Latent effects of early life stage exposure to triclosan on survival in fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of early life stage triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4, dichlorophenoxy)phenol, TCS) exposure on hatching, development, and survival in the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas. Embryonic minnows were exposed to TCS (50 and 100 µg L-1) for 10 days followed by 6 weeks depuration. Mortality and morphological deformities were recorded and quantified during exposure and at the end of depuration. No significant effects on embryonic survival, time to reach the eyed stage, or hatching were found. However, at the conclusion of the depuration period, survival was significantly reduced in TCS exposed fish depending on the concentration. Visual inspection of the exposed fish suggests that mortality is related to spinal deformities, emaciation, and reduced foraging ability. Triclosan exhibits deleterious effects in fish at lower concentrations over longer durations than previously reported. Further, mortality in exposed fish 6 weeks after exposure demonstrates the need for various exposure assays to evaluate effects of TCS.

Clarifying the Ethics and Oversight of Chimeric Research.

This article is the lead piece in a special report that presents the results of a bioethical investigation into chimeric research, which involves the insertion of human cells into nonhuman animals and nonhuman animal embryos, including into their brains. Rapid scientific developments in this field may advance knowledge and could lead to new therapies for humans. They also reveal the conceptual, ethical, and procedural limitations of existing ethics guidance for human-nonhuman chimeric research. Led by bioethics researchers working closely with an interdisciplinary work group, the investigation focused on generating conceptual clarity and identifying improvements to governance approaches, with the goal of helping scholars, funders, scientists, institutional leaders, and oversight bodies (embryonic stem cell research oversight [ESCRO] committees and institutional animal care and use committees [IACUCs]) deliver principled and trustworthy oversight of this area of science. The article, which focuses on human-nonhuman animal chimeric research that is stem cell based, identifies key ethical issues in and offers ten recommendations regarding the ethics and oversight of this research. Turning from bioethics' previous focus on human-centered questions about the ethics of "humanization" and this research's potential impact on concepts like human dignity, this article emphasizes the importance of nonhuman animal welfare concerns in chimeric research and argues for less-siloed governance and oversight and more-comprehensive public communication.

Fatores prognósticos em pacientes com câncer colorretal: análise de sobrevida global e livre de doença / Prognostic factors in patients with colorectal cancer: analysis of overall and disease-free survival

Objetivos: avaliar o impacto de variáveis clínicas e tumorais sobre a sobrevida global e a sobrevida livre da doença em pacientes com câncer colorretal atendidos em um hospital especializado em oncologia, em Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil. Métodos: estudo de coorte retrospectivo com análise do registro hospitalar de câncer e de prontuários de pacientes com câncer colorretal tratados entre 2015 e 2016, com acompanhamento até janeiro de 2022. A curva de Kaplan-Meier e o modelo de Cox, com apresentação do RR e IC95%, foram empregados nas análises. Resultados: foram incluídos no estudo 235 pacientes, dos quais 126 (53,6%) eram do sexo masculino, 204 (86,8%) tinham idade igual ou superior a 50 anos ao diagnóstico e 125 (53,2%) receberam inicialmente o diagnóstico de tumor de cólon. O risco de morte e de recorrência foram maiores em pacientes com estadiamento IV (RR = 2,77; IC95% = 1,57-3,85 e RR = 3,98; IC95% = 1,15-13,79), tumor no reto (RR = 2,04; IC95% = 1,24-3,38 e RR= 2,25; IC95% = 1,40-3,60) e metástase nos linfonodos regionais (RR = 2,26; IC95% = 1,27-4,03 e RR = 2,15; IC95% = 1,24-3,73). O risco de óbito foi elevado em idosos com Índice de Massa Corporal de baixo peso (RR = 3,5; IC95% = 0,9-75). Conclusões: no momento do diagnóstico, fatores tumorais como estadiamento avançado, tumor no reto e a presença de metástase são importantes preditores de mortalidade e recidiva do câncer colorretal, além disso, indicam o Índice de Massa Corporal como potencial variável de pior prognóstico na população idosa com câncer colorretal

