Examining the impact of varying low-level laser dose on cardiac failure.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been targeted as a promising tool that can mitigate post-infarction cardiac remodeling. However, there is no gold standard energy delivered to the heart and few studies have evaluated the impact of LLLT on cardiac performance. This study evaluated effects of repeated LLLT applications with different energies delivered to the infarcted myocardium. Echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements were applied to evaluate left ventricular (LV) performance in rats with large infarcts. ELISA, Western blot and biochemical assays were used to assess LV inflammation and oxidative stress. An 830-nm Laser Photon III semiconductor aluminum gallium arsenide diode (DMC, São Carlos, SP, Brazil) was applied transthoracically three times a week for 4 weeks based on the energy (i.e., 10J, 20J, and 40J; respectively). LLLT on 10J and 20J had a similar action in attenuating pulmonary congestion and myocardial fibrosis. Moreover, 10J and 20J attenuated LV end-diastolic pressure and improved +dP/dt and -dP/dt. All LLLT groups had lower levels of inflammatory mediators, but only the 10J group had normalized oxidative stress. All LLLT doses improved superoxide dismutase levels; however, only the 20J group showed a high content of the catalase. There was a lower level of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2a in the infarcted myocardium, which it was normalized in the 20J and 40J groups. A higher phospholamban content was found in the 10J group. This study supports the beneficial LLLT role post-infarction. Apparently, the 10J and 20J doses show to be chosen for clinical translation.

Moderating effect of social risk on the relationship between biological risk and child development.

Human development is influenced by the interaction between biological and social factors. This study aimed to verify the moderating effect of social risk on the relationship between biological risk and child development. Data were collected on 201 children, aged 6 to 72 months. The independent variable was measured by the biological risk index, and the moderator variable by the social risk index was assessed by the Denver II test. Linear regression, effect size, and analysis of moderation were used to verify the relationship between BRI and the child development (Denver II), and the moderating effect of the SRI. BRI was negatively associated with child development, the interaction between the BRI and SRI increased the explained variance in the Denver II result to 14%. The SRI was also a significant moderator of the Language and Gross Motor domains. This research evidence that social risk moderates the relationship between biological risk and child development, the more social risk factors, the stronger this relationship becomes. On the other hand, it can be said that some social factors favor child development, even in the presence of biological risk factors.

Sensory-Motor-Oral Stimulation Combined with Early Sucking During the Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis Process in Children with Robin Sequence.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the findings of children with Robin Sequence (RS) who received sensory-motor-oral stimulation combined with early sucking during mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO), compared with children who did not receive the intervention. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental study. Setting: A tertiary public hospital. Patients: Children with RS referred to MDO. A historical group from the same population but managed according to the institution's standard protocol (no sucking) served as a control group. Interventions: Sensory-motor-oral stimulation, including sucking, starting 24 h after MDO (intervention group). Main Outcome Measure: Our hypothesis is that sensory-motor-oral stimulation, including sucking during the DOM process, do not negatively affect surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-nine children were included. Eight (72.7%) of the 11 patients in the intervention group and 13 (72.2%) of the 18 controls had MDO complications, with no significant difference between the groups (p = 1.000). The most common surgical outcome was antibiotic therapy for surgical site infection (76.2%). Six months after MDO, 22 (75.9%) children attained full oral feeding or associated with alternative feeding methods. CONCLUSION: The intervention group did not have higher complication rates, from a surgical point of view, than control group. The protocol adopted by some centers that contraindicates sucking during MDO should be revised to consider the benefits of such stimulation. Keywords: Pierre Robin Syndrome, deglutition, therapeutics, child development.

Radiographic Analysis of the Beef Cattle Digits Slaughtered after 114 Days of Confinement.

