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Objetivo: Relatar um caso de síndrome hemofagocítica (SHF) secundária a histoplasmose disseminada em paciente com síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida. Materiais e métodos: Estudo descritivo baseado em análise de dados de prontuário médico durante o período de internamento hospitalar. Caso clínico: W. L. L., homem, 24 anos, com diagnóstico recente de infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência adquirida (HIV) em fase AIDS (CD4 19), em uso de TARV há 1 mês, foi encaminhado ao Hospital de Clínicas/UFPR por diarreia subaguda, e perda de peso não intencional de aproximadamente 10kg nos últimos 3 meses. Na admissão, apresentava-se com linfonodomegalia cervical à esquerda, hepatoesplenomegalia, além de pancitopenia (Hb 5,9 g/dL, leucócitos 1180 /μL, neutrófilos 991/μL, plaquetas 122.000/μL). Associado ao quadro paciente apresentou flutuação dos níveis hematimétricos e evoluiu com febre persistente e hiperferritinemia (107.130/dL). Durante internamento foram realizados- aspirado e biópsia de medula óssea, que demonstraram aumento de macrófagos de aspecto ativado e inúmeras figuras de hemofagocitose de neutrófilos; a biópsia do linfonodo apresentou aumento dos macrófagos e histiócitos, e cultura positiva para Histoplasma capsulatum. Além disso, o paciente apresentou PCR positiva para os vírus Epstein-Barr (positivo, 26044 cópias detectadas), e Citomegalovirus positivos (412 cópias). Devido quadro clínico, laboratorial e HScore (com 99% de probabilidade para SHF), optou-se por iniciar tratamento das doenças infecciosas recém diagnosticadas – com Anfotericina B, ganciclovir e rituximabe – além de dexametasona 10 mg/m2. Apesar das terapêuticas adotadas, o paciente manteve piora clínica e necessidade de transfusões sanguíneas frequentes. Evoluiu com injúria pulmonar aguda relacionada à transfusão (TRALI), necessitando de suporte ventilatório e hemodinâmico, evoluindo a óbito. Discussão: A síndrome hemofagocítica (SHF) tem como causa uma desregulação imunológica, clinicamente caracteriza-se por febre, hepatoesplenomegalia, enquanto laboratorialmente pode haver alterações de transaminases, citopenias, aumento de ferritina e hipertrigliceridemia. Tal patologia acomete sobretudo pacientes imunocomprometidos, sendo potencialmente fatal. As principais causas etiológicas da SHF em pacientes com HIV incluem infecções por Mycobactérias (34%), Citomegalovírus (14%) e Cryptococcus neoformans (11%). Além disso, o próprio vírus da HIV pode ser uma causa de SHF, independentemente das infecções oportunistas associadas. No que tange ao tratamento da SHF em pacientes com histoplasmose disseminada em pacientes infectados com HIV, é fundamental que seu início seja precoce. Recomenda-se o uso de anfotericina B lisossomal pelo período de 14 dias, assim como o início da terapia imunossupressora no período máximo de 72 horas caso não haja resposta ao antifúngico. Ainda que sejam realizados diagnóstico e terapêutica precoces, a maioria desses pacientes apresentam prognóstico reservado. Conclusão: Relatamos um caso de SHF associada a histoplasmose disseminada, em paciente HIV/AIDS recém diagnosticada, que mesmo com ampla investigação e início precoce do tratamento, apresentou desfecho adverso, compatível com a gravidade do quadro clínico, corroborando com demais achados na literatura.

Objetivos: Hibridação in situ por fluorescência (FISH) é metodologia amplamente utilizada na rotina citogenética em neoplasias. Sondas comerciais, construídas para detectar rearranjos gênicos (sondas de dupla fusão, sondas de ruptura), ganho e perda no número de cópias, auxiliam no diagnóstico e classificação de várias neoplasias hematológicas. A determinação dos valores de referência (VR) de cada sonda e em cada material é fundamental, sendo sugerido por consensos internacionais o uso de 20 amostras consideradas normais, o que pode ser bastante difícil e necessitar de validação “on going”. O objetivo deste trabalho é comparar o resultado do VR obtido utilizando 5 e 20 amostras. Material e métodos: Amostras de medula óssea foram processadas segundo procedimento operacional do laboratório de forma habitual e analisadas por dois analistas experientes contando 50 células cada, totalizando 100 núcleos por amostra. Foram analisadas sondas das marcas Cytocell e MetaSystems com construção de dupla fusão e duas cores (BCR/ABL1, CCND1/IGH, PML/RARA e CBFB-MHY11), sondas de ruptura (PDGFRA, MYC, KMT2A, TLX1, MECOM) e sondas para deleção e ganho com duas ou três cores (5q, 7q, CDKN2A, TP53), segundo normas do fabricante. A leitura foi realizada em microscópio de fluorescência Axio Imager 2 (Zeiss) com filtros de emissão simples e triplo e captura das imagens realizada no software Isis (MetaSystems). Para determinar o VR foram utilizadas 5 amostras de medula óssea (MO) verdadeiramente negativas e 20 amostras de MO negativos da rotina, utilizando a fórmula BETA.ACUM.INV do EXCEL (probabilidade em decimal; alfa = 1 + maior número de sinais positivos encontrados na leitura, beta = número de células analisadas, A e B em branco) com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: Os VR obtidos utilizando 5 e 20 casos foram respectivamente: para sondas de ruptura PDGFRA 1F1G (4.6%/4.6%) , MYC (4.6%/4.6%), KMT2A (4.6%/4.6%) e TLX1 (6.0%/7.3%); sondas de fusão BCR/ABL1(2.9%/2.9%), CCND1/IGH(2.9%/2.9%), PML/RARA (2.9%/2.9%), CBFB(2.9%/2.9%), MECOM(6.0%/6.0%) sondas de deleção 5q (6.0%/6.0%), 7q(4.6%/4.6%), CDKN2A(4.6%/6.0%), TP53 (7.3%/8.5%). Discussão: A determinação do VR em 13 diferentes sondas utilizando 5 e 20 controles normais não mostrou diferença, sugerindo que consensos nacionais e internacionais para procedimentos técnicos e de validação em FISH, como o do American College of Medical Genetics, mereçam revisão. Conclusão: Não foi observada diferença no VR entre os grupos de sinais para todas as sondas, sugerindo que 5 amostras normais é suficiente para determinação de VR a ser utilizado em rotina diagnóstica.

Aims: Chromosomal banding analysis is the standard technique to identify cytogenetic abnormalities in both constitutional chromosomal disorders and hematological malignancies. Karyotyping is a laborious and manual technique. The development of image (metaphases) capture systems and software for karyotyping had a great impact on the routine of cytogenetic laboratories, and recently artificial intelligence (deep neural networks, DNN) has helped in the correct segmentation and chromosome classification, allowing the performance of karyotypes more quickly, with final supervision by experienced cytogeneticists. Some systems using AI are commercially available and our objective was to validate and implement one of these models in our laboratory and measure its productivity. Materials and methods: IA DNN –PC/GTX 1650 version 1.1.40 was configured in the automated metaphase image scanning equipment (Metafer), which uses the software for image analysis (Ikaros), all developed by Metasystems (Altlussheim, Germany). Sixteen machine learning models (classifiers) were tested for bone marrow (oncohematological karyotype) and another 16 for peripheral blood (constitutional karyotype), eight of them with the function of chromosome segmentation in metaphase (separation) and 8 of them with the function of classify chromosomes (chromosomal pairing). 55 metaphases from routine studies of bone marrow for hematological malignancies [300-400 bands, 8 with numerical (−Y, −7) or structural (20q−) chromosomal alterations] and 65 metaphases from PHA-stimulated peripheral blood [550 bands, 7 cases with multiple overlapping chromosomes and 9 with numerical (−X, +13, +21) chromosomal alterations]. The time for manual and automated analysis (time for segmentation + classification + review) was compared. The chromosomal mispairing was noted. Productivity was evaluated (percentage difference in seconds manual-automated analysis/ manual analysis in seconds ×100). Results: The average time for manual analysis of one metaphase in bone marrow samples was 74 ± 30 seconds (segmentation 34 seconds and classification 40 seconds) and in DNN it was 23 ± 19 seconds (segmentation 13 seconds, classification 10 seconds), with a gain of 51 ± 26 seconds and productivity gain of 68.6%, and mismatch of 1 ± 1.5 chromosomes. The average time for manual analysis of one metaphase in peripheral blood samples was 138 ± 56 seconds (segmentation 85 seconds and classification 52 seconds) and in DNN it was 29 ± 16 seconds (segmentation 15 seconds, classification 14 seconds), with a gain of 108 ± 49 seconds and productivity gain of 78.7%, and pairing error of 2.6 ± 2. Discussion: AI allowed a significantly gain in productivity and TAT reduction in karyotype, the constitutional from 21 days to 15 days and the oncohematological karyotype from 14 days to 7 days (5 days for acute leukemias at diagnosis). Conclusion: The use of AI in karyotype analysis proved to be effective and efficient in our laboratory, even using a commercial image bank (DNN). There was an important gain in productivity and the possibility of reducing the TAT, adapting to international quality standards.

