Search Results (449)

The cecal microbiota is essential for intestinal health and performance. This study describes the succession patterns of the cecal microbiota in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) until 42 days of age. Sixty quails were raised using standard conditions and fed corn–soybean meal diets. Cecal contents were sampled from five birds weekly from 7 to 42 days of age and submitted to Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing for metabarcoding analysis. Diversity and functional prediction were carried out with QIIME2, PICRUSt2, STAMP and MicrobiomeAnalyst 2.0. Firmicutes increased from 50% at 7 days to more than 80% at 42 days, whereas Bacteroidota decreased from 45% to 12% in the same period. Alpha diversity progressively increased with age, indicating a richer and more balanced microbiota at later ages. Genera such as Bacteroides were predominant in the beginning and later were replaced by Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcus and Faecalibacterium. These developmental taxonomic features aligned with significant shifts in ten metabolic pathways identified by prediction, revealing a transition from biosynthetic functions to complex carbohydrate metabolism and cell wall biosynthesis. The first seven days are considered a critical window for probiotics intervention, which may favor the establishment of a microbiota that is more stable and beneficial to quail performance. Full article

This study developed an Energy Quadrilemma Index (EQI) for Latin American countries, analyzing data from six countries from 2014 to 2020. Using the Principal Component Analysis method, this work reduced the dimensionality of 20 indicators grouped into four dimensions: energy security, energy equity, sustainable development, and a new social context axis. The results reveal significant disparities among the countries in the study. For example, Uruguay shows robust indicators, Paraguay exhibits low utilization of the energy it produces, and Chile displays the poorest results in the sustainable development axis. Many countries’ widespread dependence on hydroelectricity makes them vulnerable to water crises. The results show that social, economic, and structural inequalities represent the main barriers to the energy transition, often marginalizing low-income populations. Ensuring a fair and inclusive transition requires implementing targeted policies and solutions adapted to each country’s specific context. Although Costa Rica leads in performance, it faces significant challenges in the field of sustainability. In contrast, Honduras has made some progress with sustainable development but still demonstrates weaknesses in other areas. These results highlight that standardized solutions can exacerbate regional inequalities, demanding approaches more tailored to local needs. This work’s novelty lies in the use of the social context dimension as a feature to assess energy poverty in selected countries. Full article

Background/Objectives: We aimed to identify the factors associated with clinically important changes in quality of life (QoL) of real-world heart failure (HF) patients. Methods: This is a single-centre, prospective cohort study including 419 patients at an HF clinic between January 2013 and February 2020. QoL was assessed regularly using Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). We used five nested linear mixed-effects models to account for QoL measurements between patients and within-patient. Models were adjusted for time, sociodemographic factors, comorbidities, self-care adherence, and HF severity factors. Results: Median age was 78 years, 54.4% of patients were female, and 49.6% had left ventricle ejection fraction ≥ 50%. At baseline, 62.5% of patients were New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II. Median N-terminal-pro-B type natriuretic peptide level was 1454 pg/mL. Mean MLHFQ total score at baseline was 25 points (95%CI: 22.97–27.60). Having an implanted cardiac resynchronization therapy-pacemaker (CRT-P) was associated with moderate to large improvement in QoL (−13.55 points, 95%CI: −22.45–−4.65). NYHA class II and estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m² were associated with small to moderate QoL deterioration (9.74 points, 95%CI: 6.74–12.75 and 5.82 points, 95%CI: 1.17–10.47, respectively). NYHA classes III or IV and a recent HF hospitalization were associated with large to very large QoL deterioration (28.39 points, 95%CI: 23.82–32.96; 60.59 points, 95%CI: 34.46–86.72; and 26.91 points, 95%CI: 21.80–32.03, respectively). Conclusions: CRT-P implantation, NYHA class and HF hospitalization are associated with the most clinically important QoL changes. Full article

The need to maximize aquaculture production while addressing environmental and food security challenges posed by climate change has driven research towards the development of functional aquafeeds that enhance performance and immunity in farmed species. However, exposure to dietary and environmental stressors affects marine organisms, altering key metabolic pathways best understood through high-throughput “omics” tools. This study assessed the effects of Asparagopsis taxiformis supplementation on central metabolic pathways by analyzing changes in primary metabolite levels in the liver of farmed Diplodus sargus under optimal and suboptimal temperature conditions. Results showed that seaweed supplementation had a beneficial effect on the fish’s primary metabolome; however, inclusion levels and rearing conditions played a crucial role in determining outcomes. While 1.5% supplementation maintained a balanced primary metabolome under optimal temperature conditions, 3.0% supplementation most effectively mitigated the adverse effects of acute thermal stress during a marine heatwave. These findings highlight the nutritive and functional potential of A. taxiformis supplementation in aquafeeds for marine omnivorous fish species and emphasize the importance of evaluating functional aquafeeds under suboptimal rearing conditions. Overall, our results demonstrate the value of metabolomics in elucidating the molecular basis underlying biological pathways in farmed marine fish and optimizing production through climate-smart dietary strategies. Full article

