Potential Therapeutic Properties of Olea europaea Leaves from Selected Cultivars Based on Their Mineral and Organic Profiles.

Olive leaves are consumed as an extract or as a whole herbal powder with several potential therapeutic benefits attributed to polyphenols, tocopherol's isomers, and flavonoids, among others. This study assessed the potential variance in the functional features presented by olive leaves from three different Portuguese cultivars-Cobrançosa, Madural, and Verdeal-randomly mix-cultivated in the geographical area of Vale de Salgueiros. Inorganic analysis determined their mineral profiles while an organic analysis measured their total phenolic and flavonoid content, and scanned their phenolic and tocopherol and fatty acid composition. The extracts' biological activity was tested by determining their antimicrobial and antioxidant power as well as their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, MAO-A/B, and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme. The inorganic profiles showed them to be an inexpensive source able to address different mineral deficiencies. All cultivars appear to have potential for use as possible antioxidants and future alternative antibiotics against some multidrug-resistant microorganisms, with caution regarding the arsenic content in the Verdeal cultivar. Madural's extract displayed properties to be considered a natural multitarget treatment for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, depression, and cardiometabolic and dual activity for blood pressure modulation. This work indicates that randomly cultivating different cultivars significantly modifies the leaves' composition while keeping their multifaceted therapeutic value.

Muscle strength in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 / Força muscular em pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19

Abstract Introduction Complications arising from hospitalization due to COVID-19 have great impact on the physical health of individuals. One of the consequences that deserves attention is muscle weakness, which can be influenced by several factors, generating consequences that may need rehabilitation. Objective To relate the degree of peripheral and respiratory muscle strength to sociodemographic, clinical, and hospitalization variables close to discharge after hospitalization due to COVID-19. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed data for 52 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who were interviewed close to discharge to determine sociodemographic and clinical profiles and underwent muscle strength testing. Peripheral muscle strength was evaluated using the Medical Research Council scale, and respiratory strength was determined according to maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure measured with a vacuometer. Hospitalization data were collected from patient medical records. Results Peripheral strength was reduced in 53.9% of the sample, and the related variables (p < 0.05) were age, weight, cancer, high blood pressure, physical therapy, and number of physiotherapy sessions. Inspiratory force was reduced by 50% of individuals and expiratory force in 60% individuals, and these reductions were related (p < 0.05) to sex, high blood pressure, age, and weight. Conclusion Close to COVID-19 hospital discharge, over 50% of patients exhibited peripheral and respiratory muscle weakness, associated with advanced age, hypertension, and low weight. Those with peripheral weakness received more physiotherapy and had more oncological diseases, while respiratory weakness was more common in men. This underscores the importance of preventive measures and post-hospitalization rehabili-tation programs, including physiotherapy, for muscle strength recovery.

Resumo Introdução As complicações decorrentes da hospitalização por COVID-19 têm grande impacto na saúde física dos indivíduos. Uma das consequências que merece atenção é a fraqueza muscular, que pode ser influenciada por diversos fatores, ge-rando consequências que podem necessitar de reabilitação. Objetivo Relacionar o grau de força muscular periférica e respiratória com variáveis sociodemográficas, clínicas e de internação próximo à alta após internação por COVID-19. Métodos Este estudo transversal analisou dados de 52 pa-cientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 que foram entrevistados próximo à alta para determinar perfis sociodemográficos e clínicos e que foram submetidos a testes de força muscular. A força muscular periférica foi avaliada pela escala do Medical Research Council, e a força respiratória foi determinada de acordo com a pressão inspiratória e expiratória máxima medida com vacuômetro. Os dados de internação foram coletados dos prontuários dos pacientes. Resultados A força periférica esteve reduzida em 53,9% da amostra e as variáveis relacionadas (p < 0,05) foram idade, peso, câncer, hipertensão, fisioterapia e número de sessões de fisioterapia. A força inspiratória foi reduzida em 50% dos indivíduos e a força expiratória em 60% dos indivíduos, e essas reduções foram relacionadas (p < 0,05) ao sexo, pressão arterial elevada, idade e peso. Conclusão Próximo à alta hospitalar da COVID-19, mais de 50% dos pacien-tes apresentavam fraqueza muscular periférica e respiratória associada à idade avançada, hipertensão e baixo peso. Aqueles com fraqueza periférica receberam mais fisioterapia e tiveram mais doenças oncológicas, enquanto a fraqueza respiratória foi mais comum em homens. Isto ressalta a importância de medidas preventivas e programas de reabilitação pós-hospitalização, incluindo fisioterapia, para a recuperação da força muscular.

