The absence of eosinophils is associated with early metastatic lesions in Leishmania amazonensis-infected mice.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophils are granulocytes that rapidly increase frequency in the bloodstream during helminthic infections and allergic responses. They are found in tissue infected by Leishmania during early disease, but their role during infection is not entirely understood. OBJECTIVES: We aim to compare the disease due to Leishmania amazonensis in BALB/c and Δdbl-GATA1 mice, which lack eosinophils. METHODS: BALB/c and Δdbl-GATA1 mice infected with L. amazonensis were observed for several weeks. The parasite load and dissemination pattern were assessed. FINDINGS: The Δdbl-GATA1 mice developed an anticipated dissemination of L. amazonensis and a worsening disease. No differences were found in the lesion development or the parasite load in the footpad among Δdbl-GATA1 mice and BALB/c eight weeks after infection. However, nine weeks after infection, massive growth of metastatic lesions appeared in several parts of the skin in Δdbl-GATA1 mice, weeks earlier than BALB/c. We observed increased parasites in the bloodstream, probably an essential dissemination route. Thirteen weeks after infection, metastatic lesions were found in all Δdbl-GATA1 mice. MAIN CONCLUSION: These results suggest a protective role of eosinophils in delaying the disease caused by L. amazonensis, although several limitations of this mice strain must be considered.

The absence of eosinophils is associated with early metastatic lesions in Leishmania amazonensis-infected mice

BACKGROUND Eosinophils are granulocytes that rapidly increase frequency in the bloodstream during helminthic infections and allergic responses. They are found in tissue infected by Leishmania during early disease, but their role during infection is not entirely understood. OBJECTIVES We aim to compare the disease due to Leishmania amazonensis in BALB/c and Δdbl-GATA1 mice, which lack eosinophils. METHODS BALB/c and Δdbl-GATA1 mice infected with L. amazonensis were observed for several weeks. The parasite load and dissemination pattern were assessed. FINDINGS The Δdbl-GATA1 mice developed an anticipated dissemination of L. amazonensis and a worsening disease. No differences were found in the lesion development or the parasite load in the footpad among Δdbl-GATA1 mice and BALB/c eight weeks after infection. However, nine weeks after infection, massive growth of metastatic lesions appeared in several parts of the skin in Δdbl-GATA1 mice, weeks earlier than BALB/c. We observed increased parasites in the bloodstream, probably an essential dissemination route. Thirteen weeks after infection, metastatic lesions were found in all Δdbl-GATA1 mice. MAIN CONCLUSION These results suggest a protective role of eosinophils in delaying the disease caused by L. amazonensis, although several limitations of this mice strain must be considered.

Adaptation And Use of the Papworth Haemostasis Checklist - Clinical Outcomes Analysis at Hospital Estadual Mário Covas.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative bleeding is one of the main causes of complications in cardiovascular surgery, which highlights the importance of ensuring adequate intraoperative hemostasis, providing a better patient outcome. This study aimed to improve the prevention of postoperative bleeding in the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of the Hospital Estadual Mário Covas (Santo André, Brazil) using an adapted version of the Papworth Haemostasis Checklist to assess the impact of this standardization on bleeding rate, postoperative complications, reoperation, and mortality. METHODS: This is a non-randomized controlled clinical trial, whose non-probabilistic sample consisted of patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the abovementioned service within a two-year interval. The Papworth Haemostasis Checklist was adapted to the Brazilian laboratory parameters and the questions were translated into Portuguese. This checklist was used before the surgeon started the chest wall closure. Patients were followed up until 30 days after surgery. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically relevant. RESULTS: This study included 200 patients. After the checklist, a reduction in 24-hour drain output, postoperative complications, and reoperation was observed, although statistical significance was not reached. Finally, there was a significant reduction in the number of deaths (8 vs. 2; P=0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of the adapted checklist in our hospital proved to be an effective intervention to improve the prevention of postoperative bleeding, with a direct impact in the number of deaths in the study period. The reduction in deaths was possible thanks to the reduction in the bleeding rate, postoperative complications, and reoperations for bleeding.

