Intermittent Fasting as Adjuvant to Topical Therapy in the Management of Mild to Moderate Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin condition with no known cure. Intermittent fasting involves limiting caloric intake to designated time periods and decreases markers of systemic inflammation, but the clinical efficacy of intermittent fasting for patients with psoriasis remains unclear. We propose a randomized controlled clinical trial to investigate the clinical impact of adjunctive intermittent fasting on plaque psoriasis. Patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis will be managed with topical calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate cream and randomized to either practice daily intermittent fasting with an 8-hour eating window or practice a diet without time restriction. We hypothesize that patients engaging in intermittent fasting as an adjunct to calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate will exhibit a significant reduction in psoriasis severity compared to those managed with calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate alone. This study aims to address the need for evidence-based recommendations for patients considering intermittent fasting in the management of their mild to moderate psoriasis

Repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms with bifurcated endografts: a single-center study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe our early experience in the treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms with bifurcated endografts. We report on our initial twelve-month experience using this approach. METHODS: Clinical data on patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms treated at a single tertiary center in Brazil were prospectively recorded. The eligibility for endovascular treatment was evaluated by computed tomography scanning and anatomical features were determined based on the method of treatment. RESULTS: From February 2012 to January 2013 (12 months), 28 consecutive patients (mean age 67.2 years, range 45-85 years) underwent treatment for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms at our hospital. Eighteen patients (64.3%) were suitable for and underwent endovascular treatment with bifurcated endografts (16 patients) or aortouniiliac endografts (two patients). Ten patients who were considered unsuitable for endograft repair underwent open repair. Seven patients were classified as hemodynamically unstable (Endovascular, 5; Open, 2), and 21 were classified as stable (Endovascular, 13; Open, 8). The overall 30-day mortality rate associated with endovascular treatment was 27.8% (stable, 18.7%; unstable, 40%) and the rate associated with open repair was 50% (stable, 37.5%; unstable, 100%). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the suitability of patients for endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms was high and the overall results of endovascular treatment remain encouraging. Indeed, bifurcated endografts are a feasible option for treating anatomically eligible ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms

Resistance of wood Jatobá lumber by attack of Rhizoctonia solani

The Rhizoctonia is a stainer fungus that causes great damage to the timber industry, attacking several species of commercial interest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the resistance of wood sawn Jatoba with different moisture contents to the fungus Rhizoctonia solani attack, in a controlled environment and natural conditions. The experimental design was completely randomized with factorial arrangement of 2 x 2 x 4 and 12 repetitions. The treatments consisted of two regions of the wood sample collection (sapwood and heartwood), two environments B.O.D. (± 24 °C) under natural conditions (± 30 °C) and four levels of moisture (control, 20%, 40-45% and 70-75%). For the determination of the fungal mycelium, was used with plastic template size 0.05 x 0.05 meters, consisting of 100 squares where each is only 1% of the test body. The results showed favor the development of the fungus in the sapwood samples with moisture content in the range of 70-75% in a controlled environment, being more intense than at 20 and 40-45%, characterizing that Rhizoctonia grows best under high content humidity. the importance of holding the timber drying process, thus obtaining moisture content detrimental to the development and fungal attack is evident.The Rhizoctonia is a stainer fungus that causes great damage to the timber industry, attacking several species of commercial interest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the resistance of wood sawn Jatoba with different moisture contents to the fungus Rhizoctonia solani attack, in a controlled environment and natural conditions. The treatments consisted of two regions of the wood sample collection (sapwood and heartwood), two environments B.O.D. (± 24 ºC) under natural conditions (± 30 ºC) and four levels of moisture (control, 20%, 40-45% and 70-75%) with 12 replications. Samples were inoculated on their surface with pure culture of the fungus R. solani. The micelliation of the fungus was verified using a transparent plastic template. The results showed a favorable effect on the development of the fungus in the sapwood samples with moisture contents in the 70-75% range in a controlled environment, being more intense than 20% and 40-45%, characterizing that Rhizoctonia develops better under high levels of moisture. It is evident the importance of performing the wood drying process, thus obtaining moisture content unfavorable to the development of fungi

Uso de resíduos agrícolas para produção de cogumelos comestíveis no Norte do Estado de Mato Grosso / Use of agricultural residues for the production of edible mushrooms in the North of the State of Mato Grosso

