Estimation of predation rate and handling time of boll weevil larvae by Marava arachidis (Dermaptera: Labiidae) using different mathematical methods.

Anthonomus grandis grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a pest with a large potential for destruction in cotton crops, causing damage to the cotton reproductive structures. The earwig Marava arachidis (Dermaptera: Labiidae), is an important reference as a predator in several crops and being easy to rear in the laboratory. To analyze the potential biocontrol of M. arachidis of A. grandis grandis larvae, a study of predatory capacity was conducted using a functional response model. A. grandis grandis larvae were exposed to the predator at densities 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 larvae (= prey/predator / Petri dish), with 30 replications at each density. Contact between the predator and the prey occurred for 24 hours; after this period, the level of predation of M. arachidis was assessed based on the proportion of preyed larvae. The linear logistic regression coefficient was used with a beta-binomial generalized linear model to determine the functional response. The negative signal of the linear coefficient and the goodness-of-fit tests revealed a quadratic or type II functional response, with the number of prey varying from 1.00 larva (density of 1 larva/predator) to 6.50 larvae (density of 8 larvae/predator). Therefore, the results of the present study demonstrate a high predatory capacity of M. arachidis on A. grandis grandis larvae.

Mammary gland responses to altering the supply of de novo fatty acid substrates and preformed fatty acids on the yields of milk components and milk fatty acids.

The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of altering the dietary supply of acetate, palmitic acid (PA), and cottonseed on the yields of milk components and milk fatty acids (FA) in lactating dairy cows. Thirty-two multiparous Holstein cows (133 ± 57 d in milk, 50.5 ± 7.2 kg/d milk) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square split plot design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of subplot treatments. Cows were blocked by energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield and allocated to a main plot receiving a basal diet (n = 16) with no supplemental PA (Low PA) or a basal diet (n = 16) with 1.5% inclusion of a FA supplement containing ~85% PA (High PA). In each main plot, the following subplots of treatment diets were fed in a Latin square arrangement consisting of 14-d periods: 1) a control diet (CON), 2) the control diet supplemented with 3% sodium acetate (AC), 3) the control diet supplemented with 12% whole cottonseed (CS), and 4) the control diet supplemented with 3% sodium acetate and 12% whole cottonseed (CS+AC). The PA supplement and sodium acetate replaced soyhulls, and whole cottonseed replaced cottonseed hulls and meal. All diets were balanced for 30% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 23% forage NDF, 28% starch, and 17% crude protein (CP). Sources of FA were classified as de novo (<16 carbons), mixed (16-carbon), and preformed (>16 carbons). The statistical model included the random effect of cow nested within basal diet and fixed effect of period, basal diet, acetate, cottonseed, and their interactions. Three-way interactions among basal diet, acetate, and cottonseed were observed for the yields of milk fat, 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM), and the molar yields of de novo FA, mixed FA, and preformed FA. In the Low PA diets, AC and CS+AC increased the yields of milk fat and FCM compared with CON and CS, whereas, in the High PA diets, CS+AC increased the yields of milk fat and FCM compared with the other treatments and AC increased milk fat yield compared with CON and CS. Compared with Low PA, High PA increased milk fat content, mixed FA yield, and tended to increase C4:0 yield. Diets containing acetate increased DMI and the yields of milk fat, ECM, FCM, de novo FA, mixed FA, and preformed FA compared with diets without acetate. Diets containing cottonseed increased the yields of milk and preformed FA, tended to increase the yields of FCM and protein, and decreased DMI and the yields of de novo FA and mixed FA compared with diets without cottonseed. In summary, in high PA diets, the inclusion of acetate plus cottonseed increased milk fat yield compared with the other treatments. The CON diet in High PA increased milk fat yield to the same extent as AC and CS+AC in Low PA suggesting PA is important for initiating milk TG synthesis. Balancing the supply of de novo FA substrates and preformed FA is important for increasing the synthesis of milk fat triglycerides and milk fat production.

