Dr. Rhoton’s key philosophies included “Keep working hard.”, “Make surgery more accurate, gentle and safe”, “We want perfect anatomical dissections, because we want perfect surgical operations”, ...“Competence without compassion is worthless. Compassion without competence is meaningless”, “Neurosurgeons share a great professional gift; our lives have yielded an opportunity to help mankind in a unique and exciting way” and “There is no finish line for this effort”. His words reveal his passion for microneurosurgery and infinite love for humankind. Although his reknown rested on his reputation as a researcher, Dr. Rhoton was also a devoted educator. The principal aim behind the enormous amount of work he performed was that of educating neurosurgeons worldwide, so that they could be better surgeons. His work included: (1) numerous dissection courses, (2) numerous lectures and publications including about 160 original papers (3) the textbook “RHOTON” and Rhoton Collection (4) the education of 119 research fellows. The projects directed in his lab, produced the international dissemination of neuroanatomical knowledge. The ultimate goal of his microsurgical research was to improve the care of patients with neurosurgical diseases around the world. The technical contributions and humble character of Dr. Rhoton should be remembered as we care for patients.
Systemic amyloidosis is caused by the deposition of misfolded protein aggregates in tissues, leading to progressive organ dysfunction and death. Epidemiological studies originate predominantly from ...high-income countries, with few data from Latin America. Due to the non-specific clinical manifestations, diagnosing amyloidosis is often challenging and patients experience a long journey and delay in diagnosis. This study aimed to assess clinical and laboratory characteristics, the diagnostic journey, and outcomes of patients with biopsy-proven systemic amyloidosis diagnosed between 2009 and 2020 at a university referral center in a middle-income Latin American country. Patients´ medical records were retrospectively reviewed.
One hundred and forty-three patients were included. The median age at diagnosis was 60 years and 54% were male. Until the diagnosis, most of the patients (52%) were seen by at least 3 specialists, the main ones being: general practitioners (57%), nephrologists (45%), and cardiologists (38%). The most common manifestations were renal (54%) and cardiac (41%) disorders, and cachexia was seen in 36% of patients. In 72% of the cases, ≥ 2 biopsies were required until the final diagnosis. The median time from symptoms onset to diagnosis was 10.9 months, and most patients (75%) had ≥ 2 organs involved. The following subtypes were identified: AL (68%), ATTR (13%), AA (8%), AFib (4%), and inconclusive (7%). Median OS was 74.3 months in the non-AL subgroup and 18.5 months in AL. Among AL patients, those with advanced cardiac stage had the worst outcome median OS 8.6 months versus 52.3 for stage III versus I-II, respectively (p < 0.001). AL subtype, cardiac involvement, and ECOG ≥ 2 were identified as independent risk factors for reduced survival.
Systemic amyloidosis is still an underdiagnosed condition and the delay in its recognition leads to poor outcomes. Medical education, better diagnostic tools, improvement in access to therapies, and establishment of referral centers may improve patient outcomes in middle-income countries.
Aim
This study evaluated the inhibitory effects on mycelial growth and damage on membrane integrity and enzymatic activity caused by Conyza bonariensis essential oil (CBEO) on distinct pathogenic ...Colletotrichum musae isolates, as well as the preventive and curative effects of coatings with gum Arabic (GA) and CBEO to reduce anthracnose development in banana during room temperature storage. The effects of GA‐CBEO coatings on some physicochemical parameters of banana were investigated during room temperature storage.
Method and results
CBEO (0.4–1 μl ml−1) inhibited the mycelial growth of C. musae isolates in laboratory media. The exposure of C. musae conidia to CBEO (0.6 μl ml−1) for 3 and 5 days resulted in high percentages of conidia with damaged cytoplasmic membrane and without enzymatic activity. Coatings with GA (0.1 mg ml−1) and CBEO (0.4–1 μl ml−1) reduced the anthracnose development in banana artificially contaminated with C. musae during storage. In most cases, the disease severity indexes found for GA‐CBEO‐coated banana were lower than or similar to those for banana treated with commercial fungicide. GA‐CBEO‐coated banana had reduced alterations in physicochemical parameters during storage, indicating more prolonged storability.
Conclusion
The application of GA‐CBEO coatings is effective to delay the anthracnose development in banana during storage, which should help to reduce the amount of fungicides used to control postharvest diseases in this fruit.
Significance and Impact of the Study
This is the first study showing the efficacy of coatings formulated with GA and CBEO to delay the development of anthracnose in banana, as well as to decrease alterations in physicochemical parameters indicative of postharvest quality of this fruit during storage. In a practical point of view, GA‐CBEO coatings could be innovative strategies to delay the anthracnose development and postharvest losses in banana.
Lignocellulose feedstock constitutes the most abundant carbon source in the biosphere; however, its recalcitrance remains a challenge for microbial conversion into biofuel and bioproducts.
Bacillus ...licheniformis
is a microbial mesophilic bacterium capable of secreting a large number of glycoside hydrolase (GH) enzymes, including a glycoside hydrolase from GH family 9 (
Bl
Cel9). Here, we conducted biochemical and biophysical studies of recombinant
Bl
Cel9, and its low-resolution molecular shape was retrieved from small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data.
