Francisco Radler de Aquino Neto

Phytochemicals are secondary metabolites synthesized by plants to mediate environmental interactions and ensure their survival

Introduction Military operational training soldiers are subjected to extreme physical and environmental stress, increasing the risk of exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) and acute kidney injury (AKI). This study analysed muscle, liver and kidney biomarkers in Brazilian Navy marines undergoing 259 days of high-intensity training across diverse biomes, comparing biomarker behaviour between those who completed the course (finalists) and those who withdrew (dropouts). Methods This observational study followed 35 male marines (five finalists, 30 dropouts) during six operational missions, each lasting 7–12 days, involving intense physical exertion, controlled feeding, sleep deprivation and free hydration. Blood samples were collected at baseline and post-mission to measure creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), albumin, creatinine, urea, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and electrolytes. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance, Friedman tests and area-under-the-curve comparisons. Results CK, LDH and AST levels remained elevated throughout training, with peak CK values in the ‘tropical mission’ (3,156 (2,397; 4,804) U/L) and the ‘high-altitude mission’ post-100km march (9,720 (7,956; 8,3969) U/L), indicating subclinical ER. ALT increased significantly in the ‘high-altitude mission’ (1,431 (902; 7,099) U/L), while GGT and albumin remained stable. Creatinine showed significant variation, decreasing after the survival phase of the ‘high-altitude mission’ (0.7 (0.7; 0.8) mg/dL), with eGFR reductions in the ‘semi-arid mission’ (92 (82; 118) mL/min/1.73 m²). No significant differences in CK, creatinine or eGFR were found between finalists and dropouts, suggesting non-physiological factors influenced dropout rates. Conclusion The ‘tropical mission’ and ‘high-altitude mission’ posed the highest risk for ER and AKI due to extreme CK elevations and creatinine fluctuations. Enhanced hydration protocols and CK reference value adjustments may be necessary to mitigate health risks in military training.

Forty years ago, the academic community was divided over the dispute between “basic” and “applied” research. This resulted in a distortion in research proposals that tried to present research as solving relevant societal problems despite knowing that meaningful results would not materialize for decades. Additionally, some proposals lacked any fundamental reasoning that would justify them. Donald Stokes1 wrote an excellent book addressing the evaluation of research as basic or applied; he also considered mixed possibilities. His concept involved a two-dimensional plane, with the Y-axis representing Bohr’s basic research and the X-axis representing Edison’s applied research. Pasteur’s quadrant is in between and represents basic research leading to viable applications. All three situations lead to useful results. Twenty years ago (2005), coincidentally, Unicamp translated this book2 and revisited this publication, calling attention to a (sad) possibility disregarded by Stokes—the occurrence of research proposals in the Ruetsap quadrant3 (Figure 1). This quadrant is opposite to Pasteur´s quadrant and is defined by the negative vectors of basic and applied sciences—that is, research without justifiable goals. Despite being written in Portuguese,3 current translators make it easy to browse through that publication. This might be useful for a self-critical appraisal, which we all need to do from time to time.

The Brazilian National Metrology Institute produced a suite of certified reference materials (CRMs) intended as internal standards (ISs) for quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR). Being a ratio primary method, the use of qNMR in organic chemistry has already crossed the borders of research laboratories, despite the cost of instrumentation. The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) proposed eight potential qNMR ISs. Four candidate materials were selected for their solubility in various solvents and distinct chemical shifts, making them suitable for qNMR analysis of diverse analytes. The certification process compared orthogonal primary methods such as mass balance, qNMR, freezing-point depression, and coulometry, to ensure independent value assignment. Different approaches were compared to assess batch homogeneity and stability. While directly comparing the main compound’s chromatographic area proved to be a quick and fit-for-purpose approach, the determination of individual impurities provided lower uncertainties but required more laborious work. CRM batches of maleic acid, dimethyl sulfone, potassium hydrogen phthalate, and dimethyl terephthalate were delivered with over 999.8 mg g⁻¹ purity and uncertainty in the range of 0.6 to 3 mg g⁻¹ (k = 2). The literature shows certification procedures for qNMR ISs whose traceability chain is exclusively based on qNMR measurements. As opposed to that, the methodology presented here provides robust certified values assigned by methods independent of qNMR, in accordance with BIPM recommendations and less prone to qNMR biases. The CRMs developed in this work have already been used for SI-traceable purity evaluation of compounds such as drugs and pesticides, by laboratories in Brazil and abroad. Graphical Abstract

