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The red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis has a potent antimethanogenic effect, which has been proven both in vitro and in vivo. Vegetable oil immersions of this seaweed (hereafter Bromoil) help stabilise the bromoform (CHBr 3 ) responsible for its antimethanogenic effect. We evaluate the effects of increasing the levels of CHBr 3 in lamb diets on growth performance, methane (CH 4 ) production, animal health and meat quality. Twenty-four Merino Branco ram lambs were fed a ground complete compound feed, supplemented with 50 mL/kg DM of sunflower oil with different CHBr 3 content. The treatments were defined by the CHBr 3 doses in the oil: 0 mg (control - B0), 15 mg (B15), 30 mg (B30) and 45 mg (B45) of CHBr 3 per kg of feed DM. The feed was prepared daily by mixing Bromoil with the compound feed. At the end of the experiment, the lambs were sacrificed, the ruminal content was collected for in vitro fermentation to evaluate CH 4 production and organic matter (OM) degradability, and the rumen mucosa was sampled for histological examination. Meat samples were collected for chemical composition and CHBr 3 analysis. The half-life of CHBr 3 in the air-exposed feed was 3.98 h making it very difficult to establish the practiced level of CHBr 3 supplementation. Lambs-fed treatments B30 and B45 decreased DM intake by up to 28%. Average daily gain was also reduced due to CHBr 3 supplementation, with B45 showing results 40% lower than B0. DM feed conversion ratio was similar for all treatments. The degradability of OM, the volume of total gas and of gas without CH 4 were unaffected by the experimental treatments, evaluated by the in vitro method. However, the volume of CH 4 decreased by up to 75% for treatments above 30 mg/kg DM, while the yield of CH 4 /g OM degraded was reduced by up to 78% with treatments above 30 mg/kg DM. Meat chemical composition was not affected by Bromoil supplementation and no traces of CHBr 3 were found in meat samples. During this experiment, the animals presented normal health and behaviour. However, postslaughter examination of the rumen showed distinct lesions on the ventral region of the rumen mucosa of animals supplemented with Bromoil. These lesions were more severe in the animals receiving treatments B30 and B45. This research determined that although concentrations of CHBr 3 in the diet above 30 mg/kg DM helped to reduce CH 4 emissions, it negatively affected the performance and rumen wall., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Immunotherapy has a crucial role in the current treatment of multiple malignancies. Albeit described as rare, new onset autoimmune diabetes is a potentially life-threatening complication of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab, and its predisposing factors and pathological mechanism are yet to be clarified., Case Report: We present a case of a 72-year-old man with a high-grade bladder carcinoma undergoing pembrolizumab treatment. He had no personal or family history of diabetes mellitus but was diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism four months after starting pembrolizumab. Two years after starting pembrolizumab, he presented in the emergency department due to abdominal pain, anorexia, polydipsia, polyuria and vomiting over the preceding five days and he met criteria for severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Three days prior to his admission, he had received prednisolone therapy for suspected hypersensitivity related to a contrast-enhanced imaging that he performed., Management & Outcome: Prompt treatment for DKA was started, with transition to insulin basal-bolus therapy after DKA resolution, with progressive glycaemic stabilization. Further investigation revealed low C-peptide levels (0.07 ng/dL, with a fasting blood glucose of 288 mg/dL), HbA1c 9.2% and positive anti-IA2 antibodies, which allowed the diagnosis of new-onset autoimmune diabetes. Pembrolizumab was transiently suspended, and the patient resumed treatment after glycaemic profile optimization under multiple daily insulin administrations two months later., Discussion: This case highlights the importance of clinical suspicion and glycaemic monitoring as an integral part of treatment protocols in patients on pembrolizumab and other immune checkpoint inhibitors. Additional research and investigation into the underlying mechanisms of this condition are necessary to identify potential screening tests for individuals at higher risk of developing DM and to guide the implementation of management and preventive strategies for ketoacidosis complication., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Herein, the origin of interfacial water nanosized channel distributions attached onto Nafion surfaces is investigated. The surface fibrillary hydrophilic and hydrophobic arrangements were observed on AFM images scanned on Nafion surfaces immersed in water. Then, by analyzing the force vs separation curves, it is possible to map arrays of interfacial water channels and their locations. Nafion surface profiles and the water interfacial patterns are then combined using this AFM technique. As there are no reported experimental techniques to measure water nanochannel cross sections, presented measurements report on their dimensions. Water nanochannels characterized by ε < 7 attached to hydrophilic fibrillary sections form aggregated water domains, a highly organized water structure compared with bulk water. Channels are attached to Nafion surface hydrophilic fibrillary domains in confined sites., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Sympathetic ophthalmia is a rare and potentially devastating bilateral diffuse granulomatous panuveitis. It is caused by surgical or non-surgical eye injuries and is an uncommon and serious complication of trauma. It is diagnosed clinically and supported by imaging examinations such as ocular ultrasonography and optical coherence tomography. Its treatment consists of immunosuppressive therapy with steroids and sometimes steroid-sparing drugs, such as cyclosporine, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and mycophenolate mofetil. Fast and effective management with systemic immunosuppressive agents allows for disease control and achievement of good visual acuity in the sympathizing eye. By contrast, enucleation should be considered only in situations where the injured eye has no light perception or in the presence of severe trauma. In addition to a bibliographic review of this topic, we report six cases involving different immunosuppressive and surgical treatment modalities.

