Moderate physical exercise and ATP modulate the P2X7 receptor and improve cisplatin-induced gastric emptying delay in rats.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy with cisplatin commonly present gastrointestinal effects such as constipation and gastric emptying (GE) delay. Both the purinergic system and physical exercise modulate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In the current study, we investigated the role of ATP, physical exercise, and P2X7 receptor blocking on GE delay induced by cisplatin in rats. Male rats were divided into the following groups: control (C), cisplatin (Cis), exercise (Ex), Brilliant Blue G (BBG), ATP, Cis+Ex, Cis+ATP, Cis+BBG, Cis+Ex+BBG, Cis+Ex+BBG+ATP, and Cis+ATP+BBG. GE delay was induced by treatment with 1 mg/kg cisplatin (1 time/week for 5 weeks, ip). The moderate physical exercise was swimming (1 h/day, 5 days/week for 5 weeks). At the end of the treatment or exercise and 30 min before the GE assessment, some groups received BBG (50 mg/kg, sc) or ATP (2 mg/kg, sc). Then, GE was assessed after a 10-min postprandial period. Chronic use of Cis decreased GE delay (P<0.05) compared to the control group. Both exercise and ATP prevented (P<0.05) GE delay compared to Cis. The pretreatment with BBG significantly inhibited (P<0.05) the effect of exercise and ATP. On the other hand, the association between exercise and ATP reversed (P<0.05) the effect of the BBG and prevented GE delay. Therefore, we suggest that both exercise and treatment with ATP activate P2X7 receptors and prevent GE delay induced by cisplatin in rats.

Halogen-Decorated Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient and Selective CO2 Capture, Separation, and Chemical Fixation with Epoxides under Mild Conditions.

In the present work, three novel halogen-appended cadmium(II) metal-organic frameworks [Cd2(L1)2(4,4'-Bipy)2]n·4n(DMF) (1), [Cd2(L2)2(4,4'-Bipy)2]n·3n(DMF) (2), and [Cd(L3)(4,4'-Bipy)]n·2n(DMF) (3) [where L1 = 5-{(4-bromobenzyl)amino}isophthalate; L2 = 5-{(4-chlorobenzyl)amino}isophthalate; L3 = 5-{(4-fluorobenzyl)amino}isophthalate; 4,4'-Bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine; and DMF = N,N'-dimethylformamide] have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions and characterized by various analytical techniques. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that all the MOFs feature a similar type of three-dimensional structure having a binuclear [Cd2(COO)4(N)4] secondary building block unit. Moreover, MOFs 1 and 2 contain one-dimensional channels along the b-axis, whereas MOF 3 possesses a 1D channel along the a-axis. In these MOFs, the pores are decorated with multifunctional groups, i.e., halogen and amine. The gas adsorption analysis of these MOFs demonstrate that they display high uptake of CO2 (up to 5.34 mmol/g) over N2 and CH4. The isosteric heat of adsorption (Qst) value for CO2 at zero loadings is in the range of 18-26 kJ mol-1. In order to understand the mechanism behind the better adsorption of CO2 by our MOFs, we have also performed configurational bias Monte Carlo simulation studies, which confirm that the interaction between our MOFs and CO2 is stronger compared to those with N2 and CH4. Various noncovalent interactions, e.g., halogen (X)···O, Cd···O, and O···O, between CO2 and the halogen atom, the Cd(II) metal center, and the carboxylate group from the MOFs are observed, respectively, which may be a reason for the higher carbon dioxide adsorption. Ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) calculations of MOF 1 demonstrate that the obtained selectivity values for CO2/CH4 (50:50) and CO2/N2 (15:85) are ca. 28 and 193 at 273 K, respectively. However, upon increasing the temperature to 298 K, the selectivity value (S = 34) decreases significantly for the CO2/N2 mixture. We have also calculated the breakthrough analysis curves for all the MOFs using mixtures of CO2/CH4 (50:50) and CO2/N2 (50:50 and 15:85) at different entering gas velocities and observed larger retention times for CO2 in comparison with other gases, which also signifies the stronger interaction between our MOFs and CO2. Moreover, due to the presence of Lewis acidic metal centers, these MOFs act as heterogeneous catalysts for the CO2 fixation reactions with different epoxides in the presence of tetrabutyl ammonium bromide (TBAB), for conversion into industrially valuable cyclic carbonates. These MOFs exhibit a high conversion (96-99%) of epichlorohydrin (ECH) to the corresponding cyclic carbonate 4-(chloromethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-one after 12 h of reaction time at 1 bar of CO2 pressure, at 65 °C. The MOFs can be reused up to four cycles without compromising their structural integrity as well as without losing their activity significantly.