In many analytical chemical procedures, organic solvents are required to favour a better global yield upon the separation, extraction, or isolation of the target phytochemical analyte. The selection of extraction solvents is generally based on the solubility difference between target analytes and the undesired matrix components, as well as the overall extraction procedure cost and safety. Hansen Solubility Parameters are typically used for this purpose. They are based on the product of three coordinated forces (hydrogen bonds, dispersion, and dipolar forces) calculated for any substance to predict the miscibility of a compound in a pure solvent, in a mixture of solvents, or in non-solvent compounds, saving time and costs on method development based on a scientific understanding of chemical composition and intermolecular interactions. This review summarises how Hansen Solubility Parameters have been incorporated into the classical and emerging (or greener) extraction techniques of phytochemicals as an alternative to trial-and-error approaches, avoiding impractical experimental conditions and resulting in, for example, saving resources and avoiding unnecessary solvent wasting.

Cafestol and kahweol are expressive furane-diterpenoids from the lipid fraction of coffee beans with relevant pharmacological properties for human health. Due to their thermolability, they suffer degradation during roasting, whose products are poorly studied regarding their identity and content in the roasted coffee beans and beverages. This article describes the extraction of these diterpenes, from the raw bean to coffee beverages, identifying them and understanding the kinetics of formation and degradation in roasting (light, medium and dark roasts) as the extraction rate for different beverages of coffee (filtered, Moka, French press, Turkish and boiled). Sixteen compounds were identified as degradation products, ten derived from kahweol and six from cafestol, produced by oxidation and inter and intramolecular elimination reactions, with the roasting degree (relationship between time and temperature) being the main factor for thermodegradation and the way of preparing the beverage responsible for the content of these substances in them.

The use of androgenic‐anabolic steroids (AAS) can be associated with psychiatric symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety and increased aggressiveness. Although dose‐dependent effects have been observed in some controlled studies, this association is not always seen in the ecological use of AAS. This study utilized WADA's steroid profile of suspicious use of AAS, urinary detection of AAS metabolites and measurement of sexual hormones to confirm recent use of AAS in a cohort of 103 bodybuilders (75 males, 28 females). The majority of participants (61.2%) presented symptoms of agitation, insomnia, increased aggressiveness or depression in the last 3 months. About one‐third of participants presented scores on the HAM‐A anxiety scale equivalent to moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety. A minority of participants (12.6%) presented high to moderate scores on the BPQ aggressiveness scale. The majority of participants (73.8%) presented hyperthymic temperament in the BRIEF‐TEMPS scale. There was no significant difference in the presence of psychiatric symptoms between males and females and no association between psychiatric symptoms and estimated weekly doses of AAS. A negative association was observed between scores on the BPQ scale (verbal aggression, anger and total score) and the time of AAS use. We discuss differences of AAS use between male and female bodybuilders and the screening of AAS use in the general population. Our findings highlight the importance of mental health awareness among people using AAS.

The treatment of a man who attempted suicide after experiencing symptoms of anxiety and aggressiveness associated with the use of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) is described. This report includes 30 days of inpatient treatment and a 6-month follow-up. Regular use of fluoxetine apparently prevented the onset of anxiety, depression, aggressiveness, and suicide ideation, even with the concurrent use of AAS. The urinary concentration of androgens, metabolites of AAS, and fluoxetine were monitored through analysis of urinary samples by the Brazilian Laboratory of Doping Control. Our results are congruent with previous findings describing the risk of suicide prompted by AAS use as well as the efficacy of fluoxetine in the treatment of mood disorders associated with the use of anabolic steroids.