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Penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare and aggressive tumour mainly related to lifestyle behaviour and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Environmentally induced loss of imprinting (LOI) at the H19 differentially methylated region (H19DMR) is associated with many cancers in the early events of tumorigenesis and may be involved in the pathogenesis of penile SCC. We sought to evaluate the DNA methylation pattern at H19DMR and its association with HPV infection in men with penile SCC by bisulfite sequencing (bis-seq). We observed an average methylation of 32.2% ± 11.6% at the H19DMR of penile SCC and did not observe an association between the p16INK4a+ (p = 0.59) and high-risk HPV+ (p = 0.338) markers with methylation level. The average methylation did not change according to HPV positive for p16INK4a+ or hrHPV+ (35.4% ± 10%) and negative for both markers (32.4% ± 10.1%) groups. As the region analysed has a binding site for the CTCF protein, the hypomethylation at the surrounding CpG sites might alter its insulator function. In addition, there was a positive correlation between intense polymorphonuclear cell infiltration and hypomethylation at H19DMR (p = 0.035). Here, we report that hypomethylation at H19DMR in penile SCC might contribute to tumour progression and aggressiveness regardless of HPV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pest attack is an important biotic threat to sorghum productivity, and one of the main insect pests of grain sorghum is sugarcane borer (SCB) Diatraea saccharalis. Despite the importance of this insect species, little is known about the relationship between SCB infestation and reduction in sorghum grain yield, as well as on the gain threshold and economic injury level for decision making of pest control. This study evaluated the influence of SCB infestation on plant performance and grain production in three commercial grain sorghum hybrids. Hybrids AG1090, BRS 373, and DKB 590 were planted in three crop seasons in Sete Lagoas, Brazil, and six treatments were assessed in the experiments, consisting of three grain sorghum hybrids with and without the insecticide chlorantraniliprole at 52.5 g a.i. ha−1 under SCB natural infestation. The parameters evaluated on sorghum plants were the length of tunnels, plant height, length and weight of panicles, stem borer injury, and grain yield. The infestation of SCB was higher when sorghum plants were not treated with insecticide, resulting in lower productivity. The use of insecticide increased plant height, reduced tunnel length, and increased panicle length and weight. Hybrids only affected panicle weight. The hybrid that presented the highest panicle weight when using the insecticide was AG 1090. Hybrids AG 1090 and DKB 590 showed reduced grain production with increasing gallery length, whereas BRS 373 did not show a significant correlation, which may suggest a certain level of tolerance to SCB attack. This is the first study that determines the gain threshold and economic injury level and that effectively shows how much grain yield is lost by SCB attack in grain sorghum hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lynch syndrome (LS) is an inherited cancer predisposition syndrome characterized by a high risk of colorectal and extracolonic tumors. Germline pathogenic variants (GPV) in the PMS2 gene are associated with <15% of all cases. The PMS2CL pseudogene presents high homology with PMS2, challenging molecular diagnosis by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Due to the high methodological complexity required to distinguish variants between PMS2 and PMS2CL, most laboratories do not clearly report the origin of this molecular finding. Objective: The aim of this study was to confirm the GPVs detected by NGS in regions of high homology segments of the PMS2 gene in a Brazilian sample. Methods: An orthogonal and gold standard long-range PCR (LR-PCR) methodology to separate variants detected in the PMS2 gene from those detected in the pseudogene. Results: A total of 74 samples with a PMS2 GPV detected by NGS in exons with high homology with PMS2CL pseudogene were evaluated. The most common was NM_000535.6:c.2182_2184delinsG, which was previously described as deleterious mutation in a study of African-American patients with LS and has been widely reported by laboratories as a pathogenic variant associated with the LS phenotype. Of all GPVs identified, only 6.8% were confirmed by LR-PCR. Conversely, more than 90% of GPV were not confirmed after LR-PCR, and the diagnosis of LS was ruled out by molecular mechanisms associated with PMS2. Conclusion: In conclusion, the use of LR-PCR was demonstrated to be a reliable approach for accurate molecular analysis of PMS2 variants in segments with high homology with PMS2CL. We highlight that our laboratory is a pioneer in routine diagnostic complementation of the PMS2 gene in Brazil, directly contributing to a more assertive molecular diagnosis and adequate genetic counseling for these patients and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal reproduction biotechniques are important tools for the technological advancement of livestock, as they allow the selection of the reproductive potential of superior quality females and males; however, infectious diseases that have a predilection for the reproductive system can be a hindrance for the use of these technologies. Therefore, the present study aimed to detect Brucella spp. in the ovarian follicular fluid of brucellosis‐positive bovine cows. A total of 47 bovine ovarian follicular fluid aspirates from cows, positive in tests for brucellosis and from Brucella‐positive herd, were submitted to PCR. The primers used in the PCR were specific to the genus Brucella (bcsp31 gene). All 47 bovine aspirates were negative for Brucella spp. 0.00% (95% CI: 0.00–4.00%). Our results demonstrated that Brucella spp. was absent in the ovarian follicular fluid from seropositive cows, which indicates that Brucella spp.