSCs and E-MSCs) in vitro and to assess the therapeutic potential of these MSCs and their extracellular vesicles (H-EVs and E-EVs) in an in vivo model of severe emphysema. For this purpose, C57BL/6 mice received intratracheal porcine pancreatic elastase once weekly for 4 weeks to induce emphysema; control animals received saline under the same protocol. Twenty-four hours after the last instillation, animals received saline, H-MSCs, E-MSCs, H-EVs, or E-EVs intravenously. In vitro characterization demonstrated that E-MSCs present downregulation of anti-inflammatory (TSG-6, VEGF, TGF-β, and HGF) and anti-oxidant (CAT, SOD, Nrf2, and GSH) genes, and their EVs had larger median diameter and lower average concentration. Compared with H-MSC, E-MSC mitochondria also exhibited a higher respiration rate, were morphologically elongated, expressed less dynamin-related protein-1, and produced more superoxide. When co-cultured with alveolar macrophages, both H-MSCs and E-MSCs induced an increase in iNOS and arginase-1 levels, but only H-MSCs and their EVs were able to enhance IL-10 levels. In vivo , emphysematous mice treated with E-MSCs or E-EVs demonstrated no amelioration in cardiorespiratory dysfunction. On the other hand, H-EVs, but not H-MSCs, were able to reduce the neutrophil count, the mean linear intercept, and IL-1β and TGF-β levels in lung tissue, as well as reduce pulmonary arterial hypertension and increase the right ventricular area in a murine model of elastase-induced severe emphysema. In conclusion, E-MSCs and E-EVs were unable to reverse cardiorespiratory dysfunction, whereas H-EVs administration was associated with a reduction in cardiovascular and respiratory damage in experimental severe emphysema., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Antunes, Braga, Oliveira, Kitoko, Castro, Xisto, Coelho, Rocha, Silva-Aguiar, Caruso-Neves, Martins, Carvalho, Galina, Weiss, Lapa e Silva, Lopes-Pacheco, Cruz and Rocco.)

Background: Noise pollution is increasingly recognised as a public health hazard, yet limited evidence is available from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), particularly for specific sources. Here, we investigated the association between day-night average (L dn ) aircraft noise and the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) at small-area level around São Paulo's Congonhas airport, Brazil during the period 2011-2016., Methods: We selected 3259 census tracts across 16 districts partially or entirely exposed to ≥50 dB aircraft noise levels around the Congonhas airport, using pre-modelled 5 dB L dn noise  bands (≤50 dB to > 65 dB). We estimated the average noise exposure per census tract using area-weighting. Age, sex and calendar year-specific death counts for CVD, stroke and CHD were calculated by census tract, according to the residential address at time of death. We fitted Poisson regression models to quantify the risk associated with aircraft noise exposure, adjusting for age, sex, calendar year and area-level covariates including socioeconomic development, ethnicity, smoking and road traffic related noise and air pollution., Results: After accounting for all covariates, areas exposed to the highest levels of noise (> 65 dB) showed a relative risk (RR) for CVD and CHD of 1.06 (95% CI: 0.94; 1.20) and 1.11 (95%CI: 0.96; 1.27), respectively, compared to those exposed to reference noise levels (≤50 dB). The RR for stroke ranged between 1.05 (95%CI: 0.95;1.16) and 0.91 (95%CI: 0.78;1.11) for all the noise levels assessed. We found a statistically significant positive trend for CVD and CHD mortality risk with increasing levels of noise (p = 0.043 and p = 0.005, respectively). No significant linear trend was found for stroke. Risk estimates were generally higher after excluding road traffic density, suggesting that road traffic air and noise pollution are potentially important confounders., Conclusions: This study provides some evidence that aircraft noise is associated with increased risk of CVD and CHD mortality in a middle-income setting. More research is needed to validate these results in other LMIC settings and to further explore the influence of residual confounding and ecological bias. Remarkably, 60% of the study population living near the Congonhas airport (~ 1.5 million) were exposed to aircraft noise levels > 50 dB, well above those recommended by the WHO (45 dB), highlighting the need for public health interventions.

The photo-Fenton activity of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) has been widely studied, nevertheless, its Fenton-like catalytic behavior in the dark has not yet been demonstrated. In the present work, it is shown that oxygenated g-C 3 N 4 obtained at different temperatures (500-600 °C) can degrade indigo carmine with hydrogen peroxide in the dark by a reaction similar to a conventional Fenton's reaction. Based on an extensive characterization of g-C 3 N 4 , we conclude that Fenton-like activity is directly related to the oxygenated functional groups on g-C 3 N 4 structure, mainly by -OH functional groups. Oxygenated functional groups (e.g., hydroquinone-like groups) can reduce the H 2 O 2 and generate oxidizing hydroxyl radicals, just like in the Fenton reaction performed by metals. In addition to new information on g-C 3 N 4 surface reactivity revealed by this study, the metal-free oxygenated g-C 3 N 4 catalyst may be an alternative to traditional metal catalysts used in Fenton-like reactions for advanced oxidation., 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 © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)