The singular biodiversity of the Brazilian Caatinga inspires innovative solutions in food science. In this study, we evaluated the prebiotic potential of honeys produced by Apis mellifera in the Pajeú hinterland, Pernambuco, Brazil (Caatinga Biome), with different floral origins: Mastic (Aroeira), Mesquite (Algaroba), and mixed flowers. These were used to formulate synbiotic and alcoholic beverages fermented by Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745. Static and dynamic simulations of the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) were used, as well as physicochemical, rheological, and microbiological analyses. The results revealed that honey positively influences the viability and resilience of probiotic yeast, especially honey with a predominance of Algaroba, which promoted the highest survival rate (>89%) even after 28 days of refrigeration and in dynamic in vitro simulation of the GIT (more realistic to human physio-anatomical conditions). The phenolic composition of the honeys showed a correlation with this tolerance. The use of complementary methodologies, such as flow cytometry, validated the findings and highlighted the functional value of these natural matrices, revealing an even greater longevity potential compared to conventional microbiological methodology. The data reinforces the potential of the Caatinga as a source of bioactive and sustainable compounds, proposing honey as a promising non-dairy synbiotic vehicle. This work contributes to the appreciation of the biome and the development of functional food products with a positive social, economic, and ecological impact. Full article

The production of synthetic natural gas in the context of power-to-gas is a promising technology for the utilization of CO₂. Ni-based catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared through incipient wetness impregnation and characterized using N₂ adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The catalysts were tested for CO₂ methanation in the 200–400 °C temperature range and at atmospheric pressure. The results demonstrated that the catalytic activity increased with the addition of the CNTs and Ni loading. The selectivity towards CH₄ was close to 100% for the Ni/ZrO₂/CNT catalysts. Reduction of the calcined catalyst at 500 °C using H₂ modified the surface chemistry of the catalyst, leading to an increase in the Ni particles. The CO₂ conversion was dependent on the Ni loading and the temperature reduction in the NiO species. The 10Ni/ZrO₂/CNT catalyst was highly stable in CO₂ methanation at 350 °C for 24 h. Thus, CNTs combined with Ni and ZrO₂ were considered promising for use as catalysts in CO₂ methanation at low temperatures. Full article

Seed treatments with insecticides are important tools for managing corn stunting disease complex (CSDC) transmitted by Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) by reducing the initial leafhoppers’ population and, consequently, the risk of pathogen transmission. We evaluated the effect of insecticides used in seed treatment on both healthy and spiroplasma-infected leafhoppers, the persistence of the seed treatment effect on disease symptom severity, and its impact on corn productivity. At the V2 stage, imidacloprid/thiodicarb was the most effective, resulting in 100% mortality of healthy leafhoppers and 85.7% mortality of infective ones, thus preventing spiroplasma transmission. Thiamethoxam and methomyl + fipronil/thiamethoxam showed a high total mortality after 72 h, but only for the infective leafhoppers, with a total mortality of healthy leafhoppers around 40%, reducing the number of plants with symptoms by 80% and 90%, respectively. Our results prove that there is a difference between the chemical molecules and that the infected leafhoppers are more susceptible. Insecticide seed treatment was effective until the V2 growth stage, and imidacloprid/thiodicarb was the most effective product tested. Infective leafhoppers were more susceptible to insecticide seed treatments, and the infestation by the corn leafhopper carrying spiroplasma in the early stages of plant development heavily reduced corn yield. Full article

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, but its molecular drivers remain underexplored in Latin American populations. This study investigated the prevalence, co-occurrence, and tissue distribution of somatic mutations in the TERT promoter (C228T/C250T) and CTNNB1 exon 3, as well as TERT gene expression, in liver tissues from Brazilian patients. A total of 85 samples (42 HCC, 21 cirrhosis, and 22 hepatitis) were analysed using Sanger sequencing and RT-qPCR. TERT promoter mutations were detected in 47.6% of HCC tissues, including C228T (45.2%) and C250T (2.4%), and were also present in 19% of cirrhotic tissues but absent in hepatitis samples, supporting their emergence in early hepatocarcinogenesis. CTNNB1 exon 3 mutations occurred in 17.2% of HCCs and significantly co-occurred with TERTp mutations (66.7%, p = 0.0485), although the number of CTNNB1-mutated cases was limited. TERT expression was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues regardless of mutation status (p < 0.001). This is the first study to characterise these mutations in Brazilian HCC patients, highlighting the C228T mutation as a promising biomarker for early detection and molecular surveillance in cirrhotic individuals. Despite the genetic admixture of the studied population, the mutational patterns were comparable to those reported in more homogeneous populations, reinforcing the global relevance of these molecular alterations. Full article

