Seasonal Variation in Essential Oil Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Aniba canelilla (Lauraceae): A Reliable Source of 1-Nitro-2-phenylethane.

Aniba canelilla (Kunth) Mez essential oil has many biological activities due to its main compound 1-nitro-2-phenylethane (1N2F), followed by methyleugenol, a carcinogenic agent. This study analyzed the influence of seasonality on yields, antioxidant capacity, and 1N2F content of A. canelilla leaf and twig essential oils. Essential oils (EOs) were extracted with hydrodistillation and analyzed with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and a flame ionization detector. Antioxidant capacity was measured using the free radical scavenging method (DPPH). Chemometric analyses were carried out to verify the influence of climatic factors on the production and composition of EOs. 1-Nitro-2-phenylethane was the major constituent in A. canelilla EOs throughout the seasonal period (68.0-89.9%); methyleugenol was not detected. Essential oil yields and the 1N2F average did not show a statistically significant difference between the dry and rainy seasons in leaves and twigs. Moderate and significant correlations between major compounds and climate factor were observed. The twig oils (36.0 ± 5.9%) a showed greater antioxidant capacity than the leaf oils (20.4 ± 5.0%). The PCA and HCA analyses showed no statistical differences between the oil samples from the dry and rainy seasons. The absence of methyleugenolin in all months of study, described for the first time, makes this specimen a reliable source of 1N2F.

Seasonality, Composition, and Antioxidant Capacity of Limonene/δ-3-Carene/(E)-Caryophyllene Schinus terebinthifolia Essential Oil Chemotype from the Brazilian Amazon: A Chemometric Approach.

Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi is widely used in traditional Brazilian medicine to treat respiratory diseases, as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and hemostatic agent. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of climatic parameters on the yield, antioxidative capacity, and chemical composition of the S. terebinthifolia leaf essential oil. The specimen was collected monthly from October 2021 to September 2022. Leaf essential oils (EOs) were obtained by hydrodistillation, and their chemical compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Statistical analyses were performed to verify the climatic influences on the yields, chemical composition, and antioxidative capacity. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical-scavenging and inhibition of ß-carotene/linoleic acid oxidation assays were performed to assess the antioxidant activity. The leaf essential oil yields ranged from 0.1% (July) to 0.7% (May and September), averaging 0.5 ± 0.2%. There was no significant difference in essential oil production during the dry (0.4 ± 0.2%) and rainy (0.6 ± 0.1%) seasons. The main chemical constituents identified in essential oils were limonene (11.42-56.24%), δ-3-carene (8.70-33.16%) and (E)-caryophyllene (4.10-24.98%). The limonene annual average was 43.57 ± 12.74% and showed no statistical difference during the dry (40.53 ± 13.38%) and rainy (52.68 ± 3.27%) seasons. Likewise, the annual average of δ-3-carene was 22.55 ± 7.11%, displaying no statistical difference between dry (26.35 ± 7.90%) and rainy (31.14 ± 1.63%) seasons. The annual average of (E)-caryophyllene was 11.07 ± 7.15% and this constituent did not show a statistical difference in Tukey's test (p > 0.05) during the dry (12.72 ± 7.56%) and rainy (6.10 ± 1.78%) season. Limonene showed a moderate positive and significant correlation (p < 0.05) with precipitation (r = 0.56) and a weak correlation with temperature (r = -0.40), humidity (r = 0.40), and insolation (r = -0.44). All samples inhibited the oxidation in the ß-carotene/linoleic acid system (22.78-44.15%) but displayed no activity in the DPPH method.

Chlorophyll-a prediction in tropical reservoirs as a function of hydroclimatic variability and water quality.

The study goal was to determine spatiotemporal variations in chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration using models that combine hydroclimatic and nutrient variables in 150 tropical reservoirs in Brazil. The investigation of seasonal variability indicated that Chl-a varied in response to changes in total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), volume (V), and daily precipitation (P). Therefore, an empirical model for Chl-a prediction based on the product of TN, TP, and normalized functions of V and P was proposed, but their individual exponents as well as a general multiplicative factor were adjusted by linear regression for each reservoir. The fitted relationships were capable of representing algal temporal dynamics and blooms, with an average coefficient of determination of R2 = 0.70. The results revealed that nutrients yielded better predictability of Chl-a than hydroclimatic variables. Chl-a blooms presented seasonal and interannual variability, being more frequent in periods of high precipitation and low volume. The equations demonstrate different Chl-a responses to the parameters. In general, Chl-a was positively related to TN and/or TP. However, in some cases (22%), high nutrient concentrations reduced Chl-a, which was attributed to limited phytoplankton growth driven by light deficiency due to increased turbidity. In 49% of the models, precipitation intensified Chl-a levels, which was related to increases in the nutrient concentration from external sources in rural watersheds. Contrastingly, 51% of the reservoirs faced a decrease in Chl-a with precipitation, which can be explained by the opposite effect of dilution of nutrient concentration at the reservoir inlet in urban watersheds. In terms of volume, in 67% of the reservoirs, water level reduction promoted an increase in Chl-a as a response to higher nutrient concentration. In the other cases, Chl-a decreased with lower water levels due to wind-induced destratification of the water column, which potentially decreased the internal nutrient release from bottom sediment. Finally, applying the model to the two largest studied reservoirs showed greater sensitivity of Chl-a to changes in water use classes regarding variations in TN, followed by TP, V, and P.

