Team climate and patients' perception of primary healthcare attributes in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

Team climate and attributes of primary healthcare (PHC) are key elements for collaborative practice. Few researchers have explored the relationship between team climate and patients' perceptions of PHC. This study aimed to assess the association between team climate and patients' perceptions of primary healthcare attributes. A quantitative approach was adopted. In Stage 1, Team climate was assessed using Team Climate Inventory in 118 Family Health Strategy (FHS) teams at a PHC setting. In Stage 2, Patients' perceptions of PHC attributes were assessed using the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCATool) in a sample of 844 patients enrolled in teams studied in Stage 1. Cluster analysis was used to identify team climate groups. The analysis used multilevel linear regression models. Patients assigned to teams with the highest team climate scores had the highest PHC attributes scores. Patients who reported affiliation at the team level had the highest PCATool scores overall. They also scored higher on the attributes of comprehensiveness and coordinated care compared to patients with affiliation to the health unit. In conclusion, patients under the care of FHS teams exhibiting a more favorable team climate had more positive patient perceptions of PHC attributes.

Evaluating carbon stocks in soils of fragmented Brazilian Atlantic Forests (BAF) based on soil features and different methodologies.

Brazil's Atlantic Forest (BAF) is a highly fragmented, strategic environmental and socio-economic region that represents the fourth biodiversity hotspot while also producing many commodities that are exported globally. Human disturbance plays a pivotal role as a driver of BAF's soil dynamics and behaviors. The soils under Late Primary and Secondary Semideciduous Seasonal Forests (LPSF and LSSF) were characterized by high to moderate resilience, with improved chemical properties as human disturbance decreased. The Transitional Forest to Cerrado (TFC) had the worst soil conditions. Disturbed Primary and Secondary Semideciduous Seasonal Forests (DPSF and DSSF) represent a transitional stage between LPSF/LSSF and TFC. Accordingly, SOCs stocks increased from TFC << DPSF, DSSF < LPSF, LSSF. In BAF soils, to avoid unreliable data, SOCs measurements should be (i) conducted to at least 1 m soil depth and (ii) quantified with a CHN analyzer. Human disturbance strongly affected the positive feedback between vegetation succession, SOCs, and soil nutrition. Soil development decreased as human disturbance increased, thus negatively affecting SOCs. Soils in the BAF require a long time to recover after the end of human disturbance, thus suggesting that preservation strategies should be prioritized in remnant BAF fragments.

Comparative metabolite profiling of three savannic species of Banisteriopsis (Malpighiaceae) via UPLC-MS/MS and chemometric tools.

Banisteriopsis (Malpighiaceae) is an important genus of neotropical savannas with related biological and medicinal activities but under-explored metabolomic profiles. We present a chemometric analysis for discriminating secondary metabolites of three species of Banisteriopsis (B. laevifolia, B. malifolia, and B. stellaris) leaves. Initially, each species was separately extracted with ethanol:water (4:1, v/v) and analysed by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The chromatographic profiles were subjected to Global Natural Product Social (GNPS) and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA). Eighty-nine compounds (cosine ≥ 0.90) were annotated, including flavonoids, phenolics, and acids. The chemometric analysis (VIP Score) showed each species' relative concentration of the more relevant compounds. In addition, four compounds that discriminate the metabolomic profiles of B. laevifolia, B. malifolia, and B. stellaris were identified by PLS-DA.

Cross-sectional interactive associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with physical capacity across adulthood.

