Oxidative responses in small juveniles of Colossoma macropomum anesthetized and sedated with Ocimum gratissimum L. essential oil.

This study evaluated the use of essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum (EOOG) for anesthesia and in transport of Colossoma macropomum. Experiment 1, Test 1, anesthesia induction and recovery times were determined using different EOOG concentrations (0, 20, 50, 100, 200, 300 mg L-1), with two size classes: Juveniles I (0.86 g) and Juveniles II (11.46 g) (independent tests in a completely randomized design). Based on the results of Test 1, in Test 2 Juveniles II were exposed to EOOG concentrations: 0, 20, 100 mg L-1. Tissue samples were collected immediately after induction and 1 h post-recovery, to assess oxidative status variables. Experiment 2, Juveniles I (0.91 g) and Juveniles II (14.76 g) were submitted to transport in water with different concentrations of EOOG (0, 5, 10 mg L-1) (independent tests in a completely randomized design). The effects on oxidative status variables were evaluated. Concentrations between 50 and 200 mg L-1 EOOG can be indicated for Juveniles I, while concentrations between 50 and 100 mg L-1 EOOG for Juveniles II. The concentration of 100 mg L-1 EOOG was able to prevent oxidative damage in the liver. In Experiment 2, the concentrations of 5 and 10 mg L-1 EOOG added to the transport water caused sedation for both studied size classes of juveniles and did not cause oscillations in water quality variables nor any mortality. The concentration of 10 mg L-1 EOOG improved the oxidative status. It can be concluded that EOOG can be used for anesthesia and transport of C. macropomum.

Retinoic Acid-Mediated Control of Energy Metabolism Is Essential for Lung Branching Morphogenesis.

Lung branching morphogenesis relies on intricate epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and signaling networks. Still, the interplay between signaling and energy metabolism in shaping embryonic lung development remains unexplored. Retinoic acid (RA) signaling influences lung proximal-distal patterning and branching morphogenesis, but its role as a metabolic modulator is unknown. Hence, this study investigates how RA signaling affects the metabolic profile of lung branching. We performed ex vivo lung explant culture of embryonic chicken lungs treated with DMSO, 1 µM RA, or 10 µM BMS493. Extracellular metabolite consumption/production was evaluated by using 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Mitochondrial respiration and biogenesis were also analyzed. Proliferation was assessed using an EdU-based assay. The expression of crucial metabolic/signaling components was examined through Western blot, qPCR, and in situ hybridization. RA signaling stimulation redirects glucose towards pyruvate and succinate production rather than to alanine or lactate. Inhibition of RA signaling reduces lung branching, resulting in a cystic-like phenotype while promoting mitochondrial function. Here, RA signaling emerges as a regulator of tissue proliferation and lactate dehydrogenase expression. Furthermore, RA governs fatty acid metabolism through an AMPK-dependent mechanism. These findings underscore RA's pivotal role in shaping lung metabolism during branching morphogenesis, contributing to our understanding of lung development and cystic-related lung disorders.

Heart failure, the global pandemic: A call to action consensus statement from the global presidential conclave at the platinum jubilee conference of cardiological society of India 2023.

Heart failure (HF) is emerging as a major public health problem both in high- and low - income countries. The mortality and morbidity due to HF is substantially higher in low-middle income countries (LMICs). Accessibility, availability and affordability issues affect the guideline directed therapy implementation in HF care in those countries. This call to action urges all those concerned to initiate preventive strategies as early as possible, so that we can reduce HF-related morbidity and mortality. The most important step is to have better prevention and treatment strategies for diseases such as hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD), type-2 diabetes, and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) which predispose to the development of HF. Setting up dedicated HF-clinics manned by HF Nurses, can help in streamlining HF care. Subsidized in-patient care, financial assistance for device therapy, use of generic medicines (including polypill strategy) will be helpful, along with the use of digital technologies.

Exploring the electrical robustness of conductive textile fasteners for wearable devices in different human motion conditions.

