Development and Application of Mucilage and Bioactive Compounds from Cactaceae to Formulate Novel and Sustainable Edible Films and Coatings to Preserve Fruits and Vegetables-A Review.

The accelerated ripening and senescence of fruits and vegetables is characterized by various biochemical changes that hinder the maintenance of their postharvest quality. In this context, developing edible films and coatings formulated with natural and biodegradable materials emerges as a sustainable strategy for preserving the quality parameters of these products in replacement of conventional petroleum-based packaging. Recently, plant-based polymers, including mucilage from different cactus species and/or their bioactive compounds, have been investigated to develop edible films and coatings.

Interventions based on alternative and sustainable strategies for postharvest control of anthracnose and maintain quality in tropical fruits.

Colletotrichum spp. is a phytopathogen causing anthracnose in a variety of tropical fruits. Strategies used to control postharvest diseases in tropical fruits typically rely on the use of synthetic fungicides, which have stimulated the emergence of resistant pathogens.

The repellency effect of icaridin nanostructural solution applied on cotton knitting fabric against Lutzomyia longipalpis.

The use of repellents is considered an alternative against biting insects, including Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae), the main vector of the protozoan Leishmania infantum, visceral leishmaniasis's (VL) etiologic agent in the Americas. This study aimed to evaluate the repellent efficacy of icaridin nanostructured solution applied on cotton knitting fabric against L. longipalpis.

Insecticidal efficacy of fluralaner (Bravecto) against Triatoma brasiliensis, a major vector of Trypanosoma cruzi in Brazil.

Background: Triatomines are responsible for the vector transmission of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. Triatoma brasiliensis is the main vector of the parasite in Brazil, and dogs are an important reservoir of the parasite. The aim of this study was to evaluate the insecticidal effect of fluralaner (Bravecto) on T.

Virulence of Strains Is Related to the Differential Expression of Innate Immune Receptors in the Heart.

Resistance or susceptibility to infection is dependent on the host immunological profile. Innate immune receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs/TLR2, TLR4, TLR7, and TLR9) and Nod-like receptors (NLRs/NOD1 and NLRP3 inflammasome) are involved with the resistance against acute experimental infection. Here, we evaluated the impact of virulence on the expression of innate immune receptors and its products in mice.

Fluralaner (Bravecto®) induces long-term mortality of Lutzomyia longipalpis after a blood meal in treated dogs.

Background: Leishmania infantum is the etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the New World, where the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis and domestic dogs are considered the main vector and host reservoirs, respectively. Systemic insecticides have been studied as an alternative to control vector-borne diseases, including VL. Fluralaner, an isoxazoline class compound, is a systemic insecticide used in dogs, with proven efficiency against different species of phlebotomine sand flies.

NOD2 receptor is crucial for protecting against the digestive form of Chagas disease.

Digestive and cardiodigestive forms of Chagas' disease are observed in 2% to 27% of the patients, depending on their geographic location, Trypanosoma cruzi strain and immunopathological responses. The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of NOD2 innate immune receptor in the pathogenesis of the digestive system in Chagas' disease. Patients with digestive form of the disease showed lower mRNA expression of NOD2, higher expression of RIP2 and α-defensin 6, compared to indeterminate form, detected by Real-time PCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Cardiac autonomic control during non-REM and REM sleep stages in paediatric patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Cardiac death is the second most prevalent cause in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Paediatric patients with PWS often present cardiac autonomic dysfunction during wakefulness, obesity and sleep-disordered breathing. However, the extent of cardiac autonomic modulation during sleep in PWS has not been documented.

A questionnaire study on sleep disturbances associated with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Background This study aimed to investigate the presence of sleep disturbances in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC). Methods The SDSC, which was designed to identify the presence and severity of different sleep disorders, was applied to 50 patients with PWS and 112 controls. Results Patients with PWS achieved worse scores in the sleep-disordered breathing and disorders in initiating and maintaining sleep in the SDSC questionnaire as compared with controls.

Mitomycin C in the Endoscopic Treatment of Laryngotracheal Stenosis: Systematic Review and Proportional Meta-Analysis.

 Mitomycin C is a natural antibiotic that has been used to inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts in scar tissue.  To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of topical Mitomycin C as an adjuvant in the endoscopic treatment of laryngotracheal stenoses.  A systematic review of experimental or observational studies that have evaluated the treatment of laryngotracheal stenoses with the use of topical Mitomycin C was performed.

Innate immune receptors over expression correlate with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy and digestive damage in patients.

Chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) is observed in 30% to 50% of the individuals infected by Trypanosoma cruzi and heart failure is the important cause of death among patients in the chronic phase of Chagas disease. Although some studies have elucidated the role of adaptive immune responses involving T and B lymphocytes in cardiac pathogenesis, the role of innate immunity receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and Nod-like receptors (NLRs) in CCC pathophysiology has not yet been determined. In this study, we evaluated the association among innate immune receptors (TLR1-9 and nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3/NLRP3), its adapter molecules (Myd88, TRIF, ASC and caspase-1) and cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-18, IL-23, TNF-α, and IFN-β) with clinical manifestation, digestive and cardiac function in patients with different clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease.

Frequency and risk factors for the birth of small-for-gestational-age newborns in a public maternity hospital.

Objective:: To determine the frequency and risk factors of small-for-gestational-age newborns in a high-risk maternity.

Methods:: This is an observational, cross-sectional, and case-control study, conducted in a public tertiary care maternity hospital. Data from 998 newborns and their mothers were collected through interviews and review of medical records and prenatal care cards.

Inflammation Enhances the Risks of Stroke and Death in Chronic Chagas Disease Patients.

Ischemic strokes have been implicated as a cause of death in Chagas disease patients. Inflammation has been recognized as a key component in all ischemic processes, including the intravascular events triggered by vessel interruption, brain damage and repair. In this study, we evaluated the association between inflammatory markers and the death risk (DR) and stroke risk (SR) of patients with different clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease.

The energetic characterization of pineapple crown leaves.

Energetic characterization of biomass allows for assessing its energy potential for application in different conversion processes into energy. The objective of this study is to physicochemically characterize pineapple crown leaves (PC) for their application in energy conversion processes. PC was characterized according to ASTM E871-82, E1755-01, and E873-82 for determination of moisture, ash, and volatile matter, respectively; the fixed carbon was calculated by difference.