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Polianne Angella Oliveira Figueiredo,1 Tâmara Stéphanie Lucena de Medeiros Costa,2 Mateus Dantas de Azevedo Lima,2 Adriana Gomes Magalhães,2 Ingrid Fonsêca Damasceno Bezerra,3 Patricia Driusso,4 Vanessa Patrícia Soares de Sousa2 1Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairi, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 2Multicampus School of Medical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 3Brazilian Hospital Services Company (Ebserh), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 4Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, BrazilCorrespondence: Vanessa Patrícia Soares de Sousa, Tel +55 84 98702-7110, Email vanessa.sousa@ufrn.brIntroduction: Sexual dysfunction (SD) comprises disorders in sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and lubrication. The importance of self-perceived SD relies on its relation to personal values, sex education, and partnership. We aimed to analyze the association between self-perceived SD and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in adult women of reproductive age and the correlation between age and sexual function.Material and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 285 women aged 18 to 49 years, sexually active for at least four weeks, cisgender and heterosexual, and with Internet access. Women were divided into control (CG, control group; without SD) or study group (SG, study group; with SD) and responded to a self-applicable online survey containing a sociodemographic characterization, an interview about SD knowledge, and the FSFI test. The Chi-square test of independence (χ2) analyzed the association between self-perceived SD and FSFI-assessed SD. Pearson’s correlation coefficient investigated the correlation between age and FSFI.Results: Included women had a mean age of 29.57 years ± 7.11 years. Self-perceived SD showed a moderate association (Cramer’s V = 0.590) with the FSFI score (χ2 [2] = 91.500; p < 0.001). A weak, negative, and significant correlation was observed between age and the FSFI desire domain (r = − 0.120; p = 0.030; r2 = 1.440).Conclusion: Women with self-perceived SD were 68% more likely to present FSFI-assessed SD. Regarding the FSFI desire domain, sexual function decreased with age.Keywords: sexual dysfunction, physiological, sexuality, women

Remote sensing technologies have the potential to support monitoring of floating plastic litter in aquatic environments. An experimental campaign was carried out in a large-scale hydrodynamic test facility to explore the detectability of floating plastics in ocean waves, comparing and contrasting different microwave and optical remote sensing technologies. The extensive experiments revealed that detection of plastics was feasible with microwave measurement techniques using X and Ku-bands with VV polarization at a plastic threshold concentration of 1 item/m 2 or 1-10 g/m 2 . The optical measurements further revealed that spectral and polarization properties in the visible and infrared spectrum had diagnostic information unique to the floating plastics. This assessment presents a crucial step towards enabling the detection of aquatic plastics using advanced remote sensing technologies. We demonstrate that remote sensing has the potential for global targeting of plastic litter hotspots, which is needed for supporting effective clean-up efforts and scientific evidence-based policy making., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Membrane potential is a useful marker for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) due to its fundamental roles in cell function. However, the difficulties associated with measuring the membrane potential in microbes restrict its broad application. In this study, we present bioelectrical AST (BeAST) using the model fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Using fluorescent indicators [DiBAC4(3), ThT, and TMRM], we measured plasma and mitochondrial membrane-potential dynamics upon electric stimulation. We find that a 2.5 second electric stimulation induces hyperpolarization of plasma membrane lasting 20 minutes in vital S. cerevisiae , but depolarization in inhibited cells. The numerical simulation of FitzHugh-Nagumo model successfully recapitulates vitality-dependent dynamics. The model also suggests that the magnitude of plasma-membrane potential dynamics (PMD) correlates with the degree of inhibition. To test this prediction and to examine if BeAST can be used for assessing novel anti-fungal compounds, we treat cells with biogenic silver nanoparticles (bioAgNPs) synthesized using orange fruit flavonoids and Fusarium oxysporum. Comparing BeAST with optical density assay alongside various stressors, we show that PMD correlates with the magnitude of growth inhibitions. These results suggest that BeAST holds promise for screening anti-fungal compounds, offering a valuable approach to tackling antimicrobial resistance., Importance: Rapid assessment of the efficacy of antimicrobials is important for optimizing treatments, avoiding misuse and facilitating the screening of new antimicrobials. The need for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is growing with the rise of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we present bioelectrical AST (BeAST). Combining time-lapse microscopy and mathematical modeling, we show that electrically induced membrane potential dynamics of yeast cells correspond to the strength of growth inhibition. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of BeAST for assessing antimicrobial activities of novel compounds using biogenic silver nanoparticles., Competing Interests: Munehiro Asally is a co-founder and a shareholder of Cytecom Ltd. Conor L. A. Edwards is an employee and a shareholder of Cytecom Ltd.

