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Dillan Cunha Amaral,1 Adriano Henrique Gomes Menezes,1 Luan Cavalcante Vilaça Lima,1 Adriano Cypriano Faneli,2 Pedro Fernandes Souza Neto,3 Ana Laura Caiado Canedo,4 Denisse Josefina Mora-Paez,5 Jaime Augusto Ferreira Guedes,5 Ricardo Noguera Louzada,1 Bruno Machado Fontes6 1Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; 2Faculdade de Medicina, Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brazil; 3Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil; 4Ophthalmology, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Goiânia, GO, Brazil; 5Glaucoma Research Center, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA; 6Ophthalmology, Opty Group, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilCorrespondence: Dillan Cunha Amaral, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco K - Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - 2° andar, Sala 49 - Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21044-020, Brazil, Email dillanc.amaral@gmail.comIntroduction: Corneal ectasia leads to progressive irregular corneal curvature and reduced visual acuity.Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) for managing corneal ectasia resulting from refractive laser surgery (RSL).Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were realized according to PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases for studies on CXL in patients with ectasia after RLS. The outcomes of interest included visual acuity, refractive outcomes, topographic parameters (Kmax, index surface variance (ISV), index of Vertical Asymmetry (IVA), keratoconus index (KI), central keratoconus index (CKI), index of height asymmetry (IHA), index of height decentration (IHD) and Rmin (minimum sagittal curvature)), central corneal thickness, endothelial cell count, and possible adverse events. Statistical analysis was performed using the R software (version 4.2.3, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria).Results: 15 studies encompassing 421 patients (512 eyes) were included. The mean age was 32.03 ± 4.4 years. The pooled results showed a stable uncorrected visual acuity post-CXL, with a significant improvement in corrected distance visual acuity (SMD = 0.09; 95% CI: − 0.07 to 0.26). The spherical equivalent decreased significantly (SMD = − 0.09; 95% CI: − 0.35, − 0.02). The topographic parameter Kmax decreased significantly (SMD = 0.15; 95% CI:0.01 to 0.28); however, the other parameters, ISV, IVA, KI, CKI, IHA, IHD, and Rmin, did not change significantly. Central corneal thickness decreased significantly (SMD = 0.24; 95% CI:0.07 to 0.41), and the endothelial cell count remained stable The complications were rare.Conclusion: CXL is a safe and effective technique for managing corneal ectasia after RLS.Keywords: cross-linking, corneal ectasia, laser refractive surgery, meta-analysis, systematic review

Objective: The present systematic review with a network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to evaluate the effect of high-power lasers, associated or not with fluoride compounds, to control and prevent Erosive Tooth Wear (ETW)., Methods: The review was registered in the PROSPERO (CRD42021242547) and followed the PICO question: P (population): enamel and dentin substrate; I (Intervention): high-power laser irradiation, associated or not with fluoride compounds; C (Control): no-treatment; and O (Outcomes): prevention/control of ETW. The electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE were searched. Two independent reviewers evaluated in vitro and in situ studies. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoBDEMAT tool. The estimated treatment effect derived from direct and indirect comparisons were analyzed and the difference between these effects was calculated based on the data of enamel and dentin surface loss (in μm)., Results: A total of 179 studies were retrieved and after the exclusion of duplicates, 103 studies had their titles and abstracts evaluated. Thirty-nine studies had their full text analyzed for data extraction (Cohen Kappa = 0.88). For sound enamel, the laser irradiation (L), fluoride application (F) and, the association of treatments (L + F) promoted higher protection than No-Treatment (NT). For eroded enamel, L + F and F did not differ, but both treatments reduced surface loss compared to NT and L. For sound and eroded dentin, treatments with laser increased surface loss., Conclusions: Although a high-power laser has some potential to prevent erosive tooth wear, this effect is not better than that of standard fluoride. The use of laser in the management of dentin erosive wear can be harmful., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate color change in ceramic veneers luted to enamel with light-cured, dual-cured resin luting agents, or heated resin composites, as well as to evaluate microhardness and diametral tensile strength of these luting agents., Methods: For color analysis, 0.5 mm-thick leucite-reinforced glass ceramic veneers (IPS Empress CAD) were cemented onto 40 bovine dental blocks (n= 10) using RelyX Ultimate (RU) or RelyX Veneer (RV) resin-based luting agents, or Gradia Direct (GD) and Palfique Lx5 (P) heated resin composites. After luting, the specimens were subjected to thermocycling (10,000 cycles). Color analysis was performed before and after thermocycling (L*, a*, b*, ΔEab, ΔE₀₀). For the microhardness (Knoop) and diametral tensile strength tests, specimens (Ø 6 x 2 mm) were made (RU, RV, GD, and P). The specimens were subdivided into eight groups (n=10) and light-cured through different ceramic sheets (thicknesses of 0.5 mm or 1.5 mm). Knoop microhardness was performed on the top surface in a microhardness tester, and diametral tensile strength on a universal testing machine. Data were submitted to statistical analysis, using two-way ANOVA, Tukey, and Kruskal-Wallis tests (α= 0.05)., Results: For the general color alteration, there was no statistically significant difference between the luting materials (ΔEab, P= 0.57; ΔE₀₀, P= 0.50). There was no interaction between luting agent and thermocycling, for L* (P= 0.87), a* (P= 0.97) and b* (P= 0.95) values. Thermocycling significantly affected only the L* values (P= 0.047), which increased after the cycles. For microhardness, there was a statistically significant difference considering luting agents and ceramic thickness (P< 0.001). GD heated resin composite presented significantly lower microhardness values than all other materials, at both ceramic thicknesses. At a thickness of 1.5 mm, RU cement had higher microhardness values than RV and P materials. Diametral tensile strength was significantly influenced by luting agent (P= 0.01), but not by ceramic thickness (P= 0.55). Diametral tensile strength of GD resin composite was higher than that of the RU, but neither of these two materials differed from RV and P., Clinical Significance: Heated resin composite, used as luting agents, showed similar color stability to light-cured and dual-cure resin cements, however its microhardness was affected by ceramic thickness., Competing Interests: The authors declared no conflicts of interest., (Copyright©American Journal of Dentistry.)

