Herbicide Leaching in Soil with Different Properties: Perspectives from Commercial Formulations and Analytical Standards.

The leaching of herbicides into the soil is essential to control germinating seeds and parts of vegetative weeds. However, herbicide transportation to deeper soil layers can result in groundwater contamination and, consequently, environmental issues. In this research, our objective was to investigate differences in herbicide leaching between commercial formulations and analytical standards using three different soils. Leaching experiments were carried out for diuron, hexazinone, and sulfometuron-methyl herbicides isolated and in binary and ternary mixtures. The herbicide residue quantification was performed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). Diuron had less mobility in soils and was retained in the most superficial layers. Hexazinone and sulfometuron-methyl were more mobile and leached into deeper layers. The leaching process was more intense for hexazinone and sulfometuron-methyl. The additives present in the commercial formulation favored the leaching in soils of diuron, hexazinone, and sulfometuron-methyl herbicides isolated and mixture compared to the analytical standard. This fact highlights the importance of considering these effects for the positioning of herbicides in the field to increase the efficiency of weed control and minimize the potential for environmental contamination.

A polyphenol-rich açaí seed extract protects against 5-fluorouracil-induced intestinal mucositis in mice through the TLR-4/MyD88/PI3K/mTOR/NF-κBp65 signaling pathway.

Açaí seed extract (ASE) is obtained from Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) plant (Amazon region) has high nutritional and functional value. ASE is rich in polyphenolic compounds, mainly proanthocyanidins. Proanthocyanidins can modulate the immune system and oxidative stress by inhibiting the toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4)/myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. A great deal of evidence suggests that inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress contribute to the pathogenesis of intestinal mucositis, and these events can lead to intestinal dysmotility. We hypothesized that ASE acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound in intestinal mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) through modulation of the TLR-4/MyD88/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase α/mechanistic target of rapamycin/NF-κBp65 pathway. The animals were divided into linear 5-FU (450 mg/kg) and 5-FU + ASE (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg) groups. The weight loss of the animals was evaluated daily. Samples from duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were obtained for histopathological, biochemical, and functional analyses. ASE reduced weight loss, inflammatory parameters (interleukin-1ß; tumor necrosis factor-α; myeloperoxidase activity) and the gene expression of mediators involved in the TLR-2/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. ASE prevented histopathological changes with beneficial effects on gastrointestinal transit delay, gastric emptying, and intestinal absorption/permeability. In conclusion, ASE protects the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier by inhibiting the TLR/MyD88/PI3K/mechanistic target of rapamycin/NF-κBp65 pathway.

Doxycycline reversal of amphetamine-induced mania-like behavior is related to adjusting brain monoamine abnormalities and antioxidant effects in primary hippocampal neurons.

Mania is associated with disturbed dopaminergic transmission in frontotemporal regions. D-amphetamine (AMPH) causes increased extracellular DA levels, considered an acknowledged mania model in rodents. Doxycycline (DOXY) is a second-generation tetracycline with promising neuroprotective properties. Here, we tested the hypothesis that DOXY alone or combined with Lithium (Li) could reverse AMPH-induced mania-like behavioral alterations in mice by the modulation of monoamine levels in brain areas related to mood regulation, as well as cytoprotective and antioxidant effects in hippocampal neurons. Male Swiss mice received AMPH or saline intraperitoneal (IP) injections for 14 days. Between days 8-14, mice receive further IP doses of DOXY, Li, or their combination. For in vitro studies, we exposed hippocampal neurons to DOXY in the presence or absence of AMPH. DOXY alone or combined with Li reversed AMPH-induced risk-taking behavior and hyperlocomotion. DOXY also reversed AMPH-induced hippocampal and striatal hyperdopaminergia. In AMPH-exposed hippocampal neurons, DOXY alone and combined with Li presented cytoprotective and antioxidant effects, while DOXY+Li also increased the expression of phospho-Ser133-CREB. Our results add novel evidence for DOXY's ability to reverse mania-like features while revealing that antidopaminergic activity in some brain areas, such as the hippocampus and striatum, as well as hippocampal cytoprotective effects may account for this drug's antimanic action. This study provides additional rationale for designing clinical trials investigating its potential as a mood stabilizer agent.

