Salt-affected soils in the Lopez de Bertodano Formation, polar semi-desert of Seymour Island, Antarctica: topographic or lithological controls?

Salinization is one of the main pedogenetic processes occurring on the semiarid zone of the Weddel sea, like in Seymour Island, where salt-affected soils are widespread. This study aimed to investigate whether topography controls the distribution of salt-affected soils on Seymour Island, particularly with reference to the Lopez de Bertodano Formation. Chemical and physical results from 45 soil profiles were used, where morphometric variables were extracted.

Dietary patterns drive loss of fiber-foraging species in the celiac disease patients gut microbiota compared to first-degree relatives.

Background: Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals that primarily affects the small intestine. Studies have reported differentially abundant bacterial taxa in the gut microbiota of celiac patients compared with non-celiac controls. However, findings across studies have inconsistencies and no microbial signature of celiac disease has been defined so far.

Accumulation of Nutrients and the Relation between Fruit, Grain, and Husk of Coffee Robusta Cultivated in Brazilian Amazon.

Coffee genotypes cultivated in the Amazonian region have been gaining increasing prominence in Brazilian plantations. This study aimed to quantify nutrient accumulation in the fruits, grains, and husks of Robusta coffee genotypes cultivated in the Brazilian Amazon and estimate genetic diversity. The experiment was conducted in Alta Floresta D'Oeste-Rondônia, Brazil.

Nutritional support protocol for patients with COVID-19.

Background & Aims: COVID-19 is a hypercatabolic disease with possible pulmonary and gastrointestinal symptoms, and consequent deterioration of the nutritional status and the worst clinical prognosis. This study presents a protocol to guide the nutritional care of adult and elderly people non-critically and critically ill with COVID-19.

Methods: A critical review of the literature was carried out in the databases PubMed, Scielo, Bireme, and Science Direct, in search of articles and guidelines that presented assessment criteria and nutritional conduct for COVID-19 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), as well as guidelines for managing the symptoms presented by patients.

[Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the Medical Curricula in Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Analysis].

Introduction: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has gained relevance as a method of prevention for HIV in certain people and settings. Following the publication of the guideline on PrEP prescribing in Portugal, we aimed to assess the knowledge of Portuguese Medical Students about PrEP.

Material And Methods: An online survey was sent to Medical students of Portuguese Medical Schools.

Evaluation of genetic divergence of coffee genotypes using the volatile compounds and sensory attributes profile.

The quality of the coffee beverage is related to the chemical, physical, and sensory attributes of the coffee beans that vary with the geographic location of the crop, genetic factors, and post-harvest processing. So, the objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic divergence of 27 genotypes of Coffea canephora using the volatile compounds and sensory attributes profile to select genotypes that produce a coffee beverage with high sensory quality. This genetic diversity was estimated from the Euclidean distance matrix using non-standard data and the Unweighted Pair-Group Method Using Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA).

Early maladaptive schemas and harm avoidance as mediating factors between early life stress and psychiatric symptoms in adults.

Objective: This study investigated how factors of temperament and early maladaptive schemas predict psychiatric symptoms, as well as how they mediate the relation between early life stress and psychiatric symptoms in adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 200 university students. Data was collected through a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Adult Self-Report Inventory, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Young Schema Questionnaire, and the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised.

Lapachol and synthetic derivatives: in vitro and in vivo activities against Bothrops snake venoms.

Background: It is known that local tissue injuries incurred by snakebites are quickly instilled causing extensive, irreversible, tissue destruction that may include loss of limb function or even amputation. Such injuries are not completely neutralized by the available antivenins, which in general are focused on halting systemic effects. Therefore it is prudent to investigate the potential antiophidic effects of natural and synthetic compounds, perhaps combining them with serum therapy, to potentially attenuate or eliminate the adverse local and systemic effects of snake venom.

True or false coral snake: is it worth the risk? A case report.

Background: Bites provoked by the genus represent less than 1% of snakebite cases notified in Brazil, a tiny fraction compared with other genus such as and , which together represent almost 80% of accidents. In addition to their less aggressive behavior, habits and morphology of coral snakes are determinant factors for such low incidence of accidents. Although bites are rare, victims must be rescued and hospitalized in a short period of time, because this type of envenoming may evolve to a progressive muscle weakness and acute respiratory failure.

Genetic variability and expression of agro-morphological traits among genotypes of Coffea arabica being promoted by supplementary irrigation.

The use of supplementary irrigation to sustain the plantation during moments of severe water stress or moments of high water demand is becoming almost a norm to keep sustainable crops, especially due to the climate changes and the high frequency in which climate extremes are occurring lately. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance and expression of genetic variability among genotypes of Coffea arabica L. cultivated in farming systems with different levels of water supply, focusing on rainfed or supplementary irrigated systems.

Protective Response Mechanisms to Heat Stress in Interaction with High [CO2] Conditions in Coffea spp.

Modeling studies have predicted that coffee crop will be endangered by future global warming, but recent reports highlighted that high [CO2] can mitigate heat impacts on coffee. This work aimed at identifying heat protective mechanisms promoted by CO2 in Coffea arabica (cv. Icatu and IPR108) and Coffea canephora cv.

