Actl7b deficiency leads to mislocalization of LC8 type dynein light chains and disruption of murine spermatogenesis.

Actin-related proteins (Arps) are classified according to their similarity to actin and are involved in diverse cellular processes. ACTL7B is a testis-specific Arp, and is highly conserved in rodents and primates. ACTL7B is specifically expressed in round and elongating spermatids during spermiogenesis. Here, we have generated an Actl7b-null allele in mice to unravel the role of ACTL7B in sperm formation. Male mice homozygous for the Actl7b-null allele (Actl7b-/-) were infertile, whereas heterozygous males (Actl7b+/-) were fertile. Severe spermatid defects, such as detached acrosomes, disrupted membranes and flagella malformations start to appear after spermiogenesis step 9 in Actl7b-/- mice, finally resulting in spermatogenic arrest. Abnormal spermatids were degraded and levels of autophagy markers were increased. Co-immunoprecipitation with mass spectrometry experiments identified an interaction between ACTL7B and the LC8 dynein light chains DYNLL1 and DYNLL2, which are first detected in step 9 spermatids and mislocalized when ACTL7B is absent. Our data unequivocally establish that mutations in ACTL7B are directly related to male infertility, pressing for additional research in humans.

Enoxaparin improves COVID-19 by reducing Neutrophils Extracellular Traps (NETs) production.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 causes consequences such as imbalance of the immune system and thrombotic events. During the infection process, NETs in excess induce a pro-inflammatory response and disseminated intravascular coagulation. We evaluated the role of enoxaparin as a potential inhibitor of NETs. METHODS: K18-hACE2 animals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and a group of 23 individuals admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 treated with enoxaparin or without treatment and controls without the disease were included. RESULTS: Enoxaparin decreased the levels of NETs, reduced the signs of the disease and mitigated lung damage in the animals infected with SARS-CoV-2. These effects were partially associated with prevention of SARS-CoV-2 entry and NETs synthesis. Clinical data revealed that treatment with enoxaparin decreased the levels of inflammatory markers, the levels of NETs in isolated neutrophils and the organ dysfunction. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for the beneficial effects of enoxaparin in COVID-19 in addition to its anticoagulant role.

Linking above and belowground carbon sequestration, soil organic matter properties, and soil health in Brazilian Atlantic Forest restoration.

Forest restoration mitigates climate change by removing CO2 and storing C in terrestrial ecosystems. However, incomplete information on C storage in restored tropical forests often fails to capture the ecosystem's holistic C dynamics. This study provides an integrated assessment of C storage in above to belowground subsystems, its consequences for greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes, and the quantity, quality, and origin of soil organic matter (SOM) in restored Atlantic forests in Brazil. Relations between SOM properties and soil health indicators were also explored. We examined two restorations using tree planting ('active restoration'): an 8-year-old forest with green manure and native trees planted in two rounds, and a 15-year-old forest with native-planted trees in one round without green manure. Restorations were compared to reformed pasture and primary forest sites. We measured C storage in soil layers (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm), litter, and plants. GHG emissions were assessed using CH4 and CO2 fluxes. SOM quantity was evaluated using C and N, quality using humification index (HLIFS), and origin using δ13C and δ15N. Nine soil health indicators were interrelated with SOM attributes. The primary forest presented the highest C stocks (107.7 Mg C ha-1), followed by 15- and 8-year-old restorations and pasture with 69.8, 55.5, and 41.8 Mg C ha-1, respectively. Soil C stocks from restorations and pasture were 20% lower than primary forest. However, 8- and 15-year-old restorations stored 12.3 and 28.3 Mg ha-1 more aboveground C than pasture. The younger forest had δ13C and δ15N values of 2.1 and 1.7‰, respectively, lower than the 15-year-old forest, indicating more C derived from C3 plants and biological N fixation. Both restorations and pasture had at least 34% higher HLIFS in deeper soil layers (10-30 cm) than primary forest, indicating a lack of labile SOM. Native and 15-year-old forests exhibited higher soil methane influx (141.1 and 61.9 µg m-2 h-1). Forests outperformed pasture in most soil health indicators, with 69% of their variance explained by SOM properties. However, SOM quantity and quality regeneration in both restorations approached the pristine forest state only in the top 10 cm layer, while deeper soil retained agricultural degradation legacies. In conclusion, active restoration of the Atlantic Forest is a superior approach compared to pasture reform for GHG mitigation. Nonetheless, the development of restoration techniques to facilitate labile C input into deeper soil layers (>10 cm) is needed to further improve soil multifunctionality and long-term C storage.

