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High competence in fundamental motor skills (FMS) and adequate physical fitness (PF) levels are a solid foundation for acquiring an active and healthy lifestyle during childhood and adolescence. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to compare gender and age groups and identify correlations between FMS and PF in young elementary school students. We used a structured questionnaire to gather sociodemographic information from parents, and we characterized the children's economic profile with the Brazil Social Economic Status Criterion. We collected FMS data using the Furtado-Gallagher Children Observational Movement Pattern Assessment System (FG-COMPASS), and we used the Brazil Sports Project Battery Test to measure PF levels. Statistical analyses involved descriptive data and inferential tests to determine group differences in FMS and PF levels. Hierarchical regression helped identify the associations between FMS and PF, as controlled by sociodemographic factors. Participants were 720 students (and parents) of both genders (383 girls, 337 boys; M age = 8.8, SD = 1.52 years) from grades 1 to 5 in an elementary school in a municipality in the western region of the Paraná state in Brazil. The results showed significant differences in children's motor skills and PF based on gender and age. The hierarchical regression model showed different combinations of flexibility, abdominal resistance, upper limb strength, agility, speed, and lower limb strength, which explained 33.7% of the variability in the global FMS index, 41% of the variability in manipulative skills, and 12.7% of the variability in locomotor skills. In addition, there was a positive association between FMS and PF related to neuromuscular development for both sexes, regardless of age., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The concentrations of macro elements (Ca, K, Mg, and Na), essential trace elements (Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, and Zn), and nonessential trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Pb, and Ti) in the shell and soft tissues of Perna perna (L. 1758) mussels from Southeast Brazil are presented as a baseline reference for understanding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of coastal environments. For shells, the macro elements load was greater during the pandemic period at all sampling sites; however, for soft tissues, the opposite trend was recorded. On the contrary, the concentrations of trace elements in the shell were below the limit of quantification in most samples, and they tended to decrease in the soft tissues during the pandemic. Thus, the COVID-19 was a short-term conservation event that positively impacted the mussels. The results are relevant for monitoring the coastal environment in a post-COVID-19 scenario., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this work, the concentrations of hazardous elements (As, Cd and Pb) in the edible portion of the Perna perna mussel from Southeast Brazil were analyzed to understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the coastal environment and to evaluate the quality of this fishery resource. Decreases in anthropogenic chemical outputs to the environment were expected to occur during the COVID-19 pandemic, with decreases in element concentrations in mussels. The ranges of median concentrations (µg g -1  dw) in the pre- and pandemic periods were 5.4-16.1 and 2.2-10.6 for As; 0.2-0.6 and 0.1-0.5 for Cd; and 1.2-3.2 and 0.7-1.8 for Pb, respectively. Temporal variations (prepandemic x pandemic) were more significant than spatial variations (five sampling sites). The relationships between the concentrations of hazardous elements and isotopic ratios (δ 15 N and δ 13 C) suggested that food sources were more diverse across the sampling sites during the pandemic period, when individuals exhibited less efficient trophic transfer. The concentrations of Cd and Pb were below the tolerable maximum limit, whereas for As, they were above the limit; however, these concentrations are not a risk to human health, as most As was present in the least toxic organic form. The intake estimates were below the tolerable intake limits, and only Pb concentrations are at risk of causing concern if the intake of mussels increases. This is the first study in Brazil that presents a spatial-temporal comparison of hazardous elements in marine fauna considering COVID-19 as a temporal landmark. The results are of interest for both public health and environmental health management in a post-COVID-19 scenario., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Premise: Increasingly complete phylogenies underpin studies in systematics, ecology, and evolution. Myrteae (Myrtaceae), with ~2700 species, is a key component of the exceptionally diverse Neotropical flora, but given its complicated taxonomy, automated assembling of molecular supermatrices from public databases often lead to unreliable topologies due to poor species identification., Methods: Here, we build a taxonomically verified molecular supermatrix of Neotropical Myrteae by assembling 3909 published and 1004 unpublished sequences from two nuclear and seven plastid molecular markers. We infer a time-calibrated phylogenetic tree that covers 712 species of Myrteae (~28% of the total diversity in the clade) and evaluate geographic and taxonomic gaps in sampling., Results: The tree inferred from the fully concatenated matrix mostly reflects the topology of the plastid data set and there is a moderate to strong incongruence between trees inferred from nuclear and plastid partitions. Large, species-rich genera are still the poorest sampled within the group. Eastern South America is the best-represented area in proportion to its species diversity, while Western Amazon, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean are the least represented., Conclusions: We provide a time-calibrated tree that can be more reliably used to address finer-scale eco-evolutionary questions that involve this group in the Neotropics. Gaps to be filled by future studies include improving representation of taxa and areas that remain poorly sampled, investigating causes of conflict between nuclear and plastid partitions, and the role of hybridization and incomplete lineage sorting in relationships that are poorly supported., (© 2024 The Authors. American Journal of Botany published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Botanical Society of America.)

The potential use of elemental concentrations and element:calcium (Ca) ratios as indicators of provenance for bivalve mollusks on the Brazilian coast is evaluated herein for the first time. The approach was applied to shells of the mussel Perna perna (target of extractive fisheries) from geographically close areas but under distinct environmental and anthropogenic influences. Both concentrations of the elements normalized by Ca and the total concentrations can be applied to discriminate the mussels' origin. However, the canonical approach using the total concentrations indicated variations regarding the discriminatory power, and the concentrations of the elements normalized by Ca were more robust in differentiating the provenance of the shells. The origin of mussels was better discriminated by six elementary ratios: Al:Ca, Fe:Ca, K:Ca, Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca and Na:Ca. Thus, monitoring studies aiming to discriminate the origin of P. perna individuals along their distribution based on these elementary ratios of the shell are recommended., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Vascular endothelium insults caused by high serum glucose levels affect the oxygen supply to tissues, via the microvascular endothelium, resulting in an increased perfusion heterogeneity. These insults may lead to the underuse of blood capillaries, while other vessels are overused and effectively overload their oxygen supply capacity, which eventually causes damages to distal parts of the peripheral nervous system. Therefore, the proprioceptive and exteroceptive feedback information will be gradually lost and contribute to a mobility reduction. This study aims to assess the efficacy of whole-body vibration (WBV) associated with strength training (ST) on lower-limb blood flow and mobility in older adults with type 2 diabetes (DM2). Methods and analyses: This is a protocol (1st version) for Pa single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial guided by the SPIRIT guidelines. Our sample will consist of 51 older adults with DM2 randomly allocated to three groups: low frequency WBV (16−26 Hz) associated to ST (G1), WBV sham (G2) and nonintervention control (G3). The study protocol is set for a 12-week (three times per week) schedule. Primary outcomes: skin temperature using infrared thermographic imaging (ITI); mean peripheral arterial blood flow velocity (MBF) by a handheld Doppler ultrasound (DU), and functional mobility by Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Secondary outcomes: quasi-static posture using the DX100 BTS Smart optoelectronic system, and plantar pressure and body balance using the MPS stabilometric platform. Data will be collected and analyzed at baseline and post-intervention, considering p-value < 0.05 level of significance. The analyses will also be conducted with an intention-to-treat method and effect size. Dissemination: All results will be published in peer-reviewed journals as well as presented in conferences.

