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Climate change is being intensified by anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gasses, highlighting the value of forests for carbon dioxide storing carbon in their biomass. Seasonally dry tropical forests are a neglected, threatened, but potentially critical biome for helping mitigate climate change. In South America, knowing the amount and distribution of carbon in Caatinga seasonally dry vegetation is essential to understand its contribution to the global carbon cycle and subsequently design a strategic plan for its conservation. The present study aimed to model and map the spatial distribution of the potential forest biomass stock across 32 forest fragments of Caatinga, in the state of Bahia, Brazil, using regression kriging and Inverse Square of Distance techniques, building from point measurements of vegetation biomass made on-the-ground in ecological plots. First, a model for estimating biomass was fitted as a function of environmental variables to apply regression kriging, and then applied to the maps of the selected components. Elevation, temperature, and precipitation explained 46% of the biomass variations in the Caatinga. The model residuals showed strong spatial dependence and were mapped based on geostatistical criteria, selecting the spherical semivariogram model for interpolation by ordinary kriging. Biomass was also mapped by the Inverse Square of Distance approach. The quality of the regression model suggests that there is good potential for estimating biomass here from environmental variables. The regression kriging showed greater detail in the spatial distribution and revealed a spatial trend of increasing biomass from the north to south of the domain. Additional studies with greater sampling intensity and the use of other explanatory variables are suggested to improve the model, as well as to maximize the technique’s ability to capture the actual biomass behavior in this newly studied seasonally dry ecosystem.

Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) continues to cause explosive epidemics in Brazil. We investigated its transmission dynamics in Salvador, Brazil, to understand the factors driving its reemergence and spread., Methods: In this epidemiological study, we analyzed by census tracts the chikungunya cases reported in Salvador during the 2019-2020 epidemics. We used SaTScan software to identify spatiotemporal clusters and assessed how census tract characteristics (socioeconomic, environmental, and prior chikungunya occurrence) influenced chikungunya incidence through a Bayesian spatial model using Integrated Laplace Approximation (INLA)., Findings: Citywide, 19,129 cases (mean age: 40.2, range: 0-112; male: 41.8%, female: 58.0%, non-binary: 0.2%) were reported between 2016 and 2020, with a significant increase in 2019 and 2020 (4549 and 13,071 cases, respectively). We found nine spatiotemporal clusters in 2019 and seven in 2020, with 17.2% (387 of 2252) overlap of census tracts between the two years. The chikungunya incidence by census tract was negatively correlated with income and vegetation but positively correlated with land surface temperature. The census tract level incidence in 2020 exhibited a non-linear correlation with the 2019 incidence; up to a certain level, the 2020 risk increased as the 2019 incidence increased, but when the 2019 incidence was extreme, the 2020 risk was reduced., Interpretation: These findings suggest that CHIKV transmission is localized, even during what appeared to be a citywide epidemic, creating high-risk pockets within the city. Socioeconomic factors, environmental conditions, and prior chikungunya incidence, probably reflecting herd immunity, all influence case incidence., Funding: Secretary of Health of Salvador, Federal University of Bahia, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Foundation for Research Support of the Bahia State, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES), Clinical and Applied Research Network in Chikungunya, Global Virus Network, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Wellcome Trust, and the United States National Institutes of Health., Competing Interests: GSR serves as a consultant for Valneva, a vaccine company that developed a CHIKV vaccine. Other authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2025 The Author(s).)

Among the fruit species of the Brazilian cerrado is pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.), recognized for its nutritional properties and profile of bioactive compounds. However, it is necessary to evaluate techniques that promote its stability, reducing the moisture content without degrading the content of natural antioxidants. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the drying of pequi pulp in an oven at different temperatures (40 °C and 55 °C), as well as determine its kinetics and influence on the content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity. The increase in temperature showed a reduction (∼50 %) of the drying time, from 720 min (40 °C) to 360 min (55 °C), with a final moisture content of approximately 39 %, which is the optimized condition of the process. (360 min - 55 °C). Drying at 55 °C showed better retention of carotenoids (β-carotene, α-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin), especially β-carotene, an important precursor of vitamin A, with retention of approximately 57 %. The results for antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH), total phenolic compounds, total phenolic acids and total flavonoids confirmed that a longer drying time resulted in greater degradation of bioactive compounds, even at lower temperatures. The profile of phenolic compounds of the sample subjected to drying under optimized conditions was identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS n , which showed the presence of six phenolic acids, one isoprenoid plant hormone, nine flavonols, and one flavonoid. Optimizing pequi pulp drying in ovens, and controlling time and temperature, can significantly reduce energy expenditure. This practice not only meets the demands of the food industry but also increases the use of fruits from the cerrado, promoting the diversification and valorization of these products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Paula Becker Pertuzatti reports financial support was provided by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. Paula Becker Pertuzatti reports financial support was provided by Foundation for Research Support of Mato Grosso State. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social disabilities and stereotyped behaviors. There is a relevant social impact on autistic people's lives and, therefore, biomarkers have become relevant for understanding neurobiological mechanisms., Objective: This study aims to review current knowledge about the role of biomarkers and their main scientific evidence in autism., Methods: The authors performed a non-systematic literature review through the PubMed database, using the keywords "biomarkers", "autism" and "autism spectrum disorder". The search was restricted to articles written in English, in the last 10 years., Results: Analyzing the articles found, it is possible to delimit the biomarkers according to the development of ASD, from the prenatal period with exposure to diseases or association of autism with other genetic diseases, through the immune and nutritional factors exposed during pregnancy, and for end those associated with diagnoses phase in which there is the presence of symptoms in which these markers can be used to aid in the diagnosis., Conclusion: Although preliminary, biomarkers may hold promise for prenatal and presymptomatic screening. It may also be used as predictors of treatment for autism spectrum disorder., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this articles., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of microwave-assisted and conventional extraction using ethanol, hexane, and petroleum ether as solvents, and to optimize the process for extracting oil from Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds, with a focus on improving food-grade oil production. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to enhance the extraction process of the oil. Central composite rotational design (CCRD) was used to analyze the impact of solid-liquid ratio (x 1 ), power (x 2 ), and temperature (x 3 ) on oil yield. The optimization identified the optimal conditions as a solid/liquid ratio of 1:38, power of 175 W, and temperature of 50 °C, achieving a 42% oil yield. Notably, the microwave-assisted extraction reduced the processing time from 8 h (using conventional Soxhlet extraction) to just 1 h. Conventional extraction with hexane and petroleum ether was also performed for comparison, resulting in similar oil content and fatty acid profiles, predominantly, oleic acid. FTIR analysis confirmed that the microwave-extracted oil contained fatty acids and had similar characteristics to the conventionally extracted oil. Thus, the use of ethanol as a green solvent in the microwave has shown significant improvement in terms of time and energy savings compared to the Soxhlet method with toxic solvents. This study concludes that microwave-assisted extraction with ethanol provides a more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and time-saving alternative for food-grade oil production, aligning with advancements in food engineering and production.

