Oswaldocruzia franciscoensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Molineidae) in Leptodactylus macrosternum Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from Caatinga morphoclimatic domain, Brazil: morphological and molecular characterisation.

A new species of Oswaldocruzia Travassos, 1917 (Nematoda, Molineidae), parasite of Leptodactylus macrosternum Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 (Anura: Leptodactylidae), from Caatinga morphoclimatic domain, Brazil, is described based on morphological and molecular data. Oswaldocruzia franciscoensis n. sp. is characterised by an anterior extremity with a cephalic vesicle divided into two portions, a body covered by cuticular longitudinal ridges, and cervical alae. Males of the new species have caudal bursa of type I with a 2-1-2 pattern, spicules divided into a shoe, bifurcated fork, and blade with two unequal branches, in which the longer branch bifurcates at its distal portion end and the smaller branch with three distal processes, each with distal bifurcations. Females have didelphic and amphidelphic uteri, an ovijector divided into vestibule, anterior and posterior sphincters, and anterior and posterior infundibula. The new species differs from its Neotropical congeners that have caudal bursa of type I, based on the presence of cervical alae and by having a spicular blade distally divided into two unequal branches, with the longer branch bifurcating at its distal portion and smaller branch with three distal processes, each distally bifurcated. The partial 18S rDNA sequence generated for Oswaldocruzia franciscoensis n. sp. is the first of a representative belonging to this genus in the Neotropical region.

Malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review study and meta-analysis sought to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies in children with cerebral palsy (CP). STUDY DESIGN: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The articles were chosen using the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and Lilacs databases and the bibliographical reference lists of the articles. No limitations were placed on the time of publication, but the articles had to include children from 0 to 18 years old with CP who presented the prevalence of malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using the verification list for analytical cross-sectional studies, the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, and the Cochrane Collaboration tool for randomized studies. The meta-analysis of proportions was conducted based on the prevalence data for malnutrition or nutritional deficiencies. The study is registered in PROSPERO under CRD number 42020175068. RESULTS: Sixty-seven articles (N = 453,804) published between 1986 and 2019 were included. Most of the articles presented a low risk of bias and no publication was excluded for quality reasons. The most widely used anthropometric index for diagnosing nutritional status was weight-to-age and the estimated prevalence of malnutrition was 40% (95% CI = 28.0-53.0). Nutrient deficiency was investigated by nine publications, with hypocalcemia and reduced serum concentrations of zinc, copper, and vitamin D being reported the most. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high rate of malnutrition in the population in this review, moreover, we suggest that some nutritional deficiencies are associated with food deficit and that the socio-economic and age factors of these children may relate with the poor nutritional outcome. This makes monitoring and personalized nutritional management necessary, in accordance with the characteristics and particularities of children with CP.

Impulse oscillometry in the assessment of children's lung function.

PURPOSE: To review available evidence in the literature on impulse oscillometry in the assessment of lung function in children with respiratory diseases, especially asthma. DATA COLLECTION: Research in the Medline, PubMed, and Lilacs databases, with the keywords forced oscillation, impulse oscillometry, asthma and impulse oscillometry. RESULTS: The Impulse Oscillometry System (IOS) allows the measurement of resistance and reactance of airways and is used as a diagnostic resource. A significant association between the findings of the IOS and those of spirometry is observed. In asthma, the IOS has already been used to assess the bronchodilator response and the therapeutic response to different drugs and has shown to be a sensitive technique to evaluate disease control. There are limitations to this assessment, such as children with attention deficit and in some cases it is difficult to interpret the results from a clinical point of view. CONCLUSION: The IOS is a useful tool for the measurement of the lung function of children. It is an easy test, although its interpretation is not straightforward.

