Essential oil of Thymus vulgaris on the sanitary and physiological quality of seeds of Caesalpinia ferrea

As for most plant species occurring in forests, Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. Ex Tul. has been presenting some phytosanitary problems, and thus research efforts have been increased considering the use of alternative treatments using as basis essential oils like Thymus vulgaris L., which is responsible for antimicrobial activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the essential oil from thyme on the sanitary and physiological quality of ironwood seeds. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with four repetitions with 50 seeds. The treatments considered the use of the thyme essential oil at concentrations of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%. The ironwood seeds were obtained from matrices taken at random, moved to the laboratory, where sanitary evaluations were carried out using the Blotter test method in 25±2°C temperature and in a 12h photoperiod. After 7 days, with the aid of a microscope, fungi were identified. Next, physiological analysis were conducted — germination, first count of germination, and germination speed index. Measurements of the shoot and root parts of the seedlings, shoot dry matter, and root dry matter were taken. According to the obtained results in this work, it was verified that the T. vulgaris dry matter in all concentrations presented different results, noting that when the oil concentration increases, the occurrence of pathogens decreases, which proves that the T. vulgaris essential oil has specific action on some genera of fungi

Chemodectoma in a Dog

Background: The chemodectoma is a rare neoplasm that originates from chemoreceptors located mainly in the aortic body, and carotid body and sinus, and responsible for detecting variations in blood pH, oxygen pressure and carbon dioxide. Dogs of brachiocephalic breeds and aged between 7 and 15 years have greater propensity. A neoplasm involves infiltrative growth in the vessels at the heart base, which leads to Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). The definitive diagnosis is performed by histopathological and/or immunohistochemical examination. The aim was to report a case of chemiodectoma in a dog, showed the disease clinical characteristics.Case: A 13-year-old male undefined breed dog was examinated in the medical clinic of small animal of Veterinary Hospital, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE) with respiratory effort, hyporexia, and edema in face, cervical, ventral thorax and thoracic limbs, with thirty days evoluted. About physical examination, we observed cachexia, orthopneic position, cyanosis and edema with a positive Godet sign, as well as 8% dehydration degree. Thoracic auscultation presented mixed dyspnea and muffled heart sounds. Chest radiography detected an radiopacity increase in pulmonary section and metastatic neoplastic process associated with pleural and pericardial effusion. Fluid therapy with lactated ringer and posterior thoracentesis in the right hemithorax region was performed for greater respiratory comfort for the patient. Hematological count and biochemical profiles stated normochromic normocytic anemia, relative and absolute lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, as well as increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The patient died after 12 hours when was submitted to necroscopic examination and histopathological evaluation. An infiltrative tumor of cardiac base was observed invading the light of the right atrium, obstructing the venous return, as well as a large thrombus located in the left ventricle and diffuse nodules in the lungs. Hydrothorax and hydroperitoneum were observed with serous fluid, with hepatic, renal and brain congestion, and duodenum hemorrhage. Histologically, the tumor was characterized as a chemodectoma with pulmonary metastasis.Discussion: Cardiac tumors are uncommon for canine population. A study sampled 729,265 dogs with observed incidence reaching 0.19%. The most common type is hemangiosarcoma with 69%, followed by chemiodectoma and lymphoma. Authors describe predisposed brachycephalic breeds such as Boxer, Boston Terrier and French Bulldog. In our case, the patient had elongated snout and undefined breed. Deregulation of chemoreceptors, which detect changes in pH and partial oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures, can result in hyperpnea and dyspnoea. Edema represents a deficit in venous return from the cranial and cervical regions, with consequent increase in hydrostatic pressure and liquid leakage into the thoracic cavity and subcutaneous tissue, thus inferring the Caudal Vena Cava Syndrome (CVCS). Tumors from the cardiac base, integrated with the large arteries insertion and adjacent to the atria, can cause pericardial effusion observed in this case. Chemodectomas are described as essentially benign tumors with low metastatic potential. In this case, pulmonary metastasis was detected. Surgical treatment is recommended when feasible. In this case, the patient had late veterinary care, in addition to the contraindication for surgery by the lung metastasis presence

Evidence of validity of the Risk Self-Medication Questionnaire focused on Health Literacy

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the validity evidence of the internal structure of the Risk Self-Medication Questionnaire Focused on Health Literacy. Methods: a psychometric study with 499 adults. The internal structure was assessed with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to prove the adjustment. Internal consistency was measured by composite reliability and McDonald’s omega coefficient (ω). Results: the parameters revealed a model of 35 items distributed across four factors, explaining 56% of the total variance, with factor loadings ranging from 0.31 to 0.85 and adequate communalities. Accuracy (0.79<ORION<0.98), representativeness (0.89<FDI<0.99), sensitivity (1.92<SR<7.07), factor hope (88.3%< EPTD<97.9%), replicability (0.82<H-Latent<H-observed<0.87) and reliability (ω=0.87) were adequate. The composite reliability ranged from 0.840 to 0.910. Furthermore, good model fit was achieved (TLI = 0.99; CFI = 0.99; GFI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.02 and RMSR = 0.05). Conclusions: an instrument was obtained with good evidence of structural validity for measuring self-medication