‐infected cows could be used for reproductive biotechnologies carried out with follicular aspirates. Future studies are needed to more precisely evaluate the feasibility and safety of using these oocytes from brucellosis‐seropositive cows to transfer embryos to heifers/cows not infected by Brucella, aiming to produce calves free of the infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Meta: Avaliação is the property of Revista Meta: Avaliacao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Interaction Era is evolving and extending to the Human-Computer Integration Era, in which the relationship between humans and technologies is characterized as a partnership. Motivated by this evolution, we conducted a Systematic Literature Review to present the current state of knowledge about the emerging paradigm of Human-Computer Integration (HInt), as well as its opportunities and challenges for the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) area. As a result, we organize the existing knowledge and research on HInt which describes it as a new interaction paradigm. Our findings indicate that HInt is a topic of growing interest in the HCI Community, and provide an overview of existing initiatives and key research gaps on HInt within the HCI scope. As contributions, our results are useful to (1) expand the HCI community's knowledge regarding this emerging paradigm and (2) stimulate new initiatives and contributions to the consolidation and evolution of the HCI with a lens on HInt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Palíndromo is the property of Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Approximately 10 to 20% of pregnant women worldwide experience perinatal depression (PND), a depressive episode with onset during pregnancy or after childbirth. We performed a systematic review to identify, summarize and discuss studies on inflammatory biomarkers described in relation to PND. Method: Inclusion criteria defined the selection of observational studies written in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese, that evaluate analytical levels of inflammatory molecules (protein levels) in biological fluids in women, with a diagnosis of depression using ICD/DSM diagnostic criteria or depressive symptoms assessed by standardized psychometric instruments, during pregnancy and/or postpartum. Case reports, experimental studies, reviews, qualitative analysis, meta-analysis, gray literature or replicated data were excluded. Three electronic databases were used for search (Pubmed, Web of Science and PsychInfo) and quality assessment of selected studies were performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data extraction included study design; number of subjects; obstetric information; tools and timepoints of depression and inflammatory markers assessment. Results: 56 studies (sample size for cross-sectional and case-control studies ranging from 10 to 469; sample size for longitudinal studies ranging from 26 to 467), where the major aim was to analyze the association between depression and inflammatory biomarkers during pregnancy and postpartum period were included in this systematic review. Overall, the findings of our systematic review lend support to the hypothesis that several inflammatory markers may be associated with peripartum depressive symptoms. The associations were somewhat different looking at pregnancy compared to the delivery time-point and postpartum, and mainly referred to increased levels of IL-6, IL-8, CRP and TNF-α among depressed. Discussion: In summary, our systematic review findings provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that several inflammatory markers may correlate with peripartum depressive symptoms. However, our work also highlighted notable differences in the timing of biological sampling for inflammatory markers and in the methodologies used to assess depression during the perinatal period. Additionally, variations were observed in how inflammatory biomarkers and depression were approached, including their classification as exposure or outcome variables, and the timing of assessments. It is essential for future research to investigate the influence of biological fluids and the timing of assessments for both inflammatory biomarkers and depression to gain a deeper understanding of their association. This comprehensive exploration is pivotal for elucidating the intricate relationship between inflammation and perinatal depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: The parotid is the largest salivary gland and is located anteriorly to the sternocleidomastoid muscle and laterally to the ramus of the mandible. Neoplasms in this gland are relatively rare, with 80% being benign and 20% malignant, primarily represented by mucoepidermoid carcinoma. In the head and neck region, lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) accounts for 0.4% of malignant salivary gland tumors. Case Report: A 35-year-old man with no previous comorbidities was admitted to a Head and Neck Surgery Specialty Service for