Islet transplantation represents a therapeutic option for type 1 diabetes (T1D). Long-term viability of transplanted islets requires improvement. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been proposed as adjuvants for islet transplantation facilitating grafting and functionality. Stem cell aggregation provides physiological interactions between cells and enhances the in situ concentration of modulators of inflammation and immunity. We established a hanging-drop culture of adult human skin fibroblast-like cells as spheroids, and skin spheroid-derived cells (SphCs) were characterized. We assessed the potential of SphCs in improving islet functionality by cotransplantation with a marginal mass of allogeneic islets in an experimental diabetic mouse model and characterized the secretome of SphCs by mass spectrometry-based proteomics. SphCs were characterized as multipotent progenitors and their coculture with anti-CD3 stimulated mouse splenocytes decreased CD4+ T cell proliferation with skewed cytokine secretion through an increase in the Th2/Th1 ratio profile. SphCs-conditioned media attenuated apoptosis of islets induced by cytokine challenge in vitro and importantly, intratesticular SphCs administration did not show tumorigenicity in immune-deficient mice. Moreover, SphCs improved glycemic control when cotransplanted with a marginal mass of allogeneic islets in a diabetic mouse model without pharmacological immunosuppression. SphCs' protein secretome differed from its paired skin fibroblast-like counterpart in containing 70% of up- and downregulated proteins and biological processes that overall positively influenced islets such as cytoprotection, cellular stress, metabolism, and survival. In summary, SphCs improved the performance of transplanted allogeneic islets in an experimental T1D model, without pharmacological immunosuppression. Future research is warranted to identify SphCs-secreted factors responsible for islets' endurance.

The vascular network expansion and functioning are important factors affecting normal intra-uterine fetal development. This study addressed the previously reported antiangiogenic potential of beta-2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) in vivo in the chick embryo model of angiogenesis. The effects of two naturally occurring β2GPI forms on the development of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) vessels and the chicken embryo were investigated. β2GPI monomers and dimers were obtained by fractioned purification and characterized using SDS-PAGE, immunoblot, and ELISA. The egg exposure was performed by injection of small volumes of 2.5 µg/mL solutions of the β2GPI subfractions. Angiogenesis was evaluated through quantitative measurements of vascular architecture parameters in the captured CAM images, using computational analysis of texture contrasts and computer vision techniques. Quantitative information was assigned to the CAM vasculature modifications. In vivo, the β2GPI dimer completely halted the formation of CAM vessels and led to embryo death after 48 h of exposure. The β2GPI monomer allowed the embryo to develop up to the 10th day, despite early changes of CAM vessels. The impaired normal vessel growth proceeded as a self-limited effect. The β2GPI monomer-exposed eggs showed reduced vascularization on the 6th day of incubation, but embryos were viable on the 10th day of incubation, with ingurgitated CAM vessels implying sequelae of the angiogenesis inhibition. Both subfractions impaired CAM vasculature development. The β2GPI dimer proved to be largely more harmful than the β2GPI monomer. β2GPI modification by cleavage or dimerization may play a role in angiogenesis control in vivo.

Risk factors that determine the severity of Covid-19 have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of coronary artery calcification (CAC) as a risk factor for death or mechanical ventilation (MV) of patients without known heart disease infected with Covid-19. We analyzed 283 consecutive in-patients with acute respiratory symptoms with chest computed tomography (chest-CT), without previous heart disease, and criteria for Covid-19 (RT-PCR positive and/or typical clinical and chest-CT findings). CAC was classified by the number of coronary segments affected as absent (0), mild (1-3), and severe calcification (more than 3). The association between CAC, CAC severity, and death or MV due to severe respiratory failure was assessed by logistic regression. The mean age was 58.7±15.7 years and 54.1% were men. Patients with CAC were older, more likely to have hypertension, and less likely to be obese. CAC was present in 75 patients (26.5%), of which 42 had a mild calcification and 33 had severe calcification, and was associated with death (OR=2.35, 95%CI: 1.01-5.48) or MV (OR=2.72, 95%CI: 1.20-6.20) adjusted for multiple confounders, with significant and increased odds ratio for the severe form of CAC (death: OR=3.70, 95%CI: 1.20-11.42; MV: OR=3.30, 95%CI: 1.09-9.95). We concluded that CAC was an independent risk factor for death or MV in Covid-19 patients without previous heart disease, particularly for those with severe calcification. CAC can be easily visualized on common chest-CT, widely used in evaluation of moderate to severe Covid-19.

