Bilateral pyogranulomatous otitis externa with putative cartilage destruction in a dog: A severe case of auricular chondritis?

Auricular chondritis of unknown cause was suspected in a 10-year-old male Bolognese dog with a five-month history of painful bilateral nodular and ulcerative pyogranulomatous dermatitis of the pinnae with putative auricular cartilage destruction. Pain and lesions resolved with immunosuppressive doses of prednisolone, yet the condition resulted in deformity of both pinnae and external canals.

Une chondrite auriculaire d'étiologie inconnue est suspectée chez un bichon bolonais mâle de 10 ans qui présente depuis 5 mois une dermatite pyogranulomateuse nodulaire et ulcéreuse bilatérale douloureuse du pavillon de l'oreille avec une destruction présumée du cartilage auriculaire. La douleur et les lésions disparaissent avec des doses immunosuppressives de prednisolone, mais l'affection entraîne une déformation des deux pavillons et des conduits auriculaires externes.

Suspeitou­se de condrite auricular de causa desconhecida em um cão macho Bolonhês de 10 anos de idade com um histórico de cinco meses de dermatite piogranulomatosa ulcerativa e nodular bilateral no pavilhão auricular com suposta destruição de cartilagem auricular. A dor e as lesões resolveram com doses imunossupressoras de prednisolona apesar de a etiologia ter resultado na deformidade de ambas as orelhas e condutos auditivos.

Se sospechó la existencia de una condritis auricular de causa desconocida en un perro boloñés de 10 años con historia de 5 meses de duración de una dermatitis nodular ulcerativa piogramulomatosa y bilateral en las orejas con posible destrucción del cartílago auricular. El dolor y las lesiones se resolvieron con dosis inmunosupresoras de prednisolona pero la enfermedad produjo deformación de ambas orejas y de los canales auriculares externos.

Different electrolytic treatments for food sanitation and conservation simulating a wash process at the packinghouse.

Microorganisms are predominantly responsible for food deterioration, necessitating the sanitization and removal of these entities from food surfaces. The packinghouse employs free chlorine in the sanitization process; however, free chlorine's propensity to react with organic matter, forming potentially toxic compounds, has led to its restriction or outright prohibition in several European countries. Therefore, this study aims to assess various washing methods, emulating packinghouse conditions, utilizing diverse forms of electrolyzed water to impede microbial proliferation and significantly enhance the food's shelf life. The subject of investigation was cherry tomatoes. The findings revealed that electrolyzed water containing NaCl exhibited superior efficacy compared to electrolysis with Na2SO4. Both forms of electrolyzed water demonstrated noteworthy effectiveness in inhibiting microorganisms, resulting in a reduction of 2.0 Log CFU mL-1 for bacteria and 1.5 Log CFU mL-1 for fungi. The electrolyzed water also exhibited a comparable capability to free chlorine in removing fecal coliforms from the tomato surfaces. Notably, both electrolyzed water treatments extended the shelf life of cherry tomatoes by at least three days, accompanied by minimal or negligible residues of free chlorine. Consequently, the electrolyzed water formulations proposed in this study present themselves as promising alternatives to traditional packinghouse sanitizers. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05882-1.

Image-Guided Nanodelivery of Pt(IV) Prodrugs to GRP-Receptor Positive Tumors.

Over the last decades, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have proven to be remarkable tools for drug delivery and theranostic applications in cancer treatment. On the other hand, Pt(IV) prodrugs have been employed as an interesting alternative to the more common Pt(II) complexes, such as cisplatin, for cancer chemotherapy. Searching to design an image-guided nanocarrier to deliver selectively Pt(IV) prodrugs to tumors expressing the gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), we have synthesized small core AuNPs carrying a thiolated DOTA derivative, a GRPR-targeting bombesin analog (BBN[7-14]) and a Pt(IV) prodrug attached to the AuNPs without (AuNP-BBN-Pt1) or with a PEGylated linker (AuNP-BBN-Pt2 and AuNP-BBN-Pt3). In the GRPR+ prostate cancer PC3 cell line, the cytotoxic activity of the designed AuNP-BBN-Pt nanoparticles is strongly influenced by the presence of the PEGylated linker. Thus, AuNP-BBN-Pt1 displayed the lowest IC50 value (9.3 ± 2.3 µM of Pt), which is comparable to that exhibited by cisplatin in the same cell line. In contrast, AuNP-BBN-Pt1 showed an IC50 value of 97 ± 18 µM of Pt in the non-tumoral RWPE-1 prostate cells with a much higher selective index (SI) towards PC3 cells (SI = 10) when compared with cisplatin (SI = 1.3). The AuNPs were also successfully labeled with 67Ga and the resulting 67Ga-AuNP-BBN-Pt were used to assess their cellular uptake in PC3 cells, with AuNP-BBN-Pt1 also displaying the highest cellular internalization. Finally, intratumoral administration of 67Ga-AuNP-BBN-Pt1 in a PC3 tumor-bearing mice showed a prolonged retention of the nanoparticle compared to that of cisplatin, with optimal in vivo stability and 20% of the injected platinum remaining in the tumor after 72 h post-injection. Furthermore, microSPECT imaging studies confirmed the uptake and considerable retention of the 67Ga-labeled AuNPs in the tumors. Overall, these results show the potential of these targeted AuNPs loaded with Pt(IV) prodrugs for prostate cancer theranostics.

