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Mental health symptoms and pain symptoms often coincide in chronic disease. People with endometriosis been shown to have higher incidences of mental health symptoms over people with chronic pain alone. The degree and nature of the relation however is not well established. This study aims to use established endometriosis symptom and mental health metrics to model the relationship between these two areas of patient experience. Cross sectional survey. An online survey was disseminated through endometriosis organisations worldwide and conducted between March 2021 and May 2021. Individuals with self reported endometriosis. The survey utilized validated questionnaires, including the Endometriosis Health Profile (EHP-30), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Pregnancy history was also recorded. Linear analysis was performed to assess relation between symptoms and mental health scores. 449 individuals with self-reported endometriosis participated in the survey. 118 were excluded. Most respondents (76.8%) were between the ages of 25 and 44, representing 81 different countries. There was a direct linear relation between pain severity, feelings of infertility, and depression, anxiety, stress and PTSD scores. There was an 'interaction term' between pain and infertility present for depression, stress and PTSD score. Mean DASS-21 scores were 'normal' however the mean PCL-5 score of 29.2 corresponds with moderate PTSD symptoms. Depression, anxiety and PCL-5 Scores were significantly less if prior pregnancy reported, P=0.001, 0.006 and 0.006 respectively. Accessing fertility treatment reduced depression score (P=0.014). Outcome of live birth versus no live birth did not alter this (P=0.061). Severity of pain and feelings of infertility has a direct linear relation to DASS-21 and PCL-5 scores. Management of patients with self reported endometriosis may benefit from earlier evaluation and intervention from mental health specialists as part of the multi-disciplinary team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As head and neck cancer (HNC) affects regions directly related to the digestive tract, it is consistently associated with nutritional impact symptoms (NISs), which further reduce food intake and affect nutritional status. Early identification of patients with NIS can assist therapy. Method: This is a cross-sectional study with HNC patients from a cancer reference hospital. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, clinical, and anthropometric data were collected, along with information on nutritional risk screening and screening for NIS. Results: Cancer in the larynx ( p =0.031) showed a 6.67 lower NIS score than that in the oral cavity. Ex-smokers ( p =0.019) showed a 5.87 lower NIS score and nutritional risk ( p =0.009) increased NIS scores by 6.15 points. Conclusion: Tumor location, smoking, and the presence of nutritional risk influence the quantity and severity of NIS., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Thainá C. do Rosario et al.)

This study aimed to describe reproductive ecology based on morphological aspects of Peckoltia oligospila in stream rapids, eastern Amazon. A total of 186 fish (75 males and 111 females) were collected. The sex and gonadal maturity stage of these specimens were obtained based on histological characteristics of the gonads. The sex ratio, gonado-somatic index (GSI), relative frequency of the different maturity stages, size at first sexual maturation, condition factor of the population, and fluviometry were evaluated during the study. There was a significant female frequency during the study. The population exhibited positive allometric growth without differences between sexes. GSI and relative frequency showing a reproductive period synchronized in February, and the species exhibited parcelated spawning. L 50 was estimated at 5.85 and 7.39 cm for females and males, respectively. There were significant differences in the condition factor only in females that showed a highest value in August. Thus, based on the results P. oligospila has an intermediate strategy between the opportunistic and equilibrium strategies., (© 2024 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

The mesophotic zone represents one of our planet's largest and least explored biomes. An increasing number of studies evidence the importance of macrofouling species in marine ecosystems, but information on these communities and the factors influencing their structures at mesophotic depths remain poor. This lack of understanding limits our ability to predict anthropogenic impacts or conduct restoration operations in the mesophotic and the lower boundary of the euphotic zones. In this study, we performed a 24-month experiment in a natural environment to investigate three factors influencing the macrobenthic community structure of the mesophotic and the euphotic lower boundary: depth, substrate orientation and substrate material. Using a manned submersible, several recruitment panels of two different materials were deployed at 100, 200 and 400 meters in vertical and horizontal positions. All three factors contributed to structuring the macrofouling communities, but depth and substrate orientation displayed the strongest effects. This study not only advances our understanding of lower boundary euphotic and mesophotic macrofouling communities but also establishes a foundation for future research and restoration efforts of mesophotic environments in the Madeira archipelago, where mesophotic habitats are amongst the least studied marine habitats in the Northeast Atlantic., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests, (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The challenge of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) continues in Brazil, presenting a persistent public health issue despite initiatives aimed at public outreach, vector control and health education. To gain a deeper understanding of this disease, a study was conducted in an endemic region located in the northern region of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study monitored 30 resident patients diagnosed with ATL, using serum samples from 6 healthy individuals as controls. The localized cutaneous form of the disease was found to be predominant, with lesions appearing on various parts of the body and the majority of the affected individuals being male. The study found significantly higher levels of IgG anti- α -Gal antibodies in ATL-infected patients compared to healthy individuals. Treatment of 19 patients with meglumine antimoniate resulted in limited improvement in symptoms for most. Nonetheless, the study found that 12 patients who completed treatment with epithelialization of the lesions showed a significant decrease in IgG anti- α -Gal antibodies, indicating potential applications of this antibody in the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. The study also identified Leishmania species in 7 analysed patients, revealing 6 cases infected by Leishmania braziliensis and 1 by L. infantum , with a significant difference in the anti- α -Gal responses. The findings of the study emphasize the urgent need for the development of human vaccines and innovative treatment strategies adapted to the diversity of Leishmania species causing cutaneous leishmaniasis and individual patient responses to improve the clinical management of ATL in Brazil and similar endemic regions.

The present study investigated the contamination of oysters farmed in Amazonian estuaries by microplastics (MPs). A total of 120 adult oysters (Crassostrea gasar) were collected from four sites along the Mangrove Coast of Pará/Brazil: S1, S2, S3 and S4, with 30 oyster for each. Overall, 58.33 % of the oyster samples contained microplastics, with mean concentrations of 0.23 MPs/g and 1.9 MPs/ind. The concentration of microplastics varied among the four sites, where S1 and S3 had the highest values while S4 had the lowest. PA fibers were the majority of particles (91 %), followed by PS fragments (9 %). The hepatopancreas and the gonad concentrated more microplastics than the rest of the body. As an important species for aquaculture in Amazon, we recommend additional regulation to reduce human exposure to microplastics, such as the installation of depuration facilities and constant monitoring of the contamination of oysters from farms in the region., 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.)