A Family of Hexacopper Phenylsilsesquioxane/Acetate Complexes: Synthesis, Solvent-Controlled Cage Structures, and Catalytic Activity.

Convenient self-assembly synthesis of copper(II) complexes via double (phenylsilsesquioxane and acetate) ligation allows to isolate a family of impressive sandwich-like cage compounds. An intriguing feature of these complexes is the difference in the structure of a pair of silsesquioxane ligands despite identical (Cu6) nuclearity and number (four) of acetate fragments. Formation of particular combination of silsesquioxane ligands (cyclic/cyclic vs condensed/condensed vs cyclic/condensed) was found to be dependent on the synthesis/crystallization media. A combination of Si4-cyclic and Si6-condensed silsesquioxane ligands is a brand new feature of cage metallasilsesquioxanes. A representative Cu6-complex (4) (with cyclic silsesquioxanes) exhibited high catalytic activity in the oxidation of alkanes and alcohols with peroxides. Maximum yield of the products of cyclohexane oxidation attained 30 %. The compound 4 was also tested as catalyst in the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone by m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid: maximum yields of 88 % and 100 % of ϵ-caprolactone were achieved upon conventional heating at 50 °C for 4 h and MW irradiation at 70 or 80 °C during 30 min, respectively. It was also possible to obtain the lactone (up to 16 % yield) directly from the cyclohexane via a tandem oxidation/Baeyer-Villiger oxidation reaction using the same oxidant.

Inheritance of genomic regions and genes associated with number of oocytes and embryos in Gir cattle through daughter design.

Over the past decades, daughter designs, including genotyped sires and their genotyped daughters, have been used as an approach to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) related with economic traits. The aim of this study was to identify genomic regions inherited by Gir sire families and genes associated with number of viable oocytes (VO), total number of oocytes (TO) and number of embryos (EMBR) based on a daughter design approach. In total, 15 Gir sire families were selected. The number of daughters per family ranged from 26 to 395, which were genotyped with different SNP panels and imputed to the Illumina BovineHD BeadChip (777K) and had phenotypes for oocyte and embryo production. Daughters had phenotypic data for VO, TO, and EMBR. The search for QTL was performed through Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) based on genomic best linear unbiased prediction (gBLUP). QTL were found for each trait among and within families based on the top 10 genomic windows with the greatest genetic variance. For EMBR, genomic windows identified among families were located on BTA4, BTA5, BTA6, BTA7, BTA8, BTA13, BTA16 and BTA17, and they were most frequent on BTA7 within families. For VO, genomic windows were located on BTA2, BTA4, BTA5, BTA7, BTA17, BTA21, BTA22, BTA23 and BTA27 among families, being most frequent on BTA8 within families. For TO, top 10 genomic windows were identified on BTA2, BTA4, BTA5, BTA7, BTA17, BTA21, BTA22, BTA26 and BTA27, being most frequent on BTA7 and BTA8 within families. Considering all results, the greatest number of genomic windows was found on BTA7, where VCAN, XRCC4, TRNAC-ACA, HAPLN1 and EDIL3 genes were identified in the common regions. In conclusion, 15 Gir sire families with 26 to 395 daughters per family with phenotypes for oocyte and embryo production helped to identify the inheritance of several genomic regions, especially on BTA7, where EDIL3, HAPLN1 and VCAN candidate genes were associated with number of oocytes and embryos in Gir cattle families.

A mixed-ligand Co metal-organic framework and its carbon composites as excellent electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction in green-energy devices.

