Feasibility of performing the 3-minute step test with remote supervision in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis: A comparative study.

Importance: The 3-min step test is a simple option to monitor submaximal exercise capacity, although its use via remote video monitoring has not been investigated in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of performing the 3-min step test with remote supervision. Methods: A cross-sectional study including CF patients (6-18 years) from two CF services were performed. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, and lung function data were collected and two 3-min step tests were performed: (i) in-person supervision, and (ii) remotely supervised by video monitoring. Before and after the tests, heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), and the Borg score for dyspnea and lower limb fatigue were monitored. Results: Twenty-three patients (10.7 ± 3.7 years) with a mean FEV1 of 89.5% ± 23.2% were included. There were no significant differences between tests, with mean differences (95% confidence intervals) in final HR of -3.3 (-8.9, 2.4), change in HR of -1.9 (-6.1, 2.1), final SpO2 of 0.3 (-0.4, 1.0), and final dyspnea of 0.1 (-0.8, 0.9). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.852 (final HR), 0.762 (final SpO2), and 0.775 (final lower limb fatigue). Significant and moderate correlations were found between tests for final HR (r = 0.75), change in HR (r = 0.61), and final SpO2 (r = 0.61). The Bland-Altman analysis showed a mean difference in final SpO2 between tests of 0.3% (limit of agreement -3.0%, 3.5%). Interpretation: Physiological responses between tests were similar, indicating it was feasible to perform the 3-min step test with remote supervision in CF children.

Evaluation of periodontal parameters on abutment teeth rehabilitated with single-unit crowns: A 12-month follow-up.

Purpose: This prospective study evaluated the effects of the metal-free crowns on the periodontal tissues of abutment teeth during a 12-month follow-up. Materials and Methods: A sample of 24 patients (N = 32 abutment teeth) who needed a single-tooth restoration were enrolled to receive either a metal-ceramic (n = 21) or lithium disilicate (n = 11). The single-unit crowns were evaluated at baseline, 3-and 12-month follow-up. The periodontal parameters were evaluated: plaque index (PI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), radiographically and clinical crown fitting, bone resorption, and marginal finish lines. Statistical analyses were performed using the Exact Fisher and Mann-Whitney tests, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test as a post hoc test for Friedman (95 % confidence interval). Results: The marginal finish line showed a statistical difference with a biomaterial type (p =.004). After a 12-months, a significant increase was observed in PI and mean PD for abutment teeth of metal-ceramic crowns. The metal-free crowns presented higher values for GBI and CAL (p2 < 0.05). Only distal cervical evaluation and dental biofilm formation in the abutment teeth showed a statistical difference between the groups at the 12-month follow-up. The supragingival margin metal-ceramic group revealed higher PI values (p2 = 0.005) between the period and the subgingival margin of both biomaterials showed greater GBI scores (p2 < 0.05). Conclusions: Metal-free crowns showed better periodontal outcomes compared to metal-ceramic crowns. Single-unit crown marginal location affects the periodontal tissue condition of the abutment teeth. The marginal fit was not changed regarding the biomaterial type.

Accuracy of acute hyperglycemia as a biomarker of severe brain damage in children with traumatic brain injury.

PURPOSE: Biomarkers are substances measured at the systemic level to evaluate organic responses in certain situations, establishing diagnoses, disease staging, and prognosis. Blood glucose is a biomarker recognized as a predictor of prognosis in children victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The scope of this study was to identify the accuracy of blood glucose as a biomarker of severe brain injury. METHODS: A retrospective analytical study was conducted through the consecutive review of medical records of children and teenage victims of TBI who underwent neurological surgery between 2016 and 2023 in a level 1 trauma center. Two groups were compared: children with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤ 8 and children with GCS > 8. We calculated the predictive values to define the accuracy of blood glucose as a biomarker of brain injury. RESULTS: Ninety-two medical records were included for analysis. Hyperglycemia predominated in cases with GCS ≤ 8 (48% vs 3%; p < 0.0001; OR, 30; 95% CI, 5.9902-150.2448). The glycemic measurement considering the cutoff point of 200 mg/dL or 11.1 mmol/L showed a specificity of 97%, a positive predictive value of 86%, an accuracy of 84%, and a likelihood ratio for a positive test of 16. CONCLUSION: Victims with GCS ≤ 8 are 16 times more likely to develop acute hyperglycemia after TBI when compared to those with GCS > 8. Blood glucose is a biomarker with an accuracy of 84% to predict severe brain injury, considering the cutoff point of 200 mg/dL or 11.1 mmol/L.

