Federal University of Rio Grande

Background The optimal treatment for carotid free-floating thrombus (CFFT) remains uncertain due to limited evidence, with no randomized clinical trials and scarce guidelines, such as ESVS 2023, favoring conservative management. Anticoagulation (ACT) and antiplatelet (APT) therapies are emerging as promising alternatives to high-risk surgical interventions. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ACT and APT therapies for CFFT. Methods A systematic search was performed across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. Safety and efficacy endpoints were assessed. A two-sample t-test compared baseline characteristics between groups, and a Chi-square test evaluated differences in categorical variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Data were analyzed using R 4.3.0 with the meta package v.7.0-0. Results Four studies met the inclusion criteria, involving 170 patients diagnosed with CFFT. The APT group included 96 patients (mean age 55.35 ± 13.52 years; 56.25% male), and the ACT group included 74 patients (mean age 58.57 ± 14.28 years; 51.35% male). Thrombus regression was slightly lower in APT (42%) compared to ACT (48%). Both groups showed similar rates of residual stenosis. Antiplatelet had fewer ischemic events within 30 days (none vs. 4% in ACT) and lower intracranial hemorrhage rates (3.3% vs. 5.4% in ACT) but higher mortality (6.3% vs. none in ACT). Conclusion Both ACT and APT are effective for managing CFFT, each with distinct efficacy and safety profiles. However, randomized trials are necessary to better assess these therapies in CFFT management.

Biofouling in freshwater and marine environments developed on man-made aquatic surfaces causes significant economic losses. Still, this problem is magnified when it comes to invasive species, such as the golden mussel. One of the alternatives to combat it is the use of antifouling solutions; however, the vast majority focus on solutions for the marine environment. In this same context, natural antifouling solutions from macrophytes have been reported as promising to combat estuarine biofouling; however, trials with freshwater organisms are still incipient. Thus, this study evaluated the performance of 25 macrophyte extracts in inhibiting the formation and/or eradication of bacterial biofilms, settlement of the golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei), as well as its toxicity effect on three different non-target model organisms of three trophic levels. Among the 25 extracts, nine demonstrated ≥ 60% inhibition of biofilm formation, with only the extracts of Typha domingensis and Eichhornia crassipes having a biofilm inhibitory effect of ≥ 70% for bacterial isolates and ≥ 60% for multispecies biofilms. Planktonic growth had distinct responses, ranging from induction, inhibition, and no effect on growth. The T. domingensis extract showed quorum sensing inhibition (QSI) with a dose-dependent relationship, while the E. crassipes extract showed QSI only at a dilution of 1.2%. These same extracts prevented the golden mussel from attaching and showed safe concentrations of 35.35% for Pseudopediastrum boryanum and Daphnia magna and 70.71% for Pimephales promelas. This study highlights the biotechnological potential of macrophyte extracts as a sustainable and environmentally harmless alternative for the control of micro and macrofouling in freshwater environments.

Aim To investigate the development of dentinal microcracks resulting from the progressive enlargement of the buccal canals of maxillary molars with and without the MB2 canal employing instruments with the same tip and four different tapers. Methodology Twenty maxillary molars with ( n = 10) and without ( n = 10) the MB2 canal underwent micro‐CT scanning. Their mesiobuccal and distobuccal canals were sequentially enlarged using nickel–titanium instruments with sizes 25/.03, 25/.05, 25/.06 and 25/.08v. Subsequent scans were conducted after each canal enlargement. The preoperative scans were coregistered with their respective datasets, and the cross‐sectional images were carefully examined to identify dentinal defects. This process, conducted twice at two‐week intervals, involved two examiners. Intra‐ and inter‐examiner calibrations were validated using the Kappa index. The incidence of microcracks was reported as a percentage frequency. Results The intra‐ and inter‐examiner Kappa values were 0.85 and 0.88, respectively, indicating excellent agreement. Dentinal microcracks were detected in 1206 out of 42 975 cross‐sectional image slices (2.8%). Molars with MB2 canal exhibited more slices (4.5%) than teeth without MB2 (0.9%). Every dentinal microcrack observed in the images after root canal preparation was already present in the corresponding images taken before root canal preparation. Conclusion The progressive enlargement of root canals using instruments with different tapers did not induce the formation of new dentinal microcracks in maxillary molars, regardless of the presence of the MB2 canal.