Conventional snap fasteners used in clothing are often used as electrical connectors in e-textile and wearable applications for signal transmission due to their wide availability and ease of use. Nonetheless, limited research exists on the validation of these fasteners, regarding the impact of contact-induced high-amplitude artefacts, especially under motion conditions. In this work, three types of fasteners were used as electromechanical connectors, establishing the interface between a regular sock and an acquisition device. The tested fasteners have different shapes and sizes, as well as have different mechanisms of attachment between the plug and receptacle counterparts. Experimental evaluation was performed under static conditions, slow walking, and rope jumping at a high cadence. The tests were also performed with a test mass of 140 g. Magnetic fasteners presented excellent electromechanical robustness under highly dynamic human movement with and without the additional mass. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that the Spring snap buttons (with a spring-based engaging mechanism) presented a sub-optimal performance under high motion and load conditions, followed by the Prong snap fasteners (without spring), which revealed a high susceptibility to artefacts. Overall, this work provides further evidence on the importance and reliability of clothing fasteners as electrical connectors in wearable systems.

Use of cupping therapy in musculoskeletal disorders: A cross-sectional study on the profile, training, and practice of Brazilian physical therapists.

INTRODUCTION: Cupping therapy is a widely used technique in Brazilian physical therapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. However, there is limited scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the profile, training, clinical practice, and scientific updates of Brazilian Physical Therapists who use cupping therapy as a therapeutic resource for musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire, including 646 Physical Therapists who use cupping therapy in their practice. All data were analysed descriptively. RESULTS: Cupping therapy is a technique that has been widely adopted in clinical practice by Physical Therapists, particularly among young, female professionals who have recently graduated from private universities. The primary reason for interest in this technique among these Physical Therapists is the high demand from patients. Additionally, it is often used in conjunction with other manual therapeutic techniques. They identified easy access, low cost, and ease of use as the key factors that make cupping therapy an attractive option. However, a lack of high-quality scientific evidence, as described in the literature, was identified as a major barrier to its use. CONCLUSION: The Physical Therapists included in this study use cupping therapy in their clinical practice, relying heavily on their own experience and the preferences of their patients, rather than utilizing the third pillar of evidence-based practice, which is to rely on the best available evidence. This study suggests that these Physical Therapists are currently implementing a technique without current scientific recommendations for its use in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

Reducing citrus effluent toxicity: Biological-electrochemical treatment with diamond anode.

One challenge of the citrus industry is the treatment and disposal of its effluents due to their high toxicity, substantial organic load, and consequent resistance to conventional biotechnological processes. This study introduces a novel approach, using electrochemical oxidation with a boron-doped diamond anode to efficiently remove organic compounds from biodegraded pulp wash (treated using the fungus Pleurotus sajor-caju.) The findings reveal that employing a current density of 20 mA cm-2 achieves notable results, including a 44.1% reduction in color, a 70.0% decrease in chemical oxygen demand, an 88.0% reduction in turbidity, and an impressive 99.7% removal of total organic carbon (TOC) after 6 h of electrolysis. The energy consumption was estimated at 2.93 kWh g-1 of removed TOC. This sequential biological-electrochemical procedure not only significantly reduced the mortality rate (85%) of Danio rerio embryos but also reduced the incidence of morphologically altered parameters. Regarding acute toxicity (LC50) of the residue, the process demonstrated a mortality reduction of 6.97% for D. rerio and a 40.88% lethality decrease for Lactuca sativa seeds. The substantial reduction in toxicity and organic load observed in this study highlights the potential applicability of combined biological and electrochemical treatments for real agroindustrial residues or their effluents.

Intraoperative Angle Measurement of Anatomical Structures: A Systematic Review.

Ensuring precise angle measurement during surgical correction of orientation-related deformities is crucial for optimal postoperative outcomes, yet there is a lack of an ideal commercial solution. Current measurement sensors and instrumentation have limitations that make their use context-specific, demanding a methodical evaluation of the field. A systematic review was carried out in March 2023. Studies reporting technologies and validation methods for intraoperative angular measurement of anatomical structures were analyzed. A total of 32 studies were included, 17 focused on image-based technologies (6 fluoroscopy, 4 camera-based tracking, and 7 CT-based), while 15 explored non-image-based technologies (6 manual instruments and 9 inertial sensor-based instruments). Image-based technologies offer better accuracy and 3D capabilities but pose challenges like additional equipment, increased radiation exposure, time, and cost. Non-image-based technologies are cost-effective but may be influenced by the surgeon's perception and require careful calibration. Nevertheless, the choice of the proper technology should take into consideration the influence of the expected error in the surgery, surgery type, and radiation dose limit. This comprehensive review serves as a valuable guide for surgeons seeking precise angle measurements intraoperatively. It not only explores the performance and application of existing technologies but also aids in the future development of innovative solutions.

