Ad libitum ice slurry ingestion and half-marathon performance in a hot environment: A study comparing the effects of the amount and moment of ingestion between ice slurry and water at 37 °C.

Ice slurry ingestion during prolonged exercises may improve performance in hot environments; however, the ideal amount and timing of ingestion are still uncertain. We determined whether ad libitum ice slurry ingestion influences physiological and perceptual variables and half-marathon performance while comparing the effects of the amount and moment of ingestion between ice slurry and water at 37 °C. Ten trained participants (28 ± 2 years; mean and SD) were required to run two half marathons while consuming either ice slurry (-1 °C; Ad-1) or water (37 °C; 37 CE) ad libitum. They then performed two other half marathons where, during one, they were required to ingest an amount of water equivalent to the amount consumed during the Ad-1 trial (Pro37), and in the other, to ingest ice slurry in the amount consumed during the 37 CE trial (Pro-1). During the half marathons, dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity were controlled at 33.1 ± 0.3 °C and 60 ± 3%, respectively. Ad-1 ingestion (349.6 ± 58.5 g) was 45% less than 37 CE ingestion (635.5 ± 135.8 g). Physical performance, heart rate, perceived exertion, body temperatures, and thermal perception were not influenced by the temperature or amount of beverage ingestion. However, a secondary analysis suggested that lower beverage ingestion was associated with improved performance (Ad-1 + Pro37 vs. 37 CE + Pro-1: -4.0 min, Cohen's d = 0.39), with a significant relationship between lower beverage ingestion and faster running time (b = 0.02, t = 4.01, p < 0.001). In conclusion, ice slurry ingestion does not affect performance or physiological or perceptual variables during a half marathon in a hot environment. Preliminary evidence suggests that lower beverage ingestion (ice slurry or warm water) is associated with improved performance compared to higher ingestion.

Klotho in Cancer: Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Applications.

Klotho proteins, αKlotho, ßKlotho, and γKlotho, exert tumor-suppressive activities via the fibroblast growth factor receptors and multiple cell-signaling pathways. There is a growing interest in Klotho proteins as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for multiple diseases. However, recent advances regarding their roles and potential applications in cancer remain disperse and require an integrated analysis. The present review analyzed research articles published between 2012 and 2022 in the Cochrane and Scopus scientific databases to study the role of Klotho in cancer and their potential as tools for diagnosing specific cancer types, predicting tumor aggressiveness and prognosis. Twenty-six articles were selected, dealing with acute myeloid leukemia and with bladder, breast, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, hepatocellular, ovarian, pancreatic, prostatic, pulmonary, renal, and thyroid cancers. αKlotho was consistently associated with improved prognosis and may be useful in estimating patient survival. A single study reported the use of soluble αKlotho levels in blood serum as a tool to aid the diagnosis of esophageal cancer. γKlotho was associated with increased aggressiveness of bladder, breast, and prostate cancer, and ßKlotho showed mixed results. Further clinical development of Klotho-based assays will require careful identification of specific tumor subtypes where Klotho proteins may be most valuable as diagnostic or prognostic tools.

Chronic supplementation of noni in diabetic type 1-STZ rats: effects on glycemic levels, kidney toxicity and exercise performance.

Noni is a fruit with potential medicinal use preventing elevated blood glucose levels in diabetes mellitus. Its effects have been attributed to an antioxidant property in several other diseases. However, the effects of noni-chronic supplementation on exercise performance in the presence of diabetes conditions are not known. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were used to verify the effects of chronic noni (Morinda citrifolia L) juice administration on glycemia, triglyceride levels, and its relation to physical performance. In addition, it was verified if chronic noni supplementation is safe for clinical use through kidney morphology analysis. In half of the rats, diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced with STZ. All rats were submitted to an incremental workload running test (IWT) until fatigued so that oxygen consumption and performance indexes (exercise time to fatigue and workload) could be analyzed before noni administration. Then, the control and DM groups received a placebo (saline solution) or noni juice (dilution 2:1) at a dose of 2 mL/kg once a day for 60 days. The result was four groups: control + placebo (CP), control + noni (CN), DM + placebo (DMP), and DM + noni (DMN). Our dose was based on in previous study by Nayak et al. (2011) that observed a significant reduction in glycemia with 2 ml/kg of the noni juice without any toxicity effect cited. Groups were then given a third IWT to verify the effect of the noni juice on exercise performance (exercise time to fatigue, workload, maximal oxygen consumption) and glycemia. Twenty-four hours after the third test, all animals were euthanized and blood and kidneys were removed for posterior analysis. The DM induction with STZ impaired the performance by 39%. Noni administration improved the time to fatigue and workload in DM rats beyond reducing hyperglycemia. These results could be associated with an improved energy efficiency promoted by noni ingestion, since the oxygen consumption was not different between the groups, although the exercise was longer in animals with noni ingestion. Our results provided evidence that chronic noni administration causes kidney damage since increased Bowman's space area in the control rats, suggesting glomerular hyperfiltration at the same magnitude as the non-treated DM group.In conclusion, chronic noni ingestion promoted glycemic control and improved the performance in DM rats but caused kidney toxicity.