Statement of Problem: A prefabricated glass fiber post provides esthetic and biomechanical benefits for severely damaged endodontically treated teeth; however, failures in post retention remain a challenge., Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to compare the fracture resistance and bond strength of prefabricated glass fiber posts to those made with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM)., Material and Methods: This review was entered into PROSPERO (CRD42020213668) and was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Electronic systematic searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were conducted for published articles until October 2020. Studies that compared prefabricated glass fiber posts with CAD-CAM-fabricated glass fiber posts were selected, and studies that had not been published in English or in the previous 10 years were excluded. The fracture resistance (N) and bond strength (MPa) were the primary outcomes., Results: After reviewing the title, abstract, and the entire text of 227 articles, 8 studies were selected. Four studies were omitted. Four of the 8 studies were retained for qualitative analyses, with 1 having a high risk of bias and 3 having a medium risk of bias. Only 1 study found significantly higher fracture resistance in the CAD-CAM group than in the prefabricated group. The bond strength study reported a significant difference, with the CAD-CAM group having greater bond strength than the prefabricated group., Conclusions: Despite the high heterogeneity and the few included articles, a tendency was found for the CAD-CAM-fabricated glass fiber post to improve fracture resistance and bond strength. However, the available literature is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions., (Copyright © 2022 Editorial Council for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is a species of great cultural and economic importance in aquaculture in the Amazon region. Methionine is considered the first limiting sulfur amino acid in practical fish diets, which encourages investigating its use in diets for tambaqui. This study aimed to verify the digestible methionine plus cystine (Met + Cys) requirement in diets for tambaqui (89.52 ± 0.53 g) for 60 days. The treatments investigated were: 6.50, 7.80, 9.10, 10.40, 11.70, and 13.00 g Met + Cys kg diet -1 . The estimated requirement based on final weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and specific growth rate was 9.04, 8.92, 8.91, and 8.58 g Met + Cys kg diet -1 , respectively, while on body protein deposition, body fat deposition, body ash deposition, and nitrogen retention efficiency was 9.29, 9.20, 9.19, and 8.72 g Met + Cys kg diet -1 , respectively. Linear regression demonstrated that increased digestible Met + Cys in the diet decreased plasma total protein, globulin, and liver total protein levels. Quadratic regression showed that the highest value for liver glycogen was found with a 10.40 g Met + Cys kg diet -1 . Another quadratic regression demonstrated a lower hepatic aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymatic activity in fish fed between 7.80 and 11.70 g Met + Cys kg diet -1 . The different treatments did not influence the erythrogram. In conclusion, when considering an integrative view of the results for growth performance, whole-body deposition, and liver parameters without harming the physiological and metabolic status, we recommended choosing a diet with digestible Met + Cys between 8.58 and 9.29 g kg - 1 for tambaqui., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Mosquitoes are one of the main vectors of many important diseases and their degree of resistance to chemical insecticides has increased. Nowadays, it has become crucial to identify novel plant larvicides with an eco-friendly impact. The components of essential oils from Croton linearis Jacq. (EO-Cl), Lantana involucrata L. (EO-Li), Ocimum sanctum var. cubensis M. Gómez. (EO-Os), and Zanthoxylum pistaciifolium Griseb. (syn. Zanthoxylum flavum subsp. pistaciifolium (Griseb.) Reynel (EO-Zp) were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Larvicidal and adulticidal bioassays against Aedes aegypti , Anopheles albitarsis and Culex quinquefasciatus , were performed according to the World Health Organization standard methods. A high diversity of compounds was identified in the four oils, with a total of 152 compounds (33-70 components). EO-Cl, EO-Li, and EO-Os were classified as active against both insect forms, larvae and adults. Lantana involucrata showed the best results, with LC 50 values from 33.8 to 41.7 mg/L. In most of the cases, it was not possible to associate the main compounds with the measured activity, supporting the hypothesis about probable synergistic interactions among major and minor compounds. The results indicate EO-Cl, EO-Os, and EO-Li as good eco-friendly insecticides with potential.

The Data2MV dataset contains gaze fixation data obtained through experimental procedures from a total of 45 participants using an Intel RealSense F200 camera module and seven different video playlists. Each of the playlists had an approximate duration of 20 minutes and was viewed at least 17 times, with raw tracking data being recorded with a 0.05 second interval. The Data2MV dataset encompasses a total of 1.000.845 gaze fixations, gathered across a total of 128 experiments. It is also composed of 68.393 image frames, extracted from each of the 6 videos selected for these experiments, and an equal quantity of saliency maps, generated from aggregate fixation data. Software tools to obtain saliency maps and generate complementary plots are also provided as an open-source software package. The Data2MV dataset was publicly released to the research community on Mendeley Data and constitutes an important contribution to reduce the current scarcity of such data, particularly in immersive, multi-view streaming scenarios., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The objectives of this study were to use machine learning algorithms to establish a model for estimating the evapotranspiration fraction (ETf) using two data input scenarios from the spectral information of the Sentinel-2 constellation, and to analyze the temporal and spatial applicability of the models to estimate the actual evapotranspiration (ETr) in agricultural crops irrigated by center pivots. The spectral bands of Sentinel 2A and 2B satellite and vegetation indices formed the first scenario. The second scenario was formed by performing the normalized ratio procedure between bands (NRPB) and joining the variables applied in the first scenario. The models were generated to predict the ETf using six regression algorithms and then compared with ETf calculated by the Simple Algorithm For Evapotranspiration Retrieving (SAFER) algorithm, was considered as the standard. The results possible to select the best model, which in both scenarios was Cubist. Subsequently, ETf was estimated only for the center pivots present in the study area and the classification of land use and cover was accessed through the MapBiomas product. Land use was necessary to enable the calculation of ETr in each scenario, in the center pivots with sugarcane and soybean crops. ETr was estimated using two ETo approaches (EToBrazil and Hargreaves-Samani). It was found that the Hargreaves-Samani equation overestimated ETr with higher errors mainly for center pivots with sugarcane, where systematic error (MBE) ranged from 0.89 to 2.02 mm d-1. The EToBrazil product, on the other hand, presented statistical errors with MBE values ranging from 0.00 to 1.26 mm d-1 for both agricultural crops. Based on the results obtained, it is observed that the ETr can be monitored spatially and temporally without the use of the thermal band, which causes the estimation of this parameter to be performed with greater temporal frequency., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Costa et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objective: This study aimed at comparing the depression and anxiety levels, and health self-perception during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic among subjects who practice aerobic, strength, and mixed (aerobic and strength) exercises and nonsports participants., Materials and Methods: We included 304 Brazilians of both sexes in this cross-sectional study. All participants were recruited through online advertisement and completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding the personal information, level of restriction adopted, physical activity, and mood state screening (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and General Anxiety Disorder-7). We divided the participants into four groups: strength sports group (CrossFit or strength training), aerobic/endurance sports groups (running, cycling, triathlon, or swimming), mixed sports groups (individuals who practice endurance and strength sports), and nonsports group., Results: The Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant effect of the group on the depression and anxiety levels. Meanwhile, the post-hoc comparisons showed a significantly lower depression level in the mixed and aerobic sports groups than in the strength sports and nonsports groups, and a significantly lower anxiety level in the mixed and aerobic sports groups than in the nonsports group. Furthermore, participants in the mixed, strength, and aerobic sports groups presented a better level of health self-assessment than the nonsports group, and those in the mixed sports group had a better level of health self-assessment than the strength or aerobic sports groups., Conclusions: Individuals practicing aerobic exercises present lower depression and anxiety levels than those practicing strength training and are inactive. However, individuals who practice strength exercises and aerobics have the best levels of health perception.

To contribute to knowledge of the epidemiology of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) among indigenous people living in sylvatic regions, we studied the sand fly fauna collected in areas of disease transmission in the Brazilian Amazon. Here we report two datasets comprising occurrence data for sand flies from the Suruwaha Indigenous Land in the state of Amazonas collected in 2012-2013, and the Wajãpi Indigenous Land in the state of Amapá collected in 2013-2014. Sand flies were collected using unbaited CDC-like light traps at various sites within each study area and were identified to either genus or species-level by taxonomists with expertise in Amazonian fauna. A total of 4,646 records are reported: 1,428 from the Suruwaha and 3,218 from the Wajãpi. These records will contribute to a better understanding of ACL transmission dynamics, as well as the distribution of insect vectors, in these areas., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

There is increasing evidence showing positive association between changes in oral microbiome and the occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Alcohol- and nicotine-related products can induce microbial changes but are still unknown if these changes are related to cancerous lesion sites. In an attempt to understand how these changes can influence the OSCC development and maintenance, the aim of this study was to investigate the oral microbiome linked with OSCC as well as to identify functional signatures and associate them with healthy or precancerous and cancerous sites. Our group used data of oral microbiomes available in public repositories. The analysis included data of oral microbiomes from electronic cigarette users, alcohol consumers, and precancerous and OSCC samples. An R-based pipeline was used for taxonomic and functional prediction analysis. The Streptococcus spp. genus was the main class identified in the healthy group. Haemophilus spp. predominated in precancerous lesions. OSCC samples revealed a higher relative abundance compared with the other groups, represented by an increased proportion of Fusobacterium spp., Prevotella spp., Haemophilus spp., and Campylobacter spp. Venn diagram analysis showed 52 genera exclusive of OSCC samples. Both precancerous and OSCC samples seemed to present a specific associated functional pattern. They were menaquinone-dependent protoporphyrinogen oxidase pattern enhanced in the former and both 3',5'-cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (purine metabolism) and iron(III) transport system ATP-binding protein enhanced in the latter. We conclude that although precancerous and OSCC samples present some differences on microbial profile, both microbiomes act as "iron chelators-like" potentially contributing to tumor growth., (© 2021. Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a strong negative impact on economic and social life worldwide. It has also negatively influenced people's general health and quality of life. The aim of the present study was to study the impact of social distancing on physical activity level, and the association between mood state (depression and anxiety level) or sex with actual physical activity levels, the change in physical activity caused by social distancing period, the adhesion level to social distancing, the adoption time of social distancing, family income and age., Methods: A self-administered questionnaire with personal, quarantine, physical activity, and mood state disorders information's was answered by 2140 Brazilians of both sex who were recruited through online advertising., Results: The physical activity level adopted during the period of social distancing (3.5 ± 0.8) was lower than that the adopted prior to the pandemic period (2.9 ± 1.1, p < 0.001). Thirty percent of the participants presented symptoms of moderate/severe depression and 23.3% displayed moderate/severe anxiety symptoms. A greater presence of symptoms related to anxiety and depression were associated with low physical activity levels, low family monthly income, and younger age. A higher percentage of men who had no mood disorders was observed among those who were very active than among those less active., Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has a negative impact on physical activity. Those who reduced their level of physical activity had the highest levels of mood disorders. Therefore, physical activity programs should be encouraged, while respecting the necessary social distancing to prevent the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2.

