Search Results (26)

Water and nitrogen (N) availability are among the primary limiting factors for the productivity of tomato (Solanum licopersicum L.). This study evaluated the interaction between these factors by assessing the effects of different N concentrations (85.5, 128.3, 171.0, 213.8, and 256.1 ppm N) on the water consumption, growth, and photosynthetic efficiency of hydroponically-grown tomato plants. The variables that were analyzed included the leaf N content, leaf chlorophyll index (LCI), maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (the ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence; Fv/Fm), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), fresh mass (FM), dry mass (DM), cumulative water consumption, and water use efficiency (WUE). Increasing N concentrations led to higher water consumption and FM accumulation. Dry biomass was quadratically related to the N concentration, which peaked between doses of 213.8 and 256.1 ppm N. The LCI and Fv/Fm increased with the N supply, reaching a peak at N concentrations above 171 ppm, and then remained relatively constant. Conversely, the NPQ was reduced at the highest N level (256.1 ppm), which indicated diminished excess energy dissipation capacity. The highest WUE was observed at 213.8 ppm N, which was associated with greater DM and reduced water consumption compared to the highest N treatment. These findings suggest that the N concentration significantly affects the biomass production and water use in hydroponically-grown tomato plants, with 213.8 ppm N being the most efficient for vegetative growth under the studied conditions. 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

The Brazilian forestry sector comprises 9.94 million hectares of plantations, with eucalyptus dominating 75% of this area for pulp production. Technological advances have enhanced machinery performance, with the cut-to-length system being the primary method for pulpwood production. This study aimed to optimize the operational cycle of the log loader by evaluating productivity, operational cycles, and loading costs. Data were collected in Bahia, northeastern Brazil, from a forestry company operating under varying productivity scenarios and forest rotations. Time and motion studies were conducted to assess the log loader’s cycles, while productivity and cost analyses were performed. The results indicated that predictive models effectively explained productivity variations. The log loader’s productivity increased with the average volume per tree (AVT) and decreased with the number of movements, which consumed 68% of the cycle time due to wood adjustment and stack organization. Stages such as personal breaks, truck movements, crane adjustments, and cleaning of fallen material showed no significant statistical differences. Loading costs rose by up to 154% with increased movements and decreased with a higher AVT. Additionally, loading tri-train trucks significantly influenced transportation efficiency, emphasizing the importance of optimizing the log loader’s cycle to balance costs and enhance transportation operations. Full article

Introduction: The fruit of the cashew tree, known as cashew, is accompanied by the fleshy extension of its stem, referred to as the cashew nut. Rich in phenolic compounds, such as phenolic acids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, carotenoids, polyphenols, as well as vitamins C and E, the cashew nut exhibits antioxidant properties. Objective: This systematic review investigated the effects of cashew nuts on oxidative stress in rats. Methodology: The study followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. Searches were conducted in the Medline (PubMed), EMBASE, BVS, MedRxiv, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Experimental studies with rats as the target population, evaluating the effects of cashew nut supplementation on oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymatic activities, and inflammatory markers, were included. Exclusion criteria comprised dissertations, reviews, expert opinions, duplicates, and preprints. Results: Five studies published between 2018 and 2022 were included, all utilizing cashew nut supplementation as the intervention. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in oxidative stress, an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD and catalase, and a decrease in inflammatory markers, including TNF-α and IL-1β. The most effective dose was 100 mg/kg/day, yielding consistent results across studies. Conclusion: Cashew nuts show potential for reducing oxidative stress, mitigating inflammation, and enhancing antioxidant defenses in rats. However, further clinical studies are required to better explore their benefits in humans, a field that remains less studied compared to other types of nuts. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of thermal manipulation during incubation on the hatchability, the performance, the carcass characteristics, the intestinal villi, the nutrient metabolizability, and some physiological parameters in broiler chickens. Ross eggs were randomly distributed into four commercial automatic incubators. The treatments were as follows: incubator kept at 37.5 °C throughout the incubation period (Ctrl—control), and incubator temperature increased to 39 °C on days 16, 17, and 18 of incubation for 3 (T_3h), 12 (T_12h), or 24 h (T_24h). The chicks were housed in an experimental performance barn and kept until 42 days of age under standard rearing conditions. The hatchability was lower when T_24h was used. During the time after hatching, T_3h caused higher levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in the liver, a faster breathing rate, and a drop in the cloacal temperature and hematocrit. T_12h increased the respiratory rate. T_24h decreased the hematocrit, the weight gain, and the feed intake. The thermal manipulation during incubation did not affect the carcass characteristics, intestinal villi, or metabolizability of nutrients. It was concluded that raising the incubator temperature for 3 h during late incubation may be beneficial for thermoregulation, but raising it for 24 h during this period impairs animal performance. Full article