Effects of landscape metrics on scorpion (Arachnida: Scorpiones) assemblage in a tropical urban ecosystem.

Urban landscapes restrain the distribution of forest-dwelling species, which may be related to challenging conditions that impair body condition. The dynamics in urban areas lead to the simplification of communities that inhabit forest patches in cities with the turnover of sensitive species for opportunistic ones. In this study, we investigated the effect of urbanization on the body condition and diversity of scorpions at the landscape scale. Sampling was carried out in 10 forest patches in an urban matrix in Brazil, originally covered by a tropical rainforest. The surroundings of the landscape of each forest patch were characterized through the amount of forest, agriculture, and urban land cover. Individual body length, dry, lipid, and muscular masses were used as proxies of Tityus pusillus body condition. In total, 147 scorpions were collected, belonging to the species Ananteris mauryi, T. pusillus, T. stigmurus, and T. neglectus. Forest cover explained 28% of species variation. There was a positive relationship between forest cover and T. pusillus and A. mauryi abundances, while T. stigmurus was negatively affected by forest cover. Species richness and total scorpion abundance were not influenced by landscape metrics. In terms of body condition, only females of T. pusillus were affected by landscape variables, with individuals showing higher body mass with an increase in forest cover. Our results suggest that urban forests can support scorpion assemblages. However, there is a turnover in specialist forest species for opportunistic species. Forest cover is a crucial factor in maintaining healthy scorpion populations in urban areas.

Exploring the impact of seasonal variations on the chemical composition, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory properties of Pogostemon heyneanus Benth. essential oil.

Background: Pogostemon heyneanus leaves infusions are relevant in ethnopharmacology for treating colds, coughs, headaches, and asthma. Purpose: The essential oil chemical composition of a Pogostemon heyneanus specimen was monthly monitored from October 2021 to July 2022 to evaluate the climatic influences on its yield and chemical composition and antinociceptive, andanti-inflammatory properties. Methods: The leaves, collected monthly over a 10-month period, were submitted to hydrodistillation. The oils obtained were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer and gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector. The P. heyneanus essential oil (PhEO) was tested in vivo to evaluate its peripheral analgesic actions through the abdominal writhing test induced by acetic acid, and peripheral analgesia by tail immersion. Neurogenic and inflammatory pain were evaluated by formalin test, and acute oral toxicity of the oil was also verified. Results: PhEO presented 27 chemical constituents with the highest predominance of patchoulol (43.6%-76.9%), α-bulnesene (0.2%-12.7%), α-guaiene (0.4%-8.9%), seychellene (3.8%-5.1%) and pogostol (0.0%-8.2%). The climatic parameters insolation, humidity, rainfall, and temperature did not influence the essential oil yield or the main chemical constituents, except for pogostol, which presented a strong (r = 0.73) and statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlation with temperature. PhEO did not display toxicity at the maximum 300 mg/kg dosage. The oil showed low peripheral and central analgesic action at 100 mg/kg, while in the neurogenic and inflammatory pain inhibition tests, no actions related to PhEO were observed. In the carrageenan-induced peritonitis test, PhEO did not reduce the migration of leukocytes to the peritoneal cavity compared to the control group. Conclusion: Pogostemon heyneanus is a resistant plant to seasonal influences and a source of patchoulol. Despite ethnopharmacological indications, no in-vivo biological activities such as neurogenic or inflammatory pain were identified in the present work. So, the low influence of the climatic parameters on chemical composition can infer that the low pharmacological activity is also not subject to climatic variations, that is, it does not change due to the climate.

