Carcass traits and morphometry, typification of the Longissimus dorsi muscle and non-carcass components of hair lambs: can biscuit bran completely replace corn? A machine learning approach.

Biscuit bran (BB) is a co-product with worldwide distribution, with Brazil as the second largest cookie producer in the world with 1,157,051 tons. We evaluate the impact of completely replacing corn with BB on the characteristics and morphometry of carcass of purebred and crossbred Morada Nova lambs using machine learning techniques as an auxiliary method. Twenty male lambs from two genetic groups (GG) were used: purebred red-coated Morada Nova (MNR) and crossbred MNR × white-coated Morada Nova (MNF1). Supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques were used. No interaction (P > 0.05) was observed between diets (D) and genetic groups (GG) and no simple isolated effect was observed for carcass characteristics, qualitative-quantitative typification of the Longissimus dorsi muscle, weight of non-carcass components, weight and yield of commercial cuts and carcass morphometric measurements. The formation of two horizontal clusters was verified: (i) crossed lambs with corn and BB and (ii) purebred lambs fed corn and BB. Vertically, three clusters were formed based on carcass and meat characteristics of native lambs: (i) thermal insulation, body capacity, true yield, and commercial cuts; (ii) choice, performance, physical carcass traits, and palatability; and (iii) yield cuts and non-carcass components. The heatmap also allowed us to observe that pure MN lambs had a greater body capacity when fed BB, while those fed corn showed superiority in commercial cuts, true yields, and non-carcass components. Crossbred lambs, regardless of diet, showed a greater association of physical characteristics of the carcass, performance, palatability, and less noble cuts. Crossbred lambs, regardless of diet, showed a greater association of physical characteristics of the carcass, performance, palatability, and less noble cuts. BB can be considered an alternative energy source in total replacement of corn. Integrating of machine learning techniques is a useful statistical tool for studies with large numbers of variables, especially when it comes to analyzing complex data with multiple effects in the search for data patterns and insights in decision-making on the farm.

Changes in Televisit Modalities Due to the COVID Pandemic in Chile: A Comparison of Patient Satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted healthcare guidelines and modalities of patient consultation worldwide. The frequent cycles of quarantine confinement in Chile have caused mobility restrictions for patients and physicians, forcing the Hospital Las Higueras de Talcahuano (HHT) to replace the assisted televisit modality with a more classic televisit program. Here we have described if this change in televisit modality and type of outpatient may have impacted patients' satisfaction. METHODS: The patient's perception of satisfaction was evaluated through self-administered survey questionnaires previously validated in Spanish. Cohorts were grouped according to the following two relational models: (i) assisted televisit, 503 neurology patients from 2018 to 2019, and (ii) televisit, 831 patients from different specialties treated during 2020. Perception of satisfaction was compared by gender, age, and type of televisit, and internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) and reliability (factorial analysis of principal components) were assessed. Finally, we compared the patient satisfaction of both modalities. RESULTS: Questionnaires showed excellent internal consistency; all items showed point biserial correlations greater than 0.30. Assisted televisit and televisit cohorts comprised 64.2% and 67.6% females, respectively, and patients under the age of 65 years were 62.2% and 75%, respectively. Assisted televisit patients showed very high 94.4% (n=475) and high 5.2% (n=26) satisfaction levels, while televisit patients showed very high 22.3% (n=185), high 63.9% (n=531), and moderate 13.1% (n=109) satisfaction levels; this difference was statistically significant at p<0.001. CONCLUSION: Lower perception of satisfaction due to the change in televisit relational modality underscores the importance of primary care professionals who support the specialist in the assisted televisit model. However, the televisit modality showed high patient satisfaction and suggested that this modality can be a plausible alternative according to each location's reality. The results of this study indicate that both assisted televisit and televisit contribute to delivering an integrative solution that helps to alleviate the system's fragmentation.

Spatial clusters, temporal behavior, and risk factors analysis of rabies in livestock in Ecuador.