a painless right cervical mass of uncertain growth. Extensive diagnostic investigation revealed involvement of the contralateral parotid, associated with systemic lymph node enlargement. Thus, adjuvant radiotherapy was decided by the treating team. Conclusion: This case confirms the heterogeneous features and distinctive behavior that the disease can present, as seen with bilateral parotid LEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) is associated with quality of life (QoL) in individuals with dementia. However, the contribution of physical and cognitive functions to this relationship needs further examination. This study aims to examine the mediating effect of physical fitness and cognitive function in the relationship between independence in basic ADLs and QoL among older adults with dementia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 107 older adults with dementia (74.8% women; age 78.21 ± 7.70 years). Independence in basic ADL and QoL were evaluated using the Barthel Index (BI) and QoL- Alzheimer's Disease Scale, respectively. The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale and the Mini-Mental State Examination were applied to assess cognitive function. Physical fitness was evaluated using the 30-s chair stand, 2-min step and the Timed-Up and Go tests. A structural equation modelling (SEM) with bootstrapping estimation was conducted to determine the relationship between all variables. Results: Independence in basic ADL positively affected QoL and this association was mediated by physical fitness (β = 0.242, p = 0.011). No statistically significant results were observed when testing cognitive function as a mediator between BI and QoL (β = 0.009, p = 0.345). Conclusions: Physical fitness (i.e., lower body strength, aerobic capacity, and mobility) plays a role in the relationship between basic ADL independence and QoL of older adults with dementia, reinforcing the need to improve and monitor these parameters throughout the disease progression. Future longitudinal studies should explore the temporal relationship between physical and cognitive function and its contribution to basic ADL independence and QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report the long-term functional, anatomical and safety outcomes of 0.2 μg/day fluocinolone acetonide 0.19mg in patients with persistent or recurrent diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: Retrospective, observational, single-center study of patients with recurrent or persistent DME. All patients received 0.2 μg/day of fluocinolone acetonide 0.19mg, and data were collected at baseline and months 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 after implantation. Outcomes measured included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and safety outcomes. Results: A total of 28 eyes from 28 patients were included. The mean age was 66.5 years (95% CI 62.8– 70.2) with a mean duration of DME of 8.8 years (95% CI 7.7– 10.0). Only two eyes were phakic. Mean follow-up was 25.4 months (95% CI 21.2– 29.6). Mean BCVA at baseline was 48.6 ETDRS letters (95% CI 41.3– 55.8) and improved as early as month 1 of follow-up with a mean gain in BCVA of 7.8 (95% CI 4.3– 11.3) ETDRS letters (p< 0.001). Statistically significant improvements in BCVA were also observed at months 6, 12 and 24. At baseline, patients had a mean CMT of 530.5μm (95% CI 463.0– 598.0), and a decrease in CMT was observed, starting at the first month of follow-up (mean CMT reduction of − 170.5μm, 95% CI − 223.8– − 117.1; p< 0.001). Statistically significant decreases in CMT were also observed at months 6, 12, 24, and 36, with the maximum decrease observed at month 12 (p< 0.001). Mean IOP at baseline was 16.4mmHg (95% CI 15.3– 17.5) and nine eyes (32.1%) had an IOP ≥ 21mmHg during follow-up. Conclusion: Our results support the effectiveness and safety profile of fluocinolone acetonide. Although additional long-term real-world evidence is required, fluocinolone acetonide may represent a safe strategy for daily, low-dose, sustained and localized release to the posterior segment of the eye, providing both functional and anatomical benefits in DME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soursop (Annona muricata) is a tropical tree whose decoction derived from bark, root, seed, or leaf has been used for medicinal uses. In addition, the fruit itself is considered a food, and the juice is utilized to treat heart and liver diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the phenolic content. In addition, a water-soluble fraction of the soursop fruit pulp (WSSP) was examined for the following properties: antioxidant, mutagenic, and antimutagenicity. UV-visible spectrophotometry determined total phenolic content by the Folin-Ciocalteu method to be 11.22 ± 0.6 mg of gallic acid equivalent per gram dried extract, and free-radical scavenging activity by the 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH•) showed an EC50 of 1032 µg/ml. In the Salmonella/microsome assay, no marked mutagenicity was induced following WSSP treatment, and a chemopreventive capacity was observed in the antimutagenic assay. The cytotoxicity assays were carried out using the water-soluble tetrazolium salt and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays demonstrated that WSSP induced significant cytotoxicity in MCF-7 and Caco-2 cells, indicating greater effectiveness of cytotoxic action by destroying cell membrane integrity. Data suggest that WSSP may exert beneficial effects as a DNA chemopreventive and antitumor agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The consumption of dietary supplements to enhance physical performance has increased significantly in the last century, especially thermogenic pre-workout supplements. Nevertheless, this industry has faced criticism for inadequate safety measures surveillance in regulatory issues regarding their products. The aims of our study were to investigate two pre-workout supplements with respect to (1) mutagenicity utilizing Salmonella/microsome assay; (2) genotoxicity employing cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay protocols; and (3) hepatocytoxicity using WST cell proliferation, activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase using human liver carcinoma (HepG2) and mouse fibroblast (F C3H) cells. Oxidative stress was determined through glutathione (GSH) measurement and in silico for predictions of pharmacokinetics and toxicity for the most abundant isolated substances present in these supplements. Both supplements induced mutagenicity in all examined bacterial strains, especially in the presence of exogenous metabolism. Further, tested supplements significantly elevated the formation of micronuclei (MN) as well as other cellular phenomena. Concentration- and time-dependent curves were observed for hepatotoxicity in both studied cell lines. In addition, both supplements decreased levels of intracellular and extracellular GSH. In silico predictions showed that the isolated individual compounds failed to induce the observed outcomes. Our findings provide contributions to the molecular mechanisms underlying two pre-workout supplement-induced toxicity and the need for surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although yeasts of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae species are industrially significant, few studies have investigated their presence in environmental samples from the Amazon rainforest. This study aimed to isolate S. cerevisiae yeasts associated with trees of the Amazon Forest and investigate their thermotolerance, alcohol tolerance, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) characteristics, along with those of regional strains from previous research and reference strains from the industry. We collected fruits, bark and decaying plant material from Theobroma grandiflorum, Spondias mombin L., Mangifera indica L., and Eugenia stipitata, and isolated yeasts using the culture media. To identify the yeasts, we conducted morphological and biochemical analyses, including sugar assimilation and fermentation, and sequencing analyses of the rDNA (ITS and LSU (D1 and D2)). We also performed fermentation tests to determine the optimum temperature, thermotolerance and ethanol tolerance. Finally, we subjected the selected strains to SNP analysis to study the reported genes that are important for alcohol tolerance in S. cerevisiae: FPS1 (farnesyl diphosphate synthase1) and ASR1/YPR093 (alcohol sensitive RING/PHD finger1) genes. As a result, we isolated 53 yeasts, and 10 of which exhibited a sugar assimilation and fermentation profile that was similar to that of S. cerevisiae. These ten isolates were identified using sequencing of the ITS and LSU regions, which revealed the species to be Wickerhamomyces anomalus (n = 4), Torulaspora pretoriensis (n = 3), Debaryomyces hansenni (n = 1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (n = 2). Through the analysis of the ASR1 and FPS1 regions, we found an SNP at nucleotide 1552 A > G (FPS1), which was associated with ethanol tolerance under our experimental conditions. This work is significant because it is one of the first studies to focus specifically on the isolation of S. cerevisiae from samples in the Amazon region. Furthermore, the SNP analysis allowed us to differentiate isolates that showed greater tolerance to ethanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migration is a phenomenon worldwide, with older migrants, particularly those with fewer socioeconomic resources, having an increased risk of developing adverse cognitive and health outcomes and social isolation. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to validate interventions that promote healthy aging in this population. Previous studies have shown a positive impact of mindfulness based-stress reduction (MBSR) on outcomes such as cognition and sleep. However, only a few studies verified its potential in older adults, especially with vulnerable populations such as migrants. This article presents the protocol of the MEDITAGING study, which is the first to investigate the MBSR effects in migrants aged ≥55 in comparison to a health promotion program. Methods: MEDITAGING is a two-arm randomized, double-blinded, controlled study, which will include older Portuguese-speaking migrants (n = 90). Participants are randomized to the MBSR or a health promotion program. Both interventions are conducted in groups over a total of 8 weeks, incorporating weekly meetings, an additional 4-hour class, and extra at-home tasks. The health promotion program has the same structure as the MBSR but comprises different activities related to dementia prevention, healthy habits, cognitive stimulation, sleeping, nutrition, watercolor painting, and physical activity. The assessment of executive functioning, physiological stress measures, self-reported questionnaires, and qualitative interviews are conducted at baseline, after 8 weeks (post-intervention), and at a follow-up session (from one to 3 months thereafter). Analyzes will be conducted using a modified intention-to-treat approach (all participants with at least 3 days of participation in the group-sessions and one post-intervention observation). Discussion: This study will test effects of a mindfulness-based intervention against an active control condition in older adult migrants, which few studies have addressed. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05615337 (date of registration: 27 September 2022; date of record verification: 14 November 2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Políticas Públicas is the property of Revista Brasileira de Politicas Publicas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of O Ideário Patrimonial is the property of Centro Transdisciplinar das Arqueologias do Instituto Politecnico de Tomar and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