Effect of biotin supplementation on milk yield of Girolando cows reared in a tropical climate.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of biotin supplementation on milk yield and the reproductive efficiency in Girolando cows. The study was conducted on a dairy farm located in central Brazil, between April 2012 and December 2016. Thirty-six Girolando cows in their first lactation were used. The cows were distributed in two treatment groups, each with equivalent weight distributions. Control treatment (CT) cows (n = 18) received a diet without any supplemental biotin, whereas biotin treatment (BT) cows (n = 18) received a diet supplemented with 20 mg/day of biotin during lactation. Biotin supplementation caused a significant increase (p = 0.001) in milk yield in the second lactation, and a trend (p = 0.09) toward higher average production during the three lactations was evaluated. There was no statistically significant difference between the treatments in terms of reproductive efficiency. In conclusion, biotin supplementation (20 mg/day) during lactation for Girolando cows reared in a tropical climate is able to increase milk yield, but does not improve reproductive efficiency.

Using the method of triads in the validation of a food frequency questionnaire to assess the consumption of fatty acids in adults.

BACKGROUND: It is of great value to develop valid instruments to estimate food consumption; for this purpose, the triads method has been applied in validation studies of dietary intake to evaluate the correlation between three measurements [food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), reference method and biomarker]. The main aim of the present study was to validate a FFQ for Brazilian adults by means of the method of triads by estimating the ingestion of total fatty acids based on the level of saturation. METHODS: The present study enrolled 152 Brazilian adults of both sexes, who were residents in the city of Viçosa, Brazil. The ingestion of total saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, trans, linoleic and linolenic fatty acids was assessed by means of a FFQ, two food records, and biomarkers, which were detected by gas chromatography. The validation coefficients were calculated using the method of triads and concordance was determined by Kappa statistics. RESULTS: The FFQ was considered an adequate dietary method, because, based on the validation coefficients, it estimates the intake of total fat (0.84), as well as linolenic (0.90) and linoleic acids (0.31). A high concordance rate was confirmed for all nutrients assessed by the FFQ and food records. Regarding the biomarkers, linolenic acid and linoleic acid presented greater concordance. CONCLUSIONS: According to the validation coefficients, the FFQ precisely estimated total fat, linolenic acid and linoleic acid contents.

B-cell subsets imbalance and reduced expression of CD40 in ataxia-telangiectasia patients.

BACKGROUND: Ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is a well-known primary immunodeficiency with recurrent sinopulmonary infections and variable abnormalities in both the humoral and cellular immune system. Dysfunctions in immunoglobulin production, reduced number of B cells, and B-cell receptor excision circles copies have been reported. We aimed to understand the immunological mechanisms involving the humoral compartment in AT patients by analysing peripheral blood B cells subsets, B-T lymphocyte cooperation through the expression of CD40 and CD40 ligand (CD40L), and cytokines involved in class-switch recombination production. METHODS: We compared the proportion of B-cell subsets, the expression of CD40/CD40L, and the plasma levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ of 18 AT patients and 15 healthy age-sex-matched controls using flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found that some steps in peripheral B cell development were altered in AT with a pronounced reduction of cell-surface CD40 expression. The proportions of transitional and naïve-mature B cells were reduced, whereas CD21-low, natural effector memory, IgM-only memory, and IgG atypical memory B cells were present in a higher proportion. CONCLUSIONS: These findings revealed a disturbed B-cell homeostasis with unconventional maturation of B lymphocyte memory cells, which can explain the consequent impairment of humoral immunity.

Association between bovine digital dermatitis and annual periods of lower pluviometric precipitation in Central Brazil.

We aimed to follow the epidemiologic evolution of bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) and other podal diseases grouped in a dairy farm in Central Brazil between the years 2010 and 2016. This study was carried out in a farm in Jataí, Goiás, Central Brazil, where the prevalence data of bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) and other podal diseases, as well as the composition, history, and management of the herd, was collected. We analyzed the collected data into the two annual pluviometric precipitation values in Central Brazil: rainy season and dry season. The cumulative frequency for comparison of prevalence between seasons throughout the years was calculated from 2011 to 2016. The comparison was carried out by post hoc chi-square test with the Bonferroni correction adopting a level of significance of 5% (p < 0.05). BDD was not diagnosed at the property in 2010; however, the disease became endemic from 2011, which coincides with the arrival of new animals to the herd. The comparison of the accumulated frequencies for prevalence of the diseases in the herd between 2011 and 2016 revealed BDD, as well as the grouped nutritional and metabolic foot diseases, has the highest prevalence in the period of lower annual precipitation in Central Brazil, which occurs between May and October. For a better control of BDD, we recommend greater attention in cattle management in the dry season of the year in Brazil, as well as in any other place in the world in which rainfall is seasonal.

