Phytochemicals Against Drug-Resistant Bacterial Biofilms and Use of Green Extraction Solvents to Increase Their Bioactivity.

Antimicrobial resistance has become one of the major global public health issues of the twenty-first century. One of the main factors in the limited action of antimicrobials is related to the ability of microorganisms, particularly bacteria, to form biofilms. These complex and well-organized communities allow the colonizing cells to acquire survival advantages over the same cells in suspension, including antibiotic resistance. A huge percentage of bacterial infections in humans are associated with biofilms, and many of them are chronic. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new products effective in controlling or eradicating biofilms. Plant secondary metabolites (phytochemicals) have demonstrated their potential as antibacterials against planktonic cells and sessile communities when used alone or in synergy with other molecules. This chapter covers recent advances in the activity of phytochemicals against biofilms, particularly those formed by drug-resistant bacteria. In addition, taking into account that the extraction step is crucial for the successful development of new bioactive compounds, the use of novel solvents that increase the phytochemical effect, such as natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES), as well as the recent applications of these solvents as antimicrobials are discussed.

Cannabinoides en dolor neuropático: luces y sombras / Cannabinoids in neuropathic pain: lights and shadows

Objetivos: La inquietud sobre el grupo terapéutico cannabinoide ha ido creciendo en las últimas décadas, tanto a nivel de publicaciones como dentro de los socios de la Sociedad Española del Dolor. El interés sobre los cannabinoides en dolor neuropático (DN) es más reciente, siendo las primeras publicaciones desde el año 2001. El presente manuscrito recoge la información de la ponencia sobre DN y cannabinoides realizada para la Jornada del Grupo de Interés de Cannabinoides. Material y métodos: Se realizó una revisión narrativa no sistemática. El término de búsqueda fue "cannabis medicinal" Y "dolor neuropático". La base de datos utilizada fue PubMed Central sin límite de fechas, con idioma de búsqueda inglés. Se seleccionaron los artículos más destacados en las categorías: "metanálisis y revisiones sistemáticas", "revisiones de expertos" y "experiencia ajena" (experiencias en otros países, tras su aprobación). Resultados: Desde el año 2001 se han publicado 54 revisiones sistemáticas sobre cannabinoides y dolor con conclusiones contradictorias. Un análisis de las revisiones mostró una baja calidad de los propios ensayos clínicos y de las revisiones en sí. De 10 revisiones específicas sobre cannabinoides y DN, la mayoría ni definió el objetivo de dolor analizado, ni la vía de administración de los ensayos clínicos analizados, ni el tipo de agente analizado. Solo 1 cumplía criterios de alta calidad AMSTAR-2, mientras que 7 eran de calidad críticamente baja. Un metanálisis sobre la opinión de la impresión de cambio del paciente reveló un odds ratio de 2,0, (intervalo de confianza 1,37-2,94). Algunas sociedades científicas han publicado recomendaciones sobre su uso como terapias de 2ª o 3ª línea, pero con considerables precauciones y limitaciones. En la experiencia de otros países también se pueden observar datos contradictorios. En Tailandia el número de efectos secundarios aumentó significativamente, sobre todo con el aceite.(AU)

Objectives: The concern about the cannabinoid therapeutic group has been growing in recent decades, both at the level of publications and within the members of the Spanish Pain Society. The interest in cannabinoids in neuropathic pain (NP) is more recent, with the first publications dating back to 2001. This manuscript collects information from the presentation on NP and cannabinoids given for the Cannabinoids Interest Group Conference. Material and methods: A non-systematic narrative review was carried out. The search term was "medical cannabis" AND "neuropathic pain". The database used was PubMedâ Centralâ without date limits, with English search language. The most outstanding articles were selected from the categories: "meta-analyses and systematic reviews", "expert reviews" and "experience from others" (experiences in other countries, after approval). Results: Since 2001, 54 systematic reviews on cannabinoids and pain have been published with contradictory conclusions. An analysis of the reviews showed low quality of the clinical trials and of the reviews themselves. Of 10 specific reviews on cannabinoids and NP, the majority neither defined the objective of pain analyzed, nor the route of administration of the clinical trials analyzed, nor the type of agent analyzed. Only 1 met AMSTAR-2 high quality criteria while 7 were of critically low quality. A meta-analysis on the patient's impression of change opinion revealed an odds ratio of 2.0, (confidence interval 1.37-2.94). Some scientific societies have published recommendations on their use as 2nd or 3rd line therapies, but with considerable precautions and limitations. Contradictory data can also be observed in the experience of other countries. In Thailand the number of side effects increased significantly, especially with oil. In Israel, the intensity of pain decreased by 20 %, and the use of analgesics decreased by another 43 %. Morphine Equivalent Dose (DEM) decreased by 42 %.(AU)

