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This work presents a new methodology for fabrication of membrane-assisted elongated YIG nanostructures through the sol-gel method using low-cost materials, and the estimation of the average size of the geometries formed within the pores through ferromagnetic resonance measurements. A precursor solution was deposited on the internal surface of porous aluminum oxide membrane, using an assembly consisting of a vacuum system coupled to an apparatus, which assists in the entry of the used precursor solution, breaking the barriers related to the existing surface tension, with subsequent heat treatment to form the single phase of yttrium iron garnet (YIG). The data collected by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicated this result. The study of the contact angle of the precursor solution and the alumina template indicated great compatibility, an angle of 35.4°. SEM analysis showed that elongated structures were deposited inside the pore’s walls, with different lengths up to 3 micrometers and the EDS analysis showed the presence of the main elements of the YIG phase. The Kittel’s equation and FMR spectral data were used to estimate the mean size of the elongated nanostructures. We found six different size categories with 1856, 1768, 1661, 1588, 1570, 1498 nm . The methodology proved to be efficient for the characterization of elongated YIG nanostructures, becoming a perspective of future applications. Graphical Abstract Highlights Setup for the infiltration of the alumina membrane with the YIG precursor was proposed. Elongated YIG structures were obtained with diverse potential applications. The FMR was used to estimate the mean size of elongated YIG structures.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) (EC 1.1.1.49) is an abundant enzyme in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This enzyme is of great interest as an analytical reagent because it is used in a large number of quantitative assays. A strain of S. cerevisiae was genetically modified to improve G6PD production during aerobic culture. The modifications are based on cloning the G6PD sequence under the control of promoters that are upregulated by the carbon source used for yeast growth. The results showed that S. cerevisiae acquired from a commercial source and the same strain produced by aerobic cultivation under controlled conditions provided very similar G6PD. However, G6PD production by genetically modified S. cerevisiae produced very high enzyme activity and showed to be the most effective procedure to obtain glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. As a consequence, the cost of producing G6PD can be significantly reduced by using strains that contain levels of G6PD up to 14-fold higher than the level of G6PD found in commercially available strains.

Wound healing is impaired in diabetes mellitus, but the mechanisms involved in this process are virtually unknown. Proteins belonging to the insulin signaling pathway respond to insulin in the skin of rats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulation of the insulin signaling pathway in wound healing and skin repair of normal and diabetic rats, and, in parallel, the effect of a topical insulin cream on wound healing and on the activation of this pathway. We investigated insulin signaling by immunoblotting during wound healing of control and diabetic animals with or without topical insulin. Diabetic patients with ulcers were randomized to receive topical insulin or placebo in a prospective, double-blind and placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (NCT 01295177) of wound healing. Expression of IR, IRS-1, IRS-2, SHC, ERK, and AKT are increased in the tissue of healing wounds compared to intact skin, suggesting that the insulin signaling pathway may have an important role in this process. These pathways were attenuated in the wounded skin of diabetic rats, in parallel with an increase in the time of complete wound healing. Upon topical application of insulin cream, the wound healing time of diabetic animals was normalized, followed by a reversal of defective insulin signal transduction. In addition, the treatment also increased expression of other proteins, such as eNOS (also in bone marrow), VEGF, and SDF-1α in wounded skin. In diabetic patients, topical insulin cream markedly improved wound healing, representing an attractive and cost-free method for treating this devastating complication of diabetes. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01295177.

Recent open-label trials show that psychedelics, such as ayahuasca, hold promise as fast-onset antidepressants in treatment-resistant depression. To test the antidepressant effects of ayahuasca, we conducted a parallel-arm, double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial in 29 patients with treatment-resistant depression. Patients received a single dose of either ayahuasca or placebo. We assessed changes in depression severity with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating scale at baseline, and at 1 (D1), 2 (D2), and 7 (D7) days after dosing. We observed significant antidepressant effects of ayahuasca when compared with placebo at all-time points. MADRS scores were significantly lower in the ayahuasca group compared with placebo at D1 and D2 (p = 0.04), and at D7 (p < 0.0001). Between-group effect sizes increased from D1 to D7 (D1: Cohen's d = 0.84; D2: Cohen's d = 0.84; D7: Cohen's d = 1.49). Response rates were high for both groups at D1 and D2, and significantly higher in the ayahuasca group at D7 (64% v. 27%; p = 0.04). Remission rate showed a trend toward significance at D7 (36% v. 7%, p = 0.054). To our knowledge, this is the first controlled trial to test a psychedelic substance in treatment-resistant depression. Overall, this study brings new evidence supporting the safety and therapeutic value of ayahuasca, dosed within an appropriate setting, to help treat depression. This study is registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02914769).

