Metal tolerance in enterococci isolated from seabirds in Abrolhos Archipelago, Brazil: Evaluating their role as bioindicators of marine pollution.

Microbiota exposed to pollution provide insights into host physiology and ecosystem disruption. This study evaluated Enterococcus spp. tolerant to arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and mercury (Hg) from red-billed tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) and brown boobies (Sula leucogaster), which previously showed these metals in their blood and feathers, and their potential use as bioindicators of metal contamination. Enterococcus casseliflavus (47.9 %), E. faecalis (34.1 %), E. hirae (11.7 %), and E. faecium (5.3 %) were identified. Both seabird species had a high incidence of As-tolerant bacteria (84.0 %), with 40.4 % of these strains containing As efflux system genes (arsA_I and arsA_II). Cu efflux pump gene (tcrB) was detected in 30.9 % of strains, while Hg reductase genes (mer) were not found. As- and Cu-tolerance in enterococci observed in this study underlines their potential as bioindicators in metal-polluted marine environments. Further research may elucidate the role of these metal-tolerant enterococci in seabird gut and their adaptability to polluted environments.

Resource partitioning influences levels of toxic trace elements in sympatric tropical seabirds.

Morphologically similar species that occupy resource-limited environments tend to differ in their ecological traits in order to coexist, which may result in differential exposure to environmental threats. For instance, partitioning of feeding resources may influence contaminant exposure and bioaccumulation in marine predators through different diets or foraging habitats. Here, we sampled three tropical seabird species breeding in sympatry in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean for blood and feather trace element concentrations (As, Hg, Cd, Pb), and assessed their foraging ecology with bio-logging (GPS tracks and time-depth recorders), analysis of regurgitated prey, and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope mixing models. Red-billed tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus), brown (Sula leucogaster) and masked (S. dactylatra) boobies differed in their preferred foraging locations, the range of foraging trips, diving parameters and diets. In addition, interspecific differences were detected in blood or feathers for all trace elements analyzed, suggesting influence of the differences observed in diet and space use. Red-billed tropicbirds had the largest foraging range over the continental shelf and over the slope, suggesting lower exposure to continental sources of metals. Brown and masked boobies had higher Hg concentrations than tropicbirds, higher δ15N values (a proxy for trophic level), and δ15N correlated with Hg levels, suggesting biomagnification of Hg along the food chain. Nonetheless, red-billed tropicbirds showed comparable levels of As and Cd in blood or feathers, and higher levels of Pb in both tissues in comparison to boobies, which may suggest overall exposure of seabirds in the region, through their diets and foraging areas. Resource partitioning is critical for allowing coexistence of different seabird species in shared breeding sites where they act as central-place foragers. Nonetheless, in scenarios of environmental pollution, these species-specific strategies lead to differential bioaccumulation, and thus distinct effects of pollution on populations are expected.

The first report of leukocytoclastic vasculitis induced by once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide.

INTRODUCTION: Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is a small vessel vasculitis involving arterioles, capillaries and postcapillary venules. LCV is generally confined to the skin, with extracutaneous manifestations occurring less frequently. LCV has multiple potential etiologies. Indeed, histological LCV can be found in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, immune complex vasculitis, vasculitis associated with systemic diseases (i.e. sarcoidosis, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus), or in vasculitis associated with cancer, infections, sepsis and use of certain medications. LCV can also be idiopathic in up to 50% of cases. CASE REPORT: Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used for management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity and overweight associated with one or more weight-related comorbidities. A case of drug-induced LCV has already been described with the use of once-daily oral semaglutide. Herein, we describe the first case of skin-limited LCV induced by once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide in a 73-year-old man with T2DM, who experienced the complete resolution of the skin lesions shortly after the discontinuation of semaglutide therapy. CONCLUSION: Future prospective studies, adverse event reporting and post-marketing surveillance will certainly contribute to establishing if LCV represents a less rare than expected side effect of both oral and subcutaneous semaglutide formulations.