The crustacean molting cycle is triggered by the elevation of ecdysteroid levels in the hemolymph during late pre‐molt. It is known that these animals absorb water through the intestine and gills to promote bodily swelling and rupture of the old exoskeleton. The participation of two membrane proteins responsible for the most uptake of water during the late pre‐molt has been shown in the gill and gut cells of the freshwater shrimp Palaemon argentinus : Na ⁺ /K ⁺ ‐ATPase (NKA), which generates an osmoionic gradient, and Aquaporins (AQPs), water channels, which provide higher water permeability. Studies investigating the action of ecdysteroids on these proteins are scarce. Therefore, we investigated 20‐hydroxyecdisone (20E) in relation to the regulation of NKA and AQPs in the gill and gut cells of P. argentinus . We exposed primary cultures of both gut and gill cells to 20E. Gill cells treated with hormone in the presence of NKA‐blockers, exhibited a reduction in volume, and cells treated with 20E showed a greater expression of NKA than untreated cells. Additionally, gills cells treated with 20E showed an increase in volume (∼60%), which the aquaporin inhibitor (HgCl 2 ) prevented. The participation of AQPs in the influx of water was corroborated by a greater expression of AQP in cells treated with 20E compared to untreated cells. Gut cells of animals in intermolt exposed to hormone (20E) maintained their initial cell volume. With the addition of HgCl2, these cells showed a reduction in volume similar to cells of animals in pre‐molt. Immunocytochemistry showed a high expression of AQP in gut cells treated with 20E. These findings suggest that 20E regulates the expression of AQP and NKA in the late pre‐molt, to provide water uptake for molting. This work offers new perspectives concerning the molting hormone, placing it as a crucial part of water uptake for ecdysis.

Objective to analyze the insertion and perception of autonomy with the use of integrative and complementary practices in the daily work of nurses. Method sequential mixed explanatory research from a national multicenter project. The cross-sectional stage took place from June to October 2021, with a total of 386 nurses, via a virtual questionnaire. The qualitative stage took place from November to December 2021, through 18 semi-structured interviews with professionals who have training in the practices, based on participatory analysis. Integration took place by connection. Results of the 142 nurses trained in integrative practices, 76 use them in their work routines. 69 use them in primary health care and had a greater autonomy perception (p <0.001). The practices are inserted into this daily routine across the board in nursing consultations, with individual consultations showing a greater autonomy perception when compared to collective consultations (X² = 4.06; p<0.004). Focusing on movement and individual effort, the testimonies show dissatisfaction with the way in which the practices are inserted into everyday work. Even so, 125 nurses perceive greater autonomy when using the practices, stating that, combined with nursing knowledge, they provide solutions and a different perception of healthcare. Conclusion the practices are inserted into daily work in a more expressive way in primary care. They perceive greater autonomy in incorporating them into nursing consultations, promoting resolution. Regulations for professional practice and clinical care protocols could support these practices. DESCRIPTORS: Professional autonomy; Nursing; Nursing care; Complementary therapies; Traditional medicine; Integrative medicine; Primary health care; Public health

Objective to analyze the insertion and perception of autonomy with the use of integrative and complementary practices in the daily work of nurses. Method sequential mixed explanatory research from a national multicenter project. The cross-sectional stage took place from June to October 2021, with a total of 386 nurses, via a virtual questionnaire. The qualitative stage took place from November to December 2021, through 18 semi-structured interviews with professionals who have training in the practices, based on participatory analysis. Integration took place by connection. Results of the 142 nurses trained in integrative practices, 76 use them in their work routines. 69 use them in primary health care and had a greater autonomy perception (p <0.001). The practices are inserted into this daily routine across the board in nursing consultations, with individual consultations showing a greater autonomy perception when compared to collective consultations (X² = 4.06; p<0.004). Focusing on movement and individual effort, the testimonies show dissatisfaction with the way in which the practices are inserted into everyday work. Even so, 125 nurses perceive greater autonomy when using the practices, stating that, combined with nursing knowledge, they provide solutions and a different perception of healthcare. Conclusion the practices are inserted into daily work in a more expressive way in primary care. They perceive greater autonomy in incorporating them into nursing consultations, promoting resolution. Regulations for professional practice and clinical care protocols could support these practices. DESCRIPTORS: Professional autonomy; Nursing; Nursing care; Complementary therapies; Traditional medicine; Integrative medicine; Primary health care; Public health

