The complaints regarding sleep problems have not been well identified after a stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive factors of sleep quality and insomnia complaints in patients with stroke. A total of 70 subjects, 40 patients (57 ± 7 years) and 30 healthy controls (52 ± 6 years) assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Sleep Habits Questionnaire took part in the study. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test, the Student's t-test and logistic regression analysis. On average, the patients showed poor sleep quality (patients: 6.3 ± 3.5; controls: 3.9 ± 2.2; p= 0.002) and insomnia complaint was the most prevalent (patients: 37.5%; controls: 6.7%; p= 0.007). The absence of insomnia complaint (OR= 0.120; 95%CI= 0.017-0.873; p= 0.036) and the decreased latency of sleep (OR= 0.120; 95%CI= 0.017-0.873; p= 0.036) were the protective factors of sleep quality. Female sex (OR= 11.098;; p= 0.036) and fragmented sleep (OR= 32.040;; p= 0.003) were the risk factors for insomnia complaint. We suggest that complaints of poor sleep quality and insomnia should be given priority assessment during clinical diagnosis of sleep disorders in stroke.

Surfactin, a biosurfactant with great activity on interfaces, have been reported as a great substitute to non-renewable sources, non-biologically synthesized surfactants. It is expected to see more studies at the next years evolving its application, including on marine environments, especially ones impacted with petroleum or other contaminants. In this review we address in details the main aspects of surfactin production, including main microorganisms, cultivation modes, pathways and conditions. We address the main aspects of surfactin production by Bacillus subtilis with the different strategies explored to reach this bioprocess up to large scale, as well as the main challenges encountered. As well, is detailed its recovery and purification methods, that generally combine two or more steps as acid precipitation, solvent extraction, liquid membrane extraction, foam fractionation and membrane-based techniques. We also provide a brief summary of its potential application on marine environments, and our prospects from future application, as a brief outlook on physiochemistry characteristics of the main molecules.