The amygdala NT3-TrkC pathway underlies inter-individual differences in fear extinction and related synaptic plasticity.

Fear-related pathologies are among the most prevalent psychiatric conditions, having inappropriate learned fear and resistance to extinction as cardinal features. Exposure therapy represents a promising therapeutic approach, the efficiency of which depends on inter-individual variation in fear extinction learning, which neurobiological basis is unknown. We characterized a model of extinction learning, whereby fear-conditioned mice were categorized as extinction (EXT)-success or EXT-failure, according to their inherent ability to extinguish fear. In the lateral amygdala, GluN2A-containing NMDAR are required for LTP and stabilization of fear memories, while GluN2B-containing NMDAR are required for LTD and fear extinction. EXT-success mice showed attenuated LTP, strong LTD and higher levels of synaptic GluN2B, while EXT-failure mice showed strong LTP, no LTD and higher levels of synaptic GluN2A. Neurotrophin 3 (NT3) infusion in the lateral amygdala was sufficient to rescue extinction deficits in EXT-failure mice. Mechanistically, activation of tropomyosin receptor kinase C (TrkC) with NT3 in EXT-failure slices attenuated lateral amygdala LTP, in a GluN2B-dependent manner. Conversely, blocking endogenous NT3-TrkC signaling with TrkC-Fc chimera in EXT-success slices strengthened lateral amygdala LTP. Our data support a key role for the NT3-TrkC system in inter-individual differences in fear extinction in rodents, through modulation of amygdalar NMDAR composition and synaptic plasticity.

The impact of anastomotic leakage after curative colon cancer resection on long-term survival: A retrospective cohort study / El impacto de la fuga anastomótica después de la resección curativa del cáncer de colon en la supervivencia a largo plazo: un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo

Introduction: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most feared postoperative complications in colon cancer surgery due to an association with increased morbidity and mortality, although its impact on long-term survival is not consensual. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of AL on long-term survival of patients undergoing curative colon cancer resection. Methods: A single-centre retrospective cohort study was designed. Clinical records of all consecutive patients undergoing surgery at our institution between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2019 were reviewed. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan–Meier method to estimate overall and conditional survival and Cox regression to search for risk factors impacting survival. Results: A total of 2351 patients submitted to colorectal surgery were screened for eligibility, of which 686 with colon cancer were included. AL occurred in 57 patients (8,3%) and was associated with higher postoperative morbidity and mortality, length of stay and early readmissions (P < 0,05). Overall survival was inferior in the leakage group (Hazard Ratio 2,08 [1,02–4,24]). Conditional overall survival at 30, 90 days and 6 months was also inferior in the leakage group (P < 0,05), but not at 1 year. Risk factors independently associated with reduced overall survival included AL occurrence, higher ASA classification and delayed/missed adjuvant chemotherapy. AL did not impact local and distant recurrence (P > 0,05). Conclusion: AL has a negative impact on survival. Its effect is more pronounced on short-term mortality. AL does not appear to be associated with disease progression.(AU)

Objetivo: La fuga anastomótica (FA) es una complicación postoperatoria temida en la cirugía del cáncer de colon por asociación con mayor morbimortalidad, aunque su impacto en la supervivencia a largo plazo no es consensuado. Nuestro objetivo fue investigar el efecto de la FA en la supervivencia a largo plazo de pacientes sometidos a resección curativa del cáncer de colon. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo unicéntrico de pacientes consecutivos intervenidos quirúrgicamente entre 01/01/2010 y el 31/12/2019. El análisis de supervivencia se realizó por el método de Kaplan-Meier para evaluar la supervivencia global (SG) y condicional y una regresión de Cox para evaluar los factores de riesgo con efecto en la supervivencia. Resultados: De 2351 pacientes sometidos a cirugía colorrectal, se incluyeron 686 con cáncer de colon. FA afectó 57 pacientes (8,3%) y se asoció con mayor morbimortalidad postoperatoria, duración de estancia hospitalaria y reingresos (P < 0,05). La SG fue inferior en el grupo de fuga (Hazard Ratio 2,08 [1,02–4,24]). La SG condicional a los 30, 90 días y 6 meses fue inferior en el grupo de fugas (P < 0,05), pero no a 1 año. Los factores de riesgo que se asociaron con SG reducida incluyeron la FA, clasificación ASA más alta y quimioterapia adyuvante retrasada/perdida. FA no afectó la recurrencia local y distante (P > 0.05). Conclusiones: FA tiene un impacto negativo en la supervivencia, con efecto más pronunciado sobre la mortalidad a corto plazo, pero no es asociado con la progresión de la enfermedad oncológica.(AU)

