Antifungal activity of Annona crassiflora Mart. dichloromethane fraction against strains of C. albicans.

Products derived from medicinal plants with antimicrobial activity are considered a promising alternative in the treatment of fungal infections. In this perspective, this study proposed to evaluate the antifungal activity of the dichloromethane fraction of Annona crassiflora Mart. against C. albicans strains. Tests were carried out to determine Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Fungicide Concentration (MFC), microbial growth kinetics, fungal cell wall and membrane mechanisms of action, antifungal biofilm activity, and cytotoxic effects on human erythrocytes. The extract presented MIC and MFC values that ranged from 256 µg/mL to 1,024 µg/mL, with fungicidal activity in the microbial growth kinetics assay. The mechanism of action did not occur through damage to the cell wall or via binding to ergosterol in the membrane, though the fraction presents activity against biofilm and is not cytotoxic in human erythrocytes. The dichloromethane fraction of Annona crassiflora Mart. presented antifungal activity and reduced biofilm growth, without toxicity against human erythrocytes; however, further studies are needed to define its mechanism of action.

Moderate physical exercise and ATP modulate the P2X7 receptor and improve cisplatin-induced gastric emptying delay in rats.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy with cisplatin commonly present gastrointestinal effects such as constipation and gastric emptying (GE) delay. Both the purinergic system and physical exercise modulate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In the current study, we investigated the role of ATP, physical exercise, and P2X7 receptor blocking on GE delay induced by cisplatin in rats. Male rats were divided into the following groups: control (C), cisplatin (Cis), exercise (Ex), Brilliant Blue G (BBG), ATP, Cis+Ex, Cis+ATP, Cis+BBG, Cis+Ex+BBG, Cis+Ex+BBG+ATP, and Cis+ATP+BBG. GE delay was induced by treatment with 1 mg/kg cisplatin (1 time/week for 5 weeks, ip). The moderate physical exercise was swimming (1 h/day, 5 days/week for 5 weeks). At the end of the treatment or exercise and 30 min before the GE assessment, some groups received BBG (50 mg/kg, sc) or ATP (2 mg/kg, sc). Then, GE was assessed after a 10-min postprandial period. Chronic use of Cis decreased GE delay (P<0.05) compared to the control group. Both exercise and ATP prevented (P<0.05) GE delay compared to Cis. The pretreatment with BBG significantly inhibited (P<0.05) the effect of exercise and ATP. On the other hand, the association between exercise and ATP reversed (P<0.05) the effect of the BBG and prevented GE delay. Therefore, we suggest that both exercise and treatment with ATP activate P2X7 receptors and prevent GE delay induced by cisplatin in rats.

Moderate physical exercise and ATP modulate the P2X7 receptor and improve cisplatin-induced gastric emptying delay in rats

Patients undergoing chemotherapy with cisplatin commonly present gastrointestinal effects such as constipation and gastric emptying (GE) delay. Both the purinergic system and physical exercise modulate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In the current study, we investigated the role of ATP, physical exercise, and P2X7 receptor blocking on GE delay induced by cisplatin in rats. Male rats were divided into the following groups: control (C), cisplatin (Cis), exercise (Ex), Brilliant Blue G (BBG), ATP, Cis+Ex, Cis+ATP, Cis+BBG, Cis+Ex+BBG, Cis+Ex+BBG+ATP, and Cis+ATP+BBG. GE delay was induced by treatment with 1 mg/kg cisplatin (1 time/week for 5 weeks, ip). The moderate physical exercise was swimming (1 h/day, 5 days/week for 5 weeks). At the end of the treatment or exercise and 30 min before the GE assessment, some groups received BBG (50 mg/kg, sc) or ATP (2 mg/kg, sc). Then, GE was assessed after a 10-min postprandial period. Chronic use of Cis decreased GE delay (P<0.05) compared to the control group. Both exercise and ATP prevented (P<0.05) GE delay compared to Cis. The pretreatment with BBG significantly inhibited (P<0.05) the effect of exercise and ATP. On the other hand, the association between exercise and ATP reversed (P<0.05) the effect of the BBG and prevented GE delay. Therefore, we suggest that both exercise and treatment with ATP activate P2X7 receptors and prevent GE delay induced by cisplatin in rats.