BACKGROUND: The way physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) independently and interactively modify the age-related decline in physical capacity remains poorly understood. This cross-sectional study investigated the independent and interactive associations of PA and SB with physical function and performance throughout the adult life course. METHODS: Data from 499 community-dwelling adults (63% female) aged 20-92 years, involved in the INSPIRE Human Translational Cohort, were used in this cross-sectional study. Daily time spent on moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA, min/day) and SB (h/day) was measured with activPAL triaxial accelerometers. Physical function and performance were assessed through the measurement of the 4-m usual gait speed (m/s), handgrip strength (kg), lower-limb strength (isokinetic knee extension torque, N·m), estimated lower-limb power (five-time chair-rise test performance, s) and cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O2max, mL/kg/min). Confounder-adjusted multiple linear and curvilinear regressions were performed to investigate how MVPA, SB and their interactions were associated with the physical outcomes (all square root-transformed except gait speed) throughout the adulthood spectrum. RESULTS: Interaction analyses revealed that the combination of higher levels of MVPA with lower levels of SB favourably reshaped the negative relationship between handgrip strength and age (age2 × SB × MVPA: B = -7E-08, SE = 3E-08, P < 0.05). In addition, higher levels of MVPA were independently associated with an improved age-related profile in gait speed (age2 × MVPA: B = 3E-06, SE = 1E-06, P < 0.05), chair-rise performance (age × MVPA: B = -9E-05, SE = 4E-05, P < 0.05) and V̇O2max (MVPA at 21 years: B = 3E-02, SE = 7E-03, P < 0.05; age × MVPA: B = -5E-04, SE = 2E-04, P < 0.05). Conversely, the detrimental association of age with lower-limb muscle strength (age × SB: B = -1E-04, SE = 6E-05, P < 0.05) and chair-rise performance (age × SB: B = 1E-05, SE = 7E-06, P < 0.05) was exacerbated with increasing duration of SB, independently of MVPA. Supplementary analyses further revealed that some of these associations were age and sex specific. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study demonstrated that reduced sedentary time and increased activity duration were independently and synergistically associated with an attenuated age-related loss in physical capacity. These findings need to be confirmed with longitudinal data but encourage both adopting an active lifestyle and reducing sedentary time as preventive measures against physical aging.

An overview on recent patents and technologies on nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery.

INTRODUCTION: Nucleic acid-based therapeutics offer groundbreaking potential for treating genetic diseases and advancing next-generation vaccines. Despite their promise, challenges in efficient delivery persist due to the properties of nucleic acids. Nanoparticles (NPs) serve as vital carriers, facilitating effective delivery to target cells, and addressing these challenges. Understanding the global landscape of patents in this field is essential for fostering innovation and guiding decision-making for researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, and regulatory agencies. AREAS COVERED: This review provides a comprehensive overview of patent compositions, applications, and manufacturing aspects concerning NPs as nucleic acid delivery systems. It delves into temporal trends, protection locations, market dynamics, and the most influential technological domains. In this work, we provide valuable insights into the advancements and potential of NP-based nucleic acid delivery systems, with a special focus on their pivotal role in advancing cutting-edge therapeutic solutions. EXPERT OPINION: Investment in NPs for nucleic acid delivery has significantly surged in recent years. However, translating these therapies into clinical practice faces obstacles, including the need for robust clinical evidence, regulatory compliance, and streamlined manufacturing processes. To address these challenges, our review article summarizes recent advances. We aim to engage researchers worldwide in the development of these promising technologies.

Psychosocial mediators and moderators of a school-based physical activity intervention among Brazilian adolescents.

School-based interventions are needed due to the low levels of physical activity (PA) in adolescents. The aim is to examine the mediation effects of psychosocial factors (attitude, self-efficacy, social support from parents, friends, general teachers, and PE teachers, and environment school perception) and moderation by sex, school grade, and socioeconomic level of a school-based PA intervention on the PA practice among adolescents. The Movimente Programme is a randomised controlled trial at schools in southern Brazil (n = 921 adolescents). Strategies included teacher training, educational actions, and environmental changes. Adolescents self-reported their weekly PA. Potential psychosocial mediators and moderators were investigated through validated questionnaires in a Brazilian sample. The product of the coefficients with percentile bootstrapping 95% confidence interval was performed. The Movimente Programme was related to positive changes in adolescents' perception of the school environment and social support from general and physical education teachers. Most psychosocial variables (attitude, self-efficacy, social support from friends, and social support from teachers) were associated with PA, but none mediated the impact of the Movimente Programme on PA. Results varied according to sex and school grade. The Movimente Programme increased the adolescents' perception of the school environment and social support from teachers, but no mediators were confirmed.

Plasma Level of ATPase Inhibitory Factor 1 and Intrinsic Capacity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Prospective Data From the MAPT Study.

