Fitorremediação de áreas de lixão desativadas com Phaseolus vulgaris e Lactuca sativa obtidas de solo contaminado por metais (cobre e zinco)

A contaminação do solo por metais como cobre e zinco, derivados das ações antrópicas, vem aumentando gradativamente. O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade de fitorremediação de solo contaminado por cobre e zinco, utilizando duas espécies vegetais  utilizadas na alimentação humana, a Lactuca sativa (alface) e a Phaseolus vulgaris (feijão). Coletou-se solo de lixão desativado do Município de Xanxerê, SC, como modelo para os estudos de fitorremediação. O experimento foi realizado em vasos, sob condições de casa de vegetação. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com 42 repetições para cada espécie, sendo 21 para solo contaminado e 21 para solo não contaminado. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) e de emergência (IVE), massa seca e análise de tecido foliar para Cu e Zn. Os resultados mostraram que apenas para o Feijão ocorreram diferenças no IVG, sendo maior o índice do solo de mata. Nas estruturas vegetativas, em relação ao número de folhas foi maior em solo de lixão. Quanto à massa seca, não houve diferenças estatísticas significativas. Para a capacidade fitorremediadora das espécies, ambas foram consideradas eficientes para zinco.Palavras-chave: Fitoextração. Resíduos sólidos. Alimentação humana

Investigation of oral and general health status and IL-1β gene polymorphism as risk factors for oral mucositis in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients

The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship of OM with possible risk factors such as oral health condition, immunological status and IL-1β profile in patients submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Fifty-four individuals submitted to HSCT were included. All patients received previous dental treatment and photobiomodulation (PBM) as the institutional OM preventive protocol. OM scores, immune status, and IL-1β levels were determined during the conditioning period and at D+3 and D+8 after HSC infusion. IL-1β gene polymorphism was also analyzed during conditioning. Possible associations of OM with risk factors were analyzed using conditional Fisher’s exact test. OM was observed in 34 patients (62.9%) classified as Grade 1 (13 patients/24.1%), Grade 2 (14 patients/25.9%), Grade 3 (3 patients/5.5%), and Grade 4 (4 patients/7.4%). Allogeneic HSCT individuals exhibited a higher OM grade than autologous subjects. Moreover, an association was observed between severe OM and severe gingivitis (p = 0.01), neutropenia (p = 0.03), and leukopenia (p = 0.04). A significant association between OM and lower IL-1β levels was detected at three time points, i.e., conditioning (p = 0.048), D+3 (p = 0.01), and D+8 (p = 0.005). The results showed that IL-1β gene polymorphism was not associated with OM. Our study provided important insights into the scope of OM risk factors in the setting of HSCT. Patients submitted to HSCT with severe gingivitis prior to chemotherapy and with severe neutropenia and leukopenia exhibited a higher OM grade. Further investigation will be necessary to better understand the exact role of IL-1β in the context of OM pathobiology and to validate cytokine analysis in larger cohorts

Fluids, energy intake, and stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, and the incidence is increasing also because of poor dietary habits. Indeed, excessive salt, sugar, or fats lead to the development of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Insufficient calories intake is associated with metabolic disorders and frailty, and excessive energy intake leads to obesity. Poor fluid intake has been shown to be linked to the development of vascular, cardiometabolic, and renal diseases, and it might increase the risk of stroke. Both poor nutrition and poor hydration statuses at admission have been shown to predict unfavorable clinical and functional outcomes after stroke. Additionally, maintaining optimal energy and fluid intake during the hospitalization and following rehabilitation might be further complicated by the presence of dysphagia. This chapter will review the state of the art about nutrition and hydration in stroke patients, and the importance of such factors to promote a healthy recovery

Effect of a Passive Intervention on Carers of Stroke Survivors During the Early Poststroke Period

BACKGROUND: Care partners of stroke survivors are often characterized by high burden levels and depression. Passive and active interventions have been proposed to help reduce burden and depression. The aim of this quality improvement report was to evaluate the effects of a single passive intervention on reported burden and depression in carers of stroke survivors. METHODS: A quality improvement report was conducted on carers who participated in a short passive intervention (n = 56) and a control group (n = 44). The Family Strain Questionnaire-Short Form (FSQ-SF) and the Beck Depression Inventory II were administered in both groups at patients' admission and before discharge, with the intervention taking place between the 2 data collection periods. RESULTS: No significant difference between groups was observed in FSQ-SF score and prevalence of depression at admission and in FSQ-SF at discharge. However, compared with admission, FSQ-SF at discharge was significantly reduced only in the intervention group (pre: 14, and interquartile range, 12-15; post: 9, and interquartile range, 9-13; P < .01). Moreover, a smaller proportion of carers classified as "depression" was found at discharge in the intervention group compared with controls (4% vs 28%, respectively; P < .01). CONCLUSION: Results encourage the development and use of short passive intervention to reduce burden and depression in care partners of stroke survivors