The genetic basis of intellectual disability (ID) is extremely heterogeneous and relatively little is known about the role of autosomal recessive traits. In a field study performed in a highly inbred area of Northeastern Brazil, we identified and investigated a large consanguineous family with nine adult members affected by severe ID associated with disruptive behavior. The Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0 microarray was used to determine regions of homozygosity by descent from three affected and one normal family member. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed in one affected patient using the Nextera Rapid-Capture Exome kit and Illumina HiSeq2500 system to identify the causative mutation. Potentially deleterious variants detected in regions of homozygosity by descent and not present in either 59 723 unrelated individuals from the Exome Aggregation Consortium (Browser) or 1484 Brazilians were subject to further scrutiny and segregation analysis by Sanger sequencing. Homozygosity-by-descent analysis disclosed a 20.7-Mb candidate region at 8q12.3-q21.2 (lod score: 3.11). WES identified a homozygous deleterious variant in inositol monophosphatase 1 ( IMPA1 ) (NM_005536), consisting of a 5-bp duplication (c.489_493dupGGGCT; chr8: 82,583,247; GRCh37/hg19) leading to a frameshift and a premature stop codon (p.Ser165Trpfs*10) that cosegregated with the disease in 26 genotyped family members. The IMPA1 gene product is responsible for the final step of biotransformation of inositol triphosphate and diacylglycerol, two second messengers. Despite its many physiological functions, no clinical phenotype has been assigned to this gene dysfunction to date. Additionally, IMPA1 is the main target of lithium, a drug that is at the forefront of treatment for bipolar disorder.

The discovery of mimivirus in 2003 prompted the search for novel giant viruses worldwide. Despite increasing interest, the diversity and distribution of giant viruses is barely known. Here, we present data from a 2012–2022 study aimed at prospecting for amoebal viruses in water, soil, mud, and sewage samples across Brazilian biomes, using Acanthamoeba castellanii for isolation. A total of 881 aliquots from 187 samples covering terrestrial and marine Brazilian biomes were processed. Electron microscopy and PCR were used to identify the obtained isolates. Sixty-seven amoebal viruses were isolated, including mimiviruses, marseilleviruses, pandoraviruses, cedratviruses, and yaraviruses. Viruses were isolated from all tested sample types and almost all biomes. In comparison to other similar studies, our work isolated a substantial number of Marseillevirus and cedratvirus representatives. Taken together, our results used a combination of isolation techniques with microscopy, PCR, and sequencing and put highlight on richness of giant virus present in different terrestrial and marine Brazilian biomes.

The article delves into the intricate phenomenon of deposition in heat exchangers and how a piece of equipment known as the benchtop heat exchanger test instrument (BHETI) has been developed to expedite the examination of this phenomenon. The BHETI subjects samples to substantial stress, facilitating the assessment of an oil’s tendency to generate deposits. Tests were conducted on two crude oil blends referred to as blend A and blend B using a BHETI unit. This equipment permits testing under various controlled conditions, including temperature, pressure, and volumetric flow rate. The results indicated that blend A exhibited a higher susceptibility to deposition compared to blend B due to its elevated concentration of light hydrocarbons. The wall temperature exerted a significant influence on the deposition rate, with higher temperatures leading to elevated deposition rates. Conversely, lower oil flow rates resulted in increased deposition rates. Furthermore, extended-term tests unveiled fluctuations in deposition rates over time when blending the two oil samples, suggesting intermittent fouling processes, possibly attributable to thermodynamic imbalances induced by mixing, rendering the oil’s asphaltenes less stable. The outcomes were subjected to analysis employing the Colloidal Instability Index (CII), which indicated that the majority of samples exhibited values exceeding 0.9, signifying asphaltene instability. Additionally, the examination of saturated, aromatic, and NSO (nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen) fractions revealed decreased saturation and increased aromatics after the deposition tests.

