Calibration and validation of models for short-term decomposition and N mineralization.

Insight of nutrient release patterns associated with the decomposition of plant residues is important for their effective use as a green manure in food production systems. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the ability of the Century, APSIM and NDICEA simulation models for predicting the decomposition and N mineralization of crop residues in the tropical Atlantic forest biome, Brazil. The simulation models were calibrated based on actual decomposition and N mineralization rates of three types of crop residues with different chemical and biochemical composition. The models were also validated for different pedo-climatic conditions and crop residues conditions. In general, the accuracy of decomposition and N mineralization improved after calibration. Overall RMSE values for the decomposition and N mineralization of the crop materials varied from 7.4 to 64.6 % before models calibration compared to 3.7 to 16.3 % after calibration. Therefore, adequate calibration of the models is indispensable for use them under humid tropical conditions. The NDICEA model generally outperformed the other models. However, the decomposition and N mineralization was not very accurate during the first 30 days of incubation, especially for easily decomposable crop residues. An additional model variable may be required to capture initial microbiological growth as affected by the moisture dynamics of the residues, as is the case in surface residues decomposition model

Modified Gravity on the Brane and Dark Energy

We analyze the dynamics of an AdS5 braneworld with matter fields when gravity is allowed to deviate from the Einstein form on the brane. We consider exact 5-dimensional warped solutions which are associated with conformal bulk fields of weight -4 and describe on the brane the following three dynamics: those of inhomogeneous dust, of generalized dark radiation, and of homogeneous polytropic dark energy. We show that, with modified gravity on the brane, the existence of such dynamical geometries requires the presence of non-conformal matter fields confined to the brane.Comment: Revised version published in Gen. Rel. Grav. Typos corrected, updated reference and some remarks added for clarity. 11 pages, latex, no figure

Adequate magnesium level as an associated factor of pre-diabetes and diabetes mellitus remission in patients with obesity submitted to bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery (BS) can lead to remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), however, the evidence on the influence of preoperative serum magnesium levels on this reversal is scarce. To study the influence of preoperative serum magnesium levels on the pre-T2DM and T2DM remission one year after BS. Retrospective study carried out among 1656 patients with obesity who underwent BS in the Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João. T2DM and pre-T2DM remission were defined as being normal glycaemic measures of at least one year's after BS and without pharmacological therapy. To assess the association between preoperative serum magnesium levels and pre- and T2DM remission, logistic regression models, crude and adjusted for sex, age and body mass index were computed. Patients with normoglycaemia presented hypomagnesaemia less often than those patients with pre-T2DM and T2DM (17.0% vs. 21.3% vs. 39.9%) (p < 0.001). One year after BS, 62.9% of patients with pre-T2DM or T2DM before BS showed remission. Adequate magnesium levels were positively associated with T2DM and pre-T2DM remission, one year after BS (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.34-2.38), independently of sex, age, and body mass index. Adequate preoperative serum magnesium levels showed to be an important clinical parameter for pre-T2DM and T2DM remission.Isabel Maia holds a PhD Grant (ref:SFRH/BD/117371/2016/PT), which is co-funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the POCH/FSE Program

Oral glucose tolerance testing at 1 h and 2 h: relationship with glucose and cardiometabolic parameters and agreement for pre-diabetes diagnosis in patients with morbid obesity

