Influence of Statins and Fibrates Drugs on Bone Health and Regeneration

In the medical and dental field, the importance and need for the study of materials and drugs for use as bone grafts or regeneration in injured areas due to the presence of fractures, infections or tumors that cause extensive loss of bone tissue is observed. Bone is a specialized, vascularized and dynamic connective tissue that changes throughout the life of the organism. When injured, it has a unique ability to regenerate and repair without the presence of scars, but in some situations, due to the size of the defect, the bone tissue does not regenerate completely. Thus, due to its importance, there is a great development in therapeutic approaches for the treatment of bone defects through studies that include autografts, allografts and artificial materials used alone or in association with bone grafts. Pharmaceuticals composed of biomaterials and osteogenic active substances have been extensively studied because they provide potential for tissue regeneration and new strategies for the treatment of bone defects. Statins work as specific inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoAreductase). They represent efficient drugs in lowering cholesterol, as they reduce platelet aggregation and thrombus deposition;in addition, they promote angiogenesis, reduce the β-amyloid peptide related to Alzheimer’s disease and suppress the activation of T lymphocytes. Furthermore, these substances have been used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and coronary artery disease. By inhibiting HMG-CoAreductase, statins not only inhibit cholesterol synthesis, but also exhibit several other beneficial pleiotropic effects. Therefore, there has been increasing interest in researching the effects of statins, including Simvastatin, on bone and osteometabolic diseases. However, statins in high doses cause inflammation in bone defects and inhibit osteoblastic differentiation, negatively contributing to bone repair. Thus, different types of studies with different concentrations of statins have been studied to positively or negatively correlate this drug with bone regeneration. In this review we will address the positive, negative or neutral effects of statins in relation to bone defects providing a comprehensive understanding of their application. Finally, we will discuss a variety of statin-based drugs and the ideal dose through a theoretical basis with preclinical, clinical and laboratory work in order to promote the repair of bone defects.

Challenges of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic and Invasive Fungal Pathogens in SARS-COV-2 Associations: A Dangerous Relationship

Background: COVID-19 is a rapidly transmissible pneumonia-like illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 that out broke in China in 2019 and is currently circulating worldwide. In the current context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, complications are observed in clinical settings for the treatment of severe COVID-19 disease in nosocomial settings, due to cases of fungal co-infections. Objective: To carry out a review on fungal infections associated with respiratory infections caused by COVID-19 (Sars-Cov-2) and their aggravation. Methodology: The purpose of this study is to inform the reader about the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and the main fungal species that are affecting patients undergoing treatment for severe COVID-19, provoking discussion of the importance of the proposed topic, in relation to co-infections by different fungal microorganisms. Result: 80 scientific studies were selected, resulting from patients with COVID-19 and most commonly observed in patients with a history of comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, kidney disease, severe liver disease, oncological diseases, obesity and with severe COVID-19. These data do not represent the total number of records of the disease in the world, but cases reported by researchers in their series, showing the overlapping of fungal co-infection through the compromised immune status due to the use of therapeutic drugs, dysregulation of the microbiota, age of patients and the severity itself of the severe inflammation caused by COVID-19. Conclusion: The immunosuppression caused by the infection of COVID-19 concomitant with its therapy through corticosteroid therapy and comorbidities of the patients made fungal infections more susceptible, and these interfere in the evolution of the case and in the treatment of COVID-19, being relevant to distinguish secondary infections to therapy and the best possible reconstitution of the clinical picture.

Curupira V1.0: Joint Inversion of VES and TEM for Environmental and Mass Movements Studies

An innovative inversion code, named “Curupira v1.0”, has been developed using Matlab to determine the vertical distribution of resistivity beneath the subsoil. The program integrates Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES), successful in shallow subsurface exploration and Time Domain Electromagnetic (TEM) techniques, better suited for deeper exploration, both of which are widely employed in geophysical exploration. These methodologies involve calculating subsurface resistivity through appropriate inversion processes. To address the ill-posed nature of inverse problems in geophysics, a joint inversion scheme combining VES and TEM data has been incorporated into Curupira v1.0. The software has been tested on both synthetic and real-world data, the latter of which was acquired from the Parana sedimentary basin which we summarise here. The results indicate that the joint inversion of VES and TEM techniques offers improved recovery of simulated models and demonstrates significant potential for hydrogeological studies.