Primary central nervous system angiosarcoma with recurrent acute subdural hematoma / Angiosarcoma cerebral primario del sistema nervioso central con hematoma subdural agudo recurrente

Angiosarcoma is an infrequent tumor among sarcomas, especially presenting as a primary tumor within the central nervous system, which can lead to a rapid neurological deterioration and death in few months. We present a 41-year old man with a right frontal enhancing hemorrhagic lesion. Surgery was performed with histopathological findings suggesting a primary central nervous system angiosarcoma. He was discharged uneventfully and received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. At 5 months, the follow-up MRI showed two lesions with an acute subdural hematoma, suggesting a relapse. Surgery was again conducted finding tumoral membranes attached to the internal layer of the duramater around the right hemisphere. The patient died a few days later due to the recurrence of the subdural hematoma.This case report illustrates a rare and lethal complication of an unusual tumor. The literature reviewed shows that gross-total resection with adjuvant radiotherapy seems to be the best treatment of choice (AU)

El angiosarcoma es un tumor infrecuente entre los sarcomas, especialmente cuando se trata de una lesión primaria en el sistema nervioso central, que puede conducir a un rápido deterioro neurológico y a la muerte en pocos meses. Se presenta a un varón de 41 años con una lesión hemorrágica frontal derecha. Se realiza cirugía con resultados histopatológicos que sugieren un angiosarcoma cerebral primario. El paciente recibió tratamiento complementario con quimioterapia y radioterapia. A los cinco meses, el seguimiento con RM mostró dos lesiones y un hematoma subdural agudo, sugiriendo recaída. Se realizó una nueva cirugía hallando membranas tumorales unidas a la cara interna de la duramadre, alrededor del hemisferio derecho. El paciente acabó falleciendo debido a la recurrencia del hematoma subdural. Este caso ilustra una complicación rara y letal de un tumor infrecuente. La literatura revisada muestra que su tratamiento de elección es la resección completa y la radioterapia adyuvante (AU)

Cadherin-3 is a novel oncogenic biomarker with prognostic value in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor in adults. The prognosis of patients is very poor, with a median overall survival of ~ 15 months after diagnosis. Cadherin-3 (also known as P-cadherin), a cell-cell adhesion molecule encoded by the CDH3 gene, is deregulated in several cancer types, but its relevance in GBM is unknown. In this study, we investigated the functional roles, the associated molecular signatures, and the prognostic value of CDH3/P-cadherin in this highly malignant brain tumor. CDH3/P-cadherin mRNA and protein levels were evaluated in human glioma samples. Knockdown and overexpression models of P-cadherin in GBM were used to evaluate its functional role in vitro and in vivo. CDH3-associated gene signatures were identified by enrichment analyses and correlations. The impact of CDH3 in the survival of GBM patients was assessed in independent cohorts using both univariable and multivariable models. We found that P-cadherin protein is expressed in a subset of gliomas, with an increased percentage of positive samples in grade IV tumors. Concordantly, CDH3 mRNA levels in glioma samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database are increased in high-grade gliomas. P-cadherin displays oncogenic functions in multiple knockdown and overexpression GBM cell models by affecting cell viability, cell cycle, cell invasion, migration, and neurosphere formation capacity. Genes that were positively correlated with CDH3 are enriched for oncogenic pathways commonly activated in GBM. In vivo, GBM cells expressing high levels of P-cadherin generate larger subcutaneous tumors and cause shorter survival of mice in an orthotopic intracranial model. Concomitantly, high CDH3 expression is predictive of shorter overall survival of GBM patients in independent cohorts. Together, our results show that CDH3/P-cadherin expression is associated with aggressiveness features of GBM and poor patient prognosis, suggesting that it may be a novel therapeutic target for this deadly brain tumor.