Chemometrics of the Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Hyptis crenata Essential Oils from Brazil.

Hyptis crenata (Pohl) ex Benth is used in traditional medicine as an analgesic to treat general pain. Six Hyptis crenata samples (Hc-1 to Hc-6) were collected in Pará state, Brazil. The leaf essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation, and GC-MS and GC-FID were used to analyze their chemical compositions. The antioxidant capacity was measured in vitro using DPPH and carotene/linoleic acid assays. Chemometrics analysis (PCA, HCA, and clustered heat map) were used to identify the sample relationships between those collected in this study and those from the literature (Hc-7 to Hc-16) samples. According to the main chemical constituents identified in the samples described in this work and the literature, the sixteen samples were classified into ten groups. Group I was characterized by 1,8-cineole (31.0%), α-pinene (13.6%), (E)-caryophyllene (7.8%), and ß-pinene (7.6%); and Group IV was characterized by 1,8-cineole (17.4-23.5%), α-pinene (15.7-23.5%), ß-pinene (10.5-13.4%), and limonene (8.5-9.7%). Both groups are described for the first time. The total antioxidant capacity was expressed in Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity values (TEAC): TEAC of Hc-5 (551.9 mg.TE/g) and Hc-6 (475.1 mg.TE/g). In the ß-carotene/linoleic acid assay, the highest inhibition was from Hc-2 (40.0%), Hc-6 (39.0%), and Hc-3 (29.4%).

Effects of 5α-dihydrotestosterone on the modulation of monocyte/macrophage response to Staphylococcus aureus: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a pathogen responsible for a wide range of clinical manifestations and potentially fatal conditions. There is a paucity of information on the influence of androgens in the immune response to S. aureus infection. In this study, we evaluated the influence of the hormone 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) and human peripheral blood monocytes (HPBMs) induced by S. aureus. METHODS: An in vitro model of MPMs from BALB/c sham males, orchiectomised (OQX) males, and females was used. Cells were inoculated with 10 µL of S. aureus, phage-type 80 or sterile saline (control) for 6 h. The MPMs of OQX males and females were pre-treated with 100 µL of 10-2 M DHT for 24 h before inoculation with S. aureus. The concentration of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10; total nitrites (NO-2); and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were measured in the supernatant of MPM cultures. In addition, the toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) genes that are involved in immune responses were analysed. For the in vitro model of HPBMs, nine men and nine women of childbearing age were selected and HPBMs were isolated from samples of the volunteers' peripheral blood. In women, blood was collected during the periovulatory period. The HPBMs were inoculated with S. aureus for 6 h and the supernatant was collected for the analysis of cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12; and GM-CSF, NO-2, and H2O2. The HPBMs were then removed for the analysis of 84 genes involved in the host's response to bacterial infections by RT-PCR array. GraphPad was used for statistical analysis with a p value < 0.05. RESULTS: Our data demonstrated that MPMs from sham males inoculated with S. aureus displayed higher concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and lower concentrations of IL-10, NO-2, and H2O2 when compared with MPMs from OQX males and females. A similar result was observed in the HPBMs of men when compared with those of women. Previous treatment with DHT in women HPBMs increased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased the levels of IL-10, NO-2, and H2O2. The analysis of gene expression showed that DHT increased the activity of the TLR2 and NF-kB pathways in both MPMs and HPBMs. CONCLUSIONS: We found that DHT acts as an inflammatory modulator in the monocyte/macrophage response induced by S. aureus and females exhibit a better immune defence response against this pathogen.