Bl
Cel9 is an endoglucanase exhibiting maximum catalytic efficiency at pH 7.0 and 60 °C. Furthermore, it retains 80% of catalytic activity within a broad range of pH values (5.5–8.5) and temperatures (up to 50 °C) for extended periods of time (over 48 h). It exhibits the highest hydrolytic activity against phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASC), followed by bacterial cellulose (BC), filter paper (FP), and to a lesser extent carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The HPAEC-PAD analysis of the hydrolytic products demonstrated that the end product of the enzymatic hydrolysis is primarily cellobiose, and also small amounts of glucose, cellotriose, and cellotetraose are produced. SAXS data analysis revealed that the enzyme adopts a monomeric state in solution and has a molecular mass of 65.8 kDa as estimated from SAXS data. The
Bl
Cel9 has an elongated shape composed of an N-terminal family 3 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM3c) and a C-terminal GH9 catalytic domain joined together by 20 amino acid residue long linker peptides. The domains are closely juxtaposed in an extended conformation and form a relatively rigid structure in solution, indicating that the interactions between the CBM3c and GH9 catalytic domains might play a key role in cooperative cellulose biomass recognition and hydrolysis.
We sought to investigate the three-dimensional structure of the white matter of the brain by means of the fiber-dissection technique and diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging to assess the ...usefulness of the combination of both techniques, compare their results, and review the potential functional role of fiber tracts.
Fifteen formalin-fixed human hemispheres were dissected according to Klingler's fiber-dissection technique with the aid of 36 to 340 magnification. Three-dimensional anatomic images were created with the use of specific software. Two hundred patients with neurological symptoms and five healthy volunteers were studied with diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging (3 T) and tractographic reconstruction.
The most important association, projection, and commissural fasciculi were identified anatomically and radiologically. Analysis of their localization, configuration, and trajectory was enhanced by the combination of both techniques. Three-dimensional anatomic reconstructions provided a better perception of the spatial relationships among the white matter tracts. Tractographic reconstructions allowed for inspection of the relationships between the tracts as well as between the tracts and the intracerebral lesions. The combination of topographical anatomic studies of human fiber tracts and neuroanatomic research in experimental animals, with data from the clinicoradiological analysis of human white matter lesions and intraoperative subcortical stimulation, aided in establishing the potential functional role of the tracts.
The fiber-dissection and diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging techniques are reciprocally enriched not only in their application to the study of the complex intrinsic architecture of the brain, but also in their practical use for diagnosis and surgical planning.
Inspiratory muscle function may be affected in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), further worsening the functional loss in these individuals. However, the impact of inspiratory muscle ...weakness (IMW) on the functional capacity (FC) of hemodialysis patients remains unknown. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of IMW on FC in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis.
ESRD patients on hemodialysis treatment for more than six months were evaluated for inspiratory muscle strength and FC. Inspiratory muscle strength was evaluated based on maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). IMW was defined as MIP values less than 70% of the predicted value. FC was evaluated using the Incremental Shuttle Walk test (ISWT). Patients whose predicted peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) over the distance walked during the ISWT was less than 16mL/kg/min were considered to have FC impairment. Associations between variables were assessed by linear and logistic regression, with adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), presence of diabetes and hemoglobin level. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine different cutoff values of the MIP for normal inspiratory muscle strength and FC.
Sixty-five ERSD patients (67.7% male), aged 48.2 (44.5-51.9) years were evaluated. MIP was an independent predictor of the distance walked during the ISWT (R2 = 0.44). IMW was an independent predictor of VO2peak < 16mL/kg/min. (OR = 5.7; p = 0.048) in adjusted logistic regression models. ROC curves showed that the MIP cutoff value of 82cmH2O had a sensitivity of 73.5% and specificity of 93.7% in predicting normal inspiratory strength and a sensitivity and specificity of 76.3% and 70.4%, respectively, in predicting VO2peak ≥ 16mL/kg/min.
IMW is associated with reduced FC in hemodialysis patients. Evaluation of the MIP may be important to functional monitoring in clinical practice and can help in the stratification of patients eligible to perform exercise testing.
Despite higher rates of sustained virologic response (SVR), important concerns remain when patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) are treated with direct-acting ...antiviral agents (DAA). Questions include efficacy, safety, and the magnitude of liver function improvement. Here, we aimed to evaluate HCV treatment data in this specific population in Brazil.
We included 85 patients with decompensated cirrhosis submitted to HCV therapy with DAA followed at two academic tertiary centers in the southeastern region of Brazil.