Universal newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus infection: feasibility and relevance in a French type-III maternity cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of relevance and feasibility of universal newborn congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMVI) screening in saliva. DESIGN: Retrospective, population-based cohort study. SETTING: Clamart, France, 2016-2020. POPULATION: All neonates born consecutively in our level III maternity unit. METHODS: CMV PCR in saliva for all neonates at birth, and, if positive, CMV PCR in urine to confirm or exclude cCMVI. Prospective and retrospective characterisation of maternal infections. ROC curve analysis to assess saliva PCR performances. Acceptability of screening among staff members evaluated by a survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of cCMVI neonates; number of expected and unexpected cCMVI. RESULTS: Among 15 341 tested neonates, 63 had cCMVI (birth prevalence of 0.4%, 95% CI 0.3-0.5). In 50% of cases, maternal infection was a non-primary infection (NPI) during pregnancy. cCMVI was expected or suspected (maternal primary infection [PI], antenatal or neonatal signs) in 24/63 neonates (38%), and unexpected in 39/63 neonates (62%). The best CMV saliva threshold to predict cCMVI was 356 (2.55 log) copies/ml [95% CI 2.52 log-3.18 log], with an area under the ROC curve of 0.97. Over 90% of the 72 surveyed staff members reported that the screening was easy and quick. No parent refused the screening. CONCLUSIONS: Universal screening for cCMVI with CMV PCR on saliva samples is feasible and highly acceptable to parents and healthcare providers. Over half (62%) of the cases had no prenatal/neonatal signs of cCMVI or a maternal history of CMV infection during pregnancy and would probably not have been diagnosed without universal screening. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: In 62% of congenital cytomegalovirus infection cases, only universal neonatal screening in saliva can detect infection.

Hábitos de prescripción para el abordaje del dolor neuropático en España: resultados de la encuesta del grupo de trabajo de dolor neuropático de la Sociedad Española del Dolor / Prescribing habits for neuropathic pain management in Spain: results of the survey of the neuropathic pain working group of the Spanish Pain Society

Objetivos: Hace más de diez años que salieron al mercado los últimos fármacos con indicación en las guías internacionales de dolor neuropático (DN). Estas recomiendan iniciar con monoterapia y sitúan el tratamiento combinado en el segundo escalón. Un considerable número de pacientes no alcanza un suficiente alivio del dolor o mejora de su calidad de vida con los fármacos disponibles. Bajo esta perspectiva, el Grupo de Trabajo (GT) de DN de la Sociedad Española del Dolor (SED) diseñó una encuesta para el abordaje del DN mediante fármacos, técnicas intervencionistas y tratamientos fuera de indicación en nuestro medio. En este artículo se analiza solo la parte de tratamientos farmacológicos. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo mediante un cuestionario autoadministrado difundido por correo electrónico a los socios de la SED en dos oleadas durante 2019. Al inicio del cuestionario se realizaba una pregunta de selección sobre si utilizaban o no tratamientos fuera de ficha técnica o fuera de indicación. Solo los que respondieron afirmativamente procedieron a todo el conjunto de preguntas. Este se dividió en los siguientes bloques: antiepilépticos, antidepresivos, antipsicóticos, anestésicos, anti-nmda, cannabinoides, naltrexona, tratamientos tópicos, toxina botulínica, polifarmacia y tratamientos fuera de ficha. Dentro de la sección de tratamientos tópicos se incluyó la toxina botulínica. Resultados: La tasa de respuesta fue del 13,82 %, siendo del 10,05 % una vez descartadas las no válidas. El 21 % comienzan el tratamiento del DN con polifarmacia y un 43 % lo hace cuando no responden a una primera línea. El 40 % de los encuestados opinan que no hay evidencia suficiente para el uso de polifarmacia. El 70 % de los participantes trataban hasta un 30 % de sus pacientes con DN con fármacos fuera de indicación. El 23,3 % utilizaban medicamentos fuera de ficha técnica entre el 40 % y el 60 % de los pacientes con DN y un 6,6 % lo hacía en un 70-90 %...(AU)