Anxiolytic effects of N-(4,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1,2-dithiolo-[4,3,b]-pyrrole-6-yl)-N-methylformamide, a pyrroloformamide isolated from a marine Streptomyces sp., in adult zebrafish by the 5-HT system.

General anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health problems worldwide. The emergence and development of anxiety disorders can be due to genetic (30-50%) or non-genetic (50-70%) factors. Despite medical progress, available pharmacotherapies are sometimes ineffective or can cause undesirable side effects. Thus, it becomes necessary to discover new safe and effective drugs against anxiety. This study evaluated the anxiolytic effect in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) of a natural pyrroloformamide (PFD), N-(4,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1,2-dithiolo-[4,3,b]-pyrrole-6-yl)-N-methylformamide, isolated from a Streptomyces sp. bacterium strain recovered from the ascidian Eudistoma vannamei. The complete structure of PFD was determined by a detailed NMR analysis, including 1H-13C and 1H-15N-HBMC data. In addition, conformational and DFT computational studies also were performed. A group of fishes (n = 6) was treated orally with PFD (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL; 20 µL) and subjected to locomotor activity and light/dark tests, as well as, acute toxicity 96 h. The involvement of the GABAergic and serotonergic (5-HT) systems was investigated using flumazenil (a silent modulator of GABA receptor) and 5-HT1, 5-HT2A/2C and 5-HTR3A/3B receptors antagonists, known as pizotifen, granisetron and cyproheptadine, respectively. PFD was nontoxic, reduced locomotor activity and promoted the anxiolytic effect in zebrafish. Flumazenil did not inhibit the anxiolytic effect of the PFD via the GABAergic system. This effect was reduced by a pretreatment with pizotifen and granisetron, and was not reversed after treatment with cyproheptadine. Molecular docking and dynamics studies confirmed the interaction of PFD with the 5-HT receptor.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Pyrroloformamide (PFD), isolated from the marine Streptomyces sp. associated ascidian Eudistoma vannamei, showed no toxicity in adult zebrafish but reduced its locomotor activity.The structural elucidation of PFD was determined by the analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data.The density functional theory (DFT) study confirmed the existence of two conformers as determined by NMR spectra.The serotonergic system modulated the anxiolytic effect of PFD via the 5-HT receptor in adult zebrafish.Molecular docking and dynamics studies confirmed the interaction of PFD with the 5-HT receptor.

Polysaccharides from exudate gums of plants and interactions with the intestinal microbiota: A review of vegetal biopolymers and prediction of their prebiotic potential.

Polysaccharides in plant-exuded gums are complex biopolymers consisting of a wide range of structural variability (linkages, monosaccharide composition, substituents, conformation, chain length and branching). The structural features of polysaccharides confer the ability to be exploited in different industrial sectors and applications involving biological systems. Moreover, these characteristics are attributed to a direct relationship in the process of polysaccharide enzymatic degradation by the fermentative action in the gut microbiota, through intrinsic interactions connecting bacterial metabolism and the production of various metabolites that are associated with regulatory effects on the host homeostasis system. Molecular docking analysis between bacterial target proteins and arabinogalactan-type polysaccharide obtained from gum arabic allowed the identification of intermolecular interactions provided bacterial enzymatic mechanism for the degradation of several arabinogalactan monosaccharide chains, as a model for the study and prediction of potential fermentable polysaccharide. This review discusses the main structural characteristics of polysaccharides from exudate gums of plants and their interactions with the intestinal microbiota.