Foot disorders are responsible for up to 5% of confinement losses. Identifying the cause of lameness and applying the correct treatment are crucial measures. The possibility of determining the probable origins of digital lesions, their extension, and assistance in cases in which it was not possible to reach a definitive clinical diagnosis demonstrates that the radiographic evaluation provides information of great importance on cattle digits. Thus, this study aimed to investigate possible radiographic changes in the hoof, bone structures, and soft tissues of the digits of Nelore bulls at the end of the confinement period. Regarding the main signs, 100% (n = 24) showed proliferation of enthesophytes and osteophytes and irregular contours, 62.5% (n = 15) enlargement of vascular channels, 37.5% (n = 9) osteolysis, 33.4% (n = 8) gas content in the white line region, 20.84% (n = 5) gas content in the dorsal lamina region, and 4.16% (n = 1) presented palisade periosteal reaction. Ten (41.7%) out of 24 (100%) animals evaluated at the end of the confinement presented lameness, three animals of score three, four animals of score two, and three animals of score one. The higher the score indicating the severity of the signs observed in the visual assessment of the radiographs, the higher the internal angle values (moderate correlation of 0.5 and p < 0.05). A higher prevalence of osteo-proliferative radiographic changes was identified at the end of the 114-day confinement period in the third phalanx of Nellore cattle even in animals that had no lameness.

Technology Readiness Level Roadmap for Developing Innovative Herbal Medicinal Products.

Despite the vast global botanical diversity, the pharmaceutical development of herbal medicinal products (HMPs) remains underexploited. Of over 370,000 described plant species, only a few hundred are utilized in HMPs. Most of these have originated from traditional use, and only a minority come from megadiverse countries. Exploiting the pharmacological synergies of the hundreds of compounds found in poorly studied plant species may unlock new therapeutic possibilities, enhance megadiverse countries' scientific and socio-economic development, and help conserve biodiversity. However, extensive constraints in the development process of HMPs pose significant barriers to transforming this unsatisfactory socio-economic landscape. This paper proposes a roadmap to overcome these challenges, based on the technology readiness levels (TRLs) introduced by NASA to assess the maturity of technologies. It aims to assist research entities, manufacturers, and funding agencies from megadiverse countries in the discovery, development, and global market authorization of innovative HMPs that comply with regulatory standards from ANVISA, EMA, and FDA, as well as WHO and ICH guidelines.

Unveiling Safety Concerns in Brazilian Artisanal Cheeses: A Call for Enhanced Ripening Protocols and Microbiological Assessments.

Brazilian artisanal cheeses have recently gained significant commercial prominence and consumer favor, primarily due to their distinctive sensory attributes and cultural and historical appeal. Many of these cheeses are made with raw milk and undergo a relatively short ripening period, sometimes ranging from 4 to 8 days, though it is usually shorter than the period stated by law. Moreover, there is insufficient evidence regarding the efficacy of a short ripening period in reducing certain zoonotic foodborne pathogens, such as Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetiid, and Mycobacterium bovis (as part of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex). Additionally, a literature analysis revealed that the usual ripening conditions of Brazilian artisanal cheeses made with raw milk may be inefficient in reducing the levels of some hazardous bacterial, including Brucella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Coxiella burnetti, to the acceptable limits established by law, thus failing to ensure product safety for all cheese types. Moreover, the assessment of the microbiological safety for this type of cheese should be broader and should also consider zoonotic pathogens commonly found in bovine herds. Finally, a standardized protocol for evaluating the effectiveness of cheese ripening must be established by considering its peculiarities.

Enhancing Bovine Embryo Development In Vitro Using Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsions as Specific Carriers for Essential Lipids.

Worldwide meat consumption and production have nearly quintupled in the last 60 years. In this context, research and the application of new technologies related to animal reproduction have evolved in an accelerated way. The objective of the present study was to apply nanoemulsions (NEs) as carriers of lipids to feed bovine embryos in culture media and verify their impact on the development of embryos produced in vitro. The NEs were characterized by particle size, polydispersity, size distribution, physical stability, morphology using atomic force microscopy (AFM), surface tension, density, pH, and rheological behavior. The NEs were prepared by the emulsification/evaporation technique. A central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used to optimize the NE fabrication parameters. The three optimized formulations used in the embryo application showed an emulsion stability index (ESI) between 0.046 and 0.086, which reflects high stability. The mean droplet diameter analyzed by laser diffraction was approximately 70-80 nm, suggesting a possible transit across the embryonic zona pellucida with pores of an average 90 nm in diameter. AFM images clearly confirm the morphology of spherical droplets with a mean droplet diameter of less than 100 nm. The optimized formulations added during the higher embryonic genome activation phase in bovine embryos enhanced early embryonic development.

