Influence of seasonality and habitat on chemical composition, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties of the Libidibia ferrea.

Libidibia ferrea Mart, belonging to the Fabacee family, is a medicinal plant known for its biological properties and production of phenolic compounds. Previous studies reveal the biological activity of its phenolic constituents, making it very promising for the development of new medicines. Seasonality and geographic distribution of species can modify the production of secondary metabolites in Fabaceae species in terms of the preferentially activated metabolic pathways and, consequently, interfere with the medicinal properties of these species. Studying the influence of seasonality on the production of phenolic constituents is essential to establish conditions for "cultivation," species collection, standardization, production, and safety in traditional medicine. This unprecedented study proposed to evaluate the influence of seasonal variations and habitat on the production of phenolic compounds and biological properties of the ethanolic extracts of the stem bark from L. ferrea, whose specimens were collected from the Caatinga and the Atlantic Forest, biomes of Brazil. Antimicrobial activity was determined by broth microdilution. Cytotoxicity was evaluated through a colorimetric assay using MTT. ABTS and DPPH radical reduction methods estimated antioxidant capacities. Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 spectrophotometric methods quantified total phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. In turn, radial diffusion quantified tannin content. PCA score plot and HCA dendogram were obtained by multivariate analysis of 1H NMR data. The cytotoxicity against C6 glioma cells was observed only for Atlantic Forest extracts (EC50 = 0.13-0.5 mg mL-1). These extracts also showed selectivity against Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) [MICs 500-2000 µg mL-1], B. cereus CCT 0096) [MIC = 250 µg mL-1], Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) [MICs = 250-500 µg mL-1], S. epidermidis (ATCC 12228) [62.5-1000 µg mL-1], mainly to Staphylococcus sp. Caatinga extracts showed higher production of flavonoids and antioxidants in the summer [7.36 ± 0.19 µg QE mg-1 extract; IC50ABTS = 4.86 ± 0.05 µg mL-1], spring [5.96 ± 0.10 µg QE mg-1 extract; IC50ABTS = 5.96 ± 0.08 µg mL-1 ], winter [4.89 ± 0.25 µg QE mg-1 extract; IC50ABTS = 6.72 ± 0.08 µg mL-1 ]. Regarding habitat, two discriminating compound patterns in the studied biomes were revealed by NMR. The results indicated that the Caatinga biome offers better conditions for activating the production of phenolics [336.34 ± 18.1 µgGAE mg-1 extract], tannins [328.38 ± 30.19 µgTAE mg-1 extract] in the summer and flavonoids in winter, spring, and summer. The extracts that showed the best antioxidant activities were also those from the Caatinga. In turn, extracts from the Atlantic Forest are more promising for discovering antibacterial compounds against Staphylococcus sp and cytotoxic for C6 glioma cells. These findings corroborated the traditional use of L. ferrea bark powder for treating skin wounds and suggest the cytotoxic potential of these extracts for glioblastoma cell lines.

Bovine Genital Leptospirosis: An Update of This Important Reproductive Disease.

Bovine leptospirosis is an important disease that affects the reproductive sphere. Due to its high relevance for the bovine production chain in a worldwide scenario, a better understanding of the disease is crucial to reduce its negative impacts. The main agents are strains from the Sejroe serogroup, such as Hardjo and Guaricura, which lead to renal and genital infection. The genital colonization causes a chronic, silent, and subclinical reproductive syndrome, called Bovine Genital Leptospirosis (BGL). Embryonic death, estrus repetition, subfertility, and abortions are the main signs of BGL condition in females. However, although leptospires have been identified in semen, the manifestation of BGL in bulls remains to be clarified. The recommended diagnosis of BGL includes a serologic screening of the herds using the microscopic agglutination test followed by PCR of genital samples (cervicovaginal mucus, uterine fragment, or semen), especially from animals with reproductive failures. After the identification of carriers, control is carried out considering three steps: antimicrobial treatment of the carriers, environmental and reproductive management, and herd vaccination. Systematic testing, quarantine of newly arrived animals, and usage of antimicrobials in semen diluents or embryo culture media are other sanitary approaches that are encouraged to improve the control of the syndrome. Herein we discuss protocols for an efficient diagnosis and preventive procedures of BGL, which are fundamental to reducing the negative impact of the disease on cattle reproduction and its consequent economic hazards.