Effects of cold and warm cross-rolling on microstructure and texture evolution of AZ31B magnesium alloy sheet

Mg alloys conventionally rolled often present strong basal textures that affect negatively further deformations,limiting their applications.The present research found that cross-rolling experiences in adequate conditions can weaken those intense basal textures as a result of the interaction of deformation mechanisms and dynamic recrystallization.The effects of rolling temperature and strain rate on the microstructure and texture of an AZ31B magnesium alloy sheet generated heterogeneous microstructure where the initial basal texture was strengthened during cold cross-rolling and it was gradually weakening by the rolling reduction and the rolling temperature increases in such a way that a rather weak basal fiber was produced applying reductions higher than 15%at temperatures higher than 200℃.Their ODF functions supported the texture weakening,exhibiting a combination of two crystallographic orientations represented by{0001}<211^(-)0>and{0001}<101^(-)0>.

Effect of Poly(ε-caprolactone-b-tetrahydrofuran)Triblock Copolymer Concentration on Morphological,Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Immiscible PLA/PCL Blends

In this study a low molecular weight triblock copolymer derived fromε-caprolactone and tetrahydrofuran was used as a non-reactive compatibilizer of immiscible PLA/PCL blends.Ternary blends with 0,1.5 wt%,3 wt%and 5 wt% copolymer and about 75 wt%PLA were prepared by single screw extrusion and characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA),tensile and Izod impact testing.SEM micrographs showed that the size of the dispersed PCL domains was practically constant regardless of copolymer concentration.This result can be explained by the low shear rate employed during processing step and a decrease of PCL viscosity by presence of the triblock copolymer.However,when the copolymer concentration increased,strain at break of PLA/PCL blends also increased.PLA/PCL blend with 0 wt% copolymer presented 2%strain at break,whereas PLA/PCL blend with 5 wt%copolymer exhibited 90%.

Enabling Hybrid Projects through Appropriate Market Design

Large-scale hybrid power plants, composed of two or more generation sources and with the participation of energy storage systems, have driven important electricity Market Design regulation discussions worldwide. Regulatory framework ought to be adapted to support technical particularities of these new generation arranges. This paper presents an assessment of the main requirements to be met by Market Design to enable hybrid power plants by means of assertive market incentives. Assessing regulatory adjustments promoted in Australia, United States, India, China, and Brazil, emphasizing the latter one, the authors presents a case study by applying specific computational simulation and optimization model to a hybrid Hydro-Solar plant, that supports the findings for the necessary evolution needed in the national regulatory framework in order to enable hybrid projects. The evaluation of international experiences indicates that the insertion of hybrid projects is associated with the design of the market they belong to and demand regulatory adjustments so that their attributes can be properly valued for the benefit of all stakeholders, especially for the electricity consumer.

Development of Psychic Pain in the Context of Microcephaly and Abortion: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: In the year of 2015, evidence of a relation between Zika virus and the development of microcephaly in pregnant women who acquired the infection started to come up. Thus, it is extremely necessary that the analysis of the affliction affects these women in a biopsychosocial context, in order to discuss and comprehend in a more reliable manner the affection from the perception of the disease, origin, and psychic pain mechanisms. Methods: Systematic review with meta-analysis, using the PRISMA protocol. The study period was 2016 and the keywords included “microcephaly” and “abortion”, one at a time and then combined with the Boolean operator “AND.” The statistical analysis was done using the BioEstat 5.0 program. Calculation was based on an adjustment of Mantel-Haenszel random effect. Results: 41,046 registrations were found. Of this total, 40,992 articles were excluded because they only mentioned the fact or referred to spontaneous abortion, did not analyze abortion on the eyes of microcephaly, only treated with Zika virus, or were repeated. Limitations: Psychic pain and suffering need studies in the mother/son/disease relation, which were not found in the databases. The article was based on other sources. Conclusions: The pains vary in different areas of the female life, since internal conflicts, gender violence, stress, fear, insecurity, psychologic torture, grieve, loneliness, among other kinds of psychic suffering. More studies on psycho-emotional themes need to be promoted to discuss the female suffering on a wider vision, closer to the reality faced by these women.