Spectrum of ascending aortic aneurysms at a peri-urban tertiary hospital: an echocardiography-based study.

Introduction: Thoracic ascending aortic (TAA) aneurysms are an important cause of disability and death and require early detection for effective management. Currently, there is a paucity of data from Africa pertaining to TAA aneurysms. This study describes the spectrum of TAA aneurysms at a peri-urban tertiary hospital. Methods: A descriptive retrospective study based on clinical and echocardiographic imaging data of patients with TAA aneurysms from October 2017-October 2022. Advanced strain imaging was performed to measure left ventricular (LV) basal, apical, and global longitudinal strain as well as circumferential strain (CS) of the ascending aorta as a proxy measurement of aortic compliance. Results: The study comprised 139 cases of TAA aneurysms (52.5% females) with a mean age of 50 ± 14.8 years with 45 age and gender matched controls. Most cases (95%) were of African ethnicity. The main etiologies were hypertension (41.7%), HIV (36.6%), connective tissue disease (10.7%), congenital (2.2%) and mixed pathologies (8.6%). Two-thirds of patients (69.7%) presented in heart failure, 10% presented with aortic dissection. Thirty percent of the patients were classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I, 59.7% NYHA II, 8.6% NYHA III and two patients NYHA class IV. Echocardiography revealed enlarged aortic dimensions compared to controls (P < 0.001). TAA aneurysms were complicated by severe aortic regurgitation (AR) in half (50.3%) of patients, moderate AR in 25.8%, and mild AR in 14.3%. The mean LV ejection fraction (46.9 ± 12.7%) was reduced compared to controls (P < 0.001). Aortic CS was reduced compared to controls [4.4 (3.2-6.2) % vs. 9.0 (7.1-13.4) %, P < 0.001]. Aortic stiffness was higher in the aortic aneurysm group compared to controls (15.39 ± 20.65 vs. 5.04 ± 2.09, P = 0.001). LV longitudinal strain (-13.9 ± 3.9% vs. 18.1 ± 6.7%), basal CS (-13.9 ± 5.6% vs. -17.9 ± 5.8%) and apical CS (-8.7 ± 8.5% vs. -30.6 ± 3.8%) were reduced compared to controls (P < 0.001). Most patients were on diuretic and anti-remodeling therapy. Surgery was performed in 29.4% and overall mortality was 7.9%. Mortality for acute aortic dissection was 40%. Conclusion: TAA aneurysms associated with hypertension and HIV are common in this predominantly African female population and are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Two-dimensional echocardiography and advanced strain imaging are potential tools for detecting and risk stratifying TAA aneurysms.

Isolation and Culture of Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages from Mice.

Macrophages have important effector functions in homeostasis and inflammation. These cells are present in every tissue in the body and have the important ability to change their profile according to the stimuli present in the microenvironment. Cytokines can profoundly affect macrophage physiology, especially IFN-γ and interleukin 4, generating M1 and M2 types respectively. Because of the versatility of these cells, the production of a population of bone marrow-derived macrophages can be a basic step in many experimental models of cell biology. The aim of this protocol is to help researchers in the isolation and culture of macrophages derived from bone marrow progenitors. Bone marrow progenitors from pathogen-free C57BL/6 mice are transformed into macrophages upon exposure to macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) that, in this protocol, is obtained from the supernatant of the murine fibroblast lineage L-929. After incubation, mature macrophages are available for use from the 7th to the 10th day. A single animal can be the source of approximately 2 x 107 macrophages. Therefore, it is an ideal protocol for obtaining large amounts of primary macrophages using basic methods of cell culture.

