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Pulp and paper mill wastewater (PPMWW) contains high concentrations of recalcitrant compounds that cause toxicity to organisms. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have the ability to degrade these compounds and reduce overall toxicity. Physicochemical characterization and Lactuca sativa toxicity test were conducted to compare the effectiveness of two post-treatments: UV/H 2 O 2 and photo-Fenton. A comparison of four phytotoxicity indexes was carried out. PPMWW from a Brazilian treatment plant was characterized by high values of phenols, color, integrated spectral area (ISA), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), and caused significant inhibition to seedling development. The use of both post-treatments allowed the removal of over 75% of phenols, color, ISA, and COD. Although UV/H 2 O 2 was more effective in removing phenols and ISA, photo-Fenton better reduced phytotoxicity. The most sensitive phytotoxicity indexes were RGIC 0.8 and GIC 80% , whereas SGC 0 , REC -0.25 and REC -0.50 better showed the effectiveness of the post-treatments. We suggest the combined use of two phytotoxicity indexes: one that evaluates the effects on seed germination and, another, on root elongation, e.g., SGC 0 and RGIC 0.8 . Additionally, we recommend the use of ISA for monitoring programs of wastewater treatments because it is a cost-effective approach that allows narrowing down the search and identification of compounds present in complex mixtures., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high-production-volume chemical with endocrine disrupting properties commonly used as color developer in thermal paper. Concerns about the potential hazards of human BPA exposure have led to the increasing utilization of alternatives such as bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF). This study was designed to assess: (i) BPA, BPS, and BPF concentrations in 112 thermal paper receipts from Brazil, France, and Spain by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS); and (ii) hormone-like activities of these receipts using two receptor-specific bioassays, the E-Screen for (anti-)estrogenicity and PALM luciferase assay for (anti-)androgenicity. BPA was present in 95.3% of receipts from Spain, 90.9% of those from Brazil, and 51.1% of those from France at concentrations up to 20.27 mg/g of paper. Only two samples from Brazil, two from Spain, and ten from France had a BPS concentration ranging from 6.46 to 13.29 mg/g; no BPA or BPS was detected in 27.7% of French samples. No BPF was detected in any receipt. Estrogenic activity was observed in all samples from Brazil and Spain and in 74.5% of those from France. Anti-androgenic activity was observed in > 90% of samples from Brazil and Spain and in 53.2% of those from France. Only 25.5% of French samples were negative for both estrogenic and anti-androgenic activity. Estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities per gram of paper were up to 1.411 µM estradiol (E 2 ) equivalent units (E 2 eq) and up to 359.5 mM procymidone equivalent units (Proceq), respectively. BPA but not BPS concentrations were positively correlated with both estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities. BPA still dominates the thermal paper market in Brazil and Spain, and BPS appears to be one of the main alternatives in France. There is an urgent need to evaluate the safety of alternatives proposed to replace BPA as developer in thermal printing. The large proportion of samples with hormonal activity calls for the adoption of preventive measures., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cellulose and paper pulp factories utilize a large amount of water generating several undesirable contaminants. The present work is a preliminary investigation that associates the electrocoagulation-flotation (EC) method followed by photocatalysis to treat such wastewater. For EC, the experiment with aluminium and iron electrodes showed similar efficiency. Iron electrodes (anode and cathode) were chosen. By applying 30min of EC/Fe(0), 153A m(-2) and pH 6.0, the COD values, UV-vis absorbance and turbidity underwent an intense decrease. For the subsequent UV photocatalysis (mercury lamps) TiO(2) was employed and the favourable operational conditions found were 0.25g L(-1) of the catalyst and solution pH 3.0. The addition of hydrogen peroxide (50mmol L(-1)) highly increased the photo-process performance. By employing the UV/TiO(2)/H(2)O(2) system, the COD reduction was 88% compared to pre-treated effluents and complete sample photobleaching was verified. The salt concentration on EC (iron electrodes) showed that the electrolysis duration can be reduced from 30 to 10min by the addition of 5.0g L(-1) of NaCl. The biodegradability index (BOD/COD) increased from 0.15 (pre-treated) to 0.48 (after EC) and to 0.89 (after EC/photocatalysis irradiated for 6h), showing that the employed sequence is very helpful to improve the water quality. This result was confirmed by biotoxicity tests performed with microcrustaceous Artemia salina.

A brief review intended as information to the readership of Clinics on papers recently published under various medical headings in Brazilian scientific journals recently indexed or about to be indexed in ISI-THOMSON Journal Citation Reports. Journals covered in this review are Acta Ortopédica Brasileira, Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia, Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, Revista Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular and Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira.

Objectives: To identify the most cited articles in general surgery published by Brazilian authors., Introduction: There are several ways for the international community to recognize the quality of a scientific article. Although controversial, the most widely used and reliable methodology to identify the importance of an article is citation analysis., Methods: A search using the Institute for Scientific Information citation database (Science Citation Index Expanded) was performed to identify highly cited Brazilian papers published in twenty-six highly cited general surgery journals, selected based on their elevated impact factors, from 1970 to 2009. Further analysis was done on the 65 most-cited papers., Results: We identified 1,713 Brazilian articles, from which nine papers emerged as classics (more than 100 citations received). For the Brazilian contributions, a total increase of about 21-fold was evident between 1970 and 2009. Although several topics were covered, articles covering trauma, oncology and organ transplantation were the most cited. The majority of classic studies were done with international cooperation., Conclusions: This study identified the most influential Brazilian articles published in internationally renowned general surgery journals.

The phlebotomine sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis takes blood from a variety of wild and domestic animals and transmits Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi, etiological agent of American visceral leishmaniasis. Blood meal identification in sand flies has depended largely on serological methods but a new protocol described here uses filter-based technology to stabilise and store blood meal DNA, allowing subsequent PCR identification of blood meal sources, as well as parasite detection, in blood-fed sand flies. This technique revealed that 53.6% of field-collected sand flies captured in the back yards of houses in Teresina (Brazil) had fed on chickens. The potential applications of this technique in epidemiological studies and strategic planning for leishmaniasis control programmes are discussed.

Objectives: To assess the measurement equivalence of the original paper version of an adapted tablet version of the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D)., Methods: A randomly selected sample of 509 individuals aged 18 to 64 years from the general population responded to the EQ-5D at two time points separated by a minimum interval of 24 hours and were allocated to one of the following groups: test-retest group (tablet-tablet) or crossover group (paper-tablet and tablet-paper). Agreement between methods was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the κ coefficient., Results: In the crossover group, the following ICC values were obtained: 0.76 (confidence interval [CI] 0.58-0.89) for EQ-5D scores and 0.77 (CI 0.68-0.84) for visual analogue scale in subjects responding first to the tablet version; 0.83 (CI 0.75-0.89) for EQ-5D scores and 0.75 (CI 0.67-0.85) for visual analogue scale in subjects responding first to the paper version. In the test-retest group, the ICC was 0.85 (CI 0.73-0.91) for EQ-5D scores and 0.79 (CI 0.66-0.87) for visual analogue scale. The κ values were higher than 0.69 in this group. The internal consistencies of the paper and tablet methods were similar., Conclusions: The paper and tablet versions of the EQ-5D are equivalent. Test-retest and crossover agreement was high and the acceptability of the methods was similar among individuals., (Copyright © 2018 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Allele frequencies for 15 STR markers included in the AmpFISTR Identifiler kit (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818, and FGA) were obtained from a sample of 561 unrelated individuals from São Paulo, Brazil.

