Biomechanical factors associated with patellofemoral pain in children and adolescents.

To investigate the biomechanical factors associated with patellofemoral pain in children and adolescents. A cross-sectional, population-based study conducted in Brazil from 2019 to 2023, involving students from public schools. Adjusted prevalence ratios and their respective 95% confidence intervals for the outcome in relation to independent variables were calculated for association analysis, adopting a significance level of 5%. Out of the total of 283 students, 152 were female and 182 were aged between 16 and 18 years old. A positive association was observed between the presence of patellofemoral pain and a poor movement quality in both lower limbs (right side: p = 0.04 and left side: p = 0.04) as well as with dynamic valgus of the left lower limb (p < 0.01). Patellofemoral pain in children and adolescents is associated with poor movement quality in the lower limbs and dynamic valgus of the left lower limb. Actions targeting these biomechanical factors may be crucial for early diagnosis and clinical treatment of this disfunction.

Experimental evidence that polystyrene nanoplastics cross the intestinal barrier of European seabass.

Plastic pollution in marine ecosystems constitutes an important threat to marine life. For vertebrates, macro/microplastics can obstruct and/or transit into the airways and digestive tract whereas nanoplastics (NPs; < 1000 nm) have been observed in non-digestive tissues such as the liver and brain. Whether NPs cross the intestinal epithelium to gain access to the blood and internal organs remains controversial, however. Here, we show directly NP translocation across the intestinal barrier of a fish, the European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, ex vivo. The luminal side of median and distal segments of intestine were exposed to fluorescent polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs) of 50 nm diameter. PS-NPs that translocated to the serosal side were then detected quantitatively by fluorimetry, and qualitatively by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (Py-GC-HRMS). Fluorescence intensity on the serosal side increased 15-90 min after PS-NP addition into the luminal side, suggesting that PS-NPs crossed the intestinal barrier; this was confirmed by both SEM and Py-GC-HRMS. This study thus evidenced conclusively that NPs beads translocate across the intestinal epithelium in this marine vertebrate.

Warm Acclimation Increases Mitochondrial Efficiency in Fish: A Compensatory Mechanism to Reduce the Demand for Oxygen.

AbstractIn ectotherms, it is well described that thermal acclimation induces compensatory adjustments maintaining mitochondrial functions across large shifts in temperature. However, until now, studies mostly focused on fluxes of oxygen without knowing whether mitochondrial efficiency to produce ATP (ATP/O ratio) is also dependent on temperature acclimation. We thus measured thermal reaction norms of oxidative phosphorylation activity and efficiency in isolated mitochondria from skeletal muscle of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles acclimated at optimal (22°C), low (18°C), and high (26°C) temperatures. The mitochondrial fluxes (oxygen consumption and ATP synthesis) increased with increasing assay temperatures and were on the whole higher in fishes acclimated at 18°C than in the other two groups. However, these mitochondrial rates were not significantly different between experimental groups when they were compared at the acclimation temperature. In contrast, we show that acclimation to high, and not low, temperature improved mitochondrial efficiency (on average >15%). This higher efficiency in high-temperature-acclimated fishes is also apparent when compared at respective acclimation temperatures. This mitochondrial phenotype would favor an economical management of oxygen in response to harsh energetic constraints associated with warming water.

Tofacitinib in Patients Hospitalized with Covid-19 Pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of tofacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, in patients who are hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pneumonia are unclear. METHODS: We randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, hospitalized adults with Covid-19 pneumonia to receive either tofacitinib at a dose of 10 mg or placebo twice daily for up to 14 days or until hospital discharge. The primary outcome was the occurrence of death or respiratory failure through day 28 as assessed with the use of an eight-level ordinal scale (with scores ranging from 1 to 8 and higher scores indicating a worse condition). All-cause mortality and safety were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 289 patients underwent randomization at 15 sites in Brazil. Overall, 89.3% of the patients received glucocorticoids during hospitalization. The cumulative incidence of death or respiratory failure through day 28 was 18.1% in the tofacitinib group and 29.0% in the placebo group (risk ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41 to 0.97; P = 0.04). Death from any cause through day 28 occurred in 2.8% of the patients in the tofacitinib group and in 5.5% of those in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.15 to 1.63). The proportional odds of having a worse score on the eight-level ordinal scale with tofacitinib, as compared with placebo, was 0.60 (95% CI, 0.36 to 1.00) at day 14 and 0.54 (95% CI, 0.27 to 1.06) at day 28. Serious adverse events occurred in 20 patients (14.1%) in the tofacitinib group and in 17 (12.0%) in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients hospitalized with Covid-19 pneumonia, tofacitinib led to a lower risk of death or respiratory failure through day 28 than placebo. (Funded by Pfizer; STOP-COVID ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04469114.).

Cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of the extract, fractions and alkaloids from Palicourea minutiflora (Rubiaceae).

Palicourea species has been used in folk medicine in the treatment of some diseases including cancer and inflammatory disorders. This work aimed to evaluate the in vitro antiproliferative and in vivo topical anti-inflammatory activities of the methanolic extract, fractions and two major alkaloids isolated from Palicourea minutiflora. Methanolic extract, non-alkaloidal and alkaloidal fractions exhibited strong growth inhibition for ovarian cell lines (OVCAR-3, GI50 = 3.8 at 16.3 µg mL-1) and the vincosamide alkaloid revealed selective effect on the growth of glioma cell lines (U251, GI50 = 33.0 µg mL-1) compared with doxorubicin (DOX, GI50 = 0.42 and 0.025 µg mL-1, respectively) anticancer drug. Methanolic extract, fractions and strictosidinic acid showed significant inhibitory effect with 62.7% at 77.5% (p < 0.05) to ear edema induced by croton oil and 81% at 100% (p < 0.05) to myeloperoxidase assay compared with indomethacin (positive control) 68.4% and 91.3% (p < 0.05), respectively.

Chitosan associated with whole raw soybean in diets for Murrah buffaloes on ruminal fermentation, apparent digestibility and nutrients metabolism.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of chitosan and whole raw soybean on nutrient intake, apparent digestibility, nitrogen utilization, microbial protein synthesis, blood metabolites, feeding behavior, ruminal fermentation, digesta kinetics, and reticular flow of nutrients of buffaloes. Four ruminally-cannulated Murrah buffaloes (351 ± 15 kg of initial BW) were randomly assigned according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments were arranged as 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: the first factor was whole raw soybean (WRS), and the second factor was chitosan (CHI) with or without their inclusion in diets. Intake and apparent digestibility of ether extract (p < .01; p = .04, respectively), non-fiber carbohydrates intake (p = .03) and apparent ruminal digestibility of dry matter (p = .01) were affected by diets. An interaction effect or tendency was observed for microbial nitrogen (p = .09), concentrations, ruminal ammonia nitrogen (p = .05), total volatile fatty acid (p = .03). Association of chitosan with whole raw soybean has potential effects as a modulator of rumen fermentation; therefore, chitosan can be applied as an alternative non-ionophore for Murrah buffaloes.

Control of Cryptococcus Gattii Biofilms by an Ethanolic Extract of Cochlospermum Regium (Schrank) Pilger Leaves.

Cryptococcus gattii is an etiologic agent of cryptococcosis and a serious disease that affects immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients worldwide. The therapeutic arsenal used to treat cryptococcosis is limited to a few antifungal agents, and the ability of C. gattii to form biofilms may hinder treatment and decrease its susceptibility to antifungal agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and antibiofilm activities of an ethanolic extract of Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) Pilger leaves against C. gattii. The antifungal activity was assessed by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using the broth microdilution technique and interaction of the extract with fluconazole was performed of checkerboard assay. The antibiofilm activity of the extract was evaluated in 96-well polystyrene microplates, and the biofilms were quantified by counting colony forming units. The extract showed antifungal activity at concentrations of 62.5 to 250 µg/mL and when the extract was evaluated in combination with fluconazole, C. gattii was inhibited at sub-MIC levels. The antibiofilm activity of the extract against C. gattii was observed both during biofilm formation and on an already established biofilm. The results showed that the ethanolic extract of the leaves of C. regium shows promise for the development of antifungal drugs to treat cryptococcosis and to combat C. gattii biofilms.

Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of Ixora brevifolia Benth. (Rubiaceae).

The crude extract and fractions from the branches of Ixora brevifolia, a tree found in the Brazilian Cerrado, were tested for anti-inflammatory and in vitro antiproliferative effects. The crude extract and n-hexane fraction exhibited significant inhibition of ear oedema in mice, while n-hexane-precipitated and chloroform fractions strongly inhibited the myeloperoxidase activity in ear tissue. The n-hexane and n-hexane-precipitated fractions showed strong growth inhibition for glioma cell line and the hydromethanolic fraction inhibited the growth of leukaemia cell line.

Obstrução de sonda enteral por fármacos em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva: estudo observacional exploratório / Obstruction of enteral drug probe in an Intensive Care Unit: exploratory observational study

A terapia de nutrição enteral é uma opção para pacientes que possuem limitações principalmente no sistemagastrointestinal e sistema neurológico. Para que ocorra a ingestão adequada de substâncias nutricionais, utiliza-se a sonda denutrição enteral. Uma vez que a maioria dos fármacos não está disponível em soluções, elixires, suspensões, é adotada a práticade macerar esses fármacos e os diluir em água. Objetivo: observar a técnica utilizada para triturar, diluir e administrar formulaçõessólidas via sonda. Método: estudo observacional com abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa, utilizando o Diagrama de Ishikawa,o checklist qualitativo e a fórmula quantitativa. Resultado: foi observado um percentual de 21,42% de obstrução das sondas denutrição enteral. Conclusão: a prática de trituração e diluição de fármacos sólidos influencia na obstrução das sondas de nutriçãoenteral, logo, é oportuna a sugestão da integração da equipe de saúde para maior conhecimento sobre formulações sólidas a serem trituradas.

Enteral nutrition therapy is an option for patients who have limitations primarily in the gastrointestinal system andneurological system. For the proper intake of nutritional substances, the enteral nutrition probe is used. Since most drugs are notavailable in solutions, elixirs, suspensions, the practice is to macerate these drugs and dilute them in water. Objective: to observethe technique used to crush, dilute and administer solid formulations via probe. Method: observational study with qualitative andquantitative approach, using the Ishikawa Diagram, the qualitative checklist and the quantitative formula. Result: a percentageof 21.42% of obstruction of the enteral nutrition probes was observed. Conclusion: the practice of grinding and dilution of soliddrugs influences the obstruction of the enteral nutrition probes, so it is timely to suggest the integration of the health team fora better knowledge about solid formulations to be crushed.

La terapia de nutrición enteral es una opción para pacientes que tienen limitaciones principalmente en el sistemagastrointestinal y el sistema neurológico. Para que ocurra la ingestión adecuada de sustancias nutricionales, se utiliza la sonda denutrición enteral. Una vez que la mayoría de los fármacos no están disponibles en soluciones, elixires, suspensiones, se adoptala práctica de macerar estos fármacos y diluirlos en agua. Objetivo: observar la técnica utilizada para triturar, diluir y administrarformulaciones sólidas vía sonda. Método: estudio observacional con enfoque cualitativo y cuantitativo, utilizando el Diagramade Ishikawa, el checklist cualitativo y la fórmula cuantitativa. Resultado: se observó un porcentaje de 21,42% de obstrucción delas sondas de nutrición enteral. Conclusión: la práctica de trituración y dilución de fármacos sólidos influye en la obstrucción delas sondas de nutrición enteral, luego es oportuno la sugerencia de la integración del equipo de salud para mayor conocimientosobre formulaciones sólidas a ser trituradas.

Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of FeIII, CoII, CuII and ZnII complexes probed by transmission electron microscopy.

