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Plastics derived from fossil fuels are used ubiquitously owing to their exceptional physicochemical characteristics. However, the extensive and short-term use of plastics has caused environmental challenges. The biotechnological plastic conversion can help address the challenges related to plastic pollution, offering sustainable alternatives that can operate using bioeconomic concepts and promote socioeconomic benefits. In this context, using soil from a plastic-contaminated landfill, two consortia were established (ConsPlastic-A and -B) displaying versatility in developing and consuming polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate as the carbon source of nutrition. The ConsPlastic-A and -B metagenomic sequencing, taxonomic profiling, and the reconstruction of 79 draft bacterial genomes significantly expanded the knowledge of plastic-degrading microorganisms and enzymes, disclosing novel taxonomic groups associated with polymer degradation. The microbial consortium was utilized to obtain a novel Pseudomonas putida strain (BR4), presenting a striking metabolic arsenal for aromatic compound degradation and assimilation, confirmed by genomic analyses. The BR4 displays the inherent capacity to degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) containing hydroxyvalerate (HV) units that contribute to enhanced copolymer properties, such as increased flexibility and resistance to breakage, compared with pure PHB. Therefore, BR4 is a promising strain for developing a bioconsolidated plastic depolymerization and upcycling process. Collectively, our study provides insights that may extend beyond the artificial ecosystems established during our experiments and supports future strategies for effectively decomposing and valorizing plastic waste. Furthermore, the functional genomic analysis described herein serves as a valuable guide for elucidating the genetic potential of microbial communities and microorganisms in plastic deconstruction and upcycling.

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The development and course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are significantly influenced by inflammation and oxidative stress. Antioxidant therapy is a promising therapeutic option to enhance the clinical results of these individuals in this particular scenario. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of curcumin, with or without piperine, on cytokines, fecal calprotectin (CalF), and oxidative stress enzymatic and non-enzymatic indicators in patients with IBD. METHODS: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) who were at least 18 years old and had intact liver and kidney function participated in this randomized, double-blind trial (trial registration: ensaiosclinicos.gov.br as RBR-89q4ydz). For 12 weeks, participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: placebo, curcumin (1000 mg/day), or curcumin plus piperine (1000 mg + 10 mg/day). In order to examine oxidative stress indicators, CalF, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, blood and fecal samples were obtained, both prior to and following the intervention time. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, sex, and type of IBD, the curcumin plus piperine group had substantially higher serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) than the placebo group (4346.9 ± 879.0 vs. 3614.5 ± 731.5; p = 0.041). There were no discernible variations between the groups in CalF, inflammatory markers, or other indicators of oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), our study indicates that a 12-week curcumin plus piperine treatment effectively increases enzymatic antioxidant defense, especially SOD. These results demonstrate the potential therapeutic benefits of managing redox imbalance in individuals with IBD.

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BACKGROUND: Primary Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune hematological condition characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia and frequently presents with oral manifestations. However, reports of primary ITP in patients with Turner Syndrome (TS) are exceptionally rare, with few cases documented in the literature. Herein, we describe an unusual case of primary ITP with exuberant oral manifestations in a patient with TS. CASE REPORT: A 29-year-old woman was referred to an oral diagnostic service with complaints of "blood blisters and gum bleeding" lasting 8 h. On extraoral physical examination, multiple petechiae were observed in the upper and lower limbs, in addition to hemorrhagic extravasation in the right ocular sclera (hyposphagma). On intraoral examination, multiple vesicles and blisters filled with blood were identified on the lower lip, back of the tongue, and buccal mucosa, along with spontaneous gingival bleeding and hemorrhagic petechiae on the palate. Laboratory tests revealed thrombocytopenia (5000/mm3), whereas the blood count showed normality in the red and white series. After excluding other etiological factors or associated diseases, the patient was diagnosed with severe ITP and began treatment with systemic corticosteroids in the intensive care unit, resulting in a successful increase in platelets. After a 2-year follow-up, the patient remains free of ITP recurrences. CONCLUSION: Oral manifestations may be one of the first signs of ITP. Therefore, it is essential that dentists are familiar with the condition and, when faced with unusual oral bleeding, consider the possibility of a hematological disorder such as ITP, ensuring a correct and early diagnosis. Moreover, the presence of ITP can further exacerbate complications associated with TS. Therefore, rigorous follow-up of these patients is crucial, considering the high incidence of cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases and the reduced life expectancy of these patients.

