Nurses' workload during the COVID-19 pandemic: potential for experiences of moral distress.

OBJECTIVES: to understand nurses' experiences of moral distress related to work overload during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. METHODS: qualitative research, whose data collection occurred through individual interviews with 19 nurses who worked on the front line of COVID-19 in health services in southeastern Brazil. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: work overload proved to be a powerful source of experiences of moral distress due to excessive working hours during vaccination, double working hours, a troubled relationship due to pressure from managers and the population and physical and mental exhaustion, which prevented nurses from act according to their judgment. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: nurses' work overload reflects on quality patient care and prevents nurses from acting in accordance with their moral principles, generating moral distress in nurses.

Comparison of Cryotherapy Performed With Ice or Gel and Superficial Skin Cooling of Older Women: A Randomized, Crossover, Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cryotherapy is an affordable and popular treatment of soft tissue injuries, which can reduce inflammation and pain. Studies have specifically addressed young adults and athletes, and these findings have been extended to older adults in clinical practice. Aging is associated with changes in the skin, including collagen degradation, decreased fat layer thickness, and reduced blood flow, which can alter the skin response to stress. Because of age-related changes, there are concerns about the direct use of ice on the skin of older individuals. Skin injuries were also observed after cryotherapy. This study aimed to assess the most effective and safe cryotherapy for superficial skin cooling among older women. METHODS: Eighteen older women were enrolled in this blinded, randomized, crossover, clinical trial. The mean values (SD) of their age, height, and weight were 70.0 years (6.0), 156.0 cm (9.1), and 72.8 kg (19.5), respectively. The participants underwent cryotherapy using bagged ice, bagged ice plus a wet towel, or gel pack for 20 minutes. The surface temperature of the skin was measured at the end of a 20-minute cryotherapy session using an infrared thermometer. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted to analyze the effect of cryotherapy modalities and time, as well as the interaction between these 2 factors. The secondary outcome was the presence of cryotherapy-induced lesions. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Cryotherapy modalities had significant effects on superficial skin temperature (P = .001). Time points after application also had an effect (P = .0001), and no interaction was observed between cryotherapy modalities and time points (P = .051). Bonferroni post hoc evaluation showed that bagged ice (P = .008) and gel (P = .007) were more effective in decreasing the superficial skin temperature than bagged ice plus wet towel. No difference was observed between bagged ice and gel (P = .32). Three of the 18 patients experienced adverse effects with the gel pack. CONCLUSION: This study of older women found that ice and gel cooled the skin more effectively than ice wrapped in towels. However, the gel pack had some adverse effects. Therefore, bagged ice is recommended for cryotherapy in older women.

Nurses' workload during the COVID-19 pandemic: potential for experiences of moral distress / Carga de trabajo de las enfermeras durante la pandemia de COVID-19: potencial para experiencias de sufrimiento moral / Sobrecarga de trabalho de enfermeiros na pandemia de COVID-19: potência para vivências de sofrimento moral

ABSTRACT Objectives: to understand nurses' experiences of moral distress related to work overload during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Methods: qualitative research, whose data collection occurred through individual interviews with 19 nurses who worked on the front line of COVID-19 in health services in southeastern Brazil. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results: work overload proved to be a powerful source of experiences of moral distress due to excessive working hours during vaccination, double working hours, a troubled relationship due to pressure from managers and the population and physical and mental exhaustion, which prevented nurses from act according to their judgment. Final Considerations: nurses' work overload reflects on quality patient care and prevents nurses from acting in accordance with their moral principles, generating moral distress in nurses.

RESUMEN Objetivos: comprender las experiencias de angustia moral de los enfermeros relacionadas con la sobrecarga de trabajo durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en Brasil. Métodos: investigación cualitativa, cuya recolección de datos ocurrió a través de entrevistas individuales con 19 enfermeros que actuaron en la primera línea de COVID-19 en servicios de salud de la región Sudeste de Brasil. Los datos fueron analizados mediante análisis de contenido temático. Resultados: la sobrecarga de trabajo resultó ser una poderosa fuente de experiencias de sufrimiento moral por exceso de jornada durante la vacunación, doble jornada laboral, relaciones conflictivas por presiones de los directivos y la población y agotamiento físico y mental, lo que impidió al enfermero actuar según su criterio. Consideraciones Finales: la sobrecarga de trabajo de las enfermeras se refleja en la calidad de la atención al paciente e impide que las enfermeras actúen de acuerdo con sus principios morales, generando sufrimiento moral en las enfermeras.