The impact of anastomotic leakage after curative colon cancer resection on long-term survival: A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is one of the most feared postoperative complications in colon cancer surgery due to an association with increased morbidity and mortality, although its impact on long-term survival is not consensual. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of AL on long-term survival of patients undergoing curative colon cancer resection. METHODS: A single-centre retrospective cohort study was designed. Clinical records of all consecutive patients undergoing surgery at our institution between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2019 were reviewed. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method to estimate overall and conditional survival and Cox regression to search for risk factors impacting survival. RESULTS: A total of 2351 patients submitted to colorectal surgery were screened for eligibility, of which 686 with colon cancer were included. AL occurred in 57 patients (8,3%) and was associated with higher postoperative morbidity and mortality, length of stay and early readmissions (P < 0,05). Overall survival was inferior in the leakage group (Hazard Ratio 2,08 [1,02-4,24]). Conditional overall survival at 30, 90 days and 6 months was also inferior in the leakage group (P < 0,05), but not at 1 year. Risk factors independently associated with reduced overall survival included AL occurrence, higher ASA classification and delayed/missed adjuvant chemotherapy. AL did not impact local and distant recurrence (P > 0,05). CONCLUSION: AL has a negative impact on survival. Its effect is more pronounced on short-term mortality. AL does not appear to be associated with disease progression.

Latin America consensus statement inflammatory bowel disease: importance of timely access to diagnosis and treatment.

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic conditions that negatively interferes with the quality of life of the patients, on a physical, emotional, and social level. Its symptoms can vary including diarrhea, bleeding, abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss, depending on the type and location and severity of the disease. Despite evolving treatment, they do not always achieve control of the symptoms, so between 23% and 45% of people with idiopathic chronic ulcerative colitis, and up to 75% of those with Crohn's disease, eventually, will need surgery. Objective: The increase in its incidence in Latin America has promoted a renewed interest on the part of the medical and scientific community in standardizing and unifying criteria for the proper diagnosis and management of the disease, which is part of the current discussions of various events; however, this interest has not yet been reflected in policies and initiatives by governments to address the disease. We decided to develop a consensus meeting in order to elucidate the actual situation of IBD care in our region. Design: The methodology employed to build the consensus document derived from a review of literature, evidence, and policies on IBD, followed by a process of validation and feedback with a group of 10 experts in the field. Methods: Nine experts from different countries in Latin America were reunited in web meetings on 2 days and voted on topics derived from the consensus document. A full agreement with 100% approval was needed, so topics were discussed to reach the consensus otherwise were removed. Results: There is still a lack of information about IBD in Latin America, therefore IBD continues to be an 'invisible' disease and is little recognized by decision-makers. Conclusion: This document describes the current situation of IBDs in the Latin American region, highlighting the main barriers and challenges in timely access to diagnosis and treatment, in order to demonstrate the need to promote the development and implementation of policies, in order to improve the quality of care of patients with IBD.

Inserção do homem na enfermagem universitária piauiense / Inserting man in nursing academic level in the State of Piauí, Brazil / Inserción de hombres en la enfermería universitaria en el Estado de Piauí, Brasil

Objetivo: analisar a inserção do homem, por meio do registro profissional, na enfermagem piauiense. Método: estudo de natureza sócio-histórica fundamentado por pressupostos de Aróstegui, conduzido a partir do número de inscrições no Conselho Regional de Enfermagem do Piauí do período de 1975 a 2021. Os dados foram organizados por ordem cronológica e de acordo com o gênero do inscrito, com análise pautada nos conceitos de Edward Palmer Thompson. Resultados: apesar da primeira inscrição masculina ocorrer apenas em 1979, percebe-se que, desde então, ocorreu um aumento progressivo de homens na enfermagem. Tal progressão é justificada pela reforma universitária, que deu origem a Universidade Federal do Piauí; além da criação do Sistema COFEN/COREN. Considerações finais: a inserção do homem na enfermagem piauiense ocorreu de forma lenta e desigual, quando comparada ao sexo feminino. Fatores sócio-políticos, econômicos e sociais foram essenciais para justificar o crescimento.