Aims: to evaluate the impact of clinical and tumor variables on overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with colorectal cancer treated at a specialized oncology hospital in Curitiba, Paraná. Methods: a retrospective cohort study was carried out with analysis of the câncer hospital registry and medical records of patients with colorectal cancer treated between 2015 and 2016, with follow-up until January 2022. The Kaplan-Meier curve and the Cox model, with presentation of the Hazard Ratio (HR) and confidence interval 95% (95%CI), were used in the analyses. Results: 235 patients were included in the study, 126 (53.6%) males, 204 (86.8%) aged at diagnosis equal to or greater than 50 years and 125 (53.2%) with the initial diagnosis of tumor of colon. The risk of death and recurrence were higher in patients with stage IV (HR = 2.77; 95%CI = 1.57-3.85 and HR = 3.98; 95%CI = 1.15-13.79), tumor in the rectum (HR = 2.04; 95%CI = 1.24-3.38 and HR = 2.25; 95%CI = 1.40-3.60) and regional lymph node metastasis (HR = 2.26; 95%CI = 1.27-4.03 and HR = 2.15; 95%CI = 1.24-3.73). In addition, the risk of death was high in elderly with low weight Body Mass Index (HR =3.5; 95%CI = 0.9-75). Conclusions: at the time of diagnosis, tumor factors such as advanced staging, tumor in the rectum and the presence of metastasis are important predictors of mortality and recurrence of colorectal cancer, in addition, they indicate Body Mass Index as a potential variable of worse prognosis in the elderly population with colorectal cancer

Is honey able to potentiate the antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of medicinal plants consumed as infusions for hepatoprotective effects?

Due to the enormous variety of phytochemicals present in plants, their extracts have been used for centuries in the treatment of innumerable diseases, being perceived as an invaluable source of medicines for humans. Furthermore, the combination of different plants was reported as inducing an improved effect (synergism) in comparison with the additive activity of the plants present in those mixtures. Nevertheless, information regarding the effects of plant infusions added with honey is still rather scarce. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction between chestnut honey, a natural product with well-reported beneficial properties, and three medicinal plants (either as a single plant or as combinations of two and three plants), with regard to their antioxidant activity and hepatotoxicity. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by comparing the results from four different assays; hepatotoxicity was assessed in two different cell lines. Results were compared by analysis of variance and linear discriminant analysis. The addition of honey to the infusions had a beneficial result in both cases, producing a synergistic effect in all samples, except ß-carotene bleaching inhibition for artichoke + milk thistle + honey preparation and also preparations with lower hepatotoxicity, except in the case of artichoke + honey. Moreover, from the discriminant linear analysis output, it became obvious that the effect of honey addition overcame that resulting from using single plant or mixed plant based infusions. Also, the enhanced antioxidant activity of infusions containing honey was confirmed by lower hepatotoxicity.

Pesquisa de Salmonella spp. e microrganismos indicadores em carcaças de frango e água de tanques de pré-resfriamento em abatedouro de aves / Research of Salmonella spp. and indicators microorganisms in poultrycarcasses and chilling tanks water in poultry slaughterhouse

O objetivo desse trabalho foi pesquisar Salmonella spp. e microrganismos indicadores (coliformestotais-CT, coliformes termotolerantes-CTT, aeróbios mesófilos-AM e microrganismos psicrotróficos-MP) em carcaças de frango e água dos tanques de pré-resfriamento em um frigorífico do norte do Paraná.Foram analisadas 120 carcaças de frango (60 antes do pré-chiller e 60 após a saída do chiller) e 120amostras de água (60 pré-chiller e 60 do chiller), totalizando 20 coletas. Para as análises utilizaram-se ametodologia recomendada pela legislação brasileira e sistema PetrfilmTMAC. Salmonella spp. foi isoladaem uma carcaça antes do pré-chiller e outra após a saída do chiller, ambas identificadas como SalmonellaO8, 20: z4, z23. Nas amostras de água foram isolados e identificados seis sorovares no pré-chiller, cincoSalmonella O8,20;z4,z23 e um S. Tennessee. As médias de CT nas carcaças antes do pré-chiller e após asaída do chiller e na água destes tanques foram 3,74 NMP/g, 3,10 NMP/g e 4,00 NMP/100mL / 2,81 NMP/100mL respectivamente; CTT 3,65 NMP/g / 3,00 NMP/g e 3,81 NMP/100mL / 2,73 NMP/100mL; AM 6,40UFC/g / 5,60 UFC/g e 4,40 UFC/mL / 4,13 UFC/mL; MP 4,21 UFC/g e de 3,66 UFC/g. Nas carcaças defrango antes do pré-chiller e após o chiller e na água do pré-chiller e chiller não foi observadadiferença significativa (p>0,05) nos índices de contaminação com relação aos microrganismos indicadoresestudados. Pelos resultados obtidos pode-se concluir que no frigorífico estudado não houve reduçãoda contaminação bacteriana das carcaças durante a passagem pelos tanques.

