Sarcopenia em pacientes de 40 a 64 anos hospitalizados por insuficiência cardíaca / Sarcopenia in patients aged 40­64 years hospitalized for heart failure

Introdução: a insuficiência cardíaca (IC) e a sarcopenia são condições prevalentes e inter-relacionadas, figurando como importantes causas de limitações funcionais. Objetivo: avaliar critérios de sarcopenia, e suas relações com parâmetros cardiometabólicos, em pacientes de 40 a 64 anos hospitalizados por IC. Metodologia: estudo de corte transversal com caráter analítico envolvendo indivíduos com IC confirmada. A massa muscular apendicular (MMA) foi avaliada através da absorciometria por raios-X de dupla energia (DXA), considerando-se baixa MMA mulheres com MMA/altura² <5,5 kg/m² ou MMA/índice de massa corporal (IMC) <0,512 e homens com MMA/altura² <7,0 kg/m² ou MMA/IMC <0,789. Baixa força de preensão manual (FPM) foi considerada quando <16 kg em mulheres e <27 kg em homens. Resultados: avaliou-se 109 pacientes (50,5% mulheres), com mediana de idade de 58 anos. Constatou-se baixa MMA em 41,3% e baixa FPM em 64,2%, não havendo correlação significativa entre FPM e MMA em nenhum dos gêneros. Baixa MMA se associou ao gênero masculino (68,9% versus 35,9%; p=0,001), a maiores idades (60,0 [53,0-63,0] versus 57,0 [51,3-60,0] anos; p=0,039) e maiores níveis séricos de paratormônio (48,0 [30,5-94,4] versus 29,9 [23,0-54,1] pg/mL; p=0,009). Baixa FPM se associou a maior sintomatologia cardíaca (75,7% com baixa FPM tinham classificação funcional da New York Heart Association III-IV, versus 51,3% daqueles com FPM normal; p=0,009). Conclusões: há uma relevante prevalência de sarcopenia em pacientes de 40 a 64 anos hospitalizados por IC, observando-se maior frequência de baixa MMA nos homens, associação entre baixa FPM e sintomatologia cardíaca, e maiores níveis de paratormônio naqueles com perda muscular.

Introduction: heart failure (HF) and sarcopenia are prevalent and interrelated conditions, being important causes of functional limitations. Objective: to evaluate sarcopenia criteria, and their relationship with cardiometabolic parameters, in patients aged 40­64 years hospitalized for HF. Methodology: Cross-sectional study including patients with established HF. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), considering low ASMM women with ASMM/height² <5.5 kg/m² or ASMM/body mass index (BMI) <0.512 and men with ASMM/height² <7.0 kg/m² or ASMM/BMI <0.789. Low handgrip strength (HGS) was considered when <16 kg in women and <27 kg in men. Results: we evaluated 109 patients (50.5% women), with a median age of 58 years. Low ASMM was found in 41.3% and low HGS in 64.2%, with no significant correlation between HGS and ASMM in either gender. Low ASMM was associated with male gender (68.9% versus 35.9%; p=0.001), older age (60.0 [53.0-63.0] versus 57.0 [51.3-60, 0] years; p=0.039) and higher serum parathyroid hormone (48.0 [30.5-94.4] versus 29.9 [23.0-54.1] pg/mL; p=0.009). Low HGS was associated with greater cardiac symptoms (75.7% with low HGS had a New York Heart Association III-IV functional classification, versus 51.3% of those with normal HGS; p=0.009). Conclusions: there is a relevant prevalence of sarcopenia in patients aged 40­64 years hospitalized for HF, observing a higher frequency of low ASMM in men, an association between low HGS and cardiac symptoms, and higher levels of parathyroid hormone in those with muscle wasting.

Schistosomiasis of liver graft as a differential diagnosis of abnormal liver tests after transplantation: report of two cases

ABSTRACT Schistosomiasis is a major health problem that affects over 200 million people worldwide. There are few reports of Schistosoma mansoni found in liver transplants as well as scarce information about the course of the disease and the long-term effects on the graft. Herein, we report two cases of schistosomiasis in liver transplant recipients who presented abnormal serum liver enzymes, with evidence of gradual improvement after antiparasitic treatment. Furthermore, we discuss the possible role of screening the parasite infection in potential liver transplant recipients from endemic areas.

