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Luiz Cláudio da Silva,1 Thiago Garcia,1 Michela Mori,2 Giuseppina Sandri,2 Maria Cristina Bonferoni,2 Priscila V Finotelli,1 Leonardo P Cinelli,1 Carla Caramella,2 Lúcio M Cabral11Drug Department, Rio de Janeiro Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 2Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyAbstract: The aim of this study was to produce and characterize nanoparticles (NPs), combining chondroitin sulfate (CS) and fucoidan (FC) with chitosan for therapeutic purposes. These NPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential determination, and transmission electronic microscopy. The anticoagulant activity was determined for FC NPs and compared with FC solution at the same concentration. FC NPs showed regular shapes and better anticoagulant activity than free polysaccharide solution. FC solution did not affect coagulation compared to FC NPs, which increased up to two-fold, even at a lower concentration. Cytotoxicity and permeability tests were conducted using Caco-2 cell monolayer, exhibiting no toxic effect in this cell line and higher permeability for NP2 samples than FC solution at the same concentration.Keywords: nanoparticles, chitosan, chondroitin sulfate, fucoidan, aPTT, Caco-2

Milena Fronza Broering,1,2 Pedro Leonidas Oseliero Filho,3,4 Pâmela Pacassa Borges,1 Luis Carlos Cides da Silva,3 Marcos Camargo Knirsch,5 Luana Filippi Xavier,1 Pablo Scharf,1 Silvana Sandri,1 Marco Antonio Stephano,5 Fernando Anselmo de Oliveira,6 Ibrahim M Sayed,2 Lionel Fernel Gamarra,6 Soumita Das,2 Márcia CA Fantini,3 Sandra HP Farsky1 1Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; 2Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA; 3Department of Applied Physics, Physics Institute, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; 4Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, MSY, UK; 5Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; 6Instituto do Cérebro, Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa, Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Hospital Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, BrazilCorrespondence: Sandra HP Farsky, Email sfarsky@usp.brIntroduction: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) disrupt the intestinal epithelium, leading to severe chronic inflammation. Current therapies cause adverse effects and are expensive, invasive, and ineffective for most patients. Annexin A1 (AnxA1) is a pivotal endogenous anti-inflammatory and tissue repair protein in IBD. Nanostructured compounds loading AnxA1 or its active N-terminal mimetic peptides improve IBD symptomatology.Methods: To further explore their potential as a therapeutic candidate, the AnxA1 N-terminal mimetic peptide Ac2-26 was incorporated into SBA-15 ordered mesoporous silica and covered with EL30D-55 to deliver it by oral treatment into the inflamed gut.Results: The systems SBA-Ac2-26 developed measurements revealed self-assembled rod-shaped particles, likely on the external surface of SBA-15, and 88% of peptide incorporation. SBA-15 carried the peptide Ac2-26 into cultured Raw 264.7 macrophages and Caco-2 epithelial cells. Moreover, oral administration of Eudragit-SBA-15-Ac2-26 (200 μg; once a day; for 4 days) reduced colitis clinical symptoms, inflammation, and improved epithelium recovery in mice under dextran-sodium sulfate-induced colitis.Discussion: The absorption of SBA-15 in gut epithelial cells is typically low; however, the permeable inflamed barrier can enable microparticles to cross, being phagocyted by macrophages. These findings suggest that Ac2-26 is successfully delivered and binds to its receptors in both epithelial and immune cells, aligning with the clinical results.Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate a simple and cost-effective approach to delivering Ac2-26 orally into the inflamed gut, highlighting its potential as non-invasive IBD therapy. Keywords: annexin A1, SBA-15, oral route, tissue recovery, inflammation

