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This article aims to identify the relationship between material deprivation and mortality from breast, cervical, and prostate neoplasms in the Brazilian adult population and the relationship between ethnicity/skin color and material deprivation. This cross-sectional ecological study calculated the mean mortality rate per 100,000 inhabitants, and deaths were standardized by age and gender and redistributed per to ill-defined causes, stratified by age group and ethnicity/skin color. We applied the Negative Binomial model, containing the interaction between ethnicity/skin color and the Brazilian Deprivation Index (IBP). We analyzed 85,903 deaths, and the most prevalent were those due to female breast neoplasms. The risk of death from cervical cancer was 8.5% higher for Black women than white women. In other places, mortality was higher among white people. For all causes, mortality increased with age. There was a significant interaction between ethnicity/skin color and IBP for all causes. Only deaths due to cervical neoplasms increased with higher IBP, while a decline was observed in other causes but was less significant among Black people. The IBP offers a multidimensional view of the socioeconomic conditions of the Brazilian population, allowing a better understanding of how social determinants operate on selected neoplasms.

Introduction: Appendectomy is the standard treatment for appendicitis, with the laparoscopic technique offering benefits like lower infection rates and quicker recovery. However, residents often have their first practical experience with the procedure on real patients, increasing surgical risks. In this context, medical simulation emerges as a crucial methodology, allowing professionals to experience a variety of scenarios while preventing harm to patients. The objective of this study is to describe the production of an "ex-vivo" simulation model for laparoscopic appendectomy., Methodology: Cold ceramic structures were used to manually shape the anatomical model of the appendix, ensuring its rigidity. On this model, we poured materials to create a flexible mold using acetic silicone. Once the mold was made, we filled it with thermo-moldable styrene polymer rubber, along with dye, and fused it at a specific temperature., Results: This process resulted in the manufacture of a piece that simulates the appendix, being tear-resistant and suturable, faithfully replicating the structure and characteristics of a human organ. The low weight of the materials facilitates transport, allowing them to be reproduced and used in various situations, from training in hospital settings to universities. The model is applicable in didactic simulations with medical students, residents, and surgeons. Its ease of production and low cost contribute to the practices being repeatable, ensuring a better development of surgical skills., Conclusion: This work not only contributes to the advancement of medical simulation but also highlights the importance of innovative and collaborative solutions in improving medical education and promoting patient safety.

Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) is a fish with a high production potential in Brazil. However, one limitation is the excessive amount of ether extract in its carcass, an undesirable characteristic for the consumer. One approach to overcome this limitation is to improve carcass quality through zootechnical additives such as caffeine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing the diet of pacu with caffeine on cut yield, biological indices, and carcass composition. Two hundred pacu with an initial weight of 1,687 g were used. The animals were allocated to 20 aquaculture cages of 1 m³, with 10 animals per cage. A completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates was used. The treatments evaluated consisted of four inclusion levels of caffeine: T1 = 0.00 g; T2 = 0.16 g; T3 = 0.32 g, and T4 = 0.48 g caffeine.kg-1 of feed. The findings show that caffeine can be recommended as a diet supplement for carcass improvement of pacu, reducing the fat content and increasing the protein content of the carcass. Caffeine up to 0.32 g.kg-1 of feed can be added to the diet of pacu without affecting its performance or cut yield.

The Pace-of-Life syndrome proposes that behavioural, physiological and immune characteristics vary along a slow-fast gradient. Urbanization poses several physiological challenges to organisms. However, little is known about how the health status of frogs is affected by urbanization in the Tropics, which have a faster and more recent urbanization than the northern hemisphere. Here, we analysed a suite of physiological variables that reflect whole organism health, reproduction, metabolic and circulatory physiology and leukocyte responses in Leptodactylus podicipinus . Specifically, we tested how leukocyte profile, erythrocyte morphometrics and germ cell density, as well as somatic indices and erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities differ throughout the adult life span between urban and rural populations. We used Phenotypic Trajectory Analysis to test the effect of age and site on each of the multivariate data sets; and a Generalised Linear Model to test the effect of site and age on nuclear abnormalities. Somatic indices, erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities, erythrocyte morphometrics and leukocyte profile differed between populations, but less so for germ cell density. We found a large effect of site on nuclear abnormalities, with urban frogs having twice as many abnormalities as rural frogs. Our results suggest that urban frogs have a faster pace of life, but the response of phenotypic compartments is not fully concerted., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press and the Society for Experimental Biology.)

With the increasing use of traditional and new models of wireless communication systems, the study and determination of the electrical characteristics of materials used in civil construction is an important topic to establish an understanding of how the radio frequency signal behaves inside built environments. This study presents an extensive process of characterization of electrical parameters of plaster blocks used in the construction of walls. Different from the literature where a prior estimation of the data occurs to enable sampling parameters to be obtained, this work proposes an innovative way of obtaining them entirely based on the analysis of the material through frequency measurements, which results in a greater level of precision of the data results. Analyses are made in the frequency range from 0.7 to 5.2 GHz, which has been used for several wireless communication standards. To carry out the electrical characterization of dielectric materials, a non-invasive methodology is proposed based on an innovative combination of the Nicolson-Ross-Weir Method (NRW) and the Ray Tracing Method. Through the proposed methodology and an extensive campaign of measurements using frequency scanning equipment, calculated and experimental data of Shielding Effectiveness (SE), complex relative electrical permittivity, loss tangent, attenuation coefficient and conductivity were obtained for a wide range of frequency, considering different samples of plaster blocks. The obtained results are compared to those available in the related literature, confirming the accuracy of the proposed analysis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Teixeira Santana Praxedes 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.)