Optimizing Bothropstoxin-I-Derived Peptides: Exploring the Antibacterial Potential of p-BthW.

Antimicrobial peptides are an emerging class of antibiotics that present a series of advantageous characteristics such as wide structural variety, broad spectrum of activity, and low propensity to select for resistance. They are found in all classes of life as defense molecules. A group of peptides derived from the protein Bothropstoxin-I has been previously studied as an alternative treatment against multi-drug-resistant bacteria. The peptide p-BthTX-I (sequence: KKYRYHLKPFCKK) and its homodimer, linked by disulfide oxidation through the residues of Cys11 and the serum degradation product [sequence: (KKYRYHLKPFC)2], were evaluated and showed similar antimicrobial activity. In this study, we synthesized an analogue of p-BthTX-I that uses the strategy of Fmoc-Lys(Fmoc)-OH in the C-terminal region for dimerization and tryptophan for all aromatic amino acids to provide better membrane interactions. This analogue, named p-BthW, displayed potent antibacterial activity at lower concentrations and maintained the same hemolytic levels as the original molecule. Our assessment revealed that p-BthW has a quick in vitro bactericidal action and prolonged post-antibiotic effect, comparable to the action of polymyxin B. The mode of action of p-BthW seems to rely not only on membrane depolarization but also on necrosis-like effects, especially in Gram-negative bacteria. Overall, the remarkable results regarding the propensity to develop resistance reaffirmed the great potential of the developed molecule.

The effects of fraxetin and monnieriside A on Cultured L929 fibroblasts.

Skin lesions are considered a public health problem, compromising patients' quality of life. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of fraxetin and monnieriside A on Cultured L929 Fibroblasts through the scratch assay. Supernatants and cells from the fibroblast culture treated with the compounds were used to evaluate essential markers of the tissue repair process (IGF-1, VEGF, IL-8, IL-10, FGF-2, COL1A2, COL4A, PDGF) using ELISA and qRT-PCR. The results showed that fraxetin and MOA were non-cytotoxic and could stimulate cellular migration. Fraxetin induced IGF-1, VEGF, IL-8, and IL-10 expression, while MOA induced FGF2, COL1A2, and IL-10 expression. Altogether, these results set provides evidence that fraxetin and MOA have healing potential for tissue repair, paving the way for in vivo studies and clinical trials to validate the in vitro results.

Frailty identification and management among Brazilian healthcare professionals: a survey.

BACKGROUND: National and international guidelines on frailty assessment and management recommend frailty screening in older people. This study aimed to determine how Brazilian healthcare professionals (HCPs) identify and manage frailty in practice. METHODS: An anonymous online survey on the assessment and management of frailty was circulated virtually through HCPs across Brazil. RESULTS: Most of the respondants used non-specific criteria such as gait speed (45%), handgrip strength (37.6%), and comprehensive geriatric assessment (33.2%). The use of frailty-specific criteria was lower than 50%. The most frequently used criteria were the Frailty Index (19.1%), Frailty Phenotype (13.2%), and FRAIL (12.5%). Only 43.5% felt confident, and 40% had a plan to manage frailty. In the multivariate-adjusted models, training was the most crucial factor associated with assessing frailty, confidence, and having a management plan (p < 0.001 for all). Those with fewer years of experience were more likely to evaluate frailty (p = 0.009). Being a doctor increased the chance of using a specific tool; the opposite was true for dietitians (p = 0.03). Those who assisted more older people had a higher likelihood of having a plan (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Frailty assessment was heterogeneous among healthcare professions groups, predominantly using non-specific criteria. Training contributed to frailty assessment, use of specific criteria, confidence, and having a management plan. This data informs the need for standardized screening criteria and management plans for frailty, in association with increasing training at the national level for all the HCPs who assist older people.

