Wood inspired biobased nanocomposite films composed of xylans, lignosulfonates and cellulose nanofibers for active food packaging.

The growing concerns on environmental pollution and sustainability have raised the interest on the development of functional biobased materials for different applications, including food packaging, as an alternative to the fossil resources-based counterparts, currently available in the market. In this work, functional wood inspired biopolymeric nanocomposite films were prepared by solvent casting of suspensions containing commercial beechwood xylans, cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and lignosulfonates (magnesium or sodium), in a proportion of 2:5:3 wt%, respectively. All films presented good homogeneity, translucency, and thermal stability up to 153 °C. The incorporation of CNF into the xylan/lignosulfonates matrix provided good mechanical properties to the films (Young's modulus between 1.08 and 3.79 GPa and tensile strength between 12.75 and 14.02 MPa). The presence of lignosulfonates imparted the films with antioxidant capacity (DPPH radical scavenging activity from 71.6 to 82.4 %) and UV barrier properties (transmittance ≤19.1 % (200-400 nm)). Moreover, the films obtained are able to successfully delay the browning of packaged fruit stored over 7 days at 4 °C. Overall, the obtained results show the potential of using low-cost and eco-friendly resources for the development of sustainable active food packaging materials.

Is the risk of muscle injuries higher in the finals than in previous rounds of the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m sprints of international athletics championships?

OBJECTIVES: To compare incidence rates of lower limb muscle injuries (LLMIs) and hamstring muscle injuries (HMIs) in 100 m, 200 m and 400 m sprints disciplines between finals, semi-finals and heats of international athletics championships. DESIGN: Prospective total population study. METHODS: We analysed in-competition LLMIs and HMIs of female and male athletes during eight championships between 2009 and 2022. RESULTS: LLMI and HMI incidence rates in 100 m finals were significantly higher than in heats and semi-finals for female and male athletes. HMI incidence rates were significantly higher in 200 m finals than heats and semi-finals for male athletes. CONCLUSIONS: LLMI and HMI risk was higher in finals compared to previous rounds during international athletics championships.

Bone cement in ossicular chain reconstruction: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the hearing outcomes of ossicular chain reconstruction using bone cement versus other materials such as prostheses and autografts. METHODS: This study included articles that compared hearing outcomes in patients with conductive hearing loss who underwent stapes revision surgery or chronic otitis media surgery. A systematic search for articles from January 2000 to February 2022 was conducted in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Only articles in English were included. An effective postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) was defined as ≤20 dB. A bias assessment tool was developed according to Cochrane guidelines, and the chi-square test was used to evaluate the mean age of the samples. RESULTS: Of the 418 studies that met the selection criteria, only seven were eligible for this study, consisting of 187 patients in the bone cement group and 173 in the non-bone cement group. Ossiculoplasty using bone cement yielded significantly better results, with a combined odds ratio (OR) of 2.03 (95% CI: 1.16-3.55, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the effectiveness of bone cement in ossiculoplasty was greater than that of other materials in chronic otitis media surgery or stapes revision surgery, with a higher number of patients achieving ABG ≤20 dB.

Dois caminhos que se entrecruzam no jardim do conhecimento: Direito e Saúde / Two paths that intersect in the garden of knowledge: Law and Health / Dos caminos que se cruzan en el jardín del conocimiento: Derecho y Salud

O Direito Sanitário, que teve sua origem na elevação do direito à saúde ao status de direito fundamental pela Constituição Federal de 1988, representa uma notável evolução na interseção entre os campos jurídico e de saúde coletiva. O número atual do Cadernos Ibero-Americanos de Direito Sanitário apresenta um jardim bem cuidado e seus muitos caminhos­trilhados por meio das reflexões de ilustres pensadores do Direito e da Saúde Coletiva que contribuem com material inédito­oferecem o melhor do conhecimento.

The Health Law, which had its origin in the elevation of the right to health to the status of fundamental right by the Federal Constitution of 1988, represents a remarkable evolution in the intersection between the legal and collective health fields. The current issue of the Cadernos Ibero-Americanos de Direito Sanitário offers a well-kept garden and its many paths, trodden through the reflections of illustrious thinkers of Law and Public Health who contribute with unpublished material, offering the best of knowledge.

