APHRODITE: A Compact Lab-on-Chip Biosensor for the Real-Time Analysis of Salivary Biomarkers in Space Missions.

One of the main challenges to be faced in deep space missions is to protect the health and ensure the maximum efficiency of the crew by preparing methods of prevention and in situ diagnosis. Indeed, the hostile environment causes important health problems, ranging from muscle atrophy, osteopenia, and immunological and metabolic alterations due to microgravity, to an increased risk of cancer caused by exposure to radiation. It is, therefore, necessary to provide new methods for the real-time measurement of biomarkers suitable for deepening our knowledge of the effects of space flight on the balance of the immune system and for allowing the monitoring of the astronaut's health during long-term missions. APHRODITE will enable human space exploration because it fills this void that affects both missions in LEO and future missions to the Moon and Mars. Its scientific objectives are the design, production, testing, and in-orbit demonstration of a compact, reusable, and reconfigurable system for performing the real-time analysis of oral fluid samples in manned space missions. In the frame of this project, a crew member onboard the ISS will employ APHRODITE to measure the selected target analytes, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), in oral fluid, in four (plus one additional desired session) separate experiment sessions. The paper addresses the design of the main subsystems of the analytical device and the preliminary results obtained during the first implementations of the device subsystems and testing measurements on Earth. In particular, the system design and the experiment data output of the lab-on-chip photosensors and of the front-end readout electronics are reported in detail along with preliminary chemical tests for the duplex competitive CL-immunoassay for the simultaneous detection of cortisol and DHEA-S. Different applications also on Earth are envisaged for the APHRODITE device, as it will be suitable for point-of-care testing applications (e.g., emergency medicine, bioterrorism, diagnostics in developing countries, etc.).

Low Pre-Season Hamstring-to-Quadriceps Strength Ratio Identified in Players Who Further Sustained In-Season Hamstring Strain Injuries: A Retrospective Study from a Brazilian Serie A Team.

A common pre-season injury prevention assessment conducted by professional football clubs is the hamstring-to-quadriceps (H:Q) strength ratio calculated by peak torque (PT). However, it is debatable whether players that present low pre-season H:Q ratios are more susceptible to further sustaining in-season hamstring strain injuries (HSI). Based upon retrospective data from a Brazilian Serie A football squad, a particular season came to our attention as ten out of seventeen (~59%) professional male football players sustained HSI. Therefore, we examined the pre-season H:Q ratios of these players. H:Q conventional (CR) and functional (FR) ratios, and the respective knee extensor/flexor PT from the limbs of players further sustaining in-season HSI (injured players, IP) were compared to the proportional number of dominant/non-dominant limbs from uninjured players (UP) in the squad. FR and CR were ~18-22% lower (p < 0.01), whereas quadriceps concentric PT was ~25% greater for IP than UP (p = 0.002). Low scores of FR and CR were correlated (p < 0.01) with high levels of quadriceps concentric PT (r = -0.66 to -0.77). In conclusion, players who sustained in-season HSI had lower pre-season FR and CR compared to UP, which appears to be associated with higher levels of quadriceps concentric torque than hamstring concentric or eccentric torque.

AstroBio-CubeSat: A lab-in-space for chemiluminescence-based astrobiology experiments.

Space exploration is facing a new era in view of the planned missions to the Moon and Mars. The development and the in-flight validation of new technologies, including analytical and diagnostic platforms, is pivotal for exploring and inhabiting these extreme environments. In this context, biosensors and lab-on-chip devices can play an important role in many situations, such as the analysis of biological samples for assessing the impact of deep space conditions on man and other biological systems, environmental and food safety monitoring, and the search of molecular indicators of past or present life in extra-terrestrial environments. Small satellites such as CubeSats are nowadays increasingly exploited as fast and low-cost platforms for conducting in-flight technology validation. Herein, we report the development of a fully autonomous lab-on-chip platform for performing chemiluminescence-based bioassays in space. The device was designed to be hosted onboard the AstroBio CubeSat nanosatellite, with the aim of conducting its in-flight validation and evaluating the stability of (bio)molecules required for bioassays in a challenging radiation environment. An origami-like microfluidic paper-based analytical format allowed preloading all the reagents in the dried form on the paper substrate, thus simplifying device design and analytical protocols, facilitating autonomous assay execution, and enhancing the stability of reagents. The chosen approach should constitute the first step to implement a mature technology with the aim to conduct life science research in space (e.g., for evaluation the effect of deep space conditions on living organisms or searching molecular evidence of life) more easily and at lower cost than previously possible.