Patent Mining on the Use of Antioxidant Phytochemicals in the Technological Development for the Prevention and Treatment of Periodontitis.

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition characterized by an aberrant immune response against a dysbiotic dental biofilm, with oxidative stress performing an essential role in its pathogenesis. This paper presents a patent mining, performed in the Orbit Intelligence patent database, related to antioxidant phytochemicals in the technological developments that are working to prevent and treat periodontal disease. To access the documents, the descriptors "PERIODONTAL" and "ANTIOXIDANT" were typed in the title, abstract, and claim search fields. A total of 322 patents demonstrate the growing interest in researching natural antioxidants for scientific and technological purposes. The top ten countries regarding the number of family patents produced were the United States, the European Office, Japan, South Korea, China, India, Mexico, Denmark, Canada, and Great Britain. The most cited compounds were vitamin C, green tea, quercetin, melatonin, lycopene, resveratrol, and curcumin. These compounds have been used for the technological development of gels, membranes, dentifrices, chewing gum, orally disintegrating film, mouthwash, mouth spray, and mouth massage cream and exhibit the ability to neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, a critical factor in the development and progression of periodontal diseases. The patent documents have shown that using antioxidant compounds in conjunction with traditional periodontal treatments is a promising area of interest in periodontal therapy.

Improving the Properties of Gelatin-Based Films by Incorporation of "Pitanga" Leaf Extract and Crystalline Nanocellulose.

Biopolymer-based films can be activated by the incorporation of active compounds into their matrix. Plant extracts are rich in phenolic compounds, which have antimicrobial and/or antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to produce gelatin-based active films and nanocomposite films incorporated with "pitanga" (Eugenia uniflora L.) leaf extract (PLE) and/or crystalline nanocellulose extracted from soybean straw (CN), and to study the physicochemical, functional, microstructural, thermal, UV/Vis light barrier, and antioxidant properties of these materials. PLE enhanced some film properties, such as tensile strength (from 30.2 MPa to 40.6 MPa), elastic modulus (from 9.3 MPa to 11.3 MPa), the UV/Vis light barrier, and antioxidant activity, in addition to affecting the microstructural, surface, and color properties. These improvements were even more significant in nanocomposites simultaneously containing PLE and CN (59.5 MPa for tensile strength and 15.1 MPa for elastic modulus), and these composites also had lower moisture content (12.2% compared to 13.5-14.4% for other treatments) and solubility in water (from 48.9% to 44.1%). These improvements may be the result of interactions that occur between PLE's polyphenols and gelatin, mainly in the presence of CN, probably due to the formation of a stable PLE-CN-gelatin complex. These results are relevant for the food packaging sector, as the activated nanocomposite films exhibited enhanced active, barrier, and mechanical properties due to the presence of PLE and CN, in addition to being entirely produced with sustainable components from natural and renewable sources.

Assessment of intrinsic capacity in the Brazilian older population and the psychometric properties of the WHO/ ICOPE screening tool: a multicenter cohort study protocol / Avaliação da capacidade intrínseca da população idosa brasileira e das propriedades psicométricas do instrumento de triagem do ICOPE/OMS: protocolo de estudo de coorte multicêntrico

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed to monitor intrinsic capacity (IC) in the older population as a public health strategy through the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) program. Although the program has been developed based on solid concepts, scientific evidence on its practical applicability is still scarce. Objectives: To evaluate IC in Brazilian older adults, its progress over time, and its association with sociodemographic and health factors and outcomes. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the WHO/ICOPE screening tool. Methods: This is a prospective multicenter cohort study with a 36-month follow-up. We will recruit 3838 people aged ≥60 years, registered in the health care units included in the study by the participating centers. We will collect sociodemographic and health data and will administer tools to assess IC domains, both those provided for in the ICOPE screening tool and the sequence of confirmatory assessments provided for in the program. Participants will be reassessed every 6 months for 36 months. Expected results: To establish the profile of IC in the study population and to understand its progress and the variables associated with the clinical outcomes of interest. To reveal the diagnostic and psychometric properties of the WHO/ICOPE screening tool. The project is funded by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Relevance: Understanding the potential use of the ICOPE public health strategy proposed by the WHO within the scope of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) by integrating several research centers in the field of Geriatrics and Gerontology throughout Brazil. (AU)