RESUMO Objetivos: compreender vivências de sofrimento moral de enfermeiros relacionadas à sobrecarga de trabalho durante a pandemia de COVID-19 no Brasil. Métodos: pesquisa qualitativa, cuja coleta de dados ocorreu através de entrevistas individuais com 19 enfermeiros que atuaram na linha de frente da COVID-19 em serviços de saúde da região Sudeste do Brasil. Os dados foram analisados mediante análise temática de conteúdo. Resultados: a sobrecarga de trabalho mostrou-se potente fonte para vivências de sofrimento moral devido à jornada de trabalho excessiva na vacinação, à dupla jornada de trabalho, à relação conturbada por pressão de gestores e população e ao esgotamento físico e mental, os quais impediam o enfermeiro de agir conforme o seu julgamento. Considerações Finais: a sobrecarga de trabalho dos enfermeiros reflete na assistência de qualidade ao paciente, e impede que os enfermeiros atuem conforme os seus princípios morais, gerando sofrimento moral nos enfermeiros.

Bezafibrate reduces the damage, activation and mechanical properties of lung fibroblast cells induced by hydrogen peroxide.

In pulmonary fibrosis, the proliferation of fibroblasts and their differentiation into myofibroblasts is often caused by tissue damage, such as oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species, which leads to progressive rupture and thus destruction of the alveolar architecture, resulting in cell proliferation and tissue remodeling. Bezafibrate (BZF) is an important member of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARs) family agonists, used in clinical practice as antihyperlipidemic. However, the antifibrotic effects of BZF are still poorly studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BZF on pulmonary oxidative damage in lung fibroblast cells. MRC-5 cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce oxidative stress activation and BZF treatment was administered at the same moment as H2O2 induction. The outcomes evaluated were cell proliferation and cell viability; oxidative stress markers such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), catalase (CAT) levels and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS); col-1 and α-SMA mRNA expression and cellular elasticity through Young's modulus analysis evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The H2O2-induced oxidative damage decreased the cell viability and increased ROS levels and decreased CAT activity in MRC-5 cells. The expression of α-SMA and the cell stiffness increased in response to H2O2 treatment. Treatment with BZF decreased the MRC-5 cell proliferation, ROS levels, reestablished CAT levels, decreased the mRNA expression of type I collagen protein (col-1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and cellular elasticity even with H2O2 induction. Our results suggest that BZF has a potential protective effect on H2O2-induced oxidative stress. These results are based on an in vitro experiment, derived from a fetal lung cell line and may emerge as a possible new therapy for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Teaching strategies to develop skills to address social inequalities in nursing education: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: to identify teaching strategies for developing skills to address social inequalities in nursing education. DESIGN: Following the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a scoping review was performed to answer the following research question: "What are the teaching strategies employed to develop nurses' skills to address social inequalities?" DATA SOURCES: Bibliographical search was conducted seven electronic databases until December 29, 2020, and updated on March 25, 2022. Papers published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish on competence and professional practice, social inequality, education/training, and nursing were included. REVIEW METHODS: Seven reviewers screened the articles by reading titles and abstracts. Studies on teaching strategies used to develop nurses' skills to address social inequalities were included. Of the 1137 articles found, 61 were selected by the first screening, and 23 were included in the final sample. Data were analyzed and summarized as a narrative. RESULTS: The included papers were published between 2000 and 2020, predominantly in the United States. Curricular and learning strategies, including service, experience, and interactive, were the most common, followed by university programs and civil society initiatives. Courses, classes, debates, and practical activities predominated as teaching activities. Teaching techniques focus on resources such as posters, videos, workshops, and seminars. CONCLUSIONS: This review identified teaching strategies used to develop nurses' skills to address social inequalities. Curricular initiatives, learning strategies, university programs and civil society initiatives can expand students' understanding of social inequalities and be used to develop skills.

