In vitro determination of the susceptibility of Malassezia furfur biofilm to different commercially used antimicrobials.

Malassezia furfur is a yeast known as the etiological agent of seborrheic dermatitis. We evaluated the action of five different antimicrobials (amphotericin B, chloramphenicol, ketoconazole, fluconazole, and nystatin) on inhibiting biofilm formation and removing biofilm already formed by M. furfur. The assays were carried out using the microdilution method, and scanning electron microscopy images were used to analyze the biofilm structure. According to the results obtained, the percentage of inhibition was higher for chloramphenicol, followed by ketoconazole, nystatin, and amphotericin B. Regarding the eradication of the biofilm formed, the highest percentage was chloramphenicol, followed by ketoconazole and nystatin. Amphotericin B did not affect biofilm eradication, whereas fluconazole did not cause significant changes inhibiting or removing M. furfur biofilm. Therefore, except for fluconazole, all evaluated antimicrobials had inhibiting effects on the biofilm of M. furfur, either in its formation and/or eradication. Although the results achieved with chloramphenicol have been highlighted, further in vitro and in vivo studies are still needed in order to include this antimicrobial in the therapy of seborrheic dermatitis due to its toxicity, especially to the bone marrow.

Hemorrhagic Transformation in Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation: To Anticoagulate or Not, That Is the Question.

The management of anticoagulation in patients with ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF) poses a critical dilemma due to the inherent risk of hemorrhagic transformation. This article presents the case of an 89-year-old male with AF and recurrent ischemic strokes, highlighting the complex challenge of deciding whether to initiate or withhold anticoagulation. After the initial ischemic stroke event, the patient started a direct oral anticoagulant. Subsequent imaging revealed hemorrhagic transformation, leading to the cessation of anticoagulation. Despite multiple hemorrhagic recurrences, balancing thrombotic and bleeding risks remained challenging. Mechanical thrombectomy was performed for a subsequent ischemic stroke due to an absolute contraindication for thrombolysis. The patient's intricate clinical course involved a multidisciplinary approach, resulting in a decision to cautiously resume low-dose anticoagulation combined with left atrial appendage closure. This decision was made after careful consideration of persistent thrombotic risk despite recurrent hemorrhages. The case underscores the complex management dilemma of anticoagulation in elderly patients with AF and recurrent strokes, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach and individualized decision-making in such challenging scenarios. Further research and guidelines are warranted to establish optimal strategies for (re)initiating anticoagulation in patients with recurrent hemorrhagic transformation.

Quaternization of cassava starch and determination of antimicrobial activity against bacteria and coronavirus.

This study describes the novel development of quaternized cassava starch (Q-CS) with antimicrobial and antiviral properties, particularly effective against the MHV-3 coronavirus. The preparation of Q-CS involved the reaction of cassava starch (CS) with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMAC) in an alkaline solution. Q-CS physicochemical properties were determined by FTIR, NMR, elemental analysis, zeta potential, TGA, and moisture sorption. FTIR and NMR spectra confirmed the introduction of cationic groups in the CS structure. The elemental analysis revealed a degree of substitution (DS) of 0.552 of the cationic reagent on the hydroxyl groups of CS. Furthermore, Q-CS exhibited a positive zeta potential value (+28.6 ± 0.60 mV) attributed to the high positive charge density shown by the quaternary ammonium groups. Q-CS demonstrated lower thermal stability and higher moisture sorption compared to CS. The antimicrobial activity of Q-CS was confirmed against Escherichia coli (MIC = 0.156 mg mL-1) and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.312 mg mL-1), along with a remarkable ability to inactivate 99% of MHV-3 coronavirus after only 1 min of direct contact. Additionally, Q-CS showed high cell viability (close to 100%) and minimal cytotoxicity effects, guaranteeing its safe use. Therefore, these findings indicate the potential use of Q-CS as a raw material for antiseptic biomaterials.

Limonene and its derived oligomer as bioactive additives in starch/coffee husks biocomposites for food packaging applications.

