Predators and parasitoids locate herbivore‐infested plants via detection of herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) that are released in response to pest damage. Synthetic HIPVs have been proposed ...as tools to enhance the biological control of crop pests. The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a key herbivore pest of sugarcane, Saccharum spp. (Poaceae), in the Americas. To manage D. saccharalis in Brazil, more than 3 million ha of sugarcane have been treated with the larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). In this study, the role of sugarcane HIPVs as cues in the host‐finding process of C. flavipes was investigated using a combination of dynamic headspace collection, chemical analysis, and laboratory behavior experiments. Comparison of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) collected from D. saccharalis‐damaged and healthy sugarcane revealed very similar profiles, apart from significantly higher levels of the sesquiterpene (E)‐caryophyllene released from damaged plants. Naive female C. flavipes spent significantly more time in the olfactometer arm containing VOCs from D. saccharalis‐damaged plants but showed no preference for VOCs from healthy plants. When (E)‐caryophyllene was added to VOCs from healthy plants, parasitoids spent more time in the arm containing the combined treatment. Furthermore, in a dose–response experiment with synthetic (E)‐caryophyllene, naive parasitoids preferred the compound across a dose range of 3–300 ng, and experienced parasitoids – preexposed to (E)‐caryophyllene – responded to doses of (E)‐caryophyllene as low as 0.03 ng. These results suggest that C. flavipes can use (E)‐caryophyllene as a cue to locate D. saccharalis‐infested sugarcane plants. Moreover, experienced females appear to respond to lower doses than naive females. These results potentially pave the way for increasing the efficiency of C. flavipes in biological control of D. saccharalis, the most important pest of sugarcane and maize crops in the Western Hemisphere, and also a major pest of rice and sorghum crops.
The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a key pest of sugarcane in the Americas. Using a combination of dynamic headspace collection, chemical analysis, and laboratory behavior experiments, we investigated the role of sugarcane HIPVs in the host‐finding process of the larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Cotesia flavipes can use (E)‐caryophyllene to locate D. saccharalis‐infested sugarcane plants. Moreover, experienced females have increased sensitivity to detect the compound, which could be used in pest management.
Verify the influences of physical activity level, nutritional status and screen habits on the prevalence of back pain in Brazilian students.
The sample consisted of 577 schoolchildren (female = 274; ...male = 303) aged between 10 and 16 years old, regularly enrolled in the 6
grade of elementary school living in the metropolitan area of the Alto Tietê of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The prevalence, intensity and frequency of pain was verified with the Back Pain Assessment Instrument. The usual practice of physical activity was verified with the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children/Adolescent. Nutritional status was analyzed using Body Mass Index. Screen habits were obtained through a previously structured questionnaire.
The Chi-square test indicated that pain complaint and its prevalence in the cervical region are significantly higher in females (p < 0.05). The multiple logistic regression test revealed that watching television influences the prevalence of cervical pain and that the use of more than one screen increases the occurrence of low back pain in male students (p < 0.05).
Female students were the most affected by back pain complain, especially in the cervical region. However, factors associated with the prevalence of back pain were found only in males.
It is unknown whether angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) have a positive, neutral, or negative effect on clinical outcomes in patients with ...coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
To determine whether discontinuation compared with continuation of ACEIs or ARBs changed the number of days alive and out of the hospital through 30 days.
A randomized clinical trial of 659 patients hospitalized in Brazil with mild to moderate COVID-19 who were taking ACEIs or ARBs prior to hospitalization (enrolled: April 9-June 26, 2020; final follow-up: July 26, 2020).
Discontinuation (n = 334) or continuation (n = 325) of ACEIs or ARBs.
The primary outcome was the number of days alive and out of the hospital through 30 days. Secondary outcomes included death, cardiovascular death, and COVID-19 progression.
