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Alumina is a polymorphic bioceramic that has been extensively investigated for application in bone regeneration. Dense α-alumina has been considered a suitable biomaterial for dental and orthopedic implants due to its superior mechanical properties. However, its use is limited due to its high inertia in a biological environment. Recent investigations have focused on its distinct phases and surface characteristics through the control of morphology, physical properties, and chemical composition to enhance bioactivity. This article presents a brief review of the developments in porous α-alumina and amorphous-γ-alumina transition. Most studies have shown that composites and alumina coated with bioactive materials, high surface area, and hydroxylated surface can significantly improve biological properties. Cellular responses such as fixation, growth, and proliferation, as well as biomineralization, are the main studies to validate improvements in bioactive properties.

We aimed to incorporate Thymbra capitata essential oil (TCEO), a potent antimicrobial natural product against bacterial vaginosis (BV)-related bacteria, in a suitable drug delivery system. We used vaginal sheets as dosage form to promote immediate relief of the typical abundant vaginal discharge with unpleasant odour. Excipients were selected to promote the healthy vaginal environment reestablishment and bioadhesion of formulations, while the TCEO acts directly on BV pathogens. We characterized vaginal sheets with TCEO in regard to technological characterization, predictable in vivo performance, in vitro efficacy and safety. Vaginal sheet D.O (acid lactic buffer, gelatine, glycerine, chitosan coated with TCEO 1% w/w) presented a higher buffer capacity and ability to absorb vaginal fluid simulant (VFS) among all vaginal sheets with EO, showing one of the most promising bioadhesive profiles, an excellent flexibility and structure that allow it to be easily rolled for application. Vaginal sheet D.O with 0.32 µL/mL TCEO was able to significantly reduce the bacterial load of all in vitro tested Gardnerella species. Although vaginal sheet D.O presented toxicity at some concentrations, this product was developed for a short time period of treatment, so this toxicity can probably be limited or even reversed when the treatment ends., This work supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within the research project PTDC/BIA-MIC/28271/2017 under the scope of COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-028271) including an individual scholarship and general funding. This work was also developed within the scope of the CICS-UBI projects UIDB/00709/2020 and UIDP/00709/2020, financed by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Background Bacterial vaginosis (BV), the most common cause of vaginal discharge, is characterized by the presence of a polymicrobial biofilm on the vaginal epithelium, formed primarily by Gardnerella spp., but also other anaerobic species. Interactions between bacteria in multi-species biofilms are likely to contribute to increased virulence and to enhanced antimicrobial tolerance observed in vivo. However, functional studies addressing this question are lacking. Objectives To gain insights into the role that interactions between BV-associated species in multi-species BV biofilms might have on antimicrobial tolerance, single- and triple-species biofilms formed by Gardnerella vaginalis, Fannyhessea (Atopobium) vaginae and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius were characterized, before and after metronidazole or clindamycin treatment. Methods Total biofilm biomass, total cells and cfu counts prior to and after antibiotic treatment were first determined. In addition, bacterial populations in the triple-species biofilms were also quantified by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Results Despite the effect observed in single-species biofilms, neither metronidazole nor clindamycin was effective in reducing triple-species biofilm biomass. Similar results were obtained when evaluating the number of total or culturable cells. Interestingly, despite differences between strain susceptibilities to antibiotics, the composition of the triple-species biofilms was not strongly affected by antibiotics. Conclusions Taken together, these results strengthen the idea that, when co-incubated, bacteria can interact synergistically, leading to increased tolerance to antimicrobial therapy, which helps explain the observed clinically high BV recurrence rates.

