Multiphysics simulation of a microfluidic perfusion chamber for brain slice physiology

Understanding and optimizing fluid flows through in vitro microfluidic perfusion systems is essential in mimicking in vivo conditions for biological research. In a previous study a microfluidic brain slice device (μBSD) was developed for microscale electrophysiology investigations. The device consisted of a standard perfusion chamber bonded to a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel substrate. Our objective in this study is to characterize the flows through the μBSD by using multiphysics simulations of injections into a pourous matrix to identify optimal spacing of ports. Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations are performed with CFD-ACE + software to model, simulate, and assess the transport of soluble factors through the perfusion bath, the microchannels, and a material that mimics the porosity, permeability and tortuosity of brain tissue. Additionally, experimental soluble factor transport through a brain slice is predicted by and compared to simulated fluid flow in a volume that represents a porous matrix material. The computational results are validated with fluorescent dye experiments.     

Impact of body mass index in elderly patients treated with laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND The impact of obesity on surgical outcomes in elderly patients candidate for liver surgery is still debated.AIM To evaluate the impact of high body mass index(BMI) on perioperative and oncological outcome in elderly patients(> 70 years old) treated with laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS Retrospective multicenter study including 224 elderly patients(> 70 years old) operated by laparoscopy for HCC(196 with a BMI < 30 and 28 with BMI ≥ 30), o...     

Pharmacological management of pain after periodontal surgery: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Clinical Oral Investigations - To assess and compare the pharmacological effect of different drugs on pain relief after periodontal surgery. Five databases were searched up to September 2019. The...     

Cause-specific mortality for 249 causes in Brazil and states during 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2015

Background

Reliable data on cause of death (COD) are fundamental for planning and resource allocation priorities. We used GBD 2015 estimates to examine levels and trends for the leading causes of death in Brazil from 1990 to 2015.

Methods

We describe the main analytical approaches focused on both overall and specific causes of death for Brazil and Brazilian states.

Results

There was an overall improvement in life expectancy at birth from 1990 to 2015, but with important heterogeneity among states. Reduced mortality due to diarrhea, lower respiratory infections, and other infectious diseases contributed the most for increasing life expectancy in most states from the North and Northeast regions. Reduced mortality due to cardiovascular diseases was the highest contributor in the South, Southeast, and Center West regions. However, among men, intentional injuries reduced life expectancy in 17 out of 27 states. Although age-standardized rates due to ischemic heart disease (IHD) and cerebrovascular disease declined over time, these remained the leading CODs in the country and states. In contrast, leading causes of premature mortality changed substantially - e.g., diarrheal diseases moved from 1st to 13th and then the 36th position in 1990, 2005, and 2015, respectively, while violence moved from 7th to 1st and to 2nd. Overall, the total age-standardized years of life lost (YLL) rate was reduced from 1990 to 2015, bringing the burden of premature deaths closer to expected rates given the country’s Socio-demographic Index (SDI). In 1990, IHD, stroke, diarrhea, neonatal preterm birth complications, road injury, and violence had ratios higher than the expected, while in 2015 only violence was higher, overall and in all states, according to the SDI.

Conclusions

A widespread reduction of mortality levels occurred in Brazil from 1990 to 2015, particularly among children under 5 years old. Major shifts in mortality rates took place among communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional disorders. The mortality profile has shifted to older ages with increases in non-communicable diseases as well as premature deaths due to violence. Policymakers should address health interventions accordingly.

     

Acute toxicity of apple snail Pomacea canaliculata’s eggs on Rhinella arenarum tadpoles

The effect of the crude homogenate of snail Pomacea canaliculata’s eggs (CHSE) exposition on Rhinella arenarum tadpoles was investigated. Exposure to 10?g CHSE/L treatment produced 95% tadpole mortality, whereas the median lethal concentration (48-h LC₅₀) was 4.35?g/L. Moreover, CHSE inhibited significantly the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) with respect to control tadpoles, and modified tadpoles swimming behavior. Together all these evidences indicate that eggs of snail P. canaliculata have a neurotoxic effect on tadpoles limiting survival at low concentrations and short time exposition.     

Social assistance programme impacts on women's and children's diets and nutritional status

Investments in social assistance programmes (SAPs) have accelerated alongside interest in using SAPs to improve health and nutrition outcomes. However, evidence of how design features within and across programme types influence the effectiveness of SAPs for improving diet and nutrition outcomes among women and children is limited. To address this, we reviewed evaluations of cash, in‐kind and voucher programmes conducted between 2010 and 2020 among women and children, and examined associations between design features (targeting, including household and individual transfers, fortified foods and behaviour change communication) and positive impacts on diet (diet diversity, micronutrient intake) and nutrition (anthropometric indicators, haemoglobin, anaemia) outcomes. Our review has several key findings. First, SAPs improve dietary diversity and intake of micronutrient‐rich foods among women and children, as well as improve several nutrition outcomes. Second, SAPs were more likely to impact diet and nutrition outcomes among women compared with children (23/45 [51%] vs. 52/144 [36%] of outcomes measured). Third, in‐kind (all but one of which included fortified foods) compared with cash transfer programmes were more likely to significantly increase women''s body mass index and children''s weight‐for‐height/length Z‐score, and both women''s and children''s haemoglobin and anaemia. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of SAPs for improving micronutrient status and preventing increased prevalence of overweight and obesity for all populations and for improving diet and nutrition outcomes among men, adolescents and the elderly. Further research in these areas is urgently needed to optimize impact of SAPs on diet and nutrition outcomes as countries increase investments in SAPs.