Assessment of the adherence to perioperative nutritional care protocols in Brazilian hospitals: The PreopWeek study.

Objectives: The study (PreopWeek) aimed to assess the perioperative nutritional care for major surgical patients in Brazilian hospitals, focusing on adherence to emerging multimodal protocols like Enhanced Recovery After Surgery and Acceleration of Total Postoperative Recovery.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Brazilian hospitals enrolled voluntarily from June 19 to June 23, 2023 (convenience sample). Data were collected through patient interviews and medical records review.

Biochemical and structural insights of a recombinant AA16 LPMO from the marine and sponge-symbiont Peniophora sp.

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are copper-dependent enzymes that oxidize polysaccharides, leading to their cleavage. LPMOs are classified into eight CAZy families (AA9-11, AA13-17), with the functionality of AA16 being poorly characterized. This study presents biochemical and structural data for an AA16 LPMO (PnAA16) from the marine sponge symbiont Peniophora sp.

Effects of an Oral Nutritional Supplementation and Physical Exercise Intervention on Older Adults at Risk for Sarcopenia.

Objectives: Sarcopenia is a skeletal muscle mass (SMM) disease characterized by loss of strength with generalized loss of SMM. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a 12-week intervention on SMM, strength, and functionally in older adults.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of an intervention protocol with older adults at risk of sarcopenia who performed a daily intake of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) and resistance training exercise (RET), 3 times a week.

Sex Disparity in Stroke Mortality among Adults: A Time Series Analysis in the Greater Vitoria Region, Brazil (2000-2021).

The disparity between the sexes in stroke mortality has been demonstrated in people from different locations. The objective of this study was to analyze the disparity between sexes in stroke mortality in adults in the metropolitan area of Greater Vitoria between 2000 and 2021. Ecological time series design was conducted with a database of the Brazilian Health System Informatics Department.

The Relationship between Inspiratory Muscle Strength and Cycling Performance: Insights from Hypoxia and Inspiratory Muscle Warm-Up.

Hypoxia increases inspiratory muscle work and consequently contributes to a reduction in exercise performance. We evaluate the effects of inspiratory muscle warm-up (IMW) on a 10 km cycling time trial in normoxia (NOR) and hypoxia (HYP). Eight cyclists performed four time trial sessions, two in HYP (FiO: 0.

A Multiomics Perspective on Plant Cell Wall-Degrading Enzyme Production: Insights from the Unexploited Fungus .

is a filamentous fungus that was isolated from decaying sugarcane straw at a Brazilian ethanol biorefinery. This fungus shows potential as a source of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs). In this study, we conducted a comprehensive multiomics investigation of to gain insights into its enzymatic capabilities and genetic makeup.

Skeletal muscle changes in older patients undergoing online hemodiafiltration.

Background & Aims: Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and function are negatively affected in chronic kidney disease (CKD). SMM and the assessment of muscle strength and functionality are indicators of clinical and nutritional status. We aimed to evaluate older patients undergoing online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF), using muscle ultrasound (US) to monitor the SMM, correlating findings with strength and physical performance.

Assessment of body composition by whole-body densitometry: what radiologists should know.

The analysis of body composition is a fundamental part of a nutritional status assessment, and the use of diagnostic imaging methods has been increasingly required for an adequate characterization of the lean body mass and fat mass. Body composition measurements are useful in evaluating the effectiveness of nutritional interventions and monitoring changes associated with aging and chronic diseases. Whole-body densitometry using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is one of the most widely used methods in clinical practice, allowing highly accurate assessment of the bone mineral content, lean body mass, and fat mass.

Oxidative cleavage of polysaccharides by a termite-derived boosts the degradation of biomass by glycoside hydrolases.

Wood-feeding termites effectively degrade plant biomass through enzymatic degradation. Despite their high efficiencies, however, individual glycoside hydrolases isolated from termites and their symbionts exhibit anomalously low effectiveness in lignocellulose degradation, suggesting hereto unknown enzymatic activities in their digestome. Herein, we demonstrate that an ancient redox-active enzyme encoded by the lower termite , a Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD-1), plays a previously unknown role in plant biomass degradation.

Recombinant expression, purification and characterization of an active bacterial feruloyl-CoA synthase with potential for application in vanillin production.

The ferulic acid (FA) represents a high-value molecule with applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. This aromatic molecule is derived from lignin and can be enzymatically converted in other commercially interesting molecules, such as vanillin and bioplastics. This process starts with a common step of FA activation via CoA-thioesterification, catalyzed by feruloyl-CoA synthetases.

Applying biochemical and structural characterization of hydroxycinnamate catabolic enzymes from soil metagenome for lignin valorization strategies.

The biocatalytic production of fuels and chemicals from plant biomass represents an attractive alternative to fossil fuel-based refineries. In this context, the mining and characterization of novel biocatalysts can promote disruptive innovation opportunities in the field of lignocellulose conversion and valorization. In the present work, we conducted the biochemical and structural characterization of two novel hydroxycinnamic acid catabolic enzymes, isolated from a lignin-degrading microbial consortium, a feruloyl-CoA synthetase, and a feruloyl-CoA hydratase-lyase, named LM-FCS2 and LM-FCHL2, respectively.

The importance of protein sources to support muscle anabolism in cancer: An expert group opinion.

This opinion paper presents a short review of the potential impact of protein on muscle anabolism in cancer, which is associated with better patient outcomes. Protein source is a topic of interest for patients and clinicians, partly due to recent emphasis on the supposed non-beneficial effect of proteins; therefore, misconceptions involving animal-based (e.g.