To assess the temporal and spatial dynamics of chikungunya incidence and its association with social vulnerability indicators in Brazil, an ecological and population-based study was conducted herein, with confirmed cases of chikungunya and based on clinical and clinical–epidemiological criteria from 2017 to 2023. Data were obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System and social vulnerability indicators were extracted from the official platform of the United Nations Development Program and the Social Vulnerability Atlas. Temporal, spatial, and global spatial regression models were employed. The temporal trend showed that in 2017, the incidence increased by 1.9%, and this trend decreased from 2020 to 2021 (−0.93%). The spatial distribution showed heterogeneity and positive spatial autocorrelation (I: 0.71; p < 0.001) in chikungunya cases in Brazil. Also, the high-risk areas for the disease were concentrated in the northeast and north regions. The social vulnerability indicators associated with the outcome were those related to income, education, and housing conditions. Our analyses demonstrate that chikungunya continues to be a serious health concern in Brazil, but specially in the northeast and north regions. Lastly, mapping risk areas can provide evidence for the development of public health strategies and disease control in endemic regions. Full article

The study hypothesis proposes that the use of Trichoderma, associated with fertilization with 100% of the recommended phosphorus, may mitigate saline stress and maximize the productivity and quality of the tuberous root. This study aims to evaluate the mitigating effects of phosphate fertilization and Trichoderma harzianum in beet plants under salt stress, by measuring the initial growth, leaf gas exchange, productivity and quality of the beet. The experimental design used was entirely randomized, in a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial scheme, referring to three doses of phosphate fertilization (25%, 50% and 100%), with and without the use of Trichoderma-based inoculation, and two levels of electrical conductivity of the irrigation water (0.5 and 6.2 dS m⁻¹). Salt stress negatively affected the leaf area of the beet. The shoots’ dry mass was reduced as the electrical conductivity of the irrigation water increased, especially in the treatment with the 25% P₂O₅ dose. Salt stress reduced photosynthesis to a greater extent at the 25% P₂O₅ dose and in the absence of Trichoderma harzianum. Increasing the electrical conductivity of the irrigation water reduced transpiration and increased leaf temperature at the 25% P₂O₅ dose and in the presence of Trichoderma harzianum. The 25% P₂O₅ dose increased the stomatal conductance of the beet. The higher electrical conductivity of the irrigation water negatively affected water use efficiency, most significantly at the 25% P₂O₅ dose. Our data showed that the doses of 50% and 100% P₂O₅ were more efficient at increasing the productivity and quality of the beet, with the tuberous root diameter being higher under the lower electrical conductivity of the water and the absence of Trichoderma harzianum. The pH was high under the lowest electrical conductivity of the water, with a dose of 25% P₂O₅ and the absence of Trichoderma harzianum. Full article