Antibacterial action and target mechanisms of zinc oxide nanoparticles against bacterial pathogens.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most widely used nanoparticulate materials due to their antimicrobial properties, but their main mechanism of action (MOA) has not been fully elucidated. This study characterized ZnO NPs by using X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Antimicrobial activity of ZnO NPs against the clinically relevant bacteria Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the Gram-positive model Bacillus subtilis was evaluated by performing resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) after exposure to the ZnO NPs at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 1.4 mM. Sensitivity was observed at 0.6 mM for the Gram-negative and 1.0 mM for the Gram-positive cells. Fluorescence microscopy was used to examine the interference of ZnO NPs on the membrane and the cell division apparatus of B. subtilis (amy::pspac-ftsZ-gfpmut1) expressing FtsZ-GFP. The results showed that ZnO NPs did not interfere with the assembly of the divisional Z-ring. However, 70% of the cells exhibited damage in the cytoplasmic membrane after 15 min of exposure to the ZnO NPs. Electrostatic forces, production of Zn2+ ions and the generation of reactive oxygen species were described as possible pathways of the bactericidal action of ZnO. Therefore, understanding the bactericidal MOA of ZnO NPs can potentially help in the construction of predictive models to fight bacterial resistance.

Radiolabeled Gold Nanoseeds Decorated with Substance P Peptides: Synthesis, Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation in Glioblastoma Cellular Models.

Despite some progress, the overall survival of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) remains extremely poor. In this context, there is a pressing need to develop innovative therapy strategies for GBM, namely those based on nanomedicine approaches. Towards this goal, we have focused on nanoparticles (AuNP-SP and AuNP-SPTyr8) with a small gold core (ca. 4 nm), carrying DOTA chelators and substance P (SP) peptides. These new SP-containing AuNPs were characterized by a variety of analytical techniques, including TEM and DLS measurements and UV-vis and CD spectroscopy, which proved their high in vitro stability and poor tendency to interact with plasma proteins. Their labeling with diagnostic and therapeutic radionuclides was efficiently performed by DOTA complexation with the trivalent radiometals 67Ga and 177Lu or by electrophilic radioiodination with 125I of the tyrosyl residue in AuNP-SPTyr8. Cellular studies of the resulting radiolabeled AuNPs in NKR1-positive GBM cells (U87, T98G and U373) have shown that the presence of the SP peptides has a crucial and positive impact on their internalization by the tumor cells. Consistently, 177Lu-AuNP-SPTyr8 showed more pronounced radiobiological effects in U373 cells when compared with the non-targeted congener 177Lu-AuNP-TDOTA, as assessed by cell viability and clonogenic assays and corroborated by Monte Carlo microdosimetry simulations.

Hypopressive exercise in normotensive young women: A case series.

