Photochemical Oxidation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics Adsorbed on Sand and Silica Surfaces.

The environmental contamination by plastics, microplastics, and related compounds is a major concern. While the detection and release of micro- and nanoparticles from these materials have been widely studied, the formation and release of molecules resulting from their degradation in the environment have been overlooked. This work presents a study of the products released from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) irradiated as pure particles and adsorbed on silica and sand surfaces under different irradiation conditions. The role of oxygen was also evaluated. The products were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The main released molecules can be accounted for by considering the cleavage of α- and ß-bonds next to the ester moiety of the polymer chain. Volatile products such as benzene as well as monomer units of the polymer and related products were identified. In the presence of oxygen, acetic acid and products resulting from hydroxylation at the benzenic ring or at the ethyl moiety were detected. Adsorption on silica and sand has little effect on the photoproduct distributions. The irradiation at 360 nm leads to distributions similar to the ones observed at 257 nm, but the reaction rate is lower. The identified product ethylene terephthalate is a marker of PET plastics and particles and can therefore be used to evaluate the environmental contamination by this polymer material.

Lesbian and Heterosexual Women's Implicit Responses to Gender Figures.

This study explored how heterosexual and lesbian women differ in their implicit sexual responses. Previous research indicates that heterosexual women have physiological and implicit responses to both genders, whereas lesbian women show stronger responses to their preferred gender. This study used two implicit measures: the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) and the Function Acquisition Speed Test (FAST), both of which were novel in this context. We recruited 33 heterosexual and 25 lesbian women. Both IRAP and FAST were successful in differentiating the two sexual orientations as a group. The results confirmed that heterosexual women exhibit positive responses to both genders, while lesbian women show stronger, category-specific responses to their preferred gender. These findings align with previous research and provide further insight into the nuanced differences in sexual orientation responses among women.

Osteology of the Small-Sized Hyphessobrycon piabinhas Fowler 1941 (Characiformes, Characidae) With a Discussion on Developmentally Truncated Characters in the Family.

Evolutionary body size decrease has profound consequences for the morphology of an organism. In the evolution of the Characidae, the most species-rich family of Neotropical fishes, a prominent trend is the reduction of body size. The most typical effect is the simplification and reduction of morphological features through terminal deletion processes, resulting in the loss of skeletal elements and structures. To provide further information on the matter, we present a detailed description of the skeleton of Hyphessobrycon piabinhas, a poorly known, small representative of the largest genus of Characidae. We further discuss the identity and phylogenetic relationships of H. piabinhas. It belongs to the subfamily Stethaprioninae and exhibits considerable morphological similarity to other congeners from neighboring drainage systems. We identify several morphological simplifications in H. piabinhas and discuss them based on ontogenetic data available for Characiformes. These developmentally truncated elements are also present in many other small representatives of the family and seem to be among the first morphological modifications to occur in the context of body size reduction of Characidae. We argue that structural losses are not strictly correlated with sizes below 26 mm SL, although the most notable simplifications are typically observed in the miniatures.

Challenges of Renal Function Assessment in Breast Cancer Patients Treated With Abemaciclib: A Case Report.

Abemaciclib, a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor used for hormone-receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-negative breast cancer, can lead to elevated serum creatinine without implications on the true renal function. Although clinical trials have shown no increase in other kidney function biomarkers, this may still represent a challenge in cancer patients. We report a case of a 74-year-old female who presented with creatinine and cystatin-C elevation during treatment with abemaciclib without an equivalent decrease in measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with renal scintigraphy. The confirmation of adequate kidney function allowed for the maintenance of treatments that would otherwise be limited by renal impairment. Healthcare providers should be aware of abemaciclib's effect on serum creatinine but should not eliminate the possibility of actual kidney injury. Alternative biomarkers for GFR assessment are recommended, although the usefulness of cystatin-C in patients receiving abemaciclib should be investigated in greater depth.

