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This study evaluated the effects of days-fasting followed by days-refeeding on growth, biochemical, and hepatic parameters in pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus). One hundred and twenty juveniles P. mesopotamicus with initial average weight and length of 47.7 ± 9.2 g and 13.4 ± 0.9 cm were randomly distributed into six experimental units (20 fish per unit) and subjected to treatments: 30 days-fasting followed by 50 days-refeeding, and control group, fed continuously throughout the period. During the fasting period, samples were collected at 10, 20, and 30 days, while during the refeeding period at 15 and 50 days. Animals in the control group were sampled at the same periods. Weight (g), relative condition factor (Kn), and hepatosomatic index (biometric parameters) were measured. Liver assessments were performed. Additionally, glucose, plasma biochemical parameters levels were measured. After 30 days of fasting, hepatocyte density (73.8 ± 1.09%), liver glycogen (14.9 ± 0.87%) and hepatocyte nuclear volume (27.3 ± 0.30 µm3) were lower compared to the control group (82.0 ± 0.67%, 19.4 ± 0.74% and 43.40 ± 0.48 µm3 respectively). The relative condition factor remained unchanged. Cholesterol values, blood vessels, and sinusoidal density increased significantly during fasting. After refeeding, parameters were restored to the control level. On the 50th day of refeeding, the hepatosomatic index was significantly higher than the control group. The results showed that fasting associated with refeeding did not affect fish growth. The period over 50 days of refeeding may influence the pacu's compensation compared to daily-fed animals. The effects of fasting and its relationship with the pacu's physiological response through nutritional status become useful in contributing to feeding practices in P. mesopotamicus fish farming.

Background: Preeclampsia is a major hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, which may lead to severe complications, particularly in the first two weeks of the postpartum period. During the postpartum period, blood pressure levels remain high, often increasing to levels higher than those experienced during pregnancy. Furosemide, a fast-acting diuretic, reduces the intravascular volume overload and may represent an alternative to accelerate the normalization of blood pressure levels., Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of furosemide compared to placebo for blood pressure control in the postpartum period in women with severe preeclampsia., Study Design: In a triple-masked placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, women in the postpartum period with de novo preeclampsia with severe features or eclampsia diagnosed during pregnancy and adequate diuresis, who had received magnesium sulfate, were randomized to receive furosemide (40 mg/day orally for five days) or placebo. The primary outcomes were mean blood pressure levels. Secondary outcomes were: frequency of severe hypertensive episodes, a continued need for antihypertensives, number of antihypertensives used to control blood pressure, length of hospital stay, adverse effects and maternal complications. A sample size of 120 patients was estimated, 60 in each arm of the study, based on the estimated difference between the mean systolic pressure of 142±12mmHg for the furosemide group and 153±19mmHg for the placebo group., Results: Between June 20 and November 30, 2014, 271 women were screened and 120 were randomized to furosemide or placebo, with 118 being included in the final analysis (58 in the furosemide group and 60 in the placebo group). Most characteristics were similar in both groups. Mean daily systolic and diastolic pressure was lower in the furosemide group (P<0.001) and there were fewer episodes of severe hypertension on the second (P=0.04) and fifth (P=0.04) days. In addition, shorter time was required until blood pressure was controlled (P=0.01) in the furosemide group., Conclusion: Compared to placebo, 40 mg/day of oral furosemide in patients with preeclampsia in the postpartum period reduced mean daily systolic blood pressure in 1 st and 5 th days and mean daily diastolic blood pressure in 1 st , 2 nd and 5 th days and the time required until blood pressure is controlled., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Lambda-cyhalothrin (LC) is a pyrethroid insecticide employed to manage various arthropods as an alternative to persistent insecticides with minimized toxic effects on birds and mammals. However, LC causes oxidative and neurotoxic damages in fish Danio rerio . Effects of LC in morphology of liver of fishes are scare. We aimed to establish the lethal concentration (LC 50 96 h) of pyrethroid LC for Astianax lacustris . Then, we compare liver responses of sublethal doses of LC (i.e. 10.30 µg/L) for acute (i.e 1- and 3-days post-exposure - dpe ) and chronic (i.e 6 and 12 dpe ). We sought to identify pathological changes and compare liver histometric remodeling in fish subjected to acute and chronic toxicity tests. For this, liver histological changes were evaluated using the degree of tissue changes (DTC), followed by histomorphometric techniques determining structural volumetric density, glycogen cell density, and morphometry of hepatic tissue. We observed high hepatocellular injuries in exposed fishes. The main injuries included leukocyte infiltration, hyperemia, and pyknotic nuclei, especially 6 dpe. Hepatic glycogen storage decreases at 6 and 12 dpe showing metabolic damage. Both, density and volume of decreases after LC exposure in all exposure time. However, sinusoidal density increases after LC exposure, suggesting vascular hyperemia. These results show morphophysiological effects of LC at 10.30 µg/L in acute and chronic exposure represented by decreased glycogen storage, structural density, and volume of hepatocytes, in addition to a higher degree of histological changes., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2025 The Authors.)

This study assessed the mechanical properties of the Only One File Blue and the Reciproc Blue instruments. A total of 80 new 25 mm reciprocating NiTi instruments (25/.08v) were evaluated for their mechanical performance (n = 40 per group). Cyclic fatigue resistance, torsional fatigue, flexural resistance and buckling resistance tests were conducted. Statistical analysis was employed with a significance level set at 5%. The results indicated no statistically significant differences in resistance to cyclic fatigue neither in the fragment length between the instruments (p > 0.05). However, the Reciproc Blue instrument exhibited greater torque to fracture and a larger rotation angle than the Only One File Blue instrument (p < 0.05). The Only One File Blue instrument demonstrated higher flexibility but lower resistance to buckling compared to the Reciproc Blue instrument (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the tested instruments exhibit differences in mechanical properties, with the Reciproc Blue instrument generally presenting greater advantages than the Only One File Blue., (© 2024 Australian Society of Endodontology Inc.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate reproductive traits in adults of Astyanax lacustris subjected to different spawning inducers. The study involved 240 females (12.54 g ± 2.33 and 7.66 cm ± 0.63 cm) and 240 males (5.83 g ± 0.39 g and 6.14 cm ± 0.64 cm), all at reproductive age. Three different inducers were evaluated: (i) 0.4 pellets of Ovopel®/kg of body weight; (ii) 0.5 ml of buserelin acetate/kg of body weight; and (iii) carp pituitary extract (CPE) (5.5 mg CPE/kg body weight for females and 2.5 mg CPE/kg body weight for males), as well as saline solution (without hormone). The degree-hours for spawning were greater (P<0.05) for the Ovopel® treatment (with 204.93) than in the treatment with CPE (183.2). Ovary weight and gonadosomatic index were higher (P<0.05) in CPE and Ovopel® treatments when compared to buserelin acetate. The number of oocytes per female, absolute and relative fecundity were greater (P<0.05) for Ovopel® and CPE treatments. Fertilization rate was higher (P<0.05) in treatment with buserelin acetate (82.3%) in relation to Ovopel® (72.33%) and CPE (62.40%) treatments, and the highest (P<0.05) hatching rates were achieved with buserelin acetate and Ovopel®. The number of larvae per female body weight was greater (P<0.05) when Ovopel® was used. In conclusion, Ovopel® proves to be a more effective reproductive inducer for induced reproduction of A. lacustris when compared to CPE and buserelin acetate.

