Pharmaceuticals are biologically active and persistent substances which have been recognized as a continuing threat to environmental stability. Chronic ecotoxicity data as well as information on the ...current distribution levels in different environmental compartments continue to be sparse and are focused on those therapeutic classes that are more frequently prescribed and consumed. Nevertheless, they indicate the negative impact that these chemical contaminants may have on living organisms, ecosystems and ultimately, public health. This article reviews the different contamination sources as well as fate and both acute and chronic effects on non-target organisms. An extensive review of existing data in the form of tables, encompassing many therapeutic classes is presented.
Abstract Scorpionic accidents are a major public health problem due to the high occurrence with potential seriousness. In this manner, the research aimed to analyze the occurrence of scorpionic ...accidents in a municipality in the northeastern of Brazil. An exploratory, descriptive study was made, with a quantitative approach, using secondary data which was gotten from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), from 2008 to 2018. Data such as neighborhood, presence of street markets were also used, and the existence of sanitation and climatic data such as temperature and season. Geoprocessing was used to identify possible changes in the environment. In the analyzed period, 9,330 cases of scorpion accidents were recorded, with an average of 848 annual notifications. Scorpionic accidents occurred more frequently in women (5,686; 60.94%). Individuals aged 20 to 29 years (1.727; 18.51%) were more frequent to scorpion stings. Regarding the body parts where the stings were made, the highlights were on the foot (3.515; 37.67%) followed by the hand (2.818; 30.20%). No statistically significant relation was observed between climatic factors and scorpionic accidents. However, the high number of cases of scorpionic accidents was observed in the last 11 years studied. It was evident that during the study period there was no statistical relationship when climatic factors were correlated to scorpionic accidents. On its turn, when it was verified the results of the geoprocessing analysis, it was seen that anthropic factors have been motivating the potentiation of the occurrence of these accidents.
Resumo Os acidentes escorpiônicos apresentam-se como um grande problema de saúde pública em virtude da grande ocorrência com potencial gravidade. Nesse sentido, o trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a ocorrência de acidentes escorpiônicos em um município do nordeste brasileiro. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo, de caráter exploratório, com abordagem quantitativa em que foram utilizados dados secundários obtidos no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN), no período de 2008 a 2018. Também foram utilizados dados como bairro, presença de feiras livres e a existência de saneamento básico e dados climáticos como temperatura e estação do ano. O geoprocessamento foi utilizado para identificar as possíveis alterações no ambiente. No período analisado, foram registrados 9,330 casos de acidentes com escorpião, com média de 848 notificações anuais. Os acidentes escorpiônicos ocorreram com mais frequência em mulheres (5,686; 60,94%). Em indivíduos na faixa etária de 20 a 29 anos (1,727; 18,51%) foram mais frequentes a picada de escorpião. Com relação ao local das picadas destacaram-se o pé (3,515; 37,67%), seguido da mão (2,818; 30,20%). Não foi observada relação estatisticamente significativa entre os fatores clímáticos e os acidentes escorpiônicos. Foi observado elevado número de casos de acidentes escorpiônicos nos últimos 11 anos estudados. Ficou evidente que durante o período de estudo não existiu relação estatística quando se correlacionou fatores climáticos aos acidentes escorpiônicos. Por sua vez, ao verificar os resultados da análise de geoprocessamento foi visto que fatores antrópicos têm sido motivadores da potencialização da ocorrência desses acidentes.
Essential oil, ethanolic extract and decoction of 10 plant species from interior Portugal were analyzed for their activity towards acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme and their antioxidant activity. ...Of these,
Melissa officinalis, Paronychia argentea, Sanguisorba minor,
Hypericum undulatum and
Malva silvestris are used in herbal medicine,
Laurus nobilis and
Mentha suaveolens as condiments, and
Salvia officinalis,
Lavandula angustifolia and
Lavandula pedunculata also as aromatics
. Melissa officinalis and
Mentha suaveolens showed AChE inhibitory capacity higher then 50% in the essential oil fraction.
Laurus nobilis, Hypericum undulatum, and
Sanguisorba minor showed a high inhibition value of AChE in the ethanolic fraction, 64% (1
mg
ml
−1) 68% (0.5
mg
ml
−1), and 78% (1
mg
ml
−1), respectively. Higher values of AChE inhibitory activity were found using decoctions of
Lavandula pedunculata,
Mentha suaveolens and
Hypericum undulatum, 68, 69 and 82% (at a concentration of 5
mg dry plant
ml
−1 of assay), respectively. The free radical scavenger activity was higher for the polar extracts. In the water extracts most of the plants showed values around 90%. When antioxidant activity was measured with the β-carotene-linoleic acid assay high activity (65–95%) was also found in the water extracts.
Hypericum undulatum,
Melissa officinalis and
Laurus nobilis showed both high AChE inhibitory capacity and antioxidant activity.