In this study, antioxidant, and antimicrobial starch-based biocomposite films reinforced with coffee husks (S/CH) were developed by incorporating either limonene (LM) (S/CH/LM) or its oligomer derivative, poly(limonene) (PLM) (S/CH/PLM), at different concentrations (5-10 % w/w of starch). Through a comprehensive assessment of film properties, morphology, and structure, a comparative analysis between the two additives was proposed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed some defects throughout the polymer matrix after additive incorporation. The tensile strength (TS) and modulus of elasticity (ME) showed a decrease upon the inclusion of both LM and PLM, while the elongation at break (E) increased. Notably, PLM exhibited outstanding antioxidant capacity, enhancing the films by 108 % over control samples. Additionally, at just 5 % concentration, PLM effectively inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli ATCC 11775 (35.33 ± 2.52 mm) and demonstrated an impressive UV-Vis barrier, comparable to the highest amount of LM incorporated. Therefore, this research highlights the potential of coffee husk-reinforced starch biocomposites with limonene-derived additives as a promising solution for food packaging applications. The comparative analysis sheds light on the advantages of using the PLM in terms of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, contributing to the advancement of active packaging technologies.

Effective adsorption of cadmium and nickel ions in mono and bicomponent systems using eco-friendly adsorbents prepared from peanut shells.

The work investigates the potential of peanut shells, an abundant agro-industrial waste, to serve as an adsorbent precursor for the effective and simple treatment of effluents loaded with cadmium and nickel ions. Among the adsorbents prepared, carbonized peanut shell (CCarb), due to its higher adsorption capacity, proved to be the most effective compared to carbonized and activated peanut shell (CATQ). The carbonization process led to structural changes, which resulted in an increase in surface area (around 6 times more in CATQ) and pore volume (around 3 times more in CATQ). Even so, the amount of H+ acid sites due to acid activation produced unfavorable effects for adsorption. Hydroxyl, carboxyl and carbonyl groups were identified on the adsorbent surface which presented favorable charges for metal adsorption. This improvement propels the carbonized variant to the forefront, demonstrating the highest adsorption capacity and reaching equilibrium in less than 90 and 60 min for cadmium and nickel ions, respectively. In both monocomponent and bicomponent systems concentrations greater than 40 ppm signify an increase in adsorption capacity for Ni2+. The experimental data best fit the Freundlich model, showing maximum adsorption capacities of 17.04 mg g-1 for cadmium and 31.28 mg g-1 for nickel. Despite the antagonistic effect observed in the bicomponent system, this study concludes by underlining the promise of activated carbon from peanut shells to harmonize technical and environmental concerns.

Synergism Between Essential Oils and Evaluation of Their Activities with a Focus on Malassezia furfur Control.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by Malassezia yeast species that affects the regions of the body where the sebaceous glands are present. The combined use of different essential oils (EOs) can increase their spectrum of action. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the action of EOs alone and in combination with each other on M. furfur, in planktonic and biofilm form, and their anti-inflammatory and mutagenic potential, in addition to the effects on the viability of cells lines. Of the 40 evaluated EOs, 22 showed activity against M. furfur at 0.5 - 2.0 mg/mL concentrations. Among the most active species, a blend of essential oils (BEOs) composed of Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Will. Watson (MIC = 0.5 mg/mL) and Mentha × piperita L. (MIC = 1.0 mg/mL) was selected, which showed a synergistic effect against yeast when evaluated through the checkerboard assay. The fungicidal activity was maintained by the addition of anti-inflammatory oil from Varronia curassavica Jacq. to BEOs. The BEOs also showed activity in the inhibition of biofilm formation and in the eradication of the biofilm formed by M. furfur, being superior to the action of fluconazole. Furthermore, it did not show mutagenic potential and did not interfere with the cell viability of both evaluated cell lines (HaCaT and BMDMs). TNF-α levels were reduced only by C. martini; however, this property was maintained when evaluating BEOs. BEOs had no effect on IL-8 levels. Thus, the BEOs may be indicated for alternative treatments against seborrheic dermatitis.

Maternal Urinary Iodine Concentration during Pregnancy and Its Impact on Child Growth and Neurodevelopment: An 11-Year Follow-Up Study.

Mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency during pregnancy is prevalent worldwide, but its consequences for maternal and child health are not clear. We aimed to investigate the impact of maternal iodine intake during pregnancy on the child's growth and neurodevelopment. This study involved a cohort of 11-year-old children (n = 70) whose mothers had participated in an iodine intake survey during pregnancy. Gestational, neonatal, anthropometric, intelligence quotient (IQ), and socioeconomic parameters were analyzed according to maternal urinary iodine concentration (UIC). There was a positive linear trend of current height Z-score, full-scale IQ, verbal IQ, family income, maternal education, and a negative trend of neonatal TSH levels with increasing maternal UIC levels. However, regression analysis indicated that maternal UIC was not an independent predictor of any gestational, neonatal, or childhood development parameter. Only maternal school education was positively associated with child height and IQ. In conclusion, we did not find any evidence of a direct effect of maternal iodine intake during pregnancy on the long-term growth and neurodevelopment of children. The results suggest that socioeconomic factors are important confounding factors that affect both maternal iodine intake and child development and must be considered when investigating the association between maternal iodine intake and child outcomes.