We synthesized iron(III), cobalt(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes [Fe(III)(HBPClNOL)Cl(2)]·H(2)O (1), [Co(II)(H(2)BPClNOL)Cl(2)] (2), [Cu(II)(H(2)BPClNOL)Cl]Cl·H(2)O (3), and [Zn(II)(HBPClNOL)Cl] (4), where H(2)BPClNOL is the ligand (N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)[(3-chloro)(2-hydroxy)]propylamine). The complexes obtained were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV-visible spectroscopies, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), and cyclic voltammetry. X-ray diffraction studies were performed for complexes (3) and (4) revealing the presence of mononuclear and dinuclear structures in solid state for (3). However, the zinc complex is mononuclear in solid state. Biological studies of complexes (1)-(4) were carried out in vitro for antimicrobial activity against nine Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus strains RN 6390B, COL, ATCC 25923, Smith Diffuse, Wood 46, enterotoxigenic S. aureus FRI-100 (SEA+), FRI S-6 (SEB+) and SEC FRI-361) and animal strain S. aureus LSA 88 (SEC/SED/TSST-1+). The following sequence of inhibition promoted by the complexes was observed: (4)>(2)>(3)>(1), showing the effect of the metal on the biological activity. To directly observe the morphological changes of the internal structure of bacterial cells after the treatment, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed. For the most active complex [Zn(II)(HBPClNOL)Cl] (4), granulation deposits around the genetic material and internal material leaking were clearly detected.

Reconstrução do Ligamento Cruzado Anterior com Tendão Patelar e Tendões dos Músculos Semitendinoso e Grácil: Avaliação Clinicofuncional Comparativa pelo Protocolo do IKDC

Avaliar comparativamente os resultados clinicofuncionais das reconstruções do ligamento cruzado anterior(LCA)com o tendão patelar (TP) e tendões dos músculos semitendinoso (ST) e grácil(GR)

Purification and determination of plant hormones auxin and abscisic acid using solid phase extraction and two-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography.

A method for separation and purification of plant hormones auxin and abscisic acid based on mixed mode reversed-phase anion-exchange solid phase extraction and two-dimensional HPLC was developed. Two-dimensional HPLC in "heart cutting" mode was very efficient in the purification of these two hormones. Its purification power is high enough to allow reliable on-line quantification of both hormones even with non-selective detectors.

Trichloroacetic acid in Norway spruce/soil-system. II. Distribution and degradation in the plant.

Independently from its origin, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) as a phytotoxic substance affects coniferous trees. Its uptake, distribution and degradation were thus investigated in the Norway spruce/soil-system using 14C labeling. TCA is distributed in the tree mainly by the transpiration stream. As in soil, TCA seems to be degraded microbially, presumably by phyllosphere microorganisms in spruce needles. Indication of TCA biodegradation in trees is shown using both antibiotics and axenic plants.

Electrophoretic protein pattern and acid phosphatase activity in the midgut extracts of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) during metamorphosis / Padrão eletroforético de proteínas e atividade de fosfatase ácida em extratos do intestino médio de Apis mellifera L. durante a metamorfose

The electrophoretic pattern of proteins and the activity of acid phosphatase were described in the midgut extracts during the post-embryonic stages of Apis mellifera L. in order to stablish a correlation with the metamorphosis events. The results show the greatest variation in proteic electrophoretical bands during prepupal stage and the smallest variation during the brown eyed pupae stage. The acid phosphatase activity was higher during the larval last instar and lower in white eyed pupae. The greatest variety of bands during the prepupal stage coincides with the histolysis of the larval midgut epithelium and the lowest variability in the brown eyed pupa coincides with the end of the midgut differentiation. In another hand, the greatest phosphatase activity in the last larval stage must reflect this enzyme actuation in the histolysis of the larval epithelium

Foram pesquisadas variações no padrão eletroforético das proteínas e da atividade da fosfatase ácida contidas em extratos do intestino médio de Apis mellifera L. durante o último estágio larval e pupação com a finalidade de estabelecer um paralelo entre os resultados e os eventos da metamorfose. Verificou-se maior variedade de bandas protéicas durante o estágio de pré-pupa e menor na pupa de olho marrom. A atividade da fosfatase ácida foi maior durante o último estágio larval e menor na pupa de olho branco. A maior variedade de bandas protéicas na pré-pupa coincide com a histólise do epitélio larval e reconstituição do epitélio pupal, enquanto a menor variabilidade na pupa de olho marrom coincide com o fim da diferenciação do intestino médio. A maior atividade fosfatásica no último estágio larval pode ocorrer em razão da sua função na histólise do epitélio