Objective: analyze the insertion of men, through professional registration, in nursing in Piauí, Brazil. Method: socio-historical study based on Aróstegui's assumptions, conducted from the number of registrations in the Regional Council of Nursing of Piauí from 1975 to 2021. The data were organized in chronological order and according to the gender of the participant, with analysis based on the concepts of Edward Palmer Thompson. Results: despite the fact that the first male enrollment occurred only in 1979, it is clear that, since then, there has been a progressive increase in the number of men in nursing. Such progression is justified by the university reform, which gave rise to the Federal University of Piauí; in addition to the creation of the COFEN/COREN System. Final considerations: the insertion of men in nursing in Piauí occurred slowly and unevenly, when compared to women. Socio-political, economic and social factors were essential to justify the growth.

Objetivo: analizar la inserción de los hombres, a través del registro profesional, en la enfermería en Piauí, Brasil. Método: estudio de naturaleza sociohistórica basado en los supuestos de Aróstegui, realizado a partir del número de registros en el Consejo Regional de Enfermería de Piauí de 1975 a 2021. Los datos fueron organizados en orden cronológico y según el género del participante, con análisis basado en los conceptos de Edward Palmer Thompson. Resultados: a pesar de que la primera incorporación masculina se produjo recién en 1979, es evidente que, desde entonces, se ha producido un aumento progresivo del número de hombres en enfermería. Tal progresión está justificada por la reforma universitaria, que dio origen a la Universidad Federal de Piauí; además de la creación del Sistema COFEN/COREN. Consideraciones finales: la inserción de los hombres en la enfermería de Piauí ocurrió de manera lenta y desigual, en comparación con la de las mujeres. Los factores sociopolíticos, económicos y sociales fueron esenciales para justificar el crecimiento.

Long-term female bias in sex ratios across life stages of Harpy Eagle, a large raptor exhibiting reverse sexual size dimorphism.

The primary (PSR), secondary (SSR) and adult (ASR) sex ratios of sexually reproducing organisms influence their life histories. Species exhibiting reversed sexual size dimorphism (RSD) may imply a higher cost of female production or lower female survival, thus generating biases in PSR, SSR and/or ASR towards males. The Harpy Eagle is the world's largest eagle exhibiting RSD. This species is found in the Neotropical region and is currently threatened with extinction. We used molecular markers to determine the sex of 309 Harpy Eagles spanning different life stages-eaglets, subadults and adults-from 1904 to 2021 within the Amazon Rainforest and Atlantic Forest. Sex ratios for all life stages revealed a female-biased deviation across all periods and regions. Our results suggest that the population bias towards females is an evolutionary ecological pattern of this species, and SSR and ASR likely emerged from the PSR. This natural bias towards females may be compensated by an earlier sexual maturation age of males, implying a longer reproductive lifespan and a higher proportion of sexually active males. A better understanding of the Harpy Eagle's life history can contribute to understanding sex-role evolution and enable more appropriate conservation strategies for the species.

The prey of the Harpy Eagle in its last reproductive refuges in the Atlantic Forest.

The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is threatened with extinction throughout its distribution in the neotropical forests. In the Atlantic Forest, deforestation has reduced the number of suitable habitats, with only a few remnant forest fragments hosting active nests; currently, the only known nests in this region are in the Central Atlantic Forest Ecological Corridor (CAFEC), in Brazil. Little is known about Harpy Eagle diets in this region, despite this information being essential for developing effective conservation strategies. We classified the composition, frequency, richness, ecological attributes, and conservation status of the species that make up the Harpy Eagle's diet in its last refuges in the CAFEC. Between 2017 and 2021, we collected and analyzed 152 prey remains and 285 camera trap photographs from seven active nests. We identified at least 16 mammal species (96.7%), one parrot and other bird remains (3.3%). The Harpy Eagle's diet consisted mainly of medium-sized arboreal, folivorous, frugivorous, and diurnal mammals. Five prey species are currently threatened with extinction at global, six at national and seven at regional levels. The majority of the diet consists of Sapajus robustus, which is threatened, and Bradypus variegatus, which is not threatened. In addition to the effects of habitat loss and hunting, the Harpy Eagle may also suffer from the decline in the populations of their prey in the Atlantic Forest.