Asparagopsis taxiformis inhibits ruminal methane (CH 4 ) production due to its bromoform (CHBr 3 ) content. The immersion of A. taxiformis in edible vegetable oils allows the extraction and stabilization of the highly volatile CHBr 3 in the oil phase. The objectives of this study were to explore the effects of adding sunflower oils with increasing concentrations of CHBr 3 on in vitro ruminal methanogenesis and biohydrogenation. Five batches of 48-h in vitro incubations were performed in 14 fermentation bottles, using rumen inocula collected shortly after the slaughter of young crossbred bulls and 1 g of dry matter (DM) from a total diet of mixed feed without added oil (control) or with 60 μL of sunflower oil per gram of DM as the substrate. The treatments were the CHBr 3 content in the oil added: 0 μg (B0), 25 μg (B25), 50 μg (B50), 75 μg (B75), 100 μg (B100), and 150 μg (B150) of CHBr 3 per gram of substrate DM. Organic matter (OM) degradability, total gas, CH 4 , volatile fatty acids (VFA), long-chain fatty acids, and dimethyl acetals (DMA) were analyzed at the end of each incubation. Data were analyzed with a model considering the treatments as the fixed effect and the run as a random block and using orthogonal contrasts. Degradability of OM was higher in the control group and was unaffected by CHBr 3 concentration. Total gas production per gram of degraded OM was unaffected by treatments and averaged 205 ± 29.8 mL/g. Methane (mL) production decreased linearly with increasing CHBr 3 concentrations, with 33%, 47%, and 87% reductions for B75, B100, and B150, respectively. Total VFA concentration was unaffected by oil inclusion but was reduced by 20% in CHBr 3 -containing treatments, although without any dose-response pattern. The molar percentage of acetate decreased linearly, whereas propionate and butyrate increased linearly with the increasing CHBr 3 dosage. Including oil in the diet decreased the branched-chain fatty acids and DMA content. Increasing CHBr 3 concentrations did not affect branched-chain fatty acids, but linearly increased most of the identified DMA. Adding oil to the control diet increased the 18:2n-6, whereas increasing the concentration of CHBr 3 had no effect on 18:2n-6 but decreased linearly the 18:0 and increased the trans-18:1 isomers. The results obtained provide evidence that oil immersions of A. taxiformis can successfully inhibit ruminal production of CH 4 in vitro at doses of 100 and 150 μg/g DM, and simultaneously modulate biohydrogenation., (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 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Guettarda (Rubiaceae) is a genus known for its diverse range of bioactive compounds, with demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Guettarda uruguensis Cham. & Schltdl., commonly known as 'jasmim uruguaio' or 'veludinho,' is a native species of the Atlantic Forest that get interested in its potential therapeutic applications. In this study, we evaluated the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the crude ethanol extract obtained from G. uruguensis leaves (EBGF) and fractions, as well as the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and toxicity activity of the EBGF. Our findings revealed that the EBGF and its fractions contain polyphenolic compounds, including long-chain esters of p-coumaric acid and quercetin, which contribute to their potent antioxidant activity. The EBGF exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects, highlighting its potential as a natural product for treating pain and inflammation. Our study supports G. uruguensis as a promising source of bioactive compounds with pharmacological potential.

Psychoactive substances act on the central nervous system producing changes in mental processes, such as perception, consciousness, cognition or mood and emotions. The present study aims to identify: (i) the most used psychoactive substances, (ii) how psychoactive substances are acquired, (iii) and possible reasons for the use of psychoactive substances amongst university students. A literature search was carried out without language restrictions and included articles published between 2019 and 2020 in journals indexed in the electronic databases of Pubmed and Scielo. The inclusion criteria considered were: (i) original articles, (ii) studies carried out with university students, (iii) providing data on the use of psychoactive substances. 15 studies were included in this review, of which: 4 studies addressed possible reasons that lead to use of psychoactive substances, 10 studies reported usage profile and demographic data, and 1 study addressed how students acquire psychoactive substances. Reasons that led to the consumption of psychoactive substances include: feelings of loneliness after moving away from family; difficulty making new friends; poor academic performance and susceptible environment to acquisition of these substances. In the selected studies, alcohol was identified as the main drug used. In light of the findings reported in this review, new prevention and harm reduction measures can be formulated, based mainly on the reasons that lead to the use of psychoactive drugs, consumption patterns and how the drugs were acquired by university students., Competing Interests: On behalf of all the authors I declare that all of us have none competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

