Sophorolipids: A review on production and perspectives of application in agriculture

Sophorolipids are bioactive molecules that have gained a lot of attention in the recent decades due to their unique functional properties of reducing surface and interfacial tension, emulsification and solubilization. They are mainly produced by the yeast Candida bombicola and are composed of a sugar moiety linked to a fatty acid chain. Sophorolipids are non-toxic, highly efficient and stable at extreme conditions and possess environmentally friendly characteristics over the chemical surfactants. This review is focused on the main characteristics of sophorolipids, fermentation processes, and their utilization in the agricultural field. In this context, sophorolipids are very suitable for use in agriculture, as enhancers of solubility and mobility of plant nutrients, which could result in increased plant biomass, root size and fruit yield. In addition, they could be used for biodegradation of oils, bioremediation of heavy metals in contaminated soils, and as potential biopesticides, to control phytopathogenic microorganisms in agriculture. The extensive use of chemical pesticides has led to widespread insecticide resistance and to hazards to human health and the environment due to their high toxicity. Thus, the introduction of a new biomolecule to control plant diseases and increase crop yield has become an interesting alternative. As a result of the demonstrated antimicrobial activity towards phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi, sophorolipids could be extensively explored in the agriculture field, as a sustainable and natural multifunctional agent for plant crops and soils

AÇÕES ESTRATÉGICAS PARA PREVENÇÃO DO CÂNCER ORAL

O câncer oral representa um problema de saúde pública com elevados indicadores de morbimortalidade, sendo o segundo tipo de neoplasia mais comum no Brasil

May Measurement Month 2017: an analysis of blood pressure screening in Angola-Sub-Saharan Africa

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide, leading to over 10 million deaths each year. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programmes worldwide. There is increasing prevalence of hypertension in developing countries leading to increased risk of adverse outcomes. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2017. Blood pressure measurement, the definition of hypertension and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. In Angola, 17 481 individuals were screened in six provinces with an average BP of 126/78 mmHg. After multiple imputation, 6022 (34.5%) had hypertension. Of individuals not receiving antihypertensive medication, 4080 (26.3%) were hypertensive. Of those receiving antihypertensive medication, 1159 (59.7%) had uncontrolled BP. MMM17 was the largest BP screening campaign undertaken in Angola. These results suggest that there is still a significant percentage of patients who are not medicated and possibly require medication, and more than half of the hypertensive patients do not have controlled BP demonstrating the need for a more targeted and comprehensive screening of BP and more effective treatment

Ictiofauna de lagos de várzea da Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Piagaçu-Purus (RDS-PP), baixo rio Purus

The ichthyofauna of the rio Purus has been little investigated, especially in its lower portion, characterized by diverse aquatic environments, especially in flooded areas. We inventoried the ichthyofauna of floodplain lakes with different management efforts in Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Piagaçu-Purus (RDS-PP), which represent important resource for commercial fishing in North region, in the first illustrated inventory of the fish fauna from lower rio Purus. We surveyed 20 lakes, classified as open access (eight lakes) and protected (12 lakes) during 2009 low water levels. A total of 2,299 individuals were collected, represented by seven orders, 25 families and 74 species. Characiformes was the most representative order in number of species and families, followed by Siluriformes, Cichliformes, Gymnotiformes, Clupeiformes, and Osteoglossiformes. Most abundant and frequent species were Pygocentrus nattereri, Triportheus angulatus, Serrasalmus sp. "2n=58", Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps, and Osteoglossum bicirrhosum. Protected lakes presented higher species richness compared to open access lakes. Similarly, protected lakes possessed 26 species occurring exclusively, with emphasis on Colossoma macropomum, an important species for fisheries due to its commercial importance. We added 44 new records of fish species for the lower rio Purus. Our results indicate the potential efficiency of zoning systems of open access and protected lakes established by local population and ruled by RDS-PP for fisheries management. Therefore, we strongly suggest its maintenance for conservation of ichthyofauna of floodplain lakes of lower rio Purus. © 2019, Universidade Estadual de Campinas UNICAMP. All rights reserved

Production of bacterial cellulose nanocrystals via enzymatic hydrolysis and evaluation of their coating on alginate particles formed by ionotropic gelation

This study aimed to obtain the bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) by enzymatic hydrolysis and verify the CNC application as coating material in alginate particles. Therefore, the production of CNC was carried out through two enzymatic hydrolysis methods involving a time period of 48 and 72 h. 0.35 mg of dry mass of cellulose was produced approximately 1.6 × 1011 CNC/mL. The CNC obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis at 72 h (Method II) was applied to cover the alginate particles, obtained by ionotropic gelation. The CNC Zeta potential value was about +15 mV and for alginate particles -26.46 ± 1.48 mV. These results confirmed the application of CNC as coating material for alginate particles. It brings an incremental contribution to the knowledge advancement in the pharmaceutical and food area, allowing the engineering of systems to use a mixed composition of nanobiomaterials to modify the release pattern of drugs, macromolecule, nutrients, stabilizers and target specific drug release.The authors acknowledge financial support from Coordination for Higher Level Graduate Improvements (CAPES/Brazil, Grant Numbers 001), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq/Brazil), and the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP/Brazil, grant numbers 2019/22,626–5 and 2018/10,508–5).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ALTA DENSIDADE MINERAL ÓSSEA: DENTRO DA NORMALIDADE OU MASCARANDO A FRAGILIDADE ÓSSEA?