Chicken broilers digestibility and performance fed with different ME levels, with and without adjustments of digestible lysine, calcium, and available phosphorus, were evaluated. For digestibility, 210 male Cobb 500 chicken broilers were used and distributed into a 3x2+1 factorial arrangement, with three ME levels (3050; 3125 and 3200 kcal/kg) with and without nutrient adjustment, plus one control treatment (2975 kcal ME/kg), totaling seven treatments including six repetitions with five birds into each repetition. For initial performance, 1120 birds were distributed randomly with eight replications within treatments and 20 birds for each replication. For final performance, 1008 chickens were distributed with eight replications and 18 birds for each replication. The DCDM and DCCP were improved (P<0.05) according to the increase of ME and the adjustment in dietary nutrients, as well as GE digestibility. The final performance showed no interaction (P>0.05) between energy and nutrient adjustment, but the increase in energy levels improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR=1.370). Increasing energy density with nutrient adjustment improves both nutrient utilization and bird performance.

This work presents the development of a bandstop filter with a tunable response. Varactor diodes are used as control elements. Studies and investigations demonstrate the influence of the variable capacitance on the input admittance and on the S-parameters frequency responses of the proposed square-ring resonator geometry. The design of the square-ring resonator is based on mathematical modeling of ideal transmission lines, considering parameters of characteristic admittance and electrical length for odd and even excitation modes. Based on S-parameters in ports, an equivalent circuit model of the resonator geometry is presented. The corresponding results are compared with numerical simulations. Comparative analyses are presented in order to guide the process of optimizing the physical dimensions of the layout. A prototype with dimension 0.0272 [Formula: see text] was designed, fabricated, and tested. As a measured result, a filter with two rejection bands was obtained, the first at 0.6-1.15 GHz and the second at 1.71-2.28 GHz, with 63.0 and 29.0% tuning range, respectively. In comparison with bandstop filters from the literature, the proposed reconfigurable filter presents a larger tuning range for the first band, sufficient inband rejection levels for several applications, and reduced physical dimensions. The proposed configuration is an attractive reconfigurable filtering device for use in modern communication systems operating below 3.0 GHz., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Duarte Júnior 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.)

Objectives: To compare pain intensity among individuals with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), other systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs), and without rheumatic disease (wAIDs)., Methods: Data were collected from the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study, an international cross-sectional online survey, from December 2020 to August 2021. Pain experienced in the preceding week was assessed using numeral rating scale (NRS). We performed a negative binomial regression analysis to assess pain in IIMs subtypes and whether demographics, disease activity, general health status, and physical function had an impact on pain scores., Results: Of 6988 participants included, 15.1% had IIMs, 27.9% had other AIRDs, and 57.0% were wAIDs. The median pain NRS in patients with IIMs, other AIRDs, and wAIDs were 2.0 (interquartile range [IQR] = 1.0-5.0), 3.0 (IQR = 1.0-6.0), and 1.0 (IQR = 0-2.0), respectively (P < 0.001). Regression analysis adjusted for gender, age, and ethnicity revealed that overlap myositis and antisynthetase syndrome had the highest pain (NRS = 4.0, 95% CI = 3.5-4.5, and NRS = 3.6, 95% CI = 3.1-4.1, respectively). An additional association between pain and poor functional status was observed in all groups. Female gender was associated with higher pain scores in almost all scenarios. Increasing age was associated with higher pain NRS scores in some scenarios of disease activity, and Asian and Hispanic ethnicities had reduced pain scores in some functional status scenarios., Conclusion: Patients with IIMs reported higher pain levels than wAIDs, but less than patients with other AIRDs. Pain is a disabling manifestation of IIMs and is associated with a poor functional status., (© 2023 The Authors. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases published by Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Competing Interests: PSG, the corresponding author of this manuscript, certify that the contributors' and conflicts of interest statements included in this paper are correct and have been approved by all co-authors.