Objectives: The present study aimed to synthesize toothpastes containing Beta- TriCalcium Phosphate (β-TCP) nanoparticles, functionalized with fluoride and tin, and test their ability to reduce erosive tooth wear (ETW)., Methods: Toothpastes were synthesized with the following active ingredients: 1100 ppm of fluoride (as sodium fluoride, F - ), 3500 ppm of tin (as stannous chloride, Sn 2+ ), and 800 ppm of β-TCP (Sizes a - 20 nm; and b - 100 nm). Enamel specimens were randomly assigned into the following groups (n = 10): 1. Commercial toothpaste; 2. Placebo; 3 F - ; 4. F - + β-TCP a ; 5. F - + β-TCP b ; 6. F - + Sn 2+ ; 7. F - + Sn 2+ + β-TCP a and 8. F - + Sn 2+ + β-TCP b . Specimens were subjected to erosion-abrasion cycling. Surface loss (in µm) was measured by optical profilometry. Toothpastes pH and available F - were also assessed., Results: Brushing with placebo toothpaste resulted in higher surface loss than brushing with F - (p = 0.005) and F - + β-TCP b (p = 0.007); however, there was no difference between F - and F - + β-TCP b (p = 1.00). Commercial toothpaste showed no difference from Placebo (p = 0.279). The groups F - , F - + β-TCP a , F - + β-TCP b , F - + Sn 2+ , F - + Sn 2+ + β-TCP a and F - + Sn 2+ + β-TCP b were not different from the commercial toothpaste (p > 0.05). Overall, the addition of β-TCP reduced the amount of available fluoride in the experimental toothpastes. The pH of toothpastes ranged from 4.97 to 6.49., Conclusions: Although toothpaste containing β-TCP nanoparticles protected enamel against dental erosion-abrasion, this effect was not superior to the standard fluoride toothpaste (commercial). In addition, the functionalization of β-TCP nanoparticles with fluoride and tin did not enhance their protective effect., Clinical Significance: Although β-TCP nanoparticles have some potential to control Erosive Tooth Wear, their incorporation into an experimental toothpaste appears to have a protective effect that is similar to a commercial fluoride toothpaste., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) occupies a critical node in intermediary metabolism, prompting interest in its utility as a therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and cardiometabolic disease. Dysregulated nutrient metabolism in adipose tissue is a prominent feature of obesity pathophysiology, yet the functional role of adipose MPC has not been explored. We investigated whether the MPC shapes the adaptation of adipose tissue to dietary stress in female and male mice., Methods: The impact of pharmacological and genetic disruption of the MPC on mitochondrial pathways of triglyceride assembly (lipogenesis and glyceroneogenesis) was assessed in 3T3L1 adipocytes and murine adipose explants, combined with analyses of adipose MPC expression in metabolically compromised humans. Whole-body and adipose-specific glucose metabolism were subsequently investigated in male and female mice lacking adipocyte MPC1 (Mpc1 AD-/- ) and fed either standard chow, high-fat western style, or high-sucrose lipid restricted diets for 24 weeks, using a combination of radiolabeled tracers and GC/MS metabolomics., Results: Treatment with UK5099 or siMPC1 impaired the synthesis of lipids and glycerol-3-phosphate from pyruvate and blunted triglyceride accumulation in 3T3L1 adipocytes, whilst MPC expression in human adipose tissue was negatively correlated with indices of whole-body and adipose tissue metabolic dysfunction. Mature adipose explants from Mpc1 AD-/- mice were intrinsically incapable of incorporating pyruvate into triglycerides. In vivo, MPC deletion restricted the incorporation of circulating glucose into adipose triglycerides, but only in female mice fed a zero fat diet, and this associated with sex-specific reductions in tricarboxylic acid cycle pool sizes and compensatory transcriptional changes in lipogenic and glycerol metabolism pathways. However, whole-body adiposity and metabolic health were preserved in Mpc1 AD-/- mice regardless of sex, even under conditions of zero dietary fat., Conclusions: These findings highlight the greater capacity for mitochondrially driven triglyceride assembly in adipose from female versus male mice and expose a reliance upon MPC-gated metabolism for glucose partitioning in female adipose under conditions of dietary lipid restriction., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Snakes of the genus Boa are outstanding elements of the New World biota with a broad sociological influence on pop culture. Historically, several taxa have been recognized in the past 300 years, being mostly described in the early days of binomial nomenclature. As a rule, these taxa were recognized based on a suite of phenotypic characters mainly those from the external morphology. However, there is a huge disagreement with respect to the current taxonomy and available molecular phylogenies. In order to reconcile both lines of evidence, we investigate the phylogenetic reconstruction (using mitochondrial and nuclear genes) of the genus in parallel to the detailed study of some phenotypic systems from a geographically representative sample of the cis-Andean mainland Boa constrictor. We used cyt-b only (744bp) from 73 samples, and cyt-b, ND4, NTF3, and ODC partial sequences (in a total of 2305 bp) from 35 samples, comprising nine currently recognized taxa (species or subspecies), to infer phylogenetic relationships of boas. Topologies recovered along all the analyses and genetic distances obtained allied to a unique combination of morphological traits (colouration, pholidosis, meristic, morphometric, and male genitalia features) allowed us to recognize B. constrictor lato sensu, B. nebulosa, B. occidentalis, B. orophias and a distinct lineage from the eastern coast of Brazil, which we describe here as a new species, diagnosing it from the previously recognized taxa. Finally, we discuss the minimally necessary changes in the taxonomy of Boa constrictor complex; the value of some usually disregarded phenotypic character system; and we highlight the urgency of continuing environmental policy to preserve one of the most impacted Brazilian hotspots, the Atlantic Forest, which represents an ecoregion full of endemism., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Gonzalez 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 synthesize and characterize a novel dentin adhesive containing Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate (β-TCP) nanoparticles and test its ability to reduce dentin permeability (dP)., Methods: Experimental adhesives were prepared by mixing Bis-GMA, TEGDMA, HEMA (50/25/25 wt.%), photo-initiators, and inhibitors. The following groups were tested: Experimental adhesives without β-TCP (Exp.); with 10 wt.% β-TCP (Exp.10 wt.% β-TCP); with 15 wt.% β-TCP (Exp.15 wt.% β-TCP), Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (SBMP) and Clearfil SE Protect Bond (CFPB). Degree of conversion (DC%, 10 and 20 s); Flexural Strength (FS), Knoop Hardness (KHN), and Cell Viability (OD%) tests were performed. dP was evaluated by hydraulic conductance, using human dentin disks (n=12), at three-time intervals: post-EDTA (T 0 ); post-treatment (T 1 ); and post-erosion/abrasion cycling (T 2 ). Data were statistically analyzed (α=0.05)., Results: For all groups, exposure time for 20 s presented a higher DC% than for 10 s. For FS, filled adhesives did not differ from unfilled and from CFPB. Experimental adhesives did not differ among them and showed lower KHN than the commercial products. Cell viability did not differ among adhesives, except Exp. 15 wt.%, which showed lower OD% than Exp., Exp. 10% and, CFPB. For dP, only Exp.10 and 15 wt.% β-TCP did not present difference between the times T 1 and T 2 . After cycling, Exp.10 wt.% β-TCP presented lower permeability than Exp. and CFPB., Conclusions: The incorporation of 10 wt.% β-TCP nanoparticles into the resin-based dental material did not affect its mechanical properties and biocompatibility, and promoted the greatest reduction in dentin permeability, sustaining this effect under erosive/abrasive challenges., Clinical Significance: A novel resin-based dental material containing β-TCP nanoparticles was able to reduce dentin permeability, maintaining its efficacy after erosive/abrasive challenges. The synthesized material did not affect dental pulp cell viability and might be promising for other conditions that require dental remineralization, such as tooth wear and dental caries., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Difficult airway management in pediatrics during anesthesia represents a major challenge, requiring a careful approach, advanced technical expertise, and accurate protocols. The task force of the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology (SBA) presents a report containing updated recommendations for the management of difficult airways in children and neonates. These recommendations have been developed based on the consensus of a panel of experts, with the objective of offering strategies to overcome challenges during airway management in pediatric patients. Grounded in evidence published in international guidelines and expert opinions, the report highlights crucial steps for the appropriate management of difficult airways in pediatrics, encompassing assessment, preparation, positioning, pre-oxygenation, minimizing trauma, and, paramountly, the maintenance of arterial oxygenation. The report also delves into additional strategies involving the use of advanced tools, such as video laryngoscopy, flexible intubating bronchoscopy, and supraglottic devices. Emphasis is placed on the simplicity of implementing the outlined recommendations, with a focus on the significance of continuous education, training through realistic simulations, and familiarity with the latest available technologies. These practices are deemed essential to ensure procedural safety and contribute to the enhancement of anesthesia outcomes in pediatrics., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier España S.L.U.)