Rabies, a globally distributed and highly lethal zoonotic neglected tropical disease, has a significant impact in South America. In Ecuador, animal rabies cases are primarily linked to livestock, and hematophagous bats play a crucial role in disease transmission. This study aims to identify temporal trends, spatial patterns, and risk factors for animal rabies in Ecuador between 2014 and 2019. Epidemiological survey reports from the official Animal Rabies Surveillance Program of the Phyto and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control Agency of Ecuador (AGROCALIDAD) were used. The Animal Rabies Surveillance Program from AGROCALIDAD consists of an official passive surveillance program that receives reports from farmers or individuals (both trained or untrained) who have observed animals with neurological clinical signs and lesions compatible with bat bites, or who have seen or captured bats on their farms or houses. Once this report is made, AGROCALIDAD personnel is sent for field inspection, having to confirm the suspicion of rabies based on farm conditions and compatibility of signs. AGROCALIDAD personnel collect samples from all suspicious animals, which are further processed and analyzed using the Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) test for rabies confirmatory diagnosis. In this case, study data comprised 846 bovine farms (with intra-farm sample sizes ranging from 1 to 16 samples) located in different ecoregions of Ecuador; out of these, 397 (46.93%) farms tested positive for animal rabies, revealing six statistically significant spatial clusters. Among these clusters, three high-risk areas were identified in the southeast of Ecuador. Seasonality was confirmed by the Ljung-Box test for both the number of cases (p < 0.001) and the positivity rate (p < 0.001). The Pacific Coastal lowlands and Sierra regions showed a lower risk of positivity compared to Amazonia (OR = 0.529; 95% CI = 0.318 - 0.883; p = 0.015 and OR = 0.633; 95% CI = 0.410 - 0.977; p = 0.039, respectively). The breeding of non-bovine animal species demonstrated a lower risk of positivity to animal rabies when compared to bovine (OR = 0.145; 95% CI = 0.062 - 0.339; p < 0.001). Similarly, older animals exhibited a lower risk (OR = 0.974; 95% CI = 0.967 - 0.981; p < 0.001). Rainfall during the rainy season was also found to decrease the risk of positivity to animal rabies (OR = 0.996; 95% CI = 0.995 - 0.998; p < 0.001). This study underscores the significance of strengthening the national surveillance program for the prevention and control of animal rabies in Ecuador and other countries facing similar epidemiological, social, and geographical circumstances.

Historical contamination with a current problem: Can mining tailings enhance coastal arsenic pollution?

The coast of Espírito Santo state (Southeast Brazil) is recognized for its environmental arsenic (As) enrichment and, over the years, mining operations have potentialized it. We aimed to evaluate the effect of Rio Doce discharge on As inputs and the role of iron ore tailings from the Fundão dam disaster in enhancing As contamination in the marine sediment. Two scenarios were evaluated: Predisaster and Postdisaster; dry and wet conditions were considered in each period. High As concentrations were found in the Predisaster (28.44 ± 13.53 µg g-1 ), but a significant increase in As was remarkable during the Postdisaster in the wet season, one year after the disaster (maximum of 58.39 µg g-1 ; geoaccumulation index (Igeo ) Class 3, moderately severe pollution). On that occasion, iron (Fe) oxy-hydroxides from tailings were remobilized from the Rio Doce channel and deposited on the continental shelf bottom. Therefore, chemical interactions among Fe, As, and carbonates were enhanced, resulting in As and Fe coprecipitation and the trapping by carbonate adsorption. Rio Doce discharge seems to be the main factor in As inputs to the inner continental shelf when flooding do not occur previously in samplings, which allows further dispersion of contaminants, although this hypothesis should be tested further. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:159-168. © 2023 SETAC.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in estuarine sediments as a consequence of the mine tailings remobilization and transport in the Rio Doce basin.

