Ocimum gratissimum essential oil in the transport water of Brycon hilarii: implications at water quality, blood parameters and residues in tissue and plasma.

Transporting live fish is a common practice in fish farming, and is certainly one of the main problems that affect fish homeostasis. In this scenario, the use of natural additives has shown promise in improving fish resistance to adverse situations. This study aimed to assess the impact of Ocimum gratissimum L. essential oil (OGEO) on water quality, hematological parameters, and residue levels in the plasma, fillet, and liver of juvenile piraputanga (Brycon hilarii) during a two-hour transportation period. The fish were divided into plastic bags (4 L) and exposed to three different OGEO concentrations (10, 20, and 30 mg L-1), while a control group received no OGEO (three repetitions each). After the two-hour transportation, blood samples were collected, as well as portions of the fillet and liver for quantifying essential oil compounds, which were also measured in the plasma. Oxygen levels remained high throughout the transportation period, in all groups, while the pH decreased. Hemoglobin, MCHC, and MCH increased in fish exposed to OGEO concentrations of 20 and 30 mg L-1, compared to the control group. However, lymphocyte counts and the concentrations of essential oil compounds in plasma, fillet, and liver increased with higher OGEO concentrations. The use of 10 mg L-1 OGEO in the two-hour transport water is promising to ensure the survival and well-being of Brycon hilarii juveniles (weighing 16 g), showing to be safe and effective. The residual concentration of eugenol the major compound of OGEO in the fillet remains below the maximum limit of the recommended daily intake.

Does elite European match-play affect salivary immunoglobulin-A and cortisol in soccer players? The influence of playing status and match outcome.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to: a) investigate salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and cortisol (s-Cort) responses to nine competitive fixtures in starting and non- starting soccer players; and b) compare s-IgA and s-Cort responses of starters and non-starters considering match outcome. Methods: Saliva from 19 male outfield players from an elite soccer team (mean ± SD, age 26 ± 4 years; weight 80.5 ± 8.1 kg; height 1.83 ± 0.07 m; body-fat 10.8% ± 0.7%) was collected. Saliva samples were taken on the day before each match (MD-1), 60-min before kick-off (MDpre), 30-min post-match (MDpost), and 72-h post-match (MD+3). There were five wins, one draw and three losses. Results: The mean s-IgA value was found to be significantly lower at MD+3 compared to MDpre and MDpost. s-Cort was significantly higher at MDpost compared to MD-1 and MDpre. When compared to MDpre, a statistically significant decrease in s-Cort was observed at MD+3 compared to MDpost. Starters displayed higher s-Cort values across the nine matches. There was a significant group-by-time interaction for s-Cort. There was a significant increase in s-Cort levels at MDpost compared to MD-1 and from MDpre to MDpost in starting players. At MDpost, starters had significantly higher s-Cort values. s-IgA values of starting and non- starting players following successful and unsuccessful matches did not reveal a significant difference. However, similar analysis of s-Cort in successful matches showed a significant difference between starters and non-starters. s-IgA values at MD-1, MDpre, MDpost and MD+3 in starters and non-starters following successful and unsuccessful matches revealed significant differences at MDpre and MDpost in starters, respectively. Furthermore, s-Cort values at MD-1, MDpre, MDpost and MD+3 in starters and non-starters in successful and unsuccessful matches revealed significant differences at MD+3 in starting players. Discussion: The present study suggests that in elite level soccer players, both starting status and match outcome influence s-IgA and s-Cort responses, particularly starters. Specifically, s-IgA was lower for starters before and after the match following successful outcomes. Moreover, higher s-Cort values were found before the match while lower values occurred after the match for starters in successful matches.

Rapid cycle deliberate practice improves resident performance during ELBW resuscitation.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal Resuscitation is a required competency for pediatric and family medicine residency programs. Simulation-based training can be used to supplement clinical experience. Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice (RCDP) has been validated as an effective education model and is gaining favor over traditional simulation models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a simulation-based rapid cycle deliberate practice (RCDP) intervention on extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant resuscitation. METHODS: Pediatric and family practice residents were randomized to control and intervention groups and participated in pre- and post-NICU rotation simulations. The intervention group received one RCDP session. Simulations were scored by blinded video review for overall performance, positive pressure ventilation (PPV), endotracheal intubation and behavioral skills. Surveys assessed confidence in ELBW resuscitation. RESULTS: Forty-one residents participated in the study. The RCDP group performed better than the control group at post-rotation evaluation for overall resuscitation performance (65% vs 87%, p = 0.004), administering PPV (63% vs 88%, p = 0.006), and validated behavior skills (1.4 vs 2.0, p = 0.019). Residents in the RCDP group reported greater confidence with ELBW resuscitation. CONCLUSION: An educational intervention using RCDP was associated with improved resident performance and confidence in ELBW resuscitation. RCDP should be considered for NRP and ELBW resuscitation training.

