Use of the cell quota and chlorophyll content for normalization of cylindropermopsin produced by two Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii strains grown under different light intensities

The production of cylindrospermopsin (CYN) by Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszynska) Seenaya and Subba Raju (Cyanobacteria) was already shown to be changed by variations in light intensities. Influences of light intensity on CYN production by two different C. raciborskii strains (CYP011K and CYP030A) were studied in batch culture conditions. The strains were grown under photon light intensities from 40 to 348 μmol photons m-2 s-1. The growth rates were measured by exponential regression of cell number variation along the time. The concentration of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) was measured by spectrophotometric methods and the CYN concentration was measured by high-performance liquid chromatographic methods. Data from these CYN analyses were evaluated as cell quota (ng CYN 10-6 cells) or as the relative proportion between toxin concentration and chlorophyll-a concentration (CYN Chl-a-1). The CYP011K showed higher growth rates than the CYP030A strains. According to the cell quota results, the production of CYN by these two strains of C. raciborskii is not affected by the intensity of the surrounding light during growth. However, analysis of the relative proportion of CYN Chl-a-1 led to different interpretations, as a negative relation between light intensity and CYN production

O conjunto dos números inteiros como campo experimental para introdução da álgebra na educação básica

Nesta sinopse de trabalhos realizados com pré-vestibulandos de dois grupos de níveis socio-econômicos diferentes são analisadas produções e dificuldades de alunos diante de situações-problema envolvendo conteúdos de divisibilidade, paridade e padrões em sequências numéricas, tomando como base de cálculo o conjunto dos números inteiros. Para o desenvolvimento experimental foram elaboradas sequências de atividades desenvolvidas em encontros semanais com os participantes. De modo geral, os alunos se envolveram nas atividades, o que permitiu analisar dificuldades, conceitos mobilizados e indícios de aprendizagens, não só quanto à forma de apresentação das produções escritas, mas também quanto aos níveis de conhecimento dos conteúdos aritméticos e algébricos estudados

Degradation of multiple peptides by microcystin-degrader Paucibacter toxinivorans (2C20).

Since conventional drinking water treatments applied in different countries are inefficient at eliminating potentially toxic cyanobacterial peptides, a number of bacteria have been studied as an alternative to biological filters for the removal of microcystins (MCs). Here, we evaluated the degradation of not only MCs variants (-LR/DM-LR/-RR/-LF/-YR), but also non-MCs peptides (anabaenopeptins A/B, aerucyclamides A/D) by Paucibactertoxinivorans over 7 days. We also evaluated the degradation rate of MC-LR in a peptide mix, with all peptides tested, and in the presence of M. aeruginosa crude extract. Furthermore, biodegradation was assessed for non-cyanobacterial peptides with different chemical structures, such as cyclosporin A, (Glu1)-fibrinopeptide-B, leucine-enkephalin, and oxytocin. When cyanopeptides were individually added, P. toxinivorans degraded them (99%) over 7 days, except for MC-LR and -RR, which decreased by about 85 and 90%, respectively. The degradation rate of MC-LR decreased in the peptide mix compared to an individual compound, however, in the presence of the Microcystis extract, it was degraded considerably faster (3 days). It was noted that biodegradation rates decreased in the mix for all MCs while non-MCs peptides were immediately degraded. UPLC–QTOF–MS/MS allowed us to identify two linear biodegradation products for MC-LR and MC-YR, and one for MC-LF. Furthermore, P. toxinivorans demonstrated complete degradation of non-cyanobacterial peptides, with the exception of oxytocin, where around 50% remained after 7 days. Thus, although P. toxinivorans was previously identified as a MC-degrader, it also degrades a wide range of peptides under a range of conditions, which could be optimized as a potential biological tool for water treatment

Efeitos adversos associados ao uso excessivo de Diclofenaco: revisão sistemática: Adverse effects associated with overuse of diclofenac: a systematic review