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The Pace-of-Life syndrome proposes that behavioural, physiological and immune characteristics vary along a slow-fast gradient. Urbanization poses several physiological challenges to organisms. However, little is known about how the health status of frogs is affected by urbanization in the Tropics, which have a faster and more recent urbanization than the northern hemisphere. Here, we analysed a suite of physiological variables that reflect whole organism health, reproduction, metabolic and circulatory physiology and leukocyte responses in Leptodactylus podicipinus. Specifically, we tested how leukocyte profile, erythrocyte morphometrics and germ cell density, as well as somatic indices and erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities differ throughout the adult life span between urban and rural populations. We used Phenotypic Trajectory Analysis to test the effect of age and site on each of the multivariate data sets; and a Generalised Linear Model to test the effect of site and age on nuclear abnormalities. Somatic indices, erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities, erythrocyte morphometrics and leukocyte profile differed between populations, but less so for germ cell density. We found a large effect of site on nuclear abnormalities, with urban frogs having twice as many abnormalities as rural frogs. Our results suggest that urban frogs have a faster pace of life, but the response of phenotypic compartments is not fully concerted.

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The aim of this work was to develop a dense lamellar scaffold, as a biomimetic material with potential applications in the regeneration of tracheal tissue after surgical tumor resection. The scaffolds were produced by plastic compression technique, exploiting the use of total phenolic compounds (TPC) from Psidium guajava Linn as a potential cross-linking agent in a polymeric mixture based on collagen (COL), silk fibroin (SF), and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed the chemical interactions between the polymers and the cross-linking of TPC between COL and SF. Morphological analyses showed scaffolds with porosity, interconnectivity, and a porous surface structure with a gyroid-like geometry. The analysis of the anisotropic degree resulted in anisotropic structures (0.1% TFC and 0.3% TFC) and an isotropic structure (0.5% TFC). In the mechanical properties, it was evidenced greater resistance for the 0.3% TFC formulation. The addition of TPC percentages did not result in a significant difference (p > 0.05) in swelling capacity and disintegration rate. The results confirmed that TPC were able to modulate the morphological, morphometric, and mechanical properties of scaffolds. Thus, this study describes a potential new material to improve the regeneration of major tracheal structures after surgical tumor removal.

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Objetivo: verificar o conhecimento de acadêmicos de Odontologia de uma instituição de ensino superior da Paraíba acerca da avulsão dentária. Métodos: foi realizado um estudo transversal, no qual 64 acadêmicos responderam um formulário com perguntas objetivas relativas a dados sociodemográficos, período de formação do curso e conhecimento e condutas em casos de avulsão dentária. Foi realizada análise descritiva de frequência absoluta e relativa dos dados (SPSS, v. 20.0). Resultados: a maioria dos acadêmicos recebeu informações sobre avulsão dentária em aulas ministradas no curso (86%) e indicaria a irrigação com soro fisiológico seguida de reimplante quando da ocorrência do trauma há menos de uma hora (64,1%) e há mais de uma hora (43,8%). O tratamento endodôntico foi indicado, independentemente do tempo do dente fora do alvéolo, por 34,4% da amostra. A contenção rígida foi a mais indicada para o dente reimplantado (48,4%) e seu tempo mínimo de proservação radiográfica respondido pela maioria dos pesquisados foi de 6 meses (48,4%). Conclusões: apesar de a maioria dos acadêmicos ter recebido informações acerca da temática, o conhecimento foi considerado insuficiente em relação a condutas referentes ao reimplante dentário, indicação do tratamento endodôntico, tipo de contenção e tempo de proservação.

Objective: to verify the knowledge of dental students from a Higher Education Institution of Paraíba about dental avulsion. Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out, in which 64 students answered a form with objective questions regarding sociodemographic data, course period, knowledge and conduct in cases of tooth avulsion. Descriptive analysis of absolute and relative frequency of data was performed (SPSS, v. 20.0). Results: most students received information about dental avulsion during the graduation classes (86%) and would indicate irrigation with saline solution followed by reimplantation when the trauma occurred less than one hour (64.1%) and more than one hour (43.8%). Endodontic treatment was indicated, regardless of the time the tooth was out of the dental socket, according 34.4% of the sample. Rigid retention was the most indicated for the reimplanted tooth (48.4%) and six months was the minimum radiographic follow-up time answered by most students (48.4%). Conclusions: although most students have received information about the topic, the knowledge was considered insufficient in relation to some aspects of the protocols recommended for emergency care for dental avulsion, with emphasis on behaviors related to dental reimplantation, indication of endodontic treatment, type of containment and follow-up.