Introdução: A Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) alerta que a atual pandemia pelo SARS-CoV-2 provocou grande impacto no suprimento de sangue, ocasionado pela redução significativa nas doações que repercutem nos hemocentros, que precisam reestruturar o serviço para o risco iminente de desabastecimento e o consequente comprometimento da assistência hospitalar. Entretanto, o serviço de hemoterapia deve estar atento às condições de vulnerabilidade que o doador estar exposto. Diante disso, foi identificada a necessidade de desenvolvimento de ações e adaptações na rotina de atendimento ao doador, visando uma maior segurança na prática de doação e também dos profissionais que atuam na linha de frente, para a manutenção dos estoques de sangue. Objetivo: Descrever a experiência do Hemocentro Hemope na adoção de ferramentas de gestão para enfrentamento do risco de contaminação pelo SARS-CoV-2, nos anos de 2020 e 2021. Material e métodos: Relato de experiência das atividades desenvolvidas pelos gestores e profissionais do Hemocentro Hemope para viabilizar o atendimento seguro ao doador de sangue durante a pandemia da Covid-19. Resultados: 1. Criação do Comitê de Contingência para enfrentamento da COVID-19: Formado por profissionais de diversas áreas hospitalares, com reuniões semanais e elaboração do Plano de Ações entregue ao Governo do Estado. Planejamento de previsão de insumos necessários de Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPI'S) e distribuição diária para os profissionais de saúde; 2. Reestruturação física do Hemocentro: Colocação de um toldo para ampliar sala de espera da doação evitando aglomerações no hemocentro, com cadeiras, dispensers de álcool em gel e gelágua. Distanciamento e adesivação alternada das cadeiras dos candidatos à doação. Colocação de acrílicos protetores nos balcões da recepção da coleta de doador e na pré-triagem para proteção dos profissionais. Substituição das mesas de lanche por carteiras escolares nas duas copas do doador, para garantir isolamento no momento do lanche. 3. Ações de limpeza: Sanitização de todas as dependências do hemocentro a cada 72h. Colocação de dispensers de álcool em gel de parede em todas as áreas do hemocentro e frascos individuais em todas as cadeiras de doação. 4. Fluxo de atendimento aos doadores: Articulação junto ao Governo do Estado para implantação do Call Center para agendamento da doação de sangue, com readequação do fluxo de atendimento, priorizando o horário agendado; 5. Educação em Saúde: Criação do acolhimento ao doador na portaria central e na recepção da coleta do doador realizada por profissionais de saúde e residentes de enfermagem, com orientações de higiene das mãos, oferecimento de álcool em gel, entrega de folders educativos sobre Covid-19, verificação de sintomas respiratórios e aferição de temperatura com termômetro infravermelho. Orientação de todos os captores de doadores sobre sintomatologia do Covid-19. Confecção de cartazes sobre higiene das mãos e uso obrigatório de máscaras. 6. Campanhas de Doação de sangue: Parceria com as Instituições Religiosas, Instituições de Ensino, Polícia Rodoviária Federal, Polícia Militar e Forças Armadas para realização de campanhas de doação de sangue. Realização da Campanha Junho vermelho nas Redes Sociais. Conclusão: As ações instituídas pelo Hemocentro Hemope, visando cumprir as normas de qualidade e segurança da OMS, possibilitou a reestruturação física do hemocentro, readequação no controle de fluxo de doadores evitando aglomerações, sanitização periódica do ambiente, realização de educação em saúde, oferecendo maior proteção aos doadores garantindo estoques seguros de hemocomponentes, necessários a assistência aos clientes do Sistema Único de Saúde.

As lentiviroses de pequenos ruminantes (LVPR) são doenças causadas por um retrovírus da família Lentivirinae que infecta o hospedeiro de forma silenciosa, dificultando o diagnóstico e facilitando a disseminação da doença no rebanho. Objetivou-seestimar a soroprevalência dessa infecção em caprinos leiteiros nos municípios de Pedra e Venturosa, Pernambuco. Para tanto foram testados soros de 422 animais oriundos de 40 propriedades distribuídas e escolhidas aleatoriamente. As amostras de soro foram submetidas à imunodifusão em gel de agarose. Os resultados obtidos revelaram uma prevalência de 57,50% (23/40) nos rebanhos e de 18,01% (76/422) nos animais testados. Em relação ao sexo, 93,13% (393/422) das amostras eram de fêmeas, das quais 17,30% (68/393) apresentavam anticorpos anti – LVPR, 6,87% (29/422) eram machos cuja soroprevalência foi de 27,58%. Conclui-se que os LVPR encontram-se disseminados nos municípios estudados, sendo necessário a implantação de medidas de controle objetivando a erradicação deste vírus.

Anthonomus grandis grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a pest with a large potential for destruction in cotton crops, causing damage to the cotton reproductive structures. The earwig Marava arachidis (Dermaptera: Labiidae), is an important reference as a predator in several crops and being easy to rear in the laboratory. To analyze the potential biocontrol of M. arachidis of A. grandis grandis larvae, a study of predatory capacity was conducted using a functional response model. A. grandis grandis larvae were exposed to the predator at densities 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 larvae (= prey/predator / Petri dish), with 30 replications at each density. Contact between the predator and the prey occurred for 24 hours; after this period, the level of predation of M. arachidis was assessed based on the proportion of preyed larvae. The linear logistic regression coefficient was used with a beta-binomial generalized linear model to determine the functional response. The negative signal of the linear coefficient and the goodness-of-fit tests revealed a quadratic or type II functional response, with the number of prey varying from 1.00 larva (density of 1 larva/predator) to 6.50 larvae (density of 8 larvae/predator). Therefore, the results of the present study demonstrate a high predatory capacity of M. arachidis on A. grandis grandis larvae.

The State University of North Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF) has been developing for fifteen years a breeding program that aims at the development of new cultivars of elephant grass due to its high potential and the low availability of cultivars developed by genetic breeding programs that meet the needs of producers in the State of Rio de Janeiro. In this sense, inbred families were also obtained as a way of fixing potential alleles for traits related to production, as the inbreeding process apparently does not strongly affect elephant grass in aspects related to inbreeding depression. This study aimed to estimate genetic diversity, variance components and prediction of genotypic values in 11 (S 1 ) elephant grass families, and perform the truncation and simultaneous selection of traits using the selection index, by mixed models. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with 11 (S 1 ) families, three replications, and six plants per plot. For variables dry matter production, percentage of dry matter, plant height, stem diameter, number of tillers and leaf blade width, was performed the estimation of genetic parameters and selection of the best genotypes based selection index using mixed model. The descriptors were subjected to correlation analysis, distance matrices were generated by the Mahalanobis method, and individuals were grouped by the UPGMA method. In the selection via mixed models (REML/BLUP), families 6, 11, 8, 1, 3, 7, and 9 contributed most of the genotypes selected for the evaluated traits, indicating their high potential to generate superior genotype. The selection indices via mixed models indicated that the multiplicative index presented a greater selection gain.The phenotypic correlations showed the possibility of performing an indirect selection from six evaluated traits.The genotypes were separated into 18 groups by the Mahalanobis distance, allowing the observation of a wide genetic diversity. The most divergent and productive genotypes were self-fertilized to obtain the second generation (S 2 ), continuing the development program., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Pharmaceuticals in the environment are a global concern, with studies in all continents highlighting their widespread occurrence and potential ecological impacts, revealing their presence, fate, and associated risks in aquatic ecosystems. Despite typically occurring at low concentrations (ranging from ng/L to µg/L), advancements in analytical methods and more sensitive equipment have enabled the detection of a higher number of pharmaceuticals. In this study, surface and wastewater samples were extracted using solid phase extraction and analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Among the therapeutic classes investigated, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/analgesics, antibiotics, and psychiatric drugs showed a higher number of detected pharmaceuticals. Concentrations ranged from below method detection limit (