Objective: To perform an economic cost analysis of the implementation of a short cervix screening program to reduce preterm birth in singleton pregnancies in a short-term time horizon., Methods: We performed a cost-benefit economic analysis using the P5 trial database, a randomized multicenter clinical trial for prevention of preterm birth. Data collection was conducted from July 2015 to March 2019 in 17 different Brazilian hospitals. We conducted a cost analysis for universal cervical screening in singleton pregnancies between 18 weeks and 22 weeks plus 6 days. In subjects with a cervical length ≤ 25 mm, the analysis incorporated the costs of administering 200 mg/day of vaginal progesterone prophylactically until 36 weeks gestation. These findings were subsequently compared with the economic implications of forgoing cervical screening. The time horizon comprised from birth to 10 weeks postpartum. The outcome was measured monetarily in Brazilian real (R$) from the perspective of the Unified Health System., Results: Among 7,844 women, 6.67% (523) had a cervix ≤ 25 mm. The cost of screening with transvaginal ultrasound and vaginal progesterone for prevention of births with < 34 weeks was estimated at R$ 383,711.36, while non-screening generated an estimated additional cost of R$ 446,501.69 (related to the 29 non-screened preterm deliveries). Thus, screening and prophylaxis would generate a final cost reduction of R$ 62,790.33, constituting a possible cost-benefit strategy., Conclusion: Universal short cervix screening for preterm birth has lower costs compared to non-screening within a short-term time horizon, which suggests an interesting benefit-cost ratio. Future studies should consider the cost-effectiveness of prophylactic treatment using sensitivity analyses in different scenarios within the Brazilian health system, as well as analyses that consider the long-term costs associated with preterm births, to robustly justify the implementation of a short cervix screening program.

Objective:  To describe a reference curve for cervical length (CL) in mid-trimester twin gestations using transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) and to investigate whether short CL increases spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in asymptomatic twin pregnancies., Methods:  This was a prospective cohort study performed at 17 outpatient antenatal facilities of Brazil with women at 18 0/7 to 22 6/7 weeks of gestation who participated in a randomized clinical trial screening phase (P5 trial) between July 2015 and March 2019. TVU was performed to provide CL measurement in all screened women. Almost all women with CL ≤ 30 mm received vaginal progesterone 200mg/day and they were also randomized to receive cervical pessary or not. We considered data from the CL distribution among asymptomatic twin pregnancies and analyzed CL and its association with PTB generating receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier curves., Results:  A total of 253 pregnant women with twins were included in the distribution curve. The mean CL was 33.7 mm and median was 35.5mm. The 10th percentile was 17.8mm. We identified a PTB rate of 73.9% (187/253) with 33.6% of sPTB < 37 (85/253) and 15% (38/253) of sPTB < 34 weeks. The best cutoff point to predict sPTB < 37 was 24.15 mm. However, the ROC curve showed a poor performance (0.64). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves identified that only CL values ≤ 20mm were associated to sPTB < 34 weeks., Conclusion:  A cutoff point of CL ≤ 20 mm can be interesting point to identify short cervix in Brazilian twin pregnancies. However, in Brazilian asymptomatic twin pregnancies, CL does not show a good performance to predict PTB., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interests to declare., (Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Background: Short cervical length measured during the second trimester of pregnancy is an important risk factor for spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). The aim of this study is to identify the association between mid-pregnancy cervical length (CL) and gestational age at birth in asymptomatic singleton pregnant women., Methods: This is a prospective cohort study involving singleton pregnant women who participated in the screening phase of a Brazilian multicenter randomized controlled trial (P5 trial) between July 2015 and March 2019. Transvaginal ultrasound to measure CL was performed from 18 to 22 + 6 weeks. Women with CL ≤ 30 mm received vaginal progesterone (200 mg/day) until 36 weeks' gestation. For this analysis we considered all women with CL ≤ 30 mm receiving progesterone and a random selection of women with CL > 30 mm, keeping the populational distribution of CL. We obtained prognostic effectiveness data (area under receive operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity and estimated Kaplan-Meier curves for preterm birth using different CL cutoff points., Results: We report on 3139 women and identified a negative association between cervical length and sPTB. CL ≤ 25 mm was associated with sPTB < 28, sPTB < 34 and sPTB < 37 weeks, whereas a CL 25-30 mm was directly associated with late sPTB. CL by transvaginal ultrasound presented an AUC of 0.82 to predict sPTB < 28 weeks and 0.67 for sPTB < 34 weeks. Almost half of the sPTB occurred in nulliparous women and CL ≤ 30 mm was associated with sPTB at < 37 weeks (OR = 7.84; 95%CI = 5.5-11.1). The number needed to screen to detect one sPTB < 34 weeks in women with CL ≤ 25 mm is 121 and we estimated that 248 screening tests are necessary to prevent one sPTB < 34 weeks using progesterone prophylaxis., Conclusions: CL measured by transvaginal ultrasound should be used to predict sPTB < 34 weeks. Women with CL ≤ 30 mm are at increased risk for late sPTB., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Aims: To examine the effect of manual therapy applied to the cervical joint for reducing pain and improving mouth opening and jaw function in people with TMDs., Methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was performed. Participants were adults diagnosed with TMDs. The experimental intervention was manual therapy applied to the cervical joint compared to no intervention/placebo. Outcome data relating to orofacial pain intensity, pressure pain threshold (PPT), maximum mouth opening, and jaw function were extracted and combined in meta-analyses., Results: The review included five trials involving 213 participants, of which 90% were women. Manual therapy applied to the cervical joint decreased orofacial pain (mean difference: -1.8 cm; 95% CI: -2.8 to -0.9) and improved PPT (mean difference: 0.64 kg/cm2; 95% CI: 0.02 to 1.26) and jaw function (standardized mean difference: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.3 to 1.0)., Conclusion: Manual therapy applied to the cervical joint had short-term benefits for reducing pain intensity and improving jaw function in women with TMDs. Further studies are needed to improve the quality of the evidence and to investigate the maintenance of benefits beyond the intervention period.

Objective: Since there are populational differences and risk factors that influence the cervical length, the aim of the study was to construct a populational curve with measurements of the uterine cervix of pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy and to evaluate which variables were related to cervical length (CL) ≤25 mm., Materials and Methods: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study performed at 17 hospitals in several regions of Brazil. From 2015 to 2019, transvaginal ultrasound scan was performed in women with singleton pregnancies at 18 0/7 to 22 6/7 weeks of gestation to measure the CL. We analyzed CL regarding its distribution and the risk factors for CL ≤25 mm using logistic regression., Results: The percentage of CL ≤ 25mm was 6.67%. Shorter cervices, when measured using both straight and curve techniques, showed similar results: range 21.0-25.0 mm in straight versus 22.6-26.0 mm in curve measurement for the 5th percentile. However, the difference between the two techniques became more pronounced after the 75th percentile (range 41.0-42.0 mm straight x 43.6-45.0 mm in curve measurement). The risk factors identified for short cervix were low body mass index (BMI) (OR: 1.81 CI: 1.16-2.82), higher education (OR: 1.39 CI: 1.10-1.75) and personal history ([one prior miscarriage OR: 1.41 CI: 1.11-1.78 and ≥2 prior miscarriages OR: 1.67 CI: 1.24-2.25], preterm birth [OR: 1.70 CI: 1.12-2.59], previous low birth weight <2500 g [OR: 1.70 CI: 1.15-2.50], cervical surgery [OR: 4.33 CI: 2.58-7.27]). By contrast, obesity (OR: 0.64 CI: 0.51-0.82), living with a partner (OR: 0.76 CI: 0.61-0.95) and previous pregnancy (OR: 0.46 CI: 0.37-0.57) decreased the risk of short cervix., Conclusions: The CL distribution showed a relatively low percentage of cervix ≤25 mm. There may be populational differences in the CL distribution and this as well as the risk factors for short CL need to be considered when adopting a screening strategy for short cervix., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objective: To report the case of a pediatric patient with bilateral hydronephrosis due to vesicoureteral junction obstruction (VUJO) that was treated non-surgically and to discuss the approach of this anomaly., Case Description: A 25-month-old boy was referred without complaints for consultation due to prenatal ultrasound showing kidneys with cysts. He was under antibiotic prophylaxis. No family history of kidney disease and/or inherited disorders was reported. Renal ultrasound (RUS) at 2 days of life showed bilateral hydronephrosis, thus ruling out the possibility of kidney cystic disease. Dynamic renal scintigraphy (DTPA) showed marked retention of the marker in the pyelocaliceal system bilaterally, with little response to diuretic drug. He was maintained under antibiotic prophylaxis, when a new RUS showed bilateral ureteral dilatation, abrupt stenosis in the ureterovesical transition region (0.2 cm caliber), moderate bilateral hydronephrosis, and slight renal cortical thickness, confirming the diagnosis of VUJO. At 2 years and 10 months of age, DTPA showed hydronephrosis and ureteral stasis in both kidneys secondary to stenosis at the vesicoureteral junction (VUJ) level, with preservation of kidney function and slow degree of emptying. We opted for a non-surgical approach. RUS at 10 years of age showed significant improvement of all parameters, with ureteral transverse diameter of 9 mm, preserved VUJ, and age-appropriate bilateral kidney development., Comments: VUJO is a major cause of prenatal hydronephrosis and can trigger a deterioration of kidney function. Its treatment is still controversial but should take into account the importance of clinical follow-up and serial imaging evaluation.

