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IntroductionSubstance abuse is a major public health problem. In recent years, ketamine, which is a parenteral anesthetic, has been consumed increasingly as an illicit drug together with alcohol, although little is known of how this association alters brain activity. The present study investigated the influence of progressive doses of ketamine, associated with alcohol, on electrophysiological activity.MethodsFor this, 72 late-adolescent (8–10-week-old) male Wistar rats received either ketamine only, at low (10 mg/kg), intermediate (20 mg/kg) or high (30 mg/kg) doses via intraperitoneal injection, or alcohol (2 mL/100 g) via oral gavage followed by ketamine (at low, intermediate, and high doses). Electroencephalograms (EEG) and electromyographic recordings were obtained 5 min after the final application of the drug.ResultsWhen administered alone, ketamine resulted in an increase in delta, theta, beta, and gamma brainwaves, with a more pronounced effect being detected at the highest dose (30 mg/kg) in the case of the delta, beta, and gamma waves. The amplitude of the alpha brainwaves was reduced at all doses of ketamine, but less intensively at the highest dose. When administered alone, alcohol reduced all the brainwaves, with the reduction in the alpha waves being exacerbated by ketamine at all doses, and that of the theta and beta waves being boosted at the lowest dose. The intermediate dose of ketamine (20 mg/kg) reverted the alcohol-induced reduction in the theta and gamma waves, whereas the high dose increased delta, theta, beta, and gamma bandpower.DiscussionOverall, then, while ketamine enhances the depressant effects of alcohol on the alpha brainwave at all doses, a low dose intensified this effect on the theta and beta 175 waves, whereas a high dose produces neuronal hyperexcitability in the theta and 176 gamma bandpower.

Seizures are neurological disorders triggered by an imbalance in the activity of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain. When triggered chronically, this imbalance can lead to epilepsy. Critically, many of the affected individuals are refractory to treatment. Given this, anti-inflammatory drugs, in particular glucocorticoids, have been considered as a potential antiepileptogenic therapy. Glucocorticoids are currently used in the treatment of refractory patients, although there have been contradictory results in terms of their use in association with antiepileptic drugs, which reinforces the need for a more thorough investigation of their effects. In this context, the present study evaluated the effects of dexamethasone (DEX, 0.6 mg/kg) on the electroencephalographic (EEG) and histopathological parameters of male Wistar rats submitted to acute seizure induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). The EEG monitoring revealed that DEX reduced the total brainwave power, in comparison with PTZ, in 12 h after the convulsive episode, exerting this effect in up to 36 h (p 0.05). While DEX did not reverse the cell damage caused by PTZ, the data indicate that DEX has beneficial properties in the EEG analysis, which makes it a promising candidate for the attenuation of the epileptiform wave patterns that can precipitate refractory seizures.

Objective A substantial proportion of patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) have tricuspid regurgitation (TR). This study aimed to identify the impact of functional TR on clinical outcomes and predictors of progression in a large population of patients with RHD.Methods A total of 645 patients with RHD were enrolled, mean age of 47±12 years, 85% female. Functional TR was graded as absent, mild, moderate or severe. TR progression was defined either as worsening of TR degree from baseline to the last follow-up echocardiogram or severe TR at baseline that required surgery or died. Incidence of TR progression was estimated accounting for competing risks.Results Functional TR was absent in 3.4%, mild in 83.7%, moderate in 8.5% and severe in 4.3%. Moderate and severe functional TR was associated with adverse outcome (HR 1.91 (95% CI 1.15 to 3.2) for moderate, and 2.30 (95% CI 1.28 to 4.13) for severe TR, after adjustment for other prognostic variables. Event-free survival rate at 3-year follow-up was 91%, 72% and 62% in patients with no or mild, moderate and severe TR, respectively. During mean follow-up of 4.1 years, TR progression occurred in 83 patients (13%) with an overall incidence of 3.7 events (95% CI 2.9 to 4.5) per 100 patient-years. In the Cox model, age (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.34 to 2.17), New York Heart Association functional class III/IV (HR 2.57, 95% CI 1.54 to 4.30), right atrial area (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.10) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction (HR 2.02, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.84) were predictors of TR progression. By considering competing risk, the effect of RV dysfunction on TR progression risk was attenuated.Conclusions In patients with RHD, functional TR was frequent and associated with adverse outcomes. TR may progress over time, mainly related to right-sided cardiac chambers remodelling.

