ABSTRACT Objective: To report outcomes from the largest multicenter series of penile cancer patients undergoing video endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (VEIL). Materials and Methods: Retrospective multicenter analysis. Authors of 21 centers from the Penile Cancer Collaborative Coalition-Latin America (PeC-LA) were included. All centers performed the procedure following the same previously described standardized technique. Inclusion criteria included penile cancer patients with no palpable lymph nodes and intermediate/high-risk disease and those with non-fixed palpable lymph nodes less than 4 cm in diameter. Categorical variables are shown as percentages and frequencies whereas continuous variables as mean and range. Results: From 2006 to 2020, 210 VEIL procedures were performed in 105 patients. Mean age was 58 (45-68) years old. Mean operative time was 90 minutes (60-120). Mean lymph node yield was 10 nodes (6-16). Complication rate was 15.7%, including severe complications in 1.9% of procedures. Lymphatic and skin complications were noted in 8.6 and 4.8% of patients, respectively. Histopathological analysis revealed lymph node involvement in 26.7% of patients with non-palpable nodes. Inguinal recurrence was observed in 2.8% of patients. 10y- overall survival was 74.2% and 10-y cancer specific survival was 84.8%. CSS for pN0, pN1, pN2 and pN3 were 100%, 82.4%, 72.7% and 9.1%, respectively. Conclusion: VEIL seems to offer appropriate long term oncological control with minimal morbidity. In the absence of non-invasive stratification measures such as dynamic sentinel node biopsy, VEIL emerged as the alternative for the management of non-bulky lymph nodes in penile cancer.

Hypertension is one of the primary modifiable risk factors for morbidity and mortality worldwide, being a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Furthermore, it is highly prevalent, affecting more than one-third of the global population. Blood pressure measurement is a MANDATORY procedure in any medical care setting and is carried out by various healthcare professionals. However, it is still commonly performed without the necessary technical care. Since the diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurement, it is clear how important it is to handle the techniques, methods, and equipment used in its execution with care. It should be emphasized that once the diagnosis is made, all short-term, medium-term, and long-term investigations and treatments are based on the results of blood pressure measurement. Therefore, improper techniques and/or equipment can lead to incorrect diagnoses, either underestimating or overestimating values, resulting in inappropriate actions and significant health and economic losses for individuals and nations. Once the correct diagnosis is made, as knowledge of the importance of proper treatment advances, with the adoption of more detailed normal values and careful treatment objectives towards achieving stricter blood pressure goals, the importance of precision in blood pressure measurement is also reinforced. Blood pressure measurement (described below) is usually performed using the traditional method, the so-called casual or office measurement. Over time, alternatives have been added to it, through the use of semi-automatic or automatic devices by the patients themselves, in waiting rooms or outside the office, in their own homes, or in public spaces. A step further was taken with the use of semi-automatic devices equipped with memory that allow sequential measurements outside the office (ABPM; or HBPM) and other automatic devices that allow programmed measurements over longer periods (HBPM). Some aspects of blood pressure measurement can interfere with obtaining reliable results and, consequently, cause harm in decision-making. These include the importance of using average values, the variation in blood pressure during the day, and short-term variability. These aspects have encouraged the performance of a greater number of measurements in various situations, and different guidelines have advocated the use of equipment that promotes these actions. Devices that perform HBPM or ABPM, which, in addition to allowing greater precision, when used together, detect white coat hypertension (WCH), masked hypertension (MH), sleep blood pressure alterations, and resistant hypertension (RHT) (defined in Chapter 2 of this guideline), are gaining more and more importance. Taking these details into account, we must emphasize that information related to diagnosis, classification, and goal setting is still based on office blood pressure measurement, and for this reason, all attention must be given to the proper execution of this procedure.