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INTRODUCTION: Lead (Pb) is a toxic pollutant, which can affect different tissues of the human body. The use of natural elements, as medicinal mushroom can reduce the toxic effects of Pb. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated, through preclinical tests, the oral co exposures to mushroom Agaricus bisporus (Ab) by gavage and Pb in drinking water, and the capability of Ab be a protective agent for both pregnant rats and their fetuses. METHODS: Female Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 5/group): Group I-Control; Group II-Ab 100 mg/kg; Group III-Pb 100 mg/L; Group IV-Ab +Pb -100 mg/kg +100 mg/L. Exposure was performed until the 19th day of gestation. On the 20th day, pregnant rats were euthanized, and the outcomes evaluated were weight gain; hematological profile; biochemical markers; oxidative stress markers; reproductive capacity; and embryo fetal development. RESULTS: The characterization of mushrooms reveals them to be a valuable source of nutrients. However, Pb ingestion resulted in reduced weight gain and negative impacts on hematological and biochemical parameters. Fortunately, co administration of mushrooms helped to mitigate these negative effects and promote recovery. The mushroom also showed antioxidant activity, improving parameters of oxidative stress. In addition, Ab partially recovered the damage in fetal morphology and bone parameters. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that the co administration of Ab improved the toxicity caused by Pb, and the mushroom could be used as a natural alternative as a protective/chelator agent.

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El uso de sustancias psicoactivas contribuye a la aparición de diferentes trastornos cuando se asocia con variaciones sociales y la fisiopatología del individuo, como aspectos genéticos, ambientales y neurológicos. Así, surge la necesidad de producir métodos de revisión de la literatura, entre los cuales destacamos la revisión integradora. Las palabras clave "alcohol" Y "estrategias de afrontamiento" Y "terapia cognitiva" fueron cruzadas en las bases de la Biblioteca Virtual en Salud (BVS) y SciELO, resultando en 200 artículos publicados en portugués, inglés y español, de 2018 a 2022. La inclusión los criterios fueron: ser un artículo de investigación completo; publicado en portugués, inglés y español; estar disponible electrónicamente y abordar el tema en estudio. Los resultados indicaron avances en prácticas que involucran la práctica de la TC y que, asociadas a otras técnicas de intervención, modifican el perfil tradicional de atención al paciente. Así, la literatura apunta para una mayor demanda de rehabilitación en la que se inserta la Terapia Cognitivista AU

O uso de substâncias psicoativas contribuem para o aparecimento de diferentes transtornos quando associadas a variações sociais e à fisiopatologia do indivíduo, como aspectos genéticos, ambientais e neurológicos. Desta forma, há necessidade de produção demétodos de revisão de literatura, dentre estes, destacamos a revisão integrativa. Foram cruzados os unitermos "álcool" AND "estratégias de enfrentamento" AND "terapia cognitiva" nas bases da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS) e SciELO, resultando em 200 artigos publicados em português, inglês e espanhol, no período de 2018 a 2022. Os critérios de inclusão foram: ser artigo de pesquisa completo; publicado nos idiomas português, inglês e espanhol; estar disponível eletronicamente e abordar o tema em estudo. Os resultados indicaram avanços nas práticas que envolvem a prática da TC e que associadas a outras técnicas de intervenção, modificam o perfil tradicional de atenção aos pacientes. Assim a literatura aponta uma maior demanda de reabilitação na qual a Terapia Cognitivista está inserida AU

The use of psychoactive substances contributes to the appearance of different disorders when associated with social variations and the pathophysiology of the individual, such as genetic, environmental and neurological aspects. Thus, there is a need to produce literature review methods, among which we highlight the integrative review. The keywords "alcohol" AND "coping strategies" AND "cognitive therapy" were crossed in the bases of the Virtual Health Library (VHL) and SciELO, resulting in 200 articles published in Portuguese, English and Spanish, from 2018 to 2022. The inclusion criteria were: being a complete research article; published in Portuguese, English and Spanish; be electronically available and address the topic under study. The results indicated advances in practices that involve the practice of CT and that, associated with other intervention techniques, modify the traditional profile of patient care. Thus, the literature points to a greater demand for rehabilitation in which Cognitivist Therapy is inserted AU

