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Breno Renó,1 Edvard Martins Oliveira,1 Adler Diniz Souza2 1Institute of System Engineering and Information Technology (IESTI), Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Itajubá, MG, Brazil; 2Institute of Mathematics and Computing (IMC), Federal University of Itajubá (UNIFEI), Itajubá, MG, BrazilCorrespondence: Breno Renó, 103, Aparício Pereira Martins Street, Piranguinho, MG, 37508-000, Brazil, Tel +55 35 998177836, Email brenooliveirareno@unifei.edu.brContext: The technological advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) creates opportunities in various social sectors. Patients in clinics or home care have their comfort and safety enhanced with remote monitoring, sensors and applications that control and transfer patient data. These applications must be trustworthy, since they deal with sensitive data.Purpose: The purpose of this work is to identify gaps in trustworthiness, availability, effectiveness, security and other attributes. Also, to highlight challenges and opportunities for research and give guidance on choosing the right technology or application based on the resources available to support patients and doctors, protocol of communication and maturity level of these technologies.Methodology: This work presents a systematic review of the literature following four steps: Definition of the Research Questions, Conduct Search, Screening of Papers, and Data Extraction and Mapping Process.Results: Based on the articles studied, it was possible to answer important questions about eHealth applications. The results highlight how eHealth applications can enhance patient care by monitoring health data and supporting doctors’ decision-making with a reasonable level of trustworthiness. Additionally, the results demonstrate how applications can notify external caregivers in emergencies and assist in diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. However, these applications still face problems related to sensor lifetime, medical data sharing, interoperability and lack of standardization. Finally, we suggest a literature mapping to support the choice of technologies based on resources available, communication protocol and technological maturity.Conclusion: This work carries out a systematic literature review to discuss state-of-the-art eHealth applications and gather new information of current research. In this process it was possible to show how these applications work, map out their main technological characteristics to assist the decision-making process for future works and uncover eHealth applications’ strengths, future perspectives and challenges, specifically related to the high level of trustworthiness necessary.Keywords: internet of things, IoT, remote monitoring, healthcare, decision making

Precise anatomical assessment of femoral neck anteversion (FNA) and the neck shaft angles (NSA) would be essential in diagnosing the pathological conditions involving hip joint and its ligaments. The present study was undertaken on 48 fetal femurs to calculate the NSA and FNA in fetuses digitally. End on images of upper end of the femurs were taken for the estimation of FNA and a photograph in a perpendicular plane was taken to calculate the NSA. Microsoft Paint software was used to mark the points and Image J software was used to calculate the angles digitally. The FNA ranged from 17.08º to 33.97 º on right and 17.32 º to 45.08 º on left. The NSA ranged from 139.33 º to 124.91 º on right and 143.98 º to 123.8 º on left. Unpaired t test showed the FNA and NSA of femur did not vary significantly during the third trimester.

Foram avaliados 10 eqüinos da raça Manga Larga, machos, inteiros clinicamente sadios, submetidos à punção cecal percutânea. Analisou-se a resposta clínica, celular, bioquímica e microbiológica do líquido peritoneal por um período de 24 horas após a punção cecal, nos tempos T0, T6, T12 e T24. Foi observada elevação na freqüência respiratória em T6 e na temperatura retal entre T6 e T12. Decorridas 24 horas da punção cecal, ocorreu aumento na concentração de proteínas totais do líquido peritoneal e na atividade da fosfatase alcalina. Tanto a atividade da ALT quanto os níveis de hemoglobina apresentaram diminuição em T6. Não foram registradas alterações na celularidade do plasma ou do líquido peritoneal e obteve-se resultado negativo para a cultura microbiológica do líquido. Considerando a inexistência de efeitos adversos, além das poucas alterações descritas, conclui-se que a punção cecal percutânea é um procedimento seguro e factível, se praticada criteriosamente.

Sand flies were collected in the central region of the state of Rondônia (W 64º30' to 63º00' and S 10º00'to 11º00') using Shannon and CDC light traps from October 1997 to August 2000. A total of 85,850 specimens representing 78 named species were captured. Of these 14 were new records for Rondônia. The proportion of males/females was 1/1.131. Trypanosomatids, that are presently being identified, were detected in 11 species. Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi was recorded from Psychodopygus davisi and P. hirsutus. In the present study the dominant species was P. davisi (39.6%) followed by Lutzomyia whitmani (13.1%), P. carrerai (11.6%), and P. hirsutus (10.2%). The importance of P. davisi as a vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis is discussed.

O artigo traz reflexões sobre questões relacionadas às medidas de prevenção e controle de infecção, iniciando pela não adesão dos profissionais da área da saúde às medidas de prevenção. Aponta aspectos preocupantes relacionados ao meio ambiente, decorrentes do uso de materiais descartáveis apesar dos benefícios que representam para a segurança, redução dos custos operacionais, dentre outros. Todas essas questões são apresentadas como desafio para o ensino do controle de infecção na formação dos profissionais da área da saúde e apresentam alguns pressupostos norteadores.

Foram utilizados 24 suínos desmamados, distribuídos em quatro tratamentos, com seis animais em cada. Os suínos dos tratamentos 1, 2, 3 e 4 receberam, durante 90 dias, ração com respectivamente: 0,0, 0,2, 0,4 e 0,6% de sementes de Crotalaria spectabilis. Os animais que morreram durante o período experimental foram necropsiados logo após a morte. Os sobreviventes foram sacrificados no último dia do experimento. Durante as necropsias, foram colhidos fragmentos do fígado, rim, pulmão e estômago, para realização de exame histopatológico. Os principais sintomas da intoxicação foram edemas subcutâneos, principalmente nos membros, na face e região do pescoço, mucosas oral e ocular pálidas, cerdas eriçadas, caquexia e apatia. O hidropericárdio foi a lesão macroscópica mais comum, acometendo vários animais que receberam a ração contaminada. As principais lesões microscópicas foram fibrose, proliferação de ductos biliares e megalocitose no fígado, broncopneumonia e bronquite crônicas, megalocitose de células epiteliais tubulares renais, nefrose e nefrite crônica, bem como gastrite e ulceração gástrica. Os resultados destes experimentos indicam que ração contaminada com sementes de C. spectabilis, nas proporções utilizadas, foi tóxica para suínos.

The integration of machine learning (ML) with edge computing and wearable devices is rapidly advancing healthcare applications. This study systematically maps the literature in this emerging field, analyzing 171 studies and focusing on 28 key articles after rigorous selection. The research explores the key concepts, techniques, and architectures used in healthcare applications involving ML, edge computing, and wearable devices. The analysis reveals a significant increase in research over the past six years, particularly in the last three years, covering applications such as fall detection, cardiovascular monitoring, and disease prediction. The findings highlight a strong focus on neural network models, especially Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory Networks (LSTMs), and diverse edge computing platforms like Raspberry Pi and smartphones. Despite the diversity in approaches, the field is still nascent, indicating considerable opportunities for future research. The study emphasizes the need for standardized architectures and the further exploration of both hardware and software to enhance the effectiveness of ML-driven healthcare solutions. The authors conclude by identifying potential research directions that could contribute to continued innovation in healthcare technologies.