Association between oral health-related quality of life and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder among older adults: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the association between oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and self-reported symptoms of TMD. METHODS: Representative samples of older adults (≥60 years) were included (n = 569). Both TMD symptoms and OHRQoL were assessed by Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), respectively. Prevalence (those answering "frequently" or "always" in at least one question), severity (total means scores), and extent (number of questions answered as "frequently" or "always") of OHRQoL were estimated. RESULTS: Overall, 33.4% and 9.5% had mild or moderate/severe TMD symptoms. Those with any symptom of TMD had a prevalence ratio (PR) 38% higher for the worst OHRQoL (95% confidence interval [95%CI]:1.04-1.82) compared to those without TMD symptoms. Worst OHRQoL were observed for those with mild (PR:1.35; 95%CI:1.01-1.81) and moderate/severe TMD (PR:1.53; 95%CI:1.04-2.26). Similar results were detected in the severity and extent of OHRQoL. CONCLUSION: Severity TMD was associated with worse ORHQoL.

Effects of docetaxel on metastatic prostate (DU-145) carcinoma cells cultured as 2D monolayers and 3D multicellular tumor spheroids.

Docetaxel (DTX) is one of the chemotherapeutic drugs indicated as a first-line treatment against metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa). This study aimed to compare the impact of DTX on mPCa (DU-145) tumor cells cultured as 2D monolayers and 3D multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) in vitro. The cells were treated with DTX (1-96 µM) at 24, 48, or 72 hr in cell viability assays (resazurin, phosphatase acid, and lactate dehydrogenase). Cell death was assessed with fluorescent markers and proliferation by clonogenic assay (2D) and morphology, volume, and integrity assay (3D). The cell invasion was determined using transwell (2D) and extracellular matrix (ECM) (3D). Results showed that DTX decreased cell viability in both culture models. In 2D, the IC50 (72 hr) values were 11.06 µM and 14.23 µM for resazurin and phosphatase assays, respectively. In MCTS, the IC50 values for the same assays were 114.9 µM and 163.7 µM, approximately 10-fold higher than in the 2D model. The % of viable cells decreased, while the apoptotic cell number was elevated compared to the control in 2D. In 3D spheroids, only DTX 24 µM induced apoptosis. DTX (≥24 µM at 216 hr) lowered the volume, and DTX 96 µM completely disintegrated the MCTS. DTX reduced the invasion of mPCa cells to matrigel (2D) and migration from MCTS to the ECM. Data demonstrated significant differences in drug response between 2D and 3D cell culture models using mPCa DU-145 tumor cells. MCTS resembles the early stages of solid tumors in vivo and needs to be considered in conjunction with 2D cultures when searching for new therapeutic targets.

Reversible Tricuspid Regurgitation Due to Beriberi.

We report a case of cardiac beriberi in a 76-year-old man who was hospitalized with a congestive condition of subacute onset, diagnosed as high-output heart failure associated with severe tricuspid regurgitation and indication for caval valve implantation, which, after thiamine replacement, resulted in improvement of all conditions. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

Association of the three-minute step test with the occurrence of pulmonary exacerbations in children with cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients experience pulmonary exacerbations and the three-minute step test (3-min step test) may be a simple and easy-to-perform functional test to help identify such episodes. The present study aimed to evaluate the association of the 3-min step test with the occurrence of pulmonary exacerbations in children with CF. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of CF patients aged 6 years and older. Pulmonary exacerbations were assessed using both the Fuchs criteria and the Kanga Score. The 3-min step test was performed using a 15 cm-high step and heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), and dyspnea were measured before and after the test. Correlations between the test and the scores, as well as comparisons between patients experiencing or not an exacerbation, were performed. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (11.1±4.3 years) were included. Both the Fuchs criteria and the Kanga score correlated significantly with age, forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), final SpO2, and 1-min recovery SpO2. A fall greater than 4% in the final SpO2 was significantly associated with the presence of a pulmonary exacerbation, considering both Fuchs and Kanga criteria. Age, resting HR, and HR after 1-min recovery were significantly higher, while FEV1, SpO2 at rest, final SpO2, and SpO2 after 1-min recovery were significantly lower in patients classified as exacerbated. CONCLUSIONS: Physiological responses to the 3-min step test are associated with the occurrence of pulmonary exacerbation in children with CF. Desaturation at the end of the test or during 1-min recovery may be the best variable to monitor.

Oxidative stress evaluation in patients with chronic Chagas disease.

INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease (CD), caused by protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), is a neglected disease that affects millions of people worldwide. The parasite clearance by the immune cells is accomplished by the activation of inflammation and production of reactive oxygen species, including nitric oxide (NO) that can lead to tissue injury and DNA damage. On the other hand, to balance the oxidative environment and decrease free radicals, there is an antioxidant system composed of enzymes and vitamins. The aim was to evaluate oxidative stress parameters in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with Chagas disease. METHODS: Participants were divided into three groups: indeterminate CD (asymptomatic, n = 8), CD with cardiac/digestive involvement (symptomatic, n = 14), and Control healthy individuals (n = 20). The following parameters were analyzed: DNA damage, NO serum levels, hydrophilic antioxidant capacity (HAC) and vitamin E. RESULTS: Symptomatic patients showed increased DNA damage and NO levels and lower HAC and vitamin E levels compared to asymptomatic patients and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to conclude that CD patients with clinical symptoms have higher oxidative stress, characterized by increased DNA damage and NO levels, and reduced antioxidant capacity and vitamin E levels.

Flavonoid brachydin B decreases viability, proliferation, and migration in human metastatic prostate (DU145) cells grown in 2D and 3D culture models.

Brachydin B (BrB) is a unique dimeric flavonoid extracted from Fridericia platyphylla (Cham.) LG Lohmann with different biological activities. However, the antitumoral potential of this flavonoid is unclear. In our study, we evaluated the effects of the BrB flavonoid on cell viability (MTT, resazurin, and lactate dehydrogenase assays), proliferation (protein dosage and clonogenic assay), and migration/invasion (3D ECM gel, wound-healing, and transwell assays) of metastatic prostate (DU145) cells cultured both as traditional 2D monolayers and 3D tumor spheroids in vitro. The results showed that the BrB flavonoid promotes cytotoxic effects from ≥1.50 µM after 24 h of treatment in DU145 cells in monolayers. In 3D prostate tumor spheroids, BrB also induced cytotoxic effects at higher concentrations after longer treatment (48, 72, and 168 h). Furthermore, BrB treatment is associated with reduced DU145 clonogenicity in 2D cultures, as well as decreased area/volume of 3D tumor spheroids. Finally, BrB (6 µM) reduced cell migration/invasion in 2D monolayers and promoted antimigratory effects in DU145 tumor spheroids (≥30 µM). In conclusion, the antitumoral and antimigratory effects observed in DU145 cells cultured in 2D and 3D models are promising results for future studies with BrB using in vivo models and confirm this molecule as a candidate for metastatic prostate cancer therapy.

Clinical and molecular overview of immunotherapeutic approaches for malignant skin melanoma: Past, present and future.

Traditional therapeutic approaches for malignant melanoma, have proved to be limited and/or ineffective, especially with respect to their role in improving patient survival and tumor recurrence. In this regard, immunotherapy has been demonstrated to be a promising therapeutic alternative, boosting antitumor responses through the modulation of cell signaling pathways involved in the effector mechanisms of the immune system, particularly, the so-called "immunological checkpoints". Clinical studies on the efficacy and safety of immunotherapeutic regimens, alone or in combination with other antitumor approaches, have increased dramatically in recent decades, with very encouraging results. Hence, this review will discuss the current immunotherapeutic regimens used to treat malignant melanoma, as well as the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved. In addition, current clinical studies that have investigated the use, efficacy, and adverse events of immunotherapy in melanoma will also be discussed.

Tropical grass silages with spineless cactus in diets of Holstein × Zebu heifers in the semiarid region of Brazil.

