Phosphorus is a non-renewable element essential for the existence of life and also for food security. This resource has the property of limiting plant growth, becoming a fundamental part of agricultural production. On the other hand, when this element is present in high concentrations in aquatic environments, it can start a phenomenon called eutrophication, which causes a series of changes in biological succession processes and strongly negative impacts on species’ biodiversity and wealth. In this context, this work aimed, from an extensive bibliographical review, to gather strategic and essential information related to phosphorus sustainability, provoking a reflection regarding scenarios that involve this indispensable nutrient, focusing on the current situation of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, an important case study, both for the Brazilian and international scenario, by a gathering of data on the current situation of two of the main watersheds in the corresponding region. Relevant technologies used for phosphorus removal in eutrophicated environments are also addressed. Finally, the possibility of reusing the nutrients present in eutrophicated water bodies as an alternative source of phosphate fertilizer for agriculture is demonstrated. nonrenewable non renewable security growth production hand eutrophication species wealth context aimed review sustainability nutrient Paulo Brazil study scenario region addressed Finally demonstrated

Resumo A produção de ceramida ocorre em todo o corpo e desempenha um papel importante na manutenção da fisiologia normal. No entanto, os níveis de ceramidas são alterados em estados de doença, principalmente durante o desenvolvimento de diabetes e dislipidemia. A produção de ceramidas também está associada à instabilidade das placas ateroscleróticas. Estudos recentes revelam que pacientes com doença arterial coronariana instável apresentam níveis plasmáticos aumentados de ceramidas (principalmente C16, C18 e C24:1). Atualmente, são consideradas biomarcadores emergentes nas doenças cardiovasculares, sendo utilizadas na predição de instabilidade da placa aterosclerótica e eventos cardiovasculares adversos de forma independente aos fatores de risco tradicionais. Com o objetivo de descrever e discutir o papel das ceramidas na estratificação das doenças cardiovasculares, o desenvolvimento desta revisão narrativa contextualiza a importância desse biomarcador no cenário atual da cardiologia.

Abstract Ceramide production takes place throughout the body and plays a key role in the maintenance of normal physiology. However, ceramide levels are altered during disease states, particularly considering the development of diabetes and dyslipidemia. Ceramide production is also associated with atherosclerotic plaque instability. Recent studies revealed that patients with unstable coronary artery disease (CAD) presented increased plasma ceramide levels (especially C16, C18, and C24:1). These molecules are currently considered emerging biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), being used for predicting atherosclerotic plaque instability and adverse cardiovascular events independently from traditional risk factors. With the aim of describing and discussing the role of ceramides in the stratification of cardiovascular diseases, this narrative review contextualizes the importance of this biomarker in the present cardiology scenario.

Resumo A contaminação bacteriana dos componentes sanguíneos é um grande desafio na medicina transfusional, principalmente nos concentrados de plaquetas (PCs) devido às condições de armazenamento que favorecem a proliferação bacteriana. Neste estudo, desenvolvemos um protocolo de PCR em tempo real rápido, sensível e específico para a triagem bacteriana de PCs. Um método baseado em PCR em tempo real, controlado internamente, foi otimizado e validado com um Master Mix Universal PCR 16S (IBMP / Fiocruz), que detecta uma região conservada do gene 16S rRNA bacteriano. O background de DNA não específico foi completamente eliminado tratando a PCR Master Mix com monoazida de etídio (EMA). O limite de detecção inferior observado foi de 10 cópias equivalentes do genoma com um valor de Ct 34 ± 1,07, a curva de calibração foi gerada com diluições seriada de 10 vezes do DNA de E. coli. O tempo de processamento, incluindo a purificação microbiana do DNA, foi de aproximadamente 4 horas. O método desenvolvido mostrou alta sensibilidade sem amplificação inespecífica e menor tempo de detecção do que os métodos microbiológicos tradicionais, demonstrando ser um meio eficiente de triagem de PCs pré-transfusionais.

Abstract Bacterial contamination of blood components remains a major challenge in transfusion medicine, particularly, platelet concentrates (PCs) due to the storage conditions that support bacterial proliferation. In this study, we develop a rapid, sensitive and specific real-time PCR protocol for bacterial screening of PCs. An internally controlled real-time PCR-based method was optimized and validated with our proprietary 16S Universal PCR Master Mix (IBMP/Fiocruz), which targets a conserved region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Nonspecific background DNA was completely eliminated by treating the PCR Master Mix with ethidium monoazide (EMA). A lower limit of detection was observed for 10 genome equivalents with an observed Ct value of 34±1.07 in calibration curve generated with 10-fold serial dilutions of E. coli DNA. The turnaround time for processing, including microbial DNA purification, was approximately 4 hours. The developed method showed a high sensitivity with no non-specific amplification and a lower time-to-detection than traditional microbiological methods, demonstrating it to be an efficient means of screening pre-transfusion PCs.