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) have emerged as innovative drug delivery systems, offering distinct advantages over other lipid-based carriers, such as liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles. Benzocaine (BZC), the oldest topical local anesthetic in use, undergoes metabolism by pseudocholinesterase, leading to the formation of p -aminobenzoic acid, a causative agent for allergic reactions associated with prolonged BZC usage. In order to mitigate adverse effects and enhance bioavailability, BZC was encapsulated within NLC. Utilizing a 2 3 factorial design, formulations comprising cetyl palmitate (solid lipid), propylene glycol monocaprylate (liquid lipid), and Pluronic F68 as surfactants were systematically prepared, with variations in the solid/liquid lipid mass ratios (60:40-80:20%), total lipid contents (15-25%), and BZC concentrations (1-3%). The optimized formulation underwent characterization by dynamic light scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, Raman imaging, X-ray diffraction, small-angle neutron scattering, nanotracking analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/cryo-TEM, providing insights into the nanoparticle structure and the incorporation of BZC into its lipid matrix. NLC BZC exhibited a noteworthy encapsulation efficiency (%EE = 96%) and a 1 year stability when stored at 25 °C. In vitro kinetic studies and in vivo antinociceptive tests conducted in mice revealed that NLC BZC effectively sustained drug release for over 20 h and prolonged the anesthetic effect of BZC for up to 18 h. We therefore propose the use of NLC BZC to diminish the effective anesthetic concentration of benzocaine (from 20 to 3% or less), thus minimizing allergic reactions that follow the topical administration of this anesthetic and, potentially, paving the way for new routes of BZC administration in pain management.

Objective: To evaluate the etiology of and factors associated with pulmonary infection in kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant recipients., Methods: This was a single-center case-control study conducted between December of 2017 and March of 2020 at a referral center for kidney transplantation in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The case:control ratio was 1:1.8. Cases included kidney or kidney-pancreas transplant recipients hospitalized with pulmonary infection. Controls included kidney or kidney-pancreas transplant recipients without pulmonary infection and matched to cases for sex, age group, and donor type (living or deceased)., Results: A total of 197 patients were included in the study. Of those, 70 were cases and 127 were controls. The mean age was 55 years (for cases) and 53 years (for controls), with a predominance of males. Corticosteroid use, bronchiectasis, and being overweight were associated with pulmonary infection risk in the multivariate logistic regression model. The most common etiologic agent of infection was cytomegalovirus (in 14.3% of the cases), followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (in 10%), Histoplasma capsulatum (in 7.1%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (in 7.1%)., Conclusions: Corticosteroid use, bronchiectasis, and being overweight appear to be risk factors for pulmonary infection in kidney/kidney-pancreas transplant recipients, endemic mycoses being prevalent in this population. Appropriate planning and follow-up play an important role in identifying kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant recipients at risk of pulmonary infection.

B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is an ideal target in multiple myeloma (MM) due to highly specific expression in malignant plasma cells. BCMA-directed therapies including antibody drug conjugates, chimeric antigen receptor-T cells and bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) have shown high response rates in MM. WVT078 is an anti-BCMA× anti-CD3 BsAb that binds to BCMA with subnanomolar-affinity. It was selected based on potent T cell activation and anti-MM activity in preclinical models with favorable tolerability in cynomolgus monkey. In the ongoing first-in-human phase I dose-escalation study (NCT04123418), 33 patients received intravenous WVT078 once weekly at escalated dosing. At the active doses of 48-250 µg/kg tested to date (n = 26), the overall response rate (ORR) was 38.5% (90% CI: 22.6-56.4%) and the complete response rate (CRR, stringent complete response + complete response) was 11.5%, (90% CI: 3.2-27.2%). At the highest dose level tested, the ORR was 75% (3 of 4 patients). 26 (78.8%) patients reported at least one Grade ≥3 AE and 16 of these AEs were suspected to be drug related. 20 patients (60.6%) experienced cytokine release syndrome. WVT078 has an acceptable safety profile and shows preliminary evidence of clinical activity at doses tested to date., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Qualitative menu labelling can be defined as descriptive or non-numerical interpretive labels (e.g. traffic light labelling, healthy food symbols, messages or ingredient lists). Qualitative information seems to have a positive influence on consumers' food choices, particularly in institutional food service establishments, such as in universities. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the influence of different formats of qualitative menu labelling on food choices in university restaurants. This systematic review was guided by the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) and conducted vote counting of studies based on the direction of effect. Studies were retrieved from Cochrane Library, Scopus, MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO and Web of Science databases and reference lists of selected articles. Experimental and quasi-experimental studies were included. Two independent researchers searched and extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. From the initial search (460 records), four papers were selected, plus one paper identified in a previous study and a further six from an update search, totalling 11 included studies, reporting 14 different interventions (n = 499 174). Types of interventions included the use of symbols and the inclusion of traffic light labelling. Outcomes of interest were food choice, expressed as mean, median or percent healthy food choices or purchases. Qualitative menu labels increased healthy food choices and/or purchase behaviour, with 10 of 12 interventions favouring the intervention (83%; 95%CI 55-95%; p = 0.0386). Most of the studies favouring the intervention used healthy food symbols for healthier foods or food components, alone or in association with another intervention and were of moderate and weak quality. These findings may serve as a basis for the implementation of nutrition information policies in university restaurants., (© 2023 British Nutrition Foundation.)