INTRODUÇÃO: O diclofenaco de sódio é usado para o manejo sintomático de algumas doenças inflamatórias. Esse medicamento pertence ao subgrupo dos AINES derivados do ácido fenilacético, utilizado principalmente na forma de sal sódico ou potássico. Os AINES têm ação antipirética, capacidade de controlar a inflamação e de proporcionarem analgesia, sendo bastante utilizados na população em geral. Além de compartilhar muitas atividades terapêuticas, essas drogas também compartilham vários efeitos colaterais indesejáveis. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os eventos adversos associados ao uso excessivo de diclofenaco. METODOLOGIA: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática, o acesso à bibliografia será por meio eletrônico, nas bases de dados indexados em ciências da saúde, tais como: Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), National Library of Medicine (NIH-Pubmed) e Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO). Os critérios de seleção dos artigos foram: artigos originais e completos, publicados entre os anos de 2000 e 2022. Como exclusão foram todos os artigos originais incompletos, com ano de publicação inferiores ao ano de 2000 a 2022. RESULTADOS: Foi possível selecionar 10 artigos para responder aos objetivos propostos nesse trabalho. Os principais efeitos adversos foram: Efeitos gastrointestinais como o efeito mais comum, insuficiência renal, hepatotoxicidade e distúrbios hematológicos. Os achados indicam que a automedicação e o uso indiscriminado de anti-inflamatórios não esteroidais que inclui o diclofenaco são os principais responsáveis pela incidência de efeitos adversos em uma parcela da sociedade. Foi constatado que a atenção do uso desses medicamentos deverá de ser redobrada em usuários do sexo feminino, idosos e pacientes com predisposição a riscos gastrointestinais, renais, hepáticos, cardiovasculares e circulatórios, pois estes grupos têm maiores chances de desenvolver problemas relacionados ao uso do diclofenaco. CONCLUSÕES: O diclofenaco de sódio é o anti-inflamatório comum mais utilizado no tratamento de diversas infecções e no tratamento da dor. Contudo seu uso prolongado traz fatores de riscos à saúde daquele que utiliza.  Com o intuito de minimizar tais problemas, os autores destacam a importância da atenção farmacêutica

FLORAÇÕES DE CIANOBACTÉRIAS TÓXICAS EM UMA LAGOA COSTEIRA HIPEREUTRÓFICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO/RJ (BRASIL) E SUAS CONSEQUÊNCIAS PARA SAÚDE HUMANA

