Unveiling overlooked pathways: The uric acid catabolism genes in the human genome.

In hominids, including Homo sapiens, uric acid is the end product of purine catabolism. In contrast, other placental mammals further degrade uric acid to (S)-allantoin by enzymes such as urate oxidase (uricase), HIU hydrolase (HIUase), and OHCU decarboxylase. Some organisms, such as frogs and fish, hydrolyze (S)-allantoin to allantoate and eventually to (S)-ureidoglycolate and urea, while marine invertebrates convert urea to ammonium. In H. sapiens, mutations in the uricase gene led to a reduction in the selective pressure for maintaining the integrity of the genes encoding the other enzymes of the purine catabolism pathway, resulting in an accumulation of uric acid. The hyperuricemia resulting from this accumulation is associated with gout, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and preeclampsia. Many commonly used drugs, such as aspirin, can also increase uric acid levels. Despite the apparent absence of these enzymes in H. sapiens, there appears to be production of transcripts for uricase (UOX), HIUase (URAHP), OHCU decarboxylase (URAD), and allantoicase (ALLC). While some URAHP transcripts are classified as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), URAD and ALLC produce protein-coding transcripts. Given the presence of these transcripts in various tissues, we hypothesized that they may play a role in the regulation of purine catabolism and the pathogenesis of diseases associated with hyperuricemia. Here, we specifically investigate the unique aspects of purine catabolism in H. sapiens, the effects mutations of the uricase gene, and the potential regulatory role of the corresponding transcripts. These findings open new avenues for research and therapeutic approaches for the treatment of hyperuricemia and related diseases.

Soybean molasses increases subcutaneous fat deposition while reducing lipid oxidation in the meat of castrated lambs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of including soybean molasses (SM) on performance, blood parameters, carcass traits, meat quality, fatty acid, and muscle (longissimus thoracis) transcriptomic profiles of castrated lambs. Twenty Dorper × Santa Inês lambs (20.06 ±â€…0.76 kg body weight [BW]) were assigned to a randomized block design, stratified by BW, with the following treatments: CON: 0 g/kg of SM and SM20: 200 g/kg of SM on dry matter basis, allocated in individual pens. The diet consisted of 840 g/kg concentrate and 160 g/kg corn silage for 76 d, with the first 12 d as an adaptation period and the remaining 64 d on the finishing diet. The SM20 diet increased blood urea concentration (P = 0.03) while reduced glucose concentration (P = 0.04). Lambs fed SM showed higher subcutaneous fat deposition (P = 0.04) and higher subcutaneous adipocyte diameter (P < 0.01), in addition to reduced meat lipid oxidation (P < 0.01). SM reduced the quantity of branched-chain fatty acids in longissimus thoracis (P = 0.05) and increased the quantity of saturated fatty acids (P = 0.01). In the transcriptomic analysis, 294 genes were identified as differentially expressed, which belong to pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation, citric acid cycle, and monosaccharide metabolic process. In conclusion, diet with SM increased carcass fat deposition, reduced lipid oxidation, and changed the energy metabolism, supporting its use in ruminant nutrition.

This study investigated the effects of incorporating soybean molasses (SM) into the diet of castrated lambs on various aspects of their performance and meat quality. Twenty lambs were divided into two groups: one was fed a control diet without SM whereas the other was fed a similar diet but containing 20% of SM. The feeding trial lasted for 76 d. Results showed that the SM inclusion in the diet led to increased blood urea levels and decreased glucose concentrations. SM inclusion also resulted in lambs with higher levels of subcutaneous fat and larger adipocytes, while reducing meat lipid oxidation. Moreover, SM altered fatty acid composition in the meat, decreasing branched-chain fatty acids and increasing saturated fatty acids. In agreement with these findings, transcriptomic analysis revealed a significant change in the expression of genes related to energy metabolism in the muscle of lambs fed SM. In conclusion, incorporating SM in lamb's diet increased fat deposition, improved meat quality, and induced a transcriptomic change in the muscle energy metabolism, supporting its potential use in ruminant nutrition.

