The use of antibiotics as growth promoters in pig farming has been largely restricted, driving the search for alternative natural additives, like phenolic compounds. This systematic review coupled to a meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of the inclusion of both flavonoids and tocopherols in the diet of finishing pigs regarding zootechnical performance and meat quality. A search was conducted at the PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, and Web of Science databases up to May 2024, following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 15 articles published between 1999 and 2020 were included, totaling 888 animals. Phenolic compounds were grouped as flavonoids and tocopherols, and variables associated to productive performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality parameters were assessed. The meta-analysis revealed that flavonoid inclusion results in a quadratic effect on feed conversion, with an estimated optimal point of 502.20 mg/kg. Tocopherol inclusion, in turn, leads to a quadratic trend concerning final body weight, with an estimated optimal point of 139.61 mg/kg. Regarding meat quality, flavonoids decreased the values of the colour parameters a* and b*, while tocopherols positively influenced parameters L* and a* and displayed a propensity to reduce lipid peroxidation (TBARS/MDA). The findings reveal that flavonoid supplementation favors productive performance, while tocopherols are noteworthy for their antioxidant action and pork quality benefits. More well-designed studies, however, are required to determine optimal inclusion levels and elucidate the mechanisms of action of these compounds.

Naproxen is a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and previous studies have shown that its administration in mice influenced antral follicle growth and ovulation. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the reversibility of these effects following treatment interruption and to evaluate their impact across different mouse backgrounds. For Experiment I, C57BL/6 females (n = 20, 6 weeks of age) were treated with 10 mg/kg (low, n = 7) or 50 mg/kg (high, n = 7) of naproxen, while animals of the vehicle group received PBS + DMSO 5% (n = 6), followed by 21 days of rest. After euthanasia, the ovaries were histologically analysed. For Experiment II (C57BL/6) and Experiment III (Swiss and BALB/c), animals were treated for eight days with the same protocol, receiving 20 IU of eCG and 20 IU of hCG for ovulation induction. Recovered oocytes were collected and quantified. Results demonstrated that the treatment affected the percentage of primary follicles, which increased in the high-dose group compared with the vehicle group. Additionally, the rate of antral follicles was higher in the high group than in the vehicle and low-dose groups. The number of ovulated oocytes was not altered in BALB/c and Swiss females, as well as the number of corpora haemorrhagica and corpus luteum (p > 0.05). Overall, our findings indicate that naproxen treatment may have transient effects on folliculogenesis in C57BL/6 mice, with no impact in BALB/c or Swiss mice.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro embryo production in sheep. Cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected and matured in vitro in a control medium or supplemented with different concentrations of NAC (1, 1.5 and 2.0 mM). After maturation, a subset of oocytes was used for morphological assessment and chromatin configuration analysis, as well as for evaluating intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial activity and DNA fragmentation using the TUNEL assay. Another subgroup of oocytes was subjected to in vitro fertilization (IVF), and the presumed zygotes were cultured in in vitro culture (IVC) medium to assess cleavage rates. Data were statistically analysed, considering significance at P < 0.05. The concentration of 1 mM NAC resulted in lower ROS levels compared to the control and 1.5 mM groups, in addition to reducing DNA fragmentation. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in GSH levels or mitochondrial activity between treated and control groups. Furthermore, oocytes treated with 1 mM NAC showed higher cleavage rates compared to the other experimental groups. In conclusion, supplementation with 1 mM NAC improves oocyte quality and early embryonic development, as demonstrated by reduced oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation, resulting in increased cleavage rates.

