Fluoxetine Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using a Lignocellulosic Substrate Colonized by the White-Rot Fungus Pleurotus ostreatus

One of the main challenges in both the design of new wastewater treatment plants and the expansion and improvement of existing ones is the removal of emerging pollutants. Therefore, the search for economic and sustainable treatments is needed to enhance the removal of pharmaceuticals. The potential of a lignocellulosic substrate colonized by Pleurotus ostreatus, a waste from mushroom production, to remove fluoxetine from aqueous solutions was studied. Batch assays were performed to remove 600 µg∙L−1 fluoxetine from aqueous solutions using the colonized mushroom substrate (CMS) and crude enzyme extracts. The removal efficiencies achieved were, respectively, ≥83.1% and 19.6% in 10 min. Batch assays with sterilized CMS and 1-aminobenzotriazole (to inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes) showed that the higher removal efficiencies achieved in the CMS assays may be attributed to the synergistic contribution of biosorption onto the CMS and lignin modifying enzymes activity, namely laccase activity. A column assay was performed with the CMS, fed with 750 µg∙L−1 fluoxetine aqueous solution. The removal efficiency was 100% during 30 min, decreasing to a final value of 70% after 8 h of operation. The results suggested that CMS can be a promising eco-friendly alternative to remove fluoxetine from aqueous solutionsThis research was funded by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV, which received financial support from UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020, and LA/P/0008/2020 by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e En sino Superior (MCTES) through national funds. This research was also funded by the EU and FCT/UEFISCDI/FORMAS, in the frame of the collaborative international consortium REWATER— “Sustainable and safe water management in agriculture: increasing the efficiency of water reuse for crop growth while protecting ecosystems, services and citizens’ welfare” (WaterJPI/0007/2016), which was financed under the ERA-NET Cofund WaterWorks2015 Call, as an integral part of the 2016 Joint Activities developed by the Water Challenges for a Changing World Joint Program Initiative (Wa ter JPI). The research was funded also by the ERA-NET Cofund BiodivRestore—DivRestore/002/2020, BioReset—“Biodiversity restoration and conservation of inland water ecosystems for environmental and human well-being”, BiodivRestore 2020–2021 Call. A.D.M. Silva would like to thank FCT for her Ph.D. Grant SFRH/BD/138/780/2018. The authors are greatly indebted to all financing sourcesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fluoxetine Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using a Lignocellulosic Substrate Colonized by the White-Rot Fungus Pleurotus ostreatus

One of the main challenges in both the design of new wastewater treatment plants and the expansion and improvement of existing ones is the removal of emerging pollutants. Therefore, the search for economic and sustainable treatments is needed to enhance the removal of pharmaceuticals. The potential of a lignocellulosic substrate colonized by Pleurotus ostreatus, a waste from mushroom production, to remove fluoxetine from aqueous solutions was studied. Batch assays were performed to remove 600 µg∙L−1 fluoxetine from aqueous solutions using the colonized mushroom substrate (CMS) and crude enzyme extracts. The removal efficiencies achieved were, respectively, ≥83.1% and 19.6% in 10 min. Batch assays with sterilized CMS and 1-aminobenzotriazole (to inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes) showed that the higher removal efficiencies achieved in the CMS assays may be attributed to the synergistic contribution of biosorption onto the CMS and lignin modifying enzymes activity, namely laccase activity. A column assay was performed with the CMS, fed with 750 µg∙L−1 fluoxetine aqueous solution. The removal efficiency was 100% during 30 min, decreasing to a final value of 70% after 8 h of operation. The results suggested that CMS can be a promising eco-friendly alternative to remove fluoxetine from aqueous solutions

Progesterona e hormônio folículo-estimulante interagem e promovem a sobrevivência e o desenvolvimento in vitro de folículos pré-antrais caprinos