Introdução: A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) propõe o monitoramento da capacidade intrínseca (CI) da população idosa como estratégia de saúde pública por meio do Programa ICOPE (Integrated Care for Older People). Embora construído com base em conceitos sólidos, a evidência científica sobre a aplicabilidade prática da proposta ainda é escassa. Objetivo: Avaliar a capacidade intrínseca da população idosa brasileira, sua trajetória e sua associação com variáveis sociodemográficas, de saúde e desfechos. Avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da ferramenta de triagem da estratégia ICOPE da OMS. Metodologia: Coorte multicêntrica prospectiva com seguimento de 36 meses. Serão recrutadas 3.838 pessoas com 60 anos ou mais, cadastradas nas unidades de saúde incluídas no estudo pelos centros participantes. Serão coletados dados sociodemográficos e de saúde e aplicados instrumentos para avaliação dos domínios da CI, tanto aqueles previstos no instrumento de triagem do ICOPE quanto a sequência de avaliações confirmatórias previstas no programa. Os participantes serão acompanhados semestralmente ao longo de 36 meses. Resultados esperados: Estabelecer o perfil da CI na população estudada, entender a sua trajetória e as variáveis associadas aos desfechos clínicos avaliados. Revelar as propriedades diagnósticas e o perfil psicométrico da ferramenta de triagem do ICOPE da OMS. O projeto tem financiamento do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Relevância: Compreensão sobre o potencial de utilização da estratégia ICOPE de saúde pública proposta pela OMS no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) pela integração de diversos centros de pesquisa científica na área de Geriatria e Gerontologia de todo o Brasil. (AU)

Ramp-like lateral meniscus tear. Description of an infrequent lesion.

Numerous studies on meniscal tears have been published, a pathology that continues to evolve in terms of treatment and patient outcomes. As our understanding of anatomy and biomechanics improves, new entities have emerged. The lateral meniscus, especially its posterior attachment, tends to be overlooked due to its greater mobility compared to the medial meniscus. Evaluating the instability of the posterior horn poses a challenge, even during arthroscopy, therefore, it is crucial to understand the posterior menisco-synovial detachment lesions, which are indeed real and, to date, haven't received enough attention in the existing literature. The aim is to describe a new entity affecting the posterior synovial attachment of the lateral meniscus, without injury to the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus (PHLM). We also aim to present a case report detailing the intraoperative diagnosis and management of a 20-year-old patient with a sports trauma that led to a combined anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and lateral meniscus tear managed with arthroscopic ACL reconstruction and all-inside meniscal suture. Through conventional arthroscopic evaluation of the posterior capsule anatomy and dissections, we have identified a distinct lesion of the PHLM at the menisco-synovial junction. Further research is necessary in this field to understand the biomechanical repercussions and determine the ideal surgical management.

Intrinsic capacity as proposed by the World Health Organization and 30-month mortality among older adults in long-term care facilities / Capacidade Intrínseca proposta pela Organização Mundial de Saúde e mortalidade em residentes de Instituição de Longa Permanência para Idosos em 30 meses

Objetivo: Analisar o efeito da Capacidade Intrínseca na mortalidade de 30 meses em residentes idosos de Instituição de Longa Permanência. Metodologia: Estudo de coorte prospectivo realizado de julho de 2020 a dezembro de 2022 com análise de sobrevivência de idosos residentes de ILPIs brasileiras. Na avaliação inicial (M0) foram avaliados 209 idosos residentes quanto aos dados demográficos e clínicos (doenças diagnosticadas e medicações utilizadas); capacidade intrínseca segundo ICOPE nos domínios cognição, psicológico, audição, visão, vitalidade e locomotor; capacidade funcional pelas atividades básicas de vida diária (índice de Katz) e fragilidade (escala FRAIL). Após 30 meses, foi avaliada a ocorrência de óbito. Resultados: Em M0, a média da idade dos residentes era de 82 anos (±11,21), 65,07% eram do sexo feminino, 94,26% de cor branca e 88,04% tinham multimorbidade. Apresentaram alteração em quatro ou mais domínios da capacidade intrínseca 54,07% (n = 113) dos residentes, sendo o domínio mais alterado a locomoção (82,78%). Eram totalmente dependentes para as atividades básicas de vida diária 43,54% dos idosos, e 42,58% eram frágeis. Após 30 meses de acompanhamento, 33,49% (n = 70) dos idosos evoluíram para óbito. Na análise da sobrevida para óbito, houve associação estatisticamente significativa do evento com alteração em quatro ou mais domínios da capacidade intrínseca (p = 0,044). Conclusão: a alteração de quatro ou mais domínios da capacidade intrínseca está associada com óbito em residentes de ILPI. (AU)