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has pointed out the high vulnerability of developing countries to climate change, which is expected to impact food and income security. Sheep farming is one of the main animal productions among the families located in the most vulnerable regions of the semiarid region of Pernambuco state, a Brazilian territory known for its high temperatures, low relative humidity, and high net solar radiation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify different regions of Pernambuco that may be more suitable for different breeds of sheep, based on non-parametric statistics and kriging maps of the temperature and humidity index (THI). THI values were determined based on mean annual temperature and wind speed extracted from the TerraClimate remote sensing database. Pernambuco state presented THI values ranging from 66 to 79, with the hair breeds having a high potential for exploitation in almost all territories, including the main meat-producing breeds. The East Friesian breed, a high milk producer, would be well suited to the Agreste mesoregion, a territory that, like the Pajeú and Moxotó microregions, also proved favorable for the introduction of three wool breeds (Suffolk, Poll Dorset, and Texel) known as major meat producers. The kriging maps of the THI values successfully allowed the identification of strategic development regions of Pernambuco state with high potential for sheep breeding.

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Scheduling residential loads for financial savings and user comfort may be performed by smart home controllers (SHCs). For this purpose, the electricity utility's tariff variation costs, the lowest tariff cost schedules, the user's preferences, and the level of comfort that each load may add to the household user are examined. However, the user's comfort modeling, found in the literature, does not take into account the user's comfort perceptions, and only uses the user-defined preferences for load on-time when it is registered in the SHC. The user's comfort perceptions are dynamic and fluctuating, while the comfort preferences are fixed. Therefore, this paper proposes the modeling of a comfort function that takes into account the user's perceptions using fuzzy logic. The proposed function is integrated into an SHC that uses PSO for scheduling residential loads, and aims at economy and user comfort as multiple objectives. The analysis and validation of the proposed function includes different scenarios related to economy-comfort, load shifting, consideration of energy tariffs, user preferences, and user perceptions. The results show that it is more beneficial to use the proposed comfort function method only when the user requires SHC to prioritize comfort at the expense of financial savings. Otherwise, it is more beneficial to use a comfort function that only considers the user's comfort preferences and not their perceptions.

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Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2) data for a period of 40 years (1980-2019) was used to detect the trend characteristics of daily average temperature in the state of Kerala, India. Data extracted from a total of fifty locations in the state were statistically processed using Mann-Kendall (MK) and Spearman's Rho (SR) tests to detect the trend, Pettitt test to identify the single change point, and Theil-Sen's method for the calculation of the rate of change. The MERRA-2 product is validated for the study region according to statistical indicators. The daily average temperature in the state during the period of study varies between 16.56 and 32.64 °C. The spatial pattern of daily average maximum temperature shows higher temperature domains in the central and southern parts of the state. Trend characteristics of daily average temperature assessed through MK and SR tests show a significant increasing trend in all stations, with maximum values in stations located in the northern part of the state. Change point detected through the Pettitt test divided the sampling stations into three groups based on the change in daily average temperature characteristics in the years 2002 (north zone), 2009 (south zone), and 2012 (central zone), indicating nonunique spatial variability in temperature characteristics in the state. The rate of change in the daily average temperature assessed indicates an increase at the rate of an average of 0.013 °C.year-1. During the whole study period, the daily average temperature showed an overall increase of 0.54 °C, and for the 100-year futuristic prediction, the daily average temperature in the state shows an average increase of 1.35 °C. Among the stations, a higher rate of increase in daily average temperature is shown by stations located in the eastern part of the Pathanamthitta, Idukki, and Kollam districts. Though the rise in daily average temperature is not much higher, its spatial characteristics require more attention because, in recent times, the study area has faced repeated, severe, and long drought conditions along with sunburn incidents. As an agrarian state, a change in the temperature domain will adversely affect the overall agricultural production and will evoke not only a food crisis but also economic as well as water resources issues. The result obtained can be used as holistic basic information for understanding the impending effect of climate change in the state to frame better mitigation as well as management strategies.