Evaluation of circular business model: Theory of Change approach.

The transition from linear to circular business models, in which companies match the financial return with positive socio-environmental impact, is increasing. From this perspective, investing in projects or organizations aligned with the principles of circularity can be characterized as impact investments. However, a challenge that emerges for these investments that is gaining increasing prominence in the academic and corporate environment is related to the development of an efficient evaluation model concerning its real impact on business. Based on the Theory of Change and in the context of circular business models, this paper aims at proposing an integrative tool to evaluate impact investments and applying it to a circular business of the home appliance segment. The articulation between the ToC and circular business models can support the structuring of an evaluation model on the production logic of the desired (economic, environmental, and social) impact. Results present that an integrative tool can provide a way for companies, institutions and investors to compare the impact investment opportunities related to Circular Business Model.

Avaliação da analgesia pós-operatória com instilação de ropivacaína intraperitoneal em colecistectomia videolaparoscópica / Evaluation of postoperative analgesia with intraperitoneal ropivacaine instillation in videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a analgesia pós-operatória com instilação de solução de ropivacaína dentro da cavidade peritoneal em colecistectomia videolaparoscópica. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um ensaio clinico randomizado com 60 pacientes. No grupo intervenção (RP, n =30) foi realizada instilação de solução de ropivacaína a 0,5% nas regiões subdiafragmáticas direita e esquerda e no leito da vesícula biliar em iguais volumes de 10 mL. No grupo controle (SF, n =30) foi realizada instilação de solução fisiológica a 0,9%. Os pacientes de ambos os grupos receberam analgesia multimodal. No período pós-operatório foram avaliados os escores de dor abdominal e referida no ombro ao despertar e após 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 e 24 horas, além da necessidade de analgesia de resgate, consumo de opioide e eventos adversos. Foi considerado estatisticamente significativo o valor de p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos em relação a dados demográficos e tempo anestésico-cirúrgico. O grupo intervenção apresentou escores de dor menores e estatisticamente significativos comparado ao grupo controle ao despertar (p=0,001), com 1 hora (p=0,019) e 2 horas (p=0,04) de pós-operatório, bem como menor consumo de opioide ao despertar (p=0,022) e no total nas primeiras 24 horas (p=0,001). O tempo para necessidade da primeira analgesia de resgate foi maior no grupo intervenção (p=0,001). CONCLUSÃO: A instilação de ropivacaína dentro da cavidade peritoneal reduziu os escores de dor nas primeiras duas horas e o consumo de opioide no pós-operatório.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at evaluating postoperative analgesia with ropivacaine instillation inside the peritoneal cavity in videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: This is a randomized clinical trial with 60 patients. The intervention group (RP, n = 30) received 0.5% ropivacaine instillation in right and left subdiaphragmatic regions and in gallbladder bed in equal volumes of 10 mL. The control group (SS, n = 30) received 0.9% saline solution instillation. Patients of both groups received multimodal analgesia. Scores of abdominal pain and referred pain in shoulder were evaluated at emergence and after 1, 2, 4, 12 and 24 hours, in addition to the need for rescue analgesia, opioid consumption and adverse events, considering statistically significant p<0.05. RESULTS: There has been no statistical difference between groups with regard to demographic data and anesthetic-surgical time. The intervention group had lower and statistically significant pain scores as compared to control group at emergence (p=0.001), 1 (p=0.019) and 2 (p=0.04) postoperative hours, in addition to lower opioid consumption at emergence (p=0.022) and in total in the first 24 hours (p=0.001). Time for first request for rescue analgesia was longer in the intervention group (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Ropivacaine instillation inside the peritoneal cavity has decreased pain scores in the first 2 hours and postoperative opioid consumption.

Optic neuropathy secondary to cat scratch disease: case report / Neuropatia óptica secundária a doença da arranhadura do gato: relato de caso

Optic neuropathy due to cat scratch disease is a relatively infrequent occurrence associated with macular star formation and is characterized by sudden painless loss of vision mostly unilateral. Bartonella henselae is well recognized as the etiologic agent in cat scratch disease. Ocular complications of the disease occur in up to 10 percent of patients and include neuroretinitis. Ocular bartonelosis is usually self-limited with complete or near-complete recovery of vision in otherwise healthy patients. A case of a boy with neuroretinitis caused by B. henselae is reported.