Unconventional Sites for Diagnosis of Leptospirosis in Bovine Anicteric Fetuses.

BACKGROUND: Bovine leptospirosis is an important reproductive disease and abortion is a major sign, leading to economic impacts. Due to its multifactorial etiology, the proper diagnosis of the cause of the abortion is crucial. Necropsy of the fetuses followed by molecular analysis is recommended for diagnosis, and the investigation mainly occurs in the kidneys and liver. This study aimed to analyze unconventional sites for the presence of leptospiral DNA in bovine anicteric aborted fetuses. METHODS: Five fetuses of the same herd were received for necropsy and diagnosis. Conventional lipL32-PCR was performed in the fetuses' kidneys, livers, lungs, hearts, spleens, subcapsular kidney content, abomasal fluid, and in the cavity's hemorrhagic contents. To complete the investigation, the sera of 30 cows of the herd were collected to perform the serologic screening by Microscopic Agglutination Test. In addition, six subfertile non-pregnant cows from the same herd were selected due to their low reproductive performance, and genital samples (uterine fragment and cervicovaginal mucus) and urine were collected for lipL32-PCR. PCR-positive samples were submitted to a nested PCR of the secY gene and intended for sequencing. RESULTS: The herd presented seroreactive animals (11/30, 36.6%), all against the Sejroe serogroup, with titers between 200 and 1600. In necropsy, four fetuses showed hemorrhagic and anicteric lesions, while one fetus had no macroscopic lesions. Regarding molecular analysis, all the fetuses were positive in lipL32-PCR and the positive sites were the heart, lungs, subcapsular kidney content, thymus, kidneys, liver, and abomasal fluid. Only one fetus presented positive results in the kidney and liver, while three fetuses were positive in the abomasal fluid. Five of six cows were positive for lipL32-PCR, all being positive only in genital samples. Of the fetuses and the cows, seven sequences were obtained and all were identified as Leptospira interrogans serogroup Sejroe serovar Hardjoprajitno. CONCLUSIONS: In order to improve the diagnosis of leptospirosis in cows, it is recommended to perform a comprehensive analysis of the samples, beyond the kidneys and liver. Thus, we highly encourage testing multiple organs by PCR to investigate abortions suspected of bovine leptospirosis, particularly in anicteric fetuses.

Epidemiological profile and effectiveness of immediate postpartum contraception in Brazilian women.

Purpose: To determine the epidemiological profile of women who inserted copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD), subdermal etonogestrel implant (ENG), tubal ligation (TL), depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) or did not choose a contraceptive method (NCM) in the immediate postpartum period and compare the contraceptive effectiveness of Cu-IUD and DPMA with non-MAC. Methods: We analyzed the epidemiological profile of women who inserted copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD), subdermal etonogestrel implant (ENG), tubal ligation (TL), depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) or did not choose a contraceptive method (NCM) in the immediate postpartum. The data was collected by electronic medical records of postpartum women assisted at the University Hospital of São Bernardo do Campo (HMU-SBC) from January 2016 to December 2020. Also, we compared the contraceptive effectiveness of Cu-IUD and DPMA with non-MAC by identifying women who returned for second delivery during the study period and analyzing the contraceptive method chosen in the first hospitalization. Then the pregnancies interval and the sociodemographic characteristics were analyzed according to contraceptive method type. Results: Data from 20,896 women were collected, of which 8,183 (39%) opted for Cu-IUD, 559 (2.5%) DPMA, and 10,989 (52.5%) chose not to use contraception at the time of hospital discharge. When comparing these groups, women in the DPMA were younger (26.5 ± 7.3, p < 0.05), and NCM showed women with a lower number of pregnancies (2.2 ± 1.3, p < 0.05). Subjects in the TL group (4.6%) had the higher number of pregnancies (3.8 ± 1.2, p < 0.05), and ENG group, the highest number of miscarriages (1.6 ± 1.3, p < 0.05). Of those women who returned pregnant, 5.5% belonged to the DPMA group, 6% to the NCM group, and 2.3% to the Cu-IUD. Conclusions: Women who opted for Cu-IUD insertion were younger, had more pregnancies and vaginal delivery when compared to those who did not choose a method. Of those women who returned, the minority opted for Cu-IUD compared to those that opted for DPMA or no method.