The invasive bumblebee Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) disrupts the adaptive function of heteranthery by indiscriminately visiting the pollinating and feeding anthers of Senna arnottiana flowers.

Heteranthery, the presence of different types of anthers on the same flower, is a floral adaptation that aims to balance the need for pollinators to collect pollen as a food resource while ensuring sufficient pollen for pollination. We investigate the role of heteranthery in the pollination of Senna arnottiana flowers and how it is affected by the behaviour of visiting bee species, with a particular focus on the impact of the invasive bumblebee Bombus terrestris. In three populations of S. arnottiana we measured the size of three sets of anthers and style, stigma-anther separation, pollen quantity and fruit set, and contrasted it with the body size, behaviour, and pollination effectiveness of all floral visitors. Different bee species visited S. arnottiana flowers, and their foraging behaviour varied. Large-bodied native bees, including Centris cineraria, Caupolicana sp. and Cadeguala occidentalis, preferentially visited short anthers, whereas B. terrestris, an exotic bumblebee, foraged from both short and long anthers without distinction. In addition, B. terrestris contacted the stigma at a lower rate than large-bodied native bees. Instead of concentrating its pollen-gathering efforts on the feeding anthers, as predicted by the "division of labor" hypothesis, B. terrestris indiscriminately visited both types of anthers similarly. This behaviour of B. terrestris may disrupt the adaptive significance of heteranthery by mixing the roles of pollination and feeding anthers of S. arnottiana. Therefore, our results highlight the potential disruption of this relationship by exotic pollinators and the need to consider it in conservation efforts.

Long-term effects of abomasal infusion of linoleic and linolenic acids on the enrichment of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids into plasma lipid fractions of lactating cows.

Our objective was to compare abomasal infusions of linoleic (18:2n-6) and α-linolenic (18:3n-3) acids on the enrichment of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (FA) into the plasma lipid fractions of lactating dairy cows and evaluate their potential carryover effects in plasma lipid fractions post-infusion. Six rumen-cannulated multiparous Holstein cows (252 ± 33 d in milk) were fed the same diet and assigned to 1 of 2 treatments in a completely randomized design with repeated measures. Treatments were abomasal infusions (67 g/d total FA) of 1) n-6 FA blend (N6) to provide approximately 43 g/d 18:2n-6 and 8 g/d of 18:3n-3; or 2) n-3 FA blend (N3) providing 43 g/d 18:3n-3 and 8 g/d 18:2n-6. Treatments were dissolved in ethanol, and the daily dose for each treatment was divided into 4 equal infusions, occurring every 6 h. The treatment period lasted from d 1 to 20, and the carryover period lasted from d 21 to 40. Results are presented as FA contents within each of the 4 main plasma lipid fractions: cholesterol esters (CE), phospholipids (PL); triglycerides (TG), and plasma nonesterified fatty acids. Concentrations of individual lipid fractions in plasma were not quantified. Plasma CE and PL had the highest content of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) during both the treatment and carryover periods. In plasma PL, N3 increased the contents of total n-3 FA (134%), 18:3n-3 (267%), and eicosapentaenoic acid (96.3%, 20:5n-3), and decreased total n-6 FA (8.14%) and 18:2n-6 (8.16%) from d 4 to 20 compared with N6. In plasma CE, N3 increased the contents of total n-3 FA (191%) from d 4 to 20, 18:3n-3 from d 2 to 20 (178%), and 20:5n-3 from d 6 to 20 (59.9%), while N3 decreased total n-6 FA from d 4 to 20 (11.2%) and 18:2n-6 from d 2 to 20 (10.5%) compared with N6. In addition, compared with N6, N3 decreased arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) at d 2 (45%) and from d 10 to 20 (14.7%) in PL and tended to decrease 20:4n-6 without interacting with time for CE. Phospholipids were the only lipid fraction with detectable levels of docosahexaenoic acid (22:3n-6) in all samples, but we did not observe differences between treatments. In plasma TG, N3 increased the contents of total n-3 FA (135%) and 18:3n-3 (146%) from d 4 to 20, increased 20:5n-3 from d 12 to 20 (89%), decreased or tended to decrease total n-6 FA content from d 6 and 8 (26.9%), and tended to decrease 18:2n-6 at d 8 compared with N6. A similar pattern was observed for plasma nonesterified fatty acids. We observed positive carryover effects for both N3 and N6 at different degrees in all lipid fractions, with N3 promoting more consistent outcomes and increasing total n-3 FA throughout the carryover period (from d 22 to 40) in both PL (52.8%) and CE (68.6%) compared with N6. It is important to emphasize that the higher magnitude responses observed for n-3 FA are also influenced by the content of n-3 FA being much lower than those of n-6 FA in all lipid fractions. While these data provide important and robust information, future research quantifying changes in concentrations of individual lipid fractions in plasma and the entry and exit rates of specific FA will further enhance our understanding. In conclusion, abomasally infusing N3 and N6 increased the contents of n-3 and n-6 FA, respectively, in all plasma lipid fractions. These responses were more evident in PL and CE. We also observed positive carryover effects in all lipid fractions, where N3 had more consistent outcomes than N6. Our results indicate that dairy cows have a robust mechanism to conserve essential FA, with a pronounced preference for n-3 FA.