CLINICAL-THERAPEUTICAL MANAGEMENT OF EXPOSED PULP USING BIOACTIVE MATERIALS: TWO CASE REPORTS

Aims: This article present alternatives of bioactive materials use for direct pulp capping in immature teeth and for apexogenesis.Case report: Two case reports with the application of bioactive cementsare presented here: one in a tooth with pulp exposure and another with deep carious lesion, pulp exposure and open apex.Results: In both cases, the treatment was performed in one visit and a favorable clinical and radiographic follow-up was achieved.Conclusion: The use of bioactive materials ledto the formation of a dentin bridge and healing process in the pulp tissue exposure, without the need for conventional endodontic treatment

Fracture strength and hybrid layer formation of endodontically-treated teeth after dental bleaching photoactivated with violet LED.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in vitro the effect of dental bleaching using high concentration hydrogen peroxide (HP) photoactivated with violet LED on fracture strength and hybrid layer formation. METHODS: forty endodontically-treated bovine teeth were randomized into four groups (n = 10): C - Control, HP - 35% hydrogen peroxide, HP-BL - 35% hydrogen peroxide photoactivated with blue LED, HP-VL - 35% hydrogen peroxide photoactivated with violet LED. Three bleaching sessions with an interval of 7 days between them were performed. After 10 days of the last bleaching session, the dental crowns were restored and submitted to the fracture strength test. Five specimens from each group were used to evaluate the hybrid layer formation by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. One-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for parametric and non-parametric data, respectively. Significance level of 5% was adopted to all the tests. RESULTS: No differences on fracture strength among the groups were observed (p > 0.05). HP and HP-BL showed alterations on hybrid layer formation compared to C group (p < 0.05), but not for HP-VL (p > 0.05). No differences on hybrid layer formation were observed among HP, HP-VL and HP-BL groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dental bleaching, photoactivated or not, did not affect the fracture strength of endodontically-treated teeth. Regardless of the protocol used, hydrogen peroxide altered the hybrid layer formation at some level when the restoration was placed after 10 days of the last bleaching session.

Integrating Fluorescent Nanodiamonds into Polymeric Microstructures Fabricated by Two-Photon Polymerization.

Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) and other color centers in diamond have attracted much attention as non-photobleaching quantum emitters and quantum sensors. Since microfabrication in bulk diamonds is technically difficult, embedding nanodiamonds with color centers into designed structures is a way to integrate these quantum emitters into photonic devices. In this study, we demonstrate a method to incorporate fluorescent nanodiamonds into engineered microstructures using two-photon polymerization (2PP). We studied the optimal concentration of nanodiamonds in the photoresist to achieve structures with at least one fluorescent NV center and good structural and optical quality. Fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy measurements were used to confirm the presence and location of the nanodiamonds, while absorbance measurements assessed scattering losses at higher concentrations. Our results show the feasibility of fabricating microstructures embedded within fluorescent nanodiamonds via 2PP for photonics and quantum technology applications.

Malignancy Associated with Low-Risk HPV6 and HPV11: A Systematic Review and Implications for Cancer Prevention.

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is etiologically related to cervical cancer, other anogenital cancers and oropharyngeal carcinomas. Low-risk HPV, especially HPV6 and HPV11, cause genital warts and laryngeal papillomas. However, the accumulating data suggests that HPV6 and HPV11 may cause malignant lesions at non-cervical anatomic sites. This review aims to estimate the proportions of single and dual HPV6/11 infections in multiple cancers reported in the last 10 years in the Cochrane, Embasa and PubMed databases. Secondly, the genomes of HPV6/11 were compared with the most common high-risk genotype, HPV16, to determine the similarities and differences. A total of 11 articles were selected, including between one and 334 HPV+ cancer patients. The frequencies of single or dual HPV6/11 infections ranged between 0-5.5% for penile and 0-87.5% for laryngeal cancers and were null for vulvar, vaginal and oral cancers. The genomic similarities between HPV6/11 and HPV16 mainly involved the E7 gene, indicating a limited ability to block cell differentiation. The presence of single or dual HPV6/11 infections in variable proportions of penile and laryngeal cancers support the vaccination strategies that cover these genotypes, not only for preventing genital warts but also for cancer prevention. Other risk factors and co-carcinogens are likely to participate in epithelial carcinogenesis associated with low-risk HPV.

Core body temperatures of rats subjected to treadmill exercise to fatigue or exhaustion: The journal Temperature toolbox.

This study systematically reviewed the literature reporting the changes in rats' core body temperature (TCORE) induced by either incremental- or constant-speed running to fatigue or exhaustion. In addition, multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the factors contributing to the TCORE values attained when exercise was interrupted. Four databases (EMBASE, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) were searched in October 2021, and this search was updated in August 2022. Seventy-two studies (n = 1,538 rats) were included in the systematic review. These studies described heterogeneous experimental conditions; for example, the ambient temperature ranged from 5 to 40°C. The rats quit exercising with TCORE values varying more than 8°C among studies, with the lowest and highest values corresponding to 34.9°C and 43.4°C, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that the ambient temperature (p < 0.001), initial TCORE (p < 0.001), distance traveled (p < 0.001; only incremental exercises), and running speed and duration (p < 0.001; only constant exercises) contributed significantly to explaining the variance in the TCORE at the end of the exercise. In conclusion, rats subjected to treadmill running exhibit heterogeneous TCORE when fatigued or exhausted. Moreover, it is not possible to determine a narrow range of TCORE associated with exercise cessation in hyperthermic rats. Ambient temperature, initial TCORE, and physical performance-related variables are the best predictors of TCORE at fatigue or exhaustion. From a broader perspective, this systematic review provides relevant information for selecting appropriate methods in future studies designed to investigate exercise thermoregulation in rats.

Estratégias de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde (ATS) para medicamentos para doenças raras: uma revisão rápida de escopo / Health Technology Assessment (HTA) strategies for drugs in rare diseases: a rapid scope review

A Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde (ATS) considera os domínios de benefícios clínicos, perfil epidemiológico, inovação, custo-efetividade, ética e de equidade no processo de decisão dos gestores em saúde. No contexto dos medicamentos para doenças raras, é desafiador o trabalho da ATS, dada a baixa disponibilidade de evidências robustas e o alto custo unitário das tecnologias. O objetivo da revisão foi analisar as estratégias disponíveis de avaliação das demandas de incorporação de medicamentos para o tratamento de doenças raras em sistemas de saúde. Foi realizada uma revisão rápida com busca estruturada na base de dados MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library e Health Systems Evidence. Incluíram-se estudos sobre estratégias de avaliação de medicamentos utilizados para tratamento de doenças raras. Adicionalmente, foram realizadas buscas nas Agências de ATS do Brasil, Austrália, Nova Zelândia, Canadá, Reino Unido, França, Estados Unidos e Alemanha. A síntese dos resultados foi qualitativa com o agrupamento dos achados nos seguintes eixos temáticos: Segurança e efetividade, Custo-efetividade, Impacto orçamentário e Perspectiva da sociedade. Foram identificadas 267 publicações, sendo selecionadas 16 das bases de dados indexadas e 7 da literatura cinzenta. Com a análise dos documentos, pode-se concluir que a adoção de critérios específicos harmonizada com o atual modelo de ATS é um possível caminho a ser seguido no contexto dos medicamentos para doenças raras. Concomitante a isso, abordagens no sentido de incentivo a pesquisa e produção de dados de mundo real e a criação de comitês específicos para tratativa do tema nas agências de ATS apresentam-se como alternativa para lidar com as fragilidades no contexto de doenças raras.

