Restoration experiments in polymetallic nodule areas.

Deep-seabed polymetallic nodule mining can have multiple adverse effects on benthic communities, such as permanent loss of habitat by removal of nodules and habitat modification of sediments. One tool to manage biodiversity risks is the mitigation hierarchy, including avoidance, minimization of impacts, rehabilitation and/or restoration, and offset. We initiated long-term restoration experiments at sites in polymetallic nodule exploration contract areas in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone that were (i) cleared of nodules by a preprototype mining vehicle, (ii) disturbed by dredge or sledge, (iii) undisturbed, and (iv) naturally devoid of nodules. To accommodate for habitat loss, we deployed >2000 artificial ceramic nodules to study the possible effect of substrate provision on the recovery of biota and its impact on sediment biogeochemistry. Seventy-five nodules were recovered after eight weeks and had not been colonized by any sessile epifauna. All other nodules will remain on the seafloor for several years before recovery. Furthermore, to account for habitat modification of the top sediment layer, sediment in an epibenthic sledge track was loosened by a metal rake to test the feasibility of sediment decompaction to facilitate soft-sediment recovery. Analyses of granulometry and nutrients one month after sediment decompaction revealed that sand fractions are proportionally lower within the decompacted samples, whereas total organic carbon values are higher. Considering the slow natural recovery rates of deep-sea communities, these experiments represent the beginning of a ~30-year study during which we expect to gain insights into the nature and timing of the development of hard-substrate communities and the influence of nodules on the recovery of disturbed sediment communities. Results will help us understand adverse long-term effects of nodule removal, providing an evidence base for setting criteria for the definition of "serious harm" to the environment. Furthermore, accompanying research is needed to define a robust ecosystem baseline in order to effectively identify restoration success. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:682-696. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

The Balance between Energy, Environmental Security, and Technical Performance: The Regulatory Challenge of Nanofluids.

Nowadays, numerous studies on nanomaterials (NMs) and Nanofluids (NFs) are account a plethora of applications. With the scientific society's common goal of fulfilling the target of sustainable development proposed by the UN by 2030, it is necessary to combine efforts based on the scientific and technological knowledge already acquired, to apply these new systems with safety. There are thousands of publications that examine the use of NFs, their benefits and drawbacks, properties, behaviors, etc., but very little is known about the safety of some of these systems at a laboratory and industrial scale. What is the correct form of manipulating, storing, or even destroying them? What is their life cycle, and are they likely to be reused? Depending on the nanoparticles, the characteristics of the base fluid (water, propylene glycol, or even an ionic liquid) and the addition or not of additives/surfactants, the safety issue becomes complex. In this study, general data regarding the safety of NF (synthetic and natural) are discussed, for a necessary reflection leading to the elaboration of a methodology looking at the near future, intended to be sustainable at the level of existing resources, health, and environmental protection, paving the way for safer industrial and medical applications. A discussion on the efficient use of nanofluids with melanin (natural NM) and TiO2 in a pilot heat collector for domestic solar energy applications illustrates this methodology, showing that technical advantages can be restricted by their environment and safety/security implications.

The Synthetic Cannabinoids THJ-2201 and 5F-PB22 Enhance In Vitro CB1 Receptor-Mediated Neuronal Differentiation at Biologically Relevant Concentrations.

Recreational use of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) before and during pregnancy poses a major public health risk, due to the potential onset of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring. Herein, we report the assessment of the neurotoxic potential of two commonly abused SCs, THJ-2201 and 5F-PB22, particularly focusing on how they affect neuronal differentiation in vitro. Differentiation ratios, total neurite length, and neuronal marker expression were assessed in NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma cells exposed to the SCs at non-toxic, biologically relevant concentrations (≤1 µM), either in acute or repeated exposure settings. Both SCs enhanced differentiation ratios and total neurite length of NG108-15 cells near two-fold compared to vehicle-treated cells, in a CB1R activation-dependent way, as the CB1R blockade with a specific antagonist (SR141718) abrogated SC-induced effects. Interestingly, repeated 5F-PB22 exposure was required to reach effects similar to a single THJ-2201 dose. Cell viability and proliferation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and intracellular ATP levels were also determined. The tested SCs increased mitochondrial tetramethyl rhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) accumulation after 24 h at biologically relevant concentrations but did not affect any of the other toxicological parameters. Overall, we report firsthand the CB1R-mediated enhancement of neurodifferentiation by 5F-PB22 and THJ-2201 at biologically relevant concentrations.