Este trabalho veri_icou os efeitos da progesterona e do hormonio foliculo-estimulante (FSH) na sobrevivencia e no crescimento de foliculos pre-antrais caprinos. Fragmentos de tecido ovariano foram cultivados por 1 ou 7 dias em Meio Essencial Minimo (MEM) sozinho ou contendo progesterona (1, 2.5, 5, 10 ou 20ng/mL), FSH (50ng/mL) ou a combinacao entre esses dois hormonios. O tecido fresco (controle nao-cultivado) e o cultivado foram processados para analise histologica e ultra-estrutural. Apos 7 dias a adicao de FSH a todas as concentracoes de progesterone manteve o percentual de foliculos normais similar ao controle fresco. No dia 7 de cultivo, um alto percentual de foliculos em desenvolvimento foi observado somente no tratamento com 2,5ng/ml de progesterona associada ao FSH ou com 10ng/ml de progesterona sozinha, em relação ao controle fresco. Do dia 1 para o dia 7 de cultivo, um aumento signi_icativo no percentual de foliculos em desenvolvimento foi observado no MEM sozinho e adicionado de 2,5ng/ml de progesterona + FSH. Alem disso, apos 7 dias, em todos os tratamentos, houve um aumento signi_icativo no diametro folicular em relacao ao controle, exceto nos tratamentos com MEM sozinho, 5ng/ml de progesterona + FSH ou 10ng/ml de progesterona sozinha. A analise ultra-estrutural con_irmou a integridade follicular apos 7 dias de cultivo no tratamento com 2,5ng/ml de progesterona + FSH. Em conclusao, este estudo demonstrou que a interação entre progesterona e FSH mantem a integridade ultra-estrutural, estimula a ativacao de foliculos primordiais e o posterior crescimento de foliculos pre-antrais caprinos cultivados in vitro.We investigated the effects of progesterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on survival and growth of caprine preantral follicles. Pieces of ovarian tissue were cultured for 1 or 7 days in minimum essential medium (MEM) alone or containing progesterone (1, 2.5, 5, 10 or 20ng/mL), FSH (50ng/mL) or the interaction between progesterone and FSH. Fresh (non-cultured control) and cultured ovarian tissues were processed for histological and ultrastructural studies. After 7 days the addition of FSH to all progesterone concentrations maintained the percentage of normal follicles similar to fresh control. At day 7 of culture, a higher percentage of developing follicles was observed only in 2.5ng/ml of progesterone associated with FSH or 10ng/ml of progesterone alone when compared with control. From day 1 to day 7 of culture, a signi_icant increase in the percentage of developing follicles was observed in MEM and 2.5ng/ml of progesterone + FSH. In addition, after 7 days, in all treatments, there was a signi_icant increase in follicular diameter when compared with control, except for MEM alone and in 5ng/ml of progesterone + FSH or 10ng/ml of progesterone alone. Ultrastructural studies con_irmed follicular integrity after 7 days of culture in 2.5ng/ml of progesterone with FSH. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the interaction between progesterone and FSH maintains ultrastructural integrity, stimulates primordial follicles activation and further growth of cultured caprine preantral follicles

REGENERAÇÃO HERBÁCEA EM ÁREAS DEGRADADAS DE CAATINGA ENRIQUECIDAS COM ÁRVORES NATIVAS

Herb recovery was evaluated in degraded Caatinga sites protected from grazing and enriched with native trees, in Patos-PB state, Brazil. Treatments were randomized according to a block design with five treatments (no tree planting –T0– or tree planting of three tree species in pure –T1=Poincianella pyramidalis, T2=Mimosa tenuiflora and T3=Cnidoscolus quercifolius – or mixed balanced stands –T4) and five replications of squared-144-m2 plots with 36 seedlings developing in planting holes enriched with manure and chemical fertilizers, arranged in a 2 m x 2 m grid. Data were collected from September 2008 to October 2009. After this period, natural tree regeneration was still not observed, and tree canopy covered 15 to 49% of the soil and did not affect herb growth and species composition. Initial and final herb cover were 16% and 100%, respectively. The number of dicot herbs increased from five, mainly two Sida species, to 13 species, monocots were represented by one species only (Aristida sp.), and quantity of herb forage reached 3 ton/ha (2:1, dicot:monocot). Adjacent overgrazed plots kept the initial low level of herb cover and species composition. Animal deferment during one year allowed the increase in soil cover and plant diversity in degraded Caatinga sites into which planted tree seedlings established successfully. This management practice could be implemented to avoid further environmental degradation and recover degraded areas.A recuperação do estrato herbáceo foi avaliada em áreas antropizadas de Caatinga protegidas de pastejo e enriquecidas com árvores nativas, em Patos - PB, Brasil. Os tratamentos foram aleatorizados de acordo com o delineamento em blocos casualizados com cinco tratamentos (Sem plantio –T0– ou plantio puro de Poincianella pyramidalis –T1–, Mimosa tenuiflora –T2– ou Cnidoscolus quercifolius –T3– ou misto das três espécies –T4) e cinco repetições de parcelas quadradas de 144 m2 com 36 mudas plantadas em covas no espaçamento 2 m x 2 m e enriquecidas com esterco e fertilizantes. Os dados foram coletados de setembro de 2008 a outubro de 2009. Após este período, ainda não havia regeneração arbórea natural, e as copas das árvores recobriam de 15 a 49% do solo e não afetavam o crescimento e a composição da comunidade herbácea. O estrato herbáceo recobria 16% e 100% do solo no início e final do período experimental, respectivamente, o número das dicotiledôneas herbáceas aumentou de cinco, majoritariamente duas espécies de Sida, para 13 espécies, as monocotiledôneas eram representadas por apenas uma espécie (Aristida sp.), e a quantidade de forragem herbácea atingiu 3 ton/ha (2:1, dicot:monocot). Parcelas adjacentes superpastejadas mantiveram os baixos níveis de cobertura e composição da comunidade herbácea. O acesso controlado de herbívoros por um ano permitiu o aumento da cobertura do solo e da diversidade de plantas em sítios degradados de Caatinga nos quais mudas plantadas de espécies arbóreas se estabeleceram com sucesso. Esta prática de manejo poderia ser implantada para evitar mais degradação ambiental e recuperar áreas degradadas

Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of sheep primordial follicles preserved in 0.9% saline solution and TCM 199

The objective was to determine the morphological and ultrastructural features of sheep primordial follicles preserved in either 0.9% saline solution or TCM 199 at different temperatures. Soon after death, the ovarian pair of each ewe (n=5) was divided into 25 fragments. One fragment was immediately fixed for morphological evaluation (control). The other 24 fragments were randomly distributed in tubes containing 2 ml of 0.9% saline solution or TCM 199 and maintained at 4, 20 or 39 °C for 2, 4, 12, or 24 h. Based on histological assessment, storage of ovarian fragments in 0.9% saline solution at 20 °C for up to 24 h and in both solutions at 39 °C for 4, 12 or 24 h increased (P<0.01) the percentage of degenerate primordial follicles compared with controls. In contrast, preservation at 4 °C in both solutions, kept the percentage of morphologically normal primordial follicles similar to control values. Although histological integrity of primordial follicles was maintained in fragments stored at 20 °C for up to 24 h in TCM 199, these results were not confirmed by ultrastructural analysis. Based on transmission electron microscopy, only primordial follicles stored at 4 °C for up to 24 h, at 20 °C for up to 12 h and at 39 °C for up to 2 h in both solutions were ultrastructurally normal. In conclusion, sheep primordial follicles were successfully preserved at 4 °C for up to 24 h, at 20 °C for up to 12 h and at 39 °C for 2 h in 0.9% saline solution or TCM 199

Preservation of bovine preantral follicle viability and ultra-structure after cooling and freezing of ovarian tissue

Bovine preantral follicles within ovarian fragments were exposed and cryopreserved in absence or presence of 1.5 M glycerol (GLY), ethylene glycol (EG), propanediol (PROH) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), undergoing a previous cooling at 20 °C for 1 h (protocol 1) or at 4 °C for 24 h (protocol 2) in 0.9% saline solution. At the end of each treatment, preantral follicles were classified as non-viable/viable when they were stained/not stained with trypan blue, respectively. To confirm viability staining, ultra-structure of the follicles was evaluated by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). Data were compared by Chi-square test (P < 0.05). The storage of the ovaries at 20 °C for 1 h (78%) and 4 °C for 24 h (80%) did not reduce significantly the percentage of viable preantral follicles when compared to the control (75%). Similar results were obtained when ovarian fragments, respectively, for protocols 1 and 2, were exposed to MEM (78 and 77%), 1.5 M EG (78 and 71%), as well as frozen in 1.5 M EG (74 and 77%). Percentages of viable follicles in control were similar to those observed after exposure (75%) and freezing (76%) in presence of 1.5 M DMSO only when protocol 1 was used. The increase of the concentration from 1.5 to 3.0 M, for all cryoprotectants, reduced significantly the percentage of viable preantral follicles after freezing. Ultra-structural analysis has confirmed trypan blue results, showing that not only basement membrane, but also organelles, were intact in viable preantral follicles. In conclusion, ovarian tissue cooling at 4 °C for 24 h before cryopreservation (protocol 2) does not affect the viability of bovine preantral follicles when 1.5 M EG is present in the cryopreservation medium

Toxicity test and cryopreservation of sheep isolated preantral follicles using glycerol, ethylen glycol, dimethil sulfoxyde and propanediol