La hipertensión arterial (HTA) es uno de los principales factores de riesgo modificables para la morbilidad y mortalidad en todo el mundo, siendo uno de los mayores factores de riesgo para la enfermedad de las arterias coronarias, el accidente cerebrovascular (ACV) y la insuficiencia renal. Además, es altamente prevalente y afecta a más de un tercio de la población mundial. La medición de la presión arterial (PA) es un procedimiento OBLIGATORIO en cualquier atención médica o realizado por diferentes profesionales de la salud. Sin embargo, todavía se realiza comúnmente sin los cuidados técnicos necesarios. Dado que el diagnóstico se basa en la medición de la PA, es claro el cuidado que debe haber con las técnicas, los métodos y los equipos utilizados en su realización. Debemos enfatizar que una vez realizado el diagnóstico, todas las investigaciones y tratamientos a corto, mediano y largo plazo se basan en los resultados de la medición de la PA. Por lo tanto, las técnicas y/o equipos inadecuados pueden llevar a diagnósticos incorrectos, subestimando o sobreestimando valores y resultando en conductas inadecuadas y pérdidas significativas para la salud y la economía de las personas y las naciones. Una vez realizado el diagnóstico correcto, a medida que avanza el conocimiento sobre la importancia del tratamiento adecuado, con la adopción de valores de normalidad más detallados y objetivos de tratamiento más cuidadosos hacia metas de PA más estrictas, también se refuerza la importancia de la precisión en la medición de la PA. La medición de la PA (descrita a continuación) generalmente se realiza mediante el método tradicional, la llamada medición casual o de consultorio. Con el tiempo, se han agregado alternativas a través del uso de dispositivos semiautomáticos o automáticos por parte del propio paciente, en salas de espera o fuera del consultorio, en su propia residencia o en espacios públicos. Se dio un paso más con el uso de dispositivos semiautomáticos equipados con memoria que permiten mediciones secuenciales fuera del consultorio (AMPA; o MRPA) y otros automáticos que permiten mediciones programadas durante períodos más largos (MAPA). Algunos aspectos en la medición de la PA pueden interferir en la obtención de resultados confiables y, en consecuencia, causar daños en las decisiones a tomar. Estos incluyen la importancia de usar valores promedio, la variación de la PA durante el día y la variabilidad a corto plazo. Estos aspectos han alentado la realización de un mayor número de mediciones en diversas situaciones, y diferentes pautas han abogado por el uso de equipos que promuevan estas acciones. Los dispositivos que realizan MRPA o MAPA, que además de permitir una mayor precisión, cuando se usan juntos, detectan la hipertensión de bata blanca (HBB), la hipertensión enmascarada (HM), las alteraciones de la PA durante el sueño y la hipertensión resistente (HR) (definida en el Capítulo 2 de esta guía), están ganando cada vez más importancia. Teniendo en cuenta estos detalles, debemos enfatizar que la información relacionada con el diagnóstico, la clasificación y el establecimiento de objetivos todavía se basa en la medición de la presión arterial en el consultorio, y por esta razón, se debe prestar toda la atención a la ejecución adecuada de este procedimiento.

A hipertensão arterial (HA) é um dos principais fatores de risco modificáveis para morbidade e mortalidade em todo o mundo, sendo um dos maiores fatores de risco para doença arterial coronária, acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) e insuficiência renal. Além disso, é altamente prevalente e atinge mais de um terço da população mundial. A medida da PA é procedimento OBRIGATÓRIO em qualquer atendimento médico ou realizado por diferentes profissionais de saúde. Contudo, ainda é comumente realizada sem os cuidados técnicos necessários. Como o diagnóstico se baseia na medida da PA, fica claro o cuidado que deve haver com as técnicas, os métodos e os equipamentos utilizados na sua realização. Deve-se reforçar que, feito o diagnóstico, toda a investigação e os tratamentos de curto, médio e longo prazos são feitos com base nos resultados da medida da PA. Assim, técnicas e/ou equipamentos inadequados podem levar a diagnósticos incorretos, tanto subestimando quanto superestimando valores e levando a condutas inadequadas e grandes prejuízos à saúde e à economia das pessoas e das nações. Uma vez feito o diagnóstico correto, na medida em que avança o conhecimento da importância do tratamento adequado, com a adoção de valores de normalidade mais detalhados e com objetivos de tratamento mais cuidadosos no sentido do alcance de metas de PA mais rigorosas, fica também reforçada a importância da precisão na medida da PA. A medida da PA (descrita a seguir) é habitualmente feita pelo método tradicional, a assim chamada medida casual ou de consultório. Ao longo do tempo, foram agregadas alternativas a ela, mediante o uso de equipamentos semiautomáticos ou automáticos pelo próprio paciente, nas salas de espera ou fora do consultório, em sua própria residência ou em espaços públicos. Um passo adiante foi dado com o uso de equipamentos semiautomáticos providos de memória que permitem medidas sequenciais fora do consultório (AMPA; ou MRPA) e outros automáticos que permitem medidas programadas por períodos mais prolongados (MAPA). Alguns aspectos na medida da PA podem interferir na obtenção de resultados fidedignos e, consequentemente, causar prejuízo nas condutas a serem tomadas. Entre eles, estão: a importância de serem utilizados valores médios, a variação da PA durante o dia e a variabilidade a curto prazo. Esses aspectos têm estimulado a realização de maior número de medidas em diversas situações, e as diferentes diretrizes têm preconizado o uso de equipamentos que favoreçam essas ações. Ganham cada vez mais espaço os equipamentos que realizam MRPA ou MAPA, que, além de permitirem maior precisão, se empregados em conjunto, detectam a HA do avental branco (HAB), HA mascarada (HM), alterações da PA no sono e HA resistente (HAR) (definidos no Capítulo 2 desta diretriz). Resguardados esses detalhes, devemos ressaltar que as informações relacionadas a diagnóstico, classificação e estabelecimento de metas ainda são baseadas na medida da PA de consultório e, por esse motivo, toda a atenção deve ser dada à realização desse procedimento.