Introduction: Atherosclerosis represents a disease that begins in childhood, and alterations in lipid concentration play a fundamental role in the development of this condition. Objective: To evaluate which of the currently applied obesity parameters (the body index mass, the percentage of body fat, the waist circumference and the upper arm fat area) can predict the risk for dyslipidemia in Brazilian children and adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional study, standardized anthropometric data and lipid profile were collected from 874 subjects between the ages of 6 and 19 years. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the degree of association between the anthropometric measurements and the lipid profile, controlling for potentially confounding variables, such as age and gender. Results: Individuals with excess body weight, elevated percentage of body fat, waist circumference and upper arm fat above the 90th percentile showed a positive correlation with alterations in the lipid profile. After adjusting for age and income, a body mass index above the 85th percentile and an elevated percentage of body fat were the variables most strongly associated with dyslipidemia in the youngest subjects (odds ratio (OR) = 2.00, p < 0.001 and OR = 1.47, p = 0.014, respectively). Children (64.5%) and adolescents aged 10-12 years (51.0%) had the highest rates of dyslipidemia. Conclusion: Compared with other variables, such as the percentage of body fat, the body mass index was the best predictor of dyslipidemia in children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Liquid-liquid phase separation towards the formation of synthetic coacervate droplets represents a rapidly advancing frontier in the fields of synthetic biology, material science, and biomedicine. These artificial constructures mimic the biophysical principles and dynamic features of natural biomolecular condensates that are pivotal for cellular regulation and organization. Via adapting biological concepts, synthetic condensates with dynamic phase-separation control provide crucial insights into the fundamental cell processes and regulation of complex biological pathways. They are increasingly designed with the ability to display more complex and ambitious cell-like features and behaviors, which offer innovative solutions for cytomimetic modeling and engineering active materials with sophisticated functions. In this minireview, we highlight recent advancements in the design and construction of synthetic coacervate droplets; including their biomimicry structure and organization to replicate life-like properties and behaviors, and the dynamic control towards engineering active coacervates. Moreover, we highlight the unique applications of synthetic coacervates as catalytic centers and promising delivery vehicles, so that these biomimicry assemblies can be translated into practical applications., (© 2024 The Author(s). Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Metal coordination compounds are currently a focus of research in developing new photosensitizers for materials and medicinal applications. As an abundant element in the earth's crust aluminum is a suitable target element. However, only limited studies are available on its use in photoactive systems. We now report the facile preparation of a library of homoleptic tris(dipyrrinato)aluminum(III) [AL(DIPY) 3 ] complexes. The majority of complexes was characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis and their photophysical properties upon photoexcitation and their tendency to react with the molecular oxygen of the microenvironment and generate singlet oxygen - in polar and non-polar environment was investigated. These studies are complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to assess the possible electronic distribution on the frontier molecular orbitals within the complexes. As a result of charge transfer states, long-lived triplet excited states were formed and allowed for singlet oxygen generation. An initial screening of the AL(DIPY) 3 complexes via in vitro phototoxicity studies against a mouse colon carcinoma cell line (CT26) was promising as these complexes were able to trigger cell death upon irradiation at nanomolar and micromolar concentrations. The results highlight the potential of aluminum dipyrrin complexes as a broadly applicable class of photosensitizers., (© 2025 The Author(s). Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) in southern Brazil is impacted by high ozone levels posing significant threats to its urban forests and the Atlantic Forest remnants. These green areas, covering 540 km 2 and constituting 30% of MASP's territory, necessitate an urgent assessment of air pollution impacts on their flora. Our study investigates the effects of atmospheric pollution on the morphoanatomical and physiological responses of four native tree species (Alchornea sidifolia, Casearia sylvestris, Guarea macrophylla, and Machaerium nyctitans) across two Atlantic Forest remnants in MASP. We examined visual and morphoanatomical changes in leaves, gas exchange, photosynthetic pigments, and plant volatile organic compounds to identify markers for biomonitoring urban environments. Our results reveal that MASP vegetation is adversely affected by tropospheric ozone. Species with porous mesophyll structures, such as M. nyctitans and G. macrophylla, exhibited greater visual and structural damage. In contrast, species with compact mesophyll, such as A. sidifolia and C. sylvestris, demonstrated higher tolerance. This suggests that anatomical architecture critically influences species' responses to atmospheric pollutants, such as tropospheric ozone. Additionally, we propose that ozone influx occurs through both stomatal pathways and as a result of direct and indirect injuries to the plant tissues. Additionally, our study identifies non-visual markers, including anatomical and physiological parameters and plant volatile organic compounds (e.g., presence of salicylates), as effective tools for monitoring plant species in urban environments. These insights highlight key anatomical and metabolic markers that help distinguish ozone-tolerant species from sensitive species, providing valuable information for monitoring air pollution in urban forests., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent to publish: All the authors agreed to publish the data in this journal. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction/objectives: Failures of osseointegrated implants pose a significant challenge in the medical field, often attributed to prolonged osseointegration periods and bacterial infections. Functionalization of Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes (TNTs) has emerged as a promising strategy to improve osseointegration and mitigate infections. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis and systematic review to identify trends, gaps, and advancements in research on the functionalization of TNTs for osseointegration improvement., Methods: Articles were retrieved from the Web of Science database using the keywords "osseointegration," "titanium dioxide nanotubes," and "functionalization." The inclusion criteria were studies published between 2014 and 2023, written in English, and focusing on the use of TNTs in implant surface modifications. A total of 126 articles were included after screening. Data extraction and analysis were performed using VOS Viewer, Microsoft Excel, and GraphPad Prism., Results: The review revealed a growing number of publications on TNT functionalization, with China, the United States, and Brazil leading in contributions. Key findings include the effectiveness of TNTs loaded with bioactive agents (e.g., silver, strontium, hydroxyapatite) in promoting osseointegration and antibacterial activity. Collaborative networks among institutions and authors were mapped, highlighting the Sao Paulo State University and Yong Huang as the most prolific contributors., Conclusion: The findings underscore the potential of TNT functionalization to enhance implant performance. However, a gap remains in translating preclinical findings into clinical trials. Future research should focus on clinical validation to bridge this gap and translate laboratory advancements into therapeutic solutions., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objective: This systematic review evaluated the main clinical, radiographic, histopathological and treatment-related characteristics of ligneous gingivitis (LG) and periodontitis (LP) in individuals with plasminogen deficiency (PD)., Material and Methods: Studies in humans diagnosed with PD, focusing on the evaluation of oral characteristics and treatment of the LG/LP were considered for inclusion criteria. Electronic searches were performed up to April 2024 in five databases and in the grey literature. Risk of bias was assessed according to the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists for case reports. It was provided a narrative synthesis of the results., Results: A total of 17 studies were included. All were case reports that analyzed 17 individuals with PD who presented with LG/LP. The relative frequency of PD type I was 56%, while type II constitutes the remaining 44%. In most studies, patients exhibited ulceration clinically, bone loss radiographically, and subepithelial eosinophilic material accumulation on histopathological evaluation. Conventional periodontal scaling was the most used management. All included studies provided well-described clinical characteristics and confirmed plasminogen deficiency through laboratory testing. Only three studies had a risk of bias values lower than 15%., Conclusions: Current evidence is limited and varied, complicating the diagnosis and treatment of GL/PL. Future studies should provide a more detailed account of treatments and include extended clinical and radiographic follow-up., (© 2024 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: This systematic review aimed to verify if individuals with thalassemia present changes in radiomorphometric indices and fractal analysis that can be accessed using panoramic radiographs., Material and Methods: Observational studies that evaluated cortical and trabecular bone patterns in dental routine radiographs were selected from six bibliographic databases. Risk of bias was analyzed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists. Quality of evidence was verified using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach., Results: Two hundred three studies were initially retrieved from databases. Three cross-sectional studies, encompassing a total of 129 thalassemic patients, were deemed eligible after applying the inclusion criteria. Bone mineral density (BMD) evaluations were performed using panoramic radiographs and considered the following radiomorphometric indexes: mandibular cortical index (MCI), mandibular cortical width (MCW), panoramic mandibular index (PMI). Fractal dimension analysis (FDA) and simple visual estimation (SVE) were also employed. Overall, FDA and MCW from thalassemia individuals were lower than controls., Conclusion: FDA and MCW are frequently altered in patients with thalassemia and may be employed as screening tools for reduced BMD. However, the certainty of evidence for this outcome was very low, mainly due to methodological flaws., (© 2024 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is essential in treating gastrointestinal cancers, but some patients show severe toxicity. The toxicity is exposure-related, which is linked to the enzyme dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) decoded by the DPYD gene. This study aimed to evaluate the possible toxicity related to 5-FU plasma levels, DPYD genotyping, and DPD phenotyping., Methods: Forty-seven gastrointestinal cancer patients receiving 5-FU were included in this study. 