Effect of arginine, glycine + serine concentrations, and guanidinoacetic acid supplementation in vegetable-based diets for chickens.

The study investigated guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation with varying dietary digestible arginine (Arg) and glycine+serine (Gly+Ser) concentrations in the starter phase, exploring respective carry-over effects on growth performance, blood chemistry, incidence of pectoral myopathies and proximate composition in broilers. A total of 2,800 one-day-old male broiler chicks were distributed in a central composite design with 2 factors and double experimental mesh, represented by supplementation or omission of 0.6 g per kg of GAA, with a central point represented by 107% of Arg and 147% of Gly+Ser, 4 factorial points (combinations of Arg/Gly+Ser concentrations: 96.4/132.5%; 117.6/132.5%; 96.4/161.5%, and 117.6/132.5%), and 4 axial points (combinations of axial points estimated for Arg and Gly+Ser, with the central points of 92/147%; 122/147%; 107/126.5, and 107/167.5%), totaling 18 treatments, 4 repetitions to factorial and axial points, 24 replicates to the central point, and 25 birds per pen. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) from d 1 to 10 had a linear response (P = 0.009) for the decreasing Arg content and a quadratic response (P = 0.047) for Gly+Ser concentrations. Broilers supplemented GAA had lower FCR compared with nonsupplemented groups from d 1 to 10 (P = 0.048) and d 1 to 42 (P = 0.026). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) exhibited increasing and decreasing linear effects as a function of Arg (P = 0.008) and Gly+Ser (P = 0.020) concentrations, respectively. Guanidinoacetic acid decreased serum AST (P = 0.028). Guanidinoacetic acid reduced moderate + severe (P = 0.039) and mild (P = 0.015) Wooden Breast scores. The occurrence of normal White Striping increased (P = 0.002), while severe score was reduced (P = 0.029) with GAA supplementation. In conclusion, increased digestible Arg:Lys and 14% and 6% above the recommendations (107% and 147%), respectively, provided improved FCR during the starter phase. Dietary GAA supplementation (0.6 g per kg) improved FCR, reduced severity of breast myopathies and appears to have reduced muscle damage in broilers fed plant-based diets.

Hydrocarbon composition of oils spilt on the Brazilian coast in 2019 and 2022.

The chemical composition of spilt oils from events that took place on the north-eastern coast of Brazil in 2019 and 2022 was investigated to better understand their sources, and post-spill processes. Oils from both events originated from different sources, based on their fingerprints, hydrocarbons composition and specific biomarkers, such as the C23 tricyclic terpane and oleanane. Despite the differences, the source rocks share similarities in paleoenvironments and depositional conditions and both oils suffered little weathering, mainly due to evaporation and dissolution. Our findings for 2019 spilt oil reinforce that it is a mixed product, enriched both in lighter n-alkanes and 25-norhopanes. Differently, the 2022 samples exhibited characteristics of a non-processed crude oil that originated from a paraffinic deposit in storage tanks. The molecular composition and diagnostic ratios reported for samples from these spill events help to establish baselines for ongoing monitoring of oil spills in marine ecosystems.

Alternative to antimicrobial growth promoters in the diets of broilers challenged with subclinical necrotic enteritis.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a disease of worldwide distribution, which affects young broilers and causes economic losses on a scale of 6 billion dollars per year. For decades, NE was controlled in poultry flocks by dietary administration of low doses of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs). However, an increase in NE incidence was noted after the AGP ban. This study aimed to compare the effect of an antibiotic (Enramycin) diet to a combination of sodium butyrate, hydrolyzed yeast, and zinc proteinate (ViligenTM) on broiler diets regarding performance, blood parameters, intestinal permeability, morphology and lesions, and carcass yield of broilers challenged with Eimeria spp. and Clostridium perfringens to simulate subclinical necrotic enteritis. A total of 1,150 one-day-old male broiler chickens with an initial average weight of 43.9 ± 0.65 g were allocated to 50 experimental pens. Animals were divided into 5 groups: Negative control (NC) without additives; Positive control (PC) with 0.12 g/ton of Enramycin (8%); V500, V1000, and V1500 with the addition of 500, 1.000, and 1.500 g/ton of Viligen, respectively. All animals were challenged by Eimeria spp. at 7 d of age and by C. perfringens at 17, 18, and 19 d for induction of subclinical NE. The broilers fed with all concentrations of Viligen showed similar performance, blood parameters, intestinal permeability, and carcass yield compared to PC broilers. However, NC broilers showed higher FCR compared to PC broilers from 1 to 33 d (1.42 vs. 1.39) (P = 0.048) and from 1 to 42 d (1.51 vs. 1.49) (P < 0.001). V1500 broilers had fewer intestinal lesions at 28 d when compared to the PC treatment (P < 0.05) and showed that higher Viligen inclusion resulted in lower intestinal damage. At 21 d, the V500 group showed higher intestinal morphology characteristics (VH:VD 4.9 vs. 3.5) compared to the PC treatment (P < 0.001). Thus, in this study, the dietary addition of Viligen to broilers challenged by an experimental model of subclinical NE resulted in lower intestinal damage and similar performance to that obtained by the addition of Enramycin.