Effect of increasing dietary inclusion of whole cottonseed on nutrient digestibility and milk production of high-producing dairy cows.

We determined the effects increasing dietary inclusion of whole cottonseed (WCS) on nutrient digestibility and milk production responses of high-producing dairy cows. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows (mean ± SD; 52.7 ± 2.63 kg/d of milk; 104 ± 23 DIM) were randomly assigned to treatment sequences in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Treatments were increasing doses of WCS at 0, 8, 16, and 24% DM, with WCS replacing soybean meal and hulls to maintain similar diet nutrient composition (%DM) of NDF (32%), forage NDF (21%), starch (27%), and CP (17%). Total fatty acid (FA) content of each treatment was 1.70, 2.96, 4.20, and 5.40%DM, respectively. Three preplanned contrasts were used to test the linear, quadratic, and cubic effects of increasing dietary WCS. Increasing dietary WCS from 0 to 24% DM quadratically influenced intakes of DM and NDF, with the highest value being for the 8% WCS, and intakes of 16- and 18-carbon, and total FA, with maximum values obtained up to 24% WCS. Increasing dietary WCS affected digestibility of DM (cubic) and NDF (quadratic), with the lowest values being for the 8% WCS. Increasing WCS increased 16-carbon digestibility (quadratic) but decreased digestibility of 18-carbon and total FA (both quadratic), with highest and lowest values for the 24% WCS, respectively. Increasing dietary WCS quadratically increased absorbed 16- and 18-carbon, and total FA, with maximum values obtained for 24% WCS. Increasing dietary WCS quadratically increased yields of milk, milk fat, milk protein, milk lactose, 3.5% fat corrected milk, and energy corrected milk, and linearly increased body weight gain. The source of milk FA was affected by dietary WCS, with a quadratic decrease in the yield of de novo and mixed milk FA and a quadratic increase in preformed milk FA. Increasing dietary WCS linearly increased trans-10 C18:1 milk FA content. As dietary WCS increased, plasma insulin linearly decreased, and plasma gossypol levels linearly increased. Despite the decrease in total FA digestibility, increasing dietary WCS from 0 to 24% DM increased FA absorption. Increasing dietary inclusion of WCS up to 16% DM increased milk production responses and DM intake. Under the current dietary conditions, high-producing dairy cows benefited best from a diet containing 8-16% DM inclusion of WCS.

Assessing sediment quality at tropical mangrove areas for using as reference sites in ecotoxicological bioassays.