Synthetic cannabinoids and their impact on neurodevelopmental processes.

Cannabinoids comprise a broad group of psychoactive substances that activate endogenous cannabinoid (EC) receptors (ie, CB1 R and CB2 R), altering neurotransmitter release in the brain. The importance of their regulatory role in different biological processes has prompted the development of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), substantially more potent than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the main psychoactive substance of cannabis). Although SCs were primarily designed given their therapeutic applications, their recreational use has become a major public health concern due to several reports of severe intoxications and deaths. SCs have favored increased popularity over recent years due to their intensified psychoactive effects, compared with THC, turning regular cannabis users into SCs. Among cannabinoid users (mainly young people), pregnant women and women of child-bearing potential (WoCBP) comprise particular risk groups, due to the potential onset of neurodevelopment disorders in the offspring (eg, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders). Understanding the role played by cannabinoids, and the potential action of emerging SCs in the regulation of the neuronal function, especially during neuronal development, thus assumes critical relevance. Here, we review the mechanistic regulation of neuronal processes, namely during neuronal development, by the endocannabinoid system. Most important, we further develop on the potential of SCs to modulate such mechanisms and subsequently disrupt proper neurodevelopment.

Thallium isotopes reveal protracted anoxia during the Toarcian (Early Jurassic) associated with volcanism, carbon burial, and mass extinction.

For this study, we generated thallium (Tl) isotope records from two anoxic basins to track the earliest changes in global bottom water oxygen contents over the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE; ∼183 Ma) of the Early Jurassic. The T-OAE, like other Mesozoic OAEs, has been interpreted as an expansion of marine oxygen depletion based on indirect methods such as organic-rich facies, carbon isotope excursions, and biological turnover. Our Tl isotope data, however, reveal explicit evidence for earlier global marine deoxygenation of ocean water, some 600 ka before the classically defined T-OAE. This antecedent deoxygenation occurs at the Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary and is coeval with the onset of initial large igneous province (LIP) volcanism and the initiation of a marine mass extinction. Thallium isotopes are also perturbed during the T-OAE interval, as defined by carbon isotopes, reflecting a second deoxygenation event that coincides with the acme of elevated marine mass extinctions and the main phase of LIP volcanism. This suggests that the duration of widespread anoxic bottom waters was at least 1 million years in duration and spanned early to middle Toarcian time. Thus, the Tl data reveal a more nuanced record of marine oxygen depletion and its links to biological change during a period of climatic warming in Earth's past and highlight the role of oxygen depletion on past biological evolution.

Acute Biphasic Effects of Ayahuasca.

Ritual use of ayahuasca, an amazonian Amerindian medicine turned sacrament in syncretic religions in Brazil, is rapidly growing around the world. Because of this internationalization, a comprehensive understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms of action of the brew and the neural correlates of the modified states of consciousness it induces is important. Employing a combination of electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and quantification of ayahuasca's compounds and their metabolites in the systemic circulation we found ayahuasca to induce a biphasic effect in the brain. This effect was composed of reduced power in the alpha band (8-13 Hz) after 50 minutes from ingestion of the brew and increased slow- and fast-gamma power (30-50 and 50-100 Hz, respectively) between 75 and 125 minutes. Alpha power reductions were mostly located at left parieto-occipital cortex, slow-gamma power increase was observed at left centro-parieto-occipital, left fronto-temporal and right frontal cortices while fast-gamma increases were significant at left centro-parieto-occipital, left fronto-temporal, right frontal and right parieto-occipital cortices. These effects were significantly associated with circulating levels of ayahuasca's chemical compounds, mostly N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine and some of their metabolites. An interpretation based on a cognitive and emotional framework relevant to the ritual use of ayahuasca, as well as it's potential therapeutic effects is offered.

Obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: There is convincing evidence that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly associated with impaired glucose metabolism. OBJECTIVES: Analyze the prevalence of OSA in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Evaluate the influence of OSA on glycemic control. METHODS: The adult patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) followed in the department of internal medicine were referred to our Sleep Unit. A home respiratory polygraphy was then performed on all patients with body mass index (BMI) <40 kg/m(2). The glycemic control was assessed by the value of glycated hemoglobin (Hba1c) in the previous 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 46 patients were studied (20 men and 26 women), the mean age was 50±15 years and mean BMI was 28.6±4.9 kg/m(2). The mean Hba1c was 8.3±1.2. Twenty three patients had type 2 DM and 23 patients had type 1 DM. Twenty nine patients (63.0%) had OSA and 8.7% had severe OSA (AHI>30/h). The mean CT90 was 5.3±12.5 and the mean AHI was 13.6±18.3. The mean AHI was similar between type 1 and type 2 DM (15.7±24.5 Vs 11.6±8.9; p=0.46). The AHI was not correlated with the BMI. Type 2 DM patients with poor glycemic control (HbA1c>7.5%) had a significantly higher mean AHI (14.3±9.0 vs 6.4±6.2; p=0.038). This difference did not remain significant after adjustment for BMI (p=0.151). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of OSA in type 1 DM is similar to that found in type 2 DM. We note the high prevalence of OSA in younger patients with type 1 DM.

Argyria - Case report / Argiria - Relato de caso

A 70-year-old male rural worker was referred to our clinic with widespread grey pigmentation of the skin and nails. The condition had been asymptomatic for its entire duration (5 years). He reported past intranasal application of 10% Silver Vitellinate. A skin biopsy was performed and histology corroborated the clinical diagnosis of Argyria. This case represents a currently rare dermatological curiosity. Although silver colloids and salts have been withdrawn and/or banned by some drug surveillance agencies, they continue to be freely sold and unregulated as food supplements and as ingredients in alternative medicines, thereby risking the emergence of new cases of silver poisoning.

Um homem de 70 anos, trabalhador rural, foi referenciado à nossa consulta por dermatose assintomática, com 5 anos de evolução, caracterizada pela pigmentação acinzentada generalizada da pele, mais evidente em áreas fotoexpostas, e das lâminas ungueais. Relatava no passado o uso prolongado de Vitelinato de Prata a 10%, por via nasal. Foi efetuado exame histológico de biopsia cutânea que corroborou o diagnóstico clínico de Argiria. O caso representa uma curiosidade dermatológica, atualmente rara. Apesar de abandonados e/ou proibidos por algumas instituições de farmacovigilância, a prata coloidal e sais de prata continuam a ser comercializados como suplementos alimentares, como parte de medicinas alternativas e sem regulação, podendo fazer ressurgir os casos associados à toxicidade pela prata.

High-grade primary leiomyosarcoma in the mandible: diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant tumor that originates in smooth muscle cells and is rarely found in the oral cavity. We present a case of high-grade primary leiomyosarcoma in the mandible and discuss the diagnosis process. METHODS: The patient was a 64-year-old white man who had a slight increase in volume in the left-side mandible with a radiolucent osteolytic image with the destruction of the mandibular cortex. Incisional biopsy and preoperative examination were performed, including cone beam CT and examination by immunohistochemistry that defined the histologic diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. The patient underwent reconstruction with an osteocutaneous flap with microvascular anastomosis. RESULTS: Two years after the surgery, there was no sign of recurrence of the lesion. CONCLUSION: The use of cone beam CT to define the limits of the lesion and the immunohistochemical findings were essential to establish the treatment plan.