Iron-Reduced Graphene Oxide Core-Shell Micromotors Designed for Magnetic Guidance and Photothermal Therapy under Second Near-Infrared Light.

Core-shell micro/nanomotors have garnered significant interest in biomedicine owing to their versatile task-performing capabilities. However, their effectiveness for photothermal therapy (PTT) still faces challenges because of their poor tumor accumulation, lower light-to-heat conversion, and due to the limited penetration of near-infrared (NIR) light. In this study, we present a novel core-shell micromotor that combines magnetic and photothermal properties. It is synthesized via the template-assisted electrodeposition of iron (Fe) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on a microtubular pore-shaped membrane. The resulting Fe-rGO micromotor consists of a core of oval-shaped zero-valent iron nanoparticles with large magnetization. At the same time, the outer layer has a uniform reduced graphene oxide (rGO) topography. Combined, these Fe-rGO core-shell micromotors respond to magnetic forces and near-infrared (NIR) light (1064 nm), achieving a remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency of 78% at a concentration of 434 µg mL-1. They can also carry doxorubicin (DOX) and rapidly release it upon NIR irradiation. Additionally, preliminary results regarding the biocompatibility of these micromotors through in vitro tests on a 3D breast cancer model demonstrate low cytotoxicity and strong accumulation. These promising results suggest that such Fe-rGO core-shell micromotors could hold great potential for combined photothermal therapy.

Hydroids from a reef system under the influence of the Amazon River plume, Brazil.

The Amazon Reef System (ARS) is one of the most important shallow and mesophotic reef ecosystems in the South Atlantic Ocean. The ARS consists mainly of extensive beds of calcareous algae interspersed by assemblages of octocorals and sponges. The enormous freshwater discharge from the Amazon River forms a plume along the extensive Amazon continental shelf, for which the hydroid community is still largely unknown. The aim of this study is to document the diversity and distribution of hydroids from the ARS, as well as to infer the influence of the plume on species composition in the different zones. Samples were collected at ninety-six stations between 15 and 240 m deep on the Amazon shelf. A total of 37 species were recorded in the studied area. Hydroid assemblages are richer in zones under lower river plume influence, and species composition differs significantly between zones with and without plume influence (PERMANOVA, p = 0.0025). The dissolved oxygen and nitrate ranges were the environmental variables significantly correlated with the hydroid distribution. This study is the first surveying the hydroid species composition and richness in the ARS, highlighting the presence of a typical reef biota and that further faunal studies in underexplored areas of the Atlantic should reveal the distribution of many poorly known hydroids species.