This work studies the partition of phenolic compounds, namely caffeic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, and vanillin, in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) formed by acetonitrile and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) based on choline chloride ([Ch]Cl) and carbohydrates (sucrose, d-glucose, d-mannose, arabinose, and d-xylose). The binodal curves built at 25 °C and 0.1 MPa using DES were compared with ATPS composed of [Ch]Cl and the same carbohydrates. The ability to form ATPS depends on the number and kind of hydroxyl groups in DES's hydrogen-bond donor compound (carbohydrates). ATPS based on DES showed biphasic regions larger than the systems based on [Ch]Cl and carbohydrates alone due to the larger hydrophilicity of DES. The ATPS were used to study the partition of the phenolic compounds. For all the systems, the biomolecules preferentially partitioned to the acetonitrile-rich phase (K > 1), and the best recovery in the top phase ranged between 53.36% (caffeic acid) and 90.09% (vanillin). According to the remarkable results, DES-based ATPS can selectively separate ferulic acid and vanillin for the top phase and syringic, caffeic, and vanillic acids for the bottom phase, achieving a selectivity higher than two.

A functional lateralization has been reported in control of emotional responses by the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, a hemisphere asymmetry in involvement of the mPFC in expression of fear conditioning responses has never been reported. Therefore, we investigated whether control by mPFC of freezing and cardiovascular responses during re-exposure to an aversively conditioned context is lateralized. For this, rats had guide cannulas directed to the mPFC implanted bilaterally or unilaterally in the right or left hemispheres. Vehicle or the non-selective synaptic inhibitor CoCl 2 was microinjected into the mPFC 10 min before re-exposure to a chamber where the animals had previously received footshocks. A catheter was implanted into the femoral artery before the fear retrieval test for cardiovascular recordings. We observed that bilateral microinjection of CoCl 2 into the mPFC reduced both the freezing behavior (enhancing locomotion and rearing) and arterial pressure and heart rate increases during re-exposure to the aversively conditioned context. Unilateral microinjection of CoCl 2 into the right hemisphere of the mPFC also decreased the freezing behavior (enhancing locomotion and rearing), but without affecting the cardiovascular changes. Conversely, unilateral synaptic inhibition in the left mPFC did not affect either behavioral or cardiovascular responses during fear retrieval test. Taken together, these results suggest that the right hemisphere of the mPFC is necessary and sufficient for expression of freezing behavior to contextual fear conditioning. However, the control of cardiovascular responses and freezing behavior during fear retrieval test is somehow dissociated in the mPFC, being the former bilaterally processed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: Prosocial behavior refers to sharing emotions and sensations such as pain. Accumulated data indicate that cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychotomimetic component of the Cannabis sativa plant, attenuates hyperalgesia, anxiety, and anhedonic-like behavior. Nevertheless, the role of CBD in the social transfer of pain has never been evaluated. In this study, we investigated the effects of acute systemic administration of CBD in mice that cohabited with a conspecific animal suffering from chronic constriction injury. Furthermore, we assessed whether repeated CBD treatment decreases hypernociception, anxiety-like behavior, and anhedonic-like responses in mice undergoing chronic constriction injury and whether this attenuation would be socially transferred to the partner. Materials and Methods: Male Swiss mice were Housed in pairs for 28 days. On the 14th day of living together, animals were then divided into two groups: cagemate nerve constriction (CNC), in which one animal of each partner was subjected to sciatic nerve constriction; and cagemate sham (CS), subjected to the same surgical procedure but without suffering nerve constriction. In Experiments 1, 2, and 3 on day 28 of living together, the cagemates (CNC and CS) animals received a single systemic injection (intraperitoneally) of vehicle or CBD (0.3, 1, 10, or 30 mg/kg). After 30 min, the cagemates were subjected to the elevated plusmaze followed by exposure to the writhing and sucrose splash tests. For chronic treatment (Exp. 4), sham and chronic constriction injury animals received a repeated systemic injection (subcutaneous) of vehicle or CBD (10 mg/kg) for 14 days after the sciatic nerve constriction procedure. On days 28 and 29 sham and chronic constriction injury animals and their cagemates were behaviorally tested. Results and Conclusion: Acute CBD administration attenuated anxiety-like behavior, pain hypersensitivity, and anhedonic-like behavior in cagemates that cohabited with a pair in chronic pain. In addition, repeated CBD treatment reversed the anxiety-like behavior induced by chronic pain and enhanced the mechanical withdrawal thresholds in Von Frey filaments and the grooming time in the sucrose splash test. Moreover, repeated CBD treatment effects were socially transferred to the chronic constriction injury cagemates.

Rationale: Chronic stress exposure disrupts the medial prefrontal cortex's (mPFC) ability to regulate impulses, leading to the loss of control over alcohol drinking in rodents, emphasizing the critical role of this forebrain area in regulating alcohol consumption. Moreover, chronic stress exposure causes lateralization of mPFC functions with volumetric and functional changes, resulting in hyperactivity in the right hemisphere and functional decrease in the left., Objectives: This study investigated the inhibitory role of the left prelimbic cortex (LPrL) on ethanol consumption induced by chronic social defeat stress (SDS) in male mice and to examine if inactivation of the LPrL causes disinhibition of the right mPFC, leading to an increase in ethanol consumption. We also investigated the role of lateralization and neurochemical alterations in the mPFC related to ethanol consumption induced by chronic SDS. To this end, we examined the activation patterns of ΔFosB, VGLUT2, and GAD67 in the left and right mPFC., Results: Temporarily blocking the LPrL or right PrL (RPrL) cortices during acute SDS did not affect male mice's voluntary ethanol consumption in male mice. When each cortex was blocked in mice previously exposed to chronic SDS, ethanol consumption also remained unaffected. However, male mice with LPrL lesions during chronic SDS showed an increase in voluntary ethanol consumption, which was associated with enhanced ΔFosB/VGLUT2-positive neurons within the RPrL cortex., Conclusions: The results suggest that the LPrL may play a role in inhibiting ethanol consumption induced by chronic SDS, while the RPrL may be involved in the disinhibition of ethanol consumption., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: This study explores the use of liquid-liquid extraction with thermosensitive polymers for producing laccase (Lac) from Pleurotus sajor-caju. This process leverages liquid waste from the citrus industry, specifically pulp wash. The research delves into extractive fermentation and thermoseparation, both processes being facilitated by a polymer exhibiting a lower critical solution temperature transition., Results: Key factors considered include the choice of polymer, its concentration, pH, separation temperature, and the behavior of the polymer-rich phase post-extractive fermentation concerning the lower critical solution temperature. Notably, under conditions of 45% by weight of Pluronic L-61 and pH 5.0 at 25 °C, the Lac resulted in an enhancement in the purification factor of 28.4-fold, compared with the Lac obtained directly from the fermentation process on the eighth day. There was an 83.6% recovery of the Lac enzyme in the bottom phase of the system. Additionally, the unique properties of Pluronic L-61, which can induce phase separation and also allow for thermoseparation, led to a secondary fraction (aqueous solution) of Lac with purification factor of 2.1 ± 0.1-fold (at 32 ± 0.9 °C and 30 ± 0.3 min without stirring) from the polymeric phase (top phase). Fourier-transform infrared analysis validated the separation data, particularly highlighting the α-helix content in the amide I region (1600-1700 cm -1 )., Conclusion: In summary, the insights from this study pave the way for broader industrial applications of these techniques, underscoring benefits like streamlined process integration, heightened selectivity, and superior separation efficacy. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of free methyl 3,5 dinitrobenzoate (MDNB) and its nanoemulsion (MDNB-NE) against strains of Candida albicans. Additionally, a molecular modeling study was also carried out to propose the mechanism of action and toxicity of MDNB. These results demonstrated the MDNB-NE presented a droplet size of 181.16 ± 3.20 nm and polydispersity index of 0.30 ± 0.03. MDNB and MDNB-NE inhibited the growth of all strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.27-1.10 mM. The biological results corroborated the molecular model, which pointed to a multi-target antifungal mechanism of action for MDNB in C. albicans. The study could serve as a basis for further research involving compounds with nitro groups with antifungal., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

