Electrochemically Mediated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Driven by Alternating Current.

Alternating current (AC) and pulsed electrolysis are gaining traction in electro(organic) synthesis due to their advantageous characteristics. We employed AC electrolysis in electrochemically mediated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (eATRP) to facilitate the regeneration of the activator CuI complex on Cu0 electrodes. Additionally, Cu0 served as a slow supplemental activator and reducing agent (SARA ATRP), enabling the activation of alkyl halides and the regeneration of the CuI activator through a comproportionation reaction. We harnessed the distinct properties of Cu0 dual regeneration, both chemical and electrochemical, by employing sinusoidal, triangular, and square-wave AC electrolysis alongside some of the most active ATRP catalysts available. Compared to linear waveform (DC electrolysis) or SARA ATRP (without electrolysis), pulsed and AC electrolysis facilitated slightly faster and more controlled polymerizations of acrylates. The same AC electrolysis conditions could successfully polymerize eleven different monomers across different mediums, from water to bulk. Moreover, it proved effective across a spectrum of catalyst activity, from low-activity Cu/2,2-bipyridine to highly active Cu complexes with substituted tripodal amine ligands. Chain extension experiments confirmed the high chain-end fidelity of the produced polymers, yielding functional and high molecular-weight block copolymers. SEM analysis indicated the robustness of the Cu0 electrodes, sustaining at least 15 consecutive polymerizations.

Primary third eyelid lymphoma with aggressive local behavior in a dog.

Lymphoma is the most common hematopoietic neoplasm in dogs. However, cases primarily involving the third eyelid are rarely reported in the species. The subtype most frequently described in this location is marginal zone lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, which has an indolent behavior. A 10-year-old intact female Poodle was presented with a 2-month history of a nodule in the left third eyelid for evaluation. This nodule was surgically excised; however, local recurrence was detected nineteen days postoperatively, with the formation of a mass that expanded and replaced the extraocular orbital tissues and infiltrated the eye. Euthanasia was elected due to the deteriorating clinical condition, and a necropsy was performed. Macroscopically, the mass infiltrated and expanded the eyelids with narrowing of the palpebral fissure, expanded into the orbital space, and infiltrated the cornea and bulbar conjunctiva. Histologically, the mass was composed of sheets of intermediate to large neoplastic lymphocytes, with frequent epitheliotropism and tingible bodies. Neoplastic lymphocytes were immunoreactive for PAX5, CD20, and CD79a and were not immunoreactive for CD3. The neoplasm was restricted to the left eyelid and orbit. A diagnosis of primary third eyelid lymphoma (extranodal) with immunophenotype B and locally aggressive behavior was made based on the macroscopic, histological, and immunohistochemical findings.

The influence of serum selenium in differential epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of CPT1B gene in women with obesity.

INTRODUCTION: The increasing prevalence of obesity has become a major health problem worldwide. The causes of obesity are multifactorial and could be influenced by dietary patterns and genetic factors. Obesity has been associated with a decrease in micronutrient intake and consequently decreased blood concentrations. Selenium is an essential micronutrient for human health, and its metabolism could be affected by obesity, especially severe obesity. This study aimed to identify differential methylation genes associated with serum selenium concentration in women with and without obesity. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-four patients were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups: Obese (Ob) n = 20 and Non-Obese (NOb) n = 14, according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). Anthropometry, body composition, serum selenium, selenium intake, and biochemical parameters were evaluated. DNA extraction and bisulfite conversion were performed to hybridize the samples on the 450k Methylation Chip Infinium Beadchip (Illumina). Bioinformatics analysis was performed using the R program and the Champ package. The differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified using the Bumphunter method. In addition, logarithmic conversion was performed for the analysis of serum selenium and methylation. RESULTS: In the Ob group, the body weight, BMI, fat mass, and free fat mass were higher than in the NOb group, as expected. Interestingly, the serum selenium was lower in the Ob than in the NOb group without differences in selenium intake. One DMR corresponding to the CPT1B gene, involved in lipid oxidation, was related to selenium levels. This region was hypermethylated in the Ob group, indicating that the intersection between selenium deficiency and hypermethylation could influence the expression of the CPT1B gene. The transcriptional analysis confirmed the lower expression of the CPT1B gene in the Ob group. CONCLUSION: Studies connecting epigenetics to environmental factors could offer insights into the mechanisms involving the expression of genes related to obesity and its comorbidities. Here we demonstrated that the mineral selenium might play an essential role in lipid oxidation via epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of the CPT1B gene in obesity.

Trans-regulatory variant network contributes to missing heritability.

In a recent Cell Genomics article, Tsouris et al.1 analyze the transcriptomes of a large diallel panel of hybrids from Saccharomyces cerevisiae natural isolates to study cis- and trans-regulatory changes underlying gene expression variation. Vanessa Pereira and Elena Kuzmin discuss the authors' findings and the wider context in missing heritability research in this preview.

Direitos sexuais e direitos reprodutivos na percepção de: mulheres privadas de liberdade / Sexual rights and reproductive rights in the perception of: women deprived of freedom / Derechos sexuales y derechos reproductivos percibidos por: mujeres privadas de libertad

Objetivo: analisar a percepção de mulheres privadas de liberdade quanto aos seus direitos sexuais e direitos reprodutivos. Método: pesquisa descritiva, com abordagem qualitativa. Foram realizadas entrevistas com mulheres que estavam vivenciando a gestação (9) e o puerpério (4), em duas unidades prisionais do Rio de Janeiro. O método de análise foi o Hermenêutico dialético. Resultados: foram elencadas duas categorias: 1) Violações institucionais como infração dos direitos sexuais e dos direitos reprodutivos e 2) Contradições entre a possibilidade de exercer os direitos e as limitações impostas pelo sistema carcerário. Conclusão: as violações que essas mulheres sofrem, não estão restritas a elas. A luta pelos direitos das mulheres é um movimento constante. Os avanços são significativos, contudo, há amarras reais que impedem que as mulheres usufruam seus direitos sexuais e seus direitos reprodutivos, mesmo que eles existam no plano legal e normativo

Objective: analyze the perception of women deprived of liberty regarding their sexual rights and reproductive rights. Method: descriptive research, with a qualitative approach. Interviews were conducted with women who were experiencing pregnancy (9) and the puerperium (4), in two prison units in Rio de Janeiro. The analysis method was the dialectic hermeneutic. Results: two categories were listed: 1) Institutional violations as infractions of sexual rights and reproductive rights and 2) Contradictions between the possibility of exercising rights and the limitations imposed by the prison system. Conclusion: the violations that these women suffer are not restricted to them. The fight for women's rights is a constant movement. The advances are significant, however, there are real obstacles that prevent women from enjoying their sexual rights and their reproductive rights, even though they exist in the legal and normative plan

Objetivos: respecto a sus derechos sexuales y derechos reproductivos. Método: investigación descriptiva, con un enfoque cualitativo. Las entrevistas fueron realizadas a mujeres en situación de embarazo (9) y de puerperio (4), en dos unidades penitenciarias de Río de Janeiro. El método de análisis fue la hermenéutica dialéctica. Resultados: se han dividido en dos categorías: 1) Violaciones institucionales como la infracción de los derechos sexuales y los derechos reproductivos y 2) Contradicciones entre la posibilidad de ejercer los derechos y las limitaciones impuestas por el sistema carcelario. Conclusión: las violaciones que sufren estas mujeres no se limitan a ellas. La lucha por los derechos de la mujer es un movimiento constante. Los avances son significativos, sin embargo, existen ataduras reales que impiden a las mujeres disfrutar de sus derechos sexuales y sus derechos reproductivos, aunque existan a nivel legal y normativo

Oral health of an indigenous population in northeastern Brazil: a cross-sectional Study of the Fulni-ô ethnic group

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: There is a lack of studies evaluating the oral health of traditional indigenous communities in Brazil. OBJECTIVES: Thus, the objective of this study was to describe the oral health characteristics of the indigenous Fulni-ô ethnic group in Northeast Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional observational investigation was conducted within the Project on Atherosclerosis among Indigenous Populations. METHODS: This study included participants of both sexes from the Fulni-ô ethnic group. The participants included in this investigation underwent a comprehensive oral health evaluation by a registered and experienced dentist to assess oral health and identify potentially malignant oral lesions. Participants with suspicious lesions were referred for biopsy. Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney, and Student's t-tests were used, and measures of central tendency and dispersion were described. Statistical significance was 5%. RESULTS: A total of 104 individuals were included in this study. The prevalence of the use of tobacco derivatives was 94.0%, with similarities between sexes. The prevalence of oral changes in this study population was 84.4%. Fifty-one individuals who underwent oral reassessment were referred for oral lesion biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of oral alterations in the Fulni-ô population. Histopathological analyses indicated the presence of mild oral epithelial dysplasia in five cases.

Microbiological, physicomechanical, and surface evaluation of an experimental self-curing acrylic resin containing halloysite nanotubes doped with chlorhexidine.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to synthesize halloysite nanotubes loaded with chlorhexidine (HNT/CHX) and evaluate the antimicrobial activity, microhardness, color change, and surface characteristics of an experimental self-curing acrylic resin containing varying concentrations of the synthesized nanomaterial. METHODS: The characterization of HNT/CHX was carried out by calculating incorporation efficiency, morphological and compositional, chemical and thermal evaluations. SAR disks were made containing 0 %, 3 %, 5 %, and 10 % of HNT/CHX. Specimens (n = 3) were immersed in distilled water and spectral measurements were carried out using UV/Vis spectroscopy to evaluate the release of CHX for up to 50 days. The antimicrobial activity of the composite against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans was evaluated by disk-diffusion test. Microhardness, color analyses (ΔE), and surface roughness (Ra) (n = 9) were performed before and after 30 days of immersion. Data were analyzed using ANOVA/Bonferroni. {Results.} The incorporation efficiency of CHX into HNT was of 8.15 %. All test groups showed controlled and cumulative CHX release up to 30 or 50 days. Significant antimicrobial activity was verified against both microorganisms (p < 0.001). After the 30-day immersion period, the 10 % HNT/CHX group showed a significant increase in hardness (p < 0.05) and a progressive color change (p < 0.001). At T0, the 5 % and 10 % groups exhibited Ra values similar to the control group (p > 0.05), while at T30, all groups showed similar roughness values (p > 0.05). {Significance.} The modification of a SAR with HNT/CHX provides antimicrobial effect and controlled release of CHX, however, the immediate surface roughness in the 3 % group was compromised when compared to the control group.

Nanofiltration combined with ozone-based processes for the removal of antineoplastic drugs from wastewater effluents.

Over the past years, there has been an increasing concern about the occurrence of antineoplastic drugs in water bodies. The incomplete removal of these pharmaceuticals from wastewaters has been confirmed by several scientists, making it urgent to find a reliable technique or a combination of techniques capable to produce clean and safe water. In this work, the combination of nanofiltration and ozone (O3)-based processes (NF + O3, NF + O3/H2O2 and NF + O3/H2O2/UVA) was studied aiming to produce clean water from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) secondary effluents to be safely discharged into water bodies, reused in daily practices such as aquaculture activities or for recharging aquifers used as abstraction sources for drinking water production. Nanofiltration was performed in a pilot-scale unit and O3-based processes in a continuous-flow column. The peroxone process (O3/H2O2) was considered the most promising technology to be coupled to nanofiltration, all the target pharmaceuticals being removed at an extent higher than 98% from WWTP secondary effluents, with a DOC reduction up to 92%. The applicability of the clean water stream for recharging aquifers used as abstraction sources for drinking water production was supported by a risk assessment approach, regarding the final concentrations of the target pharmaceuticals. Moreover, the toxicity of the nanofiltration retentate, a polluted stream generated from the nanofiltration system, was greatly decreased after the application of the peroxone process, which evidences the positive impact on the environment of implementing a NF + O3/H2O2 process.

Encephalic meningioangiomatosis in a dog with high-grade undefined glioma.

Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a rare proliferative meningovascular disorder that affects mainly the cerebral cortex, brainstem and spinal cord of humans and animals and can coexist with other proliferative disorders. A 7.5-year-old male Brazilian Campeiro Bulldog died after a convulsive crisis and cardiorespiratory arrest. At necropsy, a firm, white mass involving the piriform and right occipital lobes was seen. Histologically, the mass consisted of two morphologically distinct entities that collided: a congenital malformation characterized by a proliferation of meningothelial cells around blood vessels, within the perivascular spaces; and a neoplasm composed of two cell populations with astrocytic and oligodendrocytic differentiation. Meningothelial cells and neoplastic glial cells immunolabelled for vimentin. This first reported case of encephalic MA with a high-grade undefined glioma in a dog was confirmed through clinical signs, pathological and immunohistochemical findings.

Monocytes subpopulations pattern in the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus infection and after long COVID-19.

INTRODUTION AND OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to characterize the pattern of monocyte subpopulations in patients during the course of the infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus or who presented long COVID-19 syndrome compared to monocytes from patients with zika virus (Zika) or chikungunya virus (CHIKV). CASUISTRY: Study with 89 peripheral blood samples from patients, who underwent hemogram and serology (IgG and IgM) for detection of Zika (Control Group 1, n = 18) or CHIKV (Control Group 2, n = 9), and from patients who underwent hemogram and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for detection of SARS-CoV-2 at the acute phase of the disease (Group 3, n = 19); and of patients who presented long COVID-19 syndrome (Group 4, n = 43). The monocyte and subpopulations counts were performed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the total number of monocytes between the groups. The classical (CD14++CD16-) and intermediate (CD14+CD16+) monocytes counts were increased in patients with acute infection or with long COVID-19 syndrome. The monocytes subpopulations counts were lower in patients with infection Zika or CHIKV. CONCLUSION: Increase in the monocyte subpopulations in patients with acute infection or with long COVID-19 syndrome may be an important finding of differentiated from the infection Zika or CHIKV.

Oral health of an indigenous population in northeastern Brazil: a cross-sectional Study of the Fulni-ô ethnic group.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of studies evaluating the oral health of traditional indigenous communities in Brazil. OBJECTIVES: Thus, the objective of this study was to describe the oral health characteristics of the indigenous Fulni-ô ethnic group in Northeast Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional observational investigation was conducted within the Project on Atherosclerosis among Indigenous Populations. METHODS: This study included participants of both sexes from the Fulni-ô ethnic group. The participants included in this investigation underwent a comprehensive oral health evaluation by a registered and experienced dentist to assess oral health and identify potentially malignant oral lesions. Participants with suspicious lesions were referred for biopsy. Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney, and Student's t-tests were used, and measures of central tendency and dispersion were described. Statistical significance was 5%. RESULTS: A total of 104 individuals were included in this study. The prevalence of the use of tobacco derivatives was 94.0%, with similarities between sexes. The prevalence of oral changes in this study population was 84.4%. Fifty-one individuals who underwent oral reassessment were referred for oral lesion biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of oral alterations in the Fulni-ô population. Histopathological analyses indicated the presence of mild oral epithelial dysplasia in five cases.

Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in older indigenous peoples of Brazil: findings from a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent disease worldwide, with increasing incidence particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Indigenous communities have poorer CKD outcomes due to limited access to healthcare. They are also experiencing a shift toward a sedentary lifestyle and urbanization-related dietary changes, increasing the risk of CKD-related risk factors. AIM: To determine the prevalence of CKD in older Brazilian indigenous and identify the main associated risk factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed demographic and clinical data of 229 older indigenous individuals aged 60 years and above in 2022-2023. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or a urinary albumin-creatinine ratio > 30 mg/g. Data were presented categorically and analyzed using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The prevalence of CKD in the population was 26.6%, with higher prevalence in women and increasing with age. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was 67.7% and 24.0%, respectively, and these comorbidities were associated with CKD: hypertension (OR = 5.12; 95% CI 2.2-11.9) and diabetes (OR = 5.5; 95% CI 3.7-8.2). No association was found between the prevalence of CKD and obesity, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, or smoking. DISCUSSION: The study found a higher prevalence of CKD among older indigenous populations in Brazil compared to non-indigenous populations, which is exacerbated by risk factors, such as aging, hypertension, diabetes, and lifestyle changes, emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention in these communities. CONCLUSION: Older persons' indigenous individuals have a high prevalence of CKD, which is correlated with factors, such as sex, age, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

Antineoplastic drugs in urban wastewater: Occurrence, nanofiltration treatment and toxicity screening.

Antineoplastic drugs are pharmaceuticals that have been raising concerns among the scientific community due to: (i) their increasing prescription in the fight against the disease of the twentieth century (cancer); (ii) their recalcitrance to conventional wastewater treatments; (iii) their poor environmental biodegradability; and (iv) their potential risk to any eukaryotic organism. This emerges the urgency in finding solutions to mitigate the entrance and accumulation of these hazardous chemicals in the environment. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been taken into consideration to improve the degradation of antineoplastic drugs in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), but the formation of by-products that are more toxic or exhibit a different toxicity profile than the parent drug is frequently reported. This work evaluates the performance of a nanofiltration pilot unit, equipped with a Desal 5DK membrane, in the treatment of real WWTP effluents contaminated (without spiking) with eleven pharmaceuticals, five of which were never studied before. Average removals of 68 ± 23% were achieved for the eleven compounds, with decreasing risks from feed to permeate for aquatic organisms from receiving waterbodies (with the exception of cyclophosphamide, for which a high risk was estimated in the permeate). Aditionally, no significative impact on the growth and germination of three different seeds (Lepidium sativum, Sinapis alba, and Sorghum saccharatum) were determined for permeate matrix in comparison to the control.

Occurrence and Treatment of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Present in Surface Water.

According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance is one of the main threats to global health. The excessive use of several antibiotics has led to the widespread distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in various environment matrices, including surface water. In this study, total coliforms, Escherichia coli and enterococci, as well as total coliforms and Escherichia coli resistant to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ampicillin, streptomycin, and imipenem, were monitored in several surface water sampling events. A hybrid reactor was used to test the efficiency of membrane filtration, direct photolysis (using UV-C light emitting diodes that emit light at 265 nm and UV-C low pressure mercury lamps that emit light at 254 nm), and the combination of both processes to ensure the retention and inactivation of total coliforms and Escherichia coli as well as antibiotic-resistant bacteria (total coliforms and Escherichia coli) present in river water at occurrence levels. The membranes used (unmodified silicon carbide membranes and the same membrane modified with a photocatalytic layer) effectively retained the target bacteria. Direct photolysis using low-pressure mercury lamps and light-emitting diode panels (emitting at 265 nm) achieved extremely high levels of inactivation of the target bacteria. The combined treatment (unmodified and modified photocatalytic surfaces in combination with UV-C and UV-A light sources) successfully retained the bacteria and treated the feed after 1 h of treatment. The hybrid treatment proposed is a promising approach to use as point-of-use treatment by isolated populations or when conventional systems and electricity fail due to natural disasters or war. Furthermore, the effective treatment obtained when the combined system was used with UV-A light sources indicates that the process may be a promising approach to guarantee water disinfection using natural sunlight.

Immunomodulatory effects of different strains of Lactococcus lactis in DSS-induced colitis.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are gastrointestinal disorders characterized by a breakdown in intestinal homeostasis by inflammatory immune responses to luminal antigens. Novel strategies for ameliorating IBD have been proposed in many studies using animal models. Our group has demonstrated that administration of Lactococcus lactis NCDO 2118 can improve clinical parameters of colitis induced by oral administration of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS). However, it is not clear whether other strains of L. lactis can yield the same effect. The objective of present study was to analyze the effects of three different L. lactis strains (NCDO2118, IL1403 and MG1363) in the development of DSS-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice. Acute colitis was induced in C57/BL6 mice by the administration of 2% DSS during 7 consecutive days. Body weight loss and shortening of colon length were observed in DSS-treated mice, and none of L. lactis strains had an impact in these clinical signs of colitis. On the other hand, all strains improved the global macroscopical disease index and prevented goblet cells depletion as well as the increase of intestinal permeability. TNF-α production was reduced in gut mucosa of L. lactis DSS-treated mice indicating a modulation of a critical pro-inflammatory response by all strains tested. However, only L. lactis NCDO2118 and MG1363 induced a higher frequency of CD11c+CD11b-CD103+ tolerogenic dendritic cells in lymphoid organs of mice at steady state. We conclude that all tested strains of L. lactis improved the clinical scores and parameters of colitis, which confirm their anti-inflammatory properties in this model of colitis.