Hypopressive exercise (HE) has been contraindicated for people with cardiovascular disease because it involves isometric postures performed with low-pulmonary volume breath-holds, which are thought to increase blood pressure. The objective of this study was to analyze the hemodynamic responses to HE performed in the seated posture on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in normotensive females. Ten women (age = 31.2 ± 6.3 years) with previous experience in HE participated. Three sets of eight breathing cycles of HE breathing were completed. The HE breathing protocol consisted of three complete breathing cycles of controlled latero-costal inhalations and slow deep exhalations followed by a breath-hold and rib-cage expansion after every third exhalation. Measurements of SBP, DBP, MAP and HR were assessed at baseline, at the end of each set and at the end of minute 5, 10, 15 and 20 during the recovery period. The measurement of hemodynamic variables used a digital photoplethysmography device. Significant differences for SBP (baseline compared to SET2, p = 0.0182) and MAP (baseline compared to SET1, p = 0.0433; and SET2, p = 0.0072) were found. No significant differences were found in the recovery periods compared with baseline. Medium effect size for HR during REC5 (ES = 0.50) and REC10 (ES = 0.56) was observed. These findings indicate that HE in the seated posture performed by normotensive females leads to significant increases in SBP and MAP with no significant increase of HR and no hypotensive effect during recovery period. Our preliminary results should be supported by future randomized controlled trials.

Evaluating the potential of electrolysed water for the disinfection of citrus fruit in packinghouses.

BACKGROUND: The largest and most profitable market for citrus is the production of fresh fruit. Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri is a Gram-negative plant pathogen and the etiological agent of citrus canker, one of the major threats to citrus production worldwide. In the early stages of infection, X. citri can attach to plant surfaces by means of biofilms. Biofilm is considered an essential virulence factor, which helps tissue colonization in plants. Thus, sanitization of citrus fruit is mandatory in packinghouses before any logistic operation as packing and shipment to the market. The aim of this study was to evaluate electrolysed water (EW) as a sanitizer for the disinfection of citrus fruit in packinghouses. RESULTS: Using a protocol to monitor cell respiration we show that EW, obtained after 8 and 9 min of electrolysis, sufficed to kill X. citri when applied at a concentration of 500 µL mL-1 . Furthermore, microscopy analysis, combined with time-response growth curves, confirmed that EW affects the bacterial cytoplasmatic membrane and it leads to cell death in the first few minutes of contact. Pathogenicity tests using limes to simulate packinghouse treatment showed that EW, produced with 9 min of electrolysis, was a very effective sanitizer capable of eliminating X. citri from contaminated fruit. CONCLUSION: It was possible to conclude that EW is significantly effective as sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) at 200 ppm. Therefore, EW could be an alternative for citrus sanitization in packinghouses. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Imunoterapia no câncer de pulmão não pequenas células / Immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

OBJETIVOS: Identificar e analisar as imunoterapias mais atuais e seus mecanismos de ação no câncer de pulmão não pequenas células (CPNPC). MÉTODOS: Revisão integrativa de literatura, norteada pela questão: "quais imunoterapias estão disponíveis atualmente e quais são seus objetivos no tratamento do CPNPC?". A base de dados utilizada foi PubMed. Os descritores utilizados foram "cancer lung", "non small cell", "immunotherapy" e seus respectivos em português, empregando o booleano "and". Elegendo apenas revisões sistemáticas e meta-análises 78 artigos foram encontrados. Ao final, 18 publicações foram selecionadas seguindo os critérios de elegibilidade. RESULTADOS: Na imunoterapia, dois inibidores de checkpoints apresentam resultados promissores: proteína de morte celular programada 1 (PD-1) e o ligante de morte celular programada 1 (PD-L1). Enquanto os imunomoduladores nivolumabe e pembrolizumabe bloqueiam PD-1 e aumentam o combate às células cancerígenas, atezolizumabe e durvalumabe amplificam a resposta imunológica ao bloquear PD-L1. CONCLUSÃO: Atualmente os inibidores de checkpoints imunológicos são uma realidade no tratamento oncológico, com relevância ímpar no CPNPC

OBJECTIVE: Identify and analyze the most current immunotherapies and their mechanisms of action in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Integrative literature review, guided by the question: "which immunotherapies are available and currently what are your goals in the treatment of CPNPC?". The database used was PubMed. The descriptors used were "cancer lung", "non-small-cell", "immunotherapy" and their respective in portuguese, using the boolean "and". By choosing only systematic reviews and meta-analyzes, 78 articles were found. At the end, 18 publications were selected according to the eligibility criteria. RESULTS: In immunotherapy, two checkpoint inhibitors show promising results: programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). While Nivolumabe and Pembrolizumab immunomodulators block PD-1 and increase the fight against cancer cells, Atezolizumab and Durvalumab amplify the immune response by blocking PD-L1. CONCLUSION: Currently, immunological checkpoint inhibitors are a reality in cancer treatment, with unparalleled relevance in CPNPC

Bilateral Sesamoiditis as First Manifestation of Gout.

