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Sex-related variations in the morphological structure of puma (Puma concolor Linnaeus, 1771) ear skin
Full text linkThe ear tissue of vulnerable felines, such as the puma, holds potential biological material for creating biobanks. However, skin composition can differ significantly between individuals of the of the same species and even between sexes, based on different environments. Therefore, identifying morphological similarities across these populations is crucial for developing accurate protocols. This study aimed to characterize and evaluate the structure and composition of ear skin in both a male and a female puma using histological techniques. Histomorphometric analysis revealed a total thickness of 304.65 µm and 238.95 µm for the male and the female, respectively. The epidermis was notably thinner in the female compared to the male. Specifically, the thickness of the basal, spinous, and corneum layers in the female was 2.62 µm, 10.07 µm, and 3.15 µm, respectively, compared to 3.49 µm, 13.94 µm, and 3.66 µm in the male, respectively. Melanocytes, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts totaled 26, 24, and 50 cells in the male and 21, 25, and 54 cells in the female. Moreover, chondrocytes (male: n=33 and female: n=41) and perichondrium (male=13.99 µm and female=9.05 µm) were observed in the cartilage. These results demonstrate the histomorphometric differences and similarities between a male and a female puma, consistent with observation in other felines. This information is relevant for a targeted approach for establishing biobanks for this species
Study of acute and subacute toxicities and genotoxic and mutagenic potentials of the lyophilized extract of Campomanesia sessiliflora (O.Berg) mattos leaves in wistar rats
Full text linkCampomanesia sessiliflora (O.Berg) Mattos is a Brazilian native plant species used in a popular medicinal tea for treating gastrointestinal, urinary, and dermatological pathologies. This study evaluated the toxicity of Campomanesia sessiliflora (O.Berg) Mattos via acute and subacute toxicity tests. It also analyzed mutagenic and genotoxic potentials by the micronucleus test, which detects genetic material damage indicating mutagenicity, and the comet assay, which assesses DNA damage levels as a genotoxicity indicator. The plant extract initially originated from the ultrasonic maceration of Campomanesia sessiliflora (O.Berg) Mattos leaves in a hydroethanolic solution. The involved animals were adult Wistar rats. Ten females were available to evaluate acute toxicity and estimate the LD50, receiving a dose of 2000 mg/kg. The subacute toxicity evaluation used 35 females and 35 males divided into seven groups: negative control (saline control – SC), positive control (cyclophosphamide control – CC), 125 mg/kg (125), 250 mg/kg (250), 500 mg/kg (500), 1000 mg/kg (1000), and the satellite group (ST). Genotoxicity and mutagenicity experiments applied bone marrow micronucleus and comet assays. Acute and subacute toxicity tests did not present behavioral, physical, and physiological changes (p≥0.05). Administering the Campomanesia sessiliflora (O.Berg) Mattos extract reduced spleen size in male and female animals, without histopathological changes. However, doses above 500 mg/kg showed significant genotoxic and mutagenic effects in the comet and micronucleus assays compared to the control group. The extract did not exhibit acute or subacute toxicity, but doses higher than 500 mg/kg indicated some level of genotoxicity and mutagenicity
Effect of Tai Chi on adult mental health during the pandemic and factors associated: a cross-sectional study
Full text linkThis cross-sectional study aimed to assess whether levels of anxiety, perceived stress, and self-perception of happiness during the Covid-19 pandemic were lower among Tai Chi (TC) practitioners. An online questionnaire was applied from September 2020 to November 2021 through email list and instant messaging application "WhatsApp". In total 368 individuals, 341 of whom did not practice TC, coming from a university and sports academies and 27 TC practitioners from the Brazilian Society of TC and Oriental Culture were included. Sociodemographic, mental health, habits related to physical activity and the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS14) and the Andrews Faces Scale were collected to assess level of state-anxiety, perceived-stress, and self-perception of happiness, respectively. Each independent variable with the outcome variables (severe anxiety level, severe stress level, moderate/severe stress level and self-perception of happiness) were analyzed for simple and multiple logistic regression model. Individuals who do not practice TC are more likely to have a severe level of anxiety (OR=3.55; CI95%CI: 1.37-9.20) and a moderate/severe level of stress (OR=2.60; 95%CI: 1.07-6.35), p<0.05. TC practitioners are more likely to perceive themselves as happy than non-practitioners (OR=3.18; 95%CI: 1.16-8.71), p<0.05. Do not practice regular physical activity (OR=2.88; 95%CI:1.50-4.34); (OR=1.7; 95%CI: 95%: 1.09-2.74) and being young were associated with high levels of stress, p<0.05. The TC practice during the pandemic promoted lower level of perceived stress, state anxiety and greater self-perception of happiness, showing the importance of TC practice and maintaining the frequency of physical activity during the pandemic
Monocyte-lymphocyte, neutrophil-lymphocyte, and platelet-lymphocyte ratios as inflammatory biomarkers of clinical dengue severity