Partial-Thickness Intrastromal Lamellar Keratoplasty for Corneal Pellucid Marginal Degeneration.

Purpose: Pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD) is a bilateral corneal ectatic disorder, characterized by thinning of the inferior cornea. Numerous surgical procedures have been described in the literature, and there is a lack of consensus regarding the best available surgical management. Recently, full-thickness intrastromal lamellar keratoplasty (ILK) was described as an option for treating PMD and emerged as a promising technique.

The Physical Capacity of Rowing Athletes Cannot Reverse the Influence of Age on Heart Rate Variability during Orthostatic Stress.

The current study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the high physical capacity of rowing athletes may not reverse the influence of age on cardiac autonomic control decline estimated by heart rate variability (HRV). Forty-four male subjects divided in four groups: 11 young athletes (YA; 18 ±1 year), 11 young non-athletes (YNA; 20 ±1 year), 11 middle age athletes (MAA; 43 ±6 years) and 11 middle age non-athletes (MNA; 44 ±8 years) participated in the study. Heart rate (HR) was recorded beat-by-beat for 10 minutes in supine (SUP) and 10 min in orthostatic (ORT) positions.

Osteochondral Segond Fracture Associated with Fibular Head Avulsion Fracture - "Arcuate Sign".

A deviated osteochondral fracture of the anterolateral tibia associated with fibular head avulsion in a 50-year-old patient is reported. In general, avulsion fracture of the iliotibial tract is associated with injuries in the cruciate ligament, in the meniscus and in lateral knee structures, as in the case herein reported.

Microbial enrichment and meta-omics analysis identify CAZymes from mangrove sediments with unique properties.

Although lignocellulose is the most abundant and renewable natural resource for biofuel production, its use remains under exploration because of its highly recalcitrant structure. Its deconstruction into sugar monomers is mainly driven by carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). To develop highly efficient and fast strategies to discover biomass-degrading enzymes for biorefinery applications, an enrichment process combined with integrative omics approaches was used to identify new CAZymes.

IVIA - Ibero-American VLBI Initiative -Progress on the Brazilian side.

IVIA is a joint initiative of at least 8 Latin-American countries plus Portugal and Spain to make good use of large telecommunications antennas that are out of service in these countries, because most international communications are now using submarine cables. The first step will be to refurbish the antennas and then to start doing single dish observations of radiosources. In a second step the antennas will be equipped with VLBI (Very Long Base Interferometry) equipment, to establish a VLBI network.

Multi-omics analysis provides insights into lignocellulosic biomass degradation by Laetiporus sulphureus ATCC 52600.

Background: Wood-decay basidiomycetes are effective for the degradation of highly lignified and recalcitrant plant substrates. The degradation of lignocellulosic materials by brown-rot strains is carried out by carbohydrate-active enzymes and non-enzymatic Fenton mechanism. Differences in the lignocellulose catabolism among closely related brown rots are not completely understood.

Colour Me Blue: The History and the Biotechnological Potential of Pyocyanin.

Pyocyanin was the first natural phenazine described. The molecule is synthesized by about 95% of the strains of From discovery up to now, pyocyanin has been characterised by a very rich and avant-garde history, which includes its use in antimicrobial therapy, even before the discovery of penicillin opened the era of antibiotic therapy, as well as its use in electric current generation. Exhibiting an exuberant blue colour and being easy to obtain, this pigment is the subject of the present review, aiming to narrate its history as well as to unveil its mechanisms and suggest new horizons for applications in different areas of engineering, biology and biotechnology.

Insights into the dual cleavage activity of the GH16 laminarinase enzyme class on β-1,3 and β-1,4 glycosidic bonds.

Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) are involved in the degradation of a wide diversity of carbohydrates and present several biotechnological applications. Many GH families are composed of enzymes with a single well-defined specificity. In contrast, enzymes from the GH16 family can act on a range of different polysaccharides, including β-glucans and galactans.

Association between thiamine deficiency and hyperlactatemia among critically ill patients with diabetes infected by SARS-CoV-2.

Background: The present study aims to verify the association between diabetes and thiamine deficiency in critically ill patients infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, whose demographic, anthropometric, and laboratory data (arterial lactate, bicarbonate, and plasma thiamine) were obtained in the first hours of admission to the intensive care unit. Patients with diabetes were compared with individuals without diabetes, and the correlation was performed between thiamine and lactate levels.

On the roles of AA15 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases derived from the termite Coptotermes gestroi.

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are copper-dependent enzymes which catalyze the oxidative cleavage of polysaccharides. LPMOs belonging to family 15 in the Auxiliary Activity (AA) class from the Carbohydrate-Active Enzyme database are found widespread across the Tree of Life, including viruses, algae, oomycetes and animals. Recently, two AA15s from the firebrat Thermobia domestica were reported to have oxidative activity, one towards cellulose or chitin and the other towards chitin, signalling that AA15 LPMOs from insects potentially have different biochemical functions.

Association Between Low Zinc Levels and Severity of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome by New Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Background: We verify the prevalence of low zinc levels among critically ill patients infected by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the intensive care unit (ICU) who required invasive mechanical ventilation, as well as its association with severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Methods: This is an observational study composed of patients admitted to the ICU. Demographics, anthropometric data for calculating body mass index (BMI), and laboratory data were obtained at admission: blood count, ferritin, arterial blood gas, serum zinc levels, and C-reactive protein.