Síndrome unha-patela (onicoosteoartrodisplasia hereditária): relato de duas famílias afetadas / Nail-patella syndrome (hereditary arthro-onychodisplasia): report on two affected families

Este trabalho apresenta cinco casos de síndrome unha-patela em duas famílias distintas, envolvendo membros de até três gerações. Os cinco acometidos foram submetidos a exames clínicos e radiológicos. Em tais casos, há concordância com a literatura mundial: tétrade de sinais (distrofia ungueal, displasias do cotovelo, da pélvis e do joelho), transmissão autossômica dominante, apresentando completa penetrância com expressividade variável e ligação com o sistema sanguíneo ABO.

Transposiçäo do baço para a cavidade torácica: estudo experimental em ratos / Relocation of the splen to the thoracic cavity: experimental study in rats

Este estudo objetivou avaliar a presença de neovascularizaçÄo entre o baço, diafragma, pleura e pulmäo em ratos após transposiçäo do baço para a cavidade torácica. Para isto, foram utilizados dez ratos Wistar que foram submetidos à laparotomia, com transposiçäo do baço na cavidade torácica através de frenotomia esquerda. Os animais foram sacrificados no 30§ pós-operatório, sendo realizado avaliaçäo macroscópica, histológica e injeçäo de contraste no baço. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram a presença de neovacularizaçäo entre o baço, diafragma, pleura e pulmäo(AB)

Tracer elimination in I-123-heptadecanoic acid: half-life, component ratio and circumferential washout profiles in patients with cardiac disease.

Sixty patients with different cardiac diseases and healthy volunteers were given omega-I-123-heptadecanoic acid (HDA) intravenously. Tracer kinetics were followed for 90 min, and tracer elimination curves were obtained regionally. In addition, circumferential washout profiles were evaluated for 26 patients and interpolative as well as constant background subtraction was performed for comparison in selected patients. Rest and stress radionuclide ventriculography allowed formation of a group with normal ventricular function (control group); the remaining patients had an abnormal ventricular function at rest or under stress. Regions of patients in the control group were significantly different (P less than 0.005) from regions of patients with CHD or CMP with regard to the initial half-life or the component ratio between a fast and a slow component (Ca/Cb). Regions of patients after MI without exercise-induced angina did not differ strikingly from control regions. Circumferential washout analysis showed homogeneous tracer kinetics in healthy subjects, bus some individuals showed increasing regional activity, mainly by late activity uptake of the stomach. Dynamic heart scintigraphy with HDA is an additional nuclear cardiologic tool that makes possible the classification of patients with myocardial disease and abnormal ventricular function already under resting conditions. Initial half-life allows reasonable discrimination between different severely diseased patient groups; expansion of acquisition time to 90 min refines biexponential tracer analysis which, by means of an altered component ratio Ca/Cb, may allow better clinical judgement of the individual patient. Circumferential washout analysis and interpolative background correction lead to a better specificity of examination.

[Pulmonary hypertension in chronic respiratory tract obstruction: a combined study on haemodynamics and radionuclide ventriculography]. / Pulmonale Hypertonie bei chronischer Atemwegsobstruktion. Eine kombinierte Studie von Hämodynamik und Radionuklid-Ventrikulographie.

In 44 patients with chronic obstruction of the respiratory passages pulmonary artery pressures were measured by Swan-Ganz catheter and right-ventricular ejection fraction by radionuclide ventriculography (equilibrium method). Although there was no linear correlation between the haemodynamic parameters of afterload or preload of the right ventricle and global right-ventricular ejection fractions, sensitivity and specificity of radionuclide ventriculography were very good (87% and 83%, respectively) for the recognition of pulmonary hypertension during exercise tests. Global right-ventricular ejection fraction in patients without pulmonary arterial hypertension had a normal and significant rise from 52% to 58% on exercise. In the group with pulmonary hypertension mean right-ventricular ejection fraction fell during exercise from 47% to 46%. Radionuclide ventriculography in the assessment of right ventricular function, especially during exercise, provides useful pointers to the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension due to chronic respiratory-tract obstruction.