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts are frequently made from noble metal-based oxides like ruthenium/iridium oxides. However, because of their scarcity and high price, researchers are now focusing on creating innovative OER catalysts based on affordable transition metals that have improved electrical conductivity and accessibility to active sites. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a unique class of inorganic materials with excellent physical and chemical properties, have witnessed significant progress in promising green energy systems. In this work, a novel mixed-ligand metal-organic framework [Co(µ-1κN,2κN'-BDP)(µ3-1κoo',2κo''2κo'''-BTC)]n·nH2O (BDP = boron-dipyrromethene or BODIPY; BTC = benzene tricarboxylate) denoted as CoBDPMOF has been synthesized, and its composites with different carbon materials have been designed. Compared to the pristine MOF, the composites showed enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media. In addition, the CoBDPMOF with activated carbon showed the highest OER performance with a low Tafel slope (82 mV dec-1) and the highest j600 (59.8 mA cm-2), outperforming noble metal IrO2, the OER benchmark electrocatalyst. This study presents new insights into the design and application of CoBDPMOF-based materials for energy conversion and suggests promising avenues for further research and development in electrocatalysis.

Factors associated with the time taken for diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Brazil. An online population-based inquiry. / Factores asociados al tiempo necesario para el diagnóstico de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) en Brasil. Una encuesta poblacional en línea.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated factors associated with the time, in months, between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis (time taken for diagnosis) of ALS for patients in Brazil, in the year 2014. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An electronic questionnaire composed of 38 questions was developed and applied through internet-based social networks of patients. From the 210 replies, 194 were considered (86 from women, 108 from men). Most respondents were 51 to 60 years old. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the time taken for diagnosis between the strata of the sample. RESULTS: The mean time taken for diagnosis was 14.21 (±16.87) months. There was a statistically significant difference only for higher education conditions (p = 0.009) and low education status (p = 0.042). There was no statistically significant difference between sexes, bulbar onset, age groups, and the presence of spouse, or 'partnership with ALS patients associations or exchange of experiences'. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the time taken for diagnosis of ALS is influenced by socioeconomic conditions that promote access to information and/or health services.

TITLE: Factores asociados al tiempo necesario para el diagnóstico de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) en Brasil. Una encuesta poblacional en línea.Objetivo. Este estudio evaluó los factores asociados con el tiempo, en meses, entre el inicio de los síntomas y el diagnóstico (tiempo necesario para el diagnóstico) de esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) de los pacientes en Brasil en 2014. Pacientes y métodos. Se elaboró un cuestionario electrónico compuesto por 38 preguntas y se aplicó a través de redes sociales de pacientes basadas en Internet. De las 210 respuestas, se consideraron 194 (86 de mujeres y 108 de hombres). La mayoría de los encuestados tenía entre 51 y 60 años. Se utilizó la prueba de Mann-Whitney para comparar el tiempo transcurrido hasta el diagnóstico entre los estratos de la muestra. Resultados. El tiempo medio transcurrido hasta el diagnóstico fue de 14,21 (±16,87) meses. Hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa sólo para las condiciones de educación superior (p = 0,009) y bajo nivel educativo (p = 0,042). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre sexos, inicio bulbar, grupos de edad y presencia de cónyuge, o colaboración con asociaciones de pacientes con ELA o intercambio de experiencias. Conclusión. Estos datos sugieren que el tiempo que se tarda en diagnosticar la ELA está influido por las condiciones socioeconómicas que favorecen el acceso a la información y/o a los servicios sanitarios.

Notes on the conservation threats to the western lesser spot-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus petaurista buettikoferi) in the Bijagós Archipelago (Guinea-Bissau, West Africa).

The lesser spot-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus petaurista) is a widely distributed West African guenon, which is generally considered less vulnerable to local extinctions than many sympatric primate species. Guinea-Bissau harbours the westernmost populations of the species, which is thought to be very rare or even extinct on the mainland, but to have putative populations on some islands of the Bijagós Archipelago. However, due to a lack of regional studies, baseline information on these insular populations is missing. We collected baseline data on the anthropogenic activities that possibly threaten the long-term conservation of this primate by using non-systematic ethnographic methodologies. The species was reported to be decreasing in number or rare by locals on two of the islands, and we identified two main conservation threats to it: generalised habitat loss/degradation, and hunting. While subsistence hunting has been recorded before in these areas, we report, to the best of our knowledge for the first time for these islands, the presence of a semi-organised commercial wild meat trade. The carcasses of western lesser spot-nosed monkeys were observed being stored and shipped from seaports to be sold at urban hubs (Bissau and Bubaque Island). The effect of commercial trade on the species could be severe, considering the small, naturally occurring, carrying capacities typical of insular ecosystems. The results of this study highlight the importance of understanding the leading social drivers of wild meat hunting of lesser spot-nosed monkeys on the Bijagós Archipelago, and the need to conduct baseline research on these insular populations, for which qualitative and quantitative methods could be combined.