RESUMO Avaliou-se o valor nutricional do capim-elefante verde colhido aos 56, 84 e 112 dias de idade, por meio do consumo e da digestibilidade em ovinos, da degradabilidade in situ e da cinética da fermentação ruminal. O capim-elefante colhido aos 56 dias proporcionou maiores valores de consumo da MS (1204,81g/dia), da EB (4910,41kcal/dia), da ED (3436,21kcal/dia) e da PB (130,90g/dia). Para o capim-elefante colhido aos 56 dias, ainda foram observados os maiores valores de digestibilidade da MS (70,64%), da EB (70,11%), da PB (68,96%), da FDN (71,4%) e do conteúdo ED (2,86Mcal/kg MS). Com o avanço da idade de corte, houve redução da degradabilidade potencial da MS (77,99% x 68,33%), da PB (84,80% x 56,52%) e da FDN (72,18% x 64,33%), para as idades de corte de 56 e 112 dias, respectivamente. O capim cortado aos 56 dias apresentou maior valor de produção cumulativa de gases (210,50mL/g de MS) e de degradabilidade da matéria seca (63,9%) após 96 horas de fermentação. O capim-elefante verde deve ser colhido aos 56 dias de rebrota em razão das características nutricionais apresentadas.

ABSTRACT The nutritional value of fresh elephant grass harvested at 56, 84 and 112 days of age was evaluated by intake and digestibility in sheep, in situ degradability, and ruminal fermentation’s kinetics. The elephant grass harvested at 56 days provided higher DM intake (1204.81g/day), GE (4910.41kcal/day), DE (3436.21kcal/day), and CP (130.90g/day) values. Furthermore, the highest DM (70.64%), GE (70.11%), DE (2.86%) and CP (68.96%) digestibility values were observed at 56 days. With the increase in the harvest age there was a reduction in the DM (77.99 x 68.33%), CP (84.80 x 56.52%) and NDF (72.18 x 64.33%) potential degradability in the treatments 56 and 112 days, respectively. Higher values of cumulative gas production (210,50mL/g DM) and DM degradability for elephant grass were observed at 56 days, after 96 hours of fermentation. The fresh elephant grass should be harvested at 56 days of regrowth due to the nutritional characteristics found in this study.

RESUMO: A presença das plantas daninhas na área de cultivo do repolho promove redução de produtividade e qualidade do produto comercial. Diante da dificuldade de manejo e escassez de produtos registrados para o controle de plantas daninhas na cultura do repolho, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a tolerância do cultivar de repolho Astrus Plus ao 2,4-D e dicamba. Para isso, dois experimentos foram conduzidos: um em condições controladas e o outro em campo. No primeiro ensaio avaliou-se a ação dos herbicidas sobre o crescimento inicial da cultura, sendo mensurada a matéria seca da parte aérea e raiz e a intoxicação das plantas. No segundo, foram avaliadas as intoxicações nas plantas e os componentes de produção da cultura. O ensaio em ambiente protegido comprovou a hipótese de o repolho apresentar tolerância aos herbicidas aplicados, pois não foram observadas intoxicação de plantas e alterações na matéria seca. Todavia, no ensaio em campo, observou-se que o herbicida 2,4-D causou intoxicações e reduções nos componentes de produção que comprovam que este herbicida é severamente tóxico à cultura. No entanto, o dicamba não provocou danos à cultura na fase inicial de cultivo e não reduziu a produtividade, indicando potencial uso. Conclui-se que o cultivar de repolho Astrus Plus é tolerante ao dicamba. O 2,4-D não causa intoxicações a este cultivar em condições controladas, mas, em campo, o repolho não foi tolerante, podendo levar as plantas de repolho à morte.

ABSTRACT: The presence of weeds in cabbage cultivation areas causes a reduction in the productivity and quality of the commercial product. Given the difficulties in management and the scarcity of registered products for weed control in cabbage cultivation, this study aimed to evaluate the tolerance of the cabbage cultivars Astrus Plus to the herbicides 2,4-D and dicamba. Two experiments were performed; one under controlled conditions and another conducted in the field. The efficacy of the herbicides on the initial growth of the crop was evaluated in the first experiment, measuring the dry matter of the aerial part, the root of the plant, and evaluating the intoxication of the plants. Plant poisoning was also evaluated in the second experiment, along with crop production. No changes in the dry matter and plant poisoning were observed after the analyses performed in the controlled environment, showing that the cabbage presented tolerance to the applied herbicides. On the other hand, results from the experiments performed in the field showed that herbicide 2,4-D poisoned the cabbage causing reductions in production. Dicamba did not cause any damage in the initial phase of cultivation to this crop, with no reductions in its production. These results indicated the potential use of this herbicide in cabbage cultivation. It can be concluded from this study that the cultivar Astrus Plus is tolerant to dicamba. Under controlled conditions, 2,4-D does not cause toxicity to this cultivar, different from its effect when used in the field, where this herbicide can kill the cabbage plants.