Improved accuracy in pentraxin-3 quantification assisted by aqueous biphasic systems as serum pretreatment strategies.

Although pentraxin-3 holds promise as a diagnosis/prognosis biomarker of microbial infections and lung cancer, its analysis in human serum can be constrained by matrix effects caused by high abundance proteins - human serum albumin and immunoglobulin G. Aqueous biphasic systems composed of polymers and citrate buffer are here proposed as a serum pretreatment step to improve the accuracy of pentraxin-3 analysis. Binodal curves were determined to identify the compositions required to form two phases and to correlate the polymers' properties and performance in serum pretreatment and biomarker extraction. Aqueous biphasic systems were evaluated regarding their ability to deplete human serum albumin and immunoglobulin G at the interphase. Polymers of relatively high to intermediate hydrophobicity were unveiled as efficient components to deplete high abundance serum proteins. Considering the possibility to extract pentraxin-3 from human serum into the polymer-rich phase, the system composed of polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of 1000 g·mol-1 simultaneously achieved >93 % of human serum albumin and immunoglobulin G depletion and complete biomarker extraction. The accuracy of analysis of pretreated human serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays outperformed that of a non-pretreated sample, with a relative error of 0.8 % compared to 14.6 %, contributing to boost pentraxin-3 usefulness as a biomarker.

Long-term locoregional recurrence in patients treated for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Locoregional control in breast cancer is a fundamental part of treatment and determinant for survival outcomes. It has been reported that most locoregional recurrence (LRR) events occur in the first 5 years after treatment. However, LRR continue to occur after this timeline, with unclear risk factors and unknown survival impact. METHODS: Retrospective singe-centered cohort of patients treated for primary breast cancer, between January 2002 and December 2004. Primary outcome was LRR; secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and predictive factors for LRR. RESULTS: This analysis included 1001 patients, of which 959 (95%) had invasive carcinoma. A mastectomy was performed in 501 (50%) and 500 (50%) had breast conservative surgery (BCS). Median follow-up time was 197 [Inter-quartile range (IQR) 96-211] months. Global LRR rate was 7.6%, with median time to recurrence of 45 [IQR 21-91] months. There was no difference in LRR rate after mastectomy vs BCS, adjusted to tumor stage (p > 0.05). The 10-year OS and DFS rates were 68.4 and 77.8%, respectively. Factors associated with LRR were metastatic axillary lymph nodes and high histologic grade (p < 0.05). Estrogen-negative (ER) tumors had higher LRR rates than ER-positive tumors in the first 5 years (p < 0.05); but no difference was observed with longer follow-up (p > 0.05). LRR was associated with OS (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Global LRR in this cohort was 7.6% (with over 16 years of follow-up). LRR associates with decreased OS. Time to LRR varies significantly with tumor biology, supporting differentiation of follow-up regimens.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of cytokines expression dictate fetal liver hematopoiesis.

During embryogenesis, yolk-sac and intra-embryonic-derived hematopoietic progenitors, comprising the precursors of adult hematopoietic stem cells, converge into the fetal liver. With a new staining strategy, we defined all non-hematopoietic components of the fetal liver and found that hepatoblasts are the major producers of hematopoietic growth factors. We identified mesothelial cells, a novel component of the stromal compartment, producing Kit ligand, a major hematopoietic cytokine. A high-definition imaging dataset analyzed using a deep-learning based pipeline allowed the unambiguous identification of hematopoietic and stromal populations, and enabled determining a neighboring network composition, at the single cell resolution. Throughout active hematopoiesis, progenitors preferentially associate with hepatoblasts, but not with stellate or endothelial cells. We found that, unlike yolk sac-derived progenitors, intra-embryonic progenitors respond to a chemokine gradient created by CXCL12-producing stellate cells. These results revealed that FL hematopoiesis is a spatiotemporal dynamic process, defined by an environment characterized by low cytokine concentrations.

Influence of the acaricide emulsion pH on the effectiveness of spray products to control the cattle tick: laboratory and field investigations.

