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BACKGROUND: Dual sources of cells (DSC) with peripheral blood stem cell apheresis (PBSC) and surgical bone marrow (BM) for haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (Hid-HCT) are used in China and some Asian countries. The experience of the Baltimore group for haploidentical transplant with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) and reduced-intensity-conditioning (RIC) regimen used BM as a source of hematopoietic stem cells. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 64 Hid-HCT with DSC and PT-Cy, RIC (n = 57), or myeloablative-conditioning (MAC) (n = 7), from two public health Brazilian centers, with a median follow-up of 23.3 months (6.7-45.4). RESULTS: The 49 malignant patients were 27/46 (58.7%) beyond the first remission or with no complete response, and three patients did not complete disease status evaluation before transplant. Eight of 62 patients (12.9%) had grade 2 or more Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI), and two patients had no HCT-CI classified. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia occurred in 26 of 57 (45.6%). The cumulative incidence of 100-day grade III-IV acute GVHD was 12.3% (7/57), with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 3.8% and 20.8%, and 2-year moderate or severe chronic GVHD was 21.1% (11/52; 95% CI, 10.1%-32.3%). The 2-year relapses were 24.5% for malignant disease (12/49; 95% CI, 12.4%-36.5%). The 2-year overall survival (OS) probability was 54.7% (35/64; 95% CI, 42.5%-66.9%). Benign diseases achieve 2-year OS in 73.3% (11/15; 95% CI, 51%-95.7%) of the patients. The HCT-CI were significant in multivariate analyses for DFS (p = 0.002) and OS in uni- and multivariate analyses (both p < 0.001). The number of CD34+ cells by apheresis collection was significant in multivariate analysis for DFS (p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Hid-HCT using PT-Cy, DSC, and RIC is a safe option for benign and malignant diseases.
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Ciclofosfamida , Enfermedad Injerto contra Huésped , Trasplante de Células Madre Hematopoyéticas , Acondicionamiento Pretrasplante , Trasplante Haploidéntico , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Ciclofosfamida/uso terapéutico , Trasplante de Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/métodos , Trasplante de Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/efectos adversos , Enfermedad Injerto contra Huésped/etiología , Adulto Joven , Estudios Retrospectivos , Adolescente , Acondicionamiento Pretrasplante/métodos , Trasplante Haploidéntico/métodos , Niño , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
PURPOSE: A vegan diet is associated with health benefits but may also lead to inadequate intake of essential nutrients. Due to the lower selenium content in plant-based compared to animal-based foods, many vegans do not reach the recommended selenium intake in Europe. The only plant-based food with high selenium content is the Brazil nut, even though there is also a high variability. Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness of Brazil nut butter compared to a dietary supplement as selenium source to improve the selenium status of vegans and omnivores. METHODS: 44 vegans and 42 omnivores were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups, either receiving placebo or consuming additional 55 µg of selenium daily as Brazil nut butter or supplement for two weeks. Serum selenium concentrations, glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3), and selenoprotein P (SELENOP) were measured at baseline and after intervention. Additionally, dietary selenium intake was estimated using a five-day dietary protocol. RESULTS: The estimated selenium intake was significantly lower in vegans compared to omnivores and correlated with all three selenium biomarkers. Independent of the dietary pattern (vegan or omnivore), Brazil nut butter as well as supplement significantly increased serum selenium and SELENOP concentrations, while there were no changes in the placebo groups. Both interventions were equally effective in increasing selenium levels, but the upregulation of SELENOP was more pronounced in vegans than in omnivores. CONCLUSION: Brazil nuts are a plant-based source of selenium suitable for vegans and omnivores to improve their selenium status when consumed once in a while. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER AND DATE OF REGISTRATION: Clinical trials registration number: NCT05814874, April 18 2023.