Fatores correlacionados a intolerância ao exercício na alta de pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 / Factors correlated to exercise intolerance upon discharge in patients hospitalized for COVID-19

Objetivo: Verificar a prevalência da intolerância ao exercício e a correlação com o perfil sociodemográfico, clínico, de hospitalização e função física na alta de pacientes hospitalizados pela COVID-19. Métodos: Estudo transversal com 52 pacientes internados por COVID-19 no Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Vitória, Espírito Santo. Coletou-se informações no momento da alta quanto ao perfil sociodemográfico, clínico, de hospitalização e função física, através de questionário semiestruturado, prontuário eletrônico, escalas e testes. Utilizou-se o Medical Research Council Modificado (mMRC) para graduar a dispneia, o Medical Research Council (MRC) para avaliar força muscular periférica, a manovacuometria, através das pressões inspiratória e expiratória máximas, para mensurar força muscular respiratória e a Medida de Independência Funcional (MIF) para funcionalidade. A variável desfecho, tolerância ao exercício, foi medida pelo Teste de Sentar e Levantar de 1 minuto. Resultados: Todos participantes apresentaram intolerância ao exercício no momento da alta hospitalar. O desempenho no teste de sentar e levantar foi inversamente correlacionado com o grau de dispneia e diretamente com a força muscular inspiratória, pontuação total da Medida de Independência Funcional, domínios de autocuidado, locomoção, mobilidade (p 0,019), e controle de esfíncter Conclusão: A prevalência da intolerância ao exercício na alta por COVID-19 foi de 100%, e estava correlacionada com o grau de dispneia, força muscular inspiratória e funcionalidade para autocuidado, locomoção, mobilidade e controle de esfíncter. Destaca-se a avaliação da tolerância ao exercício como importante preditor de sequelas pós-COVID-19, capaz de avaliar a interação entre diversos sistemas orgânicos.

Objective: To verify the prevalence of exercise intolerance and the correlation with the sociodemographic, clinical, hospitalization and physical function profile at discharge of patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 52 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia in Vitória, Espírito Santo. Information was collected at discharge regarding the sociodemographic, clinical, hospitalization and physical function profile, through a semi-structured questionnaire, electronic medical record, scales and tests. The Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) was used to grade dyspnea, the Medical Research Council (MRC) was used to assess peripheral muscle strength, manovacuometry, through maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, to measure respiratory muscle strength and the Independence Measure Functional (MIF) for functionality. The outcome variable, exercise tolerance, was measured by the 1-minute Sit and Stand Test. Results: All participants presented exercise intolerance at discharge. Performance in the 1-minute Sit and Stand Test was inversely correlated with the degree of dyspnea and directly with inspiratory muscle strength, total score on the Independence Measure Functional, self-care domains, locomotion, mobility and sphincter control. Conclusion: The prevalence of exercise intolerance at discharge due to COVID-19 was 100%, and was correlated with the degree of dyspnea, inspiratory muscle strength and functionality for self-care, locomotion, mobility and sphincter control. The assessment of exercise tolerance stands out as an important predictor of sequelae after COVID-19, capable of assessing the interaction between different

A Review on Acupuncture Efficiency in Human Polycystic Ovary/Ovarian Syndrome.

Objectives: Human Polycystic Ovary/Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a frequent endocrine pathophysiology among women of fertile age, is associated with woman's lifespan endocrine, metabolic and psychological implications. Long-term usage side effects of allopathic strategies and their low efficacy made complementary medicine treatments a relevant subject for these patients. The main aim of this work is to review the efficiency of the acupuncture treatment reported in the latest studies on literature regarding PCOS patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature search, in English language, about the use of acupuncture on the management of PCOS, was conducted in October 2020 using EBSCO, Cochrane, PubMed, Medline, Embase, databases for randomised and non-randomised controlled trials between 2015 and 2020 (09/2015-10/2020), following the PRISMA protocol. Results: This research led us to an analysis, according to PICOS, of six final papers selected among 178 in total. The articles addressed distinct aspects of the PCOS condition, diverse acupuncture techniques and different main and secondary outcomes in agreement to the respective main objective. According to this review, acupuncture seems to be useful for the treatment of this debilitating and chronic health condition which affects millions of women worldwide, many of them part of the workforce in their community. Conclusion: Despite of the display of these positive results addressing acupuncture treatments to manage PCOS major symptoms - whether they are reproductive, metabolic, or mental health features - more research is urgent. Randomized, double blinded controlled trials with improved quality design and following STRICTA and/or CONSORT recommendations are necessary to engage acupuncture as a standardized and scientific validated technique in PCOS condition.

