Abstract Access to medical care is essential to achieve quality primary health care (PHC). In Brazil, access difficulties still persist. The Doctors for Brazil Program (PMpB in Portuguese) aims to expand the offer of medical services in places of difficult provision or high vulnerability. It innovates insofar as it prioritizes smaller and rather isolated cities, by selecting professionals through an isonomic process, offering them training in Family and Community Medicine and a chance to build their first federal medical career in PHC. The program offers competitive salaries, progression and financial incentives that value long-term commitment and performance. The PMpB is rolled out by the Agency for the Development of Primary Health Care (Adaps), which allows better management of public policies. The first nine months of the program showed promising results, as approximately 23,000 candidates seeking to join the program through its selection process, i.e., 97.1% vacancies were filled and retention rate after admittance was 95.4%. These results show to what extent PMpB has improved in quality compared to previous policies, as well as how essential it is to keep implementing the program so that it may reach its full PHC coverage potential within the Brazilian public health system.

Resumo O acesso ao cuidado médico é essencial para o alcance da atenção primária à saúde (APS) de qualidade. No Brasil, ainda persistem dificuldades de acesso. O Programa Médicos pelo Brasil (PMpB) pretende ampliar a oferta de serviços médicos em locais de difícil provimento ou alta vulnerabilidade. Traz como inovações a priorização das menores e mais isoladas cidades; a seleção de profissionais por processo isonômico; a formação em medicina de família e comunidade; e o fato de ser a primeira carreira médica federal na APS, com salários competitivos, progressão e incentivos financeiros que valorizam a longitudinalidade e o desempenho. O PMpB é executado pela Agência para o Desenvolvimento da Atenção Primária à Saúde (Adaps), o que permite mais eficiência na gestão da política pública. Os primeiros nove meses do programa mostram resultados promissores, com aproximadamente 23 mil médicos interessados em ingressar no programa por meio de seu processo seletivo, 97,1% de ocupação das vagas e 95,4% de permanência após o ingresso. Tais resultados sinalizam o avanço de qualidade do PMpB em relação às políticas anteriores, bem como a necessidade de continuar com sua implementação, a fim de que ela atinja todo o seu potencial de cobertura na APS do SUS.

ABSTRACT Objective: To update the recommendations to support decisions regarding the pharmacological treatment of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Brazil. Methods: Experts, including representatives of the Ministry of Health and methodologists, created this guideline. The method used for the rapid development of guidelines was based on the adoption and/or adaptation of existing international guidelines (GRADE ADOLOPMENT) and supported by the e-COVID-19 RecMap platform. The quality of the evidence and the preparation of the recommendations followed the GRADE method. Results: Twenty-one recommendations were generated, including strong recommendations for the use of corticosteroids in patients using supplemental oxygen and conditional recommendations for the use of tocilizumab and baricitinib for patients on supplemental oxygen or on noninvasive ventilation and anticoagulants to prevent thromboembolism. Due to suspension of use authorization, it was not possible to make recommendations regarding the use of casirivimab + imdevimab. Strong recommendations against the use of azithromycin in patients without suspected bacterial infection, hydroxychloroquine, convalescent plasma, colchicine, and lopinavir + ritonavir and conditional recommendations against the use of ivermectin and remdesivir were made. Conclusion: New recommendations for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were generated, such as those for tocilizumab and baricitinib. Corticosteroids and prophylaxis for thromboembolism are still recommended, the latter with conditional recommendation. Several drugs were considered ineffective and should not be used to provide the best treatment according to the principles of evidence-based medicine and to promote resource economy.