Sesamoiditis secondary to gout is an extremely rare condition with few case reports in the literature. It is an important differential diagnosis because the treatment depends on targeted therapy, unlike the main causes of sesamoiditis that often involves immobilization with special orthoses and prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs. We report here a case of a 38-year-old male, athlete, with bipartite medial sesamoid, who had insidious pain in the base of the left hallux. Laboratory tests showed no alterations, and imaging examinations demonstrated sesamoiditis with suspicion of stress fracture. The patient was initially prescribed an immobilization boot and analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, but he did not respond to the measures taken. After the onset of the same condition in the contralateral foot and getting the same imaging findings, we began an investigation of systemic disease, focusing on gout, because of a positive family history, which was confirmed by dual-energy computed tomography.

Validação de instrumento de participação da família no cuidado do recém-nascido hospitalizado / Validación de instrumento de participación de la familia en el cuidado del recién nacido hospitalizado / Validation of an instrument for family participation in the care of hospitalized newborns

Resumo Objetivo Construir e validar um instrumento de participação da família nos cuidados do recém-nascido no contexto neonatal. Métodos Pesquisa metodológica. Os procedimentos de construção de instrumentos de avaliação propostos por Pasquali foram adotados para a condução das etapas teórica, empírica e analítica. Participaram do estudo piloto 40 representantes de famílias de recém-nascido hospitalizados, sendo 20 para a fase de validação semântica e 20 para o teste e resteste. Na análise dos dados o instrumento foi validado por meio da análise psicométrica e dos procedimentos estatísticos para verificar a confiabilidade, validade, estimação dos parâmetros dos itens e da medida da participação da família. Resultados Na fase teórica identificou-se a partir de revisão integrativa da literatura os contructos acolhimento, informação, autonomia compartilhada, autoconfiança e relacionamento colaborativo, que compõem o fenomeno participação da família no cuidado do recém-nascido hospitalizado. Dessa maneira construiu-se a versão I do instrumento de medida, contendo 32 itens, com respostas do tipo Likert, que foi submetida a avaliação entre os juízes e após duas rodadas gerou a versão II com percentual de concordância 81% e índice de validação de conteúdo (IVC) de 0,81. Na validação semântica, representantes de vinte famílias demonstraram compreensão dos itens, considerando-os relevantes, com clareza e sem dificuldade para responde-los. Na fase empírica, o instrumento foi aplicado com vinte representantes de famílias em que se obteve Alpha de Cronbach de 0,92. Na fase analítica, os 32 itens avaliados geraram sete fatores, cujas cargas fatoriais permitiram sua manutenção no instrumento final. Conclusão O instrumento demonstrou uma excelente consistência interna, estabilidade ao longo do tempo e itens que demonstraram pertencerem ao fenômeno analisado. Para que este indicador seja utilizado para direcionar as intervenções com família no contexto da unidade neonatal torna-se necessário ampliar a amostra da população-alvo.

Resumen Objetivo Elaborar y validar un instrumento de participación de la familia en los cuidados del recién nacido en el contexto neonatal. Métodos Investigación metodológica. Se adoptaron los procedimientos de elaboración de instrumentos de evaluación propuestos por Pasquali para conducir la etapa teórica, empírica y analítica. Cuarenta representantes de familias del recién nacido hospitalizado participaron en el estudio piloto, de los cuales 20 formaron parte de la fase de validación semántica y 20 del test-retest. En el análisis de los datos, el instrumento se validó por medio del análisis psicométrico y de los procedimientos estadísticos para verificar la confiabilidad, validez, estimación de los parámetros de los ítems y de la medida de participación de la familia. Resultados En la fase teórica, a partir de la revisión integradora de la literatura, se identificaron los constructos acogida, información, autonomía compartida, autoconfianza y relación colaborativa, que componen el fenómeno participación de la familia en el cuidado del recién nacido hospitalizado. De esta manera, se elaboró la versión I del instrumento de medida, que contenía 32 ítems con respuestas tipo Likert, y que fue evaluada por los jueces y, luego de dos rondas, se creó la versión II con un porcentaje de concordancia de 81 % y un índice de validación de contenido (IVC) de 0,81. En la validación semántica, representantes de 20 familias demostraron comprensión de los ítems, fueron considerados relevantes, con claridad y sin dificultad para responderlos. En la fase empírica, se aplicó el instrumento a 20 representantes de familias y se obtuvo un alfa de Cronbach de 0,92. En la fase analítica, los 32 ítems evaluados generaron 7 factores, cuyas cargas factoriales permitieron que se mantengan en el instrumento final. Conclusión El instrumento demostró una excelente consistencia interna, estabilidad a lo largo del tiempo e ítems que pertenecen al fenómeno analizado. Para que este indicador sea utilizado para orientar las intervenciones con la familia en el contexto de la unidad neonatal, es necesario ampliar la muestra de la población destinataria.