Miconia is among the largest plant genera in the Neotropics and a taxonomically complex lineage. Indeed, molecular phylogenetic data shows that none of its traditionally accepted sections are monophyletic, preventing taxonomic advances within the genus. Miconia is the largest plant genus in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, including three main lineages, the Leandra s.s. clade (ca. 215 spp.), the Miconia sect. Chaenanthera (24 spp.), and the Miconia discolor clade (estimated 77 spp.). Out of these lineages, the Miconia discolor clade is the only currently lacking phylogenetic data, complicating its taxonomy. In this study, we reconstruct the phylogeny of the Miconia discolor clade, using three plastid (atpF-H, psbK-I, and psaI-accD) and two nuclear (ETS and ITS) markers. We sampled 60 out of the 77 species of the group, representing 78% of its diversity. Taxa were selected considering their distribution, morphology, and previous phylogenetic knowledge. We used the newly reconstructed phylogeny to better understand phylogenetic relationships among Atlantic Forest species and morphologically similar taxa, and to propose a new infrageneric classification for the Miconia discolor clade: the Miconia supersection Discolores. We further studied the evolution of seven morphological characters using a Maximum Likelihood approach, and estimated the ancestral range distribution of various lineages in order to understand the biogeographic history of this clade. We found that dichasial inflorescences represent the ancestral condition within Miconia, subsequently giving rise to scorpioid and glomerulate inflorescences in the studied group. We describe Miconia supersect. Discolores, originated in the Amazon region, which is recognized by a dense layer of branched tricomes covering young branches and non-dichasial inflorescences, including three main lineages: (i) Miconia sect. Albicantes, characterized by persistent bracts and arachnoid indument on the abaxial surface of leaves, mainly distributed in the Amazon basin; (ii) Miconia sect. Discolores, characterized by caducous calyx lobes and glomerulate inflorescences, centered in the Atlantic Forest; and (iii) Miconia sect. Multispicatae, characterized by leaves not completely covered with indument, and capitate stigma, mainly distributed in the Atlantic Forest. All three sections and the supersection originated in the Neogene, between the Late Miocene and the Early Pliocene., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Osteoporosis and the risk of falls increase the risk of fractures and events of falls. Prescriptions and programs for different forms of exercise have different impacts on the risk of falls, and exercises from multiple categories of whole-body vibration can be effective. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of whole-body vibration (WBV) protocol combined with multicomponent training (MCT) in elderly women with osteoporosis and their history of falls. Our proposal is a protocol for a randomized clinical trial, divided into two stages: First, development of a protocol for WVB combined with MCT for elderly women with osteoporosis and a history of falls, under the Guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine, and following the recommendations of the Standard Protocol Items Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT), and second, a randomized controlled clinical trial following the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). This trial will have implications for the effectiveness of a vibration protocol combined with multicomponent exercise on the risk of falls and quality of life for older women with osteoporosis. We expect that adding full-body vibration to an exercise protocol will decrease the risk of falls and improve participants' quality of life, as well as their strength, balance, and functional capacity.

Background: The Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened biomes in the world. Despite that, this biome still includes many areas that are poorly known floristically, including several protected areas, such as the "Floresta Nacional do Rio Preto" ("Flona do Rio Preto"), located in the Brazilian State of Espírito Santo. This study used a published vascular plant species list for this protected area from the "Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil" as the basis to synthesise the species richness, endemism, conservation and new species occurrences found in the "Flona do Rio Preto"., New Information: The published list of vascular plants was based on field expeditions conducted between 2018 and 2020 and data obtained from herbarium collections available in online databases. Overall, 722 species were documented for the "Flona do Rio Preto", 711 of which are native to Brazil and 349 are endemic to the Atlantic Forest. In addition, 60 species are geographically disjunct between the Atlantic and the Amazon Forests. Most of the documented species are woody and more than 50% of these are trees. Twenty-three species are threatened (CR, EN and VU), while five are Data Deficient (DD). Thirty-two species are new records for the State of Espírito Santo. Our results expand the knowledge of the flora of the Atlantic Forest and provide support for the development of new conservation policies for this protected area., (Anderson Alves-Araújo, Marina M Moreira, Tatiana T Carrijo, Lúcia G Lohmann, Adriana Q Lobão, Alana F Scheidegger, Aline D Firmino, Aline Vieira de Melo Silva, Álvaro Nepomuceno, Amélia C Tuler, André MA Amorim, André LC Moreira, Braz AP Cosenza, Brenno G Sossai, Christian Silva, Claudia R Lopes, Daniele Monteiro, Dayvid R Couto, Duane F Lima, Eduardo C Dalcin, Eliana Ramos, Elton J Lírio, Fatima Salimena, Felipe Alves de Oliveira, Fernanda RM Fraga, Filipe Torres-Leite, Guilherme M Antar, Gustavo H Shimizu, Haroldo C Lima, Herison Medeiros, Jaquelini Luber, Jheniffer A Christ, João Lanna, João Paulo F Zorzanelli, Joelcio Freitas, José FB Pastore, José IM Melo, Juliana Paula-Souza, Juliana RPM Oliveira, Leandro C Pederneiras, Leandro Freitas, Leandro L Giacomin, Leonardo D Meireles, Luis AE Silva, Luiz JS Pinto, Luiz Menini Neto, Marcelo Trovó, Mário L Garbin, Marli P Morim, Michel Ribeiro, Nelson TL Pena, Paulo H Labiak, Pedro H Cardoso, Pedro L Viana, Pedro LR Moraes, Quélita S Moraes, Raquel F Zorzanelli, Renara N Amaral, Renata C Asprino, Renato Goldenberg, Ricardo Magnago, Ricardo S Couto, Sandrine C Dutra, Saúl E Hoyos-Gómez, Tamara AF Vieira, Thiago B Flores, Valquíria F Dutra, Víctor S Miranda, Vitor C Manhães, Rafaela C Forzza.)

Fungi are excellent producers of extracellular enzymes. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the screening of marine fungi, which are laccase and manganese peroxidase potential producers, in solid fermentation for future applications in bioremediation processes of contaminated sites. For this purpose, two-level factorial planning was adopted, using time (6 and 15 days) and the absence or presence of oil (0 and 1%) as factors. The semi-quantitative evaluation was carried out by calculating radial growth, enzyme activity and enzyme index by measuring phenol red or syringaldazine oxidation halo. The results showed that all the studied strains showed a positive result for manganese peroxidase production, with an enzymatic activity in solid medium less than 0.61, indicating a strongly positive activity. Through the enzyme index, the study also showed prominence for Penicillium sp. strains, with values > 2. The enzyme index increase in oil presence and the inexpressive use of the genera studied for ligninolytic enzymes production from crude oil demonstrated these data importance for fermentative processes optimization. Considering the ability of these strains to develop into recalcitrant compounds and the potential for manganese peroxidase production, they are indicated for exploitation in various bioremediation technologies, as well as other biotechnological applications.