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate individuals with high BMD and correlate with clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: We performed a search over the last 4 years, in the archives of bone densitometry of the Department of Endocrinology (Hospital de Clinicas, Federal University of Parana), in all patients with Z-score ≥ 2.0 SD in spine or femur. After selection, we reviewed the medical records of each patient, evaluating their comorbidities and medical history. Results: We selected 104 patients with mean age of 62 years, with 96% of the sample being women. The mean weight was 70 kg, and body mass index 29kg/m². A statistically significant correlation between the presence of artifacts and abnormal densitometric diagnosis (p <0.001) was observed. In patients with increased bone density in spine, approximately 60% had osteopenia or osteoporosis at one or more sites, whereas in patients with arthrosis, 68% had a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia. Furthermore, a significant correlation between artifacts and Z-score ≥ 2.0 SD in the femoral neck was found (p = 0.008). Of all comorbidities analyzed, there was correlation between hypertension and presence of artifacts (p <0.001), such as arthrosis and scoliosis. It was also observed that 72% of patients with hypothyroidism had artifacts (p = 0.014). Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of patients with high bone mass and abnormal diagnosis in densitometry. These results show that analysis of only one site in densitometry can lead to a wrong diagnosis, especially in patients with degenerative disease. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar indivíduos com alta DMO e correlacionar com parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais. Métodos: Foi realizada uma pesquisa ao longo dos últimos 4 anos, nos arquivos da densitometria óssea do Departamento de Endocrinologia (Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná), em pacientes com Z-score ≥ 2,0 DP na coluna ou fêmur. Após a seleção, foram revisados os prontuários de cada paciente, avaliando sua história médica e comorbidades. Resultados: Foram selecionados 104 pacientes com idade média de 62 anos, sendo 96% da amostra do sexo feminino. O peso médio encontrado foi 70 kg e o índice de massa corporal foi 29 kg/m². Observou-se uma correlação estatisticamente significativa entre presença de artefatos e diagnóstico densitométrico anormal (p <0,001). Em pacientes com aumento da densidade óssea da coluna, aproximadamente 60% apresentavam osteopenia ou osteoporose em um ou mais locais, enquanto que em pacientes com artrose, 68% tiveram o diagnóstico de osteoporose ou osteopenia. Além disso, uma correlação significativa entre artefatos e Z-score ≥ 2,0 DP no colo do fêmur foi encontrada (p = 0,008). De todas as comorbidades analisadas, houve correlação entre hipertensão e presença de artefatos (p <0,001), como artrose e escoliose. Observou-se ainda que 72% dos pacientes com hipotireoidismo apresentaram artefatos (p = 0,014). Conclusão: Encontramos elevada prevalência de pacientes com alta massa óssea e diagnóstico final anormal na densitometria. Estes resultados mostram que a análise de um único sítio de densitometria pode conduzir ao diagnóstico incorreto, especialmente em pacientes com doença degenerativa

Spatial analysis of leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in the canine population in an area of socioeconomic and environmental vulnerability

ABSTRACT Leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis are zoonoses of occupational character that are spread worldwide, mainly in tropical and socioeconomically vulnerable areas. Both diseases have vertebrate hosts, which spread the infectious agent to the environment and are potentially infectious to humans and can progress to fatal cases. The present study reinforces the importance of One Health for the control and prophylaxis of leptospirosis and toxoplasmosis using sentinel animals in areas of socioeconomic vulnerability based on a serological study. A total of 336 blood samples were obtained from the canine population of the urban district, which has high rates of poverty and sanitation. The results were analyzed based on seroreactivity animals and georeferencing by kernel spatial mapping. A total of 43.3% (52/120) of the animals were seroreagents for anti-Leptospira spp., with a predominance of Canicola (35/52 = 67.3%) and Pyrogenes (5/52 = 9.6%), while 52.97% (178/336) of the dogs were seroreactive for anti-Toxoplasma gondii. The presence of seroreagent dogs for both zoonosis alert to the inadequate hygienic-sanitary conditions of the studied region, and highlight the importance of a survey of the social, economic and environmental structure to identify factors related to the links in the epidemiological chain of pathogen transmission and necessary corrective actions

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors