Evaluation of internal markers in digestibility estimation for sheep and goats.

The objective of this study was to compare the indirect methods of obtaining digestibility with the direct method of total fecal collection to estimate the apparent digestibility of nutrients in sheep and goats supplemented with non-protein nitrogen. Five goats and five sheep with no defined racial pattern were used, distributed in two 5 × 5 Latin squares, with split plots, considering the diets as plots and the apparent digestibility determination methodologies as subplots. The diets were composed of buffelgrass hay and the addition, via ruminal infusion, of increasing amounts of nitrogen supplementation in order to gradually raise the CP level of the basal diet in intervals of 2% points, that is, + 2, +4, + 6 and + 8%. Samples of the feeds offered, and the leftovers were collected daily during the five days of collection to determine the nutrient intake, as well as the total collection of feces to determine the apparent digestibility of the nutrients. The amount of fecal dry matter excreted was estimated by the concentration of Indigestible Acid Detergent Fiber (ADFi), Indigestible Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDFi), Indigestible Dry Matter at 244 h (DMi 244 h) and Indigestible Dry Matter at 264 h (DMi 264 h). Among the evaluated markers, DMi 264 h had the lowest accuracy in estimating fecal excretion and nutrient digestibility. For the goat species, the markers ADFi and DMi 244 h proved to be able to adequately predict fecal excretion and digestibility indices, while NDFi stood out for both species. Among the evaluated markers, NDFi is the one that most accurately estimates the nutrient digestibility of the diet for goats and sheep.

Particle abrasion as a pre-bonding dentin surface treatment: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aims to assess the influence of air abrasion with aluminum oxide and bioactive glass on dentin bond strength. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search was conducted in three databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase), on March 3rd, 2023, with previously identified MeSH Terms. A total of 1023 records were screened. Exclusion criteria include primary teeth, air abrasion of a substrate other than sound dentin, use of particles apart from aluminum oxide or bioactive glass, and studies in which bond strength was not assessed. RESULTS: Out of the 1023 records, title and abstract screening resulted in the exclusion of 895 and 67 studies, respectively, while full-text analysis excluded another 25 articles. In addition, 5 records were not included, as full texts could not be obtained after requesting the authors. Two cross-references were added. Thus, 33 studies were included in this review. It is important to emphasize the absence of standardization of air abrasion parameters. According to 63.6% of the studies, air abrasion does not influence dentin bond strength. Moreover, 30.3% suggest improving bonding performance, and 6.1% advocate a decrease. CONCLUSIONS: Air abrasion with aluminum oxide does not enhance or impair dentin bond strength. The available data on bioactive glass are limited, which hinders conclusive insights. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dentin air abrasion is a widely applied technique nowadays, with numerous clinical applications. Despite the widespread adoption of this procedure, its potential impact on bonding performance requires a thorough analysis of the existing literature.

Espaços Formativos e de Sensibilização Quanto às Práticas Integrativas e Complementares em uma Unidade de Saúde da Família: Potencialidades e Desafios

Diante do contexto do Sistema Único de Saúde e das Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais para os Cursos de Medicina, o Módulo Horizontal A-2 traz uma proposta de conectar os aprendizados teóricos e a prática na rede de saúde. Com objetivos de construção de conhecimentos em práticas educativas em saúde, foram realizados dois cursos de Práticas Integrativas centrados em princípios da educação popular e em uma construção horizontal do conhecimento. Esses cursos foram realizados na Unidade de Saúde da Família - Vila Saúde e a sua construção deu-se em conjunto com a equipe e usuários da mesma. Os participantes entraram em contato com diversas práticas como a fitoterapia, terapia floral, biodança e vivências teatrais. Nesse contexto, foi possível identificar muitas potencialidades e dificuldades no desenvolvimento desses cursos, como a importância do interesse dos participantes e os problemas de infraestrutura na Unidade. Durante os cursos, o conhecimento construído permitiu um contato maior dos participantes com as práticas integrativas e uma visão ampliada sobre o cuidado. Além disso, os profissionais puderam se capacitar e conhecer novas práticas, o que possibilita uma melhoria no atendimento realizado. Para os estudantes, o curso trouxe uma visão ampla do sistema e da importância da educação em saúde no Sistema Único de Saúde.