RESUMO Objetivo: Atualizar as recomendações para embasar as decisões para o tratamento farmacológico de pacientes hospitalizados com COVID-19 no Brasil. Métodos: A elaboração desta diretriz foi feita por especialistas, incluindo representantes do Ministério da Saúde e metodologistas. O método utilizado para o desenvolvimento rápido de diretrizes baseou-se na adoção e/ou adaptação de diretrizes internacionais existentes (GRADE ADOLOPMENT) e contou com o apoio da plataforma e-COVID-19 RecMap. A qualidade das evidências e a elaboração das recomendações seguiram o método GRADE. Resultados: Chegaram-se a 21 recomendações, incluindo recomendações fortes quanto ao uso de corticosteroides em pacientes em uso de oxigênio suplementar e recomendações condicionais para o uso de tocilizumabe e baricitinibe, em pacientes com oxigênio suplementar ou ventilação não invasiva, e de anticoagulantes, para prevenção de tromboembolismo. Devido à suspensão da autorização de uso, não foi possível fazer recomendações para o tratamento com casirivimabe + imdevimabe. Foram feitas recomendações fortes contra o uso de azitromicina em pacientes sem suspeita de infecção bacteriana, hidroxicloroquina, plasma convalescente, colchicina e lopinavir + ritonavir, além de recomendações condicionais contra o uso de ivermectina e rendesivir. Conclusão: Foram criadas novas recomendações para o tratamento de pacientes hospitalizados com COVID-19, como as recomendações de tocilizumabe e baricitinibe. Ainda são recomendados corticosteroides e profilaxia contra tromboembolismo, esta em caráter condicional. Vários medicamentos foram considerados ineficazes e não devem ser usados, no intuito de proporcionar o melhor tratamento segundo os princípios da medicina baseada em evidências e promover a economia de recursos.

ABSTRACT This study was developed to carry out selection, estimate genetic parameters and predict individual genetic values of 55 genotypes from S2 families as well as estimate genetic dissimilarity based on physiological seed attributes. All S2 genotypes evaluated were obtained from self-pollination of S1 genotypes from the guava breeding program. The experiment was laid out in blocks with 55 S2 genotypes and four blocks. Genetic parameters were estimated and the best genotypes were selected based on the genetic value, using the statistical method of mixed models. In addition, genetic divergence was estimated based on the mean Euclidean distance. Although heritability values were considered medium to high magnitude for germination (0.22) and germination speed index (0.35), genetic gains were obtained for all traits. Based on the evaluation of individual BLUPs, the S2 genotypes that contributed to most of the evaluated traits were: 5, 31, 85, 214, 369, 393, 398, 442, 443, 444, 449 and 529, suggesting potential to generate vigorous. Through genetic dissimilarity, it was possible to verify the formation of five distinct groups. Therefore, the selection of divergent genotypes with high average for germination is recommended for the advancement of generation in the guava breeding plant.

Diethylene glycol is an extremely toxic substance to humans. Recently, cases of beer contamination in Brazil have raised awareness of the need for developing simple screening methods to evaluate this type of compound. This research developed a liquid-liquid extraction with low-temperature partitioning technique to determine diethylene glycol in beer via gas chromatography. Employing a flame-ionization detector simplifies the method, lowers its cost and therefore, it can be used as screening step to assess the possibility of contamination. A gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer would be used only for a confirmatory analysis. The optimized method was validated for the main figures of merit, and it proved to be adequate, with good values of recovery rate (94-106%), limit of detection (3.0 mg L-1), and quantification (10.0 mg L-1). Accuracy, in terms of repeatability and intermediate accuracy, showed variation coefficients lower than or equal to 20%. This method was applied to 28 samples of beers marketed in Brazil, and diethylene glycol was found above the limit of detection in three of them (10.7%). These results were confirmed by a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer, which showed the reliability of the screening method for determining diethylene glycol in beer samples.