Objectives: A retrospective study was conducted to identify the prevalence of COVID-19 through serology and RT-PCR in children, adolescents and adults. A database of the COVID-19 Tracking Program in school children was used., Methods: The data comprised sociodemographic and clinical variables, results of serological tests (IgM and IgG), and real-time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results of IgM-positive individuals. The statistical analysis was performed with a 5% significance level., Results: Among 423 children, 107 (25.3%) exhibited seroprevalence with IgG, IgM or IgG/IgM; among 854 adolescents, 250 (29.2%) had positive serology; and among 282 adults, 59 (20.9%) were positive. The frequency of positivity on RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was 3.5%, 3.6% and 6.0% in children, adolescents and adults, respectively. Children had a lower incidence of symptoms than adolescents (p = 0.001) and adults (p = 0.003); the most frequent were fever, ageusia, anosmia, headache, dry cough, sore throat, muscle pain, runny nose, dyspnoea, and diarrhoea., Conclusions: The prevalence rate for all groups was 26.7% in serology and 4.04% in RT-PCR. Children had lower rates of IgM and fewer symptoms compared with adolescents and adults. The data suggest the potential for transmissibility in all age groups., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the changes in the prevalence of physical inactivity in the Brazilian adults from 2009-2017., Methods: This study used a time-series research design based on the cross-sectional data of 462,498 Brazilian adults from 2009-2017. Participants were classified as physically inactive if they indicated not participating in physical activity in the last three months. The Prais-Winsten regression analyzed physical inactivity trends over time., Results: The overall prevalence of physical inactivity was stable (p>0.05). Physical inactivity increased for women in four state capitals (annual growth rate: Goiânia 1.62%, Campo Grande 3.28%, Porto Velho 0.93%, and Vitória 2.09%) and decreased in one (annual growth rate: Rio Branco 4.50%). Physical inactivity decreased for men in four state capitals (annual growth rate: Campo Grande 4.72%, Natal 2.73%, São Luís 4.94%, and Rio Branco 2.95%)., Conclusion: The physical inactivity among the Brazilian adults was stable between 2009 and 2017. Physical inactivity increased in women from Goiânia, Campo Grande, Porto Velho, and Vitória and decreased in women from Rio Branco and in men from Campo Grande, Natal, São Luís, and Rio Branco.

Changes in phenological events have been vastly documented in face of recent global climate change. These studies are concentrated on temperate plants, and the responses of tropical species are still little understood, likely due to the lack of long-term phenological records in the tropics. In this case, the use of herbarium specimens to gather phenological data over long periods and wide geographic areas has emerged as a powerful tool. Here, we used four Melastomataceae species endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to evaluate phenological patterns and alterations as responses to recent climate changes. Phenological data were gathered from Reflora Virtual Herbarium specimens collected between 1920 and 2018, and analyzed with circular statistics applied to the intervals 1920-1979, 1980-1999, and 2000-2018. The effects of temperature range, average temperature, precipitation, and photoperiod on flowering and fruiting of each species were tested using multiple linear regressions. Through circular statistics, we detected changes, mostly delays, in the flowering of Miconia quinquedentata, Pleroma clavatum and P. trichopodum, and in the fruiting of M. acutiflora, P. clavatum and P. trichopodum. We also found that flowering and fruiting occurrence were related to local climatic conditions from months prior to the collections. We found marked phenological variations over the decades and also that these variations are associated to global climate change, adding up to the large body of evidence from higher latitudes. Our results also support herbarium collections as an important source for long-term tropical phenological studies. The lack of consistent patterns of responses among the four species (e.g. fruiting delayed two months in P. clavatum and advanced one month in M. acutiflora) suggests that climate change has unequal effects across tropical forests. This highlights the urgent need for further research to understand and forecast the ecological implications of these changes in global ecosystems processes., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Myrcia is one of the largest exclusively Neotropical angiosperm genera, including ca. 800 species divided into nine sections. Myrcia sect. Aguava is one of most complex sections of Myrcia due to high morphological variation and wide distribution range of some species, including M. guianensis, with distribution throughout South America and a complex taxonomic history. We used complete plastid DNA sequences data generated using next-generation sequencing of 45 terminals, mostly from Myrcia sect. Aguava. These data were combined with five target DNA regions (ITS, psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF, trnQ-rps16, ndhF) of additional terminals to increase taxonomic coverage. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using a maximum likelihood approach, and divergence times and ancestral range distributions were estimated. Myrcia sect. Aguava is monophyletic and exclusively comprises species with trilocular ovaries but has no relationship with other groups within Myrcia that possess trilocular ovaries. Three main lineages that correspond to geographical distribution are recognized within Myrcia sect. Aguava. Multiple accessions reveal a non-monophyletic Myrcia guianensis and stress the biogeographical structure inside the group. Myrcia sect. Aguava had a probable mid-Miocene origin in the Cerrado, but lineages that persisted there diversified only more recently, when the present-day vegetation started to stabilize. Posterior migrations to Atlantic Forest, Amazon and Caribbean occurred at the end of Miocene, evidencing transitions from open and dry to forested and more humid areas that are less frequent in the Neotropics. Overall, it is observed that related lineages remained in ecologically similar environments. Future perspectives on Myrcia and Myrteae in the phylogenomic era are also discussed., (Crown Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Biothiols such as l-cysteine, l-homocysteine, and glutathione play essential roles in many biological processes, and are directly associated with several health conditions. Therefore, the development of fast, selective, sensitive, and inexpensive methods for quantitatively analyzing biothiols in aqueous solution, but especially in biological samples, is a very attractive research field. In this feature review, we have approached the relevance of biothiols' nucleophilicity to develop selective fluorogenic probes. Since biothiols have considerable structural similarity, relevant strategies are in full development, including several fluorescent molecular platforms, specific receptor sites, reaction conditions, and optical responses. All of these features are properly presented and discussed. Biothiol sensing protocols are based on traditional organic chemistry reactions such as (hetero)aromatic nucleophilic substitution, addition, and substitution at carbonyl carbon, conjugate addition, and nucleophilic substitution at saturated carbon, amongst others including combined processes; furthermore, mechanistic aspects are detailed herein, including some interesting historical contexts. The feasibility of related fluorogenic probes is illustrated by analysis in complex matrices such as serum, cells, tissues, and animal models. Applications of these reactions in more complex systems such as sulfhydryl-based peptides and proteins are also presented, aiming at functionalizing and detecting these nucleophiles. Most literature cited in this review is recent; however, some other prominent works are also detailed. It is believed that this review may be accessible for many academic levels and may efficiently contribute not only to popularizing science but also to the rational development of fluorogenic probes for biothiol sensing.

Persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has been associated with a more rapid decline in lung function, increased hospitalisation and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clonal relationships among 116 MRSA isolates from 12 chronically colonised CF pediatric patients over a 6-year period in a Rio de Janeiro CF specialist centre. Isolates were characterised by antimicrobial resistance, SCCmec type, presence of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) genes and grouped according to DNA macrorestriction profile by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and spa gene type. High resistance rates were detected for erythromycin (78%) and ciprofloxacin (50%) and SCCmec IV was the most common type (72.4%). Only 8.6% of isolates were PVL positive. High genetic diversity was evident by PFGE (39 pulsotypes) and of nine that were identified spa types, t002 (53.1%) and t539 (14.8%) were the most prevalent. We conclude that the observed homogeneity of spa types within patients over the study period demonstrates the persistence of such strain lineages throughout the course of chronic lung infection.