Background: One hour plasma glucose concentration (1hPG) during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) may be an alternative to 2-h plasma glucose concentration (2hPG) in the identification of individuals at increased risk of hyperglycaemia, although its role is not fully understood. Aim: We aim to investigate the relationship of these measures with other glucose parameters, as well as their relationship with cardiometabolic risk markers and the level of agreement for prediabetes mellitus diagnosis, in a sample of patients with morbid obesity. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 656 patients with morbid obesity without diagnosed diabetes. To define prediabetes with 2hPG, 2022 American Diabetes Association guidelines criteria were used, while for 1hPG, glucose ≥ 155 mg/dL was considered. Cohen’s Kappa coefficient was used to assess the agreement between both measures of prediabetes mellitus diagnosis. Results: A Cohen’s Kappa coefficient of 0.405 (p < 0.001) was obtained. The 1hPG were positively correlated with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (ρ = 0.281, p < 0.001), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (ρ = 0.581, p < 0.001), glycated haemoglobin (Hb1AC) (ρ = 0.347, p < 0.001) and were negatively correlated with homeostatic model assessment for cell-β function (HOMA-β) (ρ = −0.092, p = 0.018). 2hPG were also correlated with the same parameters, except for HOMA-β. Conclusion: A fair agreement between 1 and 2hPG was verified. 1hPG criteria may be a useful indicator of β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance in patients with morbid obesity without diabetes diagnosis. © 2022, The Author(s).Funding text 1: We would like to acknowledge the support of all the endocrinologists, surgeons and nutritionists of the Multidisciplinary Group for Surgical Management of Obesity.; Funding text 2: Isabel Maia holds a PhD Grant (ref: SFRH/BD/117371/2016) co-funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT (The Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education) and the POCH/FSE programme

Beta Cell Function as a Baseline Predictor of Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery

Background: Obesity is a multifactorial disease, which is strongly associated to other metabolic disorders. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment of morbid obesity. The role of beta cell function in weight loss after bariatric surgery is uncertain. Aim: To evaluate the association between beta cell function and percentage of total body weight loss (TBWL%) 1, 2, 3, and 4 years after bariatric surgery in patients with morbid obesity. Methods: Retrospective longitudinal study in patients with morbid obesity followed in our center between January 2010 and July 2018. Patients were excluded if they had diabetes at baseline or missing data on the needed parameters. We evaluated baseline Homeostatic Model Assessment of IR, Homeostatic Model Assessment of ß-cell function (HOMA-beta), Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index, and Matsuda and DeFronzo index, and TBWL% at years 1 to 4. Linear regression models were used to evaluate the association of indexes of insulin resistance with TBWL% (unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and type of surgery). Results: There were 1,561 patients included in this analysis. HOMA-beta was negatively associated with TBWL% at second, third, and fourth years post-surgery (ß = -1.04 [-1.82 to -0.26], p<0.01; ß = -1.16 [-2.13 to -0.19], p=0.02; ß = -1.29 [-2.64 to 0.06], p=0.061, respectively). This was not observed in the first year post-surgery nor for the other indexes. Glycemia at baseline was positively associated to EWL% at second and third years post-surgery. Conclusion: ß-cell function at baseline seems to be associated to long-term weight loss, explicitly after the first year post bariatric surgery. This might be a helpful predictor of weight loss in clinical practice.The authors would like to thank all the CRIO group members for following these patients: John Rodrigues Preto; Eduardo Jorge Lima da Costa; Hugo Miguel Santos Sousa; André Manuel Costa Pinho; Carla Cristina Oliveira Rodrigues Teixeira Galego; Maria Flora Ferreira Sampaio Carvalho Correia; Cidália Fátima Castro Carção Gil; Diva Bizarro Figueiredo Melim; Eduardo Gil Ferreira Rodrigues Pinto; Marco António Costa Silva; Cristina Sarmento Pontes Martins; Luis Miguel Gonçalves Pereira; Inês Vasconcelos Sousa Magalhães; Isabel Maria Boavista Vieira Marques Brandão; Sertório Manuel Freitas Andrade, and Patrícia Maria Lopes Nunes. The authors would also like to thank the patients and the hospital for their support. The authors would like to thank to Associação dos Amigos do Serviço de Endocrinologia do Hospital de S. João

High connectivity of the Crocodile Shark between the Atlantic and Southwest Indian Oceans: highlights for conservation