Objective: To test the effectiveness of cervical pessary in addition to vaginal progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth in women with midpregnancy short cervixes., Methods: We performed a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial in 17 perinatal centers. Asymptomatic women with singleton or twin pregnancies and cervical lengths of 30 mm or less, measured at 18 0/7-22 6/7 weeks of gestation, were randomized to cervical pessary plus vaginal progesterone (pessary plus progesterone group) or vaginal progesterone only (progesterone-only group) (200 mg/day). Treatments were used from randomization to 36 weeks of gestation or delivery. The primary outcome was a composite of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Secondary outcomes were delivery before 37 weeks and before 34 weeks of gestation. Analysis was performed according to intention to treat., Results: Between July 9, 2015, and March 29, 2019, 8,168 women were screened, of whom 475 were randomized to pessary and 461 to progesterone only. The composite perinatal outcome occurred in 19.2% (89/463) of the women in the pessary group compared with 20.9% (91/436) of the women in the progesterone-only group (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 0.88, 95% CI 0.69-1.12). Delivery rates before 37 weeks of gestation were 29.1% compared with 31.4% (aRR 0.86, 95% CI 0.72-1.04); delivery rates before 34 weeks were 9.9% compared with 13.9% (aRR 0.66, 95% CI 0.47-0.93). Women in the pessary group had more vaginal discharge (51.6% [245/476] vs 25.4% [117/479] [P<.001]), pain (33.1% [157/476] vs 24.1% [111/479] [P=.002]), and vaginal bleeding (9.7% [46/476] vs 4.8% [22/479] [P=.004])., Conclusion: In asymptomatic women with short cervixes, the combination of pessary and progesterone did not decrease rates of neonatal morbidity or mortality when compared with progesterone only., Clinical Trial Registration: Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry (ReBec), UTN:U1111-1164-2636., Competing Interests: Financial Disclosure Ben W. Mol reports that money was paid to him from ObsEva. Money was paid to his institution from Guerbet, Merck, and Ferring. The other authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Millions of people are burned worldwide every year and 265,000 of the cases are fatal. The development of burn treatment cannot consist only of the administration of a single drug. Due to the infection risk, antibiotics are used in conjunction with gels and damp bandages. In this work, an inexpensive curative based on silver sulfadiazine (SS) and natural rubber latex (NRL) was developed to treat burn wounds. It was produced by the casting method. The infrared spectrum presented no interaction between drug and biopolymer. At the same time, electronic micrographs showed that the SS crystals are inserted on the polymeric dressing surface. Mechanical properties after the drug incorporation were considered suitable for dermal application. About 32.4% of loaded SS was released in 192 h by the dressings that also inhibited the growth of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis at 75.0 and 37.5 μg·mL -1 , respectively. The curative proved to be biocompatible when applied to fibroblast cells, in addition to enhancing cellular proliferation and, in the hemocompatibility test, no hemolytic effects were observed. The good results in mechanical, antifungal and biological assays, combined with the average bandage cost of $0.10, represent an exciting alternative for treating burn wounds., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Risk perception is based on collective indicators, but it is influenced by the individual's self-perception of his health-disease process. This study aims to investigate the risk perception of pregnant women who were identified as high-risk for premature birth and to seek strategies for better management of such cases., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study where women who had completed their participation in P5 trial were contacted and invited to answer a structured questionnaire with open questions. Data were collected by telephone and analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis categories were defined, and all the answers were reviewed, categorized, grouped, and a descriptive summary was prepared., Results: Two hundred eight Brazilian women have participated. Three categories were identified: (1) Risk perception mediated by health professionals; (2) Self-perception of risk through personal experiences and relationships; (3) Perception of treatment success. After receiving an explanation from a health professional about short cervix and premature birth, women understood the risk of premature delivery, recognizing the importance of early diagnosis to prevent premature birth. Unsuccessful previous experiences in prior pregnancies influenced women's risk perception. Patients believed in the success of the treatment performed, placing their hopes on the treatment even without research guarantees about benefits., Conclusions: Pregnant women's risk perception regarding prematurity is based partly on personal and family experiences but mainly on information given by health professionals. The risk perception about preterm birth may contribute to healthy pregnancy, guiding necessary interventions and preventing adverse outcomes. Prevention studies on prematurity should thus focus on neonatal outcomes., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The objective was to investigate the economic effect of treating dairy cows with metritis using ceftiofur-free acid or leaving them untreated at the time of diagnosis. Cows with a fetid, watery, red-brownish vaginal discharge were diagnosed with metritis (d 0). Data from 875 dairy cows (506 primiparous and 369 multiparous) from 1 herd in northern Florida that had been part of a larger study evaluating different treatments for metritis were used for the economic analysis. Holstein cows with metritis had been randomly assigned to: Ceftiofur (CEF, n = 239) = subcutaneous injection of 6.6 mg/kg of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid in the base of the ear at d 0 and d 3; Untreated (UNT, n = 233) = no treatment applied at metritis diagnosis. Both groups could receive escape therapy if condition worsened. A group of nonmetritic healthy cows (NMET; n = 403) from the same cohort was randomly selected for comparison. Continuous outcomes such as 300-d milk production (kg/cow), milk sales ($/cow), cow sales ($/cow), treatment cost by 60 days in milk ($/cow), reproduction cost ($/cow), replacement cost ($/cow), feeding cost ($/cow), and gross profit per cow ($/cow) were analyzed using the ANOVA (MIXED procedure of SAS version 9.4). Dichotomous outcomes such as pregnancy and culling by 300 d were analyzed using logistic regression (GLIMMIX procedure of SAS). Models included the fixed effects of treatment, parity, and the interaction between treatment and parity. A stochastic analysis was performed with 10,000 iterations using the observed results from each group. The CEF treatment resulted in greater treatment cost by 60 DIM than UNT ($112 vs. $37), but resulted in a greater proportion of pregnant cows (71 vs. 61%) and decreased culling by 300 DIM (29 vs. 39%) compared with UNT. Gross profit was lesser for UNT than NMET ($2,969 vs. $3,426), and CEF was intermediate ($3,219). The stochastic analysis showed that the mean difference in gross profit between UNT and NMET was -$457; saleable milk (49%) and replacement cost (24%) accounted for most of the variation. The mean difference in gross profit between CEF and NMET group was -$207; saleable milk (82%) and initial metritis treatment cost (9%) accounted for most of the variation. The mean difference in gross profit between the UNT and the CEF group was -$250; replacement cost (41%) and cow sales (31%) accounted for most of the variation. In summary, metritis caused large economic losses when left untreated, and CEF reduced those losses by improving fertility, reducing culling and replacement cost, and reducing milk yield losses., (Copyright © 2021 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

