Universidade de Caxias do Sul

Deschamps I.S., Avila D.D., Piazera E.V., Cruz R.D., Aguilar C., Klein A.N.

Cioato F.M., Stedile N.L., Lucas J.I.

RESUMO Diante da problemática que envolve a complexa relação entre o uso de agrotóxicos e o aparecimento de câncer, diversos estudos vêm sendo desenvolvidos no mundo em busca de evidências que a comprovem. Objetivou-se analisar a relação entre a utilização de agrotóxicos e o aparecimento de câncer em agricultores, segundo a bibliografia especializada. Trata-se de uma revisão de escopo. A busca foi realizada em três bases de dados, e os artigos foram analisados por dois pesquisadores e um terceiro, para as discordancias. Foi testado o valor de Kappa de Cohen para avaliar concordância quanto aos dados extraídos dos estudos. Um total de 29 bibliografias compuseram a amostra. Os estudos foram provenientes de cinco continentes. Pesquisas de caso-controle e coorte dominaram o cenário da revisão, utilizando estatística inferencial com diferentes tipos de testes estatísticos. Uma variedade de tipologias de câncer foi estudada, e grande parte dos artigos apontou para uma predisposição ao câncer, remetendo a biomarcadores para previsão precoce dessa doença crônica. Conclui-se que ser agricultor e estar exposto aos agrotóxicos conferem um maior risco de desenvolvimento de câncer em relação aos não expostos.

Cioato F.M., Stedile N.L., Lucas J.I.

ABSTRACT Giving the problem that involves the complex relationship between the use of pesticides and the onset of cancer, several studies have been developed around the world searching for evidence to prove it. The objective is to analyze the relationship between the use of pesticides and the onset of cancer in farmers, according to specialized literature. It is a scoping review. The search was carried out in three databases, and the articles were analyzed by two researchers and a third, for dealing with disagreements. Cohen's Kappa value was tested to assess agreement regarding the data extracted from the studies. A total of 29 bibliographies made up the sample. The studies came from five continents. Case-control and cohort research dominated the review landscape, using inferential statistics with different types of statistical tests. A variety of cancer types were studied, and most of the articles pointed to a predisposition to cancer, referring to biomarkers for early prediction of this chronic disease. In conclusion, being a farmer and being exposed to pesticides confers a greater risk of developing cancer compared to those who are not exposed.

Souza A.B., Barrios C., de Jesus R.G., Reinert T., Giacomazzi J., Rosa D.D., Cronemberger E., Werutsky G., Bines J., Queiroz G.S., Cordeiro de Lima V., Freitas-Junior R., Couto Filho J.D., Emerenciano K., Resende H., et. al.

PURPOSE Low rates of germline genetic testing (GGT) for breast cancer (BC) have been reported globally, with limited data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this study, we used real-world data to assess the GGT rate for BC in an LMIC and identified barriers to its use. METHODS We analyzed 2,974 newly diagnosed patients with BC from the AMAZONA III study, the largest Brazilian multicenter, prospective BC cohort. GGT rates were determined for the entire cohort and the high-risk hereditary BC group (HR), defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria, between 2019 and 2020. Barriers to GGT performance associated with patient characteristics and health care systems were identified using multivariable Poisson regression model. Values of P < .05 were considered significant. RESULTS In the AMAZONA III cohort, 1,476 (49%) were classified as HR. Genetic counseling was recommended for 521 patients (35% of HR), and 282 (19%) underwent GGT. Notably, 97% of patients with HR treated within the public health care systems and 56% in the private system did not undergo GGT. Age, education, occupation, monthly income, availability of onsite genetic counseling, and treatment at a teaching center were factors associated with GGT uptake ( P < .05). Of those tested, 50 (17%) harbored a germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant. CONCLUSION Only 9% of this robust Brazilian BC cohort underwent GGT, highlighting a considerable gap from the current recommendation to test all patients with BC under age 65 years. GGT is underused by patients with HR in both public and private health care systems, with those in the public system being more affected. The disparities and barriers identified emphasize the need for educational interventions and enhanced access to GGT. Prioritizing GGT is critical to improving BC outcomes in LMICs.

da Silveira K.P., da Silva Crespo J., Catafesta J., Giovanela M., Takimi A.S., Tubino R.M.

Technological innovations can offer a multitude of benefits to modern society; however, they often fail to fully address the desired requirements for the specific applications, particularly when considering environmental impacts of solid waste. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste exemplifies this challenge, highlighting the urgent need for innovative and effective solutions to address the existing gaps in conventional technologies. In this regard, chemical dissolution methods using organic solvents emerge as a viable approach for polymer recovery and impurity removal. This study focused on the preparation of EPS nanofibers from polymeric solutions with concentrations of 10% (EPS_10) and 15% (w/w) (EPS_15) in chloroform, employing the solution blow spinning technique. The resulting nanofibers were then characterized morphologically through scanning electron microscopy and evaluated for their oil adsorption efficiency. Overall, the EPS_10 and EPS_15 nanofibers displayed average diameters of 149.7 and 330.5 nm, respectively, and achieved maximum adsorption capacities of 37.0 and 70.1 g/g for petroleum jelly, and 33.3 and 48.9 g/g for lubricating oil. These results emphasize the transformative potential of EPS nanofibers as high-performance sorbent materials, offering promising opportunities for their application in oil spill remediation and wastewater treatment. By addressing a critical environmental issue, this work contributes to developing a solution for managing solid waste and mitigating its ecological impact.