Immunostaining of ßA-Activin and Follistatin Is Decreased in HPV(+) Cervical Pre-Neoplastic and Neoplastic Lesions.

The activin-follistatin system regulates several cellular processes, including differentiation and tumorigenesis. We hypothesized that the immunostaining of ßA-activin and follistatin varies in neoplastic cervical lesions. Cervical paraffin-embedded tissues from 162 patients sorted in control (n = 15), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1 (n = 38), CIN2 (n = 37), CIN3 (n = 39), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; n = 33) groups were examined for ßA-activin and follistatin immunostaining. Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection and genotyping were performed by PCR and immunohistochemistry. Sixteen samples were inconclusive for HPV detection. In total, 93% of the specimens exhibited HPV positivity, which increased with patient age. The most detected high-risk (HR)-HPV type was HPV16 (41.2%) followed by HPV18 (16%). The immunostaining of cytoplasmatic ßA-activin and follistatin was higher than nuclear immunostaining in all cervical epithelium layers of the CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and SCC groups. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the cytoplasmic and nuclear immunostaining of ßA-activin was detected in all cervical epithelial layers from the control to the CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and SCC groups. Only nuclear follistatin immunostaining exhibited a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in specific epithelial layers of cervical tissues from CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and SCC compared to the control. Decreased immunostaining of cervical ßA-activin and follistatin at specific stages of CIN progression suggests that the activin-follistatin system participates in the loss of the differentiation control of pre-neoplastic and neoplastic cervical specimens predominantly positive for HPV.

Insights into Current Education of Acupuncture as a Non-Conventional Therapy in Portugal.

Acupuncture, as an ancient practice for healthcare in China, is now widely used in the world and regarded as a non-conventional therapy (NCT) in many Western countries. In Portugal, acupuncture has been structured and well regulated for the market of teaching and clinical practice, but little effort has been put in to explore it in depth. This article aims to disclose the current education of acupuncture as a NCT in Portugal through investigation of acupuncture laws, field surveys, teaching work, and interviews with people from the NCT field. We found that according to the academic norms and rules of education in Portugal, there is a gradual difficulty in the progression and maintenance of the degree training dynamics. The reasons are the lack of more tolerant transitional measures and many practical difficulties confronted by the institutions that embark on these complementary programs. Therefore, it will be necessary to promote additional programs and measures to avoid a total emptiness of the teaching of acupuncture and at the same time losses of clinicians, competencies, and quality of information that are difficult to recover. It could be very meaningful and thought provoking to the future development and improvement of acupuncture in Portugal and in other countries that welcome acupuncture and intend to have better legislation and application.

Updated Mineral Composition and Potential Therapeutic Properties of Different Varieties of Olive Leaves from Olea europaea.

Olea europaea L. folium has been studied for its potential nutraceutical properties. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted on samples of Madural, Verdeal, and Cobrançosa elementary leaves and leave sprouts (mamões) collected in the region of Valpaços, Portugal. Mineral analysis determined the measurements of the levels of several macro- and micro-elements based on ICP-MS techniques. The inorganic analysis in this work allowed us to propose olive leaf extract (OLE) from different cultivars as a viable and affordable source of mineral substrates to address disorders related to essential elements such as Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, and Cu deficiencies. Given the importance of the research on novel therapies, finding a suitable substrate for extracting quality amounts of mineral is a priority. The physiological influence of enzymes dependent on minerals with regard to neuroinflammatory and neurobehavioral, metabolic, cardiovascular, osteodegenerative, anti-aging, pulmonary, and immunological defense disorders might dictate the importance of further research for designing supplementation based on the nutraceutical potential of OLE of these cultivars predominant in the northern region of Portugal.

Updated Organic Composition and Potential Therapeutic Properties of Different Varieties of Olive Leaves from Olea europaea.