This study aimed to investigate whether n-3 PUFA supplementation enhances the anabolic signalling response, muscle hypertrophy and strength gains following resistance training program in healthy young men with habitual protein intake ≥1·6 g·kg⁻1·d⁻1. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, forty-six resistance-trained men (28·1 (sd 5·8) years, 24·8 (sd 3·1) kg/m2 and 1·8 (sd 0·5) g·kg–1·d–1 protein intake) were assigned to receive either n-3 PUFA (W3; 6·3 g/d n-3PUFA) or placebo during 14 weeks of supervised lower-limb resistance training 2×/week. Body composition, muscle cross-sectional area, maximal dynamic strength (1-RM), muscle tissue fatty acid composition and muscle fibre morphology were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Phosphorylation of mTOR, p70S6K and 4E-BP1 was evaluated at rest and 4-h after exercise, before and after the intervention. Adherence to supplementation and training was high in both groups (>94 % n-3 PUFA supplementation; >96 % training session attendance). A marked incorporation of n-3 PUFA into skeletal muscle (interaction P = 0·017) was observed in the W3 group. Both groups presented increases in lean mass, strength, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis CSA, vastus lateralis muscle fibre CSA and minimum Feret’s diameter (all main time effects P < 0·05), with no differences between groups. No effects were observed for anabolic signalling between groups or over time (all P > 0·05). Overall, despite substantial incorporation into muscle tissue, n-3 PUFA supplementation did not enhance muscle hypertrophy, strength gains or anabolic signalling in healthy adult men with adequate protein intake undergoing resistance training. Future studies should focus on populations with impaired anabolic responses, during periods of disuse or caloric restriction.

Malathion is an insecticide widely used in agriculture and, in Brazil, was heavily applied in the 2010s to control Aedes mosquitoes. Its use exposes the general population, including children and adolescents, to this pesticide. As puberty reflects the maturing of the reproductive system, this study investigated whether preconception exposure to low doses of malathion during juvenile and pubertal stages affects fertility and pregnancy outcomes in Wistar rats. Female rats received daily gavage doses of 10 or 50 mg/kg from postnatal day (PND) 22 to 60. Puberty onset was monitored starting on PND 27. Following exposure, females were mated at the first proestrus and euthanized on gestational day (GD) 18. Malathion advanced puberty onset (M50) but did not impair fertility or serum hormonal levels. Females exposed to the higher dose showed increased urea levels. Additionally, placental integrity was compromised, with reduced placental glycogen (M10) and increased oxidative stress and reduced offspring CRL. These findings indicate that preconception exposure to low doses of malathion negatively impacted placentation and offspring’s intrauterine development at GD 18.

Aligned with the increasing trend observed across the EU/EEA, congenital syphilis (CS) cases have risen in Portugal, which has the third highest rate per 100000 live births in the EU/EEA. This study aimed to analyse CS cases reported in Portugal, focusing on pregnancy monitoring and antenatal screening to identify gaps in preventing vertical transmission of syphilis. We conducted a descriptive study, including confirmed CS cases reported in Portugal from 2015 to 2024. We calculated annual incidence per 100000 live births and the proportion of pregnancies monitored and antenatal screenings performed. During 2015–2024, 99 confirmed CS cases were reported, 64.6% in infants under 1 month of age. The incidence of CS increased eightfold from 2016 to 2024. Among mothers of CS cases, 67.7% had pregnancies classified as monitored; of these, 77.6% had a record of antenatal screening, and 88.5% of those screened tested positive. These findings highlight potential fragilities in antenatal care, diagnosis and treatment, contributing to the resurgence of CS in Portugal. Addressing missed opportunities for prevention requires improving maternal healthcare, strengthening surveillance systems, and ensuring the timely treatment of pregnant people and their partners, in order to reverse this trend and move towards the elimination of vertical transmission of syphilis.

This systematic review evaluated studies published between 1980 and 2025 on the chemical control of smut grass [Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br.] in the Americas, with a focus on pastures. After 446 publications were screened, 13 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in the subtropical United States, particularly in Florida, on bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flueggé) pastures, with only one study carried out in Brazil. The most frequently reported herbicide was hexazinone, present in more than 80% of the studies, applied either alone or in combination with mechanical methods or fertilization. Consistent results indicated control efficacy above 85%, especially at doses ≥0.84 kg ha⁻1 and when applied during summer. Selectivity for use in bahiagrass was considered satisfactory despite temporary phytotoxic symptoms. Integrated strategies, such as herbicide applications combined with nitrogen fertilization, showed potential to restore forage dominance and reduce reinfestation. Other herbicides, such as glyphosate, indaziflam, imazapic, mesotrione, and triazines, were less frequently investigated. Indaziflam, applied preemergence, caused a significant reduction in the seedbank, showing promise for preventive management, given the high dormancy and longevity of S. indicus seeds. The integration of chemical and mechanical control produced variable outcomes: in some cases, mowing before application reduced efficacy, whereas in others, when associated with strategies to remove growing points and subsequent herbicide application, it enhanced control. The scarcity of studies under Brazilian and other tropical or subtropical conditions limits the understanding of this species’ adaptation and the efficiency of management methods across different edaphoclimatic contexts. Expanding research in these regions is crucial for developing effective and sustainable management strategies.