Zanini M., Silvestre W.P., Baldasso C., Tessaro I.C.

Ponsoni L.V., de Almeida M.K., Largo-Barrientos A., Lazari L.K., Zugno A.I., Arcaro S., Zimmermann M.V., Valero B.M.

Cellulose scaffolds have been widely used for biomedical applications. The character and functionalities of these porous materials are mainly dependent on their porous structure and chemical composition. The possibility of customizing the porous structure of scaffolds, which arises from the manufacturing process used, allows the use of these materials as support to mimic cellular matrix native building blocks and, combined with the introduction of functional groups, it can facilitate the adhesion and cultivation of different types of cells. Obtaining a balance between structural mechanical properties, porous architecture, and chemical composition in scaffolds for cell placement is a key challenge for the development of an optimum porous scaffold. In this sense, this review manuscript presents an approach to the main methods of production and drying techniques of cellulose and nanocellulose scaffolds, as well as possible chemical functionalizations for application in biomaterials, mainly as 3D cell culture. Moreover, a revision of the state of the art for cellulose and nanocellulose-based porous materials (aerogels and foams) for cell culture in recent years has been included in the manuscript.

Kipper D., Orsi R.H., Souza Zanetti N.D., Carli S.D., Mascitti A.K., Fonseca A.S., Ikuta N., Wiedmann M., Lunge V.R.

Palavani L.B., Nogueira B.V., Müller G.C., Chen H., Pereira V.G., Santos M.B., Farias C.A., Pereira A.L., Oberman D.Z., Benjamin C.

Neto J.R., Vieira G.B., Vidor G., Fani V., Bandinelli R., Sellitto M.A.

Menegat A.L., Menegat B.L., Rachas Reis M., Rocha Dantas C., de Souza Wagner P., Matheus G.T., Simões B., Alves M., Bezerra I., Menegaz de Almeida A., Kelly F., A de Moraes F.C.

Introduction: Preventing ischemic strokes in patients with atrial cardiopathy is particularly challenging due to the elevated risks associated with the condition. While numerous studies have established the efficacy of anticoagulants in preventing stroke, their benefits for patients with atrial cardiopathy are not clearly understood. Herein, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy of Apixaban in preventing ischemic stroke recurrence in patients with atrial cardiopathy. Methods: A database search of published studies at PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus was performed. Randomized clinical trials and observational studies comparing the administration of Apixaban with a placebo in adult patients were included. Risk ratio (RR) was used for binary endpoints with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was evaluated with I 2 statistics and p value < 0,05 were considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis was performed using R statistical software 4.4.1 version. Results: 5 studies and 2593 patients were included. Among them, 1401 (54%) were allocated to receive Apixaban and 1192 (46%) were allocated to receive a placebo. The number of female and male patients was similar, with 1331 (51,3%) women and 1262 (48,7%) men. The recurrence of ischemic stroke (RR 0.89; 95% CI 0.64 to 1.23; P=0.479406; I 2 =0%) did not present a statistically significant difference between groups. Similarly, mortality (RR 1.36; 95% CI 0.92 to 2.02; P=0.121981; I 2 =0%) and recurrent fatal stroke (RR 0.31; 95% CI 0.07 to 1.38; P=0.123799; I 2 =0%) also showed no statistical significant difference between Apixaban and control group. Conclusion: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we analyzed patients with ischemic stroke and evidence of atrial cardiopathy. Apixaban did not present significant reduction in recurrent stroke risk, recurrent fatal stroke incidence or mortality when compared with a placebo. Despite this, potential efficacy of early initiation of Apixaban should be clarified from new larger randomized clinical trials.

Menegat B.L., Menegat A.L., Rocha Dantas C., Rachas Reis M., de Souza Wagner P., Simões B., Alves M., Matheus G.T., Bezerra I., Menegaz de Almeida A., Kelly F., A de Moraes F.C.