Although it is well known that physical training ameliorates brain oxidative function after injuries by enhancing the levels of neurotrophic factors and oxidative status, there is little evidence addressing the influence of exercise training itself on brain oxidative damage and data is conflicting. This study investigated the effect of well-established swimming training protocol on lipid peroxidation and components of antioxidant system in the rat brain. Male Wistar rats were randomized into trained (5 days/week, 8 weeks, 30 min; n=8) and non-trained (n=7) groups. Forty-eight hours after the last session of exercise, animals were euthanized and the brain was collected for oxidative stress analysis. Swimming training decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels (P<0.05) and increased the activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P<0.05) with no effect on brain non-enzymatic total antioxidant capacity, estimated by FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power) assay (P>0.05). Moreover, the swimming training promoted metabolic adaptations, such as increased maximal workload capacity (P<0.05) and maintenance of body weight. In this context, the reduced TBARS content and increased SOD antioxidant activity induced by 8 weeks of swimming training are key factors in promoting brain resistance. In conclusion, swimming training attenuated oxidative damage and increased enzymatic antioxidant but not non-enzymatic status in the rat brain.

RESUMO A relação entre a presença de lignina e a dormência de sementes foi avaliada para três espécies de leguminosas arbóreas ocorrentes na Mata Atlântica. As espécies estudadas foram: Cassia grandis L.f., Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan e Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong. Os procedimentos anatômicos indicaram presença de lignina nas células paliçádicas da exotesta, nos osteoesclereídeos e nas células parenquimáticas da mesotesta. Valores elevados do conteúdo de lignina corresponderam à baixa taxa de dormência. Apesar de a lignina ser uma substância hidrofóbica, a presença no tegumento das sementes permite maior fluxo de líquidos diretamente relacionados com a ocorrência de lignina. Atlântica foram Lf L f L.f. Benth. Benth (Benth. Vell. Vell (Vell. Morong exotesta mesotesta hidrofóbica L.f (Benth (Vell

ABSTRACT The relationship between the presence of lignin and seed dormancy was evaluated in three legume tree species occurring in the Atlantic forest. The species studied were: Cassia grandis L.f., Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan and Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong. The anatomical procedures indicated the presence of lignin in the palisade cells of the exotesta, in the osteosclereids and in the parenchymatic cells of the mesotesta. The high values of lignin content corresponded to the low rate of dormancy. Although lignin is a hydrophobic substance its presence in the integument of the seeds allows a higher flux of liquids directly related to the occurrence of lignin. forest were Lf L f L.f. Benth. Benth (Benth. Vell. Vell (Vell. Morong exotesta mesotesta L.f (Benth (Vell

Neste estudo foi determinada a relação entre as concentrações plasmáticas e eritrocitárias de quinina em crianças com malária falciparum não complicada, oriundas de área endêmica da Região Amazônica. A quinina foi detrminada por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. No estado de equilíbrio, a relação foi 1,89 ± 1,25 variando de 1,05 a 2,34. Estes resultados demonstraram que a quinina não se concentra nos eritrócitos das crianças e caracterizaram a ausência de diferença racial nesta relação.

We determined the relationship between plasma and red blood cell concentrations of quinine in children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria from an endemic area of Amazonian region. Quinine was determined by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. In the steady state the ratio between plasma and red blood cell quinine concentration was 1.89 ± 1.25 ranging from 1.05 to 2.34. This result demonstrated that quinine do not concentrate in red blood cell of Brazilian children and characterize the absence of interracial difference in this relationship.

Peracetic acid is a powerful sanitizer that has only recently been introduced in the Brazilian food industry. The main disadvantage of this sanitizer is its decomposition rate. The main purpose of this paper is to present results obtained in experiments carried out to study the decomposition kinetics of peracetic acid in aqueous solutions at 25, 35, 40 and 45 °C. The decompositon of peracetic acid is a first-order reaction. The decomposition rate constants are between 1.71x10-3 h -1 for 25 °C and 9.64x10-3 h-1 for 45 °C. The decomposition rate constant is affected by temperature according to the Arrhenius equation, and the activation energy for the decomposition of peracetic acid in aqueous solutions prepared from the commercial formulation used in this work is 66.20 kJ/mol.