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Abstract Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), is one of the most important neglected diseases in Latin America. The limited use of the current nitro-derivative-based chemotherapy highlights the need for alternative drugs and the identification of their molecular targets. In this study, we investigated the trypanocidal effect of the sesquiterpene lactone dehydroleucodine (DhL) and its derivatives, focusing on the antioxidative defense of the parasites. DhL and two derivatives, at lesser extent, displayed antiproliferative effect on the parasites. This effect was blocked by the reducing agent glutathione (GSH). Treated parasites exhibited increased intracellular ROS concentration and trypanothione synthetase activity, accompanied by mitochondrial swelling. Although molecular dynamics studies predicted that GSH would not interact with DhL, 1H-NMR analysis confirmed that GSH could protect parasites by interacting with the lactone. When parasites overexpressing mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase were incubated with DhL, its effect was attenuated. Overexpression of cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase also provided some protection against DhL. These findings suggest that DhL induces oxidative imbalance in T. cruzi, offering new insights into potential drug targets against this parasite.

Summary:. Blindness from hyaluronic acid filler injections is an uncommon but devastating complication. We present a case of blindness related to a “skin booster.” It is often assumed that skin boosters have no risk of visual problems, and this case underlines the need to understand products’ rheology and chemistry. Given the lack of agreed consensus in bedside and secondary care management, it is important to report and describe all cases of vision loss caused by fillers, including assessment and management, to allow understanding of what may give rise to better outcomes.

Introdução: Recentemente, a integração de meditação e técnicas de relaxamento, complementadas pelo biofeedback, tem ganhado atenção na psicologia clínica. Esta abordagem, não farmacológica e não invasiva, utiliza o biofeedback para permitir que os indivíduos monitorizem as suas funções fisiológicas, melhorando a prática de meditação ou relaxamento e fortalecendo a conexão mente-corpo, tendo o potencial de também poderem ser aplicadas na reabilitação motora. Objetivo: Investigar o que existe na literatura científica acerca dos efeitos do biofeedback, associado à meditação/relaxação, em qualquer contexto de reabilitação motora. Metodologia: Foram usadas as bases de dados: Pubmed, EBSCO HOST e CENTRAL, utilizando a metodologia PRISMA-ScR. Os critérios de inclusão foram: intervenções combinadas de meditação/relaxação com biofeedback em contexto de reabilitação motora, restrição de idiomas (português, inglês, espanhol, francês), publicações que contivessem manipulação de variáveis, sem restrições de tempo. Resultados: Foram selecionados 6 estudos, incluindo dois estudos controlados e randomizados, dois estudos do tipo séries de casos, uma revisão sistemática e um estudo de caso. Todos os estudos reportaram a combinação de biofeedback com técnicas de relaxamento, sem referências à meditação. A qualidade metodológica variou, sendo que alguns estudos demonstraram bom rigor metodológico, como os estudos randomizados, enquanto outros consistiram em investigações descritivas com menor robustez metodológica. Conclusões: Existem indícios que a combinação de técnicas de relaxação com biofeedback pode ter efeitos nalguns aspetos da reabilitação motora para diversas populações de utentes. No entanto, é necessária mais investigação nesta área, bem como sobre a combinação da meditação com o biofeedback.

Abstract Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A/H5N1 viruses (lineage 2.3.4.4b) are rapidly invading the Americas, threatening wildlife, poultry, and potentially evolving into the next global pandemic. In November 2022 HPAI arrived in Peru, triggering massive pelican and sea lion die-offs. We report genomic characterization of HPAI/H5N1 in five species of marine mammals and seabirds (dolphins, sea lions, sanderlings, pelicans and cormorants). Peruvian viruses belong to lineage 2.3.4.4b, but they are 4:4 reassortants where 4 genomic segments (PA, HA, NA and MP) position within the Eurasian lineage that initially entered North America from Eurasia, while the other 4 genomic segments (PB2, PB1, NP and NS) position within the American lineage (clade C) that circulated in North America. These viruses are rapidly accruing mutations, including mutations of concern, that warrant further examination and highlight an urgent need for active local surveillance to manage outbreaks and limit spillover into other species, including humans.