Clinical and Nutritional Aspects and Outcomes of Covid-19 in Cancer and Non-Cancer Pediatric Patients.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been the subject of study by several researchers worldwide since 2020; however, there are points to be clarified. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and nutritional aspects of hospitalized cancer and non-cancer pediatric patients and the association with COVID-19 outcomes. This is a cohort study of hospitalized children and adolescents with a laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19. Patients were assessed according to the presence or absence of previous oncological diseases. Sociodemographic, clinical and nutritional data were investigated during the course of the infection. Outcomes included Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, longer length of stay (14 days), criticality, and death. Oncological disease was found in 16 (19.3%) patients, most of whom had B-type acute lymphoid leukemia. In Poisson regression, adjusted for age and comorbidity, an association was found between oncological disease and length of stay ≥14 days (RR 4.30; 95% CI 1.46 - 15.6; p = 0.013), COVID-19 criticality (RR 3.82; 95% CI 1.66 - 30.9; p = 0.010) and death (RR 3.42; 95% CI 0.94 - 9.96; p = 0.035). The research revealed that cancer patients had longer hospital stays, were more likely to have the severe form of COVID-19, and had a 3.42 times greater risk of dying.

Impaired Periodontitis-Induced Cytokine Production by Peripheral Blood Monocytes and Myeloid Dendritic Cells in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Immune cells from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients display a reduced in vitro response to Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), which may have functional immune consequences. The aim of this study was to characterize, by flow cytometry, the frequency/activity of monocytes and naturally occurring myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) in peripheral blood samples from patients with periodontitis and patients with periodontitis and RA. Methods: The relative frequency of monocytes and mDCs in the whole blood, the frequency of these cells producing TNFα or IL-6 and the protein expression levels for each cytokine, before and after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli plus interferon-γ (IFN-γ), were assessed by flow cytometry, in peripheral blood samples from 10 healthy individuals (HEALTHY), 10 patients with periodontitis (PERIO) and 17 patients with periodontitis and RA (PERIO+RA). Results: The frequency of monocytes and mDCs producing IL-6 or TNF-α and the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in the PERIO group were generally higher. Within the PERIO+RA group, P. gingivalis and related antibodies were negatively correlated with the monocyte and mDC expression of IL-6. A subgroup of the PERIO+RA patients that displayed statistically significantly lower frequencies of monocytes producing IL-6 after activation presented statistically significantly higher peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD)2/4 activity, anti-arg-gingipain (RgpB) IgG levels, mean probing depth (PD), periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) and bleeding on probing (BoP). Conclusions: In the patients with PERIO+RA, innate immune cells seemed to produce lower amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are correlated with worse periodontitis-related clinical and microbiological parameters.

Effect of replacing Tifton 85 hay with Moringa hay (Moringa oleifera L.) on the nutrient metabolism, metabolic profile, and water balance of sheep.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing Tifton 85 hay (TH) with Moringa hay (MH) on the intake, apparent digestibility, ingestive behaviour, rumen parameters, serum attributes, nitrogen balance, water balance, and urinary attributes of sheep. Thus, 5 rams, ½ Dorper + ½ Santa Inês, that were 12 ± 4 months of age with an initial body weight of 32.8 ± 2.6 kg were distributed in metabolic cages in a Latin square design. The experiment lasted 85 days and was divided into five 17-day periods. The animals received rations with increasing replacement (0, 100, 200, 300, or 400 g/kg of dry matter in the total diet) of TH for MH. The forage: concentrate ratio of the diets was 40:60. Replacing TH with MH reduced (P < 0.05) the intake of organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre (NDFap), and total digestible nutrients by sheep. The apparent digestibility of NDFap and the feeding and rumination efficiencies of NDFap were reduced (P < 0.05) when MH replaced TH in the animals' diet. This replacement did not influence (P > 0.05) serum urea, total protein, creatinine, or aspartate aminotransferase in sheep. Replacing TH with MH decreased water intake and excretion (P < 0.05). In addition, nitrogen excretion via urine, urinary creatinine, and nitrogen absorption decreased (P < 0.05) when TH was replaced with MH. However, there was an increase in the sheep's nitrogen retention and urine pH. We recommend replacing 30% TH with MH in the diet of lambs because it does not compromise nutrient metabolism.