BACKGROUND: Intrinsic capacity (IC) is a concept related to functionality that reflects healthy aging. ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (IF1) is a multifaceted protein that regulates mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and may be involved in IC. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between plasma levels of IF1 and IC changes in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Community-dwelling older adults from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT Study) were enrolled in this study. A composite IC score was calculated based on 4 IC domains: locomotion, psychological dimension, cognition, and vitality (with data available annually over 4 years of follow-up). Secondary analyses were conducted on the sensory domain (with data available only for 1 year of follow-up). Mixed-model linear regression adjusted for confounders was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 1 090 participants with usable IF1 values were included in the study (75.3 ± 4.4 years; 64% females). Compared to the lowest quartile, both the low- and high-intermediate IF1 quartiles were found to be cross-sectionally associated with greater composite IC scores across 4 domains (ßlow-intermediate, 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.06-2.60 and ßhigh-intermediate, 1.78; 95% CI 0.49-3.06). In the secondary analyses, the highest quartile was found to be associated with a slower decline in composite IC scores across 5 domains over 1 year (ßhigh 1.60; 95% CI 0.06-3.15). The low- and high-intermediate IF1 quartiles were also found to be cross-sectionally associated with greater locomotion (ßlow-intermediate, 2.72; 95% CI 0.36-5.08) and vitality scores (ßhigh-intermediate, 1.59; 95% CI 0.06-3.12), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to demonstrate that levels of circulating IF1, a mitochondrial-related biomarker, are associated with IC composite scores in both cross-sectional and prospective analyses among community-dwelling older adults. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the potential underlying mechanisms that may explain these associations.

Antinociceptive Effect of the Combination of a Novel α4ß2* Agonist with Donepezil in a Chronic Pain Model.

Chronic pain presents a major challenge in contemporary medicine, given the limited effectiveness and numerous adverse effects linked to available treatments. Recognizing the potential of the cholinergic pathway as a therapeutic target, the present work evaluates the antinociceptive activity of a combination of Cris-104, a novel α4ß2* receptor agonist, and donepezil, a central anticholinesterase agent. Isobolographic analysis revealed that equimolar combination was approximately 10 times more potent than theoretically calculated equipotent additive dose. Administration of Cris-104 and donepezil combination (3 µmol/kg) successfully reversed hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia observed in rats subjected to spinal nerve ligation (SNL). The combination also modulated neuroinflammation by reducing astrocyte activation, evident in the decreased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the spinal cord. The observed synergism in combining a nicotinic receptor agonist with an anticholinesterase agent underscores its potential for treating chronic pain. This alternative therapeutic distinct advantage, including dose reduction and high selectivity for the receptor, contribute to a more favorable profile with minimized adverse effects.

Identification of volatile organic compounds in purple and white soybean flowers by HS-SPME/GC-MS.

This study aimed to establish a method for the extraction, enrichment, and identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by the flowers of purple (BRS 399) and white (DONMARIO 6563) soybean varieties. We tested the Static Headspace (HS) and Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) methods using various fibre types: PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane), PDMS/DVB (Divinylbenzene), and PDMS/DVB/CAR (Carboxen). We employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify the VOCs. The SPME method with PDMS/DVB and PDMS/DVB/CAR fibres yielded the highest number of extracted compounds for both soybean cultivars. Notably, 67 compounds were detected in Glycine max. L for the first time. Using the developed method, we were able to detect 52 and 57 VOCs in the purple and white soybean varieties, respectively, including ketones, alcohols, aldehydes and benzenoids. In conclusion, the method we developed effectively identified VOCs in soybean flowers, thus enriching our understanding of the interactions between soybean flowers and their pollinators.

Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products in the Treatment of Schistosomiasis.

It is estimated that 250 million people worldwide are affected by schistosomiasis. Disease transmission is related to the poor sanitation and hygiene habits that affect residents of impoverished regions in tropical and subtropical countries. The main species responsible for causing disease in humans are Schistosoma Mansoni, S. japonicum, and S. haematobium, each with different geographic distributions. Praziquantel is the drug predominantly used to treat this disease, which offers low effectiveness against immature and juvenile parasite forms. In addition, reports of drug resistance prompt the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Natural products represent an important source of new compounds, especially those obtained from plant sources. This review compiles data from several in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating various compounds and essential oils derived from plants with cercaricidal and molluscicidal activities against both juvenile and adult forms of the parasite. Finally, this review provides an important discussion on recent advances in molecular and computational tools deemed fundamental for more rapid and effective screening of new compounds, allowing for the optimization of time and resources.