A significant improvement in spatial resolution is reported in Nafion surface maps when compared to previous atomic force microscopy images of the Nafion surface scanned in air. The technique ability is to generate maps showing approximately few nanometer (∼2-5 nm) patterns to the long fiber length (>2 μm). Atomic force microscopy force vs separation curve profiles registered in water are used to characterize the surface hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains. Initially, Nafion surfaces were imaged in air for comparison and then immersed in water. Nafion surfaces immersed in water display a matrix of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions with fibrillary structure dimensions of ∼40 nm formed by fiber pairs. Ribbons formed by two pairs with diameters of ∼83 nm are separated by larger channels., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) has emerged as an important tool for examining critically ill patients. POCUS devices have become progressively smaller and more accessible, transforming medical practice, and reducing costs. One technological breakthrough was the development of ultraportable scanners with microchip technology, which utilize a probe connected to a smartphone or tablet and incorporate a mobile application that employs artificial intelligence to assist in the interpretation of acquired images. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of ultrasound microchip technology with traditional piezoelectric crystal ultrasonography. We analyzed 2 volume status parameters in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) who were receiving kidney replacement therapy (KRT). These parameters were the extravascular pulmonary water, using the lung B-lines; and the inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVCi)., Methods: Fifty critically ill patients met the study criteria. Lung POCUS quantified B-lines in 8 quadrants. The IVCi was measured using the maximum and minimum diameters during a respiratory cycle. Both technologies were sequentially employed in a randomized fashion to acquire the parameters at 2 different time points: before the initiation of KRT (T0) and 60 minutes after the procedure had commenced (T60). We calculated the correlation and agreement between the 2 ultrasound scanner modalities., Results: The correlation between the 2 technologies for evaluating lung B-lines showed strong positive coefficients, ⍴ = 0.96 and ⍴ = 0.93 at T0 and T60, respectively ( P  < 0.001 for both). The correlation for IVCi was ρ = 0.70 and ρ = 0.87 at T0 and T60, respectively ( P  < 0.001 for both). The Bland-Altman plots showed agreement between ultrasound methods for IVCi calculation and B-line quantification. For IVCi calculation at T0, bias was +2.69 (SD: 10.6) (95% confidence interval [CI]: -18.13 to +23.52); at T60, bias was 3.28 (SD: 10.23) (95% CI: -16.77 to +23.34). For B-line quantification, the analysis yielded a bias of -0.3 (SD: 2.73), with a 95% CI of -5.66 to +5.06 at T0; and a bias of 0.2 (SD: 3.23), with a 95% CI of -6.14 to +6.54 at T60., Conclusion: Our study observed a good correlation and agreement between microchip and piezoelectric-based ultrasound modalities in evaluating the presence of pulmonary B-lines and inferior vena cava (IVC) dynamics in patients with AKI. Microchip ultrasound, in addition to being portable, user-friendly, and cost-effective, consistently delivers bedside parameters for volume assessment that are comparable to those obtained through POCUS using piezoelectric transducer-based ultrasonography., (© 2023 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To evaluate uterine function by using cine magnetic resonance imaging to visualize the contractile movements of the uterus in patients with and without deep infiltrating endometriosis (with or without associated adenomyosis)., Materials and Methods: This was a prospective case-control study. The study sample comprised 43 women: 18 in the case group and 25 in the control group. We performed cine magnetic resonance imaging in a 3.0 T scanner, focusing on the presence, direction, and frequency of uterine peristalsis., Results: The frequency of uterine peristalsis was higher in the case group than in the control group, in the periovulatory phase (3.83 vs. 2.44 peristaltic waves in two minutes) and luteal phase (1.20 vs. 0.91 peristaltic waves in two minutes). However, those differences were not statistically significant. There was a significant difference between the patients with adenomyosis and those without in terms of the frequency of peristalsis during the late follicular/periovulatory phase (0.8 vs. 3.18 peristaltic waves in two minutes; p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The frequency of uterine peristalsis appears to be higher during the periovulatory and luteal phases in patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis, whereas it appears to be significantly lower during the late follicular/periovulatory phase in patients with adenomyosis. Both of those effects could have a negative impact on sperm transport and on the early stages of fertilization.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to observe the prevalence and intensity of musculoskeletal pain and the quality of life in mothers of children with microcephaly and also to compare the scores of the quality of life domains between mothers who had or did not have musculoskeletal pain., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated mothers of children with a clinical diagnosis of microcephaly, due to congenital Zika virus syndrome, in the state of Pernambuco, northeast region, Brazil. To assess musculoskeletal pain, the Nordic Questionnaire of Musculoskeletal Symptoms was used, pain intensity was assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale and quality of life by the SF-36 Questionnaire., Results: Of the 63 mothers evaluated, 59 (93.7%) reported currently experiencing musculoskeletal pain. The lumbar spine was the body region with the highest prevalence of pain (77.8%), followed by the thoracic spine (57.1%) and cervical spine (50.8%). Pain intensity was higher in the lumbar spine (6.00 ± 0.47), thoracic spine (4.44 ± 0.52) and shoulders (3.81 ± 0.51). The domains that presented the lowest scores in the quality of life assessment were general health status (49.0 ± 3.19), emotional aspects (49.7 ± 5.88) and pain (49.7 ± 2.50). Mothers who had musculoskeletal pain had lower scores in all domains of quality of life assessment compared to mothers who did not have pain, demonstrating significant differences for functional capacity (P = 0.035), physical aspects (P = 0.047) and pain (P = 0.002)., Conclusion: A high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was observed in mothers of children with microcephaly, with a higher prevalence and intensity in the lumbar spine. The domains related to physical and emotional health presented the worst scores in the quality of life of the evaluated mothers and the presence of musculoskeletal pain reduced the quality of life of the mothers of children with microcephaly in this study., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A multi-disciplinary team surveyed ranchers at the Kalunga Historical and Cultural Heritage Site, in the Cerrado region of west central Brazil, to determine impacts promoted by toxic plants on cattle. The expedition to the Kalunga region was carried out by Brazilian and American researchers. Previously selected cattle ranch properties from "Vão das Almas", "Engenho II" and "Vão do Moleque" were visited. Twenty-four interviews were carried out with cattle ranchers and a questionnaire was applied to obtain information about outbreaks of native plant poisoning and their effects on livestock, and the use of local plants in phytotherapy. We classified problematic plants into three distinct categories. First, the toxic plants most cited by residents causing cattle losses were the flowers of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess ("pequi"), the fruits of Terminalia corrugata (Ducke) Gere & Boatwr. (Buchenavia tomentosa Eichler - "mirindiba" or "pau-pilão"), Eugenia dysenterica (Mart.) DC ("cagaita"), and Palicourea marcgravii A. St. Hil ("erva-café" or "cafezinho"). Secondly, other plants considered toxic, but causing less severe losses were Emmotum nitens (Benth.) Miers ("casco d'anta"), Indigofera lespedezioides (Kunth) ("timbozinho"), Ricinus communis L. ("mamona"), Pteridium esculentum (G. Forst.) Cockayne ("samambaia"), Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville ("barbatimão"), and Actinocladum verticillatum (Nees) McClure ex Soderstr. ("cambaúba"). The most important finding was the identification of the C. brasiliense flower as potentially toxic to cattle, which must be subject for future research. Further, we confirmed the toxicity and importance of P. marcgravii, E. dysenterica, and Terminalia corrugata. The survey highlighted phytotherapy plants used by the community, and greatly increased awareness by local livestock producers of poisonous plants for management purposes. We conclude that ethnobotanical knowledge, especially from the traditional community, is essential to understand livestock losses to toxic plants, and should be valued not only for reducing livestock losses, but also for cultural importance to the Kalunga communities in the Cerrado., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Prof Franklin Riet-Correa, co-author of our manuscript is a member of the Editorial Council of Toxicon. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP) of the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), under registration number 3,438,019 and the permission to access genetic heritage (CTA) was registered in the Heritage SisGen under access code A8E13C7., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

It is well-known that bacteria and fungi play important roles in the relationships between mycelium growth and the formation of fruiting bodies. The sun mushroom, Agaricus subrufescens , was discovered in Brazil ca. 1960 and it has become known worldwide due to its medicinal and nutritional properties. This work evaluated the bacterial community present in mushroom-colonized compost extract (MCCE) prepared from cultivation of A. subrufescens , its dynamics with two different soaking times and the influence of the application of those extracts on the casing layer of a new compost block for A. subrufescens cultivation. MCCEs were prepared through initial submersion of the colonized compost for 1 h or 24 h in water followed by application on casing under semi-controlled conditions. Full-length 16S rRNA genes of 1 h and 24 h soaked MCCE were amplified and sequenced using nanopore technology. Proteobacteria, followed by Firmicutes and Planctomycetes, were found to be the most abundant phyla in both the 1 h and 24 h soaked MCCE. A total of 275 different bacterial species were classified from 1 h soaked MCCE samples and 166 species from 24 h soaked MCCE, indicating a decrease in the bacterial diversity with longer soaking time during the preparation of MCCE. The application of 24 h soaked MCCE provided increases of 25% in biological efficiency, 16% in precociousness, 53% in the number of mushrooms and 40% in mushroom weight compared to control. Further investigation is required to determine strategies to enhance the yield and quality of the agronomic traits in commercial mushroom cultivation.