Evaluation of the arachidonic acid pathway in bipolar disorder: a systematic review.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a mood psychiatric disorder described by changes between depressive, hypomanic, or manic episodes. The aimed of the present study was evaluated possible changes in the AA pathway in BD through a systematic review of observational studies. A search in the electronic databases was proceeded, on Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Google Scholar and the British Library for studies published until August 2020. A search strategy was developed using the terms: "Bipolar Disorder" and "Phospholipase A2" or "Arachidonic Acids" or "Cyclooxygenase 2" or "Prostaglandins E" as text words and Medical Subject Headings (i.e., MeSH and EMTREE). Seven primary studies were included in the systematic review, with a total of 246 BD patients, 20 depression patients, and 425 heathy controls (HC). The studies showed contradictory results in the AA and PLA2, no primary articles with COX and PGE2 assessments were included in this review. According to the Newcastle-Ottawa quality score scale (NOS), our systematic review presented high quality. The investigation of the inflammatory pathway of AA still needs further investigation and evidence, given the growing number of studies suggesting the efficacy of anti-inflammatory drugs as adjunctive therapy in the pharmacological treatment of BD.

Mesothelin as a biomarker for ovarian carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

The objective of this work was to estimate the accuracy of mesothelin as a biomarker for ovarian cancer. A quantitative systematic review was performed. A comprehensive search of the Medline, LILACS, SCOPUS, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Biomed Central, and ISI Web of Science databases was conducted from January 1990 to June 2015. For inclusion in this systematic review, the papers must have measured mesothelin levels in at least two histological diagnoses; ovarian cancer (borderline or ovarian tumor) vs. benign or normal ovarian tissue. For each study, 2 x 2 contingency tables were constructed. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio. The verification bias was performed according to QUADAS-2. Statistical analysis was performed with the software Stata 11, Meta-DiSc(r) and RevMan 5.2. Twelve studies were analyzed, which included 1,561 women. The pooled sensitivity was 0.62 (CI 95% 0.58 - 0.66) and specificity was 0.94 (CI 95% 0.92 - 0.95). The DOR was 38.92 (CI 95% 17.82 - 84.99). Our systematic review shows that mesothelin cannot serve alone as a biomarker for the detection of ovarian cancer.

Accuracy of magnetic resonance in deeply infiltrating endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the accuracy of pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). METHODS: A comprehensive search of the Medline, Pubmed, Lilacs, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Biomed Central, and ISI Web of Science databases was conducted from January 1990 to December 2013. The medical subject headings (MeSHs) and text words "deep endometriosis", "deeply infiltrating endometriosis", "DIE", "magnetic resonance", and "MRI" were searched. Studies that compared the parameters of pelvic MRIs with those of paraffin-embedded sections for the diagnosis of DIE were included. RESULTS: Twenty studies were analyzed, which included 1,819 women. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated across eight subgroups: for all sites, these were 0.83 and 0.90, respectively; for the bladder, 0.64 and 0.98, respectively; for the intestine, 0.84 and 0.97, respectively; for the pouch of Douglas, 0.89 and 0.94, respectively; for the rectosigmoid, 0.83 and 0.88, respectively; for the rectovaginal, 0.77 and 0.95, respectively; for the uterosacral ligaments, 0.85 and 0.80, respectively; and for the vagina and the posterior vaginal fornix, 0.82 and 0.82, respectively. CONCLUSION: In summary, pelvic MRI is a useful preoperative test for predicting the diagnosis of multiple sites of deep infiltrating endometriosis.

The prevalence of human papillomavirus in ovarian cancer: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in ovarian cancer. METHODS: A comprehensive search of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CANCERLIT, LILACS, Grey literature and EMBASE was performed for articles published from January 1990 to March 2012. The following MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms were searched: "ovarian tumor" or "ovarian cancers" and "HPV" or "human papillomavirus." Included were case-control and cross-sectional studies, prospective or retrospective, that evaluated clinical ovarian cancer and provided a clear description of the use of in situ hybridization, Southern blot hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction. The statistical analysis was performed using REVMAN 5.0. RESULTS: In total, 24 primary studies were included in this meta-analysis. Studies from 11 countries on 3 continents contained data on HPV and ovarian cancer, including 889 subjects. Overall, the HPV prevalence in patients with ovarian cancer was 17.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.0%-20.0%). Human papillomavirus prevalence ranged from 4.0% (95% CI, 1.7%-6.3%) in Europe to 31.4% (95% CI, 26.9%-35.9%) in Asia. An aggregate of 4 case-control studies from Asia showed an odds ratio of 2.48 (95% CI, 0.64-9.57). CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of HPV-positive DNA in ovarian cancer cases, but the role of HPV in ovarian cancer remains inconclusive. Further studies are needed to control case to answer this question.