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) considers evidence regarding clinical benefits, epidemiological profile, innovation, cost-effectiveness, ethics and equity in its assessment process to support managers' decisions. In the context of drugs in rare diseases, the work of the ATS is challenging given the low availability of evidence and the high cost of technologies. The objective of the review was to analyze the available strategies for evaluating the demands for incorporating drugs for the treatment of rare diseases in health systems. A rapid review was performed with a structured search in the MEDLINE database (via PubMed), the Cochrane Library and Health Systems Evidence. Studies on strategies for evaluating drugs used to treat rare diseases were included and, additionally, searches were carried out in ATS Agencies in Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, France, United States and Germany. The synthesis of the results was qualitative, grouping the major ones into thematic axes: Safety and effectiveness, Cost-effectiveness, Budgetary impact and Society's perspective. 267 publications were identified, 16 selected from indexed databases and 7 from gray literature. With the analysis of the documents, it can be concluded that the adoption of specific criteria harmonized with the current ATS model is a possible path to be followed in the context of drugs for rare diseases. At the same time, approaches to encourage research and the creation of specific committees to deal with the issue in HTA agencies would complement actions towards the consolidation of this work.

What is the Role of SNORA42 in Carcinogenesis? A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Perform a systematic literature review on SNORA42 in carcinogenesis in order to elucidate its importance, its potential use as a biomarker and as a therapeutic target. METHODS: Using PubMed, SciELO and Science Direct databases as search means, articles that are in line with the scope of the study, written in English, that were published between 2012 and 2022, were selected using the following keywords: "small nucleolar RNA 42", "snoRNA 42" and "SNORA42", as well as searches for the synonyms of this snoRNA (SNORA80E, box H/ACA 42 and ACA42). RESULT: From a total of 131 studies, seven were selected, in which it was possible to identify that SNORA42 interferes in several biological processes, such as proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and signaling pathways. Among the signaling pathways, the p53 and NF-KappaB pathways stand out. Moreover, it is a potential biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancer. CONCLUSION: The summary of the main information about SNORA42 in the process of carcinogenesis and cancer progression shows that the use of this snoRNA is ideal for future applications in the field of oncology, in which it can be used as a biomarker and therapeutic target. Thus, it is of fundamental importance to carry out new studies to consolidate the applicability of this molecule.

Impact of HPV-16 Lineages Infection in Response to Radio-Chemotherapy in Cervical Cancer.

BACKGROUND: HPV is strongly related to cervical cancer. HPV lineages can contribute to a response to cervical cancer therapy. The aim of this research was to estimate the frequency of human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 lineages in specimens of cervical cancer, relate the pathological factors in these variants, and assess their response to treatment with radical chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: Samples of cervical cancer were collected from women who were referred to a reference cancer hospital to test the presence of human papillomavirus-type DNA. The standard protocol of this service consisted of cisplatin-based chemotherapy of 40 mg/m2, plus conventional pelvic irradiation in doses of 45-50.4 Gy and high dose-rate brachytherapy of 28-30 Gy to Point A. The response to chemotherapy was evaluated after three months in patients with the HPV-16 lineage. RESULTS: HPV DNA was detected in 104 (88.1%) of the 118 patients. HPV-16 was present in 63 patients (53%). Lineages of HPV-16 were identified in 57 patients and comprised 33 instances of (57.8%) lineage A, 2 instances of lineage B (3.5%), 2 instances of lineage C (3.5%), and 20 instances of (35.0%) lineage D. The median age of the patients was 48.4 years (range 25-85 years). Squamous cell carcinoma was detected 48 times (84.2%). Adenocarcinoma was more likely to occur in lineage D, as three of the four cases occurred in this lineage. A total of 11 patients with the HPV-16 variant were treated with chemoradiotherapy. After three months, it was observed that nine of the eleven patients (81.8%) achieved a complete response, five with the lineage A type, two with the lineage C type, and two with the lineage D type. The two cases of partial response and disease progression, one of each, occurred in lineage A. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the small number of patients and HPV variants, we noticed a better response in patients with the HPV-16 lineage A. Increasing the sample size could be helpful to better assess the impact of HPV variants on cervical cancer treatment.