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Bertholletia , Suplementos Dietéticos , Selenio , Humanos , Selenio/sangre , Selenio/administración & dosificación , Bertholletia/química , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Veganos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Dieta Vegana/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto Joven , Nueces , Biomarcadores/sangre , Dieta/métodos , Dieta/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the primary contributor to persistent chronic liver disease which derives cardiovascular disease, malignancies, and related mortality. There is an association between red blood cell (RBC) indices and the incidence of NAFLD, but the causal relationship has not been determined. We aimed to investigate the association through prospective and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prospective study involved 237,016 participants from the UK Biobank. We employed Cox proportional hazard models and restricted cubic spline models to assess the association between RBC index and NAFLD, and used two-sample MR analysis to identify any causality. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up of 8.64 years, 2,894 participants from UK Biobank developed NAFLD. The prospective study showed significant associations between high levels of hemoglobin (HGB) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.41; 95â¯% confidence intervals [CI] 1.24-1.60; Pâ¯<â¯0.001), RBC count (HR, 1.20; 95â¯% CI, 1.07-1.36; Pâ¯=â¯0.003) and an increased risk of NAFLD. MR analysis indicated a causal relationship between high HGB levels and NAFLD risk (Odds ratio [OR], 1.55; 95â¯% CI, 1.11-2.18; Pâ¯=â¯0.010). However, there was no observed causal relationship between RBC count and NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective and MR analysis demonstrated a positive causal relationship between HGB levels and NAFLD. HGB can predict the risk of NAFLD, which can potentially be used as a large-scale non-invasive tool to dynamically monitor the occurrence and development of NAFLD.
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Habitat degradation from human activities affects essential microhabitats, threatening ecological processes like foraging, mating, locomotion, predator evasion, and competition among reptiles. We assessed how microhabitat selection and body temperature of the endangered lizard Liolaemus cuyumhue respond to differences in vegetation composition and thermal conditions between a disturbed site and an undisturbed site impacted by oil and gas activities in Argentina. During five expeditions between September 2022 and March 2023, we searched for L. cuyumhue and collected data on body temperature, substrate and air temperatures, body mass, snout-vent length, sex, and habitat characteristics. We also measured operative temperatures and assessed vegetation cover and microhabitat availability at each site. Our results showed significant differences in microhabitat characteristics and selection between sites. The undisturbed site had higher vegetation and lower operative temperatures, while the disturbed site had higher temperatures and lower vegetation, especially in summer. Lizards at the disturbed site showed higher body temperatures, suggesting stressful thermal conditions, and preferred microhabitats with lower bare ground cover. Capturing lizards in the disturbed site required more effort than in the undisturbed site. This study emphasizes the impact of habitat disturbance on the thermal environment and behavior of L. cuyumhue. Conservation efforts should prioritize maintaining and restoring vegetation to support the species' thermoregulation needs, especially under global warming.
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Conservación de los Recursos Naturales , Ecosistema , Lagartos , Estaciones del Año , Animales , Lagartos/fisiología , Argentina , Calor , Masculino , Femenino , Temperatura Corporal/fisiología , Especies en Peligro de ExtinciónRESUMEN
Humpback whales, a species of baleen whale occurring in all oceans globally, undergo seasonal migration between their breeding grounds in tropical warm waters and high latitude feeding grounds. Using multiple years of satellite tracking data, we modeled the effect of oceanic conditions on the movement behaviour of 42 humpback whales belonging to the Southeastern Pacific population (also known as Breeding Stock G) during their migration from breeding grounds in Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador to feeding grounds in waters around the Antarctic Peninsula. We report evidence that during their migration, humpback whales engage in a movement behaviour frequently associated with feeding, and that this behaviour was more likely to occur in relatively more productive waters. We show that whales partly rely on cues they perceive in their immediate environment to initiate their southward migration, but also on their memory of oceanic conditions on their feeding grounds, timing their arrival with the complete melting of sea ice which triggers a bloom of krill in the Antarctic Ocean. Overall, our findings suggest that humpback whales integrate information they gather from their immediate environment to predict the oceanic conditions at distant locations and adjust the timing of their migration, maximizing their interaction with their preys. However, it is unclear if humpback whales will fully succeed in tracking their preys in a rapidly changing climate and ensure the long-term persistence of the species.