The first reports of viruses in psittacine birds date back to the early 1970s. Here, we elucidate the differences among these previous studies and the advances achieved. The objective of this study was to carry out a comprehensive review using both scientometric and systematic methods to analyze the evolution of published studies on viruses in psittacine birds up to 2022. The search descriptors "virus", "diagnosis", and "Psittaciformes" were used to find the articles of interest for this study. A total of 118 articles were manually selected, and the scientometric data were organized using the software VOSviewer ® version 1.6.18. The present review revealed that: (i) on average, 2.5 articles/year on the diagnosis of viral infection in psittacine birds were published since 1975; (ii) the most productive research groups are concentrated in three countries: Australia, the United States, and Germany; (iii) the most important virus in psittacine birds is the Circovirus, which causes psittacine beak and feather disease; (iv) the diagnostic method of choice is polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and (v) the most studied psittacine birds were those in the Psittacidae family that were kept in captivity.

The present study has two objectives: 1) to verify the effect of Maitland mobilization, manual massage (MM), and static stretching (SS) on the acute range-of-motion (ROM) responses, over 30 min, in the elderly; 2) to verify the effect of Maitland's mobilization, MM, and SS on blood pressure (BP) responses, over 60 min, in the elderly. Sixteen inactive elderly men were recruited. After familiarization, all subjects performed the experimental conditions throughout four remaining sessions. Each session included two baselines ROM measures in randomized order. After baseline, participants completed the control group, Maitland, MM, and SS conditions and retesting immediately (Post-0) e again throughout 30-min following intervention. All conditions increased ankle, hip, and shoulder ROM for at least 10-min post-intervention. Systolic BP hypotensive effects were found for all experimental protocols when compared to baseline values. In conclusion, it was observed that Maitland, MM, and SS conditions enhance ROM and promote hypotensive effect post-intervention. These results have a practical prescription and rehabilitation implications and may be used in the elderly population, since a movement limitation can be treated by global interventions in a non-limited, as well as promoting cardiovascular protection through the hypotensive effects in the same experimental session., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None, (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

DyMnO 3 is a p-type semiconductor oxide with two crystal systems, orthorhombic and hexagonal. This material highlights its ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties, which have been the subject of numerous studies. Nevertheless, its photocatalytic activity has been less explored. In this work, the photocatalytic activity of DyMnO 3 is evaluated through the photodegradation of MG dye. For the synthesis of this oxide, a novel and effective method was used: polymer-decomposition. The synthesized powders contain an orthorhombic phase, with a range of absorbances from 300 to 500 nm and a band gap energy of 2.4 eV. It is also highlighted that, when using this synthesis method, some of the main diffraction lines related to the orthorhombic phase appear at 100 °C. Regarding its photocatalytic activity, it was evaluated under visible light (λ = 405 nm), reaching a photodegradation of approximately 88% in a period of 30 min. Photocurrent tests reveal a charge carrier separation (e-,h+) at a 405 nm wavelength. The main reactive oxygen species (ROS) involved in the photodegradation process were radicals, OH•, and photo-holes (h+). These results stand out because it is the first time that the photodegradation capability of this oxide in the visible spectrum has been evaluated.

In response to infection, naïve CD8 + T (T N ) cells yield a large pool of short-lived terminal effector (T TE ) cells that eliminate infected host cells. In parallel, a minor population of stem cell-like central memory (T CM ) cells forms, which has the capacity to maintain immunity after pathogen clearance. It has remained uncertain whether stem-like T CM cells arise by dedifferentiation from a subset of cytolytic T TE cells or whether priming generates stem-like cells capable of seeding the T CM compartment and, if so, when cytolytic T TE cells branch off. Here, we show that CD8 + T cells with stem-like properties, which are identified by the expression of TCF1 (encoded by Tcf7 ), are present across the primary response to infection. Priming programs T N cells to undergo multiple cell divisions, over the course of which TCF1 expression is maintained. These TCF1 + cells further expand relatively independently of systemic inflammation, antigen dose, or affinity, and they quantitatively yield TCF1 + T CM cells after pathogen clearance. Inflammatory signals suppress TCF1 expression in early divided TCF1 + cells. TCF1 down-regulation is associated with the irreversible loss of self-renewal capacity and the silencing of stem/memory genes, which precedes the stable acquisition of a T TE state. TCF1 expression restrains cell cycling, explaining in part the limited expansion of TCF1 + relative to TCF1 - cells during the primary response. Thus, our data are consistent with terminal differentiation of effector cells being a step-wise process that is initiated by inflammation in primed stem-like cells, which would otherwise become central memory cells by default.

Polyurethanes (PUs) are found in many everyday products and their disposal leads to environmental accumulation. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop ecologically sustainable techniques to biodegrade and recycle this recalcitrant polymer and replace traditional methods that form harmful by-products. Serratia liquefaciens L135 secretes a polyurethanase with lipase activity, and this study explores the biodegradation of PUs by this bacterium and its enzyme through in silico and in vitro analyses. PUs monomers and tetramers were constructed in silico and tested with modeled and validated structure of the polyurethanase from S. liquefaciens. The molecular docking showed that all PUs monomers presented favorable interactions with polyurethanase (values of binding energy between -84.75 and -121.71 kcal mol -1 ), including PU poly[4,4'-methylenebis (phenyl isocyanate)-alt-1,4-butanediol/di (propylene glycol)/polycaprolactone] (PCLMDI). Due to repulsive steric interactions, tetramers showed less favorable interactions (values between 24.26 and -45.50 kcal mol -1 ). In vitro analyses evaluated the biodegradation of PUs: Impranil® and PCLMDI; this latter showed high binding energy with this polyurethanase in silico. The biodegradation of Impranil® by S. liquefaciens and its partially purified polyurethanase was confirmed in agar by forming a transparent halo. Impranil® disks inoculated with S. liquefaciens and incubated at 30 °C for six days showed rupture of the PU structure, possibly due to the formation of cracks visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). PCLMDI films were also biodegraded by S. liquefaciens after 60 days of incubation, with the formation of pores and cracks visualized by SEM. The biodegradation may have occurred due to the action of polyurethanase produced by this bacterium. This work provides essential information on the potential of S. liquefaciens to biodegrade PUs through in silico analyses combined with in vitro analyses., 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. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Two experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of altering body condition score (BCS) and the profile of a fatty acid (FA) supplement on the metabolism of Bos indicus Nellore females. In experiment 1, 16 and 24 B. indicus heifers and nonlactating cows, respectively, were assigned to (1) maintenance diet (MNT-MNT; n = 10), (2) maintenance diet and BCS loss (MNT-LSS; n = 10), (3) maintenance diet supplemented with calcium salts of soybean oil for 30 d and BCS loss for 40 d (MNT+CFA-LSS; n = 10), and (4) maintenance diet for 30 d and BCS loss for 40 d with a diet containing calcium salts of soybean oil (MNT-LSS+CFA; n = 10). Following the BCS loss period, MNT-LSS, MNT+CFA-LSS, and MNT-LSS+CFA were fed a diet to promote the gain of BCS. In experiment 2, 40 Bos indicus nulliparous heifers were assigned to (1) maintenance diet (MNT-MNT; n = 10), (2) BCS loss followed by a BCS gain (LSS-REM; n = 10), (3) BCS loss followed by a BCS gain diet with CFA of palm oil (LSS-REM+PLM; n = 10), and (4) BCS loss followed by a BCS gain diet with CFA of soybean oil (LSS-REM+SOY; n = 10). Blood samples were obtained for serum haptoglobin and fecal samples for pH (experiment 2 only). In experiment 1, a treatment × day interaction was observed for BCS during the 60-d BCS loss and gain period. Animals assigned to MNT-MNT had a greater BCS than the other treatment groups on d 40 and 60 of the experiment, but no other differences were observed. Moreover, a treatment × day interaction was observed for serum haptoglobin, as on d 60, MNT-LSS had a greater mean serum haptoglobin concentration. In experiment 2, a treatment × day interaction was also observed for BCS. From d -4 to 0, LSS-REM and LSS-REM+SOY had a reduced BCS versus MNT-MNT, but also lower for LSS-REM versus MNT-MNT on d 1, and LSS-REM+PLM versus MNT-MNT on d -1 and 0. For serum haptoglobin, no treatment or treatment × day interaction was observed. A treatment × day interaction was observed for fecal pH. From d -10 to 0, MNT often had a lower fecal pH, but during realimentation, LSS-REM heifers had a reduced fecal pH on d 1, 4, and 10. In summary, we failed to demonstrate an increase in serum haptoglobin due to a BCS loss. Still, supplementation with calcium salts of FA alleviated the increase in haptoglobin and maintained fecal pH at more stable values during realimentation, regardless of the FA profile of the supplement., (© 2023.)