Heavy metals are widely used to sustain the living standards of the modern world. Due to their prevalence, the risk of human exposure is an increasing threat to public health as they can cause negative health effects, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In this study, the objective was to evaluate clinical-epidemiological and biochemical parameters in relation to the overall risk score (ERG) of developing CVDs in 112 individuals aged 30 to 74 years living in the city of Barcarena-PA. The results of heavy metal contamination and biochemical parameters were applied in the ERG calculation. A significance level of p < 0.05 was adopted in the statistical tests. The values were high for chromium (Cr) (45.8%) and aluminum (Al) (98.6%). As for the ERG for CVDs, they obtained low risk (42%), medium risk (40%), and high risk (18%). In individuals with high ERG, a significant association was detected with increasing age group, in individuals ≥ 60 years (p < 0.0001). The relationship between concomitant Al and Cr intoxication and increased ERG was also significant (p = 0.0016). The probability of high cardiovascular risk among individuals contaminated by Al + Cr is higher than that of individuals contaminated by Al alone (p = 0.0074). Such evidence indicates that continuous environmental monitoring in the municipality of Barcarena is of extreme importance, since the population is in a situation of vulnerability in relation to their health., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

A coral community was examined on a semi-submersible platform that was moored at the leeward side of Curaçao, in the southern Caribbean, from August 2016 until August 2017. This community included several non-native or cryptogenic species. Among them were two scleractinian corals (Tubastraea coccinea and T. tagusensis) and two octocorals (Chromonephthea sp. and an unidentified Nephtheidae sp.). This is the first reported presence of T. tagusensis in the southern Caribbean, and the genus Chromonephthea in the Caribbean region. An ascidian, Perophora cf. regina, is also reported from the southern Caribbean for the first time, as well as a coral-associated vermetid gastropod, Petaloconchus sp., first recorded in the Caribbean in 2014. Lack of biofouling management could potentially harm indigenous marine fauna through the introduction of non-native species. Therefore monitoring communities associated with semi-submersible platforms is essential to track the presence and dispersal of non-native, potentially invasive species., 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 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To correlate the dysphagia quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression before and after thyroidectomy., Methods: Observational, longitudinal, prospective, and experimental study. Twenty patients participated, with a mean age of 54 years, prevalence of females (n=17; 85%) and partial thyroidectomy (n=14; 70%). All subjects underwent laryngeal visual examination and answered the MD Anderson Dysphagia Questionnaire (MDADI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in three different moments: preoperatively, immediately postoperatively (maximum one week) and three months after surgery., Results: There was a significant difference in dysphagia quality of life for the physical and total domains in the three different moments. Regarding anxiety and depression, a statistically significant difference was observed between the scores in all domains, with a greater difference observed between the preoperative period and after 1 week. Higher values were observed in the preoperative period for mild anxiety traits, being more frequent in relation to depression, with a reduction after 1 week and an increase after three months of surgery. There was no significant correlation between the MDADI and HADS protocols., Conclusion: Patients undergoing thyroidectomy self-report better quality of life in dysphagia and reduced anxiety/depression scores after three months of surgery. There was no correlation between anxiety, depression and quality of life in dysphagia at the moments evaluated.

Estuaries in Brazil are mostly anthropically affected due to the discharge of industrial and domestic effluents. In two of them, the Santa Cruz Channel Estuary (ITAP) and Sirinhaém River Estuary (SIR), historically affected by mercury pollution and sugarcane industry in Northeast Brazil, we assessed environmental pollution using liver and gill histopathological biomarkers in fish from different trophic levels. Liver samples exhibited serious damages such as hepatic steatosis, necrosis, and infiltration. The gills showed moderate to severe changes, such as lifting of epithelial cells, lamellar aneurysm, and rupture of lamellar epithelium. Most of the changes in the liver and gills were reported for species Centropomus undecimalis and the Gobionellus stomatus, which were considered as good sentinels of pollution. The combination of biomarker methodologies was efficient in diagnosing the serious damage to the species, reinforcing the need for monitoring the health of the ecosystems evaluated., 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 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Non-indigenous species tend to colonize aquaculture installations, especially when they are near international ports. In addition to the local environmental hazard that colonizing non-indigenous species pose, they can also take advantage of local transport opportunities to spread elsewhere. In this study, we examined the risk of the spread of eight invasive fouling species that are found in mussel farms in southern Brazil. We used ensemble niche models based on worldwide occurrences of these species, and environmental variables (ocean temperature and salinity) to predict suitable areas for each species with three algorithms (Maxent, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine). As a proxy for propagule pressure, we used the tonnage transported by container ships from Santa Catarina (the main mariculture region) that travel to other Brazilian ports. We found that ports in the tropical states of Pernambuco, Ceará, and Bahia received the largest tonnage, although far from Santa Catarina and in a different ecoregion. The ascidians Aplidium accarense and Didemnum perlucidum are known from Bahia, with a high risk of invasion in the other states. The bryozoan Watersipora subtorquata also has a high risk of establishment in Pernambuco, while the ascidian Botrylloides giganteus has a medium risk in Bahia. Paraná, a state in the same ecoregion as Santa Catarina is likely to be invaded by all species. A second state in this region, Rio Grande do Sul, is vulnerable to A. accarense , the barnacle Megabalanus coccopoma , and the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis . Climate change is changing species latitudinal distributions and most species will gain rather than lose area in near future (by 2050). As an ideal habitat for fouling organisms and invasive species, aquaculture farms can increase propagule pressure and thus the probability that species will expand their distributions, especially if they are close to ports. Therefore, an integrated approach of the risks of both aquaculture and nautical transport equipment present in a region is necessary to better inform decision-making procedures aiming at the expansion or establishment of new aquaculture farms. The risk maps provided will allow authorities and regional stakeholders to prioritize areas of concern for mitigating the present and future spread of fouling species., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2023 Lins and Rocha.)

Romosinuano is a tropically adapted Bos taurus breed, and some Mexican breeders aim to improve it genetically. The aim was to estimate allelic and genotypic frequencies for SNPs associated with meat quality in a Mexican Romosinuano population. Four hundred ninety-six animals were genotyped using the Axiom©BovMDv3 array. Only SNPs related to meat quality in this array were studied in this analysis. The Calpain, Calpastatin, and Melanocortin-4 receptor alleles were considered. Allelic and genotypic frequencies and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were estimated with the PLINK software. Alleles associated with meat tenderness and higher marbling scores were found in the Romosinuano cattle population. CAPN1&#95;4751 was not found in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The rest of the markers could not be affected by selection and inbreeding. Romosinuano cattle in Mexico have similar genotypic frequencies in markers related to meat quality to Bos taurus breeds known for their meat tenderness. Breeders can choose a marker-assisted selection to improve meat quality characteristics., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

