Pythium and Phytopythium species associated with weeds collected in vegetable production fields in Brazil.

This study aimed to identify Pythium and Phytopythium species from weeds collected in vegetable fields and test their pathogenicity. Weeds with symptoms of damping-off, root rot or wilt were sampled in the Brazilian states of Ceará, Goiás and Pernambuco, as well as in the Distrito Federal, for isolation and identification of the causal agents. Once isolated, colonies with typical Pythium and Phytopythium characteristics grew in selective V8 medium. Procedures for species identification included morphology and amplification of the ITS and Cox II regions, which were compared with other accessions available at GenBank. The phylogenetic relationships among the isolates and pathogenicity to their original hosts were evaluated. Six Pythium species were identified: P. aphanidermatum, P. oopapillum, P. orthogonon, P. ultimum var. ultimum, P. myriotylum and P. sylvaticum, and two species of Phytopythium, Phy. chamaehyphon and Phy. oedochilum. In the pathogenicity tests, the 10 weed hosts showed symptoms of damping-off or root rot after inoculation, with exception of Portulaca oleraceae in which none of the isolates was pathogenic. Therefore, common weeds in vegetable fields areas can host different Pythium and Phytopythium species and play an important role in the epidemiology of vegetable diseases, in particular on pathogen survival and population increase.

SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey among adults involved in healthcare and health research in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa.

OBJECTIVES: Many African countries have reported fewer COVID-19 cases than countries elsewhere. By the end of 2020, Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, had <2500 PCR-confirmed cases corresponding to 0.1% of the ∼1.8 million national population. We assessed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in urban Guinea-Bissau to help guide the pandemic response in Guinea-Bissau. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional assessment of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in a cohort of staff at the Bandim Health Project. METHODS: We measured IgG antibodies using point-of-care rapid tests among 140 staff and associates at a biometric research field station in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, during November 2020. RESULTS: Of 140 participants, 25 (18%) were IgG-positive. Among IgG-positives, 12 (48%) reported an episode of illness since the onset of the pandemic. Twenty-five (18%) participants had been PCR-tested between May and September; 7 (28%) had been PCR-positive. Four of these seven tested IgG-negative in the present study. Five participants reported that somebody had died in their house, corresponding crudely to an annual death rate of 4.5/1000 people; no death was attributed to COVID-19. Outdoor workers had a lower prevalence of IgG-positivity. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the low official number of COVID-19 cases, our serosurvey found a high prevalence of IgG-positivity. Most IgG-positives had not been ill. The official number of PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases has thus grossly underestimated the prevalence of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The observed overall mortality rate in households of Bandim Health Project employees was not higher than the official Guinean mortality rate of 9.6/1000 people.

Species diversity, novel interactions and absence of well-supported host-guided phylogenetic groupings of Neotropical Alternaria isolates causing foliar lesions in Solanaceae.

AIM: To report the characterization of 120 Alternaria isolates inducing early blight-like foliar lesions in nine species of five Solanaceae genera collected across all macrogeographical Brazilian regions. MATERIAL AND RESULTS: Phylogenetic relationships were assessed via analyses of the Alternaria alternata allergenic protein-coding, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and the calmodulin gene sequences. Most of the tomato isolates were placed into the Alternaria linariae cluster, whereas most of the potato isolates were grouped with Alternaria grandis. Novel host-pathogen interactions were also reported. Seventeen isolates were selected for morphometrical characterization, and a subsample of 13 isolates was employed in pathogenicity assays on tomato, potato, eggplant, scarlet eggplant, Capsicum annuum, Datura stramonium, Physalis angulata and Nicotiana tabacum. Eleven isolates were able to induce foliar lesions in tomatoes but none in C. annuum. Potato was susceptible to a subgroup of isolates but displayed a subset of isolate-specific interactions. Morphological traits were in overall agreement with molecular and host range data. CONCLUSION: Alternaria linariae and A. grandis were confirmed as the major causal agents of tomato and potato early blight, respectively. However other Alternaria species are also involved with early blight in solanaceous hosts in Brazil. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The diversity and host-specific patterns of the Alternaria isolates from Solanaceae may have practical implications in establishing effective early blight genetic resistance and cultural management strategies especially for tomato and potato crops.

A three-decade survey of Brazilian Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici races assessed by pathogenicity tests on differential tomato accessions and by molecular markers.

