Fifty-four water samples were collected between July and December 2019 at nine monitoring stations and fifteen parameters were analysed to provide an updated diagnosis of the Piabanha River water ...quality. Further, forty years of monitoring were analysed, including government data and previous research projects. A georeferenced database was also built containing water management data. The Water Quality Index from the National Sanitation Foundation (WQI
) was calculated using two datasets and showed an improvement in overall water quality, despite still presenting systematic violations to Brazilian standards. Principal components analysis (PCA) showed the most contributing parameters to water quality and enabled its association with the main pollution sources identified in the geodatabase. PCA showed that sewage discharge is still the main pollution source. The cluster analysis (CA) made possible to recommend the monitoring network optimization, thereby enabling the expansion of the monitoring to other rivers. Finally, the diagnosis provided by this research establishes the first step towards the Framing of water resources according to their intended uses, as established by the Brazilian National Water Resources Policy.
Background
Preterm birth is a major cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Cyclo‐oxygenase (COX) inhibitors inhibit uterine contractions, are easily administered and appear to have few maternal ...side effects. However, adverse effects have been reported in the fetus and newborn as a result of exposure to COX inhibitors.
Objectives
To assess the effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes of COX inhibitors administered as a tocolytic agent to women in preterm labour when compared with (i) placebo or no intervention and (ii) other tocolytics. In addition, to compare the effects of non‐selective COX inhibitors with COX‐2 selective inhibitors.
Search methods
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (24 August 2014). We also contacted recognised experts and searched reference lists of retrieved studies.
Selection criteria
All published and unpublished randomised trials in which COX inhibitors were used for tocolysis for women in labour between 20 and 36 completed weeks' gestation.
Data collection and analysis
Two review authors independently evaluated methodological quality and extracted data. We sought additional information from study authors. Results are presented using risk ratio (RR; dichotomous data) and mean difference (MD; continuous data) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The number needed to treat for benefit (NNTB) and the number needed to treat for harm (NNTH) were calculated for statistically different categorical outcomes.
Main results
With the addition of seven studies with a total of 684 women, this review now includes outcome data from 20 studies including 1509 women. The non‐selective COX inhibitor indomethacin was used in 15 studies. The overall quality of the included studies was considered moderate to low.
Three small studies (102 women), two of which were conducted in the 1980's, compared COX inhibition (indomethacin only) with placebo. No difference was shown in birth less than 48 hours after trial entry (average RR 0.20, 95% CI 0.03 to 1.28; two studies with 70 women). Indomethacin resulted in a reduction in preterm birth (before completion of 37 weeks of gestation) in one small study (36 women) (RR 0.21, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.62; NNTB 2, 95% CI 2 to 4); and an increase in gestational age at birth (average MD 3.59 weeks, 95% CI 0.65 to 6.52; two studies with 66 women) and birthweight (MD 716.34 g, 95% CI 425.52 to 1007.16; two studies with 67 infants). No difference was shown in measures of neonatal morbidity or neonatal mortality.
Compared with betamimetics, COX inhibitors resulted in a reduction in birth less than 48 hours after trial entry (RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.96; NNTB 7, 95% CI 6 to 120; two studies with 100 women) and preterm birth (before completion of 37 weeks of gestation) (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.99; NNTB 6, 95% CI 4 to 236; two studies with 80 women) although no benefit was shown in terms of neonatal morbidity or mortality. COX inhibition was also associated with fewer maternal adverse affects compared with betamimetics (RR 0.19, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.31; NNTB 3, 95% CI 2 to 3; five studies with 248 women) and maternal adverse effects requiring cessation of treatment (average RR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.49; NNTB 5, CI 95% 5 to 9; three studies with 166 women).
No differences were shown when comparing COX inhibitors with magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) (seven studies with 792 women) or calcium channel blockers (CCBs) (two studies with 230 women) in terms of prolonging pregnancy or for any fetal/neonatal outcomes. There were also no differences in very preterm birth (before completion of 34 weeks of gestation) and no maternal deaths occurred in the one study that reported on this outcome. However COX inhibitors resulted in fewer maternal adverse affects when compared with MgSO4 (RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.62; NNTB 11, 95% CI 9 to 17; five studies with 635 women).