While there seems to be broad agreement that cluster formation does exist near solid surfaces, its presence at the liquid/vapor interface is controversial. We report experimental studies we have carried out on interfacial water attached on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. Nanosized steps in the measured force vs distance to the surface curves characterize water cluster profiles. An expansion of the interfacial structure with time is observed; the initial profile extent is typically ∼1 nm, and for longer times expanded structures of ∼70 nm are observed. Our previous results showed that the interfacial water structure has a relative permittivity of ε ≈ 3 at the air/water interface homogeneously increasing to ε ≈ 80 at 300 nm inside the bulk, but here we have shown that the interfacial dielectric permittivity may have an oscillating profile describing the spatial steps in the force vs distance curves. This low dielectric permittivity arrangements of clusters extend the region with ε ≈ 3 inside bulk water and exhibit a behavior similar to that of water networks that expand in time., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: The fungus Agaricus subrufescens is grown commercially in China, the USA, Brazil, Taiwan and Japan, among others. However, each country adopts a cultivation system that significantly influences the agronomical parameters and chemical composition of the harvested mushrooms. In this study, the influence of the cultivation process on the content of ergosterol and vitamin D 2 was evaluated., Results: Four commercial strains of A. subrufescens (ABL 04/49, ABL CS7, ABL 18/01 and ABL 19/01) and two environmental cultivation conditions (in the field and a controlled chamber with the absence of sunlight) were used. Infield cultivation, ABL CS7 and ABL 19/01 strains presented better agronomic parameters, whereas in a protected environment ABL 19/01, ABL 04/49 and ABL 18/01 demonstrated better performance, respectively. The highest biological efficiency value (64%) was provided by ABL 19/01 strain in a controlled environment., Conclusion: The highest content in ergosterol (990 mg kg -1 ) and vitamin D 2 (36.8 mg kg -1 ) were observed in mushrooms obtained in the field from strain ABL 04/49, which presents reasonable agronomic parameters for cultivation. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Alkali metals such as sodium and potassium have become promising candidates for the next generation of monovalent-ion batteries. However, a challenge for these battery technologies lies in the development of electrode materials that deliver high capacity and stable performance even at high cycling currents. Here we study orthorhombic tungsten ditelluride or Td-WTe 2 as an electrode material for sodium- (SIB) and potassium-ion batteries (KIB) in propylene carbonate (PC) based electrolyte. Results show that despite larger Shannon's radius of potassium-ions and their sluggish diffusion in Td-WTe 2 due to higher overpotential, at 100 mA.g -1 KIB-half cells showed higher cycling stability and low capacity decay of 4% versus 16% compared to SIB-half cells. Likewise, in a rate capability test at 61 st cycle (at 50 mA.g -1 ), the KIB-half cells yielded charge capacity of 172 mAh.g -1 versus 137 mAh.g -1 of SIB-half cells. The superior electrochemical performance of Td-WTe 2 electrode material in KIB-half cells is explained based on the concept of Stokes' radius-smaller desolvation activation energy resulted in higher mobility of potassium-ions in PC-based electrolyte. In addition, the likely mechanisms of electrochemical insertion and extraction of Na- and K-ions in Td-WTe 2 are also discussed., (© 2021 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Purpose: Periodontitis is considered a local risk factor for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). However, little is known about the progression of periodontitis in the presence of zoledronic acid (ZOL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the systemic use of ZOL on the progression of experimental periodontitis (EP) in rats, as ZOL could modulate the progression of periodontitis and concomitantly cause MRONJ in individuals with periodontitis., Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly distributed in 6 groups (n=8 each). To induce EP, ligatures were placed around the right first mandibular molars. Three groups were treated with ZOL (0.15 mg/kg/week, intraperitoneal), and 3 with 0.9% saline solution (controls). In the ZOL/Lig30 and ZOL/Lig 15 groups, after 4 weeks of treatment with ZOL, EP was induced and euthanasia was performed after 30 and 15 days of EP induction, respectively. In both groups, the animals continued to receive ZOL after EP until the end of the experiment. In the Lig/ZOL group, EP was induced first, and 15 days later, ZOL was administered for 8 weeks, with euthanasia 1 week after the last dose. After euthanasia, the mandibles were evaluated using micro-computed microtomography (micro-CT) and histomorphometry. Bone loss was measured, and the presence of osteonecrosis was evaluated histologically. The data were evaluated using the Student t-test and the Mann-Whitney test, with a significance level of 5%., Results: In the Lig/ZOL group, micro-CT revealed less alveolar bone resorption in the distal root ( P <0.01) than in the control group (Lig/Con). Histomorphometric analysis confirmed less alveolar bone resorption in the Lig/ZOL group ( P =0.001). Histologically, osteonecrosis was more common in the ZOL groups., Conclusion: ZOL decreased alveolar bone resorption in rats with EP. However, it presented a higher risk for MRONJ., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported, (Copyright © 2021. Korean Academy of Periodontology.)

This research aimed to obtain a hematological and biochemical profile of buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) bred in a region of the Brazilian Legal Amazon. A total of 73 animals of mixed races, divided into three groups, were studied: group 1 (G1) comprised animals up to 11 months old; in group 2 (G2), subjects were 12 to 23 months old; and, in group 3 (G3), they were 24 months old and older. We performed the hematological analysis manually, and, for the biochemistry, we used biochemical analyzers. Age of the animals has influenced the monocyte count. The counting of these cells was higher (p > 0.05) in younger animals (G1). There was no difference (p > 0.05) in hematological parameters concerning sex. In regard to biochemistry, we found that age influenced results for albumin and urea. Animals from G1 had higher albumin values when compared to G2 and G3. Serum urea values were higher in animals from G3. Regarding the serum mineral parameters, there were no significant results when the different age groups and both sexes were compared. Thus, the hematological and biochemical values obtained can work as a reference for the bubaline species of animals bred in the studied region, under the same management and breeding conditions. Sex and age of the animals are necessary for the interpretation of the tests.