The sediment of five mangrove in Pernambuco/Brazil was investigated to find a reference site for toxicity bioassays. Sediment characteristics, metal levels, and toxic effects on the nauplius of the copepod Tisbe biminiensis were studied. The sediment was composed by terrigenous muds and siliciclastic sands with medium to high organic matter contents. The FeAs association show most of the high concentrations and positive correlation among its constituents in the south. In the north, the Ca-Sr-La association is higher and exhibits positive correlation among its components that usually found in carbonate rocks. Very intense toxic effects were observed, mainly in the south, with >70 % reductions in development. As and Hg were positively correlated with mortality and decrease in development. The sediment quality at studied mangroves prevent their use as a reference site in bioassays. These could be linked to the direct/perennial contribution of geogenic sources associated with anthropogenic environmental impacts.

Work overload and associated factors in healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the work routine of professionals at the family healthcare center (Núcleo de Atenção à Saúde da Família - NASF-AB), providing new conditions and work overload. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with work overload in NASF-AB professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with NASF-AB workers in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, from May to August 2021. Working conditions and overload were assessed using the National Program for Improving Access and the Quality of Primary Care questionnaire (Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica - PMAQ) and the scale measuring burden of professionals in mental health services (Escala de Avaliação da Sobrecarga de Profissionais em Serviços de Saúde Mental - IMPACTO-BR), respectively. A multivariate linear regression model was used. A total of 68 health professionals participated in the study, including 19 physiotherapists, 13 occupational therapists, 10 social workers, 10 nutritionists, 9 psychologists and 7 physical education professionals. RESULTS: There was a significant association between overall overload and being female (p=<0.005), having spaces for reflection on the work process (p=0.027), and having difficulty moving around to conduct activities in the territory (p=0.002) for increasing the chance of work overload. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings encourage workers' health policies and closer ties and negotiation with local management, as well as the return of the institutional support figure for the effectiveness and resolution of actions in primary healthcare units.

Impact of 48-h water and feed deprivation and hydroxychloride sources of copper and zinc on the metabolism and performance of grazing Nellore cattle during the dry period.

Procedures such as transport and marketing can subject animals to water and feed deprivation and impair animal health and performance. Maintaining the mineral status of animals under these conditions can bring benefits to health and performance. The use of hydroxychloride mineral sources can improve mineral status, nutrient digestibility and performance. Two studies were conducted to investigate how the supplementation of 02 trace mineral sources of Cu and Zn and 48-hour water/feed deprivation would affect the performance and metabolism of grass-fed beef cattle. In the first study, 20 castrated and rumen-canulated Nellore steers (BW = 350 ±â€¯132 kg; 20 m) were distributed in individual pens, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: supplemental Cu and Zn sources from inorganic vs hydroxychloride (HTM) and 48-hours deprivation (WFD) vs unrestricted (WFU) access to water and feed. The 57d of study was divided into two periods: (1) Adaptation from -21d to -1d and (2) evaluation from 0d to 36d. Interaction between deprivation × period was detected (P < 0.05) for digestibility of DM (DMD), organic matter (OMD), neutral detergent fiber (NDFD), and acid detergent fiber (ADFD). Deprivation increased DMD, OMD, NDFD, and ADFD immediately after the deprivation period (3-5d), but impaired digestibility at longer periods such as 11-13d and 32-34d. DM (DMI) and nutrient intake (P = 0.075), as well as NDFD were higher in HTM. Several ruminal parameters were affected by deprivation: short-chain fatty acids concentration decreased, while rumen pH increased (deprivation × time; P < 0.05); decreased propionate, butyrate and increased isobutyrate, isovalerate, and valerate in WFD (deprivation × time; P < 0.05), respectively. In the second study, eighty-four intact Nellore males (BW = 260 ±â€¯35 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu paddocks for 131d in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Liver Cu was higher in WFU/HTM animals (mineral × deprivation; P < 0.05). Interaction between deprivation × period (P < 0.05) was detected for BW and average daily gain (ADG). On 2d and 12d after deprivation, WFD increased ADG and recovered the BW lost. In conclusion, water and feed deprivation imposed in these trials were able to impact several nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation parameters in short- and long-term. Performance was not affected by the studied factors. Furthermore, supplementation with sources of Cu and Zn hydroxychloride increased Cu in the liver and tended to increase DMI and NDFD.

