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Investigate the immediate effects of Kinesio Taping® on neuromuscular performance of femoral quadriceps and balance in individuals submitted to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. This is a randomized clinical trial. Forty-seven male participants, between 12 and 17 weeks after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, underwent initial assessment consisting of postural balance analysis using baropodometry, followed by eccentric and concentric isokinetic assessment at 60°/s of knee extensors, concomitant to electromyographic signals captured from the vastus lateralis muscle. They were then randomly allocated to one of the following groups: control, placebo and Kinesio Taping®. Kinesio Taping® group participants were submitted to Kinesio Taping® on the femoral quadriceps of the affected limb, while placebo group subjects used the same procedure without the tension proposed by the method. The control group remained at rest for 10min. All participants were reassessed following the same procedure as the initial evaluation. The following variables were analyzed: peak torque/body weight and muscle potential using dynamometry; amplitude of antero-posterior and latero-lateral displacement from the center of pressure using baropodometry; and amplitude of muscle activation (root mean square) applying surface electromyography. None of the variables analyzed showed significant intergroup or intragroup differences. Kinesio Taping® does not alter the neuromuscular performance of femoral quadriceps or balance of subjects submitted to anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, for any of the variables analyzed.

In this study, different proportions of gypsum composite reinforced with recycled cellulose fibers and expanded polystyrene were produced to study the properties of thermal conductivity, density, and flexural strength to be used as sealing plates to improve the thermal comfort of buildings. Different gypsum matrix composites were produced with varied proportions of cellulose fiber and expanded polystyrene, to analyze the influence of residues on the properties of the material. The thermal conductivity obtained for composites with greater amounts of expanded polystyrene was 0.18 W/mK, a 48% reduction in relation to plasterboard, improving thermal performance. The flexural strength was also analyzed, which met the minimum strength requirement for use as gypsum composites, however, it is not enough to be used in places that require mechanical resistance, thus it is indicated for sealing plates applications, improving the thermal performance of places where only plasterboard is used.

High levels of roughage in the diet reduce energy density and limit voluntary intake due to ruminal physical constraints. In this context, extrusion processing can improve digestibility and enable greater fiber inclusion in the diet, thereby improving animal performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance, body composition, and ingestive behavior of lambs that were fed different proportions of extruded roughage to concentrate (R:C). Twenty lambs, weighing 25.0 ± 2.8 kg and aged 120 ± 8 d, were distributed in a completely randomized design and fed one of four proportions of roughage to concentrate: 30:70; 40:60; 50:50; or 60:40. Lambs were housed in collective pens throughout the experimental period. Body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS), body conformation (in vivo biometric measurements), average daily gain (ADG, g/d), and in vivo carcass characteristics were not influenced by the treatments (p>0.05). An increase in roughage levels linearly increased total chewing time (TCT) (p<0.05). In contrast, idle time (IT) decreased linearly (p<0.05). There was a quadratic and positive linear effect of evaluation day (p<0.05) for BW, BCS, in vivo biometric measurements, ADG during the periods between 15–30 d (p=0.03) and 75–90 d (p<0.05), and in vivo carcass characteristics (p<0.05). There was an interaction between R:C ratio and the day of assessment for loin eye area, with day 84 superior to day 0 (p<0.05). The inclusion of higher levels of roughage in fully extruded diets increases TCT and decreases IT without affecting productive performance or body composition in sheep.

Background: COVID-19 mainly affects the respiratory system, although its manifestations are multisystemic. We are increasingly recognizing complications that present after the acute phase, which are associated with impaired functional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective was to assess the functional status and HRQoL of patients with post-COVID-19. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving individuals affected by COVID-19 who had persistent symptoms for one month after the acute phase of the disease. Functional status was measured with the six-minute walk test (6MWT), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the Medical Research Council (MRC) Dyspnea Scale, and the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale (PCFS). HRQoL was confirmed with the Short-Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36). Results: We included 123 patients; 73 (59.35%) were male, with a mean age of 49.17 ± 13.48 years and a body mass index of 31.02 ± 6.56 stratified into three groups: the not-recovered group (NRG = 23), the ward-recovered group (WHG = 60), and the intensive-care-unit group (ICUG = 40). The main symptoms were muscle weakness (74.17%) and dyspnea (68.33%). The predicted distances for the 6MWT were missed by 12.83% by the GNR group, 20.21% by the GNR group, and 28.82% by the UGCI group. The MRC dyspnea scale had a mean value of less than 3, and the FSS scale had a mean value of over 4, indicating considerable fatigue. In the PCFS scale, a significant difference was observed (p < 0.0005), while in the SF-36, all HRQoL domains were compromised. Conclusion: Post-COVID-19 patients involved in this study showed a significant decline in functional status and an impairment of HRQoL.

