Metais pesados em agregados de solo submetido à aplicação sucessiva de lodo de esgoto.

RESUMO: A aplicação de lodo no solo é uma importante alternativa de reciclagem desse tipo de resíduo, de forma a manter os níveis de fertilidade do solo e promover a produtividade competitiva das culturas. No entanto , a presença de metais pesados pode limitar seu uso , sendo que o presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar os teores totais de alguns metais pesados e sua distribuição em classes de agregado em função da aplicação sucessiva de lodo de esgoto num solo agrícola . O estudo foi realizado no Campo Experimental da Embrapa Meio Ambiente - Jaguariúna (SP) e foram analisados 3 tratamentos: controle, adubação mineral e 1N (10 t ha - 1 ano - 1 de lodo em base seca ), na profundidade 0 -5 cm. O solo coletado foi passado empeneira de 9 ,5 2 mm de abertura e fracionado em agregados com dimensões: entre 9,52 - 4,00, entre 4,00 - 2,00mm, entre 2,00 - 0,25mm, entre 0,25 - 0,053mm, e menor que 0,053mm. Os teores totais de metais pesados do solo intacto e das classes de agregado foram quantificados por ICP-OES após extração seguindo procedimento da USEPA 3051. Não houve diferença significativa dos tratamentos na distribuição dos agregados do solo por classe de diâmetro. O lodo de esgoto elevou os teores de Cu, Ni e Zn. porém apresentaram baixos teores quando ponderados pela massa. A aplicação do lodo proporcionou aumento dos teores de metais principalmente nas classes de agregado 2,00-0,25mm e 0,25-0,053mm

Polar lipids of commercial Ulva spp. of different origins: profiling and relevance for seaweed valorization

Macroalgae of the genus Ulva have long been used as human food. Local environmental conditions, among other factors, can have an impact on their nutrient and phytochemical composition, as well as on the value of the seaweed for food and non-food applications. This study is the first to initiate a comparison between commercial Ulva spp. from different European origins, France (FR, wild-harvested Ulva spp.), and Portugal (PT, farm-raised Ulva rigida), in terms of proximate composition, esterified fatty acids (FA), and polar lipids. The ash content was higher in PT samples, while FR samples had higher levels of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates and other compounds. The profile of esterified FA, as well as FA-containing polar lipids at the class and species levels were also significantly different. The FR samples showed about three-fold higher amount of n-3 polyunsaturated FA, while PT samples showed two-fold higher content of monounsaturated FA. Quantification of glycolipids and phospholipids revealed, respectively, two-fold and three-fold higher levels in PT samples. Despite the differences found, the polar lipids identified in both batches included some lipid species with recognized bioactivity, valuing Ulva biomass with functional properties, increasing their added value, and promoting new applications, namely in nutraceutical and food markets.UIDB/50011/2020+UIDP/50011/2020, UID/QUI/00062/2019, UIDB/50006/2020, UIDB/50017/2020+UIDP/50017/2020, LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-402-022125, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030962, BPD/UI51/5041/2017, BPD/UI51/5042/2018; EC/H2020/727892/EUinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fighting HIV/AIDS in a developing country: lessons from a small cohort from the largest Brazilian city

Not Applicabl

AVALIAÇÃO DA EFICIÊNCIA ANTIBACTERIANA DE EXTRATO DE Lentinula edodes E DA SOLUÇÃO AQUOSA DO LÁTEX DE Euphorbia tirucalli FRENTE À BACTÉRIA Streptococcus agalactiae: ESTUDOS PRELIMINARES

Streptococcus agalactiae é agente causador de enfermidades em seres humanos e animais, sendo uma das principais causas de mastite bovina e perdas econômicas para os produtores leiteiros. Ademais, este patógeno tem apresentado resistência a antimicrobianos que são amplamente utilizados nos diferentes setores de produção animal. Diante disto, métodos alternativos de tratamento têm sido investigados visando o combate desta bactéria, dentre estes fitoterápicos e fungos. Dois agentes terapêuticos: Lentinula edodes e Euphorbia tirucalli têm demonstrado bons resultados como antimicrobianos e imunoestimulantes contra outros patógenos. Entretanto, não há estudos que comprovem a eficácia destes agentes frente S. agalatiae. Portanto o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a ação antimicrobiana de extrato de Lentinula edodes e Solução aquosa de Euphorbia tirucalli obtidos destes agentes contra S. agalactiae. Foram utilizadas 25 bactérias pertencentes ao banco de cultura do Laboratório de Microbiologia da UFLA, isoladas de mastite bovina e uma amostra ATCC BAA – 611como controle positivo dos testes. O método de concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) foi realizado para avaliar a eficiência dos extratos contra S. agalactiae utilizando uma faixa de concentração de 1000 μg/mL a 15,65 μg/mL, de cada um dos extratos. Não foi observada inibição de crescimento em nenhuma das amostras avaliadas, portanto as concentrações estudadas dos agentes não foram eficazes contra S. agalactiae.  Palavras-chave: mastite bovina. Fungo shiitake, coroa de cristo, GBS, Concentração inibitória mínima