Factors associated with the time taken for diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Brazil. An online population-based inquiry. / Factores asociados al tiempo necesario para el diagnóstico de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) en Brasil. Una encuesta poblacional en línea.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated factors associated with the time, in months, between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis (time taken for diagnosis) of ALS for patients in Brazil, in the year 2014. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An electronic questionnaire composed of 38 questions was developed and applied through internet-based social networks of patients. From the 210 replies, 194 were considered (86 from women, 108 from men). Most respondents were 51 to 60 years old. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the time taken for diagnosis between the strata of the sample. RESULTS: The mean time taken for diagnosis was 14.21 (±16.87) months. There was a statistically significant difference only for higher education conditions (p = 0.009) and low education status (p = 0.042). There was no statistically significant difference between sexes, bulbar onset, age groups, and the presence of spouse, or 'partnership with ALS patients associations or exchange of experiences'. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the time taken for diagnosis of ALS is influenced by socioeconomic conditions that promote access to information and/or health services.

TITLE: Factores asociados al tiempo necesario para el diagnóstico de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) en Brasil. Una encuesta poblacional en línea.Objetivo. Este estudio evaluó los factores asociados con el tiempo, en meses, entre el inicio de los síntomas y el diagnóstico (tiempo necesario para el diagnóstico) de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) de los pacientes en Brasil en 2014. Pacientes y métodos. Se elaboró un cuestionario electrónico compuesto por 38 preguntas y se aplicó a través de redes sociales de pacientes basadas en Internet. De las 210 respuestas, se consideraron 194 (86 de mujeres y 108 de hombres). La mayoría de los encuestados tenía entre 51 y 60 años. Se utilizó la prueba de Mann-Whitney para comparar el tiempo transcurrido hasta el diagnóstico entre los estratos de la muestra. Resultados. El tiempo medio transcurrido hasta el diagnóstico fue de 14,21 (±16,87) meses. Hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa sólo para las condiciones de educación superior (p = 0,009) y bajo nivel educativo (p = 0,042). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre sexos, inicio bulbar, grupos de edad y presencia de cónyuge, o colaboración con asociaciones de pacientes con ELA o intercambio de experiencias. Conclusión. Estos datos sugieren que el tiempo que se tarda en diagnosticar la ELA está influido por las condiciones socioeconómicas que favorecen el acceso a la información y/o a los servicios sanitarios.

Co-infection by multiple vector-borne agents in wild ring-tailed coatis (Nasua nasua) from Iguaçu National Park, southern Brazil.

The present study aimed to detect molecularly the presence of co-infections by vector-borne agents (VBA) in ring-tailed coatis' (Nasua nasua) blood samples from Iguaçu National Park (INP), southern Brazil, and assess the phylogenetic positioning of the detected agents. DNA blood samples were submitted to molecular screening and characterization for Anaplasmataceae agents, Piroplasmids, Hepatozoon sp., hemotropic mycoplasmas, and Bartonella spp. In total, 42 (85.7%) coatis were positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma sp., 12 (24.5%) for Bartonella machadoae, 7 (14.3%) for Anaplasma sp. closely related to 'Candidatus Anaplasma brasiliensis', and 3 (6%) for Hepatozoon procyonis. The most prevalent co-infections observed was from bacterial VBA: while 18.3% were co-infected by hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. and Bartonella sp., 12.2% were co-infected by Anaplasma sp. and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. Only two animals (4%) presented co-infections by three VBA (Bartonella sp., Anaplasma sp. and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp.). The coati is a wild carnivore found in INP, mainly in areas visited by tourists. These animals are frequently seen searching for food in garbage dumps or in tourists' belongings. The present study expands the host specificity range of B. machadoae, which has been isolated only from rodents until the present moment. Since the zoonotic potential and transmission routes of the detected VBA are not yet known, surveillance in this area is much needed.