Real-World Clinical Characterisation of Polycythaemia Vera Patients from a Prospective Registry in Portugal: Is Resistance to Hydroxyurea a Reality?

Patients with polycythaemia vera (PV) are at increased risk of thrombosis and haemorrhages. Although hydroxyurea (HU) has been the frontline therapy for patients at high risk of vascular complications, about 25% of patients develop resistance/intolerance to this therapy. The aim of this non-interventional, multicentre cohort study was to understand the clinical characteristics and HU treatment response of Portuguese PV patients. HU resistance/intolerance was defined according to adjusted European LeukemiaNet (ELN) criteria. In total, 134 PV patients with a mean (SD) disease duration of 4.8 (5.0) years were included and followed up for 2 years. At baseline, most patients were ≥60 years old (83.2%), at high risk for thrombotic events (87.2%), and receiving HU therapy (79.1%). A total of 10 thrombotic events and 8 haemorrhagic events were reported, resulting in a 5-year probability of thrombo-haemorrhagic events of 17.2%. Haematocrit (p = 0.007), haemoglobin (p = 0.012) and MPN10 symptom score (12.0 (11.6) vs. 10.3 (9.1); p = 0.041) decreased significantly at the 24-month visit compared to baseline. Overall, 75.9% of patients met at least one of the adjusted ELN criteria for HU resistance, and 14.4% of patients remained on HU throughout the study. The results from this real-world study may help identify the subset of patients at higher risk for disease sequelae who may benefit from earlier second-line treatment.

The impact of antimicrobial food additives and sweeteners on the growth and metabolite production of gut bacteria.

Metabolic disorders caused by the imbalance of gut microbiota have been associated with the consumption of processed foods. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of antimicrobial food additives (benzoate, sorbate, nitrite, and bisulfite) and sweeteners (saccharin, stevia, sucralose, aspartame, and cyclamate) on the growth and metabolism of some gut and potentially probiotic bacterial species. The effects on the growth of Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis cultures were investigated using a turbidimetric test and by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). To evaluate the metabolic activity, the cultures were exposed to compounds with the highest antimicrobial activity, subjected to cultivation with inulin (1.5%), and analyzed by liquid chromatography for the production of short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, and butyrate). The results showed that potassium sorbate (25 mg/mL), sodium bisulfite (0.7 mg/mL), sodium benzoate, and saccharin (5 mg/mL) presented greater antimicrobial activity against the studied species. L. lactis and L. acidophilus bacteria had reduced short-chain fatty acid production after exposure to saccharin and sorbate, and B. longum after exposure to sorbate, in comparison to controls (acetic acid reduction 1387 µg/mL and propionic 23 µg/mL p < 0.05).

Antiviral and antibacterial activity of sodium alginate/poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) polyelectrolyte film for packaging applications.

Pathogen agents, such as bacteria and virus, can contaminate plastic surfaces, particularly those used in food packaging. This study proposed to prepare a polyelectrolyte film with antiviral and antibacterial activity based on sodium alginate (SA) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC), a cationic polymer with sanitizing properties. In addition, the physicochemical properties of the polyelectrolyte films were also evaluated. The polyelectrolyte films showed continuous, compact, and crack-free structures. The FTIR analysis confirmed the ionic interaction between SA and PDADMAC. Adding PDADMAC significantly affected the mechanical properties of the films (p < 0.05), increasing the maximum tensile strength (from 8.66 ± 1.55 MPa to 18.1 ± 1.77 MPa). However, polyelectrolyte films showed higher water vapor permeability values due to the strong hydrophilicity of PDADMAC, representing a 43 % average increase compared with the control film. Also, thermal stability improved with the incorporation of PDADMAC. The selected polyelectrolyte film inactivated 99.8 % of SARS-CoV-2 after 1 min in direct contact with the virus, in addition to having an inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. Therefore, this study demonstrated the efficacy of using PDADMAC in the preparation of polyelectrolyte sodium alginate-based films with improvements in physicochemical properties and especially with antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2.