On aqueous extraction, Hymenaea courbaril var. stilbocarpa, known in Brazil as jatobá, furnishes a high yield of viscous xyloglucan (45%) from its seeds. The crude polysaccharide (B1) was hydrolysed and the products, analysed as alditol acetates, were glucose, xylose, galactose and arabinose in the ratio 50:35:13:2. After further fractionation on DEAE-cellulose column (chloride form), the main fraction (70% yield, B2) was obtained. The basic structure of the xyloglucan was determined as a cellulose-type (1-->4)-linked beta-D-glucan backbone partially substituted with side chains at O6 of alpha-D-xylopyranose, some of which were themselves substituted at O2 by the units of beta-D-galactopyranose. Treatment of the xyloglucan (B2) with commercial cellulase from Trichoderma sp. yielded six oligosaccharides. These oligosaccharides were isolated by preparative paper chromatography, and their structures were determined by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy of the derived partially O-methylated alditol acetates. These results confirm the structure proposed for jatobá seed xyloglucan.

This article discusses adaptational and survival strategies of homeless youth and describes how pilot research, begun in 1982 on these strategies in the western United States, led to additional research and activity focused upon the related international street youth problem. The results of this research suggest that a critical relationship exists between survival strategies and the AIDS pandemic. The impact of this pandemic on street youth can be mitigated only by immediate and comprehensive preventive actions at both national and international levels.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa belong to the special pathogen group capable of causing serious infections, with high mortality rates. The aim of this study was to describe the antibiotic resistance and genomic characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa belonging to international high-risk clone ST235 (GPAE0131 isolate), obtained from hospital wastewater. P. aeruginosa GPAE0131 was isolated from ward tertiary hospital in Brazil and the antibiotic resistance profile was determined by the disc-diffusion method. Genomic characteristics related to antibiotic resistance and virulence factors were evaluated by genomic DNA sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform and bioinformatic analysis. GPAE0131 isolate showed resistance to piperacillin-tazobactam, cefepime, ceftazidime, imipenem, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and tobramycin. Resistome comprehend of resistance genes to β-lactams (bla VIM-2 , bla OXA-4 , bla OXA-488 , bla PDC-35 ), aminoglycosides (aph(3')-IIb, aac(6')-IIc, aac(6')-Ib9, aadA1), fosfomycin (fosA), chloramphenicol (catB7) and sulfonamides (sul1). Genome comparisons evidence insertion of bla VIM-2 and bla OXA-4 genes. GPAE0131 isolate was predicted to be pathogenic to humans and several virulence factors were found, including encoding gene for ExoU and exotoxin A. All of these features into a pathogenic international high-risk clone (ST235), classified as critical priority, stands out as public health concern due to the widespread dispersal of human pathogens through wastewater. It is suggested that mitigating measures be implemented, such as the treatment of hospital sewage and the addition of tertiary treatment, to prevent the escape of pathogens at this level into the environment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Most cardiovascular (CV) events stem from modifiable risk factors, but it remains uncertain whether their impact on mortality has decreased in recent years as a result of treatment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We evaluated the temporal trends in the population attributable fraction (PAF) of modifiable risk factors to CV mortality in patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) for suspected coronary artery disease in a large city in Brazil., Methods: The cohort comprised 25,127 patients without established CV disease undergoing MPI in a referral center in Curitiba, Brazil, from 2010 to 2018. Baseline demographic, clinical and risk factors were prospectively collected. Modifiable risk factors encompassed hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and smoking. The primary outcome was CV death occurring up to 4 years of follow-up. The PAF of each risk factor was calculated for each triennium using multivariable Cox proportional regression models, adjusting for age, sex and family history of premature coronary disease., Results: Over 9 years, there were 1438 deaths, 444 due to CV causes. In the first triennium, sedentary lifestyle exhibited the highest PAF (49%) for CV death, followed by hypertension (17%), diabetes mellitus (8%) and smoking habit (6%). The PAF for all risk factors combined remained relatively stable thorough the triennia (2010-2012: 57% vs 2013-2015: 64% vs 2016-2018: 47%, p = NS)., Conclusion: In this large cohort of patients referred to MPI, the PAF of modifiable CV risk factors did not diminish in the last decade, with sedentary lifestyle having the largest contribution for CV mortality., Condensed Abstract: This study examinated temporal trends in the impact of modifiable cardiovascular (CV) risk factors on CV and overall mortality in a cohort of 25,127 patients undergoing myocardial perfusion imaging from 2010 to 2018. Sedentary behavior consistently had the greatest impact on both CV and overall mortality, followed by hypertension and diabetes. Smoking had a lesser effect, while obesity showed no independent association with the outcomes. The contributions of these modifiable CV risk factors remained stable over the study period, suggesting that interventions promoting physical activity may be essential in mitigating the burden of CV disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Coastal wetlands are known for their diverse ecosystems, yet their soil characteristics are often misunderstood and thought to be monotonous. These soils are frequently subjected to saline water saturation, leading to unique soil processes. However, the combination and intensity of these processes can vary considerably across different ecosystems. In this study, we hypothesize that these diverse soil processes not only govern the geochemical conditions in coastal ecosystems but also influence their ability to deliver ecosystem services. To test this hypothesis, we conducted soil analyses in mangroves, seagrass meadows, and hypersaline tidal flats along the Brazilian coast. We used key soil properties as indicators of soil processes and developed a conceptual model linking soil processes and soil-related ecosystem services in these environments. Under more anoxic conditions, the intense soil organic matter accumulation and sulfidization processes in mangroves evidence their significance in terms of climate regulation through organic carbon sequestration and contaminants immobilization. Similarly, pronounced sulfidization in seagrasses underscores their ability to immobilize contaminants. In contrast, hypersaline tidal flats soils exhibit increased intensities of salinization and calcification processes, leading to a high capacity for accumulating inorganic carbon as secondary carbonates (CaCO 3 ), underscoring their role in climate regulation through inorganic carbon sequestration. Our findings show that contrary to previously thought coastal wetlands are far from monotonous, exhibiting significant variations in the types and intensities of soil processes, which in turn influence their capacity to deliver ecosystem services. This understanding is pivotal for guiding effective management strategies to enhance ecosystem services in coastal wetlands., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Seroprevalence studies on cats are essential for monitoring the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii infection. The present research investigated anti-T. gondii antibodies, risk factors, clinical signs, hematology and serum biochemistry in cats from different regions of Rio de Janeiro. An overall 18.7% (17/91) of the cats were seroreactive, and age was associated with increased chances of seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies. Clinical signs, hematology and serum biochemistry parameters did not help achieve an antemortem diagnosis of cat toxoplasmosis. The parasite circulates in cats from three major regions of Rio de Janeiro, and the present data set will contribute to future epidemiological studies in this endemic state of Brazil., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The present study offers an extensive overview on the evolution and current state of marine oil spill research in Brazil and then discusses further directions. Given the historical and current relevance of this issue, this paper also aims to summarize the exploration, geological background, design of oil spills timeline and assessment of the most important of them. Moreover, it includes a critical comparison of Brazilian oil spill models in terms of their simulation abilities, real-time field data assimilation, space and time forecasts and