Objectives: Latest drugs with an indication for neuropathic pain (NP) in the international guidelines came onto the market more than ten years ago. They recommend starting with monotherapy and place the combined treatment in the second step. A considerable number of patients do not achieve sufficient pain relief or improvement in their quality of life with the available drugs. From this perspective, the NP Working Group (WG) of the Spanish Pain Society (SED) designed a survey to address how NP drugs, off-label treatments and interventional techniques are being used in our setting. In this article we will only discuss the pharmacological treatment options.Material and methods: Descriptive study using a self-administered questionnaire distributed by email to SED members in two waves during 2019. At the beginning of the questionnaire, a selection question was asked whether or not they used non-technical or off-label treatments. Only those who answered affirmatively proceeded to the entire set of questions. It was divided into the following blocks: antiepileptics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anesthetics, anti-nmda, cannabinoids, naltrexone, topical treatments, botulinum toxin, polypharmacy and off-label treatments. Botulinum toxin was included in the topical treatments section. Results: The response rate was 13.82 %, being 10.05 % once the invalid ones had been ruled out. 21 % begin the treatment of NP directly on polypharmacy and 43 % do so when they do not respond to a first line. 40 % of those surveyed think that there is insufficient evidence for the use of polypharmacy. 70 % of the participants treated up to 30 % of their NP patients with off-label drugs. 23.3 % used off-label me­dications in between 40 % and 60 % of patients with NP and 6.6 % did so in 70-90 % of patients...(AU)

Mucosal immune responses in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) juveniles after Tenacibaculum maritimum challenge: A comparative study between ocular and blind sides.

Most pathogens start the process of infection at the mucosal surfaces and therefore the mucosal immune response plays an essential role in the course of the infection. Due to the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup) condition of flatfish, the present comparative study aimed to analyse several immune-related enzymes as well as the bactericidal activity in the skin mucus from ocular and blind sides. For this purpose, Senegalese sole juveniles were bath challenged with a sub-lethal dose of Tenacibaculum maritimum for 24 h and sampled at 1, 2 and 3 weeks. The haematological profile and immune-related parameters were also measured in plasma in order to evaluate the systemic immune response after T. maritimum challenge. Results from this study showed that most parameters tested increased in skin mucus of bath challenged fish compared to unchallenged ones. In contrast, the sub-lethal dose tested did not influence the haematological profile including peripheral numbers the different leucocyte types. No variations were observed in plasma lysozyme, peroxidase, protease and haemolytic complement activities between unchallenged and bath challenged fish. This study suggests that the studied innate immune-related molecules are constitutively present in both skin mucus sides but at different levels. Interestingly, the levels of most parameters measured were higher on the ocular side than on the blind side, possibly due to the higher exposure to invasion by waterborne microorganisms on this side. Therefore, the present study brings some insights regarding local immune responses after bacterial challenge in skin mucus from the ocular and blind sides in one of the most valuable flatfish species in southern Europe.

A novel molecular link between HOXA9 and WNT6 in glioblastoma identifies a subgroup of patients with particular poor prognosis.