Abstract Objective Describe the epidemiological profile and social-economic burden that hydrocephalus patients represent to the national public health system, using data available at the online database of the Brazilian Health Ministry (DataSUS). Methods This is a populational study based on descriptive statistics of all clinical and surgical appointments included in the DataSUS database. Data included herein were collected between 2015 and 2021 and subdivided into three main groups, related to hydrocephalus incidence and mortality, hospitalizations, and financial costs. Results In the study period, 3993 new cases of congenital hydrocephalus were diagnosed, with 6051 deaths overall. The mortality rate in the country was 1.5/100000 live births and the prevalence was 0.374/100000 inhabitants. The number of hospitalizations resulting from treatment procedures and complications of hydrocephalus was 137,880 and there was a reduction of up to 27.2% during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemics concerning previous years. Total costs for hydrocephalus management in the country amounted to 140,610,585.51 dollars. Conclusions Hydrocephalus has a significant impact on public health budgets and pediatric mortality rates; however, it is probably underestimated, due to the paucity of demographic data and epidemiological studies in Latin America and, specifically, in Brazil. The dataSUS also has several limitations in accessing certain data related to hydrocephalus, making it difficult to have a more assertive understanding of the disease in Brazil. The results of this study provide important guidance for future research projects in clinical and experimental hydrocephalus and also the creation of public policies for better governance and care of hydrocephalus patients.

RESUMO O desempenho dos subsoladores pode ser influenciado pelos restos culturais no solo através dos diferentes tipos de cobertura vegetal. Em qualquer um desses sistemas de cobertura, o uso de subsoladores para descompactação altera as propriedades físicas do solo. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os atributos físicos do solo em tipos de manejo sob diferentes velocidades de deslocamento e profundidades na operação de subsolagem. O experimento foi conduzido no IF Goiano, Campus Morrinhos, Goiás, Brasil. O delineamento inteiramente casualizado foi usado em esquema de parcelas subdivididas com 12 tratamentos e cinco repetições, totalizando 60 plarcelas. Os fatores corresponderam a duas áreas de manejo (sequeiro e pastagem), duas velocidades de operação de subsolagem (2,5 e 4,5 km h-1) e três profundidades do solo (0,00-0,015; 0,15-0,30 e 0,30-0,45 m). A parcela principal foi constituída pelas duas áreas de manejo e a subparcela a combinação dos outros dois fatores. Foram avaliados a resistência à penetração, densidade do solo, teor de água, mobilização do solo e expansão volumétrica do solo. Posteriormente, os valores encontrados foram submetidos à análise de variância e teste de Tukey p ≤ 0,05. A resistência à penetração e a densidade aparente foram diferentes antes e após a subsolagem. As velocidades de subsolagem alteraram os valores de resistência à penetração e mobilização do solo. As áreas de pastagem apresentaram maior resistência à penetração das raízes e proporcionaram menor teor de água e favoreceram maior expansão volumétrica do solo.

ABSTRACT Subsoiler performance can be influenced by crop residue in the soil through different types of vegetation cover. In any of these cover systems, the use of subsoilers for decompaction changes soil physical properties. The present study aimed to evaluate soil physical properties in different management systems using several subsoiling speeds and soil depths. The experiment was conducted at IF Goiano, Morrinhos Campus, Goiás state, Brazil. A completely randomized design was used in a split-plot scheme with 12 treatments and five replicates, totaling 60 plots. The factors corresponded to two management areas (rainfed and pasture), two subsoiling speeds (2.5 and 4.5 km h-1) and three soil depths (0.00-0.015; 0.15-0.30 and 0.30-0.45 m). The main plot consisted of the two management areas and the subplot the combination of the other two factors. Penetration resistance, bulk density, water content, soil mobilization and soil volumetric expansion were evaluated. The results were then submitted to analysis of variance and Tukey’s test (p ≤ 0.05). Penetration resistance and bulk density differed before and after subsoiling. The subsoiling speeds altered penetration resistance and soil mobilization. Pasture areas showed greater root penetration resistance, provided lower water content and favored greater soil volumetric expansion.