Impact of maternal depressive symptoms on offspring executive functions: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to thoroughly examine the current understanding of the effect of maternal depression exposure on the executive functions of offspring. METHODS: Following the PRISMA statement, a comprehensive search for peer-reviewed cohort studies was performed on Pubmed, ScienceDirect, LILACS, PsychINFO, and SciELO. Study quality was assessed using the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-sectional studies. The evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. RESULTS: This review analyzed 33 cohort studies from different countries with a total of 38,981 participants. Twenty-four studies confirmed the hypothesis of the harmful effect of maternal depressive symptoms on the performance of children's executive functions. However, a high heterogeneity among studies was found, and meta-analysis was not feasible. Fetal programming, genetics, and parental practices have been identified as potential mechanisms that can affect the executive functions of children born to mothers who have experienced depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a negative association between maternal depressive symptoms and offspring executive functioning. Further studies on the effects of chronicity/severity of maternal symptoms and changes in executive functions in different sensitive periods are needed.

Maternal depression and offspring mental health at age 5: MINA-Brazil cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify longitudinal patterns of maternal depression between three months and five years after child's birth, to examine predictor variables for these trajectories, and to evaluate whether distinct depression trajectories predict offspring mental health problems at age 5 years. METHODS: We used data from the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre (MINA-Brazil) study, a population-based birth cohort in the Western Brazilian Amazon. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 3 and 6-8 months, and 1 and 2 years after delivery. Mental health problems in 5-year-old children were evaluated with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) reported by parents. Trajectories of maternal depression were calculated using a group-based modelling approach. RESULTS: We identified four trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms: "low" (67.1%), "increasing" (11.5%), "decreasing" (17.4%), and "high-chronic" (4.0%). Women in the "high/chronic" trajectory were the poorest, least educated, and oldest compared with women in the other trajectory groups. Also, they were more frequently multiparous and reported smoking and having attended fewer prenatal consultations during pregnancy. In the adjusted analyses, the odds ratio of any SDQ disorder was 3.23 (95%CI: 2.00-5.22) and 2.87 (95%CI: 1.09-7.57) times higher among children of mothers belonging to the "increasing" and "high-chronic" trajectory groups, respectively, compared with those of mothers in the "low" depressive symptoms group. These differences were not explained by maternal and child characteristics included in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: We identified poorer mental health outcomes for children of mothers assigned to the "chronic/severe" and "increasing" depressive symptoms trajectories. Prevention and treatment initiatives to avoid the adverse short, medium, and long-term effects of maternal depression on offspring development should focus on women belonging to these groups.

Twenty-first-century demographic and social inequalities of heat-related deaths in Brazilian urban areas.

Population exposure to heat waves (HWs) is increasing worldwide due to climate change, significantly affecting society, including public health. Despite its significant vulnerabilities and limited adaptation resources to rising temperatures, South America, particularly Brazil, lacks research on the health impacts of temperature extremes, especially on the role played by socioeconomic factors in the risk of heat-related illness. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the effects of HWs on mortality rates in the 14 most populous urban areas, comprising approximately 35% of the country's population. Excess mortality during HWs was estimated through the observed-to-expected ratio (O/E) for total deaths during the events identified. Moreover, the interplay of intersectionality and vulnerability to heat considering demographics and socioeconomic heterogeneities, using gender, age, race, and educational level as proxies, as well as the leading causes of heat-related excess death, were assessed. A significant increase in the frequency was observed from the 1970s (0-3 HWs year-1) to the 2010s (3-11 HWs year-1), with higher tendencies in the northern, northeastern, and central-western regions. Over the 2000-2018 period, 48,075 (40,448-55,279) excessive deaths were attributed to the growing number of HWs (>20 times the number of landslides-related deaths for the same period). Nevertheless, our event-based surveillance analysis did not detect the HW-mortality nexus, reinforcing that extreme heat events are a neglected disaster in Brazil. Among the leading causes of death, diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems and neoplasms were the most frequent. Critical regional differences were observed, which can be linked to the sharp North-South inequalities in terms of socioeconomic and health indicators, such as life expectancy. Higher heat-related excess mortality was observed for low-educational level people, blacks and browns, older adults, and females. Such findings highlight that the strengthening of primary health care combined with reducing socioeconomic, racial, and gender inequalities represents a crucial step to reducing heat-related deaths.