Aesthetic Radiofrequency Associated with Rosmarinus officinalis Supplementation is Safe and Reduces Oxidative Stress in Women: Randomized, and Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

The objective were to evaluate the effects of supplementation of standardized dry extract of Rosmarinus officinalis (RO) and the application of aesthetic radiofrequency on the oxidative stress markers catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), non-protein thiols (NP-SH), and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and the biochemical markers triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (TGO/AST), pyruvic-glutamic transaminase (TGP/ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), and creatinine. This study included 32 women received the aesthetic therapy to reduce localized fat. They were divided into the control group (n = 8) receiving placebo capsules and the intervention group (n = 24) subdivided into Group A, B, and C, each with eight members receiving supplementation with 100, 500, and 1000 mg/day of standardized dry extract of RO, respectively. The Universal Trial Number (UTN) - U1111-1274-6255. Supplementation with RO (500 mg/day) demonstrated a reduction in oxidative stress (quantified with through a significant increase in NP-SH and a reduction in SOD and CAT enzymes). The radiofrequency aesthetic treatment did not promote an increase in oxidative stress; however, it caused significant changes in total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and creatinine. RO is a plant with antioxidant effects and its oral consumption is safe in selected women subjects in hepatic and renal markers.

The cone repair allows right ventricle rehabilitation with excellent tricuspid valve function following the Starnes procedure.

BACKGROUND: We present a case series of right ventricle (RV) rehabilitation after the Starnes procedure in patients with Ebstein anomaly (EA), applying the Cone repair of the tricuspid valve (TV) to achieve 2-ventricle or 1.5-ventricle physiology. METHODS: This is a retrospective database analysis from 2 institutions in North America. We included all consecutive cases of Cone repair after the Starnes procedure. The data are expressed as median and interquartile range (IQR). RESULTS: Eleven patients underwent RV rehabilitation between 2019 and 2023 after initial Starnes palliation at a median age of 27 months (IQR, 20.5 months). All patients were critically ill before their Starnes procedure, and 4 were on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Before the Cone repair, the median preoperative regurgitant velocity at the Starnes patch was 1.65 m/s (IQR, 1.3 m/s). During the Cone procedure, 9 patients required a concomitant pulmonary valve repair, of whom 3 needed a transannular monocusp patch. Four patients were successfully rerouted to a 2-ventricle repair, and 7 patients with a previous Glenn achieved 1.5-ventricle circulation. There were no cases of heart block and no deaths. Seven patients had trivial, 3 patients had mild, and 1 patient had moderate tricuspid regurgitation (TR) at a median follow-up of 11 months (IQR, 21.5 months). There was no significant TV stenosis; all patients had good functional status at the last follow-up despite severe RV dysfunction in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: After the Starnes procedure, the Cone repair allowed RV rehabilitation, resulting in trivial or mild TR at a midterm follow-up. The Starnes procedure is a reproducible technique that no longer commits patients to lifetime single-ventricle physiology.

Large Right Atrial Size on Cardiac MRI is Associated with Post-operative Right Ventricular Dysfunction After the Cone Operation for Ebstein Anomaly.

The cone operation has revolutionized care for patients with Ebstein anomaly; however, acute post-operative right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is common in this patient population. A single-center, retrospective review of 28 patients with Ebstein anomaly who underwent cardiac MRI (CMR) prior to cone reconstruction of the tricuspid valve was conducted. Measurements of atrial and ventricular size/function were assessed. Post-operative RVD was defined as the presence of moderate or severe systolic dysfunction on discharge echo. A two-tail t test was employed to compare the two groups. The average age at operation was 21.4 years (range 1.6-57.8) and 14 (50%) had RVD at discharge. Patients with post-operative RVD had significantly larger pre-operative right atrial (RA) maximum volume (p = 0.016) and RA minimum volume (p = 0.030). Patients with RVD had smaller pre-operative left atrial (LA) minimum volume (p = 0.012). Larger pre-operative right ventricular (RV) end-systolic volume (p = 0.046), lower RV ejection fraction (0.029), and smaller left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume (p = 0.049) were significantly associated with post-operative RVD. Post-operative RVD was associated with longer milrinone duration (p = 0.009) and higher maximum milrinone dose (p = 0.005) but was not associated with intensive care or hospital length of stay (p = 0.19 and 0.67, respectively). Increased RA and RV dilation and decreased LA and LV volumes are associated with the development of post-operative RVD following cone operation for Ebstein anomaly. Post-operative RVD affects milrinone dose and duration but is not associated with increased length of stay.