Among 659 patients, the median age was 55.1 years (interquartile range IQR, 46.1-65.0 years), 14.7% were aged 70 years or older, 40.4% were women, and 100% completed the trial. The median time from symptom onset to hospital admission was 6 days (IQR, 4-9 days) and 27.2% of patients had an oxygen saturation of less than 94% of room air at baseline. In terms of clinical severity, 57.1% of patients were considered mild at hospital admission and 42.9% were considered moderate. There was no significant difference in the number of days alive and out of the hospital in patients in the discontinuation group (mean, 21.9 days SD, 8 days) vs patients in the continuation group (mean, 22.9 days SD, 7.1 days) and the mean ratio was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.90-1.01). There also was no statistically significant difference in death (2.7% for the discontinuation group vs 2.8% for the continuation group; odds ratio OR, 0.97 95% CI, 0.38-2.52), cardiovascular death (0.6% vs 0.3%, respectively; OR, 1.95 95% CI, 0.19-42.12), or COVID-19 progression (38.3% vs 32.3%; OR, 1.30 95% CI, 0.95-1.80). The most common adverse events were respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (9.6% in the discontinuation group vs 7.7% in the continuation group), shock requiring vasopressors (8.4% vs 7.1%, respectively), acute myocardial infarction (7.5% vs 4.6%), new or worsening heart failure (4.2% vs 4.9%), and acute kidney failure requiring hemodialysis (3.3% vs 2.8%).
Among patients hospitalized with mild to moderate COVID-19 and who were taking ACEIs or ARBs before hospital admission, there was no significant difference in the mean number of days alive and out of the hospital for those assigned to discontinue vs continue these medications. These findings do not support routinely discontinuing ACEIs or ARBs among patients hospitalized with mild to moderate COVID-19 if there is an indication for treatment.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04364893.
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) modalities affect solute removal differently. However, the impacts of switching PD modalities on serum levels of biomarkers of different sizes are not known. Our objective ...was to analyze whether a change in the PD modality associates with the levels of two routine biochemical laboratories. In this multicentric prospective cohort study. we selected all patients who remained on a PD modality for at least 6 months and switched PD modality. Patients were also required to be treated with the same PD modality for at least 3 months before and after the modality change. The primary outcome was change in potassium and phosphate serum levels. We identified 737 eligible patients who switched their PD modality during the study. We found mean serum phosphate levels increased during the 3 months after switching from CAPD to APD and conversely decreased after switching to from APD to CAPD. In contrast, for potassium the difference in the mean serum levels was comparable between groups switching from CAPD to APD, and vice versa. In conclusion, CAPD seems to be as efficient as APD for the control of potassium serum levels, but more effective for the control of phosphate serum levels. The effect of a higher removal of middle size molecules as result of PD modalities in terms of clinical and patient-reported outcomes should be further explored.
This study aimed to evaluate the oral switch (OS) stewardship intervention in the intensive care unit (ICU).
This was a retrospective study with a convenience sample in two Brazilian ICUs from ...different hospitals in patients with sepsis receiving antibiotic therapy. The stewardship intervention included OS in patients diagnosed with sepsis when clinical stability was achieved. The primary outcome was overall mortality. Other variables evaluated were as follows: cost of antimicrobial treatment, daily costs of intensive care, acute kidney injury, and length of stay.
There was no difference in mortality between the OS and non-OS groups (p = 0.06). Length of stay in the ICU (p = 0.029) was shorter and acute kidney injury incidence (p = 0.032) and costs of antimicrobial therapy (p < 0.001) were lower in the OS group.
OS stewardship programs in the ICU may be considered a safe strategy. Switch therapy reduced the cost and shortened the length of stay in ICUs.
Sedum praealtum has been used for a long time in traditional medicine as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. Its beneficial effects have been known since ancient times, when Latinos used it to ...treat sore and swollen eyes. This research evaluated the antimicrobial potential, the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, and some chromatographic profiles of the hydroethanolic extract of leaves, stems and roots of S. praealtum.
The antimicrobial activities were carried out by broth microdilution and agar diffusion. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated by cell cultures of Aedes albopictus and the selectivity index (SI) was estimated: SI=CI
/MIC. Genotoxic and systemic toxic effects of S. praealtum leaves were analyzed by micronucleus assay in mice bone marrow. Chromatographic profiles and mass spectra were investigated by GC-MS.
Gram-positive (B. subtilis, B. cereus, M. luteus, E. faecalis and S. aureus) and gram-negative (E. coli, E. aerogenes, S. marcescens, P. aeruginosa, P. mirabilis and S. typhimurium) bacteria exhibited MICs ranging from 12.5-50 and 0-50 mg/ml, respectively. Sedum praealtum showed no efficacy against M. tuberculosis and M. bovis. Cytotoxicity (CI
) of S. praealtum was 4.22 and 5.96 mg/ml for leaves and stems, respectively, while its roots showed no cytotoxicity. Micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) analyzes showed no differences between treatment doses (0.5-2 g/kg) and negative control (NaCl), but the PCE/NCE ratio (polychromatic erythrocyte/normochromatic erythrocyte) showed significant differences. Phytochemical screening identified thirteen compounds in the leaves, stems and roots of S. praealtum potentially associated with their biological activities.