Molecular docking is an important computational analysis widely used to predict the interaction of enzymes with several starting materials for developing new valuable products from several starting materials, including oils and fats. In the present study, molecular docking was used as an efficient in silico screening tool to select biocatalysts with the highest catalytic performance in butyl esters production in a solvent-free system, an eco-friendly approach, via direct esterification of free fatty acids from Licuri oil with butanol. For such purpose, three commercial lipase preparations were used to perform molecular docking studies such as Burkholderia cepacia (BCL), Porcine pancreatic (PPL), and Candida rugosa (CRL). Concurrently, the results obtained in BCL and CRL are the most efficient in the esterification process due to their higher preference for catalyzing the esterification of lauric acid, the main fatty acid found in the licuri oil composition. Meanwhile, PPL was the least efficient because it preferentially interacts with minor fatty acids. Molecular docking with the experimental results indicated the better performance in the synthesis of esters was BCL. In conclusion, experimental results analysis shows higher enzymatic productivity in esterification reactions of 1294.83 μmol/h.mg, while the CRL and PPL demonstrated the lowest performance (189.87 μmol / h.mg and 23.96 μmol / h.mg, respectively). Thus, molecular docking and experimental results indicate that BCL is a more efficient lipase to produce fatty acids and esters from licuri oil with a high content of lauric acid. In addition, this study also demonstrates the application of molecular docking as an important tool for lipase screening to achieve more sustainable production of butyl esters with a view synthesis of biolubricants., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This work presents a framework for evaluating hybrid nanoflowers using Burkholderia cepacia lipase. It was expanded on previous findings by testing lipase hybrid nanoflowers (hNF-lipase) formation over a wide range of pH values (5-9) and buffer concentrations (10-100 mM). The free enzyme activity was compared with that of hNF-lipase. The analysis, performed by molecular docking, described the effect of lipase interaction with copper ions. The morphological characterization of hNF-lipase was performed using scanning electron microscopy. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy performed the physical-chemical characterization. The results show that all hNF-lipase activity presented values higher than that of the free enzyme. Activity is higher at pH 7.4 and has the highest buffer concentration of 100 mM. Molecular docking analysis has been used to understand the effect of enzyme protonation on hNF-lipase formation and identify the main the main binding sites of the enzyme with copper ions. The hNF-lipase nanostructures show the shape of flowers in their micrographs from pH 6 to 8. The spectra of the nanoflowers present peaks typical of the amide regions I and II, current in lipase, and areas with P-O vibrations, confirming the presence of the phosphate group. Therefore, hNF-lipase is an efficient biocatalyst with increased catalytic activity, good nanostructure formation, and improved stability.

Carvacryl acetate (CA) is a monoterpene obtained from carvacrol, which exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. However, its low solubility in aqueous media limits its application and bioavailability. Herein, we aimed to develop a carvacryl acetate nanoemulsion (CANE) and assess its anti-inflammatory potential in preclinical trials. The optimized nanoemulsion was produced by ultrasound, and stability parameters were characterized for 90 days using dynamic light scattering after hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) assessment. To evaluate anti-inflammatory activity, a complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammation model was established. Paw edema was measured, and local interleukin (IL)-1β levels were quantified using ELISA. Toxicity was assessed based on behavioral changes and biochemical assays. The optimized nanoemulsion contained 3% CA, 9% surfactants (HLB 9), and 88% water and exhibited good stability over 90 days, with no signs of toxicity. The release study revealed that CANE followed zero-order kinetics. Dose-response curves for CA were generated for intraperitoneal and oral administration, demonstrating anti-inflammatory effects by both routes; however, efficacy was lower when administered orally. Furthermore, CANE showed improved anti-inflammatory activity when compared with free oil, particularly when administered orally. Moreover, daily treatment with CANE did not induce behavioral or biochemical alterations. Overall, these findings indicate that nanoemulsification can enhance the anti-inflammatory properties of CA by oral administration.

Introduction: Chronic exposure to social defeat stress (SDS) has been used to investigate the neurobiology of depressive- and anxiety-like responses and mnemonic processes. We hypothesized that these affective, emotional, and cognitive consequences induced by SDS are regulated via glutamatergic neurons located in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), amygdaloid complex, and hippocampus in mice., Methods: Here, we investigated the influence of chronic SDS on (i) the avoidance behavior assessed in the social interaction test, (ii) the anxiety-like behavior (e.g., elevated plus-maze, and open field tests) (iii) depressive-like behaviors (e.g., coat state, sucrose splash, nesting building, and novel object exploration tests), (iv) the short-term memory (object recognition test), (v) ΔFosB, CaMKII as well as ΔFosB + CaMKII labeling in neurons located in the BNST, amygdaloid complex, dorsal (dHPC) and the ventral (vHPC) hippocampus., Results: The main results showed that the exposure of mice to SDS (a) increased defensive and anxiety-like behaviors and led to memory impairment without eliciting clear depressive-like or anhedonic effects; (b) increased ΔFosB + CaMKII labeling in BNST and amygdala, suggesting that both areas are strongly involved in the modulation of this type of stress; and produced opposite effects on neuronal activation in the vHPC and dHPC, i.e., increasing and decreasing, respectively, ΔFosB labeling. The effects of SDS on the hippocampus suggest that the vHPC is likely related to the increase of defensive- and anxiety-related behaviors, whereas the dHPC seems to modulate the memory impairment., Discussion: Present findings add to a growing body of evidence indicating the involvement of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the circuits that modulate emotional and cognitive consequences induced by social defeat stress., 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 © 2023 da Costa, Ramírez, Ramírez, Avalo-Zuluaga, Baptista-de-Souza, Canto-de-Souza, Planeta, Rodríguez and Nunes-de-Souza.)