Our group has shown in several papers that kinin B1 receptor (B1R) is involved in metabolic adaptations, mediating glucose homeostasis and interfering in leptin and insulin signaling. Since catecholamines are involved with metabolism management, we sought to evaluate B1R role in catecholamine synthesis/secretion. Using B1R global knockout mice, we observed increased basal epinephrine content, accompanied by decreased hepatic glycogen content and increased glucosuria. When these mice were challenged with maximal intensity exercise, they showed decreased epinephrine and norepinephrine response, accompanied by disturbed glycemic responses to effort and poor performance. This phenotype was related to alterations in adrenal catecholamine synthesis: increased basal epinephrine concentration and reduced norepinephrine content in response to exercise, as well decreased gene expression and protein content of tyrosine hydroxylase and decreased gene expression of dopamine beta hydroxylase and kinin B2 receptor. We conclude that the global absence of B1R impairs catecholamine synthesis, interfering with glucose metabolism at rest and during maximal exercise., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors of this manuscript declare that they have no conflicting interest in the publication of this article., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Despite preventive strategies, vomiting is an adverse event affecting patients with cancer. However, literature on the incidence and risk factors for vomiting in pediatric patients with cancer are scarce., Aim: To assess the incidence and risk factors for vomiting within 24 h and goodness of fit for the Eberhart score in pediatric patients with hematologic cancers after receiving intrathecal chemotherapy under deep sedation., Methods: This prospective cohort study included patients under 20 years of age with hematologic cancers who were scheduled to undergo intrathecal chemotherapy under anesthesia. The primary outcome was the occurrence of vomiting within 24 h after the end of anesthesia. Sociodemographic and procedure data and underlying diseases were collected. Patients were monitored during the procedure, in the postanesthesia care unit, and the day after (by phone call)., Results: A total of 139 patients were included, and the incidence of vomiting was 30.9% within 24 h after intrathecal chemotherapy under anesthesia, with 90.7% of vomiting prior to 6 h. Prophylactic ondansetron was administered prior to the procedure to 45.3% of patients. Risk factors for vomiting were female gender (hazard ratio: 2.47, 95% confidence interval: 1.35-4.53, p: .003), consolidation phase of treatment (hazard ratio: 2.16, 95% confidence interval: 1.10-4.24, p: .025), and history of kinetosis (hazard ratio: 2.49, 95% confidence interval: 1.31-4.70, p: .005). Incidence of vomit was higher than estimated by the Eberhart score distribution (observed incidence in patients with a score of zero: 33.3%; with a score of one: 28.8%; with a score of two: 60%)., Conclusion: A high incidence of vomiting was observed within 24 h after intrathecal chemotherapy under propofol deep sedation. Risk factors for this outcome were established (being female, consolidation phase of treatment, and previous kinetosis), and evidence suggested that the Eberhart score was not suitable for the studied population., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of bleaching techniques, including or not the use of violet light (405-410 nm), on resin-based composites' color, surface roughness, nanohardness, and elastic modulus., Methods: Ninety-six disk-shaped specimens (12 mm x 2 mm; n = 12) were prepared using Filtek Z350 XT (Z350) and IPS Empress Direct (ED) resin-based composites. After 24 h, specimens were stained in red wine for 28 days. After staining, specimens were divided into four experimental groups: 40 % Hydrogen Peroxide (HP); Violet Light (VL); 40 % Hydrogen Peroxide associated with Violet Light (HP+VL), and a control group - no treatment (NT). Specimens were evaluated at six experimental times: initial (24 h after light curing); after staining and after the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th bleaching sessions regarding the color change (ΔE 00 , L*, a*, b*, and WI D ); roughness (Ra), nanohardness and elastic modulus (GPa). Two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures was performed (α=0.05 %)., Results: There was a statistically significant difference between staining and the 1st bleaching session for all ED groups (p<0.05). After the last bleaching session, there were no differences between the experimental and the control groups of both resin-based composites. Bleaching using violet light did not change the roughness, nanohardness and elastic modulus of the tested resin-based composites (p>0.05)., Conclusions: Although hydrogen peroxide and violet light remove pigments from resin-based composites without affecting their surface roughness, nanohardness, and elastic modulus, the color change was similar to the one obtained by immersion in distilled water., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Given the importance of the kinin B1 receptor in insulin and leptin hormonal regulation, which in turn is crucial in maternal adaptations to ensure nutrient supply to the fetus, we investigated the role of this receptor in maternal metabolism and fetoplacental development. Wild-type and kinin B1 receptor-deficient (B1KO) female mice were mated with male mice of the opposite genotype. Consequently, the entire litter was heterozygous for kinin B1 receptor, ensuring that there would be no influence of offspring genotype on the maternal phenotype. Maternal kinin B1 receptor blockade reduces adiponectin secretion by adipose tissue ex vivo , consistent with lower adiponectin levels in pregnant B1KO mice. Furthermore, fasting insulinemia also increased, which was associated with placental insulin resistance, reduced placental glycogen accumulation, and heavier offspring. Therefore, we propose the combination of chronic hyperinsulinemia and reduced adiponectin secretion in B1KO female mice create a maternal obesogenic environment that results in heavier pups., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Introduction: Eccentric cycling (ECCCYC) has attracted considerable interest due to its potential applicability for exercise treatment/training of patients with poor exercise tolerance as well as healthy and trained individuals. Conversely, little is known about the acute physiological responses to this exercise modality, thus challenging its proper prescription. This study aimed to provide precise estimates of the acute physiological responses to ECCCYC in comparison to traditional concentric cycling (CONCYC)., Evidence Acquisition: Searches were performed until November 2021 using the PubMed, Embase, and ScienceDirect databases. Studies that examined individuals' cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual responses to ECCCYC and CONCYC sessions were included. Bayesian multilevel meta-analysis models were used to estimate the population mean difference between acute physiological responses from ECCCYC and CONCYC bouts. Twenty-one studies were included in this review., Evidence Synthesis: The meta-analyses showed that ECCCYC induced lower cardiorespiratory (i.e., V̇O2, V̇E, and HR), metabolic (i.e., [BLa]), and perceptual (i.e., RPE) responses than CONCYC performed at the same absolute power output, while greater cardiovascular strain (i.e., greater increases in HR, Q, MAP, [norepinephrine], and lower SV) was detected when compared to CONCYC performed at the same V̇O2., Conclusions: The prescription of ECCCYC based on workloads used in the CONCYC sessions may be considered safe and, therefore, feasible for the rehabilitation of individuals with poor exercise tolerance. However, the prescription of ECCCYC based on the V̇O2 obtained during CONCYC sessions should be conducted with caution, especially in clinical settings, since there is a high probability of additional cardiovascular overload in this condition.

Purpose: Soft tissue sarcomas are rare malignant tumors. Liposarcoma constitutes the most frequent histological subtype of retroperitoneal sarcoma. The prognosis of soft tissue sarcomas depends on clinical and histologic characteristics., Objective: Evaluate variables that may be related to the overall and local recurrence-free survival in patients with retroperitoneal liposarcoma and discuss the need for visceral resection en-bloc for tumors., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the medical records of 60 patients seen between 1997 and 2017 who underwent surgical resection of retroperitoneal liposarcoma., Results: The overall survival rate at 5 years of follow-up was 75.22% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58-0.86). The probability of a local recurrence-free survival at 5 years of follow-up was 26.04% (95% CI 0.11-0.44). The multivariate analysis showed that dedifferentiated or pleomorphic tumors and R2/fragmented resection were associated with a shorter time to recurrence. No other characteristics markedly influenced the overall survival (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Patients with dedifferentiated or pleomorphic tumors and incomplete resection were associated with higher local recurrence rates than others. This study reinforces the need for complete and en-bloc resection with organs when there is clear involvement or technical surgical difficulty to maintain the tumor integrity., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.)

Urban development creates several inadvertent impacts related to urban climate and human biometeorology. Monitoring systems based on microcontrollers are slowly emerging as an alternative to conventional devices for monitoring outdoor thermal comfort (OTC), thus overcoming limitations imposed by the high costs of commercially available equipment. This review was conducted using the Scopus database, searching for articles and conference papers according to a pre-defined search string, which included the terms "microcontrollers" and "human thermal comfort" up to 2022. From a total sample of 113 articles, 52 papers met the desired criteria (written in English, published in peer-reviewed journals, and within the given time frame). Results show a growing, yet timid trend of published material on low-cost, open-source technologies for diverse applications in human biometeorology., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to International Society of Biometeorology.)