Objective: To analyze the impact of intrinsic capacity on 30-month mortality among older adults living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Methods: Prospective cohort study with survival analysis conducted from July 2020 to December 2022 among older adults living in Brazilian LTCFs. At baseline (T0), 209 older residents were evaluated for demographic profile, clinical data (diagnosed diseases and current medications), intrinsic capacity according to ICOPE (cognitive capacity, psychological capacity, hearing capacity, visual capacity, vitality, and locomotor capacity domains), functional capacity (Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living), and frailty (FRAIL scale). At 30 months, mortality in the sample was assessed. Results: At T0, the mean age of residents was 82 (SD, 11.21) years; 65.07% were female, 94.26% were white, and 88.04% had multimorbidity. Overall, 54.07% (n = 113) of residents exhibited changes in four or more domains of intrinsic capacity, with locomotor capacity being the most commonly impaired domain (82.78%); 43.54% were completely dependent for basic activities of daily living, and 42.58% were frail. At 30-month follow-up, 33.49% (n = 70) of residents had died. Survival analysis revealed a statistically significant association between death and impairment in four or more domains of intrinsic capacity (p = 0.044). Conclusion: Impairment in four or more domains of intrinsic capacity is associated with death in LTCF residents. (AU)

Bamboo (Poales, Poaceae): An Important Maintainer of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Biodiversity Hotspot in the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Although tropical forests are home to most of the global diversity, they suffer from the most significant knowledge gaps concerning their fauna. Despite its high biodiversity, Brazil is facing an alarming destruction of habitats, with species becoming extinct before they can be discovered or described via science. Therefore, there is an urgent need to expand wildlife inventories, including entomofauna surveys. The present study aimed to analyze the bionomic aspects and the influence of abiotic factors on mosquito fauna whose immature phases develop in two bamboo species, Guadua tagoara and Bambusa vulgaris, in Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Immatures were collected in 10 artificially drilled bamboo plants, in five stalk internodes per plant, at two sampling points, from March 2022 to March 2023, during 23 collections. A total of 1845 immatures were obtained, 72.14% at sampling point 1 and 27.86% at sampling point 2. Of this, 1162 individuals reached adulthood, belonging to the following species: Culex iridescens, Culex neglectus, Haemagogus leucocelaenus, Orthopodomyia albicosta, Sabethes identicus, Sabethes melanonymphe, Sabethes purpureus, Toxorhynchites bambusicola, Toxorhynchites sp., Trichoprosopon compressum, Trichoprosopon pallidiventer, Wyeomyia arthrostigma, Wyeomyia codiocampa, Wyeomyia lutzi, Wyeomyia oblita, Wyeomyia personata, Wyeomyia serrata, and Wyeomyia sp. The Tijuca National Park is a tourist spot and receives a large number of visitors. Thus, humans can become an accessible food source for mosquitoes in this area, making the species survey critical since important arbovirus vectors have been recorded in Rio de Janeiro.

