Seasonal and spatial variation of the iridoid specioside in monodominant formation of Tabebuia aurea in the Brazilian Pantanal wetland/ Variação sazonal e espacial do especiosídeo iridóide em formação monodominante de Tabebuia aurea na zona húmida do Pantanal brasileiro

It is common in the Pantanal the occurrence of monodominant formations, such as “paratudal” dominated by Tabebuia aurea. Although it is of high importance, little is known about how it is maintained and what factors limit its progress. We investigated the variation of secondary metabolism between individuals located on the edge and center of the formation as well as the effect of flood pulse and what part of the plant (stem bark or leaves) is there greater accumulation of iridoids glycosides, and if is there a translocation of specioside between them. We collected stem bark and leaves samples from individuals of T. aurea located in the center and edge of paratudal in drought and flooded season, sampled individuals were the same in both seasons. We also analyzed the topographic profile of paratudal. Ours results showed that the specioside concentration in stem bark decreased during flood season only on the edge of paratudal and this region was lower than the center. Individuals located on the edge stay more time exposed to the flooding effect. These results suggest that the flooding is the main cause of the change in the specioside concentration on monodominant formation and the topography should delimitate the monoformation

Reduction of the use of polyethylene bags: Ecological management alternative in San Lorenzo, Paraguay. 2015

The present research analyzes the problem of the harmful effect of the use of polyethylene bags in the environment, with the aim of proposing an alternative of ecological management that contributes to the reduction of the use of polyethylene bags in the area of influence of a Supermarket X in the city of San Lorenzo in 2015. Therefore, the realization of this study responds to the need to present alternatives for the use of polyethylene bags in smaller quantities through the generation of incentives and greater education. For this research we opted for a qualitative and quantitative approach of descriptive cross-sectional level. For the collection of data it was used to conduct interviews and surveys both to managers of the supermarket and customers of the same. It was found in this investigation that the costs incurred for the acquisition and sale of polyethylene bags by a supermarket branch amount, on average, to Gs. 46,000,000 per month. Also, the predisposition of the consumer to reduce their consumption of polyethylene bags can be summarized as favorable. Therefore, the present paper proposes alternatives for the use of polyethylene bags that favor merchants, customers, society and the environment

Reducción de utilización de bolsas de polietileno: Alternativa ecológica de gestión en San Lorenzo, Paraguay. 2015

La presente investigación analiza la problemática del efecto nocivo que genera en el medioambiente la utilización de bolsas de polietileno, con el objetivo de proponer alternativa de gestión ecológica que contribuya a la reducción de la utilización de bolsas de polietileno en la zona de influencia de un supermercado X en la ciudad de San Lorenzo en el 2015. Por ello, la realización de este estudio responde a la necesidad de presentación de alternativas de uso de bolsas de polietileno en menores cantidades mediante la generación de incentivos y mayor educación. Para esta investigación se optó por un enfoque cualitativo y cuantitativo de nivel descriptivo de corte transversal. Para la recolección de datos se recurrió a realizar entrevistas y encuestas tanto a directivos del supermercado como a clientes del mismo. Pudo constatarse en esta investigación que los costos incurridos para la adquisición y expendio de bolsas de polietileno por una sucursal de supermercado ascienden en promedio a Gs. 46.000.000 por mes. Asimismo, la predisposición delconsumidor a reducir su consumo de bolsas de polietileno puede resumirse como favorable. Por ello el presente trabajo propone alternativas para el uso de bolsas de polietileno que favorezcan a los comerciantes, los clientes, la sociedad y el medio ambiente

Metabolic response of Adenocalymma peregrinum during regeneration of the aerial parts

Adenocalymma peregrinum, popularly known as ciganinha, is an aggressive pasture invader. This species has a vegetative propagation mechanism that includes aerial latent buds and subterranean stalks activated by cuts and other lesions. In the present study, we evaluated the levels of cytokinins and secondary metabolites in A. peregrinum during regeneration of the aerial part. Plants used in this experiment were established in the field and were cut at intervals of five days until the 25th day. The regeneration of the cut plants started on the 10th day after the first cut. Among observed compounds, only kinetin, allantoin and the iridoide 6-β-hydroxyipolamiide were detected at adequate levels for comparative evaluation. The maximum levels of these compounds coincided with the beginning of regeneration in these plants, indicating the involvement of these compounds in the regeneration process

Causes of blindness and vision impairment in 2020 and trends over 30 years, and prevalence of avoidable blindness in relation to VISION 2020: the Right to Sight: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study