Ewing sarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor of the pelvis in children and young adults. Even with aggressive treatment, its survival rate is amongst the poorest. Classical presentation may not be the rule. It may simulate clinically, imagiologically and histopathologically other nonmalignant entities. Therefore, its suspicion should not be overlooked. We report two cases of pelvic Ewing sarcoma: the first mimicking eosinophilic granuloma, and the second mimicking osteomyelitis. In the latter, we also report an atypical finding of its natural history: an initial response to antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment. In both cases, we highlight the possibility of an inconclusive percutaneous bone biopsy and the importance of immunochemistry and cytogenetics for the definitive diagnosis., Competing Interests: Conflito de Interesses Os autores não têm conflitos de interesse a declarar., (Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. 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: Clinical pharmacists have an important role in the intensive care unit (ICU) team but are scarce resources. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of on-site pharmacists on medical prescriptions in the ICU., Methods: This is a retrospective, quasi-experimental, controlled before-after study in two ICUs. Interventions by pharmacists were evaluated in phase 1 (February to November 2016) and phase 2 (February to May 2017) in ICU A (intervention) and ICU B (control). In phase 1, both ICUs had a telepharmacy service in which medical prescriptions were evaluated and interventions were made remotely. In phase 2, an on-site pharmacist was implemented in ICU A, but not in ICU B. We compared the number of interventions that were accepted in phase 1 versus phase 2., Results: During the study period, 8797/9603 (91.6%) prescriptions were evaluated, and 935 (10.6%) needed intervention. In phase 2, there was an increase in the proportion of interventions that were accepted by the physician in comparison to phase 1 (93.9% versus 76.8%, P < 0.001) in ICU A, but there was no change in ICU B (75.2% versus 73.9%, P = 0.845)., Conclusion: An on-site pharmacist in the ICU was associated with an increase in the proportion of interventions that were accepted by physicians., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Society for Quality in Health Care. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) catalyzes the terminal step of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, which plays an important role in the regulation of febrile response. In our previous work, ligand-based pharmacophore models, built with mPGES-1 inhibitors, were employed to identify a novel series of compounds that reduce the febrile response in rats., Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the mechanism of action of the most active compound (1)., Methods: For in vivo assays, rats were pretreated with the antipyretic compounds 1-8, 30 min before LPS injection. For in vitro assays, RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were incubated with the antipyretic compounds 1-8 for 1 hour before LPS stimulus. After 16 h, quantitative real-time PCR was carried out. Additionally, the PGE 2 concentration in the hypothalamus was quantified by ELISA and the inhibitory effect of N-cyclopentyl-N'-[3-(3-cyclopropyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol- 5-yl)phenyl]ethanediamide (1) over human COX-2 enzymatic activity was determined with a COX Colorimetric Inhibitor Screening Assay Kit., Results: Compound 1 and CAY10526 showed comparable efficacy to reduce the febrile response when injected i.v. (compound 1: 63.10%, CAY10526: 70.20%). Moreover, compound 1 significantly reduced the mPGES-1 mRNA levels, in RAW264.7 cells, under inflammatory conditions. A chemically-similar compound (8-) also significantly reduced the mRNA levels of the gene target. On the other hand, compounds 6 and 7, which are also somewhat similar to compound 1, did not significantly impact mPGES-1 mRNA levels., Conclusions: PGE2 concentration reduction in the hypothalamus, due to compound 1 central injection, is related to decreased mPGES-1 mRNA levels but not to COX-2 inhibition (IC50> 50 μM). Therefore, compound 1 is a promising lead for innovative antipyretic drug development., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objective: To evaluate the effect of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) in the regeneration of class II furcation defects, used alone or in conjunction with biomaterials., Methods: Electronic database searches and hand searches were carried out and double-blind randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of EMD in class II furcation therapy were included, and a meta-analysis comparing the effect of open flap debridement (OFD) + βTCP/HA with and without EMD was carried out., Results: The initial search resulted in a total of 298 articles, after removing the duplicates and exclusions after analysing the titles, abstracts and full text, five studies were included for the qualitative synthesis and two for the quantitative analysis. The meta-analysis showed no statistical difference when comparing OFD + βTCP/ HA with or without EMD in the treatment of furcation defects in any of the evaluated parameters. According to GRADE, the certainty of the evidence for the variables evaluated was moderate., Conclusion: The therapeutic modalities studied improved the periodontal clinical parameters of class II furcations, but the use of EMD in the treatment of these defects did not contribute to a clinical improvement that justified its use associated with the therapies/biomaterials. It is important to emphasize the need for more studies with larger samples to increase the certainty of the evidence reported in this review., (© 2020 Australian Dental Association.)

Potassium-ion batteries or KIBs are prominent candidates among research involving post lithium-ion batteries due to abundant availability, low-cost, and low standard reduction potential of potassium metal. Although some chemistry correlation with other monovalent alkali metal-ion batteries may exist, research on KIB chemistry is still in its infancy. A relevant research aspect of KIB is the development of a stable anode material that can efficiently cycle the large K + ions in its crystal structure within the 0 to 3 V potential window range; providing reasonable charge capacity and high reversibility. To this end, transition metal dichalcogenides or TMDs are promising electrode materials because of their favorable electrochemical properties. In this work, we study electrochemical performance of tungsten ditelluride (WTe 2 ) TMD as working electrode in a KIB half-cell. Results show that WTe 2 , a telluride-based TMD, has high first cycle specific charge capacity-with up to 3.3 K + stored per WTe 2 molecule (at least 4 times that of WS 2 electrode)-stable capacity of 143 mAh g -1 at 10th cycle number-outperforming WS 2 (66 mAh g -1 ) and graphite (95 mAh g -1 )-good reversibility, reasonable cycling stability, and low charge transfer resistance.

Paratuberculosis is an infectious, chronic, and incurable disease that affects ruminants, causing enteritis and chronic granulomatous lymphadenitis, characterized by malabsorption syndrome, its agent is the Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Thus, the objective of this work was to identify and characterize MAP in buffalo herds slaughtered in Baixada Maranhense region. Samples of intestines, mesenteric lymph nodes, and ileocecal valves were collected from 115 buffaloes slaughtered at Baixada Maranhense slaughterhouses to perform the diagnosis by histopathological examination using staining with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Ziehl-Neelsen, bacterial isolation, and real-time PCR. In the histopathology by H&E staining, there was evidence suggestive of paratuberculosis in 30% (31/115) of the buffaloes. With Ziehl-Neelsen staining, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) were visualized in 27% (26/115) of the tissue samples analyzed. MAP was isolated in 4.3% (5/115) of the fecal samples subjected to bacterial culture. The samples inoculated in HEYM with mycobactin J produced colonies identified with MAP according to their own morphological characteristics such as round, white, smooth and slightly rough, alcohol-acid staining, and slow growth with 8 weeks of incubation and mycobactin dependence. The agent confirmation was performed in five bacterial isolates (4.3%) and 15 (13%) fragments of jejunum, ileum, and mesenteric lymph node by the IS900 real-time PCR technique. The results of the present study demonstrate the subclinical occurrence of paratuberculosis in flocks of buffalo slaughtered in slaughterhouses of Baixada Maranhense.

Atomically thin sheets of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted interest as high capacity electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage devices owing to their unique properties (high surface area, high strength and modulus, faster ion diffusion, and so on), which arise from their layered morphology and diversified chemistry. Nevertheless, low electronic conductivity, poor cycling stability, large structural changes during metal-ion insertion/extraction along with high cost of manufacture are challenges that require further research in order for TMDs to find use in commercial batteries and supercapacitors. Here, a systematic review of cutting-edge research focused on TMD materials beyond the widely studied molybdenum disulfide or MoS 2 electrode is reported. Accordingly, a critical overview of the recent progress concerning synthesis methods, physicochemical and electrochemical properties is given. Trends and opportunities that may contribute to state-of-the-art research are also discussed., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The development of feasible, scalable, and environmentally-safe electrode materials that provide stable cycling performance are critical for success of beyond lithium rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors. With respect to the sodium-ion battery (SIB) anodes constituting of transition metal dichalcogenides such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ), poor cycle stability and fast capacity degradation, due to low electronic conductivity and dissolution of chemical species in the electrolyte, hinders use of these promising layered materials as SIB anodes. Herein we report chemical functionalization in MoS 2 nanosheets with polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide or SiOC with the aim to preserve MoS 2 from dissolution in the SIB organic electrolyte, without compromising its role in sodiation and desodiation processes. Our results suggest that a MoS 2 -SiOC composite electrode is effective in bringing improved cycle stability to sodium-ion cycling over neat MoS 2 even after 100 cycles.