In this study, we evaluated the morphology and morphometry of the layers that make up the follicular complex surrounding mature oocytes in the six fish species Auchenipterichthys longimanus, Ageneiosus ucayalensis, Hypophthalmus marginatus, Baryancistrus xanthellus , Panaqolus tankei and Peckoltia oligospila , belonging to the order Siluriformes, which inhabit the Amazon basin. On the basis of the morphology and thickness of the layers of the follicular complex, the species were divided into two groups: 1- A. longimanus, A. Ucayalensis and H. marginatus and 2 - B. xanthellus , P. tankei and P. oligospila. The total thickness of the layers that make up the follicular complex showed a difference between type III and IV oocytes for all species of each group. Differences in the theca layer, follicular cells and zona radiata between species and between groups were submitted to statistical analysis. Morphologically, group 1 showed columnar follicular cells and thin zona radiata . Meanwhile, group 2 displayed a layer of cuboidal-shaped follicular cells layer and thicker zona radiata. These differences may be related to the environment and reproductive behaviors, as group 1 migrates without parental care and has eggs that are generally smaller and abundant. While group 2, represented by loricariidae, inhabit lotic environments, have reproductive tactics of parental care and eggs that are generally large and in small numbers. Therefore, we can infer that the follicular complex in mature oocytes can predict the reproductive tactics of the species., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Salt-tolerant plants, also known as halophytes, could provide a novel source of feedstock for biorefineries. After harvesting fresh shoots for food, the lignified fraction of Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods could be used to produce bioactive botanical extracts for high-value industries such as nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and biopharmaceuticals. The residual fraction after extraction can be further used for bioenergy or lignocellulose-derived platform chemicals. This work analysed S. ramosissima from different sources and growth stages. After pre-processing and extractions, the obtained fractions were analysed for their contents of fatty acids, pigments, and total phenolics. Extracts were also evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant properties and inhibitory effect towards enzymes related to diabetes, hyperpigmentation, obesity, and neurogenerative diseases. The ethanol extract from the fibre residue and the water extract from completely lignified plants showed the highest concentration of phenolic compounds along with the highest antioxidant potential and enzyme-inhibitory properties. Hence, they should be further explored in the context of biorefinery.

Oogenesis in fish is a process that involves cell proliferation, growth and maturation. In rivers blocked by hydroelectric dams, these factors can be altered and affect the reproduction mechanism of the species. Regarding this scenario, the present study aimed to describe oogenesis in two cichlids native to the Amazon basin, Geophagus argyrostictus and G. altifrons, during pre- and post-dam periods of the Xingu River. Females of both Geophagus species were captured and biometric measurements were taken. Afterwards, the fish were euthanized, and the gonads were removed and subjected to histological processing for light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and immunoperoxidase staining. Oocyte diameter and zona radiata thickness were also measured. The ovaries appeared in pairs, where according to their shape, size, vascularization and cell organization, five stages were described for both species. In the post-dam period, there was a reduction in the mean diameter of the oocytes, especially type IV, and a decrease in the thickness of the zona radiata, mainly, in G. argyrostictus. In both species, there was a greater presence of oocyte atresia in the post-dam period. PCNA immunoreactivity was more intense in type I and II oocytes, while vitellogenin immunoreactivity occurred in the cytoplasm and follicular cells of oocytes III and IV. These data suggest that because of changes in the level/flow of the river, the gonads of these two species adjust to the new environment, with a decrease in mean diameter and zona radiata thickness of the oocytes, which can interfere with the reproduction of the animals., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest for the publication of this study., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Several studies have attempted to characterise the origin of canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT). However, the participation of cancer stem cells (CSC) has not been reported OBJECTIVES: Herein we describe the expression patterns of CSC markers CD44, CD34, CD90 and CD133 in CTVT METHODS: Thirty-eight samples were selected and assessed through flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-two tumours were classified as plasmacytoid and 16 as mixed. Almost all tumours showed high CD44 and low CD34 levels. CD133 and CD90 expression varied among tumours. Cytological groups did not differ in the proportion of CSC markers. Our results suggest that CSC subpopulations might participate in CTVT., (© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with long-term consequences that is often associated with depressive symptoms. This relationship predicts increased morbidity and mortality rates, leading to serious health consequences., Objective: To identify the prevalence and health factors associated with depressive symptoms among older adults with diabetes mellitus., Design and Setting: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 236 older adults in the Basic Healthcare Units of Jequié, Brazil., Methods: A survey containing sociodemographic, behavioral, and health conditions was used as a data collection instrument, in addition to the Geriatric Depression Scale. The main inclusion criterion was older adults diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. To identify the risk factors associated with depressive symptoms among older adults with diabetes mellitus, logistic regression analysis was conducted for calculating the odds ratio (OR), and a 95% confidence interval (CI) was considered statistically significant., Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 24.2% among older adults with diabetes, corroborating the Brazilian average of 30%. The final multivariate analysis model for the risk of depressive symptoms showed a significant association with diabetes complications [OR = 2.50, 95% CI 1.318-4.74)] and osteoporosis [OR = 2.75, 95% CI 1.285-5.891)]., Conclusion: A high prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed among older adults with diabetes. Critically examining older adults with diabetes mellitus is necessary, and screening for depressive symptoms is highly recommended, especially for those with complications resulting from diabetes mellitus and musculoskeletal comorbidities, such as osteoporosis, as it seems to be associated with depressive symptoms.

