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João Gustavo Rocha Peixoto dos Santos, Wellingson Silva Paiva, Manoel Jacobsen Teixeira Department of Neurological Surgery, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil Abstract: The cost of traumatic brain injury (TBI) for public health policies is undeniable today. Even patients who suffer from mild TBI may persist with cognitive symptoms weeks after the accident. Most of them show no lesion in computed tomography or conventional magnetic resonance imaging, but microstructural white matter abnormalities (diffuse axonal lesion) can be found in diffusion tensor imaging. Different brain networks work together to form an important part of the cognition process, and they can be affected by TBI. The default mode network (DMN) plays an important central role in normal brain activities, presenting greater relative deactivation during more cognitively demanding tasks. After deactivation, it allows a distinct network to activate. This network (the central executive network) acts mainly during tasks involving executive functions. The salience network is another network necessary for normal executive function, and its activation leads to deactivation of the DMN. The use of red or near-infrared (NIR) light to stimulate or regenerate tissue is known as photobiomodulation. It was discovered that NIR (wavelength 800–900 nm) and red (wavelength 600 nm) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are able to penetrate through scalp and skull and have the potential to improve the subnormal, cellular activity of compromised brain tissue. Based on this, different experimental and clinical studies were done to test LED therapy for TBI, and promising results were found. It leads us to consider developing different approaches to maximize the positive effects of this therapy and improve the quality of life of TBI patients. Keywords: traumatic brain injuries, diffuse axonal injury, low-level light therapy, neurologic manifestations, post-concussion syndrome, quality of life