What factors explain the increase in obesity in Brazil? An ecological analysis of contextual and behavioural components.

OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that contextual factors may be related to obesity; however, they have not yet been widely investigated. The main objective of this ecological time-series study was to analyse factors associated with the increase in obesity in the adult and elderly population in Brazil from 2006 to 2020. STUDY DESIGN: This is an ecological time-series study. Data were collected by the Surveillance System for Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL), the main health survey in Brazil. METHODS: The outcome was the annual obesity growth rate (in percentage points). Independent variables were behavioural and contextual factors. Data analysis was performed using Prais-Winsten regression for temporal analyses, and Spearman correlation and crude and adjusted linear regression (beta and 95% confidence intervals [CIs]). RESULTS: The annual obesity growth rate was 0.58 percentage points (p.p.) (95% CI: 0.54; 0.63) per year. Demographic density and the percentage of the population employed showed an inverse association with the growth of obesity. Variables such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, Gini coefficient, urbanisation rate, percentage of the population with low level of education and percentage of the population without an income were directly associated with the increase in obesity rates. The variables maintained in the final model explained 81% of the growth in obesity in Brazil over the last 15 years (2006-2020). CONCLUSIONS: The growth of obesity in Brazil was mostly explained by contextual factors, especially those of a socio-economic nature. Therefore, interventions to mitigate the increase in obesity must go beyond behavioural factors.

Chicken embryo: a useful animal model for drug testing?

The use of chicken embryos (CEs) as an in vivo experimental model for different pharmaceutical purposes is not a novelty. However, in recent years, the number of reports employing CE to evaluate several parameters, such as the toxicity and efficacy of drugs and/or nanosystems, has increased. Therefore, this review discusses the relevance of CE for drug testing, emphasizing the inoculation routes and the embryonic stages. The challenges to be overcome, as well as some practical recommendations to allow CE to be more explored as a promising in vivo model in drug analyses, are also highlighted.

Body, metabolic and renal changes following cross-sex estrogen/progestogen therapy in a rodent model simulating its use by transwomen.

PURPOSE: The use of sex steroids by trans people has been of paramount importance regarding body changes during gender transition. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of an injectable steroid combination frequently used by transwomen, namely estradiol enanthate with dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide (E2EN/DHPA), on blood pressure and metabolic outcomes using an animal model. METHODS: Two-month-old male Wistar rats were orchiectomized or sham-operated and divided into groups: (1) Sham treated with sesame oil vehicle (SG), (2) sham treated with E2EN/DHPA (SP), (3) orchiectomized rats treated with vehicle (OG), and (4) orchiectomized rats treated with E2EN/DHPA (OP), with all groups treated every 10 days for 5 months. We evaluated systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight (BW), abdominal circumference, nasoanal length (NAL), food and water intake (FI, WI), lipid profile (triglycerides, LDL, and HDL), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma concentrations of urea (URpl) and creatinine (CRpl), 24 h urinary volume (V24 h), sodium and potassium excretion (UNa+, UK+), and proteinuria. RESULTS: E2EN/DHPA administration reduced BW (SP 324.5 ± 31.1; OP 291.7 ± 41.3 g) and NAL (SP 24.5 ± 0.4; OP 24.6 ± 1.0 cm), without changing blood pressure, but increased URpl concentration (SP 55.0 ± 4.8; OP 42.5 ± 8.8 mg/dL) and CRpl (SP 0.47 ± 0.05; OP 0.46 ± 0.04 mg/dL), sodium (SP 3.1 ± 0.8; OP 3.3 ± 0.4 µEq/min/kg), potassium (SP 0.91 ± 0.22; OP 0.94 ± 0.22 µEq/min/kg) excretions and urinary volume (SP 15.5 ± 2.1; OP 16.4 ± 2.9 mL/24 h). CONCLUSION: Cross-sex hormone therapy with E2EN/DHPA significantly modified body characteristics in male rats, producing a feminizing change without altering blood pressure or generating harmful metabolic parameters, but larger translational studies are still needed.