Abstract Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a multifactorial degenerative disease of the macula. Different factors, environmental, genetic and lifestyle, contribute to its onset and progression. However, how they interconnect to promote the disease, or its progression, is still unclear. With this work, we aim to assess the interaction of the genetic risk for AMD and the adherence to the Mediterranean diet in the Coimbra Eye Study. Methods Enrolled subjects (n = 612) underwent ophthalmological exams and answered a food questionnaire. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed with mediSCORE. An overall value was calculated for each participant, ranging from 0 to 9, using the sum of 9 food groups, and a cut off value of ≥ 6 was considered high adherence. Rotterdam Classification was used for grading. Participants’ genotyping was performed in collaboration with The European Eye Epidemiology Consortium. The genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated for each participant considering the number of alleles at each variant and their effect size. Interaction was assessed with additive and multiplicative models, adjusted for age, sex, physical exercise, and smoking. Results The AMD risk was reduced by 60% in subjects with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet compared to subjects with low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Combined effects of having low adherence to the Mediterranean diet and high GRS led to almost a 5-fold increase in the risk for AMD, compared to low GRS and high adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The multiplicative scale suggested a multiplicative interaction, although not statistically significant [odds ratio (OR) = 1.111, 95% CI 0.346–3.569, P = 0.859]. The additive model showed a causal positive effect of the interaction of GRS and adherence to the Mediterranean diet: relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) = 150.9%, (95% CI: − 0.414 to 3.432, P = 0.062), attributable proportion due to interaction (AP) = 0.326 (95% CI: − 0.074 to 0.726, P = 0.055) and synergy index (SI) = 1.713 (95% CI: 0.098–3.329, P = 0.019). High GRS people benefited from adhering to the Mediterranean diet with a 60% risk reduction. For low-GRS subjects, a risk reduction was also seen, but not significantly. Conclusions Genetics and Mediterranean diet interact to protect against AMD, proving there is an interplay between genetics and environmental factors. Trial registration The AMD Incidence (NCT02748824) and Lifestyle and Food Habits Questionnaire in the Portuguese Population Aged 55 or More (NCT01715870) studies are registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov . Five-year Incidence of Age-related Macular Degeneration in the Central Region of Portugal (AMD IncidencePT); NCT02748824: date of registration: 22/04/16. Lifestyle and Food Habits Questionnaire in the Portuguese Population Aged 55 or More; NCT01715870: date of registration: 29/10/12.

Summary:. Nonsurgical rhinoplasty using filler injections is a popular procedure; however, it carries risks of significant complications, including vascular occlusion, skin necrosis, blindness, and cerebral ischemia. We present a case of septal necrosis after nonsurgical rhinoplasty and describe management using ultrasound guidance. Awareness of this complication and high clinical index of suspicion are necessary for early diagnosis and treatment, crucial to minimizing permanent sequelae. We show that high-definition ultrasound can help to guide the management and improve the treatment outcomes.

Dengue virus (DENV) transmission from humans to mosquitoes is a poorly documented, but critical component of DENV epidemiology. Magnitude of viremia is the primary determinant of successful human-to-mosquito DENV transmission. People with the same level of viremia, however, can vary in their infectiousness to mosquitoes as a function of other factors that remain to be elucidated. Here, we report on a field-based study in the city of Iquitos, Peru, where we conducted direct mosquito feedings on people naturally infected with DENV and that experienced mild illness. We also enrolled people naturally infected with Zika virus (ZIKV) after the introduction of ZIKV in Iquitos during the study period. Of the 54 study participants involved in direct mosquito feedings, 43 were infected with DENV-2, two with DENV-3, and nine with ZIKV. Our analysis excluded participants whose viremia was detectable at enrollment but undetectable at the time of mosquito feeding, which was the case for all participants with DENV-3 and ZIKV infections. We analyzed the probability of onward transmission during 50 feeding events involving 27 participants infected with DENV-2 based on the presence of infectious virus in mosquito saliva 7-16 days post blood meal. Transmission probability was positively associated with the level of viremia and duration of extrinsic incubation in the mosquito. In addition, transmission probability was influenced by the day of illness in a non-monotonic fashion; i.e., transmission probability increased until 2 days after symptom onset and decreased thereafter. We conclude that mildly ill DENV-infected humans with similar levels of viremia during the first two days after symptom onset will be most infectious to mosquitoes on the second day of their illness. Quantifying variation within and between people in their contribution to DENV transmission is essential to better understand the biological determinants of human infectiousness, parametrize epidemiological models, and improve disease surveillance and prevention strategies.