A comparison of non‐selective COX inhibitors versus any COX‐2 inhibitor (two studies with 54 women) did not demonstrate any differences in maternal, fetal or neonatal outcomes.
No data were available to assess COX inhibitors compared with oxytocin receptor antagonists (ORAs). Further, no data were available on extremely preterm birth (before 28 weeks of gestation), longer‐term infant outcomes or costs.
Authors' conclusions
In this review, no clear benefit for COX inhibitors was shown over placebo or any other tocolytic agents. While some benefit was demonstrated in terms of postponement of birth for COX inhibitors over placebo and betamimetics and also maternal adverse effects over betamimetics and MgSO4, due to the limitations of small numbers, minimal data on safety, lack of longer‐term outcomes and generally low quality of the studies included in this review, we conclude that there is insufficient evidence on which to base decisions about the role of COX inhibition for women in preterm labour. Further well‐designed tocolytic studies are required to determine short‐ and longer‐term infant benefit of COX inhibitors over placebo and other tocolytics, particularly CCBs and ORAs. Another important focus for future studies is identifying whether COX‐2 inhibitors are superior to non‐selective COX inhibitors. All future studies on tocolytics for women in preterm labour should assess longer‐term effects into early childhood and also costs.
To assess whether higher adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) was associated with lower consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and lower free sugar intake.
Cross-sectional ...analysis of baseline information among participants in the SENDO project, a Spanish paediatric cohort. Dietary information was collected through a semi-quantitative FFQ. Food items were classified according to the NOVA classification. Adherence to the MedDiet was evaluated through the KIDMED index.
Spain.
Three hundred eight-six children (52 % boys) with a mean age of 5·3 years old (sd 1·0) were included in the analysis.
74·4 % of the children had moderate adherence to the MedDiet (mean KIDMED score: 5·9 points; sd 1·7) and overall, 32·2 % of the total energy intake came from UPF. Each two additional points in the KIDMED score was associated with 3·1 % (95 % CI 2·1, 4·0) lower energy intake from UPF. Compared to those with low adherence to the MedDiet, children with medium and high adherence reported 5·0 % (95 % CI 2·2, 7·7) and 8·5 % (95 % CI 5·2, 11·9) lower energy intake from UPF, respectively. We also found that 71·6 % of the variability in free sugar intake was explained by the variability in UPF consumption.
Adherence to the traditional MedDiet was inversely associated with energy intake from UPF. Furthermore, most of the variability in free sugar intake was explained by the variability of UPF consumption. Public health strategies are needed to strengthen the adherence to the MedDiet in pre-schoolers while regulating the production, marketing and advertising of UPF.
Keratinases are proteolytic enzymes with a particular ability to cleave peptide bonds in keratin, and in other proteins. Due to their broad-spectrum of activity, keratinases are considered viable ...substitutes for chemical and thermal treatments of protein-rich industrial by-products. Among these protein residues, special attention has been given to keratinous materials (feathers, hair, horns, etc.), which disposal through harsh conditions methods, such as acid/alkaline hydrolysis or incineration, is not considered ecologically safe. Microbial keratinolytic enzymes allow for keratin degradation under mild conditions, resulting in keratin hydrolysates containing undamaged amino acids and peptides. In this review article, we offer perspectives on the relevance of these unique biocatalysts and their revolutionary ascent in industries that generate keratin-rich wastes. Additionally, we share insights for applications of keratinases and protein hydrolysates in agriculture, animal feed, cosmetics, phamaceuticals, detergent additives, leather processing, and others. Due to the scientific importance of keratinases and their potential use in green technologies, searching for bacterial and fungal species that efficiently produce these enzymes may contribute to the sustainability of industries.
The search for alternative energy sources and increasing concerns over the generation of municipal solid waste are two widely discussed themes in contemporary academic literature. A possible ...alternative for solving both of these problems is through electrical energy generation through the use of this waste material. Although this practice is encouraged by the Brazilian National Solid Waste Policy, energy production through such methods still requires improvement. Given these considerations, this study aims to evaluate the generation of electric energy from solid waste in three different systems (biogas from sanitary landfills; methanization of organic fraction in anaerobic digesters; and combustion in incinerators) through economic and energy analysis. Economic analysis was performed with the parameters Net Present Value and Levelized Cost of Electricity. Economic viability was only seen in the cases which considered landfill biogas energy recovery, demonstrating a need for incentives and support policies to enable technologies that are environmentally more advantageous than landfills.
