Sugarcane vinasse as organo-mineral fertilizers feedstock: Opportunities and environmental risks.

Fertigation using sugarcane vinasse is expected in the sugar and alcohol industries; however, its indiscriminate practice can trigger soil salinization and contamination of water sources. This review article appraises the vinasse use as a precursor material in producing organo-mineral fertilizers. Vinasse use could be an alternative for the increased demand for organo-mineral fertilizers. In that case, the vinasse reuse would be maintained but through controlled practices and lower environmental impact. The state-of-art points to possible advantages associated with the vinasse conversion into organo-mineral fertilizers, such as ease of transport and handling, low variability in its composition, and lower risks of soil and water resources contamination. It has been summarized and critically discussed the past ten years (2011-2021, total number papers revised: 175) of research data about vinasse composition, along with the limitations to be overcome in the near future to enable the application of organo-mineral fertilizers. Possible nutrients supplementation beyond those already present in vinasse composition would depend on the crop requirement, and the impact on the soil biota and integrity should be better understood. The aspects discussed along the manuscript would be aligned with circular economy principles, converting a residue (vinasse) into a potential resource for agricultural activities, including sugar and alcohol industries. After all, although promising, obtaining organo-mineral fertilizers from vinasse must be empirically validated and its feasibility proven by comparative studies between fertigation and the use of organo-mineral fertilizers.

Pulp enlargement in individuals born with cleft lip and palate pulp, a radiographic study from the cleft lip and palate service of paraiba, Brazil'.

PURPOSE: Pulp chamber enlargement impacts endodontic treatment planning. The aim of this study was to evaluate alterations in pulp chamber size of posterior teeth in individuals born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate. METHODS: Ninety individuals were treated at the Cleft Lip and Palate Service of the University Hospital Lauro Wanderley, Federal University of Paraíba, between the ages of 4 and 15 years born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate were selected. Ninety-nine patients from the archives of the residency program in Orthodontics of the Brazilian Dental Association (ABO) were paired by sex and age as a comparison group. Radiographs were evaluated by a single examiner, observing the presence/absence of an enlarged pulp chamber in the first and second permanent molars of all quadrants. Chi square or Fisher's exact tests were used (α = 0.05) in all comparisons. RESULTS: Pulp enlargement was more frequently found among individuals born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate (p = 0.0005). However, pulp enlargement frequency was different among subjects born with clefts (p = 0.0006). Pulp enlargement was more common in the maxilla, in both groups. Individuals born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate more often had six or more teeth affected (p = 0.02). Furthermore, individuals with a bilateral cleft more often had six or more teeth affected in comparison to unilateral cases (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Pulp enlargement is a frequent finding, particularly among individuals born with cleft lip with or without cleft palate, with a higher prevalence in the maxilla.

COMT rs4818, pain sensitivity and duration, and alveolar bone grafting of oral clefts.

PURPOSE: Verifying whether the mutation in COMT rs4818 could be involved in pain modulation. METHODS: Thirty-two individuals born with cleft lip and palate that underwent bone graft from the iliac crest bone were assessed at 12, 24, 48, 72 h, and 7 days regarding their pain experience using a visual analogic scale. DNA from each participant was collected from saliva samples, and genotyping of rs4818 was performed using TaqMan chemistry. Overrepresentation of rs4818 alleles was tested using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests with an alpha of 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 32 individuals, eighteen reported long pain duration, nine reported high pain intensity, and fourteen low pain intensity up to 48 h. No differences were found in the distribution of individuals depending on the reported pain by sex (p = 0.12), age (p = 0.42), or cleft type (p = 0.5). The distribution of COMT r4818 alleles was different depending on the intensity and duration of pain. Carriers of the C wild-type allele were four times more likely to show high pain intensity and duration (odds ratio = 4.29, 95% confidence interval 1.13-16.18), meaning that the G variant allele is protective. CONCLUSION: COMT rs4818 is associated with postoperative pain after alveolar bone grafting.

Effect of Melatonin on Cryopreserved Sperm of Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes).

BACKGROUND: Semen cryopreservation is a technique widely used in commercial and conservation fish farms. However, the success of the technique will depend on the diluent and cryoprotectant solutions added to the semen prior to the freezing procedure. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of different doses of melatonin on motility, morphology and fertilization capacity of cryopreserved semen of Prochilodus lineatus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen was diluted in cryoprotectant solution with added melatonin, resulting in three treatments. A Control Solution (DMSO8% + BTS5%), was compared with T1, T2 and T3 treatments: BTS (5%) + DMSO (8%) plus concentrations of 1, 2 and 3 mM of melatonin, respectively. The diluted semen was frozen in a cylinder of vapour nitrogen and stored at -190°C. The straws were thawed in a water bath at 40°C for 12 s for analysis of sperm motility and morphology, and for evaluation of fertilization rate. The data were submitted to ANOVA, and the means were compared by the Tukey test. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference (P>0.05) between the progressive motility rates and the velocities of the cryopreserved semen in the different treatments. The total motility rate was higher (P <0.05) in the groups T1 and T2 when compared to T3, but did not differ from control. All treatments had similar values of total anomalies after thawing and did not differ in fertilization capacity (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The addition of melatonin on the cryoprotectant solution did not promote changes on motility, morphology and fertilization capacity of cryopreserved semen of Prochilodus lineatus.

Assessing correlations between spirometry and Shwachman-Kulczycki score in children and adolescents.

A retrospective observational study was carried out to analyze the correlations between formal pulmonary function tests and the Shwachman-Kulczycki (SK) score. Forty-six Brazilian cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, clinically stable, aged 7-19 years, were included. Clinical and radiological findings of the SK score system and spirometry variables were assessed by independent observers in a blinded manner. The strongest correlation (r = 0.75; 95% CI, 0.59-0.85; P < 0.001) was found for forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1). Despite some peculiarities of our patients, the results are in agreement with studies undertaken in industrialized countries, showing good correlation between FEV1 and SK score and its usefulness in managing CF. Accordingly, in countries where pulmonary function testing is not available, the SK score remains a valuable parameter on which to base treatment results.

Six-month isoniazid-rifampin treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis in children.

One hundred and seventeen children with pulmonary tuberculosis underwent treatment with a 6-month daily regimen of rifampin (15 mg/kg/day) and isoniazid (10 mg/kg/day). The criteria for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis were (1) clinical symptoms and signs in 93 children (79%), (2) history of direct contact with an adult with tuberculosis in 106 children (91%), (3) tuberculin reaction of 5 mm or more, without previous bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), in 45 children (38%), (4) suggestive radiologic alterations in all patients, and (5) positive bacteriology or histology in four patients (3%). The treatment was completed by 97 children (83%). The mean weight gain during therapy was 2,145 g. There was an excellent clinicoradiologic response to the treatment, and improvement in chest roentgenograms was observed in all patients at the end of therapy. No relapses occurred among the patients followed for an average of 21.4 months. This study indicates that the treatment of primary pulmonary tuberculosis in children with a combination of rifampin and isoniazid daily for 6 months is efficacious and does not result in any relapse.