Rutin-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes: molecular docking, physicochemistry and cytotoxicity in fibroblasts

Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) have been functionalized with rutin through three steps (i. reaction step; ii. purification step; iii. drying step) and their physicochemical properties investigated with respect to morphological structure, thermal analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and cytotoxicity. The molecular docking suggested the rutin-functionalized MWCNT occurred by hydrogen bonds, which was confirmed by FTIR assays, corroborating the results obtained by thermal analyses. A tubular shape, arranged in a three-dimensional structure, could be observed. Mild cytotoxicity observed in 3T3 fibroblasts suggested a doseeffect relationship after exposure. These findings suggest the formation of aggregates of filamentous structures on the cells favoring the cell penetration.The authors acknowledge Classius Ferreira da Silva, from the Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, for the scanning electron microscopy analyses.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules (THYCOVID): a retrospective, international, multicentre, cross-sectional study

Background Since its outbreak in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has diverted resources from non-urgent and elective procedures, leading to diagnosis and treatment delays, with an increased number of neoplasms at advanced stages worldwide. The aims of this study were to quantify the reduction in surgical activity for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the COVID-19 pandemic; and to evaluate whether delays in surgery led to an increased occurrence of aggressive tumours.Methods In this retrospective, international, cross-sectional study, centres were invited to participate in June 22, 2022; each centre joining the study was asked to provide data from medical records on all surgical thyroidectomies consecutively performed from Jan 1, 2019, to Dec 31, 2021. Patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules were divided into three groups according to when they underwent surgery: from Jan 1, 2019, to Feb 29, 2020 (global prepandemic phase), from March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021 (pandemic escalation phase), and from June 1 to Dec 31, 2021 (pandemic decrease phase). The main outcomes were, for each phase, the number of surgeries for indeterminate thyroid nodules, and in patients with a postoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancers, the occurrence of tumours larger than 10 mm, extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastases, vascular invasion, distant metastases, and tumours at high risk of structural disease recurrence. Univariate analysis was used to compare the probability of aggressive thyroid features between the first and third study phases. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05178186.Findings Data from 157 centres (n=49 countries) on 87 467 patients who underwent surgery for benign and malignant thyroid disease were collected, of whom 22 974 patients (18 052 [78 center dot 6%] female patients and 4922 [21 center dot 4%] male patients) received surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules. We observed a significant reduction in surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the pandemic escalation phase (median monthly surgeries per centre, 1 center dot 4 [IQR 0 center dot 6-3 center dot 4]) compared with the prepandemic phase (2 center dot 0 [0 center dot 9-3 center dot 7]; p<0 center dot 0001) and pandemic decrease phase (2 center dot 3 [1 center dot 0-5 center dot 0]; p<0 center dot 0001). Compared with the prepandemic phase, in the pandemic decrease phase we observed an increased occurrence of thyroid tumours larger than 10 mm (2554 [69 center dot 0%] of 3704 vs 1515 [71 center dot 5%] of 2119; OR 1 center dot 1 [95% CI 1 center dot 0-1 center dot 3]; p=0 center dot 042), lymph node metastases (343 [9 center dot 3%] vs 264 [12 center dot 5%]; OR 1 center dot 4 [1 center dot 2-1 center dot 7]; p=0 center dot 0001), and tumours at high risk of structural disease recurrence (203 [5 center dot 7%] of 3584 vs 155 [7 center dot 7%] of 2006; OR 1 center dot 4 [1 center dot 1-1 center dot 7]; p=0 center dot 0039).Interpretation Our study suggests that the reduction in surgical activity for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the COVID-19 pandemic period could have led to an increased occurrence of aggressive thyroid tumours. However, other compelling hypotheses, including increased selection of patients with aggressive malignancies during this period, should be considered. We suggest that surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules should no longer be postponed even in future instances of pandemic escalation.Funding None.Copyright (c) 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Avaliação de trocas gasosas de cultivares da espécie Meghatyrsus maximuns durante o período de estabelecimento.