Full text linkThe literature describes monocyte-lymphocyte (MLR), neutrophil-lymphocyte (NLR), and platelet-lymphocyte (PLR) ratios as prognostic biomarkers. However, in the case of dengue infection, patient clinical management and nonspecific laboratory tests determine the prognosis. Therefore, this study analyzed MLR, NLR, and PLR as prognostic biomarkers of dengue infection. Our study was based on a clinical cohort of dengue patients in Brazil between 2012 and 2013. From 193 patients, 164 (85.0%) were classified as dengue fever (DF), 19 (9.8%) as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and 10 (5.2%) as intermediate DF/DHF. DHF cases were significantly associated with MLR > 0.13 (OR: 5.72, 95% CI: 1.28-25.60, p < 0.05) and PLR ≤ 80.68 (OR: 4.26; 95% CI 1.60-11.33; p < 0.05). Our results suggest that MLR increase, and PLR decrease indicate a higher likelihood of worsening the clinical status
The incidence of unfilled second mesiobuccal canals and periapical lesions in maxillary molars by cone-beam computed tomography E-VOL DX software
Full text linkThis study evaluated the incidence of unfilled second mesiobuccal (MB2) canals and periapical lesions in first maxillary molars using CBCT e-Vol DX software. Hence, 326 CBCT images of first maxillary molars of patients undergoing endodontic treatment were selected. The e-Vol DX software performed a retrospective review of these images, recording the presence or absence of MB2 canals, filling, and periapical lesions in first maxillary molars. Specific statistical analysis was performed at a 5% significance level. Unfilled MB2 canals were highly frequent in first maxillary molars and significantly associated with periapical lesions in the mesiobuccal root of these teeth (p<0.05). The CBCT e-Vol DX software effectively detected MB2 canals, and unfilled canals may be associated with periapical lesions
Increased resistance rates of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales isolated from blood cultures in Brazil
Full text linkThis study aimed to identify and evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales isolated from blood cultures of patients with suspected sepsis. This retrospective cross-sectional epidemiological study was performed for four years (2015 to 2018) by accessing the medical records of patients diagnosed with bloodstream infections in two tertiary public hospitals in Brazil. Culture results and susceptibility tests of bacterial strains isolated from blood samples were analyzed. During four years, 2,263 blood culture exams were performed, and Enterobacterales were isolated in 694 (30.7%) samples. The disk approximation test detected ESBL production in 171 (24.6%) of the 694 isolated Enterobacterales (p<0.05), with 125 (73.1%) corresponding to Klebsiella spp., 28 (16.2%) to Escherichia coli, eight (4.6%) to Enterobacter spp., five (2.9%) to Serratia spp., three (1.7%) to Proteus spp., and two (1.2%) to Citrobacter spp. All tested antibiotics demonstrated low susceptibility (2.9% to 26.9%). The classes of monobactams, cephalosporins, and penicillin showed high resistance indices. The evaluated Enterobacterales isolates exhibited expressive antimicrobial resistance to drugs commonly used as empirical treatment in bloodstream infections. The findings reinforce the relevance of assessing the bacterial antimicrobial susceptibility profile, as it drives antibiotic therapy, potentially detecting multiresistance cases
Fungal profile of eggshells from commercial and free-range hens of a supermarket chain in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Full text linkEggs are perishable and fragile foods because of their easy contamination by different microorganisms, such as fungi. Hence, research on egg safety and quality has been recently developed worldwide to minimize illness transmitted by this food, although most present mainly pathogenic bacteria. Thus, this study identified potentially pathogenic fungal species in eggshells from free-range and commercial hens offered in supermarkets in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. The research was performed at the Vettings laboratory at the State University of Ceará (UECE) with 40 eggs: 20 from commercial and 20 from free-range hens. The eggshells were assessed using the dextrose evaluation method for pathogenic cultivation, commensal, and yeast fungi. Subsequently, readings were taken to identify and count the fungi on a binocular light microscope in 100x increments. Both egg categories showed a significant number of colony-forming units (CFU). The study identified eight different fungal species in both egg production types. The most prevalent fungal colonies in the free-range hen lineage (brown shell) were yeast spp. and Penicillium citrinum, and the laying hen lineage (white shell) had mostly Penicillium spp. and yeast spp. Therefore, both egg production systems showed similar fungal contamination, which suggests that the manipulation and/or storage are adequate despite the lack of strict food safety regulations or supervision for eggs in Brazil
Study on extraction conditions and characteristics of protein from burdock roots