Hold-relax PNF is more effective than unilateral lumbar mobilization on increasing hamstring flexibility: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Although lumbar mobilization (LM) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) are used to increase flexibility in clinical practice, remains unclear which technic is the most effective. This study aims to verify and compare the immediate effect of unilateral LM and hold-relax PNF on hamstring flexibility. METHOD: A randomized, blinded, crossover trial carried out in university research laboratory. Thirty healthy young adults were randomly allocated to three groups, each group receive unilateral, central posterior-anterior LM grade III to the L4 joint, hold-relax PNF and control intervention in a different order with 48 h of washout period. Hamstring flexibility was measured using photogrammetry before and immediately after intervention through range of motion (ROM) change in the Straight Leg Raise Test. T-tests were used to compare ROM within groups, and ANOVA repeated measure followed by Bonferroni post-hoc tests was used for between groups comparison. RESULTS: Two participants were lost to follow-up, leaving 28 for analysis (21.6 ± 2.2 years-old). LM increased 4.5° (95% CI 2.3-6.5°, p = 0.001, d = 0.29) on the straight leg raise test and PNF increased 10.0° (95% CI 7.7-12.2°, p = 0.001, d = 0.7). No statistically significant increase was observed on the control group (p = 0.151, d = 0.08). Further, the technique used significantly influenced ROM (p = 0.001, η²p = 0.37). On the between group analysis, PNF was better than LM (p = 0.005) and control (p = 0.001), whereas LM was no better than the control for hamstring flexibility (p = 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: Although hold-relax PNF and unilateral LM techniques increased ROM, hold-relax PNF was more effective on increasing hamstring flexibility.

Does static stretching change uniformly the quadriceps elasticity in physically actives subjects?

PURPOSE: Verify the acute responses of static stretching (SS) on the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), and vastus lateralis (VL) elasticity and knee/hip range of motion (ROM). Additionally, to investigate if there are consistency among quadriceps muscle elasticity after SS. METHODS: Acute effect of SS on pre-post-intervention design. Thirtheen healthy participants (both genders) proposed for a pre-post experimental design. RF, VM, and VL elasticity (strain ratio, SR) was evaluated bilaterally by ultrasound with quasi-static elastography. Higher SR values refer to more rigid tissues. A SS protocol of 3 series of 30 s was applied at right lower limb. The left lower limb was considered as control group. Also, photogrammetry evaluated the knee/hip ROM. RESULTS: For SR muscle comparisons, VM was lower (less stiff) than VL and RF at pre- and post-SS. For time comparisons, no differences were observed for SR and ROM at pre- and post-SS. However, the effect size of the quadriceps SR at SS lower limb was higher than control. CONCLUSION: Acute effects of SS did not change the quadriceps SR or knee/hip ROM in healthy and active subjects. Non-uniform quadriceps SR are observed (VM < VL and RF) independently of SS. Future studies should consider different protocols, muscles, and populations.

Glucose and Lactate Reference Intervals for White Sturgeon and Evaluation of Two Point-of-Care Devices in Sturgeon Infected with Veronaea botryosa.

White Sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus are cultured for human consumption as well as for conservation purposes. In this study, two commercially available portable devices for measuring glucose and lactate were compared to a benchtop analyzer and blood reference intervals were generated using heparin plasma collected from 43 healthy White Sturgeon yearlings. The generated normal ranges were used to compare plasma values collected from Veronaea botryosa-infected White Sturgeon at 10, 20, and 30 d postchallenge (dpc). In the 43 healthy yearlings, significantly different glucose and lactate values were obtained when comparing the portable devices to the benchtop analyzer. In the portable devices, blood glucose showed a consistent bias of 12.3 mg/dL and blood lactate showed a proportional bias. The detected blood glucose values in infected sturgeon were significantly different from those in noninfected controls when using the benchtop analyzer at 20 and 30 dpc and when using the portable device at 20 dpc. However, blood glucose in infected individuals and controls was within the reference interval on either device. No significant difference was noted for lactate measurements in infected sturgeon. The results of this study indicate that portable devices for blood glucose and blood lactate evaluation in White Sturgeon may be useful in a setting where relative values are an acceptable approximation of absolute values.

Influence of subcutaneous adipose thickness and dominance on reliability of quadriceps muscle quality in healthy young individuals.