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Some chemical elements released in nature due to anthropogenic actions are harmful to living beings, and finding efficient and low-cost ways to measure their presence is a challenge. The major goal of this work was to use the barks of urban trees as bioindicators of the presence of these elements. For this purpose, tree barks of sixteen individual trees were collected, including Ipê (Bignoniaceae Family); Sibipiruna (Fabaceae Family); Pine (Pinaceae Family), in the city of Sorocaba, SP, Brazil, in three different districts. Two samples, one of Ipê and another of Sibipiruna, collected in the Mata Atlântica forest in Juquitiba, SP, Brazil, were used as control samples. They were also analyzed; six soil samples were collected in the same places as the tree barks in Sorocaba. The samples were analyzed using the Energy Dispersion X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy technique. The elements studied ranged from Al to Bi. The results were submitted to univariate and multivariate statistical analysis showing that Sibipiruna presented a high concentration of the element Ca. At the same time, Ipê and Pine showed high concentrations of K. In the identified elements, the probable sources of contamination were pointed out, such as elements from the dust of braking automobiles (Al, Si, S, Ti, Fe, Cu, and Ba), elements from the paint used to paint the asphalt (Si, Ca, Cr and Pb) and elements from the tire tread wear (Al, S, Ca and Zn). From the analysis of soil samples and trees, it was found that there was high pollution by the element Pb in the specimens collected in front of the old Saturnia battery factory, located in the district of Éden in the city of Sorocaba, SP, Brazil (Coordinates: Lat 23K253141 m E; Long 23K7405583 m S).

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ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The change of paradigm in relation to the medical use of cannabis and its components in the treatment of pain is undeniable nowadays. Understanding the functioning of the endocannabinoid system and its interaction with drugs already available on the market is necessary for professionals who care for patients with chronic pain. The aim of this study was to show the mechanisms by which cannabinoids act, not only on CB1 and CB2 receptors, but also on various other receptors, modulating chronic pain, and encourage health professionals to recognize the need to expand the knowledge about its functioning and synergism with several medications so that the safe use of cannabis occurs in the treatment of multiple diseases, especially chronic pain. CONTENTS: The action of cannabinoids on the endocannabinoid system has the ability to neuro and immunomodulate pain transmission in a multifactorial and extremely complex way, acting simultaneously on multiple targets, in the peripheral, spinal and supraspinal nervous system. The analgesia mechanisms determined by cannabinoids include the inhibition of the release of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in presynaptic nerve terminals, modulation of postsynaptic neuronal excitability, activation of the descending inhibitory pathway and reduction of neural inflammation. There is also the possibility that the interaction of cannabinoids with opioid and serotonergic receptors has an amplifying effect on the analgesic effect of drugs belonging to the opioid class. CONCLUSION: The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in pain control and its pathophysiology. It is expected that this system will continue to be studied for a better understanding of its signaling pathways and metabolism, and also that more clinical trials of greater size and duration will be carried out to understand to what extent this approach can be beneficial in the treatment of chronic pain.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A mudança de paradigma, em nível mundial, em relação ao uso medicinal de cannabis e seus respectivos componentes no tratamento da dor é indiscutível nos tempos atuais. Entender o funcionamento do sistema endocanabinoide e sua interação com fármacos já disponíveis no mercado se faz necessário aos profissionais que cuidam de pacientes com dor crônica. O objetivo deste estudo foi mostrar os mecanismos pelos quais os canabinoides atuam, não somente nos receptores CB1 e CB2, mas também em diversos outros receptores, agindo na modulação da dor crônica, bem como incentivar os profissionais da saúde a reconhecerem a necessidade de ampliar o conhecimento acerca desse funcionamento e sinergismo com diversos fármacos para que ocorra o uso seguro da cannabis no tratamento de múltiplas doenças, sobretudo dores crônicas. CONTEÚDO: A ação dos canabinoides no sistema endocanabinoide tem a capacidade de neuro e imunomodulação da transmissão da dor de forma multifatorial e extremamente complexa, atuando simultaneamente em múltiplos alvos, no sistema nervoso periférico, espinhal e supraespinhal. Os mecanismos de analgesia determinados pelos canabinoides incluem a inibição de liberação de neurotransmissores e neuropeptídeos nos terminais nervosos pré-sinápticos, a modulação da excitabilidade neuronal pós-sináptica, a ativação da via inibitória descendente e a redução da inflamação neural. Existe ainda a possibilidade de que a interação dos canabinoides com receptores opioides e serotoninérgicos tenha uma ação amplificadora do efeito analgésico de fármacos pertencentes à classe opioide. CONCLUSÃO: O sistema endocanabinoide desempenha um papel fundamental no controle da dor e na sua fisiopatologia. Espera-se que esse sistema continue a ser estudado para uma melhor compreensão das suas vias de sinalização e metabolismo. É preciso também que se realizem mais ensaios clínicos, de maior dimensão e duração, para compreender até que ponto essa abordagem poderá ser benéfica no tratamento da dor crônica.

