Geographical variation in antimicrobial use and multiresistant pathogens in Brazilian intensive care units: a nationwide study

Introduction: Geographical analyses of antibiotic use identify regions with the highest consumption and help design policies for strategic patient groups.Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on official data available in July 2022 from Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). Antibiotics are reported as a defined daily dose (DDD) per 1,000 patient-days, and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is defined according to Anvisa criteria. We also considered multi-drug resistant (MDR) as the critical pathogens the World Health Organization listed. We measured antimicrobial use and CLABSI trends per ICU bed using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Results: we evaluated the regional variation in CLABSI by multidrug-resistant pathogens and the antimicrobial use in 1,836 hospital intensive care units (ICUs). In 2020, the leader in use in intensive care units (ICUs) in the North was piperacillin/tazobactam (DDD = 929.7) in the Northeast. Midwest and South were meropenem (DDD = 809.4 and DDD = 688.1, respectively), and Southeast was ceftriaxone (DDD = 751.1). The North has reduced polymyxin use (91.1%), and ciprofloxacin increased (439%) in the South. There was an increase in CLABSI by carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the North region (CAGR = 120.5%). Otherwise, CLABSI by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) increased in all regions except the North (CAGR =-62.2%), while that carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii increased in the Midwest (CAGR = 27.3%). Conclusions: we found heterogeneity in antimicrobial use patterns and CLABSI etiology among Brazilian ICUs. Although Gram-negative bacilli were the primary responsible agent, we observed a notable increase trend of CLABSI by VRE

Oncogenic Gain of Function in Glioblastoma Is Linked to Mutant p53 Amyloid Oligomers.

Tumor-associated p53 mutations endow cells with malignant phenotypes, including chemoresistance. Amyloid-like oligomers of mutant p53 transform this tumor suppressor into an oncogene. However, the composition and distribution of mutant p53 oligomers are unknown and the mechanism involved in the conversion is sparse. Here, we report accumulation of a p53 mutant within amyloid-like p53 oligomers in glioblastoma-derived cells presenting a chemoresistant gain-of-function phenotype. Statistical analysis from fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy, pressure-induced measurements, and thioflavin T kinetics demonstrates the distribution of oligomers larger than the active tetrameric form of p53 in the nuclei of living cells and the destabilization of native-drifted p53 species that become amyloid. Collectively, these results provide insights into the role of amyloid-like mutant p53 oligomers in the chemoresistance phenotype of malignant and invasive brain tumors and shed light on therapeutic options to avert cancer

Longitudinal metagenomic profiling of bovine milk to assess the impact of intramammary treatment using a third-generation cephalosporin

Antimicrobial usage in food animals has a direct impact on human health, and approximately 80% of the antibiotics prescribed in the dairy industry are used to treat bovine mastitis. Here we provide a longitudinal description of the changes in the microbiome of milk that are associated with mastitis and antimicrobial therapy. Next-generation sequencing, 16 S rRNA gene quantitative real-time PCR, and aerobic culturing were applied to assess the effect of disease and antibiotic therapy on the milk microbiome. Cows diagnosed with clinical mastitis associated with Gram-negative pathogens or negative aerobic culture were randomly allocated into 5 days of Ceftiofur intramammary treatment or remained as untreated controls. Serial milk samples were collected from the affected quarter and the ipsilateral healthy quarter of the same animal. Milk from the mastitic quarter had a higher bacterial load and reduced microbial diversity compared to healthy milk. Resolution of the disease was accompanied by increases in diversity indexes and a decrease in pathogen relative abundance. Escherichia coli-associated mastitic milk samples had a remarkably distinct bacterial profile, dominated by Enterobacteriaceae, when compared to healthy milk. However, no differences were observed in culture-negative mastitis samples when compared to healthy milk. Antimicrobial treatment had no significant effect on clinical cure, bacteriological cure, pathogen clearance rate or bacterial load

Acoustic monitoring of black-tufted marmosets in a tropical forest disturbed by mining noise