Mandarin essential oil as an antimicrobial in ethanolic fermentation: Effects on Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The antibacterial activity of citrus essential oils (EOs) in the context of combating Limosilactobacillus fermentum, one of the most important bacterial contaminants in the bioethanol production industry, has never been explored previously. Industrial processes usually utilize sulfuric acid for cell treatment to decrease bacterial contamination. However, due to the hazardous nature of sulfuric acid, an alternative to it is highly desirable. Therefore, in the present study, the efficacy of Fremont IAC 543 mandarin EO against a strain of L. fermentum (ATCC® 9338™) was evaluated under proliferative/nonproliferative conditions, in both pure culture and co-culture with an industrial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The mandarin EO exhibited higher effectiveness against L. fermentum compared to that against S. cerevisiae under nonproliferative conditions (added to water rather than to culture medium). At the concentration of 0·05%, the EO was as effective as the acid solution with pH 2·0 in reducing the count of L. fermentum almost 5 log CFU ml-1 cycles, while the concentration of 0·1% led to the complete loss of bacterial culturability. When L. fermentum was co-cultured with S. cerevisiae, the efficacy of the EO against the bacterial strain was reduced. However, despite this reduced efficacy in co-culture, mandarin EO may be considered effective in combating L. fermentum and could be applied in processes where this bacterium proves to be unfavourable and does not interact with S. cerevisiae.

Depression and anxiety symptoms remained elevated after 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in southern Brazil: findings from the PAMPA cohort.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the changes in depression and anxiety symptoms among Brazilian adults over 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: The present study used data from wave 1 (June/July 2020) and wave 2 (December 2020/January 2021) of the Prospective Study About Mental and Physical Health (PAMPA) Cohort, a state-level, ambispective longitudinal study with adults from southern Brazil. The frequency of anxiety and depressive symptoms was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Anxiety and depressive symptoms before social distancing were retrospectively assessed during wave 1. RESULTS: Most of the 674 participants were classified as non-symptomatic for depressive (85.0%) and anxiety symptoms (73.2%) before the COVID-19 pandemic. At wave 1, there were increases in symptoms of depression (7.6% [95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.2%, 8.1%]) and anxiety (9.1% [95% CI: 8.6%, 9.5%]). These decreased at wave 2 (depression: 6.9% [95% CI: 6.5%, 7.2%]; anxiety: 7.4% [95% CI: 7.1%, 7.8%]) although they were still elevated compared with pre-COVID (depression: 4.5% [95% CI: 4.2%, 4.8%]; anxiety: 5.8% [95% CI: 5.5%, 6.1%]). Adults living alone (b = 0.44 [95% CI: 0.07, 0.82]) had a faster trajectory in anxiety symptoms than their counterparts. Cohort members who were living alone (b = 0.24 [95% CI: 0.06, 0.42]) and with diagnosed chronic disease (0.32 [95% CI: 0.18, 0.46]) had a faster increase in depressive symptoms than their respective counterparts. Participants aged ≥60 years showed a slower trajectory of depressive (b = -0.46 [95% CI: -0.73, -0.18]) and anxiety (b = -0.61 [95% CI: -1.20, -0.02) symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: During 10 months of COVID-19, anxiety and depression symptoms improved but were still higher than before COVID-19.

Exergame training-induced neuroplasticity and cognitive improvement in institutionalized older adults: A preliminary investigation.

