Although the early coral reef-bleaching warning system (NOAA/USA) is established, there is no feasible treatment that can minimize temperature bleaching and/or disease impacts on corals in the field. ...Here, we present the first attempts to extrapolate the widespread and well-established use of bacterial consortia to protect or improve health in other organisms (e.g., humans and plants) to corals. Manipulation of the coral-associated microbiome was facilitated through addition of a consortium of native (isolated from Pocillopora damicornis and surrounding seawater) putatively beneficial microorganisms for corals (pBMCs), including five Pseudoalteromonas sp., a Halomonas taeanensis and a Cobetia marina-related species strains. The results from a controlled aquarium experiment in two temperature regimes (26 °C and 30 °C) and four treatments (pBMC; pBMC with pathogen challenge - Vibrio coralliilyticus, VC; pathogen challenge, VC; and control) revealed the ability of the pBMC consortium to partially mitigate coral bleaching. Significantly reduced coral-bleaching metrics were observed in pBMC-inoculated corals, in contrast to controls without pBMC addition, especially challenged corals, which displayed strong bleaching signs as indicated by significantly lower photopigment contents and F
/F
ratios. The structure of the coral microbiome community also differed between treatments and specific bioindicators were correlated with corals inoculated with pBMC (e.g., Cobetia sp.) or VC (e.g., Ruegeria sp.). Our results indicate that the microbiome in corals can be manipulated to lessen the effect of bleaching, thus helping to alleviate pathogen and temperature stresses, with the addition of BMCs representing a promising novel approach for minimizing coral mortality in the face of increasing environmental impacts.
Maternal smoking is a risk factor for progeny obesity. We have previously shown, in a rat model of neonatal tobacco smoke exposure, a mild increase in food intake and a considerable increase in ...visceral adiposity in the adult offspring. Males also had secondary hyperthyroidism, while females had only higher T4. Since brown adipose tissue (BAT) hypofunction is related to obesity, here we tested the hypothesis that higher levels of thyroid hormones are not functional in BAT, suggesting a lower metabolic rate. We evaluated autonomic nerve activity in BAT and its function in adult rats that were exposed to tobacco smoke during lactation. At birth, litters were adjusted to 3 male and 3 female pups/litter. From postnatal day (PND) 3 to 21, Wistar lactating rats and their pups were divided into SE group, smoke-exposed in a cigarette smoking machine (4 times/day) and C group, exposed to filtered air. Offspring were sacrificed at PND180. Adult SE rats of both genders had lower interscapular BAT autonomic nervous system activity, with higher BAT mass but no change in morphology. BAT UCP1 and CPT1a protein levels were decreased in the SE groups of both genders. Male SE rats had lower β3-AR, TRα1, and TRβ1 expression while females showed lower PGC1α expression. BAT Dio2 mRNA and hypothalamic POMC and MC4R levels were similar between groups. Hypothalamic pAMPK level was higher in SE males and lower in SE females. Thus, neonatal cigarette smoke exposure induces lower BAT thermogenic capacity, which can be obesogenic at adulthood.
BACKGROUND: Thiamine deficiency has been associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Early recognition of thiamine deficiency is difficult in critically ill patients because clinical signs are ...nonspecific. OBJECTIVE: We determined the prevalence of and identified risk factors associated with low blood thiamine concentrations upon admission of children to a pediatric intensive care unit and evaluated this condition as a predictor of clinical outcomes. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 202 children who had whole-blood thiamin concentrations assessed by HPLC upon admission to the intensive care unit. The following independent variables for thiamine deficiency were analyzed: age, sex, nutritional status, clinical severity scores upon admission (ie, the revised Pediatric Index of Mortality and Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction score), systemic inflammatory response measured by C-reactive protein serum concentrations, severe sepsis or septic shock, heart failure, and cardiac surgery. The dependent variables in the outcome analyses were mortality, length of stay, and time on mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: Low blood thiamine concentrations upon admission were detected in 57 patients (28.2%) and were shown to be independently associated with C-reactive protein concentrations >20 mg/dL (odds ratio: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.13, 4.17; P = 0.02) but not with malnutrition. No significant association was shown between low blood thiamine concentrations upon admission and outcome variables. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of low blood thiamine concentrations upon admission was high. Of the risk factors examined, only the magnitude of the systemic inflammatory response showed an independent association with this event. The association between thiamine deficiency upon admission and prognosis requires further investigation.
Display omitted
•Nutritional assessment of Ca, Mg, K, P, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Pb in potato.•Higher metal concentrations in potato peels than in the pulp.•Higher bioacessibility of Ca, Mg, P ...and K and lower of Cu, Zn and Fe.•Relevant fractions of P, Mn, Zn, and Fe from potatoes were absorbed by Caco-2 cells.•Potatoes analyzed did not present a health risk and good nutritional contribution.