Unfamiliar personal protective equipment: The role of routine practice and other factors affecting healthcare personnel doffing strategies.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare personnel (HCP) may encounter unfamiliar personal protective equipment (PPE) during clinical duties, yet we know little about their doffing strategies in such situations. OBJECTIVE: To better understand how HCP navigate encounters with unfamiliar PPE and the factors that influence their doffing strategies. SETTING: The study was conducted at 2 Midwestern academic hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 70 HCP: 24 physicians and resident physicians, 31 nurses, 5 medical or nursing students, and 10 other staff. Among them, 20 had special isolation unit training. METHODS: Participants completed 1 of 4 doffing simulation scenarios involving 3 mask designs, 2 gown designs, 2 glove designs, and a full PPE ensemble. Doffing simulations were video-recorded and reviewed with participants during think-aloud interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants identified familiarity with PPE items and designs as an important factor in doffing. When encountering unfamiliar PPE, participants cited aspects of their routine practices such as designs typically used, donning and doffing frequency, and design cues, and their training as impacting their doffing strategies. Furthermore, they identified nonintuitive design and lack of training as barriers to doffing unfamiliar PPE appropriately. CONCLUSION: PPE designs may not be interchangeable, and their use may not be intuitive. HCP drew on routine practices, experiences with familiar PPE, and training to adapt doffing strategies for unfamiliar PPE. In doing so, HCP sometimes deviated from best practices meant to prevent self-contamination. Hospital policies and procedures should include ongoing and/or just-in-time training to ensure HCP are equipped to doff different PPE designs encountered during clinical care.

Photosynthetic performance of Chlamydopodium (Chlorophyta) cultures grown in outdoor bioreactors.

The microalga Chlamydopodium fusiforme MACC-430 was cultured in two types of outdoor pilot cultivation units-a thin-layer cascade (TLC) and a raceway pond (RWP) placed in a greenhouse. This case study aimed to test their potential suitability for cultivation scale-up to produce biomass for agriculture purposes (e.g., as biofertilizer or biostimulant). The culture response to the alteration of environmental conditions was evaluated in "exemplary" situations of good and bad weather conditions using several photosynthesis measuring techniques, namely oxygen production, and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence. Validation of their suitability for online monitoring in large-scale plants has been one of the objectives of the trials. Both techniques were found fast and robust reliable to monitor microalgae activity in large-scale cultivation units. In both bioreactors, Chlamydopodium cultures grew well in the semi-continuous regime using daily dilution (0.20-0.25 day-1). The biomass productivity calculated per volume was significantly (about 5 times) higher in the RWPs compared to the TLCs. The measured photosynthesis variables showed that the build-up of dissolved oxygen concentration in the TLC was higher, up to 125-150% of saturation (%sat) as compared to the RWP (102-104%sat). As only ambient CO2 was available, its shortage was indicated by a pH increase due to photosynthetic activity in the thin-layer bioreactor at higher irradiance intensities. In this setup, the RWP was considered more suitable for scale-up due to higher areal productivity, lower construction and maintenance costs, the smaller land area required to maintain large culture volumes, as well as lower carbon depletion and dissolved oxygen build-up. KEY POINTS: • Chlamydopodium was grown in both raceways and thin-layer cascades in pilot-scale. • Various photosynthesis techniques were validated for growth monitoring. • In general, raceway ponds were evaluated as more suitable for cultivation scale-up.

Suppression of citrus canker disease mediated by flagellin perception.

Citrus cancer, caused by strains of Xanthomonas citri (Xc) and Xanthomonas aurantifolii (Xa), is one of the most economically important citrus diseases. Although our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying citrus canker development has advanced remarkably in recent years, exactly how citrus plants fight against these pathogens remains largely unclear. Using a Xa pathotype C strain that infects Mexican lime only and sweet oranges as a pathosystem to study the immune response triggered by this bacterium in these hosts, we herein report that the Xa flagellin C protein (XaFliC) acts as a potent defence elicitor in sweet oranges. Just as Xa blocked canker formation when coinfiltrated with Xc in sweet orange leaves, two polymorphic XaFliC peptides designated flgIII-20 and flgIII-27, not related to flg22 or flgII-28 but found in many Xanthomonas species, were sufficient to protect sweet orange plants from Xc infection. Accordingly, ectopic expression of XaFliC in a Xc FliC-defective mutant completely abolished the ability of this mutant to grow and cause canker in sweet orange but not Mexican lime plants. Because XaFliC and flgIII-27 also specifically induced the expression of several defence-related genes, our data suggest that XaFliC acts as a main immune response determinant in sweet orange plants.