Associação entre o uso de chupetas e interrupção da amamentação: Uma revisão de literatura / Association between pacific use and breastfeeding interruption: A literature review

A relação entre hábitos de sucção de chupeta, amamentação e desmame precoce tem causado conflito entre os profissionais da saúde, e existe uma falta de um consenso internacional se uso de chupeta é fator causal ou consequência do desmame precoce. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão de literatura para verificar a associação do uso de chupetas e desmame precoce.   Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura a partir de pesquisa nas bases de dados PubMed e Scielo, no período entre Janeiro de 2010 e e junho de 2020. Foram incluídos: artigos que relacionassem ou não o uso de chupetas ao desmame precoce, bem como artigos sobre a amamentação e os benefícios e malefícios do uso de bicos artificiais. Como critérios de exclusão: artigos publicados em outro período, que não tivesse relação ao assunto ou em outro idioma. Após levantamento do conteúdo, foram encontrados um total de 18 artigos no PubMed e um total de 21 artigos no Scielo, que após a leitura crítica do título e resumo, foram selecionados 13 artigos no PubMed e 11 no Scielo, nos idiomas inglês e português, os quais lidos na íntegra. Apenas 2 artigos se repetiram. Os artigos analisados demonstaram que o uso de chupetas pode interferir na duração da amamentação, causando o desmame precoce. A relação entre hábitos de sucção de chupeta, amamentação e desmame precoce tem causado conflito entre os profissionais da saúde, e existe uma falta de um consenso internacional se uso de chupeta é fator causal ou consequência do desmame precoce. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão de literatura para verificar a associação do uso de chupetas e desmame precoce.   Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura a partir de pesquisa nas bases de dados PubMed e Scielo, no período entre Janeiro de 2010 e e junho de 2020. Foram incluídos: artigos que relacionassem ou não o uso de chupetas ao desmame precoce, bem como artigos sobre a amamentação e os benefícios e malefícios do uso de bicos artificiais. Como critérios de exclusão: artigos publicados em outro período, que não tivesse relação ao assunto ou em outro idioma. Após levantamento do conteúdo, foram encontrados um total de 18 artigos no PubMed e um total de 21 artigos no Scielo, que após a leitura crítica do título e resumo, foram selecionados 13 artigos no PubMed e 11 no Scielo, nos idiomas inglês e português, os quais lidos na íntegra. Apenas 2 artigos se repetiram. Os artigos analisados demonstaram que o uso de chupetas pode interferir na duração da amamentação, causando o desmame precoce

O que as revisões sistemáticas dizem sobre o impacto da cirurgia robótica na neurocirurgia?

Introduction: Neurosurgery, with its intricate complexities and demands for extreme precision, has been shaped and transformed over the years by the constant evolution of medical technology. Methodology: The methodology adopted for this work involved a systematic literature review focused on specific MESH descriptors, conducted in the PUBMED database. The period considered for article searches spanned from 2017 to 2023, aiming to capture the latest contributions to the topic. The selected MESH descriptors to outline the research were "Robotic Surgical Procedures," "Neurosurgery," and "Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures." Results: Systematic reviews present a comprehensive overview of recent advances in robotic surgery and its applications in various areas. The promising landscape outlined by these analyses not only validates the progress made but also underscores the ongoing need for research and development to further enhance surgical practices. Conclusion: The learning curve, the need for specialized training, and economic considerations are crucial aspects shaping the practical implementation of robotic surgery in the neurosurgical scenario.Introdução: A neurocirurgia, com suas complexidades intricadas e demandas por precisão extrema, tem sido moldada e transformada ao longo dos anos pela constante evolução da tecnologia médica. Metodologia: A metodologia adotada para este trabalho compreendeu uma revisão sistemática de literatura, focada em descritores MESH específicos, realizada no banco de dados PUBMED. O período considerado para a busca de artigos abrangeu de 2017 a 2023, visando capturar as mais recentes contribuições à temática. Os descritores MESH selecionados para delinear a pesquisa foram "Robotic Surgical Procedures", "Neurosurgery" e "Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures". Resultado: As revisões sistemáticas apresentam um panorama abrangente dos avanços recentes na cirurgia robótica e suas aplicações em diversas áreas. O cenário promissor delineado por essas análises não apenas valida os progressos alcançados, mas também ressalta a necessidade contínua de pesquisa e desenvolvimento para aprimorar ainda mais as práticas cirúrgicas. Conclusão: A curva de aprendizado, a necessidade de treinamento especializado e as considerações econômicas são aspectos cruciais que moldam a implementação prática da cirurgia robótica no cenário neurocirúrgico