Effect of foam rolling recovery on pain and physical capacity after resistance exercises: A randomized crossover trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of passive recovery (PR), active recovery (AR), and recovery through self-massage with the aid of foam rolling (FRR) on pain and physical capacity in healthy volunteers after a resistance exercise (RE) session. METHODS: The sample of this randomized crossover trial comprised 37 physically healthy men who underwent three sessions of RE (squat, leg press, and leg extension), involving four sets of 10 repetitions with 80% of 10MR, with an interval of seven days between sessions. PR consisted of sitting for 20min, AR included a cycle ergometer for 20min at 50% maximum heart rate, and FRR involved 10 repetitions per target body area, followed by 1min rest. Variables of physical capacity (strength, power, agility, joint range of motion, flexibility, speed, and fatigue resistance) were assessed 1h after RE, whereas pain was assessed 24h, 48h, and 72h after RE. RESULTS: In the dominant lower limb, the percentage of strength decreased (p < 0.001) by 16.3% after RE but improved (p < 0.001) by 5.2% after AR and FRR in relation to PR. Similar results were observed in the non-dominant lower limb. Agility was enhanced (p < 0.001) by 3.6% in AR and 4.3% in FRR compared with the baseline assessment. The recoveries for the other physical variables were similar. Only FRR reduced (p < 0.001) pain at 24h (22.8%), 48h (39.2%), and 72h (59.7%) compared to PR. CONCLUSIONS: Self-massage using a foam roll reduced pain and improved agility and muscle strength during recovery after exercise. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04201977.

Vitamin E Does not Favor Recovery After Exercises: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

This review aimed to verify the effects of vitamin E supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammatory response, muscle damage, soreness, and strength in healthy adults after exercise. We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science from inception to August 2023, with no language restrictions. We included randomized placebo-controlled trials evaluating the supplementation of vitamin E on the abovementioned outcomes after a bout of physical exercise in healthy participants (no restriction for publication year or language). Meta-analyses were conducted to compare vitamin E and placebo supplementations to obtain a 95% confidence interval (95%IC). Twenty studies were included (n=298 participants). The effect of supplementation was assessed between 0 h and 96 h after the exercise. Compared to placebo, vitamin E had no effects on lipid (95%IC= -0.09 to 0.42), protein (-2.44 to 3.11), SOD (-1.05 to 0.23), interleukin-6 (-0.18 to 1.16), creatine kinase (-0.33 to 0.27), muscle soreness (-1.92 to 0.69), and muscle strength (-1.07 to 0.34). Heterogeneity for the analyses on carbonyls, interleukin-6 (1 h and 3 h), and muscle soreness ranged between 70 to 94%. Supplementing with vitamin E should not be recommended to support the recovery process in healthy individuals after exercise, given the lack of efficacy in the analyzed variables following an exercise session.

Temporal changes in metal and arsenic concentrations in blood and feathers of tropical seabirds after one of the largest environmental disasters associated with mining.

Monitoring of contaminant levels in wildlife over time is a tool for assessing the presence and persistence of environmental impacts at ecosystem, community and population levels. Tropical seabirds breeding in the Abrolhos Archipelago, 70 km off the Brazilian coast, forage in areas under the influence of the Doce River discharge. In 2015, the Fundão Dam collapsed and released ca 60 million tons of iron ore tailings into the ocean. In the present study, red-billed tropicbirds Phaethon aethereus and brown boobies Sula leucogaster breeding in Abrolhos were monitored over four years (2019-2022) for metal (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Hg, Pb, Cd) and metalloid (As) concentrations in blood and feathers. Over six sampling events, metal (loid) concentrations showed strong temporal variation in both tissues. Overall, feathers showed greater element concentrations than blood, with stronger correlations between elements, especially Mn and the nonessential As, Cd, Hg and Pb. Mn is one of the major chemical markers of the Fundão Dam tailings. Metal (loid) concentrations in the tropical seabirds evaluated were above suggested threshold levels for most nonessential elements (As, Cd and Pb), especially in February 2021, when metal (loid) concentrations peaked in feathers. In this case, values were orders of magnitude higher than those observed in other sampling events. This occurred one year after a major rainy season in the Doce River basin, which increased river discharge of contaminated mud into the ocean, where contaminants are further remobilized by winds and currents, resulting in transference through the marine food web. This finding is consistent to what has been observed for other ecosystem compartments monitored in the region under the influence of the Doce River. Our findings highlight the utility of using tropical seabirds as sentinels of marine pollution, revealing strong temporal patterns in metal (loid) concentrations associated to bottom-up climatic processes.