Atlantic rainforest natural regeneration in fragmented formations affected by increasing human disturbance.

Forests provides major ecosystem services worldwide. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest (BAF) has been dramatically devastated, with fragmentation processes jeopardizing its long-term sustainability. This study investigated the structure and successional dynamics in BAF natural regeneration along an anthroposequence characterized by increasing human disturbance histories as: secondary (SF) > disturbed (DF) > late forest (LF). We aimed to understand how and the degree to which BAF fragmentation and human disturbance affected plants, soils, and the whole soil-plant relationships and feedbacks. We investigated the natural regeneration conditions of plants (using plant classification and quali-quantitative analyses) and soil chemistry (including pH-CaCl2, H + Al, C, N, Pt, cation-exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable cations, Al, B, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, and Zn) at twelve permanent, 2000 m2 plots, distributed across LF, DF, and SF forests. Significant differences were determined by ANOVA. Correlation matrix (CM) and factor analysis (FA) were used for understanding correlations and feedbacks/variability among investigated parameters, respectively. Most of investigated plant and soil parameters showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between more developed plant formations (LF) vs less developed ones (SF), with differences mainly due to soil's development stage. All investigated forest formations are featured by a great influence of the soil-plant relationships and feedbacks, with a decreasing magnitude as LF → DF → SF. Thus, there is a direct, statistically recognizable impact of both "recent" as well as "ancient" human disturbance on investigated soil-plant formations. The anthropogenic influence clearly affected not only plant and soil as "separate" systems but the whole complex of interactions and feedbacks among ecosystem components. A decreasing quality in soil and plant parameters was observed as human disturbance increased. We demonstrated that BAF plant and soil require decades for their recovery after human disturbances, with complex mechanisms and behaviors in the relationships among ecosystem components. The results can be useful for managing future recovery in an ecosystem of worldwide strategic importance.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Intrinsic Capacity: Insights From a Narrative Review.

Mitochondrial dysfunction occurs during aging and may play a role, by distinct mechanisms, in the loss of intrinsic capacity (IC), operationalized through 5 domains: locomotion, psychological, cognition, vitality/nutrition, and sensory (hearing, vision). The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the associations between mitochondrial function and IC domains. This study is a narrative review of original investigations (any study design) on the relationship of mitochondrial function in humans with locomotion (eg, gait speed), psychological (eg, depressive symptoms), cognition (eg, global cognitive function), vitality (eg, handgrip strength), and/or sensory (hearing and vision acuity) domains. The IC domains were considered from the perspective of the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE), according to the World Health Organization guidelines. The results show that there is still limited evidence regarding the associations between mitochondrial function and IC domains. Most studies were cross-sectional and involved small samples. The tissues/cells most often investigated in the original studies were skeletal muscle and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The available evidence, although limited, indicates that mitochondrial function, in particular, the mitochondrial DNA copy number, is associated with all IC domains. The evidence is more robust for locomotion and less abundant for hearing. In conclusion, this review supports the notion that mitochondrial function is correlated with IC domains by distinct mechanisms. Future studies are needed to confirm whether mitochondria play a role in maintaining optimal function and preventing/delaying the onset of disability during aging, which could ultimately contribute to healthy aging.

Heart Failure in Menopause: Treatment and New Approaches.

Aging is an important risk factor for the development of heart failure (HF) and half of patients with HF have preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) which is more common in elderly women. In general, sex differences that lead to discrepancies in risk factors and to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been attributed to the reduced level of circulating estrogen during menopause. Estrogen receptors adaptively modulate fibrotic, apoptotic, inflammatory processes and calcium homeostasis, factors that are directly involved in the HFpEF. Therefore, during menopause, estrogen depletion reduces the cardioprotection. Preclinical menopause models demonstrated that several signaling pathways and organ systems are closely involved in the development of HFpEF, including dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), chronic inflammatory process and alteration in the sympathetic nervous system. Thus, this review explores thealterations observed in the condition of HFpEF induced by menopause and the therapeutic targets with potential to interfere with the disease progress.