Caracterização fitossanitária do componente arbóreo marginalde um trecho de linha férrea no município de Três Barras, SC / Phytosanitary characterization of the marginal arboreal componentof the railway line in the municipality of Três Barras, SC

As condições fitossanitárias de plantas arbóreas podem ser utilizadas para caracterizar comunidades vegetais, indicando condições de qualidade estrutural do componente vegetal. Assim, ambientes alterados antropicamente podem representar uma ameaça à fitossanidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi averiguar as características fitossanitárias do componente arbóreo em um trecho de 400 metros de extensão ao longo da linha férrea localizada no município de Três Barras, estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Foram registradas 33 espécies arbóreas, 29 gêneros e 19 famílias. Os índices ecológicos avaliados foram a abundância, densidade, riqueza e equabilidade. Foram avaliados 190 indivíduos em relação a qualidade da copa, grau de infestação de cipós e sanidade da árvore. Embora a qualidade da copa e a sanidade sejam majoritariamente boas, houve um relativo alto número de infestação de cipós. Tal ocorrência pode ser devido à condição de borda em que as plantas se encontram. Os bons índices ecológicos aliados ao baixo número de espécies arbóreas exóticas também indicam boas condições ecológicas e de fitossanidade local. Contudo, são necessários mais estudos (p. ex. florísticos e fitossociológicos) na área. A arborização urbana das proximidades aliada à formação de corredores ecológicos que liguem os fragmentos à Floresta Nacional de Três Barras pode ser uma medida de conservação e regeneração a ser explorada.

Phytosanitary conditions of tree plants can be used to characterize plant communities, indicating structural quality conditions of the plant component. Thus, anthropically altered environments may pose a threat to plant health. The objective of this study was to investigate the phytosanitary and ecological condition of the tree component in a stretch of 400 meters along the railway line located in the municipality of Três Barras, Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Thirty-three tree species were recorded, in addition to 54 taxonomically unidentified individuals. The ecological indices evaluated were abundance, density, richness and evenness. 190 individuals were evaluated in terms of crown quality, Abstract degree of liana infestation and tree health. Although canopy quality and health are mostly good, there was a relatively high number of vine infestations. Such an occurrence may be due to the edge condition in which the plants are located. The good ecological indices combined with the low number of exotic tree species also indicate good ecological conditions and local plant health. However, more studies are needed in the area. Urban afforestation, combined with the formation of ecological corridors that connect the fragments to the Três Barras National Forest, can be a conservation and regeneration measure to be explored.

A higher number of SARS-COV-2 infections in quilombola communities than in the local population in Brazil.

The historical and social vulnerability of quilombola communities in Brazil can make them especially fragile in the face of COVID-19, considering that several individuals have precarious health systems and inadequate access to water. This work aimed to characterize the frequency of SARS-COV-2 infections and the presence of IgM and IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in quilombola populations and their relationship with the presence of risk factors or preexisting chronic diseases in the quilombola communities. We analyzed the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, serological status, comorbidities, and symptoms of 1,994 individuals (478 males and 1,536 females) from 18 Brazilian municipalities in the State of Sergipe of quilombola communities, which were evaluated at different epidemiological weeks, starting at the 32nd (August 6th) and ending at the 40th (October 3rd) epidemiological week. More than 70% of studied families live in rural areas and they have an extreme poverty social status. Although we found a higher number of SARS-COV-2 infections in quilombola communities than in the local population, their SARS-CoV-2 reactivity and IgM and IgG positivity varied across the communities investigated. Arterial hypertension was the most risk factor, being found in 27.8% of the individuals (9.5% in stage 1, 10.8% in stage 2, and 7.5% in stage 3). The most common COVID-19 symptoms and comorbidities were headache, runny nose, flu, and dyslipidemia. However, most individuals were asymptomatic (79.9%). Our data indicate that mass testing must be incorporated into public policy to improve the health care system available to quilombola populations during a future pandemic or epidemic.

A Methodology for Training Toolkits Implementation in Smart Labs.