Early life stress lastingly alters the function and AMPA-receptor composition of glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus of male mice.

Early postnatal life is a sensitive period of development that shapes brain structure and function later in life. Exposure to stress during this critical time window can alter brain development and may enhance the susceptibility to psychopathology and neurodegenerative disorders later in life. The developmental effects of early life stress (ELS) on synaptic function are not fully understood, but could provide mechanistic insights into how ELS modifies later brain function and disease risk. We here assessed the effects of ELS on synaptic function and composition in the hippocampus of male mice. Mice were subjected to ELS by housing dams and pups with limited bedding and nesting material from postnatal days (P) 2-9. Synaptic strength was measured in terms of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus at three different developmental stages: the early postnatal phase (P9), preadolescence (P21, at weaning) and adulthood at 3 months of age (3MO). Hippocampal synaptosome fractions were isolated from P9 and 3MO tissue and analyzed for protein content to assess postsynaptic composition. Finally, dendritic spine density was assessed in the DG at 3MO. At P9, ELS increased mEPSC frequency and amplitude. In parallel, synaptic composition was altered as PSD-95, GluA3 and GluN2B content were significantly decreased. The increased mEPSC frequency was sustained up to 3MO, at which age, GluA3 content was significantly increased. No differences were found in dendritic spine density. These findings highlight how ELS affects the development of hippocampal synapses, which could provide valuable insight into mechanisms how ELS alters brain function later in life.

Prophylactic Minocycline for Delirium in Critically Ill Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a potentially severe form of acute encephalopathy. Minocycline has neuroprotective effects in animal models of neurologic diseases; however, data from human studies remain scarce. RESEARCH QUESTION: Does the neuroprotective effect of minocycline prevent delirium occurrence in critical ill patients? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial conducted in four ICUs. Patients aged 18 years or older were eligible and randomized to receive minocycline (100 mg, twice daily) or placebo. The primary outcome was delirium incidence within 28 days or before ICU discharge. Secondary outcomes included days in delirium during ICU stay, delirium/coma-free days, length of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, ICU mortality, and hospital mortality. The kinetics of various inflammatory (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, and C-reactive protein) and brain-related biomarkers (brain-derived neurotrophic factor and S100B) were used as exploratory outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients were randomized, but one patient in the placebo group died before treatment; thus the data from 159 patients were analyzed (minocycline, n = 84; placebo, n = 75). After the COVID-19 pandemic it was decided to stop patient inclusion early. There was a small but significant decrease in delirium incidence: 17 patients (20%) in the minocycline arm compared with 26 patients (35%) in the placebo arm (P = .043). No other delirium-related outcomes were modified by minocycline treatment. Unexpectedly, there was a significant decrease in hospital mortality (39% vs. 23%; P = .029). Among all analyzed biomarkers, only plasma levels of C-reactive protein decreased significantly after minocycline treatment (F = 0.75, P = .78, within time; F = 4.09, P = .045, group × time). INTERPRETATION: Our findings in this rather small study signal a possible positive effect of minocycline on delirium incidence. Further studies are needed to confirm the benefits of this drug as a preventive measure in critically ill patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT04219735; URL: www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov.