AIM: Physiological race determination of 143 Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) isolates collected along 30 years in major tomato-producing regions of Brazil. MATERIALS AND RESULTS: Physiological races were determined via root-dipping inoculation of differential tomato accessions and by the PCR-based marker system of Hirano and Arie (2006). According to pathogenicity/virulence assays, five race 1, 23 race 2 and 115 race 3 isolates were identified. FOL race 1 and 2 isolates prevailed up to early 2000s. Afterwards, the large majority of the isolates was classified as the invasive race 3. Novel reports of race 3 were done in five states, thus expanding its geographical distribution. Using this PCR-based marker system, a precise discrimination was observed for all race 3 isolates. However, all race 1 and 2 isolates displayed only the cosmopolitan race 1-specific amplicon pattern. CONCLUSION: The development and/or validation of novel race-specific marker systems are necessary to allow a precise discrimination of the potentially endemic Brazilian FOL race 2. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present characterization of isolates indicates that distinct evolutionary mechanisms are acting to select new FOL races and/or genetic variants across agroecosystems around the globe.

Impact of microaeration bioreactor on dissolved sulfide and methane removal from real UASB effluent for sewage treatment.

Two bioreactors were investigated as an alternative for the post-treatment of effluent from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating domestic sewage, aiming at dissolved sulfide and methane removal. The bioreactors (R-control and R-air) were operated at different hydraulic retention times (HRT; 6 and 3 h) with or without aeration. Large sulfide and methane removal efficiencies were achieved by the microaerated reactor at HRT of 6 h. At this HRT, sulfide removal efficiencies were equal to 61% and 79%, and methane removal efficiencies were 31% and 55% for R-control and R-air, respectively. At an HRT of 3 h, sulfide removal efficiencies were 22% (R-control) and 33% (R-air) and methane removal did not occur. The complete oxidation of sulfide, with sulfate formation, prevailed in both phases and bioreactors. However, elemental sulfur formation was more predominant at an HRT of 6 h than at an HRT of 3 h. Taken together, the results show that post-treatment improved the anaerobic effluent quality in terms of chemical oxygen demand and solids removal. However, ammoniacal nitrogen was not removed due to either the low concentration of air provided or the absence of microorganisms involved in the nitrogen cycle.

Structural brain changes are associated with response of negative symptoms to prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with schizophrenia.

Impaired neural plasticity may be a core pathophysiological process underlying the symptomatology of schizophrenia. Plasticity-enhancing interventions, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), may improve difficult-to-treat symptoms; however, efficacy in large clinical trials appears limited. The high variability of rTMS-related treatment response may be related to a comparably large variation in the ability to generate plastic neural changes. The aim of the present study was to determine whether negative symptom improvement in schizophrenia patients receiving rTMS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was related to rTMS-related brain volume changes. A total of 73 schizophrenia patients with predominant negative symptoms were randomized to an active (n=34) or sham (n=39) 10-Hz rTMS intervention applied 5 days per week for 3 weeks to the left DLPFC. Local brain volume changes measured by deformation-based morphometry were correlated with changes in negative symptom severity using a repeated-measures analysis of covariance design. Volume gains in the left hippocampal, parahippocampal and precuneal cortices predicted negative symptom improvement in the active rTMS group (all r⩽-0.441, all P⩽0.009), but not the sham rTMS group (all r⩽0.211, all P⩾0.198). Further analyses comparing negative symptom responders (⩾20% improvement) and non-responders supported the primary analysis, again only in the active rTMS group (F(9, 207)=2.72, P=0.005, partial η 2=0.106). Heterogeneity in clinical response of negative symptoms in schizophrenia to prefrontal high-frequency rTMS may be related to variability in capacity for structural plasticity, particularly in the left hippocampal region and the precuneus.

Comparative genome analysis and characterization of the Salmonella Typhimurium strain CCRJ_26 isolated from swine carcasses using whole-genome sequencing approach.