Among the various shark species that are captured as bycatch in commercial fishing operations, the group of pelagic sharks is still one of the least studied and known. Within those, the crocodile shark, Pseudocarcharias kamoharai, a small-sized lamnid shark, is occasionally caught by longline vessels in certain regions of the tropical oceans worldwide. However, the population dynamics of this species, as well as the impact of fishing mortality on its stocks, are still unknown, with the crocodile shark currently one of the least studied of all pelagic sharks. Given this, the present study aimed to assess the population structure of P. kamoharai in several regions of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans using genetic molecular markers. The nucleotide composition of the mitochondrial DNA control region of 255 individuals was analyzed, and 31 haplotypes were found, with an estimated diversity Hd = 0.627, and a nucleotide diversity pi = 0.00167. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a fixation index phi(ST) = -0.01118, representing an absence of population structure among the sampled regions of the Atlantic Ocean, and between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. These results show a high degree of gene flow between the studied areas, with a single genetic stock and reduced population variability. In panmictic populations, conservation efforts can be concentrated in more restricted areas, being these representative of the total biodiversity of the species. When necessary, this strategy could be applied to the genetic maintenance of P. kamoharai.Foundation for Research Support of the Sao Paulo State - FAPESP [2011/23787-0, 2010/51903-2]; Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [SFRH/BPD/93936/2013]; Foundation for Research Support of the Sao Paulo State - FAPESP [2011/23787-0, 2010/51903-2]; Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [SFRH/BPD/93936/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adenosine A2A receptor modulation of hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapse plasticity during associative learning in behaving mice

© 2009 Nature Publishing Group All rights reservedPrevious in vitro studies have characterized the electrophysiological and molecular signaling pathways of adenosine tonic modulation on long-lasting synaptic plasticity events, particularly for hippocampal long-term potentiation(LTP). However, it remains to be elucidated whether the long-term changes produced by endogenous adenosine in the efficiency of synapses are related to those required for learning and memory formation. Our goal was to understand how endogenous activation of adenosine excitatory A2A receptors modulates the associative learning evolution in conscious behaving mice. We have studied here the effects of the application of a highly selective A2A receptor antagonist, SCH58261, upon a well-known associative learning paradigm - classical eyeblink conditioning. We used a trace paradigm, with a tone as the conditioned stimulus (CS) and an electric shock presented to the supraorbital nerve as the unconditioned stimulus(US). A single electrical pulse was presented to the Schaffer collateral–commissural pathway to evoke field EPSPs (fEPSPs) in the pyramidal CA1 area during the CS–US interval. In vehicle-injected animals, there was a progressive increase in the percentage of conditioning responses (CRs) and in the slope of fEPSPs through conditioning sessions, an effect that was completely prevented (and lost) in SCH58261 (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.)-injected animals. Moreover, experimentally evoked LTP was impaired in SCH58261- injected mice. In conclusion, the endogenous activation of adenosine A2A receptors plays a pivotal effect on the associative learning process and its relevant hippocampal circuits, including activity-dependent changes at the CA3-CA1 synapse.This study was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Research (BFU2005-01024 and BFU2005-02512), Spanish Junta de Andalucía (BIO-122 and CVI-02487), and the Fundación Conocimiento y Cultura of the Pablo de Olavide University (Seville, Spain).B. Fontinha was in receipt of a studentship from a project grant (POCI/SAU-NEU/56332/2004) supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal), and of an STSM from Cost B30 concerted action of the EU

Thyroid Function and the Risk of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Morbid Obesity

Background: An association between hypothyroidism and the risk of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) has been suggested. This association remains to be elucidated in patients with morbid obesity. Aim: To evaluate the association between thyroid function and parameters of liver function and hepatic scores in patients with morbid obesity. Methods: Patients with morbid obesity followed in our center between January 2010 and July 2018 were included. The ones without evaluation of liver and thyroid functions were excluded. Fatty Liver Index (FLI) and BARD scores were used as predictors of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, respectively. Results: We observed a positive association between TSH and both BARD (OR 1.14; p = 0.035) and FLI (OR 1.19; p = 0.010) in the unadjusted analysis. We found a negative association between free triiodothyronine levels and BARD (OR 0.70; p<0.01) and a positive association between free triiodothyronine levels and FLI (OR 1.48; p = 0.022). Concerning liver function, we found a positive association between total bilirubin and free thyroxine levels (ß = 0.18 [0.02 to 0.35]; p = 0.033) and a negative association between total bilirubin and free triiodothyronine levels (ß = -0.07 [-0.14 to -0.002]; p = 0.042). Conclusion: Higher levels of TSH and free triiodothyronine may be associated with a higher risk of NAFLD, particularly steatosis, in patients with morbid obesity

