Characterization of Nanospheres Containing Zanthoxylum riedelianum Fruit Essential Oil and Their Insecticidal and Deterrent Activities against Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae).

The aim of our study was to produce and characterize poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanospheres containing essential oils from Zanthoxylum riedelianum fruit and to evaluate their stability gains as well as their insecticidal and deterrent activities against whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). The PCL nanospheres exhibited a homogeneous spherical morphology, with particle diameters between 106.7 nm and 129.2 nm, pH of approximately 6, zeta potential (ZP) lower than -19.0 mV and encapsulation efficiency higher than 98%. Only 43% of the nanoencapsulated essential oil (NSEO) was degraded in response to ultraviolet light, whereas the essential oil (EO) degraded by 76% over the same period. In a free-choice test, the NSEO and EO reduced the number of whitefly eggs by approximately 70%. NSEO and EO at 1.5% killed 82.87% and 91.23% of 2nd-instar nymphs of whitefly, respectively. Although NSEO displayed lower insecticidal activity, it offers a greater advantage over the free EO, due to protection conferred by polymer against photodegradation. Therefore, its usage may optimize the maintenance of essential oils in the field through photoprotection and controlled release. Our results suggest that the EO of Z. riedelianum fruit can be used for B. tabaci management strategy; nevertheless, the benefits of NSEO require further evaluation at the field level.

Risk of Malignancy in Effusions according to the International System for Serous Fluid Cytopathology: A Review.

INTRODUCTION: The International Serous Fluid Cytopathology Reporting System (TIS) was developed to standardize communication among health professionals reporting analyses of serous fluid samples. The categories include non-diagnosis (ND), negative for malignancy (NFM), atypia of undetermined significance (AUS), suspected malignancy (SFM), and malignant (MAL). Each category was characterized by a risk of malignancy (ROM). METHODS: We performed a literature review to analyze studies related to TIS using several sources, including PubMed, followed by a search of relevant cytopathology journal websites (American Cancer Society, Diagnostic Cytopathology, Journal of the American Society of Cytopathology, and Acta Cytologica and Cytopathology). The search included articles published between January 2020 and December 2023, using the terms "international AND serous fluid system." RESULTS: We identified 257 articles, of which 20 addressed the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The overall ROMs for each category were 23.55% for ND, 16.46% for NFM, 50.78% for AUS, 91.34% for SFM, and 98.21% for MAL. CONCLUSION: Considering the TIS-recommended ROM rates, the ND category was between the suggested intervals, while the SFM category rate was bigger than expected. The other categories (NFM, AUS, and MAL) were below expected values. SFM and MAL had a stronger association with MAL results. New studies are needed to determine each category's ROM rate from TIS accurately.

Characterization of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium (Sapindales: Rutaceae) Essential Oil Nanospheres and Insecticidal Effects to Bemisia tabaci (Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae).

Encapsulation via nanotechnology offers a potential method to overcome limited thermal and photo-stability of botanical pesticides. In this study, nanospheres of essential oils (NSEO) derived from Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. fruit were characterized and evaluated for their photostability and insecticidal activity against Bemisia tabaci. Three major compounds of Z. rhoifolium fruits were detected by CG-MS: ß-phellandrene (76.8%), ß-myrcene (9.6%), and germacrene D (8.3%). The nanoprecipitation method was used to obtain homogeneous spherical NSEO, with ≥98% encapsulation efficiency. Tests with UV/Vis spectrophotometry showed significantly reduced photodegradation from exposed NSEO samples when compared with essential oil (EO) controls. Whitefly screenhouses bioassays with bean plants treated with 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% suspensions showed EO treatments in both free and nanoencapsulated forms reduced adult whitefly oviposition by up to 71%. In further tests, applications at 1.5% caused ≥64% mortality of second instar nymphs. When the test was conducted under high temperature and light radiation conditions, the insecticidal effect of NSEO treatments was improved (i.e., 84.3% mortality) when compared to the free form (64.8%). Our results indicate the insecticidal potential of EO-derived from Z. rhoifolium fruits with further formulation as nanospheres providing greater photostability and enhanced insecticidal activity against B. tabaci under adverse environmental conditions.

Pilates and Cognitive Stimulation in Dual Task an Intervention Protocol to Improve Functional Abilities and Minimize the Rate of Age-Related Cognitive Decline in Postmenopausal Women.

It is already known the effectiveness of Pilates training on cognitive and functional abilities. It is also known that dual-task exercise and cognitive stimuli improve cognition and functional capacity. However, no previous report combined cognitive stimuli and Pilates in dual task and measured its effects on the cognitive and physical performances of postmenopausal women. OBJECTIVE: To apply an interventional dual-task (PILATES-COG) protocol and to evaluate its influence on memory, language, and functional physical performances on healthy, community-dwelling postmenopausal older women. METHODS: 47 women with amenorrhea for at least 12 months participated in this study. Those allocated on the PILATES-COG group underwent a 12-week, twice a week regimen of 50 min sessions of simultaneous mat Pilates exercise program and cognitive tasks. Cognitive and physical functional performance were assessed. Two-way mixed ANOVA was used for data analysis, and Bonferroni post hoc tests were used for within- and between-group comparisons. RESULTS: The PILATES-COG group showed significant improvement after the intervention in semantic verbal fluency (p < 0.001; ηρ² = 0.268), phonological verbal fluency (p < 0.019; ηρ² = 0.143), immediate memory (p < 0.001; ηρ² = 0.258), evocation memory (p < 0.001 ηρ² = 0.282), lower-limb muscle strength (p < 0.001; ηρ² = 0.447), balance (p < 0.001; ηρ² = 0.398), and dual-ask cost (p < 0.05; ηρ² = 0.111) assessments on healthy, community-dwelling postmenopausal older women. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of a feasible and effective approach using Pilates and cognitive stimulation in dual task for the reduction of age-related cognitive decline and the improvement of physical functional performance in healthy postmenopausal women.