Extended high-frequency hearing loss among Afro-Colombian adolescents from a rural area in Colombia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Research trends concerning hearing loss within teen rural populations are limited and current evidence suggests that extended high-frequency audiometry can be a sensitive tool to detect subclinical hearing loss. Moreover, current research emphasises the importance of representing different ethnic populations in science. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of acquired hearing loss through conventional pure-tone (0.25-8 kHz) and extended high frequency (EHF) (9-20 kHz) audiometry in Afro-Colombian adolescents from a rural area in Colombia. DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: 230 Afro-Colombian adolescents aged 13-17 years who attended high school in a rural population from Cartagena, Colombia. INTERVENTIONS: Otoscopic examination, conventional (0.25-8 kHz) and EHF (9-20 kHz) audiometry tests were performed during February-March 2021. Sociodemographic and associated factor questionnaires were also applied to assess probable factors associated with EHF hearing loss. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of acquired hearing loss using conventional and EHF audiometry, and factors associated with hearing loss. RESULTS: Of 230 adolescents who met the eligibility criteria, 133 (57.82%) were female. The mean age was 15.22 years (SD: 1.62). The prevalence of hearing loss in at least one ear assessed with conventional audiometry was 21.30% and with EHF audiometry 14.78%. The main abnormal otoscopic findings included: neotympanum (1.30%), myringosclerosis (0.87%) and monomeric scars (0.43%). Factors associated with a higher probability of EHF hearing loss found through logistic regression were older age (prevalence ratio (PR): 1.45; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.80), attending the 'Picó' four or more times a month (PR: 6.63; 95% CI 2.16 to 20.30), attending bars more than three times a month (PR: 1.14; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.59) and self-reported hearing difficulties (PR: 1.24; 95% CI 1.22 to 4.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that acquired hearing loss is already widespread among this young rural population.

Unlocking the potential of Eichhornia crassipes for wastewater treatment: phytoremediation of aquatic pollutants, a strategy for advancing Sustainable Development Goal-06 clean water.

The 2030 Agenda, established in 2015, contains seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at addressing global challenges. SDG-06, focused on clean water, drives the increase in basic sanitation coverage, the management of wastewater discharges, and water quality. Wastewater treatment could contribute to achieving 11 of the 17 SDGs. For this purpose, phytoremediation is a low-cost and adaptable alternative to the reduction and control of aquatic pollutants. The objective of this study is to highlight the role of macrophytes in the removal and degradation of these compounds, focusing on Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, commonly known as water hyacinth. The reported values indicate that this plant has a removal capacity of over 70% for metals such as copper, aluminum, lead, mercury, cadmium, and metalloids such as arsenic. Additionally, it significantly improves water quality parameters such as turbidity, suspended solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, and color. It also reduces the presence of phosphates, and nitrogen compounds to values below 50%. It also plays a significant role in the removal of organic contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and dyes. This study describes several valuable by-products from the biomass of the water hyacinth, including animal and fish feed, energy generation (such as briquettes), ethanol, biogas, and composting. According to the analysis carried out, E. crassipes has a great capacity for phytoremediation, which makes it a viable solution for wastewater management, with great potential for water ecosystem restoration.

Priapismo y leucemia mieloide crónica en adolescente. Debut poco frecuente. Reporte de caso / Priapism and chronic myeloid leukemia in an adolescent. Rare debut presentation. A case report

El priapismo es una erección dolorosa y persistente acompañada o no de estímulo sexual. Una causa poco frecuente de esta anormalidad es la leucemia mieloide crónica. Se han reportado pocos casos de priapismo como manifestación inicial de una leucemia de este tipo en pacientes adolescentes. A continuación, se informa el caso de un paciente de 16 años de edad que presentó priapismo como manifestación inicial de una leucemia mieloide crónica. Durante su evolución, no se realizó aspiración de los cuerpos cavernosos. Se inició tratamiento hematológico específico y, ante la persistencia del priapismo, fue necesario realizar un shunt de cuerpos cavernosos en dos ocasiones, tratamiento a pesar del cual existen altas probabilidades de secuelas.