Comet assay to evaluate chromosomal changes in chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) contaminated by lead in a city in Bahia.

Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is one of the primary sources of animal protein for the Brazilian population. Thus, the safety of this food is highly relevant. This study was based on the evidence of severe contamination of these animals by metals such as lead in Santo Amaro, Bahia. This exploratory study aimed to evaluate associations between lead levels in blood of chicken exposed to a contaminated area with the occurrence of chromosomal alterations, evidencing genotoxic effects. Serum lead analysis was performed by GF-AAS after dilution with a matrix modifier solution (Triton X-100 0.2% v/v and HNO3 0.1% v/v), while chromosomal damage was evaluated using the comet assay. The results showed genotoxic effects (positive comet assay) only for the specimen sample with higher serum lead concentrations (33.9 µg dL-1), suggesting the occurrence of toxic effects at this level of exposure. This work evaluated a relationship between the reduction of serum lead levels in chicken and increased distance from the primary polluting source - a lead processing plant (COBRAC). It also showed that lead is bioavailable in this territory, contaminating chicken and causing genotoxic effects in these animals, further expanding the concern with the local biota and the health of the residents of Santo Amaro.

Integrative taxonomy of Urocleidoides spp. (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) parasites of characiform and gymnotiform fishes from the coastal drainages of the Eastern Amazon, Brazil.

Eight species (four new) of Urocleidoides are reported from Characiformes and Gymnotiformes fishes of the coastal drainages of the Eastern Amazon. Urocleidoides vanini n. sp. is characterized by having a male copulatory organ (MCO) with three and a half counterclockwise rings, absence of vaginal sclerite, and a V-shaped ventral bar. Urocleidoides atilaiamarinoi n. sp. has MCO with two and a half counterclockwise rings, dumbbell-shaped accessory piece, similar anchors, open V-shaped ventral bar, and open U-shaped dorsal bar. Urocleidoides macrosoma n. sp. exhibits an elongate and robust body, MCO comprising one counterclockwise ring, similar anchors with wavy point, and dumbbell-shaped ventral and dorsal bars. Urocleidoides nataliapasternakae n. sp. has MCO comprising two and a half counterclockwise rings, vaginal canal convoluted, point of the dorsal anchor with ornamentation as sclerotized shredded filaments, elongate dumbbell-shaped ventral bar, and U-shaped dorsal bar. Urocleidoides naris and Urocleidoides brasiliensis from H. malabaricus (Characiformes) and the incertae sedis species, Urocleidoides gymnotus and Urocleidoides carapus, from Sternopygus macrurus (Gymnotiformes) are reported, and their molecular sequences are presented in this study. Phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data (28S rDNA and COI mtDNA) reveal that species of Urocleidoides lacking vaginal sclerite are closely related to species that possess vaginal sclerite, suggesting that the absence of vaginal sclerite in Urocleidoides may be the result of a secondary loss. The relationships between species of Urocleidoides and other Neotropical dactylogyrids are also addressed.

Comparison of rumen and abomasal infusions of an exogenous emulsifier on fatty acid digestibility of lactating dairy cows.

