Brassavola tuberculata Hook.: in vitro growth and ex vitro establishment as a function of the micropropagation system and sucrose.

This study examines the in vitro growth and ex vitro establishment of Brassavola tuberculata in relation to the micropropagation system and sucrose concentration employed in the in vitro culture. A completely randomized experimental design was utilized, employing a 2 x 5 factorial arrangement. The experimental period began with seedlings cultivated in vitro for 180 days, which were subsequently transferred to Murashige and Skoog culture media containing sucrose concentrations of 0, 15, 30, 45, or 60 g L-1. The cultures were subjected to two micropropagation systems: conventional and gas exchange. After 90 days of in vitro cultivation, the plants were evaluated, transplanted into a substrate, and placed in a screened nursery for ex vitro cultivation. After 300 days of ex vitro cultivation, the survival and initial characteristics of the plants were assessed. The micropropagation system allowing gas exchange and sucrose concentrations up to 30 g L-1 enhanced the shoot and root growth of in vitro propagated plants. No noticeable anatomical differences were observed after 90 days of in vitro culture among the different sucrose concentrations and micropropagation systems used. In the ex vitro establishment, irrespective of sucrose concentration, the micropropagation system facilitating gas exchange positively influenced all evaluated characteristics.

Evaluation of the efficacy of a 2-step etch-and-rinse, 2-step self-etch and 1-step self-etch adhesive systems, in class II primary molars restorations. An one year prospective, randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy at 6 months (6 M) and 12 months (12 M) of 3 adhesive strategies (two-step etch-and-rinse; two-step self-etch; one step self-etch) used in composite resin restorations in primary molars. METHODS: This randomized clinical study involved 101 class II restorations in primary molars of 34 children (4-8 years old), distributed by 3 groups according to the 3 tested adhesive systems: GI- ClearfilTMS3Bond Plus (CSB); GII- ClearfilTMSE Protect Bond (CSEPB); GIII- Prime&Bond®XP (PBXP). Restorations were evaluated according to FDI criteria, immediately after execution, at 6 M and 12 M. All ethical and legal requirements were met. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM®SPSS®v26 and MS Excel® (5% significance level). RESULTS: The aesthetic, biological and most of the functional parameters evaluated remained without significant changes over time. Statistically significant differences were only found regarding the "marginal adaptation" parameter at 12 M, with worsening of scores for the three groups (p < 0.001). Comparing the groups, no significant differences were detected between any of the evaluated parameters (aesthetics properties: p = 0.721; functional properties: p = 0.122). CONCLUSIONS: After a one-year period, the self-etch adhesives tested presented a clinical efficacy similar to the etch-and-rinse adhesive in restoring class II cavities in primary molars. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN11458186.

Personalized dosimetry of177Lu-DOTATATE: a comparison of organ- and voxel-level approaches using open-access images.

177Lu-DOTATATE (Lutathera®) enables targeted radionuclide therapy of neuroendocrine tumors expressing somatostatin receptor type 2. Though patient-specific dosimetry estimates may be clinically important for predicting absorbed dose-effect relationships, there are multiple relevant dosimetry paradigms which are distinct in terms of clinical effort, numerical output and added-value. This work compares three different approaches for177Lu-DOTATATE dosimetry, including 1) an organ-level approach based on reference phantom MIRD S-values scaled to patient-specific organ masses (MIRDcalc), 2) an organ-level approach based on Monte Carlo simulation in a patient-specific mesh phantoms (PARaDIM), and 3) a 3D approach based on Monte Carlo simulation in patient-specific voxel phantoms.Method. Serial quantitative SPECT/CT images for two patients receiving177Lu-DOTATATE therapy were obtained from archive in theDeep Bluedatabase. For each patient, the serial CT images were co-registered to the first time point CT using a deformable registration technique aided by virtual landmarks placed in the kidney pelves and the lesion foci. The co-registered SPECT images were integrated voxel-wise to generate time-integrated activity maps. Lesions, kidneys, liver, spleen, lungs, compact bone, spongiosa, and rest of body were segmented at the first imaging time point and overlaid on co-registered integrated activity maps. The resultant segmentation was used for three purposes: 1) to generate patient-specific phantoms, 2) to determine organ-level time-integrated activities, and 3) to generate dose volume histograms from 3D voxel-based calculations.Results. Mean absorbed doses were computed for lesions and 48 tissues with MIRDcalc software. Mean organ absorbed doses and dose volume histograms were obtained for lesions and 6 tissues with the voxel Monte Carlo approach. Lesion- and organ-level absorbed dose estimates agreed within ±26% for the lesions and ±13% for the critical organs, among the different methods tested. Overall good agreement was observed with the dosimetry estimates from the NETTER-1 trial.Conclusions. For personalized177Lu-DOTATATE dosimetry, a combined approach was determined to be valuable, which utilized two dose calculation methods supported by a single image processing workflow. In the absence of quantitative imaging limitations, the voxel Monte Carlo method likely provides valuable information to guide treatment by considering absorbed dose non-uniformity in lesions and organs at risk. The patient-scaled reference phantom method also provides valuable information, including absorbed dose estimates for non-segmented organs, and more accurate dose estimates for complex radiosensitive organs including the active marrow.