Globally, educational institutes are trying to adapt modernized and effective approaches and tools to their education systems to improve the quality of their performance and achievements. However, identifying, designing, and/or developing promising mechanisms and tools that can impact class activities and the development of students' outputs are critical success factors. Given that, the contribution of this work is to propose a methodology that can guide and usher educational institutes step by step through the implementation of a personalized package of training Toolkits in Smart Labs. In this study, the package of Toolkits refers to a set of needed tools, resources, and materials that, with integration into a Smart Lab can, on the one hand, empower teachers and instructors in designing and developing personalized training disciplines and module courses and, on the other hand, may support students (in different ways) in developing their skills. To demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of the proposed methodology, a model was first developed, representing the potential Toolkits for training and skill development. The model was then tested by instantiating a particular box that integrates some hardware to be able to connect sensors to actuators, with an eye toward implementing this system mainly in the health domain. In a real scenario, the box was used in an engineering program and its associated Smart Lab to develop students' skills and capabilities in the areas of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The main outcome of this work is a methodology supported by a model able to represent Smart Lab assets in order to facilitate training programs through training Toolkits.

Three-Dimensional Immersion Scanning Technique: A Scalable Low-Cost Solution for 3D Scanning Using Water-Based Fluid.

Three-dimensional scanning technology has been traditionally used in the medical and engineering industries, but these scanners can be expensive or limited in their capabilities. This research aimed to develop low-cost 3D scanning using rotation and immersion in a water-based fluid. This technique uses a reconstruction approach similar to CT scanners but with significantly less instrumentation and cost than traditional CT scanners or other optical scanning techniques. The setup consisted of a container filled with a mixture of water and Xanthan gum. The object to be scanned was submerged at various rotation angles. A stepper motor slide with a needle was used to measure the fluid level increment as the object being scanned was submerged into the container. The results showed that the 3D scanning using immersion in a water-based fluid was feasible and could be adapted to a wide range of object sizes. The technique produced reconstructed images of objects with gaps or irregularly shaped openings in a low-cost fashion. A 3D printed model with a width of 30.7200 ± 0.2388 mm and height of 31.6800 ± 0.3445 mm was compared to its scan to evaluate the precision of the technique. Its width/height ratio (0.9697 ± 0.0084) overlaps the margin of error of the width/height ratio of the reconstructed image (0.9649 ± 0.0191), showing statistical similarities. The signal-to-noise ratio was calculated at around 6 dB. Suggestions for future work are made to improve the parameters of this promising, low-cost technique.

Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase has a noncanonical function in actin bundling.

Dominant mutations in tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (YARS1) and six other tRNA ligases cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth peripheral neuropathy (CMT). Loss of aminoacylation is not required for their pathogenicity, suggesting a gain-of-function disease mechanism. By an unbiased genetic screen in Drosophila, we link YARS1 dysfunction to actin cytoskeleton organization. Biochemical studies uncover yet unknown actin-bundling property of YARS1 to be enhanced by a CMT mutation, leading to actin disorganization in the Drosophila nervous system, human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, and patient-derived fibroblasts. Genetic modulation of F-actin organization improves hallmark electrophysiological and morphological features in neurons of flies expressing CMT-causing YARS1 mutations. Similar beneficial effects are observed in flies expressing a neuropathy-causing glycyl-tRNA synthetase. Hence, in this work, we show that YARS1 is an evolutionary-conserved F-actin organizer which links the actin cytoskeleton to tRNA-synthetase-induced neurodegeneration.