Background: Existing literature on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training focuses on the knowledge and skill components while the attitudinal component is rarely addressed. There is a need to explore how peer interaction, learning atmosphere, and communication influence learning effectiveness during CPR training. Therefore, this study's objective was to evaluate how a senior student (near peer) sharing their real-life experience of performing CPR would influence medical students' learning and readiness to perform CPR., Methods: The present study involved 250 newly enrolled undergraduate medical students. The Solomon's four-group study design was used to evaluate the influence of both pretesting and peer interaction. Students belonging to two groups initially completed a pre-training knowledge test (pretest) and a questionnaire on readiness to perform CPR. Students from all four groups then participated in instructor-led hands-on skills training, after which the two intervention groups interacted with their senior, who shared their life experiences of performing CPR. Finally, all four groups underwent skills evaluation, immediate and delayed post-tests, and completed a questionnaire to assess readiness to perform CPR. The students also provided their feedback on the experience of interacting with a peer during the training., Results: Post-test scores were significantly higher than pretest scores (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.05). Scores were significantly higher in pretested intervention groups than in the non-pretested non-intervention group (p < 0.05). Delayed post-test scores were slightly but not significantly lower than the immediate post-test scores with no significant difference observed in the scores among the groups. The pretested groups showed more readiness to perform CPR and the pretested intervention group were least concerned about acquiring infection during CPR. Students in all groups were confident of performing chest compressions correctly, and found it inspiring and motivating listening to and discussing real-life experiences with a near peer., Conclusions: Hearing from peers about real-life CPR experience during CPR training sessions significantly impacted learning, enhanced student motivation to learn and may be an effective strategy to consider in routine CPR training. However, the positive effects of pretesting and peer interaction on knowledge were not sustained, highlighting a need for repeat training., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis is still based on behavioral criteria through a lengthy and time-consuming process. Much effort is being made to identify brain imaging biomarkers and develop tools that could facilitate its diagnosis. In particular, using Machine Learning classifiers based on resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) data is promising, but there is an ongoing need for further research on their accuracy and reliability. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the available evidence in the literature so far. A bivariate random-effects meta-analytic model was implemented to investigate the sensitivity and specificity across the 55 studies that offered sufficient information for quantitative analysis. Our results indicated overall summary sensitivity and specificity estimates of 73.8% and 74.8%, respectively. SVM stood out as the most used classifier, presenting summary estimates above 76%. Studies with bigger samples tended to obtain worse accuracies, except in the subgroup analysis for ANN classifiers. The use of other brain imaging or phenotypic data to complement rs-fMRI information seems promising, achieving higher sensitivities when compared to rs-fMRI data alone (84.7% versus 72.8%). Finally, our analysis showed AUC values between acceptable and excellent. Still, given the many limitations indicated in our study, further well-designed studies are warranted to extend the potential use of those classification algorithms to clinical settings., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objectives: This study aimed to correlate a higher Pelvic-Trochanteric Index (PTI) with an increased varus of the femoral neck with greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS). The secondary objective was to check whether the pelvic width changes with age., Methods: A prospective study was conducted to compare female patients diagnosed with GTPS (case group) with asymptomatic female participants (control group) from March 2011 to June 2017. On an anteroposterior pelvic radiograph, lines were drawn by two radiologists, and the PTI (ratio of the distance between the greater trochanters and distance between the iliac crests) was defined and the femoral neck-shaft angle was measured., Results: Data collected based on radiographs of 182 female patients (cases) and 150 female participants (controls) showed that the mean PTI was 1.09 (SD=0.01) in the case group and 1.07 (SD=0.01) in the control group (p<0.05), regardless of age. The distance between iliac crests increased with age (p<0.05) in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. It was also found that the mean femoral neck-shaft angle was 130.6° (SD=0.59) and progression of the varus angulation occurred with age in both groups, with a significance level of 5%., Conclusions: The PTI was higher in patients with GTPS. The femoral neck-shaft angle does not differ between individuals with and without GTPS; however, it does decrease with age. The pelvic width tends to increase with aging in symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals; therefore, the increase in the pelvic width and decrease in the femoral neck-shaft angle can be interpreted as normal in aging women, which could alter the biomechanics of the hips and pelvis.

There are diverse methods to teach medical ethics, and there is no single accepted approach towards its learning and assessment. The authors aim to explore the various strategies practised to teach undergraduate medical students the fundamentals of medical ethics and their evaluation. The authors reviewed the articles published from January 2014 to September 2019. The authors searched PubMed for the relevant publications and extracted the information using a data extraction sheet. Twenty-nine articles were included for the review, which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Case-based discussions were a widely accepted strategy to learn ethics. The studies highlighted a mixed teaching approach using multiple teaching tools. A qualitative approach was preferred for the assessment through reflections, simulated patient interactions, and development of portfolios. However, there are gaps in the existing literature on the assessment strategies for ethics education. Heterogeneity still exists in the planning of the curricula, teaching, and assessment methods. These curricula suit the cultural and religious set up of that particular country. Case-based discussion is a popular teaching strategy, and there exist numerous innovative and cost-effective active teaching strategies. There is a need for studies that are more rigorous to address the evaluation of the ethics curricula. This review would help educators to choose their preferred approach based on their teaching environment., Competing Interests: The authors state that there is no conflict of interest to declare., (© 2020 The Authors.)

Introduction: The Brachioradialis (BR) muscle flap is easy to harvest, provides a stable coverage to the cubital fossa as it is well vascularized. The BR andflexor carpi radialis (FCR) tendons are utilized in tendon transfer to restore the normal hand function. Therefore, the present study describes the morphology of the muscle bellies and the tendons of BR and FCR along with their pattern of innervation., Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on 27 upper limbs of formalin-fixed, adult human cadavers. Length and width of the bellies of BR and FCR were measured. The number of motor branches and their distances from the bi-epicondylar line was measured., Results: The mean lengths of BR and FCR bellies were 21.22±2.18cm and 16.15±2.39cm, and the lengths of their tendons were, 12.67±1.13cm and 12.48±1.72cm respectively. BR received a single motor branch in 19 upper limbs. However, FCR received single motor branch in 25 limbs as a common trunk. One upper limb received three motor branches to BR, and two upper limbs received two motor branches to FCR. The most proximal and distal branches to the BR were ranged between 6.3-2.2cm proximal to the bi-epicondylar line. Those to the FCR were ranged between 3.5-6.9cm distal to the bi-epicondylar line., Conclusion: The motor branches to the BR and FCR are variable in their origin, and the knowledge of such variations is essential for identifying them while performing selective neurotomy surgeries., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

We analyzed the association of polymorphisms from the 3' untranslated region of the HLA-G gene in 70 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients and 162 healthy controls. No associations were found between the polymorphisms in NMOSD when compared to healthy controls, serology of the anti-AQP4 NMOSD biomarker and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). In conclusion, the 3' untranslated region 14 bp Ins/Del and +3142C/G polymorphisms seem not to be associated with NMOSD susceptibility, autoantibody production, nor a neurological deficit in patients., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The gall bladder (GB) is a storage reservoir that allows bile acids to be delivered in a high concentration. The quadrate (QL) and caudate lobes (CL) are functional parts of the liver. The knowledge of the gross and developmental anatomy of GB and CL and QL of liver is important for surgeons who operate in this region. The present study was conducted to examine the developmental sequence and morphometry of the GB, and CL and QL of liver., Materials and Methods: In the present cross sectional study the parameters measured were length of GB from the neck to the lowest point on the fundus, and the length and width of QL and CL measured at the midpoint. The data was analyzed statistically and the various parameters were correlated using Pearson's correlation., Results: There was a statistically significant correlation indicating that the growth of GB, QL and CL was proportional to the gestational age (GA). The variations in the morphology of the GB were also noted. In two specimens it was found that the GB was embedded partially in the substance of the liver and failed to reach the inferior border of the liver., Conclusion: The regression equations calculated in the study provide a tool to estimate the lengths of GB, QL and CL prenatally.

