Padrões de ocupação do javali (Sus scrofa L.) na Mata Atlântica brasileira

Apesar dos grandes impactos da invasão do javali (Sus scrofa) nos ecossistemas naturais, o uso de hábitats por esta espécie nos neotrópicos ainda permanece pouco estudado. Aqui, nós investigamos os efeitos do hábitat local e de covariáveis da paisagem (tipos de vegetação, cursos d'água e estradas) sobre os padrões de ocupação do javali na Mata Atlântica do sul do Brasil. Utilizamos a modelagem de ocupação de estação única para estimar as probabilidades de detecção (p) e de ocupação (ψ) dos javalis, usando monitoramento de armadilha fotográfica por 8 dias em 100 locais. As câmeras detectaram javalis em 64 locais (ocupação ingênua = 64%). Os quatro melhores modelos explicaram 72,7% dos padrões de ocupação, e o melhor modelo (com variável "água") teve um peso de 28,5%. Embora nenhuma das variáveis testadas apresentaram alto poder explicativo na ocupação do javali, a variável água foi a que contribuiu com uma tendência de efeito negativo (β = -1,124; SE = 0,734), com 59% de ocupação quando a água estava presente e 82% quando estava ausente nos pontos de amostragem. Vestígios da presença de javali em diferentes tipos de vegetação revelaram que eles utilizaram plantações de Pinus sp., florestas nativas e culturas de milho e aveia. O padrão de ocupação mostra que o javali é extremamente generalista em nosso local de estudo na Mata Atlântica, sendo encontrado em todos os lugares, o que levanta preocupações ecológicas e econômicas sobre os potenciais efeitos negativos de sua invasão.Despite the great impacts of invasive wild pig (Sus scrofa) to natural ecosystems, habitat use by this species in the neotropics remains poorly studied. Here, we investigated the effects of local habitat and landscape covariates (vegetation types, running watercourses and roads) on occupancy patterns of wild pig in the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. We used single season occupancy modeling to estimate detection (p) and occupancy (ψ) probabilities, using 8-day camera-trap monitoring of 100 sampled sites. The cameras detected wild pig in 64 sites (naïve occupancy = 64 %). The four best models explained 72.7 % of the occupancy patterns, and the top model (with "water" variable) had a weight of 28.5 %. Even though none of the tested variables had high explanatory power of wild pig occupancy, the water variable had a negative effect trend (β = -1.124; SE = 0.734), with 59 % of occupancy when water was present and 82 % when it was absent around the sampling sites. Vestiges of the presence of wild pig in different vegetation types revealed that they used plantations of Pinus sp., native forests, and corn and oat crops. The occupation pattern shows that wild pig are generalist at our study site at the Atlantic Forest being found everywhere, raising ecological and economic concerns about the high potential negative effects of its invasion

Impacto do javali europeu, Sus scrofa, em um fragmento da Mata Atlântica brasileira