Tidal marshes are threatened coastal ecosystems known for their capacity to store large amounts of carbon in their water-logged soils. Accurate quantification and mapping of global tidal marshes soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is of considerable value to conservation efforts. Here, we used training data from 3710 unique locations, landscape-level environmental drivers and a global tidal marsh extent map to produce a global, spatially explicit map of SOC storage in tidal marshes at 30 m resolution. Here we show the total global SOC stock to 1 m to be 1.44 Pg C, with a third of this value stored in the United States of America. On average, SOC in tidal marshes’ 0–30 and 30–100 cm soil layers are estimated at 83.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ (average predicted error 44.8 Mg C ha⁻¹) and 185.3 Mg C ha⁻¹ (average predicted error 105.7 Mg C ha⁻¹), respectively.

Objective To analyze the sociodemographic profile and highlight factors associated with nurses’ search for training in auriculotherapy. Method This is a cross-sectional study, with national scope, with 1,154 nurses. The data was collected digitally from June 2021 to January 2022 through a sociodemographic and training characterization questionnaire. Variables were assessed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Results 301 participants reported having training in auriculotherapy, the majority being women (88.96%), between 40 and 46 years old (26.86%), white (73.67%), born (48.83%) and working (48.16%) in the South region. The majority of nurses who have training in auriculotherapy (63.12%) did not specialize in acupuncture. Conclusion Nurses’ professional practice in auriculotherapy is carried out by professionals who have training in professional qualification courses, a fact that is supported by the regulations of public policy and the professional council. Age was a factor associated with the search for training in auriculotherapy, i.e., as nurses age, especially young adults, there is a greater tendency to seek this practice. DESCRIPTORES Auriculoterapia; Acupuntura Auricular; Enfermería; Practicantes de la Medicina Tradicional; Salud Pública

Objective To analyze the sociodemographic profile and highlight factors associated with nurses’ search for training in auriculotherapy. Method This is a cross-sectional study, with national scope, with 1,154 nurses. The data was collected digitally from June 2021 to January 2022 through a sociodemographic and training characterization questionnaire. Variables were assessed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Results 301 participants reported having training in auriculotherapy, the majority being women (88.96%), between 40 and 46 years old (26.86%), white (73.67%), born (48.83%) and working (48.16%) in the South region. The majority of nurses who have training in auriculotherapy (63.12%) did not specialize in acupuncture. Conclusion Nurses’ professional practice in auriculotherapy is carried out by professionals who have training in professional qualification courses, a fact that is supported by the regulations of public policy and the professional council. Age was a factor associated with the search for training in auriculotherapy, i.e., as nurses age, especially young adults, there is a greater tendency to seek this practice. DESCRIPTORES Auriculoterapia; Acupuntura Auricular; Enfermería; Practicantes de la Medicina Tradicional; Salud Pública

This paper shows results of an ethnographic study. Aimed to analyze literacy practices in a Bible study group that belongs to an evangelical pentecostal community in a rural area in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil. Data generated during insertions in the empirical field showed literacy that is intrinsic to religious practices, whose main literacy practice is reading the Bible, since it was usually included in tasks carried out by the children. The analysis was based on biblical storytelling which is used for evangelization in order to identify strategies that children use for interpreting writing, reading and orality in this context. Results show that literacy practices experienced by the children are strongly connected to the social context and certain particularities which involve interaction that characterizes the religious group’s culture. However, these literacy practices are permeated by the symbolic power which is perceived when ideas are instilled into children, while their behavior is shaped and they are led to accept dominant patterns which are then reproduced and considered legitimate and unquestionable. Keywords: Literacy Practices; Symbolic Power; Pentecostal Bible Study Group; Ethnographic Research

We report a series of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) on the southern coast of Brazil. During 13 months period, seven animals were recovered on the coastal beach and sent to a rehabilitation center, dying after a period of captivity up to 27 days. Granulomatous nodules in the lung, with the presence of hyaline and septate hyphae were found in all. Invasive aspergillosis was confirmed by real-time PCR. Our study is the first to describe Aspergillus sp. infection in green turtles. Prospective studies are necessary to evaluate the impact of such severe fungal diseases in sea turtles.