Where do Physiotherapists Search for Information? Barriers in Translating Scientific Information into Clinical Practice.

INTRODUCTION: Comprehending scientific information have been reported as a barrier in evidence-based practice (EBP) adoption. This survey research aimed to verify the preferred sources of information for acquiring knowledge about physiotherapy and the association between types of information source and barriers in EBP implementation. METHODS: A total of 610 physiotherapists were included and answered an online questionnaire about the preferred sources for searching physiotherapy-related information and possible barriers in EBP implementation. RESULTS: Physiotherapists reported scientific resources as the preferred source of information, scientific databases (31%), followed by scientific articles (25%). The main barrier cited in EBP implementation was the difficulty in obtaining full-text articles (34%), followed by lack of statistical knowledge (30%). The use of peer-reviewed resources as the most preferred source of information is associated with the presence of issues in comprehending scientific information. DISCUSSION: Although the positive attitude toward the use of scientific information, the findings raised question regarding the proper translation of scientific information to clinical practice. The importance of scientific information seems to be a well-established attitude among physiotherapists. However, there is a clear need for strategies aiming to improve the understanding of scientific information and consequently facilitate EBP implementation.

Long-term evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Nd:YAG laser vitreolysis for symptomatic vitreous foaters / Avaliação de longo prazo da eficácia e segurança da vitreólise com Nd:YAG laser para moscas volantes sintomáticas

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) vitreolysis for symptomatic vitreous floaters as it remains a controversial procedure due to insufficient robust evidence in the literature for the maintenance of the results and absence of adverse effects. Methods: This is an observational extension to the previously presented prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Eight of thirteen subjects who underwent vitreolysis with YAG laser returned for a late reevaluation, 18 months after the procedure, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the procedure. Results: All patients maintained the improvement in symptomatology noted after the procedure, with 25% showing complete improvement and a similar proportion (37.5%) reporting significant or partial improvement. Objective improvement in opacity was similar to that found at 6 months follow-up. The NEI-VFQ 25 quality of life questionnaire showed no statistically significant difference in responses between the 6th and 18th month. No adverse effects were noted on clinical examination or reported by patients. Conclusion: Vitreolysis efficacy observed at 6 months of follow-up was maintained until the eighteenth month, with all patients reporting improvement from the pre-procedure state. No late adverse effects were noted. A larger randomized clinical trial is needed to confirm the safety of the procedure.

RESUMO Objetivos: Avaliar a segurança e eficácia a longo prazo da vitreólise com Nd:YAG laser para moscas volantes sintomáticas, uma vez que permanece como um procedimento controverso devido a falta de evidência científica robusta sobre a manutenção dos resultados e ocorrência de efeitos adversos. Métodos: Este estudo é uma extensão observacional de um ensaio clínico prospectivo, randomizado, duplo cego, previamente publicado. Oito de treze pacientes que foram submetidos a vitreólise com YAG laser foram acompanhados para uma reavaliação tardia, dezoito meses após o procedimento, para avaliar a eficácia e segurança do procedimento. Resultados: Todos os pacientes mantiveram a melhora na sintomatologia notada ao final do procedimento original, com 25% dos casos apresentando melhora completa, e uma proporção semelhante (37,5%) demonstrando melhora significativa ou parcial. A melhora objetiva na opacidade foi similar ao achado no seguimento original de 6 meses. O questionário de qualidade de vida NEI-VFQ 25 não demonstrou diferença estatisticamente significativa nas respostas entre o sexto e o décimo oitavo mês de acompanhamento. Nenhum efeito adverso foi notado no exame clínico ou reportado pelos pacientes. Conclusão: A eficácia da vitreólise observada ao sexto mês do acompanhamento foi mantida até o décimo oitavo mês, com todos os pacientes notando algum grau de melhora quando comparado ao estado pré procedimento. Nenhum efeito adverso tardio foi notado. Um ensaio clínico randomizado maior é necessário para confirmar a segurança do procedimento.