Background and objectives: It has been suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic impaired people's moods and general levels of physical activity, but the way in which each country is coping with the situation may result in different outcomes. The aim of the present study was to compare the mental health and physical activity levels between residents of Brazil and Switzerland during the social distancing period associated with COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire aiming to assess personal, quarantine, physical activity, and mood state disorders data was answered by 114 participants (57 from each country) of both sexes. Results: Swiss participants presented a higher frequency of people (47.4%) not abiding by social distancing measures compared to Brazilian participants (1.8%; p < 0.001, effect size = 0.56). There were no significant differences between the participants from the two countries regarding physical activity levels ( p = 0.09). The Swiss presented a higher frequency (78.9%) of people without symptoms of depression compared to Brazilians (31.6%; p < 0.001, effect size = 0.48). The Swiss also presented a higher frequency (77.2%) of people without symptoms of anxiety compared to Brazilians (35.1%; p < 0.001, effect size = 0.43). There was a significant association between the restriction level and depression symptoms ( p = 0.01, effect size = 0.25) but not with anxiety symptoms ( p = 0.21, effect size = 0.16). Conclusions: According to the preliminary results, Brazilians presented a much higher frequency of depression and anxiety symptoms, which can be explained by characteristics other than the restriction level.

Studies related to ants found in hospital environments have aroused interest in their role as mechanical vectors of pathogenic microorganisms. The objective of the current research was to determine the species composition and bacterial contamination of ant species found in a public hospital in the eastern Amazonian region. Ants were captured using bait containing honey and sterilized sardines in 15 locations within the Macapá Emergency Hospital, Amapá. Ants were identified morphologically using specific keys. Bacteria were first inoculed in a Brain Heart Infusion broth and then plated on 5% Agar with blood or MacConkey media. Bacterial species were identified through biochemical procedures. In total, 9,687 ants were collected, with 69.8% from the dry season and 30.2% from the rainy season. Nine species of ants were identified belonging to three subfamilies: the Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus 1758) being the most common, comprising 39.2% of the total specimens. Only one ant species was found in each bait, facilitating microbiological analyses. In total, 92 bacteria isolates were identified comprising 12 species. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Schroeter 1872 (Pseudomonadales: Pseudomonadaceae) was pathogenic bacteria, most frequently isolated, comprising 10.9% of the positive samples. The most contaminated ant in the study was M. pharaonis with 38.3%. It was the dominant ant species in this hospital environment. Its wide prevalence, forage day and night of this vector in hospital facilitated bacterial contamination. The presence of bacteria on ants may be associated with the dissemination of pathogens which cause hospital infections, making pest control a necessity in these institutions., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Siparuna guianensis (Laurales: Siparunaceae) has a terpene-rich essential oil with great potential for larvicides. The poor water miscibility of their compounds makes nano-emulsions of great interest for novel bioactive systems, including for control of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). This species is adapted to urban environments with important role in the epidemiology of some arboviruses such as dengue, chikungunya fever, zika, and urban yellow fever. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of nano-emulsification to affect Ae. aegypti larvae. An optimal system was achieved by using a nonionic single surfactant, highlighted by its satisfactory size distribution profile. Moreover, improved larvicidal activity in comparison to bulk essential oil can be observed for the nano-emulsions. The estimated LC50 and LC90 values after 24 h of treatment of larvae with the essential oil were, respectively, 86.5232 and 134.814 µg/ml, while the estimated LC50 and LC90 value after treatment with the nano-emulsion were 24.7572 and 75.2452 µg/ml, respectively. The utilization of a simple technique to produce a fine nano-emulsion opens perspective for further integrative practices of mosquito control and giving value to this Amazon plant species may encourage its sustainable use and contribute to conservation policies., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Despite the increasing international popularity of CrossFit, there is a paucity of scientific evidence on the risk of CrossFit-related musculoskeletal injuries (CRMIs)., Purpose: To investigate the incidence (cumulative incidence proportion [IP] and incidence density [ID]) of CRMIs and the association of CRMIs with personal and training characteristics., Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study., Methods: A prospective, 12-week descriptive epidemiology cohort study was conducted in a convenience sample of CrossFit facilities in a single Brazilian city. Printed baseline questionnaires were distributed to 13 CrossFit boxes. All participants who filled out the questionnaire and consented to participate in the study were invited to respond to an online follow-up questionnaire every 2 weeks to collect data on CrossFit training characteristics and CRMIs. A CRMI was defined as any self-reported musculoskeletal injury or pain that prevented an athlete from exercising for at least 1 day. The IP was defined as the number of new cases divided by the entire population at risk, while the ID was defined as new events divided by the total person-time exposure in hours. Logistic mixed models were developed to investigate the association of CRMIs with personal and training characteristics., Results: A total of 515 CrossFit participants filled out the baseline questionnaire and provided informed consent, and 406 (78.8%) completed at least 1 follow-up measure. There were 133 participants who reported at least 1 CRMI during the study, and a total of 247 unique and new CRMIs were reported over a total estimated person-time exposure to CrossFit of 13,041 hours. The IP was 32.8% (95% CI, 28.4%-37.5%). The ID was 18.9 (95% CI, 16.6-21.3) per 1000 hours of CrossFit exposure. The shoulders (19.0%; n = 47) and lumbar spine (15.0%; n = 37) were most affected. Muscle injuries (45.3%; n = 112) and joint pain (24.7%; n = 61) were the most common CRMI types reported. Switching between prescribed and scaled down training loads (odds ratio [OR], 3.5 [95% CI, 1.7-7.3]) and previous injuries (OR, 3.2 [95% CI, 1.4-7.7]) were risk factors for a CRMI, while CrossFit experience was identified as a protective factor (OR, 0.7 [95% CI, 0.5-1.0])., Conclusion: In this 12-week prospective study, the ID was 18.9 CRMIs per 1000 hours of exposure; switching between training loads and previous injuries was associated with 3.5- and 3.2-fold higher odds, respectively, of sustaining CRMIs., Competing Interests: The authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest in the authorship and publication of this contribution. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

