Da Silva

This study investigated whether soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor autoantibodies (AT1-AA) – key mediators of preeclampsia (PE) pathophysiology – remain elevated ten years postpartum, thereby contributing to the long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in women with a history of PE. In a retrospective cohort nested within the PERLA-Brazil project, 205 women were enrolled: 103 with a documented history of PE (PH group) and 102 with normotensive pregnancies (NH group). Participants completed standardized interviews, underwent physical evaluations, and provided blood samples for sFlt-1 and AT1-AA quantification by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), alongside comprehensive clinical and demographic data collection. No significant differences were observed in circulating sFlt-1 (90.25 ± 6.11 pg/mL in PH vs. 93.30 ± 5.54 pg/mL in NH, p = 0.886) or AT1-AA levels (6.80 ± 0.16 ng/mL in PH vs. 6.34 ± 0.18 ng/mL in NH, p = 0.060) between groups a decade after the index pregnancy. Clinical and biochemical data were collected and compared between groups, with multivariable models adjusted for age, body mass index, and educational attainment. As results, it was observed that women with severe PE history had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a greater prevalence of hypertension. These findings suggest that the long-term cardiovascular burden after PE is not explained by increased plasma levels of sFlt-1 or AT1-AA, but may instead reflect durable downstream vascular and metabolic remodeling. The study underscores PE as a marker of future cardiovascular vulnerability and highlights the need to identify additional mechanisms and biomarkers underlying this risk.This highlights PE as an early-life stressor with persistent effects and underscores the need of lifelong CVD prevention strategies for affected women, as well as the importance of identifying additional biological or physiological markers associated with their sustained risk.

by and Department of Plant Science and Environmental Sciences, Center for Agrarian Sciences, University Campus II, Federal University of Paraíba, Areia 58397-000, PB, Brazil

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The present study investigated how dietary inclusion of solubilized mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) influences growth performance, digestive health, stress resilience, and production profitability in Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) reared under intensive synbiotic conditions. Juveniles averaging 3.00 ± 0.04 g were stocked at 100 shrimp m−2 and fed experimental diets containing 0 (control), 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 g kg−1 MOS for 60 days. Shrimp receiving 1.0 g kg−1 MOS showed higher growth rate, improved feed conversion, and greater final body weight than the control (p < 0.05), indicating enhanced feed utilization efficiency and better overall performance. Gut morphology improved in MOS-fed treatments, with increased mucosal fold height and enterocyte height, suggesting increased nutrient absorption and improved gut functionality. Gut presumptive total count remained relatively stable among treatments, although Bacillus counts tended to increase with solubilized MOS supplementation. Under ammonia and nitrite stress, supplemented groups showed higher survival and reduced gill damage, indicating improved physiological tolerance and health status. Economic analysis demonstrated that 1.0 and 2.0 g kg−1 MOS achieved the best cost–benefit ratios under intensive conditions. Overall, moderate MOS supplementation enhanced growth, gut morphology, stress resistance, and economic efficiency. Polynomial regression analysis, based on the four dietary inclusion levels evaluated, suggested that approximately 1.5 g kg−1 MOS may represent an estimated optimal inclusion level.

