Efficient ammonium removal from marine aquaculture wastewater with microalgal-bacterial granular sludge technology

Water recirculation in marine aquaculture is fundamental for the protection of water resources and for the sector sustainability as it enables to reduce water usage 1. Microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) has the potential to increase the removal efficiency of pollutants from wastewaters benefiting from the diverse metabolism allowing water recirculation. Moreover, MBGS would allow costs reduction both in biomass separation from the treated water given the rapid settling properties and in aeration due to microalgae oxygen production 2.This study aimed to develop MBGS able to treat marine aquaculture effluents. For that, a lab-scale photo sequencing batch reactor was inoculated with activated sludge, previously adapted to salty wastewater, and a microalgae consortium enriched from water collected at a marine aquaculture. Feeding composition was established to simulate marine aquaculture streams. The aggregation of microalgal and bacterial biomass to form granular structures occurred rapidly. Throughout the operation, dark green granules with a dense and compact structure became predominant together with an increase in chlorophyll and carotenoids content in biomass. Ammonia was absent from the reactor effluent, but the nitrite levels were often above the toxicity levels for fish. Nevertheless, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the treated water was high (> 8.63 mg/L). The microalgal-bacterial granules proved to be efficient in producing streams with high dissolved oxygen levels, lowering the needed of water oxygenation before reuse and without ammonium ions. However, for water recirculation, improvement of the nitrite removal is needed to maintain the levels below the fish toxicity levels.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterization of the Antidiabetic Role of Parkinsonia aculeata (Caesalpineaceae)

This paper reports the characterization of the antidiabetic role of a hydroethanolic extract from Parkinsonia aerial parts (HEPA), in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats, treated with HEPA (125 and 250 mg/kg; p.o.). Oral glucose tolerance test, acute oral toxicity test and preliminary phytochemical analyses were performed. The diabetic rats treated with HEPA showed a significant reduction in serum and urinary glucose, urinary urea and triglyceride levels, as compared to the diabetic untreated group. However, in the normal treated groups, a significant reduction was found only in serum triglyceride levels. In all treated diabetic groups, an improvement in hepatic glycogen was observed, as well as a decrease in liquid intake and urinary volume, and an enhancement in the weight of skeletal muscles (soleus and extensor digitorum longus), kidneys and epididymal adipose tissue. Nevertheless, body and liver weights were ameliorated only in the diabetic group treated with HEPA (250 mg/kg). Moreover, oral glucose tolerance was higher in animals treated with HEPA, while results also showed that HEPA could be considered toxicologically safe. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tanins, flavonoids and steroids in HEPA. In conclusion, P. aculeata presents an antidiabetic activity and other beneficial effects that ameliorate diabetes and associated complications

TERT promoter mutations are a major indicator of poor outcome in differentiated thyroid carcinomas

Context: Telomerase promoter mutations (TERT) were recently described in follicular cell-derived thyroid carcinomas (FCDTC) and seem to be more prevalent in aggressive cancers. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the frequency of TERT promoter mutations in thyroid lesions and to investigate the prognostic significance of such mutations in a large cohort of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTCs). Design: This was a retrospective observational study. Setting and Patients: We studied 647 tumors and tumor-like lesions. A total of 469 patients with FCDTC treated and followed in five university hospitals were included. Mean follow-up (±SD) was 7.8 ± 5.8 years. Main Outcome Measures: Predictive value of TERT promoter mutations for distant metastasization, disease persistence at the end of follow-up, and disease-specific mortality. Results: TERT promoter mutations were found in 7.5% of papillary carcinomas (PTCs), 17.1% of follicular carcinomas, 29.0% of poorly differentiated carcinomas, and 33.3% of anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. Patients with TERT-mutated tumors were older (P < .001) and had larger tumors (P = .002). In DTCs, TERT promoter mutations were significantly associated with distant metastases (P < .001) and higher stage (P < .001). Patients with DTC harboring TERT promoter mutations were submitted to more radioiodine treatments (P = .009) with higher cumulative dose (P = .004) and to more treatment modalities (P = .001). At the end of follow-up, patients with TERT-mutated DTCs were more prone to have persistent disease (P = .001). TERT promoter mutations were significantly associated with disease-specific mortality [in the whole FCDTC (P < .001)] in DTCs (P < .001), PTCs (P = .001), and follicular carcinomas (P < .001). After adjusting for age at diagnosis and gender, the hazard ratio was 10.35 (95% confidence interval 2.01–53.24; P = .005) in DTC and 23.81 (95% confidence interval 1.36–415.76; P = .03) in PTCs. Conclusions: TERT promoter mutations are an indicator of clinically aggressive tumors, being correlated with worse outcome and disease-specific mortality in DTC. TERT promoter mutations have an independent prognostic value in DTC and, notably, in PTC.We acknowledge GENZYME for funding our work through a research project. This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology through PhD Grant SFRH/BD/81940/2011 (to J.V.); PhD Grant SFRH/BD/87887/2012 (to C.T.); PhD Grant SFRH/BD/79135/2011 (to A.A.); and the Scientific Investigation Project PIC/IC/83037/2007. Further funding was obtained from the project “Microenvironment, Metabolism and Cancer,” partially supported by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte), under the Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional, and through the European Regional Development Fund. The work of J.M.C.-T. was supported by Grant PI12/00749-FEDER from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Madrid, Spain). The Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP) is an associate laboratory of the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, which is partially supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology

Caracterização da violência contra a pessoa idosa e completitude das fichas de notificação do evento em Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, 2011-2020

Objective: to analyze the profile of violence against the elderly and the degree of completeness of event notification forms in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: a descriptive study that used as a data source the notification forms of violence obtained through the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System, 2011-2020; the analysis of completeness was performed according to criteria proposed by the Ministry of Health. Results: of the 486 registered cases, the most reported type of violence was physical violence (48.1%), followed by psychological (22.2%) and self-harm (21.4%); the fields with the highest degree of incompleteness were victim’s education (32.8%) and repeat violence (41.5%). Conclusion: despite the increase in notifications in the period, predominantly of physical violence, some fields in the form persist with lowcompleteness, which reinforces the importance of training professionals to improve the reporting process and the quality of the data.Objetivo: analizar el perfil de la violencia contra los ancianos y el grado de integridad de los formularios de notificación de eventos en Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Métodos: estudio descriptivo con fuente de datos las fichas de notificación de violencia obtenidas en Sistema de Información de Agravios de Notificación, 2011-2020; análisis de la exhaustividad se realizó según criterios propuestos por el Ministerio de Sanidad. Resultados: de 486 casos registrados, el tipo de violencia más notificado fue física (48,1%), seguida psicológica (22,2%) y autolesión (21,4%); campos con mayor grado de incompletitud fueron: educación de la víctima (32,8%) y reincidencia en la violencia (41,5%). Conclusión: a pesar del aumento de notificaciones en el periodo, predominantemente violencia física, persisten algunos campos importantes con bajacompletitud, lo que refuerza la importancia de la capacitación de los profesionales para mejorar el proceso de notificación y la calidad de los datos.Objetivo: analisar o perfil da violência contra a pessoa idosa e o grau de completitude das fichas de notificação do evento em Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Métodos: estudo descritivo, utilizando como fonte de dados as fichas de notificação de violência obtidas do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, 2011-2020; a análise da completitude realizou-se segundo critérios propostos pelo Ministério da Saúde. Resultados: dos 486 casos registrados, o tipo de violência mais notificada foi a violência física (48,1%), seguida das violências psicológica (22,2%) e autoprovocada (21,4%); os campos com maior grau de incompletitude corresponderam à escolaridade da vítima (32,8%) e à violência de repetição (41,5%). Conclusão: apesar do aumento das notificações no período, predominantemente de violência física, alguns campos importantes das fichas persistem com baixa completitude, o que reforça a importância do treinamento dos profissionais visando melhorar o processo de notificação e a qualidade dos dados

TERT promoter mutations are a major indicator of poor outcome in differentiated thyroid carcinomas

Funding: This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology through PhD Grant SFRH/BD/81940/ 2011 (to J.V.); PhD Grant SFRH/BD/87887/2012 (to C.T.); PhD Grant SFRH/BD/79135/2011 (to A.A.); and the Scientific Investigation Project PIC/IC/83037/2007. Further funding was obtained from the project “Microenvironment, Metabolism and Cancer,” partially supported by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte), under the Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional, and through the European Regional Development Fund. The work of J.M.C.-T. was supported by Grant PI12/00749-FEDER from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Madrid, Spain). The Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP) is an associate laboratory of the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, which is partially supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology.Context: Telomerase promoter mutations (TERT) were recently described in follicular cell-derived thyroid carcinomas (FCDTC) and seem to be more prevalent in aggressive cancers. Objectives:Weaimed to evaluate the frequency of TERT promoter mutations in thyroid lesions and to investigate the prognostic significance of such mutations in a large cohort of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTCs). Design: This was a retrospective observational study. Setting and Patients: We studied 647 tumors and tumor-like lesions. A total of 469 patients with FCDTC treated and followed in five university hospitals were included. Mean follow-up (±SD) was 7.8 ± 5.8 years. Main Outcome Measures: Predictive value of TERT promoter mutations for distant metastasization, disease persistence at the end of follow-up, and disease-specific mortality. Results: TERT promoter mutations were found in 7.5% of papillary carcinomas (PTCs), 17.1% of follicular carcinomas, 29.0% of poorly differentiated carcinomas, and 33.3% of anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. Patients with TERT-mutated tumors were older (P < .001) and had larger tumors (P = .002). In DTCs, TERT promoter mutations were significantly associated with distant metastases (P< .001) and higher stage (P < .001). Patients with DTC harboring TERT promoter mutations were submitted to more radioiodine treatments (P = .009) with higher cumulative dose (P = .004) and to more treatment modalities (P=.001). At the end of follow-up, patients with TERT-mutated DTCs were more prone to have persistent disease (P=.001). TERT promoter mutations were significantly associated with disease-specific mortality [in the whole FCDTC (P < .001)] in DTCs (P < .001), PTCs (P = .001), and follicular carcinomas (P < .001). After adjusting for age at diagnosis and gender, the hazard ratio was 10.35 (95% confidence interval 2.01-53.24; P = .005) in DTC and 23.81 (95% confidence interval 1.36-415.76; P = .03) in PTCs. Conclusions: TERT promoter mutations are an indicator of clinically aggressive tumors, being correlated with worse outcome and disease-specific mortality in DTC. TERT promoter mutations have an independent prognostic value in DTC and, notably, in PTC.publishersversionpublishe