A growing number of oncology treatments, such as bevacizumab, are used across multiple indications. However, in health technology assessment (HTA), their clinical and cost-effectiveness are typically appraised within a single target indication. This approach excludes a broader evidence base across other indications. To address this, we explored multi-indication meta-analysis methods that share evidence across indications.

We conducted a simulation study to evaluate alternative multi-indication synthesis models. This included univariate (mixture and non-mixture) methods synthesizing overall survival (OS) data and bivariate surrogacy models jointly modeling treatment effects on progression-free survival (PFS) and OS, pooling surrogacy parameters across indications. Simulated datasets were generated using a multistate disease progression model under various scenarios, including different levels of heterogeneity within and between indications, outlier indications, and varying data on OS for the target indication. We evaluated the performance of the synthesis models applied to the simulated datasets in terms of their ability to predict OS in a target indication.

The results showed univariate multi-indication methods could reduce uncertainty without increasing bias, particularly when OS data were available in the target indication. Compared with univariate methods, mixture models did not significantly improve performance and are not recommended for HTA. In scenarios where OS data in the target indication is absent and there are also outlier indications, bivariate surrogacy models showed promise in correcting bias relative to univariate models, though further research under realistic conditions is needed.

Multi-indication methods are more complex than traditional approaches but can potentially reduce uncertainty in HTA decisions.

The developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis suggests that environmental exposures during critical developmental windows increase the risk of disease later in life. Among these, endocrine disruptors (EDs) are particularly concerning due to their ubiquitous presence. The kidneys are highly susceptible to EDs toxicity during the perinatal period; however, long-term effects of ED mixtures on renal structure in aging remain unclear. This study aimed to characterize the renal histoarchitecture of aged rats after perinatal exposure to an ED mixture. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to two groups: Control (corn oil, 2 ml/kg) and ED Mix (32.11 mg/kg/day of 12 EDs, including phthalates, pesticides, UV filters, bisphenol A, and butylparaben, in corn oil). Exposure occurred from gestational day 7 to postnatal day 21. Offspring were euthanized at postnatal day 440. ED mixture exposure did not affect the organosomatic index. However, ED Mix offspring presented renal lesions, including necrosis and tubular fusion, with a trend toward increased pathological changes. Morphometric analysis revealed enlarged nuclei and increased nuclear perimeters in the cortex and medulla, along with altered cellular organization in glomerular and medullary regions. Collagen organization was disrupted, with increased fibrosis in cortical and medullary compartments and reduced collagen type I and III in glomeruli. These findings indicate that perinatal exposure to an ED mixture alters nuclear phenotype and promotes extracellular matrix remodeling in distinct renal compartments. Such changes suggest long-term impacts on renal structure and function, emphasizing the health risks associated with early-life exposure to complex ED mixtures.

Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) are critical in key stages of food production and processing. After manufacturing, slicing process can serve as a point of contamination, potentially compromising the quality and shelf life of mozzarella. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of SSOP on the quantification and diversity of psychrotrophic bacteria with proteolytic and lipolytic potential in mozzarella before and after industrial slicing. Psychrotrophic bacteria were isolated, phenotypically assessed for spoilage potential under mesophilic and psychrotrophic conditions, analysed for diversity using dendrograms of genetic similarity and identified by partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The mean psychrotrophic counts were 3.77 (±0.83) log CFU/mL before slicing and 3.58 (±0.51) log CFU/mL in the sliced product, indicating a non-significant reduction (p < 0.05). Regarding spoilage potential, none of the 233 isolates evaluated exhibited proteolytic activity under psychrotrophic conditions. However, psychrotrophic lipolytic activity was predominant both before and after slicing. The species Lactobacillus delbrueckii, which is part of the saccharolytic inoculum used to reduce the pH of the curd during cheese production, was the main proteolytic bacteria under mesophilic conditions (35°C) in both before and after sliced samples. Although the bacterial counts indicated the full efficiency of the slicer’s SSOP, the microbial diversity analysis revealed the inclusion of Staphylococcus succinus, Staphylococcus hominis, Enterococcus faecalis and Klebsiella pneumoniae during the slicing process, albeit at low levels. Therefore, relying solely on psychrotrophic quantification may not be sufficient to attest the efficiency of the slicer’s SSOP. Even under controlled industrial conditions, spoilage bacteria from handling and environmental sources may be introduced into sliced mozzarella. Methods for improving the microbiological quality of the mozzarella pieces prior to slicing, as well as the intensification of sanitary procedures, must be reviewed and implemented to improve the shelf life and commercial potential of sliced mozzarella.