The studies of the formation of oil-Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) aggregates (OSAs) have advanced significantly in the scientific community, however there is a need to accelerate oil biodegradation that was dispersed by the formation of OSAs. The present research presents a pioneering character regarding the addition of nutrients as biostimulus for autochthonous hydrocarboclastic bacteria in the biodegradation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) dispersed by the formation of OSAs. Water aliquots were taken over 60 days from eight bioreactors to perform ionic species analysis, pH, salinity and temperature monitoring, liquid/liquid extraction, serial dilution methodology and filter membrane. TPH quantification was performed on the gas chromatograph with a flame ionisation detector (GC-FID). The addition of nutrients contributed positively to the rate and extent of biodegradation of TPH in association with field-collected SPM. The best result found was with the lowest nutrient concentration (Bio 1) with an average of 98.65% of TPH reduction., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The identification of the time trend of physical activity can help in the evaluation of the effectiveness of programs aimed at the promotion of physical activity at the population scope. To analyze the temporal trend of leisure time physical activity in adults living in the city of Curitiba (Brazil), from 2006-2015., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 19,183 adults, obtaining information on duration, intensity and weekly frequency of leisure-time physical activity from the Surveillance System of Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Inquiry. Adults who reported participating in leisure time physical activity at least once a week in the three months prior to the survey were considered active., Results: Men's leisure-time physical activity was stable overtime (p = 0.28), while it increased significantly among women (1.86% per year, 95%CI 0.55; 3.37; p = 0.02). Men reported less activities with weekly frequency of one to two times (-3.75% per year, 95%CI -6.72; -0.67; p = 0.03) but more with weekly frequencies of five to six times (7.42% per year, 95%CI 4.54; 10.38; p = 0.001). No changes were observed in the frequency of physical activity among women., Conclusion: Monitoring indicators of physical activity in the city of Curitiba can assist legislators in building policies to promote physical activity.

Objectives: Epiisopiloturine (EPI) and epiisopilosine (EPIIS) are side products in the pharmaceutical industry. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of the alkaloids EPI and EPIIS in human neutrophils and mechanical hyperalgesia in mice., Methods: Neutrophils (5 × 10 6  cells/ml) incubated with EPI and EPIIS and stimulated by the addition of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine or phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate. The release of myeloperoxidase (MPO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, calcium influx, gene expression of NF-κB and pro-inflammatory cytokines production were evaluated. It was also investigated the effect these alkaloids on carrageenan-induced mechanical hyperalgesia model in mice., Key Findings: We demonstrated that both EPI and EPIIS inhibited the degranulation of activated neutrophils. This effect was accompanied by the reduction in ROS, the prevention of the increase in intracellular Ca 2+ and decrease in the density of cytosolic NF-κB, and inhibition of TNF-α and IL-6 production. Evaluating hypernociception in mice, EPI and EPIIS inhibited carrageenan-induced inflammatory hypernociception and reduced MPO levels., Conclusions: The results obtained suggest EPI and EPIIS not only inhibit neutrophils functions in vitro, but also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties in vivo, acting through the modulation of the activation and/or accumulation of neutrophils in the inflammatory focus. Thus, EPI and EPIIS possess promising anti-inflammatory therapeutic potential., (© 2019 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.)

Objective: to describe the profile of recreational adult soccer players who lived in the Brazilian capitals in the period from 2011 to 2015., Methods: descriptive study with a sample of adults interviewed by the Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey - VIGITEL (2011 to 2015)., Results: 11.812 adults (11.375 men and 437 women) pointed to soccer as their main leisure physical exercise, with higher prevalence in the North region (32%) and lower in the South region (10%) of the country; the average reduction of soccer players 3.4% for every 5 years over age (95%CI 2.9;4.1); from 2011 to 2015, there was decrease in the number of soccer players, -1.4% per year (95%CI -0,7;2,2)., Conclusion: the practice of soccer was predominantly male, presented an inverse relationship with the increase of age, more prevalent in the Northern region and less prevalent in the Southern region.

Acinetobacter spp. are important healthcare pathogens, being closely linked to antibiotic resistance and outbreaks worldwide. Although such species are rarely observed in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), we describe the characteristics of 53 strains of Acinetobacter spp. isolated from the sputum of 39 Brazilian patients with CF. The species distribution was A. baumannii (n = 29), A. pittii (n = 13), A. nosocomialis (n = 8), A. seifertii (n = 1), A. soli (n = 1) and A. variabilis (n = 1) determined by partial rpoB gene sequencing. Sixteen strains (10 A. baumannii, 3 A. pittii and 3 A. nosocomialis) were multidrug-resistant (MDR) by disk diffusion test (30%) and eight MDR carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strains harboured the bla OXA-23-like oxacillinase gene. Thirty-three sequence types (STs) were identified by multilocus sequence typing of which eight were novel (A. baumannii: 843, 844, 845, 847, 848; A. pitti: 643; A. nosocomialis: 862 and A. seifertii: 846); six STs (2 A. baumannii, 3 A. pittii and 1 A. nosocomialis) were found in more than one patient. Four strains of A. baumannii were assigned to two common clonal complexes (CCs), namely, CC1 (ST1, ST20 and ST160), and CC79 (ST79). This study underlines the extensive species diversity of Acinetobacter spp. strains in CF lung infections which may present difficulties for therapy due to significant antimicrobial resistance.

Context and Objective: The prevalence of a variety of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in cystic fibrosis patients, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has increased over the past decade. Given the increasing prevalence of MRSA and the few data available in the literature, better understanding of the clinical repercussions of colonization by this bacterium in cystic fibrosis patients becomes essential. This study aimed to evaluate the repercussions of chronic colonization by MRSA in cystic fibrosis patients., Design and Setting: Retrospective cohort study from January 2004 to December 2013 in a cystic fibrosis reference center., Methods: Each patient with cystic fibrosis was evaluated for nutritional status (body mass index, BMI, and BMI percentile), pulmonary function and tomographic abnormalities (modified Bhalla scores) at the time of chronic colonization by MRSA or methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and throughout the study period., Results: Twenty pairs of patients were included. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding nutritional characteristics. Spirometric data showed a trend towards greater obstruction of the airways in patients with MRSA. Patients with MRSA presented greater structural damage to their lungs, demonstrated not only by the total Bhalla score but also by its parameters individually., Conclusions: Patients colonized by MRSA presented greater functional and structural respiratory impairment at the time of chronic colonization. Disease progression was also faster in patients chronically colonized by MRSA than in those with MSSA. This was shown through comparisons that avoided possible confounding variables.

Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Wardlew (Rutaceae), popularly known as jaborandi, is a plant native to the northern and northeastern macroregions of Brazil. Several alkaloids from this species have been isolated. There are few reports of antibacterial and anthelmintic activities for these compounds. In this work, we report the antibacterial and anthelmintic activity of five alkaloids found in P. microphyllus leaves, namely, pilosine, epiisopilosine, isopilosine, epiisopiloturine and macaubine. Of these, only anthelmintic activity of one of the compounds has been previously reported. Nuclear magnetic resonance, HPLC and mass spectrometry were combined and used to identify and confirm the structure of the five compounds. As regards the anthelmintic activity, the alkaloids were studied using in vitro assays to evaluate survival time and damaged teguments for Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. We found epiisopilosine to have anthelmintic activity at very low concentrations (3.125 μg mL -1 ); at this concentration, it prevented mating, oviposition, reducing motor activity and altered the tegument of these worms. In contrast, none of the alkaloids showed antibacterial activity. Additionally, alkaloids displayed no cytotoxic effect on vero cells. The potent anthelmintic activity of epiisopilosine indicates the potential of this natural compound as an antiparasitic agent. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., (Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The distinction between healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) and community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections has become increasingly blurred. We assessed the molecular characterization and antimicrobial resistance profile for MRSA isolates from blood. Most of all (81.9%) isolates are related to known HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA epidemic lineages, such as, USA300, USA400, USA600, USA800 and USA1100. This is the first multicenter study in Rio de Janeiro., (Copyright © 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Myrteae (c. 2500 species; 51 genera) is the largest tribe of Myrtaceae and an ecologically important groups of angiosperms in the Neotropics. Systematic relationships in Myrteae are complex, hindering conservation initiatives and jeopardizing evolutionary modelling. A well-supported and robust phylogenetic hypothesis was here targeted towards a comprehensive understanding of the relationships within the tribe. The resultant topology was used as a base for key evolutionary analyses such as age estimation, historical biogeography and diversification rate patterns. One nuclear (ITS) and seven chloroplast (psbA-trnH, matK, ndhF, trnl-trnF, trnQ-rps16, rpl16 and rpl32-trnL) DNA regions for 115 taxa representing 46 out of the 51 genera in the tribe were accessed and analysed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference tools for phylogenetic reconstruction. Dates of diversification events were estimated and contrasted using two distinct fossil sets (macro and pollen) in BEAST. The subsequent dated phylogenies were compared and analysed for biogeographical patterns using BioGeoBEARS and diversification rates using BAMM. Myrteae phylogeny presents strong statistical support for three major clades within the tribe: Australasian group, Myrtus group and Main Neotropical Lineage. Dating results from calibration using macrofossil are an average of 20 million years older and show an early Paleocene origin of Myrteae, against a mid-Eocene one from the pollen fossil calibration. Biogeographic analysis shows the origin of Myrteae in Zealandia in both calibration approaches, followed by a widespread distribution throughout the still-linked Gondwana continents and diversification of Neotropical endemic lineages by later vicariance. Best configuration shift indicates three points of acceleration in diversification rates, all of them occurring in the Main Neotropical Lineage. Based on the reconstructed topology, several new taxonomic placements were recovered, including: the relative position of Myrtus communis, the placement of the Blepharocalyx group, the absence of generic endemism in the Caribbean, and the paraphyletism of the former Pimenta group. Distinct calibration approaches affect biogeography interpretation, increasing the number of necessary long distance dispersal events in the topology with older nodes. It is hypothesised that biological intrinsic factors such as modifications of embryo type and polyploidy might have played a role in accelerating shifts of diversification rates in Neotropical lineages. Future perspectives include formal subtribal classification, standardization of fossil calibration approaches and better links between diversification shifts and trait evolution., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Schistosomiasis is a world health problem, and praziquantel is the only drug currently used for the treatment. There is some evidence that extensive monotherapy of praziquantel may be leading to drug resistance in the parasite. In order to find alternative treatments, the effects of the combination of epiisopiloturine (EPI), piplartine (PPT) and praziquantel (PZQ) were evaluated. Similarity analysis of these compounds was performed using optimized molecular structures to compare the shape and the charge modeling of combinations between PZQ and EPI or PPT. Supported by this data, in vitro association of PZQ-PPT, PZQ-EPI, and EPI-PPT was carried out, and the activity of these combinations against Schistosoma mansoni was assessed. The results showed synergistic activity with a combination index (CI) of 0.42 for the treatment with PZQ-PPT. Both PZQ-EPI and EPI-PPT combinations also showed synergistic effects, with CI values of 0.86 and 0.61, respectively. Surface alterations in the tegument of adult schistosomes after the treatments were observed using laser confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the association of EPI-PPT decreased the cytotoxicity when compared with both isolated compounds in three different lines of mammalian cells. Thus, synergistic combinations of PZQ-PPT, PZQ-EPI, and EPI-PPT create the possibility of reduced doses to be used against Schistosoma mansoni., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Wardleworth (jaborandi, Rutaceae) is one of the most important Brazilian medicinal species owing to its content of pilocarpine (PIL), an alkaloid used for treating glaucoma and xerostomia. This species contains another alkaloid, epiisopiloturine (EPI), which has demonstrated effectiveness against schistosomiasis. The aim of this work was to assess seasonal changes of PIL and EPI in three populations of cultivated P. microphyllus from northeastern Brazil over one year, including the dry and rainy seasons. Alkaloid profiles were correlated to phenotypic and genetic patterns in the morphological and molecular characterizations. PIL was the primary alkaloid and its levels differed among populations in all months except September. The S01 population (green line) showed an especially high PIL content compared to populations S02 and S03 (traditional line), which had similar alkaloid contents. PIL content gradually decreased in the three populations in the rainy season.EPI content was significantly different between the green line (S01) and the traditional line (S02 and S03).S01 had a significantly lower EPI content in all months, demonstrating that it was not the best source for EPI extraction. Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers and morphological analyses clearly separated S01 from S02 and S03, in agreement with the alkaloid results. This study shows the first correlation between the chemical, morphological, and molecular markers of P. microphyllus and highlights the potential benefits of a multidisciplinary research approach aimed at supporting both industry and conservation of natural resources., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Alarmingly, the isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been increasing among patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). During a previous molecular characterisation of MRSA isolates obtained from patients with CF from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, one isolate was identified as the ST398 clone, a livestock-associated (LA) MRSA. In this study, we report the draft genome sequence of an LA-MRSA ST398 clone isolated from a patient with CF.

Acinetobacter pittii has emerged as an important hospital pathogen that is associated with outbreaks and drug resistance. In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, the detection of Acinetobacter spp. is rare; however, we isolated the A. pittii sequence type ST643 in several Brazilian CF patients treated in the same centre. The current study describes the draft genome of A. pittii ST643.