Efficient microbial cellulose/Fe3O4 nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation by advanced oxidation process of textile dyes.

Fenton-type advanced oxidative processes (AOP) have been employed to treat textile dyes in aqueous solution and industrial effluent. The work focused on assisting the limitations still presented by the Fenton process regarding the use of suspended iron catalysts. Soon, a nanocomposite of bacterial cellulose (BC) and magnetite (Fe3O4) was developed. It has proven to be superior to those available in the literature, exhibiting purely catalytic properties and high reusability. Its successful production was verified through analytical characterization, while its catalytic potential was investigated in the treatment of different textile matrices. In initial tests, the photo-Fenton process irradiated and catalyzed by sunlight and BC/Fe3O4 discolored 92.19% of an aqueous mixture of four textile dyes. To improve the efficiency, the design of experiments technique evaluated the influence of the variables pH, [H2O2], and the number of BC/Fe3O4 membranes. 99.82% of degradation was obtained under optimized conditions using pH 5, 150 mg L-1 of H2O2, and 11 composite membranes. Reaction kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model, effectively reducing the organic matter (COD = 83.24% and BOD = 88.13%). The composite showed low iron leaching (1.60 ± 0.08 mg L-1) and high stability. It was recovered and reused for 15 consecutive cycles, keeping the treatment efficiency at over 90%. As for the industrial wastewater, the photo-Fenton/sunlight/BC/Fe3O4 system showed better results when combined with the physical-chemical coagulation/flocculation process previously used in the industry's WWTP. Together they reduced COD by 77.77%, also meeting the color standards (DFZ scale) for the wavelengths of 476 nm (<3 m-1), 525 nm (<5 m-1), and 620 nm (<7 m-1). Thus, the results obtained demonstrated that employing the BC/Fe3O4 composite as an iron catalyst is a suitable alternative to materials employed in suspension. This is mainly due to the high catalytic activity and power of reuse, which will reduce treatment costs.

A coffee enriched with guarana, selenium, and l-carnitine (GSC) has nutrigenomic effects on oxi-inflammatory markers of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients: A pilot study.

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is the most common clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS), characterized by a chronic inflammatory state and elevated levels of oxidative markers. Food supplements with potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective effects have been tested as possible adjuvants in the treatment of MS. In this sense, this pilot study was carried out with the aim of verifying whether a minimum daily dose of a guarana, selenium and l-carnitine (GSC) based multi supplement, mixed in cappuccino-type coffee, administered for 12 weeks to 28 patients with RRMS could differentially modulate oxidative blood markers (lipoperoxidation, protein carbonylation and DNA oxidation) and inflammatory blood markers (protein levels of cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, gene expression of these cytokines, and NLRP3 and CASP-1 molecules, and C-reactive protein levels). The results indicate that a low concentration of GSC is capable of decreasing the plasma levels of oxidized DNA and pro-inflammatory cytokines of RRMS patients. The results support further research into the action of GSC on clinical symptoms, not only in patients with MS, but also with other neurological conditions.

Original nanostructured bacterial cellulose/pyrite composite: Photocatalytic application in advanced oxidation processes.

The development of an original catalytic composite of bacterial cellulose (BC) and pyrite (FeS2) for environmental application was the objective of this study. Nanoparticles of the FeS2 were synthesized from the hydrothermal method and immobilized on the BC structure using ex situ methodology. In the BC, the FTIR and XRD analyzes showed the absorption band associated with the Fe-S bond and crystalline peaks attributed to the pyrite. Thus, the immobilization of the iron particles on the biopolymer was proven, producing the composite BC/FeS2. The use of the SEM technique also ratifies the composite production by identifying the fibrillar structure morphology of the cellulose covered by FeS2 particles. The total iron concentration was 54.76 ± 1.69 mg L-1, determined by flame atomic absorption analysis. TG analysis and degradation tests showed respectively the thermal stability of the new material and its high catalytic potential. A multi-component solution of textile dyes was used as the matrix to be treated via advanced oxidative processes. The composite acted as the catalyst for the Fenton and photo-Fenton processes, with degradations of 52.87 and 96.82%, respectively. The material proved stability by showing low iron leaching (2.02 ± 0.09 and 2.11 ± 0.11 mg L-1 for the respective processes). Thus, its high potential for reuse is presumed, given the remaining concentration of this metal in the BC. The results showed that the BC/FeS2 composite is suitable to solve the problems associated with using catalysts in suspension form.