Fluid and energy intake in stroke patients during acute hospitalization in a stroke unit

Proper hydration and nutrition have been found to be contributing factors to a better recovery in patients after stroke. A better knowledge of factors influencing fluid and energy intake may contribute to a better care of the acute stroke patient. Aim of this study was to describe hydration status, fluid intake, and energy intake of stroke patients during acute hospitalization in a stroke unit. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in stroke patients admitted to a stroke unit. All patients received neurological evaluation and urinary osmolality (uOsm) measure at admission and discharge. During stroke unit stay patients received a day-by-day diary to record data about beverages, food, and therapy. Water and energy content were then reported based on a national nutritional database. Ninety-five patients were included in the analysis. uOsm did not differ between patients with or without dysphagia, with uOsm\u202f>\u202f500\u202fmosm/kg in 58.1% at admission and 57.8% at discharge. Inadequate fluid intake was found in 41.2% of the sample with no difference between groups. Insufficient energy intake was found in 95.6% of the sample, with no patients with dysphagia reaching the minimum suggested amount. Our results suggest that a relevant proportion of stroke patients with and without dysphagia may not improve their hydration status during the first days after admission. Diet and therapy were insufficient to achieve recommended fluid intake and energy intake in a large proportion of patients, suggesting a more careful monitoring of hydration and nutrition needs

Fitorremediação de áreas de lixão desativadas com Phaseolus vulgaris e Lactuca sativa obtidas de solo contaminado por metais (cobre e zinco)

A contaminação do solo por metais como cobre e zinco, derivados das ações antrópicas, vem aumentando gradativamente. O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade de fitorremediação de solo contaminado por cobre e zinco, utilizando duas espécies vegetais  utilizadas na alimentação humana, a Lactuca sativa (alface) e a Phaseolus vulgaris (feijão). Coletou-se solo de lixão desativado do Município de Xanxerê, SC, como modelo para os estudos de fitorremediação. O experimento foi realizado em vasos, sob condições de casa de vegetação. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com 42 repetições para cada espécie, sendo 21 para solo contaminado e 21 para solo não contaminado. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) e de emergência (IVE), massa seca e análise de tecido foliar para Cu e Zn. Os resultados mostraram que apenas para o Feijão ocorreram diferenças no IVG, sendo maior o índice do solo de mata. Nas estruturas vegetativas, em relação ao número de folhas foi maior em solo de lixão. Quanto à massa seca, não houve diferenças estatísticas significativas. Para a capacidade fitorremediadora das espécies, ambas foram consideradas eficientes para zinco.Palavras-chave: Fitoextração. Resíduos sólidos. Alimentação humana

Safety Monitoring of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Children Aged 5 to 11 Years by Using EudraVigilance Pharmacovigilance Database: The CoVaxChild Study

Although the safety profiles of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2) were evaluated in pre-authorization clinical trials, real-world data allow us to better define their benefit/risk ratio in the paediatric population. The current study aimed to evaluate the safety profiles of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in children by analysing the pharmacovigilance data of the European spontaneous reporting system database EudraVigilance (EV) in the period from 1 January 2021, to 1 October 2022. During our study period, overall 4838 ICSRs related to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines referring to 5–11-year-old subjects were retrieved from EV, of which 96.9% were related to BNT162b2 and 49.3% were related to males. A total of 12,751 Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) were identified, of which 38.7% were serious. The most frequently reported AEFIs were pyrexia, headache, and vomiting. Only 20 Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) reported Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS) as an AEFI, all related to BNT162b2. The majority of MIS cases were females, and six cases were completely resolved at the time of reporting. Our results show a favourable risk–benefit profile for all mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in this paediatric sub-population, supporting their use in children. Considering the peculiarity and fragility of children, continuous safety monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines is required

"Rendezvous" Procedure in Children with Cholecysto-Choledocholithiasis

Introduction: Cholecysto-choledocolithiasis is a rare entity in children and its management is still challenging and controversial. The laparoendoscopic rendezvous (LERV) procedure, consisting of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and simultaneous endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for the management of symptomatic choledocholithiasis is well described in adult patients. However, in the literature, few reports about its application in the pediatric population have been recorded. Aim of the Study: The aim of the present study is to report our first successful cases of symptomatic cholecysto-choledocholithiasis LERV treatment. Methods: Two girls suffering of hemolytic disease presented to our third referral center with acute abdominal pain due to cholecysto-choledocholithiasis. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative data were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Surgery was performed without complications. The girls were dismissed once re-alimentation and re-canalization were achieved and had no other episodes of biliary cholic. Reported advantages of LERV include: a shorter in-hospital stay, a reduction in the number of procedures and anesthesia, and a reduced overall risk of complications. Conclusions: The promising result with our 2 cases suggest that, when performed in highly specialized centers, LERV is a safe procedure, which leads to considerable benefits, despite logistic and organizational difficulties