BACKGROUND: Echo intensity (EI) can be useful to check muscle quality and has been widely used to identify tissue damage. In the clinical and sports context, it has been used to identify metabolic disorders and training muscle performance. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether subcutaneous adipose thickness (SAT) influences the inter-session EI reliability of the quadriceps femoris and whether EI is influenced by dominance in young healthy subjects. DESIGN: All procedures were approved by the local Institutional Research Ethics Committee (project number 2.620.204). This is a cross-sectional study where 19 healthy young individuals volunteered. METHOD: The individuals were assessed at two time points by an experienced examiner. Imaging of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis (VM) muscles were performed bilaterally by ultrasonography. EI and SAT analysis was performed using ImageJ®software. RESULTS/FINDINGS: Inter-session intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for EImeasured showed moderate reliability for RF (R = 0.578; P = 0.038) and VL (R = 0.735; P = 0.004) and low for VM (R = 0.402; P = 0.142). When corrected by SAT, inter-session (EIcorrected), ICC values showed good reliability for RF (R = 0.826; P < 0.001) and VM (R = 0.765; P = 0.002) and excellent for VL (R = 0.909; P < 0.001). Considering inter-side reliability, Student's paired t-test demonstrated no difference for EImeasured (P > 0.283), EIcorrected (P > 0.127), and SAT (P > 0.356). CONCLUSIONS: SAT influenced the inter-session reliability values of EI in all muscles evaluated. Although they showed similarity, EI values were not influenced by dominance in young healthy subjects.

Eating contexts at breakfast, lunch, and dinner: Associations with ultra-processed foods consumption and overweight in Brazilian adolescents (EVA-JF Study).

This cross-sectional study estimated associations of eating contexts (including regularity of meals, places where they occur, and if they take place with attention and in company) with food consumption by degree of industrial processing and overweight indicators in a sample of Brazilian adolescents (14-19 years old) enrolled in 29 public schools in Juiz de Fora, MG (n = 805). We used an exploratory questionnaire, which was submitted to cluster analysis. Three clusters were identified: cluster 1 (n = 572), "appropriate eating contexts at breakfast, lunch, and dinner"; cluster 2 (n = 139), "inappropriate eating context at breakfast"; and cluster 3 (n = 94) "inappropriate eating context at dinner". The evaluation of food consumption involved two 24-h dietary recalls, whose items were analyzed according to the NOVA classification system. Linear regression models were performed, using cluster 1 as reference. Clusters 2 and 3 were associated with an increase in the energy fraction from ultra-processed foods [respectively, ß = 2.55% (IC 95%: 0.50; 5.05) and ß = 4.18% (IC 95%: 1.21; 7.14)]; and cluster 2 was associated with a reduction in the energy fraction from unprocessed or minimally processed foods and processed culinary ingredients [ß = -3.61% (IC 95%: -6.40; -0.82)]. Additionally, clusters 2 and 3 were associated with an increase of body mass index for age [respectively, ß = 0.23 z-score (IC 95%: 0.01; 0.46) and ß = 0.27 z-score (IC 95%: 0.02; 0.54)]; and cluster 2 was associated with an increase of body fat [ß = 1.21% (IC 95%: 0.23; 2.64)]. In conclusion, inappropriate eating contexts at breakfast and dinner were associated with higher ultra-processed food intake, higher body mass index and higher body fat percentage.

[Racial disparities: an analysis of obstetrical violence among Afro-Brazilian women]. / Disparidades raciais: uma análise da violência obstétrica em mulheres negras.

The objective was to understand and analyze the experiences of Afro-Brazilian women regarding pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care. It involves empirical research, with a qualitative approach. Women were interviewed who declared themselves black or colored and were attended in the public health services in the municipalities of the State of Pernambuco. The narratives were collected through semi-structured interviews. The Content Analysis technique was used. The narratives addressed the issues of obstetric violence and institutional racism. The intersection of levels of oppression such as race, class and gender are determinant in interventions and abusive practices in the helathcare that involves childbirth. The conclusion drawn is that structural racism hinders and denies access to black women to their reproductive rights.

Objetivou-se compreender e analisar as vivências de mulheres negras acerca dos cuidados na gestação, no parto e no pós-parto. Trata-se de uma pesquisa empírica, de abordagem qualitativa. Foram entrevistadas mulheres que se autodeclaram negras ou pretas e que passaram pelos serviços públicos de saúde nos municípios de Pernambuco. As narrativas foram coletadas por meio de entrevista semiestruturada. Foi utilizada a técnica de análise de conteúdo. As narrativas discorrem sobre os temas da violência obstétrica e do racismo institucional. A interseção de eixos de opressão, como raça, classe e gênero, são determinantes nas intervenções e práticas abusivas na atenção que envolve o parto. Conclui-se que o racismo estrutural dificulta e nega o acesso das mulheres negras aos seus direitos reprodutivos.

Disparidades raciais: uma análise da violência obstétrica em mulheres negras / Racial disparities: an analysis of obstetrical violence among Afro-Brazilian women

Resumo Objetivou-se compreender e analisar as vivências de mulheres negras acerca dos cuidados na gestação, no parto e no pós-parto. Trata-se de uma pesquisa empírica, de abordagem qualitativa. Foram entrevistadas mulheres que se autodeclaram negras ou pretas e que passaram pelos serviços públicos de saúde nos municípios de Pernambuco. As narrativas foram coletadas por meio de entrevista semiestruturada. Foi utilizada a técnica de análise de conteúdo. As narrativas discorrem sobre os temas da violência obstétrica e do racismo institucional. A interseção de eixos de opressão, como raça, classe e gênero, são determinantes nas intervenções e práticas abusivas na atenção que envolve o parto. Conclui-se que o racismo estrutural dificulta e nega o acesso das mulheres negras aos seus direitos reprodutivos.

Abstract The objective was to understand and analyze the experiences of Afro-Brazilian women regarding pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care. It involves empirical research, with a qualitative approach. Women were interviewed who declared themselves black or colored and were attended in the public health services in the municipalities of the State of Pernambuco. The narratives were collected through semi-structured interviews. The Content Analysis technique was used. The narratives addressed the issues of obstetric violence and institutional racism. The intersection of levels of oppression such as race, class and gender are determinant in interventions and abusive practices in the helathcare that involves childbirth. The conclusion drawn is that structural racism hinders and denies access to black women to their reproductive rights.

Suicide cases in developed and emerging countries: an analysis using wavelets / Casos de suicídio em países desenvolvidos e emergentes: uma análise usando ondaletas

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to use a wavelet technique to determine whether the number of suicides is similar between developed and emerging countries. METHODS: Annual data were obtained from World Health Organization (WHO) reports from 1986 to 2015. Discrete nondecimated wavelet transform was used for the analysis, and the Daubechies wavelet function was applied with five-level decomposition. Regarding clustering, energy (variance) was used to analyze the clusters and visualize the clustering process. We constructed a dendrogram using the Mahalanobis distance. The number of groups was set using a specific function in the R program. RESULTS: The cluster analysis verified the formation of four groups as follows: Japan, the United States and Brazil were distinct and isolated groups, and other countries (Austria, Belgium, Chile, Israel, Mexico, Italy and the Netherlands) constituted a single group. CONCLUSION: The methods utilized in this paper enabled a detailed verification of countries with similar behaviors despite very distinct socioeconomic, geographic and climate characteristics.

OBJETIVO: Verificar se existe relação de similaridade entre o número de suicídio em países desenvolvidos e emergentes usando a técnica de ondaletas. MÉTODOS: Os dados anuais foram obtidos a partir do relatório da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), no período de 1986 a 2015. Para análise, foi empregada a transformada discreta não decimada de ondaleta (NDWT), a função ondaleta aplicada foi a Daubechies com cinco níveis de decomposição. Com relação ao agrupamento, utilizou-se a energia (variância) para analisar os clusters e, para a visualização do processo de clusterização, trabalhamos com o dendograma, no qual se empregou a distância de Mahalanobis. A quantidade de grupos foi definida por meio da função NbCluster. RESULTADOS: A partir da análise de cluster, verificou-se a formação de quatros grupos. No qual, Japão e Estados Unidos e Brasil localizam-se em grupos distintos e isolados. E os demais países (Áustria, Bélgica, Chile, Israel, México, Itália e Holanda) em um único grupo. CONCLUSÃO: Utilizando esse método, foi possível verificar com mais detalhes quais países apresentaram comportamentos semelhantes, mesmo apresentando características bem distintas entre si, tanto socioeconômica, geográfica e climática.

Longitudinal profiling of the burn patient cutaneous and gastrointestinal microbiota: a pilot study.

Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients that have sustained a severe burn injury. Early detection and treatment of infections improves outcomes and understanding changes in the host microbiome following injury and during treatment may aid in burn care. The loss of functional barriers, systemic inflammation, and commensal community perturbations all contribute to a burn patient's increased risk of infection. We sampled 10 burn patients to evaluate cutaneous microbial populations on the burn wound and corresponding spared skin on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 post-intensive care unit admission. In addition, skin samples were paired with perianal and rectal locations to evaluate changes in the burn patient gut microbiome following injury and treatment. We found significant (P = 0.011) reduction in alpha diversity on the burn wound compared to spared skin throughout the sampling period as well as reduction in common skin commensal bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermitis. Compared to healthy volunteers (n = 18), the burn patient spared skin also exhibited a significant reduction in alpha diversity (P = 0.001). Treatments such as systemic or topical antibiotic administration, skin grafting, and nutritional formulations also impact diversity and community composition at the sampling locations. When evaluating each subject individually, an increase in relative abundance of taxa isolated clinically by bacterial culture could be seen in 5/9 infections detected among the burn patient cohort.

Reliability in ultrasound measurements of plantar aponeurosis thickness.

PURPOSE: Given the increasing research interest in ultrasound plantar aponeurosis (PA) thickness measurements, this study aimed to analyze the inter and intra-rater reliability of independent sonograms and to identify the error related to the image analysis procedure. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy men participated in this study. Imaging of PA consisted of two independent sonograms per subject. Two raters (R1 and R2) evaluated each sonogram twice using standardized steps. Precision of the image analysis procedure was analyzed using the Bland and Altman plot and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Agreement estimates and ICC were used to assess absolute and relative inter and intra-rater reliability. RESULTS: Reliability of PA thickness was found to depend strongly on the number of images acquired per subject. Intra-rater agreement for single measurements were 0.696 (R1) and 0.495 (R2), whereas average measurements yielded values of 0.821 (R1) and 0.662 (R2), respectively. Precision within a sonogram varied from ICC values of 0.873 to 0.960 (intra-rater) and 0.670 to 0.822 (inter-rater). CONCLUSION: Most part of the error in PA thickness measurements seems to be related to the sonogram acquisition process and not to the visual inspection of the image. To minimize error, average values of a minimum of two images per subject should be used. The moderate agreement between raters found in this study ratifies the need of all measurements being made by the same rater or group of raters. If a single rater evaluates all subjects, performing multiple measurements over one image does not seem to affect ICC as much as acquiring multiple images.

"O escuro das cores, na pele afrodescendente, herdeira das dores": dimensões do racismo no contexto de assistência ao parto / "The dark of colors, in the afro-descendant skin, heir of pain": dimensions of racism in the context of childbirth care

Resumo Partindo de uma pesquisa mais ampla sobre as vivências de mulheres negras na assistência ao período gestacional e parto, este artigo aborda alguns aspectos do racismo na rotina de atenção à mulher negra durante este ciclo. Trata-se de uma pesquisa empírica de abordagem qualitativa com mulheres e mães que se autodeclaram negras e antirracistas. Nas narrativas, os pontos apresentados envolviam, na sua maioria, estereótipos associados ao corpo negro construídos sob um imaginário social racista. Nas relações interpessoais, discursos permeados por estereótipos racistas desumanizam a mulher negra, gerando barreiras na sua saúde reprodutiva.

Abstract Starting from a broader research on the experiences of black women in assisting the gestational period and childbirth, this article addresses some aspects of racism in the routine of care for black women during this cycle. This is an empirical research with a qualitative approach with women and mothers who declare themselves black and anti-racist. In the narratives, the points presented involved, for the most part, stereotypes associated with the black body constructed under a racist social imaginary. In interpersonal relationships, speeches permeated by racist stereotypes dehumanize black women, creating barriers in their reproductive health.

Octyl gallate induces hepatic steatosis in HepG2 cells through the regulation of SREBP-1c and PPAR-gamma gene expression.

Octyl gallate (OG) is an antioxidant commonly used in food, although there is no definition of its acceptable daily intake. There are reports in vitro and in vivo showing that food additives and drugs can alter lipid metabolism. Lipid droplet accumulation in hepatic cells is one of the main findings in the unregulated lipid metabolism and is strongly related to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, we investigated the effects of OG on lipid metabolism in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). The results have shown, for the first time, that treatment with OG increased the overall amount of lipids, the triglyceride concentration, the lipid droplet area, and SREBP-1c and PPAR-γ gene expression. Taken together, the findings indicate that OG induces lipid droplet accumulation in HepG2 cells through the regulation of SREBP-1c and PPAR-γ gene expression without involving mTOR/S6K1 and may contribute to NAFLD when used as a food additive.