Neuropatia óptica associada à doença da arranhadura do gato é relativamente infrequente, está associada com formação de estrela macular e caracterizase por perda visual súbita sem dor na maioria das vezes unilateral. Bartonella henselae é o agente etiológico da enfermidade. As complicações oculares da doença ocorrem em mais de 10 por cento dos casos, entre elas está a neurorretinite. Bartonelose ocular é uma doença autolimitada com completa ou quase completa recuperação da acuidade visual em pacientes imunocompetentes. Relatamos o caso de um adolescente com neuroretinite causada por B. henselae.

Optic neuropathy secondary to cat scratch disease: case report.

Optic neuropathy due to cat scratch disease is a relatively infrequent occurrence associated with macular star formation and is characterized by sudden painless loss of vision mostly unilateral. Bartonella henselae is well recognized as the etiologic agent in cat scratch disease. Ocular complications of the disease occur in up to 10% of patients and include neuroretinitis. Ocular bartonelosis is usually self-limited with complete or near-complete recovery of vision in otherwise healthy patients. A case of a boy with neuroretinitis caused by B. henselae is reported.

Postpartum depression in Recife - Brazil: prevalence and association with bio-socio-demographic factors / Depressão pós-parto em Recife - Brasil: prevalência e associação com fatores biossociodemográficos

OBJECTIVE:To use a semi-structured interview to detect depression in postpartum women according to the criteria proposed by the DSM in child health care clinics in the city of Recife, together with the proper association of this disorder to bio-socio-demographic data. METHODS: The study used a cross-section method and contained a convenience sample of 400 women that were between 2 and 26 weeks of postpartum in child health care clinics. A bio-socio-demographic questionnaire and the Portuguese version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders were used. RESULTS: Twenty nine of the mothers (7.2 percent) were diagnosed as suffering from postpartum depression. Women with a past history of psychiatric disorders, a family history of psychiatric disorder and some sort of clinical complication presented a higher prevalence of depression. The same happened to those with a past history of spontaneous abortion, those who had a transpelvic birth and those over 8 weeks of puerperium. CONCLUSION: The rate of postpartum depression in this sample, 7.2 percent, was lower than that reported by other Brazilian studies. It probably occurred because the other researchers used screening scales to assess this estimate instead of a clinical interview.

OBJETIVO: Utilizar uma entrevista clínica semiestruturada para a detecção de depressão em mulheres puérperas, de acordo com os critérios do DSM em serviços de puericultura da cidade do Recife, juntamente com uma apropriada associação entre esse transtorno e dados biossociodemográficos. MÉTODOS: O estudo utilizou um corte transversal e teve uma amostra de conveniência de 400 mulheres que levavam seus bebês para ambulatórios de puericultura e que estavam entre 2 e 26 semanas de pós-parto. Um questionário biossociodemográfico e a versão em português do Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders foram utilizados. RESULTADOS: Vinte e nove das mães (7,2 por cento) foram diagnosticadas como tendo depressão pós-parto. Mulheres com história pregressa de transtornos mentais, história familiar de transtornos mentais e com alguma complicação médica geral apresentaram prevalência maior de depressão. O mesmo ocorreu com aquelas com história anterior de abortamento espontâneo, aquelas que haviam tido parto transpelviano e aquelas que estavam com mais de 8 semanas de puerpério. CONCLUSÃO: A taxa de depressão pós-parto na nossa amostra, 7,2 por cento, foi menor do que aquelas relatadas em outros estudos brasileiros. Isso provavelmente ocorreu porque os outros pesquisadores utilizaram instrumentos de triagem para depressão em vez de entrevistas clínicas.

Postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder: prevalence and clinical characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: The principal aims of this study were to examine the prevalence rate, clinical characteristics, and related factors of postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHOD: The subjects were a nonclinical sample of 400 postpartum women. They were interviewed from the 2nd up to the 26th week after birth. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used for diagnosis of OCD, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Symptom Checklist was used to determine the types of obsessions and compulsions, and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders was used to diagnose comorbid depressive episode. RESULTS: Thirty-six (9%) of the sample met the diagnostic criteria for OCD according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and 9 (2.3%) reported postpartum onset OCD. Obsessive-compulsive disorder was more frequent in mothers with personal history of previous psychiatric disorder, somatic disease, or obstetric complication in pregnancy/birth, and who were multiparous. The most common obsessions were aggressive, contamination and miscellaneous, and compulsion for washing/cleaning and checking, and 38.9% have a comorbid depressive episode. CONCLUSION: Women have increased risk of OCD or obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the postpartum period. For this reason, all women, particularly women with previous psychiatric history, somatic disease, or with complications in pregnancy or at the birth should be carefully screened for OCD in the postpartum period.