Clinical and neurodevelopmental outcomes in premature infants exposed to intravenous fish- and soybean oil-based lipid emulsions.

BACKGROUND: The optimal composition of lipid emulsions in parenteral nutrition (PN) for premature infants remains controversial. This study examined the effects of a combination of soybean oil-based (SoyLE) and fish oil-based (FishLE) lipid emulsions compared to FishLE as monotherapy on the lipid and fatty acid profiles and clinical outcomes of premature infants requiring prolonged PN. METHODS: 42 premature infants received FishLE+SoyLE or FishLE. Serum concentrations of lipoproteins and 29 fatty acids (FA) were measured at baseline, 4, and 8 weeks of PN and growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes were measured at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of life. RESULTS: Lipid profiles were similar between groups. Plasma concentrations of ω-6 fatty acids tended to decrease over time in both groups. Concentrations of most ω-3 fatty acids, in particular docosapentaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid, were significantly increased over time in the FishLE+SoyLE group whereas they did not change in the FishLE alone group. However, serum concentrations of almost all fatty acids were similar between groups at the end of the study period. No differences in growth parameters including weight, height, fronto-occipital circumference (FOC), and body mass index (BMI) were observed up to two years of age. Similarly, there were no differences in neurodevelopmental test scores at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. CONCLUSIONS: No substantial differences in lipid profiles and short clinical outcomes were found in infants exposed to FishLE+SoyLE when compared to FishLE.

Diet quality, asthma and airway inflammation in school-aged children.

Summary: Background. Asthma is a major public health problem, with increasing prevalence in most countries, particularly among children. Poor dietary quality is also increasing in children, and evidence of the overall quality of children's food patterns effects on asthma is scarce. Methods. This cross-sectional analysis (660 children: 49.1% females, aged 7-12years) evaluated the association between diet quality and asthma (n = 56) and airway inflammation among school-aged children according to body mass index (BMI). Diet quality was assessed through the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, and categorized by tertiles. Higher scores represent a healthier diet. A questionnaire was used to enquire about self-reported medical diagnosis of asthma and asthma under medication. Lung function and airway reversibility were measured, and airway inflammation assessed measuring exhaled fractional nitric oxide (eNO). Two categories of BMI were considered: non-overweight/obese (p less than 85th), (n = 491), and overweight/obese (p ≥ than 85th), (n = 169). The associations between diet quality and asthma and airway inflammation were estimated using logistic regression models. Results. Non-overweight/obese children in 2nd tertile of HEI-2015 score had decreased odds of having eNO ≥ 35ppb (OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.19-0.98), medical diagnosis of asthma (OR 0.18; 95%CI 0.04-0.84), and asthma treatment (OR 0.12; 95%CI 0.01-0.95), compared to children in the 1st tertile. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that a higher diet quality associates with lower levels of airway inflammation and reduced prevalence of asthma among non-overweight/obese school-aged children.

Issue 2 - "Update on adverse respiratory effects of indoor air pollution" Part 1): Indoor air pollution and respiratory diseases: A general update and a Portuguese perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the impact of different air pollutants on respiratory health based on robust estimates based on international data and to summarise the evidence of associations between indoor exposure to those pollutants and respiratory morbidity in the Portuguese population. RESULTS: Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses (MA) at the world level demonstrate the impact of indoor air quality on respiratory health, with indoor particulate matter and gasses exerting a significant effect on the airways. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) have been related to asthma and lung cancer. However, only meta-analyses on biomass use allowed documentation of long-term respiratory effects. While early publications concerning Portuguese-based populations mainly focused on indoor exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, later studies relocated the attention to relevant exposure environments, such as day care buildings, schools, residences and nursing homes. Looking at the pooled effects from the reviewed studies, high levels of carbon dioxide and particulate matter in Portuguese buildings were significantly associated with asthma and wheezing, with VOC and fungi showing a similar effect in some instances. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the significant reduction of indoor air pollution effects after the 2008 indoor smoking prohibition in public buildings, studies show that several indoor air parameters are still significantly associated with respiratory health in Portugal. The country shares the worldwide necessity of standardisation of methods and contextual data to increase the reach of epidemiological studies on household air pollution, allowing a weighted evaluation of interventions and policies focused on reducing the associated respiratory morbidity.

Effect of Salivary Flow on Bleached Enamel Roughness and Mineral Content: an In Situ and In Vitro Study.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of human saliva in vitro and salivary flow in situ on the roughness and mineral content of bleached enamel. Dental specimens were divided into five groups (n=15): not bleached (NB); bleached (35% hydrogen peroxide) and exposed to distilled water (DW); human saliva in vitro (IV); normal salivary flow in situ (NSF); and low salivary flow (LSF) in situ. Enamel roughness (Ra, Rz) and calcium/phosphorus contents were evaluated with laser profilometry and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, respectively, at baseline (T1), after bleaching (T2), and after seven days (T3). Salivary pH and buffer capacity were evaluated with colorimetric strips and salivary calcium and phosphorus with absorbance spectrophotometry. Data were analyzed with non-parametric tests and linear regression (α=0.05). After contact with saliva, Ra and Rz of LSF=DW>IV=NSF=NB was found. For DW and LSF, the roughness of T1

Do photosynthetic metabolism and habitat influence foliar water uptake in orchids?

Epiphytic and rupicolous plants inhabit environments with limited water resources. Such plants commonly use Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), a photosynthetic pathway that accumulates organic acids in cell vacuoles at night, so reducing their leaf water potential and favouring water absorption. Foliar water uptake (FWU) aids plant survival during drought events in environments with high water deficits. We hypothesized that FWU represents a strategy employed by epiphytic and rupicolous orchids for water acquisition and that CAM will favour increased water absorption. We examined 6 epiphyte, 4 terrestrial and 6 rupicolous orchids that use C3 (n = 9) or CAM (n = 7) pathways. Five individuals per species were used to evaluate FWU, structural characteristics and leaf water balance. Rupicolous species with C3 metabolism had higher FWU than other species. FWU (Cmax and k) could be related to succulence, SLM and leaf RWC. The results indicated that high orchid leaf densities favoured FWU, as area available for water storage increases with leaf density. Structural characteristics linked to water storage (e.g. high RWC, succulence), on the other hand, could limit leaf water absorption by favouring high internal leaf water potentials. Epiphytic, rupicolous and terrestrial orchids showed FWU. Rupicolous species had high levels of FWU, probably through absorption from mist. However, succulence in plants with CAM appears to mitigate FWU.

Clinical practice guidelines on nutrition management in head and neck cancer: a systematic quality appraisal using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation 2nd edition instrument.

OBJECTIVE: Several guidelines have been produced for the management of nutrition in patients with head and neck cancer. However, no systematic evaluation of the quality of these guidelines has been performed to date. METHOD: A comprehensive search was conducted up to August 2020. The quality of guidelines was assessed by four independent reviewers using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation, 2nd edition. RESULTS: Nine guidelines were assessed for critical evaluation. Only two guidelines were classified as 'high quality'. The 'scope and purpose' domain achieved the highest mean score (75.5 ± 17.0 per cent), and the lowest domain mean score was 'applicability' (37.6 ± 23.0 per cent). CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the variability in the methodological quality of guidelines for the management of nutrition in head and neck cancer. These results may help to improve the reporting of future guidelines and guide the selection for use in clinical practice.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of grass pollen specific immunotherapy in children with allergic rhinitis compared to the standard of care symptomatic treatment in Portugal.

Summary: Background. Cost-effectiveness studies evaluating allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in children are scarce. We aim to compare the cost-effectiveness of subcutaneous (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) against standard-of-care (SOC) treatment in children with grass pollen allergic rhinitis. Methods. We created a Markov model to compare the three strategies over a 10-year horizon. SOC was the reference to calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were used to assess models' uncertainty. Results. We obtained an ICER of € 12,605 and € 6,318 for SLIT and SCIT, respectively. In sensitivity analysis, SCIT was more cost-effective than SLIT. Conclusions. AIT is cost-effective in children with grass pollen allergic rhinitis, especially for the subcutaneous route.