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ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several studies have shown the growing interest and consumption of cannabinoids and medical cannabis (MC), with management of chronic pain being one of its main therapeutic recommendations. The objective of this study was to review and analyze the results of the most recent preclinical and clinical research on the application of MC and cannabinoids to understand their analgesic efficacy. CONTENTS: A literature review was performed in Pubmed. Preclinical research has shown the role of the endocannabinoid system in pain pathways through the identification of its action sites and pain modulation mechanisms. Numerous clinical studies have endeavored to demonstrate the efficacy of CM and cannabinoids in the management of various pain syndromes. Some international guidelines have already incorporated the use of MC and cannabinoids, but as third or fourth-line treatment and, in most cases, with weak recommendation. CONCLUSION: Despite the growing production of scientific knowledge, the data currently available still lack high-quality evidence to define the efficacy and analgesic potency of cannabinoids. Larger preclinical and clinical research are needed to understand the status of cannabinoids in pain management, as well as to generate high-quality evidence to include or not the use of MC and cannabinoids in guidelines for the management of the various pain syndromes.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Diversos trabalhos têm constatado o crescente interesse e o consumo de canabinoides e cannabis medicinal (CM), sendo o auxílio no manejo da dor crônica uma de suas principais indicações terapêuticas na atualidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi revisar e analisar os resultados das mais recentes pesquisas pré-clínicas e clínicas da aplicação da CM e dos canabinoides para compreensão de sua eficácia analgésica. CONTEÚDO: Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura no sistema de busca Pubmed. Pesquisas pré-clínicas têm evidenciado o papel do sistema endocanabinoides nas vias da dor, através da identificação de seus locais de atuação e mecanismos de modulação da dor. Inúmeros estudos clínicos têm mostrado eficácia da CM e dos canabinoides para manejo de diversas síndromes dolorosas. Algumas diretrizes internacionais já incorporaram o uso de CM e canabinoides, mas como tratamento de terceira ou quarta linha e, na maioria dos casos, com poucas recomendações. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar da crescente produção de conhecimento científico, os dados atualmente disponíveis ainda carecem de evidências de alta qualidade para definição da eficácia e poder analgésico dos canabinoides. São necessários maiores estudos pré-clínicos e clínicos para que se possa compreender melhor o status dos canabinoides no manejo da dor, assim como gerar evidências de alta qualidade para incluir ou não o uso da CM e dos canabinoides nos guidelines de manejo das diversas síndromes dolorosas.

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ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pharmaceutical preparations of cannabis have been used by mankind since long time ago, and recently they have been the pharmaceutical industry's focus. However, for proper therapeutic application, in-depth knowledge of the endocannabinoid system, which is made mainly by lipid signaling, is needed. The purpose of this study was to explore the current understanding of the players in this system, paying special attention to the molecular machinery required to process it. CONTENTS: This is a narrative review of the current literature regarding major components of the endocannabinoid system, in particular: the receptors, main endogenous ligands, and the enzymes responsible for its components processing. The pharmacological and preclinical aspects were emphasized. CONCLUSION: The better comprehension of the molecular structure of receptors and enzymes will be crucial to developing new pharmacological strategies. A detailed description of the machinery responsible for endocannabinoid lipid metabolization will pave the way for the discovery of new drugs that act on the endogenous system and that can be applied effectively in clinical practice.

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Os preparados medicinais canabinoides são há muito utilizados pela humanidade e têm sido objeto de interesse da indústria farmacológica recente. Para a aplicação terapêutica adequada é necessário, no entanto, o conhecimento aprofundado do sistema canabinoide endógeno, o qual em sua grande parte é constituído por mensageiros lipídicos. O objetivo deste estudo foi explorar o conhecimento vigente a respeito dos constituintes desse sistema, com especial atenção à maquinaria molecular necessária para processá-los. CONTEÚDO: Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa da literatura atual acerca dos integrantes do sistema canabinoide endógeno, notadamente: seus receptores, os principais ligantes endógenos e as enzimas responsáveis pelo processamento de seus componentes. Os aspectos farmacológicos e pré-clínicos foram enfatizados. CONCLUSÃO: O melhor entendimento da ultraestrutura de receptores e enzimas contribuirá de forma decisiva para o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias farmacológicas. A partir da descrição pormenorizada da maquinaria responsável pela metabolização lipídica endocanabinoide é que se pavimentará o caminho para a descoberta de novos fármacos que atuem no sistema endógeno e que possam ser aplicados de forma eficaz na prática clínica.