BACKGROUND: The Acapella is a respiratory rehabilitation device designed to aid sputum clearance. When the patient exhales through this device, continuous and oscillatory pressure levels are produced. The adequate practical use of the Acapella is critically dependent on the characteristics of the produced pressure, which include the production of a mean pressure c=:: 10 cm H20 and a matching of the oscillation frequency with the respiratory-system resonance frequency, and/or with the frequency of ciliary movement (approximately 13 Hz). The development of a dedicated software tool would contribute to optimize the clinical application of this device. Thus, the aim of this study was 2-fold: to characterize the mechanical behavior of the Acapella, and to develop a software tool to ease the practical use of this device. METHODS: An experimental setup was assembled in order to study mean pressure, oscillation frequency, and the oscillation amplitudes produced by 3 Acapella devices (model green) in the whole range of instrument adjustments and under air flow rates ranging from 200 mL/s to 800 mL/s. In order to increase flexibility, allowing the fast integration of further information obtained in future studies, the software was developed in a graphical environment. RESULTS: The device characterization showed an oscillation frequency varying from 8 Hz to 21 Hz, mean pressure ranging from 3 cm H20 to 23 cm H20, and oscillation amplitude from 4 cm H20 to 9 cm H20. These parameters increased with flow and instrument adjustment. A user-friendly software was developed, incorporating the current knowledge concerning secretion removal. After the introduction of the desired frequency and the patient air flow by the user, the software automatically calculates the necessary instrument adjustment, as well as mean pressure and oscillation amplitude. CONCLUSIONS: The Acapella device may produce clinically adequate values of mean pressure and oscillation frequency. However, it depends on its use at optimized conditions. The user-friendly software proposed in this study could help the user to achieve these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate, at different times, the diametral tensile strength (DTS) of dual-curing resin cements that were not photopolymerized. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Equal amounts of base and catalyst pastes of Panavia F (Kuraray), Variolink II (Vivadent), Rely X (3M ESPE), and Enforce (Dentsply) were mixed and inserted into cylindrical molds (4 x 2 mm) (n = 10). Cements were not photopolymerized. DTS test was performed in a testing machine at 30 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, and 7 days. The specimens were stored in light-proof containers with distilled water at 37 degrees C until the time of assay. An autopolymerizing resin cement (Cement-It, Jeneric Pentron) and a zinc phosphate cement served as controls. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test were performed separately for each cement and for each time (P <.05). RESULTS: All cements showed an increase in DTS when tested at 1 and 24 hours. Tests at 24 hours and 7 days revealed no statistically significant differences. In all groups, the zinc phosphate cement had the lowest DTS mean values (2.1 MPa, 3.6 MPa, 6.5 MPa, and 6.9 MPa), while Cement-It (35.1 MPa, 33.6 MPa, 46.9 MPa, and 46.3 MPa) and Enforce (31.9 MPa, 31.7 MPa, 43.4 MPa, and 47.6 MPa) presented the highest DTS mean values. CONCLUSION: All cements presented maximal strength at 24 hours. The dual-curing resin cements, even when nonphotopolymerized, demonstrated higher DTS than the zinc phosphate cement and similar or lower values than the autopolymerizing resin cement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Systemic adjuvant chemotherapy can improve overall survival and reduce the incidence of distant metastases for patients with advanced colon cancer. This study aimed to investigate whether regional chemotherapy (given by intraperitoneal or intraportal methods) combined with systemic chemotherapy was more effective than was systemic chemotherapy alone in terms of survival and recurrence for patients with stage II-III colorectal cancer. The study also compared systemic chemotherapy with fluorouracil and folinic acid with that of fluorouracil and levamisole. METHODS: During surgery, 753 patients with stage II-III colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to systemic chemotherapy alone (379 with fluorouracil and folinic acid, and 374 with fluorouracil and levamisole), and 748 to postoperative regional chemotherapy with fluorouracil followed by systemic chemotherapy with fluorouracil and folinic acid (n=368) or with fluorouracil and levamisole (n=380). Regional chemotherapy was given intraperitoneally (n=415) or intraportally (n=235) according to institution. The primary endpoint was 5-year overall survival. Secondary endpoints were 5-year disease-free survival and toxic effects. Analyses were by intention to treat. FINDINGS: Median follow-up was 6.8 years (range 0.0-10.1). 5-year overall survival was 72.3% (95% CI 69.0-75.6) for patients assigned regional and systemic chemotherapy, compared with 72.0% (68.7-75.3) for those assigned systemic chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio [HR] 0.97 [0.81-1.15], p=0.69). 5-year overall survival for all patients assigned fluorouracil and levamisole was 72.0% (68.7-75.2) compared with 72.3% (69.0-75.6) for all those assigned fluorouracil and folinic acid (HR 0.98 [0.82-1.17], p=0.81). The hazard ratios for 5-year disease-free survival were 0.94 (0.80-1.10) for regional versus non-regional treatment, and 0.92 (0.79-1.08) for all fluorouracil and levamisole versus fluorouracil and folinic acid. Grade 3-4 toxic effects were low in all groups. INTERPRETATION: Fluorouracil-based regional chemotherapy adds no further benefit to that obtained with systemic chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-dose therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (AHCT) remains a viable consolidation strategy for a subset of patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) lymphomas. BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan) is widely recognized as the predominant conditioning regimen due to its satisfactory efficacy and tolerability. Nevertheless, shortages of carmustine and melphalan have compelled clinicians to explore alternative conditioning regimens. The aim of this study was to compare the toxicity and transplant outcomes following BEAM, CBV (carmustine, etoposide, cyclophosphamide), BuMel (busulfan, melphalan), and BendaEAM (bendamustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan). We retrospectively analyzed data from 213 patients (CBV 65, BuMel 42, BEAM 68, BendaEAM 38) with R/R lymphomas undergoing AHCT between 2014 and 2020. Multivariate models were employed to evaluate toxicity and transplant outcomes based on conditioning type. Among grade III to IV toxicities, oral mucositis was more frequently observed with BuMel (45%) and BendaEAM (24%) compared to BEAM (15%) and CVB (6%, P ≤ .001). Diarrhea was more common with BendaEAM (42%) and less frequent with BuMel (7%, P = .01). Acute kidney injury was only found after BendaEAM (11%). Febrile neutropenia and infectious complications were more frequent following BendaEAM. Frequencies of other treatment-related toxicities did not significantly differ according to conditioning type. BendaEAM (odds ratio [OR] 3.07, P = .014) and BuMel (OR 4.27, P = .002) were independently associated with higher grade III to IV toxicity up to D+100. However, there were no significant differences in relapse/progression, nonrelapse mortality, progression-free survival, or overall survival among the four regimens. BuMel and BendaEAM were associated with a higher rate of grade III to IV toxicity. Carmustine-based regimens appeared to be less toxic and safer; however, there were no significant differences in transplant outcomes. The utilization of alternative preparative regimens due to drug shortages may potentially lead to increased toxicity after AHCT for lymphoma., (Copyright © 2024 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The emergency department (ED) is the most frequent access route to the hospital. Nutrition risk (NR) screening allows the early identification of patients at risk of malnutrition. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and predictive validity of five different tools in EDs: Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002), Nutritional Risk Emergency 2017 (NRE-2017), Royal Free Hospital-Nutritional Prioritizing Tool (RFH-NPT), Malnutrition Universal Screening (MUST), and Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST)., Methods: Patients with scores ≥3 according to the NRS-2002, ≥1.5 according to the NRE-2017, and ≥2 according to the MUST, RFH-NPT, or MST were classified with NR. Prolonged length of stay (LOS) and 1-year mortality were evaluated., Results: 431 patients were evaluated (57.31 ± 15.6 years of age; 54.4% women) in a public hospital in southern Brazil. The prevalence of NR was: 35% according to the NRS-2002, 43% according to the MST, 45% according to the NRE-2017 and MUST, and 49% according to the RFH-NPT. Patients with NR, had a greater risk of prolonged LOS (P < 0.001). The presence of NR was associated with an increased risk of 1-year mortality according to the NRS-2002 (hazard ratio [HR]: 4.04; 95% CI, 2.513-6.503), MST (HR: 2.60; 95% CI, 1.701-3.996), NRE-2017 (HR: 4.82; 95% CI, 2.753-8.443), MUST (HR: 4.00; 95% CI, 2.385-6.710), and RFH-NPT (HR: 5.43; 95% CI, 2.984-9.907)., Conclusions: NRE-2017 does not require objective data and presented predictive validity for all outcomes assessed, regardless of the severity of the disease, and thus appears to be the most appropriate tool for carrying out NR screening in the ED., (© 2024 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Sourdough production is a complex fermentation process. Natural sourdough fermentation without standardization causes great variability in microbial communities and derived products. Starter cultures have emerged as alternatives to natural fermentation processes, which could improve bakery quality and produce bioactive compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of freeze-drying on the production and viability of sourdoughs with Lactiplantibacillus pentosus 129 (Lp) and Limosilactobacillus fermentum 139 (Lf), as well as their effects on the quality of long-fermentation bread. These strains were selected based on their better performance considering acidification and exopolysaccharide production capacity. Sourdough with Lp and Lf were propagated until the 10th day, when physicochemical and microbiological parameters were determined. The produced sourdoughs were freeze-dried, and bread samples were produced. The freeze-drying process resulted in high survival rates and few impacts on the metabolic activity of Lp and Lf until 60 days of storage. Incorporating Lp and Lf improved the microbiological and physicochemical properties of sourdough and long-fermentation breads. Tested freeze-dried sourdoughs led to reduced bread aging (higher specific volume and decreased starch retrogradation) and increased digestibility. The results show the potential of the freeze-dried sourdoughs produced with Lp and Lf as innovative strategies for standardizing production protocols for the bakery industry, especially for producing long-term fermentation bread.

Background: Dietary composition can modify gene expression, favoring the development of chronic diseases via epigenetic mechanisms., Objective: Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and NR3C1 gene methylation in users of the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS)., Methods: We recruited 250 adult volunteers and evaluated their socioeconomic status, psychosocial characteristics, lifestyle, and anthropometrics. Peripheral blood was collected and evaluated for cortisol levels, glycemia, lipid profile, and insulin resistance; methylation of CpGs 40-47 of the 1F region of the NR3C1 gene was also measured. Factors associated with degree of methylation were evaluated using generalized linear models ( p  < 0.05). Lifestyle variables and health variables were included as confounding factors., Results: The findings of our cross-sectional study indicated an association between NR3C1 DNA methylation and intake of processed foods. We also observed relevant associations of average NR3C1 DNA across the segment analyzed, methylation in component 1 (40-43), and methylation in component 2 (44-47) with a pattern of consumption of industrialized products in relation to BMI, serum cortisol levels, and lipid profile. These results may indicate a relationship between methylation and metabolic changes related to the stress response., Conclusion: These findings suggest an association of methylation and metabolic alterations with stress response. In addition, the present study highlights the significant role of diet quality as a stress-inducing factor that influences NR3C1 methylation. This relationship is further linked to changes in psychosocial factors, lifestyle choices, and cardiometabolic variables, including glucose levels, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Vieira, Freitas, Silva Neto, Borçoi, Mendes, Olinda, Moreno, Quaioto, de Souza, Barbosa, Arpini, Sorroche, de Assis Pinheiro, Archanjo, dos Santos, Arantes, de Oliveira and da Silva.)