We evaluated the effects of infusing an exogenous emulsifier (polysorbates-C18:1) either into the rumen or abomasum on fatty acid (FA) digestibility and production responses of lactating dairy cows. Nine ruminally cannulated multiparous Holstein cows (170 ± 13.6 d in milk) were assigned to a treatment sequence in replicated 3 × 3 Latin squares with 18-d periods consisting of 7 d of washout and 11 d of infusion. Treatments were abomasal infusions of water carrier only into the rumen and abomasum (control, CON), 30 g/d polysorbate-C18:1 (T80) infused into the rumen (RUM), or 30 g/d T80 infused into the abomasum (ABO). Emulsifiers were dissolved in water and delivered at 6-h intervals (total daily infusion was divided into 4 equal infusions per day). Cows were fed the same diet that contained [% diet dry matter (DM)] 32.2% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 16.1% crude protein, 26.5% starch, and 3.41% FA (including 1.96% FA from a saturated FA supplement containing 28.0% C16:0 and 54.6% C18:0). Two orthogonal contrasts were evaluated: (1) the overall effect of T80 {CON vs. average of the T80 infusions [1/2 (ABO + RUM)]}, and (2) the effect of ABO versus RUM infusion. Compared with CON, infusing T80 increased the digestibilities of NDF (2.85 percentage units), total (4.35 percentage units), 16-carbon (3.25 percentage units), and 18-carbon FA (4.60 percentage units), and tended to increase DM digestibility and total and 18-carbon FA absorption. Compared with RUM, ABO decreased the intakes of total (28 g/d), 16-carbon (7 g/d), and 18-carbon FA (19 g/d); tended to increase the digestibility of total and 18-carbon FA; and had no effect on the absorption of total, 16-carbon, or 18-carbon FA. Production responses did not change among our treatments. In conclusion, infusing 30 g/d polysorbates-C18:1 increased NDF and total, 16-carbon, and 18-carbon FA digestibility. Compared with RUM, ABO tended to increase the digestibilities of total and 18-carbon FA; however, this may be related to the fact that ABO reduced the intakes of total, 16-carbon, and 18-carbon FA, not necessarily due to better emulsifying action per se. In summary, ABO and RUM both improved FA absorption.

Abomasal infusion of oleic acid and exogenous emulsifier alter fatty acid digestibility and production responses of lactating dairy cows.

We evaluated the effects of abomasal infusion of cis-9 C18:1 (oleic acid) and an exogenous emulsifier (polysorbate-C18:1) on fatty acid (FA) digestibility and production responses of dairy cows. Eight rumen-cannulated multiparous cows (96 ± 23 d in milk) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in 4 × 4 Latin squares with 18-d periods consisting of 7 d of washout and 11 d of infusion. Treatments were abomasal infusions of water carrier only (CON), 45 g/d oleic acid (OA), 20 g/d polysorbate-C18:1 (T80), or both 45 g/d OA and 20 g/d T80 (OA+T80). The OA treatments were dissolved in ethanol and the T80 treatments in water. To deliver the daily dose for each treatment, the infusate solution was divided into 4 equal infusions per day, occurring every 6 h. Cows were fed the same diet, which contained (% of dry matter [DM]) 30.3% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 16.3% crude protein, 30% starch, and 3.2% FA (including 1.8% DM from a FA supplement containing 34.4% C16:0 and 47.7% C18:0). Infusion of T80 increased NDF digestibility compared with all other treatments (3.57 percentage units), whereas OA+T80 decreased NDF digestibility compared with CON (3.30 percentage units). Compared with CON, OA (4.90 percentage units) and T80 (3.40 percentage units) increased total FA digestibility, whereas OA+T80 had no effect on total FA digestibility. We did not observe differences between OA and T80 for total FA digestibility. Infusion of OA (3.90 percentage units) and T80 (2.80 percentage units) increased 16-carbon FA digestibility compared with CON. Digestibility of 16-carbon FA did not differ between OA and T80 or between CON and OA+T80. Compared with CON, OA increased (5.60 percentage units) and T80 tended to increase 18-carbon FA digestibility. Digestibility of 18-carbon FA did not differ between OA and T80 or between CON and OA+T80. Compared with CON, all treatments increased or tended to increase the absorption of total and 18-carbon FA. Infusion of OA and T80 increased the yields of milk fat (both increased 0.10 kg/d), 3.5% fat-corrected milk (1.90 and 2.50 kg/d), and energy-corrected milk (1.80 and 2.60 kg/d) compared with CON. We did not observe differences between OA and T80 or between CON and OA+T80 for yields of milk fat, 3.5% fat-corrected milk, or energy-corrected milk. Infusing OA tended to increase plasma insulin concentration compared with CON. Compared with the other treatments, OA+T80 decreased the yield of de novo milk FA (31.3 g/d). Compared with CON, OA tended to increase the yield of de novo milk FA. Compared with OA+T80, CON and OA tended to increase the yield of mixed milk FA, whereas T80 increased it (83 g/d). Compared with CON, all emulsifier treatments increased the yield of preformed milk FA (52.7 g/d). In conclusion, abomasally infusing either 45 g of OA or 20 g of T80 improved digestibility and similarly favored the production parameters of dairy cows. In contrast, providing both (45 g of OA + 20 g of T80) had no additional benefits and moderated the positive responses observed in the individual treatments with OA and T80.