Alterations in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism are factors that trigger several negative metabolic complications. Hyperlipidemia is the starting point for the development of comorbidities of the cardiovascular system, such as atherosclerosis. The search for compounds that reduce high levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides has been widely reported in several publications in the literature. Phthalimide derivatives have been extensively researched with various biological actions. In this study we evaluated the antihyperlipidemic ability of three phthalimide derivatives (FGT-2, FGT-3 and FGT-4) on a model of obesity and insulin resistance in mice. The animals were submitted to a hyperlipid diet for 60 days. On the thirtieth day they were treated with phthalimides (20 mg/kg). The positive control group was treated with Simvastatin (20 mg/kg) and the negative control received only the carboxymethylcellulose vehicle. Biochemical and histological analyzes of all groups were analyzed. The animals treated with phthalimidic derivatives had a reduction in total cholesterol, low density and very low density lipoproteins (LDL-c and VLDL-c), triglycerides and fasting glycemia when compared to the negative control group. The treated animals also showed good results when analyzing the atherogenic indexes Castelli i and II and the ratio Triglycerides/HDL-c. In the oral glucose tolerance test and in the insulin tolerance test, animals treated with phthalimides were more sensitive to the action of the hormone regulating carbohydrate uptake. In the evaluation of the transaminases (AST/ALT), the animals of the group treated with phthalimides presented a lower elevation than the other groups of the experiment, the same observed with the uric acid evaluation. Histological analyzes were performed on liver, kidney, heart and pancreas samples. The groups treated with the compounds FGT-2 and FGT3 presented discrete alterations in the liver and kidney. FGT-4 did not present histological alterations for both tissues and the three phthalimide derivatives did not cause alterations in the other organs. These results suggest that the phthalimides tested can act as antihyperlipidemic agents and have a pleiotropic action, by acting also reducing glycemia in insulin resistance model mimicking diabetes mellitus type 2. These compounds may appear as a new approach in the treatment of obesity and complications, which are multifaceted., (© 2022 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

We performed a systematic review of the clinical manifestations and complementary exams of patients with myopathies and systemic sclerosis overlap syndrome (MyoSScOS). Systematic review from January 1976 to November 2021 according PRISMA protocol on three electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies were analyzed based on the following eligibility criteria: at least one combination of the terms described in the search strategy appears in the title; written in English, Portuguese, or Spanish; and addresses MyoSScOS. Brief communications, reviews, studies that addressed myopathies in children, congress proceedings, monographs, and dissertations were excluded. Thirty-five articles were selected. MyoSScOS seems to be more common in women. It also commonly affects the esophagus and joints with symmetrical and bilateral muscle involvement, Raynaud's phenomenon, and impairment of forced vital capacity. Concerning SSc, the most common subtype was the diffuse form. Cardiovascular and pulmonary complications are an important cause of death. Anti-centromere, anti-PM/Scl, anti-Scl70, anti-RNA polymerase III, anti-Ku, and anti-RNP were more correlated with this entity, and muscle biopsies may present a more aggressive pattern. Electroneuromyography patterns are quite similar to those found in inflammatory myopathies. The absence of studies with robust methodologies and the large number of case reports and series make more robust statistical analyses such as meta-analyses unfeasible. The characterization of MyoSScOS is important for the formulation of therapeutic measures and specific treatments aiming at better quality of life and prognosis. Greater and better theoretical contributions are necessary to better characterize it., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).)

The use of electroconvulsive therapy in case of catatonia due to systemic lupus erythematosus refractory in treatment with immunosuppressant is rare. Therefore, we report a case of catatonia due to systemic lupus erythematosus treated with electroconvulsive therapy as an adjuvant to cyclophosphamide treatment. A 34-year-old female patient diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus attended the rheumatology outpatient clinic with a history of catatonia for 8 weeks and laboratory tests revealed high titers of anti-ds DNA positive anti-RNP and polyclonal gammopathy. cyclophosphamide pulse therapy was scheduled in association with electroconvulsive therapy, in 12 sessions, twice a week. The patient evolved with significant clinical improvement after 6 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy and 2 pulses of cyclophosphamide, with negative anti-ds DNA and normalization of gamma globulin levels. Thus, electroconvulsive therapy should be considered as adjuvant therapy in severe cases of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, including catatonia, especially in those with relapses and poor response to immunosuppressant and psychotropic drugs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (2022 authors.)

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.

Ameloblastoma is a benign, but locally aggressive odontogenic neoplasm, whose appropriate therapeutic management remains highly debatable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and effectiveness of the two conservative surgical therapeutic protocols (curettage with peripheral ostectomy only and curettage plus cryotherapy) for the management of ameloblastomas. About 53 cases of the ameloblastomas treated in 9 years were retrospectively analyzed regarding their clinical, histopathologic, radiographic, and therapeutic data. The results and the postoperative complications related to both the therapeutic protocols were also statistically investigated. A slight female preponderance was seen (1.12:1.0) with a mean age of 27.1 years. The posterior mandible was the most affected site and dental involvement was frequently found. Multilocular lesions causing the alterations of the bone cortices were the most common radiographic findings. Recurrences were seen in 9.4% of the cases and although the patients submitted to curettage plus cryotherapy have shown an increased incidence of wound dehiscence, infection, and paresthesia, only bone sequestration proved to be significantly more frequent in this group compared to the patients treated by curettage with peripheral ostectomy only. The incidence of the recurrences following the conservative management is low and cryotherapy use as an adjuvant tool must be rationally considered., 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., (Copyright © 2021 Rocha, Fonseca, Santos-Silva, Lourenço, Ceccheti and Júnior.)

Objective: To summarize the effects of surgical treatment compared to conservative treatment in femoroacetabular impingement syndrome in the short, medium, and long term., Study Design: Systematic review., Methods: The following databases were searched on 14/09/2020: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and PEDro. There were no date or language limits. The methodological quality assessment was performed using the PEDro scale and the quality of the evidence followed the GRADE recommendation. The outcomes pain, disability, and adverse effects were extracted., Results: Of 6264 initial studies, three met the full-text inclusion criteria. All studies were of good methodological quality. Follow up ranged from six months to two years, with 650 participants in total. The meta-analyses found no difference in disability between surgical versus conservative treatment, with a mean difference (MD) between groups of 3.91 points (95% CI -2.19 to 10.01) at six months, MD of 5.53 points (95% CI -3.11 to 14.16) at 12 months and 3.8 points (95% CI -6.0 to 13.6) at 24 months. The quality of the evidence (GRADE) varied from moderate to low across all comparisons., Conclusion: There is moderate-quality evidence that surgical treatment is not superior to conservative treatment for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome in the short term, and there is low-quality evidence that it is not superior in the medium term., Level of Evidence: Therapy, level 1a., Registration Number: PROSPERO CRD42019134118.