Background: Atrioventricular block (AVB) secondary to transient causes can recover with its correction. However, studies assessing predictors of recovery and long-term recurrence are lacking., Methods: Patients with advanced or complete AVB who had a reversible cause admitted in a single expert center were retrospectively studied. Patients with AVB secondary to acute coronary syndromes were excluded from analysis., Results: In a population of 162 patients, the main factors associated with recovery of rhythm without a permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation were the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis (OR 7.6; CI 95% 1.2-47.5 (p = .03)); greater serum potassium levels (OR 2.3; CI 95% 1.28-4.0 (p < .01)), higher dosage of bradycardic drugs (OR 2.2; CI 95% 1.13-4.4 (p = .02)), the association between different bradycardic drugs (OR 9.0; CI 95% 2.02-40.3 (p < .01)) and between drug therapy and hyperkaliemia (OR 5.2; CI 95% 1.8-15.1 (p < .01)). There was an overall high burden of conductions abnormalities which did not correlate with recovery of rhythm (OR 0.5; CI 95% 0.19-1.5 (p = .23)). In 29 patients (17.9%) there was a correction of the AVB. During a maximum follow-up of 130 months, 24 patients (82.8%) had a recurrence which warranted a PPM. In the overall cohort only five patients (3%) had sustained recovery of rhythm., Conclusions: Recovery of AVB was mainly observed with higher doses of drug therapy, higher serum potassium levels or a combination of factors and regardless of baseline conduction abnormalities. The high rate of recurrence during follow-up warrants a close follow-up or PPM implantation at index admission., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Pterodon pubescens Benth is a Brazilian medicinal plant ( sucupira , in Brazilian Portuguese). This paper aims to determine the volatile composition and antibacterial activities of hexane extract from P. pubescens seeds (HE-PP). Antibacterial activities were screened by the microdilution broth method in 96-well culture plates and MIC values were expressed as µg/mL. HE-PP was active against several oral bacteria whose MIC values ranged between 12.5 µg/mL and 50 µg/mL and against three mycobacterial strains (MIC = 125 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL). In addition, HE-PP was active against Xanthomonas citri strain (MIC = 100 µg/mL). Cytotoxic activity of the extract was evaluated in human tumour and non-tumour cell lines. HE-PP showed selective cytotoxicity to cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa cells - IC 50 = 53.47 µg/mL). Its major constituents were identified by GC-MS and GC-FID: E -caryophyllene, vouacapane, E -geranylgeraniol and dehydroabietol. Results reinforce the biological potential of HE-PP against a broad spectrum of pathogenic and phytopathogenic bacteria.

This study aimed to investigate BDNF gene methylation in individuals with depression based on tobacco use. Therefore, 384 adults from southeastern Brazil were recruited to assess depression, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and methylation by pyrosequencing exon IV promoter region of the BDNF gene. The Generalized Linear Model (GzLM) was used to check the effect of depression, tobacco, and the interaction between depression and tobacco use in methylation levels. In addition, the Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Dunn's post hoc test, was used to compare methylation levels. Interaction between depression and tobacco use was significant at levels of BDNF methylation in the CpG 5 (p = 0.045), 8 (p = 0.016), 9 (p = 0.042), 10 (p = 0.026) and mean 5-11 (p < 0.001). Dunn's post hoc test showed that individuals with depression and tobacco use compared to those with or without depression who did not use tobacco had lower levels of BDNF methylation in CpG 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, and mean 5-11. Therefore, we suggest that tobacco use appears to interfere with BDNF gene methylation in depressed individuals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in numerous functions and processes in the brain and other organs through the regulation of gene and protein expression. miRNA dysregulation is associated with the development of several diseases, including the brain and Central Nervous System cancer (CNS). The hsa-miR-516a-5p and hsa-miR-516b-5p are involved in proliferation, migration, and invasion in different tumor models, but their antitumor effect has not been evaluated in cancer of CNS. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of the miRNAs hsa-miR-516a-5p and miRNA hsa-miR-516b-5p on the Glioblastoma cell line (T98G). We used synthetic miRNA mimics to induce the overexpression of both miRNAs in the cell line, which was corroborated by RT-qPCR. Next, we evaluated the effect on proliferation, migration, and invasion using the CyQuant direct kit, ThinCert ™ inserts and invasion BioCoat ™ Matrigel® Invasion Chambers. We found upregulation of these miRNAs induced significant changes on the migration and invasion processes of T98G cells, but not affected the proliferation rate. These results suggest that both microRNAs could be playing an important role in the control of tumor progression towards metastasis. The bioinformatics analysis showed that target genes for these miRNAs are involved in different biological processes such as in cell adhesion molecule binding and cell junction disassembly, which are important for cancer progression. Further studies and experimental validation are needed to identify the genes regulated by microRNAs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: the present study aimed to investigate how glucose and insulin levels may be associated with changes in NR3C1 gene methylation levels in adults., Main Methods: 375 volunteers users of the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS) were recruited to assess socioeconomic status, lifestyle, anthropometric data, blood glucose and serum cortisol levels, insulin resistance, and NR3C1 gene methylation assessment. Factors associated with glucose levels and insulin resistance were investigated using multivariate analysis GLzM at 5% significance (p<0.05)., Key Findings: our results verified that glucose levels and insulin resistance were directly related to NR3C1 gene methylation and age, while not being overweight and obese and no tobacco consumption were indirectly related to glucose levels and insulin resistance., Significance: habits and lifestyle may influence NR3C1 gene regulation, revealing the complexity of environmental impacts on NR3C1 methylation. Furthermore, associated risk factors must be taken into account in epigenetic studies as they directly interfere with blood glucose levels and insulin resistance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest including any financial, personal or other relationships with other people or organizations within 3 years of beginning the work that could inappropriately influence (bias) the present work., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) has been recommended and practiced routinely since 2010 both in the USA and Europe as the first-tier cytogenetic test for patients with unexplained neurodevelopmental delay/intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, and/or multiple congenital anomalies. However, in Brazil, the use of CMA is still limited, due to its high cost and complexity in integrating the results from both the private and public health systems. Although Brazil has one of the world's largest single-payer public healthcare systems, nearly all patients referred for CMA come from the private sector, resulting in only a small number of CMA studies in Brazilian cohorts. To date, this study is by far the largest Brazilian cohort (n = 5788) studied by CMA and is derived from a joint collaboration formed by the University of São Paulo and three private genetic diagnostic centers to investigate the genetic bases of neurodevelopmental disorders and congenital abnormalities. We identified 2,279 clinically relevant CNVs in 1886 patients, not including the 26 cases of UPD found. Among detected CNVs, the corresponding frequency of each category was 55.6% Pathogenic, 4.4% Likely Pathogenic and 40% VUS. The diagnostic yield, by taking into account Pathogenic, Likely Pathogenic and UPDs, was 19.7%. Since the rational for the classification is mostly based on Mendelian or highly penetrant variants, it was not surprising that a second event was detected in 26% of those cases of predisposition syndromes. Although it is common practice to investigate the inheritance of VUS in most laboratories around the world to determine the inheritance of the variant, our results indicate an extremely low cost-benefit of this approach, and strongly suggest that in cases of a limited budget, investigation of the parents of VUS carriers using CMA should not be prioritized., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

