Prognostic biomarkers of chronic diabetic macular edema treated with a fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant

Background: This study aimed to investigate retinal imaging biomarkers, such as disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL) and/or ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and functional outcomes in eyes treated with 0.2 µg/day of a fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (FAc) after an insufficient response to previous treatments. Methods: This was a retrospective comparative study of 18 eyes (15 patients) with persistent and/or recurrent diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with FAc. Eyes were divided according to the number of prior intravitreal treatments: group 1 (n = 8) with less than or equal to 6 injections (early switch) and group 2 (n = 10) with > 6 injections (late switch). Outcomes included percentage of eyes with DRIL and/or EZ disruption at baseline and analysis of the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using ETDRS letters, central macular thickness (CMT), DRIL, and EZ disruption at the last observation. Results: Group 2 revealed a significantly higher percentage of DRIL and/or EZ disruption than group 1 (P < 0.05). At the last observation, group 1 revealed a higher percentage of eyes achieving vision stability/improvement, gaining greater than or equal to15 letters, and achieving greater than or equal to 70 letters (P > 0.05 for all comparisons). The mean BCVA gain was 8.8 and 0.7 letters for groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.397). Both groups revealed a significant mean CMT reduction (>20% reduction from the baseline value), without a significant statistical difference between them (P = 0.749). After treatment, most eyes from both groups showed resolution of DRIL and EZ disruption. Conclusions: Patients with DME presenting with a lower percentage of DRIL and/or EZ disruption at baseline had better functional outcomes, supporting the possible benefit of an early switch to FAc after insufficient response to previous treatments. Future randomized studies with a larger patient cohort are warranted to confirm our conclusions

A ESPACIALIDADE DOS AGENTES ECONÔMICOS EM UBERLÂNDIA (MG): A ANÁLISE DE UMA CIDADE MÉDIA

O objetivo desse artigo é entender a espacialidade dos agentes econômicos na cidade de Uberlândia (MG), seu crescimento e os papéis desempenhados na transformação do espaço urbano e no estabelecimento de relações interurbanas, tendo como recorte temporal para a pesquisa o período entre 1997 e 2007. Os papéis desempenhados pelos agentes econômicos são fundamentais para entender as funções das cidades médias na rede urbana, tanto em escala regional como nacional, bem como suas transformações no espaço intra-urbano. Sendo assim, é destacada no texto a contribuição de alguns desses agentes econômicos para a consolidação de Uberlândia como uma cidade média de significativa importância regional e nacional

História de Ninguém

Ele vivia na beira de um rio corrente, largo e profundo, que sempre corria silenciosamente até um oceano vasto e desconhecido. O Rio fluía desde que o mundo é mundo. Tinha mudado seu curso algumas vezes e desembocado em novos canais, deixando os antigos caminhos secos e inférteis; mas sempre seguia seu fluxo, e sempre fluiria até quando o Tempo deixasse de existir. Contra sua forte e misteriosa correnteza, nada o ultrapassava. Nenhuma criatura viva, nem flor, nem folha, nem partícula de existência animada ou inanimada, jamais voltava desse desconhecido oceano. A correnteza do rio corria sem resistência em direção a ele; e nunca parava, tal qual as voltas da Terra ao redor do Sol

Wood vinegar inhibits emergence and initial growth of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala /Lam./ de Wit) seedlings

The need to investigate species used in forest exploitation and the disposal of their residues and byproducts motivated the evaluation in a greenhouse of the effect of wood vinegar (WV) on seed germination and seedling growth of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit) in two substrates. The studied factors were WV concentrations in irrigation water (0.0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2 and 1.6%) and substrate (sand or vermiculite). Each treatment had four repetitions of 30 seeds in plastic trays. The variables evaluated up to 27 days after sowing were: emergence percentage, emergence speed index, percentage of ungerminated seeds, total seedling length, shoot height, shoot and root dry weight. The concentrations of wood vinegar used in this study had an inhibitory effect on the germination, emergence and initial development of leucaena at all studied concentrations. A large decrease in percentage and speed of germination of leucaena was observed, mainly in the sand substrate. The more intense effect on the germination stage than in later stages of development was caused by substances contained in WV, such as acetic acid, furfural and methanol. The germination, emergence and initial growth of leucaena were less impaired when the substrate was vermiculite. For effective control of leucaena it is necessary to test higher concentrations of wood vinegar

Laboratory biochemical markers of cardiac injury by COVID-19: an integrative review.

The damaging effects of Sars-CoV-2 on cardiac tissue may be intensified with the presence of cardiocirculatory pathologies. The use of clinical biomarkers has grown, in order to monitor this cardiotoxicity early. In this sense, this study aimed to investigate, through an integrative review, the main biomarkers of cardiac injury associated with comorbidities in patients with COVID-19. A systematic bibliographic search was conducted on July 26, 2020, in the Scopus database. Of the total of 669 publications purchased, only 40 articles were eligible for this review. From the content of these publications, 16 systemic cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers that are part of the clinical findings of critically ill patients with COVID-19 were identified. Most of these patients were male, had a mean age of 63 years, and pre-existing comorbidities, such as were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cardiac injuries in patients infected with COVID-19 are related to the increase in cardiac and systemic biomarkers observed in most of these individuals. Finally, it is expected to increase physicians' awareness of biochemical markers of non-invasive cardiac injury, for diagnosis and prognosis, of unusual extrapulmonary pathophysiological presentations during infection by COVID-19