We previously reported that female rats placed on a diet containing refined carbohydrates (HCD) resulted in obesity and reproductive abnormalities, such as high serum LH concentration and abnormal ovarian function. However, the impacts at the hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) function, specifically regarding pathways linked to reproductive axis modulation are unknown. In this study, we assessed whether subacute feeding with HCD results in abnormal reproductive control in the HP axis. Female rats were fed with HCD for 15 days and reproductive HP axis morphophysiology was assessed. HCD reduced hypothalamic mRNA expression (Kiss1, Lepr, and Amhr2) and increased pituitary LHβ+ cells. These changes likely contribute to the increase in serum LH concentration observed in HCD. Blunted estrogen negative feedback was observed in HCD, with increased kisspeptin protein expression in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH), lower LHβ+ cells and LH concentration in ovariectomized (OVX)+HCD rats. Thus, these data suggest that HCD feeding led to female abnormal reproductive control of HP axis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CARTp) is an anorexigenic neuropeptide whose receptor is undisclosed. Previously, we reported the specific binding of CART(61-102) to pheochromocytoma PC12 cells, where CART(61-102) affinity and the number of binding sites per cell corresponded to ligand-receptor binding. Recently, Yosten et al. designated orphan GPR160 as the CARTp receptor, because the GPR160 antibody abolished neuropathic pain and anorexigenic effects induced by CART(55-102) and exogenous CART(55-102) coimmunoprecipitated with GPR160 in KATOIII cells. As no direct evidence that CARTp is a ligand for GPR160 has been described, we decided to verify this hypothesis by testing CARTp affinity to the GPR160 receptor. We investigated the GPR160 expression in PC12 cells since it is cell line known to specifically bind CARTp. Moreover, we examined the specific CARTp binding in THP1 cells, with high endogenous GPR160 expression and GPR160-transfected cell lines U2OS and U-251 MG. In PC12 cells, the GPR160 antibody did not compete for specific binding with 125 I-CART(61-102) or with 125 I-CART(55-102), and GPR160 mRNA expression and GPR160 immunoreactivity were not detected. Moreover, THP1 cells did not show any 125 I-CART(61-102) or 125 I-CART(55-102) specific binding despite GPR160 detection by fluorescent immunocytochemistry (ICC). Finally, no 125 I-CART(61-102) or 125 I-CART(55-102) specific binding in the GPR160-transfected cell lines U2OS and U-251 MG, selected due to their negligible endogenous expression of GPR160, was detected, despite the detection of GPR160 by fluorescent ICC. Our binding studies clearly demonstrated that GPR160 cannot be a receptor for CARTp. Further studies are needed to identify true CARTp receptors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Despite functional goat milk products having emerged due to their importance for human nutrition and health, few studies have assessed the safety of consumption of goat dairy products containing potentially probiotic autochthonous lactic acid bacteria supplemented with prebiotic carbohydrates. Aiming this field, this study evaluated the safety of goat's milk fermented with Streptococcus thermophilus QGE, the autochthonous Limosilactobacillus mucosae CNPC007 culture, and the prebiotic inulin, through single- and repeated-dose oral toxicity tests (SDT and RDT, respectively) in animals. Ten female Swiss Webster mice were used for SDT evaluation - 2 groups, SDTc (20 mL/kg of filtered water) and SDTt (20 mL/kg of fermented milk) - and 40 Wistar rats for RDT - RDT3, RDT6, and RDT12 (treated with fermented milk at doses of 3 mL/kg, 6 mL/kg, and 12 mL/kg, respectively) and also RDTc (12 mL/kg of filtered water). For SDT, no signs of mortality or toxicity were observed, and the animals maintained the expected weight gain and feed intake. The RDT trials did not show mortality or signs of toxicity, as well as no change in body weight and organs, in the hematological and biochemical parameters, and also in relation to morphology and histology. Since the fermented milk did not cause any toxic effect in the conditions evaluated, it can be said that its no-adverse effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be higher than 20 mL/kg/day. Thus, the fermented milk with L. mucosae CNPC007 and inulin was considered to be of low toxicity, safe for use in rodents, and allowed for use in further studies., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To compare the effect of whitening toothpastes with different mechanisms of action on discolored teeth subjected to additional staining/or not., Methods: One hundred twenty tooth specimens were stained for 14 days (staining broth under constant agitation and pH=7) and then allocated into the groups of toothpastes with different whitening ingredients (n=10): 1. Regular - Colgate Total 12 Clean Mint; 2. CLWI - Colgate Luminous White Instant (blue pigment); 3. CLWA - Colgate Luminous White Advanced Expert (hydrogen peroxide); 4. CLWAC - Colgate Luminous White Activated Charcoal (activated charcoal); 5. OB3D - Oral-B 3D WHITE Brilliant Fresh (abrasive); 6. TW - Teeth Whitening (charcoal powder). Specimens were submitted to two experimental models: A. Daily staining-toothbrush cycling: staining solution (5min), toothbrushing (45 strokes) and artificial saliva (3h), 2x/day, for 5 days; B. Only toothbrushing (30.000 brushing strokes). Color change was determined with a spectrophotometer (CIEDE2000 and Whiteness Index for Dentistry - WI D ) and statistically analyzed (α=0.05)., Results: For both models, ΔE00 and Δa did not differ significantly between the whitening toothpastes and the regular. All groups showed a decrease in tooth yellowness (-Δb) and an increase in WI D . Group Teeth Whitening exhibited a decrease in luminosity (-ΔL). In model A, Groups did not differ significantly from the Regular in terms of ΔL (p=0.35) and Δb (p=0.74). Groups CLWI and OB3D exhibited a decrease in luminosity. Reduced redness (-Δa) occurred only in Group CLWI. In Model B, Groups OB3D (p=0.021) and CLWA (p=0.001) exhibited higher change in luminosity than in Group Teeth Whitening. All exhibited increased redness (+Δa) and lightness (+ΔL), except the Regular, CLWAC, and Teeth Whitening. Group OB3D had a significantly higher change in Δb than the Regular (p=0.021)., Conclusions: Irrespective of the mechanism of action, all toothpastes reduced tooth yellowness and promoted similar overall color change. Exposure of the teeth to additional staining during the toothbrushing cycles did not influence the effect of the whitening toothpastes., Clinical Significance: Whitening toothpastes should be tested in conditions that more closely simulate their use in a clinical scenario, in which alternate cycles of staining and brushing occur on a daily basis. However, even in such conditions, they were unable to promote a color change that differed from that of a regular toothpaste., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Anthocyanins are one of the natural pigments that humanity has employed the most and can substitute synthetic food dyes, which are considered toxic. They are responsible for most purple, blue, and red pigment nuances in tubers, fruits, and flowers. However, they have some limitations in light, pH, oxygen, and temperature conditions. Combining biomolecules and inorganic materials such as clay minerals can help to reverse these limitations. The present work aims to produce materials obtained using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in bentonite clay for incorporation and photostabilization of anthocyanin dye. Characterizations showed that the organic molecules were intercalated between the clay mineral layers, and the dye was successfully incorporated at a different pH. Visible light-driven photostability tests were performed with 200 h of irradiation, confirming that the organic-inorganic matrices were efficient enough to stabilize the quinoidal base form of anthocyanin. The pigment prepared at pH 10 was three-fold more stable than pH 4, showing that the increase in the synthesis pH promotes more stable colors, probably due to the stronger intermolecular interaction obtained under these conditions. Therefore, organobentonite hybrids allow to stabilize the fragile color coming from the quinoidal base form of anthocyanin dyes.