Objective: To know the management practices of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the elderly regarding the use of medications and lifestyle., Materials and Methods: This is a qualitative and descriptive study, in which 20 elderly people with diabetes, residing in the interior of the State of Bahia, were interviewed between September 2016 and March 2017. The results were analyzed according to the Thematic Content Analysis proposed by Bardin. This project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the State University of Southwest Bahia under number 1.535.559., Results: Two categories were identified after the analysis: Managing "diabetes medication" and "Managing lifestyle: breaking, maintaining and adjusting behaviors". Management practices related to both the use of medications and the adopted lifestyle, as well as the experience coming from the own coexistence with the disease, have led to the reinterpretation of the scientific knowledge by professionals. It is also worth highlighting the dialogues and the cooperation received from the group studied, since they make possible enhancing and integrating this knowledge in daily actions to improve health status and promote comprehensive well-being., Conclusion: Healthcare professionals should implement person-centered care approaches and support users in making decisions about their health care.

The non-caloric sweetener aspartame can be potentially harmful to the developing brain, as some studies suggest an association between aspartame intake and adverse neural effects. This study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of aspartame, with or without associated early nutritional deficiency, on behavioral parameters suggestive of anxiety and electrophysiological features of the excitability-related phenomenon known as cortical spreading depression (CSD). Newborn Wistar rats (n = 80) were suckled under favorable (L 9 ; n = 40) or unfavorable lactation conditions (L 15 ; n = 40), consisting of litters with 9 or 15 pups, respectively. In each lactation condition, animals were divided into 4 groups that received per gavage, from postnatal day 8 to 28, 75 mg/kg/d or 125 mg/kg/d aspartame (groups ASP75 and ASP125), or water (vehicle group), or no treatment (naive group). Behavioral tests (elevated plus-maze [EPM]) were performed at postnatal days 86-95 and CSD was recorded between postnatal days 96-115. Compared to the control groups, aspartame dose-dependently reduced body weight, suggesting a negative impact on animal development; aspartame also caused behavioral changes suggestive of anxiety (shorter stay in the open arms in the EPM) and decelerated CSD (lower propagation speed). Some of these parameters were more affected in L 15 animals, suggesting an interaction among aspartame and lactation condition. We concluded that early consumption of aspartame adversely affects development of the organism (weight loss), with actions on behavioral (anxiety-like) and cerebral electrophysiological (CSD) parameters. The data suggest caution in aspartame consumption by lactating mothers and their infants.

Thermal analysis could rapidly and easily predict nutritional value of ruminant feeds. The hypothesis is that crambe meal (CM) has a quality similar to that of soybean meal (SM), and the objective of this study was to determine the nutritional characteristics of CM and compare them to those of SM. CM had greater concentrations of phytic acid (26.3 vs. 16.0 g/kg) and phenol compounds (615 vs. 393 mg gallic acid (GAE)/kg) than SM. In vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility was lower for CM than SM (752 vs. 975 g/kg DM). Cumulative in vitro gas production at 48 h of incubation (14.1 vs. 19.4 mL/100 mg substrate DM), and energy release (4.5 vs. 5.7 kJ/g substrate DM) were lower for CM than SM. CM had a higher concentration of low digestible fiber, hence degradability of DM was lower and the proportion of indigestible fraction was greater for CM than SM. High concentrations of indigestible compounds were likely responsible for lower gas production of CM compared to SM. These results suggest CM quality is lower than that of SM and that thermal analysis is a useful tool to precisely determine the nutritive value of oilseed residues., (© 2017 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer in the world with a low survival rate and therapeutic efficiency. Tumor surgery implies the removal of an apparently non-tumorous tissue around the tumor in an attempt to reduce recurrence chances; this tissue is referred to as the resection margin. Our analysis employed an 8-plex iTRAQ to label four adenocarcinoma biopsies and their corresponding resection margins at 5cm; our results disclose fifty-six proteins as being differentially abundant. These proteins are mainly involved in energetic metabolism (e.g. S100 calcium binding protein A11), cell migration (e.g. transgelin), formation of the cytoskeleton (e.g. profilin 1) and degradation of extracellular matrix (e.g. carbonic anhydrase 2). A gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed several proteins related to adhesion, invasion, metastasis, death, and recognition cell. Taken together, our results highlight proteins related to invasion, cell proliferation, and linked to the metastasis of colorectal cancer in tumor tissue. Finally, we argue that the expression patterns revealed in our comparison helps shed light on the development of more effective surgical strategies and add to the comprehension of this disease., Biological Significance: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer in the world with a low survival rate and therapeutic efficiency. Tumor surgery implies the removal of an apparently non-tumorous tissue around the tumor in an attempt to reduce recurrence chances; this tissue is also referred to as the resection margin. In this regard, resection margins pose as a treasure trove for investigating the molecular characteristics of the tumorigenesis process. While most studies focus on comparing cancer versus control tissue, this study contrasts the proteomic profiles of colorectal cancer biopsies with their corresponding resection margin at 5cm apart. Our analysis employed an 8-plex iTRAQ labeling and a 4-step offline MudPIT online with a Velos. A gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed several proteins related to adhesion, invasion, metastasis, death, and recognition cell., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In India, there is increasing recognition among policy-makers of the largely untapped potential of the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) for meeting state- and national-level food needs. Zero-tillage (ZT) is a proven technology for enhancing wheat productivity and, hence, food security in the IGP, while reducing production costs - a 'win-win' scenario that should support rapid technology scaling even though adoption remains modest to date. In order to inform policies and derive recommendations for a more effective extension strategy, this study investigated determinants of ZT adoption in the Eastern IGP using a random sample of 1000 wheat-growing households from Bihar, stratified by ZT adoption status. We corrected for potential non-exposure bias by using a two-stage estimation procedure that differentiates between factors affecting farmers' awareness of ZT and those affecting adoption conditional on awareness. Owing to the relatively nascent stage of ZT diffusion in the area, we emphasized the role of information in the adoption process, including social networks, whereby we allowed for endogenous and exogenous network effects. Only 44% of sample households knew about ZT technology, and there was substantial scale bias in favor of larger scale farmers both with respect to awareness and adoption. Both the adoption behavior and characteristics of the respondents' network members influenced their own awareness and adoption of ZT, particularly among farmers in the smallest landholding tercile. Farmers valued the time-saving potential of ZT, especially under conditions of increasingly unreliable monsoon rains resulting in a delayed rice crop and, consequently, late establishment of wheat which reduces yield. The fact that most farmers accessed ZT via custom-hire services was accounted for in the model, and the importance of proximate service providers confirmed. We conclude that there is need for further awareness-raising campaigns for ZT technology, where-by, apart from mass media, agricultural extension should use contact farmers belonging to different social strata for effective within-village diffusion of messages, especially to the poorer farmers. The social inclusiveness of ZT use can be enhanced by supporting the emergence of more ZT service providers and by developing business models that lower the transaction costs of servicing smaller farms. JEL Classifications O33 . Q55., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s) 2017.)

