Indiscriminate use of glyphosate impregnates river epilithic biofilms in southern Brazil

Epilithic biofilms are communities of microorganisms composed mainly of microbial cells, extracellular polymeric substances from the metabolism of microorganisms, and inorganic materials. Biofilms are a useful tool to assess the impact of anthropic action on aquatic environments including the presence of pesticide residues such as glyphosate. The present work seeks to monitor the occurrence of glyphosate and AMPA residues in epilithic biofilms occurring in a watershed. For this, epilithic biofilm samples were collected in the Guaporé River watershed in the fall and spring seasons of 2016 at eight points. Physicochemical properties of the water and biofilms were determined. The determination of glyphosate and AMPA was performed using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatograph coupled to a tandem mass spectrometer. The concentrations of glyphosate and AMPA detected in epilithic biofilms vary with the season (from 90 to 305 μg kg-1 for glyphosate and from 50 to 240 μg kg-1 for AMPA, in fall and spring, respectively) and are strongly influenced by the amount of herbicide applications. Protected locations and those with poor access not demonstrate the presence of these contaminants. In the other seven points of the Guaporé River watershed, glyphosate was detected in concentrations ranging from 10 to 305 μg kg-1, and concentrations of AMPA ranged from 50 to 670 μg kg-1. An overview of the contamination in the Guaporé watershed shows that the most affected areas are located in the Marau sub-watershed, which are strongly influenced by the presence of the city of Marau. This confirms the indiscriminate use of glyphosate in the urban area (weed control, domestic gardens and horticulture) and constitutes a problem for human and animal health. The results showed that biofilms can accumulate glyphosate resulting from the contamination of water courses and are sensitive to the sources of pollution and pesticides present in rivers.

101 Effects of Active Immunization Against GnRH in Oocyte Donors with Cystic Ovarian Disease

Cows intensively used as oocyte donors for in vitro embryo production (IVEP) are usually kept nonpregnant for prolonged intervals, exposed to successive hormonal treatments, and frequently become overweight. These are all risk factors for the development of endocrine unbalance and, consequently, cystic ovarian disease (COD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of active immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on (1) ovarian follicular population, and (2) development potential of oocytes used for IVEP. Nelore (Bos indicus) cows (n = 14), previously diagnosed with chronic COD (Faria et al. 2017 Anim. Reprod., in press), weighing 620.0 ± 12.8 kg and with body condition score of 4.1 ± 0.2, were assigned to control (n = 6) or treatment (n = 8) group. Cows in the treatment group received 2 SC injections of 1.0 mL of anti-GnRH vaccine (Bopriva, Zoetis, Brazil), 28 days apart (weeks 0 and 4), whereas cows in the control group received placebo on the same schedule. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed weekly from week 0 to evaluate the number and distribution of follicles among size classes, endometrial thickness, and clinical presence of mucometra. Immunization was considered effective (E-IM) when no follicles ≥5.0 mm were observed on the ovaries during a given examination. Cows having E-IM were then used as oocyte donors for IVEP. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were collected in 5 consecutive ovum pick-up weekly sessions. As a control for IVEP, oocytes from a slaughterhouse were used, with similar procedures performed on the same days and using the same semen batch. The MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) with repeated-measures statement was used to evaluate the effects of treatment, time, and interactions on ovarian endpoints; and the GLM procedure was used to analyse embryo production data. Results are shown as mean ± SEM. There were time and time × treatment effects on ovarian parameters. Treated cows had a decrease (P < 0.05) in the average diameter of the largest follicle and in the number of follicles ≥8 mm, and an increase (P < 0.05) in follicular population after week 6. Nonetheless, individual response to treatment was variable: only 50% of the cows (4 of 8) were E-IM at week 8, whereas 25% (2 of 8) still had COD (largest follicle ≥18.0 mm) at this timepoint. Overall, a negative correlation was detected between follicular population and the diameter of the largest follicle (r = –0.60, P < 0.0001) or the number of follicles ≥8 mm (r = –0.47, P < 0.0001). There was no effect (P > 0.05) of treatment on endometrial thickness or mucometra score. Cows with E-IM produced 22.2 ± 3.6 total and 12.9 ± 2.3 viable COC. Cleavage rate did not differ between E-IM and control (slaughterhouse) oocytes (70.8 ± 7.0 v. 75.1 ± 3.0%, respectively; P > 0.05); however, blastocyst rate was greater in the E-IM group compared with controls (39.7 ± 5.5 v. 20.5 ± 4.7%, respectively; P < 0.02). In summary, our results suggest that active immunization against GnRH leads to variable results in the distribution of the follicular population in cows with COD, but it does not negatively affect IVEP efficiency. This research was supported by Zoetis, CNPq, and CAPES.

