Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) has increasingly been reported in children as an indication for use of new alternative anticoagulant drugs (NAADs).
To systematically review the literature ...regarding: (i) the incidence and prevalence of seroconversion and HIT and (ii) the clinical/laboratory findings and management of HIT in children.
MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for studies that reported pediatric cases of HIT. Methodological reliability assessment of studies was performed with the Loney scale.
The incidence of seroconversion in neonates ranged between 0% and 1.7%. There were no cases of neonatal HIT in the included cohorts. The incidence range of seroconversion in the non-neonatal population was 1.3-52%. The incidence of HIT in non-neonates after cardiopulmonary bypass was 0.33% (95%CI, < 0.01-2.04). Whereas more than half of pediatric cases labeled as HIT (30/52) did not include pivotal features of this syndrome, 80% of them received NAADs.
The incidence of HIT is likely to have been overestimated in children, leading to potential misuse of NAADs in many cases. Clinical findings and laboratory assessment of pediatric cases are poorly described in the literature at present. Thorough laboratory investigation, proper reporting of cases and adequate design of studies are mandatory to elucidate the clinical/laboratory picture of pediatric HIT.
This study compared vaginal temperature, physiologic, and productive parameters in lactating dairy cows supplemented or not with Omnigen-AF (Phibro Animal Health, Teaneck, NJ) during the summer ...months in a tropical environment. Thirty-two lactating, primiparous (n = 16) and multiparous (n = 16) pregnant Holstein × Gir cows were ranked by parity, days in milk, body weight, and body condition score (BCS), and assigned to receive (SUPP; n = 16) or not (CON; n = 16) Omnigen-AF (Phibro Animal Health, Teaneck, NJ) at 56 g/cow daily (as-fed basis). During the experimental period (d −6 to 56), cows were maintained in a single drylot pen with ad libitum access to water and a total mixed ration, and milked twice daily. Cows received Omnigen-AF mixed with 200 g of corn (as-fed basis) after the daily morning milking through self-locking head gates, whereas CON cows concurrently received 56 g of kaolin mixed with 200 g of corn. For feed intake evaluation, cows from both treatments were randomly divided in 4 groups of 8 cows each, and allocated to 8 individual feeding stations for 3 d. Intake was evaluated 4 times per group from d 1 to 56. From d −6 to 0, d 15 to 28, and d 43 to 56, cow vaginal temperature was recorded hourly. Environmental temperature-humidity index (THI) was also recorded hourly from d 15 to 28 and d 43 to 56. Cows were evaluated for body weight and BCS on d −6 and 56, individual milk production was recorded daily from d −6 to 56, and milk samples were collected on d −6, 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 for analyses of somatic cell count and milk components. Blood samples were collected on d −6, −3, 0, 9, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 36, 45, 48, 51, 54, and 56. Results from samples or observations collected from d −6 to 0 were included as an independent covariate in each respective analysis. Environmental THI was 74.2 ± 0.5 and cows were exposed to THI >68 for 633 h within a total of 672 h of evaluation. Cows assigned to CON had greater vaginal temperature on d 28, 43, 45, and from d 48 to 55 (by 0.38 to 0.52%), as well as greater mean somatic cell count (by 97%) and serum haptoglobin concentrations (by 89%) compared with SUPP cows. Cows assigned to SUPP had greater mean dry matter intake (by 7%), BCS on d 56 (by 11%), and mean serum insulin concentrations (by 35%) compared with CON cows. Hence, SUPP ameliorated hyperthermia, improved nutritional status, and modulated systemic and mammary gland immune parameters in lactating dairy cows exposed to heat stress conditions.
Highlights • Tilapia testis offers proper environment for catfish germ cell transplantation. • Jundia catfish spermatogonia are able to fully develop in the tilapia testis. • Successful ...spermatogonial transplantation is observed using two different fish orders.
In addition to its search for extrasolar planets, the NASA Kepler mission provides exquisite data on stellar oscillations. We report the detections of oscillations in 500 solar-type stars in the ...Kepler field of view, an ensemble that is large enough to allow statistical studies of intrinsic stellar properties (such as mass, radius, and age) and to test theories of stellar evolution. We find that the distribution of observed masses of these stars shows intriguing differences to predictions from models of synthetic stellar populations in the Galaxy.