Quality and sensory attributes of meat from 32 mixed-breed Santa Inês lambs fed diets composed of four silages with old man saltbush (Atriplex nummularia Lind), buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), ...Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium), and Pornunça (Manihot sp.) were evaluated. Meat from lambs fed diet containing old man saltbush silage (P<0.05) showed greater values for cooking loss. Of the sensory attributes evaluated in the Longissimus lumborum muscle of the lambs, color and juiciness did not differ (P>0.05). However, the silages led to differences (P<0.05) in aroma, tenderness, and flavor values. The meat from animals fed the pornunça and Gliricidia silages was tenderer. Flavor scores were higher in meat from lambs that consumed old man saltbush silage and lower in the meat from those fed buffelgrass silage. Diets formulated with buffelgrass silage for sheep reduce meat production. Based on the results for carcass weight and meat quality, old man saltbush and pornunça are better silages for finishing sheep.
•Silages adapted to the semi-arid conditions were used as alternative forage sources.•Carcass traits, meat quality and sensory attributes were evaluated in feedlot lambs.•Diets with old man saltbush silage increased cooking loss and protein content.•Diets affected tenderness and flavor of lamb's meat.•Lambs fed diets with pornunça and old man saltbush silages had more suitable meats.
In this paper, we propose a new way of making pure zinc tungstate (ZnWO
4
) nanocrystals through thermal plasma processing. Initially, we prepared amorphous powders by the coprecipitation method at ...room temperature and then, these powders were processed at different temperatures between 400 and 600 °C for 1 h by the thermal plasma technique. Structural analyses with characterizations by X-ray diffraction, Rietveld refinement data, micro-Raman, and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopies indicate a transition from the amorphous phase (coprecipitated) to intermediate (W
18
O
49
and ZnO phases) and desired ZnWO
4
phase between 400 and 550 °C for 1 h. These characterizations confirmed the best effect of thermal plasma at 600 °C for 1 h to obtain single-phase ZnWO
4
pristine with a wolframite-type monoclinic structure and typical vibrational modes. The ultravioleta-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy revealed a decrease in optical band energy values from 3.97 to 3.20 eV. Field emission scanning electron microscopy showed clear images of a considerable morphological modification of small spherical and irregular particles referring to the W
18
O
49
and ZnO phases to a growth more homogeneous of rod-like ZnWO
4
nanocrystals related to pristine phase with size from 132 to 155 nm. The sonocatalytic, photocatalytic, and sonophotocatalytic (SPC) properties for degradation of Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) were investigated. The better SPC degradation rate at Rh6G dye in 80 min was performed with ZnWO
4
nanocrystals processed at 600 °C. Finally, the radical scavengers assays indicated that hydroxyl (·OH) and superoxide (
O
2
·
-
) radicals are the main ones responsible for the chemical reactions to Rh6G dye degradation.
Graphical abstract
A new method of processing using thermal plasma was employed to make pristine ZnWO
4
nanocrystals at 600 ºC for 1 h and their structural evolution, shape, photocatalytic, sonocatalytic, and sonophotocatalytic properties were investigated in detail.
Summary
Results from bone biopsy and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) were compared in 31 CKD patients. There was an agreement mainly for cortical compartment ...that may represent a perspective on the fracture risk assessment. HR-pQCT also provided some clues on the turnover status, which warrants further studies.
Introduction
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are at high risk of bone disease. Although bone biopsy is considered the best method to evaluate bone disease, it is expensive and not always available. Here we have compared, for the first time, data obtained from bone biopsy and HR-pQCT in a sample of CKD patients on dialysis.
Methods
HR-pQCT and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were performed in 31 CKD patients (30 on dialysis). Biopsies were analyzed by quantitative histomorphometry, and classified according to TMV.
Results
We have found an inverse correlation between radius cortical density measured by HR-pQCT, with serum, as well as histomorphometric bone remodeling markers. Trabecular density and BV/TV measured through HR-pQCT in the distal radius correlated with trabecular and mineralized trabecular bone volume. Trabecular number, separation, and thickness obtained from HR-pQCT and from bone biopsy correlated with each other. Patients with cortical porosity on bone histomorphometry presented lower cortical density at the distal radius. Cortical density at radius was higher while bone alkaline phosphatase was lower in patients with low turnover. Combined, these parameters could identify the turnover status better than individually.
Conclusions
There was an agreement between HR-pQCT and bone biopsy parameters, particularly in cortical compartment, which may point to a new perspective on the fracture risk assessment for CKD patients. Besides classical bone resorption markers, HR-pQCT provided some clues on the turnover status by measurements of cortical density at radius, although the significance of this finding warrants further studies.