Standardization of chronic uterine infection of hamsters by Leptospira santarosai serovar Guaricura, from serogroup Sejroe.

Leptospirosis is an important zoonosis that in cattle is characterized as a reproductive disease. It is well reported that the main agent of bovine leptospirosis worldwide is Sejroe serogroup serovar Hardjo. Reproductive disease in cattle has several gaps in its knowledge and studies with Golden Syrian hamsters, experimentally infected, are limited. Therefore, a protocol that could reproduce the chronic genital disease in hamsters would be extremely valuable for the advance of the knowledge of that syndrome. The aim of this study was to establish an experimental protocol for chronic non-lethal genital infection of female hamsters by L. santarosai serovar Guaricura (Sejroe serogroup), strain 2013_VF52. For this, two concentrations (1.0 × 108 leptospires/mL and 1.0 × 104 leptospires/mL) were used intraperitoneally in female hamsters of 06-08 weeks of age. Hamsters that survived for up to forty days after inoculation were euthanized. Uterine and renal tissues were collected to evaluate leptospires' presence by PCR and culture. The protocol demonstrated that 1.0 × 104 leptospires/mL of the strain determined chronic genital leptospirosis in the hamster model. The standardization of a protocol for chronic genital leptospirosis in hamsters can be extremely useful for the understanding of the physiopathology of the infection, as the distribution of leptospires in the uterus and the agent-host interactions.

Increased Lung Immune Metabolic Activity in COVID-19 Survivors.

PURPOSE: We quantified lung glycolytic metabolic activity, clinical symptoms and inflammation, coagulation, and endothelial activation biomarkers in 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia survivors. METHODS: Adults previously hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia were prospectively included. Subjects filled out a questionnaire on clinical consequences, underwent chest CT and 18 F-FDG PET/CT, and provided blood samples on the same day. Forty-five volunteers served as control subjects. Analysis of CT images and quantitative voxel-based analysis of PET/CT images were performed for both groups. 18 F-FDG uptake in the whole-lung volume and in high- and low-attenuation areas was calculated and normalized to liver values. Quantification of plasma markers of inflammation (interleukin 6), d -dimer, and endothelial cell activation (angiopoietins 1 and 2, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1) was also performed. RESULTS: We enrolled 53 COVID-19 survivors (62.3% were male; median age, 50 years). All survivors reported at least 1 persistent symptom, and 41.5% reported more than 6 symptoms. The mean lung density was greater in survivors than in control subjects, and more metabolic activity was observed in normal and dense lung areas, even months after symptom onset. Plasma proinflammatory, coagulation, and endothelial activation biomarker concentrations were also significantly higher in survivors. CONCLUSION: We observed more metabolic activity in areas of high and normal lung attenuation several months after moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. In addition, plasma markers of thromboinflammation and endothelial activation persisted. These findings may have implications for our understanding of the in vivo pathogenesis and long-lasting effects of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Reverse logistics system applied to the reuse of iron ore tailings.

Iron ore tailings (IOT) from tailings dams cause significant environmental, economic, and social impacts, which has motivated the search for reuse alternatives. In this scenario, the present work uses reverse logistics to size the resources required to reuse the IOT for road infrastructure. A reverse logistics system was modelled to transport the IOT from the tailings dam to a processing plant and then to the construction site of a road. Resource capacity constraints and operational limitations were considered, and the economic feasibility of the system was analysed. Two scenarios for tailings transportation on the dam/plant route were simulated aiming at a cost less than R$ 25 (US$ 6.13) per tonne: (1) trucks; and (2) conveyor belts. The economic feasibility of both scenarios was proven, with scenario 1 presenting the most promising results - a transport distance of 290 km within the established price limit. This methodology can thus be applied to encourage the large-scale reuse of IOT.