5-FU plasma levels and DPD phenotyping were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. DPYD genotyping was also assessed. The Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) was used to classify the toxicity., Results: For hematological toxicity, 27.65% showed neutropenia, 78.72% anemia, and 29.78% thrombocytopenia. The area under the curve (AUC) of 5-FU calculated from the plasma was evaluated for three treatment cycles, and we observed that at the initial cycle, 48.93% were underexposed and 10.63% were overexposed, with a total of 59.56% of patients outside the therapeutic range. In the DPYD genotyping, 97.87% of patients had a wild-type genotype, and 2.12% had c.1236G>A mutation (E412E, rs56038477). A total of 82.97% of patients showed a phenotype compatible with normal DPD activity., Conclusion: These findings suggest that the evaluation of DPYD genotyping and DPD phenotyping in the Brazilian population still requires further study. Moreover, the analysis of the plasma AUC of 5-FU could contribute to clinical routine, being a very useful tool, especially for identifying patients outside the therapeutic range and thus guiding more individualized doses, or even in the intervention of possible toxicities related to overexposure., (© 2024 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Hypothesis: The oil phase controls the persistence length and aqueous channel diameter of reverse wormlike micelles (RWLMs), specifically by tuning the cohesive energy density of alkanes., Experiments: We explore the influence of alkanes with varying chain lengths on the rheological properties, structural parameters, and morphology of RWLMs. To establish a link between the solvent characteristics and the structure of RWLMs, we employ a diverse set of complementary techniques, including rheological analysis, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM)., Findings: Our results show that the cross-sectional area and persistence length of reverse wormlike micelles (RWLMs) are influenced by the chain length of the alkanes in which the long aggregates are formed. We propose a model based on the Hildebrand solubility parameter to explain this behavior, where alkanes with higher cohesive energy density led to RWLMs with narrower aqueous channels. Selecting specific alkanes makes it possible to fine-tune the diameter of these channels, presenting promising opportunities for designing RWLMs tailored to confined media applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Edvaldo Sabadini reports financial support was provided by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. Edvaldo Sabadini reports financial support was provided by State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation. Hilda Camila Nascimento Nogueira reports financial support was provided by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In diabetes, tissue repair is impaired, increasing susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus infections, a pathogen commonly found in wounds. The emergence of S. aureus strains that are highly resistant to antimicrobial agents highlights the urgent need for alternative therapeutic options. One promising candidate is Cramoll (Cratylia mollis seed lectin), known for its immunomodulatory, mitogenic, and healing properties. However, its efficacy in infected diabetic wounds remains unexplored. This study evaluated the effects of topical Cramoll treatment on diabetic wounds infected by S. aureus. Diabetic Swiss mice (induced by streptozotocin) were subjected to an 8-mm wound on the back and subsequently infected with a suspension of multidrug-resistant S. aureus. During the treatment period, the wounds were clinically evaluated for inflammation and the area of injury. After seven days, samples were collected from the wounds to quantify the bacterial load and histopathological and immunological analyses. Wounds infected by S. aureus exhibited more pronounced areas and severity indices, which were significantly reduced by Cramoll treatment (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis revealed a reduction in inflammatory cells and an increase in revascularization with Cramoll treatment (p < 0.05). Cramoll also promoted greater collagen production compared to controls (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Cramoll treatment significantly reduced the S. aureus load in wounds (p < 0.0001), decreased TNF-α and IL-6 levels in infected wounds, and increased ERK pathway activation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Cramoll lectin improves the healing of diabetic wounds, and these results contribute to the understanding of Cramoll healing mechanisms, reinforcing its potential as a healing agent in various clinical conditions., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The unregulated use and improper management of herbicides can cause negative effects on non-target species and promote changes in biological communities. Therefore, the current study is aimed at understanding morphoanatomical responses and effects on seedling development induced by the herbicides glyphosate and saflufenacil in Enterolobium contortisiliquum, a non-target tropical species. The plants were cultivated in a greenhouse and subjected to herbicides at doses of 0, 160, 480, and 1440 g a.e ha -1 for glyphosate, and 0, 25, 50, and 100 g a.i ha -1 for saflufenacil. We conducted visual and morphological assessments over 90 days post-application. Leaf samples were collected 12 days after the application for anatomical analysis, and we also performed a micromorphometric analysis of the leaf tissues. Biomarkers of phytotoxicity were identified in plants exposed to both herbicides, even at the lowest doses, including in leaves without visual symptoms. The main morphological alterations were the decrease in growth, stem diameter, and dry mass. Furthermore, the leaves and stems visually exhibited chlorosis and necrosis. Both herbicides triggered anatomical modifications such as significant changes (p < 0.05) in the thickness of leaf tissues, hypertrophy, cell collapse, and changes in epicuticular waxes. However, the alterations induced by glyphosate were more widespread compared to saflufenacil, encompassing alterations in the root system. We confirmed that the different mechanisms of action of each herbicide and the existence of an underground reserve system in this species are intrinsically linked to the morphological and developmental responses described. Our findings suggest that E. contortisiliquum could be a potential bioindicator species for these herbicides in the environment, even at concentrations lower than those typically recommended for field application., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Mycoplasma (M.) hyopneumoniae is a primary etiological agent of porcine enzootic pneumonia (PEP), a disease that causes significant economic losses to pig farming worldwide. Current commercial M. hyopneumoniae vaccines induce partial protection, decline in preventing transmission of this pathogen or inducing complete immunity, evidencing the need for improving vaccines against PEP. In our study, we aimed to test the effectiveness of the SBA-15 ordered mesoporous silica nanostructured particles as an immune adjuvant of a vaccine composed of M. hyopneumoniae strain 232 proteins encapsulated in SBA-15 and administered by intramuscular route in piglets to evaluate the immune responses and immune-protection against challenge. Forty-eight 24-day-old M. hyopneumoniae-free piglets were divided into four experimental groups with different protocols, encompassing a commercial vaccine against M. hyopneumoniae, SBA-15 vaccine, SBA-15 adjuvant without antigens and a non-immunized group. All piglets were challenged with the virulent strain 232 of M. hyopneumoniae. Piglets that received the SBA-15 and commercial vaccine presented marked immune responses characterized by anti-M. hyopneumoniae IgA and IgG antibodies in serum, anti-M. hyopneumoniae IgA antibodies in nasal mucosa and showed an upregulation of IL-17 and IL-4 cytokines and downregulation of IFN-γ in lungs 35 days post-infection. Piglets immunized with SBA-15 vaccine presented a reduction of bacterial shedding compared to piglets immunized with a commercial bacterin. In addition, piglets from SBA-15 adjuvant suspension group presented increased IL-17 gene expression in the lungs without involvement of Th1 and Th2 responses after challenge. These results indicated that SBA-15 vaccine induced both humoral and cell-mediated responses in the upper respiratory tract and lungs, first site of replication and provided protection against M. hyopneumoniae infection with a homologous strain with reduction of lung lesions and bacterial shedding. Finally, these results enhance the potential use of new technologies such as nanostructured particles applied in vaccines for the pig farming industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to define how different force environments by neuromuscular diagnosis (hypertonic versus hypotonic) impact the growth and morphology of the proximal femoral and acetabular regions relative to typically developing children., Methods: Children with cerebral palsy and spinal muscular atrophy were compared with typically developing children aged 6 months to 11 years. Routine pelvic radiographs were evaluated using measures of hip geometry for the proximal femur and acetabulum. The data were analyzed using general linear models to estimate the developmental patterns according to age and diagnosis., Results: One hundred eighty-four children met the inclusion criteria: 58 spastic cerebral palsy Gross Motor Function Classification System I-V (263 hips), 32 spinal muscular atrophy (79 hips)), and 94 typically developing (187 hips) were included with a mean age of 4.9 ± 3.1 years. Using spinal muscular atrophy as a reference, significant differences in proximal femoral development included long thin versus short neck ( p  < 0.01) and round versus flat epiphysis ( p  = 0.001). A thin neck-wide epiphysis was found in spinal muscular atrophy versus thick neck-small epiphysis for typically developing ( p  < 0.05). The ratio of acetabular width to proximal femoral epiphysis width differed significantly for typically developing ( p  = 0.001) compared with cerebral palsy and spinal muscular atrophy. There was a negative correlation between migration percentage and acetabular width to epiphysis width in children with cerebral palsy, but no correlation in children with spinal muscular atrophy., Conclusion: Hip geometry was impacted by the force environment experienced during growth. These findings emphasize the crucial roles of gross motor function, muscle tone, and strength differences in determining hip morphology., Level of Evidence: III, retrospective case control., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Tree growth and longevity trade-offs fundamentally shape the terrestrial carbon balance. Yet, we lack a unified understanding of how such trade-offs vary across the world's forests. By mapping life history traits for a wide range of species across the Americas, we reveal considerable variation in life expectancies from 10 centimeters in diameter (ranging from 1.3 to 3195 years) and show that the pace of life for trees can be accurately classified into four demographic functional types. We found emergent patterns in the strength of trade-offs between growth and longevity across a temperature gradient. Furthermore, we show that the diversity of life history traits varies predictably across forest biomes, giving rise to a positive relationship between trait diversity and productivity. Our pan-latitudinal assessment provides new insights into the demographic mechanisms that govern the carbon turnover rate across forest biomes.