High doses of antibiotics used in hospitals can affect the microbial composition of sewers, selecting resistant bacteria. In this sense, we evaluated the antibiotic resistance profile and the multiresistant phenotype of bacteria isolated in sewage from a tertiary hospital in the interior São Paulo state, Brazil. For bacteria isolation, 10 µL of sewage samples were sown in selective culture media and the isolates were identified using VITEK-2 automatized system. The antibiotic sensitivity test was performed by disk diffusion. High percentages of resistance were found for amoxicillin, ampicillin, ceftazidime, clindamycin, vancomycin and the multidrug-resistant phenotype (MDR) was attributed to 60.7% of the isolates. Our results show bacteria classified as critical/high priority by WHO List of Priority Pathogens (Enterococcus and Staphylococcus aureus resistant to vancomycin and Enterobacteriaceae resistant to carbapenems) in hospital sewage. Therefore, the implementation of disinfection technologies for hospital sewage would reduce the bacterial load in the sewage that will reach urban wastewater treatment plants, minimizing superficial water contamination and bacterial resistance spread in the environment.

The objective of this study was to estimate the cost of metritis in dairy herds. Data from 11,733 dairy cows from 16 different farms located in 4 different regions of the United States were compiled for up to 305 d in milk, and 11,581 cows (2,907 with and 8,674 without metritis) were used for this study. Metritis was defined as fetid, watery, red-brownish vaginal discharge that occurs ≤21 d in milk. Continuous outcomes such as 305-d milk production, milk sales ($/cow), cow sales ($/cow), metritis treatment costs ($/cow), replacement costs ($/cow), reproduction costs ($/cow), feeding costs ($/cow), and gross profit per cow ($/cow) were analyzed using mixed effect models using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Gross profit was also compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Dichotomous outcomes such as pregnant and culling by 305 d in milk were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Time to pregnancy and culling were analyzed using the PHREG procedure of SAS. Models included the fixed effects of metritis, parity, and the interaction between metritis and parity, and farm as the random effect. Variables were considered significant when P ≤ 0.05. Metritis cost was calculated by subtracting the gross profit of cows with metritis from the gross profit of cows without metritis. A stochastic analysis was performed with 10,000 iterations using the observed results from each group. Milk yield and proportion of cows pregnant were lesser for cows with metritis than for cows without metritis, whereas the proportion of cows leaving the herd was greater for cows with metritis than for cows without metritis. Milk sales, feeding costs, residual cow value, and gross profit were lesser for cows with metritis than for cows without metritis. Cow sales and replacement costs were greater for cows with metritis than for cows without metritis. The mean cost of metritis from the study herds was $511 and the median was $398. The stochastic analysis showed that the mean cost of a case of metritis was $513, with 95% of the scenarios ranging from $240 to $884, and that milk price, treatment cost, replacement cost, and feed cost explained 59%, 19%, 12%, and 7%, respectively, of the total variation in cash flow differences. In conclusion, metritis caused large economic losses to dairy herds by decreasing milk production, reproduction, and survival in the herd., (The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. and Fass Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Background: The uterine cervical length is an important risk factor for preterm birth. The aim of this study was to assess cervical length distribution in women with singleton pregnancies, measured by transvaginal ultrasound between 16 and 24 weeks, and its association with population characteristics., Materials and Methods: We searched electronic databases and other sources for studies published from April 1, 1990 to July 21, 2020. Of the 2019 retrieved publications, full-text versions of 137 articles were considered. We included 77 original articles that reported cervical length measurements of 363,431 women. The main aim of this study was to identify the pattern of cervical length in different populations. We collected demographic and clinical data concerning the population, in addition to information regarding the ultrasound examination and cervical length measurement. Regarding study bias, 56 were at low risk of bias and 21 were at medium risk of bias., Results: The meta-analysis included 57 articles with data from 158,346 women. The mean cervical length was 37.96. mm (95% CI [36.68, 39.24]). Cervical length was shorter in women from Africa and Asia, in those from low-income countries, with a lower body weight, and in those who delivered before 37 gestational weeks. We found that the cervical length from pooled studies is longer than that usually discussed in the literature. Regarding limitations, we had difficulty assessing our main variable because there was no consistent pattern in the way authors reported cervical length measurement. Another limitation was the great heterogeneity between studies., Conclusions: The use of a single cutoff value to define a short cervix diagnosis, an important risk factor for preterm birth, may not be correct and cervical length must be considered according to maternal population characteristics. Future studies should identify different specific curves and cutoff values for cervical length in different populations. This meta-analysis was registered in the PROSPERO database under CRD42017070246 at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display&#95;record.php?RecordID=70246., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

A simple, fast, and efficient spark discharge-laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (SD-LIBS) method was developed for determining rice botanic origin using predictive modeling based on support vector machine (SVM). Seventy-two samples from four rice varieties (Guri, Irga 424, Puitá, and Taim) were analyzed by SD-LIBS. Spectral lines of C, Ca, Fe, Mg, N and Na were selected as input variables for prediction model fitting. The SVM algorithm parameters were optimized using a central composite design (CCD) to find the better classification performance. The optimum model for discriminating rice samples according to their botanical variety was obtained using C = 5.25 and γ = 0.119. This model achieved 96.4% of correct predictions in test samples and showed sensitivities and specificities per class within the range of 92-100%. The developed method is robust and eco-friendly for rice botanic identification since its prediction results are consistent and reproducible and its application does not generate chemical waste., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study evaluated the effect of dietary inclusion of lyophilized açaí Euterpe oleracea (LEO) on redox status of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (initial weight 1.5 ± 0.39 g) upon exposure to cyanotoxin nodularin (NOD) in bioflocs system. Three hundred juvenile shrimps were randomly divided into two groups and fed twice a day with two diets: one containing 0.00 (control diet) and the other 10.0% LEO (w/w) for 30-days. After the feeding period, both shrimp groups were submitted to three treatments (14 L; 7 shrimp/tank) with different concentrations of cyanotoxin NOD (0.00; 0.25; and 1.00 μg/L) dissolved in water with 96 h of exposure. Then, the shrimps were sampled (n = 15/treatment) for the determination of reduced glutathione (GSH), the activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), sulfhydryl groups associated to proteins (P-SH), and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) in the hepatopancreas, gills and muscle. The NOD accumulation was measured in the muscle. The results revealed that dietary LEO significantly increased GSH levels in the hepatopancreas and gills of the shrimps exposed to NOD. Toxin exposure did not modify GST activity in all organs. Muscle TBARS levels were lower in the shrimp fed with the LEO diet and exposed to NOD. The NOD toxin did not accumulate in the muscle but notably was detected in the control groups fed or not with dietary LEO. Açaí was able to induce the antioxidant system of L. vannamei, as well as lowered the oxidative damage in shrimps exposed to NOD, suggesting its use as a chemoprotectant against cyanotoxins., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Multidrug resistance mediated by β-lactamase in Gram-negative bacilli is a serious public health problem. Sewers are considered reservoirs of multiresistant bacteria due to presence of antibiotics that select them and favor their dissemination. The present study evaluated the antibiotic resistance profile and β-lactamases production in Gram-negative bacilli isolates from hospital sewage and urban wastewater treatment plants (UWWTP) in Brazil. Bacteria were isolated and identified with biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by the disk-diffusion method and detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamase and carbapenemases by enzymatic inhibitor and conventional PCR. Differences in resistance to amoxicillin clavulanic, aztreonam, cefepime, and cefotaxime were observed in hospital sewage compared with urban sewage (p < 0.05). The multidrug-resistant phenotype was observed in 33.3% of hospital sewage isolates (p = 0.0025). β-lactamases genes were found in 35.6% of isolates, with the most frequent being bla KPC and bla TEM (17.8%), and bla SHV and bla CTX-M (13.3% and 8.9%, respectively). The data obtained are relevant, since the bacteria detected are on the priority pathogens list from the World Health Organization and hospital sewage could be released untreated into the municipal collection system, which may favor the spread of resistance. Changes in hospital sewage discharge practices, as well as additional technologies regarding effluent disinfection in the UWWTP, can prevent the spread of these bacteria into the environment and negative impact on water resources.