The essential oils from leaves, twigs and trunk bark of Onychopetalum amazonicum R.E. Fr. (Annonaceae), obtained by hydrodistillation, were analysed by GC and GC-MS, and also were evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activity. Forty-one compounds, which correspond to 75.0-92.2% of the oil components, were identified. Major compounds were sesquiterpenes, including (E)-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, spathulenol, α-gurjunene, allo-aromadendrene and α-epi-cadinol. The oils were evaluated for antimicrobial activities against four bacteria strains and five pathogenic fungi. The oil of the trunk bark exhibited good activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Escherichia coli ATCC 10538 and Kocuria rhizophila ATCC 9341, with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 62.5 μg/mL. The essential oil composition and the antimicrobial evaluation are reported for the first time for the genus Onychopetalum.

The advancement of liposculpturing and fascial flaps in reconstructive surgery has renewed interest in the superficial fascia of abdomen. Its histological and biochemical composition may play a vital role in maintaining strength and elasticity of the fascia. Hence, study of abdominal fascia for the elastic, collagen, and hydroxyproline contents is desirable to understand asymmetrical bulges and skin folds and in improving surgical treatment of obesity. Samples of superficial fascia were collected from of upper and lower abdomen from 21 fresh cadavers (15 males and 6 females). Samples were stained using Verhoeff-Van Gieson stain. Digital images of superficial fascia were analyzed using TissueQuant software. The samples were also subjected to hydroxyproline estimation. The superficial fascia was formed by loosely packed collagen fibers mixed with abundant elastic fibers and adipose tissue. Elastic contents and collagen contents of superficial fascia were significantly more in the upper abdomen than that in the lower abdomen in males. Hydroxyproline content of superficial fascia of upper abdomen was significantly more than that of lower abdomen in both males and females. The elastic, collagen and hydroxyproline contents of superficial fascia of upper abdomen were higher compared to the lower abdomen. This may be a reason for asymmetric bulging over abdomen and more sagging fold of skin in the lower abdomen than in the upper abdomen. This study may therefore be helpful in finding new ways to manage obesity and other body contour deformities.

Introduction: The lower abdominal obesity is more resistant to absorption as compared to that of upper abdomen. Differences in the physicochemical properties of the subcutaneous fat of the upper and lower abdomen may be responsible for this variation. There is paucity of the scientific literature on the physicochemical properties of the subcutaneous fat of abdomen., Aim: The present study was undertaken to create a database of physicochemical properties of abdominal subcutaneous fat., Materials and Methods: The samples of subcutaneous fat from upper and lower abdomen were collected from 40 fresh autopsied bodies (males 33, females 7). The samples were prepared for physicochemical analysis using organic and inorganic solvents. Various physicochemical properties of the fat samples analysed were surface tension, viscosity, specific gravity, specific conductivity, iodine value and thermal properties. Data was analysed by paired and independent sample t-tests., Results: There was a statistically significant difference in all the physicochemical parameters between males and females except surface tension (organic) and surface tension (inorganic) of upper abdominal fat, and surface tension (organic) of lower abdominal fat. In males, viscosity of upper abdominal fat was more compared to that of lower abdomen (both organic and inorganic) unlike the specific conductivity that was higher for the lower abdominal fat as compared to that of the upper abdomen. In females there were statistically significant higher values of surface tension (inorganic) and specific gravity (organic) of the upper abdomen fat as compared to that of lower abdomen. The initial and final weight loss of the lower abdominal fat as indicated by Thermo Gravimetric Analysis was significantly more in males than in female., Conclusion: The difference in the physicochemical properties of subcutaneous fat between upper and lower abdomen and between males and females could be responsible for the variant behaviour of subcutaneous abdominal fat towards resorption.

Introduction: Knowledge about the ossification of the Carotico-Clinoid Foramen (CCF), as it forms a potential site for compression of the internal carotid artery may be beneficial for neurosurgeons and radiologists., Aim: To obtain a detailed knowledge of morphometry of Anterior Clinoid Process (ACP) and Optic Strot (OS) and the type of ossification of CCF which would be necessary to increase the success of surgeries related to the cavernous sinus and internal carotid artery., Materials and Methods: Parameters such as the length of ACP from its base to the tip, the width at its base and the distance between the tip of ACP to optic strut were measured in mm using digital calipers. SPSS version 17 was used for the statistical analysis. Paired t-test was applied to compare between right and left sides. Presence of carotico-clinoid foramen was observed and was classified as incomplete, contact form or complete., Results: The average length of ACP ranged from 12 to 15mm on right side and 11 to 16mm on the left side. Paired t-test was applied to compare the means between the right and left sides. The width of ACP varied between right and left sides and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Out of 12 CCF observed, the commonest type was incomplete (N=7) followed by complete (N=3) and contact form (N=2)., Conclusion: Considering the immense anatomical surgical and radiological importance of morphology of ACP, OS and CCF, this study highlighted the detailed morphometry of these structures. The study also has explained the sexual dimorphism in their morphology.

The exquisite harmony between hormones and their corresponding signaling pathways is central to prioritizing plant responses to simultaneous and/or successive environmental trepidations. The crosstalk between jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) is an established effective mechanism that optimizes and tailors plant adaptive responses. However, the underlying regulatory modules of this crosstalk are largely unknown. Global transcriptomic analyses of mutant plants (ceh1) with elevated levels of the stress-induced plastidial retrograde signaling metabolite 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol cyclopyrophosphate (MEcPP) revealed robustly induced JA marker genes, expected to be suppressed by the presence of constitutively high SA levels in the mutant background. Analyses of a range of genotypes with varying SA and MEcPP levels established the selective role of MEcPP-mediated signal(s) in induction of JA-responsive genes in the presence of elevated SA. Metabolic profiling revealed the presence of high levels of the JA precursor 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA), but near wild type levels of JA in the ceh1 mutant plants. Analyses of coronatine-insensitive 1 (coi1)/ceh1 double mutant plants confirmed that the MEcPP-mediated induction is JA receptor COI1 dependent, potentially through elevated OPDA. These findings identify MEcPP as a previously unrecognized central regulatory module that induces JA-responsive genes in the presence of high SA, thereby staging a multifaceted plant response within the environmental context., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.)