Powerlifting competitions require consistent and symmetric lifting of heavy loads and maximal effort, in which, asymmetric lifting results in trial invalidation. Symmetry during this very high intensity movement is determinant to athletes' performance and success in competitions. This study aimed to compare the asymmetry between Conventional Powerlifting athletes (CP) and Paralympic (PP) athletes at intensities of 45 and 80% 1RM before and after a training session. Twenty-two male athletes (11 CP: 29.84 ± 4.21 and 11 PP: 30.81 ± 8.05 years old) participated in this study. Mean Propulsive Velocity (MPV), Maximum Velocity (Vmax) and Power during the concentric and eccentric phases were evaluated at 45%-1RM before and after a training session. For the intensity of 80%-1RM, MPV, Vmax and Power were measured in the first and last series (5 series of 5 repetitions: 5X5) of a training session. PP athletes demonstrated lower velocity and greater symmetry at 45%-1RM, but higher velocity and less asymmetry at 80%-1RM, when compared to CP. The data indicated that PP athletes tend to be slower at lower intensities, faster at higher intensities in absolute values, and have greater symmetry than CP., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

In this work, we synthesized and studied the spectroscopic properties of (NH 4 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 2 Y(H 2 O) 6 (Y = Ni, Mg) crystals doped with AgNO 3 or H 3 BO 3 . These crystals constitute a series of hexahydrated salts known as Tutton salts. We investigated the influence of dopants on the vibrational modes of the tetrahedral ligands NH 4 and SO 4 , octahedral complexes Mg(H 2 O) 6 and Ni(H 2 O) 6 , and H 2 O molecules present in these crystals through Raman and infrared spectroscopies. We were able to identify bands that are attributed to the presence of Ag and B dopants, as well as band shifts caused by the presence of these dopants in the crystal lattice. A detailed study of the crystal degradation processes was performed by thermogravimetric measurements, where there was an increase in the initial temperature of crystal degradation due to the presence of dopants in the crystal lattice. Raman spectroscopy of the crystal residues after the thermogravimetric measurements helped us to elucidate the degradation processes occurring after the crystal pyrolysis process., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: Low-income urban communities in the tropics often lack sanitary infrastructure and are overcrowded, favoring Aedes aegypti proliferation and arboviral transmission. However, as Ae. aegypti density is not spatially homogeneous, understanding the role of specific environmental characteristics in determining vector distribution is critical for planning control interventions. The objectives of this study were to identify the main habitat types for Ae. Aegypti, assess their spatial densities to identify major hotspots of arbovirus transmission over time and investigate underlying factors in a low-income urban community in Salvador, Brazil. We also tested the field-collected mosquitoes for arboviruses., Methods: A series of four entomological and socio-environmental surveys was conducted in a random sample of 149 households and their surroundings between September 2019 and April 2021. The surveys included searching for potential breeding sites (water-containing habitats) and for Ae. aegypti immatures in them, capturing adult mosquitoes and installing ovitraps. The spatial distribution of Ae. aegypti density indices were plotted using kernel density-ratio maps, and the spatial autocorrelation was assessed for each index. Visual differences on the spatial distribution of the Ae. aegypti hotspots were compared over time. The association of entomological findings with socio-ecological characteristics was examined. Pools of female Ae. aegypti were tested for dengue, Zika and chikungunya virus infection., Results: Overall, 316 potential breeding sites were found within the study households and 186 in the surrounding public spaces. Of these, 18 (5.7%) and 7 (3.7%) harbored a total of 595 and 283 Ae. aegypti immatures, respectively. The most productive breeding sites were water storage containers within the households and puddles and waste materials in public areas. Potential breeding sites without cover, surrounded by vegetation and containing organic matter were significantly associated with the presence of immatures, as were households that had water storage containers. None of the entomological indices, whether based on immatures, eggs or adults, detected a consistent pattern of vector clustering in the same areas over time. All the mosquito pools were negative for the tested arboviruses., Conclusions: This low-income community displayed high diversity of Ae. aegypti habitats and a high degree of heterogeneity of vector abundance in both space and time, a scenario that likely reflects other low-income communities. Improving basic sanitation in low-income urban communities through the regular water supply, proper management of solid wastes and drainage may reduce water storage and the formation of puddles, minimizing opportunities for Ae. aegypti proliferation in such settings., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Empathy is a fundamental prosocial behavior. It has been defined as perception, awareness, and understanding of others' emotional states, including painful processes. Mice living in pairs with conspecific chronic suffering from constriction injury exhibit pain hypersensitivity mediated by the amygdaloid complex. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms in the amygdala responsible for this response remain to be determined. This study investigated if the anxiolytic benzodiazepine midazolam (MDZ) and cannabidiol (CBD), a phytocannabinoid with multiple molecular targets, would attenuate this behavioral change. We also investigated if serotonergic and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic mechanisms in the amygdala are involved in this effect. Materials and Methods: Male Swiss mice were housed in pairs for 28 days. The pairs were divided into two groups on the 14th day: cagemate nerve constriction and cagemate sham. On the 24th day, cagemates underwent a stereotaxic surgery and, on the 28th day, were evaluated on the writhing test. Results: The results showed that living with chronic pain leads to hypernociception in the cagemate and increases the expression of 5-HT 3 receptor (5-HT 3 R) and glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 within the amygdala. MDZ (3.0 and 30 nmol) and CBD (30 and 60 nmol) attenuated the hypernociceptive behavior. The 5-HT 3 R antagonist ondansetron (0.3 nmol) prevented the antinociceptive effects of MDZ and CBD. Conclusion: These findings indicate that 5-HT 3 R and GABAergic mechanisms within the amygdala are involved in the pain hypersensitivity induced by the empathy for pain model. They also suggest that MDZ and CBD could be a new potential therapy to alleviate emotional pain disorders.

Anorectal malformations are one of the most frequent congenital malformations treated by pediatric surgeons. In low-income countries, the surgical and anesthetic management of children in need of these procedures can be challenging. Limited oxygen supply, lack of equipment, especially pediatric, and intensive care units make the use of regional anesthesia appealing. We present a series of four cases of anorectal malformations corrections in Guinea Bissau, in children up to 13 months of age, under regional anesthesia and sedation with ketodex, a mixture of ketamine and dexmedetomidine (in a proportion of 1 mg to 1 μg). No child developed respiratory depression requiring airway intervention or supplemental oxygen, or had hemodynamic instability., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: To assess the clinical characteristics of tarsal buckling after ptosis correction and its management with margin rotation techniques., Methods: Multicenter retrospective review of ten patients who developed upper eyelid entropion following ptosis correction. In all cases the tarsal deformity was corrected with margin rotational procedures with either a lid crease anterior approach or a traditional posterior approach. Data collection included patient demographics, type of ptosis surgery, and photographic documentation of the affected eyelids., Results: Entropion occurred after a variety of different ptosis surgery techniques, including frontalis sling, levator advancement and supramaximal levator resection. A horizontal tarsal fold was detected in all eyelids, being in the upper third of the tarsus in 70% and in the central tarsus in 20% of the cases. Tarsal buckling was corrected in all cases with rotational surgery, with nine cases being operated through an anterior lid crease approach and 1, through the traditional posterior approach. The most reported complication was minimal residual ptosis., Conclusion: Tarsal buckling following ptosis surgery is associated with folds located in the upper part of the tarsus. Margin rotation techniques are effective in restoring the natural position of the eyelid margin in these cases., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Aim: To formulate a carvacryl acetate nanoemulsion (CANE) and test its antischistosomal activity. Materials & methods: CANE was prepared and tested in vitro on Schistosoma mansoni adult worms and both human and animal cell lines. Next, CANE was administered orally to mice infected with either a prepatent infection or a patent infection of S. mansoni . Results: CANE was stable during 90 days of analysis. CANE showed in vitro anthelmintic activity, and no cytotoxic effects were observed. In vivo , CANE was more effective than the free compounds in reducing worm burden and egg production. Treatment with CANE was more effective for prepatent infections than praziquantel. Conclusion: CANE improves antiparasitic properties and may be a promising delivery system for schistosomiasis treatment.