The skin plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and protecting against external aggressors. Recent research has highlighted the potential of probiotics and postbiotics in dermatological treatments and skincare. These beneficial microorganisms interact with the skin microbiota, modulate the immune response, and enhance the skin barrier, offering a promising therapeutic avenue for various skin conditions, such as acne, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. This bibliometric study aims to analyze the global trends and scientific impact of topical probiotics in dermatology. By reviewing 106 articles published between 2013 and 2023, the study categorizes the applications of probiotics in wound healing, inflammatory skin diseases, and general skincare. The findings indicate a significant increase in publications from 2021 onwards, attributed to the heightened focus on medical research during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also identifies the most productive countries, institutions, and authors in this field, highlighting the importance of international collaborations. The results underscore the efficacy of probiotic-based topical formulations in improving skin health, reducing inflammation, and enhancing wound healing. This comprehensive analysis supports the development of new therapeutic strategies based on topical probiotics and encourages high-quality research in this promising area.

Introduction: The surgical management of severe scoliosis in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is challenging because of curve rigidity, small stature, and inherent bone fragility. This study evaluated the midterm outcomes of our multimodal approach to address these issues, integrating perioperative bisphosphonate therapy, preoperative/intraoperative traction, various osteotomies, segmental pedicle screw instrumentation with cement augmentation, and bone morphogenetic protein-2 application., Methods: A single-center retrospective review of 30 patients (average age 14.1 ± 2.2 years; 18 were female) diagnosed with OI and scoliosis was conducted. These patients underwent posterior spinal fusion between 2008 and 2020 and completed a minimum follow-up of 2 years. We measured radiographic parameters at each visit and reviewed the incidence of complications. A mixed-effects model was used to evaluate changes in radiographic parameters from preoperative measurements to the first and latest follow-ups., Results: The patient cohort consisted of 2 individuals with type I OI, 20 with type III, 6 with type IV, and 2 with other types (types V and VIII). Surgical intervention led to a notable improvement in the major curve magnitude from 76° to 36°, with no notable correction loss. In addition, the minor curve, apical vertical translation, lowest instrumented vertebra tilt, and pelvic obliquity were also improved. In the sagittal plane, thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis remained unchanged while thoracolumbar kyphosis markedly improved. Two patients experienced proximal junctional kyphosis with screw pullout, one of whom required revision surgery. One patient developed a superficial infection that was successfully treated with oral antibiotics. No instances of neurologic deficits or cement extravasation were observed., Discussion: This study demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of our multimodal approach to treating scoliosis in patients with OI, achieving a 53% major curve correction with minimal complications over 2-year follow-up. These findings provide notable insights into managing scoliosis in this population., Level of Evidence: Level IV (case series)., (Copyright © 2024 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)

