Tributyltin degrading microbial enzymes: A promising remediation approach.

Brazil is one of the countries most impacted along the entire coastline by the presence of tributyltin (TBT), a biocide used in antifouling paints. Despite being banned since 2008, its use is still registered in the country, and it is possible to find recent inputs of this substance in places under the influence of shipyards, marinas, and fishing ports. In this study, a bacterium isolated from TBT-contaminated sediment from Santos and São Vicente Estuarine System (SESS) in Brazil, identified as Achromobacter sp., proved to be resistant to this compound. Furthermore, its crude enzymatic extract presented the ability to reduce up to 25 % of the initial TBT concentration in the liquid phase in 1 h, demonstrating to be a simple, fast, effective procedure and a potential tool for the environmental attenuation of TBT.

Ecological study of the association between socioeconomic inequality and food deserts and swamps around schools in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests that unhealthy community food environments around schools contribute to unhealthy eating habits and negative health outcomes among the youth. However, little is known about how socioeconomic inequalities in those community food environments are associated with food deserts and food swamps across schools' neighborhoods. METHODS: An ecological study was carried out in all 3,159 public and private schools in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Three measures of socioeconomic inequality were evaluated: per capita income, segregation index and deprivation index. The community school food environment was analyzed by metrics of food swamps and food deserts. RESULTS: Food deserts and food swamps were simultaneously more prevalent in neighborhoods of the lowest income, high deprivation, and high segregation. Spatial socioeconomic disparities at the neighborhoods of schools were associated with food deserts and food swamps in Rio de Janeiro. CONCLUSIONS: Our results point to a spatial socioeconomic inequality of establishments that sell food around schools in a Brazilian metropolis, indicating that the areas of greatest deprivation of food services are also the areas with the worst socioeconomic characteristics.

The Patent Landscape of Polyhydroxyalkanoates Production by Algae and Cyanobacteria.

BACKGROUND: As global awareness regarding climate change and environmental pollution outcomes arise, eco-friendly and negative emission technologies emerge. METHODS: In this scenario, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-accumulating microorganisms play an important role in the transition from the petrochemical-based non-biodegradable polymer to renewable, eco-friendly, and biocompatible materials. More specifically, CO2 can be converted to biopolymers through photosynthesis by cyanobacteria and algae, posing as a promising technology for renewable material, CO2, and petroleum-dependence mitigations. However, although many microorganisms can accumulate PHA intracellularly, limitations persist, such as the elevated cost and limited market availability. RESULTS: Herein is presented a patent-based mapping on technological trends of PHAs production, including its production by microalgae and cyanobacteria using the Questel Orbit Intelligence software (version 1.9.8) in complement with the Espacenet Patent Search database. CONCLUSION: The inquiry on PHAs retrieved 34,243 patents filed since 1912, whereas 156 are related to their specific production by photosynthetic microorganisms, evidencing a prospective market for intellectual property.

Adherence to the Planetary Health Diet Index and Obesity Indicators in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

The EAT-Lancet Commission has proposed a model diet to improve the health of human beings and that of the planet. Recently, we proposed the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) to assess adherence of the population to this model diet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate adherence to the PHDI and obesity outcomes using baseline data from 14,515 participants in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). The dietary data were assessed using a 114-item FFQ. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were both used continuously and categorized. Linear and multinomial regression models adjusted for potential confounding factors were performed to assess the relationship between adherence to PHDI and outcomes. An inverse association was observed between adherence to PHDI and obesity indicators. Individuals with high adherence to the PHDI had lower BMI (ß-0.50 95% CI-0.73:-0.27) and WC (ß-1.70 95% CI-2.28:-1.12) values. They were also 24% less likely to be overweight (OR 0.76 95% CI 0.67:0.85) or obese (OR 0.76 95% CI 0.65:0.88), and they were 14% and 27% less likely to have increased WC (OR 0.86 95% CI 0.75:0.98) or substantially increased WC (OR 0.73 95% CI 0.64:0.83) than those with lower adherence. Our results showed that higher adherence to the PHDI may decrease obesity indicators.

Light excess stimulates Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate yield in a mangrove-isolated strain of Synechocystis sp.

Poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a biodegradable biopolymer that may replace fossil-based plastics reducing its negative environmental impact. One highly sustainable strategy to produce these biopolymers is the exploitation of photosynthetic microorganisms that use sunlight and CO2 to produce biomass and subsequently, PHB. Exploring environmental biological diversity is a powerful tool to find resilient microorganisms potentially exploitable to produce bioproducts. In this work, a cyanobacterium (Synechocystis sp.) isolated from a contaminated area close to an important industrial complex was shown to produce PHB under different culture conditions. Carbon, nutrients supply and light intensity impact on biomass and PHB productivity were assessed, showing that the highest yield of PHB achieved was 241 mg L-1 (31%dcw) under high light intensity. Remarkably this condition not only stimulated PHB accumulation by 70% compared to other conditions tested but also high cellular duplication rate, maximizing the potential of this strain for PHB production.

Ostomy time and nutrition status were associated on quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer / Tempo de estomia e estado nutricional são associados com a qualidade de vida em pacientes com câncer colorretal

ABSTRACT Introduction: Colorectal cancer frequency increases each year and consequently the number of ostomies, a procedure that helps in the treatment of colorectal cancer but has an impact on quality of life. Studies evaluating the impact of ostomy time and nutritional status on the quality of life of colostomized patients with colorectal cancer are scarce in the literature. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association ostomy time and nutritional status on quality of life in colostomized colorectal cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 97 colostomized patients due to colorectal cancer from a reference service. Socioeconomic, demographic, clinical data were obtained. European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires EORTC-QLQ30 and EORTC-QLQ-CR29 were used to analyse the quality of life. Statistical significance analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon's non-parametric or Chi-Square test. Results: Of the 97 individuals, 50.5% were female, 64.9% were over 60 years old, 67.4% have ostomy for less than 1 year. Half of the patients had some nutritional status inadequacy: 24.2% were malnourished, 17.9% overweight and 8.4% obese. Shorter ostomy time was associated with role function, blood or mucus in stools, stoma care problems and men's sexual interest, while malnutrition was associated with concern about weight. Conclusions: Ostomy time and nutrition status were associated with quality of life in some domains, such as role function, insomnia, appetite loss, abdominal pain, buttock pain, bloating, hair loss, taste loss have an impact together with the nutritional status on the quality of life in patients colostomized colorectal cancer.

RESUMO Introdução: A frequência do câncer colorretal aumenta a cada ano e, consequentemente, aumenta o número de estomias, procedimento que auxilia no tratamento do câncer colorretal, porém impacta na qualidade de vida. Estudos que avaliam o impacto do tempo de estomia e do estado nutricional na qualidade de vida de pacientes colostomizados com câncer colorretal são escassos na literatura. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a associação entre tempo de estomia e estado nutricional e qualidade de vida em pacientes colostomizados por câncer colorretal. Métodos: Participaram deste estudo transversal 97 pacientes colostomizados por câncer colorretal de um serviço de referência. Dados socioeconômicos, demográficos e clínicos foram obtidos. Os questionários da Organização Europeia para Pesquisa e Tratamento do Câncer EORTC-QLQ30 e EORTC-QLQ-CR29 foram utilizados para analisar a qualidade de vida. A análise de significância estatística foi realizada usando o teste não paramétrico Wilcoxon ou teste Qui-Quadrado. Resultados: Dos 97 indivíduos, 50.,5% eram do sexo feminino, 64.,9% tinham mais de 60 anos, 67.,4% com estomia há menos de 1 ano. Metade dos pacientes apresentava inadequação do estado nutricional: 24.,2% estavam desnutridos, 17.,9% sobrepeso e 8,4% obesos. O menor tempo de estomia foi associado ao desempenho funcional, sangue ou muco nas fezes, problemas em cuidar da estomia e interesse sexual dos homens, enquanto a desnutrição foi associada à preocupação com o peso. Conclusão: A cirurgia de estomia esteve associada à qualidade de vida em alguns domínios, como desempenho funcional, insônia, perda de apetite, dor abdominal, dor nas nádegas, perda de cabelo, perda do paladar, e tem um impacto junto ao estado nutricional da qualidade de vida em pacientes colostomizados por câncer colorretal.

Failure to achieve proteic goals in non-critical patients increases risk for death: Old discussion, ongoing problem.