Efficacy of Brazilian green propolis (EPP-AF®) as an adjunct treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A randomized, controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) promotes challenging immune and inflammatory phenomena. Though various therapeutic possibilities have been tested against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the most adequate treatment has not yet been established. Propolis is a natural product with considerable evidence of immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory activities, and experimental data point to potential against viral targets. We hypothesized that propolis can reduce the negative effects of COVID-19. METHODS: In a randomized, controlled, open-label, single-center trial, hospitalized adult COVID-19 patients were treated with a standardized green propolis extract (EPP-AF®ï¸) as an adjunct therapy. Patients were allocated to receive standard care plus an oral dose of 400 mg or 800 mg/day of green propolis for seven days, or standard care alone. Standard care included all necessary interventions, as determined by the attending physician. The primary end point was the time to clinical improvement, defined as the length of hospital stay or oxygen therapy dependency duration. Secondary outcomes included acute kidney injury and need for intensive care or vasoactive drugs. Patients were followed for 28 days after admission. RESULTS: We enrolled 124 patients; 40 were assigned to EPP-AF®ï¸ 400 mg/day, 42 to EPP-AF®ï¸ 800 mg/day, and 42 to the control group. The length of hospital stay post-intervention was shorter in both propolis groups than in the control group; lower dose, median 7 days versus 12 days (95% confidence interval [CI] -6.23 to -0.07; p = 0.049) and higher dose, median 6 days versus 12 days (95% CI -7.00 to -1.09; p = 0.009). Propolis did not significantly affect the need for oxygen supplementation. In the high dose propolis group, there was a lower rate of acute kidney injury than in the controls (4.8 vs 23.8%), (odds ratio [OR] 0.18; 95% CI 0.03-0.84; p = 0.048). No patient had propolis treatment discontinued due to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of propolis to the standard care procedures resulted in clinical benefits for the hospitalized COVID-19 patients, especially evidenced by a reduction in the length of hospital stay. Consequently, we conclude that propolis can reduce the impact of COVID-19.

Mutagenesis of the CTX-M-type ESBL-is MIC-guided treatment according to the new EUCAST recommendations a safe approach?

OBJECTIVES: Spurred by the latest EUCAST and CLSI recommendation to adjust antibiotic therapy on the basis of MICs instead of resistance mechanisms, we aimed to investigate the ability of CTX-M-1 and CTX-M-14 to achieve ceftazidime resistance under selective conditions. METHODS: We exposed Escherichia coli transconjugants bearing natural plasmids that express CTX-M-1, CTX-M-14 or CTX-M-15 to various selective culture conditions and tracked their growth and mutational frequencies. For selected mutants we analysed the sequences of the bla CTX-M genes, determined the altered MICs of cefotaxime, cefepime, ceftazidime and meropenem, and measured the efflux properties and the changes in transcriptional levels of bla CTX-M genes. RESULTS: The CTX-M-1- and CTX-M-14-bearing clones switched from ceftazidime-susceptible to ceftazidime-resistant phenotypes under selective conditions within 24 h. However, no mutations within the bla CTX-M genes were found, and the efflux was unlikely to be involved in the increased ceftazidime MICs. In CTX-M-1-bearing clones bla CTX-M-1 expression was 19-fold increased under ceftazidime-selective conditions but there was a high variance within the clones. Reasons for increased ceftazidime MICs of CTX-M-bearing clones remain unclear but might be the increased enzymatic activity or other intrachromosomal mutations. CONCLUSIONS: It can be speculated that different strategies to survive under selective conditions can be adopted by E. coli, thereby establishing an optimal mechanism with the lowest energy demand for each transconjugant. Based on our in vitro findings, we cannot fully recommend the use of ceftazidime, particularly in critically ill patients with infections due to ESBL producers, regardless of susceptibility to ceftazidime.

Efeitos da TENS acupuntural no limiar da dor induzioda pelo frio / Effects of the acupunctural TENS in the threshold of cold induced pain

A estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea (TENS) é frequentemente aplicada para o alívio de dores, embora evidências acerca da sua eficiência sejam inconclusivas. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o efeito da TENS Acupuntural com dois posicionamentos de eletrodos e o efeito placebo no limiar de dor (latência) provocado pela baixa temperatura (0-2 graus) em voluntárias jovens saudáveis. Vinte participantes foram recrutadas e submetidas a ciclos de indução térmica utilizando a crioestimulação na mão dominante com o objetivo de provocar uma resposta dolorosa. Os eletrodos foram localizados próximos ao local de aplicação do estímulo térmico e na região do dermátomo correspondente à área estimulada ipsilateral. A frequência de estimulação utilizada no aparelho foi de 10 Hz com onda bifásica assimétrica balanceada, intensidade forte, porém confortável e com duração de pulso de 1ms. Os dados mostram que a colocação dos eletrodos próximos ao local do estímulo, na região do dermátomo e o placebo foram efetivos no aumento do limiar de dor ao estímulo térmico. Além disso, foi constatado que a TENS aplicada na região local e do dermátomo apresentaram aumento significante no limiar de dor em relação ao momento placebo, mas não apresentaram significância entre si. Concluímos que a aplicação da TENS Acupuntural é efetiva no aumento do limiar doloroso (latência) promovido pela estimulação de baixa temperatura.