YMnO 3 is a P-type semiconductor with a perovskite-type structure (ABO 3 ). It presents two crystalline systems: rhombohedral and hexagonal, the latter being the most stable and studied. In the hexagonal system, Mn 3+ ions are coordinated by five oxygen ions forming a trigonal bipyramid, and the Y 3+ ions are coordinated by five oxygen ions. This arrangement favors its ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties, which have been widely studied since 1963. However, applications based on their optical properties have yet to be explored. This work evaluates the photoelectric response and the photocatalytic activity of yttrium manganite in visible spectrum wavelengths. To conduct this, a rod-obelisk-shaped yttrium manganite with a reduced indirect bandgap value of 1.43 eV in its hexagonal phase was synthesized through the precipitation method. The synthesized yttrium manganite was elucidated by solid-state techniques, such as DRX, XPS, and UV-vis. It was non-toxic as shown by the 100% leukocyte viability of mice BALB/c.

Crushed and ground printed circuit board (PCB) samples were characterized to evaluate copper, lead, and aluminum using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and the morphology was done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRF characterizations showed 0.12% lead, 3.72% copper, and 12.73% aluminum in the PCBs. The metal solubilization experiments using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans indicated higher values of total metal solubilization when the initial pH of the inoculum was adjusted. However, these experiments did not show higher metal solubilization by bioleaching. The sequential bioremoval experiments using mixed culture after bioleaching assays with A. ferrooxidans with initial adjustment of inoculum pH and without applying a magnetic field removed 100% of Al, 27.34% of Cu, and 96.43% of Pb from the lixiviate medium; with magnetic field application, 100% of Al, 83.82% of Cu, and 98.27% of Pb were removed. A similar bioleaching experiment without inoculum pH adjustment and without field application achieved 99.74% removal for Cu and 91.92% for Pb. When the magnetic field was applied, 100% of Cu and 95.76% of Pb were removed. Bioreactors with a magnetic field do not show significantly better removal of any of the metals analyzed., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Foam rolling (FR) has recently become very popular among athletes and recreational exercisers and is often used during warm up prior to strength training (ST) to induce self-myofascial release. The purpose was to examine the acute effects of ST and FR performed in isolation or in combination on blood pressure (BP) responses during recovery in normotensive women. Sixteen normotensive and strength trained women completed four interventions: 1) rest control (CON), 2) ST only, 3) FR only, and 4) ST immediately followed by FR (ST + FR). ST consisted of three sets of bench press, back squat, front pull-down, and leg press exercises at 80% of 10RM. FR was applied unilaterally in two sets of 120 s to each of the quadriceps, hamstring, and calf regions. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP were measured before (rest) and every 10 min, for 60 min, following (Post 10-60) each intervention. Cohen's d effect sizes were calculated to indicate the magnitude effect by the formula d = Md/Sd, where Md is the mean difference and Sd is the standard deviation of differences. Cohen's d effect-sizes were defined as small (≥0.2), medium (≥0.5), and large (≥0.8). There were significant reductions in SBP for ST at Post-50 (p < 0.001; d = -2.14) and Post-60 (p < 0.001; d = -4.43), for FR at Post-60 (p = 0.020; d = -2.14), and for ST + FR at Post-50 (p = 0.001; d = -2.03) and Post-60 (p < 0.001; d = -2.38). No change in DBP was observed. The current findings suggest that ST and FR performed in isolation can acutely reduce SBP but without an additive effect. Thus, ST and FR can both be used to acutely reduce SBP and, importantly, FR can be added to a ST regimen without furthering the SBP reduction during recovery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There were no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A novel voltammetric screening method has been developed for the rapid determination of fipronil (FPN) residues in lactose-free milk samples with the use of a carbon-paste electrode (CPE) by differential-pulse voltammetry (DPV). Cyclic voltammetry indicated the occurrence of an irreversible anodic process at approximately +0.700 V ( vs. Ag|AgCl, 3.0 mol L -1 KCl) in a 0.100 mol L -1 NaOH supporting electrolyte prepared as a 30% (v/v) ethanol-water solution. Quantification of FPN was carried out by DPV and analytical curves were constructed. In the absence of a matrix, the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.568 mg L -1 and 1.89 mg L -1 , respectively. In the presence of a lactose-free skim milk matrix, the values of LOD and LOQ were 0.331 mg L -1 and 1.10 mg L -1 . The recovery percentages for three different concentrations of FPN in lactose-free skim milk samples ranged between 95.3% and 109%. All assays could be conducted with milk samples without any prior extraction steps or pre-concentration of FPN, making this novel method rapid, simple, and relatively cheap.

A series of 25 amides (15 new) derived from (3aR)-(+)-sclareolide were prepared and subjected to Ellman's assay to determine their efficacies as inhibitors for AChE or BuChE. Five amides (9, 13, 14, 15 and 17) caused inhibition of one of the enzymes greater than 60%; thereby those that inhibited BuChE were more active than positive control galantamine, and they showed better K i values (1.07 to 8.49). In general, it was found that molecules holding a meta-substituted phenyl group showed a higher percentage of enzymatic inhibition. Molecular modelling calculations indicated the putative interactions of compounds with the amino acids residues of both enzymes AChE and BuChE. The cytotoxicity of compounds 9, 13, 14, 15 and 17 was evaluated against a non-malignant murine embryonic fibroblast cell line (NIH 3T3). Of special note is compound 15, as it presented the second-best K i value for BuChE (1.71), was not cytotoxic (EC 50  > 30 μM). Compound 15 also does not violate Lipinski rules, and showed permeability in the blood brain barrier, indicating that it can be considered a lead for the development of new drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease., 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 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the benefits of role play based on a Historical-Cultural perspective with the implementation of symbolic elements generated by the development of drawing of preschool children from suburban origin in a group of normal Mexican preschool children. We predict that the quality of the drawings will be improved after the preschoolers participate in such a role play program., Methods: A pre-experimental study was carried out, with pre-test and post-test assessments. The drawings were assessed with quantitative (frequencies of the quality of the parameters) and qualitative (characteristics of the children's drawings) methods. The role play program was based on Elkonin's method, activity theory, and P. Ya Galperin's formation by stages of mental actions. The program encouraged the use of graphic signs and symbols, with the intention of representing situations, actions, objects, and/or contents. Twenty-six preschool children participated in our study., Results: To know the effect of the role play program with symbolic elements on the drawing of preschool children, we performed a quantitative and qualitative analysis, a Wilcoxon test contrast between the initial and final assessment. Both analyses showed a significant increase in the scores in all the tasks with a medium-large effect size, being the largest "Pictograms" and "Drawing of the route"; and in the analysis of the qualitative parameters, specifically in "Maintains the objective," a significant increase was found in all the tasks., Discussion: Role play, being the main activity in preschool age, develops all aspects of the child's psychic life. The importance of role play in a preschool child makes it possible to work in the zone of proximal development with the regulatory function of language, with the planning, execution, and control of playful activity and, most importantly, with the use of various materials and perceptual-graphics tools. These findings showed an improvement in the development and complexity of the symbolic function in the drawings., Conclusion: Role play, as a work methodology in preschool age, leads to the use of new meaning systems that prepare the child to carry out present and future complex symbolic actions., 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 © 2022 Bonilla-Sánchez, García-Flores, Méndez-Balbuena, Silva-González and Ramírez-Arroyo.)