Simple Summary: Communication is one way that animals use to obtain and defend resources, escape predators and attract sexual partners. However, this process can be disrupted by anthropogenic noise, which often differs from natural sounds in frequency, duration and intensity. This study aimed to understand whether, and how, calls emitted by black-tufted marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) are affected by mining noise. We compared ambient noise and the acoustic parameters of the contact calls of these animals in two study areas, one near and one far from the Brucutu Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We found background noise to be higher in the area near the mine, and marmoset vocalizations more frequent, compared to the far area. Calls emitted in the near area also differed in spectral parameters from the far area, which suggests an effort by the animals to adapt their vocal activity to a noisier environment. Our results indicate that mining noise may affect the acoustic communication of black-tufted marmosets. These results may be taken as a starting point for establishing public policies to promote preventive and/or mitigative measures to protect wildlife around sites of mining activity. Moreover, measures to regulate any noisy activities in relation to wild animals are pressing since these are lacking in Brazil. Abstract: All habitats have noise, but anthropogenic sounds often differ from natural sounds in terms of frequency, duration and intensity, and therefore may disrupt animal vocal communication. This study aimed to investigate whether vocalizations emitted by black-tufted marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) were affected by the noise produced by mining activity. Through passive acoustic monitoring, we compared the noise levels and acoustic parameters of the contact calls of marmosets living in two study areas (with two sampling points within each area)—one near and one far from an opencast mine in Brazil. The near area had higher anthropogenic background noise levels and the marmosets showed greater calling activity compared to the far area. Calls in the near area had significantly lower minimum, maximum and peak frequencies and higher average power density and bandwidth than those in the far area. Our results indicate that the mining noise affected marmoset vocal communication and may be causing the animals to adjust their acoustic communication patterns to increase the efficiency of signal propagation. Given that vocalizations are an important part of social interactions in this species, concerns arise about the potential negative impact of mining noise on marmosets exposed to this human activity

Preseason Training Improves Perception of Fatigue and Recovery From a Futsal Training Session.

Purpose: To compare the posttraining recovery timeline of elite Brazilian futsal athletes before (Pre-PS) and after 10 weeks of the preseason (Post-PS) period of high-intensity technical–tactical training. Methods: At the start (n = 13) and at the end of the preseason (n = 7), under-20 male futsal players undertook fitness testing for maximal aerobic power, the countermovement jump (CMJ), and the 10-m sprint with change of direction. Furthermore, at both Pre-PS and Post-PS, the players participated in a training session where performance and psychophysiological measures were recorded before, immediately, 3, 24, and 48 hours postsession. The measures included CMJ, 10-m sprint, creatine kinase, Total Quality Recovery Scale, and Brunel Mood Scale. Effect size (ES) analyses compared fitness and posttraining recovery values for each parameter at Pre-PS versus Post-PS. Results: Only trivial ES (−0.02 to 0.11) was evident in maximal aerobic power, CMJ, and 10-m sprint at Post-PS compared with Pre-PS. For the timeline of recovery, only trivial and small ESs were evident for the 10-m sprint (−0.12 to 0.49), though CMJ recovery was improved at 3 hours (0.87) and 48 hours (1.27) at Post-PS and creatine kinase was lower at 48 hours (−1.33) at Post-PS. Perception of recovery was improved in Post-PS at 3 hours (1.50) and 24 hours postsession (0.92). Furthermore, perception of effort was lower immediately after the session (−0.29), fatigue was lower at 3 hours (−0.63), and vigor responses were improved in all postseason assessments (0.59 to 1.13). Conclusion: Despite minimal changes in fitness, preseason training attenuated players' perception of effort and fatigue and improved their recovery profile following a high-intensity technical–tactical training session