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Migración Animal , Cambio Climático , Yubarta , Animales , Migración Animal/fisiología , Yubarta/fisiología , Océano Pacífico , Estaciones del Año , Costa Rica , Panamá , Regiones Antárticas , Ecuador , Conducta Alimentaria/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Plant communities with higher species richness and phylogenetic diversity can increase the diversity of herbivores and their enemies through trophic interactions. However, whether these two features of plant communities have the same positive influence on other guilds through non-trophic mechanisms requires further exploration. Dung beetles represent an ideal system for testing such impacts, as they do not have a specialized trophic interaction with plants and are sensitive to changes in vegetation structure and the associated microclimate. We used a dataset of dung beetles collected from forest sites, restoration plots, and cattle pastures to (a) determine whether the richness and phylogenetic diversity of plants within restoration plots influence the total biomass and the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of dung beetles; and (b) determine if the establishment of restoration plots allows to recover the abundance and diversity of dung beetle communities, relative to what is found in livestock pastures. In the restoration plots, the abundance of Scarabaeinae beetles and the total biomass, functional originality, and phylogenetic diversity of dung beetles were positively related to the number of plant species, but only the abundance of Scarabaeinae and total biomass of all dung beetles were positively related to the plant phylogenetic diversity. Finally, the restoration plots allowed a threefold increase in the total biomass of dung beetles relative to the biomass found in pastures. We discuss how restoration plots with high plant species richness and phylogenetic diversity can favor the recovery of dung beetle communities by potentially creating more niche opportunities.
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Biodiversidad , Biomasa , Escarabajos , Filogenia , Animales , Plantas , Herbivoria , Bosques , EcosistemaRESUMEN
The aim of this study was to determine the optimal combination of regrowth age and residue height of BRS Capiaçu elephant grass that yields the best balance between the dry mass production (DMP) of the harvested forage and silage quality. Four regrowth ages (75, 90, 105, and 120 days) and two residue heights (10 and 50 cm) were evaluated. The experimental design used a randomized complete block design with a 4 × 2 factorial scheme and 3 replicates. The regrowth age led to a linear increase in DMP. As regrowth age advanced, there were linear increases in the dry matter (DM) concentration, cell wall constituents, and fraction C (acid detergent insoluble nitrogen) of crude protein and reductions in the in vitro digestibility of DM and neutral detergent fiber (IVNDFD) in both the plant and its silage. Lower pH values were observed in silage made from plants harvested at 10 cm. No significant effects of the studied factors were found on the concentrations of organic acids in the silage, except for propionic acid. Management using a 105-day regrowth period and a 10-cm residue height resulted in a better balance between the dry mass production, fermentative profile and nutritional value of silage.
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Biomasa , Poaceae , Ensilaje , Ensilaje/análisis , Poaceae/crecimiento & desarrollo , Poaceae/metabolismo , Fermentación , Concentración de Iones de Hidrógeno , Fibras de la Dieta/análisis , Nitrógeno/análisis , Nitrógeno/metabolismo , Valor NutritivoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Malaria burden remains high in some Peruvian regions, especially in the Northeast Amazon rainforest state of Loreto and the tropical coastal state of Tumbes. Novel non-invasive diagnostic tools for malaria are being developed, and formative research in malaria-endemic areas with community members and health professionals who would potentially use these devices is vital for this process. This study aimed to examine the acceptability and feasibility of four new non-invasive malaria diagnostic tools in development in two regions of Peru with significant malaria burden. METHODS: The research team conducted focus group discussions and key informant interviews in Spanish to assess acceptability and ascertain questions and concerns regarding the non-invasive diagnostic tools. Focus group discussions included a range of community members (pregnant women, parents), professionals (health, education), and community leaders in Loreto. Vector control authorities and health professionals from Loreto, Tumbes, and Lima participated as key informants. RESULTS: Participants were initially enthusiastic about all non-invasive diagnostic tools. However, as discussions proceeded, high enthusiasm remained for two devices that were easy to use, acceptable for the communities they were intended for, feasible to carry in remote areas, and did not require new supplies nor generate waste: the skin scan and the skin odour test. The breath and saliva tests were considered less hygienic. They were less acceptable to community members and health professionals due to concerns of disease transmission and other environmental and cultural concerns. Health professionals felt the finger scan test and the skin odour test would help triage community members in endemic sites and would be valuable in remote regions with difficult access to health facilities or laboratories. CONCLUSIONS: Novel non-invasive malaria diagnostic tools can be valuable in malaria-endemic settings. As manufacturers evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of these non-invasive diagnostic tools, international recommendations should be created to ensure their agile integration into national malaria programmes.