Late Onset Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (LONMOSD) from a Nationwide Portuguese Study: Anti-AQP4 Positive, Anti-MOG Positive and Seronegative Subgroups

Introduction: Several neuroimmunological disorders have distinct phenotypes according to the age of onset, as in multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis. It is also described that late onset NMOSD (LONMOSD) has a different phenotype. Objective: To describe the clinical/demographic characteristics of the LONMOSD and distinguish them from those with early onset (EONMOSD). Methods: From a nationwide Portuguese NMOSD study we analyzed the clinical/demographic characteristics of the LONMOSD. Results: From the 180 Portuguese patients 45 had disease onset after 50 years old, 80% were female. 23 had anti-AQP4 antibodies (51.1%), 13 anti-MOG antibodies (28.9%) and 9 were double seronegative (20.0%). The most common presenting phenotypes in LONMOSD were transverse myelitis (53.3%) and optic neuritis (26.7%), without difference from EONMOSD (p = 0.074). The mean EDSS for LONMOSD was 6.0 (SD=2.8), after a mean follow-up time of 4.58 (SD=4.47) years, which was significantly greater than the mean EDSS of EONMOSD (3.25, SD=1.80)(p = 0.022). Anti-AQP4 antibodies positive LONMOSD patients had increased disability compared to anti-MOG antibodies positive LONMOSD (p = 0.022). The survival analysis showed a reduced time to use a cane for LONMOSD, irrespective of serostatus (p<0.001). Conclusions: LONMOSD has increased disability and faster progression, despite no differences in the presenting clinical phenotype were seen in our cohort.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