Vitamin E nanoemulsion activity on stored red blood cells.

BACKGROUND: Stored red blood cells (RBCs) undergo numerous changes that have been termed RBC storage lesion, which can be related to oxidative damage. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant, acting on cell lipids. Thus, this study aimed to investigate vitamin E activity on stored RBCs. METHODS: We prepared a vitamin E nanoemulsion that was added to RBC units and stored at 4 °C. Controls, without vitamin E, were kept under the same conditions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was monitored for up to 35 days of storage. RBC elasticity was also evaluated using an optical tweezer system. RESULTS: Vitamin E-treated samples presented a significant decrease in ROS production. Additionally, the elastic constant for vitamin E-treated RBCs did not differ from the control. CONCLUSION: Vitamin E decreased the amount of ROS in stored RBCs. Because vitamin E acts on lipid oxidation, results suggest that protein oxidation should also be considered a key factor for erythrocyte elastic properties. Thus, further studies combining vitamin E with protein antioxidants deserve attention, aiming to better preserve overall stored RBC properties.

Assessment of genetic diversity of a native population of Eplingiella fruticosa: a plant with therapeutic potential.

Eplingiella fruticosa (Salzm. ex Benth.) Harley & J.F.B. Pastore, ex Hyptis fruticosa Salzm. ex Benth. is an aromatic and medicinal plant of the family Lamiaceae, found mainly in regions with intense anthropic activity. Information on the genetic diversity of this species is scarce. However, it can be assessed using molecular markers that identify the level of diversity among phenotypically identical individuals. The present study aimed to characterize the genetic diversity of a native population of E. fruticosa from the State of Sergipe using ISSR molecular markers. Samples of 100 plants were collected in 11 municipalities of the State of Sergipe and analyzed using eight ISSR primers, resulting in 72 informative bands. The cluster analysis obtained using the neighbor joining method resulted in three groups: Group I consisted of 50 plants, mainly from the municipalities of Areia Branca, Estância, Japaratuba, Moita Bonita, Pirambu, and Salgado; Group II was formed by 21 plants, with nine representatives from the municipality of Itaporanga d'Ajuda and 13 representatives from other municipalities; Group III was composed by 29 plants, being represented mainly by the municipalities of Malhada dos Bois and São Cristóvão. The smallest genetic distance occurred between plants EPF94 and EPF96 (0.250), and the greatest distance occurred between plants EPF50 and EPF96 (0.9778). The Shannon index had a mean value of 0.42, and diversity was considered moderate. Heterozygosity had a mean value of 0.267 and was considered low. Polymorphic information content (0.253) was considered moderately informative. Genetic diversity of E. fruticosa plants was intermediate, and the results of the present study can assist in the conservation and use of the genetic resources of this species.

Effect of selenium supplementation on semen characteristics of Brazil's ram.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of oral supplementation with selenium (Se) upon ram sperm parameters. Thirty rams managed in stall under intensive system were used and divided into five groups (six animals per group) as follows: control group (G1) mineral mixture supplementation without Se, group 2 (G2) mineral mixture supplemented with 5 mg/kg Se, group 3 (G3) supplemented with 10 mg/kg Se, group 4 (G4) supplemented with 15 mg/kg Se and group 5 (G5) supplemented with 20 mg/kg Se. For each group, there was an adjustment period of 14 days. The experimental period was 350 days. Every 56 days, the animals were weighed and semen samples were collected by electroejaculation. Semen analysis included volume, mass moviment, total motility, vigour, concentration and morphology. For plasmatic and acrosomal membrane integrity evaluation and mitochondrial membrane potential were used a combination of fluorescent probes. Differences between means values obtained by analysis of variance were verified by Tukey test with 5% probability. There was no statistical difference between treatment groups in relation to volume, mass moviment, total motility, vigour, concentration, plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity (p > .05). Sperm morphology was different between treatment groups, the G1 (0 mg of selenium) had the highest percentage of major defects (11.11 ± 1.11a ; p < .05). It was concluded that selenium decrease the percentage of sperm defects and did not directly influence on ram sperm volume, mass moviment, total motility, vigour, concentration and membrane integrity.