Thyroid storm and myxoedema: two reversible causes of acute heart failure

Cardiovascular signs and symptoms can prevail in both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Case 1: 30-year-old female with acute right heart failure as first manifestation of Graves' disease. It illustrates some of its cardiovascular complications, particularly pulmonary hypertension, tricuspid regurgitation, atrial fibrillation, mitral valve prolapse and mitral regurgitation. Case 2: 83-year-old-man with a severe primary hypothyroidism/myxoedema crisis presented to emergency department with extreme bradyarrhythmia with hemodynamic impact and heart failure signs, which led to implantation of definitive pacemaker. Thyroid disorders are treatable entities and most cardiovascular changes are reversible. Early diagnosis is mandatory and can avoid severe complications and, eventually, invasive therapeutics interventions. Pulmonary hypertension and acute heart failure, especially in young adults, should be screened for underlying hyperthyroidism.

Search for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay of (130)Te with CUORE-0

We report the results of a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay in a 9.8 kg yr exposure of (130)Te using a bolometric detector array, CUORE-0. The characteristic detector energy resolution and background level in the region of interest are 5.1±0.3  keV FWHM and 0.058±0.004(stat)±0.002(syst)counts/(keV kg yr), respectively. The median 90% C.L. lower-limit half-life sensitivity of the experiment is 2.9×10(24)  yr and surpasses the sensitivity of previous searches. We find no evidence for neutrinoless double-beta decay of (130)Te and place a Bayesian lower bound on the decay half-life, T(1/2)(0ν)>2.7×10(24)  yr at 90% C.L. Combining CUORE-0 data with the 19.75 kg yr exposure of (130)Te from the Cuoricino experiment we obtain T(1/2)(0ν)>4.0×10(24)  yr at 90% C.L. (Bayesian), the most stringent limit to date on this half-life. Using a range of nuclear matrix element estimates we interpret this as a limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass, m(ββ)<270-760  meV.

The value of rapid on-site evaluation during EBUS-TBNA

BACKGROUND

Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) has the potential to increase endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) accuracy in the diagnosis of mediastinal lesions and lung cancer staging. However, studies have reported controversial results. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the influence of ROSE on sample adequacy and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA.

METHODS

Prospective observational study that enrolled 81 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA for investigation of hilo-mediastinal lesions or lung cancer staging. The first 41 patients underwent EBUS-TBNA with ROSE (ROSE group) and the last 40 patients without ROSE (non-ROSE group). Sample adequacy and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA in both groups were compared.

RESULTS

Adequate samples were obtained in 93% of the patients in the ROSE group and 80% in non-ROSE group (p=0.10). The diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA was 91% in ROSE group and 83% in non-ROSE group (p=0.08). Analyzing the EBUS-TBNA purpose, in the subgroup of patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA for investigation of hilo-mediastinal lesions, these differences between ROSE and non-ROSE group were higher compared to lung cancer staging, 93% of patients with adequate samples in the ROSE group vs. 75% in the non-ROSE group (p=0.06) and 87% of diagnostic accuracy in ROSE group vs. 77% in non-ROSE group (p=0.10).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the lack of statistical significance, ROSE appears to be particularly useful in the diagnostic work-up of hilo-mediastinal lesions, increasing the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA.

Clinical challenges of persistent pulmonary air-leaks--case report

Air leaks are a common problem after pulmonary resection and can be a source of significant morbidity and mortality. The authors describe the case of a 68-year-old male patient who presented with a persistent air-leak after pulmonary resection. Watchful waiting, surgical procedures, as well as medical therapy like pleurodesis and implantation of endobronchial one-way valves on the bronchial segments identified using systematic occlusion of the bronchial segments, were all tried unsuccessfully. During that time the patient remained hospitalized with a chest tube. The instillation of methylene blue through the chest tube was used to identify the segments leading to the persistent air-leak; this enabled successful endobronchial valve placement which sufficiently reduced the size of the air-leak so that the chest tube could be removed. Nonsurgical approaches seem promising and, for some patients may be the only treatment option after all conventional treatments have failed or are considered too high risk.