Etch-and-rinse versus self-etch strategy of a universal adhesive in different application methods at the bonding interface of fiber post cementation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of etch-and-rinse (ER) versus self-etch (SE) strategies of a universal adhesive applied with a manual brush (MB) or rotary brush (RB) on the bonding interface of fiber post cementation. METHODS: Forty bovine incisor roots were prepared and divided into four groups according to the methods of application and strategy of universal adhesive use (MB-ER, RB-ER, MB-SE and RB-SE). After 6 months, specimens from different thirds of the post space were evaluated of push-out strength, analysis of adhesive failure patterns, and extent of tags. RESULTS: The RB-ER and RB-SE groups showed the highest bond strength values in the cervical and middle thirds of the post space. Cohesive adhesive failure had the highest incidence in the different thirds of the post space in the ER strategy, regardless of the adhesive application method. The RB-ER group showed the highest tag extensions. CONCLUSIONS: The protocols of universal adhesive application with RB provided the greater bond strength, but only the ER strategy favored the formation of a greater extension of tags at the adhesive interface. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The application of universal adhesive with RB into the post space increases the strength of the post-cemented fiber bond.

Fisheries monitoring in Brazil: How can the 2030 agenda be met without fisheries statistics? / Monitoramento da pesca no Brasil: como cumprir a agenda 2030 sem estatísticas da pesca?

Every activity that involves exploitation of natural resources, such as fishing, needs to be organized and conducted based on information from monitoring programs to allow continuous evaluation. With the increasing fishing pressure in Brazil, the understanding of the importance of fisheries monitoring programs and how they can inform and assist in conservation decision-making remains limited. Based on the literature on fisheries and participatory conservation, we call attention to the need to generate information on the national fisheries sector in order to improve fisheries in the country. Given the context of the need to generate information on fishing stocks under exploitation, as well as to identify potential alternative fisheries and carry out various sectoral analyses in compliance with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we present and discuss in the present paper the lack of a system of continuous fishing monitoring in Brazil and its effects on the fisheries sustainability in the country.

Toda atividade que atua envolvendo a exploração de recursos naturais, como a pesca, precisa ser organizada e conduzida com base nas informações dos programas de monitoramento para permitir uma avaliação contínua. Com o aumento da pressão pesqueira no Brasil, o entendimento da importância dos programas de monitoramento da pesca e como eles podem informar e auxiliar na tomada de decisões de conservação permanece limitado. Com base na literatura sobre pesca e conservação participativa, chamamos a atenção para a necessidade de gerar informações sobre o setor pesqueiro nacional para melhorar a pesca no país. Dado o contexto da necessidade de gerar informações sobre os estoques pesqueiros em exploração, bem como identificar potenciais alternativas de pesca e realizar diversas análises setoriais em conformidade com a Agenda 2030 para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável, é apresentada e discutida no presente trabalho a falta de um sistema de monitoramento contínuo da pesca no Brasil e seus efeitos na sustentabilidade da pesca no país.

Effect of non-vital tooth bleaching photoactivated with blue or violet LED on color and microhardness.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of dental bleaching protocols using 35% hydrogen peroxide photoactivated with violet LED on color and microhardness of endodontically treated teeth. METHODS: Forty specimens were selected and randomized into 4 groups (n = 10): C - Control, HP - 35% hydrogen peroxide, HP + BL - 35% hydrogen peroxide + blue LED, HP + VL - 35% hydrogen peroxide + violet LED. Three bleaching sessions were performed for each group. Color analysis was performed 7 days after each bleaching session. Two-way repeated measure ANOVA and Bonferroni test were used to evaluate the effect of different bleaching protocols and evaluation times on the dependent variables (∆E and ∆L). Dentin microhardness was measured 24 h after the third bleaching session. Data were evaluated by ANOVA and Tukey's test at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Differences on ∆E and ∆L were verified after the first and second bleaching sessions (p < 0.05) and showed stability after the third one, for all the groups. No differences were observed among HP, HP + BL, and HP + VL groups, regardless of the evaluation time (p > 0.05). HP and C showed the greatest and smallest reduction in dentin microhardness (p < 0.05), respectively. No difference between HP + BL and HP + VL protocols (P > 0.05) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: High concentration hydrogen peroxide (35%) photoactivated with violet LED bleached endodontically treated teeth effectively. However, the same protocol negatively affected the dentin microhardness, but not in the same level of 35% HP solely used.

