Risk factors and prediction of acute kidney injury after liver transplantation:Logistic regression and artificial neural network approaches

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury(AKI)has serious consequences on the prognosis of patients undergoing liver transplantation.Recently,artificial neural network(ANN)was reported to have better predictive ability than the classical logistic regression(LR)for this postoperative outcome.AIM To identify the risk factors of AKI after deceased-donor liver transplantation(DDLT)and compare the prediction performance of ANN with that of LR for this complication.METHODS Adult patients with no evidence of end-stage kidney dysfunction(KD)who underwent the first DDLT according to model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)score allocation system was evaluated.AKI was defined according to the International Club of Ascites criteria,and potential predictors of postoperative AKI were identified by LR.The prediction performance of both ANN and LR was tested.RESULTS The incidence of AKI was 60.6%(n=88/145)and the following predictors were identified by LR:MELD score>25(odds ratio[OR]=1.999),preoperative kidney dysfunction(OR=1.279),extended criteria donors(OR=1.191),intraoperative arterial hypotension(OR=1.935),intraoperative massive blood transfusion(MBT)(OR=1.830),and postoperative serum lactate(SL)(OR=2.001).The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was best for ANN(0.81,95%confidence interval[CI]:0.75-0.83)than for LR(0.71,95%CI:0.67-0.76).The root-mean-square error and mean absolute error in the ANN model were 0.47 and 0.38,respectively.CONCLUSION The severity of liver disease,pre-existing kidney dysfunction,marginal grafts,hemodynamic instability,MBT,and SL are predictors of postoperative AKI,and ANN has better prediction performance than LR in this scenario.

Risk Factors Associated with Acinetobacter baumannii Infections in Patients in an Intensive Care Unit of a Public Hospital in Paraná

To identify risk factors for A. baumannii infection in patients hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a tertiary public hospital in Paraná, Brazil, a retrospective paired case-control study (ratio 1:2) was conducted from January 2018 to December 2020. Patients in the case group were hospitalized in the ICU with A. baumanni (n = 68 cases) and were compared with patients in the control group, without infection by A. baumannii (n = 136). Both were matched by age (±10 years), sex, and ICU stay (±5 days). Conditional multiple logistic regression was used to determine statistically significant risk factors based on the results of bivariate analyses. Mortality was higher in infected (cases) than in non-infected patients (51.5% vs. 39.7%). The incidence and bacterial resistance increased annually. At bivariate analysis, cases had longer hospital stays (median 35 vs. 22 days, p A. baumannii and antimicrobial resistance. There is need for surveillance, and constant evaluation of control actions. Risk factors were colonization, previous hospitalization, and hospitalization time. This is essential for the decision-making of professionals and optimization of prevention, control, and therapeutic management actions.

Microbiological Assessment of Soil Planted with Cover Crops, and Soybean and Maize in Succession

This study aimed to assess the population density of nematodes and mycorrhizal soil fungi, in areas cultivated with oats, brachiaria, forage and white lupine, as well as in maize and soybean crops in succession, in order to generate a microbiological indicator of soil quality. In order to assess nematode and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) population densities, the experiment was performed in two stages: the first assessment was performed in the area where different cover crops were planted, in five seasons (0, 60, 90, 120, 150 days after sowing—DAS). In the second stage, soybean and maize crops in succession were assessed. According to the results, free-living nematodes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi population densities were not affected by the cover crop species used and, therefore, these can be grown prior to soybean and corn crops, without impact to free-living nematodes and AMF. The largest population of saprophyte nematodes and AMF occurred at 90 days. The cultivation of soybean and corn did not influence the number of free-living nematodes, but influenced the number of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The highest numbers of mycorrhizal fungi Gigaspora margarita and Glomus macrocarpum were found in maize.

The Effects of Different Titanium Surfaces on the Behaviour of Osteoblast-Like Cells

This study investigated the influence of different titanium surfaces on the differentiation of rat osteoblast-like cells (osteo-1). Osteo-1 cells were cultured on the following titanium surfaces: 1) pretreated, smooth surface (PT);2) sandblasted and acid etched surface (SLA);and 3) sandblasted and acid-etched surface rinsed under nitrogen protection to prevent exposure to air and preserved in isotonic saline solution (modSLA). Cell metabolism, total protein content, collagen content and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and the formation of calcified nodules were analyzed. The titanium surface did not influence cell metabolism, total protein content and collagen content. The SLA surface influenced cell differentiation, with the observation of a significant reduction of AP activity and formation of calcified nodules after 21 days compared to the PT surface. No difference was observed between the PT and modSLA surfaces. All titanium surfaces tested permitted the full expression of the osteoblast phenotype by osteo-1 cells, including matrix mineralization.