Objectives: This study sought to determine prevalences of injuries associated with CrossFit® training and assess profiles of these injuries and the affected athletes., Methods: Data were collected over a 12-month period using a questionnaire administered directly to practitioners at CrossFit®-affiliated fitness centers in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Of the 414 participants, 157 (37.9%) participants reported having suffered an injury while practicing CrossFit®., Results: The injury rate was 3.24 injuries per 1,000 hours of training. The probability of injury for athletes who had practiced CrossFit® for longer than 12 months was 82.2%, which was higher than the corresponding probability for beginner athletes. The probability of injury was 5-fold higher among competitive-level athletes than that among less-experienced athletes. No evidence of an association between the occurrence of injuries during CrossFit® practice and any of the following athlete characteristics was found: age, gender, practice of other sports, weight, and height. The incidence of injuries in this sports modality was similar to that in other modalities, including Olympic weight lifting (OWL), basic weight lifting, and artistic gymnastics., Conclusion: CrossFit® appears to be a training program that is suitable for different age groups when performed in a safe environment and with assistance from qualified professionals.

Case Summary: It is described a case of a 10-month-old female mixed-breed cat with left ear discharge of approximately 6 days' duration prior to the admission. Secretions were collected from both ears using a sterile swab for cytological and mycological analysis. A pyogranulomatous inflammatory infiltrate (predominantly characterized by the presence of neutrophils and macrophages) with the presence of cocci, rods and many yeast-like structures were seen on cytological analysis; the fungal culture confirmed the presence of the Sporothrix schenckii complex. Upon diagnosis of fungal otitis due to the S schenckii complex, treatment with oral itraconazole was administered. After 4 weeks of treatment, no S schenckii complex colonies were isolated, and clinical recovery had occurred., Relevance and Novel Information: Although rare, clinicians must be aware of atypical presentations of sporotrichosis, as in this case of external otitis. This is of clinical relevance because this infection has been reported in several countries and is defined as a zoonotic disease., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Introduction: Surgical site infection (SSI) following hydrocelectomy is relatively uncommon, but it is one of the main post-operative problems. We aimed to describe the prevalence of SSI following hydrocelectomy among adult patients, and to assess predisposing risk factors for infection., Methodology: This retrospective cohort study was carried out at a university hospital and included hydrocelectomies performed between January 2007 and December 2014. Diagnosis of SSI was performed according to the Center for Diseases Control (CDC) guidelines. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors., Results: A total of 196 patients were included in the analysis. Overall, 30 patients were diagnosed with SSI (15.3%) and of these, 63.3% (19/30) were classified as having superficial SSI, while 36.7% (11/30) had deep SSI. The main signs and symptoms of infection were the presence of surgical wound secretion (70%) and inflammatory superficial signs such as hyperemia, edema and pain (60%). Among the 53 patients presenting chronic smoking habits, 26.4% (14⁄53) developed SSI, which was associated with a higher risk for SSI (odds ratio [OR] = 2.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27 to 6.35, p < 0.01) in the univariate analysis. In the adjusted multivariable analysis, smoking habits were also statistically associated with SSI after hydrocelectomy (odds ratio [OR] = 2.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30 to 6.24, p = 0.01). No pre-, intra-, or post-operative variable analyzed showed an independent association to SSI following hydrocelectomy., Conclusions: Smoking was the only independent modifiable risk factor for SSI in the multivariate analysis., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2017 Mauro José Salles, Thiago Silva Costa, Paulo José Medeiros.)