A female patient in her early 30s, with a medical history of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease, lost to follow-up, was referred to a pulmonary hypertension reference centre. The patient presented at a WHO functional class of II in a low-risk category. A transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated severe pulmonary hypertension with right ventricular dysfunction. A cardiac MRI demonstrated a right aortic arch with anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery from the ascending thoracic aorta and a patent ductus arteriosus. A right heart catheterisation confirmed the presence of severe pulmonary hypertension. The patient was started on combined vasodilator therapy with an improvement in symptoms and remaining in a low-risk category. This represents one of the oldest described cases of such an anomaly and the first description of response to vasodilator therapy, highlighting the importance of a structured approach in a reference centre for achieving optimal outcomes., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

The incorporation of a guest, with different basic sites, into an organized system (host), such as macrocycles, could stabilize, detect, or promote the formation of a certain protomer. In this context, this work aimed to study the influence of cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) on dyes such as 7-(dimethylamino)-aza-coumarins, which have more than one basic site along their molecular structure. For this, three 3-styryl derivatives of 7-(dialkylamino)-aza-coumarin dyes ( SAC1-3 ) were synthesized and characterized by NMR, ESI-HRMS and IR. The spectral behaviour of the SACs in the absence and presence of CB7 was studied. The results showed large shifts in the UV-vis spectrum in acid medium: a hypsochromic shift of ≈5400 cm -1 ( SAC1-2 ) and ≈3500 cm -1 ( SAC3 ) in the absence of CB7 and a bathochromic shift of ≈4500 cm -1 ( SAC1-3 ) in the presence of CB7. The new absorptions at long and short wavelengths were assigned to the corresponding protomers by computational calculations at the density functional theory (DFT) level. Additionally, the binding mode was corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations. Findings revealed that in the presence of CB7 the heterocyclic nitrogen was preferably protonated instead of the dialkylamino group. Namely, CB7 induces a change in the protonation preference at the basic sites of the SACs, as consequence of the molecular recognition by the macrocycle., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Alcázar, Márquez, García-Río, Robles-Muñoz, Fierro, Santos and Aliaga.)

P21 is an immunomodulatory protein expressed throughout the life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi , the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that P21 plays an important role in the invasion of mammalian host cells and establishment of infection in a murine model. P21 functions as a signal transducer, triggering intracellular cascades in host cells and resulting in the remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton and parasite internalization. Furthermore, in vivo studies have shown that P21 inhibits angiogenesis, induces inflammation and fibrosis, and regulates intracellular amastigote replication. In this study, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system for P21 gene knockout and investigated whether the ablation of P21 results in changes in the phenotypes associated with this protein. Ablation of P21 gene resulted in a lower growth rate of epimastigotes and delayed cell cycle progression, accompanied by accumulation of parasites in G1 phase. However, P21 knockout epimastigotes were viable and able to differentiate into metacyclic trypomastigotes, which are infective to mammalian cells. In comparison with wild-type parasites, P21 knockout cells showed a reduced cell invasion rate, demonstrating the role of this protein in host cell invasion. However, there was a higher number of intracellular amastigotes per cell, suggesting that P21 is a negative regulator of amastigote proliferation in mammalian cells. Here, for the first time, we demonstrated the direct correlation between P21 and the replication of intracellular amastigotes, which underlies the chronicity of T. cruzi infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Teixeira, Chiurillo, Lander, Rodrigues, Onofre, Ferreira, Yonamine, Santos, Mortara, da Silva and Silveira.)

To evaluate trends in bacterial causes of valvular endocarditis in swine, we retrospectively analyzed 321 cases diagnosed at Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (Ames, IA, USA) during May 2015--April 2020. Streptococcus gallolyticus was the causative agent for 7.59% of cases. This emerging infection in swine could aid study of endocarditis in humans.

