CONDUCTIVITY TO RUST IN COFFEE UNDER DIFFERENT WOODEN AND FRUIT TREE INTERCROPPING SYSTEMS

The coffee intercropping with fruit and wooden species of economic value has been presented as a viable alternative for coffee cultivation in order to mitigate adverse environmental conditions for coffee trees, among other factors. Adapting the crop management to the new conditions stablished by the system is fundamental to obtain success on intercropping. One of the most serious diseases for the crop is the rust caused by Hemileia vastatrix., which may have its severity increased in function of the microclimate conditions provided by the trees. In this sense, the disease behavior under different intercropping systems and consequent different need to adapt the control measures when compared to the cultivation in full sun should be investigated. The present study was conducted aimed to verify the impact of tree systems composed by three wooden species, Cedar (Acrocarpos fraxinifolius), African mahogany (Khaya ivorensis ), Teak (Tectona grandis ) and two species of fruit trees, avocado (Persea Americana) and macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) planted in different spacing over the occurrence and evolution of rust.It was possible to observe that coffee rust began to progress in the coffee plants from the month of February reaching a peak in September in all the treatments. Differences were observed in the progress curves of the disease, especially in the species that presented larger canopy such as avocado. Further studies are suggested with the purpose of establishing the microclimatic changes provided by the cultivation of different wooden and fruit species in intercropping with coffee, according to the dynamics of the climate and their development

Effects of myenteric denervation on extracellular matrix fibers and mast cell distribution in normal stomach and gastric lesions

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud \ud In this study the effect of myenteric denervation induced by benzalconium chloride (BAC) on distribution of fibrillar components of extracellular matrix (ECM) and inflammatory cells was investigated in gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Rats were divided in four experimental groups: non-denervated (I) and denervated stomach (II) without MNNG treatment; non-denervated (III) and denervated stomachs (IV) treated with MNNG. For histopathological, histochemical and stereological analysis, sections of gastric fragments were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin, Picrosirius-Hematoxylin, Gomori reticulin, Weigert's Resorcin-Fuchsin, Toluidine Blue and Alcian-Blue/Safranin (AB-SAF).\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud \ud BAC denervation causes an increase in the frequency of reticular and elastic fibers in the denervated (group II) compared to the non-denervated stomachs (group I). The treatment of the animals with MNNG induced the development of adenocarcinomas in non-denervated and denervated stomachs (groups III and IV, respectively) with a notable increase in the relative volume of the stroma, the frequency of reticular fibers and the inflammatory infiltrate that was more intense in group IV. An increase in the frequency of elastic fibers was observed in adenocarcinomas of denervated (group IV) compared to the non-denervated stomachs (group III) that showed degradation of these fibers. The development of lesions (groups III and IV) was also associated with an increase in the mast cell population, especially AB and AB-SAF positives, the latter mainly in the denervated group IV.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud \ud The results show a strong association in the morphological alteration of the ECM fibrillar components, the increased density of mast cells and the development of tumors induced by MNNG in the non-denervated rat stomach or denervated by BAC. This suggests that the study of extracellular and intracellular components of tumor microenvironment contributes to understanding of tumor biology by action of myenteric denervation.We are grateful to Domingos Zanchetta Netto and Luiz Roberto Falleiros-Jr for technical assistance. CFE and CBM were supported by Fundação de Amparo á Pesquisa - FAPESP (grants 08/05722-6 and 03/10634-5, respectively) and SRT by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico - CNPq (grants 301111/05-7 and 300163/2008-8).We are grateful to Domingos Zanchetta Netto and Luiz Roberto FalleirosJr for technical assistance. CFE and CBM were supported by Fundação de Amparo á Pesquisa FAPESP (grants 08/057226 and 03/106345, respectively) and SRT by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico CNPq (grants 301111/057 and 300163/20088)

Avaliação de Transtornos de Depressão e Ansiedade e Correlação com o Tratamento de Pacientes com Psoríase Vulgar