Isolation, expansion, and characterization of equine adipose-derived stem cells

Devido aos excelentes resultados obtidos em pesquisas com células-tronco e suas aplicabilidades promissoras, a terapia com estas células encontra-se em momento de máxima ascensão, estimulando assim, inúmeras pesquisas. A fim de padronizar o cultivo e avaliar a viabilidade de células-tronco mesenquimais do tecido adiposo de equinos visando a terapia celular nesta espécie, conduziu-se um estudo de isolamento, cultivo e caracterização de tais células. Para tal, foi realizada coleta de tecido adiposo de cinco equinos sem raça definida, com aproximadamente cinco anos. Em seguida, o tecido foi refrigerado e transportado ao laboratório, onde foi realizado o protocolo de cultivo celular durante aproximadamente 14 dias. Após o término deste procedimento, uma alíquota de células foi encaminhada para a realização do teste de quantificação e viabilidade celular com Azul de Tripan 1%, sendo outra porção destinada à confirmação da linhagem de célula tronco mesenquimal por meio de imunofenotipagem com os anticorpos monoclonais anti-CD11b, anti-CD45, anti-CD90 e anti-CD105, e de diferenciação celular em linhagem condrogênica, adipogênica e osteogênica. Houve diferenciação celular e marcação positiva dos antígenos de superfície CD44 e MHCI e negativa dos CD45 e CD11b, confirmando-se a origem mesenquimal e não hematopoiética. A viabilidade celular média obtida das células-tronco mesenquimais foi de 92,83% considerada satisfatória. Portanto, a utilização deste protocolo para obtenção de células-tronco mesenquimais do tecido adiposo se mostrou uma opção confiável e viável para utilização na terapia celular em equinos. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTDue to the excellent results of stem cell research and its promising applicability, the therapy with these cells is undergoing a period of maximum visibility and numerous studies. In order to standardize the culture and to evaluate the viability of mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue of horses, aiming at cell therapy in this species, a study of isolation, expansion and characterization was conducted. For this, adipose tissue was collected from five crossbred horses aged approximately five years old. Subsequently, the tissue was immediately refrigerated and transported to the laboratory where the isolation and culture protocol, lasting approximately 14 days, was performed. After the end of this procedure, a cell pellet was obtained and resuspended in PBS. A portion of material obtained by centrifugation was collected and the cells were stained with 1% Trypan Blue for quantification and assessment of cell viability. Another sample was collected to confirm the lineage of stem cells by flow cytometry using monoclonal against the surface markers CD11b, CD45, CD90 and CD105; and by cellular differentiation assays to chondrogenic, adipogenic and osteogenic lineages. The isolated cells differentiated in the three lineages and showed positive staining for CD90 and CD105 and negative staining for CD11b and CD45, confirming the isolation of stem cells of mesenchymal origin. The average cell viability obtained was 92.83% and thus satisfactory. Therefore, the use of this protocol to obtain mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue was deemed to be a promising option for cell therapy in horses

Cytokinin Dehydrogenase activity in primary roots and characterization of primary metabolites from leaves and rootlets of Ricinus Communis

The aim of this study was to determine the activity of cytokinin dehydrogenase (CKX) and to measure other biochemical components in the primary leaves and radicles of castor seedlings (BRS Energia) in the initial phase of growth. The crude protein extract obtained after a 1-h extraction from the root tissues of seedlings showed no detectable CKX enzymatic activity when incubated with the substrate isopentenyl adenine for 1 h. However, after precipitation with ammonium sulfate at 70% saturation, the pellet showed CKX activity. The peroxidase enzyme activity was higher in the leaves than in the radicles. The total and reducing sugar content was 1.5 times higher in the leaves than in the radicles. The amino acid and protein contents were 6.4 and 9.2 times higher in the leaves than in the radicles, respectively

An Environmental Education and Communication Project on Migratory Fishes and Fishing Communities

This study aims at evaluating the environmental education (EE) and communication intervention for the valorization of migratory fish resources in an estuary of northern Portugal. The EE component intervention was implemented among Middle School pupils of that region. Students’ knowledge was quantitatively evaluated with an experimental approach of pre-testing and post-testing, on the ocean and estuarine literacy (OEL) and biology of migratory species, such as sea lamprey. This study also analyzes the communication component developed via social media. Results of the EE component show an evident increment of OEL (p < 0.05). It is also highlighted that students had previous knowledge on issues that are not covered in the curriculum. Social media has shown to be an effective communication tool mostly among the scientific community (e.g., Ethnobiology). The research has various implications to OEL since it brings a new perspective towards the integration of ocean literacy in formal education; as well as the valorization of Students’ local ecological knowledge and of inter-generational dynamics. This study contributed to promoting local biodiversity, OEL, and participatory local governance of these ecosystemsThe publication was carried out in the context of the provision of services called “Valorization of the fishing production of the Minho River-contribution to the management and valorization of fishing products of the Minho River (COOPERMINHO)—Communication and socio-environmental training of the Local community for the valorization of the fish resources of the Minho River,” financed, via the Municipal Council of Vila Nova de Cerveira, by the program Mar 2020—Programa Operacional Mar 2020 Aviso n°5/2016. Thanks are due for the financial support to CESAM (UID/AMB/50017/2019), to FCT/MCTES through national funds, and the co-funding by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020. This work was also supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia under Grant SFRH/BPD/116379/2016; by the Resclima-EDU Project, funded in the 2018 Call of the State Program of I + D + I, oriented to the Challenges of the Society of the Government of Spain (ref. RTI2018-094074-B-I00). Braga HO thanks the CAPES Foundation—Ministry of Education of Brazil (BEX: 8926/13-1)S