Dietary glucose and fructose are both efficiently assimilated by the liver but a comprehensive measurement of this process starting from their conversion to sugar phosphates, involvement of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and conversion to glycogen and lipid storage products, remains incomplete. Mice were fed a chow diet supplemented with 35 g/100 mL drinking water of a 55/45 fructose/glucose mixture for 18 weeks. On the final night, the sugar mixture was enriched with either [U- 13 C]glucose or [U- 13 C]fructose, and deuterated water ( 2 H 2 O) was also administered. 13 C-isotopomers representing newly synthesized hepatic glucose-6-phosphate (glucose-6-P), glycerol-3-phosphate, and lipogenic acetyl-CoA were quantified by 2 H and 13 C NMR analysis of post-mortem liver glycogen and triglyceride. These data were applied to a metabolic model covering glucose-6-P, PPP, triose-P, and de novo lipogenesis (DNL) fluxes. The glucose supplement was converted to glucose-6-P via the direct pathway, while the fructose supplement was metabolized by the liver to gluconeogenic triose-P via fructokinase-aldolase-triokinase. Glucose-6-P from all carbohydrate sources accounted for 40-60% of lipogenic acetyl-CoA and 10-12% was oxidized by the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). The yield of NADPH from PPP flux accounted for a minority (~30%) of the total DNL requirement. In conclusion, this approach integrates measurements of glucose-6-P, PPP, and DNL fluxes to provide a holistic and informative assessment of hepatic glucose and fructose metabolism.

5-methyluridine hemihydrate (5 mU) single crystals were synthesized by the slow solvent evaporation method. The physicochemical properties, such as frontier molecular orbitals, global reactivity indices and vibrational were computationally studied through density functional theory (DFT). In addition, structural, vibrational, and thermal properties were obtained by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). PXRD evaluated the structural behavior of 5 mU crystal in the temperature range of 300-460 K. The high-temperature PXRD results suggested that the crystal undergoes two dehydration processes, being a first occurring from the orthorhombic structure (P2 1 2 1 2) to triclinic (P1), in which the water losses occurred around 380 K. A second dehydration triggers the change from the triclinic structure to monoclinic (P2 1 ) within the 420-435 K temperature range. Furthermore, after this temperature, the anhydrous 5 mU suffers a melting process near 460 K, which is remarkably characterized as an irreversible process. Raman spectroscopy was carried out to identify the vibrational modes linked to the water molecule and the noticeable changes in these bands due to high-temperature effects around 380 K and 410 K. Indeed, changes on Raman bands, such as intensity inversion, the disappearance of bands associated with the hydrogen bonds formed from the water molecules and uracil group, and the ribose group were observed. Finally, this study provided details on the structural and vibrational changes caused by the dehydration of 5 mU crystals and the importance of hydrogen bonds for understanding the intermolecular interactions of the 5 mU, a methylated nucleoside with important biological functions., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The genus Adenomera Steindachner, 1867 currently comprises 29 nominal species, some of which are suggested to be cryptic species complexes. The present study was carried out with specimens of the " thomei " clade that encompasses three taxa distributed in the Atlantic Forest biome: Adenomerathomei Almeida et Angulo, 2006, Adenomera sp. L., and Adenomera sp. M. We used classical cytogenetics to describe the diploid number and karyomorphology of these three species collected in two different locations in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Our results revealed the diploid number 2n = 24 (FN = 34) with two pairs of metacentric chromosomes (pairs 1 and 5), three pairs of submetacentric chromosomes (pairs 2, 3, and 4), and seven pairs of telocentric chromosomes (pairs 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12). Further morphological, bioacoustic, and cytogenetic data (C-banding and AgNor) are needed to better delineate the lineages within the " thomei " clade., (Ramon Costa Dominato, Guilherme Costa de Oliveira, Carla Santana Cassini, Victor Goyannes Dill Orrico, Cléa dos Santos Ferreira Mariano, Janisete Gomes Silva.)

Butenolides and tetronic acids occupy a prominent position in synthetic chemistry due to their ubiquitous distribution in nature. This has stimulated investigations firstly in the synthesis of such systems and, laterly, the interest has turned to the understanding of the quantum structure of such systems, allowing a deeper understanding of the mechanism and reactivity of this cyclic scaffold. In contrast, tetronamides, which consist of compounds bearing a 4-aminofuran-2(5H)-one backbone, are relatively rare in nature and synthetic routes to such compounds are poorly explored. This review highlights both the importance of the tetronamide scaffold in medicinal chemistry and the most relevant recondite synthetic strategies for obtaining compounds of this class., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the sole curative option for congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA), a rare type of hemolytic anemia characterized by anemia, ineffective erythropoiesis, and secondary hemochromatosis. In this retrospective multicenter study, we report the outcomes of children with CDA who underwent HCT at participating Pediatric Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Consortium centers. Clinical information on HCT and associated outcomes was collected retrospectively using a common questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and appropriate analysis. Eighteen patients with CDA who underwent allogeneic HCT between 2002 and 2020 were identified. The majority of patients (n = 13) had CDA type II, and the remainder had either CDA type I (n = 2) or CDA of unknown type (n = 3). Mutations were identified in 7 patients (39%), including SEC23B in 5, GATA1 in 1, and abnormality of chromosome 20 in 1. Thirteen patients had evidence of iron overload pre-HCT and received chelation therapy for a median duration of 10 months (range, 2 months to 17 years) pre-HCT. The median age at the time of HCT was 5.5 years (range, 0.7 to 26 years). Donors were HLA-matched (sibling, 4; unrelated, 10) and mismatched (haploidentical, 1; unrelated, 3). Graft sources were bone marrow in 15 patients, umbilical cord blood in 2 patients, or both in 1 patient. Conditioning included busulfan-based myeloablative (67%), fludarabine-based reduced-intensity (27%), or nonmyeloablative (6%) regimens. Five patients developed veno-occlusive disease, and 4 had viral reactivation. The cumulative incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 33%, and that of chronic GVHD was 22%. Four patients (22%) experienced graft failure; all engrafted following either a second HCT (n = 2) or third HCT (n = 2) but sustained considerable morbidities (3 GVHD, 1 death, 2 viral reactivation). With a median follow-up of 3.2 years (range, 0.6 to 14 years)), the 2-year overall survival, event-free survival (EFS), and GVHD-free EFS were 88% (95% confidence interval [CI], 73% to 100%), 65% (95% CI, 45% to 92%), and 60% (95% CI, 40% to 88%), respectively. Univariate analysis did not identify any patient- or transplantation-related variables impacting outcomes. Our study indicates that HCT can be curative for patients with CDA. Strategies such as aggressive chelation, use of preconditioning therapy, and early HCT in the presence of a suitable donor before comorbidities occur are needed to improve engraftment without increasing the risk for toxicity and mortality., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement M.A.P.: Novartis– Steering Committee for Eliana/Ensign, Advisory Board, Miltenyi Study support, Invited Speaker, Adaptive, Study support, Bellicum Invited Speaker, Jasper Therapeutics – Advisory Board. H.A. has received research funding from Adaptive. S.S.: Bluebird Bio advisory board, CIRM Consultant, NIH NHLBI DSMB Member, AIBS/NY Stem Consultant, Aruvant -  DSMB Chair, PJS: Past member, Gilead Sciences AmBisome Advisory Board, July 2005, Expert, Orphan Australia Pty, to assist in registration of IV Busulfex in Australia, June 2006 , Busulfex Global Steering Committee, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization, Inc, 2009, 2010 , Steering Committee member for Pharmacyclics for Ibrutinib trial PCYC-1146, April 2019 (ongoing), Novartis CTL019 Advisory Board member, September 2019, Novartis GvHD Advisor Board, July 2020, Link VOD Advisory Board, October 2020. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to report., (Copyright © 2022 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Monteiro, ER, Pescatello, LS, Winchester, JB, Corrêa Neto, VG, Brown, AF, Budde, H, Marchetti, PH, Silva, JG, Vianna, JM, and Novaes, JdS. Effects of manual therapies and resistance exercise on postexercise hypotension in women with normal blood pressure. J Strength Cond Res 36(4): 948-954, 2022-The purpose of this investigation was to examine the acute effects of resistance exercise (RE) and different manual therapies (static stretching and manual massage [MM]) performed separately or combined on blood pressure (BP) responses during recovery in women with normal BP. Sixteen recreationally strength-trained women (age: 25.1 ± 2.9 years; height: 158.9 ± 4.1 cm; body mass: 59.5 ± 4.9 kg; body mass index: 23.5 ± 1.9 kg·m-2; baseline systolic BP median: 128 mm Hg; and baseline diastolic BP median: 78 mm Hg) were recruited. All subjects performed 6 experiments in a randomized order: (a) rest control (CON), (b) RE only (RE), (c) static-stretching exercise only (SS), (d) MM only, (e) RE immediately followed by SS (RE + SS), and (f) RE immediately followed by MM (RE + MM). RE consisted of 3 sets of bilateral bench press, back squat, front pull-down, and leg press exercises at 80% of 10RM. Static stretching and MM were applied unilaterally in 2 sets of 120 seconds to each of the quadriceps, hamstring, and calf regions. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP were measured before (rest) and every 10 minutes for 60 minutes following (Post 10-60) each intervention. There were significant intragroup differences for RE in Post-50 (p = 0.038; d = -2.24; ∆ = -4.0 mm Hg). Similarly, SBP intragroup differences were found for the SS protocol in Post-50 (p = 0.021; d = -2.67; ∆ = -5.0 mm Hg) and Post-60 (p = 0.008; d = -2.88; ∆ = -5.0 mm Hg). Still, SBP intragroup differences were found for the MM protocol in Post-50 (p = 0.011; d = -2.61; ∆ = -4.0 mm Hg) and Post-60 (p = 0.011; d = -2.74; ∆ = -4.0 mm Hg). Finally, a single SBP intragroup difference was found for the RE + SS protocol in Post-60 (p = 0.024; d = -3.12; ∆ = -5.0 mm Hg). Practitioners should be aware that SS and MM have the potential to influence BP responses in addition to RE or by themselves and therefore should be taken into consideration for persons who are hypertensive or hypotensive., (Copyright © 2021 National Strength and Conditioning Association.)

