Dredging impact on trace metal behavior in a polluted estuary: a discussion about sampling design

Studies involving coastal sediment resuspension have shown that trace metals could be released to the water column due to changes in physical-chemical conditions. Therefore, if environmental agencies adopt screening protocols with insufficient evaluations of contaminant mobilization risks for a given area, the prediction of environmental impacts caused by dredging may be limited. This work evaluates the influence of spatial variation on the geochemical mobility of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) after artificial sediment resuspension, using as study case the Iguaçu River estuary (Guanabara Bay, Brazil). The Iguaçu River drains the industrial complex of the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro State, besides the presence of agriculture and the input of untreated domestic wastes. Surface estuarine sediments were submitted to resuspension experiments in an open system, during 1h and 24h of agitation on local water. A clear tendency of metals’ solubilization was observed after resuspension, especially considering the dissolved concentrations of Cu (average: 8.0 µg L-1) and Zn (average: 0.9 mg L-1), especially for the samples from the transects 2 and 3. However, evaluations of water quality changes due to sediment resuspension are not requested by the legislation regulating the dredging activities. In the sediments, the results suggested a higher geochemical mobility of Cu, indicated by the massive increase on the bioavailable fraction after resuspension, mainly on the transect number 3, on the river’s mouth. The effects of resuspension were distinct between samples, suggesting that even in a small scale, important differences on metals’ mobility are found. Thus, the combined assessment of changes in metal concentrations in water and in the metal partitioning linked to the solid-phase was demonstrated to be a promising tool for predicting the environmental risks of dredging due to changes in the bioavailability of metals

Assessment of the Body Composition and the Loss of Fat-Free Mass through Bioelectric Impedance Analysis in Patients Who Underwent Open Gastric Bypass

Background. Bariatric surgery is considered an effective option for the management of morbid obesity. The incidence of obesity has been gradually increasing all over the world reaching epidemic proportions in some regions of the world. Obesity can cause a reduction of up to 22% in the life expectancy of morbidly obese patients. Objective. The objective of this paper is to assess the weight loss associated with the first 6 months after bariatric surgery using bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) for the evaluation of fat mass and fat-free mass. Method. A total of 36 morbidly obese patients were subjected to open gastric bypass surgery. The patients weight was monitored before and after the procedure using the bioelectric impedance analysis. Results. Bariatric surgery resulted in an average percentage of weight loss of 28.6% (40 kg) as determined 6 months after the procedure was performed. Analysis of the different components of body weight indicated an undesirable loss of fat-free mass along with the reduction of total body weight. Conclusion. Open gastric bypass induced a significant loss of total weight and loss of fat-free mass in patients six months after the surgery. The use of bioelectric impedance analysis resulted in an appropriate estimation of the total weight components in individuals subjected to bariatric surgery allowing a more real analysis of the variation of weight after the surgery

Análise Sedimentológica de Recifes do Gênero Phragmatopoma Mörch, 1863 (Annelida: Polychaeta) da Região Metropolitana de Fortaleza (CE)

Anelídeos do gênero Phragmatopoma são animais marinhos de hábito bentônico séssil encontrados por quase toda a costa brasileira, onde constroem recifes via agregação de areias litorâneas. Seu habitat e a preservação de seus recifes auxiliam em estudos holocênicos de variação do nível relativo do mar, além de outros aspectos biológicos, oceanográficos e até econômicos, despertando assim grande interesse em suas construções biossedimentares. Este trabalho analisou a sedimentologia de sete recifes do gênero Phragmatopoma de diferentes locais na zona costeira da Região Metropolitana de Fortaleza (RMF), comparando suas propriedades entre si, com as areias das praias locais e com uma região livre de influência da urbanização (São Miguel do Gostoso, RN). As análises incluíram o zoneamento biológico de um costão rochoso natural, além da contagem dos principais componentes detríticos das areias por lupa, quantificação de teores brutos de carbonato de cálcio e de matéria orgânica, granulometria e petrografia de minerais pesados. Os resultados sugerem que não há preferência por tipos específicos de substrato duro de fixação. Na RMF, o zoneamento biológico foi semelhante ao da Região Sudeste para metade dos organismos da zona infralitoral, sendo a diferença concentrada na diversidade de algas da RMF. Em termos de matéria orgânica, granulometria e minerais pesados, as areias de recifes e das praias em que se encontravam foram muito semelhantes. Valores mais elevados no teor de carbonato de cálcio e na quantidade e diversidade de bioclastos nas areias dos recifes em relação às praias em que se encontravam apontam para uma clara predileção do poliqueta por componentes biodetríticos calcários das areias, seja por uma questão de forma e/ou disponibilidade hidrodinâmica. O resultado geral pode ser considerado semelhante ao de estudos preliminares realizados na costa atlântica da América do Norte e na Região Sudeste do Brasil para poliquetas do mesmo gênero

AVALIAÇÃO DA ATIVIDADE ANTIFÚNGICA DOS FRUTOS VERDES E MADUROS DE Solanum lycocarpum FRENTE À Candida albicans e Candida krusei