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy: identification of novel variants and expansion of clinical spectrum.

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) is an autosomal recessive disorder with two major subtypes. Variants in AGPAT2 result in CGL type 1 with milder manifestations, whereas BSCL2 variants cause CGL type 2 with more severe features. Muscle hypertrophy caused by lack of adipose tissue is present early in life in CGL patients. Our aim was to investigate 10 CGL patients from 7 different countries and report genotype-phenotype relationships. Genetic analysis identified disease-causing variants in AGPAT2 (five patients) and in BSCL2 (five patients), including three novel variants; c.134C>A (p.Ser45*), c.216C>G (p.Tyr72*) in AGPAT2 and c.458C>A (p.Ser153*) in BSCL2. We also report possible novel clinical features such as anemia, breast enlargement, steatorrhea, intraventricular hemorrhage and nephrolithiasis in CGL patients. Generalized lipodystrophy and muscular hypertrophy were the only features in all of our patients. Hepatomegaly was the second common feature. Some manifestations were exclusively noticed in our CGL2 patients; hypertrichosis, high-pitched voice and umbilical hernia. Bone cysts and history of seizures were noticed only in CGL1 patients. The findings of this study expand our knowledge of genotype-phenotype correlations in CGL patients. These results have important clinical applications in diagnosis and management of the CGL patients as well as in genetic counseling in families at-risk.

Genetic diversity and flooding survival in Aegiphila sellowiana (Lamiaceae), a typical tree species from upland riparian forests.

Saplings of Aegiphila sellowiana were submitted to flooding and analysis of genetic diversity in order to investigate flooding tolerance as well as its genetic determination. This response is important because it means that some lines could be planted in degraded riparian areas. Leaves were sampled from each plant, and they were submitted to different flooding periods. Mortality of saplings was 40, 80, 50, 53.3, 33.3, and 33.3% in flooding for 15, 18, 25, 50, 80 days, and flooding for 50 days followed by re-aeration for 30 days, respectively. From the total number of flooded plants, 46.7% died in the first seven days of treatment, while 53.3% survived the flooding. The percentage of polymorphic loci (P(p)), Nei's genetic diversity (H) and the Shannon index (I) were slightly higher for the group that survived the stress of flooding (surviving: P(p) (%) = 67.48, H = 0.184, I = 0.287; not surviving: P(p) (%) = 66.67, H = 0.165, I = 0.261). Analysis of molecular variance showed that 5.88% of the genetic variability was due to the differences between groups of plants surviving and not surviving flooding, while 94.12% was due to genetic differences between individuals within these groups. Similar results were obtained by principal coordinate analysis. Based on these results, we can assume the existence of environment-specific genotypes and the genetic determination of flooding tolerance in A. sellowiana. Thus, some lines of A. sellowiana could be used in the reforestation of riparian habitats, especially in uplands along riverbanks.

Curative-Intent Radiotherapy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck in Sri Lanka: The Impact of Radiotherapy Technique on Survival.