Cohabitation with a partner undergoing chronic restraint stress (CRE) induces anxiogenic-like behaviors through emotional contagion. We hypothesized that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the amygdala would be involved in the modulation of this emotional process. This study investigated the role of the ACC and amygdala in empathy-like behavior (e.g., anxiety-like responses) induced by living with a mouse subjected to CRE. Male Swiss mice were housed in pairs for 14 days and then allocated into two groups: cagemate stress (one animal of the pair was subjected to 14 days of restraint stress) and cagemate control (no animal experienced stress). Twenty-four hours after the last stress session, cagemates had their brains removed for recording FosB labeling in the ACC and amygdala (Exp.1). In experiments 2 and 3, 24 h after the last stress session, the cagemates received 0.1 μL of saline or cobalt chloride (CoCl 2 1 mM) into the ACC or amygdala, and then exposed to the elevated plus-maze (EPM) for recording anxiety. Results showed a decrease of FosB labeling in the ACC without changing immunofluorescence in the amygdala of stress cagemate mice. Cohabitation with mice subjected to CRE provoked anxiogenic-like behaviors. Local inactivation of ACC (but not the amygdala) reversed the anxiogenic-like effects induced by cohabitation with a partner undergoing CRE. These results suggest the involvement of ACC, but not the amygdala, in anxiety induced by emotional contagion., 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 © 2023 Silveira, Tavares, Baptista-de-Souza, Carmona, Carneiro de Oliveira, Nunes-de-Souza and Canto-de-Souza.)

Commonly known as a subsistence culture, cassava came to be considered a commodity and key to adding value. However, this tuber's processing for starch and flour production is responsible for generating a large amount of waste that causes serious environmental problems. This biomass of varied biochemical composition has excellent potential for producing fuels (biogas, bioethanol, butanol, biohydrogen) and non-energetic products (succinic acid, glucose syrup, lactic acid) via biorefinery. However, there are environmental challenges, leading to uncertainties related to the sustainability of biorefineries. Thus, the provision of information generated in life cycle assessment (LCA) can help reduce bottlenecks found in the productive stages, making production more competitive. Within that, this review concentrates information on the production of value-added products, the environmental impact generated, and the sustainability of biorefineries.

Cassava is a staple crop that plays a significant role in the food security of many countries. However, its processing produces a liquid by-product known as cassava wastewater (CW), which can have adverse environmental consequences if discarded without treatment. Despite its cyanide content, CW has a high organic content and may be profitable when used to produce biogas. In this study, the influence of calcium particles from eggshell residues was investigated on the anaerobic digestion of CW. Moreover, the performance of the bioreactor was remotely monitored. Calcium particles from milled-calcined chicken eggshells were added to the bioreactor, and biogas production was investigated for 21 days. Adding 1 g/L and 3 g/L of calcium particles increased biogas (Bio H 2  + Bio CH 4 ) production by 195% and 338%, respectively. Finally, the requirement for digestate post-treatment before use in agriculture was observed after assessing its phytotoxicity through the germination and root growth of L. sativa seeds., 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 © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Lipases (E.C. 3.1.1.3) have buried active sites and used access tunnels in the transport of substrates and products for biotransformation processes. Computational methods are used to predict the trajectory and energy profile of ligands through these tunnels, and they complement the experimental methodologies because they filter data, optimizing laboratory time and experimental costs. Access tunnels of Burkholderia cepacia lipase (BCL), Candida rugosa lipase (CRL), and porcine pancreas lipase (PPL) and the transport of fatty acids, alcohols and esters through the tunnels were evaluated using the online server CaverWeb V1.0, and server calculation results were compared with experimental data (productivity). BCL showed higher productivity with palmitic acid-C16:0 (4029.95 µmol/h mg); CRL obtained productivity for oleic acid-C18:1 (380.80 µmol/h mg), and PPL achieved productivity for lauric acid-C12:0 (71.27 µmol/h mg). The highest probability of transport for BCL is through the tunnels 1 and 2, for CRL through the tunnel 1, and for PPL through the tunnels 1, 2, 3 and 4. Thus, the best in silico result was the transport of the substrates palmitic acid and ethanol and product ethyl palmitate in tunnel 1 of BCL. This result corroborates with the best result for the productivity data (higher productivity for BCL with palmitic acid-4029.95 µmol/h mg). The combination of in silico evaluation and experimental data gave similar results, demonstrating that in silico approaches are a promising alternative for reducing screening tests and minimizing laboratory time in the bio-catalysis area by identifying the lipases with the greatest reaction potential, as in the case of this proposal., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Since praziquantel is the only drug available to treat schistosomiasis, a neglected parasitic disease that affects more than 240 million people worldwide, there is an urgent demand for new antischistosomal agents. Natural compound-loaded nanoparticles have recently emerged as a promising alternative for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Carvacrol is an antimicrobial monoterpene present in the essential oil extracted from several plants, especially oregano ( Origanum vulgare ). In this study, a carvacrol nanoemulsion (CVNE) was prepared, characterized, and administered orally (200 mg/kg) in a mouse infected with either immature (prepatent infection) or adult (patent infection) Schistosoma mansoni . For comparison, data obtained with an unloaded nanoemulsion (blank formulation), free carvacrol, and the drug of reference praziquantel are also presented. CVNE was more effective than free carvacrol in reducing the worm burden and egg production in both patent and prepatent infections. Favorably, CVNE had a high effect in terms of reducing the number of worms and eggs (85%-90%) compared with praziquantel (∼30%) in prepatent infection. In tandem, carvacrol-loaded nanoemulsion markedly improved antischistosomal activity, showing efficiency in reducing worm and egg burden, and thus it may be a promising delivery system for the treatment of schistosomiasis., 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 © 2022 Xavier, de Souza, Rodrigues, Melo, Roquini, Lemes, Wilairatana, Oliveira and de Moraes.)