CPBMF65, a synthetic human uridine phosphorylase-1 inhibitor, reduces HepG2 cell proliferation through cell cycle arrest and senescence.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent type of tumor among primary liver tumors and is the second highest cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Current therapies are controversial, and more research is needed to identify effective treatments. A new synthetic compound, potassium 5-cyano-4-methyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridine-2-olate (CPBMF65), is a potent inhibitor of the human uridine phosphorylase-1 (hUP1) enzyme, which controls the cell concentration of uridine (Urd). Urd is a natural pyrimidine nucleoside involved in cellular processes, such as RNA synthesis. In addition, it is considered a promising biochemical modulator, as it may reduce the toxicity caused by chemotherapeutics without impairing its anti-tumor activity. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of CPBMF65 on the proliferation of the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). Cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, senescence, autophagy, intracellular Urd levels, cell cycle arrest, and drug resistance were analyzed. Results demonstrate that, after incubation with CPBMF65, HepG2 cell proliferation decreased, mainly through cell cycle arrest and senescence, increasing the levels of intracellular Urd and maintaining cell proliferation reduced during chronic treatment. In conclusion, results show, for the first time, the ability of a hUP1 inhibitor (CPBMF65) to reduce HepG2 cell proliferation through cell cycle arrest and senescence.

THE EFFECT OF ANESTHETIC TIME AND CONCENTRATION ON BLOOD GASES, ACID-BASE STATUS, AND ELECTROLYTES IN KOI (CYPRINUS CARPIO) ANESTHETIZED WITH BUFFERED TRICAINE METHANESULFONATE (MS-222).

Anesthesia is commonly employed in aquatic medicine to facilitate physical exams, diagnostics, and surgical interventions. Tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) is the most commonly used anesthetic for fish and is currently the only anesthetic approved by the US Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine for food-producing fish. Despite the frequency of anesthetic procedures in fish, anesthetic monitoring remains rudimentary in many facilities. This study evaluated the impact on blood gases, acid-base balance, and electrolytes in koi (Cyprinus carpio) anesthetized at concentrations of 100 mg/L and 150 mg/L MS-222. Blood samples from 25 fish per treatment were collected at 5 and 20 min of anesthetic immersion. Forty-nine of 50 fish recovered uneventfully from anesthesia; one fish did not recover and was euthanatized. Results showed significant increases in partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) (P = 0.006) and hyperglycemia (P = <0.0001) with increasing anesthetic concentration and time under anesthesia and a significant decrease in partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) with increased anesthetic time (P = 0.021). There were several electrolyte changes observed with both increasing anesthetic time and concentration. All electrolytes except potassium remained within published reference ranges for koi, while potassium showed a significant decrease in concentration associated with anesthetic time and concentration. The results of this study indicate that MS-222 at 100 mg/L and 150 mg/L represent safe anesthetic concentrations for koi undergoing minimally invasive diagnostics; however, koi anesthetized with MS-222 at a concentration of 150 mg/L experienced more significant changes in blood gases, acid-base balance, and electrolyte concentrations.

Aging of biochar-based fertilizers in soil: Effects on phosphorus pools and availability to Urochloa brizantha grass.

Water-soluble phosphate fertilizers release phosphorus (P) to soils promptly, causing P fixation and low plant availability in highly weathered tropical soils. Therefore, the development of strategies to improve P use efficiency is needed. We hypothesized that biochar-based fertilizers (BBFs) can provide available P to plants and improve P use efficiency when compared with soluble fertilizers. Thus, triple superphosphate (TSP) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) were pyrolyzed with and without magnesium oxide (MgO) and poultry litter to produce slow-release P BBFs. A pot experiment under greenhouse conditions was performed to evaluate agronomic efficiency of BBFs compared with TSP in an Oxisol. The treatments were incubated over 100 days after the application of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg kg-1 of P. Three controls were used, including 200 mg kg-1 of P as TSP incubated for 100 days (named TSPincubation) and applied immediately before sowing (named TSPplanting) and a negative control (without P). Marandu grass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) was cultivated in pots for three cycles of 40 days each. After cultivation, a sequential extraction procedure was used to determine the P distribution among different P pools. The shoot dry matter yield in the first cropping cycle was higher at the highest P rate for TSPplanting. PLB-H3PO4-MgO showed 9% increase in the shoot dry matter when compared with TSPincubation in the first cropping cycle. In subsequent cropping cycles, all BBFs promoted higher biomass yield when compared with TSPplanting. There was an increase in the labile and moderately labile P fractions in soil after cultivation with PLB-TSP. The results suggest that BBFs can enhance P use efficiency in tropical soils in the middle- to long-term run due to slow-release profile that prevent P fixation and promote higher residual effect of fertilization.