AIMS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) treated with curative-intent radiotherapy at the National Cancer Institute of Sri Lanka to determine the impact of the treatment technique on disease-free survival (DFS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: SCCHN patients treated with radical radiotherapy or adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy from 2016 to 2017 were included in the study. Data on the following variables were collected by reviewing clinical and radiotherapy treatment records: age, gender, tumour site, stage, time to delivery of radiotherapy, use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, use of concurrent radiosensitising chemotherapy and treatment technique. DFS, defined as the time to death, tumour recurrence or loss to follow-up, was the primary end point and outcomes were compared between patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in linear accelerators and those treated with conventional radiotherapy in cobalt teletherapy units. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out on known prognostic variables. RESULTS: In total, 408 patients were included in the study, with 138 (34%) being treated with IMRT in the linear accelerator. More than 75% of patients were of stage III or IV at diagnosis. The 2-year DFS of the whole cohort was 25% (95% confidence interval 21-30%). Patients treated with IMRT in the linear accelerator had a superior DFS in comparison with those treated with conventional radiotherapy in the cobalt teletherapy units (P < 0.001, hazard ratio 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.5-0.82). Higher stage, cobalt treatment and use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy were adversely associated with DFS on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of patients with SCCHN treated with curative-intent radiotherapy in Sri Lanka had locally advanced disease and DFS was superior in patients treated with IMRT in the linear accelerator.

Evidence of ecotypic differentiation between populations of the tree species Parapiptadenia rigida due to flooding.

The tree species Parapiptadenia rigida, native to southern South America, is frequently used in reforestation of riverbanks in Brazil. This tree is also a source of gums, tannins and essential oils, and it has some medicinal uses. We investigated flooding tolerance and genetic diversity in two populations of P. rigida; one of them was naturally exposed to flooding. Plants derived from seeds collected from each population were submitted to variable periods of experimental waterlogging and submergence. Waterlogging promoted a decrease in biomass and structural adjustments, such as superficial roots with aerenchyma and hypertrophied lenticels, that contribute to increase atmospheric oxygen intake. Plants that were submerged had an even greater reduction in biomass and a high mortality rate (40%). The two populations varied significantly in their RAPD marker profiles, in their ability to produce aerenchyma when waterlogged and to survive when submerged, suggesting ecotypic differentiation between them. Hence, the seasonal flooding that has been challenging the tropical riparian forest appears to be genetically modifying the P. rigida populations exposed to it by selecting individuals with increased ability to live under this condition.

Biomechanical and biochemical investigation of erythrocytes in late stage human leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, which can cause lipid changes in the erythrocyte membrane. Optical tweezers were used to characterize rheological changes in erythrocytes from patients with leptospirosis in the late stage. Biochemical methods were also used for quantification of plasma lipid, erythrocyte membrane lipid, and evaluation of liver function. Our data showed that the mean elastic constant of erythrocytes from patients with leptospirosis was around 67% higher than the control (healthy individuals), indicating that patient's erythrocytes were less elastic. In individuals with leptospirosis, several alterations in relation to control were observed in the plasma lipids, however, in the erythrocyte membrane, only phosphatidylcholine showed a significant difference compared to control, increasing around 41%. With respect to the evaluation of liver function of individuals with leptospirosis, there was a significant increase in levels of alanine transaminase (154%) and aspartate transaminase (150%), whereas albumin was 43.8% lower than control (P<0.01). The lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase fractional activity was 3.6 times lower in individuals with leptospirosis than in the healthy individuals (P<0.01). The decrease of the erythrocyte elasticity may be related to the changes of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids composition caused by disturbances that occur during human leptospirosis, with phosphatidylcholine being a strong candidate in the erythrocyte rheological changes.

Differences in methane production, yield and intensity and its effects on metabolism of dairy heifers.