Priapism is a painful and persistent erection, with or without sexual stimulation. A rare cause of such abnormality is chronic myeloid leukemia. Few cases of priapism as an initial manifestation of this type of leukemia have been reported in adolescent patients. Here we describe the case of a 16-year-old patient who presented with priapism as the initial manifestation of chronic myeloid leukemia. No cavernosal aspiration was performed. A specific hematological treatment was started and, given the persistence of priapism, the patient required 2 corpora cavernosa shunt procedures; despite this treatment, there is a high probability of sequelae.

Priapism and chronic myeloid leukemia in an adolescent. Rare debut presentation. A case report. / Priapismo y leucemia mieloide crónica en adolescente. Debut poco frecuente. Reporte de caso.

Priapism is a painful and persistent erection, with or without sexual stimulation. A rare cause of such abnormality is chronic myeloid leukemia. Few cases of priapism as an initial manifestation of this type of leukemia have been reported in adolescent patients. Here we describe the case of a 16-year-old patient who presented with priapism as the initial manifestation of chronic myeloid leukemia. No cavernosal aspiration was performed. A specific hematological treatment was started and, given the persistence of priapism, the patient required 2 corpora cavernosa shunt procedures; despite this treatment, there is a high probability of sequelae.

El priapismo es una erección dolorosa y persistente acompañada o no de estímulo sexual. Una causa poco frecuente de esta anormalidad es la leucemia mieloide crónica. Se han reportado pocos casos de priapismo como manifestación inicial de una leucemia de este tipo en pacientes adolescentes. A continuación, se informa el caso de un paciente de 16 años de edad que presentó priapismo como manifestación inicial de una leucemia mieloide crónica. Durante su evolución, no se realizó aspiración de los cuerpos cavernosos. Se inició tratamiento hematológico específico y, ante la persistencia del priapismo, fue necesario realizar un shunt de cuerpos cavernosos en dos ocasiones, tratamiento a pesar del cual existen altas probabilidades de secuelas.

Passalidae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea) from the Caribbean coast of Colombia: synopsis, key, and new species description.

Bess beetles (Passalidae) are a subsocial family of Coleoptera with approximately 1000 known species of saproxylophagous diet and pantropical distribution, with few extratropical species. Because of their high levels of endemism (especially in mountains), feeding habits, and complex subsociability; Passalidae is considered an excellent biological subject for taxonomic, biogeographical, and evolutionary studies. Colombia is the richest country with more than 118 recorded species of Passalidae, most of the species being related to humid and mountain areas. Colombia's Caribbean region constitutes the northern portion of the country, extending for more than 130,000 km2 and includes four of the eight biogeographical provinces of Colombia. Since the 2000s this region has been the subject of systematic surveys for Passalidae; as a result, 18 passalid species have been recorded to date. After new explorations and review of entomological collections, the knowledge of the passalid fauna for the region is updated, recording 28 species (8 new records, 2 new species) for which are provided species diagnoses, photographs, and a taxonomic key. The dry plain, characteristic of the lowlands, is dominated by widely distributed species such as Passaluspunctiger and Passalusinterstitialis, while the mountainous systems provide species of more restricted distributions, some of them endemic to the Colombian Caribbean.

Estenose de bioprótese valvar aórtica de rápida evolução para disfunção biventricular grave: um desafio diagnóstico e terapêutico / Bioprosthetic aortic valve stenosis that rapidly progresses to severe biventricular dysfunction: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge

INTRODUÇÃO: As próteses valvares biológicas apresentam menor durabilidade, especialmente em crianças e jovens, devido à intensa evolução com calcificação¹ ². DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: I.O.S.V, homem, portador de valva aórtica bivalvular, estenose aórtica subvalvar e coarctação de aorta. Aos 2 anos, realizou istmoplastia e ressecção de membrana subvalvar; aos 17 anos, notados aneurisma da raiz da aorta (49mm) ascendente (55mm) com hipoplasia do arco transverso, indicada Bentall de Bono com bioprótese e implante de tubo em arco distal. Aos 20 anos (abril/2022), assintomático, ecocardiograma (ECO): HVE discreta, função sistólica preservada, folheto anterior da prótese com redução importante de mobilidade, GM 18mmHg. Assintomático em fevereiro/2023, ECO: dilatação biatrial moderada, biventricular discreta e disfunção sistólica (FAC 33%, TAPSE 12mm, FEVE 47%), folheto anterior com redução importante da mobilidade, GM 35mmHg, iniciado terapia para disfunção ventricular. Após 30 dias evoluiu com congestão, dispneia, tosse com hemoptóicos e febre, internado em hospital externo recebeu tratamento para pneumonia (PAC) e IC, sem melhora clínica. Chegou transferido em mau estado geral, febril, dispneico, hipervolêmico. AngioTC de tórax negativa para TEP, com consolidação pulmonar bibasal. ECO transesofágico: dilatação e disfunção biventricular importante (FAC 17%, TAPSE 13mm, FEVE 27%), prótese valvar com folhetos calcificados, não podendo descartar trombo ou endocardite (EI), GM 50 mmHg, AV 0,6cm² e indexada 0,26 cm²/m². Evoluiu com choque circulatório e, mediante suspeita de EI, foi submetido à cirurgia de urgência com novo Bentall de Bono e prótese mecânica. Evoluiu com melhora clínica gradual, ECO: FEVE 37%, prótese normofuncionante. Anatomopatológico da prótese revelou intensa fibrose e calcificação, sem trombo/EI, cultura da peça sem crescimento bacteriano. CONCLUSÃO: Trata-se de um caso complexo, de rápida evolução do grau de estenose, com progressão para disfunção biventricular grave, instabilidade hemodinâmica e necessidade de correção cirúrgica de urgência. O diagnóstico de PAC foi viés, gerando a suspeita de EI como pos.

Studies of Endocrine Disruptors: Nonylphenol and Isomers in Biological Models.

Certain emerging pollutants are among the most widely used chemicals globally, causing widespread concern in relation to their use in products devoted to cleaniness and asepsis. Nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPEOn) is one such contaminant, along with its degradation product, nonylphenol, an active ingredient presents in nonionic surfactants used as herbicides, cosmetics, paints, plastics, disinfectants, and detergents. These chemicals and their metabolites are commonly found in environmental matrices. Nonylphenol and NPEOn, used, are particularly concerning, given their role as endocrine disruptors chemical and possible neurotoxic effects recorded in several biological models, primarily aquatic organisms. Limiting and detecting these compounds remain of paramount importance. The objective of the present review was to evaluate the toxic effects of nonylphenol and NPEOn in different biological models. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1439-1450. © 2023 SETAC.

L-Lysine-Coated Magnetic Core-Shell Nanoparticles for the Removal of Acetylsalicylic Acid from Aqueous Solutions.

Nanotechnologies based on magnetic materials have been successfully used as efficient and reusable strategies to remove pharmaceutical residuals from water. This paper focuses on the fabrication, characterization, and application of ferrite-based magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with L-lysine as potential nanoadsorbents to remove acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) from water. The proposed nanomaterials are composed of highly magnetic and chemically stable core-shell nanoparticles covered with an adsorptive layer of L-lysine (CoFe2O4-γ-Fe2O3-Lys). The nanoadsorbents were elaborated using the coprecipitation method in an alkaline medium, leading to nanoparticles with two different mean sizes (13.5 nm and 8.5 nm). The samples were characterized by XRD, TEM, FTIR, XPS, Zetametry, BET, and SQUID magnetometry. The influence of time, pH, and pollutant concentration was evaluated from batch studies using 1.33 g/L of the nanoadsorbents. The Freundlich isotherm best adjusted the adsorption data. The adsorption process exhibited a pseudo-second-order kinetic behavior. The optimal pH for adsorption was around 4-6, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 16.4 mg/g after 150 min of contact time. Regeneration tests also showed that the proposed nanomaterials are reusable. The set of results proved that the nanoadsorbents can be potentially used to remove ASA from water and provide relevant information for their application in large-scale designs.

Our Voice in a rural community: empowering Colombian adolescents to advocate for school community well-being through citizen science.