The mlpt smORF gene is essential for digestive physiology and molting during nymphal stages in the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus.

Chagas disease affects around 8 million people globally, with Latin America bearing approximately 10,000 deaths each year. Combatting the disease relies heavily on vector control methods, necessitating the identification of new targets. Within insect genomes, genes harboring small open reading frames (smORFs - < 100 amino acids) present numerous potential candidates. In our investigation, we elucidate the pivotal role of the archetypal smORF-containing gene, mille-pattes/polished-rice/tarsalless (mlpt/pri/tal), in the post-embryonic development of the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus. Injection of double-stranded RNA targeting mlpt (dsmlpt) during nymphal stages yields a spectrum of phenotypes hindering post-embryonic growth. Notably, fourth or fifth stage nymphs subjected to dsmlpt do not undergo molting. These dsmlpt nymphs display heightened mRNA levels of JHAMT-like and EPOX-like, enzymes putatively involved in the juvenile hormone (JH) pathway, alongside increased expression of the transcription factor Kr-h1, indicating changes in the hormonal control. Histological examination reveals structural alterations in the hindgut and external cuticle of dsmlpt nymphs compared to control (dsGFP) counterparts. Furthermore, significant changes in the vector's digestive physiology were observed, with elevated hemozoin and glucose levels in the posterior midgut of dsmlpt nymphs. Importantly, dsmlpt nymphs exhibit impaired metacyclogenesis of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, underscoring the crucial role of proper gut organization in parasite differentiation. Thus, our findings constitute the first evidence of a smORF-containing gene's regulatory influence on vector physiology, parasitic cycle, and disease transmission.

Production and characterization of the lipopeptide with anti-adhesion for oral biofilm on the surface of titanium for dental implants.

Titanium implants are subject to bacterial adhesion and peri-implantitis induction, and biosurfactants bring a new alternative to the fight against infections. This work aimed to produce and characterize the biosurfactant from Bacillus subtilis ATCC 19,659, its anti-adhesion and antimicrobial activity, and cell viability. Anti-adhesion studies were carried out against Streptococcus sanguinis, Staphylococcus aureus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Proteus mirabilis as the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration. Cell viability was measured against osteoblast and fibroblast cells. The biosurfactant was classified as lipopeptide, with critical micelle concentration at 40 µg mL- 1, and made the titanium surface less hydrophobic. The anti-adhesion effect was observed for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus sanguinis with 54% growth inhibition and presented a minimum inhibitory concentration of 15.7 µg mL- 1 for Streptococcus sanguinis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The lipopeptide had no cytotoxic effect and demonstrated high potential application against bacterial biofilms.

Long-term Outcome After Repair of Transposition of the Great Arteries With Aortic Arch Obstruction.

BACKGROUND: This study compares the long-term outcomes of patients after repair of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with and without aortic arch obstruction (AAO). METHODS: This is a single-institution, retrospective study between October 2004 and February 2023. Patients who underwent arterial switch operation and aortic arch repair (ASO-AAR group) with patch augmentation were compared with those without AAO (ASO group). The primary end point was survival; freedom from reintervention was a secondary end point. RESULTS: We identified 176 patients, 31 in the ASO-AAR group and 145 in the ASO group. The median follow-up period was 10.3 years. There were no differences between the ASO-AAR group and the ASO group in early deaths (3.2% vs 0.7%) and late deaths (3.2% vs 2.8%), or 15-year survival rates (92.6% vs 96.2%). Surgical and catheter-based reinterventions were higher in the ASO-AAR group, involving the pulmonary arteries (41.9% vs 4.8%, P < .001), aortic arch (16.1% vs 0.7%, P < .001), and residual ventricular septal defects (11.4% vs 0%, P = .05). The ASO-AAR group showed a higher prevalence of double-outlet right ventricle TGA-type (61.3% vs 4.1%, P < .001) and a lower aortopulmonary index (0.67 vs 1.01, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing surgical repair of TGA and AAO achieved excellent survival rates, comparable to patients with simple transposition. A higher rate of surgical and catheter-based reinterventions was observed in patients with arch obstruction and/or a low aortopulmonary index. AAR with patch augmentation proved to be an effective surgical technique with a low incidence of aortic reinterventions.