Predicting the body core temperature of recreational athletes at the end of a 10 km self-paced run under environmental heat stress.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? The aim was to identify the factors predicting the body core temperature of athletes at the end of a 10 km self-paced run in a hot environment. What is the main finding and its importance? Hyperthermia in athletes subjected to self-paced running depends on several factors, highlighting the integrated control of core temperature during exercise under environmental heat stress. Five of the seven variables that significantly predicted core temperature are not invasive and, therefore, practical for use outside the laboratory environment: heart rate, sweat rate, wet-bulb globe temperature, running speed and maximal oxygen consumption. ABSTRACT: Measurement of body core temperature (Tcore ) is paramount to determining the thermoregulatory strain of athletes. However, standard measurement procedures of Tcore are not practical for extended use outside the laboratory environment. Therefore, determining the factors that predict Tcore during a self-paced run is crucial for creating more effective strategies to minimize the heat-induced impairment of endurance performance and reduce the occurrence of exertional heatstroke. The aim of this study was to identify the factors predicting Tcore values attained at the end of a 10 km time trial (end-Tcore ) under environmental heat stress. Initially, we extracted data obtained from 75 recordings of recreationally trained men and women. Next, we ran hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses to understand the predictive power of the following variables: wet-bulb globe temperature, average running speed, initial Tcore , body mass, differences between Tcore and skin temperature (Tskin ), sweat rate, maximal oxygen uptake, heart rate and change in body mass. Our data indicated that Tcore increased continuously during exercise, attaining 39.6 ± 0.5°C (mean ± SD) after 53.9 ± 7.5 min of treadmill running. This end-Tcore value was primarily predicted by heart rate, sweat rate, differences between Tcore and Tskin , wet-bulb globe temperature, initial Tcore , running speed and maximal oxygen uptake, in this order of importance (ß power values corresponded to 0.462, -0.395, 0.393, 0.327, 0.277, 0.244 and 0.228, respectively). In conclusion, several factors predict Tcore in athletes subjected to self-paced running under environmental heat stress. Moreover, considering the conditions investigated, heart rate and sweat rate, two practical (non-invasive) variables, have the highest predictive power.

First record of plastic ingestion by a freshwater stingray.

The abundance and dispersion of plastic particles in aquatic ecosystems has become pervasive resulting in the incorporation of these materials into food webs. Here we describe the first record of plastic ingestion by the freshwater white-blotched river stingray Potamotrygon leopoldi (Potamotrygonidae), an endemic and threatened species in the Xingu River, Amazon basin. Potamotrygonidae stingrays inhabit exclusively Neotropical rivers, occupying rocky substrate habitats and feeding mainly on benthic macroinvertebrates. The gastrointestinal tract of 24 stingrays were analyzed, 16 (66.6 %) of which contained plastic particles. In total, 81 plastic particles were recorded and consisted of microplastics (< 5 mm, n = 57) and mesoplastics (5-25 mm, n = 24). The plastic particles found were classified into fibers (64.2 %, n = 52) and fragments (35.8 %, n = 29). The predominant color was blue (33.3 %, n = 27), followed by yellow (18.5 %, n = 15), white (14.8 %, n = 12), black (13.6 %, n = 11), green (6.2 %, n = 5), transparent (4.9 %, n = 4), pink, grey and brown (2.5 %, n = 2, each) and orange (1.2 %, n = 1). No significant correlation was observed between the number of plastic particles and the body size. Eight types of polymers were identified in the plastic particles analyzed using 2D FTIR Imaging. The most frequent polymer was artificial cellulose fiber. This is the first report of plastic ingestion by freshwater elasmobranchs in the world. Plastic waste has become an emerging problem in aquatic ecosystems globally and our results provide an important datapoint for freshwater stingrays in the Neotropics.

Determinants of body core temperatures at fatigue in rats subjected to incremental-speed exercise: The prominent roles of ambient temperature, distance traveled, initial core temperature, and measurement site.