BACKGROUND: Prior research has reported cognitive improvements in elderly individuals when mental and physical exercise are practiced simultaneously, as in exergaming. However, the molecular mechanisms driving this beneficial response remain unclear. Moreover, there is robust evidence that regular exercise increases neurotrophic factors and promotes neuroplasticity, contributing to cognitive improvement. This research aimed to assess the impact of a 6-week Xbox 360 Kinect exergame protocol on cognitive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in institutionalized older individuals. METHODS: Participants living in a long-term care facility were included. The intervention (Xbox 360 Kinect exergame protocol) was conducted individually and consisted of two sessions per week (40 min each) over 6 weeks. Participants' cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA) was evaluated before and after the intervention. Blood samples (15 ml) were collected at the same time to measure BDNF levels. RESULTS: Although there were no changes in total MoCA scores, exergame training improved the "language" domain and demonstrated a tendency toward an improvement in the "abstraction" and "memory/delayed recall" domains. Furthermore, BDNF levels were significantly increased after the intervention. CONCLUSION: BDNF enhancement might mediate, at least in part, the cognitive changes induced by a 6-week Xbox 360 Kinect exergame protocol in institutionalized older adults.

Green Composite Sensor for Monitoring Hydroxychloroquine in Different Water Matrix.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a derivative of 4-aminoquinolone, is prescribed as an antimalarial prevention drug and to treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Recently, Coronavirus (COVID-19) treatment was authorized by national and international medical organizations by chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in certain hospitalized patients. However, it is considered as an unproven hypothesis for treating COVID-19 which even itself must be investigated. Consequently, the high risk of natural water contamination due to the large production and utilization of HCQ is a key issue to overcome urgently. In fact, in Brazil, the COVID-19 kit (hydroxychloroquine and/or ivermectin) has been indicated as pre-treatment, and consequently, several people have used these drugs, for longer periods, converting them in emerging water pollutants when these are excreted and released to aquatic environments. For this reason, the development of tools for monitoring HCQ concentration in water and the treatment of polluted effluents is needed to minimize its hazardous effects. Then, in this study, an electrochemical measuring device for its environmental application on HCQ control was developed. A raw cork-graphite electrochemical sensor was prepared and a simple differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method was used for the quantitative determination of HCQ. Results indicated that the electrochemical device exhibited a clear current response, allowing one to quantify the analyte in the 5-65 µM range. The effectiveness of the electrochemical sensor was tested in different water matrices (in synthetic and real) and lower HCQ concentrations were detected. When comparing electrochemical determinations and spectrophotometric measurements, no significant differences were observed (mean accuracy 3.0%), highlighting the potential use of this sensor in different environmental applications.

Computational structural, electronic and optical properties of the palmitic acid in its C form.

In this work, we report a theoretical study of the structural, electronic, and optical properties of palmitic acid crystal in its C form under DFT calculations level. Palmitic acid is a fatty acid that constitutes the large majority of vegetable oils with recognized potential applications in medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics technology, foods, and fuel. As a main result, we have found that the electronic bandstructure reveals an indirect gap given by 3.713 eV (E→B andE→Γ), as a main bandgap, while the secondary bandgaps found were 4.175 eV (γ1→Γ) and 4.172 eV (γ2→B). It behaves like a wide bandgap semiconductor, which points to potential applications in optoelectronic devices.

Intra-articular human deciduous dental pulp stem cell administration vs. pharmacological therapy in experimental osteoarthritis rat model.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare the molecular and morphological effects of diacerein and glucosamine-chondroitin drug treatment and intra-articular injection therapy of human deciduous dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) in a rat knee model of induced osteoarthritis (OA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six adult male rats were randomly separated into six groups: Control group (without induction of OA), osteoarthritis group 60 (induction of OA, saline gavage started on day 14 and performed for 60 days, followed by euthanasia), osteoarthritis group (induction of OA and euthanasia after 14 days), diacerein group, glucosamine-chondroitin group, and mesenchymal stem cell group. The drug-treated groups were gavaged with 50 mg/kg of diacerein and 400/500 mg/kg of glucosamine-chondroitin starting on dat 14 for 60 days. The cell therapy-treated group received an intra-articular single dose of 8 × 105 hDPSCs on day 14, and euthanasia was performed after 60 days. Lateral femoral condyles were collected and prepared for immunohistochemistry and light microscopy procedures. RESULTS: The morphological features and immunoexpression of SOX-5, IHH, MMP-8, MMP-13, and Type II collagen were statistically analysed. Our data suggest that hDPSC therapy contributes more actively and effectively in the structural reorganization of lateral femoral condyles. In contrast, the glucosamine-chondroitin sulphate treatment was more effective in inflammatory control, while diacerein showed better results associated with the maintenance of the primordial cartilage. CONCLUSIONS: The positive therapeutic effect of daily administered conventional drugs can be confirmed in a rat model of OA. However, one single dose of locally administered hDPSCs provides significant improvement in tissue regeneration in an OA model.