Elephant grass [Cenchrus purpureus (Schum.) Morrone] is a tropical forage grass widely used in ruminant feeding in tropical and subtropical areas, mainly in cut-and-carry systems due to is high potential for herbage accumulation. However, most common genotypes (tall genotypes) generally show an early stem elongation, which contributes to a rapid decline in the forage nutritive value. Dwarf elephant grass types usually present less stem elongation and may be considered an option for the production of high nutritive value forage in cut-and-carry systems. The aims of this study were to evaluate and explain variations in herbage characteristics and kinetics of in vitro gas production of irrigated elephant grass genotypes (two tall-types – Elephant B and IRI-381 – and two dwarf-types genotypes – Mott and Taiwan A-146 2.37) under two harvest frequencies (60 and 90 days) in the dry and rainy seasons of two years. Herbage characteristics varied among genotypes, harvest frequency and seasons. Dwarf genotypes showed better in vitro fermentation parameters with the advancement of maturity compared to the tall size genotypes. Harvesting tall genotypes at a higher frequency (60-day) contributed to improving the fermentation, while dwarf elephant grass maintained greater fermentation when less frequent harvests were adopted (90-day).

The objective of the trial was to evaluate the effects of arginine supplementation in the feed of gestating sows on the variability of piglet birth weight. The weight of the piglets was evaluated using descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and analysis of variance with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. This arrangement included no supplementation or supplementation with 1.0 % L-arginine, combined in three periods. Period 1: from days 25 to 53 of gestation, providing 23 g/day from days 25 to 28 and 18 g/day from days 29 to 53 of gestation; period 2: from days 30 to 60 of gestation and from day 80 of gestation to farrowing, providing 18 g/day in the first period and 45 g/day in the second period and period 3: from day 85 of gestation to delivery, with 24 g/day was provided from day 85 until farrowing and 28 g/day from days 85 to 107, increasing to 56 g/day from day 108 until farrowing. Supplementation with 1.0 % of L-arginine reduced the percentage of total piglets born and piglets born alive with less than 800 g by 2.26 and 2.05 percentage points, respectively; and increased the percentage of total piglets born and piglets born alive between 1601 and 1800g by 5.89 and 6.08 percentage points, respectively. Supplementing with 1.0 % of L-arginine improves litter uniformity, with an average reduction of 4.06 percentage points in the piglet population of less than 1180 g and an increase in the piglet population of 1180 to 1890 g by 4.70 percentage points.

Medium to small petrels that mostly nest in burrows or crevices represent a large fraction of the world’s seabirds, yet their population trends are largely unknown. This lack of knowledge, which has implications for conservation planning, results mostly from methodological difficulties and from the approaches that have been used for their monitoring. Here, we present the surveying scheme created to monitor Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis breeding numbers at their largest known colony, Selvagem Grande (Portugal). We defined 60 circular plots at fixed locations on this 2.45 km2 island and counted nests with eggs annually at the end of laying. Results show that the population increased at 1.45% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72–2.01%) per year between 2009 and 2023. We estimate that the current population size is 38,830 pairs (95% quantile CIs = 34,373–43,713). To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first systematic information (using fully repeatable methods and providing CIs for the estimates) on population trends of Cory’s Shearwaters, one of the most abundant seabirds in the warm temperate and subtropical North Atlantic and one of the most studied petrels globally. Monitoring using the approach detailed here requires two days of work (by 2–3 persons) per year. Our results and simulations indicate that this is a powerful methodology, with narrow confidence limits for estimated trends and an ability to detect small population changes over short time spans. We suggest that more monitoring protocols similar to this one (with necessary site-specific adaptations, particularly for potential colony expansion where suitable habitat exists) should be developed and implemented in a range of colonies with crevice and burrowing nesting petrels to improve our knowledge on the population status of a broad fraction of the world’s seabirds.