Salmonella pathogenicity relies on virulence factors many of which are clustered within the Salmonella pathogenicity islands. Salmonella also harbours mobile genetic elements such as virulence plasmids, prophage-like elements and antimicrobial resistance genes which can contribute to increase its pathogenicity. Here, we have genetically characterized a selected S. Typhimurium strain (CCRJ_26) from our previous study with Multiple Drugs Resistant profile and high-frequency PFGE clonal profile which apparently persists in the pork production centre of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. By whole-genome sequencing, we described the strain's genome virulent content and characterized the repertoire of bacterial plasmids, antibiotic resistance genes and prophage-like elements. Here, we have shown evidence that strain CCRJ_26 genome possible represent a virulence-associated phenotype which may be potentially virulent in human infection. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Whole-genome sequencing technologies are still costly and remain underexplored for applied microbiology in Brazil. Hence, this genomic description of S. Typhimurium strain CCRJ_26 will provide help in future molecular epidemiological studies. The analysis described here reveals a quick and useful pipeline for bacterial virulence characterization using whole-genome sequencing approach.

Phytosterol-enriched milk lowers LDL-cholesterol levels in Brazilian children and adolescents: Double-blind, cross-over trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite evidence of the lipid-lowering effect of plant sterols among adults with hypercholesterolemia, data regarding phytosterol use in children are limited. In this paper, we examined the effects of daily consumption of a phytosterol-enriched milk compound on the lipid profiles of Brazilian children and adolescents with dyslipidemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a randomized, double blind, crossover clinical trial. Twenty eight dyslipidemics outpatients (aged 6-9 years) from an University Hospital were randomly allocated to control or intervention group. The intervention group received milk enriched with 1.2 g/day of plant sterol and the control group received the equivalent amount of skim milk during the period of 8 weeks. Changes from baseline in the mean lipid profile, including total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations. Serum lipid profiles, glucose levels, dietary and anthropometric data were determined at weeks 0, 4, 8, 16, and 20. Details regarding the safety and tolerance of phytosterol were obtained, using an open-ended questionnaire. Intention-to-treat analysis were performed, using the proc mixed procedure in SAS. After 8 weeks, the mean concentrations of TC and LDL-C were significantly reduced in the intervention group as compared to the control group with reductions of 5.9% (p = 0.09) and 10.2% (p = 0.002), respectively. In addition, TG concentrations were reduced by 19.7% (p = 0.09). No serious side effects were reported during the study. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that plant sterols are an effective and safe treatment of infantile dyslipidemia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: RBR-3h7f9k.

Ibuprofen nanocrystals developed by 22 factorial design experiment: A new approach for poorly water-soluble drugs.

The reduction of the particle size of drugs of pharmaceutical interest down to the nano-sized range has dramatically changed their physicochemical properties. The greatest disadvantage of nanocrystals is their inherent instability, due to the risk of crystal growth. Thus, the selection of an appropriate stabilizer is crucial to obtain long-term physicochemically stable nanocrystals. High pressure homogenization has enormous advantages, including the possibility of scaling up, lack of organic solvents and the production of small particles diameter with low polydispersity index. The sequential use of high shear homogenization followed by high pressure homogenization, can modulate nanoparticles' size for different administration routes. The present study focuses on the optimization of the production process of two formulations composed of different surfactants produced by High Shear Homogenization followed by hot High Pressure Homogenization. To build up the surface response charts, a 22 full factorial design experiment, based on 2 independent variables, was used to develop optimized formulations. The effects of the production process on the mean particle size and polydispersity index were evaluated. The best ibuprofen nanocrystal formulations were obtained using 0.20% Tween 80 and 1.20% PVP K30 (F1) and 0.20% Tween 80 and 1.20% Span 80 (F2). The estimation of the long-term stability of the aqueous suspensions of ibuprofen nanocrystals was studied using the LUMISizer. The calculated instability index suggests that F1 was more stable when stored at 4 °C and 22 °C, whereas F2 was shown to be more stable when freshly prepared.

Effect of quebracho-chestnut tannin extracts at 2 dietary crude protein levels on performance, rumen fermentation, and nitrogen partitioning in dairy cows.