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, affects 6–7 million people worldwide. The dichloromethane extract obtained from the aerial parts of Gymnocoronis spilanthoides var subcordata showed trypanocidal activity in vitro. The fractionation of the dewaxed organic extract via column chromatography led to the isolation of three diterpenoids: ent-9α,11α-dihydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid or adenostemmoic acid B, (16R)-ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxokauran-19-oic acid and ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid. These compounds showed IC50 values of 10.6, 15.9 and 4.8 µM against T. cruzi epimastigotes, respectively. When tested against amastigotes, the diterpenoids afforded IC50 values of 6.1, 19.5 and 60.6 µM, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was tested on mammalian cells using an MTT assay, resulting in CC50s of 321.8, 23.3 and 14.8 µM, respectively. The effect of adenostemmoic acid B on T. cruzi was examined at the ultrastructural level using transmission microscopy. Treatment with 20 μM for 48 h stimulated the formation of abnormal cytosolic membranous structures in the parasite. This compound also showed an anti-inflammatory effect in murine macrophages stimulated with LPS and other TLR agonists. Treatment of macrophages with adenostemmoic acid B was able to reduce TNF secretion and nitric oxide production, while increasing IL-10 production. The combination of adenostemmoic acid B with benznidazole resulted in greater inhibition of NF-kB and a decrease in nitrite concentration. The administration of adenostemmoic acid B to mice infected with trypomastigotes of T. cruzi at the dose of 1 mg/kg/day for five days produced a significant decrease in parasitemia levels and weight loss. Treatment with the association with benznidazole increased the survival time of the animals. In view of these results, adenostemmoic acid B could be considered a promising candidate for further studies in the search for new treatments for Chagas disease.

Current knowledge of dengue virus (DENV) transmission provides only a partial understanding of a complex and dynamic system yielding a public health track record that has more failures than successes. An important part of the problem is that the foundation for contemporary interventions includes a series of longstanding, but untested, assumptions based on a relatively small portion of the human population; i.e., people who are convenient to study because they manifest clinically apparent disease. Approaching dengue from the perspective of people with overt illness has produced an extensive body of useful literature. It has not, however, fully embraced heterogeneities in virus transmission dynamics that are increasingly recognized as key information still missing in the struggle to control the most important insect-transmitted viral infection of humans. Only in the last 20 years have there been significant efforts to carry out comprehensive longitudinal dengue studies. This manuscript provides the rationale and comprehensive, integrated description of the methodology for a five-year longitudinal cohort study based in the tropical city of Iquitos, in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. Primary data collection for this study was completed in 2019. Although some manuscripts have been published to date, our principal objective here is to support subsequent publications by describing in detail the structure, methodology, and significance of a specific research program. Our project was designed to study people across the entire continuum of disease, with the ultimate goal of quantifying heterogeneities in human variables that affect DENV transmission dynamics and prevention. Because our study design is applicable to other Aedes transmitted viruses, we used it to gain insights into Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission when during the project period ZIKV was introduced and circulated in Iquitos. Our prospective contact cluster investigation design was initiated by detecttion of a person with a symptomatic DENV infection and then followed that person's immediate contacts. This allowed us to monitor individuals at high risk of DENV infection, including people with clinically inapparent and mild infections that are otherwise difficult to detect. We aimed to fill knowledge gaps by defining the contribution to DENV transmission dynamics of (1) the understudied majority of DENV-infected people with inapparent and mild infections and (2) epidemiological, entomological, and socio-behavioral sources of heterogeneity. By accounting for factors underlying variation in each person's contribution to transmission we sought to better determine the type and extent of effort needed to better prevent virus transmission and disease.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) of ultrafiltration (UF) have demonstrated conflicting results regarding its efficacy and safety. Objective: We reviewed 10 years of data for adjustable UF during heart failure hospitalizations in a real world cohort. Methods: We performed a retrospective, single center analysis of 335 consecutive patients treated with adjustable rate UF using the CHF Solutions Aquadex Flex Flo System from 2009 to 2019. Results: Compared to previous RCTs investigating UF, our cohort was older, with worse renal impairment and more antecedent HF hospitalizations in the year preceding therapy. Mean fluid removal with UF was 14.6 l. Mean weight loss with UF was 15.6 lbs (range 0.2–57 lbs) and was sustained at 1–2 week follow-up. Mean creatinine change upon stopping UF, at discharge and follow-up (mean 30 days) was +0.11 mg/dl, +0.07 mg/dl and +0.11 mg/dl, respectively. HF rehospitalizations at 30 days, 90 days and 1 year were 12.4 %, 14.9 % and 27.3 % respectively. On average patients had 1.74 fewer hospitalizations for HF in the year following UF when compared to 12 months preceding UF. Major bleeding defined as requiring discontinuation of anticoagulation occurred in 3.6 % of patients. Conclusions: Compared with previous UF trials, our study demonstrates that UF compares favorably for HF rehospitalizations, renal function response, and weight/volume loss. Importantly, our real world experience allowed for the adjustment of UF rate during therapy and we believe this is a major contributor to our favorable outcomes. In clinical practice, UF can be a safe and effective strategy for decongestion.