Indeed, Correlation Does Not Indicate Causation!

Author response to the JOSPT Letter to the Editor-in-Chief "Lower-Limb Kinematics and Clinical Outcomes: Correlation Does not Imply Causality" J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2023;53(11):723-725. doi:10.2519/jospt.2023.0203-R.

HLA-G*14 bp indel variant in autism spectrum disorder in a population from southern Brazil.

Altered immune response during pregnancy has been associated with ASD susceptibility. HLA-G is expressed by the trophoblast at the maternal/fetal interface and induces allogenic tolerance toward the fetus. A 14-bp insertion in the HLA-G 3'UTR (rs371194629) was associated with reduced levels of HLA-G. We aimed to assess the influence of the HLA-G*14 bp indel variant in ASD susceptibility and symptomatology in a Brazilian admixed sample. The insertion genotype (14 bp+/14 bp+) was firstly associated with hetero aggression, but statistical significance was lost after correction (p = 0.035, pcorrected = 0.35). No association between the HLA-G variant and susceptibility to ASD or differential clinical manifestations were observed.

Effectiveness of Interventions Aimed at Changing Movement Patterns in People With Patellofemoral Pain: A Systematic Review With Network Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the effectiveness of interventions for changing movement during weight-bearing functional tasks in people with patellofemoral pain (PFP). DESIGN: Systematic review with network meta-analysis (NMA). LITERATURE SEARCH: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception up to May 2023. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials involving people with PFP and nonsurgical, nonpharmacological interventions on task kinematics were included. DATA SYNTHESIS: NMA was conducted for frontal knee movement data, and pairwise meta-analysis was used to pool data when NMA was not possible. Reduced movements were those changes that indicated movements occurring with less amplitude. The GRADE approach was used to grade the certainty of the evidence. RESULTS: Thirty-seven trials were included (n = 1235 participants). Combining knee/hip exercises with internal feedback had the strongest effect on reducing frontal knee movements (standardized mean difference [SMD] from NMA = -2.66; GRADE: moderate evidence). On pairwise comparisons, the same combination of interventions reduced frontal hip movements (SMD = -0.47; GRADE: moderate evidence) and increased sagittal knee movements (SMD = 1.03; GRADE: moderate evidence), with no effects on sagittal hip movements (GRADE: very low evidence), compared to knee/hip exercises alone. There was no effect for single applications of braces on the frontal knee movement (GRADE: very low evidence) and taping on movements of the knee, hip, and ankle (GRADE: very low to low evidence) compared to no intervention. CONCLUSION: Knee/hip exercises combined with internal feedback techniques may change knee and hip movements in people with PFP. The combination of these interventions can reduce frontal knee and hip movements, and can increase sagittal knee movements. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2023;53(12):1-13. Epub 14 September 2023. doi:10.2519/jospt.2023.11956.

Injuries and complaints in the Brazilian national volleyball male team: a case study.