Our objective was to determine the effects of a tannin mixture extract on lactating cow performance, rumen fermentation, and N partitioning, and whether responses were affected by dietary crude protein (CP). The experiment was conducted as a split-plot with 24 Holstein cows (mean ± standard deviation; 669±55kg of body weight; 87±36 d in milk; 8 ruminally cannulated) randomly assigned to a diet of [dry matter (DM) basis] 15.3 or 16.6% CP (whole plot) and 0, 0.45, 0.90, or 1.80% of a tannin mixture in three 4×4 Latin squares within each level of CP (sub-plot). Tannin extract mixture was from quebracho and chestnut trees (2:1 ratio). Dietary CP level did not influence responses to tannin supplementation. A linear decrease in DM intake (25.5 to 23.4kg/d) was found, as well as a linear increase in milk/DM intake (1.62 to 1.75) and a trend for a linear decrease in fat-and-protein-corrected milk (38.4 to 37.1kg/d) with increasing levels of tannin supplementation. In addition, there was a negative linear effect for milk urea N (14.0 to 12.9mg/dL), milk protein yield (1.20 to 1.15kg), and concentration (2.87 to 2.83%). Furthermore, the change in milk protein concentration tended to be quadratic, and predicted maximum was 2.89% for a tannin mixture fed at 0.47% of dietary DM. Tannin supplementation reduced ruminal NH3-N (11.3 to 8.8mg/dL), total branched-chain volatile fatty acid concentration (2.97 to 2.47mol/100mol), DM, organic matter, CP, and neutral detergent fiber digestibility. Dietary tannin had no effect on intake N (587±63g/d), milk N (175±32g/d), or N utilization efficiency (29.7±4.4%). However, feeding tannin extracts linearly increased fecal N excretion (214 to 256g/d), but reduced urinary N (213 to 177g/d) and urinary urea N (141 to 116g/d) excretion. Decreasing dietary CP did not influence milk production, but increased N utilization efficiency (milk N/N intake; 0.27 to 0.33), and decreased milk urea N (15.4 to 11.8mg/dL), ruminal NH3-N (11.0 to 9.3mg/dL), apparent digestibility of DM (66.1 to 62.6%), organic matter (68.2 to 64.3%), and CP (62.9 to 55.9%), as well as urinary N excretion (168 vs. 232g/d). Results of this study indicated beneficial effects of 0.45% tannin extract in the diet on milk protein content. Increasing tannin extract levels in the diet lowered urinary N excretion, but had detrimental effects on DM intake, milk protein content, milk protein yield, and nutrient digestibility.

Lophine derivatives as activators in peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence.

Lophine and four of its derivatives were used as activators (ACTs) of the chemiluminescent peroxyoxalate (PO) reaction of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate with H2O2, catalysed by imidazole. Kinetic emission assays have shown that with the tested compounds the reaction mechanism, regarding the formation of the high energy intermediate (HEI) of the PO reaction, occurs as previously seen for commonly used ACTs. A bimolecular interaction of the compounds with the HEI leads to chemiexcitation through the chemically initiated electron exchange luminescence (CIEEL) mechanism, as confirmed by a linear free-energy correlation between the relative catalytic rate constants and the oxidation potentials of the compounds. The yields of excited state formation and light emission, in the range of 10(-2)-10(-3) E mol(-1), are comparable to the ones seen with commonly used ACTs. A Hammett plot with ρ = -0.90 indicates the buildup of a partial positive charge on the transition step of the catalytic process, consistent with the formation of a radical cation of the ACT, being an additional validation of the CIEEL mechanism in this system.

Nutritional evaluation of young bulls on tropical pasture receiving supplements with different protein:carbohydrate ratios.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the nutritional parameters of young bulls supplemented with different ratios of protein: carbohydrate on tropical pastures from 4 until 18 months old. Fifty-five non-castrated beef calves (138.3±3.4 kg, 90 to 150 d of age) were used. The calves (young bulls) were subjected to a 430-d experimental period encompassing 4 seasons. The treatments were as follows: control, only mineral mixture; HPHC, high protein and high carbohydrate supplement; HPLC, high protein and low carbohydrate supplement; LPHC, low protein and high carbohydrate supplement; and LPLC, low protein and low carbohydrate supplement. The amount of supplement was adjusted every 28 d. Dry matter (DM) intake was higher in the dry-to-rainy transition and rainy seasons for all nutritional plans. Non-supplemented animals had lower intakes of DM and total digestible nutrients (TDN) than supplemented young bulls in all seasons. Although differences in DM intake were not observed between supplemented animals, the supplements with high carbohydrate (HPHC and LPHC) had lower forage intake during suckling (rainy-to-dry transition season) and in the rainy season. However, the HPHC treatment animals had higher intake and digestibility of neutral detergent fiber. It can be concluded that supplementation with high protein levels (supplying 50% of the crude protein requirement) provide the best nutritional parameters for grazing young bulls in most seasons, increasing intake and digestibility of diet, and these effects are more intense when associated with high carbohydrate levels level (supplying 30% TDN requirement).