Risk factors for executive function impairment in adolescence: an analysis of data from the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort study

Objective: To investigate risk factors associated with impaired attention-related executive functions (EFs) at age 11 and working memory at age 15. Methods: Data from participants of the population-based 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort at ages 11 (n=3,582) and 15 (n=1,950) were analyzed. The study measured attentional control, cognitive flexibility, and selective attention using the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch). Spatial working memory was assessed by the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Logistic regression was employed to explore the relationship between perinatal and childhood exposures and EF impairment. Results: Low maternal education had a significant negative impact on EFs. At age 11, it was associated with decreased attentional control (OR = 3.04; 95%CI 2.09-4.43), and at age 15, it was linked to impaired spatial working memory (OR = 2.21; 95%CI 1.58-3.09). Additional risk factors included low household income, black or brown maternal skin color, high parity, prematurity, low birth weight, and multiple siblings. Breastfeeding, regardless of duration, was found to be a protective factor against impaired cognitive flexibility (OR = 0.38; 95%CI 0.22-0.65). Conclusion: This study underscores the lasting impact of perinatal exposures on EF development. Policies that mitigate the negative effects of risk factors and promote EF development, especially among vulnerable populations, are needed.

Sporothrix brasiliensis Infection Modulates Antimicrobial Peptides and Stress Management Gene Expression in the Invertebrate Biomodel Galleria mellonella.

Sporothrix brasiliensis is the most pathogenic species, responsible for the Brazilian cat-transmitted sporotrichosis hyperendemic. In this scenario, an investigation of the pathogen-host interaction can provide relevant information for future treatment strategies. To this end, the invertebrate Galleria mellonella has proven to be a suitable alternative for evaluating the virulence of pathogenic fungi, since the insect immune system is similar to the mammalian innate immune response. The aim of this work was to investigate phenotypic and molecular aspects of the immune response of G. mellonella throughout the S. brasiliensis infection. Hemocyte density and the evolution of the fungal load were evaluated. In parallel, RT-qPCR expression analysis of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides (Gallerimycin and Galiomycin) and stress management genes (C7 Contig 15362 and C8 Contig 19101) was conducted. The fungal load and hemocyte densities increased simultaneously and proportionally to the deleterious morphological events and larvae mortality. Gallerimycin, C7 Contig 15362 and C8 Contig 19101 genes were positively regulated (p < 0.05) at distinct moments of S. brasiliensis infection, characterizing a time-dependent and alternately modulated profile. Galiomycin gene expression remained unchanged. Our results contribute to the future proposal of potential alternative pathways for treating and consequently controlling S. brasiliensis zoonosis, a major public health issue in Latin America.

Risk factors for executive function impairment in adolescence: an analysis of data from the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate risk factors associated with impaired attention-related executive functions (EFs) at age 11 and working memory at age 15. METHODS: Data from participants of the population-based 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort at ages 11 (n=3,582) and 15 (n=1,950) were analyzed. The study measured attentional control, cognitive flexibility, and selective attention using the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch). Spatial working memory was assessed by the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Logistic regression was employed to explore the relationship between perinatal and childhood exposures and EF impairment. RESULTS: Low maternal education had a significant negative impact on EFs. At age 11, it was associated with decreased attentional control (OR = 3.04; 95%CI 2.09-4.43), and at age 15, it was linked to impaired spatial working memory (OR = 2.21; 95%CI 1.58-3.09). Additional risk factors included low household income, black or brown maternal skin color, high parity, prematurity, low birth weight, and multiple siblings. Breastfeeding, regardless of duration, was found to be a protective factor against impaired cognitive flexibility (OR = 0.38; 95%CI 0.22-0.65). CONCLUSION: This study underscores the lasting impact of perinatal exposures on EF development. Policies that mitigate the negative effects of risk factors and promote EF development, especially among vulnerable populations, are needed.