Determination of the Adhesive Content of Medium Density Particleboards Produced with Bio-based Polymer

This work contributes to the use of alternative adhesives in the wood-based industry,where pine wood is commonly used.The investigation identifies the influence and the optimal content(8,12 and 15wt%)of a bio-based polyurethane adhesive in the production of medium density particleboards(MDP).A compaction pressure of 4 MPa at 100oC for 10 minutes is considered in the manufacture of panels based on pine wood residues and bio-based resin.The bulk density,flexural modulus(MOE)and strength(MOR)properties under static three-point bending are obtained according to the Brazilian standard NBR 14810.The results are compared with NBR 14810 and other standards to verify its performance based on the minimum requirements.Bulk density is not significantly affected by the investigated adhesive levels.MOE and MOR reach average values equivalent to 12wt%and 15wt%of the adhesive,and both meet the minimum requirements established in international normative documents.The adhesive level range responsible for maximizingρ,MOE and MOR is between 12.42wt%and 15.79wt%.

Diurnal Cycle of Heating and Water Vapor in the Metropolitan Area of Porto in Portugal

In this work, it is investigated the Urban Heat Island (UHI) using conservative thermodynamic variables observed by surface weather stations on the Metropolitan Area of Porto (Oporto) in Portugal, under adiabatic conditions at the surface. These conditions are usually present and associated with the development of a mixture layer into the diurnal Convective Boundary Layer (CBL), which residual layer in the late afternoon defines the initial state for the development of the nocturnal UHI. Both the spatial structure and temporal variation of potential temperature and specific humidity were considered, along the hours and days of the year, from a statistical point of view, resulting in hourly climatology. Details of the hourly evolution of the meteorological variables on the Oporto surface are presented and discussed. Results show a seasonal variation of the potential temperature up to 17&#176;C throughout the year, which is associated with horizontal thermal gradients that can control and trigger mesoscale circulations such as sea-land, urban and valley-mountain breezes.

Risk Communication and External Emergency Plan in Angra dos Reis, Brazil

The presence of a potentially hazardous facility in a community demands several safety procedures. Bringing risk communication among those actions may help the population that lives near the facility feel more confident and have the required knowledge on how to behave in an emergency situation. A research performed in Angra dos Reis, RJ, Brazil, where a nuclear power plant is located, shows that there is a lack of information and awareness about the emergency plan.

Isolated Autoimmune Orchitis Due to IgG4 Hypersecretion Presenting as Tumor-Like Mass: Case Report and Review of Literature

Background: IgG4-related disease is a rare autoimmune condition that presents with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and fibrosis in the organ affected. Isolated testicle involvement is uncommon and there are only a few cases reported in the literature. Case Presentation: We report a case of isolated chronic orchitis due to IgG4 hypersecretion in a 61-year-old patient that evolved with asymptomatic tumor-like mass growth and was treated with left orchiectomy. Histopathological study revealed orchitis related to IgG4 hypersecretion disease. Conclusion: IgG4-related disease can be manifested as a multi or single-organ disorder. Most diagnoses are made after surgery with histopathological analysis. Most of the cases in literature stand out the difficulty in diagnosis and necessity of high suspicion due to this condition’s similarity with neoplasm presentation.

Impacts of COVID-19 on children and adolescents:A systematic review analyzing its psychiatric effects