ABSTRACT The simulation of terrestrial ecosystem processes, using numerical biosphere-atmosphere models that can be coupled to the Atmospheric Models, assist in a better diagnosis and forecast of climate and weather. To be able to represent a particular region, biome or ecosystem, the model parameters need to be fitted for local conditions. This work aims to assess the Luus-Jaakola (LJ) method in the optimization of the parameters in a two-stream radiative transfer model applied to a vegetation canopy. Solar radiation components (incident, S ↓, and reflected, S ↑) were measured above a sugarcane crop in a Tropical region from February 17 to 24, 2006. Among the combinations of internal and external iterations evaluated for Luss-Jaakola method, 60/30 (external/internal) iterations presented more precise albedo ( α = S ↑ / S ↓ ) simulated ( r 2 = 0 . 7386 ) and, for the accuracy of the simulated α, even though the 60/40 combination had the smallest percentual error (6.40%), the 60/30 combination was 0.03% higher. The precision and accuracy of S ↑ was greater with the parameters obtained by the inverse problem with the combination of 60/30 (external/internal) iterations respectively. In general, the behavior of simulated S ↑ at the top of the canopy was underestimated compared to the observed S ↑, especially in the early morning. For the simulated α at the top of the canopy, the model’s overestimation was observed at the lowest values of albedo. When the largest albedos are observed, only at the beginning of the day the model underestimated the values. As shown by the tests result, the parameters optimized by Luus-Jaakola method have an adequate representation of the observed data.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety of intramyocardial injection of autologous bone marrow cells in patients undergoing surgical myocardial revascularization (CABG) for severe coronary artery disease. INTRODUCTION: There is little data available regarding the safety profile of autologous bone marrow cells injected during surgical myocardial revascularization. Potential risks include arrythmias, fibrosis in the injected sites and growth of non-cardiac tissues. METHODS: Ten patients (eight men) were enrolled; they were 59±5 years old with limiting angina and were non-optimal candidates for complete CABG. Bone marrow cells (1.3±0.3x10(8)) were obtained prior to surgery, and the lymphomonocytic fraction (CD34+=1.8±0.3%) was separated by density gradient centrifugation. During surgery, bone marrow cells were injected in non-grafted areas of ischemic myocardium. During the first year after surgery, the patients underwent laboratory tests, cardiac imaging, and 24-hour ECG monitoring. RESULTS: Injected segments: inferior (n=7), anterior (n=2), septal (n=1), apical (n=1), and lateral (n=1) walls. Except for a transient elevation of C-reactive protein at one month post-surgery (P=0.01), laboratory tests results were within normal ranges; neither complex arrhythmias nor structural abnormalities were detected during follow-up. There was a reduction in functional class of angina from 3.6±0.8 (baseline) to 1.2±0.4 (one year) (P<0.0001). Also, patients had a significant decrease in the ischemic score assessed by magnetic resonance, not only globally from 0.65±0.14 (baseline) to 0.17±0.05 (one year) (P=0.002), but also in the injected areas from 1.11±0.20 (baseline) to 0.34±0.13 (one year) (P=0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: Intramyocardial injection of bone marrow cells combined with CABG appears to be safe. Theoretical concerns with arrhythmias and/or structural abnormalities after cell therapy were not confirmed in this safety trial.

A uricemia foi estudada em uma amostra de 192 indivíduos de uma região altamente endêmica para a doença de Chagas (Bambuí, Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil). A amostra continha 50 indivíduos sorologicamente negativos (controles) e os positivos foram classificados na base da presença de alterações eletrocardiográficas (63), esvaziamento esofagiano alterado (16), ou ausência de sinais ou sintomas da doença (76). Somente os indivíduos com a forma digestiva da doença de Chagas crônico mostraram hiperuricemia, quando comparados com controles adequados. Dados familiares sugerem que a hiperuricemia é um efeito da patologia digestiva em vez de causa, uma vez que os irmãos não afetados dos pacientes com megaesôfago não apresentaram níveis elevados de ácido úrico sérico. São postulados alguns mecanismos possivelmente responsáveis pelos achados.

Uricemia was studied in a sample of 192 individuals from a highly endemic site for Chagas' disease (Bambuí, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil). The sample had serologically negative individuals (controls) and the positive ones were classified on the basis of the presence of electrocardiographic alterations (63), altered esophageal emptying (16), or without any sign on sympton of the disease (76). Only the individuals with the digestive form of chronic Chagas' disease showed hyperuricemia, when compared with the appropriate controls. Family data suggest that hyperuricemia is an effect of the digestive pathology, rather than a cause, since the non-infected sibs of the megaesophagous patients did not show elevated levesl of serum uric acid. Possible mechanisms responsible for these findings are postulated.