uncertainty evaluation. This study also presents the perspectives of the Multi-User System for Detection, Prediction, and Monitoring of Oil Spills at Sea (SisMOM) the largest and most important Brazilian project to face the offshore oil spills., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Potentially mutagenic impurities are likely to be formed in any drug substance, since their synthesis requires reactive intermediates which may also react with DNA. The ICH M7 guideline, which defines how to risk assess and control mutagenic impurities, was first published in 2014 and is not to be applied retrospectively; however, some impurities have been found above the permitted limits in drug products which were already on the market. This study assessed the implications of applying ICH M7 retrospectively to anti-hypertensive drugs marketed in Brazil by performing a risk assessment and establishing control strategies. The manufacturing processes of 15 drug substances were evaluated and 262 impurities were identified, from which 21% were classified as potentially mutagenic. Most of the impurities were identified below ICH M7 acceptable limits, except for impurities described in a pharmacopoeial monograph. Compendial specifications are defined based on scientific evidence and play an important role in setting quality and safety standards for pharmaceuticals, however there are opportunities for further alignment with ICH guidelines, aiming for a holistic assessment of the impurities profile to ensure the safety of medicines., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The low attendance of families in child developmental follow-up programs for at-risk preterm children is a challenge in Brazil., Objective: This study evaluates the feasibility of implementing a developmental follow-up program for Brazilian preterm infants in a hybrid format., Methods: This is an observational, prospective cohort study, involving preterm infants. Longitudinal developmental test results, the participation frequency in the program, and the number of referrals to early intervention programs were used to assess feasibility. The General Movements (GMs) assessment, Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and, Survey of Wellbeing of Young Children (SWYC) Milestones were administered via telehealth. The Bayley-III was administered in-person., Results: Thirty-four preterm infants attended the follow-up until 12 months of corrected age and 18 (52.9 %) concluded all follow-up assessments. Twenty-six (76.5 %) attended all assessments via telehealth, and 26 (76.5 %) attended the in-person assessment. Eighteen (52.9 %) infants showed at least one altered result in development tests. Infants exhibiting abnormal results in the GMs assessment, motor developmental delay according to the AIMS, or developmental delay based on Balley-III were promptly referred to early intervention services., Conclusion: This study demonstrated high participation rate and low dropout in a developmental follow-up program employing a hybrid format. The substantial number of identified infants with developmental delay emphasizes the importance of timely detection of motor delays to referral to early intervention services., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors of this manuscript declare no conflicts of interest associated with this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present study aimed to assess the occurrence and counts of Staphylococcus aureus in Brazilian artisanal cheeses (BAC) produced in five regions of Brazil: Coalho and Manteiga (Northeast region); Colonial and Serrano (South); Caipira (Central-West); Marajó (North); and Minas Artisanal cheeses, from Araxá, Campos das Vertentes, Cerrado, Serro and Canastra microregions (Southeast). The resistance to chlorine-based sanitizers, ability to attach to stainless steel surfaces, and antibiogram profile of a large set of S. aureus strains (n = 585) were assessed. Further, a total of 42 isolates were evaluated for the presence of enterotoxigenic genes (sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, sei, sej, and ser) and submitted to typing using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). BAC presented high counts of S. aureus (3.4-6.4 log CFU/g), varying from 25 to 62.5%. From the S. aureus strains (n = 585) assessed, 16% could resist 200 ppm of sodium hypochlorite, whereas 87.6% produced strong ability to attach to stainless steel surfaces, corroborating with S. aureus ability to persist and spread in the environment. Furthermore, the relatively high frequency (80.5%) of multidrug-resistant S. aureus and the presence of enterotoxin genes in 92.6% of the strains is of utmost attention. It reveals the lurking threat of SFP that can survive when conditions are favorable. The presence of enterotoxigenic and antimicrobial-resistant strains of S. aureus in cheese constitutes a potential risk to public health. This result calls for better control of cheese contamination sources, and taking hygienic measures is necessary for food safety. More attention should be paid to animal welfare and hygiene practices in some dairy farms during manufacturing to enhance the microbiological quality of traditional cheese products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to conduct a spatio-temporal analysis of tegumentary leishmaniasis occurrences in the Amazonas state, Brazil. An ecological study encompassing time series and spatial analysis was performed, exploring the geographic distribution and temporal trends of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) in Amazonas between 2011 and 2022. Secondary data extracted from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) were utilized for this analysis. The study evaluated the relationship between disease cases and environmental/climatic variables (deforestation, temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity). Over the study period, 19,730 cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis were recorded, averaging an incidence of 41.4/100,000 inhabitants across the 62 municipalities of Amazonas state. Disease intensity varied with seasons. Generally, Amazonas state displayed a declining trend in ATL cases. However, certain municipalities, notably Rio Preto da Eva and Presidente Figueiredo, exhibited high incidence rates, while Canutama, Envira, Eirunepé, and Pauini municipalities demand closer attention due to their demonstrated increasing temporal trend of ATL cases. The analysis indicated a correlation between the number of ATL cases reported and relative humidity as well as precipitation. These findings underscore the significance of tegumentary leishmaniasis as a public health issue in the region and emphasize the necessity for public initiatives aimed at preventing this endemic illness., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) can cause severe diarrhea and is a public health concern worldwide. Cattle are an important reservoir for this group of pathogens, and once introduced into the abattoir environment, these microorganisms can contaminate consumer products. This study aimed to characterize the distribution of DEC [Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), and enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC)] from extensive and intensive cattle production systems in Brazil. Samples (n = 919) were collected from animal feces (n = 200), carcasses (n = 600), meat cuts (n = 90), employee feces (n = 9), and slaughterhouse water (n = 20). Virulence genes were detected by PCR in 10% of animal samples (94/919), with STEC (n = 81) as the higher prevalence, followed by EIEC (n = 8), and lastly EPEC (n = 5). Animals raised in an extensive system had a higher prevalence of STEC (average 48%, sd = 2.04) when compared to animals raised in an intensive system (23%, sd = 1.95) (Chi-square test, P < 0.001). From these animals, most STEC isolates only harbored stx2 (58%), and 7% were STEC LEE-positive isolates that were further identified as O157:H7. This study provides further evidence that cattle are potential sources of DEC, especially STEC, and that potentially pathogenic E. coli isolates are widely distributed in feces and carcasses during the slaughter process., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Coastal and estuarine systems play an important role in the maintenance of marine biodiversity, providing nursery, feeding, developmental and reproductive areas for terrestrial and aquatic species. The Fundão dam collapse is considered one of the biggest environmental disasters in Brazil, causing great social, economic and ecological damage in the affected areas. In our study, we used beta diversity and its components as a tool to monitor the spatio-temporal variation of fish larvae in four marine areas adjacent to the Doce River. The results show that the four areas undergo different spatio-temporal dynamics, with the composition of fish larvae in the Doce being simplified in the last years after the dam burst, compared to the other adjacent marine areas. In addition, turbidity is an important factor that has caused the homogenization of the larval composition of the Doce, demonstrating that mud resuspension events can cause a decrease in diversity and also suggesting the toxicity of the mud composition. The change from negative to positive additive and colonizing components in recent years suggests a slight recovery of diversity in the Doce compared to other marine areas. Finally, we have shown that some species may be tolerant to the impact, but with probable behavioral, energetic and physiological costs, which justifies the constant monitoring of these areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Germano Henrique Costa Barrilli reports financial support was provided by Espírito Santo Technology Foundation. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Syphilis and human papillomavirus (HPV) are sexually transmitted infections affecting women in the same risk group. Thus, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of HPV in a population of women with and without syphilis and observe the characteristics of HPV cervical lesions when coinfection occurs. Sociodemographic factors associated with coinfection were also evaluated., Methods: This case-control study was conducted at a Brazilian HIV/STD testing and training center. Study groups were composed of women with (case) and without syphilis (control), paired by age. The presence of HPV, HPV subtype, and lesion severity were investigated. All women were subjected to a sociodemographic interview, clinical data collection, cell collection for cytopathological analysis, and a hybrid capture test for HPV diagnosis. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis., Results: The sample consisted of 176 women, 88 in each group. The prevalence of HPV was 14.8 % in the case (n = 13) and 18.1 % in the control group (n = 16), and there was no statistically significant difference between them. Illiterate individuals were more prevalent in the control group (p = 0.023). Considering women with suggestive signs of STIs, 30 % (6) of the patients and controls had high-risk HPV, and 15 % (3) had coinfection. The cytopathological assessment showed no differences between the groups concerning cellular atypia. However, ASC-US and ASC-H (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and high-grade) were only found in women with coinfections, with 75 % of these patients testing positive for high-risk HPV. Considering the distribution of lesions on the cervix, the HSIL (high-grade intraepithelial lesion) was assessed in high-risk HPV patients, both cases and controls., Conclusions: The prevalence of HPV was not increased in patients infected with syphilis. In addition, coinfection does not seem to be an aggravating factor for the presence of precursor lesions of cervical cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Evidence indicates that physical activity reduces stress and promote a myriad of health-enhancing effects through anti-inflammatory mechanisms. However, it is unknown whether these mechanisms interfere in the association between psychosocial job stress and headache disorders., Objective: To test whether physical activity and its interplay with the systemic inflammation biomarkers high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and acute phase glycoproteins (GlycA) would mediate the associations between job stress and headache disorders., Methods: We cross-sectionally evaluated the baseline data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) regarding job stress (higher demand and lower control and support subscales), migraine and tension-type headache (ICHD-2 criteria), self-reported leisure-time physical activity, and plasma hs-CRP and GlycA levels. Conditional process analyses with a sequential mediation approach were employed to compute path coefficients and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) around the indirect effects of physical activity and biomarkers on the job stress-headache relationship. Separate models were adjusted for sex, age, and depression and anxiety. Further adjustments added BMI smoking status, and socioeconomic factors., Results: In total, 7,644 people were included in the study. The 1-year prevalence of migraine and tension-type headache were 13.1 % and 49.4 %, respectively. In models adjusted for sex, age, anxiety, and depression, the association between job stress (lower job control) and migraine was mediated by physical activity [effect = -0.039 (95 %CI: -0.074, -0.010)] but not hs-CRP or GlycA. TTH was associated with higher job control and lower job demand, which was mediated by the inverse associations between physical activity and GlycA [Job Control: effect = 0.0005 (95 %CI: 0.0001, 0.0010); Job Demand: effect = 0.0003 (95 %CI: 0.0001, 0.0007]. Only the mediating effect of physical activity in the job stress-migraine link remained after further adjustments including socioeconomic factors, BMI, smoking, and the exclusion of major chronic diseases., Conclusion: In the ELSA-Brasil study, physical activity reversed the link between job stress and migraine independently of systemic inflammation, while the LTPA-mediated downregulation of GlycA was associated with lower job stress-related TTH., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In 2019, the Brazilian coast was affected by the largest oil spill in its history. We assessed the levels of chemical elements in Lutjanus synagris and Haemulon aurolienatum fish from Itacaré (least affected area), Tinharé-Boipeba (most affected area) and Madre de Deus (chronically affected area). The level of metals differed between species, tissues, life cycle phases, maturation stages and between sampled locations, indicating the influence of biological and environmental aspects on bioaccumulation. Only fish in Madre de Deus showed lead contamination, while arsenic concentrations in the three areas exceeded the maximum value acceptable by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency). It is suggested that the oil spill may have impacted species differently, also having an impact in fish from less affected areas. However, metal concentrations in fish in Madre de Deus stood out when compared to populations in other studied areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Syphilis is a significant public health concern worldwide. According to the 2020 estimates, nearly 7.1 million new cases of syphilis have been reported globally, with over 30 % of these cases reported from American nations, particularly Brazil. Concerns have been raised regarding the susceptibility of specific groups to syphilis due to challenges and vulnerabilities that place these groups at a higher risk of infections or complications in the treatment outcomes. The present study aimed to compare the seroprevalence and the factors associated with syphilis among such high-risk groups. The study was designed as a cross-sectional one and was conducted with pregnant women, people living with HIV (PLHIV), people living with tuberculosis (PLTB), indigenous and healthy populations in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The study was conducted between June 2019 and August 2022, during which the included patients were subjected to treponemal and non-treponemal serological assays. The study also included a survey conducted through a self-reported questionnaire to collect information regarding the participants' demographics and sexual behaviors. A total of 550 samples were collected, with 110 participants in each of the five groups. The results of the study revealed that the seroprevalence of Treponema pallidum infection in pregnant women, PLHIV, PLTB, indigenous and healthy populations of the study region was 10 % (n = 11/110), 41.81 % (n = 46/110), 17.27 % (n = 19/110), 5.45 % (n = 6/110), and 8.18 % (n = 9/110), respectively. Homosexual orientation (p = 0.04) and a history of sexually transmitted infection (STI) (p = 0.01) were associated with the seroprevalence of T. pallidum infection in PLHIV. However, no such associations were noted in the remaining four groups. The seroprevalence of T. pallidum infection was observed to vary significantly among the different high-risk groups, which highlighted the persistent concern of syphilis, particularly among vulnerable populations. These findings underscore the significance of focused interventions and public health strategies customized to the specific requirements of each of the groups evaluated in the present study to decrease the number of cases of syphilis and thereby prevent future complications in patients with other serious infections., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The sediment of five mangrove in Pernambuco/Brazil was investigated to find a reference site for toxicity bioassays. Sediment characteristics, metal levels, and toxic effects on the nauplius of the copepod Tisbe biminiensis were studied. The sediment was composed by terrigenous muds and siliciclastic sands with medium to high organic matter contents. The FeAs association show most of the high concentrations and positive correlation among its constituents in the south. In the north, the Ca-Sr-La association is higher and exhibits positive correlation among its components that usually found in carbonate rocks. Very intense toxic effects