LOCALIZAÇÃO RADIOGRÁFICA PELO MÉTODO DE CLARK: PRINCÍPIOS E INDICAÇÕES

A  determinação  do  posicionamento  de  dentes  retidos  e impactados,  corpos  estranhos,  e  condutos  radiculares  são  de  grande importância  para  o  planejamento  de  tratamento  cirúrgicos  e  endodônticos  em odontologia.  As  radiografias  convencionais  são  exames  de  baixo  custo associadas à baixas doses de radiação, valendo ressaltar que são exames de fácil  execução  no  próprio  consultório  odontológico.  No  entanto,  estes  exames apresentam  como  limitação  a  produção  de  imagens  bidimensionais,  apenas com  representação  da  largura  e  altura  das  estruturas.  Existem  modificações desses  exames  que  representam  uma  maneira  de  diminuir  essas desvantagens

Mechanical properties of double-layer and graded composite coatings of YSZ obtained by atmospheric plasma spraying

Double-layer and graded composite coatings of yttria-stabilized zirconia were sprayed on metallic substrates by atmospheric plasma spray. The coating architecture was built up by combining two different feedstocks: one micro- and one nanostructured. Microstructural features and mechanical properties (hardness and elastic modulus) of the coatings were determined by FE-SEM microscopy and nanoindentation technique, respectively. Additional adherence and scratch tests were carried out in order to assess the failure mechanisms occurring between the layers comprising the composites. Microstructural inspection of the coatings confirms the two-zone microstructure. This bimodal microstructure which is exclusive of the layer obtained from the nanostructured feedstock negatively affects the mechanical properties of the whole composite. Nanoindentation tests suitably reproduce the evolution of mechanical properties through coatings thickness on the basis of the position and/or amount of nanostructured feedstock used in the depositing layer. Adhesion and scratch tests show the negative effect on the coating adhesion of layer obtained from the nanostructured feedstock when this layer is deposited on the bond coat. Thus, the poor integrity of this layer results in lower normal stresses required to delaminate the coating in the adhesion test as well as minor critical load registered by using the scratch test.This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project MAT2012-38364-C03) and co-funded by ERDF (European Regional Development Funds).Carpio-Cobo, P.; Rayón Encinas, E.; Salvador Moya, MD.; Lusvarghi, L.; Sanchez, E. (2016). Mechanical properties of double-layer and graded composite coatings of YSZ obtained by atmospheric plasma spraying. Journal of Thermal Spray Technology. 25(4):778-787. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11666-016-0390-zS778787254Y.S. Tian, C.Z. Chen, D.Y. Wang, and J.I. Quianmao, Recent Developments in Zirconia Thermal Barrier Coatings, Surf. Rev. Lett., 2005, 12, p 369-378S. Sampath, U. Schulz, M.O. Jarligo, and S. Kuroda, Processing Science of Advanced Thermal-Barrier Systems, MRS Bull., 2012, 37(10), p 903-910D.R. Clarke, M. Oeschsner, and N.P. Padture, Thermal-Barrier Coatings for More Efficient Gas-Turbine Engines, MRS Bull., 2012, 37(10), p 891-898A. Feuersein, J. Knapp, T. Taylor, A. Ashary, A. Bolcavage, and N. Hitchman, Technical and Economical Aspects of Current Thermal Barrier Coating Systems for Gas Turbine Engines by Thermal Spray and EBPVD: A Review, J. Therm. Spray Technol., 2008, 17(2), p 199-213R.S. Lima and B.R. Marple, Thermal Spray Coatings Engineered from Nanostructured Ceramic Agglomerated Powders for Structural, Thermal Barrier and Biomedical Applications: A Review, J. Therm. Spray Technol., 2007, 16(1), p 40-63P. Fauchais, G. Montavon, R.S. Lima, and B.R. Marple, Engineering a New Class of Thermal Spray Nano-based Microstructures from Agglomerated Nanostructured Particles, Suspensions and Solutions: An Invited Review, J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 2011, 44(9), p 093001P. Carpio, Q. Blochet, B. Pateyron, L. Pawlowski, M.D. Salvador, A. Borrell, and E. Sánchez, Correlation of Thermal