Consumption of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages and prevalence of hypertension in adults: a population- based study

Systemic Arterial Hypertension is a multifactorial clinical condition associated with severe outcomes such as stroke and death. One of the main modifiable risk factor for hypertension is an unhealthy diet, often characterized by the consumption of ultraprocessed foods such as sweetened beverages. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the consumption of sweetened beverages, both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened, and the prevalence of hypertension in adults. A cross-sectional, household, population-based study with 1,162 adults from two Brazilian cities were carried out. The consumption of food groups and sweetened beverages was obtained by food frequency questionnaire and other data were self-reported. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. The association between sweetened beverages consumption and hypertension was analyzed using Poisson regression models, expressed as Prevalence Ratio. The prevalence of hypertension was 16.7%, with no significant difference between genders. The prevalence of consumption of sweetened beverages was 70.3% in men and 54.6% in women, being significantly higher in men. Women who consumed sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages 6 to 7 days per week had 92% higher prevalence of hypertension compared to those who did not consume or consumed at a lower frequency. Furthermore, women who consumed artificially sweetened beverages at least 1 time per week had 3.36 times higher prevalence of hypertension. The habitual consumption of sweetened beverages may be an important risk factor for hypertension, especially the consumption of diet beverages, which are often marketed as healthier than sugar-sweetened beverages.

La Hipertensión Arterial Sistémica es una condición clínica multifactorial asociada a resultados graves como el ictus y la muerte. Uno de los principales factores de riesgo modificables de la hipertensión es una dieta poco saludable, a menudo caracterizada por el consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados como las bebidas endulzadas. Nuestro objetivo fue investigar la relación entre el consumo de bebidas endulzadas, tanto azucaradas como edulcoradas artificialmente, y la prevalencia de hipertensión en adultos. Se realizó un estudio transversal, domiciliario y poblacional con 1,162 adultos de dos ciudades brasileñas. El consumo de grupos de alimentos y bebidas endulzadas se obtuvo mediante cuestionario de frecuencia de alimentos y los demás datos fueron autoinformados. Se midieron el peso, la talla y el perímetro de la cintura. La asociación entre el consumo de bebidas endulzadas y la hipertensión se analizó mediante modelos de regresión de Poisson, expresados como Ratio de Prevalencia. La prevalencia de hipertensión fue del 16,7%, sin diferencias significativas entre géneros. La prevalencia de consumo de bebidas endulzadas fue del 70,3% en los hombres y del 54,6% en las mujeres, siendo significativamente mayor en los hombres. Las mujeres que consumían bebidas azucaradas y edulcoradas artificialmente entre 6 y 7 días a la semana tenían 92% mayor prevalencia de hipertensión que las que no consumían o consumían con una frecuencia menor. Además, las mujeres que consumían bebidas edulcoradas al menos 1 vez por semana tenían una prevalencia de hipertensión 3,36 veces mayor. Así pues, el consumo habitual de bebidas endulzadas puede ser un importante factor de riesgo de hipertensión, especialmente el consumo de bebidas dietéticas, que a menudo se comercializan como más saludables que las bebidas azucaradas.

Legislation in Hospital Dentistry: Gaps, Perspectives and Desires

Abstract Objective: To analyze the existing state legislation, including not only the ordinary laws, but also their infralegal regulation and the state legislation on Hospital Dentistry. Material and Methods: A survey was carried out in the databases of the Legislative Assemblies of the Brazilian States and the Federal District, as well as the Regional and Federal Councils of Dentistry in Brazil. Subsequently, a survey was carried out in the databases of the Ministry of Health, State Dental Councils and Federal Dental Council in Brazil. Results: Only 8 Brazilian states have legislation in force regarding hospital dentistry, which represents 29.63% of the federative units. Among the Brazilian regions, the Midwest presented the highest prevalence of the laws found (37.50%), followed by the North (25%) and the other regions with the same coverage (12.50%). Also, an orientation and an ordinance from the Ministry of Health, six resolutions from the Federal Council of Dentistry, and a technical note from the National Health Surveillance Agency were found. Conclusion: Several States do not have rules on the subject, making it imperative to create a federal rule that not only imposes the presence of the dentist, but also regulates the proportion of the team, workload, and availability.