The Fundão dam failure in 2015 severely impaired the economy, the lives of riverine communities, and the aquatic ecosystems of the Rio Doce basin in southeast Brazil. Several contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were transported downstream, deposited in the estuary, and released into the Atlantic Ocean. The high concentration of PAHs in estuarine sediments may pose ecological risks and deleterious effects to benthic organisms, so here we aimed at determining the source and fate of these compounds before and after the tailings' arrival. The mean concentration of the analyzed Σ16PAHs increased from 34.05 µg kg-1 in the prefailure period to 751.77 µg kg-1 one year after the arrival of the tailing. The classification of the sediment quality changed from low to moderate contamination. Our results suggest that there was PAHs remobilization by mine tailings along the Rio Doce basin. The target analytes exhibited mostly a pyrolytic profile from fossil fuel and biomass burning. In addition to other contaminants deposited in the estuary after the arrival of the tailings, this study revealed that the profile change of PAHs in the estuary region is a consequence of the mud's erosive power. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:169-178. © 2023 SETAC.

Rare earth elements as tracers of iron ore tailings on the Brazilian eastern continental shelf.

Iron ore tailings are stored in large dams and pose risks to the environment around the world. In Brazil, the rupture of these dams has become frequent and has generated environmental and social concern. Rare earth elements are good tracers of sediment sources and our results indicated chronic contamination of the seabed sediment from the marine region affected by the Fundão Dam tailings since 2015, including areas of environmental protection. This research, carried out between November 2018 and September 2021, with a database of 575 samples, showed a greater amount of contaminated material in the marine region adjacent to the Doce River mouth. Although data suggest prior mining contamination of the Doce River basin, the Fundão episode was an empirical and massive example of the environmental damage caused by these human activities over the centuries, showing that the impact remains in the shallow marine environments for years. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:179-188. © 2023 SETAC.

Os rejeitos de minério de ferro são armazenados em grandes barragens que trazem riscos ao meio ambiente em todo o mundo. No Brasil, o rompimento dessas barragens tem se tornado frequente e gerado preocupação ambiental e social. Elementos terras raras são bons marcadores de fontes sedimentares e nossos resultados indicaram uma contaminação crônica da região marinha afetada pelos rejeitos da barragem de Fundão, incluindo áreas de proteção ambiental. Esta pesquisa teve com 575 amostras analisadas entre os meses de novembro de 2018 e outubro de 2021, com a região marinha adjacente a foz do Rio Doce apresentando o maior grau de impacto. Embora os dados ressaltem a contaminação histórica da mineração na bacia do Rio Doce, o episódio do Fundão foi um exemplo empírico e massivo dos danos ambientais causados por essas atividades ao longo dos séculos, mostrando que o impacto permanece nos ambientes marinhos rasos por anos. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:179-188.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune condition characterized by recurrent episodes of optic neuritis (ON) and transverse myelitis. This case report aims to highlight the importance of considering atypical presentations of NMOSD when confronted with MRI-detected Wernicke's encephalopathy. The primary target in NMOSD is the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) protein, predominantly located on astrocyte surfaces. Antibodies binding to AQP4 can lead to astrocyte dysfunction and damage, contributing to NMOSD's distinctive pathology. The associated immune response and inflammation can cause secondary harm to various components of the central nervous system, including oligodendrocytes and neuronal axons. This inflammatory process results in perivascular demyelination and axonal injury, further aggravating neurological deficits in NMOSD. In this case, we present a 39-year-old female with no prior medical or surgical history who sought medical attention due to a three-week history of progressive eyelid heaviness and somnolence. NMOSD is an autoimmune condition primarily targeting the AQP4 protein, resulting in recurrent ON and transverse myelitis. The patient was initially misdiagnosed with myasthenia gravis due to somnolence and ptosis. Due to concerns about myasthenia gravis due to diffuse fatigue and bilateral ptosis, the patient was initially treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and admitted to the neurology service. On the first day of her hospitalization, MRI with and without contrast revealed extensive, non-enhancing T2-weighted-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2-FLAIR) hyperintensities surrounding the third ventricle and affecting the periaqueductal grey, medial thalami, and mammillary bodies. There was also an interval increase in T2-FLAIR hyperintensity within the right medial temporal lobe, extending more posteriorly and inferiorly, abutting the temporal horn. Subsequent CSF encephalitis panel results showed positive West Nile virus (WNV) IgG but negative WNV IgM, and AQP4 antibodies were positive. Given the high specificity of AQP4 antibodies, the patient was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) encephalitis. This case underscores the importance of considering atypical presentations of NMO when confronted with MRI-detected Wernicke's encephalopathy. Since our patient primarily displayed somnolence and eye-related symptoms, neither NMO nor Wernicke's encephalopathy were initially considered in the differential diagnosis. Furthermore, despite MRI findings suggestive of Wernicke's encephalopathy, it was considered less likely due to the absence of thiamine deficiency and consistent denials by family members regarding alcohol use, gastrointestinal issues, or inadequate oral intake. This case underscores the importance of considering NMOSD in patients with atypical symptoms, even when initial presentations suggest other conditions. Timely diagnosis is crucial to prevent mismanagement and improve patient outcomes. Clinicians should maintain a high level of suspicion for NMOSD, especially when MRI findings do not align with the initial diagnosis, as early recognition and treatment can significantly impact patient care and prognosis.