Conductivity of Suspension Plasma Sprayed Yttira Stabilized Zirconia Coatings with some Microstructural Effects, Mater. Lett., 2013, 107, p 370-373R. Vassen, A. Stuke, and D. Stöver, Recent Developments in the Field of Thermal Barrier Coatings, J. Therm. Spray Technol., 2009, 18(2), p 181-186H. Dai, X. Zhong, J. Li, Y. Zhang, J. Meng, and X. Cao, Thermal Stability of Double-Ceramic-Layer Thermal Barrier Coatings with Various Coating Thickness, Mater. Sci. Eng. A—Struct., 2006, 433(1), p 1–7V. Viswanathan, G. Dwivedi, and S. Sampath, Multimaterial Thermal Barrier Coating Systems: Design, Synthesis, and Performance Assessment, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 2015, 98(6), p 1769-1777M. Saremi and Z. Valefi, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Nano-YSZ-Alumina Functionally Graded Coatings Deposited by Nano-agglomerated Powder Plasma Spraying, Ceram. Int., 2014, 40(8), p 13453-13459A. Portinham, V. Teixeira, J. Carneiro, J. Martins, M.F. Costa, R. Vassen, and D. Stoever, Characterization of Thermal Barrier Coatings with a Gradient Porosity, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2005, 195(2), p 245-251P. Carpio, E. Bannier, M.D. Salvador, R. Benavente, and E. Sánchez, Multilayer and Particle Size-Graded YSZ Coatings Obtained by Plasma Spraying of Micro- and Nanostructured Feedstocks, J. Therm. Spray Technol., 2014, 23(8), p 1362-1372S. Nath, I. Manna, and J.D. Majumdar, Nanomechanical Behavior of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) Based Thermal Barrier Coating, Ceram. Int., 2015, 41(4), p 5247-5256P. Carpio, E. Rayón, L. Pawlowski, A. Cattini, R. Benavente, E. Bannier, M.D. Salvador, and E. Sánchez, Microstructure and Indentation Mechanical Properties of YSZ Nanostructured Coatings Obtained by Suspension Plasma Spraying, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2013, 220, p 237-243H.B. Guo, H. Murakami, and S. Kuroda, Effect of Hollow Spherical Powder Size Distribution on Porosity and Segmentation Cracks in Thermal Barrier Coatings, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 2006, 89(12), p 3797-3804R.S. Lima, A. Kucuk, and C.C. Berndt, Integrity of Nanostructured Partially Stabilized Zirconia After Plasma Spray Processing, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2001, 313(1), p 75-82E. Rayón, V. Bonache, M.D. Salvador, and E. Sánchez, Hardness and Young’s Modulus Distributions in Atmospheric Plasma Sprayed WC-Co Coatings Using Nanoindentation, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2011, 205(17), p 4192-4197J.A. Wollmershauser, B.N. Feigelson, E.P. Gorzkowski, C.T. Ellis, R. Goswami, S.B. Qadri, J.G. Tischler, F.J. Kub, and R.K. Everett, An Extend Hardness Limit in Bulk Nanoceramics, Acta Mater., 2014, 69, p 9-16L. Wang, Y. Wang, X.G. Sun, J.Q. He, Z.Y. Pan, and C.H. Wang, Microstructure and Indentation Mechanical Properties of Plasma Sprayed Nano-Bimodal and Conventional ZrO2-8 wt% Y2O3 Thermal Barrier Coatings, Vacuum, 2012, 86(8), p 1174-1185G.S. Barroso, W. Krenkel, and G. Motz, Low Thermal Conductivity Coating System for Application up to 1000 °C by Simple PDC Processing with Active and Passive Fillers, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 2015, 35(12), p 3339-3348R. Ghasemi, R. Shoja-Razavi, R. Mozafarinia, H. Jamali, M. Hajizadh-Oghaz, and R. Ahmadi-Pidani, The Influence of Laser Treatment on Hot Corrosion Behavior of Plasma-Sprayed Nanostructured Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Thermal Barrier Coatings, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 2014, 34(8), p 2013-2021E. Rayón, V. Bonache, M.D. Salvador, E. Bannier, E. Sánchez, A. Denoirjean, and H. Ageorges, Nanoindentation Study of the Mechanical and Damage Behaviour of Suspension Plasma Sprayed TiO2 Coatings, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2012, 206(10), p 2655-2660J.J. Roa, E. Jiménez-Piqué, R. Martínez, G. Ramírez, J.M. Tarragó, R. Rodríguez, and L. Llanes, Contact Damage and Fracture Micromechanisms of Multilayered TiN/CrN Coatings at Micro- and Nano-length Scales, Thin Solid Films, 2014, 571(2), p 308-31