Introduction: The neck-shaft angle and head-shaft angle in children with varying levels of neurological disability were evaluated to define change over different ages., Methods: Children aged 1-12 years with spastic cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy types 1 and 2, or typical development were reviewed to evaluate the neck-shaft angle and head-shaft angle. Patients were divided into five groups: Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I and II, Gross Motor Function Classification System level III, Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V, spinal muscular atrophy types 1 and 2, and typical development. A linear mixed model was utilized to evaluate neck-shaft angle and head-shaft angle., Results: Data from 196 children (mean age 4.8 ± 4.5 years) were included. Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I and II: 22 children, 130 hip radiographs measured, neck-shaft angle 143.7 ± 7.4, and head-shaft angle 160.0 ± 7.1. Gross Motor Function Classification System level III: 8 children, 33 hips evaluated, neck-shaft angle 153.1 ± 4.3, and head-shaft angle 163.4 ± 4.2. Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V: 30 children, 137 hip radiographs measured, neck-shaft angle 156.4 ± 5.6, and head-shaft angle 167.9 ± 6.8. Spinal muscular atrophy types 1 and 2: 32 children, 83 hip radiographs measured, neck-shaft angle 161.9 ± 9.7, and head-shaft angle 173.4 ± 7.4. Typical development: 104 children, 222 hip radiographs measured, neck-shaft angle 138.6 ± 7.0, and head-shaft angle 156.4 ± 5.9. There were significant statistical differences when comparing neck-shaft angle and head-shaft angle., Conclusion: As children grow, neck-shaft angle and head-shaft angle tend to decrease in typical development and Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I and II groups. However, in low-tone (spinal muscular atrophy types 1 and 2) and high-tone groups (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V), neck-shaft angle and head-shaft angle tend to increase with age. In both low-tone and high-tone groups, coxa valga is observed. When evaluating the effect of proximal femur-guided growth, these defined normal growth patterns should be considered., Level of Evidence: Level III Retrospective comparative study., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

The present study aimed to verify the effect of acute nitrate supplementation on oxidative, phosphocreatine, and glycolytic energy contribution (C OXI , C PCr , and C LAC , respectively) during a high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE). Fifteen physically active subjects were submitted to incremental running test on a treadmill and two random HIIE (10 × 1 min at maximal aerobic speed with 1 min of passive recovery) in the following conditions: sodium nitrate (SN) or Placebo (PL). Repeated measure ANOVA was used to compare C OXI , and C PCr within the 10 efforts. Student t test was used to compare total C OXI , C PCr , C LAC , as well oxidative and non-oxidative contribution. Considering the 10 efforts, C OXI presented the main effect for condition (F = 16.7; p  = .001; SN: 1.9 ± 0.1 L; PL: 1.6 ± 0.1 L), and no interaction effect (F = 0.9; p  = .415), while C PCr presented effect for condition (F = 13.4; p  = .003; SN: 1.2 ± 0.1; PL: 1.4 ± 0.8 L), and no interaction (F = 1.2; p  = .317). Total oxidative contribution were higher ( p  < .001) after SN (19.1 ± 3.4 L) than Placebo (16.7 ± 3.1 L), while total C PCr were lower ( p  = .002) after SN (12.4 ± 2.5 L) than PL (14.1 ± 2.6 L). Total energy contribution were not different between trials. Acute dose of SN supplementation improved oxidative contribution during HIIE, and reduced C PCr . Higher C OXI is likely related to increased oxygen kinetics, while the lower C PCr might be related to the improved energetic efficiency.

Biomolecular condensates are dynamic liquid droplets through intracellular liquid-liquid phase separation that function as membraneless organelles, which are highly involved in various complex cellular processes and functions. Artificial analogs formed via similar pathways that can be integrated with biological complexity and advanced functions have received tremendous research interest in the field of synthetic biology. The coacervate droplet-based compartments can partition and concentrate a wide range of solutes, which are regarded as attractive candidates for mimicking phase-separation behaviors and biophysical features of biomolecular condensates. The use of peptide-based materials as phase-separating components has advantages such as the diversity of amino acid residues and customized sequence design, which allows for programming their phase-separation behaviors and the physicochemical properties of the resulting compartments. In this Perspective, we highlight the recent advancements in the design and construction of biomimicry condensates from synthetic peptides relevant to intracellular phase-separating protein, with specific reference to their molecular design, self-assembly via phase separation, and biorelated applications, to envisage the use of peptide-based droplets as emerging biomedical delivery vehicles.

Background: Chagas Disease (CD) can cause Chagas cardiomyopathy. The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) also affects the cardiovascular system and may worsen Chagas cardiomyopathy. However, the cardiac evolution of patients with CD infected by COVID-19 is not known. Thus, the objective of this study is to assess, within one year, whether there was cardiac progression after COVID-19 in CD., Methods: Longitudinal study with CD patients. The outcome was cardiac progression, defined as the appearance of new major changes in the current ECG compared to the previous ECG considered from the comparison of electrocardiograms (ECGs) performed with an interval of one year. Positive Anti-SARS-CoV2 Serology was the independent variable of interest. For each analysis, a final multiple model was constructed, adjusted for sociodemographic, clinical, and pandemic-related characteristics., Results: Of the 404 individuals included, 22.8 % had positive serology for COVID-19 and 10.9 % had cardiac progression. In the final model, positive serology for COVID-19 was the only factor associated with cardiac progression in the group as a whole (OR = 2.65; 95 % CI = 1.27-5.53) and for new-onset cardiomyopathy in the group with normal previous ECG (OR = 3.50; 95 % CI = 1.21-10.13)., Conclusion: Our study shows an association between COVID-19 and progression of Chagas cardiomyopathy, evaluated by repeated ECGs, suggesting that COVID-19 accelerated the natural history of CD., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Citrus fruits (CF) are highly consumed worldwide, fresh, processed, or prepared as juices and pies. To illustrate the high economic importance of CF, the global production of these commodities in 2021 was around 98 million tons. CF's composition is considered an excellent source of phenolic compounds (PC) as they have a large amount and variety. Since ancient times, PC has been highlighted to promote several benefits related to oxidative stress disorders, such as chronic diseases and cancer. Recent studies suggest that consuming citrus fruits can prevent some of these diseases. However, due to the complexity of citrus matrices, extracting compounds of interest from these types of samples, and identifying and quantifying them effectively, is not a simple task. In this context, several extractive and analytical proposals have been used. This review discusses current research involving CF, focusing mainly on PC extraction and analysis methods, regarding advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of Green Chemistry.