Olea europaea L. folium merits further exploration of the potential of its substrates for therapeutic supplements. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted on samples of Madural, Verdeal, and Cobrançosa elementary leaves and leaf sprouts (mamões) collected in the region of Valpaços, Portugal. Organic analysis assessed the moisture content, total carbohydrates, ash, protein, and fat contents, total phenolic content (TPC), vitamin E, and fatty acid (FA) profiles. Moisture content was determined through infrared hygrometry and TPC was determined by a spectrophotometric method. Concerning organic analysis, all leaf samples showed similar moisture content, though Cobrançosa's leaf sprouts and Verdeal's elementary leaves had slightly lower contents. Meanwhile, these cultivars also showed a higher TPC, α-tocopherol isomer, and fatty acid composition (FAC). FAC in all samples exhibited higher contents of PUFA and SFA than MUFA, with a predominance of linolenic and palmitic acids. Organic analyses of Cobrançosa's leaf sprouts and Verdeal's elementary leaf extracts allow for the prediction of adequate physiological properties regarding neuroinflammatory, neurobehavioral, metabolic, cardiovascular, osteo-degenerative, anti-ageing, pulmonary, and immunological defense disorders. These physiological changes observed in our preliminary in silico studies suggest an excellent nutraceutical, which should be borne in mind during severe pandemic situations.

Perceived Health Benefits of Taijiquan and Qigong.

Background: Taijiquan and qigong are traditional Chinese therapeutic disciplines with several health benefits and the ability to improve the quality of life of their practitioners. As traditional vegetative biofeedback therapies, they can activate functional vegetative changes in the body. These neurovegetative actions have been studied in the last few years to better explain the mechanisms through which these techniques of traditional Chinese medicine work. Primary Study Objective: To support current research, it is important to further explore these neurovegetative actions according to contemporary Chinese medicine models to clarify the mechanisms of their working in light of conventional medical terms. This study aims to explore the health benefits that these practices may produce for practitioners. Methods: 345 taijiquan and qigong practitioners were recruited for this study to assess the perceived health benefits of taijiquan and qigong. We conducted a survey to assist in this purpose. Results: Taijiquan combined with qigong may be more beneficial than taijiquan alone. Additionally, these practices seem to produce notable benefits for anxiety, depression, and other emotional disturbances. They also seem to have positive results in addressing arthritis and pain in the back, shoulder, neck, and knees. In addition, taijiquan and qigong may have benefits in managing several digestive, neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases, and provide some assistance in the management of some oncologic conditions. Conclusion: Breathing exercises, slow and controlled movement, self-massage, and directed thought are the therapeutic characteristics that allow this wide range of potential, perceived health benefits. More scientific studies are needed to confirm the mechanisms through which taijiquan and qigong may benefit health. However, it is suggested that these techniques may have an impact on health mainly via the modulation of the autonomic nervous system.

Autism Spectrum as an Etiologic Systemic Disorder: A Protocol for an Umbrella Review.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder with a huge prevalence increasing every year (1/44 children). Still diagnosed as a mental disorder, the last 10 years of research found possible causes, risks, genetics, environmental triggers, epigenetics, metabolic, immunological, and neurophysiological unbalances as relevant aetiology. Umbrella methodology is the highest level of scientific evidence, designed to support clinical and political decisions. A literature search for autism aetiology, pathophysiology, or causes, conducted in the last 10 years, at PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and the Web of Science, resulted in six umbrella reviews. Nevertheless, only one quantitative analysis reported risk factors and biomarkers but excluded genetics, experiments on animal models, and post-mortem studies. We grouped ASD's multi-factorial causes and risks into five etiological categories: genetic, epigenetic, organic, psychogenic, and environmental. Findings suggest that autism might be evaluated as a systemic disorder instead of only through the lens of mental and behavioural. The overview implications of included studies will be qualitatively analysed under ROBIS and GRADE tools. This umbrella review can provide a rational basis for a new urgent health policy to develop better and adequate integrated care services for ASD. The methodological protocol has the register CRD42022348586 at PROSPERO.

The Effect of Auriculotherapy on Situational Anxiety Trigged by Examinations: A Randomized Pilot Trial.