This study evaluated the in vitro antiplasmodial and cytotoxic effects of 26 extracts from nine marine sponges collected in Salvador, Bahia state, Brazil. All assayed extracts were found to be potently active against Plasmodium falciparum W2 strain, with IC 50 values ranging from 0.28 to 22.34 μg mL -1 , and weakly cytotoxic against the human cell line WI-26-VA4 with CC 50 values > 89 μg mL -1 , thus displaying selectivity indices (SI) equal or higher than 17. Interestingly, some SI values exceeded 1,000. The highly potent and selective antiplasmodial activity of the assessed marine sponges is reported for the first time in this study., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Magnetic nanocomposites based on maghemite nanoparticles supported ( ex situ route) on styrene- divinilbenzene (Sty-DVB) copolymer templates were produced and characterized for their structure and morphology. The as-produced nanocomposites were further chemically-treated with different oxidant agents and surface-coated with stearic acid. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy data show that the incorporated nanoparticles are preserved despite the aggressive chemical treatments employed. From the dynamical susceptibility measurements performed on the nanocomposites, the values of the saturation magnetization (76 emu/g) and the effective magnetic anisotropy (1.7 × 10⁴ J/m³) were obtained, in excellent agreement with the values reported in the literature for maghemite. This finding strongly supports the preservation of the magnetic properties of the supported nanosized maghemite throughout the entire samples' processing.

Objectives: To investigate the cardiorespiratory responses to the 6-min pegboard and ring test (6PBRT) and to assess its reproducibility in healthy adolescents., Methods: It was a cross-sectional study with 52 healthy adolescents (11-18 years old of both genders). The 6PBRT was performed twice on two different days by the same examiner. Intra-rater reliability, percentage of the minimal difference chance (MDC%) and agreement of the number of moving rings were analyzed. Also, cardiopulmonary parameters were collected before and after tests., Results: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the number of rings moved was 0.87 (95%CI 0.69-0.93). The mean number of moved rings during the second test was higher. The MDC% with a 95 % confidence interval was greater than acceptable values. Bland-Altman analysis did not show agreement between measurements (bias = 30.1); with upper and lower limits of agreement of -67.8 to 127.9, respectively. There was a significant increase in dyspnea, fatigue and HR values at the end of the tests (p < 0.0001). In both tests, participants reached HR equivalent to 48 % of the maximum predicted., Conclusion: Together, the results suggest that the 6PBRT is not a reliable measure for a population of healthy adolescents, which indicates the necessity to perform more than one test. The 6PBRT is suggested to be a submaximal test for this population., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris is an acidophilic and thermophilic bacterium present in the soil, often associated with the spoilage of acidic juices, such as orange juice. Their spores resist pasteurization and, when reactivated, modify the organoleptic properties of the juice, making it unsuitable for consumption, due mainly to production of guaiacol. Biosensors are detection devices that respond quickly and are easy to handle, with great potential for use in the juice production chain. In this context, this work reports an electrochemical genosensor for detection of A. acidoterrestris, based on a graphite electrode modified with electrochemically reduced graphene oxide, a polymer derived from 3-hydroxybenzoic acid and a specific DNA probe sequence complementary with the genomic DNA of A. acidoterrestris. Detection of the target was performed by monitoring the oxidation peak of the Hoechst 33258, a common DNA stainer. The genosensor detection limit was 12 ng mL -1 and it kept 77% of response after ten weeks, and a test showed that orange juice does not interfere with bacteria lysate detection. This biosensor is the first platform for electrochemical detection of the genomic DNA of A. acidoterrestris in the literature, and the first to use Hoechst 33258 as indicator with whole genomic DNA molecules., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declared that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the antibiofilm activity and toxicity of the glycolic extract of Persea americana " P. americana " over multidrug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii "A. baumannii" as alternative therapy to be investigated., Methods: A bacterial inoculum of each bacterial strain (4a, 5a, 9a, 12a, ATCC 19606) of A. baumannii was prepared and adjusted by the spectrophotometer. The microdilution broth method was performed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). P. americana glycolic extracts were obtained of the tree stalk and leaves. The biofilm viability was tested by MTT assay after 5 min exposure. The toxicity of the extracts was tested by invertebrate model Galleria mellonella. The data were analyzed by ANOVA, Tukey test and log-rank method ( α =0.05)., Results: The extract showed an inhibitory and bactericidal action over all the tested strains with the lowest MIC value observed for the reference strain (3.12 mg/mL). The extract did not demonstrate toxicity in any of the tested concentrations (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/mL) in Galleria mellonella larvae, with a survival percentage above 80% after 168 h., Conclusions: The glycolic extract of P. americana has microbicidal and antibiofilm activity on multidrug-resistant clinical strains of A. baumannii and showed low toxicity for the invertebrate model G. mellonella., (© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

A series of aromatic Schiff bases, featuring 7-diethylamino-coumarin and with five different substituents at an adjacent phenyl ring, were synthesized and characterized. With the aim of assessing the stability of these dyes in acidic medium, their hydrolysis reactions were kinetically studied in the absence and presence of the macrocycle cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]). Our results are consistent with a model containing three different forms of substrates (un-, mono-, and diprotonated) and three parallel reaction pathways. The p K a values and the rate constants were estimated and discussed in terms of the presence of a hydroxyl group at the ortho position and electron-releasing groups on the phenyl ring of the dyes. The kinetic study in the presence of CB[7] led to two different behaviors. Promotion of the reaction by CB[7] was observed for the hydrolysis of the Schiff bases containing only one coordination site toward the macrocycle. Conversely, an inhibitor effect was observed for the hydrolysis of a Schiff base with two coordination sites toward CB[7]. The latter effect could be explained with a model as a function of a prototropic tautomeric equilibrium and the formation of a 2:1 host/guest complex, which prevents the attack of water. Therefore, the kinetic results demonstrated a supramolecular control of the macrocycle toward the reactivity and stability of 7-diethylaminocoumarin Schiff bases in acidic medium., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

The NR3C1 glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene is a component of the stress response system, which can be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. NR3C1 methylation has been associated with trauma and mental issues, including depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and personality disorders. Previous studies have reported that stressful events are involved in NR3C1 gene methylation, suggesting that its regulation under environmental effects is complex. The present study aimed to analyze associations involving stressors such as socioeconomic status, health conditions, and lifestyle in relation to NR3C1 methylation in adults. This study included 386 individual users of the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS), and evaluated socioeconomic and health conditions, body mass index, cortisol levels, and lifestyle. Data were correlated with NR3C1 methylation, determined using DNA pyrosequencing. The results showed that alcohol consumption, overweight, and high cortisol levels were related to NR3C1 demethylation, while depression was related to its methylation. Habits, lifestyle, and health status may influence NR3C1 gene regulation via methylation, revealing the complexity of environmental impacts on NR3C1 methylation.