Prognostic value of the immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factors in malignant salivary gland neoplasms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND:  The immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor is a prognostic marker in several cancer types. In salivary gland tumors, the association between vascular endothelial growth factor and prognosis remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether the immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with salivary gland neoplasms presents prognostic value. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical studies assessing the predictive value of vascular endothelial growth factor in salivary gland neoplasms were systematically reviewed using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. It was assessed any survival rates. The fixed-effect model with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) as effect measures were performed in the meta-analysis. The Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies, and the evidence quality was assessed by the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with salivary gland neoplasms was associated with shortened survival (HR=5.37, 95% CI: 2.67-10.83, P = 0.00001). In addition, the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor was tightly associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, perineural invasion, vascular invasion, poor local control of the disease, and recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The immunohistochemical overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with salivary gland neoplasms has prognostic value and was associated with decreased survival time. However, more primary well-designed studies are necessary to increase the level of evidence.

Nutritional, behavioral and performance parameters of F1 Holstein x Zebu cows at different lactation stages / [Parâmetros nutricionais, comportamento ingestivo e desempenho de vacas F1 Holandês x Zebu em diferentes estádios da lactação]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the different lactation stages of F1 Holstein x Zebu cows on intake and digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen use efficiency, feeding behavior and performance. Thirty-six F1 Holstein × Zebu cows with initial body weight (BW) of 482±43kg were used. The early, mid and late lactation stages were characterized after 50±13, 111.5±11.75 and 183.0±17.5 days in milk, respectively. A completely randomized design with three lactation stages and 12 cows in each treatment group was used. Dry matter intake (P=0.01) was higher in late lactation. Milk yield (P<0.01) was 24.17% higher in early lactation than in other stages. Body weight was lowest in mid-lactation cows (465.63kg; P<0.01). The feed efficiency was 23.36% higher in early lactation than in other stages (0.82kg of milk/kg of DM). F1 Holstein x Zebu cows have increased dry matter intake in late lactation. Milk yield and feed efficiency in early lactation were benefited by changes in feeding behavior, such as increased rumination time.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os diferentes estágios de lactação de vacas F1 Holandês x Zebu quanto ao consumo e à digestibilidade de nutrientes, à eficiência no uso de nitrogênio, ao comportamento ingestivo e ao desempenho. Trinta e seis vacas F1 Holandês × Zebu, com peso corporal inicial (PC) de 482±43kg, foram utilizadas. Os estágios inicial, médio e final da lactação foram caracterizados após 50±13, 111,5±11,75 e 183,0±17,5 dias de lactação, respectivamente. O arranjo experimental adotado foi o delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com três fases de lactação e 12 vacas em cada grupo de tratamento. O consumo de matéria seca (P=0,01) foi maior no período final da lactação. Na fase inicial da lactação, a produção de leite (P<0,01) foi maior em 24,17% em comparação às demais fases. Na fase intermediária da lactação, as vacas apresentaram menor peso corporal (465,63kg; P<0,01) em relação às demais fases. A eficiência alimentar foi maior em 23,36% na fase inicial da lactação (0,82kg de leite/kg de MS). Vacas F1 Holandês x Zebu aumentam o consumo de matéria seca no período final da lactação. A produção de leite e a eficiência alimentar no início da lactação foram favorecidas por mudanças no comportamento ingestivo, como o aumento do tempo de ruminação.(AU)

Intestinal persistence of a plasmid harbouring the OXA-48 carbapenemase gene after hospital discharge.