Bifidobacterium lactis CCT 7858 Improves Gastrointestinal Symptoms by Antibiotics Treatment: a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Diarrhea is one of the most frequent side effects of antibiotic treatment and occurs in 25 to 40% of patients in use. One potential strategy to prevent this side effect is the concurrent use of probiotics. This study evaluated the efficacy of the strain Bifidobacterium lactis CCT 7858 in the prevention of diarrhea and improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms in hospitalized patients using antibiotics. This was a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. This study included 104 patients in antibiotic treatment. Patients were randomized into two groups: placebo (maltodextrin) and intervention (strain Bifidobacterium lactis CCT 7858 at 9 × 1010 CFU concentration; GABBIA® Biotecnology, Santa Catarina, Brazil). Patients were supplemented depending on the duration of antibiotic therapy, and both were evaluated with scales in two moments: before and after treatment. We included 104 hospitalized patients. In follow-up, 38 (74.5%) of the B. lactis group have no reported diarrhea. In secondary outcomes, in five day strong abdominal distension was reported in 4 (7,3) placebo group and not reported in B. lactis. Abdominal noises, nausea, and vomiting were not registered in any group. B. lactis strain has been considered safe and with several benefits, including reduction of soft stools and gastrointestinal symptoms how abdominal noise, pain and distension, as well reduction of diarrhea.

Respiratory Outcomes After 6 Months of Hospital Discharge in Patients Affected by COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort.

Background: Considering millions of people affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), long-lasting sequelae can significantly impact health worldwide. Data from prospective studies in lower-middle-income countries on persistent lung dysfunction secondary to COVID-19 are lacking. This work aims to determine risk factors and the impact of persistent lung dysfunctions in COVID-19 survivors. Methods: Observational and prospective cohort of patients admitted to a tertiary hospital from June 2020 to November 2020. Persistence of chest CT scan alterations, desaturation in the six-minute walk test (6MWT), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), lung carbon monoxide diffusion (DLCO), and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) were measured 6 months after hospital discharge. Additionally, the Barthel index (BI) and the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale were used to determine the impact of lung dysfunction in activities of daily living (ADL). Results: It was included 44 patients. Sixty percent had persistent lung CT scan abnormalities. From 18 to 43% of patients had at least one pulmonary function dysfunction, a decrease in FEV1 was the least prevalent (18%), and a reduction in DLCO and MIP was the most frequent (43%). In general, female gender, comorbidity index, and age were associated with worse lung function. Additionally, the presence of lung dysfunction could predict worse BI (r-square 0.28) and mMRC (r-square 0.32). Conclusion: Long-term lung dysfunction is relatively common in survivors from severe COVID-19 and impacts negatively on ADL and the intensity of dyspnea, similar to studies in high-income countries.

Effects of different probiotic strains B. lactis, L. rhamnosus and L. reuteri on brain-intestinal axis immunomodulation in an endotoxin-induced inflammation.

The study evaluated the effects of supplementation with three different probiotic strains Bifidobacterium lactis (LACT GB™), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (RHAM GB™) and Lactobacillus reuteri (REUT GB™) on brain-intestinal immunomodulation in an animal model of LPS-induced inflammation. Fifty mice Balb/C were distributed into five groups: control; lipopolysaccharide (LPS); LPS + B. lactis (LACT GB™); LPS + L. rhamnosus (RHAM GB™); and LPS + L. reuteri (REUT GB™). The animals were supplemented with their respective probiotic microorganisms daily, for 30 days, at a concentration of 1 × 109 CFU/animal/day. After 30 days of supplementation, animals received the inflammatory insult by LPS (15 mg/kg). Behavioral tests, oxidative stress and inflammation were performed, as well as gut and brain histology. In the behavioral test, LPS + B. lactis group was less anxious than the other groups. Serum interleukin IL-1ß and IL-6 levels increased in all groups that received the LPS insult, and there was a reduction in inflammation in the supplemented groups when compared to the LPS group in brain and gut. There is a reduction in myeloperoxidase activity and oxidative stress in groups supplemented with probiotics. In intestine histological analysis occurs damage to the tissue integrity in the LPS group, in the other hand, occurs preservation of integrity in the probiotic supplemented animals. In the brain, infiltrates of perivascular inflammatory cells can be seen in the LPS group. The three probiotic studies showed efficient immunomodulating activity and ensured integrity of the intestinal barrier function, even after the severe insult by LPS. These results show the important role of probiotics in the gut-brain axis. Graphical abstract illustratively represents the gut-brain axis and how different probiotic strains influence the immunomodulatory response releasing different pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and their role in the balance of dysbiosis.