The COVID-19 pandemic and professional nursing practice in the context of hospitals

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed challenges to health systems and institutions, which had to quickly create conditions to meet the growing health needs of the population. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on professional nursing practice environments and to identify the variables that affected their quality. Quantitative, observational study, conducted in 16 Portuguese hospitals, with 1575 nurses. Data were collected using a questionnaire and participants responded to two different moments in time: the pre-pandemic period and after the fourth critical period of COVID-19. The pandemic had a positive impact on the Structure and Outcome components, and a negative trend in the Process component. The variables associated with the qualification of the components and their dimensions were predominantly: work context, the exercise of functions in areas of assistance to COVID-19 patients, length of professional experience and length of experience in the service. The investment in professional practice environments impacted the improvement of organizational factors, supporting the development of nurses’ work towards the quality of care. However, it is necessary to invest in nurses’ participation, involvement and professional qualifications, which are aspects strongly dependent on the institutions’ management strategies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Professional Nursing Practice in the Context of Hospitals

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed challenges to health systems and institutions, which had to quickly create conditions to meet the growing health needs of the population. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on professional nursing practice environments and to identify the variables that affected their quality. Quantitative, observational study, conducted in 16 Portuguese hospitals, with 1575 nurses. Data were collected using a questionnaire and participants responded to two different moments in time: the pre-pandemic period and after the fourth critical period of COVID-19. The pandemic had a positive impact on the Structure and Outcome components, and a negative trend in the Process component. The variables associated with the qualification of the components and their dimensions were predominantly: work context, the exercise of functions in areas of assistance to COVID-19 patients, length of professional experience and length of experience in the service. The investment in professional practice environments impacted the improvement of organizational factors, supporting the development of nurses’ work towards the quality of care. However, it is necessary to invest in nurses’ participation, involvement and professional qualifications, which are aspects strongly dependent on the institutions’ management strategiesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Análise dos indicadores assistenciais presentes do consolidado mensal em uma unidade de saúde da família em Belém-PA / Analysis of the assistance indicators present of the monthly consolidated in a family health unit in Belém-PA

INTRODUÇÃO: Os indicadores de saúde são de suma importância para efetivar o trabalho não só do ACS, mas de todos os profissionais da saúde envolvidos, na promoção e prevenção da saúde. Por meio desses indicadores, consegue-se perceber a real condição da área em questão, tanto em aspectos ambientais quanto em aspectos epidemiológicos. Os indicadores assistenciais levam em consideração as patologias que acometem a região em questão. É um indicador crucial para que se tome providencias da real necessidade da população e assim possam ter iniciativas efetivas visando a prevenção e promoção da saúde. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto dos indicadores assistenciais do consolidado mensal no período de quatro meses, de Agosto a Novembro de 2017 na Unidade de Saúde da Família (USF) da comunidade do Parque Verde em Belém do Pará. Realizar comparações dos indicadores assistenciais do grupo prioritário de doenças, presentes no Relatório mensal dos meses referidos. MÉTODOS: Trabalho submedito a avaliação do Comitê de Etica (CEP). Após aprovação foi feita coleta de dados, Foram coletados Relatório SSA2 que possuem a consolidação mensal da Unidade de Saúde da Família Parque Verde de Belém-PA, e em momento posterior feita analise de dados. RESULTADOS/DISCUSSÃO: Há muitas pessoas que não são visitadas pelas Agente Comunitário de Saúde pois estão em uma área descoberta da UBS, isso prejudica no planejamento e execução das ações de acordo com a realidade local. No grupo prioritário de doença, a maioria são Diabéticos. CONCLUSÃO: Infelizmente, uma grande parte dos pacientes portadores de hipertensão, hanseníase, diabetes e pacientes idosos e crianças menores de 2 anos, não tem a devida atenção seja da equipe de ACS, seja pela equipe multiprofissional da UBS, por, justamente, não conseguir por em prática a indicação dos indicadores assistências