Urbanization and cardiovascular health among Indigenous groups in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: We described the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in groups of Brazilian Indigenous people at different degrees of urbanization. METHODS: The Project of Atherosclerosis among Indigenous populations (Projeto de Aterosclerose em Indígenas; PAI) is a cross-sectional study conducted in Northeast Brazil between August 2016-June 2017. It included three populations: Fulni-ô Indigenous people (lowest degree of urbanization), Truká Indigenous people (greater urbanization), and a highly urbanized non-Indigenous local cohort (control group). Participants were assessed to register sociodemographic, anthropometric, as well as clinical and laboratory-derived cardiovascular (CV) risk parameters. Age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was also computed. Nonparametric tests were used for group comparisons. RESULTS: Here we included 999 participants, with a predominance of females in all three groups (68.3% Control group, 65.0% Fulni-ô indigenous group, and 60.1% Truká indigenous group). Obesity was present in 45.6% of the urban non-Indigenous population, 37.7% Truká and in 27.6% Fulni-ô participants. The prevalence of hypertension was 29.1% (n = 297) with lower prevalence in the less urbanized Fulni-ô people (Fulni-ô - 18.2%; Truká - 33.9%; and Control - 33.8%; p < 0.001). In the elderly male population, the prevalence of hypertension was 18.7% in the Fulni-ô, 45.8% in the Truká, and 54.5% in the control group. Of the 342 participants that self-reported hypertension, 37.5% (n = 68) showed uncontrolled blood pressure (BP). Uncontrolled BP was more prevalent among Truká people when compared to Fulni-ô people and non-Indigenous participants (45.4%, 22.9%, and 40.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We found a higher cardiovascular risk in communities with a higher degree of urbanization, suggesting that living in towns and cities may have a negative impact on these aspects of cardiovascular health.

The lifestyles and environments of traditional indigenous and city-living communities differ. We compared rates of obesity and hypertension in members of two under-studied Indigenous groups in Northeast Brazil and a nearby urbanized group. We found higher rates of obesity and hypertension amongst members of the more urbanized community, suggesting that living in towns and cities may have a negative impact on these aspects of cardiovascular health. These results suggest those living in the city should modify their lifestyle and monitor their cardiovascular health more carefully if possible.

Combination of Zinc Oxide Photocatalysis with Membrane Filtration for Surface Water Disinfection.

Increase water usage has led to its deterioration. Pollutants are easily found in the aquatic environment and treatment techniques must keep improving to meet the current needs and future demands. Membranes are attractive for water treatment, but limitations like fouling and the highly concentrate produced affect their performance. Combining membrane filtration with photocatalysis provides the opportunity to integrate a self-cleaning step during membrane filtration. In this work, we studied two simple and efficient approaches to combine membrane filtration with zinc oxide nanoparticles (using the catalyst in suspension and immobilized) activated by light emitting diodes (LED) emitting light at 365 nm. Both systems were used to test the disinfection efficiency in real surface water, compared in terms of catalyst concentration in the permeate stream (below the limit of detection) and its recovery after filtration (higher that 74%). The system's capability to retain and inactivate target bacteria (total coliforms and E. coli) in the retentate stream was tested with samples of real surface water. The results obtained show that both configurations led to an improved performance in comparison to the membrane treatment alone with a higher retention of the bacteria (not detected in the permeate samples) and higher treatment of the retentate. For the modified membranes, different catalyst concentrations and thermal treatments were tested. The performance of all the processes was evaluated in terms of the level of treatment achieved and the permeate flux. All the modified membranes showed an efficient retention of the target bacteria from surface water, with higher performances than the unmodified membrane (96.2% for total coliforms and 94.9% for E. coli). Remarkable retention and treatment of the retentate was achieved using a membrane modified with a catalyst load of 125 mg subject during two hours to a thermal treatment of 300 °C. This modification has a performance comparable to the system with the same catalyst load in suspension. During operation, the permeate flux reduction is lower with the modified membranes which could lead to longer operation times without the need of further cleaning or replacement. The combined system, ceramic membranes modified with zinc oxide and UV-A LEDs proved to be effective to retain and disinfect water quality indicator bacteria present in real surface water matrices.