Hepatic damage caused by flaviviruses: A systematic review.

Flaviviruses infect arthropods and mammals and their pathologies are a considerable global health problem, affecting about 400 million people per year. The symptoms of these flaviviruses range from mild manifestations such as nausea, vomiting, and headache to more serious cases such as hemorrhage, meningitis, microcephaly, kidney, and liver failure. This review aims to compile the morphological changes that occur due to infections caused by dengue, yellow fever, and Zika viruses, as well as to describe possible mechanisms of action of such flaviviruses in the liver. PRISMA guidelines were used to search for studies associating flavivirus with liver disorders. Two independent reviewers selected the studies on PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus search platforms. The SYRCLE software was used for the evaluation of the study's quality. Eighteen experimental articles were included. The experimental animals often used in experiments were monkeys (5 %), hamsters (10 %), chicken embryos (10 %), and mice (75 %). It is evident that there is a strong hepatic interaction with flaviviruses, and the main hepatic alterations found were steatosis, apoptosis, necrosis, hemorrhage, elevation of ALT and AST levels, and total bilirubin. Flavivirus infection, in general, trigger an upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to structural changes in mitochondria that activate cascades of cellular death and promote insulin resistance. The majority of the studies primarily focus on dengue and yellow fever viruses, while the findings related to Zika virus exposure are still relatively limited and require further investigation.

New weapons against the disease vector Aedes aegypti: From natural products to nanoparticles.

Despite the global burden of viral diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti, there is a lack of effective means of prevention and treatment. Strategies for vector control include chemical and biological approaches such as organophosphates and Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti), among others. However, important concerns are associated, such as resistance in mosquito larvae and deleterious effects on non-target organisms. In this scenario, novel approaches against A. aegypti have been investigated, including natural products (e.g. vegetable oil and extracts) and nanostructured systems. This review focuses on potential strategies for fighting A. aegypti, highlighting plant-based materials and nanomaterials able to induce toxic effects on egg, larva, pupa and adult mosquitoes. Issues including aspects of conventional vector control strategies are presented, and finally new insights on development of eco-friendly nanoformulations against A. aegypti are discussed.

Association between Endometriosis and Risk of Preeclampsia in Women Who Conceived Spontaneously: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between endometriosis and the risk of preeclampsia and other maternal outcomes in spontaneously conceived women. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were systemically searched for studies published from inception to November 2021 (CRD42020198741). Observational studies published in English or French that investigated the risk of preeclampsia in women with endometriosis who conceived spontaneously were included. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: A total of 610 articles were reviewed once duplicates were removed. Inclusion criteria included spontaneous conception and surgical and/or imaging ascertainment of an endometriosis diagnosis. Exclusion criteria included conception using assisted reproductive technologies, multiple pregnancies, chronic hypertension, and unclear diagnoses of endometriosis. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Data of selected studies were extracted, and analysis was performed on Review Manager, version 5.4. Quality assessment of included studies for potential risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. Three cohort studies of spontaneous pregnancies were included. Endometriosis was associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia (risk ratio [RR] = 1.47, 95% CI 1.13 -1.89, p = .003; I2 = 0%; n = 3 studies). A sensitivity analysis excluding a study with adenomyosis cases yielded similar risk (RR = 1.44; 95% CI, 1.11-1.87; p = .006; I2 = 0%; n = 2 studies). Having endometriosis did not significantly increase risk of cesarean delivery (RR = 1.38; 95% CI, 0.99-1.92; p = .06; I2 = 80%; n = 2 studies) or postpartum hemorrhage (RR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.46-2.91; p = .76; I2 = 50%; n = 2 studies). CONCLUSION: We detected an increased risk of preeclampsia in women with endometriosis who conceived spontaneously. Endometriosis did not seem to increase the risk of cesarean delivery and postpartum hemorrhage, but the number of studies was limited, and the heterogeneity was high.

Maternal depression and offspring mental health at age 5: MINA-Brazil cohort study / Depressão materna e saúde mental infantil aos cinco anos de idade: Estudo de coorte MINA-Brasil

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To identify longitudinal patterns of maternal depression between three months and five years after child's birth, to examine predictor variables for these trajectories, and to evaluate whether distinct depression trajectories predict offspring mental health problems at age 5 years. METHODS: We used data from the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre (MINA-Brazil) study, a population-based birth cohort in the Western Brazilian Amazon. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 3 and 6-8 months, and 1 and 2 years after delivery. Mental health problems in 5-year-old children were evaluated with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) reported by parents. Trajectories of maternal depression were calculated using a group-based modelling approach. RESULTS: We identified four trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms: "low" (67.1%), "increasing" (11.5%), "decreasing" (17.4%), and "high-chronic" (4.0%). Women in the "high/chronic" trajectory were the poorest, least educated, and oldest compared with women in the other trajectory groups. Also, they were more frequently multiparous and reported smoking and having attended fewer prenatal consultations during pregnancy. In the adjusted analyses, the odds ratio of any SDQ disorder was 3.23 (95%CI: 2.00-5.22) and 2.87 (95%CI: 1.09-7.57) times higher among children of mothers belonging to the "increasing" and "high-chronic" trajectory groups, respectively, compared with those of mothers in the "low" depressive symptoms group. These differences were not explained by maternal and child characteristics included in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: We identified poorer mental health outcomes for children of mothers assigned to the "chronic/severe" and "increasing" depressive symptoms trajectories. Prevention and treatment initiatives to avoid the adverse short, medium, and long-term effects of maternal depression on offspring development should focus on women belonging to these groups.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Identificar padrões longitudinais de depressão materna entre três meses e cinco anos após o nascimento de seus filhos, analisar variáveis preditoras dessas trajetórias e avaliar se trajetórias distintas de depressão predizem problemas de saúde mental infantil aos cinco anos de idade. MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se dados do estudo sobre saúde e nutrição materno infantil no Acre (MINA-Brasil), uma coorte de nascimentos de base populacional na Amazônia ocidental brasileira. Os sintomas depressivos maternos foram avaliados pela Escala de Depressão Pós-parto de Edimburgo (EPDS) aos 3 e 6-8 meses e 1 e 2 anos após o parto. Problemas de saúde mental em crianças com cinco anos de idade foram avaliados pelo Questionário de Capacidades e Dificuldades (SDQ- Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), respondido pelos pais. As trajetórias de depressão materna foram calculadas usando uma abordagem de modelagem baseada em grupos. RESULTADOS: Foram identificadas quatro trajetórias de sintomas depressivos maternos: "baixa" (67,1%), "crescente" (11,5%), "decrescente" (17,4%) e "alta-crônica" (4,0%). As mulheres na trajetória "alta/crônica" eram mais pobres, menos escolarizadas, mais velhas e multíparas e relataram tabagismo com maior frequência e menor número de consultas de pré-natal durante a gestação do que as demais. Nas análises ajustadas, a razão de chances de qualquer transtorno do SDQ foi 3,23 (IC95%:2,00-5,22) e 2,87 (IC95%: 1,09-7,57) vezes maior entre os filhos de mães nos grupos de trajetória "crescente" e "alta-crônica", respectivamente, do que de mães do grupo de sintomas depressivos "baixos". As características maternas e infantis incluídas nas análises multivariadas foram incapazes de explicar essas diferenças. CONCLUSÕES: Identificou-se piores desfechos de saúde mental para filhos de mães atribuídas às trajetórias "crônica/grave" e "crescente" de sintomas depressivos. Iniciativas de prevenção e tratamento para evitar os efeitos adversos a curto, médio e longo prazo da depressão materna sobre o desenvolvimento de seus filhos devem se concentrar principalmente nas mulheres nesses grupos.

Oestrogen enforces the integrity of blood vessels in the bone during pregnancy and menopause.

The mammalian skeletal system shows sex differences in structure, functions, ageing and disease incidences. The role of blood vessels in physiological, regenerative and pathological bone functions indicates the requisite to understanding their sex specificity. Here, we find oestrogen regulates blood vessel physiology during pregnancy and menopause through oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and G-protein coupled oestrogen receptor-1 (Gper1) but not ERß-dependent signalling in mice. Oestrogen regulates BECs' lipid use and promotes lipolysis of adipocytes and FA uptake from the microenvironment. Low oestrogen conditions skew endothelial FA metabolism to accumulate lipid peroxides (LPO), leading to vascular ageing. High ferrous ion levels in female BECs intensify LPO accumulation and accelerate the ageing process. Importantly, inhibiting LPO generation using liproxstatin-1 in aged mice significantly improved bone heath. Thus, our findings illustrate oestrogen's effects on BECs and suggest LPO targeting could be an efficient strategy to manage blood and bone health in females.

Antimicrobial peptides could antagonize uncontrolled inflammation via Toll-like 4 receptor.

Antimicrobial peptides are part of the organism's defense system. They are multifunctional molecules capable of modulating the host's immune system and recognizing molecules present in pathogens such as lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). LPSs are recognized by molecular patterns associated with pathogens known as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that protect the organism from pathological microorganisms. TLR4 is responsible for LPS recognition, thus inducing an innate immune response. TLR4 hyperstimulation induces the uncontrolled inflammatory process that is observed in many illnesses, including neurodegenerative, autoimmune and psoriasis). Molecules that act on TLR4 can antagonize the exacerbated inflammatory process. In this context, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising molecules capable of mediating toll-like receptor signaling. Therefore, here we address the AMPs studied so far with the aim of inhibiting the intense inflammatory process. In addition, we aim to explore some of the interactions between exogenous AMPs and TLR4.

Drought-heatwave nexus in Brazil and related impacts on health and fires: A comprehensive review.

Climate change is drastically altering the frequency, duration, and severity of compound drought-heatwave (CDHW) episodes, which present a new challenge in environmental and socioeconomic sectors. These threats are of particular importance in low-income regions with growing populations, fragile infrastructure, and threatened ecosystems. This review synthesizes emerging progress in the understanding of CDHW patterns in Brazil while providing insights about the impacts on fire occurrence and public health. Evidence is mounting that heatwaves are becoming increasingly linked with droughts in northeastern and southeastern Brazil, the Amazonia, and the Pantanal. In those regions, recent studies have begun to build a better understanding of the physical mechanisms behind CDHW events, such as the soil moisture-atmosphere coupling, promoted by exceptional atmospheric blocking conditions. Results hint at a synergy between CDHW events and high fire activity in the country over the last decades, with the most recent example being the catastrophic 2020 fires in the Pantanal. Moreover, we show that HWs were responsible for increasing mortality and preterm births during record-breaking droughts in southeastern Brazil. This work paves the way for a more in-depth understanding on CDHW events and their impacts, which is crucial to enhance the adaptive capacity of different Brazilian sectors.

Cultura de Segurança do Paciente Oncológico na Perspectiva da Equipe Multiprofissional / Oncological Patient Safety Culture from the Perspective of the Multidisciplinary / Team Cultura de Seguridad del Paciente Oncológico desde la Perspectiva del Equipo Multiprofesional

Introdução: A cultura de segurança origina-se da cultura organizacional, sendo descrita como o conjunto de percepções, competências, atitudes e valores, tanto individuais quanto coletivas, em prol de uma organização comprometida com a gestão da segurança do paciente. Em cenários como complexos oncológicos/Unidade de Alta Complexidade em Oncologia (Unacon), onde os pacientes estão mais vulneráveis e a rotina diária da equipe multiprofissional é fundamentada por vários processos de trabalho, é necessário que seja avaliada a cultura de segurança em busca de pontos a serem aperfeiçoados. Objetivo: Analisar a cultura de segurança do paciente em um complexo oncológico na perspectiva da equipe multiprofissional. Método: Estudo descritivo-exploratório, de natureza quantitativa, do tipo transversal, desenvolvido em um complexo oncológico no Sul do Brasil, com 46 profissionais da equipe multiprofissional. Os dados foram coletados entre julho e setembro de 2021, por meio da aplicação do questionário Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC). Na análise e interpretação de dados, foram seguidas as orientações da Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Resultados: Os dados obtidos demonstraram maior frequência de positividade para "trabalho em equipe da unidade" (61,9%) e "expectativas e ações do supervisor/chefe para a promoção da segurança do paciente" (60,9%). Conclusão: Os resultados indicam que a cultura de segurança precisa ser fortalecida no local do estudo nas 12 dimensões avaliadas, com especial atenção àquelas dimensões com avaliação com menor taxa de positividade

Introduction: The safety culture originates from the organizational culture, being described as the set of perceptions, skills, attitudes and values, both individual and collective, in favor of an organization committed to the management of patient safety. In scenarios such as oncology compounds/ High Complexity Oncology Clinics (Unacon), where patients are more vulnerable and the daily routine of the multidisciplinary team is based on various work processes, it is necessary to evaluate the safety culture to detect aspects that need to be improved. Objective: Analyze the patient safety culture in an oncology compound from the perspective of the multidisciplinary team. Method: Descriptive-exploratory, quantitative, cross-sectional study developed in an oncological compound in Brazil's Southern, with 46 professionals from the multidisciplinary team. Data were collected between July and September 2021, through the application of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture questionnaire. The guidelines of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality were followed to analyze and interpret the data. Results: The data obtained showed higher frequency of positivity for "teamwork at the compound" (61.9%) and "expectations and actions of the supervisor/chief to promote the patient safety" (60.9%). Conclusion: The results indicate that the safety culture needs to be strengthened at the study site in the 12 dimensions evaluated, with special attention to those with the lowest rate of positivity

Introducción: La cultura de seguridad se origina en la cultura organizacional, describiéndose como el conjunto de percepciones, habilidades, actitudes y valores, tanto individuales como colectivos, a favor de una organización comprometida con la gestión de la seguridad del paciente. En escenarios como los complejos oncológicos/Unidad de Oncología de Alta Complejidad (Unacon), donde los pacientes son más vulnerables y la rutina diaria del equipo multidisciplinario se basa en varios procesos de trabajo, es necesario evaluar la cultura de seguridad en busca de puntos a mejorar. Objetivo: Analizar la cultura de seguridad del paciente en un complejo oncológico desde la perspectiva del equipo multidisciplinario. Método: Estudio descriptivo-exploratorio de carácter cuantitativo, transversal, desarrollado en un complejo oncológico del Sur de Brasil, con 46 profesionales del equipo multidisciplinario. Los datos se recopilaron entre julio y septiembre de 2021, mediante la aplicación del cuestionario Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC). En el análisis e interpretación de los datos, se siguieron las directrices de la Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Resultados: Los datos obtenidos mostraron una mayor frecuencia de positividad para "trabajo en equipo de la unidad" (61,9%) y "expectativas y acciones del supervisor/jefe para la promoción de la seguridad del paciente" (60,9%). Conclusión: Los resultados indican que es necesario fortalecer la cultura de seguridad en el sitio de estudio en las 12 dimensiones evaluadas, con especial atención a aquellas dimensiones con menor índice de positividad

Distance sampling surveys reveal 17 million vertebrates directly killed by the 2020's wildfires in the Pantanal, Brazil.

Anthropogenic factors have significantly influenced the frequency, duration, and intensity of meteorological drought in many regions of the globe, and the increased frequency of wildfires is among the most visible consequences of human-induced climate change. Despite the fire role in determining biodiversity outcomes in different ecosystems, wildfires can cause negative impacts on wildlife. We conducted ground surveys along line transects to estimate the first-order impact of the 2020 wildfires on vertebrates in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil. We adopted the distance sampling technique to estimate the densities and the number of dead vertebrates in the 39,030 square kilometers affected by fire. Our estimates indicate that at least 16.952 million vertebrates were killed immediately by the fires in the Pantanal, demonstrating the impact of such an event in wet savanna ecosystems. The Pantanal case also reminds us that the cumulative impact of widespread burning would be catastrophic, as fire recurrence may lead to the impoverishment of ecosystems and the disruption of their functioning. To overcome this unsustainable scenario, it is necessary to establish proper biomass fuel management to avoid cumulative impacts caused by fire over biodiversity and ecosystem services.

A guide for the use of fNIRS in microcephaly associated to congenital Zika virus infection.

Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) is characterized by changes in cranial morphology associated with heterogeneous neurological manifestations and cognitive and behavioral impairments. In this syndrome, longitudinal neuroimaging could help clinicians to predict developmental trajectories of children and tailor treatment plans accordingly. However, regularly acquiring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has several shortcomings besides cost, particularly those associated with childrens' clinical presentation as sensitivity to environmental stimuli. The indirect monitoring of local neural activity by non-invasive functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technique can be a useful alternative for longitudinally accessing the brain function in children with CZS. In order to provide a common framework for advancing longitudinal neuroimaging assessment, we propose a principled guideline for fNIRS acquisition and analyses in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Based on our experience on collecting fNIRS data in children with CZS we emphasize the methodological challenges, such as clinical characteristics of the sample, desensitization, movement artifacts and environment control, as well as suggestions for tackling such challenges. Finally, metrics based on fNIRS can be associated with established clinical metrics, thereby opening possibilities for exploring this tool as a long-term predictor when assessing the effectiveness of treatments aimed at children with severe neurodevelopmental disorders.

Putting fire on the map of Brazilian savanna ecoregions.

The Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) is considered the most floristically diverse savanna in the world, home to more than seven thousand species. The region is a mosaic of savannas, grasslands and forests whose unique biophysical and landscape attributes are on the basis of a recent ecoregional map, paving the way to improved region-based strategies for land management actions. However, as a fire-prone ecosystem, Cerrado owes much of its distribution and ecological properties to the fire regime and contributes to an important parcel of South America burned area. Accordingly, any attempt to use ecoregion geography as a guide for management strategies should take fire into account, as an essential variable. The main aim of this study is to complement the ecoregional map of the Cerrado with information related to the fire component. Using remotely sensed information, we identify patterns and trends of fire frequency, intensity, seasonality, extent and scar size, and combine this information for each ecoregion, relying on a simple classification that summarizes the main fire characteristics over the last two decades. Results show a marked north-south fire activity gradient, with increased contributions from MATOPIBA, the latest agricultural frontier. Five ecoregions alone account for two thirds of yearly burned area. More intense fires are found in the Arc of Deforestation and eastern ecoregions, while ecoregions in MATOPIBA display decreasing fire intensity. An innovative analysis of fire scars stratified by size class shows that infrequent large fires are responsible for the majority of burned area. These large fires display positive trends over many ecoregions, whereas smaller fires, albeit more frequent, have been decreasing in number. The final fire classification scheme shows well defined spatially-aggregated groups, where trends are found to be the key factor to evaluate fire within their regional contexts. Results presented here provide new insights to improve fire management strategies under a changing climate.