This research comprises a first scientific study on genotoxicity, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial effects of S. praealtum (Balsam), and it provides an initial theoretical foundation for its comprehensive use. Results showed antibacterial action of S. praealtum against gram-positive bacteria and some gram-negative species (depending on the plant anatomical part), but ineffective antimycobacterial action. However, S. praealtum leaves and stems display potential cytotoxicity, contributing to the SI < 1 values. In addition, S. praealtum leaves exhibit no clastogenic and/or aneugenic effects, but it has systemic toxicity dose-independent.
Physical activity (PA) is typically lower on hemodialysis (HD) days. Albeit intradialytic inactivity is expected, it is unknown whether recovery after HD contributes to low PA. We investigated the ...impact of HD and post-HD period on granular PA relative to HD timing.
We used baseline data from the HDFIT trial conducted from August 2016 to October 2017. Accelerometry measured PA over 1 week in patients who received thrice-weekly high-flux HD (vintage 3 to 24 months), were clinically stable, and had no ambulatory limitations. PA was assessed on HD days (0 to ≤24 h after start HD), first non-HD days (> 24 to ≤48 h after start HD) and second non-HD day (> 48 to ≤72 h after start HD). PA was recorded in blocks/slices: 4 h during HD, 0 to ≤2 h post-HD (30 min slices), and > 2 to ≤20 h post-HD (4.5 h slices). Blocks/slices of PA were captured at concurrent/parallel times on first/second non-HD days compared to HD days.
Among 195 patients (mean age 53 ± 15 years, 71% male), step counts per 24-h were 3919 ± 2899 on HD days, 5308 ± 3131 on first non-HD days (p < 0.001), and 4926 ± 3413 on second non-HD days (p = 0.032). During concurrent/parallel times to HD on first and second non-HD days, patients took 1308 and 1128 more steps (both p < 0.001). Patients took 276 more steps and had highest rates of steps/hour 2-h post-HD versus same times on first non-HD days (all p < 0.05). Consistent findings were observed on second non-HD days.
PA was higher within 2-h of HD versus same times on non-HD days. Lower PA on HD days was attributable to intradialytic inactivity. The established PA profiles are of importance to the design and development of exercise programs that aim to increase activity during and between HD treatments.
HDFIT was prospectively registered 20 April 2016 on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02787161).
Sustained virologic response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment denotes that the host genetics controls the immune response and unequivocally contribute to viral clearance or disease ...severity. In this context, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the locus of interferon lambda 3 and 4 genes (
) have been important genetic markers of responsiveness to CHC as prognostic markers for the pegylated-Interferon-alpha/ribavirin (Peg-IFN-α/RBV). Here, we analyzed 12 SNPs at the
region in 740 treatment-naïve patients with CHC infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1, 2, or 3 treated with Peg-IFN-α/RBV. Individually, rs12979860-CC, rs8109886-CC, or rs8099917-TT were predictive markers of SVR, while rs12979860-CC demonstrated the stronger effect. Besides, the genotypic combination of these three predictors' genotypes, CC/CC/TT, increased the rate of SVR. Serum levels of cytokines and gene expression analysis on the genes
,
,
, and some of the IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) were measured in a subgroup of 24 treated patients and 24 healthy volunteers. An antagonist effect was highlighted between the expression of
and
mRNA among patients. Besides, a prominent production of the pro-inflammatory chemokines CCL4 and CXCL10 was observed at a 12-week treatment follow-up. Lower serum levels of these chemokines were detected in patients with an rs12979860-CC genotype associated with the better treatment outcome. Also, lower expression levels of the
,
,
genes were observed among rs12979860-CC individuals. In conclusion, a combination of the genotypes at the
locus can act as a better marker for the prognosis for virological responses in an admixed Brazilian population presenting the modulating effect over innate immunity and inflammation that are controlling the outcome of the viral infection, but also other infectious diseases. This study is registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov platform (accession number NCT01889849 and NCT01623336).
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