PurposeTear fluid biomarkers may offer a non-invasive strategy for detecting diabetic patients with increased risk of developing diabetic retinopathy (DR) or increased disease progression, thus helping both improving diagnostic accuracy and understanding the pathophysiology of the disease. Here, we assessed the tear fluid of nondiabetic individuals, diabetic patients with no DR, and diabetic patients with nonproliferative DR (NPDR) or with proliferative DR (PDR) to find putative biomarkers for the diagnosis and staging of DR.MethodsTear fluid samples were collected using Schirmer test strips from a cohort with 12 controls and 54 Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) patients, and then analyzed using mass spectrometry (MS)-based shotgun proteomics and bead-based multiplex assay. Tear fluid-derived small extracellular vesicles (EVs) were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, Western Blotting, and nano tracking.ResultsProteomics analysis revealed that among the 682 reliably quantified proteins in tear fluid, 42 and 26 were differentially expressed in NPDR and PDR, respectively, comparing to the control group. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD033101. By multicomparison analyses, we also found significant changes in 32 proteins. Gene ontology (GO) annotations showed that most of these proteins are associated with oxidative stress and small EVs. Indeed, we also found that tear fluid is particularly enriched in small EVs. T2D patients with NPDR have higher IL-2/-5/-18, TNF, MMP-2/-3/-9 concentrations than the controls. In the PDR group, IL-5/-18 and MMP-3/-9 concentrations were significantly higher, whereas IL-13 was lower, compared to the controls.ConclusionsOverall, the results show alterations in tear fluid proteins profile in diabetic patients with retinopathy. Promising candidate biomarkers identified need to be validated in a large sample cohort.

Stevia species (Asteraceae) have been a rich source of terpenoid compounds, mainly sesquiterpene lactones, several of which show antiprotozoal activity. In the search for new trypanocidal compounds, S. satureiifolia var. satureiifolia and S. alpina were studied. Two sesquiterpene lactones, santhemoidin C and 2-oxo-8-deoxyligustrin, respectively, were isolated. These compounds were assessed in vitro against Trypanosoma cruzi stages, showing IC50 values of 11.80 and 4.98 on epimastigotes, 56.08 and 26.19 on trypomastigotes and 4.88 and 20.20 µM on amastigotes, respectively. Cytotoxicity was evaluated on Vero cells by the MTT assay. The effect of the compounds on trypanothyone reductase (TcTR), Trans-sialidase (TcTS) and the prolyl oligopeptidase of 80 kDa (Tc80) as potential molecular targets of T. cruzi was investigated. Santhemoidin C inhibited oligopeptidase activity when tested against recombinant Tc80 using a fluorometric assay, reaching an IC50 of 34.9 µM. Molecular docking was performed to study the interaction between santhemoidin C and the Tc80 protein, reaching high docking energy levels. Plasma membrane shedding and cytoplasmic vacuoles, resembling autophagosomes, were detected by transmission microscopy in parasites treated with santhemoidin C. Based on these results, santhemoidin C represents a promising candidate for further studies in the search for new molecules for the development of trypanocidal drugs.

The causative agent of Chagas disease undergoes drastic morphological and biochemical modifications as it passes between hosts and transitions from extracellular to intracellular stages. The osmotic and mechanical aspects of these cellular transformations are not understood. Here we identify and characterize a novel mechanosensitive channel in Trypanosoma cruzi (TcMscS) belonging to the superfamily of small-conductance mechanosensitive channels (MscS). TcMscS is activated by membrane tension and forms a large pore permeable to anions, cations, and small osmolytes. The channel changes its location from the contractile vacuole complex in epimastigotes to the plasma membrane as the parasites develop into intracellular amastigotes. TcMscS knockout parasites show significant fitness defects, including increased cell volume, calcium dysregulation, impaired differentiation, and a dramatic decrease in infectivity. Our work provides mechanistic insights into components supporting pathogen adaptation inside the host, thus opening the exploration of mechanosensation as a prerequisite for protozoan infectivity.