Three sampling campaigns were performed in the Lis River (Leiria, Portugal) in February of 2018, November of 2018, and May of 2019. River water and wastewater (influent and effluent) samples of two wastewater treatment plants were target of the study. A total of 25 samples were collected and 50 pesticides were monitored, including organochlorines, triazines, pyrethroids, and organophosphorus, among others. Most of the detected pesticides were insecticides and mainly organochlorines. Concentrations between 1.29 and 2134 ng/L were found. Aldrin, γ-HCH, and cypermethrin were detected in some samples in μg/L, being γ-HCH the pesticide most frequently detected with concentration in μg/L level. The pesticides with the highest detection frequency were (i) cypermethrin, HCB, methoxychlor, and ζ-HCH in river waters; (ii) isoproturon, cypermethrin, methoxychlor, pyrimethanil, γ-HCH, dieldrin, diuron, α-HCH, and α-endosulfan in effluents; and (iii) diuron and isoproturon in influents. The detection of the organochlorides and their degradation products is a consequence of their persistence in the environment, as their usage has long been prohibited in the European Union. Pesticides were grouped by their types in herbicides, insecticides, or fungicides and the detection and concentration for each type were discussed with the climatic conditions. Pesticide toxicity index was determined in the samples collected in the river., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The movement of endemic fruit flies to new habitats represents a major biological and economic threat. Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi, 1979 is widely distributed in Brazil and also in Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay. Here, we present the potential distribution of A. sororcula in endemic areas and project this model into other regions such as part of sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, and Asia to show areas around the world that this species can potentially establish. We combined geographic coordinates with climate data. The models were built using the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm. Many mango- and guava-producing countries exhibited climatic suitability for A. sororcula in the regions studied including the nine largest world producers: India, Brazil, Malawi, Kenya, Haiti, Cuba, Colombia, Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Many of these countries showed ideal host plant availability and climatic conditions for the entry and establishment of A. sororcula. This study is a pioneer in the identification of representative areas in the world with climatic suitability for A. sororcula, which shows the importance of predicting areas at risk of invasion to monitor the movement and establishment of fruit fly species in new regions, which is fundamental to area-wide integrated pest management programs., (© 2021. Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil.)

A new methodology to determine directly the fungicide boscalid (BSC) was developed and successfully applied in red grape 100% juice, peel extracts, pulp and purple grape seeds ( Vitis labrusca L.) with a working carbon paste electrode (CPE) without sample preparation. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) indicated the presence of an irreversible cathodic process of BSC at -1.21 V vs. Ag|AgCl (KCl 3.0 mol L -1 ) in a solution of 0.100 mol L -1 HCl/acetone 70 : 30 (v/v). This behavior was also observed using Square Wave Voltammetry (SWV). The Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) technique proved to be more sensitive and with higher selectivity for BSC quantification. The influence of pH on the reduction of BSC was investigated in Britton-Robinson Buffer (BRB), 0.01 mol L -1 (pH 2.00-12.00). The limit of detection (LOD) values obtained from calibration curves for different samples were as follows: 0.107 mg L -1 for deionized water; 0.146 mg L -1 for red grape 100% juice; 0.922 mg kg -1 for peel extracts; 0.818 mg kg -1 for grape pulp and 0.691 mg kg -1 for grape seeds. The corresponding Limit of Quantification (LOQ) values for the same samples were as follows: 0.358 mg L -1 ; 0.486 mg L -1 ; 2.87 mg kg -1 ; 2.73 mg kg -1 and 2.51 mg kg -1 , respectively. In addition, the recovery rates for the different concentration levels in the investigated range varied between 97.13 and 103.4%. All tests performed with the samples did not require extraction or pre-concentration steps of BSC, resulting in a fast, simple and cheap methodology.

Background: Dental erosion has become a relevant public health problem in recent years and is related to the increase in the consumption of acidic beverages. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the erosive potential of energy drinks on dental enamel using an in vitro erosion model., Material and Methods: Thirty-eight blocks of human enamel were divided into four groups: G1- TNT Energy Drink®(n=8), G2- Red Bull® (n=10), G3- Monster Energy® (n=10), and G4- Coca-Cola® (n=10) (positive control). For the chemical analysis, the pH values, titratable acidity, and buffering capacity of the beverages were measured in triplicate. For the erosive test, the specimens were immersed in the beverages (5ml/block) for 30 minutes at room temperature with gentle shaking. Initial and final surface microhardness values were measured and the percentage of the loss of surface microhardness was calculated. Profilometry (surface loss and lesion depth) and mineral loss analysis (quantitative light-induced fluorescence) were performed. The data were analysed statistically using ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni correction, Pearson's correlation test, and multiple linear regression ( p <0.05)., Results: The energy drinks had pH values ranging from 2.36 to 3.41. The lowest titratable acidity value was recorded for Monster Energy® and the highest was recorded for TNT Energy Drink®. All energy drinks had buffering capacity values higher than Coca-Cola®. Analysing the eroded enamel surface, the specimens submitted to TNT Energy Drink® had the greatest percentage loss of surface microhardness, surface loss, depth, and mineral loss, followed by those submitted to Red Bull® and Monster Energy®. Surface loss was the only predictor of mineral loss ( p <0.001)., Conclusions: Based on the study model employed, all the energy drinks examined were erosive to tooth enamel and TNT Energy Drink® had the worst behaviour. Key words: Energy drinks, tooth erosion, tooth demineralisation, hardness tests, quantitative light-induced fluorescence., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding authorship and/or publication of this article., (Copyright: © 2021 Medicina Oral S.L.)