CINAC-patients present renal proximal tubular cell lysosomal lesions which are also observed in patients experiencing calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) nephrotoxicity, suggesting that CINAC is a toxin-induced nephropathy. An alternative hypothesis advocates chronic dehydration as a major etiological factor for CINAC. Here, we evaluated histological and molecular changes in dehydrated versus toxin exposed rats. Wistar rats were divided in 3 groups. Group 1 (n = 6) had free access to drinking water (control group). Group 2 (n = 8) was water deprived for 10 h per 24 h, 5 days/week and placed in an incubator (37 °C) for 30 min/h during water deprivation. Group 3 (n = 8) underwent daily oral gavage with cyclosporine (40 mg/kg body weight). After 28 days, renal function, histopathology and proteomic signatures were analysed. Cyclosporine-treated rats developed focal regions of atrophic proximal tubules with associated tubulo-interstitial fibrosis. PASM staining revealed enlarged argyrophilic granules in affected proximal tubules, identified as lysosomes by immunofluorescent staining. Electron microscopy confirmed the enlarged and dysmorphic phenotype of the lysosomes. Overall, these kidney lesions resemble those that have been previously documented in farmers with CINAC. Dehydration resulted in none of the above histopathological features. Proteomic analysis revealed that dehydration and cyclosporine both induce injury pathways, yet of a clear distinct nature with a signature of toxicity only for the cyclosporine group. In conclusion, both cyclosporine and dehydration are injurious to the kidney. However, dehydration alone does not result in kidney histopathology as observed in CINAC patients, whereas cyclosporine administration does. The histopathological analogy between CINAC and calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity in rats and humans supports the involvement of an as-yet-unidentified environmental toxin in CINAC etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CINAC-patients present renal proximal tubular cell lysosomal lesions which are also observed in patients experiencing calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) nephrotoxicity, suggesting that CINAC is a toxin-induced nephropathy. An alternative hypothesis advocates chronic dehydration as a major etiological factor for CINAC. Here, we evaluated histological and molecular changes in dehydrated versus toxin exposed rats. Wistar rats were divided in 3 groups. Group 1 (n = 6) had free access to drinking water (control group). Group 2 (n = 8) was water deprived for 10 h per 24 h, 5 days/week and placed in an incubator (37 °C) for 30 min/h during water deprivation. Group 3 (n = 8) underwent daily oral gavage with cyclosporine (40 mg/kg body weight). After 28 days, renal function, histopathology and proteomic signatures were analysed. Cyclosporine-treated rats developed focal regions of atrophic proximal tubules with associated tubulo-interstitial fibrosis. PASM staining revealed enlarged argyrophilic granules in affected proximal tubules, identified as lysosomes by immunofluorescent staining. Electron microscopy confirmed the enlarged and dysmorphic phenotype of the lysosomes. Overall, these kidney lesions resemble those that have been previously documented in farmers with CINAC. Dehydration resulted in none of the above histopathological features. Proteomic analysis revealed that dehydration and cyclosporine both induce injury pathways, yet of a clear distinct nature with a signature of toxicity only for the cyclosporine group. In conclusion, both cyclosporine and dehydration are injurious to the kidney. However, dehydration alone does not result in kidney histopathology as observed in CINAC patients, whereas cyclosporine administration does. The histopathological analogy between CINAC and calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity in rats and humans supports the involvement of an as-yet-unidentified environmental toxin in CINAC etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several solutions have been presented to minimize the environmental impact generated by polymers produced from petroleum resources. This work produced a biopolymer using glycerol, starch (<5) and macaúba epicarp fiber (10–15–20–25–30%) as reinforcement. The interaction of glycerol with starch was favored by the addition of acetic acid (CH3COOH). The pH was adjusted with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at a concentration of 0.1 mol·L−1. The characterization was carried out through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared reflectance—FTIR, water solubility, biodegradability and technological properties. Through the results obtained in this work, it is observed