One of the factors that limit ruminant production in the semiarid region is the lack of roughage in the dry season. The management of forage plants adapted to edaphoclimatic conditions is a strategy to improve animal production. This study was conducted to examine the effects of biomass sorghum silage (BSS; Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and BRS capiaçu grass silage (CGS; Pennisetum purpureum Schum) with or without spineless cactus (Opuntia spp.) in crossbred Holstein × Zebu heifers' diets on the intake, apparent digestibility of the nutrients and animal performance (e.g., final weight, daily weight gain) (experiment 1). Also, to evaluate the ruminal kinetics of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of roughages used in diets using two animals cannulated in the rumen (experiment 2). In experiment 1, ten heifers with an initial body weight of 200 ± 2.74 kg (mean ± standard deviation) and a mean age of 10 months were used. The animals were distributed in an experimental design in two simultaneous 5 × 5 Latin squares. Five experimental diets were used: diet 1, Volumax sorghum silage (VSS); diet 2, biomass sorghum silage (BSS); diet 3, BRS capiaçu silage (CGS); diet 4, biomass sorghum silage (60%) with spineless cactus (40%) (BSS + SC); and diet 5, BRS capiaçu grass silage (60%) with spineless cactus (40%) (CGS + SC). The diets were formulated with sorghum silage or BRS capiaçu grass silage with or without spineless cactus (roughage) and a maize- and soybean-based concentrate (75:25 roughage-to-concentrate ratio) on DM basis. The experiment lasted 105 days, divided into five periods of 21 days (17 days for the adaptation of the animals to the diets and management and 4 for data collection and samples). The diets containing CGS and CGS + SC resulted in lower dry matter intake (DMI; 5.61 kg day-1; P < 0.01), which was 19.4% lower than the diets with VSS, BSS, and BSS + SC (7.00 kg day-1). The BSS + SC and CGS + SC diets showed higher crude protein digestibility (P < 0.01) at 21.9% than the other treatments (Volumax, BSS, CGS). The different diets did not change the final weight or the daily weight gain of the heifers. The BRS 716 biomass sorghum silage and BRS capiaçu grass combined with spineless cactus increased (P < 0.05) the intake of nonfibrous carbohydrates and did not interfere (P > 0.05) with the final weight or average daily gain of the crossbred Holstein × Zebu heifers. The standardized potentially degradable fraction (Bp) of the NDF was 13.91% higher (P < 0.01) for BSS and BSS + SC (61.6%) compared to the others (53.0%). A diet based on BSS + SC is recommended for feeding crossbred heifers in the growing phase.

Development and validation of predictive workable weight equations for Brazilian older adult residents in long-term care institutions.

BACKGROUND: Weight measurement is important in the nutritional anthropometric monitoring of older adults. When this measurement is not possible, estimates may be used. AIM: Developing and validating weight predictive equations for older adult residents in long-term care institutions in Brazil. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample comprised 393 older adult residents in long-term care institutions. Data were collected in two stages, with 315 older adults in the first and 78 in the second. We have measured the arm, calf, and waist circumferences, as well as the triceps and subscapular skinfold and knee height. Multiple linear regression was used to develop the equations, which were evaluated through the coefficient of determination, standard error of estimation, Akaike information criterion, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altmann plot. RESULTS: Five models with different anthropometric measurements were developed, (1) arm circumference as a discriminant variable (ICC: 0.842); (2) best statistical fit for men and women (ICC: 0.874) and its stratification by sex (3) (ICC: 0.876); (4) easy-to-perform measurement for men and women (ICC: 0.842) and its stratification by sex (5) (ICC: 0.828). CONCLUSION: Five models for estimating the weight of older adult residents in long-term care institutions were developed and validated. The choice to use the models should be based on the physical capacity of the older adults to be evaluated.

Pressure injury prevention in adult critically ill patients: best practice implementation project.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed compliance with the best practices for pressure injury prevention among ICU patients at a tertiary hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. INTRODUCTION: Intensive care patients are at high risk of developing a pressure injury; preventing this requires a best practice protocol. METHOD: This best practice implementation project was conducted in a Brazilian tertiary hospital in three phases following the JBI Model of Evidence-based Healthcare. Ten criteria derived from the best available evidence were audited and monitored before and after best practice implementation. RESULTS: The baseline and follow-up audits evaluated 28 patients at each step. A total of 448 h of care were analyzed using a monitoring camera and medical records. Compliance with all 10 audited criteria increased, with a 50% reduction in the prevalence of pressure injuries in intensive care. Of the 223 employees, 71% claimed to have some knowledge of pressure injury prevention, and 66% reported adequate adherence to prevention protocols. CONCLUSION: The audit and feedback strategy improved compliance with the criteria. Future audits are needed to promote the sustainability of evidence-based practice.