Protein restriction does not impair adaptations induced in cardiomyocytes by exercise in rats.

The effect of a treadmill running program on physical performance and morphofunctional adaptations was investigated in control and malnourished rats. Male 4-week old Wistar rats were randomized in groups of 12 animals: control trained (CT), control sedentary (CS), malnourished trained (MT) and malnourished sedentary (MS). Control and malnourished animals received chow with 12% protein or 6% protein, respectively. Trained groups were subjected to a treadmill running program for 8 weeks. Physical performance, biochemical parameters, cardiomyocytes morphology and biomechanics were determined. Malnourished animals presented reduction in body mass, serum levels of total protein, albumin and hemoglobin compared to the control groups. At 1 and 3 Hz cardiomyocytes from CT and MT showed higher cell shortening, speed of contraction and relaxation compared to the other groups. At 3 Hz cardiomyocytes from MS showed reduction in cell shortening and speed of contraction compared to CS. Protein restriction does not prevent the improvement in physical performance or cardiomyocytes biomechanical efficiency and growth in response to exercise. These findings could represent a modulatory effect of exercise to maintain cardiomyocyte growth at the expense of reducing the rate of body growth in order to ensure proper cellular function in conditions of cardiovascular overload imposed by exercise.

Identification of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici Race 3 Infecting Tomatoes in Northeast Brazil.

The three races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) are important tomato pathogens throughout the world, causing severe economic losses (1). In Brazil, races 1 and 2 are widespread, but the current geographic distribution of race 3 is restricted to the mild climate areas of Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro States in the southeast region (2,3). Here we report the spread of FOL race 3 to the warm northeast region of Brazil. Plants in commercial fields of the hybrid 'Alambra' (resistant to FOL races 1 and 2) were found displaying chlorosis, vascular browning, and wilt symptoms in Jaguaquara County, Bahia State, Brazil. Disease incidence ranged from 10 to 50%. The virulence profile of six isolates obtained from three distinct tomato-producing fields was investigated by root-dipping inoculation (106 conidia/ml) of 21-day-old seedlings from a set of FOL race differential accessions: 'Ponderosa' (susceptible to all races), 'IPA-5' (FOL race 1 resistance; I-1 locus); 'Alambra' and 'Floradade' (FOL races 1 and 2 resistance; I-2 gene), and Solanum pennellii 'LA 716' (resistant to all three races; I-3 locus). All six isolates were able to induce severe wilt symptoms in 100% of the plants from all lines but S. pennellii 'LA 716'. FOL race 3 identity was confirmed via PCR assays employing a specific set of primers that are able to discriminate all the three FOL races as well as F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici isolates (1). Total DNA was extracted from pure fungal colonies growing in agar medium. The typical FOL race 3 amplicon profiles (i.e. positive for the primers uni, sp13, and sp23 and negative for the primer sprl) were observed only in the six FOL 3 isolates from Bahia as well as in five reference isolates of race 3 (previously obtained from tomato in Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro States), thus confirming their race identities. This recent, fast, and wide geographic expansion of the FOL race 3 in Brazil suggests that the pathogen has been introduced into new tomato producing areas via either contaminated seeds or seedlings. Because of the complexity of establishing effective chemical and cultural control strategies, these epidemics caused by FOL race 3 in distinct areas of Brazil might cause the replacement of the currently grown susceptible hybrids by resistant ones. References: (1) Y. Hirano and T. Arie. J. Gen. Plant Pathol. 72:273, 2006; (2) A. Reis et al. Fitopatol. Bras. 30:426, 2005; (3) A. Reis and L. S. Boiteux. Hort. Bras. 25:451, 2007.

Prevalence, drivers and surveillance of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic use in rural China: Interdisciplinary study.