Areas of natural occurrence of melipona scutellaris Latreille, 1811(Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the state of Bahia, Brazil.

The bee Melipona scutellaris is considered the reared meliponine species with the largest distribution in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, with records from the state of Rio Grande do Norte down to the state of Bahia. Considering the importance of this species in the generation of income for family agriculture and in the preservation of areas with natural vegetation, this study aimed at providing knowledge on the distribution of natural colonies of M. scutellaris in the state of Bahia. Literature information, interviews with stinglessbee beekeepers, and expeditions were conducted to confirm the natural occurrence of the species. A total of 102 municipalities showed records for M. scutellaris, whose occurrence was observed in areas ranging from sea level up to 1,200-meter height. The occurrence of this species in the state of Bahia is considered to be restricted to municipalities on the coastal area and the Chapada Diamantina with its rainforests. Geographic coordinates, elevation, climate and vegetation data were obtained, which allowed a map to be prepared for the area of occurrence in order to support conservation and management policies for the species

Determining temporal sampling schemes for passive acoustic studies in different tropical ecosystems

Among different approaches to exploring and describing the ecological complexity of natural environments, soundscape analyses have recently provided useful proxies for understanding and interpreting dynamic patterns and processes in a landscape. Nevertheless, the study of soundscapes remains a new field with no internationally accepted protocols. This work provides the first guidelines for monitoring soundscapes in three different tropical areas, specifically located in the Atlantic Forest, Rupestrian fields, and the Cerrado (Brazil). Each area was investigated using three autonomous devices recording for six entire days during a period of 15 days in both the wet and dry seasons. The recordings were processed via a specific acoustic index and successively subsampled in different ways to determine the degree of information loss when reducing the number of minutes of recording used in the analyses. We describe for the first time the temporal and spectral soundscape features of three tropical environments. We test diverse programming routines to describe the costs and the benefits of different sampling designs, considering the pressing issue of storing and analyzing extensive data sets generated by passive acoustic monitoring. Schedule 5 (recording one minute of every five) appeared to retain most of the information contained in the continuous recordings from all the study areas. Less dense recording schedules produced a similar level of information only in specific portions of the day. Substantial sampling protocols such as those presented here will be useful to researchers and wildlife managers, as they will reduce time- and resource-consuming analyses, whilst still achieving reliable results

Volatile constituents and behavioral change induced by Cymbopogon winterianus leaf essential oil in rodents

Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt (‘Java citronella’) is an important essential oil yielding aromatic grass cultivated in India and Brazil and its volatile essential oils extracted from its leaves are used in perfumery, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and flavoring industries. However, there is no report on any psychopharmacological study of C. winterianus leaf essential oil (LEO) available to date. In this study, the pharmacological effects of the LEO were investigated in animal models and its phytochemical analyses. GC-MS analysis showed a mixture of monoterpenes, as citronellal (36.19%), geraniol (32.82%) and citronellol (11.37%). LEO exhibited an inhibitory effect on the locomotor activity of mice, an antinociceptive effect by increasing the reaction time in the writhing and capsaicin tests. All doses induced a significant increase in the sleeping time of animals not having modified however, the latency. The LEO did not alter the remaining time of the animals on the rota-rod apparatus. These results suggest a possible central effect.Key words: Cymbopogon winterianus, essential oil, CNS, behavioral effects, analgesic