Resumo O reparo por excisão de nucleotídeos (NER) atua reparando danos no DNA, como lesões causadas por cisplatina. A proteína Xeroderma Pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC) está envolvida no reconhecimento de danos pela via de reparação global do genoma pelo NER (GG-NER) e tem sido estudada em diferentes organismos devido à sua importância em outros processos celulares. Neste trabalho, estudamos proteínas do NER em Trypanosoma cruzi e Trypanosoma evansi, parasitos de humanos e animais, respectivamente. Modelos tridimensionais das proteínas XPC de T. cruzi e T. evansi foram feitos e observou-se poucas diferenças estruturais entre estas proteínas. Durante testes, a inserção do gene XPC de T. evansi (TevXPC) em T. cruzi resultou em crescimento celular mais lento em condições normais. Após o tratamento com cisplatina, T. cruzi superexpressando seu próprio gene XPC (TcXPC) foi capaz de recuperar as taxas de divisão celular mais rapidamente do que T. cruzi expressando o gene TevXPC. Com base nesses testes, sugere-se que TevXPC (sendo uma proteína exógena em T. cruzi) interfere negativamente nos processos celulares em que TcXPC (a proteína endógena) está envolvida. Isso provavelmente ocorreu pois TevXPC é capaz de interagir com algumas moléculas ou proteínas endógenas de T.cruzi, mas é incapaz de interagir com outras. Isso reforça a importância do correto funcionamento de XPC dentro da célula.

Abstract Nucleotide excision repair (NER) acts repairing damages in DNA, such as lesions caused by cisplatin. Xeroderma Pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC) protein is involved in recognition of global genome DNA damages during NER (GG-NER) and it has been studied in different organisms due to its importance in other cellular processes. In this work, we studied NER proteins in Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma evansi, parasites of humans and animals respectively. We performed three-dimensional models of XPC proteins from T. cruzi and T. evansi and observed few structural differences between these proteins. In our tests, insertion of XPC gene from T. evansi (TevXPC) in T. cruzi resulted in slower cell growth under normal conditions. After cisplatin treatment, T. cruzi overexpressing its own XPC gene (TcXPC) was able to recover cell division rates faster than T. cruzi expressing TevXPC gene. Based on these tests, it is suggested that TevXPC (being an exogenous protein in T. cruzi) interferes negatively in cellular processes where TcXPC (the endogenous protein) is involved. This probably occurred due interaction of TevXPC with some endogenous molecules or proteins from T.cruzi but incapacity of interaction with others. This reinforces the importance of correctly XPC functioning within the cell.

RESUMO Objetivo: pesquisas sobre board interlocks vêm crescendo nos últimos anos, com foco no entendimento da composição dos conselhos assim como suas relações com conselhos de outras companhias. Esses estudos normalmente requerem múltiplos procedimentos de extração, tratamento e análise de dados para a criação e análise das redes sociais. Entretanto, esses procedimentos não são padronizados, havendo uma falta de estudos metodológicos com instruções para tornar este processo mais simples. Assim, este tutorial pretende descrever a sequência lógica de passos a serem percorridos para realização da coleta de dados, tratamento, mapeamento e análise das redes sociais, para prover aos pesquisadores os insumos necessários para replicação desses procedimentos em suas pesquisas. Nesse sentido, este tutorial contribui com a literatura no campo de pesquisa da administração por propor uma metodologia para condução de pesquisas em board interlocks. Proposta: o tutorial descreve e exemplifica a extração e tratamento dos dados das empresas e seus conselheiros, o uso destes dados no mapeamento das redes de board interlock e a medição de suas propriedades estruturais, utilizando uma ferramenta open source, o software estatístico R. Conclusões: nossa principal contribuição é fornecer um tutorial que orienta o processo de mapeamento e análise dos board interlocks, tornando-o mais acessível aos pesquisadores que desejam adotar esta abordagem de pesquisa.