Enhanced antimicrobial and antioxidant capacity of Thymus vulgaris, Lippia sidoides, and Cymbopogon citratus emulsions when combined with mannosylerythritol a lipid biosurfactant.

Essential oils (EOs) are natural and effective agents for controlling microorganisms which cause biodeterioration and disease. However, their application is hampered/restricted due to hydrophobicity and rapid vaporization of these compounds. Encapsulation technology provides an effective approach to maintain EO stabilization and prevent the loss of volatile ingredients. Meanwhile, using a synthetic surfactant is seen as counter-productive; therefore, a natural biosurfactant is more reasonable and can potentially increase activity due to its other biological proprieties. This work aims to evaluate the mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL) biosurfactant combined with Thymus vulgaris, Lippia sidoides, and Cymbopogon citratus essential oil emulsions (O/W) and evaluate its antimicrobial and antioxidant capacity. The biosurfactant MEL demonstrated activity against Bacillus subtilis and Penicillium sp. After emulsification, the antimicrobial activity of Thymus vulgaris and Lippia sidoides was increased against Escherichia coli (500 µg/mL), Staphylococcus aureus (600 µg/mL), Bacillus subtilis (120 µg/mL), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1500 µg/mL), Penicillium sp. (62.25 µg/mL), Aspergillus flavus (250 µg/mL), Fusarium oxysporum (100 and 250 µg/mL), and Candida albicans (125 and 250 µg/mL). We report that emulsions prepared with MEL have high inhibitory activity, maintain the active concentration, and increase antioxidant capacity by 7.33% (Thymus vulgaris), 13.71% (Lippia sidoides), and 3.15% (Cymbopogon citratus).

Worst spasticity in patients post-stroke associated with MNSOD ALA16VAL polymorphism and interleukin-1ß.

The MnSOD Ala16Val single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has shown to be associated to risk factors of several metabolic and vascular diseases. However, little is known about interaction between MnSOD Ala16Val SNP in stroke, a frequent neurologic disease that involves clinic manifestations such as motor deficits and spasticity. In this sense, we decided to investigate the relationship between MnSOD Ala16Val SNP with spasticity in stroke and also its influence on interleukin levels, BDNF, and glycolipid parameters. Eighty post-stroke subjects and 80 healthy controls were investigated. We showed a higher spasticity, levels of total cholesterol, LDL, IL-1ß, IL-6, and INF-γ in VV post-stroke group. Interesting, we found a correlation between IL-1ß levels and spasticity in VV post-stroke. Triglycerides, glucose levels and caspases (1 and 3) activation were significantly higher, as well as BDNF levels were lower in VV and AV post-stroke. DNA damage was higher in post-stroke group. Thus, we can suggest that the V allele has a worse glycolipid profile, which would facilitate changes in neurovascular homeostasis. These events associated with an increase in inflammatory markers and a reduction in BDNF can contribute with the stroke and a worse clinical evolution in relation to spasticity in patients with VV genotype.

Identification of Coumarins and Antimicrobial Potential of Ethanolic Extracts of Dipteryx odorata and Dipteryx punctata.

Dipteryx odorata and Dipteryx punctata are species native to the Amazonian, traded by extractivists to obtain coumarin. We aimed to analyze the presence of coumarin in the ethanolic extracts of leaves, branches and fruits of D. odorata and D. punctata and to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of these extracts against phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria of clinical interest. Chemical analyses were performed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). For the antifungal assays, the fungi used were Cercospora longissima, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, two isolates of Fusarium spp. and Sclerotium rolfsii, and the antibacterial assay was performed using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test with Burkholderia cepacia, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. In D. odorata seed extracts and in D. punctata husks, endocarps, and seeds, we identified 1,2-benzopyrone. D. odorata endocarp extracts and D. punctata seeds provided the greatest decrease in mycelial growth of the evaluated phytopathogens, showing promise as an alternative control. The husk and endocarp extracts of both species had a weak effect on E. coli. This research is the first to compare the different parts of species of the genus Dipteryx and to evaluate the use of husks and endocarps of D. punctata fruits to obtain coumarin. Chemical analyses used to quantify the compounds existing in the extracts, and tests with phytopathogens in vitro and in vivo are currently being carried out.