Abstract Objective We evaluated internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and criterion validity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Female Sexual Function Index 6-item Version (FSFI-6) for postpartum women. Methods Therefore, questionnaires were applied to 100 sexually active women in the postpartum period. The Cronbach α coefficient was used to evaluate the internal consistency. Test-retest reliability was analyzed by Kappa for each item of the questionnaire and by the Wilcoxon parametric test, comparing the total scores of each evaluation. For the assessment of criterion validity, the FSFI was used as the gold standard and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). It was found that the internal consistency of the FSFI-6 questionnaire was considerably high (0.839). Results The test-retest reliability results were satisfactory. It can also be stated that the FSFI-6 questionnaire presented excellent discriminant validity (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.926). Women may be considered as having sexual dysfunction if the overall FSFI-6 score is < 21, with 85.5% sensitivity, 82.2% specificity, positive likelihood ratio of 4.81 and negative likelihood ratio of 0.18. Conclusion We conclude that the Brazilian Portuguese version of FSFI-6 is valid for use in postpartum women.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliamos a consistência interna, a confiabilidade teste-reteste e a validade de critério do questionário FSFI-6 para a população brasileira no pós-parto. Métodos Foram aplicados questionários em 100 mulheres sexualmente ativas no pós-parto. O coeficiente alfa de Cronbach foi utilizado para avaliar a consistência interna. A confiabilidade teste-reteste foi analisada pelo Kappa para cada item do questionário e pelo teste paramétrico de Wilcoxon, comparando-se os escores totais de cada avaliação. Para avaliar a validade de critério, o FSFI foi utilizado como padrão-ouro e a curva característica de operação de receptor (ROC, na sigla em inglês) foi construída. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas utilizando-se o software IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, versão 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Resultados Os resultados da confiabilidade teste-reteste foram satisfatórios. O FSFI-6 apresentou uma excelente validade discriminante (área sob a curva [AUC, na sigla em inglês] = 0,926). Considera-se presente a disfunção sexual se o escore geral do FSFI-6 for < 21, com sensibilidade de 85,5%, especificidade de 82,2%, razão de verossimilhança positiva de 4,81 e razão de verossimilhança negativa de 0,18. Conclusão Concluímos que a versão em português do FSFI-6 se mostrou válida para uso em mulheres no pós-parto.

Access to medical care is essential for achieving quality Primary Health Care (PHC). In Brazil, access difficulties persist. The Doctors for Brazil Program (PMpB in Portuguese) intends to expand the offer of medical services in places of difficult provision or high vulnerability. It brings as innovations the prioritization of smaller and more isolated cities; the selection of professionals through an isonomic process; training in Family Practice and; the first federal medical career in the PHC, with competitive salaries, progression and financial incentives that value longitudinality and performance. The PMpB is executed by the Agency for the Development of Primary Health Care (Adaps), which allows for more efficient management. The first nine months of the program show promising results, with approximately 23,000 physicians interested in joining the program through its selection process, 97,1% of occupying vacancies and 95,4% of retention. Such results indicate an improvement in the quality of the PMpB in relation to previous policies, as well as the need to continue with its implementation, so that it reaches its full potential of coverage in the PHC of the public health system.

O acesso ao cuidado médico é essencial para o alcance da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) de qualidade. No Brasil, ainda persistem dificuldades de acesso. O Programa Médicos pelo Brasil (PMpB) pretende ampliar a oferta de serviços médicos em locais de difícil provimento ou alta vulnerabilidade. Ele traz como inovações a priorização das menores e mais isoladas cidades; a seleção de profissionais por processo isonômico; a formação em Medicina de Família e Comunidade e; a primeira carreira médica federal na APS, com salários competitivos, progressão e incentivos financeiros que valorizam a longitudinalidade e o desempenho. O PMpB é executado pela Agência para o Desenvolvimento da Atenção Primária à Saúde (Adaps), o que permite mais eficiência na gestão da política pública. Os primeiros nove meses do programa mostram resultados promissores, com aproximadamente 23 mil médicos interessados em ingressar no programa através de seu processo seletivo, 97,1% de ocupação das vagas e 95,4 % de permanência após o ingresso. Tais resultados sinalizam o avanço de qualidade do PMpB em relação às políticas anteriores, bem como a necessidade de continuar com sua implementação, a fim de que ela atinja todo o seu potencial de cobertura na APS do SUS.

Abstract Access to medical care is essential to achieve quality primary health care (PHC). In Brazil, access difficulties still persist. The Doctors for Brazil Program (PMpB in Portuguese) aims to expand the offer of medical services in places of difficult provision or high vulnerability. It innovates insofar as it prioritizes smaller and rather isolated cities, by selecting professionals through an isonomic process, offering them training in Family and Community Medicine and a chance to build their first federal medical career in PHC. The program offers competitive salaries, progression and financial incentives that value long-term commitment and performance. The PMpB is rolled out by the Agency for the Development of Primary Health Care (Adaps), which allows better management of public policies. The first nine months of the program showed promising results, as approximately 23,000 candidates seeking to join the program through its selection process, i.e., 97.1% vacancies were filled and retention rate after admittance was 95.4%. These results show to what extent PMpB has improved in quality compared to previous policies, as well as how essential it is to keep implementing the program so that it may reach its full PHC coverage potential within the Brazilian public health system.

Resumo O acesso ao cuidado médico é essencial para o alcance da atenção primária à saúde (APS) de qualidade. No Brasil, ainda persistem dificuldades de acesso. O Programa Médicos pelo Brasil (PMpB) pretende ampliar a oferta de serviços médicos em locais de difícil provimento ou alta vulnerabilidade. Traz como inovações a priorização das menores e mais isoladas cidades; a seleção de profissionais por processo isonômico; a formação em medicina de família e comunidade; e o fato de ser a primeira carreira médica federal na APS, com salários competitivos, progressão e incentivos financeiros que valorizam a longitudinalidade e o desempenho. O PMpB é executado pela Agência para o Desenvolvimento da Atenção Primária à Saúde (Adaps), o que permite mais eficiência na gestão da política pública. Os primeiros nove meses do programa mostram resultados promissores, com aproximadamente 23 mil médicos interessados em ingressar no programa por meio de seu processo seletivo, 97,1% de ocupação das vagas e 95,4% de permanência após o ingresso. Tais resultados sinalizam o avanço de qualidade do PMpB em relação às políticas anteriores, bem como a necessidade de continuar com sua implementação, a fim de que ela atinja todo o seu potencial de cobertura na APS do SUS.

Resumen El Xantosoma riedelianum, también llamado “mangarito” en Brasil, es una planta alimenticia no convencional (PANC) de la familia Araceae, nativa de América tropical. Se tomaron muestras de hojas de X. riedelianum con sintomas de mosaico, moteado y aclaramiento de venas en el municipio de Monte Alegre (Estado de São Paulo). Se realizó observaciones bajo un microscopio electrónico de transmisión, transmisión mecánica a plantas indicadoras, análisis serológicos (DAS-ELISA) y de RT-PCR indicando que los síntomas podrían estar relacionados con la presencia del virus de mosaico dasheen (DsMV, Potyvirus). Este es el primer reporte de DsMV en X. riedelianum en Brasil.

Abstract Xantosoma riedelianum, also called “mangarito” in Brazil, is an unconventional food plant (UFP) of the Araceae family native to tropical America. Foliar samples of the X. riedelianum showing mosaic, mottle and vein clearing symptoms were collected in the municipality of Monte Alegre (São Paulo State). Transmission electron microscope observations, mechanical transmission to experimental plants, serological (DAS-ELISA) and RT-PCR analyzes indicated that the symptoms could be associated with the presence of dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV, Potyvirus). This is the first report of DsMV in X. riedelianum in Brazil.

Abstract The motivation of this work is to investigate two technological AI paths, evaluate the performance, and discuss the results. Using a covid-19 chest X-ray images databank, we address the two distinct experiments to this problem: (1) an investigation of feature extraction and classification using machine learning algorithms and (2) an approach based on transfer learning used in state-of-the-art applications. For the implementation of our proposal (1), an integrated framework consisting of 25 algorithms with different characteristics was developed to extract features from chest X-ray images. Following this path, we seek to focus on the spatial spectral signatures of shape, texture, local and global statistical quantities. The extraction of features based on information in Fourier and wavelet space-frequency domain was also implemented as part of the framework. On the other hand, several transfer learning CNN’s were also used to evaluate performance and to compere to the first technological path results. Furthermore, the performance of other results reported by various other works are provided. The comparative performance evaluation demonstrated that the two concepts for a computational intelligence tool can produce very good results even working in high-dimensional vector spaces.

Abstract Gliomas comprise the vast majority of all malignant brain tumors. Low-grade glioma patients with combined whole-arm losses of 1p and 19q chromosomes were shown to have significantly better overall survival rates compared to non-deleted patients. This work evaluates several approaches for assessment of 1p/19q status from T2-weighted magnetic resonance images, using radiomics and machine learning. Experiments were performed using images from a public database (102 codeleted, 57 non-deleted). We experimented with sets of 68 and 100 radiomic features, and with several classifiers, including support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, stochastic gradient descent, logistic regression, decision tree, Gaussian naive Bayes, and linear discriminant analysis. We also experimented with several ensemble-based methods, including four boosting-based classifiers, random forest, extra-trees, and bagging. The performance of these methods was compared using various metrics. Our best results were achieved using a bagging ensemble estimator based on the decision tree classifier, using only texture-based radiomics features. Compared to other works that used the same database, this approach provided higher sensitivity. It also achieved higher sensitivity than that provided by neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists analyzing the same images. We also show that including radiomic features associated with first order statistics and shape does not improve the performance of the classifiers, and in many cases worsens it. The molecular assessment of brain tumors through biopsies is an invasive procedure, and is subject to sampling errors. Therefore, the techniques presented in this work have strong potential for aiding in better clinical, surgical, and therapeutic decision-making.

Abstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated a high risk of arterial and venous thromboembolic events as a consequence of direct viral damage to endothelial cells by SARS-CoV-2 and a procoagulant milieu due to increased biomarkers, such as D-dimer, fibrinogen, and factor VIII. Although randomized controlled trials of antithrombotic therapies have been conducted in hospitalized patients, few have evaluated the role of thromboprophylaxis in an outpatient setting. Objective To assess whether antithrombotic prophylaxis with rivaroxaban reduces the risk of venous or arterial thrombotic events, invasive ventilatory support, and death in COVID-19 outpatients. Methods The COVID Antithrombotic Rivaroxaban Evaluation (CARE) study, a multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled trial of rivaroxaban 10 mg once daily for 14 days or local standard treatment alone to prevent adverse outcomes, is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04757857). The inclusion criteria are adults with confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection and mild or moderate symptoms without indication for hospitalization, within 7 days of symptom onset, and 1 risk factor for COVID-19 complication (> 65 years, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other chronic lung diseases, smoking, immunosuppression, or obesity). The primary composite endpoint, which includes venous thromboembolism, invasive mechanical ventilation, major acute cardiovascular events, and mortality within 30 days of randomization, will be assessed according to the intention-to-treat principle. All patients will provide informed consent. A significance level of 5% will be used for all statistical tests. Results Major thrombotic and bleeding outcomes, hospitalizations, and deaths will be centrally adjudicated by an independent clinical events committee blinded to the assigned treatment groups. Conclusion The CARE study will provide relevant and contemporary information about the potential role of thromboprophylaxis in outpatients with COVID-19.