Study Objective: To develop a model, including clinical features and ultrasound findings, to predict the need for ureterolysis (i.e., dissection of the ureter) during laparoscopy for endometriosis., Design: A retrospective observational study of patients who had undergone transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) according to the International Deep Endometriosis Analysis consensus and subsequent laparoscopy ± excision of endometriosis between January 2017 and February 2021 was conducted., Setting: Sydney Medical School Nepean, University of Sydney, Nepean Hospital, and Blue Mountains Hospital, New South Wales, Australia., Patients/participant: 177 patients., Intervention: The demographic, clinical, TVS, and intraoperative data were extracted through electronic clinical records., Measurements and Main Results: Multicategorical decision-tree and baseline models were built to choose the variables most correlated to the outcome under study. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed on the binary classification. Based on our results, we selected the variables performing with significant statistical differences (p <.05). During the study period, 177 consecutive patients were recruited and divided into 2 subgroups, ureterolysis (51.4%) and nonureterolysis (48.6%). Ureterolysis was noted in 87.5% of patients in which the left ovary was immobile (p <.001) and in 82.5% in which the right ovary was fixed (p <.001). For patients with right uterosacral ligament (USL) deep endometriosis (DE), ureterolysis was performed in 96.2% patients (p <.001) and 64.6% (p = .043) for left USL DE. Among patients with bowel DE, the proportion of patients undergoing ureterolysis was 95.5% (p <.001). The prognostic variables used in the final model to predict ureterolysis included dyschezia, absence of ovarian mobility, presence of right or left USL DE, and presence of bowel DE on TVS. According to the developed model, the baseline risk for performing ureterolysis is 20% in our sample. The overall model performance demonstrated an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.82., Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that it is possible to predict the need for ureterolysis with clinical and sonographic data. Furthermore, patients presenting with a combination of the variables of our model (dyschezia, ovarian immobility, USL, and bowel DE lesions) have a high risk of ureterolysis. In contrast, patients without these features have a low risk (approximately 20%) of needing ureterolysis., (Crown Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Study Question: How is endometriosis extent described by the #Enzian classification compared to the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine (rASRM) stages in women undergoing radical surgery for deep endometriosis (DE)?, Summary Answer: The prevalence and severity grade of endometriotic lesions and adhesions as well as the total number of #Enzian compartments affected by DE increase on average with increasing rASRM stage; however, DE lesions are also present in rASRM stages 1 and 2, leading to an underestimation of disease severity when using the rASRM classification., What Is Known Already: Endometriotic lesions can be accurately described regarding their localization and severity by sonography as well as during surgery using the recently updated #Enzian classification for endometriosis., Study Design, Size, Duration: This was a prospective multicenter study including a total of 735 women between January 2020 and May 2021., Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: Disease extent in women undergoing radical surgery for DE at tertiary referral centers for endometriosis was intraoperatively described using the #Enzian and the rASRM classification., Main Results and the Role of Chance: A total of 735 women were included in the study. Out of 31 women with rASRM stage 1, which is defined as only minimal disease, 65% (i.e. 20 women) exhibited DE in #Enzian compartment B (uterosacral ligaments/parametria), 45% (14 women) exhibited DE in #Enzian compartment A (vagina/rectovaginal septum) and 26% (8 women) exhibited DE in #Enzian compartment C (rectum). On average, there was a progressive increase from rASRM stages 1-4 in the prevalence and severity grade of DE lesions (i.e. lesions in #Enzian compartments A, B, C, FB (urinary bladder), FU (ureters), FI (other intestinal locations), FO (other extragenital locations)), as well as of endometriotic lesions and adhesions in #Enzian compartments P (peritoneum), O (ovaries) and T (tubo-ovarian unit). In addition, the total number of #Enzian compartments affected by DE lesions on average progressively increased from rASRM stages 1-4, with a maximum of six affected compartments in rASRM stage 4 patients., Limitations, Reasons for Caution: Interobserver variability may represent a possible limitation of this study., Wider Implications of the Findings: The #Enzian classification includes the evaluation of DE in addition to the assessment of endometriotic lesions and adhesions of the ovaries and tubes and may therefore provide a comprehensive description of disease localization and extent in women with DE., Study Funding/competing Interest(s): No funding was received for this study. All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., Trial Registration Number: N/A., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: to analyze the implications of health conditions on rural workers' quality of life in the context of soybean production., Method: a cross-sectional study, with an intentional sample of 299 male rural workers. Data collection took place between October and December 2019. The following instruments were used: World Health Organization Quality Life-bref; Rural Workers' Living & Health Conditions questionnaire; International Physical Activity Questionnaire; Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener. They were analyzed via descriptive and inferential statistics, using bivariate (Mann-Whitney; Kruskal-Wallis) and multivariate tests (generalized additive models for location, scale and shape)., Results: the presence of a diagnosis of morbidity, alcohol dependence, occupational accidents and absenteeism implied a decrease in workers' quality of life scores., Conclusion: the existence of unfavorable health conditions has a negative impact on rural soybean workers' quality of life.

Invasive, fouling species increase management costs and reduce mussel growth, which jeopardizes mariculture. We studied the distribution of eight invasive species in Santa Catarina, the leading mussel producer in Brazil. Our goals were to determine their spatial distribution and prevalence on farm structures (buoys, long lines, and mussel socks), as well as understand the relevance of propagule pressure (recruitment), port distance, and area of the farm in this distribution. Although present in all sites, adult and recruits distribution were spatially restricted, showing that species might have a metapopulation structure. The most prevalent species were the ascidian Styela plicata, the barnacle Megabalanus coccopoma, the bryozoan Schizoporella errata, and the polychaete Branchiomma luctuosum. Recruitment was the main driver of three species distribution while distance to port explained only one species distribution. Based on those results, we discuss policy options, management, and regulation enforcement, that can be used in the mussel aquaculture elsewhere., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Early naturalists suggested that predation intensity increases toward the tropics, affecting fundamental ecological and evolutionary processes by latitude, but empirical support is still limited. Several studies have measured consumption rates across latitude at large scales, with variable results. Moreover, how predation affects prey community composition at such geographic scales remains unknown. Using standardized experiments that spanned 115° of latitude, at 36 nearshore sites along both coasts of the Americas, we found that marine predators have both higher consumption rates and consistently stronger impacts on biomass and species composition of marine invertebrate communities in warmer tropical waters, likely owing to fish predators. Our results provide robust support for a temperature-dependent gradient in interaction strength and have potential implications for how marine ecosystems will respond to ocean warming.

Background: Portable retinal cameras and deep learning (DL) algorithms are novel tools adopted by diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening programs. Our objective is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a DL algorithm and the performance of portable handheld retinal cameras in the detection of DR in a large and heterogenous type 2 diabetes population in a real-world, high burden setting., Method: Participants underwent fundus photographs of both eyes with a portable retinal camera (Phelcom Eyer). Classification of DR was performed by human reading and a DL algorithm (PhelcomNet), consisting of a convolutional neural network trained on a dataset of fundus images captured exclusively with the portable device; both methods were compared. We calculated the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity for more than mild DR., Results: A total of 824 individuals with type 2 diabetes were enrolled at Itabuna Diabetes Campaign, a subset of 679 (82.4%) of whom could be fully assessed. The algorithm sensitivity/specificity was 97.8 % (95% CI 96.7-98.9)/61.4 % (95% CI 57.7-65.1); AUC was 0·89. All false negative cases were classified as moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) by human grading., Conclusions: The DL algorithm reached a good diagnostic accuracy for more than mild DR in a real-world, high burden setting. The performance of the handheld portable retinal camera was adequate, with over 80% of individuals presenting with images of sufficient quality. Portable devices and artificial intelligence tools may increase coverage of DR screening programs.