that the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity are influenced by the addition of the fiber concentration; the sample that received a 30% addition presented 19.17 MPa and 348.12 MPa, respectively. All samples showed low solubility in water and low density, in addition to a high rate of degradability in soil with mass loss corresponding to 59% over a period of three months. The results of this investigation are satisfactory for the production of materials that can be used in everyday life, replacing conventional plastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer is the world's most frequently diagnosed malignancy in men. Recent work suggests that patients with high ERG expression intensity are significantly more likely to develop biochemical relapse and metastasis, and die of prostate cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the intensity of ERG protein expression and the staging of prostate cancer and the formation of metastases in 635 samples. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed using immunohistochemistry reactions in tissue microarray samples taken from non‐neoplastic and neoplastic prostate tissue from patients who underwent radical prostatectomies at a reference hospital from 2009 to 2016. For the ERG marker analysis, the samples were scored for the presence or absence of nuclear signals. Weak, moderate, or strong intensity of the nuclei of the observable tumor cells was considered to be positive markers. All told, 635 samples were evaluated, and the ERG expression was inconclusive in 9% of cases, while 30% were positive and 61% were negative. Of the samples with positive result: 25.8% were weak and focal, 53.2% were moderate, and 21% were strong. Finally, 21% of the cases with a positive ERG had a high Gleason score. Metastasis was detected in 41% of the patients who were ERG positive, and of these, the majority had moderate marking and were aged older than 60 years, although there was no statistically significant difference between the older and younger age groups. Patients with moderate to strong ERG staining had higher staging compared to the others, and no increase in metastasis was detected in patients with more intense ERG expression. More studies should be carried out to corroborate these results and to reach a consensus on the intensity and scoring of the expression levels of ERG markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista FSA is the property of Revista FSA (Faculdade Santo Agostinho) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Our aim was to analyze the association between socioeconomic status and quality of life (QoL) among older people with depressive symptoms treated through the Primary Health Care (PHC) system in Brazil and Portugal. This was a comparative cross-sectional study with a nonprobability sample of older people in the PHC in Brazil and Portugal conducted between 2017 and 2018. To evaluate the variables of interest, the socioeconomic data questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey were used. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed to test the study hypothesis. The sample consisted of n = 150 participants (Brazil n = 100 and Portugal n = 50). There was a predominance of woman (76.0%, p = 0.224) and individuals between 65 and 80 years (88.0%, p = 0.594). The multivariate association analysis showed that in the presence of depressive symptoms, the QoL mental health domain was most associated with the socioeconomic variables. Among the prominent variables, woman group (p = 0.027), age group 65–80 years (p = 0.042), marital status "without a partner" (p = 0.029), education up to 5 years (p = 0.011) and earning up to 1 minimum wage (p = 0.037) exhibited higher scores among brazilian participants. The portuguese participants showed an association between the general health status domain and woman group (p = 0.042) and education up to 5 years (p = 0.045). The physical functioning domain was associated with income of up to 1 minimum wage (p = 0.037). In these domains, the portuguese participants exhibited higher scores than the brazilian participants. We verified the association between socioeconomic profile and QoL in the presence of depressive symptoms, which occurred mainly among woman, participants with low levels of education and low income, with QoL aspects related to mental, physical and social health and self-perceived health. The group from Brazil had higher QoL scores than the group from Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare macular damage in glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) and compressive optic neuropathy (CON) and assess its diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing between diseases. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, single-center study. Patients with GON, CON, and healthy controls were included according to the eligibility criteria. An automated spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) algorithm was used to segment the circumpapilary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) and macula. The layer thickness was measured in each sector according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study and the 6-sector Garway-Heath-based grids. Data was compared across all study groups, and the significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Seventy-five eyes of 75 participants, 25 with GON, 25 with CON, and 25 healthy controls (CG), were included. Macular thickness was diminished in the ganglion cell complex of GON and CON patients compared to CG (p<0.05). The best Garway-Heath-based grid parameters for distinguishing GON and CON were the nasal-inferior (NI) and nasal-superior sectors and the NI/temporal inferior (TI) damage ratios in the macular ganglion cell (mGCL) and inner plexiform (IPL) layers. Moreover, the combination of the NI sector and NI/TI damage ratios in both layers had higher discriminative power (AUC 0.909; 95% CI 0.830–0.988; p<0.001) than combining parameters in each layer separately. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the evaluation of macular segmented layers damage by SD-OCT may be a helpful add-on tool in the differential diagnosis between GON and CON. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible films were produced by combining a pectin (PEC) matrix with chitosan nanopar-ticle (CSNP), polysorbate 80 (T80), and garlic essential oil (GEO) as an antimicrobial agent. CSNPs were analyzed for their size and stability, and the films, throughout their contact angle, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical and thermal properties, water vapor transmission rate, and antimicrobial activity. Four filming-forming suspensions were investigated: PGEO (control); PGEO@T80; PGEO@CSNP; PGEO@T80@CSNP. The compositions are included in the methodology. The average particle size was 317 nm, with the zeta potential reaching +21.4 mV, which indicated colloidal stability. The contact angle of the films exhibited values of 65°, 43°, 78°, and 64°, respec-tively. These values showed films with variations in hydrophilicity. In antimicrobial tests, the films containing GEO showed inhibition only by contact for S. aureus. For E. coli, the inhibition occurred in films containing CSNP and by direct contact in the culture. The results indicate a promising al-ternative for designing stable antimicrobial nanoparticles for application in novel food packaging. Although, it still shows some deficiencies in the mechanical properties, as demonstrated in the elongation data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the biological effects of dietary supplementation with 0.05% and 0.1% cinnamon essential oil extracted from Cinnamomum cassia on silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen). The final body weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate were significantly higher in fish supplemented with 0.05% cinnamon essential oil than in the control(untreated) group. Muscle reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation levels were significantly lower in fish supplemented with 0.05% cinnamon essential oil but higher at the 0.1% concentration. Muscle antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP) and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly higher in fish supplemented with 0.05% cinnamon essential oil, while ACAP levels were lower in fish supplemented with 0.1%. The total saturated fatty acid content was significantly higher in the muscle of supplemented fish than in controls, while the total monounsaturated fatty acid content was significantly higher only in fish fed 0.1% cinnamon essential oil. Finally, the total content of polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly lower in fish fed 0.1% essential oil. Thus, data demonstrated that 0.05% C. cassia essential oil improves fish health by improving performance and muscle oxidant/antioxidant status. Higher doses of cinnamon essential oil produced oxidative stress in muscle, suggesting toxicity at the 0.1% level. Although this cinnamon essential oil diet exerted positive health effects, this diet impaired the muscle fatty acid profile, suggesting adverse impacts on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "The Role of the Mammalian DNA End-processing Enzyme Polynucleotide Kinase 3'-Phosphatase in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 Pathogenesis." The correction addresses concerns raised about the similarity of certain panels in the article. The corresponding author clarified that the panels were derived from separate experiments and are not duplicates. Additionally, an updated version of one of the figures is provided to indicate a cut position. The underlying data for the results reported in the article are available in supporting files. [Extracted from the article]

This study presents the analysis of the exergy load distribution in a separation process by extractive distillation for ethanol dehydration. The methodology carried out is divided into three parts: the calculation of the flow exergy considering the physical and chemical exergies of the distillation process; the calculation of the primary and transformed exergy contributions considering the consumed exergy; and finally, the overall process efficiency, which shows the real percentage of energy being used in the process. The simulation of an extractive distillation separation system is carried out using Aspen Plus®, from Aspen Tech Version 9. In general, heat transfer processes (heating or cooling) are the ones that generate the greatest exegetic destruction, which is why they must be the operations that must be optimized. As a result of our case study, the local exergy efficiency of the extractive distillation column is 13.80%, which is the operation with the greatest energy loss, and the overall exergy efficiency of the separation system is 30.67%. Then, in order to increase exergy efficiency, a sensitivity analysis is performed with the variation of the azeotrope feed, number of stages, reflux ratio, and solvent feed variation on ethanol purity to