GISSA intelligent chatbot experience - How effective was the interaction between pregnant women and a chatbot during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The COVID-19 increased the importance of patient's continuous assessment of health outcomes. In 2021 WHO proposed some Digital Health guidelines arguing that health systems should consider the use of emergent technologies in health care services. This health environment is providing intelligent systems to guide patients in self-care. One example of that is the chatbot which is, a conversational agent that have been assuming an important role in how to improve health knowledge, reducing the incidence of diseases and avoiding new ones. Pregnant women are a profile where the self-care referred before is a critical issue. Prenatal services reveal to be an important part of the care process where most complications for that women happen. This article aims to comprehend how pregnant women interact with a conversational agent and how relevant this Digital Health tool is for primary health care services. The study presents the process and results of a systematic literature review about the user experience with of a chatbot in pregnant women self-care context; a summary of GISSA intelligent chatbot development including the use of technologies such as DialogFlow; and the process and results of GISSA usability evaluation in research field. Results show that a small amount of articles was gathered and the chatbot as a tool is a relevant opportunity for primary care health services in Brasil.

The Toxic Effects of Glyphosate, Chlorpyrifos, Abamectin, and 2,4-D on Animal Models: A Systematic Review of Brazilian Studies.

Brazil is a global agricultural commodity producer and the largest consumer of pesticides. Pesticide use in Brazil comprised 549 280 tons in 2018. In the country, soybean, corn, and sugar cane are extensively produced, which are the most pesticides demanding crops. In the last years, the records of new pesticides were the highest in the historical series. They can persist in soil or water, accumulate in organisms, and contaminate workers and the general population through the air, water, or food. This review aimed to gather toxicological data obtained by animal models exposed to 4 pesticides: glyphosate, chlorpyrifos, abamectin, and 2,4-D. An additional goal was to compose an overview of how this subject has been approached, surveying which research groups are working on this field, where they are located, and relations with pesticides used in those regions. We collected the papers from the platforms PubMed, Scopus, Scielo, and Web of Science, performed in Brazil from 2014 to 2019. After two-step blind selection using the software Rayyan QCRI by different authors, 67 studies were selected to extract data. We observed that research is more concentrated in the South region, followed by the Southeast and Midwest, with 43%, 32%, and 23% of the studies, respectively. The prevalent institutions are from the states of Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, and Goiás. The effects on a variety of biomarkers help predict the potential risks to humans and nontarget organisms. The prevalent animal model was fish (36%). Overall, the main toxic effects evaluated were mortality, abnormalities in the blood cells, developmental abnormalities, and behavior alterations. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:507-520. © 2020 SETAC.

From social interaction to autonomy: ludic experiences in aquatic environment for children with autism spectrum disorder / Da interação social à autonomia: vivências lúdicas no meio líquido para crianças com transtorno do espectro autista

ABSTRACT The present study aimed at assessing ludic experiences in aquatic environment facilitated by a non-governmental organization in Florianópolis, state of Santa Catarina, for the social interaction of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This is a qualitative research based on three instruments: systematic observation, participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Five children with ASD, a Physical Education teacher, a psychologist, five Physiotherapy students and four family members participated in the study. The results showed that the aspects intrinsic to the ludic experiences worked as facilitators of social interaction between the children with ASD and the volunteers; three of these children showed interest to get involved and take part in games through social interaction. In conclusion, the ludic experiences enabled the children to cultivate verbal or gestural communication skills and build ties of trust with the volunteers and other children.

RESUMO Este estudo analisou o papel de vivências lúdicas no meio líquido facilitadas por uma ONG de Florianópolis (SC) para a interação social de crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA). Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, desenvolvida por meio de três instrumentos de pesquisa de campo: a observação sistemática e a participante e as entrevistas semiestruturadas. Participaram cinco crianças com TEA, sete profissionais (uma profissional da educação física, uma psicóloga, e cinco estudantes de fisioterapia) e quatro familiares. Dentre os resultados estão: aspectos intrínsecos à própria formatação das vivências lúdicas atuaram como facilitadoras de momentos de interação social entre as crianças com TEA e os voluntários, e três dessas crianças demonstraram interesse em envolver-se e criar brincadeiras, por interação social. Concluindo-se que as vivências lúdicas possibilitam às crianças cultivar habilidades de comunicação verbal ou gestual e criar laços de confiança com os voluntários e demais crianças.