Abstract Objective To build and validate an instrument for family participation in newborn care at the neonatal unit. Methods A methodological research. The construction procedures of assessment instruments proposed by Pasquali were adopted to conduct the theoretical, empirical and analytical steps. Forty representatives of hospitalized newborn families participated in the pilot study; 20 for the semantic validation phase; and 20 for the test and rest. In data analysis, the instrument was validated through psychometric analysis and statistical procedures to verify reliability, validity, estimation of items parameters, and family participation measure. Results In the theoretical phase, the reception, information, shared autonomy, self-confidence and collaborative relationships constructs, which make up the phenomenal family participation in the care of hospitalized newborns, were identified from integrative literature review. Therefore, the measurement instrument's first version was built, containing 32 items, with Likert-type responses, which was submitted to assessment by the judges. After two rounds, the second version was generated with an 81% agreement percentage and 0.81 content validation index (CVI). In the semantic validation, representatives of twenty families demonstrated an understanding of the items. They considered them relevant, clear, and had no difficulty in answering them. In the empirical phase, the instrument was applied with twenty representatives of families in which a 0.92 Cronbach's Alpha was obtained. In the analytical phase, the 32 items assessed generated seven factors, whose factor loads allowed their maintenance in the final instrument. Conclusion The instrument proved to have excellent internal consistency, stability over time and items that demonstrated to belong to the analyzed phenomenon. It is necessary to broaden the target population's sample for this indicator to be used to target interventions with the family at the neonatal unit.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Preterm Parenting & Self-efficacy Checklist.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a cross-cultural adaptation of the Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist to the Brazilian Portuguese. METHOD: A methodological study was carried out with 51 parents of premature infants. Data analysis was based on psychometric and inferential statistical analyses. RESULTS: The instrument content validation by experts obtained excellent agreement (97%) and the semantic analysis by the target population showed good understanding of the terms and ease of use. In test-retest, most participants were female (64.7%); and parents with higher education (47.1%). The instrument showed stability over time, with good internal consistency (α = 0.84). Four factors were generated in the subscales parenting self-efficacy, importance of tasks and self-perceived parental competence (67.0% to 74.2% of the variance). CONCLUSION: The properties of the Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist - Brazilian Version were maintained, which is a reliable indicator to evaluate the hospital discharge of premature infants.

Avaliação da expressão gênica da endotelina em idosos / Evaluation of endothelin gene expression in the elderly

INTRODUÇÃO: O processo de senescência do coração e de suas valvas vem sendo correlacionado com a ação do subtipo 1 de endotelina (ET-1) e de seus receptores (ETrA e ETrB). A produção de ET-1 é dependente de cálcio extracelular; estando associada à resposta inflamatória encontrada no envelhecimento, quando ocorre substituição fibrosa e calcificação nas valvas mitral e aórtica. OBJETIVO: Avaliar se há expressão gênica da endotelina-1 no processo de envelhecimento valvar. RESULTADOS: As concentrações médias de ácido nucléico (RNA total) e de cDNA foram respectivamente de 27,21±30,26 ng/ul e de 609,4±80,60ng/ul. Os valores médios de absorbância em 260 e 280nm foram respectivamente de 0,67±0,74 UA (A260) e de 0,33±0,36 UA (A280). Já a proporção A260/A280 foi de 1,91±0,20. Das sete amostras coletadas, observou-se a expressão de ET-1 em todas elas, sendo que, quantitativamente, a expressão gênica média relativa para ET-1 foi de 62,85±25,63%. CONCLUSÃO: A ET-1 está relacionada à vasoconstricção e a processos inflamatórios presentes na senescência valvar, portanto, sua expressão já era esperada, confirmando-se assim, o seu envolvimento na homeostase cardiovascular. (AU)