Objective: To describe the production and validation of short film type educational technology for the prevention of diabetic foot ulcers., Methods: A methodological study focused on the validation of a short film. The construction of the film was carried out in three stages: pre-production, production, and post-production. Thirty-seven evaluators undertook the internal validation, divided into two groups of 31 proficient nurses and six from the communication area. Fifteen people with diabetes mellitus performed the external validation., Result: The nursing proficient validated the script with a total content validity index of 0.95, with internal reliability of 0.849 conferred by Cronbach's Alpha. Communication specialists validated with a content validity index of 0.97; and target audience with 0.95 (clarity) and 0.97 (relevance)., Conclusion: The study showed that the short film is a valid and reliable educational technology to promote foot care to people with diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To compare the preoperative detection of endometriosis using transvaginal sonography (TVS) supplemented by transabdominal sonography (TAS) with surgical assessment of disease, using the #Enzian classification for endometriosis., Methods: This was a prospective multicenter diagnostic accuracy study of women undergoing TVS/TAS and radical surgery for deep endometriosis (DE) at different tertiary referral centers. The localization and grade of severity of the endometriotic lesions and adhesions were described according to the criteria of the #Enzian classification, both at preoperative ultrasound examination and during surgery. According to the #Enzian classification, the small pelvis is divided into three compartments for DE: A (rectovaginal septum and vagina); B (uterosacral and cardinal ligaments, parametrium and pelvic sidewalls); and C (rectum). In addition, further locations (F) are classified as adenomyosis (FA), urinary bladder involvement (FB) and ureteric involvement with signs of obstruction (FU). Other intestinal locations (FI) and other extragenital locations (FO) are also included. Ovarian endometriosis and adhesions at the level of the tubo-ovarian unit are listed as O and T, respectively. The #Enzian grade of severity (Grade 1-3) was determined for #Enzian compartments O, T, A, B and C based on the size of the lesion or the severity of the adhesions. Concordance between preoperative assessment using TVS/TAS and evaluation at surgery was assessed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of TVS/TAS in the detection of endometriotic lesions/adhesions in the different #Enzian compartments were calculated., Results: In total, 745 women were included in the analysis. Preoperative TVS/TAS and surgical findings showed a concordance rate ranging between 86% and 99% for the presence or absence of endometriotic lesions/adhesions, depending on the evaluated #Enzian compartment. The concordance rate between TVS and surgery ranged between 71% and 92% for different severity grades, in #Enzian compartments O, T, A, B and C. Determining the presence or absence of adhesions at the level of the tubo-ovarian unit and classifying them accurately as Grade 1, 2 or 3 on TVS was more difficult than determining the presence and severity of endometriotic lesions in #Enzian compartments O, A, B and C. The sensitivity of TVS/TAS for the detection of endometriotic lesions ranged from 50% (#Enzian compartment FI) to 95% (#Enzian compartment A), specificity from 86% (#Enzian compartment T left ) to 99% (#Enzian compartment FI) and 100% (#Enzian compartments FB, FU and FO), positive predictive value from 90% (#Enzian compartment T right ) to 100% (#Enzian compartment FO), negative predictive value from 74% (#Enzian compartment B left ) to 99% (#Enzian compartments FB and FU) and accuracy from 88% (#Enzian compartment B right ) to 99% (#Enzian compartment FB)., Conclusions: The localization and severity of endometriotic lesions/adhesions, as described and classified according to the #Enzian classification, can be diagnosed accurately and non-invasively using TVS/TAS. The #Enzian classification provides a uniform classification system for describing endometriotic lesions, which can be used both at TVS/TAS and during surgical evaluation. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology., (© 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Purpose: To correlate voice-related quality of life, anxiety, and depression symptoms pre- and post-thyroidectomy., Methods: Observational, longitudinal, prospective, and quantitative study. Twenty patients participated in the study, with a mean age of 54 years, who underwent thyroidectomy, laryngeal visual examination, and the Voice-Related Quality of Life and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaires at different times: preoperative, 1 week and 3 months post-thyroidectomy, with a higher prevalence of females (85%; n=17) and partial thyroidectomy (70%; n=14)., Results: There was no statistical difference in voice quality of life between the moments, but lower preoperative scores were observed, especially in the physical domain. We observed a slight trace of anxiety in the preoperative period, with a reduction after 1 week and an increase after 3 months. There was a moderate negative correlation between the physical domain of QVV and the anxiety subscale and the total HADS score after 1 week and between the total domain of QVV with the total HADS score after 1 week, weak negative correlation between the total domain of QVV and the HADS anxiety subscale after 1 week and the total HADS score after 3 months., Conclusion: The patients evaluated in this study self-perceived their voice-related quality of life as positive. Mild anxiety traits were identified, with a reduction after one week postoperatively and an increase after three months. The self-perception of better voice-related quality of life in the postoperative period is weakly related to the reduction of anxiety levels.

Background: Hypostominae is a subfamily of the family Loricariidae that has a great diversity of species. Accordingly, testicular studies in fish can contribute to the phylogeny and taxonomy of species and to the comparison of reproductive aspects between species. Thus, this work aimed to characterize the testicular morphology and spermatogenesis of the Hypostominae species Baryancistrus xanthellus, Peckoltia oligospila and Hypancistrus zebra., Results: B. xanthellus, P. oligospila and H. zebra had an anastomosed tubular type of testis. The germinal epithelium was continuous with unrestricted spermatogonia, and the proliferative, meiotic and spermiogenic phases were defined in all species. In the spermiogenic phase, spermatids were classified as initial, intermediate and final. Only in B. xanthellus in the final phase was there nuclear rotation. The sperm for the three species had a head with an oval shape and a single flagellum composed of the short midpiece, principal piece and end piece. B. xanthellus and P. oligospila showed a cylindrical flagellum and H. zebra showed projections that produced a flattened appearance., Conclusions: On the basis testicular structure and ultrastructural characteristics of the germ cells, there was a greater relationship between B. xanthelus and P. oligospila, while H. zebra had particular characteristics. These aspects show that despite belonging to the same subfamily, the species have distinct biological characteristics., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Tapajós Region, is an area with intense historical artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Therefore, the core objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental status of different rivers located in this region, using biomarker endpoints in Serrasalmus rhombeus as a tool. Fish and sediment were collected from two rivers, Tropas and Crepori, affluent of Tapajós River, located inside a Federal Protection Area and in a Reference site. Mercury concentration in sediment and fish were traced, and biomarkers in gills and liver were analyzed. Results showed a clear difference between these two rivers compared to the Reference site. Fish tissues presented biomarker responses according to the site of collection. Catalase (CAT) activity was statistically higher in fish gills from Crepori, confirming the capacity of mercury interference with redox equilibrium. High levels of lipid peroxidation were also noted to contribute greatly in incidence of morphological changes in the liver and gills, suggesting that mercury bioaccumulation during continuous exposure promote biological responses in a cumulative manner, from molecules to tissues. This study also indicates adaptation in fish defense mechanisms given the conditions in the Tropas River, as well as a variation in biomarker responses to that of the Crepori river. In summary, Tapajós affluents presented high mercury levels in fish tissues leading to biomarker responses, demonstrating a hazardous signal of a long history of mercury pollution., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To evaluate molecular epithelial changes, we investigated whether a profile of survivin, cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), polo like kinase 1 (PLK1), p63, p40 (Δnp63 isoform), cyclin D1 (CCND1) and BCL2 apoptosis regulator (BCL2) proteins could predict malignant transformation. Different tissue segments (tumor adjacent epithelium; dysplasia and tumor) from a total of 109 patients were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. An increased expression of survivin (p < 0.001), PLK1 (p = 0.001), and p63 (p < 0.001) in parallel to reduced immunostaining of p40 (p < 0.001) and BCL2 (p = 0.029) was observed among the tissue segments analyzed. Our study revealed that survivin, PLK1, p63, p40 and BCL2 play a role in oral tumorigenesis and represent promising biomarkers able to recognize mesenchymal phenotype induction in the transition from nonmalignant cells to tumor cells. These results reveals critical interaction between survivin, PLK1, p63, p40 promising proteins during invasive carcinoma development., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: to analyze the factors associated with urinary tract infection occurrence in institutionalized elderly., Methods: this is a cross-sectional, analytical, quantitative study with 116 elderly people from a Nursing Home. Urinary tract infection diagnosis was carried out through urine culture and clinical assessment. Demographic data and associated factors were obtained from medical records. Statistical analysis included bivariate analysis and logistic regression models., Results: the factors associated with urinary tract infection (p<0.05) were being female; wheelchair user; diaper use; diuretic use; urinary and bowel incontinence; type 1 diabetes; benign prostatic hyperplasia; dehydration., Conclusion: this study revealed that it is important to consider non-modifiable factors such as sex and clinical comorbidities; however, dehydration, a modifiable factor, increased the chances of developing urinary tract infections by 40 times among institutionalized elderly and demands greater attention from the health team.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline antibiotic used in the fight against many types of cancer. Although it is quite effective for this purpose, its clinical use is limited by its severe side effects, highlighting the relevance of efforts to identify substances that act to minimize these effects. In this work, we sought to verify the ability of andiroba oil (AO) and a nanoemulsion of andiroba oil (AN) to lessen the side effects of DOX. The animals were separated into 7 groups with 6 animals each: mice treated with AO (2000 mg/kg), AN (2000 mg/kg), the antineoplastic agent DOX (40 mg/kg), AO+DOX, AN+DOX and solvent controls was used of negative control (corn oil and nanoemulsion surfactant). AO and AN were administered for 14 consecutive days orally by gavage and on the 13th day, applied DOX by intraperitoneal route (i.p.), in order to evaluate the protective potential of andiroba. The animals were euthanized on the 15th day. Hematological, biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical parameters were analyzed. Andiroba reduced several aspects of the severity of lesions caused by DOX, decreasing hematotoxicity and the severity of histological changes in the liver and kidneys, and reducing the frequency of apoptotic cell death. In many cases, AN showed greater efficacy than AO alone, reflecting the feasibility of using this nanotechnology to improve the pharmacokinetics of lipid compounds in the body. The study sheds new light on the therapeutic benefits of andiroba and suggests new ways for investigating how the quantity and quality of lipid compounds affect exposed organisms., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