The aim of this study was to assess the activity of aqueous (AE) and ethanolic extracts (EE) and pilocarpine hydrochloride, which were extracted and isolated from Pilocarpus microphyllus (Jaborandi), respectively, on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed to quantify these compounds. Larval packet and adult immersion tests were conducted with different concentrations. Five AE and EE concentrations, ranging from 6.2 to 100.0 mg mL-1, and six concentrations of pilocarpine hydrochloride, ranging from 0.7 to 24.0 mg mL-1, were tested. The lethal concentration (LC50) of each extract for larvae and engorged females was calculated through Probit analysis. The concentration of pilocarpine hydrochloride obtained from the EE and the AE was 1.3 and 0.3% (m/m), respectively. Pilocarpine hydrochloride presented the highest acaricidal activity on larvae (LC50 2.6 mg mL-1) and engorged females (LC50 11.8 mg mL-1) of R.(B.) microplus, followed by the EE which presented LC50 of 56.4 and 15.9 mg mL-1, for larvae and engorged females, respectively. Such results indicate that pilocarpine hydrochloride has acaricidal activity, and may be the primary compound responsible for this activity by P. microphyllus EE.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: There are ethnopharmacological reports supporting the use of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) leaf against bacterial and worm infections. However there is a lack of studies about its effect on bacterial biofilm formation and Schistosoma mansoni worms. This study reports the in vitro effects of neem leaf ethanolic extract (Neem EE) on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm and planktonic aggregation formation, and against S. mansoni worms., Materials and Methods: Quantification of the Azadirachtin (AZA), thought to be one of their main compounds related to biological effects, was performed. The effect of sub-inhibitory concentrations of Neem EE on biofilm formation and planktonic aggregates of S. aureus was tested using the crystal violet dye method and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis, respectively. Changes in S. mansoni motor activity and death of worms were analyzed in vitro after exposition to the extract. Treated schistosomes were also examined using confocal laser scanning microscopy., Results: It was observed the presence of AZA in the extract (0.14 ± 0.02 mg/L). Testing Neem EE sub-inhibitory concentrations, a significant biofilm adherence inhibition from 62.5 µg/mL for a sensitive S. aureus and 125 µg/mL for two MRSA strains was observed. AFM images revealed that as the Neem EE concentration increases (from 250 to 1000 µg/mL) decreased ability of a chosen MRSA strain to form large aggregates. In relation of anti-schistosoma assay, the extract caused 100% mortality of female worms at a concentration of 50 µg/mL at 72 h of incubation, while 300 µg/mL at 24h of incubation was required to achieve 100% mortality of male worms. The extract also caused significant motor activity reduction in S. mansoni. For instance, at 96 h of incubation with 100 µg/mL, 80% of the worms presented significant motor activity reduction. By the confocal microscopy analysis, the dorsal surface of the tegument of worms exposed to 300 µg/mL (male) and 100 µg/mL (female) of the extract showed severe morphological changes after 24h of treatment., Conclusions: Neem leaf ethanolic extract presented inhibitory effect on MRSA biofilm and planktonic aggregation formation, and anthelmintic activity against S. mansoni worms., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Schistosomiasis is a serious disease currently estimated to affect more that 207 million people worldwide. Due to the intensive use of praziquantel, there is increasing concern about the development of drug-resistant strains. Therefore, it is necessary to search for and investigate new potential schistosomicidal compounds. This work reports the in vivo effect of the alkaloid epiisopiloturine (EPI) against adults and juvenile worms of Schistosoma mansoni. EPI was first purified its thermal behavior and theoretical solubility parameters charaterised. In the experiment, mice were treated with EPI over the 21 days post-infection with the doses of 40 and 200 mg/kg, and 45 days post-infection with single doses of 40, 100 and 300 mg/kg. The treatment with EPI at 40 mg/kg was more effective in adult worms when compared with doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg. The treatment with 40 mg/kg in adult worms reduced parasite burden significantly, lead to reduction in hepatosplenomegaly, reduced the egg burden in faeces, and decreased granuloma diameter. Scanning electron microscopy revealed morphological changes to the parasite tegument after treatment, including the loss of important features. Additionally, the in vivo treatment against juvenile with 40 mg/kg showed a reduction of the total worm burden of 50.2%. Histopathological studies were performed on liver, spleen, lung, kidney and brain and EPI was shown to have a DL50 of 8000 mg/kg. Therefore EPI shows potential to be used in schistosomiasis treatment. This is the first time that schistosomicidal in vivo activity of EPI has been reported.

Cattle tick control has been limited by the resistance of these parasites to synthetic acaricides. Natural products are a possible alternative as they have different mechanisms of action. Acmella oleracea is a native plant with a large cultivated area in the Amazon region and could be easily used for large-scale preparation of a commercial product. This study evaluated the in vitro action of the hexane extract of the aerial parts of A. oleracea on larvae and engorged females of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. Spilanthol was the major constituent with a content of 14.8% in the extract. The hexane extract of A. oleracea was highly effective against larvae of R. microplus with an LC50 of 0.8 mg mL(-1). Against engorged females, hexane extract of A. oleracea reduced oviposition and hatchability of eggs with an LC50 of 79.7 mg mL(-1). Larvae and engorged females were killed by the hexane extract with high efficiency (>95%) at concentrations of 3.1 and 150.0 mg mL(-1), respectively. These results demonstrate that the hexane extract of A. oleracea has significant activity against R. microplus and has potential to be developed into formulations for tick control.

Objective: To compare the results of physical activity (PA) classification according to five international guidelines (American College of Sports Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Advisory Committee on International Physical Activity Questionnaire, World Health Organization, and European Union)., Methods: Cross-sectional study with 52 779 adults of both sexes, living in state capitals and the Federal District, selected using probability sampling. Data about duration, intensity, and frequency of weekly PA were obtained from a yearly survey conducted by the Health Ministry of Brazil (Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Diseases Telephone Surveillance System-VIGITEL)., Results: The percent of participants classified as inactive by the five recommendations was similar. Among those who reported having engaged in PA, 45% were classified in the same activity level by all five guidelines (24.8% as insufficiently active, 10.6% as active, and 9.1% as very active). For the additional 55% who reported having engaged in PA, different classifications were obtained, ranging from insufficiently active to very active depending on the guideline., Conclusions: Nuances in the criteria used for each guideline translated into differences in classification of PA. Even though the overall goals of all guidelines are the same, the lack of agreement regarding the minimum recommended amount of PA impacts the development of policies to promote PA.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma. This disease control has been widely made by praziquantel-reference drug, but resistance to this drug has already been found. There has been the finding of an imidazole alkaloid in jaborandi leaves-epiisopiloturine, which has known activity against adult, young and egg forms of Schistosoma mansoni. This alkaloid is an apolar molecule with difficult solubility; therefore, the liposomal structure of epiisopiloturine was proposed. Liposomes are carrying structures of drugs that may enhance solubility of compounds such as epiisopiloturine. In this work, we report in vitro epiisopiloturine-loaded liposomes effect formed by different concentrations of lipids 9:1 (weight ratio) dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine:cholesterol and 8:2 (weight ratio) dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine:cholesterol. Results have showed that epiisopiloturine extraction and isolation have been successful through high-performance liquid chromatography-HPLC and its purity confirmed through mass spectrometry has showed 287 Da molecular mass. Formulations from 9:1 DPPC:cholesterol and 8:2 DPPC:cholesterol with loaded EPI (300 microg/ml) have killed parasites at 100% after incubation 96 h and 120 h, respectively. Confocal microscopy employed to observe morphological alterations in the tegument of adult form of Schistosoma mansoni. Details from interaction, between epiisopiloturine and liposome, have been achieved by semi-empirical AM1 calculations, which have showed that epiisopiloturine inside is more stable than the outside form, at least 10 kcal. This is first time that schistosomicidal activity has been reported for epiisopiloturine-loaded into liposome.