Clinical outcomes before and after videofluoroscopic swallow study in children 24 months of age or younger.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the combined impact of videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) and therapeutic feeding and swallowing interventions on clinical outcomes in children with oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD). METHODS: This was an uncontrolled longitudinal analytical study in which OPD patients were evaluated before and after VFSS. Children ≤ 24 months of age diagnosed with OPD in a clinical setting and undergoing VFSS for investigation and management of OPD were included in the study. The study participants received therapeutic feeding and swallowing interventions after having undergone VFSS, being followed at an outpatient clinic for pediatric dysphagia in order to monitor feeding and swallowing difficulties. Respiratory and feeding outcomes were compared before and after VFSS. RESULTS: Penetration/aspiration events were observed in 61% of the VFSSs (n = 72), and therapeutic feeding and swallowing interventions were recommended for 97% of the study participants. After the VFSS, there was a reduction in the odds of receiving antibiotic therapy (OR = 0.007) and in the duration of antibiotic therapy (p = 0.014), as well as in the odds of being admitted to hospital (p = 0.024) and in the length of hospital stay (p = 0.025). A combination of oral and enteral feeding became more common than oral or enteral feeding alone (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of participants exhibited penetration/aspiration on VFSS. Therapeutic feeding and swallowing interventions following a VFSS appear to be associated with reduced respiratory morbidity in this population.

Water exchange between the Chlorenchyma and the Hydrenchyma and its physiological role in leaves with Crassulacean acid metabolism.

Direct and non-destructive measurements of plant-water relations of plants exhibiting the Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathway are seldom addressed, with most findings inferred from gas exchange measurements. The main focus of this paper was to study how the water exchange between the chlorenchyma and the hydrenchyma depends on and follows the CAM photosynthetic diel pattern using non-invasive and continuous methods. Gas exchange and leaf patch clamp pressure probe (LPCP) measurements were performed on Aloe vera (L.) Burm f., a CAM species, and compared to measurements on banana (Musa acuminata Colla), a C3 species. The LPCP output pressure, Pp , of Aloe vera plants follows its diel CAM photosynthetic cycle, reversed to that observed in banana and other C3 species. The four phases of CAM photosynthesis can also be identified in the diel LPCP output pressure, Pp , cycle. The Pp values in Aloe vera are determined by the hydrenchyma turgor pressure, with both parameters being reversely related. A non-invasive and continuous assessment of the water exchange between the chlorenchyma and the hydrenchyma in CAM plants, namely, by following the changes in the hydrenchyma turgor pressure, is presented. However, showing once more how the LPCP output pressure, Pp , depends on the leaf structure, such an approach can be used to study plant-water relations in other CAM species with a leaf structure similar to Aloe vera, with the hydrenchyma composing most of the leaf volume.

Effects of pasture intensification and sugarcane cultivation on non-target species: A realistic evaluation in pesticide-contaminated mesocosms.

Conventional soil management in agricultural areas may expose non-target organisms living nearby to several types of contaminants. In this study, the effects of soil management in extensive pasture (EP), intensive pasture (IP), and sugarcane crops (C) were evaluated in a realistic-field-scale study. Thirteen aquatic mesocosms embedded in EP, IP, and C treatments were monitored over 392 days. The recommended management for each of the areas was simulated, such as tillage, fertilizer, pesticides (i.e. 2,4-D, fipronil) and vinasse application, and cattle pasture. To access the potential toxic effects that the different steps of soil management in these areas may cause, the cladoceran Ceriophania silvestrii was used as aquatic bioindicator, the dicot Eruca sativa as phytotoxicity bioindicator in water, and the dipteran Chironomus sancticaroli as sediment bioindicator. Generalized linear mixed models were used to identify differences between the treatments. Low concentrations of 2,4-D (<97 µg L-1) and fipronil (<0.21 µg L-1) in water were able to alter fecundity, female survival, and the intrinsic rate of population increase of C. silvestrii in IP and C treatments. Similarly, the dicot E. sativa had germination, shoot and root growth affected mainly by 2,4-D concentrations in the water. For C. sancticarolli, larval development was affected by the presence of fipronil (<402.6 ng g-1). The acidic pH (below 5) reduced the fecundity and female survival of C. silvestrii and affected the germination and growth of E. sativa. Fecundity and female survival of C. silvestrii decrease in the presence of phosphorus-containing elements. The outcomes of this study may improve our understanding of the consequences of exposure of freshwater biota to complex stressors in an environment that is rapidly and constantly changing.