Obesity is a troubling public health problem as it increases risks of sleep disorders, respiratory complications, systemic arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). As a measure to counteract comorbidities associated with severe obesity, bariatric surgery stands out. This study aimed to investigate the adiponectin/leptin ratio in women with severe obesity with and without MetS who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and to characterize the biochemical, glucose, and inflammatory parameters of blood in women with severe obesity before and after RYGB. Were enrolled females with severe obesity undergoing RYGP with MetS (n = 11) and without (n = 39). Anthropometric data and circulating levels of glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), adiponectin, and leptin were assessed before and 6 months after RYGB. Significant reductions in weight, body mass index, and glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, and leptin were observed after surgery, with higher levels of HDL, adiponectin, and adiponectin/leptin ratio being observed after surgery compared to the preoperative values of those. This study demonstrated that weight loss induced by RYGB in patients with severe obesity with or without MetS improved biochemical and systemic inflammatory parameters, particularly the adiponectin/leptin ratio.

Background Mothers of preterm infants often have symptoms of anxiety and depression, recognized as risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases and associated with low rates of heart rate variability (HRV). This study aimed to evaluate the influence of music therapy intervention on the autonomic control of heart rate, anxiety, and depression in mothers. Methods Prospective randomized clinical trial including 21 mothers of preterms admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital, recruited from August 2015 to September 2017, and divided into control group (CG; n  = 11) and music therapy group (MTG; n  = 10). Participants underwent anxiety and depression evaluation, as well as measurements of the intervals between consecutive heartbeats or RR intervals for the analysis of HRV at the first and the last weeks of hospitalization of their preterms. Music therapy sessions lasting 30–45 min were individually delivered weekly using receptive techniques. The mean and standard deviation of variables were obtained and the normality of data was analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The paired sample t-test or Wilcoxon test were employed to calculate the differences between variables before and after music therapy intervention. The correlations anxiety versus heart variables and depression versus heart variables were established using Spearman correlation test. Fisher’s exact test was used to verify the differences between categorical variables. A significance level of p  < 0.05 was established. Statistical analysis were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 20. Results Participants in MTG had an average of seven sessions of music therapy, and showed improvement in anxiety and depression scores and autonomic indexes of the time domain ( p  < 0.05). Significant correlations were found between depression and parasympathetic modulation using linear ( r  = − 0.687; p  = 0.028) and nonlinear analyses ( r  = − 0.689; p  = 0.027) in MTG. Conclusion Music therapy had a significant and positive impact on anxiety and depression, acting on prevention of cardiovascular diseases, major threats to modern society. Trial registration Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (no. RBR-3x7gz8 ). Retrospectively registered on November 17, 2017.

This study employs electrochemical and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation approaches to investigate the potential of a novel analogue of trimetozine (TMZ) antioxidant profile. The correlation between oxidative stress and psychological disorders indicates that antioxidants may be an effective alternative treatment option. Butylatedhydroxytoluene (BHT) is a synthetic antioxidant widely used in industry. The BHT-TMZ compound derived from molecular hybridization, known as LQFM289, has shown promising results in early trials, and this study aims to elucidate its electrochemical properties to further support its potential as a therapeutic agent. The electrochemical behavior of LQFM289 was investigated using voltammetry and a mechanism for the redox process was proposed based on the compound’s behavior. LQFM289 exhibits two distinct oxidation peaks: the first peak, Ep1a ≈ 0.49, corresponds to the oxidation of the phenolic fraction (BHT), and the second peak, Ep2a ≈ 1.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl/KClsat), denotes the oxidation of the amino group from morpholine. Electroanalysis was used to identify the redox potentials of the compound, providing insight into its reactivity and stability in different environments. A redox mechanism was proposed based on the resulting peak potentials. The DFT calculation elucidates the electronic structure of LQFM289, resembling the precursors of molecular hybridization (BHT and TMZ), which may also dictate the pharmacophoric performance.

An analysis of 24 coral reef viromes challenges the view that lytic phage are believed to predominate when the density of their hosts increase and shows instead that lysogeny is more important at high host densities; the authors also show that this model is consistent with predator–prey dynamics in a range of other ecosystems, such as animal-associated, sediment and soil systems. Microbial viruses can control host abundances via density-dependent lytic predator–prey dynamics. Less clear is how temperate viruses, which coexist and replicate with their host, influence microbial communities. Here we show that virus-like particles are relatively less abundant at high host densities. This suggests suppressed lysis where established models predict lytic dynamics are favoured. Meta-analysis of published viral and microbial densities showed that this trend was widespread in diverse ecosystems ranging from soil to freshwater to human lungs. Experimental manipulations showed viral densities more consistent with temperate than lytic life cycles at increasing microbial abundance. An analysis of 24 coral reef viromes showed a relative increase in the abundance of hallmark genes encoded by temperate viruses with increased microbial abundance. Based on these four lines of evidence, we propose the Piggyback-the-Winner model wherein temperate dynamics become increasingly important in ecosystems with high microbial densities; thus ‘more microbes, fewer viruses’. Live-and-let-live marine phage Lytic phage can control the abundance of their microbial hosts in a density-dependent manner with 'kill-the-winner' predation dynamics. It was widely assumed that lytic phages would dominate in nutrient-rich conditions favouring high host density, and that lysogenic phage, which integrate into their hosts instead of lysing them, tend to dominate when host numbers are low. This meta-analysis of 24 coral reef viromes challenges that view. Ben Knowles et al . find that lysogeny is more important than lysis at high, rather than low host densities. The authors term this the 'Piggyback-the-Winner' model, and show that it is consistent with predator–prey dynamics in a range of other ecosystems, including animal-associated, sediment, and soil systems.