Accuracy of Ultrasonography in Breast Implant Rupture Diagnosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Breast augmentation is the most common aesthetic operation performed in the United States and worldwide; 1,862,506 breast augmentation procedures were performed in 2018, an increase of 27.6 percent compared to 2014 data. METHODS: In the present study, the authors performed a systematic review to identify the accuracy of ultrasonography for diagnosing breast prosthesis rupture. Studies in which the ultrasound diagnostic test was compared to a surgical finding as a reference standard were reviewed. RESULTS: As a result, 20 primary studies were included in the analyses, with a total of 1987 patients and 3297 prostheses. The use of ultrasound for diagnosis of breast prosthesis rupture presented the following results: pooled sensitivity, 73.7 percent (95 percent CI, 70.2 to 77.1 percent); pooled specificity, 87.8 percent (95 percent CI, 86.5 to 89.0); area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.7762; diagnostic odds ratio, 11.04 (95 percent CI, 5.79 to 21.08). CONCLUSION: This study supports that ultrasound of breast prostheses is an adequate tool in the diagnosis of rupture.

Replacement of Nitrite in Meat Products by Natural Bioactive Compounds Results in Reduced Exposure to N-Nitroso Compounds: The PHYTOME Project.

SCOPE: It has been proposed that endogenously form N-nitroso compounds (NOCs) are partly responsible for the link between red meat consumption and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. As nitrite has been indicated as critical factor in the formation of NOCs, the impact of replacing the additive sodium nitrite (E250) by botanical extracts in the PHYTOME project is evaluated. METHOD AND RESULTS: A human dietary intervention study is conducted in which healthy subjects consume 300 g of meat for 2 weeks, in subsequent order: conventional processed red meat, white meat, and processed red meat with standard or reduced levels of nitrite and added phytochemicals. Consumption of red meat products enriched with phytochemicals leads to a significant reduction in the faecal excretion of NOCs, as compared to traditionally processed red meat products. Gene expression changes identify cell proliferation as main affects molecular mechanism. High nitrate levels in drinking water in combination with processed red meat intake further stimulates NOC formation, an effect that could be mitigated by replacement of E250 by natural plant extracts. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that addition of natural extracts to conventionally processed red meat products may help to reduce CRC risk, which is mechanistically support by gene expression analyses.

Efficacy of infliximab in treatment-resistant depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) denotes the therapeutic failure of at least two evidence-based, dose-based, and time-appropriate treatment regiments for major depressive disorder (MDD). Studies have suggested that alterations in proinflammatory cytokines play an important role in the pathophysiology of TRD, as well as a significant relationship between the number of failed treatment and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). OBJECTIVE: Performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the potential effect of the TNF-inhibitor Infliximab adjunct treatment in MDD, through randomized controlled trials (RCT). METHODS: A search in the electronic databases was proceeded, on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Biomed Central, Web of Science, IBECS, LILACS, PsycINFO, Congress Abstracts, and Grey literature (Google Scholar and the British Library) for studies published until April 2019. A search strategy was developed using the terms: "Mood disorder" OR "Depressive Disorder" OR "Bipolar disorder" AND "Infliximab" OR "tumor necrosis factor antagonist" as text words and Medical Subject Headings (i.e., MeSH and EMTREE). The therapeutic effects of adjunctive treatment with Infliximab were analyzed. The meta-analysis was performed including the results of the Hamilton Scale for Depression (HAM-D). RESULTS: Four primary studies were included in the systematic review, with a total of 152 patients. The meta-analysis did not show a statistically significant effect of Infliximab as an adjuvant treatment for TRD. LIMITATIONS: Articles in this meta-analysis originate from the same country. The main treatments used were different among the included studies. CONCLUSION: Infliximab was not efficient in reducing depressive symptoms according to the HAM-D, only when the patients already had increased inflammatory genes, including TNF and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Evaluation of the dopaminergic system with positron-emission tomography in alcohol abuse: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Performed a systematic review to evaluated the dopaminergic system in alcohol abuse in a systematic review in humans. METHOD: A search of the electronic databases was proceeded, on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Insight and Gray literature (Google Scholar and the British Library) for studies published until August 2018. A search strategy was developed using the terms: "dopamine" and "ethanol" or ""alcohol"," and "positron-emission tomography" as text words and Medical Subject Headings (i.e., MeSH and EMTREE) and searched. RESULTS: We found 293 studies. After reading titles and abstracts 235 were considered irrelevant, as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. For the reading of the full text, 50 studies were analyzed. Of these 41 were excluded with reasons by study design, patient population, intervention and outcomes. Nine studies were included in our qualitative synthesis. Four studies have resulted in a reduction in availability only at the D2 receptor in different brain regions. Concerning the D3 receptor alone only one study reported this finding and four studies reported a decrease in both receptors. CONCLUSION: Changes in D2 receptors in several brain regions in human alcoholics were found in a systematic review.