BACKGROUND: Santa Ana is home to an Afro-descendant rural population of the island of Barú in Cartagena, Colombia. While a popular area for tourism, Santa Ana's population is affected by multidimensional poverty, precarious work conditions, homelessness, broken streets and sewer systems, limited quality education, and a lack of recreation and sport spaces. While Santa Ana's Community Action Board aims to unify efforts and resources to solve these problems, the state's capacity to meet the requirements of the Board is limited. METHODS: We evaluated the relationship between healthy lifestyles and characteristics of Santa Ana's school using the Our Voice Citizen Science Research Method. This systemic approach combines information and communication technologies with group facilitation to empower adolescents to: 1) collect and discuss data about factors in their local environments that facilitate or hinder well-being within their school community; 2) identify relevant local stakeholders who could help to address the issues identified; and 3) advocate collectively for local improvements to support increased well-being at a community level. RESULTS: Eleven citizen scientists ages 13 to 17 years from the science club of Institución Educativa Santa Ana were recruited and together conducted 11 walks within the school to collect data about the facilitators and barriers to student well-being. They identified barriers to well-being related to school infrastructure, furniture, bathrooms, and sense of belonging. They then advocated with school stakeholders and reached agreements on concrete actions to address identified barriers, including fostering a culture among students of caring for school property and presenting their findings to the community action board. This methodology allowed the community to realize how students can become agents of change and take collective action when motivated by solution-oriented methodologies such as Our Voice. Project ripple effects, including greater empowerment and participation in collective actions by students, also were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the importance of the school's built environment in the well-being of students in rural areas. The Our Voice method provided the opportunity to inform school-based interventions, and promoted ripple effects that expanded productive dialogue to the community level and generated systemic actions involving actors outside of the school community.

Análise dos resultados da cirurgia do cone na correção da Anomalia de Ebstein / Analysis of the results of cone surgery in the correction of Ebstein Anomaly

INTRODUÇÃO E/OU FUNDAMENTOS: A anomalia de Ebstein é caracterizada por uma formação anormal dos folhetos da valva tricúspide, sendo o folheto anterior com origem ao nível anular, largo, enquanto os folhetos septal e posterior estão dispostos ao longo do ápice do ventrículo direito e frequente aderidos ao endocárdio. MÉTODOS: Análise de dados de 10 pacientes, entre sete à quarenta e dois anos de idade, sexo feminino e masculino, diagnosticados com Anomalia de Ebstein, que foram submetidos à Cirurgia do Cone, desde 2017 à 2022. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: Conforme a Tabela 1 evidencia, em relação à função ventricular analisada pelo Ecocardiograma Transtorácico (ECOTT), 30% dos pacientes não apresentaram alteração pós procedimento e 70% apresentaram piora da função ventricular. A Insuficiência Tricúspide (IT) apresentou melhora importante, 90% dos pacientes apresentavam IT importante pré procedimento, e apenas 20% pós correção cirúrgica. Em relação à Classe Funcional (CF) de acordo com os critérios da New York Heart Association, 30% dos pacientes se encontravam em CF III pré procedimento, sendo que após a Cirurgia do Cone nenhum paciente se encontrava em tal classe funcional. Em relação ao ritmo cardíaco, 30% dos pacientes possuíam arritmias pré procedimento (Wolf Parkinson White, Ritmo Idioventricular Acelerado e Taquicardia por reentrada átrio ventricular), com 100% de retorno ao ritmo sinusal no pós operatório. Pelos resultados analisados, observamos que a função ventricular não impactou a melhoria da qualidade de vida dos pacientes submetidos à Cirurgia do Cone, uma vez que a própria percepção dos pacientes evidenciou uma melhora de CF. Tal fato pode ser justificado por perda de função ventricular à análise do ECOTT levando em consideração a manipulação cirúrgica e a nova anatomia pós procedimento, uma vez que o novo ventrículo funcional possui uma porção atrializada do ventrículo pré procedimento. A melhora importante do grau da IT talvez seja o grande marcador para a melhora clínica do paciente, sendo muito bem caracterizada no pós operatório. A melhora das arritmias também é um ponto fundamental, uma vez que todos os pacientes que possuíam arritmias e foram submetidos à Cirurgia do Cone, apresentaram retorno ao ritmo sinusal, o que por sua vez, também gera impacto em relação à CF. Dessa forma, pode gerar insuficiência cardíaca ainda no período neonatal, ou o paciente ser oligossintomático. A técnica da Cirurgia do Cone é a mais promissora, uma vez que não é necessário realizar troca valvar tricúspide.