were observed, mainly in the south, with >70 % reductions in development. As and Hg were positively correlated with mortality and decrease in development. The sediment quality at studied mangroves prevent their use as a reference site in bioassays. These could be linked to the direct/perennial contribution of geogenic sources associated with anthropogenic environmental impacts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is no gold-standard trigger for detecting drug-induced respiratory disorders, a type of Adverse Drug Event (ADE) with high morbimortality, particularly in older people., Objective: To propose and evaluate the performance of triggers for detecting hospitalizations related to drug-induced respiratory disorders in older people., Methods: A pilot cross-sectional study was conducted with older people (age ≥ 60) admitted to a Brazilian hospital. Electronic chart documentation was screened using ICD-10 codes; Global Trigger Tool (GTT); and drugs potentially associated with respiratory disorders. A chart and medication review were conducted to perform the causality assessment using the instrument developed by the World Health Organization. The performance of triggers was evaluated by the Positive Predictive Value (PPV), with values ≥ 0.20 indicating good performance., Results: Among 221 older people, 72 were eligible. Potential drug-induced dyspnea and/or cough were detected in six older people (6/72), corresponding to a prevalence of 8.3 %. The overall PPV of the triggers was 0.14, with abrupt medication stop (PPV = 1.00), codeine (PPV = 1.00), captopril (PPV = 0.33), and carvedilol (PPV = 0.33) showing good performance. Two triggers were proposed for detecting therapeutic ineffectiveness associated with respiratory disorders: furosemide (PPV = 0.23) and prednisone (PPV = 0.20)., Conclusion: The triggers enabled the identification that one in 12 hospitalizations was related to drug-induced respiratory. Although good performance was observed in the application of triggers, additional investigations are needed to assess the feasibility of incorporating them into clinical practice for the screening, detection, management, and reporting of these ADEs, which are considered to be underreported and difficult to detect., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 HCFMUSP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Biomass is an important indicator of the ability of tropical forests to deliver ecosystem services, but little attention has been given to belowground biomass and its drivers in human-modified landscapes. Here, we investigated the belowground biomass and nutrient concentration/stocks (C, P, and N) across regenerating forest stands with varying ages (10-76 years old) and old-growth forests in the Caatinga dry forest (northeastern Brazil) in the context of slash-and-burn agriculture. Belowground biomass ranged from 1.89 ± 0.33 Mg ha -1 to 17.53 ± 2.28 Mg ha -1 (mean ± SE) across regenerating forest stands and averaged 8.33 ± 1.59 Mg ha -1 , with no differences compared to old-growth stands. However, regenerating stands exhibited a higher root/shoot ratio with biomass concentrated in the superficial soil layer and in large-sized roots, regardless of the successional stage. Root nutrient concentration and stocks were highly variable across forest stands with fine roots supporting a higher concentration of N and P, while regenerating stands supported lower nutrient stocks as compared to old-growth forests. Finally, precipitation and chronic disturbance emerged as the most important drivers of belowground biomass and nutrient concentrations/stocks, while aboveground biomass played a negligible role. Our results indicate that, in human-modified landscapes of tropical dry forests, belowground biomass and nutrients play important roles in ecosystem functions in regenerated forests after slash-and-burn agriculture. Forest resilience and provision of ecosystem services (e.g., nutrient cycling) appear to be very sensitive to increased aridity and exploitation of forest resources., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Few studies have explored the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on the heat vulnerability of mental health (MH) patients. As individual socioeconomic data was unavailable, we aimed to fill this gap by using the healthcare system type as a proxy for SES. Brazilian national statistics indicate that public patients have lower SES than private. Therefore, we compared the risk of emergency department visits (EDVs) for MH between patients from both healthcare types. EDVs for MH disorders from all nine public (101,452 visits) and one large private facility (154,954) in Curitiba were assessed (2017-2021). Daily mean temperature was gathered and weighed from 3 stations. Distributed-lag non-linear model with quasi-Poisson (maximum 10-lags) was used to assess the risk. We stratified by private and public, age, and gender under moderate and extreme heat. Additionally, we calculated the attributable fraction (AF), which translates individual risks into population-representative burdens - especially useful for public policies. Random-effects meta-regression pooled the risk estimates between healthcare systems. Public patients showed significant risks immediately as temperatures started to increase. Their cumulative relative risk (RR) of MH-EDV was 7.5 % higher than the private patients (Q-Test 26.2 %) under moderate heat, suggesting their particular heat vulnerability. Differently, private patients showed significant risks only under extreme heat, when their RR became 4.3 % higher than public (Q-Test 6.2 %). These findings suggest that private patients have a relatively greater adaptation capacity to heat. However, when faced with extreme heat, their current adaptation means were potentially insufficient, so they needed and could access healthcare freely, unlike their public counterparts. MH patients would benefit from measures to reduce heat vulnerability and access barriers, increasing equity between the healthcare systems in Brazil. AF of EDVs due to extreme heat was 0.33 % (95%CI 0.16;0.50) for the total sample (859 EDVs). This corroborates that such broad population-level policies are urgently needed as climate change progresses., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Although some studies have found that short-term PM 2.5 exposure is associated with lung cancer deaths, its impact on other cancer sites is unclear. To answer this research question, this time-stratified case-crossover study used individual cancer death data between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2019, extracted from the Brazilian mortality information system to quantify the associations between short-term PM 2.5 exposure and cancer mortality from 25 common cancer sites. Daily PM 2.5 concentration was aggregated at the municipality level as the key exposure. The study included a total of 34,516,120 individual death records, with the national daily mean PM 2.5 exposure 15.3 (SD 4.3) μg/m 3 . For every 10-μg/m 3 increase in three-day average PM 2.5 exposure, the odds ratio (OR) for all-cancer mortality was 1.04 (95% CI 1.03-1.04). Apart from all-cancer deaths, PM 2.5 exposure may impact cancers of oesophagus (1.04, 1.00-1.08), stomach (1.05, 1.02-1.08), colon-rectum (1.04, 1.01-1.06), lung (1.04, 1.02-1.06), breast (1.03, 1.00-1.06), prostate (1.07, 1.04-1.10), and leukaemia (1.05, 1.01-1.09). During the study period, acute PM 2.5 exposure contributed to an estimated 1,917,994 cancer deaths, ranging from 0 to 6,054 cases in each municipality. Though there has been a consistent downward trend in PM 2.5 -related all-cancer mortality risks from 2000 to 2019, the impact remains significant, indicating the continued importance of cancer patients avoiding PM 2.5 exposure. This nationwide study revealed a notable association between acute PM 2.5 exposure and heightened overall and site-specific cancer mortality for the first time to our best knowledge. The findings suggest the importance of considering strategies to minimize such exposure in cancer care guidelines. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: The 20-year analysis of nationwide death records in Brazil revealed that heightened short-term exposure to PM 2.5 is associated with increased cancer mortality at various sites, although this association has gradually decreased over time. Despite the declining impact, the research highlights the persistent adverse effects of PM 2.5 on cancer mortality, emphasizing the importance of continued research and preventive measures to address the ongoing public health challenges posed by air pollution., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Michael J. Abramson reports a relationship with Pfizer that includes: funding grants. Michael J. Abramson reports a relationship with Boehringer-Ingelheim that includes: funding grants. Michael J. Abramson reports a relationship with GSK that includes: funding grants and speaking and lecture fees. Michael J. Abramson reports a relationship with Sanofi that includes: consulting or advisory and funding grants. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Infant formulas (IF) can contain harmful chemical substances, such as pesticides and mycotoxins, resulting from the contamination of raw materials and inputs used in the production chain, which can cause adverse effects to infants. Therefore, the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) methodology prior ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPL-QqQ-MS/MS) analysis was applied for the determination of 23 contaminants, in 30 samples of Brazilian IF. The method was validated in terms of limit of detection (0.2 to 0.4 μg/kg), limits of quantification (1 and 10 μg/kg), and recovery (64 % to 122 %); precision values, in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD), were ≤ 20 %. Fenitrothion, chlorpyrifos, and bifenthrin were the pesticides detected in the samples, but the values did not exceed the limit set by the European Union (EU), and ANVISA, and they were detected under their limits of quantification. Additionally, suspect screening and unknown analysis were conducted to tentatively identify 32 substances, including some compounds not covered in this study, such as pesticides, hormones, and veterinary drugs. Carbofuran was identified, confirmed and quantified in 10 % of the samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The herbicide glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) efficiently eliminates weeds, is frequently present in surface waters, and may damage the health of various non-target organisms. The main objective of this study was to investigate cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in erythrocytes, DNA, and chromosomes of native South American fish Astyanax lacustris exposed to a glyphosate-based commercial herbicide Templo®. The presenty study evaluated the presence of micronuclei (MN), chromosomal aberrations (CA), DNA damage revealed by comet assay, and cellular morphological changes (CMC) as biomarkers. The A. lacustris specimens were exposed to Templo® for 96 h at concentrations below the permitted Brazilian legislation for freshwater environments. The glyphosate-based herbicide caused MN formation, an increased incidence of CA, DNA damage, and several types of CMC in all tested concentrations on A. lacustris. Notably, analyses were significant (p<0.05) for all concentrations, except in the frequency mean of MN at 3.7 µg/L. Thus, considering the intensive use of commercial glyphosate formulations in crops, the herbicide Templo® represents a potential risk of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity for aquatic organisms. Therefore, environmental protection agencies must review regulations for glyphosate-based herbicides in freshwater environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The extraction and burning of coal release genotoxic pollutants, and understanding the relationship between genetic damage and the spatial distribution of residences in coal-using regions is crucial. The study aimed to conduct a spatial analysis of genotoxic damage through the of micronuclei (MNs) number and their proximity to coal mining/burning in the largest coal exploration region in Brazil. In this study, the detection of genotoxic damage was performed using the MN assay in oral cells of residents exposed to coal mining activities. Spatial analysis was conducted using QGIS 3.28.10 based on information obtained from a questionnaire administered to the population. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to assess the influence of the distance from residential areas to polluting sources on the number of MNs found. Additionally, Spearman's correlation was performed to identify the strength and direction of the association between the frequency of MNs and each of the polluting sources. A total of 147 MNs were quantified among all participants in the coal mining region. Notably, residents living within 2 km and 10 km of pollution sources exhibited the highest prevalence of MNs. The analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between closer proximity to pollution sources and increased MN frequency, underscoring the spatial relationship between these sources and genotoxic damage. Environmental pollutants from anthropogenic sources present a major health risk, potentially leading to irreversible damage. The spatial analysis in this study highlights the importance of targeted public policies. These policies should aim for a sustainable balance between economic development and public health, promoting effective measures to mitigate environmental impacts and protect community health., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The presence of Trypanosoma cruzi vectors in urban areas has been frequent, with colonization of homes and associated with reservoir animals that increase risk to humans, with simultaneous circulation of vectors and T. cruzi. The study aimed to describe the circulation of triatomines and T. cruzi in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, as well as evaluate risk situations. For analysis purposes, the triatomine notification information from January 2016 to July 2023 was used. While for Didelphis sp. collection with the aid of traps, notification information used was from 2019 to 2023. Information about triatomines came from spontaneous demand by the population and notification services were carried out by state field teams following defined protocols. 202 notifications were received with the capture of 448 triatomines. The positivity for T. cruzi observed was 60.5%. Regarding Didelphis sp., 416 animals were collected, 5.3% of which were positive for T. cruzi. There was overlapping areas of presence of infected triatomines and Didelphis sp., whose Discrete Typing Unit (DTU) was T. cruzi I. This work indicates the presence of infected vectors in urban areas, and the presence of a wild cycle of T. cruzi in didelphiids, reaffirming the need for and importance of vector surveillance work, through actions that can prevent the transmission of Chagas disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Uca maracoani is a fiddler crab found in estuaries along the western Atlantic coast, with a notable preference for euhaline environments. This study aimed to analyze the population structure and dynamics of this species in an estuary on the North Coast of Brazil, specifically in an area of the upper estuary where seasonal rainfall fluctuations result in significant changes in salinity. Monthly crab samples were taken from December 2013 to November 2015, together with measurements of environmental variables, such as water and climate parameters. The population maintains a balanced sex ratio; however, males are generally larger, with lower mortality rates and longer lifespans than females. Reproduction is continuous but mainly takes place in the dry season when salinity levels are higher (above 12‰). Higher crab densities have been observed during the rainy season when, despite lower salinity levels (below 10‰), the conditions for survival (food availability and milder climate) seem to be more favorable. The estimated average annual biomass and production for the population were 2.62 g AFDM m -2 and 5.43 g AFDM m -2 year -1 , respectively, characterized by a high turnover rate (P/B = 2.10 year -1 ). Our results suggest that U. maracoani has thriving populations in the Amazon coast's mangroves, benefiting from the vast muddy intertidal zone and the high organic content delivered by the estuaries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the sediment geochemistry of a fish farming area in net cage tanks in the Rosário reservoir, Brazil. Three areas were investigated: reference (RA), fish farming (FFA), and dispersion (DA). The results were analyzed through correlation, similarity, principal component analysis, comparison with legislation, sediment quality guidelines, and sediment pollution indices. The mean concentrations for RA, FFA, and DA areas were respectively: Cu (mg.kg -1 ) 37.74, 62.23, and 71.83; Mn (mg.kg -1 ) 22.55, 66.48, and 55.90; Zn (mg.kg -1 ) 9.13, 114.83, and 94.27; Fe (%) 0.28, 0.40, and 0.43; OM (%) 15.84, 21.95, and 18.45; TOC (%) 1.86, 3.69, and 6.05; TN (mg.kg -1 ) 2365.00, 5015.00, and 3447.51; TP (mg.kg -1 ) 780.00, 6896.00, and 2585.50; ORP (mV) -95.50, -135.20, and -127.10; pH 6.60, 6.58, and 6.05; <63 μm 90.59, 78.68, and 87.30. Statistically, the influence of fish farming on sediment, organic matter, and pollutant sedimentation was demonstrated. Cu and Zn concentrations were below sediment quality guidelines. Regarding legal limits (resolution 454/2012/CONAMA), nutrients in the FFA area exceeded by 60% (TN) and 100% (TP), while in DA and RA areas they were 100% lower. TOC was 100% lower in all areas. Organic matter exceeded the limit by 100% in all areas. Pollution indices resulted in: low contamination factor 78%; unpolluted for 87% of pollution load and 83% of combined pollution; moderately polluted for 75% of the Nemerow index. The greatest impacts and influence of farming on pollutant sedimentation were more concentrated in the fish farming area. In terms of legal aspects and pollution indices, fish farming produced low levels of trace metal pollution and nutrient concentrations exceeded legal limits., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financialinterestsor personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In 2015, > 460,000 L of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and fire suppressors containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were used to combat a fire at a petrochemical fuel storage terminal in the Port of Santos (Brazil). Sediments from seven sites were sampled repeatedly from 2 weeks to 1 year after the fire (n = 30). Ʃ 15 PFAS concentrations ranged from 115 to 15,931 pg g -1 dry weight (dw). Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) was the most frequently detected compound with concentrations ranging from 363 to 4517 (average = 1603) pg g -1 dw to <47.1 to 642 (average = 401) pg g -1 dw, followed by perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) (from 38.8 to 219 (average = 162) pg g -1 dw after 15 days and from <20.8 to 161 (average = 101) pg g -1 dw one year later). Together, the hydrodynamics and fire events documented in the region were important features explaining the spread of PFAS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Marinas are central hubs of global maritime leisure and transport, yet their operations can deteriorate the environmental quality of sediments. In response, this study investigated the metal contamination history associated with antifouling paint uses in a sediment core collected from Bracuhy marina (Southeast Brazil). Analysis target major and trace elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Sn), rare earth elements (REEs), and Pb isotopes. The modification in Pb isotopic ratios and REEs pattern unequivocally revealed sediment provenance disruption following the marina construction. Metal distribution in the sediment core demonstrates that concentrations of Cu and Zn increased by up to 15 and 5 times, respectively, compared to the local background. This severe Cu and Zn contamination coincides with the onset of marina operations and can be attributed to the use of antifouling paints., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Scabies is an important skin disease in several species of domestic and wild animals; however, few reports in Brazil have emphasized its occurrence in buffaloes. This article describes the epidemiological, clinical and pathological aspects and diagnosis of psoroptic mange in buffaloes in a property in the municipality of Castanhal, PA, Amazon region. Of the 41 buffaloes examined, 38 males and females of the Murrah, Baio, Mediterranean and Carabao breeds and their crossbreeds, aged between 2 and 20 years, had a history of pruritus. Clinical examination was performed to map the lesions, skin scrapings were collected to identify the mites, and a biopsy was performed for histopathological examination. Clinical signs, from mild to severe intensity, varied according to the system of creation and handling of the animals and were more severe in buffaloes raised in bays than those raised under a collective regime (pastures and collective troughs). The characteristic clinical signs were intense itching, extensive areas of alopecia, periocular edema, and thickening of the epidermis with exudative crusts covering the face, chamfer, neck, scapular region, back, base of the horn, thoracic and pelvic limbs and chest. The behavior of rubbing the affected regions of the body against structures (troughs, fence posts, gates) or with the horns was frequently observed and provided relief from itching. In the most severe cases, mites were also noted in the crusts, which were identified as Psoroptes natalensis. Histological skin lesions exhibited alterations consistent with immune-mediated dermatitis, which is typical of hypersensitivity to mite-derived allergens., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In Brazil, the favorable weather conditions and abundant land contribute to the thriving agricultural production. Brazilian crops extensively employ pesticides due to their high efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and permissive regulatory framework. However, pesticide use also endangers water resources, animal organisms, and human health. Due to the lack of data on pesticide use in the Amazonas forest-based Brazil, the present study aimed to assess the levels of twenty-one current-use pesticides (CUPs) from five different classes in river waters collected from urban and riverside areas in this region. Moreover, the non-carcinogenic risks associated with water consumption were also characterized. Thirteen CUPs were detected in concentrations above the limit of detection (LOD) in at least one of the water samples, and most pesticides were detected in riverside areas. In contrast, only 18% of the analyzed samples were considered "clean," with only one compound detected. Fenitrothion showed the highest concentration, with a mean value of 4.86 ng/mL (0.30-14.3 ng/mL). Up to 33% of the samples showed levels of fipronil above the LOD, an issue of environmental and human health concern, mainly because of the adverse effects observed in honeybees. Despite this, the human health risk assessment showed a target hazard quotient below one (HQ < 1) in adults for all substances, suggesting that pesticide exposure through water consumption should not mean risk for the riverside populations. Taking into account the large extension of Brazil, as well as its different agricultural practices throughout the country, it would be of great importance to conduct extensive research in other areas. It would help to gain knowledge in this field and to promote eco-friendly alternatives to mitigate pesticide use and, consequently, to reduce their potential adverse effects on human health and the ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including microplastics, have been the focus of many studies due to their environmental impact, affecting biota and human health. The diverse land uses and occupation of watersheds are important parameters driving the occurrence of these contaminants. CECs such as pesticides, drugs, hormones, and industrial-origin substances were analyzed in urban/industrial (Atibaia) and agricultural (Preto/Turvo) watersheds located in São Paulo state, Brazil. A total of 24 CECs were investigated, and, as a result, only 5 (caffeine, carbendazim, atrazine, ametrine and 2-hydroxytrazine) were responsible for 81.73 % of the statistical difference between watersheds contamination profile. The Atibaia watershed presented considerable concentrations of caffeine (ranging from 75 to 2025 ng L -1 ), while carbendazim (44 to 1144 ng L -1 ) and atrazine (3 to 266 ng L -1 ) presented highest levels in Preto/Turvo watershed. In all sampling points, the cumulative potential aquatic life risk assessed by the NORMAN database indicates some level of environmental concern associated to pesticides and caffeine (risk quotient >1). Microplastics had been analyzed in both watersheds, being the white/transparent fragments in size between 100 and 250 μm the most detected in this study. The estimated abundance in the Atibaia watershed ranged from 349 to 2898 items m -3 presenting some influence of pluviosity, while in Rio Preto/Turvo ranged from 169 to 6370 items m -3 , being more abundant in the dam area without a clear influence of pluviosity. In both basins, polyethylene and polypropylene were the most detected polymers, probably due to the intense use of single-use plastics in urban areas. Possibly, due to the distinct physic-chemical properties of microplastics and organic CECs, no correlations were observed between their occurrence, which makes us conclude that they have different transport mechanism, behavior, and fate in the environment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Litterfall is the main source of dry deposition of mercury (Hg) into the soil in forest ecosystems. The accumulation of Hg in soil and litter suggests the possibility of transfer to terrestrial invertebrates through environmental exposure or ingestion of plant tissues. We quantified total mercury (THg) concentrations in two soil layers (organic: 0-0.2 m; mineral: 0.8-1 m), litter, fresh leaves, and terrestrial invertebrates of the Araguaia River floodplain, aiming to evaluate the THg distribution among terrestrial compartments, bioaccumulation in invertebrates, and the factors influencing THg concentrations in soil and invertebrates. The mean THg concentrations were significantly different between the compartments evaluated, being higher in organic soil compared to mineral soil, and higher in litter compared to mineral soil and fresh leaves. Soil organic matter content was positively related to THg concentration in this compartment. The order Araneae showed significantly higher Hg concentrations among the most abundant invertebrate taxa. The higher Hg concentrations in Araneae were positively influenced by the concentrations determined in litter and individuals of the order Hymenoptera, confirming the process of biomagnification in the terrestrial trophic chain. In contrast, the THg concentrations in Coleoptera, Orthoptera and Hymenoptera were not significantly related to the concentrations