This study aimed to analyze the possible impacts on the prison population's mental health in the context of the new COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative study was carried out following a lexical and content analysis using the software IRaMuTeQ, version 0.7 alpha 2, in the speech of the short communication and headlines from newspapers. Three groups emerged from the analysis: "spatial conditions for infection" (39.2% of the text segments); "disease outbreaks in prisons" (30,4%) and "public responsibility" (30,4%). Precarious conditions of prisons, high rate of infections and psychiatric illnesses, and lack of government assistance are issues that should be given special attention in order to formulate health promotion and prevention policies focusing on mental health in prison population., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Candida infections represent a threat to human health. Candida albicans is the main causative agent of invasive candidiasis, especially in immunosuppressed patients. The emergence of resistant strains has required the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this context, the use of liposomes as drug carrier systems is a promising alternative in drug development. Thus, considering the evidence demonstrating that sesquiterpene farnesol is a bioactive compound with antifungal properties, this study evaluated the activity farnesol-containing liposomes against different Candida strains. The IC 50 of farnesol and its liposomal formulation was assessed in vitro using cultures of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei. The Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) was established by subculture in solid medium. The occurrence of fungal dimorphism was analyzed using optical microscopy. The effects on antifungal resistance to fluconazole were assessed by evaluating the impact of combined therapy on the growth of Candida strains. The characterization of liposomes was carried out considering their vesicular size, polydispersion index, and zeta medium potential, in addition to electron microscopy analysis. Farnesol exerted an antifungal activity that might be associated with the inhibition of fungal dimorphism, especially in Candida albicans. The incorporation of farnesol into liposomes significantly increased its antifungal activity against C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei. In addition, liposomal farnesol potentiated the action of fluconazole against C. albicans and C. tropicalis. On the other hand, the association of unconjugated farnesol with fluconazole resulted in antagonistic effects. In conclusion, farnesol-containing liposomes have the potential to be used in antifungal drug development. However, further research is required to investigate how the antifungal properties of farnesol are affected by the interaction with liposomes, contributing to the modulation of antifungal resistance to conventional drugs., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

(1) Background: Infections by Candida species represent a serious threat to the health of immunocompromised individuals. Evidence has indicated that nerolidol has significant antifungal properties. Nonetheless, its use is restricted due to a low water solubility and high photosensitivity. The incorporation into liposomes may represent an efficient alternative to improve the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of this compound. The present study aimed to characterize the antifungal properties of liposomal nerolidol, alone or in combination with fluconazole. Of note, this is the first study reporting the antifungal activity of liposomal nerolidol and its potentiating effect in association with fluconazole. (2) Methods: The Inhibitory Concentration 50%-IC 50 and minimum fungicide concentrations (MFC) of the substances against Candida albicans (CA), Candida tropicalis (CT), and Candida krusei (CK) were established by subculture in a solid medium. To evaluate the antifungal-enhancing effect, the MFC of fluconazole was determined in the presence or absence of subinhibitory concentrations of nerolidol (free or liposomal). The analysis of fungal dimorphism was performed through optical microscopy and the characterization of liposomes was carried out considering the vesicular size, polydispersion index, and zeta medium potential, in addition to a scanning electron microscopy analysis. (3) Results: The physicochemical characterization revealed that liposomes were obtained as homogenous populations of spherical vesicles. The data obtained in the present study indicate that nerolidol acts as an antifungal agent against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis , in addition to potentiating (only in the liposomal form) the effect of fluconazole. However, the compound had little inhibitory effect on fungal dimorphism. (4) Conclusions: The incorporation of nerolidol into liposomes improved its antifungal-modulating properties.

To obtain usnic acid potassium salt (PS-UA), the usnic acid (UA) was extracted and purified from the lichen Cladonia substellata , and modified to produce PS-UA. The structure was determined by 1 H-NMR, IR and elemental analysis, ratified through computational models, as well as identification the site of K + insertion in the molecule. Antinociceptive activity was detected through contortions in mice induced by acetic acid and formalin (phases I and II) after treatments with 10 and 20 mg/kg of PS-UA, indicating interference in both non-inflammatory and inflammatory pain. After oral administration at doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, no deaths of mice with treatments below 2000 mg/kg were observed. Except for body weight gain, food and water consumption decreased with treatments of 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, and the number of segmented leukocytes was higher for both treatments. Regarding serum levels, cholesterol and triglycerides decreased, however, there was an increase in hepatic transaminases with both treatments. Liver and kidney histological changes were detected in treatments of 2000 mg/kg, while the spleen was preserved. The PS-UA demonstrated antinociceptive activity while the acute toxicity at the concentration of 2000 mg/kg was the only dose that presented morphological changes in the liver and kidney.