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Malaria , Perú , Humanos , Malaria/diagnóstico , Femenino , Adulto , Masculino , Pruebas Diagnósticas de Rutina/estadística & datos numéricos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto Joven , Adolescente , Grupos Focales , Embarazo , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
We studied sows (Landrace × Yorkshire line, DanBred Hybrid) to evaluate the possible changes in progesterone receptor (PR) expression in the uterus and ovary caused by different non-hypophyseal gonadotropins treatments: equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Varying concentrations of eCG and hCG were evaluated (Groups 1, 2, 3, 4). PR expression was determined by immunohistochemistry, and labelling intensity was determined by the HScore method. In the ovary, PR expression in the granulosa cells of follicles did not differ significantly between Groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.05) but differed significantly from that in Groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05), which in turn did not differ from each other. This PR expression pattern was similar across groups in the internal and external theca cells. Conversely, in the uterus, PR expression in the lining epithelium was lower in Group 4 than that in Group 1 (p < 0.05). Increased expression was observed in the endometrial lamina propria in all groups 2 and 4 compared to that in the control group (p < 0.05). Decreased expression was observed in the glandular epithelium and myometrium in Group 4 compared to that in Group 1 (p < 0.05). In the ovary, PR expression in the granulosa and outer and inner theca of the follicles was not significantly different (p < 0.05) between Groups 1 and 2 or Groups 3 and 4; however, the expression in these pairs of groups differed from each other. Thus, changes in PR expression may depend on the concentrations and proportions of exogenous hormones used in the treatments, indicating an alteration in the reproductive process.
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Gonadotropina Coriónica , Ovario , Receptores de Progesterona , Útero , Animales , Femenino , Receptores de Progesterona/metabolismo , Gonadotropina Coriónica/farmacología , Útero/metabolismo , Útero/efectos de los fármacos , Ovario/metabolismo , Ovario/efectos de los fármacos , Porcinos , Caballos , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica/veterinaria , Gonadotropinas Equinas/farmacología , Células de la Granulosa/metabolismo , Células de la Granulosa/efectos de los fármacos , Endometrio/metabolismo , Endometrio/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Intestinal parasitism is an infection that affects people worldwide, with populations in developing countries being at a higher risk of acquiring it. This infection is contracted for various reasons, mainly related to poor sanitary conditions and inadequate food practices, leading to multiple health issues such as malnutrition, intestinal obstructions, epilepsy, and others. Identifying parasitic species is essential for establishing appropriate antiparasitic therapy, which in turn helps reduce the risk of associated morbidities. For this reason, a dataset named "ParasitoBank" was created, containing 779 images of the visual field of fresh stool samples analysed under a microscope using the serial coprological technique. These images were acquired using a Motorola G84 mobile phone, and a data-labeling process resulted in a total of 1,620 intestinal parasites, with a particular focus on intestinal protozoa. The images have an approximate aspect ratio of 1:1 with a resolution of 2100 × 2100. Label information and some metadata for the images have been included in a JSON file following the "Common Objects in Context" (COCO) format. Finally, the entire dataset and label content have been arranged in a compressed file. The presented information facilitates the use of the data for various studies, spanning education and artificial intelligence development.