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are an emerging challenge for aquaculture, increasing the frequency and severity of disease outbreaks in farmed fish, weakening immunocompetence and compromising overall health and survival. As climate change stressors intensify, there is an urgent need for cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategies to enhance fish resilience. This study investigated the efficacy of Laminaria digitata, a brown macroalga, included in aquafeeds as powder (0.3% and 1.5%) or extract (0.3%) in improving the stress response of juvenile gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) co-exposed to Vibrio harveyi infection during a category III MHW event. Under control conditions, L. digitata supplementation maintained or improved fish growth performance and overall well-being. After MHW exposure, the 1.5% powdered and 0.3% extract diets were more effective in mitigating thermal stress, reducing liver oxidative stress and lowering plasma cortisol levels. In infected fish, these diets improved resistance to V. harveyi, with reduced cortisol and alanine aminotransferase concentrations indicating hepatoprotective properties, and lower lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities reflecting an amplified capacity to counteract oxidative stress induced by inflammation. Overall, L. digitata is a promising aquafeed supplement, with the 1.5% powdered form offering a cost-effective alternative to the extract without compromising efficacy. Full article

Extreme weather events, such as marine heatwaves (MHWs), pose serious threats to the aquaculture sector, facilitating the occurrence of disease outbreaks and compromising farmed animals’ welfare and survival. Hence, finding eco-innovative strategies to improve animal immunocompetence is essential to assure aquaculture’s sustainability and resilience in a rapidly changing ocean. This study evaluated the immunostimulatory potential of Laminaria digitata powder (0.3% and 1.5%) and extract (0.3%) in juvenile gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) exposed to a Vibrio harveyi outbreak during a Category III MHW event (T = 25.7 °C). Overall, L. digitata supplementation did not significantly affect fish immunocompetence under optimal rearing conditions (T = 21.4 °C; no infection), nor did it induce any adverse effects. However, both the powder (1.5%) and extract (0.3%) forms of L. digitata supplementation effectively mitigated the negative impacts prompted by the MHW and Vibrio harveyi infection—evidenced by improvements in fish health indicators, hematological parameters, leukocyte viability, granulocyte proportions, and reductions in peroxidase activity and immunoglobulin M levels. From an economic standpoint, supplementation with 1.5% L. digitata powder emerged as the most promising strategy, offering a practical balance between effectiveness and affordability for large-scale applications. These findings highlight the potential of L. digitata as an immunostimulatory aquafeed supplement, with promising benefits for fish health and resilience under adverse rearing conditions. Full article

In this article, we explore the role of the media in highlighting an important yet often underestimated aspect of disasters: vulnerability. We use coverage of a disaster that occurred in Brazil’s southernmost state to demonstrate that the effects of a disaster extend far beyond the intensity of the extreme event itself. The concept of vulnerability is increasingly recognized in disaster literature, but the communication factors influencing this concept have not been thoroughly examined. We employ a modern conceptual framework that suggests disasters, such as the one that occurred in Brazil in 2024, stem from two interconnected threats: one natural and one anthropogenic. This second component, often not explicitly mentioned in reports, becomes evident when viewed through the lens of disaster risk. This understanding is beneficial for researchers, policy makers, and disaster experts in systematically identifying the socio-structural factors that affect the impact of extreme natural events. Furthermore, effective disaster reporting can transform how individuals and crisis managers understand hazards and respond to disasters. Full article

Background/Objectives: The industrial extraction and purification processes of Cannabis sativa L. compounds are critical steps in creating formulations with reliable and reproducible therapeutic and sensorial attributes. Methods: For this study, standardized preparations of chemotype I were chemically analyzed, and the sensory attributes were studied to characterize the extraction and purification processes, ensuring the maximum retention of cannabinoids and minimization of other secondary metabolites. The industrial process used deep-cooled ethanol for selective extraction. Results: Taking into consideration that decarboxylation occurs in the process, the cannabinoid profile composition was preserved from the herbal substance to the herbal preparations, with wiped-film distillation under deep vacuum conditions below 0.2 mbar, as a final purification step. The profiles of the terpenes and cannabinoids in crude and purified Full-spectrum Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO) were analyzed at different stages to evaluate compositional changes that occurred throughout processing. Subjective intensity and acceptance ratings were received for taste, color, overall appearance, smell, and mouthfeel of FECO preparations. Conclusions: According to sensory analysis, purified FECO was more accepted than crude FECO, which had a stronger and more polarizing taste, and received higher ratings for color and overall acceptance. In contrast, a full cannabis extract in the market resulted in lower acceptance due to taste imbalance. The purification process effectively removed non-cannabinoids, improving sensory quality while maintaining therapeutic potency. Terpene markers of the flower were remarkably preserved in SOMAÍ’s preparations’ fingerprint, highlighting a major qualitative profile reproducibility and the opportunity for their previous separation and/or controlled reintroduction. The study underscores the importance of monitoring the extraction and purification processes to optimize the cannabinoid content and sensory characteristics in cannabis preparations. Full article