We identified mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) in an Atlantic Forest fragment located in a large urban park in Salvador, Brazil, one year after a citywide epizootic of yellow fever virus (YFV). Between May 2 and August 2, 2018, adult mosquitoes were collected using the human attraction method, followed by trapping with hand-nets, and CO2-baited light traps placed at ground level and in the canopy. We collected a total of 11,914 mosquitoes, which belonged to three tribes, five genera, and at least seven species. The most abundant taxa captured by CO2-baited light traps were Culex quinquefasciatus (Say, Diptera: Culicidae) Limatus spp. (Diptera: Culicidae), and Wyeomyia spp. (Diptera: Culicidae), while by human attraction, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Wyeomyia spp., and Aedes albopictus (Skuse, Diptera: Culicidae) were captured most often. The diversity of mosquitoes by species was greater in the park area with restinga vegetation compared to the area with dense rainforest. Although vectors commonly associated with sylvatic YFV transmission were not captured, we collected several species capable of transmission of other arboviruses. Given the high likelihood of encounters between mosquitoes and human visitors in environments, such as the one studied, periodic entomological surveys to determine the risk of arbovirus transmission in these settings are warranted., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Neurobiology of social contagion/empathy aims to collaborate with the development of treatments for human disorders characterized by the absence of this response - autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and antisocial personality disorder. Previous studies using sustained aversive stimuli (e.g., neuropathic pain or stress) to induce social contagion behaviors in rodents have demonstrated that these conditions may increase hypernociception, anxiogenic-like effects, and defensive behaviors in cagemates. To amplify the knowledge about behavioral, hormonal, and neural alterations induced by cohabitation with a pair in neuropathic pain, we investigated the effects of this protocol on (i) pain (writhing, formalin, hot plate tests) and depression (sucrose splash test) responses, (ii) the serum levels of corticosterone, testosterone, and oxytocin, (iii) noradrenalin, dopamine and its metabolite (DOPAC and HVA) levels in the amygdaloid complex and insular cortex, (iv) neuronal activation pattern (FosB labeling) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SO). One day after weaning, male Swiss mice were housed in pairs for 14 days. Then, they were divided into two groups: sciatic nerve constricted cagemate [CNC; i.e., one animal of each pair was subjected to sciatic nerve constriction (NC)], and cagemate sham (CS; a similar procedure but with no nerve constriction), and housed for further 14 days. After 28 days of cohabiting, four independent groups were subjected to (a) behavioral analyses (Exp. 1) and (b) blood samples collected for Elisa assays of corticosterone, testosterone, and oxytocin (Exp. 2), remotion of brains for the (c) HPLC in the noradrenaline dopamine and metabolites quantification (Exp. 3) or (d) immunoassays analyses for FosB labeling (Exp. 4). Results showed that cohabitation with a conspecific in chronic pain induces hypernociception and antinociception in the writhing and formalin tests, respectively, and anhedonic-like effects in the sucrose splash test. Hormonal results indicated a decrease in plasma corticosterone only in nerve constricted mice, in testosterone (CNC and NC animals), and an increase in oxytocin serum levels. The neurochemical analyses demonstrated that the social contagion for pain protocol increases in dopamine turnover in the amygdala and insula. This assay also revealed an increase in noradrenaline levels and dopamine turnover within the insula of NC mice. In the FosB labeling measure, we observed a rise in the VTA, PVN and SO in the CNC group whereas for the NC group an increase of this activation pattern occurred only in the VTA. Present results suggest the role of hormones (testosterone and oxytocin) and neurotransmitters (dopamine) in the modulation of behavioral changes induced by social contagion in animals cohabitating with a conspecific in pain., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) modulates anxiety by its activity on 5-HT 2C receptors (5-HT 2C R) expressed in the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG). Here, we investigated the presence of 5-HT 3A receptors (5-HT 3A R) in the dPAG, and the interplay between 5-HT 2C R and 5-HT 3A R in the dPAG in mediating anxiety-like behavior in mice. We found that 5-HT 3A R is expressed in the dPAG and the blockade of these receptors using intra-dPAG infusion of ondansetron (5-HT 3A R antagonist; 3.0 nmol) induced an anxiogenic-like effect. The activation of 5-HT 3AB R by the infusion of mCPBG [1-(m-Chlorophenyl)-biguanide; 5-HT 3 R agonist] did not alter anxiety-like behaviors. In addition, blockade of 5-HT 3A R (1.0 nmol) prevented the anxiolytic-like effect induced by the infusion of the 5-HT 2C R agonist mCPP (1-(3-chlorophenyl) piperazine; 0.03 nmol). None of the treatment effects on anxiety-like behaviors altered the locomotor activity levels. The present results suggest that the anxiolytic-like effect exerted by serotonin activity on 5-HT 2C R in the dPAG is modulated by 5-HT 3A R expressed in same region., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

This study aimed to evaluate whether skeletal development of the Pantanal Caiman (Caiman yacare) is similarly influenced by temperature variation and controlled increases in embryo motility. All eggs were incubated at 90% humidity and 29 °C for the first 45 days. Thereafter, the incubation temperature was either maintained at 29 °C and embryos were treated with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on days 46, 47, 48, and 49 (Group I, 29 °C 4-AP, n = 15); maintained at 29 °C (n = 14; Group II); or at 33 °C (n = 14, Group III). Embryonic movement was measured using an Egg Buddy® digital monitor on days 30, 35, 42, 49, 56, and 60, at which point embryos were euthanized and samples were collected for analysis. No differences were observed between groups with varying incubation temperatures. In contrast, embryonic motility was greater in embryos treated with 4-AP (P < 0.001) on day 49, and this was associated with higher proportions of snout-vent and hand lengths. This study demonstrates for the first time that pharmacologically induced increases in embryo motility result in phenotypic changes to the proportion of elements during prenatal ontogeny, thereby effectively altering the adaptation of the species to specific environments.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex. PTSD-like pathophysiology and behaviors have been observed in rodents exposed to a single prolonged stress (SPS) procedure. When animals are left alone for 7 days after SPS treatment, they show increased anxiety-like behavior and impaired extinction of conditioned fear, and reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex. Here, we tested the hypothesis that daily optogenetic stimulation of the infralimbic region (IL) of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during the 7 days after SPS would reverse SPS effects on anxiety and fear extinction. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent SPS and then received daily optogenetic stimulation (20 Hz, 2 s trains, every 10 s for 15 min/day) of glutamatergic neurons of the left or right IL for seven days. After this incubation period, rats were tested in the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Twenty-four hours after the EPM test, rats underwent auditory fear conditioning (AFC), extinction training and a retention test. SPS increased anxiety-like behavior in the EPM task and produced a profound impairment in extinction of AFC. Optogenetic stimulation of the left IL, but not right, during the 7-day incubation period reversed the extinction impairment. Optogenetic stimulation did not reverse the increased anxiety-like behavior, suggesting that the extinction effects are not due to a treatment-induced reduction in anxiety. Results indicate that increased activity of the left IL after traumatic experiences can prevent development of extinction impairments. These findings suggest that non-invasive brain stimulation may be a useful tool for preventing maladaptive responses to trauma., 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 Canto-de-Souza, Demetrovich, Plas, Souza, Epperson, Wahlstrom, Nunes-de-Souza, LaLumiere, Planeta and McIntyre.)