Understanding the factors that underlie the physical exercise-induced increase in body core temperature (TCORE) is essential to developing strategies to counteract hyperthermic fatigue and reduce the risk of exertional heatstroke. This study analyzed the contribution of six factors to TCORE attained at fatigue in Wistar rats (n = 218) subjected to incremental-speed treadmill running: ambient temperature (TAMB), distance traveled, initial TCORE, body mass, measurement site, and heat loss index (HLI). First, we ran hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses with data from different studies conducted in our laboratory (n = 353 recordings). We observed that TAMB, distance traveled, initial TCORE, and measurement site were the variables with predictive power. Next, regression analyses were conducted with data for each of the following TCORE indices: abdominal (TABD), brain cortex (TBRAIN), or colonic (TCOL) temperature. Our findings indicated that TAMB, distance traveled (i.e., an exercise performance-related variable), initial TCORE, and HLI predicted the three TCORE indices at fatigue. Most intriguingly, HLI was inversely related to TABD and TBRAIN but positively associated with TCOL. Lastly, we compared the temperature values at fatigue among these TCORE indices, and the following descendent order was noticed - TCOL, TABD, and TBRAIN - irrespective of TAMB where experiments were conducted. In conclusion, TCORE in rats exercised to fatigue depends primarily on environmental conditions, performance, pre-exercise TCORE, and measurement site. Moreover, the influence of cutaneous heat loss on TCOL is qualitatively different from the influence on TABD and TBRAIN, and the temperature values at fatigue are not homogenous within the body core.

Effectiveness and color stability of non-vital dental bleaching photoactivated by violet LED on blood-stained teeth.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the effect of violet LED irradiation associated or not with bleaching agents on blood-stained teeth. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the whitening efficacy and color stability of non-vital dental bleaching using 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP) photoactivated with violet LED (VL) compared to 35% HP alone and 35% HP photoactivated with blue LED (BL). METHODS: Fifty bovine dental crowns were used to obtain specimens of 5 × 5 × 2 mm. After selection based on a previous colorimetric analysis, the specimens were blood-stained and randomly assigned into five groups (n = 10): control (no treatment); 35% HP, 35% HP/BL; 35% HP/VL; and VL. Three bleaching sessions were performed and the colorimetric analysis (∆Eab, ∆L, and ∆WID) was recorded after 7 days, 30 days, and 9 months of the last bleaching session. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-hoc test was used at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: 35% HP, 35% HP/BL, and 35% HP/VL showed higher values of ∆Eab, ∆L, e ∆WID (P < 0.05), without intra- and intergroup differences (P > 0.05). C and VL were similar in all the evaluation times (P > 0.05), showing lower values of ∆Eab, ∆L, and ∆WID (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 35% HP/VL can be a viable alternative for dental bleaching in endodontically-treated teeth, showing bleaching efficacy similar to 35% HP solely used, even after a 9-month follow-up. VL used alone was not effective to bleach blood-stained teeth.

A new species of Geophagus (Teleostei: Cichlidae): Naming a cichlid species widely known in the aquarium hobby as 'Geophagus sp. Tapajos red head'.

A new species of Geophagus sensu stricto is described from the Tapajos River basin, Brazil, elevating the number of species of the genus to 21. The new species is of commercial importance and is known in the aquarist trade as Geophagus 'red head'. The new species is diagnosed using an integrative approach, based on mitochondrial DNA analysis along with morphological evidence. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by the absence of markings on the head, the bar pattern composed by nine vertical bars on the flanks and the presence of distinct longitudinal bands in the caudal fin. Additionally, it shows a genetic distance of at least 2.0% in cytochrome b gene sequences from its closest congeners. Molecular analysis including most genera of Cichlidae from South America corroborates that the new species belongs to the group of Geophagus sensu stricto.

Detection of Wolbachia in Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the State of Maranhão, Brazil.

Recently, the endobacteria Wolbachia has emerged as a biological tool for the control of arboviruses. Thus, we investigated the rate of natural infection by Wolbachia in Culicidae species from Maranhão, Brazil. For this, we amplified the Wolbachia surface protein gene (wsp) from mosquitoes collected in six localities of Maranhão, and positive samples were subjected to new analysis using group-specific primers. In total, 448 specimens comprising 6 genera and 18 species of mosquitoes were analyzed. Wolbachia DNA was PCR-detected in 7 species, three of which are new records: Aedes scapularis (Rondani, 1848), Coquillettidia juxtamansonia (Chagas, 1907) and Cq. venezuelensis (Theobald, 1912), in addition to Ae. albopictus (Skuse, 1894) and Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823, which are commonly described as permissive to maintain this bacterium in natural environments, and two species of the subgenera Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) Blanchard, 1902 and Culex (Melanoconion) Theobald, 1903 which could not be identified at species level. The infection rate of all species ranged from 0 to 80%, and the average value was 16.5%. This study increases the knowledge about the prevalence of Wolbachia in the culicid fauna and may help in selecting strains for biological control purposes.