Letramento funcional em saúde de pessoas idosas em uma unidade de saúde da família / Functional literacy on health of elderly people in a family health unit / Alfabetización funcional en salud de personas idosas en una unidad de salud de la familia

OBJETIVO: analisar o Letramento Funcional em Saúde de pessoas idosas atendidas na Estratégia Saúde da Família, a partir do modo como elas buscam, compreendem e partilham informações em saúde. MÉTODO: Estudo qualitativo, exploratório-descritivo, com 23 pessoas idosas adscritas a uma Unidade de Saúde da Família. Foi utilizada a entrevista com um instrumento denominado "healthliteracy", adaptado e validado para o português. A análise dos dados realizou-se pela análise textual discursiva. RESULTADOS: obtiveram-se quatro categorias: "busca por informações em saúde" - os participantes relataram a unidade como fonte de busca de informações, sentindo-se, em geral, satisfeitos com as informações; "compreensão das informações em saúde" - os participantes relataram que consideram as informações fáceis ou muito fáceis de entender; "compartilhamento das informações em saúde" - a maioria relatou compartilhar informações com familiares, amigos ou vizinhos; e "repercussões das informações em saúde" - as pessoas idosas consideraram que as informações fazem diferença em suas vidas, melhorando seu autocuidado, adesão a tratamentos, qualidade de vida, propiciando uma vida mais ativa. CONCLUSÃO: permite aos enfermeiros e demais profissionais da atenção básica saberem o modo de busca, compreensão e partilha de informações em saúde pelas pessoas idosas, planejando intervenções com utilizando a educação em saúde

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the Functional Health Literacy of elderly people assisted in the Family Health Strategy, from the way they seek, understand and share health information. METHOD: A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study with 23 elderly people enrolled in a Family Health Unit. The interview was used with an instrument called "health literacy", adapted and validated for Portuguese. The analysis of the data was carried out by the discursive textual analysis. RESULTS: four categories were obtained: "search for health information" - the participants reported the unit as a source of information search, feeling generally satisfied with the information; "Understanding health information" - participants reported that they considered information easy or very easy to understand; "Sharing health information" - most reported sharing information with family, friends or neighbors; and "repercussions of health information" - the elderly considered that information makes a difference in their lives, improving their self-care, adherence to treatments, quality of life, providing a more active life. CONCLUSION: it allows nurses and other primary care professionals to know the way of searching, understanding and sharing health information by the elderly, planning interventions using health education

OBJETIVO: analizarelLetramiento Funcional enSalud de personas ancianas atendidas enlaEstrategiaSalud de laFamilia, a partir del modo en que ellasbuscan, comprenden y comparteninformaciónensalud. MÉTODO: Estudiocualitativo, exploratorio-descriptivo, con 23 personas ancianasadscritas a una Unidad de Salud de laFamilia. Se utilizóla entrevista conun instrumento llamado "conocimiento sobre lasalud", adaptada y validada para elportugués. El análisis de losdatos se dio por elanálisis textual discursivo. RESULTADOS: se obtuvieroncuatrocategorías: "búsqueda por informacionesensalud" - los participantes relataronlaunidad como fuente de búsqueda de informaciones, sintiéndose, en general, satisfechosconlasinformaciones; "comprensión de lasinformacionesensalud" - los participantes relataron que consideranlainformación fácil o muy fácil de entender; "compartir lainformaciónensalud" - lamayoríarelató compartir informacionescon familiares, amigos o vecinos; y las "repercusiones de lasinformacionesensalud" - las personas mayoresconsideraron que lasinformacioneshacen diferencia en sus vidas, mejorandosu autocuidado, adhesión a tratamientos, calidad de vida, propiciando una vida más activa. CONCLUSIÓN: permite a losenfermeros y demásprofesionales de laatención básica conocerel modo de búsqueda, comprensión y cómo compartir informaciónensalud por las personas ancianas, planeando intervenciones utilizando laeducaciónensalud

Evaluation of the economic feasibility of a processing plant for steelmaking slag.

The utilisation of steelmaking slag as recycled aggregate for concretes is a widely investigated solution for mitigating the expenditure and environmental impacts of its storage. The Brazilian steel industry is investing in research and slag reprocessing practices, aiming to reuse most of its metallic fraction and properly allocate the non-metallic fraction, saving energy and reducing mining impacts. Research results demonstrate the technical and environmental feasibility of steel slag aggregates for civil construction. However, it is essential to evaluate whether the processing of the slag is economically feasible for this purpose. Economic analysis of the processing of steel slag was conducted through simulation - Monte Carlo method - in which it is possible to determine the risks and uncertainties inherent to the project. The costs that comprise the proposed project, from design through construction and operation itself, were estimated at US$2.8 million. The result of the simulation indicates economic feasibility of the project with 98% certainty, and an estimated profit of around 42%.