BACKGROUND: Auriculotherapy may activate the parasympathetic nerve system and reduce anxiety levels. Short-term auriculotherapy's effects and safety on university students' anxiety levels was assessed prior to exams. METHODS: A randomized, controlled pilot trial was conducted. The day before the exam, university students were randomly allocated to the auriculotherapy group (AA, n = 13) or the waiting-list group (WG, n = 13). Baseline measures were taken 4 weeks before the exam at Time point (TP 0); at 7.30 a.m. on the day before the exam (TP I); at 11 a.m. before auriculotherapy (TP II); 30 min after AA (TP III); and at 7.30 a.m. before the exam (TP IV). The outcomes were the State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory (STAI); quality of night-sleep, Visual Analogue scale (VAS) for anxiety, and salivary cortisol. Adverse events were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 26 students participated in this study and became more anxious as assessed by STAI in TPII (p = 0.002) and TPIV (p = 0.000) than TP0. AA reduced the STAI in TPIII (p = 0.045) and PIV (p = 0.001) and the VAS (p = 0.012) in TPIV. Cortisol was reduced in TPIII (p = 0.004), and the AA slept better (p = 0.014) at TPIV. Discomfort at the auricular site was reported in only one AA participant. CONCLUSIONS: Auriculotherapy appeared safe and effective in reducing anxiety levels before university exams.

Can Yoga, Qigong, and Tai Chi Breathing Work Support the Psycho-Immune Homeostasis during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Narrative Review.

Breathing is crucial in life; nevertheless, the healthcare community often overlooks the health potential of breathing techniques. Conscious manipulation of breathing to achieve specific health goals is found in yoga, Qigong and Tai Chi. This paper reviews the value of breathing exercises as a foremost mechanism for promoting, recuperating and maintaining health. Practices involving breathing techniques are described, and their prophylactic or therapeutic characteristics are explored. The main goals of this review are: (i) to summarize the evidence supporting the hypothesis that breathing practices have a significant beneficial impact on human health; (ii) to provide a deeper understanding of traditional biofeedback practices, particularly yoga, Qigong and Tai Chi, and outline their focus on breathing techniques; (iii) to outline specific immune-related responses, relevant for COVID-19 disorders; and (iv) to call for committed attention and action from the scientific community and health agencies in promoting the implementation of a practical and costless health program based on breathing techniques. This review shows the health potentials of breathing practices and exercises, which, by having a high benefit-cost ratio, could be selected and implemented as a primary standard routine in public health programs.

Potential Therapeutic Properties of the Leaf of Cydonia Oblonga Mill. Based on Mineral and Organic Profiles.

Leaf extract of Cydonia Oblonga Mill. is interesting for further exploration of the potential of its substrates for therapeutic supplements. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted on samples of green (October), yellow (November), and brown (December) quince leaves collected in the region of Pinhel, Portugal. Mineral analysis determined the measurements of the levels of several macro- and micro-elements. Organic analysis assessed the moisture content, total phenolic content (TPC), vitamin E, and fatty acid (FA) profiles. Mineral analysis was based on ICP-MS techniques, while the profiles of vitamin E and FA relied on HPLC-DAD-FLD and GC-FID techniques, respectively. Moisture content was determined through infrared hygrometry and TPC was determined by spectrophotometric methods. Regarding the mineral content, calcium, magnesium, and iron were the most abundant minerals. Concerning organic analysis, all leaf samples showed similar moisture content, while the TPC of gallic acid equivalents (GAE) and total vitamin E content, the most predominant of which was the α-tocopherol isomer, showed significant variations between green-brown and yellow leaves. FA composition in all leaf samples exhibited higher contents of SFA and PUFA than MUFA, with a predominance of palmitic and linolenic acids. Organic and inorganic analysis of quince leaves allow for the prediction of adequate physiological properties, mainly cardiovascular, pulmonary, and immunological defenses, which with our preliminary in silico studies suggest an excellent supplement to complementary therapy, including drastic pandemic situations.