Seventy-nine patients (92.9%) were Child-Pugh (CP) score B, and six (7.1%) were CP score C. The mean MELD score was 12.86. The most common treatment was sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir±ribavirin for 24 weeks. The overall intention-to-treat (ITT) SVR rate was 87.4% (74/85) and modified-ITT 96.1% (74/77). ITT SVR was associated with lower baseline INR values (p=0.029). Adverse events (AE) occurred in 57.9% (44/76) of patients. Serious AE were reported in 12.8% (10/78), and were related to the presence of hepatic encephalopathy (p=0.027). SVR was associated with improvement in CP (p<0.0001) and MELD scores (p=0.021). Among baseline CP score B patients with SVR, 46% (29/63) regressed to CP score A. Ascites was independently associated with no improvement in liver function in patients who achieved SVR (p=0.001; OR:39.285; 95% CI:4.301-258.832).
Patients with decompensated HCV cirrhosis showed a high SVR rate with interferon-free therapy. Early liver function improvement occurred after successful HCV eradication. However, long-term follow-up of these patients after SVR remains strongly advised.
In this study, we evaluated the physical, nutritional, and bioactive properties of mandacaru cladode flour (
DC.). The granulometric profile revealed particles with non-uniform geometry, flakiness, a ...rectangular tendency, and a non-homogeneous surface, with particle sizes ranging from 20 to 60 µm. The flour presented low water activity (0.423), a moisture content of 8.24 g/100 g, high ash (2.82 g/100 g), protein (5.18 g/100 g), and total carbohydrate contents (74.48 g/100 g), and low lipid contents (1.88 g/100 g). Mandacaru flour is an excellent source of insoluble dietary fiber (48.08 g/100 g), calcium (76.33%), magnesium (15.21%), and potassium (5.94%). Notably,
H NMR analysis revealed the presence of N-methyltyramine. Using HPLC chromatography, glucose was identified as the predominant sugar (1.33 g/100 g), followed by four organic acids, especially malic acid (9.41 g/100 g) and citric acid (3.96 g/100 g). Eighteen phenolic compounds were detected, with relevant amounts of kaempferol (99.40 mg/100 g), myricetin (72.30 mg/100 g), and resveratrol (17.84 mg/100 g). The total phenolic compounds and flavonoids were 1285.47 mg GAE/100 g and 15.19 mg CE/100 g, respectively. The mean in vitro antioxidant activity values were higher using the FRAP method (249.45 µmol Trolox TEAC/100 g) compared to the ABTS
method (0.39 µmol Trolox TEAC/g). Finally, the ascorbic acid had a content of 35.22 mg/100 g. The results demonstrate the value of mandacaru as a little-explored species and an excellent matrix for the development of flours presenting good nutritional value and bioactive constituents with excellent antioxidant potential.
Corporalidade e Práticas Corporais em Pesquisas na Educação Oliveira, Evandro Salvador Alves de; Ehrenberg, Mônica Caldas; Bressan, João Carlos Martins
Fronteiras : Journal of Social, Technological and Environmental Science (Anápolis),
04/2023, Letnik:
12, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
O artigo em tela objetiva analisar o que revelam (qualitativamente e quantitativamente) as produções acadêmicas publicadas em 10 anos - entre 2012 e 2021 - sobre os termos “práticas corporais e ...corporalidade. Trata-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica que investigou teses, dissertações e artigos científicos identificados e analisados em ambientes virtuais, como a Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações (BDTD) e o Scielo Brasil. O texto revela que as produções encontradas se concentram especialmente nas regiões sul e sudeste do Brasil, apontando a carência de discussões e investigações nas demais regiões do território brasileiro. Além disso, os dados mostram que o índice de publicações sobre o tema foi maior após o ano de 2016 e os trabalhos selecionados para análise utilizaram metodologias diversas, com predominância para o método qualitativo.
O conhecimento sobre a biota do Cerrado e sobre os fatores que influenciam a distribuição das espécies é de suma importância num cenário em que as atividades antrópicas têm levado à destruição e ...fragmentação deste bioma. Esta pesquisa foi realizada num fragmento de cerrado em Curvelo, Minas Gerais, e teve por objetivo analisar os efeitos de borda sobre fatores relacionados à biologia reprodutiva de Miconia albicans, com atenção particular à dispersão secundária de sementes por formigas. Foram estas variáveis estudadas: (i) composição de espécies de formigas interagindo com frutos de M. albicans; (ii) taxa de remoção de frutos; (iii) tipos de interação entre formigas e frutos; (iv) distância de dispersão; (v) produção de frutos; (vi) abundância e porte de M. albicans. Nove espécies de formigas foram observadas interagindo com frutos de M. albicans. A taxa de remoção de frutos foi de 86% no interior e de 58% na borda do fragmento. A distância de dispersão variou entre 0,10-12 m, e não houve diferença significativa entre os dois ambientes (p = 0,24). Não houve diferença significativa na produção de frutos entre borda e interior (p = 0,15). A abundância de M. albicans foi significativamente maior na borda do que no interior (p = 5,088 x 10^-10), contudo os indivíduos do interior apresentaram maior porte. Estes resultados sugerem que o efeito de borda não causa alterações significativas na remoção de frutos de M. albicans por formigas. Contudo, a aparente maior abundância de formigas na borda parece impedir que estas plantas alcancem grande porte.
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