Introduction: Several methods offer free volumetry services for MR data that adequately quantify volume differences in the hippocampus and its subregions. These methods are frequently used to assist in clinical diagnosis of suspected hippocampal sclerosis in temporal lobe epilepsy. A strong association between severity of histopathological anomalies and hippocampal volumes was reported using MR volumetry with a higher diagnostic yield than visual examination alone. Interpretation of volumetry results is challenging due to inherent methodological differences and to the reported variability of hippocampal volume. Furthermore, normal morphometric differences are recognized in diverse populations that may need consideration. To address this concern, we highlighted procedural discrepancies including atlas definition and computation of total intracranial volume that may impact volumetry results. We aimed to quantify diagnostic performance and to propose reference values for hippocampal volume from two well-established techniques: FreeSurfer v.06 and volBrain-HIPS. Methods: Volumetry measures were calculated using clinical T1 MRI from a local population of 61 healthy controls and 57 epilepsy patients with confirmed unilateral hippocampal sclerosis. We further validated the results by a state-of-the-art machine learning classification algorithm (Random Forest) computing accuracy and feature relevance to distinguish between patients and controls. This validation process was performed using the FreeSurfer dataset alone, considering morphometric values not only from the hippocampus but also from additional non-hippocampal brain regions that could be potentially relevant for group classification. Mean reference values and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for left and right hippocampi along with hippocampal asymmetry degree to test diagnostic accuracy. Results: Both methods showed excellent classification performance (AUC:> 0.914) with noticeable differences in absolute (cm 3 ) and normalized volumes. Hippocampal asymmetry was the most accurate discriminator from all estimates (AUC:1~0.97). Similar results were achieved in the validation test with an automatic classifier (AUC:>0.960), disclosing hippocampal structures as the most relevant features for group differentiation among other brain regions. Conclusion: We calculated reference volumetry values from two commonly used methods to accurately identify patients with temporal epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis. Validation with an automatic classifier confirmed the principal role of the hippocampus and its subregions for diagnosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Princich, Donnelly-Kehoe, Deleglise, Vallejo-Azar, Pascariello, Seoane, Veron Do Santos, Collavini, Nasimbera and Kochen.)

Cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) catalyzes the hydrolysis reaction of bis(4-nitrophenyl)carbonate ( 1 ) but inhibits that of bis(4-nitrophenyl)thiocarbonate ( 2 ). Two relevant CB7 effects are proposed, a base-catalyst mediated by the CB7 portal and an inhibitory role attributed to the lower interaction of the thiocarbonyl group with the solvent in the host cavity, respectively.

Curcuminis a polyphenol with anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, found primarily in turmeric, a flowering plant of the ginger family. Among its numerous medical uses, curcumin has been used in the management of metabolic syndrome, and inflammatory conditions such as artrhritis, anxiety and hyperlipidemia. In this paper, we used molecular docking tools to assess the affinity of four curcumin derivatives (Curcumin, Cyclocurcumin, Demethoxycurcumin, Bisdemethoxycurcumin) as well as the endogenous ligand phosphorylcholine to C-reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation. Our results showed that curcumin interacts through H bond with CRP at GLN 150 and ASP 140. Similar H bond interactions were found for each of the four curcumin derivatives with CRP. Moreover, a molecular dynamic simulation were performed to further establish the interaction between CRP and the ligands in atomic details using the Nanoscale Molecular Dynamics (NAMD) and CHARMM27 force field. Importantly, our results suggest the possible interaction between curcumin and curcurmin related molecules with CRP, thus showing an important regulatory function with plausible applications in inflammatory and oxidative processes in diseases.

The primate-specific microRNA gene cluster on chromosome 19 (C19MC) is composed of 56 mature microRNAs (miRNAs), which are divided into three subgroups according to the sequence similarity. This cluster is principally expressed in the placenta but not in other tissues. C19MC is involved in the regulation of proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblastic cells, which are important for the development of the placenta. There is a growing number of studies that have found an altered expression of some miRNAs of the C19MC cluster in cancer, suggesting that these could play an important role in the development of this disease. Therefore, in this work, we provided an overview of the C19MC cluster's role in cancer through a systematic review of published articles. In particular, we focused on miRNAs of subgroup 3. These studies suggest that miRNAs such as miR-512-3p, miR-512-5p, miR-516a-5p, miR-516b-5p, and miR-498-5p could play a pivotal role in the development of therapies for cancer. Future studies are necessary to elucidate the molecular processes and pathways regulated by subgroup 3 miRNAs., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Fibrinolytic enzymes have been considered promising for treatment and protection of healthy circulation due its ability to dissolve the fibrin in blood clots. Extractive fermentation is a not explored and efficient downstream process which segregates the desired product simultaneously in a fermentation process fast and economically. Extraction of fibrinolytic enzymes by Bacillus stearothermophilus DPUA 1729 employing conventional aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) and extractive fermentation with ATPS was evaluated. The results of both systems were compared using a factorial design with PEG molar mass, PEG and salt concentrations as independent variables and extraction parameters as a response. In all conditions evaluated it was observed a similar partitioning of fibrinolytic enzymes through the phases, both in conventional ATPS and extractive fermentation. Salt concentration and interaction among PEG and salt concentration influenced in the partition coefficient. The fibrinolytic activity was determined by hydrolysis of fibrin in plate using the extract of one condition from extractive fermentation. The zone degradation presented a diameter of 7.03 ± 0.94 mm. In conclusion, there was no significant difference among the results obtained using conventional ATPS and extractive fermentation, however, the second one presents more advantages and can integrate production and extraction in one single step, reducing the costs.

