Is individualization of sodium bicarbonate ingestion based on time to peak necessary?

Purpose: To describe the reliability of blood bicarbonate pharmacokinetics in response to sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation across multiple occasions and assess, using putative thresholds, whether individual variation indicated a need for individualised ingestion timings. Methods: Thirteen men (age 27±5 y; body mass (BM) 77.4±10.5 kg; height 1.75±0.06 m) ingested 0.3 g·kg-1BM SB in gelatine capsules on 3 occasions. One hour after a standardised meal, venous blood was obtained before and every 10 min following ingestion for 3 h, then every 20 min for a further hour. Time-to-peak (Tmax), absolute-peak (Cmax), absolute-peak-change (ΔCmax) and area under the curve (AUC) were analysed using mixed models, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV) and typical error. Individual variation in pharmacokinetic responses was assessed using Bayesian simulation with multilevel models with random intercepts. Results: No significant differences between sessions were shown for blood bicarbonate regarding Cmax, ΔCmax or AUC (p>0.05), although Tmax occurred earlier in SB2 (127±36 min) than in SB1 (169±54 min, p=0.0088) and SB3 (159±42 min, p=0.05). ICC, CV and typical error showed moderate to poor reliability. Bayesian modelling estimated that >80% of individuals from the population experience elevated blood bicarbonate levels above + 5 mmol∙L-1 between 75-240 min after ingestion, and between 90-225 min above +6 mmol∙L-1. Conclusion: Assessing SB supplementation using discrete values showed only moderate reliability at the group level, and poor reliability at the individual level, while Tmax was not reproducible. However, when analysed as modelled curves, a 0.3 g·kg-1BM dose was shown to create a long-lasting window of ergogenic potential, challenging the notion that SB ingestion individualised to time-to-peak is a necessary strategy, at least when SB is ingested in capsules

"Nossos corpos estão preparados para se recuperar": uma entrevista com Ani Ganzala

Negra, mãe, sapatão e artivista decolonial, a soteropolitana Ani Ganzala é reconhecida por elaborar, em suas aquarelas e graffitis, uma representação das encruzilhadas que constituem os corpos negros, sapatão, candomblecistas, gordos, e tantos outros. Ela se apropria de diversos recursos estéticos para retratar não apenas o cotidiano à sua volta, mas as cosmovisões produzidas pelo encontro destas identidades. No momento em que passamos por uma grave crise sanitária, social e econômica no Brasil, com a perda de mais de 553 mil vítimas para a Covid-19, nesta entrevista Ani Ganzala nos oferece um bálsamo para atravessar tempos difíceis, apontando saídas coletivas produzidas por um saber ancestral. Ela também desenvolve sua percepção acerca de temas específicos, já mencionados em sua escrita de si, como a maternidade não recomendada, o amor sapatão e o artivismo

Nonplacebo controls to determine the magnitude of ergogenic interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Placebos are used as a control treatment that is meant to be indistinguishable from the active intervention. However, where substantive placebo effects may occur, studies that do not include a non-placebo control arm may underestimate the overall effect of the intervention (active plus placebo components). This study aimed to determine the relative magnitude of the placebo effect associated with nutritional supplements (caffeine and extracellular buffers) by meta-analysing data from studies containing both placebo and non-placebo control sessions. Methods: Bayesian multilevel meta-analysis models were used to estimate pooled effects and express the placebo effect as a percentage of the overall intervention effect. Results: Thirty-four studies were included, with the median pooled effect size (ES0.5) indicating a very small (ES0.5=0.09 [95%CrI:0.01 to 0.17]) improvement in performance of placebo compared to control. There was no moderating effect of exercise type (capacity or performance), exercise duration or training status. The comparison between active intervention and control indicated a small to medium effect (ES0.5=0.37 [95%CrI:0.20 to 0.56]). Expressed in relative terms, the placebo effect was equivalent to 25% [75%CrI:16 to 35%] and 59% [75%CrI:34 to 94%] of the total intervention effect for buffers and caffeine. Conclusion: These results demonstrate a very small, but potentially important placebo effect with nutritional supplementation studies. A substantive proportion of supplement effects may be due to placebo effects, with the relative proportion influenced by the magnitude of the overall ergogenic effect. Where feasible, intervention studies should employ non-placebo control-arm comparators to identify the proportion of the effect estimated to come from placebo effects and avoid underestimating the overall benefits that the physiological plus psychobiological aspects associated with an intervention provide in the real world