Dispersal patterns of zoonotic pathogens can be strongly influenced by mobility and contact among hosts. Toxoplasma gondii infection has been documented in many avian species, however, there is little information regarding free-living seabird populations. Leptospira can infect domestic and wild animals, with birds being potential carriers of the bacteria. The continental shelf of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean is a foraging area for seabirds that breed locally, as well as migratory seabirds wintering in the area, which may come into contact with each other in prey aggregation areas and contribute to T. gondii and Leptospira spread. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of two important zoonotic pathogens in free-living seabirds. Blood samples were collected from 322 birds of three local breeders (Phaethon aethereus, Sula leucogaster and S. dactylatra) in the eastern coast of Brazil (Abrolhos Archipelago), and two migratory species using the area during the pre-laying (Pterodroma arminjoniana) and the non-breeding periods (Thalassarche chlororhynchos). Serological agglutination tests for detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were performed. None of the seabirds in this study was seroreactive to Leptospira spp., whereas 34.5% (n = 111) of the animals presented antibodies anti-T. gondii. Antibody titers in seropositive birds ranged from 10 to 640. There were seropositive birds in all sampled localities. This study provides the first records for P. arminjoniana and T. chlororhynchos as seropositive to T. gondii, suggesting their potential role as sentinels for the environmental contamination by T. gondii and also T. gondii infection. These findings indicate the circulation of the parasite in the Brazilian coastal and oceanic regions, probably due to the ingestion of T. gondii oocysts by birds, the epidemiological involvement of migratory birds as hosts of pathogens, as well as the role of the historical introduction of invasive vertebrates on Brazilian islands. Therefore, due to the serological evidence of infection, the dynamics of toxoplasmosis in seabirds, regarding their susceptibility towards the disease and the possible anthropogenic influence need to be better understood for the colonies to be included in the wildlife cycle of T. gondii.

Metals and metalloids are persistent environmental pollutants with the potential for bioaccumulation, posing significant health risks, including genotoxicity. These contaminants are prevalent in industrial and agricultural runoff. This study utilizes Trachemys dorbigni, an aquatic reptile, as a bioindicator to assess environmental contamination by metals and metalloids in both rural and urban settings in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We captured specimens using pit-type traps with barriers (fyke nets), dividing them into two groups: 15 from a rural area and 15 from an urban area. Each animal underwent physical evaluations, and biometric data (weight, total carapace length and width) were recorded to calculate body condition indices. Biological samples were collected via manual restraint, with blood samples drawn from the supraoccipital venous sinus and linear carapace fragments obtained through manual scraping. Water samples from each location were also analyzed. Using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in the water, carapace fragments, and blood samples. Cellular damage was assessed through flow cytometry and microscopy, examining erythrocyte disruption, reactive oxygen species, membrane fluidity, DNA fragmentation and micronucleus formation. Urban area samples showed concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg and Ni exceeding national standards set by the Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (CONAMA), with rural areas also showing elevated levels of As, Cd, Hg and Ni. Biometric analysis revealed that rural reptiles had significantly higher weight and carapace dimensions, whereas urban tortoises displayed a higher body condition index and significantly elevated blood levels of Al, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn. The urban tortoises also exhibited higher concentrations of all tested metal(loid) in carapace samples (p < 0.05) and more pronounced cellular damage (p < 0.05), highlighting severe bioaccumulation and associated deleterious effects. Elevated reactive oxygen species levels were noted in rural specimens. This study underscores the impact of water degradation and metal(loid) pollution in urban environments on T. dorbigni, suggesting that carapace tissue analysis can serve as a chronic exposure indicator to these harmful contaminants.