BACKGROUND: The literature reports a vast amount of epidemiological information on injuries in volleyball athletes. However, little is known about the incidence of injuries in elite athletes of international level participating in major competitions, such as world championships and Olympic games. The objective of the study was to analyse the incidence of injuries in elite professional volleyball athletes, and the prevalence of complaints reported by athletes. METHODS: This is a case study in which data were collected between April 2018 and August 2021. All the athletes called to play for the Brazilian national male volleyball team during the analysis period participated. From the athletes' medical records, the occurrence of injuries (injurious events that lead to a time off from activities) and complaints (discomforts that did not lead to a time off from activities) were analysed. Frequency data were used to calculate incidence, prevalence and ratios. RESULTS: From 41 athletes who played for the team during the analysed period, 12 athletes had 28 injuries and 38 athletes reported 402 complaints. For injuries, an incidence of seven injuries/1,000 h of competition and two injuries/1,000 h of training was observed. The average recovery time of the athletes was 10 days. The regions with the highest prevalence of injuries were the knee (111/1,000 athletes) and ankle (69/1,000 athletes). For complaints, 402 complaints required 1,085 treatment sessions, with the regions with the highest prevalence of complaints being the knee (261/1,000 complaints) followed by the shoulders (236/1,000 complaints). Athletes aged above 23 years and those playing as middle blockers and outside hitters presented a higher prevalence of injuries and complaints. CONCLUSIONS: Almost one-third of the athletes had injuries and almost all athletes reported complaints during the study period. Injuries and complaints were more prevalent in the knees. Complaints caused a high demand for the healthcare team. To manage risk of injuries for overload, specific injury prevention strategies are needed and should be included as an essential component of the training plan for elite volleyball players.

Association between NKG2/KLR gene variants and epilepsy in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a set of neurodevelopmental disorders mainly characterized by repetitive, restrictive and stereotypical behaviors, and impaired communication skills. Several lines of evidence indicate that alterations of the immune system account for ASD development, including the presence of brain-reactive antibodies, abnormal T cell activation, altered cytokine levels in brain, cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood circulation, increased levels of circulating monocytes, and dysregulation in Natural Killer (NK) cells activity. Regarding NK cells, a lower cytotoxic activity, a higher level of activation and an increased number of these cells in individuals with ASD have been described. In 2019, a study showed that NK cells derived from patients with ASD show a characteristic pattern of NKG2C overexpression, highlighting the importance of the NK cell pathway in ASD. In fact, the study of genes related to NK cell activity has proven to be an excellent research target, both in terms of susceptibility as well as a marker for the different clinical manifestations observed in ASD individuals. Here, we evaluated the influence of KLRC2 gene deletion as well as KLRK1 rs1049174 and rs2255336 variants in a cohort of 185 children diagnosed with ASD and their respective biological parents in southern Brazil. Of note, this is the first study concerning genetic variants of the KLRC2 and KLRK1 genes in an ASD sample. The KLRC2 gene deletion (p = 0.001; pc = 0.009), KLRK1 rs1049174 (p = 0.005; pc = 0.045) and KLRK1 rs2255336 (p = 0.001; pc = 0.009) were associated with epilepsy in ASD patients. The results indicate that KLRC2 deletion, KLRK1 rs2255336, and KLRK1 rs1049174 could be involved in epilepsy manifestation in ASD patients, possibly impacting the NK dysregulation already described in ASD and epileptic patients.

Intra and interrater reliability for lower limb flexibility assessment using photogrammetry.

INTRODUCTION: Photogrammetry represents an advancement in the flexibility evaluation, and although it was highly explored for postural assessment, there is a scarcity of studies analyzing lower limb angular measurements using it. The purpose of this study is to verify the reliability of intrarater and interrarater photogrammetry in assessing lower limb flexibility. METHODS: This was a randomized cross-sectional observational study with test-retest design and a two-day interval. Thirty healthy, physically active adults were included. Three novice raters assessed the participants through flexibility tests of iliopsoas, hamstring, quadriceps and gastrocnemius on two occasions, and independently analyzed the captured images to establish reliability. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated. RESULTS: Intrarater reliability was excellent for iliopsoas (ICC = 0.96; SEM = 1.4; MDC = 3.8), hamstring (ICC = 0.99; SEM = 1.1; MDC = 3.1), quadriceps (ICC = 0.99; SEM = 0.8; MDC = 2.3) and gastrocnemius (ICC = 0.98; SEM = 0.9; MDC = 2.5). Interrater reliability was excellent for iliopsoas (ICC = 0.94; SEM = 1.7; MDC = 4.6) and gastrocnemius (ICC = 0.91; SEM = 2.1; MDC = 5.8), but good for hamstring (ICC = 0.90; SEM = 2.8; MDC = 7.9) and quadriceps (ICC = 0.85; SEM = 3.0; MDC = 8.3). CONCLUSIONS: The excellent intrarater and good to excellent interrater reliability suggest that photogrammetry assessment of lower limb flexibility by novice raters is reliable. However, clinicians should consider the higher threshold of range of motion change necessary to outweigh measurement error due to interrater variability.

