Removal of diethyltoluamide, paracetamol, caffeine and triclosan from natural water by photo-Fenton process using powdered zero-valent iron

The removal of four pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), namely diethyltoluamide (DEET), paracetamol (PAR), caffeine (CAF) and triclosan (TCS) (at a spiked concentration of 25 μg/L), from natural water using the photo (UVC)-Fenton (powdered zero-valent iron, pZVI) process was investigated. The results show that a molar ratio of H2O2/pZVI of 2.0, pZVI concentration of 22.4 mg/L and pH of 3.0 maximised the removal of the target compounds at 71.1%, 100%, 64.2% and 87.1%, for DEET, PAR, CAF and TCS, respectively, after 30 min in Fenton (pZVI) process. When this process was coupled with UVC radiation, 29.6%, 80.3%, 3.1% and 88.4% of DEET, PAR, CAF and TCS, respectively, were removed within the first minute, and 99.0%, 100%, 99.5% and 100%, respectively, were removed after 30 min. The pseudo first-order kinetic model best fitted the degradation data of DEET, PAR and CAF (1–20 min); and because 80% of TCS and PAR degraded within the first minutes, it is suggested to explore the kinetics during the initial period. Characterisations of pZVI after the photo-Fenton (pZVI) process indicated the corrosion of the surface of iron powder and the presence of iron oxides and iron hydroxides. Lower removals of nitrate (35–50%), phosphate (<35%) and total organic carbon (TOC, <18%) were observed, which may be attributed to the small H2O2/pZVI dosage used. Results of this investigation show that the photo-Fenton (pZVI) process has potential for efficient and cost-effective removal of PPCPs

Acute toxicity of plant extracts towards Daphnia magna

The demand for natural based products for the cosmetics industry is increasing sharply and therefore the search for new alternatives to the traditionally used plants is growing. These alternative plants can be an important source of bioactive compounds under a circular economy approach. Within the framework of Inovep project, several plant species, some of which autochthonous from Portugal, were identified as potential sources of bioactive compounds, namely: gum rockrose (Cistus ladanifer), curry plant (Helichrysum italicum), hop (Humulus lupulus), Mediterranean thyme (Thymbra capitata) and basil (Ocimum basilicum). Considering the potential future use of these plant extracts by the industry, it is necessary to assess the risk associated with their introduction into the ecosystem. This work aims to evaluate the toxic effects of different extracts of these five species. Acute toxicity tests using the model organism Daphnia magna were performed and the immobilization after 24 and 48 hours of exposure was evaluated. The EC50 (the concentration estimated to immobilize 50 per cent of the Daphnia) varied from 201.8±3.28 x10-5 mg.L-1 at 24 hours and 199.5±5.9410x10-5 mg.L-1 at 48 hours for Cistus ladanifer extract and 11.2±0.2403 mg.L- 1 at 24 hours and 11.2±0.4095 mg.L-1 at 48 hours for Thymbra capitata essential oil. For Humulus lupulus, Helichrysum italicum, Thymbra capitata in the form of hidrolate, and Ocimum basilicum no immobilization was observed until the highest concentrations tested for various types of extracts, suggesting these extracts present low to no risk towards D. magna

Circunfer?ncia do pesco?o e risco cardiovascular em 10 anos : diferen?as por sexo. an?lise seccional da linha de base do Estudo Longitudinal de Sa?de do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil).