The Kallikrein-Kinin System (KKS) plays an important role in energy metabolism. We have previously described the importance of the kinin B1 receptor (B1R) in metabolism regulation. Considering that the liver manages the different energy demands of different body tissues, we combined two stressful conditions - fasting and voluntary exercise - to address how B1R may affect liver metabolism, focusing on mitochondrial function., Aims: To investigate how the kinin B1 receptor (B1R) modulates mitochondrial activity under stress conditions, focusing on the rate of energy expenditure and shift in metabolism., Main Methods: Wild-type and B1R-knockout (B1KO) male mice remained in a calorimetric cage with a wheel for 7 days; 48 h before euthanasia, half of the animals from both groups were submitted to fasting conditions. Mitochondrial activity, ketone bodies, and gene expression involving mitochondrial activity were evaluated., Key Findings: B1R modulates the mitochondrial activity under fasting and voluntary exercise, reducing the VO 2 expenditure and HEAT. B1KO animals who exercised and underwent fasting did not have increased glucose levels, suggesting a preference for lipids as an energy source. Moreover, these animals displayed RER around 0.8, which indicates a β-oxidation increment. Interestingly, the lack of B1R did not induce mitochondrial activity and biogenesis, suggesting interference in metabolism responsivity, a condition modulated by sirtuins under PGC-1α control., Significance: B1R modulates mitochondrial respiratory control ratios, which suggests metabolic suppression, influencing hepatic metabolism and, consequently, energy homeostasis., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To evaluate the volar cortical angle (VCA), the variation in lateral and intermediate columns, the shape and pattern of the watershed line (WL) of the distal radius and its correlation with locking volar plates available., Methods: 27 human cadaveric radial bones of the Department of Morphology and nine locking volar plates of six different companies were analyzed. VCA were measured from lateral and intermediate columns and their corresponding values on plates, as well as comparing the relief of radius and plates. In the WL analysis, we compared the standard format found on the radius and its equivalent on plates and divided into four types: biconvex, convex, ulnar convex and plan., Results: VCA varied between columns of the distal radius extremity. The mean in the lateral column was 153.40 degrees and 146.06 degrees in the intermediate. Four of nine plates showed no variation in volar angulation. From 27 distal radius, 13 showed convex pattern and 12 had biconvex, whereas most plates (seven of the nine analyzed) were biconvex drawing., Conclusion: Radial bone anatomy was variable. The intermediate column was, on average, steeper than lateral column. Synthes®-2 plate presented the closest design to the anatomy of the distal end of the radial bone, followed by Newclip®-2 plate. Level of Evidence II, Anatomic and Descriptive Study., Competing Interests: All authors declare no potential conflict of interest related to this article.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of desensitizing toothpastes (D), their whitening versions (DW) and whitening toothpastes (W) on tooth color change., Methods: Tooth specimens were allocated into 11 groups (n = 10): 1. Artificial saliva (control); 2. Sensodyne Repair & Protect (SRP-D); 3. Sensodyne Repair & Protect Whitening (SRP-DW); 4. Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief (CSPR-D); 5. Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Real White (CSPR-DW); 6. Colgate Total 12 (CT12); 7. Colgate Total 12 Whitening (CT12-W); 8. Sensodyne True White (ST-W); 9. Curaprox Black Is White (CB-W); 10.Oral-B 3D White Perfection (OB3D-W) and 11. Erosion-only. They were submitted to two models: A. abrasion; B. erosion/abrasion. Color change (ΔE 00 ), ΔL, Δa, and Δb were determined with a spectrophotometer. Data were statistically evaluated (α = 0.05)., Results: For both models, ∆E 00 of D did not differ significantly from DW. An overall decrease in luminosity (-∆L) and increase (+∆b) in yellowness of the tooth occurred. In abrasion, all groups reduced redness (-∆a) and only SRP-DW differed from control (p = 0.016), but for ∆E 00 , ∆L and ∆b, all toothpastes did not differ from the control. In erosion/abrasion, CB-W showed significantly lower ∆E 00 and ∆b than the control (∆E 00 : p = 0.026; ∆b: p = 0.005) and SRP-D (∆E 00 : p = 0.028; ∆b: p = 0.025). Only SRP-DW, CSPR-DW, ST-W, CB-W, and erosion-only had increased redness (+∆a), but none differed from control., Conclusions: The toothpastes did neither promote whitening nor avoid the yellowish aspect of the tooth after abrasion and erosion-abrasion, regardless of their claim., Clinical Significance: Desensitizing and/or whitening toothpastes induced similar changes on tooth color, without promoting whitening effect or reduction in its yellowish aspect., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This study synthesized and tested experimental gels containing fluoride (F-) and stannous (Sn2+) ions for the control of dental erosion. Enamel and dentin polished specimens were eroded (1% citric acid solution, 10 min) and randomly allocated into 5 groups (n=10): Placebo - Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HMC) gel; F+Sn+HMC - 7,500 ppm F- / 15,000 ppm Sn2+; F+HMC - 7,500 ppm F-; Commercial acidulated phosphate fluoride gel (12,300 ppm F-); and Control - no treatment. After treatment (applied for 60 s), specimens underwent an erosion-remineralization cycling (5 min in 0.3% citric acid solution, 60 min in artificial saliva, 4×/day, 20 days). Surface loss (SL, in µm) was determined after the 5th, 10th and 20th days of cycling (α=0.05). For enamel, after 5 and 10 days, F+Sn+HMC presented the lowest SL, which did not differ from the commercial gel. After 20 days, no differences were found between commercial, F+HMC, and F+Sn+HMC groups. Placebo did not differ from the control at any time points, and both groups presented the highest SL when compared to the other groups. For dentin, on the 5th day, F+Sn+HMC, F+HMC and commercial did not differ significantly, showing lower SL than the control and the placebo. On the 10th day, F+Sn+HMC and commercial presented the lowest SL compared to control and placebo. After 20 days, only the commercial gel showed lower SL than the control and placebo. Thus, the experimental F+Sn+HMC gel was able to control the progression of tooth erosion.