Aiming to contribute with more data on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) in outdoor environments, we performed air sampling in outdoor terraces from restaurants in three major cities of Portugal in April 2021, following the third wave lockdown release in the country. Air samples (n=19) were collected in 19 restaurant terraces during lunch time. Each air sample was collected using a Coriolis Compact air sampler, followed by RNA extraction and real-time quantitative PCR for the detection of viral RNA. Viral viability was also assessed through RNAse pre-treatment of samples. Only one of the 19 air samples was positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, with 7337 gene copies m–3 for the genomic region N2, with no viable virus in this sample. The low number of positive samples found in this study is not surprising, as sampling took place in outdoor settings where air circulation is optimal, and aerosols are rapidly dispersed by the air currents. These results are consistent with previous reports stating that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in outdoor spaces is low, although current evidence shows an association of exposures in settings where drinking and eating is possible on-site with an increased risk in acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the minimal infectious dose for SARS-CoV-2 still needs to be determined so that the real risk of infection in different environments can be accurately established.

A infeção pelo Vírus do Papiloma Humano (HPV) é um problema de saúde pública a nível mundial.Anualmente, e associado ao cancro do colo do útero (CCU), infeções persistentes por estipes oncogénicas estão na base do desenvolvimento de milhões de lesões pré-neoplásicas e neoplásicas em mulheres. A citologia desempenha um papel fundamental na identificação destas lesões, uma vez que, quer o exame citológico convencional, quer o em meio líquido, consistem numa medida de prevenção essencial. Para além do baixo custo e fácil acesso, estes permitem a deteção de lesões pré-neoplásicas em mulheres que ainda não apresentem sintomas, para que possam receber o tratamento adequado e evitar que as lesões progridam para CCU. A atribuição de um diagnóstico em citologia nem sempre éfácil e diagnósticos diferenciais devem ser ponderados pelo citologista, de modo a evitar erros de interpretação. Neste trabalho, é apresentado um caso clínico de uma mulher de 70 anos, à qual foi realizado um esfregaço cervico-vaginal convencional e no qual era possível observar um epitélio atrófico com presença de células atípicas. Este tipo de epitélio pode fazer diagnóstico diferencial com lesões docolo do útero, nomeadamente com lesão intraepitelial de alto grau (HSIL), pelo que é importante identificar e discutir as características citomorfológicas usadas para a atribuição do resultado citológico., Citotech Online - Case Review, N.º 7 (2022)

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal discharge and is often associated with other health consequences mainly in pregnant women. BV is described by an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota where strictly and facultative anaerobic bacteria outgrow the lactic acid- and hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacillus species. The species involved in BV are capable to grow and form a polymicrobial biofilm in the vaginal epithelium. The treatment of BV is usually performed using broad-spectrum antibiotics, including metronidazole and clindamycin. However, these conventional treatments are associated with high recurrence rates. The BV polymicrobial biofilm may have an important role on the treatment outcome and is accounted as one of the factors for treatment failure. Other possible reasons for treatment failure include the presence of species resistant to antibiotics or the chance of reinfection after treatment. Therefore, novel strategies to increase the rates of treatment have been studied namely the use of probiotics and prebiotics, acidifying agents, antiseptics, plant-based products, vaginal microbiota transplantation, and phage endolysins. Although some of them are still in an initial phase of development with very preliminary results, they show great perspectives for application. In this review, we aimed to study the role of the polymicrobial nature of BV in treatment failure and explore a few alternatives for treatment., LGVS is supported by FCT with the individual grant 2020.04912.BD. SAP is supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020, info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Residual lipids with high fatty acid content represent an important source of raw material for renewable biofuels. They are not suitable for the production of biodiesel via alkaline transesterification but can be converted to biodiesel via esterification. For these feedstocks, hydrodeoxygenation is suitable for producing hydrocarbons. However to limit hydrogen consumption, thermal processes are also object of studies. In these thermal processes nickel has been used in the form of supported catalysts but has not been well studied in the form of mixed oxides. This work aims at studying the Ni/Al ratio influence on the properties of unsupported mixed oxides prepared from layered double hydroxides (LDH) precursors, to evaluate their performance in the fast pyrolysis of myristic acid (MA) as a model compound of residual acidic lipids. Prepared materials had molar ratios Ni/Al = 0.3, 1 and 3. The catalysts were obtained through calcination of the precursors, and were characterized by XRD, TGA, FTIR, N2 adsorption isotherms, TPD of NH3 and EDX analysis. Myristic acid pyrolysis, with catalyst:MA mass ratio of 5:1, was carried out in a micropyrolyzer at 550 °C, and the products were analyzed through online GC/MS. Results show that the obtained catalysts presented a rather high surface area, important mesoporosity and NiO and NiAl2O4 crystalline phases. The catalysts with the highest Al content favored cracking with the production of hydrocarbons in the gasoline range, while the sample with highest Ni content favored the production of hydrocarbons in the kerosene range. The catalyst obtained with the combination of Ni/Al = 1 presented the highest surface area and acidity and the lowest NiO crystallite size, resulting in the best MA conversion (∼84 %) and deoxygenation degree. It also produced the highest yield in aromatic compounds due to the higher acidity and hydrogen transfer, compared to other catalysts. The present results confirm that catalytic reaction under pyrolysis conditions is able to identify some intrinsic properties of catalysts using model molecules as starting feed.