Experiment I: T 1-1 =  basal diet with 25% crude protein (CP) + limiting amino acids (LA); T 1-2  = 20% CP + LA; T 1-3  = 20% CP + LA + L-glycine; T 1-4  = 20% CP + LA + L-glutamate; T 1-5  = 20% CP + LA + L-glycine + L-glutamate. Experiment II: T 2-1  = basal diet with 22% CP + LA; T 2-2  = 20% CP + LA; T 2-3  = 17.6% CP + LA + L-glycine; T 2-4  = 17.6% CP + LA + L-glutamate; T 2-5  = 17.6% CP + LA + L-glycine + L-glutamate. The reduction of dietary protein based on the concept of ideal protein decreases nitrogen excretion in quails when L-glycine is added to the diets. Quails fed diets supplemented with L-glutamate as the non-specific nitrogen source equivalent to the nitrogen level of the control diet had increased nitrogen excretion. However, quails had reduced nitrogen excretion in both experiments when L-glycine was added to diets with L-glutamate. Carcass fat was increased by reducing dietary protein, but fat deposition was reduced by adding L-glutamate and L-glycine, or both. The dietary addition of L-glutamate and L-glycine in quails based on the ideal protein concept is not necessary (Exp. I). Although the total nitrogen, electrolytic balance and glycine level were adjusted in diets, quails had decreased performance. Therefore, other hypotheses besides protein reduction need to be studied (Exp. II). Protein reduction with supplementation of only limiting essential amino acids does not affect quail performance. Dietary addition of L-glycine reduces nitrogen excretion., (© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Important metabolic changes occur during transition period of late pregnancy and early lactation to meet increasing energy demands of the growing fetus and for milk production. The aim of this investigation is to present an innovative and non-invasive tool using ewe earwax sample analysis to assess the metabolic profile in ewes during late pregnancy and early lactation. In this work, earwax samples were collected from 28 healthy Brazilian Santa Inês ewes divided into 3 sub-groups: 9 non-pregnant ewes, 6 pregnant ewes in the last 30 days of gestation, and 13 lactating ewes ≤ 30 days postpartum. Then, a range of metabolites including volatile organic compounds (VOC), amino acids (AA), and minerals were profiled and quantified in the samples by applying headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, respectively. As evident in our results, significant changes were observed in the metabolite profile of earwax between the studied groups where a remarkable elevation was detected in the levels of non-esterified fatty acids, alcohols, ketones, and hydroxy urea in the VOC profile of samples obtained from pregnant and lactating ewes. Meanwhile, a significant decrease was detected in the levels of 9 minerals and 14 AA including essential AA (leucine, phenyl alanine, lysine, isoleucine, threonine, valine), conditionally essential AA (arginine, glycine, tyrosine, proline, serine), and a non-essential AA (alanine). Multivariate analysis using robust principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis was successfully applied to discriminate the three study groups using the variations of metabolites in the two stress states (pregnancy and lactation) from the healthy non-stress condition. The innovative developed method was successful in evaluating pre- and post-parturient metabolic changes using earwax and can in the future be applied to recognize markers for diagnosis, prevention, and intervention of pregnancy complications in ewes.

Objective: Scorpion stings are registered worldwide, but the incidence and the features of the envenomations vary depending on the region. The aim of this review was to summarize the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic data worldwide regarding humans stung by scorpions., Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted through the online databases of the Virtual Health Library (VHL), which hosts Medline and the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Informational (LILACS) database. We selected articles published between January 1, 2002 and July 31, 2014., Results: Scorpion envenomation reports were found throughout the world, mainly in subtropical and tropical regions. The clinical manifestations were sympathetically and parasympathetically mediated, depending on the species of scorpion. Some of the most common severe complications of scorpionism included respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary edema, cardiac dysfunction, impaired hemostasis, pancreatitis, and multiple organ failure. Scorpion envenomation could be classified as mild, moderate, and severe, and the therapeutic approach was based on the case severity. The treatment comprised 3 components: symptomatic measures, vital functions support, and injection of antivenom. Moreover, the time that elapsed between the sting and administration of the appropriate medical care was extremely important to the patient's prognosis., Conclusions: The large number of scorpion stings worldwide is concerning and reaffirms the need for new prevention measures and policies to reduce the incidence, prevalence, morbidity, and mortality rates from these poisonous arachnids., (Copyright © 2016 Wilderness Medical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Annona coriacea Mart. (araticum) is a widely distributed tree in the cerrado. Its value is attributed principally to the consumption of its fruit which possesses a large nutritive potential. The objective was to identify the chemical profile and evaluate the antimicrobial and cytoprotective activity of the hydroethanol extract of A. coriacea Mart. (HEAC) leaves against the toxicity of mercury chloride., Materials and Methods: The characterization of components was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by microdilution method in broth with strains of Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . For evaluation of the modulatory and cytoprotective activity of aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin and amikacin) and mercury chloride (HgCl 2 ), the substances were associated with the HEAC at subinhibitory concentrations (MIC/8)., Results and Discussion: The HPLC analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids such as Luteolin (1.84%) and Quercetin (1.19%) in elevated concentrations. The HEAC presented an MIC ≥512 μg/mL and significant antagonistic action in aminoglycosides modulation, and it also showed cytoprotective activity to S. aureus (significance P < 0.0001) and E. coli (significance P < 0.05) bacteria against the mercury chloride heavy metal with significance, this action being attributed to the chelating properties of the flavonoids found in the chemical identification., Conclusions: The results acquired in this study show that the HEAC presents cytoprotective activity over the tested strains in vitro and can also present antagonistic effect when associated with aminoglycosides, reinforcing the necessity of taking caution when combining natural and pharmaceutical products., Summary: The hydroalcoholic extract of A. coriacea Mart. presents in vitro cytoprotective activity against the toxic effect of Hg. Abbreviations Used : HPLC-DAD: High-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector; MIC: Minimum inhibitory concentration; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.

