ABSTRACT Purpose: to measure the maintenance of knowledge acquired by community health workers about hearing health and check whether it was associated with their age group, education level, and ...length of service. Methods: an experimental study, in which 30 community health workers participated in four remote meetings. In the first one, data were collected on their age, education level, and length of service. The second and third meetings had educational actions on 1) hearing, 2) hearing health and impairment, 3) organization of Hearing Healthcare Services, 4) hearing aid use and hygiene, and 5) the importance of follow-up visits; also, the immediate post-training quiz was applied. The late post-training quiz was administered in the fourth meeting. Each quiz had 10 problem situations. Knowledge maintenance was measured by comparing the scores of correct answers. Moreover, the participants’ performances were associated with the variables. The data underwent McNemar, Binomial, and Fisher's exact statistical tests, setting the significance level at 5%. Results: there was no difference in correct answers between the quizzes and knowledge maintenance was not related to the variables. Conclusion: the community health workers maintained the acquired knowledge for months after the educational actions, regardless of their age group, education level, or length of service.
RESUMO Objetivo: mensurar a manutenção do conhecimento adquirido por agentes comunitários de saúde sobre saúde auditiva e verificar se há associação com as variáveis faixa etária, escolaridade e tempo de função. Métodos: estudo experimental, do qual 30 agentes comunitários de saúde participaram em quatro encontros remotos. No primeiro encontro foram coletados os dados acerca das variáveis faixa etária, escolaridade e tempo de função dos profissionais. No segundo e no terceiro, realizaram-se ações educativas sobre: 1) audição, 2) saúde/alterações auditivas, 3) organização do Serviço de Atenção à Saúde Auditiva, 4) uso e higienização das próteses auditivas e 5) importância das consultas de acompanhamento, além da aplicação do Quiz pós-imediato. No quarto encontro, aplicou-se o Quiz pós-tardio. Cada Quiz continha dez situações-problema. Mensurou-se a manutenção do conhecimento por meio da comparação dos escores de acertos. Ainda, realizou-se a associação entre os desempenhos obtidos pelos sujeitos e as variáveis. Os dados foram submetidos aos testes estatísticos de McNemar, Binomial e Exato de Fisher, adotando-se significância de 5%. Resultados: não houve diferença nos escores de acertos ao comparar os Quizzes. A manutenção do conhecimento não teve relação com as variáveis. Conclusão: o conhecimento adquirido pelos agentes comunitários de saúde manteve-se meses após as ações educativas e foi independente das variáveis faixa etária, escolaridade e tempo de função.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Gold nanoparticles with different shapes were prepared and used as catalysts in the reduction of p-nitrophenol (PNP) in the aqueous phase and in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). Parameters ...such as the reaction temperature, substrate/NaBH4 molar ratio, and substrate/gold molar ratio were tested and evaluated. In this paper, we compare the catalytic reactivities of gold nanorods (AuNRs) and gold nanospheres (AuNSs), both synthesized by the seed-mediated method in the presence of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). Physical-chemical parameters such as the apparent rate constant (kapp) and activation energy (Ea) of the reactions were obtained for both systems. We observed that the catalytic system based on AuNRs is the most active. These colloidal dispersions were investigated and fully characterized by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
P. nigrum L. extracts and the piperine alkaloid have important antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity and ...cytotoxicity of P. nigrum L. extracts and piperine, a compound isolated from the extracts of P. nigrum L. Extracts obtained via maceration, soxhlet, and purification steps, in addition to isolated piperine, were used in this study. Spectroscopic methods, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry, were used to characterize piperine. In the microbiological analyses, the extract obtained via maceration-derived sample showed high efficiency in inhibiting Salmonella spp. (MIC < 100 μg/mL). The extract obtained via a soxhlet-derived sample showed promising inhibitory activity against almost all microorganisms, with negligible inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Favorable inhibition coefficients were also observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. (MIC < 100 μg/mL) for the extract obtained via purification of the steps-derived sample. Piperine showed an excellent inhibition coefficient against most microorganisms, with inactivity only observed against P. aeruginosa. Cytotoxicity evaluation assays in cancer cell lines revealed that piperine exhibited inhibitory potential on all tested tumor cell lines, causing a decrease in cell viability and achieving an IC50 of less than 30 μg/mL. The analyzed extracts from P. nigrum L. seeds showed cytotoxic activity against tumor and non-tumor cell lines.