Programa de P?s-Gradua??o em Sa?de e Nutri??o. Escola de Nutri??o, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto.INTRODU??O: A circunfer?ncia do pesco?o (CP) ? uma estimativa da gordura do pesco?o e da gordura subcut?nea da parte superior do corpo, cujo aumento parece conferir risco cardiovascular adicional ?quele conferido pela adiposidade geral e abdominal. O Framingham Global Risk Score (FGRS) fornece uma estimativa do risco de desenvolver DCV em 10 anos, utilizado para identificar indiv?duos sob maior risco de DCV, inclusive na pr?tica cl?nica. OBJETIVO: O objetivo da presente disserta??o foi verificar a associa??o entre a circunfer?ncia do pesco?o e o risco de evento cardiovascular em 10 anos em homens e mulheres participantes da linha de base do Estudo Longitudinal de Sa?de do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil). M?TODOS: Trata-se de estudo de corte transversal com participantes da linha de base do Estudo Longitudinal de Sa?de do Adulto (ELSABrasil) (2008-2010). O ELSA-Brasil ? uma coorte multic?ntrica com 15.105 servidores p?blicos, ativos e aposentados de institui??es de ensino e pesquisa de seis capitais de estados brasileiros. Para a presente an?lise, foram exclu?dos os indiv?duos com relato de DCV (n=738) e sem informa??es para DCV (n=26), CP (n=11), FGRS (n=28) e covari?veis (n=382), permanecendo 13.920 participantes. As caracter?sticas da popula??o do estudo e dos componentes do FGRS foram descritas por meio de frequ?ncias absolutas e relativas, m?dias e desvio padr?o (?DP) ou medianas (1? e 3? quartis) e utilizados testes compara??o dessas medidas. A associa??o entre a CP (utilizada como vari?vel cont?nua e agrupda em quartis) e o risco DCV em 10 anos, mensurado pelo FGRS, foi estimada por meio de Modelos Lineares Generalizados (MLG), com distribui??o gama e fun??o logar?tmica, cujo exponencial do coeficiente de regress?o fornece a Raz?o da M?dias Aritm?ticas com intervalo de 95% de confian?a (RMA, IC95%). Foram realizados ajustes por idade, escolaridade, ra?a/cor autorreferida, consumo de ?lcool, atividade f?sica no lazer, ?ndice de massa corporal (IMC) e circunfer?ncia da cintura (CC). RESULTADOS: A m?dia de idade dos participantes foi de 51,7 anos (DP?7,6), sendo 55% mulheres. A m?dia da CP aumentou com o incremento do risco de DCV em 10 anos agrupado em categorias de risco (risco baixo 20%) em ambos os sexos. Ap?s todos os ajustes, incluindo as demais medidas de adiposidade corporal, a CP permaneceu independentemente associada a um aumento de 3% na m?dia aritm?tica do risco DCV em 10 anos (RMA= 1,03; IC 95% 1,01-1,03) nos homens e de 5% (RMA= 1,05; IC 95% 1,04-1,06) nas mulheres. Nos modelos de regress?o utilizando a CP agrupada em quartis, ap?s todos os ajustes, observamos que comparados ao primeiro quartil todos os demais apresentaram aumento gradual na m?dia aritm?tica no risco de DCV em 10 anos, que chegou a um incremento de 18% entre os que estavam no ?ltimo quartil (IC95%: 1,13-1,24) entre os homens e a 35% (IC95%: 1,28-1,43) entre as mulheres. Foram realizadas an?lises de sensibilidade com a exclus?o de participantes em uso de hipolipemiantes, uso de corticoides, e de mulheres em uso de anticoncepcional ou em reposi??o hormonal e essas exclus?es n?o levaram a altera??o nos resultados observados. CONCLUS?O: Nossos resultados sugerem uma associa??o entre a circunfer?ncia do pesco?o e o risco DCV em 10 anos, mensurado pelo Framingham Global Risk Score em ambos os sexos, mas indicando maior for?a de associa??o entre as mulheres. Contudo, novos estudos em outras popula??es e an?lises longitudinais s?o necess?rios.INTRODUCTION: The effect of adipose tissue on the development of CVD varies between different fat deposits. Neck Circumference (NC) provides an estimate of neck fat and upper body subcutaneous fat that has been singled out as the sole body fat deposit that confers additional cardiovascular risk above and beyond general and central body fat. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this dissertation was to verify the association between neck circumference and cardiovascular risk in 10 years in men and women participants from the baseline of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brazil). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with participants from the Study of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brazil) baseline (2008-2010). ELSABrazil is a multicentre cohort composed of 15,105 civil serventes from institution of education and research institutions in six Brazilian state capitals. For the present analysis, individuals with a history of CVD (acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke and coronary artery bypass grafting) (n = 738), missing information for CVD (n = 26), for NC = 11), for the Framingham Global Risk Score (n = 28) and for covariables (n = 382) were excluded. At the end the sample analytic was composed by 13,920 participants.The characteristics of the study population and the FGRS components were described by means of absolute and relative frequencies (categorical variables) and means and standard deviation (? SD) or medians (1st and 3rd quartiles) (continuous variables). Pearson's Chisquare test was used for comparison of frequencies, Student's t-test for comparison of means and Kruskal-Wallis test for comparison of medians. The association between NC (continous variable and agrouped in quartiles) and the10-years CDV risk, measured by the FGRS, was estimated using Generalized Linear Models (MLG), with gamma distribution and logarithmic function, whose exponential regression coefficient gives the Arithmetic Mean Ratio with 95% confidence interval (RMA, 95% CI). Potential confounding factors were age, schooling, self-reported race / color, alcohol consumption, leisure time physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 51.7 years (SD ? 7.6), being 55% female. The mean NC increased according to risk categories of the 10-year CVD risk (low risk 20%) in both sexes. In the crude analysis, it was observed that the increase of one centimeter in NC was associated with an increase of 5% (RMA = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.04-1.05) in the mean 10-year CVD risk in men and 11% (RMA = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.10-1.12) in women. After all the adjustments, including the other measures of body adiposity, NC remained independently associated with a 3% increase in the arithmetic mean of CVD risk in 10 years (RMA = 1.03, 95% CI, 1.01- 1.03) in men and 5% (RMA = 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.06) in women. In the regression models using NC grouped in quartiles, after all the adjustments, we observed that, compared to the first quartile, all the others presented a gradual increase in the arithmetic mean in the risk of the 10-years CVD risk, which reached an increase of 18% in men who were in the last quartile (95% CI: 1.13-1.24) and 35% (95% CI: 1.28-1.43) in women. Sensitivity analyzes were performed with the exclusion of participants taking lipidlowering drugs, corticosteroids, and women taking contraceptives or hormone replacement, and these exclusions did not lead to alteration in the observed results. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest an association between NC and 10-years CVD risk as measured by the Framingham Global Risk Score in both sexes, but indicating a greater strength of association among women

