Abstract Advancements in assisted reproduction (AR) methodologies have allowed significant improvements in live birth rates of women who otherwise would not be able to conceive. One of the tools that allowed this improvement is the possibility of embryo selection based on genetic status, performed via preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). Even though the widespread use of PGT from TE biopsy helped to decrease the interval from the beginning of the AR intervention to pregnancy, especially in older patients, in AR, there are still many concerns about the application of this invasive methodology in all cycles. Therefore, recently, researchers started to study the use of cell free DNA (cfDNA) released by the blastocyst in its culture medium to perform PGT, in a method called non-invasive PGT (niPGT). The development of a niPGT would bring the diagnostics power of conventional PGT, but with the advantage of being potentially less harmful to the embryo. Its implementation in clinical practice, however, is under heavy discussion since there are many unknowns about the technique, such as the origin of the cfDNA or if this genetic material is a true representative of the actual ploidy status of the embryo. Available data indicates that there is high correspondence between results observed in TE biopsies and the ones observed from cfDNA, but these results are still contradictory and highly debatable. In the present review, the advantages and disadvantages of niPGT are presented and discussed in relation to tradition TE biopsy-based PGT. Furthermore, there are also presented some other possible non-invasive tools that could be applied in the selection of the best embryo, such as quantification of other molecules as quality biomarkers, or the use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify the best embryos based on morphological and/or morphokitetic parameters.

This work presents the first results of the plasma nitriding study performed in pure niobium in order to increase its cavitation erosion resistance. Samples were prepared from 98.9% purity and 90% reduction cold-rolled niobium bars. Annealing treatment of the cold-worked niobium samples was carried out in vacuum furnace at 1.33 Pa pressure, in the temperature of 1000 °C, for a time of 60 min. Annealed samples showing hardness of 80 HV were cut to dimensions of 20 × 30 × 4 mm3. Nitriding treatment was conducted at 1080 °C, gas mixture of 90% N2 + 10% H2, flow rate of 5 × 10–6 Nm3s–1, and pressure of 1200 Pa (9 Torr), for a total time of 4 h comprised by two treatment steps of 2 h each. For comparison purpose, results for nitrided and non-nitrided niobium are confronted. Samples were characterized by XRD, nanoindentation, microhardness, SEM, and 2D surface topography and 3D interferometry profile analysis techniques. Cavitation testing was conducted according to ASTM G32-09. Comparatively, promising results based on the formation of niobium nitride phases in treated surfaces are presented and discussed in the present work.

CONTEXTO: Anualmente, milhões de pessoas são vítimas de trauma no mundo. Além de suas consequências sociais e econômicas, muitos dos pacientes necessitam de tratamento cirúrgico, gerando, portanto, maiores riscos à vida. O tromboembolismo venoso, consequência da trombose venosa profunda, é uma importante causa de morbimortalidade em pós-operatórios e pode ser evitado com profilaxia adequada. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a utilização da profilaxia medicamentosa para trombose venosa profunda em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia do trauma de emergência, em um hospital-escola. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal analítico, com 153 pacientes internados no Hospital Universitário Cajuru, em Curitiba, no Paraná, durante dois meses. Foram analisados prospectivamente prontuários de pacientes que necessitaram de cirurgia devido a trauma. O estudo incluiu pacientes classificados como alto e médio risco para trombose venosa profunda e avaliou-se a realização, ou não, da profilaxia medicamentosa. A análise estatística foi feita de forma descritiva. RESULTADOS: Dos 153 pacientes incluídos no estudo, 99 (64,7%) foram classificados como alto risco para trombose venosa e 54 (35,3%) como médio, sendo que 144 (94%) não receberam profilaxia medicamentosa. Dos nove (6%) pacientes que receberam profilaxia medicamentosa, um foi estratificado como médio risco e os outros oito de alto risco. Dos pacientes que receberam profilaxia, em apenas quatro a orientação foi adequada. CONCLUSÕES: A profilaxia para trombose venosa não é realizada de maneira rotineira nos pacientes de médio e alto risco para trombose venosa profunda que são submetidos à cirurgia do trauma e, quando realizada, muitas vezes é inadequada.

BACKGROUND: Annually, millions of people are victims of trauma around the world. Besides the social and economic consequences caused by it, many of these patients need surgical treatment, thus generating greater risk to life. Venous thromboembolism, a consequence of deep vein thrombosis, represents a major cause of the morbidity and mortality in postoperative state, and it could be avoided with adequate prophylaxis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of chemoprophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis, in patients undergoing emergency trauma surgery in a teaching hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted with 153 patients admitted to Cajuru University Hospital, in Curitiba, Paraná, in a two-month period. Records of patients who required surgery due to trauma were prospectively analyzed. The study included those classified as high and medium risk for deep vein thrombosis. Then, it was identified whether or not the drug prophylaxis was used. A statistical analysis was descriptively performed. RESULTS: Of the 153 patients included, 99 (64.7%) were classified as high risk for deep vein thrombosis and 54 (35.3%) as medium risk. Of the total, 144 (94%) did not receive prophylaxis and nine (6%) did. On those who received prophylaxis, only four patients received the adequate. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylaxis of venous thrombosis disease is not performed routinely in patients of medium and high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, who underwent trauma surgery. And, when performed, it is often inappropriate.

Com a finalidade de estudar as características da carcaça, nove animais Gir, nove Guzerá, nove Nelore e nove Mocho-Tabapuã não-castrados, com idade média de 24 meses e pesos vivos médios iniciais de 357,6; 362,0; 368,6; e 376,4 kg, respectivamente, foram usados neste estudo. Em cada raça, os animais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em baias individuais, recebendo ração contendo 50% de concentrado na matéria seca à vontade e divididos em três pesos de abate (categorias 405, 450 e 500 kg PV). No abate, determinou-se o peso de corpo vazio. Não houve diferenças entre raças ou pesos de abate para as variáveis estudadas, exceto para rendimento de alcatra completa. Para esta característica, houve efeito de interação entre raça e categoria, sendo que o rendimento decresceu em animais Gir com a elevação do peso de abate, o que não ocorreu nas demais raças. Não houve diferenças entre as raças com relação à composição física. O peso de abate não influenciou a composição física da carcaça e a área de olho de lombo, mas influiu no comprimento de carcaça e na espessura de gordura.

With the aim to study carcass traits, nine Gyr, nine Guzera, nine Nellore and nine Mocho Tabapuã bulls, averaging, respectively, 357.6, 362.0, 368.6, and 376.4 kg of initial live weight and 24 months of age were used in this study. The animals from each breed were randomly assigned to individual pens and were full fed a diet containing 50% concentrate, dry matter basis, until the slaughter weights (405, 450 and 500 kg LW). At slaughter the empty body weight was determined. There were no differences among breeds or slaughter weights on the traits studied, except for whole "alcatra" cut yield. For this trait there was a interaction effect between breed and category. The yield decreased in Gyr breed, as slaughter weight increased, but did not change in the other breeds. There were no differences among breeds regarding to any one of the physical composition. Slaughter weight did not influence carcass physical composition and loin eye area, however affected the carcass length and back fat thickness.