This study aimed to characterise antibiotic prescribing and dispensing patterns in rural health facilities in China and determine the community prevalence of antibiotic resistance. We investigated patterns and drivers of antibiotic use for common respiratory and urinary tract infections (RTI/UTI) in community settings, examined relationships between presenting symptoms, clinical diagnosis and microbiological results in rural outpatient clinics, and assessed potential for using patient records to monitor antibiotic use. This interdisciplinary mixed methods study included: (i) Observations and exit interviews in eight village clinics and township health centres and 15 retail pharmacies; (ii) Urine, throat swab and sputum samples from patients to identify potential pathogens and test susceptibility; (iii) 103 semi-structured interviews with doctors, patients, pharmacy workers and antibiotic-purchasing customers; (iv) Assessment of completeness and accuracy of electronic patient records through comparison with observational data. 87.9% of 1123 recruited clinic patients were prescribed antibiotics (of which 35.5% contained antibiotic combinations and >40% were for intravenous administration), most of whom had RTIs. Antibiotic prescribing for RTIs was not associated with presence of bacterial pathogens but was correlated with longer duration of infection (OR = 3.33) and presence of sore throat (OR = 1.64). Fever strongly predicted prescription of intravenous antibiotics (OR = 2.87). Resistance rates in bacterial pathogens isolated were low compared with national data. 25.8% of patients reported antibiotics use prior to their clinic visit, but only 56.2% of clinic patients and 53% of pharmacy customers could confirm their prescription or purchase included antibiotics. Diagnostic uncertainty, financial incentives, understanding of antibiotics as anti-inflammatory and limited doctor-patient communication were identified as key drivers of antibiotic use. Completion and accuracy of electronic patient records were highly variable. Prevalence of antibiotic resistance in this rural population is relatively low despite high levels of antibiotic prescribing and self-medication. More systematic use of e-records and in-service training could improve antibiotic surveillance and stewardship in rural facilities. Combining qualitative and observational anthropological methods and concepts with microbiological and epidemiological investigation of antibiotic resistance at both research design and analytic synthesis stages substantially increases the validity of research findings and their utility in informing future intervention development.

Mindcraft, a Mobile Mental Health Monitoring Platform for Children and Young People: Development and Acceptability Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Children and young people's mental health is a growing public health concern, which is further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobile health apps, particularly those using passive smartphone sensor data, present an opportunity to address this issue and support mental well-being. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a mobile mental health platform for children and young people, Mindcraft, which integrates passive sensor data monitoring with active self-reported updates through an engaging user interface to monitor their well-being. METHODS: A user-centered design approach was used to develop Mindcraft, incorporating feedback from potential users. User acceptance testing was conducted with a group of 8 young people aged 15-17 years, followed by a pilot test with 39 secondary school students aged 14-18 years, which was conducted for a 2-week period. RESULTS: Mindcraft showed encouraging user engagement and retention. Users reported that they found the app to be a friendly tool helping them to increase their emotional awareness and gain a better understanding of themselves. Over 90% of users (36/39, 92.5%) answered all active data questions on the days they used the app. Passive data collection facilitated the gathering of a broader range of well-being metrics over time, with minimal user intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The Mindcraft app has shown promising results in monitoring mental health symptoms and promoting user engagement among children and young people during its development and initial testing. The app's user-centered design, the focus on privacy and transparency, and a combination of active and passive data collection strategies have all contributed to its efficacy and receptiveness among the target demographic. By continuing to refine and expand the app, the Mindcraft platform has the potential to contribute meaningfully to the field of mental health care for young people.

Previous transanal full-thickness excision increases the morbidity of radical resection for rectal cancer.

AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the impact of primary full-thickness transanal excision (TAE) on the morbidity rate following radical rectal resection for cancer. METHOD: Fourteen consecutive patients underwent radical resection for lower third rectal cancer following full-thickness TAE without closure of the defect. They were compared with 25 matched patients from a prospective database of 275 rectal resections who had undergone radical resection without previous TAE for lower third rectal cancer (control group). The confounding factors were: age, sex, body mass index (BMI), classification according to the American Society of Anaesthesiologists, administration of neoadjuvant radiotherapy before rectal resection, tumour stage and type of surgical procedure. RESULTS: There were no deaths. Overall morbidity was 64.3% in the TAE group and 32% in the control group (P = 0.112). Surgical complications were significantly more frequent in the former (57.1%vs 20%; P = 0.048). The frequency of specific surgical site complications, including anastomotic complications and pelvic abscess formation requiring surgical drainage, was significantly higher in the TAE group than in the control group (42.8%vs 8%; P = 0.032). In univariate analysis, the only factors associated with specific surgical site complications were BMI > 27 and TAE before rectal resection. CONCLUSION: This case-matched study suggests that previous full-thickness TAE increases the risk of surgical complications after radical resection for lower third rectal cancer, including anastomotic dehiscence and pelvic sepsis.