Retrospective cohort study to evaluate the continuous use of anticholesterolemics and diuretics in patients with COVID-19.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the interference of the continuous use of drug classes in the expression of biomarkers during the first week of hospitalization and in the prognosis of patients with COVID-19. Methods: The patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR assay underwent the collection of fasting whole blood samples for further analysis. Other data also extracted for this study included age, sex, clinical symptoms, related comorbidities, smoking status, and classes of continuous use. Routine serum biochemical parameters, including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide, and cardiac troponin, were measured. Results: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 176 patients with COVID-19 hospitalizations were included. Among them, 155 patients were discharged (88.5%), and 21 patients died (12%). Among the drug classes evaluated, we verified that the continuous use of diuretic 4.800 (1.853-11.67) (p = 0.0007) and antihypercholesterolemic 3.188 (1.215-7.997) (p = 0.0171) drug classes presented a significant relative risk of death as an outcome when compared to the group of patients who were discharged. We evaluated biomarkers in patients who used continuous antihypercholesterolemic and diuretic drug classes in the first week of hospitalization. We observed significant positive correlations between the levels of CRP with cardiac troponin (r = 0.714), IL-6 (r = 0.600), and IL-10 (r = 0.900) in patients who used continuous anticholesterolemic and diuretic drug classes and were deceased. In these patients, we also evaluated the possible correlations between the biomarkers AST, NT-ProBNP, cardiac troponin, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. We observed a significantly negative correlations in AST levels with NT-ProBNP (r = -0.500), cardiac troponin (r = -1.00), IL-6 (r = -1.00), and IL-10 (r = -1.00) and a positive correlation with IL-8 (r = 0.500). We also observed significant negative correlation in the levels of NT-ProBNP with IL-10 (r = -0.800) and a positive correlation with cardiac troponin (r = 0.800). IL-6 levels exhibited positive correlations with cardiac troponin (r = 0.800) and IL-10 (r = 0.700). Conclusion: In this study, we observed that hospitalized COVID-19 patients who continued using anticholesterolemic and diuretic medications showed a higher number of correlations between biomarkers, indicating a poorer clinical prognosis. These correlations suggest an imbalanced immune response to injuries caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Phenotypic variation in severe hemophilia A is related to endogenous thrombin potential and plasma levels of factor VII.

Hemophilia A is a bleeding disorder caused by deficiency or low activity of circulating factor VIII characterized by prolonged blood coagulation time and often spontaneous bleeding. Patients with the severe form of the disease may present considerable heterogeneity in the occurrence of bleeding episodes and some of them have a mild hemophilia A phenotype. This study aimed to evaluate the association of biomarkers and coagulation parameters to the differential hemorrhagic profile of severe hemophilia A patients. Polymorphisms in the genes of proteins C and S, factors V and VII and prothrombin were evaluated in a group of severe hemophilia A patients with a broad spectrum of bleeding profile. Plasma levels of coagulation factors and thrombin generation were also analyzed. This study included 59 Brazilian hemophilia A patients who were allocated into low bleeding profile (LBP; n = 33) and high bleeding profile (HBP; n = 26) groups based on their joint and muscle bleeding episodes requiring treatment in the 5 years before inclusion in the study. Results evidenced that endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) and plasma factor VII levels were significantly higher in the LBP group. Results indicate a prominent importance of FVII plasma activity and endogenous thrombin potential on the differential bleeding phenotype of hemophilia A patients.

Quality of Life among Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes Receiving Care from Public and Private Health Care Systems in Brazil.

(1) Background: Quality of life (QOL) is used as a health indicator to assess the effectiveness and impact of therapies in certain groups of patients. This study aimed to analyze the QOL of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who received medical treatment by a public or private health care system. (2) Methods: This observational, prospective, longitudinal study was carried out in four referral hospitals providing cardiology services in Sergipe, Brazil. QoL was evaluated using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. The volunteers were divided into two groups (public or private health care group) according to the type of health care provided. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate QoL at 180 days after ACS. (3) Results: A total of 581 patients were eligible, including 44.1% and 55.9% for public and private health care, respectively. At 180 days after ACS, the public health care group had lower QoL scores for all domains (functional capacity, physical aspects, pain, general health status, vitality, social condition, emotional profile, and health) (p < 0.05) than the private group. The highest QoL level was associated with male sex (p < 0.05) and adherence to physical activity (p ≤ 0.003) for all assessed domains. (4) Conclusions: This shows that social factors and health status disparities influence QoL after ACS in Sergipe.

Mitochondrial diversity and inter-specific phylogeny among dolphins of the genus Stenella in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean.

