Use of an (Hemi) Cellulolytic Enzymatic Extract Produced by Aspergilli Species Consortium in the Saccharification of Biomass Sorghum.

This study evaluated the production of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using a microbial consortium of Aspergillus fumigatus SCBM6 and A. niger SCBM1 (AFN extract). The fungal strains were cultivated in sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and wheat bran (WB) as lignocellulosic substrates for 7 days at 30 °C.

Challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia worldwide.

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a rare tumor that originates from pregnancy that includes invasive mole, choriocarcinoma (CCA), placental site trophoblastic tumor and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (PSTT/ETT). GTN presents different degrees of proliferation, invasion and dissemination, but, if treated in reference centers, has high cure rates, even in multi-metastatic cases. The diagnosis of GTN following a hydatidiform molar pregnancy is made according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2000 criteria: four or more plateaued human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) concentrations over three weeks; rise in hCG for three consecutive weekly measurements over at least a period of 2 weeks or more; and an elevated but falling hCG concentrations six or more months after molar evacuation.

Effects of deliberate reflection on students' engagement in learning and learning outcomes.

Context: Reflection in practice is assumed to enhance interest in knowing more about a topic, increasing engagement in learning and learning outcomes. However, this claim lacks empirical evidence, particularly in medical education. The authors investigated the effects of deliberate reflection upon clinical cases on medical students' engagement in a learning activity and learning outcomes.

Cavernous Sinus Hemangioma: Surgical Aspects.

Resection of lesions in the cavernous sinus remains a challenge to neurosurgeons due to its complex anatomy. This video (Video 1) presents the most relevant landmarks of the cavernous sinus region, helping to understand the surgical anatomy. A 55-year-old female presented with diplopia, partial ptosis, and facial dysesthesia in the left ophthalmic territory.

Conotoxin MVIIA improves cell viability and antioxidant system after spinal cord injury in rats.

This study evaluates whether intrathecal MVIIA injection after spinal cord injury (SCI) elicits neuroprotective effects. The test rats were randomly distributed into six groups- sham, placebo, MVIIA 2.5 μM, MVIIA 5 μM, MVIIA 10 μM, and MVIIA 20 μM-and were administered the treatment four hours after SCI.

Biomass sorghum as a novel substrate in solid-state fermentation for the production of hemicellulases and cellulases by Aspergillus niger and A. fumigatus.

Aims: We investigated the role of carbon and nitrogen sources in the production of cellulase and hemicellulase by Aspergillus strains.

Methods And Results: The strains Aspergillus niger SCBM1 and Aspergillus fumigatus SCBM6 were cultivated under solid-state fermentation (SSF), with biomass sorghum (BS) and wheat bran (WB) as lignocellulosic substrates, in different proportions, along with variable nitrogen sources. The best SSF condition for the induction of such enzymes was observed employing A.

Effect of reflection on medical students' situational interest: an experimental study.

Context: Reflection has been considered crucial to learning. Engaging in reflection while solving problems is expected to foster identification of knowledge gaps and interest in learning more about them, the latter being a major motivational force in learning. Although theoretically sound, this assumption still lacks empirical evidence.

Factors Related to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Liver Transplantation-A Brazilian Multicenter Study.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is a curative treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); recurrent HCC after liver transplantation (HCC-R) is diagnosed in 9%-16%. The objective of this study was to evaluate which factors are associated with R-HCC after liver transplantation.

Methods: This retrospective real-life study analyzed 278 LTs from 3 reference centers (2,093 LTs) in Brazil from 1988 to 2015.

Pre-hatching embryo-dependent and -independent programming of endometrial function in cattle.

The bovine pre-implantation embryo secretes bioactive molecules from early development stages, but effects on endometrial function are reported to start only after elongation. Here, we interrogated spatially defined regions of the endometrium transcriptome for responses to a day 7 embryo in vivo. We hypothesize that exposure to an embryo changes the abundance of specific transcripts in the cranial region of the pregnant uterine horn.

Body composition and frailty profiles in Brazilian older people: Frailty in Brazilian Older People Study-FIBRA-BR.

Objective: To determine the association between body composition and frailty in older Brazilian subjects.

Material And Methods: This is a Cross-sectional study called FIBRA-BR and developed in community Brazilian aged ≥65 (n=5638). Frailty was assessed according to Fried et al.

Nonsurgical embryo recovery and transfer in sheep and goats.

The embryo transfer techniques used in small ruminants worldwide are based in surgical procedures. These actions are performed under general anesthesia which needs a combination of animal fasting and drugs for secure animal handling and surgery manipulations. Therefore, it involves risks to animal health and life.

Influence of adding nanoparticles on the hardness, tear strength, and permanent deformation of facial silicone subjected to accelerated aging.