Trypanosoma cruzi develops in environments where nutrient availability, osmolarity, ionic concentrations, and pH undergo significant changes. The ability to adapt and respond to such conditions determines the survival and successful transmission of T. cruzi. Ion channels play fundamental roles in controlling physiological parameters that ensure cell homeostasis by rapidly triggering compensatory mechanisms. Combining molecular, cellular and electrophysiological approaches we have identified and characterized the expression and function of a novel calcium-activated potassium channel (TcCAKC). This channel resides in the plasma membrane of all 3 life stages of T. cruzi and shares structural features with other potassium channels. We expressed TcCAKC in Xenopus laevis oocytes and established its biophysical properties by two-electrode voltage clamp. Oocytes expressing TcCAKC showed a significant increase in inward currents after addition of calcium ionophore ionomycin or thapsigargin. These responses were abolished by EGTA suggesting that TcCAKC activation is dependent of extracellular calcium. This activation causes an increase in current and a negative shift in reversal potential that is blocked by barium. As predicted, a single point mutation in the selectivity filter (Y313A) completely abolished the activity of the channels, confirming its potassium selective nature. We have generated knockout parasites deleting one or both alleles of TcCAKC. These parasite strains showed impaired growth, decreased production of trypomastigotes and slower intracellular replication, pointing to an important role of TcCAKC in regulating infectivity. To understand the cellular mechanisms underlying these phenotypic defects, we used fluorescent probes to evaluate intracellular membrane potential, pH, and intracellular calcium. Epimastigotes lacking the channel had significantly lower cytosolic calcium, hyperpolarization, changes in intracellular pH, and increased rate of proton extrusion. These results are in agreement with previous reports indicating that, in trypanosomatids, membrane potential and intracellular pH maintenance are linked. Our work shows TcCAKC is a novel potassium channel that contributes to homeostatic regulation of important physiological processes in T. cruzi and provides new avenues to explore the potential of ion channels as targets for drug development against protozoan parasites.

Este artigo objetiva verificar o conhecimento de assistentes sociais e Residentes em Serviço Social do Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley (HULW) sobre os cuidados paliativos e identificar quais as principais ações relativas à categoria nesta estratégia terapêutica. Quanto aos procedimentos metodológicos, trata-se de uma pesquisa de campo, exploratória, descritiva e de cunho qualiquantitativo, realizada mediante aplicação de questionário semiestruturado entre os meses de agosto e dezembro de 2016, cuja amostra foi definida por critérios de acessibilidade, composta por 20 profissionais e 5 Residentes de Serviço Social do HULW. Como principais resultados, verificou-se que há alto desconhecimento sobre o que são cuidados paliativos e quais as ações cabíveis ao Serviço Social, baixa articulação em equipe multiprofissional para esta intervenção, incipiente discussão da temática no processo formativo, aproximação com a temática tão somente nos serviços, inexistência de condições objetivas favoráveis a esta estratégia na instituição e junto às equipes de trabalho, e, embora tenha sido relatada congruência ideal entre o Projeto Ético-Político Profissional do Serviço Social e os cuidados paliativos, destacou-se a necessidade de sua compreensão apropriada pela categoria e domínio das dimensões que compõem a profissão para que se possa empreender um cuidado ético e um trabalho consciente e propositivo que concorram para materialização do Projeto Profissional e adequada oferta dos cuidados paliativos e assistência a usuários e seus familiares.

Desde una perspectiva foucaultiana se aborda la lectura como un saber que se conforma dominante, sometido e híbrido. Como saber dominante, se cuestiona la comprensión lectora que cobró forma desde una historia de la lectura que trasciende en la actualidad, se refuerza y se distribuye de la escuela al aula con un discurso de mejora que instaura prácticas evaluadoras. Se usa la historia oral de algunas maestras de educación primaria como recurso metodológico, donde se manifiesta una experiencia de la que emerge el saber sometido de la lectura, que tiene que ver con sus modos de leer en un tiempo y espacio determinados, que cuenta su vida, afectos, necesidades, las relaciones que establece con el otro y le permite la construcción del significado de un texto; este saber sometido pasa inadvertido ante la exigencia del leer para comprender, es un saber que nunca trasciende al corpus teórico institucionalizado por ser subjetivo. Así en el aula, ambos saberes, comprensión y experiencia-subjetividad, permean el pensamiento y las acciones del maestro para conformarse como el saber híbrido que juega con lo instituido. A su vez, los relatos permiten reconocer una diversidad de saberes de la lectura que dan posibilidad a otras formas de subjetivación.

The work results from a bibliographical researchand highlights the situation of women victim ofviolence in Brazil and the structural difficultiesin materializing intersectoral actions amonginstitutions engaged in this segment. It also resultsfrom discussions made at the SEPSASS / UFPB,with emphasis on the debate about Intersectoralitywithin social protection policies. The study isbased on experiences of professors and students inthe supervised training period at the "EdnalvaBezerra Reference Center for Women" in JoãoPessoa, PB. We conclude that there is a need for anintersectoral support network to solve the demands.