The current work evaluated the efficacy of 10 commercial acaricides in different pHs (4.5, 5.5, and 6.5) in laboratory (adult immersion tests (AIT), pH evaluation over time) and field assays (tick counts and efficacy). In the AIT (n=70), higher efficacies were obtained when the acaricide emulsion had a more acidic pH (4.5), mainly for two combinations of pyrethroids + organophosphate (acaricide 3 and acaricide 9). For amidine, a higher pH (6.5) showed a higher efficacy. Over time, there was a trend in the pH of these emulsions increasing. When the efficacy of chlorpyrifos + cypermethrin + piperonyl butoxide (acaricide 3) at different pHs was evaluated over time (0, 6, 12, and 24h) by AIT, the less acidic pH (6.5) showed a strongly variation in the acaricide efficacy range. The mean pH of the water samples from different regions of Brazil was 6.5. In the field, the association of pyrethroid + organophosphates (acaricide 9) with pH of 4.5 and 5.5 were more effective in tick control than the emulsion prepared with this same spray formulation at pH 6.5. The pH of the acaricide emulsions is an important point of attention and is recommended that the veterinary industry start to develop/share information regarding how the pH can affect the acaricide efficacy.

Accessing the biotechnological potential of a novel isolated microalga from a semi-arid region of Brazil.

The use of microalgae as a source of food and pharmaceutical ingredients has garnered growing interest in recent years. Despite the rapid growth of the nutraceutical market, knowledge about the potential of bioactive molecules from microalgae remains insufficient. The present study aimed to investigate the biotechnological potential of the green microalga Desmodesmus armatus isolated from a semi-arid region of Brazil. The algal biomass was characterized in terms of gross biochemical composition, exopolysaccharide content, enzymatic inhibition capacity, and antioxidant, antibacterial, and hemolytic activities from solvents of different polarities (water, ethanol, acetone, and hexane). D armatus biomass had 40% of crude protein content, 25.94% of lipids, and 25.03% of carbohydrates. The prebiotic potential of exopolysaccharides from D armatus was demonstrated, which stimulated the growth of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum bacteria strains. Moreover, the enzyme inhibition capacity for the proteases chymotrypsin (34.78%-45.8%) and pepsin (16.64%-27.27%), in addition to α-amylase (24.79%) and lipase (31.05%) was confirmed. The antioxidant potential varied between the different extracts, with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl sequestration values varying between 17.51% and 63.12%, and those of the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) method between 6.82% and 22.89%. In the antibacterial activity test, only the ethanolic extract showed inhibition against Listeria sp. (at minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] = 256 µg mL-1). This fraction also presented the highest significant levels of hemolysis (31.88%-52.45%). In summary, the data presented in the study suggest the presence of biocompounds with biotechnological and nutraceutical potential in the D armatus biomass. Future studies may evaluate the inclusion of this biomass in foods in order to increase their biological value.

Structural study and antimicrobial and wound healing effects of lectin from Solieria filiformis (Kützing) P.W.Gabrielson.

The SfL-1 isoform from the marine red algae Solieria filiformis was produced in recombinant form (rSfL-1) and showed hemagglutinating activity and inhibition similar to native SfL. The analysis of circular dichroism revealed the predominance of ß-strands structures with spectra of ßI-proteins for both lectins, which had Melting Temperature (Tm) between 41 °C and 53 °C. The three-dimensional structure of the rSfL-1 was determined by X-ray crystallography, revealing that it is composed of two ß-barrel domains formed by five antiparallel ß chains linked by a short peptide between the ß-barrels. SfL and rSfL-1 were able to agglutinate strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and did not show antibacterial activity. However, SfL induced a reduction in E. coli biomass at concentrations from 250 to 125 µg mL-1, whereas rSfL-1 induced reduction in all concentrations tested. Additionally, rSfL-1 at concentrations from 250 to 62.5 µg mL-1, showed a statistically significant reduction in the number of colony-forming units, which was not noticed for SfL. Wound healing assay showed that the treatments with SfL and rSfL-1 act in reducing the inflammatory response and in the activation and proliferation of fibroblasts by a larger and fast deposition of collagen.