In this contribution, it was suggested an extension of Gurson model for cyclic application, regarding the prediction of fretting fatigue life and the study of the influence of the plastic strain ...field on fretting fatigue for an aluminum alloy 7050-T7451. In this setting, a modification in the defects growth mechanism was done, including a variable that distinguishes the evolution rate of Gurson damage in tension-compressive loads and, the coupling of the Xue shear mechanism to the extension of the model to low range of stress triaxiality. Initial simulations were performed for traditional fatigue tests and the suggested model has worked in good agreement with experimental data. After that, experimental fretting fatigue tests were proposed and carried out in order to observe the influence of the contact pressure of the fretting pad on the fretting specimen and in the system life. Numerical simulations were performed, considering now the modeling of the fretting fatigue problem by Finite Elements Method and life predictions were calculated, applying the suggested Gurson-based continuum damage formulation, by an analysis in a Gauss point. The calculated and observed life diagram has shown a robustness performance of formulation, predicting lives within a band factor of 2. It was also verified that the plastic strain field introduced, due to the increase in contact pressure on the fretting pad, benefits the specimen life, since the plastic strain was induced by the appearance of dislocations, which causes a hardening and an increase of the macroscopic material properties, as well as a negative mean stress into the specimen.
•Continuum damage in two-scale model.•Fretting fatigue in Gurson-based approach.•Influence of the plastic strain field in fatigue life.•Experimental tests in fretting fatigue.
This study evaluated the body condition score (BCS) at calving and breed (B) effects on milk composition, yield, performance, physiological parameters, hemogram, blood metabolites, and urinary ...metabolites in the transition and early lactation periods of Mediterranean (MED) and Murrah (MUR) buffaloes. Twenty MED and fifteen MUR buffaloes were distributed into four experimental treatments, in a completely randomized design, considering their racial groups and BCS (LBCS = low; HBCS = high): LBCS MED (
N
= 9); HBCS MED (
N
= 11); LBCS MUR (
N
= 8); HBCS MUR (
N
= 7). Animals were monitored during the last 21 days of gestation and first 56 days postpartum and kept under the same management and feeding conditions. During data collection, milk composition, yield, performance, physiological parameters, hemogram, blood metabolites, and urinary metabolites were evaluated. Higher milk production and fat-corrected milk were observed in MED than MUR buffaloes. Breed effects were observed on body weight, rectal temperature, glucose, urea, calcium (Ca) concentrations, and BCS effects on total protein, albumin, urea, and Ca. There were BCS effects on hematocrit, neutrophils, eosinophils, and interactions between B × BCS for lymphocytes and platelets. There were breed effects on urinary concentrations of chlorine, uric acid, and interactions between weight (W) × B on chlorine and urea. The MED buffaloes can be considered the most prepared to undergo physiological changes, including the BCS value at calving, indicating higher physiological health. Besides, this study demonstrates more considerable preparation for the calving, regardless of the body condition score at calving.
Metabolite profiles of chicken breast extracts and water mobility in breasts were studied using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy and time-domain NMR (TD-NMR) relaxometry, ...respectively, using normal breast (NB), and wooden breast (WB) and white striping (WS) myopathies in broilers. One thousand eight hundred sixty broilers were raised to commercial standards, receiving the same diets that were formulated as per the different growth stages. At 49 D of age, 200 animals were slaughtered following routine commercial procedures, and at 4 h postmortem, the whole breast (pectoralis major muscle) was removed and visually inspected by an experienced meat inspector who selected NB (without myopathies) and samples with the presence of WS and WB myopathies. Fifteen breasts (5 each of NB, WS, and WB) were analyzed through TD-NMR relaxometry, and samples of approximately 20 g were taken from each breast and frozen at −80°C for metabolite profiling through 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to evaluate the effect on water relaxometry and metabolite profile in accordance with the presence and type of myopathy in the breast. 1H-NMR data showed that the metabolite profiles in WS and WB breasts were different from each other and from NB. This pilot study shows that myopathies appear to be related to hypoxia, connective tissue deposition, lower mitochondrial function, and greater oxidative stress compared with NB. The longitudinal and transverse relaxation time of the breasts determined by TD-NMR relaxometry was shorter for NB than that for WS and WB, indicating greater water mobility in breasts affected by myopathies. 1H-NMR spectroscopy can be used to differentiate the metabolism of WS, WB, and NB, and TD-NMR has the potential to be a fast, simple, and noninvasive method to distinguish NB from WB and WS. As a practical application, the metabolomic profile as per the occurrence of breast myopathies may be used for a better understanding of these issues, which opens a gap to mitigate the incidence and severity of WS and WB. In addition, the present study brings an opportunity for the development of a new and objective tool to classify the incidence of breast myopathies through TD-NMR relaxometry.
Highlights • We reviewed approaches that use software to support the pressure ulcer prevention. • Most of the approaches monitor risk factors to provide information for prevention. • Monitoring ...requires patient's contact with the monitoring equipment. • Current monitoring techniques need to consider equipment hygiene and patient comfort. • New technologies that do not require contact could be explored by new researches.
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