Among the most consumed foods in the world is potato, which occupies the first place as a non-grain commodity, demonstrating the importance of its assessment concerning the population's food safety. In this study, the nutrients Ca, Mg, K, P, Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn and the potentially toxic trace elements Cd, Cr, and Pb were evaluated considering their total contents, bioaccessible and bioavailable fractions in different potato cultivars, in an unpublished approach in the literature. The in vitro standard gastrointestinal digestion method (INFOGEST) and a model of the intestinal epithelial barrier using the Caco-2 cell line were applied for investigate the presence of metals in potato. For the macroelements, the bioaccessibility (% w/w) varied in the ranges: K (57–72 %), P (59–76 %), Mg (83–103 %), and Ca (30–123 %), whereas for the microelements were: Cu (27–74 %) and Mn (4.22–12.02, 60–119 %). The potentially of trace toxic elements, Cd and Pb, were found in 75 % of the samples, however, all the concentration values were below the maximum levels allowed of 0.10 µg/g. Chromium was determined only in potato peels and has no maximum established level. The bioaccessible and bioavailable fractions of Cd, Cr, and Pb were below the limits of quantification of the spectrometric methods (LOQ − µg/L: 0.063 Cd, 0.65 Cr, and 0.44 Pb). The potato samples were considered safe for consumption regarding the presence of potentially toxic trace elements, with a remarkable nutritional contribution.
Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of an early cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program on health-related quality of life (HRQL) and functional capacity in ...patients who recently experienced an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This program was initiated in the inpatient setting and was followed by an unsupervised outpatient intervention. Methods After the same inpatient care plan, low-risk patients who experienced an AMI were randomized into 2 groups: (1) a control group (CG) (n = 43) entailing usual care and (2) an intervention group (IG) (n = 45) entailing outpatient (unsupervised) CR primarily centered on a progressive walking program. Initially, all patients underwent a supervised exercise program with early mobilization beginning 12 hours after an AMI. On hospital discharge, all patients were classified according to cardiovascular risk. Quality of life was evaluated by the MacNew Heart Disease HRQL questionnaire 30 days after discharge. Functional capacity was determined by a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance on the day of inpatient discharge as well as 30 days afterward. Results The HRQL global score was higher in the IG compared with the CG 30 days after discharge ( P < 0.001); physical and emotional domain scores were both significantly higher in the IG ( P < 0.001). Furthermore, the IG showed a greater 6MWT distance compared with the CG ( P < 0.001). Conclusions A CR program based on early progressive exercises, initiated by supervised inpatient training and followed by an unsupervised outpatient program, improved HRQL and functional capacity in patients at low cardiovascular risk who recently experienced an AMI.
Entomopathogenic agents are viable and effective options due to their selective action against insects but benign effects on humans and the environment. The most promising entomopathogens include ...subspecies of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which are widely used for the biological control of insects, including mosquito vectors of human pathogens. The efficacy of B. thuringiensis toxicity has led to the search for new potentially toxic isolates in different regions of the world. Therefore, soil samples from the Amazon, Cerrado and Caatinga biomes of the state of Maranhão were evaluated for their potential larvicidal action against Aedes aegypti. The isolates with high toxicity to mosquito larvae, as detected by bioassays, were subjected to histological evaluation under a light microscope to identify the genes potentially responsible for the toxicity. Additionally, the toxic effects of these isolates on the intestinal epithelium were assessed. In the new B. thuringiensis isolates toxic to A. aegypti larvae, cry and cyt genes were amplified at different frequencies, with cry4, cyt1, cry32, cry10 and cry11 being the most frequent (33-55%) among those investigated. These genes encode specific proteins toxic to dipterans and may explain the severe morphological changes in the intestine of A. aegypti larvae caused by the toxins of the isolates.
Objectives The present study reports on the preparation and testing of a desoxycholate amphotericin B (D-AMB) sustained delivery system based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and ...dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) polymeric blends (Nano-D-AMB) aimed at reducing the number of AMB administrations required to treat mycosis. Methods BALB/c mice were infected with the yeast Paracoccidioides brasiliensis intravenously to mimic the chronic form of paracoccidioidomycosis. At 30 days post-infection, the animals were treated with Nano-D-AMB 6 mg/kg of encapsulated D-AMB, intraperitoneally (ip), interval of 72 h or D-AMB (2 mg/kg, ip, interval of 24 h). Drug efficacy was investigated by the fungal burden recovery from tissues. Toxicity was assessed by renal and hepatic biochemical parameters, physical appearance of the animals and haematological investigation. The control groups used were non-infected and the infected mice mock treated with PBS. Results Nano-D-AMB presented results comparable to free D-AMB, with a marked antifungal efficacy. The Nano-D-AMB-treated group presented lower loss of body weight and absence of stress sign (piloerection and hypotrichosis) observed after D-AMB treatment. No renal blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine or hepatic (pyruvic and oxalacetic glutamic transaminases) biochemical abnormalities were found. The micronucleus assay showed no significant differences in both the micronucleus frequency and percentage of polychromatic erythrocytes for Nano-D-AMB, indicating the absence of genotoxicity and cytotoxic effects. Conclusions The D-AMB-coated PLGA–DMSA nanoparticle showed antifungal efficacy, fewer undesirable effects and a favourable extended dosing interval. Nano-D-AMB comprises an AMB formulation able to lessen the number of drug administrations. Further studies would elucidate whether Nano-D-AMB would be useful to treat systemic fungal infections such as paracoccidioidomycosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis and cryptococcosis.