Cage-like Cu5Cs4-Phenylsilsesquioxanes: Synthesis, Supramolecular Structures, and Catalytic Activity.

A small family of nonanuclear Cu5Cs4-based phenylsilsesquioxanes 1-2 were prepared by a convenient self-assembly approach and characterized by X-ray diffraction studies. The compounds 1 and 2 show some unprecedented structural features such as the presence of a [Ph14Si14O28]14- silsesquioxane ligand and a CuII5CsI4 nuclearity in which the metal cations occupy unusual positions within the cluster. Copper ions are "wrapped" into a silsesquioxane matrix, while cesium ions are located in external positions. This resulted in cesium-involved aggregation of coordination polymer structures. Both compounds 1 and 2 realize specific metallocene (cesium-phenyl) linkage between neighboring cages. Compound 2 is evaluated as a catalyst in the Baeyer-Villiger (B-V) oxidation of cyclohexanone and tandem cyclohexane oxidation/B-V oxidation of cyclohexanone with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA) as an oxidant, in an aqueous acetonitrile medium, and HNO3 as the promoter. A quantitative yield of ε-caprolactone was achieved under conventional heating at 50 °C for 4 h or MW irradiation for 30 min (for cyclohexanone as substrate); 17 and 19% yields of lactone upon MW irradiation at 80 °C for 30 min and heating at 50 °C for 4 h, respectively (for cyclohexane as a substrate), were achieved. Complex 2 was evaluated as a catalyst for the oxidation of alkanes to alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohols to ketones with peroxides at 60 °C in acetonitrile. The maximum yield of cyclohexane oxidation products was 30%. Complex 2 exhibits high activity in the oxidation of alcohols.

Physical activity and long COVID: findings from the Prospective Study About Mental and Physical Health in Adults cohort.

OBJECTIVES: The study investigated the longitudinal association between physical activity and the risk of long COVID in patients who recovered from COVID-19 infection. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed longitudinal data of the Prospective Study About Mental and Physical Health cohort, a prospective cohort study with adults living in Southern Brazil. METHODS: Participants responded to an online, self-administered questionnaire in June 2020 (wave 1) and June 2022 (wave 4). Only participants who self-reported a positive test for COVID-19 were included. Physical activity was assessed before (wave 1, retrospectively) and during the pandemic (wave 1). Long COVID was assessed in wave 4 and defined as any post-COVID-19 symptoms that persisted for at least 3 months after infection. RESULTS: A total of 237 participants (75.1% women; mean age [standard deviation]: 37.1 [12.3]) were included in this study. The prevalence of physical inactivity in baseline was 71.7%, whereas 76.4% were classified with long COVID in wave 4. In the multivariate analysis, physical activity during the pandemic was associated with a reduced likelihood of long COVID (prevalence ratio [PR]: 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69-0.99) and a reduced duration of long COVID symptoms (odds ratio: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.26-0.75). Participants who remained physically active from before to during the pandemic were less likely to report long COVID (PR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.58-0.95), fatigue (PR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.32-0.76), neurological complications (PR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.27-0.80), cough (PR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.22-0.71), and loss of sense of smell or taste (PR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.21-0.87) as symptom-specific long COVID. CONCLUSION: Physical activity practice was associated with reduced risk of long COVID in adults.

Issues in Medicine.