A critical appraisal of clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

BACKGROUND: Delays in the diagnosis and therapy of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo can greatly impact quality of life and increase healthcare costs for patients. This study aimed to appraise the quality of clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. METHODS: A comprehensive database search of clinical practice guidelines was completed up to 30 October 2021. Four independent reviewers used the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument in the quality appraisal. RESULTS: The highest score was in 'clarity and presentation' (58.33 ± 22.7). The lowest score was in 'applicability' (13.96 ± 30.1). Overall, four clinical practice guidelines were 'low quality' and only one guideline was 'high quality'. CONCLUSION: This review identified a significant lack of quality in clinical practice guideline development for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, highlighting the need for a more rigorous approach for future guideline development.

Consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and risk of metabolic syndrome and its components: results of the ELSA-Brasil study (2008-2010 and 2012-2014).

AIM: To estimate the association between consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and unsweetened fruit juice with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Adult Health Study (ELSA-Brasil) after 4 years of follow-up. METHODS: We used data from ELSA-Brasil cohort (N = 15,105). The sample consisted of 6,124 civil servants free of the MetS at baseline (35 to 74 years, both sexes). The consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and unsweetened fruit juice was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire previously validated. The outcome was MetS and its components (Joint Interim Statement criteria). To test the association between beverage consumption at baseline (2008-2010) and MetS and its components at follow-up (2012-2014), we used Poisson regression models with robust variance adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: After 4-year follow-up, the higher consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks (≥ 1 serving/day = 250 mL/day) increased the relative risk of MetS (RR = 1.22; 95% CI 1.04-1.45), high fasting glucose (RR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.01-1.48), and high blood pressure (RR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.00-1.54). Moderate consumption of this beverage (0.4 to < 1 serving/day) increased the relative risk of high waist circumference (WC) (RR = 1.21; 95% CI 1.02-1.42). After adjustment for confounding variables, the consumption of unsweetened fruit juice was not associated with the MetS and its components. CONCLUSION: Higher sugar-sweetened soft drinks consumption was associated with a higher risk relative of MetS, high fasting glucose, and high blood pressure, while moderate consumption of this beverage increased the relative risk of high WC in Brazilian adults.

National trends in the use of oral chemotherapy over 13 years.

Background: Systemic cancer therapy has traditionally been administered using an intravenous (IV) route, implying patients' frequent visits to hospitals to access to their therapy. If we consider the actual pipeline in oncology, oral chemotherapy will be the main component of cancer treatment in the next few years. This shift in the administration route requires different care models in order to guarantee treatment efficacy and safety. Objective: To analyze time trends in oral chemotherapy consumption in Portugal. Method: Oral chemotherapy consumption over a 13-year period (2008-2020) was analyzed, considering dispensed units by the administration route with respective costs, resorting to the drug regulatory agency (INFARMED I.P.) database. Oral consumption patterns were further explored using common daily doses (CDD) for three conditions, including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and breast cancer (BC), to adjust for the effect of varying doses. Data were analyzed descriptively resorting to Microsoft Office Excel 2010. Results: Overall chemotherapy consumption increased +Δ54.7%, with the highest contribution in units observed in oral forms (+Δ58.8%). The total expenditure increased +Δ96.5%, and despite the increase in oral forms (+Δ221.6%), intravenous forms continued to be the major cost driver, with an important contribution from immunotherapy. Much of the increase was led by the approval of 40 new IV and 48 new oral cancer medications with higher costs introduced in the market. Using CDD as an alternative metric to units had varying impacts by indication. The observed increases seemed to focus on specific cancer sites with varying effect; in CML, there was a 2.39-fold increase, compared to 4.41 for NSCLC and 1.86 for BC. However, for BC, two distinct sub-patterns were observed for hormone therapy (increasing 1.83) and for the novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors (increasing 40.8). Conclusion: The growing use of oral chemotherapy is obvious and calls for investments in supporting patients in managing medication adherence and adverse events. The shifts in the healthcare system are complex and need to be prioritized. Our data suggest that priority could be attributed to cancer sites driving innovation, namely, advanced breast cancer.

Cloning and molecular properties of a novel luciferase from the Brazilian Bicellonycha lividipennis (Lampyridae: Photurinae) firefly: comparison with other firefly luciferases.