Display omitted
•Electricity generation costs from urban solid waste in Brazil were analyzed.•Economic viability was only ensured for landfill gas energy recovery.•Incineration is the most effective in energy terms among the studied technologies.•Government supports that assist other waste treatment technologies are needed.
In this work, we describe the synthesis of new 4‐organyl‐5‐(organylselanyl)thiazol‐2‐amine hybrids through a one‐pot two‐step protocol. The transition metal‐free method involves the use of ultrasound ...as an alternative energy source and Oxone® as oxidant. To obtain the products, a telescoping approach was used, in which 4‐organylthiazol‐2‐amines were firstly prepared under ultrasonic irradiation, followed by the addition of diorganyl diselenides and Oxone®. Thus, 16 compounds were prepared, with yields ranging from 61 % to 98 %, using 2‐bromoacetophenone derivatives and diorganyl diselenides as easily available starting materials.
A simple and efficient protocol promoted by ultrasonic irradiation to prepare new hybrids of 2‐amino‐4‐arylthiazoles and organoselenium was developed. The method involves two steps, in which 4‐organylthiazol‐2‐amine was first prepared under ultrasonic irradiation, followed by the addition of diorganyl diselenides and Oxone®. Thus, 16 compounds were obtained in yields from good to excellent (61–98 %) in short reaction times (30–40 min).
Aims
This manuscript aimed to produce an illustrated booklet of Brazilian sign language (LIBRAS) booklet to facilitate the communication between dentists (and academics) and deaf patients during ...dental treatment and other healthcare promotion activities.
Methods and Results
A literature review was conducted to select signs, symptoms, and diseases related to dentistry expressed in LIBRAS; in addition, photographs were taken to illustrate and produce the booklet. The booklet (in PDF format) was made available on an open‐access website and printed copies were freely distributed at the dental clinics of the Federal University of Pará.
Conclusion
Learning of specific LIBRAS is extremely important to guarantee social inclusion and improve dental treatment of deaf patients.
How biophysical cues can control tissue morphogenesis is a central question in biology and for the development of efficient tissue engineering strategies. Recent data suggest that specific ...topographies such as grooves and ridges can trigger anisotropic tissue growth. However, the specific contribution of biologically relevant topographical features such as cell-scale curvature is still unclear. Here we engineer a series of grooves and ridges model topographies exhibiting specific curvature at the ridge/groove junctions and monitored the growth of epithelial colonies on these surfaces. We observe a striking proportionality between the maximum convex curvature of the ridges and the elongation of the epithelium. This is accompanied by the anisotropic distribution of F-actin and nuclei with partial exclusion of both in convex regions as well as the curvature-dependent reorientation of pluricellular protrusions and mitotic spindles. This demonstrates that curvature itself is sufficient to trigger and modulate the oriented growth of epithelia through the formation of convex "topographical barriers" and establishes curvature as a powerful tuning parameter for tissue engineering and biomimetic biomaterial design.
3D printing has been widely used for the personalization of therapies and on-demand production of complex pharmaceutical forms. Recently, 3D printing has been explored as a tool for the development ...of topical dosage forms and wound dressings. Thus, this review aims to present advances related to the use of 3D printing for the development of pharmaceutical and biomedical products for topical skin applications, covering plain dressing and products for the delivery of active ingredients to the skin. Based on the data acquired, the important growth in the number of publications over the last years confirms its interest. The semisolid extrusion technique has been the most reported one, probably because it allows the use of a broad range of polymers, creating the most diverse therapeutic approaches. 3D printing has been an excellent field for customizing dressings, according to individual needs. Studies discussed here imply the use of metals, nanoparticles, drugs, natural compounds and proteins and peptides for the treatment of wound healing, acne, pain relief, and anti-wrinkle, among others. The confluence of 3D printing and topical applications has undeniable advantages, and we would like to encourage the research groups to explore this field to improve the patient’s life quality, adherence and treatment efficacy.
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