Cohabitation with a partner undergoing chronic pain induces pain hypersensitivity. Among a lot of other neurochemical pathways, the serotonin (5-HT) role, specifically the 5-HT 3 receptor (5-HT 3 R), in the amygdala has never been evaluated in this model. Here we studied the effects of the amygdala's chemical inhibition, its neuronal activation pattern, and 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and 5-HT turnover within the amygdala. Furthermore, the systemic and intra-amygdala 5-HT 3 R activation and blockade in mice that cohabited with a conspecific subjected to chronic constriction injury were investigated. Male Swiss mice were housed in partners for 28 days. The dyads were divided into two groups on the 14 th day: cagemate nerve constriction (CNC) and cagemate sham (CS). On the 24 th day, cagemates underwent a stereotaxic surgery (when necessary) and, on the 28 th day, they were evaluated on the writhing test. The amygdala inactivation promotes pain-hypersensitivity behaviors in groups and dyads; cohabitation with a partner with chronic pain did not change FosB-labeled cells in the amygdala's nucleus and increases 5-HT turnover in cagemates. Systemic and intra-amygdala 5-HT 3 R activation attenuated and enhanced the number of writhes, respectively. In contrast, 5-HT 3 R blockade reduced hypersensitivity pain response. Results suggest the involvement of amygdala serotonergic signaling via 5-HT 3 R in empathy-like behavior.

In the present study, we demonstrated the use of molecular docking as an efficient in silico screening tool for lipase-triglyceride interactions. Computational simulations using the crystal structures from Burkholderia cepacia lipase (BCL), Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL), and pancreatic porcine lipase (PPL) were performed to elucidate the catalytic behavior with the majority triglycerides present in Licuri oil, as follows: caprilyl-dilauryl-glycerol (CyLaLa), capryl-dilauryl-glycerol (CaLaLa), capryl-lauryl-myristoyl-glycerol (CaLaM), and dilauryl-myristoyl-glycerol (LaLaM). The computational simulation results showed that BCL has the potential to preferentially catalyze the major triglycerides present in Licuri oil, demonstrating that CyLaLa, (≈25.75% oil composition) interacts directly with two of the three amino acid residues in its catalytic triad (Ser87 and His286) with the lowest energy (-5.9 kcal/mol), while other triglycerides (CaLaLa, CaLaM, and LaLaM) interact with only one amino acid (His286). In one hard, TLL showed a preference for catalyzing the triglyceride CaLaLa also interacting with His286 residue, but, achieving higher binding energies (-5.3 kcal/mol) than found in BCL (-5.7 kcal/mol). On the other hand, PPL prefers to catalyze only with LaLaM triglyceride by His264 residue interaction. When comparing the computational simulations with the experimental results, it was possible to understand how BCL and TLL display more stable binding with the majority triglycerides present in the Licuri oil, achieving conversions of 50.86 and 49.01%, respectively. These results indicate the production of fatty acid concentrates from Licuri oil with high lauric acid content. Meanwhile, this study also demonstrates the application of molecular docking as an important tool for lipase screening to reach a more sustainable production of fatty acid concentrates from vegetable oils., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The rodent medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is anatomically divided into cingulate (Cg1), prelimbic (PrL), and infralimbic (IL) subareas. The left and right mPFC (L and RmPFC) process emotional responses induced by stress-related stimuli, and LmPFC and RmPFC inhibition elicit anxiogenesis and anxiolysis, respectively. Here we sought to investigate (i) the mPFC functional laterality on social avoidance/anxiogenic-like behaviors in male mice subjected to chronic social defeat stress (SDS), (ii) the effects of left prelimbic (PrL) inhibition (with local injection of CoCl 2 ) on the RmPFC glutamatergic neuronal activation pattern (immunofluorescence assay), and (iii) the effects of the dorsal right mPFC (Cg1 + PrL) NMDA receptor blockade (with local injection of AP7) on the anxiety induced by left dorsal mPFC inhibition in mice exposed to the elevated plus maze (EPM). Results showed that chronic SDS induced anxiogenic-like behaviors followed by the rise of ΔFosB labeling and by ΔFosB + CaMKII double-labeling bilaterally in the Cg1 and IL subareas of the mPFC. Chronic SDS also increased ΔFosB and by ΔFosB + CaMKII labeling only on the right PrL. Also, the left PrL inhibition increased cFos + CaMKII labeling in the contralateral PrL and IL. Moreover, anxiogenesis induced by the left PrL inhibition was blocked by NMDA receptor antagonist AP7 injected into the right PrL. These findings suggest the lateralized control of the glutamatergic neurotransmission in the modulation of emotional-like responses in mice subjected to chronic SDS., 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 Santos-Costa, Baptista-de-Souza, Canto-de-Souza, Fresca da Costa and Nunes-de-Souza.)

Disuse osteoporosis occurs after extended periods of bed rest or nerve damage leading to increased risk of fracture. It remains to be established, however, whether the trajectory of bone loss is equivalent in bone's cortical and trabecular compartments following long-term periods of reduced loading. Herein, we evaluate sciatic neurectomy-related cortical and trabecular bone loss in the tibia by microCT. The right hind limb of seventeen 12 week-old female mice was subjected to sciatic neurectomy (right, SN; left, contralateral internal control) and the animals were sacrificed in four groups ( n  = 3-5/group) at 5, 35, 65 and 95 days thereafter. Cortical bone mass, geometry and mineral density were evaluated along almost the entire tibial length and trabecular bone was examined at the proximal metaphysis. We found that trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) and number were decreased within 5 days, with a trajectory of loss that only plateaued after 65 days post-SN. In contrast, decreases in cortical thickness, cross-sectional area, second moment of inertia along minor and major axes and predicted resistance to torsion were unmodified during the early 5 day period, attaining significance only after 35 days post-SN and, thereafter showed no further deterioration. Only cortical ellipticity and periosteal enclosed area, continued to change in the SN limbs (vs. contralateral) between 35 and 95 days along the tibia length. On the other hand, cortical tissue mineral density was unmodified by SN at any time point. These data indicate that SN-related cortical bone loss extends along almost the entire tibia, exhibits delayed onset and yet stabilises its architecture more rapidly than trabecular bone. These data suggest that the cortical and trabecular compartments behave as distinct modules in response to SN even within an individual bone., Competing Interests: None., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Mice cohabiting with a conspecific in chronic pain display anxiogenesis in the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Given that the anterior cingulate (ACC) and insular (InC) cortices play a role in the modulation of anxiety, pain, and emotional contagion, we investigated (a) the FosB activation in both brain areas and (b) the effects of intra-ACC or -InC injection of cobalt chloride (CoCl 2 , a synaptic blocker), on the anxiety of mice cohabiting with a cagemate suffering pain. Twenty-one days after birth, male Swiss mice were housed in pairs for 14 days to establish familiarity. On the 14th day, mice were divided into two groups: cagemate sciatic nerve constriction (CNC; i.e., one animal of each pair was subjected to sciatic nerve constriction), and cagemate sham (CS; i.e., a similar procedure but without suffering nerve constriction). After that, both groups were housed again with the same pairs for the other 14 days. On the 28th day, mice had their brains removed for the immunoassays analyses (Exp. 1). For experiments 2 and 3, on the 23rd day, the cagemates received guide cannula implantation bilaterally in the ACC or InC and, on the 28th day, they received local injections of saline or CoCl 2 , and then were exposed to the EPM. Results showed that cohabitation with a conspecific with chronic pain decreases and increases neuronal activation (FosB) within the ACC and InC, respectively. Intra-ACC or InC injection of CoCl 2 reversed the anxiogenic effect in those animals that cohabited with a conspecific in chronic pain. ACC and InC seem to modulate anxiety induced by emotional contagion in animals cohabitating with a conspecific suffering pain., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Carvacrol (CV) is an essential oil with numerous therapeutic properties, including immunomodulatory activity. However, this effect has not been studied in nanoemulsion systems. The objective of this study was to develop an innovative carvacrol-loaded nanoemulsion (CVNE) for immunomodulatory action. The developed CVNE comprised of 5% w / w oily phase (medium chain triglycerides + CV), 2% w / w surfactants (Tween 80 ® /Span 80 ® ), and 93% w / w water, and was produced by ultrasonication. Dynamic light scattering over 90 days was used to characterize CVNE. Cytotoxic activity and quantification of cytokines were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture supernatants. CVNE achieved a drug loading of 4.29 mg/mL, droplet size of 165.70 ± 0.46 nm, polydispersity index of 0.14 ± 0.03, zeta potential of -10.25 ± 0.52 mV, and good stability for 90 days. CVNE showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 200 µM in PBMCs. CV diminished the production of IL-2 in the PBMC supernatant. However, CVNE reduced the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-17, and IFN-γ at 50 µM. In conclusion, a stable CVNE was produced, which improved the CV immunomodulatory activity in PBMCs.