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A straightforward method for synthesizing a stable, photoreactive, and fluorescent-probe azo dye molecule is presented, highlighting the influence of azo and pyrylium groups within the electronic structure of the novel dye. This compound, named the pyrylazo molecule, is synthesized through the chemical reaction between 2,4,6-trimethylpyrylium and a 4-methoxybenzenediazonium species. The methyl group at the para position of the pyrylium readily reacts with the diazonium molecule, forming a stable protonated pyrylium-azo dye (N-protonated pyrylazo). The pyrylazo structure can easily change into its N-deprotonated form upon introduction of a weak base, such as an amine, promoting significant spectral shifts in the visible absorption and fluorescence bands. Because of that and other photochemical properties, this novel dye has shown significant potential for applications in photoinduced processes and biological contexts, particularly in Coulombic interactions with micelles and animal cells. In contrast to other nonfluorescent azo dyes, the singlet excited state of pyrylazo is deactivated through a radiative process in organized media, as evidenced by its behavior during micelle media, cell membrane permeation, and fluorescence emission in the cytoplasm. Nanosecond-transient absorption spectroscopy reveals a reversible photoinduced proton release process occurring in the excited singlet state, suggesting that the excited states of pyrylazo may play roles in transport through ion channels, artificial photosynthesis, and photoinduced protein folding. These promising applications underscore the pyrylium-azo structure as a novel dye with remarkable photochemical and photophysical properties not observed in other azo dye molecules reported before.
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The detection of serum albumin is of great relevance because its presence in urine above normal levels is implicated in different pathologies, such as Diabetes Mellitus and Preeclampsia. The main objective of this work was to develop a protocol to sense serum albumin using the well-known unusual optical phenomenon that nanoparticles present, which is called surface plasmon resonance (SPR), as well as the influence of proteins on the size and morphology of nanoparticles, and consequently, on the SPR. The interaction of these nanoparticles with proteins forms biocoronates, which modify the optical and morphological properties of nanostructures. This behavior could be important for the construction of colorimetric sensors for medical or environmental applications. Considering the above, in the present study, we propose to sense Serum Albumin in the presence of silver nanoparticles (AgNps) for its determination and quantification under various physiological conditions that simulate the environment of human urine. The analysis of the growth of small AgNps (seeds) in the presence of the protein generated colorimetric changes, which were a function of pH, urea content, and chloride concentration. The presence of Serum Albumin also produced variations in the morphology and size of nanoparticles. With this methodology, the quantification of BSA was determined in a concentration range between 0.28 and 0.75 g/L and in less than 5 min of reaction.
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Monitoring ultralow nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations is crucial for air quality management and public health. However, the existing NO2 gas sensors have several defects, like high cost and power consumption, and exhibit poor selectivity. This study addresses these challenges by presenting a novel hexadecafluorinated iron phthalocyanine-reduced graphene oxide (FePcF16-rGO) covalent hybrid sensor for NO2 detection. This innovative approach, which overcomes the limitations of fabrication cost, energy efficiency, and gas selectivity, is a significant step forward in gas sensor technology. The sensor demonstrates exceptional sensitivity toward ultralow NO2 concentrations (15.14% response for 100 ppb) with a rapid 60 s UV light-induced recovery. Additionally, the sensor exhibits high selectivity for NO2, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 8.59 ppb. This approach paves the way for developing cost-effective, energy-efficient, and miniature NO2 monitoring devices for improved environmental monitoring and enhanced safety in workplaces where NO2 exposure is a concern.
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Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by the misfolding and aggregation of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into its pathogenic form (PrPSc), leading to progressive neurodegeneration. Currently, no effective treatments are available, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we explored the potential of Moringa oleifera extracts as a source of bioactive compounds that could modulate prion protein aggregation. A hydroethanolic extract from M. oleifera leaves was analyzed using PrP aggregation inhibition profiling via real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assays, in combination with affinity selection-mass spectrometry (AS-MS). This approach identified chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids as potent inhibitors of prion aggregation. These compounds exhibited significant antiprion activity, with IC50 values of 64.41 ± 12.12 and 35.34 ± 7.09 µM, respectively. In addition to inhibiting the conversion of PrPC to PrPSc, both compounds could disaggregate preformed PrPSc fibrils in vitro. AS-MS proved to be a valuable tool for isolating the modulators of PrP aggregation directly from crude natural product extracts, avoiding the need for expensive and time-consuming fractionation and purification processes. Identifying chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids highlights the therapeutic potential of natural products in combating prion diseases and other amyloidogenic disorders. Our findings suggest that these bioactive compounds could serve as promising lead compounds for developing novel treatments for prion diseases. Further in vivo studies and pharmacokinetic optimization are warranted to explore their full therapeutic potential.