Influence of High Dilutions of Cina for the Control of Meloidogyne incognita in Tomato Plants

Considering the importance of the tomato crop and the high costs for controlling Meloidogyne incognita with resistant cultivar or nematicides, it is necessary for the search of new alternatives to manage the root-knot disease. The homeopathy may be an alternative way of control, by inducing plant resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the homeopathic product Cina at dynamizations 12, 24, 50, 100, 200, and 400 CH (centesimal hahnemanian dilutions) on the number of root galls, eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) present in the roots of tomato and soil, as well on the growth of tomato plants. The Cina demonstrated effectiveness in stimulating root development, once the results of root volume were higher in homeopathic treatments than those in the control. Cina 100 CH also favored the growth of the stalk diameter of the plants. However, the homeopathic product showed no nematostatic nor nematicide effects. The potentized Cina is capable to induce tomato growth besides the presence of M. incognita infecting the roots, with no nematotoxic effects.

Is there a role for liver transplantation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic liver?

Whether liver transplantation(LT)plays a role in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in non-cirrhotic liver(NCL)is a matter of debate.The recommendations for LT in this setting are extremely fragile and less welldefined than for cirrhosis-associated HCC.All reports of LT for NCL-HCC revealed that long-term outcomes of these patients are poor,and these dismal figures are justified by the advanced tumor stage at the time of LT,suggesting the presence of systemic micrometastatic disease.The decision-making regarding LT for NCL-HCC is difficult,since specific selection criteria are scarce,and basically the potential candidates are those with unresectable only-liver tumor at admission,or unresectable intrahepatic recurrence post-resection.Besides the surgical aspects regarding the tumor resectability,other phenotypic and genetic characteristics of the tumor should be considered for the indication of LT in this scenario.The present minireview aims to discuss and analyze the last series of LT for NCL-HCC,in order to help clinicians in the decision-making process regarding the role of LT in NCL-HCC treatment.

Factors Associated with Umbilical Cord Stump Healing Practices: Literature Review

Objective: To analyze the evidence in the evolution of scientific production on the factors associated with curative practices of the umbilical stump. Materials and Methods: The study data collection took place in April 2017. The electronic databases used to search the articles were: PubMed (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health) and VHL (Virtual Health Library). We used the keywords “perinatal care”, “umbilical cord”, “patient care team”, “neonatology”, “newborn”, in the Portuguese, English and Spanish languages, accompanied by the expression AND and selected through DeCS (Descriptors in Health Sciences). Results: A final sample of 9 articles was obtained from the PubMed and VHL databases, which met the inclusions criteria. It has been found that traditional umbilical stump care practices are still present in many communities, however, have been replaced by appropriate practices, the most recommended being: chlorhexidine 4% sanitation, soap and water and alcohol antisepsis 70%. Conclusions: There is a need for multi-professional involvement, approaching these women since pregnancy, with detailed information and accessible language about proper care with the newborn and the umbilical stump.

Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries

Urban cemeteries are increasingly surrounded by areas of high residential density as urbanization continues world-wide. With increasing rates of mortality caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2,urban vertical cemeteries are experiencing interments at an unprecedented rate. Corpses interred in the 3rd to 5th layer of vertical urban cemeteries have the potential to contaminate large adjacent regions.The general objective of this manuscript is to analyze the reflectance of altimetry, normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) and land surface temperature(LST) in the urban cemeteries and neighbouring areas of the City of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is assumed that the population residing in the vicinity of these cemeteries may be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 contamination through the displacement of microparticles carried by the wind as a corpse is placed in the burial niche or during the first several days of subsequent fluid and gas release through the process of decomposition. The reflectance analyses were performed utilizing Landsat 8 satellite images applied to altimetry, NDVI and LST, for hypothetical examination of possible displacement, transport and subsequent deposition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The results showed that two cemeteries within the city, cemeteries A and B could potentially transport SARS-CoV-2 of nanometric structure to neighboring residential areas through wind action.These two cemeteries are located at high relative altitudes in more densely populated regions of the city.The NDVI, which has been shown to control the proliferation of contaminants, proved to be insufficient in these areas, contributing to high LST values. Based on the results of this study, the formation and implementation of public policies that monitor urban cemeteries is suggested in areas that utilize vertical urban cemeteries in order to reduce the further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Can the Ucides cordatus Fishing and the Crassostrea gasar Creation on the Amazon Coast Make up the Curriculum of Rural Schools

The fishing and ostreiculture activities practiced in the coast of the Eastern Amazon in the state of Pará,Brazil,became important to be inserted in ru­ral education.Thus,this literature review aimed to realize a brief theoretical discussion about the important aspects of rural education in promoting the development of fishing and osteiculture.For the accomplishment of the literary research it was sought to explain the definition in education;rural education and valorization of the rural environment;environmental educa­tion as a transversal theme;fishing and aquaculture as a teaching strategy;considerations of fishing and ostreiculture;challenges and perspectives of the teaching of fishing and aquaculture in education;and booklet as a peda­gogical tool in education.In conclusion,the use of fishing and ostreiculture as a strategy for rural schools through environmental education is important to foster fishing activity in communities,as well as the sustainable use of natural resources.