Heart failure (HF) is a multifactorial and heterogeneous syndrome with substantial epidemiological burden, high mortality, and impact on quality of life. In the context of heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has been regarded as the most important marker of systolic function and is fundamental in medical research and clinical practice. In research, LVEF has been a major inclusion criterion in most clinical trials over the past few decades. Furthermore, international heart failure guidelines rely on LVEF for the diagnosis of HF and to guide effective treatment. Additionally, our understanding of HF phenotypes and prognosis is mostly grounded in a classification based on LVEF. Nevertheless, there has been a growing debate regarding the role of LVEF in heart failure. In this context, the purpose of this review is to discuss both the advantages and contemporary relevance of LVEF in heart failure, as well as its limitations and controversies. In addition, this review aims to discuss potential alternatives and future directions in heart failure classification, such as new classification methods, alternative measurements of systolic function and imaging techniques, the HLM score, and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Introduction: Orthobiologics such as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin (i-PRF) have emerged as promising tools in regenerative medicine. However, the lack of methodological standardization and the still limited comparative characterization between these products represent significant barriers to their optimized clinical application. This comparative laboratory study aimed to characterize and differentiate PRP and i-PRF, focusing on their cellular composition, obtained volume, and total Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF-BB) content. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with 34 individuals meeting standard blood donation criteria. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all participants. PRP was obtained using a modified double-spin centrifugation protocol, whereas i-PRF was prepared using a modified low-speed centrifugation technique. Cellularity (platelet and leukocyte counts), final produced volume, and total PDGF-BB content were assessed using complete blood count analysis and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using Linear Mixed Models (LMMs). Results: Both protocols resulted in significant increases in platelet and leukocyte concentrations compared to baseline values. PRP showed significantly higher platelet and leukocyte concentrations compared with i-PRF, as well as markedly higher PDGF-BB levels. In contrast, i-PRF yielded a substantially greater final volume and enabled a higher absolute delivery of total leukocytes, whereas PRP delivered a greater absolute number of platelets. In exploratory analyses, female sex, the presence of comorbidities, and increased abdominal circumference were associated with variations in product volume and cellular composition. Discussion: These findings indicate that PRP and i-PRF exhibit distinct biological profiles in terms of cellularity, volume, and total PDGF-BB content. Whether these laboratory differences translate into distinct clinical outcomes remains unknown. The results should therefore be viewed as hypothesis-generating: they suggest that PRP and i-PRF may not be interchangeable, and that future randomized clinical trials are needed to define product-specific indications based on the target tissue and desired biological mechanism.

Understanding how biological communities change over time has become a paramount task as the Earth advances in the Anthropocene . While broad-scale

Although freshwater systems are potential sources of plastic debris to the oceans, knowledge about microplastics (MPs) in these systems remains limited. The Amazon Basin, the largest in the world, already shows widespread MP contamination, but data gaps persist, especially in the Northern Amazon. This study is the first to evaluate MP abundance in the Cauamé River, Roraima, in the extreme North of Brazil. Twelve sites were analyzed in two sampling campaigns, considering the dry and rainy seasons. During the rainy period, 391 MPs were detected, with abundances ranging from 50 to 365 MPs m⁻3 (mean = 206 ± 87 MPs m⁻3). In the dry period, there was an 84% reduction, with 61 MPs and abundances from 0 to 43 MPs m⁻3 (mean = 24 ± 15 MPs m⁻3). Higher abundances were associated with areas affected by sewage discharge and fishing-related waste. Particle sizes ranged from 152 to 4908 µm. Fragments accounted for 52% and fibers for 48%, with dominance of fragments between 1000 and 5000 µm. Nine colors were identified, mainly transparent (55%) and blue (22%). FTIR analysis indicated predominance of polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate. MPs showed a heterogeneous distribution in the river surface waters. Graphical Abstract

Red propolis ethanolic extract is a phenolic-rich ingredient whose application in food systems is limited by intense sensory attributes and handling difficulties. This study comparatively characterized red propolis powders obtained by different microencapsulation routes, focusing on key physicochemical and functional properties relevant to powder quality and stability. Red propolis microcapsules were produced by complex coacervation using gelatin and gum Arabic, applying either direct coacervation (DC) or coacervation preceded by emulsification (CE), followed by spray drying, with whey protein isolate (WPI) used as an additional carrier. Encapsulation efficiency after spray drying was significantly higher for the DC method (≥ 62%) than for the CE method (~ 15%), with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). All powders exhibited low water activity (~ 0.23), moisture content (~ 6.5%), and hygroscopicity (~ 10%), indicating adequate stability for low-moisture food applications. The highest formononetin content (~ 15 mg/g) was observed in DC powders without WPI. During storage at 25 °C for 60 days, WPI improved total phenolic retention in CE-based powders, whereas no significant effect was observed for DC-based powders. The encapsulated powders were incorporated into an isomalt-based hard candy as a model low-moisture system to evaluate phenolic release in simulated salivary fluid. Candies containing free or encapsulated extract showed similar release profiles, indicating that encapsulation did not hinder compound release. Overall, the results demonstrate that encapsulation route and carrier composition significantly influence powder properties and phenolic stability, supporting informed process selection for phenolic-rich food ingredients.