Integrative transcriptome analysis of SARS-CoV-2 human-infected cells combined with deep learning algorithms identifies two potential cellular targets for the treatment of coronavirus disease.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) quickly spread worldwide, leading coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to hit pandemic level less than 4 months after the first official cases. Hence, the search for drugs and vaccines that could prevent or treat infections by SARS-CoV-2 began, intending to reduce a possible collapse of health systems. After 2 years, efforts to find therapies to treat COVID-19 continue. However, there is still much to be understood about the virus' pathology. Tools such as transcriptomics have been used to understand the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on different cells isolated from various tissues, leaving datasets in the databases that integrate genes and differentially expressed pathways during SARS-CoV-2 infection. After retrieving transcriptome datasets from different human cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 available in the database, we performed an integrative analysis associated with deep learning algorithms to determine differentially expressed targets mainly after infection. The targets found represented a fructose transporter (GLUT5) and a component of proteasome 26s. These targets were then molecularly modeled, followed by molecular docking that identified potential inhibitors for both structures. Once the inhibition of structures that have the expression increased by the virus can represent a strategy for reducing the viral replication by selecting infected cells, associating these bioinformatics tools, therefore, can be helpful in the screening of molecules being tested for new uses, saving financial resources, time, and making a personalized screening for each infectious disease.

Assessing the suitability of solar dryers applied to wastewater plants: A review.

Sludge dewatering and drying are the main processes related to sludge management in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Sludge disposal is a high-cost activity, and drying the sludge reduces its mass and volume, resulting in savings in storage, handling and transportation. The discoveries regarding the use of solar energy in agricultural studies provided valuable information for using in sewage sludge drying. Some studies have reported that dry sludge has met the EPA Class A requirement for biosolids using only solar energy as an energy source. The proper sludge mixture, manual or mechanical, and the dewatering process can significantly increase the drying rate, reducing drying time and the surface area needed. The environmental conditions and the sludge's type greatly influence the drying system. A solar dryer system may be suitable to dry different types of wastewater sludge. Modeling techniques can predict the behavior of the solar drying system and, thus, save time and money in experimental steps. CFD modeling of the sludge drying system is usually done by adopting specific boundary conditions and solving the Navier Stokes equations for air and sludge. There is no standard methodology for comparing solar dryers and common methodologies, such as system efficiency and thermal efficiency, disregards different dryers in different operational conditions. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis indicated that, in general, the chapel-type greenhouse with mixed-mode drying has higher drying rates, resulting in reduced drying time and can be scaled to any size. Thus, this type of dryer emerges as a more economical alternative to commercial solar dryers. Based on a systematic review, this work points the SWOT analysis as a useful tool for selecting solar dryers.

Adaptation And Use of the Papworth Haemostasis Checklist - Clinical Outcomes Analysis at Hospital Estadual Mário Covas

ABSTRACT Introduction: Postoperative bleeding is one of the main causes of complications in cardiovascular surgery, which highlights the importance of ensuring adequate intraoperative hemostasis, providing a better patient outcome. This study aimed to improve the prevention of postoperative bleeding in the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of the Hospital Estadual Mário Covas (Santo André, Brazil) using an adapted version of the Papworth Haemostasis Checklist to assess the impact of this standardization on bleeding rate, postoperative complications, reoperation, and mortality. Methods: This is a non-randomized controlled clinical trial, whose non-probabilistic sample consisted of patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the abovementioned service within a two-year interval. The Papworth Haemostasis Checklist was adapted to the Brazilian laboratory parameters and the questions were translated into Portuguese. This checklist was used before the surgeon started the chest wall closure. Patients were followed up until 30 days after surgery. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically relevant. Results: This study included 200 patients. After the checklist, a reduction in 24-hour drain output, postoperative complications, and reoperation was observed, although statistical significance was not reached. Finally, there was a significant reduction in the number of deaths (8 vs. 2; P=0.05). Conclusion: The use of the adapted checklist in our hospital proved to be an effective intervention to improve the prevention of postoperative bleeding, with a direct impact in the number of deaths in the study period. The reduction in deaths was possible thanks to the reduction in the bleeding rate, postoperative complications, and reoperations for bleeding.