A realidade virtual como ferramenta pedagógica no ensino de física

 Nos dias atuais, a presença das tecnologias de informação, comunicação e mídias eletrônicas é cada vez mais frequente em nossas vidas. Essas tecnologias transformaram a forma como vivemos em sociedade, e consequentemente, afetaram a educação. Hoje em dia, muitas escolas usam recursos tecnológicos para melhorar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem. No entanto, nem todas as escolas têm os recursos financeiros necessários para isso. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar uma estratégia de ensino-aprendizagem de baixo custo e avaliar a concepção de aprendizagem dos estudantes por meio do uso da realidade virtual nas aulas de Física. A metodologia proposta envolveu uma abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa, na qual dados foram coletados por meio de questionários. Durante as aulas, foram montados óculos de realidade virtual, permitindo que os estudantes experimentassem a educação imersiva. A experiência proposta pelo estudo proporcionou aos alunos uma nova perspectiva em relação à Física, permitindo mudar a dinâmica das aulas e torná-las mais interativas e diferenciadas. Analisando os resultados obtidos, foi possível observar que a realidade virtual pode ser considerada um instrumento pedagógico interessante e eficaz nas aulas de Física, devido ao envolvimento que ela gera. Sendo assim, a realidade virtual pode ser vista como uma ferramenta adicional para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem de Física

DIAGNÓSTICOS E INTERVENÇÕES DE ENFERMAGEM A CRIANÇAS COM SINAIS RESPIRATÓRIOS DE GRAVIDADE DA COVID-19

Objetivo: descrever diagnósticos e intervenções de enfermagem a crianças com sinais respiratórios de gravidade da COVID-19. Método: estudo exploratório, descritivo, do tipo revisão narrativa, realizado em junho de 2020, embasado pelas evidências científicas publicadas na base PUBCOVID-19, para posterior elaboração de diagnósticos utilizando a Taxonomia North American Nursing Diagnoses Association – International, e intervenções ancoradas na Nursing Interventions Classification. Resultados: a dispneia e o desconforto respiratório foram os sinais de gravidade mais evidenciados na criança com COVID-19. Foram elaboradas três principais afirmativas diagnósticas: Troca de Gases Prejudicada, Padrão Respiratório Ineficaz e Ventilação Espontânea Prejudicada, com 24 Intervenções de Enfermagem correspondentes em quatro domínios: o fisiológico, comportamental, de segurança, e o de família. Conclusão: a descrição dos diagnósticos e intervenções de enfermagem, ancorados pelas taxonomias NANDA e NIC, respectivamente, apresenta inovação na literatura científica brasileira. Descritores: Enfermagem Pediátrica. Cuidados de Enfermagem. Infecções por Coronavírus. Diagnóstico de Enfermagem

CONTAMINAÇÃO DO SOLO POR OVOS DE GEOHELMINTOS COM POTENCIAL ZOONÓTICO NA CIDADE DE BOM JESUS, PIAUÍ, BRASIL

The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of gastrointestinal parasites in soil from municipal schools and public areas in the city of Bom Jesus/Piauí. Soil samples were collected from the recreation areas of four municipal schools, and four public places in the city and processed using the centrifugal-flotation technique with the 33% zinc sulfate solution. All 49 soil samples analyzed were. An average contamination of 73.45% for Toxocara spp., and 26.54% for Ancylostoma spp., was observed in the soils of recreation areas of the schools, and in public areas of the city an average frequency of 32.65% for Toxocara spp., 31.81% for Ancylostoma spp., 33.13%, for Trichuris spp. and one place with 9.25% for Dipylidium spp. The results showed that people are exposed to helminth eggs with zoonotic potential in recreation areas in municipal schools and public areas in Bom Jesus/Piauí, Brazil.O objetivo deste trabalho foi pesquisar a presença de ovos de parasitas gastrointestinais de animais em solos de escolas municipais e de áreas públicas da cidade de Bom Jesus/Piauí. Foram coletadas amostras de solo de quatro escolas municipais, nas áreas de recreação, e de quatro locais públicos da cidade e processadas mediante a técnica de centrífugo-flutuação, utilizando a solução de sulfato de zinco a 33%. Das 49 amostras de solos analisadas, todas apresentaram-se positivas. Foi observada nos solos das áreas de recreação das escolas uma contaminação média de 73,45% para Toxocara spp. e 26,54% para Ancylostoma spp., já nas áreas públicas da cidade foi observada uma frequência média de 32,65% para Toxocara spp., 31,81% para Ancylostoma spp., 33,13% para Trichuris spp. e um único local com 9,25% para Dipylidium spp. Os resultados demonstraram que existe a exposição de pessoas a ovos de helmintos com potencial zoonótico em áreas de recreação nas escolas municipais e em áreas públicas de Bom Jesus/PI, Brasil

Dispelling the myth that habitual caffeine consumption influences the performance response to acute caffeine supplementation