Given limited funds for research and widespread degradation of ecosystems, environmental scientists should geographically target their studies where they will be most effective. However, in academic areas such as conservation and natural resource management there is often a mismatch between the geographic foci of research effort/funding and research needs. The former frequently being focused in the developed world while the latter is greater in the biodiverse countries of the Global South. Here, we adopt a bibliometric approach to test this hypothesis using research on artisanal fisheries. Such fisheries occur throughout the world, but are especially prominent in developing countries where they are important for supporting local livelihoods, food security and poverty alleviation. Moreover, most artisanal fisheries in the Global South are unregulated and unmonitored and are in urgent need of science-based management to ensure future sustainability. Our results indicate that, as predicted, global research networks and centres of knowledge production are predominantly located in developed countries, indicating a global mismatch between research needs and capacity.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the microhardness and surface roughness of composite resins immersed in alcoholic beverages. Three composite resins were used: Durafill (Heraeus Kulzer), Z250 (3M-ESPE) and Z350 XT (3M-ESPE). The inital surface roughness and microhardness were measured. The samples were divided into four groups (n=30): G1-artificial saliva; G2-beer; G3-vodka; G4-whisky. The samples were immersed in the beverages 3× a day for 15 min and 30 days. The surface roughness and microhardness assays were repeated after immersion period. The data were statistically analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey-HSD test (p<0.05). Surface roughness increased for all composite resins immersed in beer and whisky. Microhardness of all groups decreased after immersion in alcoholic beverages. The effect of these beverages on dental composites is depended upon the chemical composition, immersion time, alcohol content and pH of solutions.

Background: The presence of nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) in the peripheral blood of critically ill patients is associated with a poorer prognosis, though data on cardiovascular critical care patients is lacking. The aim of the present study was to assess the role of NRBCs as a predictor of intensive care unit (ICU) and in hospital all-cause mortality among cardiologic patients., Methods: NRBCs were measured daily in consecutive cardiac ICU patients, including individuals with both coronary and non-coronary acute cardiac care. We excluded patients younger than 18 years, with cancer or hematological disease, on glucocorticoid therapy, those that were readmitted after hospital discharge and patients who died in the first 24 hours after admission. We performed a multiple logistic analysis to identify independent predictors of mortality., Results: We included 152 patients (60.6 ± 16.8 years, 51.8% female, median ICU stay of 7 [4-11] days). The prevalence of NRBCs was 54.6% (83/152). The presence of NRBC was associated with a higher ICU mortality (49.4% vs 21.7%, P<0.001) as well as in-hospital mortality (61.4% vs 33.3%, p = 0.001). NRBC were equally associated with mortality among coronary disease (64.71% vs 32.5% [OR 3.80; 95%CI: 1.45-10.0; p = 0.007]) and non-coronary disease patients (61.45% vs 33.3% [OR 3.19; 95%CI: 1.63-6.21; p<0.001]). In a multivariable model, the inclusion of NRBC to the APACHE II score resulted in a significant improvement in the discrimination (p = 0.01)., Conclusions: NRBC are predictors of all-cause in-hospital mortality in patients admitted to a cardiac ICU. This predictive value is independent and complementary to the well validated APACHE II score.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different solutions cola soft drink (CSD) and coffee on roughness and microleakage of composite resin restorations., Materials and Methods: Sixty bovine incisors were prepared and restored using Filtek Z350 XT (3M/ESPE) nanoparticulate resin. The samples were divided into three groups (n = 20): A (control)-Immersion in artificial saliva (14 days); B: Immersion in coffee (14 days), for 15 minutes (3x/day) and C: Immersion in CSD for 14 days (3x/day). Then the samples were analyzed for microleakage (dye penetration) and surface roughness (atomic force microscope). The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to assess the surface roughness and microleakage. The Tukey's test was set at 0.05., Results: Group A (roughness-GAR) presented significantly the lowest average surface roughness. Group C (microleakage-GCM) showed significantly the highest average microleakage., Conclusion: It was concluded that CSD and coffee change the surface roughness and increase the microleakage of restorations., Clinical Significance: Nowadays there is a high consumption of artificially sweetened soft drinks, sports drinks, high-energy beverages and coffee products by people that cause problems in composite resin restorations.