Firefighters are exposed to a range of harmful substances during firefighting. Exposure to fire smoke has been associated with a decrease in their lung function. However, the cause–effect relationship between those two factors is not yet demonstrated. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the potential associations between firefighters’ occupational exposure and their lung function deterioration. Studies were identified from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct databases (August 1990–March 2021). The studies were included when reporting the lung function values of Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1) or Forced Vital Capacity (FVC). The meta-analyses were performed using the generic inverse variance in R software with a random-effects model. Subgroup analysis was used to determine if the lung function was influenced by a potential study effect or by the participants’ characteristics. A total of 5562 participants from 24 studies were included. No significant difference was found between firefighters’ predicted FEV1 from wildland, 97.64% (95% CI: 91.45–103.82%; I2 = 99%), and urban fires, 99.71% (95% CI: 96.75–102.67%; I2 = 98%). Similar results were found for the predicted FVC. Nevertheless, the mean values of firefighters’ predicted lung function varied significantly among studies, suggesting many confounders, such as trials’ design, statistical methods, methodologies applied, firefighters’ daily exposure and career length, hindering an appropriate comparison between the studies.

Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic liver disease caused by a dysfunctional immune system. It is widely believed that autoimmune hepatitis accumulates in families. We found that autoimmune hepatitis does accumulate in monozygotic twins.We present middle-aged monozygotic female twins developing autoimmune hepatitis consecutively within two years. Both twins had developed Graves' disease and were treated with carbimazole before the onset of autoimmune hepatitis. Both were cigarette smokers. The twins were treated with budesonide and azathioprine, which normalised liver parameters.This case report supports the hypothesis that a genetic factor might be of great importance in the aetiology of autoimmune hepatitis.

The knowledge of the most predictive split discipline and the pacing during a triathlon race is of utmost importance for planning an ultra-triathlon race. This study aimed at investigating the pacing during cycling and running splits in three different multi-stage ultra-triathlon race formats (i.e., Quintuple, Deca, and Double Deca Iron ultra-triathlon with 5x, 10x and 20x the daily distance of a full Ironman-distance triathlon).A total of 48 male ultra-triathletes competing in Quintuple (n=14), Deca (n=25), and Double Deca (n=9) Iron ultra-triathlon "swissultra" between 2016 and 2019 in Switzerland were analyzed. For each race day, we calculated the total performance (sum of all laps time), average individual performance (average of all laps time within a race day) and pacing variation (coefficient of variation of race laps time) for cycling and running. Discipline (cycling and running) and race distance (Quintuple, Deca, and Double Deca Iron ultra-triathlon) were used as independent parameters. The primary outcome variables were the time performance (daily and total) and the pacing variation. We applied two general linear models (GLM): the first model was a one-way ANOVA comparing total and daily performance by race distance, and the second model was a two-way ANOVA (race distance´ discipline) using pacing variation (average pace oscillation) as a dependent variable.The first GLM identified a significant race distance effect for total performance in both cycling (F = 375.6; p0.001; ηp2 = 0.943) and running (F = 267.8; p0.001; ηp2 = 0.922) with Double Deca Iron ultra-triathlon being the fastest and Quintuple Iron ultra-triathlon the slowest. The GLM for daily average performance showed no significant effect of race distance on cycling performance (F = 0.171; p = 0.843; ηp2 = 0.008), but on running performance (F = 6.408; p = 0.004; ηp2 = 0.222). The two-way GLM comparing pacing variation showed a significant effect for race distance (F = 11.81; p0.001; ηp2 = 0.344) with Deca presenting larger pace variation than Quintuple and Double Deca Iron ultra-triathlon in both cycling and running, but not for discipline (F = 0.067; p=0.797; ηp2 = 0.001), nor for interaction (F = 1.469; p=0.241; ηp2 = 0.061).Athletes achieved a stable cycling performance independent of the length of the race, and the cycling split had an influence on the subsequent running split depending upon the length of the race.