Photopharmacological manipulation of amygdala metabotropic glutamate receptor mGlu4 alleviates neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is a common health problem resulting in exacerbated response to noxious and non noxious stimuli, as well as impaired emotional and cognitive responses. Unfortunately, neuropathic pain is also one of the most difficult pain syndromes to manage, highlighting the importance of better understanding the brain regions and neuromodulatory mechanisms involved in its regulation. Among the many interconnected brain areas which process pain, the amygdala is known to play an important role in the integration of sensory and emotional pain signals. Here we questioned the ability of a recently identified neuromodulatory mechanism associated with the metabotropic glutamate receptors mGlu4 in the amygdala to modulate neuropathic pain. In a murine model of peripheral mononeuropathy, we demonstrate that pharmacological activation of amygdala mGlu4 efficiently alleviates sensory and depressive-like symptoms in both male and female mice. Moreover, we reveal a differential modulation of these symptoms. Activating mGlu4 in the contralateral amygdala relative to the side of the mononeuropathy, is necessary and sufficient to relieve both sensory and depressive-like symptoms, while ipsilateral activation solely reduces depressive-like symptoms. Furthermore, using photopharmacology, a recent strategy allowing precise photocontrol of endogenous proteins, we further demonstrate the dynamic alleviation of neuropathic pain through light-dependent facilitation of mGlu4 by a photoswitchable positive allosteric modulator. Finally, coupling photopharmacology and analgesic conditioned place preference, we show a significant pain-reducing effect of mGlu4 activation. Taken together, these data highlight the analgesic potential of enhancing amygdala mGlu4 activity to counteract neuropathy reinforcing its therapeutic interest for the treatment of pathological pain.

Association of polymorphisms in long pentraxin 3 and its plasma levels with COVID-19 severity.

COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is involved in the activation and regulation of the complement system, demonstrating an important role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The aim was to evaluate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in PTX3 and its plasma levels with the severity of COVID-19. This is a retrospective cohort study, carried out between August 2020 and July 2021, including patients with confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized in 2 hospitals in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Polymorphisms in PTX3 (rs1840680 and rs2305619) were determined by real-time PCR. PTX3 plasma levels were measured by ELISA. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were determined by flow cytometry. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify parameters independently associated with COVID-19 severity. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. The study included 496 patients, classified as moderate (n = 267) and severe (n = 229) cases. The PTX3 AA genotype (rs1840680) was independently associated with protection against severe COVID-19 (P = 0.037; odds ratio = 0.555). PTX3 plasma levels were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality (P < 0.05). PTX3 levels were significantly correlated with IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein, total leukocytes, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, urea, creatinine, ferritin, length of hospital stay, and higher respiratory rate (P < 0.05). Our results revealed a protective effect of the PTX3 AA genotype (rs1840680) on the development of severe forms of COVID-19. Additionally, PTX3 plasma levels were associated with the severity of COVID-19. The results of this study provide evidence of an important role of PTX3 in the immunopathology of COVID-19.

Detection of COX-2 in liquid biopsy of patients with prostate cancer.

AIMS: To determine the profile of COX-2 gene expression in patients with prostate cancer attended at the ABC University Health Center outpatient clinic and correlate the results with patients' anatomopathological examinations. Prostate cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide and the second in Brazil. COX-2 expression is associated with an unfavourable prognosis. METHODS: 15.0 mL of peripheral blood were collected from 24 patients and 25 healthy men. RNA extraction was performed using the QIAamp RNA Blood Mini Kit. Complementary DNA synthesis was performed using SuperScript II RNAse Reverse Transcriptase. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed with specific COX-2 oligonucleotides and the endogenous GAPDH gene. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 69 years old. The Gleason scoring system showed 37.5% of patients with Gleason 6 (slow growth, low risk), 45.8% with Gleason 7 (intermediate risk) and 16.7% with Gleason 8 or 9 (risk of high-grade cancer). The median COX-2 expression in the study group was 0.97, while in the control group it was 0.11 (p<0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with prostate cancer showed higher COX-2 expression at diagnosis compared with the control group. Since COX-2 detection associated with prostate-specific antigen dosage shows promise as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in patients with prostate cancer, further research is required to confirm these findings.