The Santa Lucia River basin provides drinking water to 60% of Uruguay population. The input of excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus both from point and nonpoint sources could impair surface water quality and prevent its use for human consumption. The objective of this work was to evaluate surface water quality in small catchments under agricultural use located within this river basin. To this end, 5 streams and 4 small polders were surveyed between September 2008 and December 2009. The median concentrations of total phosphorus and total nitrogen in the streams across all sites and periods were 770 and 1659 µg L −1 , respectively, exceeding in the case of total phosphorus national and international thresholds. Furthermore, soluble phosphorous, the most readily available form to algae, represented 88.3% of total phosphorus. Concentrations of phosphorous and nitrogen in polders were also high. The eutrophication process of this water bodies could be linked to the intensive agricultural land use in the area because the nutrient input from cities and industries was not relevant in these catchments.

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os estoques de biomassa, carbono e nitrogênio da serapilheira acumulada em um fragmento de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual Montana e dois plantios florestais puros (um de Pterogyne nitens e outro de Eucalyptus urophylla), no sudoeste da Bahia. As amostragens da serapilheira foram realizadas nos períodos chuvoso e seco. A biomassa da serapilheira acumulada foi superior no povoamento de eucalipto (13,1 Mg.ha–1) e inferior no povoamento de P. nitens (1,5 Mg.ha–1), atingindo valores intermediários na floresta nativa (6,3 Mg.ha–1). Essa mesma sequência foi verificada para os estoques de carbono: 5,6 Mg.ha–1 (eucalipto), 2,7 Mg.ha–1 (floresta nativa) e 0,6 Mg.ha–1 (P. nitens). O povoamento P. nitens apresentou teores de N da serapilheira foliar compatíveis aos da floresta nativa. As maiores diferenças de biomassa, carbono e nitrogênio da serapilheira acumulada entre as estações chuvosa e seca foram verificadas nos povoamentos puros.

Pollination deficit could cause low yields in cashew (Anacardium occidentale) and it is possible that deforestation surrounding cashew plantations may prevent effective pollinators from visiting cashew flowers and contribute to this deficit. In the present work, we investigated the proximity effect of small and large forest fragments on the abundance and flower visits by feral Apis mellifera and wild native pollinators to cashew flowers and their interactions with yield in cashew plantations. Cashew nut yield was highest when plantations bordered a small forest fragment and were close to the large forest fragment. Yield from plantations that did not border small forest fragments but were close to the large forest fragment did not differ to yield from plantations at a greater distance to the large forest fragment. Flower visits by wild native pollinators, mainly Trigona spinipes, were negatively affected by distance to the large forest remnant and their numbers were directly correlated to nut yield. The number of A. mellifera visiting cashew flowers did not change significantly with distance to forest fragments, nor was it correlated with yield. We conclude that increasing the number of wild pollinator visits may increase yield, and proximity to large forest fragments are important for this.

The pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness worldwide, remains only partially understood. This has led to the current lack of accessible and reliable biofluid biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, and absence of treatments for dry AMD. This study aimed to assess the plasma metabolomic profiles of AMD and its severity stages with the ultimate goal of contributing to addressing these needs. We recruited two cohorts: Boston, United States (n = 196) and Coimbra, Portugal (n = 295). Fasting blood samples were analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. For each cohort, we compared plasma metabolites of AMD patients versus controls (logistic regression), and across disease stages (permutation-based cumulative logistic regression considering both eyes). Meta-analyses were then used to combine results from the two cohorts. Our results revealed that 28 metabolites differed significantly between AMD patients versus controls (false discovery rate (FDR) q-value: 4.1 × 10−2−1.8 × 10−5), and 67 across disease stages (FDR q-value: 4.5 × 10−2−1.7 × 10−4). Pathway analysis showed significant enrichment of glycerophospholipid, purine, taurine and hypotaurine, and nitrogen metabolism (p-value ≤ 0.04). In conclusion, our findings support that AMD patients present distinct plasma metabolomic profiles, which vary with disease severity. This work contributes to the understanding of AMD pathophysiology, and can be the basis of future biomarkers and precision medicine for this blinding condition.

In this work, we evaluated the possibility of predicting the geographic origin of Uruguayan honeys using discriminant analysis (DA) on mineral concentration. Although the DA results appeared to discriminate between honeys from the south, central and north, the subsequent cross-validation analysis did not confirm this result. We also compared honeys from Uruguay and the Buenos Aires province (Argentina) using DA on mineral composition data. In this case, a clear difference between these two origins was observed. It seems possible to differentiate between Uruguayan honeys and those produced in a neighbouring country based on multivariate statistical methods.