The liver has an essential role in responding to metabolic demands under stress conditions. The organ stores, releases, and recycles metabolism-related substrates. However, it is not clear how the Kallikrein-Kinin System modulates metabolic flexibility shift between energetic sources., Aims: To analyze the hepatic metabolism in kinin B1 receptor deficient mice (B1KO mice) under fasting conditions., Main Methods: WT and B1KO male mice were allocated in a calorimetric cage for 7 days and 48 h before the euthanasia, half of the animals of both groups were under fasting conditions. Biochemical parameters, ketone bodies (KB), and gene expression involving the liver energetic metabolism genes were evaluated., Key Findings: Kinin B1 receptor (B1R) modulates the metabolic shift under fasting conditions, reducing the VO 2 expenditure. A preference for carbohydrates as an energetic source is suggested, as the B1KO group did not display an increase in KB in the serum. Moreover, the B1KO animals displayed higher serum triglycerides concentration compared to WT fasting mice. Interestingly, the lack of B1R induces the increase expression of enzymes from the glycolysis and lipolysis pathways under the fed. However, under fasting, the enzymatic expression of gluconeogenesis, glyceroneogenesis, and ketogenesis of these pathways does not occur, suggesting an absence of the shift metabolism responsivity, and this condition is modulated by PDK4 under FOXO1 control., Significance: B1R has an important role in the hepatic glucose metabolism, which in turn influences the energetic metabolism, and in long-term outcomes, such as in the decrease in hepatic glycogen stores and in the enhancement of hepatic metabolism., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Galleria mellonella is a model that uses adult larvae to assess the prophylactic, therapeutic, and acute toxic potential of substances. Given their benefits, G. mellonella models are being employed in investigations of systemic infections caused by highly resistant microorganisms. Among the multiresistant microorganisms, we highlight Candida auris, a yeast with high mortality potential and resistance. Among the potential drugs, amphotericin B (AmB) stands out; however, microbial resistance episodes and side effects caused by low selectivity have been observed. The incorporation of AmB into a nanoemulsion (NE) can contribute to the control of C. auris infections and resistance as well as decrease the side effects of this drug. This study aimed to develop AmB-loaded NE (NEA) and evaluate its antifungal action against C. auris in G. mellonella. NEs were obtained by using sunflower oil and cholesterol as the oily phase, polyoxyethylene 20 cetyl ether (Brij® 58) and soy phosphatidylcholine as the surfactant system, and PBS buffer as the aqueous phase. An alternative in vivo assay with G. mellonella for acute toxicity and infection was performed using adult stage larvae (200 mg to 400 mg). According to the obtained results, NE and NEA exhibited sizes of 43 and 48 nm, respectively. The PDI was 0.285 and 0.389 for NE and NEA, respectively. The ZP showed electronegativity for both systems, with -3.77 mV and -3.80 mV for NE and NEA, respectively. Acute toxicity showed that free AmB had greater acute toxicity potential than NEA. The survival assay showed high larval viability. NEA had a better antifungal profile against systemic infection in G. mellonella. It is concluded that the alternative model proved to be an efficient in vivo assay to determine the toxicity and evaluate the therapeutic property of free AmB and NEA in systemic infections caused by C. auris., 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 © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that involves cognitive and motor dysfunctions due to hepatic failure. The clinical and experimental studies suggest that the angiotensin (Ang) converting enzyme (ACE), Ang II, and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R), which compose the classical pathway of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), exacerbate neuroinflammation in different neurologic diseases. Conversely, Ang-(1-7), ACE2, and Mas receptor, which integrate the alternative RAS axis, have been shown as promising therapeutic targets in neuropsychiatric disorders, leading to neuroprotection., Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential participation of the RAS components in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced HE in mice., Methods: We also evaluated the levels of neurotrophic factors, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and chemokine in the central nervous system of TAA-induced HE in mice. Mice were submitted to acute liver failure induced by TAA administration by intraperitoneal route. Measurements of RAS components (ACE, Ang II, ACE2 and Ang1-7) and neurotrophic factors (BDNF, GDNF and NGF) were obtained by ELISA assay. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-12p70) and the chemokine (CCL2) were quantified by cytometric bead array. The student's t-test was applied for statistical analysis., Results: Mice presented increased cortical levels of ACE, while Ang-(1-7) levels were decreased in cortical and hippocampal samples compared to controls. Moreover, HE mice had an increase in the Ang II/Ang-(1-7) ratio along with reduced levels of neural growth factor (NGF) in the prefrontal cortex. They also showed elevated levels of IFN-γ and CCL2 in the prefrontal cortex and of TNF, IL-6, IL-12, and CCL2 in the hippocampus compared with controls., Conclusion: This study suggested that the reduction of components of the alternative RAS axis was associated with the deleterious effects of neuroinflammation and lower neuroprotective effects of NGF during TAA-induced HE., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The potential use of amino acids by ruminal microorganisms converting them into microbial protein for ruminants makes it challenging to supplement these nutrients in an accessible form in animals' diets. Several strategies to protect amino acids from ruminal degradation were reported, producing amino acids available for the protein used in the intestine called "bypass." The intercalation of biomolecules in clay mineral minerals has gained notoriety due to its ability to support, protect, transport, physicochemical properties and non-toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the incorporation of L-lysine (Lys), L-methionine (Met), and L-tryptophan (Trp) amino acids in the clay minerals sepiolite (Sep) and Veegum ® (Veg) using the adsorption method. The characterization techniques of X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy indicated the presence of biomolecules in the inorganic matrices. Elemental and thermal analyzes monitored the percentages of incorporated amino acids. They showed better incorporation capacities for Veg, such as Met-Veg < Lys-Veg < Trp-Veg and Lys-Sep < Met-Sep < Trp-Sep for sepiolite, except for the incorporation of Met. Matrices provide a promising alternative for planning the administration of biomolecules, using essential amino acids as models, and may offer an alternative to improve functional diet strategies.

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug, but its side effects are a major limiting factor. Nephrotoxicity occurs in one third of patients undergoing cisplatin treatment. The acute tubular injury caused by cisplatin often leads to a defective repair process, which translates into chronic renal disorders. In this way, cisplatin affects tubular cells, and maladaptive tubules regeneration will ultimately result in tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Kinins are well known for being important peptides in the regulation of inflammatory stimuli, and kinin B1 receptor deficiency and antagonism have been shown to be beneficial against acute cisplatin nephrotoxicity. This study aimed to analyze the effects of kinin B1 receptor deletion and antagonism against repeated cisplatin-induced chronic renal dysfunction and fibrosis. Both the deletion and the antagonism of B1 receptor exacerbated cisplatin-induced chronic renal dysfunction. Moreover, the inhibition of B1 receptor increased tubular injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis after repeated treatment with cisplatin. The balance between M1/M2 macrophage polarization plays an important role in renal fibrosis. Kinin B1 receptor antagonism had no impact on M1 markers when compared to cisplatin. However, YM1, an M2 marker and an important molecule for the wound healing process, was decreased in mice treated with kinin B1 receptor antagonist, compared to cisplatin alone. Endothelin-1 levels were also increased in mice with B1 receptor inhibition. This study showed that kinin B1 receptor inhibition exacerbated cisplatin-induced chronic renal dysfunction and fibrosis, associated with reduced YM1 M2 marker expression, thus possibly affecting the wound healing process.

Exposure to the obesogen tributyltin (TBT) alone or high carbohydrate diet (HCD) alone leads to obesity and reproductive complications, such as premature ovary failure (POF) features. However, little is known about interactions between TBT and nutrition and their combined impact on reproduction. In this study, we assessed whether acute TBT and HCD exposure results in reproductive and metabolic irregularities. Female rats were treated with TBT (100 ng/kg/day) and fed with HCD for 15 days and metabolic and reproductive outcomes were assessed. TBT and HCD rats displayed metabolic impairments, such as increased adiposity, abnormal lipid profile and triglyceride and glucose (TYG) index, worsening adipocyte hypertrophy in HCD-TBT rats. These metabolic consequences were linked with reproductive disorders. Specifically, HCD-TBT rats displayed irregular estrous cyclicity, high follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, low anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, reduction in ovarian reserve, and corpora lutea (CL) number, with increases in atretic follicles, suggesting that HCD-TBT exposure exacerbated POF features. Further, strong negative correlations were observed between adipocyte hypertrophy and ovarian reserve, CL number and AMH levels. HCD-TBT exposure resulted in reproductive tract inflammation and fibrosis. Collectively, these data suggest that TBT plus HCD exposure leads to metabolic and reproductive abnormalities, exacerbating POF features in female rats., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The protective effect of estrogen on the vasculature cannot be explained only by its action through the receptors ERα and ERβ. G protein-coupled estrogen receptors (GPER)-which are widely distributed throughout the cardiovascular system-may also be involved in this response. However, little is known about GPER actions in hypertension. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the vascular response mediated by GPER using a specific agonist, G-1, in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). We hypothesized that G-1 would induce a relaxing response in resistance mesenteric arteries from SHR of both sexes., Methods: G-1 concentration-response curves (1 nM-10 μM) were performed in mesenteric arteries from SHR of both sexes (10-12-weeks-old, weighing 180-250 g). The effects of G-1 were evaluated before and after endothelial removal and incubation for 30 min with the inhibitors L-NAME (300 μM) and indomethacin (10 μM) alone or combined with clotrimazole (0.75 μM) or catalase (1,000 units/mL). GPER immunolocalization was also investigated, and vascular hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and ROS were evaluated using dichlorofluorescein (DCF) and dihydroethidium (DHE) staining, respectively., Results: GPER activation promoted a similar relaxing response in resistance mesenteric arteries of female and male hypertensive rats, but with the participation of different endothelial mediators. Males appear to be more dependent on the NO pathway, followed by the H 2 O 2 pathway, and females on the endothelium and H 2 O 2 pathway., Conclusion: These findings show that the GPER agonist G-1 can induce a relaxing response in mesenteric arteries from hypertensive rats of both sexes in a similar way, albeit with differential participation of endothelial mediators. These results contribute to the understanding of GPER activation on resistance mesenteric arteries in essential hypertension., 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 Delgado, Rouver, Freitas-Lima, Vieira-Alves, Lemos and Santos.)