Conservative and minimally invasive approaches to control idiopathic condylar resorption: a scoping review.

Idiopathic condylar resorption (ICR) is an uncommon disease with multiple names that challenges orthodontic and surgical treatments. The aim of this study was to investigate the existing conservative and minimally invasive approaches to controlling ICR. A scoping literature review was conducted. Inclusion criteria were young patients with degenerative joint disease based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders or Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) protocols, or ICR based on the DC/TMD expanded taxonomy protocol. Six electronic databases and the grey literature were searched, without restriction on year or language. Two reviewers independently performed the study selection and data extraction. Ten studies were selected from the 13,953 records identified. The total sample size was 424 patients; the female-to-male ratio was 7:1 and the mean age of the patients was 25.7 years. The main primary outcomes were pain, mandibular dysfunction, and condylar resorption. There is no guarantee of definitive success in the early management of ICR, despite the promising approaches studied, and there is no specific protocol to be followed. Therefore, close post-surgical follow-up is still required. This study highlights the need to standardize the nomenclature and diagnostic criteria, and assess the status of condylar activity/severity in future research.

Efficacy and safety of ultra-low-dose estradiol and norethisterone in postmenopausal Brazilian women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral ultra-low-dose continuous combination of 17ß-estradiol (17ß-E2) and norethisterone acetate (NETA) in postmenopausal Brazilian women. METHODS: Postmenopausal women (age 45-60 years) with amenorrhea >12 months and intact uterus, with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms, were included. The vasomotor symptoms and endometrial bleeding were evaluated by a daily diary for 24 weeks, and the women were assessed at baseline and endpoint. RESULTS: A total of 118 women were included. The group treated with 0.5 mg 17ß-E2/0.1 mg NETA (n = 58) showed a percentage reduction of 77.1% in the frequency of vasomotor symptoms versus 49.9% in the placebo group (n = 60) (p = 0.0001). The severity score showed a reduction in the treatment group when compared to the placebo (p < 0.0001). The adverse events were comparable between the groups; however, in the 0.5 mg 17ß-E2/0.1 mg NETA group there were more complaints of vaginal bleeding; despite that, in most cycles in both treatment groups, more than 80% of women experienced amenorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of 0.5 mg 17ß-E2/0.1 mg NETA in a continuous combination regimen was shown to be effective in reducing the frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms in Brazilian postmenopausal women.

In vitro fertilization: an unexpected finding in a cohort of patients with biliary atresia.