The article's goal is to analyze the strategy of intersectoral approach from the contribution of comprehensive socíology; set the current stage 01 díscussíon on the topic, As methodology, ít uses the bíblíographícal research , bearíng in mind that the same ís wídely used ín exploratory and descríptive studíes, when the object 01 analysís is understudíed , making difficult the lifting of hypotheses or new interfaces. The text is organized ínto an introduction which makes a survey about the assumptions of public policies, and two sections: in the first "the debate on the Intersectoral approach", It maps the emergence olthe theme , the core concepts, analylícal models and types, In the second sessíon, "contríbution 01 comprehensive Sociology: thínking the problem", discuss the possibílíties 01 "applícatíon" 01 the comprehensíve methodology to analyze some aspects on the subject, that can contribute with a model of public policies analysis.

Este artigo objetiva contribuir para a construção do conhecimento acerca da estratégia da intersetorialidade, particularmente em relação à produção científica em desenvolvimento na área do Serviço Social. Partimos do pressuposto de que este dispositivo de gestão vem frequentemente sendo tomado como principal mecanismo de gestão das políticas públicas, nomeadamente as políticas de proteção social no Brasil. Contrariamente, os estudos sobre este entorno ainda se mostram incipientes em relação aos mais variados processos de implementação de planos, programas e projetos vinculados ao sistema protetivo nacional com tímida alteração no que concerne a operacionalização do Sistema Único de Saúde. Por conseguinte, quando nos reportamos para as reflexões teóricas sobre o uso dos arranjos intersetoriais no interior das ações profissionais dos Assistentes Sociais do campo da assistência pública à saúde, a escassez de referenciais teóricos sugere que a categoria precisa se debruçar sobre os vieses desta questão, sobretudo por se constituir num dos núcleos profissionais que mais possui potência em disparar ações intersetoriais, fundamentalmente pela formação generalista que recebe. Assim, este estudo procurou refletir quais os limites que se interpõe a prática do Assistente Social do campo da saúde na tessitura de arranjos intersetoriais a luz da produção teórica constante nos principais canais de circulação da produção científica do Serviço Social Brasileiro.

For epidemiological and surveillance purposes, it is relevant to monitor the distribution and dynamics of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes. Conventional serotyping methods do not provide rapid or quantitative information on serotype loads. Quantitative serotyping may enable prediction of the invasiveness of a specific serotype compared to other serotypes carried. Here, we describe a novel, rapid multiplex real-time PCR assay for identification and quantification of the 40 most prevalent pneumococcal serotypes and the assay impacts in pneumonia specimens from emerging and developing countries. Eleven multiplex PCR to detect 40 serotypes or serogroups were optimized. Quantification was enabled by reference to standard dilutions of known bacterial load. Performance of the assay was evaluated to specifically type and quantify S. pneumoniae in nasopharyngeal and blood samples from adult and pediatric patients hospitalized with pneumonia (n = 664) from five different countries. Serogroup 6 was widely represented in nasopharyngeal specimens from all five cohorts. The most frequent serotypes in the French, South African, and Brazilian cohorts were 1 and 7A/F, 3 and 19F, and 14, respectively. When both samples were available, the serotype in blood was always present as carriage with other serotypes in the nasopharynx. Moreover, the ability of a serotype to invade the bloodstream may be linked to its nasopharyngeal load. The mean nasopharyngeal concentration of the serotypes that moved to the blood was 3 log-fold higher than the ones only found in the nasopharynx. This novel, rapid, quantitative assay may potentially predict some of the S. pneumoniae serotypes invasiveness and assessment of pneumococcal serotype distribution.

The effect of psilostachyin, a natural sesquiterpene lactone, on the growth and viability of cultured epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tulahuen) is reported. The antiproliferative effect was evaluated by counting the parasites in a Neubauer chamber and measuring their viability by using the dye exclusion technique. The effect on parasite growth was irreversible at concentrations higher than 1.0 µg/mL and the addition of glutathione only partially blocked the effect of the compound. Moreover, we have studied the effects of this natural compound on parasite ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy. Interestingly, psilostachyin induced ultrastructural alterations on the parasites at a concentration of 0.5 µg/mL, with important mitochondrial swelling and deformity of the kinetoplast.