Background: Many causes of vision impairment can be prevented or treated. With an ageing global population, the demands for eye health services are increasing. We estimated the prevalence and relative contribution of avoidable causes of blindness and vision impairment globally from 1990 to 2020. We aimed to compare the results with the World Health Assembly Global Action Plan (WHA GAP) target of a 25% global reduction from 2010 to 2019 in avoidable vision impairment, defined as cataract and undercorrected refractive error. Methods: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based surveys of eye disease from January, 1980, to October, 2018. We fitted hierarchical models to estimate prevalence (with 95% uncertainty intervals [UIs]) of moderate and severe vision impairment (MSVI; presenting visual acuity from <6/18 to 3/60) and blindness (<3/60 or less than 10° visual field around central fixation) by cause, age, region, and year. Because of data sparsity at younger ages, our analysis focused on adults aged 50 years and older. Findings: Global crude prevalence of avoidable vision impairment and blindness in adults aged 50 years and older did not change between 2010 and 2019 (percentage change −0·2% [95% UI −1·5 to 1·0]; 2019 prevalence 9·58 cases per 1000 people [95% IU 8·51 to 10·8], 2010 prevalence 96·0 cases per 1000 people [86·0 to 107·0]). Age-standardised prevalence of avoidable blindness decreased by −15·4% [–16·8 to −14·3], while avoidable MSVI showed no change (0·5% [–0·8 to 1·6]). However, the number of cases increased for both avoidable blindness (10·8% [8·9 to 12·4]) and MSVI (31·5% [30·0 to 33·1]). The leading global causes of blindness in those aged 50 years and older in 2020 were cataract (15·2 million cases [9% IU 12·7–18·0]), followed by glaucoma (3·6 million cases [2·8–4·4]), undercorrected refractive error (2·3 million cases [1·8–2·8]), age-related macular degeneration (1·8 million cases [1·3–2·4]), and diabetic retinopathy (0·86 million cases [0·59–1·23]). Leading causes of MSVI were undercorrected refractive error (86·1 million cases [74·2–101·0]) and cataract (78·8 million cases [67·2–91·4]). Interpretation: Results suggest eye care services contributed to the observed reduction of age-standardised rates of avoidable blindness but not of MSVI, and that the target in an ageing global population was not reached. Funding: Brien Holden Vision Institute, Fondation Théa, The Fred Hollows Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lions Clubs International Foundation, Sightsavers International, and University of Heidelberg

Reducción de utilización de bolsas de polietileno: Alternativa ecológica de gestión en San Lorenzo, Paraguay. 2015

La presente investigación analiza la problemática del efecto nocivo que genera en el medioambiente la utilización de bolsas de polietileno, con el objetivo de proponer alternativa de gestión ecológica que contribuya a la reducción de la utilización de bolsas de polietileno en la zona de influencia de un supermercado X en la ciudad de San Lorenzo en el 2015. Por ello, la realización de este estudio responde a la necesidad de presentación de alternativas de uso de bolsas de polietileno en menores cantidades mediante la generación de incentivos y mayor educación. Para esta investigación se optó por un enfoque cualitativo y cuantitativo de nivel descriptivo de corte transversal. Para la recolección de datos se recurrió a realizar entrevistas y encuestas tanto a directivos del supermercado como a clientes del mismo. Pudo constatarse en esta investigación que los costos incurridos para la adquisición y expendio de bolsas de polietileno por una sucursal de supermercado ascienden en promedio a Gs. 46.000.000 por mes. Asimismo, la predisposición delconsumidor a reducir su consumo de bolsas de polietileno puede resumirse como favorable. Por ello el presente trabajo propone alternativas para el uso de bolsas de polietileno que favorezcan a los comerciantes, los clientes, la sociedad y el medio ambiente

Metabolic features of cancer stem cells: the emerging role of lipid metabolism

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are an uncommon subset of tumor cells capable of self-renewal, differentiating, and recreating the parental tumor when transplanted into the murine background. Over the past two decades, efforts toward understanding CSC biology culminated into identifying a set of signaling pathways sustaining "stemness". Nevertheless, while metabolic rewiring is nowadays considered a hallmark of cancer, no consensus has been reached on the metabolic features underlying the plastic nature of CSCs, which are capable of residing in a dormant state, and able to rapidly proliferate when the need to repopulate the tumor mass arises. An emerging concept in the field of CSC metabolism is that these cells are extremely reliant on the activity of enzymes involved in lipid metabolism, such as stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutharyl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoAR). Indeed, SCD1 and HMG-CoAR have been described as key factors for the correct function of a number of concatenated pathways involved in CSC fate decision, such as Hippo and Wnt. In the present review, we describe metabolic futures of CSCs with a special focus on lipid metabolism, which until now represents an underappreciated force in maintaining CSCs and an attractive therapeutic target

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population.The aim of this study was to inform vaccination prioritization by modelling the impact of vaccination on elective inpatient surgery. The study found that patients aged at least 70 years needing elective surgery should be prioritized alongside other high-risk groups during early vaccination programmes. Once vaccines are rolled out to younger populations, prioritizing surgical patients is advantageous