Climate change has been at the forefront of discussions in the scientific, economic, political, and public spheres. This study aims to analyze the impacts of climate change in the Matopiba region, ...assessing its relationship with land cover and land use, soybean crop production and yield, and ocean–atmosphere anomalies from 1985 to 2020. The analysis was conducted in four parts: (1) trends in annual and intra-annual climate changes, (2) the spatiotemporal dynamics of land cover and use, (3) the spatiotemporal dynamics of soybean production and yield, and (4) the relationship between climate change, agricultural practices, land cover and use, and ocean–atmosphere anomalies. Statistical analyses, including Mann–Kendall trend tests and Pearson correlation, were applied to understand these relationships comprehensively. The results indicate significant land cover and use changes over 35 years in Matopiba, with municipalities showing increasing soybean production and yield trends. There is a rising trend in annual and intra-annual maximum temperatures, alongside a decreasing trend in annual precipitation in the region. Intra-annual climate trends provide more specific insights for agricultural calendar planning. No correlation was found between the climate change trends and soybean production and yield in the evaluated data attributed to genetic and technological improvements in the region. The North Atlantic Ocean shows a positive correlation with soybean agricultural variables. Evidence suggests soybean production and yield growth under climate change scenarios. This study highlights soybeans’ adaptation and climate resilience in the Matopiba region, providing valuable insights for regional agricultural development and contributing to further research in environmental, water-related, social, and economic areas of global interest.
Cercopithifilaria bainae is a filarioid parasite that infects dogs, being transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus group ticks in many countries of the Mediterranean basin. This study assessed the ...incidence density rate (IDR) of infection by C. bainae in dogs and the probability of co-infection with other tick-borne pathogens (i.e., Anaplasma platys, Babesia vogeli and Hepatozoon canis), in an area of high endemicity in southern Italy.
From March 2011 to October 2012, a field study involving 58 young dogs naturally exposed to tick infestation was conducted. Skin and blood samples obtained from each dog six times during an 18-month period were tested for C. bainae by parasite detection within skin snip sediments, with subsequent confirmation through PCR and DNA sequencing. Dogs examined monthly for ticks and A. platys, B. vogeli and H. canis were microscopically and/or molecularly diagnosed and after the first and the second summer seasons, the IDR for positive animal-month at risk was 3.8% and 1.7% in November 2011 and October 2012, respectively. All 58 C. bainae-infected dogs were simultaneously infected with at least one other tick-borne pathogen. After the first summer season (assessment in November 2011), a C. bainae-infected dog had a 33% probability of being infected with H. canis or A. platys, whereas after the second tick season (assessment in October 2012) the probability of co-infection was 78%, 22% and 11% for H. canis, A. platys and B. vogeli, respectively.
Our data indicate that tick-infested dogs are at risk of acquiring infection by C. bainae. In addition, the detection of C. bainae microfilariae indicates a prior tick exposure and, should stimulate testing for other tick-borne disease causing pathogens.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Pierce's disease is a major threat to grapevines caused by the bacterium
. Although devoid of a type 3 secretion system commonly employed by bacterial pathogens to deliver effectors inside host ...cells, this pathogen is able to influence host parenchymal cells from the xylem lumen by secreting a battery of hydrolytic enzymes. Defining the cellular and biochemical changes induced during disease can foster the development of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the pathogen fitness and increasing plant health. To this end, we investigated the transcriptional, proteomic, and metabolomic responses of diseased
compared to healthy plants. We found that several antioxidant strategies were induced, including the accumulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and polyamine metabolism, as well as iron and copper chelation, but these were insufficient to protect the plant from chronic oxidative stress and disease symptom development. Notable upregulation of phytoalexins, pathogenesis-related proteins, and various aromatic acid metabolites was part of the host responses observed. Moreover, upregulation of various cell wall modification enzymes followed the proliferation of the pathogen within xylem vessels, consistent with the intensive thickening of vessels' secondary walls observed by magnetic resonance imaging. By interpreting the molecular profile changes taking place in symptomatic tissues, we report a set of molecular markers that can be further explored to aid in disease detection, breeding for resistance, and developing therapeutics.
This study aimed to determine whether photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) could improve the bioavailability and chondroprotective benefits of mesenchymal stem cells injected into the knees of rats used ...as an experimental model of osteoarthritis (OA) as well as reduce the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and degradation of type II collagen (COL2-1) in the cartilage. Adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ADSCs) were collected from three male Fischer 344 rats and characterized by flow cytometry. Fifty female Fischer 344 rats were distributed into five groups of 10 animals each. These groups were as follows: control, OA, OA PBMT, OA ADSC, and OA ADSC PBMT. OA was induced in the animals using a 4% papain solution. Animals from the OA ADSC and OA ADSC PBMT groups received an intra-articular injection of 10 × 10
6
ADSCs and were treated with PBMT by irradiation (wavelength: 808 nm, power: 50 mW, energy: 42 J, energy density: 71.2 J/cm
2
, spot size: 0.028). Euthanasia was performed 7 days after the first treatment. The use of PBMT alone and the injection of ADSCs resulted in downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and MPs in cartilage compared to the OA group. PBMT and ADSCs caused upregulation of tissue inhibitors of MPs 1 and 2 and mRNA and protein expression of COL2-1 in cartilage compared to the OA group. The intra-articular injection of ADSCs and PBMT prevented joint degeneration resulting from COL2-1 degradation and modulated inflammation by downregulating cytokines and MMPs in the OA group.