Discovery and structural characterization of chicoric acid as a SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein ligand and RNA binding disruptor.

The nucleocapsid (N) protein plays critical roles in coronavirus genome transcription and packaging, representing a key target for the development of novel antivirals, and for which structural information on ligand binding is scarce. We used a novel fluorescence polarization assay to identify small molecules that disrupt the binding of the N protein to a target RNA derived from the SARS-CoV-2 genome packaging signal. Several phenolic compounds, including L-chicoric acid (CA), were identified as high-affinity N-protein ligands. The binding of CA to the N protein was confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry, 1H-STD and 15N-HSQC NMR, and by the crystal structure of CA bound to the N protein C-terminal domain (CTD), further revealing a new modulatory site in the SARS-CoV-2 N protein. Moreover, CA reduced SARS-CoV-2 replication in cell cultures. These data thus open venues for the development of new antivirals targeting the N protein, an essential and yet underexplored coronavirus target.

The (un)shared responsibility in the reverse logistics of portable batteries: A Brazilian case.

The Brazilian National Solid Waste Policy (BNSWP) determines that reverse logistics (RL) of waste batteries is mandatory and adopts the principle of shared responsibility among stakeholders. In this work, we sought to diagnose the current state of the RL chain for batteries in Vale do Aço, Brazil, and identify challenges and potentialities related to its improvement. Data were obtained by means of questionnaires sent to the main stakeholders involved in the batteries RL chain and by consultation of official Brazilian databases. The results showed that the main obstacles to the implementation of the RL of portable batteries in the region are: the lack of information by consumers and retailers regarding the BNSWP and management of waste batteries; the existence of few collection and consolidation points in the region; lack of municipal waste management plans; and lack of sustainability of waste picker organizations. The identified potentialities were: the good receptivity of environmental education actions by the population; the possibility of taking advantage of direct logistics of local retail chains to collect waste; the existence of a special waste management and transportation company in the region; and the existence of waste picker organizations interested in integrating the RL system. Finally, by a SWOT analysis, strategies for the implementation of a more effective RL system were drawn up. This work can serve as a basis for the structuring and implementation of the batteries RL system at the Metropolitan Region of Vale do Aço (MRVA) and can be a reference for other settings.

Nursing supervision: interfaces with power relations in family health.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze nursing supervision from the perspective of power relations in family health. METHOD: An exploratory, descriptive and interpretive research with a qualitative approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 37 workers from six health teams in a city in the countryside of São Paulo. They were submitted to thematic content analysis, based on the health work process theoretical framework and Foucault's power category. RESULTS: Two thematic categories were constructed: Nursing supervision from the perspective of surveillance and control in relationships of disciplinary power in family health; The duality of nursing supervision in family health between oppressive power and positive power. CONCLUSION: The power present in nursing supervision is expressed as control and producer of things, which not only oppresses, but also has positive effects on building healthy work environments, valuing interactions, establishing trust, strengthening teamwork and supporting workers, aspects that result in the promotion of psychological safety in family health.

Novel p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Inhibitor Reverses Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Rats.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling is strongly implicated in cardiovascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricle (RV) failure. The effects of a newly designed p38 inhibitor, LASSBio-1824, were investigated in experimentally induced PH. Male Wistar rats were exposed to hypoxia and SU5416 (SuHx), and normoxic rats were used as controls. Oral treatment was performed for 14 days with either vehicle or LASSBio-1824 (50 mg/kg). Pulmonary vascular resistance and RV structure and function were assessed by echocardiography and catheterization. Histological, immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis of lung and RV were performed to investigate cardiovascular remodeling and inflammation. Treatment with LASSBio-1824 normalized vascular resistance by attenuating vessel muscularization and endothelial dysfunction. In the heart, treatment decreased RV systolic pressure, hypertrophy and collagen content, improving cardiac function. Protein content of TNF-α, iNOS, phosphorylated p38 and caspase-3 were reduced both in lung vessels and RV tissues after treatment and a reduced activation of transcription factor c-fos was found in cardiomyocytes of treated SuHx rats. Therefore, LASSBio-1824 represents a potential candidate for remodeling-targeted treatment of PH.