Rasmussen aneurysms are abnormalities of the pulmonary arterial system caused by tuberculosis (TB). They are associated with a highmortality rate when they cause life-threatening haemoptysis. High TB-prevalence regions have a large burden of TB-related haemoptysisbut often limited resources. This series of 25 patients who presented with life-threatening haemoptysis from current and/or previous TBwere found to have abnormal pulmonary arteries on computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA), which were judged to belikely contributors to their bleeding, either in isolation or with concomitant abnormal bronchial or systemic vasculature. These patientsunderwent transcatheter placement of Amplatzer vascular plugs in the feeder pulmonary artery. Bronchial and systemic lesions wereaddressed separately as needed. Immediate technical success was achieved in all patients, but four of them experienced intraoperativehaemoptysis related to dislodgement of the occluding platelet plug by the high-pressure automatic injector and wire. At 48 hours after theprocedure, 18 (72%) remained haemoptysis-free. Six of these experienced recurrence within 1 year of their procedure. Pulmonary arteryplacement of an Amplatzer vascular plug is a feasible option for treating bleeding Rasmussen aneurysms, but should be part of a combinedapproach to addressing suspected culprit vascular lesions in all intrathoracic vascular systems.

Co-infection by multiple vector-borne agents in wild ring-tailed coatis (Nasua nasua) from Iguaçu National Park, southern Brazil.

The present study aimed to detect molecularly the presence of co-infections by vector-borne agents (VBA) in ring-tailed coatis' (Nasua nasua) blood samples from Iguaçu National Park (INP), southern Brazil, and assess the phylogenetic positioning of the detected agents. DNA blood samples were submitted to molecular screening and characterization for Anaplasmataceae agents, Piroplasmids, Hepatozoon sp., hemotropic mycoplasmas, and Bartonella spp. In total, 42 (85.7%) coatis were positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma sp., 12 (24.5%) for Bartonella machadoae, 7 (14.3%) for Anaplasma sp. closely related to 'Candidatus Anaplasma brasiliensis', and 3 (6%) for Hepatozoon procyonis. The most prevalent co-infections observed was from bacterial VBA: while 18.3% were co-infected by hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. and Bartonella sp., 12.2% were co-infected by Anaplasma sp. and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. Only two animals (4%) presented co-infections by three VBA (Bartonella sp., Anaplasma sp. and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp.). The coati is a wild carnivore found in INP, mainly in areas visited by tourists. These animals are frequently seen searching for food in garbage dumps or in tourists' belongings. The present study expands the host specificity range of B. machadoae, which has been isolated only from rodents until the present moment. Since the zoonotic potential and transmission routes of the detected VBA are not yet known, surveillance in this area is much needed.

Chicken embryo: a useful animal model for drug testing?

The use of chicken embryos (CEs) as an in vivo experimental model for different pharmaceutical purposes is not a novelty. However, in recent years, the number of reports employing CE to evaluate several parameters, such as the toxicity and efficacy of drugs and/or nanosystems, has increased. Therefore, this review discusses the relevance of CE for drug testing, emphasizing the inoculation routes and the embryonic stages. The challenges to be overcome, as well as some practical recommendations to allow CE to be more explored as a promising in vivo model in drug analyses, are also highlighted.

What factors explain the increase in obesity in Brazil? An ecological analysis of contextual and behavioural components.

OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that contextual factors may be related to obesity; however, they have not yet been widely investigated. The main objective of this ecological time-series study was to analyse factors associated with the increase in obesity in the adult and elderly population in Brazil from 2006 to 2020. STUDY DESIGN: This is an ecological time-series study. Data were collected by the Surveillance System for Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL), the main health survey in Brazil. METHODS: The outcome was the annual obesity growth rate (in percentage points). Independent variables were behavioural and contextual factors. Data analysis was performed using Prais-Winsten regression for temporal analyses, and Spearman correlation and crude and adjusted linear regression (beta and 95% confidence intervals [CIs]). RESULTS: The annual obesity growth rate was 0.58 percentage points (p.p.) (95% CI: 0.54; 0.63) per year. Demographic density and the percentage of the population employed showed an inverse association with the growth of obesity. Variables such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, Gini coefficient, urbanisation rate, percentage of the population with low level of education and percentage of the population without an income were directly associated with the increase in obesity rates. The variables maintained in the final model explained 81% of the growth in obesity in Brazil over the last 15 years (2006-2020). CONCLUSIONS: The growth of obesity in Brazil was mostly explained by contextual factors, especially those of a socio-economic nature. Therefore, interventions to mitigate the increase in obesity must go beyond behavioural factors.