Teste de Caminhada de Seis Minutos e Teste de Marcha Estacionária de Dois Minutos em uma população idosa participante de um programa de reabilitação cardíaca / Analysis and correlation of the Six-Minute Walk Test and Two-Minute Step Test in an elderly population participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program

The six-minute walk test (6MWT) and two-minute step test (2MST) are submaximal tests widely used in the elderly population functional capacity evaluation. Objective: To investigate whether the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program was able to promote an increase in these tests and if there was an association between them; and to compare the hemodynamic stress caused by each of the tests. Methods: Retrospective, observational study in elderly participants in CR program. 24 elderly people were evaluated and classified according to the Fried frailty phenotype. The 6MWT and the 2MST were applied, observing the mean distance walked and the number of steps performed, respectively, as well as the double cardiac product (DP) at the beginning and after 4 months of the CR program. Results: There was an increase of 57 meters in the mean distance covered by the 6MWT (364.31±108.01 vs. 421.65±108.73, P<0.001) and 14 steps performed in the 2MST (62.17±22.50 vs. 76.17±25.56, P= 0.011) after 4 months of CR and we found a significant correlation between the tests and their results (P <0.001). When comparing the DP, both tests had a significant reduction (14469.92±2497.91 vs. 13348.21±2839.36, P= 0.022 and 15744.17±3591.87 vs. 13222.29±2505.39, P<0.001; respectively). Conclusion: A relationship between the number of steps performed in the 2MST with the mean distance covered of 6MWT suggest the use of them as an effective indicator in CR program and the association between them offers greater possibilities for treatment and evaluation of an elderly population.

O teste de caminhada de seis minutos (TC6m) e o teste de marcha estacionária de dois minutos (TME2min) são testes submáximos amplamente utilizados na avaliação da capacidade funcional da população idosa. Objetivo: Investigar se o programa de reabilitação cardíaca (RC) foi capaz de promover melhora nesses testes e se houve associação entre eles; além de comparar o estresse hemodinâmico causado por cada um dos testes nessa população. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo e observacional em idosos participantes do programa de RC. Foram avaliados 24 idosos e classificados de acordo com o fenótipo de fragilidade de Fried. Foram aplicados o TC6m e o TME2min, observando-se a distância média percorrida e o número de passos realizados, respectivamente, bem como o duplo produto cardíaco (DP) no início e após 4 meses do programa de RC. Resultados: Houve aumento de 57 metros na distância média percorrida no TC6m (364,31±108,01 vs. 421,65±108,73, P<0,001) e 14 passos realizados no TME2min (62,17±22,50 vs. 76,17±25,56, P= 0,011) após 4 meses de RC e encontramos correlação significativa entre os testes e seus resultados (P<0,001). Ao comparar o DP, ambos os testes tiveram redução significativa (14.469,92±2.497,91 vs. 13.348,21±2.839,36, P= 0,022 e 15.744,17±3.591,87 vs. 13.222,29±2.505,39, P<0,001; respectivamente). Conclusão: A relação entre o número de passos realizados no TME2min com a distância média percorrida no TC6m sugere a utilização deles como um indicador eficaz em programa de RC e a associação entre eles oferece maiores possibilidades de tratamento e avaliação de uma população idosa.

Effects of feeding diets with zinc-l-selenomethionine on growth performance of broilers subjected to cyclic heat stress.

Limited information exists on the use of zinc-l-selenomethionine (Zn-L-SeMet) in broiler diets and its effects on the growth performance, body temperature, mortality rates, blood profile, and gene expression, especially when animals are reared under cyclic heat stress conditions. This study aimed to investigate the impact of Zn-L-SeMet in broiler diets from 1 to 42 days of age reared under cyclic heat stress and its effects on growth performance, cloacal temperatures, mortality rate, blood parameters, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene expression in the breast muscle. A total of 1000 male Cobb 500® broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five treatments: 0, 0.15, 0.23, 0.47, and 1.30 mg/kg of Zn-L-SeMet. Each treatment consisted of 10 replicates with 20 birds each. No statistically significant differences in growth performance were observed from 1 to 21 days of age (P > 0.05). However, from 1 to 42 days, feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased linearly (P < 0.05). Cloacal temperatures showed no significant effects (P > 0.05), while overall mortality rate exhibited a quadratic response (P < 0.05), with the optimal inclusion level predicted to reduce broiler mortality at 0.71 mg/kg. Triglyceride (TRG) levels increased with 0.97 mg/kg (P < 0.05), and gama-glutamil transferase (GGT) levels decreased with the inclusion of 1.19 mg/kg (P < 0.05). No significant effects on IGF-1 and GHR gene expression were found (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of 1.30 mg/kg of Zn-L-SeMet in diets of heat-stressed broilers improved growth performance from 1 to 42 days of age. An inclusion of 0.71 mg/kg reduced mortality rate, while 0.97 mg and 1.19 mg increased and reduced TRG and GGT levels, respectively.