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Tropical parasitic diseases affect millions of people around the world, particularly in poor countries. The human parasitic diseases that will be covered in this review are malaria and neglected diseases, such as leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and African trypanosomiasis. The current treatments for these diseases present several problems, such as the development of drug resistance, very limited drugs available in the clinic, significant side effects of the drugs, and a long treatment period. For these reasons, there is an urgent need to develop new chemotherapeutics to eradicate or eliminate these diseases. Zinc-based drugs against parasitic diseases could be an alternative therapy to overcome the difficulties of the approved metallodrugs as antiparasitic agents. Zinc-based drugs are becoming an exciting field of research because zinc is an essential element that can lead to the development of multitarget antiparasitic agents, which are reviewed here.
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In the present study, powders of α-Ag2WO4 (PAW) and ß-Ag2MoO4 (PAM) were prepared through the coprecipitation method, while poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers (FPVA) and composite nanofibers of PVA/α-Ag2WO4 (FPAW) and PVA/ß-Ag2MoO4 (FPAM) were prepared using the electrospinning technique. Several characterization techniques were applied to evaluate the structure of the obtained materials, as well as studies for assessing their antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial activities of the composites against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were investigated through the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Our studies demonstrated that materials exhibit antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa (MIC/MBC = 0.014/ND mg mL-1 for PAW; MIC/MBC = 1.43/1.43 for PAM; MIC/MBC = 1.35/1.35 mg mL-1 for FPAW; MIC/MBC = 3.68/11.03 mg mL-1 for FPAM and MIC/MBC = 8.78/ND mg mL-1 for FPVA) and S. aureus (MIC/MBC = 0.794/ND mg mL-1 for PAW; MIC/MBC = 1.43/ND for PAM; MIC/MBC = 1.35/1.35 mg mL-1 for FPAW; MIC/MBC = 3.68/3.67 mg mL-1 FPAM and MIC/MBC = 14.63/* mg mL-1 for FPVA). The cytotoxic concentrations (CC50, µg mL-1) against the VERO cells were 21.74 ± 0.04 for PAW, <15 for PAM, 103.70 ± 18.90 for FPAW, 111.22 ± 4.02 for FPAM, and >1000 for FPVA, thus indicating that the immobilization of the semiconductor to the FPVA mats decreases the cytotoxic effect of the materials studied as compared to not immobilized ones. The results suggest that powders and composite polymeric mats displayed antimicrobial action that was attributed to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are responsible for inducing high local oxidative stress, causing the death of both types of bacteria.
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A cleaner production approach was employed to develop an innovative and eco-friendly, fire-resistant composite material that boasts exceptional mechanical performance and is capable of withstanding harsh conditions. Novel obsidian (OB) and metakaolin (MK) were individually mixed with NaOH at different ratios ranging from 8 to 12 wt %. Each material was subjected to only 80 °C, forming alkali-activated obsidian (AAOB) and metakaolin-based geopolymer (MKBG). Extensive analyses, including compressive strength, thermal conductivity, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, confirmed the performance of both AAOB and MKBG. The AAOB outshined MKBG in fire resistance and mechanical strength, boasting impressive compressive strengths of 36.5, 69, and 101 MPa, respectively at day one. In contrast, MKBG lagged behind, with compressive strengths of 9.1, 23.24, and 25.66 MPa under the same conditions. Furthermore, AAOB exhibited a significantly higher porosity (80%) at 1000 °C and a lower thermal conductivity of 0.193 W/mK, compared to MKBG, which possessed a lower porosity (33%) and higher thermal conductivity of 0.901 W/mK. The AAOB represents a significant leap in the green revolution for sustainable fire-resistant composite materials. Its versatility extends across various sectors, notably in ultrahigh-temperature industrial and construction applications.