ABSTRACT Background: Chagas disease (ChD) is a neglected tropical disease that is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and can negatively impact quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess and compare QoL between individuals with and without ChD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed within a concurrent cohort study (REDS). The participants were derived from two blood donation centers: São Paulo capital and Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Participants with ChD were identified in blood donations by serological diagnosis between 2008 and 2010, and those without ChD were donors with negative serology identified during the same period. QoL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between the groups, and mean, standard deviation, and beta regression were used to compare QoL. Results: In total, 611 individuals participated in the study (328 with ChD and 283 without ChD). Participants with ChD had lower QoL in the physical (p=0.02) and psychological (p

BackgroundSarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by loss of muscle mass, strength and function. Frailty, a state of vulnerability with diminished reserves. The measurement of perioperative risk does not include the assessment of these variables, as little is known about how these conditions impact each other.MethodsObservational study with a cross-sectional and a prospective cohort component. Elderly people over 60 years of age, able to walk and to independently perform activities of daily living were consecutively recruited in the preoperative period of non-emergency surgical procedures. Frailty was measured by the modified frailty index (mFI-11). Sarcopenia was measured by: (1) thickness and echogenicity on ultrasound; (2) handgrip strength on dynamometry and (3) gait speed. Data obtained from eight muscle groups were submitted to Principal Component Analysis. Postoperative complications were measured using the Clavien-Dindo scale. Follow-up was performed for 1 year to record readmissions and deaths.ResultsBetween February and May 2019, 125 elderly people were recruited, median age of 71 years (IQR 65–77), 12% of whom were frail. Frailty was associated with older age, use of multiple medicines, presence of multimorbidity and greater surgical risk according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scale, in addition to lower gait speeds and lower handgrip strength. Frailty was also independently associated with smaller measurements of muscle thickness but not with echogenicity, and with longer hospital and Intensive care unit (ICU) stays. Prevalence of sarcopenia was 14% when considering at least two criteria: low walking speed and low handgrip strength. For muscle thickness, lower values were associated with female gender, older age, frailty, lower gait speeds and lower muscle strength, higher proportion of postoperative complications and higher occurrence of death. For echogenicity, higher values were related to the same factors as those of lower muscle thickness, except for postoperative complications. Lower gait speeds and lower handgrip strength were both associated with higher proportions of postoperative complications, and longer hospital stays. A higher mortality rate was observed in those with lower gait speeds.ConclusionSarcopenia was associated with frailty in all its domains. Unfavorable surgical outcomes were also associated with these two conditions.

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most serious manifestation of rheumatic fever, which may also affect the brain. The current study assessed the prevalence of neuropsychiatric manifestations in patients with RHD, including clinical features associated with basal ganglia motor dysfunction (BGMD). Methods: We conducted neurologic and psychiatric assessments in consecutive patients with RHD referred to a tertiary center for heart valve diseases. Echocardiography was performed to assess the pattern of valvular involvement and RHD severity. Validated questionnaires for the evaluation of cognition, depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) were applied. BGMD was clinically defined by the presence of hyperkinetic movement disorders. Results: Fifty patients with age of 43.2 ± 10.8 years, 84% female, were included. Mitral valve was affected in 47 patients (94%), and 21 of them (42%) also had aortic valve involvement. Chorea (22%), chronic tics (18%), OCS (48%), major depression (34%), generalized anxiety disorder (54%), cognitive complaints (66%), migraine (52%) and seizures (18%) were frequently reported. The factors associated with BGMD were age (p = 0.018), major depression (p = 0.013), and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive (Y-BOCS) score (p = 0.011). The severity of heart disease was not associated with BGMD. Conclusions: Neuropsychiatric manifestations are frequent in RHD patients, which may persist up to three decades after acute rheumatic fever. Age, major depression and severity of OCS were independently associated with BGMD. These manifestations deserve a close attention of clinicians and researchers dealing with adult patients with RHD.

One way to reduce inequality and poverty is to promote tax justice. In 2021, the government of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, implemented a program (the Devolve-ICMS Program) that refunds consumption tax to low-income citizens (cashback). This study aims to evaluate the impacts of this Program using a differences-in-differences model and having, as response variables, the monthly sum of electronic invoices issued to the Program’s beneficiaries, as well as their value. The database used includes all invoices issued to the target population during the 12 months before the Program’s implementation and the 14 months after its implementation, resulting in 7.7 million records. To receive the tax refund, the eligible population must pick up a Citizen Card, made available by the state government, which was done by a significant part of this population. The treatment group is composed of eligible citizens who have the Card, whereas the control group comprises eligible citizens who do not have it. The results show that the Program is effective, as it has reduced tax pressure on poor people and increased both the number of invoices issued and their value.

IntroductionMitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valve abnormality in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) often associated with stenosis. Although the mechanism by which MR develops in RHD is primary, longstanding volume overload with left atrial (LA) remodeling may trigger the development of secondary MR, which can impact on the overall progression of MR. This study is aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of MR progression in patients with RHD.MethodsConsecutive RHD patients with non-severe MR associated with any degree of mitral stenosis were selected. The primary endpoint was a progression of MR, which was defined as an increase of one grade in MR severity from baseline to the last follow-up echocardiogram. The risk of MR progression was estimated accounting for competing risks.ResultsThe study included 539 patients, age of 46.2 ± 12 years and 83% were women. At a mean follow-up time of 4.2 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.2–6.9 years), 54 patients (10%) displayed MR progression with an overall incidence of 2.4 per 100 patient-years. Predictors of MR progression by the Cox model were age (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.541, 95% CI 1.222–1.944), and LA volume (HR 1.137, 95% CI 1.054–1.226). By considering competing risk analysis, the direction of the association was similar for the rate (Cox model) and incidence (Fine-Gray model) of MR progression. In the model with LA volume, atrial fibrillation (AF) was no longer a predictor of MR progression. In the subgroup of patients in sinus rhythm, 59 had an onset of AF during follow-up, which was associated with progression of MR (HR 2.682; 95% CI 1.133–6.350).ConclusionsIn RHD patients with a full spectrum of MR severity, progression of MR occurs over time is predicted by age and LA volume. LA enlargement may play a role in the link between primary MR and secondary MR in patients with RHD.

Abstract Genus Arachis comprises 82 species distributed into nine taxonomic sections. Most Arachis species are wild and those from Arachis section have been evaluated for many traits, since they can be used in peanut breeding. Most of the remaining species have been neglected and understudied. Recently, resveratrol content and expression of a resveratrol synthase gene were analyzed in wild Arachis species. Our aim was to expand the knowledge about resveratrol in Arachis, analyzing species from five sections and evaluating the expression of a resveratrol synthase (RS) gene responsive to ultraviolet light (UV) along the time. In a first experiment, the resveratrol content after UV induction was analyzed on detached leaves of 12 species from five sections. Variation was observed among species and accessions of the same species. The highest contents were found in A. lignosa (843.9 μg/g) and A. triseminata (745.4 μg/g). In a second experiment, RS expression and resveratrol content in four species and one synthetic amphidiploid were analyzed at 0, 7, 15 and 24 h pos induction (hpi) with UV. In most genotypes, the highest RS expression level was at 0 hpi, whereas the highest resveratrol content was at 15 hpi. Our results suggested that resveratrol is ubiquitously present in the genus Arachis with different capacities of synthesis among species and accessions in response to ultraviolet treatment. Presence of resveratrol in wild Arachis species adds new value to these genetic resources.

Abstract Cross-species hybridizations have been extensively used to generate animals and plants better suited for draft and food and fiber production since Roman times, and are still important in current agricultural practices with growing uses especially in aquaculture. Diagnostic tools based on marker panels with sufficient numbers of markers for accurate identification of cross-species hybrid individuals from intercrossed and backcrossed populations are increasingly necessary for practical, accurate species-purity certification and management of commercial broodstocks. Minimal numbers of di-allelic markers with species-specific alleles required to accurately identify hybrid individuals in intercrossed and advanced backcrossed populations were estimated using power analysis, and ranged from 5 to 191 (α = .05), and from 7 to 293 (α = .01), considering backcross 1 (BC1) to BC6 populations, respectively. Numbers of markers required for accurate hybrid identification observed in simulated BC1 to BC6 populations ranged from 5 to 1,131 and 7 to 8,065, considering error rates ≤ 5% and ≤ 1%, respectively. Estimated and observed numbers of diagnostic markers required for accurate hybrid identification up to four generations of backcrossing fall within practical operational limits of most commercial platforms currently available for genotyping low-density SNP marker panels. Therefore, cost-effective assay panels could be developed to provide practical tools for accurate species-purity certification.

Trial registrationNCT02646943.