[The diagnostic challenge of a rare pulmonary neoplasm]. / O desafio diagnóstico de uma neoplasia pulmonar rara.

Primary pulmonary sarcomas account for less than 0.5% of all thoracic neoplasms. They're aggressive tumors arising in mesenchymal cells from the bronchial walls, vessels or pulmonary interstitium. The authors present a patient in which the diagnostic pathway ended with the diagnosis of a primary pulmonary leiomyosarcoma. This case was a true challenge, illustrative of the difficulty associated with this type of neoplasm, but also regarding its aggressiveness, considering its rapid and fatal progression.

Low-grade gingival leiomyosarcoma in a child.

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) of the oral cavity, a rare mesenchymal tumor exhibiting smooth-muscle differentiation, is extremely uncommon in childhood. The most frequent location of childhood LMS is the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the stomach. The purpose of this paper is to report a case of leiomyosarcoma affecting the gingival tissues and mandible of a 9-year-old girl with peculiar clinical, microscopic, and radiographic features. Clinical and radiographical examinations revealed a gingival growth affecting the primary mandibular right first molar with inflammatory features. The lesion was initially suspected to be pyogenic granuloma and was removed by excisional biopsy. Microscopic findings showed a hypercellular proliferation of mesenchymal spindle cells, suggesting malignant spindle cell neoplasm. Immunohistochemical, histochemical, and radiographic studies were undertaken, and the final diagnosis established was a low-grade leiomyosarcoma in the gingiva.

Brucella endocarditis--case report and literature review.

Endocarditis is a rare and serious complication of brucellosis and is the main cause of death in this pathology. Diagnosis requires a high level of suspicion and is based on the association of epidemiological, clinical and serological elements. Echocardiography plays a crucial role in early diagnosis, as well as in identifying predisposing heart disease and local complications typical of this pathology. Treatment is not consensual; most authors recommend an early surgical approach, due to the degree of tissue destruction caused by Brucella and the high rate of recurrence. Nevertheless, other authors stress the need for prognostic stratification of each case and support conservative treatment in low-risk cases. This article describes the case of a patient with brucella endocarditis that was treated medically and reviews the relevant literature.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in advanced head and neck cancer / Gastrostomia endoscópica percutânea em pacientes com tumores avançados de cabeça e pescoço

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy performed as proposed by Gauderer et al. in 1980, has been used quite frequently in patients with head and neck tumors. Some authors believe that this so-called pull technique would be associated to the risk of a tumor implantation in the wound as well as high levels of peristomal wound infection. Although some alternative techniques provide better results, doubts about their technical applicability in daily practice still persists. AIM: To assess the feasibility, safety and morbidity of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy performed through a well-defined and standardized technique in patients with nonresectable or advanced head and neck cancer. METHODS: A consecutive series of patients who had either nonresectable or advanced tumors and were unable to be fed orally were submitted to an oncologic-hospital-based tertiary-referral endoscopy practice. Tubes were implanted through an introducer technique comprised of two main stages. The first consisted of the application of two stitches aiming to fixate the anterior gastric wall to the abdominal wall, and the second being the inserting of the gastrostomy tube. RESULTS: Between February 2003 and May 2004, 129 percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies were performed. This study included 60 patients. They were all able to receive food on the same day. Operative morbidity was observed in six patients (10%) and one procedure-related mortality was also observed (1.6%). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is both feasible and safe, associated to low morbidity, and to acceptable mortality rates.