El Derecho Sanitario, que tuvo su origen en la elevación del derecho a la salud al estatus de derecho fundamental por la Constitución Federal de 1988, representa una notable evolución en la intersección entre los campos jurídico y de salud colectiva. El número actual del Cuadernos Iberoamericanos de Derecho Sanitario ofrece un jardín bien cuidado y sus muchos caminos, trillados por medio de las reflexiones de ilustres pensadores del Derecho y de la Salud Colectiva que aportan material inédito, ofreciendo lo mejor del conocimiento.

O Estado Regulador no direito à saúde: aspectos constitucionais da regulação / The Regulatory State in the right to health: constitutional aspects of regulation / El Estado Regulador en el derecho a la salud: aspectos constitucionales de la regulación

Objetivo: analisar os elementos gerais da regulação e o papel do Estado Regulador brasileiro com foco na salvaguarda dos direitos fundamentais, em especial do direito à saúde. Metodologia: a pesquisa apoiou-se no método dedutivo de René Descartes, utilizando, como premissas, os princípios gerais do direito, o ordenamento jurídico em torno do direito da saúde e do papel do Estado Regulador e a jurisprudência do Supremo Tribunal Federal relativa à vigilância sanitária. Resultados: a efetiva proteção da saúde, que envolve a garantia de que os cidadãos terão acesso a produtos e serviços de saúde seguros e eficazes, demanda uma estrutura regulatória sólida e devidamente reconhecida pelas instituições democráticas do país. O agente regulador deve interferir nas atividades econômicas que destoam do que se considera contrário ao interesse público e, sobretudo, no que concerne ao direito fundamental à saúde. Conclusão: a atuação independente e bem fundamentada das agências reguladoras é essencial para garantir a segurança e o bem-estar dos cidadãos em matéria de saúde.

Objective: to analyze general elements of regulation and the role of the Brazilian Regulatory State, focusing on the safeguarding of fundamental rights, especially the right to health. Methodology: the research was based on the deductive method of René Descartes using, as premises, the general principles of law, the legal system around health law and the role of the Regulatory State and the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court on health surveillance. Results: effective health protection, which involves ensuring that citizens will have access to safe and effective health products and services, demands a solid regulatory framework duly recognized by the country's democratic institutions. The regulatory agent must interfere in economic activities that deviate fromwhat is considered contrary to the public interest and, above all, with regard to the fundamental right to health. Conclusion: the independent and well-founded action of regulatory agencies is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens in health matters.

Objetivo: analizar los elementos generales de la regulación y el papel del Estado Regulador brasileño, con foco en la salvaguarda de los derechos fundamentales, en especial del derecho a la salud. Metodología: la investigación se apoyó en el método deductivo de René Descartes, utilizando, como premisas, los principios generales del derecho, el ordenamiento jurídico en torno al derecho de la salud y al papel del Estado Regulador y la jurisprudencia del Supremo Tribunal Federal relativa a la vigilancia sanitaria. Resultados: la efectiva protección de la salud, que implica la garantía de que los ciudadanos tendrán acceso a productos y servicios de salud seguros y eficaces, demanda una estructura regulatoria sólida y debidamente reconocida por las instituciones democráticas del país. El agente regulador debe interferir en las actividades económicas que se aparten de lo que se considera contrario al interés público y, sobre todo, al derecho fundamental a la salud. Conclusión: la actuación independiente y bien fundamentada de las agencias reguladoras es esencial para garantizar la seguridad y el bienestar de los ciudadanos en materia de salud.

Arranjos político-jurídico-sanitários na Espanha e no Brasil sobre requisição de leitos de UTI na pandemia: um estudo comparado / Political-legal-sanitary arrangements in Spain and in Brazil regarding the request for ICU beds duringthe pandemic: a comparative study / Acuerdos político-jurídico-sanitarios en España y Brasil sobre requisición de camas de UCI en la pandemia: un estudio comparado

Objetivo: fazer um estudo comparado entre a Espanha e o Brasil sobre os arranjos político-jurídico-sanitários para a requisição de leitos de UTI pelos sistemas de saúde espanhol e brasileiro durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Metodologia: foi realizado estudo descritivo-comparativo com base em variantes pré-selecionadas e analisadas mediante o método funcionalista. Resultados: embora os países tenham muitas semelhanças no perfil organizativo dos sistemas de saúde, há possibilidades legais na Espanha que não se verificam no arco normativo brasileiro que permitam decisões centralizadoras em saúde. Conclusão: diante de uma emergência de saúde, sob a declaração de estado de alarme, o quadro constitucional espanhol permite que as autoridades de saúde dos entes subnacionais (Comunidades Autônomas)permaneçam sob as ordens diretas do Ministro da Saúde, o que não ocorreno sistema federativo brasileiro.

Objective: to carry out a comparative study between Spain and Brazil on the political-legal-sanitary arrangements for the requisition of ICU beds by the Spanish and Brazilian health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: a descriptive-comparative study was carried out based on pre-selected variants and analyzed using the functionalist method. Results:although the countries have many similarities in the organizational profile of the health system, there are legal possibilities in Spain that are not found inthe Brazilian regulatory frameworkthat allowcentralizing decisions in health. Conclusion: in the eventof a health emergency, under the declaration of a state of alarm, the Spanish constitutional framework enables the health authorities of the subnational entities (Autonomous Communities) to remainunder the direct orders of the Minister of Health, which is not the case in the Brazilian federative system.

Objetivo: realizar un estudio comparativo entre España y Brasil sobre los acuerdos político-jurídico-sanitarios para la requisición de camas de UCI por parte de los sistemas sanitarios español y brasileño durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Metodología: se realizó un estudio descriptivo-comparado basado envariantes preseleccionadas y analizadas mediante el método funcionalista. Resultados: aunque los países tienen muchas similitudes en el perfil organizativo del sistema de salud, existen posibilidades legales en España que no se encuentran en el marco normativo brasileño, y que permiten decisiones centralizadas en salud. Conclusión:ante una emergencia sanitaria, bajo la declaración de un estado de alarma, el marco constitucional español permite que las autoridades sanitarias de las entidades subnacionales (Comunidades Autónomas) queden bajo las órdenes directas del Ministro de Salud, lo que no ocurre en el sistema federativo brasileño.

Reprogramming iPSCs to study age-related diseases: Models, therapeutics, and clinical trials.

The unprecedented rise in life expectancy observed in the last decades is leading to a global increase in the ageing population, and age-associated diseases became an increasing societal, economic, and medical burden. This has boosted major efforts in the scientific and medical research communities to develop and improve therapies to delay ageing and age-associated functional decline and diseases, and to expand health span. The establishment of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by reprogramming human somatic cells has revolutionised the modelling and understanding of human diseases. iPSCs have a major advantage relative to other human pluripotent stem cells as their obtention does not require the destruction of embryos like embryonic stem cells do, and do not have a limited proliferation or differentiation potential as adult stem cells. Besides, iPSCs can be generated from somatic cells from healthy individuals or patients, which makes iPSC technology a promising approach to model and decipher the mechanisms underlying the ageing process and age-associated diseases, study drug effects, and develop new therapeutic approaches. This review discusses the advances made in the last decade using iPSC technology to study the most common age-associated diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, brain stroke, cancer, diabetes, and osteoarthritis.

Relationship between the Presence of Nystagmus in the Fourth Position of the Epley Maneuver and Treatment Efficacy for PSC BPPV: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a specific nystagmus observed during the Epley maneuver can enable immediate reassessment of patients, eliminating the need for deferred diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Tertiary center. PATIENTS: Patients with posterior semicircular canal (PSC) benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) diagnosed by the Dix-Hallpike test between March 2022 and March 2023. INTERVENTIONS: All patients were treated with the Epley maneuver. The presence and the characteristics of the nystagmus were recorded in each of the four intermediate positions of the maneuver. Fifteen minutes later, all patients were reevaluated with the Dix-Hallpike test to determine the therapeutic success. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome of the Epley maneuver and its relationship with nystagmus characteristics during the four positions of the maneuver. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients (77.3% female) were included in the study, of which 66.7% exhibited right PSC BPPV. Therapeutic success of the first Epley maneuver was 74.2%. Almost one third (30.3%) of patients presented with nystagmus in the second and third positions of the Epley maneuver. All patients with down-beating and torsional nystagmus toward the opposite direction of the diagnostic nystagmus in the fourth position of the Epley maneuver needed a second rehabilitative maneuver. None of the patients without nystagmus in this fourth position remained with active BPPV after the first Epley maneuver. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of nystagmus in the fourth position of the Epley maneuver appears to have a high predictive value, reducing waiting time for a second diagnostic maneuver. Its absence may exempt subsequent reevaluation.