Body, metabolic and renal changes following cross-sex estrogen/progestogen therapy in a rodent model simulating its use by transwomen.

PURPOSE: The use of sex steroids by trans people has been of paramount importance regarding body changes during gender transition. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of an injectable steroid combination frequently used by transwomen, namely estradiol enanthate with dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide (E2EN/DHPA), on blood pressure and metabolic outcomes using an animal model. METHODS: Two-month-old male Wistar rats were orchiectomized or sham-operated and divided into groups: (1) Sham treated with sesame oil vehicle (SG), (2) sham treated with E2EN/DHPA (SP), (3) orchiectomized rats treated with vehicle (OG), and (4) orchiectomized rats treated with E2EN/DHPA (OP), with all groups treated every 10 days for 5 months. We evaluated systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight (BW), abdominal circumference, nasoanal length (NAL), food and water intake (FI, WI), lipid profile (triglycerides, LDL, and HDL), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma concentrations of urea (URpl) and creatinine (CRpl), 24 h urinary volume (V24 h), sodium and potassium excretion (UNa+, UK+), and proteinuria. RESULTS: E2EN/DHPA administration reduced BW (SP 324.5 ± 31.1; OP 291.7 ± 41.3 g) and NAL (SP 24.5 ± 0.4; OP 24.6 ± 1.0 cm), without changing blood pressure, but increased URpl concentration (SP 55.0 ± 4.8; OP 42.5 ± 8.8 mg/dL) and CRpl (SP 0.47 ± 0.05; OP 0.46 ± 0.04 mg/dL), sodium (SP 3.1 ± 0.8; OP 3.3 ± 0.4 µEq/min/kg), potassium (SP 0.91 ± 0.22; OP 0.94 ± 0.22 µEq/min/kg) excretions and urinary volume (SP 15.5 ± 2.1; OP 16.4 ± 2.9 mL/24 h). CONCLUSION: Cross-sex hormone therapy with E2EN/DHPA significantly modified body characteristics in male rats, producing a feminizing change without altering blood pressure or generating harmful metabolic parameters, but larger translational studies are still needed.

Revisiting consciousness: Distinguishing between states of conscious focused attention and mind wandering with EEG.

Fluctuating between external conscious processing and mind wandering is inherent to the human condition. Past research showed that in tasks requiring sustained attention, mind wandering episodes in which attention is directed internally constrain conscious processing of external stimuli. Conversely, conscious processing of internal stimuli is enhanced during mind wandering. To investigate this, we developed and administered a visuomotor tracking task in which participants were instructed to track the path of a stimulus on a screen with a mouse while responding to rare targets. Prior to reports of mind wandering we found the following: The P3 event-related potential component for targets, indicative of conscious stimulus processing, was attenuated at electrodes Cz and Pz. Moreover, alpha power, indicative of internal mental states, increased globally. Theta power increased along the centroparietal area, and beta decreased along right frontal and right centroparietal areas. Interestingly, trait mind wandering was positively correlated with delta power and gamma power, but negatively correlated with the theta-beta ratio. These results demonstrate that mind wandering is characterized by distinct neural signatures at both a state and trait level.

Mandarin essential oil as an antimicrobial in ethanolic fermentation: Effects on Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The antibacterial activity of citrus essential oils (EOs) in the context of combating Limosilactobacillus fermentum, one of the most important bacterial contaminants in the bioethanol production industry, has never been explored previously. Industrial processes usually utilize sulfuric acid for cell treatment to decrease bacterial contamination. However, due to the hazardous nature of sulfuric acid, an alternative to it is highly desirable. Therefore, in the present study, the efficacy of Fremont IAC 543 mandarin EO against a strain of L. fermentum (ATCC® 9338™) was evaluated under proliferative/nonproliferative conditions, in both pure culture and co-culture with an industrial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The mandarin EO exhibited higher effectiveness against L. fermentum compared to that against S. cerevisiae under nonproliferative conditions (added to water rather than to culture medium). At the concentration of 0·05%, the EO was as effective as the acid solution with pH 2·0 in reducing the count of L. fermentum almost 5 log CFU ml-1 cycles, while the concentration of 0·1% led to the complete loss of bacterial culturability. When L. fermentum was co-cultured with S. cerevisiae, the efficacy of the EO against the bacterial strain was reduced. However, despite this reduced efficacy in co-culture, mandarin EO may be considered effective in combating L. fermentum and could be applied in processes where this bacterium proves to be unfavourable and does not interact with S. cerevisiae.