To study intestinal colonization by OXA-48-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpO48) after hospital discharge, stool samples from 22 previously colonized subjects were collected. Time from discharge was 33-611 days, without readmissions. Eight subjects (36%) were identified as blaOXA-48 gene carriers. In all of them the hospital-acquired strain of KpO48 had been lost, and the gene was harboured by other strains of K. pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca and/or Escherichia coli. Our findings show intestinal persistence for several months of a plasmid harbouring the OXA-48 carbapenemase gene in a significant proportion of individuals in the absence of antibiotic treatment.

Tolerance of Ulothrix sp. LAFIC 010 (Chlorophyta) against high concentration of metals from acid mine drainage.

The production of acid mine drainage of (AMD) is one of the main phenomena responsible for much of the degradation of water and soil resources. Organisms present at sites contaminated by AMD can have the potential to bioaccumulate heavy metals, stimulating their application in bioremediation processes. Ulothrix sp. LAFIC 010 was identified among the species of algae isolated from water contaminated by AMD in the region of Sideropólis (Brazil). The present study evaluated its tolerance and bioaccumulation potential related to zinc, manganese and nickel. Experiments were performed to see the effects of different concentrations of Zn, Mn and Ni (individually and in combination) on the physiological performance of the alga. The results showed that only the cultures submitted to concentrations above 0.55 mM Zn showed a decrease in growth rate and damage to physiological processes. There was no observed effect of Mn and Ni on Ulothrix sp. LAFIC 010 physiology, even with an 8-fold increase in concentrations of these metals in the medium. In cultures with combined metals, only the treatments with the highest concentrations of Zn presented reduced growth, regardless of the presence of other metals. Additionally, we observed that Mn and Ni did not decrease the toxic effect of Zn. Mn accumulation was indicated in the cell wall and Ni in the vacuole. Our results suggest that the distribution of this alga in contaminated medium is not affected by the concentration of Ni and Mn, at least under the pH that was evaluated. We conclude that Ulothrix sp. LAFIC 010 tolerates and grows under conditions with higher metal concentrations than previously reported for AMD.

[Delayed recurrence of a phaechromocytoma with metastasis as a cause of severe hypertension in a woman with a surgically intervened retroperitoneal tumour]. / Recidiva tardía de feocromocitoma con metástasis como causa de hipertensión arterial severa en mujer intervenida quirúrgicamente de tumor retroperitoneal.

We present the case of a woman with a previous history of hypertension and retroperitoneal tumour. The histology was reported as a paraganglioma. There was no clinical follow-up. Years later, there was a recurrence of the phaeochromocytoma after presenting with a difficult to control hypertension, along with elevation of urinary catecholamines. The case aims to highlight the importance of performing a clinical follow-up in these patients, due to the risk of recurrence.

Potential of Casiopeínas® Copper Complexes and Antituberculosis Drug Combination against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

New compounds with antituberculosis activity and their combination with classic drugs have been evaluated to determine possible interactions and antagonism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of Casiopeínas® copper-based compounds (CasIIIia, CasIIIEa, and CasIIgly) alone and combined with isoniazid (INH), rifampicin, or ethambutol (EMB) against resistant and susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Seventeen clinical M. tuberculosis isolates (5 multi-drug resistant and 2 resistant to INH and/or EMB) were subjected to determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) by the resazurin microtiter assay and combination assessment by the resazurin drug combination microtiter assay. The Casiopeínas® alone showed a remarkable effect against resistant isolates with MIC values from 0.78 to 12.50 µg/ml. Furthermore, a synergistic effect mainly with EMB is shown for both resistant and susceptible clinical isolates. Casiopeínas® are promising candidates for future investigation into the development of antituberculosis drugs, being one of the first examples of essential metal-based drugs used in this field.

Altitude acclimatization improves submaximal cognitive performance in mice and involves an imbalance of the cholinergic system.