The wild boar (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) was introduced approximately 100 years ago into South America from Europe for commercial reasons but since then it became feral and has caused several environmental impacts. One of the areas invaded by wild boars in the southern Atlantic Forest biome is the Aracuri Ecological Station (EEA), state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The objective of this study was to estimate the impact of wild boars on the vegetation of the EEA, describing their preferred vegetation types and the area and biomass affected. We sampled 1,521 points in 10 phytophysiognomies throughout the reserve. Among these points, 246 (16.2%) had evidence of wild boars (impacted patches with uprooted vegetation and soil) in the forests, wetlands, and secondary vegetation phytophysiognomies. Areas with Baccharis sp. were not impacted. The impacted patches had an average size of 308 ± 54 m2, ranging from 0.1 to 5,670 m2 within and between phytophysiognomies, with the largest mean impacted area (781 m2) in the most conserved forest type. We estimated that boars uprooted 56,186 kg of dry biomass over all the points sampled, 94% of which in the forest environments and 82% in the two most conserved forest types only. These results allow us to conclude that wild boars prefer to forage in forest areas, disturbing the vegetation and the superficial soil layer. Wild boars demonstrated a high potential for producing a strong negative impact on plants and animals in the studied forest fragments, indicating that these processes require further studies.Key words: invasive species, exotic fauna, environmental impact.O javali europeu (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) foi introduzido na América do Sul a partir da Europa há mais de 100 anos com fins comerciais, mas tornou-se feral e vem causando impactos ambientais. Uma das áreas invadidas pelo javali na Mata Atlântica é a Estação Ecológica de Aracuri (EEA), Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o impacto causado pelo javali europeu sobre a vegetação da EEA, descrevendo os ambientes preferidos, a área e a biomassa impactada. Foram amostrados 1.521 pontos por toda a área da UC, em 10 fitofisionomias. Destes pontos amostrados, 246 (16,2%) possuíam evidências da presença do javali (manchas de vegetação e solo impactadas) nas fitofisionomias de banhado, capoeira e mata. Não foram encontradas manchas impactadas na fitofisionomia de vassoural (Baccharis sp.). O tamanho médio das manchas impactadas foi de 308 ± 54 m2, com grande variação (0,1 a 5.670 m2) dentro e entre fitofisionomias, mas com a mata mais conservada com a maior média de tamanho de manchas (781 m2). Estimamos que o javali impactou 56.186 kg de biomassa seca nos pontos amostrados, sendo que as matas representaram cerca de 94% da biomassa impactada e apenas as duas matas mais conservadas representaram cerca de 82%. Os javalis possuem forte preferência por matas em relação a outros ambientes, alterando a vegetação rasteira e a camada superficial do solo do fragmento florestal. O potencial de impacto negativo do javali sobre a fauna e a flora nativa destes fragmentos florestais é grande e necessita ser melhor estudado.Palavras-chave: espécies invasoras, fauna exótica, impacto ambiental

Antibacterial activity of plastics coated with Silver-doped organic-inorganic hybrid coatings prepared by sol-gel processes

Abstract:Silver-doped organic-inorganic hybrid coatings were prepared starting from tetraethoxysilane- and triethoxysilane-terminated poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polyethylene by the sol-gel process. They were applied as a thin layer (0.6-1.1 m) to polyethylene (PE) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) films and the antibacterial activity of the coated films was tested against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538) bacteria. The effect of several factors (such as organic-inorganic ratio, type of catalyst, time of post-curing, silver ion concentration, etc.) was investigated. Measurements at different contact times showed a rapid decrease of the viable count for both tested strains. The highest antibacterial activity [more than 6 log reduction within 6 h starting from 106 colony-forming units (cfu) mL-1] was obtained for samples with an organic-inorganic weight ratio of 80:20 and 5 wt % silver salt with respect to the coating. For the coatings prepared by an acid-catalyzed process, a high level of permanence of the antibacterial activity of the coated films was demonstrated by repeatedly washing the samples in warm water or by immersion in physiological saline solution at 37 C for 3 days. The release of silver ions per square meter of coating is very similar to that previously observed for polyamides filled with metallic silver nanoparticles; however, when compared on the basis of Ag content, the concentration of silver ions released from the coating is much higher than that released from 1 mm thick specimens of polyamide (PA) filled with silver nanoparticles. Transparency and good adhesion of the coating to PE and PVC plastic substrates without any previous surface treatment are further interesting features. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Silver-doped organic-inorganic hybrid coatings were prepared starting from tetraethoxysilane- and triethoxysilane-terminated poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polyethylene by the sol-gel process. They were applied as a thin layer (0.6-1.1 microm) to polyethylene (PE) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) films and the antibacterial activity of the coated films was tested against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538) bacteria. The effect of several factors (such as organic-inorganic ratio, type of catalyst, time of post-curing, silver ion concentration, etc.) was investigated. Measurements at different contact times showed a rapid decrease of the viable count for both tested strains. The highest antibacterial activity [more than 6 log reduction within 6 h starting from 106 colony-forming units (cfu) mL-1] was obtained for samples with an organic-inorganic weight ratio of 80:20 and 5 wt % silver salt with respect to the coating. For the coatings prepared by an acid-catalyzed process, a high level of permanence of the antibacterial activity of the coated films was demonstrated by repeatedly washing the samples in warm water or by immersion in physiological saline solution at 37 degrees C for 3 days. The release of silver ions per square meter of coating is very similar to that previously observed for polyamides filled with metallic silver nanoparticles; however, when compared on the basis of Ag content, the concentration of silver ions released from the coating is much higher than that released from 1 mm thick specimens of polyamide (PA) filled with silver nanoparticles. Transparency and good adhesion of the coating to PE and PVC plastic substrates without any previous surface treatment are further interesting features