determined in the soil, litter and fresh leaves. Our results showed the importance of organic matter for the immobilization of THg in the soil and indicated the process of biomagnification in the terrestrial food web, providing insights for future studies on the environmental distribution of Hg in floodplains., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Biomphalaria glabrata is a freshwater snail and the obligatory intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni parasite, the etiologic agent of intestinal Schistosomiasis, in South America and Caribbean. Interestingly in such host-parasite interactions, compatibility varies between populations, strains or individuals. This observed compatibility polymorphism is based on a complex molecular-matching-phenotype, the molecular bases of which have been investigated in numerous studies, notably by comparing between different strains or geographical isolates or clonal selected snail lines. Herein we propose to decipher the constitutive molecular support of this interaction in selected non-clonal resistant and susceptible snail strain originating from the same natural population from Brazil and thus having the same genetic background. Thanks to a global RNAseq transcriptomic approach on whole snail, we identified a total of 328 differentially expressed genes between resistant and susceptible phenotypes among which 129 were up-regulated and 199 down-regulated. Metabolomic studies were used to corroborate the RNAseq results. The activation of immune genes and specific metabolic pathways in resistant snails might provide them with the capacity to better respond to parasite infection., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To describe the implementation of an oral cancer screening program at the Barretos Cancer Hospital (BCH) and present the outcome based on data obtained from 2014 to 2020., Materials and Methods: The residents of the Regional Health District of Barretos (DRS-V) were personally invited by community health agents or nurses, and among 13,973 people, 15,222 oral examinations were carried out over the years in 18 of its municipalities. Oral examinations were performed at the Mobile Dental Unit and at the Prevention Department of the BCH. Inclusion criteria were being 35 years of age or older, having a personal history of tobacco or alcohol consumption, or having a lesion in the oral cavity found by community health agent or self-reported, regardless of age or risk factors., Results and Conclusion: The main result of our study was the stages of oral cancer among screen detected cases were smaller compared to cases in the hospital registry, in the state and in Brazil. Oral cancer detection rate per 1,000 oral examinations was 10.7.The early stages of oral cancer found by screening in primary care facilities or using mobile units suggest that, when organized, screening may improve the prognosis of oral cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The widespread of chlorhexidine and antibiotics in the water bodies, which grew during the global COVID-19 pandemic, can increase the dispersion of antibiotic resistance. We assessed the occurrence of these pharmaceutical compounds as well as SARS-CoV-2 and analysed the bacterial community structure of hospital and urban wastewaters from Brazil, Cameroon, and Madagascar. Water and wastewater samples (n = 59) were collected between January-June 2022. Chlorhexidine, azithromycin, levofloxacin, ceftriaxone, gentamicin and meropenem were screened by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer. SARS-CoV-2 was detected based on the nucleocapsid gene (in Cameroon and Madagascar), and envelope and spike protein-encoding genes (in Brazil). The total community-DNA was extracted and used for bacterial community analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene. To unravel likely interaction between pharmaceutical compounds and/or SARS-CoV-2 with the water bacterial community, multivariate statistics were performed. Chlorhexidine was found in hospital wastewater effluent from Brazil with a maximum concentration value of 89.28 μg/L. Additionally, antibiotic residues such as azithromycin and levofloxacin were also present at concentrations between 0.32-7.37 μg/L and 0.11-118.91 μg/L, respectively. In Cameroon, azithromycin was the most found antibiotic present at concentrations from 1.14 to 1.21 μg/L. In Madagascar instead, ceftriaxone (0.68-11.53 μg/L) and levofloxacin (0.15-0.30 μg/L) were commonly found. The bacterial phyla statistically significant different (P < 0,05) among participating countries were Proteobacteria, Patescibacteria and Dependentiae which were mainly abundant in waters sampled in Africa and, other phyla such as Firmicutes, Campylobacterota and Fusobacteriota were more abundant in Brazil. The phylum Caldisericota was only found in raw hospital wastewater samples from Madagascar. The canonical correspondence analysis results suggest significant correlation of azithromycin, meropenem and levofloxacin with bacteria families such as Enterococcaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, Deinococcaceae, Thermacetogeniaceae and Desulfomonilaceae, Spirochaetaceae, Methanosaetaceae, Synergistaceae, respectively. Water samples were also positive for SARS-CoV-2 with the lowest number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Madagascar (n = 7) and Brazil (n = 30). Our work provides new data about the bacterial community profile and the presence of pharmaceutical compounds in the hospital effluents from Brazil, Cameroon, and Madagascar, whose limited information is available. These compounds can exacerbate the spreading of antibiotic resistance and therefore pose a risk to public health., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We aimed to describe the landscape, including molecular, epidemiological, and clinical aspects of CHIKV infections in the Ribeirao Preto region, an area endemic to dengue. We randomly screened 3744 plasma samples that had undergone DENV diagnosis to evaluate CHIKV-RNA using an in-house RT-PCR assay. Positive samples were followed clinically, and RNA samples were submitted to whole genome sequencing. Seventeen cases (0.5 %) were positive for CHIKV-RNA despite being negative for DENV-RNA. Notably, half of the patients experienced prolonged arthralgia lasting more than 90 days. Compared with the healthy control group, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in all CHIKV-positive individuals with statistically significant P values (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0003, respectively). The genomic analysis revealed that the CHIKV strains being studied are classified within the East-Central-South-African (ECSA) genotype. This analysis identified new mutations, E1: K211E and E2: V264A, while the previously known mutation E1: A226V was not detected among these strains. This study highlights the need for epidemiological surveillance and preparedness for potential CHIKV epidemics in Brazil, particularly where other arboviruses co-circulate., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) has long been considered an endemic disease in the northern and northeastern regions of Brazil, while the southern region remains non-endemic. However, in recent years, several cases of CVL have been reported in southern states. The objective of this work was to determine the seroprevalence of CVL in dogs in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, through immunochromatographic tests (DPP®) and ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and its correlation with environmental characteristics through georeferencing. Blood samples from dogs (n = 1227) were collected in six mesoregions of the state and evaluated by the rapid test (DPP®). Positive samples were sent to Lacen (Central Public Health Laboratory) in Santa Catarina to be tested using ELISA. Information obtained from the epidemiological questionnaire was subjected to statistical analysis (Chi-square and Student's t-test; P < 0.05) to verify the correlation between serology and the analyzed variables. The locations (GPS) of the samples were used for georeferencing and creating heatmaps (Kernel Method). Four animals that died from CVL were necropsied and organ samples were collected for molecular analysis (PCR), immunohistochemistry, and histopathology (HE). Of the 1227 dogs analyzed, 22 (1.8%) were reactive in the DPP® and of these, 7 (0.6%) were also positive in the ELISA. A correlation (P < 0.01) was observed between positive serology and region, environment, access to the street, and clinical signs. The positive cases were concentrated in the eastern region of the state, in low-altitude areas with average rainfall and higher average temperatures, and in more populated areas close to forest fragments. PCR, HE, and immunohistochemistry, along with serology, have proven to be efficient for characterizing positive cases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Anderson Barbosa de Moura reports financial support was provided by Santa Catarina State Research and Innovation Support Foundation (FAPESC). If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)