revista vol 13 nº 2.indd The Jacarepaguá Basin, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has over the last four decades undergone a disordered process of urban and industrial growth with direct consequences on water quality and incidence of cyanobacterial blooms in the Jacarepaguá Lagoon Complex (JLC). The present study combines data aiming to evaluate water quality in Jacarepaguá Lagoon (JL) from monitoring of physical variables (pH, water transparency, temperature), chemical variables (salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll), the planktonic community, and the concentration of microcystins in fish from the region. The data herein presented were divided into three periods according to seasonal cycles: PI (aug/96 to sep/97), PII (jan/99 to nov/99), and PIII (feb/07 to jan/08). Dominance by cyanobacteria characterized most of the study period, interspersed with sudden peaks (e.g. during PII and PIII) of high diversity of phytoplankton. Phytoplanktonic peaks were represented by Chlorophyta, diatoms, Prasinophyta and Criptophyta. Interestingly, the events observed in 1999 repeated almost 10 years later, suggesting roughly seasonal community structure dynamism in the JLC. Disappearance of the bloom coincided with the lowest recorded water temperatures, suggesting that temperature is an important factor in the observed dynamics. The JL had a high abundance of zooplankton, yet species diversity was relatively low. Concentrations of microcystins found in muscles of fish from JL often contained values above the levels recommended by OMS for human consumption.  revista vol 13 nº 2.indd La Cuenca de Jacarepaguá (RJ/Brasil) ha sufrido, en las últimas cuatro décadas, un proceso desordenado de ocupación urbana e industrial, que se refleja en un cambio en la calidad del agua y en la incidencia de floraciones de las cianobacterias en el Complejo Lagunar Jacarepaguá (CLJ). El presente estudio reúne una serie de datos con el objeto de evaluar la calidad del Lago Jacarepaguá (LJ), a través del monitoreo físico (pH, transparencia del agua y temperatura), químico (salinidad, O.D. y clorofila a) y de la comunidad planctónica. También fue analizada la concentración de microcistinas en pescados comercializados en la región. Los datos fueron divididos en tres períodos de acuerdo con los diferentes ciclos estacionales estudiados: PI (ago/96 a sept/07), PII (ene/99 a nov/99) y PIII (feb/07 a ene/08). La dominancia de cianobacterias ocurre en la mayor parte del período de estudio, intercalada con pulsos de mayor diversidad fitoplanctónica, observada desde 1999 (PII y PIII). Dicha diversidad estuvo representada por las clorofíceas, diatomeas, prasinoficeas y criptoficeas. Cabe destacar que la dinámica observada en 1999 se repitió casi 10 años después, lo que sugiere una tendencia estacional para la estructura de la comunidad del CLJ. La desaparición de la floración coincide con épocas de bajas temperaturas sugiriendo que ésta es un factor regulador importante de la dinámica observada. El LJ presentó una elevada abundancia zooplanctónica, con baja diversidad de especies. Durante algunos meses, las concentraciones de microcistinas encontradas en los músculos de los peces estuvieron por encima de los valores recomendados por la OMS para el consumo humano.A baixada de Jacarepaguá (RJ/Brasil) vem sofrendo há pelo menos quatro décadas um processo desordenado de ocupação urbana e industrial, o que tem se refletido em mudança na qualidade da água e na incidência de florações de cianobactérias no Complexo Lagunar de Jacarepaguá (CLJ). O presente estudo reuniu uma série de dados temporais objetivando avaliar a qualidade hídrica da Lagoa de Jacarepaguá (LJ) através do monitoramento físico (pH, transparência da água e temperatura), químico (salinidade, O.D. e clorofila a) e da comunidade planctônica. Foi também analisado a concentração de microcistinas no pescado comercializado na região. Os dados foram divididos em três períodos de acordo com os diferentes ciclos sazonais estudados: PI (ago/96 a set/97), PII (jan/99 a nov/99) e PIII (fev/07 a jan/08). Dominância de cianobactérias ocorreu na maior parte do tempo, intercalada por pulsos de maior diversidade fitoplanctônica, observados a partir de 1999 (PII e III). Esta diversidade foi representada pelas clorofíceas, diatomáceas, prasinoficeas e criptoficeas. Foi interessante notar que a dinâmica observada em 1999 tenha se repetido quase 10 anos depois, o que sugere uma tendência sazonal de estruturação da comunidade no CLJ. O desaparecimento da floração coincidiu com épocas de menores temperaturas, sugerindo ser esse um importante fator regulador da dinâmica observada. A LJ apresentou uma elevada abundância zooplanctônica, com baixa diversidade de espécies. Durante alguns meses, as concentrações de microcistinas encontradas nos músculos dos peixes estiveram acima dos valores recomendados pela OMS para consumo humano

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Degradation of Multiple Peptides by Microcystin-Degrader Paucibacter toxinivorans (2C20)

Since conventional drinking water treatments applied in different countries are inefficient at eliminating potentially toxic cyanobacterial peptides, a number of bacteria have been studied as an alternative to biological filters for the removal of microcystins (MCs). Here, we evaluated the degradation of not only MCs variants (-LR/DM-LR/-RR/-LF/-YR), but also non-MCs peptides (anabaenopeptins A/B, aerucyclamides A/D) by Paucibactertoxinivorans over 7 days. We also evaluated the degradation rate of MC-LR in a peptide mix, with all peptides tested, and in the presence of M. aeruginosa crude extract. Furthermore, biodegradation was assessed for non-cyanobacterial peptides with different chemical structures, such as cyclosporin A, (Glu1)-fibrinopeptide-B, leucine-enkephalin, and oxytocin. When cyanopeptides were individually added, P. toxinivorans degraded them (99%) over 7 days, except for MC-LR and -RR, which decreased by about 85 and 90%, respectively. The degradation rate of MC-LR decreased in the peptide mix compared to an individual compound, however, in the presence of the Microcystis extract, it was degraded considerably faster (3 days). It was noted that biodegradation rates decreased in the mix for all MCs while non-MCs peptides were immediately degraded. UPLC–QTOF–MS/MS allowed us to identify two linear biodegradation products for MC-LR and MC-YR, and one for MC-LF. Furthermore, P. toxinivorans demonstrated complete degradation of non-cyanobacterial peptides, with the exception of oxytocin, where around 50% remained after 7 days. Thus, although P. toxinivorans was previously identified as a MC-degrader, it also degrades a wide range of peptides under a range of conditions, which could be optimized as a potential biological tool for water treatment