Diversity and relative abundance of immature mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Hohenbergia catingae Ule bromeliads and larvitraps in the Nísia Floresta National Forest, northeast Brazil.

The Nísia Floresta National Forest, located in Rio Grande do Norte (RN), is an important remnant of the Atlantic Forest biome in Brazil. Bromeliad tanks in this forest offer suitable breeding sites for mosquito species that may act as viral vectors, thus posing an epidemiological concern. However, studies investigating the presence of immature Culicidae in natural breeding sites in RN have thus far been restricted to Caatinga vegetation. This study investigated mosquitoes and their natural breeding sites in bromeliads growing in the Nísia Floresta National Forest. From March 2013 to February 2014, monthly samples were collected from the tanks of five randomly selected bromeliads and larvitraps placed in each of the three forest management areas. Hohenbergia catingae Ule (Hohenbergia bromeliad) is an important shelter for immature mosquitoes. Culex (Microculex) was the predominant species, representing 86% of the immature mosquitoes collected. A rare occurrence of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (generally associated with urban areas under high anthropogenic influence) was observed, highlighting the importance of investigating the presence of mosquitoes in different natural habitats. An analysis of species diversity revealed that species such as Culex imitator Theobald, 1903 and Culex davisi Kumm, 1933, have a strong association with bromeliads. In tire traps (larvitraps) Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus Skuse, 1894 was predominant. Environmental changes, such as deforestation, removal of bromeliads, and climate change in the area, can influence the migration of species and adaptation to new habitats in a peridomiciliary environment around the forest, consequently the possibility of transmission of virus and other pathogens.

Assessing Left Ventricular Pathology in Patients with Ebstein Anomaly Using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance: Looking Past the Right Heart.

Ebstein Anomaly (EA) is a malformation of the right heart, but there is data to suggest that the left ventricle (LV) can suffer from intrinsic structural and functional abnormalities which affect surgical outcomes. The LV in patients with EA is hypertrabeculated with abnormalities in LV function and strain. In this retrospective single-center study, patients with EA who underwent pre-operative cardiac MRI (CMR) between the periods of 2014-2024 were included along with a group of healthy-age-matched controls. Left ventricular and right ventricular volume, function and strain analyses were performed on standard SSFP imaging. LV noncompacted: compacted (NC/C) ratio and the displacement index of the tricuspid valve were measured. Forty-seven EA patients were included with mean age of 21.0 ± 17.6 years. Seventeen EA patients (36%) had mild pre-operative LV dysfunction on CMR and 1 (2.1%) had moderate LV dysfunction. Out of these 18 patients with LV dysfunction, only 2 were detected to have dysfunction on Echocardiogram. The global circumferential and longitudinal strain were significantly lower in the reduced LVEF group compared to those with preserved LVEF (- 14.8% vs. - 17%, p = 0.02 and - 11.9% vs. - 15.0%; p = 0.05; respectively) on CMR. A single EA patient met criteria for LVNC with a maximal NC/C ratio > 2.3. There was no statistically significant difference in NC/C ratio in the EA population (1.4 ± 0.6) vs. controls (1.1 ± 0.2), p = 0.17. There was an inverse correlation of LV ejection fraction with right ventricular end-diastolic volume and displacement index. All patients underwent the Da Silva Cone procedure at our center. Patients with preoperative LV dysfunction had longer duration of epinephrine use in the immediate postoperative period (33.7 ± 21.4 vs 10.2 ± 25.6 h, p = 0.02) and longer length of hospital stay (6.3 ± 3.2 vs 4.4 ± 1.2 days, p = 0.01). This is the largest study to date to evaluate preoperative LV structure and function in EA patients by CMR. In this cohort of 47 patients, preoperative LV dysfunction is fairly common and CMR has high sensitivity in detecting LV dysfunction as compared to Echo. True LV non-compaction was rare in this cohort. The presence of LV dysfunction is relevant to perioperative management and further study with larger cohorts and longer follow up are necessary.