Association between density of convenience and small grocery stores with diet quality in adults living in Mexico City: A cross sectional study.

There is evidence of the association between different retail stores and food consumption, yet research is still limited in low- and medium-income countries, where the context of the food retail environment is different from that observed in high-income countries. Specifically, less is known about how convenience and small grocery stores, which offer products with immediate access, are associated with the diet as a whole. The present study assessed the association between density of convenience and small grocery stores and diet quality in adults from the Mexico City Representative Diabetes Survey 2015. A final sample size of 1,023 adults aged 20-69 years was analyzed. The density of stores was measured using Euclidean buffers within 500 meters of each participant's home. The Mexican Alternate Healthy Eating Index (MxAHEI) was used to assess diet quality. Multivariable Poisson models were used to test the association of convenience and small grocery stores densities with the MxAHEI. Although our results were not statistically significant, we observed a lower diet quality score among adults from Mexico City living in areas with a higher density of small grocery and convenience stores. More research is needed on the influence of environmental food retail on food consumption.

Hybrid magnetic CoFe2O4@γ-Fe2O3@CTAB nanocomposites as efficient and reusable adsorbents for Remazol Brilliant Blue R dye.

The main goal of the present survey was to elaborate, characterize and evaluate the efficiency of ferrite-based nanoparticles modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as potential magnetic nanoadsorbents to remove Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) from water. It is proposed an innovative nanomaterial architecture based on highly magnetic and chemically stable core@shell nanoparticles covered by an adsorptive surface layer of CTAB (CoFe2O4@γ-Fe2O3@CTAB). Samples of two different mean sizes (7.5 and 14.6 nm) were synthesized using a hydrothermal coprecipitation followed by surface treatment and functionalization. Batch tests were performed to evaluate the influence of contact time, temperature, pH, shaking rate, presence of interferents and mean size on the performance of the proposed nanomaterials. The kinetics of the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order model with an equilibrium time of 20 min. The adsorption capacity was estimated by the Langmuir isotherm model and was found to be 56.3 mg/g (smaller size) and 45.6 mg/g (larger size) at pH = 3 and a shaking rate of 400 rpm. The process was spontaneous, exothermic, and showed increased randomness. Sulphate ions negatively impacted the removal of RBBR. The best performance of the nanoadsorbent based on smaller mean sizes can be correlated to its larger surface area. Regeneration and readsorption tests showed that the nanoadsorbents retain more than 80% of their original removal capacity, therefore they can be effectively recycled and reused.

Impacto da intervenção coronária percutânea versus cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio na doença do tronco da coronária esquerda ­ experiência de um único centro / The impact of percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting surgery in left main coronary artery disease ­ a single center experience

Introdução: Embora a cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio seja o tratamento padrão-ouro para a doença estável do tronco da coronária esquerda, a intervenção coronária percutânea mostrou bons resultados, tornando-se alternativa à técnica cirúrgica. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar e comparar uma população do mundo real com doença estável de tronco de coronária esquerda submetida à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio ou à intervenção coronária percutânea, quanto às suas características e aos seus desfechos. Métodos: Duas amostras de pacientes com doença estável do tronco da coronária esquerda, submetidas à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio ou à intervenção coronária percutânea entre janeiro de 2015 e novembro de 2018, foram avaliadas, e seus resultados clínicos foram comparados. As taxas de eventos cumulativos foram baseadas na curva de Kaplan-Meier e comparadas com estatísticas de teste de log-rank. Os valores de p, razão de risco e IC95% foram obtidos por meio de regressões de Cox univariadas. Resultados: Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos submetidos à intervenção coronária percutânea e à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio na composição total de riscos de eventos cardíacos e cerebrovasculares adversos maiores (razão de risco do grupo submetido à intervenção coronária percutânea de 2,066; IC95% 0,876-4,869; p=0,097) ou no risco de morte por causa cardiovascular (razão de risco de 1,117 no grupo submetido à intervenção coronária percutânea; IC95% 0,204-6,109; p=0,898). Entretanto, o grupo classificado como tendo doença coronariana de alta complexidade anatômica apresentou piores resultados quanto às taxas de eventos cardíacos e cerebrovasculares adversos maiores quando submetidos à intervenção coronária percutânea (razão de risco de 2,699; IC95% 1,002-7,266; p=0,049). Conclusão: Ambos os tratamentos são opções válidas para a doença estável do tronco da coronária esquerda, exceto em pacientes com alta complexidade anatômica coronariana, nos quais a cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio deve permanecer como tratamento de escolha.

