Point-of-Care Strategies Applied to Malaria Diagnosis

Rapid and specific diagnosis of malaria remains one of the main strategies to fight the disease. The diagnosis is made primarily by the simple and low-cost thick drop technique, considered the gold standard test. However, the requirement for good quality microscopes and well-trained personnel often lead to inaccurate diagnosis, especially in cases of mixed infections or low parasitemia. Although PCR-based tests can help in these situations, this technique requires large and sensitive equipments, being unsuitable for point of care (POC) settings. A myriad of POC diagnostic tests have being developed in the last years, relying on molecular methods but also on novel strategies. New platforms, miniaturization techniques, and multiplexing possibilities promise great potential to improve disease diagnostics through fast and accurate detection of cases, even at remote places. Here, we will address the main POC strategies developed for the diagnosis of malaria, highlighting their strengths and weakness as POC applications

Importância do Diagnóstico Precoce de Hipomineralização Molar-incisivo (HMI): Revisão de Literatura / Importance of Early Diagnosis of Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (HMI): Literature Review

Hipomineralização molar-incisivo (HMI) trata-se de uma patologia de origem sistêmica caracterizada pela diminuição da mineralização de um até 4 primeiros molares permanentes e que surge frequentemente associada aos incisivos permanentes, os quais podem estar igualmente afetados. Foi realizada uma busca e discussão da literatura científica nas bases de dados eletrônicas SciencDirect, MEDLINE/PubMed, Periódicos CAPES e Cochrane dos seguintes descritores: Desmineralização do Dente, Hipomineralização molar-incisivo e MHI. Foram selecionados artigos na língua inglesa e portuguesa entre os anos de 2001 e 2020. O presente trabalho reune e discute a literatura científica a respeito da HMI evidenciando a importância do diagnóstico precoce e descrevendo as principais alterações decorrentes da patologia e suas implicações clínicas. Conclui-se que o diagnóstico precoce da patologia pode resultar na diminuição da necessidade de tratamentos mais invasivos e proporcionar ao paciente acometido uma qualidade de vida melhor incluindo alívio de dores, melhora na estética, redução na possibilidade de traumas psicológicos ao paciente. Além disso, o manejo do HMI é desafiador mesmo para os clínicos mais experientes já que necessita de uma avaliação individualizada quanto a severidade, custo do tratamento, sintomatologia e idade do paciente

Effects of Andiroba oil (Carapa guianensis) on wound healing in alloxan-diabetic rats

Purpose: To evaluate wound healing in diabetic rats by using topic Andiroba oil (Carapa guianensis). Methods: Six male, adult, Wistar rats were distributed into three groups: Sham group (wound treatment with distilled water); Collagenase group (treatment with collagenase ointment); and Andiroba group (wound treatment with Andiroba oil). The wound was evaluated considering the macroscopic and microscopic parameters. Results: The results indicated differences in the healing of incisional wounds between treatments when compared to control group. Accelerated wound healing was observed in the group treated with Andiroba oil and Collagenase in comparison to control group, especially after the 14th day. Morphometric data confirmed the structural findings. Conclusion: There was significant effect in topical application of Andiroba oil on wound healing in rats with induced diabetes.   Keywords: Medicinal plants. Diabetes Mellitus. Wound healing. Rats

Circulating concentrations of adipocytokines and their receptors in the isolate corpus cavernosum and femoral artery from trained rats on a high-fat diet

The aim of the present study was to evaluate different signaling pathways by which exercise training would interfere in endothelial function in obesity. Therefore, we examined adipocytokine levels and their receptors in the corpus cavernosum and femoral artery from trained rats on a high-fat diet. Methods: Functional experiments were performed in control sedentary and trained rats, and sedentary (h-SD) and trained male Wistar rats on a high-fat diet (h-TR). Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated in vascular tissue. Circulating adipocytokines and their receptors were analyzed. Results: In the h-SD group, the maximal responses to acetylcholine (ACh) were reduced in the femoral artery and corpus cavernosum as well as the electrical field stimulation, accompanied by an increase in circulating insulin, leptin, TNF-alpha, MCP-1, and PAI-1. Downregulation of ObR protein expression in the femoral artery was observed without alterations in AdipoR1 and TNFR1 in both prepara-tions. A positive effect was observed in the h-TR group regarding the relaxation response to ACh and circulating adipocytokines, resulting in increased NO production and reduced ROS generation. Exercise restored the ObR protein expression only in the femoral artery. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise training ameliorated the inflammatory adipocytokines and restored the relaxation responses in the corpus cavernosum and femoral artery in rats on a high-fat diet5413350CNPQ – CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO441514/2014-62013/26886-