IgM ELISA for leptospirosis diagnosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed to estimate the accuracy of IgM ELISA for Leptospirosis diagnosis. A search of Medline, Lilacs, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Grey literature (Google Scholar and British Library) was conducted. The medical subject headings (MeSHs) and the words "leptospirosis", "human leptospirosis" and "IgM ELISA" were used. Fifty-two studies were analyzed, which included 10,775 samples. The pooled sensitivity of all the studies was 86% (CI 95%, 85%-87%) and specificity was 90% (CI 95%, 89%-91%). In studies of the acute phase, the sensitivity and specificity were 84% (CI 95%, 82%-85%) and 91% (CI 95%, 90%-91%), respectively. In conclusion, IgM ELISA is sensitive for use as an initial screen for leptospiral infections.

Serum S100B in manic bipolar disorder patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of mania/hypomania, affecting more than 1% of the world population. S100B is a calcium-binding protein, mostly produced and secreted by astrocytes in the CNS that participate in several cellular responses. Previous studies have shown that patients with bipolar disorder had higher peripheral S100B levels than healthy individuals, suggesting a potential role for S100B BD. METHODS: In this study, a systematic and quantitative meta-analysis of studies S100B serum was performed according to the guidelines PRISMA-statement to confirm the increase of serum S100B in patients with manic bipolar disorder. RESULTS: We included in the meta-analysis two studies that reported the mean and standard deviation of serum S100B 52 patients manic BP and 52 control studies. Our results showed higher levels of S100B peripheral TB patients compared with healthy controls. In this meta-analysis, we found evidence that serum S100B are increased in patients with bipolar disorder. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, several studies have observed morphological abnormalities in the brains of bipolar disorder patients, changes in the peripheral S100B levels in mood disorders were described, and this protein could be a putative marker for damage to the brain. Thus, in this meta-analysis we have found evidence, based on two studies of 52 patients and 52 healthy controls, that the serum concentrations of S100B are increased in bipolar disorder patients.

O uso das redes sociais pelos órgãos gestores do Sistema Único de Saúde

Objetivo: o presente estudo tem como objetivo compreender como ocorre o uso das redes sociais por gestores do Sistema Único de Saúde em nível municipal, estadual e nacional e seu alcance para a população. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo documental de métodos mistos e descritivo, realizado nas redes sociais Instagram, Facebook e Twitter da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Criciúma, Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Santa Catarina e Ministério da Saúde. Considerou-se na análise quantitativa o número de publicações, curtidas, seguidores e comentários, e na análise qualitativa o conteúdo das postagens, comentários, respostas aos comentários e engajamento. Resultados: os resultados indicaram o baixo alcance da população nas redes sociais dos órgãos investigados e o destaque no número de postagens em âmbito nacional. Ainda, no que se refere ao conteúdo das postagens, o Ministério da Saúde destaca publicações educativas, enquanto as secretarias municipal e estadual apresentam mais postagens relacionadas a repasses financeiros e compra de novos equipamentos. Conclusão: foi possível identificar que, apesar da importância das redes sociais no acesso e disseminação de informações, avanços ainda são necessários para contemplar as potencialidades e fortalecimento dos serviços de saúde a partir da internet.

Hyperbilirubinaemia alone cannot distinguish a perforation in acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to verify the accuracy of hyperbilirubinaemia as a marker for acute perforated appendicitis. METHODS: A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, IBECS, BIOSIS, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Congress Abstracts and Grey literature from January 1969 to July 2014. We included cross-sectional and cohort studies, prospective and retrospective, which evaluated hyperbilirubinaemia level in perforated appendicitis and compared them with histological analysis of all appendectomy specimens. RESULTS: Eleven studies were analysed, which included 5395 patients. Pooled sensitivity was 54.6% (95% confidence interval (CI), 42.8-65.8) and specificity was 70.0% (95% CI, 54.7-81.9%) using STATA. The diagnostic odds ratio was 2.82 (95% CI, 1.38-5.72%). Summary receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed. The area under the curve was 0.65. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis showed that the value of hyperbilirubinaemia alone cannot predict acute perforated appendicitis.