Background: Although coronary artery bypass grafting has been considered the gold-standard treatment for stable ischemic left main coronary artery disease, percutaneous coronary intervention has shown good results, and is an alternative to surgery. This study aimed to evaluate and compare a real-world population with stable left main coronary artery disease submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention, regarding their characteristics and outcomes. Methods: Two samples of patients with stable ischemic left main coronary artery disease, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention between January 2015 and November 2018, were evaluated and their clinical outcomes compared. The cumulative event rates were based on the Kaplan-Meier curve and compared with log-rank statistics. Hazard ratio and 95%CI and p-values, were obtained through univariate Cox regressions. Results: No significant differences were found between the percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting groups in the total composition of risks for major cardiac and cerebrovascular events (hazard ratio of the percutaneous coronary intervention group of 2.066; 95%CI 0.876-4.869; p=0.097) or in the risk of death from cardiovascular cause (hazard ratio for the percutaneous coronary intervention group of 1,117; 95%CI 0.204- 6,109; p=0.898). However, the group classified as high coronary artery disease anatomical complexity had worse results regarding major cardiac and cerebrovascular events rates when submitted to percutaneous coronary intervention (hazard ratio of 2.699; 95%CI 1.002-7.266; p=0.049). Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that both treatments are valid options for the treatment of stable ischemic left main coronary artery disease, except in patients with high coronary anatomic complexity, in whom coronary artery bypass grafting should remain the treatment of choice.

Graphene oxide functionalized with cobalt ferrites applied to the removal of bisphenol A: ionic study, reuse capacity and desorption kinetics.

A new adsorbent material based on graphene oxide (GO) functionalized with magnetic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (γCoFe2O4) was synthesized via ultrasonication to remove the endocrine-disrupting-chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous solutions. The synthesized material (GO-γCoFe2O4) was characterized by TEM, SEM, DRX and FTIR analysis. Magnetization measures proved that the adsorbent had superparamagnetic characteristics that facilitated its separation from the aqueous solution. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained was 30 mg g-1 with adsorbent concentration of 1 g L-1, temperature of 55°C and natural pH of the solution. The experimental data were better adjusted to the kinetic models of pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the BPA adsorption on GO-γCoFe2O4 was spontaneous, exothermic and thermodynamically favourable. Desorption kinetics was performed using 50% ethanol as solvent, resulting in an equilibrium time of 4 h with better adjustment to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The adsorbent showed a high regeneration capacity maintaining adsorptive capacity above 75% after 6 cycles of reuse.

Secondary Metabolites Found among the Species Trattinnickia rhoifolia Willd.

Plant-derived products may represent promising strategies in the treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). From this perspective, it is observed that the Amazon phytogeographic region contains the tribe Canarieae of the Burseraceae family, composed of trees and shrubs supplied with resin channels. Its uses in folk medicine are related to aromatic properties, which have numerous medicinal applications and are present in reports from traditional peoples, sometimes as the only therapeutic resource. Despite its economic and pharmacological importance in the region, and although the family is distributed in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world, most of the scientific information available is limited to Asian and African species. Therefore, the present work aimed to review the secondary metabolites with possible pharmacological potential of the species Trattinnickia rhoifolia Willd, popularly known as "Breu sucuruba". To this end, an identification key was created for chemical compounds with greater occurrence in the literature of the genus Trattinnickia. The most evident therapeutic activities in the consulted studies were antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, anesthetic and antiparasitic. An expressive chemical and pharmacological relevance of the species was identified, although its potential is insufficiently explored, mainly in the face of the NTDs present in the Brazilian Amazon.