The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is increasing in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). We report a molecular characterization, antimicrobial resistance, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin gene detection of MRSA strains from 28 Brazilian pediatric CF patients (1 strain per patient). A significant proportion (50%) of MRSA SCCmec IV isolates was observed. Nearly half of MRSA strains harboring the PVL genes distributed in all SCCmec types detected. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analyses showed majority (57.1%) of the isolates belonged to known epidemic lineages, such as UK/EMRSA-3, Pediatric/USA 800, Southwest Pacific clone, and Brazilian/Hungarian clone. To our knowledge, this is the first Brazilian study of molecular epidemiology based on MLST and SCCmec typing and the first description of PVL genes in MRSA from CF patients., (© 2013.)

This paper presents an industrial scale process for extraction, purification, and isolation of epiisopiloturine (EPI) (2(3H)-Furanone,dihydro-3-(hydroxyphenylmethyl)-4-[(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl]-, [3S-[3a(R*),4b]]), which is an alkaloid from jaborandi leaves (Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf). Additionally for the first time a set of structural and spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize this alkaloid. EPI has shown schistomicidal activity against adults and young forms, as well as the reduction of the egg laying adult worms and low toxicity to mammalian cells (in vitro). At first, the extraction of EPI was done with toluene and methylene chloride to obtain a solution that was alkalinized with ammonium carbonate. The remaining solution was treated in sequence by acidification, filtration and alkalinization. These industrial procedures are necessary in order to remove impurities and subsequent application of the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC was employed also to remove other alkaloids, to obtain EPI purity higher than 98%. The viability of the method was confirmed through HPLC and electrospray mass spectrometry, that yielded a pseudo molecular ion of m/z equal to 287.1 Da. EPI structure was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in deuterated methanol/chloroform solution, vibrational spectroscopy and mass coupled thermal analyses. EPI molecule presents a parallel alignment of the benzene and the methyl imidazol ring separated by an interplanar spacing of 3.758 Å indicating a π-π bond interaction. The imidazole alkaloid melts at 225°C and decomposes above 230°C under air. EPI structure was used in theoretical Density Functional Theory calculations, considering the single crystal XRD data in order to simulate the NMR, infrared and Raman spectra of the molecule, and performs the signals attribution.

Aims: To evaluate mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and threonine effects on performance, small intestine morphology and Salmonella spp. counts in Salmonella Enteritidis-challenged birds., Methods and Results: One-day-old chicks (1d) were distributed into five treatments: nonchallenged animals fed basal diet (RB-0), animals fed basal diet and infected with Salmonella Enteritidis (RB-I), animals fed high level of threonine and infected (HT-I), birds fed basal diet with MOS and infected (MOS-I), birds fed high level of threonine and MOS and infected (HT+MOS-I). Birds were inoculated at 2d with Salmonella Enteritidis, except RB-0 birds. Chicks fed higher dietary threonine and MOS showed performance similar to RB-0 and intestinal morphology recovery at 8 dpi. Salmonella counts and the number of Salmonella-positive animals were lower in HT+MOS-I compared with other challenged groups., Conclusion: Mannan oligosaccharides and threonine act synergistically, resulting in improved intestinal environment and recovery after Salmonella inoculation., Significance and Impact of the Study: Nutritional approaches may be useful to prevent Salmonella infection in the first week and putative carcass contamination at slaughter. This is the first report on the possible synergistic effect of mannan oligosaccharides and threonine, and further studies should be performed including performance, microbiota evaluation, composition of intestinal mucins and immune assessment., (© 2012 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Lecythis pisonis Camb., also known in Brazil as sapucaia, is used in folk medicine against pruritus, muscle pain and gastric ulcer., Aim of the Study: To investigate the antinociceptive effect of ethanol extract from Lecythis pisonis leaves (LPEE), fractions (hexane-LPHF, ether-LPEF and ethyl acetate-LPEAF) and mixture of triterpenes [ursolic and oleanolic acids (MT)] in mice., Materials and Methods: LPEE and LPEF were evaluated on the acetic acid induced writhings and formalin, capsaicin and glutamate tests. In addition, MT was investigated on the writhings induced by acetic acid, capsaicin and glutamate tests. In the study of some possible mechanisms involved on the antinociceptive effect of LPEF, it was investigated the participation of opioid system, K+ATP channels and L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway., Results: LPEE (12.5 and 25 mg/kg, p.o.), LPEF and MT (6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced the writhings in comparison to saline. LPEE (100 mg/kg, p.o.) and LPEF (50 mg/kg, p.o.) were effective in inhibiting both phases of formalin test. In capsaicin test, LPEE (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.), LPEF (12.5-50 mg/kg, p.o) and MT (6.25-25 mg/kg, p.o.) showed a significant antinociceptive effect compared to the control. LPEE (25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o.), LPEF (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and MT (12.5 and 25 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced the glutamate-evoked nociceptive response. Treatment with naloxone, L-arginine and glibenclamide reversed the effect of LPEF in glutamate test., Conclusions: These results indicate the antinociceptive effect of Lecythis pisonis leaves and suggest that this effect may be related to opioid pathway, K+ATP channels, and L-arginine-nitric oxide modulation. Furthermore, these data support the ethnomedical use of this plant., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The new sharpshooter species Sonesimia nessimiani is described from Bolivia based on specimens collected on sugar cane. An identification key to males and females of all known species of the genus is given. In addition to the external morphology, color pattern, and male genitalia, female genital structures are also described and illustrated. Notes comparing the new species with the remaining six Sonesimia species are provided.

Skin pigmentation is an important human phenotypic trait whose regulation, in spite of recent advances, has not yet been fully understood. The pigment melanin is produced in melanosomes by melanocytes in a complex process called melanogenesis. The melanocyte interacts with endocrine, immune, inflammatory and central nervous systems, and its activity is also regulated by extrinsic factors such as ultraviolet radiation and drugs. We have carried out a review of the current understanding of intrinsic and extrinsic factors regulating skin pigmentation, the melanogenesis stages and related gene defects. We focused on melanocyte-keratinocyte interaction, activation of melanocortin type 1 receptor (MC1-R) by peptides (melanocyte-stimulating hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone) resulting from proopiomelanocortin (POMC) cleavage, and mechanisms of ultraviolet-induced skin pigmentation. The identification and comprehension of the melanogenesis mechanism facilitate the understanding of the pathogenesis of pigmentation disorders and the development of potential therapeutic options.