Rice is the most consumed food worldwide, therefore its designation of origin (PDO) is very useful. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an interesting analytical technique for PDO certification, since it provides fast multielemental analysis requiring minimal sample treatment. In this work LIBS spectral data from rice analysis were evaluated for PDO certification of Argentine brown rice. Samples from two PDOs were analyzed by LIBS coupled to spark discharge. The selection of spectral data was accomplished by extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), an algorithm currently used in machine learning, but rarely applied in chemical issues. Emission lines of C, Ca, Fe, Mg and Na were selected, and the best performance of classification were obtained using k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) algorithm. The developed method provided 84% of accuracy, 100% of sensitivity and 78% of specificity in classification of test samples. Furthermore, it is simple, clean and can be easily applied for rice certification., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

One of the most important factors that interfere negatively in coffee global quality has been blends with defective beans, especially those called Black, Immature and Sour (BIS). The methods based on visual-manual estimation of defective beans have shown their inefficiency in coffee value chain for large-scale analysis. The lack of fast, accurate and robust analytical methods for BIS determination is still a research gap. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a fast, low-cost and residue-free technique capable of performing multielemental determination and investigating organic composition of samples. In the present work, LIBS together with spectral processing and variable selection were evaluated to fit linear regression models for predicting BIS in blends. Models showed high capacity of prediction with RMSEP smaller than 3.8% and R 2 higher than 80%. Most importantly, measurements are guided by chemical responses, which make LIBS-based methods less susceptible to the visual indistinguishability that occurs in manual inspections., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy is an optical emission technique quite suitable for the analysis of recalcitrant materials as it eliminates complex procedures of sample preparation. However, for some simple LIBS instrumentation the detection limits are still higher compared to those of consolidated spectroscopic techniques. The aim of the present work was to develop a method for the determination of K in new biochar-based fertilizer samples using a simple single pulse LIBS arrangement. Due to the low K detectability, which made impossible to obtain calibration curves, an exploratory qualitative study was performed aiming to evaluate the influence of the addition of easily ionizable elements (EIE) on the sensitivity. To this aim different salts containing EIE (K, Li and Na) and other cations (Cu and Mg) have been evaluated. Results obtained showed that salts containing EIE cations increased the spectral emission signals of some elements in samples previously submitted to charring. In particular, the strategy of using Li + was applied to the determination of K in biochar-based fertilizers. The addition of Li + allowed to develop an analytical method for K determination featuring a linear dynamic range from 0.8% to 21.56% K, and limits of detection and quantification of 0.2% and 0.8%, respectively., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The effects of calving season [rainy (RS) and dry (DS)] on the voluntary waiting period (VWP) of 58 Holstein cows raised in the tropical savannah were investigated using data of temperature humidity index (THI), total antioxidant status (TAS), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), velocity of uterine regression, and subsequent reproductive performance. Blood samples and clinical data were taken once every week, from calving until the sixth postpartum week. Reproductive data were collected until 180 days postpartum. THI differed between seasons (P < 0.05], as well as TAS (P < 0.001), RR (P < 0.001), RT (P < 0.01), glucose (P < 0.001), TC, and TG (P < 0.05), with higher values in RS. Although the velocity of uterine regression showed to be slower (P < 0.001) during RS, no differences were present regarding uterine health. Days open increased in RS (P < 0.001), but the number of services/conception was similar (P = 0.33). The results suggested cows under heat stress during the rainy season in the tropical savannah are more susceptible to a decline in the reproductive performance due to oxidative, metabolic, and uterine health problems.

The Mango Sudden Decline (MSD), also referred to as Mango Wilt, is an important disease of mango in Brazil, Oman and Pakistan. This fungus is mainly disseminated by the mango bark beetle, Hypocryphalus mangiferae (Stebbing), by infected plant material, and the infested soils where it is able to survive for long periods. The best way to avoid losses due to MSD is to prevent its establishment in mango production areas. Our objectives in this study were to: (1) predict the global potential distribution of MSD, (2) identify the mango growing areas that are under potential risk of MSD establishment, and (3) identify climatic factors associated with MSD distribution. Occurrence records were collected from Brazil, Oman and Pakistan where the disease is currently known to occur in mango. We used the correlative maximum entropy based model (MaxEnt) algorithm to assess the global potential distribution of MSD. The MaxEnt model predicted suitable areas in countries where the disease does not already occur in mango, but where mango is grown. Among these areas are the largest mango producers in the world including India, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Mexico. The mean annual temperature, precipitation of coldest quarter, precipitation seasonality, and precipitation of driest month variables contributed most to the potential distribution of MSD disease. The mango bark beetle vector is known to occur beyond the locations where MSD currently exists and where the model predicted suitable areas, thus showing a high likelihood for disease establishment in areas predicted by our model. Our study is the first to map the potential risk of MSD establishment on a global scale. This information can be used in designing strategies to prevent introduction and establishment of MSD disease, and in preparation of efficient pest risk assessments and monitoring programs.