A novel Sporothrix brasiliensis genomic variant in Midwestern Brazil: evidence for an older and wider sporotrichosis epidemic.

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous infection caused by fungi from the genus Sporothrix. It is transmitted by inoculation of infective particles found in plant-contaminated material or diseased animals, characterizing the classic sapronotic and emerging zoonotic transmission, respectively. Since 1998, southeastern Brazil has experienced a zoonotic sporotrichosis epidemic caused by S. brasiliensis, centred in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Our observation of feline sporotrichosis cases in Brasília (Midwestern Brazil), around 900 km away from Rio de Janeiro, led us to question whether the epidemic caused by S. brasiliensis has spread from the epicentre in Rio de Janeiro, emerged independently in the two locations, or if the disease has been present and unrecognized in Midwestern Brazil. A retrospective analysis of 91 human and 4 animal cases from Brasília, ranging from 1993 to 2018, suggests the occurrence of both sapronotic and zoonotic transmission. Molecular typing of the calmodulin locus identified S. schenckii as the agent in two animals and all seven human patients from which we were able to recover clinical isolates. In two other animals, the disease was caused by S. brasiliensis. Whole-genome sequence typing of seven Sporothrix spp. strains from Brasília and Rio de Janeiro suggests that S. brasiliensis isolates from Brasília are genetically distinct from those obtained at the epicentre of the outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, both in phylogenomic and population genomic analyses. The two S. brasiliensis populations seem to have separated between 2.2 and 3.1 million years ago, indicating independent outbreaks or that the zoonotic S. brasiliensis outbreak might have started earlier and be more widespread in South America than previously recognized.

The toxic effects of glyphosate, chlorpyrifos, abamectin, and 2,4‐D on animal models: a systematic review of brazilian studies

Brazil is a global agricultural commodity producer and the largest consumer of pesticides. Intern pesticide use comprised 549,280 thousand tons in 2018. In the country, soybean, corn, and sugar cane are extensively produced, which are the most pesticides demanding crops. In the last years, the records of new pesticides were the highest in the historical series. They can persist in soil or water, accumulate in organisms, and contaminate workers and the general population through the air, water, or food. This review aimed to gather toxicological data obtained by animal models exposed to four pesticides: glyphosate, chlorpyrifos, abamectin, and 2,4‐D. Besides, to compose an overview of how this subject has been approached, surveying which research groups are working on this field, where they are located and relations with pesticides used in those regions. We collected the papers from the platforms PubMed, Scopus, Scielo, and Web of Science, performed in Brazil from 2014 to 2019. After two‐step blind selection using the software Rayyan QCRI by different authors, 67 studies were selected to extract data. We observed that research is more concentrated in the South region, followed by the Southeast and Midwest, with 43, 32, and 23% of the studies, respectively. The prevalent institutions are from the states of Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, and Goiás. The effects on a variety of biomarkers help predict the potential risks in humans and non‐target organisms. The prevalent animal model was fish (36%). Overall, the main toxic effects evaluated were mortality, abnormalities in the blood cells, developmental abnormalities, and behavior alterations.

The synthetic peptide LyeTxI-b derived from Lycosa erythrognatha spider venom is cytotoxic to U-87 MG glioblastoma cells.

Antimicrobial peptides present a broad spectrum of therapeutic applications, including their use as anticancer peptides. These peptides have as target microbial, normal, and cancerous cells. The oncological properties of these peptides may occur by membranolytic mechanisms or non-membranolytics. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time the cytotoxic effects of the cationic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptide LyeTx I-b on glioblastoma lineage U87-MG. The anticancer property of this peptide was associated with a membranolytic mechanism. Loss of membrane integrity occurred after incubation with the peptide for 15 min, as shown by trypan blue uptake, reduction of calcein-AM conversion, and LDH release. Morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy demonstrated disruption of the plasma membrane from cells treated with LyeTx I-b, including the formation of holes or pores. Transmission electron microscopy analyses showed swollen nuclei with mild DNA condensation, cell volume increase with an electron-lucent cytoplasm and organelle vacuolization, but without the rupture of nuclear or plasmatic membranes. Morphometric analyses revealed a high percentage of cells in necroptosis stages, followed by necrosis and apoptosis at lower levels. Necrostatin-1, a known inhibitor of necroptosis, partially protected the cells from the toxicity of the peptide in a concentration-dependent manner. Imaging flow cytometry confirmed that 59% of the cells underwent necroptosis after 3-h incubation with the peptide. It is noteworthy that LyeTx I-b showed only mild cytotoxicity against normal fibroblasts of human and monkey cell lines and low hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes. All data together point out the anticancer potential of this peptide.

Novel nitroaromatic compound activates autophagy and apoptosis pathways in HL60 cells.

N-(2-butanoyloxyethyl)-4-(chloromethyl)-3-nitrobenzamide (NBCN) is a nitroaromatic bioreducible compound with cytotoxic effects in cancer cell lines. The aim of this work was to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in cell death promoted by NBCN in HL60 cells. We observed that NBCN treatment increased intracellular ROS and reduced mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨm). NBCN treatment also induced morphological changes, phosphatidylserine exposure, cell cycle arrest in G2/M-phase, DNA condensation and fragmentation, but it did not show cytotoxic effects on normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). NBCN-induced caspase 3- and 9-dependent DNA fragmentation, which was blocked by pretreatment with the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that NBCN also increased of the number of autophagic vesicles in HL60 cells, which was not observed when cells were pre-treated with bafilomycin A1. Taken together, these results indicate that NBCN triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and led to the onset of autophagic cell death, which contributed to its cytotoxic effects.

Levantamento dos grupos de pesquisa sobre lazer cadastrados na plataforma lattes: uma perspectiva atual sobre o estado da arte no contexto da educação física / Survey of research groups about leisure registered in lattes platform: a current perspective on the state of art in physical education context

Esta pesquisa caracteriza-se como descritivo-exploratória de levantamento, com abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa dos dados e tem como objetivo apresentar e discutir sobre a situação atual dos grupos de pesquisa cadastrados na Plataforma Lattes, no site do CNPq, relacionados ao estudo do lazer na área da Educação Física. Verificou-se que nos últimos dez anos, ocorreu um aumento considerável no número de grupos envolvidos diretamente com pesquisas sobre lazer, assim como uma concentração destes na região Sudeste do país. Dentre as linhas de pesquisa observou-se maior quantidade relacionada à Gestão, políticas públicas e espaços e aos Aspectos socioculturais do lazer. Pode-se concluir que os grupos de pesquisa em lazer no Brasil vêm crescendo constantemente, apontando, neste contexto, interesses diversos de vários perfis de pesquisadores, possuindo amplo potencial de desenvolvimento em território nacional.

This research is characterized as descriptive-exploratory of survey, using a quantitative and qualitative approach of data and aims to present and discuss the current situation of research groups registered in the Lattes Platform, on CNPq website, related to the study of leisure in the area of Physical Education. It was possible to verify that in the last ten years, there was a considerable increase in the number of groups directly involved with research on leisure activities, as well as a concentration of same in southeastern region of the country. It was observed that the largest quantity is related to Management, public policies and Places and the socio-cultural aspects of leisure. It can be concluded that leisure research groups in Brazil are constantly growing, pointing out, in this context, different interests and diversed profiles of researchers, with vast potential for development in the national territory.

Purification and Characterization of Xylanases from the Fungus Chrysoporthe cubensis for Production of Xylooligosaccharides and Fermentable Sugars.

Xylanases from the pathogen fungus Chrysoporthe cubensis were produced under solid state fermentation (SSF) using wheat bran as carbon source. The enzymatic extracts were submitted to ion exchange (Q Sepharose) and gel filtration chromatography methods (Sephadex S-200) for purification. The xylanases were divided into three groups: P1 showed better performance at 60 °C and pH 4.0, P2 at 55 °C and pH 3.0, and P3 at 80 °C and pH 3.0. Oat spelt xylan was the best substrate hydrolyzed by P1 and P3, while beechwood xylan was better degraded by P2. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and p-nitrophenyl-ß-D-xylopyranoside (p-NPßXyl) were not hydrolyzed by any of the xylanases. The K M' or K M values, using oat spelt xylan as substrate, were 2.65 mg/mL for P1, 1.81 mg/mL for P2, and 1.18 mg/mL for P3. Xylobiose and xylotriose were the main xylooligosaccharides of oat spelt xylan degradation, indicating that the xylanases act as endo-ß-1,4-xylanases. Xylanases also proved to be efficient for hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse when used as supplement of a commercial cocktail due to the increase of the reducing sugar release.