Chemical composition and antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil of Hyptis crenata Pohl ex Benth. from the Brazilian Amazon.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The leaf tea of Hyptis crenata has its practical use in the Brazilian Amazon for treating gastrointestinal and liver disorders, sweating induction, and as an anti-inflammatory. AIM OF THE STUDY: Evaluation of the chemical composition, acute oral toxicity, and antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the H. crenata essential oil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The essential oil was hydrodistilled and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The antinociceptive action in mice was evaluated for the peripheral and central analgesic activity (abdominal contortion and hot plate tests), and the xylene-induced ear swelling was carried out for the nociception test. RESULTS: Oxygenated monoterpenes (53.0%) and monoterpene hydrocarbons (38.9%) predominated in the H. crenata oil, being 1,8-cineo1e (35.9%), α-pinene (20.8%), camphor (10.0%), and ß-pinene (7.3%) their primary constituents. The oral oil administration in the mice did not display changes in behavior patterns or animal mortality at 300 and 2000 mg/kg doses. The control group's biochemical parameters (ALP, AST, ALT) displayed a statistical difference from the treated group, unlike the renal parameters, which showed no variation between the groups. Oil reduced the abdominal contortions at doses of 100 (79.5%) and 300 mg/kg (44.4%), while with endodontacin, the dose was 5 mg/kg (75.2%). In addition, the oil could not decrease the paw licking/biting time at doses of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg. However, it showed a significant antinociceptive effect on the second phase in the formalin test inhibiting licking time, with a reduction of 50.8% (30 mg/kg), 63.4% (100 mg/kg), 58.0% (300 mg/kg), and morphine (4 mg/kg, 78.3%). The oil administration produced significant inhibition of ear edema at all tested doses, with a better effect produced at 30 mg/kg (64.0% inhibition). CONCLUSION: The oil of Hyptis crenata, rich in 1,8-cineole, camphor, α-pinene, and ß-pinene, totaling 74%, displayed low acute toxicity and significant anti-inflammatory activity, with peripheral and no central antinociceptive action. Thus, these results show an actual perspective on using H. crenata oil in developing a phytotherapeutic product.

Tradução e adaptação para o português da Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behaviour Scale / Traducción y adaptación al portugués de la Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behaviour Scale / Translation and adaptation of Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behavior Scale into Brazilian Portuguese

Resumo Objetivo Traduzir, adaptar culturalmente e validar o conteúdo da Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behaviour Scale (PIBBS) Métodos Estudo metodológico, cujas etapas foram: tradução inicial; síntese das traduções; retrotradução; revisão das versões traduzidas; validação do conteúdo; pré-teste; e encaminhamento da documentação ao Comitê de Revisão da Adaptação Transcultural. Tanto a escala original quanto a traduzida e adaptada possuem seis itens e cada item contém 03 a 06 subitens com escores de pontuação que variam de 0 a 6. A pontuação total pode variar de 0 a 20. Para a etapa de validação foi realizado o cálculo do índice de validade de conteúdo (IVC) de todos os itens da escala. Foi considerado IVC mínimo de 0,8 como aceitável, para avaliação de cada item individualmente; e de 0,90, para avaliação geral do instrumento. Resultados A versão brasileira da escala PIBBS foi denominada de Escala Comportamental de amamentação do pré-termo. A escala foi traduzida, adaptada e seu conteúdo foi validado, alcançando equivalência conceitual e idiomática que variou de 83,3% a 100%. O índice de validade de conteúdo foi de 0,93. Conclusão Após a tradução, adaptação e validação pelos profissionais de saúde a escala se mostrou válida, de fácil aplicação e linguagem de fácil entendimento. A escala permitirá que os profissionais de saúde possam observar o comportamento do prematuro e orientar a mãe, estimulando assim o aleitamento materno exclusivo, já que o processo de amamentação do prematuro é complexo. Sua utilização em pesquisas futuras e prática clínica permitirá complementar as análises psicométricas mais robustas.

Resumen Objetivo Traducir, adaptar culturalmente y validar el contenido de la Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behaviour Scale (PIBBS). Métodos Estudio metodológico, cuyas etapas fueron: traducción inicial, síntesis de las traducciones, retrotraducción, revisión de las versiones traducidas, validación de contenido, prueba piloto y envío de la documentación al Comité de Revisión de Adaptación Transcultural. Tanto la escala original, como la traducida y adaptada, contienen seis ítems y cada uno contiene de tres a seis subítems con puntuación que varía de 0 a 6. La puntuación total puede variar de 0 a 20. Para la etapa de validación se realizó el cálculo de índice de validez de contenido (IVC) de todos los ítems de la escala. Se consideró IVC mínimo de 0,8 como aceptable para la evaluación de cada ítem individualmente, y de 0,90 para la evaluación general del instrumento. Resultados La versión brasileña de la escala PIBBS fue denominada "Escala Comportamental de amamentação do pré-termo" (Escala de Comportamiento de Lactancia del Recién Nacido Prematuro). La escala fue traducida y adaptada, y su contenido fue validado, con una equivalencia conceptual e idiomática que varió de 83,3 % a 100 %. El índice de validez de contenido fue de 0,93. Conclusión Después de su traducción, adaptación y validación por parte de los profesionales de la salud, la escala demostró ser válida, de fácil aplicación y con un lenguaje de fácil comprensión. La escala permitirá que los profesionales de la salud puedan observar el comportamiento del prematuro y orientar a la madre, con el objetivo de estimular la lactancia materna exclusiva, ya que el proceso de lactancia del prematuro es complejo. Su uso en investigaciones futuras y en la práctica clínica permitirá complementar análisis psicométricos más sólidos.