This study was aimed to evaluate toxicity in repeated doses for 28 days, reproductive toxicity and cytotoxicity of a polar fraction obtained from the hydroethanolic extract of Parkinsonia aculeata (PfrHEPA) in experimental models. To perform the toxicity test in repeated doses for 28 days, male and female Wistar rats were treated via orogastric for 28 days with PfrHEPA (35, 70 or 140 mg/kg) according to the guidelines established by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) number 407 (1995). For assessment, the impact of PfrHEPA on the reproductive output various parameters were measured, including maternal weight, no. of pregnant females, female fertility index (%), gestation lengthtime, implantation sites, litter size and placental index of test animals. The cytotoxicity of PfrHEPA was performed on the tumor lines NCI-H292 (human lung carcinoma), HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia) and HCT-116 (colorectal cancer). In the repeated dose toxicity test for 28 days, no mortality was observed in the male and female rats treated with PfrHEPA as well as morphological changes and biochemical and hematological parameters. In the reproductive toxicity test, no abnormalities were observed related to the toxicological parameters in both mothers and offspring. Regarding the cytotoxicity assay, the PfrHEPA fraction did not demonstrate significant cytotoxic effect on the cell lines analyzed. The present results suggest the use of PfrHEPA is safe and well tolerated in rats. Further studies are planned to identify and purify the active compounds for subsequent in vivo evaluation., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Anemia is a common feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is a process related to erythropoietin deficiency, shortened erythrocyte survival, uremic erythropoiesis inhibitors, and disordered iron homeostasis. Animal models of CKD-induced anemia are missing and would be desirable in order to study anemia mechanisms and facilitate the development of novel therapeutic tools. We induced three different models of CKD in mice and evaluated the development of anemia characteristics. Mice were subjected to unilateral ischemia-reperfusion or received repeated low doses of cisplatin or folic acid to induce nephropathy. Renal function, kidney injury and fibrotic markers were measured to confirm CKD. Moreover, serum hemoglobin, ferritin and erythropoietin were analyzed. Renal mRNA levels of HIF-2α , erythropoietin, hepcidin, GATA-2 , and GATA-2 target genes were also determined. All three CKD models presented increased levels of creatinine, urea, and proteinuria. Renal up-regulation of NGAL , KIM-1 , and TNF-α mRNA levels was observed. Moreover, the three CKD models developed fibrosis and presented increased fibrotic markers and α-SMA protein levels. CKD induced decreased hemoglobin and ferritin levels and increased erythropoietin levels in the serum. Renal tissue showed decreased erythropoietin and HIF-2α mRNA levels, while an increase in the iron metabolism regulator hepcidin was observed. GATA-2 transcription factor (erythropoietin repressor) mRNA levels were increased in all CKD models, as well as its target genes. We established three models of CKD-induced anemia, regardless of the mechanism and severity of kidney injury.

The rate of infections caused by resistant bacteria to the antimicrobials available for human use grows exponentially every year, which generates major impacts on human health and the world economy. In the last two decades, human beings can witness the expressive increase in the Science and Technology worldwide, and areas such as Health Sciences have benefited from these advances in favor of human health, such as the advent of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology as an important approach applied for bacterial infections treatment with resistance profile to available antibiotics. This review of the scientific literature brings the applicability of nanotechnology-based lipid systems as an innovative tool in the improvement of bacterial infections treatment. Important studies involving the use of liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, microemulsions and lipid nanocapsules were verified in the period from 2000 to 2020, where important scientific results were found and will serve as a basis for the use of these systems to remain in constant updating. This manuscript shows the use of these drug delivery systems as potential vehicles for antibacterial compounds, which opens a new hope in the complement of the antibacterial therapeutic arsenal. Important studies developed in the last 20 years are present in this review, and thus guarantees an update on the use of these drug delivery systems for researchers from different areas of Health Sciences., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

High-protein diets (HPDs) are widely accepted as a way to stimulate muscle protein synthesis when combined with resistance training (RT). However, the effects of HPDs on adipose tissue plasticity and local inflammation are yet to be determined. This study investigated the impact of HPDs on glucose control, adipocyte size, and epididymal adipose inflammatory biomarkers in resistance-trained rats. Eighteen Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: normal-protein (NPD; 17% protein total dietary intake) and HPD (26.1% protein) without RT and NPD and HPD with RT. Trained groups received RT for 12 weeks with weights secured to their tails. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests, adipocyte size, and an array of cytokines were determined. While HPD without RT induced glucose intolerance, enlarged adipocytes, and increased TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL1-β levels in epididymal adipose tissue ( p < 0.05), RT diminished these deleterious effects, with the HPD + RT group displaying improved blood glucose control without inflammatory cytokine increases in epididymal adipose tissue ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, RT increased glutathione expression independent of diet ( p < 0.05). RT may offer protection against adipocyte hypertrophy, pro-inflammatory states, and glucose intolerance during HPDs. The results highlight the potential protective effects of RT to mitigate the maladaptive effects of HPDs.

Introduction: Occupational accidents occur as a result of work, and can lead to bodily harm or functional impairments that lead to death, or to the reduction or loss of working capacity. Occupational accidents are associated with two possible outcomes: morbidity or mortality. Morbidity refers to the subset of a population that develops an illness over a given period of time, while mortality refers to the number of individuals who die over a specified time period., Objectives: To assess occupational morbidity and mortality in Brazil in the period of 2009 to 2016., Methods: An ecological study was conducted based on secondary data collected from incident records in the Social Security database., Results: The outcomes of all occupational accidents reported in Brazil from 2009 to 2016 were extracted from the database. These data were then classified by geographical region and category in the National Classification of Economic Activities (Classificação Nacional de Atividades Econômicas), so as to calculate the prevalence of each outcome and the accident mortality rates, and compare these values across regions and occupational categories., Conclusions: The data show that the outcomes of occupational accidents are directly associated with socioeconomic sectors and the sociocultural characteristics of different regions in the country. These results make an important contribution to the characterization of occupational morbidity and mortality in Brazil., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: None