Relationship between kinesiophobia, isometric hip and knee torques to pelvic, hip and knee motion during the single-leg drop jump in women with patellofemoral pain: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) have kinesiophobia and hip and knee strength deficits. These factors may be related to kinematic alterations of pelvic, hip and knee during a more demanding functional activity, such as jumping landing. The aim was to investigate the relationships between kinesiophobia and hip/knee torque to pelvic/hip/knee kinematics during the single-leg drop vertical jump in women with PFP. METHOD: Thirty women with PFP were assessed with Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia; isokinetic dynamometry of the hip extensor, hip abductor, and knee extensor; and three-dimensional motion analysis system during the single-leg drop vertical jump. A Pearson correlation matrix was used to investigate relationship among variables. RESULTS: Fair correlations were found between increased kinesiophobia and increased peak hip internal rotation angle (r = 0.43; p = 0.018) as well as between greater peak knee extensor torque and greater peak knee flexion (r = 0.41; p = 0.022). Moderate to good correlation was found between increased peak hip abductor torque and increased peak contralateral pelvic drop (r = 0.52; p = 0.003). No other significant correlations were found between variables. CONCLUSIONS: Kinesiophobia is associated with hip kinematics, but not with knee kinematics, during the single-leg vertical drop jump in women with PFP. The greater hip abductor torque is associated with greater contralateral pelvic drop. The positive relationship between knee extensor torque and knee flexion indicates that rehabilitation programs involving quadriceps muscle strengthening may assist women with PFP in control knee flexion and improve load absorption during jumping landing.

Are Changes in Dynamic Knee Movement Control Related to Changes in Pain or Function in People With Knee Disorders? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether changes in dynamic knee valgus or varus were associated with changes in pain or function in people with knee disorders. DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. LITERATURE SEARCH: We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, from inception up to January 2023. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of nonsurgical (including nonpharmacological) interventions for knee disorders on frontal and transverse plane knee and hip movements during functional tasks, which reported pain and/or function outcomes. DATA SYNTHESIS: The relationship between changes in kinematics and pain/function was analyzed using a 2-stage structural equation modeling approach. RESULTS: From 42 202 records, 48 trials met the eligibility criteria. For people with patellofemoral pain (25 trials, n = 894), there was moderate evidence that changes in the knee and hip movements were significantly correlated with changes in pain and function (r= -0.69 to 0.73), except for the knee transverse plane movements and for the relationship between hip transverse plane movement and function. For people with knee osteoarthritis (15 trials, n = 704) and anterior cruciate ligament injuries (8 trials, n = 198), the evidence was limited and uncertain. CONCLUSION: The relationship between changes in movement control and clinical outcomes was consistent in people with patellofemoral pain. For people with knee osteoarthritis or anterior cruciate ligament injuries, there was a paucity of evidence that precluded a proper evaluation of the relationship between dynamic knee movement control, and pain and function. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2023;53(7):1-14. Epub: 18 April 2023. doi:10.2519/jospt.2023.11628.

From the light blue sky to the dark deep sea: Trophic and resource partitioning between epipelagic and mesopelagic layers in a tropical oceanic ecosystem.