Background and Objectives: Central sensitivity syndrome (CSS) encompasses disorders with overlapping symptoms in a spectrum of structural pathology from persistent somatic nociception (eg, osteoarthritis) to absence of tissue injury such as in fibromyalgia, chronic tension-type headache, and myofascial pain syndrome. Likewise, the spectrum of the neuroplasticity mediators associated with CSS might present a pattern of clinical utility., Methods: We studied the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukins 6 (IL-6) and IL-10 in female patients with CSS absent of structural pathology (chronic tension-type headache [n=30], myofascial pain syndrome [n=29], fibromyalgia [n=22]); with CSS due to persistent somatic/visceral nociception (osteoarthritis [n=27] and endometriosis [n=32]); and in pain-free controls (n=37)., Results: Patients with CSS absent of structural pathology presented higher serum TNF-α (28.61±12.74 pg/mL) and BDNF (49.87±31.86 ng/mL) than those with persistent somatic/visceral nociception (TNF-α=17.35±7.38 pg/mL; BDNF=20.44±8.30 ng/mL) and controls (TNF-α=21.41±5.74 pg/mL, BDNF=14.09±11.80 ng/mL). Moreover, CSS patients absent of structural pathology presented lower IL levels. Receiver operator characteristics analysis showed the ability of BDNF to screen CSS (irrespective of the presence of structural pathology) from controls (cutoff=13.31 ng/mL, area under the curve [AUC]=0.86, sensitivity=95.06%, specificity=56.76%); and its ability to identify persistent nociception in CSS patients when experiencing moderate-severe depressive symptoms (AUC=0.81; cutoff=42.83 ng/mL, sensitivity=56.80%, specificity=100%). When the level of pain measured on the visual analog scale was <5 and moderate-severe depressive symptoms were observed TNF-α discriminated structural pathology in the chronic pain conditions (AUC=0.97; cutoff=22.11 pg/mL, sensitivity=90%, specificity=91.3%)., Conclusion: Neuroplasticity mediators could play a role as screening tools for pain clinicians, and as validation of the complex and diffuse symptoms of these patients.

The objective of the study was to determine the quality of sunflower, soybean, crambe, radish forage and physic nut, by measuring chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and kinetics of thermal decomposition processes of mass loss and heat flow. Lipid was inversely correlated with protein of whole seed (R = -0.67), meal (R = -0.95), and press cake (R = -0.78), and positively correlated with the enthalpy (ΔH) of whole seed. Soybean seed and meal presented a high in vitro digestibility but poor energy sources with ΔH averaging 5907.5 J/g and 2570.1J/g for whole seed and meal, respectively. As suggested by the release of heat, measured by ΔH, whole seeds of crambe (6295.1J/g), radish forage (6182.7 J/g), and physic nut (6420.0 J/g) may be potential energy sources for ruminant animals. The thermal analysis provided additional information besides that obtained from the usual wet chemistry and in vitro measurements., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: DNA methylation is commonly linked with the silencing of the gene expression for many tumor suppressor genes. As such, determining DNA methylation patterns should aid, in times to come, in the diagnosis and personal treatment for various types of cancers. Here, we analyzed the methylation pattern from five colorectal cancer patients from the Amazon state in Brazil for four tumor suppressor genes, viz.: DAPK, CDH1, CDKN2A, and TIMP2 by employing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific to methylation. Efforts in the study of colorectal cancer are fundamental as it is the third most of highest incidence in the world., Results: Tumor biopsies were methylated in 1/5 (20%), 2/5 (40%), 4/5 (80%), and 4/5 (80%) for CDH1, CDKN2A, DAPK, and TIMP2 genes, respectively. The margin biopsies were methylated in 3/7 (43%), 2/7 (28%), 7/7 (100%), and 6/7 (86%) for CDH1, CDKN2A, DAPK, and TIMP2, respectively., Conclusions: Our findings showed DAPK and TIMP2 to be methylated in most samples from both tumor tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic margins; thus presenting distinct methylation patterns. This emphasizes the importance of better understanding of the relation of these patterns with cancer in the context of different populations.

Introduction: The Annonaceae family is known as a promising abundant source of secondary metabolites, especially annonaceous acetogenins, terpenoids and isoquinoline-derived alkaloids. Although widely investigated from the phytochemical viewpoint, this family still presents some largely unexplored genera, e.g. the Bocageopsis., Objective: To investigate the alkaloid content of Bocageopsis pleiosperma Maas using direct infusion electrospray ionisation ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-IT-MS(n)) analysis., Methodology: Dichloromethane extracts of aerial parts were subjected to acid-base partitioning to yield the alkaloidal fractions. These fractions were analysed by direct infusion into a (+)ESI-IT-MS(n) system. The alkaloidal fraction from the leaves was also obtained on a large scale and subjected to chromatographic separation., Results: The tentative MS(n) -based identification of alkaloids in leaves, twigs and trunk bark showed that aporphine alkaloids were restricted to the leaves and twigs, tetrahydroprotoberberine alkaloids were only found in the twigs and trunk bark while benzylisoquinoline alkaloids were found in the leaves, twigs and trunk bark. Chromatographic separation of the leaf alkaloidal fraction yielded the aporphine alkaloids nornuciferine, asimilobine and isoboldine, the β-carboline alkaloid tetrahydroharman and some mixtures containing benzylisoquinoline and aporphine alkaloids, all described for the first time in the Bocageopsis genus. Furthermore, tetrahydroharman has not previously been reported in the Magnoliales order., Conclusion: Direct infusion ESI-IT-MS(n) analysis of alkaloids allowed fast recognition of alkaloidal classes previously reported in the Annonaceae family, aiding the chromatographic step and allowing a selective isolation of compounds previously not identified in the Bocageopsis genus., (Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

This work proposes the use of photo-oxidation degradation with UV radiation/H2O2 as sample treatment for the determination of Fe, Zn, Mn, Ni and Co in municipal solid waste landfill leachate by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Three variables (pH, irradiation time and buffer concentration) were optimized using Doehlert design and the proportions of mixture components submitted to UV radiation (leachate sample, buffer solution and H2O2 30%, v/v) were optimized using a constrained mixture design. Using the experimental conditions established, this procedure allows limits of detection of 0.075, 0.025, 0.010, 0.075 and 0.041 µg mL-1, and the precision levels expressed as relative standard (%RSD, 0.5 µg mL-1) were 3.6, 1.8, 1.3, 3.3 and 1.7%, for Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni and Co respectively. Recovery tests were carried out for evaluation of the procedure accuracy and recoveries were between 92 and 106% for the studied metals. This procedure has been applied for the analysis of the landfill leachate collected in Jequié, a city of the southwestern region of the State of Bahia, Brazil. The results were compared with those obtained by acid digestion. There was no significant difference between the results obtained by the two methods based on paired t-test at 95% confidence level.