Unintended Consequence: Diversity as a Casualty of Eliminating United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 Scores.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to use a discrete-choice experiment to model the trade-offs evaluators make between academic attributes and demographics when the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 switches to pass/fail. METHODS: A discrete-choice experiment was administered to faculty members from a geographically diverse mix of 14 academic and community radiology departments in the United States from August through November 2020. Reviewers reviewed 10 applicant pairs with numeric Step 1 scores (part 1) and 10 applicant pairs with a pass Step 1 result (part 2). Applicant attributes included medical school rank, gender, race/ethnicity, USMLE Step 1 score, USMLE Step 2 score, class rank, clerkship honors, and publications. Conditional logistic regression modeled the influence of attribute levels. RESULTS: Two hundred twelve evaluators completed the study (response rate 59%). The most influential attribute was Step 1 score in part 1 and medical school rank in part 2. The relative importance of race/ethnicity and gender decreased by 25% and 29%, respectively, when Step 1 switches to pass/fail. Evaluators weigh race/ethnicity the strongest when applicants have the same Step 1 score (preference weights of 0.85 for African American, 1.42 for Hispanic, and 0 for White and Asian applicants). Race/ethnicity is relatively more important when Step 1 scores are higher (preference weights of 1.58 for African American, 0.90 for Hispanic, and 0 for White and Asian applicants). CONCLUSIONS: The loss of numeric Step 1 scores reduced the residency evaluator preference for diversity. Reviewers prioritize underrepresented-in-medicine applicants when Step 1 scores are higher and comparable with White and Asian applicants.

Hydrogen peroxide signal photosynthetic acclimation of Solanum lycopersicum L. cv Micro-Tom under water deficit.

The current climate change setting necessitates the development of methods to mitigate the effects of water scarcity to ensure the sustainability of agricultural activities.f Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a plant signaling molecule that can trigger metabolic defense mechanisms in response to adverse environmental circumstances like as drought. The purpose of this study was to investigate if foliar application of H2O2 stimulates modifications in photosynthetic metabolism for adaptation of tomato plants to a period of water deficit and recovery. The study, which was carried out in a factorial scheme, tested plants subjected to two water conditions (well-watered plants and plants subjected to water deficit), as well as foliar application of 1 mM H2O2 (zero, one, or two applications, 24 h after the first), and was evaluated in two moments, during the deficit period and after recovery. Foliar application of 1 mM H2O2 resulted in a 69% increase in the maximum rate of RuBisCO carboxylation in well-watered plants, contributing to tomato photosynthetic adjustment. H2O2 treatment resulted in a 37% increase in dry mass in these plants. In plants subjected to water deficiency, 2× H2O2 increased stress tolerance by reducing the maximal rate of RuBisCO carboxylation by only 18%, but in plants that did not receive H2O2 treatment, the reduction was 86% in comparison to the wet plants. Plants exposed to a water shortage and given 2× H2O2 stored sucrose in the leaves and had a 17% higher relative water content than plants not given H2O2. Thus, H2O2 foliar treatment can be used in tomato management to induce drought tolerance or to boost photosynthetic activity and dry mass formation in well-watered plants.

Association between Consumption of Ultra-Processed Food and Body Composition of Adults in a Capital City of a Brazilian Region.