The Cost-Benefit of Aging: Financial Capability and Well-Being across Age Groups in Brazil.

A large proportion of older persons in developing countries do not have access to pension, which also constrains their ability to afford healthcare services and entails extensive challenges to the well-being of older people. This study aimed to analyze the financial preparedness of different age groups for retirement in Brazil. Data were derived from a survey to empirically validate the proposed relationships between preparedness for retirement and resilience for the future (financial well-being (FWB) outcomes) on the one hand and among demographic and socioeconomic aspects, behaviors and attitudes, knowledge and experience, and "key" psychological factors on the other hand. The sample consisted of 412 individuals aged between 22 and 79 years. FWB was measured using the financial capability and well-being model and regressed on a number of sociodemographic and psychological variables using linear regression analyses. The results demonstrated that preparedness for retirement was strongly related to older age. Additionally, age was correlated with resilience for the future close to zero, which indicates no relationship. Knowledge and the psychological factors of self-control and confidence were positively and strongly related to better financial behavior for all age groups. In addition, grit and resilience for the future were positively related to better financial behavior in the older age group. Furthermore, the variables of retirement contribution were seemingly not viewed as important to the older group compared with their young and mature counterparts. Multidimensional interventions, especially targeting behaviors and psychological patterns, could, therefore, be recommended in advance to young and mature groups to prepare them to secure their old age and achieve FWB.

Mimicking lipolytic, adipogenic, and secretory capacities of human subcutaneous adipose tissue by spheroids from distinct subpopulations of adipose stromal/stem cells.

Background: Adipose tissue engineering may provide 3D models for the understanding of diseases such as obesity and type II diabetes. Recently, distinct adipose stem/stromal cell (ASC) subpopulations were identified from subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT): superficial (sSAT), deep (dSAT), and the superficial retinacula cutis (sRC). This study aimed to test these subpopulations ASCs in 3D spheroid culture induced for adipogenesis under a pro-inflammatory stimulus with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: The samples of abdominal human subcutaneous adipose tissue were obtained during plastic aesthetic surgery (Protocol 145/09). Results: ASC spheroids showed high response to adipogenic induction in sSAT. All ASC spheroids increased their capacity to lipolysis under LPS. However, spheroids from dSAT were higher than from sSAT (p = 0.0045) and sRC (p = 0.0005). Newly formed spheroids and spheroids under LPS stimulus from sSAT showed the highest levels of fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBPα) mRNA expression compared with dSAT and sRC (p < 0.0001). ASC spheroids from sRC showed the highest synthesis of angiogenic cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) compared with dSAT (p < 0.0228). Under LPS stimulus, ASC spheroids from sRC showed the highest synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 compared with dSAT (p < 0.0092). Conclusion: Distinct physiological properties of SAT can be recapitulated in ASC spheroids. In summary, the ASC spheroid from dSAT showed the greatest lipolytic capacity, from sSAT the greatest adipogenic induction, and sRC showed greater secretory capacity when compared to the dSAT. Together, all these capacities form a true mimicry of SAT and hold the potential to contribute for a deeper understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms in healthy and unhealthy adipose tissue scenarios or in response to pharmacological interventions.