The effects of divergent phenotypic classification in crossbreed Holstein × Gyr dairy heifers for methane emissions in relation to performance, digestibility, energy and nitrogen partition, blood metabolites and temperature of body surface were evaluated. Thirty-five heifers were classified as high and low emission for CH4 production (g/day), yield (g/kg dry matter intake) and intensity (g/kg average daily gain). Digestibility was evaluated by total collection of feces and urine. Gas exchanges were obtained in open-circuit respiratory chambers. A completely randomized design was used and divergent groups were compared by Fisher's test. No differences were found in intake traits between groups of CH4 production and intensity. The low yield group had higher intake. For digestibility and temperature at different body sites were no differences between variables. High production group had higher energy losses as methane and heat production. Low intensity group had higher digestible energy, energy balance and ratio between metabolizable and digestible energy. Urinary nitrogen was 14.3% lower for low production group. There was a difference between methane yield divergent groups for nitrogen intake, digestible and retained. Energy and nitrogen partitioning traits are correlated to the animals divergent for methane production and yield. The low production group presented lower blood insulin concentration. It was not possible to identify divergent animals for CH4 emission using the infrared thermography technique.

Physical properties of films based on pectin and babassu coconut mesocarp.

The objective of this research was to study the physical properties, water sorption, thermal and structure of films made from citrus pectin (CP), babassu coconut mesocarp (BCM) and glycerol (G). Seventeen formulations were prepared according to a central compound rotational design combining different proportions of the materials and evaluating the films produced according to their moisture contents, solubility, thicknesses and water vapor permeability. The results showed a direct relationship between the composition of the film and each physical property, providing films with unique mechanical characteristics and barrier properties. In the second phase, the films were reformulated, maintaining the proportions of CP and BCM constant and altering the G content. The results showed films with permeable structures, thus favoring the use of high drying temperatures (up to 70 °C) for the confection of films, without altering their physical and structural properties.

Cardiac function and intracellular Ca2+ handling proteins are not impaired by high-saturated-fat diet-induced obesity.

Obesity is often associated with changes in cardiac function; however, the mechanisms responsible for functional abnormalities have not yet been fully clarified. Considering the lack of information regarding high-saturated-fat diet-induced obesity, heart function, and the proteins involved in myocardial calcium (Ca2+) handling, the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that this dietary model of obesity leads to cardiac dysfunction resulting from alterations in the regulatory proteins of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Male Wistar rats were distributed into two groups: control (C, n=18; standard diet) and obese (Ob, n=19; high-saturated-fat diet), which were fed for 33 weeks. Cardiac structure and function were evaluated using echocardiographic and isolated papillary muscle analyses. Myocardial protein expressions of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, phospholamban (PLB), PLB serine-16 phosphorylation, PLB threonine-17 phosphorylation, ryanodine receptor, calsequestrin, Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, and L-type Ca2+ channel were assessed by western blot. Obese rats presented 104% increase in the adiposity index (C: 4.5±1.4 vs Ob: 9.2±1.5%) and obesity-related comorbidities compared to control rats. The left atrium diameter (C: 5.0±0.4 vs Ob: 5.5±0.5 mm) and posterior wall shortening velocity (C: 36.7±3.4 vs Ob: 41.8±3.8 mm/s) were higher in the obese group than in the control. The papillary muscle function was similar between the groups at baseline and after inotropic and lusitropic maneuvers. Obesity did not lead to changes in myocardial Ca2+ handling proteins expression. In conclusion, the hypothesis was not confirmed, since the high-saturated-fat diet-induced obese rats did not present cardiac dysfunction or impaired intracellular Ca2+ handling proteins.

Helminth Parasites of the Lizard Nothobachia ablephara (Gymnophthalmidae) in Caatinga Areas from the Sertão of Brazil.

The lizard Nothobachia ablephara is endemic to dune areas and sandy soils adjacent to the São Francisco River in semiarid northeastern Brazil. Forty-nine lizard specimens were collected in 2 Caatinga areas in the municipality of Petrolina in Pernambuco state. Three gastrointestinal helminth taxa were identified, the nematodes Parapharyngodon alvarengai and Physaloptera sp. and the cestode Oochoristica sp. Nothobachia ablephara showed low parasite richness, but high levels of infection by P. alvarengai. There were no significant differences between the parasitism rates of the 2 study areas or between male and female lizards. This is the first study on parasitism in N. ablephara, thereby increasing knowledge of parasite fauna that infect gymnophthalmid lizards in the Sertão of Brazil.