Background: In children is estimated that the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased up to five times in developed countries and up to four in developing countries. In Brazil, the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight also increased from approximately 4.1% to 13.9%., Aim: To evaluate the surgical results of severe obesity in adolescents., Methods: Retrospective descriptive study of 2737 patients with severe obesity that underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass selecting from the total 44 patients with mean age of 18.1 years, 14 males and 30 females, most (37) operated by laparotomy. There was follow-up of 20 patients (45.45%). All were followed preoperatively by a multidisciplinary team and had indication confirmed for surgical unanimous approval of all team members., Results: Among the 20 adolescent, 14 were female. From five teenagers using anti-hypertension or hypoglycemic drugs before surgery, four (80%) had drug discontinuation and one (20%) reduced the dose in 50% postoperatively. The average weight loss was 45.4 kg after a mean follow up of 60 months. There were no deaths or severe postoperative complications. Among those who underwent postoperative follow-up with a multidisciplinary team, 18 were with BMI<30., Conclusions: Adolescents undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has good response in relation to weight loss and improvement of comorbidities. There was a low rate of complications and no deaths. All patients were satisfied with their personal results.

In Brazil, domestic dogs are branded as the primary reservoir for zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis, due to the clear positive correlation observed between human and canine infection rates. This study aimed to carry out a serological survey of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in dogs housed at a public kennel in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, using the immunochromatographic TR DPP® CVL rapid test. Additionally, conventional and/or real time PCR assay was used to detect and confirm L. infantum infection in the DPP positive dogs only. Of the 400 dogs studied, most did not present clinical signs for CVL (p < 0.05), and fifteen (3.8%) were seropositive in the DPP test. There was no statistically significant difference between the DPP seropositive dogs and the clinical signs of the disease (p > 0.05). Both conventional and real time PCR tests confirmed L. infantum infection in nine (75.0%) of the twelve DPP seropositive dogs that remained alive during the follow-up period. This study is the first seroepidemiologic survey of CVL held in the city of Juiz de Fora, and the results reinforce the idea that this disease is currently in a process of expansion and urbanization in Brazil. Furthermore, this study highlights the use of the DPP test as an alternative for diagnosing CVL in large and mid-sized cities, due to its ease of implementation.

The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the occurrence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in pigs from large-scale and family-scale farms, (2) genetically characterize the strains isolated, and (3) study the pathogenesis of swine HEV infection via immunohistochemistry. A total of 50 pigs from 10 farms in Mato Grosso State, Brazil were divided according to type of production system into either large-scale farms (n = 5) or family-scale farms (n = 5). Samples of liver, gallbladder, small and large intestines, bile, and feces from the pigs were analyzed by nested PCR with primers targeting the ORF2 region of HEV and by immunohistochemistry. Of the eight HEV-positive samples from pigs of family-scale farms, phylogenetic analysis revealed that seven of the swine HEV isolates clustered with subtype 3b of genotype 3 and one isolate was categorized with subtype 3 f. The HEV antigen was detected mainly in the small intestine samples from family-scale farms, suggesting an early stage HEV infection. HEV was not detected in the samples of pigs from large-scale farms, reinforcing the need for additional studies to evaluate the risk of transmission of HEV to humans from pigs from family-scale farms in Mato Grosso State.

To evaluate, through a systematic review of the literature, the antitumoral effects of cannabinoids on gliomas. Research included the following electronic databases: PUBMED, EMBASE, LILACS and The Cochrane Collaboration Controlled Trials Register. All published studies involving the antitumoral effects (cellular and molecular mechanisms) of cannabinoids were considered for this review. The bibliography search strategy included all publications of each of these databases until December 31, 2012. From 2,260 initially identified articles, 35 fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this review. All the studies included in this systematic review were experimental (in vivo and/or in vitro), except for one pilot clinical trial phase I/II involving humans. In all experimental studies included, cannabinoids exerted antitumoral activity in vitro and/or antitumoral evidence in vivo in several models of tumor cells and tumors. The antitumor activity included: antiproliferative effects (cell cycle arrest), decreased viability and cell death by toxicity, apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, as well as antiangiogenic and antimigratory effects. Antitumoral evidence included: reduction in tumor size, antiangiogenic, and antimetastatic effects. Additionally, most of the studies described that the canabinnoids exercised selective antitumoral action in several distinct tumor models. Thereby, normal cells used as controls were not affected. The safety factor in the cannabinoids' administration has also been demonstrated in vivo. The various cannabinoids tested in multiple tumor models showed antitumoral effects both in vitro and in vivo. These findings indicate that cannabinoids are promising compounds for the treatment of gliomas.