Anticoagulation Options for Cranial Procedures: A Comparative Review of Aspirin, Plavix, and Aggrastat.

Anticoagulation therapy is critical to avoiding thrombotic events in patients following cranial surgery. Although Aspirin, Plavix, and Aggrastat are used as anticoagulants for this purpose, there is no consensus on which agent is the most effective and safe. In this comparative study, we analyze the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of these three anticoagulants in the context of cranial surgeries. This review focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of each anticoagulant, such as its pharmacokinetics, indications, contraindications, and possible consequences. The outcomes of this study will help physicians choose the best anticoagulant for their patients based on individual patient characteristics and the kind of cranial procedure. Aggrastat's potential to be included as a recommended anticoagulant for cranial procedures warrants further study.

Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Ex-Morbidly Obese Individuals Instruct Macrophages towards a M2-Like Profile In Vitro.

Obesity, which continues to increase worldwide, was shown to irreversibly impair the differentiation potential and angiogenic properties of adipose tissue mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSCs). Because these cells are intended for regenerative medicine, especially for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, and the effects of obesity on the immunomodulatory properties of ADSCs are not yet clear, here we investigated how ADSCs isolated from former obese subjects (Ex-Ob) would influence macrophage differentiation and polarization, since these cells are the main instructors of inflammatory responses. Analysis of the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of overweight (OW) and Ex-Ob subjects showed the maintenance of approximately twice as many macrophages in Ex-Ob SAT, contained within the CD68＋/FXIII-A- inflammatory pool. Despite it, in vitro, coculture experiments revealed that Ex-Ob ADSCs instructed monocyte differentiation into a M2-like profile, and under inflammatory conditions induced by LPS treatment, inhibited HLA-DR upregulation by resting M0 macrophages, originated a similar percentage of TNF-α＋ cells, and inhibited IL-10 secretion, similar to OW-ADSCs and BMSCs, which were used for comparison, as these are the main alternative cell types available for therapeutic purposes. Our results showed that Ex-Ob ADSCs mirrored OW-ADSCs in macrophage education, favoring the M2 immunophenotype and a mixed (M1/M2) secretory response. These results have translational potential, since they provide evidence that ADSCs from both Ex-Ob and OW subjects can be used in regenerative medicine in eligible therapies. Further in vivo studies will be fundamental to validate these observations.

Innovative Pre-Clinical Data Using Peptides to Intervene in the Evolution of Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, relentless, and deadly disease. Little is known about its pathogenetic mechanisms; therefore, developing efficient pharmacological therapies is challenging. This work aimed to apply a therapeutic alternative using immunomodulatory peptides in a chronic pulmonary fibrosis murine model. BALB/c mice were intratracheally instilled with bleomycin (BLM) and followed for 30 days. The mice were treated with the immune modulatory peptides ToAP3 and ToAP4 every three days, starting on the 5th day post-BLM instillation. ELISA, qPCR, morphology, and respiratory function analyses were performed. The treatment with both peptides delayed the inflammatory process observed in the non-treated group, which showed a fibrotic process with alterations in the production of collagen I, III, and IV that were associated with significant alterations in their ventilatory mechanics. The ToAP3 and ToAP4 treatments, by lung gene modulation patterns, indicated that distinct mechanisms determine the action of peptides. Both peptides controlled the experimental IPF, maintaining the tissue characteristics and standard function properties and regulating fibrotic-associated cytokine production. Data obtained in this work show that the immune response regulation by ToAP3 and ToAP4 can control the alterations that cause the fibrotic process after BLM instillation, making both peptides potential therapeutic alternatives and/or adjuvants for IPF.

Remote sensing environmental indicators for monitoring spatial and temporal dynamics of weather and vegetation conditions: applications for Brazilian biomes.