Background: Strength training is a complex task, as it requires a combination of many variables. In paralympic powerlifting (PP) asymmetries for the evaluation of activation, and static force indicators have been increasingly studied. Objective: To investigate the asymmetries in the strength and muscle activation indicators, before and after a training session of PP athletes. Methodology: Twelve elite athletes from the PP participated in the study, and asymmetry was evaluated through surface electromyography (sEMG) and static strength indicators. Evaluations were made before and after a protocol of five series of five repetitions (5 × 5), with 80% of 1-Maximum Repetition (1RM). Results: In the pectoral muscles, there were differences in the non-dominant limbs between the before and after in the sEMG. There were differences in the pectoralis muscle in the non-dominant limb between moments before (110.75 ± 59.52%) and after (130.53 ± 98.48%, p < 0.001), and there was no difference in triceps activation. In the Maximum Isometric Strength (MIF), there was a difference in the non-dominant limb between before (710.36 ± 129.36) and after (620.27 ± 69.73; p < 0.030). There was a difference before in the dominant (626.89 ± 120.16; 95% CI 550.55–703.24) and non-dominant (710.36 ± 129.36; p = 0.011) limbs. There was no difference in time to MIF. Conclusion: PP athletes showed small levels of asymmetry before and after training, and adaptation to training tends to promote fewer asymmetries. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the experimental formulation containing chlamydospores of Duddingtonia flagrans and Pochonia chlamydosporia fungi, against Moniezia expansa. Two experiments were carried out. The first experiment evaluated the in vitro efficacy using 1 g of the experimental formulation (V1) added to 100 M. expansa eggs and the control (V2) (without the fungal formulation). Intact eggs or eggs with alterations were counted in order to evaluate their effectiveness. The second experiment evaluated the action of the fungal formulation on M. expansa eggs after passing through the gastrointestinal tract of goats. Three groups were identified as B1, B2, and B3, which received 1.0, 1.5 g of experimental fungal formulation, and placebo, respectively. In experiment 1, all the eggs in V1 were subjected to the predatory action of fungi, while in V2, the eggs remained intact. In experiment 2, the reduction of eggs in groups B1 and B2 were 49% and 57% 24 h after ingestion, 60% and 63% 48 h after, and 48% and 58% 72 h after. The predatory capacity against M. expansa eggs shown in the tests demonstrated that experimental fungal formulation has the potential to be used on integrated helminth control programs. Full article

Dietary supplementation with pterostilbene (PS) and/or a probiotic (PRO) may ameliorate the intestinal microbiota in disease conditions. This study aims to evaluate PS and PRO for the chemoprevention of putative precursor lesions for colorectal cancer (CRC) in an experimental model of intestinal carcinogenesis with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (1,2-DMH). Sixty male Wistar rats were equally divided into five groups: Sham, 1,2-DMH, 1,2-DMH + PS, 1,2-DMH + PRO, and 1,2-DMH + PS + PRO. PRO (5 × 10⁷/mL) was offered in water, and PS (300 ppm) was provided in the diet ad libitum. 1,2-DMH (20 mg/kg/week) was administered for 15 consecutive weeks. In the 25th week, proctocolectomy was conducted. PRO alone and PRO combined with PS were the best intervention strategies to improve experimental 1,2-DMH-induced CRC regarding several parameters of carcinogenesis. Our findings may contribute to the development of novel preventive strategies for CRC and may help to identify novel modulators of colon carcinogenesis. Full article

Discrimination and limited access to healthcare services in remote areas can affect vaccination coverage. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate vaccination coverage for children living in quilombola communities and rural settlements in the central region of Brazil during their first year of life and to analyze the factors associated with incomplete vaccination. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on children born between 2015 and 2017. The percentage of children who received all vaccines recommended by the National Immunization Program in Brazil by 11 months and 29 days was used to calculate immunization coverage. Children who received the following vaccines were considered as having a complete basic vaccination schedule: one dose of BCG; three doses of Hepatitis B, of Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DPT), of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and of Poliovirus (Polio); two doses of Rotavirus, of 10-valent pneumococcal (PCV10), and of Serogroup C meningococcal conjugate (MenC); and one dose of Yellow Fever (YF). Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and other doses recommended at or after 12 months were not included. Consolidated logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with incomplete vaccination coverage. Overall vaccination coverage was 52.8% (95% CI: 45.5–59.9%) and ranged from 70.4% for the Yellow Fever vaccine to 78.3% for the Rotavirus vaccine, with no significant differences between the quilombola and settler groups. Notably, the likelihood of incomplete general vaccination coverage was higher among children who did not receive a visit from a healthcare professional. Urgent strategies are required to achieve and ensure health equity for this unique and traditionally distinct group with low vaccination coverage. Full article

The objective of this study was to analyze the association between sociodemographic and occupational variables with the lifestyle of health professionals in pediatric units during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 407 health professionals working in four pediatric health units in the State of Bahia, northeast Brazil. The Fantastic Lifestyle Questionnaire and a questionnaire with sociodemographic and employment variables self-applied via Google Forms were used. The final binary logistic regression models revealed significant associations between those who received 3 to 5 minimum wages, without a marital relationship and with more than one employment relationship. Data suggest that these sociodemographic and occupational profiles are more exposed to risky lifestyle behaviors. The findings of this study demonstrated the need for greater attention to the health of health professionals in the pediatric field, as well as the promotion of initiatives that seek to value the work of these professionals and reduce the damage caused to their lifestyle, especially in a pandemic scenario. Full article