The present study investigates the relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and anthropometric indices of body composition in adults and seniors living in Teresina, the state capital of an area in northeastern Brazil. The article seeks to address two questions: Is UPF consumption linked to worsening body composition in different age groups? Do anthropometric indicators of body composition change with the increasing consumption of UPF? The study is a cross-sectional, household, population study, carried out with 490 adults and seniors. The food consumption was obtained with a 24 h food recall, and the foods were classified using NOVA. Anthropometric indicators evaluated were waist-to-height ratio, triceps skinfold thickness, arm circumference, corrected arm muscle area, subscapular skinfold thickness, and calf circumference. The association between energy contribution of UPF with anthropometric indicators was verified with a simple and multiple linear regression analysis. Individuals aged 20 to 35 years showed a significant association between UPF consumption and skinfold thickness (ß: 0.04; CI: 0.03/0.09), demonstrating an increase in this subcutaneous body fat marker with higher UPF consumption. Moreover, in participants aged 36 to 59 years, an inverse correlation between UPF intake and muscle mass markers, arm circumference (ß: -0.02; confidence interval: -0.03/-0.01), and corrected arm muscle area (ß: -0.07; confidence interval: -0.12/-0.02) were observed. Such results suggest there is decreased muscle mass with increasing UPF consumption. This is the first study that verified an association between UPF consumption and low-cost body composition indicators in different age groups.

Prevalence of overweight and association with lifestyle habits in adults: A population-based study

The objective of this study was to verify the association between lifestyle habits and obesity in a sample of adults from the "Inquérito de Saúde Domiciliar no Piauí - ISAD-PI" (Home Health Survey in Piauí - ISAD-PI). A cross-sectional population-based household study was performed with a representative sample of 1,163 adults from the cities of Teresina and Picos, Piauí, Brazil who were participants of ISAD-PI. Sociodemographic and lifestyle data were collected utilizing a structured questionnaire adapted from other Brazilian population studies and analyzed using Stata. Most of the population had healthy lifestyle habits, with adequate consumption of fruits/vegetables and beans, as well as a low consumption of soft drinks, sweets, and red meats. Alcohol consumption was more prevalent among overweight individuals. Individuals who had the habit of consuming alcohol and those who consumed beans less than five days a week had a significantly higher prevalence of overweight. A higher prevalence of overweight was significantly associated with weekly frequency of beans consumption and alcohol intake.

El objetivo de este estudio fue verificar la asociación entre los hábitos de vida y la obesidad en adultos en una muestra del Inquérito de Saúde Domiciliar - ISAD (Encuesta de Salud en el Hogar). Estudio transversal de base poblacional y domiciliar, muestra representativa de 1.163 adultos, de los municipios de Teresina y Picos, Piauí, Brasil, de la ISAD-PI. La recopilación de datos sociodemográficos y de estilo de vida se realizó utilizando un cuestionario estructurado adaptado de otros estudios de población brasileños y analizado con Stata. La mayor parte de la población tenía hábitos de vida más saludables, con un consumo adecuado de frutas/verduras y frijoles, así como un bajo consumo de refrescos, dulces y carnes rojas. El consumo de alcohol fue más frecuente entre las personas con sobrepeso. Los individuos que tenían el hábito de consumir alcohol y los que consumían frijoles menos de cinco días a la semana presentaron prevalencias significativamente mayores de sobrepeso. Se observó dada la alta prevalencia de sobrepeso, que mostró asociaciones significativas entre frecuencia semanal de consumo de frijol y consumo de alcohol.

Risk governance in the response to global health emergencies: understanding the governance of chaos in Brazil's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Covid-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has shown how inadequate institutional strategies interact with, and exacerbate, social inequalities, thus impacting upon the intensity of the harm produced and amplifying negative consequences. One of the lessons from this pandemic, which happens against the background of other, interconnected systemic crises, is the urgency of adopting a 'whole-of-society' approach to determining what does and what does not work in the context of a health emergency response. However, how can institutional performance in health emergency response be assessed? How to make sense of success or failure? We argue that the adoption of a risk governance approach sheds light on institutional performance in the response to health emergencies. Risk governance is particularly pertinent in situations where the potential for extreme consequences is considered high, where there are enormous uncertainties regarding the consequences and where different values are present and in dispute. Based on a documentary evidence review, we analyse the Brazilian response to Covid-19 by considering: (1) how the Brazilian federal government performed on its central role of managing the national response, (2) the reactions from other actors prompted by this performance and (3) the main observed effects emerging from this scenario. We argue that the Brazilian federal government response was weak in five risk governance parameters that are essential in a health crisis response: risk communication, transparency and accessibility of data, negotiation between actors, social cohesion and public participation and decisions based on technical and scientific evidence, resources and contexts. The neglect of risk governance parameters, combined with an attempt to spread doubt, confusion and disinformation-which could be termed a 'governance by chaos'-is an important element for making sense of the effects and controversies surrounding Covid-19 in Brazil.