Case report: Childhood epilepsy and borderline intellectual functioning hiding an AADC deficiency disorder associated with compound heterozygous DDC gene pathogenic variants

Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive neurometabolic disorder leading to severe combined serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine deficiency. We report on a female patient with borderline functioning and sporadic clear-cut focal to bilateral seizures from age 10 years. A neuropsychological assessment highlighted a mild impairment in executive functions, affecting attention span and visual-spatial abilities. Following the diagnosis of epilepsy with a presumed genetic etiology, we applied a diagnostic approach inclusive of a next-generation sequencing (NGS) gene panel, which uncovered two variants in trans in the DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) gene underlying an AADC deficiency. This compound heterozygous genotype was associated with a mild reduction of homovanillic acid, a low level of the norepinephrine catabolite, and a significant reduction of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in cerebrospinal fluid. Remarkably, 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) and 5-hydroxytryptophan were instead increased. During the genetically guided re-evaluation process, some mild signs of dysautonomic dysfunction (nasal congestion, abnormal sweating, hypotension and fainting, excessive sleepiness, small hands and feet, and increased levels of prolactin, tiredness, and fatigue), more typical of AADC deficiency, were evaluated with new insight. Of the two AADC variants, the R347Q has already been characterized as a loss-of-function with severe catalytic impairments, while the novel L391P variant has been predicted to have a less severe impact. Bioinformatic analyses suggest that the amino acid substitution may affect affinity for the PLP coenzyme. Thus, the genotype corresponds to a phenotype with mild and late-onset symptoms, of which seizures were the clinical sign, leading to medical attention. This case report expands the spectrum of AADC deficiency phenotypes to encompass a less-disabling clinical condition including borderline cognitive functioning, drug-responsive epilepsy, and mild autonomic dysfunction

Italy-Japan agreement and discrepancies in diagnosis of superficial gastric lesions.

The agreement between Italian and Japanese endoscopists and pathologists on endoscopic and histopathological diagnoses of superficial gastric lesions is verified with the use of Paris and Vienna classifications. The correlations between Paris endoscopic types and Vienna histopathological categories is high in both the independent Italian and Japanese evaluations. However, the agreement between Italian and Japanese endoscopists is moderate due to the difficult evaluation of the height of the lesions, in particular when they are mixed. The agreement on the size of the lesions is fairly good. The probability of the same allocation to the Vienna categories of a single case is 87 per cent, disagreements remaining in dysplasia grading, between dysplasia, not only high-grade but also low-grade, and in situ carcinoma, and on cancer invasion of the lamina propria. The results indicate that use of the Paris and Vienna classifications has reduced the discrepancies between Western and Japanese endoscopists and pathologists in the diagnosis of these lesions

Practices and challenges for occupational therapy in the context of early childhood intervention