OBJECTIVE To summarize the most relevant data from a systematic review on the impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents,particularly analyzing its psychiatric effects.METHODS This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses(PRISMA)guidelines and included experimental studies(randomized-individually or pooled-and non-randomized controlled trials),observational studies with a group for internal comparison(cohort studies-prospective and retrospective-and case-control)and qualitative studies in the period from 2021 to 2022.RESULTS The search identified 325 articles;we removed 125 duplicates.We selected 200 manuscripts,chosen by title and selected abstracts.We excluded 50 records after screening titles and abstracts,as they did not meet the inclusion criteria.We retrieved 150 records selected for a full reading.We excluded 90 text articles and we selected 25 records for the(n)final.Limitations:Due to the short period of data collection,from 2021 to 2022,there is a possibility of lack of relevant studies related to the mental health care of children and adolescents.In addition,there is the possibility of publication bias,such as only significant findings being published.CONCLUSION The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of children and adolescents is of great concern to child and youth psychiatry.Situations such as fear,anxiety,panic,depression,sleep and appetite disorders,as well as impairment in social interactions caused by psychic stress,are punctual markers of pain and psychic suffering,which have increasing impacts on the mental health panorama of children and adolescents globally,particularly in vulnerable and socially at-risk populations.

Dengue Climate Variability in Rio de Janeiro City with Cross-Wavelet Transform

Dengue is one of the most prominent tropical epidemic diseases present in the Rio de Janeiro city and Southeast part of Brazil, due to the widespread conditions of occurrence of the dengue vector, the mosquito Aedesaegypti, such as high-temperature days interlaced with afternoon or nocturnal rainstorms in summer. This work has the objective of investigating the relationships between variabilities of the El Ni?o-South Oscillation (ENSO) and greater epidemics of dengue in Rio de Janeiro city. To accomplish this goal, the analysis and signal decomposition by cross-wavelet transform (WT) was applied to obtain the cross variability associated with variations of power and phase of both signals by characteristic periods and along with the time series. Data considered in the analysis are (the decimal logarithm of normalized value) of the monthly available notifications of dengue worsening, provided by the public health system of Brazil, and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) Ni?o 3.4 data, provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in the period 2000-2017. A maximum cross-wavelet power close to 0.45 was obtained for the representative period of 1 year and also to periods between 3 and 4 years, associated with the positive phase of the SOI index (i.e. , La Ni?a) or with a transition to the positive phase. The evolution of the combined variability of SOI and dengue can be expressed by progressive differences in phase along the time, eventually resulting in yielding phases (i.e., La Niña-Dengue epidemic).

Evaluation of Fear and Peritraumatic Distress during COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil

COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread exponentially worldwide, especially in America. At the end of August 2020, Brazil is one of the most affected countries with more than three and a half million cases and up to 114,250 deaths. This study aims to assess the fear and peri-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemics in Brazil, to enhance infection control methods, appropriate interventions, and public health policies. A cross-sectional survey has been conducted from April 12th to 18th using the Peri-Traumatic Distress Scale (CPDI) and the Fear Scale (FCV-19S) aiming to measure the peri-traumatic stress and fear as psychological reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. For that purpose, an online spreadsheet was used to send the questionnaire and scales to a sample of 1844 participants as a collecting information tool. Significant positive relationship (r = 0.660, p < 0.001) and internal consistencies on CPDI and FCV-195 scales (Cronbach Alfa scores 0.90 and 0.88 respectively) were shown. Results highlight significant gender differences as in both scales women’s mean scores are higher showing that it is paramount that women’s voices were represented in policy spaces as socially constructed gender roles place them in a strategic position to enhance multi-level interventions (primary and secondary effects of COVID-19), equitable policies, and new approaches to control the pandemic.

渗硼对沉淀硬化铌不锈钢的影响

沉淀硬化不锈钢是含铝、钛、铌和铜等沉淀硬化元素的铁-镍-铬合金。沉淀硬化过程包括非常细小的金属间相的形成(析出),如Laves相Fe_2(Mo,Nb),Ni_3M(M:Al,Ti,Nb,Cu,V,Mo,W),Nb(C,N)和碳氮化物Ti(C,N)及碳化物Fe_3Nb_3C(M_6C)。本文对沉淀硬化钢进行了渗硼处理,为了提高硬度和耐磨性,该钢以铌作硬化剂。钢的成分为0.03C-0.22Si-17.86Cr-3.91Ni-2.14Mo-1.96Nb(质量分数,%)。渗硼在添加10%Al的熔融硼砂中进行,温度1 100℃,时间4 h,油冷,随后于500℃时效。结果获得了硬度高、耐磨性好的硼化物层。