Prevalence of childhood obesity in Brazil: a systematic review.

The present study aimed to analyze the prevalence of childhood obesity in Brazil and compare it between boys and girls. This systematic review was conducted and reported according to the guidelines outlined in the PRISMA statement. A systematic search of electronic databases, including PubMed, LILACS, and SciELO, was performed in November 2021. Studies that met the following criteria were included: (i) original quantitative studies regardless of their design; (ii) childhood obesity was clearly defined; (iii) prevalence of childhood obesity was reported or it was possible to extract from tables or figures in the text; and (iv) eligible population included children under 12 years of age. A total of 112 articles were included in the systematic review. The prevalence of childhood obesity in Brazil was of 12.2%, being 10.8% in girls and 12.3% in boys. In addition, wide heterogeneity in the childhood obesity prevalence was observed between the states, since it was 2.6% in Pará, while it was 15.8% in Rondônia. Thus, the importance of urgently implementing measures to prevent and treat childhood obesity should be emphasized aiming to reduce obese children and adolescents and future health problems in adult life resulting from this cardiovascular risk factor.

Comparison Theorems for Stochastic Chemical Reaction Networks.

Continuous-time Markov chains are frequently used as stochastic models for chemical reaction networks, especially in the growing field of systems biology. A fundamental problem for these Stochastic Chemical Reaction Networks (SCRNs) is to understand the dependence of the stochastic behavior of these systems on the chemical reaction rate parameters. Towards solving this problem, in this paper we develop theoretical tools called comparison theorems that provide stochastic ordering results for SCRNs. These theorems give sufficient conditions for monotonic dependence on parameters in these network models, which allow us to obtain, under suitable conditions, information about transient and steady-state behavior. These theorems exploit structural properties of SCRNs, beyond those of general continuous-time Markov chains. Furthermore, we derive two theorems to compare stationary distributions and mean first passage times for SCRNs with different parameter values, or with the same parameters and different initial conditions. These tools are developed for SCRNs taking values in a generic (finite or countably infinite) state space and can also be applied for non-mass-action kinetics models. When propensity functions are bounded, our method of proof gives an explicit method for coupling two comparable SCRNs, which can be used to simultaneously simulate their sample paths in a comparable manner. We illustrate our results with applications to models of enzymatic kinetics and epigenetic regulation by chromatin modifications.

Modification of Sugar Profile and Ripening in Atemoya (Annona × atemoya Mabb.) Fruits through Copper Hydroxide Application.

Atemoya (Annona × atemoya Mabb.), a climacteric fruit of the Annonaceae family, is becoming increasingly popular due to its organoleptic and nutritional properties. Anthracnose, a fungus of the Colletotrichum genus, is one of the most serious diseases in orchards, causing significant damage if not controlled, so producers use phytosanitary products. The current study sought to investigate the quality of atemoya fruits after harvest in an orchard with anthracnose controlled by Cu(OH)2 application: T1-no Cu(OH)2, T2-7.8 mL Cu(OH)2 L1 divided into two applications, T3-15.6 mL Cu(OH)2 L1 divided into four, T4-8.0 mL Cu(OH)2 L1 divided into eight, and T5-13.0 mL Cu(OH)2 L1 divided into thirteen applications. The sugar profile of fruits was examined, as well as MDA, H2O2, and quality parameters such as pH, mass, soluble solids, titratable acidity, and maturation index. MDA, such as H2O2, can function as a signal molecule. Eight applications of 1.0 mL L-1 Cu(OH)2 resulted in increased concentrations of H2O2 and MDA, signal molecules involved in sugar modification profiles such as glucose, fructose, and trehalose. It also had a high titratable acidity, a lower maturation index, better fruit quality, and a longer shelf life.

Global conservation prioritization areas in three dimensions of crocodilian diversity.