Essential oils from the leaves, twigs and barks of Bocageopsis pleiosperma Maas were obtained by using hydrodistillation and analysed by using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Several compounds (51) were detected and identified, being β-bisabolene the main component in all aerial parts of the plant, with higher concentration in the leaves (55.77%), followed by barks (38.53%) and twigs (34.37%). In order to increase the biological knowledge about the essential oil of Bocageopsis species, antimicrobial activities were evaluated against the microorganisms Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Candida tropicalis, Candida dubliniensis, Candida glabrata and Candida albicans. The essential oil obtained from the barks exhibited a moderate effect against S. epidermidis ATCC 1228 (MIC = 250 μg/mL), while the other oils did not exhibit antimicrobial activity. These results represent the first report about the chemical composition of B. pleiosperma and the first antimicrobial evaluation with a Bocageopsis species.

Background: International comparisons of dietary intake are an important source of information to better understand food habits and their relationship to nutrition related diseases. The objective of this study is to compare food intake of Brazilian adults with American adults identifying possible dietary factors associated with the increase in obesity in Brazil., Methods: This research used cross-national analyses between the United States and Brazil, including 5,420 adults in the 2007-2008 What We Eat In America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and 26,390 adults in the 2008-2009 Brazilian Household Budget Survey, Individual Food Intake. Dietary data were collected through 24 h recalls in the U.S. and through food records in Brazil. Foods and beverages were combined into 25 food categories. Food intake means and percentage of energy contribution by food categories to the population's total energy intake were compared between the countries., Results: Higher frequencies of intake were reported in the United States compared to Brazil for the majority of food categories except for meat, rice and rice dishes; beans and legumes; spreads; and coffee and tea. In either country, young adults (20-39 yrs) had greater reports of meat, poultry and fish mixed dishes; pizza and pasta; and soft drinks compared to older adults (60 + yrs). Meat, poultry and fish mixed dishes (13%), breads (11%), sweets and confections (8%), pizza and pasta (7%), and dairy products (6%) were the top five food category sources of energy intake among American adults. The top five food categories in Brazil were rice and rice dishes (13%), meat (11%), beans and legumes (10%), breads (10%), and coffee and tea (6%). Thus, traditional plant-based foods such as rice and beans were important contributors in the Brazilian diet., Conclusion: Although young adults had higher reports of high-calorie and nutrient-poor foods than older adults in both countries, Brazilian young adults did not consume a diet similar to Americans, indicating that it is still possible to reverse the current trends of incorporating Western dietary habits in Brazil.

Beneficial interactions between plants and microorganisms have been investigated under different ecological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic aspects. However, the systematic exploration of biomolecules with potential for biotechnological products from this interaction still is relatively scarce. Therefore, this study aimed the evaluation of the diversity and antimicrobial activity of the endophytic fungi obtained from roots, stems and leafs of Myrcia guianensis (Myrtaceae) from the Brazilian Amazon. 156 endophytic fungi were isolated and above 80% were identified by morphological examination as belonging to the genera Pestalotiopsis, Phomopsis, Aspergillus, Xylaria, Nectria, Penicillium and Fusarium. Fermented broth of those fungi were assayed for antimicrobial activity and four inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and Penicillium avellaneum. As the strain named MgRe2.2.3B (Nectria haematococca) had shown the most promising results against those pathogenic strains, its fermented broth was fractioned and only its two low polar fractions demonstrated to be active. Both fractions exhibited a minimum bactericidal concentration of 50 μg.mL(-1) against S. aureus and a minimum fungicidal concentration of 100 μg.mL(-1) against P. avellaneum. These results demonstrate the diversity of fungal genera in M. guianensis and the potential of these endophytic fungi for the production of new antibiotics.

Formaldehyde (FA), which is said to be a carcinogenic agent, is commonly used in anatomy laboratories. This study used the cytokinesis blocked micronucleus assay (CBMN) to assess DNA damage due to FA exposure by measuring the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in lymphocytes. The extent of DNA damage was assessed with respect to the duration of exposure. Thirty male anatomy laboratory workers from various medical colleges involved with storing specimens and embalming were included in the study. Thirty males who were not exposed to FA were included as a comparison group. Blood samples were collected after informed consent was given. Information regarding age, duration of FA exposure and smoking habits was obtained by a questionnaire. The CBMN assay was conducted on cultured isolated lymphocytes stained with Giemsa. MN were counted in a total of 1000 binucleated lymphocytes. The effect of smoking was assessed using appropriate statistical tests. The frequency of MN in lymphocytes was significantly higher in the exposed group (P < 0.001). The duration of exposure correlated positively with the frequency of MN (r = 0.5, P = 0.02). Neither aging nor smoking correlated significantly with the formation of MN. The present study highlights significant DNA damage in people exposed to FA. The extent of damage was directly proportional to the duration of exposure., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Introduction: The Unonopsis genus is a promising source of aporphinoid alkaloids, substances with great biological potential. These alkaloids have a well-defined mass spectrometry fragmentation pattern that, together with previous phytochemical knowledge, can guide the isolation of alkaloids not yet described for the genus., Objective: Isolate substances not yet described in the Unonopsis genus, guided by alkaloidal profile analyses of stem barks, twigs and leaves of Unonopsis duckei using electrospray ionisation ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-IT/MS(n) )., Methods: Methanolic extracts from stem barks, twigs and leaves were submitted to a liquid-liquid, acid-base partitioning treatment to obtain the alkaloidal fractions. These fractions were analysed by direct infusion into an ESI-IT/MS(n) system. The major alkaloids observed for each fraction were submitted to fragmentation analysis., Results: The MS fragmentation patterns revealed the presence of alkaloids previously reported for Annonaceae, including nornuciferine, anonaine, asimilobine, liriodenine and lysicamine, known for the Unonopsis genus, as well as others that were not yet described for this genus. In this way, the proaporphine alkaloid glaziovine was isolated, as well as a mixture of the aporphine alkaloids glaucine and norglaucine, all described for the first time in the Unonopsis genus., Conclusion: Mass spectrometry monitoring was fundamental to prioritise the isolation of substances not yet identified for the Unonopsis genus, dismissing known compounds and simplifying the phytochemical study., (Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

A new species is described for the Neotropical genus Ischnochlorops Paganelli (Diptera: Chloropidae), so far known only from the type-species, I. trilineatus Paganelli. The type-species is redescribed based on an additional male from the State of Paraná. A new species, I. lefevrei sp. nov., from Campos do Jordão, State of São Paulo, Brazil, is described. An emended diagnosis is proposed for Ischnochlorops and a key to the species is provided. Photographs of the habitus, head, and wing of both species are provided, as well as drawings of the male terminalia.