Background: Previous studies have explored posthematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) outcomes by race in adults; however, pediatric data addressing this topic are scarce., Procedure: This retrospective registry study included 238 White (W) and 57 Black (B) children with hematologic malignancies (HM) receiving first allogeneic HCT between 2010 and 2019 at one of the five Florida pediatric HCT centers., Results: We found no differences between W and B children in transplant characteristics, other than donor type. There was a significant difference in use of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched donors (HLA-MMD) (53% W, 71% B, p = .01). When comparing HLA-MMD use to fully HLA-matched donors, B had relative risk (RR) of 1.47 (95% CI 0.7-3) of receiving a mismatched unrelated donor (MMUD), RR of 2.34 (95% CI 1.2-4.4) of receiving a mismatched related donor (MMRD), and RR of 1.9 (95% CI 0.99-3.6) of receiving a mismatched cord blood donor (MMCBD) HCT, respectively. There was no significant difference in the incidence of aGVHD (48% W, 35% B), p = .1, or cGVHD (19% W, 28% B, p = .1), or primary cause of death. Overall 24-month survival was 61% (95% CI 55%-68%) for W, and 60% (95% CI 48-75) for B children, log-rank p = .7. While HLA matching improved survival in W children, the number of B children receiving HLA-matched HCT was too small to identify the impact of HLA matching on survival., Conclusions: In this contemporary cohort of children with HM, we found that B children were more likely to receive HLA-MMD transplants, but this did not adversely affect survival or GVHD rates., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Jatropha mollissima is used in folk medicine as antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and larvicidal. However, few toxicogenetic studies have been carried out. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical profile of ethanolic leaf extract of J. mollissima (EEJM) as well as potential cytotoxic, mutagenic, and antimutagenic properties. The EEJM was subjected to successive fractionation for the isolation of secondary metabolites, and five concentrations (0.01; 0.1; 1; 10 and 100 mg/ml) of extract were investigated using Allium cepa assay and the Somatic Mutation and Recombination (SMART) test. The mitotic index and % damage reduction were analyzed for A. cepa and the frequency of mutant hair for SMART. The presence of coumarins, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins was detected, while spinasterol and n-triacontane were the isolates identified for the first time for this species. EEJM did not exhibit cytotoxicity and was not mutagenic at 1 or 10 mg/ml using A. cepa and all concentrations of EEJM were not mutagenic in the SMART test. A cytoprotective effect was found at all concentrations. At 1 or 10 mg/ml EEJM exhibited antimutagenicity in A. cepa . In SMART, the protective effect was observed at 0.1 to 100 mg/ml EEJM. Our results demonstrate the important chemopreventive activity of EEJM, a desired quality in the search for natural anticarcinogenic compounds.

Objective: The present study aimed to adapt and validate the self-report tool named Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians (MPIIQM-Br) into the Brazilian Portuguese language for professional orchestra musicians., Methods: The cross-cultural adaptation process was divided into nine steps. Five experts evaluated the equivalences among versions and the content validity ratio (CVR). The structural validity was verified by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Construct validity was checked by convergent/divergent validity by comparing the results obtained by the MPIIQM-Br, the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire-optional module (DASH-PAM), and the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI). Finally, reliability was tested with internal consistency and test-retest reliability., Results: In total, 273 professional orchestra musicians (137 males) participated. The researchers found good equivalence among versions, and the CVR reached 0.99. EFA (n=212) showed that the MPIIQM-Br had two factors that explained 70% of the total variance. The convergent validity confirmed a strong positive correlation (r>0.7) and the divergent validity established a low correlation (r<0.4). Both internal consistency (Cronbach's a=0.90) and temporal stability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.84) obtained high values., Discussion: The psychometric evaluation showed a two-dimensional structure, internal consistency, and temporal stability similar to the original tool and the German and Polish versions of the MPIIQM. However, the pain prevalence rates among Brazilian musicians were higher. Extreme informality and the growing demotivation may explain these findings., Conclusions: The MPIIQM-Br is a transcultural equivalent, reliable, and valid tool for the measurement and evaluation of pain and pain interference among professional orchestra musicians.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Miofascial Release (MFR) on knee extensors strength, at different duration times of application., Method: 51 healthy individuals were randomly assigned to one of three groups (3min, 5min or placebo) in this randomized clinical trial. The knee extensors strength was assessed in two conditions: pre and post-intervention, using an isokinetic dynamometer, at speeds of 60° and 120°/s. MFR was applied on the anterior surface of the thigh for 3min or 5 min, according to the experimental groups. The placebo group underwent through the application of a non-therapeutic gel, associated with 3min of a light touch on the skin. Peak torque, total work and mean power were the isokinetic variables analyzed through a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with p ≤ 0.05., Results: Our findings suggest a main effect and interaction between moments (pre and post-intervention) and speeds (60° and 120°/s) for total work and mean power (p < 0.01). Likewise, main effect and interaction of speed were observed for peak torque (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences for the other analyzed variables., Conclusion: No significant main effect of MFR were detected in any of the proposed application time on peak torque, total work and mean power, in the knee extensors, compared to the placebo group., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest. This research did not receive any type of funding., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim was to investigate the acute effect of kinesthetic motor imagery of the 2-minute walk test on hemodynamic and cardiopulmonary variables in patients with heart failure., Methods: Twenty participants were recruited for the analysis of these variables before and after the execution and imagination of the 2-minute walk test, with the number of laps executed and imagined being recorded., Results: The main results observed showed that (1) there was no difference in the number of laps executed and imagined (p=0.41), indicating that the participants actually imagined the test and (2) the motor imagery of the 2-minute walk test immediately increased (p<0.001) the heart and respiratory rates., Conclusion: The motor imagery seems to have acute effects on the cardiopulmonary anticipatory responses of a patient with heart failure.

Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile and highly adaptable pathogen associated with a wide range of infectious diseases in humans and animals. In the last decades, concern has increased worldwide due to the emergence and spread of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains shortly after this drug became a therapeutic option. In this study, we report the genomic features of the first mecC-mediated, β-lactam resistant MRSA strain associated with livestock in Brazil and in the American continent. Three clonally related phenotypic MRSA isolates originated from a dairy herd were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction as mecC-harbouring MRSA isolates. Whole-genome sequencing was performed by Illumina Miseq platform. Downstream analyses showed that the strain was identified as the sequence type 126 (ST126) and spa type t605. In silico analysis revealed a mecC homolog gene in the orfX region associated with different penicillin-binding proteins. Moreover, genes encoding for efflux pump systems (arlR, mepR, LmrS, norA and mgrA), and antibiotic inactivation enzymes (blaZ and FosB) were also detected. Virulence analyses revealed that the strain harbours genes encoding for exoenzymes (aur, splA, splB and splE), toxin (hlgA, hlgB, hlgC, lukD and lukE) and enterotoxin (sea). The epidemiologic and genomic information provided by this study will support further epidemiological and evolutionary investigations to understand the origin and dissemination of mecC-MRSA among animals and its impact on public health., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Tetrastichus giffardianus is a gregarious koinobiont endoparasitoid of tephritids, including Ceratitis capitata, which is one of the most important fruit pests worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of constant temperatures on the biology and development of the egg-adult period of T. giffardianus in larvae/pupae of C. capitata to construct a fertility life table. The study was carried out in climatic chambers at constant temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% relative humidity and a photophase of 12 h. Complete egg and larval development occurred only at temperatures of 20, 25, and 30°C. The mean longevity of males and females was inversely proportional to temperature. The time of development of the pre-imaginal period was influenced by temperature and ranged from 41 days at 20°C to 11 days at 25°C. The best T. giffardianus performance occurred at 25°C when the intrinsic rate of increase was 0.21, the mean generation time was 20.43 days, the time required to double the population was 3.33 days, and the finite rate of population increase (λ) was 1.23. The results of this study provided information for the establishment of mass rearing and an evaluation of the adaptability of T. giffardianus to different environments, which is necessary for the use of this parasitoid in the biological control of tephritid pests, particularly C. capitata.

Background: Utilizing the Brazilian Medical Demography analysis and a literature review, we evaluated how women choose to become neurosurgeons in Brazil and around the world, specifically citing the Europe, the USA, India, and Japan., Methods: We utilized the Brazilian Medical Demography prepared by the Federal Council of Medicine and the Regional Council of Medicine of the State of São Paulo (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018). We also included an evaluation of 20 articles from PubMed, the Scientific Electronic Library Online, and National Health Library databases (e.g., using descriptors "Women in neurosurgery" and "Career")., Results: In Brazil in 2017, women comprised 45.6% of active doctors, but only 8.6% of all neurosurgeons. Of 20 articles identified in the literature, 50% analyzed the factors that influenced how women choose neurosurgery, 40% dealt with gender differences, while just 10% included an analysis of what it is like to be a female neurosurgeon in different countries/continents., Conclusion: The participation of women in neurosurgery has increased in recent years despite the persistence of gender inequality and prejudice. More women need to be enabled to become neurosurgeons as their capabilities, manual dexterity, and judgment should be valued to improve the quality of neurosurgical health-care delivery., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Surgical Neurology International.)