Para o cultivo de cogumelos, além da escolha adequada do substrato também é necessário selecionar uma espécie de cogumelos adaptada ao meio no qual será cultivado,a produção de cogumelos pode reduzir impactos ambientais, pela utilização de resíduos como substratos no processo de cultivo. Desse modo, o objetivo desse trabalho foi reutilizar resíduos agroflorestais disponíveis na região de Alta Floresta – MT, para produzir cogumelos comestíveis da espécie Pleurotus florida, analisando a eficiência biológica, e os teores de NPK (Nitrogênio, Fósforo e Potássio) dos substratos, utilizando resíduos agrícolas casca de café (C), palha de guaraná (G), bagaço de cana-de-açúcar (B), serragem (S). Os resíduos foram dispostos nos seguintes tratamentos: T1: 600g G; T2: 600g B; T3: 500g G + 100g C; T4: 500g B + 100g C; T5: 300g G + 300g B; T6: 250g G + 250g B + 100g C; T7: 100g G +500g B; T8: 500g G +100g B; T9: 100g G + 400g B + 100 C; T10: 400g G +100g B +100g C, inoculados com micélio de Pleurotus florida, acondicionados em sala escura para miceliação. Posteriormente foram conduzidos a uma estufa no fragmento de mata da Universidade, com quatro repetições, dispostos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso. Foram avaliados peso total fresco de produção, eficiência biológica e os níveis de NPK. As variáveis foram submetidas a análise de variância com aplicação de pós teste de Scott Knott e a análise química discutida subjetivamente. T6 apresentou maior produção (381,20g) e melhor eficiência biológica (67,59%). O nível de N foi maior no pós colheita. Desse modo, é possível concluir que o substrato T6 é mais indicado para a produção de cogumelo Pleurotus florida.  

MICRORGANISMOS COMO PROMOTORES DE CRESCIMENTO EM CULTIVARES DE ALFACE

A alface (Lactuca sativa L.) é a hortaliça mais consumida no Brasil, sendo comercializada in natura, o que faz necessário que seja de boa qualidade. Uma alternativa para a redução dos fertilizantes químicos é a utilização de microrganismos promotores de crescimento. Objetivou-se avaliar a eficiência da utilização de microrganismos como promotores de crescimento em cultivares de alface. Empregou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado no esquema fatorial 2 x 6, duas cultivares (Mediterrânea e Solaris) sobre a atuação de seis promotores de crescimento (testemunha, três isolados de Trichoderma atroviride, Bacillus subtilis e Azospirillum brasilense), com 6 repetições. Os tratamentos foram aplicados utilizando soluções, em que as raízes ficaram imersas durante uma hora, antes dos transplantio para os vasos. A quantidades de conídios ou estirpes de bactérias nas soluções utilizado foram 4,0x107 por mL-1. Foram avaliadas: número total de folha, comprimento do caule, diâmetro do caule, altura da parte aérea, área foliar, massa fresca total e comercial da parte aérea, comprimento da raiz, massa fresca da raiz, massa seca da parte aérea total, e massa seca da raiz. A utilização dos promotores de crescimento demostrou-se eficiente em ambas cultivares de alface avaliadas. A cultivar Mediterrânea em relação a cultivar Solares foi superior. Entre os tratamentos o que se mostraram mais eficientes foram os com T. atroviride, que proporcionando aumentos significativos na altura total, comprimento de raiz, massa fresca e seca de raiz. Palavras-chave: Azospirillum brasilense; Bacillus subtilis; Lactuca sativa L.; Trichoderma spp.   Microorganisms as growth promoters in lettuce cultivars   ABSTRACT: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is the most consumed vegetable in Brazil, being commercialized in natura, which makes it necessary to be of good quality. An alternative for reducing chemical fertilizers is the use of growth-promoting microorganisms. The objective was to evaluate the efficiency of the use of microorganisms as growth promoters in lettuce cultivars. A completely randomized design was used in the factorial scheme 2 x 6, two cultivars (Mediterrânea and Solaris) on the performance of six growth promoters (control, three isolates of Trichoderma atroviride, Bacillus subtilis and Azospirillum brasilense), with 6 replications. The treatments were applied using solutions, in which the roots were immersed for one hour, before transplanting to the pots. The amounts of conidia or strains of bacteria in the solutions used were 4.0x107 per mL-1. The following were evaluated: total leaf number, stem length, stem diameter, shoot height, leaf area, total and commercial shoot weight, root length, fresh root weight, dry shoot weight, and dry root mass. The use of growth promoters proved to be efficient in both evaluated lettuce cultivars. The cultivar Mediterrânea compared to cultivar Solares was superior. Among the treatments that showed to be the most efficient were those with T. atroviride, which provided significant increases in total height, root length, fresh and dry root mass. Keywords: Azospirillum brasilense; Bacillus subtilis; Lactuca sativa L.; Trichoderma spp