Qigong in Perceptual Auditory Attention: Tool to Improve Sound Integration in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Context: Qigong, a mind-body practice in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), can improve cognitive functions, emotional balance, attention, multitask management, stress-coping, and well-being. One limitation of Qigong research is a lack of adequate controls. Objective: The current study intended to evaluate whether a single 5-min practice of a White Ball (WB) Qigong exercise could improve the perceptual auditory attention, divided and focused, in adults and whether obtaining potential effects would require a minimum level of training. Design: The research team designed a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, and single-blinded study. Setting: The study took place at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS) at the University of Porto in Porto, Portugal. Participants: Participants were 55 students at the University of Porto, 30 of whom were students attending the second year of medical school at ICBAS with no experience in Qigong and 25 of whom were students in the specialization and Master's programs in TCM with experience in Qigong. Intervention: The research team randomly distributed the 30 participants without experience into two groups, a negative control group (n = 15), who watched a wildlife video for 5 min in an orthostatic position, and a positive control group , the verum Qigong group (n = 15), who participated in 5 min of Qigong practice. The Qigong-practitioner group (n = 25), the intervention group, participated in the same 5-min Qigong, doing it with expertise. Outcome Measures: The study measured reaction time (RT) under two experimental conditions, one an auditory RT task and the second an auditory RT task with visual distraction. The procedure was constant for all the studied groups. Results: Postintervention, the reaction time (RT) in the negative control and the verum Qigong groups hadn't changed significantly (P > .05), while that of the Qigong-practitioner group had decreased significantly, with shorter RTs under the two experimental conditions, with P = .006 for the auditory RT and P = .003 for the auditory + visual distraction. Qigong may induce a conditioning effect that comes with regular practice. Conclusions: The WB Qigong had a positive effect on the AA mechanism, with a significant reduction in RT. The results support the importance of practice to achieve positive effects. People with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and ADHD, struggle every day for sensory integration of AA mechanisms. Qigong can be taught and easily learned from the age of 2 years until senior ages, and it's a safe and very low-cost intervention that deserves to be researched further in clinical trials. These potential benefits of Qigong should be confirmed by future studies.

Scale-free distribution of silences.

Soundscape studies help us understand ecological processes, biodiversity distribution, anthropic influences, and even urban quality, across a wide variety of places and time periods. In this work, instead of looking for differences, we ask if there are common characteristics shared by all soundscapes. Based on our results, we propose a universal distribution of quiet-time (background noise) and sound-time (acoustic energy bursts) in audio recordings. We analyzed one continuous hour during daylight and one at night, from ten randomly selected days in each environment: urban, dry forest, savanna, rupestrian field, Atlantic forest, marine, and freshwater. We found that the histograms of the quiet-time followed a power law for all scenarios analyzed, they present fractal events or scale-free distributions. This distribution covers up to four orders of magnitude, with an exponent of 1.6≤α≤2.0 for all soundscapes. By contrast, the sound-time distribution in all environments followed a log-normal or timescale dependence, with a typical time for the duration of sounds (0.06-0.12 s). Such time duration limitation can be related to the physiology of sound emission in animals.

Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Agents in Cats from Southeastern and Northern Brazil.

Even though the epidemiology of tick-borne agents (TBA) in dogs has been extensively investigated around the world, the occurrence, vectors involved, and molecular identity of these agents in cats remains elusive in many regions. Among TBA, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Hepatozoon are responsible for diseases with non-specific clinical signs in cats, making essential the use of molecular techniques for accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. The present work aimed to investigate the occurrence and molecular identity of tick-borne agents (Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Babesia/Theileria, Cytauxzoon, and Hepatozoon) in cats from southeastern (states of São Paulo (SP) and Minas Gerais (MG)) and northern (state of Rondônia (RO)) Brazil. For this purpose, 390 blood samples were collected from domiciled cats in MG (n = 155), SP (n = 151), and RO(n = 84) states, submitted to DNA extraction and PCR assays for Ehrlichia spp. (dsb gene), Anaplasma spp. (rrs gene), piroplasmids (18S rRNA gene), and Hepatozoon spp. (18S rRNA gene), sequencing, and phylogenetic inferences. The overall positivity for Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Babesia/Theileria spp., Cytauxzoon spp., and Hepatozoon spp. were 7.4% (12.3% (MG) and 6.6% (SP)), 2% (4.5% (MG) and 0.6% (SP)), 0.7% (0.6% (MG), 0.6% (SP) and 1.2% (RO)), 27.2% (41.9% (MG), 24.5% (SP) and 4.8% (RO), and 0%, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis grouped the obtained sequences with 'Candidatus Anaplasma amazonensis', A. platys, B. vogeli, and Cytauxzoon sp. previously detected in wild felids from Brazil. qPCR specific for E. canis based on the dsb gene confirmed the molecular identity of the detected ehrlichial agent. The present study expanded the list and geographical distribution of hemoparasites in cats. 'Candidatus Anaplasma amazonensis', recently detected in sloths from northern Brazil, was described for the first time in cats. This is the first report of piroplasmids infecting cats in northern Brazil. Coinfection by Cytauxzoon and other TBA (Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and B. vogeli) reported in the present study raises the need for veterinary practitioners' awareness of cats parasitized by multiple TBA.