Despite much effort to improve treatments, patients with malignant glioma still present a very poor prognosis that has not changed significantly in the last decades. In this context, it is crucial to better understand glioma pathogenesis to identify new molecular prognostic subgroups and therapeutic targets. WNT6 was recently identified as a new oncogenic molecule in glioblastoma (GBM), with prognostic value in patients, but the mechanisms underlying WNT6 aberrant expression in glioma are still unknown. WNT6 was overexpressed in a subset of gliomas independently of IDH mutations, 1p/19q codeletion status, and WNT6 gene copy number. Interestingly, WNT6 expression is associated with the DNA methylation levels of particular CpG regions at both the WNT6 promoter and the gene body in glioma patient samples. HOXA9, a transcription factor previously associated with poorer clinical outcome in GBM, was identified as a novel transcriptional regulator of WNT6, activating the WNT/ß-catenin pathway in vitro and in vivo. In various cohorts of glioma patients, mRNA levels of WNT6 and HOXA9 were significantly correlated, extending our in vitro and in vivo findings into the clinical setting. Interestingly, this novel molecular link between WNT6 and HOXA9 was not limited to glioma, as they were co-expressed also in patients with other tumor types. Clinically, WNT6 was a prognostic biomarker of shorter survival in GBM, independently of HOXA9 expression. Concomitant high expression of both WNT6 and HOXA9 identified a subgroup of patients with particularly dismal survival. These findings describe novel WNT6 regulatory mechanisms in GBM, establishing particular DNA methylation patterns and HOXA9 as critical regulators of WNT6 expression in glioma. This HOXA9-WNT6 molecular link supports WNT signaling in GBM cells and is a powerful prognostic biomarker, highlighting the clinical relevance of this axis in patients. Novel therapies targeting WNT6-HOXA9 signaling may thus be useful for this deadly disease.

Ecografía clínica en el manejo de paciente politraumatizado en la práctica diaria del anestesiólogo / Clinical ultrasound in the management of polytraumatized patients in the daily practice of the anesthesiologist

La ecografía ha demostrado tener un papel determinante en el diagnóstico y pronóstico del tratamiento de los pacientes con politrauma. Describimos el caso de un hombre de 52 años politraumatizado y hemodinámicamente inestable. La evaluación ecográfica abdominal fue positiva para hemoperitoneo, por lo que se realizó una laparotomía exploratoria de urgencia. En el período intraoperatorio, se utilizó la ecografía pulmonar para excluir lesión pulmonar traumática. En el pulmón derecho, la ecografía pulmonar sugirió presencia de neumotórax y en el pulmón izquierdo, consolidación subpleural. Posteriormente se realizó una tomografía computarizada que confirmó los hallazgos ecográficos. Al cuarto día del ingreso se le realizó una corrección quirúrgica de fractura compleja izquierda de cadera, con un bloqueo cuadrado lumbar tipo 2 guiado por ecografía antes de la incisión quirúrgica. El procedimiento transcurrió sin incidentes y el paciente permaneció hemodinámicamente estable, sin signos indirectos de dolor. Este caso ilustra que el examen guiado por ecografía puede tener un papel crucial en el manejo de los pacientes politraumatizados. Fue una herramienta de diagnóstico fundamental en la evaluación inicial, así como en la gestión posterior en quirófano

Ultrasound has an important role in the diagnosis and prognosis of polytrauma patients. We describe a case of a 52-year-old man with hemodynamic instability and multiple injuries. Abdominal ultrasound evaluation was positive for hemoperitoneum, so an exploratory laparotomy was performed. During the intraoperative period, lung ultrasound was used to exclude traumatic lung injury. In the right lung, lung ultrasound suggested the presence of pneumothorax, and in the left a subpleural consolidation. Subsequently, a computed tomography was performed, confirming the sonographic findings. On the fourth admission day, he underwent surgical correction of a left hip fracture. A type 2 quadratus lumborum block (ultrasound-guided) was performed before surgical incision. The procedure was uneventful. The patient remained hemodynamically stable, without indirect signs of pain. This case shows that ultrasound-guided examination plays a crucial role in the management of polytrauma patients. It was a fundamental diagnostic tool in the initial evaluation, and was also used during surgery

Clinical ultrasound in the management of polytraumatized patients in the daily practice of the anesthesiologist. / Ecografía clínica en el manejo de paciente politraumatizado en la práctica diaria del anestesiólogo.