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Objective: To correlate body composition measures, based on computed tomography (CT) analysis of muscle mass and adipose tissue, with disease-free survival in breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 262 female patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer. Body composition was assessed on a pretreatment CT scan (at the L3 level). The analysis included quantification of the areas of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and skeletal muscle mass, as well as of the mean skeletal muscle density. The VAT/SAT ratio, skeletal mass index (SMI), and skeletal muscle gauge (SMG) were calculated. Results: Of the 262 patients evaluated, 175 (66.8%) were classified as overweight or obese on the basis of their body mass index. We observed low SMI in 35 patients (13.4%) and elevated VAT in 123 (46.9%). Disease-free survival was significantly shorter in the patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.044), in those with a low SMI (p = 0.006), in those with low SMG (p = 0.013), and in those with a low VAT/SAT ratio (p = 0.050). In a multivariate analysis, only SMG, the VAT/SAT ratio, and having undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy retained their statistical significance. Conclusion: Our results confirm that low SMG and the VAT/SAT ratio can be used as imaging biomarkers to assess prognosis in patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer.

Objetivo: Correlacionar medidas de composição corporal baseadas na análise por tomografia computadorizada (TC) da massa muscular e tecido adiposo com a sobrevida livre de doença em pacientes com câncer de mama. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo unicêntrico que incluiu 262 mulheres com câncer de mama não metastático. Avaliação da composição corporal foi realizada na TC pré-tratamento (nível de L3), incluindo tecido adiposo subcutâneo (SAT) e tecido adiposo visceral (VAT), massa muscular esquelética e densidade do músculo esquelético. A relação VAT/SAT, o índice de massa esquelética (SMI) e o produto do músculo esquelético (SMG) foram calculados. Resultados: De acordo com o índice de massa corporal, 175 (66,8%) pacientes foram classificadas com sobrepeso ou obesidade. Baixo SMI foi observado em 35 (13,4%) pacientes e VAT elevado, em 123 (46,9%). Houve uma redução significativa na sobrevida livre de doença nas pacientes que realizaram quimioterapia neoadjuvante (p = 0,044), nas com baixo SMI (p = 0,006), baixo SMG (p = 0,013) e baixa relação VAT/SAT (p = 0,050). Na análise multivariada, apenas SMG, relação VAT/SAT e quimioterapia neoadjuvante confirmaram significância estatística. Conclusão: Nossos resultados confirmaram que SMG e relação VAT/SAT baixos podem ser usados como importantes biomarcadores de imagem para avaliar o prognóstico em pacientes com câncer de mama não metastático.

RESUMO

Objetivo: Analisar a relação da escolaridade em casos de sífilis na gestação e congênita no Brasil. Métodos: Estudo observacional analítico retrospectivo, utilizando dados secundários do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, coletados entre os meses de março e abril de 2021, referente ao período de 2010-2019, tabulados em planilhas do programa Microsoft Excel 2016. No tratamento estatístico, utilizou-se o software Join Point, analisando as tendências em Variações percentuais anuais (Annual Percentage Change) e em Variação percentual anual média (Average Annual Percentage Change). Resultados: No período analisado, as tendências de sífilis na gestação, em mulheres com escolaridade ? 8 anos, apresentou em âmbito nacional e regiões Norte e Nordeste, comportamento significativamente crescentes a partir do Fundamental completo. As regiões Centro-Oeste, Sudeste e Sul apresentaram tendência significativamente crescente nas categorias de escolaridade Médio incompleto e completo, Superior incompleto e completo. Quanto à análise acerca sífilis congênita, há tendências significativamente crescentes nas mães com de 8 anos ou mais de estudo formal no Brasil e nas regiões Nordeste, Centro-oeste, Sudeste e Sul. Acerca da sífilis congênita na região Norte análise estatística aponta às tendências crescentes das categorias de escolaridade Fundamental completo, Médio incompleto e completo, enquanto as categorias Superior incompleto e completo apresentam tendências estacionárias. Conclusões: Tradicionalmente, os casos de sífilis na gestação e sífilis congênita estão associados a baixa escolaridade. Entretanto, o aumento médio da escolaridade da população brasileira e a incidência elevadas dos casos, apontam para a necessidade a reorganização das estratégias de prevenção e controle dessa IST.