Consistent patterns of common species across tropical tree communities

Trees structure the Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystem, tropical forests. The vast number of tree species presents a formidable challenge to understanding these forests, including their response to environmental change, as very little is known about most tropical tree species. A focus on the common species may circumvent this challenge. Here we investigate abundance patterns of common tree species using inventory data on 1,003,805 trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm across 1,568 locations1,2,3,4,5,6 in closed-canopy, structurally intact old-growth tropical forests in Africa, Amazonia and Southeast Asia. We estimate that 2.2%, 2.2% and 2.3% of species comprise 50% of the tropical trees in these regions, respectively. Extrapolating across all closed-canopy tropical forests, we estimate that just 1,053 species comprise half of Earth’s 800 billion tropical trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm. Despite differing biogeographic, climatic and anthropogenic histories7, we find notably consistent patterns of common species and species abundance distributions across the continents. This suggests that fundamental mechanisms of tree community assembly may apply to all tropical forests. Resampling analyses show that the most common species are likely to belong to a manageable list of known species, enabling targeted efforts to understand their ecology. Although they do not detract from the importance of rare species, our results open new opportunities to understand the world’s most diverse forests, including modelling their response to environmental change, by focusing on the common species that constitute the majority of their trees.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Genetic variants in novel pathways influence blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk.

Blood pressure is a heritable trait influenced by several biological pathways and responsive to environmental stimuli. Over one billion people worldwide have hypertension (≥140 mm Hg systolic blood pressure or  ≥90 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure). Even small increments in blood pressure are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. This genome-wide association study of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which used a multi-stage design in 200,000 individuals of European descent, identified sixteen novel loci: six of these loci contain genes previously known or suspected to regulate blood pressure (GUCY1A3-GUCY1B3, NPR3-C5orf23, ADM, FURIN-FES, GOSR2, GNAS-EDN3); the other ten provide new clues to blood pressure physiology. A genetic risk score based on 29 genome-wide significant variants was associated with hypertension, left ventricular wall thickness, stroke and coronary artery disease, but not kidney disease or kidney function. We also observed associations with blood pressure in East Asian, South Asian and African ancestry individuals. Our findings provide new insights into the genetics and biology of blood pressure, and suggest potential novel therapeutic pathways for cardiovascular disease prevention

Retos, avances y reflexiones transdisciplinares desde contextos educativos diversos

La publicación de las ponencias que conformaron el V Congreso Internacional de Educación de la Universidad Nacional de Educación, titulado Retos, avances y reflexiones transdisciplinares desde contextos educativos diversos, ofrece una visión comprensiva y multifacética de la educación contemporánea. A través de ocho ejes temáticos, entre los que se incluye la formación integral y el desarrollo profesional, la teoría y la práctica en la formación profesional docente, la relación entre sociedad y escuela, la gestión educativa y las tecnologías para la educación, esta recopilación busca contribuir al conocimiento académico sobre la educación y, al mismo tiempo, ser fuente de información e inspiración para educadores, investigadores y todas aquellas personas interesadas en el desarrollo educativo

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases

p. 339-344Diarrhea due to intestinal microbial infections is a frequent manifestation among HIV-infected patients. It has been postulated that HIV-infected patients may have special types of intestinal infections, and that immune activation from such parasites may affect the progression of HIV disease. To evaluate these associations, the frequency of infections was examined in HIV-infected patients in Bahia, Brazil. To determine the potential impact of the presence of intestinal parasitic infections on HIV disease progression, a retrospective study approach was used. The medical charts of 365 HIV-infected patients who had been treated at the AIDS Clinic of the Federal University of Bahia Hospital were reviewed, and the prevalence of parasites was compared with 5,243 HIV-negative patients who had attended the hospital during the same period of time. Among HIV-infected subjects, CD4 count, RNA plasma viral load (VL), and number of eosinophils were compared according to their stool examination results. The overall prevalence of each parasite was similar for HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. However, the prevalence of S. stercoralis (p<10-7) and G. lamblia (p=0.005) was greater for HIV-infected subjects. The mean CD4 count and viral load of HIV patients in our clinic who had stool examinations was 350 cells ± 340 and 4.4 ± 1.4 log RNA viral load, respectively. In this patient group there was no clear association between the level of the absolute CD4 count or the viral load and a specific parasitic infection. The presence of an intestinal parasitic infection was not associated with faster progression of the HIV disease among HIV-infected patients. We conclude that strongyloidiasis and giardiasis are more frequent in HIV-infected patients in Bahia, Brazil. If this association is due to immune dysregulation, as has been proposed elsewhere, it must occur in patients after only minor shifts in CD4 count from normal levels, or as a result of immune dysfunction not represented by CD4 count. These infections do not appear to alter the progression of HIV disease