Concrete cracks can induce the disruption of dams, bridges, tunnels, and some structures that assist the human life. The agglomeration component of the concrete and the most applied compound, the Portland Cement, can be utilized in combination with calcium lactate and the Bacillus bacteria to produce the crystals of CaCO3 (raw material of the cement production) through adsorption, biomineralization, and crystallization, reducing the risk of ruptures. Thus, a screening of the biotechnological potential of bacterium Bacillus cereus (UCP 1615) under a concentration of 107 cells/mL was carried out to evaluate the production of CaCO3 crystals with 20 g of the Portland Cement II (PC-II), and 0,58, 1,00, and 1,42 g of calcium lactate. These Petri Dishes were incubated at 28°C and during 168 h. Besides, the crystals produced the B. cereus were analysed by an X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) to estimate the relation (%) between the mainly and possible components. After 17 h, some crystals had already started to appear in the Petri Dishes of 1,00 and 1,42 g of calcium lactate, and after 168 h, the crystals were scraped of all Petri Dishes. The diffractometric analyse of the condition with the highest lactate condition, of 1,42 g, presented percentages of 82% SiO2 (basic structure of cement) and 18% CaCO3. Therefore, the B. cereus strain shows a biotechnological potential to produce crystals of CaCO3 and that this bacterium is able to be tested under different conditions of calcium lactate, microbial concentration, and water according to a factorial design. Keywords: Concrete cracks. Calcium Lactate. Crystals. XRD.

Surfactants are amphipathic molecules that reduce surface and interfacial tension, conferring properties such as detergency, emulsification and phase dispersion, making them versatile chemicals. Most of the surfactants in use are derived from petroleum; however, interest in microbiological surfactants has increased because of its biodegradability and reduced toxicity. The objective of this work was to evaluate the production of a biosurfactant by the bacterium Bacillus invictae UCP 1617 using a complete 23 factorial design as a tool to optimize the variables agitation, temperature and inoculum size in 5 L bioreactor in mineral medium containing 2 % unconventional raw material. In the factorial tests, the surface tension and the yield in isolated biosurfactant were evaluated. The best condition of the experimental design was transferred to a 50 L bioreactor, being evaluated the kinetics of biosurfactant production. The biosurfactant formulation was carried out with the addition of 0.2 % of potassium sorbate. The formulation was then subjected to stability evaluation under different environmental conditions. The oil surface wash test with the biosurfactant was performed with motor oil. The best result obtained from the 2³ complete factorial design was the cultivation condition test number 5 (175 rpm at 28 ° C and 2 % inoculum), considering the best yield (1 g/L) in 72 hours of cultivation. The transfer of biosurfactant production to the 50 L bioreactor showed a surfactant productivity corresponding to 2.42 ± 1.1 g/L in 72 hours. The surface tension of the medium was reduced from 69.5 to 30.2 mN/m after 60 hours of fermentation, demonstrating the presence of surfactants. The chemical composition of the biosurfactant suggested the presence of 65 % of lipids and 32 % of carbohydrates, meaning its glycolipidic nature. The formulation produced with the addition of potassium sorbate proved to be a promising product because of its stability at various pH, temperature and NaCl concentrations. The biosurfactant removed 95.42 % of the oil adhered to the glass surface. Therefore, the biosurfactant presents potential application in remediation processes for the reduction of environmental impacts on ecosystems.

Staphylococcus xylosus is a microorganism that has important physiological and technological characteristics that make it suitable for use as a starter culture in fermented meat products. For the development of these products in the food industry, it is necessary to produce biomass by the multiplication of starter cultures using low-cost media. This study developed a culture medium based on sugarcane molasses (SCM) supplemented with yeast extract (YE) and soybean meal (SM) to produce S. xylosus AD1 biomass employing a Box Behnken multivariate optimization design, using the best concentrations of the constituents of the culture medium for S. xylosus AD1 growth. By combining the mathematical models by the desirability function, it was possible to establish the optimal condition for the maximum production of viable cells and biomass. The optimal experimental condition was found when the fermentative process medium was composed of 10% SCM, 2% YE and 4% SM. In addition, the results of all experiments, except for the medium formulated with only SCM, presented a better performance than the commercial medium Brain Heart Infusion for the growth of S. xylosus AD1. The culture medium with agro-industrial byproduct (SCM) supplemented with YE and SM is an excellent alternative for producing S. xylosus AD1 biomass.