Porphyrin atropisomerism, which arises from restricted σ-bond rotation between the macrocycle and a sufficiently bulky substituent, was identified in 1969 by Gottwald and Ullman in 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(o-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrins. Henceforth, an entirely new field has emerged utilizing this transformative tool. This review strives to explain the consequences of atropisomerism in porphyrins, the methods which have been developed for their separation and analysis and present the diverse array of applications. Porphyrins alone possess intriguing properties and a structure which can be easily decorated and molded for a specific function. Therefore, atropisomerism serves as a transformative tool, making it possible to obtain even a specific molecular shape. Atropisomerism has been thoroughly exploited in catalysis and molecular recognition yet presents both challenges and opportunities in medicinal chemistry., (© 2024 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

This cross-sectional study employs structural equation modelling (sEM) to explore both direct and indirect effects of parental level of education and child individual factors on the length-for-age outcomes in children aged 6-24 months assisted by the Bolsa Família Program in the State of Alagoas. A total of 1448 children were analysed by the sEM technique. A negative standardised direct effect (sDE) of the children's younger age (sDE: -0·06; P = 0·017), the use of bottle feeding (sDE: -0·11; P < 0·001) and lack of a minimum acceptable diet (sDE: -0·09; P < 0·001) on the length-for-age indicator was found. Being female (SDE: 0·08; P = 0·001), a higher birth weight (SDE: 0·33; P < 0·001), being ever breastfed (sdE: 0·07; P = 0·004) and a higher level of parental education (SDE: 0·09; P < 0·001) showed a positive SDE effect on the child's length-for-age. The model also demonstrated a negative standardised indirect effect (SIE) of the sweet beverage consumption (SIE: -0·08; P = 0·003) and a positive effect of being ever breastfed (SIE: 0·06; P = 0·017) on the child's length-for-age through parental level of education as a mediator. This research underscores the crucial role of proper feeding practices and provides valuable insights for the development of targeted interventions, policies and programmes to improve nutritional well-being and promote adequate linear growth and development among young children facing similar challenges.

Objectives: We aimed to test the reliability and structural validity (also called dimensionality) of the online Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index among college students from low-income regions., Methods: We assessed 195 Brazilian college students from a low-income region (Gini index of 0.56), of whom 117 were reassessed to evaluate the reliability. We collected all data in a self-reported online twice, 2-week apart. We evaluated reliability and structural validity., Results: All questionnaire components showed reliability, correlation coefficient ≥0.49. In the structural validity, the confirmatory analysis showed better global model adjustment for the one-factor (RMSEA = 0.019; SRMR = 0.041; CFI = 0.992; TLI = 0.986) solution compared with two-factor (RMSEA = 0.099; SRMR = 0.070; CFI = 0.764; TLI = 0.619) and three-factor (RMSEA = 0.108; SRMR = 0.066; CFI = 0.763; TLI = 0.548) solutions, respectively., Discussion: The online questionnaire presents acceptable reliability and structural validity in Brazilian low-income regions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 De Moraes, Conceição da Silva, Lima, Marin, Hunt and Nascimento-Ferreira.)

Study Design: A single-center retrospective case-control study., Objective: To compare the spine and total height velocity between Sanders maturation stage (SMS) 3A and 3B., Summary of Background Data: Identifying SMS 3 is critical for treating growing children because it represents the early phase of rapid adolescent growth. However, there is limited literature available that clearly describes the growth differences between 3A and 3B., Materials and Methods: The current study included consecutive patients with idiopathic scoliosis staged SMS 3 from January 2012 to December 2021. T1-S1 spine height, total body height, and curve magnitude were measured at the initial and follow-up visits. In addition to the spine and total height velocity calculated per month, corrected height velocity was estimated for curve magnitude using a validated formula. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare SMS 3A and 3B outcomes, followed by a multiple linear regression model to evaluate the association of the SMS subclassifications to growth velocity adjusted for confounding factors., Results: A total of 204 patients (66% girls, mean age: 12.3±1.3 y) met the inclusion criteria. Patients staged SMS 3A had higher spine height velocity (mm/month) in both girls (2.3 vs. 1.5, P <0.001) and boys (2.6 vs. 1.7, P <0.001), as well as total height velocity [mm/month; (5.8 vs. 4.3, P <0.001 for girls; 6.6 vs. 4.5, P <0.001 for boys]. Corrected velocity showed similar results with greater spine and total height velocity in SMS 3A. Multivariate analysis indicated a significant association of the SMS subclassification to the spine and total height velocity. The scoliosis curve progression was comparable between SMS 3A and 3B., Conclusions: SMS 3A and 3B had differential growth velocity in the spine and total body height. These results indicate the importance of the SMS 3 subclassification for managing scoliosis treatment, including observation, bracing, and surgical interventions with fusion and growth modulation., Level of Evidence: Level III-case-control study., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a heterogeneous group of disorders with different clinical types and underlying genetic variants. Children with CP are at risk for fragility fractures secondary to low bone mineral density, and although bisphosphonates are prescribed for the treatment of children with bone fragility, there is limited information on long-term bone impact and safety. Children with CP usually present overtubulated bones, and the thickening of cortical bone by pamidronate treatment can potentially further narrow the medullary canal. Our purpose was to report bone alterations attributable to pamidronate therapy that impact orthopedic care in children with CP. The study consisted of 41 children with CP treated with pamidronate for low bone mineral density from 2006 to 2020. Six children presented unique bone deformities and unusual radiologic features attributed to pamidronate treatment, which affected their orthopedic care. The cases included narrowing of the medullary canal and sclerotic bone, atypical femoral fracture, and heterotopic ossification. Treatment with bisphosphonate reduced the number of fractures from 101 in the pretreatment period to seven in the post-treatment period ( P  < 0.001). In conclusion, children with CP treated with bisphosphonate have a reduction in low-energy fractures; however, some fractures still happen, and pamidronate treatment can lead to bone alterations including medullary canal narrowing with sclerotic bone and atypical femoral fractures. In very young children, failure to remodel may lead to thin, large femoral shafts with cystic medullary canals. More widespread use of bisphosphonates in children with CP may make these bone alterations more frequent. Level of evidence: Level IV: Case series with post-test outcomes., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The accumulation of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and its toxicity in the arterial wall have been implicated in atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the atheroprotective effect of bixin, a carotenoid obtained from the seeds of the tropical plant Bixa orellana , on Cu 2+ -induced LDL oxidation and oxLDL-mediated effects in J774A.1 macrophage cells. Bixin's effects were compared to those of lycopene, a carotenoid widely studied for its cardiovascular protective effects. LDL was isolated from human plasma, incubated with bixin or lycopene (positive control), and subjected to oxidation with CuSO 4 . Afterward, bixin or lycopene was incubated with J774A.1 macrophage cells and exposed to oxLDL. The levels of ROS, RNS, GSH, nitrite, mitochondrial function, and foam cell formation, as well as the expression of proteins related to the antioxidant and inflammatory status, were evaluated. The effect of bixin in inhibiting in vitro human-isolated LDL oxidation was more potent (5-6-fold) than that of lycopene. Bixin pretreatment reduced the atherogenic signaling triggered by oxLDL in the macrophages, namely the generation of reactive species, disturbance of nitric oxide homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and foam cell formation. The cytoprotective effects of bixin were accompanied by the upregulation of Nrf2 and the downregulation of the NF-kB pathways. Lycopene showed the same protective effect as bixin, except that it did not prevent mitochondrial dysfunction. The efficient performance of bixin makes it an ideal candidate for further trials as a new nutraceutical compound for the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Spondias tuberosa Arruda (Anacardiaceae), popularly known as umbuzeiro or imbuzeiro, is a fruit tree native to the semiarid region of Brazil. The extractive harvesting of its fruits contributes significantly to the economy, generating an annual revenue of approximately $4,2 million. The present study aimed to assess the spatial pattern, allometric variations, fruit measurements, and genetic diversity of trees within a remaining forest of the Caatinga biome, with a focus on intrapopulation analysis. We used intersimple repeated sequence markers and the second-order function density of neighbours to determine the genetic and spatial structure. The density of neighbours was highest within a 10-meter radius. Biometric analyses revealed average fruit lengths of 31.12 mm (±0.22), diameters of 28.68 mm (±0.25), and fresh masses of 15.56 g (±0.33). Diaspores exhibited an average length, diameter, and thickness of 19.27 mm, 13.95 mm, and 11.14 mm, respectively, with a fresh mass of 2.28 g. Notably, the fresh mass demonstrated the highest coefficient of variation. Ten molecular markers were selected, generating 103 highly polymorphic loci (99.03%) with an average informative content of 0.45. Nei's diversity index (0.37) and Shannon's index (0.55) indicated moderate genetic diversity. Furthermore, Bayesian analysis revealed a population structure with two distinct genetic groups. The Infinite Allele and Mutation Step Models suggested a significant historical decline in population size, indicative of a genetic bottleneck. As a result, proactive in situ conservation strategies, including establishing protected natural areas, become essential, considering the socioeconomic significance of the species. Additionally, it is recommended to establish germplasm banks for ex situ conservation and the development of managed cultivation initiatives to reduce the pressure on native populations of S. tuberosa caused by extraction., Competing Interests: The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Raiane Pereira de Sales et al.)