A Magnetic Field-Based Wearable Respiration Sensor for Real-Time Monitoring During Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: This work explores Hall effect sensing paired with a permanent magnet, in the context of pulmonary rehabilitation exercise training. METHODS: Experimental evaluation was performed considering as reference the gold-standard of respiratory monitoring, an airflow transducer, and performance was compared to another wearable device with analogous usability - a piezoelectric sensor. A total of 16 healthy participants performed 15 activities, representative of pulmonary rehabilitation exercises, simultaneously using all devices. Evaluation was performed based on detection of flow reversal events and key respiratory parameters. RESULTS: Overall, the proposed sensor outperformed the piezoelectric sensor with a mean ratio, precision, and recall of 0.97, 0.97, and 0.95, respectively, against 0.98, 0.90, and 0.88. Evaluation regarding the respiratory parameters indicates an adequate accuracy when it comes to breath cycle, inspiration, and expiration times, with mean relative errors around 4% for breath cycle and 8% for inspiration/expiration times, despite some variability. Bland-Altman analysis indicates no systematic biases. CONCLUSION: Characterization of the proposed sensor shows adequate monitoring capabilities for exercises that do not rely heavily on torso mobility, but may present a limitation when it comes to activities such as side stretches. SIGNIFICANCE: This work provides a comprehensive characterization of a magnetic field-based respiration sensor, including a discussion on its robustness to different algorithm thresholds. It proves the viability of the sensor in a range of exercises, expanding the applicability of Hall effect sensors as a feasible wearable approach to real-time respiratory monitoring.

Insights on trends in the management of metrological analysis of devices in blood and transfusion medicine services: Verification based on their fitness for purpose and suitability for their respective applications.

In the field of blood and transfusion medicine, European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare recommends practices for metrological devices. Monitoring and measurement resources, as well as their permitted metrological limits, must be considered in this regard. We must understand variables such as metrological domains, the International System of Units, metrological traceability, and metrological requirements and controls in the field of transfusions in order to understand these metrological devices. An approach to metrological analysis and subsequent actions was constructed using flowcharts. As part of this methodology, a metrological device was selected, along with regulatory and normative requirements. A calibration and a test were conducted to demonstrate the application of the figure based on current recommendations. Current recommendations are consistent with the suggested ROC approach. The metrological devices must be verified based on their suitability for their respective applications (fitness-for-purpose).

Three-dimensional printed exoskeletons and orthoses for the upper limb-A systematic review.

This systematic review aims to assess and summarize the current landscape in exoskeletons and orthotic solutions developed for upper limb medical assistance, which are partly or fully produced using 3-dimensional printing technologies and contain at least the elbow or the shoulder joints. The initial search was conducted on Web of Science, PubMed, and IEEEXplore, resulting in 92 papers, which were reduced to 72 after removal of duplicates. From the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria and selection questionnaire, 33 papers were included in the review, being divided according to the analyzed joints. The analysis of the selected papers allowed for the identification of different solutions that vary in terms of their target application, actuation type, 3-dimensional printing techniques, and material selection, among others. The results show that there has been far more research on the elbow joint than on the shoulder joint, which can be explained by the relative complexity of the latter. Moreover, the findings of this study also indicate that there is still a gap between the research conducted on these devices and their practical use in real-world conditions. Based on current trends, it is anticipated that the future of 3-dimensional printed exoskeletons will revolve around the use of flexible and high-performance materials, coupled with actuated devices. These advances have the potential to replace the conventional fabrication methods of exoskeletons with technologies based on additive manufacturing.

A real-world dataset of group emotion experiences based on physiological data.

Affective computing has experienced substantial advancements in recognizing emotions through image and facial expression analysis. However, the incorporation of physiological data remains constrained. Emotion recognition with physiological data shows promising results in controlled experiments but lacks generalization to real-world settings. To address this, we present G-REx, a dataset for real-world affective computing. We collected physiological data (photoplethysmography and electrodermal activity) using a wrist-worn device during long-duration movie sessions. Emotion annotations were retrospectively performed on segments with elevated physiological responses. The dataset includes over 31 movie sessions, totaling 380 h+ of data from 190+ subjects. The data were collected in a group setting, which can give further context to emotion recognition systems. Our setup aims to be easily replicable in any real-life scenario, facilitating the collection of large datasets for novel affective computing systems.

Acting Emotions: a comprehensive dataset of elicited emotions.