Atitudes dos enfermeiros face à importância da família no processo de cuidar / Nurses' attitudes regarding the importance of the family in the care process

A relevância da família nos Cuidados de Saúde Primários (CSP) tem vindo a evidenciar-se na implementação de políticas de saúde. É premente a preocupação e o compromisso de integrar as famílias nos cuidados de saúde, tendo em vista a promoção e manutenção da saúde familiar. A enfermagem familiar nos CSP tem vindo a ser valorizada e reconhecida, sendo o pilar dos cuidados de saúde ao longo do ciclo vital do ser humano (Pires, 2016). O enfermeiro de CSP surge como figura principal pela sua formação e dedicação, no estabelecimento de uma relação de proximidade, segurança e confiança entre o indivíduo/família e os serviços de saúde. Na perspetiva da continuidade de cuidados, a família surge tanto como contexto de prestação de cuidados, como fonte de suporte e recurso refletindo-se, a sua inclusão nos cuidados, na eficácia das intervenções de enfermagem (Tavares, 2017). Partindo desta premissa, considerou-se pertinente conhecer as atitudes dos enfermeiros face às famílias no processo do cuidar, o que se enquadra no domínio das funções do enfermeiro especialista em enfermagem de saúde comunitária na área de enfermagem de saúde familiar, e que conduziu ao presente estudo de investigação, através dos seus objetivos e do estágio desenvolvido na Unidade de Cuidados de Saúde Personalizados de Ansião (UCSPA). Após a caracterização do contexto da prática clínica de enfermagem de família no âmbito do estágio na UCSPA, é exposto o enquadramento teórico da mesma, as atividades desenvolvidas que permitiram a aquisição de competências do enfermeiro especialista na área de enfermagem de saúde familiar, e a prática especializada baseada na evidência, com o processo de investigação propriamente dito, seguido da discussão e explanação das conclusões encontradas. Neste projeto foi utilizado o método de investigação quantitativo, sendo um estudo descritivo, analítico e correlacional e que procurou determinar quais as atitudes dos enfermeiros de CSP face à importância da família no processo do cuidar, e ao mesmo tempo inferir acerca da influência que as variáveis sociodemográficas e profissionais têm nas atitudes dos enfermeiros face à família. O mesmo foi aplicado a um total de 30 enfermeiros que desempenham funções nos CSP. O instrumento utilizado foi um questionário constituído por questões sociodemográficas e profissionais e a Escala "Importância das Famílias nos Cuidados de Enfermagem ­ Atitudes dos Enfermeiros" (IFCE-AE), validada em 2009 para a população portuguesa por Oliveira et al. (2011). Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram a não existência de relação e associação estatística relevante em nenhuma das variáveis sociodemográficas e profissionais em estudo, exceto na variável unidade funcional onde exerce funções, nomeadamente nas dimensões Família como parceiro dialogante e recurso de coping (H=7,998; p=0,018) e Família como um fardo (H=8,997; p=0,011) em que se obtiveram valores de significância p<0,05; permitindo estabelecer relação entre a atitude do enfermeiro face à família e a unidade funcional onde exerce funções, em que as atitudes de maior suporte face à família dizem respeito aos enfermeiros que exercem funções na Unidade de Cuidados na Comunidade (UCC). Nas conclusões do estudo, pode verificar-se que, de uma forma geral, os enfermeiros assumiam atitudes positivas e de suporte face à família apresentando um score médio total da escala de 84.7. Os cuidados de enfermagem terão necessariamente de ser centrados na família, o que obrigará a algumas mudanças de atitude por parte dos enfermeiros e a uma alteração das políticas e filosofia das unidades de saúde (Rodrigues, 2013).