Resveratrol is an antioxidant that is a promising antitumoral, cardioprotective and neuroprotective agent. It has been found in a restricted number of plants including peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and its wild relatives. The objective of this study was to understand the relationship between resveratrol content and the expression of putative resveratrol synthase genes in four Arachis genotypes. Two diploids and two tetraploid were analyzed. Contents of resveratrol on non- and UV-treated leaves were estimated using HPLC. Resveratrol synthase (RS) was analyzed using RT-qPCR with primers developed in this study. Sequences of six Arachis species were amplified using two degenerated primer pairs that were designed based on Arachis and general RS available at GenBank. Those sequences were used to qPCR primers design. Test and control leaves were collected from plants cultivated in greenhouse and three biological replicates were evaluated for each genotype. The synthesis of resveratrol in leaves was induced by treatment with UV for 2.5 h. All genotypes studied synthesized resveratrol. Concentrations ranged from 193.66 µg/g in synthetic allotetraploid to 371.97 µg/g in A. duranensis. Natural and induced allotetraoploids showed lower levels of resveratrol than their diploid parents. Untreated samples did not produce significant amounts of resveratrol. The analysis of resveratrol content and levels of RS mRNA allowed the identification of one gene induced by the UV treatment. The data showed different amounts of RS in the different genotypes suggesting early and late response to the UV induction in the different species. The understanding of the variation found among species will help to identify species that have high resveratrol content and their ideal pos-induction times. This also will allow analysis of other tissues where high levels resveratrol would be very important, such as in seeds.

Brazil has about 300 Croton species in different types of vegetation. Croton tetradenius Baill., which is endemic to the Northeast region and predominant in the Caatinga vegetation, stands out among the several species of this genus. Considering the importance of knowing the genetic variability of a species, the objective of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity of the genotypes of natural populations of C. tetradenius in the State of Sergipe, using ISSR molecular markers. Forty individuals were sampled in four natural populations of the State of Sergipe, Brazil. Thirteen primers were used for DNA amplification using ISSR-PCR, totaling 77 amplified fragments, of which 94.8% were polymorphic. Results of the cluster analysis obtained by the Jaccard's similarity index, using the UPGMA method, resulted in the formation of six distinct clusters. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), used to estimate the genetic variability among populations, revealed significant genetic variance (P < 0.01) between and within the studied populations, and most of the genetic diversity was found (87%) within populations. According to the Jaccard's similarity index, none of the studied plants was genetically identical. CTE210 and CTE305 presented high similarity index (0.76), while CTE105 presented low similarity index (<0.16) with all related individuals. ISSR markers were efficient and allowed the formation of a molecular profile, and had sufficient polymorphism to estimate the genetic variability between the accessions of the studied populations.

Here, we present the results of a 2-yr sampling using malaise traps along the Atlantic Forest domain from the northeast to the south of Brazil. In total, 217 sand flies were collected, of which the most abundant species was Bichromomyia flaviscutellata (Mangabeira, 1942) (60.4%), followed by Psychodopygus ayrozai (Barretto & Coutinho, 1940) (11%) and Micropygomyia schreiberi (Martins, Falcão & Silva, 1975) (4.1%), and the remaining less abundant species comprised 10.1% of the total of sand flies collected. We report the occurrence for the first time of: 1) B. flaviscutellata, Pintomyia fischeri (Pinto, 1926), Ps. ayrozai, and Psychodopygus carreirai (Barretto, 1946) in the state of Alagoas; 2) Psychodopygus claustrei (Abonnenc, Lèger & Fauran,1979), Psychodopygus amazonensis (Root, 1934), and Sciopemyia sordellii (Shannon & del ponte, 1927) in the state of Bahia; 3) Nyssomyia anduzei (Rozeboom, 1942) in the state of Pernambuco; and 4) B. flaviscutellata, M. schreiberi, Ps. ayrozai, and Psychodopygus davisi (Root, 1934) in the state of Sergipe. Our results present novel records of sand flies collected with malaise traps in the Atlantic Forest domain demonstrating that different collecting methods such as malaise traps can provide new interesting data about these insects that are natural vectors of many pathogens., (© The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Cambui (Myrciaria tenella O. Berg) is a native species from Brazil, which belongs to the family Myrtaceae. Molecular characterization is one of the most used tools for the study of the biotechnological potential of species because the diversity level between individuals can be inferred. Analysis of genetic diversity is fundamental to the direction of the strategies necessary to form and maintain a germplasm. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity in a natural population of cambui using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. The natural population, which provided the plant material, is found at the Private Reserve of Natural Heritage of Caju, which belongs to the experimental field of Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros, in the municipality of Itaporanga d'Ajuda, SE, Brazil. Young leaves of each individual were collected for DNA extraction and analysis of PCR-ISSR. Thirty primers were tested and the top 10 were selected. The use of these primers resulted in 71 fragments with 98.3% polymorphism. Similarity of individuals ranged between 0.30 and 0.92. The most similar individuals were C13 and C17 and the most distant were C1 and C41. Through UPGMA, six distinct groups were identified. This information may be used for conservation of these genetic resources, germplasm exchange, creation of germplasm bank and in future studies with this species.