Emotions encompass physiological systems that can be assessed through biosignals like electromyography and electrocardiography. Prior investigations in emotion recognition have primarily focused on general population samples, overlooking the specific context of theatre actors who possess exceptional abilities in conveying emotions to an audience, namely acting emotions. We conducted a study involving 11 professional actors to collect physiological data for acting emotions to investigate the correlation between biosignals and emotion expression. Our contribution is the DECEiVeR (DatasEt aCting Emotions Valence aRousal) dataset, a comprehensive collection of various physiological recordings meticulously curated to facilitate the recognition of a set of five emotions. Moreover, we conduct a preliminary analysis on modeling the recognition of acting emotions from raw, low- and mid-level temporal and spectral data and the reliability of physiological data across time. Our dataset aims to leverage a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between biosignals and emotional expression. It provides valuable insights into acting emotion recognition and affective computing by exposing the degree to which biosignals capture emotions elicited from inner stimuli.

Prevention of lipid droplet accumulation by DGAT1 inhibition ameliorates sepsis-induced liver injury and inflammation.

Background & Aims: Lipid droplet (LD) accumulation in cells and tissues is understood to be an evolutionarily conserved tissue tolerance mechanism to prevent lipotoxicity caused by excess lipids; however, the presence of excess LDs has been associated with numerous diseases. Sepsis triggers the reprogramming of lipid metabolism and LD accumulation in cells and tissues, including the liver. The functions and consequences of sepsis-triggered liver LD accumulation are not well known. Methods: Experimental sepsis was induced by CLP (caecal ligation and puncture) in mice. Markers of hepatic steatosis, liver injury, hepatic oxidative stress, and inflammation were analysed using a combination of functional, imaging, lipidomic, protein expression and immune-enzymatic assays. To prevent LD formation, mice were treated orally with A922500, a pharmacological inhibitor of DGAT1. Results: We identified that liver LD overload correlates with liver injury and sepsis severity. Moreover, the progression of steatosis from 24 h to 48 h post-CLP occurs in parallel with increased cytokine expression, inflammatory cell recruitment and oxidative stress. Lipidomic analysis of purified LDs demonstrated that sepsis leads LDs to harbour increased amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, mostly 18:1 and 18:2. An increased content of lipoperoxides within LDs was also observed. Conversely, the impairment of LD formation by inhibition of the DGAT1 enzyme reduces levels of hepatic inflammation and lipid peroxidation markers and ameliorates sepsis-induced liver injury. Conclusions: Our results indicate that sepsis triggers lipid metabolism alterations that culminate in increased liver LD accumulation. Increased LDs are associated with disease severity and liver injury. Moreover, inhibition of LD accumulation decreased the production of inflammatory mediators and lipid peroxidation while improving tissue function, suggesting that LDs contribute to the pathogenesis of liver injury triggered by sepsis. Impact and Implications: Sepsis is a complex life-threatening syndrome caused by dysregulated inflammatory and metabolic host responses to infection. The observation that lipid droplets may contribute to sepsis-associated organ injury by amplifying lipid peroxidation and inflammation provides a rationale for therapeutically targeting lipid droplets and lipid metabolism in sepsis.

Nutritional Knowledge about Maternal and Newborn Health among Physiotherapists during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Adequate nutrition before and during pregnancy, as well as postpartum, is among the major contributors to maternal and newborn health. Physiotherapists' knowledge of this area is still scarce, although their clinical practice has been linked to newborns' neuropsychomotor development, which, in turn, is influenced by maternal health and nutritional status. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the nutritional knowledge of physiotherapists regarding maternal and newborn health. A total of 70 Brazilian physiotherapists (32.2 ± 6.0 years; 72.9% females) were evaluated between November 2019 and February 2020 for their sociodemographic characteristics, professional experience, and nutritional knowledge about maternal and newborn health through a validated questionnaire personally administered by the same trained researcher. Most of the physiotherapists had graduated but had no specialization in maternal and child physiotherapy (96.1% of the females and all the males). The nutritional knowledge about maternal and newborn health was significantly different between the female and male health professionals, as well as between the less and more experienced participants, i.e., female physiotherapists and the more experienced ones had more correct answers on the nutritional questionnaire than the male and less experienced physiotherapists, respectively (p < 0.05). Our results open an interesting window for the future education and training of Brazilian physiotherapists in nutrition.