Left atrial reservoir strain is a superior discriminator of cardioembolism in ischaemic stroke.

Aims: Echocardiographic measures of left heart size and function have long been associated with cardioembolic mechanisms of stroke development, however, the diagnostic performance and comparison of measures of atrial function in this context has not been well studied. We sought to evaluate the diagnostic performance of left atrial reservoir strain (LASr) in identification of cardioembolism in the ischaemic stroke population relative to traditional measures of left heart size and function. Methods and results: Consecutive patients admitted to our institution with ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack were recruited and underwent comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography. Strokes were classified by aetiology with comparison undertaken between cardioembolic and non-cardioembolic types. Four hundred and eighteen consecutive stroke patients with a cardioembolic (n = 229) or non-cardioembolic (n = 189) stroke aetiology were analysed. LASr was impaired in cardioembolic compared with non-cardioembolic strokes (16.7 ± 8.2% vs. 26.0 ± 5.5%, P < 0.01) and provided greatest discrimination [area under the curve (AUC) 0.813, 95%CI 0.773-0.858] in differentiating stroke subtypes when compared with LVEF (AUC difference 0.150, P < 0.01), LAVI (AUC difference 0.083, P < 0.01), and E/e' (AUC difference 0.163, P < 0.01). Inclusion of LASr in a model with conventional left heart echocardiographic factors improved model performance with a net reclassification improvement of 1.083 (95%CI 0.945-1.220, P < 0.01). Further, a proposed user-defined model-based clinical algorithm with LASr demonstrated improved diagnostic accuracy of the identification of cardioembolic stroke subtypes which was best appreciated in patients without atrial fibrillation. Conclusion: LASr may provide enhanced diagnostic accuracy beyond conventional echocardiographic measures to discriminate cardioembolic from non-cardioembolic stroke mechanisms, in particular amongst those without comorbid atrial fibrillation.

Exploring the biofilm inhibitory potential of Candida sp. UFSJ7A glycolipid on siliconized latex catheters.

Biosurfactants, sustainable alternatives to petrochemical surfactants, are gaining attention for their potential in medical applications. This study focuses on producing, purifying, and characterizing a glycolipid biosurfactant from Candida sp. UFSJ7A, particularly for its application in biofilm prevention on siliconized latex catheter surfaces. The glycolipid was extracted and characterized, revealing a critical micellar concentration (CMC) of 0.98 mg/mL, indicating its efficiency at low concentrations. Its composition, confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thin layer chromatography (TLC), identified it as an anionic biosurfactant with a significant ionic charge of -14.8 mV. This anionic nature contributes to its biofilm prevention capabilities. The glycolipid showed a high emulsification index (E24) for toluene, gasoline, and soy oil and maintained stability under various pH and temperature conditions. Notably, its anti-adhesion activity against biofilms formed by Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans was substantial. When siliconized latex catheter surfaces were preconditioned with 2 mg/mL of the glycolipid, biofilm formation was reduced by up to 97% for E. coli and C. albicans and 57% for E. faecalis. These results are particularly significant when compared to the efficacy of conventional surfactants like SDS, especially for E. coli and C. albicans. This study highlights glycolipids' potential as a biotechnological tool in reducing biofilm-associated infections on medical devices, demonstrating their promising applicability in healthcare settings.