Endotelinas: marcador de risco cardiovascular em adultos com deficiência isolada de GH / Endothelin: cardiovascular risk marker in adults with isolated GH deficiency

INTRODUÇÃO: Na cidade de Itabaianinha/SE, existe um grupo de 105 indivíduos afetados pela deficiência isolada de GH (DIGH) devido a uma mutação do gene do receptor do GH (GHRH). Estudos prévios em pacientes com deficiência de GH adquirida em fase adulta demonstraram aumento da morbimortalidade cardiovascular. Todavia, a literatura afirma que pacientes com níveis séricos elevados de Endotelinas (ETs) apresentam Risco Cardiovascular (RCV) aumentado devido à disfunção endotelial decorrente da aterosclerose. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar os níveis séricos de ETs em adultos portadores de DIGH e sua correlação com RCV. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo descritivo e prospectivo tipo caso-controle. Um total de 34 pacientes, sendo 20 portadores de DIGH oriundos da cidade de Itabaianinha-SE e 14 indivíduos hígidos residentes na cidade de Aracaju/SE que compuseram o controle, foram submetidos à dosagem de ETs séricas por meio de teste Elisa. A análise estatística foi realizada através de medidas de tendência central e variância e as comparações entre os grupos, através do teste Qui quadrado(X²). O nível de significância estatística foi menor que 5% (p < 0,05). RESULTADOS: O grupo controle foi composto por sete homens (50%) e sete mulheres(50%) com idade média de 42,2 ± 19,9 anos; enquanto que a amostra de anões foi composta por 11 homens (55%) e nove mulheres (45%) com idade média de 46 ±15,5 anos. Os valores médios de ETs séricas nos controles foram de 70,78 ± 39,02 pg/ml e nos pacientes com DIGH foi de 25,15 ± 6,40 pg/ml (p=0,0003; IC:92%). CONCLUSÕES: Conclui-se que os níveis de ETs em pacientes com DIGH mostraram-se inferiores aos controles, portanto, infere-se que os portadores de DIGH têm RCV menor que pacientes hígidos. Porém são necessários novos estudos para corroborar tal afirmação. (AU)

Papel das endotelinas no envelhecimento / Role of endothelin in aging

INTRODUÇÃO: As endotelinas (ETs) são uma família formada por três isopeptídeos endógenos (ET-1, ET-2, ET-3) e dois receptores, ETrA e ETrB, os quais possuem ações opostas: enquanto ETrA leva à vasoconstricção e aumento do inotropismo, o ETrB leva à vasodilatação através da liberação de Óxido nítrico e prostaciclinas. A ET é dependente de cálcio extracelular, e está associada à resposta inflamatória encontrada no envelhecimento, quando ocorre substituição fibrosa e calcificação nas valvas mitral e aórtica. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o papel das Endotelinas como marcadores do envelhecimento de valvas cardíacas. Delineamento/MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo experimental e randomizado. Foram coletadas dez valvas mitrais de indivíduos do Instituto Médico Legal (IML) de Aracaju-SE que foram a óbito por morte violenta; a amostra foi composta de oito valvas de indivíduos idosos e duas valvas de jovens, sendo todos do sexo masculino. Inicialmente, foram feitas análise em cortes histológicos corados em Hematoxilina e Eosina (HE) e em seguida, análise Imunohistoquímica (IHQ). Após coloração em HE foi realizada fixação em solução de formalina neutra a 10%, submetidas à descalcificação, embebidas em parafina e cortadas em micrótomo, com espessura de 4 µm. A coloração da IHQ foi obtida através da utilização de anticorpos policlonais para ETrA e ETrB com diluição 1:100. Posteriormente, foi feito cruzamento entre a evidência de Ca2+ nos cortes histológicos corados em HE e a análise quantitativa da área expressa pela IHQ de cada receptor em relação à área total de cada lâmina através da utilização do Software Image J®... (AU)

The addition of a quaternary group in biopolymeric material increases the adsorptive capacity of Acid Blue 25 textile dye.