Prescription of compression stockings to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in adults is controversial. We sought to estimate the efficacy of compression stockings vs. placebo/no intervention ...(control) in preventing PTS, and to estimate the probability of observing a benefit when prescribing compression stockings to prevent PTS.
We conducted a systematic review of the literature in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Randomized Trials, searching for randomized controlled trials that compared compression stockings, applied in the acute setting of deep vein thrombosis, vs. control to prevent PTS. We used a Bayesian approach for data analysis.
Four studies met our inclusion criteria. When comparing intervention vs. control, the estimated odds ratio (OR) was 0.57 (95% Credible Interval (CrI): 0.21 to 1.20) for PTS vs. no PTS and 0.79 (95% CrI 0.31 to 1.67) for severe vs. no/mild/moderate PTS. The probabilities of observing treatment benefits in the population if prescribing compression stockings ranged between 47% (large benefit, OR < 0.50) and 95% (small benefit, OR < 1.00) for any PTS and between 16% and 82% (from large to small benefit) for severe PTS. The probabilities of observing benefit of compression stockings in a future study ranged 44%–76% and 25%–72% (from large to small benefit) for any PTS and severe PTS, respectively.
Despite heterogeneity, data show that it is still probable to observe some degree of treatment benefit when prescribing compression stockings and to observe some degree of treatment benefit in a future study.
•Compression stockings may help prevent PTS when used in the acute setting•The population OR was 0.57 (95% CrI 0.21–1.20) for any PTS vs. no PTS•There is a 95% probability of observing some benefit in the population (OR < 1)•The OR for a future study was 0.95 (95% CrI 0.08–3.26) for any PTS vs. no PTS•There is a 76% probability of observing some benefit in a future study (OR < 1)
Today (year 2020), the globally recognized problem of arsenic (As) contamination of water resources and other environments at toxic levels has been reported in all of the 20 Latin American countries. ...The present review indicates that As is prevalent in 200 areas across these countries. Arsenic is naturally released into the environment and mobilized from geogenic sources comprising: (i) volcanic rocks and emissions, the latter being transported over thousands of kilometers from the source, (ii) metallic mineral deposits, which get exposed to human beings and livestock through drinking water or food chain, and (iii) As-rich geothermal fluids ascending from deep geothermal reservoirs contaminate freshwater sources. The challenge for mitigation is increased manifold by mining and related activities, as As from mining sites is transported by rivers over long distances and even reaches and contaminates coastal environments. The recognition of the As problem by the authorities in several countries has led to various actions for remediation, but there is a lack of long-term strategies for such interventions. Often only total As concentration is reported, while data on As sources, mobilization, speciation, mobility and pathways are lacking which is imperative for assessing quality of any water source, i.e. public and private.
Aims
In order to improve the quality and to create a biological basis for obtainment of the protected denomination of origin (PDO), indigenous yeast were isolated and characterized for use in Salinas ...city (the Brazilian region of quality cachaça production).
Material and methods
Seven thousand and two hundred yeast colonies from 15 Salinas city distilleries were screened based on their fermentative behaviour and the physicochemical composition of cachaça. Molecular polymorphic analyses were performed to characterize these isolates.
Results
Two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (nos. 678 and 680) showed appropriate characteristics to use in the cachaça production: low levels of acetaldehyde and methanol, and high ethyl lactate/ethyl acetate ratio respectively. They also presented polymorphic characteristics more closely related between themselves even when compared to other strains from Salinas.
Conclusions
The application of selected yeast to cachaça production can contribute for the improvement of the quality product as well as be used as a natural marker for PDO.
Significance and Impact of the Study
This study suggests that the use of selected yeast strains could contribute to obtain a cachaça similar to those produced traditionally, while getting wide acceptation in the market, yet presenting more homogeneous organoleptic characteristics, and thus contributing to the PDO implementation.