In biliary atresia (BA), efforts to prevent premature liver transplantation (LT) are aimed at early diagnosis, timing of Kasai-portoenterostomy (KPE), and centralization of care. This report presents the clinical picture, treatment strategies, and outcomes of BA patients with no previous treatment. A retrospective cohort study (Jan/2001 to Jan/2021) was conducted to evaluate the outcome of patients with BA referred to a single team. Study groups were: 1) Kasai-only group (K-only) n=9), 2) LT-only group (n=7), and 3) Kasai+LT group (K+LT) (n=23). Survival with native liver and overall survival were 22.9 and 94.8%, respectively, at 120 months of follow-up. There was no difference in age at KPE in the K-only group (46.8±21.8 days) vs K+LT (52.1±22 days), P=0.4. Ten (25.6%) patients were babies conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Four IVF patients (40%) presented associated congenital heart disease vs 5 patients (17%) in the remaining group (P=0.14). Two of the IVF patients were premature (<37 weeks). Median maternal age at birth was 35 years (33 to 41 years). Excellent patient survival is expected for patients with BA with the available treatment strategies. IVF+BA was an unexpected prevalent association in this cohort, and further studies are required to better understand these findings.

Fructose consumption induces molecular adaptations involving thyroid function and thyroid-related genes in brown adipose tissue in rats.

The increasing incidence of metabolic diseases is in part due to the high fructose consumption, a carbohydrate vastly used in industry, with a potent lipogenic capacity. Thyroid hormones (TH) are essential for metabolism regulation and are associated with changes in body weight, energy expenditure, insulin sensitivity, and dyslipidemia. This study aimed to investigate the influence of fructose intake on thyroid function and thyroid-related genes. Male Wistar rats were divided into Control (CT, n=8) and Fructose (FT - 10% in drinking water, n=8) groups for three weeks. The FT group showed higher glycemia and serum triacylglycerol, indicating metabolic disturbances, and increased thyroid mass, accompanied by higher expression of Srebf1c and Lpl, suggesting increased lipid synthesis. The FT group also presented higher expression of Tpo and Dio1 in the thyroid, suggesting activation of the thyroid gland, but with no alterations in serum TH concentrations. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) of the FT group exhibited higher expression of Dio2, Thra, and Thrb, indicating increased T3 intra-tissue bioavailability and signaling. These responses were accompanied by increased BAT mass and higher expression of Adrb3, Pparg, Srebf1c, Fasn, Ppara, and Ucp1, suggesting increased BAT adrenergic sensitivity, lipid synthesis, oxidation, and thermogenesis. Therefore, short-term fructose consumption induced thyroid molecular alterations and increased BAT expression of thyroid hormone-related signaling genes that potentially contributed to higher BAT activity.

Extraction, Purification and Electrical Characterization of Gross Galactomannan and Purified Galactomannan Obtained from Adenanthera pavonina L. Seeds.

Aiming of self-sustainable production, the search for biodegradable and biocompatible materials has brought with it the need to know the physicochemical and dielectric characteristics of polysaccharide-based composite structures, which can be used as important and promising raw materials for biotechnology and electronic industries. Galactomannans are polysaccharides, extracted from seeds and microbiological sources, consisting of mannose and galactose. In this context, this work aimed to extract, purify and characterize by XRD, FTIR and impedance spectroscopy galactomannan obtained from seeds of Adenanthera pavonina L. The purification process was made with ethyl alcohol at concentrations of 70, 80 and 90 %. Polymeric films were prepared by solvent slow evaporation at low temperatures. XRD measurements revealed that Galactomannan from Adenanthera pavonina L., after purification, has a semi-crystalline structure due to the identification of two peaks the first between 5.849° and 6.118° and the second between 20.011° and 20.247°. FTIR spectra showed the functional groups associated with monosaccharides of the galactomannan from Adenanthera pavonina L. seeds, as well as the typical polysaccharide bands and peaks, confirmed by literature data. The impedance results give an increment on the state-of-the-art of this biomaterial by showing the existence of dielectric relaxations, independent of the degree of purification, using the dielectric modulus formalism. The permittivity analysis reveals the presence of water in the structure of the film, whose dipoles contribute to the relatively high value of the dielectric constant. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that purified galactomannan has the potential for possible applications in the electronics industry as a green and eco-friendly dielectric material.