Although L-Arginine (ARG) has been reported as a promising bovine sperm capacitation agent, its effects on embryo development are still poorly understood. Herein, we compared the effects of ARG and/or heparin (HEP) addition to the fertilization medium for bovine oocytes on sperm capacitation and embryo development. We chose 10 mM ARG based on blastocyst development rates in a titration experiment. Addition of ARG and/or HEP to the fertilization medium resulted in similar rates of blastocyst development (P > 0.05). However, when ARG, but not HEP, was combined with a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor (N-Nitro-L-ARG-methyl ester, 10 mM) blastocyst development was decreased (P < 0.05). To assess the effects on capacitation, bovine sperm were incubated for 0, 3, and 6 hours in fertilization medium containing ARG and/or HEP and/or N-Nitro-L-ARG-methyl esterand acrosomal exocytosis rates were evaluated using fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated Pisum sativum lectin (FITC-PSA) staining and flow cytometry. With HEP, acrosomal exocytosis rates were highest by 3 hours of incubation; however, by 6 hours, rates were similar for HEP and/or ARG (P > 0.05) and higher than those in control media (P < 0.05). Although both ARG and HEP increased sperm NO production (P < 0.05), combination with L-NAME only precluded acrosomal exocytosis when ARG added alone in the medium (P > 0.05). These results suggest that although both ARG and HEP supported sperm capacitation, only the effects of the former were driven via NO production. Moreover, ARG was also as effective as HEP at improving blastocyst development rates. Therefore, ARG may be used as a low-cost alternative sperm capacitation agent for bovine in vitro embryo production., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are important mediators of key cellular events. Herein, we investigated the effect of adding cortisol to the IVM medium on the acquisition of developmental competency in bovine oocytes. Cortisol (0.01, 0.1, or 1 μg/mL) had no effect on cleavage rates or cell numbers of resulting blastocysts; however, supplementation with 0.1 μg/mL during IVM increased blastocyst rates of in vitro-fertilized bovine oocytes as compared to untreated controls (41 ± 10% vs. 21 ± 1.2%, P < 0.05, respectively). This concentration was chosen to assess changes in the relative expression of potential GC target genes. Oocytes matured in the presence of cortisol and their corresponding cumulus cells did not show changes in expression for genes analyzed as compared to untreated controls. Notably, blastocysts from oocytes matured in cortisol-supplemented medium expressed higher relative levels of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), fatty acid synthase (FASN), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). This study supports a role for cortisol in the acquisition of bovine oocyte competence. This is evidenced by increased blastocyst development rates and presumably related to elevated embryonic transcripts with roles in glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as the cellular response to stress., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The performance of herbivorous insects is related to the locations of defenses and nutrients found in the different plant organs on which they feed. In this context, the females of herbivorous insect species select certain parts of the plant where their offspring can develop well. In addition, their offspring can adapt to plant defenses. A system where these ecological relationships can be studied occurs in the specialist herbivore, Tuta absoluta, on tomato plants. In our experiments we evaluated: (i) the performance of the herbivore T. absoluta in relation to the tomato plant parts on which their offspring had fed, (ii) the spatial distribution of the insect stages on the plant canopy and (iii) the larval resistance to starvation and their walking speed at different instar stages. We found that the T. absoluta females preferred to lay their eggs in the tomato plant parts where their offspring had greater chances of success. We verified that the T. absoluta females laid their eggs on both sides of the leaves to better exploit resources. We also observed that the older larvae (3rd and 4th instars) moved to the most nutritious parts of the plant, thus increasing their performance. The T. absoluta females and offspring (larvae) were capable of identifying plant sites where their chances of better performance were higher. Additionally, their offspring (larvae) spread across the plant to better exploit the available plant nutrients. These behavioral strategies of T. absoluta facilitate improvement in their performance after acquiring better resources, which help reduce their mortality by preventing the stimulation of plant defense compounds and the action of natural enemies.

The objectives were to evaluate the effects of synchronizing estrus and ovulation to implement a timed artificial insemination (AI) at first insemination on reproductive performance and cost per pregnancy in dairy heifers. Six hundred eleven Holsteins heifers at approximately 400 d of age from 3 farms were enrolled in the study. Six days before moving to the breeding pens, heifers were allocated randomly to AI after detected estrus from study d 0 to 84 (CON, n=306), or to timed AI for first AI followed by detected estrus for the remainder of the 84-d study (TAI, n=305). Heifers receiving TAI were enrolled in the 5-d timed AI protocol on study d -6 (d -6, GnRH and a progesterone insert; d -1, PGF2α and insert removal; d 0, PGF2α; d 2, GnRH + AI), and they were allowed to be bred the day before scheduled timed AI if detected in estrus. Starting on study d 0, estrus was detected daily. Heifers in estrus were inseminated on the same morning as detected estrus. Control heifers not inseminated by study d 7 received PGF2α and this treatment was repeated every 2 wk until AI. The study lasted 84 d to allow a period of breeding equivalent to four 21-d estrous cycles. A herd budget accounting for inputs for both treatments was created to determine the cost per pregnancy. Sensitivity analysis compared economic differences between the 2 treatments under different input scenarios when detection of estrus after the first AI varied from 50 to 80%. Interval to first AI was 8 d shorter for TAI than for CON. Pregnancy at first AI did not differ between treatments (CON=58.3 vs. TAI=62.8%). In contrast, TAI increased pregnancy per AI (P/AI) compared with CON in heifers inseminated with sex-sorted semen (CON=31.6 vs. TAI=54.8%). The 21-d cycle insemination rate was greater for TAI (91.4%) than for CON (82.4%), even when evaluated after the first 21 d in the study (CON=68.2 vs. TAI=77.1%). The increased insemination rate improved the 21-d cycle pregnancy rate from 47.9% in CON to 57.2% in TAI heifers. In fact, the hazard of pregnancy was 60% greater for TAI than CON. The increased pregnancy rate in TAI reduced the median days to pregnancy by 12 d (CON=2.0 vs. TAI=14.0) and increased the proportion of pregnant heifers by 6.3 percentage points by study d 84 (CON=85.2 vs. TAI=91.5%). The cost per pregnancy was $17.00 less for TAI than CON. The sensitivity analysis indicated that TAI was economically more advantageous to produce a pregnancy compared with CON. Only when insemination rate after the first 21 d of breeding was very high and P/AI was relatively low did the cost per pregnancy become similar for the 2 treatments. Collectively, inseminating all heifers within 2 d of breeding with the 5-d timed AI protocol maintains P/AI, improves pregnancy rate, and reduces cost per pregnancy compared with insemination after detected estrus., (Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study reports a facile and controllable synthetic method for the preparation of both 1,3- and 1,5-isomers of 4-(3(5)-aryl-3(5)-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamides, as well as a new series of 4-(3-aryl-5-hydroxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)-4,5-dihydropyrazol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamides, from the cyclocondensation reaction of 4-aryl-1,1,1-trifluoro-4-methoxybut-3-en-2-ones or 1-aryl-4,4,4-trifluoro-butane-1,3-diones or their enolic forms with 4-hydrazinylbenzenesulfonamide. All compounds of the new series of 3-substituted 1-(4-benzenesulfonamide)-5-hydroxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)-4,5-dihydropyrazoles were tested for their effect on a pathological pain model in mice. The compounds 3a, 3b, 3c, 3e, and 3f presented anti-hyperalgesic action, while the compounds 3a, 3c, 3d, 3f, and 3g exhibited anti-edematogenic effects, without causing locomotive disorders in animals, thus making them comparable to Celecoxib in an arthritic pain model., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The present study examined the incidence of chronic stress in business executives (109 subjects: 75 male and 34 female) and its relationship with cortisol levels, cognitive performance, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity after an acute mental stressor. Blood samples were collected from the subjects to measure cortisol concentration. After the sample collection, the subjects completed the Lipp Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults and the Stroop Color-Word Test to evaluate stress and cognitive performance levels, respectively. Saliva samples were collected prior to, immediately after, and five minutes after the test. The results revealed that 90.1% of the stressed subjects experienced stress phases that are considered chronic stress. At rest, the subjects with chronic stress showed higher cortisol levels, and no gender differences were observed. No differences were found between the stressed and non-stressed subjects regarding salivary amylase activity prior to test. Chronic stress also impaired performance on the Stroop test, which revealed higher rates of error and longer reaction times in the incongruent stimulus task independently of gender. For the congruent stimulus task of the Stroop test, the stressed males presented a higher rate of errors than the non-stressed males and a longer reaction time than the stressed females. After the acute mental stressor, the non-stressed male group showed an increase in salivary alpha-amylase activity, which returned to the initial values five minutes after the test; this ANS reactivity was not observed in the chronically stressed male subjects. The ANS responses of the non-stressed vs stressed female groups were not different prior to or after the Stroop test. This study is the first to demonstrate a blunted reactivity of the ANS when male subjects with chronic psychological stress were subjected to an acute mental stressor, and this change could contribute to impairments in cognitive performance.

Adult stem cells are known for their plasticity and their potential to differentiate into several different cell types; these characteristics have implications for cell therapy and reproductive biotechnologies. In this study, we report on the isolation and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from bovine and buffalo adipose tissue. Cells isolated using enzymatic digestion of bovine and buffalo adipose-tissue biopsy samples were grown in vitro for at least 15 passages, verifying their capacity to proliferate. These cells were also subjected to immunophenotypic characterization for the presence of CD90, CD105, and CD79, and the absence of CD45, CD34, and CD73, which are positive and negative markers of MSC, respectively. To prove their multipotency, the cells were induced to differentiate into three different cell types, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and adipocytes, which were stained with tissue-specific dyes (Chondrogenic-Alcian Blue, Osteogenic-Alizarin Red, and Adipogenic-Oil-Red O, respectively) to confirm differentiation. Gene expression analysis of pluripotency-related genes was also conducted. Our results suggest that adipose tissue from bovines and buffalos can be used as a source of MSC, making adipose tissue-derived cells an interesting option for cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Additionally, these findings have implications for reproductive biotechnology because the use of MSC as nuclear donors has been linked to an increase in the efficiency of nuclear transfer.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of using L-arginine during in vitro fertilization (IVF) on in vitro embryonic development using Bos taurus and Bos indicus semen. Effect of different concentrations (0, 1, 10 and 50 mM) of L-arginine, added to the IVF medium, was evaluated on the fertilization rate at 18 h post-fertilization (hpf), NO3(-)/NO2(-) production during IVF by the Griess colorimetric method (30 hpf), cleavage and blastocyst rates (on Day 2 and Day 7 of culture, respectively) and total blastocyst cell number (Day 7 of culture). The results reveal that the addition of 50 mM L-arginine to IVF medium, with either Bos taurus or Bos indicus spermatozoa, decreased the cleavage rate and blastocyst rate compared to the control group. Other concentrations did not affect embryo production. However, 1 mM L-arginine with Bos indicus semen increased the proportion of hatched blastocysts. These results indicate that high L-arginine concentrations may exhibit toxic effects on bovine gametes during in vitro fertilization.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a cell-signaling molecule that regulates a variety of molecular pathways. We investigated the role of NO during preimplantation embryonic development by blocking its production with an inhibitor or supplementing in vitro bovine embryo cultures with its natural precursor, L-arginine, over different periods. Endpoints evaluated included blastocyst rates, development kinetics, and embryo quality. Supplementation with the NO synthase inhibitor N-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) from Days 1 to 8 of culture decreased blastocyst (P < 0.05) and hatching (P < 0.05) rates. When added from Days 1 to 8, 50 mM L-arginine decreased blastocyst rates (P < 0.001); in contrast, when added from Days 5 to 8, 1 mM L-arginine improved embryo hatching rates (P < 0.05) and quality (P < 0.05) as well as increased POU5F1 gene expression (P < 0.05) as compared to the untreated control. Moreover, NO levels in the medium during this culture period positively correlated with the increased embryo hatching rates and quality (P < 0.05). These data suggest exerts its positive effects during the transition from morula to blastocyst stage, and that supplementing the embryo culture medium with L-arginine favors preimplantation development of bovine embryos., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Studies in somatic cells have shown that glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone (DEX) may trigger or prevent apoptosis depending on the cell type in culture. Because the dysregulation of apoptosis may lower in vitro embryo production efficiency, we sought to investigate the effects of supplementing IVC medium with DEX (0.1 μg/mL) on embryo morphology, development kinetics, and apoptosis rates of in vitro-produced bovine preimplantation embryos. Embryo morphology was graded on Day 7, and development rates were assessed on Days 4 and 7 of IVC. Apoptosis was evaluated via annexin/propidium iodide staining under fluorescence microscopy where a cell labeled with annexin, propidium iodide, or both would be considered apoptotic. An embryo was counted in the apoptosis rates, if it displayed at least one such labeled cell. Although DEX supplementation did not reduce apoptosis rates, it had a positive impact on developmental kinetics and cell number both on Days 4 and 7 of embryo culture. Presumably, such effect resulted from increased cell proliferation rather than a direct inhibition of apoptosis. Further studies may evaluate the mechanisms by which glucocorticoids may affect embryo development, as DEX supplementation could become a tool to improve in vitro embryo yield in mammalian species., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was designed to evaluate the influence of heat stress (HS) on the metabolic profile of serum and follicular fluid (FF), ovarian follicle development, and oocyte quality of Girolando dairy cows. Oocytes, blood, and FF (follicles ≥9mm) samples were obtained at 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 days postpartum in the summer and winter seasons. During transvaginal follicular aspiration, rectal temperature (RT), body condition score (BCS), number of ovarian follicles, and quality of oocytes were recorded. The ambient air temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH) were also recorded to calculate the temperature humidity index (THI). Glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), urea, sodium (Na), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) concentrations were determined using serum and FF samples. The RT, THI, and BCS loss were greater (P<0.01) in the summer; however, glucose, Na, and K serum concentrations decreased in the same season (P<0.05). Degenerated oocytes were positively associated (P<0.05) with THI (r=0.14) and AT (r=0.13), and negatively associated with glucose (r=-0.12) and K (r=-0.11) serum concentrations. HS induces metabolic changes, which compromise the number of ovarian follicles and the follicular environment, thus resulting in morphologically damaged oocytes., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Invasive aspergillosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients, particularly in individuals with haematological malignancy and in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Nowadays, the galactomannan (GM) assay has been widely used as an indication of invasive aspergillosis, even though the test is known to generate false-positive results. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of GM and real-time PCR (qPCR) to detected Aspergillus in blood samples obtained from high-risk haematological patients. Haematological patients were screened twice weekly with GM testing, which was performed by the Platelia ELISA kit. An additional sample of whole blood (4 ml) was obtained for the purpose of qPCR testing. Sixty-four samples from 12 patients with haematopoietic stem cell transplant or haematological malignancy were studied. The overall accordance between GM and qPCR tests was 96.9 % (62 samples). Only two samples showed contradictory results, with positive GM test and negative real-time PCR results. Based on the high concordance between GM and qPCR in terms of negative results, the main utility of qPCR could be in the confirmation of positive results seen with GM testing.

This study was designed to monitor the biochemical profiles of serum and follicular fluid (FF) of postpartum dairy cows during the summer (n=30) and winter (n=30). Blood and FF (follicles ≥ 9 mm) were obtained from Girolando cows at 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days postpartum. The samples were collected and analysed to determine glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), urea, sodium (Na), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) levels. Throughout the study, the following clinical variables were measured: rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR) and body condition score (BCS). In addition, the temperature humidity index (THI) was calculated for each season. During the summer season, THI was higher, BCS decreased, there was an increase in RT, and glucose, urea, Na and K serum levels were decreased (P<0.05). The levels of TC, TG, urea, K and Ca in follicular fluid increased (P<0.05). Positive correlations (P<0.05) were observed between the serum and FF levels for glucose (r=0.29), TC (r=0.24) and Ca (r=0.30). Therefore, the biochemical profile of serum and FF of dairy cows under summer heat-stress conditions demonstrates marked changes that may impair fertility during lactation.

The interactions between a prior program of regular exercise and the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-mediated responses were evaluated. In the exercised EAE mice, although there was no effect on infiltrated cells, the cytokine and derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were altered, and the clinical score was attenuated. Although, the cytokine levels were decreased in the brain and increased in the spinal cord, BDNF was elevated in both compartments with a tendency of lesser demyelization volume in the spinal cord of the exercised EAE group compared with the unexercised., (© 2013.)