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen widely involved in wound infection due to its ability to release several virulence factors that impair the skin healing process, as well as its mechanism of drug resistance. Herein, sodium alginate and chitosan were combined to produce a hydrogel for topical delivery of neomycin to combat S. aureus associated with skin complications. The hydrogel was formulated by combining sodium alginate (50 mg/mL) and chitosan (50 mg/mL) solutions in a ratio of 9:1 (HBase). Neomycin was added to HBase to achieve a concentration of 0.4 mg/mL (HNeo). The incorporation of neomycin into the product was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, FTIR and TGA analysis. The hydrogels produced are homogeneous, have a high swelling capacity, and show biocompatibility using erythrocytes and fibroblasts as models. The formulations showed physicochemical and pharmacological stability for 60 days at 4 ± 2 °C. HNeo totally inhibited the growth of S. aureus after 4 h. The antimicrobial effects were confirmed using ex vivo (porcine skin) and in vivo (murine) wound infection models. Furthermore, the HNeo-treated mice showed lower severity scores than those treated with HBase. Taken together, the obtained results present a new low-cost bioproduct with promising applications in treating infected wounds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Probiotic-containing foods are among the most appreciated functional foods; however, probiotic-based dairy products cannot be consumed by people who are lactose intolerant, allergic to milk, or vegetarian or vegan individuals. Thus, new non-dairy matrices have been tested for probiotics delivery. This study evaluated the growth and viability of Limosilactobacillus fermentum ATCC 23271 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ATCC 9595 in Pitanga juice (Eugenia uniflora L.). The effects of the fermentation on the antioxidant and anti-infective properties of the juice were also analyzed. The E. uniflora juice allowed lactobacilli growth without supplementation, reaching rates around 8.4 Log CFU/mL and producing organic acids (pH values < 4) after 72 h of fermentation. The strain remained viable after 35 days of refrigerated storage. Fermentation by these bacteria increases the antioxidant capacity of the juice. The central composite rotational design was employed to evaluate the effects of bacterial inoculum and pulp concentration on growth and organic acids production by L. fermentum ATCC 23271. The strain was viable and produced organic acids in all tested combinations. L. fermentum-fermented juice and its cell-free supernatant significantly increased the survival of Tenebrio molitor larvae infected by enteroaggregative Escherichia coli 042. The results obtained in this study provide more insights into the potential of Pitanga juice to develop a functional non-dairy probiotic beverage with antioxidant and anti-infective properties., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

In this study, we focus on advancing the methodology for detecting sulfur-containing compounds (SCCs) in crude oils and their derivatives. These compounds are critical for geochemical analysis, crude oil evaluation, and overcoming production and refining challenges. Although various analytical techniques exist, the precision and resolution power of Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) stand out. However, the current methods for characterizing SCCs in petroleum products often lack standardization and tend to be complex and time-consuming. Our research introduces the use of Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) as an efficient alternative. We employed a mixture of toluene and methanol (1 : 1 ratio) for APCI, which demonstrated superior performance in sulfur speciation compared to mixtures of toluene and acetonitrile. Our specified method showed high repeatability, with coefficients of variation reported between 5% and 14%. This method effectively covers a wide range of double bond equivalents (DBEs) from 1 to 25 and various carbon numbers, demonstrating notable repeatability and reproducibility. Compared to results from ESI post- S -methylation and Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization (APPI), APCI offers a more comprehensive analysis of sulfur compounds, presenting a broad spectrum of molecular formulae and extending across a vast range of carbon numbers and DBEs. Here, we demonstrate that APCI is a robust and efficient method for direct and extensive sulfur speciation in crude oil and its high-boiling fractions, marking a significant advancement over existing techniques. This methodological improvement opens new pathways for more accurate and efficient sulfur compound analysis in petroleum products.