The non-effective incorporation of the necessary human resources after the sanction of the Brazilian Public Health System, denominated as SUS, resulted in the persistence of historical lacks of specifically qualified people to meet the demands of the new services proposed, considering the implementation and administration of these services. This research made use of questionnaires answered between February and March of 2006 by the health professionals in the Brazilian city of João Pessoa, located in the state of Paraíba, who work for the Family Health System Program, denominated PSF. This study ́s objective was to verify their real perception of the PSF, considering the new guidelines for actions demanded by the Human Resources Program of SUS for the PSF. An initial credibility of the health professionals on the present management of the proposed Program was noticed. They also showed a favorable view towards a positive perspective of the implementation of the program due to the fact that the health professionals were taking into account the necessary qualification of human resources demanded by the Program ́s guidelines. The inadequate working conditions; the new professional profile imposed by the PSF; the low inter-relation between teaching and services; the insufficient training; the non-complete evaluations and the low impact of the Program on the population ́s health indicated a incompatibility between the initial expectations of the professionals considered in this study, imposing the mixture of old and new demands of the health Brazilian programs, in order to recognize the strategic role of these demands in the offer and quality of health services.

Esta comunicación presenta la primera etapa de una investigación que se centra en los deberes escolares y su infl uencia en la relación entre las familias y los centros educativos. Se ofrece una reseña actualizada acerca de la literatura internacional sobre el tema y el diseño de la investigación internacional de la cual este estudio forma parte. Por último, se da cuenta de la etapa de estudio piloto de los instrumentos de investigación en idioma español, que se está empezando a transitar.

This study aimed to investigate the floral biology and pollination requirements of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), cultivar CNPA G2. The study was carried out at Barbalha, State of Ceará, and consisted of two phases: floral biology and pollination requirements. Flowers were observed as for time of anthesis, lifespan and stigma receptivity, and were applied the following pollination treatments: open pollination, hand cross-pollination, hand self-pollination, pollination restricted with tulle bags and pollination restricted with paper bags. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were detected between treatments for the number of fruits harvested 30 days after pollination. It was shown that the sesame plant presents a mixed-pollination system, because it can produce fruit whatever the type of pollination tested. Flowers are able to autopollinate and do not depend on external agents. Pollinations restricted with paper and tulle bags produced fruit with greater number of heavier seeds. It is concluded that sesame crop is able to autopollinate and benefit from both self-pollination and cross-pollination.

Presentamos aquí un estudio cualitativo sobre el aprendizaje de la validación en Matemática en estudiantes del nivel universitario inicial, para el tema “función de proporcionalidad directa”. Brevemente, la validación es una actividad matemática que consiste en el empleo de recursos de tipo técnicos, teóricos disciplinares y argumentativos, por parte del que aprende, para garantizar la validez de un resultado formulado. Es una actividad que se realiza teniendo en cuenta las convenciones de una comunidad que maneja el saber en forma experta (la comunidad científica, por ejemplo). Este estudio está realizado sobre clases que promueven interacciones entre pares y cuyas actividades están diseñadas para favorecer el aprendizaje de la validación pues interpelan las formas usuales de proceder y abordar las tareas por parte de los alumnos. Desarrollamos un procedimiento analítico, que describimos y aplicamos, para determinar ciertas categorías de análisis bajo las cuales realizamos el estudio. El abordaje presentado en este trabajo consiste en realizar un primer nivel de análisis interpretativo, que se refiere a los hechos sucedidos en las clases, luego la ampliación de las categorías de análisis preliminares, que surgen del marco teórico, con categorías que surgen a raíz de este primer nivel de análisis y por último, realizamos un segundo nivel de análisis referido a las categorías determinadas que caracterizan, de algún modo, el aprendizaje en validación. De lo realizado se evidencian las dificultades en el aprendizaje de la validación en Matemática, la relevancia del accionar docente y de las actividades propuestas para favorecerlo y la riqueza de la información obtenida de los diálogos dados en el interior de los grupos.

El multiculturalismo y otros modelos adoptados por diferentes países europeos para la recepción de colectivos inmigrantes, así como sus resultados, se discuten en este ensayo. Consideraciones de carácter político, posturas desde la teoría social y algunos ejemplos empíricos son revisados con el fin de evaluar el, por muchos anunciado, fracaso del multiculturalismo.

Muchas veces se duda de la necesidad y practicidad del psicoanálisis y la elitista discriminación que de esta cura se hace deja sin posibilidades a mucha gente que podría utilizar un recurso vigente para vivir mejor. A partir de Antígona y las Madres de plaza de Mayo, una comparación nunca tan vigente, se tomara un recorrido paralelo para tomar lo que constantemente nos están dejando como enseñanza.