Resumo Fundamento Estudos anteriores revelaram alto risco de eventos tromboembólicos arteriais e venosos como consequência de danos virais diretos do SARS-CoV-2 em células endoteliais e um meio procoagulante devido ao aumento de biomarcadores como o D-dímero, fibrinogênio, fator VIII. Foram realizados ensaios controlados randomizados de terapias antitrombóticas em pacientes internados, no entanto, poucos estudos avaliaram o papel da tromboprofilaxia no ambiente ambulatorial. Objetivo Avaliar se a profilaxia antitrombótica com rivaroxabana reduz o risco de eventos trombóticos venosos ou arteriais, suporte ventilatório invasivo e morte em pacientes ambulatoriais com COVID-19. Métodos O estudo CARE é um ensaio randomizado, aberto, multicêntrico e controlado por rivaroxabana 10 mg uma vez por dia durante 14 dias ou tratamento local padrão isolado, para a prevenção de resultados adversos, registrado no Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04757857). Os critérios de inclusão são adultos com infecção confirmada ou suspeita do SARS-CoV-2, com sintomas leves ou moderados, sem indicação de hospitalização, no prazo de 7 dias após o início dos sintomas e um fator de risco de complicação da COVID-19 (>65 anos, hipertensão, diabetes, asma, doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica ou outras doenças pulmonares crônicas, tabagismo, imunossupressão ou obesidade). O desfecho primário composto inclui tromboembolismo venoso, necessidade de ventilação mecânica invasiva, eventos cardiovasculares agudos maiores e mortalidade no prazo de 30 dias após a randomização, sendo avaliado segundo o princípio da intenção de tratar. Todos os pacientes assinaram termo de consentimento. Foi estabelecido um nível de significância de 5% para todos os testes estatísticos. Resultados Os principais desfechos trombóticos e hemorrágicos, hospitalizações e mortes serão avaliados centralmente por um comitê de eventos clínicos independente, sob a condição cega para a alocação dos grupos de tratamento. Conclusão O estudo CARE fornecerá informação relevante e contemporânea sobre o possível papel da tromboprofilaxia em pacientes ambulatoriais com COVID-19.

Abstract Background: Previous systematic reviews have identified no benefit of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. After publication of these reviews, the results of COPE, the largest randomized trial conducted to date, became available. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to synthesize the evidence on the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to placebo or standard of care. Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov complemented by manual search. Pairwise meta-analyses, risk of bias, and evidence certainty assessments were conducted, including optimal information size analysis (OIS). A level of significance of 0.05 was adopted in the meta-analysis. PROSPERO: CRD42021265427. Results: Eight RCTs with 3,219 participants were included. COVID-19 hospitalization and any adverse events rates were not significantly different between hydroxychloroquine (5.6% and 35.1%) and control (7.4% and 20.4%) (risk ratio, RR, 0.77, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.57-1.04, I2: 0%; RR 1.78, 95%-CI 0.90; 3.52, I2: 93%, respectively). The OIS (7,880) was not reached for COVID-19 hospitalization, independently of the simulation for anticipated event rate and RR reduction estimate. Conclusion: Evidence of very low certainty showed lack of benefit with hydroxychloroquine in preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations. Despite being the systematic review with the largest number of participants included, the OIS, considering pre-vaccination response to infection, has not yet been reached.