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The EtOAc extract from bulbs of Hymenocallis littoralis (Amaryllidaceae) exhibited antiprotozoal activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and afforded the alkaloids narciclasine (1), 7-deoxynarciclasine (2), and narciclasine-4-O-ß-D-xylopyranoside (3). In silico studies showed adequate predictions for drug-likeness for alkaloids 1 and 2, with adherence to Lipinski's rules of five and no alerts for PAINS. When tested against clinical forms of T. cruzi, alkaloid 1 displayed in vitro effectiveness with IC50 values of 17.1 µM (trypomastigotes) and 8.2 µM (amastigotes), with no mammalian cytotoxicity for NCTC cells (CC50 > 200 µM), similar to the standard drug benznidazole. Alkaloid 3 exhibited moderate activity against intracellular amastigotes (IC50 = 64.6 µM) and no activity to trypomastigotes, whereas 2 was inactive against both forms of the parasite. These results suggested that free hydroxyl groups at the C-7 and C-4 positions are involved in the potency of the alkaloids. Considering the most potent and selective compound, the lethal action of alkaloid 1 was investigated against extracellular forms (trypomastigotes). Using the fluorescent probe Sytox Green, it was observed that alkaloid 1 presented a dual effect in the plasma membrane at different concentrations from a noninterfering action (at the IC50) to a significant alteration in the membrane permeability (IC90). At all tested concentrations, alkaloid 1 induced a dose-dependent depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to the lethal effect on T. cruzi. These results suggest alkaloid 1 as a new hit compound, eliminating both clinical forms of the parasite and successful in silico drug-like parameters for an oral candidate for Chagas disease.
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The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly transformed grief around the world. What are the impacts of context factors regarding the COVID-19 pandemic on dysfunctional symptoms of grief? This is a study with a qualitative approach, integrative review, whose article data collection was carried out in the following databases: Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS), Portal Brasileiro de Publicações e Dados Científicos em Acesso Aberto (Oasisbr), United States National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Scientific Electronic Library (SciELO) and Web of Science. Thirty-three articles were selected for the analysis. The studies showed different results when the risk factors were detailed individually. However, the pandemic context proved to be a complex element that created vulnerability associated with grieving. Bioethics presents itself as a locus of interdisciplinary discussion for a more profound understanding of the complex specificities and, based on the social and political responsibility of Protection Bioethics to protect vulnerable populations, it is recommended to mental health professionals who intentionally explore the impacts of the pandemic on the grieving process. The suffering of people bereaved during the pandemic must be publicly recognized, offering safe spaces for reception and sharing.
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Objectives: To analyze the temporal trend of incidence and mortality from pulmonary tuberculosis in Brazil from 2002 to 2019 and to project these trends until 2034. Methods: Ecological study with tuberculosis cases extracted from the Disease Notification and Mortality System in Brazil from 2002 to 2019. The age-period-cohort model was used for projection until 2034 using R. Subsequently, the percentage variation was estimated using Joinpoint. Results: Brazil recorded 1,093,070 new cases and 76,205 deaths from 2002 to 2019, and projections until 2035-2034 estimated 1,192,092 new cases and 67,532 deaths. The north region had the highest standardized incidence and mortality rates in the country for both sexes. An increase in deaths in men and reduction in women was projected, along with an increase in incidence in both sexes. About 36% of the increase in incidence and 34.1% of the mortality in men was explained by a rise in disease risk. In women, 11.7% of the increase in incidence was due to population growth, whereas 44.8% of the reduction in deaths was due to lower risk. Conclusions: The north presented the worst scenario in the country. The projections are not favorable to the globally established targets. An increase in incidence was projected for men and women, with an increase in deaths only in men. More efforts are needed to change this potential scenario.