Objectives: to analyze the practices implemented by occupational therapists working in Early Childhood Intervention services for children between zero and five years old and to point out the challenges faced by these professionals during the structuring of their actions. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and exploratory study, with a qualitative approach. Four occupational therapists associated with services participated in cities in the interior and coast of the state of São Paulo. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews and data analysis was carried out from the perspective of Content Analysis, in the thematic analysis modality. Results: The results of the study were classified into four thematic groups: Practices in the context of Early Childhood Intervention, The object of the intervention, Rationale for action and Challenges for Occupational Therapy in Early Childhood Intervention. Conclusion: it is concluded that developed practices have been structured under predominantly rehabilitative references and based on the needs of the children served, which impacts de identity of the actions. Thus, the main ones are related to the characteristics of the services, professional training, and the design of a model of practice.Objetivos: analisar as práticas implementadas por terapeutas ocupacionais atuantes em serviços de Intervenção Precoce destinados a crianças entre zero e cinco anos e apontar os desafios enfrentados por esses profissionais durante a estruturação de suas ações. Procedimentos metodológicos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo e exploratório, de abordagem qualitativa. Participaram quatro terapeutas ocupacionais vinculados a serviços localizados em municípios do interior e litoral do estado de São Paulo. A coleta de dados foi realizada mediante entrevistas semiestruturadas e a análise dos dados foi feita sob a perspectiva da Análise de Conteúdo, na modalidade de análise temática. Resultados: Os resultados do estudo, foram classificados em quatro núcleos temáticos, sendo eles: Práticas no contexto da Intervenção Precoce, O objeto da intervenção, Fundamentação para atuar e Desafios para a Terapia Ocupacional em Intervenção Precoce. Conclusões: Conclui-se que práticas desenvolvidas têm se estruturado sob referenciais predominantemente reabilitativos e pautados nas necessidades das crianças atendidas, o que impacta a identidade das ações. Assim, os principais encontram-se relacionados às características dos serviços, formação profissional e ao delineamento do um modelo de prática

Longitudinal study on low-dose aspirin versus placebo administration in silent brain infarcts: the silence study

Background. We investigated low-dose aspirin (ASA) efficacy and safety in subjects with silent brain infarcts (SBIs) in preventing new cerebrovascular (CVD) events as well as cognitive impairment. Methods. We included subjects aged ≥45 years, with at least one SBI and no previous CVD. Subjects were followed up to 4 years assessing CVD and SBI incidence as primary endpoint and as secondary endpoints: (a) cardiovascular and adverse events and (b) cognitive impairment. Results. Thirty-six subjects received ASA while 47 were untreated. Primary endpoint occurred in 9 controls (19.1%) versus 2 (5.6%) in the ASA group (p=0.10). Secondary endpoints did not differ in the two groups. Only baseline leukoaraiosis predicts primary [OR 5.4 (95%CI 1.3-22.9, p=0.022)] and secondary endpoint-A [3.2 (95%CI 1.1-9.6, p=0.040)] occurrence. Conclusions. These data show an increase of new CVD events in the untreated group. Despite the study limitations, SBI seems to be a negative prognostic factor and ASA preventive treatment might improve SBI prognosis. EU Clinical trial is registered with EudraCT Number: 2005-000996-16; Sponsor Protocol Number: 694/30.06.04

Fluorescent asymmetric bis-ureas for pyrophosphate recognition in pure water

Three fluorescent asymmetric bis-urea receptors (L1–L3) have been synthesised. The binding properties of L1–L3 towards different anions (fluoride, acetate, hydrogencarbonate, dihydrogen phosphate, and hydrogen pyrophosphate HPpi3?) have been studied by means of 1H-NMR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and theoretical calculations. In particular, a remarkable affinity for HPpi3? has been observed in the case L1 (DMSO-d6/0.5% H2O) which also acts as a fluorimetric chemosensor for this anion. Interestingly, when L1 is included in cetyltrimethylammonium (CTAB) micelles, hydrogen pyrophosphate recognition can also be achieved in pure water