Hepatobiliary disease after bone marrow transplant: A cross-sectional study of 377 patients.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a standard treatment for several haematologic conditions. Following BMT, patients may develop hepatobiliary complications that impact morbidity and mortality. The differential diagnosis may include drug-induced liver injury (DILI), sepsis-associated liver injury (SALI), sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), viral hepatitis, ischaemic hepatitis, and fulminant hepatitis. AIMS: To evaluate the frequency, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients with hepatobiliary alterations associated with BMT in a tertiary referral centre. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with data collected from the medical records of patients undergoing BMT between January 2017 and June 2022. We diagnosed hepatobiliary complications based on established criteria. RESULTS: We included 377 patients; 55.7% had hepatobiliary complications. Female gender, pre-BMT hepatobiliary alteration, and haploidentical allogeneic transplantation were associated with increased risk with odds ratios (OR) of 1.8 (p = 0.005), 1.72 (p = 0.013) and 3.25 (p = 0.003), respectively. Patients with hepatobiliary complications spent longer in the hospital than those without (27.7 × 19.3 days, respectively; p < 0.001). Among 210 patients with hepatobiliary complications, 28 died compared to 5 of 167 without complications (OR 4.98; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatobiliary complications are frequent in patients undergoing BMT. There is a greater risk of their occurrence in women, people with pre-BMT liver alterations, and in haploidentical transplants. The occurrence of these complications increases the length of stay and is associated with a higher risk of death.

Práticas integrativas e complementares em saúde na atenção primária à saúde de mossoró ­ rn / Integrative and Complementary Health Practices in Primary Health Care in Mossoró ­RN / Prácticas Integradoras y Complementarias de Salud en Atención Primaria de la Salud en Mossoró ­RN

Introdução:As Práticas Integrativas e Complementares em Saúde integram práticas e saberes milenares aos conhecimentos biomédicos ocidentais atuais. Dentro do Sistema Único de Saúde, especificamentena Atenção Primária, o principal local de atuação das referidas práticasé nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde.Objetivo:Avaliaro uso destas práticas nas Unidades Básicas do município de Mossoró/Rio Grande do Norte.Metodologia:Realizou-se um estudo descritivo transversal com abordagem quantitativa com gerentes de Unidades Básicas de Saúdede Mossoró. Foram utilizadosdoisquestionários: um para avaliar o conhecimento dos gerentes das Unidades Básicas acerca daspráticas integrativase outro para avaliar o seu usoe processo deimplementação. Os dados foram coletados através da aplicação dequestionários de forma online por meio da ferramenta Google Forms.Resultados:Vinte e três gerentesque,no estudo totalizou um percentual de 48,9%,responderamos questionários. A maioria dos entrevistados demonstrouconhecimentos sobreas Práticas,dasquaispodemos citar como sendoas mais conhecidas:acupuntura, meditação e fitoterapia. Apenas 17,4% das Unidades Básicas de Saúdeofertamas mesmas, sendo a fitoterapia a principal. A aplicação destasé realizada, majoritariamente,por enfermeiros, sendo saúde mental e dores musculares as indicações mais comuns. A falha na tentativa de implantação destas práticasfoi atribuídaà falta de capacitação profissional e recursos, enquanto a sua interrupçãose deudevidoà escassez de material e à pandemia da COVID-19. Conclusões:Este estudo encontrou uma baixa prevalência nas referidas práticasna cidade deMossoró. Destaca-se a necessidade de qualificação e capacitação dos profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúdeem Práticas Integrativas e Complementares, bem como melhor gestão dos recursos para efetiva implementação no município, vistosua importância nos cuidados de saúde integral e prevenção de doenças (AU).