FTIR-Assisted Electroreduction of CO2 and H2O to CO and H2 by Electrochemically Deposited Copper on Oxidized Graphite Felt.

Obtaining CO and H2 from electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR) offers a viable alternative to reduce CO2 emissions and produce chemicals and fuels. Herein, we report a simple strategy for obtaining polycrystalline copper deposited on oxidized graphite felt (Cu-OGF) and its performance on the selective conversion of CO2 and H2O to CO and H2. For the electrode obtaining, graphite felt (GF) was first oxidized (OGF) in order to make the substrate hydrophilic and then copper particles were electrochemically deposited onto OGF. The pH of deposition was investigated, and the CO2RR activity was assessed for the prepared electrodes at each pH (2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, and 10.0). It was found that pH 2.0 was the most promising for CO2RR due to the presence of hexagonal copper microparticles. Fourier transform infrared analysis of the produced gases showed that this is a low-cost catalyst capable of reducing CO2 and H2O to CO and H2, with Faradaic efficiencies between 0.50 and 5.21% for CO and 50.87 to 98.30% for H2, depending on the experimental conditions. Hence, it is possible for this gas mixture to be used as a fuel gas or to be enriched with CO for use in Fischer-Tropsch processes.

Ultimate Frisbee Players: Characteristics according to Their Competitive Level and Spirit of the Game.

In Ultimate Frisbee, players are responsible for administering and reinforcing adherence to the rules of the game. As a self-refereed sport, UF relies upon the Spirit of the Game (SOTG). This study aimed to profile the experience, to ascertain the training history of the sport, the participation and goal orientations of international Ultimate Frisbee players in the European Beach Ultimate Championship, and to evaluate the contribution of these variables in a discriminant function to classify players according to SOTG level and competitive level. The sample consisted of 160 players [females 33.8% (29.3 ± 7.2 years); males 66.2% (37.6 ± 9.7 years)] who competed in the European Beach Ultimate Championship, 2019. Factorial ANOVA was used to test the effect of sex, competitive level and SOTG level (measured by the sum of the scores obtained in five questions addressing the following domains: (1) Knowledge and use of the rules; (2) Fouls and body contact; (3) Fair-mindedness; (4) Positive attitude and self-control; (5) Communication. The results revealed that sex was not a consistent source of SOTG level variation among players. In each competitive level, those with high SOTG levels obtained lower European Beach Ultimate Championship classification (t = 5.73 to 6.55, p < 0.001, d = 1.28 to 2.06), higher SOTG classification (t = −13.21 to −7.04, p < 0.001, d = 1.28 to 2.85), and better evaluation for fouls and body contact (t = 2.76 to 9.23, p < 0.05, d = 0.86 to 1.99) and for positive attitude (t = 5.88 to 7.43, p < 0.001, d = 2.06 to 2.57), than regular SOTG level players. Players of different competitive levels demonstrated similar SOTG results. These findings provide important information to coaches, physical education teachers and sport consultants.

Corrigendum: Susceptibility to infections during acute liver injury depends on transient disruption of liver macrophage niche.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.892114.].

Interaction between Benzo[a]anthracene 7,2-dione 7-oxime (BZA) and calf thymus dsDNA using electroanalytical genosensor.

In the present study, the objective was to evaluate in situ interaction between Benzo[a]anthracene 7,2-dione 7-oxime (BZA) and calf thymus dsDNA (ct-dsDNA) using electroanalytical genosensor. Analytical techniques based on Ultraviolet/Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and electroanalytical were used to investigate the interaction processes in solution and immobilized on carbon screen-printed electrodes modified with electrochemical mediator Meldola blue. In addition, was possible to evaluate the degree of damage caused to the genetic material by the analyte through of toxicity estimate (S%). The interaction evaluated by genosensor showed processes of intercalation, degradation, and breaks of the double strand of ct-dsDNA, suggesting that the interaction simulates highly toxic (values varying from 0.6 to 0.8 µA in 48 h of interaction), such as 8-oxoguanine (+0.48 V), which is a by-product of guanine oxidation. Furthermore, monitoring A (+1.10 V) after 1 h showed an S% value between 50 and 90%, indicative of high toxicity, and monitoring G (+0.85 V), which showed S>90%, indicated no toxicity after 10 min. Overall, the electroanalytical genosensor developed in a miniaturized system displayed good reproducibility and stability over time being a quick alternative for assesses the degree of toxicity between toxic xenobiotics and biologically electroactive molecules, such as DNA.