The aim of this work was to reveal a hypothetical improvement of cognitive abilities in animals acclimatized to altitude and performing under ground level conditions, when looking at submaximal performance, once seen that it was not possible when looking at maximal scores. We modified contrasted cognitive tasks (object recognition, operant conditioning, eight-arm radial maze, and classical conditioning of the eyeblink reflex), increasing their complexity in an attempt to find performance differences in acclimatized animals vs. untrained controls. In addition, we studied, through immunohistochemical quantification, the expression of choline acetyltransferase and acetyl cholinesterase, enzymes involved in the synthesis and degradation of acetylcholine, in the septal area, piriform and visual cortexes, and the hippocampal CA1 area of animals submitted to acute hypobaric hypoxia, or acclimatized to this simulated altitude, to find a relationship between the cholinergic system and a cognitive improvement due to altitude acclimatization. Results showed subtle improvements of the cognitive capabilities of acclimatized animals in all of the tasks when performed under ground-level conditions (although not before 24 h), in the three tasks used to test explicit memory (object recognition, operant conditioning in the Skinner box, and eight-arm radial maze) and (from the first conditioning session) in the classical conditioning task used to evaluate implicit memory. An imbalance of choline acetyltransferase/acetyl cholinesterase expression was found in acclimatized animals, mainly 24 h after the acclimatization period. In conclusion, altitude acclimatization improves cognitive capabilities, in a process parallel to an imbalance of the cholinergic system.

[Reflections on the role of the physician in in-hospital duties]. / Reflexiones sobre el papel del médico en la guardia intrahospitalaria.

The physician on-call is a fundamental support for modern in-patient care. The majority of the time during which a patient is in the hospital, he/she is under their care. There is almost no information about its clinical aspects. These are greatly influenced by the patient, his/her family, other patients and their relatives, catering services, some special situations, nursing personnel, and the doctor both as the main responsible person for the patient and as the physician on-call. As the doctor on call, he/she should have a clear idea of what the objectives are, achieve good management of the calls received, make the difference corresponding decisions and help the work of the patient's responsible physician. It is necessary to analyze and adapt the amount of work that the physician on-call has.

Aged wild-type and APP, PS1, and APP + PS1 mice present similar deficits in associative learning and synaptic plasticity independent of amyloid load.

Wild-type and single-transgenic (APP, PS1) and double-transgenic (APP+PS1) mice were studied at three different (3-, 12-, and 18-month-old) age periods. Transgenic mice had reflex eyelid responses like those of controls, but only 3-month-old mice were able to fully acquire conditioned eyeblinks, using a trace paradigm, whilst 12-month-old wild-type and transgenic mice presented intermediate values, and 18-month-old wild-type and transgenic mice were unable to acquire this type of associative learning. 18-month-old wild-type and transgenic mice presented a normal synaptic activation of CA1 pyramidal cells by the stimulation of Schaffer collaterals, but they did not show any activity-dependent potentiation of the CA3-CA1 synapse across conditioning sessions, as was shown by 3-month-old wild-type mice. Moreover, 18-month-old wild-type and transgenic mice presented a noticeable deficit in long-term potentiation evoked in vivo at the hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapse. The 18-month-old wild-type and transgenic mice also presented a significant deficit in prepulse inhibition as compared with 3-month-old controls. Except for results collected by prepulse inhibition, the above-mentioned deficits were not related with the presence of amyloid beta deposits. Thus, learning and memory deficits observed in aged wild-type and transgenic mice are not directly related to the genetic manipulations or to the presence of amyloid plaques.

Classical eyeblink conditioning during acute hypobaric hypoxia is improved in acclimatized mice and involves Fos expression in selected brain areas.

This work attempts to evaluate the cognitive aspects of the acclimatization ability of mice submitted to simulated altitude. Critical altitudes were detected by evaluating open field activity, combined or not with object recognition tasks, at different acute simulated altitudes. Results showed impaired cognitive abilities at approximately 3,733 m and above. To evaluate acclimatization capabilities, mice submitted to hypobaric hypoxia at approximately 5,000 m for 1 wk were tested for learning and memory performances with classical eyeblink conditioning at the same altitude or at land altitude. Results showed total acclimatization in mice conditioned at approximately 5,000 m but no improved performance in those conditioned at land altitudes compared with controls. Selected brain sites of conditioned animals were analyzed by immunohistochemistry to detect expression of the protein product of the protooncogene c-fos (Fos) in relation to both motor learning processes and hypobaric conditions. In the nucleus of the solitary tract, a higher expression of Fos was found in the acute hypobaric conditioned animals than in control conditioned and nonconditioned animals. Similar patterns between groups were found in the other brain areas, mainly in the piriform cortex and area 1 of the cingulate cortex and in the hippocampus. Differences between hemispheres were detected only in acute hypobaric animals. The present results show that acclimatization to high altitude prevents the impairment of classical eyeblink conditioning evoked by hypobaric hypoxic conditions but does not improve this task when acquired under land conditions, although it could diminish the activation requirements for its performance.