A novel voltammetric method with practically no sample pretreatment was developed for determination of Quinclorac (QNC) in rice samples by using a working Carbon Paste Electrode (CPE) modified with ionic liquid, with deposition potential (E D ) of -1.43 V for 30 s in NaOH 0.01 mol L -1 . The systematic influence of cations and anions of imidazole ionic liquids on the composition of CPE has evaluated. The best electrode composition was 65% (w/w) of graphite powder, 30% (w/w) of mineral oil and 5.0% (w/w) of C 4 min + BF 4 - ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate). The matrices analyzed were deionized water and extracts of upland rice: white, brown, peel and seed. The limits of quantification ranged between 0.954 mg kg -1 and 3.61 mg kg -1 . The recovery percentages of QNC in rice samples ranged between 90% and 121%. The simplicity and good analytical frequency enable the proposed method to be used to obtain preliminary information on the presence of QNC, prior to the implementation of more detailed, costly and elaborate quantitative analyses. The technique can be applied in the study and evaluation of sorption mechanisms, metabolization of the herbicide in plants and its persistence and degradation in the environment.

Background: There is little evidence about the myofascial release maneuver (MLM) targeting the fascial tissue and its effect on postural balance. This study investigated the immediate effects of the MLM in different lower limb muscle chains on the postural sway of healthy men., Methods: Sixty-three healthy men (27.2 ± 4.7 years) were randomly assigned to 7 groups (n = 9 each) to receive MLM applied to the lower limb muscle chains (anterior, posterior, medial, lateral, anterior/posterior, and medial/lateral) or placebo intervention. Skin pressure during the 3-min MLM was determined by the visual analog scale between 5 and 7 as previously assessed on participants. Posturography analysis of the elliptical area (Area) and average velocity (Vavg) of the center-of-pressure displacement was performed before and immediately after the MLM in single-leg support and with eyes closed., Results: A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance showed no interaction effect of factors group and time (Area: p = 0.210, ω 2  = 0.004; Vavg: p = 0.358, ω 2  < 0.001). Within-factor main effect of time was observed for both Area (p < 0.001, ω 2  = 0.038) and Vavg (p < 0.001, ω 2  = 0.028), with decreased Area and Vavg after all interventions. No between-factor main effect of group was observed for Area or Vavg (MLM or placebo, p = 0.188 or higher)., Conclusion: MLM applied to the lower limb muscle chains showed no immediate specific effects on postural sway in healthy men. Pre-post effects of MLM were not different from those elicited by a superficial massage. MLM in lower limb muscle chains is not advocated for an immediate improvement of postural balance in this population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Central memory CD8 + T cells (Tcm) control systemic secondary infections and can protect from chronic infection and cancer as a result of their stem-cell-like capacity to expand, differentiate, and self-renew. Central memory is generally thought to emerge following pathogen clearance and to form based on the de-differentiation of cytolytic effector cells. Here, we uncovered rare effector-phase CD8 + T cells expressing high amounts of the transcription factor Tcf7 (Tcf1) that showed no evidence of prior cytolytic differentiation and that displayed key hallmarks of Tcm cells. These effector-phase Tcf7 hi cells quantitatively yielded Tcm cells based on lineage tracing. Mechanistically, Tcf1 counteracted the differentiation of Tcf7 hi cells and sustained the expression of conserved adult stem-cell genes that were critical for CD8 + T cell stemness. The discovery of stem-cell-like CD8 + T cells during the effector response to acute infection provides an opportunity to optimize Tcm cell formation by vaccination., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is an important component of hepatic intermediary metabolism. Jin et al developed an elegant 13 C-NMR method for measuring hepatic PPP flux by quantifying the distribution of glucose 13 C-isotopomers formed from [U- 13 C]glycerol. We demonstrate that this approach can be extended to exogenous [U- 13 C]fructose and [U- 13 C]glucose precursors by 13 C-NMR analysis of glycogen., Methods: Twelve male C57BL/6 mice fed standard chow were provided a 55/45 mixture of fructose and glucose at 30% w/v in the drinking water for 18 wk. On the evening before sacrifice, the fructose component was enriched with 20% [U- 13 C]fructose for 6 mice, while the glucose component was enriched with 20% [U- 13 C]glucose for the remaining 6 mice. Mice were allowed to feed and drink naturally overnight, and then, euthanized. Livers were freeze-clamped and glycogen was extracted and derivatized for 13 C NMR spectroscopy. Flux of each sugar into the PPP relative to its incorporation into glycogen was quantified from selected 13 C glycogen isotopomer ratios., Results: Both [U- 13 C]fructose and [U- 13 C]glucose precursors yielded glycogen 13 C-isotopomer distributions that were characteristic of PPP activity. The fraction of [U- 13 C]glucose utilized by the PPP relative to its conversion to glycogen via the direct pathway was 14 ± 1%, while that from [U- 13 C]fructose relative to its conversion to glycogen via the indirect pathway was significantly lower (10 ± 1%, P = .00032)., Conclusions: Hepatic PPP fluxes from both [U- 13 C]glucose and [U- 13 C]fructose precursors were assessed by 13 C NMR analysis of glycogen 13 C-isotopomers. Glucose-6-phosphate generated via glucokinase and the direct pathway is preferentially utilized by the PPP., (© 2020 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.)

Excessive sugar intake including high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is implicated in the rise of obesity, insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Liver glycogen synthesis is influenced by both fructose and insulin signaling. Therefore, the effect of HFCS on hepatic glycogenesis was evaluated in mice feeding ad-libitum. Using deuterated water: the fraction of glycogen derived from triose-P sources, Krebs cycle substrates, and direct pathway + cycling, was measured in 9 normal-chow fed mice (NC) and 12 mice fed normal chow plus a 55% fructose/45% glucose mix in the drinking water at 30% w/v (HFCS-55). This was enriched with [U- 13 C]fructose or [U- 13 C]glucose to determine the contribution of each to glycogenesis. For NC, direct pathway + cycling, Krebs cycle, and triose-P sources accounted for 66 ± 0.7%, 23 ± 0.8% and 11 ± 0.4% of glycogen synthesis, respectively. HFCS-55 mice had similar direct pathway + cycling (64 ± 1%) but lower Krebs cycle (12 ± 1%, p < 0.001) and higher triose-P contributions (24 ± 1%, p < 0.001). HFCS-55-fructose contributed 17 ± 1% via triose-P and 2 ± 0% via Krebs cycle. HFCS-55-glucose contributed 16 ± 3% via direct pathway and 1 ± 0% via Krebs cycle. In conclusion, HFCS-55 supplementation resulted in similar hepatic glycogen deposition rates. Indirect pathway contributions shifted from Krebs cycle to Triose-P sources reflecting HFCS-55-fructose utilization, while HFCS-55-glucose was incorporated almost exclusively by the direct pathway.

Cell competition in the thymus is a homeostatic process that drives turnover. If the process is impaired, thymopoiesis can be autonomously maintained for several weeks, but this causes leukemia. We aimed to understand the effect of cell competition on thymopoiesis, identify the cells involved, and determine how the process is regulated. Using thymus transplantation experiments, we found that cell competition occurs within the double-negative 2 (DN2) and 3 early (DN3e) thymocytes and inhibits thymus autonomy. Furthermore, the expansion of DN2b is regulated by a negative feedback loop that is imposed by double-positive thymocytes and determines the kinetics of thymopoiesis. This feedback loop affects the cell cycle duration of DN2b, in a response controlled by interleukin 7 availability. Altogether, we show that thymocytes do not merely follow a pre-determined path if provided with the correct signals. Instead, thymopoiesis dynamically integrates cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous aspects that fine-tune normal thymus function., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)