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•The diabetes-induced oxidative stress affects interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), nitrergic neurons and M2-like macrophages.•Quercetin-loaded microcapsules (100 mg kg−1) aggravated ...the diabetic condition with toxic activities to the healthy animals.•Quercetin-loaded microcapsules (10 mg kg−1) displayed desirable and protective effects on diabetic and healthy rats.
Given the well-known antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of quercetin, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of quercetin stabilized by microencapsulation at two doses (10 mg kg−1 and 100 mg kg−1) on the oxidative/antioxidant status, number and morphological features of ICC, nitrergic neurons and M2-like macrophages in jejunum of diabetic rats. The rats were randomly distributed into six groups: normoglycemic control (N), diabetic control (D) and either normoglycemic or diabetic groups treated with quercetin-loaded microcapsules at a dose of 10 mg kg−1 (NQ10 and DQ10, respectively) or 100 mg kg−1 (NQ100 and DQ100, respectively). After 60 days, the jejunum was collected. Whole mounts were immunostained for Ano1, nNOS and CD206, and oxidative stress levels and total antioxidant capacity of the jejunum were measured. Diabetes led to a loss of ICC and nitrergic neurons, but increased numbers of M2-like macrophages and elevated levels of oxidative stress were seen in diabetic animals. High-dose administration of quercetin (100 mg kg−1) further aggravated the diabetic condition (DQ100) but this treatment resulted in harmful effects on healthy rats (NQ100), pointing to a pro-oxidant activity. However, low-dose administration of quercetin (10 mg kg−1) gave rise to antioxidant and protective effects on ICC, nNOS, macrophages and oxidative/antioxidant status in DQ100, but NQ100 displayed infrequent negative outcomes in normoglycemic animals. Microencapsulation of the quercetin may become promising alternatives to reduce diabetes-induced oxidative stress but antioxidant therapies should be careful used under healthy status to avoid toxic effects.
This study evaluated the effects of light-emitting diode (LED) on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). An electronic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science database for articles ...published from 1980 to February 2020. Ten articles met the search criteria and were included in this review. The risk of bias was evaluated to report quality, safety, and environmental standards. MSCs were derived from adipose tissue, bone marrow, dental pulp, gingiva, and umbilical cord. Protocols for cellular irradiation used red and blue light spectrum with variations of the parameters. The LED has been shown to induce greater cellular viability, proliferation, differentiation, and secretion of growth factors. The set of information available leads to proposing a complex signaling cascade for the action of photobiomodulation, including angiogenic factors, singlet oxygen, mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, Janus kinase/signal transducer, and reactive oxygen species. In conclusion, although our results suggest that LED can boost MSCs, a nonuniformity in the experimental protocol, bias, and the limited number of studies reduces the power of systematic review. Further research is essential to find the optimal LED irradiation parameters to boost MSCs function and evaluate its impact in the clinical setting.
Genomics research has produced an exponential amount of data. However, the genetic knowledge pertaining to certain phenotypic characteristics is lacking. Also, a considerable part of these genomes ...have coding sequences (CDSs) with unknown functions, posing additional challenges to researchers. Phylogenetically close microorganisms share much of their CDSs, and certain phenotypes unique to a set of microorganisms may be the result of the genes found exclusively in those microorganisms. This study presents the GTACG framework, an easy-to-use tool for identifying in the subgroups of bacterial genomes whose microorganisms have common phenotypic characteristics, to find data that differentiates them from other associated genomes in a simple and fast way. The GTACG analysis is based on the formation of homologous CDS clusters from local alignments. The front-end is easy to use, and the installation packages have been developed to enable users lacking knowledge of programming languages or bioinformatics analyze high-throughput data using the tool. The validation of the GTACG framework has been carried out based on a case report involving a set of 161 genomes from the Xanthomonadaceae family, in which 19 families of orthologous proteins were found in 90% of the plant-associated genomes, allowing the identification of the proteins potentially associated with adaptation and virulence in plant tissue. The results show the potential use of GTACG in the search for new targets for molecular studies, and GTACG can be used as a research tool by biologists who lack advanced knowledge in the use of computational tools for bacterial comparative genomics.
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