reach an overall efficiency of 33.53%. The purity of ethanol is classified as higher than that of the specified, 99.65%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Business Law Journal / Administração de Empresas em Revista is the property of Administracao de Empresas em Revista and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Agriculture is one of the economic activities with the most potential in Colombia, given its climatic and geographical conditions. Bean cultivation is classified as climbing, which grows in a branched way, and bushy, whose growth occurs up to 70 cm. The objective of this research was to study zinc and iron sulfates in different concentrations as fertilizers capable of increasing the nutritional value of kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), whose strategy is known as biofortification, and thus determine the most effective sulfate. The methodology details the sulfate formulations, their preparation, the application of additives, sampling and quantification methods of total iron, total zinc, °Brix, carotenoids, chlorophylls a, b, and antioxidant capacity using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method in leaves and pods. As for the results, it was found that biofortification with iron sulfate and zinc sulfate is a strategy that favors the country's economy and human health, because it allows the increase of minerals, antioxidant capacity and total soluble solids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Cuidarte is the property of Universidad de Santander and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Sorocaba is the property of Revista da Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas de Sorocaba and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem is the property of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem is the property of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Nursing UFPE / Revista de Enfermagem UFPE is the property of Revista de Enfermagem UFPE and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Arquivos de Ciências da Saúde da UNIPAR is the property of Associacao Paranaense de Ensino e Cultura and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Paper aims: The first aim is methodological, by developing a conceptual model to describe the internal relationship environment (IRE), the critical factors that impact this environment, the characterization of the parties involved, and their relationships. The second is practical and instrumentalizes the model to measure the effect of differences perceived by internal customers. Originality: Distinct works focus on the formulation of management systems, successful implementation, or external and market environmental factors, although there is a lack of studies that relate organizational performance to differences in perceived quality between the parties. Research method: The methodology followed a flow of collection/analysis, of the informational data of the company, sketch of the model and flow of information, exploratory focus group, thematic analysis of content, and confirmatory focus group. Then, the procedure of operationalization of the model. Main findings: The conceptual model and its instrumentalization describe the apparent relationships between the support team and the operations teams, the underlying relationships of the ERI with the company's management model, and organizational performance. Implications for theory and practice: In practice, the proposed measurement instrument allows evaluation of the effects of differences in the perceived quality of internal customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, heat measurements were used to investigate the influence of three initiators on the chain-growth mechanisms of polyacrylamide/carboxymethylcellulose/nanoclay nanocomposite hydrogels. All the matrices had highly interconnected porous surfaces with intercalated configurations. Swelling degree measurements were conducted to investigate the effect of the various formed chains on the physicochemical properties of these matrices. According to the findings, hydrogels synthesized using a potassium persulfate initiator had the highest water absorbency (around 40.8 ± 0.8 g.g^−1), followed by those synthesized using sodium persulfate (38.1 ± 1.0 g.g^−1) and ammonium persulfate initiators (34.8 ± 0.7 g.g^−1). The nanoclay-containing nanocomposite had a similar water absorption tendency. Additionally, all the nanocomposites had a lower swelling degree than pure hydrogel because nanoclay acted as a physical crosslinker in the polymeric matrix, decreasing the chain elasticity and water sorption ability. Different physicochemical properties were then generated due to the difference in polymerization mechanisms. Chain combination was the preferred termination mechanism for the polymerization of the hydrogel with the highest water absorbency. It was also plausible to assume that chain transfer reactions favored the termination mechanisms of the polymerization of the nanocomposites synthesized using NaPS and APS initiators, generating polymeric chains with low molecular weight and reducing the water absorption capacity. The insertion of nanoclay inhibited the start of the polymerization initiation step by preventing the initiator from attacking the monomer. Thus, a better understanding of the interaction between the initiators and hydrogel components can aid in the synthesis of hybrid nanocomposites with desirable characteristics and properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]