Effect of drug therapies on self-reported chemosensory outcomes after COVID-19.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the relative efficacy of medications used following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on self-reported alterations in taste and/or smell function. Methods: Seven hundred and fourteen persons with self-reported postcoronavirus disease 2019 (post-COVID-19) chemosensory disorders were personally interviewed regarding specific medications they were administered following the acute phase of the disease. The dependent measure-self-reported total recovery of chemosensory symptoms-was subjected to stepwise logistic regression. Independent predictors included demographic and clinical variables, in addition to specific medications used to mitigate disease symptoms (i.e., systemic corticosteroids, oseltamivir, vitamin C, ibuprofen, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, ivermectin, nitazoxanide, anticoagulants, and zinc). Results: The median time between COVID-19 symptom onset and the interviews was 81 days (interquartile range: 60-104). Of the 714 subjects, 249 (34.9%) reported total recovery of their chemosensory function; 437 (61.2%) had at least one treatment since the beginning of the disease. Women and those with more comorbidities had undergone more treatments. The recovery rates of the treated and nontreated groups did not differ significantly. Nonetheless, respondents who had used nitazoxanide tended to have a higher rate of self-reported taste or smell recovery. Those who took oral zinc were less likely to improve. Conclusions: No medication employed during the first months after SARS-CoV-2 infection had a clear positive effect on returning self-reported smell or taste function to normal, although nitrazoxide trended in a positive direction. Oral zinc had a negative effect on the reported recovery of these senses.

Effect of quantitative feed restriction and sex class on sheep skin quality.

The aim was to evaluate the quality of the sheep skin of different sex classes submitted to different levels of feed restriction. Sheep without defined racial pattern of different sex classes (15 non-castrated males, 15 castrated males and 15 females), with initial body weight of 18.1 ± 0.4 kg and mean age of 90 days were distributed in a factorial 3 × 3, with three sex classes and 3 levels of feed restriction (ad libitum intake and restricted intake at 70 and 80%), with 5 repetitions. After slaughter, the skins were collected for physical-mechanical tests. The effect of the sex classes x levels of dietary restriction interaction was observed for transverse thickness and longitudinal rupture elongation (p < 0.05). Animals fed ad libitum had greater longitudinal transverse thickness (p < 0.05). Animals fed ad libitum and 70% feed restriction showed greater transverse elongation at break (p < 0.05). As for the difference between sex classes in the transverse thickness variable for tearing strength, the interaction sex classes x levels of feed restriction for transverse thickness, longitudinal thickness, transverse tearing strength and longitudinal tearing strength occurred (p < 0.05). Feed restriction reduces the physical quality of the skin of sheep of different sex classes, and the use of castrated male sheep in positive energy balance is recommended to obtain leather with greater thickness, longitudinal rupture elongation and transverse tear strength.

Clustering of 24H movement behaviors associated with clinic blood pressure in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep duration are known to have an individual effect on clinic blood pressure (BP) of older adults. However, whether different patterns of these so-called movement behaviors over the 24h-cycle on BP remains poorly investigated. The study aimed to identify movement behavior patterns associated with clinic BP among older adults with chronic diseases. Cross-sectional study with 238 older adults (80.3% female; mean age 68.8 ± 6.6) with at least one chronic disease. PA, SB, and sleep duration were measured by a triaxial accelerometer. Clinic systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were obtained through an automated method following standard procedures. Non-hierarchical K-means cluster and linear regression modeling were employed to identify the clusters of movement behaviors and to examine the associations. Two clusters were identified [active and non-sedentary, n = 103 (i.e., sufficient sleep duration, higher LPA and MVPA, and lower SB) and sedentary and inactive, n = 135 (i.e., sufficient sleep duration, lower LPA and MVPA, and higher SB). Active and non-sedentary older adults presented lower systolic BP compared to sedentary and inactive ones, even after adjustments for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics (ß = 6.356; CI 95% from 0.932 to 11.779; P = 0.022). No associations were found for diastolic BP. In conclusion, higher PA and lower SB were associated with lower systolic BP in older adults with chronic diseases. However, sleep duration did not modify this association. Therefore, interventions focusing on concomitantly increasing PA levels and reducing SB should be the priority for controlling blood pressure.