Pyroligneous extracts with therapeutic action: A technological prospect

Abstract The Pyroligneous extract is a product from the combustion of plant biomass with applications in the fields of health, industrial chemistry, and agriculture. The discovery of new molecules with therapeutic potential and of natural origin continues to be one of the great challenges for research centres around the world. The following work aims to analyze, through a technological prospection, the use of pyroligneous extracts for therapeutic purposes. To carry out the study, searches were carried out in documents deposited in Brazil, Europe, and the United States and searched on platforms specialized in patents. The number of inventions using pyroligneous extract with therapeutic applications is still quite small, however, innovations have been observed for the treatment of diseases of great clinical relevance such as cancer and hypertension. The systematic mapping of innovations is of great importance for the development of new technologies.

Dynamics and diversity of the bacterial community during the spontaneous decay of açai (Euterpe oleracea) fruits

Abstract The biodiversity and evolution of the microbial community in açai fruits (AF) between three geographical origins and two spontaneous decay conditions were examined by applying culture-independent methods. Culture-independent methods based on 16S rRNA from fifteen samples revealed that Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Acidobacteria were the most abundant phyla. At the genus level, Massilia (taxon with more than 50% of the sequences remaining constant during the 30 h of decay), Pantoea, Naxibacter, Enterobacter, Raoultella and Klebsiella were identified, forming the carposphere bacterial microbiota of AF. AF is fibre-rich and Massilia bacteria could find a large quantity of substrate for its growth through cellulase production. Beta diversity showed that the quality parameters of AF (pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity and lipids) and elemental analysis (C, N, H and C/N ratio) were unable to drive microbial patterns in AF. This research offers new insight into the indigenous bacterial community composition on AF as a function of spontaneous postharvest decay.

Dynamics and diversity of the bacterial community during the spontaneous decay of açai (Euterpe oleracea) fruits

Abstract The biodiversity and evolution of the microbial community in açai fruits (AF) between three geographical origins and two spontaneous decay conditions were examined by applying culture-independent methods. Culture-independent methods based on 16S rRNA from fifteen samples revealed that Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Acidobacteria were the most abundant phyla. At the genus level, Massilia (taxon with more than 50% of the sequences remaining constant during the 30 h of decay), Pantoea, Naxibacter, Enterobacter, Raoultella and Klebsiella were identified, forming the carposphere bacterial microbiota of AF. AF is fibre-rich and Massilia bacteria could find a large quantity of substrate for its growth through cellulase production. Beta diversity showed that the quality parameters of AF (pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity and lipids) and elemental analysis (C, N, H and C/N ratio) were unable to drive microbial patterns in AF. This research offers new insight into the indigenous bacterial community composition on AF as a function of spontaneous postharvest decay.

Técnica para obtenção de sangue central em ratos / Central blood obtainment technique in rats

Introdução: Há muitos métodos descritos para obtenção de sangue em ratos, entre eles a técnica da punção das veias da cauda, da artéria aorta e da veia jugular. Objetivo: Descrever um procedimento para obtenção de sangue central, em dois intervalos regulares, sem necessidade de eutanásia. Método: Utilizaram-se 10 ratos da linhagem Wistar, fêmeas adultas pesando entre 200 e 250 gramas, sendo realizada uma incisão oblíqua, seguida de dissecção da veia femoral. Realizou-se, inicialmente, a punção da veia femoral, através de uma seringa hipodérmica de 1 ml, contendo 0,2 ml de solução de heparina a 5 por cento, para heparinização sistêmica do animal. Seguiu-se, então, punção venosa para a coleta de 1,5 ml de sangue, introduzindo-se um cateter Angiocath nº 24 pelo mesmo orifício criado na heparinização. Fez-se, em seguida, a ligadura definitiva do vaso e o fechamento da ferida operatória com fio Mononylon 3-0. No intervalo de sete dias repetiu-se o procedimento na veia femoral contralateral. Observaram-se os seguintes critérios: incisão, dissecção, heparinização, punção, presença de infecção no pós-operatório e material utilizado, sendo os dados coletados e analisados descritivamente. Resultados: Verificou-se que, em 100 por cento dos animais, a incisão oblíqua foi satisfatória para visibilização do feixe vásculo-nervoso femoral; em 60 por cento das punções nã houve espasmo venoso; 100 por cento dos animais apresentaram heparinização satisfatória; em 70 por cento foi possível a coleta de 1,5 ml de sangue; 80 por cento não apresentaram abcessos e em 100 por cento dos ratos a utilização...