Measuring healthy ageing: current and future tools.

Human ageing is a complex, multifactorial process characterised by physiological damage, increased risk of age-related diseases and inevitable functional deterioration. As the population of the world grows older, placing significant strain on social and healthcare resources, there is a growing need to identify reliable and easy-to-employ markers of healthy ageing for early detection of ageing trajectories and disease risk. Such markers would allow for the targeted implementation of strategies or treatments that can lessen suffering, disability, and dependence in old age. In this review, we summarise the healthy ageing scores reported in the literature, with a focus on the past 5 years, and compare and contrast the variables employed. The use of approaches to determine biological age, molecular biomarkers, ageing trajectories, and multi-omics ageing scores are reviewed. We conclude that the ideal healthy ageing score is multisystemic and able to encompass all of the potential alterations associated with ageing. It should also be longitudinal and able to accurately predict ageing complications at an early stage in order to maximize the chances of successful early intervention.

How can we modulate aging through nutrition and physical exercise? An epigenetic approach.

The World Health Organization predicts that by 2050, 2.1 billion people worldwide will be over 60 years old, a drastic increase from only 1 billion in 2019. Considering these numbers, strategies to ensure an extended "healthspan" or healthy longevity are urgently needed. The present study approaches the promotion of healthspan from an epigenetic perspective. Epigenetic phenomena are modifiable in response to an individual's environmental exposures, and therefore link an individual's environment to their gene expression pattern. Epigenetic studies demonstrate that aging is associated with decondensation of the chromatin, leading to an altered heterochromatin structure, which promotes the accumulation of errors. In this review, we describe how aging impacts epigenetics and how nutrition and physical exercise can positively impact the aging process, from an epigenetic point of view. Canonical histones are replaced by histone variants, concomitant with an increase in histone post-translational modifications. A slight increase in DNA methylation at promoters has been observed, which represses transcription of previously active genes, in parallel with global genome hypomethylation. Aging is also associated with deregulation of gene expression - usually provided by non-coding RNAs - leading to both the repression of previously transcribed genes and to the transcription of previously repressed genes. Age-associated epigenetic events are less common in individuals with a healthy lifestyle, including balanced nutrition, caloric restriction and physical exercise. Healthy aging is associated with more tightly condensed chromatin, fewer PTMs and greater regulation by ncRNAs.

Quantifying indoor radon levels and determinants in schools: A case study in the radon-prone area Galicia-Norte de Portugal Euroregion.

Radon is a carcinogenic compound, and is particularly concerning in the education sector, where children and teachers may be exposed even longer than at home. Thus, this study intended to characterise radon in the indoor air of scholar environments in different provinces/districts of the Euroregion Galicia-Norte de Portugal. With a pioneering approach, this study evaluated the influence of specific factors/characteristics (location, type of management, construction material, season and floor within the building) and quantified their relative contribution to indoor radon levels. Radon was continuously monitored in 416 classrooms from school buildings located in urban and rural sites from different provinces/districts both in the regions of Galicia (A Coruña and Lugo provinces) and Portugal (Porto and Bragança districts), considering rooms for different age groups (from nursery schools to universities). Single and multivariate linear regression models were built considering the radon concentrations as the outcome variable and different room/building characteristics as predictor variables. Mean and median radon concentrations were 332 Bq·m-3 and 181 Bq·m-3, respectively. The radon concentrations observed are a public health concern, as almost 1/3 of the places monitored exceeded the reference limit value of the European legislation (300 Bq·m-3). Moreover, around 50 % of the indoor levels measured could be attributed to room/building characteristics: the building's location and the main construction material, as well as the occupants' age group, the floor within the building and the school's type of management (public/private). This study concluded that radon testing is needed in all school buildings and classrooms without exceptions. Thus, public administrations are urged to dedicate funds for testing, mitigation and public dissemination initiatives in schools. A special protocol for radon sampling in school buildings should also be developed.

Athletes' Opinions on Food Provision at European Athletics Championships: Implications for the Future.