Can the electrical potential of acupoints be used to assess the functional state of meridians and the effects of therapeutics? An exploratory data analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Acupoints have bioelectrical properties distinct from common skin. Besides the higher electrical conductivity and lower resistance, acupoints show capacitor-like properties, which can be related to their endogenous electrical potential. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) postulates that meridians are physiological structures connecting acupoints and working as a conduit for the flow of two essential substances known as qi and xue. OBJECTIVES: This pilot study was focused in evaluating whether the electrical potential of acupoints can be correlated objectively to the functional properties as described by ancient Chinese medical theories, such as the theories of coupled meridians of the same phase ('elements'), and the principle of coupled points. METHODS: Direct needle moxibustion on LU5 and needle dispulsion of LI4 were performed in 21 subjects. The electrical potential of each acupoint was measured with a high-resolution data acquisition system taking to reference the acupoint SP6 of the Spleen conduit. RESULTS: The results may indicate a functional relationship between the therapeutics and the electrical potential response on the selected acupoints. These effects seem to be explainable considering the specific properties of each acupoint, the relationship between TCM phases, and the dynamics between coupled conduits. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of the endogenous electrical potential of acupoints and the changes caused by an external stimulus might contribute to the understanding of TCM concepts, mechanisms, and the effects of associated therapeutics. The observed phenomena encourage the systematic assessment of the functional vegetative status via skin electrophysiology and using objective measurements.

Taijiquan and qigong as a mindfulness cognitive-behavioural based therapy on the treatment of cothymia in school-age children - A preliminary study.

INTRODUCTION: The development and well-being of children are directly linked to several aspects. Among those aspects, physical activity, an adequate nutrition, and a healthy mind, seem to be of crucial importance. Psychopathologies, such as anxiety and depression, have a negative impact on life, especially when co-occurring (mixed-anxiety depression disorder/cothymia), and the clinical implications include a higher risk of suicide and psychiatric hospitalization, elevated disability, decreased compliance with medical treatment, and considerably increased usage of medical services. Thus, research in conventional and nonconventional modalities is necessary to address this issue. The main objective of this study was to understand if TJQ and QG could be effective as a mindfulness cognitive-behavioural based therapeutic tool with body movement, for the treatment of children suffering from cothymia. METHODS: In this small study, six selected children, four males and two females aged between 7 and 11 years old, were taught a set of exercises of TaijiQuan (TJQ) and Qi Gong (QG). To obtain the results, the Achenbach Teacher's Report Form (TRF) was applied at the beginning of the experimental period, as well as at the ending of the experimental period. The resulting scores were analysed to observe the difference between both moments of evaluation. RESULTS: Results showed some improvements in symptoms, with an average improvement of 46%. CONCLUSION: TJQ and QG seem to be a promising complementary therapeutic tool in cognitive-behavioural approaches for children who suffer from cothymia, as well as prevention and control for children who may not display symptoms at a clinical level. However, further research is needed in order to understand the full potential of these therapeutic exercises.

A Dense Fibrillar Collagen Scaffold Differentially Modulates Secretory Function of iPSC-Derived Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells to Promote Wound Healing.

The application of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate vascular smooth muscle cells (hiPSC-VSMCs) in abundance is a promising strategy for vascular regeneration. While hiPSC-VSMCs have already been utilized for tissue-engineered vascular grafts and disease modeling, there is a lack of investigations exploring their therapeutic secretory factors. The objective of this manuscript was to understand how the biophysical property of a collagen-based scaffold dictates changes in the secretory function of hiPSC-VSMCs while developing hiPSC-VSMC-based therapy for durable regenerative wound healing. We investigated the effect of collagen fibrillar density (CFD) on hiPSC-VSMC's paracrine secretion and cytokines via the construction of varying density of collagen scaffolds. Our study demonstrated that CFD is a key scaffold property that modulates the secretory function of hiPSC-VSMCs. This study lays the foundation for developing collagen-based scaffold materials for the delivery of hiPSC-VSMCs to promote regenerative healing through guiding paracrine signaling pathways.