Resumo Fundamento: Revisões sistemáticas anteriores não identificaram benefício do uso da hidroxicloroquina ou da cloroquina em pacientes com COVID-19 não hospitalizados. Após a publicação dessas revisões, os resultados do COPE, o maior ensaio clínico randomizado até hoje, tornaram-se disponíveis. Objetivos: Conduzir uma revisão sistemática e metanálise de ensaios clínicos randomizados (ECRs) para sintetizar as evidências sobre a eficácia e a segurança da hidroxicloroquina e da cloroquina em pacientes com COVID-19 não hospitalizados em comparação a controle ou tratamento padrão. Métodos: As buscas foram conduzidas nos bancos de dados PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library e ClinicalTrials.gov, e complementadas por busca manual. Foram realizadas metanálises diretas e avaliações de risco de viés e certeza da evidência, incluindo análise do tamanho ótimo da informação (OIS, optimal information size). Um nível de significância de 0,05 foi adotado na metanálise. PROSPERO: CRD42021265427. Resultados: Oito ECRs com 3219 participantes foram incluídos. As taxas de internação por COVID-19 e de eventos adversos não foram significativamente diferentes entre hidroxicloroquina (5,6% e 5,1%) e controle (7,4% e 20,4%) [risco relativo (RR) 0,77, intervalo de confiança 95% (IC95%), 0,57-1,04, I2: 0%; RR 1,78, IC95% 0,90; 3,52, I2: 93%, respectivamente)]. O OIS (7880) não foi alcançado para hospitalização por COVID-19, independentemente da simulação para a taxa de evento e redução do RR estimados. Conclusão: A evidência de muito baixa qualidade indicou falta de benefício com hidroxicloroquina em prevenir internações por COVID-19. Apesar de ser a revisão sistemática com o maior número de participantes incluídos, o OIS, considerando a resposta à infecção anterior à vacinação, não foi atingido.

ABSTRACT. The evaluation of the carcass composition of livestock generates relevant information on the quality and final yield of the meat products. The objective of this work was to evaluate correlations the ultrasound measurements in vivo of the Longissimus lumborum with the physical-chemical components of one-year-old Santa Ines sheep bred in extensive systems. The ultrasound evaluation was performed of the rib eye area (USrea), loin depth (USld), loin width (USlw) and subcutaneous fat thickness (USsft). After slaughter, meat cuts were weighed and carcass yield was calculated. The 12th rib on the left side was separated from the carcass and dissected, after which individual bones, muscles and fat were separated and weighed. The components were regrouped, ground and collected for centesimal evaluation. Significant positive correlations (p < 0.05) were found between the ultrasound measurements and meat metrics, except for the loin length, which had low correlation. Significant correlations (p < 0.05) were found between muscles and the measurements of USld, USrea and USsft. The correlations (p < 0.05) between the bones and USld and USrea were negative and significant. USsft presented correlation (p < 0.05) with carcass yield. Thus, the ultrasound measurements associated with the Longissimus lumborum could constitute a valuable tool for evaluating the physical-chemical components and carcass of one-year-old Santa Inês sheep created in extensive systems.

ABSTRACT The study aimed to assess the effect of progressive neutralization on the antimicrobial properties against bacteria and yeasts of wood vinegar obtained from the pyrolysis of Eucalyptus urograndis (clone I144) wood. Wood samples were carbonized at a heating rate of 0.9 °C min-1 until a final temperature of 450 °C, totalizing 8 hours of carbonization. The raw pyrolysis liquids were left to settle, and the aqueous fraction was separated. Then, the aqueous fraction (raw wood vinegar - WV) was purified to yield the WV. WV samples were collected and neutralized from pH 2.5 until 7.5 (2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, and 7.5, by adding NaOH solution. Through the broth microdilution method, the antimicrobial effect of the neutralized samples at each pH was assessed on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Salmonella enteritidis (ATCC 13076), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus agalactiae (CEPA CLINICA), and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal (and fungicidal) concentrations were determined through in vitro technics. Results were subjected to logarithmic regression analysis, and statistical models were fitted for each microorganism in the assessed pH range; as pH increased, a progressive decrease in the CIM increased, demanding higher concentrations of WV to inhibit microbial growth. The more resistant strains were S. aureus and S. agalactiae, which required an increase in WV concentration from a minimum of 6.25% at pH 2.5 to reaching 50% at pH 6.0. When at pH 7.0, both strains were not inhibited even at 50% (the highest concentration evaluated in the study). In contrast, C. albicans proved to be the most sensitive strain, starting from 3.12% EP at pH 2.5 and requiring only 25% for inhibition at pH 7.0. The behavior of P. aeruginosa and S. enteritidis followed the pattern of C. albicans, differing only at pH 7.0, where they required 50% of EP. As observed, even at neutral and slightly alkaline pH, the inhibitory activity of EP on microbial growth was maintained to some extent. Nevertheless, even when neutral and slightly alkaline pH values are reached, the inhibitory activity remains at a certain level. Higher pH values of the WV were associated with lower antimicrobial activity. However, its activity remained even at neutral and slightly alkaline pH values.