Resumo: As avaliações das trocas gasosas, particularmente da fotossíntese e da transpiração, quando associadas com medições da condutância stomática e das variações climáticas, podem servir como importantes ferramentas para a compreensão de como determinada espécie ou determinado genótipo utiliza os recursos disponíveis do ambiente e de como as flutuações sazonais destes recursos afetam a produtividade primária das plantas. O presente estudo tem por objetivo, avaliar as trocas gasosas de cultivares da espécie Meghatyrsus maximuns durante o período de estabelecimento. O período de estabelecimento ocorreu do dia 11 de Março de 2016 ao dia 21 de Abril de 2016 totalizando 40 dias. Durante o período de estabelecimento foram registrados 301,1 mm de precipitação pluviométrica e temperatura média de 27,7 ºC. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos ao acaso, com dois tratamentos (Gramíneas) e quatro repetições (blocos). As variáveis analisadas foram Temperatura Foliar (Tfol, °C); Concentração de dióxido de carbono na folha (Ci, ppm); Taxa de transpiração da folha (E, mol m-2 s-1 ); Condutância estomática (gs, mol m-2 s-1 ); Taxa de fotossíntese foliar (A, mol m-2 s-1 ); Relação Fotossíntese: Transpiração (A/E); Relação Fotossíntese: Concentração de CO2 na folha (A/Ci); Relação Fotossíntese: Condutância estomática (A/gs). Não houve diferença significativa (P>0,05) entre as variáveis estudadas para as cultivares BRS-MASSAI e BRS-TAMANI, confirmando a hipótese de que o período de 40 dias é um tempo adequado para estabelecer as cultivares de Meghatyrsus maximuns no semiárido brasileiro. [Evaluation of gas exchange of cultivars of the species Meghatyrsus maximuns during the establishment period]. Abstract: Evaluations of gaseous exchanges, particularly photosynthesis and transpiration, when associated with measurements of stomatal conductance and climatic variations, can serve as important tools for understanding how a particular species or genotype uses available environmental resources and as the seasonal fluctuations of these resources affect the primary productivity of plants. The present study aims to evaluate the gas exchange of cultivars of the species Meghatyrsus maximuns during the establishment period. The establishment period occurred from March 11, 2016 to April 21, 2016 totaling 40 days. During the establishment period, 301.1 mm of rainfall and average temperature of 27.7 ºC were recorded. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with two treatments (Gramineae) and four replicates (blocks). The analyzed variables were Leaf Temperature (Tfol, ° C); Carbon dioxide concentration in the leaf (Ci, ppm); Leaf transpiration rate (E, moL m-2 s-1 ); Stomatal conductance (gs, mol m-2 s1 ); Leaf photosynthesis rate (A, mol?m-2 ?s-1 ); Relationship Photosynthesis: Transpiration (A / E); Photosynthesis ratio: CO2 concentration in the leaf (A / Ci); Relationship Photosynthesis: Stomatal conductance (A / gs). There was no significant difference (P> 0.05) between the variables studied for the cultivars BRS-MASSAI and BRS-TAMANI, confirming the hypothesis that the 40-day period is an adequate time to establish the cultivars of Meghatyrsus maximuns in the Brazilian semi-arid

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules (THYCOVID): a retrospective, international, multicentre, cross-sectional study

Background: Since its outbreak in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has diverted resources from non-urgent and elective procedures, leading to diagnosis and treatment delays, with an increased number of neoplasms at advanced stages worldwide. The aims of this study were to quantify the reduction in surgical activity for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the COVID-19 pandemic; and to evaluate whether delays in surgery led to an increased occurrence of aggressive tumours. Methods: In this retrospective, international, cross-sectional study, centres were invited to participate in June 22, 2022; each centre joining the study was asked to provide data from medical records on all surgical thyroidectomies consecutively performed from Jan 1, 2019, to Dec 31, 2021. Patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules were divided into three groups according to when they underwent surgery: from Jan 1, 2019, to Feb 29, 2020 (global prepandemic phase), from March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021 (pandemic escalation phase), and from June 1 to Dec 31, 2021 (pandemic decrease phase). The main outcomes were, for each phase, the number of surgeries for indeterminate thyroid nodules, and in patients with a postoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancers, the occurrence of tumours larger than 10 mm, extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastases, vascular invasion, distant metastases, and tumours at high risk of structural disease recurrence. Univariate analysis was used to compare the probability of aggressive thyroid features between the first and third study phases. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05178186. Findings: Data from 157 centres (n=49 countries) on 87 467 patients who underwent surgery for benign and malignant thyroid disease were collected, of whom 22 974 patients (18 052 [78·6%] female patients and 4922 [21·4%] male patients) received surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules. We observed a significant reduction in surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the pandemic escalation phase (median monthly surgeries per centre, 1·4 [IQR 0·6-3·4]) compared with the prepandemic phase (2·0 [0·9-3·7]; p<0·0001) and pandemic decrease phase (2·3 [1·0-5·0]; p<0·0001). Compared with the prepandemic phase, in the pandemic decrease phase we observed an increased occurrence of thyroid tumours larger than 10 mm (2554 [69·0%] of 3704 vs 1515 [71·5%] of 2119; OR 1·1 [95% CI 1·0-1·3]; p=0·042), lymph node metastases (343 [9·3%] vs 264 [12·5%]; OR 1·4 [1·2-1·7]; p=0·0001), and tumours at high risk of structural disease recurrence (203 [5·7%] of 3584 vs 155 [7·7%] of 2006; OR 1·4 [1·1-1·7]; p=0·0039). Interpretation: Our study suggests that the reduction in surgical activity for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the COVID-19 pandemic period could have led to an increased occurrence of aggressive thyroid tumours. However, other compelling hypotheses, including increased selection of patients with aggressive malignancies during this period, should be considered. We suggest that surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules should no longer be postponed even in future instances of pandemic escalation. Funding: None