The Southern Ocean (SO) plays a crucial role in the process of sequestering heat and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transferring them to the deep ocean. This process is intricately linked to the formation of Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) and Subantarctic Mode Water (SAMW), which are pivotal components of the Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) and have a substantial impact on the global climate balance. AAIW and SAMW take shape in specific regions of the Southern Ocean due to the influence of strong winds, buoyancy fluxes, and their effects, such as convection, the development of thick mixed layers, and wind‐driven subduction. These water masses subsequently flow northward, contributing to the ventilation of the intermediate layers within the subtropical gyres. In this study, our focus lies on investigating the regional aspects of AAIW and SAMW transformation in CMIP6 models. We accomplish this by analyzing the relationship between the meridional transport of these water masses and air‐sea fluxes, particularly Ekman pumping, freshwater fluxes, and heat fluxes. Our findings reveal that the highest transformation rates occur in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean, with notable values also observed in the southeast Pacific and south of Africa. Additionally, we assess the potential changes in these formation regions under future scenarios projected for the end of the 21st century. Although the patterns of formation regions remain consistent, there is a significant decrease in the transformation process.

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sanitary effluents, combined with the poor quality of drinking water in developing countries, presents a concerning scenario with the potential to perpetuate the virus’s circulation in the environment. In this context, we propose the use of an innovative biomaterial - a cryogel incorporated with Rosa centifolia essential oil (C-RCEO) - as a promising strategy for the removal of SARS-CoV-2 from contaminated water matrices. Rosa centifolia essential oil (RCEO) is derived from a plant native to Morocco, widely cultivated as a garden rose, and one of the most important ornamental plants. The characterization of RCEO was performed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and its thermal properties were evaluated by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Cryogels with and without RCEO (CC)were characterized for density, porosity, water solubility, morphology, and mechanical properties. Following a 24-hour incubation with an inactivated viral suspension, an assay was conducted to assess the C-RCEO’s potency in removing SARS-CoV-2. The viral RNA was then quantified using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Citronellol was identified as the major component of RCEO, comprising 51.11% of its composition. The maximum degradation temperature for RCEO was found to be 126 °C, with no thermal events observed in the range of -80 °C to the onset of decomposition. Cryogels demonstrate a high water absorption capacity, reaching up to 893%, and exhibited low density, high porosity, and a predominantly macroporous structure. The control water initially exhibited a high viral load of 5.4 × 10⁴ log copies/mL of SARS-CoV-2. After filtration using the CC filter, this load was substantially reduced to 3.16 × 10² log copies/mL. Subsequent use of the C-RCEO filter resulted in an even more significant reduction in the viral load to 0.74 × 10 log copies/mL. The results indicate that the C-RCEO filtration system is highly promising for water treatment, helping to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through water. Graphical Abstract

The dependence on the use of pesticides in agribusiness leads to an increase in human exposure to these chemical compounds through occupational activity, contamination of the environment, food and water. The nervous system is the target of most insecticidal pesticides and when these are poorly selective, they can harm non-target species, including humans. This work aimed to investigate the effects of pesticide exposure on memory and learning. Articles published in PubMed database between 2015 and 2024 were reviewed. One hundred and sixty-one articles were included in this review, of which one hundred and thirty two were preclinical studies and twenty-nine were human studies. Among preclinical studies, exposure to organophosphates, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, carbamates, in addition to herbicides, fungicides and mixed exposures was associated with learning and memory deficits in animals such as bees, mosquitoes, fishes, mice, rats, and bats. Olfactory, associative and aversive learning, as well as memory capacity were affected by the exposure to pesticides. Most human studies evaluated the environmental and occupational exposure to organophosphate pesticides, pyrethroids and carbamates associated with the outcomes of interest. Living close to pesticide application areas and having parents working in agriculture were associated with worse learning and memory scores in childhood and adolescence. Prenatal exposure to insecticides has already been associated with poorer attention skills and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, motor delays, and attention problems. In adults, exposure during occupational activity was also associated with poorer memory and learning performance. The evidence found in this review suggests that pesticides with different mechanisms of action were able to cause some cognitive impairment. Developmental exposure, as well as chronic environmental and occupational exposure, can contribute to poorer cognitive performance, especially in learning and memory.