The aim of this research was to determine the nutritional requirements of sodium for Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) during the periods of 1 to 21 d and 22 to 40 d of age, as well as to evaluate the residual effect on egg production and densitometry bone traits from 41 to 63 d. Two experiments were developed. Experiment 1: 360 Japanese quail were used, from 1 to 21 d of age. Treatments consisted of 5 sodium levels (0.06, 0.12, 0.18, 0.24, and 0.30%). Experiment 2: 240 Japanese quail were used, from 22 to 40 d. Treatments consisted of 5 sodium levels (0.04, 0.12, 0.20, 0.28, and 0.36%). In both experiments, weight gain, final weight, and feed conversion presented a quadratic trend, whereas water intake presented a linear trend. Treatments did not affect the densitometry of bone traits, although they presented a quadratic influence on tibia ash, calcium, and calcium:phosphorus ratio. Therefore, the nutritional requirement of sodium for Japanese quail from 1 to 21 d and from 22 to 40 d is 0.222% and 0.253%, respectively.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to investigate the antinociceptive property of α-phellandrene (α-PHE) in experimental nociception models and possible mechanisms involved., Methods: Mass spectrometry was used to evaluate the purity and molecular mass of α-PHE. Macrophages from mice peritoneal cavity were used in an MTT test. Rodents were used in tests of chemical and mechanical nociception. In the study of the mechanisms, the animals were treated with pharmacological tools and then submitted to the glutamate test., Key Findings: α-PHE purity was 98.2% and molecular mass 136.1 Da. α-PHE did not show cytotoxicity. In the writhing and capsaicin tests, α-PHE promoted the antinociceptive effect in all evaluated doses (minimum dose 3.125 mg/kg). In the formalin test, α-PHE (50 mg/kg) was effective in inhibiting both phases. In the glutamate test, the monoterpene (12.5 mg/kg) decreased the nociceptive response. In carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, α-PHE (50 mg/kg) decreased the hypernociception index. In the study of the mechanisms involved, pretreatment with naloxone reversed the α-PHE antinociceptive effect, the same occurred with glibenclamide, l-arginine, atropine and yohimbine. α-PHE did not show muscle relaxant activity or central depressant effects in open field and rota rod tests., Conclusions: α-PHE has an antinociceptive effect and it possibly involves the glutamatergic, opioid, nitrergic, cholinergic and adrenergic systems., (© 2011 The Authors. JPP © 2011 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.)

Schistosomiasis, caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, still imposes a considerable public health burden on large parts of the world. The control of this disease depends almost exclusively on the drug praziquantel, and there are no alternative drugs in sight. Natural compounds have recently attracted significant attention due to their relevance to parasitic infection and potential development into new therapeutic agents. Epiisopiloturine is an imidazole alkaloid isolated from the leaves of Pilocarpus microphyllus (Rutaceae), a native plant from Brazil. Here, we report the in vitro effect of this drug on the survival time of Schistosoma mansoni of different ages, such as 3 h old and 1, 3, 5, and 7 days old schistosomula, 49-day-old adults, and on egg output by adult worms. Epiisopiloturine at a concentration of 300 μg/mL caused the death of all schistosomula within 120 h. Extensive tegumental alterations and death were observed when adult schistosomes had been exposed to 150 μg/mL of the epiisopiloturine. At the highest sub-lethal dose of alkaloid (100 μg/mL), a 100% reduction in egg laying of paired adult worms was observed. Additionally, epiisopiloturine showed selective antischistosomal activity and exhibited no cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. This report provides the first evidence that epiisopiloturine is able to kill S. mansoni of different ages and inhibit worm egg laying.

Introduction: The association of gender with health status (HS) response to long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) in very severe COPD is unclear. The aims of this study were: (1) to compare dyspnea perception and HS between male and female with very severe COPD at baseline and (2) to provide a prospective assessment of HS response to LTOT, according to gender., Patients and Methods: Hypoxemic COPD (n = 97, age: 65.5 ± 9.6 years, 53% males) were enrolled in a prospective longitudinal study over 12 months or until death. St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and baseline dyspnea index (BDI) were assessed., Results: At baseline, HS impairment and dyspnea sensation were similar between genders. After 12 months of LTOT, women presented improvement in symptom (64.1 ± 20.6 versus 40.6 ± 22.9; P < 0.0001) and total SGRQ scores. Men also showed improvement in symptoms after 12 months (62.7 ± 23.3 versus 49.6 ± 22.8; P < 0.0005); however, they presented deterioration of activity, impact and total scores during the study period, with markedly decline of activity domain (68.5 ± 20.0 versus 75.9 ± 16.9; P = 0.008). BDI did not show significant difference by gender over the study period., Conclusions: Our results show that the HS course in very severe COPD patients differs according to gender, as females show greater response longitudinally to LTOT., (Copyright © 2010 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Anemia is considered a systemic manifestation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); however, few studies have described its influence on chronic respiratory failure (CRF) prognosis. We aimed to test the hypotheses that anemia negatively influences survival and also to identify the cut-off points of hematocrit (Htc) and hemoglobin (Hb) associated with higher mortality in CRF patients using long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT)., Methods: One-hundred forty two patients with CRF in use of LTOT were evaluated at baseline and followed for three years or until death. Baseline assessment included identification, diagnosis, body composition, dyspnea, health status (HS), spirometry, arterial blood gases, Hb and Htc. Univariate and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate predictors of mortality. We performed ROC curve to identify the best cut-off point of the variables related to survival to construct the Kaplan-Meier curves., Results: Eight-three patients (58%) died after three years. Baseline values of Hb and Htc were significantly lower in the non-survivors group and both, Htc (HR, 0.96; 95%CI 0.91-0.99; p = 0.04), Hb (HR, 0.86; 95%CI 0.76-0.98; p = 0.02) were selected as predictors of mortality after three years. The cut-off points determined were: the value of HB is < 11 g/dl (sensitivity 95% specificity 85%), Htc ≤ 33% (sensitivity 97% specificity 89%). Other prognostic factors were: male gender, low PaCO(2) and SpO(2), higher dyspnea perception and impairment of HS., Conclusions: Our study shows that anemia is a predictor of mortality in patients with CRF under LTOT treatment. Although anemia is potentially modifiable, the effects of raising hemoglobin on mortality remain undetermined., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In angiosperms the strictly light-dependent reduction of protochlorophyllide to chlorophyllide is catalyzed by NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR). The Arabidopsis thaliana genome encodes three structurally related but differentially regulated POR genes, PORA, PORB and PORC. PORA is expressed primarily early in development-during etiolation, germination and greening. In contrast, PORB and PORC are not only expressed during seedling development but also throughout the later life of the plant, during which they are responsible for bulk chlorophyll synthesis. The Arabidopsis porB-1 porC-1 mutant displays a severe xantha (highly chlorophyll-deficient) phenotype characterized by smaller prolamellar bodies in etioplasts and decreased thylakoid stacking in chloroplasts. Here we have demonstrated the ability of an ectopic PORA overexpression construct to restore prolamellar body formation in the porB-1 porC-1 double mutant background. In response to illumination, light-dependent chlorophyll production, thylakoid stacking and photomorphogenesis are also restored in PORA-overexpressing porB-1 porC-1 seedlings and adult plants. An Arabidopsis porB-1 porC-1 double mutant can therefore be functionally rescued by the addition of ectopically expressed PORA, which suffices in the absence of either PORB or PORC to direct bulk chlorophyll synthesis and normal plant development.