Cryptococcus and Cryptococcosis in Human and Animal Model:An Overview

Background: Yeasts from the genus Cryptococcus (species C. neoformans and C. gattii) are opportunistic pathogens that afflict humans with low immunity caused by diseases such as AIDS or by the usage of immunosuppressive drugs. It is a fatal disease that has been studied around the whole world and its most fatal form is the brain cryptococcosis. Purpose: The present review describes the disease from pathogen isolation, the various clinical presentations of the disease, the most important virulence factors of yeast in human and animal model and their clinical issues. Methods: On this review, several published studies about the disease are presented. Results: Numerous researches have been done worldwide in order to find a kind of therapy that is more effective against the disease. Amphotericin B, in all forms is still the drug of choice in the treatment of the cryptococcosis. Fluconazole, as well as voriconazole in combination with amphotericin B, is recommended in the cases of treatment failure. Conclusion: This study presented has elucidated a little more about the disease. Further studies should be conducted to find more diagnoses that are accurate as well as more effective treatments for eradicating the disease. In this study, the bibliographic survey makes reference to the world literature;with regard to ecology, taxonomy, mains factors related to virulence, the clinical manifestations, the action of antifungal drugs and histopathological analysis used in an animal model, were the objectives deleterious aspects of this study, thus informing, in a simple way, the importance of this microorganism for research and researchers working with this global disease, called Cryptococcosis.

Mapping summer soybean and corn with remote sensing on Google Earth Engine cloud computing in Parana state – Brazil

Brazilian farming influences directly the worldwide economy.Thus,fast and reliable information on areas sown with the main crops is essential for planning logistics and public or private commodity market policies.Recent farming practices have embraced remote sensing to provide fast and reliable information on commodity dynamics.Medium-to-low resolution free orbital images,such as those from Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2,have been used for crop mapping;however,satellite image processing requires high computing power,especially when monitoring vast areas.Therefore,cloud data processing has been the only feasible option to deal with a large amount of orbital data and its processing and analysis.Thus,our goal was to develop a method to map the two main crops(soybeans and corn)in Paraná,one of the major Brazilian state producers.Landsat-8,Sentinel-2,SRTM+,and field data from 2016 to 2018 were used with the Simple Non-Iterative Clustering segmentation method and the Continuous Naive Bayes classifier,to identify cropped areas.A minimum global accuracy of 90%was found for both crops.Comparison with field data showed correlations of 0.96 and agreement coefficients no lower than 0.86.This ensures mapping quality when using Sentinel and/or Landsat imagery on the GEE platform.

Microbiological biostimulant promotes rooting of olive cuttings

The most widely used method of olive propagation is cutting,although for some cultivars the technique is still limited.The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of plant growth promoter bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rooting of olive cuttings.Two experiments were conducted from October 2017 to January 2018 with cuttings from 4 olive cultivars(Ascolano 315,Koroneiki,Maria da Féand Picual)from four-year-old plants.The first experiment consisted of 4 olive cultivars and 3 mycorrhizal species plus the control and the second experiment of 3 concentrations of commercial inoculant(Nitro1000®),containing Azospirillum brasilense plus control.The cuttings were treated with 3000 mg/L of indolebutyric acid(IBA).The experimental design used in the two experiments was randomized blocks,in a 4×4 factorial scheme,containing 25 stakes per replicate and 3 replicates.The cuttings were kept under weaver conditions and within a low rooting tunnel.After 75 d,the percentage of rooted cuttings,callus and sprouts,length of the largest root,number and length of shoots were evaluated.The use of FMA in Maria da Féand Picual has a positive response to cutting rooting and the fungi benefit the quality of the seedlings by the higher number of shoots and larger root length.The relation of Azospirillum brasilense cultivar is specific,being that,the cultivar Picual does not respond to inoculation of the bacterium having less viability in the propagation by cutting.Maria da Féand Koroneiki have the best percentages of rooting with the use of 75.00 and 52.00 mL/L of inoculant,respectively.