Age and sex-related serum changes in nitric oxide: correlations with serological markers.

Serum nitric oxide levels, systematically determined in 200 men and women from 18 to 65 year-old, undergo age and sex changes that strongly correlate with serological markers such as those related with cardiovascular functions and lipid profile.

Evidence of a decrease in nitric oxide-storage molecules following acute hypoxia and/or hypobaria, by means of chemiluminescence analysis.

Nitrate, nitrite, and other nitroso compounds (NOxs) had been proposed as possible nitric oxide (NO) storage molecules. The present work examines, by means of chemiluminescence analysis, changes in NOx serum levels in rats 1 h before and 24, 48, and 72 h after exposure to acute hypobaric hypoxia (HH; barometric pressure [P(B)] 225 mmHg, oxygen partial pressure [PO2] 48 mmHg), normobaric hypoxia (NH; P(B) 716 mmHg [Jaén city], PO2 48 mmHg), hypobaric normoxia (HN; P(B) 225 mmHg, PO2 150 mmHg), and normobaric normoxia (NN; P(B) 716 mmHg, PO2 150 mmHg) the latter as a control group. Results show a decrease in NOx levels, which reached significance 24 h after exposure in HH animals, 4 h after exposure in the HN and NH groups, and persisted after 48 h of exposure in the HN group. NOx determinations were also performed in brain (cerebral cortex, hippocampus, decorticated brain [basal ganglia-brainstem] and cerebellum), liver, kidney, lung, and heart homogenates, 72 h after the experiment, to detect persistent effects when serum NOx levels had returned to basal values. Only in cerebellum (HN group) and hippocampus (HN and NH groups) were NOx levels significantly lower than in controls. We conclude that not only acute hypobaric hypoxia but also either hypobaria or hypoxia alone induce changes in NOx serum levels. Moreover, all three episodes involve a decrease in NOxs, greater and longer-lasting in hypoxia alone than in hypobaria and hypoxia together. The exhaustion of these NO-storage molecules could be critical when, as during a hypoxic episode, the L-arginine/NOS pathway is impaired.

Inhalation of a harmless antigen (ovalbumin) elicits immune activation but divergent immunoglobulin and cytokine activities in mice.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to aerosolized harmless antigen such as ovalbumin (OVA) has previously been shown to induce inhalation tolerance, a state characterized by inhibition of IgE synthesis and airway inflammation, upon secondary immunogenic antigen encounter. Immune events associated with this phenomenon are still poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this state of 'unresponsiveness'. METHODS: After initial repeated OVA exposure, mice were subjected to a protocol of antigen-induced airway inflammation, encompassing two intraperitoneal injections of OVA adsorbed to aluminium hydroxide followed by airway challenge. We assessed immune events in the draining lymph nodes after sensitization, and in the lungs after challenge. RESULTS: In animals initially exposed to OVA, we observed, at the time of sensitization, considerable expansion of T cells, many of which expressed the activation markers CD69 and CD25, as well as increased numbers of antigen-presenting cells, particularly B cells. While these animals produced low levels of IgE, the observed elevated levels of IgG1 signified isotype switching. Splenocytes and lymph node cells from OVA-exposed mice produced low levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-gamma, indicating aborted effector function of both T helper (Th)2- and Th1-associated cytokines. Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (TaqMan) analysis of costimulatory molecules in the lungs after in vivo challenge showed that B7.1, B7.2, CD28 and CTLA-4 mRNA expression was low in animals initially exposed to OVA. Ultimately, these events were associated with abrogated airway inflammation and attenuated airway hyper-responsiveness. The decreased inflammation was antigen-specific and independent of IL-10 or IFN-gamma. CONCLUSION: Initial exposure to OVA establishes a programme that prevents the generation of intact, fully functional inflammatory responses upon secondary antigen encounter. The absence of inflammation, however, is not associated with categorical immune unresponsiveness.

Hipertensión portal como complicación de hidatidosis hepática / Portal hypertension as a complication of hydatid disease of the liver

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