PONTOS QUÂNTICOS DE CARBONO A PARTIR DE QUITOSANA: PRINCIPAIS VIAS DE SÍNTESE E APLICAÇÕES

Carbon dots are a new class of fluorescent nanomaterials, with properties such as photoluminescence, high solubility, low toxicity, and favorable biocompatibility. They are useful for applications in biomedicine, sensors, solar cells, and photocatalysis, among others. The synthesis of quantum dots using chitosan as a starting source becomes the focus of interest for researchers due to the low cost and large-scale availability of this material. Another positive aspect of using chitosan is the possibility of reusing natural resources with the potential to reduce pollutants and their environmental impacts. As regards the synthesis methods, the hydrothermal method stands out, as it is a simple and low-cost methodology, which uses moderate temperature conditions and relatively low synthesis time. Among the main applications of chitosan-based quantum dots, applications of bioimaging and biosensors are the most reported in the literature.Pontos quânticos de carbono são uma nova classe de nanomateriais fluorescentes, com propriedades como fotoluminescência, alta solubilidade, baixa toxicidade e biocompatibilidade favorável. Eles são úteis para aplicações em biomedicina, sensores, células solares e fotocatálise, entre outros. A síntese de pontos quânticos usando a quitosana como fonte de partida passa a ser foco de interesse dos pesquisadores devido ao baixo custo e disponibilidade em grande escala deste material. Outro ponto positivo da utilização da quitosana é a possibilidade da reutilização de recursos naturais com o potencial de redução de poluentes e dos seus impactos ambientais. Do ponto de vista dos métodos de síntese, destaca-se o método hidrotérmico, por ser uma metodologia simples e de baixo custo, que emprega condições moderadas de temperatura e tempo de síntese relativamente baixo. Entre as principais aplicações dos pontos quânticos a base de quitosana, as aplicações de bioimagem e biosensores são as mais relatadas na literatura

Effect of the Combined Intervention with Passive Whole-Body Vibration and Auriculotherapy on the Quality of Life of Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis Assessed by the WHOQOL-Bref: A Multi-Arm Clinical Trial

The aim of this study was to determine the effect on the quality of life of two non-pharmacological interventions isolated or in combination: (i) passive whole-body vibration exercise (WBVE), and (ii) auriculotherapy (AT). One hundred three participants with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) were allocated to: (a) a vibration group (WBVEG; n = 17) that performed WBVE (peak-to-peak displacement: 2.5 to 7.5 mm, frequency: 5 to 14 Hz, Peak acceleration: 0.12 to 2.95 g), two days/weekly for five weeks, (b) an AT group (ATG; n = 21), stimulation of three specific auriculotherapy points (Kidney, Knee and Shenmen) in each ear pavilion, (c) WBVE + AT (WBVE + AT; n = 20) and (d) respective control groups (WBVE_CG, n = 15; AT_CG, n = 12; WBVE + AT_CG, n = 18). The participants filled out the WHOQOL-bref Questionnaire before the first and after the last sessions. Statistical differences in the various domains of the WHOQOL-bref were not found. In conclusion, WBVE or AT alone or combined did not contribute in altering the quality of life of individuals exposed to these interventions

Acute Effects of Whole-Body Vibration Exercise on Pain Level, Functionality, and Rating of Exertion of Elderly Obese Knee Osteoarthritis Individuals: A Randomized Study

Introduction: Among chronic diseases, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a joint disease that causes important progressive alterations in the articular and periarticular structures, including synovial inflammation. Exercise has been suggested as an intervention to KOA individuals, and studies suggest that whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise decreases pain levels and favours the functionality of KOA individuals. Objective: The aim of the present study is to analyze the acute effects of WBV exercise on pain levels, functionality (Timed Up and Go (TUG test), anterior trunk flexion (ATF)), and rating of exertion of elderly obese KOA individuals. Methods: Thirty-seven individuals with KOA were allocated to a WBV exercise group (WBVEG), n = 19 (15 females/4 males), and a control group (CG), n = 18 (15 females/3 males). WBVEG performed one session of WBV exercise (11 min, using 5 Hz, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mm, 0.12, 0.25, and 0.37 g). Three bouts were performed (working time of 3 min and rest time of 1 min) using a side-alternating vibrating platform (VP). The same position was used in CG; however, the VP was turned off and there was equipment coupled to the VP that emitted a sound like the vibrations. The pain level was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS). Functionality was evaluated with a TUG test and ATF. The rating of subjectively perceived exertion was measured with the category ratio CR-10 (BORG Scale CR-10), Results: A reduction of pain levels in WBVEG after the intervention (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.041) was found. A decrease of TUG test time in both groups (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.045) was found, while no statistical changes were observed in the Borg Scale score. Significant improvements of flexibility in both groups (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.043) were found. Conclusion: One session of WBV exercise can lead to important improvements in individuals with KOA, possibly triggered by physiological responses. However, more studies are needed, in this clinical context, to confirm these results

Hemofilia adquirida A e B principais apresentações clínicas da doença de Pott em crianças: Hemofilia adquirida A e B main clinical presentations of Pott disease in children