ERICA: prevalência de síndrome metabólica em adolescentes brasileiros

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS We evaluated 37,504 adolescents who were participants in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a cross-sectional, school-based, national study. The adolescents, aged from 12 to 17 years, lived in cities with populations greater than 100,000 inhabitants. The sample was stratified and clustered into schools and classes. The criteria set out by the International Diabetes Federation were used to define metabolic syndrome. Prevalences of metabolic syndrome were estimated according to sex, age group, school type and nutritional status. RESULTS Of the 37,504 adolescents who were evaluated: 50.2% were female; 54.3% were aged from 15 to 17 years, and 73.3% were from public schools. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 2.6% (95%CI 2.3-2.9), slightly higher in males and in those aged from 15 to 17 years in most macro-regions. The prevalence was the highest in residents from the South macro-region, in the younger female adolescents and in the older male adolescents. The prevalence was higher in public schools (2.8% [95%CI 2.4-3.2]), when compared with private schools (1.9% [95%CI 1.4-2.4]) and higher in obese adolescents when compared with nonobese ones. The most common combinations of components, referring to 3/4 of combinations, were: enlarged waist circumference (WC), low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) and high blood pressure; followed by enlarged WC, low HDL-c and high triglycerides; and enlarged WC, low HDL-c, high triglycerides and blood pressure. Low HDL was the second most frequent component, but the highest prevalence of metabolic syndrome (26.8%) was observed in the presence of high triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS ERICA is the first Brazilian nation-wide study to present the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and describe the role of its components. Despite the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome being low, the high prevalences of some components and participation of others in the syndrome composition shows the importance of early diagnosis of this changes, even if not grouped within the metabolic syndrome.OBJETIVO Determinar a prevalência de síndrome metabólica e de seus componentes em adolescentes brasileiros. MÉTODOS Foram avaliados 37.504 adolescentes, participantes do Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes (ERICA), estudo transversal de âmbito nacional e de base escolar. Os adolescentes, de 12 a 17 anos de idade, residiam em municípios com mais de 100 mil habitantes. A amostra foi estratificada e conglomerada em escolas e turmas. Os critérios da International Diabetes Federation foram utilizados para definir síndrome metabólica. Prevalências de síndrome metabólica foram estimadas segundo sexo, faixa etária, tipo de escola e estado nutricional. RESULTADOS Dos 37.504 adolescentes, 50,2% eram do sexo feminino; 54,3% tinham de 15 a 17 anos e 73,3% estudavam em escolas públicas. A prevalência nacional de síndrome metabólica foi 2,6% (IC95% 2,3-2,9), discretamente maior no sexo masculino e naqueles de 15 a 17 anos na maioria das macrorregiões. A prevalência foi a maior nos residentes na macrorregião Sul, nas adolescentes mais jovens e nos adolescentes mais velhos. A prevalência foi maior nas escolas públicas (2,8% [IC95% 2,4-3,2]) que nas escolas privadas (1,9% [IC95% 1,4-2,4]) e nos adolescentes obesos em comparação aos não obesos. As combinações de componentes mais frequentes, respondendo por 3/4 das combinações, foram: circunferência de cintura elevada, HDL-colesterol baixo e pressão arterial elevada, seguida de circunferência da cintura elevada, lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL-c) baixo e triglicerídeos elevados, e wpor circunferência da cintura elevada, HDL baixa e triacilgliceróis e pressão arterial elevados. A HDL baixa foi o segundo componente mais frequente, mas a maior prevalência de síndrome metabólica (26,8%) foi observada na presença de triglicerídeos elevado. CONCLUSÕES O ERICA é o primeiro estudo nacional a apresentar prevalências de síndrome metabólica e descrever a participação dos seus componentes. Apesar de a prevalência da síndrome metabólica ter sido baixa, as altas prevalências de alguns componentes e de participação de outros na composição da síndrome torna importante o diagnóstico precoce de tais alterações, mesmo que não agrupadas na síndrome metabólica.50suppl