Aflatoxins are toxic fungal metabolites produced by Aspergillus sp. with carcinogenic properties that are a common food contaminant of many crops including maize and peanuts. In Timor-Leste malnutrition and children's stunting are frequent and maize and peanuts are staple foods. This study aimed to provide information on aflatoxin exposure nationally. The study measured levels of aflatoxin in locally-produced maize and peanuts (296 samples) and of aflatoxin-albumin conjugate in blood samples of women and young children (514 and 620 respectively) across all municipalities. The average concentration of aflatoxin in the grain samples was low with most maize (88%) and peanut (92%) samples - lower than European Commission tolerated aflatoxin level. Although aflatoxin-albumin conjugate was detected in more than 80% of blood samples, the average concentration in children and adults of 0.64 and 0.98 pg mg -1 alb, respectively, is much lower than in other similar rural-based countries. Although low in concentration, blood aflatoxin levels and aflatoxin contamination levels in maize across municipalities were correlated significantly for mothers (R 2  = 37%, n = 495) but not for children (R 2  = 10%). It is unlikely that the consumption of aflatoxin contaminated grain is a causative factor in the current level of malnutrition and stunting affecting Timor-Leste children.

A technique to image ion pairs in solution is reported. We investigated structural and dynamic properties of ion-pair distributions deposited on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces in electrolyte solutions. Atomic force microscopy images of HOPG immersed in NaCl and KCl solutions display regular arrangements on top of the hexagonal carbon rings forming the HOPG atomic structure. These arrangements are the result of the low value of the aqueous interfacial dielectric constant (ε r ≈ 3-11). The measured ion-pair radius is a function of the salt present in the solution; for KCl, the ion-pair radius is equal or smaller than 0.42 nm; for NaCl, the ion-pair radius is 0.36 nm. A comparison of these values with their crystalline lattice dimensions indicates that both KCl and NaCl ion pairs in solution at the HOPG/solution interfacial region exist as tight contact ion pairs in quasistationary distributions. The NaCl ion-pair distribution forms an aligned arrangement, and the KCl distribution is formed by intercalated pairs., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2019 American Chemical Society.)

Purpose: To review the literature on uterine contraction and to highlight magnetic resonance imaging using the cine technique as a useful method to evaluate these movements., Methods: The literature research on PubMed database was done up to February 2019 with restriction to English language about articles regarding uterine peristalsis and cine MR., Results: Infertility is a common clinical problem and a source of frustration for those who want to have children. Uterine movements are crucial elements in respect of successful conception, implantation, and the development of a healthy pregnancy. It is known that the direction and frequency of uterine peristalsis are closely related to the different phases of the menstrual cycle, and that changes in its activity may interfere with reproduction. One condition that has been linked with infertility by several studies is dysfunctional uterine contractility. Magnetic resonance imaging, using the cine technique, has been shown to be a useful tool in the evaluation of these movements, allowing the identification of patients with some type of dysfunction and establish strategies to increase pregnancy rates., Conclusion: Cine MR is an excellent imaging method for the evaluation of uterine peristalsis and identification of dysfunctional contractions.

A clear molecular description of excess hydrated protons and their local hydrogen bond transport network remains elusive. Here, the hydrogen bond network of excess hydrated protons in water bridges was probed by measuring their Raman spectra and comparing them to the spectra of protons in ice and water. The proton vibrational spectrum and the hydrogen bond network translational and librational spectra were recorded. The spectra of the water bridge and water exhibit clear differences, indicating the presence of a structure in water bridges when subjected to an electric field of ∼10 6 V/m that has not been previously reported. The intermolecular Raman spectrum of the floating water bridge exhibits a hydrogen bond stretching band at 150-250 cm -1 , librational bands within the 300-1000 cm -1 spectral range, and a large band at 1500-3000 cm -1 , which corresponds to the vibrational signature of excess hydrated protons in the water bridge structure. The excess protons are shown to move predominantly at the air/water interface, and the effect of this distribution is a measurable change in the air/water interfacial tension from ∼80 to ∼32 N/m. Therefore, hydrated protons must have a unique water arrangement that enables them to propagate without sinking into bulk water. This local polarized hydrogen bond network in the interfacial water region is characterized by a translational spectrum similar to that of ice V.

Excess proton structures in water remain unclear. The motion and nature of excess protons in water were probed using a supported water bridge structure in electric field ( E ) with an intensity of ∼10 6 V/m. The experimental setup generated protons that exhibit a long lifetime. The effect of excess protons in water induced a ∼3% variation in the pH for a 300 V overvoltage at the cathode. The current versus voltage curves show a current space-charge-limited operation. By measuring the space-charge distribution in both the cathode and anode and by adjusting the Mott-Gurney law to the measured excess hydrated proton current and the voltage drop in the cationic space-charge region, the protonic mobility was determined to be ∼200 × 10 -8 m 2 /(V·s) ( E ≈ 4 × 10 6 V/m). This measured mobility, which is typically five times larger than the reported mobility for protons in water, is in agreement with the mechanism outlined by Grotthuss in 1805. The measured mid-Raman spectrum covering 1000-3800 cm -1 range indicates the species character. The hydrated excess proton spectral response through the mid-Raman at 1760 and 3200 cm -1 was attributed to the Zundel complex and the region at ∼2000 to ∼2600 cm -1 response is attributed to the Eigen complex, indicating a core structure simultaneously with a Eigen-like and Zundel-like character, suggesting a rapid fluctuation between these two structures or a new specie., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Skin disease is one of the most common human diseases and affects between 30% and 70% of individuals, which requires a lot of attention to their treatments. The delivery of active pharmacological ingredients at the topical level is a challenge because of the difficulties in overcoming the mechanical barrier created by the skin and reaching greater depths, since delivery specificities are decisive for the degree of effectiveness. In this way, the nanoemulsions emerge as a potential system for the incorporation of active substances in the cells and for the controlled release of active principles. The present article intends to review the main treatments for which the nanoemulsions were used in the field of dermatology. In addition, it discusses the results and advantages over the other dermatological therapies that are being used. The results showed that the particle size in nanoemulsions increased the contact surface area, resulting in increased drug efficacy, even in comparison with other existing pharmaceutical formulations. In conclusion, it has been shown that nanoemulsions have a better performance in efficacy, safety, permeability profile, and bioavailability compared with other formulations studied., (© 2018 The International Society of Dermatology.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) on the proliferation and viability of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). Cells were irradiated or not (control) with an InGaAlP laser diode (660 nm, 30 mW, continuous action mode) using two different energy densities (0.5 J/cm 2 -16 s; 1.0 J/cm 2 -33 s). Irradiation was performed at 0 and 48 h, with the laser probe fixed at a distance of 0.5 cm from the cells. Cell proliferation was analyzed at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h by the Trypan blue exclusion method and MTT assay. Cell cycle and Ki67 expression were analyzed by flow cytometry. Apoptosis-related events were evaluated by expression of annexin V/PI and nuclear morphological changes by staining with DAPI. Differences between groups at each time were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests, adopting a level of significance of 5% (p < 0.05). The results showed that an energy density of 1.0 J/cm 2 promoted an increase in cell proliferation at 48 and 72 h compared to the control and 0.5 J/cm 2 groups. Cell cycle analysis revealed a predominance of cells in the S and G2/M phases in the irradiated groups. This finding was confirmed by the increased expression of Ki67. Low positive staining for annexin V and PI was observed in all groups, and no nuclear changes were detected, indicating that cell viability was not affected by the energy densities tested. It can be concluded that the LLLI parameters used (660 nm, 30 mW, 1.0 J/cm 2 ) promote the proliferation of SHEDs and the maintenance of cell viability.