RESUMO

E. coli is one of the etiological agents responsible for pyometra in female dogs, with conventional treatment involving ovariohysterectomy. Here, we report the isolation and full characterization of two novel lytic phages, viz. vB_EcoM_Uniso11 (ph0011) and vB_EcoM_Uniso21 (ph0021). Both phages belong to the order Caudovirales and present myovirus-like morphotypes, with phage ph0011 being classified as Myoviridae genus Asteriusvirus and phage ph0021 being classified as Myoviridae genus Tequatrovirus, based on their complete genome sequences. The 348,288 bp phage ph0011 and 165,222 bp phage ph0021 genomes do not encode toxins, integrases or antimicrobial resistance genes neither depolymerases related sequences. Both phages were shown to be effective against at least twelve E. coli clinical isolates in in vitro antibacterial activity assays. Based on their features, both phages have potential for controlling pyometra infections caused by E. coli. Phage ph0011 (reduction of 4.24 log CFU/mL) was more effective than phage ph0021 (reduction of 1.90 log CFU/mL) after 12 h of incubation at MOI 1000. As a cocktail, the two phages were highly effective in reducing the bacterial load (reduction of 5.57 log CFU/mL) at MOI 100, after 12 h of treatment. Both phages were structurally and functionally stabilized in vaginal egg formulations.

RESUMO

Abstract Objective: To correlate body composition measures, based on computed tomography (CT) analysis of muscle mass and adipose tissue, with disease-free survival in breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 262 female patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer. Body composition was assessed on a pretreatment CT scan (at the L3 level). The analysis included quantification of the areas of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and skeletal muscle mass, as well as of the mean skeletal muscle density. The VAT/SAT ratio, skeletal mass index (SMI), and skeletal muscle gauge (SMG) were calculated. Results: Of the 262 patients evaluated, 175 (66.8%) were classified as overweight or obese on the basis of their body mass index. We observed low SMI in 35 patients (13.4%) and elevated VAT in 123 (46.9%). Disease-free survival was significantly shorter in the patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.044), in those with a low SMI (p = 0.006), in those with low SMG (p = 0.013), and in those with a low VAT/SAT ratio (p = 0.050). In a multivariate analysis, only SMG, the VAT/SAT ratio, and having undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy retained their statistical significance. Conclusion: Our results confirm that low SMG and the VAT/SAT ratio can be used as imaging biomarkers to assess prognosis in patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer.

Resumo Objetivo: Correlacionar medidas de composição corporal baseadas na análise por tomografia computadorizada (TC) da massa muscular e tecido adiposo com a sobrevida livre de doença em pacientes com câncer de mama. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo unicêntrico que incluiu 262 mulheres com câncer de mama não metastático. Avaliação da composição corporal foi realizada na TC pré-tratamento (nível de L3), incluindo tecido adiposo subcutâneo (SAT) e tecido adiposo visceral (VAT), massa muscular esquelética e densidade do músculo esquelético. A relação VAT/SAT, o índice de massa esquelética (SMI) e o produto do músculo esquelético (SMG) foram calculados. Resultados: De acordo com o índice de massa corporal, 175 (66,8%) pacientes foram classificadas com sobrepeso ou obesidade. Baixo SMI foi observado em 35 (13,4%) pacientes e VAT elevado, em 123 (46,9%). Houve uma redução significativa na sobrevida livre de doença nas pacientes que realizaram quimioterapia neoadjuvante (p = 0,044), nas com baixo SMI (p = 0,006), baixo SMG (p = 0,013) e baixa relação VAT/SAT (p = 0,050). Na análise multivariada, apenas SMG, relação VAT/SAT e quimioterapia neoadjuvante confirmaram significância estatística. Conclusão: Nossos resultados confirmaram que SMG e relação VAT/SAT baixos podem ser usados como importantes biomarcadores de imagem para avaliar o prognóstico em pacientes com câncer de mama não metastático.

RESUMO

Based on the previous study, in which nisin and bacterial cellulose were utilized, this new experiment loads nisin into bacterial cellulose (N-BC) and evaluates the morphological characteristics, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial activity and stability of the developed system. The load efficiency of nisin in BC was evaluated by an agar diffusion assay, utilizing Lactobacillus sakei, and total proteins. After having found the ideal time and concentration for the loading process, the system stability was evaluated for 100 days at 4, 25 and 37 °C against Staphylococcus aureus and L. sakei. Thus, in this study, there is a system that proves to be efficient, once BC has enhanced the antimicrobial activity of nisin, acting as a selective barrier for other compounds present in the standard solution and protecting the peptide. After 4 h, with 45% of proteins, this activity was almost 2 log10 higher than that of the initial solution. Once the nisin solution was not pure, it is possible to suggest that the BC may have acted as a filter. This barrier enhanced the nisin activity and, as a consequence of the nisin loading, a stable N-BC system formed. The N-BC could create meaningful material for pharmaceutical and food applications.