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory multisystemic disease with several comorbidities, namely anxiety and depression disorders. Methods: In this study, the prevalence of these psychiatric entities was investigated by the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaries and related to the socio-demographic variables and to the forms of clinical treatment. Results: A total of 90 patients (56 females) were analyzed. Of these, 41 patients (45.56%) used topical treatment only, 28 patients (31.11%) used oral methotrexate and 21 patients (23.33%) used immunobiological agents (anti-TNF-alfa agents). It was observed that 47 patients (52.23%) presented some degree of depression (mild, moderate or severe) and 53 patients (58.89%) presented some degree of anxiety disorder (mild, moderate or severe). There was no statistical relationship between the anxiety and depression scores and the PASI score, as well as age, employability or schooling. There was a statistical association between psychiatric comorbidities and the female gender (p <0.0001). It was also observed a lower prevalence of depression (p = 0.0336) on patients using immunobiological treatments. Conclusion: The findings confirm published data, showing association of psychiatric conditions with psoriasis, especially in relation to TNF-alpha, so that anti-TNF therapies may become an alternative for the treatment of depression or anxiety disorders associated with psoriasis.Introdução: A psoríase é uma doença crónica inflamatória multissistêmica com diversas comorbidades, entre elas estão os transtornos de ansiedade e de depressão. Metodologia: Avaliar a prevalência de ansiedade e depressão, respectivamente pelos questionários GAD-7 and PHQ-9 em relação com variáveis socio-demográficas e formas de tratamento. Resultados: Foram avaliados 90 pacientes (56 do género feminino), 41 pacientes (45,56%) utilizavam apenas tratamento tópico, 28 pacientes (31,11%) utilizavam metotrexato via oral e 21 (23,33%) utilizavam imunobiológicos (agentes anti-TNF-alfa). Observou-se que 47 pacientes dos avaliados (52,23%) apresentaram algum grau de depressão (leve, moderado ou severo) e que 53 pacientes (58,89%) apresentaram algum grau de transtorno de ansiedade (leve, moderado ou severo). Não houve relação estatística significante entre o quadro de ansiedade e de depressão e o score PASI, assim como a faixa etária, a empregabilidade ou a escolaridade. Houve associação estatística entre o quadro psiquiátrico e o género feminino (p<0,0001) e menor prevalência de depressão (p=0,0336) com o uso de imunobiológicos. Conclusão: Os achados ratificam os achados encontrados na literatura, nos quais o quadro psiquiátrico possui também uma ampla associação com a fisiopatogenia inflamatória da psoríase, em especial em relação ao TNF-alfa, de modo que terapias anti-TNF possam vir a ser uma alternativa para o tratamento de depressão ou de transtornos de ansiedade associados à psoríase

Sustainable Galactarate-Based Polymers : Multi-Enzymatic Production of Pectin-Derived Polyesters

Large amounts of agricultural wastes are rich in pectins that, in many cases, disrupt the processing of food residues due to gelation. Despite pectins being a promising sustainable feedstock for bio-based chemical production, the current pathways to produce platform molecules from this polysaccharide are hazardous and entail the use of strong acids. The present work describes a sequence of biocatalyzed reactions that involves 1) the extraction of pectin from sugar beet pulp and enzymatic recovery of galacturonic acid (GalA), followed by 2) the enzymatic oxidation of the GalA aldehyde and the recovery of galactaric acid (GA), and 3) the biocatalyzed polycondensation of GA to obtain fully bio-based polyesters carrying lateral hydroxy functionalities. The acid-free pectin extraction is optimized using enzymes and microwave technology. The conditions for enzymatic oxidation of GalA allow the separation of the GA produced by a simple centrifugation step that leads to the enzyme-catalyzed polycondensation reactions

Pelagic Sargassum events in Jamaica : Provenance, morphotype abundance, and influence of sample processing on biochemical composition of the biomass

Pelagic Sargassum species have been known for centuries in the Sargasso Sea of the North Atlantic Ocean. In 2011, a new area concentrating high biomass of these brown algae started developing in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean. Since then, massive and recurrent Sargassum influxes have been reported in the Caribbean and off the coast of Western Africa. These Sargassum events have a major negative impact on coastal ecosystems and nearshore marine life, and affect socio-economic sectors, including public health, coastal living, tourism, fisheries, andmaritime transport. Despite recent advances in the forecasting of Sargassum events, and elucidation of the seaweed composition, many knowledge gaps remain, including morphotype abundance during Sargassum events, drift of the seaweeds in the months prior to stranding, and influence of sample processing methods on biomass biochemical composition. Using seaweeds harvested on the coasts of Jamaica in summer of 2020,we observed that S. fluitans III was themost abundantmorphotype at different times and sampling locations. No clear difference in the geographical origin, or provenance, of the Sargassummats was observed. Themajority of Sargassumbacktracked fromboth north and south of Jamaica experienced ambient temperatures of around 27 °C and salinity in the range of 34–36 psu before stranding.We also showed that cheap (sun) compared to expensive (freeze) drying techniques influence the biochemical composition of biomass. Sun-drying increased the proportion of phenolic compounds, but had a deleterious impact on fucoxanthin content and on the quantities of monosaccharides, except for mannitol. Effects on the content of fucose containing sulfated polysaccharides depended on the method used for their extraction, and limited variation was observed in ash, protein, and fatty acid content within most of the sample locations investigated. These observations are important for the storage and transport of the biomass in the context of its valorisation

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men