The quaternization of chitosan molecules creates materials with high adsorptive capacity towards textile dyes, which renders them capable of rapidly removing such dyes from a solution. In this study, a novel material was synthesized in bead form to adsorb the Acid Blue 25 textile dye. The adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics of this new material were investigated. The beads were further characterized by FT-IR and SEM studies, as well as their rheological behavior. Bioassays with Daphnia similis analyzed the toxicity of the dye before and after treatments. The Freundlich isotherm model fitted to all the adsorption data in a pH range from 2.50 to 8.50. Kinetic studies showed that adsorption was ruled by an intraparticle diffusion process and reached equilibrium in 270 min, as 39.527 µg mg-1 of dye was sorbed to the beads. Thermodynamic studies showed that adsorption was a spontaneous and endothermic process. Thermodynamics also confirmed that the adsorption was proportionally influenced by higher temperatures. The FT-IR spectroscopy identified the adsorbate/adsorbent binding sites, thus confirming the occurrence of chemisorption. Post-treatment bioassays found a significant decrease in toxicity, obtaining just 10% of D. similis mortality after adsorption treatments. Therefore, the synthesized beads from this research can potentially be applied to the treatment of textile effluents.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Preterm Parenting & Self-efficacy Checklist / Adaptación transcultural de Preterm Parenting & Self-efficacy Checklist / Adaptação transcultural do Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist

ABSTRACT Objective: To conduct a cross-cultural adaptation of the Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist to the Brazilian Portuguese. Method: A methodological study was carried out with 51 parents of premature infants. Data analysis was based on psychometric and inferential statistical analyses. Results: The instrument content validation by experts obtained excellent agreement (97%) and the semantic analysis by the target population showed good understanding of the terms and ease of use. In test-retest, most participants were female (64.7%); and parents with higher education (47.1%). The instrument showed stability over time, with good internal consistency (α = 0.84). Four factors were generated in the subscales parenting self-efficacy, importance of tasks and self-perceived parental competence (67.0% to 74.2% of the variance). Conclusion: The properties of the Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist - Brazilian Version were maintained, which is a reliable indicator to evaluate the hospital discharge of premature infants.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Realizar la adaptación transcultural de Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist para el portugués de Brasil. Método: Estudio metodológico, en el cual participaron 51 padres de recién nacidos prematuros. En el análisis de datos se utilizaron la psicometría y la estadística inferencial. Resultados: La validación de contenido del instrumento por los expertos obtuvo una concordancia excelente (97%), y el análisis semántico con la población demostró comprensión de los términos y facilidad en su utilización. En el test-retest, hubo la mayoría de participantes del sexo femenino (64,7%); y de padres con enseñanza superior (47,1%). El instrumento fue estable a lo largo del tiempo, presentando una buena consistencia interna (α = 0.84). Se generaron cuatro factores en las subescalas: autoeficacia parental; importancia de las tareas; y competencia parental autopercibida (del 67,0% al 74,2% de la varianza). Conclusión: Las propiedades de Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist -versión brasileña- se mantuvieron, lo que configura como un indicador fiable de evaluación del alta hospitalaria del prematuro.

RESUMO Objetivo: Realizar a adaptação transcultural do Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist para o português brasileiro. Método: Estudo metodológico, realizado com 51 pais de recém-nascidos prematuros. A análise dos dados utilizou-se da psicometria e da estatística inferencial. Resultados: A validação de conteúdo do instrumento pelos especialistas obteve concordância excelente (97%), e a análise semântica com a população-alvo demonstrou compreensão dos termos e facilidade na sua utilização. No teste-reteste, houve maioria de participantes do sexo feminino (64,7%) e de pais com ensino superior (47,1%). O instrumento apresentou estabilidade ao longo do tempo, com boa consistência interna (α = 0.84). Quatro fatores foram gerados nas subescalas "autoeficácia parental", "importância das tarefas" e "competência parental autopercebida" (67,0% a 74,2% da variância). Conclusão: Houve a manutenção das propriedades do Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist - Versão Brasileira, que se configura como um indicador confiável para avaliar a alta hospitalar do prematuro.

Bioassays and coagulation studies using Moringa oleifera seeds for the removal of textile dyes.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the removal of three different textile dyes through the coagulation action of the powder and supernatant of Moringa oleifera seeds. The pH of the solution and mass concentrations of the adsorbent were varied. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometry was used to evaluate the main interaction sites of the M. oleifera coagulants with the dyes. Bioassays were also conducted with Lactuca sativa and Eruca sativa seeds to evaluate the toxicity of the M. oleifera coagulants and dyes. Each dye interacted differently with the M. oleifera powder and supernatant; however, dye removal rates were higher than 70% even when varying the pH of the solution. FT-IR spectrophotometry revealed that the linkage of the dyes with the M. oleifera coagulants occurs through chemical interactions, and the coagulating protein of M. oleifera was confirmed as the removing agent. Depending on the dye molecule, the pH of the solution also exerted a strong influence on coagulation. The phytotoxicity tests showed that the coagulants in the seeds of M. oleifera are more toxic than the dyes tested. In conclusion, although efficient and economically feasible, the application of M. oleifera coagulants requires further investigation, especially with regard to ecotoxicology.

[Aneurysmal disease - a multifocal pathology with regard to a clinical case.] / Doença aneurismática ­ uma patologia multifocal a propósito de um caso clínico.

INTRODUCTION: True para-anastomotic aneurysms are a rare complication of arterial surgery. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to describe the clinical case of a 73 years-old patient, with history of a left above-the- -knee amputation due to an occluded popliteal aneurysm, admitted for surgical treatment of a contralateral popliteal aneurysm. RESULTS: A bypass between the right distal superficial femoral artery (SFA) and the distal popliteal artery was performed using autologous vein. Two years after the index surgery, aneurysmatic degeneration of the native artery was found on ultrasound, with 1.7 cm at the proximal anastomosis, and 1.4 cm distally. We kept surveillance, however, 12 years after surgery, he had a proximal true para-anastomotic aneurysm of the SFA with 4.8 cm. So, resection with interposition of a prosthetic graft between the native artery and the venous conduit of the previous bypass was performed. At this time the popliteal artery at the distal anastomosis had, approximately, 1.8 cm, so we chose to remain vigilant. Seventeen years after surgery, it measured 3.2 cm, in computed tomographic angiography. Therefore, total aneurysmectomy was performed and, due to redundancy of the previous bypass venous conduit caused by progressive dilation restricted to the distal popliteal artery, we did a termino-terminal reanastomosis to the normal sized popliteal artery. After 20 months, he is asymptomatic, with distal pulses present, without clinical nor radiological signs of aneurysmal degeneration. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This work aims to highlight the relevance of the follow up, not only on a clinical basis but also radiological, since we are dealing with a diffuse pathology that can appear in any arterial segment without symptoms.

Introdução: Aneurismas para-anastomóticos verdadeiros constituem uma complicação rara da cirurgia arterial. Objetivo: Este trabalho pretende descrever o caso de um doente de 73 anos, com antecedentes de amputação pela coxa do membro inferior esquerdo por aneurisma poplíteo trombosado, admitido para tratamento cirúrgico de aneurisma poplíteo contralateral. Resultados: O doente foi submetido a exclusão do mesmo com construção de bypass femoro-poplíteo curto infragenicular com veia grande safena. Dois anos após a cirurgia índice, em controlo ecográfico, foi identificada ectasia de ambas as anastomoses com 1,7cm e 1,4cm de diâmetro máximo nas anastomoses proximal e distal, respetivamente. Manteve-se vigilância e aos 12 anos de seguimento apresentava aneurisma para-anastomótico verdadeiro na anastomose proximal com 4,8cm de diâmetro máximo. Foi submetido, então, a ressecção de aneurisma com interposição de enxerto protésico entre artéria nativa e o conduto venoso prévio. A artéria poplítea distal nesta altura apresentava, aproximadamente, 1,8cm de diâmetro, tendo-se optado por manter vigilância. Aos 17 anos de seguimento, a artéria poplítea justa anastomose distal atingiu 3,2cm em angiotomografia computorizada. Foi, portanto, submetido a abordagem poplítea distal e, devido a redundância do conduto venoso prévio provocada por uma dilatação progressiva da artéria poplítea distal, foi possível proceder a aneurismectomia total e reanastomose termino-terminal de conduto venoso à artéria poplítea distal de calibre normal. Aos cerca de 20 meses de seguimento, apresenta-se assintomático, com pulsos distais presentes, sem sinais clínicos ou radiológicos de degenerescência aneurismática. Discussão e Conclusão: Este trabalho pretende realçar a relevância do seguimento destes doentes, não só em termos clínicos, mas também radiológicos, pois estamos perante uma patologia de carácter difuso que pode surgir em qualquer segmento arterial de forma assintomática.