Fatty Acid Binding-Protein 5 (FABP5) is a cytoplasmic protein, which binds long-chain fatty acids and other hydrophobic ligands. This protein is implicated in several physiological processes including mitochondrial β-oxidation and transport of fatty acids, membrane phospholipid synthesis, lipid metabolism, inflammation and pain. In the present study, we used molecular docking tools to determine the possible interaction of FABP5 with six selected compounds retrieved form Drugbank. Our results showed that FABP5 binding pocket included 31 polar and non-polar amino acids, and these residues may be related to phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, and mono-methylation. Docking results showed that the most energetically favorable compounds are NADH (-9.12 kcal/mol), 5'-O-({[(Phosphonatooxy)phosphinato]oxy}phosphinato)adenosine (-8.62 kcal/mol), lutein (-8.25 kcal/mol), (2S)-2-[(4-{[(2-Amino-4-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-6-pteridinyl)methyl]amino}benzoyl)amino]pentanedioate (-7.17 kcal/mol), Pteroyl-L-glutamate (-6.86 kcal/mol) and (1S,3R,5E,7Z)-9,10-Secocholesta-5,7,10-triene-1,3,25-triol (-6.79 kcal/mol). Common interacting residues of FABP5 with nutraceuticals included SER16, LYS24, LYS34, LYS40 and LYS17. Further, we used the SwissADME server to determine the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic characteristics and to predict the ADME parameters of the selected nutraceuticals after molecular analysis by docking with the FABP5 protein. Amongst all compounds, pteroyl-L-glutamate is the only one meeting the Lipinski's rule of five criteria, demonstrating its potential pharmacological use. Finally, our results also suggest the importance of FABP5 in mediating the anti-inflammatory activity of the nutraceutical compounds.

Background: Clinical follow-up studies are necessary for a better understanding of the evolution of cognitive impairment as well as the development of better assessment and intervention tools., Objective: To investigate whether older people with preserved cognition (PC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) show differences in clinical outcomes and interventions after a 32-month period., Methods: One hundred twenty-four community-dwelling older people were included and classified in one of three groups (PC, MCI and mild AD). Information on clinical outcomes (deaths, new diagnoses, falls, need for assistance or changes in routine and hospitalizations) and interventions (increased use of medication, physiotherapeutic intervention, practice of physical exercise, etc.) in the 32-month period were collected by telephone or during a home visit on a single day., Results: Ninety-five participants (35 with PC, 33 with MCI and 27 with AD) were reevaluated after 32 months. The need for assistance/changes in routine was significantly higher in the AD group, especially with regard to basic activities of daily living. Unlike the other groups, the PC group did not show "other diagnoses" (urinary incontinence, prolapse, change in vision or autoimmune disease). No significant differences were found regarding other variables., Conclusions: Older people with and without cognitive impairment exhibited differences in some clinical outcomes after 32 months, such as need for assistance or changes in their routine and new diagnoses of specific diseases. Therefore, the multidimensionality of geriatric patients should be considered when planning assessments and interventions., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Background: Standard of care for glioblastoma (GB), consisting of cytotoxic chemotherapy, steroids, and high-dose radiation, induces changes in the tumor microenvironment through its effects on glucose availability, which is a determinant for tumor progression (TP). Low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) reduces the glucose levels needed to drive the Warburg effect., Methods: To investigate LCD's effect on GB therapy, we have begun a clinical trial using LCD as an addition to intranasal perillyl alcohol (POH) for recurrent GB (rGB) patients. This study involved 29 individuals and evaluated, over a period of 1 year, the adjuvant effect of LCD associated with POH therapy in terms of toxicity, extent of peritumoral edema, reduced corticosteroid use, seizure frequency, and overall survival. POH group ( n = 14) received solely intranasal POH without specific diet regimen, whereas POH/LCD group ( n = 15) received intranasal POH in combination with nutritional intervention. Patients' assessment was based on clinical reviews and magnetic resonance data., Results: In the 1-year follow-up, the POH/LCD group showed a 4.4-fold decrease in the proportion of patients who needed treatment with corticosteroids, as well as a reduction in tumor size and peritumoral edema, as compared to the POH group. While 75% of patients undergoing POH treatment experienced seizures, this fraction was reduced to 56% in the POH/LCD group. A 2.07-fold increase in the proportion of patients with stable disease, along with a 2.8-fold decrease in the proportion of patients with TP, was seen in the POH/LCD group., Conclusion: The results presented in this study show that the LCD associated with intranasal POH therapy may represent a viable option as adjunctive therapy for rGB to improve survival without compromising patients' quality of life. Prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings and validate the efficacy of this novel therapeutic strategy., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Surgical Neurology International.)

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data., (© 2020 The Authors. Ecology © 2020 The Ecological Society of America.)

Trypanosoma cruzi P21 protein (P21) is a putative secreted and immunomodulatory molecule with potent bioactive properties such as induction of phagocytosis and actin cytoskeleton polymerization. Despite the bioactive properties described so far, the action of P21 on parasite replication in muscle cell lineage or T. cruzi parasitism during acute experimental infection is unclear. We observed that recombinant P21 (rP21) decreased the multiplication of T. cruzi in C2C12 myoblasts, phenomenon associated with greater actin polymerization and IFN-γ and IL-4 higher expression. During experimental infection, lower cardiac nests, inflammatory infiltrate and fibrosis were observed in mice infected and treated with rP21. These results were correlated with large expression of IFN-γ counterbalanced by high levels of IL-10, which was consistent with the lower cardiac tissue injury found in these mice. We have also observed that upon stress, such as that induced by the presence of the IFN-γ cytokine, T. cruzi produced more P21. The effect of P21 in controlling the replication of T. cruzi , may indicate an evolutionary mechanism of survival developed by the parasite. Thus, when subjected to different stress conditions, the protozoan produces more P21, which induces T. cruzi latency in the host organism, enabling the protozoan to evade the host's immune system., (Copyright © 2020 Martins, dos Santos, Santos, da Silva, Borges, da Costa, Tavares, Teixeira, Brígido, Teixeira, Rodrigues, Silva, de Oliveira, de Faria, Lemes, Zanon, Tomiosso, Machado, da Silva, Oliveira and da Silva.)