Valorization of food waste by anaerobic digestion: A bibliometric and systematic review focusing on optimization.

As food waste gets acknowledged as a global potential source of biomass, its valorization through anaerobic digestion becomes an attractive strategy. This work describes the state-of-the-art on the valorization of food waste by anaerobic digestion and the optimization of the process. The methodology used was a bibliometric and systematic review of the optimization of the process from 66 articles selected. Bibliometric mapping allowed us to identify that, until now, most studies have been focused on the: i) anaerobic co-digestion strategy in order to stabilize the process, ii) interest in the generation of biofuels to replace non-renewable fuels, iii) study of metabolic processes for a better understanding of the system iv) reactor design optimization and others facilities to increase process efficiency. The systematic analysis showed that the operational parameters has been extensively studied to optimize the process. Therefore, co-digestion has been the main strategy to improve the process. In this sense, knowledge of the substrate and co-substrate is extremely important to operate the reactors. For methane production, the ideal operating conditions indicated were: pH of 7, solids content between 4.0 and 15%, C/N ratio of 25, hydraulic retention time from 25 to 40 days and alkalinity from 2850 to 2970.5mgCaCO3/L. In addition, the ideal OLR will vary mainly according to operating temperature, number of reactor stages, and raw material characteristics. This review indicates trends and knowledge gaps that are important to guide new research on the anaerobic digestion of food waste, pointing out the potential advantages, optimization strategies, by-products of interest and challenges of the process. The results were used for the development of references of ideal operating conditions for energy production, being able to guide the design and operation of reactors.

Susceptibility to Infections During Acute Liver Injury Depends on Transient Disruption of Liver Macrophage Niche.

Kupffer cells are the primary liver resident immune cell responsible for the liver firewall function, including clearance of bacterial infection from the circulation, as they are strategically positioned inside the liver sinusoid with intimate contact with the blood. Disruption in the tissue-resident macrophage niche, such as in Kupffer cells, can lead to a window of susceptibility to systemic infections, which represents a significant cause of mortality in patients with acetaminophen (APAP) overdose-induced acute liver injury (ALI). However, how Kupffer cell niche disruption increases susceptibility to systemic infections in ALI is not fully understood. Using a mouse model of ALI induced by APAP overdose, we found that Kupffer cells upregulated the apoptotic cell death program and were markedly reduced in the necrotic areas during the early stages of ALI, opening the niche for the infiltration of neutrophils and monocyte subsets. In addition, during the resolution phase of ALI, the remaining tissue macrophages with a Kupffer cell morphology were observed forming replicating cell clusters closer to necrotic areas devoid of Kupffer cells. Interestingly, mice with APAP-induced liver injury were still susceptible to infections despite the dual cellular input of circulating monocytes and proliferation of remaining Kupffer cells in the damaged liver. Therapy with bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) was shown to be effective in occupying the niche devoid of Kupffer cells following APAP-induced ALI. The rapid BMDM migration to the liver and their positioning within necrotic areas enhanced the healing of the tissue and restored the liver firewall function after BMDM therapy. Therefore, we showed that disruption in the Kupffer cell niche and its impaired function during acute liver injury are key factors for the susceptibility to systemic bacterial infections. In addition, modulation of the liver macrophage niche was shown to be a promising therapeutic strategy for liver injuries that reduce the Kupffer cell number and compromise the organ function.