In southeastern Brazil, the city of Ipatinga is inserted in the Steel Valley Metropolitan Region, which hosts the largest industrial complex for flat-steel production in Latin America, while also having one of the largest vehicle fleets in the entire country. Since potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are not emitted solely by industries, yet also by vehicular activity, the predominant emission source can be determined by evaluating the ratio between different elements, which are called technogenic tracers. We performed a biomonitoring assay using two tropical legumes, Paubrasilia echinata and Libidibia ferrea var. leiostachya, aiming to assess chemical markers for the origin of emissions in the region, distinguishing between different anthropogenic sources. Plants were exposed for 90 days in four urban sites and in a neighboring park which served as reference. After the experimental period, plants were evaluated for trace-metal accumulation. L. ferrea var. leiostachya retained lower amounts of metals associated with vehicular and industrial emission. The opposite was found with P. echinata, a species which should be recommended for biomonitoring of air pollution as a bioaccumulator. Plants of P. echinata were enriched with Fe, Al, Ni, Cr, and Ba, whereas plants of L. ferrea var. leiostachya were enriched with Fe, Cu, and Co. In both species, Fe was the element with which plants were enriched the most. Plants showed highest iron enrichment at Bom Retiro, the site downwind to the steel industry, which has shown to be the main particle emission source in the region., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The highly porous morphology of chitosan cryogels, with submicrometric-sized pore cell walls, provides a large surface area which leads to fast water absorption and elevated swelling degrees. These characteristics are crucial for the applications of nitric oxide (NO) releasing biomaterials, in which the release of NO is triggered by the hydration of the material. In the present study, we report the development of chitosan cryogels (CS) with a porous structure of interconnected cells, with wall thicknesses in the range of 340-881 nm, capable of releasing NO triggered by the rapid hydration process. This property was obtained using an innovative strategy based on the functionalization of CS with two previously synthesized S-nitrosothiols: S-nitrosothioglycolic acid (TGA(SNO)) and S-nitrosomercaptosuccinic acid (MSA(SNO)). For this purpose, CS was previously methacrylated with glycidyl methacrylate and subsequently submitted to photocrosslinking and freeze-drying processes. The photocrosslinked hydrogels thus obtained were then functionalized with TGA(SNO) and MSA(SNO) in reactions mediated by carbodiimide. After functionalization, the hydrogels were frozen and freeze-dried to obtain porous S-nitrosated chitosan cryogels with high swelling capacities. Through chemiluminescence measurements, we demonstrated that CS-TGA(SNO) and CS-MSA(SNO) cryogels spontaneously release NO upon water absorption at rates of 3.34 × 10 -2  nmol mg -1 min -1 and 1.27 × 10 -1  nmol mg -1 min -1 , respectively, opening new perspectives for the use of CS as a platform for localized NO delivery in biomedical applications., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Acute diarrhea is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality attributed to infections in children under five years of age worldwide, with 1.7 million annual estimated cases and more than 500,000 deaths. Although hydroelectrolytic replacement is the gold standard in treating diarrhea, it does not interfere with the restoration of the intestinal microbiota. Several studies have searched for an adequate alternative in restructuring intestinal homeostasis, finding that treatments based on probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are effective, which made such treatments increasingly present in clinical practice by reducing illness duration with minimal side effects. However, there are still controversies regarding some unwanted reactions in patients. The diversity of strains and the peculiarities of the pathogens that cause diarrhea require further studies to develop effective protocols for prevention and treatment. Here, we provide a descriptive review of childhood diarrhea, emphasizing treatment with probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the global populace, resulting in a staggering number of deaths across the globe. New approaches and biomarkers to evaluate disease progression are crucial for improving disease management. In this context, serum proteomics has emerged as a promising tool for identifying molecular alterations related to COVID-19. This work carried out a bibliometric evaluation of the current status and trends of studies applying serum proteomics to COVID-19 subjects. The search was performed using Web of Science and Scopus databases, and the results were analyzed in VOSviewer software. The investigation was limited to articles published between January 2020 and February 2023. The analysis found 48 articles, primarily experimental studies. China is the most influential country in this field, followed by the USA. The co-occurrence analysis performed by VOSviewer showed 170 keywords, of which 9 reached the occurrence threshold and were divided into two groups. The most cited words were related to biomarker identification and the use of proteomics for diagnosing and treating COVID-19. The most cited proteins include those classically associated with the immune system (IgG, IgM, interleukins, CXCL, CCL, MCP, CRP) and SAA1, SAA1, ApoA-1, TTR (prealbumin), SerpinA and ITIH4. Other studies have validated the predictive value of these serum markers and have the potential to improve the management of COVID-19 patients. The findings highlighted in this bibliometric study can help the researchers design new projects to enhance our understanding of the complex interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and host immunity., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Preservation of biological tissues has been used since ancient times. Regardless of the method employed, tissue preservation is thought to be a vital step in veterinary surgery teaching and learning., Objectives: This study was designed to determine the usability of chemically preserved cadaveric equine heads for surgical teaching in veterinary medicine., Methods: Six cadaveric equine heads were collected immediately after death or euthanasia and frozen until fixation. Fixation was achieved by using a hypertonic solution consisting of sodium chloride, sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate, and an alcoholic solution containing ethanol and glycerin. Chemically preserved specimens were stored at low temperatures (2°C to 6°C) in a conventional refrigerator. The specimens were submitted to gross and organoleptic assessment right after fixative solution injection (D0) and within 10, 20, and 30 days of fixation (D10, D20, and D30, respectively). Samples of tissue from skin, tongue, oral vestibule, and masseter muscle were collected for histological evaluation at the same time points., Results: Physical and organoleptic assessments revealed excellent specimen quality (mean scores higher than 4 on a 5-point scale) in most cases. In some specimens, lower scores (3) were assigned to the range of mouth opening, particularly on D0 and D10. A reduced the range of mouth opening may be a limiting factor in teaching activities involving structures located in the oral cavity., Conclusions: The excellent physical, histologic, and organoleptic characteristics of the specimens in this sample support their usability in teaching within the time frame considered. Appropriate physical and organoleptic characteristics (color, texture, odor, and flexibility) of the specimens in this study support the use of the method described for preparation of reusable anatomical specimens., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Korean Society of Veterinary Science.)