Essential oil of Juniperus communis subsp. alpina (Suter) Celak needles: chemical composition, antifungal activity and cytotoxicity.

Essential oils are known to possess antimicrobial activity against a wide spectrum of bacteria and fungi. In the present work the composition and the antifungal activity of the oils of Juniperus communis subsp. alpina (Suter) Celak were evaluated. Moreover, the skin cytotoxicity, at concentrations showing significant antifungal activity, was also evaluated. The oils were isolated by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal lethal concentration (MLC) were used to evaluate the antifungal activity of the oil against dermatophytes (Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, T. rubrum, T. verrucosum), yeasts (Candida albicans, C. guillermondii, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans) and Aspergillus species (Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger). Cytotoxicity was tested in HaCaT keratinocytes through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Essential oil of J. communis subsp. alpina needles was predominantly composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons (78.4%), with the main compounds being sabinene (26.2%), α-pinene (12-9%) and limonene (10.4%). Results concerning the antifungal activity demonstrated the potential of needle oil against dermatophytes, particularly for Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum with MIC and MLC of 0.32 µL/mL. Furthermore, evaluation of cell viability showed no significant cytotoxicity in HaCaT keratinocytes at concentrations between 0.32 and 0.64 µL/mL. These results show that it is possible to find appropriate doses of J. communis subsp. alpina oil with both antifungal activity and a very low detrimental effect on keratinocytes.

Relationship between dental and periodontal health status and the salivary microbiome: bacterial diversity, co-occurrence networks and predictive models.

The present study used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to assess the impact on salivary microbiome of different grades of dental and periodontal disease and the combination of both (hereinafter referred to as oral disease), in terms of bacterial diversity, co-occurrence network patterns and predictive models. Our scale of overall oral health was used to produce a convenience sample of 81 patients from 270 who were initially recruited. Saliva samples were collected from each participant. Sequencing was performed in Illumina MiSeq with 2 × 300 bp reads, while the raw reads were processed according to the Mothur pipeline. The statistical analysis of the 16S rDNA sequencing data at the species level was conducted using the phyloseq, DESeq2, Microbiome, SpiecEasi, igraph, MixOmics packages. The simultaneous presence of dental and periodontal pathology has a potentiating effect on the richness and diversity of the salivary microbiota. The structure of the bacterial community in oral health differs from that present in dental, periodontal or oral disease, especially in high grades. Supragingival dental parameters influence the microbiota's abundance more than subgingival periodontal parameters, with the former making a greater contribution to the impact that oral health has on the salivary microbiome. The possible keystone OTUs are different in the oral health and disease, and even these vary between dental and periodontal disease: half of them belongs to the core microbiome and are independent of the abundance parameters. The salivary microbiome, involving a considerable number of OTUs, shows an excellent discriminatory potential for distinguishing different grades of dental, periodontal or oral disease; considering the number of predictive OTUs, the best model is that which predicts the combined dental and periodontal status.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza influences carbon-use efficiency and grain yield of wheat grown under pre- and post-anthesis salinity stress.

Soil salinity severely affects and constrains crop production worldwide. Salinity causes osmotic and ionic stress, inhibiting gas exchange and photosynthesis, ultimately impairing plant growth and development. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) have been shown to maintain light and carbon use efficiency under stress, possibly providing a tool to improve salinity tolerance of the host plants. Thus, it was hypothesized that AM will contribute to improved growth and yield under stress conditions. Wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown with (AMF+) or without (AMF-) arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation. Plants were subjected to salinity stress (200 mm NaCl) either at pre- or post-anthesis or at both stages. Growth and yield components, leaf chlorophyll content as well as gas exchange parameters and AMF colonization were analysed. AM plants exhibited a higher rate of net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance and lower intrinsic water use efficiency. Furthermore, AM wheat plants subjected to salinity stress at both pre-anthesis and post-anthesis maintained higher grain yield than non-AM salinity-stressed plants. These results suggest that AMF inoculation mitigates the negative effects of salinity stress by influencing carbon use efficiency and maintaining higher grain yield under stress.