RESUMO O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da neutralização progressiva na atividade antimicrobiana do extrato pirolenhoso (EP) da madeira do híbrido Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis (clone I144). Amostras de madeira foram carbonizadas a uma taxa de aquecimento de 0.9 °C min-1 até a temperatura final de 450 °C, perfazendo 8 horas de carbonização. Os líquidos brutos da carbonização foram deixados em repouso e a fração aquosa foi separada. A fração aquosa correspondente ao EP bruto foi destilada obtendo o EP purificado. Alíquotas de EP purificado foram progressivamente neutralizadas do pH 2.5 até 7.5, respectivamente, 2,5, 3,0, 3,5, 4,0, 4,5, 5,0, 5,5, 6,0, 6,5, 7,0, e 7,5, por meio da adição de NaOH. Com o método da micro-diluição em caldo, o efeito antimicrobiano das amostras neutralizadas em cada pH foi avaliado contra Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Salmonella enteritidis (ATCC 13076), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus agalactiae (CEPA CLINICA) e Candida albicans (ATCC 10231). As concentrações inibitórias mínimas e as concentrações bactericida e fungicida mínimas foram determinadas por técnicas in vitro. Os resultados foram analisados por regressão logarítmica e modelos estatísticos foram ajustados para cada microrganismo em cada pH. Na determinação da CIM, foi detectada uma perda progressiva da atividade antimicrobiana do EP com a neutralização, exigindo, conforme o pH caminhava para 7.0, concentrações mais elevadas de EP para resultar em inibição. As cepas que demonstraram maior resistência foram S. aureus e S. agalactiae. Esses microrganismos partiram da exigência de concentrações de 6.25% de EP, em pH inicial (2.5), e chegaram a requerer 50% em pH 6.0. Quando em pH 7.0, ambas as cepas não foram inibidas nem a 50% (maior concentração avaliada no estudo). Em contrapartida, C. albicans se mostrou a cepa mais sensível, partindo de 3.12% de EP, em pH de 2.5, e exigindo apenas 25% para inibição em pH 7.0. O comportamento de P. aeruginosa e S. enteritidis acompanhou o padrão da C. albicans, diferenciando-se apenas em pH 7.0, onde exigiram 50% de EP. Como observado, mesmo em pH neutro e ligeiramente alcalino, a atividade inibitória do EP ao crescimento microbiano se manteve em certa extensão.

Abstract Ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) is commonly related to acute kidney injury (AKI) and oxidative stress. Antioxidant agents are used to treat this condition. Lippia sidoides is a brazillian shrub with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Lippia sidoides ethanolic extract (LSEE) on in vivo and in vitro models of AKI induced by I/R. Male Wistar rats were submitted to unilateral nephrectomy and ischemia on contralateral kidney for 60 min via clamping followed by reperfusion for 48 h. They were divided into four groups: Sham, LSEE (sham-operated rats pre-treated with LSEE), I/R (rats submitted to ischemia) and I/R-LSEE (rats treated with LSEE before ischemia). Kidney tissues homogenates were used to determine stress parameters and nephrin expression. Plasma and urine samples were collected for biochemical analysis. I/R in vitro assays were evaluated by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry assays in Rhesus Monkey Kidney Epithelial Cells (LLC-MK2). The LSEE treatment prevented biochemical and nephrin expression alterations, as well as oxidative stress parameters. In the in vitro assay, LSEE protected against cell death, reduced the reactive oxygen species and increased mitochondrial transmembrane potential. LSEE showed biotechnological potential for a new phytomedicine as a nephroprotective agent.