Objective: to construct and validate educational technology on COVID-19 and essential care for families of children/adolescents with sickle cell disease., Methods: this is a methodological study, in three stages: 1) elaborated educational technology, using the Doak, Doak and Root theoretical-methodological model; 2) content and appearance validation by the content validity coefficient. Delphi technique was applied in two rounds (Delphi I [12 judges]/Delphi II [11 judges]); 3) conducting a pilot test with six families., Results: "Sickle cell disease and COVID-19: essential care" included: consequences of COVID-19 in sickle cell disease, guidelines for reducing the risks of contracting the virus and having complications, signs and symptoms of COVID-19, guidelines in case of child/adolescent with suspicion or symptoms of COVID-19. Global content validity coefficient (Delphi II): 0.98., Conclusion: educational technology presented content and appearance validity for families of children/adolescents with sickle cell disease, related to COVID-19.

Female sex workers (FSWs) represent a high vulnerability group for the acquisition of sexual and parenteral infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of serological markers and risk factors associated with exposure to HBV and HCV among FSWs in the state of Pará, Brazil. A cross-sectional study using principles of the time location sampling (TLS) method was conducted in four cities (Belém, Bragança, Barcarena, and Augusto Corrêa) of the state of Pará, from 2005 to 2006. In total, 365 FSWs were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. Blood samples were collected and tested for serological markers of exposure to HBV and HCV using an enzyme immunoassay. The overall prevalence of exposure to HBV and HCV was 36.7% and 7.7%, respectively. The prevalence of surface antigen of HBV was 3.0%. The prevalence of anti-HBc and anti-HBc+ anti-HBs antibodies were 6.3% and 27.4%. Very few (4.7%) FSWs had vaccine immunity against HBV (anti-HBs antibodies only). The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 7.7%. Low monthly income, drug usage, and unprotected sex were some of the social characteristics associated with exposure to the viruses using different analysis. The seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infections among FSWs in four cities of the state of Pará is high when compared to the general population of Brazil, but similar to those found in FSWs in other nondeveloped countries. The prevalence of HBV was higher in Belém, while the prevalence of HCV was higher in the other three cities, highlighting the importance of establishing control and prevention programs to reduce the risk of acquiring these viruses in Pará., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Purpose: To systematically review the literature on the deep lateral orbital decompression (DLD)., Methods: The authors searched the MEDLINE, Lilac, Scopus, and EMBASE databases for all articles in English, Spanish, and French that used as keywords the terms orbital decompression and lateral wall. Two articles in German were also included. Data retrieved included the number of patients and orbits operated, types of the approach employed, exophthalmometric and horizontal eye position changes, and complications. The 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the mean Hertel changes induced by the surgery were calculated from series with 15 or more data., Results: Of the 204 publications initially retrieved, 131 were included. Detailed surgical techniques were analyzed from 59 articles representing 4559 procedures of 2705 patients. In 45.8% of the reports, the orbits were decompressed ab-interno. Ab-externo and rim-off techniques were used in 25.4% and 28.8% of the orbits, respectively. Mean and 95% CI intervals of Hertel changes, pooled from 15 articles, indicate that the effect of the surgery is not related to the technique and ranges from 2.5 to 4.5 mm. The rate of new onset of diplopia varied from zero to 8.6%. Several complications have been reported including dry eye, oscillopsia, temporal howling, lateral rectus damage, and bleeding. Unilateral amaurosis and subdural hematoma have been described in only one patients each., Conclusions: The low rate of new-onset diplopia is the main benefit of DLD. Prospective studies are needed to compare the rate of complications induced by the 3 main surgical techniques used.

Objective: To analyze the impact of Resolution 2.173/2017 of the Federal Council of Medicine on results from the Central Estadual de Transplantes de Santa Catarina., Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study of medical records of all patients (1,605) with suspected brain death notified to the Central Estadual de Transplantes de Santa Catarina; for this study, procedures to confirm this diagnosis were initiated between July 2016 and December 2017 and between January 2018 and June 2019. The median duration of the protocol in each period was considered for the comparison between the intervals. The collected data were transformed into rates (per million population). The mean rates for the periods before and after the implementation of the protocol were analyzed by Student's t-test, and qualitative variables were analyzed by Pearson's chi-squared test., Results: The mean duration of brain death confirmation procedures decreased more than 1 hour in the second period compared to the first period, with statistical significance (p = 0.001). The rates of harvested livers and transplanted pancreas, the number of notifications by hospital size and the rate of cardiac arrest in the macro-region of the Itajaí Valley were significantly different between the two periods., Conclusion: In the period after the new resolution on brain death, there was a reduction in the duration for diagnosis. However, other indicators did not change significantly, providing evidence for the multidimensional nature of the organ transplantation process in Santa Catarina and the need for further studies to better understand and optimize the process.

This work reports, for the first time, an Ethanolic Two-Phase System (ETPS) based on polypropylene glycol 2000 (PPG 2000), mono-, di-, tri-ethylene glycol, and ethanol. An ionic liquid (IL) (1-butyl-3-methylpyridinium chloride) was used as an adjuvant. This ETPS shows promising results for the extraction of highly hydrophobic compounds. Bixin (model of hydrophobic compounds) migrates completely to the PPG 2000-rich phase, while ascorbic acid (hydrophilic compound) migrated to the opposite phase.