Spleen and lung virome analysis of South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) collected on the southern Brazilian coast.

South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) are believed to reach the coast of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) through sea currents. They live in colonies and are frequently found resting on the beach. However, it is also common to find dead pinnipeds on beaches, sharing the environment with humans, domestic animals and other wild species on the coast and facilitating the transmission of pathogens. In the present study, a metagenomic approach was applied to evaluate the viral diversity in organs of fur seals found deceased along the coast of the state of RS, southern Brazil. The lungs and spleens of 29 animals were collected, macerated individually, pooled separately (one pool for lungs and another for spleens) and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Sequences more closely related to members of the Anelloviridae and Circoviridae families were detected. Nine putative new species of anellovirus and one putative new genus, named Nitorquevirus, were described. Additionally, the circovirus sequences found in the lungs of A. australis have a common ancestor with PCV3, a proposed swine pathogen. Our study expanded the knowledge about viral communities in pinnipeds and could be useful for monitoring new viruses and potential viral sharing among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.

Sharp increase in depression and anxiety among Brazilian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from the PAMPA cohort.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms before and during the pandemic and identify factors associated with aggravated mental health symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: We identified the proportion of normal, mild, moderate, and severe symptoms of depression and anxiety before and during the social distancing restrictions in adults from southern Brazil. An online, self-administered questionnaire was delivered for residents within the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were examined by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: Most of the participants (n = 2314) aged between 31 and 59 years (54.2%), were women (76.6%), White (90.6%) with a university degree (66.6%). Moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression and anxiety were reported in 3.9% and 4.5% of participants, respectively, before COVID-19. During the pandemic (June-July, 2020), these proportions increased to 29.1% (6.6-fold increase) and 37.8% (7.4-fold increase), respectively. Higher rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms were observed among women, those aged 18-30 years, diagnosed with chronic disease and participants who had their income negatively affected by social restrictions. Remaining active or becoming physically active during social distancing restrictions reduced the probability of aggravated mental health disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive and anxiety symptoms had a 6.6- and 7.4-fold increase since the COVID-19 pandemic. Public policies such as physical activity promotion and strategies to reduce the economic strain caused by this pandemic are urgently needed to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on mental health.

Different methods of assessing udder temperature through thermography and their relation with rectal temperature.

Infrared thermography of the lateral side portion of the udder was taken from 38 lactating cows in a 6-day experiment. Thermograms were analyzed using specific software with the use of eight different methods. The experiment was aimed at correlating the different methods with each other and with rectal temperature (RT), in order to suggest a method to assess udder side temperature, and also at creating regression equations to enable RT calculation through the use of thermographic data. All methods of analyzing thermograms were highly correlated; correlations between thermograms and RT were significant (P < 0.01) and above 0.840. The highest correlation was between RT and the maximum temperature obtained using a horizontal rectangle placed within the lateral (side) portion of the udder (maximum temperature in a horizontal rectangle (MHR), 0.897). With the exception of the average temperature of a horizontal rectangle, linear regression coefficients were significant (P < 0.05) and coefficients of determination were higher than 75.51%. We suggest the use of MHR to evaluate udder side temperature. The ease of accessing the side of the udder, the welfare advantages of non-invasive observations, and the high correlation with RT suggest the use of thermograms in the lateral portion of the udder to assess animals' temperature.

Investigation of genetic susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (VDR and IL10 genes) in a population with a high level of substructure in the Brazilian Amazon region.

OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious and contagious disease that has been very influential in human history and presents high rates of mortality. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of VDR, IL10, and SLC11A1 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. METHODS: A total of 135 patients with confirmed TB and 141 healthy individuals were included in the analysis. Blood samples were collected for DNA extraction. Genotyping of the polymorphisms in the VDR and IL10 genes was performed by real-time PCR, and genotyping of the polymorphisms in the SLC11A1 gene by conventional PCR, followed by visualization in polyacrylamide gel. The genomic ancestry was obtained using an autosomal panel with 48 insertion/deletion ancestry-informative markers. RESULTS: Polymorphisms TaqI (TT, p=0.004), FokI (CC and CC+CT, p=0.012 and p=0.003, respectively), and BsmI (GG, p=0.008) in the VDR gene, as well as A-592C (GC+AG, p=0.001) in the IL10 gene, were significantly associated with susceptibility to TB In addition, high production of VDR combined with low production of IL10 showed protection for the TB group (p=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: The VDR polymorphisms may confer an increased risk and the IL10 haplotype may be a protection factor for the presence of M. tuberculosis infection in the Brazilian population.

Virome of crab-eating (Cerdocyon thous) and pampas foxes (Lycalopex gymnocercus) from southern Brazil and Uruguay.

Crab-eating (Cerdocyon thous) and Pampas foxes (Lycalopex gymnocercus) are wild canids distributed in South America. Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and wild canids may share viral pathogens, including rabies virus (RABV), canine distemper virus (CDV), and canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2). To characterize the virome of these wild canid species, the present work evaluated the spleen and mesenteric lymph node virome of 17 crab-eating and five Pampas foxes using high-throughput sequencing (HTS). Organ samples were pooled and sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq platform. Additional PCR analyses were performed to identify the frequencies and host origin for each virus detected by HTS. Sequences more closely related to the Paramyxoviridae, Parvoviridae and Anelloviridae families were detected, as well as circular Rep-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses. CDV was found only in crab-eating foxes, whereas CPV-2 was found in both canid species; both viruses were closely related to sequences reported in domestic dogs from southern Brazil. Moreover, the present work reported the detection of canine bocavirus (CBoV) strains that were genetically divergent from CBoV-1 and 2 lineages. Finally, we also characterized CRESS DNA viruses and anelloviruses with marked diversity. The results of this study contribute to the body of knowledge regarding wild canid viruses that can potentially be shared with domestic canids or other species.

Understanding the electronic properties of BaTiO3 and Er3+ doped BaTiO3 films through confocal scanning microscopy and XPS: the role of oxygen vacancies.

Photonic and electronic properties exist inherently in ferroelectric barium titanate (BaTiO3); severe luminescence quenching also exists due to the insufficient confinement of excitons. In this sense, high optical emission can only be achieved by its chemical and structural modification. Thin BaTiO3 and Er:BaTiO3 films were grown by the spin coating method on a glass substrate at room temperature. Self-trapping of excitons in the thin BaTiO3 film and its structural modification due to the doping with Er3+ ions (Er:BaTiO3) are verified using scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy (SCFM), where self-trapping excitons never occured in its pure state. By thermal treatment and doping (BaTiO3 and Er:BaTiO3) we obtained localization of the excitons, which would further induce lattice strain around the surface defects, to accommodate the self-trapped excitons. With such a self-trapped state, the structure of BaTiO3 generates broadband emission of several overlapping bands between 1.95 and 2.65 eV at room temperature, while the structure Er:BaTiO3 showed defined emission bands at 2.24 and 2.35 eV, with very weak contributions of the emission due to the self-trapping state. The influence of the variation of the excitation wavelength using 1PE and 2PE on the emission bands of BaTiO3 and Er:BaTiO3 is also investigated. The results of enhanced emission bands suggest a clear dependence of the emission intensity on the excitation energy, where a ∼3 fold enhancement in emission has been demonstrated under Er3+ (1.55 eV) excitation, which can be attributed to effective energy transfer between the Er3+ ions. As a result, it is concluded that the developed BaTiO3 and Er:BaTiO3 can pave the way for future photonic devices.