Composition and screening of antifungal activity against Cladosporium sphaerospermum and Cladosporium cladosporioides of essential oils of leaves and fruits of Piper species

This study investigated the composition and antifungal activity against Cladosporium sphaerospermum and Cladosporium cladosporioides of essential oils of leaves of Piper cernuum, Piper diospyrifolium, Piper crassinervium, Piper solmsianum and Piper umbelata and fruits of P. cernuum and P. diospyrifolium. The essentials oils were analyzed by GC-MS and submitted of the antifungal activity tests. The essential oils of fruits from P. cernuum and leaves of P. crassinervium and P. solmsianum showed potential antifungal activity against C. sphaerospermum and C. cladosporioides. In addition, this is the first report of the composition of essential oils of fruits of P. cernuum and P. diospyrifolium.Key words: Piperaceae, Piper; essential oil composition, antifungal activity, GC-MS

Brazilian gamma detection device for sentinel lymph node biopsy

OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of an intra-operative gamma detection Brazilian device (IPEN) on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) procedures. METHODS: Forty melanoma or breast cancer patients with indication for undergoing SLNB were studied. Lymphoscintigraphy was done 2 to 24 hours prior to surgery. Lymphatic mapping with vital dye and gamma detection were performed intraoperatively. For gamma detection Neoprobe ® 1500 was used followed by IPEN (equipment under test) in the first 20 patients and for the remaining half IPEN was used first to verify its ability to locate the sentinel node (SN). Measurements were taken from the radiopharmaceutical product injection site, from SN (in vivo and ex vivo) and from background. It was recorded if the SN was stained or not and if it was found easily by surgeon. RESULTS: There were 33 (82.5%) breast cancer and 7 (17.5%) melanoma patients. Ages varied from 21 to 68 year-old (median age of 46). Sex distribution was 35 (87.5%) women and 5 (12.5%) men. Sentinel node was found in all but one patient. There was no statistical difference between the reasons ex vivo/ background obtained with the measures of both equipments (p=0, 2583-ns). The SN was easily found by the surgeon with both devices. CONCLUSION: The SLNB was successfully performed using either equipment. It was possible to do SLNB with the Brazilian device developed by IPEN without prejudice for the patient.OBJETIVO: Testar a eficácia de equipamento de detecção gama intra-operatória (DGI) desenvolvido pelo IPEN (Brasil), em procedimentos de biópsia de linfonodo sentinela (BLS) no melanoma e no câncer de mama. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 40 pacientes portadores de melanoma ou câncer de mama com indicação para realização de BLS.Todos pacientes foram submetidos à linfocintilografia e a BLS ocorreu entre 2 a 24 horas após a mesma. Concomitantemente à DGI, realizou-se o mapeamento linfático com corante vital. Foram feitas leituras com o equipamento convencional Neoprobe® 1500 e com o equipamento em teste (IPEN) dos valores de captação do sítio de injeção do radiofármaco, do LS in vivo e ex vivo e da captação de fundo. Foi registrado se o LS estava corado e se o cirurgião teve facilidade para encontrá-lo. Nos primeiros 20 pacientes utilizou-se o equipamento convencional e depois o de teste; nos outros 20, utilizou-se primeiro o equipamento em teste, com objetivo de verificar se o mesmo identificava primariamente o LS. RESULTADOS: Dos quarenta pacientes, 33 eram portadores de tumor de mama e sete de melanoma cutâneo; variação da idade: 21 a 68 anos (mediana= 46 anos); 35 mulheres e 5 homens. Em apenas um paciente o LS não foi encontrado, nem pela DGI nem pelo corante vital. Não houve diferença estatística entre as razões ex vivo/fundo obtidas com os dois equipamentos (p=0, 2583-ns). CONCLUSÃO: É possível realizar o procedimento de BLS com o equipamento brasileiro desenvolvido pelo IPEN, com facilidade e sem prejuízo para o paciente.Hospital Israelita Albert EinsteinIPENUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Faculdade de Medicina Anhembi-MorumbiUNIFESPSciEL

Phylogenetic inferences of Atelinae (Platyrrhini) based on multi-directional chromosome painting in Brachyteles arachnoides, Ateles paniscus paniscus and Ateles b. marginatus

We performed multi-directional chromosome painting in a comparative cytogenetic study of the three Atelinae species Brachyteles arachnoides, Ateles paniscus paniscus and Ateles belzebuth marginatus, in order to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within this Platyrrhini subfamily. Comparative chromosome maps between these species were established by multi-color fluorescence in situ hybridization ( FISH) employing human, Saguinus oedipus and Lagothrix lagothricha chromosome-specific probes. The three species included in this study and four previously analyzed species from all four Atelinae genera were subjected to a phylogenetic analysis on the basis of a data matrix comprised of 82 discrete chromosome characters. The results confirmed that Atelinae represent a monophyletic clade with a putative ancestral karyotype of 2n = 62 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed an evolutionary branching sequence \{Alouatta \{Brachyteles \{Lagothrix and Ateles\}\}\} in Atelinae and \{Ateles belzebuth marginatus \{Ateles paniscus paniscus \{Ateles belzebuth hybridus and Ateles geoffroyi\}\}\} in genus Ateles. The chromosomal data support a re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of Ateles b. hybridus. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Injury prevention, drowning prevention habits and resuscitation knowledge of Portuguese surfing instructors. A cross-sectional study