[Colonoscopic findings in asymptomatic people]. / Achados colonoscópicos em pessoas sem quadro clínico de doença colorretal.

CONTEXT: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Prevention of colorectal cancer should be achievable by screening programs in asymptomatic patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the colonoscopic findings in asymptomatic people submitted to screening. METHODS: A prospective study was undertaken on 153 consecutive asymptomatic people submitted to colonoscopy. Sex, age, previous diseases and familial cases of cancer, as well as tobacco and alcohol ingestion were assessed. Patients with rectal macro- or microscopic bleeding and colorectal diseases were excluded. Bowel preparation, polyps, angioectasias, diverticular disease, inflammation and neoplasm were also verified. Polyps were classified according to their size, number and location. RESULTS: Mean age was 52.5 +/- 11.7 years. Family history for colorectal cancer occurred in 79.8% of individuals. Colonoscopic alterations were detected in 99 individuals: polyps in 64.3%, diverticular disease in 27.9%, inflammatory mucosal alterations in 9.7%, melanosi coli in 2.6% and angioectasias in 7.8%. There were an increasing incidence of polyps in patients older than 50 year. Multivariate logistic regression showed age and sex as predictive factors for polyps (OR = 1.43; 1.19

Achados colonoscópicos em pessoas sem quadro clínico de doença colorretal / Colonoscopic findings in asymptomatic people

CONTEXTO: O câncer colorretal é causa de morte frequente e sua prevenção deve fazer parte dos programas de rastreamento em indivíduos assintomáticos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os achados colonoscópicos de pessoas assintomáticas submetidas a colonoscopia. MÉTODO: Foram estudados 153 pessoas assintomáticas submetidas a colonoscopia. Sexo, idade, história pregressa e familiar, tabagismo e etilismo foram avaliados. Indivíduos com hematoquesia macro ou microscópica e os com doença colorretal foram excluídos. Preparo intestinal, presença de pólipos, angioectasias, doença diverticular, processo inflamatório e neoplasia foram investigados. Os pólipos foram classificados de acordo com seu tamanho, número e localização. RESULTADOS: A idade média foi de 52,47 ± 11,64 anos. História familiar de câncer colorretal foi verificada em 20,2 por cento dos indivíduos. Alterações colonoscópicas foram verificadas em 99 indivíduos: pólipos em 64,28 por cento, doença diverticular em 27,92 por cento, alterações inflamatórias em 9,74 por cento, melanose colônica em 2,6 por cento e angioectasias em 7,8 por cento. Houve incidência maior de pólipos em indivíduos acima de 50 anos. A análise de regressão logística mostrou a idade e sexo como fatores preditores para a presença de pólipos (RR = 1,69; 1,23

CONTEXT: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Prevention of colorectal cancer should be achievable by screening programs in asymptomatic patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the colonoscopic findings in asymptomatic people submitted to screening. METHODS: A prospective study was undertaken on 153 consecutive asymptomatic people submitted to colonoscopy. Sex, age, previous diseases and familial cases of cancer, as well as tobacco and alcohol ingestion were assessed. Patients with rectal macro- or microscopic bleeding and colorectal diseases were excluded. Bowel preparation, polyps, angioectasias, diverticular disease, inflammation and neoplasm were also verified. Polyps were classified according to their size, number and location. RESULTS: Mean age was 52.5 ± 11.7 years. Family history for colorectal cancer occurred in 79.8 percent of individuals. Colonoscopic alterations were detected in 99 individuals: polyps in 64.3 percent, diverticular disease in 27.9 percent, inflammatory mucosal alterations in 9.7 percent, melanosi coli in 2.6 percent and angioectasias in 7.8 percent. There were an increasing incidence of polyps in patients older than 50 year. Multivariate logistic regression showed age and sex as predictive factors for polyps (OR = 1.43; 1.19