Pereira ESJ, Peixoto IFC, Viana ACD, Oliveira II, Gonzalez BM, Buono VTL, Bahia MGA. Physical and mechanical properties of a thermomechanically treated NiTi wire used in the manufacture of rotary ...endodontic instruments. International Endodontic Journal, 45, 469–474, 2012.
Aim To compare physical and mechanical properties of one conventional and one thermomechanically treated nickel–titanium (NiTi) wire used to manufacture rotary endodontic instruments.
Methodology Two NiTi wires 1.0 mm in diameter were characterized; one of them, C‐wire (CW), was processed in the conventional manner, and the other, termed M‐Wire (MW), received an additional heat treatment according to the manufacturer. Chemical composition was determined by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, phase constitution by XRD and the transformation temperatures by DSC. Tensile loading/unloading tests and Vickers microhardness measurements were performed to assess the mechanical behaviour. Data were analysed using analysis of variance (α = 0.05).
Results The two wires showed approximately the same chemical composition, close to the 1 : 1 atomic ratio, and the β‐phase was the predominant phase present. B19′ martensite and the R‐phase were found in MW, in agreement with the higher transformation temperatures found in this wire compared with CW, whose transformation temperatures were below room temperature. Average Vickers microhardness values were similar for MW and CW (P = 0.91). The stress at the transformation plateau in the tensile load–unload curves was lower and more uniform in the M‐Wire, which also showed the smallest stress hysteresis and apparent elastic modulus.
Conclusions The M‐Wire had physical and mechanical properties that can render endodontic instruments more flexible and fatigue resistant than those made with conventionally processed NiTi wires.
Abstract Background and aim Although subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is associated with cardiovascular risk, there is scarce data about subclinical atherosclerosis in subjects with SCH. We aimed to ...analyze the association between SCH and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) using baseline data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Methods and Results We included subjects with normal thyroid function (TSH: 0.4–4.0 mIU/l, and normal free thyroxine (FT4): 0.8–1.9 ng/dl) and SCH (TSH ≥ 4.0 mIU/l and normal FT4) evaluated for IMT in a cross-sectional analysis. We excluded individuals using medications that affect thyroid function and those with a history of cardiovascular disease. We performed logistic and linear regression models to evaluate the association with IMT (mean values and categorized at the 75th percentile) as a dependent variable and SCH as an independent variable, adjusted for other cardiovascular risk factors. From 8623 subjects (median age of 50 years; interquartile range: 44–57), 4624 (53.6%) were women, 8095 (93.9%) were euthyroid, and 528 (6.1%) had SCH. Groups varied in age, body mass index, Framingham risk score, Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), C-reactive protein, as well as, IMT, that were all higher in SCH compared to euthyroid participants. SCH is associated with IMT as a continuous variable (β = 0.010, P = 0.036) and IMT >75th percentile: OR = 1.30 (95% CI = 1.06–1.59) in logistic models. Conclusion Individuals with SCH presented higher IMT compared with euthyroid subjects, even after adjustment for potential confounders. IMT was independently associated with SCH in the baseline of the ELSA-Brasil study.
To evaluate the effect of combining in-office with at-home bleaching procedures in terms of the time required to obtain satisfactory tooth color, final color changes, and tooth sensitivity (TS) ...reported by patients.
Twenty-six patients enrolled in this study used 10% carbamide peroxide in a bleaching tray for 1 h/d until satisfactory tooth color was obtained. One-half of the participants underwent a preliminary session of in-office tooth bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide for 45 minutes. The time in days for the patients to obtain satisfactory tooth color by at-home bleaching procedures was recorded. The color change of the maxillary canines was assessed using the Vita Bleachedguide 3D Master scale and a spectrophotometer at 1 week and after the end of bleaching procedures. Participants' satisfaction with their smile was recorded using a visual analog scale, and TS was determined throughout the entire treatment. Data were analyzed by
-test, Mann-Whitney test, or Fisher exact test (α=0.05).
The combined protocol reduced (by an average of 3.7 days) the time required to obtain satisfactory tooth color but increased the risk and level of TS. No difference in the final tooth color change (around 5.0 shade guide units; ΔE=11.6-14.9), or the level of patients' satisfaction with their smile, was observed.
A preliminary session of in-office bleaching reduced the time necessary to obtain satisfactory tooth color with at-home bleaching but increased the risk and level of TS.
PDF