In competitive events, athletes' performances can be affected by their food choices. In addition, nutrition labels are essential to sustain informed decisions and to allow athletes to comply with their dietary planning. Knowing what influences athletes' food choices will help to improve the food provision in future championships. Therefore, we aimed to study the factors influencing athletes' choices, their knowledge on nutrition labels, and their opinion on the food service at two European Athletics Championships. Questionnaires were completed by 339 athletes (57% males, 19.6 ± 1.3 years) competing at the 2019 European Athletics Under 20 and Under 23 Championships. Factors that may impact performance (time of the day and nutrient composition) were rated as important and very important by a higher percentage of athletes (78% and 74%, respectively) compared to the presence of teammates (32%) and the coach (23%). Among the athletes who knew what nutrition labels are (49%), 72% would like to have additional nutritional information in future championships. Furthermore, our study revealed that for most athletes (72%), food temperature is important or very important for food choices. Overall, food provision had positive results, but further research is needed to help organizers better tailor food provision to athletes' needs.

Development of a layered bacterial nanocellulose-PHBV composite for food packaging.

BACKGROUND: Most of the current materials used in food packaging are synthetic and non-degradable, raising environmental issues derived from the accumulation of plastics in landfills/waterways. The food industry increasingly needs eco-friendly sustainable materials that meet food-packaging requirements. Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), a biopolymer obtained by fermentation, offers very good mechanical properties and the ability to carry and deliver active substances. However, its water-vapor permeability is too high for food-packaging applications. In this work, a layered biodegradable composite based on BNC and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHBV) was produced, attempting to improve its overall barrier properties. Polyhydroxyalkanoate is a biopolymer with high degree of hydrophobicity and biodegradability, and is also obtained by fermentation. Wet BNC membranes produced by static culture were plasticized by impregnation of solutions of either glycerol (BNCgly ) or polyethylene glycol (MW 600) (BNCPEG ). The plasticized BNC was then coated with PHBV solution dissolved in formic acid, and oven dried at 148 °C. RESULTS: Overall, PHBV coating on plasticized BNC reduced water vapor permeability significantly (from 0.990 to 0.032 g.µm.m-2 .day-1 .Pa-1 ) under 50% relative humidity. It increased the hydrophobicity (contact angle from 10-40° to 80-90°) but decreased the stiffness (from 3.1 GPa to 1.3 Gpa) of the composite. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the mechanical and barrier properties of the layered composite obtained were considered suitable for food-packaging applications. The plasticizing (with glycerol or polyethylene glycol) of BNC significantly improved the mechanical performance and the PHBV coating reduced the water affinity (vapor and liquid state) on BNC. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

THOR is a targetable epigenetic biomarker with clinical implications in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of death among women worldwide. Early BC is potentially curable, but the mortality rates still observed among BC patients demonstrate the urgent need of novel and more effective diagnostic and therapeutic options. Limitless self-renewal is a hallmark of cancer, governed by telomere maintenance. In around 95% of BC cases, this process is achieved by telomerase reactivation through upregulation of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The hypermethylation of a specific region within the hTERT promoter, termed TERT hypermethylated oncological region (THOR) has been associated with increased hTERT expression in cancer. However, its biological role and clinical potential in BC have never been studied to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of THOR as a biomarker and explore the functional impact of THOR methylation status in hTERT upregulation in BC. RESULTS: THOR methylation status in BC was assessed by pyrosequencing on discovery and validation cohorts. We found that THOR is significantly hypermethylated in malignant breast tissue when compared to benign tissue (40.23% vs. 12.81%, P < 0.0001), differentiating malignant tumor from normal tissue from the earliest stage of disease. Using a reporter assay, the addition of unmethylated THOR significantly reduced luciferase activity by an average 1.8-fold when compared to the hTERT core promoter alone (P < 0.01). To further investigate its biological impact on hTERT transcription, targeted THOR demethylation was performed using novel technology based on CRISPR-dCas9 system and significant THOR demethylation was achieved. Cells previously demethylated on THOR region did not develop a histologic cancer phenotype in in vivo assays. Additional studies are required to validate these observations and to unravel the causality between THOR hypermethylation and hTERT upregulation in BC. CONCLUSIONS: THOR hypermethylation is an important epigenetic mark in breast tumorigenesis, representing a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in BC. We revealed that THOR acts as a repressive regulatory element of hTERT and that its hypermethylation is a relevant mechanism for hTERT upregulation in BC.

The Effect of Fire Smoke Exposure on Firefighters' Lung Function: A Meta-Analysis.