Developmental competence of in vitro-matured bovine oocytes is a limiting factor in production of embryos in vitro. Several studies have suggested a potential positive effect of thyroid hormones on cultured oocytes and/or their supporting cells. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to ascertain whether medium supplementation with triiodothyronine (T3) improved subsequent developmental competence of in vitro-matured bovine oocytes. For this purpose, we first documented (using reverse transcription PCR) that whereas bovine cumulus cells expressed both thyroid hormone receptor (TR)-α and TRβ, immature bovine oocytes expressed TRα only. Thereafter, to test the effects of TH on developmental competence, abattoir-derived oocytes were matured in vitro in a medium containing 0, 25, 50, or 100 nM T3 and subjected to in vitro fertilization. Embryo quality was evaluated by assessing cleavage and blastocyst rates, morphological quality, development kinetics, and total cell number on Day 8 of culture. Notably, addition of 50 or 100 nM T3 to the in vitro maturation medium increased (P < 0.05) the rate of hatched blastocysts on the eighth day of culture, as compared with other groups (62.4 ± 11.7, 53.1 ± 16.3, and 32.4 ± 5.3, respectively). Next, the relative expression levels of genes related to embryo quality POU-domain transcription factor (POU5F1) and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT 1) were compared between in vivo- and in vitro-produced blastocysts. On the basis of the previous experiments, IVP embryos originating from oocytes that were matured in vitro in the presence or absence of 50 nM T3 were evaluated. The treatment had no effect (P > 0.05) on gene expression. We concluded that supplementation of bovine oocyte in vitro maturation medium with T3 may have a beneficial effect on the kinetics of embryo development., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this research was to perform in situ quantification, morphometry evaluation, and apoptosis analysis of ovarian follicular wall cells in mechanically isolated follicles obtained from ovaries of bovine fetuses (Bos taurus indicus) between 3 and 9 months of age. Apoptosis was evaluated using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay. The number of isolated follicles increased from 3 months onward (102.5 ± 141.1, mean ± SEM), peaked at 6 months (12855.0 ± 9030.1), and then decreased by 7 months (3208.7 ± 3249.5), consistent with atresia occurring at these stages. Follicular density was greatest at 4 months, consistent with a sudden boost in follicular activity independent of a corresponding increase in ovarian size. Antral follicles were first observed at 5 months. As fetal age increased, there was a tendency for the percentage of primordial and primary follicles to decrease, and the percentage of secondary follicles to increase. However, the high variability (P < 0.05) for all follicle populations up to 5 months of age precluded further interpretation of these results. Oocyte diameter increased from the primordial (23.6 ± 4.4 μm) to the secondary follicular stages (38.0 ± 14.9 μm). Apoptosis was observed in ovaries from all fetal ages analyzed. We concluded that preantral follicles could be isolated from bovine fetuses by 3 months of age, with apoptosis affecting ovarian follicular dynamics throughout fetal life., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

(18)FDG, an analogue of glucose labelled with the radionuclide (18)F, is the most widely used radiopharmaceutical in positron emission tomography/computed tomography technique. In Brazil, there are currently eight (18)FDG plants in operation and other facilities are expected to start their production in the near future. The growth in the production and clinical use of (18)FDG represents an increasing risk of worker exposures. According to national regulations and international recommendations, internal exposures should be effectively controlled in order to keep doses as low as possible. The implementation of a routine monitoring programme towards the estimation of internal doses related to the incorporation of (18)F is difficult, mainly due to its short physical half-life, the cost of a bioassay laboratory and the need of a monitoring service promptly available near the production plant. This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of a methodology for in vivo brain monitoring of (18)F to be applied in cases of suspected incorporation of (18)FDG. The technique presented a minimum detectable effective dose in the order of nanoSieverts, which allows its application for occupational monitoring purposes.

Objective: To explore differences in disease awareness in participants of a psychoeducational group designed for Latin American caregivers of people with dementia., Method: We assessed participants of a group developed at an outpatient unit for Alzheimer's disease. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze differences in the caregivers' reports., Results and Discussion: The participants, mostly spouses and daughters, presented moderate caregiver burden and different levels of awareness (aware, partially aware, or unaware). Disease awareness and the development of coping strategies were influenced by familism, religiosity, and duty. Becoming a caregiver was considered positive in some cases, due to religious convictions and beliefs related to the importance of caregiving. Caregiver unawareness may reflect an attempt to maintain integrity of the patient's identity., Conclusions: Our data allow some comparisons across cultures, which may be valuable in assessing the influence of different psychosocial environments on the knowledge about dementia.

The objective of this study was to determine the number, morphology and ultrastructure of preantral ovarian follicles of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) foetuses at different ages. Quantification revealed number of primordial, primary and secondary follicles of 48,857 ± 17,506, 26,000 ± 20,452, 18,428 ± 10,875 and 18,375 ± 19,690, 225 ± 349, 326 ± 288 at 12-34 cm and 35-60 cm crown rump length (CRL), respectively. Follicular diameter values were 28.9 (± 3.4), 34.7 (± 5.9) and 59.4 (± 12.6) μm; oocyte diameters were 21.7 (± 2.8), 24.3 (± 3.4) and 33.0 (± 7.7) μm, and the numbers of follicular cells in the follicle equatorial section were 7.1 (± 1.4), 12.0 (± 2.4) and 13.8 (± 2.4) for primordial, primary and secondary follicles, respectively. The primordial follicle consisted of an oocyte surrounded by a layer of flattened follicular cells with a normally eccentric oocyte nucleus. Dispersed Golgi complex, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, rounded mitochondria and several lipid vesicles were observed in the cytoplasm and cell junctions between the follicle cell membranes and the oocyte. This work describes the number, morphometry and ultrastructure of preantral follicles of buffalo foetuses, concluding that folliculogenesis is established between 8 and 34 cm CRL and that follicle number varies individually and according to age and that further studies are needed in this species., (© 2010 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Background and Purpose: We sought to examine ischemic stroke subtypes and prevalence of thrombophilia in Brazilian stroke patients., Method: A total of 130 consecutive young and 200 elderly stroke patients were studied., Results: Prevalence of thrombophilia was, respectively: protein S deficiency (11.5% versus 5.5%), protein C deficiency (0.76% versus 1%), resistance to activated protein C (2.3% versus 3.5%), mutation in V Leiden factor (1.5% versus 2%), antithrombin III deficiency (0% versus 0%), lupus anticoagulant (0% versus 0.5%), anticardiolipin antibodies (3% versus 10%; P=0.01), hyperhomocysteinemia (31.5% versus 53.5%; P=0.0001), mutation of the MTHFR gene in homocigosis (10% versus 5%), and heterocigosis (27.6% versus 41.9%; P=0.01)., Conclusions: Prothrombotic conditions were more frequent in stroke of undetermined cause.

Introduction: Pantothenate kinase deficiency (Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome, HSS) triggers cerebral neurodegeneration with iron deposition in the basal ganglia. The classical form has an early onset in infancy, a progressive course, the presence of extrapyramidal symptoms (dystonia, chorea, rigidity) and pigmentary retinitis. There are atypical late onset forms with predominance of symptoms of Parkinsonism and dementia, which progress slowly and course somewhat less progressively., Case Report: We describe three patients with HSS and an atypical presentation, with onset during the second decade of life. In all cases magnetic resonance imaging showed areas of hyposignal in T2 sequences in medial globus pallidus, with central hypersignal, which gave rise to a tiger's eye image. Other aetiologies, such as Wilson's disease, gangliosidosis GM1, hypoprebetalipoproteinemia, hexosaminidase A deficiency, aminoacidurias and infantile Huntingdon's chorea, were precluded. In the 20-year-old male the initial manifestations at the age of 17 were superposed over Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, with complex motor and vocal tics, palilalia, behavioural disorders and postural instability. The 13-year-old patient presented symptoms of chorea, hemiballic movements and dystonia in the lower limbs, which limited walking at the age of 12. The 28-year-old female patient presented a progressive rigid akinetic syndrome, with dementia and partial response to levodopa., Conclusions: The clinical spectrum of HSS is broad and its differential diagnosis must include hemiballism, Tourette syndrome and juvenile Parkinsonism.