Abstract Objective To translate, culturally adapt and validate the Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behavior Scale (PIBBS) content Methods This is a methodological study, whose steps were: initial translation; synthesis of translations; back-translation; review of translated versions; content validity; pre-test; and sending the documentation to the Cross-Cultural Adaptation Review Committee. Both the original scale and the translated and adapted scale have six items, and each item contains 03 to 06 sub-items with score scores ranging from 0 to 6. The total score can range from 0 to 20. For the validity step, the Content Validity Index (CVI) of all scale items was calculated. A minimum CVI of 0.8 was considered acceptable for assessing each item individually, and 0.90, for generally assessing the instrument. Results The Brazilian version of PIBBS was called the "Escala Comportamental de Amamentação do Pré-Termo". The scale was translated, adapted and its content was validated, achieving conceptual and idiomatic equivalence ranging from 83.3% to 100%. The CVI was 0.93. Conclusion After translation, adaptation and validity by health professionals, the scale proved to be valid, easy to apply and easy to understand language. The scale will allow health professionals to observe preterm infants' behavior and guide mothers, thus encouraging exclusive breastfeeding, since the breastfeeding process of a preterm infant is complex. Its use in future research and clinical practice will complement more robust psychometric analyses.

Declínio cognitivo e uso de medicamentos na população de idosos institucionalizados de uma cidade do interior de Minas Gerais, Brasil / Neurocognitive disorders and medication used by the institutionalized elderly population of the interior of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Resumo Introdução Idosos institucionalizados possuem maiores riscos para a prescrição de cinco ou mais medicamentos, ou polifarmácia, e, por consequência, de eventos adversos, por apresentarem problemas de saúde limitantes, fragilidade e baixa funcionalidade. Esse risco é ainda maior quanto maior o declínio cognitivo. Objetivo Determinar a prevalência de declínio cognitivo (DC) e a relação com o uso de medicamentos em idosos institucionalizados. Método Estudo transversal descritivo realizado por análise de prontuários dos idosos institucionalizados portadores ou não de DC, conforme resultados de testes validados. Foram levantados os medicamentos utilizados e os medicamentos potencialmente inadequados (MPI) por meio dos Critérios de Beers (2015). Resultados Foram avaliados 88 idosos, com idade média de 77,6 (9,2) anos. A prevalência de DC foi de 75%, sendo maior no sexo feminino (82,5%, p = 0,01) e em idosos acima de 80 anos (85%, p = 0,04). Antieméticos e inibidores de bomba de prótons foram significativamente mais utilizados nos idosos com DC. A prevalência de polifarmácia foi de 69,3%, e 71 idosos (80,68%) utilizavam pelo menos um MPI, com maior prevalência do uso de MPI na faixa etária de 60 a 79 anos (p = 0,004). Os idosos que utilizavam pelo menos um MPI também usavam maior número de medicamentos (p = 0,014). Conclusão A presença de DC teve relação com a maior utilização de antieméticos e inibidores de bomba de prótons, mas não com o maior uso de MPI. Além disso, foi observada elevada prevalência de polifarmácia e MPI em prescrições dos idosos institucionalizados.

Abstract Background Institutionalized elderly are at greater risk of prescribing five or more medications and consequently of higher occurence of adverse events, as they have limiting health problems, frailty and low functionality. This risk is even greater if they also have cognitive decline. Objective To determine the prevalence of cognitive disorders (CDs) and its association with the medication used by the institutionalized elderly population of the interior of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Method Descriptive cross-sectional study for analysis of medical records of institutionalized elderly with or without CDs, according to validated tests. The medicine used and the potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) were determined as per the Beers criteria (2015). Results Eighty eight elderly people, with mean age of 77.6 (9.2) years, were included. CD prevalence was 75% higher in females (82.5%, p = 0.01) and in older age groups, with 80 years and above (85%, p = 0.04). Antiemetics and proton pump inhibitors were significantly more used by the elderly with CDs. The prevalence of polypharmacy was 69.3%, 71 elderlies (80.7%) used at least one PIM, and a higher prevalence of PIM use was observed in elderly people of 60 to 79 years old (p = 0.004). The elderly who used at least one PIM was also observed to use a higher number of medications (p = 0.014). Conclusion CDs was found to be related to the higher use of antiemetics and proton pump inhibitors, but not to the use of PIMs in regards to the institutionalized elderlies. Furthermore, a high prevalence of polypharmacy and PIMs were detected in the prescriptions of the institutionalized elderly subjects.