Soil erosion vulnerability in the southern part of the Meia Ponte watershed, Goias, Brazil

ABSTRACT Soil erosion is a serious environmental problem that can cause numerous types of damage to society and the environment, and thus require preventive measures. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil erosion vulnerability in the southern region of the Meia Ponte watershed, Goias, Brazil, considering two situations: natural and anthropic cover conditions. For the analysis, we used remote sensing data represented by several parameters: lithology, soil class, slope, rain intensity, vegetation index, vicinity of roads, and land use and occupation. For each variable, we established a scale of weights according to erosive susceptibility for natural and anthropogenic environments. Multicriteria analysis, which allows the combination of qualitative and quantitative information in the analysis of erosive susceptibility, was used through the relationship between soil use and land occupation. In the southern part of the Meia Ponte River watershed, the anthropic factor showed greater influence. The factors that increase erosive susceptibility were soil use and occupation, low vegetation index, and high slope. The southern part of the Meia Ponte watershed presents medium natural erosive susceptibility in most of the study area.RESUMEN La erosión de los suelos es un grave problema ambiental que puede ocasionar numerosos daños a la sociedad y al medio ambiente, siendo necesario la adopción de medidas preventivas. Este estudio tuvo por objetivo evaluar la vulnerabilidad erosiva de los suelos en la región sur de la cuenca Meia Ponte, Goiás, considerando dos situaciones: condiciones de cobertura natural y antrópica. Para la realización de los análisis, se utilizaron datos de sensoriamiento remoto representados por diversos parámetros: litología, clase de suelo, declividad, intensidad de lluvia, índice de vegetación, cercanías de vías y uso y ocupación del suelo. Se establecieron para cada variable, una escala de pesos de acuerdo con susceptibilidad erosiva para el medio natural y otra antrópica. Se utilizó el análisis multicriterio, por medio de la relación entre las actividades de uso y ocupación del suelo, la cual permite combinar informaciones cualitativas y cuantitativas en análisis en cuanto a la susceptibilidad erosiva. En la parte sur de la cuenca del Río Meia Ponte, el factor antrópico obtuvo mayor influencia. Los factores que aumentaron susceptibilidad erosiva fueron el uso y ocupación del suelo, bajo índice de vegetación y la alta declividad. La parte sur de la cuenca Media Ponte, presenta susceptibilidad erosiva natural media en la mayor parte del área de estudio

Impact of testicular sperm extraction and testicular sperm aspiration on gonadal function in an experimental rat model

ABSTRACT Purpose To assess the impact of sperm retrieval on the gonadal function of rats with impaired spermatogenesis by comparing testicular sperm extraction (TESE) to aspiration (TESA). The efficacy of these procedures to sperm obtainment was also compared. Materials and Methods A pilot study showed impaired spermatogenesis, but normal testosterone (T) production after a bilateral orchidopexy applied to 26 rats, which were randomly assigned into four groups: TESE (n=7), TESA (n=7), SHAM (n=6) and Control (n=6). The T levels were measured through comparative analysis after the orchidopexy. Results There was no statistical difference in the animal's baseline T levels after orchidopexy in comparison to the controls: the TESE and TESA groups, 6.66±4.67ng/mL; the SHAM group (orchidopexy only), 4.99±1.96ng/mL; and the Control, 4.75±1.45ng/mL, p=0.27. Accordingly, no difference was found in the postoperative T levels: TESE, 5.35±4.65ng/mL; TESA, 3.96±0.80ng/mL; SHAM, 3.70±1.27ng/mL; p=0.4. The number of sperm cells found through TESE (41.0±7.0) was significantly larger than that found through TESA (21.3±8.1, p=0.001). Moreover, higher tissue weight was found through TESE (0.09±0.02g versus 0.04±0.04g, p=0.04). Conclusions The testicular sperm capture performed in rats through extraction or aspiration, after orchidopexy, did not significantly decrease the T levels. The amount of sperm found through testicular sperm extraction was higher than that through testicular sperm aspiration