OBJECTIVES: Providing adequate nutritional support for hospitalized patients continues to be a challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of energy and protein provision with in-hospital mortality in non-critically ill patients. METHODS: A retrospective study (2014-2016) was performed with all patients >18 y of age who were admitted to medical and surgical clinic wards and given exclusive enteral therapy. The mean of energy and protein was estimated per day and per kilogram of body mass from the enteral prescription data, over the entire period of hospitalization. A prescription mean was considered hypocaloric or hypoproteic at <20 kcal · kg · d-1 or <0.8 g · kg · d-1, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 240 patients, 58.3% were >60 y of age and 60% were men. The frequencies of in-hospital mortality (19.2%) and malnutrition (78.8%) were high. The means of protein (0.75 g· kg· d-1) and energy (17.60 kcal · kg · d-1) were below the general recommendations and 37.8% did not reach a mean of 20 kcal · kg · d-1 during the entire hospitalization period. Hypocaloric (hazard ratio [HR], 5.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59-21.04) and hypoproteic nutrition (HR, 3.69; 95% CI, 1.25-10.93) were predictors of all-cause in-hospital mortality in adjusted multivariate models. However, when we adjusted the hypoprotein nutrition by energy (non-protein calories to nitrogen ratio), hypoprotein nutrition seems to maintain the increased risk for death (HR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.04-9.53). CONCLUSIONS: Hypoproteic nutrition appears to be more significant than hypocaloric nutrition in predicting all-cause in-hospital mortality. Protocols should be implemented to ensure that target caloric and protein levels are reached as quickly as possible to optimize patient survival.

Increased P3HB Accumulation Capacity of Methylorubrum sp. in Response to Discontinuous Methanol Addition.

An alternative for non-biodegradable oil-based plastics has been the focus of many researchers throughout the years. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are potential substitutes due to their biodegradable characteristic and diversity of monomers that allow different biopolymer compositions and physical-chemical properties suitable for a variety of applications. The most well-known biopolymer from this class, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB), is already produced industrially, but its final price cannot compete with the oil-based plastics. As a low-volume high-value bioproduct, P3HB must be produced through a cheap and abundant feedstock, with high productivity and a feasible purity process in order to become an economically attractive bioproduct. In this scenario, we report a methylotrophic strain isolated from an estuarine contaminated site identified as Methylorubrum sp. highly tolerant to methanol and with great accumulation capacity of 60% (CDW) in 48 h through a simple strategy of batch fermentation with discontinuous methanol addition that could help lower P3HB's processing costs and final price.

Association between perceived neighbourhood characteristics, physical activity and diet quality: results of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

BACKGROUND: The study explores associations between perceived neighbourhood characteristics, physical activity and diet quality, which in Latin America and Brazil have been scarcely studied and with inconsistent results. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 14,749 individuals who participated in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto, ELSA-Brasil) baseline. The study included current and retired civil servants, aged between 35 and 74 years, from universities and research institutes in six Brazilian states. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) long form was used to characterize physical activity during leisure time and commuting; additional questions assessed how often fruit and vegetables were consumed, as a proxy for diet quality. Neighbourhood characteristics were evaluated by the "Walking Environment" and "Availability of Healthy Foods" scales originally used in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Associations were examined using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Perceiving a more walkable neighbourhood was positively associated with engaging in leisure time physical activity and doing so for longer weekly. Compared with those who saw their neighbourhood as less walkable, those who perceived it as more walkable had 1.69 (95 % CI 1.57-1.83) and 1.39 (1.28-1.52) greater odds of engaging in leisure time physical activity for more than 150 min/week or up to 150 min/week (vs. none), respectively. Perceiving a more walkable neighbourhood was also positively associated with transport-related physical activity. The same pattern was observed for diet: compared with participants who perceived healthy foods as less available in their neighbourhood, those who saw them as more available had odds 1.48 greater (1.31-1.66) of eating fruits, and 1.47 greater (1.30-1.66) of eating vegetables, more than once per day. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived walkability and neighbourhood availability of healthy food were independently associated with the practice of physical activity and diet quality, respectively, underlining the importance of neighbourhood-level public policies to changing and maintaining health-related habits.

[Validity of indicators on physical activity and sedentary behavior from the Brazilian National School-Based Health Survey among adolescents in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Validade de indicadores de atividade física e comportamento sedentário da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar entre adolescentes do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

This study evaluated the relative validity of physical activity indicators from the questionnaire used in the Brazilian National School-Based Health Survey (PeNSE) in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, based on a sample of 174 students. The following indicators of weekly physical activity were evaluated: ACTIVE-300MIN (≥ 300 minutes/week); ACTIVE-150MIN (≥ 150 minutes), INACTIVE (no physical activity). Additionally, indicators of sedentary behavior were also assessed, as daily screen time (TV, videogames, and computer). The results from the questionnaire were compared with three 24-hour recalls. The results of ACTIVE-300MIN, ACTIVE-150MIN, and INACTIVE generated by PeNSE showed high accuracy. These indicators performed better than those of sedentary behavior in relation to frequency estimates as well as sensitivity, specificity, and correct classification rate. The indicators of physical activity from PeNSE showed satisfactory relative validity.