Heterologous Expression, Purification, and Immunomodulatory Effects of Recombinant Lipoprotein GUDIV-103 Isolated from Ureaplasma diversum.

Ureaplasma diversum is a bacterial pathogen that infects cattle and can cause severe inflammation of the genital and reproductive systems. Lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs), including GUDIV-103, are the main virulence factors in this bacterium. In this study, we heterologously expressed recombinant GUDIV-103 (rGUDIV-103) in Escherichia coli, purified it, and evaluated its immunological reactivity and immunomodulatory effects in bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Samples from rabbits inoculated with purified rGUDIV-103 were analysed using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and dot blotting to confirm polyclonal antibody production and assess kinetics, respectively. The expression of this lipoprotein in field isolates was confirmed via Western blotting with anti-rGUDIV-103 serum and hydrophobic or hydrophilic proteins from 42 U. diversum strains. Moreover, the antibodies produced against the U. diversum ATCC 49783 strain recognised rGUDIV-103. The mitogenic potential of rGUDIV-103 was evaluated using a lymphoproliferation assay in 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester−labelled bovine PBMCs, where it induced lymphocyte proliferation. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the expression of interleukin-1ß, toll-like receptor (TLR)-α, TLR2, TLR4, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and caspase-3−encoding genes increased more in rGUDIV-103−treated PBMCs than in untreated cells (p < 0.05). Treating PBMCs with rGUDIV-103 increased nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide levels. The antigenic and immunogenic properties of rGUDIV-103 suggested its suitability for immunobiological application.

Analysis of cytokines in the aqueous humor during intravitreal Ranibizumab treatment of diabetic macular edema.

This study aimed to analyze the concentrations of VEGF, b-FGF, TNF, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12 in the aqueous humor of patients with diabetic macular edema with and without peripheral retinal ischemia and to ascertain the changes in the levels of these molecules during treatment with ranibizumab. A therapeutic, prospective, randomized interventional study was carried out. Twenty-four eyes from 24 patients were studied and divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (9 eyes) included patients with diabetic macular edema without peripheral ischemia. Group 2 (10 eyes) included patients with diabetic macular edema with peripheral ischemia. Group 3 (5 eyes), the control group, included patients without systemic and/or eye diseases. Patients in Groups 1 and 2 received 3 intravitreal injections of 2 mg/0.05 ml ranibizumab at an interval of approximately 30 days. Before administering the injections, the aqueous humor was collected. In the control group, aqueous humor was collected before facetectomy. During treatment, the median IL-6 concentration significantly increased in Group 1 but showed a slight but not significant decrease in Group 2. Interleukin 8 levels were significantly different at the end of treatment compared to the beginning in Groups 1 and 2. TNF, IL-1, IL-10, and IL-12 levels were practically unchanged in both groups. VEGF was significantly reduced at the end of the study in Groups 1 and 2. B-FGF was not detected in most of the studied patients, and in those with detectable levels, there was no significant variation. There was a significant increase in the median level of interleukin 6 in the group without ischemia and a significant decrease in VEGF in both groups. The cytokines TNF, IL-1, IL-10, and IL-12 did not show significant variation.

Efeitos da meditação sobre os sintomas da ansiedade: uma revisão sistemática / Effects of meditation on anxiety symptoms: a systematic review

INTRODUÇÃO: A Ansiedade é um estado subjetivo de medo, apreensão ou tensão em relação a algo desconhecido ou estranho que pode acarretar desconforto psicológico e/ou físico caso ocorra de forma exacerbada e que, segundo a Organização Mundial da Saúde, afeta significativamente a população brasileira. É importante lidar com este transtorno com o objetivo de diminuir os danos físicos e psicológicos ele causa nos indivíduos; para isso, as estratégias de tratamento mais utilizadas são a intervenção medicamentosa e tratamentos não farmacológicos como a terapia, atividade física e a meditação. OBJETIVO: Estudar os efeitos da meditação no tratamento da ansiedade. METODOLOGIA: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática de estudos intervencionais. As bases MEDLINE (Pubmed) e SCIELO foram utilizadas para a coleta de artigos em inglês e português, publicados entre os anos de 2010 e 2020. RESULTADOS: Oito ensaios clínicos randomizados foram selecionados. Os estudos sugerem uma associação positiva entre a prática da meditação e a melhora dos sintomas físicos e psicológicos dos pacientes portadores de transtorno de ansiedade. CONCLUSÃO: De modo geral, a literatura científica evidencia os efeitos benéficos da meditação no tratamento da ansiedade, embora se façam necessárias mais pesquisas sobre o tema.