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) infection has been associated with inflammatory, autoimmune, and lymphoproliferative diseases with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Among patients with inflammatory rheumatological disease manifestations, cases of rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, polymyositis, and fibromyalgia, among others, have been reported. Another common feature of rheumatological diseases is the presence of joint manifestations, such as arthralgia and arthritis. In the present study, we sought to determine the laboratory profile and clinical rheumatological manifestations of people living with HTLV-1/2 residing in a metropolitan area in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 957 individuals were screened for HTLV-1/2 infection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and samples from seropositive individuals were subjected to infection confirmation by Western blotting or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Individuals with confirmed HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 infection were clinically evaluated for signs and symptoms of rheumatological diseases. Of the 957 individuals tested, 69 were positive for HTLV-1/2 infection, with 56 confirmed cases of HTLV-1 infection (5.9%), 12 of HTLV-2 infection (1.2%), and 1 classified as undetermined (0.1%). After clinical screening, 15 infected individuals with complaints suggestive of rheumatological disease were selected for evaluation by a rheumatologist (11 with HTLV-1 infection (1.1%) and 4 with HTLV-2 infection (0.4%)). The predominant pain pattern was symmetrical polyarthralgia, with large joints predominantly being affected. The diseases diagnosed were psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and regional pain syndromes. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity was observed in two patients. Our findings confirm that HTLV-1 infection is associated with rheumatological disease manifestations and highlight the novel finding of cases of HTLV-2 infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Full article

We investigated whether FMR1 allelic complexity—integrating CGG repeat length with the number and pattern of AGG interspersions—can be used as a predictor of ovarian reserve and in vitro fertilization (IVF) success. This cohort study included 124 females with infertility attributed to female factors undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The total CGG repeat lengths and AGG interspersion patterns of the FMR1 gene were determined by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and triplet-primed PCR. The allelic complexity (allelic score) was calculated using a previously described formula by combining the allelic scores, allowing for the stratification of samples into equivalent and dissimilar groups. No statistically significant differences were observed in ovarian reserve markers or overall IVF outcomes between the two groups. However, within the dissimilar group, the allelic score of allele 1 was significantly correlated with the number of both injected metaphase II and two-pronuclei oocytes. These findings suggest that FMR1 allelic complexity may contribute to predicting IVF success, particularly in females classified in the dissimilar group, who appear more susceptible to IVF failure than those in the equivalent group. Further research into the predictive utility of FMR1 could provide valuable insights for fertility assessment and enhance assisted reproductive technologies. Full article

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic affected frontline workers’ mental health, including healthcare workers, firefighters, and police officers, increasing the need for effective interventions. This study focuses on the pandemic’s psychological impact, perceived stress, depression/anxiety symptoms, and resilience, examining if a brief virtual reality (VR)–based relaxation session could reduce psychological symptoms. Methods: In this preliminary study with data collected in 2025 from frontline workers who had served during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, 54 frontline workers completed a baseline assessment of the perceived psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic, general perceived well-being, perceived stress (PSS-4), anxiety/depression (PHQ-4) and resilience (RS-25). Each participant then engaged in a 10-min immersive VR relaxation session featuring a calming 360° nature environment with audio guidance, after which questionnaires were re-administered. Paired samples t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA evaluated pre-/post-session differences, and a hierarchical multiple linear regression model tested predictors of the change in stress. Results: Pre-session results showed moderate perceived stress and resilience and low depression/anxiety. Occupation groups varied in baseline stress, mostly reporting negative pandemic psychological effects. After VR, significantly perceived well-being increased, and stress decreased, whereas depression/anxiety changes were nonsignificant. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a main effect of time on stress (p = 0.003) without occupation-by-time interaction (p = 0.246), indicating all occupational groups benefited similarly from the VR session. Hierarchical regression indicated baseline depression and higher perceived pandemic-related harm independently predicted greater stress reduction, whereas resilience and baseline anxiety showed no statistically significant results. Conclusions: A single VR relaxation session lowered perceived stress among frontline workers, particularly those reporting higher baseline depression or pandemic-related burden. Limitations include the absence of a control group. Results support VR-based interventions as feasible, rapidly deployable tools for high-stress settings. Future research should assess longer-term outcomes, compare VR to alternative interventions, and consider multi-session protocols. Full article