A espécie Solanum lycocarpum é usada na medicina popular e possui atividade antibacteriana descrita na literatura. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a atividade antifúngica dos frutos de S. lycocarpum frente a Candida albicans (ATCC 18804) e Candida krusei (ATCC 20298). Os frutos maduros e verdes foram coletados, extraídos em Sohxlet, obtendo-se o extrato etéreo dos frutos verdes e o extrato etéreo dos frutos maduros, que assim como o antifúngico cetoconazol, a combinação (extratos e cetoconazol) foram testados em concentrações entre 15-2000 g/mL e determinada a Concentração Inibitória Mínima e a Concentração Fungicida Mínima. A combinação do extrato etéreo dos frutos verdes e cetoconazol e do extrato etéreo dos frutos maduros e cetoconazol exibiram atividade antifúngica frente as duas espécies de Candida, principalmente frente a C. albicans, destacando o efeito sinérgico entre o extrato etéreo dos frutos maduros e cetoconazol (CIM e CFM de 15 g/mL). Os resultados demonstram a ação antifúngica para os frutos verdes e maduros de S. lycocarpum.

AVALIAÇÃO DA ATIVIDADE ANTIFÚNGICA DOS FRUTOS VERDES E MADUROS DE Solanum lycocarpum FRENTE À Candida albicans e Candida krusei

A espécie Solanum lycocarpum é usada na medicina popular e possui atividade antibacteriana descrita na literatura. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a atividade antifúngica dos frutos de S. lycocarpum frente a Candida albicans (ATCC 18804) e Candida krusei (ATCC 20298). Os frutos maduros e verdes foram coletados, extraídos em Sohxlet, obtendo-se o extrato etéreo dos frutos verdes e o extrato etéreo dos frutos maduros, que assim como o antifúngico cetoconazol, a combinação (extratos e cetoconazol) foram testados em concentrações entre 15-2000 g/mL e determinada a Concentração Inibitória Mínima e a Concentração Fungicida Mínima. A combinação do extrato etéreo dos frutos verdes e cetoconazol e do extrato etéreo dos frutos maduros e cetoconazol exibiram atividade antifúngica frente as duas espécies de Candida, principalmente frente a C. albicans, destacando o efeito sinérgico entre o extrato etéreo dos frutos maduros e cetoconazol (CIM e CFM de 15 g/mL). Os resultados demonstram a ação antifúngica para os frutos verdes e maduros de S. lycocarpum.

Rare genetic variants involved in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a multicenter Brazilian cohort study

IntroductionDespite the existing data on the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), the factors that determine these patients evolution remain elusive. Answers may lie, at least in part, in genetics. It is currently under investigation that MIS-C patients may have an underlying innate error of immunity (IEI), whether of monogenic, digenic, or even oligogenic origin.MethodsTo further investigate this hypothesis, 30 patients with MIS-C were submitted to whole exome sequencing. ResultsAnalyses of genes associated with MIS-C, MIS-A, severe covid-19, and Kawasaki disease identified twenty-nine patients with rare potentially damaging variants (50 variants were identified in 38 different genes), including those previously described in IFNA21 and IFIH1 genes, new variants in genes previously described in MIS-C patients (KMT2D, CFB, and PRF1), and variants in genes newly associated to MIS-C such as APOL1, TNFRSF13B, and G6PD. In addition, gene ontology enrichment pointed to the involvement of thirteen major pathways, including complement system, hematopoiesis, immune system development, and type II interferon signaling, that were not yet reported in MIS-C.DiscussionThese data strongly indicate that different gene families may favor MIS- C development. Larger cohort studies with healthy controls and other omics approaches, such as proteomics and RNAseq, will be precious to better understanding the disease dynamics

Sleep study, respiratory mechanics, chemosensitive response and quality of life in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity is a major public health problem in both developed and developing countries alike and leads to a series of changes in respiratory physiology. There is a strong correlation between obesity and cardiopulmonary sleep disorders. Weight loss among such patients leads to a reduction in these alterations in respiratory physiology, but clinical treatment is not effective for a long period of time. Thus, bariatric surgery is a viable option.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The present study involves patients with morbid obesity (BMI of 40 kg/m²or 35 kg/m²to 39.9 kg/m²with comorbidities), candidates for bariatric surgery, screened at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital in the city of Sao Paulo (Brazil). The inclusion criteria are grade III morbid obesity, an indication for bariatric surgery, agreement to participate in the study and a signed term of informed consent. The exclusion criteria are BMI above 55 kg/m², clinically significant or unstable mental health concerns, an unrealistic postoperative target weight and/or unrealistic expectations of surgical treatment. Bariatric surgery candidates who meet the inclusion criteria will be referred to Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital and will be reviewed again 30, 90 and 360 days following surgery. Data collection will involve patient records, personal data collection, objective assessment of HR, BP, neck circumference, chest and abdomen, collection and analysis of clinical preoperative findings, polysomnography, pulmonary function test and a questionnaire on sleepiness.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This paper describes a randomised controlled trial of morbidly obese patients. Polysomnography, respiratory mechanics, chemosensitive response and quality of life will be assessed in patients undergoing or not undergoing bariatric surgery.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>The protocol for this study is registered with the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials - ReBEC (RBR-9k9hhv).</p