Grunt-like calls are present in the vocal repertoire of many group-living mammals and seem to facilitate social interactions between lower and higher-ranking members. The white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) lives in stable hierarchical mixed-sex groups and like non-human primates, usually emits grunt-like calls following aggressive interactions, mainly during feeding contexts. We investigated the possible functions of peccaries' grunt-like calls and their relationship to the individuals' social rank, identity, and sexual dimorphism. We observed that low-ranking individuals emitted grunt-like calls more often than high-ranking ones, and that the alpha male never emitted this vocalization. Moreover, the mean minimum frequency of grunt-like calls decreased as the peccary's rank increased. The findings revealed differences among individual grunts, but the low accuracy of cross-validation (16%) suggests that individual recognition in peccaries may be less important than an honest signal of individual social status. In addition, the absence of differences in the acoustic parameters of grunt-like calls between males and females points to the lack of sexual dimorphism in this species. We verified that after hearing grunt calls, dominant opponents were more likely to cease attacking a victim, or at least delay the continuation of conflict, probably decreasing the severity of agonistic interactions. Our findings are particularly important to improve the current understanding of the role of grunt-like calls in herd-living mammals with linear dominant hierarchies, and strongly suggest that they are involved in the maintenance of herd social stability and cohesion.

The primary gene pool of the cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L., allotetraploid AABB) is very narrow for some important characteristics, such as resistance to pests and diseases. However, the Arachis wild diploid species, particularly those from the section Arachis, still have these characteristics. To improve peanut crops, genes from the wild species can be introgressed by backcrossing the hybrids with A. hypogaea. When diploid species whose genomes are similar to those of the cultivated peanut are crossed, sterile hybrids result. Artificially doubling the number of chromosomes of these hybrids results in fertile synthetic polyploids. The objectives of this study were: 1) to obtain progenies by crossing amphidiploids with the cultivated peanut, and 2) to characterize these two groups of materials (amphidiploids and progenies) so that they may be efficiently conserved and used. Using morphological, molecular, and pollen viability descriptors we evaluated one cultivar of A. hypogaea (IAC 503), eight synthetic amphidiploids, and the progenies resulting from four distinct combinations of crossing between IAC 503 and four amphidiploids.

Pulp of buriti palms (Mauritia flexuosa L.f.) from two Brazilian regions had their phenolic and carotenoid contents and antioxidant capacity evaluated through different methods (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP and ORAC). Buriti pulp from the Cerrado presented higher phenolic levels (435.08 mg AGE 100 g(-1)) and elevated antioxidant capacity in all tests. The fruits from the Amazon region had a higher total carotenoid content (52.86 mg 100 g(-1)). Carotenoid profile has confirmed β-carotene predominance in both regions studied. The buritis' region of origin influenced bioactive compound contents and antioxidant capacity of the fruits analyzed. A significant positive correlation (r ⩽ 0.95; p<0.05) was observed between total phenolics and antioxidant capacity through the different methods applied. Results showed promising prospects for the future exploitation of buriti fruits as a potential source of carotenoids and natural antioxidants., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) is an endangered species whose bold anti-predator behaviour in comparison to related species may increase its vulnerability to hunting and predation. We used a judgement bias test to investigate whether captive peccaries that had recently experienced a trapping event made more 'pessimistic' decisions under ambiguity. If so, this would indicate (i) that the procedure may induce a negative affective state and hence have welfare implications, and (ii) that the species is able to adopt a cautious response style despite its bold phenotype. Eight individuals were trained to 'go' to a baited food bowl when a positive auditory cue (whistle; CS+) was given and to 'no-go' when a negative cue (horn A; CS-) was sounded to avoid a loud sound and empty food bowl. An 'ambiguous' auditory cue (bell; CSA) was presented to probe decision-making under ambiguity. Individuals were subjected to three tests in the order: T1 (control-no trap), T2 (24h after-trap procedure), and T3 (control-no trap). In each test, each animal was exposed to 10 judgement bias trials of each of the three cue types: CS+,CS-,CSA. We recorded whether animals reached the food bowl within 60s ('go' response) and their response speed (m/s). The animals varied in their responses to the CSA cue depending on test type. In all tests, animals made more 'go' responses to CS+ than CSA. During control tests (T1 and T3), the peccaries showed higher proportions of 'go' responses to CSA than to CS-. In T2, however, the animals showed similar proportions of 'go' responses to CSA and CS-, treating the ambiguous cue similarly to the negative cue. There were differences in their response speed according to cue type: peccaries were faster to respond to CS+ than to CS- and CSA. Trapping thus appeared to cause a 'pessimistic' judgement bias in peccaries, which may reflect a negative affective state with implications for the welfare and management of captive individuals, and also function to increase caution and survival chances following such an event in the wild environment.