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety is a subjective state of fear, apprehension, or tension in relation to something unknown or strange that can cause psychological and / or physical discomfort if it occurs in an exacerbated way and, according to the World Health Organization, that represents significant bad effects to the Brazilian population. It is important to deal with this disorder to reduce the physical and psychological damage it causes to individuals; for this, the most used treatment strategies are drug intervention and non-pharmacological treatments such as therapy, physical activity, and meditation. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of meditation in the treatment of anxiety. METHODOLOGY: This is a systematic review of interventional studies. The MEDLINE (Pubmed) and SCIELO databases were used to collect articles in English and Portuguese, published between 2010 and 2020. RESULTS: Eight randomized clinical trials were selected. Studies suggest a positive association between meditation practice and improved physical and psychological symptoms of patients with anxiety disorder. CONCLUSION: In general, the scientific literature highlights the beneficial effects of meditation in treating anxiety, although more research on the topic is needed.

Composition and organization of the sagittal stratum in the human brain: a fiber dissection study.

OBJECTIVE: The sagittal stratum is divided into two layers. In classic descriptions, the stratum sagittale internum corresponds to optic radiations (RADs), whereas the stratum sagittale externum corresponds to fibers of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Although advanced for the time it was proposed, this schematic organization seems simplistic considering the recent progress on the understanding of cerebral connectivity and needs to be updated. Therefore, the authors sought to investigate the composition of the sagittal stratum and to detail the anatomical relationships among the macroscopic fasciculi. METHODS: The authors performed a layer-by-layer fiber dissection from the superolateral aspect to the ventricular cavity in 20 cadaveric human hemispheres. RESULTS: Diverse bundles of white matter were observed to contribute to the sagittal stratum and their spatial arrangement was highly consistent from one individual to another. This was the case of the middle longitudinal fasciculus, the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, the RADs, and other posterior thalamic radiations directed to nonvisual areas of the cerebral cortex. In addition, small contributions to the sagittal stratum came from the anterior commissure anteriorly and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus inferiorly. CONCLUSIONS: A general model of sagittal stratum organization in layers is possible, but the composition of the external layer is much more complex than is mentioned in classic descriptions. A small contribution of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus is the main difference between the present results and the classic descriptions in which this bundle was considered to entirely correspond to the stratum sagittale externum. This subject has important implications both for fundamental research and neurosurgery, as well as for the development of surgical approaches for the cerebral parenchyma and ventricular system.

Immunoinformatics and analysis of antigen distribution of Ureaplasma diversum strains isolated from different Brazilian states.

BACKGROUND: Ureaplasma diversum has numerous virulence factors that contribute to pathogenesis in cattle, including Lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs). Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate in silico important characteristics for immunobiological applications and for heterologous expression of 36 LAMPs of U. diversum (UdLAMPs) and, also, to verify by conventional PCR the distribution of these antigens in strains of Brazilian states (Bahia, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Mato Grosso do Sul). The Manatee database was used to obtain the gene and peptide sequences of the antigens. Similarity and identity studies were performed using BLASTp and direct antigenicity was evaluated by the VaxiJen v2.0 server. Epitope prediction for B lymphocytes was performed on the BepiPred v2.0 and CBTOPE v1.0 servers. NetBoLApan v1.0 was used to predict CD8+ T lymphocyte epitopes. Subcellular location and presence of transmembrane regions were verified by the software PSORTb v3.0.2 and TMHMM v2.2 respectively. SignalP v5.0, SecretomeP v2.0, and DOLOP servers were used to predict the extracellular excretion signal. Physico-chemical properties were evaluated by the web-software ProtParam, Solpro, and Protein-sol. RESULTS: In silico analysis revealed that many UdLAMPs have desirable properties for immunobiological applications and heterologous expression. The proteins gudiv_61, gudiv_103, gudiv_517, and gudiv_681 were most promising. Strains from the 4 states were PCR positive for antigens predicted with immunogenic and/or with good characteristics for expression in a heterologous system. CONCLUSION: These works contribute to a better understanding of the immunobiological properties of the UdLAMPs and provide a profile of the distribution of these antigens in different Brazilian states.