Faced with lockdowns, it was mandatory the development of supervised home-based RT protocols to keep patients with chronic kidney disease engaged in programs. Nonetheless, there is a lack of scientific literature regarding its effects on patients.To investigate the effects of a supervised home-based progressive resistance training program on functional performance, bone mineral density, renal function, endothelial health, inflammation, glycemic homeostasis, metabolism, redox balance, and the modulation of exerkines in patients with CKD in stage 2.Patients (n = 31) were randomized and allocated into the control group (CTL; n = 15; 58.07 ± 5.22 yrs) or resistance training group (RT; n = 16; 57.94 ± 2.74 yrs). RT group performed 22 weeks of supervised progressive home-based resistance exercises. Bone mineral density, anthropometric measurements, and functional performance were assessed. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline and after the intervention for the analysis of markers of renal function, endothelial health, inflammation, glycemic homeostasis, metabolism, and redox balance.Twenty-two weeks of home-based RT were effective in improving (P 0.05) functional performance, bone mineral density, uremic profile, ADMA, inflammatory markers, the Klotho-FGF23 axis, glycemic homeostasis markers, and exerkines. These improvements were accompanied by higher concentrations of exerkines and anti-inflammatory cytokines. RT group displayed a decrease in cases of osteopenia after the intervention (RT: 50 % vs. CTL: 86.7 %; XResults provide new evidence that supervised home-based progressive RT may be a relevant intervention to attenuate the progression of CKD and improve functional capacity, bone mineral density, and the immunometabolic profile. These improvements are associated with positive modulation of several exerkines.

Here we describe the proteome of the fungus

Enzimas microbianas têm sido alvo da indústria biotecnológica visto a ampla variedade de aplicação e a facilidade de obtenção em escala laboratorial. Dentre os microrganismos de interesse, fungos filamentosos e actinobactérias tem se destacado como fontes potenciais de diversas enzimas hidrolíticas, proteases e lipases. Ambientes pouco explorados podem abrigar uma diversidade microbiana produtora de diversos metabólitos primários e secundários de aplicação na indústria farmacêutica e de alimentos. Neste sentido, foi realizado um screening em um acervo de actinobactérias isoladas de ambientes diferenciados no bioma Amazônia e selecionado os isolados com potencial enzimático na produção de Caseinase, Pectinase, Amilase, Lipase e Esterase. As enzimas lipase e esterase foram produzidas pela maioria dos isolados, seguido da atividade proteolítica. Já as enzimas amilase e pectinase foram produzidas por poucos isolados bacterianos. Quanto ao potencial enzimático, apenas 9 isolados apresentaram índice enzimático inferior a 1,5, sendo três produtores de amilase, 4 produtores de caseinase, 1 produtor de lipase e 1 produtor de pectinase. O acervo bacteriano investigado é uma fonte natural importante de enzimas de aplicação industrial e pode ser matéria-prima importante para estudos futuros que descrevam as características bioquímicas e estruturais destas enzimas e suas possibilidades de aplicações na indústria de alimentos.