Several firefly luciferases eliciting light emission in the yellow-green range of the spectrum and with distinct kinetic properties have been already cloned, sequenced, and characterized. Some of them are currently being applied as analytical reagents and reporter genes for bioimaging and biosensors, and more recently as potential color tuning indicators of intracellular pH and toxic metals. They were cloned from the subfamilies Lampyrinae (Photinini: Photinus pyralis, Macrolampis sp2; Cratomorphini: Cratomorphus distinctus), Photurinae (Photuris pennsylvanica), Luciolinae (Luciola cruciata, L. lateralis, L. mingrelica, L. italica, Hotaria parvula), and Amydetinae (Amydetes vivianii) occurring in different parts of the world. The largest number has been cloned from fireflies occurring in Brazilian biomes. Taking advantage of the large biodiversity of fireflies occurring in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, here we report the cloning and characterization of a novel luciferase cDNA from the Photurinae subfamily, Bicellonycha lividipennis, which is a very common firefly in marshlands in Brazil. As expected, multialignements and phylogenetic analysis show that this luciferase clusters with Photuris pennsylvanica adult isozyme, and with other adult lantern firefly luciferases, in reasonable agreement with traditional phylogenetic analysis. The luciferase elicits light emission in the yellow-green region, has kinetics properties similar to other adult lantern firefly luciferases, including pH- and metal sensitivities, but displays a lower sensitivity to nickel, which is suggested to be caused by the natural substitution of H310Y.

Neuropsychological manifestations of long COVID in hospitalized and non-hospitalized Brazilian Patients.

BACKGROUND: There has been a significant increase in number of patients seeking neuropsychological rehabilitation months after the acute phase of COVID-19 infection. OBJECTIVE: Identify the cognitive and psychiatric disorders in patients with long COVID or Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID (PASC) and explore the association between disease severity during the acute phase and persistent neuropsychological manifestations. METHODS: 614 adults were assessed an average of eight months post-infection. Participants were, on average, 47.6 y.o., who sought rehabilitation for neuropsychological problems. Patients were evaluated using the Barrow Neurological Institute Screen for Higher Cerebral Functions (BNIS), Phonemic Verbal Fluency and Clock Drawing tests (NEUPSILIN) for executive functions, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: The BNIS score was significantly below reference values in all subscales, especially affect and memory. Verbal Fluency and Clock Drawing subtest results were also lower. Patients with PASC tested high for anxiety/depression, but there was no statistically significant relationship between HADS and BNIS scores. Neuropsychological evaluations showed no differences in cognitive or psychiatric profiles between hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients. CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychological results suggest executive function problems and high incidence of anxiety/depression, irrespective of acute-phase severity, underscoring a need for neurorehabilitation programs while providing data for public policy initiatives.

Analysis of a Fast Control Allocation approach for nonlinear over-actuated systems.

Autonomous Robots with multiple directional thrusters are normally over-actuated systems that require nonlinear control allocation methods to map the forces that drive the robot's dynamics and act as virtual control variables to the actuators. This process demands computational efforts that, sometimes, are not available in small robotic platforms. The present paper introduces a new control allocation approach with fast convergence, high accuracy, and dealing with complex nonlinear problems, especially in embedded systems. The adopted approach divides the desired nonlinear system into coupled linear problems. For that purpose, the Real Actions (RAs) and Virtual Control Variables (VCVs) are broke in two or more sets each. While the RA subsets are designed to linearize the system according to different input subspaces, the VCV is designed to be partially coupled to overlap the output subspaces. This approach generates smaller linear systems with fast and robust convergence used sequentially to solve nonlinear allocation problems. This methodology is assessed in mathematical tutorial cases and over-actuated UAV simulations.

A Pan-respiratory Antiviral Chemotype Targeting a Transient Host Multiprotein Complex.

We present a small molecule chemotype, identified by an orthogonal drug screen, exhibiting nanomolar activity against members of all the six viral families causing most human respiratory viral disease, with a demonstrated barrier to resistance development. Antiviral activity is shown in mammalian cells, including human primary bronchial epithelial cells cultured to an air-liquid interface and infected with SARS-CoV-2. In animals, efficacy of early compounds in the lead series is shown by survival (for a coronavirus) and viral load (for a paramyxovirus). The drug target is shown to include a subset of the protein 14-3-3 within a transient host multi-protein complex containing components implicated in viral lifecycles and in innate immunity. This multi-protein complex is modified upon viral infection and largely restored by drug treatment. Our findings suggest a new clinical therapeutic strategy for early treatment upon upper respiratory viral infection to prevent progression to lower respiratory tract or systemic disease. One Sentence Summary: A host-targeted drug to treat all respiratory viruses without viral resistance development.