The purpose of this work was to research the Salmonella spp. and indicators microorganisms (total coliforms-CT, thermotolerant coliforms-CTT, mesophlic aerobes-AM and psychotrophic microorganisms) in poultry carcasses and chilling tanks water in a poultry slaughterhouse in north of Paraná state. Had been analyzed 120 poultry carcasses (60 before the entrance in the chilling tank and 60 after the exit of the chilling tank) and 120 water samples (60 from pre-chiller tank and 60 from chiller tank), totalizing 20 collections. For the analyses was used the brazilian legislation and PetrifilmTMAC. Salmonella spp. was isolated in one poultry carcass before the entrance in the chilling tank and other after the exit of the chilling tank, both identified as Salmonella O8,20;z4,z23. In the water samples was recognized six serovars in pre-chiller tank, five as Salmonella O8,20;z4,z23 and one S. Tennessee. The means of TC on carcasses before the entrance and after the exit of the tanks and in the water samples from pre-chiller tank and in chiller were 3,74 MPN/g / 3,10 MPN/g and 4,00 MPN/100mL / 2,81 MPN/100mL respectively; the mean of TCC was 3,65 MPN/g / 3,00 MPN/g and 3,81 MPN/100mL / 2,73 MPN/100mL; the mean of MA was 6,40 CFU/g / 5,60 CFU/g and 4,40 CFU/mL e 4,13 CFU/mL; the mean of MP was 4,21 CFU/g /3,66 CFU/g and . It was not observed any significant difference (p>0,05) in contamination index neither in poultry carcasses nor in tank water samples. It is possible to conclude that chilling tanks were not able to remove the microorganisms from the carcasses and could contribute to cross-contamination due to elevate water contamination.

Eficácia dos tanques de pré-resfriamento na redução de contaminação bacteriana em carcaças de frango / Chilling tanks effectiveness on the reduction of bacterial contamination of poultry carcasses

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a eficácia dos tanques de pré-resfriamento na redução da contaminação microbiana de carcaças de frango. As amostras foram coletadas de um abatedouro no período de março a setembro de 2005, totalizando 20 coletas. Foram coletadas amostras de carcaças em três horários representando o início, meio e final do turno matutino de abate sendo 60 amostras (20 em cada horário) antes da entrada no pré-chiller e 60 amostras (20 em cada horário) após a saída do chiller. As amostras de frango foram submetidas à pesquisa de coliformes totais (CT), coliformes termotolerantes (CTT), aeróbios mesófilos (AM) e psicrotróficos (MP). A enumeração de CT e CCT foi realizada através da técnica dos tubos múltiplos, a de AM através do sistema Petrifilm tmC e a contagem de MP em Agar Padrão para Contagem. As médias mais elevadas do número mais provável de CT e CTT (3,83 log NMP/g e 3,78 log NMP/g, respectivamente) e das contagens de AM e MP (6,61 log UFC/g e 4,58 log UFC/g, respectivamente) nas carcaças ocorreram no primeiro horário de coleta, antes da entrada no pré-chiller. Observou-se uma diminuição significativa (p<0,05) do NMP de CT e CTT e contagem de AM nas carcaças, após a saída dos tanques de resfriamento, no primeiro horário de coleta, indicando que os tanques de pré-resfriamento, no frigorífico estudado, foram eficazes na remoção de microrganismos das carcaças apenas no início dos trabalhos de abate. Não foi detectada a presença de CT e CTT nas amostras de águas de abastecimento.