A hemofilia é uma doença sanguínea caracterizada por distúrbios nos mecanismos de coagulação do sangue, podendo ser de origem hereditária ou adquirida. A hemofilia adquirida ocorre devido à produção de autoanticorpos contra a atividade pró-coagulante dos fatores VIII (Hemofilia A) e IX (Hemofilia B). O objetivo desse trabalho é a realização de um estudo observacional e exploratório sobre os artigos publicados nos últimos 5 anos sobre a hemofilia adquirida A e B, uma vez que é uma enfermidade considerada rara. Dos 68 resultados obtidos na pesquisa, apenas 7 abordaram de forma objetiva sobre o tema, sendo utilizados na confecção do estudo. Segundo a literatura, as manifestações clínicas envolvem sangramento mucocutâneo, urogenital e gastrointestinal, e são mais prevalentes em idosos. Em crianças, o sangramento pode ser menos expressivo, provocando dúvidas quanto ao diagnóstico. O tratamento da hemofilia envolve a reposição dos fatores de coagulação deficientes e o uso de imunossupressores, ainda que nas obras analisadas apenas o tratamento hemostático tenha sido descrito, revelando uma carência de estudos sobre o uso de imunossupressores nos casos de hemofilia adquirida

Efeitos de treinamento de força sobre a composição corporal e força muscular em pacientes sob hemodiálise

Pacientes com doença renal crônica (DRC) em hemodiálise (HD) apresentam várias alterações sistêmicas como inflamação, acidose metabólica e anorexia, capazes de contribuir para a perda de capacidade funcional, massa e força muscular, os quais exercem, desta forma, um impacto negativo sobre a morbimortalidade desses pacientes. O treinamento de força muscular pode atenuar tais efeitos da DRC no sistema muscular esquelético. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos do treinamento de força muscular intradialítico na força muscular, capacidade funcional, composição corporal e na qualidade de vida de pacientes em HD. O treinamento de força foi aplicado três vezes por semana durante a sessão de HD por um período de seis meses em 28 pacientes em HD (16 homens e 12 mulheres, idade 46,3 ± 11,8 anos; IMC 23,8 ± 4,07 Kg/m²; e, % de gordura corporal (GC) 29,7±6,4%). Os níveis de força muscular foram medidos pelo dinamômetro isocinético Cybex-Norm®, a avaliação da capacidade física pelos testes de sentar e levantar - SL10 e SL60, também foram avaliados os dados bioquímicos, antropométricos, e de qualidade de vida (questionário SF-36). A análise estatística foi realizada utilizando-se o teste t de Student pareado, para um nível de significância p ≤ 0,05, do pacote SPSS 11.0. Os testes funcionais SL10 e SL60 apresentaram melhoras significativas no grupo das mulheres (p<0,001 e p<0,03, respectivamente) e no grupo dos homens houve melhora no SL10 (p<0,0001). Os homens apresentaram melhora na composição corporal com diminuição do % CG (p<0,05) e aumento da massa livre de gordura (MLG) (p<0,01) e no grupo das mulheres houve diminuição do %CG (p<0,01), da dobra cutânea bicipital (DCT) (p<0,05), aumento da MLG (p<0,05). No que se refere ao SF-36, houve melhora em 3 dos 8 componentes do questionário. Todavia, não houve alterações significativas nos valores de força muscular (extensor e flexor) e, no que se refere à análise bioquímica, os níveis de uréia foram reduzidos após o treinamento. O treinamento de força intradialítico foi benéfico para pacientes em HD contribuindo para melhora da capacidade física, da composição corporal e da qualidade de vida. No entanto, não houve melhora da força muscular nesses pacientesEste estudo foi realizado em cooperação com a Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) - BrasilPatients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis (HD) present various systemic alterations such as inflammation, metabolic acidosis and anorexia, which contribute to loss of functional capacity, muscle mass and strength. The resistance training (RT) can reduce such effects of CKD on the musculoskeletal system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intradialytic RT on the body composition, functional capacity and strength muscle in HD patients. The RT was applied 3 times a week during hemodialysis session for a period of 6 months in 28 HD patients (16 men e 12 women, age 46.3 ± 11.8 years; BMI 23.8 ± 40 Kg/m²; and, % of body fat 29.7 ± 6.4%). The muscle strength was measured by isokinetic dynamometer Cybex-Norm, the functional capacity by Sit-to-Stand Tests (10-TSS, 10-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test, and SS-60, amount of sit-to-stand able to accomplish in 60 seconds). Biochemical and anthropometric data were measured and quality of live evaluated by SF-36. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 17.0 package using Paired-Sample t test with a significance level of p≤0.05. The SL10 and SL60 functional tests showed significant improvement in the female group (p=0.001; p=0.03 respectively) and in males, there was an improvement in SL10 (p=0.0001). In the SF-36 was improved in 3 of the 8 questionnaire components. The % body fat was decreased significanlty after exercises. However, no significant change in the values of muscle strength (extensor and flexor) was observed. In conclusion, the RT during 6 months was beneficial for HD patients with improvement in physical function, body composition and quality of life, but without improvement in muscle strength64f

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data