Crocodilians are a taxonomic group of large predators with important ecological and evolutionary benefits for ecosystem functioning in the face of global change. Anthropogenic actions affect negatively crocodilians' survival and more than half of the species are threatened with extinction worldwide. Here, we map and explore three dimensions of crocodilian diversity on a global scale. To highlight the ecological importance of crocodilians, we correlate the spatial distribution of species with the ecosystem services of nutrient retention in the world. We calculate the effectiveness of global protected networks in safeguarding crocodilian species and provide three prioritization models for conservation planning. Our results show the main hotspots of ecological and evolutionary values are in southern North, Central and South America, west-central Africa, northeastern India, and southeastern Asia. African species have the highest correlation to nutrient retention patterns. Twenty-five percent of the world's crocodilian species are not significantly represented in the existing protected area networks. The most alarming cases are reported in northeastern India, eastern China, and west-central Africa, which include threatened species with low or non-significant representation in the protected area networks. Our highest conservation prioritization model targets southern North America, east-central Central America, northern South America, west-central Africa, northeastern India, eastern China, southern Laos, Cambodia, and some points in southeastern Asia. Our research provides a global prioritization scheme to protect multiple dimensions of crocodilian diversity for achieving effective conservation outcomes.

Modeling the impact of child vaccination (5-11 y) on overall COVID-19 related hospitalizations and mortality in a context of omicron variant predominance and different vaccination coverage paces in Brazil.

Background: Developing countries have experienced significant COVID-19 disease burden. With the emergence of new variants, particularly omicron, the disease burden in children has increased. When the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use in children aged 5-11 years of age, very few countries recommended vaccination due to limited risk-benefit evidence for vaccination of this population. In Brazil, ranking second in the global COVID-19 death toll, the childhood COVID-19 disease burden increased significantly in early 2022. This prompted a risk-benefit assessment of the introduction and scaling-up of COVID-19 vaccination of children. Methods: To estimate the potential impact of vaccinating children aged 5-11 years with mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine in the context of omicron dominance, we developed a discrete-time SEIR-like model stratified in age groups, considering a three-month time horizon. We considered three scenarios: No vaccination, slow, and maximum vaccination paces. In each scenario, we estimated the potential reduction in total COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, deaths, hospitalization costs, and potential years of life lost, considering the absence of vaccination as the base-case scenario. Findings: We estimated that vaccinating at a maximum pace could prevent, between mid-January and April 2022, about 26,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations, and 4200 deaths in all age groups; of which 5400 hospitalizations and 410 deaths in children aged 5-11 years. Continuing vaccination at a slow/current pace would prevent 1450 deaths and 9700 COVID-19 hospitalizations in all age groups in this same time period; of which 180 deaths and 2390 hospitalizations in children only. Interpretation: Maximum vaccination of children results in a significant reduction of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths and should be enforced in developing countries with significant disease incidence in children. Funding: This manuscript was funded by the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technology Development (CNPq - Process # 402834/2020-8).

Cheilitis glandularis: case report and systematic literature review.

Cheilitis glandularis (CG) is a rare inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that affects the minor salivary glands predominantly in the lower lip. In this article, we report the case of an 18-year-old black woman who presented with a deep suppurative type of CG in both lips. In addition, we performed a systematic literature review in five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Ovid, and Embase) to identify CG case reports or case series. A total of 360 references were retrieved in the electronic databases. Thirty-four articles met the inclusion criteria, and six were retrieved through manual search, totaling 40 articles included in the systematic review. Thirty-nine (68.4%) cases occurred in male individuals and 18 (31.6%) in female individuals. The mean age of affected individuals was 40.9 years. Different clinical manifestations ranging from no symptoms to discomfort, pain, swelling, erythema, eversion of the lip, dilated ductal openings, ulcers, and crust have been reported. Among the included CG cases, 41 affected exclusively the lower lip (71.9%). In four cases, the CG only affected the upper lip (7.0%). In 12 cases, the lesion affected both the lower and upper lips (21.1%). Different treatment modalities were adopted in the management of CG. Although the surgical treatment was indicated (42.1%), the conservative treatment with topical medications, as in the present case, resulted in resolution in 21.0% of cases.