Essential oils encapsulated in a polymeric matrix can be used as an alternative method to control fungi and mycotoxins. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and characterized by gas ...chromatography. The nanofibres were produced from poly (acid lactic) (PLA) containing essential oils by the Solution Blow Spinning method. The antifungal and antimicotoxygenic properties were evaluated against Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus westerdijkiae by the fumigation method. Terpinen‐4‐ol (20·23%), sabinene (20·18%), 1·8‐cineole (16·69%) and γ‐terpinene (11·03%) were the principal compounds present in the essential oil from Alpinia speciosa, whereas citral (97·67%) was dominant from Cymbopogon flexuosus. Microscopy images showed that the addition of essential oils caused an increase in the diameter of the nanofibres. The infrared spectroscopy results indicated the presence of essential oils in the PLA nanofibres. Differential scanning calorimetry curves also indicated the existence of interactions between the essential oils and polymeric macromolecules through their plasticizing action. The hydrophobic character of nanofibres was revealed by the contact angle technique. An antifungal effect was observed, the mycelial growths (3·25–100%) and the synthesis of ochratoxin A (25·94–100%) were inhibited by the presence of the nanofibres. The results suggest that bioactive nanofibres hold promise for application to control toxigenic fungi.
Significance and impact of the study: The fungi Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus westerdjkiae contaminate food products with Ochratoxin A and cause deterioration because of their high metabolic activity, causing concerns about human health, food safety and economic losses. The induction of the biosynthesis of this toxic substance and the selection of fungi resistant to synthetic fungicides led to the need to search for new substances with inhibitory efficacy. The ability of the essential oils from Alpina speciosa and Cymbopogon flexuosus encapsulated in polymeric nanofibres to inhibit fungal proliferation and OTA production indicated that they have an antifungal potential to be explored against toxigenic fungi.
Obesity is characterized by a state of chronic, low-intensity systemic inflammation frequently associated with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia.
Given that chronic inflammation has been implicated ...in the pathogenesis of mood disorders, we investigated if chronic obesity that was initiated early in life - lasting through adulthood - could be more harmful to memory impairment and mood fluctuations such as depression.
Here we show that pre-pubertal male rats (30 days old) treated with a high-fat diet (40%) for 8-months gained ~50% more weight when compared to controls, exhibited depression and anxiety-like behaviors but no memory impairment. The prefrontal cortex of the obese rats exhibited an increase in the expression of genes related to inflammatory response, such as NFKb, MMP9, CCl2, PPARb, and PPARg. There were no alterations in genes known to be related to depression.
Long-lasting obesity with onset in prepuberal age led to depression and neuroinflammation but not to memory impairment.
The extraction and characterization of the essential oils (EO) from Satureja montana L., Myristica fragrans H. and Cymbopogon flexuosus and the determination of their antibacterial and antioxidant ...activities were achieved. The EO were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and quantified by gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector. The antibacterial potential against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated by cell susceptibility assays and by scanning electron microscopy. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assay, by β‐carotene bleaching and by determining the reducing power. Borneol (36·18%), γ‐terpineol (12·66%) and carvacrol (11·07%) were the principal components in the EO from S. montana, and sabinene (49·23%) and α‐pinene (13·81%) were found in the EO from M. fragrans. Geranial (59·66%) and neral (38·98%) isomers were the only major components in the EO from C. flexuosus. The EO from S. montana was effective against E. coli, with minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) of 6·25 µl ml−1, whereas bactericidal potential against both was observed for the EO from M. fragrans; MIC = 6·25 µl ml−1 for S. aureus and MBC = 12·5 µl ml−1 for E. coli. A significant protective role on lipid substrates in the β‐carotene bleaching assay was seen for the EO from S. montana and M. fragrans. Overall, such EO can be promising agents against pathogenic bacteria and for protecting biomolecules during oxidative stress.
Significance and Impact of the Study: The study addresses natural alternatives in the selective control of pathogenic bacterial species resistant to antibiotics and the oxidative stress in infectious processes. Important results in relation to the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of essential oils from S. montana, M. fragrans. and C. flexuosus were found. Essential oils can act in the oxidative process, and they can disturb the cytoplasmic membrane by interfering with the phospholipid bilayer of the cell wall, increasing the permeability and loss of cell constituents and causing cell death of bacteria. Thus, the use of essential oils is very promising for the development of new antimicrobials.
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