Introduction: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a common pediatric urologic disorder. After the first urinary tract infection (UTI), imaging studies are recommended, starting with a renal ultrasound (RUS). Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan are the other main radiologic studies used to detect VUR. We evaluated the use of RUS as a screening method for VUR in children below 2 years of age, in order to avoid unnecessary VCUG., Materials and Methods: Medical records and imaging studies of infants (<2 years) who had their first UTI in a 6 year period were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive values of RUS and DMSA for diagnosing VUR., Results: Among 155 children (51% males) with their first UTI, 148 RUS were performed, 128 VCUG and 29 DMSA. VUR was detected in 21% patients; 14.5% low grade and 6.5% high grade. One hundred and twenty-one patients underwent both RUS and VCUG, 101 RUS were normal and 20 abnormal. Of the normal RUS 98% had no or low grade VUR. Among those with an abnormality on RUS 30% had high grade VUR (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: After the first UTI in infants (<2 years) RUS is a good screening method for VUR. Among such shildren with a normal RUS, we do not recommend VCUG or DMSA. In our opinion, VCUG should be performed only in patients with abnormal findings in RUS or in recurrent UTI.

Baroreflex dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation, important hallmarks of hypertension, are attenuated by exercise training. In this study, we investigated the relationships and time-course changes of cardiovascular parameters, pro-inflammatory cytokines and pro-oxidant profiles within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Basal values and variability of arterial pressure and heart rate and baroreflex sensitivity were measured in trained (T, low-intensity treadmill training) and sedentary (S) SHR at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4 and 8. Paraventricular nucleus was used to determine reactive oxygen species (dihydroethidium oxidation products, HPLC), NADPH oxidase subunits and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression (Real time PCR), p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 expression (Western blotting), NF-κB content (electrophoretic mobility shift assay) and cytokines immunofluorescence. SHR-S vs. WKY-S (Wistar Kyoto rats as time control) showed increased mean arterial pressure (172±3 mmHg), pressure variability and heart rate (358±7 b/min), decreased baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate variability, increased p47phox and reactive oxygen species production, elevated NF-κB activity and increased TNF-α and IL-6 expression within the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus. Two weeks of training reversed all hypothalamic changes, reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and normalized baroreflex sensitivity (4.04±0.31 vs. 2.31±0.19 b/min/mmHg in SHR-S). These responses were followed by increased vagal component of heart rate variability (1.9-fold) and resting bradycardia (-13%) at the 4th week, and, by reduced vasomotor component of pressure variability (-28%) and decreased mean arterial pressure (-7%) only at the 8th week of training. Our findings indicate that independent of the high pressure levels in SHR, training promptly restores baroreflex function by disrupting the positive feedback between high oxidative stress and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. These early adaptive responses precede the occurrence of training-induced resting bradycardia and blood pressure fall.

Background: Penile cancer is a rare disease, most commonly encountered in developing countries. It constitutes 0.4% of cancers in U.S. men and 2.1% in Brazil, with the highest prevalence in the North and Northeast regions. Inguinal lymph node metastasis of penile cancer occurs in 20 to 40% of patients and is an important predictor of cancer-specific mortality. The preferred diagnostic and therapeutic tool to assess the regional lymph nodes is a lymphadenectomy which can, in addition to establishing staging, offers curative potential., Materials and Methods: A 44 years old man, previously to underwent a partial penectomy for penile cancer, whose pathology showed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with neural and angiolymphatic invasion and negative surgical margins. The pathologic stage of the primary tumor was pT3NxMx. Following a one month course of oral antibiotics, the patient underwent a video-assisted bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy. In the present video, we highlight the left video-assisted inguinal lymphadenectomy., Results: Seventeen lymph nodes were dissected on the left side, two of them positive for cancer without extracapsular extension. On the right side, fourteen lymph nodes were dissected and one was positive for cancer with extracapsular extension, and the patient underwent based on these pathological findings a pelvic lymphadenectomy, which was similarly conducted using a video-assisted laparoscopic approach., Conclusions: The conventional open lymphadenectomy has a morbidity that can approach 50% in the current series, despite on the refinements in technique. The video-assisted endoscopy is a recent technique aiming to decrease this inherent complication rate promoting a lymph node resection rate which may be equivalent to the open procedure. This video confirms its feasibility, reduced morbidity, and cancer control efficacy.

This article aims to rescue aspects of the performing therapeutic of the Day Hospital (HD) Dr Elger Nunes, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, during its term, and analyze the results regarding to the number of patients assisted from 1996 to 2004. This is an empirical, descriptive and exploratory study, ex post facto with a quantitative approach, carried out through the analysis of the records of 910 people attended in the hospital. The data was submitted to the informational resource software Microsoft Excel and converted into diagrams. The results show a greater accessibility to this treatment modality, decreasing in hospitalization-time length and improving hospital discharge conditions for users, with reduction in number of patients who interrupted treatment. It focus on the importance of the Day Hospital in the process of psychiatric reform, with care grounded on the use of the humanized therapeutic practices, and still not losing the bond with family and society.