Cadmium (Cd), a toxic heavy metal, is a known endocrine disruptor that is associated with reproductive complications. However, few studies have explored the effects of Cd exposure on features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and premature ovary failure (POF). In this study, we assessed whether doses found in workers occupationally exposed to Cd and subacute exposure result in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and other irregularities. We administered CdCl 2 to female rats (100 ppm in drinking water for 30 days) and then assessed Cd levels in the blood, HPG axis and uterus. Metabolic features, HPG axis function, reproductive tract (RT) morphophysiology, inflammation, oxidative stress (OS), and fibrosis were evaluated. Cd exposure increased Cd levels in the serum, HPG axis, and uterus. Cd rats displayed metabolic impairments, such as a reduction in adiposity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance (IR). Cd exposure also caused improper functioning in the HPG. Specifically, Cd exposure caused irregular estrous cyclicity, abnormal hypothalamic gene expression (upregulated - Kiss1, AR and mTOR; downregulated - Kiss1R, LepR and TNF-α), high LH levels, low AMH levels and abnormal ovarian follicular development, coupled with a reduction in ovarian reserve and antral follicle number was observed, suggesting ovarian depletion. Further, Cd exposure caused a reduction in corpora lutea (CL) and granulosa layer thickness together with an increase in cystic/atretic follicles. In addition, Cd exposure caused RT inflammation, OS and fibrosis. Finally, strong positive correlations were observed between serum, RT Cd levels, IR, dyslipidemia and estrous cycle length, cystic, atretic follicles, LH levels, and RT inflammation. Thus, these data suggest that subacute Cd exposure using doses found in workers occupationally exposed to Cd disrupt the HPG axis function, leading to PCOS and POF features and other abnormalities in female rats., 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 © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objective: Emergence Delirium (ED), particularly in children, is characterized by mental confusion, irritability, disorientation, and inconsolable crying. ED prolongs the time required in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and increases concern and anxiety in parents. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of low-dose clonidine in preventing ED in children receiving sevoflurane anesthesia for tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy., Methods: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted between November 2013 and January 2014. Sixty-two children aged 2-12 years, scheduled to undergo tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy, and classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I/II were included, with 29 being randomized to receive 1 μg.kg -1 clonidine intravenously, and 33 allocated to a control group that received no clonidine. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with sevoflurane. Children with altered state of consciousness, neurological deficit, history of allergy to dipyrone, or receiving other drugs such as preanesthetic agents were excluded from the study. The primary outcome was the presence of ED in the initial 20 minutes in the PACU according to the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED) scale. The Chi-Square test and Fisher's two-tailed exact test were used for statistical analysis, as applicable. Significance level was set at 5%, and Risk Ratios (RR) and their 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) were calculated., Results: The frequency of ED was significantly decreased in the group of children who received clonidine (17.2% vs. 57.6%; RR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.13-0.70; p =  0.001). There was no difference between groups with respect to the frequency of postoperative self-harm (falls and bruises), dislodged catheters, and for most of the other adverse events evaluated., Conclusions: The use of 1 μg.kg -1 intravenous clonidine during anesthesia induction can effectively reduce the incidence of ED in children undergoing elective tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy under general inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane. CLINICALTRIALS., Gov Identifier: NCT02181543., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.)

This second joint document, written by experts from the Brazilian Association of Allergy and Immunology (ASBAI) and Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology (SBA) concerned with perioperative anaphylaxis, aims to review the pathophysiological reaction mechanisms, triggering agents (in adults and children), and the approach for diagnosis during and after an episode of anaphylaxis. As anaphylaxis assessment is extensive, the identification of medications, antiseptics and other substances used at each setting, the comprehensive data documentation, and the use of standardized nomenclature are key points for obtaining more consistent epidemiological information on perioperative anaphylaxis., (Copyright © 2020. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda.)

Obesity is associated with several female reproductive complications, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The exact mechanism of this relationship remains unclear. Few previous studies using diet containing refined carbohydrate (HCD) leading to obesity have been performed and it is unclear if HCD is linked with reproductive dysfunctions. In this investigation, we assessed whether subchronic HCD exposure results in reproductive and other irregularities. Female rats were fed with HCD for 15 days and metabolic outcomes and reproductive tract morphophysiology were assessed. We further assessed reproductive tract inflammation, oxidative stress (OS) and fibrosis. HCD rats displayed metabolic impairments, such as an increase in body weight/adiposity, adipocyte hypertrophic, abnormal lipid profile, glucose tolerance and insulin resistance (IR) and hyperleptinemia. Improper functioning of the HCD reproductive tract was observed. Specifically, irregular estrous cyclicity, high LH levels and abnormal ovarian morphology coupled with reduction in primordial and primary follicle numbers was observed, suggesting ovarian reserve depletion. Improper follicular development and a reduction in antral follicles, corpora lutea and granulosa layer area together with an increase in cystic follicles were apparent. Uterine atrophy and reduction in endometrial gland (GE) number was observed in HCD rats. Reproductive tract inflammation, OS and fibrosis were seen in HCD rats. Further, strong positive correlations were observed between body weight/adiposity and IR with estrous cycle length, cystic follicles, ovarian reserve, GE and other abnormalities. Thus, these data suggest that the subchronic HCD exposure led to PCOS-like features, impaired ovarian reserve, GE number, and other reproductive abnormalities in female rats., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest related to this work., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug widely used in the treatment of solid tumors. However, nephrotoxicity has been reported in about one-third of patients undergoing cisplatin therapy. Proximal tubules are the main target of cisplatin toxicity and cellular uptake; elimination of this drug can modulate renal damage. Organic transporters play an important role in the transport of cisplatin into the kidney and organic cations transporter 2 (OCT-2) has been shown to be one of the most important transporters to play this role. On the other hand, multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE-1) transporter is the main protein that mediates the extrusion of cisplatin into the urine. Cisplatin nephrotoxicity has been shown to be enhanced by increased OCT-2 and/or reduced MATE-1 activity. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) is the transcription factor which controls lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis; it is highly expressed in the kidneys and interacts with both MATE-1 and OCT-2. Considering the above, we treated wild-type and PPAR-α knockout mice with cisplatin in order to evaluate the severity of nephrotoxicity. Cisplatin induced renal dysfunction, renal inflammation, apoptosis and tubular injury in wild-type mice, whereas PPAR-α deletion protected against these alterations. Moreover, we observed that cisplatin induced down-regulation of organic transporters MATE-1 and OCT-2 and that PPAR-α deletion restored the expression of these transporters. In addition, PPAR-α knockout mice at basal state showed increased MATE-1 expression and reduced OCT-2 levels. Here, we show for the first time that PPAR-α deletion protects against cisplatin nephrotoxicity and that this protection is via modulation of the organic transporters MATE-1 and OCT-2.

Background: Nutritional impairment is common in cancer patients and adversely affects quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between nutritional status and QoL in incurable cancer patients in palliative care., Methods: A prospective cohort with incurable cancer patients referred to the specialized Palliative Care Unit of the National Cancer Institute in Brazil was conducted. The nutritional risk (NR) was assessed using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment short form (PG-SGA SF), and cancer cachexia (CC) was defined according to the international consensus. QoL was evaluated using the Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative (QLQ-C15-PAL). Multivariate linear regressions analyses were performed to assess the relationship between the nutritional status and QoL scores., Results: A total of 1039 consecutive patients were included. A high prevalence of NR (85.4%) and CC (78.7%) were observed. The patients with worse nutritional status presented significantly poorer physical, emotional, symptoms domains scales, and overall QoL. CC were significantly associated with QoL scores for dyspnea (p = 0.013), insomnia (p = 0.046), and appetite loss (p = 0.015), while NR were associated with all the QoL domains scales covered in QLQ-C15-PAL., Conclusion: Our findings support that impaired nutritional status was associated with poor QoL in incurable cancer patients. NR assessed by PG-SGA SF better reflects physical, emotional, symptom burden, and overall QoL scores. Thus, this tool may contribute in identifying patients at risk of deterioration QoL.

Experts from the Brazilian Association of Allergy and Immunology (ASBAI) and the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology (SBA) interested in the issue of perioperative anaphylaxis, and aiming to strengthen the collaboration between the two societies, combined efforts to study the topic and to prepare a joint document to guide specialists in both areas. The purpose of the present series of two articles was to report the most recent evidence based on the collaborative assessment between both societies. This first article will consider the updated definitions, treatment and guidelines after a perioperative crisis. The following article will discuss the major etiologic agents, how to proceed with the investigation, and the appropriate tests., (Copyright © 2020. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda.)