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a reduction in vaccination coverage of children and adolescents was observed in several countries. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the pandemic, in the first two years, on human rotavirus vaccine (HRV) coverage in Brazil compared with previous years. The number of doses of HRV administered in the period from January 2015 to December 2021 and its annual vaccination coverage were analyzed. The vaccination coverage decreased to 77.3% in 2020 and to 70.4% in 2021, substantially lower than the minimum that would be expected (89.2%); the decline was more pronounced in the second year of the pandemic despite the fact that in this period, the circulation restrictions were already less tight. Of the five Brazilian macro-regions, the northeast had the largest decline, and the south had the smallest impact on coverage. At the municipal level, less than half of the Brazilian municipalities managed to achieve vaccination coverage above 90% in either pandemic year. Although there was already a downward trend in coverage in the pre-pandemic years, the present study shows that the values recorded in 2020 and 2021 were significantly lower. Monitoring of vaccination coverage in the coming years should be carried out continuously in order to avoid a possible resurgence of rotavirus-induced diarrhea. Full article

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important public health problem, especially in areas with a low human development index such as the Amazon region. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and genotypes of HCV among people living with HIV (PLWH), both neglected chronic diseases in the Amazon region. From March 2016 to June 2017, 433 PWLH were attended to at two sexually transmitted infection referral centers in the city of Belém, in the Brazilian state of Pará in the Amazon region. All individuals were submitted to testing via the rapid immunochromatographic assay (RIA) for the qualitative detection of anti-HCV antibodies. Samples with anti-HCV antibodies were evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and samples with HCV RNA were subjected to nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Three (0.7%) PLWH had anti-HCV antibodies, and only one (0.2%) had HCV RNA (genotype 2); of these, 31 (7.1%) self-declared to have used drugs at least one time, and 12 (2.7%) regularly use injected drugs. One participant was elderly, single, heterosexual, with a history of unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners. This study detected a low prevalence of HCV infection and recorded the presence of HCV genotype 2 for the first time among PLWH in the Brazilian Amazon. Full article

Background: Paralympic powerlifting (PP) training is typically intense and causes fatigue and alterations in the immune system. Objective: To analyze whether IBU would affect performance and the immune system after training in PP. Methodology: 10 athletes at the national level (NL) and 10 at the regional level (RL) participated in the study, where force and blood indicators were evaluated after training. The study took place over three weeks: (1) familiarization and (2 and 3) comparison between recovery methods, with ibuprofen or placebo (IBU vs. PLA), 800 mg. In the evaluation of the force, the peak torque (PT), fatigue index (FI), and blood immune system biomarkers were analyzed. The training consisted of five sets of five repetitions with 80% of one maximum repetition (5 × 5, 80% 1RM) on the bench press. Results: The PT at the national level using IBU was higher than with PLA (p = 0.007, η2p = 0.347), and the FI in the NL was lower with IBU than with PLA (p = 0.002, η2p = 0.635), and when comparing the use of IBU, the NL showed less fatigue than the regional level (p = 0.004, η2p = 0.414). Leukocytes, with the use of IBU in the NL group, were greater than in the RL (p = 0.001, η2p = 0.329). Neutrophils, in the NL with IBU, were greater than in the RL with IBU and PLA (p = 0.025, η2p = 0.444). Lymphocytes, in NL with IBU were lower than in RL with IBU and PLA (p = 0.001, η2p = 0.491). Monocytes, in the NL with IBU and PLA, were lower than in the RL with IBU (p = 0.049, η2p = 0.344). For hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte, the NL with IBU and PLA were higher than the RL with IBU and PLA (p < 0.05). Ammonia, with the use of IBU in the NL, obtained values higher than in the RL (p = 0.007), and with the use of PLA, the NL was higher than the RL (p = 0.038, η2p = 0.570). Conclusion: The training level tends to influence the immune system and, combined with the use of the IBU, it tends to improve recovery and the immune system. Full article