Background: Considered as a moment of psychological vulnerability, adolescence is remarkably a risky period for the development of psychopathologies, when the choice of the correct therapeutic approach is crucial for achieving remission. One of the researched therapies in this case is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The present study reviews the recent and classical aspects regarding ECT use in adolescents., Methods: Systematic review, performed in November 2012, conformed to the PRISMA statement., Results: From the 212 retrieved articles, only 39 were included in the final sample. The reviewed studies bring indications of ECT use in adolescents, evaluate the efficiency of this therapy regarding remission, and explore the potential risks and complications of the procedure., Conclusions: ECT use in adolescents is considered a highly efficient option for treating several psychiatric disorders, achieving high remission rates, and presenting few and relatively benign adverse effects. Risks can be mitigated by the correct use of the technique and are considered minimal when compared to the efficiency of ECT in treating psychopathologies.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of sonohysterography (HSN) and conventional transvaginal ultrasound (USG) in assessing the uterine cavity of infertile women candidate to assisted reproduction techniques (ART)., Methods: Comparative cross-sectional study with 120 infertile women candidate to ART, assisted at Centro de Reprodução Assistida (CRA) of Hospital Regional da Asa Sul (HRAS), Brasília - DF, from August 2009 to November 2010. Sonohysterography was performed with saline solution infusion in a close system. The sonohysterography finding was compared to previous USG results. The uterine cavity was considered abnormal when the endometrium was found to be thicker than expected during the menstrual cycle and when an endometrial polyp, a submucous myoma and an abnormal shape of the uterine cavity were observed. The statistical analysis was done using absolute frequencies, percentage values and the χ², with the level of significance set at 5%., Results: HSN revealed that 92 (76.7%) infertile women candidate to ART had a normal uterine cavity, while 28 (23.3%) had the following abnormalities: 15 polyps (12.5%), 9 cases of abnormal shape of the uterine cavity (7.5%), 6 submucous myomas (5%), 4 cases of inadequate endometrial thickness for the menstrual cycle phase (3.3%), and 2 cases of uterine septum (1.7%); 5 women presented more than one abnormality (4.2%). While USG showed alteration in the cavity only in 5 (4.2%) women, the sonohysterography confirmed 4 out of the 5 abnormalities shown by USG and detected an abnormal uterine cavity in 24 other women, who had not been detected by USG. This means that sonohysterography was able to detect more abnormalities in the uterine cavity than USG, with a statistically significant difference (p=0.002)., Conclusion: The sonohysterography was more accurate than USG in the assessment of the uterine cavity of this cohort of infertile women candidate to ART. The sonohysterography can be easily incorporated into the investigation of these women and contribute to reducing embryo implantation failures.

This in vitro study evaluated the marginal gap at the composite tooth/resin interface in class V cavities under the influence of two insertion techniques and a curing system by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). Forty enamel and dentin cavities were prepared on the buccal surface in bovine teeth with quadratic forms measuring 2 mm × 2 mm and depth of 1.5 mm. The teeth were then divided into four groups: group A, 10 cavities were restored in one increment, light cured by halogen light; group B, 10 cavities filled with bulk filling, light cured by the light emitting diodes (LED); group C, 10 cavities were restored by the incremental technique, light cured by halogen light; group D, 10 cavities were restored by the incremental technique, light cured by the LED. The teeth underwent the polishing procedure and were analyzed by AFM for tooth/restoration interface evaluation. The data were compared between groups using the nonparametric Kruskall-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (p < 0.05). The results showed a statistically significant difference between groups A and B and groups A and C. It was concluded that no insertion and polymerization technique was able to completely seal the cavity.

Aim: This study evaluated the surface roughness patterns of two resin-based composite restorative materials, a microhybrid (Filtek Z250, 3M ESPE) and a nanofilled (Filtek Supreme, 3M ESPE), subjected to a regimen that simulated dynamic pH-cycling and toothbrushing., Methods and Materials: Twelve standardized cylindrical specimens of each resin-based composite material were prepared, finished, and mechanically polished. The experimental units were submitted to a pH-cycling regimen followed by 50,000 toothbrushing cycles, after which the surface roughness was measured using an atomic force microscope (AFM). AFM surface roughness was evaluated at three intervals: (1) immediately after specimen preparation (baseline), (2) after pH-cycling, and (3) after simulated toothbrushing. The results were then analyzed using a split-plot design and followed by linear regression and a Tukey's test at a significance level of p<0.05., Results: The results obtained indicated that simulated toothbrushing provoked a remarkable increase in surface roughness for both types of composite resins tested (p=0.0031). However, pH-cycling did not alter the surface of the composite under the conditions of this experiment., Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that simulated toothbrushing was capable of increasing the surface roughness of the microhybrid (Filtek Z250) and the nanofilled (Filtek Supreme) composites tested., Clinical Significance: Surface roughness of nanofilled and microhybrid composites is significantly increased after toothbrushing, although pH-cycling, as tested in this study, does not appear to affect the morphology of either composite material.

This report aimed to assess the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in 708 swine matrices in Nova Mutum and Diamantino in the state of Mato Grosso, Central-West Brazil. Serum samples were examined by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). It was found a seroprevalence of 12.8%, considering titers ≥ 64. Therefore, the data reinforce the need for appropriate management of swine raising to minimize the risk of infection of pigs with T. gondii.

Active hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in two Brazilian swine herds were investigated. In study 1, 26 piglets born to five anti-HEV positive sows were monitored from birth to post-partum week 22. Serum samples were screened for the detection of anti-HEV antibodies and a nested RT-PCR used to examine the HEV genome. Passive transfer of immunity was confirmed. At week 22, 23/26 (88.4%) of the piglets had seroconverted. Genome amplification was achieved in a feces pool from one holding pen and in one serum sample, both from 13-week-old animals. Histology was suggestive of a potential HEV infection. In the second study, 47 piglets born to six anti-HEV-positive sows were monitored after weaning. Seroconversion was determined in eight animals at 6-8 weeks of age. HEV RNA was detected in two pools from a holding pen for 12-16-week-old animals. Brazilian isolates were classified as genotype 3. This is the first molecular evidence of HEV infection in Brazilian pig herds.