Translation and cultural adaptation of a prostate cancer screening decision aid: a qualitative study in Portugal.

OBJECTIVES: To translate and culturally adapt an English language patient decision aid addressing prostate cancer screening, so it can be used by Portuguese men. DESIGN: Qualitative study. We followed the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's (ECDC) five-step, stakeholder-based approach to adapting health communication materials: (1) selection of materials and process coordinators, (2) early review, (3) translation and back translation, (4) comprehension testing with cognitive semi-structured interviews and (5) proofreading. Content analysis was performed using Ligre software. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Cognitive interviews with 15 men to refine a decision aid after its translation. Eligible participants were Portuguese native-speaking men aged 55-69 years old recruited from the local community (urban and suburban) of Oporto district through advertisements in social media and senior universities between January and March 2019. A previous diagnosis of prostate cancer was the single exclusion criterion. RESULTS: Five main themes are presented: informational content, information comprehension, sociocultural appropriateness, feelings and main message and personal perspective concerning prostate cancer screening. Most men found the translated version of the decision aid to be clear, comprehensive and appropriate for its target population, although some suggested that medical terms could be a barrier. The data collected from men's interviews afforded the researchers the opportunity to clarify concepts and expand existing content. CONCLUSIONS: A decision aid was successfully translated and adapted to the Portuguese cultural setting. Our ECDC based approach can be replicated by other workgroups to translate and culturally adapt decision aids.

Soil Microbiological Attributes Under Ecological Restoration Technologies in Subtropical Forest

Abstract To accelerate the recovery of degraded environments, it is necessary to use ecological restoration techniques, which require validation according to the ecosystem conditions where are implemented. This work aimed to evaluate soil microbiological attributes under different ecological restoration technologies in a subtropical forest. The study was conducted at UTFPR-DV, southwest of Paraná, in an ecotone between Mixed Ombrophilous Forest and Semideciduous Seasonal Forest and on an Oxisol. In December 2010, a tillage area of at least 17 years old was isolated and the passive restoration, tree planting and nucleation treatments were installed in 40x54 m plots and four replications. In November 2018 the soil was sampled in these plots and in a native forest area as a reference. There were calculated soil organic carbon content (OCC) and microbiological attributes such as microbial biomass N and C (NMIC and CMIC), basal respiration, fungal spore content and the metabolic (qCO2) and microbial quotient (MICq). It can be concluded that nucleation technology can restore soil microbiological attributes but has not yet reached the conditions of a natural environment. Passive restoration is not a good technology for restoring soil microbiological attributes. The higher contents of CMIC, NMIC, OCC, MICq and fungal spores in the soil under native forest compared to ecological restoration technologies indicate that eight years of adoption of these techniques have not yet been enough to fully recover soil microbiological activity.

Entrópio palpebral severo pós cirurgia de correção de ptose / Severe eyelid entropion after ptosis correction surgery

Resumo Paciente de 69 anos evoluiu com entrópio palpebral severo após cirurgia de correção de ptose palpebral pela técnica de reinserção da aponeurose do músculo levantador da pálpebra superior. Realizada reintervenção onde foi diagnosticado uma fixação da aponeurose em uma posição muito inferior e feita uma refixacação no 1/3 superior do tarso, com melhora do quadro funcional e estético com boa satisfação da paciente. Devido às suturas em topografia mais inferior, o tarso adquire forma de U em decorrência do dobramento no centro da placa tarsal e da rotação inferior da sua metade superior resultando no entrópio. Este caso ressalta a importância do cuidado quanto a localização da inserção da aponeurose do MLPS, principalmente nos paciente idosos, como forma de evitar o encurvamento vertical do tarso.

Abstract Sixty-nine (69) year old patient with severe upper eyelid entropion following surgical correction of ptosis through levator muscle aponeurosis advancement and reinsertion. The aponeurosis advancement appeared to be much lower than typically intended, and surgical repair was performed via aponeurosis re-fixation into the superior 1/3 of the tarsal plate, with subsequent improvement in the aesthetic and functional outcome, and a satisfied patient. Due to the inferiorly located tarsal sutures, the tarsal plate acquires a U-shape due to a central fold and an inferior rotation of its upper half, resulting in entropion formation. This case highlights the importance of taking great care when advancing the levator muscle in ptosis due to levator aponeurosis dehiscence, particularly in elderly patients, so as to avoid vertically folding the superior tarsal plate.

The lesser anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla) is not tetradactyla, but pentadactyla.