Aim: To present a prospective series of 86 patients with solitary cerebral cysticerci who underwent both contrast computed tomography (CT) and contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to correlate and compare the imaging findings using these two modalities., Materials and Methods: Lesion characteristics, staging of the cyst and perilesional hypodensity on CT and hyperintensity on MRI were analyzed, and the lesion was described with regard to the appearance of the scolex, cyst fluid, cyst wall and the perilesional area., Results: Patients were largely children and adolescents (mean age 17.4 years, range 6-52) with 52.3% males. MRI was performed, on average, 10.7 days after CT. MRI was more sensitive than plain CT scan in detecting cysticercal lesions (P = 0.003), but there was no statistically significant difference between contrast CT and MRI. None of the patients were detected with an alternative disease on serial MRI. No cyst showed significant mass effect. Non-contrast CT was less sensitive than either contrast CT or MRI in detecting the scolex (P = 0.011), but no difference was seen between the latter two modalities. Qualitative imaging characteristics of the cysticercus on MRI and CT scan are described. All cysts were round in shape, with an average diameter of <10 mm, and maximum diameter of 19 mm., Conclusion: In the present prospective series, contrast CT was nearly as sensitive as MRI in detecting solitary cerebral cysticerci. Thus, in highly resource-limited settings contrast CT may be sufficient for the diagnosis and management of neurocysticercosis.

A new dammarane triterpene named mauritic acid (1) was isolated from the roots of Mauritia flexuosa L.f. The complete structural assignment of this new compound was elucidated from spectroscopic methods. Moreover, this compound was evaluated for its cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines (OVCAR-8, PCM3, NCIH358M and different leukaemia cell strains). The mauritic acid presented significant cytotoxicity against OVCAR-8, PCM3 and NCIH358M cell lines with IC50 3.02, 2.39 and 6.19 μM, respectively. The triterpenes 1 and 2 were also tested for their antimicrobial activity against 15 strains of microorganisms, including fungi and bacteria, with the best minimal inhibitory concentration values ranging from 50.8 to 203.5 μM.

Bauhinia guianensis is a typical plant in the Amazon region belonging to the family Leguminosea, used by local populations for the treatment of infectious and renal diseases. Previous work on the plant B. guianensis led to the isolation of substances with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Thus, compounds isolated from B. guianensis with antimicrobial activities had not been identified. Given that there is a possibility of biological activity reported for a given plant being found in the endophytic fungi, we decided to isolate endophytic fungi from B. guianensis and test their antimicrobial activities. The alkaloids known as fumigaclavine C and pseurotin A were isolated by column chromatography and identified by 1D and 2D NMR techniques and mass spectrometry. The alkaloids are first reported as broad-spectrum antibacterial agents with good activity.

Gastric cancer is one of most frequent causes of death in Brazil. The city of Manaus has one of the highest incidences of this disease in Brazil. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus that is classified as a group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. We obtained biopsies from 6 control subjects and 10 patients with gastric carcinomas living in Manaus. In the patients, the samples were taken from tumors and from adjacent non-cancerous mucosa. These samples were screened for EBV DNA by PCR to amplify the 288-bp fragments from the Bam M region. The EBV DNA was detected in 8 of the 10 tumor cases and in none of the 6 control subjects. In the positively identified samples, EBV DNA was detected in five corresponding resection margins. Previous research indicated only a weak association between EBV and gastric cancer. We suggest that EBV should be considered as a risk factor for gastric adenocarcinomas in Manaus.

A strategy for treating cancer is to surgically remove the tumor together with a portion of apparently healthy tissue surrounding it, the so-called "resection margin", to minimize recurrence. Here, we investigate whether the proteomic profiles from biopsies of gastric cancer resection margins are indeed more similar to those from healthy tissue than from cancer biopsies. To this end, we analyzed biopsies using an offline MudPIT shotgun proteomic approach and performed label-free quantitation through a distributed normalized spectral abundance factor approach adapted for extracted ion chromatograms (XICs). A multidimensional scaling analysis revealed that each of those tissue-types is very distinct from each other. The resection margin presented several proteins previously correlated with cancer, but also other overexpressed proteins that may be related to tumor nourishment and metastasis, such as collagen alpha-1, ceruloplasmin, calpastatin, and E-cadherin. We argue that the resection margin plays a key role in Paget's "soil to seed" hypothesis, that is, that cancer cells require a special microenvironment to nourish and that understanding it could ultimately lead to more effective treatments.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of both swimming and resistance training on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 expression, adipocyte area and lipid profiles in rats fed a high-fat diet., Methods: The study was conducted over an eight-week period on Wistar adult rats, who were divided into six groups as follows (n = 10 per group): sedentary chow diet, sedentary high-fat diet, swimming plus chow diet, swimming plus high-fat diet, resistance training plus chow diet, and resistance training plus high-fat diet. Rats in the resistance training groups climbed a vertical ladder with weights on their tails once every three days. The swimming groups swam for 60 minutes/day, five days/week., Results: The high-fat diet groups had higher body weights, a greater amount of adipose tissue, and higher tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression in the visceral adipose tissue. Furthermore, the high-fat diet promoted a negative change in the lipid profile. In the resistance training high-fat group, the tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression was lower than that in the swimming high-fat and sedentary high-fat groups. Moreover, smaller visceral and retroperitoneal adipocyte areas were found in the resistance training high-fat group than in the sedentary high-fat group. In the swimming high-fat group, the tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression was lower and the epididymal and retroperitoneal adipocyte areas were smaller compared with the sedentary high-fat group., Conclusion: The results showed that both exercise modalities improved the lipid profile, adiposity and obesity-associated inflammation in rats, suggesting their use as an alternative to control the deleterious effects of a high-fat diet in humans.

Objective: To determine whether climate variability influences the number of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in infants, children, and adults in the city of Campo Grande, Brazil., Methods: We used daily data on admissions for respiratory diseases, precipitation, air temperature, humidity, and wind speed for the 2004-2008 period. We calculated the thermal comfort index, effective temperature, and effective temperature with wind speed (wind-chill or heat index) using the meteorological data obtained. Generalized linear models, with Poisson multiple regression, were used in order to predict hospitalizations for respiratory disease., Results: The variables studied were (collectively) found to show relatively high correlation coefficients in relation to hospital admission for pneumonia in children (R² = 68.4%), infants (R² = 71.8%), and adults (R² = 81.8%)., Conclusions: Our results indicate a quantitative risk for an increase in the number of hospitalizations of children, infants, and adults, according to the increase or decrease in temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and thermal comfort index in the city under study.