The role and prognostic value of tetraspanins (TSPANs) in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) remain poorly understood. We sought to primarily determine, at both the molecular and tissue level, the expression profile of the TSPANs CD9, CD63, CD81, and CD82 in archived VSCC samples ( n = 117) and further investigate their clinical relevance as prognostic markers. Our studies led us to identify CD63 as the most highly expressed TSPAN, at the gene and protein levels. Multicomparison studies also revealed that the expression of CD9 was associated with tumor size, whereas CD63 upregulation was associated with histological diagnosis and vascular invasion. Moreover, low expression of CD81 and CD82 was associated with worse prognosis. To determine the role of TSPANs in VSCC at the cellular level, we assessed the mRNA levels of CD63 and CD82 in established metastatic (SW962) and non-metastatic (SW954) VSCC human cell lines. CD82 was found to be downregulated in SW962 cells, thus supporting its metastasis suppressor role. However, CD63 was significantly upregulated in both cell lines. Silencing of CD63 by siRNA led to a significant decrease in proliferation of both SW954 and SW962. Furthermore, in SW962 particularly, CD63-siRNA also remarkably inhibited cell migration. Altogether, our data suggest that the differential expression of TSPANs represents an important feature for prognosis of VSCC patients and indicates that CD63 and CD82 are likely potential therapeutic targets in VSCC.

Two new species of the genus Styela are described, with very rare characteristics in this genus: both are shallow-water and tropical, with more than two gonads in each side of the body. Styela panamensis sp. nov. is described from specimens collected in Bocas del Toro, Atlantic coast of Panama, and Styela multicarpa sp. nov. from specimens collected in Espírito Santo, Brazil and Margarita Island, Venezuela. They are probably native to the south Caribbean and S. multicarpa sp. nov. is introduced in Brazil.

Background: There is evidence to consider that the tumor microenvironment (TME) composition associates with antitumor immune response, and may predict the outcome of various non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes. However, in the case of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a rare and aggressive disease, there is lacking a detailed study of the TME components, as well as an integrative approach among them in patients' samples. Also, from the genetic point of view, it is known that single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in immune-response genes are among important regulators of immunity. At present, it is uncertain whether SNVs in candidate immune-response genes and the TME composition are able to alter the prognosis in MCL., Methods: We assessed a detailed TME composition in 88 MCL biopsies using immunohistochemistry, which was automatically analyzed by pixel counting (Aperio system). We also genotyped SNVs located in candidate immune-response genes (IL12A, IL2, IL10, TGFB1, TGFBR1, TGFBR2, IL17A, IL17F) in 95 MCL patients. We tested whether the SNVs could modulate the respective protein expression and TME composition in the tumor compartment. Finally, we proposed survival models in rituximab-treated patients, considering immunohistochemical and SNV models., Results: High FOXP3/CD3 ratios (p = 0.001), high IL17A levels (p = 0.003) and low IL2 levels (p = 0.03) were individual immunohistochemical predictors of poorer survival. A principal component, comprising high quantities of macrophages and high Ki-67 index, also worsened outcome (p = 0.02). In the SNV model, the CC haplotype of IL10 (p < 0.01), the GG genotype of IL2 rs2069762 (p = 0.02) and the AA+AG genotypes of TGFBR2 rs3087465 (p < 0.01) were independent predictors of outcome. Finally, the GG genotype of TGFB1 rs6957 associated with lower tumor TGFβ levels (p = 0.03) and less CD163+ macrophages (p = 0.01), but did not modulate patients' survival., Conclusions: Our results indicate that the TME composition has relevant biological roles in MCL. In this setting, immunohistochemical detection of T-reg cells, IL17A and IL2, coupled with SNV genotyping in IL10, TGFBR2 and IL2, may represent novel prognostic factors in this disease, following future validations.