The SAFER (Simple Algorithm for Evapotranspiration Retrieving) algorithm and the radiation use efficiency (RUE) model were coupled to test large-scale remote sensing environmental indicators in Brazilian biomes. MODIS MOD13Q1 reflectance product and gridded weather data for the year 2016 were used to demonstrate the suitability of the algorithm to monitor the dynamics of environmental remote sensing indicators along a year in the Brazilian biomes, Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pantanal, Atlantic Forest, and Pampa. Significant spatial and temporal variations in precipitation (P), actual evapotranspiration (ET), and biomass production (BIO) yielded differences on water balance (WB = P-ET) and water productivity (WP = ET/BIO). The highest WB and WP differences were detected in the wettest biomes, Amazon, Atlantic Forest, and Pampa, when compared with the driest biome, Caatinga. Rainfall distribution along the year affected the magnitude of the evaporative fraction (ETf), i.e., the ET to reference evapotranspiration (ET0) ratio. However, there was a gap between ETf and WB, which may be related to the time needed for recovering good soil moisture conditions after rainfalls. For some biomes, BIO related most to the levels of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (Amazon and Atlantic Forest), while for others, BIO followed most the soil moisture levels, depicted by ETf (Caatinga, Cerrado, Pantanal, and Pampa). The large-scale modeling showed suitability for monitoring the water and vegetation conditions, making way to detect anomalies for specific periods along the year by using historical images and weather data, with strong potential to support public policies for management and conservation of natural resources and with possibilities for replication of the methods in other countries.

Potential Challenges of the Extraction of Carotenoids and Fatty Acids from Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) Oil.

Pequi is a natural source of bioactive compounds with wide versatility for fresh or processed fruit consumption, but it is still little explored economically. Functional foods are the subject of diverse scientific research since, in addition to being nourishing, they contain bioactive compounds capable of promoting several benefits to the human body. Pequi is a fruit species native to the Brazilian Cerrado, which is rich in oil and has components with a high nutritional value, such as unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3, omega-6, EPA, and DHA), antioxidants (carotenoids and phenolic compounds), and vitamins. Therefore, the present narrative review aims to compile and critically evaluate the methods used to extract oil from the pulp and almonds of pequi and describes the carotenoid separation from the oil because carotenoids are natural pigments of great interest in the pharmaceutical and food industries. It is emphasized that the main challenges linked to bioactive compound extraction are their susceptibility to degradation in the processing and storage stages of pequi and its derived products.

Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells Transplantation with Cholecalciferol Supplementation in Recent-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Patients: Twelve Months Follow-Up.

To evaluate safety and therapeutic effect along 12 months of allogenic adipose tissue-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) transplantation with cholecalciferol (VITD) in patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D). Prospective, phase II, open trial, pilot study in which patients with recent onset T1D received ASCs (1xKgx106 cells) and VITD 2000UI/day for 12 months (group 1) and were compared to controls with standard insulin therapy (group 2). Adverse events, C-peptide area under the curve (CPAUC), insulin dose, HbA1c and frequency of FoxP3+ in CD4+ or CD8+ T-cells(flow cytometry) were evaluated at baseline(T0), after 3(T3), 6(T6) and 12 months(T12). Eleven patients completed follow up (7:group 1;4:group 2). Group 1 had lower insulin requirement at T3(0.24±0.18vs0.53±0.23UI/kg,p=0.04), T6(0.24±0.15vs0.66±0.33 UI/kg,p=0.04) and T12(0.39±0.15vs0.74±0.29 UI/Kg,p=0.04).HbA1c was lower at T6 (50.57±8.56vs72.25±10.34 mmol/mol,p=0.01), without differences at T12 (57.14±11.98 in group 1 vs. 73.5±14.57 mmol/min in group 2, p=0.16). CPAUC was not significantly different between groups at T0(p=0.07), higher in group 1 at T3(p=0.04) and T6(p=0.006), but similar at T12(p=0.23). IDAA1c was significantly lower in group 1 than group 2 at T3,T6 and T12 (p=0.006, 0.006 and 0.042, respectively). IDDA1c was inversely correlated to FoxP3 expression in CD4 and CD8+ T cells at T6 (p<0.001 and p=0.01, respectively). In group 1, one patient had recurrence of a benign teratoma that was surgically removed, not associated to the intervention. ASCs with VITD without immunosuppression were safe and associated lower insulin requirements, better glycemic control, and transient better pancreatic function in recent onset T1D, but the potential benefits were not sustained.

Recent Advancements in Epidural Etanercept for Pain Management in Radiculopathy: A Literature Review.

The most common etiology of low back and neck pain is associated with spinal cord pathologies. Regardless of origin, low back and neck pain are some of the most common causes of disability worldwide. Mechanical compression due to spinal cord diseases, such as degenerative disc disorders, can lead to radiculopathy, which manifests as numbness or tingling and can progress to loss of muscle function. Conservative management, such as physical therapy, has not been proven effective in treating radiculopathy, and surgical treatments have more risks than benefits for most patients. Epidural disease-modifying medications, such as Etanercept, have been recently explored due to their minimal invasiveness and direct effects on inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Therefore, this literature review aims to evaluate epidural Etanercept's effect on radiculopathy caused by degenerative disc diseases. Epidural Etanercept has been shown to improve radiculopathy in patients with lumbar disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, and sciatica. Further research is needed to compare the effectiveness of Etanercept with commonly used treatments such as steroids and analgesia.

The Potential Role of Etanercept in the Management of Post-stroke Pain: A Literature Review.

Strokes are the second leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The brain injury resulting from stroke produces a persistent neuroinflammatory response in the brain, resulting in a spectrum of neurologic dysfunction affecting stroke survivors chronically, also known as post-stroke pain. Excess production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of stroke survivors has been implicated in post-stroke pain. Therefore, this literature review aims to assess and review the role of perispinal etanercept in the management of post-stroke pain. Several studies have shown statistically significant evidence that etanercept, a TNF alpha inhibitor, can reduce symptoms present in post-stroke syndrome by targeting the excess TNF alpha produced in the CSF. Studies have also shown improvements in not only post-stroke pain but also in traumatic brain injury and dementia. Further research is needed to explore the effects of TNF alpha on stroke prognosis and determine the optimal frequency and duration of etanercept treatment for post-stroke pain.

Low-Intensity Physical Exercise Decreases Inflammation and Joint Damage in the Preclinical Phase of a Rheumatoid Arthritis Murine Model.

Lifestyle modifications in preclinical Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) could delay the ongoing pathogenic immune processes and potentially prevent its onset. Physical exercise (PE) benefits RA patients; however, its impact in reducing the risk of developing RA has scarcely been studied. The objective was to describe the effects of low-intensity PE applied at the disease's preclinical phase on the joints of DBA/1 mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Twelve mice with CIA were randomly distributed into two groups: the CIA-Ex group, which undertook treadmill PE, and the CIA-NoEx, which was not exercised. The effects of PE were evaluated through clinical, histological, transcriptomics, and immunodetection analyses in the mice's hind paws. The CIA-Ex group showed lower joint inflammation and damage and a decreased expression of RA-related genes (Tnf Il2, Il10, Il12a, IL23a, and Tgfb1) and signaling pathways (Cytokines, Chemokines, JAK-STAT, MAPK, NF-kappa B, TNF, and TGF-beta). TNF-α expression was decreased by PE in the inflamed joints. Low-intensity PE in pre-arthritic CIA reduced the severity through joint down-expression of proinflammatory genes and proteins. Knowledge on the underlying mechanisms of PE in preclinical arthritis and its impact on reducing the risk of developing RA is still needed.

Stabilization of oil-water emulsions with protein concentrates from the microalga Tetradesmus obliquus.

The present work used water-soluble protein concentrates from the microalga Tetradesmus obliquus to stabilize sunflower oil emulsions. Microalgal cells were disrupted by sonication, and proteins were separated from the biomass using two methods, isoelectric and solvent precipitations. The protein extracts were concentrated by lyophilization, and the concentrates were used to produce emulsions with three amounts of Tetradesmus obliquus protein concentrate (TobPC) (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0% w/v). Emulsions were homogenized through sonication and characterized for creaming index, optical microscopy, size distribution, ζ-potential, and rheology. Isoelectric precipitation resulted in TobPC with a high protein content (51.46 ± 2.37%) and a better dispersibility profile. Emulsion stability was higher for both the isoelectric TobPC and control systems than for the TobPC solvent. Solvent TobPC does not efficiently stabilize emulsions at low protein concentrations that showed microscopically larger oil droplets and flocculation spots. A high phase separation velocity was observed for solvent TobPC, probably due to the higher hydrodynamic droplet diameters. The increase in TobPC content in the emulsions resulted in more stable emulsions for all samples. Therefore, Tetradesmus obliquus protein concentrates are a potential emulsifying agent.

Trajetórias socioeconômicas compartilhadas no Brasil: cenários para a dinâmica populacional e os desafios à adaptação e mitigação / Shared socioeconomic pathways in Brazil: Scenarios for population dynamics and the challenges to adaptation and mitigation / Trayectorias socioeconómicas compartidas en Brasil: escenarios de dinámica poblacional y desafíos para la adaptación y mitigación

Resumo Dentre os múltiplos avanços científicos na compreensão das relações entre mudanças climáticas e dinâmica populacional, uma das principais inovações ocorreu na atual geração de modelagem climática, com a inclusão de um conjunto de cenários em que as questões populacionais são centrais. Baseados em narrativas de trajetórias socioeconômicas, estes cenários traçam alternativas para os desenvolvimentos sociais futuros, que, por sua vez, consideram projeções populacionais multidimensionais, construídas a partir das variáveis sexo, idade e escolaridade. Tais projeções incorporam heterogeneidades populacionais relevantes para a adaptação, sendo, potencialmente, mais sensíveis às mudanças na dinâmica demográfica e à compreensão da relação população e ambiente. No Brasil, contudo, tanto os pressupostos como as implicações desta abordagem são quase inexistentes. O presente artigo aborda esta discussão para o país, considerando seus aspectos teóricos e metodológicos. Destacam-se algumas das inferências da abordagem das shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) - trajetórias socioeconômicas compartilhadas - para construir projeções populacionais no nível subnacional, enfatizando os ganhos potenciais desta agenda no campo de população e ambiente.

Abstract During the past decades, there were scientific advances to better comprehend climate change and population dynamics. One of the main ones was the inclusion of a set of scenarios in current generation of climate modelling, with population as its human core. These are the shared socioeconomic pathways that result in population projections constructed by multi-dimensional demography, with population disaggregated by, sex, age and educational attainment. Such projections incorporate relevant population heterogeneities to adaptation and are potentially more sensitive to capture changes in demographic dynamics. This paper addresses this discussion for Brazil, considering both theoretical and methodological aspects. We highlight some of the implications of SSPs approach to construct population projections at the subnational level, emphasizing the benefits this agenda could bring to the population and environment fields.

Resumen Los avances en la ciencia para una mejor comprensión de las relaciones entre el cambio climático y la dinámica de la población se han producido en varios campos durante las últimas tres décadas. Una de las principales innovaciones se observa en la generación actual de modelos climáticos, con la inclusión de un conjunto de escenarios en los que los temas de población son centrales. Estos escenarios, denominados trayectorias socioeconómicas compartidas, esbozan alternativas para futuros desarrollos sociales que, a su vez, consideran proyecciones poblacionales multidimensionales, construidas a partir de las variables sexo, edad y educación. Estas proyecciones incorporan heterogeneidades de población relevantes para la adaptación y son potencialmente más sensibles a los cambios en la dinámica demográfica. Este artículo aborda esta discusión para Brasil, considerando sus aspectos teóricos y metodológicos. Se destacan algunas de las implicaciones del enfoque para construir proyecciones de población en el ámbito subnacional, con énfasis los logros que esta agenda puede traer al campo de población y medio ambiente.