Firefighters are exposed to a range of harmful substances during firefighting. Exposure to fire smoke has been associated with a decrease in their lung function. However, the cause-effect relationship between those two factors is not yet demonstrated. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the potential associations between firefighters' occupational exposure and their lung function deterioration. Studies were identified from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct databases (August 1990-March 2021). The studies were included when reporting the lung function values of Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1) or Forced Vital Capacity (FVC). The meta-analyses were performed using the generic inverse variance in R software with a random-effects model. Subgroup analysis was used to determine if the lung function was influenced by a potential study effect or by the participants' characteristics. A total of 5562 participants from 24 studies were included. No significant difference was found between firefighters' predicted FEV1 from wildland, 97.64% (95% CI: 91.45-103.82%; I2 = 99%), and urban fires, 99.71% (95% CI: 96.75-102.67%; I2 = 98%). Similar results were found for the predicted FVC. Nevertheless, the mean values of firefighters' predicted lung function varied significantly among studies, suggesting many confounders, such as trials' design, statistical methods, methodologies applied, firefighters' daily exposure and career length, hindering an appropriate comparison between the studies.

Having an injury complaint during the four weeks before an international athletics ('track and field') championship more than doubles the risk of sustaining an injury during the respective championship: a cohort study on 1095 athletes during 7 international championships.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the association between pre-participation health status and in-championships injuries in a large dataset from seven international athletics championships, and to determine the health status of athletes during the four weeks before the start of international athletics championships. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: We used data collected from athletes of national teams with medical staff who participated i) in a pre-participation health survey (retrospective data collection) and ii) in an in-championships injury surveillance (prospective data collection) during seven international athletics championships (2013-2018). We performed a binomial logistic regression with in-championship injury (yes/no) as the dependent variable and sex, age, discipline (explosive/endurance), type of championships (outdoor/indoor) and pre-participation injury complaint (yes/no) and pre-participation illness complaint (yes/no) as independent variables, with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: Out of the 1095 athletes included 31.2% reported an injury complaint during the 4 weeks before the championships and 21.6% an illness complaint. The univariate model showed that discipline, type of championships and pre-participation injury complaints (OR = 2.57, 95%CI: 1.66 to 3.97) were significantly associated with in-championships injuries, and the multivariable model showed that type of championships and pre-participation injury complaints (OR = 2.64, 95%CI: 1.60 to 4.36) remained significantly associated with in-championships injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Our present study shows that an injury complaint during the four weeks before an international athletics championship significantly increased risk of sustaining an injury during the following championship, which was reported by about one third of athletes with differences between sex and disciplines.

Halophyte Plants as Potential Sources of Anticancer Agents: A Comprehensive Review.

Salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) are widely distributed worldwide in several environments such as coastal salt marshes, sand dunes, and inland deserts. To cope with the harsh conditions that characterize those habitats, which include high salinity and radiation levels, such plants have developed morphological and physiological traits, the latter including the synthesis and accumulation of important secondary metabolites such as alkaloids and polyphenols. While essential in maintaining plant homeostasis, these compounds are highly valued in the medical field for the treatment of several human diseases, including cancer. Cancer is one of the most life-threatening disorders worldwide, which accentuates the need to improve current cancer therapies and minimize potential adverse secondary side-effects. In this context, the pharmacological evaluation of natural compounds has attracted growing interest since nature has already provided some important anti-cancer drugs. This review compiles, for the first time, research regarding the anticancer activity of halophytes from different families, including, whenever possible, the bioactive molecules involved in such therapeutical properties along with possible mechanisms of action. The introduction section provides some pertinent information regarding cancer and a summary of the most important characteristics of halophytes. The next section gives information regarding the in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic properties of several halophyte species, grouped by families, including contents in bioactive metabolites and proposed modes of action, if possible. Lastly, the conclusion presents the most relevant metabolites and/or promising species and extracts that could be further explored in anticancer drug research.

Atypically Located Solitary Neurofibroma of the Ulnar Nerve as Inaugural Presentation of a New Genetic Variant of Neurofibromatosis Type 1: A Case Report.