The thermoelectric conversion technique has been explored in a broad range of heat-flow sensors. In this context, the Spin Seebeck Effect emerges as an attractive candidate for biosensor applications, not only for the sensibility improvement but also for the power-saving electronic devices development. Here, we investigate the Longitudinal Spin Seebeck Effect in films with a Co 2 FeAl/W bilayer structure grown onto GaAs (100) substrate, systems having induced uniaxial magnetic anisotropy combined with cubic magnetic anisotropy. From numerical calculations, we address the magnetic behavior and thermoelectric response of the films. By comparing experiment and theory, we explore the possibility of modulating a thermoelectric effect by magnetic anisotropy. We show that the thermoelectric voltage curves may be modulated by the association of magnetic anisotropy induction and experimental parameters employed in the LSSE experiment.

Context: Obesity has been linked to the intestinal microenvironment. Diet plays an important role in obesity and has been associated with microbiota., Objective: This systematic review sought to evaluate the scientific evidence on the effect of dietary modification, including supplementation with prebiotics and probiotics, on microbiota diversity in obesity., Data Sources: A systematic search was performed in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Studies were considered eligible if they were clinical trials evaluating dietary intervention and microbiota, body weight, or clinical parameters in obesity., Data Extraction: Data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers., Results: From 168 articles identified, 20 were included (n = 931 participants). Increased phyla abundance after food interventions was the main finding in relation to microbiota. Regarding the impact of interventions, increased insulin sensitivity, reduced levels of inflammatory markers, and reduced body mass index were shown in several studies., Conclusions: Interventions that modulate microbiota, especially prebiotics, show encouraging results in treating obesity, improving insulin levels, inflammatory markers, and body mass index. Because the studies included in this review were heterogeneous, it is difficult to achieve conclusive and definitive results., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRTs) are rare malignant central nervous system tumors, commonly occurring before 3 years of age. Median overall survival (OS) of patients with these tumors is about 1 year, despite aggressive multimodal therapy. Pediatric primary spinal ATRTs are even more rare, with fewer than 50 cases reported. The authors present a series of four patients who were treated at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago in the period from 1996 to 2017.These patients, with ages 2-11 years, presented with pain and a decline in motor functions. They were found to have lesions in the lumbar, thoracic, and/or cervical spine. One patient's tumor was intramedullary with exophytic components, while another patient's tumor had both intra- and extradural components. All patients underwent resection followed by chemotherapy (systemic and intrathecal). Two patients had fractionated radiation therapy and one had an autologous stem cell transplant. Three patients are known to be deceased (OS 8.5-45 months). The fourth patient was in remission 19 years after her initial diagnosis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest series of pediatric primary spinal ATRTs documented at a single institution. These cases illustrate a variety of presentations of spinal ATRT and add to the body of literature on this aggressive pathology.A systematic MEDLINE search was also conducted using the keywords "atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor," "pediatric spinal rhabdoid tumor," and "malignant rhabdoid tumor spine." Reports were included for patients younger than 21 years, without evidence of intracranial or systemic disease at the time of diagnosis. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of the four institutional cases were compared to those in the literature. This review yielded an additional 48 cases of primary pediatric spinal ATRTs reported in the English-language literature. Patients (ages 2 months to 19 years) presented with symptoms of pain, regression of motor function, and spinal cord compression. The majority of tumors were intradural (14 extramedullary, 8 intramedullary, 1 both). Eleven cases in the literature described tumors limited to extradural structures, while 10 tumors involved the intra- and extradural spine. Four reports did not specify tumor location. Although rare, spinal ATRT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric patients presenting with a new spinal mass.

Objective: To report a case of varicella complicated by acute osteomyelitis in order to remind of a rare and potentially serious complication of a very common pediatric disease., Case Description: A previously healthy 3-month-old female infant with 10-day history of varicella was admitted to the hospital for fever, groan and prostration. The initial laboratorial evaluation was compatible with bacterial sepsis. By the third day after admission, a swelling of the seventh left rib had developed. The ultrasound and scintigraphy evaluation suggested rib osteomyelitis. Blood cultures were negative. The patient completed six weeks of antibiotics with favorable clinical, laboratorial and imaging evolution., Comments: Varicella is one of the most frequent exanthematic diseases of childhood and it is usually self-limited. The most frequent complication is bacterial infection of cutaneous lesions. Osteoarticular complications are rare, and rib osteomyelitis is described in less than 1% of cases. The main route of dissemination is hematogenic, and the most frequent etiological agent is Staphylococcus aureus. The prognosis is generally good and depends on early detection and antibiotic initiation.

Objectives: This study aims to determine if there are enough buccal alveolar bone thickness to perform an immediate dental implant placement in anterior and posterior maxillary teeth., Material and Methods: A total of 1463 teeth were examined, from 202 cone-beam computed tomography scans with voxel sizes of 0.15 mm. On each tooth, the following measures were determined: the alveolar bone thickness in two locations; the vertical distance between the buccal alveolar crest and cementoenamel junction; the angle between the tooth's long axis and the alveolar bone axial inclination in the sagittal plane., Results: In the most coronal location of maxillary teeth, the thickness of alveolar bone was lower than 0.6 (SD 0.6) mm in 50% of the teeth, and in the middle of the root the bone thickness was, on average, 0.96 (SD 0.6) mm. For the same maxillary teeth, the vertical distance between the buccal alveolar crest and cementoenamel junction and the angulation measured were, on average, 3.6 (SD 1.2) mm and 12.1º (SD 1.4º), respectively., Conclusions: The present study revealed that in most cases the thickness of buccal alveolar bone was less than 1 mm. Consequently, in such cases, immediate dental implant placement operation is not recommended, or should be combined with bone regeneration techniques.

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) technology, offers benefits in many processes, specifically due to its low operational cost and simple configuration. In the present work, physical properties, microbial quality and stability of bioactive compounds of HC-treated tomato juice were evaluated considering different processing conditions. Significant effects of the induced cavitation such as a reduction in particle size and an increase in the apparent viscosity were observed in the HC-treated samples. Moreover, the HC-treated tomato juice showed higher stability without sedimentation for 14 days compared to a sedimentation index of 68% observed in samples before treatment and control experiment. Lycopene and phenolic contents in tomato juice were not altered even after HC-treatment. Finally, the microbiological quality was also improved, mainly for the samples treated above 55 °C. Therefore, this technology can be envisaged as a promising strategy for food processing to enhancing desirable properties in juices., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)