Objective: To investigate the influence of habitual caffeine intake on aerobic exercise performance responses to acute caffeine supplementation. Methods: A double-blind, crossover, counterbalanced study was performed. Forty male endurance-trained cyclists were allocated into tertiles according to their daily caffeine intake: low (58 ± 29 mg.d-1), moderate (143 ± 25 mg.d-1), and high consumers (351 ± 139 mg.d-1). Participants completed three trials in which they performed simulated cycling time-trials in the fastest time possible following ingestion of: caffeine (CAF: 6 mg.kg-1 BM), placebo (PLA), and no supplement (CON). Results: Mixed-model analysis revealed time-trial performance was significantly improved in CAF compared to PLA and CON (29.92±2.18 min vs 30.81±2.67 and 31.14±2.71 min; P = 0.05). Blood lactate and ratings of perceived exertion were not different between trials and tertiles (P>0.05). Conclusion: Performance effects of acute caffeine supplementation during a ~30 min cycling TT performance were not influenced by the level of habitual caffeine consumption

Acetonitrile as adjuvant to tune polyethylene glycol + K3PO4 aqueous two-phase systems and its effect on phenolic compounds partition

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) have been proposed as platforms for the purification of biomolecules, and the application of adjuvants to tune the properties of ATPS phases and their ability to extract and separate biological products investigated. This work addresses, for the first time, the use of acetonitrile (ACN) as adjuvant in ATPS composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights (from 400 to 20,000 g·mol−1) and potassium phosphate. The effect of ACN concentration (at 0.25, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 wt%) in the liquid-liquid equilibrium is here studied by measuring the phase diagrams, the composition of the phases in equilibrium and their Kamlet-Taft parameters. The results obtained demonstrate that the ACN presence increases the biphasic region of PEG-K3PO4 ATPS and its distribution between the coexisting phases is dependent on its concentration and ATPS composition. The difference in the dipolarity/polarizability of the coexisting phases is significantly affected by the presence of ACN in the ternary mixture. The partition of two phenolic compounds – protocatechuic acid and gallic acid – was studied, showing that ACN improves the partition of these molecules to the salt-rich phase, and that the system selectivity can be significantly improved by changing the concentration of the phase forming compounds.publishe

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Free-Living Southern Caracaras (Caracara plancus) in the Northeast Region of Brazil

Background: With the continuously increasing release of heavy metals in the environment, mostly from anthropogenic sources, there is a need to find ways of evaluating and managing the issuance of these contaminants and correct its damages. The birds being at the top of some food chains reflect the presence of metals in the environment, keeping this in perspective, raptors have been successfully used for heavy metals biomonitoring studies in the past. The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr) in the feathers and livers of free-living southern caracaras, live and dead, from Recife, Pernambuco state, Northeast of Brazil.Material, Methods & Results: Sixty-two feathers from live and dead southern caracaras and 21 livers from dead southern caracaras were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry for Hg and by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry for Cd, Cr, Pb, and Cu. Concentrations of Cr and Cu elements were detected in all feather and liver samples analyzed from live and dead caracaras. There was no difference in the concentration of metals between feathers of dead and live caracaras: Pb (P = 0.3576), Cd (P = 0.0792), Cr (P = 0.5475), and Cu (P = 0.3603), but significant variation was observed for Hg (P = 0.0459). The highest concentrations of Pb (P < 0.0001) and Cr (P < 0.0001) were found in the feathers than in the liver. On the other hand, the highest concentrations of Cu were found in liver samples (P = 0.0011). No significant variation in the concentrations of Cd (P = 0.7770) and Hg (P = 0.3669) was found between feathers and liver samples.Discussion: Chromium, as well as Hg, and Cu have a high affinity for keratin, which may explain the higher concentrations of Cr in caracaras feathers in this research. Lead was detected in all liver samples analyzed. Elevated levels were also found in the feathers of dead (95.2%) and live (75.6%) caracaras. The presence of Pb may be due to external contamination by pollutants, such as fossil fuels. Higher concentrations of Hg were observed in dead caracaras feathers, this concentrations change during molting but are not affected by external contamination. Metals, such as Hg, and Cd, accumulate in organisms from different trophic levels, which may indicate that this contamination comes mainly from feed. Pearson’s coefficient here showed no correlation between metals from dead caracaras feathers and livers, although a few previous studies have shown a correlation between metal concentrations from tissues and feathers. This pattern can be attributed to the different time of exposure of feathers to metals in relation to livers. The concentrations of metals in hepatic tissues reflect the levels of elements in the diet of these birds, characterizing acutely the contamination of the ecosystem. On the other hand, feathers represent the exposure in the time of molting, when the artery supplies metals, thus representing a chronic exposure. In feathers from live birds, the Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a high to moderate correlation between metals, which may suggest that they come from a similar source, but there is no way to specify the origin since the metals surveyed could be present in the soil, water, or in the prey eaten by these animals. For the purpose of environmental analyses, it is required to determine the exact source of contamination. Considering that it is possible to confirm the presence of these heavy metals in southern caracaras, these birds may be important environmental bioindicators. The development of systematic research on animals and the environment is essential for monitoring the levels of metal pollutants and evaluating their impact in order to guide measures to protect fauna and human health