Surfing instructors can play an important role both in preventing sport related injuries and as first responders in water emergencies events. Even though Portugal is a predominantly oceanic country, with many people enrolling in water sports activities, we still don’t have a clear insight of the knowledge and educational practices of surfing instructors concerning both injury prevention and first response actions. This study aimed to analyze the educational practices on prevention of surf-related injuries of Portuguese surfing instructors and their knowledge and experience acting as first responders in the sea. A cross-sectional study was designed, using an online survey distributed by all surfing schools registered at Portuguese Surfing Federation to their instructors. The survey included a brief demographic characterization, questions regarding teaching practices about prevention of surfing-related injuries and knowledge/experience acting as first responders at the sea. Data was collected anonymously using Google Forms. A total of 102 instructors participated in the study. The analysis of the survey responses showed that 93.2% of surfing instructors are aware of the importance of prevention habits for teaching but skip some major preventive measures when teaching novice surfers. Nevertheless, the instructors with more than 15 years of experience provide more feedback on prevention habits during classes than instructors with less experience (p=0.019). When looking at self-perceptions of own competence to act in a drowning event, the instructors who have attended a basic life support course asserted to be more competent than those who never attended a course (p<0.05). These findings suggest that it would be very positive that all surfing schools followed the same protocol, giving due importance to prevention measures. Moreover, surfing instructors can play an important role in first response to drowning events but might have some training flaws that should be considered as part of a Water Safety National Strategy. © JPES

Vulnerability of Brazilian municipalities to hantavirus infections based on multi‑criteria decision analysis

Background: Hantavirus infection is an emerging zoonosis transmitted by wild rodents. In Brazil, high case-fatality rates among humans infected with hantavirus are of serious concern to public health authorities. Appropriate preventive measures partly depend on reliable knowledge about the geographical distribution of this disease. Methods: Incidence of hantavirus infections in Brazil (1993–2013) was analyzed. Epidemiological, socioeconomic, and demographic indicators were also used to classify cities’ vulnerability to disease by means of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). Results: From 1993 to 2013, 1752 cases of hantavirus were registered in 16 Brazilian states. The highest incidence of hantavirus was observed in the states of Mato Grosso (0.57/100,000) and Santa Catarina (0.13/100,000). Based on MCDA analysis, municipalities in the southern, southeastern, and midwestern regions of Brazil can be classified as highly vulnerable. Most municipalities in northern and northeastern Brazil were classified as having low vulnerability to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. Conclusions: Although most human infections by hantavirus registered in Brazil occurred in the southern region of the country, a greater vulnerability to hantavirus was found in the Brazilian Midwest. This result reflects the need to strengthen surveillance where the disease has thus far gone unreported

Peripheral leukocyte profile in people with temporal lobe epilepsy reflects the associated proinflammatory state

INTRODUCTION: Markers of low-grade peripheral inflammation have been reported amongst people with epilepsy. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are unknown. We attempted to characterize peripheral immune cells and their activation status in people with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and healthy controls. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty people with TLE and 19 controls were recruited, and peripheral blood lymphocyte and monocyte subsets evaluated ex vivo by multi-color flow cytometry. People with TLE had higher expression of HLA-DR, CD69, CTLA-4, CD25, IL-23R, IFN-γ, TNF and IL-17 in CD4(+) lymphocytes than controls. Granzyme A, CTLA-4, IL-23R and IL-17 expression was also elevated in CD8(+) T cells from people with TLE. Frequency of HLA-DR in CD19(+) B cells and regulatory T cells CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) producing IL-10 was higher in TLE when compared with controls. A negative correlation between CD4(+) expressing co-stimulatory molecules (CD69, CD25 and CTLA-4) with age at onset of seizures was found. The frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) cells was also positively correlated with age at onset of seizures. CONCLUSION: Immune cells of people with TLE show an activation profile, mainly in effector T cells, in line with the low-grade peripheral inflammation