Exposure to tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline affects early-life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Psychiatric drugs are among the leading medications prescribed for humans, with their presence in aquatic environments raising concerns relating to potentially harmful effects on non-target organisms. Nortriptyline (NTP) is a selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressant, widely used in clinics and found in environmental water matrices. In this study, we evaluated the toxic effects of NTP on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and early larval stages. Developmental and mortality analyses were performed on zebrafish exposed to NTP for 168 h at concentrations ranging from 500 to 46,900 µg/L. Locomotor behaviour and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were evaluated by exposing embryos/larvae to lower NTP concentrations (0.006–500 µg/L). The median lethal NTP concentration after 168 h exposure was 2190 µg/L. Although we did not identify significant developmental changes in the treated groups, lack of equilibrium was already visible in surviving larvae exposed to ≥ 500 µg/L NTP. The behavioural analyses showed that NTP was capable of modifying zebrafish larvae swimming behaviour, even at extremely low (0.006 and 0.088 µg/L) environmentally relevant concentrations. We consistently observed a significant reduction in AChE activity in the animals exposed to 500 µg/L NTP. Our results highlight acute toxic effects of NTP on the early-life stages of zebrafish. Most importantly, exposure to environmentally relevant NTP concentrations may affect zebrafish larvae locomotor behaviour, which in turn could reduce the fitness of the species. More studies involving chronic exposure and sensitive endpoints are warranted to better understand the effect of NTP in a more realistic exposure scenario

Correlative multi-scale cryo-imaging unveils SARS-CoV-2 assembly and egress.

Funder: Medical Research CouncilSince the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there have been intense structural studies on purified viral components and inactivated viruses. However, structural and ultrastructural evidence on how the SARS-CoV-2 infection progresses in the native cellular context is scarce, and there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge on the SARS-CoV-2 replicative cycle. To correlate cytopathic events induced by SARS-CoV-2 with virus replication processes in frozen-hydrated cells, we established a unique multi-modal, multi-scale cryo-correlative platform to image SARS-CoV-2 infection in Vero cells. This platform combines serial cryoFIB/SEM volume imaging and soft X-ray cryo-tomography with cell lamellae-based cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) and subtomogram averaging. Here we report critical SARS-CoV-2 structural events - e.g. viral RNA transport portals, virus assembly intermediates, virus egress pathway, and native virus spike structures, in the context of whole-cell volumes revealing drastic cytppathic changes. This integrated approach allows a holistic view of SARS-CoV-2 infection, from the whole cell to individual molecules

Current practice in the removal of benign endometrial polyps: a Dutch survey

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the current practice of Dutch gynecologists in the removal of benign endometrial polyps and compare these results with the results of a previous study from 2003. In 2009 Dutch gynecologists were surveyed by a mailed questionnaire about polypectomy. Gynecologists answered questions about their individual performance of polypectomy: setting, form of anesthesia, method, and instrument use. The results were compared with the results from the previous survey. The response rate was 70% (585 of 837 gynecologists). Among the respondents, 455 (78%) stated to remove endometrial polyps themselves. Polyps were mostly removed in an inpatient setting (337; 74%) under general or regional anesthesia (247; 54%) and under direct hysteroscopic vision (411; 91%). Gynecologists working in a teaching hospital removed polyps more often in an outpatient setting compared with gynecologists working in a nonteaching hospital [118 (43%) vs. 35 (19%) p < 0.001]. These results are in accordance with the results from 2003. Compared to 2003 there was an increase in the number of gynecologists performing polypectomies with local or no anesthesia [211 (46%) vs. 98 (22%), p < 0.001]. An increase was also noted in the number of gynecologists using direct hysteroscopic vision [411 (91%) vs. 290 (64%), p < 0.001] and 5 Fr electrosurgical instruments [181 (44%) vs. 56 (19%), p < 0.001]. Compared to the situation in 2003, there is an increase in removal under direct hysteroscopic vision, with 5 Fr electrosurgical instruments, using local or no anesthesia. This implies there is progress in outpatient hysteroscopic polypectomy in the Netherlands

A Multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial of the Efficacy and Safety of Single-Dose Praziquantel at 40 mg/kg vs. 60 mg/kg for Treating Intestinal Schistosomiasis in the Philippines, Mauritania, Tanzania and Brazil

Control of urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis is based on mass administration of praziquantel at the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended dose of 40 mg/kg, though some countries use 60 mg/kg. This multi-country randomized clinical trial compared the efficacy (cure and egg reduction rates three weeks post-treatment) and safety of these two doses for treating intestinal schistosomiasis in 856 patients in Brazil, Mauritania and Tanzania (Schistosoma mansoni), and The Philippines (S. japonicum). Transmission and infection intensities varied across the sites, but there was no bias or heterogeneity in efficacy outcomes. The two doses are equally effective in curing intestinal schistosomiasis; the higher dose may be less well tolerated, though effects are generally mild and transient. In endemic areas people can be re-infected; one year post-treatment patients on 60 mg/kg had fewer re-infections but this finding is difficult to explain. This study was conducted to respond to the demand for evidence about the dose of praziquantel when deployed in endemic countries. The results, along with those of systematic reviews, support the current WHO recommendation for using praziquantel at 40 mg/kg and should inform policy decisions in countries. The Philippines has already changed from 60 to 40 mg/kg after this study