The aqueous extract of Fridericia chica grown in northern Colombia ameliorates toxicity induced by Tergitol on Caenorhabditis elegans.

The aqueous extract of fallen leaves from Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L.G. Lohmann is utilized as a remedy in communities at northern Colombia. Traditional uses include wound healing, gastrointestinal inflammation, leukemia and psoriasis, among others. The aims of this research were to evaluate the potential of the aqueous extract of fallen leaves of F. chica (AEFchica) to inhibit ethoxylated nonylphenol (Tergitol)-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans; and to identify its main components. The pharmacological properties of AEFchica was evaluated using a Tergitol-induced toxicity model in Caenorhabditis elegans. Lethality, locomotion, reproduction, and DAF-16 nuclear translocation were quantified. The chemical composition of AEFchica was carried out using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. AEFchica induced very little lethality on C. elegans (5.6%) even at high concentrations (10,000 µg/mL). The extract had no effect on locomotion impairing induced by ethoxylated nonylphenol. However, AEFchica (1000 µg/mL) abrogated Tergitol-induced mortality, recovering up to 53.3% of the nematodes from lethality induced by 10 mM Tergitol. Similarly, it also blocked Tergitol-dependent reproduction inhibition (82.1% recovery), as well as DAF-16 nuclear translocation (>95%), suggesting a prominent role on oxidative stress control. The chemical analysis indicated the presence of a great variety of molecules with known antioxidant, metabolic and immune modulator properties, such as hydroxylated methoxy flavones, N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin, and rehmaionoside A. In short, the aqueous extract of F. chica protects C. elegans from the deleterious effects of Tergitol on lethality, reproduction and oxidative stress involving DAF-16-mediated pathway. This extract is a promising source of bioactive phytochemicals for multi-target pharmacological purposes.

Adsorption of sodium diclofenac in aqueous medium using graphene oxide nanosheets.

In this work, the adsorption of sodium diclofenac (DCF) on graphene oxide nanosheets (GON) was evaluated. GON was synthesized by the modified Hummers method and characterized regarding its composition, morphology, and surface load. It was applied in batch adsorption tests. The process was evaluated from the kinetic, isothermal and thermodynamic properties, and parameters such as adsorbent mass and solution pH were optimized. The best working condition was observed at the natural pH of the solution (6.2) and 0.25 g L-1 adsorbent dosage. The pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were applied to verify the behaviour of the adsorption kinetics, and the adsorption isotherms were also developed at temperatures ranging from 25°C to 45°C. The isotherm models of Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkim were applied to the equilibrium data. The thermodynamic parameters of enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy were evaluated to describe the behaviour of the adsorptive process. The maximum adsorption capacity of DCF at 25°C was 128.74 mg g-1 with a removal rate of 74% in 300 min. The process was favourable and spontaneous with adsorptive capacity decreasing with increasing temperature. In addition, an adsorption mechanism was proposed to show the possible bonds that occur between adsorbate and adsorbent and the interactions formed through the influence of pH.

Application of graphene nanosheet oxide for atrazine adsorption in aqueous solution: synthesis, material characterization, and comprehension of the adsorption mechanism.

The present study aimed to investigate the application of graphene oxide (GO) as adsorbent material for the removal of atrazine (ATZ). The material produced was characterized to investigate the characteristics and applied as an adsorbent. The material obtained after the synthesis process presented oxygenated functional groups, which contributed to the development of a good adsorbent material. Studies were carried out to verify the influence of adsorbent material mass and initial pH of ATZ solution in adsorption capacity. Kinetic study determined that pseudo-second-order model best describes adsorbate-adsorbent interaction, with equilibrium time of 72 h. The effect of temperature on the material adsorption capacity was also studied. The Langmuir isotherm is the best fit to describe adsorption process GO-ATZ and maximum adsorption capacity obtained was 23.844 ± 0.694 mg g-1, at 318 K. Variations in process energies were determined, being a spontaneous adsorption, endothermic and characteristic of physical and chemical adsorption. Finally, influence of salts in solution on adsorption capacity was studied; the conclusion was that the presence of electrolytes affects the adsorption capacity of the material.

Effects of a Physical Activity Program Potentiated with ICTs on the Formation and Dissolution of Friendship Networks of Children in a Middle-Income Country.

This paper assesses the potential cohesion effect of a physical activity (PA) school-based intervention potentiated using text messages (SMS) through analyzing longitudinally the friendship network structure and the mechanisms of the formation and dissolution of friendships. Three schools (n = 125 participants) in Bogotá, Colombia, were randomly assigned into three groups: Modulo Activo Recreo Activo (MARA) + SMS (networks 1 and 2), MARA (networks 3 and 4), and control (no intervention: networks 5-7). We collected socio-economic, health-related, network structure, and intervention satisfaction variables in the baseline and after 10 weeks on July-November 2013. For each classroom network, we conducted four models using a temporal and static network approach to assess (1) temporal social network changes, (2) friendship homophily, (3) friendship formation and dissolution mechanisms, and (4) effect of SMS on the networks' cohesion. We found that (1) social cohesion emerged in the four intervened networks that were measured over time with transitivity and homophily driven by clustering, (2) the intervention affected the mechanisms of friendship formation and dissolution, and (3) MARA + SMS on average created more social cohesion and 3.8 more friendships than the program alone. Potentially, school-based interventions with information and communication technologies (ICT) such as MARA + SMS could encourage social cohesion among children. The particular characteristics of each school network need to be considered when developing school-based interventions.

Cardiomiopatia hipertrófica na infância e adolescência: experiência de um serviço de referência / Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in childhood and adolescence: experience of a referral service

INTRODUÇÃO: Cardiomiopatia hipertrófica (CMH) é caracterizada por hipertrofia do ventrículo esquerdo, podendo acometer o ventrículo direito. Inclui apresentações clínicas variadas e etiologias diversas. É a doença cardíaca de origem genética mais comum, com incidência anual de 0,3 a 0,5 casos a cada 100 mil crianças. A prevalência nessa faixa etária pode estar subestimada pela apresentação subclínica. Morte súbita (MS) representa o quadro mais temido, com picos de incidência nos menores de um ano e entre 8 e 17 anos de idade. OBJETIVOS: Relatar a experiência de um Serviço de Cardiologia Pediátrica com pacientes diagnosticados com CMH do nascimento até os 16 anos, com enfoque na estratificação de risco para MS e estratégias terapêuticas. Métodos: Foram revisados os prontuários das crianças e adolescentes que iniciaram acompanhamento a partir de 2007 por CMH e incluídos aqueles em seguimento regular. As variáveis de interesse incluíram idade na ocasião do diagnóstico, tempo de seguimento, sexo, sintomas, história familiar, ECO, RNM, Holter, teste ergométrico, fatores de risco para MS e estratégias terapêuticas. RESULTADOS: Vinte e sete pacientes com CMH estão em acompanhamento regular. O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 5,7 anos e a idade na ocasião do diagnóstico variou de 1 mês de vida até 16 anos. Dezessete (63%) apresentaram algum sintoma e dispneia foi a queixa mais frequente (88%). A avaliação ecocardiográfica mostrou que 25 pacientes apresentavam hipertrofia septal assimétrica (92,6%) e dois, hipertrofia simétrica (7,4%). Vinte e um pacientes (77,7%) tinham pelo menos um fator de risco para MS. Espessura do SIV maior ou igual a 30 cm ou com z-score > + 5 para a superfície corpórea foi o fator de maior prevalência, identificado em 17 casos (62,9%). História familiar de MS também teve frequência importante (22,2%). O implante de CDI foi realizado em 7 pacientes, 6 destes com pelo menos dois fatores de risco. Tratamento medicamentoso foi indicado em 22 (81,5%) pacientes. Betabloqueador foi a droga de escolha (95,4%). Miectomia cirúrgica foi realizada em 2 pacientes, ambos com GSVSVE > 50 mmHg, sintomáticos e com piora progressiva. CONCLUSÕES: Percebemos elevada prevalência de fatores de risco para MS nos pacientes que são diagnosticados antes dos 16 anos. Isso reforça a importância de estudos que avaliem o impacto dos mesmos nessa faixa etária, direcionando a melhor estratégia terapêutica e o destino dos recursos públicos neste contexto. (AU)