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar folículos pré-antrais (FOPA) ovinos isolados após sua exposição e criopreservação utilizando glicerol (GLI), etilenoglicol (EG), propanodiol (PROH) ou dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO) a 1,5 e 3,0 M. Cada par ovariano de 5 ovelhas sem raça definida foi coletado em abatedouro local e submetido ao isolamento folicular. Da suspensão obtida, uma alíquota foi imediatamente destinada à análise da viabilidade folicular com o auxílio do corante vital azul de trypan. O restante da suspensão foi dividida em 16 alíquotas de 0,9 mL, suspensas (v/v) em MEM+ com EG, DMSO, GLI ou PROH a 1,5 ou 3,0 M, para teste de toxicidade e criopreservação. Após o término de cada tratamento, a viabilidade folicular foi analisada e os FOPA considerados viáveis se não corados ou não viáveis, quando corados. A análise dos dados mostrou que após o teste de toxicidade e criopreservação, em todos os crioprotetores e em ambas as concentrações, a percentagem de FOPA viáveis foi significativamente reduzida quando comparada ao controle. No teste de toxicidade, quando os crioprotetores foram comparados entre si nas mesmas concentrações, foram observadas percentagens significativamente menores de FOPA viáveis no PROH 3,0 M (38,9%), apresentando-se, portanto, mais tóxico quando comparado aos demais crioprotetores. Após criopreservação, obteve-se percentagens significativamente maiores de folículos pré-antrais viáveis quando o EG e o DMSO foram utilizados. Em conclusão, FOPA ovinos isolados podem ser criopreservados com sucesso utilizando-se DMSO e EG a 1,5 e 3,0 M.The aim of this study was to evaluate isolated sheep preantral follicles (PF) after exposure and cryopreservation using glycerol (GLI), ethylene glycol (EG), propanediol (PROH) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 1.5 and 3.0 M. Each ovarian pair from 5 mixed breed adult sheeps was obtained at a local slaughterhouse and submited to follicular isolation. From the obtained suspension, one aliquot was immediately analysed with trypan blue. The remaining suspension was divided in 16 aliquots of 0.9 mL, suspended in (v/v) in MEM+ with EG, DMSO, GLI or PROH at 1.5 or 3.0 M to the toxicity test and cryopreservation. After the end of each treatment, the follicular viability was analysed and the PF were classified as viable if not dyed or not viable if dyed with trypan blue. The analysis of the results showed that after the toxicity test and cryopreservation, using all cryoprotectants and at both concentrations, the percentage of viable PF was significantly reduced when compared to the control. At the toxicity test, when the cryoprotectants were compared at the same concentrations, the lowest percentage of viable preantral follicles was obtained when 3.0 M PROH (38,9%) was used, being, more toxic when compared to the others cryoprotectants. After cryopreservation, significantly higher percentual of viable PF was observed when the EG and DMSO were used. In conclusion, sheep PF can be cryopreserved successfully using DMSO and EG at 1.5 and 3.0 M

Saberes e atuação dos profissionais da enfermagem de uma maternidade pública frente à pandemia da COVID-19: Knowledge and performance of nursing professionals of a public maternity before the COVID-19 pandemic

Objetivo: compreender os saberes e as práticas dos profissionais da enfermagem de uma maternidade pública em tempos de pandemia da COVID-19. Metodologia:&nbsp; realizou-se um estudo exploratório, descritivo e qualitativo, que teve como cenário uma maternidade de um hospital universitário situado em Montes Claros - MG. Participaram sete profissionais da equipe de enfermagem que responderam a um formulário virtual Google Forms durante os meses de março a maio de 2021. Os dados foram analisados segundo as técnicas de análises de conteúdo, interpretados à luz da literatura e aprovados conforme parecer Nº 4.560.964 pelo CEP da SOEBRAS. Resultados: evidenciaram diferentes respostas referentes ao significado do que é COVID-19. A doença foi descrita numa linguagem popular e de modo coerente com a literatura científica. Diante das situações vivenciadas, os profissionais enfrentam sentimentos de medo, tensão e preocupação, mas seguem unindo forças em prol da vida. Percebeu-se a adoção e a implementação de fluxos ou protocolo dos atendimentos, o que evidenciou a necessidade de treinamentos referentes a conhecimentos e informações relacionados à COVID-19. Considerações Finais: os saberes e as práticas adotados pela equipe de enfermagem envolveram uma definição de protocolos institucionais, treinamentos e precauções padrão para uma assistência segura, fortalecendo o trabalho em equipe durante a pandemia de COVID-19