Introduction:Integrative and Complementary Health Practices integrate ancient practices and wisdom with current western biomedical knowledge. Within theUnified Health System, specifically in Primary Health Care, the main place where these practicesare applied is in Basic Health Units.Objective:To evaluate the use of these practicesin the Basic Units from the municipality of Mossoró/Rio Grande do Norte.Methodology:A cross-sectional and descriptive study with a quantitative approach was carried out with Basic Health Unit managers from Mossoró. Two questionnaires were used: one to assess the Basic Unit managers' knowledge aboutintegrative practices; and the other to evaluate their use and implementation process. The data were collected by applying questionnaires online using the Google Forms tool. Results:Twenty-three managers, who totaled a percentage of 48.9% in the study, answered the questionnaires. Most of the participants showed knowledge about the Practices, among which wecan mention the following as the best known: Acupuncture, Meditation and Herbal Medicine. Only 17.4% of the Basic Health Units offerthese practices, with Phytotherapy as the main one. Their application of these is mostly in charge of nurses, with mental health and muscle pain as the most common indications. Failure in the attempt to implement these practices was attributed to lack of professional training and resources, whereas their interruption was due to shortage of materials and to the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusions:This study found a low prevalence of these practicesin the city of Mossoró. The need for qualification and training of thePrimary Health Care professionals inIntegrative and Complementary Practicesis highlighted, as well as better management of resources for effective implementation in the municipality, given their importance in terms of comprehensive health care and disease prevention (AU).

Introducción: Las Prácticas Integradoras y Complementarias de Salud integran prácticas y saberes milenarios con conocimientos biomédicos occidentales actuales. En el ámbito del Sistema Único de Salud, específicamente en Atención Primaria, el principal lugar en el que seaplican estas prácticasson las Unidades Básicas de Salud. Objetivo: Evaluar el uso de estas prácticas en Unidades Básicas delmunicipio de Mossoró/Rio Grande do Norte. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal con enfoque cuantitativo con los gerentes de Unidades Básicas de Mossoró. Se utilizaron dos cuestionarios: uno para evaluar el conocimiento de los gerentesde Unidades Básicas sobre prácticas integradoras; y otro para evaluar su uso y proceso de implementación. Los datos se recopilaron aplicando los cuestionarios en línea a través de la herramienta Google Forms. Resultados: Veintitrésgerentesrespondieron los cuestionarios, que en el estudio sumaron un porcentaje del 48,9%. La mayoría de los entrevistados demostró conocimientos sobre las Prácticas, entre las que podemos mencionar como las más conocidas: Acupuntura, Meditación y Fitoterapia.Solo el 17,4% de las Unidades Básicas ofrecenestas prácticas, con Fitoterapia como la principal. En su mayoría, estas prácticas son aplicadas por enfermeras, con salud mental y dolores musculares como las indicaciones más habituales. El fracaso en el intento de implementar estas prácticas se atribuyó a falta de formación profesional y de recursos, mientras que su interrupción se debió a escasez de materiales y a la pandemia de COVID-19. Conclusiones: Este estudio detectóuna baja prevalencia de estas prácticas en la ciudad de Mossoró.Se destaca la necesidad de cualificación y formación de los profesionales de Atención Primaria de la Salud en Prácticas Integradorasy Complementarias, así como mejor gestión de los recursos para efectiva implementación en el municipio,dada su importancia para el cuidado de la salud integral y la prevención de enfermedades (AU).

The Effects of Stocking Density and Food Deprivation on Mucous Cells and Lysozyme Activity in the Skin and Gills of Silver Catfish.

This study aimed to identify the regions of the body surface of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) with a higher population of mucous cells in the skin. Additionally, the effects of stressful conditions, such as different stocking densities and food deprivation, on the proliferative response of mucous cells in the skin and gill epithelium and their impact on cutaneous mucous lysozyme activity were investigated. Silver catfish were divided into four experimental groups: high stocking density (32 kg/m3) and fed (HSD-F), high stocking density and fasted (HSD-FS), low stocking density (2.5 kg/m3) and fed (LSD-F), and low stocking density and fasted (LSD-FS). Fish in the fed groups received commercial feed twice a day, amounting to 1% of the tank biomass. After a 14-day experimental period, the fish were anesthetized and euthanized. Samples of cutaneous mucous and skin fragments from seven different points and the second left branchial arch were collected. Histological slides of the skin and gills were stained with PAS + Alcian Blue at pH 2.5, and the epidermal mucous lysozyme activity was assessed using the turbidimetric method. The ventral point in front of the ventral fin was found to be the optimal location for collecting cutaneous epithelia due to its higher density of mucous cells. The population of mucous cells in both the skin and gills varied based on the collection point and treatment applied. The highest lysozyme activity in the epidermal mucous was observed in fish from the HSD-F group. Overall, these findings suggest that stocking density and food deprivation create stressful conditions for silver catfish, which modulate their mucosal response to each situation.