Statement Of Problem: The efficiency of adding nanoparticles to silicone protection has proven to prevent color degradation. However, reports of other physical property changes in facial silicone are scarce.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of adding nanoparticles on the hardness, tear strength, and permanent deformation of a facial silicone.

PhTx3-4, a Spider Toxin Calcium Channel Blocker, Reduces NMDA-Induced Injury of the Retina.

The in vivo neuroprotective effect of PhTx3-4, a spider toxin N-P/Q calcium channel blocker, was studied in a rat model of NMDA-induced injury of the retina. NMDA (N-Methyl-D-Aspartate)-induced retinal injury in rats reduced the b-wave amplitude by 62% ± 3.6%, indicating the severity of the insult.

Coconut water solutions for the preservation of spleen, ovary, and skin autotransplants in rats.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of coconut water in the preservation of spleen, ovary, and skin autotransplantations in rats.

Methods: Fifty female Wistar rats were divided randomly into 5 groups on the basis of the following tissue graft preservation solutions: group 1, lactated Ringer's; group 2, Belzer's solution; group 3, mature coconut water; group 4, green coconut water; and group 5, modified green coconut water. In group 5, the green coconut water solution was modified to obtain the same electrolyte composition as Belzer's solution.

Carnival or football, is there a real risk for acquiring dengue fever in Brazil during holidays seasons?

More than 600,000 football fans, coming from all over the world, were expected to visit Brazil during the FIFA World Cup 2014. International travel can become a public health problem when the visitors start to become sick, needing medical intervention and eventually hospitalization. The occurrence of dengue fever infections in Brazil is persistent and has been increasing since the 1980s, and the health authorities were expected to take preventive measures and to warn the visitors about the risks during the tournament period.

Morphological changes in the liver and kidneys of rats subjected to terminal ileum exclusion during obstructive cholestasis.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of ileal exclusion on hepatic and renal morphology in extra-hepatic cholestasis.

Methods: Twenty four rats were distributed into three groups. Group 1 (control) underwent laparotomy and laparorrhaphy.

Comparison of transperineal mapping biopsy results with whole-mount radical prostatectomy pathology in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Objective. We sought to evaluate the accuracy of transperineal mapping biopsy (TMB) by comparing it to the pathology specimen of patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) for localized prostate cancer. Methods.

Effects of human chorionic gonadotropin on the normal testicular tissue of rats.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the testicular tissue of young male rats.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were assigned to groups (10 rats/group).Control Group received subcutaneous saline solution; Group 1 received hCG 50 UI/Kg/dose; and Group 2 received hCG 100 UI/Kg/dose, daily for 15 days.

Impetigo - review.

Impetigo is a common cutaneous infection that is especially prevalent in children. Historically, impetigo is caused by either group A β-hemolytic streptococci or Staphylococcus aureus. Currently, the most frequently isolated pathogen is S.

Male sexual function after total mesorectal excision: a comparison between laparoscopic and open surgery during the learning curve period.

Introduction: This study assessed male sexual function using a specific and validated questionnaire, the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), in patients subjected to open total mesorectal excision (OTME) and laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LTME) and compared it with a control group.

Patients And Methods: The inclusion criteria consisted of male patients with an active sexual life before surgery subjected to OTME or LTME at the Coloproctological Unit of the Clinics Hospital, Minas Gerais Federal University, between January 2005 and September 2009. The IIEF questionnaire was used.

Epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine with or without clonidine and postoperative pain in hemorrhoidectomies.

Purpose: To determine the safety, pain intensity correlated with age and body mass index (BMI), epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine and clonidine in hemorrhoidectomy.

Methods: Eighty patients, both genders, 20-70 years old, ASA I or II, for hemorrhoidectomy were randomly divided into two groups: Control (n=38), epidural anesthesia with 14 mL of ropivacaine 0.75 % plus 0.

Giant congenital melanocytic nevus.

Giant congenital melanocytic nevus is usually defined as a melanocytic lesion present at birth that will reach a diameter ≥ 20 cm in adulthood. Its incidence is estimated in <1:20,000 newborns. Despite its rarity, this lesion is important because it may associate with severe complications such as malignant melanoma, affect the central nervous system (neurocutaneous melanosis), and have major psychosocial impact on the patient and his family due to its unsightly appearance.

Virologic and immunologic effectiveness at 48 weeks of darunavir-ritonavir-based regimens in treatment-experienced persons living with HIV-1 infection in clinical practice: a multicenter Brazilian cohort.

Introduction: Published data addressing the effectiveness of darunavir-ritonavir (DRV/r)-based therapy for multiexperienced patients in developing countries are scarce. This study evaluated the 48-week virologic and immunologic effectiveness of salvage therapy based on DRV/r for the treatment of multidrug-experienced HIV-1-infected adults in Brazil.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was carried out with multidrug-experienced adults who were on a failing antiretroviral therapy and started a DRV/r-based salvage therapy between 2008 and 2010.