The name of the species tetradactyla means "four digits." In the literature, the hand of the lesser anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla) is described as having four digits (I, II, III and IV) with the absence of a fifth digit. The purpose of this study was to carry out an update adequately proposing an anatomical description of the T. tetradactyla hand. The present findings were analysed on the validation of Morse's law for this species. In total, seven male cadavers were radiographed and dissected. We observed that the hand of the T. tetradactyla was formed by a carpus containing four bones in the proximal row, which in the medium lateral direction was the radial, intermediate, ulnar and accessory bones of the carpus, and the distal row was formed by carpal bones I, II, III and IV. There were five metacarpal bones (I, II, III, IV and V). The presence of five digits was verified but not confirmed with the literature. Digit I had two phalanges, the proximal and distal; digits II, III and IV had three phalanges: proximal, middle and distal. Digit five had only one phalanx, the proximal, but it was not externally visible. According to the findings of this study, the presence of the fifth digit raises the question of whether the term tetradactyla is the most appropriate to describe this species. This rudimentary fifth digit and the presence of a functional first digit show that the Morse's law does not applies for the T. tetradactyla species.

Apresentação periorbitária de doença relacionada ao IgG4 / Periorbital presentation of IgG4 related disease

Resumo A doença relacionada ao IgG4 é uma condição imunomediada caracterizada pela presença de lesões com reação inflamatória associada à fibrose e à infiltração linfoplasmocitária rica em plasmócitos tissulares IgG4 positivos, compondo um espectro de doenças fibroproliferativas. A patogênese da DRIgG4 ainda é pouco compreendida e o tratamento é empírico. Relatamos o caso de um homem de 50 anos com lesões amareladas palpebrais associadas a edema local, diagnosticadas previamente como processo alérgico, até que biópsia com estudo imuno-histoquímico e dosagem de IgG4 sérico aventaram a hipótese de doença relacionada ao IgG4. Foi iniciado tratamento com corticoide e rituximabe, observando-se estabilização do quadro e sem apresentação de outras formas clínicas da doença.

Abstract IgG4-Related Disease is an immunomediated condition that is characterized by the presence of inflammatory lesions associated with fibrosis and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration rich in positive IgG4 tissue plasmocytes, forming a spectrum of fibroproliferative diseases. The pathogenesis of IgG4-RD is still poorly understood and the treatment is empirical. We report the case of a 50-year-old man with yellow eyelid lesions associated with local edema, previously diagnosed as an allergic process, until biopsy with immunohistochemical study and serum IgG4 dosage revealed the hypothesis of IgG4 related disease. Treatment with corticoid and rituximab was initiated, showing stabilization of the condition, without presenting other clinical forms of the disease.

Perfil microbiológico de utensílios em unidade de alimentação e nutrição comercial e Institucional de Salvador, BA / Microbiological profile of utensils in food and commercial and institutional nutrition unit of Salvador, BA

Os utensílios de grande utilização para manipulação de alimentos em restaurantes constituem vias de transmissão de micro-organismos, sendo causa potencial para o desenvolvimento de doenças veiculadas por alimentos. Além disso, as falhas no processo de higienização favorecem a formação de biofilmes, aumentando os riscos de contaminação. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as condições microbiológicas de utensílios utilizados no processo de produção de alimentos em um restaurante comercial e um institucional. A coleta das amostras de cinco utensílios comuns aos dois segmentos de restaurantes foi realizada através da técnica do swab e analisada a presença de micro-organismos mesófilos aeróbios, coliformes totais, E. coli e estafilococos coagulase positivo. Os resultados das análises microbiológicas demonstraram que todos os utensílios de ambos os segmentos apresentaram algum tipo de contaminação microbiana. Conclui-se que os utensílios (bandeja, cortador/ faca, pegador, placa de corte e gastronorm) avaliados nesta pesquisa encontravam-se em condições higiênicas insatisfatórias, aumentando o risco de contaminação cruzada nos alimentos.

High-use utensils for food handling in restaurants are ways of transmission microorganisms, which are potential causes for the development of foodborne diseases. In addition, failures in the hygiene process favor the formation of biofilms, increasing the risk of contamination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological conditions of utensils used in the food production process in a commercial and institutional restaurant. Samples of five utensils common to the two restaurant segments were collected using the swab technique and the presence of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, total coliforms, E. coli and coagulase positive staphylococci were analyzed. The results of the microbiological analyzes showed that all the utensils of both segments presented some type of microbial contamination. It was concluded that the utensils (tray, cutter / knife, catcher, cutting board and gastronorm) evaluated in this research were in unsatisfactory hygienic conditions, increasing the risk of cross-contamination in food.