Full text linkBurdock (Arctium lappa L.), which belongs to the Compositae family, possesses significant medicinal and nutritional value. Burdock root is abundant in proteins and essential amino acids. In this study, proteins from burdock roots were extracted by alkali extraction and acid sedimentation, and the optimal conditions for protein extraction from burdock roots and protein characteristics were explored. The optimal conditions for protein extraction with a yield rate of 9.03% were 40°C extraction temperature, pH 8.0, a solid–liquid ratio of 1:25 (g/mL), and extraction time of 65 minutes. Single-factor and orthogonal tests on the extraction rate of burdock proteins under different conditions found that the extraction rate of protein from burdock roots were influenced by pH, extraction temperature, solid–liquid ratio, and extraction time, in this order. The solubility and gelation properties of burdock protein were similar to those of soybean protein; however, burdock protein demonstrated 1.2 times the oil absorption capacity and half the water retention capacity of soybean protein. Analysis of the amino acid contents of burdock protein revealed that burdock root contains significant essential and non-essential amino acids, with valine content being the highest
Effect of mite-specific subcutaneous immunotherapy on patients with allergic rhinitis
Full text linkThis study analyzed the effect of mite-specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) on patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). We enrolled 98 AR patients visiting our hospital from April 2017 to April 2019 and grouped them in a random number table. The control group (n=49) received conventional treatment for three years. The SCIT used a standardized mite allergen injection for the experimental group (n=49) for three years. The study compared total nasal symptom score (TNSS), daily medication score (DMS), total combined score (TCS), visual analog scale (VAS) score, mini-rhinitis quality of life questionnaire (MiniRQLQ) score, and serum immunoglobulin E (sIgE) level before and after treatment. The overall response rate was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (59.18% vs. 30.61%, p<0.05). After treatment, the experimental group had lower values for TCS and VAS score (p<0.05); motion score; practical problems; nasal, ocular, and other symptoms (p<0.05); and sIgE, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp)-sIgE, and Dermatophagoides farinae (Df)-sIgE levels (p<0.05) than the control group. The sIgE, Dp-sIgE, and Df-sIgE levels were lower in the effective group than in the ineffective group (p<0.05). The areas under the ROC curves of IgE, Dp-sIgE, and Df-sIgE and their combination for predicting the therapeutic effect of mite-specific SCIT on AR were 0.839, 0.779, 0.814, and 0.903, respectively. Mite-specific SCIT relieved clinical symptoms and improved the quality of life of AR patients, probably by decreasing the IgE expression level
Haemosporidian parasites in Antilophia galeata (Aves: Pipridae) in a Cerrado forest fragment
Full text linkHaemosporidian parasites can cause pathogenic infections, leading to death or a reduction in the physical and reproductive abilities of the host. Several studies have identified haemosporidian infections in neotropical bird communities, but few have been conducted in populations, relating the infection to the biological attributes of the species. To determine haemosporidian prevalence in a population of Antilophia galeata and to assess factors that may be associated with parasitaemia, we analysed blood smears of 62 individuals from a Cerrado forest fragment. For each individual, the body mass, length of tarsus, sex, presence/absence of brood patch and feather moult were recorded. In total, 33 (53.2%) individuals were infected with haemosporidian parasites, 32 (51.6%) were infected with Plasmodium spp. and one (1.61%) was infected with Haemoproteus sp. Parasitaemia was not related to seasons, sex, reproduction, moulting or body condition but correlated positively with total leucocyte count, suggesting that individuals may be effective in infection control. This population may be tolerant to haemosporidian parasites because, despite the high prevalence, parasitaemia was low and constant; this is a potentially chronic infection that showed no adverse effects on the parameters analysed in this population.Protozoários hemosporídeos podem causar infecções patogênicas, provocando óbito ou redução das aptidões físicas e reprodutivas dos hospedeiros. Vários estudos abordaram a infecção por hemosporídeos em comunidades de aves tropicais, mas poucos foram conduzidos em populações, relacionando a infeção com fatores biológicos das espécies. Para determinar a prevalência de hemosporídeos em uma população de Antilophia galeata e avaliar fatores que podem estar associados à parasitemia, foram analisadas extensões sanguíneas de 62 indivíduos provenientes de um fragmento florestal. Para cada indivíduo foi verificado: biomassa, comprimento dos tarsos, sexos, presença/ausência de placa de incubação, muda de penas e quantidade de carrapatos. No total, 33 (53,2%) estavam infectados por hemosporídeos, sendo 32 (51,6%) por Plasmodium spp. e um (1,61%) por Haemoproteus spp. A parasitemia não diferiu entre estações, sexos, e indivíduos com ou sem placa de incubação, muda de penas e carrapatos. A parasitemia não foi correlacionada à condição corporal, porém correlacionou positivamente com a contagem total de leucócitos, sugerindo que os indivíduos podem estar eficientes em controlar as infecções. Aparentemente a população é tolerante aos hemosporídeos, pois apesar da alta prevalência, a parasitemia foi baixa e constante, caracterizando-se em uma infecção possivelmente crônica que não mostrou efeitos negativos nos parâmetros analisados