Abstract The objective was to carry out a systematic review on the antibacterial potential presented by Coriandrum sativum essential oil, against bacteria of food origin. The Cochrane Institute methodology and the PRISMA protocol were followed. The search for articles was carried out in the electronic databases Web of science, MEDLINE/PubMed and Scopus (Elsevier). The inclusion criteria adopted for sample selection were: studies that made use of essential oil obtained from the species Coriandrum sativum and bacteria of food origin, with a clearly described methodology, published in journals in English or Portuguese, with a time frame over the last 10 years (2014-2024). Based on the proposed methodology, initially 1.374 articles were identified, based on the inclusion criteria used, 66 articles were assessed for eligibility, and 7 studies were chosen for construction of the review. The main results show that the essential oil of C. sativum has antibacterial activity, both against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria of food origin, and could become a promising source for technological prospection of antibacterial drugs. Resumo Objetivou-se realizar uma revisão sistemática sobre o potencial antibacteriano apresentado pelo óleo essencial de Coriandrum sativum, frente a bactérias de origem alimentar. Seguiu-se a metodologia proposta pelo Instituto Cochrane e o protocolo PRISMA. A busca dos artigos foi realizada nas bases de dados eletrônicas Web of science, MEDLINE/PubMed e Scopus (Elsevier). Os critérios de inclusão adotados para a seleção da amostra foram: estudos que fizeram uso do óleo essencial obtido da espécie Coriandrum sativum e bactérias de origem alimentar, com metodologia claramente descrita, publicados em periódicos na língua inglesa ou portuguesa, com recorte temporal nos últimos 10 anos (2014-2024). A partir da metodologia proposta, foram identificados, inicialmente 1.374 artigos, com base nos critérios de inclusão empregados, 66 artigos foram avaliados para elegibilidade, e 7 estudos foram eleitos para construção da revisão. Os resultados principais evidenciam que o óleo essencial de C. sativum apresenta atividade antibacteriana, tanto para bactérias gram-positivas como gram-negativas de origem alimentar, podendo tornar-se uma fonte promissora para prospecção tecnológica de fármacos antibacterianos.

IntroductionVascular dementia (VD) is the second most common cause of dementia and is characterized by cerebrovascular changes causing cognitive impairment. In patients with VD, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are heterogeneous and highly prevalent manifestations that can arise in the course of dementia and bring suffering to the individual and his family. Currently, pharmacological interventions in the treatment of these symptoms have important adverse effects. Cannabidiol (CBD) has neuroprotective, anxiolytic and antipsychotic properties, as well as a favorable tolerability and safety profile.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of CBD on behavioral and psychological symptoms in elderly with VD.MethodsDouble-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving elderly patients with VD. The instruments used are: Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Impression Scale, Side Effects Scale, Mini- Mental State Examination, Brief Cognitive Screening Battery, Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly, Zarit Burden Inventory. Included participants were assessed at baseline, at the first, second, and fourth weeks after the start of the clinical trial.Results: Parcial resultsUp to the present moment, 18 patients were included, eight in group 1 and ten in group 2. In the initial evaluation of the BPSD, the mean in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory was 43.25 (±21.89) in group 1 and 50 (±18.86) in group 2, and in the BPRS, the mean was 25.25 ( ±9.82) in group 1 and 34.30 (±15.11) in group 2. The final BPRS averaged 23 (±11.41) in group 1 and 20.40 (±13.32) in group 2. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory averaged in the final assessment 41.88 (±20.15) and 17.60 (±12.33) in groups 1 and 2, respectively.ConclusionsCannabidiol has been shown to be a strategy for the management of BPSD. In addition, it has a good side-effect profile.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Excessive air pollution in urban environments can impact morbidity and mortality. The authors evaluated the role of particulate matter2.5 (PM2.5) in structural, geometric, and functional remodeling in hearts, using an experimental model of myocardial infarction. Seventy-five rats were divided into 5 groups: control (CG), CG exposed to PM2.5 pollution (CGP), myocardial infarcted group (MI), infarcted group immediately exposed to pollution (IGP-I), and infarcted group previously exposed to pollution and kept exposed after infarction (IGP-II). Greater deposition of interstitial collagen occurred in the left ventricle in CGP, MI, IGP-I, and IGP-II groups compared with that in controls (p = 0.002 CG vs CGP and p<0.0001 CG vs MI, IGP-I, and IGP-II). In the right ventricle, greater collagen deposition existed in CGP, MI, IGP-I, and IGP-II compared with that in CG (p<0.021 CG vs CGP and p<0.0001 CG vs MI, IGP-I, and IGP-II). At the end of the study, CG had a higher mean shortening fraction than the other groups had (p≤0.03). Left ventricular systolic diameter was lower in CG than in infarcted groups (p≤0.003). The infarcted groups had greater expression of TGF-β (p≤0.04). PM2.5 increased the expression of TGF-β in the IGP-II compared with the MI group (p = 0.004). The TNF-α gene was overexpressed in the IGP-II compared with the CGP group (p = 0.012). INF-γ gene expression was greater in IGP-II (p≤0.01). Oxidative stress analysis showed a higher glutathione concentration in CGP (p = 0.03), MI (p = 0.014), and IGP-I (p = 0.008) compared with that in CG. PM2.5 stimulates the deposition of fibrosis in the myocardium of healthy hearts, but not in infarcted hearts. PM2.5 modulates the inflammatory response, which was greater in the IGP-II group. It also modulates oxidative stress in healthy hearts but not in infarcted hearts.