Introduction: Early neurological deterioration (END) is an adverse outcome of acute ischemic stroke that affects up to one-third of patients and is linked to poorer functional outcomes. Tirofiban, a nonpeptide glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blocker, is widely used in the treatment of atherosclerotic heart disease and percutaneous coronary intervention. Herein, we sought to assess whether Tirofiban reduces the severity of outcomes and improves stroke patient recovery through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We systematically searched Pubmed, Cochrane, Web of Science and Scopus for randomized clinical trials and observational studies. The studies compared the effects on the administration of Tirofiban or control on END in individuals with acute ischemic stroke. Risk ratio (RR) was used for binary outcomes and mean difference (MD) for continuous endpoints with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was evaluated with I 2 statistics and p value < 0,05 were considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis was performed using R statistical software 4.4.1 version. Results: Seven studies and 2163 patients were included. Among them, 1132 (52,34%) were allocated to receive Tirofiban and 1031 (47,66%) received a placebo. The number of male patients was higher than females, with 1401 (64,80%), while 762 (35,20%) were women. The outcomes of END (RR 0.43; 95% CI 0.21 to 0.87; P=0.018715; I 2 =50%), 7th day National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS Score) (MD -1,03; 95% CI -2.03 to -0.02; P=0.045408; I 2 =72%) and score of 0 to 2 on the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) for functional independence (MD -1.05; 95% CI -1.71 to -0.39; P=0.001916; I 2 =95%) presented statistical significance favoring the Tirofiban group. The following outcomes showed no statistical significance: mortality (RR 0.94; 95% CI 0.57 to 1.55; P=0.810315; I 2 =39%) and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.32 to 5.04; P=0.738112; I 2 =47%). Conclusion: Even though there was no significant difference between the groups in all outcomes, such as mortality and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, Tirofiban induced a favorable impact on functional outcome and improved the prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that Tirofiban is efficient in preventing early neurological deterioration and improving the mRS and NIHSS scores, however, new RCTs are needed to clarify our results.

Carneiro A.A., Pereira I.M., Dias R.R., Biron D.D., Ornaghi Júnior H.L., Monticeli F.M., Romanzini D., Zattera A.J.

The present study aims to evaluate thin plate-injected polypropylene (PP) composites containing short aramid fibers (AF) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The aramid fibers were manually cut to a length of 10 mm and added to the polypropylene matrix at a concentration of 10 wt.%. Additionally, GNPs were incorporated at concentrations of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 wt.%. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was used at a concentration of 2 wt.% to improve the adhesion and compatibility between the polymer matrix and the fillers. Thermal analyses, tensile and flexural tests, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis were performed, followed by statistical analysis using ANOVA and Tukey’s test. The composites demonstrated significant improvements in storage and loss moduli compared to neat polypropylene. With the addition of AF and GNPs, tensile strength increased to 46.8 MPa, which represents a 265% enhancement compared to PP. Similarly, flexural strength reached 62.4 MPa, significantly higher than the 36.73 MPa for PP, particularly for the composite containing AF and 0.25 wt.% GNPs. The results presented in this study highlight the synergistic effect of aramid fibers and GNPs on PP. These improvements make the proposed composites highly promising for a range of applications, including ballistic interlayered aramid/thin-plate laminates.

Bettariga F., Galvao D., Taaffe D., Bishop C., Lopez P., Maestroni L., Quinto G., Crainich U., Verdini E., Bandini E., Natalucci V., Newton R.U.

ObjectivesTo examine the association between muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in patients diagnosed with cancer, and whether these associations are affected by type and/or stage of cancer.MethodA systematic review with meta-analysis was carried out. Five bibliographic databases were searched to August 2023.ResultsForty-two studies were included (n=46 694). Overall, cancer patients with high muscle strength or CRF levels (when dichotomised as high vs low) had a significant reduction in risk of all-cause mortality by 31–46% compared with those with low physical fitness levels. Similarly, a significant 11% reduction was found for change per unit increments in muscle strength. In addition, muscle strength and CRF were associated with an 8–46% reduced risk of all-cause mortality in patients with advanced cancer stages, and a 19–41% reduced risk of all-cause mortality was observed in lung and digestive cancers. Lastly, unit increments in CRF were associated with a significant 18% reduced risk of cancer-specific mortality.ConclusionHigh muscle strength and CRF were significantly associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. In addition, increases in CRF were associated with a reduced risk of cancer-specific mortality. These fitness components were especially predictive in patients with advanced cancer stages as well as in lung and digestive cancers. This highlights the importance of assessing fitness measures for predicting mortality in cancer patients. Given these findings, tailored exercise prescriptions to improve muscle strength and CRF in patients with cancer may contribute to reducing cancer-related mortality.

Tosin K.G., Finimundi N., Poletto M.

Technical lignins are globally available and a sustainable feedstock. The unique properties of technical lignins suggest that these materials should have several industrial applications. The main proposal of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the structure and properties of two technical lignins. Morphological, chemical, physical, and thermal properties of sodium lignosulfonate (LGNa) and magnesium lignosulfonate (LGMg) were investigated. The results showed that a higher formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds may occur in lignins with a higher content of phenolic hydroxyl groups, such as LGMg. As a result, an increase in the energy of hydrogen bonds in the lignosulfonate structure was observed, without significant change in the hydrogen bond distances. In addition, higher content of phenolic hydroxyl groups might also reduce lignosulfonates thermal stability. The combustion index value was three times higher for LGMg than for LGNa. The characterization study also revealed that phenolic hydroxyl groups influence the main properties of technical lignins and can be a determining factor when these lignosulfonates are used in industrial applications.