The relevance of the family in Primary Health Care (PHC) has become evident in the implementation of health policies. There is an urgent concern and commitment to integrate families in health care, with a view to promoting and maintaining family health. Family nursing in PHC has been valued and recognized, being the pillar of health care throughout the human life cycle (Pires, 2016). The PHC nurse emerges as the main figure due to his/her training and dedication to establish a relationship of proximity, safety, and trust between the individual/family and the health services. From the perspective of continuity of care, the family emerges both as a context of care delivery and as a source of support and resource, and its inclusion in care is reflected in the effectiveness of nursing interventions (Tavares, 2017). Based on this premise, it was important to understand the nurses' attitudes towards families in the care process, which fits into the domain of the nurse specialist in community health nursing in the area of family health nursing, and led to this research study, through its objectives and the internship developed at the Personalized Health Care Unit of Ansião (UCSPA). After the characterization of the context of family nursing clinical practice within the internship at the PAHU, the theoretical framework of this practice is presented, as well as the activities developed that allowed acquiring the skills of specialist nurses in the area of family health nursing and evidence-based specialized practice, with the research process itself, followed by the discussion and explanation of the conclusions found. This project used the quantitative research method. It is a descriptive, analytical and correlational study that aimed to determine the attitudes of PHC nurses towards the importance of the family in the care process, and, at the same time, infer about the influence that socio-demographic and professional variables have on nurses' attitudes towards the family. This study was applied to a total of 30 nurses working in PHC. The instrument used was a questionnaire composed of sociodemographic and professional questions and the Scale "Importance of Families in Nursing Care - Nurses' Attitudes" (IFCE-AE), validated in 2009 for the Portuguese population by Oliveira et al. The results showed that there was no relevant statistical relationship and association in any of the sociodemographic and professional variables under study, except for the variable "functional unit", namely in the dimensions "Family as a dialogue partner and coping resource" (H=7.998; p=0.018) and "Family as a burden" (H=8.997; p=0.011) with significance values of p<0.05; allowing establishing a relationship between the nurses' attitudes towards the family and the functional unit where they work, where the nurses who work in the Community Care Unit (CCU) have the most supportive attitudes towards the family. The conclusions of the study show that, in general, nurses had positive and supportive attitudes towards the family, with a mean total score of 84.7. Nursing care must necessarily be family-centered, which will require some changes in nurses' attitudes and a change in the policies and philosophy of health care units (Rodrigues, 2013).

Norbixin, a natural dye that improves serum lipid profile in rabbits and prevents LDL oxidation.

We hypothesized that norbixin, which is a carotenoid used as an orange/red natural food coloring additive, has anti-atherogenic properties. An in vitro oxidation assay with human LDL and a rabbit model of atherosclerosis were used to test this hypothesis. Norbixin inhibited the oxidation of isolated human LDL in a concentration-dependent manner. In the in vivo assay, rabbits were fed with a regular chow (control) or an atherogenic diet (0.5% cholesterol) alone or supplemented with norbixin (10, 30 or 100 mg/kg b.w.) for 60 days. Norbixin supplementation (30 and 100 mg/kg b.w.) increased HDL levels and reduced triglyceride levels and the atherogenic index of rabbits. This effect was associated with the decrease of serum levels of oxidized LDL, oxidized LDL antibodies and aortic tissue levels of lipid and protein oxidation in the atherogenic rabbits supplemented with norbixin. Atherogenic diet increased enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and thioredoxin reductase-1) and non-enzymatic (non-protein thiol groups content) antioxidant defense systems in the aortic tissue but reduced the activity of paraoxonase-1 in the serum. All these changes were prevented by norbixin supplementation (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg b.w.). These results suggest that norbixin has atheroprotective potential by improving serum lipid profile and preventing oxidative modifications of circulating LDL and aortic tissue. Norbixin may, therefore, be beneficial in the control of atherosclerosis risk factors and can be further investigated as a candidate to be used not only as a functional food ingredient but also for therapeutic applications and in the nutraceutical industry.

Brief dispersion of a putative B.1.1.28-derived SARS-CoV-2 lineage harboring additional N234P and E471Q spike protein mutations in individuals crossing the Argentina-Brazil border.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is constantly mutating, leading to new variants that culminate in a temporal lineages fluctuation. B.1.1.28 lineage has been evolving in Brazil since February 2020 and originated P.1 (VOC), P.2 (VOI) and other P.Xs proposed as new variants. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, through the Illumina platform, we performed the whole-genome sequencing of 26 positive samples of SARS-CoV-2. Employing variant calling analysis on FASTQ reads and phylogenetic inference, we report a brief dispersion of a potentially new B.1.1.28-derived variant detected between 2021 May and June in individuals crossing the border between Brazil and Argentina, and local spread to inpatients from hospitals at the Rio Grande do Sul state capital (Porto Alegre). Besides, the Rio Grande do Sul State SARS-CoV-2 genomic epidemiological data was analyzed and showed an important B.1.1.28 peak in RS at the same period (May-June), even in the presence of a major Gamma wave. CONCLUSIONS: The emergence of a putative B.1.1.28-derived lineage was identified in travelers crossing Brazil-Argentina border representing an important peak of B.1.1.28 in RS State with a decreased in Gamma variant frequency in the same period of time.