The genus Stenella is comprised of five species occurring in all oceans. Despite its wide distribution, genetic diversity information on these species is still scarce especially in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. Some features of this genus can enhance opportunities for potential introgressive hybridization, e.g. sympatric distibution along the Brazilian coast, mixed known associations among species, karyotype uniformity and genome permeability. In this study we analyzed three genes of the mitochondrial genome to investigate the genetic diversity and occurrence of genetic mixture among eighty specimens of Stenella. All species exhibited moderate to high levels of genetic diversity (h = 0.833 to h = 1.000 and π = 0.006 to π = 0.015). Specimens of S. longirostris, S. attenuata and S. frontalis were clustered into differentiated haplogroups, in contrast, haplotypes of S. coeruleoalba and S. clymene were clustered together. We detected phylogenetic structure of mixed clades for S. clymene and S. coeruleoalba specimens, in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, and also between S. frontalis and S. attenuata in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, and between S. frontalis and S. longirostris in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. These specimes were morphologically identified as one species but exhibited the maternal lineage of another species, by mitochondrial DNA. Our results demonstrate that ongoing gene flow is occurring among species of the genus Stenella reinforcing that this process could be one of the reasons for the confusing taxonomy and difficulties in elucidating phylogenetic relationships within this group.

Population Genetics and Phylogeography of Galapagos Fur Seals.

Pinnipeds found across islands provide an ideal opportunity to examine the evolutionary process of population subdivision affected by several mechanisms. Here, we report the genetic consequences of the geographic distribution of rookeries in Galapagos fur seals (GFS: Arctocephalus galapagoensis) in creating population structure. We show that rookeries across four islands (nine rookeries) are genetically structured into the following major groups: 1) a western cluster of individuals from Fernandina; 2) a central group from north and east Isabela, Santiago, and Pinta; and possibly, 3) a third cluster in the northeast from Pinta. Furthermore, asymmetric levels of gene flow obtained from eight microsatellites found migration from west Isabela to Fernandina islands (number of migrants Nm = 1), with imperceptible Nm in any other direction. Our findings suggest that the marked structuring of populations recovered in GFS is likely related to an interplay between long-term site fidelity and long-distance migration in both male and female individuals, probably influenced by varying degrees of marine productivity.

Silibinin downregulates the expression of the Th1 and Th17 profiles by modulation of STATs and transcription factors in pregnant women with preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a multifactorial disease that is characterized by inflammation. Some of the factors responsible for this inflammation are the cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems and their interactions. The use of natural products, such as silibinin (SB), can contribute to the control of this inflammation and gestational success. The present study evaluated whether the flavonoid SB has an in vitro immunomodulatory effect on the signal transducers and transcription activators (STATs) signaling pathway and transcription factors of CD4+ T cell subsets obtained from preeclamptic and normotensive (NT) pregnant women. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 18 preeclamptic and 18 NT pregnant women were cultured with and without SB to analyze the expression of STATs and transcription factors by flow cytometry, and cytokines were measured in the culture supernatant by ELISA. The results showed that treating cells with SB decreased STAT1/ STAT4/T-bet and STAT3/RORγt, which characteristic of Th1 and Th17 inflammatory profiles, as well as increased STAT6/GATA-3 and STAT5/FoxP3 of anti-inflammatory and regulatory profiles, respectively. In addition, PBMCs from preeclamptic women treated with SB released lower concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and higher levels of IL-10 and TGF-ß. Therefore, SB plays an immunomodulatory role on CD4+ T cell subsets in PE, leading to the downregulation of inflammatory profiles and upregulation of anti-inflammatory and regulatory profiles. More studies are necessary to better understand the modulation of CD4+ T cell subsets by the JAK/STAT and NF-κB pathways in this gestational pathology.

Solar radiation limits the use of paddocks by laying hens raised in the free-range system.

Laying hens on the free-range systems are susceptible to challenging situations in relation to the rearing environment. Therefore, this work evaluated how solar radiation influences the behavior of laying hens raised in a free-range system, in the Brazilian Savanna. The activities included data collection of meteorological variables and behavioral analysis of 300 commercial laying hens in relation to the frequency of use of indoor and outdoor areas of rearing housing. The solar radiation is the main factor that directly affects the heat gain of production animals, in this experiment had a high amplitude during all day, going from 33.42 to 756.98 W m-2. It was observed that the highest frequency of 79% and 91% use of the barn areas by the hens was at 8 am and 4 pm, respectively. The internal area of the housing was more used by hens 87% and 68% at 12 h and 14 h, respectively. Hens were not observed in the paddocks at noon and 2 pm. Hens spend more than 6 h of the day inside the housing to provide shelter from solar radiation. Which the conclusion the solar radiation influences the behavior of laying hens, at times of the day of the higher incidence of radiation, and high air and global temperatures, it was not observed the presence of hens in the external areas of the housing, especially with the use of the paddocks; at these times the hens seek shelter inside the housing to get away from the incidence of direct solar radiation.