The connection between epipelagic and deep-sea mesopelagic realms controls a variety of ecosystem processes including oceanic carbon storage and the provision of harvestable fish stocks. So far, these two layers have been mostly addressed in isolation and the ways they connect remain poorly understood. Furthermore, both systems are affected by climate change, exploitation of resources, and increasing pervasion of pollutants. Here we use bulk isotopes of δ13C and δ15N of 60 ecosystem components to evaluate the trophic linkage between epipelagic and mesopelagic ecosystems in warm oligotrophic waters. Additionally, we we conducted a comparison of isotopic niche sizes and overlaps across multiple species to evaluate how environmental gradients between epipelagic and mesopelagic ecosystems shape ecological patterns of resource use and competition between species. Our database comprises siphonophores, crustaceans, cephalopods, salpas, fishes, and seabirds. It also includes five zooplankton size classes, two groups of fish larvae, and particulate organic matter collected at different depths. Through this wide taxonomic and trophic variety of epipelagic and mesopelagic species, we show that pelagic species access resources originating from different food sources, mostly autotrophic-based (epipelagics) and microbial heterotrophic-based (mesopelagics). This leads to a sharp trophic dissimilarity between vertical layers. Additionally, we show that trophic specialization increases in deep-sea species and argue that food availability and environmental stability are among the main drivers of this pattern. Finally, we discuss how the ecological traits of pelagic species highlighted in this study can respond to human impacts and increase their vulnerability in the Anthropocene.

Keep posting and following social media profiles about physical therapy, but be aware! A cross-sectional study of social media posts on Instagram and Twitter.

BACKGROUND: Social media is established as a communication channel that is useful to disseminate scientific information. While social media can disseminate high quality information, it can also facilitate the spread of false or misleading information. Furthermore, social media is considered a self-promotion environment that can have several aspects related to personal marketing. OBJECTIVE: To systematically search and review social media posts verifying whether the posts about physical therapy interventions reported sources of information; the presence of aspects suggesting conflicts of interest (COI); whether information was presented to facilitate knowledge acquisition; the reach of information posted; and the use and quality of the cited scientific references. METHODS: Searches were performed on Instagram and Twitter using #reabilitação for Portuguese posts, and #rehabilitation for English posts. The inclusion criteria were posts including terms related to physical therapy and presenting interventions along with their purposes. The searches and screening processes were performed by at least two independent researchers. RESULTS: Of 1,145 pre-selected posts, 632 posts were included, of which 14% cited references as source of information, 57% presented potential COI, and 9% facilitated knowledge acquisition. The posts received the mean ± SD of 88 ± 593 likes and profiles had a mean of 5,162 ± 37,240 followers. Considering the posts that cited references, most posts presented consistent information (51%) and 6% presented only positives outcomes (selection bias). Many references were of poor methodological quality (39%). CONCLUSION: The present study enlightens the fact that most posts on Instagram and Twitter regarding physical therapy interventions did not report or use sources to support the information disseminated. Also, most posts were not created to facilitate knowledge acquisition. REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO register database (CRD42021276941).

Plastics and waterbirds in Brazil: A review of ingestion, nest materials and entanglement reveals substantial knowledge gaps and opportunities for research.

Plastic pollution is an increasing global problem, especially in aquatic environments. From invertebrates to vertebrates, many aquatic species have been affected by plastic pollution worldwide. Waterbirds also interact with plastics, mainly by ingesting them or using them as nest material. Brazil has one of the largest aquatic environment areas, including the most extensive wetland (the Pantanal) and biggest river (the Amazon), and a ∼7500 km long coastline, which hosts a remarkable waterbird diversity with more than 200 species from 28 bird families. Here, we synthesise published and grey literature to assess where, how, and which waterbirds (marine and continental) interact with plastics in Brazil. We found 96 documents reporting interaction between waterbirds and plastics. Only 32% of the occurring species in the country had at least one individual analysed. Plastic ingestion was reported in 67% of the studies, and seabirds were the study subject in 79% of them. We found no reports in continental aquatic environments, unveiling entire regions without any information regarding interactions. Consequently, this geographic bias drew a considerable taxonomic bias, with whole families and orders without information. Additionally, most studies did not aim to search for plastic interactions, which had a twofold effect. First, studies did not report their findings using the proposed standard metrics, hampering thus advances in understanding trends or defining robust baselines. Second, as it was not their main objective, plastics were not mentioned in titles, abstracts, and keywords, making it difficult to find these studies. We propose means for achieving a better understanding of waterbird-plastic interactions in space and time, and recommend searching for sentinel species and for allocating research grants.