ABSTRACT Objective: the literature on board interlocks has increased in recent years, focusing on understanding board composition and its relationships with other companies’ boards. Such studies usually require multiple procedures of data extraction, handling, and analysis to create and analyze social networks. However, these procedures are not standardized, and there is a lack of methodological instructions available to make this process easier for researchers. This tutorial intends to describe the logical steps taken to collect data, treat them, and map and measure the network properties to provide researchers with the sources to replicate it in their own research. We contribute to the literature in the management field by proposing an empirical methodological approach to conduct board interlocks’ research. Proposal: our tutorial describes and provides examples of data collection, directors’ data treatment, and the use of these data to map and measure network structural properties using an open-source tool - R statistical software. Conclusions: our main contribution is a tutorial detailing the steps required to map and analyze board interlocks, making this process easier, standardized, and more accessible for all researchers who wish to develop social network analysis studies.

ABSTRACT The expression ‘you need to know to conserve’ is a well-known cliche among biologists. Documenting the richness of a group of organisms is the first step towards understanding biodiversity and preparing efficient conservation plans. In this context, many efforts have been made to quantify the number of species on Earth and estimate the number of species still unknown to science. A few countries have complete and integrated databases estimating the approximate number of species recorded for their territory, particularly in the Global South. In Brazil, a country of continental dimensions, revealing the richness of the second most diverse clade of invertebrates (=Mollusca) has been a goal of taxonomists. Recently, in an unprecedented, collective, and integrated effort among Brazilian malacologists, it was possible to estimate how many valid species of molluscs are there in Brazil. In this effort, more than 30 mollusc experts joined together to update the Taxonomic Catalogue of the Brazilian Fauna (TCBF), a governmental website that allows a quick and real-time updating of all Metazoan. So far, more than 5,000 updates have been made in TCBF, indicating the presence of 3,552 valid species of molluscs in Brazil, distributed among the main clades as follows: Caudofoveata (10 spp.), Solenogastres (6 spp.), Polyplacophora (35 spp.), Scaphopoda (43 spp.), Cephalopoda (92 spp.), Bivalvia (629 spp.) and Gastropoda (2,737 spp.). The present study, in addition to demonstrating for the first time the richness of Brazilian molluscs, also presents the state of the art of this important phylum of invertebrates highlighting its most representative and neglected groups.

Abstract The in vitro anthelmintic activity of essential oils from the Lamiaceae family species against Ancylostoma spp. eggs was evaluated, as well as the chemical composition by GC/MS of these essential oils. The major chemical compounds for O. vulgare were 4-terpineol, while for the essential oil of O. majorana, o 4-terpineol, and for the oil of R. officinalis it was observed cineole as major components. For this, hatchability tests were performed, where the parasite eggs were exposed to concentrations of 0.07% to 2.5% of the essential oils of Origanum vulgare, Origanum majorana and Rosmarinus officinalis. The assay was accompanied by a control with thiabendazole hydrochloride, a control with distilled water and a control with tween 80. The chemical composition of each essential oil sample was determined by gas chromatography. It was observed that all oils showed ovicidal action, and the percentage of inhibition of hatchability of R. officinalis oil was greater than 90% at concentrations from 0.62% to 2.5%. As for the essential oils of O. vulgare and O. majorana, the concentrations of 0.31% to 2.5% were those that presented an inhibitory percentage greater than 90%. Thus, this study showed that the essential oils of R. officinalis, O. vulgare and O. majorana inhibit the hatchability of Ancylostoma spp., being promising for the control of this helminth.

RESUMO A tripanossomíase bovina é causada pelo protozoário Trypanosoma vivax. A transmissão biológica ocorre apenas no continente africano pela mosca Tsé-tsé, de forma mecânica por dípteros hematófagos em todos os continentes, ou pelo compartilhamento de agulhas e por práticas associadas. O estudo teve como objetivo relatar o primeiro diagnóstico parasitológico, sorológico e molecular de T. vivax em bovinos leiteiros provenientes de cinco propriedades do município de Unaí, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Cento e quinze animais selecionados por conveniência apresentavam sinais clínicos ou pertenciam a lotes de animais suspeitos. Foram detectados positivos pelos testes parasitológico (técnica de Woo), sorológico (ELISA) e molecular (LAMP). A maior prevalência global para T. vivax foi de 11,11% na propriedade A. O único sinal clínico dos animais positivos estudados foi baixa taxa de concepção. O primeiro diagnóstico de tripanossomíase no noroeste mineiro é extremamente importante, haja vista o tamanho do rebanho leiteiro da região e as possíveis perdas econômicas provocadas pela enfermidade. Ademais, faz-se necessário maior controle sanitário na região, uma vez que a transmissão no Brasil é intimamente ligada às práticas de compartilhamento de agulhas no manejo dos animais e ao parasitismo de moscas hematófagas.