Due to the absence of safety of the antipyretics to patients with cardiovascular dysfunction, new targets to treat inflammation have been pursued. mPGES-1 is a promising target because its inhibition would not cause the side-effects related to COX inhibition. To identify novel inhibitors of mPGES-1, we developed a ligand-based pharmacophore model that differentiates true inhibitors from decoys and enlightens the structure-activity relationships for known mPGES-1 inhibitors. The model (four hydrophobic centers, two hydrogen bond acceptor and two hydrogen bond donor points) was employed to select lead-like compounds from ZINC database for in vivo evaluation. Among the 18 compounds selected, five inhibited the fever induced by LPS. The most potent compound (5-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-({6-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl}methyl)-2,3dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-one) is active peripherally (i.v.) or centrally (i.c.v.) (82.18% and 112% reduction, respectively) and reduces (69.13%) hypothalamic PGE 2 production, without significant COX-1/2 inhibition. In conclusion, our in silico approach leads to the selection of a compound that presents the chemical features to inhibit mPGES-1 and reduces fever induced by LPS. Furthermore, the in vivo and in vitro results support the hypothesis that its mechanism of action does not depend on COX inhibition. Hence, it can be considered a promising lead compound for antipyretic development, once it would not have the side-effects of COX-1/2 inhibitors., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Purpose: This study evaluated the involvement of endogenous kallikrein-kinin system and the bradykinin (BK) B 1 and B 2 receptors on LPS- induced fever and the POA cells involved in this response., Material and Methods: Male Wistar rats received either i.v. (1 mg/kg), i.c.v. (20 nmol) or i.h. (2 nmol) injections of icatibant (B 2 receptor antagonist) 30 or 60 min, respectively, before the stimuli. DALBK (B 1 receptor antagonist) was given either 15min before BK (i.c.v.) or 30 min before LPS (i.v.). Captopril (5 mg/kg, sc.,) was given 1 h prior LPS or BK. Concentrations of BK and total kininogenon CSF, plasma and tissue kallikrein were evaluated. Rectal temperatures (rT) were assessed by telethermometry. Ca ++ signaling in POA cells was performed in rat pup brain tissue microcultures., Results: Icatibant reduced LPS fever while, captopril exacerbated that response, an effect abolished by icatibant. Icatibant (i.h.) reduced fever to BK (i.h.) but not that induced by LPS (i.v.). BK increased intracellular calcium concentration in neurons and astrocytes. LPS increased levels of bradykinin, tissue kallikrein and total kininogen. BK (i.c.v.) increased rT and decreased tail skin temperature. Captopril potentiated BK-induced fever an effect abolished by icatibant. DALBK reduced the fever induced by BK. BK (i.c.v.) increased the CSF PGE 2 concentration. Effect abolished by indomethacin (i.p.)., Conclusions: LPS activates endogenous kalikrein-kinin system leading to production of BK, which by acting on B 2 -receptors of POA cells causes prostaglandin synthesis that in turn produces fever. Thus, a kinin B 2 -receptor antagonist that enters into the brain could constitute a new and interesting strategy to treat fever., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the effect of low-level laser irradiation on proliferation and viability of murine adipose-derived stem cells previously submitted to cryopreservation., Methods: Adipose-derived stem cells were isolated from inguinal fat pads of three mice, submitted to cryopreservation in fetal bovine serum with 10% dimethylsulfoxide for 30 days and then thawed and maintained in normal culture conditions. Culture cells were either irradiated or not (control) with an InGaAIP diode laser at zero and 48 hours, using two different energy densities (0.5 and 1.0J/cm2). Cell proliferation was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion method and MTT assay at intervals of zero, 24, 48, and 72 hours after the first laser application. Cell viability and apoptosis of previously cryopreserved cells submitted to laser therapy were evaluated by flow cytometry., Results: The Irradiated Groups (0.5 and 1.0J/cm2) showed an increased cell proliferation (p<0.05) when compared to the Control Group, however no significant difference between the two energy densities was observed. Flow cytometry revealed a percentage of viable cells higher than 99% in all groups., Conclusion: Low-level laser irradiation has stimulatory effects on the proliferation of adipose-derived stem cells previously submitted to cryopreservation.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complex syndrome associated with substantial morbidity, mortality and costs. Despite advancements in diagnosis and care practice, AKI remains a disorder usually under/late-recognized with high mortality. One of the hidden reasons for poor outcome might be delayed nephrology consultation, with the involvement of the specialist only in severe stages of AKI when renal replacement therapy (RRT) is required., Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane central register for related work on the subject. Six studies were identified for the meta-analysis, correlating time of nephrology consultation and mortality in AKI., Results: We found that delayed nephrology consultation is associated with higher mortality in AKI, with an OR 0.79 (95% CI 0.48-1.10, p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Delayed nephrology consultation contributes to higher mortality in AKI. The early involvement of nephrologist may present an advantage in terms of early recognition, prevention and effective treatment of AKI. An early involvement of multidisciplinary task force may contribute to better treatment, before the preventable complications of AKI occur or an emergency RRT is required., (© 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of a cryopreservation protocol on the proliferation and viability of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs)., Materials and Methods: Cells from the pulp of three deciduous teeth were isolated and characterized to confirm their stem cell nature. In second passage, part of the cells were submitted to normal conditions of cell culture (Control group), while part of the cells were maintained in 10% DMSO diluted in foetal bovine serum and submitted to the following cryopreservation protocol: 2 h at 4 °C, 18 h at -20 °C and then at -80 °C for two intervals (30 days - Cryopreservation I; and 180 days Cryopreservation II). Cell proliferation and cell cycle were evaluated at intervals of 24, 48 and 72 h after plating, and apoptosis-related events were analyzed at 72 h., Results: All groups exhibited an increase in the number of cells, and no significant differences between the cryopreserved and control groups were observed (p > .05). The distribution of cells in the cell cycle phases was consistent with cell proliferation, and the percentage of viable cells was higher than 99% in all groups, indicating that cell viability was not affected by the cryopreservation protocol throughout the experiment., Conclusion: The proposed cryopreservation protocol is adequate for the storage of SHED, permitting their use in future experimental studies.