Uso de medicamentos injetáveis para o emagrecimento

Injectable drugs, known for their results in weight loss, are currently used to aid in the treatment of diseases and aesthetics. Such drugs, initially used for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, due to their efficiency and versatility, were used in the treatment of dyslipidemia, obesity and aesthetics. These are drugs that exert a function of the hormone GLP-1, playing a role in glucose metabolism and, consequently, in glycemic levels. The most used in Brazil are liraglutide and semalutida, the principles of drugs marketed as Saxenda, Ozempic and Victoza. They have indications and contraindications, which must be evaluated by the health professional, being crucial the association with physical exercises and good eating habits. Such drugs have the same function and form of application, however, each one must be administered with its specific dosage and periodicity, requiring knowledge about these and their form of use to avoid damage and unexpected results. The objective of this work is to know about the injectable drugs for weight loss, their use and the results obtained with their use. This is an integrative review, with articles from 2010 to 2022, from the pubmed, scielo and lilacs databases, found by the descriptors obesity, injectable drugs, semaglutide, liraglutide and aesthetics. As inclusion and exclusion criteria, publications in Portuguese and Spanish were included and repeated publications and unrelated to weight loss were discarded. It is concluded that the drugs are related to loss of appetite and loss of weight, however, they have side effects, related to the time of use and individual metabolism.Los medicamentos inyectables, conocidos por sus resultados en la pérdida de peso, se utilizan actualmente para ayudar en el tratamiento de enfermedades y la estética. Dichos fármacos, utilizados inicialmente para la Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2, por su eficacia y versatilidad, fueron utilizados en el tratamiento de la dislipidemia, la obesidad y la estética. Son fármacos que ejercen una función de la hormona GLP-1, interviniendo en el metabolismo de la glucosa y, en consecuencia, en los niveles glucémicos. Los más utilizados en Brasil son la liraglutida y la semalutida, principios de fármacos comercializados como Saxenda, Ozempic y Victoza. Tienen indicaciones y contraindicaciones, las cuales deben ser evaluadas por el profesional de la salud, siendo crucial la asociación con ejercicios físicos y buenos hábitos alimenticios. Dichos medicamentos tienen la misma función y forma de aplicación, sin embargo, cada uno debe ser administrado con su dosis y periodicidad específica, requiriendo conocimiento sobre estos y su forma de uso para evitar daños y resultados inesperados. El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer los medicamentos inyectables para bajar de peso, su uso y los resultados obtenidos con su uso. Esta es una revisión integradora, con artículos de 2010 a 2022, de las bases de datos pubmed, scielo y lilacs, encontrados por los descriptores obesidad, medicamentos inyectables, semaglutida, liraglutida y estética. Como criterios de inclusión y exclusión se incluyeron publicaciones en portugués y español y se descartaron publicaciones repetidas no relacionadas con la pérdida de peso. Se concluye que los medicamentos están relacionados con la pérdida de apetito y peso, sin embargo, tienen efectos secundarios, relacionados con el tiempo de uso y el metabolismo individual.Os medicamentos injetáveis, conhecidos por seus resultados na perda de peso, são utilizados atualmente para auxiliar no tratamento de doenças e na estética. Tais fármacos, inicialmente utilizados para Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2, por sua eficiência e versatilidade foram empregados no tratamento da dislipidemia, obesidade e estética. São medicamentos que exercem função do hormônio GLP-1, desempenhando papel no metabolismo da glicose e, consequentemente, nos níveis glicêmicos. Os mais utilizados no Brasil são a liraglutida e o semalutida, os princípios dos fármacos comercializados como Saxenda, Ozempic e Victoza.  Possuem indicações e contraindicações, que devem ser avaliados pelo profissional de saúde, sendo crucial a associação com exercícios físicos e bons hábitos alimentares. Tais fármacos possuem mesma função e forma de aplicação, entretanto, cada um deve ser administrado com sua dosagem específica e periodicidade, sendo necessário conhecimento acerca destes e sua forma de utilização para não haver danos e resultados inesperados. O trabalho tem por objetivo conhecer os medicamentos injetáveis para emagrecer, seu emprego e resultados obtidos com o uso. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa, com artigos de 2010 a 2022, das bases de dados pubmed, scielo e lilacs, encontrados pelos descritores obesidade, medicamentos injetáveis, semaglutida, liraglutida e estética. Como critérios de inclusão e exclusão, incluiu-se publicações em português e espanhol e descartou os repetidos e sem relação com o emagrecimento. Conclui-se que os medicamentos estão relacionados com a perda de apetite e peso, porém, apresentam efeitos colaterais, relacionados ao tempo de uso e metabolismo individual