ABSTRACT We sought to develop a typology describing structural, production, and socioeconomic characteristics of dairy systems that produce artisanal cheese and compare it with that of systems that produce only raw milk. Data on 204 raw milk producers and 58 artisanal cheese producers in Paraná State, Brazil, were collected through on-site surveys and subjected to descriptive analysis, factor analysis, and means tests. Descriptive analyses were applied to characterize the sample and artisanal cheese production processes. Factor analysis identified the following three typological components: system production capacity, herd breed and milking characteristics, and farmer social characteristics. Farmers were divided into two groups, as follows: non-cheese producers (NCP) and artisanal cheese producers (ACP). Groups of farmers were compared in terms of typological components. It was found that ACP have smaller structure and production scale and focus less on herd breed and practices for improving milk quality than NCP. These results suggest that artisanal cheese production is a strategy to add value to milk that does not meet institutional or market requirements for transactions with the dairy industry, providing a foothold for producers to remain in the dairy business. Groups of farmers (ACP and NCP) do not differ in social indicators of typology.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to assess the effects of two levels of soybean hulls (0 and 400.1 g/kg) and whole or ground corn in the diet of newborn crossbred dairy male calves on intake, performance, blood indicators, and feeding cost. Twenty-eight calves with an average weight of 33.0±6.2 kg and four days of age were distributed into four treatment groups in a completely randomized design (n = 7) for 56 days. Weekly samples of feed, diets, and leftovers were collected to determine dry matter and nutrient intakes. To evaluate apparent digestibility, samples were taken using titanium dioxide as a maker. Blood samples were also collected to evaluate blood indicators. The inclusion of soybean hulls resulted in greater neutral detergent fiber intake by the calves, but reduced their non-fibrous carbohydrates intake, which was also reduced by the use of whole corn in the diet. Although the total digestible nutrients content of diets decreased with the use of whole corn and inclusion of soybean hulls, its intake did not vary (0.75 kg/d), regardless of the factors analyzed. The apparent digestibilities of dry matter (0.87 kg/kg) and crude protein (0.89 kg/kg) were similar, resulting in similar performance between the animals, regardless of the factors analyzed. In the quantities evaluated, the use of soybean hulls or whole corn did not affect blood indicators and was insufficient to reduce feed costs; the cost of daily feed was $2.06, while the cost per kilogram of gain was $3.74. The inclusion of up to 400.1 g/kg of soybean hulls or the replacement of ground corn with whole corn does not affect the performance of crossbred dairy calves during the preweaning period, demonstrating that both can be used in animal feed during this phase of production.

Cancer treatment represents one of the main scientific study targets today, mainly due to the pronounced side effects arising from chemotherapy. This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and anticancer activity of ten compounds from the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction. Ethylene glycol diacrylate was used as a double Michael acceptor in reactions with isatin derivatives to give homodimers of 3-hydroxyindolin-2-one core, recognized in the literature for its extensive pharmacological profile. The use of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane (DABCO) as a catalyst and room temperature were the optimal conditions for the study reaction. The isolated yields were up to 63%, with most reaction times inferior to 24 h, some as fast as 15 min. The anticancer potential of the synthesized dimers was evaluated in vitro against three cancer strains, resulting in average inhibitory concentrations up to 0.72 µM. It was also found that the best performing homodimers are more active than their monomeric counterparts. Considering the promising selectivity indices observed, the preliminary results obtained here act as a basis for broader tests regarding the effectiveness of homodimeric adducts against cancer cells.

Electrospinning was used to produce poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based nanofibers containing nerolidol (NER) as the antimicrobial agent. The scanning electron microscopy results indicated the formation of homogeneous fibers in the absence of NER. However, its incorporation into the fiber prevented the complete solvent evaporation, ultimately leading to the coalescence of the fibers. It became more evident as the amount of NER increased from 0 to 50% m/v. The incorporation of NER also decreased the crystallinity of the fibers from 10 to ca. 6.5%. However, this decrease was not proportional to the concentration of NER. The contact angle results confirmed the presence of NER molecules on the surface of the fibers especially due to the increase of the contact angle from 0 (PVA/NER0) to 27.8º (PVA/NER50). The fibrous mats exhibited good antimicrobial activity, being even more efficient than the control in some cases, suggesting their potential for wound-dressing purposes.