Here, we present the genome sequence of the Escherichia coli bacteriophage UFV-AREG1. This phage was isolated from cowshed wastewater and showed specificity for enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 (ATCC 43895), E. coli 0111 (CDC O11ab) and E. coli (ATCC 23229)., (Copyright © 2016 Lopez et al.)

Structures of crystallized deposits formed by the molecular self-assembly of aspartic acid and valine on silicon substrates were imaged by atomic force microscopy. Images of d- and l-aspartic acid crystal surfaces showing extended molecularly flat sheets or regions separated by single molecule thick steps are presented. Distinct orientation surfaces were imaged, which, combined with the single molecule step size, defines the geometry of the crystal. However, single molecule step growth also reveals the crystal chirality, i.e., growth orientations. The imaged ordered lattice of aspartic acid (asp) and valine (val) mostly revealed periodicities corresponding to bulk terminations, but a previously unreported molecular hexagonal lattice configuration was observed for both l-asp and l-val but not for d-asp or d-val. Atomic force microscopy can then be used to identify the different chiral forms of aspartic acid and valine crystals.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used in several in vitro experiments in order to stimulate cell proliferation. Cells such as fibroblasts, keratinocytes, lymphocytes, and osteoblasts have shown increased proliferation when submitted to laser irradiation, although little is known about the effects of LLLT on stem cells. This study aims to assess, through a systematic literature review, the effects of LLLT on the in vitro proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells. Using six different terms, we conducted an electronic search in PubMed/Medline database for articles published in the last twelve years. From 463 references obtained, only 19 papers met the search criteria and were included in this review. The analysis of the papers showed a concentration of experiments using LLLT on stem cells derived from bone marrow, dental pulp, periodontal ligament, and adipose tissue. Several protocols were used to irradiate the cells, with variations on wavelength, power density, radiation time, and state of light polarization. Most studies demonstrated an increase in the proliferation rate of the irradiated cells. It can be concluded that the laser therapy positively influences the in vitro proliferation of stem cells studied, being necessary to carry out further experiments on other cell types and to uniform the methodological designs.

Fever is a complex signal of inflammatory and infectious diseases. It is generally initiated when peripherally produced endogenous pyrogens reach areas that surround the hypothalamus. These peripheral endogenous pyrogens are cytokines that are produced by leukocytes and other cells, the most known of which are interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6. Because of the capacity of these molecules to induce their own synthesis and the synthesis of other cytokines, they can also be synthesized in the central nervous system. However, these pyrogens are not the final mediators of the febrile response. These cytokines can induce the synthesis of cyclooxygenase-2, which produces prostaglandins. These prostanoids alter hypothalamic temperature control, leading to an increase in heat production, the conservation of heat, and ultimately fever. The effect of antipyretics is based on blocking prostaglandin synthesis. In this review, we discuss recent data on the importance of prostaglandins in the febrile response, and we show that some endogenous mediators can still induce the febrile response even when known antipyretics reduce the levels of prostaglandins in the central nervous system. These studies suggest that centrally produced mediators other than prostaglandins participate in the genesis of fever. Among the most studied central mediators of fever are corticotropin-releasing factor, endothelins, chemokines, endogenous opioids, and substance P, which are discussed herein. Additionally, recent evidence suggests that these different pathways of fever induction may be activated during different pathological conditions.

The transcription factor nuclear factor interleukin 6 (NF-IL6) plays a pivotal role in neuroinflammation and, as we previously suggested, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis-activation. Here, we investigated its contribution to immune-to-brain communication and brain controlled sickness symptoms during lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced (50 or 2500 μg/kg i.p.) systemic inflammation in NF-IL6-deficient (KO) or wildtype mice (WT). In WT LPS induced a dose-dependent febrile response and reduction of locomotor activity. While KO developed a normal fever after low-dose LPS-injection the febrile response was almost abolished 3-7 h after a high LPS-dose. High-dose LPS-stimulation was accompanied by decreased (8 h) followed by enhanced (24 h) inflammation in KO compared to WT e.g. hypothalamic mRNA-expression including microsomal prostaglandin E synthase, inducible nitric oxide synthase and further inflammatory mediators, neutrophil recruitment to the brain as well as plasma levels of inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and IL-10. Interestingly, KO showed reduced locomotor activity even under basal conditions, but enhanced locomotor activity to novel environment stress. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis-activity of KO was intact, but tryptophan-metabolizing enzymes were shifted to enhanced serotonin production and reuptake. Overall, we showed for the first time that NF-IL6 plays a dual role for sickness response and immune-to-brain communication: acting pro-inflammatory at 8h but anti-inflammatory at 24 h after onset of the inflammatory response reflecting active natural programming of inflammation. Moreover, reduced locomotor activity observed in KO might be due to altered tryptophan metabolism and serotonin reuptake suggesting some role for NF-IL6 as therapeutic target for depressive disorders., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) stimulates the proliferation of a variety of cell types. However, very little is known about the effect of laser therapy on dental stem cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of LLLI (660 nm, 30 mW) on the proliferation rate of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSC), obtained from two healthy permanent third molars extracted due to surgical indication. Culture cells were either irradiated or not (control) with an InGaAIP diode laser at 0 and 48 h, using two different energy densities (0.5 J/cm², 16 s and 1.0 J/cm², 33 s). Cell proliferation was evaluated by the Trypan blue exclusion method and by measuring mitochondrial activity using the MTT-based cytotoxicity assay at intervals of 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after the first laser application. An energy density of 1.0 J/cm² improved the cell proliferation in comparison to the other groups (control and laser 0.5 J/cm²) at 48 and 72 h. The group irradiated with 1.0 J/cm² presented significantly higher MTT activity at 48 and 72 h when compared to the energy density of 0.5 J/cm². It can be concluded that LLLI using infrared light and an energy density of 1.0 J/cm² has a positive stimulatory effect on the proliferation of hPDLSC.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is the causative agent of swine pleuropneumonia, a highly contagious disease associated with pigs of all ages that results in severe economic losses to the industry. Here, we report for the first time six genome sequences of A. pleuropneumoniae clinical isolates of serotype 8, found worldwide., (Copyright © 2015 Pereira et al.)

In this study, we evaluated the growth of Pleurotus ostreatus PLO6 using oxo-biodegradable plastics as a carbon and energy source. Oxo-biodegradable polymers contain pro-oxidants that accelerate their physical and biological degradation. These polymers were developed to decrease the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills. To study the degradation of the plastic polymers, oxo-biodegradable plastic bags were exposed to sunlight for up to 120 days, and fragments of these bags were used as substrates for P. ostreatus. We observed that physical treatment alone was not sufficient to initiate degradation. Instead, mechanical modifications and reduced titanium oxide (TiO2) concentrations caused by sunlight exposure triggered microbial degradation. The low specificity of lignocellulolytic enzymes and presence of endomycotic nitrogen-fixing microorganisms were also contributing factors in this process.