Managing hematological cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: an ESMO-EHA Interdisciplinary Expert Consensus.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has created enormous challenges for the clinical management of patients with hematological malignancies (HMs), raising questions about the optimal care of this patient group. METHODS: This consensus manuscript aims at discussing clinical evidence and providing expert advice on statements related to the management of HMs in the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, an international consortium was established including a steering committee, which prepared six working packages addressing significant clinical questions from the COVID-19 diagnosis, treatment, and mitigation strategies to specific HMs management in the pandemic. During a virtual consensus meeting, including global experts and lead by the European Society for Medical Oncology and the European Hematology Association, statements were discussed and voted upon. When a consensus could not be reached, the panel revised statements to develop consensual clinical guidance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The expert panel agreed on 33 statements, reflecting a consensus, which will guide clinical decision making for patients with hematological neoplasms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Depression and anxiety symptoms remained elevated after 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in southern Brazil: findings from the PAMPA cohort.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the changes in depression and anxiety symptoms among Brazilian adults over 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: The present study used data from wave 1 (June/July 2020) and wave 2 (December 2020/January 2021) of the Prospective Study About Mental and Physical Health (PAMPA) Cohort, a state-level, ambispective longitudinal study with adults from southern Brazil. The frequency of anxiety and depressive symptoms was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Anxiety and depressive symptoms before social distancing were retrospectively assessed during wave 1. RESULTS: Most of the 674 participants were classified as non-symptomatic for depressive (85.0%) and anxiety symptoms (73.2%) before the COVID-19 pandemic. At wave 1, there were increases in symptoms of depression (7.6% [95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.2%, 8.1%]) and anxiety (9.1% [95% CI: 8.6%, 9.5%]). These decreased at wave 2 (depression: 6.9% [95% CI: 6.5%, 7.2%]; anxiety: 7.4% [95% CI: 7.1%, 7.8%]) although they were still elevated compared with pre-COVID (depression: 4.5% [95% CI: 4.2%, 4.8%]; anxiety: 5.8% [95% CI: 5.5%, 6.1%]). Adults living alone (b = 0.44 [95% CI: 0.07, 0.82]) had a faster trajectory in anxiety symptoms than their counterparts. Cohort members who were living alone (b = 0.24 [95% CI: 0.06, 0.42]) and with diagnosed chronic disease (0.32 [95% CI: 0.18, 0.46]) had a faster increase in depressive symptoms than their respective counterparts. Participants aged ≥60 years showed a slower trajectory of depressive (b = -0.46 [95% CI: -0.73, -0.18]) and anxiety (b = -0.61 [95% CI: -1.20, -0.02) symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: During 10 months of COVID-19, anxiety and depression symptoms improved but were still higher than before COVID-19.

Association between specific types of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of subjective memory decline: findings from the PAMPA Cohort.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the effects of different physical activities practised during the time period when COVID-19 social distancing measures were in place on the risk of subjective memory decline in adults. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Data from the Prospective Study about Mental and Physical Health (PAMPA), a state-level (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), online-based cohort study, were analysed. Respondents were asked to rate their memory before COVID-19 social distancing measures were implemented (retrospectively) and on the day that the survey was completed. Subjective memory decline was defined as a perceived worsening of memory function during COVID-19 social distancing compared with the pre-pandemic period. The types of physical activity practised before and during COVID-19 social distancing measures were assessed. RESULTS: Data from 2319 adults were included. Out-of-home endurance, muscle strengthening, combined endurance and muscle strengthening, and stretching activities reduced the risk of subjective memory decline during the pandemic. In terms of physical activities practised at home, only muscle strengthening did not protect against subjective memory decline. Participants who sustained any type of physical activity at home during the COVID-19 pandemic showed a reduced risk for subjective memory decline. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity, regardless of the type of activity and location performed, during the time period when COVID-19 social distancing measures were in place can mitigate the effects of the pandemic on subjective memory decline.