The effects of deactivation by coke deposition after the n-heptane cracking reaction were evaluated on crystallinity, acidity and activation energies for the coke thermal oxidation process in microporous and hierarchical ZSM-23 zeolites. The fresh and coked catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia and thermogravimetric analysis. The Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Vyazovkin kinetic models were used to determine the activation energy of the catalyst regeneration process, using integral dynamic curves from thermogravimetric analysis data obtained with different heating rates. The generation of micro-/mesoporous structures provided a beneficial effect by inhibiting the loss of crystallinity and preserving a certain degree of acidity after catalyst deactivation. The hierarchical ZSM-23 zeolites showed lower deposited coke amounts and activation energy values for the coke thermal oxidation process, providing greater stability, activity and lower energy level required for regeneration in comparison with the microporous zeolites.

Management of certification issuance and product counterfeit verifications in the Agri-food supply chain are very serious and reaching problems nowadays. The currently existing management systems for this process are either outdated or have significant issues when it comes to security, trust, traceability, management or product certification. The introduction of Blockchain technology, due to its intrinsic properties, has the potential to solve identity, ownership, data temper, traceability and certification issues. This is possible due to the unique identity of each actor and signing verification at each transaction/action. The decentralized nature and constant verification of the chain state also contribute to this security and trust in the system. The proposed solution does not compromise currently existing features, but it will, however, allow all the actors to take part in the Agri-food supply chain system and constantly monitor its actions. The SmartAgriChain project intends to implement a supply chain and certification system based on Hyperledger Sawtooth that will be capable of identity management, hierarchical users/organizations, significant scalability, low costs, low energy consumption and compatibility with legacy systems. In this paper, we will explore and explain the system design and architecture in detail as well as a cost projection based on the number of nodes of the distributed system.

Life-threatening Candida infections have increased with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the already limited arsenal of antifungal drugs has become even more restricted due to its side effects associated with complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Drug combination strategies have the potential to reduce the risk of side effects without loss of therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combination of ent-hardwickiic acid with low concentrations of amphotericin B against Candida strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined for amphotericin B and ent-hardwickiic acid as isolated compounds and for 77 combinations of amphotericin B and ent-hardwickiic acid concentrations that were assessed by using the checkerboard microdilution method. Time–kill assays were performed in order to assess the fungistatic or fungicidal nature of the different combinations. The strategy of combining both compounds markedly reduced the MIC values from 16 µg/mL to 1 µg/mL of amphotericin B and from 12.5 µg/mL to 6.25 µg/mL of ent-hardwickiic acid, from isolated to combined, against C. albicans resistant to azoles. The combination of 1 µg/mL of amphotericin B with 6.25 µg/mL of ent-hardwickiic acid killed all the cells of the same strain within four hours of incubation.

Objective Intervention research using digital games to promote physical activity has proliferated. Yet few studies have attempted to systematically catalog features that characterize this research. To address this gap, we undertook a systematic review and content analysis of active video game interventions, examining only published longitudinal interventions that prominently featured active video game technology (≥50% of the intervention). Methods Our protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42020204191). For inclusion, an active video game intervention had to require gross movement beyond finger movement, and target improvement, maintenance, or recovery of health. The intervention design had to include at least two conditions, within- or between-subjects, with ≥10 participants per condition to examine the chronic effects of active video game exposure. Results The search resulted in 232 studies published in English between 1996 and 2020. The majority of active video game interventions (69.8%) targeted physical fitness (physiological functioning as a consequence of physical activity), followed by cognitive performance (11.3%), physical activity (5.5%), or a mixture of those outcomes (13.4%). Total enrollment across all studies was 14,849 participants ( MParticipants = 62, SD = 106; MAge = 50.2, SD = 25.2 years; 47.3% men). A strong majority of the samples (69.8%) were recruited from medical subpopulations, and only 30.2% were recruited from the general (healthy) population. A strong majority of active video games (72.0%) were developed by industry for the commercial market, and only 13.3% were funded by government or foundation grants. Conclusions Suggested directions for improving future active video game development and intervention research include greater consideration of promising features (social connectedness, novelty, narrative, rhythmic movement to music) and new models for productive collaboration between industry and academia.