Abstract The human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is the most common cause of severe lower respiratory tract diseases in young children worldwide, leading to a high number of hospitalizations and significant expenditures for health systems. Neutrophils are massively recruited to the lung tissue of patients with acute respiratory diseases. At the infection site, they release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that can capture and/or inactivate different types of microorganisms, including viruses. Evidence has shown that the accumulation of NETs results in direct cytotoxic effects on endothelial and epithelial cells. Neutrophils stimulated by the hRSV-F protein generate NETs that are able to capture hRSV particles, thus reducing their transmission. However, the massive production of NETs obstructs the airways and increases disease severity. Therefore, further knowledge about the effects of NETs during hRSV infections is essential for the development of new specific and effective treatments. This study evaluated the effects of NETs on the previous or posterior contact with hRSV-infected Hep-2 cells. Hep-2 cells were infected with different hRSV multiplicity of infection (MOI 0.5 or 1.0), either before or after incubation with NETs (0.5–16 μg/mL). Infected and untreated cells showed decreased cellular viability and intense staining with trypan blue, which was accompanied by the formation of many large syncytia. Previous contact between NETs and cells did not result in a protective effect. Cells in monolayers showed a reduced number and area of syncytia, but cell death was similar in infected and non-treated cells. The addition of NETs to infected tissues maintained a similar virus-induced cell death rate and an increased syncytial area, indicating cytotoxic and deleterious damages. Our results corroborate previously reported findings that NETs contribute to the immunopathology developed by patients infected with hRSV. Resumo O vírus sincicial respiratório humano (hRSV) é a causa mais comum de doenças graves do trato respiratório inferior em crianças pequenas em todo o mundo, resultando em grande número de hospitalizações e gastos significativos para os sistemas de saúde. Neutrófilos são recrutados em massa para o tecido pulmonar de pacientes com doenças respiratórias agudas. No local da infecção, eles liberam armadilhas extracelulares de neutrófilos (NETs) que podem capturar e/ou inativar diferentes tipos de microrganismos, incluindo vírus. Evidências demonstraram que o acúmulo de NETs resulta em efeitos citotóxicos diretos nas células endoteliais e epiteliais. Os neutrófilos estimulados pela proteína F do vírus sincicial respiratório (hRSV-F) geram NETs que são capazes de capturar partículas virais, reduzindo assim sua transmissão. No entanto, a produção maciça de NETs obstrui as vias aéreas e aumenta a gravidade da doença. Assim, um maior conhecimento sobre os efeitos das NETs durante as infecções por hRSV é essencial para o desenvolvimento de novos tratamentos específicos e eficazes. Este estudo avaliou os efeitos das NETs no contato prévio ou posterior à infecção de células Hep-2 com hRSV. As células Hep-2 foram infectadas com diferentes quantidades de hRSV (multiplicidade de infecção ou MOI 0,5 ou 1,0), antes ou após a incubação com NETs (0,5–16 μg/mL). Células infectadas e não tratadas mostraram redução da viabilidade celular e intensa coloração com azul de tripano, que foi acompanhada pela formação de sincícios numerosos e grandes. O contato prévio entre as NETs e as células não resultou em efeito protetor. As células em monocamadas mostraram um número e área de sincícios reduzidos, mas a morte celular foi semelhante àquela apresentada por células infectadas e não tratadas. A adição de NETs aos tecidos infectados manteve taxa de morte celular e formação de sincícios semelhantes àqueles induzidos pelo vírus em células não tratadas, indicando danos citotóxicos e deletérios. Nossos resultados corroboram achados relatados anteriormente de que as NETs contribuem para a imunopatologia desenvolvida por pacientes infectados com hRSV.

Life habits can influence the aging process. However, there remains a gap in how these factors can associate frailty, independence in activities of daily living, depression and quality of life in older adults. (1) To develop an index to synthesize modifiable lifestyle factors of older adults of middle-income countries; (2) to check the relationship and the association of this index with frailty, independence in daily activities, depression and quality of life. This exploratory, cross-sectional, quantitative study included 192 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 to 96 years (M = 70.66, SD = 7.71), of whom 124 (64.6%) were women. The criteria established for the index, based on the literature, were: (1) smoking, (2) Alcohol consumption, (3) Nutrition, (4) Physical Activity, and (5) Sleep quality. Multi-attribute utility theory was applied to determine the Multicriteria Index (MI) of modifiable lifestyle factors. Pearson’s correlation, simple linear regression, and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the association between the index and clinical outcomes. The index was correlated and associated with frailty, depression, independence in daily activities and quality of life ( p  < 0.05). The multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that modifiable lifestyle factors associated with a healthy lifestyle were linked to 22% of the variation in higher quality-of-life scores and lower depression scores ( p  < 0.05). Modifiable lifestyle factors for a healthy lifestyle have a positive factor in contributing to overall quality of life in the aging process and healthy lifestyle habits can promote the health of older adults.