Objectives: To identify factors associated with the level of knowledge of the disease in people with type 2 Diabetes., Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out with 412 people with diabetes registered in the Primary Health Care network of a Brazil Northeast municipality. For data collection, we used a questionnaire with sociodemographic and clinical variables and to identify the level of knowledge, we used the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire., Results: Insufficient knowledge prevailed in 54.7% of the participants, associated in significant bivariate analysis (p < 0.05) with the sociodemographic variables: age (≥ 60 years old), marital status (without a partner), education (up to complete / incomplete elementary school), family income (≤ 1 minimum wage). For clinical variables, the level of insufficient knowledge was significantly associated with not participating in an educational group, not using insulin, and not practicing physical activity. In logistic regression, we observed that the factors that increase the risk for insufficient knowledge were: never having participated in an educational group (OR=2.0), age ≥ 60 years old (OR=2.2), illiterate and primary education (OR=8.3) and income less than or equal to 1 minimum wage (OR = 2.4)., Conclusions: The level of knowledge of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus about their disease is insufficient, with socioeconomic and educational characteristics being the factors that increase the odds of having this level of knowledge., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright by the Universidad de Antioquia.)

The objective of this work was to develop a method to calculate the water quality index (WQI) using chemometric methods. The study was carried out at the Curuá-Una hydroelectric power plant in the state of Pará in the Brazilian Amazon. Eight collection stations in four periods (winter, intermediate I, summer, and intermediate II) and 29 parameters were selected. Multivariate analysis was applied to the results to verify the quality of the data and to select the most sensitive variables to be used as indicators for the WQI calculation. The 10 parameters selected were E h , dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, chlorophyll a , phosphate, Ba, Ca, Fe, Na, and Sn. The WQI proposed herein was effective in the classification of water quality for the periods analyzed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2020 American Chemical Society.)

Background: Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients present a high risk of developing skin cancer and other complications at an early age. This disease is characterized by mutations in the genes related to the DNA repair system., Objectives: To describe the clinical and molecular findings in a cohort of 32 Brazilian individuals who received a clinical diagnosis of XP., Methods: Twenty-seven families were screened for germline variants in eight XP-related genes., Results: All patients (N = 32) were diagnosed with bi-allelic germline pathogenic or potentially pathogenic variants, including nine variants previously undescribed. The c.2251-1G>C XPC pathogenic variant, reported as the founder mutation in Comorian and Pakistani patients, was observed in 15 cases in homozygous or compound heterozygous. Seven homozygous patients for POLH/XPV variants developed their symptoms by an average age of 7.7 years. ERCC2/XPD, DDB2/XPE and ERCC5/XPG variants were found in a few patients. Aside from melanoma and non-melanoma skin tumours, a set of patients developed skin sebaceous carcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, angiosarcoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma and serous ovarian carcinoma., Conclusions: We reported a high frequency of XPC variants in 32 XP Brazilian patients. Nine new variants in XP-related genes, unexpected non-skin cancer lesions and an anticipation of the clinical manifestation in POLH/XPV cases were also described., (© 2020 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Objective:  To perform a comprehensive review to provide practical recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of benign adnexal masses, as well as information for appropriate consent, regarding possible loss of the ovarian reserve., Methods:  A comprehensive review of the literature was performed to identify the most relevant data about this subject., Results:  In total, 48 studies addressed the necessary aspects of the review, and we described their epidemiology, diagnoses, treatment options with detailed techniques, and perspectives regarding future fertility., Conclusions:  Adnexal masses are extremely common. The application of diagnosis algorithms is mandatory to exclude malignancy. A great number of cases can be managed with surveillance. Surgery, when necessary, should be performed with adequate techniques. However, even in the hands of experienced surgeons, there is a significant decrease in ovarian reserves, especially in cases of endometriomas. There is an evident necessity of studies that focus on the long-term impact on fertility., Competing Interests: The authors have none conflict to interests to declare., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

The present field study aimed to assess the water quality of the Itacaiúnas River, located at the eastern part of the Brazilian Amazon, using water's physicochemical parameters, ecological risk assessment in sediments, biomarkers and metal bioaccumulation in piranhas at two points: upstream (P1) and downstream (P2), and the type of season (Dry and Rainy). We revealed a significant difference between the points and the seasons. Concerning, the concentration of metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Hg) in sediment and water, we reported significant concentrations of Cd and Cu especially on P2 at dry season. The fish gills collected in P2 showed various types of damages (moderate and severe), furthermore, the Degree of Tissue Change (DTC) reported a significant difference between points, highlighting the dreadful condition in animals' health originated from this point. In terms of the biotransformation enzyme, the GST activity was higher in fishes from P2 in both seasons. The obtained results showed clear signs of stress in fish from the downstream point. Linear correlation analysis exhibited that the biomarkers' response could be linked to the detected metals bioaccumulation. This field investigation provides baseline data on pollution status in this region and the results showed that although the overall potential ecological risks of the metals were considered low at our sampling sites including cadmium, however, Cd posed a noteworthy monomial potential ecological risk factor. Strong evidence of correlation was obtained between Cd in the environment with the gills' damage in fishes from P2. The results also indicated that S. rhombeus could be useful for biomonitoring species for assessing metal contamination., (© 2020 The Authors.)