Ultrasound has an important role in the diagnosis and prognosis of polytrauma patients. We describe a case of a 52-year-old man with hemodynamic instability and multiple injuries. Abdominal ultrasound evaluation was positive for hemoperitoneum, so an exploratory laparotomy was performed. During the intraoperative period, lung ultrasound was used to exclude traumatic lung injury. In the right lung, lung ultrasound suggested the presence of pneumothorax, and in the left a subpleural consolidation. Subsequently, a computed tomography was performed, confirming the sonographic findings. On the fourth admission day, he underwent surgical correction of a left hip fracture. A type 2 quadratus lumborum block (ultrasound-guided) was performed before surgical incision. The procedure was uneventful. The patient remained hemodynamically stable, without indirect signs of pain. This case shows that ultrasound-guided examination plays a crucial role in the management of polytrauma patients. It was a fundamental diagnostic tool in the initial evaluation, and was also used during surgery.

Hepatitis C subtype distribution in chronically infected patients with mild liver fibrosis in France: the GEMHEP study.

Treatment options for Hepatitis C infection have greatly improved with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) combinations achieving high cure rates. Nevertheless, the cost of this treatment is still high and access to treatment in many countries has been preferentially reserved for patients with more severe fibrosis (F3 and F4). In this French nationwide study, we investigated the epidemiological characteristics and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in treatment-naive patients with METAVIR fibrosis stages between F0 and F2 in order to identify patient profiles that became eligible for unrestricted treatment in a second period. Between 2015 and 2016 we collected data from nine French university hospitals on a total of 584 HCV positive patients with absent, mild or moderate liver fibrosis. The most represented genotypes were genotype 1b (159/584; 27.2%), followed by genotype 1a (150/584; 25.7%); genotype 3 (87/584: 14.9%); genotype 4 (80/584; 13.7%). Among genotype 4: 4a was predominantly encountered with 22 patients (27.5% of genotype 4). Genotypes 1b and 1a are currently the most frequent virus types present in treatment-naive patients with mild fibrosis in France. They can be readily cured using the available DAA. Nevertheless, non-a/non-d genotype 4 is also frequent in this population and clinical data on the efficacy of DAA on these subtypes is missing. The GEMHEP is the French group for study and evaluation of viral hepatitis on a national scale. Data collection on epidemiological and molecular aspects of viral hepatitis is performed on a regular basis in all main French teaching hospitals and serves as a basis for surveillance of these infections. Analysis and trends are regularly published on behalf of the GEMHEP group. Data collection was performed retrospectively over the 2015-2016 period, covering nine main university hospitals in France. A total of 584 hepatitis C positive patients were included in this study. Genotyping of the circulating viruses showed a high prevalence of genotypes 1b and 1a in our population. The epidemiology of hepatitis C is slowly changing in France, particularly as a consequence of the rise of 'non-a non-d' genotype 4 viruses mainly originating from African populations. More data concerning treatment efficacy of these genotypes is needed in order to guide clinical care.

Coesão de grupo em categorias de base do futebol / Group cohesion in Football based categories

O presente estudo tem como objetivo investigar a coesão de grupo em atletas de Futebol, de categorias de base, e comparar os níveis de coesão de grupo entre as equipes investigadas. Para isso, participaram do estudo, de forma voluntária, 84 jogadores de Futebol com idade entre 13 e 19 anos (16,04 ± 1,73), todos do sexo masculino e jogadores de 3 clubes do Estado de São Paulo. Cabe ressaltar que todos participantes preencheram o Termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido (TCLE) e o termo de assentimento, no caso dos menores de idade. Todos participantes responderam ao Questionário de Ambiente de Grupo ­ QEG, adaptado e validado para a língua portuguesa, além de um questionário sociodemográfico. Para as análises, recorreu-se a análises descritivas e inferenciais. Os resultados apontam, para análise intragrupo, independentemente do clube, que os grupos apresentam maiores escores para dimensão atração individual no grupo-tarefa, seguida da atração individual no grupo-social e menor escore para dimensão integração no grupo-tarefa. Em relação às análises entre clubes, pode-se observar que o clube 3 apresentou maiores escores que o clube 2, apenas, para as dimensões atração individual no grupo-tarefa e integração no grupo-tarefa. Diante do exposto, conclui-se que atletas de categorias de base parecem priorizar as dimensões de atração individual, que pode estar envolvido com a vontade de se profissionalizar e a incerteza de se esse objetivo será alcançado. Além disso, os atletas do clube 3 apresentaram maior coesão que os atletas do clube 2, indicando que nesse clube, possivelmente, tenha uma preocupação maior com a preparação psicológica, aliado a um estilo de liderança preferencial por parte dos atletas....(AU)