We report the case of a 34-year-old woman with hypothenar pain due to a solitary neurofibroma (NF) of the ulnar nerve, with an extrafascicular location, outside Guyon canal, with no clinical evidence of associated neurologic impairment, who was successfully treated with surgical resection. The identification of this isolated tumor led to the diagnosis of a new genetic variant of neurofibromatosis type 1 after genome sequencing. At the 1-year follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic without recurrence or other peripheral nerve sheath tumors. A solitary NF of a deep-seated nerve is extremely rare, especially in the context of neurofibromatosis type 1. To our knowledge, there are no reports of a NF of the ulnar nerve with an extraneural location. In the presence of a solitary NF related to a deep-seated peripheral nerve, neurofibromatosis type 1 should always be excluded.

Hamstring Muscle Injuries and Hamstring Specific Training in Elite Athletics (Track and Field) Athletes.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe hamstring muscle injury (HMI) history and hamstring specific training (HST) in elite athletes. A secondary aim was to analyse the potential factors associated with in-championships HMI. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study to collect data before and during the 2018 European Athletics Championships. Injury and illness complaints during the month before the championship, HMI history during the entire career and the 2017-18 season, HST (strengthening, stretching, core stability, sprinting), and in-championship HMI were recorded. We calculated proportions of athletes with HMI history, we compared HST according to sex and disciplines with Chi2 tests or ANOVA, and analysed factors associated with in-championship HMI using simple model logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the 357 included athletes, 48% reported at least one HMI during their career and 24% during the 2017-18 season. Of this latter group, 30.6% reported reduced or no participation in athletics' training or competition at the start of the championship due to the hamstring injury. For HST, higher volumes of hamstring stretching and sprinting were reported for disciplines requiring higher running velocities (i.e., sprints, hurdles, jumps, combined events and middle distances). Five in-championship HMIs were recorded. The simple model analysis showed a lower risk of sustaining an in-championships HMI for athletes who performed more core (lumbo-pelvic) stability training (OR = 0.49 (95% CI: 0.25 to 0.89), p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Our present study reports that HMI is a characteristic of the athletics athletes' career, especially in disciplines involving sprinting. In these disciplines, athletes were performing higher volumes of hamstring stretching and sprinting than in other disciplines. Further studies should be conducted to better understand if and how HST are protective approaches for HMI in order to improve HMI risk reduction strategies.

Metallopeptidades 2 and 9 genes epigenetically modulate equine endometrial fibrosis.

Endometrium type I (COL1) and III (COL3) collagen accumulation, periglandular fibrosis and mare infertility characterize endometrosis. Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) are involved in collagen turnover. Since epigenetic changes may control fibroproliferative diseases, we hypothesized that epigenetic mechanisms could modulate equine endometrosis. Epigenetic changes can be reversed and therefore extremely promising for therapeutic use. Methylation pattern analysis of a particular gene zone is used to detect epigenetic changes. DNA methylation commonly mediates gene repression. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate if the transcription of some genes involved in equine endometrosis was altered with endometrial fibrosis, and if the observed changes were epigenetically modulated, through DNA methylation analysis. Endometrial biopsies collected from cyclic mares were histologically classified (Kenney and Doig category I, n = 6; category IIA, n = 6; category IIB, n = 6 and category III, n = 6). Transcription of COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, MMP2, MMP9, TIMP1, and TIMP2 genes and DNA methylation pattern by pyrosequencing of COL1A1, MMP2, MMP9, TIMP1 genes were evaluated. Both MMP2 and MMP9 transcripts decreased with fibrosis, when compared with healthy endometrium (category I) (P < 0.05). TIMP1 transcripts were higher in category III, when compared to category I endometrium (P < 0.05). No differences were found for COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1 and TIMP2 transcripts between endometrial categories. There were higher methylation levels of (i) COL1A1 in category IIB (P < 0.05) and III (P < 0.01), when compared to category I; (ii) MMP2 in category III, when compared to category I (P < 0.001) and IIA (P < 0.05); and (iii) MMP9 in category III, when compared to category I and IIA (P < 0.05). No differences in TIMP1 methylation levels were observed between endometrial categories. The hypermethylation of MMP2 and MMP9, but not of COL1A1 genes, occurred simultaneously with a decrease in their mRNA levels, with endometrial fibrosis, suggesting that this hypermethylation is responsible for repressing their transcription. Our results show that endometrosis is epigenetically modulated by anti-fibrotic genes (MMP2 and MMP9) inhibition, rather than fibrotic genes activation and therefore, might be promising targets for therapeutic use.