Hydrogels based on lignin extracted from cashew apple bagasse and its application in antimicrobial wound dressings.

Hydrogels are versatile materials with a three-dimensional network structure that can retain water and release bioactive compounds. They have found applications in various fields, including agriculture, biomaterial synthesis, and pharmaceuticals. Incorporating natural antimicrobial compounds into hydrogels is a promising approach to developing non-toxic biomedical materials, particularly for wound healing dressings.

In vitro neuronal and glial response to magnetically stimulated piezoelectric poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/cobalt ferrite (CFO) microspheres.

Polymer biomaterials are being considered for tissue regeneration due to the possibility of resembling different extracellular matrix characteristics. However, most current scaffolds cannot respond to physical-chemical modifications of the cell microenvironment. Stimuli-responsive materials, such as electroactive smart polymers, are increasingly gaining attention once they can produce electrical potentials without external power supplies.

Analysis of gunshot residues from nontoxic ammunition: a contribution to health and environmental analysis.

This study's aim was to determine the presence, as well as to evaluate the health and environmental impacts, of chemical elements from firearm shots during shooter practice at outdoor shooting ranges, both in the environment and on the shooters' hands. Two high-precision devices were used for measuring suspended particles that are released during discharge of Taurus PT 100 .40 caliber pistols.

A neuropeptidergic circuit gates selective escape behavior of Drosophila larvae.

Animals display selective escape behaviors when faced with environmental threats. Selection of the appropriate response by the underlying neuronal network is key to maximizing chances of survival, yet the underlying network mechanisms are so far not fully understood. Using synapse-level reconstruction of the Drosophila larval network paired with physiological and behavioral readouts, we uncovered a circuit that gates selective escape behavior for noxious light through acute and input-specific neuropeptide action.

The steroid-hormone ecdysone coordinates parallel pupariation neuromotor and morphogenetic subprograms via epidermis-to-neuron Dilp8-Lgr3 signal induction.

Innate behaviors consist of a succession of genetically-hardwired motor and physiological subprograms that can be coupled to drastic morphogenetic changes. How these integrative responses are orchestrated is not completely understood. Here, we provide insight into these mechanisms by studying pupariation, a multi-step innate behavior of Drosophila larvae that is critical for survival during metamorphosis.

Fluorinated Polymer Membranes as Advanced Substrates for Portable Analytical Systems and Their Proof of Concept for Colorimetric Bioassays.

Portable analytical systems are increasingly required for clinical analysis or environmental monitoring, among others, being materials with tailored physicochemical properties among the main needs for successful functional implementation. This article describes the processing of fluorinated poly(vinylidene--trifluorethylene), P(VDF-TrFE), membranes with tailored morphological and physicochemical properties to be used as microfluidic substrates for portable analytical systems, commonly called point-of-care systems in the medical field. The morphology of the developed membranes includes spherulitic, porous, randomly oriented, and oriented fibers.

The intersectional genetics landscape for humans.

Background: The human body is made up of hundreds-perhaps thousands-of cell types and states, most of which are currently inaccessible genetically. Intersectional genetic approaches can increase the number of genetically accessible cells, but the scope and safety of these approaches have not been systematically assessed. A typical intersectional method acts like an "AND" logic gate by converting the input of 2 or more active, yet unspecific, regulatory elements (REs) into a single cell type specific synthetic output.

Laparoscopic repair for vesicouterine fistulae.

Objective:: The purpose of this video is to present the laparoscopic repair of a VUF in a 42-year-old woman, with gross hematuria, in the immediate postoperative phase following a cesarean delivery. The obstetric team implemented conservative management, including Foley catheter insertion, for 2 weeks. She subsequently developed intermittent hematuria and cystitis.

Cashew apple juice as microbial cultivation medium for non-immunogenic hyaluronic acid production.

In this work, natural cashew apple juice was used as cultivation medium as an alternative to substitute brain heart infusion medium. The effect of aeration and juice supplementation with yeast extract on the production of hyaluronic acid in batch fermentation was also investigated. Similar levels of cell mass were obtained in inoculum using cashew apple juice supplemented with yeast extract or the conventional brain heart infusion medium.

Creatine supplementation and resistance training in vulnerable older women: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

This study aimed to examine the efficacy of creatine supplementation, associated or not with resistance training, in vulnerable older women. A 24-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed. Sixty subjects were assigned to compose the following groups: placebo (PL), creatine supplementation (CR), placebo with resistance training (PL+RT), and creatine supplementation with resistance training (CR+RT).

Endoscopic use of cyanoacrylate glue in the treatment of urethral fistula.

Purpose: The aim of this video is to demonstrate an endoscopic and minimally invasive repair of an urethrocutaneous fistula with cyanoacrylate glue.

Materials And Methods: A 56 year-old-man with post-infectious urethral stricture and recurrent perineal abscess formation due to urethral fistulas.

Results: The operative time was 60 minutes, no major complications were observed perioperatively and postoperatively.

An analysis and validation pipeline for large-scale RNAi-based screens.

Large-scale RNAi-based screens are a major technology, but require adequate prioritization and validation of candidate genes from the primary screen. In this work, we performed a large-scale pooled shRNA screen in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to discover genes associated with oxidative stress resistance and found several candidates. We then developed a bioinformatics pipeline to prioritize these candidates incorporating effect sizes, functional enrichment analysis, interaction networks and gene expression information.

Hyaluronic acid depolymerization by ascorbate-redox effects on solid state cultivation of Streptococcus zooepidemicus in cashew apple fruit bagasse.

The cashew fruit (Anacardium occidentale L.) has been used as a promising agricultural resource for the production of low-molecular weight (M(W)) hyaluronic acid (HA) (10(4)-10(5) Da). The cashew juice is a rich source of vitamin C containing, 1.

Central diabetes insipidus induced by tuberculosis in a rheumatoid arthritis patient.

Tuberculosis, a polymorphic disease, is a diagnostic challenge, particularly when arises concomitantly to an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Herein, the authors describe a 33-year-old woman with nodular RA who was being treated with methotrexate, sulfasalazine and corticosteroids and presented with subcutaneous nodules simultaneously with aseptic meningitis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was identified in cultures from a biopsy of an axillary nodule.

[Use of hyaluronic acid in Ophthalmology].

Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide of the glycosaminoglycan family present in mammal tissues. In the eye, it can be found in the cornea, the sclera and the vitreous humor. Currently, it has been employed in several medical specialties, including ophthalmology.

Microbial production of hyaluronic acid from agricultural resource derivatives.

Agricultural resource derivatives (ARDs) such as hydrolysate soy protein concentrate (HSPC), whey protein concentrate (WPC), and cashew apple juice (CAJ) were studied with focus on the production of hyaluronic acid (HA) by Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Supplementation of the media with corn steep liquor (CSL) was also evaluated. Synthetic medium containing glucose and yeast extract was used as control.

Pentoxyphylline in association with vitamin E reduces cutaneous fibrosis in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disorder characterized by skin thickness and vasculopathy. The objective of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of the association of pentoxyphylline and vitamin E in SSc patients. Twelve SSc patients (American College of Rheumatology criteria) enrolled this 24-week open-label study.

Anti-endothelial cell antibodies and central nervous system involvement in Behçet's disease.

Introduction: Previous studies have detected the presence of anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) in patients with Behçet's disease (BD). However, no real evidence exists whether these antibodies exert any influence on clinical presentation and/or activity of this disease.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of AECA in patients with BD and analyze possible clinical associations.