USO DE 3,4-METILENODIOXMETANFETAMINA NO TRATAMENTO DE TRANSTORNO DE ESTRESSE PÓS-TRAUMÁTICO

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by persistent intense reactions to memories of a traumatic event. In recent years, there have been several neuroscientific and clinical studies examining the potential of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. The purpose of this study is to synthesize the available studies in search of better information on the use of MDMA as a new treatment for PTSD. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review. The search occurred in major databases, with the descriptors "N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine", "MDMA", "ecstasy", "stress disorders", "Post-Traumatic", "PTSD", combined with each other by Boolean operators. After critical appraisal, a final sample of 5 studies was obtained. Results and discussion: Studies showed that the use of MDMA in PTSD patients was able to promote symptom improvement when compared to placebo, besides significantly reducing CAPS-5 and Sheehan Disability Scale scores. No serious adverse effects were observed, but more studies should be done to attest to the safety of this substance. Conclusion: Therefore, the use of MDMA proved to be effective in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in all studies analyzed, with good tolerability among patients and with prolonged improvement of symptoms after the end of treatment. FurtherIntroducción: El trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) se caracteriza por la persistencia de reacciones intensas a los recuerdos de un evento traumático. En los últimos años, ha habido una serie de estudios neurocientíficos y clínicos que examinan el potencial de la 3,4-metilenedoxmetanfetamina (MDMA) como tratamiento para el trastorno de estrés postraumático. El objetivo de este estudio es sintetizar los estudios disponibles en busca de mejor información sobre el uso de MDMA como un nuevo tratamiento para el TEPT. Metodología: Se trata de una revisión integradora de la literatura. La búsqueda ocurrió en las principales bases de datos, con los descriptores "N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine", "MDMA", "ecstasy", "Stress Disorders", "Post-Traumatic", "PTSD", combinados entre sí por operadores booleanos. Después de la evaluación crítica, se obtuvo una muestra final de 5 estudios. Resultados y discusión: Los estudios han indicado que el uso de MDMA en pacientes con TEPT fue capaz de promover la mejoría de los síntomas en comparación con el uso de placebo, además de atenuar significativamente las puntuaciones CAPS-5 y la Escala de Discapacidad de Sheehan. No se han observado efectos adversos graves, pero se deben realizar más estudios para atestiguar la seguridad de esta sustancia. Conclusión: Por lo tanto, el uso de MDMA demostró ser eficaz en el tratamiento del trastorno de estrés postraumático en todos los estudios analizados, teniendo buena tolerabilidad entre los pacientes y con mejoría prolongada de los síntomas después del final del tratamiento. Se deben realizar estudios adicionales para atestiguar la seguridad en diferentes perfiles de pacientes.Introdução: O transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) se caracteriza pela persistência de reações intensas a lembranças de um evento traumático. Nos últimos anos, houve uma série de estudos neurocientíficos e clínicos examinando o potencial de 3,4-metilenodioxmetanfetamina (MDMA) como um tratamento para transtorno do estresse pós-traumático. O objetivo desse estudo é sintetizar os estudos disponíveis em busca de melhores informações sobre o uso do MDMA como um novo tratamento para TEPT. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura. A busca ocorreu nas principais bases de dados, com os descritores “N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine”, “MDMA”, “ecstasy”, “Stress Disorders”, “Post-Traumatic”, “PTSD”, combinados entre si por operadores booleanos. Após a avaliação crítica, obteve-se uma amostra final de 5 estudos. Resultados e discussão: Estudos apontaram que o uso de MDMA em pacientes com TEPT foi capaz de promover melhora dos sintomas em comparação ao uso de placebo, além de atenuar de maneira expressiva os escores de CAPS-5 e Escala de Incapacidade de Sheehan. Não foram observados efeitos adversos graves, porém devem ser feitos mais estudos para atestar a segurança dessa substância. Conclusão: Portanto, o uso do MDMA se mostrou eficaz no tratamento de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático em todos os estudos analisados, tendo boa tolerabilidade entre os pacientes e com melhora prolongada dos sintomas após o fim do tratamento. Mais estudos devem ser conduzidos para que seja atestada a segurança em diferentes perfis de pacientes.Introdução: O transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) se caracteriza pela persistência de reações intensas a lembranças de um evento traumático. Nos últimos anos, houve uma série de estudos neurocientíficos e clínicos examinando o potencial de 3,4-metilenodioxmetanfetamina (MDMA) como um tratamento para transtorno do estresse pós-traumático. O objetivo desse estudo é sintetizar os estudos disponíveis em busca de melhores informações sobre o uso do MDMA como um novo tratamento para TEPT. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura. A busca ocorreu nas principais bases de dados, com os descritores “N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine”, “MDMA”, “ecstasy”, “Stress Disorders”, “Post-Traumatic”, “PTSD”, combinados entre si por operadores booleanos. Após a avaliação crítica, obteve-se uma amostra final de 5 estudos. Resultados e discussão: Estudos apontaram que o uso de MDMA em pacientes com TEPT foi capaz de promover melhora dos sintomas em comparação ao uso de placebo, além de atenuar de maneira expressiva os escores de CAPS-5 e Escala de Incapacidade de Sheehan. Não foram observados efeitos adversos graves, porém devem ser feitos mais estudos para atestar a segurança dessa substância. Conclusão: Portanto, o uso do MDMA se mostrou eficaz no tratamento de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático em todos os estudos analisados, tendo boa tolerabilidade entre os pacientes e com melhora prolongada dos sintomas após o fim do tratamento. Mais estudos devem ser conduzidos para que seja atestada a segurança em diferentes perfis de pacientes