The present study aims to investigate group cohesion in soccer athletes, from youth categories, and compare the levels of team-cohesion among the teams investigated. For this, 84 soccer players aged 13 to 19 (16.04 ± 1.73), all males and players from 3 clubs of the State of São Paulo, participated voluntarily. It's important to highlight that all participants completed the Term of Free and Informed Consent (TCLE) and the consent term, in the case of minors. All participants answered the Group Environment Questionnaire - QEG, adapted and validated to Portuguese language, in addition they fulfill a sociodemographic questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential analyzes were used. The results show that, for intragroup analysis, independently of the club, there are higher scores for individual attraction dimension in the task group, followed by individual attraction in the social group and lower scores for integration dimension in the task group. Regarding the analysis between clubs, it can be observed that club 3 presented higher scores than club 2, only, for the individual attraction dimensions in the task group and integration in the task group. We concluded that grassroots athletes seem to prioritize the dimensions of individual attraction, which may be involved with the desire to become professional and the uncertainty of whether this goal will be achieved. In addition, club 3 athletes were more cohesive than club 2 athletes, indicating that they may have a greater concern with psychological preparation, coupled with a preferred leadership style by athletes....(AU)

Dental pulp stem cells and Bonelike® for bone regeneration in ovine model.

Development of synthetic bone substitutes has arisen as a major research interest in the need to find an alternative to autologous bone grafts. Using an ovine model, the present pre-clinical study presents a synthetic bone graft (Bonelike®) in combination with a cellular system as an alternative for the regeneration of non-critical defects. The association of biomaterials and cell-based therapies is a promising strategy for bone tissue engineering. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human dental pulp have demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo to interact with diverse biomaterial systems and promote mineral deposition, aiming at the reconstruction of osseous defects. Moreover, these cells can be found and isolated from many species. Non-critical bone defects were treated with Bonelike® with or without MSCs obtained from the human dental pulp. Results showed that Bonelike® and MSCs treated defects showed improved bone regeneration compared with the defects treated with Bonelike® alone. Also, it was observed that the biomaterial matrix was reabsorbed and gradually replaced by new bone during the healing process. We therefore propose this combination as an efficient binomial strategy that promotes bone growth and vascularization in non-critical bone defects.

Mucosal and systemic immune responses in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis Kaup) bath challenged with Tenacibaculum maritimum: A time-course study.

Tenacibaculosis, caused by Tenacibaculum maritimum, continues to inflict substantial losses among cultured marine species, particularly in the Senegalese sole. However, the immune mechanisms in fish involved in fighting against this disease are still poorly understood. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the skin mucus's terminal carbohydrate composition, several immune-related enzymes (i.e. lysozyme, peroxidase, proteases and antiproteases), the haemolytic activity of complement and the bactericidal activity in the skin mucus and plasma of the Senegalese sole in a time-course study following a bath challenge with T. maritimum. The haematological profile and the kinetics of cell migration post-infection were also considered. The bath challenge induced slight variations in the terminal carbohydrate composition of Senegalese sole skin mucus. In general, results from this study showed a delay in the mucosal immune response compared to that found at the systemic level (i.e. blood and plasma). For instance, a significant increase in the skin mucus's lysozyme, complement, protease and antiprotease activities were observed at the end of the experiment (14 d post-challenge). Interestingly, the higher activity of these enzymes could be related to the skin mucus's bactericidal capacity and haemolytic complement activity, suggesting that these enzymes play an important role in the defence against Gram-negative bacteria. The haematological profile revealed a significant increase in circulating neutrophils in challenged fish after 48 and 72 h, which was positively correlated to the increments observed in peroxidase and lysozyme activities, respectively, in the plasma of challenged fish at the same time. Although the route of entry and the survival strategy of T. maritimum are still not fully elucidated, results from the present study will contribute to this endeavour through the study of the mucosal immune responses of fish against this particular pathogen.