Outbreak of IMP-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter gergoviae among kidney transplant recipients.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate a prolonged outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter gergoviae (CREG) involving kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) between 2009 and 2014.

Methods: A case-control study was undertaken. Controls (n = 52) were selected from CREG-negative KTRs.

Biometry and diversity of Arabica coffee genotypes cultivated in a high density plant system.

The present study was developed to respond to the need for an increase in crop yield in the mountain region of Caparaó (southern Espírito Santo State, Brazil), an area of traditional coffee production. This study aimed to analyze the diversity and characterize the crop yield of genotypes of Coffea arabica L. with potential for cultivation in high plant density systems.

Evidence of genetic tolerance to low availability of phosphorus in the soil among genotypes of Coffea canephora.

The expansion of agriculture to new areas in order to increase the competitiveness of coffee producing countries has resulted in cultivation expanding into regions with lower natural fertility. This scenario has created the need to differentiate genotypes of Conilon coffee based on their tolerance to low levels of nutrients in the soil, especially phosphorus, which imposes high limitations on crop yield in tropical regions. In this context, the objective of this study was to identify differential tolerance among genotypes of Conilon coffee cultivated in environments with different levels of phosphorus availability in the soil.

Different effects of myotoxins bothropstoxin-I and II from Bothrops snake venom on cation transport ATPases from murine fast twitch skeletal muscle.

Bothrops jararacussu venom drastically decreases sarcoplasmic Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) protein expression in vivo and inhibits its activity in vitro, in contrast to a slight increase of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase expression in murine EDL. We investigated the effect of myotoxins bothropstoxin-I and/or -II (BthTX-I, BthTX-II and BthTX-I+II) on this model. No changes were seen in SERCA1, SERCA2 and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase α1 protein expression as well as (2+)Ca-ATPase activity, but BthTX-II (1 μg/g) reduced Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase α2 expression by 50% one day after perimuscular injection.

Occurrence of sulfated fucose branches in fucosylated chondroitin sulfate are essential for the polysaccharide effect preventing muscle damage induced by toxins and crude venom from Bothrops jararacussu snake.

Snake envenoming is an important public health problem around the world, particularly in tropics. Beyond deaths, morbidity induced by snake venoms, such as myotoxicity, is of pivotal consequence to population. Bothrops jararacussu is the main venomous snake in southeast region of Brazil, and particularly presents strong myotoxic effect.

Ocular dimensions, corneal thickness, and corneal curvature in quarter horses with hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare ocular dimensions, corneal curvature, and corneal thickness between horses affected with hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA) and unaffected horses.

Animals: Five HERDA-affected quarter horses and five healthy control quarter horses were used.

Methods: Schirmer's tear test, tonometry, and corneal diameter measurements were performed in both eyes of all horses prior to ophthalmologic examinations.

Crovirin, a snake venom cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) with promising activity against Trypanosomes and Leishmania.

Background: The neglected human diseases caused by trypanosomatids are currently treated with toxic therapy with limited efficacy. In search for novel anti-trypanosomatid agents, we showed previously that the Crotalus viridis viridis (Cvv) snake venom was active against infective forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. Here, we describe the purification of crovirin, a cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) from Cvv venom with promising activity against trypanosomes and Leishmania.

Abarema cochliacarpos extract decreases the inflammatory process and skeletal muscle injury induced by Bothrops leucurus venom.

Snakebites are a public health problem, especially in tropical countries. However, treatment with antivenom has limited effectiveness against venoms' local effects. Here, we investigated the ability of Abarema cochliacarpos hydroethanolic extract (EAc) to protect mice against injection of Bothrops leucurus venom.

Counteraction of Bothrops snake venoms by Combretum leprosum root extract and arjunolic acid.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Serotherapy against snakebite is often unavailable in some regions over Brazil, where people make use of plants from folk medicine to deal with ophidic accidents. About 10% of Combretum species have some ethnopharmacological use, including treatment of snakebites.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated the ability of the extract of Combretum leprosum and its component arjunolic acid to reduce some in vivo and in vitro effects of Bothrops jararacussu and Bothrops jararaca venoms.

Sustained photosynthetic performance of Coffea spp. under long-term enhanced [CO2].

Coffee is one of the world's most traded agricultural products. Modeling studies have predicted that climate change will have a strong impact on the suitability of current cultivation areas, but these studies have not anticipated possible mitigating effects of the elevated atmospheric [CO2] because no information exists for the coffee plant. Potted plants from two genotypes of Coffea arabica and one of C.

Neutralization of Apis mellifera bee venom activities by suramin.

In this work we evaluated the ability of suramin, a polysulfonated naphthylurea derivative, to antagonize the cytotoxic and enzymatic effects of the crude venom of Apis mellifera. Suramin was efficient to decrease the lethality in a dose-dependent way. The hemoconcentration caused by lethal dose injection of bee venom was abolished by suramin (30 μg/g).