The study of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in follicular lymphoma (FL) has produced conflicting results due to assessment of limited TME subpopulations, and because of heterogeneous treatments among different cohorts. Also, important genetic determinants of immune response, such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), remain underexplored in this disease. We performed a detailed study of the TME in 169 FL biopsies using immunohistochemistry, encompassing lymphocytes, macrophages, and cytokines. We also genotyped 16 SNPs within key immune-response genes ( IL12A, IL2, IL10, TGFB1, TGFBR1, TGFBR2, IL17A, and IL17F ) in 159 patients. We tested associations between SNPs, clinicopathological features and TME composition, and proposed survival models in R-CHOP/R-CVP-treated patients. Presence of the IL12A rs568408 "A" allele associated with the follicular pattern of FOXP3+ cells. The IL12A AA haplotype included rs583911 and rs568408 and was an independent predictor of worse survival, together with the follicular patterns of T-cells (FOXP3+ and CD8+) and high IL-17F tumor levels. The patterns of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells, displayed as a principal component, also associated with survival. Hierarchical clustering of the TME proteins demonstrated a cluster that was associated with worse prognosis (tumors enriched in IL-17A, IL-17F, CD8, PD1, and Ki-67). The survival of FL patients who were treated in the rituximab era shows a strong dependence on TME signals, especially the T-cell infiltration patterns and IL-17F tumor levels. The presence of the AA haplotype of IL12A in the genome of FL patients is an additional prognostic factor that may modulate the composition of T-reg cells in this disease., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of in situ hybridization using E6/E7 mRNA probes to identify the frequency of high-risk HPV transcriptionally active and the use of HPV status as a prognostic biomarker in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC)., Methods: Ninety-nine OCSCC samples were evaluated from Hospital Santa Rita de Cassia, Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio de Moraes and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. After tissue microarray construction, the slides were submitted to an in situ hybridization detection method for HPV E6/E7 mRNA. HPV status was designated a binary classification. Multiple logistic regression examined the association of HPV with clinical features and other risk factors, using SPSS® software. For all hypothesis tests, a significance level of p ≤ 0.05 was considered., Results: HPV frequency in oral squamous cell carcinoma was 8%. There was no association between HPV and clinical variables and between the main prognostic features and known risk factors. There was no difference in the prevalence of HPV for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma by geography (Brazil vs UK)., Conclusions: A low frequency of E6/E7 mRNA by RNA in situ hybridization was found in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, which supports the evidence that HPV-driven cancer of the oral cavity is uncommon., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, species richness and diversity in aquatic ecosystems has declined as environments are increasingly impacted by anthropic actions. Freshwater prawns are well adapted to survive in a disturbed and heterogeneous environment. For instance, Amazon river prawn ( Macrobrachium amazonicum ) populations vary in migratory behavior between rivers and estuaries, depending on factors such as dams. However, there is limited information on the influence of environmental conditions on life-history traits of this species, which we investigate here using two distinct and unconnected aquatic systems, a dammed river and an estuary, in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. The biological characteristics of M. amazonicum populations in the two environments were compared and related to environmental parameters, which differed significant differences between the two environments and between seasons. Dissolved oxygen, precipitation, and temperature varied most significantly with the seasons in both the estuary and river. M. amazonicum prawns in the estuary were larger and heavier than those in the river during rainy periods. The mass-length ratios and condition factor varied significantly between the M. amazonicum populations in the estuary and river, with negative allometric growth (grows faster in length than in weight) predominating in both populations, and condition factor was better in the estuary for males and in the river for females. The relative frequencies of occurrence of the different female maturation stages and the male morphotypes were related to precipitation and turbidity in both environments and also to salinity in the estuary. In these two distinct aquatic systems, the abiotic parameters determined by the seasonal precipitation cycle profoundly influenced the development of this crustacean, despite its ecological plasticity. Overall, the study showed that river damming triggered environmental changes in the freshwater river ecosystem and played a key role in determining the life-history characteristics of M. amazonicum in these contrasting aquatic systems., Competing Interests: I declare that the authors have no financial/personal interest and that the manuscript is for scientific purposes only., (© 2020 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background The role of Ser49Gly beta1-adrenergic receptor genetic polymorphism (ADBR1-GP-Ser49Gly) as a predictor of death in heart failure (HF) is not established for the Brazilian population. Objectives To evaluate the association between ADBR1-GP-Ser49Gly and clinical outcomes in individuals with HF with reduced ejection fraction. Methods Secondary analysis of medical records of 178 patients and genotypes of GPRβ1-Ser49Gly variants, classified as Ser-Ser, Ser-Gly and Gly-Gly. To evaluate their association with clinical outcome. A significance level of 5% was adopted. Results Cohort means were: clinical follow-up 6.7 years, age 63.5 years, 64.6% of men and 55.1% of whites. HF etiologies were predominantly ischemic (31.5%), idiopathic (23.6%) and hypertensive (15.7%). The genetic profile was distributed as follows: 122 Ser-Ser (68.5%), 52 Ser-Gly (28.7%) and 5 Gly-Gly (2.8%). There was a significant association between these genotypes and mean NYHA functional class at the end of follow-up (p = 0.014) with Gly-Gly being associated with less advanced NYHA. In relation to the clinical outcomes, there was a significant association (p = 0.026) between mortality and GPRβ1-Ser49Gly: the number of deaths in patients with Ser-Gly (12) or Gly-Gly (1) was lower than in those with Ser-Ser (54). The Gly allele had an independent protective effect maintained after multivariate analysis and was associated with a reduction of 63% in the risk of death (p = 0.03; Odds Ratio 0.37 - CI 0.15-0.91). Conclusion The presence of β1-AR-GP Gly-Gly was associated with better clinical outcome evaluated by NYHA functional class and was a predictor of lower risk of mortality, regardless of other factors, in a 6.7-year of follow-up. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 114(4):613-615).

Mammary neoplasms are a heterogeneous form of disease, and in order to determine its course and biological features with more accuracy, investigations based on tumor phenotypes are required. The aim of the present study was to propose and validate a phenotypic classification for canine mammary tumors and to assess any association between clinicopathological characteristics, survival and prognosis. For the immunohistochemistry analysis, the primary antibodies against estrogen receptor-α, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)/neu and E-cadherin were used. A total of 110 canine mammary tumors were investigated; 42 tumors were classified as luminal A, 41 as luminal B, 17 as triple-negative and 10 as HER-2-positive. The luminal A and B phenotypes were associated with improved prognosis, whereas HER-2positive and triple-negative tumors were more aggressive, and exhibited a significant association with the occurrence of metastasis, a worse Tumor-Node-Metastasis classification and shorter survival time (P<0.05). In addition, there were different levels of E-cadherin expression intensity observed among the four tumor profiles investigated. Luminal A and B phenotypes presented an upregulation of E-cadherin compared with the HER-2 positive and triple-negative phenotypes (P<0.05). From the results of the present study, the proposed immunohistochemical panel and phenotypic classification techniques could be useful diagnostic tools with a good technical applicability in veterinary oncology. The analysis of E-cadherin expression in the panel of tumor markers allowed a more accurate classification for determining the biological features of the mammary tumor., (Copyright: © Varallo et al.)

The present study was conducted to assess the testicular structure and germ cell ultrastructure of Hypophthalmus marginatus during spermatogenesis. Semen and sections of the mid-region of the testis were collected, processed, and analyzed using optical and electron microscopy. Macroscopically, the testes of H. marginatus were filiform, and the testicular parenchyma was composed of spermatogenic cells that proliferated, organized within spermatic cysts. During spermiogenesis, spermatids had no nuclear rotation. The proximal centriole was perpendicular to the distal centriole, characteristic of type III spermiogenesis. Spermatozoa were released into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules and had an ovoid head without an acrosome, condensed nucleus, and shallow nuclear fossa. The midpiece was short, with a single long flagellum. The flagellum had the typical axoneme structure, with nine pairs of peripheral and a central pair of microtubules. The thin end piece comprised only peripheral microtubules. Spermatogenesis in H. marginatus features filiform testes, cystic spermatogenesis, and type III spermiogenesis., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Human occupation of coastal areas promotes the establishment of non-native species but information on bioinvasions is usually biased toward the Northern Hemisphere. We assessed non-native species' importance in sessile communities at six marinas along the most urbanized area of the Southwestern Atlantic coastline. We found 67 species, of which 19 are exotic. The most frequent species was the exotic polychaete Branchiomma luctuosum, while the most abundant was the exotic bryozoan Schizoporella errata that monopolized the substrata in three marinas. Along with S. errata, the exotic polychaete Hydroides elegans and ascidian Styela plicata dominated space in the three remaining marinas, while native species were in general rare. We show that communities associated with artificial substrata along this Brazilian urbanized area are dominated by exotic species and that using abundance data along with species identity can improve our understanding of the importance of exotic species for the dynamics of biological communities., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)