The epidemiological demands of aging point to the need for characterizing older adults regarding health and disability. This systematic review aims to summarize the indicators (instruments) ...identifying different components of disability as a result of aging exposition in community-dwelling older adults, considering the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework. Taking the PRISMA 2020 recommendations as a reference, studies with community-dwelling older adults, reporting the development and/or age disability modifications were included. Two reviewers analyzed the observational studies searched in the MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases. Of the 137 potentially eligible studies, 49 were included in this review. Several indicators (instruments) demonstrated older adults’ disabilities according to the different domains of the ICF. Objective measures assessed Body Structures, Body Functions, and Environmental Factors and included handgrip strength (dynamometry, n = 8), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State examination, n = 7), gait speed (walk test, n = 6), and endurance (Chair stand-test, n = 4). Self-reported measures assessed Activities and Participation, but not the Body Structures, and included the basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) (the Katz Index of ADL, n = 4 studies, the Lawton and Brody Instrumental ADL, n = 4 studies). The summary of the measures gathered can guide researchers and health professionals to select indicators (instruments) to assess and monitor older adults’ disabilities resulting from aging exposition, to support the development of new wearables, and to provide improvements to the existing ones, allowing the tailored assessment of different health and disability dimensions.
Phycocyanin is a pigment of intense blue color, constituting the biomass of microalga such as Spirulina. This pigment is sensitive to pH and this instability results in color change. Thus, ...phycocyanin fading may become interesting for application in intelligent packaging. The objective of the study was to develop PLA/PEO ultrafine fibers containing phycocyanin to be used as pH indicators membranes for food packaging. The ultrafine fibers were formed by electrospinning process. The average diameter of 1318 nm was obtained for PLA/PEO ultrafine fibers with 2% (w·v−1) of phycocyanin and 921 nm for those developed with 3% (w·v−1) of the dye. PLA/PEO ultrafine fibers with 3% (w·v−1) of the phycocyanin presented the best responses regarding the perception of color change (ΔE). With the highest thickness (68.7 μm) of the ultrafine fibers developed from 3% (w·v−1) of phycocyanin, the ΔE value found was 18.85 to the variation of pH 3 to 4 and for variation from pH 5 to 6 the value of ΔE was 18.66. Thus, the use of PLA/PEO ultrafine fibers containing phycocyanin as pH indicator is an innovative application for intelligent packaging, since the color of pigment changes depending on pH variation.
•Ultrafine fibers produced by electrospinning were used to developed pH indicators membranes.•PLA/PEO ultrafine fibers with 3% (w·v−1) of phycocyanin presented diameter of 921 nm.•pH indicators were developed from PLA/PEO ultrafine fibers with phycocyanin.•The ultrafine fibers thickness of 68.7 μm showed 76% of ΔE values above 12.•Ultrafine fibers containing phycocyanin are innovative materials for intelligent food packaging.
Summary
The use of wild Saccharomyces and non‐Saccharomyces yeasts might result in bread with different and attractive sensory characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of ...Saccharomyces and non‐Saccharomyces yeasts as starter culture in dough fermentation to bread making and the physicochemical parameters and aromatic profile of bread. All 26 wild yeasts strains isolated from Brazilian Cerrado fruit and tree bark were osmotolerant, and 19.4% were able to ferment maltose. Candida tropicalis ART101.3 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae SC5952 had the best growth capacity under high concentrations of glucose and maltose. Also, they were resistant to lyophilisation. Kinetic parameters of bioreactor cultivations showed high cell growth and lower generation time with 10 g L−1 maltose. Bread produced with C. tropicalis ART101.3 and the control bread had similar physicochemical properties and acceptance of consumers. Bread with S. cerevisiae SC5951 had a lower specific volume and a different colour than control bread; however, the consumers found no significant difference. More than 70% of the consumers demonstrated purchase intention of bread produced with both wild yeasts. The present study shows the potential of native Cerrado yeasts to be used and exploited in industrial processes and contributes to the diversification of bread starter cultures.
Workflow for analysis of native yeasts from the Cerrado biome and their use in bread production.
•The dexamethasone reduced the number of peripheral circulating lymphocytes.•Dexamethasone provided a suitable environment for installation of breast tumor.•Prolonged use of dexamethasone allowed the ...success of xenografts in zebrafish.•Adult zebrafish as an excellent model to understand the biology of human cancer.
The host immune system tends to reject xenogenic-implanted cells making tumor development in adult host animal models difficult. Immune system suppression is used for successful xenotransplantation of human cancer cells in many animal models. The studies of cancer development processes in vivo offer opportunities to understand cancer biology and discover new therapeutic strategies. In this context, zebrafish is a model that has been widely applied in the study of human diseases, such as cancer. However, the long-term immunosuppression of these adult zebrafish is still under study as a xenograft animal model for human cancer. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of 21 days of (long-term) exposure of dexamethasone in zebrafish-transplanted with MGSO-3 cells, human breast tumor cell line. Our results show that the animals, while kept on dexamethasone treatment, remained with a 50% reduction in the number of peripheral lymphocytes. In vitro data demonstrated that up to 7 days of dexamethasone treatment did not alter the morphology, proliferation, or viability of MGSO-3 cells. The animals that received a prolonged dexamethasone treatment allowed the engraftment of tumor cells in 100% of the zebrafish tested. These animals also showed tumor progression over 21 days. The experimental group that received only previous exposure to dexamethasone had their tumors regressed after 14 days. In conclusion, the prolonged use of dexamethasone in zebrafish showed a potential strategy for in vivo monitoring of xenograft tumor growth for development studies, as well as in anticancer drug discovery.
Anacanthorus (Anacanthorinae) is one of the most speciose and common genera of neotropical monogeneans, yet there are still many gaps in our knowledge concerning their diversity and phylogeny. We ...performed phylogenetic analyses of molecular sequences in order to investigate the phylogenetic position within the Dactylogyridae of Anacanthorus spp. infesting serrasalmids from two Brazilian river basins. Sequences of partial 28S rDNA obtained for nine species of Anacanthorus and Mymarothecium viatorum parasitizing serrasalmids and the published sequences of other members of the Dactylogyridae were included in the phylogenetic reconstruction. Phylogenetic analyses supported the monophyly of anacanthorine monogeneans. The Anacanthorinae (represented in this study by Anacanthorus spp.) formed a monophyletic group included in a large clade together with a group of solely freshwater Ancyrocephalinae and species of the Ancylodiscoidinae. Mymarothecium viatorum (Ancyrocephalinae) was placed within the clade of freshwater Ancyrocephalinae. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that the relationships among species of Anacanthorus reflect those of their serrasalmid hosts: the first subgroup includes a species specific to hosts assigned to Piaractus, a member of the "pacus" lineage; the second subgroup includes a species parasitizing the "Myleus-like pacus" lineage; and the third subgroup includes species parasitizing the lineage of the "true piranhas". We suggest that Anacanthorus and their serrasalmid hosts can be considered a useful model to assess host-parasite biogeography and coevolution in the neotropics. However, future studies focusing on a wider spectrum of host species and their specific Anacanthorus spp. are needed in order to investigate coevolution in this highly diversified system.
Twelve strains of a novel yeast species were isolated from rotting wood, mushrooms and fruit samples in Brazil and French Guiana. Analysis of the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region ...and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that the novel species belongs to the Kurtzmaniella clade. The novel species differed from its closest relative, Candida natalensis, by 12 substitutions in the D1/D2 sequences. The novel species could be distinguished from C. natalensis by its inability to assimilate cellobiose and salicin, and growth at 50 % (w/w) glucose. The name Kurtzmaniella hittingeri f.a., sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species. The type strain of K. hittingeri sp. nov. is CBS 13469
(=UFMG CM-Y272
). The MycoBank number is 827183. We also propose the transfer of Candida fragi, Candida quercitrusa and Candida natalensis to the genus Kurtzmaniella as new combinations.
The study of phytotherapy in dentistry holds great relevance because of the scarcity of research conducted on the treatment of oral pathologies, specifically, caries and periodontal disease. ...Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the chemical composition of extracts from
Aubl. leaves, evaluate their toxicity, and assess their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties against
,
, and
. Three extracts were prepared using assisted ultrasound and the Soxhlet apparatus, namely, Crude Ultrasound Extract (CUE), Crude Soxhlet Extract (CSE), and the Ethanol Soxhlet Extract (ESE). Flavonoids, tannins, and saponins were detected in the chemical analysis, while LC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of caffeic acid, sinapic acid, rutin, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and apigenin in all extracts. GC-MS analysis identified stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in the CUE and CSE. The ESE showed higher antioxidant activity (2.98 ± 0.96 and 4.93 ± 0.90) determined by the DPPH• and ABTS•
methods, respectively. In the toxicity evaluation, the CUE at 50 μg/mL and the ESE at 50 μg/mL stimulated the growth of
roots, while all extracts inhibited root growth at 750 μg/mL. None of the extracts exhibited toxicity against
. Antibacterial activity was observed in all extracts, particularly against the microorganisms
and
. However, no antifungal activity against
was detected. These results suggest that extracts of
have therapeutic potential for controlling microorganisms in the oral microbiota.
Splenic hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a malignant tumor of endothelial cells that affects middle-aged and elderly dogs and is characterized by the formation of new blood vessels, commonly associated with ...necrotic and hemorrhagic areas. Despite its importance in veterinary medicine, few studies have identified markers with prognostic value for canine HSA. Thus, this study aimed to associate the clinicopathological findings (prostate-specific membrane antigen PSMA, Claudin-5, and Ki67 gene and protein expression) with overall survival in HSA-affected patients. Fifty-three formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded canine splenic HSA samples, previously diagnosed by histopathological examination, were used in this study. Claudin-5, PSMA, and Ki67 protein expression levels were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and gene expression was evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Claudin-5 protein overexpression was observed in patients with metastasis (p = 0.0078) and with stage III tumors compared to those with stage I and II tumors (p = 0.0451). In patients treated with surgery alone, low PSMA gene and protein expression (p = 0.05 and p = 0.0355, respectively) were associated with longer survival time. Longer survival time was observed in patients with a low Ki67 index (p = 0.0488). Our results indicate that Claudin-5 protein expression is associated with metastatic status, and PSMA gene and protein expression, and Ki67 index are associated with survival time.
To build and validate a clinical simulation scenario designed to instruct community health workers (CHWs) in active leprosy case detection.
Methodological study involving the development of a ...simulated clinical scenario and content validation by experts. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was used to determine the level of agreement among the judging commitee, and a descriptive analysis of their recommendations was performed.
A simulated scenario with a simulated participant was developed - a simulation characterized by low complexity, moderate physical/environmental fidelity, moderate to high psychological fidelity, and high conceptual fidelity, lasting 50 minutes and capable of training up to 10 CHWs simultaneously. The scenario was validated by 14 experts, with a CVI exceeding 80% for all components.
The validated clinical simulation possesses attributes that make it highly reproducible in various national health contexts, thereby contributing to the global "Towards Zero Leprosy" strategy.
Migraine is a chronic neurological disease with several trigger factors, including dietary, hormonal and environmental factors.
To analyse precipitating factors in a sample of migraine patients.
Two ...hundred consecutive migraine patients were interviewed about possible trigger factors for migraine attacks.
Most patients showed at least one dietary trigger, fasting was the most frequent one, followed by alcohol and chocolate. Hormonal factors appeared in 53%, being the pre-menstrual period the most frequent trigger. Physical activities caused migraine in 13%, sexual activities in 2.5% and 64% reported emotional stress a trigger factor. 81% related some sleep problem as a trigger factor. Regarding environmental factors, smells were reported by 36.5%.
Trigger factors are frequent in migraine patients, its avoidance may decrease headache frequency and also improve patients' quality of life.
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