RACIONAL: A gastrostomia endoscópica percutânea executada conforme a técnica proposta por Gauderer et al., em 1980, tem sido freqüentemente utilizada em pacientes com tumores de cabeça e pescoço. Diversos autores relatam que ela, conhecida como técnica de “puxar”, está associada a risco de implante de tumor na parede abdominal assim como risco bastante elevado de infecção na ferida operatória. Algumas variantes técnicas proporcionam melhores resultados, contudo existem dúvidas acerca da sua viabilidade técnica na prática diária. OBJETIVO: Verificar a exeqüibilidade, segurança e morbidade da gastrostomia endoscópica percutânea realizada por técnica padronizada e bem definida em pacientes com tumores avançados ou irressecáveis da cabeça e pescoço. MÉTODO: É descrita série consecutiva de pacientes com tumores avançados ou irressecáveis de cabeça e pescoço, incapazes de receber dieta por via oral, submetidos à gastrostomia endoscópica percutânea no setor de endoscopia digestiva de um hospital oncológico de referência terciária. As sondas foram implantadas pela técnica de punção compreendida de duas etapas principais. A primeira, consistiu na aplicação de dois pontos transfixantes com o propósito de fixar a parede anterior do estômago à parede abdominal. A segunda, introdução do tubo de gastrostomia por punção percutânea. RESULTADOS: Foram realizadas 129 gastrostomias endoscópicas percutâneas e incluiu 60 pacientes. Todos foram liberados para receber dieta no mesmo dia. Morbidade operatória ocorreu em seis pacientes (10%) e mortalidade relacionada ao procedimento foi verificada em um paciente (1,6%). CONCLUSÃO: A gastrostomia endoscópica percutânea é exeqüível e segura, além de estar associada à baixa morbidade e aceitável mortalidade.

Efeito da derivação pleuroperitoneal no tratamento de hidrotórax recorrente induzido. Pleurodese em coelhos / Effect of the pleuroperitoneal derivation in the treatment of induced recurrent hydrothorax: pleurodesis in rabbits

OBJETIVO: Verificar a pleurodese, através da histologia hematoxilina - eosina e microscopia eletrônica, obtida após injeção de tetraciclina, em coelhos com uso de derivação pleuroperitoneal no tratamento de hidrotórax recorrente induzido. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 30 coelhos New - Zealand, machos e adultos. Empregou-se anestesia dissociativa quetamina e xilazina em injeção intramuscular 0,1 cm3 para cada 100g de peso do animal. Para induzir hidrotórax utilizou-se tetraciclina 7 mg/kg, diluída em 10 cm3 de água destilada (pH 4) injetada via percutânea no 4o espaço intercostal anterior esquerdo. O ato operatório constituiu de laparotomia subcostal à esquerda com 4 cm de extensão e incisão do hemidiafragma na porção muscular de 0,5 cm de diâmetro. No grupo A (controle) realizou-se fechamento da abertura do diafragma com pontos simples e fio monofilamentar 5.0. No grupo B (derivação) após abertura do diafragma introduziu-se prótese cilíndrica com 2 cm de comprimento. No grupo C (drenagem) foi feita uma laparotomia subcostal esquerda com 2 cm de extensão e introdução de cateter no 6. Toracotomia lateral esquerda com 2 cm de extensão e descolamento hipodérmico para aplicação do cateter pleurointercostodermoperitoneal. No pós-operatório realizou-se indução de hidrotórax repetida no 1o, 5o, 8o e 12o dia de pós-operatório nos três grupos de estudo através de injeção intrapleural de tetraciclina 7 mg/kg (pH 4) no 4§ espaço intercostal anterior esquerdo. Foi feita eutanasia no 15§ dia e necropsia para retirada de líquido pleural e histologia pleural, pulmonar e peritônio parietal. RESULTADOS: O acúmulo de líquido pleural resultante foi mais significante nos animais do grupo A. A irritação química resultou no espessamento pleural moderado nos grupos B e C. O índice de pleurodese foi 100 por cento do grupo derivação pleuroperitoneal e 80 por cento do grupo drenagem. CONCLUSÃO: A derivação pleuroperitoneal facilita a formação de pleurodese comprovada histologicamente, mesmo com a utilização de dose baixa de tetraciclina em coelhos.